Solar Gard specialty films to be acquired by Saint-Gobain

SAN DIEGO, USA: Bekaert and Saint-Gobain have signed an agreement regarding the sale of Bekaert's Specialty Films activities to Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics Corporation, an Ohio, US-based corporation of the Saint-Gobain group. The transaction covers the production facilities in San Diego (US), Zulte (Belgium) and Suzhou (China), the operations under development in China, and all sales and service centers worldwide. The deal involves all employees currently working in the Specialty Films platform, which is known as Solar Gard Specialty Films.

Solar Gard Specialty Films is a market leader in the development, manufacture and distribution of window films and other specialty films for automotive, architectural, photovoltaic and custom coating applications.

Saint-Gobain, a market leader in each of the segments where it plays, offers opportunities for synergies that will help strengthen Solar Gard’s leadership position particularly in the architectural and energy market where both companies are committed to building a more sustainable future through the development of energy-efficient products and solutions for professionals and communities around the world.

Bekaert acquired the Specialty Films business in 2001 and under the current management team have developed it into a global market leader. While the business continued to grow successfully, technological synergies within Bekaert have proven to be limited over time. The future growth of Solar Gard can therefore be best secured within the Saint-Gobain group that sees significant product and market synergies for Solar Gard with its Innovative Materials businesses (Performance Plastics and Flat Glass Activities).

The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions. Bekaert and Saint-Gobain expect to close the deal in the course of 2011. Subject to final determination of transaction costs and other expenses, Bekaert expects the transaction to result in a capital gain of approximately EUR [10 million], and in a reduction of Bekaert’s consolidated net debt of approximately EUR [80 million].