PR Newswire/Les Echos/

Press Release

            RHODIA INVESTS IN BREAKTHROUGH PHOTOVOLTAIC TECHNOLOGY

Paris, September 14th , 2010 ---- Rhodia has joined with the UK's Carbon Trust
in a £4.5 million equity offering of the solar energy start-up Eight19 to
develop "organic photovoltaic" technology. This investment will allow Rhodia to
be actively involved in the development of this new technology, bringing its
industrial know-how and best-in-class research capabilities.

The breakthrough organic photovoltaic technology will use semi-conducting
organic polymers to provide solar power at a price substantially lower than 
that offered by first and second-generation technologies. The solar cells will 
be similar in appearance to photographic films and be flexible, lightweight and
extremely easy to install, allowing to address new market segments such as
building integrated photovoltaics (B IPV), intelligent fabrics, mobile electric
equipment or self-powered electronic devices.

The photovoltaic market is expected to expand rapidly, with growth rates of 20%
to 30% per year. According to Rhodia and its partners, organic photovoltaic
technology should enable the deployment of low carbon electricity on a very
large scale.

"This investment is perfectly in line with our strategy to explore new 
promising market segments fitting with our sustainable development commitment.
Furthermore, we are convinced that open innovation is key to leverage our
research and development capability. We are happy to work in close partnership
with prominent scientists to develop this breakthrough technology", explains
Pascal Juery, Group Executive Vice-President of Rhodia.

Eight19 is a start up company spinning out of Cambridge University's Cavendish
Laboratory. Eight19 is developing organic photovoltaic devices, or printed 
solar cells, and is moving to a commercial phase to develop, manufacture and 
sell high performance, low-cost printed solar modules for high-growth volume 
markets. Rhodia, Carbon Trust, a private company set up by UK Government to 
accelerate the move to a low carbon economy, and The Technology Partnership, a 
technology and product development company are the main investment partners.

Sir Richard Friend, Cavendish Pro fessor at Cambridge University and laureate 
of the Rhodia Pierre-Gilles de Gennes Award in 2008 is one of the three 
founding scientists who will have continued engagement as a Board Director. 
This prize was awarded for his seminal work on electroluminescence in 
semi-conducting polymers. The distinction enabled Rhodia and Sir Richard to 
maintain close ties and, subsequently, to develop this collaboration.
Rhodia is an international chemical company resolutely committed to sustainable
development. As a leader in its businesses, the Group aims to improve its
customers' performance through the pursuit of operational excellence and its
ability to innovate. Structured around six Enterprises, Rhodia is the partner 
of major players in the automotive, electronics, flavors and fragrances, 
health, personal and home care markets, consumer goods and industrial markets. 
The Group employs around 13,600 people worldwide and generated sales of EUR4.03
billion in 2009. Rhodia is listed on Euronext Paris.

         For more information, please visit our website www.rhodia.com 

Contacts

Media Relations
Lamia Narcisse           Tel. : +33 (0)1 53 56 59 62

Investor Relations
Maria Alcon Hidalgo      Tel. : +33 (0)1 53 56 64 89
Benjamin Bruneau         Tel. : +33 (0)1 53 56 64 42
                      
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