In September $2017$ United Technologies acquired Rockwell for $$30\mathrm{.}3$ billion, paying $$140/$share

in cash and stock which represented a $25\%$ premium to Rockwell$$s common stock price.

The two businesses were highly complementary to each other, helping with the integration and

creation of digital connected planes $($drones$).$

As part of the transaction, United Technologies received a $$6\mathrm{.}5$ billion one$-$year unsecured

bridge loan.

At maturity of the bridge loan $$14\mathrm{.}4$ billion of corporate bonds were issued with a credit rating of

BBB$+$

This is an example, to explain the issuance of corporate bonds to fund an acquisition.

This case is not to explain the United Technologies $/$ Rockwell acquisition but to define the

current corporate bond market. Based on credit rating, what are the prices, coupon rates, and

maturity dates of today$$s corporate bond market. First explain the corporate bond market in the

first quarter of $2024,$ how do credit ratings affect pricing, coupon rates and bond maturity dates