Lafarge Group divests its specialty materials group of businesses, which become Materis.

Lafarge Mortiers, rebranded ParexGroup in 2004, is already present at the time in different geographical zones around the world: in France, the first revenue contributor, in the façade, tile adhesives and grouts and concrete repair markets, in Spain with the indisputable leadership in the Spanish façade market, and in North America in the external insulation facade systems and façade stucco markets.

In South America also, with the brand “Klaukol”, the indisputed historical leader in the Argentinean tile setting products market and, in Brazil, with the Qualimat business base.

2001 is also the first year of external growth under Materis, with a major acquisition in the Asia Pacific zone: the purchase of Davco Construction materials, a leading manufacturer of tile setting and waterproofing solutions in the Australian and Singapore markets.