Standard & Poor's Ratings Services assigned its 'AAAm' "principal stability fund" rating to Phoenix Insight Government Money Market Fund (formerly known as Harris Insight Government MMF and to AIM ATST Premier Tax-Exempt Portfolio. S&P announced, "The rating -- the highest assigned to money market funds -- is based on our analysis of the funds' credit quality, market price exposure, and management."
S&P's release says, "Phoenix Investment Counsel Inc. is the investment adviser to the fund and has appointed and oversees the activities of the investment subadvisor, Harris Investment Management Inc. (Harris). Harris is also the subadvisor on the Phoenix Insight Money Market Fund, which has maintained a 'AAAm' rating since January 2003. Based in Chicago, Ill., ... Harris Financial Corp. is wholly owned by Bank of Montreal.... Phoenix Equity Planning Corp. is the administrator, distributor, and transfer agent. Boston Financial Data Services Inc. is subtransfer agent, and PFPC Trust Co. is the custodian."
"The Premier Tax-Exempt Portfolio's investment objective is to provide a high level of current income consistent with the preservation of capital and the maintenance of liquidity. The fund consists of two share classes: Investor and Institutional. In pursuing its investment objective, the Portfolio invests only in high-quality, U.S. dollar-denominated, short-term obligations, including municipal securities, bankers tax-exempt commercial paper, and cash equivalents. Normally, at least 80% of its assets are invested in debt securities that pay interest that is excluded from gross income for federal income tax purposes, and do not produce income that will be considered an item of preference for purposes of the alternative minimum tax," says the S&P announcement.
It continues, "Invesco Aim Advisors Inc. is the fund's investment advisor and manages the fund's investment operation. Invesco Aim has acted as an investment advisor since its organization in 1976. Currently, Invesco Aim advises or manages more than 225 investment portfolios. Assets under management as of March 31, 2008, are more than $490 billion with more than $92 billion handled by Cash Management. Invesco Aim is a direct, wholly owned subsidiary of Invesco Aim Management, an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of Invesco. Invesco Trimark Services Inc. is the transfer agent for the fund and The Bank of New York serves as the portfolio's custodian."
Finally, S&P says, "In addition to the above funds, we currently rate the following Invesco Aim funds 'AAAm': Short-Term Investments Trust STIC - Prime Portfolio; Short-Term Investments Trust Treasury Portfolio; Short-Term Investments Trust Liquid Assets Portfolio; Short-Term Investments Trust Government & Agency Portfolio; Short-Term Investments Trust Government TaxAdvantage Portfolio; ATST Premier Portfolio; ATST Premier U.S. Government Money Portfolio; and Short-Term Investments Trust Tax-Free Cash Reserve Portfolio."
