The ratings reflect Iron Mountain Inc.'s leading position as the world's largest records management company, reliable internal growth generated from existing customers, the outsourcing of new customers' in-house storage operations, and a degree of financial flexibility within the ratings to accommodate moderate capital spending and acquisition activity. These factors are offset by fairly aggressive, although moderating, financial policies regarding its growth strategies. The company is the culmination of the February 2000, $1.2 billion all-stock merger between Iron Mountain and its closest competitor, Pierce Leahy Corp. The resulting entity enjoys a dominant market position and an established footprint in less developed markets. The combination of the industry's two largest players also results in a more favorable pricing environment and reduces competition
