TOKYO (Standard&Poor's) Dec. 5, 2002--Standard&Poor's Ratings Services said today that the possible acquisition of Aozora Bank Ltd. (BBpi) by Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp. (SMBC; BBB/Negative/A-2) could have positive implications for the rating on Aozora, if the bank becomes a strategically important part of the higher-rated SMBC group. "In evaluating the ratings impact on Aozora, Standard&Poor's will take into account factors such as the percentage of shares to be acquired and the degree of managerial involvement by SMBC in the bank's operations," said Yuri Yoshida, a credit analyst at Standard&Poor's in Tokyo. The rating on Aozora is constrained by its current exposure to possible adverse effects from the high business risk of its
