S&P Cuts Enron to Junk Status
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Enron Corp.`s (NYSE:ENE - news) ratings were cut to junk status on Wednesday by Standard & Poor`s, potentially crippling the largest U.S. energy trader`s ability to meet its obligations.
S&P cut its corporate-credit and senior unsecured debt ratings for Houston-based Enron to ``B-minus,`` its sixth highest junk grade, from ``BBB-minus.`` It said it may further change the ratings. Enron was renegotiating a planned merger with rival Dynegy Inc. (NYSEYN - news), cutting the $9 billion price by about half, people familiar with the matter said.
S&P said it had a ``loss of confidence`` that the merger will be completed, and said a voluntary Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing by Enron is a ``distinct possibility`` if the merger falls through.
Enron shares traded Wednesday on the New York Stock Exchange (news - web sites) at $2.70, down $1.44, or 34.8 percent. They have fallen 70 percent since Nov. 19, from $9.06, and 97 percent this year, from $83.13.