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Then-Holcim chairman Rolf Soiron spoke with
HeidelbergCement's biggest shareholder, Ludwig Merckle, who owns
around 25 percent of HeidelbergCement shares through the
family-run Spohn Cement, the SonntagsZeitung newspaper reported.
"Right before the talks with Lafarge, Soiron discussed a merger
with Heidelberg," the Swiss newspaper quoted one of the sources
as saying.
"Heidelberg declined it, though, because a merger among equals
was not possible."
A spokesman for Zurich-based Holcim declined to comment on the
report. A spokesman for HeidelbergCement was not immediately
available for comment.
The tie-up between Holcim and Lafarge was announced in April
2014.
Since then, the deal to create the world's biggest cement
business has been thrown into doubt after Holcim shareholders
raised objections to terms of the deal including the choice of
chief executive.
Holcim and Lafarge have now agreed a new share-swap ratio that
is more advantageous to Holcim investors but some investors,
including Holcim's second-biggest shareholder, are still calling
for improved terms.
It is also not yet known who will lead the merged company after
it was agreed that Lafarge boss Bruno Lafont would no longer
become chief executive of the combined company.
Holcim investors against the deal have set up a website laying
out their arguments.
Holcim shareholders will vote on the deal at a meeting on May 8.
(Reporting by Joshua Franklin; Additional reporting by Oliver
Hirt in Zurich and Victoria Bryan in Berlin; editing by Jason
Neely)
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