LONDON (Standard&Poor's CreditWire) June 6, 2000--Standard&Poor's today removed its triple-'A' long-term counterparty credit ratings on Landesbank Hessen-Thüringen Girozentrale (Helaba) and related entities from CreditWatch. Helaba is the fifth-largest German Landesbank. All ratings were affirmed. The outlook on Helaba is negative. Standard&Poor's also affirmed its ratings and stable outlook on the State of Hesse. (See list below for all rating actions.) The rating action follows the recent announcement that the States of Hesse and Thuringia have decided to acquire 10% and 5% direct stakes, respectively, in Helaba from the Savings Banks and Giro Association Hesse-Thuringia (Sparkassen- und Giroverband Hessen-Thüringen), with effect from Jan. 1, 2001. At the same time, both states will also become jointly
