Standard&Poor's today has placed its ratings of Marriott International Inc. on CreditWatch with negative implications (see list below), following its announcement that it has entered into an agreement to acquire Renaissance Hotel Group NV (RHG) for about $1 billion. The company's commercial paper rating has been affirmed at 'A-2'. In addition, RHG Finance Corp.'s CreditWatch implications have been revised to positive from negative (see list). The ratings initially were placed on CreditWatch following a previous announcement that Doubletree Corp. had agreed to acquire the company. Marriott's CreditWatch placement reflects the increased debt burden that the company will be carrying following the acquisition, and subsequent deterioration in credit measures. Still, Standard and Poor's views the transaction positively from a
