Group 1 - Moody's upgraded SoftBank Group Corp.'s rating from Ba3 to Ba2, but the company criticized the rating as being based on subjective assumptions without factual basis [1][2] - Despite the upgrade, SoftBank's debt remains classified as non-investment grade, often referred to as "junk" in the bond market [1] - The CEO of Fujiwara Capital noted that the rating implies potential difficulties in debt repayment, which could mislead market perceptions [2] Group 2 - Criticism of credit ratings is not uncommon, with historical examples during the global financial crisis and Europe's sovereign debt crisis highlighting the backlash against rating agencies [2] - The "issuer pays" model used by many rating agencies raises concerns about conflicts of interest, although SoftBank's rating was unsolicited, which complicates the argument regarding its basis [2][3] - In Japan, regulations often require investment-grade status for bond purchases, contrasting with the more developed high-yield bond market in the US and other regions [3]