Slide 1: Europe Materials Focus on Switzerland
CRH plc Investor/Analyst Visit Switzerland 23 – 25 May, 2007 Europe Materials Focus on Switzerland Henry Morris, Chief Operating Officer Investor/Analyst Swiss Visit, 23- 23-25 May 2007 1
Slide 2: Switzerland Country Overview
Switzerland Country Overview F/Cast 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 Stable GDP Growth -0.3% 2.3% 1.9% 2.6% 2.1% Low Inflation 0.6% 0.8% 1.2% 1.2% 0.8% Exported growth 0.7% 7.6% 6.3% 8.5% 3.2% Flexible economy Unemployment rate 3.7% 3.9% 3.8% 3.4% 3.0% Population growth 0.7% 0.7% 0.6% 0.6% 0.6% High Public
Slide 3: Switzerland 2001 to 2006
Switzerland 2001 to 2006 Nov, 2000: Acquired JURA Group (€425 m) Post-acquisition strategy … ¾ Divest non-core assets appropriately ¾ Expand readymixed concrete and aggregate operations via bolt-on acquisitions ¾ Improve cement operations to achieve Best Practice performance levels in both plant
Slide 4: Switzerland Key Actions
Switzerland Key Actions Divested acquired non-core assets (CHF 95 m ) JURA Heritage Business Dec, 2002 Acquired Hard AG (readymix & aggs) Infra Res 32% 33% ¾ Entry into Zurich market ¾ Sand-lime Brick operation Non-Res 35% Jan, 2004 Acquired Hastag AG (readymix & aggs) ¾ Substantial aggregates
Slide 5: Optimisation in Cement
Switzerland Optimisation in Cement Investment in Wildegg Plant … Increase alternative fuels to 60% Lower power consumption (5 kWh/t) Higher capacity … +10% Automation, lower manning New crushing plant New packing plant Wildegg WildeggPlant, Plant,Switzerland Switzerland … and use of Corn
Slide 6: Jura Locations
Switzerland Jura Locations Wildegg Region Lucerne Region Aargau/Solothurn Region Bern 2 Cement plants – 1m tonnes Region Fribourg Region Zurich Region St. Gallen 9 Main Aggregate Pits – 5.7m tonnes Cornaux 2006 Sales €0.25Bn Op Margin c. 17% Key People … ¾ Urs Sandmeier Managing Director,
Slide 7: Jura Locations: Where we will visit
Jura Locations Where we will visit Jura Cement Plant – Wildegg ¾ Constructed in 1890, new kiln erected in 1985 ¾ Clinker: 650,000 tonnes p.a.; Cement: 750,000 tonnes p.a. ¾ 116 employees; Adrian Streuli, Production Director (Jura Cement) & Plant Manager (Wildegg) Aggregates Dredging Facility – L