Cement News tagged under: Fitch Ratings

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Fitch: Spanish tax ruling negative for Cemex

28 April 2014, Published under Cement News

The recent ruling by Spanish tax authorities to fine Cemex Espana EUR455m will slow the recovery of Cemex’s credit profile but will not result in a negative rating action to the 'B+' rating of Cemex or the 'BB-' of the company's bonds, according to Fitch Ratings. Cemex has announced it plans to appeal this fine, which was levied for alleged underpayment of taxes between 2006 and 2009. Cemex will not have to make payments, in whole or in part, during the appeal process. The timing of the res...

Fitch affirms Siam City Cement’s long-term rating, outlook ‘Stable’

15 April 2014, Published under Cement News

Fitch Ratings has affirmed Thailand-based Siam City Cement Public Co Ltd's (SCCC) National Long-Term Rating at 'A(tha)', its National Short-Term Rating at 'F1(tha)', its National Long-Term Rating on its senior unsecured debentures at 'A (tha)'. The outlook is Stable. Leading market position SCCC has maintained its position as Thailand's second-largest cement producer with a stable market share of 28 per cent in 2013, Fitch notes. Its strong brands in cement and ready-mixed concrete have u...

Fitch affirms Holcim long-term rating

14 April 2014, Published under Cement News

Following the announcement by Holcim to merge with Lafarge SA, Fitch Ratings has affirmed the Swiss major's Long-term Issuer Default Ratings (IDR) at 'BBB'. The Outlook is Stable. The affirmation reflects the combined group's improved scale, diversification and market positions on completion of their announced merger and the synergy potentials between the two companies. “We forecast funds from operations (FFO) adjusted leverage in excess of 3.5x for the combined group in 2015, compared ...

Fitch Ratings considers Lafarge upgrade

10 April 2014, Published under Cement News

Fitch Ratings announced yesterday it considers upgrading the credit rating of French concrete and cement group Lafarge after the company unveiled its merger with Swiss peer Holcim. The ratings agency said it is motivated to give an upgrade as the agency takes into account the synergies potential between the two groups and the business prospects of the new entity. (Abstracted from an original article in Le Figaro.)

Fitch Affirms Holcim rating, outlook stable

13 March 2014, Published under Cement News

Fitch Ratings has affirmed the Long-term Issuer Default Ratings (IDR) of Swiss cement major of Holcim as at BBB. The outlook is stable. The ratings agency said the affirmation reflects Holcim's leading market positions as one of the world's largest cement producers and its improving financial profile. The group reduced leverage to 3.5x in 2013 from 4.2x in 2011 (on a fully consolidated basis), supported by in excess of CHF1bn in non-core net asset disposals over the past two years. Earning...

Fitch Ratings raises GCC outlook

27 January 2014, Published under Cement News

Fitch Ratings has revised its outlook for Grupo Cementos de Chihuahua (GCC) from 'Stable' to 'Positive.' The upward revision reflects Fitch's view that GCC's operations could gain momentum resulting from US construction spending expanding in 2014 driven by continued strength in residential construction, and to a lesser extent in modest recovery in commercial and public construction spending. The outlook also incorporates an expectation of higher public spending in Mexico in 2014. In Fitch...

Fitch Ratings affirms and withdraws Central Asia Cement’s rating

13 September 2013, Published under Cement News

Fitch Ratings has affirmed and simultaneously withdrawn Central Asia Cement's (CAC) National Long-Term Rating at 'BB-(kaz)' with Positive Outlook and senior unsecured bond rating at 'B(kaz)'. Fitch says it will no longer have sufficient information to maintain the ratings, as CAC has chosen to stop participating in the rating process. "Accordingly, Fitch will no longer provide ratings or analytical coverage for CAC," said Fitch in a statement. Key rating drivers include the bouyant Ka...

Fitch revises West China Cement outlook

05 August 2013, Published under Cement News

Fitch Ratings has revised West China Cement Limited's (WCC) Outlook to Negative from Stable reflecting continued weak average selling prices (ASP) in the cement producer's core cement markets of Shaanxi and Xinjiang. If this trend persists, the company may face challenges in repaying its outstanding US$400m notes due in January 2016, cautions the ratings agency. Continued weak ASPs have compressed WCC's gross profit to CNY47/t (US$7.67) in 2012 from CNY76/t for 2011. The ASP was CNY238/t i...

Fitch affirms Lafarge's BB+ rating, France

15 July 2013, Published under Cement News

Fitch has affirmed at BB+ the long-term issuer default rating (IDR) of Lafarge as well as its senior unsecured rating. The long-term IDR's outlook is stable. The affirmation reflects Fitch's expectation that Lafarge will be able to deleverage quickly in 2013 reaching credit metrics in line with the current rating, despite debt in 2012 being higher than Fitch's expectations and leverage being stretched for the current rating level. Recovery in the US, positive trends in emerging markets and...

Fitch Ratings: mixed picture for EMEA companies

27 November 2012, Published under Cement News

Fitch Ratings says 3Q12 results reported by Fitch-rated Europe Middle East and Africa (EMEA) cement companies, Holcim Ltd ('BBB'/Stable), HeidelbergCement AG ('BB+'/Stable) and Lafarge SA ('BB+'/Stable) showed a number of positives, but confirmed that general market conditions are still challenging and the outlook remains uncertain. Europe disappoints The European markets represented a negative surprise, mainly due to a weakening in volume sales. This not only reflects some peripheral ...