J&J’s Top Rating at Risk Because of Intra-Cellular Deal
- S&P expects more debt-funded M&A impacting leverage levels
- Johnson & Johnson is one of two US companies with AAA rating
Though far from its speculative-grade counterparts, a drop down in ratings would likely make it more expensive for J&J to borrow debt.
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Johnson & Johnson, one of the last US companies with top credit ratings, is at risk of losing its AAA grade from S&P Global Ratings after the maker of drugs and medical devices said it was acquiring Intra-Cellular Therapies Inc.
S&P said on Tuesday that it’s reviewing whether it should cut the company’s credit ratings, in part because the $14.6 billion acquisition would boost J&J’s indebtedness. J&J will probably make more debt-funded acquisitions in the future, according to S&P.