UK: Lafarge's chief executive Bruno Lafont has said that the joint venture between miner Anglo American and cement maker Lafarge in the UK is likely to begin selling a series of assets as required by regulators by the end of June 2012.
The UK Competition Commission said in May 2012 that the companies had to sell 'an extensive package of operations' including one of the UK's largest cement plants, the Hope plant in Derbyshire, for the planned joint venture to win approval.
"It's a process that should start at the end of the month of June when we have completed the process of authorisation and consultation with the antitrust authorities," Bruno Lafont announced.
Both companies said in May 2012 that they were confident the conditions for the joint venture would be met, prompting speculation that they might have buyers for the assets lined up, despite government austerity plans that are likely to limit infrastructure spending.