DGI and Menard Soiltreatment Merge to Form DGI-Menard, A Specialized Ground Improvement Contractor

Pittsburgh, PA (January 2, 2004): DGI, a leading Vertical Wick Drain installer in the US, recently merged with Menard Soiltreatment, Inc., the US affiliate of Menard Soltraitement, one of the world's leading specialized ground improvement contractors. The new company, DGI-Menard, Inc., is headquartered in Pittsburgh, PA.

DGI-Menard offers a full range of ground improvement technologies including:

• Vertical wick drains
• Menard vacuum^TM consolidation
• Dynamic compaction^TM
• Dynamic replacement^TM
• Vibro densification
• Vibro stone columns
• Vibro concrete columns
• Controlled modulus columns^TM

"The newly formed company brings together two organizations with significant expertise in ground improvement techniques," says Seth Pearlman, president of DGI-Menard. "The new DGI-Menard offers extremely economical solutions for preparing the ground for large, flat construction projects such as commercial warehouses, port and airport platforms, heavy industrial storage areas, roads and railways."

DGI-Menard is affiliated with Reinforced Earth Company, the inventor and market leader of the Mechanically Stabilized Earth retaining wall industry. DGI-Menard, Reinforced Earth Company, Menard Soltraitement and Freyssinet, a specialist in prestressing and cable stayed structures, form the Freyssinet Group, the world's leader in specialized civil engineering and a division of VINCI Construction, one of the world's largest construction companies.

###