Wienerberger AG (WBAG:WIE) Joint Venture Between Semmelrock And Ebenseer In Austria

Wienerberger AG (WBAG:WIE) Corporate news announcement processed and transmitted by Hugin AS. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------



- Merger of Semmelrock and Ebenseer paver activities in Austria - Industrial management by Semmelrock - Broader geographical coverage as well as optimization of the product line and sales structure - Goal: development of a sustainable market position and improved competitiveness through synergies

Vienna, December 16, 2008 - Semmelrock International, a 75% subsidiary of Wienerberger AG, and Zementwerk LEUBE GmbH announce the planned merger of their Austrian subsidiaries Semmelrock Baustoffindustrie GmbH and the Ebenseer Group into a joint venture. Semmelrock International GmbH will hold 62.5% and Zementwerk LEUBE GmbH 37.5% of the shares in the newly founded Semmelrock Ebenseer Baustoffindustrie GmbH & Co KG. This transaction is not connected with any settlement payments for the relevant stakes. The current management of Semmelrock Austria will be responsible for the direction of the joint venture, while both partners will bring their extensive market and product know-how into the new company. The resulting geographical expansion of the plant network and sales structure will also support the further development of the company's position on the Austrian market. Johann Windisch, responsible member of the Managing Board of Wienerberger AG, and Rudolf Zrost, Managing Director of Zementwerke LEUBE GmbH, explained the reasons for combining these business activities: "We are looking forward to this future partnership, which will be based on the long-standing and successful history of both companies on the Austrian market. The strategic goal of this venture is to bundle the available expertise and improve our competitive position through the utilization of synergies in all areas, and thereby strengthen the new company's earning power."

Broad geographical coverage with 5 locations and 2 warehouse sites Semmelrock Austria, a specialist for high-quality concrete pavers, currently operates two plants in Klagenfurt (Carynthia) and Vorchdorf (Upper Austria) as well as one location in Leopoldsdorf near Vienna, which will serve as a warehouse in the future. Ebenseer, which concentrates on standard items and products for building materials markets, has three plants, which are located in St. Martin (Upper Austria), Reidling (Lower Austria) and Gerasdorf (Vienna) as well as one location in Knittelfeld (Styria), which will also be used as a warehouse in the future. The combined production capacity of all plants is more than 4.7 million m².

Positive synergies through optimization of central functions "The merger of two established brands like Semmelrock and Ebenseer represents an important step in the right direction. The product lines and plant networks of our companies complement each other and will create a solid basis for the future development of the joint venture. In addition, the optimization of central corporate functions such as sales, distribution and logistics will make it possible to provide our customers with even better service. I am also convinced that we will be able to realize substantial synergies through the international know-how of Semmelrock International and the expertise of both management teams", commented Robert Holzer, Managing Director of Semmelrock International.

Improved Service for customers "This is the start of a new era for Ebenseer. We are taking this step because we are convinced it will allow us to provide better products and service for our customers. For our employees, this step means we will be able to secure and expand three locations. With Semmelrock we are gaining a partner, with whom we can continue to grow in Austria and also increase our exports", stated Walter Pacher, Managing Director of Ebenseer.

The founding of the joint venture is conditional on the approval of the cartel authorities.

Semmelrock Group - producer of high-quality concrete pavers The Semmelrock Group is a major producer of high-quality concrete pavers in the CEE region and has been successfully active for many years in Croatia, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, the Czech Republic and Hungary. The Semmelrock strategy is to establish a position as a major player on the concrete paver and slab market in Eastern Europe over the mid-term. The company's product line ranges from innovative slab and paving systems to palisades, steles and walling blocks as well as an extensive assortment of accessories that include slopes, block fences and edging. In 2007 the Group generated revenues of € 112 million at 14 locations with 855 employees.

LEUBE: oldest cement company in the world LEUBE was founded 170 years ago as a family company and is the oldest cement company in the world that is still managed by the founding family. Roughly 600,000 tons of cement are produced each year in Gartenau/St. Leonhard. The Austrian building materials producer LEUBE also markets limestone and concrete blocks, slabs, pavers and fencing products in Austria and the neighboring countries, and generates annual revenues of approx. € 100 million. The LEUBE Group includes the LEUBE cement plant in Gartenau/St. Leonhard, the TAGGER limestone plant in Golling, EBENSEER Betonwerke GmbH & CoKG which is headquartered in St. Leonhard, LUSIT Betonelemente GmbH & Co KG, St. Martin/Innkreis and Quarzsande GmbH, Eferding.

For additional information contact: Robert Holzer, CEO Semmelrock International GmbH T +43(664)1601320 | robert.holzer@semmelrock.com

Karin Hofmann, Public Relations T +43(1)60192-463 | communication@wienerberger.com

Rudolf Zrost LEUBE Building Materials Group, Gartenauerplatz 9, 5083 St. Leonhard/Gartenau Tel +43 (0)50/8108-216 | rudolf.zrost@leube.at

Walter Pacher Ebenseer Betonwerke GmbH & CoKG, Gartenauerplatz 9, 5083 St. Leonhard/Gartenau Tel +43 (0)50/8108-205 | walter.pacher@ebenseer.at

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ISIN: AT0000831706

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