Successful year for HeidelbergCement
Company reports preliminary figures for 2014 and announces change to management board structure
IN their preliminary report for 2014, HeidelbergCement say last year was the company’s most successful year since the financial crisis, with significant improvements in sales volumes, sales revenue and operating income, despite negative exchange rate effects.
Sales revenue increased by 4% to €12.6 billion for the 12 months ended 31 December 2014, compared with €12.1 billion in 2013, while operating income improved 5% to €1.6 billion, compared with €1.5 billion the year before. The company also successfully sold its building products business for US$1.4 billion and saw net debt reduce below €7 billion.
‘In operational terms, 2014 was by far the most successful year for HeidelbergCement since the financial crisis,’ said Dr Bernd Scheifele (pictured), chairman of the managing board. ‘This success can be summed up in three results: first, we were able to increase revenue, operating income, and operating margin, despite negative exchange rate effects; secondly, we sold our building products for a good price; and thirdly, we significantly reduced our net debt.
‘This success was once again based on our disciplined and structured management of costs and margins as well as the implementation of price increases in major markets. In addition, we continued to benefit from our advantageous geographical positioning and the positive economic trend in the industrial countries of North America and Western Europe, as well as in the emerging countries of Asia and Africa.’
Meanwhile, the supervisory board of HeidelbergCement AG has amended the structure of the managing board with the appointment of Dr Dominik von Achten as deputy chairman, with effect from 1 February 2015. In addition, Dr Scheifele’s position as chairman of the managing board has been extended by a further five years.
Fritz-Jürgen Heckmann, chairman of the supervisory board, said: ‘HeidelbergCement are very glad that both Dr Scheifele and Dr von Achten, together with the management and employees of the company, will continue their successful work of the past years. This step will guarantee continuity in the years to come as well as a trusting and constructive co-operation between supervisory board and managing board.’
