Expert RA is Russia's oldest credit rating agency and also the largest one in terms of both customers and headcount. Expert RA has been assigning credit ratings for 20 years. Expert RA is on the list of authorized rating institutions, meaning that its credit ratings are applicable for regulatory purposes to banks, insurers, pension funds, and debt issuers.
History
1998 - Expert RA creates its Analytics & Communications Business line[1]
2021 Expert RA assigned ESG ratings (sustainability ratings) to the first six Russian companies.[9][10][11]
2022 Marina Chekurova headed this agency as CEO and chairman of the board.[12] Expert RA launched the Expert Pages project, a service for corporations with an extensive database of Russian business companies.[13]
Main activities
Credit Ratings
Expert RA has more than 700 credit ratings outstanding, including 449 issuer and 334 issue credit ratings (as of January 1, 2022).[14]
The agency assigns credit ratings to regions and municipalities.[15]
Communications & Analytics
Expert RA addresses key national issues in cooperation with government agencies, public associations, and regional authorities.
Every year, Expert RA holds events such as forums, conferences, and round tables.
Rating Scale
Expert RA National Rating Scale for the Russian Federation Effective from 10 April 2017[4]
Category
Level
Definition
AAA
ruAAA
The rating object is characterised by the maximum level of creditworthiness/financial reliability/financial strength. The highest level of creditworthiness/financial reliability/financial strength according to the national scale for the Russian Federation, in the Agency's opinion.
AA
ruAA+
High level of creditworthiness/financial reliability/financial strength compared to other objects of the rating in the Russian Federation, being only slightly lower than the level of the rating objects in the ruAAA rating category.
ruAA
ruAA-
A
ruA+
Moderately high level of creditworthiness/financial reliability/financial strength compared to other objects of the rating in the Russian Federation; however, some sensitivity to adverse changes of economic situation is observed.
ruA
ruA-
BBB
ruBBB+
Moderate level of creditworthiness/financial reliability/financial strength compared to other objects of the rating in the Russian Federation, while the observed sensitivity to adverse changes of economic situation is higher than that of the rating objects in the ruA rating category.
ruBBB
ruBBB-
BB
ruBB+
Moderately low level of creditworthiness/financial reliability/financial strength compared to other objects of the rating in the Russian Federation. High sensitivity to adverse changes of economic situation is observed.
ruBB
ruBB-
B
ruB+
Low level of creditworthiness/financial reliability/financial strength compared to other objects of the rating in the Russian Federation. The ability to fulfil financial obligations in full and in a timely manner is currently maintained, while the safety margin is limited. The ability to fulfil obligations is sensitive to an economic downturn.
ruB
ruB-
CCC
ruCCC
Very low level of creditworthiness/financial reliability/financial strength compared to other objects of the rating in the Russian Federation. It is considerably likely that the rating object fails to fulfil its financial obligations in the short term.
CC
ruCC
Very low level of creditworthiness/financial reliability/financial strength compared to other objects of the rating in the Russian Federation. It is increasingly likely that the rating object fails to fulfil its financial obligations in the short term.
C
ruC
Very low level of creditworthiness/financial reliability/financial strength compared to other objects of the rating in the Russian Federation. It is very likely that the rating object fails to fulfil its financial obligations in the short term. It is highly unlikely that financial obligations will be fulfilled in a timely manner.
RD
ruRD
The rating object is under supervision of the governmental regulatory agencies which can determine priority of the obligations. However, the Agency has not recorded a default yet.
D
ruD
The rating object is in default.
Rating methodologies
Expert RA has 18 active credit rating methodologies, of which 12 are recognized by the regulator [17] as fully complying with Law 222-FZ and suitable for regulatory purposes.