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Holcim to Exit Philippine Market via $807 Million Sale to China's Huaxin

2 sources across 2 countries · Philippines · South Africa

Who reported this

  • Philippine Daily Inquirer Philippines · Centre · Prieto family
  • Business Day South Africa · Centre-right · Arena Holdings (Lebashe Investment Group)

What the colours mean

  • Left
  • Centre-left
  • Centre
  • Centre-right
  • Right
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Swiss building materials supplier Holcim Group will sell its Philippine operations to China's Huaxin Building Materials in a deal valued at approximately $807 million. The transaction will occur in two phases. Huaxin will first acquire a majority stake of roughly 68 percent for $527 million, with the remaining stake to be sold over the next three to five years for at least $280 million. The majority stake sale is expected to close in the first half of 2027, pending regulatory approval.

Holcim's local footprint includes four cement plants, a grinding mill, five ports, and a nationwide distribution network with an annual production capacity of 10 million metric tons. The company's recent financial performance showed a widening net loss before tax of P4.2 billion and a significant decline in EBITDA. Holcim had previously delisted from the Philippine Stock Exchange in 2023.

Holcim intends to use the proceeds from this sale to fund large acquisitions and invest in existing businesses as it reshapes its global strategy. This move follows a similar $1 billion divestment of Holcim's Nigeria business to Huaxin in December 2024. The company is focusing more on markets in Europe, Latin America, North Africa, and Australia, with plans to pursue approximately 15 deals in 2026.

How each side framed it

Centre
The center lean outlet focused on the local impact of the exit and the financial losses of the Philippine unit.
Centre-right
The center-right lean outlet framed the sale as part of a broader global corporate strategy and M&A pipeline.

Sources

100% of the statements in this article were traced back to the source articles listed above.