Lafarge S.A.
Lafarge Reports Robust Growth of Full Year Sales To December 31, 2004 (2/2)
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Euronext: LG, NYSE: LR Paris, January 27, 2005
Lafarge Reports Robust Growth of Full Year Sales To December 31, 2004 (2/2)
– Up 5.7% to EUR 14,436 million
– Up 7.7% on a like for like basis (5.6% in Q4)
Sales grew significantly in the United States with our plants running at high
capacity rates. The strong activity in residential housing and renovation work
continued and facilitated further price increases in all of our markets
during the year.
In Asia, sales were down due to the decline in the South Korean construction
market.
NEGATIVE FOREIGN EXCHANGE IMPACT OF -3.5% AMOUNTING TO EUR -442 MILLION
The translation impact of negative foreign currency fluctuations on 2004 sales
was generated mostly in the following currencies: US Dollar (EUR 231
million), Malaysian Ringgit (EUR 33 million), Canadian Dollar (EUR 27
million), and the Nigerian Naira (EUR 22 million). This was slightly offset by
the appreciation of the Pound Sterling (+EUR 26 million) and the South
African Rand (+EUR 16 million).
SCOPE CHANGES OF +1.5% AMOUNTING TO EUR 214 MILLION
Sales from acquisitions amounted to a positive scope effect of EUR 392
million, of which EUR 176 million is due to the increase to 51.17% in our
percentage ownership of Lafarge Halla Cement in South Korea, which triggered a
change from the proportionate to global consolidation method. Aggregates and
Concrete acquisitions contributed EUR 137 million of which EUR 70 million was
in North America and EUR 48 million in France.
The reduction in sales due to negative scope effects totaled EUR 178 million,
primarily as a result of the divestment of Florida cement operations (EUR 54
million), various divestments from the Aggregates and Concrete Division (EUR
70 million ) and the disposal of the remaining lime operations in Europe and
road markings in the USA (EUR 49 million).
CONSOLIDATED SALES AS AT DECEMBER 31, 2004
December 31, December 31, Variation At constant At constant scope
and
2004 2003 scope and foreign exchange,
EUR Million EUR Million foreign before inter
exchange divisional sales
elimination
Cement 6,810 6,383 +6.7% +9.2% +9.2%
Aggregates
& Concrete 4,747 4,465 +6.3% +7.6% +7.6%
Roofing 1,493 1,510 -1.1% -1.0% -1.0%
Gypsum 1,340 1,194 +12.2% +12.0% +12.2%
Others 46 106 -56.6% -8.1%
TOTAL 14,436 13,658 +5.7% +7.7% NA
Lafarge, the world leader in building materials, holds top-ranking positions
in all four of its Divisions:
Cement, Aggregates & Concrete, Roofing and Gypsum. Lafarge employs 75,000
people in 75 countries and posted sales of EUR 14.3 billion in 2004.
Additional information is available on the web site at:
http://www.lafarge.com
Lafarge’s next financial publication – 2004 Full Year Results – will be on
Thursday 24th February, 2005 (before the Euronext stock market opens.) The
publication of the 2004 Full Year Results will be made in French GAAP together
with a publication of the 2004 results restated in IFRS.
For release worldwide with simultaneous release in the United States.
COMMUNICATIONS: INVESTOR RELATIONS:
Stéphanie Tessier: 33-1 44-34-92-32 James Palmer: 33-1 44-34-92-93
stephanie.tessier@lafarge.com james.palmer@lafarge.com
Amanda Jones: 33-1-44-34-19-47 Danièle Daouphars: 33-1 44-34-92-93
amanda.jones@lafarge.com daniele.daouphars@lafarge.com
Statements made in this press release that are not historical facts, including
statements regarding our expected operating income, are forward-looking
statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are not guarantees
of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions
(“Factors”), which are difficult to predict. Some of the Factors that could
cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in the
forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: the cyclical
nature of the Company’s business; national and regional economic conditions in
the countries in which the Group does business; currency fluctuations;
seasonal
nature of the Company’s operations; levels of construction spending in major
markets; supply/demand structure of the industry; competition from new or
existing competitors; unfavorable weather conditions during peak construction
periods; changes in and implementation of environmental and other governmental
regulations; our ability to successfully identify, complete and efficiently
integrate acquisitions; our ability to successfully penetrate new markets; and
other Factors disclosed in the Company’s public filings with the French
Autorité des Marchés Financiers and the US Securities and Exchange Commission
including its Reference Document and annual report on Form 20-F. In general,
the Company is subject to the risks and uncertainties of the construction
industry and of doing business throughout the world. The forward-looking
statements are made as of this date and the Company undertakes no obligation
to update them, whether as a result of new information, future events or
otherwise.
Conference Call on Sales to January 27, 2005
Following the release of Lafarge’s sales to December 31, 2004, a conference
call will be held on: January 27, 2005 at 15:30 French time, in English
(14:30 UK time; 09:30AM EDT in North America)
The speakers will be: Jean-Jacques Gauthier – Executive Vice President,
Finance
James Palmer – Vice-President Investor Relations, Danièle Daouphars – Manager
Investor Relations
If you wish to participate in the conference call, please dial:
From France: +33 (0)1 70 99 35 15, From UK : +44 208 515 2301, From UK toll
free (from UK only): 0800 358 0857, From USA: +1 303 262 2211, From USA toll
free: 800 219 6110, Conference call name: “Lafarge 2004 Full Year Sales”
A replay of the conference call will be available from January 27, 2005 at
7.30 pm French time to February 4, 2005 at 7.30 pm at the following numbers:
From France +33(0) 1 70 99 32 94 Access code: 132895#, From UK +44 208 515
2499 Access code: 630458#, From UK toll free (from UK only): 0 800 026 0020
Access code: 630458#, From USA: +1 303 590 3000 Access code: 1121078#, From
USA toll free: 800 405 2236 Access code: 1121078#
End of part 2 of 2
end of message, (c)DGAP 27.01.2005
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WKN: 850646; ISIN: FR0000120537; Index:
Listed: Freiverkehr in Berlin-Bremen, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Hamburg, München
und Stuttgart
271027 Jän 05
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