LONDON (Standard&Poor's CreditWire) Oct. 5, 2000--Following the announcement that Unilever PLC has gained the necessary shareholder and regulatory approvals and has completed its acquisition of U.S.-based Bestfoods, Standard&Poor's today lowered its long- and short-term ratings on Unilever PLC, Unilever N.V., and related entities to single-'A'-plus and 'A-1' from triple-'A' and 'A-1'-plus. These rating actions are in line with Standard&Poor's previously stated intentions. Ratings were removed from CreditWatch with negative implications, where they were placed on May 3, 2000. The outlook is now stable. At the same time, Standard&Poor's affirmed Bestfoods' ratings at single-'A'-plus and 'A-1', and removed them from CreditWatch, where they were placed with developing implications on May 3, 2000. Bestfoods
