Re Agreement

Compagnie de Saint-Gobain
23 July 2002


            NIPPON SHEET GLASS AND SAINT-GOBAIN HAVE ENTERED INTO A 
            JOINT VENTURE AGREEMENT IN THE REINFORCEMENTS BUSINESS

Nippon Sheet Glass ('NSG') and Saint-Gobain have signed an agreement
establishing a new joint venture company, NSG Vetrotex KK.

The new company, based in Tsu, near Nagoya (Japan), will achieve more efficient
and cost-effective manufacturing, providing a wider range of products and
services to drive the development of the Japanese fiberglass market. It will
draw upon the combined strengths of NSG and SGVI in high-technology
manufacturing, research and development, resulting in expansion and higher
profitability.

The NSG teams in the Reinforcements business will join the newly-formed company
and will be joined by the Saint-Gobain Vetrotex teams in Japan.

NSG has until today remained independent and had a share of the reinforcements
market that was limited by its production capacity. Through this joint venture
NSG seeks to expand its business in Japan by benefiting from synergies with
Saint-Gobain Vetrotex, which has worldwide supply capabilities with more than 20
production sites, of which 6 are located in Asia. Saint-Gobain Vetrotex
continues to implement its Asian development strategy, in which cooperation with
such a major and reputed player as NSG is a key asset. Both Groups consider this
alliance as a breakthrough, which will boost their competitiveness in Japan.

The Saint-Gobain Group, worldwide leader in Reinforcements, will hold 60% of NSG 
Vetrotex KK.




                       Investor Relations Department

Tel.:  Florence TRIOU-TEIXEIRA       - mailto : [e-mail] 
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