US chemical producer W. R. Grace has agreed to acquire the assets of BASF’s polyolefin catalysts business for an undisclosed sum. The acquisition includes technologies, patents, trademarks, and production plants in Pasadena, Texas, USA, and Tarragona, Spain, as well as around 170 employees worldwide.

BASF’s business includes Lynx high-activity PE catalyst technologies that are used commercially in slurry processes to produce high-density PE resins such as bimodal film and pipe. Lynx PP catalyst technologies are used commercially in all major PP processes including slurry, bulk loop, stirred and fluid gas, and stirred bulk.

Grace said BASF’s assets also provide significant additional flexibility and capacity for its global polyolefin manufacturing network.

Chairman and CEO of W.R. Grace, Fred Festa, said the assets were an important addition to its portfolio and the acquisition was perfectly aligned with its focus on core catalysts and materials technologies.

The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of 2016 pending regulatory approvals, employee consultations and other customary conditions.