Saint-Gobain has announced the acquisition from HeidelbergCement of Maxit group

With this transaction, Saint-Gobain continues its leadership strategy in Construction Markets, doubling its size in industrial mortars (which, in 2006, already represented €1 billion in products sold under the Weber trademark) and in particular strengthens its ETICS (External Thermal Insulation Composite System) solutions.



Geographical complementarity between Maxit and Weber is excellent: Weber is the market leader in France and in Southern Europe, and very well established in Eastern Europe while Maxit group is a leading player in Germany and in Scandinavia. In addition, the two groups have a joint presence in many emerging countries and in most western European countries. Maxit has 103 industrial units in 30 countries and Weber has 80 industrial units in 27 countries.



Industrial mortars combine strong growth in emerging countries and sustained growth in developed countries thanks to improvements in the exterior insulating systems and productivity gains on building sites. Industrial mortars are inherently local products, for which marketing and technical innovations play an important role in terms of product formulations and specifications.



In addition to manufacturing industrial mortars, Maxit group produces clay-based solutions for draining and insulating foundations, a widely-used technique in Scandinavian countries.



Maxit's addition to the Construction Products Sector of Saint-Gobain will provide opportunities for a variety of synergies with both Exterior Solutions (particularly Weber mortars) and Interior Solutions (plaster, insulation products). The Group is aiming for cost synergies of approximately €30 million.



The transaction has an enterprise value of €2,125 million (i.e., approximately 11 times Maxit's estimated operating income for 2007 after cost synergies) and is subject to approval by relevant competition authorities. Finalization of the transaction is expected by the fourth quarter of the year.