Type Société anonyme Industry Chemicals Revenue €12.4 billion (2015) Founder Ernest Solvay | Traded as Euronext: SOLB Products Chemicals and plastics Headquarters Brussels, Belgium Founded 1863 | |
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Key people Nicolas Boël (Chairman), Jean-Pierre Clamadieu (CEO) Stock price SOLB (EBR) € 111.60 +0.10 (+0.09%)24 Mar, 5:35 PM GMT+1 - Disclaimer CEO Jean-Pierre Clamadieu (May 2012–) Subsidiaries Cytec Industries, SOLVAY GmbH Profiles | ||
Solvay S.A. is a Belgian chemical company founded in 1863, with its head office in Neder-Over-Heembeek, Brussels, Belgium.
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In 2015, it realized 12.4 billion € in revenues, 2.336 billion € of REBITDA, 43% of its sales in emerging high-growth countries, 90% of its sales in markets where it is ranked among the top three manufacturers. With 145 sites, Solvay employs 30,900 people in 53 countries.
History
Founded in 1863 by Ernest Solvay and his brother Alfred Solvay to produce sodium carbonate by the solvay process, the company has diversified into two major sectors of activity: chemicals and plastics. Before World War I, Solvay was the largest multination company in the world. It was formerly also active in pharmaceuticals, but agreed to sell that entire division to Abbott Labs for €4.5 billion in September 2009, a deal completed in February 2010.
In April 2011, the firm agreed to the €3.4 billion acquisition of French-based chemicals company Rhodia and achieved in September 2011.
Since January 2012, the new Solvay is listed on the NYSE Euronext in Paris and joined the CAC 40 index in September 2012 to replace PSA Peugeot Citroën. Solvay is historically listed on the NYSE Euronext in Brussels and part of BEL20 index.
Following its integration with Rhodia, the Committee of Executive Members at Solvay reorganised its various business units into five segments - Consumer Chemicals, Advanced Materials, Performance Chemicals, Functional Polymers and Corporate & Business Services, effective from 2013. The primary purposes of these changes were to take the Group closer to its customers, be more agile and be better placed to seize opportunities and realize its growth ambitions.
The company is a supporter of the Solvay Conferences that were started by Ernest Solvay in 1911.
On December 3, 2015, Solvay launched a share issue sent to existing shareholders, completing funding for the $5.5 billion purchase of Cytec Industries Inc.
Corporate affairs
The company's head office is located in Brussels, Belgium.
Solvay's United States subsidiary, Solvay America, Inc., is based in Houston, Texas.
Products
Solvay is a main partner of Solar Impulse and has contributed important R&D resources to their solar powered airplane project. That aircraft conducted its first test flight on 3 December 2009, and has achieved several important milestones since then, including successful solar-powered flights from Switzerland to Spain and Morocco in 2012.
Currently, Solar Impulse II is attempting a round the world trip.
Fuel cell technology
SolviCore, a joint venture by Umicore and Solvay in the field of fuel cells is already pre-marketing membrane-electrode assemblies for different types of fuel cells for portable or mobile use.
New generation lithium batteries for hybrid vehicles components make use of Solvay fluorinated polymers. Compared to conventional vehicles the hybrids reduce CO2 emissions by 30%.
Soil remediation
Novosol: sodium bicarbonate-based process for treating and recovering mineral residues contaminated with heavy metals.
Renewable feedstock
Development and industrialization of proprietary Epicerol process for manufacturing epichlorhydrin from natural glycerin.