W. R. Grace & Co.

Grace Files Form 10-K with Securities and Exchange Commission

W. R. Grace & Co. — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 23:27:42 GMT

COLUMBIA, Md., Feb 25, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- W. R. Grace & Co. (NYSE:GRA) has filed its Annual Report on Form 10-K with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

The Form 10-K includes audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2009. Shareholders and other interested audiences can access the filing in the Investor Information section of Grace's web site at www.grace.com.

A printed copy of the filing is also available on request from the company at no charge. Requests can be made by calling +1 410.531.4167 or sending an e-mail to investor.relations@grace.com. Requests can also be sent to: W. R. Grace & Co., Director, Investor Relations, 7500 Grace Drive, Columbia, Maryland 21044.

Also available online are copies of additional filings made with the SEC, including quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Forms 8-K.

Grace is a leading global supplier of catalysts and other products to petroleum refiners; catalysts for the manufacture of plastics; silica-based engineered and specialty materials for a wide range of industrial applications; sealants and coatings for food and beverage packaging, and specialty chemicals, additives and building materials for commercial and residential construction. Founded in 1854, Grace has operations in over 40 countries. For more information, visit Grace's web site at www.grace.com.

SOURCE: W. R. Grace & Co.

W. R. Grace & Co.
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Grace Announces Paul J. Norris' Resignation from Its Board of Directors

W. R. Grace & Co. — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 22:38:56 GMT

COLUMBIA, Md., Feb 09, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- W. R. Grace & Co. (NYSE: GRA) has announced that Paul J. Norris has resigned from its Board of Directors, a transition planned in 2009. Mr. Norris joined Grace as President and Chief Executive Officer in 1998 and was elected Chairman of the Board in 1999. He served as President until 2003, CEO until 2005 and remained a member of Grace's Board after relinquishing the Chairman responsibility in 2008. The Grace Board has nine members after Mr. Norris' resignation.

"Paul led Grace through one of the most challenging times in its history," said Fred Festa, Grace's Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. "While managing through this period, Paul sharpened Grace's focus on growth and productivity. He introduced Six Sigma concepts at Grace and new approaches to safety. Each year, Grace locations around the world strive to receive the Norris Award for outstanding safety performance. We thank him for his service to Grace and wish him well."

SOURCE: W. R. Grace & Co.

W. R. Grace & Co.
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Grace Announces Sustainability Policy

W. R. Grace & Co. — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 14:33:00 GMT

COLUMBIA, Md., Feb 08, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- W. R. Grace & Co. (NYSE: GRA) has announced that as part of its overall sustainability strategy it has targeted reducing the energy intensity of its operations by 20% per pound of production by 2017 and report its progress annually.

"Sustainability is about maximizing our growth while minimizing our impact on the environment and enhancing lives," said Fred Festa, Grace's Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. "This new component of our sustainability strategy makes good business sense. As a company, we are constantly striving to be as productive as possible. Improved productivity helps keep our cost structure competitive while delivering improved products to our customers to help them enhance their competitiveness. Clearly, this is a stretch goal, but I am convinced the drive to achieve it will make us more innovative, more efficient and enhance our stewardship of the environment."

Grace will use 2007 as the base year against which it will measure progress. In that year, it produced nearly 2 million tons of products and had carbon dioxide equivalent emissions (a common measurement which converts all emissions into the equivalent of carbon dioxide based on their greenhouse gas intensity) of 1.1 million tons. To achieve its goal, Grace needs to have emissions at or below 2007 levels in 2017 while meeting business growth strategies.

SOURCE: W. R. Grace & Co.

W. R. Grace & Co.
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Andrea Greenan, +1 410-531-4391
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Grace Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year Results; Provides 2010 Outlook

W. R. Grace & Co. — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 11:07:15 GMT

Please visit http://www.grace.com/Media/Documents/2955Q42009EarningsRelease_RHD.pdf

Grace and Chevron Convert Joint Venture to Equal Partnership

W. R. Grace & Co. — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 22:38:30 GMT

COLUMBIA, Md., Jan 14, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- W. R. Grace & Co. (NYSE: GRA) today announced that it completed the sale of a 5% interest in Advanced Refining Technologies LLC (ART), a joint venture with Chevron Products Company (Chevron), on November 30, 2009. Grace has reduced its 55% interest to 50% to achieve a balanced ownership structure. Grace and Chevron have also amended certain agreements governing Grace's supply of catalyst to the joint venture and the related funding of capital spending in support of the joint venture. ART has grown significantly since it began operations in 2001, and these changes to the agreements reflect the current scale and maturity of the business and position the venture for future opportunities.

ART is a leading global supplier of hydroprocessing catalysts which remove sulfur and other contaminants from petroleum to produce more environmentally-friendly transportation fuels, and allow refiners to process less expensive feedstocks. The use of these catalysts is growing around the world as fuel specifications are becoming more stringent. ART is a leader in hydroprocessing catalyst technology for the residue processing segment, and has recently introduced 420 DX(TM) catalyst, a next-generation offering for the production of ultra-low sulfur diesel.

"Grace is committed to providing our customers in the petroleum refining industry with innovative, technology-leading catalysts and systems," said Greg Poling, Vice President, W. R. Grace & Co. and President, Grace Davison. "Our relationship with Chevron, through ART, is integral to that commitment. Given ART's current size as a business and its growth prospects, this restructuring provides ART with a stronger and more flexible platform to pursue continued investment and growth opportunities."

As a result of the sale, Grace intends to deconsolidate ART's results of operations, cash flows and financial position from its consolidated financial statements on a prospective basis effective December 1, 2009. Previously, Grace reported 100% of ART's sales and 55% of ART's income, with 45% of ART's income reported as Chevron's noncontrolling interest. Subsequent to the sale, Grace intends to record its investment in ART and its portion of ART's income and dividends using the equity method of accounting. Included in Grace's previously reported consolidated net sales for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 and years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007 were sales of $234.1 million, $348.7 million, and $335.7 million, respectively, related to ART.

As a result of this transaction, Grace expects to record a gain of approximately $5 million.

This announcement contains forward-looking statements, that is, information related to future, not past, events.Such information generally includes the words "believes," "plans," "intends," "targets," "will," "expects," "anticipates," "continues", "outlook" or similar expressions. For these statements, Grace claims the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.Grace is subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements or that could cause other forward-looking information to prove incorrect.Factors that could cause actual results to materially differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements include: Grace's bankruptcy and proposed plan of reorganization, the availability of financing for Grace's proposed plan of reorganization, Grace's legal proceedings (especially the environmental proceedings), the cost and availability of raw materials and energy, Grace's unfunded pension liabilities, costs of environmental compliance, risks related to foreign operations, especially security, regulation and currency risks, and those factors set forth in Grace's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, quarterly report on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K, which have been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and are readily available on the Internet at www.sec.gov.Reported results should not be considered as an indication of future performance.Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date thereof. Grace undertakes no obligation to publicly release any revisions to the forward-looking statements contained in this announcement, or to update them to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this announcement.

ART(R) is a trademark, registered in the United States and/or other countries, of Advanced Refining Technologies LLC.DX(TM) is a trademark of Advanced Refining Technologies LLC.This trademark list has been compiled using available published information as of the publication date of this document and may not accurately reflect current trademark ownership.

SOURCE: W. R. Grace & Co.

W. R. Grace & Co.
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Grace Receives Refining Innovation Award

W. R. Grace & Co. — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 22:37:28 GMT

COLUMBIA, Md., Jan 12, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Grace Davison, an operating segment of W. R. Grace & Co. (NYSE: GRA), has received the 2009 Frost & Sullivan North American Technology Innovation Award in the field of refinery catalysts.

Grace Davison was selected for its MIDAS^(R)-300 fluid cracking catalyst that helps refiners meet worldwide demand for diesel fuel and comply with regulations for lower sulfur fuels. The MIDAS^(R)-300 catalyst cracks the very bottom of the oil barrel and converts it into light cycle oil (LCO), a component that is blended into the refinery's diesel pool.

Shawn A. Abrams, Vice President and General Manager, Grace Davison Refining Technologies, commented, "We are pleased to accept this award, which recognizes Grace's long-term commitment to the research and development of innovative products that meet the continuing challenges of the global petroleum refining industry."

The MIDAS^(R)-300 catalyst was launched in 2008 at a technical seminar in Houston, Texas. It is the newest generation offering from the MIDAS^(R) series that initially began in 2005 with MIDAS^(R)-100 and was expanded to include MIDAS^(R)-200 in 2007.

"Used in six commercial units, the MIDAS^(R)-300 catalyst is designed to offer a high activity matrix surface area balanced with an optimized zeolite level," said Joanne Deady, Vice President, Global Marketing, Grace Davison Refining Technologies. "Our customers have successfully used MIDAS^(R)-300 catalyst as a stand-alone product or as part of a Grace customized catalyst system. We have a broad product portfolio and industry leading position that enables us to design solutions that meet varying customer needs."

MIDAS^(R) is a trademark, registered in the United States and/or other countries, of W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn. This trademark list has been compiled using available published information as of the publication date of this announcement and may not accurately reflect current trademark ownership.

SOURCE: W. R. Grace & Co.

W. R. Grace & Co.
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Grace Plans Expansion to Meet Demand for Polypropylene Catalysts

W. R. Grace & Co. — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 13:05:24 GMT

COLUMBIA, Md. & WORMS, Germany, Dec 09, 2009 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- W. R. Grace & Co. (NYSE: GRA) today announced plans to increase its manufacturing capacity with the expansion of its facility in Worms, Germany.

The expansion will enable greater production of polypropylene catalysts (commonly marketed under the trade name POLYTRAK(R)) that are used by customers in the production of plastics. Construction is expected to begin in the first quarter of 2010 with start up in 2011. The expansion will be built on available land already owned by the company and will benefit from nearby Grace technical resources and infrastructure.

Polypropylene is a versatile olefin polymer that can substitute for materials such as wood, metal and glass. It is used to create everyday products including snack food packaging, artificial athletic playing surfaces, car bumpers, household appliances and syringes.

Gregory E. Poling, Vice President of W. R. Grace & Co. and President of Grace Davison, said, "Through this expansion, we are making a commitment to our current and prospective customers that we can meet their long-term needs. We believe in the future of the POLYTRAK(R) product and its potential industry growth."

Hans-Michael Huck, Operations Director of the Worms facility, remarked, "We are excited by the investment in our operations and local business community. The coming year will be a busy one for the site but we remain focused on a safe and timely completion of the construction and a successful grand opening."

The Worms site has approximately 900 employees. Products produced at the facility include catalysts, additives and silica-based materials that are used by the refining, industrial, consumer, food and beverage, biotechnology and pharmaceutical segments.

The facility was certified by a third party auditor in 2008 to ISO 14001, an internationally recognized standard that provides the requirements for an environmental management system. The following year, the site pursued and secured successful certification to the Grace Environment, Health and Safety Management System that is broader in scope, addressing environmental management as well as the management of health, safety, security, product stewardship and transportation.

Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=6114933&lang=en

SOURCE: W. R. Grace & Co.

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Grace Reports Third Quarter Results

W. R. Grace & Co. — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 11:08:50 GMT

Please visit http://www.grace.com/Media/documents/2950.pdf

Grace Receives Innovation Award

W. R. Grace & Co. — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 13:31:00 GMT

COLUMBIA, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 16, 2009-- A research and development team at W. R. Grace & Co. (NYSE:GRA) has received an Innovator of the Year Award from The Daily Record.

The award acknowledges the team’s work on the design, development and launch of the REVELERIS™ flash chromatography system (patents pending). The REVELERIS™ system is used by medicinal chemists during the purification of compounds that may become new drugs. With proprietary detection and cartridge technologies, the REVELERIS™ system helps yield more samples with fewer impurities in less time, ultimately assisting pharmaceutical companies to bring potentially life saving medications to market sooner.

The award is presented annually to 25 individuals, teams, agencies or companies for their innovative impact in the business world and local community. Recipients are selected by a review committee overseen by The Daily Record, a business journal that has been published for 121 years in Maryland.

Joanne Green, Vice President of Grace Davison Discovery Sciences, with global oversight of the REVELERIS product, officially accepted the award at a community event held at the American Visionary Art Museum in Baltimore, Maryland on October 14.

She said, “I am extremely pleased to accept this award on behalf of the entire Grace organization. Around the world, we are focused on finding innovative solutions to the needs of our customers and communities.”

She continued, “I’d like to especially thank the team responsible for REVELERIS. They worked with colleagues, customers, universities and suppliers in the spirit of open innovation and created a product that I am proud and excited to have in our business portfolio.”

This is the fifth distinction for REVELERIS™ since its official launch in March 2009. It received the 2009 Industrial Design Award (Bronze Level) from Instrument Business Outlook for the product’s aesthetics, functionality and features; and the 2009 R&D 100 Award from R&D Magazine as one of the top 100 technical achievements of the year. It was also named a Finalist in Laboratory Equipment Magazine’s 2009 Readers’ Choice Awards and supported Grace’s selection for a P&B Exceptional 53 Award from the Gazette of Politics and Business. Information on the REVELERIS™ system is available online at: www.discoverysciences.com/Reveleris.

Grace Davison Discovery Sciences, the maker of the REVELERIS™ system, is an established leader in silica chromatographic media and detector technologies. Discovery Sciences markets an array of products for the life science, pharmaceutical, anesthesiology, forensic and biotechnology industries, including liquid and gas chromatography columns, detectors, instruments, accessories, bulk media and purification systems.

Source: W. R. Grace & Co.

W. R. Grace & Co.
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Grace Completes Product Line Divestitures

W. R. Grace & Co. — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 22:06:00 GMT

COLUMBIA, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sep. 30, 2009-- W. R. Grace & Co. (NYSE: GRA) today announced that it has completed the sale of two product lines in separate transactions during September 2009. Total cash proceeds from the two transactions was approximately $27 million. Grace expects to report a total pre-tax gain from the two transactions of approximately $22 million in its third quarter ending September 30, 2009.

“These divestitures sharpen our product focus, and help ensure we are using our investment capital to best effect,” said Fred Festa, Grace’s Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer.

Grace sold the membranes product line, a component of Grace Davison’s Specialty Technologies product group, to a strategic buyer for approximately $22 million. The membranes product line manufactures and sells polymer-based membranes used in natural gas separation. Grace sold the firestopping and abatement product line, a component of Grace Construction Products’ Specialty Building Materials product group, to another strategic buyer for approximately $5 million. Firestop products compartmentalize and contain fire and smoke within a building and abatement products are used for the abatement of asbestos and lead paint. Together, sales of these product lines account for significantly less than 1% of Grace’s sales.

Source: W. R. Grace & Co.

W. R. Grace & Co.
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Grace Receives Maryland Business Award

W. R. Grace & Co. — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 13:31:00 GMT

COLUMBIA, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sep. 25, 2009-- W. R. Grace & Co. (NYSE:GRA) has received the P&B Exceptional 53 Award from The Gazette of Politics and Business.

The P&B Award recognizes 53 exceptional companies in the State of Maryland based on four factors: Innovation & Creativity; Economic Performance; Positive Work Environment and Community Service.

Grace was recognized in part for its active R&D pipeline; outreach through the Grace CommunityWorks volunteer program and Grace Foundation; significant employee wellness resources including free access to onsite medical staff, exercise facilities and education programs; and ongoing efforts to reduce the company’s environmental footprint.

The award was presented at a recent community event that was attended by more than 300 people. Also at the ceremony, the publication unveiled a ranking of the recipients with Grace being named to the second spot.

“We are pleased to earn this award as it is confirmation of the caliber of our work across a wide spectrum of activities ranging from innovation to operations to outreach,” remarked Fred Festa, Grace’s Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. “I’d like to thank everyone that made this accomplishment possible.”

This award is the most recent for the company’s Maryland operations. Earlier this year, Grace was named one of the area’s Top 25 Places to Work by Baltimore Magazine and ranked as one of the Top 25 largest corporate philanthropists and Top 20 largest patent holders in Central Maryland by the Baltimore Business Journal. The company also received the Responsible Care® Energy Efficiency Award in May 2009 from the American Chemistry Council for its manufacturing operations in Maryland.

Around 1,100 people are employed by Grace at research and technical service centers, manufacturing facilities, warehouse operations and global headquarters in Baltimore (Curtis Bay), Elkridge and Columbia, Maryland.

Source: W. R. Grace & Co.

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Media Relations:
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Grace Foundation Names Scholarship Recipients

W. R. Grace & Co. — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 13:31:00 GMT

COLUMBIA, Md. & LAKE CHARLES, La.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 27, 2009-- Ten high school graduates have been selected as recipients of 2009-2010 Grace Foundation Scholarships, awarded annually by the Grace Foundation, the philanthropic affiliate of global specialty chemical and materials company W. R. Grace & Co. (NYSE:GRA).

The recipients are from Louisiana, Maryland and Pennsylvania with each receiving $2,000 to cover tuition and related fees for their first year of full-time study. The students are planning to pursue degrees as varied as criminology, elementary education, engineering and nursing. Each scholarship may be renewed in future years (contingent upon satisfactory academic performance) up to a maximum of $8,000 per student.

“We are proud to support these talented and dedicated individuals in their academic pursuits,” said W. Brian McGowan, Chairman of the Grace Foundation and Senior Vice President for W. R. Grace & Co. “They represent the next generation of business and community leaders that our collective future depends on.”

The four recipients from Louisiana are:

Allison L. Champagne
Allison lives in Lake Charles and graduated from Alfred M. Barbe High School, also in Lake Charles. She will be studying Nursing at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge.

Corey L. Crosby
A resident of Westlake, Corey graduated from Westlake High School and intends to pursue an Engineering degree at McNeese State University in Lake Charles, Louisiana.

Andres E. Espitia
Andres graduated from DeQuincy High School and will be working towards a degree in Engineering at McNeese State University.

Haleigh L. Portinause
A cum laude graduate of Sam Houston High School in Lake Charles, Haleigh will pursue a degree in Elementary Education at McNeese State University.

The five recipients from Maryland are:

Jennifer A. Izquierdo
Jennifer lives in Glen Burnie and graduated from Seton Keough High School in Baltimore. She has been accepted to the University of Maryland in College Park where she intends to pursue a degree in Criminology.

Darbi R. Jones
A resident of Pasadena, Darbi graduated from Chesapeake Senior High, also in Pasadena. She will begin her Marine Biology studies at the University of Miami in Florida this fall.

Mika S. Rhabb
Mika graduated from Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart in Bethesda and will study Radiology at Villanova University in Villanova, Pennsylvania.

Connie Shih
A resident of Clarksville, Connie graduated from River Hill High School, also in Clarksville, and will go to the University of Maryland in College Park.

Madeline P. Vincent
A resident of Woodbine, Madeline graduated from Glenelg High School in Glenelg and will go to the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.

The recipient from Pennsylvania is:

John D. Poling III
An Eagle Scout, John lives in Garnet Valley and graduated from Garnet Valley High School in Glen Mills. He will begin his Pre-Med studies at Susquehanna University in Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania.

In addition to the new scholarships, the Grace Foundation is also funding 27 renewal scholarships. The Grace Foundation Scholarship Program was established in 1989 to support the sons and daughters of Grace employees in the United States and Canada. It is independently administered by Scholarship America, a department of Scholarship Management Services, a national nonprofit educational support and student aid service organization. The parents of this year’s new recipients have collectively worked at the company for 128 years.

Scholarship recipients are selected based on a combination of factors, including academic performance and participation in school and community activities, work experience and recommendations. To date, $1.5 million in scholarships have been awarded.

Established in 1961, the Grace Foundation makes financial donations to charitable organizations and educational institutions in the United States and Canada. Support is provided to organizations based in areas where Grace has a significant employee presence, as well as to programs that represent exceptional opportunities to improve the quality of life.

Source: W. R. Grace & Co.

W. R. Grace & Co.
Media Relations:
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andrea.greenan@grace.com

Grace Opens Office in Southern Australia

W. R. Grace & Co. — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 13:31:00 GMT

COLUMBIA, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 20, 2009-- W. R. Grace & Co. (NYSE:GRA) is celebrating the official opening of its new facility in Rowville, Australia today. The company is marking the achievement with an open house attended by customers, suppliers and employees.

The site operates as part of Grace Davison Discovery Sciences, bringing together the customer service and warehousing functions previously located in Baulkham Hills, New South Wales, and the sales and marketing teams previously located in Doncaster East, Victoria. Also located in Rowville are new instrument training and service laboratories.

The site supplies customers in Australia, New Zealand and the surrounding Pacific Islands with chromatography products manufactured in Australia, Germany and the United States. Chromatography is a technique used to separate mixtures of molecules into their individual constituents, frequently used in drug discovery and development applications. Grace manufactures and markets chromatography columns and instrumentation, as well as silica gel, a material used in many chromatographic processes.

“The Rowville site provides us the ideal footprint for future growth,” remarked Joanne Green, Vice President of Grace Davison and General Manager of Grace Davison Discovery Sciences, during the opening ceremony. “The location is closely situated to our customers in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and environmental industries. Consolidating internal functions also allows us the opportunity to upgrade our sales, technical service and training processes. This move overall enhances our support to our customers in this region.”

Glen O’Sullivan, General Manager, Australia and New Zealand for Grace Davison Discovery Sciences, explained: “In addition to faster delivery times, bringing everyone under one roof has yielded improved communication, training and productivity.”

Located in the south eastern suburbs of Melbourne, the facility is close to key existing customers, as well as potential customers in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, higher education and environmental industries.

The facility's address is Grace Davison Discovery Sciences, 2 Kerr Court, Rowville, Victoria, 3178 Australia. The telephone number is +61.3.9237.6100.

Grace Davison Discovery Sciences is an established leader in silica media and light scattering technologies and markets an array of products for the life science, pharmaceutical, anesthesiology, forensic, and biotechnology industries, including liquid and gas chromatography columns, detectors, instruments and accessories.

Source: W. R. Grace & Co.

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Researcher Receives Grace Award for Technical Excellence

W. R. Grace & Co. — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 13:31:00 GMT

COLUMBIA, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 14, 2009-- W. R. Grace & Co. (NYSE: GRA) recognized R&D Fellow Ranjit Kumar with the 2008 Grace Award for Technical Excellence for his work to develop novel fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) catalysts that reduce the impact of metals during the processing of crude oil.

Petroleum refineries use catalysts to “crack” the large hydrocarbon molecules in distilled crude oil in order to produce transportation fuels, such as gasoline and diesel. In recent years, the refining industry has shifted toward processing greater amounts of heavy crude oil in FCC units. Heavy crude presents a special challenge because it typically contains high levels of contaminant metals—such as vanadium—that lower the effectiveness of catalysts and generate more residue and light gases at the expense of valuable products such as gasoline.

Ranjit’s accomplishment involves the identification of a process for incorporating vanadium trapping capability into FCC catalysts, a technology currently used in about half of the FCC catalysts manufactured at Grace (including the IMPACT^® and NEKTOR catalyst series). Since Grace is a leading global supplier of FCC catalysts, his work has a significant impact on the industry as a whole.

“It is extremely important to our refining customers to minimize the impact of metals,” said Joanne Deady, Vice President of Marketing and R&D for Grace Davison Refining Technologies. “In this respect, Ranjit’s work ranks as one of the most important developments in FCC catalysts at Grace in the past decade.”

“I had the support of the entire FCC team at Grace,” said Ranjit. “We work like a close-knit family in which everyone has an important role in transforming ideas into products that enrich lives.”

Ranjit, currently an R&D Fellow for Grace Davison Refining Technologies, joined Grace in 1984 upon completing his Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry at the University of Houston in Texas.

Introduced in 2007, the Grace Award for Technical Excellence acknowledges the highest level of technical achievement within the company. Honorees are selected by a committee of peers who evaluate nominations for technical merit; novelty and innovation; commercial impact; and, societal or industrial impact. Past recipients developed Synchro^® 1000 (a cement additive that protects the environment through chromium reduction) and a “Particle Nucleation and Growth Model” (an effective tool for new product development and process optimization).

Source: W. R. Grace & Co.

W. R. Grace & Co.
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Andrea Greenan
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E susette.smith@grace.com

Grace Opens New Facility in India

W. R. Grace & Co. — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 13:31:00 GMT

COLUMBIA, Md. & CHENNAI, India, Aug 12, 2009 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- W. R. Grace & Co. (NYSE: GRA) has opened a new manufacturing facility in Chennai, India for the production of specialty chemicals used in commercial, infrastructure and residential construction.

The facility's development began in December 2008 with construction completed in June 2009. After a rapid scale-up of trial batches, the plant is now running full commercial production batches. The site currently produces cement additives that improve grinding efficiency, reduce the cost of cement production, and enhance cement performance. In the coming months, the site will also begin manufacturing admixtures for use in the production of concrete. Beyond manufacturing, employees at the location are responsible for supply chain, quality control, product development, sales, and technical service.

"India is one of the world's largest cement-producing nations and a natural location for us to invest in our global network," commented Greg Freeman, Vice President and General Manager for Grace Construction Products - Europe. "The new facility in Chennai brings us closer to our customers which enables us to better and more rapidly meet their needs."

In addition to its proximity to customers, this location is expected to benefit from an educated, multilingual workforce, talented scientific pool, and an accessible air and sea transportation network that helps accelerate the delivery of raw materials.

Srinivasan Radhakrishnan, Plant Manager, said "This facility was conceptualized with a focus on the environment. We have integrated green field and recycle concepts to reduce our footprint while also utilizing Six Sigma tools and training to increase our productivity."

The new address is: 90/2, Meppur Thangal Road, Madavillagam Village, Thirumazhisai, Chennai 602 103, India. The telephone number is + 91 44 6624 2300 and the fax number is + 91 44 6624 2333.

Grace has operated in India for more than a decade since the incorporation of the company's subsidiary, W. R. Grace & Co. (India) Private Ltd., in Bangalore. Over the years, offices have followed in Chennai, Gurgaon (a suburb of Delhi), Surat and Mumbai. In 2005, Grace acquired Flexit Laboratories, a manufacturer of chromatography products headquartered in Pune.

Grace manufactures, distributes or supports several additional products in India, including catalysts and additives used in the refining of gasoline and other fuels; silica products used in consumer and industrial applications; adsorbents that serve as desiccants; packaging sealants and coatings used in cans, bottles and containers; and chromatography products used in life sciences, organic synthesis and analytical sciences applications.

Grace is a leading global supplier of catalysts and other products to petroleum refiners; catalysts for the manufacture of plastics; silica-based engineered and specialty materials for a wide range of industrial applications; sealants and coatings for food and beverage packaging, and specialty chemicals, additives and building materials for commercial and residential construction. Founded in 1854, Grace has operations in more than 40 countries. For more information, visit Grace's web site at www.grace.com.

SOURCE: W. R. Grace & Co.

W. R. Grace & Co.
Media Relations:
Andrea Greenan
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E andrea.greenan@grace.com
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Susette Smith
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Grace Opens New European Centre near Barcelona, Spain

W. R. Grace & Co. — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 13:31:00 GMT

COLUMBIA, Md. & BARCELONA, Spain--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 5, 2009-- W. R. Grace & Co. (NYSE:GRA) has opened a new Customer Centre of Excellence near Barcelona, Spain.

Employees at this location support customers across Europe for Grace Construction Products. The centre brings employees from several locations together to provide a high level of support. The Barcelona site enables Grace to standardize customer service protocols and cross train among product groups, allowing for increased productivity and efficiencies.

Thirty employees currently work at the new Viladecans (Barcelona) location with the site having the capacity to house up to 80 employees. In conjunction with this opening, Grace is relocating an additional 30 office employees from a nearby manufacturing location in Sant Boi, Spain.

Barcelona was chosen as the location for the Centre of Excellence due to the area’s highly educated, multilingual workforce and its location in the Central European Time Zone, which allows for extended hours of coverage to customers.

“This centre utilizes best practices learned from sites in other parts of the world,” remarked Greg Freeman, Vice President and General Manager for Grace Construction Products – Europe. “We have always maintained a high level of customer support but are vigilant for ways that we can continually improve.”

Grace has operated in Spain for nearly 50 years. Grace, S.A., the company’s legal entity in the country, was founded on August 8, 1961. In addition to the Barcelona sites, Grace has a manufacturing location in Hernani, Spain that supplies coatings for aluminum containers.

The new address is: Grace S.A., Edificio Australia, Second Floor, Viladecans Business Park, Antonio Machado 78-80, 08840 Viladecans, Barcelona, Spain. The telephone number will be + 34 936351000 and the fax number will be + 34 936351111, effective September 1, 2009.

Grace Construction Products produces specialty construction chemicals and materials, including concrete admixtures and fibers used to improve the durability and working properties of concrete; additives used in cement processing to improve energy efficiency, enhance the characteristics of finished cement and improve ease of use; building materials used in commercial and residential construction and renovation to protect buildings from water, vapor and air penetration; and fireproofing materials used to protect buildings in the event of fire.

Source: W. R. Grace & Co.

W. R. Grace & Co.
Media Relations:
Andrea Greenan, +1 410-531-4391
andrea.greenan@grace.com
or
Investor Relations:
Susette Smith, +1 410-531-4590
susette.smith@grace.com

Grace Reports Second Quarter Results

W. R. Grace & Co. — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 21:16:00 GMT

Please visit http://www.grace.com/Media/Documents/2939.pdf

Grace Celebrates Thirty Years in Thailand

W. R. Grace & Co. — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 13:27:00 GMT

COLUMBIA, Md., Jul 22, 2009 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- W. R. Grace & Co. (NYSE:GRA) is marking its 30th anniversary of business activity in Thailand.

W. R. Grace (Thailand) Limited was incorporated on July 22, 1979 and began manufacturing operations in 1982. The company currently has 72 employees located at a manufacturing plant in the Bangpoo Industrial Estate of Samutprakarn (near Bangkok).

The facility produces can sealants and coatings for the packaged food and beverage industries and cement additives and concrete admixtures for the construction industry. The site supports the local Thai market and serves as an export base for customers throughout Asia Pacific. Employees at the site utilize Six Sigma training and tools to deliver productivity gains.

"Our colleagues in Thailand have become important members of the company's global network," commented Fred Festa, Grace's Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. "They are supporting customers and colleagues in the region and around the world."

In conjunction with the anniversary, the site is celebrating several environment, health and safety (EHS) distinctions, including surpassing 16 years without a lost time accident and earning certification to the Grace EHS Management System.

The EHS Management System sets performance expectations to ensure continuous EHS improvement and addresses hazards and risks, training and communication, operational controls, compliance management, community and product stewardship, and periodic internal reviews. The certification involved a multi-step audit of the facility's EHS activities by a third-party registrar.

The site had earned certification earlier to ISO 9001-2000, an internationally recognized quality management system standard developed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).

Tuangtip Punthanitisarn, Bangpoo Operations Manager, remarked, "Our accomplishments are only possible with a safety first philosophy." The site has held safety stand down days and worked with customers on similar events that are focused on training and topics, such as fire prevention. She added, "I am extremely proud of this team and want to thank them for their dedication over the years."

The site also has a focus on corporate social responsibility. Most recently, they supported local blood drives, planted trees, purchased school supplies and participated in a community "Sports Day" health activity.

Grace is a leading global supplier of catalysts and other products to petroleum refiners; catalysts for the manufacture of plastics; silica-based engineered and specialty materials for a wide range of industrial applications; sealants and coatings for food and beverage packaging, and specialty chemicals, additives and building materials for commercial and residential construction. With annual sales of more than $3 billion, Grace has about 6,000 employees and operations in over 40 countries. For more information, visit Grace's web site at www.grace.com.

Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=6011878&lang=en

SOURCE: W. R. Grace & Co.

W. R. Grace & Co.
Media Relations:
Andrea Greenan, +1 410-531-4391
andrea.greenan@grace.com
or
Investor Relations:
Susette Smith, +1 410-531-4590
susette.smith@grace.com

Grace Receives R&D 100 Award

W. R. Grace & Co. — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 13:21:00 GMT

COLUMBIA, Md., Jul 21, 2009 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Grace Davison, an operating segment of W. R. Grace & Co. (NYSE:GRA), has received the 2009 R&D 100 Award for its REVELERIS(TM) system (patents pending), a flash chromatography system that streamlines the purification of new chemical/biological entities, thus enabling the discovery of new medicines.

For 47 years, R&D 100 awards have been given by R&D Magazine to the top 100 technological achievements of the year. Earlier award recipients have included anti-lock brakes, the cardiac defibrillator, the fax machine, halogen lamps and liquid crystal displays.

"Having our product selected as one of the top 100 innovations of the year by R&D Magazine's panel of expert judges is both an honor and confirmation of our ability to innovate the next generation of products," said Fred Festa, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Grace.

The REVELERIS(TM) system is the result of Grace's expertise in material science, detector technology and continued investment in research and development.

Joanne Green, Vice President of Grace Davison Discovery Sciences, explains, "A global product development effort was made to address an unmet need in the marketplace: helping synthetic and medicinal chemists streamline purifications of mixtures during the design and synthesis of promising new chemical entities. We drew upon wider industry expertise and sought specific 'voice of customer' input when designing the product's features. Today, we are proud to receive this R&D 100 award as an affirmation of our innovation."

For decades, flash chromatography has been the primary technique used to purify new entities in the early stages of drug discovery. The purified compounds are then tested for their potential to be viable new drug candidates.

The REVELERIS(TM) system uses proprietary RevealX(TM) detection and SRC cartridge technologies to yield more samples with fewer impurities in less time, allowing pharmaceutical companies to bring important new drugs to market more quickly. More information on the REVELERIS(TM) system is available online at: www.discoverysciences.com/Reveleris.

Grace has also received innovation awards for its work in other industries. In May, Grace Construction Products, an operating segment of Grace, received the Green Invention Award from the Boston Business Journal for the development and validation of technology that enables the production of environmentally-friendly, high-performance concrete.

Grace Davison Discovery Sciences, the maker of the REVELERIS(TM) system, is an established leader in silica chromatographic media and detector technologies. Discovery Sciences markets an array of products for the life science, pharmaceutical, anesthesiology, forensic and biotechnology industries, including liquid and gas chromatography columns, detectors, instruments, accessories, bulk media and purification systems.

Grace is a leading global supplier of catalysts and other products to petroleum refiners; catalysts for the manufacture of plastics; silica-based engineered and specialty materials for a wide range of industrial applications; sealants and coatings for food and beverage packaging, and specialty chemicals, additives and building materials for commercial and residential construction. With annual sales of more than $3 billion, Grace has about 6,000 employees and operations in over 40 countries. For more information, visit Grace's web site at www.grace.com.

Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=6011027&lang=en

SOURCE: W. R. Grace & Co.

W. R. Grace & Co.
Media Relations:
Michael Early, +1 410-531-8802
michael.early@grace.com
or
Investor Relations:
Susette Smith, +1 410-531-4590
susette.smith@grace.com

Grace Welcomes New VP and Chief Human Resources Officer

W. R. Grace & Co. — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 13:34:00 GMT

COLUMBIA, Md., Jul 13, 2009 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- W. R. Grace & Co. (NYSE:GRA) today announces the addition of Pamela K. Wagoner as Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer. The Grace Board of Directors has elected her an Executive Officer of the Corporation.

Ms. Wagoner, 45, has more than 20 years of human resources and senior management experience and has worked in the high tech, non-profit, academia and government sectors. She joins Grace after nearly eight years with Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc. where she held the position of Senior Vice President since 2003. Earlier in her career, she held senior HR roles at SAVVIS Communications, Lucent Technologies, Inc. and Yurie Systems Inc. (which was acquired by Lucent).

Ms. Wagoner is qualified by the Center for Creative Leadership, William Bridges and The Ken Blanchard Companies in a variety of assessment and leadership training programs, and received her Certificate in International Human Resources from the Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM). She is a graduate of The Pennsylvania State University.

In her new role, Ms. Wagoner will oversee Grace's global HR activities, including recruitment and retention, leadership development, employee training, labor relations, talent and performance management, regulatory compliance and compensation. She will be based at Grace's global headquarters in Columbia, Maryland and will report to Fred Festa, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer.

"I consider Grace employees to be the company's greatest asset, making Pamela's responsibilities among the most crucial to our success," remarked Festa. "I am excited to welcome her to Grace and look forward to her valuable counsel."

Grace is a leading global supplier of catalysts and other products to petroleum refiners; catalysts for the manufacture of plastics; silica-based engineered and specialty materials for a wide range of industrial applications; sealants and coatings for food and beverage packaging, and specialty chemicals, additives and building materials for commercial and residential construction. With annual sales of more than $3 billion, Grace has about 6,000 employees and operations in over 40 countries. For more information, visit Grace's web site at www.grace.com.

SOURCE: W. R. Grace & Co.

W. R. Grace & Co.
Media Relations:
Andrea Greenan, +1 410-531-4391
andrea.greenan@grace.com
or
Investor Relations:
Susette Smith, +1 410-531-4590
susette.smith@grace.com