• The world’s second- biggest maker and distributor of building materials (asphalt, concrete products and crushed rock)
  • Full year revenues dropped to €20.89 billion from €20.99 billion
  • Profit of €1.26 billion, lower than €1.44 billion last year, ending 15 consecutive years of full-year growth
  • The company's Board recommended a final dividend of 48.5 cents per share, up 1% from 48 cents per share last year.
  • It plans to raise 1.24 billion euros "to take advantage of cheaper asset values as a slowdown in construction spreads from the U.S. to Eastern Europe". CRH said EUR500 million of the proceeds will be used to pay down debt. The issue is fully underwritten by UBS Limited, J&E Davy, Barclays Bank PLC, BNP Paribas and RBS Hoare Govett Ltd.
  • Myles Lee, chief executive, said:

"The outlook for 2009 is extremely challenging and management's attention and efforts are resolutely focussed on commercial delivery and on ensuring that our businesses are strongly positioned through additional cost reduction and cash generation measures to cope with whatever trading circumstances may evolve."

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