October 15, 2004 Rhodia

Rhodia signs letter of intent with China National Blue Star Corporation for a strategic alliance in Silicone Activities
http://www.rhodia.com/API/afficheimg.asp?id=1420

Rhodia's CEO, Jean-Pierre Clamadieu and President Ren Jian Xin of China National Blue Star Corporation have signed today in Beijing a letter of intent to form a strategic alliance for their respective Silicone activities.

The companies are forming the alliance to become a major supplier of Methylchlorosilane and Core Intermediates Silicone Products in the Asia-Pacific region. The project includes an investment in a new facility in Tianjin (China) using Rhodia technology and a joint commercial organization to sell products in the Asia-Pacific region manufactured by the alliance.

Blue Star will gain access to a best in class Methylchlorosilane technology that Rhodia has developed over the past 30 years. Rhodia will have a share of a very competitive upstream intermediates production unit located in Tianjin.

Following the completion of a feasibility study, the partners intend to launch, by early 2005,
the construction of a 200 KT Methylchlorosilane facility in the municipality of Tianjin, with a start up capacity in the first quarter of 2007 of 100 KT.

This alliance is a key opportunity for the two companies to enhance their competitiveness and become a major player in the fast growing Asia-Pacific silicone market. Both companies
intend to accelerate their respective downstream investments to take full advantage of the strong upstream integration.

This is the first step towards a global alliance in silicones between Rhodia and China National Blue Star Corporation.

Rhodia is a global specialty chemicals company recognized for its strong technology positions in applications chemistry, specialty materials & services and fine chemicals. Partnering with major players in the automotive, electronics, fibers, pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, consumer care, tires and paints & coatings markets, Rhodia offers tailor-made solutions combining original molecules and technologies to respond to customers
needs. Rhodia subscribes to the principles of Sustainable Development communicating its commitments and performance openly with stakeholders. Rhodia generated net sales of Euro5.4 billion in 2003 and employs 23,000 people worldwide. Rhodia is listed on the Paris and New Yorkstock exchanges.
Rhodia's history in China started in the mid-70's with the chemical part of former Rhone-Poulenc Group. During the past 10 years, Rhodia's operations in the country have grown very rapidly. Up to now, Rhodia (China) has invested in 8 joint ventures and 7 WOEFs. The activities of these joint ventures relate to 6 enterprises of Rhodia, from Automotive, Electronics and Fibers to Pharmaceuticals and Agrochemicals, from Consumer Care to Industrial Care and Services. Geographically these enterprises spread over 8 provinces and municipalities in China. In addition, Rhodia (China) owns one branch office in Beijing, manages 3 representative offices (Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou). Moreover, together with Rhodia Hong Kong Co., Limited, Rhodia (China) has an overall marketing and sales network throughout China. As a world leader in Specialty Chemicals, Rhodia is helping to contribute to the evolution of the China chemical industry bringing the world class manufacturing approach and advanced technologies to its China operations.

China National Bluestar (Group) Corporation is a specialized company subordinated to China Chemical Group Company, with a total assets of over 20 billion Yuan RMB, annual sales revenue of 12 billion Yuan RMB, owning over 30 individual enterprises and R&D Institutes and having controlling role in 4 listed companies: Bluestar Cleaning, Bluestar New Chemical Materials, Southwest Chemical Machinery and Shenyang Chemical. Bluestar Group is specialized in Chemicals and is in a navigating position in new chemical materials, industrial cleaning P&S, Membrane & water treatment. It has a strong power in petrochemicals including crude oil process and petroleum products manufacturing, toll manufacturing of petrochemicals and specialty chemicals. Bluestar is the only well-know trademark in industry services.
Blue star owns the largest silicone facilities and has more than 20 years history of silicone production and has its own technologies and now is dedicated to fast developing silicone business so as to be a world player.


2007/2/1 Rhodia

Rhodia completes sale of its Silicones business to China National BlueStar Corporation

Rhodia today announced the finalization of the sale of its Silicones business to China National BlueStar Corporation.

This business generated sales of Euro 417 million in 2005 and has a total of 1,200 employees. It is mainly situated in Europe , with major production sites at Saint-Fons and Roussillon , in France .

In addition, the Group sold Rhodia Organics
SulfuricProducts activity to Adisseo, subsidiary of China National BlueStar Corporation. This business generated sales of Euro47 million in 2005 and has a total of 67 employees. It is based at Les Roches de Condrieu, in France .

Rhodia CEO Jean-Pierre Clamadieu said :
This divestment constitutes the last step of the plan we launched in 2003 to restore profitability and to focus the Groups portfolio on businesses in which we hold strong leadership positions. This will contribute further to the Groups debt reduction.Commenting on the operating environment : Q4 2006 was strong compared to Q4 2005 and therefore we will be in a position to exceed our 2006 objectives. Despite a raw material and energy price environment that remains volatile, the start of 2007 gives me full confidence that the Group will continue on its route of profitable growth.

China National BlueStar (Group) Corporation is a large-scale state-owned enterprise, which is a specialized subsidiary of Chem China Group Corporation. Headquartered in Beijing, being a leading company in Chinas chemical industry, BlueStar filled many technology blanks in the fields of new chemical materials, such as organic silicon, engineering plastics and TDI as well as special chemical products and realized its scale production. In 2005, the total asset of BlueStar exceeded RMB 30 billion and the sales revenue reached as much as RMB 30 billion. BlueStar holds stakes of four public listed companies including BlueStar Cleaning Co., BlueStar New Materials Co., BlueStar Petrochemicals Co., and Shenyang Chemicals Co.. BlueStar possesses the biggest organo-silicone production unit in China , which ranks top six in the world and occupies a major market share in China .

Rhodia is a global specialty chemicals company recognized for its strong technology positions in the Performance Materials, Functional Chemicals and Organics and Services clusters. Partnering with major players in the automotive, electronics, pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, consumer care, tires, and paints and coatings markets, Rhodia offers tailor-made solutions combining original molecules and technologies to respond to customers
needs. Rhodia subscribes to the principles of Sustainable Development communicating its commitments and performance openly with stakeholders. Rhodia generated sales of Euro 5 billion in 2005 and employs around 19,500 people worldwide. Rhodia is listed on Euronext Paris and the New York Stock Exchange.


2007/3/6 Rhodia

Rhodia sells stake in Nylstar

Rhodia announces today the signing of an agreement to sell its 50% stake in Nylstar for Euro 1, to a third party agent acting on behalf of a consortium of Nylstar's credit banks. SNIA, Rhodia's partner in this joint venture , has also signed an agreement to sell its 50% stake. The sale of the stake in Nylstar will be effective once the necessary regulatory formalities have been completed.

This agreement forms part of the financial restructuring of Nylstar through a debt / equity swap to give the company a restructured balance sheet and a significantly reduced level of debt. Nylstar will now be in a better position to ensure its development. Rhodia will also remain a raw material supplier to Nylstar.


British Plastics & Rubber 2007/3/6

Rhodia and Snia finally escape from Nylstar

Rhodia of France and Snia of Italy have finally pulled out of their ailing
nylon fibre joint venture Nylstar. They have sold their 50 per cent stakes for a token Eur 1 to a consortium of Nylstar's creditors.
Rhodia has been trying to free itself from the fibres business for several years and has been counting on
Radici of Italy to buy it out. Radici, Rhodia and Snia planned early in 2005 to ally Nylstar with RadiciFibres, with Radici taking a majority. In November the same year the three companies signed a letter of intent for RadiciGroup to buy out the two partners.
Last year Rhodia reported Nylstar as a 'disposal in progress at March 31' and said that negotiations under way with the Radici group should lead to a sale in 2006. Then nothing. The proposed sale to Radici seems to have slipped quietly away, leaving no trace, and with Rhodia and Snia still holding the troubled textiles company.
In early February Deutsche Bank, Bank of America and unidentified hedge funds were reported to have bought debt in Nylstar from several banks. Now Rhodia and Snia have sold out to Nylstar's creditors. Rhodia says 'This agreement forms part of the financial restructuring of Nylstar through a debt/equity swap to give the company a restructured balance sheet and a significantly reduced level of debt. Nylstar will now be in a better position to ensure its development. Rhodia will also remain a raw material supplier to Nylstar.'

 


April 27, 2007 Rhodia

Rhodia To Build An Upstream Silica Facility In China
  Joint Venture With Chinese Partners Created

Rhodia announces the signature of a joint venture agreement with Qingdao Haiwan Group ( http://www.cecdb.com.cn/cecdb/data/N33819_1.html) and Qingdao Dongyue Sodium Silicate Company ( http://www.qssf.com/cpjs.htm ) to build a sodium silicate plant at Qingdao, China. The facility with a capacity of 220,000 tonnes is scheduled to come on-stream in the first quarter of 2008.

Sodium silicate is a key intermediate for precipitated silica manufacturing. The new facility will supply Rhodia's Asian silica manufacturing plants in Qingdao, China and Incheon, South Korea, specialized in high performance silica.

Rhodia's high performance silica is notably used in low rolling resistance tires which enable up to 5% fuel savings and therefore provide a solution to reduce CO2 emissions from cars.

"This new facility will give Rhodia a source of competitive raw material to support the growing needs of its silica business in Asia ", commented Eric Noyrez, President of Rhodia Silcea. "As the global leader in high performance silica, we benefit from a rapid increase in demand of the tire, nutraceutics and silicone markets".

Silcea is Rhodia's fine inorganic chemistry enterprise and the global leader in rare earth-based materials and high performance silica. Rhodia Silcea supplies major players focused on sustainable mobility with a complete range of materials for exhaust emissions control. On the electronics market, Silcea is the specialist for phosphors used in low-energy lamps, LCD and plasma flat screens. Inventor of highly dispersible silica, which in particular reduces fuel consumption, Rhodia Silcea is a key partner for the tire industry, as well as the elastomer, feed and food industries.

Rhodia is a global specialty chemicals company recognized for its strong technology positions in Performance Materials, Functional Chemicals and the Organics and Services clusters. Partnering with major players in the automotive, electronics, pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, consumer care, tires, and paints and coatings markets, Rhodia offers tailor-made solutions combining original molecules and technologies to respond to customers' needs. Rhodia subscribes to the principles of Sustainable Development communicating its commitments and performance openly with stakeholders. Rhodia generated sales of 4.8 billion in 2006 and employs around 16,000 people worldwide. Rhodia is listed on Euronext Paris and the New York Stock Exchange.


November 16, 2007  Rhodia

Rhodia to construct new high performance silica plant in China

Rhodia today announced its intention to construct a new plant for the production of high performance silica in China.

The new facility will be located in the city of Qingdao where Rhodia already operates a silica plant. This world scale plant will focus on producing high performance silica notably used in low rolling resistance tires. These generate more than 5% fuel savings thus reducing emissions of CO2 from vehicles.  

Using a modular design to build the plant will enable it to be easily expanded to support this rapidly growing market.  A number of Rhodias existing major customers are supporting the project.  Rhodia already operates seven precipitated silica plants around the world in France, Italy, Venezuela, Brazil, Korea, China and the USA.

 “This investment will allow Rhodia to respond to rapidly growing demand in the Asian region,said Jean-Pierre Clamadieu, CEO of Rhodia, adding this move fits perfectly within our strategy to develop businesses in which we have a strong and sustainable leadership position and prioritize investment in China.

President of Rhodias Silcea enterprise, Eric Noyrez, commented that With this new facility, Silcea will reinforce its worldwide leadership in the production of high performance silica while demonstrating its commitment to respond to increasing customer demand for products which are more environmentally sustainable.

Silcea is Rhodia's fine inorganic chemistry enterprise and the global leader in rare earth-based materials and high performance silica. Rhodia Silcea supplies major players focused on sustainable mobility with a complete range of materials for exhaust emissions control. On the electronics market, Silcea is the specialist for phosphors used in low-energy lamps, LCD and plasma flat screens. Inventor of high dispersibility silica, which in particular reduces fuel consumption, Rhodia Silcea is a key partner for the tire industry, as well as the elastomer, feed and food industries.

Rhodia is an international chemical company resolutely committed to sustainable development. Leader in its businesses, the Group aims to improve its customers' performance through the pursuit of operational excellence and its ability to innovate. Structured around seven Enterprises, Rhodia is the partner of major players in the automotive, tire, electronics, perfume, health and beauty and home care markets. The Group employs around 16,000 people worldwide and generated sales of ?4.8 billion in 2006. Rhodia is listed on Euronext Paris.

Present in China for more than 30 years, Rhodia's operations in the country have grown very rapidly over the last ten years and today employ 2,300 people. Rhodias activities in China generate around 400 million euros.


2007/8/3 Rhodia

Rhodia Polyamide South Korea Polymerization Unit Construction on Schedule

Rhodia announced today that the construction of its new 48kt Polyamide 6.6 salt and polymerization plant in Onsan, South Korea is on schedule and that plant start-up is set for early December 2007.

Rhodia invested almost 40 million euro in the design and construction of the companys first polymerization unit in Asia. This investment is consistent with Rhodias strategy as the worlds second largest polyamide producer and leading player in the Asian polyamide 6.6 market. Rhodia Polyamide focuses on PA 6.6 and ensures its development strategy through three pillars:comments Laurent Schmitt, CEO Rhodia Polyamide the first one rests on a high worldwide competitiveness of intermediates & polymers along with a strong development of the industrial footprint in fast growing areas; second, the strengthening of engineering plastics as a growth engine; and finally, we target Asia and Brazil as our priority zones for expansion beyond our European base.
Rhodia has already two engineering plastics compounding facilities in China and South Korea and recently opened a new technical application development centre in Shanghai.

Demand in Asia for Rhodia Polyamides 6.6 range comprising Technyl® and Stabamidpolymers has enjoyed a very high annual growth rate of more than 40 percent in the last years,says Dominique Rage, President Rhodia Polyamide Intermediates and Polymers.  “The continuing investment strategy in Onsan will better serve our Asian customers providing them with value-added benefits and dedicated customer service.

Rhodia Polyamide is an upstream integrated company providing intermediates for polyamide and other applications, polyamide polymers, as well as a complete downstream range of added value products including engineering plastics polyamide 6.6 and 6 based, industrial polyamide yarns, technical and consumer polyamide fibres and textile yarns. With fourteen state-of-the art production facilities along with R&D and technical centres, Rhodia Polyamide serves customers on every continent, with the capability to develop products and technologies locally.


March 19, 2008 Rhodia

Rhodia and Lyondell enter into exclusive negotiations with Perstorp for the sale of their isocyanates business

Rhodia and Lyondell Chime TDI SCA today announced that they have entered into exclusive negotiations for the sale of their Isocyanates businesses to the Perstorp Group.
This divestment project includes
Rhodia's aliphatic (脂肪族) Isocyanates activity (HDI, IPDI and derivatives) producing a range of intermediates for industrial paints and coatings; and Lyondell's aromatic isocyanates business (TDI) with the production of intermediates for polyurethane foams, operated under contract by Rhodia (in Pont-de-Claix) . * IPDIIsoPhorone Di Isocyanate

These activities are essentially based in Pont-de-Claix (France) and in Freeport (USA) and together employ around 680 people.
The finalization of this divestment project should take place over the next few months, once consultations with the employees
representatives have been completed and the necessary authorizations required by law have been obtained.

Rhodia is an international chemical company resolutely committed to sustainable development. Leader in its businesses, the Group aims to improve its customers
performance through the pursuit of operational excellence and its ability to innovate. Now structured around six Enterprises, Rhodia is the partner of major players in the automotive, tire, electronics, perfume, health & beauty and home care markets. The Group employs around 15,500 people worldwide and generated sales of Euro 5.1 billion in 2007. Rhodia is listed on Euronext Paris.

Lyondell Chime TDI SCA is an affiliate of LyondellBasell Industries, one of the world's largest polymers, petrochemicals and fuels companies. LyondellBasell the global leader in polyolefins technology, production and marketing; a pioneer in propylene oxide and derivatives; a significant producer of advanced fuel products; and the owner of one of North America's largest full-conversion refineries. Headquartered in The Netherlands, LyondellBasell is privately owned by Access Industries.

Perstorp Group is a front-ranking player in the specialty chemicals industry. The Group is present, in particular, in the markets for Paints & Coatings, Plastics, Agro-food and Lubricants. Perstorp has approximately 2,000 employees on a dozen production sites in Europe, Asia, North and South America and runs 3 Research & Development centers in Sweden, Finland and India. The Group generated net sales of Euro 928m in 2007.

Perstorp Group
  Waterborne Coatings
  Radiation Curing
  Intumescent Coatings
  Polyurethanes   polyol chemistry
  Food & Feed  
    
Acid based silage additives
    Propionates, derived from organic acids, are used as feed preservatives
  Formaldehyde Technology

2001/11/1 Lyondell Chemical 

Lyondell Chemical Co., Houston, announced a restructuring of its toluene diisocyanate (TDI) business and the planned shutdown of its U.S. aliphatic diisocyanate (ADI) manufacturing units as the company moves toward an exit from the ADI business next year.
The company said it currently is the world's third-largest TDI supplier, with annual capacity of 564 million pounds. Lyondell is in the process of implementing proprietary technology for TDI
in Pont de Claix, France, at a facility operated by Rhodia under a manufacturing agreement with Lyondell. When completed, the Pont de Claix facility will be the largest TDI production unit in Europe, Lyondell said.
The company said it expects to eventually replicate the technology at its
Lake Charles, LA, production units, a move that would expand TDI capacity at the site to 480 million pounds annually.

2005/10/19 Lyondell

Lyondell Chemical Company announced today that it will permanently cease toluene diisocyanate (TDI) production at its Lake Charles, La., plant. On September 20, 2005, Lyondell announced an indefinite suspension of production at the 300 million pound per year TDI facility while the company evaluated the long-term prospects for the plant.

Lyondell acquired the TDI plant as part of its 1998 acquisition of ARCO Chemical Company. ARCO Chemical had purchased the plant from Olin Corporation in December 1996.

 


October 8, 2008 Rhodia

Rhodia announces a plan to improve the competitiveness of its polyamide businesses in Europe

Rhodia has today presented a plan to improve the competitiveness of its Polyamide businesses in Europe to its European Works Council. The aim of the plan is to help these businesses adapt to changes in the polyamide market, which is expanding rapidly in Eastern Europe, Latin America and Asia but
is experiencing slower growth in Western Europe.

The plan presented to the European Works Council proposes to address this challenge by optimizing Rhodia Polyamide's production and research and development resources in Europe. It will involve:

- The closure, by mid-2009, of Rhodia Polyamide's Ceriano facility in Italy, which could affect 212 people.
- Increasing production capacity at the Lyon Belle-Etoile facility in France and the Gorzow facility in Poland.
- Transferring all Rhodia Polyamide's European Research, Development and Applications teams to a single site in Lyon, to enhance their efficiency.

Employee representatives will be consulted about the plan in the coming weeks and Rhodia will do everything possible to help employees whose jobs could be eliminated to find alternative employment.

The plan is part of a broader program to cut Rhodia Polyamide's costs by about Euro40 million per year by 2010 and will help to strengthen our leadership of the various segments of the polyamide market.

Rhodia Polyamideis Rhodia's fully integrated enterprise focusing on Polyamide 6.6. Its strategy rests on three pillars: development of a highly competitive worldwide position in intermediates & polymers along with fast expansion of its manufacturing footprint in strong growing regions; the development of engineering plastics as a growth engine and a focus on Asia and Brazil as priority regions for growth beyond its European base. InSouth America, Rhodia Polyamide also holds strong positions in phenol and the adiponitrile route, industrial yarns and fibers. For further details about Rhodia Polyamide visit the website at www.rhodia-polyamide.com.

Rhodiais an international chemical company resolutely committed to sustainable development. As a leader in its businesses, the Group aims to improve its customers
performance through the pursuit of operational excellence and its ability to innovate. Structured around six Enterprises, Rhodia is the partner of major players in the automotive, tire, electronics, perfume, health & beauty and home care markets. The Group employs around 15,000 people worldwide and generated sales of ?4.8 billion in 2007. Rhodia is listed on Euronext Paris.