Meeting in Bangkok, the board of directors of Asia Cement Public Co. approved a public tender offer for 75.6 million shares of the Jalaprathan Cement Public Co., representing 63% of the share capital, for a price of 15 baht per share (approximately 0.39 euro or US$0.34). The offer will be valid from Feb. 25 to April 1, 2002.

Ciments Français, the main shareholder of Asia Cement Public Co. and of Jalaprathan Cement Public Co., has been active in Thailand since the end of 1998. Its industrial facilities in the country consist of three cement plants with a production capacity of approximately 6 million mt of cement and 26 concrete batching units. Last year, the Group reported net sales of 141 million euro (US$123.6 million) in Thailand, up 16.6% from 2000.