NEW YORK (Standard&Poor's) July 1, 2005--Standard&Poor's Ratings Services said today that its ratings and outlook on Cleco Corp. (BBB/Negative/--) would remain unchanged following the announcement that the company's subsidiary, Perryville Energy Partners LLC, had completed the sale of its 718 MW power plant to an affiliate of Entergy Corp. (BBB/Stable/--). Completion of the sale is favorable for Cleco's credit quality and removes the distraction of the nearly three-year process of selling the plant. The ratings on Cleco incorporated the expectation that the sale would be completed successfully. The company has interests in two remaining merchant projects, including Acadia, which is burdened by an ongoing dispute with tolling counterparty, Calpine Corp. (B-/Negative/--). The negative outlook on Cleco
