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Neo Performance Materials settles European patent dispute with Solvay Subsidiary
Under the settlement, Neo will pay Rhodia €7.1 million in the first quarter of 2026
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By ICN Bureau | January 06, 2026
Neo Performance Materials has announced that its subsidiaries—Neo Chemicals & Oxides (Europe) Ltd, NPM Silmet OÜ, and NPM C&O Europe OÜ—have reached a settlement with Rhodia Opérations S.A.S, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Solvay Group, resolving ongoing litigation over certain European patents.
The agreement covers the German designation of nine patents, including EP 0 735 984 B1, EP 0 605 274 B1, EP 0 863 846 B1, and EP 3 009 403 B1, with the Estonian designation of the latter also included.
Under the settlement, Neo will pay Rhodia €7.1 million in the first quarter of 2026. “All parties have agreed to a mutual release of claims and to withdraw outstanding court proceedings related to these patents,” the company confirmed.
Most of the patents involved, aside from EP ‘682, have already expired. Neo noted that “the settlement amount is not materially different from the amount previously accrued by Neo in its financial statements,” and it does not expect the settlement to affect ongoing sales of its automotive catalyst products or materially impact earnings.
