Solvay Announces That It is Proceeding with the Enforcement of the Patent Case It Won against Neo Performance Materials Inc. (“Neo”) Involving a Solvay Material for Automotive Catalysts

HANOVER, Germany–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The following is a statement from Solvay

In response to a media statement distributed on December 21, 2017 by Neo
Performance Materials Inc. (“Neo”, the “Company”) (TSX:NEO),
Solvay reiterates that, as stated in its own PRESS
RELEASE OF DECEMBER 20, 2017, the judgement issued on December
19, 2017 by the Regional Court of Mannheim (Germany), prohibits Neo
Chemicals & Oxides (Europe) Ltd. (“Neo”) from offering, putting on the
market, using, or importing in Germany certain cerium oxide materials
infringing Solvay's European Patent 1 435 338 B1 and that Neo is liable
for damages in respect of their historical sales of such infringing
ceric oxide products.

Solvay further remind that the Mannheim Court stated that Neo is
unlikely to prevail on its petition for patent invalidation and for this
reason refused Neo's request to delay its judgement pending a decision
by the Patent Court.

Therefore, Solvay is proceeding with the enforcement of this judgement
and is confident that the Manheim court decision will be upheld on
appeal.

This last judgment follows a series of previous judgments issued on
cerium-zirconium mixed oxide compositions which already found that Neo’s
sales of certain mixed-oxide products infringed three other Solvay
patents.

Solvay remains committed to vigorously enforce its intellectual property
rights against unauthorized use of Rare earth oxides in automotive
catalysts.

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Solvay is a multi-specialty chemical company, committed to developing
chemistry that addresses key societal challenges. Solvay innovates and
partners with customers in diverse global end markets. Its products and
solutions are used in planes, cars, smart and medical devices,
batteries, in mineral and oil extraction, among many other applications
promoting sustainability. Its lightweighting materials enhance cleaner
mobility, its formulations optimize the use of resources and its
performance chemicals improve air and water quality. Solvay is
headquartered in Brussels with around 27,000 employees in 58 countries.
Net sales were € 10.9 billion in 2016, with 90% from activities where
Solvay ranks among the world's top 3 leaders. Solvay SA (SOLB.BE)
is listed on Euronext Brussels and Paris (Bloomberg: SOLB.BB
– Reuters: SOLB.BR)
and in the United States its shares (SOLVY) are traded through a level-1
ADR program.

Solvay Special Chem is world leader in selected specialties based on
Fluorine, Rare Earths, Strontium and Barium. The GBU leverages its
distinctive knowledge to provide specialized products and solutions to
selected industries, such as: rare earth-based formulations for use in
automotive catalysts, luminophores and polishing; NOCOLOK® fluxes for
automotive heat exchangers; Solkane® 365 as foam blowing agent in
thermal insulation foams; fluorinated intermediates for agrochemicals
and pharmaceuticals; process chemicals for semiconductors; barium salts
for electronic passive components, etc.

Contacts

Solvay
Christoph Meurer, +49 511 857 -2672
Business
Manager Automotive
or
Claire Seguin, +33 5 4668 3446
Communications