Criminal probes often weigh on debt ratings - study

(Reuters) - The report by Moody's Investors Service looked at
the credit rating agency's actions regarding companies that
reached pretrial agreements with federal prosecutors
investigating allegations of wrongdoing.




These pacts, generally called deferred prosecution or
non-prosecution agreements, have become increasingly common as
companies in the government's crosshairs seek to avoid the fate
of accounting firm Arthur Andersen, which went out of business
following its indictment in 2002.


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