ARC Ratings
ARC Ratings is a privately held international credit rating agency, headquartered in London, that assigns independent, ESMA/FCA-registered credit ratings to financial institutions, corporates, and structured finance transactions across the UK, Continental Europe, and Asia-Pacific.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1988
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What ARC Ratings does
ARC Ratings is a privately held international credit rating agency, organised under ARC Ratings Holdings Limited and operating through wholly owned subsidiaries ARC Ratings, S.A. (ESMA-registered, EU) and ARC Ratings (UK) Limited (FCA-registered). Founded approximately in 1988 and headquartered in London, the firm assigns independent credit ratings to financial institutions, corporate entities, and structured finance transactions including ABS, RMBS, NPL portfolios, and CLOs, with all ratings eligible for Basel III and Solvency II capital relief. The company has rated over €180 billion in structured finance transactions cumulatively, operates offices in London, Lisbon, Hong Kong, and Madrid, and is expanding in Southern Europe with its Madrid office commencing commercial operations in August 2026.
The firm's core product is credit rating services delivered through three documented methodologies: Financial Institutions, Corporate Entities, and Structured Finance. A fundamentals-based analytical framework is applied consistently across both public and private credit markets, supporting comparability and transparency in private credit where disclosure is limited. Adjacent products and brands include ARC Analytics (analytics and data services), ARC Risk Group (risk advisory), data visualisations on macroeconomic and credit topics, research publications, and the ARC Spotlight video interview series featuring industry executives.
Revenue is generated primarily through professional services fees charged to issuers on a case-by-case basis, calibrated to expected analytical work, business complexity, and sector risk, with multi-year contracts typical for structured finance surveillance. The go-to-market is enterprise field sales targeting issuers (banks, corporates, securitisation sponsors) and institutional investors who use ratings for regulatory capital relief. Distribution is direct, with published rating reports and issuer lists on arcratings.com, a 30-minute consultation booking system, and content-driven marketing through research, video, and LinkedIn to engage financial professionals across the UK, Continental Europe, and Asia-Pacific.
ARC Ratings firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- ARC Ratings
- Legal name
- ARC Ratings Holdings Limited
- Website
- https://arcratings.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1988
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- ARC Ratings is a privately held international credit rating agency, headquartered in London, that assigns independent, ESMA/FCA-registered credit ratings to financial institutions, corporates, and structured finance transactions across the UK, Continental Europe, and Asia-Pacific.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
ARC Ratings industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Credit Rating Services
- NAICS
- Credit Bureaus (561450)
- SIC
- Asset-Backed Securities (6189)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Structured Finance Ratings & Surveillance (FSACACAI)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Asset-Backed Securities (ABS) (FSACACAA)
Keywords
Where ARC Ratings is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices4 records
Markets served
ARC Ratings business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel
Revenue model
- Credit Rating Services: ARC Ratings charges issuers for credit rating assignments. The amount is established on a case-by-case basis depending on expected analytical work, complexity of the issuer's business, and assessment of the sector(s) in which the issuer operates. They also provide ancillary credit assessments and occasional analytical services.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Custom rating fee structure based on analytical complexity |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
ARC Ratings product offering
Product offeringCore offering
ARC Ratings is an international credit rating agency that assigns independent credit ratings to financial institutions, corporate entities, and structured finance transactions across both public and private markets. Ratings are issued using proprietary fundamentals-based methodologies and are eligible under Basel III and Solvency II regulatory frameworks, with ECAI status under EU Regulation No 575/2013. The firm charges issuers fees on a case-by-case basis calibrated to analytical complexity and sector.
Product overview
ARC Ratings is a global credit rating agency offering a comprehensive suite of rating services and analytical products. The core offering consists of credit ratings for financial institutions, corporate entities, and structured finance transactions, supported by detailed methodologies. The portfolio includes ARC Analytics (separate analytics brand), ARC Risk Group (risk services), data visualisation tools, research publications, and the ARC Spotlight video interview series. All ratings are eligible under Basel III and Solvency II regulations.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Credit Ratings Services Independent credit ratings for financial institutions, corporate entities, and structured finance transactions (including ABS, RMBS, NPLs, CLOs). Ratings are eligible under Basel III and Solvency II, with ECAI accreditation under EU Regulation No 575/2013 and Directive 2013/36/EU. Both solicited and unsolicited ratings are offered with ongoing surveillance.
- ARC Analytics Separate analytics brand operating under the ARC Ratings parent group, providing analytical tools and data services distinct from regulated credit rating services.
- ARC Risk Group Separate risk advisory brand operating alongside ARC Ratings and ARC Analytics within the ARC Group, providing risk-related services.
- Research Publications Subscription research reports covering European Consumer NPLs, BNPL securitisation, SRT transactions, private credit, RMBS, shipping, and CDMO diversification, distributed to institutional subscribers.
Quantifiable outcome
- €180 billion+ in structured finance transactions rated
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use ARC Ratings
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
ARC Ratings technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
ARC Ratings partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators4 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
ARC Ratings competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Moody's: One of the 'Big 3' global credit rating agencies with comprehensive ECAI status across jurisdictions. Moody's is a broad incumbent offering ratings, analytics, and risk solutions across virtually all asset classes — the dominant force ARC competes against, particularly in structured finance and financial institution ratings.
- S&P Global Ratings: Part of S&P Global, S&P Global Ratings is another 'Big 3' CRA with full regulatory recognition and broad coverage. It competes directly with ARC Ratings across structured finance, sovereigns, corporates, and financial institutions, and benefits from deeper integration with S&P's index and data franchises.
- Fitch Ratings: The third 'Big 3' CRA, owned by Hearst, providing ratings across the same asset classes as ARC. Fitch is a broad incumbent with established ECAI status globally and similar regulatory recognition, but with significantly larger analytical resources and investor adoption.
Direct peers
- KBRA (Kroll Bond Rating Agency): A mid-sized US-headquartered CRA with strong structured finance focus, ESMA registration in the EU, and recognition under Basel III and Solvency II. KBRA is one of the closest direct peers to ARC Ratings in terms of size, product mix (structured finance heavy), and ECAI-eligible regulatory status.
- DBRS Morningstar: Acquired by Morningstar in 2021, DBRS is a mid-tier CRA with similar positioning to ARC — strong in structured finance, ESMA-registered, and Basel III/Solvency II eligible. DBRS competes directly with ARC for structured finance mandates across European jurisdictions.
- Scope Ratings: A Frankfurt-based European-headquartered CRA with ESMA registration, ECAI status, and a focus on European structured finance, bank, and corporate ratings. Scope is arguably the closest peer in geographic footprint and mission — both are smaller, Europe-anchored alternatives to the Big 3.
- Egan-Jones Ratings: A US-based NRSRO-rated CRA focused on smaller, middle-market, and structured finance issuers. Egan-Jones is a direct competitor for tier-2 structured finance mandates and shares ARC's positioning as a non-Big-3 alternative for capital-relief-eligible ratings.
Emerging players
- A.M. Best: Specialty rating agency focused on the insurance industry, with global regulatory recognition (including Solvency II). A.M. Best is a partially overlapping peer — it competes with ARC's insurance-related ratings and shares the niche-CRA positioning outside the Big 3.
Regional players
- HR Ratings: A Mexico-based CRA serving Latin American structured finance, corporate, and sovereign markets. While geographically separate, HR Ratings is a comparable mid-sized CRA in its ECAI positioning and structured-finance-led business model.
Others
- ARC Analytics: A sub-brand of ARC Ratings Holdings providing analytical tools and data services separate from credit ratings. While not a separate competing entity, it represents the analytical/data-product positioning that adjacent fintech data providers (e.g., Bloomberg, S&P Capital IQ, Refinitiv) also serve, providing ecosystem context for ARC's diversification strategy.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
ARC Ratings social profiles
Digital presenceARC Ratings financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
ARC Ratings leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
ARC Ratings subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
ARC Ratings funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
ARC Ratings M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about ARC Ratings
What does ARC Ratings do?
ARC Ratings is an international credit rating agency that assigns independent credit ratings to financial institutions, corporate entities, and structured finance transactions across both public and private markets. Ratings are issued using proprietary fundamentals-based methodologies and are eligible under Basel III and Solvency II regulatory frameworks, with ECAI status under EU Regulation No 575/2013. The firm charges issuers fees on a case-by-case basis calibrated to analytical complexity and sector.
Is ARC Ratings a public or private company?
ARC Ratings is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was ARC Ratings founded?
ARC Ratings was founded in 1988. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is ARC Ratings based?
ARC Ratings is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does ARC Ratings make money?
One revenue line is on record: credit Rating Services.
Who are ARC Ratings's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Moody's, S&P Global Ratings and Fitch Ratings. Direct peers are KBRA (Kroll Bond Rating Agency), DBRS Morningstar, Scope Ratings and Egan-Jones Ratings. A.M. Best is listed as an emerging player. HR Ratings is listed as a regional player. ARC Analytics is listed as an others.
Does ARC Ratings have an API?
No public API is recorded for ARC Ratings.
What industry is ARC Ratings in?
ARC Ratings's product category is Credit Rating Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSACACAI, Structured Finance Ratings & Surveillance, with a secondary code of FSACACAA, Asset-Backed Securities (ABS). Its NAICS code is 561450 and its SIC code is 6189.