PARIS (Standard&Poor's) June 15, 2009--Standard&Poor's Ratings Services said today that its ratings on Switzerland-based building materials group Holcim Ltd. (BBB/Stable/A-2) remain unchanged, following Holcim's announcement today that it will, subject to customary due diligence and regulatory approval conditions, acquire Australia-based Cemex Australia, as well as subscribe pro rata for its existing share to the capital increase of China-based Huaxin Cement. As a whole, we think the impact on Holcim's credit quality should be somewhat positive. On the financial side, the plan to fully finance the Australia deal's enterprise value of Swiss franc (CHF)1.77 billion, as well as the CHF250 million transaction in China, through a fully underwritten equity injection, is likely to slightly positively impact credit
