...+ Amazon has announced an agreement to purchase Whole Foods Market Inc. in a debt-financed purchase of about $14 billion. + We are placing our '##-' corporate credit rating on Amazon on CreditWatch with negative implications. + Our preliminary view is that Amazon's leverage will approach 1.5x, but mostly likely remain below 2x. We see the purchase as a major strategic initiative for Amazon, with execution risk, but also potential significant implications for Amazon's market strategy as well as for the broader U.S. grocery market. NEW YORK (S&P Global Ratings) June 16, 2017--S&P Global Ratings placed its ratings, including the '##-' corporate credit rating, on Amazon.com Inc. on CreditWatch with negative implications. "The CreditWatch placement reflects our expectation that Amazon's leverage will increase as a result of its plan to purchase Whole Foods for about $14 billion," said S&P Global Ratings credit analyst Robert Schulz. The rating action also reflects our intent to review implications...
