HeidelbergCement is one of the world’s biggest producers of building materials. The company’s core activities encompass the production and distribution of cement and aggregates, the two essential raw materials for concrete production. We supplement our product range with downstream activities such as the production of ready-mixed concrete, concrete products and concrete elements, as well as other related products and services. Cement and aggregates form the basis of our dual raw materials and growth strategy.
Our focus in relation to cement production activities is on growing markets, whereas in well-established markets we concentrate on expanding vertical integration and securing raw materials for aggregates. HeidelbergCement relies on an integrated management approach. Its success is based on a balance between local business responsibility, Group-wide standards and global leadership.
HeidelbergCement revamped its
organisational structure at the start of the 2010 business year. The key components of the organisation are now the five main geographic Group areas: Western and Northern Europe, Eastern Europe-Central Asia, North America, Asia-Pacific, and Africa-Mediterranean Basin. These in turn are subdivided into three or four business lines in accordance with existing product and service units. We also have a sixth Group area — Group Services — in which our global trading activities are consolidated
Strategic partnerships and equity participations
Our dual growth strategy focuses on micro-markets that stand out through rates of growth that are higher than those recorded in surrounding regions. In order to reduce risks and ensure better market access, our growth strategy also relies on strategic partnerships with local manufacturers in our target markets. We contribute our technical expertise to these partnerships and seek to acquire a majority interest in return. In those instances where HeidelbergCement obtains a majority participation and management control, it defines all standards and measures, including those related to sustainability management.
Ownership structure
For HeidelbergCement, business year 2009 was largely marked by the global economic crisis and the reorganisation of our financing structure following the Hanson acquisition in 2007. To this end, we successfully implemented a capital increase in autumn 2009, while simultaneously selling off old shares from the former majority shareholder, the Merckle group. This transaction attracted renowned international institutional investors that have now become HeidelbergCement shareholders. The level of free float has increased to just under 75%, which together with the higher trading volume resulted in HeidelbergCement being incorporated into the German DAX index of leading companies in June 2010.