12 July 2018

Kenya: The International Finance Corporation (IFC) is set to take over loans worth US$120m at ARM Cement. UK-government investor CDC Group, which owns a 41% stake in the cement producer, will also loan it US$20m, according to the Business Daily newspaper. The IFC loan is expected by mid-2019 and the CFC loan will arrive by the end of September 2018. The IFC has also proposed a US$50m equity investment in ARM Cement but chief executive Pradeep Paunrana wants to wait until his company’s share price returns to normal to avoid the company being undervalued.

The cement producer reported a loss of US$55m in 2017 due to poor demand in Kenya and Tanzania. It said it was undergoing a ‘significant’ review of its current operations, asset base and financing structure to address its problems.

UAE: India’s Shree Cement has completed its acquisition of Union Cement. Shree Cement has purchased a 97.61% in the company. It is the company’s first acquisition outside of India. Union Cement operates a cement plant Ras Al- Khaimah.

Nigeria: The Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has awarded Dangote Cement with its Mandatory Conformity Assessment Programme (MANCAP) certification. The certification accredits the cement producer’s products and its ability to run tests on processed and raw materials in alignment with national standards, according to the Sun newspaper. Osita Anthony Aboloma, the Director General of SON, made the announcement during a tour of Dangote Cement’s Obajana plant in Kogi State.

Nigeria: The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) is in discussions with Dangote Cement to transport cement. Fidet Okhiria told the Herald newspaper that talks between the companies are at an advanced stage. He also disclosed that the Lagos to Ibadan and Itakpe to Warri standard gauge railway line projects are on course and are about to start being tested respectively.

Vietnam: Tran Viet Thang, the former General Director of the Vietnam Cement Industry Corporation (Vicem), has been dismissed as a member of the Executive Committee of the Central Businesses Party Unit and member of the Executive Committee of Vicem's Party unit. He has been found guilty of several legal violations as well as breaking Communist Party of Vietnam rules, according to the Viet Nam News newspaper.

Thang was appointed as the head of government-owned Vicem in mid-2013. He is accused of raising company debts of US$175m by the end of 2016. He left the position in mid-2017. According to the Secretariat of the Communist Party of Vietnam, Thang signed documents and took decisions that he was not authorised to. His actions allegedly violated local corporate and bidding law, as well as rules for Communist Party members. He has been accused of damaging the reputation of Vicem and the Communist Party.

The punishment against Thang is part of an on-going crackdown in the country against corruption.

Italy: HeidelbergCement’s subsidiary Italcementi has rebranded CementirSacci and Cementir Italia as Italsacci and Cemitaly respectively. The move follows the integration of the companies into the group at the start of 2018.

The cement producers operate four integrated plants and two grinding plants. Italsacci runs plants at Tavernola Bergamasca, Greve and Cagnano Amiterno. Cemitaly runs plants at Spoleto, Arquata Scrivia and Taranto.

Italcementi now operates 10 integrated plants, one plant for special projects, 10 cement grinding plants, 113 concrete plants and 13 aggregate quarries in Italy. Its headquarters is based in Bergamo.