US: Knife River has completed its acquisition of North Dakota-based ready-mix concrete, aggregates and asphalt producer Strata Corporation for US$454m. Strata Corporation employs 900 seasonal workers and commands 28 ready-mix plants, three asphalt plants and 30 years of aggregates reserves, supported by a logistics fleet of seven trains and 400 railcars. It also includes a contracting services division. Strata Corporation will merge into Knife River's Central Region operations.
South Korea: The construction and ready-mix concrete industries have concluded four months of negotiations with an agreement that ready-mix concrete prices will come down by 2.5% to US$62.8/m3. Chosun Biz News has reported that Youngwoo Association represented local ready-mix concrete producers throughout negotiations.
US: Private equity firm Big 7 Ventures has acquired Nevada-based Modern Concrete. Big 7 Ventures says that the company will continue to operate under its existing management team under founding President Scott Reutner.
Romania: Holcim Romania has invested €700,000 to upgrade its Stancesti aggregates plant in Prahova County. The investment included €450,000 towards a water recirculation and purification plant. Following the completion of works, the Stancesti plant now draws 80% less water.
