MIRA INFORM REPORT

Report Date :

28.10.2014

IDENTIFICATION DETAILS

Name :	KATE SPADE & COMPANY

Registered Office :	2 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10016

Country :	United States

Financials (as on) :	28.12.2013

Date of Incorporation :	02.04.1981

Legal Form :	Public Company

Line of Business :	Subject designs and markets a range of apparel and accessories.

No. of Employees :	6,800

RATING & COMMENTS

MIRA’s Rating :

RATING		STATUS	PROPOSED CREDIT LINE
41-55	Ba	Overall operation is considered normal. Capable to meet normal commitments.	Satisfactory

Status :	Satisfactory

Payment Behaviour :	No Complaints

Litigation :	Clear

NOTES:

Any query related to this report can be made on e-mail: infodept@mirainform.com while quoting report number, name and date.

ECGC Country Risk Classification List – June 1, 2014

Country Name

Previous Rating

(31.03.2014)

Current Rating

(01.06.2014)

United States

Risk Category	ECGC Classification
Insignificant	A1
Low	A2
Moderate	B1
High	B2
Very High	C1
Restricted	C2
Off-credit	D

UNITED STATES - ECONOMIC OVERVIEW

The US has the largest and most technologically powerful economy in the world, with a per capita GDP of $49,800. In this market-oriented economy, private individuals and business firms make most of the decisions, and the federal and state governments buy needed goods and services predominantly in the private marketplace. US business firms enjoy greater flexibility than their counterparts in Western Europe and Japan in decisions to expand capital plant, to lay off surplus workers, and to develop new products. At the same time, they face higher barriers to enter their rivals' home markets than foreign firms face entering US markets. US firms are at or near the forefront in technological advances, especially in computers and in medical, aerospace, and military equipment; their advantage has narrowed since the end of World War II. The onrush of technology largely explains the gradual development of a "two-tier labor market" in which those at the bottom lack the education and the professional/technical skills of those at the top and, more and more, fail to get comparable pay raises, health insurance coverage, and other benefits. Since 1975, practically all the gains in household income have gone to the top 20% of households. Since 1996, dividends and capital gains have grown faster than wages or any other category of after-tax income. Imported oil accounts for nearly 55% of US consumption. Crude oil prices doubled between 2001 and 2006, the year home prices peaked; higher gasoline prices ate into consumers' budgets and many individuals fell behind in their mortgage payments. Oil prices climbed another 50% between 2006 and 2008, and bank foreclosures more than doubled in the same period. Besides dampening the housing market, soaring oil prices caused a drop in the value of the dollar and a deterioration in the US merchandise trade deficit, which peaked at $840 billion in 2008. The sub-prime mortgage crisis, falling home prices, investment bank failures, tight credit, and the global economic downturn pushed the United States into a recession by mid-2008. GDP contracted until the third quarter of 2009, making this the deepest and longest downturn since the Great Depression. To help stabilize financial markets, in October 2008 the US Congress established a $700 billion Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP). The government used some of these funds to purchase equity in US banks and industrial corporations, much of which had been returned to the government by early 2011. In January 2009 the US Congress passed and President Barack OBAMA signed a bill providing an additional $787 billion fiscal stimulus to be used over 10 years - two-thirds on additional spending and one-third on tax cuts - to create jobs and to help the economy recover. In 2010 and 2011, the federal budget deficit reached nearly 9% of GDP. In 2012 the federal government reduced the growth of spending and the deficit shrank to 7.6% of GDP. Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan required major shifts in national resources from civilian to military purposes and contributed to the growth of the budget deficit and public debt. Through 2011, the direct costs of the wars totaled nearly $900 billion, according to US government figures. US revenues from taxes and other sources are lower, as a percentage of GDP, than those of most other countries. In March 2010, President OBAMA signed into law the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, a health insurance reform that was designed to extend coverage to an additional 32 million American citizens by 2016, through private health insurance for the general population and Medicaid for the impoverished. Total spending on health care - public plus private - rose from 9.0% of GDP in 1980 to 17.9% in 2010. In July 2010, the president signed the DODD-FRANK Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, a law designed to promote financial stability by protecting consumers from financial abuses, ending taxpayer bailouts of financial firms, dealing with troubled banks that are "too big to fail," and improving accountability and transparency in the financial system - in particular, by requiring certain financial derivatives to be traded in markets that are subject to government regulation and oversight. In December 2012, the Federal Reserve Board (Fed) announced plans to purchase $85 billion per month of mortgage-backed and Treasury securities in an effort to hold down long-term interest rates, and to keep short term rates near zero until unemployment drops below 6.5% or inflation rises above 2.5%. In late 2013, the Fed announced that it would begin scaling back long-term bond purchases to $75 billion per month in January 2014 and reduce them further as conditions warranted; the Fed, however, would keep short-term rates near zero so long as unemployment and inflation had not crossed the previously stated thresholds. Long-term problems include stagnation of wages for lower-income families, inadequate investment in deteriorating infrastructure, rapidly rising medical and pension costs of an aging population, energy shortages, and sizable current account and budget deficits.

Source : CIA

Company Name and address

Company name: KATE SPADE & COMPANY

Headquarters: 2 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10016 – USA

Telephone: +1 212-354-4900

Fax: +1 212-626-3416

Website: www.katespadeandcompany.com

Company Summary

Corporate ID#: 0911577

State: Delaware

Judicial form: Public Company (NYSE = KATE)

Date incorporated: April 2, 1981

Stock: 126,896,708 shares issued and outstanding

(As of August 1, 2014)

Value: USD 1= par value

Name of manager: Craig A. LEAVITT

ACTIVITIES & OPERATIONS

IST

Business:

Kate Spade & Company, together with its subsidiaries, primarily designs and markets a range of apparel and accessories.

It operates through KATE SPADE, Adelington Design Group, and JUICY COUTURE segments.

The company offers apparel, handbags, briefcases, travel bags, small leather goods, tabletop products, legwear, bedding, stationery, jewelry, apparel, footwear, optics, fragrances, electronics cases, fashion accessories, beauty, and home décor products. It offers its products under the KATE SPADE SATURDAY, JACK SPADE, LIZ CLAIBORNE, MONET, TRIFARI, KENSIE, LIZWEAR, LIZ CLAIBORNE NEW YORK, and JUICY COUTURE brands. The company sells its products through its own retail and outlet stores, as well as to department store chains and specialty retail store customers. Kate Spade & Company operates approximately 118 specialty retail stores, 51 outlet stores, and 43 concessions stores.

It is also involved in e-commerce and licensing operations.

The company was formerly known as CLAIBORNE LIZ INC. which changed name to Fifth & Pacific Companies, Inc. on 05-10-2012 and then to KATE SPADE & COMPANY 02-25-2014.

Office of the Foreign Assets Control (OFAC):

The company is not listed on the OFAC list.

The Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) List is a publication of OFAC which lists individuals and organizations with whom United States citizens and permanent residents are prohibited from doing business.

EIN: 13-2842791

Staff: 6,800

Operations & branches:

At the headquarters, we find the major store and the corporate office.

Kate Spade & Company operates approximately 118 specialty retail stores, 51 outlet stores, and 43 concessions stores.

One warehouse is located 5901 West Side Avenue, North Bergen, NJ 07047.

SHAREHOLDERS & MANAGERS

Shareholders:

This Company is listed with the NYSE under symbol KATE.

Management:

Craig A. LEAVITT is the CEO since 02-25-2014.

He served as the Chief Executive Officer of Kate Spade, LLC.

Mr. Leavitt served as President of Global Retail at Link Theory Holdings and was responsible for merchandising, operations, planning and allocation and real estate for the Theory and Helmut Lang retail businesses.

Prior to that, he was with Diesel where he served as Executive Vice President of Sales and Retail. He served as Executive Vice President of Retail Concepts at Polo Ralph Lauren and also held different positions for 16 years.

George M. CARRARA is the President, CFO and COO.

Mr. Carrara oversees Finance, Global Operations and Information Technology.

He worked for Tommy Hilfiger North America from 1999 to 2011 and served in various senior positions, including as Chief Financial Officer for the Jeans division from 1999 to 2003; Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer of wholesale operations from 2003 to 2004; Executive Vice President of U.S. Operations - Wholesale and Retail from 2004 to 2005 and Chief Operating Officer from 2006 to 2011.

Mr. Carrara served as Chief Financial and Operating Officer for Mirage Apparel Group. He began his career in the Entrepreneurial Services & Consumer Product Groups at Price Waterhouse and is a Certified Public Accountant.

Thomas J. LINKO is the CFO.

Subsidiaries And partnership:

Adelington Design Group LLC		Delaware
FNP Holdings, LLC		Delaware
Fifth & Pacific Companies Canada, Inc.		Canada
Fifth & Pacific Companies Cosmetics, Inc.		Delaware
Fifth & Pacific Foreign Holdings, Inc.		Delaware
Fifth & Pacific Companies International Limited		Hong Kong
Fifth & Pacific Companies Puerto Rico, Inc.		Delaware
Juicy Couture Canada, Inc.		Canada
Juicy Couture Europe Limited		United Kingdom
Juicy Couture, Inc.		California
Juicy Couture Ireland Limited		Ireland
Kate Spade South America Comercio, Importaco E Exportacao De Calcados, Bolsas, Roupas E Accessorios LTDA		Brazil
Kate Spade Canada		Canada
Kate Spade China Co. Ltd.		China
Kate Spade Hong Kong Limited		Hong Kong
Kate Spade Japan Co. Ltd.		Japan
Kate Spade LLC		Delaware
Kate Spade UK Limited		United Kingdom
L.C. Licensing, LLC		Delaware
LCCI Holdings Inc.		Delaware
LCI Holdings, Inc.		Delaware
LCI Investments, Inc.		Delaware
Liz Claiborne De El Salvador, S.A., de C.V.		El Salvador
Liz Claiborne de Mexico, S.A. de C.V.		Mexico
Liz Claiborne do Brasil Industria E Comercio Ltda.		Brazil
Liz Claiborne Europe		United Kingdom
Liz Claiborne (Israel) Ltd.		Israel
Liz Claiborne Operations (Israel) 1993 Limited		Israel
Liz Claiborne, S.A.		Costa Rica
Liz Claiborne Servicios de Mexico, S.A. de C.V.		Mexico
Liz Foreign B.V.		Netherlands
Lucky Brand Dungarees Canada Inc.		Canada
Lucky Brand Dungarees, Inc.		Delaware
Lucky Brand Dungarees Stores, Inc.		Delaware
Mexx Portugal, Unnipessoal, LDA		Portugal
MFE Limited		Hong Kong
Segrets, Inc.		Delaware
Sheng Hui Fashion (Shenzhen) Company Limited		Hong Kong
Textiles Liz Claiborne Guatemala, SA		Guatemala
WCFL Holdings, LLC		Delaware
Westcoast Contempo Fashions Limited		Canada

FINANCIALS

On attachment.

- 10K 2013

- 2^nd 10Q 2014

Currency in Millions of US Dollars	As of:	Jan 01 2011	Dec 31 2011	Dec 29 2012	Dec 28 2013
REVENUES		1,623.2	1,100.5	1,043.4	1,264.9
NET INCOME		-251.5	-171.7	-74.5	73.0

On August 12, 2014, Kate Spade & Company reported unaudited consolidated earnings results for the second quarter and six months ended June 30, 2014.

For the second quarter of 2014 on a GAAP basis, loss from continuing operations, was $14 million, or $0.11 per share, compared to a loss from continuing operations of $24 million, or $0.20 per share, for the second quarter of 2013. Net sales were $266 million, an increase of $87 million, or 48.7%, from $178.88 million for the comparable 2013 period. Adjusted earnings per share from continuing operations was $0.05, compared to adjusted loss per share of $0.08 for the second quarter of 2013. Adjusted EBITDA, net of foreign currency transaction adjustments, was $32 million compared to $7 million for the second quarter of 2013. Comparable Adjusted EBITDA, net of foreign currency transaction adjustments, was $11 million for the second quarter of 2013. Operating income was $10 million compared to operating loss of $4 million in the second quarter of 2013. Net loss was $4 million, inclusive of income related to discontinued operations of $10 million, compared to net loss of $43 million, inclusive of a loss related to discontinued operations of $20 million in the second quarter of 2013. Net loss per share was $0.03 in the second quarter of 2014, compared to a loss per share of $0.36 in the second quarter of 2013. Loss before provision for income taxes was $13.22 million compared to $22.25 million a year ago.

For the first half of 2014, the company recorded a loss from continuing operations of $52 million, or $0.42 per share, compared to a loss from continuing operations for the first half of 2013 of $47 million, or $0.40 per share. Net sales were $490 million, an increase of $154 million, or 46.0%, from $335.33 million for the comparable 2013 period, including an $18 million benefit associated with the additional week in 2014. Adjusted earnings per share from continuing operations was $0.01 compared to an adjusted loss per share from continuing operations of $0.18 in the first half of 2013. Adjusted EBITDA, net of foreign currency transaction adjustments, was $49 million compared to $11 million for the first half of 2013. Comparable Adjusted EBITDA, net of foreign currency transaction adjustments, was $18 million for the first half of 2013. Loss before provision for income taxes was $49.82 million compared to $45.30 million a year ago. Operating loss was $17.00 million compared to $11.63 million a year ago.

Net income was $41.77 million or $0.33 per basic and diluted share compared to net loss of $95.31 million or $0.80 per basic and diluted share a year ago.

Net cash used in operating activities was $46.25 million compared to $84.32 million a year ago. Capital expenditures was $48 million. Total net debt was $232 million as compared to $481 million at the end of second quarter 2013, a decrease of $249 million. The company revised earnings guidance for the full year 2014. The company increases total company full year 2014 adjusted EBITDA guidance to a range of $120 million to $130 million from the previously guided range of $115 million to $125 million. The annualized corporate adjusted EBITDA of $53 million is consistent with its previously provided 2014 guidance for corporate adjusted LBITDA of $50 to $55 million, which includes estimated amounts to be billed under the Transition Services Agreement for Lucky Brand and assumes ownership of Lucky Brand by the Company for the month of January 2014, followed by the implementation of the TSA for a period of up to 24 months thereafter. The company expects its year end net debt position to range between $275 million to $300 million, and it should note that its current liquidity is more than sufficient, with $162 million excess availability under its revolver.

Banks: US Bank

JPMorgan Chase Bank

LEGAL FILINGS

Legal filings & complaints:

As of today date, there are several legal filings pending with various Courts.

Secured debts summary (UCC):

None

COMPANY CREDIT HISTORY

Trade references:

Date reported: October 2014

High credit: USD 50,000

Now owing: 0

Past due: 0

Last purchase: September 2014

Line of business: Office supply

Paying status: On terms

Date reported: October 2014

High credit: USD 8,000,000

Now owing: 0

Past due: 0

Last purchase: September 2014

Line of business: Payroll

Paying status: As agreed

Date reported: October 2014

High credit: USD 12,000

Now owing: 0

Past due: 0

Last purchase: September 2014

Line of business: Telecommunications

Paying status: On terms

Domestic credit history:

National Credit Bureaus gave a satisfying credit rating.

According to our credit analysts, during the last 6 months, domestic payments were made on due date.

International credit history:

Payments of imports are currently made on terms.

Other comments:

The Company is developing its business.

The bank confirmed a regular account.

The Company is in good standing.

This means that all local and federal taxes were paid on due date.

The risk is low.

Our opinion:

A business connection may be conducted.

Standard & Poor’s

United States of America Long-Term Rating Lowered To 'AA+' Due To Political Risks, Rising Debt Burden; Outlook Negative

Publication date: 05-Aug-2011 20:13:14 EST

We have lowered our long-term sovereign credit rating on the United States of America to 'AA+' from 'AAA' and affirmed the 'A-1+' short-term rating.

· We have also removed both the short- and long-term ratings from CreditWatch negative.

· The downgrade reflects our opinion that the fiscal consolidation plan that Congress and the Administration recently agreed to falls short of what, in our view, would be necessary to stabilize the government's medium-term debt dynamics.

· More broadly, the downgrade reflects our view that the effectiveness, stability, and predictability of American policymaking and political institutions have weakened at a time of ongoing fiscal and economic challenges to a degree more than we envisioned when we assigned a negative outlook to the rating on April 18, 2011.

· Since then, we have changed our view of the difficulties in bridging the gulf between the political parties over fiscal policy, which makes us pessimistic about the capacity of Congress and the Administration to be able to leverage their agreement this week into a broader fiscal consolidation plan that stabilizes the government's debt dynamics any time soon.

· The outlook on the long-term rating is negative. We could lower the long-term rating to 'AA' within the next two years if we see that less reduction in spending than agreed to, higher interest rates, or new fiscal pressures during the period result in a higher general government debt trajectory than we currently assume in our base case.

TORONTO (Standard & Poor's) Aug. 5, 2011--Standard & Poor's Ratings Services said today that it lowered its long-term sovereign credit rating on the United States of America to 'AA+' from 'AAA'. Standard & Poor's also said that the outlook on the long-term rating is negative. At the same time, Standard & Poor's affirmed its 'A-1+' short-term rating on the U.S. In addition, Standard & Poor's removed both ratings from CreditWatch, where they were placed on July 14, 2011, with negative implications.

The transfer and convertibility (T&C) assessment of the U.S.--our assessment of the likelihood of official interference in the ability of U.S.-based public- and private-sector issuers to secure foreign exchange for

debt service--remains 'AAA'.

We lowered our long-term rating on the U.S. because we believe that the prolonged controversy over raising the statutory debt ceiling and the related fiscal policy debate indicate that further near-term progress containing the growth in public spending, especially on entitlements, or on reaching an agreement on raising revenues is less likely than we previously assumed and will remain a contentious and fitful process. We also believe that the fiscal consolidation plan that Congress and the Administration agreed to this week falls short of the amount that we believe is necessary to stabilize the general government debt burden by the middle of the decade.

Our lowering of the rating was prompted by our view on the rising public debt burden and our perception of greater policymaking uncertainty, consistent with our criteria (see "Sovereign Government Rating Methodology and Assumptions ," June 30, 2011, especially Paragraphs 36-41). Nevertheless, we view the U.S. federal government's other economic, external, and monetary credit attributes, which form the basis for the sovereign rating, as broadly unchanged.

We have taken the ratings off CreditWatch because the Aug. 2 passage of the Budget Control Act Amendment of 2011 has removed any perceived immediate threat of payment default posed by delays to raising the government's debt ceiling. In addition, we believe that the act provides sufficient clarity to allow us to evaluate the likely course of U.S. fiscal policy for the next few years.

The political brinksmanship of recent months highlights what we see as America's governance and policymaking becoming less stable, less effective, and less predictable than what we previously believed. The statutory debt ceiling and the threat of default have become political bargaining chips in the debate over fiscal policy. Despite this year's wide-ranging debate, in our view, the differences between political parties have proven to be extraordinarily difficult to bridge, and, as we see it, the resulting agreement fell well short of the comprehensive fiscal consolidation program that some proponents had envisaged until quite recently. Republicans and Democrats have only been able to agree to relatively modest savings on discretionary spending while delegating to the Select Committee decisions on more comprehensive measures. It appears that for now, new revenues have dropped down on the menu of policy options. In addition, the plan envisions only minor policy changes on Medicare and little change in other entitlements,

the containment of which we and most other independent observers regard as key to long-term fiscal sustainability.

Our opinion is that elected officials remain wary of tackling the structural issues required to effectively address the rising U.S. public debt burden in a manner consistent with a 'AAA' rating and with 'AAA' rated sovereign peers (see Sovereign Government Rating Methodology and Assumptions," June 30, 2011, especially Paragraphs 36-41). In our view, the difficulty in framing a consensus on fiscal policy weakens the government's ability to manage public finances and diverts attention from the debate over how to achieve more balanced and dynamic economic growth in an era of fiscal stringency and private-sector deleveraging (ibid). A new political consensus might (or might not) emerge after the 2012 elections, but we believe that by then, the government debt burden will likely be higher, the needed medium-term fiscal adjustment potentially greater, and the inflection point on the U.S. population's demographics and other age-related spending drivers closer at hand (see "Global Aging 2011: In The U.S., Going Gray Will Likely Cost Even More Green, Now," June 21, 2011).

Standard & Poor's takes no position on the mix of spending and revenue measures that Congress and the Administration might conclude is appropriate for putting the U.S.'s finances on a sustainable footing.

The act calls for as much as $2.4 trillion of reductions in expenditure growth over the 10 years through 2021. These cuts will be implemented in two steps: the $917 billion agreed to initially, followed by an additional $1.5 trillion that the newly formed Congressional Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction is supposed to recommend by November 2011. The act contains no measures to raise taxes or otherwise enhance revenues, though the committee could recommend them.

The act further provides that if Congress does not enact the committee's recommendations, cuts of $1.2 trillion will be implemented over the same time period. The reductions would mainly affect outlays for civilian discretionary spending, defense, and Medicare. We understand that this fall-back mechanism is designed to encourage Congress to embrace a more balanced mix of expenditure savings, as the committee might recommend.

We note that in a letter to Congress on Aug. 1, 2011, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimated total budgetary savings under the act to be at least $2.1 trillion over the next 10 years relative to its baseline assumptions. In updating our own fiscal projections, with certain modifications outlined below, we have relied on the CBO's latest "Alternate Fiscal Scenario" of June 2011, updated to include the CBO assumptions contained in its Aug. 1 letter to Congress. In general, the CBO's "Alternate Fiscal Scenario" assumes a continuation of recent Congressional action overriding existing law.

We view the act's measures as a step toward fiscal consolidation. However, this is within the framework of a legislative mechanism that leaves open the details of what is finally agreed to until the end of 2011, and Congress and the Administration could modify any agreement in the future. Even assuming that at least $2.1 trillion of the spending reductions the act envisages are implemented, we maintain our view that the U.S. net general government debt burden (all levels of government combined, excluding liquid financial assets) will likely continue to grow. Under our revised base case fiscal scenario--which we consider to be consistent with a 'AA+' long-term rating and a negative outlook--we now project that net general government debt would rise from an estimated 74% of GDP by the end of 2011 to 79% in 2015 and 85% by 2021. Even the projected 2015 ratio of sovereign indebtedness is high in relation to those of peer credits and, as noted, would continue to rise under the act's revised policy settings.

Compared with previous projections, our revised base case scenario now assumes that the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts, due to expire by the end of 2012, remain in place. We have changed our assumption on this because the majority of Republicans in Congress continue to resist any measure that would raise revenues, a position we believe Congress reinforced by passing the act. Key macroeconomic assumptions in the base case scenario include trend real GDP growth of 3% and consumer price inflation near 2% annually over the decade.

Our revised upside scenario--which, other things being equal, we view as consistent with the outlook on the 'AA+' long-term rating being revised to stable--retains these same macroeconomic assumptions. In addition, it incorporates $950 billion of new revenues on the assumption that the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts for high earners lapse from 2013 onwards, as the Administration is advocating. In this scenario, we project that the net general government debt would rise from an estimated 74% of GDP by the end of 2011 to 77% in 2015 and to 78% by 2021.

Our revised downside scenario--which, other things being equal, we view as being consistent with a possible further downgrade to a 'AA' long-term rating--features less-favorable macroeconomic assumptions, as outlined below and also assumes that the second round of spending cuts (at least $1.2 trillion) that the act calls for does not occur. This scenario also assumes somewhat higher nominal interest rates for U.S. Treasuries. We still believe that the role of the U.S. dollar as the key reserve currency confers a government funding advantage, one that could change only slowly over time, and that Fed policy might lean toward continued loose monetary policy at a time of fiscal tightening. Nonetheless, it is possible that interest rates could rise if investors re-price relative risks. As a result, our alternate scenario factors in a 50 basis point (bp)-75 bp rise in 10-year bond yields relative to the base and upside cases from 2013 onwards. In this scenario, we project the net public debt burden would rise from 74% of GDP in 2011 to 90% in 2015 and to 101% by 2021.

Our revised scenarios also take into account the significant negative revisions to historical GDP data that the Bureau of Economic Analysis announced on July 29. From our perspective, the effect of these revisions underscores two related points when evaluating the likely debt trajectory of the U.S. government. First, the revisions show that the recent recession was deeper than previously assumed, so the GDP this year is lower than previously thought in both nominal and real terms. Consequently, the debt burden is slightly higher. Second, the revised data highlight the sub-par path of the current economic recovery when compared with rebounds following previous post-war recessions. We believe the sluggish pace of the current economic recovery could be consistent with the experiences of countries that have had financial crises in which the slow process of debt deleveraging in the private sector leads to a persistent drag on demand. As a result, our downside case scenario assumes relatively modest real trend GDP growth of 2.5% and inflation of near 1.5% annually going forward.

When comparing the U.S. to sovereigns with 'AAA' long-term ratings that we view as relevant peers--Canada, France, Germany, and the U.K.--we also observe, based on our base case scenarios for each, that the trajectory of the U.S.'s net public debt is diverging from the others. Including the U.S., we estimate that these five sovereigns will have net general government debt to GDP ratios this year ranging from 34% (Canada) to 80% (the U.K.), with the U.S. debt burden at 74%. By 2015, we project that their net public debt to GDP ratios will range between 30% (lowest, Canada) and 83% (highest, France), with the U.S. debt burden at 79%. However, in contrast with the U.S., we project that the net public debt burdens of these other sovereigns will begin to decline, either before or by 2015.

Standard & Poor's transfer T&C assessment of the U.S. remains 'AAA'. Our T&C assessment reflects our view of the likelihood of the sovereign restricting other public and private issuers' access to foreign exchange needed to meet debt service. Although in our view the credit standing of the U.S. government has deteriorated modestly, we see little indication that official interference of this kind is entering onto the policy agenda of either Congress or the Administration. Consequently, we continue to view this risk as being highly remote.

The outlook on the long-term rating is negative. As our downside alternate fiscal scenario illustrates, a higher public debt trajectory than we currently assume could lead us to lower the long-term rating again. On the other hand, as our upside scenario highlights, if the recommendations of the Congressional Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction--independently or coupled with other initiatives, such as the lapsing of the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts for high earners--lead to fiscal consolidation measures beyond the minimum mandated, and we believe they are likely to slow the deterioration of the government's debt dynamics, the long-term rating could stabilize at 'AA+'.

FOREIGN EXCHANGE RATES

Currency	Unit	Indian Rupees
US Dollar	1	Rs.61.23
UK Pound	1	Rs.98.53
Euro	1	Rs.77.75

INFORMATION DETAILS

Analysis Done by :	DIV

Report Prepared by :	NIT

RATING EXPLANATIONS

RATING		STATUS	PROPOSED CREDIT LINE
>86	Aaa	Possesses an extremely sound financial base with the strongest capability for timely payment of interest and principal sums	Unlimited
71-85	Aa	Possesses adequate working capital. No caution needed for credit transaction. It has above average (strong) capability for payment of interest and principal sums	Large
56-70	A	Financial & operational base are regarded healthy. General unfavourable factors will not cause fatal effect. Satisfactory capability for payment of interest and principal sums	Fairly Large
41-55	Ba	Overall operation is considered normal. Capable to meet normal commitments.	Satisfactory
26-40	B	Capability to overcome financial difficulties seems comparatively below average.	Small
11-25	Ca	Adverse factors are apparent. Repayment of interest and principal sums in default or expected to be in default upon maturity	Limited with full security
<10	C	Absolute credit risk exists. Caution needed to be exercised	Credit not recommended
--	NB	New Business	--

This score serves as a reference to assess SC’s credit risk and to set the amount of credit to be extended. It is calculated from a composite of weighted scores obtained from each of the major sections of this report. The assessed factors and their relative weights (as indicated through %) are as follows:

Financial condition (40%) Ownership background (20%) Payment record (10%)

Credit history (10%) Market trend (10%) Operational size (10%)

PRIVATE & CONFIDENTIAL : This information is provided to you at your request, you having employed MIPL for such purpose. You will use the information as aid only in determining the propriety of giving credit and generally as an aid to your business and for no other purpose. You will hold the information in strict confidence, and shall not reveal it or make it known to the subject persons, firms or corporations or to any other. MIPL does not warrant the correctness of the information as you hold it free of any liability whatsoever. You will be liable to and indemnify MIPL for any loss, damage or expense, occasioned by your breach or non observance of any one, or more of these conditions

This report is issued at your request without any risk and responsibility on the part of MIRA INFORM PRIVATE LIMITED (MIPL) or its officials.