annex i - Lafarge
annex i - Lafarge
annex i - Lafarge
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LAFARGE<br />
LAFARGE SALES UP 12 % FOR 2001<br />
Paris, France-January 24, 2002 - LAFARGE (Euronext-Paris: LG; NYSE: LR) sales totalled<br />
€ 13 698 Million for the twelve months ending December 31st, 2001, an increase of 12 % when<br />
compared with the € 12 216 Million realised in 2000.<br />
The 2001 performance is explained as follows :<br />
? The underlying activity excluding foreign exchange and scope effects grew by 3 % in<br />
quarter 4 and 3 % for the full year. For each Division, the sales performance was as<br />
follows :<br />
� Cement:<br />
The Cement Division’s sales rose 5 % in quarter 4 and 5 % for the year as a whole.<br />
Positive sales growth was experienced in many regions of the world, enhanced by a strong<br />
fourth quarter in Western Europe and North America. Sales levels in France and Spain saw<br />
renewed strength in the fourth quarter. Sales in Germany were down as the weakness in the<br />
construction market continued. The record mild weather conditions experienced in North<br />
America led to strong sales levels in the last quarter of the year resulting in overall growth for<br />
the full year.<br />
Favourable volume and price trends throughout 2001 allowed the Group to record strong<br />
growth in Jordan, Venezuela, South Korea, China, Morocco and across the African<br />
continent. In Brazil, sales grew strongly due to favourable price trends. This growth far<br />
outweighed the weaker performance of Poland, Turkey and the Philippines, where poor<br />
economic conditions affected sales, compounded in the Philippines by increased imports.<br />
� Aggregates & Concrete:<br />
The Aggregates & Concrete Division’s sales grew by 2 % in Quarter 4, and by 4 % for the<br />
full year.<br />
After the very poor weather conditions experienced at the beginning of the year, steady<br />
improvement in the last 2 quarters led to sound sales growth overall for 2001.<br />
Aggregates sales in France and the United Kingdom rose in 2001 due largely to favourable<br />
price trends. In North America, sales of aggregates moved ahead due to increased demand<br />
and mild weather conditions. Concrete sales were stable in France after record levels in<br />
2000, but strong growth was achieved in Spain and Portugal. In North America, concrete<br />
sales saw reasonable growth in 2001, rising strongly in the last quarter.
� Roofing:<br />
The Roofing Division’s sales declined by 6 % in quarter 4 and by 8 % for the full year.<br />
The continuation in 2001 of the decline of the German construction market has severely<br />
affected the level of sales in this country.<br />
Outside of Germany, roof tile sales were overall stable for the Division compared to last<br />
year, with further growth in emerging markets, but a marginal decline in Europe.<br />
� Gypsum :<br />
The Gypsum Division’s sales were up by 13 % in quarter 4 and by 6 % for the full year,<br />
including sales generated by the 2 new wallboard plants in the USA.<br />
Sales in Europe experienced reasonable growth in 2001 despite German sales being<br />
affected by the weak construction market. In Asia, sales continued to grow strongly. In North<br />
America, sales levels rose significantly benefiting from the new state of the art plants in<br />
Kentucky and Florida. 2001 was nevertheless a very difficult year in North America due to<br />
very weak price levels which began to improve in the late summer.<br />
? Changes in the scope of consolidation had a net effect of € 1246 million : + 10 %<br />
Newly acquired activities contributed sales totalling € 2377 Million.<br />
The ex-Blue Circle operations, consolidated from 11 th July 2001, contributed € 1554 Million.<br />
Healthy sales levels were recorded by the majority of these operations with a good level of<br />
sales experienced in the United Kingdom and North America. In emerging markets, the ex-<br />
Blue Circle operations in Malaysia, Nigeria and Chile turned in strong sales performances,<br />
Singapore remained weak.<br />
The acquisition of Warren Paving in Canada contributed € 449 Million of new sales to the<br />
Aggregates and Concrete Division in 2001.<br />
Divestments reduced sales by € 1221 Million, of which the former Specialty Products<br />
Division accounted for € 1166 Million.<br />
? The foreign exchange impact on the 2001 sales amounted to – 1 %.<br />
The positive appreciation of the US Dollar was offset by the weakness in the Brazilian Real,<br />
the South African Rand and the Korean Won.
LAFARGE CONSOLIDATED SALES AS AT DECEMBER 31 st , 2001<br />
Dec. 31, 2001<br />
€ Million<br />
Dec. 31, 2000<br />
€ Million<br />
Variation<br />
Variation excluding<br />
Scope and<br />
Exchange Rate<br />
effect<br />
Cement 5995 4420 + 36 % +5 %<br />
Aggregates&Concrete 4806 3725 + 29 % + 4 %<br />
Roofing 1585 1684 - 6 % - 8 %<br />
Gypsum 1072 1000 + 7 % + 6 %<br />
Others 240 1387 - 83 % + 3 %<br />
Total 13698 12216 + 12 % + 3 %<br />
CONTACTS PRESSE : RELATIONS INVESTISSEURS:<br />
Denis Boulet: : 33-1 44-34-94-14<br />
denis.boulet@lafarge.com<br />
Véronique Doux: : 33-1 44-34-19-47<br />
veronique.doux@lafarge.com<br />
James Palmer : 33-1 44-34-11-26<br />
james.palmer@lafarge.com<br />
Danièle Daouphars: 33-1 44-34-11-51<br />
daniele.daouphars@lafarge.com<br />
Statements made in this press release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements made<br />
pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements<br />
are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions ("Factors") which are<br />
difficult to predict. Some of the Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed<br />
in the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: the cyclical nature of the Company's business;<br />
national and regional economic conditions in the countries in which the Group does business; currency<br />
fluctuations; seasonality of the Company’s operations; levels of construction spending in major markets;<br />
supply/demand structure of the industry; competition from new or existing competitors; unfavorable weather<br />
conditions during peak construction periods; changes in and implementation of environmental and other<br />
governmental regulations; our ability to successfully identify, complete and efficiently integrate acquisitions; our<br />
ability to successfully penetrate new markets; and other Factors disclosed in the Company's Reference<br />
Document COB number R01-049 and on Form 20-F filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission in the<br />
USA. In general, the Company is subject to the risks and uncertainties of the construction industry and of<br />
doing business throughout the world. The forward-looking statements are made as of this date and the<br />
Company undertakes no obligation to update them, whether as a result of new information, future events or<br />
otherwise.
ANNEX I<br />
The sales activity generated by the new USA wallboard plants in Kentucky and Florida are now included in<br />
sales from on-going operations, in order to clarify the presentation of the sales performance. The previous<br />
quarters of 2001 have been restated accordingly.<br />
Quarter 1 Quarter 2 Quarter 3 Quarter 4<br />
Previous publication - 1.2 % + 4.2 % + 2.7 % -<br />
Final - 0.3 % + 5 % + 3 % + 3.1 %