Fitch follows suit in cutting Fonterra credit rating as falling dairy prices stretch balance sheet

Fitch follows suit in cutting Fonterra credit rating as falling dairy prices stretch balance sheet
Paul McBeth
By Paul McBeth Oct. 22 (BusinessDesk) - Fonterra Cooperative Group's long-term credit rating has been cut by Fitch Ratings, the second global rating agency to do so in as many weeks, as falling dairy prices and a volatile market stretch the dairy exporter's balance sheet. The Auckland-based company's long-term foreign currency issuer default rating (IDR) was lowered to A from AA- while its short-term IDR was reduced to F1 from F1+. The outlook was stable. Recent volatility in global dairy markets and the slump in prices through much of...