Paris, April 14, 2011 ----- Rhodia announces the divestment project to Novacap for its salicylic and acetaminophen activities.

Salicylates, which are used as active ingredients in the pharmaceutical industry (aspirin, acetaminophen) or as synthesis intermediates (salicylic acid, methyl salicylate), represent the last pharmaceutical chemistry business remaining within the Group.

The Group’s salicylic and acetaminophen activities whose principal production sites are located in France, Thailand, China and Brazil employ approximately 390 people.

The finalization of this divestment project should take place over the next few months, once consultations with the employee’ 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. 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 11 Global Business Units (GBUs) within 5 business clusters, Rhodia is the partner of major players in the automotive, electronics, flavors and fragrances, health, personal and home care markets, consumer goods and industrial markets. The Group employs around 14,000 people worldwide and generated sales of €5.23 billion in 2010. Rhodia is listed on Euronext Paris. 
 
Novacap is a diversified European chemical group which enjoys leading positions in its markets. Novacap is organised around three independent business units (Novacarb, Novapex and Novacid). Novacarb produces inorganic chemical products and sells mainly soda ash, sodium bicarbonate and sodium sulphate. Novapex produces organic chemical products and sells mainly phenol, oxygenated solvents (like isopropyl alcohol IPA) and derivatives. Novacid distributes hydrochloric acid and produces calcium chloride as well as ferric chloride through a joint venture with Feralco. At the end of 2010, Novacap operated five industrial units located in La Madeleine and Pagny-sur-Meuse (Nancy), Roussillon (Lyon), Grand-Serre and Pont-de-Claix (Grenoble), and employed ca. 470 people. Novacap is headquartered in Lyon (France).

For more information, please visit the website www.novacap.eu

Contacts

Press Relations 
Roxanne Diarra            +33 (01) 53 56 59 62    roxanne.diarra@eu.rhodia.com

Investor Relations
Maria Alcon                  +33 (0)1 53 56 64 89    maria.alcon-hidalgo@eu.rhodia.com
Benjamin Bruneau        +33 (0)1 53 56 64 42    benjamin.bruneau@eu.rhodia.com