Dive Brief:
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Pending the sale of some of each firm’s businesses, cement giants Holcim and Lafarge have received approval from European antitrust officials to merge into the world’s largest cement maker and supplier of crushed stone, sand and gravel.
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The companies, which took in a combined $40 billion in revenue in 2013, are waiting for approvals from the U.S., Canada, Mexico and India.
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To answer concerns that the new megafirm would stall competition in the industry, Holcim has agreed to sell all of its businesses in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, along with two plants in Spain and most of its cement and ready-mixed concrete plants in France. Lafarge will divest itself of its businesses in Germany and Romania, as well as some of its UK operations.
Dive Insight:
The plan has had some push-back from unions concerned about the fate of employees at the divested businesses. The Nigeria-based Construction and Civil Engineering Senior Staff Association and the Chemical and Non-Metallic Products Senior Staff Association have called on construction workers to protest the merger, fearing job losses in the tens of thousands should the deal go through.