Fitch Ratings on July 21 affirmed and withdrew its ratings onBanco Votorantim SA andBV Leasing Arrendamento MercantilSA, as both companies chose to stop participating in the rating process.

The Brazilian bank's long- and short-term foreign and local currencyissuer default ratings of BB- and B, respectively, were included in the action,as were its national scale long- and short-term ratings of AA-(bra) and F1+(bra).

The long-term rating's negative outlook was also affirmed andwithdrawn.