ESG Rating and Corporate Bond Performance : An analysis of the effect of ESG rating on yield spread

This research evaluates the relationship between ESG score of the firm and its effect on the performance of their bonds. The study looks at listed companies on the Nordic countries ’ stock exchanges and tries to establish a relationship between ESG score and corporate bond yield spread. The study finds that no such relationship can be established and therefore that a high ESG score does not imply a decreased level of required risk premium by bond investors and a decreased or stabilized cost of debt for companies in the Nordic countries. Further, the study will contribute to a theoretical discussion by using the Stakeholder Theory, Legitimacy Theory, The Resource-Based View and finally the Agency theory in order to further analyze the underlying dynamics of this proposed relationship.