PARIS (Standard&Poor's CreditWire) Feb. 1, 2000--Standard&Poor's today placed its single-'A'-plus long-term ratings on France-based Compagnie de Saint-Gobain S.A. (Saint-Gobain) and its Netherlands-based guaranteed subsidiary Saint Gobain Nederland B.V. on CreditWatch with negative implications. This follows the group's announced bid to acquire 100% of Meyer International PLC (not rated), the U.K.'s leading and highly profitable builders merchant, for a total of euro (Eur) 1.75 billion (US$1.71 billion) excluding Eur350 million of debt acquired. The 'A-1' short-term ratings were affirmed (see list below for all ratings affected). With 1999 sales of Eur22.9 billion, Saint-Gobain is one of the world's largest glass makers and building materials groups. Although the transaction would have a positive impact on Saint-Gobain's business profile--by
