Applicable criteria, 'Global Financial Institutions Rating Criteria'; 'Rating Hybrid Securities'; 'Equity Credit for Hybrids & Other Capital Securities', all dated 29 December 2009; 'Bank Holding Companies', dated 30 December 2009, are available at www.fitchratings.com. Contacts: Cynthia Chan, London, Tel: + 44 (0)207 417 4301; James Longsdon, +44 (0)207 417 4309. Media Relations: Hannah Warrington, London, Tel: +44 (0) 207 417 6298, Email:
[email protected]. Additional information is available on www.fitchratings.com. Related Research: Global Financial Institutions Rating Criteriahttp://www.fitchratings.com/creditdesk/reports/report_frame.cfm?rpt_id=493146Rating Hybrid Securitieshttp://www.fitchratings.com/creditdesk/reports/report_frame.cfm?rpt_id=493086Equity Credit for Hybrids & Other Capital Securities - Amendedhttp://www.fitchratings.com/creditdesk/reports/report_frame.cfm?rpt_id=493112Bank Holding Companieshttp://www.fitchratings.com/creditdesk/reports/report_frame.cfm?rpt_id=493324 ALL FITCH CREDIT RATINGS ARE SUBJECT TO CERTAIN LIMITATIONS AND DISCLAIMERS. PLEASE READ THESE LIMITATIONS AND DISCLAIMERS BY FOLLOWING THIS LINK: HTTP://FITCHRATINGS.COM/UNDERSTANDINGCREDITRATINGS. IN ADDITION, RATING DEFINITIONS AND THE TERMS OF USE OF SUCH RATINGS ARE AVAILABLE ON THE AGENCY'S PUBLIC WEBSITE 'WWW.FITCHRATINGS.COM'. PUBLISHED RATINGS, CRITERIA AND METHODOLOGIES ARE AVAILABLE FROM THIS SITE AT ALL TIMES. FITCH'S CODE OF CONDUCT, CONFIDENTIALITY, CONFLICTS OF INTEREST, AFFILIATE FIREWALL, COMPLIANCE AND OTHER RELEVANT POLICIES AND PROCEDURES ARE ALSO AVAILABLE FROM THE 'CODE OF CONDUCT' SECTION OF THIS SITE. (END) Dow Jones Newswires July 14, 2010 08:12 ET (12:12 GMT)