WR Grace to acquire global polyolefin catalyts business from BASF

W. R. Grace & Co. has signed an agreement to acquire the assets of BASF’s polyolefin catalysts business, officials announced on Friday. 

The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of this year pending regulatory approvals, required consultations with employee representatives, and other customary closing conditions. Terms were not disclosed.

Grace is a leading supplier of polyolefin catalysts technology, as well as polypropylene (PP) process technology. Grace has the broadest portfolio of polyolefin catalyst technologies of any independent catalysts producer.

BASF’s polyolefin catalysts business includes its LYNX high-activity PE catalyst technologies that are utilized commercially in slurry processes for the production of high-density PE resins such as bimodal film and pipe. 

The LYNX PP catalyst technologies are used commercially in all major PP process technologies including slurry, bulk loop, stirred gas, fluid gas, and stirred bulk.

The acquisition includes technologies, patents, trademarks, and production plants in Pasadena, Texas, and Tarragona, Spain, as well as approximately 170 employees globally.

In addition to its proprietary PP and PE catalysts products and technology, the BASF assets provide Grace with significant additional flexibility and capacity for its global polyolefin manufacturing network.

“This is an important addition to Grace’s strong portfolio of polyolefin catalysts technologies,” said Grace chairman and CEO Fred Festa. “Grace is uniquely positioned to serve the growing needs of the polyolefins market and benefit from operational synergies. This opportunity is perfectly aligned with our focus on core catalysts and materials technologies.”