Lead Forensics

Rating Process

Why ARC Ratings?

In forming its opinion, ARC Ratings analyses all necessary public and confidential information in a rigorous, systematic, dynamic and timely manner.

A rating from ARC Ratings is a fundamental tool to increase market efficiency by reducing the information asymmetries between issuers and investors, while providing significant advantages to both.

Our Principles

Our rating process is guided by values that underpin every opinion we deliver

Integrity and objectivity

Our analysts act independently and ethically, free from external influence.

Consistency

Our methodology is applied uniformly, ensuring fairness across issuers and sectors.

Rigour and accuracy

We dive deep into data, documentation, and industry context to ensure reliability.

Continuity

We maintain long-term oversight through surveillance and regular reviews post-rating.

Integrity and objectivity

Our analysts act independently and ethically, free from external influence.

Consistency

Our methodology is applied uniformly, ensuring fairness across issuers and sectors.

Rigour and accuracy

We dive deep into data, documentation, and industry context to ensure reliability.

Continuity

We maintain long-term oversight through surveillance and regular reviews post-rating.

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The ratings process

01 Rating agreement

Rating agreement

The rating process initiates when the applicant (an issuer, sponsor/arranger, underwriter or its agents) contacts the ARC Ratings’ Commercial team with a request for ARC Ratings to provide a rating.

Following the definition of the commercial conditions, a rating proposal is shared.

Analysis

Once the rating agreement is signed, ARC Ratings assigns an analytical team – Lead Analyst and Back-up Analyst – to the rating process.

The analytical team will initiate the analytical process with an initial meeting with the applicant and an information request (including confidential information).

After the analysis, in line with the relevant rating criteria, of all the information and the holding of due diligence meetings with management, the analytical team prepares a rating recommendation and supporting documents to be presented to the rating panel.

Assignment of the rating

Ratings from ARC Ratings are assigned and reviewed by a Rating Panel, composed of experienced rating analysts.

To assign a rating, the Rating Panel will consider and discuss the rating recommendation and supporting documents prepared by the analytical team, and, as a conclusion of that discussion, assign the rating.

Communication of the rating decision

After the panel assigns the rating, this is communicated to the applicant, along with a supporting press release and/or rating report. The applicant is thus given the opportunity to clarify or correct factual details, as well as check the presence of non-public information.

Appeal – ARC Ratings grants the applicant the possibility of appealing an assigned rating providing this appeal is supported by additional material information that has not been taken into account in the original rating process.

Option to maintain the rating private – In an initial rating, the applicant is given the option to maintain the rating private or to authorise ARC Ratings to make it public. If the applicant does not give such authorisation the rating and supporting documents will remain strictly confidential unless applicable laws provide otherwise.

Rating publication

The rating, along with the supporting press release and/or rating report, is published on ARC Ratings’ website (except if, in an initial rating process, the applicant decided to maintain the rating private) in addition to circulation via distribution lists and social platforms and publication via Bloomberg and EIN Presswire, where applicable.

Surveillance and review

All public and private ratings (except if they are point in time) are subject to surveillance and periodic reviews. The objective is that ratings are always current and reflective of all the relevant information that might impact them.