Cement News tagged: Corporate
Siam raises stake in Philippine firm, mulling Myanmar plans
Thailand’s Siam Cement has reached a deal to raise its stake in a listed Philippine building materials firm from 40 per cent to 80 per cent in a deal valued at THB1bn (US$33m). However, the company has declined to name the firm, but it is thought to be Mariwasa Siam Holdings of which the company owns 40 per cent according to its latest annual report. Siam chief executive Kan Trakulhoon decl...
CRH helped by acquisitions
CRH's turnover recovered by 5.3% last year to €18,081m and the EBITDA was ahead by 2.5% to €1656m. The trading profit rose by 24.8% to €871m and after other charges, including a net interest charge 5.1% higher at €229m, the running pre-tax profit improved by 12.9% to €743m. The net attributable profit advanced by 36% to €597m. Net debt at the end of December was 0.3% higher at €3483m and the g...
Natixis reiterates Lafarge “buy” recommendation
Natixis has confirmed its “buy” recommendation and EUR40 share price target on Lafarge. The broker said it is confident of the company’s ability to achieve its 2012 goals and reduce debt through increased cash flow and asset sales, SeeNews France reported. Earlier this year Lafarge said it plans to cut 460 jobs worldwide as part of its reorganisation strategy. Under the project, it will re...
Jaiprakash to hive off cement company, India
Jaiprakash Associates will hive off its cement plants and other units of the company to wholly-owned subsidiary, Jaypee Cement Corporation, the Economic Times of India reports. "We are pleased to inform that the equity shareholders and creditors of the company, in their respective meetings held on February 25, have duly approved the scheme of arrangement," Jaiprakash Associates said in a sta...
Cementos Portland reports 2011 loss, Spain
Cementos Portland Valderrivas of Spain reported a loss of EUR327.5m for 2011 against a profit of EUR1.2m registered in 2010, local press reported. The result was explained by the company’s need to allocate EUR337m to the reinforcement of its balance sheet, Expansión reported. Excluding this effect, the loss would have come in at EUR16m. Revenues were down by 19.2 per cent YoY to EUR609m,...
Bamburi Cement uncertain on 2012 outlook
Bamburi Cement, a unit of Lafarge, reported a 28 per cent rise in 2011 turnover supported by sales from its Ugandan unit but warns its performance this year could be affected by inflation and uncertain political outlook in the lead-up to Kenya's elections. The company earned a pre-tax profit of KES8.47bn at the end of 2011 from KES7.56bn in 2010. East Africa's largest cement maker had seen ...
CNBM sees 2011 annual net profit doubling, China
China National Building Materials said it expects 2011 annual net profit to double on increased prices and higher cement sales and, according to some analysts, the company should now reap the benefits of its aggressive expansion plan over the last two years. CNBM said in a filing to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange that audited net profit for last year may increase by more than 100 per cent...
Cemex share approval, confident on meeting debt obligations
Cemex shareholders have approved a plan for the company to issue more shares. The proceedings from the issuance will be used to pay a dividend, the company said at its annual shareholders meeting. Meanwhile, Cemex CEO, Lorenzo Zambrano, last week said that the company will meet its debt obligations to creditors this year, suggesting that the company may be turning a corner following a tough...
Cements Argos: positive outlook after strong 2011 results
Cementos Argos, Colombia's largest cement producer, achieved more than COP3.6bn (US$2bn) in consolidated revenues for FY2011, representing YoY growth of 21% in peso terms as it reported strong performances in its Colombian and Caribbean divisions. In the US, results were still affected by the challenging conditions although the company sees interesting recovery prospects ahead. According to...
Jefferies starts India cement coverage
Jefferies has initiated coverage on the Indian cement industry with a buy rating on ACC, Grasim Industries, India Cements, UltraTech Cement, and hold rating on Ambuja Cements. "We believe India Cements has the highest earnings upside from both volume and price surprises.... Among the large caps, Ultratech looks the best positioned without a significant exposure to south," said Jefferies in ...
Cement division helps boost YTL net profit, Malaysia
YTL Corp of Malaysia registered a net profit of MYR489.2m in the six months ended 31 December 2011, up 10.4 per cent YoY, boosted by the group’s cement and multi-utility arm. Revenue increased by 10.8 per cent to MYR9.87bn. Commenting on the results, YTL Group Managing Director, Tan Sri Dato’ (Dr) Francis Yeoh Sock Ping, CBE, FICE, said: “At the half-way mark of the 2012 financial year, the...
Weak demand and high input costs hit Holcim Philippines earnings
Holcim Philippines posted a net earnings of PHP2.03bn, down 47.27% from the PHP3.85bn it earned in 2010 as weaker cement demand and higher input costs impacted revenue but said it is cautiously optimistic for the year ahead. The company said cement consumption fell after a very strong market in election year 2010. Simultaneously, continuous rises in coal and electricity hiked the company’s e...
Fujian joint-venture announced, China
Chinese cement producer, Fujian Cement plans to set up a joint venture, Fujian Jianfu Southern Cement, with its second-largest shareholder, Southern Cement to consolidate the cement industry in Fujian, a southeast province in China. Both companies will conduct mergers, acquisitions and expand production capacity, reports China Securities Journal, citing a company filing. Each company will h...
Suez Cement reports 54% decline in 2011 net profit
Suez Cement of Egypt posted a 54 per cent decline in 2011 due to political unrest and uncertainty. Net income fell to EGP568.6m (US$94m) from EGP1.24bn in 2010, the company said. With visibility in the Egyptian market still fairly poor, the company said in a statement to the Egyptian bourse: “The outlook is still very uncertain in the current political context and before a stable govern...
FCC may delay sale of US unit
Fomento de Construcciones & Contratas SA (FCC) of Spain may delay the sale of its US business after receiving offers below expectations, El Confidencial reports. FCC had wanted EUR600m for the unit, however, potential buyers do not see economic recovery yet that will revive cement demand, the newspaper noted, citing unidentified sources.
CRH announces non-executive Board appointment
The Board of CRH plc is pleased to announce the co-option to the Board of Ms. Heather Ann McSharry as a non-executive Director. Ms. McSharry (50) is Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Bank of Ireland Pension Fund and is a director of Ergonomics Solutions International, IDA Ireland and the Institute of Directors. She is a former Managing Director of Reckitt Benckiser and Boots Healthcar...