LONDON (Standard&Poor's) July 15, 2004--Standard&Poor's Ratings Services said today it affirmed its ratings--including its 'BBB/A-2' corporate credit ratings--on U.K.-based retailer Marks&Spencer PLC (M&S) and its related entities Marks&Spencer Finance PLC, St. Michael Finance PLC, and Marks&Spencer Finance (Nederland) B.V. At the same time, the ratings were removed from CreditWatch. The outlook is stable. The senior unsecured debt ratings on the bonds and notes issued by Marks&Spencer Financial Services PLC, however, remain on CreditWatch but the CreditWatch implications have been revised to positive from developing, reflecting the proposed sale of the division to the HSBC group. The rating actions follow an announcement by Revival Acquisitions Ltd. (a company owned