(FROM THE WALL STREET JOURNAL 11/27/15) 
   By John Revill 

LafargeHolcim Ltd. plans to raise 3.5 billion Swiss francs ($3.4 billion) next year from selling off cement assets around the world as the recently merged Franco-Swiss building-materials group adjusts to tough conditions in important markets such as China and India.

The company announced the portfolio review after missing third-quarter sales and earnings expectations as the stronger Swiss franc and lower prices weighed on its first results since its creation through the merger of France's Lafarge with Switzerland's Holcim this year.

The company, based in Jona, Switzerland, has started discussions with interested parties, including private-equity firms and industry rivals about some of the assets, with the proceeds set to be returned to shareholders through dividends or share buybacks, Chief Executive Eric Olsen said, as well as being used to support the company's balance sheet by paying down debt.

 

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(END) Dow Jones Newswires

November 27, 2015 02:48 ET (07:48 GMT)

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