Grace Licenses UNIPOL® PP Process Technology to Sidi Kerir Petrochemicals Co. (SIDPEC)

COLUMBIA, Md., Sept. 25, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- W. R. Grace & Co. GRA, the leading independent supplier of polyolefin catalyst technology and polypropylene (PP) process technology, has licensed its UNIPOL^® PP Process Technology to Sidi Kerir Petrochemicals Co. (SIDPEC). Located in Alexandria, Egypt, the new, world-scale capacity SIDPEC facility will produce 450 KTA of polypropylene.

The transaction means that SIDPEC, already a leader in the production of polyethylene in Egypt, will soon produce value-added polypropylene products for its customers using the most up-to-date technology available.

Grace's all gas-phase UNIPOL^® PP Process Technology provides the most advanced and broadest range of homopolymers, random copolymers, and impact copolymers in the industry. As the simplest of all PP process technologies, without any moving parts inside of the reactor and less equipment than any alternative, its reliable, safe, and stable operation leads to lower capital, operating, and maintenance costs.

Mohamed A. Abady, SIDPEC Chairmen and CEO said, "Investing in the UNIPOL® PP process technology gives us the ability to make a broad range of products for our customers using state-of-the-art technology while continuing to remain highly competitive in the region."

Al Beninati, President of Grace's Specialty Catalysts business, said, "Grace is excited to be the technology choice for SIDPEC's plant in Alexandria, Egypt. The UNIPOL® PP Process Technology will provide SIDPEC customers with some of the best and most varied homopolymer and random copolymer resins in the industry. We are confident that the wide array of resins and applications our technology and non-phthalate CONSISTA^® catalysts enable, will give SIDPEC the leading edge in polypropylene resin production in the region."

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

About Grace

Built on talent, technology, and trust, Grace is a leading global supplier of catalysts and engineered materials. The company's two industry-leading business segments—Catalysts Technologies and Materials Technologies—provide innovative products, technologies, and services that enhance the products and processes of our customers around the world. With approximately 3,900 employees, Grace operates and/or sells to customers in over 60 countries. More information about Grace is available at grace.com.

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 for existing products; benefits from new technology and cost reduction initiatives, plans and objectives; 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 costs 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 pension obligations; its legal and environmental proceedings; environmental compliance costs; the inability to establish or maintain certain business relationships; the inability to hire or retain key personnel; natural disasters such as storms and floods, and force majeure events; changes in tax laws and regulations; international trade disputes, tariffs and sanctions; the potential effects of cyberattacks; and those additional factors set forth in Grace's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports 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 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.