Preface

Dear readers,

In 2009, we were in a difficult situation with an extremely unfavourable business climate. We drew the necessary consequences and placed our capital and financing structure on a completely new and solid foundation. Our business results for 2010, which have clearly developed in a positive direction, demonstrate that this reorientation was the right course. We regard this decision as another example of our commitment to sustainability. The business decisions we make today must reflect our sense of responsibility for the future if we wish to be successful in the long run.

That’s why we regard sustainability as a management task and part of our corporate strategy. We are committed to efficiency, sustainable profitability, a clear focus on customers and profitable growth. This requires a responsible approach not only to the needs and interests of our employees, customers and business partners but also to potential conflicts of interest at our business locations. In line with our corporate philosophy, “Think globally — act locally”, such an attitude implies a key task for our local managers: to minimise the effects of our business operations on the local environment and society and to act in our core areas of competence in ways that benefit society and generate business opportunities for our company.

In the past two years we have continually made progress regarding the implementation of our sustainability strategy. Among other things, we’ve reduced our CO2 emissions, intensively used alternative fuels and promoted biodiversity in our quarries.

Occupational safety continues to be an equally important priority for our company.
Despite the progress we’ve made in recent years, we unfortunately experienced a total of 19 fatalities in 2010, including five employee deaths. This is unacceptable and explains why occupational safety is a key issue for us in 2011. Our targets for 2012 are clear: to halve the number of accidents compared to 2008 and reduce the number of deaths to zero. We will work hard to reach these goals, and we expect to be judged accordingly.

This is the fourth time in our corporate history that we have submitted a sustainability
report for the Group. The purpose of this report is to make our business activities transparent and binding — so that all of our stakeholders can clearly see and understand the way in which we operate. Please feel free to get in touch with us. Your opinions will help us to stay on course as we endeavour to enhance sustainability at our company.


Dr. Bernd Scheifele                                            Fritz-Jürgen Heckmann
Chairman of the Managing Board                         Chairman of the Supervisory Board