Pilkington Acquires the Auto Glass Assets of Syracuse Glass

Pilkington announced today that it has acquired the automotive glazing assets of the Syracuse Glass Company, based in Syracuse, N.Y. The acquisition was completed on Monday November 14, 2005.

Syracuse Glass has been a full line glass distributor in upstate New York since 1909. In addition to distributing automotive replacement glass for all makes and models of domestic and foreign vehicles, the company supplies a wide range of automotive aftermarket accessory products. It will focus going forward on their core flat glass and aluminum fabrication and distribution business, including TUFFVUE tempered glass, INSULVUE insulating glass, all glass doors, shower doors, and Tubelite aluminum storefronts, entrances and curtainwalls.

"I'm very pleased to announce this good news - it's good for Syracuse Glass, good for Pilkington, and good for our customers. This builds on the considerable strengths of all parties." said John Dwyer, president of Syracuse Glass. "We have enjoyed a long relationship with Pilkington in both the automotive and building product portions of the business. They are a great company, and will do a fine job helping the auto glass retailers in our market area succeed."

"We believe this acquisition will further enhance Pilkington's ability to serve the automotive glass and accessory needs of our customers in the North American wholesale aftermarket," said Pilkington North America AGR president Rick Frampton, "Pilkington, through its automotive glass replacement business, distributes parts for virtually every vehicle type in the North American market and our core customer base remains central to everything we do. Pilkington will further use this acquisition to enhance our ability to service the industry and grow profitable partnerships with our retail customers."