Acquisition

RNS Number:8183N
Compagnie de Saint-Gobain
21 June 2005



press release

SAINT-GOBAIN ACQUIRES OPTIMERA GRUPPEN AS, NORWAY'S THIRD LARGEST DISTRIBUTOR OF
BUILDING MATERIALS


Saint-Gobain's Building Distribution Sector would like to announce the
acquisition, through its Scandinavian holding company Saint-Gobain Nordic, of
the Norwegian-based distributor of building materials, Optimera Gruppen AS.


Optimera Gruppen AS reported sales of NOK 4.3 billion (Euro 514 million) in 2004,
up 11.4% year-on-year. Its commercial network is made up of 95 branches, 81 in
Norway and 14 in Sweden. Optimera Gruppen AS is Norway's third largest
distributor of building materials, and the largest excluding sales generated
with franchises.


The group currently employs over 1,400 people.


This acquisition enables Saint-Gobain's Building Distribution Sector, already
established in Scandinavia since 2004 through the DAHL group, to enter the
general trade market in Norway and Sweden.


The completion of the transaction is subject to the approval of the relevant
competition authorities.


Saint-Gobain's Building Distribution Sector reported 2004 sales of Euro13.7
billion. It currently has more than 60,000 employees and a network of over 3,300
sales outlets located in 20 countries. It is the leading distributor of building
materials in Europe and its main brands are Point.P, Jewson's, Raab Karcher,
Dahl, Lapeyre la maison and La Plateforme du Batiment.


June 21, 2005


                         Investor Relations Department


Mme. Florence TRIOU-TEIXEIRA     Tel. : [phone]

M. Alexandre ETUY                Tel. : [phone]

                                 Fax : [phone]


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