LONDON (S&P Global Ratings) Jan. 7, 2021--S&P Global Ratings said today that building materials manufacturer LafargeHolcim Ltd. (BBB/Stable/A-2) will still have healthy rating headroom after its $3.4 billion acquisition of Firestone Building Products. This reflects LafargeHolcim's robust cash flow generation in 2020 and the resulting strong liquidity position at year-end, notwithstanding the challenging macroeconomic environment caused by the coronavirus pandemic. The transaction is subject to regulatory approval and expected to close in the second half of 2021. Switzerland-headquartered LafargeHolcim is set to buy Firestone from tire and rubber manufacturer Bridgestone Corp. (A/Stable/A-1). The acquisition will be financed by debt and cash, payable at closing. On a pro forma basis, we now forecast that LafargeHolcim will attain a lower, but still
