PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 10, 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 $150 million
(EUR 104 million).
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 in Aurora, Ohio (USA). The company employs 4,400
employees in 15 countries. Its product offer includes films, foams,
coated fabrics, bearings, seals and fluid systems.
More information on www.saint-gobain.com
and www.plastics.saint-gobain.com.
About Saint-Gobain in North
America
Saint-Gobain, the world's largest building products
manufacturer, has its North American headquarters in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. As the world
leader in sustainable habitat, Saint-Gobain is committed to
inventing solutions to help professionals and communities around
the world build and renovate comfortable, healthy, economical and
energy efficient buildings. The company has over 265 locations in
North America, and approximately
19,000 employees. In the United
States and Canada,
Saint-Gobain reported sales of approximately $7.3 billion in 2010. Recognized as a 2009
and 2010 ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year by the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency, Saint-Gobain earned the 2011 ENERGY STAR
Sustained Excellence Award, the highest level of recognition for
outstanding contributions to protecting the environment through
energy efficiency. For information about Saint-Gobain in
North America, visit
www.saint-gobain-northamerica.com
Bekaert
Bekaert (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 EUR 4.5 billion in 2010.
SOURCE Saint-Gobain Corporation