Spain: The European Commission (EC) has launched an in-depth probe into Cemex's plan to buy the Holcim's Spanish cement business. The regulator is due to make a decision on 5 September 2014.

The move follows an initial investigation, which revealed that the transaction could substantially harm competition in the Portland cement market in some areas of Spain. According to the regulator, the reduction in the number of rivals could prompt coordination between the remaining competitors, while the merged firm might control price levels in certain areas. The in-depth probe is intended to either confirm or reject the EC's initial concerns.

Under the deal, which was agreed in August 2013, Cemex will combine its cement, ready-mix and aggregates operations in Spain with those of Holcim and will hold a 75% stake in the enlarged firm. The transaction is part of several interconnected deals, under which Cemex will take over Holcim's operations in the Czech Republic, while offloading its western German operations to Holcim.

In October 2013 the EC also opened an in-depth probe into the deal in Germany, which remains unresolved. The transaction in the Czech Republic was approved by the local anti-trust watchdog in March 2014.