Croatia: Schoenherr advises CRH on acquisition of stone materials production business of Croatia’s Kufner Group

This landmark transaction marks a significant step in CRH's continued expansion across Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) and further strengthens its position as a key supplier of essential construction materials in the region.

The transaction involves the acquisition by CRH of Kufner Group's aggregates business, which operates four high-capacity quarries located in eastern and central Croatia. With a combined annual production capacity exceeding 3.8m tonnes, Kufner Group is recognised as the market leader in the Croatian aggregates sector. The acquired business will enable CRH to support the delivery of major infrastructure projects across the Western Balkans, in line with its strategic growth objectives.

CRH is the largest building materials producer in the United States and Europe, with reported EBITDA of USD 6.9bln on revenue of USD 35.6bln for 2024. The group's global footprint and expertise will bring new opportunities for the acquired Croatian aggregates operations.

Founded by the Kufner family, Zagreb-based Kufner Group consists of seven companies employing over 320 people. In 2024, the group reported EBITDA of EUR 13m on revenue of nearly EUR 44m. The sale of the aggregates business will allow Kufner Group to focus on its core activities and pursue new growth avenues.

The Schoenherr team advising CRH on the transaction consisted of Vice Mandarić (partner) and Lucija Krznar (attorney at law). Schoenherr's competition law team, comprised of Srdjana Petronijević (partner) and Ana Mihaljević (attorney at law), advised on the merger control filing, including obtaining approval from the competent authorities.