Standard and Poor’s has cut the debt ratings for GM and Chrysler, based largely on concerns about the companies being forced into bankruptcy and whether they would be able to emerge from Chapter 11 restructuring with any future economic viability. Automotive News reports:
 

Standard & Poor’s today cut certain debt ratings of General Motors and Chrysler LLC, citing lower likelihood of recovery by their debtors in the event either carmaker defaults on the loans or files for bankruptcy…

GM, unlike Chrysler, likely would survive in the event of bankruptcy, Standard & Poor’s recovery analyst Greg Maddock said in an interview.

“If Chrysler goes into bankruptcy, I would expect it to go into liquidation — that its assets would be sold in whole or in part,” Maddock said. “Instead of being reorganized, there would be no carmaker after bankruptcy.”

And while the company seems confident that GM would survive the restructuring process, they predict that it would only do so by shrinking dramatically, reducing brands, models, dealerships and production. That means fewer assets to secure the same amount of debt unless they simply default on some portion of their existing debts. Either way, it will be increasingly difficult for GM to secure any investment in the credit markets.