[120414.EN.BIZ] HOLCIM-LAFARGE MERGER To Be Final In 1Q/2015

JAKARTA – Effort to merge Holcim Ltd. with French cement producer, Lafarge SA , is expected to be completed first quarter in 2015.

In a disclosure to the Indonesia Stock Exchange, Corporate Secretary of PT Holcim Indonesia Tbk. Jannus Onggung Hutapea said the strategic step is fully supported by the board of directors and the core shareholders of both companies.

"The merger is a combination of the top companies in the developing and developed markets, which are scattered in 90 countries around the world," he said in an official statement on Friday (04/11/2014).

According to him, the merger of the two largest cement companies in the world that aims to create the largest business group in the building materials industry.

Later, products and services of LafargeHolcim expected to answer the needs of the building materials industry dynamics and challenges of increasing urbanization.

The two companies have a combined value sales worth 32 billion euros (IDR22 billion) and EBITDA of 6.5 billion euros (IDR4.4 trillion).

As reported, Holcim Indonesia has the potential to be able to boost market share due to the action of a merger between Holcim Ltd. and the French manufacturer, Lafarge SA.

In last year, Holcim’s market share in the country reached 14.4% or lower than the previous year of 15.6%.(T03)

Source : Bisnis Indonesia, 11.04.14.