OCC, the world's largest equity derivatives clearing organization, today commented on the reaffirmation of its AA+/Stable rating by Standard & Poor's , which was published on Thursday, December 20.
"S&P's reaffirmation of OCC's AA+/Stable rating is very satisfying," said John Davidson, OCC President and Chief Operating Officer. "S&P has acknowledged the steps we've taken this year as a systemically important financial market utility to continue to deliver operational excellence to the users of the U.S. equity options and futures markets. Additionally, we have strong working relationships with our clearing firms and exchange partners, and a talented workforce. We have cleared over 5 billion contracts in 2018, an industry record, and did so while improving our methodologies and technological capabilities."
In its report, S&P lists OCC's outlook as stable because of the "expectation that the company's recently approved financial safeguard framework and the implementation of minimum cash clearing fund requirements will continue to provide substantial protection against member default, from both a loss-absorbing and liquidity standpoint, in extreme but plausible market conditions."