Re Joint Venture

Compagnie de Saint-Gobain
19 December 2000


                  SAINT-GOBAIN AND PILKINGTON TO BUILD
                    A NEW FLOAT GLASS PLANT IN POLAND

Saint-Gobain and Pilkington are to set up a joint venture to build a float
glass  plant in Wykroty, in the south-west of Poland. The jointly  owned
plant  will  incorporate the latest technology in float glass production.
It will have a capacity of 260,000 tons per year to accommodate the needs
of both companies, with economies of scale.

The  cost of this new plant is expected to be 120 million Euros. It  will
employ  initially  130  people and will produce glass  for  the  building
products sector. Production is due to come on stream in early 2003.

This project is to be approved by the competent authorities

                    The Flat Glass Division in Poland

The  Flat Glass Division of Saint-Gobain set up in Poland at the  end  of
1994. The Division currently operates, in Katowice (Dabrowa Gornizca),  a
float   glass  plant  manufacturing  also  coated  products  and  mirrors
(Saint-Gobain  Glass  Polska)  and an automotive  glass  production  unit
(Saint-Gobain  Sekurit Hanglas Polska). In addition to  these  industrial
units, a network of glass processing and distribution companies (Glaspol)
has been established to supply the building market throughout the country
and  two  specialised  units  have been set up  to  supply  the  domestic
appliances  (Sovis Kunice) and the furniture (Aurys Lustra) markets.  The
Flat Glass Division is also carrying out distribution activities for  the
automotive replacement market, through Autover.

This   new   float  line  complements  an  already  important  industrial
organisation in Poland. It will also enable Saint-Gobain Glass to  better
serve the surrounding countries.

December 19, 2000

                       Investor Relations Department

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