CHICAGO (Standard&Poor's) June 17, 2014--Standard&Poor's Ratings Services said today that Priceline.com Inc.'s agreement to acquire OpenTable Inc. for $2.5 billion does not affect the 'BBB+' rating on Priceline.com. OpenTable provides restaurant marketing services in the U.S. and several international markets. OpenTable generates a profit from restaurant reservation fees. We expect the transaction to close in the third quarter of 2014, subject to customary closing conditions including the receipt of regulatory clearance. This represents the second major acquisition for Priceline.com that is ancillary to its core travel reservation services. Last year, Priceline.com acquired Kayak Software Inc. for $1.8 billion in late 2012. We believe that Priceline.com will likely continue to acquire companies providing travel-related services. Our rating
