We are affirming and subsequently withdrawing our unsolicited 'BBBpi' public information rating on Absa Bank Ltd. The withdrawal does not reflect any material change in the bank's credit quality. The rating was initiated by Standard&Poor's and based on publicly available information. On July 4, 2014, Standard&Poor's Ratings Services affirmed and subsequently withdrew its 'BBBpi' public information ('pi'; unsolicited) rating on Absa Bank Ltd. We generally neither modify our 'pi' ratings with a plus or minus signs, nor assign outlooks. The withdrawal of the rating does not reflect any material change in the bank's credit quality. At the time of withdrawal the ratings balanced a 'bbb-' anchor, similar to all banks operating largely in South Africa, and
