Holcim to acquire Fermacell for 840 million euros

Holcim has entered into a conditional agreement to acquire Fermacell, a provider of gypsum fibre and cement-bonded board solutions, from James Hardie Industries plc. The transaction is valued at approximately 840 million euros (roughly 980 million USD), subject to adjustments for net debt and working capital.

Fermacell, headquartered in Düsseldorf, operates six production sites across 13 European markets and employs over 1,000 people. The acquisition includes the Fermacell and Aestuver brands. Holcim CEO Miljan Gutovic stated that the move is a milestone in the company’s ‘Next-Gen Growth 2030’ strategy, aimed at expanding its integrated building systems and modular construction offerings.

James Hardie intends to use approximately 600 million USD of the proceeds to reduce debt, with a goal of bringing its leverage ratio below 2.0x. The company has also authorized a 250 million USD share buyback program. The deal is expected to close in the first half of 2027, pending customary closing conditions, including antitrust approvals and employee consultations.