BRAINTREE, Mass., Aug. 15, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Altra Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq:AIMC) today announced that Standard & Poor's Rating Services has raised its credit ratings on the company, including the corporate credit rating, to a 'BB-' from a 'B+'. In upgrading the company's ratings, S&P stated that "the outlook is stable, reflecting our expectation that Altra will maintain credit metrics and financial policies commensurate with the rating."
The S&P upgrade reflects Altra's strong operating performance and credit measures, as it benefits from recent acquisitions and good demand in some of its late cycle end markets. S&P also stated that Altra's credit quality benefits from good customer and end-market diversity.
"We are pleased with the upgrade from S&P, which reflects our strong operating performance, solid balance sheet and liquidity profile, and excellent position in our markets," said Carl Christenson, Altra President and Chief Executive Officer. "We plan to continue our execution of our strategy to capitalize on opportunities in new and existing markets, increase our presence in key underpenetrated geographic regions, enter new high-growth markets and pursue strategic acquisitions."
About Altra Holdings
Altra Holdings, Inc., through its wholly-owned subsidiary Altra Industrial Motion, Inc., is a leading multinational designer, producer and marketer of a wide range of mechanical power transmission products. The company brings together strong brands covering over 50 product lines with production facilities in nine countries and sales coverage in over 70 countries. Our leading brands include Boston Gear, Warner Electric, TB Wood's, Formsprag Clutch, Ameridrives Couplings, Industrial Clutch, Kilian Manufacturing, Marland Clutch, Nuttall Gear, Stieber Clutch, Wichita Clutch, Twiflex Limited, Bibby Transmissions, Matrix International, Inertia Dynamics, Huco Dynatork, Warner Linear, and Bauer Gear Motor.
All statements, other than statements of historical fact included in this release are forward-looking statements, as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements include, but are not limited to, any statement that may predict, forecast, indicate or imply future results, performance, achievements or events. Forward-looking statements can generally be identified by phrases such as "believes," "expects," "potential," "continues," "may," "should," "seeks," "predicts," "anticipates," "intends," "projects," "estimates," "plans," "could," "designed", "should be," and other similar expressions that denote expectations of future or conditional events rather than statements of fact. Forward-looking statements also may relate to strategies, plans and objectives for, and potential results of, future operations, financial results, financial condition, business prospects, growth strategy and liquidity, and are based upon financial data, market assumptions and management's current business plans and beliefs or current estimates of future results or trends available only as of the time the statements are made, which may become out of date or incomplete. Forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain, and investors must recognize that events could differ significantly from our expectations. These statements include, but may not be limited to, those comments regarding the Company's plan to execute its growth strategy, its strategy to capitalize on growth opportunities in new and existing markets, increase its presence in key underpenetrated geographic regions, enter new high-growth markets and pursue strategic acquisitions and the Company's positioning in its end markets.
In addition to the risks and uncertainties noted in this release, there are certain factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated by some of the statements made. These include: (1) competitive pressures, (2) changes in economic conditions in the United States and abroad and the cyclical nature of our markets, (3) loss of distributors, (4) the ability to develop new products and respond to customer needs, (5) risks associated with international operations, including currency risks, (6) accuracy of estimated forecasts of OEM customers and the impact of the current global economic environment on our customers, (7) risks associated with a disruption to our supply chain, (8) fluctuations in the costs of raw materials used in our products, (9) product liability claims, (10) work stoppages and other labor issues, (11) changes in employment, environmental, tax and other laws and changes in the enforcement of laws, (12) loss of key management and other personnel, (13) changes in pension and retirement liabilities, (14) risks associated with compliance with environmental laws, (15) the ability to successfully execute, manage and integrate key acquisitions and mergers, (16) failure to obtain or protect intellectual property rights, (17) risks associated with impairment of goodwill or intangibles assets, (18) failure of operating equipment or information technology infrastructure, (19) risks associated with our debt leverage and operating covenants under our debt instruments, (20) risks associated with restrictions contained in our Senior Secured Notes and Convertible Notes, (21) risks associated with compliance with tax laws, (22) risks associated with the global recession and volatility and disruption in the global financial markets, (23) risks associated with implementation of our new ERP system, (24) risks associated with the Bauer acquisition and integration, (25) risks associated with the Company's planned investment in a new manufacturing facility in China, and (26) other risks, uncertainties and other factors described in the Company's quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and annual reports on Form 10-K and in the Company's other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) or in materials incorporated therein by reference. Except as required by applicable law, Altra Holdings, Inc. does not intend to, update or alter its forward looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. AIMC-E
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