Lafarge acquires Kercim grinding plant, France

Lafarge has acquired Ciments Kercim's grinding plant, located in the bulk terminal port of Nantes-Saint-Nazaire, western France.

The 0.6Mta Kercim facility, launched in spring 2013, had been led by Jean-Marc Domange, ex-president of the Syndicat Français de l'Industrie Cimentière (SFIC) and former head of Ciments Calcia, who died months later in October 2013 following a long illness.

Lafarge is reported to have acquired the plant from the 12 existing shareholders, heirs of Mr Domange and local materials groups which had invested in the project. According to estimates by CM-CIC Securities, Lafarge paid slightly over EUR80m to take control of the unit compared to a total project construction cost of EUR45m.