Société anonyme | |
Traded as | Euronext: SOLB |
Industry | Chemicals |
Founded | 1863 |
Founder | Alfred and Ernest Solvay |
Headquarters | Brussels, Belgium |
Key people
|
Nicolas Boël (Chairman), Jean-Pierre Clamadieu (CEO) |
Products | Chemicals and plastics |
Revenue | €12.4 billion (2015) |
Profit | €2.336 billion (2015) |
Total assets | €17.89 billion (2014) |
Total equity | €6.78 billion (2014) |
Number of employees
|
30,900 (FTE, 2015) |
Website | www.solvay.com |
Solvay S.A. is a Belgian chemical company founded in 1863, with its head office in Neder-Over-Heembeek, Brussels, Belgium.
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.
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 multinational 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 and joined the CAC 40 index in September 2012 to replace PSA Peugeot Citroën. Solvay is historically listed on the 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.