Role of Credit Rating Agencies in Securitization
The credit rating agencies play a major role in the securitization process is to help investors to make informed decisions regarding investment in the underlying securities. As guardians of the public through their research, analysis, and grading of various risks, rating agencies are expected to protect investors against taking excessive credit risk. The ratings allow institutions such as insurance companies and pension funds, who are prohibited to invest in securities rated below investment grade by their respective regulators, to actively participate in the securitized market as investors. Investment grade rating conveys information to the investors that the underlying instrument will pay coupon interest and principal according to the terms of the indenture. Rating agencies play a pivotal role in the securitization process as the ultimate appraiser of the underlying pool of collateral. In their process of appraising and evaluating the likelihood of default by subjecting the cash flows of Continue reading