April 3, 2006 – Basell completed the purchase of Akzo Nobel’s Polymerization Catalysts & Components business on March 31. The business, which includes catalyst manufacturing and other assets in Edison, New Jersey, USA, had revenues of nearly $60 million in 2005.

“This acquisition will strengthen our world-wide polyolefin catalyst business,” said Just Jansz, president of Basell’s Technology Business. “The Edison site has sufficient capacity to supply catalysts for the annual production of over 10 million tons of polyolefins, making it an important part of our catalyst supply chain. We are pleased that the businesses supported from the Edison site are now part of Basell’s Technology Business portfolio.”

Basell’s other catalyst manufacturing sites are located in Ferrara, Italy and Ludwigshafen and Frankfurt, Germany.

“We have a large customer base in North America,” said Jansz. “Local production is important to ensure security of supply and the highest level of customer service. This acquisition is fully in line with our strategy to develop and grow our catalyst business and it will provide us with the flexibility we need to meet and exceed customers’ expectations.”
 
The Edison site includes assets for the production of Basell’s Avant catalysts as well as other polyolefin catalyst systems. It also includes facilities for the preparation of custom catalyst components used in polyolefins and other speciality chemicals.

Akzo Nobel’s divestment of its Polymerization Catalyst & Components Business is part of a restructuring program initiated last year to focus its portfolio in five strategic areas: Pulp & Paper Chemicals, Polymer Chemicals, Surfactants, Functional Chemicals and Base Chemicals.

Basell is the world's largest producer of polypropylene and advanced polyolefin products, a leading supplier of polyethylene and catalysts, and a global leader in the development and licensing of polypropylene and polyethylene processes. Basell, together with its joint ventures, has manufacturing facilities around the world and sells products in more than 120 countries. Additional information about Basell is available at www.basell.com.

For more information contact:

Chantal Sohm, Basell Corporate Communications, at +33 1 555 12 119 or chantal.sohm@basell.com