On May 18, 2007, Standard&Poor's Ratings Services raised its ratings on Sarasota, Fla.-based Roper Industries Inc., including the corporate credit rating to 'BBB-' from 'BB+'. The company had about $1.06 billion of book debt at March 31, 2007. The outlook is stable. The upgrade reflects the continued improvement in Roper's business profile and the expectation that the company will maintain investment-grade credit metrics. Roper's operating segments have demonstrated robust revenue growth and margin expansion, supporting strong cash flow generation. The ratings on Roper, a diversified manufacturer of industrial products, reflect the company's satisfactory business profile marked by leading positions in profitable niche markets and its broad product, end-market, and geographic diversity. However, the company is acquisitive which exposes
