Irish building materials company CRH PLC CRH, +2.98>#/span### CRH, -0.25>#/span### has agreed to buy Ash Grove Cement Co. ASHG, -1.38>#/span### in a deal valuing the U.S. cement provider at $3.5 billion, the companies said Thursday. Ash Grove said the transaction will be in the range of $449 to $454 per share, based on its June 30 balance sheet. Shares of Ash Grove closed at $285 on Wednesday. The merger agreement, which is expected to close in late 2017 or early 2018, is subject to shareholder and regulatory approval.via