NEW YORK (Standard&Poor's) Dec. 12, 2002--Standard&Poor's Ratings Services has lowered its short-term ratings on 15 Bayerische Hypo-und Vereinsbank AG liquidity facility-backed municipal bond issues to 'AAA/A-2' from 'AAA/A-1'and removed them from CreditWatch with negative implications where they were placed on Oct. 25, 2002 (see list below). This action follows the Dec. 9, 2002, downgrade of Bayerische Hypo-und Vereinsbank's rating to 'A-/A-2' from 'A/A-1' and its subsequent removal from CreditWatch negative. Ratings Lowered Issuer/Issue Amt ($Mil) Jefferson County, Ala. swr rev rfdg bonds series 2002C-5 $98.3 Greater Orlando Aviation Authority, Fla. arpt facs var rate rfdg rev bonds series 2002E $180.7 Minneapolis, Minn. GO taxable Block E var rate bonds series 2000B $18.4 Minneapolis, Minn. GO Block
