The solid winter recruiting season at U.S.-based weight management services provider Weight Watchers International Inc. indicates the potential for improving credit metrics at the company in 2017. We anticipate that Weight Watchers may strengthen debt-to-EBITDA leverage to near 6x in 2018. We are affirming our 'B-' corporate credit rating on Weight Watchers and our 'B-' issue-level rating on the company's first-lien credit facilities. We are also revising our outlook to positive from stable, reflecting the potential for a higher rating if Weight Watchers can sustain strong expense management and operating performance, continue its effective marketing and recruiting efforts, and display steady EBITDA growth, with debt-to-EBITDA leverage approaching 6.5x over the next year. On May 16, 2017, S&P Global Ratings affirmed
