(30/10/2007) SOLVAY: SOLVIN AWARDS ACCLAIM VINYL INNOVATORS AT K 2007 FOR ENVIRONMENTAL, DESIGN AND SAFETY ACHIEV

Embargo : October 30, 2007 (for immediate release) The winners of the 2007 SolVin Awards for PVC Innovation were unveiled yesterday during the K2007 International Plastics Trade Fair in Düsseldorf, Germany, honouring the most impressive innovators among 107 contestants which represented the entire vinyl value chain. In this third ceremony since the launch of the SolVin Awards, the jury honoured innovations which highlight the decisive contribution of vinyl to environmental efficiency, design quality and human safety. The Golden Award of EUR 50,000 goes to Technoplast Kunststofftechnik of Germany for its TC One® - Profile Calibration system, a new extrusion technology capable of cutting energy consumption in vinyl processing by up to 80%. This technological breakthrough, which is based on operating in a depressurized water environment, also provides for equipment with reduced weight and improved handling. The Silver Award of EUR 25,000 goes to Inoutic, formerly Thyssen Polymer, of Germany for Integrated sash window profiles, which allow the implementation of complex insulation technologies - such as integrated shading systems or insulating gas filling - in oversized double-glazed windows. The energy efficiency of vinyl can now be implemented in unprecedented architectural design solutions. The Bronze Award of EUR 10,000 goes to Mario Scheichenbauer of Italy for Forma® Building Mould System, a building system entirely based on vinyl components (pillars, beams, walls, roofs and partitions), which are filled with concrete and steel reinforced after their installation on the construction site. A Special Recycling Award of EUR 7,500 goes to Ceplastik of Spain for its use of recycled Vinyloop® vinyl resin in the lower layer of flooring products - which can be recycled again. A Special Design Award of EUR 7,500 goes to Zapet of Italy for Garage Solution, an ingenious vertical storage solution for tools and equipment to make maximum use of space in dwelling houses. The Jury has also distinguished two entrants for innovative products having in common the safety. Graboplast of Hungary developed Safe Decor®, a vinyl safety flooring solution with persistent anti-slip properties. Loncar of Spain proposes Walltex-867®, a flexible road fence system designed to avoid heavy injuries and fatalities in case of impacts following motorcycle accidents. A high resolution image of the 2007 SolVin Awards Ceremony in Düsseldorf can be downloaded on : www.solvinpvc.com SolVin combines the competences of Solvay and BASF in the European vinyls sector. The synergies achieved in know-how and organization, the complementarities of product ranges as well as upstream integration have built up SolVin as a leader on the PVC and PVDC markets. The joint venture has operations in France, Germany, Spain and the Benelux countries and a total annual production capacity of 1.3 million tons of PVC, with nearly 2000 employees. Solvay owns 75% of SolVin and BASF, 25%. For further information, visit www.solvinpvc.com. SOLVAY is an international chemical and pharmaceutical Group with headquarters in Brussels. It employs some 29,000 people in 50 countries. In 2006, its consolidated sales amounted to EUR 9.4 billion, generated by its three sectors of activity: Chemicals, Plastics and Pharmaceuticals. Solvay (Euronext : SOLB.BE - Bloomberg: SOLB.BB - Reuters: SOLBt.BR) is listed on the Euronext stock exchange in Brussels. Details are available at www.solvay.com . For additional information, please contact : Richard THOMMERET Marketing Manager SolVin SA mailto:/richard.thommeret@solvay.com Tel : +32.2.264.32.61 Copyright Hugin The appendixes relating to the press release are available on: http://www.companynewsgroup.com/documents/PJ/CO/2007/127456_88_C2XJ_20071030SolvinAwards.pdf [CN#127456]