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.

Mexico: Cemex is supplying Vertua lower-CO₂ concrete for the construction of Terminal 2 at Puerto Vallarta’s International Airport, which aims to be one of the most sustainable terminal buildings in Latin America. The 68,000m² new terminal will be one of the most efficient in terms of sustainability, with the aim of obtaining LEED certification and minimising the CO₂ emissions associated with the construction process. Cemex will contribute more than 85,000m³ of Vertua concrete, which will avoid the emission of 16,000t of CO₂ compared to traditional concretes.

US: Ireland-based CRH has concluded a deal for the acquisition of Martin Marietta Materials’ South Texas business. This includes 20 ready-mix concrete batching plants, alongside the Hunter cement plant and a network of cement terminals on the Gulf of Mexico. The value of the transaction is US$2.1bn.

CRH CEO Albert Manifold said “The acquisition of these high-quality assets further strengthens our market leading position in Texas and increases our exposure to attractive, high-growth markets. Our ability to leverage our cement expertise and technical capabilities will enable us to enhance and optimise our existing footprint in Texas, resulting in significant synergies and self-supply opportunities. This transaction reflects our disciplined approach to capital allocation as well as our commitment to deliver further growth and value creation for our shareholders. We also believe there is significant potential to unlock additional growth opportunities across an expanded footprint in this attractive growth market.”

Romania: Holcim Romania invested Euro15m in an upgrade to its Abjud autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC) block plant in Vrancea, using equipment supplied by AAC specialist Aircrete Europe. The producer says that the project raised the production capacity of the plant by 45%.

Holcim Romania CEO Bogdan Dobre said "The investment involved the automation of processes in order to harmonise operations with Holcim standards, but also to bring our customers the best performing products. With the investment, the previous production line, almost 50 years old, was completely replaced.” He continued “We have rethought the entire industrial process, making it more efficient and increasing the degree of safety at work.”