The Autorité de la concurrence, France's competition authority, has cleared the acquisition of the Alkern group by Holcim Investments without any conditions. This decision follows a formal notification from Holcim on November 24, 2025, after the European Commission referred the case to the Autorité.

Holcim, a major player in the construction industry, primarily operates in the production and sale of cement, aggregates, and ready-mix concrete. The Alkern group specializes in pre-cast concrete elements and aggregates. The Autorité assessed the potential impact of the acquisition on various markets, including aggregates, industrial mortars, and concrete products.

After thorough analysis, the Autorité concluded that the merger would not significantly alter the competitive landscape, as Alkern holds a limited market position. The authority also found no risk of Holcim restricting access to essential products for Alkern's competitors or reducing market opportunities for them.

Furthermore, the Autorité examined potential anti-competitive strategies, such as tying or bundling products, but determined that existing competitors could effectively counteract such tactics. Consequently, the Autorité deemed the transaction unlikely to harm competition and granted unconditional clearance.

This case marks the 44th transaction referred to the Autorité by the European Commission since 2009, highlighting the collaborative nature of EU merger control.