Heracles Group announced today sales of 448.0 million euros for the nine-month period of 2005, increased by 1.6% as compared to the corresponding period of 2004. Sales of the third quarter of 2005 amounted to 161.2 million euros, increased by 12.7% in relation to the similar quarter of 2004. The large increase in sales during the third quarter of 2005 as compared to the corresponding period of 2004 is mainly due to the fact that 2004 experienced the end of Olympic projects and a subsequent slow down of the relevant activity in the Attica area. Profits before taxes amounted to 106.4 million euros for the nine-month period of 2005. Extraordinary income of 44.1 million euros is included in the above profits and represents the amount collected according to court decisions No 2415/27-2-2004 and 2417/27-2-2004. The financial statements for the nine-month period of 2005 have been drawn up according to the International Financial Reporting Standards. The main impact on results concerns the method of calculation of depreciation (economic life of assets as compared to tax coefficients) as well as the representation of taxes in interim accounts. HERACLES Group, a member of the Lafarge Group, owns three cement production plants in Greece: The Volos plant, the largest cement production plant in Europe, the Halkis plant and the Milaki plant. Total productive capacity of the Group amounts to 9.6 million euros, a fact which makes it the largest cement producer in Greece. The Group also activates in the aggregates sector and in the production and trading of concrete. The Lafarge Group is the leader in Building Materials and employs 77,000 people in 75 countries. The Group holds leading positions in the 4 Sectors of its Activities: Cement, Aggregates & Ready-mix concrete, Roofing materials and Gypsum. In 2004, Lafarge announced sales of 14.4 billion euros.