Credit rating

an evaluation of the credit worthiness of a debtor, especially a state, business (company) or a government. Or in other words, an estimate of the ability of a person or organization to fulfill their financial commitments, based on previous dealings. The evaluation is made by a credit rating agency of the debtor's ability to pay back the debt and the likelihood of default.
Credit rating
Credit rating

The real role of credit ratings in the financial system is to improve the functioning of markets by reducing information asymmetry between issuers and borrowers who need funding and the investors and lenders who can provide it.
By serving as information intermediaries, CRAs (Community Reinvestment Act) theoretically reduce information costs, increase the pool of potential borrowers, and promote liquid markets. These functions may increase the supply of available risk capital in the market and promote economic growth.
Credit rating

A credit rating can be assigned to any entity that seeks to borrow money – a corporation, state or provincial authority, or sovereign government.
Credit rating

Credit ratings are not based on mathematical formulas.
Credit rating
Credit ratings for borrowers are based on substantial due diligence conducted by the rating agencies.

Credit rating
The borrower’s
financial situation
Capacity to
service/repay the debt The highest
credit rating

The most internationally
recognized independent credit rating agencies

World countries by
Standard & Poor's Foreign Rating

an assessment of the likelihood / risk that a borrower will default on any type of debt by failing to make required payments.
It is based upon factors, such as their history of repayment and their credit score. Lending institutions also consider the availability of assets and extent of liabilities to determine the probability
of default.
Credit Worthiness

Credit Worthiness
The loss may be complete or partial and can arise in a number of circumstances. For example:
A consumer may fail to make a payment due on a mortgage loan, credit card, line of credit, or other loan
A company is unable to repay asset-secured fixed or floating charge debt
A business does not pay an employee's earned wages
A business or government bond issuer does not make a payment on a coupon or principal payment
An insolvent insurance company does not pay a policy obligation
An insolvent bank won't return funds to a depositor
A government grants bankruptcy protection to an insolvent consumer or business
In general, the higher the risk, the higher will be the interest rate that the debtor will be asked to pay on the debt.

Types of credit risk
Credit default
risk
Concentration
risk
Country risk

Credit Worthiness
Credit ratings are NOT indications of investment merit.
The ratings are not buy, sell, or hold recommendations, or a measure of asset value.
Nor are they intended to signal the suitability of an investment.

Why do Credit Ratings change?
The reasons for ratings adjustments vary, and may be broadly related to overall shifts in the economy or business environment or more narrowly focused on circumstances affecting a specific industry, entity, or individual debt issue.

Are Credit Ratings absolute measures of default probability?
Ratings express relative opinions about the creditworthiness of an issuer or credit quality of an individual debt issue, from strongest to weakest, within a universe of credit risk. The likelihood of default is the single most important factor in our assessment of creditworthiness

Why credit ratings are useful?
Investors purchase these debt securities, such as municipal bonds, expecting to receive interest plus the return of their principal, either when the bond matures or as periodic payments.
Investors and other market participants may use the ratings as a screening device to match the relative credit risk of an issuer or individual debt issue with their own risk tolerance or credit risk guidelines in making investment and business decisions.
At the same time, credit ratings may be used by corporations to help them raise money for expansion and/or research and development, as well as help states, cities, and other municipalities to fund public projects.

Factors used for assesing corporate credit ratings

Rating methodologies

Analyst driven ratings

Recovery of investment
after default
Credit rating agencies may also assess recovery, which is the likelihood that investors will recoup the unpaid portion of their principal in the event of default. Some agencies incorporate recovery as a rating factor in evaluating the credit quality of an issue, particularly in the case of non-investment grade debt.
Other agencies, such as Standard & Poor’s, issue recovery ratings in addition to rating specific debt issues. Standard & Poor’s may also consider recovery ratings in adjusting the credit rating of a debt issue up or down in relation to the credit rating assigned to the issuer.

Rating structured finance instruments

Tranching
Stratifying a pool of undifferentiated risk into multiple classes of bonds with varying levels of seniority
is called “tranching”.
Investors who purchase the senior tranche, which generally has the highest quality debt from a credit perspective and the lowest interest rate, are the first to be repaid from the cash flow of the underlying assets.
Investors who purchase the lowest tranche generally have the potential to earn the highest interest rate, but they also tend to assume the highest risk.

Surveillance:
Tracking credit quality
The frequency and extent of surveillance typically depends on specific risk considerations for an individual issuer or issue, or an entire group of rated entities or debt issues.
Agencies typically track developments that might affect the credit risk of an issuer or individual debt issue for which an agency has provided a ratings opinion.
As a result of its surveillance analysis, an agency may adjust the credit rating of an issuer or issue to signify its view of a higher or lower level of relative credit risk.

International Monetary Fund
Specialized agency of the United Nations system.
Was conceived at the Bretton Woods Conference (1944)
Officially founded in 1945 by 29 member countries
More than 180 countries are members of the IMF
Principal functions: stabilizing currency-exchange rates, financing the short-term balance-of-payments deficits of member countries, and providing advice and technical assistance to borrowing countries.
Members contribute operating funds and receive voting rights
The U.S. holds in excess of one-sixth of the voting rights,

International Monetary Fund
Supports worldwide economic growth by granting loans and technical assistance to countries in need
Has no coercive power over members
Can refuse to lend money to members that do not agree to adhere to its policies
Growing number of dollars in their central bank reserves, especially after 1958, stimulated worldwide inflation.
The gold exchange standard broke down in 1968–1971
Collapse of fixed exchange rates in 1973
Provides information to the public, and technical assistance to governments of developing countries.

World Bank Group
Specialized agency of the United Nations system
Established at the Bretton Woods Conference for postwar reconstruction.
It is the principal international development institution.

World Bank Group

Complementary ways in achiving objectives