Joint venture between Semmelrock and Ebenseer in Austria

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- 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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