NEW YORK (Standard & Poor's) March 7, 2002--Standard & Poor's said today it assigned its triple-'B'-plus rating to Darden Restaurants Inc.'s $150 million senior unsecured medium-term note issue due in 2007. Darden is the largest full-service, casual dining restaurant company in the U.S. The notes were drawn down under the company's shelf registration, and Darden intends to use the proceeds to repay commercial paper. The triple-'B'-plus long-term and 'A-2' short-term corporate credit ratings on the company were also affirmed. The outlook is stable. Orlando, Fla.-based Darden had total debt outstanding of $621.3 million as of Nov. 25, 2001. "Darden's market position, combined with its improved operating performance and dedication to maintaining a conservative financial policy, should allow for ratings stability,"
