"CRH has built a balanced portfolio of businesses which services the breadth of building materials."

CRH strategy is to sustain and grow a geographically diversified business with exposure to all segments of construction demand, enabling CRH to achieve its vision of being a responsible international leader in building materials delivering superior performance and growth.

The Business Model

CRH excels in its business operations, develops its people and builds regional market leadership positions across an actively managed portfolio, while through its federal structure, it levers large company resources with local company entrepreneurship. The portfolio is well balanced across geographies, sector end-uses, and both new and repair, maintenance and improvement (RMI) construction, thus providing exposure to multiple demand drivers which help smooth the effects of varying economic cycles.

Through a rigorous approach to capital allocation and a strong focus on cash generation, CRH reinvests in its existing assets and acquires well-run, value-creating businesses while seeking exposure to new development opportunities and creating platforms for future growth. In a fragmented industry, CRH typically acquires small to mid-sized companies which complement the existing network, and this is augmented from time to time with larger deals where we see compelling value. This sustainable business model and overall strategic approach enables CRH to deliver superior performance and growth through the business cycle.

Developed Economies

In the developed world, CRH’s strategic focus is to continue to reinvest in its established platforms for operational efficiency, product quality and customer service, and to develop these businesses further through bolt-on acquisitions which achieve vertical integration, bolster our strong long-term permitted reserves positions and fill out regional and product level positions. In Western Europe and North America, CRH has built a balanced portfolio of businesses which services the breadth of building materials demand from the fundamentals of heavy materials and elements to construct the frame, through value-added exterior products that complete the building envelope, to distribution channels which service construction fit-out and renewal. In many of its regions, CRH’s diverse business base is uniquely positioned to provide a broad product offering to the construction industry. While our heavyside building materials operations support the Group’s exposure to new build construction, the lightside of our product range enables CRH to participate in the growing RMI markets of mature economies.

Developing Economies

In developing economies, CRH’s strategy is to target premium assets as an initial footprint, usually in cement and often in partnership with strong local established businesses. We identify entry platforms that have well-located quality operations and good regional market positions and which have the potential to develop further downstream into integrated building materials businesses as construction markets become more sophisticated over time. In the mid-1990s, CRH applied this approach to its entry into the Polish market and today the Group is the leading integrated building materials company in Poland. CRH is now replicating this approach in its new platforms in India and China.