The Belgian water treatment company WATERLEAU (turnover between EUR 4 and 5 million foreseen for 2001) has acquired the air cleansing activities of MONSANTO ENVIROCHEM SYSTEMS (annual turnover of around $220 million), a non-strategic subsidiary of American MONSANTO. The activities acquired will be grouped in an entity named BEL-AIR, which will be a subsidiary of THE FIFTH ELEMENT, an investment group that controls WATERLEAU at 100%. The amount of the operation has not been disclosed.