Question

Suppose recent regulatory reforms relating to credit rating agencies are perceived to improve the reliability and accuracy of credit ratings of corporate bonds. Imagine further that you manage a corporation interested in issuing new bonds, in addition to past issues by the firm that already trade in the market. Identify one way in which your firm might lose and one way in which it might gain from these regulatory reforms. Explain.

Answer 1

Answer:

If the new reforms bring increase confidence of the investors then the company will have to incur lower borrowing costs as the investor will be available and vice versa.

Explanation:

Suppose that previously our company's credit rating was overrated. Due to recent regulatory reforms, my company achieved a lower credit rating and hence the investor confidence in our company dropped significantly. Now the investor is not interested to invest in my company and to urge them to invest in the company, they will be offered higher interest. If the reforms are going to impact our credit rating adversely then the borrowing cost will increase and vice versa.

Furthermore, Core Principle 3 says that the decsion making of the investor is based on the information that is readily available to him. This means if the reforms increase the access of the borrower through improved credit rating then it will be favourable for the company in terms of lower borrowing costs. If the reforms decrease the access of the borrower through depreciating credit rating then it will adversely affect the company in terms of lower borrowing costs and lower investment access.