NOTC KazTransOil CJSC (Kazakhstan) received ratings from Fitch

/IRBIS, June 7, 01/ - On June 5, 2001 international ratting agency Fitch assigned "BB-" rating to NOTC KazTransOil CJSC on senior unsecured liabilities in foreign currency and "B" rating on short-term liabilities in foreign currency. The ratings reflect the company's status as a monopoly in oil transportation system of Kazakhstan and its important role in the development of oil reserves of the country, is said. Earlier, it was said that NOTC KazTransOil received "BB" corporate credit rating on its liabilities in foreign and local currencies from Standard & Poort's with stable forecast. The NOTC KazTransOil CJSC press-release reads that credit ratings of Kazakhstan received from international agencies on unsecured senior liabilities in foreign currency is at "BB-". Sovereign ratings on liabilities in foreign and local currencies received from Standard & Poor's are at "BB". The Standard & Poor's increased long-term credit rating of Kazakhstan from "BB-" to "BB" in May 2001. The Kazakhstan Stock Exchange (KASE) has no official confirmation from the NOTC KazTransOil CJSC, as a listed company, on assigning abovementioned credit ratings.