Compagnie St-Gobain - Re Subsids. Acquisition

RNS Number:2350A
Compagnie de Saint-Gobain
3 November 1999




                    SAINT-GOBAIN STRENGTHENS ITS POSITION
                       IN THE DISTRIBUTION BUSINESS

The Saint-Gobain Distribution Division announces the acquisition of the Lehmann
Group by the Point P Group.  The Lehmann Group specializes in the distribution
of building materials, products for sanitary and heating and material for civil
engineering.  The sales of this wholesaler are more than 76 million Euros (500
million French Francs) realized through a network of 21 outlets operating in
Bas-Rhin, Haut Rhin, Moselle et Meurthe et Moselle (Eastern part of France).

This acquisition will complement the existing network of Point P - more than
1,000 outlets in France - allowing Point P to become the leader in four
counties, and especially in Alsace.

The Lehmann Group has three trade-names: Lehmann, Latuner and Danjac and the
company employees 290 people.

The Building Distribution Division, which groups together such trade-names as
Point P, Cedeo, Lapeyre-GME and K par K, will have sales of around 4 billion
Euros in 1999, an increase of 20% compared to last year.  The companies bought
by the Division since January 1st, 1999 realize sales in the region of 216
million Euros in full year.


Investor Relations Department

Tel: Florence TRIOU  01 47 62 45 19
Tel: Lounis BEKKAT   01 47 62 32 36
              Fax:   [phone]

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