Saint-Gobain: Lazard To Advise On Sell-Offs, Say Sources

BNP Paribas & UBS, which advised Saint-Gobain on its £3.9BN takeover of UK plasterboard manufacturer BPB, are reportedly out of the banking team for the French building materials major's latest deal. According to unnamed sources close to the matter, Saint Gobain has appointed Lazard to sell at least one of its packaging businesses. Saint Gobain is considering selling perfume bottle manufacturer Desjonqueres & Calmar, which makes pump sprays. Industry sources said a sale of the two businesses could bring in over EUR 1BN. Saint Gobain & Lazard declined to comment. UK packaging business Rexam refused to comment 28/11/05 on press reports that it was preparing a EUR 3bn bid for Saint Gobain's glass-packaging business.