The Belgian group UCB has paid $510 million for the chemicals specialities division of the American SOLUTIA. This division had a turnover of $638 million in 2001. It will then set up a new entity that will pool SOLUTIA's films and chemicals sectors, as well as resins, additives and adhesives. In 2002, this new entity will have had an overall turnover of more than 1.5 billion euro, for 700 employees in the world.