CONSHOHOCKEN, Pa., May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Quaker Houghton ("the Company") (NYSE: KWR), a global leader in industrial process fluids, today announced its first quarter of 2021 results. 

First Quarter of 2021 Consolidated Results

First quarter of 2021 net sales of $429.8 million increased 14% compared to $378.6 million in the prior year primarily due to higher volumes, which included additional net sales from acquisitions of 3%, and the positive impact from foreign currency translation of 3%.  The increase in sales volumes compared to the first quarter of 2020 was primarily due to improved end market conditions and continued market share gains.  Additional net sales from acquisitions were primarily attributable to Coral Chemical ("Coral"), which the Company acquired in December 2020.  The positive net impact from foreign currency translation was primarily due to the strengthening of the euro and Chinese renminbi against the U.S. dollar quarter-over-quarter, partially offset by the ongoing weakening of the Brazilian real.

The Company had net income in the first quarter of 2021 of $38.6 million, or $2.15 per diluted share, compared to a first quarter of 2020 net loss of $28.4 million, or $1.60 per diluted share.  The Company's prior year first quarter net loss was primarily driven by a non-cash impairment charge of $38.0 million for certain indefinite-lived intangible assets and a non-cash $22.7 million settlement charge related to the termination of a U.S. defined benefit pension plan.  Excluding these non-recurring items as well as costs associated with the combination with Houghton International, Inc. (the "Combination") and other non-core items in each period, the Company's first quarter of 2021 non-GAAP earnings per diluted share were $2.11 compared to $1.38 in the prior year first quarter.  The Company's current quarter adjusted EBITDA of $77.1 million increased 28% compared to $60.5 million in the first quarter of 2020 primarily due to the significant increase in net sales quarter-over-quarter and higher realized cost synergies from the Combination.  The Company estimates that it realized cost synergies associated with the Combination of approximately $18 million during the first quarter of 2021 compared to approximately $10 million during the first quarter of 2020.

Michael F. Barry, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President, commented, "We had a very strong first quarter as we saw significant sequential and prior year improvement in all our segments and regions.  The volume increases were driven by strong demand in our end markets as well as market share gains.  We believe our first quarter volumes included some higher than expected purchases as customers replenished their supply chains, but the amount of these purchases is hard to quantify.  Raw material prices continued to increase in the first quarter and we expect them to continue to increase in the second quarter as well.  The magnitude of our raw material cost increases are considerably higher than previously expected due to stress on global supply chains, weather related shutdowns and unexpected supplier shutdowns.  While we expect to achieve additional price increases to offset these raw material cost increases, our lowest gross margins of the year are expected in the second quarter as there will be a lag between the implementation of price increases and raw material cost changes.  While we are encouraged by the strength and breadth of the first quarter results, we believe the second quarter results will be lower than the first quarter due to the lag effect on our gross margin and potentially lower volumes.  However, we do expect our gross margins to sequentially improve in the third and fourth quarters as our pricing initiatives catch up to increases in our raw material costs.  Overall, we still believe our previous guidance is an appropriate floor for our full year adjusted EBITDA, although we do feel better about the year given the higher than expected demand we experienced in the first quarter.  However, the magnitude and duration of increasing raw material costs make it hard to predict how much of this will offset the positives we are seeing in demand.  Nevertheless, we continue to believe 2021 will be a very good year for us as we expect we will take a step change in our profitability, complete our integration cost synergies, continue to take share in the market place, achieve positive impacts from our recent acquisitions, and get to our targeted leverage ratio."

First Quarter of 2021 Segment Results

The Company's first quarter of 2021 operating performance in each of its four reportable segments: (i) Americas; (ii) Europe, Middle East and Africa ("EMEA"); (iii) Asia/Pacific; and (iv) Global Specialty Businesses, reflect similar drivers to that of its consolidated performance.  

All four segments had higher net sales compared to the first quarter of 2020.  EMEA and Asia/Pacific benefited from higher sales volumes and the positive impact of foreign exchange translation, while additional net sales from Coral benefited the Americas and Global Specialty Businesses.  The growth in Asia/Pacific's volumes compared to the prior year were partially due to the initial impacts of COVID-19 in China during the first quarter of 2020, whereas all of the remaining segments weren't impacted as severely until the second quarter of 2020.  The benefit of higher selling price and product mix positively impacted most of the segments, and foreign currency translation benefited all segments except the Americas which was driven by the ongoing weakening of the Brazilian real quarter-over-quarter.  As reported, all of the Company's segment operating earnings were higher compared to the first quarter of 2020 which reflects higher current quarter net sales coupled with a higher gross margin in all segments as compared to the prior year first quarter.  While the Company has experienced higher raw material costs beginning in the fourth quarter of 2020 and continuing into 2021, the higher gross margin as compared to the prior year first quarter was primarily driven by the Company's continued execution of Quaker Houghton combination-related logistics, procurement and manufacturing cost savings initiatives as well as the benefit of higher volumes in the current quarter and the related impact from fixed manufacturing costs.  Direct Selling, general and administrative expenses ("SG&A") of each segment were relatively consistent with the first quarter of 2020 with only Asia/Pacific up as a result of the segments strong current quarter performance compared to the prior year which was negatively impacted by the initial COVID-19 conditions in China.  Overall, the Company and all of its segments continued to maintain strong cost control and benefit from COVID-19 cost savings actions, including lower travel expenses, as well as the benefits of realized cost savings associated with the Combination.

Cash Flow and Liquidity Highlights

The Company has no material debt maturities until August 1, 2024.  As of March 31, 2021, the Company's total gross debt was $913.1 million and its cash on hand was $163.5 million.  The Company's net debt was $749.6 million, and its net debt divided by its trailing twelve months adjusted EBITDA was approximately 3.1 to 1 as of March 31, 2021.  The Company's consolidated net leverage ratio, as defined under its bank agreement, was approximately 2.8 to 1 as of March 31, 2021 compared to a maximum permitted leverage of 4.0 to 1.  Based on current projections of future liquidity and leverage, the Company does not expect any compliance issues with its bank covenants. 

The Company had a net operating cash outflow of $12.6 million during the first quarter of 2021 as compared to a net operating cash inflow of $20.2 million in the first quarter of 2020.  The $32.8 million decrease in net operating cash flow quarter-over-quarter was primarily driven by a significant change in working capital, as the Company's strong net sales and volumes resulted in a large increase in accounts receivable in the first quarter of 2021.

In February 2021, the Company acquired a tin-plating solutions business for the steel end markets for approximately $25 million, which the Company estimates will add full year net sales of approximately $8 million and approximately $4 million of full year adjusted EBITDA going forward. 

Non-GAAP Measures and Reconciliations

The information included in this press release includes non-GAAP (unaudited) financial information that includes EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA margin, non-GAAP operating income, non-GAAP operating margin, non-GAAP net income and non-GAAP earnings per diluted share. The Company believes these non-GAAP financial measures provide meaningful supplemental information as they enhance a reader's understanding of the financial performance of the Company, are indicative of future operating performance of the Company, and facilitate a comparison among fiscal periods, as the non-GAAP financial measures exclude items that are not indicative of future operating performance or not considered core to the Company's operations.  Non-GAAP results are presented for supplemental informational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for the financial information presented in accordance with GAAP. 

The Company presents EBITDA which is calculated as net income (loss) attributable to the Company before depreciation and amortization, interest expense, net, and taxes on income (loss) before equity in net income of associated companies.  The Company also presents adjusted EBITDA which is calculated as EBITDA plus or minus certain items that are not indicative of future operating performance or not considered core to the Company's operations.  In addition, the Company presents non-GAAP operating income which is calculated as operating income (loss) plus or minus certain items that are not indicative of future operating performance or not considered core to the Company's operations.  Adjusted EBITDA margin and non-GAAP operating margin are calculated as the percentage of adjusted EBITDA and non-GAAP operating income to consolidated net sales, respectively.  The Company believes these non-GAAP measures provide transparent and useful information and are widely used by analysts, investors, and competitors in our industry as well as by management in assessing the operating performance of the Company on a consistent basis. 

Additionally, the Company presents non-GAAP net income and non-GAAP earnings per diluted share as additional performance measures.  Non-GAAP net income is calculated as adjusted EBITDA, defined above, less depreciation and amortization, interest expense, net, and taxes on income before equity in net income of associated companies, in each case adjusted, as applicable, for any depreciation, amortization, interest or tax impacts resulting from the non-core items identified in the reconciliation of net income  attributable to the Company to adjusted EBITDA.  Non-GAAP earnings per diluted share is calculated as non-GAAP net income per diluted share as accounted for under the "two-class share method."  The Company believes that non-GAAP net income and non-GAAP earnings per diluted share provide transparent and useful information and are widely used by analysts, investors, and competitors in our industry as well as by management in assessing the operating performance of the Company on a consistent basis. 

As it relates to 2021 projected adjusted EBITDA growth for the Company, including as a result of our recent acquisitions, as well as other forward-looking information described further above, the Company has not provided guidance for comparable GAAP measures or a quantitative reconciliation of forward-looking non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable U.S. GAAP measure because it is unable to determine with reasonable certainty the ultimate outcome of certain significant items necessary to calculate such measures without unreasonable effort.  These items include, but are not limited to, certain non-recurring or non-core items the Company may record that could materially impact net income, as well as the impact of COVID-19.  These items are uncertain, depend on various factors, and could have a material impact on the U.S. GAAP reported results for the guidance period. 

The Company's reference to trailing twelve months adjusted EBITDA within this press release refers to the twelve month period ended March 31, 2021 adjusted EBITDA of $238.6 million, which includes (i) the three months ended March 31, 2021 adjusted EBITDA of $77.1 million, as presented in the non-GAAP reconciliations below, and (ii) the twelve months ended December 31, 2020 adjusted EBITDA of $222.0 million, as presented in the non-GAAP reconciliations included in the Company's fourth quarter and full year 2020 results press release dated February 25, 2021, less (iii) the three months ended March 31, 2020 adjusted EBITDA of $60.5 million, as presented in the non-GAAP reconciliations below.

The following tables reconcile the Company's non-GAAP financial measures (unaudited) to their most directly comparable GAAP (unaudited) financial measures (dollars in thousands unless otherwise noted, except per share amounts):

Non-GAAP Operating Income and Margin Reconciliations

Segment Measures and Reconciliations

The Company's operating segments, which are consistent with its reportable segments, reflect the structure of the Company's internal organization, the method by which the Company's resources are allocated and the manner by which the chief operating decision maker assesses the Company's performance.  The Company has four reportable segments: (i) Americas; (ii) EMEA; (iii) Asia/Pacific; and (iv) Global Specialty Businesses.  The three geographic segments are composed of the net sales and operations in each respective region, excluding net sales and operations managed globally by the Global Specialty Businesses segment, which includes the Company's container, metal finishing, mining, offshore, specialty coatings, specialty grease and Norman Hay businesses.  Segment operating earnings for each of the Company's reportable segments are comprised of the segment's net sales less directly related COGS and SG&A.  Operating expenses not directly attributable to the net sales of each respective segment, such as certain corporate and administrative costs, Combination, integration and other acquisition-related expenses, and Restructuring and related charges, are not included in segment operating earnings.  Other items not specifically identified with the Company's reportable segments include interest expense, net and other income (expense), net. 

The following tables reconcile the Company's reportable segments performance to that of the Company's (dollars in thousands):

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.  These statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts.  We have based these forward-looking statements, including statements regarding the potential effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Company's business, results of operations, and financial condition, our expectations that we will maintain sufficient liquidity and remain in compliance with the terms of the Company's credit facility, statements regarding remediation of our material weaknesses in internal control over financial reporting on our current expectations about future events, and statements regarding the impact of increased raw material costs and pricing initiatives.  These forward-looking statements include statements with respect to our beliefs, plans, objectives, goals, expectations, anticipations, intentions, financial condition, results of operations, future performance, and business, including but not limited to the potential benefits of the Combination and other acquisitions, the impacts on our business as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and any projected global economic rebound or anticipated positive results due to Company actions taken in response to the pandemic, and our current and future results and plans and statements that include the words "may," "could," "should," "would," "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "intend," "plan" or similar expressions.  These forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in such statements.  A major risk is that demand for the Company's products and services is largely derived from the demand for its customers' products, which subjects the Company to uncertainties related to downturns in a customer's business and unanticipated customer production shutdowns, including as is currently being experienced by many automotive industry companies.  Other major risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the primary and secondary impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, including actions taken in response to the pandemic by various governments, which could exacerbate some or all of the other risks and uncertainties faced by the Company, including the potential for significant increases in raw material costs, supply chain disruptions, customer financial instability, worldwide economic and political disruptions, foreign currency fluctuations, significant changes in applicable tax rates and regulations, future terrorist attacks and other acts of violence.  Furthermore, the Company is subject to the same business cycles as those experienced by our customers in the steel, automobile, aircraft, industrial equipment, and durable goods industries.  The ultimate impact of COVID-19 on our business will depend on, among other things, the extent and duration of the pandemic, the severity of the disease and the number of people infected with the virus, the continued uncertainty regarding global availability, administration, acceptance and long-term efficacy of vaccines, or other treatments, for COVID-19 or its variants, the longer-term effects on the economy by the pandemic, including the resulting market volatility, and by the measures taken by governmental authorities and other third parties restricting day-to-day life and business operations and the length of time that such measures remain in place, as well as laws and other governmental programs implemented to address the pandemic or assist impacted businesses, such as fiscal stimulus and other legislation designed to deliver monetary aid and other relief.  Other factors could also adversely affect us, including those related to the Combination and other acquisitions and the integration of acquired businesses.  Our forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions about the Company and its operations that are subject to change based on various important factors, some of which are beyond our control.  These risks, uncertainties, and possible inaccurate assumptions relevant to our business could cause our actual results to differ materially from expected and historical results.  All forward-looking statements included in this press release, including expectations about the improvements in business conditions during 2021 and future periods, are based upon information available to the Company as of the date of this press release, which may change.  Therefore, we caution you not to place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements.  For more information regarding these risks and uncertainties as well as certain additional risks that we face, refer to the Risk Factors section, which appears in Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2021, and in subsequent reports filed from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  We do not intend to, and we disclaim any duty or obligation to, update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect new information or future events or for any other reason.  This discussion is provided as permitted by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

Conference Call

As previously announced, the Company's investor conference call to discuss its first quarter performance is scheduled for May 7, 2021 at 8:30 a.m. (ET).  A live webcast of the conference call, together with supplemental information, can be accessed through the Company's Investor Relations website at investors.quakerhoughton.com.  You can also access the conference call by dialing 877-269-7756. 

About Quaker Houghton

Quaker Chemical Corporation (doing business as "Quaker Houghton") is a global leader in industrial process fluids.  With a presence around the world, including operations in over 25 countries, our customers include thousands of the world's most advanced and specialized steel, aluminum, automotive, aerospace, offshore, can, mining, and metalworking companies.  Our high-performing, innovative and sustainable solutions are backed by best-in-class technology, deep process knowledge and customized services.  With approximately 4,200 employees, including chemists, engineers and industry experts, we partner with our customers to improve their operations so they can run even more efficiently, even more effectively, whatever comes next.  Quaker Houghton is headquartered in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, located near Philadelphia in the United States.  Visit quakerhoughton.com to learn more.

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SOURCE Quaker Houghton

Shane W. Hostetter, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, investor@quakerhoughton.com, T. 1.610.832.4000