Rating boost returns assets access to Ford

5/23/2012

BLADE STAFF AND NEWS SERVICES

DETROIT -- Ford Motor Co. is getting its blue oval logo back.

Moody's Investors Service raised Ford's debt ratings to investment-grade Tuesday for the first time in seven years. That means that all Ford's assets, including factories and the logo, will no longer be used to secure the company's debt. Ford posted the assets as collateral in 2006 to get a $23.5 billion loan and avoid bankruptcy.

Ford needed upgrades to investment grade from two ratings agencies to get its assets back. Fitch Ratings upgraded the company last month.

An investment-grade rating signals that a company's debt has a low risk of default.