Pinsent Masons advises Nirma on $1.4bn acquisition of LaFarge India

Nirma has entered into a letter agreement with the Franco-Swiss cement group to acquire, subject to approval by the Competition Commission of India, LarfargeHolcim's Indian operations including plants and grinding units with a total capacity of circa 11 million tonnes per annum.

Nirma, headquartered in Ahmedabad, is a closely-held conglomerate founded by Karsanbhai Patel with interests in FMCG, soda ash, chemicals and packaging. The purchase of LarfargeHolcim's cement, aggregates and ready mixed concrete assets will complement the company's current operations and catapult it in east, north and western India as a prominent cement producer.

Nirma was represented by Pinsent Masons acting as international legal counsel, with a team led by Andrew Kerr and Joanna Jowitt, alongside Mumbai-based Crawford Bayley with a team led by Sanjay Asher and Bhumika Batra.

Commenting on the deal Andrew Kerr said:

"This transaction is a landmark and significant step for Nirma and the acquisition of a strong platform in Lafarge India will allow the cement business to be taken to the next level.  It is the second $1bn plus deal we have transacted in the building materials sector in a little over a year, having completed on the sale of Hanson Building Products during 2015 and the second $1bn plus deal the firm has handled in a week."

LafargeHolcim was represented by Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer as international counsel alongside AZB and Partners, Mumbai.