ARC Risk Group
ARC Risk Group is a London-headquartered financial services holding company operating ARC Ratings, an ECAI-recognised credit rating agency for structured finance and bank capital, and ARC Analytics, a freemium analytical tools suite, serving 75 financial institutions across 30 countries.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1989
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What ARC Risk Group does
ARC Risk Group is a privately held financial services holding company founded in 1989 and headquartered in London, operating two reportable divisions: ARC Ratings, a credit rating agency registered with the UK FCA and the EU's ESMA and recognised as an External Credit Assessment Institution (ECAI) by the European Banking Authority; and ARC Analytics, a suite of five analytical tools covering capital, credit, structured finance, climate and collateral data, distributed on a freemium model.
ARC Ratings generates fee-based revenue by issuing and surveilling credit ratings on structured finance and bank capital instruments, with a disclosed cumulative volume of €180bn+ of rated transactions across 30 countries. Its ECAI status is the core commercial lever, because it permits regulated EU counterparties to use ARC's ratings for regulatory capital calculations, placing ARC in competition with the incumbent global rating agencies. The platform is positioned around emerging and under-covered asset classes including private credit, residential and commercial mortgage portfolios, non-performing loans, PIK exposures and PE-backed brokers, where ARC has built a multi-decade track record and where it competes on methodology specialisation and European proximity rather than scale.
ARC Analytics monetises a related but distinct market: it distributes a freemium data and analytics product suite aimed at investors, policymakers and researchers, with the implied strategy of using free tools as a top-of-funnel for paid subscriptions and for ratings mandates. The group is supported by an advisory and senior leadership team drawn from S&P, Moody's, Fitch, Oliver Wyman and McKinsey, and operates continental European offices in Lisbon, Milan, Barcelona and Madrid alongside its London headquarters, with a dedicated AMEA business development function covering Asia, Middle East and Africa. The platform serves 75 disclosed leading financial institutions as clients.
ARC Risk Group firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- ARC Risk Group
- Legal name
- ARC Risk Group
- Website
- https://arcriskgroup.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1989
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- ARC Risk Group is a London-headquartered financial services holding company operating ARC Ratings, an ECAI-recognised credit rating agency for structured finance and bank capital, and ARC Analytics, a freemium analytical tools suite, serving 75 financial institutions across 30 countries.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
ARC Risk Group industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Credit Rating Services
- NAICS
- Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940), Securities, Commodity Contracts, and Other Financial Investments and Related Activities (523), Credit Bureaus (561450)
- SIC
- Asset-Backed Securities (6189), Investment Advice (6282)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Asset-Backed Securities (ABS) (FSACACAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Private Credit — Structured Credit (CLOs, ABS, Private Securitizations) (FSAHAJAH), Risk Management Consulting (Enterprise & Operational Risk) (FSAEADAG), Risk Analytics, Portfolio Monitoring & Early-Warning (Consumer Credit) (FSAKAKAH)
Keywords
Where ARC Risk Group is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices5 records
Markets served
ARC Risk Group business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Credit Ratings Services: ARC Ratings provides credit rating services to issuers and market participants across structured finance, financial institutions, and other asset classes. As an ECAI-recognized agency, they generate revenue through rating fees charged to issuers and potentially through subscription access for investors accessing ratings data.
- ARC Analytics Products: ARC Analytics provides analytical tools, data, and insights to market participants. Products are freely available without paywall barriers, reflecting a freemium model where basic access is free with potential premium features or services available.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Free access to ARC Analytics products |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels5 records
ARC Risk Group product offering
Product offeringCore offering
ARC Risk Group operates through two divisions: ARC Ratings, a Pan-European credit rating agency recognized as an External Credit Assessment Institution (ECAI) by the European Banking Authority providing credit assessments for structured finance, financial institutions, and trade finance transactions; and ARC Analytics, a suite of free analytical tools (Insurance Risk Tool, Banking Risk Tool, Portfolio Risk Calculator, Transaction Hub, Cash Flow Simulator) supporting credit risk evaluation across asset classes for 75 leading financial institutions across 30 countries.
Product overview
ARC Risk Group operates as a dual-division platform comprising ARC Ratings and ARC Analytics. ARC Ratings is a Pan-European credit rating agency providing credit assessments recognized by the European Banking Authority. ARC Analytics is a suite of five analytical tools—Insurance Risk Tool, Banking Risk Tool, Portfolio Risk Calculator, Transaction Hub, and Cash Flow Simulator—offered freely without paywalls to support risk analysis across structured finance, financial institutions, and trade finance. Additional offerings include ARC Spotlight (interview series) and ARC Research (research reports).
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- ARC Ratings: Pan-European credit rating agency providing credit ratings and research, recognized as an External Credit Assessment Institution (ECAI) by the European Banking Authority. Operates through ARC Ratings (UK) Ltd and ARC Ratings, S.A.
- ARC Analytics
Products and services
- ARC Ratings Pan-European credit rating agency providing credit assessments for transactions across structured finance, financial institutions, and trade finance, recognized as an External Credit Assessment Institution (ECAI) by the European Banking Authority, registered with the FCA and ESMA.
- Insurance Risk Tool Generates a credit risk assessment score for insurers and reinsurers and analyses key underlying drivers of credit risk for insurance market participants.
- Banking Risk Tool Evaluates the credit risk of banks, mortgage lenders, credit unions, development banks, and other banking institutions for financial market participants.
- Portfolio Risk Calculator Analyses the default risk of various loan portfolios ranging from CLO/CDOs to trade, consumer, and project finance for investors and arrangers.
- Transaction Hub Provides informative data on transactions in the Structured Finance universe for market participants conducting research and due diligence.
- Cash Flow Simulator Runs comprehensive scenario analysis to assess the ability of a Structured Finance transaction to fulfil required liability payments for arrangers and investors.
Quantifiable outcome
- €180bn+ in rated transactions across 30 countries
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use ARC Risk Group
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
ARC Risk Group technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
ARC Risk Group partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights7 records
ARC Risk Group competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Fitch Ratings: The third major global credit rating agency. Overlaps with ARC Ratings on structured finance, financial institutions, and trade finance ratings, with broader asset class coverage.
- S&P Global Ratings: Another of the three dominant global CRAs. Directly comparable to ARC Ratings' structured finance and financial institution ratings business, with deep global issuer and investor reach.
- Moody's Ratings: One of the three dominant global credit rating agencies. Directly comparable to ARC Ratings across structured finance, financial institutions, and ABS/CLO ratings, but operates at vastly greater scale with full global coverage.
Direct peers
- Scope Ratings: A Frankfurt-based European-headquartered ECAI-recognised rating agency. The closest direct geographic and strategic peer to ARC Ratings, competing for European structured finance and corporate mandates.
- DBRS Morningstar: A Canadian-headquartered ECAI-rated CRA covering structured finance, financial institutions, and corporate ratings. A direct ECAI-level competitor to ARC Ratings across European structured finance mandates.
- KBRA (Kroll Bond Rating Agency): A US-headquartered non-Big-3 CRA with growing structured finance and private credit rating franchise. Closely comparable challenger model to ARC Ratings, focused on ECAI-grade ratings outside the dominant three.
Regional players
- GCR Ratings (Global Credit Rating): An Africa-focused rating agency with ECAI-equivalent recognition in some jurisdictions. Comparable as a regional CRA challenger, and notably where ARC's own leadership comes from (David King, former GCR CEO).
- Lianhe Ratings Global: A China-linked international CRA focused on cross-border structured finance. Comparable as a non-Big-3 ECAI-equivalent rating agency, with Stan Ho (ARC advisory board) as its founding CEO.
Emerging players
- HR Ratings: A Mexico-headquartered CRA with growing structured finance capabilities. Comparable as an emerging non-Big-3 CRA pursuing ECAI-equivalent mandates in Latin America, with overlapping analytical tooling.
- Egan-Jones Ratings: A US-based NRSRO-recognised challenger CRA. Comparable as a smaller, non-Big-3 rating agency pursuing niche and structured finance mandates, though primarily US-focused.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
ARC Risk Group social profiles
Digital presenceARC Risk Group compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
ARC Risk Group financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
ARC Risk Group leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles12 records
ARC Risk Group subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries3 records
ARC Risk Group funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
ARC Risk Group 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 Risk Group
What does ARC Risk Group do?
ARC Risk Group operates through two divisions: ARC Ratings, a Pan-European credit rating agency recognized as an External Credit Assessment Institution (ECAI) by the European Banking Authority providing credit assessments for structured finance, financial institutions, and trade finance transactions; and ARC Analytics, a suite of free analytical tools (Insurance Risk Tool, Banking Risk Tool, Portfolio Risk Calculator, Transaction Hub, Cash Flow Simulator) supporting credit risk evaluation across asset classes for 75 leading financial institutions across 30 countries.
Is ARC Risk Group a public or private company?
ARC Risk Group is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was ARC Risk Group founded?
ARC Risk Group was founded in 1989. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is ARC Risk Group based?
ARC Risk Group is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does ARC Risk Group make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Credit Ratings Services are the primary driver. The others are ARC Analytics Products.
Who are ARC Risk Group's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Fitch Ratings, S&P Global Ratings and Moody's Ratings. Direct peers are Scope Ratings, DBRS Morningstar and KBRA (Kroll Bond Rating Agency). Regional players are GCR Ratings (Global Credit Rating) and Lianhe Ratings Global. Emerging players are HR Ratings and Egan-Jones Ratings.
Does ARC Risk Group have an API?
No public API is recorded for ARC Risk Group.
What industry is ARC Risk Group in?
ARC Risk Group's product category is Credit Rating Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSACACAA, Asset-Backed Securities (ABS), with a secondary code of FSAHAJAH, Private Credit — Structured Credit (CLOs, ABS, Private Securitizations). Its NAICS code is 523940 and its SIC code is 6189.