UNITED STATES
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC
20549
FORM 6-K
REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER
PURSUANT TO RULE 13A - 16 OR 15D - 16 OF
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
21
November 2017
Commission
File No. 001-32846
____________________________
CRH
public limited company
(Translation of registrant's name into English)
____________________________
Belgard Castle, Clondalkin,
Dublin 22, Ireland.
(Address of principal executive offices)
____________________________
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual
reports
under
cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F:
Form
20-F X Form
40-F___
Indicate
by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper
as permitted by
Regulation
S-T Rule 101(b)(1):_________
Indicate
by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper
as permitted by
Regulation
S-T Rule 101(b)(7):________
Press Release
Trading
Update - November 2017
CRH
plc, the international building materials group, issues the
following Trading Update for the period 1 January 2017 to 30
September 2017.
Trading Performance
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Third quarter
trading benefited from continued underlying growth in the Americas,
although some operations were impacted by adverse weather and
hurricane activity. Momentum remained positive in Europe, while in
Asia, very competitive market conditions continued.
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Cumulative sales
amounted to €20.7 billion for the nine months to the end of
September, an increase of 2% compared with the corresponding period
in 2016. On a like-for-like1 basis, sales were
also 2% higher than 2016.
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Sales (like-for-like) change versus 2016
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Europe
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Americas
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Asia
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Group
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First half (H1)
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+3%
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+1%
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-8%
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+1%
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Quarter 3 (Q3)
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+2%
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+4%
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-12%
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+3%
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Nine months to September (9M)
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+2%
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+2%
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-9%
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+2%
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EBITDA for the nine
months to the end of September 2017 was €2.43 billion, an
increase of 2% compared with 2016 (€2.38 billion), also
reflecting a like-for-like increase of 2%.
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EBITDA (like-for-like) change versus 2016
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Europe
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Americas
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Asia
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Group
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First half (H1)
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+2%
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+6%
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-39%
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+2%
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Quarter 3 (Q3)
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+4%
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+2%
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-62%
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+2%
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Nine months to September (9M)
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+3%
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+4%
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-45%
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+2%
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Full Year Outlook
We continue to expect another year of progress for
the Group; with the current momentum continuing for the remainder
of the year, EBITDA including discontinued
operations2
is estimated to be in excess of
€3.2 billion (2016 reported: €3.13
billion).
We
expect full-year depreciation and amortisation expense to be
broadly in line with last year (2016 reported: €1.1
billion).
1Like-for-like
movements exclude the impact of currency exchange, acquisitions,
divestments and certain one-off items
2Discontinued
operations relates to the 2017 accounting treatment for Americas
Distribution, anticipated to be disposed in early
2018
2017
profits on the sale of property, plant and equipment are expected
to be broadly similar to last year (2016 reported: €51
million). The net gain/loss on business disposals in 2017, which is
dependent on the timing of divestment transactions still to be
completed, is unlikely to be material (2016 reported: €4
million).
The
Group's share of profits from equity-accounted entities is expected
to be approximately €65 million (2016 reported: €42
million), reflecting improved financial results in our associate
investment in China.
Net
finance costs are expected to be broadly similar to last year (2016
reported: €383 million), as the €19 million cost for
early redemption of a portion of the US$ bonds maturing in 2018
will be offset by the lower costs resulting from reduced
debt.
Development Activity
To
date in 2017, the Group spent c.€1.34 billion on 27
acquisition/investment transactions (including deferred and
contingent consideration in respect of prior year acquisitions). On
the divestment front, the Group realised business and asset
disposal proceeds of €165 million.
In
the Americas, c.€690 million was spent on 18 acquisitions and
one investment. Our Materials Division completed 11 bolt-on
acquisitions, including two in Canada adding a further c.2 billion
tonnes of aggregates reserves. The Products Division completed
seven acquisitions and one investment at a cost of c.€165
million.
In
Europe, c.€650 million has been spent on eight transactions;
five acquisitions and one investment in Europe Heavyside and two
acquisitions in Europe Distribution. The largest acquisition to
date in 2017 was Fels, a leading lime and aggregates business in
Germany with 1 billion tonnes of high-quality limestone
reserves, which was acquired at the end of October 2017. Fels has
11 production locations, nine in Germany and one in both the Czech
Republic and Russia, with the majority of its production capacity
situated in the Harz region of Eastern-Germany. CRH believes that
this acquisition provides a strong platform for future
growth.
Other Pending Transactions
As
previously announced, CRH has entered agreements to sell its
Americas Distribution business and acquire Ash Grove Cement
Company, with both transactions expected to close in early 2018.
CRH has also entered into an agreement to acquire certain assets in
Florida of Votorantim Cimentos North America, Inc. and Anderson
Columbia Co., comprising of a 1.0m tonne cement plant, 18
readymixed concrete plants, an aggregates quarry, two block plants
and nine gunite facilities. This transaction is expected to close
in late 2017.
Financial Discipline
Based
on forecast exchange rates and with a year-to-date development net
spend of €1.2 billion, excluding the acquisition of assets
from Votorantim Cimentos North America, Inc. and Anderson Columbia
Co. and assuming no further material acquisitions or divestments
for the remainder of 2017, we expect year-end net debt to be in
line with last year (2016: €5.3 billion).
Europe Update
Reflective
of stabilising trends experienced in certain key markets and in
light of solid underlying market activity, like-for-like sales for
the first nine months of 2017 were 2% ahead of 2016 and
like-for-like EBITDA 3% ahead of the same period last year. We
expect similar momentum in the final quarter and full-year EBITDA
for Europe to be approximately 4% ahead (2016 reported: €1.1
billion).
Europe Heavyside: Cumulative
nine month like-for-like sales were 3% ahead of 2016 and cumulative
like-for-like EBITDA was 4% above the same period in 2016
reflecting modest growth in volumes and price progress in certain
countries.
Key Markets in Brief
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UK: prices for
all products were ahead; cumulative volumes broadly in line with
prior year
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France: improving residential sector driving volumes
growth but pricing pressure remains
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Switzerland: poor weather conditions at the beginning of the
year and a competitive market environment resulted in lower volumes
in all major products; pricing pressure
continued
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Benelux: economic backdrop in the Netherlands positively
impacting residential demand
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Germany: despite modest growth in German construction
output, cement volumes were behind due to increased competition and
project delays
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Denmark: positive economic backdrop supporting strong
construction demand
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Ireland: construction activity continues to grow with
positive volumes in cement, readymixed concrete and aggregates;
some slowdown in recent months
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Poland: cement
volumes well ahead of 2016; competitive pricing
continues
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Finland: good
market demand resulting in positive cement volumes; pricing remains
under pressure due to competition from imports
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Ukraine: pricing ahead but cement volumes impacted by
increasing imports
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South East Europe: lack of infrastructure spending in Romania
impacted cement volumes in the third quarter; positive volumes in
our North Danube operations and Serbia
Europe Lightside: Like-for-like nine month sales were up 3%
compared with the same period in 2016 reflecting good demand in key
markets in the UK, Germany and Netherlands. Like-for-like EBITDA
for the period was in line with 2016 as restructuring costs and a
less favourable product mix in certain platforms offset the impact
of the increase in sales.
Key Markets in Brief
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Construction Accessories: sales progression in some key markets offset by
restructuring costs
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Shutters & Awnings: good underlying market conditions in the
Netherlands and Germany
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Network Access Products & Perimeter
Protection: key markets
benefited from solid demand and tight cost control, only partially
offset by mixed results in permanent fencing
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Architectural Products: stable sales in competitive markets with a less
favourable product mix
Europe Distribution: Cumulative
like-for-like sales to September increased by 2% compared with the
first nine months of 2016 and cumulative like-for-like EBITDA was
broadly in line with 2016, impacted by challenging market
conditions in Switzerland.
Key Markets in Brief
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Netherlands: solid new residential trends positively impacted
General Merchants with performance improvement initiatives
offsetting competitive market circumstances in
DIY
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Belgium: good
momentum particularly for Sanitary, Heating and Plumbing (SHAP),
partly offset by reduced activity levels in new residential
construction
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Switzerland: slowdown in new residential activity impacted
General Merchants and SHAP
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Germany: Stable RMI sector, with positive market backdrop
in SHAP
Americas Update
Despite
the impact of adverse weather and hurricane activity, our Americas
operations benefited in the third quarter from the continuation of
stable market fundamentals in the United States and good underlying
demand. This followed a first half also impacted by unfavourable
weather conditions resulting in cumulative like-for-like sales up
2% compared with 2016; EBITDA for the nine-month period improved by
4% against a backdrop of increasing input costs. Based on a
projected-average full-year 2017 US dollar/euro exchange rate of
1.13, we expect the full-year EBITDA to be approximately 5% ahead
of last year (2016 reported: €1.9 billion).
Americas Materials:
In the nine months to September,
like-for-like sales were 2% ahead of the same period last year
despite challenging weather conditions. As expected, rising input
costs were experienced and like-for-like EBITDA for the nine-month
period was 2% ahead of last year.
Key Markets and Products in Brief
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Infrastructure: stable Federal funding underpinned by the FAST
Act; funding increasing in certain States
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Non-Residential: steady activity supporting volumes and price
trends
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Aggregates: like-for-like Q3 volumes up 1%;
down 2% in the nine months to end-September following unfavourable
weather conditions
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Asphalt: Q3 volumes up 3% on a
like-for-like basis with strong demand in the majority of regions;
cumulative volumes up 2%
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Readymixed concrete: strong Q3 performance
with like-for-like volumes up 7%; up 2%
year-to-date
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Cement: volumes up 5% in Q3, supported by stronger demand
in the United States; up 2% for the nine months to
end-September
Americas Products: With
generally favourable market conditions in all major end-use
segments (both new construction and RMI), sales growth was
experienced in the third quarter as the less favourable weather
earlier in the year resulted in the release of some pent-up demand
in the period. Like-for-like sales for the first nine months of
2017 were 1% ahead of the same period last year and year-to-date
like-for-like EBITDA was 6% ahead of 2016, reflecting improved
pricing and product mix in our BuildingEnvelope®
business and continued focus on
commercial and operational initiatives across the
Division.
Key Markets in Brief
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Non-Residential: moderate year-on-year growth with positive trends
in most segments
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Residential: continued growth in new residential construction
activity; good growth in single-family construction and RMI
activity
Americas Distribution: Cumulative growth of 3% in sales for the nine
months to end-September was driven by Exterior Products. Cumulative
EBITDA increased by 7% compared with the first nine months of
2016.
Key Markets in Brief
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Non-Residential: continued improvement in new construction and
commercial roofing
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Residential: positive trends continue in RMI; multi-family new
construction slowing
Asia Update
Like-for-like sales for the first nine months of 2017 in the
Philippines were 9% behind prior year as markets remained highly
competitive, with a negative impact on selling prices. Volumes
recovered somewhat in the third quarter following a slow start to
the year in our key regions in the Philippines, with cumulative
cement volumes in line with 2016. Cumulative like-for-like EBITDA
was 45% behind due to the lower selling prices combined with higher
fuel and power costs; this trend is expected to continue for the
remainder of the year.
Key Markets in Brief
●
Philippines: market conditions remain challenging with
infrastructure investment slower than expected impacting cement
market growth; lower selling prices due to competitive
environment
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India: volumes
and prices slightly ahead with growth in demand in Andhra Pradesh
and Telangana markets partly offset with lower demand in Tamil
Nadu
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China: lower
volumes with slow investment in infrastructure in the north east of
China with prices well ahead
CRH
will report its Preliminary Results for full year 2017 on Thursday,
1 March 2018.
Disclaimer
In order to utilise 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,
business, viability and future performance of CRH and certain of
the plans and objectives of CRH. These forward-looking statements
may generally, but not always, be identified by the use of words
such as "will", "anticipates", "should", "expects", "is expected
to", "estimates", "believes", "intends" or similar
expressions.
By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risk and
uncertainty because they relate to events and depend on
circumstances that may or may not occur in the future and reflect
the Company's current expectations and assumptions as to such
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, certain of which are beyond
our control, as detailed in the section entitled "Risk Factors" in
our 2016 Annual Report on Form 20-F as filed with the US Securities
and Exchange Commission.
You should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking
statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the
date of this document. The Company expressly disclaims any
obligation to update these forward-looking statements other than as
required by law.
The forward-looking statements in this document do not constitute
reports or statements published in compliance with any of
Regulations 6 to 8 of the Transparency (Directive 2004/109/EC)
Regulations 2007.
CRH plc will host an analysts' conference call at 08:30 GMT on
Tuesday, 21 November 2017 to discuss the Trading Update. To join
this call please dial: +353 (0)1 2460271 using Conference PIN *0
(further international numbers are available here).
A recording of the conference call will be available on the Reports
and Presentations page of the CRH website.
Contact CRH at Dublin 404 1000 (+353 1 404 1000)
Albert
Manifold Chief
Executive
Senan
Murphy
Finance Director
Frank Heisterkamp Head of Investor
Relations
Mark
Cahalane Group
Director, Corporate Affairs
Registered Office: No 12965. Registered Office: 42 Fitzwilliam
Square, Dublin 2, R02 R279, Ireland
SIGNATURE
Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf
by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
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CRH public limited company
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(Registrant)
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Date 21
November 2017
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By:___/s/Neil
Colgan___
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N.Colgan
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Company Secretary
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