LONDON (Standard&Poor's CreditWire) Sept. 18, 2000--Standard&Poor's today affirmed the long-term single-'A'-plus and short-term 'A-1' ratings on UniCredito Italiano SpA (Unicredito) and related entities and revised the outlook to positive from stable. The ratings on UniCredito reflect the group's strong market positions in Italy, superior profitability, sound balance sheet, and the track-record of its management team, which balances the risks inherent in its ambitious expansion into the more volatile markets of eastern Europe. Unicredito is the second-largest banking group in Italy, regrouping federated regional banks, mainly Rolo Banca 1473 SpA, Cariverona Banca SpA, and Banca CRT SpA (all rated A+/Positive/A-1) and a nationally operating network, Credito Italiano SpA (not rated). Its market positions are very strong, with
