Wienerberger unit wins EBRD funding to build plant in Russia

Wienerberger Kirpitsch, a unit of Wienerberger AG, the world's biggest brickmaker, won €13.3 million of funding for a plant in Russia from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. The company will receive a €10.8 million loan and a €2.5 million equity investment from the EBRD, the bank said in an e-mailed statement. The plant, which will have annual production capacity of 120 million standard facing bricks or 220 million hollow bricks, will be built near the village of Kiprevo, 120 kilometers northeast of Moscow.
Vienna, July 25 – Wienerberger has concluded its share buyback program. A total of 250,000 shares, or 0.34% of outstanding shares, were repurchased from July 10 to 21, 2006, over the Vienna Stock Exchange at an average price of € 35.53. Wienerberger invested € 8.9 million in this program. This treasury stock will be used primarily to serve a stock option plan for key managers. On June 26, 2006 the Managing Board of Wienerberger decided to make use of this authorization, and to subsequently repurchase shares for use in the stock option plans. The repurchase will be executed at the current market price over the Vienna Stock Exchange, with a maximum of € 88.70 and a minimum of € 1 per share. This treasury stock will be used primarily to serve a stock option model for key managers, in accordance with a resolution passed by the 137th Annual General Meeting. (Wienerberger.com, Bloomberg)