(The following statement was released by the rating agency)
NEW YORK, Oct 10 - Standard & Poor's Ratings Services today
assigned its 'BBB' rating to oilfield services and engineering and
construction services provider Halliburton Co.'s proposed $300 million
7.6% debentures due 2096. The debentures are being offered in
exchange for the outstanding $300 million 7.6% debentures due 2096
issued by Halliburton's DII Industries LLC subsidiary. The company is
concurrently soliciting consents to amend the DII Industries indenture
agreement. Notably, the proposed amendments eliminate the provisions
related to bankruptcy-related default events. The ratings for Halliburton
are on CreditWatch with negative implications, pending the outcome of
the proposed asbestos and silica settlement outlined in December 2002.
Texas-based Halliburton has about $2.4 billion of debt.
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