SOLUTIA INC
8-K, 2000-01-04
CHEMICALS & ALLIED PRODUCTS
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                     SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                          WASHINGTON, D. C. 20549


                                  FORM 8-K
                               CURRENT REPORT

                    PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF
                    THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934


    DATE OF REPORT (DATE OF EARLIEST EVENT REPORTED):  DECEMBER 22, 1999


                                SOLUTIA INC.
                                ------------
            (EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)


                                 DELAWARE
                                 --------
                         (STATE OF INCORPORATION)



            001-13255                          43-1781797
            ---------                          ----------
            (COMMISSION                        (IRS EMPLOYER
            FILE NUMBER)                       IDENTIFICATION NO.)



575 MARYVILLE CENTRE DRIVE, P.O. BOX 66760, ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI   63166-6760
- ---------------------------------------------------------------   ----------
(ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES)                          (ZIP CODE)



                               (314) 674-1000
                               --------------
             REGISTRANT'S TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE

                              
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ITEM 2. ACQUISITION OR DISPOSITION OF ASSETS.

        On December 22, 1999, Solutia Inc. completed the purchase of the
Vianova Resins business by acquiring:

  (a)   the interest of Morgan Grenfell Private Equity Ltd., a private
        equity syndicate, in Viking Resins Group Holdings B.V., pursuant to
        the terms of an agreement for the sale and purchase of class A shares
        and loan stock and the cancellation of warrants in Viking Resins
        Group Holdings B.V., dated 10th November 1999; and

  (b)   the interests of the minority shareholders of Viking Resins Group
        Holdings B.V. pursuant to agreements for the sale and purchase of B
        shares in Viking Resins Group Holdings B.V.

Vianova Resins is a leading European producer of resins and additives
for coatings and technical applications.  The purchase price was
approximately DM 1.2 billion (about $640 million).

        Solutia paid for the acquisition with short-term debt.  Some or
all of the short-term debt may be refinanced with long-term debt at a
future date.

        Solutia intends to continue operating the Vianova Resins business.

ITEM 7. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.

        a.   Financial Statements of Businesses Acquired.

             The historical financial statements of the Vianova Resins
             business required under Rule 3.05(b) of Regulation S-X will
             be filed by amendment pursuant to Item 7(a)(4) of Form 8-K
             not later than March 6, 2000.

        b.   Pro Forma Financial Information.

             The pro forma financial statements required by Article 11 of
             Regulation S-X will be filed by amendment pursuant to Item
             7(b)(2) of Form 8-K not later than March 6, 2000.

        c.   Exhibits.

             See Exhibit Index attached hereto and incorporated herein by
             reference.





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                             SIGNATURES

        PURSUANT TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF
1934, THE REGISTRANT HAS DULY CAUSED THIS REPORT TO BE SIGNED ON ITS
BEHALF BY THE UNDERSIGNED, THEREUNTO DULY AUTHORIZED.



                                          SOLUTIA INC.
                            -----------------------------------------
                                          (Registrant)


                            BY     /s/ Karen L. Knopf
                              ---------------------------------------
                                   KAREN L. KNOPF
                                   Assistant Secretary





DATE: January   , 2000
              --




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                           EXHIBIT INDEX

These exhibits are numbered in accordance with the Exhibit Table of Item
601 of Regulation S-K.


Exhibit Number                      Description
- --------------                      -----------

      2           1.   Agreement, dated 10th November, 1999, for the
                       sale and purchase of class A shares, preference
                       shares and loan stock and the cancellation of
                       warrants in Viking Resins Group Holdings B.V.
                       between (a) Solutia Inc., as purchaser, (b) the
                       holders of the A shares, preference shares and
                       loan stock as sellers, and (c) the
                       warrantholders, plus identification of contents
                       of omitted schedules and agreement to furnish
                       supplementally a copy of any omitted schedule to
                       the Securities and Exchange Commission upon
                       request.

                  2.   Agreement, dated 22nd December, 1999, for the sale
                       and purchase of class B shares in Viking Resins
                       Group Holdings B.V. between Helmut Strametz, as
                       seller and Solutia Inc., as purchaser, plus
                       (a) identification of contents of omitted schedules
                       and agreement to furnish supplementally a copy of
                       any omitted schedule to the Securities and
                       Exchange Commission upon request and (b) a schedule
                       identifying substantially identical documents
                       between Solutia Inc. and the other minority
                       shareholders.

                  3.   Agreement, dated 21st December, 1999, for the sale
                       and purchase of class B shares in Viking Resins Group
                       Holdings B.V. between Heinrich Otto Geidt, as seller
                       and Solutia Inc., as purchaser, plus identification
                       of contents of omitted schedules and agreement to
                       furnish supplementally a copy of any omitted schedule
                       to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon
                       request.

     99           1.   Press release dated December 22, 1999, issued
                       by Solutia Inc., announcing the completion of
                       Solutia's acquisition of the Vianova Resins
                       business.

                  2.   Press release dated November 11, 1999, issued by
                       Solutia Inc., announcing Solutia's agreement to
                       acquire the Vianova Resins business
                       (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 of
                       Solutia's Form 8-K filed November 12, 1999).




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                                             CONFORMED COPY


                 DATED 10TH NOVEMBER, 1999







              THE SELLERS NAMED IN SCHEDULE 1


           THE WARRANTHOLDERS NAMED IN SCHEDULE 2


                            AND


                        SOLUTIA INC.



- -------------------------------------------------------------

                         AGREEMENT

                FOR THE SALE AND PURCHASE OF
         SHARES AND LOAN STOCK AND THE CANCELLATION
      OF WARRANTS IN VIKING RESINS GROUP HOLDINGS B.V.

- -------------------------------------------------------------









                       ALLEN & OVERY
                           London



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CONTENTS

CLAUSE                                                           PAGE

1.    Interpretation                                                1
2.    Sale and Purchase of the Securities                           4
3.    Cancellation of Warrants                                      5
4.    Consideration                                                 5
5.    Conditions Precedent                                          6
6.    Rescission                                                    6
7.    Covenants up to Completion                                    7
8.    Inks                                                         10
9.    Completion                                                   12
10.   Herberts and other Claims                                    12
11.   Announcements                                                13
12.   Notices                                                      14
13.   Resolutions and Waivers                                      14
14.   General                                                      14
15.   Whole Agreement                                              16
16.   Governing Law                                                16

SCHEDULES [OMITTED]

1.    Sellers' Shareholdings and Entitlements
2.    Warrantholders
3.    Apportionment of Ordinary Consideration
4.    Particulars of the Company
5.    Completion Arrangements
6.    Completion Balance Sheet
7.    Preference Consideration and Loan Stock Consideration
8.    Additional Executives
9.    Apportionment of Payments Under Clause 10
Signatories                                                        40




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THIS AGREEMENT is made on 10th November, 1999 BETWEEN:

(1)  THE PERSONS whose names and addresses are set out in Schedule 1
     (each a "SELLER" and together the "SELLERS");

(2)  THE PERSONS whose names and addresses are set out in Schedule 2
     (each a "WARRANTHOLDER" and together the "WARRANTHOLDERS"); and

(3)  SOLUTIA INC. of 575 Maryville Centre Drive, St. Louis, MO 63141
     (the "PURCHASER").

WHEREAS:

(A)  Viking Resins Group Holdings B.V. (the "COMPANY") is a company,
     short particulars of which are set out in Schedule 4.

(B)  The Sellers are the holders of the A Shares, Preference Shares and
     Loan Stock as set out opposite their respective names in
     Schedule 1.

(C)  The Warrantholders are the holders of the Warrants and parties to
     the Warrant Agreement and on exercise of the Warrants would be
     entitled to that number of class A shares of NLG 90 each in the
     Company as set out opposite their respective names in Schedule 2.

(D)  The Sellers wish to sell and the Purchaser wishes to purchase the
     Securities on the terms and subject to the conditions set out in
     this agreement.

(E)  The Warrantholders have agreed to the cancellation of their
     Warrants on the terms and subject to the conditions set out in
     this agreement.

IT IS AGREED as follows:

1.   INTERPRETATION

(1)  In this agreement:

     "ADMINISTRATION AGREEMENT" means the administration agreement in
     the Initialled Form;

     "A SHARES" means the 97,445 class A shares of NLG90 each in the
     issued capital of the Company;

     "B SHARES" means the 6,888 class B shares of NLG90 each in the
     issued capital of the Company;

     "BUSINESS DAY" means a day (other than a Saturday or Sunday) on
     which banks are open for business in London, Frankfurt, New York
     and St. Louis, Missouri;

     "COMPLETION" means completion of the sale and purchase of the
     Securities and the cancellation of the Warrants in accordance with
     clause 9;

     "COMPLETION BALANCE SHEET" means the Completion Balance Sheet
     agreed or determined in accordance with Schedule 6;

     "DEED OF TERMINATION" means the deed of termination, in the
     Initialled Form;


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                                2

     "DEM" means Deutschmarks;

     "DEPIV" has the meaning ascribed to it in Schedule 1;

     "EXECUTIVES" means Helmut Strametz, Jurgen Willi Reichhold, Josef
     Sauer, Manfred Heinrich Schrod, Karl-Heinz Schonwalder, Bernhard
     August Kottmann, Heinrich Otto Geidt and Luca Floriani;

     "EURIBOR" means the Euro Euribor rate per annum for three months
     deposits as quoted in the World Interest Rates table of the
     Financial Times (London edition) on the date of Completion;

     "FINANCE AGREEMENTS" means the Senior Documents and the Mezzanine
     Documents (as those terms are defined in an Intercreditor Deed
     dated 15th December, 1998 made between, inter alia, Bankers Trust
     Company, Lehman Brothers International (Europe) and the Company);

     "GROSS EQUITY VALUE" or "GEV" means DEM 427,100,000 less the Net
     Asset Adjustment Amount plus any additional amount determined in
     accordance with clause 8(3);

     "HERBERTS" means Herberts GmbH and its subsidiaries;

     "HERBERTS CLAIM"  means that particular and specific claim for DEM
     4,800,000 made by or on behalf of Herberts against the Vianova
     Group (or particular members thereof) in relation to the supply of
     product which, allegedly, was out of specification or otherwise
     defective;

     "HOECHST" means Hoechst AG and its subsidiaries;

     "HOECHST AGREEMENT" means the agreement dated 6th October, 1998
     between Hoechst A.G. and the Company pursuant to which the Company
     acquired the business currently carried on by the Vianova Group,
     as amended by an agreement dated 15th December, 1998;

     "INITIALLED FORM" means, in relation to any document, the form of
     that document which has been initialled for the purpose of
     identification by the Sellers' Solicitors and the Purchaser's
     Solicitors;

     "INKS BUSINESS" means the business of the Vianova Group engaged in
     the production, marketing and sale of certain printing inks;

     "LOI" means the letter of intent dated 21st October, 1999 relating
     to the proposed sale of the Inks Business, in the Initialled Form;

     "LOAN STOCK" means the DEM32,000,000 Unsecured 10% Loan Stock 2008
     of the Company in issue constituted by an instrument dated 15th
     December, 1998;

     "LOAN STOCK CONSIDERATION" means the consideration payable in
     respect of the sale of the Loan Stock under clause 4(2);

     "MGPE" means Morgan Grenfell Private Equity Limited of 23 Great
     Winchester Street, London EC2P 2AX;


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                                3

     "MINORITY SHARE SALE AGREEMENTS" means the draft agreements for
     the sale to the Purchaser of the B Shares, each in the Initialled
     Form;

     "NET ASSET ADJUSTMENT AMOUNT" means:

     (a)  if the Net Assets are less than DEM 285,300,000, the amount
          of the deficiency plus DEM 10,000,000; or

     (b)  if the Net Assets are DEM 285,300,000 or greater, DEM 0;

     "NET ASSETS" means the amount shown in the Completion Balance
     Sheet against line item "net assets after obligations to
     shareholders";

     "NET CASH PROCEEDS" has the meaning ascribed to it in clause 8(4);

     "NLG" means Dutch Guilders;

     "ORDINARY CONSIDERATION" means the consideration for the sale of
     the A Shares and the cancellation of the Warrants as calculated
     pursuant to clause 4(3);

     "PREFERENCE CONSIDERATION" means the consideration payable in
     respect of the sale of the Preference Shares in accordance with
     clause 4(1);

     "PREFERENCE SHARES" means the 38,191 class I preference shares of
     NLG0.01 each, the 38,191 class II preference shares of NLG0.01
     each, the 38,191 class III preference shares of NLG0.01 each, the
     38,191 class IV preference shares of NLG0.01 each, the 38,191
     class V preference shares of NLG0.01 each and the 38,191 class VI
     preference shares of NLG0.01 each in the issued capital of the
     Company;

     "PURCHASER'S SOLICITORS" means Baker & McKenzie of 100 New Bridge
     Street, London EC4V 6JA;

     "SECURITIES" means the A Shares, the Preference Shares and the
     Loan Stock;

     "SELLERS' SOLICITORS" means Allen & Overy of One New Change,
     London, EC4M 9QQ;

     "VIANOVA GROUP" means the Company and its subsidiaries;

     "WARRANT AGREEMENT" means the agreement dated 16th December, 1998
     between the Company, Bankers Trust Company, the Warrantholders and
     the holders of the A Shares;

     "WARRANT CANCELLATION AGREEMENT" means the warrant cancellation
     agreement in the Initialled Form; and

     "WARRANTS" means the warrants granted pursuant to the Warrant
     Agreement providing the holders with the right to subscribe in
     aggregate for 6,160 class A shares of NLG 90 each in the Company.

(2)  In this agreement any reference, express or implied, to an
     enactment includes references to:


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                                4

     (a)  that enactment as amended, extended or applied by or under
          any other enactment (before or after signature of this
          agreement);

     (b)  any enactment which that enactment re-enacts (with or
          without modification); and

     (c)  any subordinate legislation made (before or after signature
          of this agreement) under any enactment, as re-enacted,
          amended, extended or applied as described in paragraph (a)
          above, or under any enactment referred to in paragraph (b)
          above;

     except to the extent that any amendment or modification made after
     the date of this agreement would increase or alter the liability
     of any party under this agreement, and "ENACTMENT" includes any
     legislation in any jurisdiction.

(3)  Words denoting persons shall include bodies corporate,
     partnerships and other unincorporated associations of persons.

(4)  Subclauses (1) to (3) above apply unless the contrary intention
     appears.

(5)  The headings in this agreement do not affect its interpretation.

2.   SALE AND PURCHASE OF THE SECURITIES

(1)  Subject to clauses 5 and 6, each of the Sellers shall sell and the
     Purchaser shall purchase those of the Securities set opposite that
     Seller's name in Schedule 1 together with all rights attaching to
     such Securities, including dividends declared or fallen due but
     not paid at Completion.

(2)  Each of the Sellers warrants to and covenants with the Purchaser
     that he has the right to sell and transfer the full legal and
     beneficial interest (or, in the case of DEPIV, transfer the
     beneficial interest and procure the transfer by Ropa
     Beteiligungsgesellshaft mbH of the legal interest) in the
     Securities set opposite his name in Schedule 1 to the Purchaser on
     the terms set out in this agreement and that such Securities shall
     be sold free from all liens, charges, equities and encumbrances
     and other legal and equitable rights exercisable by third parties.

(3)  Each of the Warrantholders warrants to and covenants with the
     Purchaser that he has the right to deal with the full legal and
     beneficial interest in the Warrants held by him (details of which
     are set out opposite his name in Schedule 2) in the manner
     contemplated by this agreement.

(4)  None of the Sellers, the Warrantholders or the Purchaser shall be
     obliged to complete the sale and purchase of any of the Securities
     or the cancellation of the Warrants unless the sale and purchase
     of all the Securities and the cancellation of all the Warrants is
     completed simultaneously in accordance with this agreement and
     simultaneously with completion of the Minority Share Sale
     Agreements in accordance with their respective terms.

(5)  Each of the Sellers and the Warrantholders warrants to and
     covenants with the Purchaser that (other than the interests of a
     Warrantholder under the Warrants) he has no right to or interest
     in any shares in the Company not agreed by him to be sold (or, in
     the case of the Warrantholders, cancelled) pursuant to this
     agreement.


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                                5

3.   CANCELLATION OF WARRANTS

     Subject to clauses 5 and 6, each of the Warrantholders agrees to
     the cancellation of the Warrants on the terms of the Warrant
     Cancellation Agreement.

4.   CONSIDERATION

(1)  The consideration for the sale of the Preference Shares shall be
     the amount in Schedule 7 set opposite the date of Completion under
     the column "Preference Consideration", payable in cash on
     Completion.

(2)  The consideration for the sale of the Loan Stock shall be the
     amount in Schedule 7 set opposite the date of Completion under the
     column "Loan Stock Consideration", payable in cash on Completion.

(3)  The consideration for the sale of the A Shares and the
     cancellation of the Warrants shall be the product (in DEM) of the
     following formula:

                                        (        8400  )
     Ordinary Consideration = GEV minus ( GEV x ------ )
                                        (       112005 )


           ((                      )   (  15    8400  ))
     minus (( GEV - 252,549,784.11 ) x ( --- - ------ ))
           ((                      )   ( 100   112005 ))


(4)  The Sellers shall be entitled to the Preference Consideration and
     the Loan Stock Consideration in the proportions shown in columns
     (D) and (F) respectively of Schedule 1.

(5)  The Sellers of the A Shares and the Warrantholders shall be
     entitled to the Ordinary Consideration in the proportions set out
     opposite their respective names in Schedule 3.

(6)  The Purchaser shall pay to the Sellers of the A Shares and the
     Warrantholders DEM 381,977,079.36 in cash on Completion on account
     of the Ordinary Consideration (the "PAYMENT ON ACCOUNT").

(7)  Within 7 days following agreement or determination of the
     Completion Balance Sheet in accordance with Schedule 6 and (if
     applicable) the Net Cash Proceeds in accordance with clause 8:

     (a)  if the Payment on Account is greater than the Ordinary
          Consideration, the Sellers of the A Shares and the
          Warrantholders shall repay to the Purchaser in cash the
          amount of the excess; and

     (b)  if the Payment on Account is less than the Ordinary
          Consideration, the Purchaser shall pay to the Sellers of the
          A Shares and the Warrantholders in cash the amount of the
          deficiency,

     in each case together with interest accruing daily on such amount
     at the rate of Euribor plus 2 per cent. per annum from the date of
     Completion to (but not including) the date of payment.


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                                6

(8)  Payments to or by the Sellers of the A Shares and the
     Warrantholders pursuant to subclause (7) shall be made in the same
     proportions as their respective entitlements to the Ordinary
     Consideration.

5.   CONDITIONS PRECEDENT

(1)  The sale and purchase of the Securities and the cancellation of
     the Warrants is conditional on:

     (a)  the Commission of the European Communities notifying
          the Purchaser that it will neither initiate proceedings
          under Article 6(1)(c) of Council Regulation (EEC) 4064/89 in
          relation to the purchase of the Securities by the Purchaser
          or any matter arising from it, nor refer the purchase or any
          matter arising from it to the competent authorities of a
          Member State under Article 9(1) of that Regulation;  and

     (b)  the execution of each of the Minority Share Sale Agreements,
          the Administration Agreement and the Deed of Termination by
          all the parties thereto.

(2)  Each of the parties shall use reasonable endeavours to procure
     that each of the conditions in subclause (1) above is fulfilled on
     or before 29th February, 2000.   The Purchaser shall enter into
     each of the Minority Share Sale Agreements upon the other party
     thereto entering into it.  Each of the Sellers shall enter into
     the Deed of Termination upon the other parties thereto entering
     into it and each of the Sellers and the Warrantholders shall enter
     into the Administration Agreement upon the other parties thereto
     entering into it.

(3)  If either of the conditions in subclause (1) above is not
     fulfilled on or before the date specified in subclause (2) above,
     all the clauses of this agreement (other than clauses 11 to 16)
     shall cease to have effect and none of the parties will have any
     rights or liabilities under those clauses except in respect of an
     antecedent breach.

6.   RESCISSION

(1)  If between the date of this agreement and Completion:

     (a)  any Seller is in material breach of any obligation on his
          part under this agreement or if any of the persons given an
          instruction under clause 7(1) is in material breach of the
          terms of that instruction or if any of the Executives is in
          material breach of any obligation on his part under any of
          the Minority Share Sale Agreements and, where the breach is
          capable of remedy, it is not remedied to the Purchaser's
          reasonable satisfaction prior to Completion; or

     (b)  Hoechst makes any claim or allegation that the Hoechst
          Agreement is in any way invalid or unenforceable or that it
          has not been performed in all material respects in
          accordance with its terms; or

     (c)  any statute, regulation or decision is enacted or taken by a
          governmental or other official authority, including a court
          of competent jurisdiction (except for regulations or
          decisions relating to employee, competition or anti-trust
          matters) which would prohibit, restrict or delay beyond 29th
          February, 2000 the sale and purchase of the Securities or
          the cancellation of the Warrants;


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                                7

     (d)  any of the following occurs (except to the extent the same
          has arisen as a result of the unreasonable delay or
          withholding of consent by the Purchaser in respect of a
          matter requiring the consent of the Purchaser under clause
          7(1)) which has a material adverse effect on the financial
          position of the Vianova Group taken as a whole:

          (i)   any statute, regulation or decision is enacted or
                taken by a governmental or other official authority,
                including a court of competent jurisdiction, (except
                decisions or regulations relating to employee,
                competition or anti-trust matters) which would
                prohibit, restrict or affect the operation of any of
                the businesses of the Vianova Group (or any part
                thereof) after Completion;

          (ii)  a strike or industrial dispute at the Vianova Group's
                facilities at Hamburg, Fechenheim, Wiesbaden, Graz,
                Werndorf, Romano, Lalagosta, Dijon, Soborg, Suzano or
                Rayong;

          (iii) any loss, damage, destruction, breakdown or other
                event at, or in respect of, the Vianova Group's
                manufacturing facilities at Hamburg, Fechenheim,
                Wiesbaden, Graz, Werndorf, Romano, Lalagosta, Dijon,
                Soborg, Suzano or Rayong which prevents any one or
                more of such facilities from operating in the ordinary
                course of business; or

     (e)  any member of the Vianova Group enters into liquidation,
          administration, receivership, bankruptcy or any proceeding
          analogous thereto as a result of a material adverse change
          in the financial position of the Vianova Group taken as a
          whole; or

     (f)  it transpires that the Company has in issue securities in
          addition to those to be sold pursuant to this agreement and
          the B Shares or that any person (other than the
          Warrantholders under the Warrants) has any rights in
          relation to unissued share capital of the Company,

     then the Purchaser may elect to rescind this agreement by giving
     notice to the Sellers' Solicitors, and the provisions of clause
     5(3) shall apply, mutatis mutandis.

(2)  In no circumstances may this agreement be rescinded after
     Completion.

(3)  If prior to Completion any of the Sellers becomes aware of any of
     the matters set out in subclause (1) above he shall notify the
     Purchaser thereof as soon as practicable after becoming so aware.

7.   COVENANTS UP TO COMPLETION

(1)  Morgan Grenfell Development Capital Nominees Limited shall, and
     DEPIV shall procure that Ropa Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH shall,
     forthwith give (and not revoke, waive or alter the same without
     the Purchaser's consent) to each member of the Supervisory Board
     of the Company, each Executive and each of those persons
     identified in Schedule 8 (the "ADDITIONAL EXECUTIVES") a written
     instruction:

     (a)  not to approve (without the Purchaser's consent) anything
          (other than a sale of the Inks Business in accordance with
          clause 8 or any step necessary to implement Schedule 5)
          which he reasonably believes is outside the ordinary course
          of business of the relevant member of the Vianova Group or
          (without limitation to the foregoing) any of the following
          matters:


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                                8

          (i)    capital expenditure by any member of the Vianova Group
                 in an amount exceeding DEM1 million per calendar month
                 or DEM4 million in aggregate for the entire Vianova
                 Group or which, when aggregated with other capital
                 expenditure incurred during calendar year 1999 by it
                 or any other member of the Vianova Group, exceeds
                 DEM21.4 million;

          (ii)   the disposal or acquisition by any member of the
                 Vianova Group of any assets having a net book or
                 market value in excess of DEM1 million;

          (iii)  the acquisition, disposal or formation by any member
                 of the Vianova Group of any subsidiary or affiliate;

          (iv)   the grant or issue by any member of the Vianova Group
                 of any security including, without limitation,
                 mortgages, charges, guarantees or debentures in
                 connection with any part of its business, except in
                 what he reasonably believes to be the ordinary course
                 of business;

          (v)    the entry into or amendment by any member of the
                 Vianova Group of any agreement, contract or other
                 binding commercial arrangement which: (AA) is not
                 capable of being terminated on 12 months' notice or
                 less by that member and which involves payment or
                 receipt by that member of more than DEM 1 million per
                 annum (or the equivalent sum in the relevant local
                 currency); or (BB) involves payment or receipt by any
                 member of the Vianova Group in excess of DEM 2 million
                 per annum (or the equivalent sum in the relevant local
                 currency) other than any agreement, contract or
                 arrangement for the purchase of raw materials made in
                 the ordinary course;

          (vi)   the making by any member of the Vianova Group of any
                 material change in the terms and conditions of
                 employment of the members of the Management Board
                 listed in Schedule 4, the termination of the
                 employment of such persons or the employment of any
                 new persons in positions equivalent or similar to
                 those held by such persons;

          (vii)  the assumption or grant by any member of the Vianova
                 Group of any rights in respect of real estate
                 otherwise than in what he reasonably believes to be
                 the ordinary course of business;

          (viii) the entry into by any member of the Vianova Group of
                 any new, or the renewal of any current, "shop
                 agreements" ("Betriebsvereinbarungen"), or any
                 equivalent union or works council agreements;

          (ix)   the institution or joinder by any member of the
                 Vianova Group as a plaintiff before any court,
                 governmental agency, arbitration panel or other
                 tribunal of any proceeding with an individual value in
                 dispute in excess of DEM200,000;

          (x)    the creation, issue, purchase, redemption or
                 conversion by any member of the Vianova Group of any
                 class of share capital or the grant of any options or
                 other rights in favour of any of the Sellers or any
                 third parties in connection with any class of share
                 capital or the recapitalisation of any intergroup
                 indebtedness;


<PAGE>
<PAGE>

                                9

          (xi)   the entry into by any member of the Vianova Group of
                 any new facility agreement for the borrowing of money
                 or the discounting of invoices, or the amendment in
                 any material respect of the Finance Agreements;

          (xii)  the repayment of any term indebtedness;

     (b)  not, without the prior consent of the Purchaser, to do or
          omit to do anything or knowingly allow any member of the
          Vianova Group to do or omit to do anything which he knows
          does, will or might:

          (i)    cause any provision of the Hoechst Agreement to be or
                 become unenforceable, in whole or part and whether
                 before or after Completion, in accordance with its
                 terms; or

          (ii)   cause or allow enforcement of any provision of the
                 Hoechst Agreement to be waived, in whole or in part;

     (c)  to use his reasonable endeavours to procure that any and all
          returns, notices, computations and elections which he is
          aware are required to be filed with any tax, duty or excise
          authority are properly filed by the due date;

     (d)  to inform and consult via Dr. Strametz with the Purchaser
          about and regarding the matters referred to in clauses 10(2)
          and (3), to take into account the reasonable suggestions of
          the Purchaser with respect thereto and not to settle those
          matters other than on reasonable commercial terms (it being
          acknowledged that the current intention of the Vianova Group
          is that any amount paid to the Vianova Group by Hoechst in
          respect of the Herberts Claim will be equal to any amount
          paid by the Vianova Group to Herberts in respect of it); and

     (e)  to notify the Purchaser as soon as practicable after
          becoming aware of any of the matters referred to in clause
          6(1),

     provided that the instruction referred to in (d) above shall be
     given to Dr. Strametz, Herr Schrod and Herr Geidt only and the
     instruction in (b) and (e) above need not be given to the
     Additional Executives.

(2)  The Purchaser shall not withhold or delay its consent under
     subclause (1)(a) if the relevant member of the Vianova Group has
     an obligation to do the thing in question pursuant to a legally
     binding obligation entered into by it prior to the date of this
     agreement nor shall it unreasonably withhold or delay its consent
     to any matter referred to in subclause (1)(b)(ii).

(3)  None of the Sellers shall before Completion without the consent of
     the Purchaser:

     (a)  dispose of any interest, legal, equitable or otherwise, in
          any of the Securities to be sold by him or convert any of
          the Securities into any other class of share or security or
          grant any option or right of pre-emption over, or grant any
          other third party right in respect of, or mortgage, charge
          or otherwise encumber any of those Securities; or

     (b)  vote in favour of any proposed resolution of the Company's
          shareholders other than a resolution to adopt the accounts
          for the year ended 31st December, 1998, including
<PAGE>
<PAGE>

                                10

          any resolution for the declaration, making or payment of any
          dividend or other distribution, whether of profits, retained
          earnings or other cash or otherwise.

(4)  None of the Warrantholders shall before Completion without the
     consent of the Purchaser dispose of any interest, legal, equitable
     or otherwise in any of the Warrants held by him, grant any option
     or right of pre-emption over, or grant any other third party right
     in respect of, or mortgage, charge or otherwise encumber or
     exercise any of those Warrants.

(5)  Neither the Company nor any of the Sellers shall before Completion
     do anything which would require the Company to give a notification
     under clause 3.2 of the Warrant Agreement, other than in
     connection with the transactions contemplated by this agreement or
     with the prior consent of the Warrantholders.

(6)  Until Completion DEPIV shall use its best endeavours to procure
     (and none of the other Sellers shall restrict the ability of DEPIV
     so to procure) that:

     (a)  the Purchaser, its agents, advisers and representatives are
          provided in a timely fashion with such information regarding
          the businesses and affairs of the Vianova Group as the
          Purchaser may reasonably require by notice to Dr. Strametz;
          and

     (b)  the Purchaser, its agents, advisers and representatives are
          given reasonable access during normal working hours to
          PricewaterhouseCoopers and to the officers, directors,
          employees, premises, books and records of members of the
          Vianova Group.  Requests for such access shall be
          communicated via MGPE which may impose such conditions as
          are reasonable to avoid undue disruption to the Company's
          business and activities and to allow an adequate and proper
          process control to be exerted by MGPE (on behalf of the
          Sellers and the Warrantholders), including requiring the
          attendance of a representative of the Sellers at any meeting
          with directors, officers and/or employees of the Vianova
          Group; and

     (c)  the Purchaser, its agents, advisers and representatives are
          given such assistance by the directors, officers and
          employees of the Vianova Group as the Purchaser may
          reasonably require in order to:

          (i)  arrange the discharge on or following Completion of
               all the obligations of the Vianova Group under the
               Finance Agreements, including the provision of a
               forecast of the gross and net debt position of the
               Vianova Group on a company by company basis as at
               Completion no later than five days before the date set
               for Completion; and

          (ii) ensure, to the extent required by the Purchaser, that
               new or replacement finance agreements are established
               on or following Completion.

(7)  For the purposes of this clause, the Purchaser's consent shall be
     the consent of any of Robert B. Toth, Steve Zollmann or John J.
     Moore.

8.   INKS

(1)  Up to Completion, DEPIV shall procure in so far as it is
     reasonably able (and none of the other Sellers shall restrict the
     abiliy of DEPIV so to procure) that:

<PAGE>
<PAGE>

                                11

     (a)  the Vianova Group uses reasonable and good faith efforts to
          sell the Inks Business (and any other assets intended to be
          sold with it, as described in the LOI) on terms consistent
          with the LOI and any other terms agreed by Purchaser (such
          agreement not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed); and

     (b)  the Purchaser shall have the right to review the proposed
          terms of the sale and shall be entitled to prevent the sale
          on reasonable grounds, including (without limitation) (i)
          the allocation of liability between the Vianova Group (on
          the one hand) and the acquirer of the Inks Business (on the
          other hand) being such that the Vianova Group retains or
          acquires any potential liability for post-acquisition acts
          or omissions of such acquirer; and (ii) the inclusion in the
          assets sold of all or part of the InfraServ share interest
          without a corresponding and appropriate increase in the
          consideration for the Inks Business.

(2)  After Completion and up to 29 February, 2000, the Purchaser shall
     use reasonable and good faith efforts to sell the Inks Business on
     a basis which is consistent with the basis inherited at
     Completion, provided that such basis is reasonably (having regard
     to the provisions of subclause (1)) acceptable to the Purchaser.


(3)  If the sale of the Inks Business is completed on or before 29
     February, 2000 then the Gross Equity Value shall be increased by
     an amount equal to 50% of the Net Cash Proceeds agreed or
     determined in accordance with the following provisions of this
     clause.

(4)  "NET CASH PROCEEDS" means the cash consideration received by the
     seller of the Inks Business for the Inks Business on or prior to
     29th February, 2000 plus any liabilities assumed by the acquirer
     of the Inks Business and any accounts receivable of the Inks
     Business (less provision for bad and doubtful debts) retained by
     the seller of the Inks Business, less all charges and accruals for
     actual and contingent liabilities, liabilities for taxes, costs
     arising in connection with the transaction (including actual or
     contingent redundancy, relocation and retraining costs), fees
     (including legal, notary, financial and other advisors' fees) and
     expenses (including out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Vianova
     Group in negotiating the transaction) arising or having arisen,
     directly or indirectly, in connection with the sale, purchase and
     transfer of the Inks Business.

(5)  If the sale of Inks Business is completed on or before the date of
     Completion, the Purchaser shall procure that the relevant Vianova
     Group managers prepare and deliver to the Purchaser and PwC (as
     defined in Schedule 6) a statement of the Net Cash Proceeds at the
     same time as the draft unaudited Completion Balance Sheet (as
     defined in Schedule 6) is delivered to the Purchaser and PwC.  The
     provisions of Part A and paragraphs (i) to (iv) of Part C of
     Schedule 6 shall apply mutatis mutandis to such statement and to
     the agreement or determination thereof.

(6)  If the sale of Inks Business is completed after the date of
     Completion, the Purchaser shall procure that as soon as reasonably
     practicable and in any event no later than 60 days following
     completion of the sale of the Inks Business or the date of
     delivery of the draft unaudited Completion Balance Sheet (as
     defined in Schedule 6), whichever is later, the relevant Vianova
     Group managers shall prepare and deliver to the Sellers and the
     Appointed Advisor (as defined in Schedule 6) a statement of the
     Net Cash Proceeds.  The provisions of Part A and paragraphs (i) to
     (iv) of Part C of Schedule 6 shall apply mutatis mutandis to such
     statement of Net Cash Proceeds and to the agreement or determination
     thereof with further appropriate changes consistent with the audit
     being conducted by the Appointed Advisor rather than PwC.

<PAGE>
<PAGE>

                                12

9.   COMPLETION

(1)  Completion shall take place at the offices of Loeff Claeys Verbeke
     at Apollolaan 15, 1077 AB Amsterdam, The Netherlands two Business
     Days' after satisfaction of the condition set out in clause
     5(1)(a) or immediately after satisfaction of the condition set out
     in clause 5(1)(b), whichever is the later, and simultaneously with
     completion of the Minority Share Sale Agreements; provided that if
     Completion would otherwise occur during the period between 23rd
     December, 1999 and 16th January, 2000 (inclusive) it shall occur
     on 17th January, 2000.

(2)  At Completion the Sellers, the Warrantholders and the Purchaser
     shall do those things set out in Schedule 5.

10.  HERBERTS AND OTHER CLAIMS

(1)  The Purchaser shall on Completion pay to the Sellers of the A
     Shares and the Warrantholders (for the purposes of this clause,
     together the "SELLERS") the Relevant Percentage of DEM 6,500,000.

(2)  The Sellers shall pay to the Purchaser the Relevant Percentage of:

     (a)  any amount paid by the Vianova Group to Herberts in respect
          of the Herberts Claim whether before, on or after the date
          of Completion, provided that in relation to any amount paid
          prior to the date of Completion the amount shown in the
          notes to the Completion Balance Sheet as relating to the
          Herberts Claim and as having been written back for the
          purposes of the Completion Balance Sheet shall be conclusive
          evidence of the amount so paid and provided further that the
          maximum amount payable by the Sellers under this paragraph
          (a) shall be the Relevant Percentage of DEM 5,000,000; and

     (b)  any amount of corporation tax paid by Vianova Spain in
          respect of the period from 1st January to 1st June, 1999 by
          virtue of the merger of Vianova Spain with Viking Spain
          being effective on 1st June, 1999 rather than 1st January,
          1999, whether payment is made before, on or after the date
          of Completion, provided that in relation to any amount paid
          prior to the date of Completion the amount shown in the
          notes to the Completion Balance Sheet as relating to the
          corporation tax paid by Vianova Spain for that period and as
          having been written back for the purposes of the Completion
          Balance Sheet shall be conclusive evidence of the amount so
          paid and provided further that the maximum amount payable by
          the Sellers under this paragraph (b) shall be the Relevant
          Percentage of DEM 1,500,000.

(3)  The Purchaser shall pay to the Sellers the Relevant Percentage of:

     (a)  any amount received by the Vianova Group from Hoechst in
          respect of the Herberts Claim net of reasonable out-of-
          pocket costs and expenses incurred in making recovery,
          whether before, on or after the date of Completion, provided
          that in relation to any amount received prior to the date of
          Completion the amount shown in the notes to the Completion
          Balance Sheet as relating to the Herberts Claim and as
          having been written back for the purposes of the Completion
          Balance Sheet shall be conclusive evidence of the amount so
          received provided that the maximum amount
<PAGE>
<PAGE>

                                13

          payable by the Purchaser under this paragraph shall be
          no greater than the aggregate liability of the Sellers
          under subclause 2(a);

     (b)  any amount received by Vianova Spain from the Spanish
          taxation authorities or any other person in respect of
          corporation tax paid or payable by Vianova Spain in respect
          of the period from 1st January to 1st June 1999 by virtue of
          the merger of Vianova Spain with Viking Spain being
          effective on 1st June 1999 rather than 1st January, 1999
          (net of reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred
          in making recovery), whether received before, on or after
          the date of Completion, provided that in relation to any
          amount received prior to the date of Completion the amount
          shown in the notes to the Completion Balance Sheet as
          relating to such corporation tax and as having been written
          back for the purposes of the Completion Balance Sheet shall
          be conclusive evidence of the amount so received provided
          that the maximum amount payable by the Purchaser under this
          paragraph shall be no greater than the aggregate liability
          of the Sellers under subclause 2(b);

     (c)  any amount received by the Vianova Group after Completion
          under clause 6.19 of the Hoechst Agreement.

(4)  Each payment to be made by the Sellers to the Purchaser or vice
     versa under subclause (2) or (3) (as the case may be) shall be
     paid within ten Business Days after:

     (i)  the related amount having been paid or received (as the case
          may be); or

     (ii) agreement or determination of the Completion Balance Sheet,

     whichever is the later.

(5)  After Completion, the Purchaser shall inform and consult with MGPE
     (on behalf of the Sellers) about and regarding the matters
     referred to in subclauses (2) and (3) and take into account the
     reasonable suggestions of MGPE (on behalf of the Sellers).  The
     Purchaser shall procure that any settlement of those matters is
     made on reasonable commercial terms (it being acknowledged that
     the current intention of the Vianova Group is that any amount paid
     to the Vianova Group by Hoechst in respect of the Herberts Claim
     will be equal to any amount paid by the Vianova Group to Herberts
     in respect of it).  The Purchaser will use all reasonable
     endeavours to pursue any rights it may have against third parties
     which would entitle it to a payment of the type referred to in
     subclause (3) above.

(6)  Any payment to be made to or by the Sellers under subclauses (1)
     to (3) above shall be apportioned amongst them in accordance with
     Schedule 9, and shall be treated as an increase or reduction in
     the consideration for the sale and purchase of the A Shares and
     the cancellation of the Warrants.

(7)  "RELEVANT PERCENTAGE" means, in relation to a payment to be made
     under subclauses (1), (2) or (3), 85%.

11.  ANNOUNCEMENTS

     No party shall make or permit any person connected with him to
     make any announcement concerning this sale and purchase or any
     ancillary matter before Completion except as required by law or
     any competent regulatory body or with the written approval of the
     other parties (and for these purposes MGPE may agree any
     announcement by the Purchaser on

<PAGE>
<PAGE>

                                14

     behalf of the Sellers and the Warrantholders), such approval not
     to be unreasonably withheld or delayed.

12.  NOTICES

(1)  Except as otherwise specifically provided in this agreement, any
     notice or other document to be served under this agreement shall
     be delivered to the party to be served at his address appearing in
     this agreement or at such other address as he may have notified to
     the other parties in accordance with this clause.

(2)  Any notice or document shall be deemed to have been served at the
     time of delivery.

(3)  In proving service of a notice or document it shall be sufficient
     to prove that delivery was made.

13.  RESOLUTIONS AND WAIVERS

(1)  Each of the Sellers and of the Warrantholders shall procure so far
     as it is able the convening of all meetings of the Company, the
     giving of all waivers and consents and the passing of all
     resolutions as are necessary under its constitutional documents to
     give effect to this agreement and the Minority Share Sale
     Agreements.

(2)  Each Seller and each Warrantholder waives (and shall procure the
     waiver by his nominee of) all rights of pre-emption which he (or
     such nominee) may have (whether under the Company's constitutional
     documents or otherwise) in respect of the transfer to the
     Purchaser or its nominee of the Securities or any of them or in
     respect of the transfer to the Purchaser of the shares to be sold
     under the Minority Share Sale Agreements.

(3)  Each Warrantholder waives (and shall procure the waiver by his
     nominee of) all rights which he (or such nominee) may have under
     the Warrant Agreement in respect of the transfer to the Purchaser
     or its nominee of the Securities or any of them, including rights
     to receive notice of the sale of the Securities (or any of them)
     and to exercise the Warrants conditionally upon completion of the
     sale of the Securities.  Any consent of the Warrantholders
     required pursuant to the Warrant Agreement or applicable law to
     the transactions contemplated by this agreement shall be deemed to
     have been given or waived and any exercise notice given under the
     Warrant Agreement shall be deemed to have been cancelled.

14.  GENERAL

(1)  All payments to the Sellers and the Warrantholders to be made
     under this agreement shall be made in DEM in immediately available
     funds to the account of the Sellers' Solicitors at:

          bank:             NatWest Bank plc
                            15 Bishopsgate
                            London
          sort code:        50-00-00
          Swift address:    NWBKGB2L
          account number:   190/00/02346087
          account name:     Allen & Overy Client Account

     and such payment shall be in full and final satisfaction of any
     obligation of the Purchaser to pay that amount to the Sellers or
     the Warrantholders.

<PAGE>
<PAGE>

                                15

(2)  Each party shall pay the costs and expenses incurred by him in
     connection with the entering into and completion of this agreement
     provided that any stamp duties, transfer taxes, notarial fees or
     the like arising in connection with the transfer of the Securities
     or the cancellation of the Warrants and which are identified prior
     to the date when the Completion Balance Sheet is agreed or
     determined shall be borne by the Sellers and the Warrantholders up
     to a maximum of DEM200,000.

(3)  None of the rights or obligations under this agreement may be
     assigned or transferred without the prior written consent of all
     the parties, provided that the Purchaser may assign its rights
     under this agreement to any of its wholly-owned subsidiaries,
     subject to such subsidiary covenanting with the Sellers and the
     Warrantholders to be jointly and severally liable with the
     Purchaser to perform the Purchaser's obligations under this
     agreement.

(4)  This agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, all
     of which taken together shall constitute one and the same
     agreement and any party may enter into this agreement by executing
     a counterpart.

(5)  Where any obligation, representation, warranty or undertaking in
     this agreement is expressed to be made, undertaken or given by two
     or more of the Sellers or of the Warrantholders, they shall be
     severally responsible in respect of it.

(6)  All figures stated in this agreement are exclusive of any value
     added tax or its equivalent.

(7)  All of the provisions of this agreement shall remain in full force
     and effect notwithstanding Completion (except insofar as they set
     out obligations which have been fully performed at Completion).

(8)  If any provision or part of a provision of this agreement shall
     be, or be found by any authority or court of competent
     jurisdiction to be, invalid or unenforceable, such invalidity or
     unenforceability shall not affect the other provisions or parts of
     such provisions of this agreement, all of which shall remain in
     full force and effect.

(9)  No failure of a party to exercise, and no delay or forbearance in
     exercising, any right or remedy in respect of any provision of
     this agreement shall operate as a waiver of such right or remedy.

(10) Upon and after Completion each of the Sellers and the
     Warrantholders shall do and execute or procure to be done and
     executed all such further acts, deeds, documents and things as may
     be necessary to transfer the Securities and cancel the Warrants
     and pending the doing of such acts, deeds, documents and things
     the Sellers shall as from Completion hold the legal estate in the
     Securities to be sold by them pursuant to this agreement in trust
     for the Purchaser.

(11) As from the date of this agreement and until the date when it
     becomes apparent that the condition set out in clause 5(1)(a) is
     incapable of fulfilment in accordance with its terms by 29th
     February, 2000, none of the Sellers or the Warrantholders shall
     treat with, solicit offers from, approach or entertain any offer
     from, or supply information to, any person other than the
     Purchaser with respect to a proposed sale of any of the Securities
     or Warrants other than to inform such party that no discussions
     can be held because the Purchaser has been granted exclusivity.

<PAGE>
<PAGE>

                                16

(12) Each of DEPIV, Morgan Grenfell Development Capital Nominees
     Limited and Morgan Grenfell Development Capital Syndications
     Limited undertake to the Purchaser that it will not at any time
     during the period of five years after Completion disclose or
     divulge to any person (other than to officers or employees of the
     Vianova Group) any confidential or secret information of any
     member of the Vianova Group (other than any which comes into the
     public domain other than as a result of a breach of this
     undertaking or which it is obliged by law or regulatory authority
     to disclose).

15.  WHOLE AGREEMENT

(1)  This agreement and the documents referred to in it contain the
     whole agreement between the parties relating to the transactions
     contemplated by this agreement and supersede all previous
     agreements between the parties relating to these transactions.

(2)  Each of the parties acknowledges that in agreeing to enter into
     this agreement he has not relied on any representation, warranty,
     collateral contract or other assurance (except those set out in
     this agreement and the documents referred to in it) made by or on
     behalf of any other party before the signature of this agreement.
     Each of the parties waives all rights and remedies which, but for
     this subclause, might otherwise be available to him in respect of
     any such representation, warranty, collateral contract or other
     assurance, provided that nothing in this subclause shall limit or
     exclude any liability for fraud.

16.  GOVERNING LAW

(1)  This agreement is governed by and shall be construed in accordance
     with English law.

(2)  Each party submits to the jurisdiction of the English courts for
     all purposes relating to this agreement.

AS WITNESS the hands of the parties (or their duly authorised
representatives) on the date which appears first on page 1


<PAGE>
<PAGE>
                                40

                        SIGNATORIES


Signed by Tom Leader                    )         TOM LEADER
on behalf of Morgan Grenfell Private    )
Equity Limited, in its capacity as      )
general partner of Deutsche European    )
Partners IV (US ERISA) (No. 1) LP,      )
Deutsche European Partners IV (No.2)    )
LP, Deutsche European Partners IV       )
(No.3) LP, Deutsche European Partners IV)
(US Dollar Fund) LP, Deutsche European  )
Partners IV (E) LP, Deutsche European   )
Partners IV (E) (No. 2) LP and          )
Deutsche European Partners IV (AB)      )
LP and as attorney for Commercial       )
Union Life Assurance Company            )
Limited, Parallel Ventures Nominees     )
Limited, Bahrain International Bank     )
(E.C.), HarbourVest International       )
Private Equity Partners III - Direct    )
Fund LP, Mellon Bank N.A. as            )
trustee for the Bell Atlantic Master    )
Trust, Allied Capital Germany Fund      )
LLC, Allied Capital Corporation,        )
Bayerische Hypo - Und Vereinsbank       )
AG, RBS Mezzanine Limited,              )
Westdeutsche Landesbank                 )
Girozentrale, Bankers Trust Company     )
and Lehman Commercial Paper Inc.        )




Signed by Tom Leader                    )         TOM LEADER
as attorney for Morgan Grenfell         )
Development Capital Nominees            )
Limited, Deutsche Bank Nominees         )
(Guernsey) Limited and Morgan           )
Grenfell Development Capital            )
Syndications Limited                    )




Signed by John Saucier                  )         JOHN SAUCIER
for Solutia Inc.                        )




<PAGE>
<PAGE>

                         OMITTED SCHEDULES

A list briefly identifying the contents of all omitted schedules to this
agreement for the sale and purchase of shares and loan stock and the
cancellation of warrants in Viking Resins Group Holdings B.V., dated
10th November, 1999, appears in the Table of Contents to this agreement.
Solutia will furnish supplementally to the Securities and Exchange
Commission upon request a copy of any omitted schedule.


<PAGE>





                   DATED 22ND DECEMBER, 1999





                      HELMUT STRAMETZ


                            AND


                        SOLUTIA INC.





      -----------------------------------------------

                         AGREEMENT

                FOR THE SALE AND PURCHASE OF
        SHARES IN VIKING RESINS GROUP HOLDINGS B.V.

      -----------------------------------------------

















                       ALLEN & OVERY
                           London


<PAGE>
<PAGE>

                            CONTENTS

CLAUSE                                                           PAGE

1.    Interpretation                                                1
2.    Sale and Purchase of the B Shares                             2
3.    Consideration                                                 2
4.    Condition Precedent                                           3
5.    Rescission                                                    3
6.    Covenants up to Completion                                    3
7.    Inks                                                          6
8.    Completion                                                    6
9.    Herberts and other Claims                                     6
10.   Notices                                                       8
11.   Resolutions and Waivers                                       8
12.   General                                                       8
13.   Whole Agreement                                              10
14.   Governing Law                                                10

SCHEDULES [OMITTED]

1.    Particulars of the Company
2.    Completion Arrangements
Signatories                                                        13






<PAGE>
<PAGE>

THIS AGREEMENT is made on 22nd December, 1999, BETWEEN:

(1)  HELMUT STRAMETZ of Furstenbergestrasse 177, 60322 Frankfurt,
     Germany (the "SELLER"); and

(2)  SOLUTIA INC. of 575 Maryville Centre Drive, St. Louis, MO 63141
     (the "PURCHASER").

WHEREAS:

(A)  Viking Resins Group Holdings B.V. (the "COMPANY") is a company
     short particulars of which are set out in Schedule 1.

(B)  The Seller wishes to sell and the Purchaser wishes to purchase the
     B Shares on the terms and subject to the conditions set out in
     this agreement.

IT IS AGREED as follows:

1.   INTERPRETATION

(1)  In this agreement, unless defined below, all words and phrases
     shall have the same meanings as defined in the Sale Agreement:

     "AGREED FORM" means, in relation to any document, the form of that
     document which has been initialled for the purpose of
     identification by or on behalf of the Seller and the Purchaser;

     "B SHARES" means 1,176 of the class B shares of NLG90 each in the
     issued capital of the Company;

     "COMPLETION" means completion of the sale and purchase of the B
     Shares in accordance with clause 8;

     "COMPLETION BALANCE SHEET" means the Completion Balance Sheet
     agreed or determined in accordance with Schedule 6 of the Sale
     Agreement;

     "CONSIDERATION" means the consideration for the sale of the B
     Shares as calculated pursuant to clause 3(1);

     "SALE AGREEMENT" means the agreement dated 10th November, 1999
     between the Purchaser, the Sellers and the Warrantholders (as
     such terms are defined therein) for the sale to the Purchaser of
     class A shares, preference shares and loan stock in the Company
     and the cancellation of warrants to subscribe for class A shares
     in the Company.

(2)  In this agreement any reference, express or implied, to an
     enactment includes references to:

     (a)  that enactment as amended, extended or applied by or under
          any other enactment (before or after signature of this
          agreement);

     (b)  any enactment which that enactment re-enacts (with or
          without modification); and



<PAGE>
<PAGE>

                                2

     (c)  any subordinate legislation made (before or after signature
          of this agreement) under any enactment, as re-enacted,
          amended, extended or applied as described in paragraph (a)
          above, or under any enactment referred to in paragraph (b)
          above,

     except to the extent that any amendment or modification made after
     the date of this agreement would increase or alter the liability
     of any party under this agreement, and "ENACTMENT" includes any
     legislation in any jurisdiction.

(3)  Words denoting persons shall include bodies corporate,
     partnerships and other unincorporated associations of persons.

(4)  Subclauses (1) to (3) above apply unless the contrary intention
     appears.

(5)  The headings in this agreement do not affect its interpretation.

2.   SALE AND PURCHASE OF THE B SHARES

(1)  Subject to clauses 4 and 5, the Seller shall sell and the
     Purchaser shall purchase the B Shares together with all rights
     attaching to such B Shares, including dividends declared or fallen
     due but not paid at Completion.

(2)  The Seller warrants to and covenants with the Purchaser that he
     has the right to sell and transfer the full legal and beneficial
     interest in the B Shares to the Purchaser on the terms set out in
     this agreement and that such B Shares shall be sold free from all
     liens, charges, equities and encumbrances and other legal and
     equitable rights exercisable by third parties.

(3)  Neither the Seller nor the Purchaser shall be obliged to complete
     the sale and purchase of any of the B Shares unless the sale and
     purchase of all the B Shares is completed simultaneously in
     accordance with this agreement and simultaneously with completion
     of the Sale Agreement and the other Minority Share Sale Agreements
     in accordance with their respective terms.

(4)  The Seller warrants to and covenants with the Purchaser that he
     has no right to or interest in any shares in the Company other
     than the B Shares.

3.   CONSIDERATION

(1)  The consideration for the sale of the B Shares shall be the
     product (in DEM) of the following formula:

     (        1454  )
     ( GEV x ------ ) plus
     (       112005 )

     (   1454                              (  15    8400 ))
     ( -------- x (GEV - 252,549,784.11) x ( --- - ------))
     ( 8400-924                            ( 100   112005))

(2)  The Purchaser shall pay to the Seller DEM 8,090,647.04 in cash on
     Completion on account of the Consideration (the "PAYMENT ON
     ACCOUNT").


<PAGE>
<PAGE>

                                3

(3)  Upon payment of any amount payable pursuant to clause 4(7) of the
     Sale Agreement:

     (a)  if the Payment on Account is greater than the Consideration,
          the Seller shall repay to the Purchaser in cash the amount
          of the excess; and

     (b)  if the Payment on Account is less than the Consideration,
          the Purchaser shall pay to the Seller in cash the amount of
          the deficiency,

     in each case together with interest accruing daily of such amount
     at the rate of Euribor plus 2 per cent. per annum from the date of
     Completion to (but not including) the date of payment.

4.   CONDITION PRECEDENT

(1)  The sale and purchase of the B Shares is conditional on
     satisfaction of the conditions set out in clause 5(1) of the Sale
     Agreement (save to the extent such conditions relate to the
     execution of this agreement).

(2)  Each of the parties shall use reasonable endeavours to procure
     that the condition in subclause (1) above is fulfilled on or
     before 29th February, 2000.

(3)  If the condition in subclause (1) above is not fulfilled on or
     before the date specified in subclause (2) above, all the clauses
     of this agreement (other than clauses 10 to 14) shall cease to
     have effect and none of the parties will have any rights or
     liabilities under those clauses except in respect of an antecedent
     breach.

5.   RESCISSION

     This agreement shall automatically be rescinded upon rescission of
     the Sale Agreement, and the provisions of clause 4(3) of this
     agreement shall mutatis mutandis apply.

6.   COVENANTS UP TO COMPLETION

(1)  The Seller undertakes to the Purchaser that until Completion he
     shall not, without the prior consent of the Purchaser, approve
     anything which he reasonably believes is outside the ordinary
     course of business of the relevant member of the Vianova Group or
     (without limitation to the foregoing) any of the following
     matters:

     (a)  capital expenditure by any member of the Vianova Group in an
          amount exceeding DEM1 million per calendar month or DEM4
          million in aggregate for the entire Vianova Group or which,
          when aggregated with other capital expenditure incurred
          during calendar year 1999 by it or any other member of the
          Vianova Group, exceeds DEM21.4 million;

     (b)  the disposal or acquisition by any member of the Vianova
          Group of any assets having a net book or market value in
          excess of DEM1 million;

     (c)  the acquisition, disposal or formation by any member of the
          Vianova Group of any subsidiary or affiliate;

     (d)  the grant or issue by any member of the Vianova Group of any
          security including, without limitation, mortgages, charges,
          guarantees or debentures in connection with
<PAGE>
<PAGE>

                                4

          any part of its business, except in what he reasonably believes
          to be the ordinary course of business;

     (e)  the entry into or amendment by any member of the Vianova
          Group of any agreement, contract or other binding commercial
          arrangement which (i) is not capable of being terminated on
          12 months' notice or less by that member and which involves
          payment or receipt by that member of more than DEM 1 million
          per annum (or the equivalent sum in the relevant local
          currency) or (ii) involves payment or receipt by any member
          of the Vianova Group in excess of DEM 2 million per annum
          (or the equivalent sum in the relevant local currency) other
          than any agreement, contract or arrangement for the purchase
          of raw materials made in the ordinary course;

     (f)  the making by any member of the Vianova Group of any
          material change in the terms and conditions of employment of
          the members of the Management Board listed in Schedule 1,
          the termination of the employment of such persons or the
          employment of any new persons in positions equivalent or
          similar to those held by such persons;

     (g)  the assumption or grant by any member of the Vianova Group
          of any rights in respect of real estate otherwise than in
          what he reasonably believes to be the ordinary course of
          business;

     (h)  the entry into by any member of the Vianova Group of any
          new, or the renewal of any current, "shop agreements"
          ("Betriebsvereinbarungen"), or any equivalent union or works
          council agreements;

     (i)  the institution or joinder by any member of the Vianova
          Group as a plaintiff before any court, governmental agency,
          arbitration panel or other tribunal of any proceeding with
          an individual value in dispute in excess of DEM200,000;

     (j)  the creation, issue, purchase, redemption or conversion by
          any member of the Vianova Group of any class of share
          capital or the grant of any options or other rights in
          favour of the Seller or any third parties in connection with
          any class of share capital or the recapitalisation of any
          intergroup indebtedness;

     (k)  the entry into by any member of the Vianova Group of any new
          facility agreement for the borrowing of money or the
          discounting of invoices, or the amendment in any material
          respect of the Finance Agreements;

     (l)  the repayment of any term indebtedness,

     provided that (i) this subclause shall not apply to a sale of the
     Inks Business in accordance with clause 8 of the Sale Agreement or
     any step necessary to implement Schedule 5 of the Sale Agreement
     or Schedule 2 of this agreement; and (ii) the Purchaser shall not
     withhold or delay its consent under this subclause if the relevant
     member of the Vianova Group has an obligation to do the thing in
     question pursuant to a legally binding obligation entered into by
     it prior to the date of this agreement.

(2)  Prior to Completion the Seller shall not without the prior consent
     of the Purchaser (not, in the case of paragraph (b) below, to be
     unreasonably withheld or delayed) knowingly do or omit to do
     anything or knowingly allow any member of the Vianova Group to do
     or omit to do anything which he knows does, will or might:

<PAGE>
<PAGE>

                                5

     (a)  cause any provision of the Hoechst Agreement to be or become
          unenforceable, in whole or part and whether before or after
          Completion, in accordance with its terms; or

     (b)  cause or allow enforcement of any provision of the Hoechst
          Agreement to be waived, in whole or in part.

(3)  Until Completion, the Seller shall use his reasonable endeavours
     to procure that any and all returns, notices, computations and
     elections which he is aware are required to be filed prior to
     Completion with any tax, duty or excise authority are properly
     filed by Completion.

(4)  Until Completion the Seller shall use his best endeavours to
     procure that:

     (a)  the Purchaser, its agents, advisers and representatives are
          provided in a timely fashion with such information regarding
          the businesses and affairs of the Vianova Group as the
          Purchaser may reasonably require by notice to Dr. Strametz;
          and

     (b)  the Purchaser, its agents, advisers and representatives are
          given reasonable access during normal working hours to
          PricewaterhouseCoopers and to the officers, directors,
          employees, premises, books and records of members of the
          Vianova Group.  Requests for such access shall be
          communicated via MGPE which may impose such conditions as
          are reasonable to avoid undue disruption to the Company's
          business and activities and to allow an adequate and proper
          process control to be exerted by MGPE (on behalf of the
          Seller);

     (c)  the Purchaser, its agents, advisers and representatives are
          given such assistance by the directors, officers and
          employees of the Vianova Group as the Purchaser may
          reasonably require in order to:

          (i)  arrange the discharge on or following Completion of
               all the obligations of the Vianova Group under the
               Finance Agreements, including the provision of a
               forecast of the gross and net debt position of the
               Vianova Group on a company by company basis as at
               Completion no later than five days before the date set
               for Completion; and

          (ii) ensure, to the extent required by the Purchaser, that
               new or replacement finance agreements are established
               on or following Completion.

(5)  The Seller shall inform and consult (via Dr. Strametz) with the
     Purchaser about and regarding the matters referred to in clauses
     9(2) and (3) and take into account the reasonable suggestions of
     the Purchaser with respect thereto and not settle those matters
     other than on reasonable commercial terms (it being acknowledged
     that the current intention of the Vianova Group is that any amount
     paid to the Vianova Group by Hoechst in respect of the Herberts
     Claim will be equal to any amount paid by the Vianova Group to
     Herberts in respect of it).

(6)  The Seller shall not before Completion without the consent of the
     Purchaser:

     (a)  dispose of any interest, legal or equitable or otherwise, in
          the B Shares or convert any of the B Shares into any other
          class of share or security or grant any option or right of

<PAGE>
<PAGE>

                                6

          pre-emption over, or grant any other third party right in
          respect of, or mortgage, charge or otherwise encumber any of
          the B Shares; or

     (b)  vote in favour of any proposed resolution of the Company's
          shareholders other than a resolution to adopt the accounts
          for the year ended 31st December, 1998, including any
          resolution for the declaration, making or payment of any
          divided or other distribution, whether of profits, retained
          earnings or other cash or otherwise.

(7)  For the purposes of this clause, the Purchaser's consent shall be
     the consent of any of Robert B. Toth, Steve Zollmann or John J.
     Moore.

(8)  If prior to Completion the Seller becomes aware of any of the
     matters set out in clause 6(1) of the Sale Agreement he shall
     notify the Purchaser thereof as soon as practicable after becoming
     so aware.

7.   INKS

     Up to Completion, the Seller shall procure in so far as he is
     reasonably able that:

     (a)  the Vianova Group uses reasonable and good faith efforts to
          sell the Inks Business (and any other assets intended to be
          sold with it, as described in the LOI) on terms consistent
          with the LOI and any other terms agreed by Purchaser (such
          agreement not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed); and

     (b)  the Purchaser shall have the right to review the proposed
          terms of the sale and shall be entitled to prevent the sale
          on reasonable grounds, including (without limitation) (i)
          the allocation of liability between the Vianova Group (on
          the one hand) and the acquirer of the Inks Business (on the
          other hand) being such that the Vianova Group retains or
          acquires any potential liability for post-acquisition acts
          or omissions of such acquirer; and (ii) the inclusion in the
          assets sold of all or part of the InfraServ share interest
          without a corresponding and appropriate increase in the
          consideration for the Inks Business.

8.   COMPLETION

(1)  Completion shall take place at the same time and place as
     completion of the Sale Agreement.

(2)  At Completion the Seller and the Purchaser shall do those things
     set out in Schedule 2.

9.   HERBERTS AND OTHER CLAIMS

(1)  The Purchaser shall on Completion pay to the Seller the Relevant
     Percentage of DEM 6,500,000.

(2)  The Seller shall pay to the Purchaser the Relevant Percentage of:

     (a)  any amount paid by the Vianova Group to Herberts in respect
          of the Herberts Claim whether before, on or after the date
          of Completion, provided that in relation to any amount paid
          prior to the date of Completion the amount shown in the
          notes to the Completion Balance Sheet as relating to the
          Herberts Claim and as having been written back for the
          purposes of the Completion Balance Sheet shall be conclusive
          evidence of the amount so paid and provided further that the
          maximum amount 
<PAGE>
<PAGE>

                                7

          payable by the Seller under this paragraph (a) shall be the
          Relevant Percentage of DEM 5,000,000; and

     (b)  any amount of corporation tax paid by Vianova Spain in
          respect of the period from 1st January to 1st June, 1999 by
          virtue of the merger of Vianova Spain with Viking Spain
          being effective on 1st June, 1999 rather than 1st January,
          1999, whether payment is made before, on or after the date
          of Completion, provided that in relation to any amount paid
          prior to the date of Completion the amount shown in the
          notes to the Completion Balance Sheet as relating to the
          corporation tax paid by Vianova Spain for that period and as
          having been written back for the purposes of the Completion
          Balance Sheet shall be conclusive evidence of the amount so
          paid and provided further that the maximum amount payable by
          the Seller under this paragraph (b) shall be the Relevant
          Percentage of DEM 1,500,000.

(3)  The Purchaser shall pay to the Seller the Relevant Percentage of:

     (a)  any amount received by the Vianova Group from Hoechst in
          respect of the Herberts Claim net of reasonable out-of-
          pocket costs and expenses incurred in making recovery,
          whether before, on or after the date of Completion, provided
          that in relation to any amount received prior to the date of
          Completion the amount shown in the notes to the Completion
          Balance Sheet as relating to the Herberts Claim and as
          having been written back for the purposes of the Completion
          Balance Sheet shall be conclusive evidence of the amount so
          received provided that the maximum amount payable by the
          Purchaser under this paragraph shall be no greater than the
          aggregate liability of the Seller under subclause 2(a);

     (b)  any amount received by Vianova Spain from the Spanish
          taxation authorities or any other person in respect of
          corporation tax paid or payable by Vianova Spain in respect
          of the period from 1st January to 1st June 1999 by virtue of
          the merger of Vianova Spain with Viking Spain being
          effective on 1st June 1999 rather than 1st January, 1999
          (net of reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred
          in making recovery), whether received before, on or after
          the date of Completion, provided that in relation to any
          amount received prior to the date of Completion the amount
          shown in the notes to the Completion Balance Sheet as
          relating to such corporation tax and as having been written
          back for the purposes of the Completion Balance Sheet shall
          be conclusive evidence of the amount so received provided
          that the maximum amount payable by the Purchaser under this
          paragraph shall be no greater than the aggregate liability
          of the Seller under subclause 2(b);

     (c)  any amount received by the Vianova Group after Completion
          under clause 6.19 of the Hoechst Agreement.

(4)  Each payment to be made by the Seller to the Purchaser or vice
     versa under subclause (2) or (3) (as the case may be) shall be
     paid within ten Business Days after:

     (i)  the related amount having been made or received (as the case
          may be); or

     (ii) agreement or determination of the Completion Balance Sheet,

     whichever is the later.

<PAGE>
<PAGE>

                                8

(5)  After Completion, the Purchaser shall inform and consult with MGPE
     (on behalf of the Seller) about and regarding the matters referred
     to in subclauses (2) and (3) and take into account the reasonable
     suggestions of MGPE (on behalf of the Seller).  The Purchaser
     shall procure that any settlement of those matters is made on
     reasonable commercial terms (it being acknowledged that the
     current intention of the Vianova Group is that any amount paid to
     the Vianova Group by Hoechst in respect of the Herberts Claim will
     be equal to any amount paid by the Vianova Group to Herberts in
     respect of it).  The Purchaser will use all reasonable endeavours
     to pursue any rights it may have against third parties which would
     entitle it to a payment of the type referred to in subclause (3)
     above.

(6)  Any payment to be made to or by the Seller under subclauses (1) to
     (3) above shall be treated as an increase or reduction in the
     consideration for the sale and purchase of the B Shares.

(7)  "RELEVANT PERCENTAGE" means in relation to a payment to be made
     under subclauses (1), (2) or (3), the product of the following
     formula expressed as a percentage where P = the amount of the
     relevant payment if the Relevant Percentage were 100:

(      1,454  )   (    1,454        (   15     8400   ))
( P x ------- ) + (  -------- x P x (  --- - -------- ))
(     112005  )   (  8400-924       (  100    112005  ))

10.  NOTICES

(1)  Except as otherwise specifically provided in this agreement, any
     notice or other document to be served under this agreement shall
     be delivered to the party to be served at his address appearing in
     this agreement or at such other address as he may have notified to
     the other party in accordance with this clause.

(2)  Any notice or document shall be deemed to have been served at the
     time of delivery.

(3)  In proving service of a notice or document it shall be sufficient
     to prove that delivery was made.

11.  RESOLUTIONS AND WAIVERS

(1)  The Seller shall procure so far as it is able the convening of all
     meetings of the Company, the giving of all waivers and consents
     and the passing of all resolutions as are necessary under its
     constitutional documents to give effect to this agreement, the
     Sale Agreement and the other Minority Share Sale Agreements.

(2)  The Seller waives (and shall procure the waiver by his nominee of)
     all rights of pre-emption which he (or such nominee) may have
     (whether under the Company's constitutional documents or
     otherwise) in respect of the transfer to the Purchaser or its
     nominee of the B Shares or any of them and the matters contemplated
     by the Sale Agreement and the other Minority Share Sale Agreements.

12.  GENERAL

(1)  All payments to the Seller to be made under this agreement shall
     be made in DEM in immediately available funds to the following
     account:


<PAGE>
<PAGE>

                                9

          bank:            NatWest Bank plc
                           15 Bishopsgate
                           London
          sort code:       50-00-00
          Swift address:   NWBKGB2L
          account number:  190/00/02346087
          account name:    Allen & Overy Client Account

     and such payment shall be in full and final satisfaction of any
     obligation of the Purchaser to pay that amount to the Seller.

(2)  Each party shall pay the costs and expenses incurred by him in
     connection with the entering into and completion of this agreement
     provided that any stamp duties, transfer taxes, notarial fees or
     the like arising in connection with the transfer of the B Shares
     and which are identified prior to agreement or determination of
     the Completion Balance Sheet shall be borne by the Seller up to a
     maximum of DEM 2,000.

(3)  None of the rights or obligations under this agreement may be
     assigned or transferred without the prior written consent of all
     the parties, provided that the Purchaser may assign its rights
     under this agreement to any of its wholly-owned subsidiaries,
     subject to such subsidiary covenanting with the Seller to be
     jointly and severally liable with the Purchaser to perform the
     Purchaser's obligations under this agreement.

(4)  This agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, all
     of which taken together shall constitute one and the same
     agreement and any party may enter into this agreement by executing
     a counterpart.

(5)  All figures stated in this agreement are exclusive of any value
     added tax or its equivalent.

(6)  All of the provisions of this agreement shall remain in full force
     and effect notwithstanding Completion (except insofar as they set
     out obligations which have been fully performed at Completion).

(7)  If any provision or part of a provision of this agreement shall
     be, or be found by any authority or court of competent
     jurisdiction to be, invalid or unenforceable, such invalidity or
     unenforceability shall not affect the other provisions or parts of
     such provisions of this agreement, all of which shall remain in
     full force and effect.

(8)  No failure of a party to exercise, and no delay or forbearance in
     exercising, any right or remedy in respect of any provision of
     this agreement shall operate as a waiver of such right or remedy.

(9)  Upon and after Completion the Seller shall do and execute or
     procure to be done and executed all such further acts, deeds,
     documents and things as may be necessary to transfer the B Shares
     and pending the doing of such acts, deeds, documents and things
     the Seller shall as from Completion hold the legal estate in the B
     Shares to be sold by them pursuant to this agreement in trust for
     the Purchaser.

(10) As from the date of this agreement and until the date when it
     becomes apparent that the condition set out in clause 4 is
     incapable of fulfilment in accordance with its terms by 29th
     February, 2000, the Seller shall not treat with, solicit offers
     from, approach or entertain any
<PAGE>
<PAGE>

                                10

     offer from, or supply information to, any person other than the
     Purchaser with respect to a proposed sale of any of the B Shares
     other than to inform such party that no discussions can be held
     because the Purchaser has been granted exclusivity.

13.  WHOLE AGREEMENT

(1)  This agreement and the documents referred to in it contain the
     whole agreement between the parties relating to the transactions
     contemplated by this agreement and supersede all previous
     agreements between the parties relating to these transactions.

(2)  Each of the parties acknowledges that in agreeing to enter into
     this agreement he has not relied on any representation, warranty,
     collateral contract or other assurance (except those set out in
     this agreement and the documents referred to in it) made by or on
     behalf of any other party before the signature of this agreement.
     Each of the parties waives all rights and remedies which, but for
     this subclause, might otherwise be available to him in respect of
     any such representation, warranty, collateral contract or other
     assurance, provided that nothing in this subclause shall limit or
     exclude any liability for fraud.

14.  GOVERNING LAW

(1)  This agreement is governed by and shall be construed in accordance
     with English law.

(2)  Each party submits to the jurisdiction of the English courts for
     all purposes relating to this agreement.

AS WITNESS the hands of the parties (or their duly authorised
representatives) on the date which appears first on page 1.


<PAGE>
<PAGE>

                                13

                            SIGNATORIES


SIGNED by           )  /s/ Strametz
HELMUT STRAMETZ     )







SIGNED by           )  /s/ C.M. Parr
for SOLUTIA INC.    )

<PAGE>
<PAGE>

                          OMITTED SCHEDULES

A list briefly identifying the contents of all omitted schedules to this
agreement for the sale and purchase of class B shares in Viking Resins
Group Holdings B.V., dated 22nd December, 1999, appears in the Table
of Contents to this agreement.  Solutia will furnish supplementally to
the Securities and Exchange Commission upon request a copy of any
omitted schedule.

<PAGE>
<PAGE>

       SCHEDULE OF SUBSTANTIALLY IDENTICAL DOCUMENTS

Agreements substantially identical to this agreement, dated 22nd
December, 1999, for the sale and purchase of 1,176 class B shares
in Viking Resins Group Holdings B.V. between Helmut Strametz, as
seller and Solutia Inc., as purchaser, and the materially different
details, are as follows:

     Agreement, dated 21st December, 1999, for the sale and purchase
     of 672 class B shares in Viking Resins Group Holdings B.V.
     between Luca Floriani, as seller and Solutia Inc., as purchaser.
     The formula in subclause 3(1) is: (GEV x 831/112005) plus
     (831/(8400-924) x (GEV - 252,549,784.11) x (15/100 - 8400/112005)).
     The consideration in subclause 3(2) is DEM 4,624,021.79. The
     "Relevant Percentage" in subclause 9(7) is (P x 831/112005) +
     (831/(8400-924) x P x (15/100 - 8400/112005))

     Agreement, dated 22nd December, 1999, for the sale and purchase
     of 672 class B shares in Viking Resins Group Holdings B.V.
     between Bernhard August Kottmann, as seller and Solutia Inc.,
     as purchaser. The formula in subclause 3(1) is: (GEV x 831/112005)
     plus (831/(8400-924) x (GEV - 252,549,784.11) x (15/100 -
     8400/112005)). The consideration in subclause 3(2) is DEM
     4,624,021.79. The "Relevant Percentage" in subclause 9(7) is
     (P x 831/112005) + (831/(8400-924) x P x (15/100 - 8400/112005))

     Agreement, dated 22nd December, 1999, for the sale and purchase
     of 924 class B shares in Viking Resins Group Holdings B.V.
     between Jurgen Willi Reichhold, as seller and Solutia Inc., as
     purchaser. The formula in subclause 3(1) is: (GEV x 1142/112005)
     plus (1142/(8400-924) x (GEV - 252,549,784.11) x (15/100 -
     8400/112005)). The consideration in subclause 3(2) is DEM
     6,354,552.22. The "Relevant Percentage" in subclause 9(7) is
     (P x 1142/112005) + (1142/(8400-924) x P x (15/100 - 8400/112005))

     Agreement, dated 22nd December, 1999, for the sale and purchase
     of 924 class B shares in Viking Resins Group Holdings B.V.
     between Josef Sauer, as seller and Solutia Inc., as purchaser.
     The formula in subclause 3(1) is: (GEV x 1142/112005) plus
     (1142/(8400-924) x (GEV - 252,549,784.11) x (15/100 -
     8400/112005)). The consideration in subclause 3(2) is DEM
     6,354,552.22. The "Relevant Percentage" in subclause 9(7) is
     (P x 1142/112005) + (1142/(8400-924) x P x (15/100 - 8400/112005))

     Agreement, dated 22nd December, 1999, for the sale and purchase
     of 672 class B shares in Viking Resins Group Holdings B.V.
     between Karl-Heinz Schonwalder, as seller and Solutia Inc., as
     purchaser. The formula in subclause 3(1) is: (GEV x 934/112005)
     plus (934/(8400-924) x (GEV - 252,549,784.11) x (15/100 -
     8400/112005)). The consideration in subclause 3(2) is DEM
     5,197,155.66. The "Relevant Percentage" in subclause 9(7) is
     (P x 934/112005) + (934/(8400-924) x P x (15/100 - 8400/112005))

     Agreement, dated 22nd December, 1999, for the sale and purchase
     of 924 class B shares in Viking Resins Group Holdings B.V. between
     Manfred Heinrich Schrod, as seller and Solutia Inc., as purchaser.
     The formula in subclause 3(1) is: (GEV x 1142/112005) plus
     (1142/(8400-924) x (GEV - 252,549,784.11) x (15/100 - 8400/112005)).
     The consideration in subclause 3(2) is DEM 6,354,532.22. The
     "Relevant Percentage" in subclause 9(7) is (P x 1142/112005) +
     (1142/(8400-924) x P x (15/100 - 8400/112005))

The address of each seller differs.



<PAGE>


                 DATED 21ST DECEMBER, 1999







                    HEINRICH OTTO GEIDT



                            AND



                        SOLUTIA INC.






     ---------------------------------------------------

                         AGREEMENT

                FOR THE SALE AND PURCHASE OF
        SHARES IN VIKING RESINS GROUP HOLDINGS B.V.

     ---------------------------------------------------








                       ALLEN & OVERY
                           London

                              
<PAGE>
<PAGE>

                          CONTENTS

CLAUSE                                                  PAGE

1.       Interpretation                                    1
2.       Sale and Purchase of the B Shares                 2
3.       Consideration                                     2
4.       Condition Precedent                               3
5.       Rescission                                        3
6.       Covenants up to Completion                        3
7.       Inks                                              6
8.       Completion                                        6
9.       Herberts and other Claims                         6
10.      Notices                                           8
11.      Resolutions and Waivers                           8
12.      General                                           8
13.      Whole Agreement                                  10
14.      Governing Law                                    10

SCHEDULES [Omitted]

1.       Particulars of the Company
2.       Completion Arrangements
Signatories                                               13


<PAGE>
<PAGE>

THIS AGREEMENT is made on 21st December, 1999, BETWEEN:

(1)  HEINRICH OTTO GEIDT of Eschborner Strasse 5, 65843 Sulzbach/Ts,
     Germany (the "SELLER"); and

(2)  SOLUTIA INC. of 575 Maryville Centre Drive, St. Louis, MO 63141
     (the "PURCHASER").

WHEREAS:

(A)  Viking Resins Group Holdings B.V. (the "COMPANY") is a company
     short particulars of which are set out in Schedule 1.

(B)  The Seller wishes to sell and the Purchaser wishes to purchase the
     B Shares on the terms and subject to the conditions set out in
     this agreement.

IT IS AGREED as follows:

1.   INTERPRETATION

(1)  In this agreement, unless defined below, all words and phrases
     shall have the same meanings as defined in the Sale Agreement:

     "AGREED FORM" means, in relation to any document, the form of that
     document which has been initialled for the purpose of
     identification by or on behalf of the Seller and the Purchaser;

     "B SHARES" means 924 of the class B shares of NLG90 each in the
     issued capital of the Company;

     "COMPLETION" means completion of the sale and purchase of the B
     Shares in accordance with clause 8;

     "COMPLETION BALANCE SHEET" means the Completion Balance Sheet
     agreed or determined in accordance with Schedule 6 of the Sale
     Agreement;

     "CONSIDERATION" means the consideration for the sale of the B
     Shares as calculated pursuant to clause 3(1);

     "SALE AGREEMENT" means the agreement dated 10th November,
     1999 between the Purchaser, the Sellers and the Warrantholders (as
     such terms are defined therein) for the sale to the Purchaser of
     class A shares, preference shares and loan stock in the Company and
     the cancellation of warrants to subscribe for class A shares in the
     Company.

(2)  In this agreement any reference, express or implied, to an
     enactment includes references to:

     (a)  that enactment as amended, extended or applied by or under
          any other enactment (before or after signature of this
          agreement);

     (b)  any enactment which that enactment re-enacts (with or
          without modification); and


<PAGE>
<PAGE>

                                2

     (c)  any subordinate legislation made (before or after signature
          of this agreement) under any enactment, as re-enacted,
          amended, extended or applied as described in paragraph (a)
          above, or under any enactment referred to in paragraph (b)
          above,

     except to the extent that any amendment or modification made after
     the date of this agreement would increase or alter the liability
     of any party under this agreement, and "ENACTMENT" includes any
     legislation in any jurisdiction.

(3)  Words denoting persons shall include bodies corporate,
     partnerships and other unincorporated associations of persons.

(4)  Subclauses (1) to (3) above apply unless the contrary intention
     appears.

(5)  The headings in this agreement do not affect its interpretation.

2.   SALE AND PURCHASE OF THE B SHARES

(1)  Subject to clauses 4 and 5, the Seller shall sell and the
     Purchaser shall purchase the B Shares together with all rights
     attaching to such B Shares, including dividends declared or fallen
     due but not paid at Completion.

(2)  The Seller warrants to and covenants with the Purchaser that he
     has the right to sell and transfer the full legal and beneficial
     interest in the B Shares to the Purchaser on the terms set out in
     this agreement and that such B Shares shall be sold free from all
     liens, charges, equities and encumbrances and other legal and
     equitable rights exercisable by third parties.

(3)  Neither the Seller nor the Purchaser shall be obliged to complete
     the sale and purchase of any of the B Shares unless the sale and
     purchase of all the B Shares is completed simultaneously in
     accordance with this agreement and simultaneously with completion
     of the Sale Agreement and the other Minority Share Sale Agreements
     in accordance with their respective terms.

(4)  The Seller warrants to and covenants with the Purchaser that he
     has no right to or interest in any shares in the Company other
     than the B Shares.

3.   CONSIDERATION

(1)  The consideration for the sale of the B Shares shall be the
     product (in DEM) of the following formula:

     (        924 )
     (GEV x ------)
     (      112005)

(2)  The Purchaser shall pay to the Seller DEM 3,523,417.70 in cash on
     Completion on account of the Consideration (the "PAYMENT ON
     ACCOUNT").

(3)  Upon payment of any amount payable pursuant to clause 4(7) of the
     Sale Agreement:


<PAGE>
<PAGE>

                                3

     (a)  if the Payment on Account is greater than the Consideration,
          the Seller shall repay to the Purchaser in cash the amount
          of the excess; and

     (b)  if the Payment on Account is less than the Consideration,
          the Purchaser shall pay to the Seller in cash the amount of
          the deficiency,

     in each case together with interest accruing daily of such amount
     at the rate of Euribor plus 2 per cent per annum from the date of
     Completion to (but not including) the date of payment.

4.   CONDITION PRECEDENT

(1)  The sale and purchase of the B Shares is conditional on
     satisfaction of the conditions set out in clause 5(1) of the Sale
     Agreement (save to the extent such conditions relate to the
     execution of this agreement).

(2)  Each of the parties shall use reasonable endeavours to procure
     that the condition in subclause (1) above is fulfilled on or
     before 29th February, 2000.

(3)  If the condition in subclause (1) above is not fulfilled on or
     before the date specified in subclause (2) above, all the clauses
     of this agreement (other than clauses 10 to 14) shall cease to
     have effect and none of the parties will have any rights or
     liabilities under those clauses except in respect of an antecedent
     breach.

5.   RESCISSION

     This agreement shall automatically be rescinded upon rescission of
     the Sale Agreement, and the provisions of clause 4(3) of this
     agreement shall mutatis mutandis apply.

6.   COVENANTS UP TO COMPLETION

(1)  The Seller undertakes to the Purchaser that until Completion he
     shall not, without the prior consent of the Purchaser, approve
     anything which he reasonably believes is outside the ordinary
     course of business of the relevant member of the Vianova Group or
     (without limitation to the foregoing) any of the following
     matters:

     (a)  capital expenditure by any member of the Vianova Group in an
          amount exceeding DEM1 million per calendar month or
          DEM4 million in aggregate for the entire Vianova Group or
          which, when aggregated with other capital expenditure
          incurred during calendar year 1999 by it or any other member
          of the Vianova Group, exceeds DEM21.4 million;

     (b)  the disposal or acquisition by any member of the Vianova
          Group of any assets having a net book or market value in
          excess of DEM1 million;

     (c)  the acquisition, disposal or formation by any member of the
          Vianova Group of any subsidiary or affiliate;

     (d)  the grant or issue by any member of the Vianova Group of any
          security including, without limitation, mortgages, charges,
          guarantees or debentures in connection with any part of its
          business, except in what he reasonably believes to be the
          ordinary course of business;





<PAGE>
<PAGE>

                                4

     (e)  the entry into or amendment by any member of the Vianova
          Group of any agreement, contract or other binding commercial
          arrangement which (i) is not capable of being terminated on
          12 months' notice or less by that member and which involves
          payment or receipt by that member of more than DEM 1 million
          per annum (or the equivalent sum in the relevant local
          currency) or (ii) involves payment or receipt by any member
          of the Vianova Group in excess of DEM 2 million per annum
          (or the equivalent sum in the relevant local currency) other
          than any agreement, contract or arrangement for the purchase
          of raw materials made in the ordinary course;

     (f)  the making by any member of the Vianova Group of any
          material change in the terms and conditions of employment of
          the members of the Management Board listed in Schedule 1,
          the termination of the employment of such persons or the
          employment of any new persons in positions equivalent or
          similar to those held by such persons;

     (g)  the assumption or grant by any member of the Vianova Group
          of any rights in respect of real estate otherwise than in
          what he reasonably believes to be the ordinary course of
          business;

     (h)  the entry into by any member of the Vianova Group of any
          new, or the renewal of any current, "shop agreements"
          ("Betriebsvereinbarungen"), or any equivalent union or works
          council agreements;

     (i)  the institution or joinder by any member of the Vianova
          Group as a plaintiff before any court, governmental agency,
          arbitration panel or other tribunal of any proceeding with
          an individual value in dispute in excess of DEM200,000;

     (j)  the creation, issue, purchase, redemption or conversion by
          any member of the Vianova Group of any class of share
          capital or the grant of any options or other rights in
          favour of the Seller or any third parties in connection with
          any class of share capital or the recapitalisation of any
          intergroup indebtedness;

     (k)  the entry into by any member of the Vianova Group of any new
          facility agreement for the borrowing of money or the
          discounting of invoices, or the amendment in any material
          respect of the Finance Agreements;

     (l)  the repayment of any term indebtedness,

     provided that (i) this subclause shall not apply to a sale of the
     Inks Business in accordance with clause 8 of the Sale Agreement or
     any step necessary to implement Schedule 5 of the Sale Agreement
     or Schedule 2 of this agreement; and (ii) the Purchaser shall not
     withhold or delay its consent under this subclause if the relevant
     member of the Vianova Group has an obligation to do the thing in
     question pursuant to a legally binding obligation entered into by
     it prior to the date of this agreement.


(2)  Prior to Completion the Seller shall not without the prior consent
     of the Purchaser (not, in the case of paragraph (b) below, to be
     unreasonably withheld or delayed) knowingly do or omit to do
     anything or knowingly allow any member of the Vianova Group to do
     or omit to do anything which he knows does, will or might:



<PAGE>
<PAGE>

                                5

     (a)  cause any provision of the Hoechst Agreement to be or become
          unenforceable, in whole or part and whether before or after
          Completion, in accordance with its terms; or

     (b)  cause or allow enforcement of any provision of the Hoechst
          Agreement to be waived, in whole or in part.

(3)  Until Completion, the Seller shall use his reasonable endeavours
     to procure that any and all returns, notices, computations and
     elections which he is aware are required to be filed prior to
     Completion with any tax, duty or excise authority are properly
     filed by Completion.

(4)  Until Completion the Seller shall use his best endeavours to
     procure that:

     (a)  the Purchaser, its agents, advisers and representatives are
          provided in a timely fashion with such information regarding
          the businesses and affairs of the Vianova Group as the
          Purchaser may reasonably require by notice to Dr. Strametz;
          and

     (b)  the Purchaser, its agents, advisers and representatives are
          given reasonable access during normal working hours to
          PricewaterhouseCoopers and to the officers, directors,
          employees, premises, books and records of members of the
          Vianova Group.  Requests for such access shall be
          communicated via MGPE which may impose such conditions as
          are reasonable to avoid undue disruption to the Company's
          business and activities and to allow an adequate and proper
          process control to be exerted by MGPE (on behalf of the
          Seller);

     (c)  the Purchaser, its agents, advisers and representatives are
          given such assistance by the directors, officers and
          employees of the Vianova Group as the Purchaser may
          reasonably require in order to:

          (i)  arrange the discharge on or following Completion of
               all the obligations of the Vianova Group under the
               Finance Agreements, including the provision of a
               forecast of the gross and net debt position of the
               Vianova Group on a company by company basis as at
               Completion no later than five days before the date set
               for Completion; and

          (ii) ensure, to the extent required by the Purchaser, that
               new or replacement finance agreements are established
               on or following Completion.



(5)  The Seller shall inform and consult (via Dr. Strametz) with the
     Purchaser about and regarding the matters referred to in clauses
     9(2) and (3) and take into account the reasonable suggestions of
     the Purchaser with respect thereto and not settle those matters
     other than on reasonable commercial terms (it being acknowledged
     that the current intention of the Vianova Group is that any amount
     paid to the Vianova Group by Hoechst in respect of the Herberts
     Claim will be equal to any amount paid by the Vianova Group to
     Herberts in respect of it).

(6)  The Seller shall not before Completion without the consent of the
     Purchaser:

     (a)  dispose of any interest, legal or equitable or otherwise, in
          the B Shares or convert any of the B Shares into any other
          class of share or security or grant any option or right of

<PAGE>
<PAGE>

                                6

          pre-emption over, or grant any other third party right in
          respect of, or mortgage, charge or otherwise encumber any of
          the B Shares; or

     (b)  vote in favour of any proposed resolution of the Company's
          shareholders other than a resolution to adopt the accounts
          for the year ended 31st December, 1998, including any
          resolution for the declaration, making or payment of any
          divided or other distribution, whether of profits, retained
          earnings or other cash or otherwise.

(7)  For the purposes of this clause, the Purchaser's consent shall be
     the consent of any of Robert B. Toth, Steve Zollmann or John J.
     Moore.

(8)  If prior to Completion the Seller becomes aware of any of the
     matters set out in clause 6(1) of the Sale Agreement he shall
     notify the Purchaser thereof as soon as practicable after becoming
     so aware.

7.   INKS

     Up to Completion, the Seller shall procure in so far as he is
     reasonably able that:

     (a)  the Vianova Group uses reasonable and good faith efforts to
          sell the Inks Business (and any other assets intended to be
          sold with it, as described in the LOI) on terms consistent
          with the LOI and any other terms agreed by Purchaser (such
          agreement not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed); and

     (b)  the Purchaser shall have the right to review the proposed
          terms of the sale and shall be entitled to prevent the sale
          on reasonable grounds, including (without limitation) (i)
          the allocation of liability between the Vianova Group (on
          the one hand) and the acquirer of the Inks Business (on the
          other hand) being such that the Vianova Group retains or
          acquires any potential liability for post-acquisition acts
          or omissions of such acquirer; and (ii) the inclusion in the
          assets sold of all or part of the InfraServ share interest
          without a corresponding and appropriate increase in the
          consideration for the Inks Business.

8.   COMPLETION

(1)  Completion shall take place at the same time and place as
     completion of the Sale Agreement.

(2)  At Completion the Seller and the Purchaser shall do those things
     set out in Schedule 2.

9.   HERBERTS AND OTHER CLAIMS

(1)  The Purchaser shall on Completion pay to the Seller the Relevant
     Percentage of DEM 6,500,000.

(2)  The Seller shall pay to the Purchaser the Relevant Percentage of:

     (a)  any amount paid by the Vianova Group to Herberts in respect
          of the Herberts Claim whether before, on or after the date
          of Completion, provided that in relation to any amount paid
          prior to the date of Completion the amount shown in the
          notes to the Completion Balance Sheet as relating to the Herberts
          Claim and as having been written back for the purposes of the
          Completion Balance Sheet shall be conclusive evidence of the
          amount so paid and provided further that the maximum amount


<PAGE>
<PAGE>

                                7

          payable by the Seller under this paragraph (a) shall be the
          Relevant Percentage of DEM 5,000,000; and

     (b)  any amount of corporation tax paid by Vianova Spain in
          respect of the period from 1st January to 1st June, 1999 by
          virtue of the merger of Vianova Spain with Viking Spain
          being effective on 1st June, 1999 rather than 1st January,
          1999, whether payment is made before, on or after the date
          of Completion, provided that in relation to any amount paid
          prior to the date of Completion the amount shown in the
          notes to the Completion Balance Sheet as relating to the
          corporation tax paid by Vianova Spain for that period and as
          having been written back for the purposes of the Completion
          Balance Sheet shall be conclusive evidence of the amount so
          paid and provided further that the maximum amount payable by
          the Seller under this paragraph (b) shall be the Relevant
          Percentage of DEM 1,500,000.

(3)  The Purchaser shall pay to the Seller the Relevant Percentage of:

     (a)  any amount received by the Vianova Group from Hoechst in
          respect of the Herberts Claim net of reasonable out-of-
          pocket costs and expenses incurred in making recovery,
          whether before, on or after the date of Completion, provided
          that in relation to any amount received prior to the date of
          Completion the amount shown in the notes to the Completion
          Balance Sheet as relating to the Herberts Claim and as
          having been written back for the purposes of the Completion
          Balance Sheet shall be conclusive evidence of the amount so
          received provided that the maximum amount payable by the
          Purchaser under this paragraph shall be no greater than the
          aggregate liability of the Seller under subclause 2(a);

     (b)  any amount received by Vianova Spain from the Spanish
          taxation authorities or any other person in respect of
          corporation tax paid or payable by Vianova Spain in respect
          of the period from 1st January to 1st June 1999 by virtue of
          the merger of Vianova Spain with Viking Spain being
          effective on 1st June 1999 rather than 1st January, 1999
          (net of reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred
          in making recovery), whether received before, on or after
          the date of Completion, provided that in relation to any
          amount received prior to the date of Completion the amount
          shown in the notes to the Completion Balance Sheet as
          relating to such corporation tax and as having been written
          back for the purposes of the Completion Balance Sheet shall
          be conclusive evidence of the amount so received provided
          that the maximum amount payable by the Purchaser under this
          paragraph shall be no greater than the aggregate liability
          of the Seller under subclause 2(b);

     (c)  any amount received by the Vianova Group after Completion
          under clause 6.19 of the Hoechst Agreement.

(4)  Each payment to be made by the Seller to the Purchaser or vice
     versa under subclause (2) or (3) (as the case may be) shall be
     paid within ten Business Days after:

     (i)  the related amount having been made or received (as the case
          may be); or

     (ii) agreement or determination of the Completion Balance Sheet,

     whichever is the later.


<PAGE>
<PAGE>

                                8

(5)  After Completion, the Purchaser shall inform and consult with MGPE
     (on behalf of the Seller) about and regarding the matters referred
     to in subclauses (2) and (3) and take into account the reasonable
     suggestions of MGPE (on behalf of the Seller).  The Purchaser
     shall procure that any settlement of those matters is made on
     reasonable commercial terms (it being acknowledged that the
     current intention of the Vianova Group is that any amount paid to
     the Vianova Group by Hoechst in respect of the Herberts Claim will
     be equal to any amount paid by the Vianova Group to Herberts in
     respect of it).  The Purchaser will use all reasonable endeavours
     to pursue any rights it may have against third parties which would
     entitle it to a payment of the type referred to in subclause (3)
     above.

(6)  Any payment to be made to or by the Seller under subclauses (1) to
     (3) above shall be treated as an increase or reduction in the
     consideration for the sale and purchase of the B Shares.

(7)  "RELEVANT PERCENTAGE" means in relation to a payment to be made
     under subclauses (1), (2) or (3), the product of the following
     formula expressed as a percentage where P = the amount of the
     relevant payment if the Relevant Percentage were 100:

     (     924  )
     (P x ------)
     (    112005)

10.  NOTICES

(1)  Except as otherwise specifically provided in this agreement, any
     notice or other document to be served under this agreement shall
     be delivered to the party to be served at his address appearing in
     this agreement or at such other address as he may have notified to
     the other party in accordance with this clause.

(2)  Any notice or document shall be deemed to have been served at the
     time of delivery.

(3)  In proving service of a notice or document it shall be sufficient
     to prove that delivery was made.

11.  RESOLUTIONS AND WAIVERS

(1)  The Seller shall procure so far as it is able the convening of all
     meetings of the Company, the giving of all waivers and consents
     and the passing of all resolutions as are necessary under its
     constitutional documents to give effect to this agreement, the
     Sale Agreement and the other Minority Share Sale Agreements.

(2)  The Seller waives (and shall procure the waiver by his nominee of)
     all rights of pre-emption which he (or such nominee) may have
     (whether under the Company's constitutional documents or
     otherwise) in respect of the transfer to the Purchaser or its
     nominee of the B Shares or any of them and the matters
     contemplated by the Sale Agreement and the other Minority Share
     Sale Agreements.

12.  GENERAL

(1)  All payments to the Seller to be made under this agreement shall
     be made in DEM in immediately available funds to the following
     account:

<PAGE>
<PAGE>

                                9

          bank:               NatWest Bank plc
                              15 Bishopsgate
                              London
          sort code:          50-00-00
          Swift address:      NWBKGB2L
          account number:     190/00/02346087
          account name:       Allen & Overy Client Account

     and such payment shall be in full and final satisfaction of any
     obligation of the Purchaser to pay that amount to the Seller.

(2)  Each party shall pay the costs and expenses incurred by him in
     connection with the entering into and completion of this agreement
     provided that any stamp duties, transfer taxes, notarial fees or
     the like arising in connection with the transfer of the B Shares
     and which are identified prior to agreement or determination of
     the Completion Balance Sheet shall be borne by the Seller up to a
     maximum of DEM 2,000.

(3)  None of the rights or obligations under this agreement may be
     assigned or transferred without the prior written consent of all
     the parties, provided that the Purchaser may assign its rights
     under this agreement to any of its wholly-owned subsidiaries,
     subject to such subsidiary covenanting with the Seller to be
     jointly and severally liable with the Purchaser to perform the
     Purchaser's obligations under this agreement.

(4)  This agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, all
     of which taken together shall constitute one and the same
     agreement and any party may enter into this agreement by executing
     a counterpart.

(5)  All figures stated in this agreement are exclusive of any value
     added tax or its equivalent.

(6)  All of the provisions of this agreement shall remain in full force
     and effect notwithstanding Completion (except insofar as they set
     out obligations which have been fully performed at Completion).

(7)  If any provision or part of a provision of this agreement shall
     be, or be found by any authority or court of competent
     jurisdiction to be, invalid or unenforceable, such invalidity or
     unenforceability shall not affect the other provisions or parts of
     such provisions of this agreement, all of which shall remain in
     full force and effect.

(8)  No failure of a party to exercise, and no delay or forbearance in
     exercising, any right or remedy in respect of any provision of
     this agreement shall operate as a waiver of such right or remedy.

(9)  Upon and after Completion the Seller shall do and execute or
     procure to be done and executed all such further acts, deeds,
     documents and things as may be necessary to transfer the B Shares
     and pending the doing of such acts, deeds, documents and things
     the Seller shall as from Completion hold the legal estate in the
     B Shares to be sold by them pursuant to this agreement in trust
     for the Purchaser.

(10) As from the date of this agreement and until the date when it
     becomes apparent that the condition set out in clause 4 is
     incapable of fulfilment in accordance with its terms by 29th
     February, 2000, the Seller shall not treat with, solicit offers
     from, approach or entertain any

<PAGE>
<PAGE>

                                10

     offer from, or supply information to, any person other than the
     Purchaser with respect to a proposed sale of any of the B Shares
     other than to inform such party that no discussions can be held
     because the Purchaser has been granted exclusivity.

13.  WHOLE AGREEMENT

(1)  This agreement and the documents referred to in it contain the
     whole agreement between the parties relating to the transactions
     contemplated by this agreement and supersede all previous
     agreements between the parties relating to these transactions.

(2)  Each of the parties acknowledges that in agreeing to enter into
     this agreement he has not relied on any representation, warranty,
     collateral contract or other assurance (except those set out in
     this agreement and the documents referred to in it) made by or on
     behalf of any other party before the signature of this agreement.
     Each of the parties waives all rights and remedies which, but for
     this subclause, might otherwise be available to him in respect of
     any such representation, warranty, collateral contract or other
     assurance, provided that nothing in this subclause shall limit or
     exclude any liability for fraud.

14.  GOVERNING LAW

(1)  This agreement is governed by and shall be construed in accordance
     with English law.

(2)  Each party submits to the jurisdiction of the English courts for
     all purposes relating to this agreement.

AS WITNESS the hands of the parties (or their duly authorised
representatives) on the date which appears first on page 1.



<PAGE>
<PAGE>

                                13

                           SIGNATORIES


SIGNED by             )  /s/ H.O. Geidt
HEINRICH OTTO GEIDT   )





SIGNED by             )  /s/ C.M. Parr
for SOLUTIA INC.      )



<PAGE>
<PAGE>

                          OMITTED SCHEDULES

A list briefly identifying the contents of all omitted schedules to this
agreement for the sale and purchase of class B shares in Viking Resins
Group Holdings B.V., dated 21st December, 1999, appears in the Table
of Contents to this agreement.  Solutia will furnish supplementally to
the Securities and Exchange Commission upon request a copy of any
omitted schedule.


<PAGE>

                    [SOLUTIA Letterhead]

- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                            Carl Moskowitz
Immediately                                                 (314) 674-8664
                                                            Michael Scharf
                                                            32-10-48-1294


              SOLUTIA COMPLETES ACQUISITION OF VIANOVA RESINS

     ST. LOUIS, MO, Dec. 22, 1999 -- Solutia Inc. (NYSE: SOI) announced
today that it has completed the acquisition of Vianova Resins from Morgan
Grenfell Private Equity Ltd. Vianova Resins is a leading European producer
of resins and additives for coatings and technical applications. The
addition of Vianova Resins establishes Solutia as the clear leader in the
worldwide market for coatings ingredients in the automotove and industrial
sectors. The purchase price was about DM 1.2 billion (about $640 million).
     Solutia will combine its existing coatings materials business with
Vianova Resins (1998 sales: DM 940 million, or about $500 million) to
create a unique new player in the market, one with the ability to act as a
full service supplier to coatings customers worldwide. Approximately 85
percent of Vianova Resins' sales are in Europe with such well-known brands
as Resydrol waterborne alkyd resins, Maprenal amino resins, Viacryl and
Macrynal acrylic resins, Viaktin UV curing resins, Vialkyd alkyd resins,
Beckopox epoxy resins and Alftalat and Synthacryl solid resins for powder
coatings. Other branded products include Daotan polyurethane emulsions
and Additol dispersing and rheology control additives. Solutia's current
coatings ingredients product line includes Resimene amino crosslinkers for
thermoset surface coatings; Modaflow flow and leveling agents; Santosol
environmentally-friendly solvents; and Butvar binding resins. To date,
these Solutia products have been sold primarily in North America.
     Vianova Resins employs 1,650 people, with subsidiaries in Austria,
Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Italy, the
Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Turkey, Canada, Brazil, Korea and the
United States. It has an affiliate in Thailand.

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     Solutia had sales in 1998 of approximately $2.8 billion and is
organized around three main franchises: Performance Films (including
polyvinyl butyral for laminated glass and other glass films); Specialty
Chemicals (including resins and additives for automotive, industrial and
specialty applications, aviation hydraulic and heat transfer fluids and
detergent chemicals); and Nylon (including chemical intermediates, fibers
for carpet, apparel and industrial uses, and nylon plastic and polymers).
Solutia employs 10,850 employees worldwide (including Vianova Resins)
and operates facilities in North America, Europe, South America and Asia.
     For more information, the Vianova Resins website is at www.vianova-
resins.de, or visit the Solutia website at www.solutia.com where there
will be a link provided to the Vianova Resins website.

                                -o0o-

NOTE TO EDITORS: Resimene, Modaflow, Santosol, and Butvar are registered
trademarks of Solutia Inc. Resydrol, Maprenal, Viacryl, Macrynal,
Vialkyd, Viaktin, Beckopox, Additol, Alftalat, Daotan, and Synthacryl are
registered trademarks of Vianova Resins GmbH and Co. KG.


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