Eternit clarifies the asbestos issue

SAO PAULO, June 4, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- In response to recent news articles circulating in the Brazilian media and the news agencies AFP and Reuters, Eternit S.A. (BM&FBOVESPA: ETER3; OTC: ETNTY), founded 73 years ago, market leader in the Brazilian roofing segment, with a significant presence in the bathroom chinaware and metal bathroom fittings segments and a manufacturer of components for construction systems, wishes to make clear that it has no relationship with Eternit companies in other countries, including Italy.

In Brazil, the Eternit Group is a public limited company, with shares listed on the stock exchange since 1948 and listed on the Novo Mercado, BM&FBOVESPA's highest level of Corporate Governance, since 2006. It therefore follows that the ownership/use of the brand name is carried out in a separate manner by a number of companies in various countries. The Company's activity in Brazil also differs markedly from that of the Italian company.

The Brazilian Eternit company complies with Federal Law No. 9055/95, which governs the extraction, industrialization, use, sale and transport of chrysotile asbestos and the principal products that contain it, throughout Brazilian domestic territory.

With regard to the use of chrysotile asbestos in products such as water tanks and roofing tiles, Eternit wishes to make clear that:

• The extraction and processing of chrysotile asbestos by its subsidiary SAMA and the use of this mineral in Eternit's plants, follows rigid safety standards that go beyond that required by the current legislation. With the improvement of production techniques and the perfection of protection mechanisms in the workplace, there have been no cases of any diseases related to the use of chrysotile asbestos recorded among employees joining the Group from the 80s.
• The safety procedures implemented by the Eternit Group in its companies exceed all legal requirements, eliminating or reducing possible risks and guaranteeing safety to its employees and consumers. The use of roofing tiles containing chrysotile asbestos is safe. There has been no case of any resident in Brazil developing any disease as a result of living in homes with roofs made of asbestos tiles. This fact has been proven through national research, the results of which can be accessed on the following website links: http://www.sectec.go.gov.br/portal/ or www.eternit.com.br/ir

The Eternit Group once again emphasizes that it deals with this subject in a transparent manner, and has an Open Door Program for all its manufacturing units as well as the mining company, permitting access to anyone who wishes to learn more about the safe processes used in the chrysotile asbestos mining operation and in the manufacture of products that contain chrysotile asbestos.

Eternit S.A.
C.N.P.J. nº 61.092.037/0001-81

Elio A. Martins
President and Investor Relations Director

Media Contact
[email protected] 
Tel.: (55-11) 3038-3818
Tel.: (55-11) 3194-3881
Tel.: (55-11) 3194-3872

SOURCE Eternit S.A.