Aggressive pricing by chemical producers has offset most of the short- term challenges of higher costs, but the potential for sustained high natural gas prices has meaningful longer-term implications for the chemicals industry. |
As lead-pigment litigation gains traction, it becomes a much more prominent risk factor in our rating deliberations. |
The credit watch listing indicates that the ratings would likely be lowered if such a transaction were to proceed, given the strong expectation that Apollo or other potential financial buyers would use a significant amount of debt in any financing plans. |