Moody's повысило рейтинг заемщика Astana Finance до "Ва1" с "Ва3"

/REUTERS, Лондон, 06.03.03/ - Международное рейтинговое агентство Moody's Investors Service повысило рейтинг заемщика финансовой компании Astana Finance до "Ва1" с "Ва3", говорится в сообщении Moody's. В нем говорится, что рейтинг Astana Finance продолжает оставаться на уровне рейтингов Астаны, поскольку агентство уверено в сохранении поддержки, оказываемой городскими властями финансовой компании. Ниже следует оригинал сообщения Moody's на английском языке: Limassol, March 06, 2003 - Moody's Investors Service has upgraded to Ba1 from Ba3 the issuer rating of Astana Finance, the Kazakhstani non-bank financial institution. Moody's said that the issuer rating of Astana Finance continues to be placed at the level of the rating assigned to the city of Astana reflecting the belief that the municipality is firmly committed to supporting the institution, if necessary. The rating takes into account prevailing strong ownership ties with the city of Astana, represented by the City Hall. According to the current strategy, Astana Finance would like to diversify its activities and lessen its dependence on the city, which currently still owns 37% of the institution. However, it is unlikely that the city would want to fully relinquish its control over the institution while Astana Finance continues to play a very important role in the life of the city, managing a number of vital utilities and also while it remains instrumental to the development of Astana. Astana Finance is headquartered in Astana, Kazakhstan and reported total assets (based on Kazakhstani Accounting Standards) of KZT11.37 billion (US$77.2 million) as of 30 September 2002. Limassol Elisabeth Jackson-Moore Managing Director Financial Institutions Group Moody's Interbank Credit Service Ltd. 357-25-586586 Limassol Pavel Simacek Vice President - Senior Analyst Financial Institutions Group Moody's Interbank Credit Service Ltd. 357-25-586586 [2003-03-06]