Cement News tagged under: corporate

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Yamama’s strong first-quarter performance

21 June 2011, Published under Cement News

Yamama Cement posted a net profit of SAR179.8m (US$48m) in 1Q11 which was 7.3% above Global Investment House’s (GIH) forecast of SAR167.7m and 9.0% above 1Q10 net profit of SAR165.2m. The profitability was propped up by decline in cost of sales per ton by 6.3% to SAR102.3/t. Yamama Cement has a cost advantage relative to the sector due to its integrated production plant and captive power supply which further became prominent during the quarter.   Meanwhile gross margins increased to 55.8% in...

Chinese companies gain on public housing report

21 June 2011, Published under Cement News

Chinese cement makers rose sharply on expectations China’s massive construction of public houses will boost demand. Cement companies gained following a Shanghai Securities News report that said China has issued guidelines allowing local governments to issue bonds to fund public-housing construction. ’The move may prompt more construction of public houses in the third quarter and boost demand for cement and other construction materials,’ said Zhang Xiang, an analyst at Guodu Securities. An...

Lafarge to decide on gypsum unit around September

21 June 2011, Published under Cement News

A decision on the sale of Lafarge’s gypsum unit will not be taken before the back-to-school season in September, the head of the division told Reuters. The business, reportedly valued at around EUR800m, has attracted around 10 serious bid candidates, Olivier Guilluy said. "In principle there will be no decision before the back-to-school season (in September)," he said. A price has not yet been set for the division, he added.

Sinai first-quarter net profit down 25%

20 June 2011, Published under Cement News

Egypt’s Sinai Cement posted a 25 per cent fall in first-quarter unconsolidated net profit to EGP116.9m (US$19.66m), the stock exchange said on Sunday. The firm made an unconsolidated net profit of EGP155.3m for the same period in 2010.

Southern Cement forecasts rise in quarterly profit, Saudi Arabia

20 June 2011, Published under Cement News

Southern Province Cement Co, Saudi Arabia’s biggest cement producer by market value, said second- quarter profit will rise an estimated 28 per cent to SAR237m (US$63m) from SAR185m in the year-earlier period. Sixth-month earnings per share are estimated at SAR3.31, compared with the SAR2.68 during the year-earlier period, the company said in a statement on the Saudi bourse website today.

Vulcan Materials comments on bond issuance, USA

19 June 2011, Published under Cement News

Vulcan Materials Co Thursday commented on the expected effects of its recently completed US$1.1bn bond issuance, the use of the net proceeds of the Issuance, including a tender offer for up to US$275m of its senior unsecured notes due 2012 and 2013.

 On June 14, the company issued US$500m of senior unsecured notes due 2016 and US$600m of senior unsecured notes due 2021. Also, consistent with the previously communicated intended use of proceeds from the Issuance, the company purchased US$27...

Goldman Sachs cuts HeidelbergCement target

17 June 2011, Published under Cement News

Goldman Sachs has reduced its price target on the stock of German cement maker HeidelbergCement to EUR64.00 from EUR66.50, keeping a "buy" rating. In view of negative exchange-rate effects and surging raw material prices, analyst Will Morgan has downgraded his profit projections for European building materials companies. However, the expert expects the construction business to recover in 2012. In addition, the "buy" rating on HeidelbergCement reflects the significant potential of the compa...

Kuwait Portland Cement Co appoints director

17 June 2011, Published under Cement News

Kuwait Portland Cement Co has appointed Barrak Abdul Mohsen Al Babtain as a director. The effective date is June 15, 2011.

Unicredit starts HeidelbergCement with “buy”

16 June 2011, Published under Cement News

Unicredit has started coverage on the stock of HeidelbergCement with a “buy” recommendation and EUR55.21 share price target. According to analyst Tessa Guy, big construction companies and building material makers will benefit from the expected strong structural growth in demand in Asia and Central Europe. HeidelbergCement ranks among the expert’s favourites in view of its growing commitment on emerging markets and positive earnings development. The tense financial situation is only a short...

Conch Cement to invest CNY4bn in financing products

16 June 2011, Published under Cement News

Conch Cement announced that it will spend CNY4bn (US$617m) on financial products, reports Shanghai Securities News, citing a company filing. The firm has just received CNY9.5bn through a corporate bond issuance with a coupon rate of five per cent. One financial product that the firm will purchase from the Bank of China has an expected annualised return of 4.8 per cent. Conch Cement signed a trust plan with Anhui Guoyuan Trust for CNY2.5bn with a maturity of one year at an estimated annual...