UK: Breedon Group has acquired concrete block producer Broome Bros., construction firm Minster Surfacing and concrete block and aggregates producer Robinson Quarry Masters. Breedon Group said that the businesses will strengthen its presence around Doncaster in South Yorkshire, in Antrim, Northern Ireland, and 'from the Midlands to London.'

CEO Rob Wood said “Many of our transactions come to us through our local knowledge and personal engagement with the owners. As a result, our active mergers and acquisitions pipeline has continued to yield high quality, earnings-enhancing opportunities that will enable us to progress our sustainable growth strategy." He added "Each of these independent family-run businesses is aligned with our vertically-integrated operating model, providing further opportunity to pull through upstream building materials while extending our downstream footprint to deliver profitable growth.”

Business Live News has reported that the group has also completed its transition to the London Stock Exchange from the AIM exchange. Breedon Group said that this will enhance its corporate profile by helping to attract greater international investment.

Canada: Mexico-based Cemex has concluded a deal to acquire aggregates producer Atlantic Minerals Limited. Atlantic Minerals Limited operates an aggregate quarry and port facilities in Newfoundland. Cemex described the business as 'well-positioned' to supply aggregates to its customers in Florida, where it expects 'sustained' growth in demand, as well as elsewhere in the Eastern US. After the acquisition is complete, Atlantic Minerals Limited will continue to operate as Cemex Materials Newfoundland.

Cemex USA president Jaime Muguiro said “This acquisition significantly strengthens our existing network and enables us to serve new markets. I look forward to building on the success of this business as we meet increased demand from the private and public sectors, including critical investments in federal and state infrastructure.”

US: Holcim US has begun selling ECOPact reduced-CO2 concrete in the Colorado Springs, Denver and Pueblo markets in Colorado. The producer says that the range offers 30 - 90% lower CO2 emissions than concrete produced using ordinary Portland cement (OPC). Colorado aims to achieve CO2 emissions reductions of 50% by 2030 and 90% by 2050.

Holcim US' Mountain regional general manager and senior vice president Kevin Peart said "Sustainable construction is essential to building a net-zero future in Colorado and across the nation. Denver has consistently ranked as one of the fastest-growing areas in the nation, and Colorado Springs is projected to become the state's largest city within the next 15 years. Low-carbon, high-performance building solutions such as ECOPact are essential to mitigating climate change and creating a more sustainable, resilient urban landscape."

Austria: Alpacem Gruppe subsidiary w&p Beton has commenced construction of a new ready-mixed concrete plant in Klagenfurt, Carinthia. Recovered industrial heat will power operations at the plant, reducing CO2 emissions by 40t/yr. It will also use reduced-CO2 cement supplied by the group's Wietersdorf cement plant. The concrete producer says that the ready-mix concrete plant will cost Euro3m and be ready for commissioning in early 2024.

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