CRH PLC

Irish building materials group CRH is likely to hold back on major acquisition activity for the rest of 2018 as it digests last year's deals, CEO Albert Manifold said on Thursday.

Irish building materials group CRH launched its first share buyback programme in a decade on Wednesday and also announced a new target to raise 1.5-2.0 billion euros ($1.8-$2.4 billion) from selling assets.

Irish building materials group CRH <CRH.I> reported a 6 percent increase in earnings last year, generating 2.2 billion euros of cash in the process that it said on Thursday would help fund further acquisitions later in 2018.

Ireland's CRH, the world's third-largest building materials supplier by market value, has decided not to bid for rival PPC, the South African company said on Thursday, leaving the field clear for rival suitors.

Irish cement producer CRH, the world's third-largest building materials supplier by market value, had decided not to bid for rival PPC the South African company said on Thursday.

* PPC shares up more than 2 pct (Adds details, share price, background)

Ireland's CRH <CRH.I>, the world's third-largest building materials group by market capitalization, said on Tuesday it has capacity on its balance sheet for more deals, after a spending spree this year.

* CRH says paying average 10x 2017 FY EBITDA, 8x post-synergies for $3.5 billion Ash Grove, $0.75 billion Florida cement deals

* Sales increased by 2 percent to 20.7 bln euros in first nine months compared with corresponding period in 2016

* PPC's shares fall by more than 2 pct (Releads, adds details, CRH response)

The following are mergers under review by the European Commission and a brief guide to the EU merger process:

* CRH has now received Ash Grove shareholder approval for proposed acquisition at a total consideration of $3.5 billion Source text for Eikon: Further company coverage: (Reporting By Rachel Armstrong)

A majority of Ash Grove Cement's <ASHG.PK> shareholders approved the sale of the U.S. cement maker to Ireland's CRH <CRH.I> on Friday after a rival bid from Summit Materials <SUM.N> failed to materialize.

* Ash Grove Cement Company announces stockholder approval of pending acquisition by CRH Plc

The following are mergers under review by the European Commission and a brief guide to the EU merger process:

Summit Materials, a U.S. construction firm set up by former CRH <CRH.I> executives, has made a rival offer for Ash Grove Cement <ASHG.PK>, which CRH has agreed to pay $3.5 billion for, a source said.

U.S. cement maker Summit Materials <SUM.N> has made a $3.8 billion offer for rival Ash Grove Cement <ASHG.PK>, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters, hoping to trump an earlier takeover bid from Irish building materials firm CRH Plc <CRH.I>.

* Says proposed transaction remains subject to Ash Grove shareholder and regulatory approvals Source text for Eikon: Further company coverage:

* Ash Grove cement company provides updates regarding pending acquisition by crh plc