On March 8, 2006, Standard & Poor's Ratings Services assigned its 'BBB' rating to Sabre Holdings Corp.'s $400 million senior unsecured notes due 2016. Southlake, Texas-based Sabre (BBB/Stable/--) is a major provider of travel marketing and distribution services to the travel industry. The ratings on Sabre reflect its leading position in several of its major businesses and a relatively strong financial profile, even following the 2005 $1.2 billion acquisition of lastminute.com. However, the company operates in competitive and cyclical businesses and has a fairly aggressive acquisition strategy. Sabre is a major provider of travel marketing and distribution services to the travel industry. Sabre owns one of the largest computer reservations system (CRS), responsible for booking approximately 36% travel agency airline
