MUMBAI (Thomson Financial) - Moody's Investors Services changed its outlook
on VCA Antech Inc. to positive from stable, saying it expects a moderate
increase in profitability and improving credit metrics in 2008.
The agency affirmed the 'Ba3' corporate family rating on the U.S.-based
animal healthcare services company.
Moody's noted that veterinary services are somewhat discretionary and said a
weakening economy should slow organic growth rates from the levels achieved in
the past few years. However, Moody's expects that a low to mid-single digit
organic revenue increase combined with the effect of acquisitions completed in
2007 and early 2008 will drive profit improvement over the next year.
TFN.newsdesk@thomson.com
jro
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