Superbrands UK Annual Vol.21 Fitch Group is a global leader in financial information services with operations in more than 30 countries. Dual headquartered in London and New York, and wholly owned by Hearst Corporation, it is comprised of Fitch Ratings, Fitch Solutions, Fitch Learning and Fitch Ventures Market finance professionals in banking, credit, risk, DID YOU KNOW? Credit ratings provide a forward-looking wealth management and apprenticeships every and relative assessment of credit risk – namely, year. Finally, Fitch Ventures is a strategic venture how likely is it that investors will be repaid in- investment vehicle. In 1924 Fitch developed full and on-time. Credit risk is one of the most and introduced what has since important considerations when investing in Achievements a bond, although it is only one of many factors Fitch is recognised as a market leader, become the most common that should inform an investment decision. with recent accolades including Fitch Ratings Understanding credit risk is not easy, and it’s being named, for a second consecutive year, letter-grade scoring system a challenge exacerbated by the enormity and as the most transparent Credit Rating Agency for for credit-worthiness complexity of the bond market. Fitch Ratings ESG. In 2020, Fitch Group received an impressive helps make sense of this complexity with ratings 94 FocusEconomics Awards and Fitch Solutions based on a simple letter scale. AAA is the highest was named best Counterparty Data Provider rating, indicating the least credit risk, and D is the by Waters Technology. Fitch also won the China insightful commentary for investors and other lowest rating. Its rigorous analysis and deep Ratings Agency Award for a third consecutive participants in the local Chinese bond market. expertise have resulted in a variety of market year and Fitch Learning achieved the top Ofsted leading tools, methodologies, indices, research and grade for its UK Apprenticeship Programmes. Fitch is committed to its corporate social analytical products, which have helped investors responsibility goals. It has launched many manage risk and funds over a century of growth. Recent Developments employee-led networks including Fitch Pride For 20 years, Fitch Group has been growing Network, Fitch Women’s Network, Fitch BALANCE, Product internationally, hand in hand with the growth Fitch BAME Network and Fitch Green Wave, Fitch Group has a globally prominent team of the financial markets around the world. all aimed at increasing representation and affecting of analysts who are experts in credit and risk. The latest chapter in this story is in China, change. In 2019, Fitch launched the ‘us.u.all’ The group comprises four businesses: Fitch Ratings where in May 2020, Fitch Ratings announced training programme which is designed for is a global leader in credit ratings and research. that Fitch Bohua had received approval from the managers to explore diversity and inclusion. Its analysts cover 5,000 financial institutions, People’s Bank of China (PBOC) and the National 2,850 corporates and 160 sovereigns and Association of Financial Market Institutional In 2018, Fitch Group became a signatory supranationals. Fitch Solutions helps clients excel Investors (NAFMII) to rate financial institutions to the United Nations Principles for Responsible at managing their credit risk, offer deep insight (including banks, non-bank financial institutions Investment and the UNPRIs initiative on credit into the debt investment market, and provide and insurers) and their securities as well as structured ratings and risk. Fitch launched an integrated comprehensive intelligence about the finance bonds in China’s interbank market. scoring system that shows how ESG factors impact macroeconomic environment. Fitch Learning Fitch Bohua is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Fitch individual credit rating decisions. Fitch is the only is a preeminent training and professional Ratings and provides forward-looking ratings, CRA that currently offers this level of granularity development firm which educates 26,000 in-depth research, valuable data tools and or transparency about the impact of ESG on fundamental credit, maintaining more than 140,000 ESG scores on more than 10,000 entities, transactions and debt programmes. As a result of Fitch’s growth and acquisitions, it now has more than 4,000 employees, including in excess of 1,600 analysts, in more than 40 offices and affiliates worldwide. Promotion Fitch’s brand is inextricably linked with its people and its thought leadership. It maintains an active presence in a wide variety of global media, uk.superbrands.com 64021_SB20_042-043_FitchGroup.indd 42 26/10/2020 14:31 Fitch Group Brand History 1913 Fitch Publishing Company Inc. launches in New York and the Fitch Bond Book is published. 1924 Fitch develops the letter-grade scoring system for the credit-worthiness for corporations. 1975 Fitch gains NRSRO status, allowing it to supply fi nancial information for regulatory purposes. 1997 Fitch merges with IBCA Ltd, owned by Fimalac S.A. 2000 Fitch IBCA and Duff & Phelps Credit Rating Co merge and acquire Thomson BankWatch. 2006 Hearst Communications, Inc. invest in Fitch. 2008 Fitch launches Fitch Solutions. 2013 Fitch acquires 7city Learning to become part of Fitch Learning. 2014 Fitch acquires BMI Research incorporating it into Fitch Solutions Country Risk & Industry Research (2018). 2015 Fitch Solutions launches Fitch Connect. 2016 Fitch Group and Hearst launch Fitch Ventures. 2018 Fitch Group becomes wholly-owned by Hearst and Fitch acquires Fulcrum Financial Data products. 2020 Fitch Bohua is approved by People’s Bank of China and the National Association of Financial Market Institutional Investors to rate fi nancial institutions, their securities, and structured fi nance bonds in China’s interbank market. including top tier global print and broadcast has allowed Fitch to experiment with the format, independent; and to be exceptional partners outlets, business and trade media, and national while also reaching a far wider audience. to stakeholders. and local newspapers. This helps to promote Fitch’s research and ratings. In addition, its analysts Brand Values Fitch is committed to conducting its business are regularly quoted in print and interviewed Fitch aims to be the partner of choice for the in a responsible and sustainable way that on television and radio. In 2020, in particular, global capital markets. Putting clients and partners is benefi cial to its stakeholders and critical Fitch Ratings’ views on the credit market impact at the centre of its business, it provides unparalleled to its ongoing success. Its corporate social of Covid-19 have generated extensive media interest. service based on its best-in-class reputation for responsibility goals include fostering an inclusive analytics, research, service, transparency and culture, leadership development and being Events are an integral part of Fitch’s brand integrity. People are Fitch’s most valuable asset a diverse recruiter. Fitch also believes in giving promotion. This vital communications channel and are at the heart of what makes Fitch Group back to its community and has a number conveys the Fitch message and demonstrate the different. Its values help shape its three-pronged of programmes aimed at increasing access quality of its thinking and research in an interactive philosophy: To foster a strong and inclusive culture; to education and reducing the environmental environment. Recently, the increase in virtual events to be completely transparent and fi ercely impact of its business operations. fitch.group 64021_SB20_042-043_FitchGroup.indd 43 26/10/2020 14:31.