May 20, 2015/Holcim

Holcim announces that it is preparing the reorganisation of Group functions in the context of the proposed merger with Lafarge to create the most advanced company in the building materials industry. The objective is to create a lean organisation with empowered countries, regional management platforms, and Group functions for the combined company.

Group functions are designed to increase the competitiveness of the Group at all levels – global, regional and local, to implement best practices and to support and enable LafargeHolcim to achieve the highest possible performance.

The proposed new organisation would result in a net reduction of approximately 120 positions in Holcim Group functions in Switzerland.

The social consultation process to reduce the impact on roles that are affected by reductions will now be launched with the employee representatives (AV) in Switzerland. In parallel, Lafarge is presenting to their social bodies’ representatives the proposed organisation of central functions in the context of the creation of LafargeHolcim.

The merger project is expected to close in July 2015, subject to the acceptance of Holcim’s public exchange offer by the shareholders of Lafarge. The implementation of the new organisation is expected for early 2016 after completion of all relevant social consultations in Switzerland and France.