December 16, 2008

ACC Limited is shutting down one of its Kilns at Gagal (HP) for clinker stock management

Poor cement demand in both Himachal Pradesh and Punjab on account of the economic slowdown (both these states are showing negative demand of approximately 8% as compared to last year) has resulted in increase of clinker stocks at our Gagal works in HP, necessitating a shutdown of manufacturing operations for balancing the clinker stocks. The poor demand scenario coupled with duty free and CENVAT (CVD) free imports has resulted in the clinker stock at Gagal plant of ACC increasing from August onwards to reach a high level in December, forcing the company to shut one of it’s kilns wef 16th December, 2008, for 15 days.

The company is keenly watching the impact on cement demand due to the recent positive initiatives taken by the government to improve liquidity and catalyse construction activities. The company also hopes and expects the government to take further steps for stimulating internal demand of cement. Some of the steps the company expects is imposition of CVD and SAD on imported cement from Pakistan, to provide a basic level playing field. The government could also consider rationalizing the cement excise duty structure, as well as providing abatement of at least 40% as is the case with many other commodities. While the recent reduction in excise duty rate is very much welcome, the company expects it to be also extended to clinker as a matter of equity.

J. DattaGupta
Chief Commercial Officer

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December 09, 2008

ACC reduces price upto Rs 5 per bag

ACC reduces price upto Rs 5 per bag. This was confirmed by Mr. J. DattaGupta, Chief Commercial Officer, ACC Limited.

J. DattaGupta
Chief Commercial Officer
ACC Limited

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December 02, 2008

ACC Media Release - Cement Production and Despatches in November 2008

Ashok Bhattacharjee
Head-Corporate Communications

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November 21, 2008

ACC Audit Committee receives Best Audit Committee Award 2008

ACC Audit Committee has been awarded the Best Audit Committee Award 2008 by the Asian Centre of Corporate Governance & Sustainability and Indian Merchants’ Chamber.

This Award has been given in recognition of the high ethical standards adopted by our Directors who have excellent knowledge in Finance and Business, and have made enormous contribution to the overall transparent and Accountable Governance of our Company. Our director, Mr Shailesh Haribhakti, is the Chairman of this Committee, and the other committee members include directors, Mr Paul Hugentobler, Mr S M Palia and Mr Naresh Chandra.

ACC Audit Committee has not only adopted international best practices but has also created its own benchmark that “can be emulated by other Audit Committees”, according to the citation of the Award.

The Award was announced on 20th November 2008 at the “9th International Conference on Governance Sustainability and Corporate Citizenship” held in Mumbai. The Award was received by Mr Shailesh Haribhakti, Chairman of the Audit Committee at the hands of Mr Jayant Patil, Hon’ble Minister for Finance and Planning, Maharashtra.

Ashok Bhattacharjee
Head-Economic & Sectoral Analysis

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November 03, 2008

ACC Media Release - Cement Production and Despatches in October 2008

A Anjeneyan
Company Secretary

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October 23, 2008

General Manager - Department of Corporate Services
Bombay Stock Exchange Limited
Pheroze Jeejeebhoy Towers
Dalal Street
Mumbai 400 001
Fax No. 22722029 / 22723121 / 3719

IN DUPLICATE

Dear Sirs

We are enclosing the Unaudited Financial Results (provisional) in respect of the Company’s working for the third quarter July / September 2008 and for the nine months ended January / September 2008 which have been reviewed by the auditors. The text of the said statement was approved by the Board of Directors of the Company at its Meeting held today and the same was taken on record

Also enclosed is the Press Release.

Yours faithfully,
For ACC Limited.,

(A. Anjeneyan)
Company Secretary

Unaudited Consolidated And Standalone Financial Results For The Quarter Ended September 30, 2008

October 23, 2008

National Stock Exchange of India Limited
Exchange Plaza, 5th Floor
Plot No. C/1, G Block
Bandra-Kurla Complex
Mumbai 400 051
Fax No. 26598237 / 38

Dear Sirs

We are enclosing the Unaudited Financial Results (provisional) in respect of the Company’s working for the third quarter July / September 2008 and for the nine months ended January / September 2008 which have been reviewed by the auditors. The text of the said statement was approved by the Board of Directors of the Company at its Meeting held today and the same was taken on record.

Also enclosed is the Press Release.

Yours faithfully,
For ACC Limited.,

(A. Anjeneyan)
Company Secretary

Unaudited Consolidated And Standalone Financial Results For The Quarter Ended September 30, 2008

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October 03, 2008

ACC Media Release - Cement Production and Despatches in September 2008

A Anjeneyan
Company Secretary

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September 30, 2008

ACC’s Corporate Office, Cement House, turns green

Cement House, ACC’s corporate head office in Mumbai, is being transformed into a green building. Cement House, the headquarters of ACC Limited is presently undergoing a major renovation programme which will transform it as an energy-efficient and green building in addition to maintaining its heritage.

Cement House was built in 1939 based on a design by Ballardie Thompson & Mathews selected as the winning entry from an all-India competition among leading architects of the time. The address of this stately building was then Number 1, Queen’s Road, Churchgate where it came to stand proudly alongside other heritage structures.

A major renovation and refurbishment programme called Project Orchid will transform the 70-year old building into a well equipped and ultra modern office. Its façade has been refurbished to enhance its heritage appeal. This work involves modernization of all the elements of this structure with added features of intelligent lighting, climate and access control, state-of-the-art office equipment and utilities, modular furniture, workstations and well equipped conference rooms.

The highlights of the refurbished office will be an open office plan with no cabins or cubicles. All employees from the junior most grade to the Managing Director of the company will sit in open spaces.

The interior décor maximizes the use of daylight rarely seen in large old buildings of this kind. The project has been registered under LEED New Construction & Major Renovation rating of the Indian Green Building Council. Cement House is the first project in India to be registered under the criteria of major renovation of an existing building.

ACC has appointed prominent architects, consultants and interior designers for this project. The first phase of Project Orchid is now complete, while the entire building will be ready by February 2009.

Project Orchid will not only transform Cement House but is likely to have significant impact on ACC itself in ushering in a new culture of an office without boundaries which fosters teamwork and effective communication. Project Orchid is being captured into a short film which will document this architectural transformation.

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August 04, 2008

ACC Media Release - Cement Production and Despatches in July 2008

R Nand Kumar
Corporate Communications &
Corporate Social Responsibility-Head

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July 7, 2008

ACC Cement Technology Institute opened in Jamul, Chhatisgarh

ACC Cement Technology Institute offers an Advanced programme in Cement Technology commencing this month. The 12 month course is a mix of classroom and experiential learning. The first batch has 45 candidates in the age group of 23 years and below who are top performers drawn from diploma engineering colleges spread across the country. The candidates join as employees of the company and are paid a monthly stipend and provided free lodging and boarding during the training period.

Presiding at the inauguration ceremony, Sumit Banerjee, Managing Director, said “This institute is an effort on the part of the company to partner with the community in providing employment opportunities for the youth. Capability development through training and knowledge building is the most profitable investment we can make, both for employees and for the society around us. The money we spend on training our employees comes back to us manifold through greater productivity and efficiency. And what we do for the local community in this respect directly aids in their empowerment and in the generation of sustainable employment opportunities. Sumit Banerjee also advised the first batch of trainees that they need to have a willingness to learn by rolling up their sleeves and dirtying their hands.

ACC Jamul Plant Head, Mr. J. L. Tiwari, described several initiatives the company is actively pursuing in the area of education, training and knowledge management targeted at employees as well as the community at large. ACTI is the third in a series of significant steps ACC has taken to create a pool of trained technical manpower at different skill levels drawn from local youth around the company’s vicinity and from economically weaker sections.

The Sumant Moolgaokar Technical Institute at Kymore in Madhya Pradesh was reopened in August last year to train about 90 young men from ITI’s in specialized technical trades to become artisans to meet the needs of the Cement Industry. SMTI offers courses in Electrical, Instrumentation, Diesel and Fitting trades in cement plants. As part of a public-private partnership scheme, ACC is working with Government and industry associations to upgrade Government run ITI’s located near the company’s cement plants. Agreements for partnerships with 7 ITI’s have been finalized with state governments so far.

ACC’s knowledge agenda is being steered by Dr Rajen Mehrotra, who was inducted last year as Chief Knowledge Officer. Dr Mehrotra is a reputed professional and academician with considerable experience interfacing in this field with industry, government and international organisations. Before joining ACC, he was with the United Nations-International Labour Organisation as Senior Specialist on Employers’ Activity for South Asia. Dr Mehrotra said “We have several plans to provide focused technical education and training, all of which will ultimately be structured under the umbrella of what we like to call the ‘ACC University’ for building a pool of talent of diverse skills.”

(R Nand Kumar)
Corporate Communications &
Corporate Social Responsibility-Head

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July 1, 2008

ACC Media Release - Cement Production and Despatches in June 2008

R Nand Kumar
Corporate Communications &
Corporate Social Responsibility-Head

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June 6, 2008

ACC Releases its 1^st Corporate Sustainable Development Report

ACC Limited released its first Sustainable Development Report to coincide with World Environment Day, June 5, 2008. The Report was released simultaneously in Dubai by ACC’s Deputy Chairman, Mr. Paul Hugentobler at a Holcim Group Regional meeting, and by Dr Rajen Mehrotra, the Company’s Chief Knowledge Officer in Mumbai.

ACC takes pride in its history of good governance especially in demonstrating concern for nature, the planet and its people. Community development programmes were initiated in ACC more than sixty years ago, when the term corporate social responsibility was not yet coined. Environmental protection and pollution control were practiced, long before pollution control norms and other regulatory laws came into existence.

The report has been compiled using the G3 guidelines of the Global Reporting Initiative. It describes the economic, environmental and social impacts of the organization’s performance during the year 2007 and explains management approach and strategy with performance indicators and case studies showing its achievements and stakeholder engagement. Highlights include descriptions of environment management systems, emissions control, the quest for renewable non-fossil energy sources and effective solutions for dealing with hazardous and non hazardous wastes. In respect of community development, the report explains the nature of schemes meant to visibly improve the quality of life and environment in the communities living around the company’s cement plants.

In a foreword of the report, the company’s Chairman Mr. N S Sekhsaria and Managing Director Mr. Sumit Banerjee reiterate their deep commitment to uphold this great tradition with the following words.

"Sustainable development and corporate social responsibility find special place in our organization structure and form an intrinsic part of our business strategy. We believe in the Triple Bottom Line theory and would like to assess our performance on the basis of this framework. We aim to be recognized as a leading champion of sustainable development not only in the cement industry but on a wider plane."

The company intends to make this report a regular feature and will publish it once in two years. An electronic version is available on the company’s website www.acclimited.com.

R Nand Kumar

Corporate Communications & CSR – Head

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June 4, 2008

ACC Media Release - Cement Production and Despatches in May 2008

R Nand Kumar
Corporate Communications &
Corporate Social Responsibility-Head

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June , 2008

ACC's AFR Business awarded the Golden Peacock Award for Eco - Innovation 2008

World Environment Foundation (WEF) conferred the prestigious Golden Peacock Award for Eco-Innovation for 2008 on ACC Ltd. for its efforts in waste management, more specifically in providing waste co-processing in cement plants. The award was presented to Mr. Sumit Banerjee, Managing Director, ACC Limited on June 1, 2008 by Hon’ble Shri Ravinder Singh Ravi, Irrigation & Public Health Minister, and Government of Himachal Pradesh in the valedictory session of the Global Climate Change Convention held at Palampur, H.P. The winner was decided by a jury of eminent personalities headed by Justice P. N. Bhagwati, former Chief Justice of India and former Chairman of UN Human Rights Commission,

ACC has paved a new path towards sustainable waste management by extending waste co-processing services to the industries generating hazardous and non-hazardous waste. Waste Co-processing in Cement Kilns was initiated at ACC by establishing the Alternate Fuels and Raw Materials (AFR) Department in the year 2005. Since its inception more than 800,000 T of waste materials including industrial wastes, waste fuels, alternative raw materials and biomass have been successfully and safely co-processed.

Co-processing refers to the use/disposal of waste materials in industrial processes as alternative fuels and raw materials to recover energy and material value from them, if any. Co-processing of hazardous wastes in existing cement kilns provides a simple, sustainable, local and immediate solution to the problem of disposing hazardous wastes without affecting the environment, and without huge investments. Co-processing is indeed a more environmentally sustainable method of waste disposal as compared to the conventional methods of land filling and incineration because it involves reduced emissions and there is no resultant residue from it.

ACC’s goal is to provide a preferred and safe solution to the waste management problem of the country. It seeks to do this by educating industrial sectors and the public about the practices they should adopt to protect the environment.

Sumit Banerjee

Managing Director

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May 08, 2008

ACC ASSURES STABILITY OF CEMENT PRICES RESPONDING TO GOVERNMENT’S CONCERN

Responding to concerns expressed by the Government, ACC, as a leading cement producer in the country, has decided to hold its cement prices over the coming 2-3 months.

While ACC has been taking all steps necessary to ensure that production is maintained at peak levels at all its plants and will continue to improve further operational efficiencies, this price freeze will erode the Company’s margins. During this period, ACC will engage in an open dialogue with the Government to explore viable solutions to combat inflationary trends that have disproportionately increased its input costs.

Sumit Banerjee

Managing Director

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April 04, 2008

Cement Production and Despatches in March 2008:

Our cement production and despatch figures for the month of March 2008 are as follows:

R Nand Kumar
Corporate Communications &
Corporate Social Responsibility-Head

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January 31, 2008

PRESS RELEASE

ACC Limited

1) Consolidated Results for January to December 2007

Sale of Cement reached an all-time high of 19.97 million tonnes during the year 2007, representing an increase of 6.1%, as compared to the previous financial year.

Total group turnover for the year was Rs. 7067.43 crore, up 20.8% over the group turnover in the previous year.

Profit before Exceptional Items and Tax for the year 2007 was Rs.1715.58 crore, as compared to Rs. 1472.55 crore in the previous year. Profit after Tax for the year was Rs. 1427.34 crore as against Rs. 1239.60 crore in the previous year.

The improvement in profitability was as a result of higher sales volume and improvements in operational efficiencies.

2) Ongoing Modernisation/Expansion projects

The grinding augmentation projects at Tikaria of 0.31 million tonnes went into commercial production in the first quarter of 2007. The project for expansion of capacity at Lakheri by 0.90 Million Tonnes along with a new 25 MW Captive Power Plant and the augmentation of grinding capacity at Kymore by 0.50 million tonnes went into commercial production during the second quarter.

The project for expansion of Bargarh Plant to 2.24 million tonnes together with a 30 MW Captive Power Plant is progressing well and scheduled to be completed by the end of 2008. Similarly, the projects for augmentation at Madukkarai by 0.22 million tonnes is also expected to materialize by this year end.

Work on the expansion of New Wadi Plant in Karnataka was taken up along with two split grinding plants in the state which together will augment our capacity in Karnataka by 3 million tonnes per annum. This project will go on stream in the middle of 2009.

3) New Project

The Board has approved establishment of a new clinker line of capacity 7000 TPD, (equivalent to 3 Million Tonnes per annum) at Chanda in Maharashtra. It will be accompanied by the setting up of a Captive Power Plant of 25 MW capacity. The project outlay is estimated at Rs.1450 crore and scheduled to be completed in 2010. The Chanda expansion project will give a significant boost to our market presence in Vidarbha/ Maharashtra and provide us with an opportunity to widen our customer base in the home market of Central India.

4) Social Responsibility

During the year Corporate Social Responsibility received renewed focus. A dedicated CSR organisation is being put in place comprising of experienced professionals, while retaining the spirit of social volunteering from employees of mainstream functions. Several initiatives have been taken to meet the requirements of various stakeholder groups, beginning with fresh Community Needs Assessment studies for those living in the vicinity of our Plants followed by detailed programmes to fulfill critical needs.

An important partnership was forged with Development Alternatives, a reputed NGO, to help launch a sustainable community development programme for communities around our Wadi Plant. Spread over a three year period, this will be among the most comprehensive and well structured social interventions implemented by the company. The progress, impact and efficacy of individual community development schemes will be measured regularly to ensure satisfactory implementation.

The company continues to support the national effort to combat HIV/AIDS. The Anti Retroviral Treatment Centre in Wadi, Karnataka was formally opened. This centre provides voluntary counseling and testing services and caters to the general public living in Wadi and surrounding districts. A formal partnership was entered with the reputed Christian Medical College at Vellore to establish a world-class centre for treatment of HIV/AIDS in Tamil Nadu.

5) Sustainable Development

Waste management: The Company continued with its quest for Alternate Fuel and Raw Materials and vigourously promoted its waste management services. Contracts were successfully finalised with several waste generators for the co-processing of hazardous and non hazardous waste from different industrial processes.

Wind Energy: The Company commissioned its first Wind Energy Farm as part of an effort to adopt environment–friendly technologies and to reduce dependence on energy from conventional fossil fuel based sources. The 9 MW wind farm, comprising six wind turbines of capacity 1.5 MW each, is located at Udayathoor in the Tirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu.

Sustainable habitats and Construction: ACC has joined hands with Holcim Foundation for Sustainable Construction to help propagate the concept of sustainable construction in India by encouraging sustainable building designs, research and exemplary building projects. In another unique partnership, the Company has signed a memorandum of understanding with Development Alternatives to set up a centre of excellence that will help address imminent and future challenges of housing and rural infrastructure by providing innovation support, capacity building and outreach services to the construction industry. This collaboration will make significant contribution in promoting the use of sustainable materials and demonstrating sustainable habitat technologies in housing and rural infrastructure.

6) Knowledge Development: Notable steps were taken in respect of the critical area of knowledge building. The Sumant Moolgaokar Technical Institute in Kymore, which celebrated its 50th anniversary during the year, was reopened with a fresh curriculum to help groom Industrial Training Institute (ITI) qualified students. The Company stepped forward to work with Government and industry associations to partner with ITI’s located near our plants. Already plans for partnerships with 3 ITI’s have received approval from respective state governments.

7) Outlook

The outlook for the cement sector is promising. Several manufacturers are implementing significant capacity expansion plans. These additions will help the industry meet the increased demand for cement in future. We expect the demand for cement to grow especially in infrastructure and housing sectors, keeping pace with the growth of the Nation.

8) Dividend

The Board of Directors has decided to recommend a final dividend of Rs.10 per share aggregating to Rs. 219.51 Crore (including tax on dividend). Thus the total dividend including interim dividend of Rs.10 per share paid in August, 2007 would be Rs. 20 Per share. The total dividend amount for the current fiscal would be Rs. 438.76 Crore (including tax on dividend).

Sumit Banerjee
(Managing Director)

Mumbai – January 31,2008

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