Credit Rating - An essential tool for SwedishReal Estate Companies on a growing CapitalMarket for Real Estate Bonds?

Abstract: The capital market, with financial instruments such as corporate bonds, has over the last years emerged as an alternative financing source for Swedish real estate companies. A seemingly unexplored market which given the real estate companies the possibility to diversify their loan stock and limit their exposure towards the bank. In Sweden, unlike more market-oriented countries such as the US, commercial banks have historically almost exclusively supplied debt capital to Swedish corporations. Assessing credit risk is crucial in debt investments, and therefore, this thesis focuses on the Swedish capital market the current and potential future role of credit ratings in the emerging market for corporate bonds issued by real estate companies. We examine why only a limited number of real estate companies are credit rated today and the importance of credit rating for the capital market. The study is based on interviews with Swedish real estate companies, institutional investors and banks- all that in one-way ore an other is affected by credit rating. The Swedish financial system is undergoing a growth process where the real estate companies to a greater extent in using bonds and certificates to finance their investments. A financing method more widely used by government entities in the past. The transition from bank financing to funding investments through institutional investors and private equity appears to be permanent. The market aftermath is an increased demand for credit risk evaluations. Information retained from the banks’ Shadow ratings or the rating institutions. We can conclude that extended credit risk information is inescapable with a transition to a more market oriented financial system- the remaining question is- who should preform the valuation of the credit risk. If the banks continue making the credit risk reports of real estate companies international investors might refrain from establishing a position as an investor in the Swedish market. In the contrary the banks shaded ratings is more favourable for Swedish real estate companies with more qualitative and marked adjusted reports. The market will require independent credit information in the future but if it will be the banks or the rating institutions that provide this information is still uncertain.