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Date Ref. Title Section Type Download Info Summary Related Documents Translated versions
20/04/2022 ESMA80-187-945 Verena Ross' speech at ECMI/CEPS Webinar, 20 April 2022 Credit Rating Agencies, Trade Repositories, Transparency Speech PDF
178.1 KB

Verena Ross' speech at ECMI/CEPS Webinar, 20 April 2022: "ESMA – driving forward high-quality supervision and transparency in a single EU capital market"
04/04/2017 33-9-149 Update of the guidelines on the application of the endorsement regime under Article 4(3) of the Credit Rating Agencies Regulation Credit Rating Agencies Consultation Paper PDF
1.08 MB

Endorsement is one of two regimes provided in the CRA Regulation that allow credit ratings issued in a third country to be used for regulatory purposes in the EU – the other being equivalence/certification. Article 21(3) of the CRA Regulation requires ESMA to issue and update guidelines on the application of the endorsement regime specified under Article 4(3) of the same Regulation. This Consultation Paper proposes to update the previously issued 2011 Guidelines on Endorsement.
The proposed update of the 2011 Guidelines on Endorsement is mainly driven by the need to reflect the changes to Articles 6-12 and Annex I introduced by CRA 3, which will enter into force for the purposes of equivalence and endorsement on 1 June 2018. On that basis, ESMA has to update the Methodological Framework on which ESMA relies for assessing a third-country legal and supervisory framework for the purposes of endorsement and equivalence. This Methodological Framework is provided in Annex II of the 2011 Guidelines on Endorsement. By 1 June 2018, ESMA should also have completed a reassessment of all the previously assessed third-country legal and regulatory frameworks against the new requirements based on the updated Methodological Framework (provided in Annex III).


ESMA has taken this opportunity to reassess its approach to endorsement more broadly, based on the supervisory experience acquired since the adoption of the 2011 Guidelines on Endorsement. The proposed changes and clarification of the 2011 Guidelines on Endorsement focus in particular on ESMA’s understanding of points (b), (c), (d), and (e) of Article 4(3) of the CRA Regulation.
Furthermore, some parts of the 2011 Guidelines on Endorsement relate to the establishment of ESMA, the initial registration of CRAs and various transitional arrangements. The proposed updated Guidelines on Endorsement do not include these parts, as they are no longer relevant. Finally, some information in the 2011 Guidelines on Endorsement was not addressed to market participants but referred to ESMA’s internal processes. This information has also been excluded from the proposed updated guidelines on Endorsement, but is, for context, summarised in Section 4 of this Consultation Paper.
 
12/02/2020 ESMA32-67-642 Sustainable financial markets: translating changing risks and investor preferences into regulatory action- Speech by Steven Maijoor, European Financial Forum, Dublin Credit Rating Agencies, Speeches, Supervisory convergence Speech PDF
156.74 KB
25/01/2016 2016/96 Slides from ESMA’s Open Hearing on validation and review of CRAs’ methodologies Credit Rating Agencies Consultation Paper PDF
253.19 KB
04/06/2020 ESMA71-99-1338 Scope Ratings Enforcement Action Credit Rating Agencies, Press Releases Press Release PDF
127.88 KB
04/04/2017 33-5-94 Response Form CRA Endorsement Guidelines Credit Rating Agencies Consultation Paper DOCX
756.11 KB
09/11/2020 ESMA31-67-127 Question and answers on Transparency Directive (TD) Brexit, Corporate Disclosure, Corporate Finance, Supervisory convergence, Transparency Q&A PDF
352.79 KB
29/07/2021 ESMA33-5-87 Q&A on the Implementation of the Regulation (EU) No 462 2013 On CRA Credit Rating Agencies Q&A PDF
409.83 KB
11/04/2019 ESMA31-62-780 Q&A on Prospectus Related Topics Brexit, Corporate Disclosure, Corporate Finance, Corporate Governance, Corporate Information, Prospectus, Supervisory convergence Q&A PDF
957.9 KB
18/12/2015 2015/1871 Proxy advisors take steps towards increased transparency Corporate Finance, Corporate Governance, Press Releases Press Release PDF
157.9 KB
27/05/2019 ESMA71-99-1166 Press release: ESMA registers Inbonis SA as credit rating agency Credit Rating Agencies Press Release PDF
75.61 KB
18/03/2019 ESMA71-99-1127 Press release: ESMA registers Beyond Ratings SAS as credit rating agence Credit Rating Agencies Press Release PDF
75.72 KB
27/07/2018 ESMA71-99-1023 Press release- Nordic Credit Rating AS registered as CRA Credit Rating Agencies Press Release PDF
214.63 KB
13/08/2018 ESMA71-99-1024 Press release- Moody's Nordics CRA registration Credit Rating Agencies Press Release PDF
224.93 KB
16/12/2014 2014/1525 Press Release- Improvements needed in CRAs surveillance of structured finance credit ratings Credit Rating Agencies, Press Releases Press Release PDF
88.76 KB		 The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) has published a report on the findings of its investigation into the way credit rating agencies (CRA) conduct surveillance of their structured finance credit ratings. The investigation, which took place between October 2013 and September 2014, was prompted by the continued relevance of structured finance products and the high outstanding volume in issuance. It focused on the four largest CRAs providing credit ratings on these finance instruments in the EU – DBRS Ratings, Fitch Ratings, Moody’s Investors Services and Standard & Poor’s – which account for almost 100% of the total outstanding credit ratings on EU structured finance instruments. In its investigation ESMA identified a number of shortcomings in several areas affecting the surveillance of structured finance ratings for the CRAs investigated. ESMA also identified weaknesses on the level of disclosure and transparency which could be detrimental to investor protection. ESMA has not determined whether any of the Report’s findings constitute a breach of the CRA Regulation, and may take action as appropriate in due course.Steven Maijoor, ESMA Chair, said: “ESMA’s investigation has found shortcomings in CRAs’ processes for the surveillance of structured finance credit ratings which could affect the quality of the ratings. These concerns centred on information quality controls, the application of CRAs’ methodologies and the related disclosure as well as the timely completion of the credit ratings annual review.  Issues were also identified in relation to the role and independence of the internal review function. “The high volume of issued structured finance instruments and renewed interest in securitisation as an alternative funding source make the results of this review all the more timely. “All registered CRAs should take note of the problems identified and ensure that they properly incorporate the requirements and objectives of the CRA Regulation into their working practices in order to ensure the quality of credit ratings and maintain investor confidence. The good practices identified in the Report can help with that improvement.”   ESMA has requested that CRAs put in place the remedial action plans to solve the individual concerns identified. ESMA will follow up with each of the CRAs subject to this investigation. Likewise, ESMA will monitor all other registered CRAs as part of its on-going supervision.
29/10/2021 ESMA71-99-1751 Press Release- European enforcers target COVID-19 and climate-related disclosures Corporate Disclosure, IAS Regulation, IFRS Supervisory Convergence, Press Releases Press Release PDF
97.63 KB
19/02/2019 ESMA71-99-1112 Press release- ESMA supervision to focus on data, Brexit and cybersecurity in 2019 Credit Rating Agencies Press Release PDF
79.6 KB
21/02/2014 2014/212 Press release- ESMA sets out CRA supervision focus for 2014 Credit Rating Agencies Press Release PDF
118.48 KB		 ESMA sets out CRA supervision focus for 2014 The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) has published its Annual Report 2013 (Report) on credit rating agencies (CRAs) in the European Union (EU). The Report also outlines ESMA’s supervisory work plan for this year. ESMA has found that CRAs continue to progress in how they comply with the CRA Regulation, including improved internal transparency and disclosure to the market on credit rating activities as well as empowerment of the compliance function. However, ESMA considers that improvements are still necessary, notably in the following areas: validation of rating methodologies, to ensure that a credit rating assessment is a comprehensive risk assessment leading to high quality ratings; internal governance, ensuring the full independence of the internal review function and thereby reducing the risk of potential conflict of interest; and robust IT systems to support the rating process, including information security controls and protection of confidential rating information. These issues form the basis for much of ESMA’s supervision activities as outlined in its 2014 work plan. This includes the completion of the two on-going supervisory reviews into CRAs’ monitoring of structured finance ratings and into small and medium-sized CRAs. A new thematic investigation on how CRAs review and validate their rating methodologies will also be launched, as well as dedicated work on CRAs’ IT systems and controls. Following the entry into force of the amended CRA Regulation in June 2013, ESMA will also complete a specific assessment on CRAs’ compliance with the new regulatory requirements. Steven Maijoor, ESMA Chair, said: “ESMA is in its third year as the EU’s CRA regulator and today’s report provides us with an assessment of the progress made to date. However, as shown by our recent work on sovereign ratings there are still issues around governance as well as independence,objectivity and quality of the rating process that need to be remedied in order to restore market confidence in CRAs and their ratings. “We will continue to proactively and intrusively supervise CRAs and work with them to address their shortcomings. This will contribute to building confidence in the transparency and smooth functioning of EU financial markets while ensuring a high level of financial consumer protection.” The 2013 Report summarises how ESMA fulfilled its role as the supervisor of CRAs in the EU. It covers ESMA’s supervisory activities, progress in dealing with registrations, and its policy work in relation to existing and new legislative requirements. In particular, the Report focuses on the results of ESMA’s supervisory work through on-going supervision as well as thematic reviews, such as that into the sovereign ratings process of a number of CRAs, the inspections of small and medium-sized CRAs and a further inspection of the ratings publication controls in a single CRA.
03/12/2018 ESMA71-99-1071 Press release- ESMA registers A.M. Best (EU) Rating Services B.V. as credit rating agency Credit Rating Agencies Press Release PDF
299.01 KB
16/02/2015 2015/281 Press Release- ESMA publishes annual report and supervisory focus for CRAs and TRs Corporate Information, Credit Rating Agencies, Post Trading, Press Releases Press Release PDF
186.67 KB		 The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) has published today an annual report (Report) on its direct supervisory activities in 2014 regarding credit rating agencies (CRAs) and trade repositories (TR). The report summarises the key actions taken during 2014 and outlines ESMA’s supervisory work plans for both sectors for 2015.

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