Paris, May 16, 2000– Rhodia, through its Enterprise Rhodia Industrial Yarns, has successfully won the tender of the assets of Tolaram Fibers, a Latvian industrial nylon yarn production company.

The acquisition involves facilities located in Daugavpils (Latvia), producing nylon 6 industrial yarns for tyres reinforcement, rops and nets applications. With this acquisition, Rhodia will reinforce its European leadership on the industrial polyamide yarns business.

With highly performing equipments, the new plant of Daugavpils, together with the recently acquired facilities in Slovakia (with Chemlon) and Poland (with Stilon), will provide Rhodia with the most cost effective polyamide production facilities in Europe, a key necessary asset to support Rhodia Industrial Yarns growth strategy.

Rhodia, one of the world leaders in specialty chemicals, contributes to improving the quality of life by developing value-added products, services and solutions for the beauty, clothing, foodstuffs and healthcare markets as well as for the environment, transport, electronics and industry. Rhodia employs 24,800 people worldwide and recorded sales of 5. 525 bilmillion Euros in 1999. Rhodia has been listed on the Paris and New York stock exchanges

Contacts Rhodia

Press Relations
Jean-Christophe Huertas
Tel: + 33 1 55 38 42 51

Investor Relations
Angélina Palus
Tel: + 33 1 47 68 42 99