Jean-Christophe Lefèvre-Moulenq

Jean-Christophe Lefèvre-Moulenq of CIC Market Solutions inquired about the continued acceptance of price hikes, the current price of 4-millimeter glass, and the specific price effect within European distribution for both Q3 and the first nine months of 2021.

Answer

COO, CEO & Director Benoit Bazin confirmed that price hikes are being well-accepted due to good customer service and proactive communication, with more planned for Q4. CFO Sreedhar N. provided specifics, stating the price of 4mm glass reached €3.7 at the end of September, a nearly 26% year-over-year increase. For distribution, he reported a 9.8% price increase in Q3 and a 5.4% increase for the first nine months.

Jean-Christophe Lefèvre-Moulenq from CIC Market Solutions asked for more details on the underlying growth in March, excluding COVID-19 base effects, and sought clarification on the drivers of the excellent price effect in the Americas.

Answer

Pierre-Andre de Chalendar confirmed that March was a very strong month compared to 2019, driven by weather recovery and pre-buying ahead of announced price increases. CFO N. Sreedhar added that the Americas saw frequent and proactive price increases, with both North and Latin America contributing significantly to the 7% price effect for the region.

Jean-Christophe Lefèvre-Moulenq asked if the strong price hike in the Americas was solely from Exterior Solutions, whether Q3 optimism was driven by a surprisingly strong September, and if Saint-Gobain would consider acquisitions in French distribution.

Answer

CFO N. Sreedhar clarified that the Americas price hike was broad-based across both North and Latin America and included glass and construction products. CEO Pierre-André de Chalendar described his outlook as "cautiously optimistic," citing a strong summer and continued good trends. He noted that while they evaluate opportunities, the current priority is small acquisitions and maintaining a strong balance sheet.