In article <jbWdnTnV08hlt1zenZ2dnUVZ_s-dnZ2d@adelphia.com>, Grover C.
McCoury III <gcmccoury@yahoo.com> wrote:
> Auto manufacturer's ability to generate cash flow may determine likelihood
> of another downgrade.
>
> January 6, 2006
>
> NEW YORK (Reuters) - Standard & Poor's slashed its ratings on Ford Motor Co.
> deeper into junk territory Thursday, citing a slide in market share and
> doubts about the auto manufacturer's ability to turn around its North
> American auto operations.
>
> S&P also cut its ratings on Ford's finance arm, Ford Motor Credit, deeper
> into speculative grade. Most of Ford's $142 billion of consolidated debt is
> issued by Ford Credit.
>
> The downgrade came a day after Ford reported a 9 percent drop in December
> sales, hurt by steep declines in sport utility vehicles. For the year,
> Ford's sales were down 4.4 percent.
>
> Ford has seen its profit margins squeezed by fierce competition from foreign
> rivals and a slowdown in sales of large SUVs due to high gasoline prices.
>
> Turmoil at General Motors Corp.also could become a "huge problem" for Ford
> if GM ever files for bankruptcy protection, S&P analyst Scott Sprinzen said
> on a conference call.
>
> "If GM got all the benefits of a Chapter 11, that would leave Ford in a
> situation that certainly couldn't be stable," Sprinzen said.
>
> Cash flow key to rating
> Ford is expected to unveil a major restructuring plan Jan. 23, including
> plant closings and job cuts, but even that might not be adequate to
> stabilize the company if GM were to file for bankruptcy, Sprinzen said.
>
> GM is not in immediate danger of a bankruptcy, Sprinzen added, although he
> had previously said a bankruptcy is not "far-fetched" if present trends
> persist. GM has denied speculation that it would seek Chapter 11 protection.
>
> "We remain committed to accelerating our business plan," Ford spokeswoman
> Becky Sanch says. "We'll have more to say about our plan on Jan. 23 and
> can't comment further at this time."
>
> GM's troubles have already spilled over because Ford has been forced to
> match the sales incentives GM offered last year, S&P analyst Robert Schulz
> said.
>
> S&P cut its ratings on Ford and Ford Credit by two notches to "BB-minus,"
> the third-highest junk rating, from "BB-plus." The outlook is negative,
> meaning another downgrade is likely during the next two years.
>
> Ford's ability to generate cash flow may decide whether it gets hit with
> another downgrade, S&P said.
>
> "Ford would need to reverse its current financial and operational trends,
> and sustain such a reversal, before we would revise its outlook to stable,"
> S&P said.
>
> Bonds shrug off rating
> The downgrade was widely anticipated by the credit market. Ford's bonds were
> little changed on the news after being modestly higher in price all morning,
> along with the broader market.
>
> Ford's 7.45 percent bonds due in 2031 traded at 70.5 cents on the dollar,
> unchanged on the day, according to MarketAxess. Those bonds have lost about
> 30 percent of their value during the past 12 months.
>
> Ford's shares rose 34 cents, or 4.24 percent, to $8.35 on the New York Stock
> Exchange.
>
> The credit derivatives market, which moves rapidly on news, did not react to
> the downgrade. Five-year default protection on Ford debt was quoted around
> 945 basis points, about 15 basis points tighter.
>
> Yet another $.02 worth from a proud owner of a 1970 Mach 1 351C @
> http://community.webshots.com/album/18644819fHAehGJAjt
>
>
As usual, I have the answer. The government needs to tack on a
$5,000 fee onto every vehicle produced by a foreign-owned company that
is sold in the U.S. The gov then takes a 20% cut to line the pockets of
the elected thieves that are getting spiffed by the intruders, and
forwards the rest to Ford and GM on the condition that prices of their
new vehicles stay fixed for the next ten years. If the foreigners
complain, boot 'em out of the country, and good riddance.
Do people forget that the economy and the overall optimism of the
general public were great "just" having four domestic auto producers?
Do we *need* to have a choice amongst 500 different name badges that
all look the same?
I don't tink so.
--
Spokesmodel for Arrogant Bastard Ale
