Fitch Ratings has released a consultation draft of a report setting out proposed revisions to the rating process it uses to evaluate asset managers.

The rating agency is proposing to: reorganize its asset manager rating factors into newly defined categories, which it views as more clearly expressive of the key attributes of asset management organizations; redesign of the asset manager rating scorecard; rationalize all factors within the scorecard to provide an increased focus on the key drivers of rating category scores; and, utilize all of these initiatives to provide an efficient rating process.

The report is available on the agency’s Web sites: fitchresearch.com and fitchratings.com. The consultation period will end on April 5. The agency is seeking comments from investors, managers, and other interested parties.

“Fitch is seeking the views of current and prospective users of asset manager ratings, to ensure that the agency continues to deliver asset manager ratings that are well aligned with user needs”, says Said Rafat, managing director of Fitch’s Fund and Asset Manager Rating Group.

“We have updated our criteria based on experience gained during several years of issuing asset manager ratings, and look to receive additional feedback from market participants during this consultative process,” Rafat added.