Lafarge and Holcim receive clearance from CCI on proposed merger

Holcim and Lafarge yesterday announced they have received clearance from the Competition Commission of India (CCI) on their proposed merger.

A package of asset divestments has been agreed with the CCI which involves the sale of the Sonadih cement plant and Jojobera grinding unit both owned by Lafarge. The two plants have a combined capacity total capacity of 5Mta and are situated in eastern India.

The groups said in a joint statement that the divestment process will be carried out in the framework of the relevant social processes and ongoing dialogue with the employee representatives’ bodies and is subject to the closing of the merger between Lafarge and Holcim. The combined group will have a cement capacity in India of around 68Mta.

The closing of the planned merger is expected in July 2015.