W. R. Grace & Co., through its subsidiaries, is engaged in specialty chemicals and specialty materials businesses on a global basis through three operating segments: Grace Catalysts Technologies, which includes catalysts and related products and technologies used in refining, petrochemical and other chemical manufacturing applications; Grace Materials Technologies, which includes packaging technologies and engineered materials used in consumer, industrial, coatings, and pharmaceutical applications; and Grace Construction Products, which includes specialty construction chemicals and specialty building materials used in commercial, infrastructure and residential construction.

W. R. Grace & Co. conducts all of its business through a single wholly owned subsidiary, W. R. Grace & Co.—Conn. ("Grace—Conn."). Grace—Conn. owns all of the assets, properties and rights of W. R. Grace & Co. on a consolidated basis, either directly or through subsidiaries.

As used in these notes, the term "Company" refers to W. R. Grace & Co. The term "Grace" refers to the Company and/or one or more of its subsidiaries and, in certain cases, their respective predecessors.

On February 5, 2015, the Company announced its intent to separate the business, assets and liabilities associated with the Grace Construction Products operating segment and the packaging technologies business (collectively, "GCP") into an independent publicly-traded company. Following the separation, Grace will consist of the Catalysts Technologies and Materials Technologies (excluding the packaging technologies business) operating segments. Grace intends that the separation transaction will be a tax-free spin-off to the Company's stockholders for U.S. federal income tax purposes and expects the transaction to be completed in the 2016 first quarter.

Chapter 11 Proceedings On April 2, 2001, Grace and 61 of its United States subsidiaries and affiliates filed voluntary petitions for reorganization under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware (the "Bankruptcy Court") in order to resolve outstanding asbestos personal injury and property damage claims, including class-action lawsuits alleging damages from Zonolite^® Attic Insulation ("ZAI"), a former Grace attic insulation product. In 2008, Grace and other parties filed a joint plan of reorganization with the Bankruptcy Court (as subsequently amended, the "Joint Plan"). Following the confirmation of the Joint Plan in 2011 by the Bankruptcy Court and in 2012 by a U.S. District Court, and the resolution of all appeals, Grace emerged from bankruptcy on February 3, 2014.

Basis of Presentation The interim Consolidated Financial Statements presented herein are unaudited and should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements presented in the Company's 2014 Annual Report on Form 10-K. Such interim Consolidated Financial Statements reflect all adjustments that, in the opinion of management, are necessary for a fair statement of the results of the interim periods presented; all such adjustments are of a normal recurring nature except for the impacts of adopting new accounting standards as discussed below. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.

The results of operations for the six-month interim period ended June 30, 2015, are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations for the year ending December 31, 2015.

Use of Estimates The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("U.S. GAAP") requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amount of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the Consolidated Financial Statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses for the periods presented. Actual amounts could differ from those estimates, and the differences could be material. Changes in estimates are recorded in the period identified. Grace's accounting measurements that are most affected by management's estimates of future events are:


•	Realization values of net deferred tax assets, which depend on projections of future taxable income (see Note 5);


•	Pension and postretirement liabilities that depend on assumptions regarding participant life spans, future inflation, discount rates and total returns on invested funds (see Note 6); and


•	Contingent liabilities, which depend on an assessment of the probability of loss and an estimate of ultimate obligation, such as litigation (see Note 8), income taxes (see Note 5), and environmental remediation (see Note 8).

Reclassifications Certain amounts in prior years' Consolidated Financial Statements have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation. Such reclassifications have not materially affected previously reported amounts in the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Effect of New Accounting Standards In April 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-08 "Reporting Discontinued Operations and Disclosures of Disposals of Components of an Entity." This update is intended to change the requirements for reporting discontinued operations and enhance convergence of the FASB’s and the International Accounting Standard Board’s ("IASB") reporting requirements for discontinued operations. Grace adopted this standard in the first quarter and it did not have a material effect on the Consolidated Financial Statements.

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09 "Revenue from Contracts with Customers." This update is intended to remove inconsistencies and weaknesses in revenue requirements; provide a more robust framework for addressing revenue issues; improve comparability of revenue recognition practices across entities, industries, jurisdictions and capital markets; provide more useful information to users of financial statements through improved disclosure requirements; and simplify the preparation of financial statements by reducing the number of requirements to which an entity must refer. The new requirements were to be effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, and for interim periods within those fiscal years, with early adoption not permitted. On July 9, 2015, the FASB voted to defer the effective date by one year but will permit adoption as of the original effective date. The revised standard allows for two methods of adoption: (a) full retrospective adoption, meaning the standard is applied to all periods presented, or (b) modified retrospective adoption, meaning the cumulative effect of applying the new standard is recognized as an adjustment to the opening retained earnings balance. Grace does not intend to adopt the standard early and is in the process of determining the adoption method as well as the effects the adoption will have on the Consolidated Financial Statements.

In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-03 "Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs." This update is part of the FASB's Simplification Initiative and is also intended to enhance convergence with the IASB's treatment of debt issuance costs. The update requires that debt issuance costs related to a recognized debt liability be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of that debt liability, consistent with debt discounts. The new requirements are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2015, and for interim periods within those fiscal years, with early adoption permitted. Grace is currently evaluating its effect on the Consolidated Financial Statements and the timing of adoption.