Schwinn Named President of Grace’s Specialty Catalysts Business

COLUMBIA, Md., Nov. 05, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- W. R. Grace & Co. (NYSE: GRA) appointed Laura Schwinn as President of its Specialty Catalysts business. The $700 million Specialty Catalysts operating segment includes the company’s market-leading polyolefin catalysts business and its UNIPOL^® Polypropylene Process Technology licensing franchise. Previously, Schwinn was Chief Executive Officer of C&C Reservoirs, the global leader in comprehensive intelligence on the world’s most significant oil and gas fields.

“Our specialty catalysts business has a strong strategic position, a clear direction, and very attractive growth opportunities,” said Hudson La Force, President and Chief Operating Officer. “Laura brings a track record of success, a strong growth orientation, and the right leadership approach to ensure we fully achieve the long-term potential for this business.”

Over more than 25 years, Schwinn has led operations, strategic marketing, product development, joint venture partnerships, and M&A activity for multi-billion-dollar enterprises. She has held senior executive roles including President, Oil and Gas Field Services, at Clean Harbors Environmental Services, and others during 12 years with Halliburton, one of the world’s largest providers of products and services to the energy industry. At Halliburton, Schwinn was the first woman to hold the position of global vice president of a product line, serving as Vice President, Drill Bits and Services operating in 60 countries with more than 3,000 employees. She previously held international business development roles with Schlumberger Corporation.

Schwinn earned her Bachelor of Commerce Degree in International Business and Finance from the University of Victoria, Canada. She has served on boards in the U.S., Canada, the Middle East, and China.

Over the last decade, Grace has become the global leader in polyolefin catalysts, with a broad portfolio of catalysts for the production of polypropylene and polyethylene thermoplastic resins used in a wide array of industrial and consumer end-use applications from high-pressure pipe and auto parts to medical devices and textiles. Grace’s UNIPOL^® Polypropylene Process Technology is the #1 independent PP process technology licensing business, providing one of the most versatile and economically advantaged technologies in the industry.

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 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.

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