Stena International Bv News

Moody's Investors Service today confirmed the Ba3 rating for senior notes of Stena AB ("Stena") and changed the outlook for its ratings to negative from stable. The Ba3 rating reflects the company's increased exposure to the European ferry industry and higher financial risk as a result of the acquisition of a 100 percent ownership in Stena Line AB. At the same time, Moody's confirmed Stena's Ba2 senior implied rating, and also Stena International BV's senior secured bank loan rating of Ba1. The negative outlook for the ratings reflects Moody's concerns that Stena may not be able to substantially improve the performance of its ferry operations near term. With that, Moody's concludes the review of Stena's ratings for possible downgrade it initiated on November 1, 2000.