GE Interest Plus® | ||
P.O. Box 6294 | ||
Indianapolis, IN 46209 | ||
(800) 433-4480 | ||
| On 3/12/09, Standard & Poors (S&P) announced a downgrade of General Electric Companys (GE) and General Electric Capital Corporations (GECC) long-term ratings from AAA to AA+, with a stable outlook. The ratings downgrade does not affect GEs and GECCs short-term funding ratings of A-1+, which was affirmed. The action follows a thorough review of GEs and GECCs portfolio by S&P. S&P defines a company with this rating as having a very strong capacity to meet its financial commitments. Also, S&Ps stable outlook means the rating is unlikely to change in the next six months to two years. | |
| On 3/23/09, Moodys Investors Service (Moodys) announced a downgrade of GE and GECCs long-term ratings from Aaa to Aa2 with a stable outlook. The ratings downgrade does not affect GEs and GECCs short-term funding rating of Prime-1 (P-1), which was affirmed. Moodys defines obligations rated Aa (1-3) as judged to be of high quality and subject to very low credit risk. In its review, Moodys highlighted that GECC has successfully strengthened its capital and liquidity to better protect its global businesses in this environment. |
AAA
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Extremely strong capacity to meet its financial commitments. Highest rating. | |
AA
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Very strong capacity to meet its financial commitments. This rating differs from the highest-rated obligors only to a small degree. | |
A
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Strong capacity to meet its financial commitments, but is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than obligors in higher-rated categories. | |
BBB
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Adequate capacity to meet its financial commitments. However, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity of the obligor to meet its financial commitments. |
BB
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Less vulnerable in the near-term than lower rated obligors but faces major ongoing uncertainties and exposure to adverse business, financial, or economic conditions, which could lead to the obligors inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitments. | |
B |
More vulnerable than the obligors rated BB, but the obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial commitments. Adverse business, financial or economic conditions will likely impair the obligors capacity or willingness to meet its financial commitments. | |
CCC
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Currently vulnerable and is dependent on favorable business, financial and economic conditions to meet financial commitments. | |
CC
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Currently highly vulnerable. | |
R
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Under regulatory supervision owing to its financial condition. | |
SD or D
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An obligor has failed to pay one or more of its financial obligations when it came due. |
Aaa
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Obligations are judged to be of the highest quality, with minimal credit risk. | |
Aa1, Aa2, Aa3
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Obligations are judged to be of high quality and are subject to very low credit risk. | |
A1, A2, A3
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Obligations are considered upper-medium-grade and are subject to low credit risk. | |
Baa1, Baa2, Baa3
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Obligations are subject to moderate credit risk. They are considered medium-grade and as such may possess certain speculative characteristics. |
Ba1, Ba2, Ba3
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Obligations are judged to have speculative elements and are subject to substantial credit risk. | |
B1, B2, B3
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Obligations are considered speculative and are subject to high credit risk. | |
Caa1, Caa2, Caa3
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Obligations are judged to be of poor standing and are subject to very high credit risk. | |
Ca
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Obligations are highly speculative and are likely in, or very near, default, with some prospect of recovery of principal and interest. | |
C
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Obligations are the lowest rated class of bonds and are typically in default, with little prospect for recovery of principal or interest. |