Alfa laval Rating Lifted With Positive Outlook

Alfa Laval, the Swedish maker of fluid controls systems, has had its credit rating raised by Standard and Poor's after the company and its owners raised about $525 million in an initial share sale last month.

Alfa Laval's corporate credit ratings were raised to “BBB-“ from “BB+” and were given a “positive outlook,” the ratings company said in a statement.

Alfa Laval and its owners, including Industri Kapital and Tetra Laval, last month sold 56.5 million shares after cutting the offer price to 91 kronor a share to lure investors to Sweden's biggest IPO since late 2000. The proceeds were three billion kronor ($309 million), which Alfa Laval will use partly to pay back debt.

“The upgrade reflects the recent strengthening of Alfa Laval's financial profile, primarily as a result of an IPO in May 2002,” said S&P's credit analyst Alf Stenqvist said in the statement. “Continued improvements in profitability and a sustained financial profile could lead to higher ratings within the next few years.”

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