Bangkok--31 Mar--TRIS Rating TRIS Rating Co., Ltd. has assigned a “T1+” rating to Bt1,000 million short-term guaranteed debentures of Honda Leasing (Thailand) Co., Ltd.’s (HLTC or Issuer). At the same time, TRIS Rating has affirmed the “AAA” ratings for HLTC’s existing medium-term debentures with “stable” outlook. These debentures are guaranteed by the Issuer’s parent company, Honda Automobile (Thailand) Co., Ltd. (HATC or Guarantor), which is a subsidiary of Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (HMC), a company rated “A+/Positive” by Standard and Poor’s (S&P) and “Aa3/Stable” by Moody’s Investors Service (Moody’s). The ratings of these debentures reflect the unconditional and irrevocable guarantee by HATC, whose creditworthiness is enhanced by the keep well agreement provided by its ultimate parent, HMC. TRIS Rating takes into consideration the keep well agreement between HATC and HMC, the strategic importance of HATC as a subsidiary of HMC, and the strengths of HATC in terms of its competitive position in the Thai automotive industry, healthy financial profile, and proven ability to meet the global standard of the Honda Group. HATC’s strengths are partially offset by its limited product line because of the strategy to focus on the passenger car and sport utility vehicle (SUV) segments. The “stable” outlook of the guaranteed debentures of HLTC reflects the credit profile of HATC whose creditworthiness is enhanced by the keep well agreement provided by its ultimate parent company, HMC. TRIS Rating reported that under the keep well agreement, which is governed by Japanese law, HMC, the ultimate parent company of HATC, shall: (1) own and hold, directly and indirectly, the legal title to and beneficial interest in, at least 80% of all the issued and outstanding shares of stock of HATC; (2) cause HATC to have a positive consolidated tangible net worth; and, (3) ensure that HATC has sufficient liquidity and funds to punctually meet its payment obligations associated with the debt described in the keep well agreement. In addition, any claims on HMC arising from any funds provided by HMC to HATC are subordinated to the claims of debenture holders. So long as any debt shall be outstanding, this agreement shall not be modified, amended or terminated in any manner which may have any adverse effect upon the debenture holders unless the debenture holders and the representatives of the debenture holders have consented thereto in writing. Though the keep well agreement is not a guarantee, TRIS Rating believes that with the high credit quality of HMC and the strategic importance of HATC to HMC, HMC will provide sufficient financial support to HATC to ensure that all of HATC’s obligations are met.