Europe: Holcim's board of directors has determined that its merger with Lafarge will be delayed due to the disagreement of terms on the deal. In a statement, Holcim said that the agenda for its upcoming annual general meeting will only focus on direct Holcim business and not the merger.
According to local media, Lafarge and Holcim are discussing a change in the planned leadership of their combined company to rescue the merger amid growing resistance to Lafarge CEO Bruno Lafont taking the top job. The companies are considering naming another Lafarge executive as CEO instead of Lafont to address demands from Holcim that would allow the deal to go ahead. Lafont could become co-chairman of the new entity, together with Holcim chairman Wolfgang Reitzle. The appointments are among various management changes being discussed.