NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Fitch Ratings has placed the 'BBB' Issuer Default Rating (IDR) and long-term debt ratings for Home Properties Inc. (NYSE: HME) and its operating partnership, Home Properties, L.P. (collectively, 'Home Properties') on Rating Watch Negative following Home Properties' announced sale to an affiliate of Lone Star Funds in a transaction valued at approximately $7.6 billion. A complete list of rating actions follows at the end of this release. KEY RATING DRIVERS The merger a