On Dec. 19, 2006, Standard&Poor's Ratings Services raised its corporate credit ratings on midstream energy master limited partnership (MLP) Enterprise Products Partners L.P. (Enterprise) and Enterprise Products Operating L.P. to 'BBB-' from 'BB+'. Standard&Poor's also raised its corporate credit rating on EPCO Holdings Inc. (Holdings) to 'BB-' from 'B+'. The rating on Enterprise's outstanding junior subordinated notes was raised two notches to 'BB' because of different notching guidelines applied to the securities of investment-grade entities. The outlook on all entities is stable. Enterprise and Holdings, both based in Houston, Texas, have about $4.9 billion and $1.6 billion of debt, respectively. The ratings on the Enterprise entities reflect the MLP's improved credit protection measures and its greater
