To: i-node who wrote (562266 ) 4/22/2010 2:03:43 AM From: tejek Respond to of 1575619 Toyota Rating Cut by Moody’s on Weak Profit Outlook By Makiko Kitamura April 22 (Bloomberg) -- Toyota Motor Corp.’s credit rating was cut by Moody’s Investors Service because it expects profit at the carmaker to stay at “a low level” through at least 2012. Moody’s downgraded Toyota to Aa2 from Aa1, the ratings company said today in a statement.The world’s largest carmaker is struggling to recover its reputation after recalling more than 8 million vehicles globally and may face at least $2 billion in lost sales and warranty repairs because of the problems, it has said. Toyota is also subject to 180 consumer and shareholder lawsuits stemming from the recalls. Toyota faces a “material risk” that its operating profit margin will remain well below what is appropriate for its rating “until 2012 at the earliest and possibly beyond,” Moody’s analyst Tadashi Usui wrote. Separately, Fitch Ratings, another credit rating company, said “there is a possibility” it will lower the credit grades for Toyota. Fitch will examine Toyota “closely” in the next six months, said Jeong Min Pak, a senior director at the company, in a phone interview from Seoul. Standard & Poor’s Osamu Kobayashi, an analyst at Standard & Poor’s in Tokyo, could not immediately be reached for comment. The automaker, based in Toyota City, Japan, had a “AA” debt rating put under review with “negative” implications by S&P in February, which cited concerns over quality-related issues. A lower credit rating indicates a higher risk of a default and can raise borrowing costs.Sluggish demand, overcapacity, the need to provide incentives beyond normal levels to boost sales and “a real risk that its product quality problems have eroded significantly and permanently its historical advantages in pricing power,” could all negatively affect Toyota’s profitability, Usui wrote. The carmaker in March started offering no-interest loans, discount leases and free maintenance for U.S. customers. Toyota has predicted it will post net income of 80 billion yen ($862 million) for the year ended in March 31. The company will report full-year earnings on May 11. The company’s shares fell 1.4 percent to 3,600 yen as of 1:55 p.m. in Tokyo.businessweek.com