Displaying items by tag: Acquisition
Metso buys Kiln Flame Systems
04 December 2018UK: Finland’s Metso has acquired Kiln Flame Systems (KFS), a UK-based combustion solutions and technology provide, to extend its pyro-processing portfolio and capabilities. KFS specialises in rotary kiln and calcining processes, combustion optimisation and burner technologies with patented designs. It provides solutions to a wide range of industries including minerals processing. KFS has 14 employees based in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire. KFS will become part of Metso's Minerals Services business area, which offers a comprehensive line of pyro processing equipment.
"Joining forces with Metso gives us the opportunity to offer our technology to a wider customer base. KFS has worked hard to establish our position and reputation as a market leader in custom-designed combustion solutions, and we are delighted to build our future and continue serving existing and new customers with Metso," said Cliff Rennie, director and chief executive officer (CEO) of KFS.
KFS was founded in 1999. It uses computational fluid dynamics (CFD) for burner design and system analysis supported by physical modelling.
UltraTech Cement declares Binani Cement is its subsidiary
22 November 2018India: UltraTech Cement says that Binani Cement has become a wholly-owned subsidiary. The announcement to its shareholders follows a protracted legal battle with Dalmia Bharat group over the outcome of an auction for the insolvent producer. The acquisition includes production capacity in Rajasthan as well as subsidiaries in China and the UAE.
Supreme Court backs National Company Law Appellate Tribunal on UltraTech’s bid for Binani Cement
20 November 2018India: The Supreme Court has upheld a decision by the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) to approve a revised US$1.11bn bid for Binani Cement. The court rejected a challenge by Rajputana Properties, a subsidiary of rival bidder Dalmia Bharat group, according to the Hindu newspaper. UltraTech Cement made a direct bid for the bankrupt Binani Cement following an auction in March 2018 that was originally won by Dalmia Bharat. Dalmia Bharat disputed UltraTech Cement’s offer and the two companies have conducted legal campaigns to reinforce their respective claims.
National Company Law Appellate Tribunal approves UltraTech Cement’s bid for Binani Cement
14 November 2018India: The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) has approved a revised bid by UltraTech Cement for Binani Cement. The tribunal approved UltraTech’s resolution plan and said that the plan submitted by Rajputana Properties, a subsidiary of rival bidder Dalmia Bharat group, was ‘discriminatory’ against some financial creditors, according to the Press Trust of India. In July 2018 the Supreme Court transferred all matters related to corporate insolvency resolution process of Binani Cement to the NCLAT Kolkata.
Indonesia: LafargeHolcim has signed an agreement with Semen Indonesia to sell its 80.6% share of Holcim Indonesia for US$1.75bn. The assets to be sold to Semen Indonesia include the entirety of LafargeHolcim’s operations in Indonesia, which consists of four cement plants, 33 ready-mix plants and two aggregate quarries. LafargeHolcim says it decided to divest Holcim Indonesia as part of the on-going portfolio review. Closing of the transaction is subject to customary regulatory approvals.
“As part of our Strategy 2022 – ‘Building for Growth’ we have committed to divestments of at least Euro1.8bn. Today’s announcement is an important milestone in reaching our target and to increase our financial strength,” said Jan Jenisch, chief executive officer (CEO) of LafargeHolcim.
Proença de Carvalho resigns as president of Cimpor
07 November 2018Portugal: Proença de Carvalho has resigned as the president of Cimpor. Three independent directors of the cement producer have also resigned, according to the Jornal de Negócios. The departures follow OYAK Cement’s acquisition of Cimpor’s assets in Portugal and Cape Verde from Brazil’s InterCement.
Taiwan Cement heads to Turkey
31 October 2018The long expected move by a Chinese cement producer outside of East Asia took a step closer this week with the news that Taiwan Cement is negotiating with OYAK Cement over a joint venture in Turkey. Taiwan Cement says it is prepared to invest up to US$1.1bn in the subsidiary that will operate OYAK Cement’s business in Turkey. In its press release Taiwan Cement said, bluntly, that government peak production limits and market saturation in China had forced it to expand internationally.
This isn’t Taiwan Cement’s first flirtation with a Turkish cement producer. Back in June 2018 local press reported that it had signed a memorandum of understanding and a confidentiality clause with Sanko Holding about potential investment. However, the timing is curious this time because almost simultaneously Brazil’s InterCement announced that it was selling its operations in Portugal and Cape Verde to OYAK Cement. This sale alone deserves more attention given that it is the third by a Brazilian producer since September 2018 but that’s a discussion for another week. Back on OYAK Cement, whilst nothing is certain at this stage, a pledge of US$1.1bn from a foreign investor would certainly come in handy helping to raise the money at the Turkish company.
Whoever, if anybody, Taiwan Cement ends up pairing up with, the level of the investment suggests a multi-plant move. Indeed, the suggested OYAK Cement deal involves a 40% share in 13 integrated cement plants in Turkey with a production capacity of around 12Mt/yr or a 16% local market share. This isn’t far off the regular international price of US$200/t for integrated production capacity.
For a Chinese company to choose Turkey is resonant historically because it is towards the western end of the Silk Road. Marco Polo, for example, travelled from Venice to China via the territory of modern-day Turkey. The modern day version, the Belt and Road Initiative, seeks to evoke this trade route as China attempts to expand internationally.
Pertinent to the cement industry, both China and Turkey are both major exporters. Turkey is the bigger exporter by proportion of production, at 10% in 2017. Both countries were in the top five exporters to the US in 2017 with 2Mt from China and 1.4Mt from Turkey. The commonly accepted wisdom is that the Chinese industry faces major hurdles to exporting its overcapacity. Yet its production base is so large, 15 times larger than Turkey’s, that the little clinker and cement it has the infrastructure to export is still significant. It’s interesting that a major Chinese producer seeking to overcome structural and market obstacles to its expansion at home is targeting a major exporting nation. Typically, when a foreign cement producer buys local companies, one strategy is to use the new assets to ‘naturalise’ its clinker imports as ‘local’ product. Given Turkey’s already large export market this seems unlikely in this case.
The highly public nature of Taiwan Cement’s latest attempt to strike it lucky in Turkey smacks of bolstering investor confidence as much as closing the deal. Normally, this kind of thing gets announced once everything has been agreed, possibly bar the regulatory approval. Putting some money up front may make Taiwan Cement seem serious but OYAK Cement also stands to benefit from its acquisition of the former-Cimpor assets in Portugal and Cape Verde, since it gives it a toehold within the European Union (EU). This one could go either way.
India Cements buys Springway Mining
30 October 2018India: India Cements has entered into a share purchase agreement to buy Springway Mining for around US$25m. It says it has made the purchase to build a new cement plant in Madhya Pradesh. The cement producer plans to build a 1.5Mt/yr grinding plant in East Nimar, according to the Hindu newspaper. Springway Mining operates a mining and quarrying business.
Oyak buys InterCement operations in Portugal and Cape Verde
29 October 2018Brazil/Portugal/Cape Verde/Turkey: Brazil’s InterCement has sold its operations in Portugal and Cape Verde to Turkey’s OYAK Cement for an undisclosed amount. The sale includes three integrated cement plants and two mills, with a total cement production capacity of 9.1Mt/yr, 46 concrete units, two dry mortar units, 17 quarries and a cement bagging plant. The completion of the agreement is dependent on regulatory approval.
InterCement, part of Camargo Corrêa group, purchased a majority stake in Portugal’s Cimpor in 2012, including assets in Portugal and Cape Verde. It says it will allocate a portion of the net proceeds from the sale to reduce its debts. Following completion of the transaction the Brazilian building materials company intends to focus its cement business in South America and Africa. In these regions it holds 39Mt/yr of installed production capacity at 35 cement plants.
Chryso buys Euromodal
23 October 2018Portugal: France’s Chryso has acquired Euromodal. The company was set up in 1986 and manufactures a range of construction chemicals from a plant located near Porto. It also offers services ranging from technical support, the formulation of mix designs and on-site support. Francisco Araujo, CEO of Euromodal, will become the general manager of Chryso in Portugal. No value for the transaction has been disclosed.
“We are delighted to integrate Euromodal into our group and look forward to working with the talented people who will become part of the Chryso business,” said Thierry Bernard, president and chief executive officer (CEO) of Chryso.
“The local production, the world-class local concrete laboratory and strong technical service will benefit our customers. After our recent acquisitions in Italy and in Ireland, this move demonstrates our willingness to enhance our positions in geographies where customers see benefits in value-added solutions and differentiated offerings.”