CONSHOHOCKEN, Pa., July 30, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Quaker Chemical Corporation (NYSE: KWR) today announced net sales of $183.7 million for the second quarter of 2015 compared to $191.3 million for the second quarter of 2014, and earnings per diluted share of $1.13 for the second quarter of 2015 compared to $1.16 for the second quarter of 2014.

Foreign currency translation continued to have a significant impact on the Company's reported and non-GAAP results.  Specifically, net sales for the second quarter of 2015 decreased by 7% due to foreign currency translation while earnings were also negatively impacted by $0.09 per diluted share, or 8%.  Despite these impacts from foreign exchange, the Company's non-GAAP earnings per diluted share increased 4% to $1.15 for the second quarter of 2015 from $1.11 for the second quarter of 2014.  Adjusted EBITDA increased 2% to $26.2 million for the second quarter of 2015 from $25.8 million in the second quarter of 2014, despite the impact from changes in foreign exchange rates on the Company's earnings of 8%, as mentioned above.

Michael F. Barry, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President commented, "We are pleased to have delivered another quarter of consistent earnings and strong cash flow despite a variety of market challenges.  Foreign exchange headwinds continue to have the most significant impact on our earnings while we were also challenged by global steel industry production being down by approximately 2%.  In addition, we are seeing continued weak economic conditions in several regional areas, especially in South America.  Our sales have also seen some impact of price adjustments due to lower raw material costs.  Despite these headwinds, we have been able to increase our non-GAAP earnings through margin expansion, market share gains and our recent acquisitions."

Mr. Barry added, "We continue to pursue our key strategic initiatives and acquisitions.  Today's acquisition of Verkol in Spain, a market leader in specialty grease and lubricants, is our eleventh acquisition in the last five years.  This is a continuation of our strategy to create shareholder value by using our strong cash flow and balance sheet to grow the Company through acquisitions.  Looking forward to the remainder of 2015, while we anticipate a continued strong U.S. Dollar and generally weak market conditions in most countries, we believe market share gains and acquisitions will continue to compensate for these challenges.  Overall, I remain confident in Quaker's future and expect our full year 2015 non-GAAP earnings to increase modestly over 2014, leading to our sixth consecutive year of earnings improvement."

Second Quarter of 2015 Summary

Net sales for the second quarter of 2015 were $183.7 million compared to net sales of $191.3 million for the second quarter of 2014.  Increases of 4% in product volume, including additional sales from acquisitions, were more than offset by a decrease of $14.2 million, or 7%, due to the impacts of foreign currency translation.    

Gross profit for the second quarter of 2015 increased $2.4 million, or 4%, from the second quarter of 2014, driven by increased product volume on higher gross margin of 38.4% for the second quarter of 2015 compared to 35.7% for the second quarter of 2014.  The current quarter's expansion in gross margin was mainly due to the timing of certain raw material cost decreases compared to the prior year quarter.

The increase in selling, general and administrative expenses ("SG&A") for the second quarter of 2015 of $1.9 million from the second quarter of 2014 was due to the net impact of several factors.  Notably, included in SG&A were incremental costs associated with the Company's prior year acquisitions and higher labor-related costs, partially offset by decreases from foreign currency translation.

Interest expense was slightly higher in the second quarter of 2015 compared to the second quarter of 2014.  The Company had higher average borrowings outstanding in the current quarter to fund the Company's recent acquisition activity. 

Interest income was $0.5 million lower in the second quarter of 2015 compared to the second quarter of 2014, primarily due to interest received on several non-income tax-related credits in the second quarter of 2014. 

The Company's effective tax rates for the second quarters of 2015 and 2014 were 27.1% and 30.6%, respectively.  The primary contributor to the decrease in the current quarter's effective tax rate was lower changes to reserves for uncertain tax positions in the second quarter of 2015.

Equity in net income of associated companies ("equity income") decreased $1.1 million in the second quarter of 2015 compared to the second quarter of 2014 primarily due to lower equity income from the Company's interest in a captive insurance company.  The Company's equity income for the second quarter of 2014 also includes a currency conversion charge at the Company's Venezuelan affiliate.

The $0.1 million decrease in net income attributable to noncontrolling interest in the second quarter of 2015 compared to the second quarter of 2014 was primarily due to the Company's June 2014 acquisition of the noncontrolling interest in its Australian affiliate. 

Changes in foreign exchange rates negatively impacted the second quarter of 2015 net income by $1.2 million, or $0.09 per diluted share.

Year-to-Date 2015 Summary

Net sales for the first six months of 2015 were $365.1 million compared to net sales of $373.0 million for the first six months of 2014.  Increases of 6% in product volume, including additional sales from acquisitions, were more than offset by a decrease of $26.3 million, or 7%, due to the impacts of foreign currency translation.   

Gross profit for the first six months of 2015 increased $3.6 million, or 3%, compared to the first six months of 2014 driven by increased product volume on higher gross margin of 37.5% for the first six months of 2015 compared to 35.7% for the first six months of 2014.  The Company's expansion in gross margin was mainly due to the timing of certain raw material cost decreases compared to the prior year period.

The increase in SG&A for the first six months of 2015 of $4.6 million from the first six months of 2014 was due to the net impact of several factors.  Notably, included in SG&A were incremental costs associated with the Company's prior year acquisitions and higher labor-related costs, partially offset by decreases from foreign currency translation and a first quarter of 2014 cost related to an amendment to the Company's pension plan in the United Kingdom ("U.K.").

Other expense was $0.3 million in the first six months of 2015 compared to $0.4 million in the first six months of 2014.  In both periods, the Company's other expense was driven by foreign exchange transactional losses, net of third party license fee income, with lower net foreign exchange transactional losses in the first six months of 2015 compared to the first six months of 2014. 

Interest expense was $0.1 million higher in the first six months of 2015 compared to the first six months of 2014, primarily due to higher average borrowings outstanding in the current period. 

Interest income was $0.7 million lower in the first six months of 2015 compared to the first six months of 2014 due to interest received on several non-income tax-related credits in the first six months of 2014. 

The Company's effective tax rates for the first six months of 2015 and 2014 were 28.8% and 32.5%, respectively.  The primary contributors to the decrease in the current year's effective tax rate were lower changes in reserves related to uncertain tax positions in the first six months of 2015 and certain one-time items that increased the first six months of 2014's effective tax rate.  We currently estimate the full year 2015 effective tax rate will approximate 29%. 

Equity income decreased $3.6 million in the first six months of 2015 compared to the first six months of 2014.  The decrease was primarily due to a current year currency conversion charge recorded at the Company's Venezuelan affiliate.  Due to changes in Venezuela's foreign exchange markets and controls, the Company re-assessed its Venezuelan affiliate's access to U.S. Dollars and its ability to import or trade under the existing exchange markets in the first quarter of 2015, which resulted in the current year charge.  This was partially offset by a similar currency charge related to the conversion of Venezuelan Bolivar Fuerte to the U.S. Dollar recorded during the first six months of 2014.  In addition, there was lower equity income from the Company's interest in a captive insurance company during the first six months of 2015 compared to the first six months of 2014. 

The $0.5 million decrease in net income attributable to noncontrolling interest in the first six months of 2015 compared to the first six months of 2014 was primarily due to the Company's June 2014 acquisition of the noncontrolling interest in its Australian affiliate. 

Changes in foreign exchange rates, excluding the currency conversion impacts of the Venezuelan Bolivar Fuerte, noted above, negatively impacted the first six months of 2015 net income by $2.2 million, or $0.17 per diluted share.

Balance Sheet and Cash Flow Items

The Company's net operating cash flow of $19.2 million for the second quarter of 2015 increased its year-to-date net operating cash flow to $27.3 million compared to $8.3 million for the first six months of 2014.  The increase of $19.0 million in net operating cash flows was driven by higher operating performance and lower cash invested in the Company's working capital during the first six months of 2015 due to continued improvement in working capital management.  Most notably, cash outflows from accounts receivables decreased significantly in the first six months of 2015, primarily due to the timing of sales around quarter end and improvements in timing of cash receipts.  Also, included in the Company's second quarter of 2015 net cash flow were repurchases of 18,854 shares of its common stock for $1.6 million, pursuant to the share repurchase program announced in May, 2015.  Overall, the Company's liquidity remains strong, as its cash position exceeded its debt at June 30, 2015, and the Company's consolidated leverage ratio continued to be less than one times EBITDA. 

Non-GAAP Measures

Included in this public release are non-GAAP (unaudited) financial measures of non-GAAP earnings per diluted share 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 more indicative of future operating performance of the Company, and facilitate a better comparison among fiscal periods, as the non-GAAP financial measures exclude items that are 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 following are reconciliations between the non-GAAP (unaudited) financial measures of non-GAAP earnings per diluted share and adjusted EBITDA to their most directly comparable GAAP (unaudited) financial measures:

Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.  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 the Company's demand is largely derived from the demand for its customers' products, which subjects the Company 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, foreign currency fluctuations, future terrorist attacks and other acts of violence.  Other factors could also adversely affect us.  Therefore, we caution you not to place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements.  This discussion is provided as permitted by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. 

Conference Call

As previously announced, Quaker Chemical's investor conference call to discuss the second quarter of 2015 results is scheduled for July 31, 2015 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 http://www.quakerchem.com.  You can also access the conference call by dialing 877-269-7756. 

About Quaker

Quaker Chemical is a leading global provider of process fluids, chemical specialties, and technical expertise to a wide range of industries, including steel, aluminum, automotive, mining, aerospace, tube and pipe, cans, and others.  For nearly 100 years, Quaker has helped customers around the world achieve production efficiency, improve product quality, and lower costs through a combination of innovative technology, process knowledge, and customized services. Headquartered in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania USA, Quaker serves businesses worldwide with a network of dedicated and experienced professionals whose mission is to make a difference.

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SOURCE Quaker Chemical Corporation

Margaret M. Loebl, Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, loeblm@quakerchem.com, T. 610.832.4160