SINGAPORE (Standard&Poor's) Sept. 18, 2003--Standard&Poor's Ratings Services said today it assigned its 'BB' long-term and 'B' short-term counterparty credit ratings to Krung Thai Bank Public Co. Ltd. (KTB), Thailand's second-largest bank by assets. The outlook is positive. These ratings replace the previous 'BBpi' public information rating on KTB. The ratings incorporate KTB's stand-alone credit profile and the implicit support from its majority ultimate owner, the government of Thailand, in light of the bank's involvement in public policy projects. The role involves, among other activities, the bank providing credit to important economic sectors and for the implementation of government policies. "Although the degree of implicit support is likely to diminish over time as the government proceeds with
