Press release

The European Covered Bond Council (ECBC) is pleased to welcome Capital Intelligence Ratings Ltd (CI) as its latest Member.

CI is regulated as a Credit Rating Agency (CRA) by the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA), and accredited as an External Credit Assessment Institution (ECAI) throughout the EU, as well as in several jurisdictions in the Middle East. CI is providing independent credit analysis and ratings on currently more than 300 banks, insurance companies, corporates and governments in the Middle East, North Africa, Asia, and Europe.

Commenting on CI’s Membership, Luca Bertalot, EMF-ECBC Secretary General said:

“We look forward to working together with Capital Intelligence Ratings and are convinced that they can bring a valuable contribution to the activities of the ECBC in covered bond rating-related issues, especially in new emerging markets. For the ECBC, a growing Membership is a sign of trust in the added value of our work for the global covered bond community.”

Zafer Diab, Managing Director of Capital Intelligence Ratings commented:

“We have joined the ECBC to share our long-lasting experience in emerging markets. Together with our clients, we will work intensively to further promote covered bonds as a very efficient funding tool for banks and a higher quality investment class for investors.  As part of our international expansion strategy, we are also strongly committed to playing an active role in promoting the concept of covered bonds and establishing CI as the rating agency of choice for both issuers and investors in new frontier markets.”

The ECBC is the platform that brings together covered bond market participants including covered bond issuers, analysts, investment bankers, rating agencies and a wide range of other interested stakeholders. As of March 2017, the ECBC represents over 110 members across more than 30 active covered bond jurisdictions globally.

More information about the ECBC and its membership can be found here.