[LOGO] EXHIBIT (a)(7) BIRD NEWS RELEASE CORPORATION FOUNDED 1795 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bird Corporation 1077 Pleasant Street Norwood, M.A. 02062-6714 Contact: R.C. Maloof F.S. Anthony Tel: (781) 551-0656 CertainTeed Corporation 750 East Swedesford Road Valley Forge, PA 19482 Contact: Dorothy C. Wackerman Tel: (610) 341-7428 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: FTC Grants Early Termination of Hart-Scott Rodino Waiting Period with Respect to Proposed Acquisition of Bird Corporation by CertainTeed Corporation January 30, 1998-Norwood, MA- Bird Corporation (NASDAQ:BIRD)-- Bird Corporation and CertainTeed Corporation, a subsidiary of Compagnie de Saint-Gobain (Paris, France), today jointly announced that the Federal Trade Commission granted early termination of the Hart-Scott-Rodino waiting period, effective January 29, 1998, with respect to the previously announced acquisition of Bird by CertainTeed. The waiting period refers to the time during which the government could request additional information or documents with respect to the proposed acquisition. As was previously announced on January 12, 1998, CertainTeed and Bird entered into a definitive agreement providing for CertainTeed to acquire all of Bird's outstanding common, preferred and preference shares in a two-step merger transaction. The first step consists of an all cash tender offer to purchase all outstanding shares of Bird's common stock for $5.50 per share and Bird's $1.85 cumulative convertible preference stock for $20 per share (which amount shall not be adjusted for any accrued and unpaid dividends thereon as of the expiration of the offer), and the second step consists of a merger of a subsidiary of CertainTeed into Bird. The tender offer is scheduled to expire at midnight (EDT) on Friday, February 13, 1998, unless the offer is extended. The offer is made only pursuant to the offer to purchase and related letter of transmittal. [LOGO] BIRD NEWS RELEASE CORPORATION FOUNDED 1795 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bird Corporation, founded in 1795, is primarily a manufacturer of asphalt shingles and roll-roofing goods with annual sales of more than $50 million. CertainTeed Corporation, headquarterd in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, is a leading producer of fiber glass products (insulation and reinforcements) and building materials (roofing, ventilation products, vinyl siding and windows, vinyl fence and railing, and piping products). ###