S&P Downgrades Conseco-Linked Classes

The ratings on three classes from various Conseco Finance Corp.-related transactions issued by Home Improvement Loan Trust and Conseco Finance Home Equity Loan Trust 2000-B have been lowered to D by Standard & Poor's Ratings Services.The downgrades were as follows: Home Improvement Loan Trust, series 1994-BI, class B-2, from CCC-minus to D; Home Improvement Loan Trust, series 1994-B, (a single class), from CCC-minus to D; and Conseco Finance Home Equity Loan Trust 2000-B, class BF-2, from CCC-plus to D. S&P said Conseco Finance Corp. did not make any payments under a limited guarantee on the Jan. 15, 2003 distribution date, resulting in principal distribution shortfalls on the two HIL trusts and an interest shortfall on the Conseco Finance HEL trust. Each of the certificates has credit support from a limited guarantee provided by Conseco Finance and from monthly excess spread. S&P can be found online at http://www.standardandpoors.com.