Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics Extends its Habitat Offer via the Acquisition of Solar Gard

PARIS, August 11, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --

Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics has just signed an agreement to wholly acquire the businesses making up the Bekaert Specialty Films (BSF) activity of the Belgian Group Bekaert. This business, operating under the name Solar Gard, is specialized in the development, manufacturing and distribution of coated films used on the habitat market (architectural glazing for residential and commercial buildings), the automotive market, and various industrial applications. As a coating and processing expert, Solar Gard produces solar control films that contribute to reduce energy consumption, tinted films to ensure privacy, and security films to protect against window breakage during break-ins blasts and storms. Sold through both internal distribution and installation centers and a network of independent dealers, these products are installed on glass in a large number of buildings and vehicles all over the world.

Founded in 1998, Solar Gard has two manufacturing facilities, in San Diego (California) in the US and in Zulte (Belgium), and is currently developing an activity in China. Sales in 2010 reached $150million (€104million).

This acquisition is right in line with Saint-Gobain's strategy to become the reference in sustainable habitat. Through it, Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics will be able to extend its range of solutions for energy efficient buildings, reinforce its sales network and leverage more synergies with Saint-Gobain's Glass Activity.

The intended acquisition will be submitted for approval to the required anti-trust authorities.

Saint-Gobain

Located in 64 countries and with almost 190,000 employees, Saint-Gobain, world leader in habitat, designs, manufactures and distributes building materials, providing innovative solutions to meet the challenges of growth, energy-saving and environmental protection. World leader in high performance plastics, Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics is headquartered inAurora,Ohio (USA). The company employs 4,400 employees in 15 countries. Its product offer includesfilms, foams, coated fabrics, bearings, seals and fluid systems.

More information onhttp://www.saint-gobain.com andhttp://www.plastics.saint-gobain.com.

Bekaert

Bekaert (http://www.bekaert.com) is a global technological leader in its two core competences: advanced metal transformation and coatings, and a market leader in drawn wire products and applications. Bekaert (Euronext Brussels: BEKB) is a global company with headquarters in Belgium, employing 28 000 people worldwide. Serving customers in 120 countries, Bekaert pursues sustainable profitable growth in all its activities and generated combined sales of € 4.5 billion in 2010.

    

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SOURCE Saint-Gobain

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