PARIS (Standard&Poor's) August 8, 2003--Standard&Poor's Ratings Services said today that it had raised its long-term corporate credit rating on Luxembourg-based satellite operator SES Global S.A. (SES) to 'BBB+' from 'BBB', following a review of the company's businesses and financial structure. At the same time, the 'A-2' short-term corporate credit rating on SES was affirmed. The outlook is stable. "Standard&Poor's expects that, despite the currently challenging economic environment, SES will achieve lower than previously expected leverage by the end of 2003 and that this will continue in the near-to-medium term," said Standard&Poor's credit analyst Melvyn Cooke. "We also expect that SES' acquisitions policy will be conservative." SES is the largest satellite operator worldwide.
