First Closing of Novacem's Green Cement Bond With Subscription of Lafarge

LONDON, July 2, 2010 - First Closing of Novacem's Green Cement Bond With Subscription of Lafarge

LONDON

Novacem, the carbon negative cement company, today announced the first
closing of its Green Cement Bond, together with the participation of Lafarge,
the world leader in building materials, as the first subscriber. The Novacem
Green Cement Bond is an innovative commercial and financial approach for
engagement with major cement manufacturers to accelerate the development and
commercialisation of Novacem's negative carbon cement. The Bond is for a
nominal GBP1 million (through a combination of Non Refundable Engineering
fees and Convertible Loan Notes). It is expected that subscribers to the Bond
will also participate in the Series A Funding round currently being planned
by Novacem.

Novacem's carbon negative cement is based on magnesium oxide and offers
the cement industry a scalable alternative to current carbon intensive
production. No carbon emissions are released from the magnesium silicate raw
material used, and overall more CO2 is absorbed than emitted during
production. Novacem features on MIT Technology Review's list of the world's
ten most important emerging technologies for 2010.

Novacem will employ the proceeds from both the Bond and the Series A
Funding to accelerate its development programme to construct and operate a
Semi Commercial Novacem Plant (up to 25,000 tonnes per year) to be co-located
with an existing cement plant. Bond subscribers will work with Novacem in the
development of the Plant and share valuable experience in the production of
Novacem's carbon negative cement. They will also have early access to Plant
output for testing, development, certification, pilot projects and early
sales. Additionally, they will have the opportunity to build and operate the
first Commercial Volume Novacem Plants under license from Novacem.
Thereafter, Novacem expects to roll out other Commercial Volume Novacem
Plants to the subscribers as well as to other cement companies and qualified
parties.

Stuart Evans, Chairman of Novacem, commented "We have always known that
we would need to work closely with the cement industry to urgently tackle,
together, the very serious carbon emissions problems that the industry faces.
We couldn't have hoped for a better first cement industry partner than
Lafarge."

Enquiries about the Second Closing of the Bond should be directed to
Novacem Chairman Stuart Evans (stuart.evans@novacem.com) or Dr John
Prendergast per details below.

Novacem, the carbon negative cement company, is a spin-out from Imperial
College London and has developed a new generation of carbon negative cement
that will offer cost and performance parity with Portland cement. The cement
is based on magnesium oxide produced from magnesium silicates, and is a
scalable, transformational alternative to current carbon intensive cement
production. Novacem features on MIT Technology Review's list of the world's
ten most important emerging technologies for 2010.

Novacem's Board and management team comprises a blend of experienced
entrepreneurs, innovative scientists, seasoned industry executives and
investors. The company raised a GBP1 million+ Seed Round in 2009 from Imperial
Innovations, the Royal Society Enterprise Fund and the London Technology
Fund. The company is planning a Series A Funding to support the construction
of the Semi Commercial Novacem plant and other development activities.

Lafarge www.lafarge.com

Lafarge is the world leader in building materials, with top-ranking
positions in all of its businesses: Cement, Aggregates & Concrete and Gypsum.
With 78,000 employees in 78 countries, Lafarge posted sales of EUR 15.9 billion
in 2009. In 2010, and for the sixth year in a row, Lafarge was listed in the
"Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations in the World". With the world's
leading building materials research facility, Lafarge places innovation at
the heart of its priorities, working for sustainable construction and
architectural creativity.

    Media Enquiries

    Novacem
    Dr John Prendergast,
    Marketing Manager
    +44-(0)20-7594-9531
    +44-(0)7800-644620
    john.prendergast@novacem.com

    Lafarge press office
    lafarge.press@lafarge.com
    +33(0)-1-44-34-19-47
    Novacem Limited www.novacem.com

Media Enquiries: Novacem, Dr John Prendergast, Marketing Manager, +44-(0)20-7594-9531, +44-(0)7800-644620, john.prendergast at novacem.com. Lafarge press office, lafarge.press at lafarge.com, +33(0)-1-44-34-19-47, Novacem Limited www.novacem.com