3 January 2006

INEOS ENTERPRISES COMPLETES PURCHASE OF SALT UNION'S VACUUM SALT BUSINESS AT RUNCORN, CHESHIRE

INEOS Enterprises Limited has completed its purchase of Salt Union's vacuum salt business at Runcorn, Cheshire.

The purchase brings to INEOS Enterprises Limited the 850,000 tonne per annum vacuum salt plant at Weston Point in Cheshire, and includes the Direct Salt distribution business. The employees of the vacuum salt business have transferred to INEOS Enterprises Limited under the deal.

The deal was financed with the support of Bank of Scotland Corporate's Liverpool Team. Alastair Donald, Director of Bank of Scotland Corporate in Liverpool, said: "We are delighted that INEOS Enterprises has been able to complete this acquisition. The Company is well placed to drive forward the future success of the vacuum salt business."

INEOS Enterprises Limited's vacuum salt products include:
- undried vacuum salt - a key raw material in the manufacture of chlorine and caustic soda;
- pure dried vacuum salt - an important ingredient for the food industry as well as for processes ranging from shampoo manufacture to animal nutrition and water treatment;
- granular and white tablet salt for water softening;
- packed de-icing salts.

Greg Stewart, INEOS Enterprises Operations Director comments: "We have acquired the vacuum salt business as it is a close fit and has many synergies with our existing portfolio, particularly our brine business. This acquisition reflects our strategy for growth and will underpin the long-term success of INEOS Enterprises.

Adds Greg: "We are well placed to meet the needs of the salt market and INEOS has an excellent track record of investing to promote growth and added value for its customers."

Salt Union continues to operate its extensive rock salt business from the Winsford Mine in Cheshire together with the Minosus joint venture that includes the document storage business Deepstore.

ENDS

For further information please contact the INEOS Enterprises Press Office:

Craig Welsh
Telephone: 01928 511528
Fax: 01928 569459
Email: craig.welsh@ineoschlor.com

Notes to Editors

1. INEOS Enterprises is one of the companies in the INEOS family. With the recent acquisition of Innovene from BP, INEOS is now the world's third largest chemical company. The newly enlarged INEOS includes 68 manufacturing facilities in 14 countries throughout the world. It has approximately 15,600 employees, generating more than 30 million tonnes of petrochemicals and sales of around $33 billion.
2. INEOS Enterprises Limited is a portfolio of six leading businesses manufacturing chemicals in Northern Europe, with sales of these products to customers around the world.
3. The Company is focused on the developing needs of customers and rapid growth through investment in new products and manufacturing facilities or by acquisition.
4. Our UK Brine & Water business is growing through major investment to support expansion of our key customers and new activities.
5. INEOS Enterprises Limited is the number one producer of sulphur chemical products in the UK. The Company is also a leading ethanol and nitric acid producer.
6. At our sites in France, Germany and Thailand we manufacture a range of plasticisers, lubricants, biofuels and other chemical products.