Applications of a credit rating may be very wide and are not limited to bonds issues only. An assessment of the company's financial credibility in the form of a credit rating assigned by a professional credit rating agency may be used, amongst others, in the following areas:
| Company's stakeholders | Benefits of a credit rating |
| Shareholders | - an effective of ownership supervision
- control over the company's business risk
- information about rational use of funds
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| Management Board | - information about the company's strenghths and weaknesses
- help in managing of risks in the company
- basis to assess the effects of implemented restructuring programs
- instrument for obtaining a competitive edge
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| Clients | - authentication of the company in relations with clients
- easier acquisition of clients
- an element of competitive advantage during pariticipation in tenders
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| Suppliers | - bulding lasting relations with suppliers
- easier obtainment of merchant credits and extending payment dates
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| Banks | - supplementation of the internal bank rating
- increased access to credits (with simultaneously reducing the interest rate)
- easier obtainment (and decrease of costs) of financial guarantees granted by banks and insurance companies
- general strengthening of the position in negotiations with borrowers
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| Creditors | - easier obtainment of external capital for the company
- building the image of a transparent, credible, and financially reliable company
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| Public opinion | - an instrument for bulding public trust
- a communication and pulic relations tool
- ensuring comparability of information about companies
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| Financial analysts | - providing essential and reliable information about the company
- increased transparency and reliability of the company
- easier risk assessment and business valuation
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| Stock investors | - easier access to financing on the capital market
- facilitating stock market debut (IPO)
- improvement in the perception of risk among shareholders, which positively affects the company's market value
- an investor relations policy instrument
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