Cement News tagged under: Holcim
Holcim CEO sees cost-cutting starting to work02 October 2013, Published under Cement NewsFrenchman Bernard Fontana, CEO of Holcim, who last year became the first outsider to lead the 101-year-old Swiss company, has been implementing a strict cost-cutting regime right through the company that extends even to himself. Shortly after taking the helm of Holcim, the 52-year-old Fontana launched a cost-cutting programme with the aim of restoring Holcim's return on invested capital (ROIC) to at least eight per cent after tax and boosting operating profit by at least CHF1.5bn (US$1.7bn... |
Holcim ceases production at Dannes02 October 2013, Published under Cement NewsNine months after stopping the kiln at Dannes, France, Holcim officially ceased production at the plant on 30 September. Staff have been partly transferred to Lumbres, Dunkerque and Rochefort. |
HSBC downgrades Holcim on emerging markets slowdown27 September 2013, Published under Cement NewsHSBC has downgraded Holcim to neutral from overweight and also reduced its target price to CHF72 from CHF77, citing weaknesses in emerging markets. The bank says an emerging market slowdown means there will over capacity and oversupply of cement will remain, while return on invested capital will be under pressure because of a squeeze on margins. |
Holcim and Cemex to swap, combine assets in Europe28 August 2013, Published under Cement NewsHolcim and Cemex have reached an agreement to conduct a series of transactions to exchange and combine assets in parts of Europe with the aim of improving synergies and boosting operating profit. Cemex increase its presence in Central Europe through the acquisition of Holcim Cesko in the Czech Republic. The deal includes one cement plant (cement and clinker capacities of 1.1Mta and 0.9Mta, respectively), four aggregate quarries and 17 ready-mix plants. Holcim said it will continue to serve... |
Cement makers hit by infrastructure slump in emerging markets20 August 2013, Published under Cement NewsCement producers have been sliding on the financial stock exchanges as emerging market bonds and equities tumble, according to the Financial Times. Many of the region’s building materials groups have invested heavily in the emerging markets and fears that falling foreign investment will negatively impact state spending on large projects has underpinned stock market losses. Swiss major Holcim last week warned that slowing infrastructure spending in India – its biggest market – would dampen p... |
Holcim’s cement sales in Romania down 0.7% in 1H1319 August 2013, Published under Cement NewsSwiss building materials producer Holcim’s cement and clinker sales fell 0.7 per cent in the first half of the year in Romania, compared to the first six months of 2012, while the domestic cement prices were up 3.1 per cent, according to the company’s latest report. The company’s volume of aggregates sales in 1H13 dropped by 27.7 per cent YoY in Romania, while the domestic aggregates prices decreased by an annual 15.8 per cent. In Europe, Holcim’s cement and clinker sales went down 1.5 per... |
Holcim profit leaps, sales below expectations16 August 2013, Published under Cement NewsHolcim’s first-half results were boosted by higher net income but sales disappointed, particularly in India, the group's key market in Asia. For the full-year, the Swiss major now expects more muted earnings growth than previously forecast. For the first six months to the end of June, Holcim's turnover declined by 5.1 per cent to CHF9649m, or by 6.9 per cent in euro terms to EUR7847m. The running EBITDA was 3.4 per cent lower at CHF1819m while the trading profit eased by 3.3 per cent to CH... |
Cost cuts help Holcim 2Q net profit edge ahead15 August 2013, Published under Cement NewsHolcim has reported a slight increase in 2Q net profit as cost cuts helped boost profitability but weaker demand in India, Canada and Mexico fell short of expectations. Net income edged up to CHF383m (US$411m) from CHF377m a year earlier. Revenue fell 3.3 per cent to CHF5.33bn in the three months through June as Ambuja Cements Ltd, its Indian subsidiary, struggled with an early monsoon season and weaker-than-expected economic growth in the country. Last month, Holcim restructured it... |
Holcim streamlines Indian operations25 July 2013, Published under Cement NewsHolcim is to increase its shareholding in Ambuja Cements as part of the Swiss major's strategy to restructure and streamline its operations in India. Through intragroup restructuring, Holcim will increase its shareholding in Ambuja Cements to 61.39 per cent and Ambuja in turn will acquire Holcim’s 50.01 per cent stake in ACC Ltd. Both Ambuja and ACC will continue to operate as separate entities with their own brands and go-to-market strategies. Holcim said the restructuring “will allow for... |
Harris Associates builds up stake in Holcim, Switzerland23 July 2013, Published under Cement NewsHolcim said Chicago-based asset manager Harris Associates LB acquired shares in the Swiss cement major and now owns a stake worth CHF654m (EUR530m) Harris notified that it owned 3.04 per cent of Holcim's shares, therefore making it the third-largest shareholder in the Swiss cement major. |