Cement News tagged: Corporate
Dyckerhoff net profit down on European markets
Buzzi Unicem's subsidiary Dyckerhoff has confirmed that net profit in 2012 fell as declines in Europe could not be offset by volume increases in Russia and the USA. The German-based cement major said in a release on Friday that net attributable profit for the year fell 59.2 per cent from the year before to EUR26.9m. Group EBITDA of fiscal year 2012 amounted to EUR 284.2m including one-time on...
Lafarge Zimbabwe to reduce foreign shareholding
Lafarge and the Zimbabwe government have agreed on Lafarge reducing its shareholding in the Zimbabwean cement manufacturer to 49 per cent. “We have agreed with the relevant authorities on the indigenisation modalities to bring down foreign shareholding to 49 per cent, in line with the indigenisation and economic empowerment [policy]. To this effect, our indigenisation plan was approved,” acc...
Clinker import tax hike threatens small, medium-sized producers in Assam, India
Medium and small-sized cement producers in Assam have criticized a proposal by the state government to raise the import tax of clinker by four per cent. The new proposal will see the entry tax on clinker raised from two to six per cent, applicable only to small and medium units, according to reports in the Economic Times. Industry sources said the proposal to raise the entry tax would adv...
Panel to review Egypt gas price hikes
A panel of judges is set to review an appeal made by five cement producers over gas price hikes by the Egyptian government, a Cairo administrative court said. According to reports by Bloomberg, a panel is to look into appeals by Tourah Portland Cement, Suez Cement, Alexandria Cement, Beni Suef Cement and Helwan Cement against the fuel price incrased that was started by Prime Minister Hisha...
Cemex prices US$600m in notes, Mexico
Cemex on Thursday priced six-year secured notes for US$600m to pay down debt. The notes, due 2019, to be issued at par, will pay annual interest of 5.875 per cent and will be callable after three years. It expects the sale to close on 25 March, the Mexican cement major said in a statement. The company plans to use about US$55m to pay off a 2009 financing agreement and the rest for other p...
HSBC Global increases stake in India Cements
HSBC Global Investment Funds has purchased 384,345 shares of India Cements Ltd for an undisclosed sumy, the cement producer said in a notice to the stock exchanges. Following the acquisition, HSBC Global Investment's stake in the company has risen to 5.12 per cent, India Cements noted.
Cementos Molins to reduce workforce
Spain-based cement producer Cementos Molins is to cut 56 jobs at its St Vicenc dels Horts works due to the ongoing crisis in the domestic construction market. The cutbacks will reduce the total number of employees at the plant by 29.3 per cent, according to reports in Cinco Días.
HeidelbergCement reduces debt, profit edges ahead
German cement major HeidelbergCement reported increases in revenue and operating income in 2012 as well as a significant reduction in net debt. Revenue for the 12 months to December 2012 improved by nine per cent to EUR14bn. Operating income climbed nine percent to EUR1.613bn, benefiting from price increases, exchange rate effects and the successful implementation of the "FOX 2013" savings ...
Moody’s upgrades Holcim outlook
Moody’s Investors Service has upgraded Holcim’s outlook to stable, ending 15 months on a negative watch. Moody’s said it changed the outlook citing cash generation as cement sales in the US and emerging markets improve, according to reports by Bloomberg. Holcim maintained its investment-grade rating throughout the European financial crisis. Holcim’s Leadership savings program should gain...
PT Indocement net profit rises 32.2%, Indonesia
PT Indocement Tunggal Prakarsa, part of the HeidelbergCement group, has reported a 32.2 per cent rise in net profit for 2012. The country’s second-largest cement producer saw net profit rise to IDR4.76trn (US$491m) through the year while net income grew to IDR17.20trn, a rise of 24.5 per cent YoY. Indocement is currently working on adding some 6.3Mta of additional capacity by 2015. Pro...
PPC Zimbabwe secures funding for new project
PPC Zimbabwe has secured US$200m to build a second plant, according to local press reports. Chief executive, Zak Limbada, said: “We have secured US$200m for the projects but I cannot disclose the source at the moment,” All Africa press quoted him as saying. “Drilling is ongoing and we hope to have sample results (of limestone) in the next two months. With the permission of various regula...
China's cement sector faces impact of new property control policies
The Chinese cement sector recovery is likely to face further headwinds in the near-term given stricter property control policies announced on 1 March. The government is to initiate an array of measures including higher transaction duties, increased down payments and mortgage interest rates and strict purchase qualifications, as it tightens its grip on the real estate sector. China...
Lucky Cement appoints new CFO
Lucky Cement has appointed Muhammad Faisal to be its chief financial officer. ??He replaces Muhammad Abid Ganatra.
Thatta Cement majority shareholder shares stake to consortium
The majority shareholder of Thatta Cement, Pakistan, has sold its stake to a consortium of four private companies. In an announcement sent to the Karachi Stock Exchange last week, Arib Habib Corp (AHC), along with its subsidiaries, said it has sold its 61 per cent holding in Thatta Cement to the consortium PKR24.16/share. The total value of the transaction is approximately PKR1.46n (US$14.7...
Habesha Cement appoints new chairman, Ethiopia
Habesha Cement of Ethiopia has appointed a new chairman as well as new board members to reflect changes in the company's shareholding. Tamiru Wondimagegn has been appointed as Habesha Cement’s new board chairman replacing Eng Gizaw Teklemariam. Mr Wondimagegn is a lawyer and board member of the cement company. Habesha Cement, which was established in 2010 with 16,000 shareholders, has el...
Vicat grows in Asia
France-based cement major Vicat reported a 1.2 per cent rise in turnover in 2012 to €2292.2m, but the EBITDA declined by 10.9 per cent to €437.4m and the trading profit fell by 20.8 per cent to €245.2m. The company booked a pre-tax profit 20 per cent lower at €207.6m and the net attributable fell by 21.1 per cent to €129.1m. Net debt was 6.2 per cent higher at €1,144m and represents 46.4...