07 April 2014
Holcim and Lafarge agree merger to create cement giant 07 April 2014
Worldwide: Reuters has reported new details regarding the potential merger of Holcim and Lafarge. The merger would spark some Euro5bn of asset sales worldwide to steer it through antitrust rules.
With operations in 90 countries, Lafarge and Holcim expect to face antitrust scrutiny in 15 jurisdictions, including Brazil, Canada, Ecuador, France, the UK, the US, Morocco and the Philippines. LafargeHolcim could have a market share in excess of 50% in some areas. Even in countries such as the US where it would be smaller, monopoly authorities are likely to become involved.
The deal will help the companies slash costs, trim debt and better cope with soaring energy prices, tough competition and weaker demand that have hurt the sector since the 2008 economic crisis. The groups complement each other well geographically, with Lafarge stronger in Africa and Holcim stronger in Latin America. Emerging markets such as Latin America and Africa will account for 60% of the new group's sales, but no single country will represent more than 10%.
"The new group will offer higher growth and low risk thus creating more value," said Lafarge chief executive Bruno Lafont, who will become CEO of LafargeHolcim. The companies added that they expected total annual savings from joining forces of Euro1.4bn after three years, thanks to economies of scale, better operational efficiency and lower financing costs.
Lafarge and Holcim confirmed that they would sell businesses worth 10 - 15% of the group's earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) to satisfy antitrust concerns, worth about Euro5bn in total. Two-thirds of the asset sales would be in Europe, according to Lafont. The companies also have overlapping business operations in Canada, Brazil, India and China.
"We are immediately going to start discussions with the European Commission and other competition regulators in a constructive spirit," Lafont said, adding that the combined company would continue to improve operational performance and that there would be no plant closures associated with the deal.
The expected EBITDA synergies are made up of Euro200m at operational level, Euro340m in purchasing, Euro250m in sales and Euro200m in innovation. On top of this, the company sees Euro200m of savings on financial costs and Euro200m for investments.
Lafarge's largest shareholder, Belgian holding company Groupe Bruxelles Lambert, which has a 21% stake, said that it would support the deal and would hold about 10% stake in the combined group after the transaction was completed. The transaction has the support of core shareholders and is expected to close in the first half of 2015, the companies added.
European Commission spokesman for competition policy, Antoine Colombani, said that the companies had not yet formally notified the European Union about the deal.
LafargeHolcim merger gathers pace 07 April 2014
Worldwide: More details have emerged over the weekend regarding the proposed merger of Lafarge and Holcim, with the name LafargeHolcim mentioned by key staff. The discussions look set to lead to a company with combined sales of around Euro32bn and earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) of Euro6.5bn.
"This proposed merger is a once in a lifetime opportunity to deliver substantially better value to customers with more innovation, a wider range of products and solutions and more sustainability and enhanced returns to shareholders," said Rolf Soiron, chairman of Holcim. "LafargeHolcim will be uniquely positioned to take advantage of growth in developed markets and the world's fastest growing economies by supplying the materials that will enable the construction industry to meet the challenges of the future."
"By combining Holcim's experienced teams, complementary geographies and innovative expertise with ours, we propose to set up the most advanced group in the construction industry, for the benefit of our clients, our employees and our shareholders," said Bruno Lafont, chairman and CEO of Lafarge. "I am confident that this merger of equals provides a unique opportunity to rapidly create the most advanced platform in our industry with outstanding synergies. With a best-in-class international portfolio, robust balance sheet and strong governance, the new group will offer higher growth and low risk, thus creating more value.'
Unofficial sources have suggested that the weekend's meetings involved detailed discussions regarding the sale of some parts of the companies' assets to conform to national and regional anti-monopoly regulations.
Subject to shareholder and regulatory approvals and other customary authorisations completion is to take place by the end of the first half of 2015.
Sacyr to build cement plant in Bolivia for US$244m 07 April 2014
Bolivia: A consortium, led by Sacyr Industrial, has won an order for the construction of a cement plant in Bolivia for US$244m.
The contract, which was signed with the Bolivian state-run cement producer Empresa Publica Productiva Cementos de Bolivia (ECEBOL), includes the design, supply of machinery, construction, installation and launch of the plant in the city of Oruro in the central west of the country. The plant is planned to have a clinker capacity of at least 3000t/day.
The contract is in line with Sacyr's strategy for global expansion. The company is already present in Australia, the UK and Peru, with various projects in the oil, gas, power infrastructure, energy and waste-treatment sectors.
US: Essroc's cement plant in Nazareth, Pennsylvania has earned certification for superior energy efficiency from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The Energy Star certification signifies that the plant performs in the top 25% of similar facilities nationally and meets the strict energy efficiency performance levels set by the EPA.
The plant has recently improved its performance by managing its energy strategically across the entire organisation and by making cost-effective improvements, such as meters, LED, low-voltage lighting, timers and sensors. To earn the certification, the plant established a local energy team to discuss actions to be implemented to lower energy consumption, establish an action plan and review progress of those being implemented.
"Energy reduction is the most important part of the programme. The certification is the cherry on top of the cake," said Jean Paul-Morel, Essroc's chief electrical engineer.