Corporate bond rating using multiple discriminant analysis, ordered logit and ordered probit models

The globalization and liberalization of economies trigger the expansion of the volume of capital markets. Parallel to this developments, the use of corporate bonds, one of the most important tool of capital markets, become widespread. This situationincreasesthe need forbondrating which is an indicator ofquality.Turkey, met with corporate bonds in 1970s, could not provide the development of corporate bond market and consequently development of bond and capital market, due to the crowding out of private sector by the need for higher public borrowing, tax disadvantages and uncertaintybrought byhighinflation. However, the recent downward trend in inflation and interest rates, The CentralBank'soptimisticreports and regulations about taxation has brought the corporate bonds to the agenda again as an alternative finance source.The ratios related with the long-term bond ratings and financial statements of the corporates which are in the sample was analyzed by multiple discriminant analysis, ordered logit and ordered probit analysis techniques. The analyses has two essential points to be emphasized. The first one is to construct models by these three methods which are commonly used in corporate bond rating and thus to contribute to the literature. The second one is to obtain the ratios which result in higher rating grades.According to the study, operating income, debt ratios and return on equity ratios are found to be the factors which have the biggest impact on corporate bond rating. Comparedwith the results ofthe previousstudies, similar findings are obtained indicating the consistency of findings.