On 21 February 2012, the Competition Commission (CC) announced
adverse provisional findings on the Anglo American/Lafarge
construction materials joint venture.
The CC has provisionally found that the proposed joint venture
would give rise to a substantial lessening of competition in
relation to the supply of bulk cement, as it would make
coordination in that market more likely. It would also increase the
effectiveness and sustainability of any pre-existing
coordination.
The CC has also provisionally found that the joint venture could
lead to a substantial lessening of competition in the national
markets for the supply of rail ballast and high purity limestone,
and in 23 local markets for the supply of primary aggregates for
construction applications, two local markets for the supply of
asphalt and seven local markets for the supply of ready-mix
concrete.
