News and Press Release

The Trade Finance Distribution Initiative is delighted to welcome ARC Ratings to our growing 60+ trade distribution community.

“I warmly welcome ARC Ratings to TFD Initiative”, says André Casterman, Chair Fintech Committee, ITFA. “As a business community aiming to transform trade finance as a liquid investment class, TFD Initiative benefits from service providers such as credit rating agencies, and also law firms, strategic advisors and technology integration partners.”

ARC Ratings is a Pan-European credit rating agency based in Canary Wharf, London, with license to provide credit ratings solutions to issuers and investors.

“ARC Ratings are very excited to join the TFD community as we seek to further embed trade as an asset class for investors. Our unique role allows alternative investors to not only gain comfort in investments but also benefit from potential capital savings” says Oliver Howard, CEO of ARC Ratings.

Founded in 2013, ARC Ratings was established by a consortium of domestic credit rating agencies operating inEurope, Asia, Africa, and South America.

About the Trade FinanceDistribution Initiative

TFD Initiative is establishing trade finance as an investable asset class for capital market firms and brings together stakeholders committed to increasing the level of automation and transparency in trade asset and risk distribution with technology-based market practices.

The TFD Initiative is an industry-backed drive to create the blueprint for global trade finance distribution. It addresses the business and regulatory issues impacting banks and non-bank financial institutions when distributing or investing in trade finance.

TFD Initiative seeks to develop standardised best practices for the wider distribution of trade finance assets.This includes common data standards and definitions to address operational inefficiencies, transparency issues, and risks. TFD Initiative relies on the insights of its members, which includes banks, institutional investors, and trade associations.

‍