LafargeHolcim to withdraw from several countries: chairman

LafargeHolcim is considering withdrawing from several markets as part of its efforts to make last year's mega-merger a success, Chairman Beat Hess told weekly Sonntagszeitung. The world's largest cement group, created by a merger between Frances's Lafarge and Switzerland's Holcim, generates 80 percent of its operational earnings before taxes, depreciation and amortization in 25 countries, the paper quoted Hess as saying.