CEMEX's Acquisition Strategy - The Acquisition of Rinker Group


CEMEX's Acquisition Strategy - The Acquisition of Rinker Group
Case Code: BSTR376
Case Length: 29 Pages
Period: 2005-2010
Pub Date: 2010
Teaching Note: Not Available
 Price: Rs.500
Organization: CEMEX S.A.B de C.V
Industry: Cement
Countries: Mexico, Australia
Themes: Mergers and Acquisitions
CEMEX's Acquisition Strategy - The Acquisition of Rinker Group
Abstract Case Intro 1 Case Intro 2 Excerpts

Abstract

CEMEX SAB de CV (CEMEX) is a Mexico based cement company. As of 2009, it is one of the top ten cement manufacturers in the world. The operations of CEMEX grew rapidly since the mid-1980s as the company chose both inorganic and organic route for expansion. Over the years, CEMEX had developed post merger integration expertise and was able to generate enough cash flows from the acquired company to pay most of the debts it incurred for the acquisition. However, in mid-2007, CEMEX's acquisition of Australia based Rinker group landed the company in a financial debt trap. CEMEX paid US$ 14.2 billion to acquire Rinker and estimated that it would be able to generate enough cash flows from Rinker's operations to pay off the additional debt obligations that it incurred due to the acquisition.

Acquiring Rinker strengthened the operations of CEMEX in the US. However, since late 2007, the real estate market in the US faced a slowdown. The prices in real estate markets started falling, unemployment increased and several financial institutions went bankrupt. These events led to poor demand for building materials and tighter credit availability from banks. CEMEX could not generate enough cash flows in 2008 and 2009 because of fall in sales. At the same time, it had to refinance its short term debt at several instances leading to increase in cost of financing. Rating agencies downgraded CEMEX's credit rating leading to increase in cost of capital. CEMEX had to sell some of its assets, some acquired through Rinker's acquisition to raise funds and pay off debts. Though selling certain operations resulted in lower cash flows than estimated, CEMEX remained bullish on the long term prospects of the US economy and was confident that it would bounce back strongly.

Issues

The case is structured to achieve the following teaching objectives

  • Examine the rationale for CEMEX's acquisition of Rinker
  • Understand the advantages of strong post merger integration expertise
  • Appreciate the importance of timing of an acquisition
  • Analyze the disadvantages of excessive debt financing
  • Study the importance of geographical diversification

Contents

Keywords

CEMEX, Rinker, Post-Merger Integration, Global Cement Industry, Subprime Crisis, Leverage, Debt Credit Rating, Acquisition Integration Process, Capital Structure, CEMEX Way, Internal Benchmarking Process, Global Cement Industry, Geographical Diversification, Free Cash Flow Method, US Cement Industry, Macroeconomic Environment, Ordinary Participatory Notes, Financial Statements

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