For firms with multiple bonds, there can be variation in ratings by the same agency for the firm. The difference in bond rating within a firm is a function of the seniority and securitization of the individual bond issue. Bond ratings agencies first rate the most senior bonds of the firm and then notch bonds with significantly lower levels of investor protection downward. The notching is typically one minor rating category (A to A−) for investment-grade bonds and two minor rating categories (BB+ to BB−) for noninvestmentgrade bonds. For the reported results, we use the most senior rating for firms with multiple bond issues. Though not tabulated, we find similar results using either a weighted average of a firm’s individual bond ratings or indicator variables.12 Finally, to control for the jump in the credit spreads of the noninvestment-grade bonds (Mansi and Reeb [2002]), we include an indicator variable for noninvestment-grade bonds