This document contains inside information.

CRH plc, the international building materials group, issues the following Interim Results for the six months ended 30 June 2017.


Key Points
  • H1 in line with April guidance
  • Continued profit growth and margins ahead
  • Significant M&A activity; allocating and reallocating capital at attractive multiples
  • Interim dividend increased to 19.2c per share
Trading Highlights
  • Sales of €13.0 billion, 2% ahead of 2016
  • Like-for-like sales1 ahead 1%; +3% in Europe, +1% in the Americas and down 8% in Asia
  • EBITDA of €1.175 billion, 5% ahead of 2016
  • Like-for-like EBITDA ahead 2%; +2% in Europe, +6% in the Americas and down 39% in Asia
  • EBITDA margin 9.0% (H1 2016: 8.8%)
  • EPS of 43.5c per share, 29% ahead of 2016
Six months ended 30 June
2017
€ m
2016
€ m
Change
Sales revenue12,99712,693+2%
EBITDA1,1751,120+5%
EBITDA margin9.0%8.8%+20bps
Operating profit (EBIT)
647588+10%
Profit before tax517407+27%
€ cent€ cent
Basic earnings per share43.533.8+29%
Dividend per share19.218.8+2%

1 See pages 32 to 34 for glossary of alternative performance measures used throughout this interim report.

Chief Executive's Statement

Albert Manifold, Chief Executive, said today:

”We have had a satisfactory start to 2017 with stabilising trends in key European markets and EBITDA growth in the Americas. The acquisition and divestment activity announced by the Group today, demonstrates our ongoing strategic focus on allocating and reallocating capital at attractive multiples, while our significant Balance Sheet capacity ensures we are well positioned for further growth. I am pleased to report, in line with our progressive dividend policy, that the Board has decided to increase the interim dividend by 2.1% to 19.2c per share. For the second half of the year, despite currency headwinds and continuing challenging conditions in the Philippines, we expect a continuation of the first half momentum experienced in Europe and EBITDA growth in the Americas, which will result in another year of progress for the Group.”


See pages 32 to 34 for glossary of alternative performance measures used throughout this interim report.

Announced Thursday, 24 August 2017

DISCLAIMER

In order to utilise the “Safe Harbor” provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, CRH public limited company (the “Company”), and its subsidiaries (collectively, “CRH” or the “Group”) is providing the following cautionary statement.

This document contains certain forward-looking statements with respect to the financial condition, results of operations, business, viability and future performance of CRH and certain of the plans and objectives of CRH. These forward-looking statements may generally, but not always, be identified by the use of words such as "will", "anticipates", "should", "expects", "is expected to", "estimates", "believes", "intends" or similar expressions.

By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainty because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that may or may not occur in the future and reflect the Company's current expectations and assumptions as to such future events and circumstances that may not prove accurate.

A number of material factors could cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements, certain of which are beyond our control, as detailed in the section entitled “Risk Factors” in our 2016 Annual Report on Form 20-F as filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission.

You should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this document. The Company expressly disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements other than as required by law.

The forward-looking statements in this document do not constitute reports or statements published in compliance with any of Regulations 6 to 8 of the Transparency (Directive 2004/109/EC) Regulations 2007.

This document contains inside information and has been issued pursuant to Article 2.1(b) of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2016/1055. The date and time of this statement is the same as the date and time that it has been communicated to the media.

Contact CRH at Dublin 01 404 1000 (+353 1 404 1000)
Albert ManifoldChief Executive
Senan MurphyFinance Director
Frank HeisterkampHead of Investor Relations