Grace Announces Sale of Its Washcoat Business to Rhodia Silcea
COLUMBIA, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 2, 2007--W. R. Grace & Co.
(NYSE:GRA) has announced that it has completed the sale of its
washcoat product line and Cincinnati, Ohio site assets to Rhodia
Silcea. Grace's washcoat products are used primarily in the
manufacture of automotive control catalysts, an integral component of
catalytic converters for engines. The silica production based at the
Cincinnati facility has been transferred to Grace's Curtis Bay,
Maryland site.
"Since the decision to evaluate our washcoat product line, we are
investing in the necessary processes and capital to establish Good
Manufacturing Practices-compliant operations at Curtis Bay, one of our
largest manufacturing facilities," said Gregory E. Poling, President,
Grace Davison. About 700 employees are based at Curtis Bay, which
includes integrated manufacturing operations across most of Davison's
product lines, as well as a world-class technical center. "We are
building upon the site's foundation of silica expertise, extensive
functional support, and employee engagement to design a world-class
operation that delivers premier quality products for our
pharmaceutical, dentifrice, and consumer products customers. We are
committed to meeting the needs of our global customers who depend on
the quality that Grace Davison products are known for."
Grace is a leading global supplier of catalysts and other products
and services to petroleum refiners; catalysts for the manufacture of
plastics; silica-based engineered and specialty materials for a wide
range of industrial applications; specialty chemicals, additives and
materials for commercial and residential construction; and can
sealants and coatings for food packaging. With annual sales of more
than $2.8 billion, Grace has about 6,500 employees and operations in
over 40 countries. For more information, visit Grace's web site at
www.grace.com.
This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve
risks and uncertainties, as well as statements that are preceded by,
followed by or include the words "believes," "plans," "intends,"
"targets," "will," "expects," "anticipates," "continues," or similar
expressions. For such statements, Grace claims the protection of the
safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results might differ
materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements.
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, Grace's legal
proceedings (especially the Montana criminal proceeding and
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.
CONTACT: W. R. Grace & Co.
Media Relations
Greg Euston
+1 404-870-6809
greg.euston@mslpr.com
or
Investor Relations
Bridget Sarikas
+1 410-531-4194
bridget.sarikas@grace.com
SOURCE: W. R. Grace & Co.