The Belgian chemical firm SOLVAY (turnover of EUR 7.5 billion in 1998 with 33,000 employees and a presence in 46 countries), acting through its subsidiary SPE -SOLVAY POLYOLEFINES EUROPE-, has bought 80% of the Italian company PADANAPLAST (sales of around ITL 50 billion with 70 employees). This acquisition, the amount of which was not made public, will enable SOLVAY to diversify in resins for high-density polyethylene tubes.