FTC APPROVES RHODIA ACQUISITION OF ALBRIGHT & WILSON

Paris, March 14, 2000 - Rhodia announced it has completed the acquisition of Albright & Wilson,
by exercise of its call option, following the approval of the deal today by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
Through this acquisition, Rhodia becomes the world leader in specialty phosphates, with net sales of 1.2 billion Euros.

"The acquisition of Albright & Wilson is a major step forward in the young history of Rhodia and corresponds
to our strategy of focusing our business portfolio on specialty chemicals and capturing front-ranking positions
on the international market", said Jean-Pierre Tirouflet, Chairman and CEO of Rhodia. "Albright & Wilson is an
excellent fit with Rhodia in terms of geographic presence, product range and technology with estimated recurring
synergies of some 80 million Euros as of 2002.

Under the terms of the FTC consent decree, Rhodia is required to divest Albright & Wilson's U.S. merchant
phosphoric acid business and the related manufacturing assets to Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan (PCS),
Albright & Wilson's current partner in this business. Rhodia will continue to maintain its own phosphoric acid market position.

With 1999 recorded sales of more than 1.1 billion Euros, Albright & Wilson operates internationally in three technology areas, Phosphates, Surfactants and Phosphorus Derivatives & Acrylics and employs over 5,000 people throughout the
world.

Rhodia, one of the world's leading specialty chemicals companies, seeks to improve the quality of daily life by
developing value-added products, services and solutions in the areas of cosmetics, clothing, food, health,
the environment, and industry. Rhodia employs 24,800 people worldwide and recorded sales of $5.5 billion in 1999.
Rhodia (NYSE:RHA) is listed on the New York and Paris stock exchanges.

Rhodia Silicones North America (formerly Applied Silicone Corp.), 320 West Stanley Avenue, Ventura, CA 93001. Tel: 609-860-4423; Fax: 609-395-1632.