SEC Comment Letter for W R GRACE & CO (CIK 0001045309) — Jun 8, 2021
W R GRACE & CO (CIK 0001045309)
Date: June 8, 2021 · CIK: 0001045309 · Accession: 0000000000-21-007081
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File numbers found in text: 001-13953
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United States securities and exchange commission logo
June 8, 2021
Hudson La Force
Chief Executive Officer
W.R. Grace & Co.
7500 Grace Drive
Columbia, Maryland 21044
Re:W.R. Grace & Co.
Preliminary Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A
Filed May 24, 2021
File No. 001-13953
Dear Mr. La Force:
We have reviewed your filing and have the following comments. In some of our
comments, we may ask you to provide us with information so we may better understand your
disclosure.
Please respond to these comments within ten business days by providing the requested
information or advise us as soon as possible when you will respond. If you do not believe our
comments apply to your facts and circumstances, please tell us why in your response.
After reviewing your response to these comments, we may have additional comments.
Preliminary Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed May 24, 2021
Opinion of Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, page 41
1.The second paragraph on page 42 contains language that appears to limit the extent to
which shareholders are entitled to rely on your disclosure: "[t]he following summary,
however, does not purport to be a complete description of the financial analyses
performed by Goldman Sachs..." While appropriate disclaimers concerning the nature of
a summary of material information are permitted, please revise to remove the implication
that the summary is incomplete. We also refer to similar language included in the Moelis
opinion on page 54.
FirstName LastNameHudson La Force
Comapany NameW.R. Grace & Co.
June 8, 2021 Page 2
FirstName LastName
Hudson La Force
W.R. Grace & Co.
June 8, 2021
Page 2
Management Projections, page 54
2.Summarize the material assumptions underlying and limitations on the projections
disclosed here, other than the assumption that the FCS Acquisition will be consummated.
General
3.We note that prior to the closing of the Merger, 40 North Management LLC owned
approximately 14.9% of outstanding common stock of the company and had identified
two of the members of the Board of Directors pursuant to the 2019 Letter Agreement. 40
North and its affiliates are a party to a Voting Agreement with W.R. Grace pursuant to
which they will vote their shares in favor of the Merger. We further note that 40 North-
designated director Kathleen Reiland initiated the process which resulted in this
transaction while still a Board member, pursuant to her email of August 23, 2020 urging
the Board to accelerate its strategic review process. Given 40 North’s affiliation with the
Company since 2018, which includes a significant equity stake and two Board designees,
please provide your analysis as to why this transaction is not subject to Rule 13e-3 or file
a Schedule 13E-3.
4.With respect to the filing of a Schedule 13E-3, please add as filing persons Gibraltar
Acquisition Holdings LLC, Gibraltar Merger Sub Inc., 40 North Management LLC, 40
North Latitude Master Fund Ltd., as well as Standard Industry Holdings Inc. and Standard
Industries Inc., or explain why such entities should not be included as filing persons.
We remind you that the company and its management are responsible for the accuracy
and adequacy of their disclosures, notwithstanding any review, comments, action or absence of
action by the staff.
Please contact Jane Park at 202-551-7439, Celeste Murphy at 202-551-3257 or Christina
Chalk at 202-551-3263 if you have questions regarding comments and related matters.
Sincerely,
Division of Corporation Finance
Office of Life Sciences
cc: Mark Stagliano