A firm’s default risk, the measurement of the chances

A. Even though uncertainty about a new CEO’s ability has more impact on a firm’s default risk, uncertainty about a new CFO could affect the rate at which the firm is lent money and its default risk.

Incorrect: Partial Scope

Although the author does state that uncertainty about a new CFO could affect a firm’s default risk and cost of borrowing, there is no information given to compare this effect with the impact resulting from uncertainty about a new CEO’s ability.

B. The uncertainty about a new CEO is likely to be comparably lower when an expected candidate takes over the position vis-à-vis an unexpected one.

Correct

This information can be deduced on the basis of the following information:

In particular, when the new CEO is not considered an “heir apparent” prior to getting the position… the market is expected to perceive relatively high uncertainty about the CEO’s ability or future actions.

C. Because the literature on debt pricing normally does not differentiate between the types of risks, sometimes the default risk is not calculated thoroughly.

Incorrect: Out Of Scope

The author neither states nor suggests the cause and effect relationship stated in this choice.

D. As the tenure of a new CEO progresses, the uncertainty regarding his ability decreases considerably.

Incorrect: Out Of Scope

Although it is given that the uncertainty decreases with the passage of time, the passage gives us no information to support that it decreases “considerably”.

E. By maintaining transparency in managerial policies, a firm can successfully negotiate its terms in the market.

Incorrect: Out Of Scope

There is no given information to deduce anything about a firm’s success in negotiating its term.



A. highlighting the importance of a risk factor that is normally not easily understood in the business world

Incorrect: Inconsistent

Yes, the author does highlight the importance of management related risk but there is no information to support that this risk is not easily understood.

B. discussing how a particular factor, though important, gets neglected most of the time

Incorrect: Irrelevant

The author does say the literature on debt pricing does not differentiate between risks, but the passage never delves in to discussing that the factor is ignored.

C. describing how a risk factor in the business world gets more importance in some situations than in others

Incorrect: Inconsistent

This information is given while discussing the situations in which the uncertainty about management is higher. However, this is only a part of the entire discussion- not the main focus.

D. explaining how different risk factors need to be given importance as per their relative weightage

Incorrect: Irrelevant

There is no mention of/discussion over relative weightage of risk factors.

E. discussing the relevance of a risk factor that affects more than one aspect in the business world

Correct

The author discusses the relevance of management related risk and yes, the passage gives us enough information to conclude that this risk affects default risk, cost of borrowing, financial policies etc.



A. Market’s perception of firm’s risk is minimal when the new CEO is an “heir apparent” or is from within the existing management team.

Correct

First of all, a firm’s risk is a combination of management related and other risks. So, we cannot draw a sweeping statement about a firm’s risk by estimating just management related risk. Secondly, there is no given information to support that management related risk will be “minimal” under the given circumstances.

B. The uncertainty regarding a new CEO is likely to be more in the first years of his tenure than in the fourth year.

Incorrect: Can be Inferred

The author gives us enough throughout the passage to conclude the information given in this choice. For specific mention, one could refer to the following portion:

Accordingly, it comes as no surprise that the CDS spread, a measure of a firm’s expected default risk, is about 35 basis points higher when a new CEO takes office than three years into his tenure.

C. The default risk of a firm represents more than one thing about the firm.

Incorrect: Can be Inferred

This statement can be inferred from the first sentence of the passage.

D. It is unusual for a piece of literature on debt pricing to differentiate between the risk generated from the factors affecting a firm’s asset and one generated from how these assets will be managed.

Incorrect: Can be Inferred

We can infer the information given in this choice from the following portion:

The literature on debt pricing typically does not distinguish between these types of underlying risks.

E. Uncertainty about management affects a firm’s financial policies.

Incorrect: Can bededucedred

This can be deuced from the following section in the second paragraph:

Also since uncertainty about management affects firms’ costs of borrowing and consequently their financial policies…

We can conclude from the above portion that the uncertainty affects the cost of borrowing, which in turn affects the financial policies of the firm.



A. The default risk, as per the CDS spread, is highest when the new CEO of a firm is younger than an average CEO.

Incorrect: Out of Scope

The author does mention this age related scenario but does not say anything about it leading to the “highest” default risk.

B. Besides the CFO and the CEO, there are other members in a firm whose decisions could affect default risk.

Incorrect: Out of Scope

The author states that the CEO is not the only member of the management team who is relevant for decision making in the firm and then gives the example of CFO. However, the author does not state there are more members beyond these two.

C. The literature on debt pricing normally ignores underlying risks.

Incorrect: Out of Scope

The author states that the literature does not differentiate between these risks and not that it ignores them.

D. As the perception of the market regarding a firm’s risk increases, the rate at which the firm pays interest on debt also increases.

Correct

This information is explicitly given to us in the first statement of the final passage.

E. The uncertainty surrounding the perception of a firm’s risk leads to management risk.

Incorrect: Out of Scope

This cause and effect relationship is completely out of scope. In fact, it is the uncertainty regarding the management that gives contributes to the perception of firm’s risk.