The Solvay Group announces today that it will issue through Solvay S.A. a 6 year bond for a minimum total amount of EUR 150 million in the form of a public offering in Belgium and Luxembourg. The bonds will bear interest at an annual gross rate of 5.0%.

With this bond issue, the Solvay Group intends to benefit from the favorable market conditions in terms of interest rate and liquidity. This issue will allow Solvay to consolidate its long term debt structure by refinancing the commercial paper it currently issues at short term.

The key features of the bond are listed below:

• Issuer:   Solvay S.A.
• Maturity date:  12 June 2015
• Yearly gross coupon: 5.0 %, paid annually on June 12
• Issue price:  101.851 %
• Yearly gross yield: 4.64 %
• Repayment:  100 %
• Distributors:  BNP Paribas Fortis, ING Belgium and KBC Bank
• Listing:    NYSE Euronext Brussels, Luxembourg Stock Exchange

The bond will be available in denominations of EUR 1000. The subscription period will run from 18 May 2009 to 09 June 2009, subject to early closing.

The Prospectus is available in English on the web site of Solvay (http://www.solvay-investors.com), of BNP Paribas Fortis (www.fortisbanking.be/emissions), of KBC Bank (www.kbc.be/obligations) and of ING Belgium (www.ing.be).

For additional information about this bond issue, please contact BNP Paribas Fortis (32 2 433 40 32), KBC Bank (32 78 15 21 54) or ING Belgium (32 2 464 60 02).

Additional information – Main risks linked to a bond: The bond’s holder faces the risk of the non-reimbursement of the capital at maturity date in case of issuer’s default. Additionally, the bond’s price fluctuates in function of different factors such as the financial situation of the issuer, the interest rates evolution and the market volatility. The market could be limited and poor in terms of liquidity.

SOLVAY GROUP is an international chemical and pharmaceutical Group with headquarters in Brussels. It employs more than 29,000 people in 50 countries. In 2008, its consolidated sales amounted to EUR 9.5 billion, generated by its three sectors of activity: Chemicals, Plastics and Pharmaceuticals. Solvay is listed on the NYSE Euronext stock exchange in Brussels (NYSE Euronext: SOLB.BE - Bloomberg: SOLB.BB - Reuters: SOLBt.BR). Details are available at www.solvay.com.

For further information please contact :

Erik De Leye , Corporate Press Officer
SOLVAY SA
Tel: 32 2 509 72 30
Fax: 32 2 509 72 40
E-mail : erik.deleye@solvay.com

Patrick Verelst , Head of Investor Relations
SOLVAY SA
Tel: 32 2 509 72 43
Fax: 32 2 509 72 40
E-mail : patrick.verelst@solvay.com