Holcim Ltd. and Lafarge SA officially launched their new combined building materials company – LafargeHolcim – on July 15 after overcoming a series of regulatory hurdles and challenges since announcing the planned merger in April 2014. Combined, LafargeHolcim is an operator of 2,500-plus cement, concrete and aggregate plants in 90 countries.
“This day marks our entry into a new era,” affirmed LafargeHolcim CEO Eric Olsen as he opened a live webcast from Zurich headquarters on July 15. Olsen outlined an immediate five-point action plan, plus key timelines through 2018 that investors, customers and employees will see from LafargeHolcim. The areas of priority for the new business includes integrating the two companies, reducing capital spending and creating new products.
The executive committee has a clear vision for LafargeHolcim, Olsen noted: A good corporate citizen; one that embraces diversity, values inventiveness and creativity, and is performance driven. Announcements on merger and integration related activities by country or region will be part of a Capital Markets Day for investors by year’s end. Most immediately, LafargeHolcim will report pre-merger 2015 financials for Lafarge S.A. and Holcim Ltd. on July 29. Their first results as a combined company will be reported at the nine-month stage later this year.
