RESULTS CONTINUE TO BE IMPACTED BY ECONOMIC SLOWDOWN POSITIVE IMPACT OF EMERGING MARKETS EXPOSURE ON OPERATING INCOME STRONG CASH GENERATION AND STRICT COST CONTROL FURTHER REDUCE DEBT AND SUPPORT MARGIN RESILIENCE Lafarge (Paris:LG): YEAR-TO-DATE KEY FIGURES Sales down 15% to EUR12,243m Net income Group share declined (-14% like-for-like) by 50% to EUR774m Current operating income Net earnings per share down 29% to EUR1,983m declined to EUR2.99 (-26% like-for-like) Current Free cash flow improves operating income 57% to EUR1 711m Net margin down 320 basis points to 16.2% debt reduced by EUR2.3bn from year-end =---------------------------------------------------------------------- THIRD-QUARTER KEY FIGURES Sales down 20% to EUR4,252 Net income Group share declined (-16% like-for-like) by 38% to EUR404m Current operating income Net earnings per share down 28% to EUR852m declined to EUR1.42 (-22% like-for-like) Current Free cash flow down 13% operating income to EUR836m Net debt margin down 220 basis points to 20.0% reduced by EUR775m during the quarter =-------------------------------------------------------------------------- GROUP HIGHLIGHTS -- Sales impacted by lower volumes, foreign exchange and scope effect -- Overall volume and margin declines eased in the third quarter -- Emerging markets current operating income rose 19% YTD, excluding Central & Eastern Europe -- Significant cost savings and control in capital expenditure achieved -- Cement EBITDA margin remained strong at 34.8% in the quarter, stable with last year -- Free cash flow improved by EUR620 million year-to-date, a 57% improvement -- Net debt reduced by EUR3.2bn over the last twelve months BRUNO LAFONT, CHAIRMAN AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF LAFARGE, SAID: "The international economic slowdown showed early signs of stabilization in the third quarter. We anticipate volumes in mature markets may start to recover as of the second half of 2010. The strength of our emerging markets, excluding Central and Eastern Europe, continue to favourably impact our results. We expect the strategic advantage that our geographical portfolio gives us to continue as we move into next year. Lower debt and resilient operating margins have been achieved through strong cash generation and significant cost savings. These efforts will continue through cost cutting, limited capital expenditure, and improved working capital. Combined with our strategic initiatives in emerging markets and development of innovative products, these actions strengthen Lafarge and will further reinforce our leadership position as the world economy recovers." The Board of Directors of Lafarge, chaired by Bruno Lafont, met on November 5, 2009 to approve the accounts for the period ended September 30, 2009. CONSOLIDATED ACCOUNTS (EURm) FIRST NINE MONTHS THIRD QUARTER =------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2008 2009 Variation 2008 2009 Variation =------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sales 14,386 12,243 -15% 5,317 4,252 -20% =------------------------------------------------------------------------- Current operating 2,789 1,983 -29% 1,178 852 -28% income =------------------------------------------------------------------------- Operating margin 19.4% 16.2% -320 bp 22.2% 20.0% -220 bp (%) =------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net income =------------------------------------------------------------------------- Group share 1,558 774 647 404 =------------------------------------------------------------------------- =------------------------------------------------------------------------- Excluding one-off 1,420 731 -49% 647 404 -38% =------------------------------------------------------------------------- items((1)) =------------------------------------------------------------------------- Earnings =------------------------------------------------------------------------- per share (EUR) ((2)) EUR7.02 EUR2.99 EUR2.89 EUR1.42 =------------------------------------------------------------------------- =------------------------------------------------------------------------- Excluding one-off EUR6.40 EUR2.82 -56% EUR2.89 EUR1.42 -51% =------------------------------------------------------------------------- items ((1)(2)) =------------------------------------------------------------------------- Free cash flow 1,091 1,711 +57% 962 836 -13% =------------------------------------------------------------------------- Group net debt 17,802 14,613 -18% =------------------------------------------------------------------------- (1) Excluding net capital gains on sale of Egypt-Titan JV and legal provision adjustment for the 2002 Gypsum case in Q2 2008 and German cement case in Q2 2009. (2)Basic average number of shares outstanding, as adjusted for the rights issue completed on April 28, 2009, outstanding of 221.8 million at the end of September 2008, compared to 258.9 million at the end of September 2009. OUTLOOK Annual cement volumes in Lafarge's markets are expected to decline between -6% to -8% in 2009. Overall pricing is expected to remain solid for the year, despite price declines in a limited number of markets. Energy costs declined in the third quarter and are expected to further ease into the fourth quarter as compared to 2008. The progressive improvement of the economic environment along with government stimulus plans, with their announced large focus on infrastructure spending, are expected to have a positive impact on our markets as of the second half of 2010. In addition, the fundamental need for cement continues in developing economies due to the long-term trends of urbanization, demographic growth and infrastructure requirements. CURRENT OPERATING INCOME (EURm) FIRST NINE MONTHS THIRD QUARTER =------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2008 2009 Variation 2008 2009 Variation =------------------------------------------------------------------------ Cement 2,302 1,836 -20% 922 746 -19% =------------------------------------------------------------------------ Aggregates & Concrete 496 147 -70% 259 116 -55% =------------------------------------------------------------------------ Gypsum 40 42 +5% 9 10 +11% =------------------------------------------------------------------------ Other (49) (42) (12) (20) =------------------------------------------------------------------------ TOTAL 2,789 1,983 -29% 1,178 852 -28% =------------------------------------------------------------------------ HIGHLIGHTS BY BUSINESS CEMENT -- Sales -12% year-to-date and -16% in the quarter due to lower volumes led by difficult market conditions in Europe and North America. -- Solid growth in key markets of the Middle East, Africa and Asia. -- Current operating income -20% year-to-date and -19% in the quarter, driven by lower volumes and negative foreign exchange impact. -- EBITDA margin remained strong at 34.8% in the third quarter, stable with last year despite sharp volume declines. -- Pricing remained solid overall with a limited number of markets showing price declines. -- Strong impact of the cost reduction program in all regions. AGGREGATES & CONCRETE -- Sales -20% year-to-date and -26% in the quarter. -- Current operating income -70% year-to-date and -55% in the quarter, reflecting the large presence in developed markets where volumes declined strongly. -- Due to seasonality and exposure to mature markets, the declines in results more heavily impacted the Group in Q3 compared to previous quarters. -- Continuing development of value-added concrete products. -- Pricing improved overall across all product lines, with benefits seen from value-added products. -- Strong impact of the cost reduction program in all regions. GYPSUM -- Sales -13% year-to-date and -11% in the quarter. -- Current operating income improved slightly compared to last year. -- Volume declines resulting from a general slowdown of housing construction in mature markets partially mitigated by some price improvement. -- Strong impact of the cost reduction program in all regions. INVESTMENTS AND DIVESTMENTS -- Investments totaled EUR1,208 million year-to-date 2009, compared to EUR10,839 million in 2008. Sustaining capital expenditure decreased by 64% to EUR199 million year-to-date. Internal development capital expenditures declined by 20% to EUR926 million year-to-date. -- Since January 1st, Lafarge has announced total divestments of nearly EUR800 million. Cash received from disposals amounted to EUR588 million, compared to EUR342 million in 2008. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Practical information: There will be an analyst presentation at 9:00 local time at Lafarge Headquarters, 61 rue des Belles Feuilles, 75016 Paris. The presentation will be made in English with simultaneous French translation based on slides that can be downloaded from the Lafarge website (www.lafarge.com). The presentation may be followed via a live web cast on the Lafarge website as well as via teleconference: - Dial in number (France): +33 (0)1 70 99 42 80 - US dial in number: +1 212 444 0896 - International dial in number: +44 (0)20 7138 0843 Please note that in addition to the web cast replay, a conference call playback will be available from November 6, 2009 to November 16, 2009 online through www.lafarge.com or at the following numbers: - France playback number: +33 (0)1 74 20 28 00 (code: 2562034#) - US playback number: +1 347 366 9565 (code: 2562034#) - International playback number: +44 (0)20 7111 124 (code: 2562034#) NOTES TO EDITORS Lafarge is the world leader in building materials, with top-ranking positions in all of its businesses: Cement, Aggregates & Concrete and Gypsum. With more than 84,000 employees in 79 countries, Lafarge posted sales of Euros 19 billion in 2008. In 2009 and for the fifth year in a row, Lafarge was listed in the 'Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations in the World'. With the world's leading building materials research facility, Lafarge places innovation at the heart of its priorities, working for sustainable construction and architectural creativity. Additional information is available on the web site at www.lafarge.com This release may contain forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements do not constitute forecasts regarding the Company's results or any other performance indicator, but rather trends or targets, as the case may be. These statements are by their nature subject to risks and uncertainties as described in the Company's annual report available on its Internet website (www.lafarge.com). These statements do not reflect future performance of the Company, which may materially differ. The Company does not undertake to provide updates of these statements. More comprehensive information about Lafarge may be obtained on its Internet website (www.lafarge.com), under Regulated Information.
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