Cement News tagged under: Holcim

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Holcim (Russia) new CEO appointed

24 July 2014, Published under Cement News

Guillermo Brusco has been appointed CEO of Holcim (Russia), effective 1 July 2014. He replaces Gustavo Navarro.  Mr Brusco’s responsibility will cover the strategic development of Holcim Group companies in Russia. He started his career within the Holcim Group in 1988 holding various positions in Venezuela, US and Italy. Starting in 2003 he served as plant manager of the Ramos Arizpe plant in Mexico, and has also held the position of Operations Vice President of Holcim (Argentina).

Lafarge Holcim antitrust reviews ‘on-track’

21 July 2014, Published under Cement News

Holcim and Lafarge are in "advanced" discussions with European antitrust regulators over their proposed merger, Bernard Fontana, chief executive of Holcim, told the Wall Street Journal. Earlier this month, the companies identified shared assets, including 23 plants in eight countries amounting to a total of 27.5Mta, that will be sold to allow the merger to go ahead. Mr Fontana told the newspaper that discussions with the European Union – where the two companies have some of their greatest...

European Commission objects to Spanish deal

14 July 2014, Published under Cement News

The European Commission, the antitrust regulator in Europe, has objected to plans by Cemex to acquire Spanish units held by Holcim. In August last year the two cement majors reached an agreement to conduct a series of transactions to swap and combine assets in parts of Europe with the aim of improving synergies and boosting operating profit. However, a source told Reuters last week that: "The European Commission (EC) has sent a statement of objections to the companies," referring ...

Kenya: Holcim won't buy out Bamburi Cement

10 July 2014, Published under Cement News

Holcim said it has no intention of making a takeover offer for Bamburi Cement Ltd in Kenya if competition regulators allow its planned merger with Lafarge SA, Bloomberg reports. “We have no intention of making a takeover offer for BCL,” Holcim said. Bamburi will continue to trade on the Nairobi Securities Exchange, it said. Holcim, based in Switzerland, and Paris-based Lafarge SA are seeking antitrust backing for a planned US$40bn merger they intend to complete by the 1H15. Once the transa...

HeidelbergCement considering US cement plants

09 July 2014, Published under Cement News

HeidelbergCement might buy the US and French cement plants that Lafarge and Holcim want to divest in order to receive the regulatory approval for their merger deal, according to Jefferies. Financial analysts Jefferies said in a note that HeidelbergCement managers told representatives during a capital markets day event on 2 July in California that the potential merger would be a "once in a generation" opportunity to acquire assets. CEO Bernd Scheifele and CFO Lorenz Naeger were among the ex...

Holcim and Lafarge announce proposed asset disposals

07 July 2014, Published under Cement News

Two months after the announcement of their planned merger, Lafarge and Holcim have revealed the list of proposed divestments. In Europe the merged entity aims to have “a significant and balanced industrial base in Europe – around 20 per cent of its revenues – within its overall global footprint, enabling it to take advantage of the European economic recovery,” according to a joint statement. LafargeHolcim plans to sell Lafarge’s Mannersdorf works in Austria as well as the Lafarge Tarmac a...

Philippines: Lafarge and Holcim start talks

07 July 2014, Published under Cement News

Lafarge Republic Inc (LRI) and Holcim Philippines Inc have begun plans for a local merger. Both Boards of Directors gave the green light "to explore, study and consider the combination" of their businesses "in order to avail... of the resulting synergies and opportunities... and in the course of such study, determine optimal structures to implement the combination". Discussions opened in a special meetings on 6 July. Both companies said "it is contemplated LRI's two plants in Norzagaray, B...

LH Merger update: plants for sale

07 July 2014, Published under Cement News

Finally, exactly two months after the first official announcement of their 'merger of equals', Lafarge and Holcim clarify which plants are likely to be put up for sale. No surprises for those who've been following our coverage of the deal to date with divestments slated for Austria, France, Germany, Romania, Hungary and the UK in Europe; Canada - but not the USA - in north America; Brazil in Latin America; Philippines in Asia; Reunion and Mauritius in the Indian Ocean... We summarise the...

LH Merger: LatAm, Asia, Africa

07 July 2014, Published under Cement News

The Lafarge Holcim merger is being viewed as a good geographical fit in emerging markets given Lafarge’s strong presence in the Middle East and Africa, and Holcim’s significant exposure to Latin America and the Asia-Pacific region. However, regional overlaps in certain key markets are likely lead to the expected disposal of assets. Latin America Moves to address anti-trust concerns already appear to be underway with Lafarge last month confirming the sale of its cement operations in Ec...

LafargeHolcim merger: implications for western Europe

27 June 2014, Published under Cement News

While the proposed Lafarge-Holcim (LH) merger is widely being regarded as a good fit for the two companies, satisfying competition authorities in a number of key markets where operations overlap is critical for the deal to proceed. In western Europe, the LH tie-up could accelerate the restructuring process already underway by the cement industry to improve regional businesses and any disposals required by the two groups are likely to be surmountable. To satisfy regulatory requirements Lafar...