Archived media releases

Media Release on 1st quarter results 2009

• Economic crisis deepened and spread to more countries
• Group regions Latin America and Asia Pacific posted organic growth; remarkable progress especially in India
• The severe and prolonged winter adversely affected Group results in Europe and North America
• Group-wide cost-cutting program and plant closures in all segments had a positive impact on Group results
• Strong balance sheet of the Group and solid liquidity; since the beginning of the year, CHF 2.5 billion have been refinanced
• Holcim continues to cut costs and rapidly adjusts capacities to prevailing market conditions

Holcim is expanding into the rapidly growing building materials market in Azerbaijan - decision to build a new kiln line

Holcim, through its Group company Garadagh Cement, has been producing and distributing cement in Azerbaijan since 1999. The Garadagh cement plant is located some 35 kilometers west of the capital, Baku, and its four small kiln units produce around 1.1 million tonnes of cement for the fast growing building materials market. Over the last four years, consumption of cement has increased by more than 65 percent and reached 3.2 million tonnes in 2007. Further strong growth is expected in the coming years as a result of the robust housing construction activities and major public infrastructure projects.

Holcim produces solid results despite the difficult economic environment and a strong increase in energy prices

Development on a like-for-like basis*:

• Cement deliveries increased by 3 percent and ready-mix concrete volumes grew by 9.9 percent; sales of aggregates fell by 6.9 percent
• Net sales appreciated by 8.2 percent
• Operating EBITDA decreased by 0.9 percent
• Adjusted to a non-recurring capital gain and special dividend of CHF 1.3 billion in 2007, net income attributable to equity holders of Holcim Ltd increased by 2.6 percent
• Holcim expects in 2008 to match its excellent previous-year result on a like-for-like basis on the level of operating EBITDA

* The scope of consolidation has undergone substantial changes. Holcim South Africa and Egyptian Cement are no more included in the result for the first half of 2008. Another factor which has negatively impacted earnings is the strength of the Swiss franc. The changes in the scope of consolidation and currency translation effects need to be factored out of any comparisons with the corresponding period of the previous year.