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Holcim and Lafarge obtain merger clearances in the United States and Canada paving the way to closing their merger
2015-05-04 22:27:00.151 GMT

Holcim and Lafarge obtain merger clearances in the United States and Canada
paving the way to closing their merger

Business Wire

PARIS & ZURICH -- May 4, 2015

Regulatory News:

Lafarge (Paris:LG) and Holcim have received final approval for their proposed
merger from the competition authorities in the United States and Canada.

All competition approvals necessary for closing the transaction have now been
obtained ahead of the expected closing in July 2015.

Following the regulatory assessment in all key jurisdictions, Holcim and
Lafarge can now present a final list of divestments to satisfy regulatory
requirements (See appendix).

These divestments remain subject to the completion of the merger, including a
successful public exchange offering to Lafarge’s shareholders and approval by
Holcim’s shareholders.

About Holcim

Holcim is a global leader in the manufacture and distribution of cement and
aggregates (crushed stone, gravel, and sand), as well as other activities,
including ready-mix concrete, asphalt, and associated services. The company
holds majority and minority shareholdings in some 70 countries and on every
continent. In 2014, Holcim recorded net sales of over 19.1 billion Swiss
francs. Thanks to our market-oriented structures, product innovations, skilled
employees and efficient environmental management systems, Holcim is in a
strong position now - and for years.

More information is available on Holcim website site: www.holcim.com

About Lafarge

A world leader in building materials, Lafarge employs 63,000 people in 61
countries, and posted sales of €12.8 billion in 2014. As a top-ranking player
in its Cement, Aggregates and Concrete businesses, it contributes to the
construction of cities around the world, through its innovative solutions
providing them with more housing and making them more compact, more durable,
more beautiful, and better connected. With the world’s leading building
materials research facility, Lafarge places innovation at the heart of its
priorities in order to contribute to more sustainable construction and to
better serve architectural creativity.

More information is available on Lafarge's website: www.lafarge.com

APPENDIX

The two companies are divesting the following assets in Europe to CRH:

* France: in metropolitan France, all of Holcim’s assets, except for its
Altkirch cement plant and aggregates and ready-mix sites in the Haut-Rhin
region, and a grinding station of Lafarge in Saint-Nazaire; Lafarge’s
assets on Reunion island, except for its shareholding in Ciments de
Bourbon
* Germany: Lafarge’s assets
* Hungary: Holcim’s operating assets
* Romania: Lafarge’s assets
* Serbia: Holcim’s assets
* Slovakia: Holcim’s assets
* United Kingdom: Lafarge Tarmac assets with the exception of its Cauldon
and Cookstown plants and certain associated assets

The two companies are divesting the following assets in the rest of the world:

* Canada: Holcim’s assets (Buyer: CRH presented as buyer)
* Brazil: assets from both Holcim and Lafarge, which include 3 integrated
cement plants and 2 grinding stations (with a total of 3.6 Mt annual
cement capacity), as well as some ready-mix plants located in the
Southeastern region of Brazil. (Buyer: CRH)
* India: Lafarge’s Sonadih cement plant and Jojobera grinding station (with
a total of approximately 5 Mt annual cement capacity) in Eastern India.
(Buyer: divestment process ongoing)
* Mauritius: Holcim’s assets (Buyer: to be determined)
* The Philippines: the shares of Lafarge Republic, Inc. (LRI) from, and
other specific assets of, the major shareholders namely Lafarge Holdings
Philippines, Inc., South Western Cement Ventures, Calumboyan Holdings,
Inc., and Round Royal, Inc.), except LRI's (i) investment in Lafarge
Iligan, Inc., Lafarge Mindanao, Inc. and Lafarge Republic Aggregates,
Inc., (ii) Star Terminal at the Harbour Center, Manila, and (iii) other
related assets. (Buyer: CRH)
* United States:

* Lafarge’s 1.1MT Davenport cement plant (Iowa) and 7 terminals along
the Mississippi River (Buyer: Summit Materials)
* 3 Holcim terminals in Michigan and Illinois (Buyer: Buzzi Unicem)
* Holcim’s Skyway 600kt slag grinding station in Illinois (Buyer: Eagle
Materials)
* Holcim’s Camden 700kt slag grinding station in New Jersey, along with
a terminal in Massachusetts (Buyer: Essroc/Italcementi)
* Holcim’s Trident cement plant (Montana) and 5 terminals in the Great
Lakes Region (Buyer: CRH presented as buyer)

Important information

This communication does not constitute an offer to purchase or exchange or the
solicitation of an offer to sell or exchange any securities of Lafarge or an
offer to sell or exchange or the solicitation of an offer to buy or exchange
any securities of Holcim. Nothing contained herein is, or shall be relied on
as, a promise or representation as to the future performance of Lafarge or
Holcim.

Forward-Looking Statements

This communication contains forward-looking information and statements about
Holcim, Lafarge and their combined businesses after completion of the proposed
transaction that have not been audited or independently verified.
Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts. These
statements include financial projections and estimates and their underlying
assumptions, statements regarding plans, objectives and expectations with
respect to future operations. Although the managements of Holcim and Lafarge
believe that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are
reasonable, investors and holders of Holcim and Lafarge shares are cautioned
that forward-looking information and statements are subject to various risks
and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and generally beyond
the control of Holcim and Lafarge, that could cause actual results and
developments to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied or
projected by, the forward-looking information and statements. The combined
group may not realize the full benefits of the transaction.

Contact:

LAFARGE PRESS CONTACTS
Christel des Royeries: +33 (0)1 44 34 19 47
Christel.desroyeries@lafarge.com
Sabine Wacquez: +33 (0)1 44 34 96 83
Sabine.wacquez@lafarge.com
Elodie Woillez: +33 (0)1 44 34 11 70
Elodie.woillez@lafarge.com
or
LAFARGE INVESTOR RELATIONS
Stéphanie Billet: +33 (0)1 44 34 93 71
Stephanie.billet@lafarge.com
Michael Bennett: +33 (0)1 44 34 11 51
Michael.bennett@lafarge.com
Laurence Le Gouguec: +33 (0)1 44 34 94 59
Laurence.legouguec@lafarge.com
or
HOLCIM PRESS CONTACTS
Peter Stopfer: +41(0)58 858 82 65
peter.stopfer@holcim.com
Eike Christian Meuter: +41(0)58 858 87 11
eikechristian.meuter@holcim.com
or
HOLCIM INVESTOR RELATIONS
Michel Gerber: +41(0)58 858 86 63
michel.gerber@holcim.com
Swetlana Iodko: +41(0)58 858 87 46
swetlana.iodko@holcim.com

-0- May/04/2015 22:27 GMT

Desjardins Initiates 11 E&Ps; Sees Winners in Downcycles
2015-05-04 21:44:52.305 GMT


By Divya Balji
(Bloomberg) -- Caution warranted in current commodity price
environment though still sees opportunities, “winners can be
made in downcycle,” Desjardins analyst Jamie Kubik said in
note.
* Montney offers “some muscle” in tough environment
* Initiated buy: AAV CN (PT C$9.50), IKM CN (PT C$1.75), KEL
CN (PT C$11), PPY CN (PT C$11), PNE CN (PT C$1.75), SRX CN
(PT C$6.50), SKX CN (PT C$3.50)
* Initiated hold: GXE CN (PT C$2.75), LXE CN (PT C$1.30),
RMP CN (PT C$4.25), TVE CN (PT C$5.25)
* Initiated hold: GXE CN (PT C$2.75), LXE CN (PT C$1.30),
RMP CN (PT C$4.25), TVE CN (PT C$5.25)</li></ul>
* NOTE: Earlier, Canaccord Genuity Starts Coverage of 10
Canadian E&Ps


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To contact the reporter on this story:
Divya Balji in Toronto at +1-416-203-5714 or
dbalji1@bloomberg.net
To contact the editor responsible for this story:
Arie Shapira at +1-212-617-1488 or
ashapira3@bloomberg.net

SOHN: Pershing’s Bill Ackman Reiterates Valeant Long
2015-05-04 22:10:35.917 GMT


By Joshua Fineman
(Bloomberg) -- Valeant has “plenty of room” to do more
deals, Pershing Square’s Bill Ackman said at Ira Sohn conf.
* Says VRX worth >$330/shr currently
* Says VRX is early-stage Berkshire Hathaway; Berkshire has
been “continually undervalued”
* NOTE: March 25, VRX Holder Pershing Has 5.7% Stake;
Expects Talks on Acquisition
* NOTE: March 25, VRX Holder Pershing Has 5.7% Stake;
Expects Talks on Acquisition</li></ul>
* Says Jarden “perpetually undervalued”
* Reiterates Platform Specialty long
* NOTE: Pershing owned 43m PAH shrs as of Dec. 31, biggest
holder: Bloomberg data
* NOTE: Pershing owned 43m PAH shrs as of Dec. 31, biggest
holder: Bloomberg data</li></ul>
* JAH up 5.4% post-mkt

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To contact the reporter on this story:
Joshua Fineman in New York at +1-212-617-8953 or
jfineman@bloomberg.net
To contact the editors responsible for this story:
Arie Shapira at +1-212-617-1488 or
ashapira3@bloomberg.net
Joshua Fineman

SEC Grants Deutsche Bank Waiver to Raise Capital Without Review
2015-05-04 20:36:22.91 GMT


By Jim Silver
(Bloomberg) -- Waiver follows bank’s agreement to settle
Libor probes.
* Commissioner Kara Stein dissents on bank’s waiver request


Link to Company News:{DBK GR <Equity> CN <GO>}

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jsilver@bloomberg.net

BN 05/04 16:23 *CARMAT SEEKING MAXIMUM SAFETY FOR THIRD HEART-IMPLANT PATIENT
BN 05/04 16:22 *CARMAT SAYS INVESTIGATING CAUSE OF DEATH
BN 05/04 16:20 *CARMAT SAYS SECOND PATIENT TO RECEIVE HEART TRANSPLANT DIED

Carmat Says Second Patient to Receive Heart Transplant Died
2015-05-04 16:31:55.906 GMT


By Angeline Benoit
(Bloomberg) -- Carmat says doctors identified operating
fault with artificial heart after second patient was
hospitalized on May 1.
* The patient died on May 2 after a second artificial heart
transplant due to post-surgery complications
* Carmat is investigating cause of death, seeking maximum
safety for third patient to have received a transplant
* NOTE: Carmat Heart Transplant Patient Has Died: Liberation
Link

Link to Company News:{ALCAR FP <Equity> CN <GO>}

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To contact the reporter on this story:
Angeline Benoit in Paris at +33-15365-5073 or
abenoit4@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story:
Angeline Benoit at +33-15365-5073 or
abenoit4@bloomberg.net