COGNIS CARVES OUT PROCESS CHEMICALS STRATEGIC BUSINESS UNIT

Cognis’ Process Chemicals strategic business unit will trade as an independent company under the new name of Pulcra Chemicals GmbH. The carve-out represents a decisive step towards ensuring long-term competitiveness and further enhancing product and service quality. Pulcra Chemicals will manufacture a wide range of chemicals for the fiber, textile and leather industries.

The new company will be run according to a more cost-effective business model that better reflects the needs of its customers. Pulcra Chemicals will develop, produce and market tailored products at competitive prices, backed with comprehensive customer service, including advice on applications. It will operate sites and service centers in Germany, Turkey, Italy, Spain, Mexico, Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, and the U.S.

For customers in the fiber industry, Pulcra Chemicals offers additives for the manufacturing and processing of man-made fibers. For the textile industry, it provides products and technical services for every stage of the production process, from the manufacture of yarns and fabrics, through dyeing and printing, right up to the final treatment. Its leather products are used in beamhouse, tanning, and finishing processes.

To enable the company to better meet the needs of its customers - especially in the fast-growing markets of China and other Asian countries - approximately 3.8 million euros was invested last year in the expansion and modernization of its site at Jinshan, near Shanghai, China.

For the full press release, visit www.cognis.com/framescout.html?/Press/PressReleases2007/Pulcra_Chemicals_eng.html .

GRACE ACQUIRES ASSETS OF GRUPO SISTIAGA

W.R. Grace & Co., Cambridge, MA, has announced the acquisition of certain assets of Hernani, Spain-based Grupo Sistiaga SL. Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. Sistiaga is a supplier of coatings for aluminum containers.

“This acquisition underscores our commitment to grow the Darex^® coatings and sealants product group,” said Fred Festa, Grace’s president and CEO. “We are dedicated to providing our customers with innovative technologies and superior product performance. The products and technologies acquired are an excellent complementary addition to Grace’s leading line of Darex coating and sealing products.”

“We continue to invest in new technology,” said Robert Sorrentino, vice president and general manager of Darex. “Darex remains an industry leader because of our ongoing commitment to provide innovative solutions to the rigid packaging marketplace. This acquisition expands our coatings technology capabilities and allows us to respond to the fast-growing aluminum bottle segment, which aligns with our vision: Anticipating tomorrow’s global packaging needs today.”

For more information, visit www.gracedarex.com.

LION COPOLYMER COMPLETES CHEMTURA EPDM ACQUISITION

Lion Copolymer, LLC (LCP) has completed its acquisition of the Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer (EPDM) and chemical foaming agent (CFA) assets associated with Chemtura's plant in Geismar, Louisiana. The acquisition was completed effective June 29, 2007.

Located on the Mississippi river south of Lion Copolymer's Baton Rouge headquarters, the Geismar facility manufactures ROYALENE^®, ROYALEDGE^®, ROYALTHERM^®, and TRILENE^® EPDM, as well as CELOGEN^® CFA. Lion Copolymer, which manufactures styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) in Baton Rouge, projects combined annual sales of nearly $500 million after the acquisition.

For the full press release, visit www.lioncopolymer.com/cgi-bin/WebObjects/LionCopolymer.woa/wa/default?page=Press%2Brelease .