Compagnie St-Gobain - Re Strategic Alliance

RNS No 0688q
COMPAGNIE DE SAINT-GOBAIN 
16th September 1998


             SAINT-GOBAIN GROUP FORMS STRATEGIC ALLIANCE WITH HANGLAS


Saint-Gobain Group and Hanglas have decided to strengthen their relationship
through a significant equity stake of Saint-Gobain in Hankuk Glass Industries
Inc. capital structure, company which is both the largest flat glass
manufacturer in Korea and the parent company of Hanglas Group.  The purpose of
this transaction is to obtain together with the Korean founding families, the
majority control of Hankuk Glass.

Both companies already developed a long relationship dating back to 1983, with
the signature of a licence agreement with Isover for the production of glass
wool through the TEL procedure.

In 1989, Vetrotex, another company of Saint-Gobain, concluded an agreement for
a joint-venture with the very Hankuk Glass for the construction of a fibre
glass plant dedicated to the reinforcement of composites.

The joint development with Hanglas Group has reached a new stage with additional
joint-ventures in 1997 and 1998 in Korea and Poland for the production of
safety glass for the automotive industry.

These important investments of Saint-Gobain are part of a strategy of long term
presence in Korea and Asia, where the cooperation with the Hanglas group will
continue to expand.

Investor Relations Department

Tel: Florence TRIOU  33 1 47 62 45 19
Tel: Lounis BEKKAT   33 1 47 62 32 36
Fax:                 33 1 47 62 50 62


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