TORONTO (Standard & Poor's CreditWire) Feb. 18, 2000--Standard & Poor's today revised its outlook on Talisman Energy Inc. to stable from negative. At the same time, the company's outstanding ratings were affirmed (see list below). The outlook revision reflects: -- Standard & Poor's expectation that Talisman's prospective debt levels, including the Fourth Round Asset purchases, have peaked and will move downward as a relatively supportive price environment and the anticipated excess cash flow from recent acquisitions should enable the company to generate cash available for debt reduction in the near term; -- The growth prospects from the company's 25% ownership interest in the Greater Nile Project; -- Standard & Poor's belief that U.S. sanctions are not anticipated to materially affect
