NEW YORK (Standard&Poor's) May 8, 2008--Standard&Poor's Ratings Services said today it has assigned it's 'A-' rating to Travelers Cos. Inc.'s (NYSE:TRV; A-/Stable/A-2; Travelers) $500 million senior notes maturing in 2018. The company intends to use the proceeds for general corporate purposes. "The counterparty credit rating on Travelers is based on the group's very strong market position, strong operating performance, very strong operating company capitalization, and conservative financial leverage and coverage ratios," said Standard&Poor's credit analyst John Iten. "Partially offsetting these strengths are the possibility of some further adverse development of reserves associated with the premerger liabilities of the St. Paul Fire&Marine Group and the company's large exposure to asbestos claims." Leverage and
