Australia's Boral exits US with US$755m fly ash business sale

[BENGALURU] Australia's top construction materials maker Boral said on Monday (Dec 6) it will sell its North American fly ash business for US$755 million, marking its exit from the market as it looks to focus on its domestic business.

Boral has been selling its US businesses since last year in a retreat from its global expansion strategy that led to a hefty writedown in 2020.

The sale, to Eco Material Technologies, which is backed by private equity firms One Equity Partners and Quadrant Management, means Boral will have sold its US businesses for more than A$4 billion (S$3.84 billion).

The deal "supports our strategy to refocus on our construction materials business in Australia," chief executive officer Zlatko Todorcevski said.

Boral has been selling its US businesses since last year, as it retreats from a 7-year global expansion strategy that saw a spree of offshore acquisitions leading to a hefty writedown in 2020.

Its domestic business, which generates more than half of its revenue, has meanwhile benefited from a strengthening real estate market as record low interest rates led property prices to record highs.

This prompted multiple takeover offers this year from its largest shareholder, billionaire media tycoon Kerry Stokes' Seven Group Holdings.

Seven Group now owns nearly 70 per cent of Boral, having built up its stake from nearly 20 per cent in September last year. In July, Boral appointed Seven's boss Ryan Stokes as its chairman.

Boral sold its US building products business to Westlake Chemical Corp for US$2.15 billion in June. It had said late last year it would also sell its stake in US-based Meridian Brick.

The proceeds from the sale of the 40-year old US fly ash business, expected to complete next year, will be reinvested and the board will determine the most appropriate way to return surplus capital to shareholders later, Boral said.

Its shares, which have jumped more than a fourth this year, gained as much as 2.8 per cent to A$6.34 in morning trade.

REUTERS