ZURICH, May 14 (Reuters) - Holcim shareholders

on Wednesday approved the separation and spinoff of the cement

maker's North American business in a transaction designed to

benefit from ramped up construction spending in the United

States.

Nearly all shareholders voted for the separation to create a

new company called Amrize, focussed on North America, with

Holcim providing building materials for the rest of the world,

with 99.75% backing the move.

The spinoff is due to be completed by the end of June.

The listing is planned via a 100% spinoff to Holcim

shareholders, with the new company's stock to trade on the New

York Stock Exchange with an additional listing on the Six Swiss

Exchange.

Amrize, which has more than 1,000 sites and 19,000 employees

across North America, will be the biggest producer of cement

across Canada and the United States.

In 2024 it generated net income of $1.3 billion from sales

of $11.7 billion, and intends to capitalise on the large

infrastructure spending under way across the region.

"We are convinced that as independent separately traded

companies, Holcim and Amrize will benefit from a stronger

strategic and operational focus," said Holcim Chairman Jan

Jenisch, who is due to be CEO and Chairman of Amrize.

($1 = 0.8386 Swiss francs)