Anthropic expected to receive high 'junk' rating from credit agencies following IPO, FT report says | TechCrunch

Anthropic is anticipated to receive a high "junk" credit rating from rating agencies following its initial public offering (IPO), as reported by the Financial Times. The investment firm Blackstone, which is the primary investor in a recent $63 billion deal to support Anthropic’s chip development, informed stakeholders that it expects the AI research company to attain a "high" junk rating after the IPO.

In a notable shift from previous statements, Blackstone had earlier indicated that Anthropic would achieve an investment-grade rating—suggesting a lower risk profile for lenders—before the year 2027. However, according to the latest report, Blackstone now forecasts that Anthropic will receive a rating in the double B range, which represents the upper echelon of speculative "junk" ratings.

TechCrunch reached out for comments from both Anthropic and Blackstone, but neither entity provided a response. While Blackstone's prediction remains speculative, a high junk rating could complicate and increase the costs associated with Anthropic's efforts to secure funding, which is crucial for sustaining its significant expenditures.

Over the past year, Anthropic has engaged in extensive spending, particularly in securing substantial computing power, raising concerns among investors regarding the sustainability of its financial strategy. The company officially filed for its IPO earlier this week, igniting discussions about the potential effects of this major public offering on the wider AI sector.