CRH spent more than €800 million on acquisitions and development in the first half, more than three times its expenditure in the same period a year earlier, the company said.
The expenditure included two major deals: the €280 million acquisition of MMI Products in April and the purchase of the Halfen-Deha Group for €170 million in May.
In addition, CRH spent a further €372 million on 34 smaller acquisitions, including capital expenditure of €21 million on two large capital projects.
"The pick-up in development momentum experienced in the latter half of 2005 has continued into 2006, with a strong level of spend during the first six months of the year, spread across all our reporting segments and regions," chief executive Liam O'Mahony said.
The company said its pipeline of potential opportunities remained strong, while the due diligence process, which may lead to the acquisition of Atlanta-based Ashlands Paving and Construction, continues.
A breakdown of the first-half acquisition expenditure shows that US purchases accounted for around two-thirds of the total spend of €822 million, with Europe making up the remainder.
The group's European materials division spent €36 million on seven bolt-on acquisitions in Switzerland, eastern Europe and Portugal.
CRH also began work on the construction of a new 100,000 tonnes per year lime kiln in Co Clare, at a cost of €14 million. Meanwhile, the European distribution business paid €20 million for three acquisitions in the Netherlands, Belgium and Switzerland.
