Solvay S.A. announces today that it will close on this Wednesday 20 May at the end of the business day its 6 year bond issue for a total amount of EUR 500 million early.

This bond has been issued in the form of a public offering in Belgium and Luxembourg for an initially expected minimum amount of EUR 150 million at a gross interest rate of 5.0%.

This issue will give Solvay means to consolidate its long term debt structure among others by refinancing the commercial paper it currently issues at short term.

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 :

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

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