Gypsum industry news

US: Eagle Materials, Inc. has reported financial results for the 2011 fiscal year (FY2011) and the fiscal fourth quarter, both ending 31 March 2011. In its release on 5 May 2011, the company said notable items for the fiscal year and quarter included FY2011 revenues of US$462.2m and FY2011 net earnings of US$14.8m. The company's net debt-to-total capitalisation ratio was 38% compared to 40% a year earlier. For the fourth quarter, the company saw revenues of US$95.4m and a net loss of US$10.8m. The fourth quarter results reflect US$10.7m of non-operating expenses.

France: Lafarge has chosen a handful of bids, including those of investment funds Cinven and Bain Capital, for its plaster unit Lafarge Gypsum, from at least 10 different offers. Belgian building material group Etex is also reportedly still in the race, while Advent, Carlyle and TPG have been ruled out.

Other offers were reportedly made by Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. Eagle Materials Inc., USG Corp and Saudi Arabia's National Gypsum Company. The bids are around Euro900m on average.

Lafarge Gypsum's operating profit jumped 80% on the year in the first quarter to Euro18m, while its sales rose by 9% to Euro375m. The US activity, however, struggled with a loss in 2010. It is not known whether or not the assets will be split up geographically, as had previously been suggested.