Gypsum industry news

US: GMS grew its sales by 3% year-on-year to US$5.5bn in the 2023 financial year. It attributed this partly to high volumes of multi-family residential construction. The group’s Canadian operations contributed US$660m (12%) of sales. GMS recorded adjusted earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) of $616m, down by 7% year-on-year.

During the year, the company made three new acquisitions. It repurchased US$116m-worth of shares and refinanced its senior secured term loan to extend its maturity by seven years, to 2030.

Belgium: Etex has raised Euro800m through a sustainability-linked medium - long-term unsecured loan. The producer says that the private placement, called a Schuldschein in German finance law, comprises three Euro-denominated tranches with maturities of three, five and seven years, at fixed and floating rates.

CEO Bernard Delvaux said “We are very pleased with this new Schuldschein issuance which we successfully completed in a challenging context. It testifies to a significant appreciation of Etex’s credit quality, of its performance of the last years and it demonstrates the investors’ confidence in the company’s strategy. Moreover, this operation broadens our investors’ base at attractive market conditions, increases the number of maturities and considerably extends the duration of our debt profile.”

Russia: According to ENP Newswire, VTB Bank and Volma have signed two loan agreements worth Euro9.55m over three years. Volma will use the funds to finance the construction of a new plant in the Republic of Adygea and to increase its working capital.

"Supporing manufacturers is one of the bank's priorities, given the importance of the real economy sector to Russia. Volma is a major producer of finishing materials and a serious competitor for West European companies. I'm sure that the bank's support will help it strengthen its position both in Russia and in foreign markets," said Mikhail Oseevskiy, deputy president and chairman of VTB Bank management board.

"VTB Bank is very important for Volma's growth, especially in the current difficult economic situation. It is a strategic financial partner and its assistance has helped us increase our business in recent years,' said Volma director general Vladimir Ovchintsev.

Russia: Gypsum producer Volma has drawn a one-year loan of Euro4.30m from VTB bank. The company will finance its business operations with the funds. Volma has already secured Euro18.2m in loans at VTB.