NEW YORK (S&P Global Ratings) Oct. 11, 2016--S&P Global Ratings said today that Duke Energy Corp.'s (A-/Negative/A-2) agreement to divest its Latin American merchant generation operations is favorable for the company's credit quality, but does not currently affect the ratings on the company. Divestiture of the generation assets could lead to a reduction in business risk while the company plans to use the net proceeds to reduce debt and offset borrowing needs. Upon close of the transaction consistent with the terms outlined by Duke Energy, we expect to incorporate the impact of the sale on the company's credit profile.
