[Logo] Astaris                    Astaris LLC
                                  P.O. Box 411160
                                  622 Emerson Road
                                  St. Louis, Missouri  63141-1160

                                  314-983-7500
NEWS RELEASE

                             CONTACT   Judy Smeltzer     Arlen Wittrock
FOR RELEASE  APRIL 17, 2000            (215) 299-6710    (208) 236-8201




ASTARIS ANNOUNCES START-UP OF BUSINESS OPERATIONS

ST. LOUIS, APRIL 17, 2000 - Astaris LLC, the new joint-venture company
combining the phosphorus businesses of FMC Corporation and Solutia Inc,
announced that today it officially begins business operations. According
to Astaris Chief Executive Officer and President, Jerry C. Sibley, "We
have assembled a world-class team to operate Astaris and to be a global
competitor in the increasingly competitive phosphorus chemicals
industry."

     Approved by the Federal Trade Commission on April 7, 2000, Astaris
is expected to have annual sales of approximately $600 million and is
headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri. The company, with approximately
1500 employees, brings together more than 100 years of technical and
marketing experience in supplying phosphorus-based products.

     Astaris will offer to customers one of the most complete product
lines of phosphoric acid, food and technical grade phosphates and
phosphorus dependent products available in the Western Hemisphere. "Our
plan", Sibley said "is first to focus on starting up the company,
servicing customers, realizing synergies and investing in purified wet
acid capability. By the second year of operations, we will focus on
growth, including international expansion, growth in selected market
segments and new areas of phosphorus chemistry to meet customer
requirements."








ASTARIS ANNOUNCES START-UP OF BUSINESS OPERATIONS/2


     The company operations include the former FMC manufacturing sites
located in Carteret, NJ; Lawrence, KS (phosphoric acid and phosphates);
Green River, WY (phosphate plant only); Kemmerer, WY; Pocatello and Dry
Valley, ID. Astaris will also incorporate the former Solutia
manufacturing sites in Carondelet (St. Louis), MO; Ontario, CA; Augusta,
GA; and the unit operations dedicated to phosphorus chemicals at
Trenton, MI; Sauget, IL; and Sao Jose dos Campos, Brazil.

     Astaris will assume Solutia's equity interest in the Fosbrasil
joint venture producing purified phosphoric acid. Similarly, the joint
venture will assume the FMC/NuWest agreements on the purified phosphoric
acid (PPA) facility being built near Soda Springs, Idaho. As part of
these agreements, the company will purchase all of the PPA output from
that facility. In addition, the Solutia/Monsanto joint-venture
phosphorus operations in Soda Springs, Idaho will supply phosphorus to
Astaris.

     "Phosphates produced by Astaris are used in diverse industries",
noted Gene E. DeJackome, Vice-President, Marketing and Sales,
"including industrial and institutional cleaners; baking goods,
beverages, processed meats; poultry and seafood; nutrition fortification
and pharmaceuticals; oral care, oil additives, paints and coatings;
metal treatment; wildland fire retardants and more."

     Initially, FMC and Solutia are providing Astaris with customer
service support in order that customers experience a seamless
integration. The Astaris sales and marketing staff are leading the
transition.  "Our tag line, Quality Products.  Exceptional Response,
is the way we will conduct business from day one", said DeJackome.  "Our
focus is on quality and rapid response to our customer's changing
needs."








ASTARIS ANNOUNCES START-UP OF BUSINESS OPERATIONS/3


     Astaris LLC, jointly owned by FMC Corporation and Solutia Inc.,
manufactures and markets phosphorus products for industrial applications
and consumer products.  The company is an industry leader supplying
phosphorus and phosphorus based products to customers worldwide.

     Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Act
of 1995:  Statements in this news release that are forward-looking
statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties concerning
specific factors in the FMC Corporation and Solutia Inc. Form 10-K
reports and other SEC filings.  Such information contained herein
represents management's best judgment as of the date hereof based on
information currently available.  Neither Astaris, FMC Corporation or
Solutia Inc. intends to update this information and disclaims any legal
obligation to the contrary.

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