Acquisition

Compagnie de Saint-Gobain
4 October 2001



          SAINT-GOBAIN ANNOUNCES THE ACQUISITION OF BAYWA CZECH REPUBLIC 
                AND CONFIRMS ITS GROWTH STRATEGY IN EASTERN EUROPE

Pursuing its growth strategy in Eastern Europe, the Building Distribution 
Division of Saint-Gobain announces the acquisition of BayWa Czech Republic, 
through its German subsidiary Raab Karcher.

BayWa Czech Republic is a builders' merchant which achieved a turnover of 23 
million of Euros in 2000, via 10 outlets spread over the country. It employs
more than 140 people.

BayWa Czech Republic is a subsidiary of the German group BayWa AG, mainly 
specialized in agriculture, building materials, mineral oils, diy & garden 
centers.

The acquisition strengthens Raab Karcher's distribution network in the Czech 
Republic and reinforces its presence regionally.  It is fully in line with 
Saint-Cobain Building Distribution growth strategy in Eastern Europe.

This acquisition is subject to approval by the relevant authorities.

The Building Distribution Division of Saint-Gobain has achieved a turnover of 
9.7 billion of Euros in 2000 and employs more than 43 000 people. It is the 
leading building materials distributor in Europe, via its 2500 outlets in 13 
countries. Its major brand names are Point. P. Lapeyre, La Plateforme du 
Batiment, Jewson, Graham, and Raab Karcher.



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