Cement News tagged under: Mergers and Acquisitions

RSS feed

CRH strikes deal to acquire €6.5bn Holcim and Lafarge assets

02 February 2015, Published under Cement News

CRH has reached a deal to acquire €6.5bn in the assets of Lafarge and Holcim who are restructuring to win regulatory approval for their planned merger. The deal will significantly expand CRH’s globally footprint in the cement industry by acquiring new facilities in the Philippines, Canada, Brazil and several countries in Europe. Commenting on the acquisitions, CRH chief executive Albert Manifold said: “This transaction represents a significant value creation opportunity for CRH. We are acqu...

UltraTech quarterly revenue rises 15% YoY

26 January 2015, Published under Cement News

India's largest cement producer, UltraTech Cement, reported a 15 per cent YoY increase in net sales for the quarter ended 31 December 2014 to INR54.9bn. Earnings before interest depreciation and tax for the three months was up 14.5 per cent to reach INR9.9bn, but profit after tax (PAT) dipped 1.6 per cent to INR3.64bn, compared to the same period of last year. For the first nine months of the current fiscal, revenues jumped 16 per cent and PAT rose seven per cent. Combined domestic ce...

Dongwu Cement placement of new shares

26 January 2015, Published under Cement News

China-based Dongwu Cement said it agreed to place up to 40 million new shares at HK$1.3 apiece, representing a premium of about 3.17 per cent to the closing price of H$1.26. The placing shares represent around 7.25 per cent of the enlarged issued share capital of Dongwu Cement. The estimated net proceeds of about HK$51.3m will be used for acquiring 100 per cent equity interest in Shanghai Biofit Environmental Technology Co, Ltd and for general working capital of the group.

CRH confirms discussions over Lafarge and Holcim assets

23 January 2015, Published under Cement News

CRH has confirmed that it is in discussions with Lafarge and Holcim regarding the potential acquisition of certain assets being disposed of by the two companies in advance of their proposed merger. “While there can be no certainty that these discussions will result in a transaction, if an acquisition was to proceed, it is likely that it would be funded through a combination of existing cash balances, debt and an equity placing,” CRH said in a statement released yesterday. “At this stage ...

Russia: LSR completes cement divestment

23 January 2015, Published under Cement News

LSR Group has completed sale of its cement plant located in Slantsy, Leningrad region, to Russian market leader, Eurocement. Following closure of the deal, Eurocement has now acquired full operating control over the facility based in northwest Russia. The plant, which began operations in September 2010, operates a 5000tpd clinker line and has  a cement output of 1.86Mta. In a statement released yesterday, LSR reiterated that the divestment is part of its strategy of focusing on projects ...

Lafarge to buy back Baring stake in Indian unit

21 January 2015, Published under Cement News

Lafarge India is reportedly buying back the 14.03 per cent stake it sold to global private equity investor Baring Private Equity Asia in 2013. Through its wholly-owned subsidiary Paris Cement Investment Holdings, Barings Asia acquired a 14.03 per cent stake in Lafarge India for EUR200m. According to local press reports, the share agreement with the PE fund is said to have a clause which triggers a buyback case in case there is any change in the shareholding structure. With Lafarge and Holc...

CCI decision on Lafarge and Holcim merger due ‘within a month’

20 January 2015, Published under Cement News

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) will soon decide on the proposed merger between Lafarge and Holcim, the Economic Times (India) cited CCI chairman, Ashok Chawla, as saying. "The final order on the case should be out within a month," Mr Chawla said. In December the cement producers said in India, both companies “are well on track” in preparing the merger with the future structure for this part of the world. Sources told the ET that the CCI is likely to prescribe a structural remed...

Egypt: Supreme Administrative Court suspends privatisation appeal

20 January 2015, Published under Cement News

The Supreme Administrative Court has decided to halt proceedings looking into the appeal against the privatisation of Egypt-based Beni Suef Cement Company. The court has ordered that workers are reinstated to the company but has temporarily suspended looking into the privatisation appeal.  The suspension is pending another court decision in a case questioning the constitutionality of a law issued last year, which bans third parties from challenging sales or investment contracts signed betw...

Holcim remains committed to Lafarge merger despite SNB move

16 January 2015, Published under Cement News

Holcim said it remained committed to a planned merger with Lafarge despite a move by the Swiss National Bank (SNB) that knocked almost CHF3bn (US$3.45bn) off the Swiss company's market value. In a surprise move, the SNB said on Thursday it would abandon the 1.20 per euro cap on the franc, sparking a near 30 per cent surge in the franc against the European currency and triggering a bout of equity market turbulence. Speaking to Reuters, Holcim declined to comment on the SNB's move or its sha...

Blackstone, CVC reportedly among bidders for Lafarge and Holcim assets

15 January 2015, Published under Cement News

Groups led by Blackstone Group LP and CVC Capital Partners Ltd have submitted bids for assets put up for sale by Lafarge and Holcim, according to reports by Bloomberg citing people familiar with the matter. Blackstone teamed up with Cinven Ltd and Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, while CVC made a bid with Singapore’s sovereign-wealth fund GIC, the undisclosed sources said. CRH, the Dublin-based building-materials company, is also reported to be among those who have submitted  bids for...