The Belgo-Moroccan chemicals firm PRAYON-RUPEL (phosphoric acid and phosphate salts: BEF 17 bn turnover in 1999 with 1,300 employees) has taken over a phosphate factory from the America firm SOLUTIA on the American site of Augusta. This factory produces 50,000 tonnes of phosphate salts a year and employs 100 people. The financial details of the transaction have not been revealed.