Lafarge S.A.
Lafarge S.A.:ECUADOR JANUARY 3, 2005
Corporate-news announcement sent by DGAP.
The sender is solely responsible for the contents of this announcement.
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PRESS RELEASE
Euronext: LG, NYSE: LR Paris, January 3, 2005
Lafarge announces the acquisition of “Cementos Selva Alegre” in Ecuador
Lafarge announces the acquisition of Finlatam V GmbH, Germany, which owns
nearly 99% of the shares of Cementos Selva Alegre, a major cement player in
Ecuador. The company has been acquired at a price of about USD 130M and is
free of debt.
Cementos Selva Alegre, a cement manufacturer ranked number 2 in the Ecuadorean
market with a 20% market share, owns a cement plant with an annual production
capacity of 640,000 tonnes. The plant is located some 110 km north of the
capital, Quito, in the heart of one of the country’s most dynamic markets.
With a population of nearly 13 million, Ecuador offers a growing cement market
of 3.2 million tonnes in 2003.
“The strong position enjoyed by Cementos Selva Alegre on the Ecuadorean market
and in particular its leading position in the economically vibrant region of
Quito make this acquisition particularly attractive for the Group. We are
pursuing our development strategy in growing markets by strengthening our
industrial presence in Latin America in favourable conditions, the acquisition
being expected to create value rapidly”, declared Lafarge Chief Executive
Officer Bernard Kasriel.
Notes to Editors:
1.Lafarge has acquired 100% of Finlatam V GMBH from Fiducia – a German capital
investment company.
2.With a staff of around 170, Cementos Selva Alegre generated turnover of USD
57 million and EBITDA of USD 21.5 million in 2003. Cementos Selva Alegre is a
company listed on the stock exchange of Quito/Ecuador.
3.Lafarge has developed robust positions on Latin American cement markets with
a presence in Brazil, Chile, Honduras, Mexico, Venezuela, French West Indies
and French Guyana.
4.The Lafarge group’s Cement division generated 46% of its sales and 42% of
its operating income in emerging markets in 2003.
5.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. In 2003, the Group
posted sales of EUR13.6 billion and operating profit on ordinary activities of
EUR1.9 billion.
Further information is available on the web site at www.lafarge.com.
COMMUNICATIONS:INVESTOR RELATIONS:
Stéphanie Tessier: 33-1 44-34-92-32stephanie.tessier@lafarge.comJames
Palmer:33-1 44-34-11-26james.palmer@lafarge.com
Amanda Jones: 33-1 44-34-19 47amanda.jones@lafarge.comDanièle
Daouphars:33-1 44-34-11-51daniele.daouphars@lafarge.com
Statements made in this press release that are not historical facts 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.
end of message, (c)DGAP 03.01.2005
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WKN: 850646; ISIN: FR0000120537; Index:
Listed: Freiverkehr in Berlin-Bremen, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Hamburg, München
und Stuttgart
031513 Jän 05
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