Displaying items by tag: competition

US: A court in Savannah, Georgia, has sentenced Evans Concrete and four executives for conspiring to fix prices, rig bids and allocate jobs in the local ready-mix concrete business between 2010 until 2016. Foreign Affairs News has reported that Evans Concrete will pay a US$2.7m fine, while alleged co-conspirator Argos USA will pay a US$20m criminal penalty under a deferred prosecution agreement. Of the four individuals, three will serve combined prison sentences of 72 months and pay a total US$210,000 in fines and one received a year’s probation.

The Justice Department’s Antitrust Division said "The Antitrust Division and its law enforcement partners will hold accountable those who seek to exploit the critical need for these materials to harm consumers."

US: Cement mixer truck driver Allard Tigchelar, from Cemex USA’s Prescott, Arizona, ready-mix concrete plant, won gold representing his company at the National Mixer Driver Championship 2024 at the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association’s ConcreteWorks concrete conference in Aurora, Colorado, on 12 – 13 October 2024. Concrete Products News has reported that the championship pitted drivers against one another in an eight-challenge truck driving course designed to test vehicle handling skills. This was followed by vehicle inspection and an exam for drivers. Florida-based Maschmeyer Concrete driver Damion Wynter came second and Illinois-based Ozinga Ready Mix Concrete driver Garret Lytle came third.

Allard Tigchelar claimed US$6000 in prize money from the Truck Mixer Manufacturers Bureau. Wynter won US$3000 and Lytle US$1500.

US: The Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA) has launched the sixth annual Concrete in Life photography competition for 2024 – 2025. The launch coincides with The Climate Group’s New York Climate Week (NYCW) 2024. The GCCA will receive photo entries showing concrete’s sustainability, beauty and vitality, and a panel of judges will award a US$10,000 prize to the best. Past entries are currently on display in New York, US, at the One Vanderbilt building.

GCCA CEO Thomas Guillot said "The GCCA is leading pioneering work with our members to decarbonise our essential industry. Our Concrete in Life competition gives every community across the globe a chance to show just how essential concrete is to our lives and building a more sustainable world. It was important to give people attending NYCW a chance to see the role that concrete plays in supporting society and communities across the planet."

Judge and co-chair of design and architecture firm Gensler Diane Hoskins said "The places and spaces where we spend our time shape our experience of the world. Concrete is one of the most versatile and ubiquitous building materials, opening up an incredible opportunity for innovation and creativity. As architects and designers, we strive to achieve beauty, function and resilience in our work. This is the power and promise of the built environment and the materials that bring it to life."

Fellow judge Tina Paillet, president of the UK-based Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), said "As the globally renowned professional body for the built and natural environment, RICS members know just how important concrete is to modern infrastructure and to meeting the world’s net zero targets via the circular economy. I’m looking forward to judging this year’s Concrete in Life competition and getting the chance to see many awe-inspiring photographs from around the world."

Austria: Rohrdorfer’s proposed acquisition of a 49% stake in building materials producer Asamer has entered an extended review phase. The parties registered the deal with the Austrian Federal Competition Authority (BWB) on 10 January 2024. Due to competition concerns, the BWB applied to a court for an in-depth investigation on 21 February 2024.

Poland: The Office of Competition and Consumer Protection (UOKK) has conditionally approved Lafarge Polska's acquisition of certain assets of Eurobud Chajewscy. A condition for the approval is that Lafarge Polska sell the Piła concrete plant in Greater Poland. Baltic Legal Updates News has reported that this would enable Lafarge Polska to retain a single concrete plant in the city.

The UOKK said "Concentration in the proposed form would mean the lack of free choice of supplier and the risk of price increases for concrete buyers in Piła. The sale of one of the concrete plants in Piła will allow entrepreneurs to maintain fair competition on the local concrete supply market."

UK: The purchase of Mick George (MG) by Hanson Quarry Products Europe (Hanson), could result in less choice and higher prices for building contractors in parts of England, according to a Phase 1 Investigation by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). It has provisionally found that the proposed purchase of MG by Hanson raises competition concerns in certain markets for building materials in East of England and the East Midlands. Hanson is wholly owned by Heidelberg Materials.

The investigation concerns the supply of ready-mix concrete and aggregates. Colin Raftery, CMA Senior Director for Mergers said "These products are an important input for building projects, so a loss of competition between two of the main suppliers could result in increased construction costs for businesses and public bodies. In many areas where both businesses are active, sufficient competition will remain. But in some local markets, where there are not enough strong alternatives to the merging business, the deal could limit customer choice.”

Hanson and MG now have five working days to address the CMA's concerns. If they are unable to do so, the merger will be referred for an in-depth Phase 2 investigation.

Europe: The European Commission (EC), in coordination with the UK Competition and Markets Authority and the Turkish Competition Authority, launched unannounced antitrust inspections of additives and admixtures producers in ‘several’ countries. The EC said that the inspections form a preliminary step in an investigation of suspected anticompetitive practices.

World: The Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA) has named the 15 anticipated deliverers of low-CO₂ cement and concrete production shortlisted for participation in its second Innovandi Open Challenge. The association chose the start-ups based on their potential to deliver CO₂ emissions reduction in the global cement and concrete sector in line with its Concrete Future 2050 Net Zero Roadmap. The applicants are presenting their pitches to GCCA members on 30 June 2023. All those accepted will gain access to members' plants, labs, networks and expertise. The following start-ups made the Innovandi Open Challenge 2023 shortlist:

GCCA cement director and innovation lead Claude Loréa said “We received more than 70 quality applications, so drawing up a shortlist was challenging." Loréa continued "Our essential industry needs something easily scalable and affordable. Those start-ups on the list demonstrated the most potential, and we look forward to hearing more about their ideas. But we’ll also be keeping in touch with other start-ups who didn’t make this year’s shortlist, with future projects in mind.”

Taiwan: The Taiwanese Fair Trade Commission (FTC) has fined 18 companies a total of US$7m for participation in a ready-mix concrete price-fixing cartel. The companies, including Taiwan Cement, all participate in the ready-mix concrete industry in Taoyuan Special Municipality. The FTC said that the companies have colluded both in person and via messaging apps in order to raise the price of concrete in Taoyuan, since 'as early as November 2018.' Other recipients of fines include Goldsun Building Materials, Ya Tung Ready Mixed Concrete and 15 companies based in Taoyuan. Fines range from US$16.5m up to US$329m for larger participants.

CNA News has reported that Taiwan Cement denies involvement in any cartel.

Australia: The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has called for public comment on Switzerland-based Sika's proposed acquisition of Germany-based fellow construction chemicals producer MBCC Group. The commission has raised 'preliminary concerns' over the possible competition impacts of Sika obtaining an 80% Australian market share as a result of the deal.

Sika group responded to the ACCC's concerns with an offer of an undertaking to divest MBCC Group's entire Australia and New Zealand business.