Sources: Lafarge North America, Chicago; CP staff
Lafarge NA has closed on a deal with St. Louis-based Metro Materials Inc., adding two ready mixed plants and associated equipment assets in New Orleans—one of the handful of markets where it maintains integrated cement and concrete operations.
“This is an important market for us and even though the economic environment remains challenging, we are willing and able to invest in our future,” says Lafarge U.S. CEO John Stull. “The acquisition will give us an opportunity to better serve customers and allow us to continue to build better cities and communities in the area.”
After vacating integrated platforms centered in Atlanta and Denver—through major 2011-12 asset sales and swaps involving Argos USA and Martin Marietta Materials—Lafarge NA has narrowed its U.S. ready mixed production assets to Baltimore-Washington, D.C., New Mexico, New Orleans and New York markets.