CRH considers €2bn expansion

BUILDING materials giant CRH said yesterday that it could very comfortably spend €1.5 billion to €2bn on acquisitions over the next year without stretching its balance sheet or putting pressure on its credit rating.

The Dublin-headquartered group — which reported a strong set of first-half results yesterday — stressed that while that figure is not a specific spending target, it has an “active pipeline of opportunities”.

Chief executive Myles Lee said that CRH is keen on expanding in developing markets such as Russia, Poland and the Ukraine, while China remains a significant element of future growth plans.