LONDON, Oct. 24 - Moody's Investors Service announced it has assigned a rating of B2 (positive outlook) to $100 million of loan participation notes due in October 2009 issued by Standard Bank Plc for the sole purpose of financing a loan to Bank Forum (Ukraine).

Moody's notes that the B2 rating assigned to the notes is based on the fundamental credit quality of the underlying obligor, Forum bank, rated at B2/NP/E+, and does not factor in any support from the bank's shareholders or the Ukrainian financial authorities, the release says.