The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has confirmed it will not oppose the proposed acquisition of SA Premix by Adbri.
Adbri, through its subsidiary Adbri Concrete and Quarries SA, had pursued the acquisition of SA Premix which includes Premix Concrete SA, Seelander Quarries Pty Ltd, Clinton Sands Pty Ltd, Clinton Quarries Pty Ltd and Adelaide Industrial Sands Pty Ltd.
Adbri, which is privately owned Australian company owned by CRH and Barro Group, supplies and manufactures several construction materials including clinker, cement, quicklime, aggregates, ready-mix concrete (RMX), concrete masonry products and supplementary cementitious materials. The ACCC looked at the potential overlap between Adbri and SA Premix in the supply of RMX and aggregates, including hard rock and sand.
As part of its investigation, the ACCC looked at the impact of the acquisition on the construction materials market of greater Adelaide, especially the areas of overlap.
Following its 62-day review, the ACCC announced on September 11, 2025, that it was satisfied the transaction would not negatively impact the greater Adelaide market. It follows another key approval for the acqusition from the Foreign Investment Review Board.
“The ACCC concluded that the proposed acquisition is not likely to substantially lessen competition in any market. The ACCC’s investigation focused on the closeness of competition between Adbri and SA Premix in the supply of RMX and aggregates, and whether customers would have competitive alternatives for RMX and aggregates post-acquisition,” the regulator wrote in its report.
“The ACCC found that, while the proposed acquisition would result in an increase in Adbri’s market share, the remaining RMX suppliers would continue to provide an effective constraint on Adbri post-acquisition, both in Greater Adelaide and in smaller local markets within Greater Adelaide.
“The ACCC found that while the proposed acquisition would result in an increase in Adbri’s market share, the remaining sand aggregate suppliers would likely continue to constrain Adbri post-acquisition.
“The ACCC found that the proposed acquisition is unlikely to materially increase market concentration in the supply of hard rock aggregates in Greater Adelaide.
“The ACCC also considered whether post-acquisition, Adbri would have the ability and incentive to foreclose rival downstream decorative RMX suppliers’ access to white rock aggregates, an important input to some decorative RMX products, and the competitive impact of any such foreclosure strategy.
“The ACCC found that while Adbri likely has market power in the supply of white rock aggregates and SA Premix is a significant supplier of decorative RMX products, Adbri is likely to have the incentive to continue to supply these inputs to rival RMX suppliers, where these inputs are available, post-acquisition.”
SA Premix company director Frank Femia told The Advertiser he was proud to the see the family business’ legacy continue.
“We’ve been approached a number of times over the years by different groups but now it’s really the right time,” he told The Advertiser following the sale.
“When they (CRH) said they were not going to change the Premix name, they were not going to change the trucks, the colours, everything stays the same – that’s what attracted me to the sale. I just want to see the legacy continue.”
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