Vevey, March 15, 2007 - The Gétaz Romang group, which as from today is the target of a friendly public takeover offer made by the Irish group CRH, is releasing strong preliminary financial results. The Irish group CRH is opening for acceptance today its public takeover offer on all shares of Gétaz Romang Holding SA. CRH's offer prospectus includes the report of the board of directors of Gétaz Romang Holding, which recommends to shareholders to accept CRH's offer, as well as a fairness opinion report from an independent expert. These documents are based on estimated results, which are of course near-identical to the enclosed preliminary results. This release of preliminary results is required by law and common law applicable to public takeover offers. Last quarter's strong activity has generated substantial growth in profit The Group's net sales have grown in 2006 by 8.7% compared to 2005 and reached 862.6 mio CHF, which is perfectly in line with gross sales development released on the 17th of January. Gross margin amounts to 229.6 mio CHF, or 26.6% of net sales, which represents an increase of one full percentage point, whereas the Group was anticipating that its gross margin would tend to 26% just months ago. The better-than-expected gross margin development is essentially due to steel prices upward evolution, and to substantial increase in annual quantity rebates granted by the Group's suppliers. As a matter of fact, the exceptionally mild weather during last quarter of 2006 has fostered outstanding business activity, which in turn triggered unexpectedly high purchases of goods. As these quantity rebates generally follow a progressive scale based on defined thresholds, they reached unusually favourable levels in 2006. Operating expense has been kept under control as it increased by a mere 2.5% in 2006. Gross margin increase coupled with control over expense generated 67.2 mio CHF in EBITDA (+49% vs 2005), and 56.8 mio CHF in EBIT (+65%). When it comes to non-operational items, comparison with 2005 is biased because of the exceptional profit realised in 2005 on the sale of the Grand-Pré building in Geneva. Once the profit on sale of asset and the relevant tax charge are excluded, operating profit after tax amounts to 42.5 mio CHF, which represents a 75% increase against the 24.3 mio CHF realised in 2005. Hence operating return on equity shows 16.2% in 2006, up from 11.2% the year before. The Group's management describes these results as excellent. Although they unambiguously back the case for the changes brought in 2004, they also result from extraordinary weather conditions. Thus anticipating such results on a recurring basis in the future is considered illusory by the management. Net working capital reflects strong business activity of last quarter. Regarding the balance sheet, the Group reports that net working capital has increased by 26.5 mio CHF in 2006. Last quarter's strong activity generated a much higher level in trade receivable and goods in stock, compared to 31.12.2005. Besides, trade payable was hardly higher than the year before, because supplier's credit notes, booked at year-end closing as a reduction in payables, were substantially higher. Therefore trade payable could not outweigh the increase in working capital. Net book value of fixed asset is increasing by 6.9 mio CHF. It is corresponding to an additional investment made in Geneva in order to move the showroom in Grand-Pré during the coming weeks, as the building in Grand-Pré was sold. The Group also reports that financial liabilities have decreased by 19.4 mio CHF, in spite of cash outflows amounting to 18.7 mio CHF in investments, 7.4 mio CHF in dividend, and 26.5 mio CHF in net working capital increase. Equity has increased by another 33.5 mio CHF and represents 264.4 mio CHF as of 31.12.2006, or 62.8% of balance sheet (58.3% at the end of 2005). The Group's final consolidated financial statements will be released on the 4th of April 2007 . +-------------------------------------------------------------------+ | Key figures (in million Swiss | 2006 | Difference | 2005 | | francs) | | in % | | |--------------------------------------+-------+------------+-------| | | | | | |--------------------------------------+-------+------------+-------| | Net Sales | 862.6 | +8.7% | 793.7 | |--------------------------------------+-------+------------+-------| | Gross margin | 229.6 | +12.8% | 203.5 | |--------------------------------------+-------+------------+-------| | in % | 26.6% | | 25.6% | |--------------------------------------+-------+------------+-------| | EBITDA | 67.2 | +49.0% | 45.1 | |--------------------------------------+-------+------------+-------| | EBIT | 56.8 | +65.3% | 34.4 | |--------------------------------------+-------+------------+-------| | Net income | 44.3 | +17.9% | 37.5 | |--------------------------------------+-------+------------+-------| | Less : exceptional income (after | | | | | tax) | -1.8 | | -13.2 | |--------------------------------------+-------+------------+-------| | Operating net income | 42.5 | +74.6% | 24.3 | |--------------------------------------+-------+------------+-------| |--------------------------------------+-------+------------+-------| | Consolidated equity | 264.4 | | 230.9 | |--------------------------------------+-------+------------+-------| | Equity ./. exceptional income | 262.6 | | 217.7 | |--------------------------------------+-------+------------+-------| | Operating return on equity | 16.2% | | 11.2% | +-------------------------------------------------------------------+ Enclosure : preliminary consolidated income statement and balance sheet as of 31.12.2006 A document containing this press release and preliminary accounts may be downloaded from : http://www.getaz-romang.ch/corporate/e/investors/pressindex.php The Group Management is available for questions. Jean-Jacques Miauton, CEO - tel +41 79 607 70 70 Jean-Yves Bieri, CFO - tel +41 21 925 05 82 Nicolas Weinmann, Secretary General - tel +41 79 622 68 44