
Solvay S.A. is a multinational chemical company based in Belgium. It was founded in 1863 by Alfred Solvay.
The company operates in four main segments: Soda Ash, Functional Polyols, Intermediates, and Advanced Materials. These segments account for the majority of Solvay's revenue.
Solvay has a global presence with operations in over 50 countries. The company has a diverse portfolio of products and services, including chemicals, materials, and solutions for various industries.
Solvay's revenue has consistently grown over the years, with a significant increase in 2020 due to the company's strategic acquisitions and investments in emerging markets.
Business Performance
Solvay S.A. has a strong business performance, with a significant increase in revenue in recent years.
The company's revenue growth can be attributed to its focus on high-growth markets and the expansion of its existing business.
Solvay's revenue has consistently exceeded €10 billion, reaching €10.3 billion in 2020.
The company's EBITDA margin has also improved, reaching 16.4% in 2020, up from 14.4% in 2015.
Solvay's strong cash flow generation has enabled the company to reduce its net debt and improve its financial stability.
The company's cash flow from operations has consistently exceeded €1 billion, reaching €1.4 billion in 2020.
Solvay's business performance has been driven by its focus on innovation and sustainability, with the company investing heavily in research and development and implementing sustainable practices throughout its operations.
Corporate Structure
Solvay S.A. has a complex corporate structure that has evolved over the years.
The company is organized into four main business segments: Advanced Materials, Novecare, Soda Ash and Derivatives, and Energy & Mining.
These segments are further divided into various business units that focus on specific products and markets.
Corporate Affairs
The company's head office is located in Brussels, Belgium, which is a significant hub for international business. It was previously located in Ixelles, Brussels.
Solvay has a strong presence globally, with subsidiaries in the United States, Canada, Asia, Latin America, and Europe. These subsidiaries are based in key locations such as Houston, Texas, Ontario, Canada, Singapore, Indonesia, Brazil, Mexico, France, Italy, and Portugal.
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The company's leadership is comprised of experienced professionals, including Alexandre Blum as Chief Financial Officer, Lanny Duvall as Chief Operations Officer, Dr. Mark van Bijsterveld as Chief People Officer, and Lisa Brown as General Counsel and Corporate Secretary.
Here is a list of the company's top executives:
- Philippe Kehren - CEO
- Alexandre Blum - Director of Finance/CFO
- Lanny Duvall - Chief Operating Officer
- Lisa Brown - General Counsel
Board Composition
The Board Composition of Solvay SA is comprised of 10 members, with diverse backgrounds and expertise.
The Chairman of the Board is Pierre Gurdjian, who has been in the position since December 7, 2023.
The Board has a mix of ages, with the oldest member being Wolfgang Colberg at 65 years old, and the youngest being Aude Thibaut de Maisières at 50 years old.
A total of 7 Board Members have joined since December 7, 2023, including Philippe Kehren, Thomas Aebischer, Melchior de Vogüe, Yves Bonte, Annette Stube, Marjan Johanna Oudeman, and Aude Thibaut de Maisières.
Here is a list of the Board Members and their roles:
- Pierre Gurdjian - Chairman
- Marjan Johanna Oudeman - Director/Board Member
- Aude Thibaut de Maisières - Director/Board Member
- Wolfgang Colberg - Director/Board Member
- Philippe Kehren - Director/Board Member
- Thomas Aebischer - Director/Board Member
- Melchior de Vogüe - Director/Board Member
- Yves Bonte - Director/Board Member
- Annette Stube - Director/Board Member
Products and Markets
Solvay is a main partner of Solar Impulse and has contributed research and development resources to their solar powered airplane project. That aircraft conducted its first test flight on 3 December 2009.
Solvay's partnership with Solar Impulse has led to some impressive achievements, including solar-powered flights from Switzerland to Spain and Morocco in 2012.
They've also made significant contributions to the field of fuel cells through their joint venture, SolviCore, with Umicore.
Products
Solvay is a company that partners with Solar Impulse, a solar-powered airplane project, and has contributed research and development resources to it.
Their partnership led to the first test flight of the solar-powered aircraft on December 3, 2009, and subsequent flights from Switzerland to Spain and Morocco in 2012.
Solar Impulse 2, a solar-powered aircraft, flew around the world in 2015-2016, a first for a solar-powered aircraft.
Solvay also co-founded SolviCore, a joint venture with Umicore, which is pre-marketing membrane-electrode assemblies for fuel cells used in portable or mobile devices.
New generation lithium batteries for hybrid vehicles use Solvay's fluorinated polymers to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
Renewable Feedstock
Solvay is working on a process to manufacture epichlorohydrin from natural glycerin, a renewable feedstock.
This process, called Epicerol, is being developed and industrialized by Solvay.
Glycerin is a byproduct of biodiesel production, making it a more sustainable alternative to traditional feedstocks.
The use of renewable feedstocks like glycerin can help reduce the environmental impact of chemical manufacturing.
In the future, we may see more companies adopting similar approaches to reduce their ecological footprint.
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Geographical Breakdown
In the geographical breakdown of sales for Solvay SA, the United States stands out as the largest market, with sales reaching $3.36B in 2022 and $830M in 2023.
The European Union - Other region follows closely, with sales of $706M in 2022 and $379M in 2024.
China is another significant market, with sales of $1.53B in 2022 and $284M in 2024.
Brazil is a notable market in South America, with sales of $1.16B in 2022 and $590M in 2024.
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Germany is a key market in Europe, with sales of $940M in 2022 and $390M in 2024.
The following table shows the top 5 markets for Solvay SA in 2022:
The company's sales in the United States have been steadily increasing, from $2.36B in 2020 to $3.36B in 2022.
France is another important market for Solvay SA, with sales of $479M in 2022 and $212M in 2024.
Italy is a notable market in Europe, with sales of $546M in 2022 and $221M in 2024.
Japan is a significant market for Solvay SA, with sales of $460M in 2022 and $73M in 2024.
Canada is a smaller but still important market, with sales of $170M in 2022 and $58M in 2024.
The company's sales in the European Union - Other region have been increasing, from $488M in 2020 to $706M in 2022.
India is a growing market for Solvay SA, with sales of $272M in 2022 and $43M in 2024.
South Korea is another important market, with sales of $367M in 2022 and $97M in 2024.
The company's sales in Brazil have been increasing, from $596M in 2020 to $1.16B in 2022.
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Financials and Holdings
Solvay S.A. has a diverse portfolio of equities, with holdings in various companies.
One notable holding is SYENSQO SA/NV, which accounts for 0.91% of the company's equities.
According to the financial data, Solvay S.A. also holds a significant stake in SOLVAY SA, making up 1.34% of its equities.
Here's a breakdown of Solvay S.A.'s holdings:
Income Statement
An income statement, also known as a profit and loss statement, is a financial report that summarizes a company's revenues and expenses over a specific period of time.
You can find income statements for companies like Solvay SA, which is listed under the SOLB stock symbol.
An income statement typically includes key financial metrics such as net income growth.
Here are some key items you might find on an income statement:
- Stock Market
- Equities
- SOLB Stock
- Company Solvay SA
Holdings
Let's take a closer look at the holdings of Solvay SA. Solvay SA holds a significant stake in SYENSQO SA/NV, with an equity holding of 956,727 shares.
SYENSQO SA/NV is a notable holding for Solvay SA, making up 0.91% of their equities. The valuation of this holding is approximately $77,229,395.
Solvay SA also holds a substantial stake in itself, with 1.34% of their equities consisting of 1,416,886 shares. This holding is valued at around $44,984,005.
Here's a summary of Solvay SA's holdings:
Ratings
Ratings are a crucial aspect of evaluating a company's financial health and performance.
There are different types of ratings, including a super rating, a super composite rating, a composite rating, and another composite rating.
A super rating is the result of a weighted average of rankings based on Global Valuation, EPS Revisions, and Visibility.
The super composite rating is calculated using a weighted average of Fundamentals, Global Valuation, EPS Revisions, and Visibility.
A composite rating is an average of rankings based on Fundamentals, Valuation, Financial Estimates Revisions, Consensus, and Visibility.
For a composite rating to be calculated, a company must be covered by at least 4 of these 5 ratings.
Another composite rating is calculated as an average of Capital Efficiency, Quality of Financial Reporting, and Financial Health.
A company must be covered by at least 2 of these 3 ratings for this calculation to be performed.
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Market Analysis
Solvay S.A. is a leading chemical company with a strong presence in the market.
The company's market analysis reveals that it operates in a highly competitive industry, with a diverse range of products and applications.
Solvay's focus on innovation and sustainability has enabled it to establish a strong position in the market, with a revenue of €10.9 billion in 2020.
Its portfolio includes a wide range of products, from specialty chemicals to advanced materials, which are used in various industries such as automotive, aerospace, and construction.
Solvay's commitment to research and development has led to the creation of new products and technologies, such as its innovative materials for electric vehicles.
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Recent Markets
Solvay, a well-established chemical company, has undergone a significant transformation in recent years.
In December 2023, shareholders approved a plan to spin off Solvay into two independent companies: Solvay and Syensqo. Solvay retained its essential chemistry activities.
Solvay now employs 9,000 people and generates an annual turnover of €4.88 billion. The company will continue to lead traditional chemical activities such as soda, hydrogen peroxide, and adhesives.

Syensqo, on the other hand, has taken over the activities related to plastics for electronics and rechargeable batteries. It began its specialty chemicals activities with 13,200 employees and an annual turnover of €7.9 billion.
Syensqo shares were listed on the stock exchange on December 11, 2023, and are now included in the BEL 20 share index. This move has given Syensqo the independence and flexibility to pursue its distinct strategies.
In 2024, Solvay announced its plan to supply Europe with rare earth metals for permanent magnets used in EVs and wind turbines from its refurbished plant in France. This move is expected to have a significant impact on the European market.
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Competitor Comparison
In the market analysis, a key aspect to consider is the competitor comparison. Solvay SA, a public entity, is headquartered in Brussels, Belgium, with 8,669 employees.
Solvay SA is not the only player in the market, as we can see from the comparison with other competitors. Mitsubishi Chemical Group Corp, another public entity, is headquartered in Chiyoda, Japan, with a significantly larger workforce of 63,258 employees.
The size of a company's workforce can give us an idea of its scale and resources. Sumitomo Chemical Co Ltd, a public entity, has 29,279 employees, while EIDP Inc has 21,000 employees.
Evonik Industries AG, a public entity, is headquartered in Essen, Germany, with 31,273 employees. This gives us an idea of the different scales of operations among these competitors.
Here's a comparison of the key parameters of these competitors:
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened to Solvay Pharmaceuticals?
Solvay Pharmaceuticals was sold to Abbott Labs in 2010 for €4.5 billion, ending Solvay's involvement in the pharmaceutical industry.
Is Solvay a good stock to buy?
Solvay SA has a 11.83% upside potential based on analyst ratings, making it a potentially attractive investment opportunity. Check the Analysts' Top Stocks tool for more information on Solvay's performance and analyst consensus.
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