Pilot program financed R$ 23 million for consumers in six months. Votorantim Cimentos is deploying the CredLeve Program in the cities of Campinas, Piracicaba, Bauru, Ribeirão Preto and São José do Rio Preto. The objective of this program is to finance civil construction products for consumers. In a joint operation with BV Financeira, the pilot project started last June in the cities of São Paulo (São Paulo) and Brasília (Distrito Federal). Up to the year-end, the 750 participant stores had accounted for operations to the tune of R$ 23 million. According to Marcelo Chamma, commercial director of the company, Votorantim Cimentos and BV Financeira sought to create a program that would be the only one of its kind in the civil construction market, which besides making financing easy for consumers, would also win over and benefit storeowners. "Every time a retailer offers financing for the acquisition of construction material, this retailer receives part of the financed amount in Votorantim products. Furthermore, this storeowner accumulates points for the Loyalty Program entitled "Diga Sim à Votorantim Cimentos" when the consumer purchases our brands, which can be exchanged for prizes", explains the executive. Today the program is already present in the Midwest, Southeast and South, and as from the second semester it should arrive in some States of the Northeast. So far the number of participant stores amounts to 1,500. About Votorantim Cimentos Votorantim Cimentos is one of the top ten global cement, concrete and mortar companies. With 25 production units in Brazil and seven in North America, where over eight thousand collaborators work, Votorantim Cimentos invests heavily in innovation, technology and quality. It was a pioneer in the co-processing of waste, contributing towards the sustainability of the manufacturing activity, and is involved in important social projects, in partnership with Instituto Votorantim. The company markets more than 40 products in Brazil in the areas of constructive solutions. Its main brands include Votoran, Itau, Poty, Tocantins and Aratu. In the mortar line, it operates under the Votomassa trademark. In the lime line, it sells the Itau and Votoran brands. In 2004, Votorantim Cimentos attained the threshold of R$ 4.7 billion in net income, maintaining the leadership of the cement and concrete markets, in which it operates through Engemix. Founded in 1936, the company is part of the Votorantim Group, one of the largest corporations controlled by domestic investors, which operates in the sectors of cement, mining and metallurgy, paper and pulp, chemicals, agribusiness and finance. Further information

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Sandra Polo - Phone(11) 3643-2821 - sandra-polo@cdn.com.br
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