Media release: ANZ & Asia

Document date:  Tue 27 Jan 1998
Published:  Tue 27 Jan 1998 00:00:00
Document No:  134286
Document part:  A
Market Flag:  N
Classification:  

HOMEX - Melbourne                                                     

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ANZ Chief Executive Officer, Mr John McFarlane, responding to 
Moodys Investors Service placing ANZ on a "negative rating outlook", 
today made the following comments:

We understand that Moodys has placed a number of banks around the 
world with exposures to Asia on a negative rating outlook.  Whilst 
we understand the sentiment behind this decision, in our case we 
believe they have been unduly cautious.

Notwithstanding this, we continue to take a long term view of the 
region and we have been managing down our overall exposure to Asian 
entities whilst preserving relationships with our major clients.

For media enquiries please contact:

R Gerrand
GENERAL MANAGER GROUP PUBLIC AFFAIRS
PH: AH 0411 134 904 or BH (03) 9273 4707

I Bremner
SENIOR MEDIA RELATIONS MANAGER
PH: AH 0411 140 382 or BH (03) 9273 6190

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