Solutia is a major producer of laminated glass and aftermarket applications; resins and additives for high-value coatings; specialities such as heat transfer fluids, aviation hydraulic fluids, environmentally friendly cleaning solvents for aviation; an integrated family of nylon products, including high-performance polymers and fibres; process development and scale-up services for pharmaceutical fine chemicals. 
Solutia has around $2.1bn in annual sales and 3,700 employees (2008).
History
Solutia was founded in St Louis in 1901 as Monsanto Company. Solutia was created as an independent company on 1 September 1997, after Monsanto shareholders approved the spin-off of the company's chemical businesses.
Company movements
In June 2009, Solutia completed the sale of its nylon business to an affiliate of the private equity firm SK Capital Partners II for $50m (€36m).
The deal was first announced In April 2009. For more on this story please see US Solutia completes sale of nylon business to SK Capital or go to ICIS news.
In June 2008, Solutia established a photovoltaic business unit, which sells materials to the makers of thin film solar panels. The business will fit within Solutia's larger Saflex segment.
On 28 February 2008, Solutia emerged from bankruptcy. Public trading of Solutia's stock began on 3 March on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol "SOA”.
Solutia initially expected that it would leave bankruptcy at the end of 2007. However, the plan hit a glitch when lenders balked out of the deal due to tightened credit markets.
The company sued the bankers Citigroup, Goldman Sachs and Deutsche Bank, and they reached an agreement at the beginning of February 2008 to provide the financing.
Solutia had filed for bankruptcy protection in December 2003, saying it could no longer service environmental and post-retirement liabilities.
In June 2007, Solutia completed the sale of its water treatment phosphonates business Dequest to Thermphos Trading for $67m (Euro51m) in cash. The parties will also enter into a lease and operating agreement under which Solutia will continue to operate the Dequest facility exclusively for Thermphos at Solutia's UK plant in Newport, Wales.
In May 2007, Solutia completed its purchase of Akzo Nobel's 50% interest in Flexsys. Flexsys supplies chemicals to the rubber industry. It was formed in 1995 as a joint venture between Solutia and Akzo Nobel. The deal was previously announced in December 2006.
Solutia reports its business in two segments: Performance Products and Integrated Nylon.
Performance Products
Solutia claims to be the world's largest producer of plastic interlayer for laminated glass used in automotive and architectural applications. The interlayer imparts multiple attributes: improved safety and security, solar protection, energy efficiency and sound reduction.
Solutia's interlayer is marketed under the following trademarks: Saflex, KeepSafe windows and doors, Saflex Inside (Europe), KeepSafe Maximum and the Vanceva family of products for value-added glass applications.
Solutia's CPFilms business also is a producer of solar control and safety window films for aftermarket installation on automobile and building windows. The best-selling brands are Llumar, Gila, Vista and FormulaOne performance automotive film.
Solutia also offers a range of performance ingredients for automotive and architectural speciality coatings and products for technical resin applications. Branded products include Resydrol waterborne alkyd resins for liquid coatings, Alftalat and Synthacryl solid resins for powder coatings, and Resimene crosslinkers for more durable coatings.
Within pharmaceutical services, CarboGen, AMCIS and Axio provide services in support of pharmaceutical drug development.
Solutia also makes a wide range of industrial products for specialised applications, including Skydrol aviation hydraulic fluids, Skykleen cleaning solvent, Therminol heat transfer fluids.
Solutia
Strategy & Financial Highlights
The “roadmap to Solutia's future” is believed to be based on its portfolio strategy, which it says provides a simple framework for each of its three business platforms: expand and grow performance films; aggressively grow select specialty products businesses; and maximise the value of integrated nylon. (Edited from annual report and company website). ICIS also provides you with key financial data listed in table form.
More about Solutia Strategy & Financial Highlights
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