6 - Vicat

EXAMINATION OF THE FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS9 9.1. INTRODUCTIONCountryCementConcrete &AggregatesOther Products &ServicesFrance ▼ ▼ ▼United States ▼ ▼Switzerland ▼ ▼ ▼Turkey ▼ ▼Senegal ▼ ▼Egypt▼Italy▼Mali▼Kazakhstan▼India▼Mauritania ▼ ▼In 2009, the Group’s total shipments in these mainbusinesses amounted to 14.5 million tons of cement,7.1 million m 3 of concrete and 18.7 million tons ofaggregates.In France and Switzerland, the Group also operates inactivities complementary to the main businesses.9.1.1. Summary of the Group’s 2009 resultsDuring the financial year 2009, the Group’s consolidatedsales were € 1,896 million, showing a decreaseof 7.8 % compared to 2008 and of 9.1 % at constantscope and exchange rates.In a degraded economic context, the Group’s businessfell in France (-17.0 %), in the United States(-35.8 %) in Turkey (-5.4 %) and in Europe (-0.5 %) atconstant scope and exchange rates. On the otherhand, in Africa and the Middle East (+31.1 %), the consolidatednet sales of the Group at constant scopeand exchange rates increased compared to 2008.Variation of 2009/2008 sales by business and geographicalregion :France Outside France TotalIn millions of euros% In millions of euros% In millions of eurosCement (40) (12.2) 61 10.3 21 2.3Concrete & Aggregates (99) (20.0) (50) (14.5) (149) (17.7)Other Products & Services (34) (17.7) 1 1.7 (33) (11.5)Total (173) (17.0) 12 1.2 (161) (7.8)%The Group’s levels of operating profitability fell insome countries compared with 2008, influenced by :• the very significant decrease in business in theUnited States throughout the financial year ;• the degradation in business in the French andTurkish markets ;• the significant decrease in prices in Turkey and in theUnited States, linked to strong competitive pressure.These factors were partially compensated by commercialdynamism in Africa and the Middle East, aswell as the consistent performance of activities inSwitzerland.The Group’s operating profitability was also affectedby the increase in the energy costs partly compensatedfor by the improvement in the technicalperformance of the industrial equipment and by theincreased use of alternative fuels, as well as the effectsof the “Performance+” plan implemented at the endof 2008. As a result, the Group’s consolidated EBITDAshowed a 10.5 % decrease compared with 2008 to€ 473 million and an 11.6 % decrease at constant scopeand exchange rates. In spite of the difficult economicand financial environment, the Group’s EBITDA marginonly decreased by 0.8 of a point, remaining at a highlevel, and was 24.9 % compared with 25.7 % in 2008.2009 registration document - VICAT 71