Solvay SA is a chemicals and pharmaceuticals company. The Company operates in three sectors: pharmaceuticals, chemicals and plastics. The pharmaceuticals sector is engaged in the therapeutic fields of cardiometabolic, neuroscience, flu vaccines, pancreatic enzymes and gastroenterology. The chemicals sector specializes in soda ash, advanced functional minerals, electrochemistry, fluorinated products, hydrogen peroxide and persalts. Plastics sector specializes in specialty and vinyls. In October 2008, the Company acquired Alexandria Sodium Carbonate Company (ASCC) in Egypt from Holding Company for Chemical Industries (HCCI). In February 2008, it announced that it has completed the sale of its caprolactones business to Perstorp. In March 2008, the Company announced that it has finalized the sale of its subsidiary, Solvay Engineered Polymers (SEP), which is a supplier of polypropylene compounds, to LyondellBasell Industries.