Lafarge one step closer to completing US refocus

Lafarge announces the sale of five aggregates quarries and related assets in Maryland (USA) to Bluegrass Materials for a total enterprise value of US$320m. With these divestments, the group has now largely completed its strategy of refocusing on its core markets in the United States, the cement major said in a statement.

Lafarge today operates a network of integrated positions mainly located in the Great Lakes and Mississippi River regions. It US operations consist of nine cement or grinding plants and associated cement terminals, with a combined capacity of 11Mt, as well as related aggregates and concrete businesses in these markets.

Overall, the North American market represented over 21 per cent of its 2012 sales.

This transaction is subject to relevant regulatory approvals.