Saint Gobain Or Regulatory News (COD)

7 Apr 2005 07:46

Compagnie de Saint-Gobain07 April 2005 pressrelease Saint-Gobain takes control of Hankuk Glass Industries (HGI) of Korea In accordance with agreements finalized on April 6, 2005, Saint-Gobain hasincreased its share of voting rights in Hankuk Glass Industries (HGI) from 46%to 80.47%, and thus gained control of HGI. Hankuk Glass Industries manufactures and processes glass for the architecturaland automotive markets and is also present in certain specialty glass segments. In 2004, the company achieved a turnover of 323 billion wons (or around €227million) with a workforce of 774 people. HGI is mainly present in Korea, China and Japan. Following on from the long-established partnership existing between Saint-Gobainand Hankuk Glass Industries in the Flat Glass sector - essentially in Korea andChina -, this operation serves to strengthen Saint-Gobain's positions in Asiaand is consistent with the Group strategy of development in emerging countries. Employing around 37,000 people, Saint-Gobain's Flat Glass Sector (Saint-GobainVitrage) generated sales close to €4.4 billion in 2004. Saint-Gobain Vitrage iscurrently present in 39 countries and ranks number two worldwide and number onein Europe in the flat glass market. Saint-Gobain Vitrage is organized according to the markets it serves. Itsbusinesses include: Saint-Gobain Glass, which specializes in basic glassproducts; the Saint-Gobain Glass Solutions network, which processes anddistributes glass destined for the architectural and decoration markets;Saint-Gobain Sekurit, the leading supplier of glass to the automotive andtransport markets; and finally Saint-Gobain Specialties, which supplies glassproducts to the domestic appliances and electronics industries, but also to theindustrial and commercial equipment industries. April 7, 2005 Investor Relations Department Florence Triou-Teixeira Tel.: +33 1 47 62 45 19Alexandre Etuy Tel.: +33 1 47 62 37 15 Fax: +33 1 47 62 50 62 This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange