France: Hoffmann Green Cement Technologies has concluded a strategic partnership for the supply of its clinker-free low-CO₂ cement to commercial and residential property developer Groupe Morisset. Hoffmann Green Cement Technologies said that the companies have previously collaborated over the past four years. The new partnership agreement will commit Groupe Morisset to increasing the volumes of Hoffmann Green Cement Technologies’ materials used in its projects.
Egypt: Construction chemicals producer Mapei has opened a new production plant in the 10th of Ramadan City, north-west of Cairo. The 30,000m2 facility will produce Mapei’s main products for the local market, including grinding aids for cement production and concrete admixtures. It will be the Italy-based group's second production plant in Egypt following Vinavil’s polymer plant in Suez, which began operating in 2002 and employs around 150 people.
"Egypt today represents a very promising market for the global construction industry," said Veronica Squinzi, CEO of Mapei. "With over 100m inhabitants and a constant demographic growth, the country is experiencing a growing demand for residential construction, supported by strong government investment plans in infrastructure, hospitality and large-scale transport. The presence of two production sites in the area, Mapei and Vinavil, will strengthen the group's competitiveness, while promoting local production capacities, creating job opportunities and facilitating technology transfer." Squinzi added “The new plant will allow Mapei to distribute its products efficiently both within Egypt and in the nearby markets of North Africa and the Middle East. It will also be a gateway to sub-Saharan Africa, thanks to the existing trade agreements and the growing economic integration among African nations.”
Mapei Group has 220 employees. It has been present in Egypt since 2002 through its subsidiary Vinavil.
Australia: Heidelberg Materials announced that it has entered into a conditional purchase agreement to acquire the ready-mixed concrete business of Midway Concrete, a family-owned company based in Australia. Midway Concrete operates in the greater Melbourne and Geelong areas, with four concrete plants at Laverton, Craigieburn, Melton and Lara.
"This bolt-on acquisition complements our existing concrete and quarry operations within Melbourne, strengthening our integrated market position in an attractive region," said Dominik von Achten, chair of Heidelberg Materials. "The latest addition reflects our strong commitment to further expand our footprint in core markets as part of our ongoing portfolio optimisation. Our growing base of customers in the region will benefit from an enhanced supply of sustainable products while we further extend our product portfolio."
The transaction is subject to regulatory approval. Both parties have agreed not to disclose the financial terms of the transaction, which is expected to be completed by mid-2025.
Ukraine: A court has reportedly invalidated the Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine (AMCU)’s competition clearance for CRH Ukraine's acquisition of Buzzi subsidiary Dyckerhoff Cement Ukraine, completed in October 2024. Interfax-Ukraine News has reported that the court found that the clearance, granted in September 2024, was based on insufficient ‘clarification and evidence’ of details on the Ukrainian ready-to-use mortar mixes market situation.
The court allegedly also ruled that the Netherlands-based subsidiary of Ireland-based CRH had yet to meet certain commitments upon which the AMCU’s approval was conditional. Following the acquisition of Dyckerhoff Cement Ukraine, it was required to appoint executive, directorial or supervisory personnel to the company who did not already hold positions in CRH Ukraine-controlled entities. CRH clarified that it in fact appointed Mariusz Tomasz Bogacz on 11 October 2024, after his powers as a member of the supervisory board of Podilsky Cement had already been terminated, on 8 October 2024.
Building materials and property development company Kovalska Group mounted the successful legal challenge. The Kyiv Post newspaper has reported that the Kyiv-based company controls over 50% of the concrete market in Kyiv Oblast.
Dyckerhoff Cement Ukraine’s assets comprise two integrated cement plants, cement terminals and ready-mix concrete plants in Kyiv, Odessa and Mykolaiv. They entered Italy-based Buzzi’s control following the group’s progressive acquisition of Germany-based Dyckerhoff in 2001 – 2013. CRH and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development signed a mandate letter for the launch of a joint acquisition of the business in December 2023. The value of the deal was reportedly €100m.
The latest decision is currently under appeal by CRH.
This story was modified on 22 April 2025 to correct the inaccurate claim that the latest court ruling 'blocked' or ‘overturned' the completed acquisition and to add CRH's clarification regarding the effective appointment of Mariusz Tomasz Bogacz.
