NEW YORK (Standard & Poor's CreditWire) July 17, 2000--Standard & Poor's today affirmed its triple-'B'-plus long-term corporate credit, senior unsecured debt, and bank loan ratings on Darden Restaurants Inc. and its triple-'B'-plus preliminary senior unsecured shelf rating on the company. Standard & Poor's also affirmed its 'A-2' short-term corporate credit and commercial paper ratings on Darden. The outlook is stable. The ratings affirmation follows Darden's announcement that its board of directors has authorized an increase in the company's unsecured debt shelf, issued under Rule 415, to $500 million from $250 million. The company plans to use the proceeds from debt offerings for general corporate purposes, which may include working capital, capital expenditures, stock repurchases, debt repayment, or the financing for
