www.emails-to-sheets.com
Business,

Extracting Data From Emails

Many businesses receive email customer queries and need to extract data in order to categorize and prioritise these queries. This can help streamline the process to increase efficiency.

Email parsers such as www.emails-to-sheets.com can be used to do this. The parser will immediately extract the relevant information from the emails that are forwarded.

Automated Process

Emails are a great source of information for your business. However, they can also be a burden. Inboxes can be cluttered with emails from customers, shipment tracking notifications, or sales leads. This can distract from important work. In the past, it was a manual process to sort and extract data from emails. Email extraction tools are available to automate the time-consuming task.

www.emails-to-sheets.com

By using an automated email parser, you can eliminate the need to manually sort and categorize information. This tool can scan and extract key data such as contact information, order status or invoices from incoming emails. The data can be saved into a database or spreadsheet. The process can be customized to include rules or filters that prioritize and organize incoming emails based on specific criteria. It can be set up to process emails in batch, reducing the time it takes to extract text.

An email automation tool can automatically extract data from incoming emails and convert it into a file format such as TXT, JSON or CSV. It can also extract images, signatures and attachments, and utilize OCR to read text from documents attached to emails. The data can be downloaded and synchronized to your ERP, accounting software, or CRM in order to streamline processes and increase productivity.

Parseur, a third party email parsing tool, is another option. This cloud-based solution uses AI to make the process of extracting text from emails quicker and easier. It can also prioritize emails based on their nature, filtering them and ensuring that a customer service representative responds to them promptly.

You can also write a script to extract the text from an email. This requires advanced programming skills, but allows you tailor the process to meet your specific needs. It can be used to parse HTML emails, for example, by using regular expressions or a web scraping library such as BeautifulSoup-python. Once the code is written, it can be tested and refined to ensure that it is working properly.

Rule-Based Filtering

Email extraction is an important process that allows businesses retrieve important information. This data can be used to streamline workflows, boost productivity and get contact information from customers. It can also improve the management of data and enhance decision making.

In the past, extracting data from email was a manual process, which required human intervention and led to inconsistencies. This process can be made easier and more efficient with the help of automated software and tools. There are several ways to automate the process of extracting data from emails, including using rules and filters. These can be created manually or automatically. The benefit of this method is that it can be customized to fit the needs of specific business processes.

The first step in the process of extracting data from emails is to identify what types of emails you need to parse. Create a filter on your email client and select only the emails that you want to process. Once the emails are selected, the next thing to do is create a filter that will extract the data from the selected emails. The data can be exported to other systems or sent. If you receive many invoices by email, for example, you can set up a rule to extract the details and enter them into your accounting software.

Excel is another way to manually extract the data from emails. This can be a tedious and error-prone task, especially if you have a large number of emails. To avoid errors, you should ensure that your spreadsheet program is regularly updated.

Alternatively, you can use an online automation tool such as Power Automate to create an automatic process for extracting text from emails. This tool provides a user-friendly interface that makes it easy for individuals with no coding experience to create automated workflows. To begin, create a flow which triggers when a new message is received. Then set up an action to receive and filter the message. Then add a parse JSON action to extract the required text from the email. Add a file action to save extracted text to a specific location.

Manual Process

Emails are an essential part of most businesses. Whether it is customer queries, software companies selling their B2B or SaaS services or any other type of notification, emails are sent out constantly. These emails can pile up in an inbox and sometimes contain important information that is overlooked. To ensure that important information is not missed, it is crucial to process email data and extract relevant data. However, manual processing of emails can be time-consuming and error-prone. Email parsing tools can automate this task, ensuring that important information is extracted and processed.

A great way to streamline business processes is by using an email parser. These email processors are able to take in incoming messages and extract data using keywords. These data can be saved to a spreadsheet or database. This saves time and effort, while also providing accurate and consistent data.

An example of how to use an email parser is to send invoices. The email parser will search for specific details in an invoice, such as invoice date and order numbers. The email will be automatically saved to a sheet with the invoice date and number attached. This is an easy and efficient way to keep track of all incoming invoices.

A parser for emails can also be used in order to respond to queries from customers. These queries are often sent via email, and they need to be prioritized quickly. The email parser scans the incoming query to extract key information like the customer’s contact information, interest area, and name. This information can then be automatically transferred into the company’s CRM or ticketing system, allowing the sales team to follow up with the potential lead.

A good email parser will be able to handle different data formats, ensuring the correct information is returned. The tool, for instance, should be able not only to extract data out of HTML, DOCX or PDF files, but also from a JSON reply. The software should be able to convert the data into different formats in order to make it easier to integrate and use.

Programming Script

Email data extraction can be a valuable process that saves businesses time and money by streamlining processes and eliminating human errors. It can also help analyze trends and gain insight into consumer behavior. Email extraction can be performed manually or automated using tools and software programs. Manually, you open each email and copy the desired information. Then, you paste it into a spreadsheet. This method can be time-consuming and error-prone, and it is not scalable to large volumes of emails.

Use an email parser to identify and extract specific data from incoming emails. This tool can be configured to recognize specific words and patterns in a given email, allowing you to automatically pipe structured data into the correct location. Email parsing software is available from third-party vendors and can be tailored to your specific needs.

A company that receives lots of inquiries from customers can use a parser for email to send the contact information automatically into a CRM database. This allows sales representatives to focus on closing more deals rather than on transferring the information from one app to another.

Creating an automated workflow that extracts text from a email using Power Automate is easy. Start by creating a flow with the compose as your trigger. Add a parse JSON to the workflow. Create a file action to save the extracted texts in a specific location and folder. Finalize the flow by testing it with different types emails and making any necessary adjustments.

A person standing in a room
Business,

A one-stop shop for LafargeHolcim products in Latin America

Just over a decade since its launch in Ecuador, our retail construction franchise network, Disensa, has built a network of 1,000 stores that spans the Latin America region. Disensa offers easy access to LafargeHolcim products and solutions to self-builders and small-scale contractors.

Disensa, our one-stop-shop

In 2005 we established a retail construction franchise network, called Disensa, in Ecuador. The network laid the foundation for a worldwide expansion that now accounts for 1,000 Disensa stores across Latin America (including Mexico) and more than 600 similar stores in the Middle East and Africa, where they are called Binastore.

Our vision for retail is to offer self-builders and smaller contractors a one-stop shop. Within our stores these customers enjoy easy access to LafargeHolcim’s own building solutions as well as a wide range of other construction materials and services.

The stores support customers with microcredit and technical help as well as complete kits for different phases of home building. They also offer solutions to facilitate construction including financing plans, access to architects and standard building designs.

Laying the foundations of success

To strengthen the foundation we give our franchisees the tools to succeed, for example with training on products, store management, marketing and finance.

With individual customers accounting for around 60% of Group net sales, having direct access to the retail market is a strategic priority. In 2018 we aim to continue broadening our reach, focusing particularly on India and Southeast Asia. This global initiative demonstrates how we are bringing our commitment to commercial excellence to life for our retail customers while developing a strong network of trained franchisees.

A large building
Construction,

Ductal® the highest performing concrete for Africa’s largest mosque, Great Mosque of Algeria

Aesthetics and durability

The roof of the prayer hall of the Great Mosque of Algeria (Djamaa el Djazaïr) rises to a height of 45 meters. The dome it supports is 50 meters wide and 25 meters tall. Not far from this dome the highest minaret in the world towers at a height of 265 meters, containing 43 floors served by panoramic elevators.

This architectural masterpiece was designed by Krebs und Kiefer and managed by Anargema (the agency under Algeria’s Ministry of Housing which is responsible for construction and management of the mosque) and built by CSCEC.

The mosque combines modernity and authentic design, and its successful execution has depended on high-quality materials — especially the facades. Ductal® was chosen for the facades around the minaret, the roofing of the dome of the prayer hall, the inner courtyard and the covering of the other buildings.

It’s hard work looking this good

The minaret facades employ an element of traditional Arabic architecture called mashrabiya that has been used since the Middle Ages. Mashrabiya involves an intricate latticework, and its motif both respects Islamic traditions and lends a unique identity to the mosque.

These complex patterns require a delicate touch in both design and manufacturing: the mashrabiya could weigh no more than 65 kg/m². Thanks to Ductal®’s exceptional characteristics, it was possible to design very thin panels without passive reinforcement that also met the artist’s expectations.

Beyond the aesthetic constraint of the design, Ductal® assures the durability of the brise-soleil even when installed several hundred meters high, where is can be exposed to intense winds and sea salt spray in an area with high seismic activity.

LafargeHolcim Algeria

In addition to Ductal® for the facades, LafargeHolcim Algeria has maintained a very high level of cooperation with all stakeholders to supply the best building materials and solutions to realize this project, including cement, plaster, ready mix concrete for the structure of the minaret, Artevia® decorative concrete for the walkways and a continuous support from our Construction Development Laboratory located in Algiers. Our teams in Algeria are particularly proud to contribute their solutions to this exceptional architectural masterpiece.

A train traveling down train tracks near a forest
Real Estate,

Murtala Mohammed International Airport Road Project expands with help from Lafarge Africa

In 2018, the Lagos State Government, the fifth largest economy in Africa and the nation’s commercial hub, began the rehabilitation and expansion of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport Road in Ikeja, Lagos, with the aim of transforming it from its deteriorating condition to international standards.

The project

The Murtala Mohammed International Airport Road is used by an average 50,000 vehicles each day, making it one of the busiest roads in Lagos State. This volume of traffic places particular strain on roadways, and recently the need not only for rehabilitating the road, but for the total transformation of the Oshodi-International Airport corridor became clear.

The team

Lafarge Africa Plc partnered with the contractor HiTech Construction Company Limited on this project, with their Road Segment delivering the soil stabilization phase.
HiTech and Lafarge Africa’s collaboration on soil stabilization on road projects started in 2013. In 2014, the use of Lafarge’s RoadCem product was researched for a specific project in Oshogbo, Osun State. The field trial of the solution was successful. This outcome coupled with further partnerships made Lafarge Africa Plc the service provider of choice for the prime International Airport Road project.

The solution

Lafarge’s RoadCem is used for permanent physical and chemical alteration of soils to enhance their physical properties. It is a cement stabilization product suitable for poor soil conditions in road construction and provides customers with a cost effective product that enhances the speed of construction. About 3600 tonnes of Roadcem were used in the rehabilitation of the Airport road’s sub-base and in cold recycling of asphalt.

Following the successful delivery of this project, the Federal Ministry of Works has approved the trial of RoadCem in the soil stabilization process of a 1km section of the Otta – Abeokuta, 80Km Road. Discussions are at advanced stages on the use of RoadCem in various projects across Nigeria.

LafargeHolcim is the leading provider of building solutions for road projects around the world, from expressways to local roads, and from municipal roads to public expressways or public-private partnership highways. The integrated offer for road projects includes a complete range of road products and services and leverages a unique solutions portfolio that encompasses:

  • bound and unbound aggregates layers,
  • soil stabilization solutions,
  • concrete pavements,
  • asphalt formulations,
  • cement-treated base or roller-compacted concrete,
  • fast-hardening concrete for urban pavements.
A close up of a football ball
Business,

Strong first half of the year

  • Net Sales growth of 3.5% LfL
  • Over-proportional increase in Recurring EBITDA1 of 10.8% LfL
  • Net income3 up 110%
  • Strong progress in free cash flow1: up CHF 735m
  • Significant deleveraging with net debt1 reduction of 30%
  • 2019 targets confirmed

Half-Year 2019 Performance

GROUP AND REGIONAL FIGURES

Group (in million CHF)H1 2019H1 2018±%±% like-for-likeNet Sales13,05913,272-1.63.5Recurring EBITDA (pre-IFRS16)2,6622,4847.210.8Operating profit (EBIT, pre-IFRS16)1,5591,07844.7 Net income21,009318217.9 Net income2 before impairment & divestments (pre-IFRS16) 780371110.0 EPS3  (CHF)1.300.62108.2 Free Cash Flow (pre-IFRS16)262-473  Net financial debt (pre-IFRS16)11,34016,127-29.7

Jan Jenisch, CEO: “We have achieved a strong first half of the year and successfully continued our profitable growth strategy. All business segments have contributed to this success and to the continued over-proportional growth in profitability.

Our financial discipline resulted in strong progress in cash flow and a significant reduction in debt. We are executing our Strategy 2022 – ‘Building for Growth’ at full speed and we are confident that we will achieve our targets for 2019.”

NET SALES GROWTH IN ALL REGIONS

Net Sales amounted to CHF 13,059 million in the first half of 2019, growing by 3.5% like-for-like compared to the prior-year period. This achievement has been driven by successful pricing management and higher cement volumes. Net Sales grew in all regions supported by a favorable market environment in general, in particular in Europe and North America.

OVER-PROPORTIONAL INCREASE OF RECURRING EBITDA1

Recurring EBITDA1 during the reporting period reached CHF 2,662 million, up 10.8% on a like-for-like basis. Even though volumes were lower than expected, Q2 Recurring EBITDA1 improved strongly by 7.1% on a like-for-like basis. This was the fourth consecutive quarter of over-proportional growth of Recurring EBITDA1 over Net Sales since Q3 2018. The growth was driven by continuing positive price over cost momentum, thanks to strict cost discipline and effective price management. As announced, the SG&A cost savings program was completed in Q1 2019, delivering the targeted CHF 400 million cost savings on a run-rate basis.

Recurring EBITDA1 like-for-like and profitability increased in all four business segments. The Aggregates and Ready-Mix Concrete businesses continued to improve margins and to close the gap with best-in-class performers.

REGIONAL PERFORMANCE

Europe delivered very good results during the first half of 2019 supported by good market dynamics across the region. Net Sales grew by 7.2% while Recurring EBITDA1 was up 17.1% on a like-for-like basis. Both price increases and improved operational efficiency were the main drivers of this strong margin growth.

In North America, Net Sales were impacted by weather and flooding in the US during Q2. Net Sales grew by 2.8% for the half-year and Recurring EBITDA1 improved slightly by 1.0% on a like-for-like basis. A strong order book and positive price momentum in the US are expected to support improvement in the second half of the year.

In Latin America, Net Sales improved by 3.1% and Recurring EBITDA1 decreased by 4.1% on a like-for-like basis in a softer market environment.

The Asia Pacific region showed strong Recurring EBITDA1 growth, with price improvement and costs savings in India. China continued to contribute solidly to the region’s positive result. Net Sales grew by 2.1% and Recurring EBITDA1 grew by 17.4% in the first half of 2019 on a like-for-like basis.

In Middle East Africa, the turnaround has been successfully achieved in Q2: Recurring EBITDA1 increased by 1.9% on a like-for-like basis. Nigeria delivered a solid performance, Iraq showed further signs of recovery and Algeria is stabilizing. For the first half of 2019 Net Sales grew by 0.3% on a like-for-like basis, while Recurring EBITDA1 decreased by 6.6%.
NET INCOME UP 110%

Net Income3 attributable to shareholders of LafargeHolcim reached CHF 780 million versus CHF 371 million in the first half of 2018 benefitting from strong improvement of costs below Recurring EBITDA.

Restructuring, litigation, implementation and other non-recurring costs stood at CHF 71 million, compared to CHF 300 million in the first half of 2018. The decrease reflects the completion of the SG&A cost savings program in the first quarter 2019.

Net financial expenses3 for 2019 totaled CHF 329 million compared to CHF 455 million in the first half of 2018. This improvement is the result of successful refinancing and deleveraging actions. During the first half of the year, a EUR 500 million hybrid bond has been issued and expensive bonds have been successfully repurchased. Since January 2018, the Group has refinanced CHF 2.1 billion in total.

Excluding impairment & divestments, the Group’s effective tax rate improved to 27.0% compared to 27.7% in the full year 2018.

Earnings per share3 more than doubled to CHF 1.30 for the half-year.

STRONG PROGRESS IN FREE CASH FLOWS1

Free Cash Flow1 improved significantly by CHF 735 million to reach CHF 262 million compared to CHF -473 million in the first half of 2018, reflecting the improvement in Recurring EBITDA1 and Net Working Capital, lower income tax and interest paid.

Net capital expenditure for the first half was CHF 606 million compared to CHF 526 million for the first half 2018.

SIGNIFICANT DELEVERAGING ACHIEVED

Net financial debt1 has been reduced by CHF 4,787 million compared to June 30, 2018, to CHF 11,340 million at the end of June 2019, down 30% and allowing the company to reach the deleveraging target faster than anticipated. This very strong improvement has been achieved through successful initiatives and highly value-accretive divestments in Southeast Asia. Both credit rating agencies, Moody’s and Standard & Poor’s, upgraded the company’s outlook to “stable” in March 2019.

TRANSACTIONS AND DEVELOPMENTS

The divestments of Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore have been successfully closed. For the Philippines a selling agreement has been signed with closing subject to customary and regulatory approval. These transactions have been executed with a high valuation, above 21 times 2018 Recurring EBITDA and result in a significant deleverage of 0.6 times Net Debt to Recurring EBITDA ratio. After the closing of the Philippines transaction, the exit from the hyper competitive arena of Southeast Asia will be completed.

The company has signed 6 bolt-on acquisitions in attractive markets which will help to fuel future growth. The acquisitions in Romania, Australia, Germany, the United States and Canada will allow LafargeHolcim to strengthen its Ready-Mix and precast concrete businesses in growth markets.

The Annual General Meeting on May 15, 2019 approved a CHF 2 per share dividend. Shareholders were given the choice of having the dividend paid out in cash, in new LafargeHolcim Ltd shares issued at a discount to the market price, or as a combination of cash and shares. 73% of shareholders elected to be paid in shares, making it a very successful scrip dividend program.

PROGRESS IN SUSTAINABILITY

In the first six months, the company continued to reduce its CO2 emissions per ton of cementitious material by 1.4% compared to the prior-year period. The use of alternative fuel such as waste and biomass, to replace fossil fuel, grew by over 10% during the same period.

Since 1990, LafargeHolcim has reduced its carbon emissions per ton of cement by more than 25 percent – leading international cement companies with the highest reduction compared to the 1990 baseline. With a target of 520 kg net CO2/ton by 2030, LafargeHolcim remains the most ambitious company in the sector, committed to reducing emission levels in line with a 2 degree scenario, as agreed at the COP21 world climate conference in Paris.

Health & Safety improved with the Lost Time Injury Frequency Rate (LTIFR) continuing its downward trend.

OUTLOOK 2019

The outlook for 2019 is unchanged with solid global market demand expected to continue in 2019 with the following market trends:

  • Continued market growth in North America
  • Softer but stabilizing cement demand in Latin America
  • Continued demand growth in Europe
  • Stabilizing market conditions in Middle East Africa
  • Continued demand growth in Asia Pacific

Based on the above trends and the successful execution of Strategy 2022, the previously communicated targets are confirmed for 2019:

  • Net Sales growth of 3 to 5 percent on a like-for-like basis
  • Recurring EBITDA pre-IFRS16 growth of at least 5 percent on a like-for-like basis
  • Ratio of Net Debt to Recurring EBITDA  2 times or less by end of 2019
  • Continue improving cash conversion
  • Capex and Bolt-on acquisitions less than CHF 2 billion

Key figures

Group Q220192018±%±% LfLNet Sales (CHFm)7,0997,442-4.61.2Recurring EBITDA (pre-IFRS16) (CHFm)1,8531,7843.97.1Operating profit (EBIT) (pre-IFRS16) (CHFm)1,2801,01026.8 Group H120192018±%±% LfLNet Sales (CHFm)13,05913,272-1.63.5Recurring EBITDA (pre-IFRS16) (CHFm)2,6622,4847.210.8Operating profit (EBIT) (pre-IFRS16) (CHFm)1,5591,07844.7 Group results by segmentH1 2019H1 2018±%±% LfLSales of cement (mt)103.8108.2-4.00.7Net Sales Cement (CEM) (CHFm)8,7838,866-0.95.2CEM Recurring EBITDA (pre-IFRS16) (CHFm)2,1732,0744.88.7CEM Recurring EBITDA margin (pre-IFRS16) (%)24.723.4   Sales of aggregates (mt)121.7125.3-2.9-2.4Net Sales Aggregates (AGG) (CHFm)1,9071,917-0.51.5AGG Recurring EBITDA (pre-IFRS16) (CHFm)3293105.97.7AGG Recurring EBITDA margin (pre-IFRS16) (%)17.216.2   Sales of ready-mix concrete (m m3)23.624.6-4.0-2.0Net Sales Ready-Mix Concrete (RMX) (CHFm)2,5952,657-2.3-0.4RMX Recurring EBITDA (pre-IFRS16) (CHFm)924794.483.7RMX Recurring EBITDA margin (pre-IFRS16) (%)3.51.8       Net Sales Solutions & Products (SOP) (CHFm)9961,050-5.11.1SOP Recurring EBITDA (pre-IFRS16) (CHFm)695329.752.9SOP Recurring EBITDA margin (pre-IFRS16) (%)6.95.1

Regional performance H1

Asia Pacific20192018±%±% LfLSales of cement (mt)38.945.5-14.6-2.7Sales of aggregates (mt)13.315.9-16.0-12.4Sales of ready-mix concrete (m m3 )5.26.1-15.5-2.2Net Sales to external customers (CHFm)3,4173,807-10.22.1Recurring EBITDA (pre-IFRS16) (CHFm)86077311.317.4Europe20192018±%±% LfLSales of cement (mt)22.521.35.55.5Sales of aggregates (mt)57.259.0-3.1-2.7Sales of ready-mix concrete (m m3 )9.69.33.73.5Net Sales to external customers (CHFm)3,7963,6643.67.2Recurring EBITDA (pre-IFRS16) (CHFm)67859913.217.1Latin America20192018±%±% LfLSales of cement (mt)12.112.6-4.2-4.2Sales of aggregates (mt)2.01.715.815.8Sales of ready-mix concrete (m m3 )2.52.8-11.3-11.3Net Sales to external customers (CHFm)1,3311,428-6.83.1Recurring EBITDA (pre-IFRS16) (CHFm)446488-8.7-4.1Middle East Africa20192018±%±% LfLSales of cement (mt)17.617.7-0.5-0.5Sales of aggregates (mt)3.44.1-16.8-16.8Sales of ready-mix concrete (m m3 )1.92.0-3.5-3.5Net Sales to external customers (CHFm)1,4761,535-3.80.3Recurring EBITDA (pre-IFRS16) (CHFm)327365-10.5-6.6North America 20192018±%±% LfLSales of cement (mt)9.08.82.92.9Sales of aggregates (mt)45.744.52.72.1Sales of ready-mix concrete (m m3 )4.44.40.2-6.6Net Sales to external customers (CHFm)2,6452,4756.92.8Recurring EBITDA (pre-IFRS16) (CHFm)4954705.21.0

RECONCILIATION TO GROUP ACCOUNTS

Reconciling measures of profit and loss to LafargeHolcim Group consolidated statement of income.

Net Sales13,059013,05913,272Recurring EBITDA2,8782162,6622,484Operating profit (EBIT)1,581221,5591,078Net Profit (loss) before tax1,459(16)1,475585Net income (loss)1,128(12)1,140394

Million CHF H1 2019
(post-IFRS16)		 IFRS16
impact		 H1 2019
(pre-IFRS16)		 H1 2018
Recurring costs excluding SG&A (9,427) 183 (9,610) (9,666)
Recurring SG&A (1,026) 33 (1,059) (1,335)
Share of profit of joint ventures 272 0 272 213
Depreciation and amortization (1,211) (193) (1,018) (1,104)
Impairment of operating assets (14) 0 (14) (2)
Restructuring, litigation, implementation and other non-recurring costs (71) 0 (71) (300)
Profit (loss) on disposal and other non-op items 248 1 247 (52)
Net financial expenses (378) (39) (338) (449)
Share of profit of associates 7 0 7 9
Income tax (330) 4 (335) (191)

Reconciliation of Net Income before impairment and divestments with Net Income as disclosed in Financial Statements

Net income (loss)1,128(12)1,140394Net income before impairment and divestments 886(12)898444

Million CHF H1 2019
(post-IFRS16)		 IFRS16
impact		 H1 2019
(pre-IFRS16)		 H1 2018
Impairment (23) 0 (23) (1)
Profit (loss) on divestments 265 0 265 (49)
Net income before impairment and divestments Group share 769 (11) 780 371
Adjustments disclosed net of taxation

Reconciliation of Free Cash Flow to consolidated cash flows of LafargeHolcim Group

Cash flow from operating activities1,06719986853Free Cash Flow461199262(473)

Million CHF H1 2019
(post-IFRS16)		 IFRS16
impact		 H1 2019
(pre-IFRS16)		 H1 2018
Purchase of property, plant and equipment (647) 0 (647) (586)
Disposal of property and equipment 41 0 41 61

Reconciliation of net financial debt to consolidated statement of financial position of LafargeHolcim Group

Net financial debt12,6501,31011,34016,127

Million CHF H1 2019
(post-IFRS16)		 IFRS16
impact		 H1 2019
(pre-IFRS16)		 H1 2018
Current financial liabilities 2,862 284 2,578 4,891
Long-term financial liabilities 12,886 1,026 11,860 13,807
Cash and cash equivalents 3,045 0 3,045 2,466
Short-term derivative assets 29 0 29 66
Long-term derivative assets 25 0 25 38

NON-GAAP DEFINITIONS

Some non-GAAP measures are used in this release to help describe the performance of LafargeHolcim. A full set of these non-GAAP definitions can be found here.

About LafargeHolcim

LafargeHolcim is the global leader in building materials and solutions. We are active in four business segments: Cement, Aggregates, Ready-Mix Concrete and Solutions & Products.

With leading positions in all regions of the world and a balanced portfolio between developing and mature markets, LafargeHolcim offers a broad range of high-quality building materials and solutions. LafargeHolcim experts solve the challenges that customers face around the world, whether they are building individual homes or major infrastructure projects. Demand for LafargeHolcim materials and solutions is driven by global population growth, urbanization, improved living standards and sustainable construction. Around 75,000 people work for the company in around 80 countries.

Follow us on Twitter

Important disclaimer – forward-looking statements:

This document contains forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements do not constitute forecasts regarding results or any other performance indicator, but rather trends or targets, as the case may be, including with respect to plans, initiatives, events, products, solutions and services, their development and potential. Although LafargeHolcim believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions as at the time of publishing this document, investors are cautioned that these statements are not guarantees of future performance. Actual results may differ materially from the forward-looking statements as a result of a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and generally beyond the control of LafargeHolcim, including but not limited to the risks described in the LafargeHolcim’s annual report available on its website (www.lafargeholcim.com) and uncertainties related to the market conditions and the implementation of our plans. Accordingly, we caution you against relying on forward-looking statements. LafargeHolcim does not undertake to provide updates of these forward-looking statements.

1 pre-IFRS16

2Attributable to shareholders of LafargeHolcim Ltd

3Before impairment and divestments, pre-IFRS 16

4Pre-IFRS16 and at constant foreign exchange

A truck is parked on the side of a mountain road
Business,

LafargeHolcim allocates CHF 160 million to reduce carbon footprint in Europe

LafargeHolcim allocates CHF 160 million to reduce carbon footprint in Europe LafargeHolcim is increasing its efforts to further improve the carbon-efficiency of its products and solutions. The objective is to reduce annual CO2 emissions in Europe by a further 15 percent like-for-like, representing 3 million tons1, by 2022. This will be achieved with an investment of CHF 160 million into advanced equipment as well as technologies to increase the use of low-carbon fuels and recycled materials in the company’s processes and products. Further funds are earmarked for the introduction of new carbon-efficient materials and services. Over the next three years, LafargeHolcim will work on more than 80 projects across 19 European countries.

Marcel Cobuz, Region Head Europe: “We are cognizant of our impact on the environment and will remain at the forefront of efforts to mitigate climate change. With this investment in Europe, we are taking a further step to become more carbon-efficient. We are not only investing to reduce CO2 in our own operations, but are also seeking the collaboration with our customers across the value-chain to improve the carbon efficiency of buildings and infrastructure throughout their lifecycle.”

One of the key levers to improve carbon-efficiency is to integrate the principle of circular economy into the cement production process by using waste materials instead of fossil fuels and primary raw materials. In 2018, LafargeHolcim repurposed 11 million tons of waste materials including 2 million tons of non-recyclable plastics that would otherwise end up in e.g. landfills creating further CO2 emissions. By stepping up its efforts in Europe the company aims at repurposing an additional 1.5 million tons of waste which would lead to avoiding 1 million tons of CO2 per year.

As part of the roadmap, LafargeHolcim will also increase the use of mineral alternatives and waste materials. On average, LafargeHolcim already uses 4.5 million tons to replace clinker with by-products from other industries. It is during the production of clinker, the main component of cement, when most CO2 emissions associated with cement occur. Additional efforts to replace clinker will allow the company to increase the CO2 efficiency of its cements produced in Europe by 1 million tons.

Portfolio of low-carbon solutions to be expanded across Europe

In all countries, LafargeHolcim is working on products and services to help its customers improve the carbon efficiency of buildings and infrastructure across their lifecycle. In France, for example, the company has recently launched Lafarge360, a new integrated offer that includes scoring and carbon footprint modelling enabling customers to make informed decisions around the environmental impact of their project. Furthermore, low-carbon products are designed in France, Poland and Romania for soil stabilizations ensuring a better life cycle assessment of the road structure. The company is also working on masonry cements in France and Romania with a carbon footprint that is 50 percent lower than pure cement while ensuring enhanced properties like workability or wall adhesion. With Airium LafargeHolcim has developed an innovative, safe, green, durable and affordable insulation alternative to traditional insulation. Priority countries for this solution include France, Austria, Switzerland and Poland.

LafargeHolcim is a preferred building materials partner for low-carbon construction solutions. Its innovative concrete and cement products allow for CO2 savings of up to 70 percent compared to standard Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) products. The company is committed to continuous carbon intensity reduction of its portfolio, as demonstrated by its leadership position on carbon efficiency (576kg CO2 / ton of cementitious material in 2018) as well as an ambitious 2030 target (520kg CO2 per ton of cementitious material) aligned with the 2°C scenario of the Paris COP21 climate agreement.

To find out more about LafargeHolcim’s unique perspective on sustainability in the building materials industry, make sure you subscribe to Material Talks for cutting-edge technology, breakthrough innovation and pioneering achievements that will make the built environment more sustainable. Subscribe here.

About LafargeHolcim

LafargeHolcim is the global leader in building materials and solutions. We are active in four business segments: Cement, Aggregates, Ready-Mix Concrete and Solutions & Products. With leading positions in all regions of the world and a balanced portfolio between developing and mature markets, LafargeHolcim offers a broad range of high-quality building materials and solutions. LafargeHolcim experts solve the challenges that customers face around the world, whether they are building individual homes or major infrastructure projects. Demand for LafargeHolcim materials and solutions is driven by global population growth, urbanization, improved living standards and sustainable construction. Around 75,000 people work for the company in around 80 countries.

A person sitting at a table
Construction,

Industry 4.0 for cement production: LafargeHolcim launches the “Plants of Tomorrow”

LafargeHolcim upgrades its production fleet for the future. Targeting a global network of over 270 integrated cement plants and grinding stations across more than 50 countries the company will be utilizing Automation Technologies and Robotics, Artificial Intelligence, Predictive Maintenance and Digital Twin Technologies for its entire production process. This four year program makes the “Plants of Tomorrow” Initiative one of the largest roll-outs of Industry 4.0 technologies in the building materials industry.

A “Plants of Tomorrow” certified operation will show 15 to 20 percent of operational efficiency gains compared to a conventional cement plant. LafargeHolcim is presently working on more than 30 pilot projects covering all regions, where the company is active. The company’s Siggenthal, Switzerland, integrated cement plant will be the lighthouse where the integration of all relevant modules will be tested for the global “Plants of Tomorrow” initiative.

Solomon Baumgartner Aviles, Global Head Cement Manufacturing: “Transforming the way we produce cement is one of the focus areas of our digitalization strategy and the ‘Plants of Tomorrow’ initiative will turn Industry 4.0 into reality at our plants. These innovative solutions make cement production safer, more efficient and environmentally fit. We are moving to fully data-driven operations in order to support further profitable growth as part of our Strategy 2022 – ‘Building for Growth’.”

Among the technologies implemented are predictive operations that can detect abnormal conditions and process anomalies in real-time. This will reduce maintenance costs by more than 10 percent and significantly lower energy costs. Digital twins of plants are created to optimize training opportunities.

Automation and robotics is another important element of the strategy. Unmanned surveillance is being performed for high exposure  jobs in the entire plant. Partnering with Swiss start-up Flyability, the company is using drones that allow the frequency of inspections to increase while simultaneously reducing cost and increasing safety for employees by inspecting confined spaces. The concept is now being rolled out to several markets including Switzerland, France, Germany, United Kingdom, United States, Canada, India and Russia.

In addition, the new PACT (Performance and Collaboration) digital tool allows operational decision making from experience based to data-centric by combining data from various sources and enabling machine learning applications.

Open innovation at the heart of the “Plants of Tomorrow”

LafargeHolcim is the leading global building materials and solutions company serving masons, builders, architects and engineers all over the world. Group operations produce cement, aggregates and ready-mix concrete which are used in building projects ranging from affordable housing and small, local projects to the biggest, most technically and architecturally challenging infrastructure projects. As urbanization increasingly impacts people and the planet, the Group provides innovative products and building solutions with a clear commitment to social and environmental sustainability. With leading positions in all regions, LafargeHolcim employs approximately 80,000 employees in around 80 countries and has a portfolio that is equally balanced between developing and mature markets.

LH MAQER, the company’s new platform to identify the most impactful technologies and target start-up technology companies also aims at establishing new partnership models with both manufacturing and software companies.

Philipp Leutiger, Chief Digital Officer: “Our global manufacturing expertise in cement is second to none. Now, with our LH MAQER platform, we open up our operating model to the creativity and ingenuity of some of the world’s most gifted and talented digital minds. We are already seeing the success of this approach in many of our operations globally.”

Improving performance through network of data-driven control room technologies

LafargeHolcim has already launched technology to track performance centrally and allocated resources to support the plant network in real time. More than 80 percent of LafargeHolcim’s cement plants are already connected to its Technical Information System that provides data transparency at plant, country, regional and global level. Some country operations have more than a decade of historic technical data available. Other systems allow the remote control of certain parts of the operations through online condition monitoring systems. Since its implementation in 2006, this system alone allowed for CHF 80 million in savings and an additional 3 million tonnes of cement sold through less breakdowns.

Watch a video on the “Plants of Tomorrow” here.

About LafargeHolcim

LafargeHolcim is the global leader in building materials and solutions. We are active in four business segments: Cement, Aggregates, Ready-Mix Concrete and Solutions & Products.
With leading positions in all regions of the world and a balanced portfolio between developing and mature markets, LafargeHolcim offers a broad range of high-quality building materials and solutions. LafargeHolcim experts solve the challenges that customers face around the world, whether they are building individual homes or major infrastructure projects. Demand for LafargeHolcim materials and solutions is driven by global population growth, urbanization, improved living standards and sustainable construction. Around 75,000 people work for the company in around 80 countries.

Follow us on Twitter @LafargeHolcim

About LH MAQER

LH MAQER is the global innovation platform driving change through open innovation in the building materials sector. It focusses on connecting technology companies to actual use cases in the entire LafargeHolcim footprint, from quarry to construction site.
Inspired by open innovation movements in software development, LH MAQER opens up the entire footprint of LafargeHolcim step by step to new formats of innovation. This includes quarries, manufacturing sites, logistics networks, and sales organizations, as well as the many relationships LafargeHolcim has throughout the value chain, from waste co-processing to construction sites. We are convinced that sustainable and efficient manufacturing and construction will only be achievable by leveraging new ways of working and innovation.

A group of people standing on top of a wooden fence
Business,

LafargeHolcim to acquire one of the leading Romanian precast producers

LafargeHolcim has signed an agreement with ORESA for the acquisition of Somaco, one of Romania’s leading precast concrete producers. The transaction will allow LafargeHolcim to develop its position on the Romanian building materials market, where the company is already present in the cement, ready-mix concrete and aggregates segments.

Jan Jenisch, CEO of LafargeHolcim: “This is our sixth bolt-on acquisition this year and we are delivering on our commitment to further develop our Solutions & Products business segment as part of Strategy 2022 – ‘Building for Growth’. The acquisition enables LafargeHolcim to enter Romania’s fast growing precast concrete market and to become an integrated solutions provider for our local customers.”

Somaco has leading positions and operates five precast concrete plants and one plant for aerated blocks in Romania. The company reported net sales of EUR 56 million in 2018 and has 750 employees. It has a strong portfolio of precast solutions for bridges, tunnels, subways and logistics platforms and supplies products for the residential sector. Romania’s precast segment is expected to grow over the coming years thanks to the country’s high construction and infrastructure needs.

The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and is expected to close in Q4 2019.

About LafargeHolcim

LafargeHolcim is the global leader in building materials and solutions. We are active in four business segments: Cement, Aggregates, Ready-Mix Concrete and Solutions & Products.

With leading positions in all regions of the world and a balanced portfolio between developing and mature markets, LafargeHolcim offers a broad range of high-quality building materials and solutions. LafargeHolcim experts solve the challenges that customers face around the world, whether they are building individual homes or major infrastructure projects. Demand for LafargeHolcim materials and solutions is driven by global population growth, urbanization, improved living standards and sustainable construction. Around 75,000 people work for the company in around 80 countries.

More information is available on www.lafargeholcim.com

Follow us on Twitter @LafargeHolcim

About ORESA

ORESA is family-owned equity investment company with Swedish roots, active in Romania since 1997.

ORESA’s investment strategy is to develop, together with strong entrepreneurs and management teams, market leading companies in favorite sectors such as business services, financial services, construction materials, FMCG or retail & distribution. Besides Somaco, the company’s current portfolio consists of four companies that are market leaders in their sectors: La Fantana, RTC, Romanian Business Consult and Kiwi Finance. ORESA has previously owned companies such as Fabryo-Atlas, Duraziv, Motoractive, Credisson, Flanco, Brewery Holding (Ciuc) and Medicover.