Grace and Borealis Sign Catalyst Agreement

W. R. Grace & Co. (NYSE: GRA) today announced a new multi-year agreement to supply polypropylene catalysts to Borealis AG, a leading provider of chemical and innovative plastics solutions. Financial terms were not disclosed.

The catalysts are used in the production of polypropylene, a plastic polymer that is a versatile substitute for wood, metal, glass and other plastics. Grace polypropylene catalysts are used to make specialty plastics for applications in automobile parts, household appliances and consumer product packaging.

"This agreement is a reflection of our ongoing strategic direction to expand into the polypropylene catalyst segment through greater collaboration with a technology leader,” remarked Tony Dondero, Vice President and General Manager of Grace Davison Specialty Catalysts and Process Technologies. "We are working together to meet the growing demands for this versatile polymer.”

"Borealis is an established industry innovator and we are extremely pleased to continue to expand our relationship,” commented Greg Poling, Vice President of W. R. Grace & Co. and President of Grace Davison. "We look forward to developing new and next generation catalyst technologies and greater manufacturing capabilities with them.”

Grace and Borealis have worked together for many years. In 2002, Grace acquired Borealis catalyst manufacturing assets, including catalyst production facilities in Stenungsund, Sweden and catalyst manufacturing equipment located in Porvoo, Finland. Through that transaction and a related licensing agreement, Grace began to produce, market and sell Borealis' proprietary catalysts on a global basis.

Borealis is a leading provider of chemical and innovative plastics solutions that create value for society. With sales of EUR 4.7 billion in 2009, customers in over 120 countries, and 5,200 employees worldwide, Borealis is owned 64% by the International Petroleum Investment Company (IPIC) of Abu Dhabi and 36% by OMV, the leading energy group in the European growth belt. Borealis is headquartered in Vienna, Austria, and has production locations, innovation centers and customer service centers across Europe and the Americas. Through Borouge, a joint venture between Borealis and the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), one of the world’s major oil companies, the company’s footprint reaches out to the Middle East, Asia Pacific, the Indian sub-continent and Africa. Established in 1998, Borouge employs approximately 1,400 people, has customers in more than 50 countries and its headquarters are in Abu Dhabi in the UAE and Singapore. Today Borealis and Borouge manufacture 4.4 million tonnes of polyolefins (polyethylene and polypropylene) per year. For more information visit: www.borealisgroup.com and www.borouge.com.

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.