Lafarge S.A.
Lafarge S.A.:Lafarge Roofing
Corporate-news transmitted by DGAP.
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
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PRESS RELEASE
Euronext: LG, NYSE: LRParis, November 3, 2005
TO BETTER SERVE THE MARKET FOR CLAY ROOFING TILES,
LAFARGE COUVERTURE IS BUILDING A NEW PRODUCTION SITE IN THE ARDENNES
In a fast-growing French market (+7% in 2004), LAFARGE COUVERTURE will
strengthen its industrial facilities in northern France in 2006 with the
construction of a production unit for clay roofing tiles in Signy l’Abbaye in
the Champagne-Ardennes region.
Designed to produce 50 million clay tiles annually, or nearly 4 million square
meters of tiles and accessories, the new plant will create at least 70 direct
jobs and another 70 jobs indirectly.
The 14-hectare site will house the new production facility and a storage area
for finished products awaiting sale.
The Signy l’Abbaye site was chosen because it offers numerous advantages,
among which are:
-Central geographic location: at the hub of a major road and expressway
network, the site offers real logistical advantages that will facilitate
product distribution to France, the Benelux countries and Germany.
-Abundant clay reserves, which guarantee the long-term duration of the
investment as well as Lafarge Couverture’s presence in the region. Clay
extraction from the neighboring 25-hectare quarry combined with 101 hectares
of clay reserves will supply site operations for over 50 years.
-A long-term industrial partnership has been forged from the warm response of
the local population, political authorities and social-economic organizations.
Construction will be carried out in two phases:
-The first phase, scheduled for 2006, consists of the installation of two clay
tile production lines, a production line for accessories and a kiln. The goal
is to begin producing by fall 2007 Large tiles, Low profile and Flat look
adapted for both newbuild and renovation work, using styles typical of
northern France and Europe. Investment in the first phase is estimated at
about 55 million euros.
-The second phase will begin as soon as the first phase is fully operational
(2008). It will consist of the construction of another kiln and production
line for a new tile concept to be launched in 2009.
For Michel Klein, chairman and CEO of LAFARGE COUVERTURE, the French
subsidiary of Lafarge Roofing: “This investment in the Ardennes region is a
key step that will boost our production capacity for clay tiles designed
specifically for northern France and the Benelux countries. Along with current
efforts to modernize our Marseilles plant and the start-up of construction on
a new plant in Limoux (Aude) earlier this year, the new Signy l’Abbaye
production site will round out our national industrial facilities for the clay
tile market, as we strengthen our strategy of product innovation and moving
closer to customers.”
LAFARGE COUVERTURE holds a unique position in the French market for small
roofing elements. It is the only player to offer real expertise in sloped
roofing systems thanks to a complete range of concrete and clay tiles, and an
exclusive offer of over 350 roofing components (roof decking, closures,
fixings, etc.).
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 77,000 people in 75 countries and posted sales of
EUR14.4 billion in 2004. Additional information is available on the web site
at http://www.lafarge.com.
COMMUNICATIONS:INVESTOR RELATIONS:
Stéphanie Tessier: 33-1 44-34-92-32 stephanie.tessier@lafarge.com
Yvon Brind’Amour: 33-1 44-34-92-93 yvon.brindamour@lafarge.com
Amanda Jones: 33-1 44-34-19-47 amanda.jones@lafarge.com
Danièle Daouphars: 33-1 44-34-92-93 daniele.daouphars@lafarge.com
Statements made in this press release that are not historical facts, including
the planned capital expenditures and expansion of production capacity in the
Roofing business, 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 announcement (c)DGAP 03.11.2005
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WKN: 850646; ISIN: FR0000120537; Index:
Listed: Freiverkehr in Berlin-Bremen, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Hamburg, München
und Stuttgart
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