NY -- Standard&Poor's CreditWire 12/18/97 -- Standard&Poor's today revised its long-term ratings outlook on Cargill Inc. and Cargill Inc. Employee Stock Ownership Trust to negative from stable. Ratings on Cargill were affirmed (see list below). About $8 billion of debt is outstanding at the company. The outlook revision follows Standard&Poor's increased concerns about the firm's ability to maintain financial performance at levels appropriate for its double-'A'-minus rating, given the continued difficult operating conditions in its core agribusiness units, concerns associated with its large financial services operations, which has historically increased Cargill's business risk, and Standard&Poor's expectation that the company will be more acquisitive over the medium term. Still, Cargill's high investment-grade rating
