TOKYO (Standard&Poor's) Oct. 18, 2006--Standard&Poor's Ratings Services said today that its ratings on Aeon Co. Ltd. (A-/Stable/--) would be unaffected by the company's plan to issue a maximum of ¥196.7 billion in shares through a public offering. Standard&Poor's believes that, given Aeon's track record, the company is unlikely to adopt business strategies that would lead to a significant deterioration in its financial profile, although some concern remains over the potential impact over the coming year or two of acquisitions undertaken in the early part of 2006 (see media release "Rating On Japan's Aeon Affirmed On Right To Negotiate Capital Alliance With Daiei", published Oct. 16, 2006). The payment for the planned public offering, announced
