Lafarge to absorb Sicim Constanta

Construction materials producer Lafarge Romcim wants to merge, through absorption, with Sicim harbour operator. The project will be forwarded for approval to the shareholders of the two companies during extraordinary meetings scheduled for February 10. In case it is endorsed, the administrators of the two companies will devise the merger draft. Sicim, which is controlled by Lafarge, is the only such operator in the harbour and ensures the access of Romanian cement to maritime transporters. Lafarge, one of the world’s biggest construction supplies groups, in 2004 registered strong sales growth in Central and Eastern Europe, amid a dynamic Romanian constructions market, according to the company’s representatives. Lafarge logged 5.7% growth in sales globally, to 14.4 billion euros. The Romanian constructions market advanced at a pace of about 10%, in line with estimations of some players on this market, above expectations pointing to a growth rate of about 7%. ZF