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Document 02009R1060-20240109
Regulation (EC) No 1060/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 September 2009 on credit rating agencies (Text with EEA relevance)Text with EEA relevance
Consolidated text: Regulation (EC) No 1060/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 September 2009 on credit rating agencies (Text with EEA relevance)Text with EEA relevance
Regulation (EC) No 1060/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 September 2009 on credit rating agencies (Text with EEA relevance)Text with EEA relevance
This consolidated text may not include the following amendments:
Amending act | Amendment type | Subdivision concerned | Date of effect |
---|---|---|---|
32022R2554 | Modified by | annex III point 12 | 17/01/2025 |
32022R2554 | Modified by | annex I section A paragraph 4 unnumbered paragraph 1 | 17/01/2025 |
02009R1060 — EN — 09.01.2024 — 007.001
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REGULATION (EC) No 1060/2009 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 16 September 2009 on credit rating agencies (OJ L 302 17.11.2009, p. 1) |
Amended by:
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Official Journal |
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No |
page |
date |
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REGULATION (EU) No 513/2011 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 11 May 2011 |
L 145 |
30 |
31.5.2011 |
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DIRECTIVE 2011/61/EU OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 8 June 2011 |
L 174 |
1 |
1.7.2011 |
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REGULATION (EU) No 462/2013 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 21 May 2013 |
L 146 |
1 |
31.5.2013 |
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DIRECTIVE 2014/51/EU OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 16 April 2014 |
L 153 |
1 |
22.5.2014 |
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REGULATION (EU) 2017/2402 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 12 December 2017 |
L 347 |
35 |
28.12.2017 |
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REGULATION (EU) 2023/2869 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 13 December 2023 |
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1 |
20.12.2023 |
Corrected by:
REGULATION (EC) No 1060/2009 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL
of 16 September 2009
on credit rating agencies
(Text with EEA relevance)
TITLE I
SUBJECT MATTER, SCOPE AND DEFINITIONS
Article 1
Subject matter
This Regulation introduces a common regulatory approach in order to enhance the integrity, transparency, responsibility, good governance and independence of credit rating activities, contributing to the quality of credit ratings issued in the Union and to the smooth functioning of the internal market, while achieving a high level of consumer and investor protection. It lays down conditions for the issuing of credit ratings and rules on the organisation and conduct of credit rating agencies, including their shareholders and members, to promote credit rating agencies’ independence, the avoidance of conflicts of interest, and the enhancement of consumer and investor protection.
This Regulation also lays down obligations for issuers and related third parties established in the Union regarding securitisation instruments.
Article 2
Scope
This Regulation does not apply to:
private credit ratings produced pursuant to an individual order and provided exclusively to the person who placed the order and which are not intended for public disclosure or distribution by subscription;
credit scores, credit scoring systems or similar assessments related to obligations arising from consumer, commercial or industrial relationships;
credit ratings produced by export credit agencies in accordance with point 1.3 of Part 1 of Annex VI to Directive 2006/48/EC; or
credit ratings produced by the central banks and which:
are not paid for by the rated entity;
are not disclosed to the public;
are issued in accordance with the principles, standards and procedures which ensure the adequate integrity and independence of credit rating activities as provided for by this Regulation; and
do not relate to financial instruments issued by the respective central banks’ Member States.
▼M4 —————
In order to ensure the uniform application of paragraph 2(d), the Commission may, upon submission of a request by a Member State, in accordance with the regulatory procedure referred to in Article 38(3) and in accordance with paragraph 2(d) of this Article, adopt a decision stating that a central bank falls within the scope of that point and that its credit ratings are therefore exempt from the application of this Regulation.
The Commission shall publish on its website the list of central banks falling within the scope of paragraph 2(d) of this Article.
Article 3
Definitions
For the purpose of this Regulation, the following definitions shall apply:
‘credit rating’ means an opinion regarding the creditworthiness of an entity, a debt or financial obligation, debt security, preferred share or other financial instrument, or of an issuer of such a debt or financial obligation, debt security, preferred share or other financial instrument, issued using an established and defined ranking system of rating categories;
‘credit rating agency’ means a legal person whose occupation includes the issuing of credit ratings on a professional basis;
‘home Member State’ means the Member State in which the credit rating agency has its registered office;
‘rating analyst’ means a person who performs analytical functions that are necessary for the issuing of a credit rating;
‘lead rating analyst’ means a person with primary responsibility for elaborating a credit rating or for communicating with the issuer with respect to a particular credit rating or, generally, with respect to the credit rating of a financial instrument issued by that issuer and, where relevant, for preparing recommendations to the rating committee in relation to such rating;
‘rated entity’ means a legal person whose creditworthiness is explicitly or implicitly rated in the credit rating, whether or not it has solicited that credit rating and whether or not it has provided information for that credit rating;
‘regulatory purposes’ means the use of credit ratings for the specific purpose of complying with Union law, or with Union law as implemented by the national legislation of the Member States;
‘rating category’ means a rating symbol, such as a letter or numerical symbol which might be accompanied by appending identifying characters, used in a credit rating to provide a relative measure of risk to distinguish the different risk characteristics of the types of rated entities, issuers and financial instruments or other assets;
‘related third party’ means the originator, arranger, sponsor, servicer or any other party that interacts with a credit rating agency on behalf of a rated entity, including any person directly or indirectly linked to that rated entity by control;
‘control’ means the relationship between a parent undertaking and a subsidiary, as described in Article 1 of Council Directive 83/349/EEC of 13 June 1983 on consolidated accounts ( 1 ), or a close link between any natural or legal person and an undertaking;
‘financial instrument’ means any of the instruments listed in Section C of Annex I to Directive 2004/39/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 April 2004 on markets in financial instruments ( 2 );
‘securitisation instrument’ means a financial instrument or other assets resulting from a securitisation transaction or scheme referred to in Article 2(1) of Regulation (EU) 2017/2402 (Securitisation Regulation);
‘group of credit rating agencies’ means a group of undertakings established in the ►M3 Union ◄ consisting of a parent undertaking and its subsidiaries within the meaning of Articles 1 and 2 of Directive 83/349/EEC as well as undertakings linked to each other by a relationship within the meaning of Article 12(1) of Directive 83/349/EEC and whose occupation includes the issuing of credit ratings. For the purposes of Article 4(3)(a), a group of credit rating agencies shall also include credit rating agencies established in third countries;
‘senior management’ means the person or persons who effectively direct the business of the credit rating agency and the member or members of its administrative or supervisory board;
‘credit rating activities’ means data and information analysis and the evaluation, approval, issuing and review of credit ratings;
‘competent authorities’ means the authorities designated by each Member State in accordance with Article 22;
‘credit institution’ means a credit institution as defined in point (1) of Article 4 of Directive 2006/48/EC;
‘investment firm’ means an investment firm as defined in point (1) of Article 4(1) of Directive 2004/39/EC;
‘insurance undertaking’ means an insurance undertaking as defined in point (1) of Article 13 of Directive 2009/138/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 November 2009 on the taking-up and pursuit of the business of Insurance and Reinsurance (Solvency II) ( 3 );
‘reinsurance undertaking’ means a reinsurance undertaking as defined in point (4) of Article 13 of Directive 2009/138/EC;
‘institution for occupational retirement provision’ means an institution for occupational retirement provision as defined in Article 6(a) of Directive 2003/41/EC;
‘management company’ means a management company as defined in Article 2(1)(b) of Directive 2009/65/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 July 2009 on the coordination of laws, regulations and administrative provisions relating to undertakings for collective investment in transferable securities (UCITS) ( 4 );
‘investment company’ means an investment company authorised in accordance with Directive 2009/65/EC;
‘alternative investment fund manager’ means an AIFM as defined in Article 4(1)(b) of Directive 2011/61/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 8 June 2011 on Alternative Investment Fund Managers ( 5 );
‘central counterparty’ means a CCP as defined in point (1) of Article 2 of Regulation (EU) No 648/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 4 July 2012 on OTC derivatives, central counterparties and trade repositories ( 6 ) which is authorised in accordance with Article 14 of that Regulation;
‘prospectus’ means a prospectus published under Directive 2003/71/EC and Regulation (EC) No 809/2004;
‘sectoral legislation’ means the legislative acts of the Union referred to in points (pa) to (pj);
‘sectoral competent authorities’ means the national competent authorities designated under the relevant sectoral legislation for the supervision of credit institutions, investment firms, insurance undertakings, reinsurance undertakings, institutions for occupational retirement provision, management companies, investment companies, alternative investment fund managers, central counterparties and prospectuses;
‘issuer’ means an issuer as defined in Article 2(1)(h) of Directive 2003/71/EC;
‘originator’ means an originator as defined in point (41) of Article 4 of Directive 2006/48/EC;
‘sponsor’ means a sponsor as defined in point (42) of Article 4 of Directive 2006/48/EC;
‘sovereign rating’ means:
a credit rating where the entity rated is a State or a regional or local authority of a State;
a credit rating where the issuer of the debt or financial obligation, debt security or other financial instrument is a State or a regional or local authority of a State, or a special purpose vehicle of a State or of a regional or local authority;
a credit rating where the issuer is an international financial institution established by two or more States which has the purpose of mobilising funding and providing financial assistance for the benefit of the members of that international financial institution which are experiencing or threatened by severe financing problems;
‘rating outlook’ means an opinion regarding the likely direction of a credit rating over the short term, the medium term or both;
‘unsolicited credit rating’ and ‘unsolicited sovereign rating’ mean, respectively, a credit rating or a sovereign rating assigned by a credit rating agency other than upon request;
‘credit score’ means a measure of creditworthiness derived from summarising and expressing data based only on a pre-established statistical system or model, without any additional substantial rating-specific analytical input from a rating analyst;
‘regulated market’ means a regulated market as defined in point (14) of Article 4(1) of Directive 2004/39/EC and established in the Union;
‘re-securitisation’ means re-securitisation as defined in point (40a) of Article 4 of Directive 2006/48/EC.
For the purposes of paragraph 1(a), the following shall not be considered to be credit ratings:
recommendations within the meaning of Article 1(3) of Commission Directive 2003/125/EC ( 7 );
investment research as defined in Article 24(1) of Directive 2006/73/EC ( 8 ) and other forms of general recommendation, such as ‘buy’, ‘sell’ or ‘hold’, relating to transactions in financial instruments or to financial obligations; or
opinions about the value of a financial instrument or a financial obligation.
Article 4
Use of credit ratings
Where a prospectus contains a reference to a credit rating or credit ratings, the issuer, offeror, or person asking for admission to trading on a regulated market shall ensure that the prospectus also includes clear and prominent information stating whether or not such credit ratings are issued by a credit rating agency established in the Union and registered under this Regulation.
A credit rating agency established in the ►M3 Union ◄ and registered in accordance with this Regulation may endorse a credit rating issued in a third country only when credit rating activities resulting in the issuing of such a credit rating comply with the following conditions:
the credit rating activities resulting in the issuing of the credit rating to be endorsed are undertaken in whole or in part by the endorsing credit rating agency or by credit rating agencies belonging to the same group;
the credit rating agency has verified and is able to demonstrate on an ongoing basis to the European Supervisory Authority (European Securities and Markets Authority) (ESMA) established by Regulation (EU) No 1095/2010 of the European Parliament and of the Council ( 10 ), that the conduct of the credit rating activities by the third-country credit rating agency resulting in the issuing of the credit rating to be endorsed fulfils requirements which are at least as stringent as the requirements set out in Articles 6 to 12 and Annex I, with the exception of Articles 6a, 6b, 8a, ►M5 8b, ◄ 8c and 11a, point (ba) of point 3 and points 3a and 3b of Section B of Annex I.
the ability of ESMA to assess and monitor the compliance of the credit rating agency established in the third country with the requirements referred to in point (b) is not limited;
the credit rating agency makes available on request to ESMA all the information necessary to enable ESMA to supervise on an ongoing basis the compliance with the requirements of this Regulation;
there is an objective reason for the credit rating to be elaborated in a third country;
the credit rating agency established in the third country is authorised or registered, and is subject to supervision, in that third country;
the regulatory regime in that third country prevents interference by the competent authorities and other public authorities of that third country with the content of credit ratings and methodologies; and
there is an appropriate cooperation arrangement between ESMA and the relevant supervisory authority of the credit rating agency established in a third country. ESMA shall ensure that such a cooperation arrangement shall specify at least:
the mechanism for the exchange of information between ESMA and the relevant supervisory authority of the credit rating agency established in a third country; and
the procedures concerning the coordination of supervisory activities in order to enable ESMA to monitor credit rating activities resulting in the issuing of the endorsed credit rating on an ongoing basis.
A credit rating endorsed in accordance with paragraph 3 shall be considered to be a credit rating issued by a credit rating agency established in the ►M3 Union ◄ and registered in accordance with this Regulation.
A credit rating agency established in the ►M3 Union ◄ and registered in accordance with this Regulation shall not use such endorsement with the intention of avoiding the requirements of this Regulation.
Article 5
Equivalence and certification based on equivalence
The credit ratings that are related to entities established or financial instruments issued in third countries and that are issued by a credit rating agency established in a third country may be used in the ►M3 Union ◄ under Article 4(1) without being endorsed in accordance with Article 4(3), provided that:
the credit rating agency is authorised or registered in and is subject to supervision in that third country;
the Commission has adopted an equivalence decision in accordance with paragraph 6 of this Article, recognising the legal and supervisory framework of that third country as equivalent to the requirements of this Regulation;
the cooperation arrangements referred to in paragraph 7 of this Article are operational;
the credit ratings issued by the credit rating agency and its credit rating activities are not of systemic importance to the financial stability or integrity of the financial markets of one or more Member States; and
the credit rating agency is certified in accordance with paragraph 2 of this Article.
ESMA shall examine and decide on the application for certification in accordance with the procedure set out in Article 16. The certification decision shall be based on the criteria set out in points (a) to (d) of paragraph 1 of this Article.
The certification decision shall be notified and published in accordance with Article 18.
The credit rating agency referred to in paragraph 1 may also apply to be exempted:
on a case-by-case basis from complying with some or all of the requirements set out in Section A of Annex I and Article 7(4) if the credit rating agency is able to demonstrate that the requirements are not proportionate in view of the nature, scale and complexity of its business and the nature and range of its issuing of credit ratings;
from the requirement of physical presence in the Union where such a requirement would be too burdensome and disproportionate in view of the nature, scale and complexity of its business and the nature and range of its issuing of credit ratings.
An application for an exemption under point (a) or (b) of the first subparagraph shall be submitted by the credit rating agency together with the application for certification. When assessing such an application, ESMA shall take into consideration the size of the credit rating agency referred to in paragraph 1, having regard to the nature, scale and complexity of its business and the nature and range of its issuing of credit ratings, as well as the impact of the credit ratings issued by the credit rating agency on the financial stability and integrity of the financial markets of one or more Member States. On the basis of those considerations, ESMA may grant such exemption to the credit rating agency referred to in paragraph 1.
▼M1 —————
The Commission may adopt an equivalence decision in accordance with the regulatory procedure referred to in Article 38(3), stating that the legal and supervisory framework of a third country ensures that credit rating agencies authorised or registered in that third country comply with legally binding requirements which are equivalent to the requirements resulting from this Regulation and which are subject to effective supervision and enforcement in that third country.
A third-country legal and supervisory framework may be considered equivalent to this Regulation if that framework fulfils at least the following conditions:
credit rating agencies in that third country are subject to authorisation or registration and are subject to effective supervision and enforcement on an ongoing basis;
credit rating agencies in that third country are subject to legally binding rules which are equivalent to those set out in Articles 6 to 12 and Annex I, with the exception of Articles 6a, 6b, 8a, ►M5 8b, ◄ 8c and 11a, point (ba) of point 3 and points 3a and 3b of Section B of Annex I; and
the regulatory regime in that third country prevents interference by the supervisory authorities and other public authorities of that third country with the content of credit ratings and methodologies.
In order to take account of developments on financial markets, the Commission shall adopt, by means of delegated acts in accordance with Article 38a, and subject to the conditions of Articles 38b and 38c, measures to specify further or amend the criteria set out in points (a), (b) and (c) of the second subparagraph of this paragraph.
ESMA shall establish cooperation agreements with the relevant supervisory authorities of third countries whose legal and supervisory frameworks have been considered equivalent to this Regulation in accordance with paragraph 6. Such arrangements shall specify at least:
the mechanism for the exchange of information between ESMA and the relevant supervisory authorities of the third countries concerned; and
the procedures concerning the coordination of supervisory activities.
Article 5a
Over-reliance on credit ratings by financial institutions
Article 5b
Reliance on credit ratings by the European Supervisory Authorities and the European Systemic Risk Board
Article 5c
Over-reliance on credit ratings in Union law
Without prejudice to its right of initiative, the Commission shall continue to review whether references to credit ratings in Union law trigger or have the potential to trigger sole or mechanistic reliance on credit ratings by the competent authorities, the sectoral competent authorities, the entities referred to in the first subparagraph of Article 4(1) or other financial market participants with a view to deleting all references to credit ratings in Union law for regulatory purposes by 1 January 2020, provided that appropriate alternatives to credit risk assessment have been identified and implemented.
TITLE II
ISSUING OF CREDIT RATINGS
Article 6
Independence and avoidance of conflicts of interest
At the request of a credit rating agency, ESMA may exempt a credit rating agency from complying with the requirements of points 2, 5, 6 and 9 of Section A of Annex I and Article 7(4) if the credit rating agency is able to demonstrate that those requirements are not proportionate in view of the nature, scale and complexity of its business and the nature and range of issue of credit ratings and that:
the credit rating agency has fewer than 50 employees;
the credit rating agency has implemented measures and procedures, in particular internal control mechanisms, reporting arrangements and measures ensuring independence of rating analysts and persons approving credit ratings, which ensure the effective compliance with the objectives of this Regulation; and
the size of the credit rating agency is not determined in such a way as to avoid compliance with the requirements of this Regulation by a credit rating agency or a group of credit rating agencies.
In the case of a group of credit rating agencies, ESMA shall ensure that at least one of the credit rating agencies in the group is not exempted from complying with the requirements of points 2, 5 and 6 of Section A of Annex I and Article 7(4).
Article 6a
Conflicts of interest concerning investments in credit rating agencies
A shareholder or a member of a credit rating agency holding at least 5 % of either the capital or the voting rights in that credit rating agency or in a company which has the power to exercise control or a dominant influence over that credit rating agency, shall be prohibited from:
holding 5 % or more of the capital of any other credit rating agency;
having the right or the power to exercise 5 % or more of the voting rights in any other credit rating agency;
having the right or the power to appoint or remove members of the administrative or supervisory board of any other credit rating agency;
being a member of the administrative or supervisory board of any other credit rating agency;
exercising or having the power to exercise control or a dominant influence over any other credit rating agency.
The prohibition referred to in point (a) of the first subparagraph does not apply to holdings in diversified collective investment schemes, including managed funds such as pension funds or life insurance, provided that the holdings in such schemes do not put the shareholder or member of a credit rating agency in a position to exercise significant influence on the business activities of those schemes.
Article 6b
Maximum duration of the contractual relationship with a credit rating agency
Where a credit rating agency enters into a contract for rating re-securitisations, it shall request that the issuer:
determine the number of credit rating agencies which have a contractual relationship for the issuing of credit ratings on re-securitisations with underlying assets from the same originator;
calculate the percentage of the total number of outstanding rated re-securitisations with underlying assets from the same originator for which each credit rating agency issues credit ratings.
Where at least four credit rating agencies each rate more than 10 % of the total number of outstanding rated re-securitisations, the limitations set out in paragraph 1 shall not apply.
The exemption set out in the second subparagraph shall continue to apply at least until the credit rating agency enters into a new contract for rating re-securitisations with underlying assets from the same originator. Where the criteria set out in the second subparagraph are not met when entering into such a contract, the period referred to in paragraph 1 shall be calculated from the date on which the new contract was entered into.
The first subparagraph shall also apply to:
a credit rating agency belonging to the same group of credit rating agencies as the credit rating agency referred to in paragraph 1;
a credit rating agency which is a shareholder or member of the credit rating agency referred to in paragraph 1;
a credit rating agency in which the credit rating agency referred to in paragraph 1 is a shareholder or member.
Article 7
Rating analysts, employees and other persons involved in the issuing of credit ratings
Article 8
Methodologies, models and key rating assumptions
Where a credit rating agency is using an existing credit rating prepared by another credit rating agency with respect to underlying assets or ►M5 securitisation instruments ◄ , it shall not refuse to issue a credit rating of an entity or a financial instrument because a portion of the entity or the financial instrument had been previously rated by another credit rating agency.
A credit rating agency shall record all instances where in its credit rating process it departs from existing credit ratings prepared by another credit rating agency with respect to underlying assets or ►M5 securitisation instruments ◄ providing a justification for the differing assessment.
Sovereign ratings shall be reviewed at least every six months.
Where rating methodologies, models or key rating assumptions used in credit rating activities are changed in accordance with Article 14(3), a credit rating agency shall:
immediately, using the same means of communication as used for the distribution of the affected credit ratings, disclose the likely scope of credit ratings to be affected;
immediately inform ESMA and publish on its website the results of the consultation and the new rating methodologies together with a detailed explanation thereof and their date of application;
immediately publish on its website the responses to the consultation referred to in paragraph 5a except in cases where confidentiality is requested by the respondent to the consultation;
review the affected credit ratings as soon as possible and no later than six months after the change, in the meantime placing those ratings under observation; and
re-rate all credit ratings that have been based on those methodologies, models or key rating assumptions if, following the review, the overall combined effect of the changes affects those credit ratings.
Where a credit rating agency becomes aware of errors in its rating methodologies or in their application it shall immediately:
notify those errors to ESMA and all affected rated entities explaining the impact on its ratings including the need to review issued ratings;
where errors have an impact on its credit ratings, publish those errors on its website;
correct those errors in the rating methodologies; and
apply the measures referred to in points (a), (b) and (c) of paragraph 6.
Article 8a
Sovereign ratings
▼M5 —————
Article 8c
Double credit rating of ►M5 securitisation instruments ◄
The issuer or a related third party as referred to in paragraph 1 shall ensure that the appointed credit rating agencies comply with the following conditions:
they do not belong to the same group of credit rating agencies;
they are not a shareholder or a member of any of the other credit rating agencies;
they do not have the right or the power to exercise voting rights in any of the other credit rating agencies;
they do not have the right or the power to appoint or remove members of the administrative or supervisory board of any of the other credit rating agencies;
none of the members of their administrative or supervisory boards are a member of the administrative or supervisory boards of any of the other credit rating agencies;
they do not exercise, or have the power to exercise, control or a dominant influence over any of the other credit rating agencies.
Article 8d
Use of multiple credit rating agencies
Article 9
Outsourcing
Outsourcing of important operational functions shall not be undertaken in such a way as to impair materially the quality of the credit rating agency's internal control and the ability of ESMA to supervise the credit rating agency's compliance with obligations under this Regulation.
Article 10
Disclosure and presentation of credit ratings
The first subparagraph shall also apply to credit ratings that are distributed by subscription.
Article 6(3) of that Directive shall apply mutatis mutandis to credit rating agencies as regards their duty of confidentiality and their obligation to maintain a list of persons who have access to their credit ratings, rating outlooks or related information before disclosure.
The list of persons to whom credit ratings, rating outlooks and information relating thereto are communicated before being disclosed shall be limited to persons identified by each rated entity for that purpose.
Where a credit rating agency issues an unsolicited credit rating, it shall state prominently in the credit rating, using a clearly distinguishable different colour code for the rating category, whether or not the rated entity or a related third party participated in the credit rating process and whether the credit rating agency had access to the accounts, management and other relevant internal documents for the rated entity or a related third party.
Unsolicited credit ratings shall be identified as such.
Article 11
General and periodic disclosures
Article 11a
European rating platform
The central repository referred to in Article 11(2) shall be incorporated in the European rating platform.
The European single access point (ESAP) established under Regulation (EU) 2023/2859 of the European Parliament and of the Council ( 14 ) may fulfil the functions of the European rating platform.
Article 12
Transparency report
A credit rating agency shall publish annually a transparency report which includes information on matters set out in Part III of Section E of Annex I. The credit rating agency shall publish its transparency report at the latest three months after the end of each financial year and shall ensure that it remains available on the website of the agency for at least five years.
Article 13
Public disclosure fees
A credit rating agency shall not charge a fee for the information provided in accordance with Articles 8 to 12.
Article 13a
Accessibility of information on ESAP
That information shall comply with the following requirements:
be submitted in a data extractable format as defined in Article 2, point (3), of Regulation (EU) 2023/2859 or, where required by Union law, in a machine-readable format as defined in Article 2, point (4), of that Regulation;
be accompanied by the following metadata:
all the names of the credit rating agency to which the information relates;
the legal entity identifier of the credit rating agency, as specified pursuant to Article 7(4), point (b), of Regulation (EU) 2023/2859;
the size of the credit rating agency by category, as specified pursuant to Article 7(4), point (d), of that Regulation;
the type of information, as classified pursuant to Article 7(4), point (c), of that Regulation;
an indication of whether the information contains personal data;
the country of the registered office of the credit rating agency to which the information relates;
the industry sector(s) of the economic activities of the credit rating agency to which the information relates, as specified pursuant to Article 7(4), point (e), of that Regulation.
That information shall comply with the following requirements:
be submitted in a data extractable format as defined in Article 2, point (3), of Regulation (EU) 2023/2859;
be accompanied by the following metadata:
all the names of the credit rating agency and of the rated entity to which the information relates;
where available, the legal entity identifier of the credit rating agency and of the rated entity, as specified pursuant to Article 7(4), point (b), of Regulation (EU) 2023/2859;
the type of information, as classified pursuant to Article 7(4), point (c), of that Regulation;
an indication of whether the information contains personal data.
For the purpose of ensuring the efficient collection and management of information submitted in accordance with paragraph 1, ESMA shall develop draft implementing technical standards to specify the following:
any other metadata to accompany the information;
the structuring of data in the information;
for which information a machine-readable format is required and, in such cases, which machine-readable format is to be used.
For the purposes of point (c), ESMA shall assess the advantages and disadvantages of different machine-readable formats and conduct appropriate field tests.
ESMA shall submit those draft implementing technical standards to the Commission.
Power is conferred on the Commission to adopt the implementing technical standards referred to in the first subparagraph of this paragraph in accordance with Article 15 of Regulation (EU) No 1095/2010.
TITLE III
SURVEILLANCE OF CREDIT RATING ACTIVITIES
CHAPTER I
Registration procedure
Article 14
Requirement for registration
A registered credit rating agency shall comply at all times with the conditions for initial registration.
A credit rating agency shall, without undue delay, notify ESMA of any material changes to the conditions for initial registration, including any opening or closing of a branch within the Union.
Without prejudice to the second subparagraph, the credit rating agency shall notify ESMA of the intended material changes to the rating methodologies, models or key rating assumptions or the proposed new rating methodologies, models or key rating assumptions when the credit rating agency publishes the proposed changes or proposed new rating methodologies on its website in accordance with Article 8(5a). After the expiry of the consultation period, the credit rating agency shall notify ESMA of any changes due to the consultation.
Article 15
Application for registration
After assessing an application as complete, ESMA shall notify the credit rating agency accordingly.
Article 16
Examination of the application for registration of a credit rating agency by ESMA
ESMA may extend the period of examination by 15 working days, in particular if the credit rating agency:
envisages endorsing credit ratings as referred to in Article 4(3);
envisages using outsourcing; or
requests exemption from compliance in accordance with Article 6(3).
Article 17
Examination of the applications for registration of a group of credit rating agencies by ESMA
ESMA may extend the period of examination by 15 working days, in particular if any of the credit rating agencies in the group:
envisages endorsing credit ratings as referred to in Article 4(3);
envisages using outsourcing; or
requests exemption from compliance in accordance with Article 6(3).
Article 18
Notification of a decision to register, refuse or withdraw registration, and publication of the list of registered credit rating agencies
Article 19
Registration and supervisory fees
The amount of a fee charged to a credit rating agency shall cover all administrative costs and be proportionate to the turnover of the credit rating agency concerned.
The Commission shall adopt the regulation on fees referred to in the first subparagraph by means of a delegated act in accordance with Article 38a and subject to the conditions of Articles 38b and 38c.
Article 20
Withdrawal of registration
Without prejudice to Article 24, ESMA shall withdraw the registration of a credit rating agency where the credit rating agency:
expressly renounces the registration or has provided no credit ratings for the preceding six months;
obtained the registration by making false statements or by any other irregular means; or
no longer meets the conditions under which it was registered.
CHAPTER II
Supervision by ESMA
Article 21
ESMA
ESMA shall develop draft regulatory technical standards to specify:
the information to be provided by a credit rating agency in its application for registration as set out in Annex II;
information that the credit rating agency must provide for the application for certification and for the assessment of its systemic importance to the financial stability or integrity of financial markets referred to in Article 5;
the presentation of the information, including structure, format, method and period of reporting, that credit rating agencies shall disclose in accordance with Article 11(2) and point 1 of Part II of Section E of Annex I;
the assessment of compliance of credit rating methodologies with the requirements set out in Article 8(3);
the content and format of ratings data periodic reporting to be requested from registered and certified credit rating agencies for the purpose of ongoing supervision by ESMA.
ESMA shall submit those draft regulatory technical standards to the Commission by 21 June 2014.
Power is delegated to the Commission to adopt the regulatory technical standards referred to in the first subparagraph in accordance with the procedure laid down in Articles 10 to 14 of Regulation (EU) No 1095/2010.
ESMA shall develop draft regulatory technical standards to specify:
the content and the presentation of the information, including structure, format, method and timing of reporting that credit rating agencies are to disclose to ESMA in accordance with Article 11a(1); and
the content and format of periodic reporting on fees charged by credit rating agencies for the purpose of ongoing supervision by ESMA.
ESMA shall submit those draft regulatory technical standards to the Commission by 21 June 2014.
Power is delegated to the Commission to adopt the regulatory technical standards referred to in the first subparagraph in accordance with the procedure laid down in Articles 10 to 14 of Regulation (EU) No 1095/2010.
ESMA shall report on the possibility of establishing one or more mappings of credit ratings submitted in accordance with Article 11a(1) and submit that report to the Commission by 21 June 2015. The report shall, in particular, assess:
the possibility, cost, and benefit of establishing one or more mappings;
how one or more mappings can be created without misrepresenting credit ratings in light of different rating methodologies;
any effects mappings could have on the regulatory technical standards developed to date in relation to Article 21(4a)(a) and (b).
ESMA shall consult EBA and EIOPA in regard to points (a) and (b) of the first subparagraph.
Article 22
Competent authorities
Article 22a
Examination of compliance with methodology requirements
Without prejudice to Article 23, ESMA shall also in the framework of the examination referred to in paragraph 1:
verify the execution of back-testing by credit rating agencies;
analyse the results of that back-testing; and
verify that the credit rating agencies have processes in place to take into account the results of the back-testing in their rating methodologies.
Article 23
Non-interference with content of ratings or methodologies
In carrying out their duties under this Regulation, ESMA, the Commission or any public authorities of a Member State shall not interfere with the content of credit ratings or methodologies.
Article 23a
Exercise of the powers referred to in Articles 23b to 23d
The powers conferred on ESMA or any official of or other person authorised by ESMA by Articles 23b to 23d shall not be used to require the disclosure of information or documents which are subject to legal privilege.
Article 23b
Requests for information
When sending a simple request for information under paragraph 1, ESMA shall:
refer to this Article as the legal basis for the request;
state the purpose of the request;
specify what information is required;
set a time-limit within which the information is to be provided;
inform the person from whom the information is requested that there is no obligation to provide the information but that any reply to the request for information must not be incorrect or misleading;
indicate the fine provided for in Article 36a, in conjunction with point 7 of Section II of Annex III, where the answers to questions asked are incorrect or misleading.
When requiring the supply of information under paragraph 1 by decision, ESMA shall:
refer to this Article as the legal basis for the request;
state the purpose of the request;
specify what information is required;
set a time-limit within which the information is to be provided;
indicate the periodic penalty payments provided for in Article 36b where the production of the required information is incomplete;
indicate the fine provided for in Article 36a, in conjunction with point 7 of Section II of Annex III, where the answers to questions asked are incorrect or misleading; and
indicate the right to appeal the decision before the Board of Appeal and to have the decision reviewed by the Court of Justice of the European Union in accordance with Articles 60 and 61 of Regulation (EU) No 1095/2010.
Article 23c
General investigations
In order to carry out its duties under this Regulation, ESMA may conduct all necessary investigations of persons referred to in Article 23b(1). To that end, the officials of and other persons authorised by ESMA shall be empowered to:
examine any records, data, procedures and any other material relevant to the execution of its tasks irrespective of the medium on which they are stored;
take or obtain certified copies of or extracts from such records, data, procedures and other material;
summon and ask any person referred to in Article 23b(1) or their representatives or staff for oral or written explanations on facts or documents related to the subject matter and purpose of the inspection and to record the answers;
interview any other natural or legal person who consents to be interviewed for the purpose of collecting information relating to the subject matter of an investigation;
request records of telephone and data traffic.
Article 23d
On-site inspections
Article 23e
Procedural rules for taking supervisory measures and imposing fines
In order to carry out his tasks, the investigating officer may exercise the power to require information in accordance with Article 23b and to conduct investigations and on-site inspections in accordance with Articles 23c and 23d. When using those powers, the investigating officer shall comply with Article 23a.
Where carrying out his tasks, the investigating officer shall have access to all documents and information gathered by ESMA in its supervisory activities.
The rights of defence of the persons concerned shall be fully respected during investigations under this Article.
The rules referred to in the first subparagraph shall be adopted by means of delegated acts in accordance with Article 38a and subject to the conditions of Articles 38b and 38c.
Article 24
Supervisory measures by ESMA
Where, in accordance with Article 23e(5), ESMA's Board of Supervisors finds that a credit rating agency has committed one of the infringements listed in Annex III, it shall take one or more of the following decisions:
withdraw the registration of the credit rating agency;
temporarily prohibit the credit rating agency from issuing credit ratings with effect throughout the Union, until the infringement has been brought to an end;
suspend the use, for regulatory purposes, of the credit ratings issued by the credit rating agency with effect throughout the Union, until the infringement has been brought to an end;
require the credit rating agency to bring the infringement to an end;
issue public notices.
When taking the decisions referred to in paragraph 1, ESMA's Board of Supervisors shall take into account the nature and seriousness of the infringement, having regard to the following criteria:
the duration and frequency of the infringement;
whether the infringement has revealed serious or systemic weaknesses in the undertaking's procedures or in its management systems or internal controls;
whether financial crime was facilitated, occasioned or otherwise attributable to the infringement;
whether the infringement has been committed intentionally or negligently.
Credit ratings may continue to be used for regulatory purposes following the adoption of the decisions referred to in points (a) and (c) of paragraph 1 during a period not exceeding:
10 working days from the date ESMA's decision is made public under paragraph 5 if there are credit ratings of the same financial instrument or entity issued by other credit rating agencies registered under this Regulation; or
three months from the date ESMA's decision is made public under paragraph 5 if there are no credit ratings of the same financial instrument or entity issued by other credit rating agencies registered under this Regulation.
ESMA's Board of Supervisors may extend, including following a request by EBA or EIOPA, the period referred to in point (b) of the first subparagraph by three months in exceptional circumstances relating to the potential for market disruption or financial instability.
When making public its decision as referred to in the first subparagraph, ESMA's Board of Supervisors shall also make public the right for the credit rating agency concerned to appeal the decision, the fact, where relevant, that such an appeal has been lodged, specifying that such an appeal does not have suspensive effect, and the fact that it is possible for the Board of Appeal to suspend the application of the contested decision in accordance with Article 60(3) of Regulation (EU) No 1095/2010.
Article 25
Hearing of the persons concerned
The first subparagraph shall not apply if urgent action is needed in order to prevent significant and imminent damage to the financial system. In such a case ESMA's Board of Supervisors may adopt an interim decision and shall give the persons concerned the opportunity to be heard as soon as possible after taking its decision.
Article 25a
Sectoral competent authorities responsible for the supervision and enforcement of Article 4(1) and Articles 5a, ►M5 8b, ◄ 8c and 8d
The sectoral competent authorities shall be responsible for the supervision and enforcement of Article 4(1) and Articles 5a, ►M5 8b, ◄ 8c and 8d in accordance with the relevant sectoral legislation.
CHAPTER III
Cooperation between ESMA, competent authorities and sectoral competent authorities
Article 26
Obligation to cooperate
ESMA, EBA, EIOPA, the competent authorities and the sectoral competent authorities shall cooperate where it is necessary for the purposes of this Regulation and for those of the relevant sectoral legislation.
Article 27
Exchange of information
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Article 30
Delegation of tasks by ESMA to competent authorities
Prior to the delegation of a task, ESMA shall consult the relevant competent authority. Such consultation shall concern:
the scope of the task to be delegated;
the timetable for the performance of the task to be delegated; and
the transmission of necessary information by and to ESMA.
A delegation of tasks shall not affect the responsibility of ESMA and shall not limit ESMA's ability to conduct and oversee the delegated activity. Supervisory responsibilities under this Regulation, including registration decisions, final assessments and follow-up decisions concerning infringements, shall not be delegated.
Article 31
Notifications and suspension requests by competent authorities
ESMA shall take appropriate action. It shall inform the notifying competent authority of the outcome and, as far as possible, of any significant interim developments.
Where ESMA considers that the request is not justified, it shall inform the notifying competent authority in writing, setting out the reasons. Where ESMA considers that the request is justified, it shall take the appropriate measures to resolve the issue.
Article 32
Professional secrecy
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CHAPTER IV
Cooperation with third countries
Article 34
Agreement on exchange of information
ESMA may conclude cooperation agreements on exchange of information with the supervisory authorities of third countries only if the information disclosed is subject to guarantees of professional secrecy which are at least equivalent to those set out in Article 32.
Such exchange of information shall be intended for the performance of the tasks of ESMA or those supervisory authorities.
With regard to transfer of personal data to a third country, ESMA shall apply Regulation (EC) No 45/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 December 2000 on the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data by the Community institutions and bodies and on the free movement of such data ( 16 ).
Article 35
Disclosure of information from third countries
ESMA may disclose the information received from supervisory authorities of third countries only if ESMA or a competent authority has obtained the express agreement of the supervisory authority that has transmitted the information and, where applicable, the information is disclosed only for the purposes for which that supervisory authority gave its agreement or where such disclosure is necessary for legal proceedings.
TITLE IIIA
CIVIL LIABILITY OF CREDIT RATING AGENCIES
Article 35a
Civil liability
An investor may claim damages under this Article where it establishes that it has reasonably relied, in accordance with Article 5a(1) or otherwise with due care, on a credit rating for a decision to invest into, hold onto or divest from a financial instrument covered by that credit rating.
An issuer may claim damages under this Article where it establishes that it or its financial instruments are covered by that credit rating and the infringement was not caused by misleading and inaccurate information provided by the issuer to the credit rating agency, directly or through information publicly available.
What constitutes accurate and detailed information shall be assessed by the competent national court, taking into consideration that the investor or issuer may not have access to information which is purely within the sphere of the credit rating agency.
The civil liability of credit rating agencies, as referred to in paragraph 1, shall only be limited in advance where that limitation is:
reasonable and proportionate; and
allowed by the applicable national law in accordance with paragraph 4.
Any limitation that does not comply with the first subparagraph, or any exclusion of civil liability shall be deprived of any legal effect.
TITLE IV
PENALTIES, COMMITTEE PROCEDURE, REPORTING AND TRANSITIONAL AND FINAL PROVISIONS
CHAPTER I
Penalties, fines, periodic penalty payments, committee procedure, delegated powers and reporting
Article 36
Penalties
Member States shall lay down the rules on penalties applicable to infringements of Article 4(1) and shall take all measures necessary to ensure that they are implemented. The penalties provided for shall be effective, proportionate and dissuasive.
Member States shall ensure that the sectoral competent authority disclose to the public every penalty that has been imposed for infringements of Article 4(1), unless such disclosure would seriously jeopardise the financial markets or cause disproportionate damage to the parties involved.
By 7 December 2010 the Member States shall notify the rules referred to in the first subparagraph to the Commission. They shall notify the Commission without delay of any subsequent amendment thereto.
Article 36a
Fines
An infringement by a credit rating agency shall be considered to have been committed intentionally if ESMA finds objective factors which demonstrate that the credit rating agency or its senior management acted deliberately to commit the infringement.
The basic amount of the fines referred to in paragraph 1 shall be included within the following limits:
for the infringements referred to in points 1 to 5, 11 to 15, 19, 20, 23, 26a to 26d, 28, 30, 32, 33, 35, 41, 43, 50, 51 and 55 to 62 of Section I of Annex III, the fines shall amount to at least EUR 500 000 and shall not exceed EUR 750 000 ;
for the infringements referred to in points 6, 7, 8, 16, 17, 18, 21, 22, 22a, 24, 25, 27, 29, 31, 34, 37 to 40, 42, 42a, 42b, 45 to 49a, 52, 53 and 54 of Section I of Annex III, the fines shall amount to at least EUR 300 000 and shall not exceed EUR 450 000 ;
for the infringements referred to in points 9, 10, 26, 36, 44 and 53 of Section I of Annex III, the fines shall amount to at least EUR 100 000 and shall not exceed EUR 200 000 ;
for the infringements referred to in points 1, 6, 7, 8 and 9 of Section II of Annex III, the fines shall amount to at least EUR 50 000 and shall not exceed EUR 150 000 ;
for the infringements referred to in points 2, 3a to 5 of Section II of Annex III, the fines shall amount to at least EUR 25 000 and shall not exceed EUR 75 000 ;
for the infringements referred to in point 3 of Section II of Annex III, the fines shall amount to at least EUR 10 000 and shall not exceed EUR 50 000 ;
for the infringements referred to in points 1 to 3 and 11 of Section III of Annex III, the fines shall amount to at least EUR 150 000 and shall not exceed EUR 300 000 ;
for the infringements referred to in point 20a of Section I of Annex III, points 4 to 4c, 6, 8 and 10 of Section III of Annex III, the fines shall amount to at least EUR 90 000 and shall not exceed EUR 200 000 ;
for the infringements referred to in points 5, 7 and 9 of Section III of Annex III, the fines shall amount to at least EUR 40 000 and shall not exceed EUR 100 000 .
In order to decide whether the basic amount of the fines should be set at the lower, the middle or the higher end of the limits set out in the first subparagraph, ESMA shall have regard to the annual turnover in the preceding business year of the credit rating agency concerned. The basic amount shall be at the lower end of the limit for credit rating agencies whose annual turnover is below EUR 10 million, the middle of the limit for the credit rating agencies whose annual turnover is between EUR 10 and 50 million and the higher end of the limit for the credit rating agencies whose annual turnover is higher than EUR 50 million.
The relevant aggravating coefficient shall be applied one by one to the basic amount. If more than one aggravating coefficient is applicable, the difference between the basic amount and the amount resulting from the application of each individual aggravating coefficient shall be added to the basic amount.
The relevant mitigating coefficient shall be applied one by one to the basic amount. If more than one mitigating coefficient is applicable, the difference between the basic amount and the amount resulting from the application of each individual mitigating coefficient shall be subtracted from the basic amount.
Where an act or omission of a credit rating agency constitutes more than one infringement listed in Annex III, only the higher fine calculated in accordance with paragraphs 2 and 3 and related to one of those infringements shall apply.
Article 36b
Periodic penalty payments
ESMA's Board of Supervisors shall by decision impose a periodic penalty payment in order to compel:
a credit rating agency to put an end to an infringement, in accordance with a decision taken pursuant to point (d) of Article 24(1);
a person referred to in Article 23b(1) to supply complete information which has been required by a decision pursuant to Article 23b;
a person referred to in Article 23b(1) to submit to an investigation and in particular to produce complete records, data, procedures or any other material required and to complete and correct other information provided in an investigation launched by a decision taken pursuant to Article 23c;
a person referred to in Article 23b(1) to submit to an on-site inspection ordered by a decision taken pursuant to Article 23d.
Article 36c
Hearing of the persons subject to the proceedings
Article 36d
Disclosure, nature, enforcement and allocation of fines and periodic penalty payments
Enforcement shall be governed by the rules of civil procedure in force in the State in the territory of which it is carried out. The order for its enforcement shall be appended to the decision without other formality than verification of the authenticity of the decision by the authority which the government of each Member State shall designate for that purpose and shall make known to ESMA and to the Court of Justice of the European Union.
When those formalities have been completed on application by the party concerned, the latter may proceed to enforcement in accordance with the national law, by bringing the matter directly before the competent body.
Enforcement may be suspended only by a decision of the Court of Justice of the European Union. However, the courts of the Member State concerned shall have jurisdiction over complaints that enforcement is being carried out in an irregular manner.
Article 36e
Review by the Court of Justice of the European Union
The Court of Justice of the European Union shall have unlimited jurisdiction to review decisions whereby ESMA has imposed a fine or a periodic penalty payment. It may annul, reduce or increase the fine or periodic penalty payment imposed.
Article 37
Amendments to Annexes
In order to take account of developments, including international developments, on financial markets, in particular in relation to new financial instruments, the Commission may adopt, by means of delegated acts in accordance with Article 38a and subject to the conditions of Articles 38b and 38c, measures to amend the Annexes, excluding Annex III.
Article 38
Committee procedure
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Where reference is made to this paragraph, Article 5 and Article 7 of Decision 1999/468/EC shall apply, having regard to the provisions of Article 8 thereof.
The period laid down in Article 5(6) of Decision 1999/468/EC shall be set at three months.
Article 38a
Exercise of the delegation
Article 38b
Revocation of the delegation
Article 38c
Objections to delegated acts
At the initiative of the European Parliament or the Council that period shall be extended by three months.
The delegated act may be published in the Official Journal of the European Union and enter into force before the expiry of that period if the European Parliament and the Council have both informed the Commission of their intention not to raise objections.
Article 39
Reports
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The Commission shall, after obtaining technical advice from ESMA, review the situation in the credit rating market for ►M5 securitisation instruments ◄ , in particular the credit rating market for re-securitisations. Following that review, the Commission shall, by 1 July 2016, submit a report to the European Parliament and to the Council, accompanied by a legislative proposal if appropriate, assessing, in particular:
the availability of sufficient choice in order to comply with the requirements set out in Articles 6b and 8c;
whether it is appropriate to shorten or extend the maximum duration of the contractual relationship referred to in Article 6b(1) and the minimum period before the credit rating agency may re-enter into a contract with an issuer or a related third party for the issuing of credit ratings on re-securitisations referred to in Article 6b(3);
whether it is appropriate to amend the exemption referred to in the second subparagraph of Article 6b(2).
The Commission shall, after obtaining technical advice from ESMA, review the situation in the credit rating market. Following that review, the Commission shall, by 1 January 2016, submit a report to the European Parliament and to the Council, accompanied by a legislative proposal if appropriate, assessing, in particular:
whether there is a need to extend the scope of the obligations referred to in Article 8b to include any other financial credit products;
whether the requirements referred to in Articles 6, 6a and 7 have sufficiently mitigated conflicts of interest;
whether the scope of the rotation mechanism referred to in Article 6b should be extended to other asset classes and whether it is appropriate to use differentiated lengths of periods across asset classes;
the appropriateness of existing and alternative remuneration models;
whether there is a need to implement other measures to foster competition in the credit rating market;
the appropriateness of additional initiatives to promote competition in the credit rating market against the background of the evolution of the structure of the sector;
whether there is a need to propose measures to address contractual over-reliance on credit ratings;
the market concentration levels, the risks arising from high concentration, and the impact on the overall stability of the financial sector.
Article 39a
ESMA’s staffing and resources
By 21 June 2014, ESMA shall assess its staffing and resources needs arising from the assumption of its powers and duties under this Regulation and shall submit a report to the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission.
Article 39b
Reporting obligations
By 31 December 2015, the Commission shall submit a report to the European Parliament and to the Council on:
the steps taken as regards the deletion of references to credit ratings which trigger or have the potential to trigger sole or mechanistic reliance thereon; and
alternative tools to enable investors to make their own credit risk assessment of issuers and of financial instruments,
with a view to deleting all references to credit ratings in Union law for regulatory purposes by 1 January 2020, subject to appropriate alternatives being identified and implemented. ESMA shall provide technical advice to the Commission within the framework of this paragraph.
Taking into consideration the findings of the report referred to in the first subparagraph and the situation of the market, the Commission shall, by 31 December 2016, submit a report to the European Parliament and to the Council, on the appropriateness and feasibility of supporting a European credit rating agency dedicated to assessing the creditworthiness of Member States’ sovereign debt and/or a European credit rating foundation for all other credit ratings.
CHAPTER II
Transitional and final provisions
Article 40
Transitional provision
Credit rating agencies operating in the Community before 7 June 2010 (existing credit rating agencies), which intend to apply for registration under this Regulation, shall adopt all necessary measures to comply with its provisions by 7 September 2010.
Credit rating agencies shall submit their application for registration no earlier than 7 June 2010. Existing credit rating agencies shall submit their application for registration by 7 September 2010
Existing credit rating agencies may continue issuing credit ratings which may be used for regulatory purposes by the financial institutions and other entities referred to in Article 4(1) unless registration is refused. Where registration is refused, Article 24(4) and (5) shall apply.
Article 40a
Transitional measures related to ESMA
However, an application for registration that has been received by the competent authorities of the home Member State or the relevant college by 7 September 2010 shall not be transferred to ESMA, and the decision to register or refuse registration shall be taken by those authorities and the relevant college.
Article 41
Entry into force
This Regulation shall enter into force on the 20th day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.
It shall apply from its date of entry into force. However:
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.
ANNEX I
INDEPENDENCE AND AVOIDANCE OF CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
Section A
Organisational requirements
1. |
The credit rating agency shall have an administrative or supervisory board. Its senior management shall ensure that:
(a)
credit rating activities are independent, including from all political and economic influences or constraints;
(b)
conflicts of interest are properly identified, managed and disclosed;
(c)
the credit rating agency complies with the remaining requirements of this Regulation. |
2. |
A credit rating agency shall be organised in a way that ensures that its business interest does not impair the independence or accuracy of the credit rating activities. The senior management of a credit rating agency shall be of good repute and sufficiently skilled and experienced, and shall ensure the sound and prudent management of the credit rating agency. At least one third, but no less than two, of the members of the administrative or supervisory board of a credit rating agency shall be independent members who are not involved in credit rating activities. The compensation of the independent members of the administrative or supervisory board shall not be linked to the business performance of the credit rating agency and shall be arranged so as to ensure the independence of their judgement. The term of office of the independent members of the administrative or supervisory board shall be for a pre-agreed fixed period not exceeding five years and shall not be renewable. The dismissal of independent members of the administrative or supervisory board shall take place only in case of misconduct or professional underperformance. The majority of members of the administrative or supervisory board, including its independent members, shall have sufficient expertise in financial services. Provided that the credit rating agency issues credit ratings of ►M5 securitisation instruments ◄ , at least one independent member and one other member of the board shall have in-depth knowledge and experience at a senior level of the markets in ►M5 securitisation instruments ◄ . In addition to the overall responsibility of the board, the independent members of the administrative or supervisory board shall have the specific task of monitoring:
(a)
the development of the credit rating policy and of the methodologies used by the credit rating agency in its credit rating activities;
(b)
the effectiveness of the internal quality control system of the credit rating agency in relation to credit rating activities;
(c)
the effectiveness of measures and procedures instituted to ensure that any conflicts of interest are identified, eliminated or managed and disclosed; and
(d)
the compliance and governance processes, including the efficiency of the review function referred to in point 9 of this Section. Opinions of the independent members of administrative or supervisory board issued on the matters referred to in points (a) to (d) shall be presented to the board periodically and shall be made available to ESMA on request. |
3. |
A credit rating agency shall establish adequate policies and procedures to ensure compliance with its obligations under this Regulation. |
4. |
A credit rating agency shall have sound administrative and accounting procedures, internal control mechanisms, effective procedures for risk assessment, and effective control and safeguard arrangements for information processing systems. Those internal control mechanisms shall be designed to secure compliance with decisions and procedures at all levels of the credit rating agency. A credit rating agency shall implement and maintain decision-making procedures and organisational structures which clearly and in a documented manner specify reporting lines and allocate functions and responsibilities. |
5. |
A credit rating agency shall establish and maintain a permanent and effective compliance function department (compliance function) which operates independently. The compliance function shall monitor and report on compliance of the credit rating agency and its employees with the credit rating agency’s obligations under this Regulation. The compliance function shall:
(a)
monitor and, on a regular basis, assess the adequacy and effectiveness of the measures and procedures put in place in accordance with point 3, and the actions taken to address any deficiencies in the credit rating agency’s compliance with its obligations;
(b)
advise and assist the managers, rating analysts, employees as well as any other natural person whose services are placed at the disposal or under the control of the credit rating agency or any person directly or indirectly linked to it by control who is responsible for carrying out credit rating activities, to comply with the credit rating agency’s obligations under this Regulation. |
6. |
In order to enable the compliance function to discharge its responsibilities properly and independently, a credit rating agency shall ensure that the following conditions are satisfied:
(a)
the compliance function has the necessary authority, resources, expertise and access to all relevant information;
(b)
a compliance officer is appointed and is responsible for the compliance function and for any reporting with regard to compliance required by point 3;
(c)
the managers, rating analysts, employees and any other natural person whose services are placed at the disposal or under the control of the credit rating agency or any person directly or indirectly linked to it by control who is involved in the compliance function is not involved in the performance of credit rating activities they monitor;
(d)
the compensation of the compliance officer is not linked to the business performance of the credit rating agency and is arranged so as to ensure the independence of his or her judgement. The compliance officer shall ensure that any conflicts of interest relating to the persons placed at the disposal of the compliance function are properly identified and eliminated. The compliance officer shall report regularly on the carrying out of his or her duties to senior management and the independent members of the administrative or supervisory board. |
7. |
A credit rating agency shall establish appropriate and effective organisational and administrative arrangements to prevent, identify, eliminate or manage and disclose any conflicts of interest referred to in point 1 of Section B. It shall arrange for records to be kept of all significant threats to the independence of the credit rating activities, including those to the rules on rating analysts referred to in Section C, as well as the safeguards applied to mitigate those threats. |
8. |
A credit rating agency shall employ appropriate systems, resources and procedures to ensure continuity and regularity in the performance of its credit rating activities. |
9. |
A credit rating agency shall establish a review function responsible for periodically reviewing its methodologies, models and key rating assumptions, such as mathematical or correlation assumptions, and any significant changes or modifications thereto as well as the appropriateness of those methodologies, models and key rating assumptions where they are used or intended to be used for the assessment of new financial instruments. That review function shall be independent of the business lines which are responsible for credit rating activities and report to the members of the administrative or supervisory board referred to in point 2 of this Section. |
10. |
A credit rating agency shall monitor and evaluate the adequacy and effectiveness of its systems, internal control mechanisms and arrangements established in accordance with this Regulation and take appropriate measures to address any deficiencies. |
Section B
Operational requirements
1. |
A credit rating agency shall identify, eliminate, or manage and disclose, clearly and prominently, any actual or potential conflicts of interest that may influence the analyses and judgments of its rating analysts, employees, or any other natural person whose services are placed at the disposal or under the control of the credit rating agency and who are directly involved in credit rating activities and persons approving credit ratings and rating outlooks. |
2. |
A credit rating agency shall disclose to the public the names of the rated entities or related third parties from which it receives more than 5 % of its annual revenue. |
3. |
A credit rating agency shall not issue a credit rating or a rating outlook in any of the following circumstances, or shall, in the case of an existing credit rating or rating outlook, immediately disclose where the credit rating or rating outlook is potentially affected by the following:
(a)
the credit rating agency or persons referred to in point 1, directly or indirectly owns financial instruments of the rated entity or a related third party or has any other direct or indirect ownership interest in that entity or party, other than holdings in diversified collective investment schemes, including managed funds such as pension funds or life insurance;
(aa)
a shareholder or member of a credit rating agency holding 10 % or more of either the capital or the voting rights of that credit rating agency or being otherwise in a position to exercise significant influence on the business activities of the credit rating agency, holds 10 % or more of either the capital or the voting rights of the rated entity or of a related third party, or of any other ownership interest in that rated entity or third party, excluding holdings in diversified collective investment schemes and managed funds such as pension funds or life insurance, which do not put him in a position to exercise significant influence on the business activities of the scheme;
(b)
the credit rating is issued with respect to the rated entity or a related third party directly or indirectly linked to the credit rating agency by control;
(ba)
the credit rating is issued with respect to a rated entity or a related third party which holds 10 % or more of either the capital or the voting rights of that credit rating agency;
(c)
a person referred to in point 1 is a member of the administrative or supervisory board of the rated entity or a related third party; or
(ca)
a shareholder or member of a credit rating agency holding 10 % or more of either the capital or the voting rights of that credit rating agency or being otherwise in a position to exercise significant influence on the business activities of the credit rating agency, is a member of the administrative or supervisory board of the rated entity or a related third party;
(d)
a rating analyst who participated in determining a credit rating, or a person who approved a credit rating, has had a relationship with the rated entity or a related third party which may cause a conflict of interests. A credit rating agency shall also immediately assess whether there are grounds for re-rating or withdrawing the existing credit rating or rating outlook. |
3a. |
A credit rating agency shall disclose where an existing credit rating or rating outlook is potentially affected by either of the following:
(a)
a shareholder or member of a credit rating agency holding 5 % or more of either the capital or the voting rights of that credit rating agency or being otherwise in a position to exercise significant influence on the business activities of the credit rating agency, holds 5 % or more of either the capital or the voting rights of the rated entity or of a related third party, or of any other ownership interest in that rated entity or third party. This excludes holdings in diversified collective investment schemes and managed funds such as pension funds or life insurance, which do not put him in a position to exercise significant influence on the business activities of the scheme;
(b)
a shareholder or member of a credit rating agency holding 5 % or more of either the capital or the voting rights of that credit rating agency or being otherwise in a position to exercise significant influence on the business activities of the credit rating agency, is a member of the administrative or supervisory board of the rated entity or a related third party. |
3b. |
Provided that the information is known or should be known by the credit rating agency, the obligations in point 3(aa), (ba) and (ca) and point 3a shall also relate to:
(a)
indirect shareholders covered by Article 10 of Directive 2004/109/EC; and
(b)
companies that control or exercise a dominant influence, directly or indirectly, on the credit rating agency, and which are covered by Article 10 of Directive 2004/109/EC. |
3c. |
A credit rating agency shall ensure that fees charged to its clients for the provision of credit rating and ancillary services are not discriminatory and are based on actual costs. Fees charged for credit rating services shall not depend on the level of the credit rating issued by the credit rating agency or on any other result or outcome of the work performed. |
4. |
Neither a credit rating agency nor any person holding, directly or indirectly, at least 5 % of either the capital or voting rights of the credit rating agency or being otherwise in a position to exercise significant influence on the business activities of the credit rating agency shall provide consultancy or advisory services to the rated entity or a related third party regarding the corporate or legal structure, assets, liabilities or activities of that rated entity or related third party. A credit rating agency may provide services other than issue of credit ratings (ancillary services). Ancillary services are not part of credit rating activities; they comprise market forecasts, estimates of economic trends, pricing analysis and other general data analysis as well as related distribution services. A credit rating agency shall ensure that the provision of ancillary services does not present conflicts of interest with its credit rating activities and shall disclose in the final ratings reports any ancillary services provided for the rated entity or any related third party. |
5. |
A credit rating agency shall ensure that rating analysts or persons who approve ratings do not make proposals or recommendations, either formally or informally, regarding the design of ►M5 securitisation instruments ◄ on which the credit rating agency is expected to issue a credit rating. |
6. |
A credit rating agency shall design its reporting and communication channels so as to ensure the independence of the persons referred to in point 1 from the other activities of the credit rating agency carried out on a commercial basis. |
7. |
A credit rating agency shall arrange for adequate records and, where appropriate, audit trails of its credit rating activities to be kept. Those records shall include:
(a)
for each credit rating and rating outlook decision, the identity of the rating analysts participating in the determination of the credit rating or rating outlook, the identity of the persons who have approved the credit rating or rating outlook, information as to whether the credit rating was solicited or unsolicited, and the date on which the credit rating action was taken;
(b)
the account records relating to fees received from any rated entity or related third party or any user of ratings;
(c)
the account records for each subscriber to the credit ratings or related services;
(d)
the records documenting the established procedures and rating methodologies used by the credit rating agency to determine credit ratings and rating outlooks;
(e)
the internal records and files, including non-public information and work papers, used to form the basis of any credit rating and rating outlook decision taken;
(f)
credit analysis reports, credit assessment reports and private credit rating reports and internal records, including non-public information and work papers, used to form the basis of the opinions expressed in such reports;
(g)
records of the procedures and measures implemented by the credit rating agency to comply with this Regulation; and
(h)
copies of internal and external communications, including electronic communications, received and sent by the credit rating agency and its employees, that relate to credit rating activities. |
8. |
Records and audit trails referred to in point 7 shall be kept at the premises of the registered credit rating agency for at least five years and be made available upon request to ESMA. Where the registration of a credit rating agency is withdrawn, the records shall be kept for an additional term of at least three years. |
9. |
Records which set out the respective rights and obligations of the credit rating agency and the rated entity or its related third parties under an agreement to provide credit rating services shall be retained for at least the duration of the relationship with that rated entity or its related third parties. |
Section C
Rules on rating analysts and other persons directly involved in credit rating activities
1. |
Rating analysts, employees of the credit rating agency as well as any other natural person whose services are placed at the disposal or under the control of the credit rating agency and who is directly involved in credit rating activities, and persons closely associated with them within the meaning of Article 1(2) of Directive 2004/72/EC ( 18 ), shall not buy or sell or engage in any transaction in any financial instrument issued, guaranteed, or otherwise supported by any rated entity within their area of primary analytical responsibility other than holdings in diversified collective investment schemes, including managed funds such as pension funds or life insurance. |
2. |
No person referred to in point 1 shall participate in or otherwise influence the determination of a credit rating or rating outlook of any particular rated entity if that person:
(a)
owns financial instruments of the rated entity, other than holdings in diversified collective investment schemes;
(b)
owns financial instruments of any entity related to a rated entity, the ownership of which may cause or may be generally perceived as causing a conflict of interest, other than holdings in diversified collective investment schemes;
(c)
has had a recent employment, business or other relationship with the rated entity that may cause or may be generally perceived as causing a conflict of interest. |
3. |
Credit rating agencies shall ensure that persons referred to in point 1:
(a)
take all reasonable measures to protect property and records in possession of the credit rating agency from fraud, theft or misuse, taking into account the nature, scale and complexity of their business and the nature and range of their credit rating activities;
(b)
do not disclose any information about credit ratings, possible future credit ratings or rating outlooks of the credit rating agency, except to the rated entity or a related third party;
(c)
do not share confidential information entrusted to the credit rating agency with rating analysts and employees of any person directly or indirectly linked to it by control, as well as with any other natural person whose services are placed at the disposal or under the control of any person directly or indirectly linked to it by control, ►C1 and who is not directly involved in the credit rating activities; and ◄
(d)
do not use or share confidential information for the purpose of trading financial instruments, or for any other purpose except the conduct of the credit rating activities. |
4. |
Persons referred to in point 1 shall not solicit or accept money, gifts or favours from anyone with whom the credit rating agency does business. |
5. |
If a person referred to in point 1 considers that any other such person has engaged in conduct that he or she considers to be illegal, he or she shall report such information immediately to the compliance officer without negative consequences to him or herself. |
6. |
Where a rating analyst terminates his or her employment and joins a rated entity, which he or she has been involved in rating, or a financial firm, with which he or she has had dealings as part of his or her duties at the credit rating agency, the credit rating agency shall review the relevant work of the rating analyst over two years preceding his or her departure. |
7. |
A person referred to in point 1 shall not take up a key management position with the rated entity or a related third party within six months of the issuing of a credit rating or rating outlook. |
8. |
For the purposes of Article 7(4):
(a)
credit rating agencies shall ensure that the lead rating analysts shall not be involved in credit rating activities related to the same rated entity or a related third party for a period exceeding four years;
(b)
credit rating agencies other than those appointed by an issuer or a related third party and all credit rating agencies issuing sovereign ratings shall ensure that:
(i)
the rating analysts shall not be involved in credit rating activities related to the same rated entity or a related third party for a period exceeding five years;
(ii)
the persons approving credit ratings shall not be involved in credit rating activities related to the same rated entity or a related third party for a period exceeding seven years. The persons referred to in points (a) and (b) of the first subparagraph shall not be involved in credit rating activities related to the rated entity or a related third party referred to in those points within two years of end of the periods set out in those points. |
Section D
Rules on the presentation of credit ratings and rating outlooks
I. General obligations
1. |
A credit rating agency shall ensure that any credit rating and rating outlook states clearly and prominently the name and job title of the lead rating analyst in a given credit rating activity and the name and position of the person primarily responsible for approving the credit rating or rating outlook. |
2. |
A credit rating agency shall ensure that at least:
(a)
all substantially material sources, including the rated entity or, where appropriate, a related third party, which were used to prepare the credit rating or rating outlook are indicated together with an indication as to whether the credit rating or rating outlook has been disclosed to that rated entity or related third party and amended following that disclosure before being issued;
(b)
the principal methodology or version of methodology that was used in determining the rating is clearly indicated, with a reference to its comprehensive description; where the credit rating is based on more than one methodology, or where reference only to the principal methodology might cause investors to overlook other important aspects of the credit rating, including any significant adjustments and deviations, the credit rating agency shall explain this fact in the credit rating and indicate how the different methodologies or these other aspects are taken into account in the credit rating;
(c)
the meaning of each rating category, the definition of default or recovery and any appropriate risk warning, including a sensitivity analysis of the relevant key rating assumptions, such as mathematical or correlation assumptions, accompanied by worst-case scenario credit ratings as well as best-case scenario credit ratings are explained;
(d)
the date at which the credit rating was first released for distribution and when it was last updated including any rating outlooks is indicated clearly and prominently;
(e)
information is given as to whether the credit rating concerns a newly issued financial instrument and whether the credit rating agency is rating the financial instrument for the first time; and
(f)
in the case of a rating outlook, the time horizon is provided during which a change in the credit rating is expected. When publishing credit ratings or rating outlooks, credit rating agencies shall include a reference to the historical default rates published by ESMA in a central repository in accordance with Article 11(2), together with an explanatory statement of the meaning of those default rates. |
2a. |
A credit rating agency shall accompany the disclosure of rating methodologies, models and key rating assumptions with guidance which explains assumptions, parameters, limits and uncertainties surrounding the models and rating methodologies used in credit ratings, including simulations of stress scenarios undertaken by the credit rating agency when establishing the credit ratings, credit rating information on cash-flow analysis it has performed or is relying upon and, where applicable, an indication of any expected change in the credit rating. Such guidance shall be clear and easily comprehensible. |
3. |
The credit rating agency shall inform the rated entity during working hours of the rated entity and at least a full working day before publication of the credit rating or the rating outlook. That information shall include the principal grounds on which the credit rating or rating outlook is based in order to give the rated entity an opportunity to draw attention of the credit rating agency to any factual errors. |
4. |
A credit rating agency shall state clearly and prominently when disclosing credit ratings or rating outlooks any attributes and limitations of the credit rating or rating outlook. In particular, a credit rating agency shall prominently state when disclosing any credit rating or rating outlook whether it considers satisfactory the quality of information available on the rated entity and to what extent it has verified information provided to it by the rated entity or a related third party. If a credit rating or a rating outlook involves a type of entity or financial instrument for which historical data is limited, the credit rating agency shall make clear, in a prominent place, such limitations. In a case where the lack of reliable data or the complexity of the structure of a new type of financial instrument or the quality of information available is not satisfactory or raises serious questions as to whether a credit rating agency can provide a credible credit rating, the credit rating agency shall refrain from issuing a credit rating or withdraw an existing rating. |
5. |
When announcing a credit rating or a rating outlook, a credit rating agency shall explain in its press releases or reports the key elements underlying the credit rating or the rating outlook. Where the information laid down in points 1, 2 and 4 would be disproportionate in relation to the length of the report distributed, it shall suffice to make clear and prominent reference in the report itself to the place where such disclosures can be directly and easily accessed, including a direct web link to the disclosure on an appropriate website of the credit rating agency. |
6. |
A credit rating agency shall disclose on its website, and notify ESMA on an ongoing basis, information about all entities or debt instruments submitted to it for their initial review or for preliminary rating. Such disclosure shall be made whether or not issuers contract with the credit rating agency for a final rating. |
II. Additional obligations in relation to credit ratings of ►M5 securitisation instruments ◄
1. |
Where a credit rating agency rates a ►M5 securitisation instrument ◄ , it shall provide in the credit rating all information about loss and cash-flow analysis it has performed or is relying upon and an indication of any expected change in the credit rating. |
2. |
A credit rating agency shall state what level of assessment it has performed concerning the due diligence processes carried out at the level of underlying financial instruments or other assets of ►M5 securitisation instruments ◄ . The credit rating agency shall disclose whether it has undertaken any assessment of such due diligence processes or whether it has relied on a third-party assessment, indicating how the outcome of such assessment impacts on the credit rating. |
▼M3 —————
III. Additional obligations in relation to sovereign ratings
1. Where a credit rating agency issues a sovereign rating or a related rating outlook, it shall simultaneously provide a detailed research report explaining all the assumptions, parameters, limits and uncertainties and any other information taken into account in determining that sovereign rating or rating outlook. That report shall be publicly available, clear and easily comprehensible.
2. A publicly available research report accompanying a change compared to the previous sovereign rating or related rating outlook shall include at least the following:
a detailed evaluation of the changes to the quantitative assumption justifying the reasons for the rating change and their relative weight. The detailed evaluation should include a description of the following: per capita income, GDP Growth, inflation, fiscal balance, external balance, external debt, an indicator for economic development, an indicator for default and any other relevant factor taken into account. This should be complemented with the relative weight of each factor;
a detailed evaluation of the changes to the qualitative assumption justifying the reasons for the rating change and their relative weight;
a detailed description of the risks, limits and uncertainties related to the rating change; and
a summary of minutes of the meeting of the rating committee that decided on the rating change.
3. Without prejudice to point 3 of Part I of Section D of Annex I, where a credit rating agency issues sovereign ratings or related rating outlooks, it shall publish them in accordance with Article 8a, after the close of business hours of regulated markets and at least one hour before their opening.
4. Without prejudice to point 5 of Part I of Section D of Annex I, in accordance with which, when announcing a credit rating, a credit rating agency is to explain in its press releases or reports the key elements underlying the credit rating and although national policies may serve as an element underlying a sovereign rating, policy recommendations, prescriptions or guidelines to rated entities, including States or regional or local authorities of States, shall not be part of sovereign ratings or rating outlooks.
Section E
Disclosures
I. General disclosures
A credit rating agency shall generally disclose the fact that it is registered in accordance with this Regulation and the following information:
1. |
any actual and potential conflicts of interest referred to in point 1 of Section B; |
2. |
a list of its ancillary services; |
3. |
the policy of the credit rating agency concerning the publication of credit ratings and other related communications including rating outlooks; |
4. |
the general nature of its compensation arrangements; |
5. |
the methodologies, and descriptions of models and key rating assumptions such as mathematical or correlation assumptions used in its credit rating activities as well as their material changes; |
6. |
any material modification to its systems, resources or procedures; and |
7. |
where relevant, its code of conduct. |
II. Periodic disclosures
A credit rating agency shall periodically disclose the following information:
1. |
every six months, data about the historical default rates of its rating categories, distinguishing between the main geographical areas of the issuers and whether the default rates of these categories have changed over time; |
2. |
annually, the following information:
(a)
list of fees charged to each client for individual credit ratings and any ancillary services;
(aa)
its pricing policy, including the fees structure and pricing criteria in relation to credit ratings for different asset classes;
(b)
a list of those clients of the credit rating agency whose contribution to the growth rate in the generation of revenue of the credit rating agency in the previous financial year exceeded the growth rate in the total revenues of the credit rating agency in that year by a factor of more than 1,5 times. Any such client shall be included on the list only where, in that year, it accounted for more than 0,25 % of the worldwide total revenues of the credit rating agency at global level; and
(c)
a list of credit ratings issued during the year, indicating the proportion of unsolicited credit ratings among them. For the purposes of this point, ‘client’ means an entity, its subsidiaries, and associated entities in which the entity has holdings of more than 20 %, as well as any other entities in respect of which it has negotiated the structuring of a debt issue on behalf of a client and where a fee was paid, directly or indirectly, to the credit rating agency for the rating of that debt issue. |
III. Transparency report
A credit rating agency shall make available annually the following information:
1. |
detailed information on legal structure and ownership of the credit rating agency, including information on holdings within the meaning of Articles 9 and 10 of Directive 2004/109/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 December 2004 on the harmonisation of transparency requirements in relation to information about issuers whose securities are admitted to trading on a regulated market ( 19 ); |
2. |
a description of the internal control mechanisms ensuring quality of its credit rating activities; |
3. |
statistics on the allocation of its staff to new credit ratings, credit rating reviews, methodology or model appraisal and senior management, and on the allocation of staff to rating activities with regard to the different asset classes (corporate — structured finance — sovereign); |
4. |
a description of its record-keeping policy; |
5. |
the outcome of the annual internal review of its independent compliance function; |
6. |
a description of its management and rating analyst rotation policy; |
7. |
financial information on the revenue of the credit rating agency, including total turnover, divided into fees from credit rating and ancillary services with a comprehensive description of each, including the revenues generated from ancillary services provided to clients of credit rating services and the allocation of fees to credit ratings of different asset classes. Information on total turnover shall also include a geographical allocation of that turnover to revenues generated in the Union and revenues worldwide; |
8. |
a governance statement within the meaning of Article 46a(1) of Council Directive 78/660/EEC of 25 July 1978 on the annual accounts of certain types of companies ( 20 ). For the purposes of that statement, the information referred to in Article 46a(1)(d) of that Directive shall be provided by the credit rating agency irrespective of whether it is subject to Directive 2004/25/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 April 2004 on takeover bids ( 21 ). |
ANNEX II
INFORMATION TO BE PROVIDED IN THE APPLICATION FOR REGISTRATION
1. |
Full name of the credit rating agency, address of the registered office within the ►M3 Union ◄ |
2. |
Name and contact details of a contact person and of the compliance officer |
3. |
Legal status |
4. |
Class of credit ratings for which the credit rating agency is applying to be registered |
5. |
Ownership structure |
6. |
Organisational structure and corporate governance |
7. |
Financial resources to perform credit rating activities |
8. |
Staffing of credit rating agency and its expertise |
9. |
Information regarding subsidiaries of credit rating agency |
10. |
Description of the procedures and methodologies used to issue and review credit ratings |
11. |
Policies and procedures to identify, manage and disclose any conflicts of interests |
12. |
Information regarding rating analysts |
13. |
Compensation and performance evaluation arrangements |
14. |
Services other than credit rating activities, which the credit rating agency intends to provide |
15. |
Programme of operations, including indications of where the main business activities are expected to be carried out, branches to be established, and setting out the type of business envisaged |
16. |
Documents and detailed information related to the expected use of endorsement |
17. |
Documents and detailed information related to the expected outsourcing arrangements including information on entities assuming outsourcing functions. |
ANNEX III
List of infringements referred to in Article 24(1) and Article 36a(1)
I. Infringements related to conflicts of interest, organisational or operational requirements
The credit rating agency infringes Article 4(3) by endorsing a credit rating issued in a third country without complying with the conditions set out in that paragraph, unless the reason for that infringement is outside the credit rating agency's knowledge or control.
The credit rating agency infringes the second subparagraph of Article 4(4) by using the endorsement of a credit rating issued in a third country with the intention of avoiding the requirements of this Regulation.
The credit rating agency infringes Article 6(2), in conjunction with point 1 of Section A of Annex I, by not establishing an administrative or a supervisory board.
The credit rating agency infringes Article 6(2), in conjunction with the first paragraph of point 2 of Section A of Annex I, by not ensuring that its business interest does not impair the independence or accuracy of the credit rating activities.
The credit rating agency infringes Article 6(2), in conjunction with the second paragraph of point 2 of Section A of Annex I, by appointing senior management which are not of good repute, sufficiently skilled or experienced, or cannot ensure the sound and prudent management of the credit rating agency.
The credit rating agency infringes Article 6(2), in conjunction with the third paragraph of point 2 of Section A of Annex I, by not appointing the required number of independent members of its administrative or supervisory board.
The credit rating agency infringes Article 6(2), in conjunction with the fourth paragraph of point 2 of Section A of Annex I, by setting up a compensation system for the independent members of its administrative or supervisory board which is linked to the business performance of the credit rating agency or is not arranged to ensure the independence of their judgment; or by setting a term of office for the independent members of its administrative or supervisory board for a period exceeding five years or for a renewable term; or by dismissing an independent member of the administrative or supervisory board other than in the case of misconduct or professional underperformance.
The credit rating agency infringes Article 6(2), in conjunction with the fifth paragraph of point 2 of Section A of Annex I, by appointing members of the administrative or supervisory board that do not have sufficient expertise in financial services; or, where the credit rating agency issues credit ratings of ►M5 securitisation instruments ◄ , by not appointing at least one independent member and one other member of the board who has in-depth knowledge and experience at senior level of the markets in ►M5 securitisation instruments ◄ .
The credit rating agency infringes Article 6(2), in conjunction with the sixth paragraph of point 2 of Section A of Annex I, by not ensuring that the independent members of the administrative or supervisory board perform the tasks of monitoring any of the matters referred to in the sixth paragraph of that point.
The credit rating agency infringes Article 6(2), in conjunction with the seventh paragraph of point 2 of Section A of Annex I, by not ensuring that the independent members of the administrative or supervisory board present their opinions on the matters referred to in the sixth paragraph of that point to the board periodically or make those opinions available to ESMA on request.
The credit rating agency infringes Article 6(2), in conjunction with point 3 of Section A of Annex I, by not establishing adequate policies or procedures to ensure compliance with its obligations under this Regulation.
The credit rating agency infringes Article 6(2), in conjunction with point 4 of Section A of Annex I, by not having sound administrative or accounting procedures, internal control mechanisms, effective procedures for risk assessment, or effective control or safeguard arrangements for information processing systems; or by not implementing or maintaining decision-making procedures or organisational structures as required by that point.
The credit rating agency infringes Article 6(2), in conjunction with point 5 of Section A of Annex I, by not establishing or maintaining a permanent and effective compliance function department (compliance function) which operates independently.
The credit rating agency infringes Article 6(2), in conjunction with the first paragraph of point 6 of Section A of Annex I, by not ensuring that the conditions enabling the compliance function to discharge its responsibilities properly or independently, as set out in the first paragraph of that point, are satisfied.
The credit rating agency infringes Article 6(2), in conjunction with point 7 of Section A of Annex I, by not establishing appropriate and effective organisational or administrative arrangements to prevent, identify, eliminate or manage and disclose any conflicts of interest referred to in point 1 of Section B of Annex I, or by not arranging for records to be kept of all significant threats to the independence of the credit rating activities, including those to the rules on rating analysts referred to in Section C of Annex I, as well as the safeguards applied to mitigate those threats.
The credit rating agency infringes Article 6(2), in conjunction with point 8 of Section A of Annex I, by not employing appropriate systems, resources or procedures to ensure continuity and regularity in the performance of its credit rating activities.
The credit rating agency infringes Article 6(2), in conjunction with point 9 of Section A of Annex I, by not establishing a review function that:
is responsible for periodically reviewing its methodologies, models and key rating assumptions or any significant changes or modifications thereto, or the appropriateness of those methodologies, models or key rating assumptions where they are used or intended to be used for the assessment of new financial instruments;
is independent of the business lines which are responsible for credit rating activities; or
reports to the members of the administrative or supervisory board.
The credit rating agency infringes Article 6(2), in conjunction with point 10 of Section A of Annex I, by not monitoring or evaluating the adequacy and effectiveness of its systems, internal control mechanisms and arrangements established in accordance with this Regulation or by not taking appropriate measures to address any deficiencies.
The credit rating agency infringes Article 6(2), in conjunction with point 1 of Section B of Annex I, by not identifying, eliminating, or managing and disclosing, clearly or prominently, any actual or potential conflicts of interest that may influence the analyses or judgments of its rating analysts, employees, or any other natural person whose services are placed at the disposal or under the control of the credit rating agency and who are directly involved in credit rating activities or persons approving credit ratings and rating outlooks.
The credit rating agency infringes Article 6(2), in conjunction with the first paragraph of point 3 of Section B of Annex I, by issuing a credit rating or rating outlook in any of the circumstances set out in the first paragraph of that point or, in the case of an existing credit rating or rating outlook, by not disclosing immediately that the credit rating or rating outlook is potentially affected by those circumstances.
The credit rating agency infringes Article 6(2), in conjunction with point 3a of Section B of Annex I, by not disclosing that an existing credit rating or rating outlook is potentially affected by any of the circumstances set out in letters (a) and (b) of that point.
The credit rating agency infringes Article 6(2), in conjunction with the second paragraph of point 3 of Section B of Annex I, by not immediately assessing whether there are grounds for re-rating or withdrawing an existing credit rating or rating outlook.
The credit rating agency infringes Article 6(2), in conjunction with the first paragraph of point 4 of Section B of Annex I, by rating entities where the credit rating agency itself or any person holding, directly or indirectly, at least 5 % of either the capital or the voting rights of the credit rating agency, or being otherwise in a position to exercise significant influence on the business activities of the credit rating agency, provides consultancy or advisory services to that rated entity or a related third party regarding the corporate or legal structure, assets, liabilities or activities of that rated entity or related third party.
The credit rating agency infringes Article 6a(1) when one of its shareholders or members holding at least 5 % of the capital or the voting rights in that credit rating agency or in a company which has the power to exercise control or a dominant influence over that credit rating agency, is in breach of one of the prohibitions set out in points (a) to (e) of that paragraph, with the exception of that set out in point (a) for holdings in diversified collective investment schemes, including managed funds such as pension funds or life insurance, provided that the holdings in such schemes do not put the shareholder or member of a credit rating agency in a position to exercise significant influence on the business activities of those schemes.
The credit rating agency infringes Article 6(2), in conjunction with the first part of the third paragraph of point 4 of Section B of Annex I, by not ensuring that the provision of an ancillary service does not present a conflict of interest with its credit rating activity.
The credit rating agency infringes Article 6(2), in conjunction with point 5 of Section B of Annex I, by not ensuring that rating analysts or persons who approve ratings do not make proposals or recommendations regarding the design of ►M5 securitisation instruments ◄ on which the credit rating agency is expected to issue a credit rating.
The credit rating agency infringes Article 6(2), in conjunction with point 6 of Section B of Annex I, by not designing its reporting or communication channels so as to ensure the independence of the persons referred to in point 1 of Section B from the other activities of the credit rating agency carried out on a commercial basis.
The credit rating agency infringes Article 6(2), in conjunction with the second paragraph of point 8 of Section B of Annex I, by not keeping the records for a term of at least three years once its registration is withdrawn.
The credit rating agency which entered into a contract for the issuing of credit ratings on re-securitisations infringes Article 6b(1) by issuing credit ratings on new re-securitisations with underlying assets from the same originator for a period exceeding four years.
The credit rating agency which entered into a contract for the issuing of credit ratings on re-securitisations infringes Article 6b(3) by entering into a new contract for the issuing of credit ratings on re-securitisations with underlying assets from the same originator for a period equal to the duration of the expired contract referred to in paragraphs1 and 2 of Article 6b but not exceeding four years.
The credit rating agency infringes Article 7(1) by not ensuring that rating analysts, its employees or any other natural person whose services are placed at its disposal or under its control and who are directly involved in credit rating activities have appropriate knowledge and experience for the duties assigned.
The credit rating agency infringes Article 7(2) by not ensuring that a person referred to in Article 7(1) does not initiate or participate in negotiations regarding fees or payments with any rated entity, related third party or any person directly or indirectly linked to the rated entity by control.
The credit rating agency infringes Article 7(3), in conjunction with point 3(a) of Section C of Annex I, by not ensuring that a person referred to in point 1 of that Section takes all reasonable measures to protect property or records in possession of the credit rating agency from fraud, theft or misuse, taking into account the nature, scale and complexity of its business and the nature and range of its credit rating activities.
The credit rating agency infringes Article 7(3), in conjunction with point 5 of Section C of Annex I, by imposing negative consequences on a person referred to in point 1 of that Section where that person reports information to the compliance officer to the effect that another person as referred to in point 1 of that Section has engaged in conduct that he or she considers to be illegal.
The credit rating agency infringes Article 7(3), in conjunction with point 6 of Section C of Annex I, by not reviewing the relevant work of a rating analyst over two years preceding his or her departure, where the rating analyst terminates his or her employment and joins a rated entity which he or she has been involved in rating or a financial firm, with which he or she has had dealings as part of his or her duties at the credit rating agency.
The credit rating agency infringes Article 7(3), in conjunction with point 1 of Section C of Annex I, by not ensuring that a person referred to in that point does not buy, sell or engage in a transaction in any financial instrument referred to in that point.
The credit rating agency infringes Article 7(3), in conjunction with point 2 of Section C of Annex I, by not ensuring that a person referred to in point 1 of that Section does not participate in or otherwise influence the determination of a credit rating or rating outlook as set out in point 2 of that Section.
The credit rating agency infringes Article 7(3), in conjunction with points (b), (c) and (d) of point 3 of Section C of Annex I, by not ensuring that a person referred to in point 1 of that Section does not disclose or use or share information, as referred to in those points.
The credit rating agency infringes Article 7(3), in conjunction with point 4 of Section C of Annex I, by not ensuring that a person referred to in point 1 of that Section does not solicit or accept money, gifts or favours from anyone with whom the credit rating agency does business.
The credit rating agency infringes Article 7(3), in conjunction with point 7 of Section C of Annex I, by not ensuring that a person referred to in point 1 of that Section does not take up a key management position with the rated entity or a related third party within six months of the issuing of a credit rating or rating outlook.
The credit rating agency infringes Article 7(4), in conjunction with point (a) of the first paragraph of point 8 of Section C of Annex I, by not ensuring that the lead rating analyst is not involved in credit rating activities related to the same rated entity or its related third parties for a period exceeding four years.
The credit rating agency infringes Article 7(4), in conjunction with point (i) of point (b) of the first paragraph of point 8 Section C of Annex I, by not ensuring that, where it provides unsolicited credit ratings or sovereign ratings, a rating analyst is not involved in credit rating activities related to the same rated entity or a related third party for a period exceeding five years.
The credit rating agency infringes Article 7(4), in conjunction with point (ii) of point (b) of the first paragraph of point 8 of Section C of Annex I, by not ensuring that, where it provides unsolicited credit ratings or sovereign ratings, a person approving credit ratings is not involved in credit rating activities related to the same rated entity or a related third party for a period exceeding seven years.
The credit rating agency infringes Article 7(4), in conjunction with the second paragraph of point 8 of Section C of Annex I, by not ensuring that a person referred to in points (a) and (b) of the first paragraph of that point is not involved in credit rating activities related to the rated entity or a related third party referred to in those points within two years of the end of the periods set out in those points.
The credit rating agency infringes Article 7(5) by introducing compensation or performance evaluation contingent on the amount of revenue that the credit rating agency derives from the rated entities or related third parties.
The credit rating agency infringes Article 8(2) by not adopting, implementing or enforcing adequate measures to ensure that the credit ratings and rating outlooks it issues are based on a thorough analysis of all the information that is available to it and that is relevant to its analysis according to the applicable rating methodologies.
The credit rating agency infringes Article 8(2) by using information falling outside the scope of Article 8(2).
The credit rating agency infringes Article 8(2a) by issuing changes in credit ratings that do not comply with its published rating methodologies.
The credit rating agency infringes Article 8(3) by not using rating methodologies that are rigorous, systematic, continuous and subject to validation based on historical experience, including back-testing.
The credit rating agency infringes the first subparagraph of Article 8(4) by refusing to issue a credit rating of an entity or a financial instrument because a portion of the entity or the financial instrument had been previously rated by another credit rating agency.
The credit rating agency infringes the second subparagraph of Article 8(4) by not recording all instances where in its credit rating process it departs from existing credit ratings prepared by another credit rating agency with respect to underlying assets or ►M5 securitisation instruments ◄ or by not providing a justification for the differing assessment.
The credit rating agency infringes the first sentence of the first subparagraph of Article 8(5) by not monitoring its credit ratings other than sovereign ratings or by not reviewing its credit ratings other than sovereign ratings or rating methodologies on an ongoing basis or at least annually.
The credit rating agency infringes the second subparagraph of Article 8(5), in conjunction with the first sentence of the first subparagraph of Article 8(5), by not monitoring its sovereign ratings or by not reviewing its sovereign ratings on an ongoing basis or at least every six months.
The credit rating agency infringes the second sentence of Article 8(5) by not establishing internal arrangements to monitor the impact of changes in macroeconomic or financial market conditions on credit ratings.
The credit rating agency infringes point (b) of Article 8(6), where methodologies, models or key rating assumptions used in credit rating activities are changed, by not reviewing the affected credit ratings in accordance with that point, or by not placing those ratings under observation in the meantime.
The credit rating agency infringes point (c) of Article 8(6) by not re-rating a credit rating that has been based on methodologies, models or key rating assumptions that are changed where the overall combined effect of those changes affects that credit rating.
The credit rating agency infringes point (c) of Article 8(6), in conjunction with point (c) of Article 8(7), by not re-rating a credit rating where errors in the rating methodologies or in their application affect that credit rating.
The credit rating agency infringes Article 9 by undertaking the outsourcing of important operational functions in such a way as to impair materially the quality of the credit rating agency's internal control or the ability of ESMA to supervise the credit rating agency's compliance with obligations under this Regulation.
The credit rating agency infringes Article 10(2), in conjunction with the second paragraph of point 4 of Part I of Section D of Annex I, by issuing a credit rating or not withdrawing an existing rating in a case where the lack of reliable data or the complexity of the structure of a new type of financial instrument or the quality of information available is not satisfactory or raises serious questions as to whether the credit rating agency can provide a credible credit rating.
The credit rating agency infringes Article 10(6) by using the name of ESMA or any competent authority in such a way that would indicate or suggest endorsement or approval by ESMA or any competent authority of the credit ratings or any credit rating activities of the credit rating agency.
The credit rating agency infringes Article 13 by charging a fee for the information provided in accordance with Articles 8 to 12.
The credit rating agency, where it is a legal person established in the Union, infringes Article 14(1) by not applying for registration for the purposes of Article 2(1).
The credit rating agency infringes Article 8a(3) by not publishing on its website, or by not submitting to ESMA on an annual basis, in accordance with point 3 of Part III of Section D of Annex I, a calendar at the end of December for the following 12 months, setting a maximum of three dates that fall on a Friday for the publication of unsolicited sovereign ratings and related rating outlooks and setting dates that fall on a Friday for the publication of solicited sovereign ratings and related rating outlooks.
The credit rating agency infringes Article 8a(4) by deviating from the announced calendar where this is not necessary to fulfil its obligations under Article 8(2), Article 10(1) or Article 11(1) or by not providing a detailed explanation of the reasons for the deviation from the announced calendar.
The credit rating agency infringes Article 10(2), in conjunction with point 3 of Part III of Section D of Annex I, by publishing a sovereign rating or a related rating outlook during business hours of regulated markets or less than one hour before their opening.
The credit rating agency infringes Article 10(2), in conjunction with point 4 of Part III of Section D of Annex I, by including policy recommendations, prescriptions or guidelines to rated entities, including States or regional or local authorities of States, as part of a sovereign rating or a related rating outlook.
The credit rating agency infringes Article 8a(2) by basing its public communications relating to changes in sovereign ratings, and which are not credit ratings, rating outlooks or accompanying press releases, as referred to in point 5 of Part I of Section D of Annex I, on information within the sphere of the rated entity, where such information has been disclosed without the consent of the rated entity, unless it is available from generally accessible sources or unless there are no legitimate reasons for the rated entity not to give its consent to the disclosure of the information.
The credit rating agency infringes Article 8a(1) by not issuing individual publicly available country reports when announcing the revision of a given group of countries.
The credit rating agency infringes point 1 of Part III of Section D of Annex I by issuing a sovereign rating or a related rating outlook without simultaneously providing a detailed research report explaining all the assumptions, parameters, limits and uncertainties and any other information taken into account in determining that sovereign rating or rating outlook or by not making that report publicly available, clear and easily comprehensible.
The credit rating agency infringes point 2 of Part III of Section D of Annex I by not issuing a publicly available research report accompanying a change compared to the previous sovereign rating or related rating outlook or by not including in that report at least the information referred to in point 2(a) to (d) of Part III of Section D of Annex I.
II. Infringements related to obstacles to the supervisory activities
The credit rating agency infringes Article 6(2), in conjunction with point 7 of Section B of Annex I, by not arranging for records or audit trails of its credit rating activities as required by those provisions.
The credit rating agency infringes Article 6(2), in conjunction with the first paragraph of point 8 of Section B of Annex I, by not keeping the records or audit trails referred to in point 7 of that Section at its premises for at least five years or by not making available those records or audit trails to ESMA upon request.
The credit rating agency infringes Article 6(2), in conjunction with point 9 of Section B of Annex I, by not retaining records which set out the respective rights and obligations of the credit rating agency or the rated entity or its related third parties under an agreement to provide credit rating services for the duration of the relationship with that rated entity or its related third party.
The credit rating agency infringes the third subparagraph of Article 14(3) by not notifying ESMA of the intended material changes to the existing rating methodologies, models or key rating assumptions or of the proposed new rating methodologies, models or key rating assumptions when it publishes the rating methodologies on its website in accordance with Article 8(5a).
The credit rating agency infringes the first subparagraph of Article 8(5a) by not publishing on its website the proposed new rating methodologies or the proposed material changes to the rating methodologies that could have an impact on a credit rating together with an explanation of the reasons for and the implications of the changes.
The credit rating agency infringes point (a) of Article 8(7) by not notifying ESMA of discovered errors in its rating methodologies or in their application or by not explaining their impact on its credit ratings, including the need to review its issued credit ratings.
The credit rating agency infringes Article 11(2) by not making available the required information or by not providing that information in the required format as referred to in that paragraph.
The credit rating agency infringes Article 11a(1) by not making available the required information or by not providing that information in the required format as referred to in that paragraph.
The credit rating agency infringes Article 11(3), in conjunction with point 2 of Part I of Section E of Annex I, by not providing to ESMA a list of its ancillary services.
The credit rating agency infringes the second subparagraph of Article 14(3) by not notifying ESMA of any material changes to the conditions for initial registration in accordance with that subparagraph.
The credit rating agency infringes Article 23b(1) by failing to provide information in response to a decision requiring information pursuant to Article 23b(3), or by providing incorrect or misleading information in response to a simple request for information or a decision.
The credit rating agency infringes point (c) of Article 23c(1) by failing to provide an explanation, or by providing an incorrect or misleading explanation, on facts or documents related to to the subject matter and purpose of an inspection.
III. Infringements related to disclosure provisions
The credit rating agency infringes Article 6(2), in conjunction with point 2 of Section B of Annex I, by not disclosing to the public the names of the rated entities or related third parties from which it receives more than 5 % of its annual revenue.
The credit rating agency infringes Article 6(2), in conjunction with the second part of the third paragraph of point 4 of Section B of Annex I, by not disclosing in the final rating report an ancillary service provided for the rated entity or any related third party.
The credit rating agency infringes Article 8(1) by not disclosing to the public the methodologies, models or key rating assumptions it uses in its credit rating activities as described in point 5 of Part I of Section E of Annex I.
The credit rating agency infringes point (a) of Article 8(6), where methodologies, models or key rating assumptions used in credit rating activities are changed, by not disclosing immediately, or by disclosing and not using the same means of communication as used for the distribution of the affected credit ratings, the likely scope of affected credit ratings.
The credit rating agency infringes point (aa) of Article 8(6), where it intends to use new rating methodologies, by not informing ESMA or by not publishing immediately on its website the results of the consultation and those new rating methodologies together with a detailed explanation thereof and their date of application.
The credit rating agency infringes point (a) of Article 8(7) by not notifying affected rated entities of discovered errors in its rating methodologies or in their application,or by not explaining the impact on its credit ratings, including the need to review its issued credit ratings.
The credit rating agency infringes point (b) of Article 8(7) by not publishing on its website discovered errors in its rating methodologies or in their application where such errors have an impact on the credit rating agency’s credit ratings.
The credit rating agency infringes Article 10(1) by not disclosing on a non-selective basis or in a timely manner a decision to discontinue a credit rating, including full reasons for the decision.
The credit rating agency infringes Article 10(2), in conjunction with point 1 or 2, the first paragraph of point 4 or points 5 or 6, of Part I of Section D of Annex I, or Parts II or III of Section D of Annex I, by not providing the information as required by those provisions when presenting a credit rating or a rating outlook.
The credit rating agency infringes Article 10(2), in conjunction with point 3 of Part I of Section D of Annex I, by not informing the rated entity during working hours of the rated entity and at least a full working day before publication of the credit rating or the rating outlook.
The credit rating agency infringes Article 10(3) by not ensuring that rating categories that are attributed to ►M5 securitisation instruments ◄ are clearly differentiated using an additional symbol which distinguishes them from rating categories used for any other entities, financial instruments or financial obligations.
The credit rating agency infringes Article 10(4) by not disclosing its policies or procedures regarding unsolicited credit ratings.
The credit rating agency infringes Article 10(5) by not providing the information as required by that paragraph when issuing an unsolicited credit rating or by not identifying an unsolicited credit rating as such.
The credit rating agency infringes Article 11(1) by not fully disclosing or immediately updating information relating to the matters set out in Part I of Section E of Annex I.
ANNEX IV
List of the coefficients linked to aggravating and mitigating factors for the application of Article 36a(3)
The following coefficients shall be applicable in a cumulative way to the basic amounts referred to in Article 36a(2) on the basis of each of the following aggravating and mitigating factors:
I. Adjustment coefficients linked to aggravating factors
If the infringement has been committed repeatedly, for every time it has been repeated, an additional coefficient of 1,1 shall apply.
If the infringement has been committed for more than six months, a coefficient of 1,5 shall apply.
If the infringement has revealed systemic weaknesses in the organisation of the credit rating agency, in particular in its procedures, management systems or internal controls, a coefficient of 2,2 shall apply.
If the infringement has had a negative impact on the quality of the ratings rated by the credit rating agency concerned, a coefficient of 1,5 shall apply.
If the infringement has been committed intentionally, a coefficient of 2 shall apply.
If no remedial action has been taken since the breach has been identified, a coefficient of 1,7 shall apply.
If the credit rating agency’s senior management has not cooperated with ESMA in carrying out its investigations, a coefficient of 1,5 shall apply.
II. Adjustment coefficients linked to mitigating factors
If the infringement relates to a breach listed in Section II or III of Annex III and has been committed for fewer than 10 working days, a coefficient of 0,9 shall apply.
If the credit rating agency’s senior management can demonstrate that they have taken all the necessary measures to prevent the infringement, a coefficient of 0,7 shall apply.
If the credit rating agency has brought quickly, effectively and completely the infringement to ESMA’s attention, a coefficient of 0,4 shall apply.
If the credit rating agency has voluntarily taken measures to ensure that similar infringement cannot be committed in the future, a coefficient of 0,6 shall apply.
( 1 ) OJ L 193, 18.7.1983, p. 1.
( 2 ) OJ L 145, 30.4.2004, p. 1.
( 3 ) OJ L 335, 17.12.2009, p. 1.
( 4 ) OJ L 302, 17.11.2009, p. 32.
( 5 ) OJ L 174, 1.7.2011, p. 1.
( 6 ) OJ L 201, 27.7.2012, p. 1.
( 7 ) OJ L 339, 24.12.2003, p. 73.
( 8 ) Commission Directive 2006/73/EC of 10 August 2006 implementing Directive 2004/39/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards organisational requirements and operating conditions for investment firms and defined terms for the purposes of that Directive (OJ L 241, 2.9.2006, p. 26).
( 9 ) OJ L 309, 25.11.2005, p. 15.
( 10 ) OJ L 331, 15.12.2010, p. 84.
( 11 ) OJ L 331, 15.12.2010, p. 12.
( 12 ) OJ L 331, 15.12.2010, p. 48.
( 13 ) OJ L 331, 15.12.2010, p. 1.
( 14 ) Regulation (EU) 2023/2859 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 December 2023 establishing a European single access point providing centralised access to publicly available information of relevance to financial services, capital markets and sustainability (OJ L, 2023/2859, 20.12.2023, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2023/2859/oj).
( 15 ) OJ 17, 6.10.1958, p. 385/58.
( 16 ) OJ L 8, 12.1.2001, p. 1.
( 17 ) OJ L 191, 13.7.2001, p. 45.
( 18 ) Commission Directive 2004/72/EC of 29 April 2004 implementing Directive 2003/6/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards accepted market practices, the definition of inside information in relation to derivatives on commodities, the drawing up of lists of insiders, the notification of managers’ transactions and the notification of suspicious transactions (OJ L 162, 30.4.2004, p. 70).
( 19 ) OJ L 390, 31.12.2004, p. 38.
( 20 ) OJ L 222, 14.8.1978, p. 11.
( 21 ) OJ L 142, 30.4.2004, p. 12.