TOKYO - Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL, President: Akimitsu Ashida) today
announced that Moody's upgraded the company's senior unsecured and issuer
ratings from Baa1 to A3.
Moody's cited the following points as its main reasons for the upgrade:
| 1. |
MOL has greatly reinforced profitability by increasing the efficiency of
its ocean shipping business, in order to cope with unsteady freight rates,
bunker prices, and foreign exchange rates in recent years. The company
also has improved stability of its business by increasing long-term transport
contracts and other transport contracts with the conditions that allow
adjustment of freight rates according to bunker prices. |
| 2. |
The company has advanced the diversification of its ocean shipping business
by expanding LNG carrier, tanker, car carrier, and dry bulker businesses.
Whatfs more, its entire business portfolio has been diversified by expanding
shipping associated businesses such as terminal, logistics, and air cargo,
as well as real estate business. |
| 3. |
Despite of the hardships the company faces, MOL has the ability to continually execute management plans and it has well balanced sound financial policies. And, its capital structure has greatly improved, thanks to its reinforced cash flow. |
| 4. |
Therefore, the company will be able to further improve its capital structure
in the future, although it has proactively expanded its fleet under the
current midterm management plan, which covered fiscal 2007 through 2009.
Moody's believes that MOL will achieve stronger financial flexibility,
even if market conditions deteriorate in the future. |
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