News Release

Agreement to wholly acquire businesses of Bekaert Specialty firms to extend Saint-Gobain influence in sustainable habitat market.

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 Specialty Films, is specialized in the development, manufacturing and distribution of window films for the architectural and automotive markets, custom coatings for a wide range of industrial applications, and photovoltaics.

A world leader in roll-to-roll vacuum sputtering and precision coating and laminating, Solar Gard architectural window films provide energy saving, safety and security, and solar control solutions for residential and commercial buildings in more than 90 countries. Sold through a network of professional dealers and installers, Solar Gard solar control architectural window films are the first window films to complete an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD), which proved they are carbon negative and reduce global greenhouse gas emissions.

Founded in 1977, Solar Gard has two manufacturing facilities, in San Diego (California) in the US and in Zulte (Belgium), and is currently developing manufacturing operations in Qingdao China. Sales in 2010 surpassed $150 million (€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 in Aurora, Ohio (USA). The company employs 4,400 employees in 15 countries. Its product offer includes films, foams, coated fabrics, bearings, seals and fluid systems.

More information on www.saint-gobain.com and www.plastics.saint-gobain.com.

About Saint-Gobain in North America

Saint-Gobain, the world's largest building products manufacturer, has its North American headquarters in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. As the world leader in sustainable habitat, Saint-Gobain is committed to inventing solutions to help professionals and communities around the world build and renovate comfortable, healthy, economical and energy efficient buildings. The company has over 265 locations in North America, and approximately 19,000 employees. In the United States and Canada, Saint-Gobain reported sales of approximately $7.3 billion in 2010. Recognized as a 2009 and 2010 ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Saint-Gobain earned the 2011 ENERGY STAR Sustained Excellence Award, the highest level of recognition for outstanding contributions to protecting the environment through energy efficiency. For information about Saint-Gobain in North America, visit www.saint-gobain-northamerica.com.

Bekaert

Bekaert (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.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Dina Silver Pokedoff, APR
External Communications Manager
610-341-7031
610-341-7777
dina.pokedoff@saint-gobain.com
http://www.saint-gobain-northamerica.com