Quaker Houghton Announces Fourth Quarter And Full Year 2019 Results

CONSHOHOCKEN, Pa., March 2, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Quaker Chemical Corporation ("the Company", also known as Quaker Houghton) (NYSE: KWR) today announced fourth quarter and full year 2019, results including net sales of $391.3 million and $1,133.5 million, respectively.  Fourth quarter net sales increased 85% compared to $211.5 million in the prior year quarter, and full year net sales increased 31% compared to $867.5 million in the prior full year.  Each increase was driven by additional net sales attributed to the Company's August 1, 2019 combination with Houghton International, Inc. ("Houghton"), herein referred to as "the Combination", as well as its October 1, 2019 acquisition of the operating divisions of Norman Hay plc ("Norman Hay").  Current quarter net sales declined approximately 2% compared to the prior year fourth quarter pro forma net sales of $401 million, which are adjusted to include the results of Houghton and eliminate the effects of the Combination, with the decline primarily driven by lower volume and a negative impact from foreign currency translation, partially offset by additional net sales from Norman Hay.  Similarly, full year pro forma 2019 net sales declined approximately 6% to $1,562 million compared to $1,655 million in 2018, driven by the same factors described for the fourth quarter.

The Company's fourth quarter and full year 2019 net income was $15.2 million and $31.6 million, or $0.86 and $2.08 per diluted share, respectively, compared to fourth quarter and full year 2018 net income of $7.8 million and $59.5 million, or $0.58 and $4.45 per diluted share, respectively.  Excluding one-time costs associated with the Combination and certain tax related items impacting results in both periods, as well as all other non-core items in each period, the Company's fourth quarter and full year 2019 non-GAAP earnings per diluted share were $1.34 and $5.83, respectively, compared to prior year fourth quarter and full year non-GAAP earnings per diluted share of $1.54 and $6.17, respectively.  Both GAAP and non-GAAP earnings per diluted share reflect the increase to the Company's share count resulting from the closing of the Combination on August 1, 2019, as well as earnings attributed to Houghton for the last five months of 2019 and Norman Hay for the fourth quarter of 2019. 

The Company's fourth quarter and full year 2019 adjusted EBITDA was $60.6 million and $173.1 million respectively, compared to $29.7 million and $125.8 million in the fourth quarter and full year of 2018.  The Company's current quarter adjusted EBITDA increased approximately 4% compared to prior year fourth quarter pro forma adjusted EBITDA of approximately $58 million, primarily due to the benefit of Norman Hay in the current quarter and initial benefits of cost savings realized from the Combination.  Full year 2019 pro forma adjusted EBITDA was approximately $234 million, a decrease of 1% compared to approximately $236 million in the prior year, primarily due to lower full year pro forma net sales partially offset by the fourth quarter benefits mentioned above.

Michael F. Barry, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President, commented, "The quarter played out generally as we expected, with significant challenges in end market conditions and foreign exchange headwinds.  The negative impact on net sales was largely driven by the compounding conditions of a weak global automotive market, a generally weaker industrial environment in most parts of the world, and continued customer inventory corrections and reductions in consumption.  However, there were positives as well.  We achieved our targeted gross margin and we have made good progress with our integration and are on track to achieve or exceed our targeted integration cost synergies.  Our adjusted EBITDA of $60.6 million was above our guidance range of $52 to $59 million mentioned in the third quarter, due partially to higher than expected synergies in the quarter.  Despite the decrease in our pro forma net sales, these positive developments all contributed to our pro forma adjusted EBITDA growing 4% in the fourth quarter compared to the prior year. 

As we entered into 2020, we expected most of our business segments to show low to moderate growth during the year.  Then two negative events happened; the coronavirus and Boeing's decision to temporarily stop production of the 737 Max.  These events have put more uncertainty than usual in our ability to forecast our year.  Our current estimate is that the coronavirus and lower 737 Max production may impact adjusted EBITDA by approximately $10 million and $6 million, respectively, for the year.  However, I continue to be confident in our ability to deliver strong adjusted EBITDA growth in 2020 despite the market uncertainties we are facing.  In 2020, I expect that we will deliver approximately $30 million or more of adjusted EBITDA growth over our 2019 pro forma adjusted EBITDA of $234 million, primarily driven by synergy benefits, a full year of Norman Hay and additional market share gains more than offsetting the expected negative impacts of the coronavirus and lower production of the 737 Max."

Fourth Quarter 2019 Consolidated Results

Net sales were $391.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2019 compared to $211.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2018.  The net sales increase of 85% quarter-over-quarter includes additional net sales from Houghton and Norman Hay of $200.0 million.  Excluding Houghton and Norman Hay net sales, current quarter net sales would have declined 10%, primarily driven by a decrease in sales volumes of 9% and a negative impact from foreign currency translation of 1%.

Gross profit in the fourth quarter of 2019 increased $61.3 million compared to the fourth quarter of 2018 due primarily to the Houghton and Norman Hay sales, noted above.  The Company's gross margin in the current quarter was 34.8%, which includes a $1.5 million expense associated with selling Norman Hay's acquired inventory during the fourth quarter of 2019 which was adjusted to fair value in accordance with purchase accounting.  Excluding this one-time increase to cost of goods sold ("COGS") as well as approximately $0.5 million of accelerated depreciation charges in the current quarter related to the Company's restructuring program, the Company estimates that its gross margin would have been approximately 35.3% in the current quarter compared to 35.4% in the fourth quarter of 2018.  This slight decrease in gross margin quarter-over-quarter was primarily the result of price and product mix largely due to lower gross margins in the legacy Houghton business, partially offset by certain COGS decreases as a result of the Company's progress on initial Combination-related logistics and procurement cost savings initiatives.

Selling, general and administrative expenses ("SG&A") in the fourth quarter of 2019 increased $51.0 million compared to the fourth quarter of 2018 due primarily to additional SG&A from Houghton and Norman Hay as well as $1.1 million of charges in the current quarter related to certain customer bankruptcies partially offset by lower SG&A due to foreign currency translation, the impact of the sales decline, noted above, on direct selling costs, and the benefits of realized cost savings associated with the Combination.

During the fourth quarter of 2019, the Company incurred $11.7 million of Combination and other acquisition-related expenses, primarily for legal, financial, and other advisory and consultant expenses for integration activities.  Comparatively, the Company incurred $4.3 million of expenses in the prior year, primarily due to various professional fees related to integration planning and regulatory approval.

The Company initiated a restructuring program during the third quarter of 2019 as part of its global plan to realize cost synergies associated with the Combination.  The Company expects reductions in headcount and site closures to occur over the next two years under this program.  During the fourth quarter of 2019, the Company recorded additional restructuring expense, net, of $2.6 million related to this program.

Operating income in the fourth quarter of 2019 was $20.3 million compared to $20.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2018.  Excluding the Combination and other acquisition-related charges, restructuring expenses and other non-core items, the Company's current quarter non-GAAP operating income increased to $37.6 million compared to $24.3 million in the prior year, primarily due to additional net sales and operating income from Houghton and Norman Hay.  Also, the Company estimates that during the fourth quarter of 2019 it achieved approximately $4 million in cost savings related to the Combination on a combined company pro forma basis as compared to the prior year, increasing its year-to-date synergies realized to approximately $7 million.  The Company continues to estimate that total anticipated cost synergies related to the Combination will be at least $60 million once all cost savings actions have been implemented by the second year after close.

Interest expense, net, increased $8.5 million compared to the prior year period primarily due to additional borrowings under the Company's new term loans and revolving credit facility to finance the closing of the Combination on August 1, 2019. 

The Company's effective tax rates for the fourth quarters of 2019 and 2018 were a benefit of 18.2% and an expense of 59.8%, respectively.  The Company's current quarter effective tax rate benefit is primarily driven by a one-time $5.3 million deferred tax benefit the Company recorded in the fourth quarter of 2019 related to an intercompany intangible asset transfer.  The Company expects to see an offsetting impact and incremental deferred tax expense related to this item in future periods.  The Company's prior year fourth quarter effective tax rate was largely driven by combination-related expenses incurred in that year, certain of which were non-deductible for the purpose of determining the Company's effective tax rate, as well as an $8.1 million tax charge related to an adjustment to the Company's initial estimate of the impact from the 2017 U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act ("U.S. Tax Reform").  Excluding the impact of these and all other non-core items in each quarter, described in the Non-GAAP and Pro Forma measures section below, the Company estimates that its effective tax rates for the fourth quarters of 2019 and 2018 would have been approximately 24% and 17%, respectively.  The higher current quarter effective tax rate was primarily driven by adjustments to uncertain tax positions and changes in the mix of earnings between higher and lower tax jurisdictions, as well as a prior year fourth quarter favorable return to provision adjustment.

Equity in net income of associated companies increased $2.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2019 compared to the fourth quarter of 2018, primarily due to additional earnings from Houghton's 50% interest in a joint venture in Korea and higher earnings from the Company's interest in a captive insurance company.  

Foreign exchange had minimal impact on the Company's fourth quarter of 2019 earnings as the negative impact from foreign currency translation of less than 1% due to the slight strengthening of the U.S. dollar in the current quarter was offset by slightly higher current quarter foreign exchange transaction gains.

Full Year 2019 Consolidated Results

Net sales were $1,133.5 million in 2019 compared to $867.5 million in 2018.  The net sales increase of 31% year-over-year includes additional net sales from Houghton and Norman Hay of $319.4 million.  Excluding Houghton and Norman Hay net sales, current year net sales would have declined 6% compared to the prior year, reflecting a decrease in sales volumes of approximately 3% and a negative impact from foreign currency translation of 3%.

Gross profit in 2019 increased $79.8 million compared to 2018 due primarily to Houghton and Norman Hay sales, noted above.  The Company's gross margin in the current year was 34.6% and includes an aggregate $11.7 million of expense associated with selling Houghton and Norman Hay acquired inventory during 2019, which was adjusted to fair value in accordance with purchase accounting.  Excluding these one-time increases to COGS as well as current quarter accelerated depreciation charges, noted above, the Company estimates that its gross margin would have been approximately 35.7% in the current year compared to 36.0% in 2018.  This decrease in gross margin year-over-year was primarily the result of price and product mix largely due to lower gross margins in the legacy Houghton business.

SG&A in 2019 increased $76.0 million compared to 2018 due primarily to additional SG&A from Houghton and Norman Hay, partially offset by lower SG&A due to foreign currency translation, the impact of the sales decline noted above on direct selling costs, lower annual incentive compensation costs and the benefits of realized cost savings associated with the Combination.

During 2019, the Company incurred $35.5 million of Combination and other acquisition-related expenses, primarily for legal, financial, and other advisory and consultant expenses for integration planning and regulatory approvals, fees associated with closing the Combination and initial costs associated with integration activities.  Comparatively, the Company incurred $16.7 million of expenses in the prior year, primarily due to various professional fees related to integration planning and regulatory approval.

As noted above, the Company initiated a restructuring program during the third quarter of 2019 as part of its global plan to realize cost synergies associated with the Combination.  During 2019, the Company recorded restructuring expense of $26.7 million related to this program.

Operating income in 2019 was $46.1 million compared to operating income of $87.8 million in 2018.  Excluding the Combination and other acquisition-related charges, restructuring expenses and other non-core items, the Company's current year non-GAAP operating income increased to $121.9 million compared to $104.4 million in the prior year, primarily due to additional net sales and operating income from Houghton and Norman Hay.

Other expense, net, was $0.3 million in 2019 compared to $0.6 million in 2018, primarily due to higher foreign exchange transaction losses in the prior year, partially offset by a prior year $0.6 million gain on the sale of a held-for-sale asset.

Interest expense, net, increased $12.9 million compared to the prior year primarily due to additional borrowings under the Company's new term loans and revolving credit facility to finance the closing of the Combination on August 1, 2019. 

The Company's effective tax rates for 2019 and 2018 were 7.2% and 30.1%, respectively.  The Company's low current year and relatively inflated prior year effective tax rates are primarily driven by the same drivers described in the fourth quarter discussion above, as well as certain other adjustments recorded in both the full year of 2018 and 2019 as a result of changes to the Company's initial estimates associated with U.S. Tax Reform in December 2017.  Excluding the impact of these and all other non-core items in each year, described in the Non-GAAP and Pro Forma measures section below, the Company estimates that its effective tax rates for both 2019 and 2018 would have been approximately 22%.

Equity in net income of associated companies increased $3.3 million in 2019 compared to 2018, primarily due to additional earnings from Houghton's 50% interest in a joint venture in Korea and higher earnings from the Company's interest in a captive insurance company.  

Foreign exchange negatively impacted the Company's 2019 earnings by approximately 2% or $0.09 per diluted share, as the negative impact from foreign currency translation of  approximately 3% due to the strengthening of the U.S. dollar in the current year was partially offset by higher current year foreign exchange transaction gains.

Balance Sheet and Cash Flow Highlights

The Company had net operating cash flow of $82.4 million in 2019 compared to $78.8 million in 2018.  The $3.6 million or 5% increase in net operating cash flow year-over-year was primarily driven by the inclusion of operating cash flow from Houghton and Norman Hay and an increase in cash flow from working capital, primarily due to changes in net sales and inventory due to lower production levels as well as efforts to improve working capital.

As previously disclosed, the Company paid approximately $797.6 million, net of approximately $75.8 million of cash acquired, to close the Combination in the third quarter of 2019, which included $170.8 million in cash and the Company's refinancing of $702.6 million of Houghton's indebtedness at closing.  The Company also issued an aggregate of approximately 4.3 million shares of its common stock to the selling shareholders of Houghton, comprising approximately 24.5% of the common stock of the Company at closing.  Concurrent with closing of the Combination on August 1, 2019, the Company replaced its previous revolving credit facility with a new syndicated and secured credit facility (the "New Credit Facility") and borrowed $750.0 million in term loans and $180.0 million from the multicurrency revolver available in the New Credit Facility. 

On October 1, 2019, the Company closed its acquisition of Norman Hay, a private U.K. company that provides specialty chemicals, operating equipment and services to various industrial end markets.  The original purchase price was 80.0 million GBP, on a cash-free and debt-free basis, subject to routine and customary post-closing adjustments related to working capital and net indebtedness levels.  The Company expects to finalize its post-closing adjustments in the first half of 2020 and currently estimates it will pay approximately 2.7 million GBP to settle such adjustments.  Cash paid in the fourth quarter of 2019 for Norman Hay was approximately $95.3 million, net of cash acquired.

As of December 31, 2019, the Company had outstanding borrowings under the New Credit Facility of $922.4 million.  The Company's total net indebtedness as of December 31, 2019 was $811.4 million, excluding $14.2 million of financing related fees recorded as a reduction of long-term debt, which represents a total net indebtedness to full year 2019 pro forma adjusted EBITDA ratio of approximately 3.47 to 1 as of December 31, 2019.  The Company currently expects its total net indebtedness to adjusted EBITDA to improve to approximately 3.0 to 1 or better by the end of 2020.

The Company paid $21.8 million of cash dividends to its shareholders during 2019, a 13% increase compared to the prior year, primarily driven by the shares issued at closing of the Combination, noted above, as well as the current year cash dividend per share increase in May 2019. 

Filing Extension Pursuant to Rule 12b-25

The Company will be filing a Notification of Late Filing on Form 12b-25 with respect to its Annual Report on Form 10-K for its fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 (the "Annual Report").  The Company has determined that it is unable to file its Annual Report within the prescribed time period without unreasonable effort or expense.  As mentioned above, the Company completed its combination with Houghton on August 1, 2019.  As a result of the Combination, in which the Company acquired a complex global organization and the significant effort required to account for the Combination, the Company requires additional time to finalize its financial statements, assess its disclosure controls and procedures and evaluate the effectiveness of its internal controls over financial reporting for the year ended December 31, 2019.  The Company's Annual Report will be filed no later than March 17, 2020 in compliance with the extension period.  Given the delay in filing the Company's Annual Report, all fourth quarter and full year 2019 figures presented in this press release are preliminary, unaudited and subject to change pending the finalization of the Company's financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2019 and filing of its Annual Report.  However, the Company believes the numbers presented in this press release will not change materially, if at all, as a result of the additional time needed to finalize its financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2019 and complete its Annual Report.

Non-GAAP and Pro Forma Measures

The information included in this public release includes non-GAAP (unaudited) financial information that includes EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, non-GAAP operating income, non-GAAP net income, non-GAAP earnings per diluted share, and pro forma net sales, net income, EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA.  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 and pro forma information 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 attributable to the Company before depreciation and amortization, interest expense, net, and taxes on income 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 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 - adjusted, and taxes on income before equity in net income of associated companies - 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. 

During the first quarter of 2019, the Company updated its calculation methodology to include the use of interest expense net of interest income in the reconciliation of EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA, compared to its historical use of only interest expense, and also to include the non-service component of the Company's pension and postretirement benefit costs in the reconciliation of adjusted EBITDA, non-GAAP net income attributable to Quaker Chemical Corporation and non-GAAP earnings per diluted share.  Prior year amounts have been recast for comparability purposes and the change in calculation methodology does not produce materially different results.  The Company believes these updated calculations better reflect its underlying operating performance and better aligns the Company's calculations to those commonly used by analysts, investors, and competitors in our industry. 

As it relates to the full year 2020 expected adjusted EBITDA growth and 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, such as Combination and other acquisition-related expenses and restructuring expenses, as well as income taxes.  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 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):

Pro Forma Adjusted Measures and Reconciliations

The Company has provided certain unaudited pro forma financial information in this press release.  The unaudited pro forma financial information is based on the historical consolidated financial statements and results of both Quaker and Houghton, and has been prepared to illustrate the effects of the Combination.  The unaudited pro forma financial information has been presented for informational purposes only and is not necessarily indicative of Quaker Houghton's past results of operations, nor is it indicative of the future operating results of Quaker Houghton and should not be considered a substitute for the financial information presented in accordance with GAAP.  The Company has not provided pro forma financial information as it relates to the acquired operating divisions of Norman Hay plc based on materiality.  The following schedules present the Company's unaudited pro forma financial information for net sales, as well as net income attributable to Quaker Houghton and the applicable reconciliation to EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA on a pro forma non-GAAP basis (dollars in millions unless otherwise noted):

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 on our current expectations about future events.  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 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. Other major risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, significant increases in raw material costs, customer financial stability, worldwide economic and political conditions, the impact of widespread public health crises, including the recent spread of the coronavirus, 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 steel, automobile, aircraft, industrial equipment, and durable goods manufacturers. Other factors could also adversely affect us, including those related to the Combination and other acquisitions and the integration of the combined company as well as other 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 the Company's business could cause its actual results to differ materially from expected and historical results.  All forward-looking statements included in this press release, including expectations about the timing of the completion of the Company's financial statements and audit for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, and the timing, form and content of the Company's Annual Report 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, you should refer to the Risk Factors detailed in Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018, as amended, and in our quarterly and other reports filed from time to time with the SEC.  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 fourth quarter performance is scheduled for March 3, 2020 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 https://investors.quakerhoughton.com.  You can also access the conference call by dialing 877-269-7756. 

About Quaker Houghton

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 4,500 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.

SOURCE Quaker Houghton

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