‘Eagle Cement not part of SMC-Holcim deal’

EAGLE Cement Corp. has denied any involvement in the planned merger of San Miguel Corp. subsidiary First Stronghold Cement Industries Inc. and Holcim Philippines Inc., which was recently flagged as anticompetitive. The local cement maker said it was not involved in the deal, adding that it “is not owned and controlled by the Top Frontier Group and San Miguel Corp.” The statement came after the Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) said Eagle Cement was included in its market and competition review as part of Top Frontier, the diversified conglomerate’s parent firm. In a statement last Friday, the PCC said the deal would substantially lessen market competition in four Luzon markets: northwest Luzon, central Luzon, northeast Luzon and Greater Metro Manila.