(Solvay) -- Solvay and Rhodia announce the signing of a framework agreement according to which Solvay will launch a friendly cash Offer for 100% of the share capital of Rhodia. The cash Offer at EUR 31.60 per share (ex dividend of EUR 0.5 per share) values the equity of Rhodia at EUR 3.4 billion and the enterprise value at EUR 6.6 billion, representing a REBITDA multiple of 7.3x . The Offer represents a premium of 50% compared to the closing price of Rhodia on the 1st of April 2011 and a premium of 44% compared to the average closing share price over the last three months. The Offer will be launched in France and extended to the United States of America. The transaction has been recommended unanimously by the board of directors of Rhodia.
The acquisition of Rhodia will be earnings accretive from the first year. Solvay will fully finance the transaction with its cash resources and its financial structure will continue to be conservative and solid.
The new group's strategy is based on the following strengths: 90% of its combined sales of EUR 12 billion are realized in businesses where it is already among the top three worldwide. Solvay is a leader in high performance specialty polymers, in soda ash and hydrogen peroxide, while Rhodia holds leadership positions in specialty materials (silica, rare earths), products for consumer markets (surfactants, natural polymers, acetate tow) and engineering plastics based on polyamide 6.6.