Saint-Gobain's Building Distribution Sector announces the acquisition of DLH's building materials distribution division and the launch of exclusive negotiations for the purchase of the Estonian building materials distributor Famar Desi.

- With estimated sales of DKK1.82 billion (EUR245 million) in 2007, DLH's building materials distribution division is the third largest builders' merchant in Denmark. The network has 19 outlets and a logistics center and employs 550 people.

- With estimated sales of EEK1.9 billion in 2007 (EUR122 million), Famar Desi is Estonia's leading builders' merchant. Its network encompasses 16 outlets, including two in Latvia, thereby establishing Saint-Gobain's Building Distribution Sector for the first time in that country. Famar Desi has 700 employees.

Following the 2004 acquisition of the DAHL group, Scandinavia's leading plumbing and heating distributor, and the 2005 acquisition of the Optimera group, a builders' merchant in Norway and Sweden, Saint-Gobain's Building Distribution Sector continues its development strategy in the Nordic countries, building solid bases for expansion in Denmark and the Baltic countries.

With these acquisitions, full-year sales for the Building Distribution Sector in the Nordic countries are expected to reach EUR3.3 billion, an average annual increase of 24% since the acquisition of DAHL. The acquisitions should bring the Building Distribution Sector's network to 78 outlets in Denmark and 19 in Estonia.