JONA (dpa-AFX) - Responding to the recent press speculation, UK-based building materials group CRH Plc (CRH.L, CRH) confirmed that it is in discussions with French cement giant Lafarge SA (LFGEF.PK, LFRGY.PK) and Holcim Ltd. (HCMLY.PK) regarding the potential acquisition of certain assets being disposed of by Lafarge and Holcim in advance of their proposed merger.
In December 2014, The European Commission, the European Union's antitrust authority, said that it approved the proposed merger of French cement giant Lafarge SA with Swiss peer Holcim Ltd, subject to asset sales by both companies in regions where their activities overlap.
The European Commission or EC's approval of the merger was conditional upon the divestment of Lafarge's businesses in Germany Romania and the UK. Holcim was required to divest its operations in France, Hungary, Slovakia, Spain and the Czech Republic.
In April 2014, Holcim and Lafarge announced their plan to combine through an all share merger of equals to create LafargeHolcim, with nearly 32 billion euros in sales. The proposed combination would be structured as a public exchange offer initiated by Holcim for all outstanding shares of Lafarge on the basis of a 1 for 1 exchange ratio.
Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX