Grace Reports First Quarter 2017 Results


  • Net sales of $398.0 million up 10%
  • Diluted EPS from continuing operations of $0.63 and Adjusted EPS of $0.68 up 11%
  • Income from continuing operations attributable to Grace of $42.9 million and Adjusted EBIT of $86.8 million up 5%
  • Net cash flow provided by operating activities of $35.9 million and Adjusted Free Cash Flow of $50.0 million year-to-date
  • Declaring quarterly cash dividend of $0.21 per share

COLUMBIA, Md., April 26, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- W. R. Grace & Co. (NYSE:GRA) announced first quarter income from continuing operations attributable to Grace of $42.9 million, or $0.63 per diluted share. Income from continuing operations attributable to Grace for the prior-year quarter was $10.4 million, or $0.15 per diluted share. Adjusted EBIT increased 5% to $86.8 million, and first quarter Adjusted EPS increased 11% to $0.68 per diluted share.

“We started the year as expected with growth in sales, earnings, and EPS while delivering strong cash flow," said Fred Festa, Grace’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "We saw good demand across our businesses led by growth in emerging regions, particularly in Asia. We continue to expect healthy growth in sales, earnings, EPS, and cash flow for the year."

First Quarter Results
First quarter net sales of $398.0 million increased 10% compared with the prior-year quarter.

Net income from continuing operations was $42.9 million for the first quarter compared with $10.4 million for the prior-year quarter. Adjusted EBIT of $86.8 million increased 5% from the prior-year quarter. Adjusted EBIT margin of 21.8% decreased 100 basis points compared with the prior-year quarter.

Diluted EPS from continuing operations was $0.63. Adjusted EPS was $0.68, up 11% compared with the prior-year quarter.

Grace Catalysts Technologies
First quarter sales for Catalysts Technologies, which includes catalysts and additives for refinery, plastics, and other chemical process applications, as well as polypropylene process technology, were $293.8 million, an increase of 13% compared with the prior-year quarter, primarily due to the polyolefin catalysts acquisition completed last year, higher organic sales volumes and higher average pricing, partially offset by unfavorable currency translation.

Gross margin was 39.2% compared with 43.4% in the prior-year quarter, a decrease of 420 basis points. Gross margin decreased primarily due to higher manufacturing and logistics costs and regional and product mix, including the effect of the polyolefin catalysts acquisition. 

Operating income of $81.2 million increased 4% compared with the prior-year quarter. The increase was primarily due to higher sales, partially offset by lower gross margins. Operating margin was 27.6%, a decrease of 240 basis points compared with the prior-year quarter primarily due to lower gross margins. The ART joint venture contributed $7.0 million to operating income compared with $6.9 million in the prior-year quarter.

Grace Materials Technologies
First quarter sales for Materials Technologies, which includes engineered materials for coatings, consumer, pharmaceutical and chemical process applications, were $104.2 million, an increase of 2% compared with the prior-year quarter. Higher organic sales volumes of 11% were partially offset by the loss of sales from certain product lines exited in 2016.

Gross margin was 39.1%, a decrease of 30 basis points compared with the prior-year quarter.

Operating income of $24.8 million increased 20% compared with the prior-year quarter, primarily due to higher sales volumes, lower manufacturing costs, and lower operating expenses, partially offset by lower income related to the exited product lines. Operating margin was 23.8%, an increase of 360 basis points from the prior-year quarter.

Other Expenses in Adjusted EBIT
Total corporate costs were $16.1 million for the first quarter, an increase of $2.9 million compared with the prior-year quarter, primarily due to a favorable settlement of a claim in 2016.

Certain pension costs of $3.1 million were flat compared with the prior-year quarter.

Interest Expense
Net interest expense was $19.3 million for the first quarter compared with $21.8 million in the prior-year quarter. The weighted average cash interest rate for the first quarter was 4.4%.

Income Taxes
Income taxes paid in cash, net of refunds, were $14.6 million during the three months ended March 31, 2017. We generally have not had to pay U.S. federal income taxes in recent years due to available tax deductions and credits that fully offset our U.S. tax liability.

Cash Flow
Net cash provided by operating activities from continuing operations for the three months ended March 31, 2017, was $35.9 million compared with $74.3 million in the prior-year period. First quarter cash flow included $30 million paid to satisfy a deferred payment obligation to the asbestos property damage trust required under Grace’s joint plan of reorganization.

Adjusted Free Cash Flow was $50.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017, a decrease of 37% compared with the prior-year quarter.

Share Repurchase Program
In the first quarter, we spent $10.0 million to repurchase approximately 142,000 shares of our outstanding common stock at an average per share price of $70.21.

Dividend
Today Grace is announcing a quarterly cash dividend of $0.21 per share. The dividend is payable June 8, 2017, to shareholders of record at the close of business on May 17, 2017.

2017 Outlook
As of April 26, 2017, we are tightening our outlook for 2017:

  • Adjusted EPS to be in the range of $3.30 to $3.45 per share, up 6%-11% based on an effective tax rate between 33%-34%
  • Sales growth to be in the range of 3%-4% (4%-5% on a constant currency basis)
  • Adjusted EBIT to be in the range of $415 million to $430 million, up 4%-7%
  • Adjusted EBITDA to be in the range of $525 million to $540 million, up 5%-8%
  • Our outlook assumes an average 1.05 USD/EUR exchange rate for the year compared with an average of 1.10 EUR/USD in the prior year period.

We continue to expect 2017 Adjusted Free Cash Flow to be in the range of $265 million to $275 million, including a favorable impact to 2017 cash flow of approximately $65 to $75 million due to utilization of net operating losses and tax credits.

We are unable to estimate the annual mark-to-market pension adjustment or 2017 net income.

Investor Call
We will discuss these results during an investor conference call and webcast today starting at 9:00 a.m. ET. To access the call and webcast, interested participants should go to the Investors portion of our website, www.grace.com, and click on the webcast link.

Those without access to the Internet can participate by dialing +1 844.515.9173 (U.S.) or +1 574.990.9421 (International). The participant passcode is 97995908. Investors are advised to dial into the call at least ten minutes early in order to register.

An audio replay will be available after 1:00 p.m. ET on April 26. For one week, the replay will be accessible by dialing +1 855.859.2056 (U.S.) or +1 404.537.3406 (International) and entering the participant passcode 97995908. The webcast replay or transcript will be available for one year on the company's website.

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 customer partners around the world. With approximately 3,700 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 cost and availability of raw materials and energy; the effectiveness of its research and development and growth investments; acquisitions and divestitures of assets and gains and losses from dispositions; developments affecting Grace’s outstanding indebtedness; developments affecting Grace's funded and unfunded pension obligations; its legal and environmental proceedings; 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 relationships with customers and suppliers or the inability to retain key personnel; costs of compliance with environmental regulation; 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 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 the date thereof. Grace undertakes no obligation to publicly release 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.

 
W. R. Grace & Co. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Operations (unaudited)
 
  Three Months Ended March 31,
(In millions, except per share amounts) 2017 2016
Net sales $398.0  $362.8 
Cost of goods sold 244.8  210.1 
Gross profit 153.2  152.7 
Selling, general and administrative expenses 66.5  68.0 
Research and development expenses 13.2  11.7 
Provision for environmental remediation, net   2.2 
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliate (7.0) (6.9)
Restructuring and repositioning expenses 2.3  13.6 
Interest expense and related financing costs 19.5  22.0 
Other (income) expense, net (2.2) 10.7 
Total costs and expenses 92.3  121.3 
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes 60.9  31.4 
(Provision for) benefit from income taxes (18.0) (21.2)
Income (loss) from continuing operations 42.9  10.2 
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income taxes   (9.9)
Net income (loss) 42.9  0.3 
Less: Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests   0.2 
Net income (loss) attributable to W. R. Grace & Co. shareholders $42.9  $0.5 
Amounts Attributable to W. R. Grace & Co. Shareholders:    
Income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to W. R. Grace & Co. shareholders $42.9  $10.4 
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income taxes   (9.9)
Net income (loss) attributable to W. R. Grace & Co. shareholders $42.9  $0.5 
Earnings Per Share Attributable to W. R. Grace & Co. Shareholders    
Basic earnings per share:    
Income (loss) from continuing operations $0.63  $0.15 
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income taxes   (0.14)
Net income (loss) $0.63  $0.01 
Weighted average number of basic shares 68.3  70.6 
Diluted earnings per share:    
Income (loss) from continuing operations $0.63  $0.15 
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income taxes   (0.14)
Net income (loss) $0.63  $0.01 
Weighted average number of diluted shares 68.5  71.1 
Dividends per common share $0.21  $ 


W. R. Grace & Co. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (unaudited)
 
 Three Months Ended March 31,
(In millions)2017 2016
OPERATING ACTIVITIES   
Net income$42.9  $0.3 
Less: loss (income) from discontinued operations  9.9 
Income from continuing operations42.9  10.2 
Reconciliation to net cash provided by (used for) operating activities from continuing operations:   
Depreciation and amortization27.1  23.2 
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliate(7.0) (6.9)
Dividends received from unconsolidated affiliate  10.0 
Costs related to Chapter 11, and legacy product and environmental2.1  4.4 
Cash paid for Chapter 11, and legacy product and environmental(40.7) (2.5)
Provision for income taxes18.0  21.2 
Cash paid for income taxes, net of refunds(14.6) (17.2)
Loss on early extinguishment of debt  11.1 
Interest expense and related financing costs19.5  22.0 
Cash paid for interest(4.9) (9.5)
Defined benefit pension expense5.0  2.9 
Cash paid under defined benefit pension arrangements(3.8) (3.7)
Changes in assets and liabilities, excluding effect of currency translation and acquisitions:   
Trade accounts receivable19.8  44.3 
Inventories(4.4) (10.6)
Accounts payable5.8  11.1 
All other items, net(28.9) (35.7)
Net cash provided by (used for) operating activities from continuing operations35.9  74.3 
INVESTING ACTIVITIES   
Capital expenditures(31.0) (34.4)
Other investing activities0.1  0.3 
Net cash provided by (used for) investing activities from continuing operations(30.9) (34.1)
FINANCING ACTIVITIES   
Borrowings under credit arrangements38.9  9.1 
Repayments under credit arrangements(41.7) (605.1)
Cash paid for repurchases of common stock(10.0) (15.0)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options6.0  3.8 
Dividends paid to shareholders(14.3)  
Distribution from GCP  750.0 
Other financing activities(0.3) (2.4)
Net cash provided by (used for) financing activities from continuing operations(21.4) 140.4 
Effect of currency exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents2.2  2.6 
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents from continuing operations(14.2) 183.2 
Cash flows from discontinued operations   
Net cash provided by (used for) operating activities  23.9 
Net cash provided by (used for) investing activities  (9.5)
Net cash provided by (used for) financing activities  31.4 
Effect of currency exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents  (1.0)
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents from discontinued operations  44.8 
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents(14.2) 228.0 
Less: cash and cash equivalents of discontinued operations  (143.4)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period90.6  329.9 
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period$76.4  $414.5 


W. R. Grace & Co. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Balance Sheets (unaudited)
 
(In millions, except par value and shares) March 31,
 2017
 December 31,
 2016
ASSETS    
Current Assets    
Cash and cash equivalents $76.4  $90.6 
Restricted cash and cash equivalents 10.0  10.0 
Trade accounts receivable, less allowance of $2.8 (2016—$2.2) 244.5  273.9 
Inventories 234.1  228.0 
Other current assets 63.8  52.3 
Total Current Assets 628.8  654.8 
Properties and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation and amortization of $1,358.8 (2016—$1,327.5) 740.2  729.6 
Goodwill 394.9  394.2 
Technology and other intangible assets, net 265.6  269.1 
Deferred income taxes 703.1  709.4 
Investment in unconsolidated affiliate 124.9  117.6 
Other assets 33.3  37.1 
Total Assets $2,890.8  $2,911.8 
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY    
Current Liabilities    
Debt payable within one year $44.7  $76.5 
Accounts payable 199.7  195.4 
Other current liabilities 189.6  208.9 
Total Current Liabilities 434.0  480.8 
Debt payable after one year 1,511.0  1,507.6 
Underfunded and unfunded defined benefit pension plans 430.5  424.3 
Other liabilities 119.6  126.7 
Total Liabilities 2,495.1  2,539.4 
Equity    
Common stock issued, par value $0.01; 300,000,000 shares authorized; outstanding: 68,342,140 (2016—68,309,431) 0.7  0.7 
Paid-in capital 478.7  487.3 
Retained earnings 647.8  619.3 
Treasury stock, at cost: shares: 9,114,487 (2016—9,147,196) (800.5) (804.9)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) 65.4  66.4 
Total W. R. Grace & Co. Shareholders' Equity 392.1  368.8 
Noncontrolling interests 3.6  3.6 
Total Equity 395.7  372.4 
Total Liabilities and Equity $2,890.8  $2,911.8 


W. R. Grace & Co. and Subsidiaries
Analysis of Operations (unaudited)
 
 Three Months Ended March 31,
(In millions, except per share amounts)2017 2016 % Change
Net sales:      
Catalysts Technologies$293.8  $260.6  12.7%
Materials Technologies104.2  102.2  2.0%
Total Grace net sales$398.0  $362.8  9.7%
Net sales by region:      
North America$115.7  $118.9  (2.7)%
Europe Middle East Africa148.7  142.4  4.4%
Asia Pacific99.9  72.1  38.6%
Latin America33.7  29.4  14.6%
Total net sales by region$398.0  $362.8  9.7%
Performance measures:      
Adjusted EBIT(A)(B):      
Catalysts Technologies segment operating income$81.2  $78.3  3.7%
Materials Technologies segment operating income24.8  20.6  20.4%
Corporate costs(16.1) (13.2) (22.0)%
Certain pension costs(C)(3.1) (3.1) %
Adjusted EBIT86.8  82.6  5.1%
Restructuring and repositioning expenses(2.3) (13.6)   
(Costs) benefit related to Chapter 11, and legacy product and environmental, net(2.1) (4.4)   
Pension MTM adjustment and other related costs, net(1.9) 0.2    
Income and expense items related to divested businesses(0.3) (0.3)   
Loss on early extinguishment of debt  (11.1)   
Interest expense, net(19.3) (21.8) 11.5%
(Provision for) benefit from income taxes(18.0) (21.2) 15.1%
Income from continuing operations attributable to W. R. Grace & Co. shareholders$42.9  $10.4  NM 
Diluted EPS from continuing operations$0.63  $0.15  NM 
Adjusted EPS(A)$0.68  $0.61  11.5%


W. R. Grace & Co. and Subsidiaries
Analysis of Operations (unaudited) (continued)
 
 Three Months Ended March 31,
(In millions)2017 2016 % Change
Adjusted profitability performance measures(A)(B)(C):       
Gross Margin:     
Catalysts Technologies39.2% 43.4% (4.2) pts
Materials Technologies39.1% 39.4% (0.3) pts
Adjusted Gross Margin39.2% 42.3% (3.1) pts
Amortization of acquired inventory fair value adjustment% % 0.0 pts
Pension costs in cost of goods sold(0.7)% (0.2)% (0.5) pts
Total Grace38.5% 42.1% (3.6) pts
Adjusted EBIT:     
Catalysts Technologies$81.2  $78.3  3.7%
Materials Technologies24.8  20.6  20.4%
Corporate, pension, and other(19.2) (16.3) (17.8)%
Total Grace86.8  82.6  5.1%
Depreciation and amortization:      
Catalysts Technologies$21.3  $17.7  20.3%
Materials Technologies4.7  5.0  (6.0)%
Corporate1.1  0.5  120.0%
Total Grace27.1  23.2  16.8%
Adjusted EBITDA:      
Catalysts Technologies$102.5  $96.0  6.8%
Materials Technologies29.5  25.6  15.2%
Corporate, pension, and other(18.1) (15.8) (14.6)%
Total Grace113.9  105.8  7.7%
Adjusted EBIT margin:     
Catalysts Technologies27.6% 30.0% (2.4) pts
Materials Technologies23.8% 20.2% 3.6 pts
Total Grace21.8% 22.8% (1.0) pts
Adjusted EBITDA margin:         
Catalysts Technologies34.9% 36.8% (1.9) pts
Materials Technologies28.3% 25.0% 3.3 pts
Total Grace28.6% 29.2% (0.6) pts


W. R. Grace & Co. and Subsidiaries
Analysis of Operations (unaudited) (continued)
 
 Three Months Ended March 31,
(In millions)2017 2016
Cash flow measure(A):   
Net cash provided by (used for) operating activities from continuing operations$35.9  $74.3 
Capital expenditures(31.0) (34.4)
Free Cash Flow4.9  39.9 
Cash paid for Chapter 11, and legacy product and environmental40.7  2.5 
Cash paid for restructuring3.8  4.5 
Cash paid for repositioning0.6  29.0 
Cash paid for taxes related to repositioning  2.6 
Capital expenditures related to repositioning  0.3 
Adjusted Free Cash Flow$50.0  $78.8 


W. R. Grace & Co. and Subsidiaries
Analysis of Operations (unaudited) (continued)
 
 Four Quarters Ended
(In millions)March 31,
 2017
 December 31,
 2016
Calculation of Adjusted EBIT Return On Invested Capital (trailing four quarters)(A):   
Adjusted EBIT$404.5  $400.3 
Invested Capital:   
Trade accounts receivable244.5  273.9 
Inventories234.1  228.0 
Accounts payable(199.7) (195.4)
 278.9  306.5 
Other current assets (excluding income taxes)37.7  32.0 
Properties and equipment, net740.2  729.6 
Goodwill394.9  394.2 
Technology and other intangible assets, net265.6  269.1 
Investment in unconsolidated affiliate124.9  117.6 
Other assets (excluding capitalized financing fees)31.2  34.9 
Other current liabilities (excluding income taxes, legacy environmental matters, accrued interest, and restructuring)(113.7) (144.4)
Other liabilities (excluding legacy environmental matters)(90.3) (89.3)
Total invested capital$1,669.4  $1,650.2 
Adjusted EBIT Return On Invested Capital24.2% 24.3%


W. R. Grace & Co. and Subsidiaries
Adjusted Earnings Per Share (unaudited)
 
 Three Months Ended March 31,
 2017 2016
(In millions, except per share amounts)Pre-
Tax
 Tax Effect After-
Tax
 Per
Share
 Pre-
Tax
 Tax Effect After-
Tax
 Per
Share
Diluted earnings per share from continuing operations      $0.63        $0.15 
Restructuring and repositioning expenses$2.3  $0.8  $1.5  0.02  $13.6  $4.8  $8.8  0.12 
Costs related to Chapter 11, and legacy product and environmental, net2.1  0.8  1.3  0.02  4.4  1.6  2.8  0.04 
Pension MTM adjustment and other related costs, net1.9  0.7  1.2  0.02  (0.2) (0.1) (0.1)  
Income and expense items related to divested businesses0.3  0.1  0.2    0.3  0.1  0.2   
Loss on early extinguishment of debt        11.1  4.1  7.0  0.10 
Discrete tax items, including adjustments to uncertain tax positions  0.5  (0.5) (0.01)   (13.9) 13.9  0.20 
Adjusted EPS(A)      $0.68        $0.61 


W. R. Grace & Co. and Subsidiaries
Notes to the Financial Information

A.  In the above charts, Grace presents financial information in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (U.S. GAAP), as well as the non-GAAP financial information described below. Grace believes that this non-GAAP financial information provides useful supplemental information about the performance of its businesses, improves period-to-period comparability and provides clarity on the information management uses to evaluate the performance of its businesses. In the above charts, Grace has provided reconciliations of these non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable financial measure calculated and presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP. These non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered as a substitute for financial measures calculated in accordance with U.S. GAAP, and the financial results calculated in accordance with U.S. GAAP and reconciliations from those results should be evaluated carefully.

Grace defines these non-GAAP financial measures as follows:

  • Adjusted EBIT means income from continuing operations attributable to W. R. Grace & Co. shareholders adjusted for interest income and expense; income taxes; costs related to Chapter 11, and legacy product and environmental; restructuring and repositioning expenses and asset impairments; pension costs other than service and interest costs, expected returns on plan assets, and amortization of prior service costs/credits; income and expense items related to divested businesses, product lines, and certain other investments; gains and losses on sales of businesses, product lines, and certain other investments; third-party acquisition-related costs and the amortization of acquired inventory fair value adjustment; and certain other items that are not representative of underlying trends.
  • Adjusted EBITDA means Adjusted EBIT adjusted for depreciation and amortization.
  • Adjusted EBIT Return On Invested Capital means Adjusted EBIT (on a trailing four quarters basis) divided by the sum of net working capital, properties and equipment and certain other assets and liabilities.
  • Adjusted Gross Margin means gross margin adjusted for pension-related costs included in cost of goods sold and the amortization of acquired inventory fair value adjustment.
  • Adjusted EPS means diluted EPS from continuing operations adjusted for costs related to Chapter 11, and legacy product and environmental; restructuring and repositioning expenses and asset impairments; pension costs other than service and interest costs, expected returns on plan assets, and amortization of prior service costs/credits; income and expense items related to divested businesses, product lines, and certain other investments; gains and losses on sales of businesses, product lines, and certain other investments; third-party acquisition-related costs and the amortization of acquired inventory fair value adjustment; certain other items that are not representative of underlying trends; and certain discrete tax items.
  • Adjusted Free Cash Flow means net cash provided by or used for operating activities from continuing operations minus capital expenditures plus cash flows related to Chapter 11, and legacy product and environmental; cash paid for restructuring and repositioning; capital expenditures related to repositioning; cash paid for third-party acquisition-related costs; and accelerated payments under defined benefit pension arrangements.

Adjusted EBIT, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBIT Return On Invested Capital, Adjusted Gross Margin, Adjusted EPS and Adjusted Free Cash Flow do not purport to represent income or liquidity measures as defined under U.S. GAAP, and should not be considered as alternatives to such measures as an indicator of Grace's performance or liquidity.

Grace uses Adjusted EBIT as a performance measure in significant business decisions and in determining certain incentive compensation. Grace uses Adjusted EBIT as a performance measure because it provides improved period-to-period comparability for decision making and compensation purposes, and because it better measures the ongoing earnings results of its strategic and operating decisions by excluding the earnings effects of the Chapter 11 proceedings, legacy product and environmental matters, restructuring and repositioning activities, divested businesses, and other items discussed above.

Grace uses Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBIT Return On Invested Capital, Adjusted Gross Margin, and Adjusted EPS as performance measures and may use these measures in determining certain incentive compensation.

Grace uses Adjusted Free Cash Flow as a liquidity measure to evaluate its ability to generate cash to support its ongoing business operations, to invest in its businesses, and to provide a return of capital to shareholders. Grace also uses Adjusted Free Cash Flow as a performance measure in determining certain incentive compensation.

These measures are provided to investors and others to improve the period-to-period comparability and peer-to-peer comparability of Grace’s financial results, and to ensure that investors and others understand the information Grace uses to evaluate the performance of its businesses. They distinguish the operating results of Grace's current business base from the costs of Grace's Chapter 11 proceedings, legacy product and environmental matters, restructuring and repositioning activities, divested businesses, and other items discussed above. These measures may have material limitations due to the exclusion or inclusion of amounts that are included or excluded, respectively, in the most directly comparable measures calculated and presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP and thus investors and others should review carefully the financial results calculated in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

Grace is unable without unreasonable efforts to estimate the annual mark-to-market pension adjustment or 2017 net income, and without the availability of this significant information, Grace is unable to provide reconciliations for the forward-looking information set forth in the 2017 Outlook, above.

B.  Grace's segment operating income includes only Grace's share of income from consolidated and unconsolidated joint ventures.

C.  Certain pension costs include only ongoing costs recognized quarterly, which include service and interest costs, expected returns on plan assets, and amortization of prior service costs/credits. Catalysts Technologies and Materials Technologies segment operating income and corporate costs do not include any amounts for pension expense. Other pension related costs including annual mark-to-market adjustments and actuarial gains and losses are excluded from Adjusted EBIT. These amounts are not used by management to evaluate the performance of Grace's businesses and significantly affect the peer-to-peer and period-to-period comparability of our financial results. Mark-to-market adjustments and actuarial gains and losses relate primarily to changes in financial market values and actuarial assumptions and are not directly related to the operation of Grace's businesses.

NM - Not Meaningful


            

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