Of the AAArated subprimemortgagebacked securities issued in 2006, 93% were downgraded to junk status. What incentives does a rating agency have to "get it right?" Note that the rating has traditionally been paid for by the issuer. Would it be better to have ratings done by an independent agency, perhaps funded by a fee charged on trades?

Corporate finance third edition

Stephen Ludden

A. Valuing Bonds pg.67 - Chapter 5, "Valuing Bonds" p 79 - 99

Corporate Bond Sales Top $237 Billion in Record August pg.67

1. Types of Bonds pg.68

2. Bond Pricing and the Price/Yield Relationship pg.70

3. Bond Ratings pg.72

S&P Ratings Debate Doesn't Show Fraud, Peterson Says pg.72

B. Bond Indentures pg.74 - Chapter 15, "Bond Covenants" p 343

Marcel Kahan, Rethinking Corporate Bonds: The Trade-Off Between Individual and Collective Rights pg.75 - Chapter 15, p 344

1. The Trust Indenture Act pg.76 - Chapter 14, p 311-318

In the Matter of J.P. Morgan & Co. Incorporated File No. 25-1 Securities and Exchange Commission pg.76 - Chapter 14, p 312

2. Call Provisions and Other Covenants pg.82 Chapter 15, p 347-349; 354-355; 359-360; 385-386

` Best Buy Poison Put Elusive in Schulze Offer: Corporate Finance pg.83

C. Syndicated Loan Agreements pg.86 - Chapter 16, p 387 - 409

1. Loan Structures pg.86

Deutsche Bank AG, Plaintiff-Counterclaim-Defendant, v. JPMORGAN Chase Bank (F/K/A The Chase Manhattan Bank), Defendant-Counterclaim-Plaintiff pg.87

In Re Fontainebleau Las Vegas Holdings, LLC, et al., Debtors. Fontainebleau Las Vegas, LLC, Plaintiff, v. Bank of America, N.A., et al., Defendants pg.89

1. Leveraged Loans - Chapter 16, p 390

2. Trading Pieces of Loans - Chapter, p 395

3. Decision Making pg.91 - Chapter 16, p 403

Participation Agreement pg.91

In Re Chrysler LLC, et al., Debtors pg.93 - Chapter 16, p 403

Unreported Disposition 29 Misc.3d 1216(A), 918 N.Y.S.2d 396 (Table), 2010 WL 4243437 (N.Y. Sup.), 2010 N.Y. Slip Op. 51848(U) Bank of Am., N.A. v. PSW NYC LLC pg.98