COLUMBIA, Md., Jan. 22, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — W. R. Grace & Co. (NYSE:GRA), the leading supplier of polyolefin catalyst technology and polypropylene (PP) process technology, has contracted to license its UNIPOL^® PP Process Technology to PDH Polska S. A. for a new facility in Police, Poland. With a capacity of 400 kilotons per year, the PP line is expected to begin operations in 2022.

The PDH Polska operation is a subsidiary of Grupa Azoty S. A. of Tarnów, Poland, a leader in the manufacture of nitrogen fertilizers and compounds, engineering plastics, organic and inorganic chemicals, and other chemical products.

Grace's gas-phase UNIPOL^® PP Process Technology provides the most advanced and broadest range of PP homopolymers and copolymers in the industry. As the simplest of all PP process technologies, with fewer moving parts and less equipment than any alternative, its reliable, stable, and predictable operation leads to lower capital, operating, and maintenance costs.

Andrzej Niewinski, President of the Board, PDH Polska S. A., said, "As we expand our capabilities into PP production, we do so with a technology that has demonstrated success in making both leading commodity and superior specialty grades. This is in line with our track record of meeting the expectations of our customers."

Al Beninati, President of Grace's Specialty Catalysts business segment, said, "Grace is proud to partner with Grupa Azoty and continue our record of service to customers in Europe. The broad product capability and unparalleled flexibility of the UNIPOL^® PP process will enable them to deliver the resins that are in highest demand from their customers."

Visit Grace's website for more information about Grace polyolefin catalysts and process technology.

About Grace's UNIPOL^®PP Process Technology
Grace is the leading supplier of polyolefin catalyst technology and has the broadest portfolio of polyolefin catalyst technologies of any independent polyethylene/polypropylene catalyst producer. Grace is an industry leader in offering UNIPOL^® PP Process Technology, 6th Generation non-phthalate CONSISTA^® catalysts and donors, and UNIPOL UNIPPAC^® Process Control software.

UNIPOL^® and UNIPOL UNIPPAC^® are trademarks of The Dow Chemical Company or an affiliated company of Dow.  W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn. and/or its affiliates are licensed to use the UNIPOL^®and UNIPOL UNIPPAC^® trademarks in the area of polypropylene.

Forward-Looking Statements
This announcement contains forward-looking statements, that is, information related to future, not past, events. Such statements generally include the words "believes," "plans," "intends," "targets," "will," "expects," "suggests," "anticipates," "outlook," "continues," or similar expressions. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, expected financial positions; results of operations; cash flows; financing plans; business strategy; operating plans; capital and other expenditures; competitive positions; growth opportunities; benefits from new technology and cost reduction initiatives; and markets for securities. For these statements, Grace claims the protections of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. Like other businesses, Grace is subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause its actual results to differ materially from its projections or that could cause other forward-looking statements to prove incorrect. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements include, without limitation: risks related to foreign operations, especially in emerging regions; the cost and availability of raw materials, energy and transportation; the effectiveness of its research and development and growth investments; acquisitions and divestitures of assets and businesses; developments affecting Grace's outstanding indebtedness; developments affecting Grace's funded and unfunded pension obligations; its legal and environmental proceedings; environmental compliance costs; uncertainties related to Grace's ability to realize the anticipated benefits of the separation transaction; the inability to establish or maintain certain business relationships and to retain key personnel; natural disasters such as storms and floods; changes in tax laws and regulations; and those additional 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 indications of future performance. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on Grace's projections and forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the dates those projections and statements are made. Grace undertakes no obligation to release publicly any revision to the projections and forward-looking statements contained in this announcement, or to update them to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this announcement.

Media Relations
Rich Badmington
Tel: +1 410 531 4370
Email: rich.badmington@grace.com

Investor Relations
Tania Almond
Tel: +1 410 531 4590
Email: tania.almond@grace.com

Source: W. R. Grace & Co.