MeadWestvaco to Acquire Global Dispensing and Spraying Systems Manufacturer Saint-Gobain Calmar from Compagnie de Saint-Gobain for $710 Million USD

MeadWestvaco Corporation (NYSE: MWV) today announced that it hassigned a definitive agreement with Compagnie de Saint-Gobain (Paris:SGO) to acquire Saint-Gobain Calmar, a leading global manufacturer ofhigh-quality and innovative plastic dispensing and spraying systems,for $710 million in cash. The transaction, which is not contingent onfinancing, has been approved by the board of directors of MeadWestvacoand is expected to close in the summer of 2006.

Calmar's strong presence in key markets in the U.S. and Europe, aswell as emerging markets, complement MeadWestvaco's goal of achievingglobal leadership in premium packaging and packaging solutions. Thecompany's customized pump and spray packaging solutions are used in abroad range of end uses, including personal care, cosmetic andfragrance, pharmaceutical, lawn and garden, home and fabric,automotive and other industrial applications. Calmar's customers areamong the most trusted consumer products companies in the world.

"Calmar is led by a proven management team and the company has ahistory of superior customer service, unrivaled innovation, strongfinancial and operating performance, and market leadership," said JohnA. Luke, Jr., chairman and chief executive officer of MeadWestvaco."This acquisition gives us solid footing in primary packaging,providing an excellent opportunity for MeadWestvaco to deliver a morecomprehensive array of valuable packaging solutions to customersworldwide."

Calmar's revenue over the past 12 months was approximately $420million with an EBITDA of $81 million. The company's management teamwill remain in place. MeadWestvaco expects Calmar to have minimalimpact on its earnings through 2006 and to be accretive to itsearnings beginning in 2007.

"Adding Calmar to our existing packaging platform expands ourability to meet our customers' global packaging needs, particularly inhigher-growth emerging markets where companies are seeking a singlepartner to provide them with innovative and cost-effective solutions,"added Mr. Luke. "Calmar provides us with an opportunity to expand inour key current markets of pharmaceutical, personal care, andcosmetics and fragrance, while also giving us access to exciting newgrowth opportunities in markets such as home and fabric, and lawn andgarden sectors. We welcome the dedicated and hard-working employees ofCalmar to MeadWestvaco, and are confident that this combination willcreate more opportunities for our customers, employees andshareholders."

About Saint-Gobain Calmar

Saint-Gobain Calmar, founded in 1946 and a wholly owned businessunit of Compagnie de Saint-Gobain since 1998, is a leading globalmanufacturer of high-quality and innovative plastic dispensing andspraying systems. Calmar is headquartered in Grandview, Missouri; hasfacilities in North America, Europe, Latin America and Asia; generatessales in 43 countries; and employs approximately 2,700 peopleworldwide. More information about Calmar is available atwww.calmar.com.

About MeadWestvaco

MeadWestvaco is a global packaging company that delivershigh-value packaging solutions and products to the world's mostrecognized companies in the food and beverage, media andentertainment, personal care, cosmetic and healthcare industries. Thecompany also has market-leading positions in its Consumer & OfficeProducts, Specialty Chemicals and Specialty Papers businesses.MeadWestvaco, with operations in more than 29 countries, has beenselected for the Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes, and manages all ofits forestlands in accordance with internationally recognized forestcertification standards. For more information, please visitwww.meadwestvaco.com.

Forward-looking Statement

Certain statements in this document and elsewhere by management ofthe company that are neither reported financial results nor otherhistorical information are "forward-looking statements" within themeaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Suchinformation includes, without limitation, the business outlook,assessment of market conditions, anticipated financial and operatingresults, strategies, future plans, contingencies and contemplatedtransactions of the company. Such forward-looking statements are notguarantees of future performance and are subject to known and unknownrisks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause or contributeto actual results of company operations, or the performance orachievements of each company, or industry results, to differmaterially from those expressed or implied by the forward-lookingstatements. In addition to any such risks, uncertainties and otherfactors discussed elsewhere herein, risks, uncertainties and otherfactors that could cause or contribute to actual results differingmaterially from those expressed or implied for the forward-lookingstatements include, but are not limited to, events or circumstanceswhich affect the ability of MeadWestvaco to realize improvements inoperating earnings expected from the company's general andadministrative cost reduction initiative; competitive pricing for thecompany's products; changes in raw materials pricing; energy and othercosts; fluctuations in demand and changes in production capacities;changes to economic growth in the United States and internationaleconomies; government policies and regulations, including, but notlimited to those affecting the environment and the tobacco industry;adverse results in current or future litigation, currency movementsand other risk factors discussed in the company's Annual Report onForm 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005, and in other filingsmade from time to time with the SEC. MeadWestvaco undertakes noobligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whetheras a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Investorsare advised, however, to consult any further disclosures made onrelated subjects in the company's reports filed with the SEC.