MoneyGram reached an agreement with Thomas H. Lee Partners and Goldman Sachs that will result in the conversion of their preferred shares into common shares or common share equivalents. We are raising our rating on MoneyGram to 'BB-' from 'B+'. We expect management's strategic initiatives to continue to strengthen the franchise and improve financial performance. NEW YORK (Standard&Poor's) March 30, 2011--Standard&Poor's Ratings Services said today that it raised its long-term counterparty credit rating on MoneyGram International to 'BB-' from 'B+'. The outlook is stable. We also assigned a 'BB-' issue rating to MoneyGram's announced $540 million senior secured credit facility, consisting of a $390 million 6.5-year term loan B and a $150 million five-year revolver. The
