Ukraine: A court has overturned the Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine (AMCU)’s September 2024 decision to allow CRH Ukraine to acquire Buzzi subsidiary Dyckerhoff Cement Ukraine. Interfax-Ukraine News has reported that the court found that the AMCU made its decision based on insufficient ‘clarification and evidence’ of details on the situation in the Ukrainian ready-to-use mortar mixes market and on the deal itself. The Netherlands-based subsidiary of Ireland-based CRH allegedly failed to appoint executive, directorial or supervisory personnel to Dyckerhoff Cement Ukraine who did not already hold positions in CRH Ukraine-controlled entities in the required manner. The court ruled that CRH had breached certain commitments upon which AMCU’s approval was conditional.

Building materials and property development company Kovalska Group mounted the successful legal challenge. The Kyiv Post newspaper has reported that it controls over 50% of the concrete market in Kyiv Oblast.

Dyckerhoff Cement Ukraine’s assets comprise two integrated cement plants, cement terminals and ready-mix concrete plants in Kyiv, Odessa and Mykolaiv. They entered Italy-based Buzzi’s control following the group’s progressive acquisition of Germany-based Dyckerhoff in 2001 – 2013. CRH and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development agreed to launch a joint acquisition of the business in December 2023. The value of the deal was reportedly €100m.

CRH Ukraine says that it will appeal the decision.

India: Schwing Stetter India, a supplier of concrete mixer trucks, and Germany-based MAX-Truder, a supplier of precast concrete plants, have entered into a new precast concrete production and supply partnership. The partners say that the business will combine Schwing Stetter India's deep local knowledge with MAX-Truder’s production expertise.

Machine Maker News has reported that MAX-Truder Chief Operating Officer Arne Völker said “This collaboration positions us to better serve the surging demand for top-tier precast concrete products across India.”

US: Building materials and services company Conewago Manufacturing has acquired ready-mix concrete producer Hanover Concrete. The deal brings Conewago Manufacturing into new markets in Pennsylvania and Maryland. Besides concrete, Hanover Concrete also supplies crane and concrete pump rentals.

Hanover Concrete President David Albright has stepped into the role of Vice President of Ready-Mix Sales at Conewago Manufacturing. The group also offered positions to all other Hanover Concrete employees.

Ukraine: The Kovalska Group has completed its construction of the first phase of an upcoming autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC) blocks, slabs and reinforced elements plant in Rozvadiv, Lviv Oblast. This phase of the plant will have 600,000m²/yr of total capacity. Open4Business News has reported that preparations for commissioning are now underway.
A second phase will subsequently double this to 1.2Mm²/yr. The 140ha site lies 40km from the city of Lviv and is well-connected to the EU border in Poland. Along with an upcoming Siltek dry mixes plant and existing limestone and sandstone quarries, the plant is set to comprise part of a new Western Industrial Hub in the oblast.

CEO Sergiy Pylypenko said “The investment for both phases amounts to over €100m. This is the largest project in the history of the company. We are building the plant to European standards, with increased requirements for quality, environmental performance and efficiency. The products will be sold both in Ukraine and abroad.”