- Net Profit more than doubled
- Dividend proposal of EUR 0.66 for ordinary shares and preferred shares each

We report hereunder the ad-hoc-release issued today by the subsidiary Dyckerhoff AG, according to Article 15 Securities Trading Act (WpHG).

Following the approval of the annual financial statements of Dyckerhoff AG as of December 31, 2006, and after the endorsement of the consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2006, the Board of Management and the Supervisory Board have just decided to propose at the Annual General Meeting on May 10, 2007, to distribute a dividend of EUR 0.66 (2005: EUR 0.20) per ordinary share and per preferred share each for the financial year 2006. This amounts to EUR 27.2 million or 20% of the group net profit attributable to Dyckerhoff.

Sales for the group increased in the fiscal year 2006 by EUR 94.7 million or 7%. A fall in sales in the Germany / Western Europe division was more than compensated by increased sales in Eastern Europe and the USA. The decline in sales for the Germany/Western Europe division resulted from the sale of companies in the concrete products business segment, which had accounted for sales of approximately EUR 100 million in the previous year. The like-for-like group sales, allowing for the changes in the group of consolidated companies, increased almost 15%, thus, showing a stronger increase than the reported group sales. Exchange rate variances did not have any significant impact; they increased sales by about EUR 10 million. Of the total group sales about 34% can be ascribed to Germany, 37% to Eastern Europe, 24% to the USA and 5% to Western Europe.

With an increase of 27%, EBITDA rose significantly more than sales. Excluding the EUR 29 million of income from the sales of companies, the gain is 18%. The most significant improvements (+80%) were seen in Eastern Europe. However, EBITDA also grew in the USA. Rises in electricity prices in Germany and gas prices in the Ukraine were largely compensated by higher cement and concrete prices. Exchange rate variances increased EBITDA by EUR 3.7 million; changes in the group of consolidated companies resulted in a EUR 3.5 million reduction in EBITDA, and were not highly significant. With a 42% share of EBITDA, the importance of the Eastern Europe division has grown.

Result before income taxes of EUR 227.3 million (2005: EUR 102.6 million) as well as net profit of EUR 150.3 million (2005: EUR 58.7 million) more than doubled. Equity ratio rose by 3.7 percentage points to 40.9% (2005: 37.2%). Net debt was reduced by EUR 230.6 million to EUR 121.2 million (2005: EUR 351.8 million); Gearing improved to 9.4% (2005: 28.4%). For the year 2007 the growth is expected to continue but in a restrained manner.

Summarized Income Statement

The complete consolidated financial statements of Dyckerhoff AG will be published in the context of the press conference on March 28, 2007.

Company contacts:
Investor Relations Assistant
Mariangiola Fiore
Phone. +39 0142 416 404
Email  mfiore@buzziunicem.it