an international company started in 1941 based in New York which provides credit ratings (= a judgement about how likely someone is to pay back money that they borrow, and how safe it is to lend money to them).
STANDARD AND POOR’S
Meaning of STANDARD AND POOR’S in English
Oxford guide to British and American culture English vocabulary. Руководство по британской и американской культуре, Оксфордский английский словарь. 2005