CHICAGO (Standard&Poor's) Nov. 9, 2012--Standard&Poor's Ratings Services said today that Norwalk, Conn.-based online travel agency Priceline.com Inc.'s (BBB/Stable/--) agreement to acquire KAYAK Software Corp., a leading travel search site, does not affect our rating on Priceline. The transaction is valued at $1.8 billion ($1.65 billion, net of cash acquired) of which $500 million will be paid in cash and $1.3 billion in stock. KAYAK is experiencing healthy growth. Its revenues and EBITDA in the third quarter of 2012 increased 28% and 17%, respectively, year over year. KAYAK will give Priceline another avenue to directly reach travelers (in addition to Priceline's own well recognized Web sites). KAYAK's brand franchise is sufficiently strong that many users go directly
