| Freehold property helps to strengthen a balance sheet that may in turn support a better credit rating and lower the cost of borrowing. |
| However, if a company is losing its credit rating, financial resources may suddenly disappear, leading to debt. |
| If the issuer has a bad credit rating, bond traders demand higher yields to compensate for the extra risk. |
| Instead of selling loans with fixed interest rates, they offer tailored rates based on your credit rating. |
| It is one of a handful of American companies with an AAA credit rating, something it has sustained for 85 years. |
| Some lenders may view one or two missed repayments relatively benignly and your credit rating may be largely unaffected. |
