BOSTON (Standard&Poor's CreditWire) May 16, 2001--Standard&Poor's today assigned its triple-'A' rating to the Massachusetts Development Finance Agency's $250 million taxable quarterly interest bonds, series CC, issued for Harvard University. The rating reflects: -- The university's overwhelming financial resources, provided by a $19.1 billion endowment, valued on June 30, 2000; -- Strong management of admissions, investments, and operations; and -- Demand for Harvard's academic programs, which are impressive. The series CC bonds will be GOs of the university. Bond proceeds will be used to refinance certain debt obligations used to fund a portion of the costs of acquiring pieces of property in Watertown, Mass., (the Watertown Arsenal) and Allston, Mass., and for other eligible corporate purposes. The