Brussels April 23, 2002

1

• LOOKING AT SOLVAY DIFFERENTLY
• STRATEGIC STRENGTH to be a less cyclical
  company in the current economic uncertainty
• FLUORINATED SPECIALTIES ACQUISITION OF AUSIMONT
• approved by the EU
• subject to US regulatory approval

• Brussels - April 23, 2002
• Analysts and Investors Meeting

2
Specialty polymersMr. Morici, General Manager
of the SBU Specialty Polymers and Performance
compounds
3
THE PLASTICS SECTORTarget boost growth and
reduce cyclicality
STRATEGY
1.Increasing presence in SPECIALTIES (100
owned)with the acquisition of high performance
engineering polymers (from BP, ) and the
fluorinated products of Ausimont ? about 70 of
Plastics EBIT 2.The Plastics Essentials are in
Joint ventures/alliances with first-class
partners to optimize competitiveness ? in
European PVC with BASF, TotalFinaElf ? in
HDPE with BP (to be recorded according to
the equity method as of Jan. 1 2002) 3.Withdrawal
from non-competitive PP business
BPs engineering polymers being integrated in
Q4/01 and without Ausimont
4
THE PLASTICS SECTOREssential and specialty
polymers - in of EBIT -
Essentials Specialty
Essentials Specialty
2001
1997
With BPs Specialty polymers as from Q4/01,
without Ausimont
5
PLASTICS 2001 SALES (- 13), EBIT (- 70)

• results hit by difficult conditions on US market
• poor results in HD-PE
• decrease in PVC, with Europe and Asia better than
  Mercosur

6
SOLVAYS PLASTICS PORTFOLIOwithout Ausimont
Polyamide-imide Liquid crystal
polymers Polyphenylsulfones Polyketones
compounds Polyethersulfones Polyphthalamide
Polysulfones Polyarylamide compounds Polysulfones
blends Polyvinylydene fluoride Polyphenylene
sulfide cpds

• Market size 4 Bn USD()
• growth rate 8-15
• price gt EUR 5 / kg

SPECIALTY POLYMERSAND PERFORMANCE COMPOUNDS

• Market size 35 Bn USD
• growth rate 6-8
• price gt EUR 1.5 / kg

Polyvinylidene chloride Crosslinked
polyethylene PP/elastomer compounds PVC blends
and alloys
JV in High Density Polyethylene (HD-PE) JV in
Polyvinylchloride (PVC)
ESSENTIAL POLYMERS

• Market size 115 Bn USD
• growth rate 1-5
• price lt EUR 1.5/kg

products from BP including fluoropolymers
7
SPECIALTY POLYMERS and PERFORMANCE COMPOUNDS

• Leading global position in niche
  markets(electronics, telecommunications,
  automotive, )
• Average sales of approximately EUR 900 M
• 13 manufacturing sites and 2 RD centers(USA
  Europe)
• Double-digit projected sales growth over the next
  5 years for high performance polymers
• Strong global marketing presenceNorth America
  (46 of sales), Europe (41), AsiaROW (13)

8
SPECIALTY POLYMERS Better geographic reach ?
strong organization in the US and Europe
After the transaction
Before the transaction
figures for specialty polymers only
9
SPECIALTY POLYMERS Serving high-added-value and
fast growing markets
Electricity electronics,wires
cables,telecommunications 20
Others 10
Food service(including barrier packaging) 14
Aircraft 3
Plumbing 5
Businessmachine 5
Automotive 13
Medical 9
Industrial uses 13
Appliances 9
- after the acquisition of BPs high performance
polymers -
10
MOST IMPORTANT LOCATIONS IN SPECIALTY POLYMERS
Greenville (South Carolina)
Oudenaarde (B)
Alpharetta (Georgia)
Brussels (B)
Decatur (Alabama)
Tavaux (F)
Rheinberg (D)
Atlanta (Georgia)
Production sites Compounding plants RD
sites Headquarters
Augusta Georgia)
Marietta (Ohio)
11
SPECIALTY POLYMERS
Ultra-High- Performance EP
Torlon
Kadel
High- Performance EP
Xydar
RadelR
Amodel
RadelA
Ixef
Udel
Primef
Solef
Crystalline
Amorphous
12
IXEF - SHAVER HEAD

• DEFECT FREE SURFACE
• EASY METALLISATION
• THIN WALL
• NARROW TOLERANCES
• HIGH STRENGTH

13
AMODEL (PPA)TURBO CHARGE AIR COOLER HOUSING

• Customer Needs
• continuous use at 190C (1000 hours)
• Amodel PPA Features
• cost reduction vs Alu
• weight reduction
• corrosion resistance
• better impact than PPS
• Customer Testing
• 1 mio cycles with 0.5 Hz up to 190C ramped and
  210C for short time
• Customer Results
• no leakage at any test

14
RADEL R (PPSU) - RADEL A (PES) MEDICAL
APPLICATIONS

• Material Radel R-5000
• Product Medical Tray
• Performance Requirements
• Repeated Sterilisation
• Chemical Resistance
• Impact Strength
• Stain resistance
• Numerous colours

• Material Radel A
• Product Dental Syringe Gun
• Performance Requirements
• Chemical Resistance
• Strength
• Mouldability
• FDA Recognition
• Repeated SterilisationCapabilities

15
RADEL R (PPSU) AIRCRAFT APPLICATIONS

• Application Aircraft Interiors
• Materials Radel R-7XXX Series
• Key Attributes
• Low Smoke and Toxicity
• Toughness
• Chemical Resistance
• Key Processes
• Injection Moulding
• Thermoforming

16
SOLEFMain characteristics and applications

• Off-shore applications
• High temperature stability
• Mechanical properies
• Wire and cables
• Flame retardancy
• CPI / plumbing applications
• Chemical resistance
• Automotive Capstocks
• Weatherability
• Semi-conductor market
• High purity

17
MOST IMPORTANT LOCATIONS IN PERFORMANCE COMPOUNDS
Brussels (Belgium)
Heidelberg Germany PP COMPOUNDS
Jemeppe (Belgium) PVC COMPOUNDS
Grand Prairie (Texas) PP COMPOUNDS
Roccabianca (Italy) HDPE COMPOUNDS
Auburn Hills (Michigan) PP COMPOUNDS
Chevigny (France) PVC COMPOUNDS
Mansfield (Texas) PP COMPOUNDS
Ferrara (Italy) PVC COMPOUNDS
Montornes (Spain) PVC COMPOUNDS
Compounding plants RD sites Headquarters
Sao Paulo (Brazil) PVC COMPOUNDS
18
PVC COMPOUNDS IN ELECTROTECHNICALEQUIPMENT

• Office automation - Ducts for electric cables
• Electrical housing and fuse boxes

Thanks to their high level of heat resistance and
their excellent mechanical and dielectric
properties, special compounds from the BENVIC
range are widely used in producing
electrotechnical equipment. Opaque and
transparent PVC electrical housings and boxes, in
various colours, offer an attractive surface
finish and good resistance to scratching. The
easy processing qualities of these PVC compounds
make it possible to design aesthetically pleasing
and functional shapes which blend in with their
surroundings
19
PP COMPOUNDS IN AUTOMOTIVE EXTERIOR TPO

• Examples
• Front Fascia DEXFLEX 810
• Cladding Package DEXFLEX 760
• Cargo Box SEQUEL 1880
• Rear Fascia DEXFLEX 810
• Over 70 Pounds of SEP TPO Per Vehicle

Versatile, recyclable thermoplastic polyolefins
used in a wide variety of injection-molded
interior, exterior and underhood automotive
applications
20
HDPE PIPE COMPOUNDS POLIDAN PEX
Silane crosslinkable HDPE compounds
Product
Application
Polidan T/A
All-plastic pipes composite PEX/Al/PEX pipes
Polidan T/A-HF
All-plastic FLEXIBLE pipes composite pipes
with EVOH
21
Visit our Internet site specifically designed for
Investors www.solvay-investors.com and become
member of our Shareholders Club
22
FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENT
To the extent that any statements made in this
presentation contain information that is not
historical, these statements are essentially
forward-looking. The achievement of
forward-looking statements contained in this
presentation is subject to risks and
uncertainties because of a number of factors,
including general economic factors, interest rate
and foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations
changing market conditions, product competition,
the nature of product development, impact of
acquisitions and divestitures, restructurings,
products withdrawals regulatory approval
processes and other unusual items. Consequently,
actual results may differ materially from those
expressed or implied by such forward-looking
statements. Forward-looking statements can be
identified by the use of words such as "expects,"
"plans," "will," "believes," "may," "could"
"estimates," "intends", "targets", "objectives",
"potential", and other words of similar meaning.
Should known or unknown risks or uncertainties
materialize, or should our assumptions prove
inaccurate, actual results could vary materially
from those anticipated. The Company undertakes no
obligation to publicly update any forward-looking
statements"
and Innovation