SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 20-F
(Mark One)
OR
For the fiscal year ended: December 31, 2004
For the transition period from to
Commission file number: 0-17630
CRH public limited company
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
Republic of Ireland
(Jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
Belgard Castle, Clondalkin, Dublin 22
(Address of principal executive offices)
Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act. None
Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act.
Ordinary Shares of €0.32 each
(Title of Class)
Income Shares of €0.02 each
Securities for which there is a reporting obligation pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Act. None
Indicate the number of outstanding shares of each of the issuer’s classes of capital or common stock as of the close of the period covered by this annual report.
Income Shares of €0.02 each*
5% Cumulative Preference Shares of €1.27 each
7% ‘A’ Cumulative Preference Shares of €1.27 each
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes x No ¨
Indicate by check mark which financial statement item the Registrant has elected to follow. Item 17 ¨ Item 18 x
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Forward-Looking Statements
Statements Regarding Competitive Position
Item 1.
Identity of Directors, Senior Management and Advisers
Item 2.
Offer Statistics and Expected Timetable
Item 3.
Key Information
Exchange Rates
Dividends
Risk Factors
Item 4.
Information on the Company
History and Development of the Company
Geographic and Product Spread
General Development of the Business
Business Overview
Seasonality
Organizational Structure
Sources and Availability of Raw Materials
Property, Plants and Equipment
Regulation
Item 5.
Operating and Financial Review and Prospects
Summary of 2004 results
General
2004 compared with 2003
2003 compared with 2002
Taxation
New Accounting Standards
Impact of International Accounting Standards
Critical Accounting Policies
Impact of Inflation
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
Material Commitments for Capital Expenditure
Governmental Policies
Trend Information—2005
Item 6.
Directors, Senior Management and Employees
Directors and Senior Management
Directors’ Compensation
Corporate Governance
Employees
1990 Share Option Schemes
U.K. Savings Scheme
2000 Share Option Scheme
2000 Savings-Related Share Option Schemes
Share Participation Schemes
Share Ownership by Directors
Item 7.
Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions
Major Shareholders
Related Party Transactions
Item 8.
Item 9.
Item 10.
Item 11.
Item 12.
Item 13.
Item 14.
Item 15
Item 16A
Item 16B
Item 16C
Item 16D
Item 16E
Item 17
Item 18.
Item 19.
INTRODUCTION
In order to utilize the “Safe Harbor” provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, CRH public limited company (the “Company”), and its subsidiaries (collectively, “CRH” or the “Group”) is providing the following cautionary statement.
This document contains certain forward-looking statements with respect to the financial condition, results of operations and business of CRH and certain of the plans and objectives of CRH with respect to these items. These statements may generally, but not always, be identified by the use of words such as “anticipates”, “should”, “expects”, “estimates”, “believes” or similar expressions. In particular, among other statements, certain statements in “Item 4—Information on the Company” with regard to management objectives, trends in market shares, market standing and product volumes, in “Item 3—Key Information—Dividends” and in “Item 8—Financial Information—Dividends” with regard to future dividends, the statements in “Item 5—Operating and Financial Review and Prospects” with regard to trends in results of operations, margins, governmental policies and spending, overall market and macro-economic trends and statements in “Item 11—Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk”, with regard to risk management, interest and exchange risk are all forward–looking in nature. By their nature, forward–looking statements involve risk and uncertainty because they reflect the Company’s current expectations and assumptions as to future events and circumstances that may not prove accurate. A number of material factors could cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward–looking statements including those discussed in “Item 3—Key Information —Risk Factors” and in “Item 5—Operating and Financial Review and Prospects”.
Statements made in “Item 4—Information on the Company” and in “Item 5—Operating and Financial Review and Prospects” referring to the Group’s competitive position are based on the Company’s belief, and in some cases rely on a range of sources, including investment analysts’ reports, independent market studies and the Company’s internal assessment of market share based on publicly available information about the financial results and performance of market participants.
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PART I
ITEM 1—IDENTITY OF DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND ADVISORS
Not applicable.
ITEM 2—OFFER STATISTICS AND EXPECTED TIMETABLE
ITEM 3—KEY INFORMATION
The selected financial data are qualified in their entirety by reference to, and should be read in conjunction with, the Consolidated Financial Statements, the related Notes and “Item 5—Operating and Financial Review and Prospects” included elsewhere in this Annual Report.
The selected consolidated financial data for the five years ended December 31, 2004, have been derived from, and should be read in conjunction with, the audited Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes thereto set forth in Item 18 of this Annual Report.
CRH’s Consolidated Financial Statements are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the Republic of Ireland (“Irish GAAP”), which are consistent with accounting principles generally accepted in the United Kingdom (“U.K. GAAP”) but which differ in certain significant respects from U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”). A summary of the significant differences between Irish GAAP and U.S. GAAP, together with a reconciliation of net income and shareholders’ equity, is set forth in Note 31 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
As part of the European Commission’s plan to develop a single European capital market, the application of International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”) is mandatory for the consolidated financial statements of all listed European Union companies for reporting periods beginning on or after January 1, 2005. The Regulation passed by the European Union requires that IFRS-compliant financial statements be produced by CRH for the financial periods ending June 30, 2005 and December 31, 2005 and that those financial statements contain a full set of disclosures for the comparative periods in 2004. Under this Regulation January 1 2004 is the transition date to IFRS for CRH—see “Item 5—Operating and Financial Review and Prospects—New Accounting Standards”.
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CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENT DATA
Amounts in accordance with Irish GAAP
Net sales, including share of joint ventures
Operating income, excluding goodwill amortization (b)
Income before interest expense, including share of joint ventures and associates
Income before tax and equity minority shareholders’ interest
Taxes on income
Net income attributable to ordinary shareholders
Operating income as a percentage of net sales
Net income per Ordinary Share (c)
Diluted net income per Ordinary Share (c)
Dividends per Ordinary Share outstanding (c)
Average number of Ordinary Shares outstanding (c)
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges (times) (d)
Amounts in accordance with U.S. GAAP
Operating income, excluding goodwill amortization
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CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET DATA
Intangible assets—goodwill
Property, plant and equipment
Investments
Net current assets (b)
Net assets
Total assets
Long-term debt
Net debt (c)
Ordinary shareholders’ equity
Debt ratio (d)
Capital stock
Number of Ordinary Shares at December 31 (e)
OTHER DATA
Expenditure on acquisitions and investments
Expenditure on property, plant and equipment
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In this Annual Report on Form 20-F (“Form 20-F”), references to “U.S.$”, “U.S. dollars” or “U.S. cents” are to United States dollars, references to “euro”, “euro cent” or “€” are to the euro and “U.K.£” or “pounds sterling” are to the currency of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (“United Kingdom”). Other currencies referred to in this Form 20-F include Polish Zloty (“PLN”), Swiss Franc (“CHF”) and Argentine Peso (“ARP”).
Merely for the convenience of the reader, this Form 20-F contains translations of certain euro amounts into U.S. dollars at specified rates. These translations should not be construed as representations that the euro amounts actually represent such U.S. dollar amounts or could be converted into U.S. dollars at the rate indicated. Unless otherwise stated, the translations of euro into U.S. dollars have been made at €1 equal to U.S. $1.3538, the noon buying rate in New York City for cable transfers in euro on December 31, 2004 as certified for customs purposes by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (the “Noon Buying Rate”). On June 22, 2005, the Noon Buying Rate was €1 = U.S.$1.213.
The following table sets forth, for the periods and dates indicated, the average, high, low and end-of-period Noon Buying Rates in U.S. dollars per €1 (to the nearest cent).
Years ended December 31
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005 (through June 22, 2005)
Month
December 2004
January 2005
February 2005
March 2005
April 2005
May 2005
June 2005 (through June 22, 2005)
The above rates may vary slightly from the rates used for translating foreign currencies into euro in the preparation of the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements (see Note 1 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements).
For a discussion of the effects of exchange rate fluctuations on the financial condition and results of operations of the Group, see “Item 5—Operating and Financial Review and Prospects”.
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The following table sets forth the amounts of interim, final and total dividends paid in euro cent per Ordinary Share in respect of each fiscal year indicated. Each amount represents the actual dividend paid or payable and does not include the associated tax credits related to such payment.
Solely for convenience of the reader, these dividends have been translated into U.S. cents per American Depositary Share (“ADS”) (each representing one Ordinary Share) at the rate on each of the respective payment dates. Prior to August 24, 1998, each ADS represented five Ordinary Shares.
Years endedDecember 31
See also “Item 8—Financial Information—Dividends”.
This section describes the material risks that could affect the Group’s business. The factors below should be considered in connection with any forward-looking statements in this Form 20-F and the cautionary statements contained in “Introduction—Forward-Looking Statements”.
CRH operates in cyclical industries which are affected by factors beyond Group control such as the level of construction activity, fuel and raw material prices, which are in turn affected by the performance of national economies, the implementation of economic policies by sovereign governments and political developments.
Group financial performance is closely tied to the performance of the housing, industrial and commercial construction markets and to general levels of infrastructural activity. These markets are cyclical and are affected by a series of factors that are beyond Group control, including:
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The onset of a cycle of reduced economic growth in the countries in which CRH has significant operations or the implementation of unfavorable governmental policies could adversely affect Group revenues and operating margins.
CRH has significant operations in the United States and Europe and a possible deterioration of macro-economic conditions in these regions could have a material negative impact on Group operating results. Moreover, a U.S. or an EU economic slowdown may have negative implications for the economies of other markets in which CRH operates. TEA-21, the U.S. Federal funding program for transportation which was due to expire in September 2003, has been extended to end-June 2005, while negotiation continues between the U.S. Congress and the Administration on a proposed new six-year plan. To the extent government funding through governmental infrastructure programs is decreased or terminated as a result of such macroeconomic developments, Group revenues will be adversely affected because CRH will supply fewer products, or none at all, to such programs.
CRH pursues a strategy of growth through acquisitions. CRH may not be able to continue to grow as contemplated in its business plan if CRH is unable to identify attractive targets, complete the acquisition transactions and integrate the operations of the acquired businesses.
A key element of the Group’s growth strategy is to continue its acquisition strategy mainly through value-adding mid-sized deals and occasionally with larger strategic acquisitions. This strategy depends on the ability to identify and acquire suitable assets at acceptable prices. CRH may not be able to identify suitable companies and, even if identified, may not be able to acquire them. At the same time, the Group’s competitors also strive to expand through acquisition and may bid for companies that CRH view as potential acquisition targets. In addition, acquisitions may require the assimilation of new operations, products, services and personnel and may cause dissipation of Group management resources, as management may have to divert attention from day-to-day business operations to focus on addressing such issues. The Group’s ability to realize the expected benefits from future acquisitions depends, in large part, on its ability to integrate the new operations with existing operations in a timely and effective manner. Even if CRH is able to acquire suitable companies, it still may not be able to incorporate them successfully into its business and, accordingly, may be deprived of the expected benefits of the acquisitions.
Existing products may be replaced by substitute products which CRH does not produce and, as a result, CRH may lose market share in the markets for these products.
A number of Group products compete with other forms of building products that CRH does not produce. Any significant replacement of the Group’s building products in key markets by substitutes, which CRH does not produce, could adversely impact market share and results of operations in these markets.
CRH faces strong competition in its various markets, and if CRH fails to compete successfully, market share will decline.
CRH continually faces competition in the markets in which Group companies operate. The competitive environment in which the Group operates can be significantly affected by local factors, such as the number of competitors, production capacity, economic conditions and product demand in the local market. In several markets, downward pricing pressures are experienced from time to time as a result of competitive pressures and the Group is not always able quickly to recover increased operating expenses (caused by factors such as increased fuel and raw material prices) through higher selling prices.
Severe weather can reduce construction activity and lead to a decrease in demand for Group products in areas affected by adverse weather conditions.
Group operations and the demand for a number of Group products are affected by weather conditions in the markets CRH serves. Sustained adverse weather conditions such as rain, extreme cold or snow could disrupt or curtail outdoor construction activity which in turn could reduce demand for CRH’s products and have a material adverse effect on Group operations, financial performance or prospects.
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CRH is subject to stringent environmental and health and safety laws, regulations and standards which could result in costs related to compliance and remediation efforts that may adversely affect Group results of operations and financial condition.
CRH is subject to a broad and increasingly stringent range of environmental and health and safety laws, regulations and standards in each of the jurisdictions in which CRH operates. This results in significant compliance costs and could expose the Group to legal liability. The laws, regulations and standards relate to, among other things, air and noise emissions, wastewater discharges, avoidance of soil and groundwater contamination, the use and handling of hazardous materials and waste disposal practices.
Environmental and health and safety laws, regulations and standards also may expose CRH to the risk of substantial costs and liabilities, including liabilities associated with assets that have been sold and activities that have been discontinued. In addition, many of CRH’s manufacturing sites have a history of industrial use and, while CRH applies very strict environmental operating standards and undertakes extensive environmental due diligence in relation to acquisitions, some soil and groundwater contamination has occurred in the past at a limited number of sites, although to date the remediation costs have not been material to CRH. Such contamination might occur or be discovered at other sites in the future. Consistent with the past practice of its business, CRH continues to monitor or remediate soil and groundwater contamination at certain of these sites. Despite CRH’s policy and efforts to comply with all applicable environmental laws, CRH may face remediation liabilities and legal proceedings concerning environmental matters.
Based on information currently available, CRH has budgeted capital and revenue expenditures for environmental improvement projects and has established reserves for known environmental remediation liabilities that are probable and reasonably capable of estimation. However, CRH cannot predict environmental matters with certainty, and Group budgeted amounts and established reserves may not be adequate for all purposes. In addition, the development or discovery of new facts, events, circumstances or conditions, including future decisions to close plants, which may trigger remediation liabilities, and other developments such as changes in law or increasingly strict enforcement by governmental authorities, could result in increased costs and liabilities or prevent or restrict some of the Group’s operations.
For additional information see also “Item 4—Information on the Company—Environmental Regulations”.
CRH may be adversely affected by governmental regulations.
CRH is subject to various statutes, regulations and laws applicable to businesses generally in the countries and markets in which it operates. These include statutes, regulations and laws affecting land usage, zoning, labor and employment practices, competition and other matters.
CRH expects that its employees comply with a code of conduct that involves best practice in relation to these matters but cannot guarantee that its operating units will at all times be successful in complying with all demands of regulatory agencies in a manner which will not materially adversely affect its business, financial conditions or results of operations.
Because many of the Group’s subsidiaries operate in a currency other than the euro, adverse changes in foreign exchange rates relative to the euro could adversely affect Group reported earnings and cash flow.
Prior to January 1, 1999, Group financial statements were published in Irish Pounds. Since January 1, 1999, Group financial statements have been prepared exclusively in euro. However, a significant portion of Group revenues and expenses originates in currencies other than the euro, primarily in U.S. dollars, pounds sterling, Swiss francs and Polish zloties. For the year ended December 31, 2004, approximately 65% of Group shareholders’ funds were denominated in currencies other than the euro, predominantly the U.S. dollar (49%). As a result, from year to year, adverse changes in the exchange rates used to translate foreign currencies into euros, such as the weakening of the U.S. dollar against the euro, may impact the Group’s reported results. It is the
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Group’s policy partially to hedge its investment in foreign currencies by maintaining a net debt position in all foreign currencies, but otherwise CRH does not generally engage in hedging transactions to reduce Group exposure to foreign exchange translation risk. For additional information on the impact of foreign exchange movements on the Group’s financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2004 see “Item 5—Operating and Financial Review and Prospects”.
Economic, political and local business risks associated with international sales and operations could adversely affect CRH’s business.
CRH operates mainly in North America and the EU as well as, to a lesser degree, in developing markets in South America and Eastern Europe. The economies of these countries are at different stages of socio-economic development. Consequently, CRH’s future results could be harmed by a variety of factors, including:
CRH’s overall success as a global business depends, in part, upon its ability to succeed in differing and sometimes fast-changing economic, social and political conditions.
Recent acquisitions have generated substantial goodwill.
An acquisition generates goodwill to the extent that the price paid by CRH exceeds the fair value of the net assets acquired. Acquisitions in recent years have generated substantial goodwill. Additional goodwill may arise as a result of further acquisitions. CRH’s current policy under Irish GAAP is to amortize goodwill accumulated since January 1, 1998 over 20 years (see statement of accounting policies on page F-8 and also Note 31 (iv) on page F-48). However, under U.S. GAAP Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) SFAS 142 “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets”, effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2001, goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets are no longer amortized but are subject to annual impairment tests in accordance with the Statement. For the purposes of the U.S. GAAP reconciliation in Note 31 to the financial statements, the Group applied the new rules on accounting for goodwill and other intangible assets beginning January 1, 2002 and performed the first of the required annual impairment tests of goodwill as of that date. Both the 2003 and 2004 impairment tests indicated that no impairment had occurred.
In 2005, the application of IFRS is mandatory for the consolidated financial statements of all listed European Union companies for reporting periods beginning on or after January 1, 2005. The IFRS treatment of goodwill is similar to SFAS 142, and accordingly with effect from its 2005 annual report, goodwill will no longer be charged in the Group’s income statement but will be offset to some extent by the recognition and amortization of intangible assets arising on acquisitions deemed separable from goodwill.
Goodwill does not affect cash flow. However, a full write-down of goodwill at December 31, 2004 would have resulted in a charge to income and reduction in equity of €1,732.8 million under U.S. GAAP and €1,443.5 million under Irish GAAP.
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CRH has incurred and will continue to incur debt, which could result in increased financing costs and could constrain CRH’s business activities.
CRH has incurred and will continue to incur significant amounts of debt in order to finance its business and ongoing acquisition program. As of December 31, 2004, CRH had outstanding net indebtedness of €2,440.7 million. A significant portion of CRH’s cash flow from operations is dedicated to the payment of principal and interest on its indebtedness and will not be available for other purposes. If CRH’s earnings were to decline significantly, it could experience difficulty in servicing its debt instruments.
CRH has entered into certain financing agreements containing restrictive covenants, which could limit its operating and financial flexibility. Such covenants require CRH to maintain a certain interest coverage ratio, a certain ratio of current assets to current liabilities, a minimum net worth and place limits on the ratio of net debt to net worth as well as imposing various conditions for significant disposals of assets. These restrictions could limit CRH’s flexibility in planning for, and reacting to, competitive pressures and changes in its business, industry and general economic conditions and limit its ability to make strategic acquisitions and capitalize on business opportunities.
CRH does not have a controlling interest in certain of the businesses in which it has invested and in the future may invest in businesses in which there will not be a controlling interest. In addition, CRH is subject to restrictions due to minority interests in certain of its subsidiaries.
CRH has a significant but not controlling interest in certain operations. Some important decisions such as the approval of business plans and decisions as to the timing and amount of cash distributions may require the consent of CRH’s partners or may be approved without CRH’s consent. These limitations could make it difficult for CRH to pursue corporate objectives in the future.
CRH conducts its business through subsidiary companies. In some cases, minority shareholders hold significant interests in these subsidiaries. Various disadvantages may result from the participation of minority shareholders whose interests may not always coincide with CRH. The presence of minority interests may, among other things, impede CRH’s ability to implement organizational efficiencies and transfer cash and assets from one subsidiary to another in order to allocate assets most effectively.
ITEM 4—INFORMATION ON THE COMPANY
CRH public limited company is an international group of companies, engaged in the manufacture and supply of a wide range of building materials and in the operation of builders merchanting and “Do-It-Yourself” (“DIY”) stores. CRH is one of the top three companies, based on market capitalization, quoted on The Irish Stock Exchange Limited (“Irish Stock Exchange”) in Dublin. CRH is also quoted on The London Stock Exchange Limited (“London Stock Exchange”) in London and on The NASDAQ National Market in the United States. The market capitalization of CRH as of December 31, 2004 was €10.5 billion.
The Group resulted from the merger in 1970 of two leading Irish public companies, Cement Limited (established in 1936) and Roadstone, Limited (incorporated in 1949). Cement Limited manufactured and supplied cement while Roadstone, Limited was primarily involved in the manufacture and supply of aggregates, readymixed concrete, mortar, coated macadam, asphalt and contract surfacing to the Irish construction industry.
The Company is incorporated in the Republic of Ireland. The Group’s worldwide headquarters are located in Dublin, Ireland. Its principal executive offices are located at Belgard Castle, Clondalkin, Dublin 22 (telephone: 353-1-404 1000). The Company’s registered office is located at 42 Fitzwilliam Square, Dublin 2, Ireland and its U.S. agent is Oldcastle Inc., 375 Northridge Road, Atlanta, Georgia 30350. The Company is the holding company of the Group, with direct and indirect share and loan interests in subsidiaries, joint ventures and associates.
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From the Group headquarters, a small team of executives exercises strategic control over decentralized operations in the Republic of Ireland, Britain & Northern Ireland, Mainland Europe and the Americas. The Group employs a total of approximately 60,000 people worldwide.
For Irish GAAP reporting purposes, the Group’s activities fall into three reporting business segments: Materials, Products and Distribution. The activities of the various segments are briefly described as follows:
Share of net sales and operating income
Materials
Products
Distribution
Total
Note 31 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (pages F-65 to F-68) shows for CRH’s last three fiscal years the segmental disclosures required under U.S. GAAP.
In the detailed description of the Group’s business that follows, estimates of the Group’s various aggregate and stone reserves have been provided by engineers employed by the individual operating companies. Details of product end-use by sector for each reporting segment are based on management estimates.
As a result of planned geographic diversification since the mid-1970s, the Group has expanded by acquisition and organic growth into an international manufacturer and supplier of building materials, with activities spread across 24 countries in Europe and The Americas.
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Activities—Annualized production volumes (CRH share)
Canada,
United States (23 states)
Argentina, Canada,
United States (34 states)
Argentina,
United States (7 states)
Glass fabrication
& rooflights—15.2 million square meters
Argentina, Canada, Chile,
United States (22 states)
Strategy
A federal Group organised for growth
CRH is divided into four regionally focused Divisions: Europe Materials, Europe Products & Distribution, Americas Materials and Americas Products & Distribution, supported by a lean Group centre.
Within these Divisions:
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A tried and tested development strategy
CRH was founded in 1970 following the merger of two major Irish companies; Irish Cement and Roadstone. Shortly afterwards, the Board set a clear strategy for the development of the Group which, while it has evolved over the years, is still broadly applicable.
This strategy involves:
A focus on measured performance and growth
CRH has twin imperatives—to perform and to grow. Throughout the Group, businesses are required to deliver performance by achieving a targeted return on capital employed thereby earning the right to grow.
Growth is achieved:
An experienced management team
CRH has a highly experienced management team and the development of talented successors is a priority for all managers. Regular formal reviews of management development strategy are carried out by each Division with guidance and support provided by the Group Human Resources function.
Managers come from three broadly different streams, comprising:
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This provides a healthy mix and depth of skills and a wealth of experience at senior level with many managers having managed through previous economic cycles.
A remuneration policy that rewards performance
CRH’s market-driven approach is central to attracting, retaining and motivating exceptional managers. Performance-related rewards are based on measured targets for the creation of shareholder value.
A responsible corporate citizen
CRH’s strategic vision is to be an international leader in building materials delivering superior performance and growth. Corporate responsibility is a core element of this vision.
CRH strives to:
A balanced business
Regional and product balance
CRH manages the effect of varying economic conditions by a balance in its geographic presence and between primary materials and building products.
Americas Materials
Americas Products & Distribution
Europe Materials
Europe Products & Distribution
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Sectoral balance
Within each geographic region, CRH seeks to reduce the effects of varying demand levels across building and construction sectors by maintaining a balanced portfolio of products.
Product end-use
Residential
Non-residential
Infrastructure
New Construction
Repair, Maintenance & Improvement (“RMI”)
In the early and mid-1970s, over 85% of CRH’s income was earned in the Republic of Ireland. The Group’s overseas interests during this period comprised Forticrete Limited, a small Liverpool-based (England) concrete products company and Van Neerbos Beheer bv, a Dutch-based builders merchant with a small manufacturing division and one DIY store. A strategic decision was taken in 1977 to invest in familiar business sectors overseas and to develop the existing overseas operations with a view to spreading risks and opportunities more broadly. Between 1978 and June 2005, approximately €10.3 billion has been spent by the Group in acquiring and investing in 516 companies, and the Group now has operations at over 2,100 locations in 24 countries. The major acquisitions and investments made by the Group during the three years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002 are listed below.
Companies acquired (€ million)
The EHL Group
Certain assets of U.S. Aggregates in Idaho, Utah and Alabama
Anchor Concrete Products in New Jersey
Cementbouw Handel & Industrie in the Netherlands
S.E Johnson in Ohio
Secil investment in Portugal
Other 2004, 2003 and 2002 acquisitions/investments
Gross cost of acquisitions and investments
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Contributions to Sales and Income before Interest Expense
The Group is organized into four Divisions, two in Europe: Materials and Products & Distribution, and two in The Americas: Materials in the United States and Products & Distribution in the United States, Canada, Chile and Argentina. These four divisions are comprised of a total of seven reportable segments (within the meaning of SFAS 131; see Segmental Analysis—Information required by SFAS 131 on pages F-65 to F-68) as set out below:
Division
Reportable Segments
Other
The percentage of Group sales and operating income for each of the four Divisions for 2004, 2003 and 2002 is shown in the table on page 14. Note 2 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements shows the information required under Irish GAAP for CRH’s last three fiscal years (a) a geographical analysis of total net sales and operating income before interest expense by market, and (b) total net sales and operating income before interest expense attributable to the three main classes of business, together with certain additional information relating to each class of business and geographical area.
Note 31 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (pages F-65 to F-68) shows for CRH’s last three fiscal years the segmental disclosures required by U.S. GAAP for the seven reportable segments shown above.
Business Operations in Americas Materials
The Americas Materials Division is organized into four principal regional groups with operations in New England; New York and New Jersey; in the West from Washington on the Pacific coast across to Iowa and down to New Mexico and in the Central region encompassing operations in Michigan, Ohio, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Alabama. The Division employs 13,800 people at over 650 locations.
Products and services
Location
Annualized volumes
Aggregates
Asphalt
Readymixed concrete
Aggregate reserves are adequate to permit production at current operating levels for a minimum of 20 years, which equates to minimum reserves of approximately 2.7 billion tons based on 2004 production.
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The Division is broadly self-sufficient in aggregates and its principal purchased raw materials are liquid asphalt and cement used in the manufacturing of asphalt and readymixed concrete respectively. These raw materials are available from a number of suppliers. There is a continued focus on improving bitumen and energy purchasing and the substitution of recycled oil for natural gas in asphalt manufacturing.
Federal, state and local government authority road and infrastructural projects awarded by public bid represent a significant proportion of work carried out by the Division. The Division also has a broad commercial base, supplying stone, readymixed concrete and asphalt for industrial, office, shopping mall and private residential development and refurbishment.
Development strategy
Continue to improve on our excellent environmental and safety records and grow our existing strong market positions while looking for new growth regions in the Americas.
New England
New York/New Jersey
Central
West
Business Operations in Americas Products & Distribution
The Products & Distribution Division in the Americas operates mainly in the United States with a presence in Canada and South America. This Division is comprised of two reportable segments, Products and Distribution.
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This segment comprises four groups: Architectural Products, Precast and Glass, each with local and national market positions in North America, and South America where CRH is a major producer of clay products in Argentina and has glass tempering operations in Argentina and Chile. The Products segment employs approximately 15,000 people in over 300 locations.
Precast concrete products
Prepackaged concrete mixes
Concrete masonry, pavers, rooftiles
Clay bricks, pavers, tiles
Architectural Products group (“APG”). APG, which is a large North American producer of concrete block, masonry, hardscape and roofing products, prepackaged concrete mixes and lightweight aggregates, services the U.S. and eastern Canada from 190 locations in 35 states and two Canadian provinces.
APG’s concrete masonry and roofing products are used for cladding and foundations in both residential and non-residential construction. Hardscape products include interlocking pavers, flags and retaining walls which are used in residential and non-residential construction as well as in streets and highways. The residential and non-residential sectors combined account for over 75% of APG’s output. A significant proportion of APG’s output is used in the RMI and DIY sectors.
Patio and paving products are marketed under the Oldcastle™ and Durascape® brand to major DIY and homecenter chains across the United States. Cementitious dry-mixes, marketed under the Sakrete® brand, and lightweight aggregate are also important product lines. Competition for APG arises primarily from other locally-owned concrete products companies. Principal raw material supplies are readily available.
APG also includes Glen-Gery Corporation, a clay brick producer with an annual capacity of over 500 million bricks, operating 10 brick plants located primarily in the northeast and midwest regions of the United States.
Precast group. The Precast group produces precast, prestressed and polymer concrete and concrete pipe in the U.S. and Canada with 68 locations in 23 states and eastern Canada.
The most significant individual precast concrete product is the underground vault sold principally to utility companies such as water, electrical and telephone utilities. Other important precast items include drainage and sanitary sewer products such as pipe, manholes, inlets and catch basins. Street and highway products such as median barriers, culverts and short span bridges and precast flooring in the Northeast round out the main product lines. In many instances, precast products are an alternative to poured-in-place concrete, which is a significant competing product.
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In the northeast, the Building Systems division manufactures and installs prestressed concrete plank and other products. These products are used mainly in structures such as hotels, apartments, prisons, parking garages and bridges.
Concrete pipe is used for storm and sanitary sewer applications, which are largely local government projects. Competing materials include corrugated steel pipe and high-density polyethylene pipe in storm sewer applications and plastic pipe in sanitary sewer applications.
Glass group. The Glass group is a producer of monolithic tempered glass, double-glazed units for commercial and residential applications, laminated glass, entrance and glass-wall systems and silk-screened and spandrel glass. The group delivers to 48 of the top 50 MSA’s (Metropolitan Statistical Areas) in the U.S. and four Canadian provinces. It has 45 locations in 22 states and four Canadian provinces.
Tempered glass is a building product with major applications in the RMI construction sector, and has a growing range of specialty uses in furniture, appliances, marine windows and in a wide range of architectural applications. The product range includes insulated, spandrel, laminated, security and sound control glass manufactured in a variety of shapes, thicknesses, colors and qualities. In 2004, the Glass group produced 14.1 million square meters of glass products.
The Glass groups’ major customers are glazing contractors, manufacturers of shower/bath enclosures, window and door manufacturers and glass distributors. The major raw material, annealed glass, is purchased from a number of major glass producers. The Glass Group has a strong focus on operational best practices and continuous cost control to minimize the impact of raw material increases.
South America. CRH’s subsidiary in Argentina, Canteras Cerro Negro (“CCN”) is a producer of clay roof, wall and floor tiles, and services the Argentine market from two state-of-the-art production facilities at Olavarria, 350km south of Buenos Aires.
During 1999, the group purchased 50% of Vidrios Dell Orto, a glass fabricator in Chile; this shareholding was increased to 80% in 2002 and a further 19.9% was purchased in May 2004. CRH acquired Superglass, a glass temperer in Argentina, in late 1999.
The strategy for Americas—Products is to expand current strong positions in all product groups through acquisition and appropriate greenfield development, using scale, best practices and product/process innovation to create competitive advantage and to improve margins in the face of rising input costs.
Architectural Products
Precast
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Glass
South America
Roofing, siding & related products
The Distribution group operates as Allied Building Products (“Allied”). Allied is a distributor of roofing and siding products to residential and also to commercial roofing and siding contractors with an emphasis on replacement projects. It employs approximately 2,800 people at 124 branches in 26 states. In major metropolitan areas, principally New York, Denver and Boston, it also distributes gypsum board and acoustical tile and grid (“Interior Products”) to upscale commercial/office refurbishment projects.
Roofing, siding and Interior Products distributors in the United States are supplied by a limited number of large national manufacturers, while customers tend to be small-to-medium sized local contractors. The Distribution group has no activities outside the U.S.
The Distribution group’s customers are residential and commercial contractors. Allied’s activities are mainly in the northern tier states of the U.S. with a major presence in New York/New Jersey and a less dense but growing presence in cities throughout the western states.
The strategy for Americas Distribution is to leverage IT investment and infrastructure to continue improving the existing business, growing by acquisition and the opening of new branches in major metropolitan areas.
Business Operations in Europe Materials
The Materials Division in Europe is a producer of primary materials and value-added manufactured products operating in 13 countries. This Division is comprised of two reportable segments based on geographic split, Republic of Ireland and the rest of Europe, or Other.
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In Ireland, the Division produces cement, aggregates, asphalt, and readymixed concrete. In total the Republic of Ireland segment employs approximately 2,400 people at over 90 locations.
Cement
Agricultural & chemical lime
Concrete products
Irish CementThrough Irish Cement, CRH is the largest supplier and producer of cement in the Republic of Ireland. Irish Cement sales in 2004 accounted for approximately 60% of cement market demand in the whole island of Ireland.
Irish Cement operates two cement plants, one at Platin, north of Dublin, and one in Limerick in the southwest of the country, with a total annual production capacity of 2.5 million tons of clinker. Capacity utilization was high at both plants in 2004. The plants employ modern technology and are equipped with raw grinding mills, finish grinding mills, environmentally protective dust collection systems, storage facilities and energy-efficient dry process kilns. All kilns have the ability to burn coal, petroleum coke or fuel oil and are currently fired using a mix of coal and petroleum coke. Coal and petroleum coke supplies are readily available.
Cement is manufactured by burning crushed limestone and shale, obtained from Irish Cement’s own quarries, at very high temperatures to form “clinker”. After it has cooled, clinker is ground into a fine powder, which is the principal binding agent in concrete and other cement products. Customers primarily comprise concrete producers and merchants supplying construction contractors and others.
Sales to other CRH subsidiaries accounted for approximately 30% of Irish Cement’s sales in the Republic of Ireland in 2004, with the next five largest customers accounting for approximately 30%. Competition comes principally from three cement plants, two in the Irish Republic and a third plant near Belfast. Irish Cement’s results are influenced primarily by the level of construction activity in the Republic of Ireland.
Roadstone-Wood The Roadstone-Wood group produces aggregates, readymixed concrete, concrete products and asphalt road products at 80 locations throughout the Republic of Ireland. Aggregates, asphalt and related services are sold principally to local governmental highway authorities and to contractors, while readymixed concrete and concrete products (manufactured mainly at locations with aggregates on site and including block, masonry, pipe, rooftiles and precast concrete flooring) are sold to both the public and private construction sectors. Roadstone-Wood is also involved in asphalt contracting. Agricultural limestone sales to the farming community are another significant feature of Roadstone-Wood operations.
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The Roadstone-Wood group encounters strong competition in all of its markets and competes principally on quality, service and price. Operations are affected by the overall level of government capital expenditure, the level of activity in the housing, agricultural, industrial and commercial construction markets and by the weather.
Premier Periclase At a single plant located on the coast near Dublin, Premier Periclase produces high-quality sinter magnesia using the seawater process. Sinter magnesia is primarily used in the production of heat resistant refractory bricks for lining high temperature vessels in the steel, cement and glass manufacturing industries. Premier Periclase exports all of its production to the refractory industry worldwide and competes with a number of other sinter magnesia producers located mainly in Europe, the United States, China and Australia. Results are influenced primarily by activity in the world steel industry, which is cyclical and is dependent on general world economic conditions.
The strategy for Europe Materials—Republic of Ireland is to maintain the Group’s position as the lowest cost/best value producer and continue to operate to the highest environmental standards.
Europe Materials—Other
The Europe Materials—Other segment comprises manufacturing facilities in Estonia, Finland, Israel, Latvia, Northern Ireland, Poland, Russia, Spain, Switzerland, Portugal, Tunisia and Ukraine which produce a range of building products including cement, aggregates, asphalt and concrete products.
In total, the Europe Materials—Other segment employs approximately 7,700 people at over 310 locations.
Clay bricks
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Finnsementti is the sole cement manufacturer in Finland. Operating from two dry-process plants in southern Finland, the company has an annual capacity of 1.4 million tons of cement. The largest plant is Pargas, located on an island near Turku. It has one dry-process kiln, and an annual cement capacity of 900,000 tons. The second plant is located at Lapeenranta near the Russian border and is equipped with two dry-process kilns. Limestone is available under long-term supply agreements.
Sales to other CRH subsidiaries accounted for approximately 28% of Finnsementti’s sales in 2004. Finnsementti competes on the basis of the quality and consistency of its product and on the reliability of its service. Competition comes principally from two cement importers, one in Turku in Finland and the second based in Russia. Annual cement imports into Finland are reported to be approximately 0.3 million tons per annum.
Lohja Rudusis an aggregates and readymixed concrete producer in Finland. It also has locations in the Baltic States of Latvia and Estonia, and is the only Western readymixed concrete producer in St. Petersburg in Russia.
Abetoni, a manufacturer of precast concrete products, was acquired in January 2004 and integrated into our concrete products division in Finland.
Poland Cementownia Ozarów operates two modern dry process kilns at Ozarów, approximately 170km south east of Warsaw, with a total annual production capacity of 2.7 million tons. In addition, CRH owns Cementownia Rejowiec, located approximately 210km south east of Warsaw, which has an annual cement capacity of 0.4 million tons. Limestone reserves are sufficient for 80 years at current output levels.
Along with the manufacture of cement, CRH produces a range of building materials including aggregates, asphalt, readymixed concrete, concrete products and lime in Poland.
Jura is a cement manufacturer in Switzerland, with two modern, well-equipped, energy-efficient cement plants, one in Wildegg in the north of the country and one in Cornaux in the west.
Both cement plants are located close to large limestone deposits. Raw material reserves are substantial, sufficient for over 50 years at current production levels. Approximately 30% of cement produced is sold to Jura’s aggregates and ready-mixed concrete operations. This is distributed from the two production plants using hired haulers. Jura has a market share of approximately 18%. Competition comes principally from two cement manufacturers in Switzerland. Annual cement imports into Switzerland are reported to be approximately 0.4 million tons per annum.
Jura also has aggregates and readymixed concrete operations in Switzerland, which have strong regional positions in the central and north-western regions, producing approximately 2.7 million tons of aggregates and over 825,000 cubic meters of concrete annually.
Jura consolidated its position in the Zürich readymixed concrete market with the January 2004 acquisition of Hastag, a long established private company.
Podilsky Cement is a cement manufacturer in the Ukraine. Operating from one wet-process plant in southwest Ukraine, the company produced 1.7 million tons of cement in 2004. Bulk cement accounts for approximately 74% of deliveries. Rail delivery (bulk and bag) accounts for 80% of sales. The main customers are an integrated network of wholesalers and manufacturers of concrete products. Substantial limestone reserves are located close to the plant, which are sufficient for over 100 years at current output. Competition comes principally from several cement manufacturers in the Ukraine.
In August 2001, CRH acquired a 25% shareholding in Mashav, the holding company for Nesher Cement, the sole producer of cement in Israel.
Nesher operates two clinker production plants located in Ramla (serving Tel Aviv and the surrounding area) and Har Tuv (serving Jerusalem, southern and eastern Israel) and has access to substantial raw material reserves totaling 110 million tons at present. The Ramla facility has two modern dry process kilns with combined annual
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capacity of 3.8 million tons of clinker. The Har Tuv location has a single semi-dry process kiln with annual capacity of approximately 0.7 million tons of clinker.
Mashav also has a 50% joint venture,Taàvura, which is the largest haulage and logistics company in Israel. The Taàvura joint venture provides transport for the majority of Nesher’s cement and raw materials.
Northstone produces aggregates, readymixed concrete, concrete products and asphalt road products, primarily in Northern Ireland. In addition, Northstone is involved in civil engineering contracting and property development in Northern Ireland and at selected sites in England.
During 2004, Northstone produced and sold approximately 2.3 million tons of aggregates, of which approximately one quarter was used to supply its fifteen readymixed concrete plants and its concrete block, concrete rooftile and asphalt operations at eleven locations. Aggregate reserves are adequate to permit production at current operating levels for a minimum of 25 years, which equates to minimum reserves of 58 million tons based on 2004 production. Approximately 50% of Northern Ireland production is used in highway surfacing by Northstones’ contracting division for local governmental authorities.
Beton Catalan. The Beton Catalan Group (“Beton Catalan”) produces aggregates, concrete products and readymixed concrete. While Beton Catalan’s largest market is the densely populated Catalonia region in northeastern Spain, it also operates readymixed concrete plants elsewhere in Spain.
Beton Catalan surface-mines aggregates from five quarries in Catalonia and one quarry in each of the Madrid and Valencia regions. During 2004, Beton Catalan produced approximately 3.4 million tons of aggregates of which approximately 95% was used to supply its own readymixed concrete and concrete products operations. Aggregate reserves are adequate to permit production at current operating levels for a minimum of 13 years, which equates to minimum reserves of 44 million tons based on 2004 production. Third party sales of aggregates are primarily to other concrete manufacturers and construction companies in the region.
Beton Catalan operates 62 readymixed concrete plants in Spain and in 2004 produced 3.2 million cubic meters of readymixed concrete. Beton Catalan also manufactures a variety of concrete products including blocks, pipe, paving slabs, steel reinforced beams and girders. In 2004, Beton Catalan produced 404,000 tons of concrete products.
Beton Catalan sources its cement supplies primarily from a number of major Spanish producers. Competition comes mainly from other large readymixed concrete producers and from a variety of small concrete product manufacturers in Spain.
Portugal CRH entered the Portuguese cement and concrete products markets in June 2004 with the purchase of 49% of Secil—with joint management control. In addition to its operations in Portugal, Secil also provides development opportunities in Tunisia and Lebanon.
The strategy for the Europe Materials—Other segment is to build and maintain strong market positions in primary building materials and related products through growth in existing business, construction of new facilities and acquisitions in selected European markets.
Finland
Poland
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Switzerland
Spain
Portugal
Elsewhere
Business Operations in Europe Products & Distribution
Products & Distribution in Europe is organized in two reportable segments, Products and Distribution. The Products segment is organized into four groups of related businesses involved in clay, concrete, insulation and other building products. Distribution encompasses builders merchants and DIY stores.
The Products segment operates in 13 European countries with the Benelux, the U.K., France, and Germany accounting for the bulk of its sales. The Products segment seeks leadership positions in the markets in which it operates. This segment has approximately 14,300 employees at over 300 locations.
Concrete blocks and pavers
Clay bricks, pavers & rooftiles
Fencing & security
Daylight & Ventilation
Insulation products
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Concrete Products
This group produces architectural (pavers, tiles and blocks) and structural (floor and wall elements, drainage and poles) concrete products and sand-lime brick.
The EHL Group produces concrete paving and landscape walling products sold primarily to the RMI sector from a network of 33 modern production facilities in Germany and one in Poland.
Struyk Verwo operates in the Benelux countries, manufacturing a full range of concrete paving products including pavers, flags, kerbs, pipe and street furniture with national coverage from 14 factories in the Netherlands and two in Belgium. Paving products are sold primarily to municipalities and paving contractors.
Marlux produces high-quality concrete decorative paving products at 2 modern factories in Belgium, and competes in this niche sector in Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany and France. Marlux branded products, which are sold mainly through specialist retail outlets such as garden and patio centers, are used for decorative applications, typically landscaping of public areas, gardens and patios.
Forticretemanufactures and supplies a wide range of dense concrete masonry, high strength blocks, common blocks and rooftiles. Forticrete operates from a network of 10 locations throughout England. Forticrete’s products are sold primarily to major contractors and builders merchants in competition with other concrete product manufacturers.
Premac is a leading paving producer in Slovakia
Dycore is a concrete flooring group supplying an extensive range of reinforced and prestressed flooring serving the Dutch market and markets in neighboring countries from three factories. The housing and commercial sectors account for the bulk of precast flooring sales, and competition in this market comes from one larger and several smaller-sized manufacturers.
Remacle is a manufacturer of concrete vaults and precast concrete products in southern Belgium. Omnidal manufactures precast concrete wall and floor elements and Schelfhout manufactures concrete wall elements. Both Omnidal and Schelfhout are located in Belgium. Douterloigne is a manufacturer of reinforced hollowcore flooring, concrete pavers and blocks with 4 production plants in the north and the west of Belgium. Maessen is a manufacturer of floor and wall elements in Belgium. Duffeleer is a producer of concrete sewerage and drainage products in the southwest of Belgium.
Betonelement is a Danish producer of precast concrete elements.
La Société Béton Moulé Industriel (“BMI”) is a large manufacturer of precast concrete products for the utility sector with a network of 20 plants throughout France. BMI manufactures poles for power transmission, drainage systems and precast concrete vaults.
In June 2004 the Concrete Product Group acquiredErgon, with precast concrete structural operations in Belgium, France and Poland, and towards year-end, acquired Klaps, a leading manufacturer of concrete paving, sewerage and water treatment products based in northern Belgium, and the remaining 50% of Kellen Concrete Products in the Netherlands.
Calduran is a producer of calcium silicate (sand-lime) elements and bricks for the Dutch residential market.
The Concrete Product Group’s principal raw materials include cement purchased in the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany, crushed stone sourced in Germany and sand and gravel extracted in the Netherlands. Raw materials are readily available.
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Clay Products
The Europe Products & Distribution Division has clay products manufacturing activities in four countries, with the Ibstock operation in the U.K. being the largest business. Natural gas and liquid petroleum gas are the energy sources for the brick companies’ kilns. Clay supplies are readily available. Competition in clay products comes mainly from other locally-based manufacturers. Sales are made through builders merchants, specialist brick factors and architects.
Ibstock is one of the leading brick producers in the U.K., with a market share of approximately 32%. The company produces approximately 0.9 billion bricks annually at a network of 24 factories throughout the country. The primary market is new housing.
In the Netherlands, the CRH Kleiwaren group has six factories producing facing bricks and pavers, while Kooy Bilthoven is a specialist brick merchant. In Germany, AKA Ziegelwerke produces facing bricks, pavers and rooftiles at six factories. A further three factories in Poland also produce facing bricks.
The group made its first acquisition in Belgium in June 2004 with the purchase of the country’s leading brick factor.
Insulation
The CRH Insulation group is a pan-European business manufacturing three of the four main materials used in insulation (the fourth being mineral fiber which is not manufactured by the Group).
Expanded polystyrene (EPS) building insulation and packaging products are manufactured through Aerobord with 4 locations in Ireland; Springvale at three locations in the U.K.; Termo Organika at two locations in Poland; and at ThermiSol with eight locations in the Nordic countries of Denmark, Sweden, Finland and Estonia. ThermiSol is a leader in expanded polystyrene insulation in the above-mentioned Nordic countries.
Unidek is a producer of EPS and roofing systems with factories in the Netherlands and Germany.
EcoTherm produces polyurethane (PUR) insulation at one factory in Holland and one in the U.K.
Gefinex is a leading manufacturer of extruded polystyrene (XPE) insulation products in Germany and has a 49% stake in Gefinex Jackon, co-leader in the German extruded polystyrene (XPS) market.
In November 2004, the group further extended its operations with the acquisition of the polyurethane insulation operations of Icopal in the U.K.
Insulation products are sold primarily to builders merchants for applications in commercial buildings and housing, while packaging products are manufactured for the electronics, drink concentrate and food processing industries as well as for large supermarket chains.
Building Products
Building Products comprises of three sub-groups: Fencing & Security, Daylight & Ventilation and the newly-acquired Construction Accessories.
CRH Fencing & Security is a supplier of security solutions, which includes designing and manufacturing fencing and security gate systems and supplying access control systems for the building industry, manufacturing industry, sports and recreational areas, power stations and airports. Products include chain-link, weld-mesh and bar fencing, swing, sliding and cantilever gates and sophisticated access control and boundary security systems. Raw materials for fencing and security gate manufacturing comprise steel, aluminum, reinforced glass fiber, chain-link fabric and barbed wire purchased from a variety of sources.
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CRH Fencing & Security has factories in the Netherlands, Germany, France and the U.K. and has sales branches in those countries and in Belgium, Poland, Asia, Australia and the U.S.
The December 2004 acquisition of Broughton Controls, a U.K.-based company, strengthened our position in access control systems.
Daylight and Ventilation This group manufactures glass and synthetic rooflights and associated smoke exhaust and natural ventilation systems. The group comprises 18 manufacturing locations in Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium, the U.K. and Ireland. In April 2004, it acquired Airvent, a U.K.-based service and maintenance company specializing in smoke exhaust systems, which enhances its product offering.
TheConstruction Accessories group was formed following the acquisition in April 2003 of Plakabeton, a leading supplier of metal-based accessories for the construction and precast concrete industries. Plakabeton has production plants in both Belgium and France, and a network of thirteen distribution centers in Belgium, France, Spain and the Netherlands.
Mavotrans, one of the leading players in construction accessories in the Netherlands, was acquired in July 2004 extending CRH’s position in this product category.
To build leadership positions in targeted European markets in the manufacture and distribution of building products through organic investment and acquisition.
Concrete Products and Sand-lime brick
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Number of locations
Builders merchants
DIY stores
This segment has approximately 4,400 employees at 381 locations.
Builders merchants, Netherlands CRH operates 110 builders merchants locations in the Netherlands. 69 depots cater to the heavyside sector selling a range of bricks, cement, roofing and other building products mainly to small and medium-sized builders under the trade names Ubbens, NVB Vermeulen, Stoel van Klaveren and Van Neerbos. A further eight depots trading under the name Syntec cater to the lightside sector selling a range of hardware, tools, ironmongery and installation fittings to the building trades. The 18-branch Kelders Dakmaterialen division specializes in roofing and insulation materials in the Netherlands. Garfield Aluminium operates from three locations as a stockist and distributor of rolled and extruded aluminum products for building and other contractors. The Bouwmaat chain of “cash-and-carry” merchanting outlets sells a wide range of building materials to the smaller builder and jobber from 12 outlets. In November 2004, CRH acquired NCD Builders Merchants adding 17 locations to our existing 52 branches. Competition in merchanting is encountered primarily from other merchanting chains and local individual merchants.
Builders merchants, France CRH operates 29 builders merchants in France. Matériaux Service is a 15-branch builders merchant located in the greater Paris region (Ile-de France). Raboni is an 11-branch builders merchant primarily located within central Paris. Raboni sells almost exclusively to professional customers with competition coming from other merchanting operations in the market area. Matériaux Service has a broader customer base compared with Raboni and faces similar competition. Buscaglia operates from three locations in the North East of Paris selling to the Ile-de-France infrastructure market.
During the year, a joint venture company established by CRH (45% stake) and SAMSE (55%) acquired an additional 65.3% of the share capital of G. Doras, a 44-branch builders merchant operating in the Burgundy and Franche-Comté regions, bringing its stake to 100%.
Builders merchants, Switzerland In the German-speaking region of Switzerland, CRH trades primarily under two brands: Baubedarf selling heavy building materials (mainly cement, concrete products, bricks, insulation and roofing materials), and Richner selling ceramic tiles and sanitary ware. The total group comprises a network of 49 outlets in the German-speaking region of Switzerland. Customers are mostly small local contractors.
Builders merchants, Poland In October 2004, we sold our 56% stake in GenBud S.A. to our Polish joint venture partners.
DIY stores, Benelux CRH operates 28 Karwei and 88 GAMMA DIY stores in the Netherlands and 17 GAMMA stores in Belgium. Six stores are held through 50/50 joint ventures, while all others are 100%-owned.
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The stores operate within the Intergamma franchise organization, the largest DIY group in the Benelux. Buying and advertising is undertaken by Intergamma, which is owned by its franchisees. The stores sell to DIY enthusiasts and home improvers. Customers generally collect goods although each store offers a delivery service for an additional charge. Competition comes primarily from other national DIY chains and from local DIY stores.
DIY stores, PortugalCRH’s 50% joint venture MaxMat is a cash-and-carry DIY chain in Portugal with 16 stores. This sector of the distribution industry has not been fully developed in the Iberian peninsula and the Distribution group expects to expand their position in the DIY and RMI market.
Activity in the construction industry is characterized by cyclicality and is dependent to a significant extent on the seasonal impact of weather in the Group’s operating locations with activity in some markets reduced significantly in winter due to inclement weather.
CRH is the holding company for an international group of companies. The principal subsidiary undertakings are listed below:
Incorporated and
operating in
Company name
Britain & Northern Ireland
Ireland
30
Ukraine
Belgium
31
Denmark
Estonia
France
Germany
32
Netherlands
Gozdnickie Zaklady Ceramiki
Betowlanej Sp. z o.o.
33
Slovakia
Sweden
United States
34
Argentina
Canada
Chile
35
36
The principal joint venture and associated undertakings are listed below:
Incorporated andoperating in
Israel
Glass constructions, continuous
rooflights and ventilation systems
Cement transport and trading,
readymixed concrete and aggregates
Modelo Distribuicao de Materiais
de Construcao sa
CRH generally owns or leases the real estate on which some of its main raw materials, namely aggregates and clay reserves, are found. CRH is also a significant purchaser of certain important materials such as cement, bitumen, gas, fuel and other energy supplies, the cost of which can fluctuate by material amounts and consequently have an adverse impact on CRH’s business. CRH is not generally dependent on any one source for the supply of these products, other than in certain jurisdictions with regard to the supply of gas and electricity. Competitive markets generally exist in the jurisdictions in which CRH operates for the supply of cement, bitumen and fuel.
At June 22, 2005, CRH and its joint ventures had a total of 1,752 building materials production locations, of which 959 were located in The Americas, 121 were located in Ireland and 672 in Mainland Europe. At the same
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date, CRH had a total of 505 Merchanting & DIY locations of which 124 were located in the United States and 381 in Mainland Europe. 322 locations in the United States, 8 in the Republic of Ireland, 44 in Britain and Northern Ireland, 430 in Mainland Europe and 8 in Canada are leased, with the remaining 1,445 locations held on a freehold basis.
CRH believes that all the facilities are in good condition, adequate for their purpose and suitably utilized according to the individual nature and requirements of the relevant operations. CRH has a continuing program of improvements and replacements to properties when considered appropriate to meet the needs of the individual operations. The Group’s principal properties by acreage at June 22, 2005 are listed below. All quarries are open pit.
Principal properties
Description
Title
Business activity
Platin,
Co. Meath
Limerick,
Co. Limerick
Ozarów
Environmental Regulations
CRH requires all its businesses to operate in an environmentally responsible manner. The resources and processes that we have put in place are focused on achieving industry best practice standards at all of our locations.
Environmental policy
Our environmental policy, applied across all of the Group companies, is to:
Environmental management
Achieving our environmental policy objectives at all our locations is a management imperative; this responsibility continues right up to Divisional Director and Group Chief Executive at CRH Board level.
Daily responsibility for ensuring that the Group’s environmental policy is effectively implemented lies with individual location managers. They are supported and monitored at operating company level by a network of Environmental Liaison Officers (“ELOs”). This network covers all of the companies over which we have management control.
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The ELOs are charged with ensuring that company environmental policies are properly adhered to, and that site managers are fully aware of their responsibilities in this regard. At each year-end, the ELOs assist the Group Technical Advisor in carrying out a detailed assessment of Group environmental performance, which is reviewed by the CRH Board.
The 2004 review confirmed the required high degree of compliance and good environmental performance right across the Group. Where non-compliances were noted, they were mainly administrative in nature: all these have been or are being resolved to the full satisfaction of the respective stakeholders.
Environmental performance
During 2004, €36 million was invested in a wide range of environmental improvements across all our activities and countries of operation. Plant upgrades typically included process yield optimisation, increased recycling, better energy efficiency, abatement of emissions, together with improvements in ergonomics and safety. This sustained investment program steadily moves us towards best industry practice in all those areas. Many of our locations again won high-ranking accolades for excellence in environmental achievements in 2004.
Because of the variety of our businesses, environmental targets are set at operating company level. In all cases, our aim is to optimise our environmental performance up to the technical limits practically achievable. Over 300 hectares of worked-out quarries were restored and 120,000 trees planted, reflecting our continued commitment to our environmental responsibilities. Acquisitions undergo a rigorous due diligence process to ensure that no unexpected liability issues could arise in the future.
Addressing climate change
In Europe, our companies are committed to achieving Phase I of the National Allocation Plans prepared by the Member States under the Emissions Trading Directive. We will also be involved in dialogue with Member States in relation to Phase II which is due to be decided by the European Union in 2006. This is presenting new challenges particularly to our cement, lime and clay brick activities, which we are actively addressing.
CRH is a member of the Cement Sustainability Initiative (“CSI”), and is committed to detailed environmental reporting on its cement activities in accordance with the CSI Charter guidelines. The CSI is a voluntary initiative by 16 of the world’s major cement producers: it aims to promote greater sustainability in the cement industry in co-operation with the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (“WBCSD”) and independent stakeholders. CRH actively participates in all six CSI Task Forces, and is Co-Chair of the Task Force dealing with employee health and safety.
The overall Group carbon dioxide (“CO2”) specific emissions have declined since 1990, and will decrease further by 2010. These reductions are being achieved by progressively extending leading-edge technology in our cement plants, as well as phasing in the use of secondary materials and fuels, where available and permitted. As examples, our Jura cement plants in Switzerland now use 50% alternative fuels, and our Polish Grupa Ozarów plant has embarked on a pioneering biomass project, growing some of its fuel needs from local renewable resources.
Environmentally-driven product innovation
In tandem with our commitment to act as a socially responsible corporate citizen, the Group views the development of products that specifically benefit the environment as a significant business opportunity. Consequently, this area is a key driver in our sales and marketing strategies, and forms a key part of best practice exchanges between our companies. Significant environmental and commercial benefits are also gained through recycling of used materials. For example, in 2004, we recycled a total of 12 million tons of secondary materials such as asphalt, concrete, fly-ash and slag, converting these to prime new asphalt and concrete products with considerable commercial as well as environmental benefit.
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At June 22, 2005, there were no material pending legal proceedings relating to environmental regulations or to site remediations that are anticipated to have a material adverse effect on the financial position or results of operations or liquidity of the Group, nor have internal reviews revealed any situations of likely future environmental liability of any major significance.
Other Matters
Recent media articles reported allegations of improprieties in connection with the acquisition by CRH of an interest in Cementonia Ozarów of Poland in 1995 on the privatisation of that company.
No allegations have been made against CRH or any of its subsidiaries by any regulatory or governmental authority and any such allegation would be without foundation.
ITEM 5—OPERATING AND FINANCIAL REVIEW AND PROSPECTS
Background
Growth in the United States economy improved during the year, but European economies, with some exceptions, remained relatively sluggish. More normal weather patterns, particularly in Northern Europe which experienced a severe winter and spring in 2003, led to strong first-half income growth; and despite 2003’s subsequent catch-up leading to tough comparatives, we continued to show good income growth in the second half of 2004. Two particular challenges in the year were the very rapid and severe escalation of energy prices from already high levels in the third quarter which negatively affected our costs; and the continued decline of the U.S. Dollar, fuelled by deficit concerns. While the latter has purely a translation impact, and does not affect the inherent position of our United States businesses, it reduced reported income before tax by over €40 million.
2004 operations
The year saw significant income advances delivered by the Europe Materials, Europe Products & Distribution and Americas Products & Distribution Divisions, with the Americas Materials Division recording U.S. Dollar profits slightly ahead of 2003 in the face of difficult highway markets and energy cost spikes.
Europe Materials benefited from more normal weather and underlying sectoral growth in many of the countries in which we operate. These influences were particularly evident in Poland which saw good momentum and volume growth, recovering well from the low points of late-2002/early-2003. Finland also had some broad-based growth, while in Switzerland, the continued tunnelling projects and benefits from the Hastag aggregates and concrete acquisition led to improved results. In Spain, enhanced margins offset some volume declines, while there was a strong contribution from Secil in Portugal where we acquired a 49% interest with joint management control in June. Activity in Northern Ireland was up somewhat, while in the Republic of Ireland income was maintained, with margin pressures being offset by strong volumes due to record house-building, a recovering commercial sector and a continuation of the country’s long-term infrastructural program.
For Europe Products & Distribution, a key objective was to complete the integration of, and deliver the returns from, the record 2003 acquisition program. Particularly important was Cementbouw, at €0.7 billion CRH’s largest-ever acquisition, with operations complementing our existing Dutch Distribution, Concrete Products and Clay businesses, together with Sand-lime brick and a joint venture interest in readymixed concrete and materials trading. This objective was substantially achieved, leading to a significant sales and income advance. In the face of generally subdued markets, organic income also improved. There were overall gains in Distribution, Concrete Products, Building Products and Clay, while our Insulation business was hit by a rapid rise in energy-related raw materials costs. The Cementbouw joint venture suffered from weaker Dutch infrastructure markets, but the Sand-lime business had a very strong first year with the Group.
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Infrastructure accounts for approximately two-thirds of Americas Materials’ end-use, and asphalt volumes were affected by weaker highway activity—a combination of continued, if reduced, budget deficits in some states exacerbated by the delay in re-authorising a successor to the six-year TEA-21 Federal Highway Bill. Aggregate and readymixed concrete volumes were up, reflecting ongoing strong housing activity and a recovering non-residential sector. Despite some success in increasing prices, profitability was adversely affected by the sharp rise in energy costs in the third quarter, the timing of which did not allow full price recovery. Regionally the North-East was relatively flat; the Mid-West was generally disappointing, particularly Michigan; while the West was the bright spot with good activity on a broad basis across this large geographical region. A strong focus on operating costs and margins helped deliver slightly improved U.S. Dollar operating income for the Division.
Unlike Americas Materials, building construction—both residential and non-residential—makes up approximately 90% of Americas Products & Distribution’s end-use. Driven by good demographics, low interest rates and declining unemployment, housing activity remained at the strong levels of recent years—many commentators suggest that the current 1.8—1.9 million level of new housing units is in line with long-term needs. The recovery in non-residential activity from a low base, evident in late-2003, gained momentum during the year. With a robust market background, the benefit of ongoing cost controls and contributions from acquisitions, and despite increasing input costs, all four product groups—Precast, Architectural Products, Glass and Distribution—together with our South American businesses posted income well up in both U.S. Dollar and euro terms.
MANAGEMENT’S FINANCIAL REVIEW
The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements of CRH that appear elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 20-F. These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Irish GAAP, which are consistent with U.K. GAAP but which differ in certain significant respects from U.S. GAAP. A discussion of the significant differences between Irish GAAP and U.S. GAAP, which affect the Consolidated Financial Statements of CRH, is set forth in Note 31 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
For the years 2004 and 2002 net income per Ordinary Share was higher under U.S. GAAP than under Irish GAAP; in 2003, net income per Ordinary Share under U.S. GAAP was lower than the amount reported under Irish GAAP (see “Item 3—Key Information”).
Note 2 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements shows the information required under Irish GAAP for CRH’s last three fiscal years: (a) a geographical analysis of total net sales and operating income, including share of joint ventures and associates, and (b) total net sales and operating income, including share of joint ventures and associates attributable to each class of business, together with certain additional information relating to each class of business and geographical area.
In the discussion of the results of business operations by geographical area below, all references to sales and operating income are on the basis of the seven reportable segments for U.S. GAAP purposes (see page 16 and Note 31 Segmental Analysis—Information required by SFAS 131 on pages F-65 to F-68). Operating income is stated before goodwill amortization charge and gain on sale of assets.
The level of construction activity in the geographical areas in which Group businesses operate influences the Group’s results. Activity in the construction industry is characterized by cyclicality and is dependent to a significant extent on the overall level of government capital expenditure, the level of activity in the housing, industrial and commercial construction markets and local weather conditions.
During the last two years, through acquisitions and internal growth, the Group has continued to expand its businesses of producing and selling a wide range of building materials and of operating builders merchanting and
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DIY stores. Growth in net sales, which has increased by 19% in euro terms since 2002, was attributable to acquisitions and increases in ongoing operations offset by adverse translation effects. Operating income increased as a percentage of total net sales from 9.4% in 2003 to 9.7% in 2004. The addition of operating income of acquired companies and increases in ongoing operations exceeded adverse translation effects during this period.
In 2003, the incremental costs of financing 2002 and 2003 acquisition activity were offset by the interest income generated on our strong free cash flow with a further reduction in net interest expense (see below—net interest expense comprises interest income, interest expense and share of joint ventures’ and associates’ net interest expense) of €20.5 million compared to 2002, largely attributable to favorable exchange translation effects of €19 million. In 2004, the incremental costs of financing substantial 2003 and 2004 acquisition activity were only partly offset by the interest income generated on our strong free cash flow resulting in an increase in total net interest cost in 2004 to €139.9 million (2003: €118 million).
The Group’s low effective tax rate (taxation as a percentage of income before taxes) principally reflects the fact that manufacturing income in Ireland is subject to a 10% Corporation Tax rate, which is guaranteed to the year 2010. The effective tax rate reduced to 26.5% in 2002 due to lower taxable income in higher tax rate countries and reduced by a further 1.3% to 25.2% in 2003 primarily reflecting the lower proportion of comparatively higher taxed U.S. income. The further reduction in the effective tax rate on income before taxation to 24.3% in 2004 again reflects a lower proportion of Group income generated in the United States.
CRH’s ordinary shareholders’ equity increased by €482.4 million to €5,216.6 million during the three years to December 31, 2004. This increase reflects net proceeds of €150.5 million from equity issues and €1,568.7 million (after dividends appropriated of €457.2 million) of net income retained, partly offset by negative currency translation effects on the Group’s net investment in different currencies, primarily the U.S. dollar, of €1,236.8 million.
During the same three-year period, the Group’s net debt (calculated as the sum of long-term debt, bank loans and overdrafts, less cash) increased by €547.0 million to €2,440.7 million. Total expenditure of €4,818.5 million during the three-year period on acquisitions, investments and capital expenditure, together with dividend payments of €449.0 million and tax payments of €453.6 million, were largely offset by net cash flow from operations of €4,740.8 million, together with net proceeds of €150.9 million from equity issues and €282.4 million from asset sales.
These factors have resulted in net debt as a percentage of ordinary shareholders’ equity being 6.8 percentage points higher at December 31, 2004 (46.8%) than at January 1, 2002 (40.0%).
The Group uses a number of accounting measures in the following operating and financial review, which are described and reconciled below.
Interest cover ratio: management believes that the EBITDA interest cover based ratio is useful to investors because it matches the earnings and cash generated by the business to the underlying funding costs. Recent major non-public financings by the Group and the Group’s major bank facilities incorporate covenants based on EBITDA to net interest expense cover rather than debt to shareholders’ funds. The amount outstanding at December 31, 2004 under these loans is €1,466.8 million.
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The calculation of net interest expense in the following table presents the various interest-related items of the Group’s income statement, added together to show net interest expense for each year. For the purposes of the covenants incorporated in recent financings by the Group, net interest expense excluding joint ventures and associates is calculated as shown in this table.
Interest cover
Net interest expense
Interest income (a)
Interest expense (a)
Net interest expense excluding joint ventures and associates
Share of joint ventures’ and associates’ net interest expense (a)
Net interest expense including joint ventures and associates
Share of joint ventures’ and associates’ income before interest expense
Share of joint ventures’ and associates’ operating income before interest expense (a)
Share of joint ventures’ goodwill amortization (b)
Share of joint ventures’ gain on sale of investments and property, plant & equipment (b)
Reconciliation of income before interest expense to net income
Income before interest expense (a)
Taxes on income (a)
Equity minority shareholders’ interest (a)
Dividend on preference shares (a)
Net income (a)
Calculation of EBITDA
Goodwill amortization (a)
Depreciation (c)
Share of joint ventures’ and associates’ operating income before interestexpense (a)
EBITDA
EBITDA interest cover (EBITDA divided by net interest expense excluding joint ventures and associates)
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CRH performed strongly in 2004 delivering growth in reported sales of 15.7%, in operating income of 19.4% and in pre-tax income of 17.7%. The key components of 2004 performance are analysed in the table on page 45.
Exchange translation effects
2004 saw a continuing decline in the value of the U.S. Dollar with that currency on average some 9% weaker versus the euro than in 2003. This combined with the average 2004 exchange rates for our other operating currencies resulted in an adverse full-year translation impact of €40 million, equivalent to approximately 5% of 2003’s income before tax level of €864 million. The average and year-end exchange rates used in the preparation of our financial statements are included under Accounting Policies on page F-9 of this Report.
Incremental impact of acquisitions
The incremental 2004 impact of deals completed during 2003 includes €670 million of sales and €66 million of operating income from the acquisition of 100% of Cementbouw’s distribution and building products operations and 45% of its materials operations, all located in the Netherlands. This transaction, CRH’s largest acquisition to date, was completed on October 3, 2003. The Europe Products & Distribution Division also enjoyed incremental benefits from 2003 acquisition activity across its product range in the Benelux, France, Germany, Slovakia and Denmark. In the Americas, the Architectural Products group (“APG”) derived particular benefit from an active development year in 2003.
The impact of 2004 acquisitions includes €271 million of sales and €40 million of operating income arising from deals by the Europe Materials Division, in particular the June 2004 acquisition of a 49% stake in Secil and the completion in January of significant additions to its operations in Switzerland and Finland. Although a quieter year than 2003 in terms of total spend, 2004 saw a good level of acquisition activity by Europe Products & Distribution with some 11 deals contributing incremental sales and operating income of €127 million and €8 million respectively with a bias towards distribution. Americas Materials completed a series of bolt-on deals primarily geared to bolstering long-term aggregate reserve positions and the generation of operational synergies with operating income of €6 million on incremental sales of €40 million. The Americas Products & Distribution Division saw incremental sales of €149 million and operating income of €18 million from current year acquisitions across its four product groups with APG again the main contributor.
As CRH did not exercise its option to acquire an additional 25% of the Mashav Group during 2004, the status of its existing 25% investment changed from that of a joint venture to that of an associated company. As a result, the Group’s share of Mashav sales is no longer consolidated although the share of operating income continues to be included in operating income. This adverse sales impact is shown separately in the table below.
Ongoing operations
With overall modest improvements in markets and benefits from operating cost reductions implemented in recent years, 2004 saw a return to strong organic growth with an €89 million improvement in ongoing operating income. This underlying improvement was most marked in the first half of the year which benefited by comparison with a weather-impacted first half 2003, whereas second-half comparisons were against a strong catch-up in second-half 2003 after a slow start. The second half of 2004 was also impacted by higher world energy prices and rising input costs. The Europe Materials Division reported a €27 million improvement in underlying operating income mainly reflecting strong improvements in Poland, Finland and Switzerland and a similar outcome in its Irish operations. Europe Products & Distribution was impacted in the second half of the year by very rapid escalation in its Insulation operations’ energy-related raw materials costs which restricted the improvement in ongoing operating income for the overall Division to €12 million. Escalating energy costs, which
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reached unprecedented levels during the Americas Materials Division’s busy autumn construction season, fed through rapidly into input costs eroding the benefits of price improvements and resulted in underlying operating income just €5 million ahead of 2003. Americas Products & Distribution had a strong year with residential demand continuing at a good level and ongoing evidence of a recovery in the non-residential construction sector. Underlying operating income advanced by €45 million, with Precast, APG, Glass, Distribution and the South American operations all contributing to the strong improvement.
Analysis of the change in net sales, income before interest expense and income before tax for 2004
(including share of joint ventures)
€ million
Net sales
Operating income
Goodwill amortization
Gain on sale
Income before interest expense
Income before tax
Change
Taxation as a percentage of income before taxes at 24.3% was 0.9 percentage points lower than 2003 (25.2% in 2003).
Net income attributable to ordinary shareholders for 2004 amounted to €762.0 million, an increase of 18.9% over 2003 net income of €640.6 million.
The growth in net sales, net income per share and net dividend over a five and ten-year period are highlighted below.
Compound average growth rates (based on Irish GAAP)
Net income per share
Net dividend
In 2004, the Europe Materials Division was the fourth and smallest contributor to Group net sales and the largest to Group operating income. This Division is comprised of two segments based on a geographical split, Republic of Ireland and the rest of Europe, or “Other”.
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2004 overview
Results€ million
Operating income margin
The construction market in Ireland grew again in 2004 with the concrete products market up 9%. The housing sector continued to grow with completions estimated at 77,000 compared with 68,800 in 2003. Road construction output under the National Development Plan was strong, but weakened at the back-end of the year as some major projects were completed ahead of schedule. There was some improvement in the commercial and industrial sectors as activity levels picked up in the second half of the year. Overall, income was broadly similar to last year.
Our cement business continued at maximum output from both the Platin and Limerick plants, due to the strong housing market demand. We continued to implement efficiency improvement programs at these plants, with excellent results.
The concrete products and aggregate companies had another strong year despite very competitive markets where prices failed to match inflation. Further investments were made in aggregate reserves and new efficient plant.
Our seawater magnesia business continued to underperform. Higher world prices were more than offset by the weak U.S. Dollar and by a major increase in the price of energy which accounts for 40% of the cost base.
CRH’s other European Materials operations are based primarily in Northern Ireland, Finland and the Baltics, Poland, Ukraine, Switzerland, Spain, Portugal, Tunisia and Israel.
Results
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Northern Ireland
In Northern Ireland, construction activity was stronger in 2004. Our businesses servicing the housing and road maintenance sectors performed well, while the construction division’s performance was similar to 2003.
Finland/Baltics
The Finnish economy grew more strongly than expected at 3% with continuing low inflation. Against the positive economic background, construction activity improved on 2003 levels with investment in residential and infrastructure more than compensating for small declines in other market sectors. Sales volumes, particularly cement, were consistently strong in Finland through 2004. Abetoni, a leading producer of landscape products and precast pipes and piles, was acquired at the start of the year and integrated smoothly into ongoing operations. The Baltic Region, including St. Petersburg, enjoyed strong volume growth and performance continued to improve. Overall income grew, due to the increase in demand, good performance from recently completed acquisitions and tight cost control in all operations.
Poland/Ukraine
The Polish economy continued to build on the improvement evident at the end of 2003 with GDP growth of 5.7%. However, unemployment remains high at over 20% and many structural imbalances in the economy remain to be addressed. Building material sales benefited from the firmer economic tone and Polish entry into the European Union in May and income advanced strongly in all our major companies.
Cement demand was exceptionally strong in the first half of the year reflecting more normal weather conditions than in 2003 and accelerated demand ahead of the May 1, 2004 increase in VAT on construction products. While sales moderated over the rest of the year, our annual cement volumes increased by over 3% in a competitive market. Good operating performance at the Ozarów plant, which benefited from ongoing rationalisation, resulted in higher income.
Concrete products experienced very strong first-half demand and this, coupled with an extensive reorganisation program, improved performance.
Blacktop and aggregates saw good volume increases as the Polish national roads program was rolled-out in the second half of the year and blacktop volumes were particularly encouraging.
The lime business performed well with volumes in line with expectation and, despite energy cost increases, income improved.
The Ukrainian economy grew strongly over the year and with it cement sales. Podilsky Cement performed well in a competitive market and income increased substantially.
The Swiss economy grew by 1.6% on the back of 7.6% export growth and low inflation at 0.8%. As the public finances remained in deficit, there were delays in some new project starts; nevertheless, construction output increased due to ongoing infrastructural investment and improved residential building.
Our cement, readymixed concrete and aggregates operations performed well despite intense competition due to better market conditions, the successful acquisition of Hastag and additional volumes to the Lötschberg tunnel project. Jura Cement commenced a phased capital project to expand clinker production capacity which will facilitate increased usage of alternative fuels yielding significant savings in operating costs. Income was well ahead of last year.
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Construction output showed further growth. Markets generally continued to be competitive with margins in the important Madrid and Catalonia regions remaining under pressure. Improved pricing and operating efficiencies offset some volume declines resulting in an outcome similar to 2003.
Our 49% investment in Secil in June 2004 gave the Europe Materials Division a new platform for growth on the Iberian peninsula and in the Mediterranean basin. Secil is the second largest cement producer in Portugal and is vertically integrated into readymixed concrete and aggregates. Secil is also a leading cement producer in Tunisia where the economy is growing at 5% per annum and has a 21% stake in a prominent Lebanese cement producer. Results for the period of ownership have met our expectations and exceeded Secil’s performance in the corresponding period of 2003.
The dominant factor for Mashav, in which CRH has a 25% stake, continues to be the difficult political situation. Cement demand declined again in Israel but increased in the West Bank and Gaza. Despite lower overall volumes, income was ahead of 2003 due to improvement in operating efficiency, ongoing cost reduction and new marketing initiatives.
Outlook 2005—Europe Materials
Irish construction activity continues at a strong level with volumes ahead in most product categories.
Other—Europe
In our Europe Materials operations, despite some variations in demand, overall volumes for the first four months of 2005 are broadly in line with 2004 and price increases necessary to recover higher energy and other input costs are being implemented in most markets. Our operations in Finland and Switzerland have recovered from weather related setbacks in March. Although demand in Poland has been particularly affected by late winter weather the outlook is positive as we move into the busier months in that country. The trends to date in our Iberian operations are encouraging and 2005 will of course benefit from a full year’s contribution from our investment in Secil.
In 2004, the Americas Products & Distribution Division was the second largest contributor to Group net sales and the second largest contributor to Group operating income.
The Division is comprised of two reportable segments, Products and Distribution. Discussions of each of the reportable segments follow and highlight the key achievements and challenges during the year.
Products (comprising four groups—Architectural Products, Precast, Glass and South America)
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Our product groups all reported excellent sales and operating income gains for the year. Internal cost control initiatives and proactive pricing mitigated the impact of significant increases in petroleum and steel-based products and components during the year and, together with strong volumes, led to improved margins overall. The Division also benefited from initial contributions from 2004 acquisitions.
The economic improvement in the United States was broadly based although the Midwestern states lagged somewhat. Unaffected by increases in short-term interest rates, residential construction remained at strong levels while some segments of commercial building experienced modest recovery from the low levels of recent years.
Argentina’s economy improved further while Chile continued its steady though modest growth trend. As a result, all of the South American companies made gains and in total reported strong income improvement.
Overall, the Division recorded an 18% increase in sales and a 28% improvement in operating income before translation adjustments.
Architectural Products group (“APG”), pursued operational improvements and selective price increases to meet the challenges of rising energy and cement costs and reported increases in sales and income for the year. The Northeast and South regions, along with clay brick producer Glen-Gery, performed particularly well.
The group saw significant gains with retail customers and in its Belgard® hardscapes business. APG is supporting these high-growth segments with a major plant construction program. In 2004, it committed approximately €60 million for three new paver plants in Ohio, northern California and Arizona and three others under construction in Maryland, Pennsylvania and Florida. Construction of a block plant and a patio paver plant, the initial components of a planned integrated manufacturing complex near Chicago, is also underway.
APG spent almost €60 million on acquisitions including strategic entries into new products/markets. In January, we purchased 50% of Paver Systems with three paver plants in Florida. Paver Systems manufactures hardscapes for professional installation and complements the retail DIY focus of Matt Stone, a 2003 acquisition in Florida. Also in January, we acquired Greenleaf Products, which supplies bagged mulch and soil to homecenters and other retail chains from five plants in Florida, Georgia and Mississippi. This extends APG’s product offering to the lawn and garden departments of major retailers. The acquisition in March 2004 of Custom Surfaces, the leading provider of premium countertops in Georgia and South Carolina, expands APG’s ties with homebuilders and homecenters. Anchor Block, a Florida-based producer of segmental retaining walls and architectural masonry, was acquired in December 2004.
General improvement in construction markets, as well as a modest turnaround in the telecommunications sector, resulted in a 10%+ improvement in sales in our legacy operations. We came into the year with a stronger backlog and maintained that early momentum throughout the year. Improved prices and overhead cost savings were achieved which helped offset significant increases in the prices of steel, cement and fuel, and with strong volume increases, income showed a significant improvement.
In August 2004, Mega Cast in Georgia and the New Basis precast operations in Texas joined the group. Both acquisitions complement and expand our existing markets in Georgia and Texas. In keeping with our program of continued investment and improvement in existing plants, we completed the construction and relocation of our Kentucky plant to give us expanded capacity and improved efficiency.
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Trading conditions improved in 2004. A recovery in commercial construction contracts contributed to significant organic sales and income growth in 2004, and with solid contributions from 2003 and 2004 acquisitions, sales increased by more than 15%. Demand for blast-resistant products was very strong and the group’s joint venture, Oldcastle Arpal LLC, enjoyed record sales and income.
In July 2004, the group expanded geographically into the Northeast with the acquisition of Floral Glass, a leading fabricator and distributor of architectural glass products with facilities in New York, Connecticut and New Jersey. Floral’s flagship plant, located 45 miles east of New York City in Long Island, has served the New York metropolitan market for over 50 years. This acquisition is well-positioned to strengthen our presence in the New England states, where the Glass group previously did not have a manufacturing facility.
In November 2004, the Glass group began construction of a greenfield plant in Missouri to provide dedicated capacity for larger, complex architectural curtain wall projects that incorporate high-performance solar control glass. The operation features advanced, automated glass fabrication equipment and is located in a low-cost electric utility co-operative.
Taking advantage of good residential construction levels, the Argentine clay products business achieved a strong performance with increased domestic shipments being complemented by export sales. Despite weak commercial building activity, the Argentine glass business prospered from strong export sales. In a competitive environment, our Chilean glass business re-focused towards value-added products and took aggressive measures on cost control to record a good improvement in results.
The Distribution group’s centralised organisation structure maximises the group’s purchasing power and the propagation of best practices in critical business processes such as IT, financial control, management of back office functions, credit, inventory, logistics and human resources.
Overall, the business environment improved in 2004. The Atlantic seaboard in particular was better; the Midwest, where the company’s presence is not as large, was weaker. Hawaii–based G.W. Killebrew, acquired in January 2004, performed ahead of expectations.
The steep increases in the prices of many of the commodities handled by the Distribution group facilitated further gains in gross margins, though some of these gains may be of a onetime nature. The devastating hurricanes in August and September 2004 led to a significant increase in demand in Florida.
The Distribution group has had several years of good sales and income growth, and reported record levels of both in 2004.
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Outlook 2005—Americas Products & Distribution
As at the date of this Form 20-F, our Precast, Architectural Products and Glass Groups in North America have all had a positive start to the year against a backdrop of sustained strong residential activity and ongoing improvement in non-residential demand. The Distribution Group has performed particularly strongly through the quieter early months and continues to build on the progress of recent years. Despite higher input costs our South American operations are performing ahead of expectations.
In 2004, the Europe Products & Distribution Division was the largest contributor to Group net sales and the third largest contributor to Group operating income. The Division is comprised of two segments, Products and Distribution.
2004 was a year in which the Division contended with relatively slow-moving markets, particularly in housing, and significant increases in input costs while successfully integrating substantial 2003 acquisitions. The Division overall achieved record sales and operating income, up 35% and 49% respectively.
The Products segment is organized into four product groups – Concrete Products, Clay Products, Insulation and Building Products. The Building Products group in turn comprises 3 sub-groups: Fencing & Security, Daylight & Ventilation and Construction Accessories.
The group achieved significant growth in 2004 from both acquisitions and legacy businesses. Income was well ahead of 2003 despite weakness in key markets and rising raw material costs.
Architectural
Our Dutch concrete businesses faced tough competition due to market overcapacity and downward price pressure; however, the Belgian garden market achieved significant growth. Despite weakness in the German economy, EHL maintained volumes and market position although higher raw material costs and selling price pressure led to lower profitability. EHL’s Slovakian subsidiary performed ahead of expectations. Sales and operating income from our U.K. operations also grew, underpinned by a robust performance from the masonry division.
Structural
Growth was primarily due to 2003 acquisitions (Cementbouw plus three others) and the June 2004 acquisition of Ergon. The latter, with operations in Belgium, France and Poland, provides market leadership in
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Belgium, offers significant synergies with other operations and contributed strongly to income. The Belgian structural businesses successfully passed on cost increases in steel, an important component of reinforced concrete. In contrast, the Dutch companies had less success in passing on these costs, resulting in lower income despite cost-cutting measures and synergies from the integration of the Cementbouw companies. The French concrete operation successfully continued its new market development, while carefully managing a declining pole business, thereby reporting improved results. Integration of acquisitions and the full-year impact of previous restructuring plans were key to this improvement. Successful integration of the Danish operations acquired in September 2003 resulted in a strong performance for that business.
Towards year-end, the Concrete Products group acquired Klaps, a leading manufacturer of concrete paving, sewerage and water treatment products based in northern Belgium, and the remaining 50% of Kellen Concrete Products in the Netherlands. Neither deal had a significant impact on results for 2004.
Sand-lime Brick
During 2004, we focused on enhancing our relationships with our contractor customers, developing the Calduran brand and improving our administrative systems. Through superior systems and a new product line, the group provides innovative systems to its customers, emphasising construction efficiency and flexibility. The business turned in an excellent performance in its first full year with CRH.
Cementbouw joint venture
This business, which is involved in materials trading and readymixed concrete in the Netherlands and in which CRH has a 45% share, experienced tough trading conditions in weaker infrastructure markets.
While there was an increase in U.K. housing starts in 2004, overall brick volumes declined mainly due to the continued movement to less brick-intensive dwellings. With increased kiln availability following rebuilds, Ibstock brick volumes declined somewhat less than the market. Higher energy costs impacted the business but, through a combination of price increases and better productivity, income improved.
In Mainland Europe, we have 15 production and two trading locations. In the Netherlands, we are a market leader in high-end facing bricks, clay pavers and brick merchanting. We are the market leader in the German clay paver market, a strong regional player in facing bricks and a niche player in rooftiles. In Poland, we are a major producer of facing bricks. The group made its first acquisition in Belgium in June 2004 with the purchase of the country’s leading brick merchant. Through better pricing and productivity, these businesses achieved improved results despite weakness in the residential and commercial sectors, especially in the Netherlands and Germany.
A strong advance in sales was achieved largely from the full-year contribution of 2003 acquisitions, but also through organic growth despite challenging market conditions. However, immediate recovery through higher selling prices of unprecedented second-half raw material cost increases proved difficult, resulting in a substantial adverse impact on income for the year.
Market conditions for these businesses in Germany and the Netherlands were challenging with sales growth generated primarily through acquisitions. However, income increased significantly due to cost control, synergies and acquisition benefits. Three add-on acquisitions during the year strengthened market positions in the U.K. and the Netherlands.
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Fencing & Security had a good year. Integration of 2003’s acquisitions, cost control and other synergies resulted in a good income increase. In the U.K., we had an excellent year driven by government spending and strong market positions. Despite a weak Dutch market, our fencing operations performed well. The successful integration of our two businesses in Germany resulted in good returns, well ahead of expectations. Magnetic Autocontrol, based in the south of Germany, enjoyed strong export order activity but suffered from the stronger euro. The December acquisition of Broughton Controls, a U.K.-based company, strengthened our position in access control systems.
Daylight & Ventilation faced disappointing sales in Germany and the Netherlands but, as a result of prior restructuring and good cost control, income improved. In April 2004, we acquired Airvent, a U.K.-based service and maintenance company specialising in smoke exhaust systems.
The Construction Accessories group performed very well in its first full year. Mavotrans, in the Netherlands, was acquired in July 2004 extending our position in this product category.
2004 was a year of excellent progress for the Distribution group. While market conditions were less favourable than 2003, increased levels of sales by 39.8% and operating income by 81.4% were achieved through contributions from acquisitions and better performance in the legacy businesses.
DIY
Our DIY homecenter business in the Benelux had another good year despite weaker consumer confidence. Further advances were made in operating income due to acquisitions and rigorous cost focus. This business now operates a network of 133 stores. Our DIY joint venture in Portugal made further progress.
Builders Merchants
In difficult markets, increases in sales and operating income were achieved by our builders merchants activities which serve professional customers.
Netherlands: Income improved substantially aided by the Cementbouw acquisition, cost reduction programs and other synergies. In November, we acquired NCD Builders Merchants adding 17 locations to our existing 52 branches. Our specialist merchants generally performed well although the ironmongery business had another difficult year.
France: Our businesses in Ile-de-France had mixed fortunes and overall income fell short of 2003 levels.
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Switzerland: Our merchanting businesses made further significant progress, with improved sales and an advance in operating income.
Poland: In October, we sold our 56% stake in GenBud S.A. to our Polish joint venture partners.
Outlook 2005—Europe Products & Distribution
The overall economic backdrop for our Europe Products & Distribution activities in the Benelux, Germany and France remains subdued and trading over the early less busy months in 2005 was not helped by severe March weather. These conditions impacted demand in our Concrete operations, but our Clay and Building Products businesses have had a more positive start to the year. Insulation operations continue to suffer from volatility in energy-related input costs. In Distribution, while Builders Merchants sales were hampered by poor March weather, our DIY activities have been less affected.
In 2004, the Americas Materials Division was the third largest contributor to Group net sales and the fourth and smallest contributor to Group operating income.
Although Federal highway funding in 2004 was slightly higher than in 2003, the uncertainty surrounding the lack of a Federal Highway Bill, combined with states reducing their share of highway spending due to budget deficits, resulted in an overall decline in highway spending. However, residential markets remained strong, buoyed by continued low interest rates, while non-residential construction saw some improvement but remained at historically low levels. This backdrop resulted in a modest decline in heritage asphalt volumes, offset by improvements in heritage aggregate and readymixed concrete volumes.
Escalating energy costs, which reached unprecedented levels through the busy autumn construction season, fed through rapidly into input costs eroding the benefits of price improvements. Bitumen costs increased for the third consecutive year, rising 9%. Energy used at our asphalt plants, consisting of fuel oil, recycled oil and natural gas, had a composite cost increase of 22%. Diesel fuel and gasoline used to power our mobile fleet increased by 16%. Our winter-fill program, accounting for 33% of our total bitumen purchases, was profitable but was hurt by the volatile energy markets.
Despite the difficult backdrop and an overall decline in margins, a strong focus on operating cost reduction measures, combined with a moderate amount of new development, resulted in a modest increase in operating income before translation effects.
Development activity resulted in 12 add-on transactions to existing operations with combined spending of €160 million. The largest acquisition completed during the year was Gallo in New Jersey. This business, with owned and permitted reserves of 300 million tons, is an ideal fit with Tilcon’s activities in New Jersey and
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should generate benefits from consolidation of existing quarries and savings in transportation and other operating costs. The Division successfully completed 11 other add-on deals that complement existing operations and continue the focus on acquiring strategically located high-quality aggregate reserves. In addition, in order to address capacity constraints at existing quarries in Pennsylvania, the Division initiated a project to develop a greenfield site with 200 million tons of high-quality permitted stone reserves.
Total volumes increased 11% in aggregates, 14% in readymixed concrete and 1% in asphalt. Heritage volumes suffered from the challenging conditions and declined approximately 1% in asphalt, while aggregates increased 6% and readymixed concrete increased 11% year-on-year. Overall prices increased 3% in aggregates, 4% in readymixed concrete and 6% in asphalt.
2004 combined tough economic conditions and higher energy costs, leaving income lower than 2003 levels. Vermont continued to divert paving monies to several ongoing large projects. New Hampshire, Maine and Massachusetts experienced good volumes from solid state highway programs but high energy prices reduced margins, especially in their asphalt business. Connecticut markets were muted with private construction remaining strong but the highway markets were impacted by the state budget deficit and local political issues.
Our New York/New Jersey businesses had a mixed year with overall results broadly unchanged on 2003 levels. Our aggregate operations in the New York metropolitan area benefited from good markets in both the private and infrastructure sectors with buoyant residential markets in and around Manhattan combined with several large transit and water/sewer projects. In addition, the continuing recovery of the area around the site of the 9/11 attack in lower Manhattan helped support demand. In New Jersey, asphalt margins were lower due to intense competition although the aggregate side of the business improved. In Upstate New York, income in the Albany region improved while in Rochester, despite management action, results declined as the market continued to suffer from cutbacks at several large local employers.
Overall operating income decreased. In the Mid-Atlantic group, consisting of Pennsylvania and Delaware, results declined significantly due to intense competition and poor highway markets. West Virginia had improved results while our Ohio operations were unable to recover the impact of higher energy costs despite a fairly strong market environment. Michigan was disappointing due to severe cutbacks in the highway program as the state authorities wait to see what the re-authorisation of TEA-21 means to Michigan before addressing their lack of highway funding.
The West region comprises a wide geographic area, with nearly 300 locations in 12 states west of the Mississippi River. Trading conditions varied across the region, but overall market strength, the integration of recent acquisitions and cost reduction programs resulted in significantly higher income. Utah and Idaho saw significant volume increases, benefiting from improved residential and non-residential markets after a number of slack years. Our asphalt business also increased income as the states continued to refocus their expenditures on asphalt intensive maintenance projects. Colorado advanced due to stronger highway markets. Wyoming and South Dakota continued to perform exceptionally well, while our small operations in New Mexico returned to profitability following significant cost reduction. Subdued markets and continued tough competition resulted in a slight decline in income in our Washington and Montana operations.
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Outlook 2005—Americas Materials
Activity levels to date in the Americas Materials Division have exceeded expectations. The indications from awards of highway sector paving contracts suggest good progress in our efforts to improve product prices and recover higher input costs, while backlogs are solid. Negotiations on the renewal of TEA-21, the U.S. Federal highway program which will underpin demand in future years, are progressing with finalisation anticipated in the coming months.
The key components of 2003 performance are analyzed in the table below.
A major feature of 2003 was the ongoing decline of the U.S. dollar which was on average some 16% weaker versus the euro than in 2002. Our other major operating currencies also weakened during 2003 with the Polish zloty being on average some 12% weaker, Sterling 9% weaker; and the Swiss franc 4% weaker. The combined impact of these changes resulted in a net negative translation impact at the income before tax level of €86 million.
The incremental 2003 impact of acquisitions completed during 2002 shown in the table below principally reflects the full year inclusion of acquisitions by the Concrete Products group in Belgium and Germany (primarily the EHL group, the largest deal completed by CRH in 2002) and by both the Distribution group and the Materials Division in Switzerland. In the Americas, the Materials Division and the Architectural Products and Distribution groups benefited from the incremental impact of bolt-on acquisitions completed during 2002.
The impact of acquisitions completed during 2003 includes €212 million of sales and €21 million of operating income (see definition on footnote (b) on page 3) from the inclusion of the post-acquisition results of the Cementbouw businesses in the Netherlands (the transactions were completed on October 3, 2003). We also benefited from a wide range of more traditional development activity in Europe. In the Americas, we enjoyed a strong initial contribution from the S.E. Johnson acquisition by the Materials Division in Ohio and Michigan, which was completed in May. The Architectural Products group had a particularly active development year and both the Distribution and Glass groups concluded a number of bolt-on transactions.
After a difficult first half, in which all four Divisions reported operating income declines in ongoing operations, the second half of 2003 saw substantial improvement. This resulted in a full year ongoing operating income decline of €16 million, a significant improvement on the €66 million ongoing decline reported at the halfway stage. The most severe decline was experienced by the Americas Materials Division which finished the year with heritage volumes behind 2002 and suffered from the inevitable cost inefficiencies associated with a shortened construction season. Despite a strong advance in Distribution and a maintained Precast performance, ongoing operating income in the Americas Products & Distribution Division also declined due to reductions in Glass and Architectural Products which were affected by very competitive markets. The Europe Materials Division reported similar underlying operating income with a continuing good performance in Ireland and a strong second-half recovery in its Polish and Finnish operations. This performance was further enhanced by the absence of 2002’s Polish rationalization charge. Europe Products & Distribution reported a good underlying advance principally attributable to its clay, distribution and insulation activities.
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Analysis of the change in net sales, income before interest expense and income before tax for 2003
Exchangetranslationeffects
2002 ataverage 2003FX rates
Ongoingoperations
Taxation as a percentage of income before taxes at 25.2% was 1.3 percentage points lower than 2002 (26.5% in 2002).
Net income attributable to ordinary shareholders for 2003 amounted to €640.6 million, an increase of 2.8% over 2002 net income of €623.3 million.
In 2003, the Americas Materials Division was the third largest contributor to Group net sales and the largest to Group operating income.
% ofGroup
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2003 overview
The Materials Division suffered from a combination of record wet weather in the Northeast and Midwest and increasing energy costs, resulting in a decline in both volumes and U.S. dollar operating income from heritage operations. On the positive side, the impact of higher energy costs was largely recovered through improved blacktop pricing, and with positive incremental contributions from 2002 and 2003 development initiatives, the Division would have reported an increase in sales and in operating income but for the translation effects.
Another busy development year saw significant add-ons to existing operations with a combined spend of €320 million on 10 deals. The largest acquisition completed during the year was S.E. Johnson in Ohio and Michigan, combined with the subsequent swap of certain non-core Indiana assets for six quarries in the southeastern United States and a quarry in Michigan. The Division successfully completed eight other add-on deals that complement its existing operations.
Total volumes increased 15% in aggregates, 4% in asphalt and 3% in readymixed concrete.
Heritage volumes declined approximately 2% in aggregates, 4% in asphalt and 1% in readymixed concrete year-on-year. Our investments in winter storage facilities, and the Division’s strategic purchasing arrangements, which allow us to secure bitumen supplies at somewhat cheaper winter rates, together with increases in blacktop prices, enabled us to recover most of the higher bitumen costs. Other energy costs, such as diesel fuel for our mobile fleet and natural gas, fuel oil and used oil to fire our asphalt plants, also increased significantly and for the most part this impact was recovered through higher product pricing and alternative fuel usage.
Funding under TEA-21, the U.S. Federal highway spending program, was similar to 2002. However, the 2003 Federal Appropriation Bill was delayed which, combined with states reducing their share of highway spending due to budget deficits, resulted in an overall decline in highway funding. Across our operations, residential markets remained strong buoyed by continued low interest rates. Non-residential construction continued to fall reflecting the slower economy.
Fiscal 2003 was a difficult year with an early winter further curtailing the short construction season, leaving income just short of 2002 levels. The Vermont paving program was poorly funded as a few large projects consumed most of the state’s highway monies. Our operations in Massachusetts continued to improve due to strong residential markets and highway markets continuing to recover with the completion of the Big Dig Project in Boston and monies once again being spent on maintenance programs.
Connecticut had a good year resulting from volume growth driven by buoyant private markets and continued cost control, and with price improvements successfully recovering the impact of higher energy costs.
Our New York/New Jersey businesses had a mixed year with overall results behind 2002 levels. This group was particularly hard hit by the harsh winter in 2002/2003, a wet summer/autumn and the early onset of winter, which resulted in increased costs at our quarries and curtailed shipments. Demand in the greater New York metropolitan areas remained strong in both infrastructural projects and private construction, but we were unable to recover all of the increase in energy costs due to competitive markets, especially in New Jersey blacktop. Our Upstate New York operations, located in Albany and Rochester, performed well due to strong volumes and better pricing in mixed markets.
Overall operating income increased in an active acquisition/integration environment. Despite poor weather and rising energy costs, the year finished strongly. The Mid-Atlantic group, consisting of our operations in
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Pennsylvania and Delaware, improved its performance with strong aggregate sales and better pricing. Ohio and West Virginia also advanced with a mid-year gas tax increase in Ohio benefiting highway spending. Michigan operations were disappointing with both poor state highway funding and weak commercial markets. S.E. Johnson and several other add-on acquisitions were successfully integrated into this region.
The West region comprises a wide geographic area, with over 270 locations in 12 states west of the Mississippi River. Although trading conditions varied across the region, the integration of recent acquisitions and cost reduction programs resulted in higher income.
Markets in southern Idaho and Utah stabilized in 2003 after three years of decline. Our eastern Washington, northern Idaho and Montana operations suffered from a combination of continued soft markets, increased competition from new market entrants and an early onset of winter weather. Our operations in resort towns in western Colorado also exhibited improved profitability in the face of weak high-end residential and commercial markets. The Wyoming and South Dakota businesses enjoyed relatively stable conditions and had another good year. Despite a competitive readymixed concrete market, our fully integrated businesses in Iowa continued to perform well, benefiting from a stable highway program and steady private construction markets.
In 2003, the Europe Materials Division was the fourth and smallest contributor to Group net sales and the second largest to Group operating income. This Division is comprised of two segments based on a geographical split, Republic of Ireland and the rest of Europe, or “Other”.
Ireland was notable as the market bounced back from the decline registered in 2002 and, on the back of strong residential demand, volumes of concrete products and cement were up by over 10%.
After a decline of 4% in 2002, the construction market bounced back in 2003 with a volume increase in the concrete products sector of over 10%. This was mainly due to a very strong housing sector which resulted in an estimated record 68,000 house completions in 2003 compared with 57,700 in 2002. Road construction work under the National Development Plan was strong in the first half of the year but, as expected, was weak in the second half due to a decline in new start-up work resulting in full year volume declines in stone and blacktop. The commercial and industrial sectors had another poor year with an overhang of office and industrial buildings continuing to curtail new-build. Overall income was broadly similar to last year.
Our cement business had a very busy year due to the buoyant housing market and excellent production levels were achieved at both factories.
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The concrete products and aggregates companies continued to trade well despite very competitive markets where price increases failed to match inflation. Investment continued to improve efficiency and strategic aggregate reserves were acquired at a number of locations.
Our seawater magnesia business continued to under-perform as low-priced Chinese exports kept the world price below 2002 levels. The price of natural gas, a major cost item, remained high throughout 2003.
CRH’s other European Materials operations are based primarily in Spain, Poland, Finland and the Baltics, Switzerland, Northern Ireland, Ukraine and Israel.
In Finland, strong volumes in the second half of the year compensated for the poor weather-related start and profitability was ahead of last year. Poland benefited from the rationalization implemented in 2002 together with entry into the lime market and, despite the difficult economic situation, operating income significantly improved. Cement demand in Switzerland was higher as major infrastructure projects commenced last year continued throughout 2003. Our Spanish operations enjoyed continuing strong demand. Despite the exceptionally difficult political situation, Israel performed in line with expectations and benefited from cost reductions and efficiency improvements.
An increase of 3.3% in net sales was recorded. Overall results benefited from acquisitions and Polish rationalization costs of €6 million charged in 2002, and operating income increased by 3.7%.
In Spain, construction output grew by 6% largely due to continuing major infrastructure investment and a strong residential sector. However, margins were under pressure in competitive markets and profitability was similar to 2002.
The Polish economy was lackluster in 2003 with low GDP growth at 2.5% and continuing high unemployment at 18-19%. The outlook, however, improved in the fourth quarter fuelled by an increase in exports and low interest rates which gave a welcome boost to the building materials market.
Against this difficult background, and a very bad start to the year due to the severe and prolonged winter, cement volumes recovered over the remainder of the year to end broadly in line with 2002. Good operating performance at the Ozarów plant and the benefit of the rationalization program implemented in 2002 resulted in higher income.
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Concrete products volumes benefited from stronger demand in the second half of the year but these markets remain very competitive. Blacktop and aggregates continue to suffer from the lack of any major program of investment in infrastructural projects, particularly in roads.
In 2003, we entered the Polish lime market through the acquisition of 86% of the State-owned Trzuskawica Lime Company in February, followed later in the year by Kujawy Lime. Both companies performed well and met expectations.
In a competitive Ukrainian market, Podilsky Cement achieved strong growth in sales with operating income in line with last year.
The Finnish economy grew by 1.4% in 2003 with inflation low at 1.2%. Overall construction activity was stable as growth in housing and infrastructure projects compensated for declines in industrial and commercial demand. After a very slow weather-impacted first half, volumes in both cement and readymixed concrete improved significantly in the second half and profitability for the year ended ahead of last year.
The Baltic area performed well in 2003 with particularly strong demand for our products in St. Petersburg and Estonia.
The Swiss economy was flat during 2003; however, a weaker currency fuelled export growth in the second half. Construction activity varied, with good new residential activity in the bigger cities compensating for a decline in commercial and industrial activity. As the major infrastructure projects which commenced in 2002 were implemented, we enjoyed strong demand for cement and income improved.
In Northern Ireland, construction activity was similar to 2002. The year started poorly but the second half was strong particularly in the housing and road maintenance sectors. Our construction division had a good year, benefiting from a major power plant project and the busy water treatment sector.
The Israeli economy was adversely affected by the political situation. Cement demand in Israel was reduced, but the market in the West Bank and Gaza improved. Cost reductions and efficiency improvements implemented early in the year ensured that results were only slightly behind 2002.
In 2003, the Americas Products & Distribution Division was the largest contributor to Group net sales and the third largest contributor to Group operating income.
Each of the product groups faced significant issues during the year. An unusually wet spring and weak commercial construction markets were two important elements.
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Operations along the Atlantic coast were impacted by the wet weather while generally more competitive circumstances adversely affected margins in the Division’s commercial products markets. Continued difficulties in the telecommunications industry hurt Precast group results.
Argentina’s economy improved due to stabilization of the Peso with private financing of housing leading to a better construction market. The Chilean economy improved modestly during the year.
Against the background of these challenging macroeconomic circumstances and with the benefit of significant acquisition activity, the segment recorded an increase in sales and operating income before translation.
Fiscal 2003 was another year of growth in sales and operating income aided by significant acquisition activity.
Record spring rainfall in the eastern United States and weak commercial building conditions made for a challenging year. Despite this, sales and income in concrete masonry moved modestly ahead due to focused sales efforts and good cost controls, particularly in the West and South. Clay brick producer Glen-Gery, however, saw significant sales and income declines in very competitive markets.
Belgard®, APG’s professional hardscapes product line, achieved another year of sales and income growth. Lawn and garden product sales through homecenters also moved ahead, despite the wet weather and shortened selling season. Decorative stone sales were strong, but income was below expectation due to plant restructuring.
Acquisition and investment spend was a record €187 million, including several strategic entries into new markets. In January, APG acquired Northfield Block, with four plants in Chicago, providing a strong masonry presence in this large market. The addition in March of Bend Industries, with two modern plants in eastern Wisconsin, expanded our masonry position in the Midwest. Both Northfield and Bend added significant homecenter businesses.
In June, APG acquired Matt Stone Company, a leading producer of concrete lawn and garden products. Matt Stone, which sells primarily to homecenters, operates 7 plants in Florida, Texas, Georgia, South Carolina and Kentucky. This is APG’s initial entry into the large and growing Florida market, providing an excellent platform for growth.
The acquisition in July of Georgia Masonry Supply, with one block plant and three distribution centers in Georgia, added another geographic platform in concrete and clay masonry products. In October, APG added
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Supreme Block, a two-plant masonry bolt on to existing operations in northern Virginia. The acquisition of Global Stone, also in October, expanded our position in decorative stone and bagged lime products with three sites in Georgia, Virginia and Pennsylvania.
During the year, two new paver plants were built in Kansas and North Carolina supporting growth in the Belgard® and homecenter businesses.
Continued softness in the important non-residential market and depression in the telecommunications sector limited sales growth to only slightly above 2002 levels. With cost cutting measures and some consolidation of operations, we were able to maintain margins and income. On a regional basis, the Mountain States and the Southeast improved while the West remained strong. These improvements offset volume shortfalls in the Northeast region.
On the development front, we built a new precast plant in Baltimore replacing two aging facilities in Maryland. This plant, the largest precast facility in the group, will serve the Mid-Atlantic market with hollowcore flooring and wall panels. Together with updated operations in New York and Pennsylvania, we have a full range of precast building components to supply the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic markets.
While this group made no acquisitions in 2003, integration of late-2002 acquisitions, when combined with operating cost reductions implemented in 2003, resulted in better second-half performance.
Commercial construction markets remained weak in 2003 resulting in a very competitive environment. Despite sustained difficult trading conditions throughout the year, sales volumes held firm due to market share gains while operating margins and income declined due to competitive circumstances.
Responding to a tough market environment, the Group has accelerated its efforts to develop innovative, differentiated products to enhance its market position. An expanded portfolio of branded, high-performance products includes: structural glass walls (Stackwall®); fire-rated glass (Pyroguard®); curved tempered glass (Bentemp®); blast-resistant glazings (Blast-Tec™); and hurricane-resistant glass (StormGlass®).
The group completed two acquisitions in 2003. In March, Southwest Aluminum Systems was acquired, establishing an entry position in architectural aluminum glazing systems which are used to fasten glass into buildings. Located in Chandler, Arizona, Southwest has a market-leading regional presence for custom architectural aluminum doors and engineered storefront extrusions.
In May, the Group completed the bolt-on acquisition of April Industries in Montreal, Quebec which provides a stronger presence in eastern Canada. Its well-located operating facility also enables penetration of the New England states. Its solid customer base and new 130,000 square foot facility with state-of-the-art automated fabrication equipment offers a complete portfolio of custom architectural glass fabrication products and services.
In an improving residential construction environment, our Argentine clay products operations achieved further growth in local currency terms through effective domestic marketing and a growing export business. Despite continued weakness in the commercial market, the Group’s Argentine glass fabricator improved its results due to cost reductions and increased exports. Results in our Chilean glass operation declined despite continued cost reductions due to a very competitive construction environment.
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Historically low interest rates boosted both new residential construction and residential refurbishment. A harsh winter also created demand for roofing products.
Heritage branches made meaningful further progress through improved gross margins. A critical factor in the improved performance has been continued investment in personnel through extensive training and some external recruitment. Recently acquired businesses performed ahead of expectations.
In 2003, the Europe Products & Distribution Division was the second largest contributor to Group net sales and the fourth and smallest contributor to Group operating income. The Division is comprised of two segments, Products and Distribution.
With the exception of the U.K., construction output in all key markets remained depressed. Throughout Europe, activity in new office and commercial building declined and new housing continued weak.
Nevertheless, in 2003, we saw a strong performance from Europe Products & Distribution with sales up 23% and operating income 39% ahead of last year. Aided by cost cutting and efficiency programs, our legacy businesses improved, however, the bulk of the advance in sales and income was due to 2002 and 2003 acquisitions.
The Division was very active on the development front in 2003, spending a record €1 billion. The biggest deal was the €0.7 billion acquisition of Cementbouw in the Netherlands completed on October 3. The Cementbouw activities were integrated in Concrete products, Clay products and Distribution. 14 further deals were concluded with operations in seven European countries.
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The Products segment is organized into four product groups – Concrete Products, Clay Products, Insulation and Building Products. The Building Products group in turn comprises 3 sub-groups: Fencing & Security, Daylight & Ventilation and Concrete Accessories.
This group produces architectural (pavers, tiles and blocks) and structural (floor and wall elements, drainage and poles) concrete products. Predominantly supplying the new-build sector, the group experienced difficult markets in 2003. In this challenging environment, the Concrete Products group delivered a strong performance, with legacy businesses reporting results just below 2002 and a strong contribution from 2002 and 2003 acquisitions.
Thearchitectural group faced tough conditions in the Benelux market, with reduced local authority spending and new housing at the lowest level since the 1950s. However, thanks to the ongoing cost reduction program, operating income was maintained. EHL, the German paving company acquired in 2002, performed strongly and exceeded expectations. In June, EHL acquired Premac, a leading paving producer in Slovakia; significant synergies in marketing and product development are being achieved. In the U.K., demand for Forticrete’s concrete masonry and roofing products benefited from the increase in the housing market and, despite weakness in the commercial sector, sales and operating income grew.
The structural group delivered a robust performance in the weak Benelux market, with legacy businesses matching 2002 results. The 2003 acquisitions, Maessen (Belgian bolt on) and Betonelement (leading Danish producer of precast concrete elements), performed well and have fitted-in with our existing structural businesses. Operations in France saw a decrease in underlying sales and income due to the ongoing weakness of the telecom sector and the French power pole market. This drop was moderated through cost cutting, efficiency improvement and product development. Encouragingly, the Belgian operations reported a good operating income improvement. The acquisition in December of three concrete pole plants from Amec Spie is an important step in the ongoing rationalization of this market in France.
Clay products
The Clay Products group delivered an increase in sales and income comprising organic growth plus the contribution from Cementbouw’s clay operations.
U.K. housing starts were again up on the previous year as were industry brick deliveries, albeit at a lower rate. Ibstock volumes were held to a similar level as 2002 due to a combination of kiln rebuilds and changed product mix. However, margins moved upward with the benefit of price improvements.
In Mainland Europe, the German market remained difficult. In Poland, activity was disrupted in early 2003 by the long winter; thereafter, recovery was strong. The better conditions in Poland together with the cost saving measures implemented in 2001 and 2002 resulted in a significant improvement in results.
De Bylandt and De Waalwaard, Cementbouw’s clay paving and facing brick operations, were successfully integrated into our existing Dutch clay product businesses.
The Insulation group is a leading foam insulation manufacturer in Europe with strong positions in the U.K., Ireland, the Benelux, Germany, Poland, Scandinavia and the Baltic area. In October, the group extended its operations with the acquisition of Unidek, a leading producer of expanded polystyrene insulation products and roofing systems with factories in the Netherlands and Germany. Both sales and operating income were significantly ahead of 2002.
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Building products
Building Products comprises of three sub-groups: Fencing & Security, Daylight & Ventilation and the newly-acquired Construction Accessories. The group had a strong year with acquisitions contributing to a strong increase in sales and operating income.
Fencing & Security had an excellent year with sales and operating income well ahead of last year. Existing businesses increased operating income from the 2002 level with good performances in both the U.K. and the Benelux partly offset by Germany.
Daylight & Ventilation had a difficult year. On similar sales, income declined due to the disappointing German market and once-off restructuring costs.
The Construction Accessories group was formed following the acquisition in April of Plakabeton, a leading supplier of metal-based accessories for the construction and precast concrete industries. The company had a strong year with sales and income in line with our expectations.
Fiscal 2003 was an excellent year for the Distribution Group in Europe. The Cementbouw builders merchanting and DIY divisions were successfully integrated and a strong advance in sales and operating profit was recorded.
Our DIY homecenter businesses had an exceptional year of progress although retail demand in the Netherlands slowed in the second half of the year. With the inclusion of the 54 Cementbouw DIY stores in the Netherlands and the acquisition of 13 stores in Belgium and three stores in the Netherlands, we consolidated our leading position in the Benelux DIY market. Our total network now consists of 130 stores, 116 in the Netherlands and 14 in Belgium. In Portugal, our joint venture again advanced in sales and income. In 2003, three new stores were opened, bringing the total chain to 16 stores.
Netherlands: Overall, the Dutch merchanting businesses performed well, with a strong improvement in income both from the inclusion of Cementbouw and successful cost reduction programs in the legacy businesses.
France: In difficult market conditions, our Ile-de-France merchanting businesses outperformed mainly due to the turnaround at Matériaux Service. In December, we increased our stake in SAMSE, and entered into a joint venture with SAMSE to acquire Doras, a regional merchant active in Burgundy and Franche-Comté, on a phased basis.
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Switzerland: Fiscal 2003 was a successful year with sales and income in our existing businesses supplemented by 2002 acquisitions Vicom and Baubedarf. We successfully concluded the integration of these businesses and took advantage of synergy opportunities through the consolidation of general merchanting activities within the Baubedarf organization.
Poland: Our Warsaw-based merchant, GenBud, showed another advance in sales and income.
The Company is subject to Corporation Tax in the Republic of Ireland on income arising from sources within Ireland. Companies in Ireland are subject to different Corporation Tax rates depending on the activity carried out by the company. Except for certain companies engaged in specified manufacturing activities, companies in Ireland are in general subject to Corporation Tax at the highest rate of 12.5% (the highest rate was 16% prior to December 31, 2002, 20% prior to December 31, 2001 and 24% prior to December 31, 2000).
Group companies with income arising from the sale of goods manufactured in Ireland, regardless of whether the goods are exported, are liable to Corporation Tax at a reduced rate of 10% up to December 31, 2010.
The Group has prepared its consolidated financial statements included in this Form 20-F in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the Republic of Ireland (“Irish GAAP”), which are consistent with U.K. GAAP.
As part of the European Commission’s plan to develop a single European capital market, the application of International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”) is mandatory for the consolidated financial statements of all entities whose securities are listed on a regulated exchange in the European Union (“EU”) and applies in respect of accounting periods commencing on or after January 1, 2005. The Regulation passed by the EU requires that IFRS-compliant financial statements be produced by CRH for the financial periods ending June 30, 2005 and December 31, 2005 and that those financial statements contain a full set of disclosures for the comparative periods in 2004. Under this Regulation, the transition date to IFRS (being the beginning of the earliest period for which the Group presents full comparative information under IFRS in its first IFRS financial statements as stipulated under IFRS 1 First-time Adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards) is January 1, 2004.
As noted above, all publicly quoted European companies in the EU are required to prepare consolidated financial statements in accordance with IFRS as adopted by the European Commission in respect of accounting periods commencing on or after January 1, 2005. The financial information presented below has been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards and Interpretations issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (“IASB”) and with International Accounting Standards (“IAS”) and Standing Interpretations Committee Interpretations approved by the predecessor International Accounting Standards Committee that have been subsequently authorized by the IASB and remain in effect.
Qualifications to be taken into account
The majority of the IASs/IFRSs have been approved by the European Commission. However, a number of IASs/IFRSs remain to be approved at the date of this annual report on Form 20-F, and failure to approve these outstanding standards in time for 2005 financial reporting could lead to changes in the basis of accounting or in the basis of presentation of certain financial information from that adopted.
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Furthermore, the restated 2004 financial information provided is subject to the issuance by the International Accounting Standards Board of additional Interpretations prior to the end of 2005 which may have retrospective impact and thus require to be applied in the 2005 financial statements and the related 2004 comparatives. As a result, it is possible that further changes may be required to the 2004 financial information below prior to its inclusion as comparative data in the published 2005 interim and year-end consolidated financial statements under IFRS.
The financial instruments accounting policy takes full account of the revised version of IAS 39 approved by the European Commission under which the fair valuation of financial liabilities is prohibited. In addition, the European Commission has yet to approve the Amendment to IAS 19 Actuarial Gains and Losses, Group Plans and Disclosures enabling the recognition of actuarial gains and losses in the Statement of Recognized Income and Expense in the same manner as FRS 17 under Irish GAAP. CRH has elected to adopt this Amendment in relation to accounting for actuarial gains and losses arising on the Group’s defined benefit pension schemes and similar arrangements after the transition date prior to its effective date.
The impact of the transition to IFRS on the Group financial statements is summarised as follows:
Revenue
Operating income (EBITA)
Income before finance costs
Income before tax (IBT)
Income after tax
Tax rate (as a % of IBT)
Basic EPS (euro cent)
Total liabilities
Total equity
Net debt
As reported under Irish GAAP
Proportionate consolidation of joint ventures
Reclassification from minority interest
Fair valuation of derivatives
Restated under IFRS
The consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the Republic of Ireland (“Irish GAAP”), which differ in certain significant respects from U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”). These differences are described and outlined in Note 31 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
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These accounting principles require management to make certain estimates, judgments and assumptions. Management believes that the estimates, judgments and assumptions upon which it relies are reasonable based on the information available to it at the time that those estimates, judgments and assumptions are made. These estimates, judgments and assumptions can affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities as of the date of the financial statements, as well as the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the periods presented. To the extent that there are material differences between these estimates, judgments or assumptions and actual results, the Group’s Consolidated Financial Statements will be affected. In many cases, the accounting treatment of a particular transaction is specifically dictated by Irish GAAP and/or U.S. GAAP, and does not require management’s judgment in its application. There are also areas in which management’s judgment in selecting among available alternatives would not produce a materially different result.
The significant accounting policies adopted by the Group are set out in Note 1 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, while the other Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements contain the disclosures required by Irish and U.S. GAAP.
The accounting policies which involve significant estimates, judgments or assumptions, the actual outcome of which could have a material impact on the Group’s results and financial positions, are:
Measurement of environmental liabilities
The measurement of environmental liabilities is based on an evaluation of currently available facts with respect to each individual site and considers factors such as existing technology, currently enacted laws and regulations and prior experience in remediation of contaminated sites. Inherent uncertainties exist in such evaluations primarily due to unknown conditions, changing governmental regulations and legal standards regarding liability, the protracted length of the clean-up periods and evolving technologies. Environmental remediation costs are accrued when environmental assessments and the need for remediation are probable and the costs can be reasonably estimated. The recorded liabilities are adjusted periodically as remediation efforts progress or as additional technical or legal information becomes available. The environmental liabilities provided for in the Consolidated Financial Statements reflect the information available to management at the time of determination of the liability, and involve inherent uncertainties as described above, many of which are not under management’s control. As a result, the accounting for such items could result in different amounts if management used different assumptions or if different conditions occur in future accounting periods.
For further discussion related to environmental matters, see “Item 4—Information on the Company—Environmental Regulations” on page 38.
Allowance for doubtful accounts
The Group makes judgments as to its ability to collect outstanding receivables and provides allowances for a portion of the receivable when collection becomes doubtful. Provisions are based on a review of outstanding invoices and take into account historical collection experience and current economic trends. If the historical data used by the Group to calculate the allowance provided for doubtful accounts does not reflect the future ability to collect outstanding receivables, additional provisions for doubtful accounts may be needed and the future results of operations could be materially affected.
Legal contingencies
The Group is currently involved in various claims and legal proceedings. Periodically, the status of each significant matter is reviewed by management and the Group’s potential financial exposure is assessed. If the potential loss from any claim or legal proceeding is considered probable, and the amount can be estimated, a liability is accrued for the estimated loss. Because of uncertainties related to these matters, accruals are based on the best information available at the time. As additional information becomes available on pending claims, the
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potential liability is reassessed and revisions are made to the amounts accrued where appropriate. Such revisions in the estimates of the potential liabilities could have a material impact on the results of operations and financial position of the Group.
The determination of the Group’s provision for income tax requires management to make certain judgments and estimates. In the ordinary course of business of the Group, there are many transactions and calculations where the ultimate tax outcome is uncertain. Our effective tax rate is based on expected income, statutory tax rates and tax planning opportunities available to us in the various jurisdictions in which we operate. Although management believes that the estimates included in the Consolidated Financial Statements and its tax return positions are reasonable, no assurance can be given that the final outcome of these matters will not be different than that which is reflected in the Group’s historical income tax provisions and accruals. Such differences could have a material impact on the income tax provision and net income for the period in which such a determination is made.
Deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined using enacted tax rates for the effects of net operating losses and temporary differences between the book and tax bases of assets and liabilities. Management believes that it is more likely than not that deferred tax assets will be realized fully and accordingly no valuation allowance has been recorded to reduce deferred tax assets. While management has considered future taxable income and ongoing prudent and feasible tax planning strategies in assessing the need for the valuation allowance, there is no assurance that a valuation allowance would not be required to cover deferred tax assets that may not be realizable. Recognition of a valuation allowance could have a material adverse impact on the Group’s income tax provision and net income in the period in which such a determination is made.
In addition, the Group operates within multiple taxing jurisdictions and is subject to tax audits in those jurisdictions. These audits can involve complex issues that could require an extended period of time for resolution.
In management’s opinion, adequate provisions for income taxes have been made.
Impairment of long-lived assets
The carrying value of long-lived assets is reviewed for impairment if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable. Under Irish GAAP, impairment is assessed by comparing the carrying value of an asset with its recoverable amount (being the higher of net realizable value and value in use). Net realizable value is defined as the amount at which an asset could be disposed of net of any direct selling costs. Value in use is defined as the present value of the future cash flows obtainable through continued use of an asset including those anticipated to be realized on its eventual disposal. The impairment process requires management to make significant judgments and estimates regarding the future cash flows expected to be generated by the use of, and if applicable the eventual disposition of, those assets, and regarding other factors to determine the fair value of the assets. The key variables which management must estimate include: sales volumes, prices and growth, production and operating costs, capital expenditures, market conditions, and other economic factors. Significant management judgment is involved in estimating these variables, and such estimates are inherently uncertain; however, the assumptions used are consistent with the Company’s internal strategic planning. Management periodically evaluates and updates the estimates based on the conditions which influence these variables.
The assumptions and conditions for determining impairments of property and equipment reflect management’s best assumptions and estimates, but these items involve inherent uncertainties described above,
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many of which are not under management’s control. As a result, the accounting for such items could result in different estimates or amounts if management used different assumptions or if different conditions occur in future accounting periods.
Pensions and other post-retirement benefits
The amounts recognized in the Consolidated Financial Statements related to pension and other post-retirement benefits are determined from actuarial valuations. Inherent in these valuations are assumptions including discount rates, expected return on plan assets, rate of increase in future compensation levels, mortality rates and healthcare costs trend rates. These assumptions are updated annually based on current economic conditions and, if required, also for any changes to the terms and conditions of the pension and postretirement plans. These assumptions can be affected by (i) for the discount rate, changes in the rates of return on high-quality fixed income investments currently available in the market and those expected to be available during the period to maturity of the pension benefits; (ii) for the expected return on plan assets, changes in the pension plans’ strategic asset allocations to various investment types or to long-term return trend rates in the capital markets in which the pension fund assets are invested; (iii) for future compensation levels, on future labor market conditions and (iv) for healthcare cost trend rates, on the rate of medical cost inflation in the regions of the world where the benefits are offered to the Group’s employees. The weighted average actuarial assumptions used to compute the pension and postretirement benefit obligation for 2004, 2003 and 2002 are disclosed in Note 29 to Consolidated Financial Statements. In accordance with Irish GAAP and U.S. GAAP, actual results that differ from the assumptions used in calculating the annual retirement benefit liabilities and costs are accumulated and amortized over future periods and therefore generally affect recognized expense and recorded obligations in future accounting periods. While management believes that the assumptions used are appropriate, differences in actual experience or changes in assumptions may affect the Group’s pension and other postretirement obligations and expenses in future accounting periods.
Inflation has not had a material effect on the Group’s consolidated results of operations and financial condition during the three-year period ended December 31, 2004.
Despite spending a total of €1.4 billion on acquisitions, investments and capital projects, the strong cash generation characteristics of the Group, combined with a favourable translation adjustment, limited the increase in net debt to just €133 million.
The €0.9 billion acquisitions and investments spend for 2004 includes the purchase of the 49% stake in Secil completed in June together with some 39 small to medium-sized deals across the Group’s operations. Approximately 70% of this total was spent in Europe with the remaining 30% invested in the Americas.
The increased depreciation and goodwill amortisation charges reflect the impact of capital expenditure and acquisitions completed in 2003 and 2004.
Taxation payments in 2004 were higher than in 2003 reflecting both improved Group profitability and the deferral of some payments related to 2003 United States tax liabilities into 2004.
Capital expenditure of €520 million represented 4.2% of Group net sales (2003: 3.7%) and amounted to 1.05 times depreciation (2003: 0.88 times). Against an improving market backdrop, an increasing number of larger development projects was initiated as the year progressed with particular emphasis on the expansion of capacity to meet growing customer demand in the fast-growing United States homecenter and hardscape markets.
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Strong final quarter demand in Ireland and in our Americas Products & Distribution activities resulted in higher year-end receivables balances and a working capital outflow for the year of €100 million.
Proceeds from share issues principally reflect the take-up of shares in lieu of dividend under the Company’s scrip dividend scheme (€36 million) augmented by issues under Group share option and share participation schemes (€37 million).
Exchange rate movements during 2004 reduced the euro amount of net foreign currency debt by €33 million. This reflected an 8% revaluation of the euro against the U.S. dollar from 1.2630 at end-2003 to 1.3621 at end-2004 partly offset by a strengthening of the Polish Zloty. The more favourable translation adjustment in 2003 reflected the more significant 20% revaluation of the euro versus the U.S. dollar from 1.0487 at end-2002 to 1.2630 at end-2003 which was accompanied by a weakening of the Zloty.
Debt net of cash amounted to €2,440.7 million at December 31, 2004, compared with €2,308.1 million at December 31, 2003. Due to the increase in equity exceeding the increase in net debt, the Group’s ratio of debt to ordinary shareholders’ equity of 46.8% at year-end 2004 was 1.7 percentage points lower than at year-end 2003. EBITDA interest cover (as defined on page 43) was 13.2 times in 2004 (2003: 13.1 times, 2002: 11.3 times).
Cash balances increased to €1,322.4 million at December 31, 2004 from €1,298.0 million at December 31, 2003 primarily as a result of overall net cash inflows partially offset by negative foreign exchange translation of €25.5 million. Currency analysis of the cash balances is as follows (all at floating interest rates):
December 31, 2004
December 31, 2003
December 31, 2002
Ordinary shareholders’ equity (which is calculated as total shareholders’ equity less cumulative preference shares of €1.2 million) increased from €4,757.7 million at December 31, 2003 to €5,216.6 million at year-end 2004. Earnings of €586.3 million retained for 2004, combined with proceeds of €72.7 million (net of expenses) from share issues (appropriations under the Group Share Participation Schemes (see “Item 6 – Directors, Senior Management and Employees”) and issues in lieu of dividends) were only partly offset by unfavorable currency translation effects of €200.1 million (principally due to the 8% revaluation of the euro against the U.S. dollar).
The cash inflow in 2003 from operating activities reflects our group operating income (before goodwill amortization) less interest adjusted for non-cash items and taxation payments. Working capital movements in 2002 had been favored by a run-down during that year of very high year end 2001 U.S. working capital levels following excellent fourth quarter weather conditions for the construction industry. A more normal seasonal demand pattern is evident in a €62 million outflow for 2003 compared with an inflow of €66.5 million in 2002.
Although 2003 was a very active year for acquisitions, the 2003 depreciation and goodwill amortization charges show little change on the 2002 levels largely due to exchange translation effects.
Taxation payments in 2003 were €59.4 million lower than in 2002 reflecting timing and exchange translation effects. Net interest paid reduced by €21.1 million, largely attributable to favorable exchange translation.
2003 spend of €1.6 billion on acquisitions and investments reflected the completion of the Cementbouw and S.E. Johnson acquisitions combined with 39 bolt-on deals across the Group’s operations. Approximately 65% of this total was spent in Europe with the remaining 35% invested in North America. This compared with €1 billion spent in 2002.
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Against a challenging market backdrop, the Group continued to maintain a tight rein on capital spending although some larger development projects were initiated as 2003 progressed. Capital expenditure of €402.0 million (2002: €367.4 million) represented 3.7% of Group net sales (2002: 3.5%) and amounted to 0.88 times depreciation (2002: 0.81 times).
Proceeds from the sale of non-strategic long-lived and financial assets reduced to €77.9 million in 2003 from €104.4 million in 2002.
Proceeds from share issues principally reflected the take-up of shares in lieu of dividend under the Company’s scrip dividend scheme augmented by issues under Group share option and share participation schemes, and amounted to €41.1 million (2002: €36.7 million) net of issue expenses.
Dividends paid to shareholders and minority shareholders less dividends received from joint ventures and associates amounted to €131.0 million (2002: €111.5 million).
Exchange rate movements between end-2002 and end-2003 reduced the euro amount of net foreign currency debt by €243 million principally due to the weaker U.S. dollar.
Debt net of cash amounted to €2,308.1 million at December 31, 2003, compared with €1,709.9 million at December 31, 2002. Due to the increase in net debt the Group’s ratio of debt to ordinary shareholders’ equity of 48.5% at year-end 2003 was 12.5 percentage points higher than at year-end 2002. EBITDA interest cover (as defined on page 43) was 13.1 times in 2003 (2002: 11.3 times, 2001: 8.5 times).
Cash balances reduced to €1,298.0 million at December 31, 2003 from €1,533.2 million at December 31, 2002 primarily as a result of overall net cash outflows and negative foreign exchange translation of €147.0 million. Currency analysis of the cash balances is as follows (all at floating interest rates):
December 31, 2001
Ordinary shareholders’ equity (which is calculated as total shareholders’ equity less cumulative preference shares of €1.2 million) increased from €4,746.7 million at December 31, 2002 to €4,757.7 million at year-end 2003. Earnings of €492.4 million retained for 2003, combined with proceeds of €41.1 million (net of expenses) from share issues (appropriations under the Group Share Participation Schemes (see “Item 6—Directors, Senior Management and Employees”) and issues in lieu of dividends) were largely offset by unfavorable currency translation effects of €522.5 million (principally due to the 20% revaluation of the euro against the U.S. dollar).
Borrowings and Credit Facilities
The Group has a U.K.£100 million Sterling Commercial Paper Program, supported by a U.K.£300 million multicurrency revolving credit facility, which is available for general corporate purposes. There were no amounts outstanding under this Program at December 31, 2004 (2003: nil).
During the year, the Group renewed a maturing Stg£300 million multi-currency syndicated facility and added a €200 million tranche, both with five-year maturity.
The Group finished the year in a very strong financial position with 97% of the Group’s gross debt drawn under committed term facilities, 91% of which mature after more than one year. These committed facilities are mainly with a number of international banks. Commitment fees are paid on the unused portion of the lines of credit, and borrowings under the facilities will be at prevailing money market rates. In addition, at year-end, the Group held €667 million of undrawn committed facilities which had an average maturity of three years.
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At December 31, 2004, gross debt (including finance leases) amounted to €3,763.1 million (2003: €3,606.1 million, 2002: €3,243.1 million) of which approximately 33% was at fixed interest rates (2003: 30%, 2002: 27%).
An analysis of the maturity profile of debt, finance and operating leases and deferred acquisition consideration at December 31, 2004 is as follows:
Payments due by period
Gross debt
Finance leases
Operating leases
Purchase obligations
Deferred acquisition consideration
Interest Swap Agreements
In order to manage interest rate risk, the Group enters into interest rate swap agreements to alter the interest payable on debt from fixed to variable and vice versa. While the Group is exposed to market risk to the extent that receipts and payments under interest rate agreements are affected by market interest rates, the combination of interest rate swaps and fixed rate debt reduces the Group’s interest rate market risk by fixing interest rates on a portion of the Group’s net debt in individual currencies. The Group accounts for interest rate agreements as hedges, the Consolidated Statements of Income reflecting only the net interest receivable or payable under such agreements on the accruals basis. The fair values of the swap transactions, which are not recognized in the financial statements under Irish GAAP, are included under derivative contracts in Note 19 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
Currency swap agreements
The Group enters into currency swap agreements to manage the group’s mix of fixed and floating debt by currency to ensure that the debt funding sources match the currency of Group operations. The net book liability of the currency agreements amounted to €253.0 million as at December 31, 2004, and the fair values of the currency swap transactions are included under derivative contracts in Note 19 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
Other financial instruments comprise loans to joint ventures and deferred acquisition consideration due after more than one year.
Most of the fair value of derivative contracts arises from interest and currency swaps. A small portion arises from contracts to hedge future energy costs.
Guarantees
The Company has given letters of guarantee to secure obligations of subsidiary undertakings as follows: €3,425.3 million in respect of loans, bank advances and future lease obligations, €23.7 million in respect of deferred acquisition consideration, €141.5 million in respect of letters of credit and €14.2 million in respect of other obligations.
Working capital
CRH believes that its current working capital cash flows and cash generated from operations together with funds raised through its borrowing facilities are sufficient to meet its capital expenditure and other expenditure requirements for 2005.
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CRH does not have any off-balance sheet arrangements, as such term is defined for purposes of Item 5.E of Form 20-F, that have or are reasonably likely to have a current or future effect on CRH’s financial condition, changes in financial condition, revenues or expenses, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources that is material to investors.
At December 31, 2004, capital expenditure contracted but not provided in the financial statements amounted to €165.7 million and capital expenditure commitments authorized by the Directors but not contracted for amounted to €87.7 million. CRH expects that capital expenditure for the year 2005 will be somewhat higher than the amount spent in 2004, which amounted to €520.2 million. These expenditures will be financed from internal resources and management estimates that 2005 expenditure will be split approximately evenly between Europe and the Americas. The level of capital expenditure is regularly reviewed during the year and may be increased or decreased in the light of prevailing economic and market conditions and other financial considerations.
The overall level of government capital expenditures and the allocation by state entities of available funds to different projects as well as interest rate and tax policies directly affect the overall levels of construction activity. The terms and general availability of government permits required to conduct Group business also has an impact on the scope of Group operations. As a result such governmental decisions and policies can have a significant impact on the operating results of the Group.
Research & Development
Research and development is not a focus of CRH’s business. CRH’s policy is to expense all research and development costs as they occur.
Energy markets remain volatile and higher input costs are generally a feature across our operations. However, we are encouraged by results to date in achieving cost recovery and look to further gains in this regard in the months ahead.
While as always there are uncertainties in economies and markets, overall 2005 has started well and with our focus on cost effectiveness and operational performance we look to continuing progress as we move into the more profitable second half of the year.
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ITEM 6—DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND EMPLOYEES
The Board of Directors manages the business of the Company. The Directors, other than the non-executive Directors, serve as executive officers of the Company.
Name
Period during which the individual has servedin this office (from appointment to June 2005)
D.W. Doyle
(Age 58)
1 year 5 months
N. Hartery
(Age 54)
1 year
T.W. Hill
(Age 49)
3 years 6 months
J.M. de Jong
(Age 60)
D.M. Kennedy
(Age 66)
16 years 1 month
M. Lee
(Age 52)
1 year 7 months
K. McGowan
(Age 61)
6 years 8 months
P.J. Molloy
(Age 67)
7 years 6 months
T.V. Neill
(Age 59)
A. O’Brien
(Age 68)
12 years 7 months
J.M.C. O’Connor
W.I. O’Mahony
J.L. Wittstock
(Age 55)
A. Malone
10 years 1 month
Mr. D.W. Doyle, Mr. J.M. de Jong and Mr. T.V. Neill were appointed to the Board on January 19, 2004.
Mr. D. Godson and Mr. H.E. Kilroy retired from the Board on May 5, 2004. Mr. B.G. Hill retired from the Board on October 31, 2004.
Mr. N. Hartery and Dr. J.M.C. O’Connor were appointed to the Board on June 29, 2004.
Mr. W.P. Roef retired from the Board on May 4, 2005.
D.W. Doyle BE MIE Declan Doyle joined CRH in 1968 and has held a number of senior management positions within the Group’s European materials businesses, including Managing Director of Irish Cement Limited and Roadstone-Wood and Regional Director with responsibility for Poland and Ukraine. He was appointed Managing Director CRH Europe Materials in January 2003 and became a CRH Board Director in January 2004.
N. Hartery CEng, FIEI, MBA Nicky Hartery became a non-executive Director in 2004. He is Vice President of Manufacturing and Business Operations for Dell Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Prior to joining Dell, he was Executive Vice President at Eastman Kodak and previously held the position of President and CEO at Verbatim Corporation, based in the United States.
T.W. Hill BA, MBA Tom Hill joined CRH in 1980. He was appointed President of Oldcastle Materials, Inc. in 1991 and became its Chief Executive Officer in January 2000. A United States citizen, he is responsible for the Group’s United States aggregates, asphalt and readymixed concrete operations. He was appointed a CRH Board Director with effect from January 1, 2002.
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J.M. de Jong Jan Maarten de Jong, a Dutch national, became a non-executive Director in January 2004. He is Vice Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Heineken nv. He is a former member of the Managing Board of ABN Amro Bank nv and continues to be a Special Advisor to the board of that company. He also holds a number of other directorships of European companies including Cementbouw bv, in which CRH acquired 45% of the equity as part of the Cementbouw transaction in 2003.
D.M. Kennedy MSc David Kennedy became a non-executive Director in 1989. He is a director of a number of companies in Ireland and overseas, including Jurys Doyle Hotel Group plc, The Manchester Airport Group plc, Drury Communications Ltd and Pimco Funds Global Investors Series plc. He was formerly Chief Executive of Aer Lingus plc.
M. Lee BE, FCA Myles Lee joined CRH in 1982. Prior to this he worked in a professional accountancy practice and in the oil industry. He was appointed General Manager Finance in 1988 and became Finance Director in November 2003.
K. McGowan Kieran McGowan became a non-executive Director in 1998. He retired as Chief Executive of IDA Ireland in December 1998. He is a director of a number of companies including Elan Corporation plc, Enterprise Ireland and Irish Life & Permanent plc and Chairman of the governing authority of University College Dublin.
P.J. Molloy Pat Molloy became Chairman of CRH in 2000 having been a non-executive Director since 1997. He is Chairman of the Blackrock Clinic and Enterprise Ireland and a director of Waterford Wedgwood plc. He retired as Group Chief Executive of Bank of Ireland in January 1998.
T.V. Neill MA, MSc Terry Neill became a non-executive Director in January 2004. He was, until August 2001, Senior Partner in Accenture and had been Chairman of Accenture/Andersen Consulting’s global Board. He is Chairman of Meridea Financial Software Oy and AMT-Sybex Group Limited. He is a member of the Court of Bank of Ireland, a member of the Governing Body of the London Business School and is Chairman of Camerata Ireland.
A. O’Brien FCMA, FCIS Tony O’Brien became a non-executive Director in 1992. He is Chairman of C&C Group plc. He was formerly Chairman of Anglo Irish Bank Corporation plc and is a past President of The Irish Business and Employers Confederation.
J.M.C. O’Connor Joyce O’Connor became a non-executive Director in 2004. She is President of the National College of Ireland. She is a former senior Research Fellow in the Department of Social Science, University College Dublin and was Head of the Department of Languages and Applied Social Studies at University of Limerick. She is currently Chair of the Further Education and Training Awards Council and The National Guidance Forum and is a member of the National Qualifications Authority.
W.I. O’Mahony BE, BL, MBA, FIEI Liam O’Mahony joined CRH in 1971. He has held senior management positions including Chief Operating Officer of the United States operations and Managing Director, Republic of Ireland and UK Group companies. He joined the CRH Board in 1992, was appointed Chief Executive, Oldcastle, Inc. in November 1994 and became Group Chief Executive in January 2000. He is a member of The Irish Management Institute Council and of the Harvard Business School European Advisory Board.
J.L. Wittstock BBA, CPA, MBA John Wittstock joined CRH in 1990 with the acquisition of HGP Industries. Prior to joining HGP, he worked in the brewing and food industries. He became Chief Executive Officer of Oldcastle Products & Distribution in January 2000 and joined the CRH Board in January 2002. He was appointed to his current position in October 2004. A United States citizen, he is responsible for managing and developing the Group’s product and distribution businesses throughout Europe.
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A. Malone FCIS Angela Malone joined CRH in 1990 and was appointed Company Secretary in 1995.
The information on executive and non-executive Directors’ compensation, pension entitlements and options to purchase securities from the registrant or its subsidiaries is set out on pages R-1 to R-9 inclusive which are incorporated by reference in this Item.
This statement sets out the key governance principles and practices of CRH.
The Directors are committed to maintaining the highest standards of corporate governance and this statement describes how CRH applies the main and supporting principles of the revised Combined Code on Corporate Governance, which is appended to the Listing Rules of the Irish and London Stock Exchanges and which is applicable for reporting years beginning on or after November 1, 2003.
Board of Directors
Role
The Board is responsible for the leadership and control of the Company. There is a formal schedule of matters reserved to the Board for consideration and decision. This includes approval of strategic plans for the Group, Board appointments, approval of financial statements, the annual budget, major acquisitions and significant capital expenditure, and review of the Group’s system of internal controls.
The Board has delegated responsibility for the management of the Group, through the Chief Executive, to executive management. The roles of Chairman and Chief Executive are not combined and there is a clear division of responsibilities between them, which is set out in writing and has been approved by the Board. The Chief Executive is accountable to the Board for all authority delegated to executive management.
The Board has also delegated some of its responsibilities to Committees of the Board.
Individual Directors may seek independent professional advice, at the expense of the Company, in the furtherance of their duties as a Director.
The Group has a policy in place which indemnifies the Directors in respect of legal action taken against them.
Membership
It is the practice of CRH that a majority of the Board comprises non-executive Directors and that the Chairman be non-executive. At present, there are five executive and eight non-executive Directors. Biographical details are set out on pages 76 and 77. The Board considers that, between them, the Directors bring the range of skills, knowledge and experience, including international experience, necessary to lead the Company.
All of the Directors bring independent judgement to bear on issues of strategy, performance, resources, key appointments and standards. The Board has determined that each of the non-executive Directors is independent. In reaching that conclusion, the Board took into account a number of factors that might appear to affect the independence of some of the Directors, including length of service on the Board and cross-directorships. In each case the Board decided that the independence of the relevant Director was not compromised.
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Chairman
Mr. Pat Molloy has been Chairman of the Group since May 2000. The Chairman is responsible for the efficient and effective working of the Board. He ensures that Board agendas cover the key strategic issues confronting the Group; that the Board reviews and approves management’s plans for the Group; and that Directors receive accurate, timely, clear and relevant information. While Mr. Molloy holds a number of other directorships (see details on page 77) the Board considers that these do not interfere with the discharge of his duties to CRH.
Senior Independent Director
The Board has appointed Mr. Tony O’Brien as the Senior Independent Director. Mr. O’Brien is available to shareholders who have concerns that cannot be addressed through the Chairman, Chief Executive or Finance Director.
Company Secretary
The appointment and removal of the Company Secretary is a matter for the Board. All Directors have access to the advice and services of the Company Secretary, who is responsible to the Board for ensuring that Board procedures are complied with.
Terms of appointment
The standard terms of the letter of appointment of non-executive Directors is available, on request, from the Company Secretary.
Induction and development
New Directors are provided with extensive briefing materials on the Group and its operations. Directors meet with key executives and, in the course of twice-yearly visits by the Board to overseas locations, see the businesses at first hand and meet with local management teams.
Remuneration
Details of remuneration paid to the Directors (executive and non-executive) are set out in the report on Directors’ remuneration on pages R-4 to R-5.
Share ownership and dealing
Details of the shares held by Directors are set out on page 90.
CRH has a policy on dealings in securities that applies to Directors and senior management. Under the policy, Directors are required to obtain clearance from the Chairman and Chief Executive before dealing in CRH shares. Directors and senior management are prohibited from dealing in CRH shares during designated prohibited periods and at any time at which the individual is in possession of price-sensitive information. The policy adopts the terms of the Model Code, as set out in the Listing Rules published by the UK Listing Authority and the Irish Stock Exchange.
Performance appraisal
The Senior Independent Director conducts an annual review of corporate governance, the operation and performance of the Board and its Committees and the performance of the Chairman. This is achieved through discussion with each Director and the Company Secretary. A review of individual Directors’ performance is conducted by the Chairman and each Director is provided with feedback gathered from other members of the Board.
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Directors’ retirement and re-election
The Board has determined that when a non-executive Director has served on the Board for more than nine years, that Director will be subject to annual re-election. Of the remaining Directors, at least one-third retire at each Annual General Meeting and Directors must submit themselves to shareholders for re-election every three years. Directors appointed by the Board must submit themselves to shareholders for election at the Annual General Meeting following their appointment.
Board succession planning
The Board plans for its own succession with the assistance of the Nomination Committee. In so doing, the Board considers the skill, knowledge and experience necessary to allow it to meet the strategic vision for the Group. The Board engages the services of independent consultants to undertake a search for suitable candidates to serve as non-executive Directors.
Meetings
There were eight full meetings of the Board during 2004. Details of Directors’ attendance at those meetings are set out in the table on page 85. The Chairman sets the agenda for each meeting, in consultation with the Chief Executive and Company Secretary. Two visits are made each year by the Board to Group operations; one in Europe and one in North America. Each visit lasts between three and five days and incorporates a scheduled Board meeting. In 2004, these visits were to the Netherlands and to Illinois/Ohio. Additional meetings, to consider specific matters, are held when and if required. Board papers are circulated to Directors in advance of meetings.
The non-executive Directors met twice during 2004 without executives being present.
Committees
The Board has established five permanent committees to assist in the execution of its responsibilities. These are the Acquisitions Committee, the Audit Committee, the Finance Committee, the Nomination Committee and the Remuneration Committee. Ad hoc committees are formed from time to time to deal with specific matters.
Each of the permanent Committees has terms of reference, under which authority is delegated to them by the Board. The terms of reference are available on the Group’s website, www.crh.com. Minutes of all Committee meetings are circulated to all members of the Board.
The current membership of each Committee is set out on page 85. Attendance at meetings held in 2004 is set out in the table on page 85.
Chairmen of the Committees attend the Annual General Meeting and are available to answer questions from shareholders.
The role of the Acquisitions Committee is to approve acquisitions and capital expenditure projects within limits agreed by the Board.
The Audit Committee consists of four non-executive Directors, considered by the Board to be independent. The Board has determined that Mr. Jan Maarten de Jong is the Committee’s financial expert. It will be seen from the Directors’ biographical details, appearing on pages 76 and 77, that the members of the Committee bring to it a wide range of experience and expertise.
The Committee met nine times during the year under review. The Finance Director and Internal Audit Director normally attend meetings of the Committee, while the external auditors attend as required and have direct access to the Committee Chairman at all times.
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The main role and responsibilities are set out in written terms of reference and include:
These responsibilities are discharged as follows:
As noted above, one of the duties of the Audit Committee is to make recommendations to the Board in relation to the appointment of the external auditors. A number of factors are taken into account by the Committee in assessing whether to recommend the auditors for re-appointment. These include:
The Committee has put in place safeguards to ensure that the independence of the audit is not compromised. Such safeguards include:
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The Group has a policy governing the conduct of non-audit work by the auditors. Under that policy, the auditors are prohibited from performing services where the auditors:
Other than the above, the Group does not impose an automatic ban on the Group auditors undertaking non-audit work. The auditors are permitted to provide non-audit services that are not, or are not perceived to be, in conflict with auditor independence, providing they have the skill, competence and integrity to carry out the work and are considered by the Committee to be the most appropriate to undertake such work in the best interests of the Group. The engagement of the external auditors to provide any non-audit services must be pre-approved by the Audit Committee or entered into pursuant to pre-approval policies and procedures established by the Committee.
Details of the amounts paid to the external auditors during the year for audit and other services are set out on page 104.
The Finance Committee advises the Board on the financial requirements of the Group and on appropriate funding arrangements.
The Nomination Committee assists the Board in ensuring that the composition of the Board and its Committees is appropriate to the needs of the Group by:
During 2004, the Committee identified, and recommended to the Board, a number of suitable candidates for appointment as non-executive Directors, resulting in four appointments to the Board. To facilitate the search for suitable candidates, the Committee uses the services of independent consultants. The Committee also reviewed succession planning at senior management level and in the four operating Divisions.
The Remuneration Committee, which consists solely of non-executive Directors considered by the Board to be independent:
The Committee receives advice from leading independent firms of compensation and benefit consultants when necessary and the Chief Executive is fully consulted about remuneration proposals. The Committee oversees the preparation of the report on Directors’ remuneration.
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In 2004, the Committee determined the salaries of the executive Directors and the awards under the annual and long-term incentive plans; set the remuneration of the Chairman; and reviewed the remuneration of senior management. It also approved the award of share options to the executive Directors and key management.
Corporate social responsibility
CRH is committed to corporate social responsibility and sustainable development. Excellence in the areas of environmental, health, safety, social and community performance is a daily key priority of line management. During 2004, CRH was recognised by several rating agencies to be among the sustainability leaders in its sector. An overview of the Group’s sustainability objectives and achievements is given in “Item 4—Information on the Company— Environmental Regulations” on page 32.
Code of business conduct
The CRH Code of business conduct is applicable to all Group employees and is supplemented by local codes throughout the Group’s operations. The Code is available on the Group’s website, www.crh.com.
Communications with shareholders
Communications with shareholders are given high priority and there is regular dialogue with institutional shareholders, as well as presentations at the time of the release of the annual and interim results. Conference calls are held following the issuance of trading statements and major announcements by the Group, which afford Directors the opportunity to hear investors’ reactions to the announcements and their views on other issues.
Trading statements are issued in January and July. Major acquisitions are notified to the Stock Exchanges in accordance with the requirements of the Listing Rules. In addition, development updates, giving details of other acquisitions completed and major capital expenditure projects, are issued in January and July each year.
In March 2004, following the publication of the Group’s results for 2003, an independent survey of major institutional investors was carried out and the results reported to the Board. The Board also received reports from management during 2004 on the issues raised by investors in the course of presentations following the annual and interim results.
The Group’s website, www.crh.com, provides the full text of the Annual and Interim Reports, the Annual Report on Form 20-F, which is filed annually with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, trading statements and copies of presentations to analysts and investors. News releases are made available in the News & Media section of the website immediately after release to the Stock Exchanges.
The Company’s Annual General Meeting affords individual shareholders the opportunity to question the Chairman and the Board. Notice of the Annual General Meeting is sent to shareholders at least 20 working days before the meeting. At the meeting, after each resolution has been dealt with, details are given of the level of proxy votes lodged, the balance for and against that resolution and the number of abstentions.
In addition, the Company responds throughout the year to numerous letters from shareholders on a wide range of issues.
Internal control
The Directors have overall responsibility for the Group’s system of internal control and for reviewing its effectiveness. Such a system is designed to manage rather than eliminate the risk of failure to achieve business objectives and can provide only reasonable and not absolute assurance against material misstatement or loss.
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The Directors confirm that the Group’s ongoing process for identifying, evaluating and managing its significant risks is in accordance with the Turnbull guidance (Internal Control: Guidance for Directors on the Combined Code) published in September 1999. The process has been in place throughout the accounting period and up to the date of approval of the Annual Report and financial statements and is regularly reviewed by the Board.
Group management has responsibility for major strategic development and financing decisions. Responsibility for operational issues is devolved, subject to limits of authority, to product group and operating company management. Management at all levels is responsible for internal control over the respective business functions that have been delegated. This embedding of the system of internal control throughout the Group’s operations ensures that the organization is capable of responding quickly to evolving business risks, and that significant internal control issues, should they arise, are reported promptly to appropriate levels of management.
The Board receives, on a regular basis, reports on the key risks to the business and the steps being taken to manage such risks. It considers whether the significant risks faced by the Group are being identified, evaluated and appropriately managed, having regard to the balance of risk, cost and opportunity. As outlined above, the Audit Committee meets with internal auditors on a regular basis and satisfies itself as to the adequacy of the Group’s internal control system. The Audit Committee also meets with and receives reports from the external auditors. The Chairman of the Audit Committee reports to the Board on all significant issues considered by the Committee and the minutes of its meetings are circulated to all Directors.
The Directors confirm that they have conducted an annual review of the effectiveness of the system of internal control up to and including the date of approval of the financial statements. This had regard to the processes for identifying the principal business risks facing the Group, the methods of managing those risks, the controls that are in place to contain them and the procedures to monitor them.
The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 will require public companies, both U.S. and non-U.S., to file with each Annual Report an internal controls report prepared by management and attested by the company’s independent auditor. The report must assess the effectiveness of CRH’s internal controls, over financial reporting, based on management’s evaluation as of the end of the fiscal year. The rules requiring filing of the internal control report will be effective in the case of non-U.S. issuers for fiscal years ending on or after July 15, 2005. This was extended to July 15, 2006 in March 2005. Accordingly, CRH will provide its first report on the company’s internal controls over financial reporting as part of its Annual Report on Form 20-F for the financial year ending December 31, 2006. As part of its Annual Report on Form 20-F, CRH will also be required to disclose the attestation report by its auditors relating to its report on internal control over financial reporting.
Going concern
After making enquiries, the Directors have a reasonable expectation that the Company, and the Group as a whole, have adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. For this reason, they continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the financial statements.
Compliance
As at February 28, 2005, the Board has taken the necessary steps to be in compliance with the provisions set out in section 1 of the 2003 Combined Code and with the rules issued by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission to implement the Sarbanes-Oxley Act 2002, in so far as they apply to the Group.
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Attendance at Board and Board Committee meetings during the year ended December 31, 2004
D.W. Doyle *
D. Godson **
N. Hartery ***
B.G. Hill ****
J.M. de Jong *
H.E. Kilroy **
T.V. Neill *
J.M.C. O’Connor ***
W.I. O.Mahony
W.P. Roef *****
Column A—indicates the number of meetings held during the period the Director was a member of the Board and/or Committee.
Column B—indicates the number of meetings attended during the period the Director was a member of the Board and/or Committee.
Each of the permanent Committees has terms of reference, under which authority is delegated to them by the Board. Minutes of all Committee meetings are circulated to all members of the Board.
The current membership of each Committee is as follows:
Acquisitions
Finance
P.J. Molloy, Chairman
Audit
Nomination
K. McGowan, Chairman
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Exemptions from Corporate Governance Listing Requirements under the NASDAQ Marketplace Rules
In connection with the listing of our shares in the United States in June 1989, we received an exemption with respect to the quorum requirement under Rule 4350(f), which requires each issuer to provide for a quorum as specified in its by-laws for any meeting of the holders of common stock, which shall in no case be less than 33 1/3% of the outstanding shares of a company’s common voting stock. Our articles of association provide that a quorum for a general meeting of the Company is constituted by five or more shareholders present in person and entitled to vote. This quorum requirement is in accordance with Irish law and generally accepted business practices in the Republic of Ireland. We also obtained an exemption from Rule 4350(g), which requires the solicitation of proxies for all meetings of shareholders. The Company complies with the requirements of Irish law and the Listing Rules of the Irish Stock Exchange and the U.K. Listing Authority which require the issue to all registered members of the Company of proxy forms in respect of all resolutions to be proposed at a general meeting of the Company. The proxy forms must be issued with notice of the meeting and must be returned by the shareholder to be received at least 48 hours before the relevant meeting.
We have obtained an exemption from the NASDAQ requirements relating to Audit Committee approval of related party transactions under Rule 4350(h) and composition of the Nomination Committee entirely by independent Directors under Rule 4350(c)(4), as well as the requirement for a minimum of two executive meetings of the Board of Directors’ independent Directors under Rule 4350(c)(4).
With respect to Audit Committee approval of related party transactions, Irish law and practice as well as our codes of conduct provide for certain alternative safeguards. The Articles of Association of the Company require that any Director who is in any way, whether directly or indirectly, interested in a contract or proposed contract or other arrangement with the Company shall declare the nature of his interest at a meeting of the Board of Directors to accord with Irish law and, subject to certain exceptions, may not vote in respect of any contract arrangement or other proposal whatsoever in which he has any material interest other than by virtue of his interest in shares or debentures of the Company. Irish law also requires the disclosure in the Company’s accounts of substantial contracts and other transactions or arrangements with directors, officers and connected persons. Where this requirement is not complied with in full, the auditors must include in their auditors’ report a statement giving the required particulars. The auditors’ report ultimately becomes a document of public record. In addition, the Company complies with the Listing Rules of the Irish Stock Exchange and the U.K. Listing Authority in regard to Transactions with Related Parties. These Rules require that where any transaction is proposed between a listed company (or any of its subsidiary undertakings) and a related party, a circular providing sufficient information to enable any recipient of it to evaluate the effects of the transaction on the company must be sent to each shareholder and the prior approval of the company in general meeting will generally be required. The related party would not be permitted to vote at such meeting. Our Nomination Committee is comprised of four independent Directors and only one executive Director. Our independent Directors have at least one executive meeting each year.
A majority of the Irish employees of the Group and less than 30% of the employees outside the Republic of Ireland are members of unions. No significant work stoppages have occurred at any of CRH’s factories or plants during the past five years. The Group believes that relations with its employees are satisfactory.
The Group operates share participation plans and savings-related share option schemes for eligible employees in all regions where the regulations permit the operation of such plans. In total there are approximately 5,450 employees of all categories who are shareholders in the Group.
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The average number of employees for each of the three past financial years is as follows:
At the Extraordinary General Meeting held on May 9, 1990, the shareholders approved Share Option Schemes for the Republic of Ireland and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (the “Share Option Schemes”), following which the share option scheme approved in 1987 was terminated (schemes approved in 1979 and 1973 had previously been terminated).
All share options issued up to December 31, 2000 were under the 1990 Share Option Schemes.
Directors and employees of the Company or of any of its subsidiaries who were nominated by the Board of Directors (the “Board”) and who were at least two years from normal retirement age were eligible to participate in the Share Option Schemes.
The Board could at any time within ten years from the adoption date (May 9, 1990) offer to grant options exercisable at the option price (as defined below) to such Directors and employees for such number of Ordinary Shares as the Board specified, provided that the limits described below had not been reached.
The exercise of options under the Share Option Schemes is related to performance and the Share Option Schemes include provisions to measure this performance in terms of growth in earnings per share (“EPS”) and also include a number of protections to ensure that options will not be exercisable unless performance actually occurs.
The option price in relation to an option was the market price of the shares, computed as on the day prior to the date on which the option was offered or, in the case of options granted after April 1, 1997 to participants whose employment services were performed primarily in the United States, the greater of such market price or the market price computed as at the date on which the option was offered. The market price per Ordinary Share was related to the middle market quotation on the Irish Stock Exchange, or the London Stock Exchange, Daily Official Lists on the day on which the price fell to be computed.
During the ten-year period ended on May 9, 2000, the aggregate number of shares issued under or to be issued pursuant to rights acquired under the Share Option Schemes, the U.K. Savings Scheme (as described below) or any approved Share Participation Scheme (as described below) was limited to 44,367,400 Ordinary Shares (representing approximately 15% of the total issued ordinary share capital of CRH as at May 9, 1990 as adjusted following the Rights Issue in September 1993). This limit was further adjusted to 48,706,532 Ordinary Shares following the Rights Issue in March 2001 and may be adjusted by the appropriate proportion in the event of any future alteration of the capital structure of the Company by way of capitalization of reserves, rights issues, or any subdivisions, consolidations or reductions of capital. The total number of Ordinary Shares issued during the ten-year period ended May 9, 2000 in respect of the Share Option Schemes or any subsequent share option schemes was limited to a maximum of 10% of the issued ordinary share capital of the Company from time to time.
The total number of Ordinary Shares over which options could be granted during any three-year period in respect of the Share Option Schemes’ basic tier was limited to a maximum of 3% of the issued ordinary share
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capital of CRH, and the number of Ordinary Shares over which options could be granted under the aggregate of the basic and second tiers during any three-year period was limited to a maximum of 5% of the issued ordinary share capital of CRH.
The 1990 Share Option Schemes expired in May 2000. A new share option scheme was approved by shareholders at the Annual General Meeting held on May 3, 2000.
At an Extraordinary General Meeting on May 9, 1990, the shareholders approved the establishment of a Savings Related Share Option Scheme (the “U.K. Savings Scheme”). Directors and employees within the United Kingdom who worked for any subsidiary of CRH or any company controlled by CRH for at least one year could elect to participate in this U.K. Savings Scheme.
The total number of Ordinary Shares which could be issued in respect of the U.K. Savings Scheme and the Share Participation Scheme (see following page) was subject to an overall limit of 3% of the issued ordinary share capital from time to time in any three-year period. 317,862 Ordinary Shares have been issued pursuant to the U.K. Savings Scheme.
This Share Option Scheme was approved by the shareholders at the Annual General Meeting held on May 3, 2000. There are two elements to the Option Scheme, a “basic tier” and a “second tier”.
The basic tier is the standard form of share option scheme. It allows options to be granted up to an aggregate maximum number of options equal to 5% of the issued Ordinary share capital, from time to time. These options become exercisable once EPS growth exceeds growth in the Consumer Price Index by 5% compounded over a period of at least three years subsequent to the granting of a basic tier option.
Under the second tier, options up to a further 5% of the issued Ordinary share capital, from time to time, may be granted, but may only be exercised if demanding performance targets are met. In effect, second tier options may only be exercised if, over a period of at least five years subsequent to the granting of a second tier option, the growth in EPS exceeds growth in the Consumer Price Index by 10% compounded and places the Company in the top quartile of EPS performance of a peer group of international building materials companies. If below the 75th percentile, these options are not exercisable.
Principal features
No option may be granted later than ten years from the date of approval by the shareholders at the Annual General Meeting held on May 3, 2000 (“Adoption Date”).
The Option Scheme will be available to executive Directors and employees of the Company, or of any subsidiary or of any company controlled by CRH, who will be approved by the Board for the purpose of being granted an option.
During the ten-year period, commencing on the Adoption Date, the total number of shares which may be issued in respect of the Option Scheme and any subsequent option schemes, may not exceed 10% in aggregate of the issued Ordinary share capital from time to time.
The flow rate of option grants will not exceed on average 1% of the issued Ordinary share capital per year. In general, the maximum number of shares over which any one participant may be granted options shall not exceed in value, at the option price, four times that individual’s annual emoluments in respect of the basic tier, disregarding any options exercised, and eight times annual emoluments in respect of basic and second tier options.
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Replacement options will be granted only if the Remuneration Committee is satisfied that there has been a significant improvement in the performance of the Company in the previous two to three years, and that an individual’s past performance and potential for future contribution merits such replacement options.
The subscription price per share at which options may be exercised will be the higher of par and the mid-market price of the shares on the day preceding the date on which the option is granted or, in the case of options granted to U.S. participants, the greater of that mid-market price or the mid-market price of the shares on the date of the grant.
Options may be exercised not later than ten years from the date of grant of the option, and not earlier than the expiration of three years from the date of grant for the basic tier and five years for the second tier. Benefits under the scheme will not be pensionable. The shares issued under the Option Scheme will rank pari passu in all respects with the Ordinary and Income shares of the Company.
The provisions relating to eligibility, limitation on number of shares to be issued under the scheme, maximum entitlement for any one participant, the basis of individual entitlement or the adjustment of grants in the event of a variation in share capital may not be altered to the advantage of participants without the prior approval of shareholders, except for minor amendments to benefit the administration of the scheme, to take account of a change in legislation or to obtain or maintain favorable tax, exchange control or regulatory treatment for any Group company or any participant.
A CRH Group scheme has been established in the Republic of Ireland and the United Kingdom, under which eligible subsidiary companies of the Group have been nominated as participating subsidiaries. Further schemes may be established in other jurisdictions.
The shares issued under the Savings-Related Share Option Schemes will rank pari passu in all respects with the Ordinary and Income shares of the Company.
During the ten-year period commencing on May 3, 2000, the total number of shares which may be issued in respect of the Share Option Schemes, the Savings-Related Share Option Schemes, the Share Participation Schemes and any subsequent share option schemes, may not exceed 15% in aggregate of the issued Ordinary share capital from time to time.
At the Annual General Meeting on May 13, 1987, the shareholders approved the establishment of Share Participation Schemes for the Company, its subsidiaries and companies under its control. Directors and employees of the companies who have at least one year’s service may elect to participate in these Share Participation Schemes. At June 22, 2005, 5,148,719 Ordinary Shares had been issued pursuant to the Share Participation Schemes.
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The following table sets forth certain information regarding the ownership of the Company’s Ordinary Shares at June 22, 2005 and options to subscribe for Ordinary Shares by all Directors as a group:
Identity of Person or Group
D.W. Doyle (ii)
—non beneficial
M. Lee (ii)
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ITEM 7—MAJOR SHAREHOLDERS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
The Company is not owned or controlled directly or indirectly by any government or by any other corporation.
As at June 22, 2005, the Company had received notification of the following interests in its Ordinary share capital:
Bank of Ireland Nominees Limited
The Capital Group Companies, Inc. and its affiliates
Each of the above states that these shares are not beneficially owned by them.
The major shareholders do not have different voting rights.
The number of shareholders with U.S. addresses (excluding ADS record holders) as at June 22, 2005 was 210 with a shareholding of 1,546,710 shares.
None.
ITEM 8—FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Consolidated Statements and Other Financial Information
Reference is made to Item 18 for a list of all financial statements filed with this Annual Report.
The Company has paid dividends on its Ordinary Shares in respect of each fiscal year since the formation of the Group in 1970. Dividends are paid to shareholders as of record dates, which are determined by the Board of Directors. An interim dividend is normally declared by the Board of Directors in September of each year and is generally paid in November. A final dividend is normally recommended by the Board of Directors following the end of the fiscal year to which it relates and, if approved by the shareholders at an Annual General Meeting, is generally paid in May of that year.
Each ordinary shareholder in CRH holds an Income Share which is tied to each Ordinary Share and may only be transferred or otherwise dealt with in conjunction with that Ordinary Share.
The payment of future cash dividends will be dependent upon future earnings, the financial condition of the Group and other factors.
Fluctuations in the exchange rate between the euro and the U.S. dollar will affect the U.S. dollar amounts received by holders of ADSs upon conversion by the Depositary of cash dividends paid in euro on the Ordinary Shares represented by the ADSs. Furthermore, fluctuations in the exchange rates between the euro and the U.S. dollar may affect the relative market prices of the ADSs in the United States and of the Ordinary Shares in the Republic of Ireland.
Legal Proceedings
Group companies are parties to various legal proceedings, including some in which claims for damages have been asserted against the companies. The final outcome of all the legal proceedings to which Group companies
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are party cannot be accurately forecast. However, having taken appropriate advice, we believe that the aggregate outcome of such proceedings will not have a material effect on the Group’s financial condition, results of operations or liquidity.
Significant Changes
CRH have completed acquisitions totaling approximately €170 million from January 1, 2005 to June 22, 2005.
ITEM 9—THE OFFER AND LISTING
CRH registered shares have a primary listing on both the Irish and London Stock Exchanges.
American Depositary Shares (“ADSs”), each representing one Ordinary Share, are quoted on The Nasdaq National Market (“NASDAQ”). The ADSs are evidenced by American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”) issued by Citibank, N.A., of New York as Depositary under a Deposit Agreement. Each ADS represents one Ordinary Share of the Company. The ticker symbol is CRHCY.
The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, the reported high and low middle market quotations in euro, for the Ordinary Shares on the Irish Stock Exchange, based on its Daily Official List, and the high and low sale prices of the ADSs as reported in The NASDAQ National Market monthly statistical reports.
Calendar Year
First Quarter
Second Quarter
Third Quarter
Fourth Quarter
2005
Second Quarter (through June 22, 2005)
(i) The 2000 and 2001 share data have been adjusted for the bonus element of the March 2001 Rights Issue.
(ii) On June 22, 2005, 5,772,807 American Depositary Shares (equivalent to 5,772,807 Ordinary Shares or 1.1% of the total outstanding Ordinary Shares) were outstanding and were held by 64 record holders.
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ITEM 10—ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Memorandum and Articles of Association
The following summarizes certain provisions of CRH’s Memorandum and Articles of Association and applicable Irish law.
Objects and Purposes
CRH is incorporated under the name CRH public limited company and is registered in Ireland with registered number 12965. Clause 4 of CRH’s memorandum of association provides that its objects include the business of quarry masters and proprietors, lessees and workers of quarries, sand and gravel pits, mines and the like generally; the business of road-makers and contractors, building contractors, builders merchants and providers and dealers in road making and building materials, timber merchants; and the carrying on of any other business calculated to benefit CRH. The memorandum grants CRH a range of corporate capabilities to effect these objects.
Directors
The Directors manage the business and affairs of CRH.
Directors who are in any way, whether directly or indirectly, interested in contracts or other arrangements with CRH must declare the nature of their interest at a meeting of the Directors, and, subject to certain exemptions, may not vote in respect of any contract or arrangement or other proposal whatsoever in which they have any material interest other than by virtue of their interest in shares or debentures in the Company. However, in the absence of some other material interest not indicated below, a Director is entitled to vote and to be counted in a quorum for the purpose of any vote relating to a resolution concerning the following matters:
The Directors may exercise all the powers of the Company to borrow money, except that such general power is restricted to the aggregate amount of principal borrowed less cash balances of the Company and its subsidiaries not exceeding an amount twice the aggregate of the share capital and reserves of the Company and its subsidiaries including capital grants, deferred taxation and minority shareholders’ interest, less the amount of intangible assets and repayable capital grants.
The Company in general meeting from time to time determines the fees payable to the Directors. The CRH Board may grant special remuneration to any of its number who being called upon, shall render any special or extra services to the Company or go or reside abroad in connection with the conduct of any of the affairs of the Company.
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The qualification of a Director is the holding alone and not jointly with any other person of 1,000 ordinary shares in the capital of the Company.
No person may be appointed a Director of the Company who has attained the age of sixty-five years and a Director shall vacate office at the next Annual General Meeting after they attain the age of sixty-eight years; however, a person may be appointed as a Director after attaining the age of sixty-five years and a Director may continue in office and will not be required to retire upon attaining the age of sixty-eight years if the continuance as a Director is approved by a Resolution of the Directors.
Voting rights
The Articles provide that, at shareholders’ meetings, holders of ordinary shares, either in person or by proxy, are entitled on a show of hands to one vote and on a poll to one vote per share. No member is entitled to vote at any general meeting unless all calls or other sums immediately payable in respect of their shares in the Company have been paid.
Laws, Decrees or other Regulations
There are no restrictions under the Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Company or under Irish law that limit the right of non-Irish residents or foreign owners freely to hold their Ordinary Shares or to vote their Ordinary Shares.
Liquidation Rights/Return of Capital
In the event of the Company being wound-up, the liquidator may, with the sanction of a shareholders’ special resolution, divide among the holders of the Ordinary Shares the whole or any part of the net assets of the Company (after the return of capital and payment of accrued dividends on the preference shares) in cash or in kind, and may set such values as he deems fair upon any property to be so divided and determine how such division will be carried out. The liquidator may, with a like sanction, vest such assets in trust as he thinks fit, but no shareholders will be compelled to accept any shares or other assets upon which there is any liability.
Variation in Class Rights
Subject to the provisions of the Irish Companies Acts, the rights attached to any class of shares may be varied with the consent in writing of the holders of not less than three-fourths in nominal value of the issued shares of that class, or with the sanction of a special resolution passed at a separate general meeting of the holders of those shares.
Disclosure of Shareholders’ Interests
A shareholder may lose the right to vote by not complying with any statutory notice or notice pursuant to Article 14 of the Articles of Association given by the Company requiring an indication in writing of: (a) the capacity in which the shares are held or any interest therein; (b) so far as it is within the shareholder’s knowledge, the persons who have an interest in the shares and the nature of their interest; or (c) whether any of the voting rights carried by such shares are the subject of any agreement or arrangement under which another person is entitled to control the shareholder’s exercise of these rights.
Issue of Shares
Subject to the provisions of the Irish Companies Acts and the Articles of Association, the issue of shares is at the discretion of the Directors.
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Shareholders may by ordinary resolution declare final dividends and the Directors may declare interim dividends but no final dividend may be declared in excess of the amount recommended by the Directors and no dividend may be paid otherwise than out of income available for that purpose in accordance with the Irish Companies Acts. There is provision to offer scrip dividends in lieu of cash. The preference shares rank for fixed rate dividends in priority to the ordinary and income shares for the time being of the Company. Any dividend which has remained unclaimed for twelve years from the date of its declaration shall, if the Directors so decide, be forfeited and cease to remain owing by the Company.
A quorum for a general meeting of the Company is constituted by five or more shareholders present in person and entitled to vote. The passing of resolutions at a meeting of the Company, other than special resolutions, requires a simple majority. A special resolution, in respect of which not less than 21 days’ notice in writing must be given, requires the affirmative vote of at least 75 per cent of the votes cast.
5% Cumulative Preference Shares
The holders of the 5% Cumulative Preference Shares are entitled to a fixed cumulative preferential dividend at a rate of 5% per annum and priority in a winding-up to repayment of capital, but have no further right to participate in profits or assets and are not entitled to be present or vote at general meetings unless their dividend is six months in arrears or a resolution is proposed for the winding-up of the Company or otherwise affecting their rights and privileges. Dividends on the 5% Cumulative Preference Shares are payable half yearly on April 15 and October 15 in each year.
7% ‘A’ Cumulative Preference Shares
The holders of the 7% ‘A’ Cumulative Preference Shares are entitled to a fixed cumulative preference dividend at a rate of 7% per annum, and priority in a winding-up to repayment of capital, both subject to the rights of the holders of the 5% Cumulative Preference Shares but have no further right to participate in profits or assets and are not entitled to be present or vote at general meetings unless their dividend is six months in arrears or a resolution is proposed for, among others, the winding-up of the Company, the reduction of the capital of the Company or the abrogation of any special rights or privileges of any preference shares. Dividends on the 7% ‘A’ Cumulative Preference Shares are payable half yearly on April 5 and October 5 in each year.
Use of electronic communication
Whenever the Company, a Director, the Secretary, a member or any officer or person is required or permitted by the Articles of Association to give information in writing, such information may be given by electronic means or in electronic form, whether as electronic communication or otherwise.
Material Contracts
The following section contains summaries of all contracts (not being contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business) which have been entered into by any member of the Group since January 1, 2003 and which are or may be material and all other contracts (not being contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business) which contain any provision under which any member of the Group has any obligation or entitlement that may be material:
The indenture dated September 22, 2003, between CRH plc, CRH America, Inc., and Banc of America Securities LLC, Citigroup and JPMorgan under which CRH America, Inc. issued U.S.$700,000,000 notes with a coupon of 5.30% maturing on October 15, 2013 and U.S.$300,000,000 notes with a
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coupon of 6.40% maturing on October 15, 2033. CRH plc unconditionally guarantees on a subordinated basis the due and punctual payment of the principal and interest due on the notes.
Exchange Controls
Certain aspects of CRH’s international monetary operations outside the EU were, prior to December 31, 1992, subject to regulation by the Central Bank of Ireland. These controls have now ceased. There are currently no Irish foreign exchange controls, or other statute or regulations that restrict the export or import of capital, that affect the remittance of dividends, other than dividend withholding tax on the ordinary shares, or that affect the conduct of the Company’s operations.
The following summary outlines certain aspects of U.S. federal income and Republic of Ireland tax law regarding the ownership and disposition of ADSs or Ordinary Shares. Because it is a summary, holders of ADSs or Ordinary Shares are advised to consult their tax advisors with respect to the tax consequences of their ownership or disposition. This summary does not take into account the specific circumstances of any particular holders (such as tax-exempt entities, certain insurance companies, broker-dealers, traders in securities that elect to mark to market, investors liable for alternative minimum tax, investors that actually or constructively own 10% or more of the stock of the Company (by vote or value), investors that hold shares or ADSs as part of a straddle or a hedging or conversion transaction or investors whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar), some of which may be subject to special rules. The statements regarding U.S. and Irish laws set forth below are based, in part, on representations of the Depositary and assume that each obligation in the Deposit Agreement and any related agreement will be performed in accordance with their terms.
Holders of ADRs will be treated as the owners of Ordinary Shares represented thereby for the purposes of the Convention between the Government of Ireland and the Government of the United States of America for the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income (“Income Tax Treaty”) relating to income taxes and for the purposes of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
As used herein, the term “U.S. holder” means a beneficial owner of an ADR or Ordinary Share who (i) is a citizen or resident of the U.S., a U.S. corporation, an estate whose income is subject to U.S. federal income tax regardless of its source, or a trust if a U.S. court can exercise primary supervision over the trust’s administration and one or more U.S. persons are authorized to control all substantial decisions of the trust, and (ii) is not a resident of, or ordinarily resident in, the Republic of Ireland for purposes of Irish taxes.
Republic of Ireland—Corporation Tax
The Company and certain of its subsidiaries are resident for tax purposes in the Republic of Ireland. As discussed above under “Item 5—Operating and Financial Review and Prospects—Taxation”, the two rates of Corporation Tax, which apply to the income of the Company in Ireland, are 12.5% from January 1, 2003 and 10%, with the major portion of the Irish operations being taxed at the 10% rate. The 10% rate, which applies to companies in manufacturing industry, will continue until December 31, 2010. The 10% rate also applies to companies located in the International Financial Services Center in Dublin and will continue until December 31, 2005.
96
Taxation of Dividends paid to U.S. Holders
Under general Irish tax law, U.S. holders are not liable for Irish tax on dividends received from CRH. On the payment of dividends, CRH is obliged to withhold a Dividend Withholding Tax (“DWT”). The rate at present is 20% of the dividend payable (prior to April 6, 2001 the rate was 22%).
Dividends paid by CRH to a U.S. tax resident individual will be exempt from DWT, provided the following conditions are met:
Dividends paid by CRH to a U.S. tax resident company (which must be the beneficial owner) will be exempt from DWT provided that the following conditions are met:
For U.S. federal income tax purposes, and subject to the passive foreign investment company (“PFIC”) rules discussed below, U.S. holders will include in gross income the amount of any dividend paid by the Company out of its current or accumulated earnings and profits (as determined for U.S. federal income tax purposes) as ordinary income when the dividend is actually or constructively received by the U.S. holder, in the case of shares, or by the Depositary, in the case of ADSs. Dividends paid to non-corporate U.S. holders in taxable years before January 1, 2009 that constitute qualified dividend income will be subject to a maximum tax rate of 15% provided certain holding period requirements are met. Dividends the company pays with respect to shares or ADSs generally will be qualified dividend income.
The dividend will not be eligible for the dividends-received deduction generally allowed to U.S. corporations in respect of dividends received from other U.S. corporations. The amount of the dividend distribution includible in income of a U.S. holder will be the U.S. dollar value of the euro payments made, determined at the spot euro/U.S. dollar rate on the date such dividend distribution is includible in the income of the U.S. holder, regardless of whether the payment is in fact converted to U.S. dollars. Generally, any gain or loss resulting from currency exchange fluctuations during the period from the date the dividend payment is includible in income to the date such payment is converted into U.S. dollars will be treated as ordinary income or loss. Such gain or loss will generally be income or loss from sources within the U.S. for foreign tax credit limitation purposes. Distributions in excess of current and accumulated earnings and profits, as determined for U.S. federal income tax purposes, will be treated as a return of capital to the extent of the U.S. holder’s basis in the shares or ADSs and thereafter as capital gain.
For foreign tax credit limitation purposes, the dividend will be income from sources without the U.S., but generally will be treated separately, together with other items of “passive income” (or, in the case of certain holders, “financial services income”).
97
Capital Gains Tax
A U.S. holder will not be liable for Republic of Ireland tax on gains realized on the sale or other disposition of ADRs or Ordinary Shares unless the ADRs or Ordinary Shares are held in connection with a trade or business carried on by such holder in the Republic of Ireland through a branch or agency. A U.S. holder will be liable for U.S. federal income tax on such gains in the same manner as gains from a sale or other disposition of any other shares in a company. Capital gains of a non-corporate U.S. holder that are recognized before January 1, 2009 are generally taxed at a maximum rate of 15% where the holder has a holding period greater than one year, and the capital gain or loss in all cases is U.S. source for foreign tax credit limitation purposes. Dividends paid in taxable years beginning after December 31, 2006 will, depending on your circumstances, be “passive” or “general” income.
Capital Acquisition Tax (Estate/Gift Tax)
Although non-residents may hold Ordinary Shares, the shares are deemed to be situated in the Republic of Ireland, because the Company is required to maintain its Share Register in the Republic of Ireland. Accordingly, holders of Ordinary Shares may be subject to gift or inheritance tax, notwithstanding that the parties involved are domiciled and resident outside the Republic of Ireland. Certain exemptions apply to gifts and inheritances depending on the relationship between the donor and donee.
Under the Income Tax Treaty with respect to taxes on the estates of deceased persons, credit against U.S. federal estate tax is available in respect of any Irish inheritance tax payable in respect of transfers of ordinary shares.
Additional Federal U.S. Income Tax Considerations
The company believes that shares and ADSs should not be treated as stock of a PFIC for U.S. federal income tax purposes but this conclusion is made annually and thus may be subject to change. If the company is treated as a PFIC and you are a U.S. holder that did not make a mark to market election, you will be subject to special rules with respect to any gain you realize on the disposition of your shares or ADSs and any excess distribution that the company makes to you. Generally, gain or excess distributions will be allocated ratably over your holding period for the shares or ADSs, taxed at ordinary rates, and an interest charge will be applied to tax attributable to such gain. In addition, dividends that you receive from us will not constitute qualified dividend income to you if we are a PFIC either in the taxable year of the distribution or the preceding taxable year.
Stamp Duty
The Irish Finance Act, 1992 Section 90 Stamp Duties Consolidation Act 1999 exempts from Irish stamp duty transfers of ADRs where the ADRs are dealt in and quoted on a recognized stock exchange in the U.S. and the underlying deposited securities are dealt in and quoted on a recognized stock exchange. The Irish tax authorities regard NASDAQ as a recognized stock exchange. Irish stamp duty will be charged at the rate of 1% of the amount or value of the consideration on any conveyance or transfer on sale of Ordinary Shares.
Documents on Display
It is possible to read and copy documents referred to in this Annual Report on Form 20-F, which have been filed with the SEC at the SEC’s public reference room located at 450 Fifth Street, NW, Washington, DC 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800–SEC-0330 for further information on the public reference rooms and their copy charges. The SEC filings are also available to the public from commercial document retrieval services and, for most recent CRH periodic filings only, at the Internet World Wide Web site maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov.
98
ITEM 11—QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
Qualitative information about Market Risk
The Group uses financial instruments throughout its businesses: borrowings, cash and liquid resources are used to finance the Group’s operations; accounts receivable and payable arise directly from operations; and derivatives, principally interest rate and currency swaps and forward foreign exchange contracts, are used to manage interest rate risks and to achieve the desired currency profile of borrowings. The Group’s policy is not to trade in financial instruments.
Borrowings and Liquid Resources
In September 2004, the Group renewed a maturing GBP£300 million multi-currency syndicated facility and added a €200 million tranche, both with five-year maturity. The renewed facility was largely subscribed to by the existing holders and the oversubscription allowed the additional euro tranche to be added. The renewed facility extends the maturity profile of the Group’s net debt.
The Group finished the year in a very strong financial position with 97% of the Group’s gross debt drawn under committed term facilities, 91% of which mature after more than one year. In addition, at year-end, the Group held €667 million of undrawn committed facilities, which had an average maturity of just under 3 years.
Interest and Currency Management
The Group’s policy is to fix interest rates on a proportion of the Group’s medium to long-term net debt exposure in individual currencies. In recent years, the Group’s target has been to fix interest rates on approximately 50% of Group net debt. At the end of 2004, 51% of the Group’s net debt was at interest rates, which were fixed for an average period of 4.1 years. U.S. dollars accounted for approximately 34% of net debt at the end of 2004 and 54% of the U.S. dollar component of net debt was at fixed rates.
CRH’s activities are conducted principally in the local currency of the country of operation. The primary foreign exchange risk arises from the fluctuating value of the Group’s net investment in different currencies. The Group’s policy is to spread its net worth across the currencies of the different operations and thereby to reduce exposure to any one currency. CRH believes that this is an appropriate policy for an international Group with international shareholders. Interest rate swaps are entered into only for the purpose of managing the Group’s mix of fixed and floating rate debt. Currency swaps are entered into only for the purpose of managing the Group’s mix of fixed and floating rate debt by currency to ensure that the Group’s debt funding sources match the currency of the Group’s operations. In line with Group policy, all derivative contracts are entered into with highly rated counterparties. Gains and losses arising on the re-translation of net worth are dealt with in the statement of total recognized gains and losses.
Transactional currency exposures arise in a number of the Group’s operations and these result in net currency gains and losses, which are recognized in the consolidated statement of income. As at December 31, 2004, these exposures were not material.
Quantitative information about Market Risk
Credit risk associated with financial instruments
The Group holds significant cash balances which are invested on a short-term basis. These deposits and other financial instruments give rise to credit risk on amounts due from counterparties. Credit risk is managed by limiting the aggregate amount and duration of exposure to any one counterparty primarily depending on its credit rating and by regular review of these ratings. At year-end 2004, 92% of the Group’s cash and liquid investments had a maturity of six months or less. The possibility of material loss in the event of non-performance by a counterparty is considered unlikely by management.
99
Note 19 to Consolidated Financial Statements provides a detailed breakdown of debt, cash and capital employed by currency together with additional treasury-related information.
Interest rate sensitivity
The Group monitors its exposure to changes in interest and exchange rates by estimating the impact of possible changes on reported income before tax and net worth. The Group accepts interest rate and currency risk as part of the overall risks of operating in different economies and seeks to manage these risks by following the policies set out above.
Based on the level and composition of year-end 2004 net debt, an increase in average interest rates of one per cent per annum would result in a decrease in future income before tax of €12.0 million per annum (2003: €12.1 million).
The bulk of the Group’s net worth is denominated in the world’s two largest currencies—the U.S. dollar and the euro—which accounted for 49% and 35% respectively of the Group’s net worth at end-2004.
The strengthening of the euro during 2004 resulted in a negative €200 million currency translation effect on shareholders’ funds mainly arising on U.S. dollar net assets. This negative effect is stated net of the €33 million positive translation impact on net foreign debt. A strengthening of the euro by 10% against all the other currencies the Group operates in would, when reported in euro, reduce the Group’s year-end 2004 net worth by an estimated €306 million and year-end 2004 net debt by €131 million.
100
The following table shows the Group’s interest rate swaps and debt obligations that are sensitive to changes in interest rates at December 31, 2004 and 2003. For long-term debt obligations, the table presents principal cash flows and related weighted average interest rates by expected maturity dates. For interest rate swaps, the table presents notional amounts and weighted average interest rates by expected maturity dates. For cross currency swaps, the table presents the principal amounts to be exchanged on maturity and weighted average interest rates by expected maturity dates. Weighted average variable rates are based on rates set at the balance sheet date. The information is presented in euro, which is the Group’s reporting currency. The actual currencies of the instruments are as indicated.
Maturity
Before December 31
Fixed Rate—U.S.$
Average Interest Rate
Fixed Rate—Other
Variable Rate—U.S.$
Variable Rate—Other
Interest Rate Swaps
Notional Principal—U.S.$
Variable Rate Payable
Fixed Rate Receivable
Fixed Rate Payable
Notional Principal—Euro
Notional Principal—GBP
Variable Rate Receivable
Currency Swaps and forward agreements
Principal Payable—Euro
Principal Receivable—Euro
Principal Payable—Swiss Franc
Principal Payable—GBP
Principal Payable—Other
Principal Receivable—Other
Principal Receivable—U.S.$
101
Principal Receivable—GBP
The book value of fixed rate debt and fixed rate swaps is the outstanding principal values of debt/swaps. The fair value of swaps and fixed rate debt is the net present value of future interest and capital payments discounted at prevailing interest rates. When the fixed interest rates on debt and swaps differ from prevailing rates, fair value will differ from book value. The fair value of floating rate instruments approximates book value.
ITEM 12—DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES OTHER THAN EQUITY SECURITIES
102
PART II
ITEM 13—DEFAULTS, DIVIDEND ARREARAGES AND DELINQUENCIES
ITEM 14—MATERIAL MODIFICATIONS TO THE RIGHTS OF SECURITY HOLDERS AND USE OF PROCEEDS
ITEM 15—CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Finance Director, we have evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of the disclosure controls and procedures as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14 as of December 31, 2004. Based on that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Finance Director have concluded that these disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of such date at the level of providing reasonable assurance.
In designing and evaluating our disclosure controls and procedures, our management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Finance Director, recognized that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives, and our management necessarily was required to apply its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures. Because of the inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, within the company have been detected.
During 2004, there have not been any changes in our internal control over financial reporting identified in connection with the evaluation required by Rule 13a-15 that occurred during the period covered by this Annual Report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
ITEM 16A—AUDIT COMMITTEE FINANCIAL EXPERT
The Board has determined that Mr. J. M. de Jong is the Audit Committee financial expert as defined for the purposes of the requirements of this Item 16A.
Jan Maarten de Jong, a Dutch national, became a non-executive Director in January 2004. He is Vice Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Heineken N.V. He is a former member of the Managing Board of ABN Amro Bank N.V. and continues to be a Special Advisor to the Board of that company. He also holds a number of other directorships of European companies including Cementbouw bv, in which CRH acquired 45% of the equity as part of the Cementbouw transaction in 2003.
ITEM 16B—CODE OF ETHICS
CRH complies with the applicable code of ethics regulations of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission arising from the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. Amongst other things, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act aims to protect investors by improving the accuracy and reliability of information that companies disclose. It requires companies to disclose whether they have a code of ethics that applies to the Chief Executive and senior financial officers that promotes honest and ethical conduct; full, fair, accurate, timely and understandable disclosures; compliance with applicable governmental laws, rules and regulations; prompt internal reporting of violations; and accountability for adherence to such a code of ethics. CRH meets these requirements through its code of business conduct, which is applicable to all Group employees and is supplemented by local codes throughout the Group’s operations. The code is available on the Group’s website www.crh.com.
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ITEM 16C—PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES
Details of auditors’ fees and services, both audit and non-audit, are set out below.
Auditors’ fees and services
Audit Fees
Audit-Related Fees (i)
Tax Fees
All Other Fees (ii)
The Audit Committee has adopted a pre-approval policy in respect of audit and non-audit services to be provided by the external auditors. A brief description of this policy is set out below.
Proposed services either: may be pre-approved without consideration of specific case-by-case services by the Audit Committee (“general pre-approval”); or require the specific pre-approval of the Audit Committee (“specific pre-approval”). As set forth in the policy, unless a type of service has received general pre-approval, it will require specific pre-approval by the Audit Committee if it is to be provided by the independent auditor. Any proposed services exceeding pre-approved cost levels or budgeted amounts will also require specific pre-approval by the Audit Committee.
The term of any general pre-approval is 12 months from the date of pre-approval, unless the Audit Committee considers a different period and states otherwise. The Audit Committee will annually review and pre-approve the services that may be provided by the independent auditor without obtaining specific pre-approval from the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee will add to or subtract from the list of general pre-approved services from time to time, based on subsequent determinations.
As provided in the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the SEC’s rules, the Audit Committee may delegate either type of pre-approval authority to one or more of its members. The Chairman of the Audit Committee is authorized to give specific pre-approval to any audit or non-audit service to be provided by the independent auditor. All such pre-approval decisions must be reported, for informational purposes only, to the Audit Committee at its next scheduled meeting.
The annual audit services engagement terms will be approved by the Audit Committee. The remuneration of the independent auditor will be recommended by the Audit Committee and approved by the Board of Directors, following authorization by the shareholders at the Annual General Meeting. Audit services include the annual financial statement audit, subsidiary audits and other procedures required to be performed by the independent auditor to be able to form an opinion on CRH’s consolidated financial statements. These other procedures include information systems and procedural reviews and testing performed in order to understand and place reliance on the systems of internal control, and consultations relating to the audit. Audit services will also include the attestation engagement for the independent auditor’s report on management’s report on internal controls for financial reporting.
In addition to the annual audit services engagement approved by the Audit Committee, the Audit Committee may grant general pre-approval to other audit services as outlined above, which are those services that only the independent auditor reasonably can provide.
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PART III
ITEM 16D—EXEMPTIONS FROM THE LISTING STANDARDS OF AUDIT COMMITTEES
Not applicable until our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2005.
ITEM 16E—PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES BY THE ISSUER AND AFFILIATED PERSONS
ITEM 17—FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Not applicable—see Item 18.
ITEM 18—FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The following financial statements, together with the reports of the Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm thereon, are filed as part of this Annual Report:
Report on Directors’ remuneration
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Consolidated Statements of Income
Consolidated Statements of Total Recognized Gains and Losses
Consolidated Balance Sheets
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Financial Statement Schedule:
Schedule II—Valuation and Qualifying Accounts
ITEM 19—EXHIBITS
The following documents are filed as part of this Annual Report:
105
SIGNATURES
The registrant hereby certifies that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form 20-F and that it has duly caused and authorized the undersigned to sign this Annual Report on its behalf.
/s/ M. LEE
Myles Lee
Finance Director
Dated: June 28, 2005
106
CRH plc AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES
REPORT ON DIRECTORS’ REMUNERATION—Dated February 28, 2005
The Remuneration Committee
The Remuneration Committee of the Board consists of non-executive Directors of the Company other than the Chairman. The terms of reference for the Remuneration Committee are to determine the Group’s policy on executive remuneration and to consider and approve salaries and other terms of the remuneration packages for the executive Directors. The Committee receives advice from leading independent firms of compensation and benefit consultants when necessary and the Chairman of the Board and the Chief Executive are fully consulted about remuneration proposals. The members of the Remuneration Committee are A. O’Brien, Chairman, N. Hartery and T.V. Neill.
Remuneration policy
CRH is an international group of companies, with activities in 24 countries. Our policy on Directors’ remuneration is designed to attract and retain Directors of the highest caliber who can bring their experience and independent views to the policy, strategic decisions and governance of CRH.
In setting remuneration levels, the Remuneration Committee takes into consideration the remuneration practices of other international companies of similar size and scope. Executive Directors must be properly rewarded and motivated to perform in the best interest of the shareholders. The spread of the Group’s operations requires that the remuneration packages in place in each geographical area are appropriate and competitive for that area.
Performance-related rewards, based on measured targets, are a key component of remuneration. CRH’s strategy of fostering entrepreneurship in its regional companies requires well-designed incentive plans that reward the creation of shareholder value through organic and acquisitive growth. The typical elements of the remuneration package for executive Directors are basic salary and benefits, a cash incentive bonus, a contributory pension scheme and participation in the share option plan. It is policy to grant options to key management to encourage identification with shareholders’ interests and to create a community of interest among different regions and nationalities.
The Group also operates share participation plans and savings-related share option schemes for eligible employees in all regions where the regulations permit the operation of such plans. In total there are approximately 5,450 employees of all categories who are shareholders in the Group.
Executive Directors’ remuneration
Basic salary and benefits
The basic salaries of executive Directors are reviewed annually having regard to personal performance, company performance, step changes in responsibilities and competitive market practice in the area of operation. Employment-related benefits relate principally to the use of company cars and medical/life assurance. No fees are payable to executive Directors.
Performance-related cash incentive plan
The executive Directors’ cash incentive plan for 2004, under which a bonus could be paid up to a maximum of 75% of basic salary for Mr. Doyle, Mr. B.G. Hill, Mr. Lee and Mr. O’Mahony and 90% for Mr. T.W. Hill and Mr. Wittstock for meeting clearly defined and stretch profit targets and strategic goals, comprised five separate components, based on annual and rolling three-year performance targets.
R-1
REPORT ON DIRECTORS’ REMUNERATION—(Continued)
The two components related to annual performance were:
The three components related to rolling three-year performance, under which the total maximum earnings potential was 25% of basic salary for the year, were as follows:
In addition, the Chief Executive had a special long-term incentive plan under which targets were set for the five-year period ended December 2004. This plan set exceptionally challenging goals in respect of total shareholder returns by comparison with a peer group, growth in earnings per share and the strategic development of the Group with a total maximum earnings potential of 40% of aggregate basic salary. Details of the actual earnings under this plan and the manner in which the earnings have been provided for are set out in note 2 on page R-4.
A successor special long-term incentive plan, under which targets have been set for a two-year period from January 1, 2005, has been established for the Chief Executive who has agreed to remain in his position. The structure of this plan is similar to the previous plan and incorporates challenging goals in respect of total shareholder return by comparison with a peer group, growth in earnings per share and the strategic development of the Group with a total maximum earnings potential of 40% of aggregate basic salary. While accruals will be made on an annual basis, there is no commitment to any payment until the end of the two-year period.
Share option scheme
Under the terms of the share option scheme approved by shareholders on May 3, 2000, two types of options are available subject to different performance conditions as set out below:
The percentage of share capital which can be issued under the scheme and individual grant limits comply with institutional guidelines. Subject to satisfactory performance, options are expected to be awarded annually, ensuring a smooth progression over the life of the share option scheme. Grants of share options are at the market price of the Company’s shares at the time of grant, and are made after the final results announcement ensuring transparency.
R-2
Non-executive Directors’ remuneration
The remuneration of non-executive Directors is determined by the Board of Directors as a whole. The fees paid to non-executive Directors are set at a level which will attract individuals with the necessary experience and ability to make a substantial contribution to the Company’s affairs and reflect the time and travel demands of their Board duties.
Pensions
Pensions for executive Directors are calculated on basic salary only (no incentive or benefit elements are included).
Mr. Doyle and Mr. Lee participate in a defined benefit plan designed to provide two-thirds of salary at retirement for full service. There is provision for these executive Directors to retire at 60 years of age. Mr. B.G. Hill also participated in this plan. Under the Chief Executive’s defined benefit plan arrangements, provision was made for retirement on two-thirds of salary following completion of five years in the role of Chief Executive and, as a result, his pension based on current salary was fully funded as at year-end 2004.
Mr. T.W. Hill and Mr. Wittstock participate in defined contribution retirement plans in respect of basic salary up to US$205,000; they also participate in an unfunded defined contribution Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (SERP) in respect of basic salary to which contributions are made at an agreed rate, offset by contributions made to the other retirement plans.
Since 1991, it has been your Board’s policy that non-executive Directors do not receive pensions. A defined benefit scheme was in operation prior to 1991 in which one current non-executive Director still participates.
Directors’ service contracts
No executive Director has an employment contract extending beyond twelve months.
R-3
Directors’ remuneration and interests in share capital
Details of Directors’ remuneration charged against income in the year are given below. Details of individual remuneration and pension benefits in respect of the year ended December 31, 2004 are given on pages R-5 and R-6. Directors’ shareholdings and share options are shown on pages R-7 to R-9.
Directors’ remuneration
Executive Directors
Basic salary
Cash incentive bonus
Pension fund contributions
Other remuneration
Benefits
Provision for Chief Executive long-term incentive plan
Total executive Directors’ remuneration
Average number of executive Directors
Non-executive Directors
Fees
Total non-executive Directors’ remuneration
Average number of non-executive Directors
Payments to former Directors
Total Directors’ remuneration
Notes to Directors’ remuneration
R-4
Individual remuneration for the year ended December 31, 2004
D.W. Doyle (viii)
B.E. Griffin (iv)
B.G. Hill (xi)
M. Lee (vi)
H.P. Sheridan (vii)
B.T. Alexander (v)
D. Dey (v)
D. Godson (ix)
N. Hartery (x)
J.M. de Jong (viii)
H.E. Kilroy (ix)
T.V. Neill (viii)
J.M.C. O’Connor (x)
W.P. Roef (xii)
R-5
Individual remuneration for the year ended December 31, 2004 (continued)
Pension entitlements—defined benefit
Pension benefits earned by Directors during the year and the accumulated total accrued pension at December 31, 2004 were as follows:
Increase in
accrued pension
during 2004 (i)
Transfer
value of
increase (ii)
Total accrued
Pension at
year-end (iii)
B.G. Hill
Non-executive Director
Pension entitlements—defined contribution
The accumulated liability related to the unfunded Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan for Mr. T.W. Hill and Mr. J.L. Wittstock is as follows:
As at
December 31,
contribution
notional
interest (iv)
Translation
adjustment
R-6
DIRECTORS’ INTERESTS—Directors’ share options
The Company’s Register of Directors’ Interests contains full details of Directors’ shareholdings and options to subscribe for shares.
Directors’ share options
Details of movements on outstanding options and those exercised during the year are set out in the table below:
December 31,2003*
Grantedin 2004
Lapsedin 2004
Exercisedin 2004
December 31,2004
Weighted-averageoption priceat December 31,2004
D.W. Doyle*
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
B.E. Griffin
W.I.O’Mahony
H.P. Sheridan
R-7
DIRECTORS’ INTERESTS—Directors’ share options (continued)
Options by price
2003*
Granted
in 2004
Exercised
Earliest exercise
date
4.1058
6.5347
7.0899
7.1015
12.6416
14.5652
14.6563
17.2615
18.0084
18.28
19.68
13.15
13.26
16.71
16.73
15.39
16.09
10.63
The market price of the Company’s shares at December 31, 2004 was €19.70, and the range during 2004 was €16.08 to €20.05.
R-8
Directors’ interests in share capital at December 31, 2004
The interests of the Directors and Secretary in the shares of the Company as at December 31, 2004, which are beneficial unless otherwise indicated, are shown below. Between December 31, 2004 and February 28, 2005, the date of approval of the Consolidated Financial Statements, there were no transactions in the Director’s and Secretary’s interests.
The Directors and Secretary have no beneficial interests in any of the Group’s subsidiary, joint venture or associated undertakings.
Ordinary Shares
—Non-beneficial
W.P. Roef
Secretary
See Item 6—Directors, Senior Management and Employees on page 90 for details of options and Ordinary Shares held by Directors of CRH at June 22, 2005.
R-9
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To: The Board of Directors and shareholders of CRH public limited company
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of CRH public limited company and subsidiaries (the “Group”) as of December 31, 2004 and 2003, and the related consolidated statements of income, total recognized gains and losses, changes in shareholders’ equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2004. Our audits also included the financial statement schedule listed in the Index at Item 18. These financial statements and schedule are the responsibility of the Group’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and schedule based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with Irish auditing standards and the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. We were not engaged to perform an audit of the Group’s internal control over financial reporting. Our audit included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Group’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of CRH public limited company and subsidiaries at December 31, 2004 and 2003, and the consolidated results of their operations and their consolidated cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2004, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the Republic of Ireland, which differ in certain respects from those generally accepted in the United States (see Note 31 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements). Also, in our opinion, the related financial statement schedule, when considered in relation to the basic financial statements taken as a whole, presents fairly in all material respects the information set forth therein.
ERNST & YOUNG
Dublin, Ireland
February 28, 2005
F-1
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
Net sales including share of joint ventures (Note 2)
Less share of joint ventures
Group net sales
Cost of goods sold
Gross profit
Distribution and administration expenses (Note 3)
Group operating income (Note 4)
Share of joint ventures’ operating income before interest expense
Share of associates’ operating income before interest expense
Operating income excluding goodwill amortization
Goodwill amortization (Note 2)
Gain on sale of investments and property, plant and equipment
Interest income
Interest expense (Note 6)
Share of joint ventures’ and associates’ net interest expense
Income before taxes and minority shareholders’ equity interest
Taxes on income (Note 7)
Income before equity minority shareholders’ interest
Minority shareholders’ equity interest
Net income
Dividend on preference shares
Net income attributable to ordinary shareholders*
Per Ordinary Share
Net income—basic (Note 8)
Net income—diluted (Note 8)
Dividends (Note 9)
Weighted-average number outstanding of €0.32 Ordinary Shares (in millions)
The Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements are an integral part of these Statements.
F-2
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF TOTAL RECOGNIZED GAINS AND LOSSES
Currency translation effects:
—on results for the year
—on foreign currency net investments
Total recognized gains and losses for the financial year
NOTE OF HISTORICAL COST INCOME AND LOSSES
Historical cost income (after taxation, minority interests and dividends) retained for the financial year does not differ materially from reported income.
F-3
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
Current assets
Cash and liquid investments
Accounts receivable and prepayments (Note 10)
Inventories (Note 11)
Fixed assets
Investments in joint ventures (Note 12)
—share of gross assets
—share of gross liabilities
—loans to joint ventures
Associates (Note 12)
Other investments (Note 12)
Property, plant and equipment (Note 14)
Intangible fixed assets—goodwill (Note 15)
Current liabilities
Bank loans and overdrafts (Note 16)
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities (Note 17)
Long-term liabilities
Long-term debt (Note 18)
Deferred acquisition consideration (Note 17)
Capital grants deferred (Note 20)
Provisions for liabilities and charges (Note 21)
Minority shareholders’ equity interest (Note 22)
Shareholders’ equity*
Share capital (Note 23)
Additional paid-in capital
Other reserves
Accumulated income
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity
The Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements are an integral part of these Balance Sheets.
F-4
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Balance at January 1, 2002
Shares issued
Share issue expenses
Income attributable to Ordinary Shares
—on results for year
Balance at December 31, 2002
Balance at December 31, 2003
Balance at December 31, 2004
Income is retained by:
Parent company
Subsidiary undertakings
Joint venture and associated undertakings
Cumulative goodwill previously written-off directly against accumulated income
F-5
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
Net cash inflow from operating activities (Note 24)
Dividends received from joint venture and associated undertakings
Returns on investments and servicing of finance
Interest received
Interest paid
Finance lease interest paid
Preference dividends paid (Note 25)
Irish corporation taxation paid
Overseas taxation paid
Capital expenditure
Purchase of property, plant and equipment (Note 14)
Capital grants received
Proceeds from sale of investments and property, plant and equipment (Note 26)
Investments in subsidiary, joint venture and associated undertakings
Acquisition of subsidiary undertakings (Note 13)
Investment in and advances to joint venture and associated undertakings
Dividends paid (Note 25)
Cash (outflow)/inflow before use of liquid investments and financing
Cash (outflow)/inflow from management of liquid investments
Financing
Issue of shares
Increase in term debt
New finance leases/(capital elements of finance leases repaid)
Expenses paid in respect of share issues
Increase/(decrease) in cash and demand debt in the year
A summary of the significant differences between the cash flow presented above and that required under U.S. GAAP is given in Note 31.
F-6
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS—(Continued)
RECONCILIATION OF NET CASH FLOW TO MOVEMENT IN NET DEBT
Increase in term debt including finance leases
Cash outflow/(inflow) from management of liquid investments
Change in net debt resulting from cash flows (Note 27)
Loans and finance leases, net of liquid investments, acquired with subsidiary undertakings (Note 13)
Translation adjustment
Movement in net debt in the year
Net debt at January 1
Net debt at December 31 (Note 27)
F-7
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
NOTE 1—STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Basis of accounting
The consolidated financial statements are prepared under the historical cost convention as modified by the revaluation of certain land and buildings included in fixed assets.
Basis of consolidation
The financial statements consolidate the financial statements of CRH plc and its subsidiary, joint venture and associated undertakings. Net sales and results of subsidiary undertakings are consolidated in the Consolidated Statements of Income from the dates on which control over the operating and financial decisions is obtained. The Group’s share of net sales and results of joint ventures, which are entities in which the Group holds an interest on a long-term basis and which are jointly controlled by the Group and one or more other venturers under a contractual arrangement, are equity-accounted from the dates on which the joint venture agreements are finalized.
Entities other than subsidiary and joint venture undertakings in which the Group has a participating interest and over whose operating and financial policies the Group exercises a significant influence, are accounted for as associated undertakings using the equity method and are included in the consolidated financial statements from the dates on which significant influence is deemed to arise.
Accounting periods
The consolidated financial statements include the financial statements of CRH public limited company (the “Company”), and all its subsidiaries, joint venture and associated undertakings (collectively the “Group”) made up to December 31 of each year.
Net sales represent the value of goods and services supplied to external customers and exclude intercompany sales and value added tax.
Revenue recognition
Revenue is recognized at the time products are shipped or services are supplied to customers. Net sales on long-term contracts are recognized using the percentage-of-completion method, calculated on an input cost basis.
Net sales and results of subsidiary undertakings are consolidated in the Consolidated Statements of Income from the dates on which control over the operating and financial decisions is obtained. The Group’s share of net sales and income from joint venture and associated undertakings are accounted for from the dates on which the investment agreements are finalized.
Goodwill
With effect from January 1, 1998, goodwill, being the excess of the consideration over the fair value of net assets at the date of acquisition of subsidiary, joint venture and associated undertakings, is capitalized, and related amortization based on its estimated useful life of 20 years is charged against income before interest. Goodwill arising prior to that date was written-off immediately against reserves and was not reinstated on implementation of Financial Reporting Standard 10—Goodwill and Intangible Assets (“FRS 10”). On disposal of
F-8
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)
NOTE 1—STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)
an undertaking acquired prior to January 1, 1998, goodwill eliminated against reserves in respect of that undertaking is included in the determination of the gain or loss on sale. Goodwill in the balance sheet represents the written down value of goodwill arising on acquisitions since January 1, 1998.
Current taxation represents the amount expected to be paid or recovered in respect of taxable income for the year and is calculated using the taxation rates and laws that have been enacted or substantively enacted at the balance sheet date.
Deferred taxation is recognized in respect of all timing differences that have originated but not reversed at the balance sheet date where transactions have occurred at that date that will result in an obligation to pay more, or a right to pay less or to receive more, taxation, with the following exceptions:
Deferred taxation is measured on an undiscounted basis at the taxation rates that are anticipated to apply in the periods in which the timing differences reverse, based on taxation rates and legislation which are enacted or substantively enacted at the balance sheet date.
Translation of foreign currencies
These financial statements are presented in euro. Results and cash flows of subsidiary, joint venture and associated undertakings based in non-euro countries have been translated into euro at average exchange rates for the year, and the related balance sheets have been translated at the rates of exchange ruling at the balance sheet date. Adjustments arising on translation of the results of non-euro subsidiary, joint venture and associated undertakings at average rates, and on restatement of the opening net assets at closing rates, are dealt with in accumulated income, net of differences on related currency borrowings. All other translation differences are included in arriving at operating income.
Euro 1 =
U.S. Dollar
Pound Sterling
Polish Zloty
Swiss Franc
Israeli Shekel
Canadian Dollar
Argentine Peso
F-9
Capital grants
Capital grants received in respect of the purchase of property, plant and equipment are treated as a deferred credit, a portion of which is released to income annually over the useful economic life of the asset to which it relates.
Pensions and other post-retirement obligations
Costs and liabilities in respect of pensions and other post-retirement obligations are measured in accordance with the provisions of Statement of Standard Accounting Practice 24 (“SSAP 24”) and are independently assessed in accordance with the advice of professionally qualified actuaries. The regular cost of pensions and other post-retirement obligations is charged to operating income over the employees’ service lives on the basis of a constant percentage of earnings. Variations from regular cost, arising from periodic actuarial valuations, are charged to operating income over the expected remaining service lives of current employees.
Depreciation and amortization
Depreciation is calculated to write-off the book value of property, plant and equipment during the useful economic life of each asset on a straight line basis at the following rates:
Freehold Property: The book value of mineral-bearing land, less an estimate of its residual value, is amortized over the period of the mineral extraction in the proportion which production for the year bears to the estimated mineral reserves. In general, buildings are depreciated at 2.5% p.a.
Plant and Equipment: These are depreciated at rates ranging from 3.3% p.a. to 20% p.a. depending on the type of asset.
Transport: In general, transport assets are depreciated at 20% p.a.
The carrying value of long-lived assets is reviewed for impairment if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable. Under Irish GAAP, impairment is assessed by comparing the carrying value of an asset with its recoverable amount (being the higher of net realizable value and value in use). Net realizable value is defined as the amount at which an asset could be disposed of net of any direct selling costs. Value in use is defined as the present value of the future cash flows obtainable through continued use of an asset including those anticipated to be realized on its eventual disposal.
Leasing
Assets held under leasing arrangements that transfer substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership to the Group are capitalized. The capital element of the related rental obligations is included in long-term debt and bank loans and overdrafts. The interest element of the rental obligations is charged against income so as to produce a constant rate of charge. Operating lease rentals are charged to the statement of income.
Inventories
Inventories are stated at the lower of cost, mainly average cost, and net realizable value. In the case of finished goods and work-in-progress, cost includes direct materials, direct labor and attributable overheads. Net realizable value is the estimated proceeds of sale less all further costs to completion, and less all costs to be incurred in marketing, selling and distribution.
F-10
Long-term contracts
Amounts recoverable on long-term contracts, which are included in accounts receivable, are stated at the net sales value of the work done less amounts received as progress payments on account. Cumulative costs incurred, net of amounts transferred to cost of sales, after deducting foreseeable losses, provisions for contingencies and payments on account not matched with net sales, are included as long-term contract balances in inventories.
Liquid investments
Liquid investments comprise short-term deposits and current asset investments which are held as readily disposable stores of value, and include investments in government gilts and commercial paper and deposits of less than one year. Interest expense and interest income arising from financial instruments, which include borrowings and cash as well as liquid investments, is accounted for on an accruals basis.
Financial instruments
Financial instruments include (i) borrowings, (ii) cash, deposits and liquid investments and (iii) interest and currency swaps, forward contracts and other derivatives.
It is the Group’s policy to partially hedge its investment in foreign currencies by maintaining a net debt position in all foreign currencies, and to maintain within net debt a mix of fixed and floating interest rates.
Derivatives, principally interest and currency swaps and forward foreign exchange contracts, are used to manage interest rate risks and to achieve the desired currency profile of borrowings. Interest differentials arising on these derivatives are recognized in net interest expense over the period of the related contract.
Where derivatives are used to hedge cross-currency cash flows arising from trading activities, the underlying transaction is recorded at the contract rate.
Where operations use derivatives to manage the cost of future expected energy usage, gains and losses arising thereon are deferred until maturity.
Advertising and promotion costs
Advertising and promotion costs are expensed as incurred.
Repair and maintenance costs
Repair and maintenance costs are expensed as incurred.
Use of estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from these estimates.
Reclassifications
Certain amounts reported in the fiscal years 2003 and 2002 consolidated financial statements have been reclassified to conform to the fiscal year 2004 financial statement presentation. These reclassifications are immaterial.
F-11
NOTE 2—BUSINESS AND GEOGRAPHICAL ANALYSIS
The geographical analysis of sales and income is based on market/destination.
There is no material difference between this analysis and the split of sales and income by origin.
GEOGRAPHICAL ANALYSIS BY MARKET/DESTINATION:
Mainland Europe
Americas—primarily United States
Total including share of joint ventures
Less share of joint ventures’ net sales
Total excluding share of joint ventures
Gain/(loss)
on sale
Total including share of joint ventures and associates
Less share of joint ventures and associates
Total excluding share of joint ventures and associates
F-12
NOTE 2—BUSINESS AND GEOGRAPHICAL ANALYSIS (continued)
Footnote (i) appears on page F-14.
F-13
Net assets (i)
Trade and other investments
Unallocated liabilities—dividends payable
Less cash and liquid investments
Less accounts payable and accrued liabilities, deferred acquisition consideration due after more than one year and provisions for liabilities and charges (excluding deferred and other taxation)
Total net assets
The impact of acquisitions completed during 2004 (see Note 13 for detailed list) is summarized below:
at year-end
Total acquisitions
Analysis by class of business
The Group is analyzed into four Divisions, two in Europe: Materials and Products & Distribution; and two in the Americas: Materials in the United States and Products & Distribution in the United States, Canada, Argentina and Chile. These activities comprise three reporting business segments:
Materialsbusinesses are involved in the production of cement, aggregates, asphalt and readymixed concrete.
F-14
Products businesses are involved in the production of concrete products and a range of construction-related products and services.
Distribution businesses are engaged in the marketing and sale of builders’ supplies to the construction industry and of materials and products for the DIY market.
Intersegment sales are not significant.
Europe
Americas
Gain/(loss) on sale of investments and property, plant and equipment
Income on ordinary activities before interest
F-15
F-16
F-17
Europe Products
Europe Distribution
Americas Products
Americas Distribution
Unallocated liabilities—dividends proposed
NOTE 3—DISTRIBUTION AND ADMINISTRATION EXPENSES
Total2004
Distribution expenses
Administrative expenses
Other income
Year ended December 31
Group operating income (excluding goodwill amortization and share of joint ventures’ and associates’ operating income) is arrived at after charging
Wages and salaries
Social security costs
Pension costs
Depreciation
Repairs and maintenance
Advertising and promotion expense
Operating lease rentals—hire of plant and machinery
Operating lease rentals—land and buildings
Operating lease rentals—other operating leases
F-18
NOTE 4—GROUP OPERATING INCOME (continued)
The average number of Group employees by region was as follows
NOTE 5—DIRECTORS’ EMOLUMENTS AND INTERESTS
Directors’ emoluments and interests are given in the report on Directors’ remuneration on pages R-1 to R-9.
NOTE 6—INTEREST EXPENSE
Interest payable on bank loans and overdrafts repayable wholly within five years:
—by installments
—not by installments
Interest payable on other borrowings
NOTE 7—TAXATION ON INCOME
Current Taxation
Corporation taxation at 12.5% (2003: 12.5% and 2002: 16%)
Less manufacturing relief (a)
Overseas taxation
Share of joint ventures’ and associates’ taxation
Total taxation on disposal of fixed assets
Total current taxation
Deferred Taxation
Origination and reversal of timing differences
Total taxation on income
F-19
NOTE 7—TAXATION ON INCOME (continued)
Income before taxation and minority shareholders’ equity interest
Overseas
Share of joint ventures’ and associates’ income before taxation
Effective taxation rate
The effective taxation rate is obtained by computing the taxation charge as a percentage of income before taxation and minority shareholders’ equity interest (income before taxation).
Total current taxation as a percentage of income before taxation
Total taxation on income as a percentage of income before taxation
The following table relates the applicable Republic of Ireland statutory taxation rate to the effective total taxation rate of the Group:
Irish corporation taxation rate
Manufacturing relief (a)
Higher taxation rates on overseas earnings
Other allowances and expenses not deductible for taxation purposes
Factors that may affect future taxation charges
Based on current capital investment plans, the Group expects to continue to be able to claim capital allowances in excess of depreciation in future years.
No deferred taxation is recognised on the unremitted earnings of overseas subsidiaries, joint ventures or associates; as earnings are continually reinvested by the Group, no taxation is expected to be payable on them in the foreseeable future.
Provision is made for deferred taxation on gains recognised on revaluing property only to the extent that, at the balance sheet date, there is a binding agreement to dispose of the assets concerned.
The total taxation charge in future periods will be affected by any changes to the corporation taxation rates in force in the countries in which the Group operates. The current taxation charges will also be affected by changes in the excess of taxation depreciation over book depreciation and the use of taxation credits.
F-20
NOTE 8—NET INCOME PER ORDINARY SHARE
Numerator for basic and diluted earnings per share
Net income attributable to ordinary shareholders (€ millions)
Denominator for basic earnings per share
Weighted-average number of shares (millions) in issue for the year (i)
Effect of dilutive potential Ordinary Shares (employee share options)
Denominator for diluted earnings per share
Basic net income per Ordinary Share
Diluted net income per Ordinary Share
NOTE 9—DIVIDENDS
Paid:
Interim—9.60c per Ordinary Share (2003: 8.20c, 2002: 7.43c)
Proposed:
Final—23.40c per Ordinary Share (2003: 19.90c, 2002: 17.97c)
NOTE 10—ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE AND PREPAYMENTS
December 31
Trade receivables
Provision for doubtful accounts
Other receivables:
Amounts recoverable on long-term contracts
Amounts receivable from joint ventures and associates
Prepayments and accrued income
NOTE 11—INVENTORIES
Raw materials
Work-in-progress
Finished goods
F-21
NOTE 12—INVESTMENTS
At January 1
Joint venture becoming an associate (i)
Associate becoming a joint venture
Arising on acquisition of subsidiaries
Investments and advances (ii)
Disposals and repayments
Retained income less dividends paid
At December 31
Bouwmaterialenhandel de Schelde bv
Cementbouw bv
Cement transport and trading, readymixed concrete and aggregates
Kemek Limited
Williaam Cox Limited
Commercial explosives
Glass constructions, continuous rooflights and ventilation systems
Gefinex Jackon nv
XPS insulation
Groupe SAMSE
Builders merchants and DIY stores
Gefinex Jackon GmbH
Modelo Distribuição de Materiais de Construção sa
Cash & Carry building materials
Secil—Companhia Geral de Cal e Cimento, S.A.
Cement, aggregates, concrete products, mortar and readymixed concrete
Boxley Aggregates of West Virginia, LLC
Buckeye Ready-Mix, LLC
Cadillac Asphalt, LLC
Landmark Stone Products, LLC
Oldcastle Arpal, LLC
Veneer stone
High performance blast mitigation window and curtain wall systems
Paver Systems, LLC
Hardscape products
Mashav Initiating and Development Limited
F-22
NOTE 13—ACQUISITIONS
The major acquisitions made by the Group during the two years ended December 31, 2003 and 2004 are listed below. All acquisitions have been accounted for under the purchase method.
Acquired in 2003
Cementbouw Handel & Industrie, the Netherlands
S. E. Johnson, Ohio
Matt Stone, southern states of the U.S.
Europe Materials Division—5 deals
Europe Products & Distribution Division—13 deals in addition to Cementbouw
Americas Materials Division—9 deals in addition to the S.E. Johnson
Americas Products & Distribution Division—10 deals in addition to Matt Stone
Total cost of acquisitions completed in 2003
Acquired in 2004
Europe Products & Distribution Division—10 deals
Americas Materials Division—12 deals
Americas Products & Distribution Division—11 deals
Total cost of acquisitions completed in 2004
The date that each business was acquired and upon which assets were received and the date when control over the operating and financial decisions was obtained were one and the same.
The principal acquisitions during 2004 were:
Materials businesses—Hastag Holding in Switzerland; Abetoni and Jersanmaki in Finland; TSMK in Russia; and Prebet Zelislawice in Poland.
Products & Distribution businesses—Ergon, De Saegher, three GAMMA stores and Klaps in Belgium; Airvent, Broughton Controls and certain activities of Icopal in the United Kingdom; Mavotrans, NCD Builders Merchants and buyout of Kellen Concrete Products and GAMMA Sneek in the Netherlands.
Materials businesses—Elam Corporation and Amenia Sand & Gravel in New York State; Passaic Crushed Stone & Gallo Asphalt in New Jersey; Blue Rock Industries and Bridgecorp in Maine; purchase of an aggregate pit in New Mexico; Construction Products Corporation in Utah; Klamath Pacific in Oregon; Rohlin Construction Company in Iowa; Wyandot Dolomite and buyout of a joint venture with the Heritage Group in Ohio; and a transaction whereby asphalt and paving assets in metropolitan Cincinnati, Ohio were exchanged for operations in Maine, Ohio and in the Delaware/Maryland peninsula.
F-23
NOTE 13—ACQUISITIONS (continued)
Products & Distribution businesses—Greenleaf Products, Anchor Block and the purchase of a 50% stake in Paver Systems in Florida; 80% of Custom Surfaces with operations in Georgia and South Carolina; Creative Surfaces in Alabama; Newbasis Central in Texas; Mega Cast in Georgia; Floral Glass in New York; Metro Roofing Distributors in Boston, Massachusetts; G.W. Killebrew in the Hawaiian Islands; and the final 20% stake in Vidrios Dell Orto in Chile.
Materials businesses are involved in the production of cement, aggregates, asphalt and readymixed concrete.
Accounts receivable and prepayments
Total assets, excluding cash
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
Taxation, including deferred taxation
Provisions
Total liabilities, excluding debt
Net assets acquired at fair value
Goodwill arising on acquisition
Consideration
Satisfied by
Cash payment
Cash acquired on acquisition
Bank overdrafts assumed on acquisition
Net cash outflow
Loans and finance leases, net of liquid investments, assumed on acquisition
The impact of 2004 acquisitions on the cash flow statement was not material.
F-24
Fair values and goodwill on acquisition
The fair values were calculated as follows
Property, plant and equipment and investments
No provisions were made in respect of reorganizations, redundancies or related asset write-downs in the twelve months preceding the effective dates of acquisition.
The fair values set out above include provisional valuations for certain acquisitions completed in 2004; any eventual revisions to these provisional values will be reflected in the 2005 financial statements.
Pro-forma results
The following unaudited pro-forma combined operating results of the Group for the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003 have been prepared as if the acquisition of the companies in 2004 outlined on page F-23 were effective as of January 1, 2003. The effect of 2003 and 2002 acquisitions on 2003 and 2002 results have been included.
Net income per Ordinary Share
F-25
NOTE 14—PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
Balance at January 1, 2004
Additions at cost
Retirements
Arising on acquisitions during the year (Note 13)
Depreciation charged to costs and expenses
Net book amount at December 31, 2004
Balance at January 1, 2003
Net book amount at December 31, 2003
Freehold property purchased since December 31, 1980 is reflected at cost. Freehold property (excluding buildings of a specialized nature) purchased prior to December 31, 1980 was revalued by professional valuers at that date on an existing use basis. The Group has elected to adopt the transitional arrangements of Financial Reporting Standard 15—Tangible Fixed Assets (“FRS 15”) by not implementing a revaluation policy and by continuing to carry these assets at the revalued book amounts.
Property includes mineral bearing land with a net book value of €1,253.0 million at December 31, 2004.
F-26
NOTE 14—PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT (continued)
The original historical cost of revalued assets cannot be obtained without unreasonable expense. The analysis of total cost/valuation is as follows:
At valuation December 31, 1980
At cost post December 31, 1980
Property, plant and equipment include assets held under finance leases as follows:
Cost
Accumulated depreciation charged to costs and expenses
Net book amount at December 31
The accumulated charge to costs and expenses in respect of assets held under finance leases amounted to €3.8 million during 2004 (2003: €1.9 million and 2002: €2.0 million).
Future capital expenditure purchase commitments
Contracted but not provided for in the financial statements
Authorized by the Directors but not contracted for
NOTE 15—INTANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS - GOODWILL
Disposals
Amortization charged to costs and expenses
F-27
NOTE 16—BANK LOANS AND OVERDRAFTS
Demand loans
Overdrafts
Current portion of long-term debt (a)
The weighted-average interest rate on bank loans and overdrafts outstanding at the year-end is 4.6% (2003: 4.7%).
NOTE 17—ACCOUNTS PAYABLE AND ACCRUED LIABILITIES
Trade accounts payable
Payroll taxes and social security
Value added tax
Other payables
Accruals and deferred income
Taxes payable
Amounts owed to joint ventures and associates
Deferred acquisition consideration, due as follows:
—between one and two years
—between two and five years
—after five years
F-28
NOTE 18—LONG-TERM DEBT
Long-term debt, which primarily comprises bank loans, matures as follows:
Between one and two years
Between two and three years
Between three and four years
Between four and five years
After more than five years
Long-term debt collateralized by Group assets amounted to €122.4 million at December 31, 2004 (2003: €83.2 million).
After five years
F-29
NOTE 19—TREASURY INFORMATION
Interest rate and currency profile
The interest rate and currency profile of the Group’s net debt and net worth as at December 31, 2004 was as follows:
Weighted-average fixed debt interest rates
Weighted-average fixed debt periods—years
Fixed rate debt
Floating rate debt
Cash and liquid investments—floating rate
Net debt by major currency
Loans to joint ventures
Deferred acquisition consideration falling due after more than one year
Net financial assets and liabilities (excluding short-term receivables and payables)
Capital employed at December 31, 2004
Shareholders’ equity (net worth) at December 31, 2004
The corresponding interest rate and currency profile of the Group’s net debt and net worth as at December 31, 2003 was as follows:
Capital employed at December 31, 2003
Shareholders’ equity (net worth) at December 31, 2003
F-30
NOTE 19—TREASURY INFORMATION (continued)
The amounts shown on page F-30 take into account the effect of currency swaps, forward contracts and other derivatives entered into to manage these currency and interest rate exposures.
Floating rate debt comprises bank borrowings bearing interest at rates fixed in advance for periods ranging from overnight to one year largely by reference to inter-bank interest rates (U.S.$ LIBOR, Sterling LIBOR, Swiss Franc LIBOR, Euribor).
Cash and liquid investments comprise cash deposits placed on money markets for periods of up to six months and high quality liquid investments such as commercial paper and bonds.
As explained in Item 11 on page 99, the Group’s policy is to spread its net worth across the currencies of the countries in which it invests. Interest rate swaps are entered into only for the purpose of managing the Group’s mix of fixed and floating rate debt. Currency swaps are entered into only for the purpose of managing the Group’s mix of fixed and floating rate debt by currency to ensure that the Group’s debt funding sources match the currency of the Group’s operations. In line with Group policy, all derivative contracts are entered into with highly-rated counterparties. Gains and losses arising on the re-translation of net worth are dealt with in the consolidated statements of total recognized gains and losses.
Transactional currency exposures arise in a number of the Group’s operations and these result in net currency gains and losses which are recognized in the consolidated statements of income. As at December 31, 2004 these exposures were not material.
Fair values of debt, cash and liquid investments
A comparison by category of book values and fair values of all the Group’s financial assets and financial liabilities (excluding short-term receivables and payables) at December 31, 2004 and December 31, 2003 is set out below:
2003 book value
2003 fair value
Unrecognized gains and losses as at December 31, 2003
2004 book value
2004 fair value
Unrecognized gains and losses as at December 31, 2004
Reconciliation of movement in unrecognized gains and losses
At December 31, 2003
Portion recognized in 2004
Arising in 2004
At December 31, 2004
Of which, expected to be recognized
—in 2005
—after 2005
F-31
As the Group has a policy of fixing interest rates on a portion of net debt, the fair value of such debt will be above book value when prevailing interest rates are below the fixed rates being paid by the Group.
At both December 31, 2004 and December 31, 2003, interest rates were generally below the fixed rates being paid by the Group. As a consequence, the fair values of the Group’s fixed interest rate instruments included a net unrecognized loss of €68.9 million (2003: €52.6 million).
NOTE 20—CAPITAL GRANTS DEFERRED
Received
Released to income during year
NOTE 21—PROVISIONS FOR LIABILITIES AND CHARGES
Deferred and other taxation
Other provisions for liabilities and charges
Transfers/reclassifications
Provided during the year
Deferred taxation represents the following total timing differences
Fixed assets, principally depreciation
Other timing differences, including taxation losses
Other taxation
F-32
NOTE 21—PROVISIONS FOR LIABILITIES AND CHARGES (continued)
At
January 1,2004
Insurance (i)
Post-retirement obligations (ii)
Guarantees and warranties (iii)
Rationalization and redundancy (iv)
Environment and remediation (v)
This provision relates to workers’ compensation (employer’s liability) and third party liabilities or claims covered under the Group’s self-insurance schemes. Due to the time frame that is often involved in such claims, a significant part of this provision is subject to actuarial valuation. Where this is not appropriate, other external assessments are made.
These comprise provisions for post-retirement healthcare obligations and life assurance obligations in respect of certain current and former employees in the United States in addition to early retirement for certain senior executives throughout the Group. The method of accounting for these provisions is similar to that used for pension obligations. The early retirement provisions are calculated using assumptions broadly in line with those set out in Note 29 relating to pensions, while the principal actuarial assumption used in determining the required provisions is that healthcare costs will increase by 8% per annum.
Some products carry formal guarantees of satisfactory performance of varying periods following their purchase by customers. Provision is made for the estimated cost of honoring unexpired warranties. The expected timing of any payments under such guarantees and warranties is uncertain.
These provisions relate to obligations under various rationalization and redundancy programs throughout the Group, none of which is individually material. The Group expects these provisions to be utilized within three years.
These provisions include obligations for site remediation and improvement costs to be incurred in compliance with local or national environmental regulations and constructive obligations stemming from best practice. Whilst a significant element of the total provision will reverse in the medium-term (being 2 to 10 years), the majority of the legal and constructive obligations applicable to long-lived assets will unwind over a 30-year time frame.
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NOTE 22—MINORITY SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY INTEREST
Income applicable to minority shareholders’ equity interest (less attributable to joint ventures and associates)
Dividends paid
NOTE 23—SHARE CAPITAL
IncomeShares of
€0.02 each
Authorized
December 31, 2002, 2003 and 2004
Allotted, called-up and fully paid
Share options and share participation (iv)
Shares issued in lieu of dividends (v)
The footnotes (i) to (v) appear on pages F-34 to F-35
The Income Shares were created on August 29, 1988 for the express purpose of giving shareholders the choice of receiving dividends on either their Ordinary Shares or on their Income Shares (by notice of election to the Company). The Income Shares carried a different tax credit to the Ordinary Shares. The creation of the Income Shares was achieved by the allotment of fully paid Income Shares to each shareholder equal to his/her holding of Ordinary Shares but the shareholder is not entitled to an Income Share certificate, as a certificate for Ordinary Shares is deemed to include an equal number of Income Shares and a shareholder may only sell, transfer or transmit Income Shares with an equivalent number of Ordinary Shares. Income Shares carry no voting rights. Due to changes in Irish tax legislation since the creation of the Income Shares, dividends on the Company’s shares no longer carry a tax credit. As elections made by shareholders to receive dividends on their holding of Income Shares were no longer relevant, the Articles of Association were amended on May 8, 2002 to cancel such elections.
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NOTE 23—SHARE CAPITAL (continued)
The holders of the 5% Cumulative Preference Shares are entitled to a fixed cumulative preferential dividend at a rate of 5% per annum and priority in a winding up to repayment of capital, but have no further right to participate in profits or assets and are not entitled to be present or vote at general meetings unless their dividend is in arrears. Dividends on the 5% Cumulative Preference Shares are payable half yearly on April 15 and October 15 in each year.
The holders of the 7% ‘A’ Cumulative Preference Shares are entitled to a fixed cumulative preference dividend at a rate of 7% per annum, and subject to the rights of the holders of the 5% Cumulative Preference Shares, priority in a winding up to repayment of capital but have no further right to participate in profits or assets and are not entitled to be present or vote at general meetings unless their dividend is in arrears. Dividends on the 7% ‘A’ Cumulative Preference Shares are payable half yearly on April 5 and October 5 in each year.
Share option schemes Under the terms of the employees’ share option schemes, options are exercisable at prices varying from €6.5347/Stg£5.3287 to €19.68/Stg£12.04. At December 31, 2004 options over 26,687,557 shares had not yet been exercised. This figure includes options over 9,443,070 shares and 9,825,518 shares which can only be exercised after the expiration of three years and five years respectively from the dates of grant of those options and after specific EPS growth targets have been achieved.
Savings-related share option schemes Under the terms of the savings-related share option schemes, options are outstanding over 570,114 shares and 933,855 shares, granted pursuant to three and five-year contracts respectively, and are exercisable at prices varying from €10.63/Stg£7.18 to €16.09/Stg£10.08. The price at which the options were granted under the schemes represented a discount of 15% to the market price on the date of grant. These options are normally exercisable within a period of six months after the third or fifth anniversary of the contract, whichever is applicable. In accordance with UITF 17 ‘Employee share schemes’, no stock compensation expense has been recorded in relation to savings-related share option schemes.
Share participation schemes At December 31, 2004, 5,130,287 Ordinary Shares had been appropriated to participation schemes. The Ordinary Shares appropriated pursuant to these schemes were issued at market value on the dates of appropriation.
During the ten-year period commencing on May 3, 2000, the total number of Ordinary Shares which may be issued, in respect of the share option schemes, the savings-related share option schemes, the share participation schemes and any subsequent share option schemes, may not exceed 15% in aggregate of the issued Ordinary share capital from time to time.
In May 2004, 1,887,001 Ordinary Shares were issued to the holders of Ordinary Shares who elected to receive additional Ordinary Shares at a price of €16.91 per share, instead of part or all of the cash element of their 2003 final dividend. In November 2004, 230,009 Ordinary Shares were issued to the holders of Ordinary Shares who elected to receive additional Ordinary Shares at a price of €19.34 per share, instead of part or all of the cash element of their 2004 interim dividend.
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NOTE 24—RECONCILIATION OF OPERATING INCOME TO NET CASH INFLOW FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Group operating income
Depreciation charge
Capital grants released
Net movement on provisions during the year
Working capital movements:
—(Increase)/decrease in inventories
—(Increase)/decrease in accounts receivable and prepayments
—Increase/(decrease) in accounts payable and accrued liabilities
Net cash inflow from operating activities
NOTE 25—DIVIDENDS PAID
Dividends to shareholders
Less preference dividend separately disclosed
Less issue of shares in lieu of dividend (i)
Dividends paid by subsidiary undertakings to minority shareholders
NOTE 26—SALE OF INVESTMENTS AND PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
Assets at net book amount:
—Intangible assets
—Investments
—Property, plant and equipment
Gain on sale excluding share of joint ventures and associates
Proceeds of sale of investments and property, plant and equipment (i)
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NOTE 27—ANALYSIS OF NET DEBT
Cash
Bank overdrafts and demand loans
Total cash and liquid investments/demand debt
Loans repayable within one year
Loans repayable after more than one year
Total term finance
January 1,2003
December 31,2003
NOTE 28—LEASES AND OTHER COMMITMENTS
Lease commitments
The future minimum payments to which the Group is committed as at December 31, 2004 under operating leases are as follows:
Year ending December 31
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010 and thereafter
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NOTE 28—LEASES AND OTHER COMMITMENTS (continued)
Annual commitments for the year 2005 are as follows under operating leases which expire:
Within one year
After one but within five years
Total payments year ending December 31, 2005
In order to manage interest rate risk, the Group enters into interest rate swap agreements to alter the interest payable on debt from fixed to variable and vice-versa. While the Group is exposed to market risk to the extent that receipts and payments under interest rate agreements are affected by market interest rates, the combination of interest rate swaps and fixed rate debt reduces the Group’s interest rate market risk by fixing interest rates on a portion of the Group’s net debt in individual currencies. The Group accounts for interest rate agreements as hedges, the consolidated statements of income reflecting only the net interest receivable or payable under such agreements on the accruals basis. The fair values of the swap transactions, which are not recognized in the financial statements, are included in the fair value analysis on page F-31.
At December 31, 2004 the Group had interest swap agreements:
The Group enters into currency swap agreements to manage the group’s mix of fixed and floating debt by currency to ensure that the debt funding sources match the currency of Group operations. The net book liability of the currency agreements amounted to €253.0m as at December 31, 2004 and the fair values of the currency swap transactions are included in the fair value analysis on page F-31.
As at December 31, 2004 the Company had issued guarantees in respect of term facilities and interest and currency swaps of consolidated subsidiary companies totaling €4,018.0 million of which €3,351.1 million were outstanding and included in the Group’s gross debt. In addition at December 31, 2004 the Company had issued guarantees in respect of short-term uncommitted facilities of consolidated subsidiary companies totaling €488.1 million of which €74.2 million were outstanding and included in the Group’s gross debt.
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The maximum amount payable by the Company under these guarantees in the event that subsidiary companies fully drew such facilities and failed to make payments when due would be €4,506.1 million.
The Company has also given letters of guarantee to secure obligations of subsidiary undertakings for €23.7 million in respect of deferred acquisition consideration, €141.5 million in respect of letters of credit and €14.2 million in respect of other obligations.
Pursuant to the provisions of Section 17, Companies (Amendment) Act, 1986, the Company has guaranteed the liabilities of certain of its subsidiary undertakings and of a general partnership in the Republic of Ireland for the financial year to December 31, 2004 and, as a result, such subsidiary undertakings and the general partnership have been exempted from the filing provisions of Section 7, Companies (Amendment) Act, 1986 and Regulation 20 of Statutory Instrument 396 of 1993 respectively.
NOTE 29—PENSIONS AND OTHER POST-RETIREMENT OBLIGATIONS
The Group operates either defined benefit or defined contribution pension schemes in all its operating areas, with the exception of Estonia, Latvia, Russia, Slovakia, Ukraine, Argentina and Chile. Scheme assets are held in separate trustee administered funds.
Total pension costs for the year amounted to €132.9 million (2003: €113.8 million, 2002: €107.9 million) of which €78.4 million (2003: €73.1 million, 2002: €48.3 million) was paid in respect of defined contribution schemes.
The pension costs relating to the Group’s defined benefit schemes are assessed in accordance with the advice of independent qualified actuaries. In Ireland and Britain, either the attained age or projected unit credit methods are used to assess pension costs, while in the Netherlands and Switzerland the valuations reflect the current unit method. In the case of the United States, valuations are performed using a variety of actuarial cost methodologies—current unit, projected unit and aggregate cost. The actuarial valuations range from April 2001 to January 2004.
The assumptions which have the most significant effect on the results of the actuarial valuations are those relating to the rate of return on investments and the rates of increase in remuneration and pensions. It was assumed that the rate of return on investments would, on average, exceed annual remuneration increases by 2% and pension increases by 3% per annum.
The market value of the assets in the Group’s defined benefit schemes as at the respective valuation dates totalled €1,190.4 million. As at those dates, a number of the schemes had a deficit on a current funding level basis; the combined deficiency of €96.4 million in these schemes, which have combined assets of €517.0 million, is being funded over the weighted-average service lives of the members. A current funding level valuation determines whether the market value of the assets would have been sufficient at the valuation date to cover liabilities arising in respect of pensions in payment, preserved benefits for members whose pensionable service has ceased and accrued benefits for members in pensionable service, based on pensionable service to and pensionable earnings at the date of valuation, including revaluation on the statutory basis or such higher basis as has been promised. The valuations indicated that the actuarial value of total scheme assets was sufficient to cover 97% of the benefits that had accrued to the members of the combined schemes as at the valuation dates. This ratio expresses the proportion at the valuation date of the actuarial value of liabilities for pensioners’ and deferred pensioners’ benefits and for members’ accrued benefits that is covered by the actuarial value of the assets excluding the actuarial value of future contributions.
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NOTE 29—PENSIONS AND OTHER POST-RETIREMENT OBLIGATIONS (continued)
At the year-end, €59.2 million (2003: €60.4 million) was included in accounts payable and accrued liabilities in respect of pension liabilities and €5.3 million (2003: €3.3 million) was included in accounts receivable and prepayments in respect of pension prepayments.
In general, actuarial valuations are not available for public inspection; however, the results of valuations are advised to members of the various schemes.
Financial Reporting Standard 17—Retirement Benefits
Financial Reporting Standard 17—Retirement Benefits (“FRS 17”), was issued by the Accounting Standards Board in November 2000 and represents a significant change in the method of accounting for pension costs compared with the previous rules as set out in Statement of Standard Accounting Practice 24 (SSAP 24). Full implementation of the new accounting rules prescribed by FRS 17 was deferred by the Accounting Standards Board with the standard being effective in respect of accounting periods commencing on January 1, 2005. The Group has elected to avail of the transitional provisions outlined in the standard which permit the use of the SSAP 24 regulations for determining pension cost but require the additional disclosure of the impact of the adoption of FRS 17 as at December 31, 2004, December 31, 2003 and December 31, 2002. On transition to International Financial Reporting Standards for the 2005 interim and full-year financial statements, the Group’s pension expense for 2005 and the 2004 comparatives will be reported in accordance with IAS 19—Employee Benefits (“IAS 19”). The Group estimates that the pension expense under IAS 19 will not be materially different to that disclosed below under FRS 17.
The Group operates defined benefit pension schemes in Ireland, Britain & Northern Ireland, the Netherlands, Switzerland and the United States. The valuations employed for FRS 17 disclosure purposes have been updated by the various schemes’ independent qualified actuaries to take account of the requirements of the FRS in order to assess the liabilities of the combined defined benefit pension schemes as at December 31, 2004, December 31, 2003 and December 31, 2002. The valuations have been completed using the projected unit method.
Financial assumptions
Scheme liabilities
The major long-term assumptions used by the Group’s actuaries to calculate scheme liabilities under FRS 17 as at December 31, 2004, December 31, 2003 and December 31, 2002 are as follows:
Britain &N. Ireland
Rate of increase in:
—salaries
—pensions in payment
Inflation
Discount rate
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Scheme assets
The long-term rates of return expected at December 31, 2004, December 31, 2003 and December 31, 2004, analyzed by class of investment, are as follows:
Equities
Bonds
Property
Impact of FRS 17 on Consolidated Balance Sheets
The net pension liability as at December 31, 2004 is analyzed as follows:
Total market value of assets
Actuarial value of liabilities
Recoverable deficit in schemes
Related deferred taxation asset
Net pension liability
The corresponding net pension liability as at December 31, 2003 was as follows:
Recoverable (deficit)/surplus in schemes
Related deferred taxation asset/(liability)
Net pension (liability)/asset
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The corresponding net pension liability as at December 31, 2002 was as follows:
Shareholders’ equity
Shareholders’ equity excluding pension liability
Pension liability
Shareholders’ equity including pension liability
Reserves
Accumulated income excluding pension liability
Accumulated income including pension liability
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Impact of FRS 17 on reported income
The following is a pro-forma indication of the impact on the Consolidated Statements of Income for 2004 and 2003 if CRH had implemented FRS 17 in full for the two years ended December 31, 2004 and December 31, 2003.
Impact on Group operating income
Pension cost/current service cost
Past service cost
Total operating charge
Impact on other finance income
Expected return on pension scheme assets
Interest on pension scheme liabilities
Net return
Total net impact on reported net income
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Analysis of amount which would have been recognized in the 2004 Consolidated Statements of Total Recognized Gains and Losses (STRGL)
Actual return less expected return on pension scheme assets
Experience gains and losses arising on the scheme liabilities
Changes in assumptions underlying the present value of scheme liabilities
Actuarial loss recognized in STRGL
Movement in (deficit)/surplus during 2004
Recoverable (deficit)/surplus at January 1
Movement in year
Acquisitions/disposals
Current service costs
Employer contributions paid
Past service cost: enhancements
Other finance income
Recoverable deficit at December 31
Experience gains and losses in 2004
Actual return less expected return on pension scheme assets (€m)
Percentage of scheme assets
Experience gains and losses arising on the scheme liabilities (€m)
Percentage of the present value of the scheme liabilities
Total amount recognized in STRGL (€m)
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Impact on 2003 STRGL
The corresponding amount which would have been recognized in 2003 STRGL is analyzed as follows:
Actuarial (loss)/gain recognized in STRGL
Movement in (deficit)/surplus during 2003
Past service cost: (enhancements)/curtailments
Recoverable (deficit)/surplus at December 31
Experience gains and losses in 2003
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Impact on 2002 STRGL
The corresponding amount which would have been recognized in 2002 STRGL is analyzed as follows:
Movement in (deficit)/surplus during 2002
Recoverable surplus/(deficit) at January 1
Experience gains and losses in 2002
NOTE 30—COMPANIES (AMENDMENT) ACT, 1986
These consolidated financial statements do not comprise full group accounts within the meaning of Regulation 40(2) of the European Communities (Companies: Group Accounts) Regulations 1992, insofar as such accounts have to comply strictly as to form and content with the provisions of that Act. Full group accounts for the year ended December 31, 2004 on which the auditors have given an unqualified audit report, have been prepared and filed in the Companies Registration Office in Ireland.
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NOTE 31—SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCES BETWEEN IRISH GAAP AND U.S. GAAP
The consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the Republic of Ireland (“Irish GAAP”). Irish GAAP, which are consistent with accounting principles generally accepted in the United Kingdom, differ in certain significant respects from U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”). The adjustments necessary to state net income and shareholders’ equity under U.S. GAAP are shown in the table on pages F-52 and F-53.
In June 2001, the United States Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (“SFAS”) 143 “Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations”. SFAS 143 is effective for accounting periods beginning after June 15, 2002. SFAS 143 requires companies to record liabilities equal to the fair value of their asset retirement obligations (“ARO”) when they are incurred (typically when the asset is purchased). Over time, the ARO liability is accreted for the change in its present value each period. While Irish GAAP similarly require such liabilities to be recognized as provisions, the detailed computations required by SFAS 143 result in differences between Irish and U.S. GAAP; the adjustments under U.S. GAAP are described below.
The Group’s liability for restoration of quarry assets arises over a number of reporting periods and is directly related to the degree of extraction performed. Under both Irish GAAP and U.S. GAAP, the Group has adopted an incremental provisioning methodology in order to recognize asset retirement obligations in line with extraction. Incremental liabilities incurred in subsequent reporting periods are considered to be an additional layer of the original liability and are calculated using assumptions applicable in those subsequent periods.
The 2004 adjustment of €4.0 million charged against income comprises a long-lived asset depreciation expense of €4.5 million (including full write-off of the asset related to incremental asset retirement obligations in 2004) together with an accretion expense of €1.2 million on the total ARO liability, stated net of the €1.7 million environment and remediation provisions already charged to net income under Irish GAAP.
SFAS 133, “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities” requires that, for U.S. GAAP purposes only, all derivatives be recognized on the balance sheet at fair value. Derivatives which are not hedges must be adjusted to fair value through income. If a derivative is a hedge, depending on the nature of the hedge, changes in the fair value of the derivative are either offset against the change in fair value of the hedged item through income, or recognized in the statement of other comprehensive income until the hedged item is recognized in income. The ineffective portion of a derivative’s change in fair value is immediately recognized in income. Irish GAAP does not require that derivatives be recognized on the balance sheet at fair value.
Under the terms of the Group’s employee share option schemes, as described in note 23 to the consolidated financial statements, options can only be exercised after the expiration of three years or five years from the dates of grant and after specific EPS growth targets have been achieved. The number of shares that may be acquired by employees is therefore not fully determinable until after the date of the grant, and accordingly the share option schemes are variable plans within the meaning of the U.S. Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees” (“APB 25”). Under Irish GAAP, such employee options do not currently result in charges against income.
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NOTE 31—SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCES BETWEEN IRISH GAAP AND U.S. GAAP (continued)
Under the terms of the Group’s 2000 savings-related share option schemes, employees were granted options with a three-year and five-year contract term respectively from the dates of grant of those options. The exercise price at which the options are granted under the schemes represents a discount of 15% to the market price on the date of grant. In accordance with Emerging Issues Task Force No. 00-23 (“EITF 00-23”) all such schemes are deemed compensatory given that they have a duration exceeding 27 months and therefore a compensation cost is recognized under APB 25 for grants that occur after January 24, 2002. Under Irish GAAP, such savings-related share option schemes do not currently result in charges against income.
U.S. GAAP, as set forth in SFAS 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation”, encourages, but does not require, companies to adopt a fair value approach to valuing share options that would require compensation cost to be recognized based on the fair value of share options granted.
The Group has elected, as permitted by SFAS 123, to follow the intrinsic value based method of accounting for share options as set out in APB 25. Compensation expense is booked to income each period from the date of grant, or the date on which achievement of the EPS growth targets is deemed probable, if later, to the “date of measurement” based on the difference between the price an employee must pay to acquire the shares underlying the option and the quoted market price of the shares at the end of each period. The “date of measurement” is the first date on which the relevant EPS growth targets have been achieved.
With effect for accounting periods ended on or after December 23, 1998, Irish GAAP require goodwill to be capitalized and amortized periodically against income. Prior to the 1998 financial year, goodwill was written-off as incurred against shareholders’ equity. As permitted by Irish GAAP, all goodwill thus written-off against shareholders’ equity under the Group’s former accounting policy remains eliminated against that equity and has not been reinstated in the Consolidated balance sheet. This is not permitted under U.S. GAAP, and accordingly, an adjustment is required under U.S. GAAP to capitalize all goodwill eliminated against shareholders’ equity. Under U.S. GAAP in effect until January 1, 2002 (see paragraph below referring to SFAS 141 “Business Combinations” and SFAS 142 “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets” issued by the FASB in June 2001), this capitalized goodwill was also required to be amortized to income over its estimated useful life; for the purposes of this reconciliation, a useful life of 40 years had been adopted.
In June 2001, the FASB issued SFAS 141 “Business Combinations” and SFAS 142 “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets”, both of which were effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2001. Under the new rules, goodwill is no longer amortized under U.S. GAAP, but is subject to annual impairment tests in accordance with the Statements. In addition, impairment tests are also required at other dates if indicators of impairment are present. The Group applied the new rules on accounting for goodwill and other intangible assets beginning January 1, 2002 and performed the first of the required annual impairment tests of goodwill as of that date. Both the 2003 and 2004 impairment tests indicated that no impairment had occurred.
The Irish GAAP goodwill amortisation expense of €101.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2004 is eliminated under U.S. GAAP and replaced by a net expense of €40.8 million, comprising acquisition-related payments of €12.2 million included in goodwill under Irish GAAP and expensed under U.S. GAAP, a depreciation credit of €0.7 million and a net charge of €29.3 million for intangible asset amortization.
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Under Irish GAAP, properties may be restated on the basis of appraised values in financial statements prepared in all other respects in accordance with the historical cost convention. Such restatements are not permitted under U.S. GAAP, and accordingly, adjustments to net income and shareholders’ equity are required to eliminate the effect of such restatements.
Under Irish GAAP, capital grants received in respect of the purchase of property, plant and equipment are treated as a deferred credit, a portion of which is released to the income statement annually over the useful economic life of the asset to which it relates. Under U.S. GAAP, this deferred credit would be netted against the gross cost of the relevant property, plant and equipment and the depreciation expense would be reduced accordingly. However, the differing presentation of capital grants under Irish and U.S. GAAP does not give rise to any difference with respect to net income and shareholders’ equity.
Under Irish GAAP, impairment is assessed by comparing the carrying value of an asset with its recoverable amount (being the higher of net realizable value and value in use). Net realizable value is defined as the amount at which an asset held for use could be disposed of net of any direct selling costs. Value in use is defined as the present value of the future cash flows obtainable through continued use of an asset including those anticipated to be realized on its eventual disposal. Under U.S. GAAP, an asset held for use is deemed to be impaired if the sum of the expected future cash flows (undiscounted and before interest charges) is less than the carrying value. If the latter criterion is satisfied, the quantum of impairment is determined by comparing the carrying value of the asset against its fair value. Such impairment reviews are only performed if impairment indicators exist. A long-lived asset classified as held for sale is measured at the lower of its carrying amount or fair value less costs to sell. No asset impairments were incurred under either Irish or U.S. GAAP in the years ended December 31, 2004, December 31, 2003 and December 31, 2002.
Under Irish GAAP (as set out in SSAP 24—see Note 29), pension costs in respect of the Group’s defined benefit plans are assessed in accordance with the advice of independent actuaries, using assumptions and methods which, taken as a whole, produce the actuaries’ best estimates of the cost of providing the pension benefits promised. U.S. GAAP specifically require the use of the projected unit credit method for costing purposes, and the assumptions used must be based on current market rates. Furthermore, under U.S. GAAP, an additional minimum pension liability relating to the excess of any unfunded accumulated benefit obligation over unrecognized prior service cost must be included within other comprehensive income.
Prior to 2002, costs relating to the issue of debt securities were written-off in the income statement in the period in which costs were incurred as permitted by Irish GAAP. With effect from January 1, 2002, the Group amortizes such expenses to income over the life of the debt, which is consistent with U.S. GAAP.
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Under Irish GAAP, dividends declared after the end of an accounting period in respect of that accounting period are deducted in arriving at the accumulated income at the end of that period. Under U.S. GAAP, dividends are charged in the period in which the dividends are declared.
The adjustments to net income under U.S. GAAP referred to above give rise to movements in deferred taxation which are shown separately in the reconciliation on page F-52. While Irish GAAP, and the Group’s accounting policy for deferred taxation, allow for deferred taxation to be provided on material temporary differences to the extent that the taxation is expected to become payable/recoverable, in practice the Group expects all temporary differences to become payable/recoverable, and has therefore fully provided in its Irish GAAP financial statements for deferred taxation on all such differences as required by SFAS 109, “Accounting for Income Taxes”, with the exception of the issue detailed in the following paragraph.
The unamortized cumulative uplift in mineral rights acquired in business acquisitions arising from temporary differences under SFAS 109 and the related deferred taxation liability are classified separately in the reconciliation. Similarly, in the reconciliation of net income, the amortization of mineral reserves and the equal release in deferred income taxation are separately disclosed, resulting in a reduction in operating income under U.S. GAAP and an equivalent reduction in income tax expense. These reclassifications have no net effect on the net income or net shareholders’ equity under U.S. GAAP. Under Irish GAAP, such deferred taxation differences are not recognized.
Under Irish GAAP, investments listed on a recognized stock exchange are shown at cost. Where the securities are considered to be available-for-sale, U.S. GAAP require that these investments be measured at fair value in the financial statements with the adjustment recognized in other comprehensive income. Following the increase in the Group’s shareholding in SAMSE in December 2003 and the reclassification of its investment at that time in this company from other investments to investments in associated undertakings, the adjustment to restate the investment at fair value through other comprehensive income is no longer required.
The interest relating to qualifying assets for 2004, 2003 and 2002 was not significant. Therefore, no adjustment was made to the carrying amounts of such qualifying assets to include an amount for capitalized interest expense as required by SFAS 34, “Capitalization of Interest Cost”.
The Group’s financial statements are presented in euro. Results and cash flows of subsidiary, joint venture and associated undertakings based in non-euro countries are translated into euro at average exchange rates for each year, and the related balance sheets are translated at the rates of exchange ruling at the balance sheet date. Adjustments arising on translation of the results of non-euro subsidiary, joint venture and associated undertakings at average rates, and on restatement of the opening net assets at closing rates, are dealt with in the
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consolidated statement of total recognized gains and losses under Irish GAAP and in the statement of comprehensive income under U.S. GAAP. The currency translation adjustment included in comprehensive income on page F-53 also includes the translation impact of the adjustments to net income under U.S. GAAP for each year.
In December 2004, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) issued SFAS 123 (revised 2004), “Share-Based Payment” (“SFAS 123(R)”), which is a revision of SFAS 123, “Accounting for Stock- Based Compensation.” SFAS 123(R) supersedes APB Opinion 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees,” and amends SFAS Statement 95, “Statement of Cash Flows.” Generally, the approach in SFAS 123(R) is similar to the approach described in SFAS 123. However, SFAS 123(R) requires all share-based payments to employees, including grants of employee stock options, to be recognized in the income statement based on their fair values. Pro forma disclosure is no longer an alternative.
The Group expects to adopt SFAS 123(R) on January 1, 2006 for U.S. GAAP purposes. The Group also expects to adopt its requirements using the “modified prospective” method described in SFAS 123(R). Under this method, compensation cost is recognized beginning with the effective date (a) based on the requirements of SFAS 123(R) for all share-based payments granted after the effective date and (b) based on the requirements of SFAS for all awards granted to employees prior to the effective date of SFAS 123(R) that remain unvested on the effective date.
The impact of adoption of SFAS 123(R) cannot be predicted at this time because it will depend on levels of share-based payments granted in the future. However, had we adopted SFAS 123(R) in prior periods, the impact of that standard would have approximated the impact of SFAS 123 as described in the disclosure of pro forma net income and earnings per share in Note 31 on page F-64.
In November 2004, the FASB issued SFAS 151, “Inventory Costs an amendment of ARB 43, Chapter 4.” SFAS 151 clarifies that abnormal amounts of idle facility expense, freight, handling costs, and wasted materials (spoilage) should be recognized as current-period charges and requires the allocation of fixed production overheads to inventory based on the normal capacity of the production facilities. SFAS 151 is effective for fiscal years beginning after June 15, 2005. The Group does not expect the adoption of SFAS 151 to have a material effect on the Group’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
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RECONCILIATION TO U.S. GAAP
Effect on net income
Net income attributable to ordinary shareholders as reported in the Consolidated Statements of Income
U.S. GAAP adjustments
Cumulative adjustment on adoption of SFAS 143 (i)
Asset retirement obligation—liability accretion and asset depreciation charge (i)
Loss on derivative instruments (ii)
Stock-based employee compensation (iii)
Amortization of intangible assets (iv)
Adjustment to depreciation due to elimination of revaluation surplus (v)
Pensions (viii)
Amortization of debt issue expenses (ix)
Deferred taxation and mineral reserves (xi)
—temporary differences
—uplift in mineral reserves
Net income attributable to ordinary shareholders under U.S. GAAP
Arising from
Net income from continuing operations
Basic net income arising from continuing operations per Ordinary Share/ADS under U.S. GAAP
Basic net income per Ordinary Share/ADS under U.S. GAAP
Diluted net income per Ordinary Share/ADS under U.S. GAAP (see page F-55)
The footnote references in this table are set out on pages F-47 to F-51.
F-52
Cumulative effect on shareholders’ equity
Shareholders’ equity as reported in the Consolidated Balance Sheets
SFAS 143—net adjustments for asset retirement obligations (i)
Hedging instruments—fair value adjustments (ii)
Goodwill (iv)
Elimination of revaluation surplus (v)
—unamortized cumulative uplift in mineral reserves
Debt issue expenses prepaid (ix)
Proposed dividends (x)
Shareholders’ equity under U.S. GAAP
STATEMENT OF OTHER ACCUMULATED COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
Accumulated other comprehensive income as at December 31
Accumulated foreign currency translation (xiv)
Cumulative fair value adjustment on derivatives (ii)
Minimum liability on pensions (viii)
F-53
STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Deferred stock-based compensation
Amortization of deferred stock-based compensation
Comprehensive income:
Derivative instruments—fair value adjustments
Additional minimum pension liability
Currency translation adjustment
Change in unrealized gain on investment
Total comprehensive income
Change in unrealized loss on investment
F-54
NET INCOME PER ORDINARY SHARE
Average number outstanding of €0.32 Ordinary Shares (in millions)
Effect of dilutive securities—share options
Basic net income per Ordinary Share under U.S. GAAP
Diluted net income per Ordinary Share under U.S. GAAP
Under U.S. GAAP (SFAS 128), basic net income per ordinary share is computed under the same method as Irish GAAP and excludes the dilutive effect of stock options. In addition, SFAS 128 requires the disclosure of diluted net income per share as set out above which is also calculated in accordance with Irish GAAP.
PENSION COSTS—ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REQUIRED BY SFAS 132
The Group’s principal defined benefit schemes are in the Republic of Ireland, Britain, the Netherlands, Switzerland and the United States. The components of the total Group pension expense in respect of defined benefit pension schemes for the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002 under SFAS 132 are as follows:
Service costs
Interest costs
Expected returns on plan assets
Net amortizations and deferrals
F-55
PENSION COSTS—ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REQUIRED BY SFAS 132 (continued)
The funded status of these schemes under SFAS 132 was as follows:
As at December 31:
Change in benefit obligation
Benefit obligation at beginning of year
Acquisitions/divestments
Service cost
Interest cost
Plan participants’ contributions
Transfer from defined contribution scheme
Actuarial gains
Benefit paid
Benefit obligation at end of year
Change in plan assets
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year
Actual return on plan assets
Company contributions
Fair value of plan assets at end of year
Funded status of the plans
Unrecognized net actuarial gain
Unrecognized net transition obligation
Unrecognized prior service cost
Net amount recognized
Amounts recognized in the statement of financial position consist of:
Prepaid benefit cost
Accrued benefit liability
Intangible asset
Accumulated other comprehensive income
Analysis of funded status of those plans (included in the overall table above) where benefit obligation exceeds fair value of assets
F-56
Amounts applicable to the Company’s pension plans with accumulated benefit obligations in excess of plan assets are as follows:
Projected benefit obligation
Accumulated benefit obligation
Fair value of plan assets
Weighted-average assumptions as of December 31
Expected return on plan assets
Rate of compensation increase
The plan assets are invested principally in equities, fixed income securities and properties. The number of CRH Ordinary Shares held by the pension plans amounted to 0.4 million at December 31, 2004. The market value of these CRH shares at December 31, 2004 is €6.9 million. The dividends paid on the CRH shares held by the pension plans in 2004 amounted to €0.1 million. The Group has a number of defined contribution plans, principally in the United States and Mainland Europe.
Plan Assets
The pension plan weighted-average asset allocations at December 31, 2004 and 2003, by asset category are as follows:
Plan assets at December 31
Asset category
Equity securities
Debt securities
Real estate
The pension plan assets are invested in accordance with statutory regulations, pension plan rules, and recommendations of the pension fund trustees. The investment allocation strategy is expected to remain consistent with historical averages.
F-57
Cash Flows
Contributions
The Group expects to contribute approximately €60 million to its defined benefit pension plans in 2005.
Estimated Future Benefit Payments
The following benefit payments, which reflect expected future service, as appropriate, are expected to be paid:
2010-2014
The consolidated statements of cash flows prepared under Irish GAAP presents substantially the same information as that required under U.S. GAAP by SFAS 95, “Statement of Cash Flows”.
This standard differs, however, with regard to the classification of items within the statements and as regards the definition of cash and cash equivalents. Under U.S. GAAP, cash and cash equivalents include short-term investments with a maturity of three months or less at the date of acquisition but do not include bank overdrafts. Under Irish GAAP, movements in short-term investments are classified as management of liquid resources. The movements on bank overdrafts are required to be included in financing activities under SFAS 95.
Under Irish GAAP, cash flows are presented separately for nine categories, comprising, operating activities; dividends received from joint ventures; returns on investments and servicing of finance; taxation, capital expenditure; acquisitions and disposal of subsidiary undertakings, joint ventures and associates; equity dividends paid; management of liquid resources; and financing. U.S. GAAP, however, requires only three categories of cash flow activity to be reported: operating, investing and financing.
Cash flows from taxation and returns on investments and servicing of finance shown under Irish GAAP would, with the exception of preference dividends paid, be included as operating activities under U.S. GAAP. Cash flows from capital expenditure, acquisition and disposal of subsidiary undertakings, joint ventures and associates would be included as investing activities under U.S. GAAP.
F-58
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (continued)
The payment of dividends and management of liquid resources would be included as a financing activity under U.S. GAAP. The categories of cash flow activity under U.S. GAAP can be summarized as follows:
Cash inflow from operating activities
Cash outflow on investing activities
Cash inflow/(outflow) from financing activities
Effect of foreign exchange rate movements on net debt
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year
FAIR VALUES OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS—INFORMATION REQUIRED BY SFAS 107
The following information is presented in compliance with the requirements of SFAS 107, “Disclosure about Fair Values of Financial Instruments”. The carrying amounts and estimated fair values of the material financial instruments of the Group at December 31, 2004 and 2003 are as follows:
Assets
Currency swaps and forward agreements
Interest rate swap agreements
Forward energy cost agreements
Liabilities
Bank loans and overdrafts
Long-term debt (including current maturities)
Foreign exchange options
Carrying amounts are stated under Irish GAAP.
F-59
FAIR VALUES OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS—INFORMATION REQUIRED BY SFAS 107 (continued)
The following methods and assumptions were used by the Group in estimating its fair value disclosures for financial instruments:
Cash and liquid investments, accounts receivable, accounts payable and short-term borrowings: The carrying amount reported in the balance sheet approximates fair value because of the short maturity of these instruments.
Publicly traded investments: These are valued based on quoted prices.
Long-term debt: The fair value of the Group’s long-term debt (including the current maturities of long-term debt) is estimated using discounted cash flow analyses, based on the Group’s current incremental borrowing rates for similar types of borrowing arrangements and maturities.
Interest rate and currency swap agreements: The fair value of the Group’s interest rate and currency swap agreements is estimated using discounted cash flow analysis.
Forward energy cost agreements: The fair value of the Group’s forward energy cost agreements is estimated using discounted cash flow analysis.
DEFERRED TAXATION—ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REQUIRED BY SFAS 109
The analysis of the deferred taxation liability required by SFAS 109 is as follows:
Deferred taxation liabilities:
Excess of book value over taxation value of fixed assets
Other timing differences
Deferred taxation assets:
Other temporary differences
Net deferred tax liability under U.S. GAAP
Of which:
Current
Non-current
CONCENTRATION OF CREDIT RISK—INFORMATION REQUIRED BY SFAS 105
Potential concentrations of credit risk to the Group consist principally of short-term cash investments and trade receivables. The Group deposits short-term cash surpluses with high credit quality banks and institutions, and, as a matter of policy, limits the amount of credit exposure to any one bank or institution in respect of short-term cash balances. Trade receivables comprise a large, widespread customer base in the construction industry where the Group is engaged in the manufacture and supply of a wide range of materials. At December 31, 2004, the Group did not consider there to be any significant concentrations of credit risk. No one customer accounts for more than 5% of net sales.
F-60
FAIR VALUE OF SHARE OPTION PLANS—INFORMATION REQUIRED BY SFAS 123
The Company has elected to follow Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees”, (APB 25) and related Interpretations in accounting for its employee share options because, as discussed below, the alternative fair value accounting provided for under SFAS 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation,” requires the use of option valuation models that were not developed for use in valuing employee share options.
Pursuant to the Company’s 2000 Share Option Scheme, employees were granted options over 4,750,100 of the Company’s Ordinary Shares on April 2, 2004. All options granted have 10-year terms. This figure comprises options over 2,443,350 shares and 2,306,750 shares which may be exercised after the expiration of three years and five years respectively from the dates of grant of those options, subject to specific EPS growth targets being achieved.
A summary of the Company’s share option and savings-related share option activity, and related information for the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002 follows:
Share options
Outstanding at beginning of year
Lapsed
Outstanding at end of year
Exercisable at end of year
Options by exercise price
euro options
Sterling options
F-61
FAIR VALUE OF SHARE OPTION PLANS—INFORMATION REQUIRED BY SFAS 123 (continued)
Range of
Exercise prices
Weighted-average fair value (computed using Black-Scholes valuation model—see detailed assumptions on page F-63):
Options granted during:
Savings-related share options
Pursuant to the Company’s 2000 Savings-Related Share Option Schemes, employees were granted options over 266,680 of the Company’s Ordinary Shares on April 2, 2004. This figure comprises options over 159,636 shares and 107,044 with a three-year and five-year contract term respectively from the dates of grant of those options. The exercise price at which the options are granted under the schemes represents a discount of 15% to the market price on the date of grant.
F-62
Weighted-average fair value (computed using Black-Scholes valuation model—see detailed assumptions below):
Pro-forma information regarding net income and earnings per share is required by SFAS 123, and has been determined as if the Company had accounted for its employee share options under the fair value method of that Statement. The fair value of these options was estimated at the date of grant using a Black-Scholes valuation model with the following weighted-average assumptions:
for 2002; risk-free interest rate of 3.3%, dividend yield of 1.55%, volatility of 0.301 and a weighted-average expected life of the options of 5.8 years;
for 2003, risk-free interest rate of 3.5%, dividend yield of 1.75%, volatility of 0.314 and a weighted-average expected life of the options of 5.6 years;
for 2004 risk-free interest rate of 3.4%, dividend yield of 1.8%, volatility of 0.277 and a weighted-average expected life of the options of 5.9 years.
F-63
For purposes of pro-forma disclosures, the estimated fair value of the options is amortized to expense over the options’ vesting period. The Company’s pro-forma information follows:
(€ million, except
per share amounts)
Add back: Total stock-based employee compensation (income)/expense reported in net income, net of related taxes, under APB25
Deduct: Total stock-based employee compensation expense determined under fair-value based method for all awards, net of related taxes, under SFAS123
Pro forma net income
Basic reported net income per Ordinary Share
Pro forma basic net income per Ordinary Share
Pro forma diluted net income per Ordinary Share
STATEMENT 133—ACCOUNTING FOR DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS AND HEDGING ACTIVITIES
In June 1998, the U.S. Financial Accounting Standards Board issued SFAS 133, “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities”. The Statement requires that (for U.S. GAAP purposes only) all derivatives be recognized on the balance sheet at fair value. Derivatives, which are not hedges, must be adjusted to fair value through income. If a derivative is a hedge, depending on the nature of the hedge, changes in the fair value of the derivative are either offset against the change in fair value of the hedged item through income or recognized in other comprehensive income until the hedged item is recognized in income. The ineffective portion of a derivative’s change in fair value is immediately recognized in income.
Fair Value Hedges
CRH uses financial instruments designated as fair value hedges to manage certain of the Group’s exposure to interest and exchange rate risk. CRH is subject to market risk from exposures to changes in interest and exchange rates due to its financing, investing and cash management activities. Interest rate swap agreements are used to hedge CRH’s exposure associated with its fixed rate debt and cross-currency swap agreements are used to manage the Group’s exposure to exchange rate risk. A loss of €4.5 million was recorded in U.S. GAAP income due to ineffectiveness of fair value hedges.
Net Investment Hedges
CRH uses cross-currency swap agreements designated as net investment hedges to manage the Group’s exposure to exchange rate risk. CRH is subject to market risk from exposures to changes in exchange rates due to
F-64
STATEMENT 133—ACCOUNTING FOR DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS AND HEDGING ACTIVITIES (continued)
investments in non-euro subsidiary and joint venture undertakings. A loss of €10.0 million arose on net investment hedges in the twelve months to December 31, 2004 which has been included in the U.S. GAAP foreign currency translation adjustment (a loss of €15.7 million is recognized in the Irish GAAP foreign currency translation adjustment). A loss of €3.8 million was recorded in U.S. GAAP income for the year to December 31, 2004 due to ineffectiveness of net investment hedges.
A loss of €69.3 million arose on net investment hedges in the twelve months to December 31, 2003 which has been included in the U.S. GAAP foreign currency translation adjustment (€85.5 million of which is recognized in the Irish GAAP foreign currency translation adjustment). A loss of €18.0 million was recorded in U.S. GAAP income for the year to December 31, 2003 due to ineffectiveness of net investment hedges.
A loss of €145 million arose on net investment hedges in the twelve months to December 31, 2002 which has been included in the U.S. GAAP foreign currency translation adjustment (€144.2 million of which is recognized in the Irish GAAP foreign currency translation adjustment). A loss of €5.4 million was recorded in U.S. GAAP income for the year to December 31, 2002 due to ineffectiveness of net investment hedges.
Other Derivative Instruments
Interest rate and cross-currency swap agreements not designated as hedging instruments under SFAS No. 133 are also used to manage the Group’s mix of fixed and floating rate debt by currency to ensure that the Group’s debt funding sources match the currency of the Group’s operations. Unrealized losses on such instruments during the twelve months to December 31, 2004 amounted to €3.9 million, which has been recognized in U.S. GAAP earnings. Unrealized losses on such instruments during the twelve months to December 31, 2003 amounted to €2.8 million, which has been recognized in U.S. GAAP earnings.
In addition, the Group uses financial contracts based on energy price indices to manage costs in some of its operations. Unrealized losses arising on these contracts during the twelve months to December 31, 2004 amounted to €3.9 million, which has been recognized in U.S. GAAP earnings. Unrealized gains arising on these contracts during the twelve months to December 31, 2003 amounted to €0.9 million, which has been recognized in U.S. GAAP earnings. Unrealized gains arising on these contracts during the twelve months to December 31, 2002 amounted to €10.2 million, which has been recognized in U.S. GAAP earnings
SEGMENTAL ANALYSIS—INFORMATION REQUIRED BY SFAS 131
Note 2 has been prepared under Irish GAAP on a geographical analysis and also by Division and class of business. SFAS 131 defines operating segments as components of the enterprise whose operating results are regularly reviewed by the enterprise’s Chief Operating Decision Maker to make decisions about resources to be allocated to the segment and assess its performance. The Europe Materials Division is further analyzed in this note into the reportable segments outlined below. The geographical information required under SFAS 131 is presented in Note 2.
CRH is organized into four strategic Divisions: Europe Materials, Europe Products & Distribution, Americas Products & Distribution and Americas Materials. Each of these Divisions has a director who reports directly to the Chief Executive. The Chief Executive has been identified as the Chief Operating Decision Maker as defined by SFAS 131.
F-65
SEGMENTAL ANALYSIS—INFORMATION REQUIRED BY SFAS 131 (continued)
These four Divisions are comprised of a total of seven reportable segments within the meaning of SFAS 131 as set out below:
The Chief Executive, together with the Board of Directors, evaluates performance and allocates resources based on regular reviews of the operating results of the seven reportable segments described above. These segments are financed by different proportions of interest-bearing debt and equity. The interest incurred by individual segments is therefore a function of the Group’s overall financial policy rather than the financial performance of those segments. Consequently, comparisons of income between segments or between different years for the same segment are not meaningful if interest is included in arriving at the result, and segment results are disclosed before taking account of interest. Taxes on income are not allocated to reportable segments for the purposes of the Chief Executive’s and Board review. The accounting policies of these segments are the same as those described in the summary of significant accounting policies. Intersegment sales are not material.
Product line revenues are not provided because it is impracticable to do so.
F-66
ANALYSIS BY OPERATING SEGMENT:
Net sales (a)
Less: share of joint ventures’ net sales
Depreciation and goodwill amortization (excluding share of joint ventures and associates)
F-67
As at December 31
Capital expenditure (excluding share of joint ventures and associates)
Reconciliation to net assets:
Less accounts payable and accrued liabilities, deferred acquisition consideration due after more than one year and provisions for liabilities and charges (excluding deferred tax)
ACQUISITIONS AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS—INFORMATION REQUIRED BY SFAS 141 AND 142
In June 2001, the FASB issued SFAS 141, “Business Combinations” and SFAS 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets”, both of which were effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2001. Under the new rules, goodwill is no longer amortized under U.S. GAAP, but is subject to annual impairment tests in accordance with the Statements. In addition, impairment tests are also required at other dates if indicators of impairment are present. The Group applied the new rules on accounting for goodwill and other intangible assets beginning January 1, 2002 and performed the first of the required annual impairment tests of goodwill as of that date. Both the 2003 and 2004 impairment tests indicated that no impairment had occurred.
The Irish GAAP goodwill amortization expense of €101.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2004 is eliminated under U.S. GAAP and replaced by a net expense of €40.8 million, comprising acquisition-related payments of €12.2 million included in goodwill under Irish GAAP and expensed under U.S. GAAP, a depreciation credit of €0.7 million and a net charge of €29.3 million for intangible asset amortization.
F-68
ACQUISITIONS AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS—INFORMATION REQUIRED BY SFAS 141 AND 142 (continued)
Acquired goodwill in 2004 of €104.9 million is analyzed as follows by Division: Europe Materials €1.4 million, Europe Products & Distribution €24.6 million, Americas Materials €26.6 million and Americas Products & Distribution €52.3 million.
Accumulated
Amortization
Reallocation to intangible assets
Acquisition-related payments in Irish GAAP
Amortization written-back in U.S. GAAP
Intangible assets
Trade names
Non-compete agreements
Production/order backlog
Customer relationships
Under-market royalty payments
Licensing agreements
Employment agreements
Number of years over whichintangible asset is amortized
F-69
Weighted-average amortizationperiod of additions in 2004
The following presents the estimated amortization expense for intangible assets for the next five years and thereafter:
Thereafter
ASSET RETIREMENT OBLIGATIONS—INFORMATION REQUIRED BY SFAS 143
The Group adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standard No. 143, “Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations”, (“SFAS 143”) effective January 1, 2003. SFAS 143 applies to legal obligations associated with the retirement of long-lived assets that result from the acquisition, construction, development and/or the normal operation of a long-lived asset.
SFAS 143 requires legal obligations associated with the retirement of long-lived assets to be recognized at their fair value at the time that the obligations are incurred. Upon initial recognition of a liability, that cost is capitalized as part of the related long-lived asset. The long-lived asset is amortized over the useful life of the asset and the liability is accreted over the period until reclamation activities are expected to occur.
The Group’s liability for restoration of quarry assets arises over a number of reporting periods and is directly related to the degree of extraction performed only if a legal obligation exists to incur these costs upon retirement of the assets. Under both Irish GAAP and U.S. GAAP, the Group has adopted an incremental provisioning methodology in order to recognize asset retirement obligations in line with extraction. Incremental liabilities incurred in subsequent reporting periods are considered to be an additional layer of the original liability and are calculated using assumptions applicable in those subsequent periods.
In determining the fair value of the obligation, the Group estimates the cost to perform the legally required reclamation tasks, including a reasonable profit margin. This cost is then increased for both future estimated inflation and an estimated market risk premium related to the estimated years to settlement. Once calculated, this cost is then discounted to fair value using present value techniques and a credit-adjusted risk-free rate that is commensurate with the estimated years to settlement.
F-70
ASSET RETIREMENT OBLIGATIONS—INFORMATION REQUIRED BY SFAS 143 (continued)
In estimating the settlement date, the Group evaluates the current facts and conditions to determine the most likely settlement date. If this evaluation identifies alternative estimated settlement dates, the Group uses a weighted-average settlement date considering the probabilities of each alternative.
Reclamation obligations are reviewed at least annually for a revision to the cost or a change in the estimated settlement date. Additionally, reclamation obligations are reviewed in the period that a triggering event occurs that would result in either a revision to the cost or a change in the estimated settlement date. Examples of a triggering change in the cost would include a new reclamation law or amendment of an existing mineral lease. Examples of a triggering change in the estimated settlement date would include the acquisition of additional reserves or the closure of a facility.
Prior to the adoption of SFAS 143, the Group accounted for environment and remediation provisions as set out in Note 21 (v). The long-lived asset, and related ARO, arising on implementation of SFAS 143 as at January 1 2003 amounted to €17.6 million (before accumulated depreciation or accretion) of which €11.9 million related to acquisitions and €5.7 million related to existing operations. The element which related to acquisitions had been capitalized as goodwill under purchase accounting under both Irish and U.S. GAAP, but would have been capitalized as long-lived assets had SFAS 143 existed at the acquisition dates.
The following shows the changes in the asset retirement obligation for 2004:
Balance January 1
Additional liabilities through December 31, 2004
Accretion expense
Balance December 31
The Group does not have any assets that are legally restricted for the purposes of settling its asset retirement obligations at December 31, 2004 and 2003.
F-71
The following pro-forma information presents net earnings, excluding the cumulative effect of the accounting change, and the asset retirement obligation as if SFAS 143 had been adopted on January 1, 2002:
Asset retirement obligations adjustment
Adjusted net income
Basic earnings per Ordinary Share:
Reported net income
Diluted earnings per Ordinary Share:
The following pro-forma information presents the total asset retirement obligations at December 31, 2002 and 2003 as if SFAS 143 had been adopted on January 1, 2002:
F-72
NOTE 32—SUPPLEMENTAL GUARANTOR INFORMATION
The following consolidating information presents condensed balance sheets as at December 31, 2004 and 2003 and condensed statements of income and cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002 of the Company and CRH America, Inc. (“CRHA”). These statements are prepared in accordance with Irish GAAP with the exception that the subsidiaries are accounted for as investments under the equity method rather than being consolidated. CRHA is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company. The Guarantees of the guarantor are full and unconditional. The significant differences between Irish and U.S. GAAP as they affect the Company are set out below:
Supplemental Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
Investments in subsidiaries
Investments in joint ventures and associates
Advances to subsidiaries
Other investments
Advances from subsidiaries
Capital grants deferred
Provisions for liabilities and charges
Share capital
F-73
NOTE 32—SUPPLEMENTAL GUARANTOR INFORMATION (continued)
F-74
Supplemental Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income
Less: share of joint ventures
Distribution and administration expenses
Share of joint ventures’ operating income
Share of associates’ operating income
Share of subsidiaries’ operating income
Gain on sale of investments and property, plant & equipment
Interest expense
Share of joint ventures’ and associates’ net interest
Share of subsidiaries’ net interest
Income before taxes and equity minority shareholders’ interest
Equity minority shareholders’ interest
Dividend on Preference Shares
F-75
F-76
Share of joint ventures’ net interest
F-77
Supplemental Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
Net cash (outflow)/inflow from operating activities
Dividends received
Preference dividends paid
Irish corporation tax paid
Overseas tax paid
Purchase of property, plant and equipment
Less capital grants received
Proceeds from sale of investments and property, plant and equipment
Acquisitions and disposals
Acquisition of subsidiary undertakings
Advances from/(to) subsidiary and parent undertakings
Investment in and advances to joint ventures and associates
Cash outflow before use of liquid resources and financing
Cash (outflow)/inflow from management of liquid resources
Capital element of finance leases repaid
Increase in cash and demand debt
F-78
Decrease in cash and demand debt
F-79
Investment in and advances to joint ventures
Cash (outflow)/inflow before use of liquid resources and financing
Cash outflow from management of liquid resources
F-80
Net income as reported in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income
Asset retirement obligation—liability accretion and asset depreciation charge
Loss on derivative instruments
Stock-based employee compensation
Amortization of intangible assets
Adjustments due to elimination of revaluation surplus
—depreciation
Amortization of debt issue expenses
Deferred taxation and mineral reserves
Cumulative adjustment on adoption of SFAS 143
F-81
Cumulative effect on shareholder’s equity as at December 31, 2004
SFAS 143—net adjustments for asset retirement obligations
Hedging instruments—fair value adjustments
Elimination of revaluation surplus
Debt issue expenses prepaid
Proposed dividends
F-82
Cumulative effect on shareholder’s equity as at December 31, 2003
F-83
SCHEDULE II
Valuation and Qualifying Accounts
Doubtful debts
S-1