Lafarge and Holcim have received final approval for their proposed merger from the competition authorities in the United States and Canada.
The two companies originally announced their intention to merge in April 2014. Since then, they have sought, and acquired, approvals from various global jurisdictions. Approval from U.S. and Canadian authorities was the final hurdle.
The parties have now presented a list of divestments to satisfy regulatory requirements. Lafarge’s operations on Manitoulin Island — which include a quarry at Meldrum Bay, a deepwater terminal at Birch Island, and a ready-mix plant in M’Chigeeng — are not listed amongst the divestments, but it’s not yet clear how the merger might affect those operations.
Headquartered in Switzerland, Holcim manufactures and distributes cement and aggregates, and has a presence on every continent.
Lafarge, which also manufactures and distributes cement, concrete and aggregates, is headquartered in France and operates in 61 countries.
The merger is expected to close in July.
