NEW YORK (Standard&Poor's CreditWire) March 20, 2001--Standard&Poor's today assigned its single-'A' rating to CVS Corp.'s $300 million senior unsecured note issue due in 2006 and issued under Rule 144A with registration rights. At the same time, Standard&Poor's affirmed its ratings on CVS (see list below). The outlook is stable. CVS plans to use the proceeds from the new debt offering to repay outstanding commercial paper. The ratings on CVS reflect the company's leading position in the favorably regarded drug store industry, a strong financial profile, and the belief that management is committed to maintaining a moderate financial policy. CVS, with more than 4,100 units, is the nation's top chain drug retailer based on store