China’s Anhui Conch and its subsidiary Conch Holding acquired several assets of Yaobai Special Cement, fully owned by West China Cement. The agreement comprises 4 assets for RMB 1650 million (US$ 230m), including Yili Yaobai Cement (photo), operating since 2015 a plant with 1.5 Mta capacity for the production of special cements, including oil-well cements. Anhui Conch will take 90% of the stake, Conch (Shaanxi) Holding the final 10%. For West China Cement the main rationale for the disposal of the non-core assets is to redirect the Group’s financial and management resources to focus on the development of overseas markets in Africa and Central Asia, where the group operates 12.3 Mta capacity.