Standard&Poor's Ratings Services assigned its 'AA' rating to Ascension Health's $912.435 million in revenue bonds (various series and issuers). At the same time, Standard&Poor's affirmed its 'AA' long-term rating and its 'AA' underlying rating (SPUR) on roughly $3.3 billion in outstanding revenue bonds, as well as the 'AA-' long-term rating on Ascension's $612 million series 2005A subordinated revenue bonds. Standard&Poor's also affirmed its 'A-1+' short-term rating on Ascension's CP program and on its various variable-rate demand bonds (VRDBs). The 'AA' long-term rating on Ascension Health's debt reflects: A second year of robust financial performance, highlighted by stable operating income and improved net income and cash flow in fiscal 2006, producing consistently strong coverage of
