NEW YORK (Standard&Poor's) March 26, 2010--Standard&Poor's Ratings Services assigned its preliminary 'A' senior unsecured debt rating to Decatur, Illinois-based Archer Daniel Midland Co.'s (ADM; A/Stable/A-1) Rule 415 shelf registration. The new shelf has an indeterminate aggregate initial offering amount and number of debt securities. The company will use the net proceeds from the debt issuance for general corporate purposes. The corporate credit rating on ADM reflects its position as one of the world's leading agribusiness companies, with major market positions in agricultural processing and merchandising, ethanol production, a moderate financial profile, an experienced management team, and a highly liquid balance sheet. This is offset by a challenging agricultural operating environment with inherent volatility in commodity prices.
