Fitch Reports on 'The Rating Process'; Updates Code of Conduct

NEW YORK & LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Fitch Ratings has published an updated special report, 'The Rating Process', summarizing the process for the preparation of ratings and the conduct of rating committees. The updates reflect Fitch's ongoing efforts to enhance the transparency of its rating process and are consistent with evolving regulatory regimes for credit rating agencies around the world.

The report summarizes the composition of the analytical team, the rating committee process, the criteria development process, rating dissemination procedures and range of analytical product. 'The Rating Process' should be read in conjunction with Fitch's 'Code of Conduct', which was also revised along with other policies. 'The Rating Process' and Fitch's 'Code of Conduct' each have a publication date of Aug. 16, 2010.

In addition, as previously announced, Fitch has updated its rating definitions to reflect the application of the 'sf' symbol to denote the ratings of structured finance instruments. For more information, please refer to 'Fitch Provides Update on Roll-Out of Structured Finance Modifier', Aug. 11, 2010.

'The Rating Process,' Fitch's 'Code of Conduct,' Fitch's rating definitions (including a separate downloadable document titled 'Definitions of Ratings and Other Forms of Opinion'), and other Fitch policies are available at 'www.fitchratings.com'.

'Additional information is available at 'www.fitchratings.com'.

Related Research: The Rating Process

http://www.fitchratings.com/creditdesk/reports/report_frame.cfm?rpt_id=543470

ALL FITCH CREDIT RATINGS ARE SUBJECT TO CERTAIN LIMITATIONS AND DISCLAIMERS. PLEASE READ THESE LIMITATIONS AND DISCLAIMERS BY FOLLOWING THIS LINK: HTTP://FITCHRATINGS.COM/UNDERSTANDINGCREDITRATINGS. IN ADDITION, RATING DEFINITIONS AND THE TERMS OF USE OF SUCH RATINGS ARE AVAILABLE ON THE AGENCY'S PUBLIC WEBSITE 'WWW.FITCHRATINGS.COM'. PUBLISHED RATINGS, CRITERIA AND METHODOLOGIES ARE AVAILABLE FROM THIS SITE AT ALL TIMES. FITCH'S CODE OF CONDUCT, CONFIDENTIALITY, CONFLICTS OF INTEREST, AFFILIATE FIREWALL, COMPLIANCE AND OTHER RELEVANT POLICIES AND PROCEDURES ARE ALSO AVAILABLE FROM THE 'CODE OF CONDUCT' SECTION OF THIS SITE.

CONTACT:

Fitch Ratings
Trevor Pitman, +44 (0)20 7417 4280 (London)
Eileen Fahey, +1-312-368-5468 (Chicago)
Jennifer San Cartier, +1-212-908-0205 (New York)
Media Relations
David Weinfurter, +1-212-908-0336 (New York)
david.weinfurter@fitchratings.com

KEYWORDS:   United States  North America  New York

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS:   Professional Services  Banking  Finance

MEDIA: