Holcim's public exchange offer for shares of Lafarge completed successfully

The public exchange offer made by Holcim Ltd for Lafarge SA has been successful, bringing the merger of the world's two largest cement majors close to completion.

The French market watchdog, Autorité des marchés financiers (AMF), said as of 7 July 2015, a total of 252,230,673 shares representing 87.46 per cent of Lafarge's share capital, and at least 81.47 per cent of voting rights of Lafarge SA, has been offered by shareholders fulfilling the conditions for the merger to go ahead. The success of the offer was subject to the condition that a minimum acceptance threshold of two/thirds of Lafarge’s share capital or voting rights be reached by Holcim Ltd.

"The result reflects the confidence of shareholders in the future company. Both companies are very pleased with this positive outcome as it paves the way towards completion of the merger," both companies said in separate statements.