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Information content of unsolicited credit ratings and incentives of rating agencies: A theory

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  • Byoun, Soku

Abstract

Unsolicited credit ratings are issued solely at the discretion of rating agencies based on public information. This paper analyzes firms' incentives to solicit credit ratings to signal their quality and rating agencies' incentives to issue unsolicited ratings. Conditions for two types of equilibria are derived. When rating agencies are compensated for the accuracy of ratings under the subscriber-fee scheme, a quasi-separating equilibrium is likely to occur, in which firm quality is revealed through unsolicited ratings. When rating agencies are compensated only for solicited ratings under the issuer-fee scheme, a separating equilibrium results, in which high-quality firms signal through solicited ratings while low-quality firms are revealed through unsolicited ratings. We show that rating agencies have strong incentives to selectively issue unsolicited ratings in order to induce more fee-based solicited ratings under the issuer-fee scheme.

Suggested Citation

  • Byoun, Soku, 2014. "Information content of unsolicited credit ratings and incentives of rating agencies: A theory," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 33(C), pages 338-349.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:reveco:v:33:y:2014:i:c:p:338-349
    DOI: 10.1016/j.iref.2014.02.011
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    3. Liu, Dehong & Lung, Pei Peter & Lallemand, Justin, 2015. "Anticipation of takeovers in stock and options markets," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 39(C), pages 19-35.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Unsolicited rating; Asymmetric information; Signaling; Subscriber-fee scheme; Issuer-fee scheme;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G20 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - General
    • G24 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Investment Banking; Venture Capital; Brokerage

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