Control guaranteed

The French building materials group Saint-Gobain is taking over its UK rival BPB. The company intends to ensure it retains control of BPB's rapidly growing gypsum board business, according to a Reuters report. The German Rigips company is also part of BPB. Information from Rigips says that BPB is the world's leading manufacturer of gypsum plasterboard and gypsum plaster for noise and thermal insulation, fire protection and room acoustics. A figure of € 3.1 bn is given for BPB's turnover in the 2003/04 financial year. Saint-Gobain director Jean-Louis Beffa is quoted as saying that the merger will result in the company becoming the global leader in materials for interior work.