Financial Services Committee approves credit rating agencies bill
It's been a busy week for the U.S. House Financial Services Committee. Following its approval of a private adviser registration bill and the introduction of draft legislation to address systemic financial risk, the Committee has also approved a bill respecting credit rating agencies. The proposed legislation is intended to "take strong steps to reduce conflicts of interest, stem market reliance on credit rating agencies, and impose a liability standard on the agencies." According to the Committee's press release, the proposed legislation expands on the Treasury proposal of July 2009. Specifically, the proposed legislation clarifies the ability of individuals to sue rating agencies, adds a duty to supervise an agency's employees, requires that agencies have a board with at least one-third independent directors, provides for greater public disclosure and includes provisions regarding former employees of rating agencies that go to work for an issuer.
