6 - Vicat

6BUSINESSOVERVIEW6.1. Overview of the Group’s businesses 296.2. Group strengths and strategy 306.2.1. The Group’s strengths 306.2.2. Development strategy by business 316.2.3. Geographical development strategy 326.3. Description of the businessesand introduction to the markets 336.3.1. Cement 346.3.2. Ready-mixed concrete and Aggregates 476.3.3. Other Products & Services (OPS) 536.4. Dependency factors 566.5. Legislative and regulatoryenvironment 56The Group’s three businesses are :• Cement ;• Ready-mixed concrete and Aggregates ;• Other Products & Services.The Group has developed around the manufactureand sale of cement, a business it undertakes in allthe countries where it operates. The Group then integratesvertically downstream in the cement industryin businesses such as Ready-mixed concrete andAggregates. Together, these three activities comprisethe Group’s core business, on which it focusesits development.In addition, the Group operates complementaryactivities in certain countries, such as transport,construction chemicals, paper production and precastedconcrete products.The Group is based in eleven countries across Europe,North America, Asia, Africa and the Middle East.28 VICAT - 2009 registration document