EuroWeek View: Relationships trump ratings in IG loans — now it’s official

When German utility RWE launched a refinancing deal last week with a margin not linked to a ratings grid, it set another benchmark for what borrowers can do when they choose to test the structures of their deals. But ratings have never had that much value in the investment grade loan market, where deals are driven by relationships. RWE will not be the last to break the ratings link.