If you purchased a new copy of this text, you will have received a pass code card with access information for S & P's Educational Version of Market Insight. Access to this site is required to answer the following questions.

1		Go to Market Insight (www.mcgrawhill.ca/edumarketinsight) andfind the bond rating of BCE (BCE) and Agrium (AGU) in the "Financial Highlights" section.Which has the higher bond rating (i.e., S&P Issuer Credit Rating)? What are the mainbusiness activities of each of these companies? Compare their ability to pay their interestobligations by calculating the ratio of EBIT to interest payments. The higher this "timesinterest earned" ratio, the greater a company's ability to make its interest payments. Also,calculate both companies' indebtedness, as measured by the ratio of debt to equity.The higher the times interest earned and the lower the indebtedness, the more likely acompany will be able to make its debt payments. Are the debt ratings consistent with thecalculated ratios?