ROTHSCHILD, Wis., Dec.18, 2000 — USFilter has successfully completed the construction and start-up of a Zimpro wet air oxidation system to treat spent caustic for the YANPET ethylene expansion project in Yanbu, Saudi Arabia. The ethylene plant is part of a major expansion by Saudi Yanbu Petrochemical (YANPET), a joint venture of Saudi Basic Industries and Mobil. The wet air oxidation installation is the first of its kind for USFilter in Saudi Arabia.
Wet air oxidation is being used to treat the spent caustic generated from the ethylene cracking process. In this application, sulfides and other contaminants in the spent caustic are treated to allow discharge to the ethylene plant's biological treatment facility.
According to Rob Lawson, vice president of industrial sales at Zimpro Products, "This is the first spent caustic treatment system supplied by USFilter in Saudi Arabia and we expect other similar projects in the Middle East. The petrochemical industry is expanding in this region."
"Ethylene spent caustic treatment is currently the leading application for wet air oxidation technology," he continues. "It is safe and reliable, and compared with other methods, it is more cost-effective. In addition to effectively treating the spent caustic, it also eliminates noxious sulfide odor."
Zimpro Products has supplied 24 wet air oxidation systems for spent caustic treatment within the past 10 years. The modular, skid-mounted system is designed and manufactured by USFilter's Zimpro Products in Rothschild, Wis.
Wet air oxidation, developed and commercialized by Zimpro Products, is in wide use today for treatment of both ethylene and petroleum refinery spent caustics.
USFilter, a Vivendi Water company, is the leading global provider of commercial, industrial, municipal and residential water and wastewater treatment systems, products and services, with operations in more than 100 countries. USFilter, which is based in Palm Desert, Calif., invites you to visit its website at http://www.usfilter.com.
Important Disclaimer. This document contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on management's current expectations or beliefs and are subject to a number of factors and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. The following factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements: acquisition related risks, inability to further identify, develop and achieve success for new products, services and technologies; increased competition and its effect on pricing, spending, third-party relationships and revenues; inability to establish and maintain relationships with commerce, advertising, marketing, technology, and content providers. Investors and security holders are urged to read Vivendi's Registration Statement on Amendment No. 1 to Form 20-F, the Vivendi Universal joint proxy statement/prospectus and other documents filed by Vivendi with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission at the Commission's web site at www.sec.gov. These documents may also be obtained for free from Vivendi.
USFILTER
40-004 COOK STREET
PALM DESERT, CA 92211
(760) 340-0098
Karole Colangelo
USFilter
Schaumburg, IL 60173
Tel: (847) 706-6947
Fax: (847) 706-6933
E-mail: colangek@usfilter.com
Kari Sulzer
USFilter
301 West Military Road
Rothschild, WI 54474
Tel: (715) 355-3530
Fax: (715) 355-3335
E-mail: sulzerk@usfilter.com
