{
    "title": "Belgian lime producer Lhoist sells North American operations for 13.5 billion dollars",
    "modified_at": "2026-06-29 15:07:13",
    "published_at": "2026-06-29 15:07:00",
    "url": "https://www.belganewsagency.eu/belgian-lime-producer-lhoist-sells-north-american-operations-for-135-billion-dollars",
    "short_url": "http://prez.ly/wTJd",
    "culture": "en_BE",
    "language": "EN",
    "slug": "belgian-lime-producer-lhoist-sells-north-american-operations-for-135-billion-dollars",
    "body": "<p><strong>Belgian lime producer Lhoist has reached an agreement to sell its North American operations to US building materials group Martin Marietta in a deal worth 13.5 billion dollars (11.8 billion euros), the two companies announced on Monday.</strong></p><p>Upon completion, Martin Marietta will pay 7 billion dollars in cash. In addition, the Berghmans family, owners of the Lhoist Group, will receive a 15 per cent stake in the US company, valued at 6.5 billion dollars. Lhoist CEO Philipp Niemann is to be appointed to Martin Marietta&#039;s board of directors. The companies expect to finalise the transaction in the second half of 2026, subject to the necessary regulatory approvals. </p><p>Lhoist North America operates a network of 20 quarries and production sites and 45 distribution terminals, which together generated annual turnover of 1.8 billion dollars last year. It produces high-calcium and dolomitic lime, used in the manufacturing of steel, infrastructure, and heavy non-residential construction projects across North America. </p><h4 id=\"leading-us-lime-producer\" >Leading US lime producer</h4><p>The combined entity will become the leading national producer of lime solutions in the United States, according to Monday&#039;s press release. It has a reserve base of over 2 billion tonnes of high-quality limestone, which represents more than 200 years of useful life.</p><p>Baron Jean-Pierre Berghmans, chairman of the Lhoist Group, described Martin Marietta as a partner that shares his family&#039;s values and &quot;honours the legacy we have carefully built and ensures it will endure for generations to come.&quot; He emphasised that the group&#039;s ambition and commitment to its remaining global operations are unchanged.</p><p>The privately held Lhoist Group operates globally across a range of industrial sectors. The company is headquartered in Limelette, in Walloon Brabant, and employs more than 6,400 people worldwide.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><sup>&copy; BELGA PHOTO JOHN THYS</sup></p><hr /><p><strong>Related news</strong></p><div id=\"bookmark-9d67e8d3-6980-4cfc-9885-367c881cc3c3\"\n     class=\"release-content-bookmark release-content-bookmark--horizontal\">\n\n            <a class=\"release-content-bookmark__thumbnail\"\n           href=\"https://www.belganewsagency.eu/belgian-takeover-market-enjoys-standout-year\"\n           rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\n           target=\"_blank\"           style=\"background-image: url(https://prezly.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.uc.assets.prezly.com%2Ff9270984-c34b-442a-a3c2-2a3165aee044%2F-%2Fpreview%2F600x600%2F?ar=1%3A1&amp;fit=crop&amp;s=eb7e1699deb69600bef448539a7b6843)\"\n        ></a>\n    \n    <div class=\"release-content-bookmark__details\">\n\n                    <a class=\"release-content-bookmark__title\"\n               href=\"https://www.belganewsagency.eu/belgian-takeover-market-enjoys-standout-year\"\n               rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\n               target=\"_blank\"               data-type=\"bookmark\"\n               data-track=\"Story WebBookmark Click\"\n               data-placement=\"content\"\n               data-id=\"9d67e8d3-6980-4cfc-9885-367c881cc3c3\"\n           >\n                Belgian takeover market enjoys standout year            </a>\n        \n                    <div class=\"release-content-bookmark__description\">\n                Belgium\u2019s mergers and acquisitions market has had an exceptional year, with deals worth more than \u20ac46 billion involving a Belgian buyer, seller or...            </div>\n        \n        <a href=\"https://www.belganewsagency.eu/\"\n           target=\"_blank\"\n           rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"\n           class=\"release-content-bookmark__provider\"\n        >\n            <img class=\"release-content-bookmark__provider-icon\" src=\"https://avatars.prezly.com/favicon?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.belganewsagency.eu%2Fbelgian-takeover-market-enjoys-standout-year&newsroom=6b71e247-a9ba-4732-aaa3-88be14c119db\" aria-hidden=\"true\" />\n            belganewsagency.eu        </a>\n    </div>\n</div>\n",
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    "links": [
        {
            "description": "Belgian takeover market enjoys standout year",
            "url": "https://www.belganewsagency.eu/belgian-takeover-market-enjoys-standout-year"
        }
    ],
    "author": {
        "first_name": "Flanders",
        "last_name": "News Service"
    },
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}