1.   Bancomext securities will receive an investment grade rating because of the structure.

2.   He told staff yesterday that the university had more staff whose research was given the top grade five rating than all the other Scottish universities put together.

3.   An investment grade rating for companies can mean lower borrowing costs and can translate into higher earnings.

4.   A below-investment grade rating could cause a problem in the planned debt sales, for which Orange County has secured bond insurance from MBIA Insurance Corp.

5.   A merger could result in the company having a noninvestment grade rating.

6.   A smaller rating firm, London-based IBCA, gave a subinvestment grade rating to South Africa less than two weeks ago.

7.   Finova must win back its investment grade rating if it is to make loans at a profitable spread, analysts said.

8.   Hungary is a regular issuer of foreign bonds, but with below-investment grade ratings.

9.   It is not merely a coincidence that just as Argentina stumbles, Mexico receives investment grade rating.