of our 49 percent equity interest in Vonpar, approximately $143 million received from the sale of a portion of our interest in Coca-Cola Amatil, and approximately $106 million in proceeds from the sale of real estate in Spain and in the United States. Refer to Note 14 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. 

Purchases of property, plant and equipment net of disposals for the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007 were approximately $1,889 million, $1,839 million and $1,409 million, respectively. The increase in 2009 and 2008 compared to 2007 was primarily attributable to the acquisitions of certain bottling operations in 2007 and 2006. Refer to Note 17 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. Generally, bottling and finished product operations are more capital intensive compared to concentrate and syrup operations. Our Company currently estimates that net purchases of property, plant and equipment in 2010 will be in line with 2009 and 2008. 

Our Company maintains debt levels we consider prudent based on our cash flows, interest coverage ratio and percentage of debt to capital. We use debt financing to lower our overall cost of capital, which increases our return on shareowners' equity. This exposes us to adverse changes in interest rates. Our interest expense may also be affected by our credit ratings. 

As of December 31, 2009, our long-term debt was rated "A+" by Standard & Poor's, "Aa3" by Moody's and "A+" by Fitch. Our commercial paper program was rated "A-1" by Standard & Poor's, "P-1" by Moody's and "F-1" by Fitch. In assessing our credit strength, all three agencies consider our capital structure (including the amount and maturity dates of our debt) and financial policies as well as the aggregated balance sheet and other financial information for the Company and certain bottlers, including CCE and Coca- Cola Hellenic. While the Company has no legal obligation for the debt of these bottlers, the rating agencies believe the strategic importance of the bottlers to the Company's business model provides the Company with an incentive to keep these bottlers viable. It is our expectation that the credit rating agencies will continue using this methodology. If our credit ratings were to be downgraded as a result of changes in our capital structure, our major bottlers' financial performance, changes in the credit rating agencies' methodology in assessing our credit strength, or for any other reason, our cost of borrowing could increase. Additionally, if certain bottlers' credit ratings were to decline, the Company's share of equity income could be reduced as a result of the potential increase in interest expense for these bottlers. 

In 2009, Standard & Poor's affirmed the Company's A+ long-term debt rating and revised its outlook from negative to stable. Moody's revised its Aa3 rating for the Company's long-term debt in 2009 from negative outlook to stable. The Company does not believe that a downgrade by either agency would have a significant adverse effect on the cost of borrowing. 

We monitor our financial ratios and, as indicated above, the rating agencies consider these ratios in assessing our credit ratings.