Fixed Income Credit Ratings

I have a doubt from the schewser that in LOS 42.c its saying that Issuer ratings are based on the overall creditworthiness of the company.And the issuers are rated on their senior unsecured debt.

First it talks abt the overall performance of the company then concentrated on the specific issue. Can anybody explain this???

Thanks in advance

Corporate (issuer) rating is overall credit worthiness of a company. Senior unsecured is slapped the same rating as issuer rating. Credit analysts usually do notching. If it is secured note they may raise one notch the dating of secured bonds. If subdebt then one or two notch down from issuer (generally same as senior unsecured) rating