IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/finlet/v76y2025ics1544612325002181.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Does corporate social responsibility facilitate credit ratings: Evidence from Rule 144A bonds

Author

Listed:
  • Cai, Kelly
  • Zhu, Steven X.
  • Zhu, Hui

Abstract

We investigate how corporate social responsibility (CSR) influences the initial credit rating of Rule 144A bonds. Our findings indicate that socially responsible issuers are rewarded with better initial ratings. This result persists even for each environmental, social, and governance component. We further show that foreign issuers with strong CSR receive more favorable initial ratings than their domestic peers. Additionally, issuers with higher CSR can issue larger amounts at lower borrowing costs. Results from instrumental variables and entropy balance analyses show robustness accounting for endogeneity. Our findings suggest that CSR efforts are recognized and rewarded in the Rule 144A market.

Suggested Citation

  • Cai, Kelly & Zhu, Steven X. & Zhu, Hui, 2025. "Does corporate social responsibility facilitate credit ratings: Evidence from Rule 144A bonds," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 76(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:finlet:v:76:y:2025:i:c:s1544612325002181
    DOI: 10.1016/j.frl.2025.106954
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1544612325002181
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.frl.2025.106954?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Hao Liang & Luc Renneboog, 2017. "On the Foundations of Corporate Social Responsibility," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 72(2), pages 853-910, April.
    2. Hainmueller, Jens, 2012. "Entropy Balancing for Causal Effects: A Multivariate Reweighting Method to Produce Balanced Samples in Observational Studies," Political Analysis, Cambridge University Press, vol. 20(1), pages 25-46, January.
    3. Susan Chaplinsky & Latha Ramchand, 2004. "The Impact of SEC Rule 144A on Corporate Debt Issuance by International Firms," The Journal of Business, University of Chicago Press, vol. 77(4), pages 1073-1098, October.
    4. Shilu Sun & Tiantian Li & Hong Ma & Rita Yi Man Li & Kostas Gouliamos & Jianming Zheng & Yan Han & Otilia Manta & Ubaldo Comite & Teresa Barros & Nelson Duarte & Xiao-Guang Yue, 2020. "Does Employee Quality Affect Corporate Social Responsibility? Evidence from China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-19, March.
    5. Djankov, Simeon & La Porta, Rafael & Lopez-de-Silanes, Florencio & Shleifer, Andrei, 2008. "The law and economics of self-dealing," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 88(3), pages 430-465, June.
    6. Marshall E. Blume & Felix Lim & A. Craig MacKinlay, "undated". "The Declining Credit Quality of US Corporate Debt: Myth or Reality?," Rodney L. White Center for Financial Research Working Papers 03-98, Wharton School Rodney L. White Center for Financial Research.
    7. Boubaker, Sabri & Cellier, Alexis & Manita, Riadh & Saeed, Asif, 2020. "Does corporate social responsibility reduce financial distress risk?," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 91(C), pages 835-851.
    8. Van Ha Nguyen & Frank W Agbola & Bobae Choi, 2019. "Does corporate social responsibility reduce information asymmetry? Empirical evidence from Australia," Australian Journal of Management, Australian School of Business, vol. 44(2), pages 188-211, May.
    9. La Rosa, Fabio & Liberatore, Giovanni & Mazzi, Francesco & Terzani, Simone, 2018. "The impact of corporate social performance on the cost of debt and access to debt financing for listed European non-financial firms," European Management Journal, Elsevier, vol. 36(4), pages 519-529.
    10. Najah Attig & Sadok El Ghoul & Omrane Guedhami & Jungwon Suh, 2013. "Corporate Social Responsibility and Credit Ratings," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 117(4), pages 679-694, November.
    11. Saurabh Mishra & Sachin Modi, 2013. "Positive and Negative Corporate Social Responsibility, Financial Leverage, and Idiosyncratic Risk," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 117(2), pages 431-448, October.
    12. Samuel B. Bonsall & Brian P. Miller, 2017. "The impact of narrative disclosure readability on bond ratings and the cost of debt," Review of Accounting Studies, Springer, vol. 22(2), pages 608-643, June.
    13. Boubakri, Narjess & El Ghoul, Sadok & Wang, He & Guedhami, Omrane & Kwok, Chuck C.Y., 2016. "Cross-listing and corporate social responsibility," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 41(C), pages 123-138.
    14. James Heckman, 2013. "Sample selection bias as a specification error," Applied Econometrics, Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (RANEPA), vol. 31(3), pages 129-137.
    15. Marshall E. Blume & Felix Lim & A. Craig MacKinlay, "undated". "The Declining Credit Quality of US Corporate Debt: Myth or Reality?," Rodney L. White Center for Financial Research Working Papers 3-98, Wharton School Rodney L. White Center for Financial Research.
    16. Han, Song & Huang, Alan Guoming & Kalimipalli, Madhu & Wang, Ke, 2022. "Information and liquidity of over-the-counter securities: Evidence from public registration of Rule 144A bonds," Journal of Financial Markets, Elsevier, vol. 59(PB).
    17. Edward I. Altman, 1968. "Financial Ratios, Discriminant Analysis And The Prediction Of Corporate Bankruptcy," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 23(4), pages 589-609, September.
    18. Sudheer Chava, 2014. "Environmental Externalities and Cost of Capital," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 60(9), pages 2223-2247, September.
    19. Kim, Sooin & Yoo, Jungmin, 2022. "Corporate Opacity, Corporate Social Responsibility, and Financial Performance," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 49(C).
    20. Zhu, Steven X. & Cai, Kelly & Zhu, Hui, 2025. "Is corporate social responsibility priced into Yankee bonds?," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 71(C).
    21. Jinhua Cui & Hoje Jo & Haejung Na, 2018. "Does Corporate Social Responsibility Affect Information Asymmetry?," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 148(3), pages 549-572, March.
    22. Ben Ameur, Hachmi & Jawadi, Fredj & Jawadi, Nabila & Cheffou, Abdoulkarim Idi, 2020. "Assessing downside and upside risk spillovers across conventional and socially responsible stock markets," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 88(C), pages 200-210.
    23. Kelly Cai & Heiwai Lee & Hui Zhu, 2024. "Impacts of firm life cycle on bond ratings and yields," Journal of Financial Research, Southern Finance Association;Southwestern Finance Association, vol. 47(4), pages 1083-1117, December.
    24. Hoje Jo & Haejung Na, 2012. "Does CSR Reduce Firm Risk? Evidence from Controversial Industry Sectors," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 110(4), pages 441-456, November.
    25. Weichieh Su & Mike W. Peng & Weiqiang Tan & Yan-Leung Cheung, 2016. "The Signaling Effect of Corporate Social Responsibility in Emerging Economies," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 134(3), pages 479-491, March.
    26. Wassim Dbouk & Dawei Jin & Haizhi Wang & Jianrong Wang, 2018. "Corporate Social Responsibility and Rule 144A Debt Offerings: Empirical Evidence," IJFS, MDPI, vol. 6(4), pages 1-18, November.
    27. Barbara Sveva Magnanelli & Maria Federica Izzo, 2017. "Corporate social performance and cost of debt: the relationship," Social Responsibility Journal, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 13(2), pages 250-265, June.
    28. Michael Spence, 1973. "Job Market Signaling," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 87(3), pages 355-374.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Zhu, Steven X. & Cai, Kelly & Zhu, Hui, 2025. "Is corporate social responsibility priced into Yankee bonds?," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 71(C).
    2. Ballester, Laura & González-Urteaga, Ana & Shen, Long, 2024. "Green bond issuance and credit risk: International evidence," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 94(C).
    3. Tarsisius Renald Suganda & Jungmu Kim, 2023. "An Empirical Study on the Relationship between Corporate Social Responsibility and Default Risk: Evidence in Korea," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-20, February.
    4. Boubaker, Sabri & Cellier, Alexis & Manita, Riadh & Saeed, Asif, 2020. "Does corporate social responsibility reduce financial distress risk?," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 91(C), pages 835-851.
    5. Ballester, Laura & González-Urteaga, Ana & Martínez, Beatriz, 2025. "When is environmental performance most valued? International evidence from the CDS market," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 99(C).
    6. Saeed, Asif & Noor, Mah & Soobaroyen, Teerooven & Gull, Ammar Ali, 2024. "Investigating the varying relevance of CSR dimensions on firm leverage: The implications for internationalized firms," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 71(C).
    7. Benjamin Lynch & Martha O'Hagan‐Luff, 2024. "Relative corporate social performance and cost of equity capital: International evidence," International Journal of Finance & Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 29(3), pages 2882-2910, July.
    8. Jannik Gerwanski, 2020. "Does it pay off? Integrated reporting and cost of debt: European evidence," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 27(5), pages 2299-2319, September.
    9. Farah, Tazrina & Li, Jialong & Li, Zhicheng & Shamsuddin, Abul, 2021. "The non-linear effect of CSR on firms’ systematic risk: International evidence," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 71(C).
    10. Maite Cubas-Díaz & Miguel Ángel Martínez Sedano, 2018. "Do Credit Ratings Take into Account the Sustainability Performance of Companies?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(11), pages 1-24, November.
    11. Al-Fakir Al Rabab’a, Eltayyeb & Rashid, Afzalur & Shams, Syed & Bose, Sudipta, 2024. "Corporate carbon performance and firm risk: Evidence from Asia-Pacific countries," Journal of Contemporary Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 20(2).
    12. Qian, Shuitu & Yu, Wenzhe, 2024. "Green finance and environmental, social, and governance performance," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 89(PA), pages 1185-1202.
    13. Alves, Carlos Francisco & Meneses, Lilian Lima, 2024. "ESG scores and debt costs: Exploring indebtedness, agency costs, and financial system impact," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 94(C).
    14. Jyotirani Gupta & Niladri Das, 2024. "Navigating the trade‐off between corporate social responsibility disclosure and the cost of financing: Evidence from BRICS economies," Managerial and Decision Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 45(4), pages 1927-1943, June.
    15. Zied Ftiti & Maher Jeriji & Sourour Kammoun & Waël Louhichi & Amel Zenaidi, 2024. "Corporate social responsibility disclosure and corporate creditworthiness: Evidence from the UK," International Journal of Finance & Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 29(2), pages 1259-1276, April.
    16. Hu, Xiaolu & Zhong, Angel & Cao, Youdan, 2022. "Greenium in the Chinese corporate bond market," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 53(C).
    17. Dunbar, Craig & Li, Zhichuan (Frank) & Shi, Yaqi, 2020. "CEO risk-taking incentives and corporate social responsibility," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 64(C).
    18. Metin Borak & Hatice Dogukanli, 2023. "Effect of Corporate Social Responsibility on Portfolio Performance: Evidence From Turkey," SAGE Open, , vol. 13(4), pages 21582440231, December.
    19. Wajih Abbassi & Sabri Boubaker & Wael Louhichi, 2024. "Why do corporate social responsibility‐oriented companies opt for bond debt? Evidence from crisis periods," International Journal of Finance & Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 29(2), pages 1534-1568, April.
    20. Hu, Haoshen & Lazar, Emese & Pan, Jingqi & Wang, Shixuan, 2024. "Environmental performance and credit ratings: A transatlantic study," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 96(PB).

    More about this item

    Keywords

    CSR; Rule 144A bonds; Foreign issuers; Credit ratings; Borrowing costs;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F34 - International Economics - - International Finance - - - International Lending and Debt Problems
    • G12 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Asset Pricing; Trading Volume; Bond Interest Rates
    • K0 - Law and Economics - - General
    • M14 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Administration - - - Corporate Culture; Diversity; Social Responsibility

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:finlet:v:76:y:2025:i:c:s1544612325002181. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/frl .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.