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The game changer: Regulatory reform and multiple credit ratings

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  • Huang, He
  • Svec, Jiri
  • Wu, Eliza

Abstract

This paper examines the change in the regulatory use of multiple credit ratings after the Dodd-Frank Act (Dodd-Frank). We find that post Dodd-Frank reform, firms are less likely to demand a third rating (typically from Fitch) for ratings near the high yield (HY) - investment grade (IG) boundary to support their new corporate bond issues. Third ratings also become less informative post Dodd-Frank, with a much weaker market impact on credit spreads for firms with S&P and Moody's ratings on opposite sides of the HY-IG rating boundary. We provide new evidence on the effect of Dodd-Frank in curbing corporate borrowers’ strategic use of multiple credit ratings near this boundary.

Suggested Citation

  • Huang, He & Svec, Jiri & Wu, Eliza, 2021. "The game changer: Regulatory reform and multiple credit ratings," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 133(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jbfina:v:133:y:2021:i:c:s0378426621002351
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jbankfin.2021.106279
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Financial regulation; Credit ratings; Corporate bonds; Dodd-Frank;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G01 - Financial Economics - - General - - - Financial Crises
    • G24 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Investment Banking; Venture Capital; Brokerage
    • G28 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Government Policy and Regulation

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