Saint-Gobain Corporation Selects Planalytics GasBuyer

Planalytics GasBuyer uses proprietary long-range climate forecasts and inventory change projections, weekly storage data, real-time NYMEX futures contract pricing, and advanced neural network technologies to evaluate gas prices for each of the next twelve months.Based on what it knows about future weather and how it will ultimately impact the market, Planalytics GasBuyer determines if gas is currently "undervalued" or "overvalued" and then provides clients with daily buying, selling and hedging actions that reduce risk and take advantage of opportunities presented by fluctuating prices. The tool's year-ahead view of the market allows clients to address their gas needs gradually, proactively and cost-effectively while minimizing the negative effects of shorter-term price volatility.

Planalytics GasBuyer helps clients lower costs and minimize risk by identifying when it is a good time to buy natural gas and, just as importantly, when it is not. The tool outperformed the market by 11% during the most recent six-month period. The average price of gas for clients following the GasBuyer's suggestions was $3.848 per MMBtu for September 2002 through February 2003 futures contracts. This was $0.48 per MMBtu, or 11%, lower than the average NYMEX month-end settlement price of $4.328 per MMBtu during this same period.

Valley Forge, PA-based Saint-Gobain Corporation is the holding company for the U.S.- and Canadian-based businesses of Compagnie de Saint-Gobain, a leading worldwide producer of abrasives, building materials, high-performance plastics, insulation, flat glass, glass containers, piping, reinforcements and industrial ceramics. Compagnie de Saint-Gobain, with headquarters in Courbevoie, France, is one of the top 100 industrial companies in the world with manufacturing operations in 46 countries.