NEW YORK (Standard&Poor's) Sept. 24, 2001--Standard&Poor's today affirmed its ratings of Duke Energy Corp. (single-'A'-plus/Stable/'A-1') and its subsidiaries following the company's announcement that it has agreed to purchase Westcoast Energy Inc. for $3.5 billion and assume $4.5 billion of debt. Standard&Poor's also placed its ratings on Westcoast Energy and its subsidiaries (see list below) on CreditWatch with positive implications. Westcoast's ratings will be equalized with those of Duke when the transaction is completed. (A complete list of ratings is available on RatingsDirect, Standard&Poor's on-line credit research service, or by calling the Standard&Poor's Ratings Desk at (1) 212-438-2400.) Vancouver-based Westcoast Energy is a diversified energy company that owns gas utility pipeline
