On April 26, 2002, Standard&Poor's assigned a rating to Cargill Inc.'s $500 million senior unsecured notes due June 1, 2012. The notes are a private placement and will be used for general corporate purposes, including the repayment of outstanding short-term debt. The ratings on Cargill and related entities are supported by the firm's position as one of the world's leading agribusiness companies, with major market positions in agricultural processing and merchandising, industrial production, and financial services. The company's product and geographic diversity, as well as a vast communication and transportation network, helps optimize commodity movements and provides competitive advantages. There is also less exposure to any one segment of U.S. agriculture, or to any one international locale. Although
