NEW YORK (Standard&Poor's) Oct. 24, 2001--Standard&Poor's today lowered its corporate credit ratings on UCAR International Inc. and its subsidiary, UCAR Global Enterprises Inc., to single-B-plus from double-'B'-minus and removed them from CreditWatch where they were placed with negative implications on April 13, 2001. The current outlooks on both are negative. The rating actions reflect the difficult operating conditions the company is experiencing, its weak financial performance, and concerns over further weakening in financial performance given the uncertain global economic outlook. As a producer of graphite electrodes, which are consumed by steel minimills in their electric arc furnaces, the company has significant exposure to the difficult steel industry conditions. Softening demand and low prices have forced U.S.
