Become a shareholder

What is your view of the Group's performance, given the current economic context?

"Our Group is still suffering from the effects of the financial crisis. This is because demand for building materials is closely linked to the confidence and financial situation of private individuals, companies and governments, particularly in advanced economies.
However, the size and quality of its exposure to emerging countries, along with its capacity to adapt, have enabled the Group to be very resilient.

 

Today, we continue to operate in an uncertain environment. Developed countries are stable overall, although divided between recovering markets and those still in decline. Emerging countries have mostly experienced uninterrupted growth.
In this context of historically low markets in developed countries, the Group's debt, although significantly reduced in 2009, remains high. The Group is therefore focusing on two objectives: increasing its profits and reducing its debt.

 

We are also continuing to develop our actions in the field of innovation and sustainable construction. These are at the heart of our strategy since I am convinced that they are among future growth levers all around the world.
This commitment to innovation, the commitment of our teams around the world, our financial discipline, sustained growth in emerging countries and recovery, though it may be slow, in developed countries, are all in place to contribute to a significant increase in asset value for our shareholders."

How do you communicate with your shareholders?

"We have developed a standard set of communication tools, including a shareholders' letter, a guide for individual shareholders, the annual report, regional shareholders' meetings, roadshows, and Crescendo, our twice yearly magazine. We also organize major events such as the annual shareholders' meeting and meetings with the shareholders' consultative committee.

That said, we want to build even stronger relationships with our shareholders. We want to meet them and contact them more frequently, inform them of important Group announcements in real time, before they're published in the press, send them Crescendo and make it easier for them to attend relevant meetings. We hope they will register on our internet site for these services, which are designed with their needs in mind.

The Club reserved exclusively for shareholders is also a unique way of tightening the links which bind us and strengthening our knowledge of one another. Through a range of services and a program of tours and meetings, we will be able to share even more with our shareholders.

I sincerely hope that these efforts will bring us closer to our shareholders."