Re Joint Venture

RNS Number:2196L
Compagnie de Saint-Gobain
19 April 2005





press
release


Saint-Gobain enters the PDP (Plasma Display Panel) glass market through a first
                           investment in South Korea



Saint-Gobain's Flat Glass Sector (Saint-Gobain Vitrage) has decided to expand
into the booming glass market for flat TV panels, through the production of
glass for PDP (Plasma Display Panel). This technology aims at top-of-the-range
large dimension screens.


PDP Glass will be manufactured by DISPLAY GLASS ALLIANCE, a joint-venture
created to this effect between Saint-Gobain Vitrage (which owns 30 %), the
Japanese glassmaker Central Glass (40 %) - which already partners Saint-Gobain
Vitrage in the manufacture of Automotive Glass in Japan - and the Korean
glassmaker Hankuk Glass Industries (Hanglas) (30 %) - of which Saint-Gobain
Vitrage is the majority shareholder.



The joint venture's first processing plant will be built on the Ochang site,
located 100 km from Seoul (Korea). The primary float glass to be processed will
initially come from a Central Glass facility located in Ube (Japan), and
subsequently from a specialized facility located in Korea.


Production should begin in early 2006.



By combining the skills and know-how of Central Glass, HGI and Saint-Gobain, the
joint venture will be able to leverage the technologies, products and customer
base that should ensure its technical, commercial and financial success.



Employing around 37,000 people, Saint-Gobain's Flat Glass Sector (Saint-Gobain
Vitrage) generated sales close to Euro4.4 billion in 2004. Saint-Gobain Vitrage is
currently present in 39 countries and ranks number two worldwide and number one
in Europe in the flat glass market.


Saint-Gobain Vitrage is organized according to the markets it serves. Its
businesses include: Saint-Gobain Glass, which specializes in basic glass
products; the Saint-Gobain Glass Solutions network, which processes and
distributes glass destined for the architectural and decoration markets;
Saint-Gobain Sekurit,  the leading supplier of glass to the automotive and
transport markets; and finally Saint-Gobain Specialties, which supplies glass
products to the domestic appliances, electronics and photovoltaic industries,
but also to the industrial and commercial equipment industries.



April 19, 2005

Investor Relations Department
Mrs. Florence Triou-Teixeira                 Tel.: [phone]
Mr. Alexandre ETUY                           Tel.: [phone]
                                             Fax:  [phone]




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            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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