ARC Ratings

ARC Ratings traces its roots to Companhia Portuguesa de Rating, which began operating in Portugal in 1988. The business was rebranded as ARC Ratings in 2013 after being established by a consortium of rating agencies from Asia, Africa, Europe and South America. Its current headquarters are in London, with its main EU office in Lisbon and an Asia-Pacific office in Hong Kong.

The firm provides public and private credit ratings across structured finance, corporates, financial institutions, funds and project finance. Its regulated entities include ARC Ratings, S.A., registered with ESMA, and ARC Ratings (UK) Limited, registered with the FCA; both are recognised as eligible External Credit Assessment Institutions for relevant regulatory purposes.

ARC Ratings is especially strong in structured finance and private ratings. Its methodologies also cover areas such as equity-release mortgages and non-performing loans, giving it a more specialised profile than a generalist corporate-rating provider.