TOKYO (Standard&Poor's) Feb. 15, 2010--Standard&Poor's Ratings Services said today that it may remove from CreditWatch positive its ratings on Aozora Bank Ltd. (BBB+/Watch Pos/A-2) and Shinsei Bank Ltd. (BBB+/Watch Pos/A-2) if merger plans between the two banks collapse. Recent media reports have suggested that Aozora Bank and Shinsei Bank have decided not to merge in October 2010 as planned. However, both companies have said that they have not made any decisions that need to be disclosed. If the merger is cancelled, Standard&Poor's would likely remove the ratings on both banks from CreditWatch with positive implications, and return the outlooks to stable, as the likelihood of government support being extended to the banks may decrease.
