
Holcim completes spin-off of North American business
ZURICH, June 23 (Reuters) - Holcim (HOLN.S), opens new tab has completed the spin-off of its North American business, with shares in the separate business - called Amrize - set to start trading in Zurich and New York on Monday.
Shareholders were given one Amrize share for every share in Holcim in the 100% spin-off of the business, which the Swiss cement maker said it was carrying out to focus on different market dynamics in North America and the rest of the world.
Holcim will focus on Europe, Latin America, Australia and North Africa in future, while Amrize will operate in the United States and Canada.
"This is an exciting moment for Holcim and Amrize as we begin a new chapter as independent companies," said Holcim CEO Miljan Gutovic.
In March, Holcim said it would target average annual growth in earnings before interest and taxes of 6% to 10% by 2030, driven in part by mergers and acquisitions, as it unveiled its new strategy following the separation.
Amrize, which had sales of $11.7 billion in 2024, is aiming to grow by 5-8% annually. It also wants to increase its core operating profit by 8-11% between 2025 and 2028 from $3.2 billion last year.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Reuters
an hour ago
- Reuters
US investor strikes $1 billion merger to create bitcoin treasury company
BOSTON, June 23 (Reuters) - U.S. investor and entrepreneur Anthony Pompliano announced on Monday the creation of a new bitcoin treasury company that would hold up to $1 billion of the world's largest cryptocurrency on its balance sheet. Pompliano said in a statement that his financial services firm ProCap BTC would merge with Columbus Circle Capital I, a special purpose acquisition company (CCCM.O), opens new tab, to create ProCap Financial, a bitcoin treasury firm. Several public companies have employed bitcoin treasury strategies, which involves allocating a portion of their cash and reserves toward bitcoin, to replicate the success of software company Strategy (MSTR.O), opens new tab, which began accumulating bitcoin in 2020 and now holds more than $63 billion worth of the digital token. The trend comes as U.S. President Donald Trump has sought to overhaul cryptocurrency policy, including calls to establish a strategic bitcoin reserve, after courting cash from the industry on the campaign trail. Pompliano, one of the biggest investors in the crypto space over the last several years, said ProCap BTC has raised $500 million in equity and $250 million in a convertible note, in what he termed the largest initial fundraising in history for a bitcoin treasury company. Unlike traditional bitcoin treasury companies, Pompliano said ProCap Financial would use its bitcoin balance sheet to generate revenue and profit through a variety of strategies, including lending, derivatives, and other products and services. He also said leading institutional investors Citadel, Susquehanna, Jane Street, and Magnetar have committed capital, as have crypto firms Off the Chain Capital, Pantera, Coinfund, Parafi, opens new tab, and FalconX. Reuters was unable to verify whether these companies were investing in ProCap Financial. "The legacy financial system is being disrupted by bitcoin right before our eyes," Pompliano said. "Our objective is to develop a platform that will not only acquire bitcoin for our balance sheet, but will also implement risk-mitigated solutions to generate sustainable revenue and profits from our bitcoin holdings."


The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
Why your credit score is important and easy ways to improve it
We live in an era dominated by instant financial transactions, from contactless payments to 'Buy Now, Pay Later' schemes and rapid online loan approvals. In light of this, maintaining a robust credit score has become an increasingly complex challenge for many. Yet, this metric plays a quiet but integral role in countless aspects of modern life, from securing a mortgage or switching utility providers to simply signing up for a new mobile phone contract. The ease and affordability of accessing these essential services are often directly tied to one's credit standing. Despite its pervasive influence, a significant number of individuals remain unaware of how their credit score is calculated, let alone how to effectively improve it. To demystify this crucial aspect of personal finance, consumer finance experts are now offering essential insights into understanding and boosting your credit standing. A credit score explained and why it matters Many of us wouldn't dream of applying for a job without knowing what our CV says – yet when it comes to borrowing money, we often forget to check the financial CV that is our credit score. This three-digit number, used by lenders to judge our trustworthiness, can affect everything from mortgages to mobile phone contracts. 'A credit score is a personalised number that lenders use to assess how trustworthy you are when it comes to borrowing money,' explains TV's consumer finance expert and founder of Nous, Greg Marsh. 'A higher score means you're more likely to get approved for a loan, and offered better rates.' These scores are based on information held by three main credit reference agencies – Experian, Equifax and TransUnion – and each can possess slightly different records. Marsh says it's worth checking all three periodically. What affects your score Your score isn't arbitrary – it reflects your financial past. It includes whether you've paid bills or loans on time, how much of your credit limit you're using and the age of your accounts.' Avoid going over your credit limit or using too much credit, as this will incur additional fees and charges and potentially damage your credit score,' says Tesco Bank' s director of Help Me Borrow, Mamta Shanbhag. Opening too many credit cards in a short space of time, or maxing them out, can count against you. 'Making multiple credit applications at once – such as several credit cards in a week – can negatively affect your score, as it signals to lenders that you may be in financial difficulty,' says Equifax UK' s chief strategy and innovation officer, Craig Tebbutt. How to improve it Improving your score is less about tricks and more about habits. 'It's crucial to pay your bills and loan repayments on time to show lenders you've been reliable in the past,' says Marsh, 'setting up Direct Debits is useful as you don't need to remember to make a payment.' Other positive steps include keeping credit card balances low, staying within any arranged overdraft and registering to vote at your current address – a surprisingly important detail for verifying identity. 'Being on the electoral register and having a positive track record with different types of credit can also boost your score,' says Tebbutt. 'The best way to improve your score is to always pay your bills on time, keep credit card balances low, and avoid applying for too much new credit in a short period of time.' Shanbhag recommends using 'eligibility calculators' before applying for credit. These tools show how likely you are to be accepted without affecting your score. 'If you apply for a credit card or loan in full and get rejected, or complete multiple applications, it could affect your credit score,' she warns. What tools to use It's important to remember that you don't have to pay to check your credit score. There are several free and paid-for tools to monitor and improve your score. ' ClearScore gives free access to your Equifax report, while Credit Karma offers your TransUnion file,' says Marsh. 'Experian Boost also lets you add regular payments – like council tax or Netflix – to your score to demonstrate reliability.' He also points to paid-for sites like Loqbox, which reports your savings habits to credit agencies, and specialist credit cards for those with low scores – although these can carry high interest rates if not paid off in full. Credit scores don't change overnight. 'Generally, you'll start to see improvements within three to six months after making positive changes,' says Marsh. But rebuilding after defaults or missed payments will take longer. The key is consistency and patience. 'Check where you stand, build good habits and monitor your progress,' says Shanbhag. 'It's not about perfection – it's about showing that you're responsible with money.'


Reuters
an hour ago
- Reuters
General Mills introduces 'fresh' Blue Buffalo dog food
NEW YORK, June 23 (Reuters) - General Mills (GIS.N), opens new tab is introducing a fresh version of its Blue Buffalo pet food for dogs, aimed at competing with popular brands such as Freshpet (FRPT.O), opens new tab and venture capital-backed The Farmer's Dog. The Minnesota-based packaged food maker is entering the fresh pet food market because it projects that over the next decade it will soar in retail sales to $10 billion, from a little over $3 billion currently, said Liz Mascolo, the segment president of General Mills' North America pet business. Retail sales in U.S. pet food total about $53 billion, Mascolo said. Fresh pet food is marketed as minimally processed products without preservatives that sometimes are fit for human consumption. General Mills expects the fresh version of its Blue Buffalo brand will be in retail stores later this year. "The reason why it's growing and the reason we're interested in it ... is the humanization of the pet food category," Mascolo said. "What I mean by that, is people are increasingly treating pets like other members of family, with birthday parties (for example). "We talk with pet parents, and they're looking for food that looks, smells and feels like real human food," Mascolo said. Mascolo said that dog owners will sometimes combine pricier fresh dog food, stored in the refrigerator or freezer, with cheaper traditional kibble. General Mills, which entered the pet food category in 2018 with its $8 billion acquisition of Blue Buffalo, is also bringing European brand Edgard & Cooper to U.S. PetSmart stores in July. The company, which also makes brands such as Betty Crocker cake mixes and Progresso soups, acquired Edgard & Cooper last year. The high-end pet food company at the time had 100 million euro in sales. In the nine months ended February 23, General Mills' pet business reported net sales rising 1%.