diff --git a/src/SMESH/SMESH_Group.cxx b/src/SMESH/SMESH_Group.cxx
index 1546940b7..96474952c 100644
--- a/src/SMESH/SMESH_Group.cxx
+++ b/src/SMESH/SMESH_Group.cxx
@@ -62,6 +62,18 @@ SMESH_Group::SMESH_Group (int                       theID,
                                    theType);
 }
 
+//================================================================================
+/*!
+ * \brief Constructor accesible to SMESH_Mesh only
+ */
+//================================================================================
+
+SMESH_Group::SMESH_Group (SMESHDS_GroupBase* groupDS): myGroupDS( groupDS )
+{
+  if ( myGroupDS )
+    myName = myGroupDS->GetStoreName();
+}
+
 //=============================================================================
 /*!
  *  
diff --git a/src/SMESH/SMESH_Group.hxx b/src/SMESH/SMESH_Group.hxx
index 3f460188b..31bc167bf 100644
--- a/src/SMESH/SMESH_Group.hxx
+++ b/src/SMESH/SMESH_Group.hxx
@@ -49,6 +49,7 @@ class SMESH_EXPORT  SMESH_Group
                const char*               theName,
                const TopoDS_Shape&       theShape = TopoDS_Shape(),
                const SMESH_PredicatePtr& thePredicate = SMESH_PredicatePtr());
+  SMESH_Group (SMESHDS_GroupBase* groupDS);
   ~SMESH_Group ();
 
   void SetName (const char* theName) { myName = theName; }