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JK group chairman chief patron Singhania dies
Written by Global Cement staff
04 February 2015
India: JK group Chairman Gaur Hari Singhania died on 4 February 2015 following a heart attack. Singhania, aged 80 years, was also the President of J K Organisation and a Promoter Director of JK Cement Ltd since its inception in 1994. He is survived by a son, Yadupati Singhania.
Singhania held chairmanship in other companies including Jaykay Enterprises Ltd, JK Cotton Ltd and JK Traders Ltd. He also served as Chairman of Merchants of Uttar Pradesh, the Employers Association of Northern India. He was also the founder chairman of the Uttar Pradesh Stock Exchange and founder patron of Associated Chamber of Commerce. Additionally, he served as Director in various corporations, such as in Pradeshiya Industrial Investment Corporation of Uttar Pradesh, UP State Industrial Development Corporation and Uttar Pradesh State Sugar Corporation.
A sports lover, he was the chief patron of Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association (UPCA). He also contributed to various universities and had opened a university at Udaipur, Rajasthan.
Indian cement market expected to grow at 9% CAGR in 2014 - 2019 03 February 2015
India: According to Research and Markets, the cement market in India is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.96% in 2014 - 2019. The industry is currently in a turnaround phase, trying to achieve global standards in production, safety and energy-efficiency.
The immense potential offered by the housing sector of the world's second most populous country is expected to drive the cement market. There is also increased governmental support and numerous infrastructure developments ongoing. With supply-side developments in technology, product range and capacity utilisation, the industry is expected to exhibit tremendous growth in the coming years.
The consolidation of the once-fragmented market is a major upcoming trend. Small and medium companies are entering into joint ventures to increase their respective market shares.
Lafarge Cement Zimbabwe plant upgrade on the table 03 February 2015
Zimbabwe: Lafarge Cement Zimbabwe is going ahead with plans to upgrade its plant to increase capacity from 390,000t/yr to 450,000t/yr. The upgrade will cost US$15 – 20m, according to Lafarge Cement Zimbabwe CEO Amal Tantawi.
"Lafarge has a nominal capacity. We could produce up to 450,000t, but we do have some challenges that we are working on. Beyond that, we want to stabilise and be able to reach our maximum capacity, but that will not come before 2016," said Tantawi. "The challenges that we are facing are the cement mills that cannot reach this capacity, but we are looking at installing new mills by 2016. Once we do the upgrade, we will be able to operate at maximum capacity of 450,000t."
Lafarge Cement Zimbabwe is in a closed period and is due to release its financial results for 2014 by March 2015. Tantawi said that the year has not been a good one. Group revenue for the half year that ended in June 2014 declined by 12.5% to US$28.2m, while gross profit was US$9.4m, compared to US$14.1m in the same period of 2013.
"Traditionally, the second half of the year has always been better in terms of business growth and the trend is expected to continue in 2015. Going forward, the construction industry has positive growth prospects premised on the mounting housing backlog and the pressing need for overall infrastructural rehabilitation and development. The company is well positioned to take advantage of the expected growth in the construction sector," said Lafarge Cement Zimbabwe in a statement.
Cement sector may play cautiously at coal block auction 03 February 2015
India: The government is expecting aggressive bids for all of the 46 coal blocks whose reallocation will start on 14 February 2015, especially for blocks assigned to end-use power generation. However, for the blocks apportioned to the unregulated sector, including the cement, steel and captive power industries, the cement sector is likely to step carefully. Cement companies lost allocations to 12 coal blocks following a Supreme Court order that held all captive coal allocations as illegal.
Imported coal prices fell sharply in 2014, easing the economics of cement production. If prices of imported coal turn volatile however, cement companies face further problems. "We cannot depend solely on imported coal prices staying low and neither can the government assure good quality coal on the open market. We expect to see aggressive bidding for the blocks," said H M Bangur, managing director of Shree Cement.
As per the bid regulations by the ministry of coal, there will be a forward bidding model for the steel and cement sectors. Forward bidding implies aggressive bidding for the coal blocks since the price of these commodities is market-driven. The government has to reallocate 46 operational coal blocks through auction by 31 March 2015.
Holcim and Lafarge announce assets sale to CRH 02 February 2015
World: Lafarge and Holcim have entered exclusive negotiations to sell a number of assets to Ireland's CRH for Euro6.5bn as part of their planned merger. The assets include operations in Europe, Canada, Brazil and the Philippines. The combined assets, which include Lafarge Tarmac in the UK, generated Euro5.2bn of sales in 2014, with estimated 2014 operating earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) of Euro744m.
"The projected transaction is a key step towards the creation of LafargeHolcim and the value offered reflects the strong quality of the selected assets. With this announcement, we remain firmly on track to complete our proposed merger in the first half of 2015," said Wolfgang Reitzle, designated chairman of the Board of Directors of LafargeHolcim and Bruno Lafont, designated CEO of the future combined company.
The divestment process will be carried out in the framework of the relevant social processes and the ongoing dialogue with the employee representatives' bodies. It will be submitted to the relevant competition authorities and to the shareholders of CRH. The divestments are subject to the completion of the merger, including a successful public exchange offering and approval by Holcim's shareholders in the second quarter of 2015. The closing of the planned merger is expected in the first half of 2015.