Group expansion in ready mixed concrete SCC-RMB JOIN FORCES

Cairo, 5 June, 2006 – Suez Cement Co has reached an agreement with the shareholders of Ready Mix Beton S.A.E., which is active in the Egyptian ready mixed concrete market. This agreement allows for Suez Cement Co to join forces with the current shareholders and management team of RMB through Suez Cement’s participation as a new 52% shareholder in RMB.

The parties view their joint participation in RMB as an excellent opportunity to expand and diversify through a dedicated presence in ready mixed concrete sector, where the Egyptian market offers excellent potential for growth and through a strong and experienced joint management team.Since 1985, RMB is one of the leading ready mixed suppliers in Egypt. It is supported by nine central mixing plants (plus truck mixers & mobile concrete pumps), six of which are located in the “Greater Cairo Area”, where three of the Suez Cement group’s five cement facilities are based.

Suez Cement Co is Egypt’s leading cement producer, with a market share of more than 30% in grey cement and more than 50% in white cement. Suez Cement has five production facilities (Suez, Kattameya, Tourah, Helwan and El Minya), for a total capacity of approximately 12 million metric tons of clinker.