Business Strategy and Outlook
| Matthew Donen |The merger between Lafarge and Holcim in 2015 created the largest producer of building materials and introduced significant exposure to perceived faster-growing emerging markets, albeit with lower barriers to entry. However, the recent divestment of the Indian cement business (the group's second-largest geographic market) and a series of acquisitions focusing on lighter building materials have transformed Holcim's exposure to be predominantly geared toward mature markets.