NEW YORK (Standard&Poor's) Aug. 31, 2005--Standard&Poor's Ratings Services said today that its ratings on E.I. DuPont de Nemours&Co. (AA-/Negative/A-1+) remain unchanged following DuPont's announcement that extensive flooding triggered by Hurricane Katrina at two facilities in Mississippi caused it to declare "force majeure" for both businesses. Doing so relieves DuPont of the obligation to perform under certain contracts. The affected facilities are the titanium dioxide plant at DeLisle and the First Chemical Corp. aniline plant at Pascagoula. DuPont is working with its customers to minimize the impact on their businesses. Damage assessments are still underway, and it is uncertain when these plants will restart operations. DuPont plants in Pontchartrain, La., Burnside, La., and Mobile, Ala.
