HERACLES Group of Companies today announced sales of euro 443 million for the first 9 months of 2004, decreased by 1.1% compared to the previous year. The decrease in sales is mainly due to the foreseen reduced domestic market performance in the third quarter of the year, reflecting the termination of Olympic Games construction projects and the regulated restriction of deliveries in the Attica area in August 2004.

Operating expenses decreased by 3.5% compared to 2003. Net financial expenses decreased by 68.6%, as a result of the significant reduction of net indebtedness due to the realization of operational cash flows.

The total operating income of the Group amounted to euro 87.6 million compared to euro 84.8 million in 2003, reflecting the aforementioned reduction of operating and financial expenses. Profit before tax amounted to ruro 86.2 million after extraordinary and non-operating expenses, compared to euro 83 million in the previous year.

HERACLES Group of Companies, a member of Lafarge, has 3 cement plants in Greece. One in Volos, which is the largest cement plant in Europe, one in Halkis Evia and one in Milaki Evia. The total production capacity of the Group is 9.6 million tonnes annually, which makes it the largest cement producer in Greece. HERACLES Group is also active in the production and sale of ready-mix and aggregate products.

Lafarge is the world leader in building materials, and employs 75,000 people in 75 countries. The Group holds top-ranking positions in all four of its Divisions: Cement, Aggregates & Concrete, Roofing and Gypsum. Lafarge posted sales of euro 13.6 billion in 2003

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The company continuing its ascendant course presented increase in its turnover (sales) at 23,37 % and it amounted in the sum of 24.029 thousands of Euros from 19.478 thousands of Euros that were the corresponding period 2003.

The net pre taxes profits amounted in the sum of the 4.281 thousands of Euros from 412 thousands of Euros that were the corresponding period 2003. The above reported increase of net profits emanated mainly because the improvement of percentage of mixed margin of profit from 11% that was in the third Quarter of 2003 in 25% the third Quarter 2004 as well as in the maintenance of rythm of Administrative Expenses-Distribution Expenses and Debits of Interest in the same roughly levels with the ones of last year's period.

The circulating asset in the third Quarter 2004 amounted in the sum of 35.695 thousands of Euros from 30.968 thousands of Euros presenting increase 15% concerning the corresponding last year's period.

With regard to the liabilities while long-term did not show no change from last year's corresponding period and were maintained constants in the sum of the 9.337 thousands of Euros while short-term liabilities were increased by 12.879 thousands of Euros in 14.513 thousands of Euros rate of increase roughly 13 %.

In level of group results the turnover (sales) amounted in the sum of 26.915 thousands of Euros from 20.831 thousands of Euros that were the third Quarter 2003 presented increase at 29.21 % while the net profits before taxes and afterwards the abstraction of rights of minority amounted in 4.402 thousands of Euros from 236 thousands of Euros that were in the last year's corresponding period.

INCREASE IN SALES BY 14.8% AND OPERATING PROFITS (EBITDA) BY 16.2%.

Athens, November 26th 2004. M.J.MAILLIS GROUP is announcing its Consolidated Financial Results for the Nine Month period of 2004.

Consolidated Sales of euros 258.1 mln versus euros 224.8 mln in the nine months of 2003, corresponding to an increase of 14.8%.

Consolidated Earnings before Interest, Taxes and Depreciation (E.B.I.T.D.A.) of euros 45.1 mln versus euros 38.8 mln in the nine months period of 2003, leading to an increase of 16.2%.

Consolidated Earnings before Taxes (E.B.T.) of euros 19.3 mln versus euros 17.0 mln in the relevant period of 2003, corresponding to an increase of 13.7% The Group's year to date performance continues to be on target by consistently meeting its organic growth objectives.

The Group's Strategy of ?Profitable Growth' started to pay off as profits (E.B.I.T.D.A) increased of a higher rate than sales.

The Parent Company in Greece M.J.Maillis S.A. achieved sales of euros 92.9 mln for the first nine months of 2004 versus ? 70.3 mln a year ago. This translates to a robust rate of growth of 32.1% year to year.

The Group's program of consolidating its operations and capitalize on the synergies created by its 'acquisition program' is well underway with key priorities of increasing profitability and generate cash.