NEW YORK (Standard&Poor's CreditWire) Nov. 20, 2000--Standard&Poor's today assigned its single-'A' rating to UnitedHealth Group Inc.'s (UnitedHealth) $400 million, five-year, 7.5% fixed-rate, senior unsecured notes, which are due Nov. 15, 2005. The proceeds of the offering will be used for general corporate purposes, which may include working capital, share repurchases, repayment of short-term debt, and business acquisitions. The rating reflects the company's strengths, including its strong business position, very strong earnings profile, and good financial flexibility. These positive factors are offset somewhat by the company's capital position, which Standard&Poor's considers only slightly above the minimally secure level. UnitedHealth is a leading national health care provider based in Minnetonka, Minn. It operates in all 50
