Fitch Releases Rating Considerations for U.S. Internet Companies

CHICAGO--()--Fitch Ratings reviewed 10 leading U.S. Internet services companies for its key qualitative rating factors and found the strongest of the group to be Google and eBay, according to a new Fitch special report.

Fitch's key qualitative rating factors for U.S. Internet services companies include: management strategy, operating profile, competitive position and financial flexibility. These qualitative factors are very important in evaluating companies credit profiles in this sector because the industry is characterized by generally low leverage and very little debt. As a result, traditional credit protection measures have less meaning at this point in the Internet services industry development.

The report, 'Fitch's Rating Considerations for U.S. Internet Services Companies', evaluates eBay, Amazon, Expedia, Twitter, Google, Priceline, Yahoo, Netflix, Facebook and Groupon for its key qualitative rating factors. The full report is available on Fitch's web site at 'www.fitchratings.com'.

Additional information is available at 'www.fitchratings.com'.

Applicable Criteria and Related Research: Fitch¬タルs Rating Considerations for U.S. Internet Services Companies (Key Qualitative Rating Factors)

http://www.fitchratings.com/creditdesk/reports/report_frame.cfm?rpt_id=778448

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Contacts

Fitch Ratings
Dave Peterson
Senior Director
+1-312-368-3177
Fitch Ratings, Inc.
70 West Madison Street
Chicago, IL 60602
or
Michael Weaver
Managing Director
+1-312-368-3156
or
Media Relations:
Brian Bertsch, +1-212-908-0549 (New York)
brian.bertsch@fitchratings.com

Contacts

Fitch Ratings
Dave Peterson
Senior Director
+1-312-368-3177
Fitch Ratings, Inc.
70 West Madison Street
Chicago, IL 60602
or
Michael Weaver
Managing Director
+1-312-368-3156
or
Media Relations:
Brian Bertsch, +1-212-908-0549 (New York)
brian.bertsch@fitchratings.com