NEW YORK (Standard&Poor's) Nov. 10, 2004--Standard&Poor's Rating Services said today it affirmed its ratings on GrafTech International Ltd. and removed them from CreditWatch where they were placed with negative implications on Oct. 11, 2004. The outlook is negative. The corporate credit rating on GrafTech is affirmed at 'B+', the senior unsecured debt rating at 'B', and convertible debt rating at 'B-'. "Despite the affirmation and improved fundamentals for graphite electrodes, the negative outlook reflects concerns about the company's ability to improve in a timely manner a financial performance that is still weak for the rating," said Standard&Poor's credit analyst Dominick D'Ascoli. This is in light of continual cost pressures, uncertainties about the needle coke
