Corporate Credit Rating: BBB+/Positive/-- Standard & Poor's today said Talisman Energy Inc.'s acquisition of Swedish independent oil and gas company Lundin Oil AB will not affect the ratings or outlook on Talisman. The Lundin acquisition will add proven reserves of 51.5 million barrels of oil equivalent (mmboe) to Talisman's year-end 2000 reserves of 1,177.2 mmboe, consolidate some of its North Sea assets, and provide producing fields and promising new areas of exploration in Malaysia. The Malaysian assets provide a new core area with immediate development and growth opportunities, and complement Talisman's existing South East Asian operations. Recent acquisitions and an increased capital expenditure budget will increase Talisman's total leverage; however, Standard & Poor's expects the company's cash flow protection measures
