Disposal of Shares

Compagnie de Saint-Gobain
8 November 2000


                CLOSURE OF THE DISPOSAL OF ESSILOR SHARES

Compagnie de Saint-Gobain announces the simultaneous closure, on November 7, of
the public offer and the private placement of 21.9% Essilor's share capital, the
remaining 10% being bought back by Essilor. The price fixed for all these
transactions is euro 275 per share, giving total proceeds of euro 929 millions
to Compagnie de Saint-Gobain from the disposal.

After these operations, Compagnie de Saint-Gobain will no longer hold any
Essilor shares.

November 8, 2000.


                           Investor Relations Department

                 Tel: Florence TRIOU-TEIXEIRIA  [phone] 
                    - mailto: [e-mail]

                       Tel. Lounis BEKKAT   [phone]
                      - mailto: [e-mail]
                              Fax:   [phone]