Dr. Al-Fayez added: "This represents the second upgrade in Moody's long-term deposit rating in the last 18 months. The rating was upgraded from Baa2 to Baa1 in December 2003. It also follows an upgrade in Standard & Poor's long-term deposit rating to A- in April 2005. Following the recent upgrade in the Moody's rating, GIB is now rated A- / A3 by all three international rating agencies: Moody's, S&P, and Fitch."