PARIS, August 11, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --
Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics has just signed an agreement
to wholly acquire the businesses making up the Bekaert Specialty
Films (BSF) activity of the Belgian Group Bekaert. This business,
operating under the name Solar Gard, is specialized in the
development, manufacturing and distribution of coated films used on
the habitat market (architectural glazing for residential and
commercial buildings), the automotive market, and various
industrial applications. As a coating and processing expert, Solar
Gard produces solar control films that contribute to reduce energy
consumption, tinted films to ensure privacy, and security films to
protect against window breakage during break-ins blasts and storms.
Sold through both internal distribution and installation centers
and a network of independent dealers, these products are installed
on glass in a large number of buildings and vehicles all over the
world.
Founded in 1998, Solar Gard has two manufacturing facilities, in
San Diego (California) in the US and in Zulte
(Belgium), and is currently
developing an activity in China.
Sales in 2010 reached $150million
(€104million).
This acquisition is right in line with Saint-Gobain's strategy
to become the reference in sustainable habitat. Through it,
Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics will be able to extend its range
of solutions for energy efficient buildings, reinforce its sales
network and leverage more synergies with Saint-Gobain's Glass
Activity.
The intended acquisition will be submitted for approval to the
required anti-trust authorities.
Saint-Gobain
Located in 64 countries and with
almost 190,000 employees,
Saint-Gobain, world leader in habitat, designs, manufactures
and distributes building materials, providing
innovative solutions to meet the challenges
of growth, energy-saving and environmental protection. World
leader in
high performance plastics,
Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics is headquartered
inAurora,Ohio (USA). The company
employs 4,400 employees in 15 countries. Its
product offer
includesfilms, foams, coated
fabrics, bearings, seals and fluid
systems.
More information onhttp://www.saint-gobain.com
andhttp://www.plastics.saint-gobain.com.
Bekaert
Bekaert (http://www.bekaert.com) is a
global technological leader in its two core competences: advanced
metal transformation and coatings, and a market leader in drawn
wire products and applications. Bekaert (Euronext Brussels: BEKB)
is a global company with headquarters in Belgium, employing 28 000 people
worldwide. Serving customers in 120 countries, Bekaert pursues
sustainable profitable growth in all its activities and generated
combined sales of € 4.5 billion in 2010.
Press Contact
Sophie CHEVALLON, +33-1-47-62-30-48
Analyst/Investor relations
Florence TRIOU-TEIXERA, +33-1-47-62-45-19
Etienne HUMBERT, +33-1-47-62-30-49
Vivien DARDEL, +33-1-47-62-44-29
SOURCE Saint-Gobain