When they prepare their accounts in consolidated form, credit institutions and finance companies do so in accordance with the rules defined by a regulation of the Autorité des normes comptables (French accounting standards authority) issued after obtaining the opinion of the Comité consultatif de la législation et de la réglementation financières (consultative committee for financial legislation and regulation). However, they are exempt from complying with these rules when they use the international accounting standards adopted by regulation of the European Commission.