Table of Contents

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549 
FORM 10-Q
(Mark One)
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2019March 31, 2020
OR
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from                      to                     
Commission File Number: 001-38221
PQ Group Holdings Inc.
Delaware81-3406833
(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)
(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)
300 Lindenwood Drive
Malvern,Pennsylvania19355
(Address of principal executive offices)(Zip Code)

(610)651-4400
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each classTrading symbolName of each exchange on which registered
Common stock, par value $0.01 per sharePQGNew York Stock Exchange
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes      No  
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).    Yes      No  
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer”, “smaller reporting company”, and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filerAccelerated filer
Non-accelerated filerSmaller reporting company
Large accelerated filerAccelerated filer
Non-accelerated filerSmaller reporting company
Emerging growth company
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    Yes     No  
The number of shares of common stock outstanding as of October 31, 2019May 6, 2020 was 136,474,348.
136,591,952.


1

Table of Contents

PQ GROUP HOLDINGS INC.

INDEX—FORM 10-Q
September 30, 2019
March 31, 2020
Page


2

Table of Contents

PART IFINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1.FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED).

ITEM 1.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED).

PQ GROUP HOLDINGS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
(unaudited)
 
Three months ended
September 30,
 Nine months ended
September 30,
Three months ended
March 31,
2019 2018 2019 201820202019
Sales$423,801
 $427,203
 $1,214,697
 $1,228,113
Sales$361,598  $359,221  
Cost of goods sold310,904
 319,703
 905,395
 934,088
Cost of goods sold272,999  278,311  
Gross profit112,897
 107,500
 309,302
 294,025
Gross profit88,599  80,910  
Selling, general and administrative expenses39,528
 42,145
 123,611
 126,240
Selling, general and administrative expenses43,298  40,708  
Other operating expense, net15,795
 16,501
 28,353
 41,688
Other operating expense, net21,942  10,739  
Operating income57,574
 48,854
 157,338
 126,097
Operating income23,359  29,463  
Equity in net (income) from affiliated companies(17,261) (5,605) (31,625) (31,123)Equity in net (income) from affiliated companies(8,350) (2,064) 
Interest expense, net27,697
 28,238
 84,855
 84,622
Interest expense, net24,455  28,618  
Debt extinguishment costs1,767
 864
 1,767
 6,743
Debt extinguishment costs2,513  —  
Other expense, net1,834
 2,451
 1,890
 13,114
Other (income) expense, netOther (income) expense, net2,805  (2,979) 
Income before income taxes and noncontrolling interest43,537
 22,906
 100,451
 52,741
Income before income taxes and noncontrolling interest1,936  5,888  
Provision for income taxes16,718
 8,470
 39,472
 21,590
Provision for income taxes1,427  2,447  
Net income26,819
 14,436
 60,979
 31,151
Net income509  3,441  
Less: Net income attributable to the noncontrolling interest106
 251
 541
 970
Less: Net income attributable to the noncontrolling interest285  290  
Net income attributable to PQ Group Holdings Inc.$26,713
 $14,185
 $60,438
 $30,181
Net income attributable to PQ Group Holdings Inc.$224  $3,151  
       
Net income per share:       Net income per share:
Basic income per share$0.20
 $0.11
 $0.45
 $0.23
Basic income per share$—  $0.02  
Diluted income per share$0.20
 $0.11
 $0.45
 $0.22
Diluted income per share$—  $0.02  
       
Weighted average shares outstanding:       Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic134,511,819
 133,336,352
 134,213,571
 133,237,653
Basic135,240,897  133,946,308  
Diluted135,649,710
 134,576,162
 135,305,370
 134,223,628
Diluted136,086,082  134,894,354  
See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.


3

Table of Contents

PQ GROUP HOLDINGS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(in thousands)
(unaudited)
 
Three months ended
September 30,
 Nine months ended
September 30,
Three months ended
March 31,
2019 2018 2019 201820202019
Net income$26,819
 $14,436
 $60,979
 $31,151
Net income$509  $3,441  
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:       Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
Pension and postretirement benefits(59) (52) (120) 1,305
Pension and postretirement benefits(15) (30) 
Net (loss) gain from hedging activities35
 370
 (2,684) 3,106
Net loss from hedging activitiesNet loss from hedging activities(529) (1,552) 
Foreign currency translation(13,872) 5,186
 (620) (15,636)Foreign currency translation(46,355) 7,167  
Total other comprehensive income (loss)(13,896) 5,504
 (3,424) (11,225)Total other comprehensive income (loss)(46,899) 5,585  
Comprehensive income12,923
 19,940
 57,555
 19,926
Comprehensive income (loss)Comprehensive income (loss)(46,390) 9,026  
Less: Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests(304) 1,218
 586
 1,697
Less: Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests(3,203) 605  
Comprehensive income attributable to PQ Group Holdings Inc.$13,227
 $18,722
 $56,969
 $18,229
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to PQ Group Holdings Inc.Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to PQ Group Holdings Inc.$(43,187) $8,421  
       
See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.


4

Table of Contents

PQ GROUP HOLDINGS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
(unaudited)

September 30,
2019
 December 31,
2018
March 31,
2020
December 31,
2019
ASSETS   ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents$78,510
 $57,854
Cash and cash equivalents$107,667  $72,284  
Accounts receivable, net214,626
 196,770
Accounts receivable, net197,080  179,632  
Inventories, net259,766
 264,748
Inventories, net265,042  280,945  
Prepaid and other current assets39,055
 39,244
Prepaid and other current assets41,294  35,730  
Total current assets591,957
 558,616
Total current assets611,083  568,591  
Investments in affiliated companies477,144
 468,211
Investments in affiliated companies479,249  472,929  
Property, plant and equipment, net1,178,479
 1,208,979
Property, plant and equipment, net1,147,879  1,186,770  
Goodwill1,251,296
 1,254,929
Goodwill1,248,734  1,259,805  
Other intangible assets, net683,296
 728,436
Other intangible assets, net652,315  676,385  
Right-of-use lease assets54,238
 
Right-of-use lease assets53,655  57,295  
Other long-term assets129,069
 108,254
Other long-term assets103,956  99,070  
Total assets$4,365,479
 $4,327,425
Total assets$4,296,871  $4,320,845  
LIABILITIES   LIABILITIES
Notes payable and current maturities of long-term debt$8,210
 $7,237
Notes payable and current maturities of long-term debt$8,489  $7,766  
Accounts payable132,096
 148,365
Accounts payable127,320  144,365  
Operating lease liabilities—current14,095
 
Operating lease liabilities—current15,235  15,183  
Accrued liabilities108,365
 100,009
Accrued liabilities95,310  102,154  
Total current liabilities262,766
 255,611
Total current liabilities246,354  269,468  
Long-term debt, excluding current portion2,006,717
 2,106,720
Long-term debt, excluding current portion1,961,687  1,899,196  
Deferred income taxes214,935
 196,124
Deferred income taxes215,044  218,037  
Operating lease liabilities—noncurrent38,473
 
Operating lease liabilities—noncurrent38,083  40,156  
Other long-term liabilities105,927
 104,825
Other long-term liabilities94,563  108,670  
Total liabilities2,628,818
 2,663,280
Total liabilities2,555,731  2,535,527  
Commitments and contingencies (Note 17)

 

Commitments and contingencies (Note 16)Commitments and contingencies (Note 16)
EQUITY   EQUITY
Common stock ($0.01 par); authorized shares 450,000,000; issued shares 136,469,863 and 135,758,269 on September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively; outstanding shares 136,157,186 and 135,592,045 on September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively1,365
 1,358
Preferred stock ($0.01 par); authorized shares 50,000,000; no shares issued or outstanding on September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018
 
Common stock ($0.01 par); authorized shares 450,000,000; issued shares 137,313,883 and 136,861,382 on March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively; outstanding shares 136,596,198 and 136,464,961 on March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectivelyCommon stock ($0.01 par); authorized shares 450,000,000; issued shares 137,313,883 and 136,861,382 on March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively; outstanding shares 136,596,198 and 136,464,961 on March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively1,373  1,369  
Preferred stock ($0.01 par); authorized shares 50,000,000; 0 shares issued or outstanding on March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019Preferred stock ($0.01 par); authorized shares 50,000,000; 0 shares issued or outstanding on March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019—  —  
Additional paid-in capital1,692,223
 1,674,703
Additional paid-in capital1,702,996  1,696,899  
Retained earnings83,912
 25,523
Retained earnings103,237  103,013  
Treasury stock, at cost; shares 312,677 and 166,224 on September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively(5,155) (2,920)
Treasury stock, at cost; shares 717,685 and 396,421 on March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectivelyTreasury stock, at cost; shares 717,685 and 396,421 on March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively(10,372) (6,483) 
Accumulated other comprehensive loss(40,699) (39,104)Accumulated other comprehensive loss(58,759) (15,348) 
Total PQ Group Holdings Inc. equity1,731,646
 1,659,560
Total PQ Group Holdings Inc. equity1,738,475  1,779,450  
Noncontrolling interest5,015
 4,585
Noncontrolling interest2,665  5,868  
Total equity1,736,661
 1,664,145
Total equity1,741,140  1,785,318  
Total liabilities and equity$4,365,479
 $4,327,425
Total liabilities and equity$4,296,871  $4,320,845  
   
See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

5

Table of Contents

PQ GROUP HOLDINGS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
(in thousands)
(unaudited)
  Common
stock
 Additional
paid-in
capital
 
Retained
earnings
 Treasury
stock, at
cost 
 Accumulated
other
comprehensive
income (loss)
 
Non-
controlling
interest
 Total
Balance, December 31, 2018, as previously reported $1,358
 $1,674,703
 $25,523
 $(2,920) $(39,104) $4,585
 $1,664,145
Cumulative effect adjustment from adoption of new accounting standards 
 
 (2,049) 
 1,874
 
 (175)
Balance, December 31, 2018, as adjusted $1,358
 $1,674,703
 $23,474
 $(2,920) $(37,230) $4,585
 $1,663,970
Net income 
 
 3,151
 
 
 290
 3,441
Other comprehensive income 
 
 
 
 5,270
 315
 5,585
Repurchases of common shares 
 
 
 (1,339) 
 
 (1,339)
Stock compensation expense 
 3,400
 
 
 
 
 3,400
Shares issued under equity incentive plan, net of forfeitures 2
 213
 
 
 
 
 215
Balance, March 31, 2019 $1,360
 $1,678,316
 $26,625
 $(4,259) $(31,960) $5,190
 $1,675,272
Net income 
 
 30,574
 
 
 145
 30,719
Other comprehensive income 
 
 
 
 4,747
 140
 4,887
Distributions to noncontrolling interests 
 
 
 
 
 (156) (156)
Stock compensation expense 
 5,370
 
 
 
 
 5,370
Shares issued under equity incentive plan, net of forfeitures 4
 3,256
 
 
 
 
 3,260
Balance, June 30, 2019 $1,364
 $1,686,942
 $57,199
 $(4,259) $(27,213) $5,319
 $1,719,352
Net income 
 
 26,713
 
 
 106
 26,819
Other comprehensive income (loss) 
 
 
 
 (13,486) (410) (13,896)
Repurchases of common shares 
 
 
 (896) 
 
 (896)
Stock compensation expense 
 4,806
 
 
 
 
 4,806
Shares issued under equity incentive plan, net of forfeitures 1
 475
 
 
 
 
 476
Balance, September 30, 2019 $1,365
 $1,692,223
 $83,912
 $(5,155) $(40,699) $5,015
 $1,736,661
               

Common
stock
Additional
paid-in
capital
Retained
earnings
Treasury
stock, at
cost 
Accumulated
other
comprehensive
income (loss)
Non-
controlling
interest
Total
Balance, December 31, 2019Balance, December 31, 2019$1,369  $1,696,899  $103,013  $(6,483) $(15,348) $5,868  $1,785,318  
Net incomeNet income—  —  224  —  —  285  509  
Other comprehensive incomeOther comprehensive income—  —  —  —  (43,411) (3,488) (46,899) 
Repurchases of common sharesRepurchases of common shares—  —  —  (3,889) —  —  (3,889) 
Stock compensation expenseStock compensation expense—  5,920  —  —  —  —  5,920  
Shares issued under equity incentive plan, net of forfeituresShares issued under equity incentive plan, net of forfeitures 177  —  —  —  —  181  
Balance, March 31, 2020Balance, March 31, 2020$1,373  $1,702,996  $103,237  $(10,372) $(58,759) $2,665  $1,741,140  
              
 Common
stock
 Additional
paid-in
capital
 
Accumulated
deficit
 Treasury
stock, at
cost 
 Accumulated
other
comprehensive
income (loss)
 Non-
controlling
interest 
 Total 
Balance, December 31, 2017 $1,352
 $1,655,114
 $(32,777) $
 $4,311
 $3,919
 $1,631,919
Common
stock
Additional
paid-in
capital
Retained
earnings
Treasury
stock, at
cost 
Accumulated
other
comprehensive
income (loss)
Non-
controlling
interest 
Total 
Balance, December 31, 2018, as previously reportedBalance, December 31, 2018, as previously reported$1,358  $1,674,703  $25,523  $(2,920) $(39,104) $4,585  $1,664,145  
Cumulative effect adjustment from adoption of new accounting standardsCumulative effect adjustment from adoption of new accounting standards—  —  (2,049) —  1,874  —  (175) 
December 31, 2018, as adjustedDecember 31, 2018, as adjusted1,358  1,674,703  23,474  (2,920) (37,230) 4,585  1,663,970  
Net income 
 
 214
 
 
 342
 556
Net income—  —  3,151  —  —  290  3,441  
Other comprehensive income 
 
 
 
 9,532
 1,304
 10,836
Other comprehensive income—  —  —  —  5,270  315  5,585  
Repurchases of common shares 
 
 
 (58) 
 
 (58)Repurchases of common shares—  —  —  (1,339) —  —  (1,339) 
Stock compensation expense 
 3,831
 
 
 
 
 3,831
Balance, March 31, 2018 $1,352
 $1,658,945
 $(32,563) $(58) $13,843
 $5,565
 $1,647,084
Net income 
 
 15,782
 
 
 377
 16,159
Other comprehensive income (loss) 
 
 
 
 (26,021) (1,544) (27,565)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests 
 
 
 
 
 (153) (153)
Stock compensation expense 
 3,796
 
 
 
 
 3,796
Stock compensation expense—  3,400  —  —  —  —  3,400  
Shares issued under equity incentive plan, net of forfeitures 
 7
 
 
 
 
 7
Shares issued under equity incentive plan, net of forfeitures 213  —  —  —  —  215  
Balance, June 30, 2018 $1,352
 $1,662,748
 $(16,781) $(58) $(12,178) $4,245
 $1,639,328
Net income 
 
 14,185
 
 
 251
 14,436
Other comprehensive income 
 
 
 
 4,537
 967
 5,504
Repurchases of common shares 
 
 
 (710) 
 
 (710)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests 
 
 
 
 
 (373) (373)
Stock compensation expense 
 4,252
 
 
 
 
 4,252
Shares issued under equity incentive plan, net of forfeitures 
 36
 
 
 
 
 36
Balance, September 30, 2018 $1,352
 $1,667,036
 $(2,596) $(768) $(7,641) $5,090
 $1,662,473
Balance, March 31, 2019Balance, March 31, 2019$1,360  $1,678,316  $26,625  $(4,259) $(31,960) $5,190  $1,675,272  
              
See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

6

Table of Contents

PQ GROUP HOLDINGS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(in thousands)
(unaudited)
 Nine months ended
September 30,
Three months ended
March 31,
 2019 201820202019
Cash flows from operating activities:    Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income $60,979
 $31,151
Net income$509  $3,441  
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:    Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation 97,088
 99,491
Depreciation33,501  33,154  
Amortization 38,142
 39,807
Amortization12,169  12,740  
Amortization of inventory step-up 
 1,603
Amortization of deferred financing costs and original issue discount 4,352
 4,629
Amortization of deferred financing costs and original issue discount1,271  1,401  
Debt extinguishment costs 1,767
 4,619
Foreign currency exchange loss 5,380
 15,347
Foreign currency exchange (gain) lossForeign currency exchange (gain) loss3,337  (2,689) 
Pension and postretirement healthcare benefit expense 2,731
 347
Pension and postretirement healthcare benefit expense(65) 1,176  
Pension and postretirement healthcare benefit funding (8,917) (6,415)Pension and postretirement healthcare benefit funding(3,150) (3,372) 
Deferred income tax provision 16,822
 1,494
Net (gain) loss on asset disposals (7,697) 11,106
Deferred income tax (benefit) provisionDeferred income tax (benefit) provision(1,519) 1,181  
Net loss on asset disposalsNet loss on asset disposals9,420  820  
Stock compensation 13,576
 11,879
Stock compensation5,920  3,400  
Equity in net (income) from affiliated companies (31,625) (31,123)
Equity in net income from affiliated companiesEquity in net income from affiliated companies(8,350) (2,064) 
Dividends received from affiliated companies 20,072
 35,890
Dividends received from affiliated companies—  5,000  
Net interest income on swaps designated as net investment hedges (8,435) (4,279)Net interest income on swaps designated as net investment hedges(1,771) (3,890) 
Other, net (887) (6,473)Other, net(694) (3,644) 
Working capital changes that provided (used) cash, excluding the effect of acquisitions and dispositions:    Working capital changes that provided (used) cash, excluding the effect of acquisitions and dispositions:
Receivables (22,472) (43,106)Receivables(26,050) 1,121  
Inventories (1,793) 8,778
Inventories(9,736) (19,152) 
Prepaids and other current assets 268
 (1,555)Prepaids and other current assets(742) 2,890  
Accounts payable (4,072) (7,594)Accounts payable(1,329) (3,898) 
Accrued liabilities 6,615
 407
Accrued liabilities(8,190) (777) 
Net cash provided by operating activities 181,894
 166,003
Net cash provided by operating activities4,531  26,838  
Cash flows from investing activities:    Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of property, plant and equipment (91,653) (95,322)Purchases of property, plant and equipment(28,105) (33,627) 
Investment in affiliated companies 
 (5,000)
Business combinations, net of cash acquired 
 (1,006)
Proceeds from sale of product line 28,000
 
Proceeds from sale of assetsProceeds from sale of assets2,375  —  
Proceeds from sale of investmentProceeds from sale of investment1,761  —  
Net interest proceeds on swaps designated as net investment hedges 8,435
 4,279
Net interest proceeds on swaps designated as net investment hedges1,771  3,890  
Other, net 475
 1,142
Other, net—  470  
Net cash used in investing activities (54,743) (95,907)Net cash used in investing activities(22,198) (29,267) 
Cash flows from financing activities:    Cash flows from financing activities:
Draw down of revolving credit facilities 161,630
 139,577
Draw down of revolving credit facilities117,434  32,381  
Repayments of revolving credit facilities (160,342) (163,103)Repayments of revolving credit facilities(52,668) (28,888) 
Issuance of long-term debt 
 1,267,000
Debt issuance costs 
 (6,156)Debt issuance costs(3,023) —  
Repayments of long-term debt (105,821) (1,313,832)Repayments of long-term debt—  (5,000) 
Stock repurchases (2,235) (768)Stock repurchases(3,889) (1,339) 
Distributions to noncontrolling interests (156) (526)
Proceeds from stock options exercised 3,956
 43
Other, net (283) 
Other, net447  294  
Net cash used in financing activities (103,251) (77,765)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activitiesNet cash provided by (used in) financing activities58,301  (2,552) 
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash (3,371) (1,557)Effect of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash(4,263) (660) 
Net change in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash 20,529
 (9,226)Net change in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash36,371  (5,641) 
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period 59,726
 67,243
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period73,917  59,726  
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period $80,255
 $58,017
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period$110,288  $54,085  
    
For supplemental cash flow disclosures, see Note 21.20.
See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

7

Table of Contents

PQ GROUP HOLDINGS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Dollars in thousands, except share and per share amounts)amounts
(unaudited)



1. Background and Basis of Presentation:
Description of Business
PQ Group Holdings Inc. and subsidiaries (the “Company” or “PQ Group Holdings”) is a leading integrated and innovative global provider of specialty catalysts, materials, chemicals and services. The Company supports customers globally through its strategically located network of manufacturing facilities. The Company believes that its products, which are predominantly inorganic, and services contribute to improving the sustainability of the environment.
The Company has four4 uniquely positioned specialty businesses: Refining Services provides sulfuric acid recycling to the North American refining industry; Catalysts serves the packaging and engineered plastics industry and the global refining, petrochemical and emissions control industries;industries through its Zeolyst joint venture; Performance Materials produces transportation reflective safety markings for roads and airports; and Performance Chemicals supplies diverse product end uses, including personal and industrial cleaning products, fuel-efficient tires, surface coatings, and food and beverage products.
Effective March 1, 2019, the Company changed the structure of its internal organization to create the four independent businesses described above in order to promote increased visibility to business unit performance, optimize the Company’s product portfolio and create efficiencies. Previously, the Company had two reportable segments, namely the Environmental Catalysts and Services segment and the Performance Materials and Chemicals segment. Beginning with the quarter ended March 31, 2019, the segment results and disclosures included in the Company’s consolidated financial statements reflect the new segment structure for all periods presented. The changes to the Company’s segment structure affect only the manner in which the results of the Company’s reportable segments were previously reported; there are no changes to the Company’s consolidated balance sheet, statement of income or cash flows for the prior periods. For the purposes of the Company’s goodwill impairment testing, the four new operating segments align with the Company’s reporting units at which level goodwill has been assigned and historically tested for impairment.
Seasonal changes and weather conditions typically affect the Company’s Performance Materials and Refining Services segments. In particular, the Company’s Performance Materials segment generally experiences lower sales and profit in the first and fourth quarters of the year because highway striping projects typically occur during warmer weather months. Additionally, the Company’s Refining Services segment typically experiences similar seasonal fluctuations as a result of higher demand for gasoline products in the summer months. As a result, working capital requirements tend to be higher in the first and second quarters of the year, which can adversely affect the Company’s liquidity and cash flows. Because of this seasonality associated with certain of the Company’s segments, results for any one quarter are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be achieved for any other quarter or for the full year.
Basis of Presentation
The condensed consolidated financial statements included herein are unaudited. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in annual financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”) have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations for interim reporting. In the opinion of management, all adjustments of a normal and recurring nature necessary to state fairly the financial position and results of operations have been included. The results of operations are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year. The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and related notes included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018. Other than2019.
COVID-19
In March 2020, the updateoutbreak of a novel coronavirus (“COVID-19”) was declared a National Public Health Emergency by the United States. COVID-19 continues to our lease accounting policies describedspread throughout the world and has adversely impacted economic activity and contributed to significant declines and volatility in Note 12,financial markets. In response to the Company hasCOVID-19 pandemic, the federal government and various state, local and foreign governments have issued decrees and orders that have closed many businesses and implemented social distancing, travel and other restrictions. The Company’s manufacturing operations, as well as the operations of its key vendors and the majority of its key customers, have continued to follow the accounting policies set forth in thoseoperate with limited interruptions as essential businesses.
The Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements.statements reflect estimates and assumptions made by management that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the condensed consolidated financial statements and reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period presented. The Company considered the impact of COVID-19 on the assumptions and estimates used and determined that there was no material adverse impact on the Company’s results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2020.
2. New Accounting Standards:
Recently Adopted Accounting Standards
In FebruaryJune 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”)FASB issued guidance (with subsequent targeted amendments) that modifiesaffects loans, trade receivables and any other financial assets that have the accounting for leases.contractual right to receive cash. Under the new guidance, a lessee recognizes right-of-use lease assets and lease liabilitiesan entity is required to recognize expected credit losses rather than incurred losses for most leases (including those classified under existing GAAP as operating leases, which based on previous standards are not reflected on the balance sheet), but recognizes expenses in a manner that is generally consistent with existing practices.financial assets. The new guidance also requires companies to provide expanded disclosures regarding leasing arrangements. For public companies, the new guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including2019 and interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company adopted the new guidance must be adopted using a modified retrospective transition method.effective January 1, 2020, with no material impact to the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

8

Table of Contents

PQ GROUP HOLDINGS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Dollars in thousands, except share and per share amounts)amounts
(unaudited)


The Company adopted the new lease guidance effective January 1, 2019 as required using the modified retrospective transition method and applied the provisions of the guidance at the effective date with a cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings without adjusting the comparative periods presented. The new guidance provides practical expedients and allows for certain policy elections with regard to the Company’s lease population. The Company has elected the short term lease accounting policy and will not record right-of-use lease assets or lease liabilities for leases with an initial term of twelve months or less. Additionally, the Company has elected to utilize the portfolio approach to apply incremental borrowing rates to its leases. The Company has elected the package of practical expedients which provides the Company with the ability to bypass reassessment of the following for leases existing at the date of adoption: (1) whether any existing contracts are, or contain, leases; (2) the lease classification for any existing leases; and (3) initial direct costs for any existing leases. The Company also elected the land easement practical expedient to carry forward existing accounting treatment on existing land easements.
Adoption of the new lease guidance resulted in the recognition of right-of-use lease assets of $60,726, which included $57,832 of right-of-use lease assets related to lease commitments and $2,895 related to the reclassification of favorable lease contracts, and lease liabilities of $58,929. The new guidance had no impact on the Company’s operating results or liquidity upon adoption. Disclosures related to the Company’s leases are included in Note 12 to these condensed consolidated financial statements.
In February 2018, the FASB issued guidance which permits entities to make a one-time election to reclassify the residual (“stranded”) income tax effects included in accumulated other comprehensive income (“AOCI”) to beginning retained earnings as a result of tax reform legislation enacted by the U.S. government on December 22, 2017, namely the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (“TCJA”). The standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018 and interim periods within those fiscal years. Prior to the enactment of the tax reform legislation on December 22, 2017, the Company had amounts recorded in AOCI related to its domestic pension, postretirement and supplementary benefit plans and cash flow hedging relationships that were based on pre-enactment tax rates, which were included in AOCI at the adoption date of the new guidance. The Company adopted the new guidance effective January 1, 2019 as required, and elected to reclassify the income tax effects stranded in AOCI related to the change in the U.S. federal corporate income tax rate from the TCJA of $1,874 from AOCI to beginning retained earnings. There were no other income tax effects related to the application of the TCJA that were included in this reclassification. The Company’s accounting policy for releasing income tax effects from AOCI is based on individual units of account.
In June 2018, the FASB issued guidance which conforms the accounting for the issuance of all share-based payments using the same accounting model. Previously, the accounting for share-based payments to non-employees was covered under a different framework than those made to employees. Under the new guidance, awards to both employees and non-employees essentially follow the same model, with small variations related to determining the term assumption when valuing a non-employee award as well as a different expense attribution model for non-employee awards. The new guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018 and interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company adopted the new guidance on January 1, 2019 as required, with no material impact on its consolidated financial statements upon adoption.
Accounting Standards Not Yet Adopted
In August 2018, the FASB issued guidance which modifies the disclosure requirements for employers that sponsor defined benefit pension or other postretirement plans. The guidance eliminates certain disclosure requirements, including the amounts in accumulated other comprehensive income expected to be recognized as components of net periodic benefit cost over the next fiscal year and the effects of a one-percentage point change in assumed health care cost trend rates. The guidance also requires additional disclosure of the reasons for significant gains and losses related to changes in the benefit obligation for the period. The guidance is effective for fiscal years ending after December 15, 2020 with early adoption permitted, and is required to be applied on a retrospective basis to all periods presented. The Company will modify its benefit plan disclosures in accordance with the new guidance upon adoption, and the Company believes that the new guidance will not have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.
In August 2018, the FASB issued guidance which modifies certain disclosure requirements over fair value measurements. The guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, including all interim periods within that fiscal year. The Company believes thatadopted the new guidance willeffective January 1, 2020. The Company does not classify any of its derivative contracts as Level 3 assets or liabilities, nor did the Company have any transfers amongst fair value levels during the quarter ended March 31, 2020. As such, the guidance did not have a materialan impact on itsthe fair value measurement disclosures included in the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

PQ GROUP HOLDINGS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Dollars in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
(unaudited)


In January 2017, the FASB issued guidance which eliminates the second step from the traditional two-step goodwill impairment test. Under current guidance, an entity performed the first step of the goodwill impairment test by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount; if an impairment loss was indicated, the entity computed the implied fair value of goodwill to determine whether an impairment loss existed, and if so, the amount to recognize. Under the new guidance, an impairment loss is recognized for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the reporting unit’s fair value (the Step 1 test), with no further testing required. Any impairment loss recognized is limited to the amount of goodwill allocated to the reporting unit. The new guidance is effective for public companies that are Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) registrants for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, with early adoption permitted for goodwill impairment tests performed on testing dates after January 1, 2017. The Company adopted the new guidance on January 1, 2020, and will apply the guidance prospectively to its goodwill impairment tests upon the required adoption date or earlier as permitted.tests.
Accounting Standards Not Yet Adopted
In June 2016,December 2019, the FASB issued guidance (with subsequent targeted amendments) that affects loans, trade receivables and any other financial assets that have the contractual right to receive cash. Under the new guidance anto simplify the accounting for income taxes by removing certain exceptions to the general principles and also simplification of areas such as franchise taxes, step-up in tax basis goodwill, separate entity is required to recognize expected credit losses rather than incurred losses for financial assets.statements and interim recognition of enactment of tax laws or rate changes. The new guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 20192020 and interim periods within those fiscal years.years, with early adoption permitted. The Company believes thatis currently evaluating the impact of this new guidance will not have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.
9

Table of Contents

PQ GROUP HOLDINGS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Dollars in thousands, except share and per share amounts
(unaudited)

3. Revenue from Contracts with Customers:
Disaggregated Revenue
The Company’s primary means of disaggregating revenues is by reportable segments, which can be found in Note 1817 to these condensed consolidated financial statements.
The Company’s portfolio of products are integrated into a variety of end uses, which are described in the table below.
Key End UsesKey Products
Industrial & process chemicals• Silicate precursors for the tire industry
• Glass beads, or microspheres, for metal finishing end uses
Fuels & emission control• Refinery catalysts
• Emission control catalysts
• Catalyst recycling services
• Silicate for catalyst manufacturing
Packaging & engineered plastics• Catalysts for high-density polyethlene and chemicals syntheses
• Antiblocks for film packaging
• Solid and hollow microspheres for composite plastics
• Sulfur derivatives for nylon production
Highway safety & construction• Reflective markings for roadways and airports
• Silica gels for surface coatings
Consumer products• Silica gels for edible oil and beer clarification
• Precipitated silicas, silicates and zeolites for the dentifrice and
  dishwasher and laundry detergent applications
Natural resources• Silicates for drilling muds
• Hollow glass beads, or microspheres, for oil well cements
• Silicates and alum for water treatment mining
• Bleaching aids for paper

10

Table of Contents

PQ GROUP HOLDINGS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Dollars in thousands, except share and per share amounts)amounts
(unaudited)


The following tables disaggregate the Company’s sales, by segment and end use, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019March 31, 2020 and 2018:2019:
Three months ended March 31, 2020
Refining
Services
CatalystsPerformance MaterialsPerformance ChemicalsTotal
Industrial & process chemicals$19,359  $47  $12,123  $59,833  $91,362  
Fuels & emission control (1)
55,710  —  40  —  55,750  
Packaging & engineered plastics10,734  24,817  17,471  14,275  67,297  
Highway safety & construction (1)
—  —  32,643  20,190  52,833  
Consumer products—  —  —  64,026  64,026  
Natural resources14,887  —  3,292  15,955  34,134  
Total segment sales100,690  24,864  65,569  174,279  365,402  
Eliminations(925) (47) (54) (2,778) (3,804) 
Total$99,765  $24,817  $65,515  $171,501  $361,598  
 Three months ended September 30, 2019
 
Refining
Services
 Catalysts Performance Materials Performance Chemicals Total
Industrial & process chemicals$20,180
 $47
 $12,225
 $54,696
 $87,148
Fuels & emission control (1)
70,048
 
 
 
 70,048
Packaging & engineered plastics12,197
 25,565
 16,886
 12,048
 66,696
Highway safety & construction (1)

 
 82,502
 20,800
 103,302
Consumer products
 
 
 64,849
 64,849
Natural resources15,910
 
 3,521
 15,556
 34,987
Total segment sales118,335
 25,612
 115,134
 167,949
 427,030
Eliminations(813) (47) (18) (2,351) (3,229)
Total$117,522
 $25,565
 $115,116
 $165,598
 $423,801
          
 Nine months ended September 30, 2019
 
Refining
Services
 Catalysts Performance Materials Performance Chemicals Total
Industrial & process chemicals$60,485
 $109
 $38,037
 $175,009
 $273,640
Fuels & emission control (1)
191,243
 
 
 
 191,243
Packaging & engineered plastics38,953
 62,226
 51,863
 41,121
 194,163
Highway safety & construction (1)

 
 195,119
 65,036
 260,155
Consumer products
 
 
 198,798
 198,798
Natural resources50,788
 
 10,076
 46,275
 107,139
Total segment sales341,469
 62,335
 295,095
 526,239
 1,225,138
Eliminations(2,595) (109) (170) (7,567) (10,441)
Total$338,874
 $62,226
 $294,925
 $518,672
 $1,214,697


Three months ended March 31, 2019
Refining
Services
CatalystsPerformance MaterialsPerformance ChemicalsTotal
Industrial & process chemicals$18,402  $276  $13,028  $59,652  $91,358  
Fuels & emission control (1)
57,690  —  —  —  57,690  
Packaging & engineered plastics12,689  15,590  17,382  14,730  60,391  
Highway safety & construction (1)
—  —  27,360  21,938  49,298  
Consumer products—  —  —  68,509  68,509  
Natural resources17,063  —  3,319  15,633  36,015  
Total segment sales105,844  15,866  61,089  180,462  363,261  
Eliminations(887) (276) (48) (2,829) (4,040) 
Total$104,957  $15,590  $61,041  $177,633  $359,221  
PQ GROUP HOLDINGS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Dollars in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
(unaudited)


  Three months ended September 30, 2018
  
Refining
Services
 Catalysts Performance Materials Performance Chemicals Total
Industrial & process chemicals $21,027
 $
 $11,263
 $55,589
 $87,879
Fuels & emission control (1)
 66,095
 
 
 
 66,095
Packaging & engineered plastics 16,636
 16,347
 17,763
 14,086
 64,832
Highway safety & construction (1)
 
 
 82,738
 22,466
 105,204
Consumer products 
 
 
 67,138
 67,138
Natural resources 19,611
 
 3,616
 15,443
 38,670
Total segment sales 123,369
 16,347
 115,380
 174,722
 429,818
Eliminations (833) 
 119
 (1,901) (2,615)
Total $122,536
 $16,347
 $115,499
 $172,821
 $427,203
           
  Nine months ended September 30, 2018
  
Refining
Services
 Catalysts Performance Materials Performance Chemicals Total
Industrial & process chemicals $55,347
 $54
 $38,070
 $186,886
 $280,357
Fuels & emission control (1)
 182,304
 
 
 
 182,304
Packaging & engineered plastics 45,032
 50,113
 57,247
 40,375
 192,767
Highway safety & construction (1)
 
 
 198,165
 64,930
 263,095
Consumer products 
 
 
 209,256
 209,256
Natural resources 53,471
 
 11,178
 46,999
 111,648
Total segment sales 336,154
 50,167
 304,660
 548,446
 1,239,427
Eliminations (2,456) (54) (214) (8,590) (11,314)
Total $333,698
 $50,113
 $304,446
 $539,856
 $1,228,113
(1)  As described in Note 1, the Company experiences seasonal sales fluctuations to customers in the fuels & emission control and highway safety & construction end uses.
As described in Note 1, the Company experiences seasonal sales fluctuations to customers in the fuels & emission control and highway safety & construction end uses.
Contract Assets and Liabilities
A contract asset is a right to consideration in exchange for goods that the Company has transferred to a customer when that right is conditional on something other than the passage of time. A contract liability exists when the Company receives consideration in advance of performance obligations. The Company has not recorded any0 contract assets on its condensed consolidated balance sheets as of September 30, 2019March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2018, and no contract liabilities existed as of December 31, 2018.2019.
The Company recognized a $9,000 contract liability associated with the sale of a portion of its sulfate salts product line in June 2019, of which $7,965$5,175 and $6,450 of deferred revenue remained as of September 30, 2019.March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively. The Company recognized revenue of $1,035$1,269 related to this contract liability during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019. Refer to Note 6 of these condensed consolidated financial statements for additional informationMarch 31, 2020. The Company did 0t recognize revenue related to this contract liability during the sale of the product line.three months ended March 31, 2019.
4. Fair Value Measurements:
Fair values are based on quoted market prices when available. When market prices are not available, fair values are generally estimated using discounted cash flow analyses, incorporating current market inputs for similar financial instruments with comparable terms and credit quality. In instances where there is little or no market activity for the same or similar instruments, the Company estimates fair values using methods, models and assumptions that management believes a hypothetical market participant would use to determine a current transaction price. These valuation techniques involve some level of management estimation and judgment that
11

Table of Contents

PQ GROUP HOLDINGS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Dollars in thousands, except share and per share amounts
(unaudited)

becomes significant with increasingly complex instruments or pricing models. Where appropriate, adjustments are included to reflect the risk inherent in a particular methodology, model or input used.

PQ GROUP HOLDINGS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Dollars in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
(unaudited)


The Company’s financial assets and liabilities carried at fair value have been classified based upon a fair value hierarchy. The hierarchy gives the highest ranking to fair values determined using unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities (Level 1) and the lowest ranking to fair values determined using methodologies and models with unobservable inputs (Level 3). The classification of an asset or a liability is based on the lowest level input that is significant to its measurement. For example, a Level 3 fair value measurement may include inputs that are both observable (Levels 1 and 2) and unobservable (Level 3). The levels of the fair value hierarchy are as follows:
•  Level 1—Values are unadjusted quoted prices for identical assets and liabilities in active markets accessible at the measurement date. Active markets provide pricing data for trades occurring at least weekly and include exchanges and dealer markets.
• Level 2—Inputs include quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets, quoted prices from those willing to trade in markets that are not active, or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by market data for the term of the instrument. Such inputs include market interest rates and volatilities, spreads and yield curves.
• Level 3—Certain inputs are unobservable (supported by little or no market activity) and significant to the fair value measurement. Unobservable inputs reflect the Company’s best estimate of what hypothetical market participants would use to determine a transaction price for the asset or liability at the reporting date.
The following table presents information about the Company’s assets and liabilities that were measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of September 30, 2019March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2018,2019, and indicates the fair value hierarchy of the valuation techniques the Company utilized to determine such fair value.
  September 30,
2019
 Quoted Prices in
Active Markets
(Level 1) 
 
Significant Other
Observable Inputs
(Level 2)
 Significant
Unobservable Inputs
(Level 3)
Assets:        
Derivative contracts (Note 14) $40,125
 $
 $40,125
 $
Restoration plan assets 4,238
 4,238
 
 
Total $44,363
 $4,238
 $40,125
 $
         
Liabilities:        
Derivative contracts (Note 14) $4,130
 $
 $4,130
 $
  December 31,
2018
 Quoted Prices in
Active Markets
(Level 1) 
 
Significant Other
Observable Inputs
(Level 2)
 Significant
Unobservable Inputs
(Level 3)
Assets:        
Derivative contracts (Note 14) $20,768
 $
 $20,768
 $
Restoration plan assets 4,244
 4,244
 
 
Total $25,012
 $4,244
 $20,768
 $
         
Liabilities:        
Derivative contracts (Note 14) $2,026
 $
 $2,026
 $


March 31,
2020
Quoted Prices in
Active Markets
(Level 1) 
Significant Other
Observable Inputs
(Level 2)
Significant
Unobservable Inputs
(Level 3)
Assets:
Derivative contracts (Note 13)$10,604  $—  $10,604  $—  
Restoration plan assets3,435  3,435  —  —  
Total$14,039  $3,435  $10,604  $—  
Liabilities:
Derivative contracts (Note 13)$5,217  $—  $5,217  $—  

December 31,
2019
Quoted Prices in
Active Markets
(Level 1) 
Significant Other
Observable Inputs
(Level 2)
Significant
Unobservable Inputs
(Level 3)
Assets:
Derivative contracts (Note 13)$3,928  $—  $3,928  $—  
Restoration plan assets4,199  4,199  —  —  
Total$8,127  $4,199  $3,928  $—  
Liabilities:
Derivative contracts (Note 13)$12,415  $—  $12,415  $—  

12

Table of Contents

PQ GROUP HOLDINGS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Dollars in thousands, except share and per share amounts)amounts
(unaudited)


Restoration plan assets
The fair values of the Company’s restoration plan assets are determined through quoted prices in active markets. Restoration plan assets are assets held in a Rabbi trust to fund the obligations of the Company’s defined benefit supplementary retirement plans and include various stock and fixed income mutual funds. See Note 1615 to these condensed consolidated financial statements regarding defined supplementary retirement plans. The Company’s restoration plan assets are included in other long-term assets on its condensed consolidated balance sheets. Gains and losses related to these investments are included in other expense, net in the Company’s condensed consolidated statements of income. Unrealized gains and losses associated with the underlying stock and fixed income mutual funds were immaterial as of September 30, 2019March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2018,2019, respectively.
Derivative contracts
Derivative assets and liabilities can be exchange-traded or traded over-the-counter (“OTC”). The Company generally values exchange-traded derivatives using models that calibrate to market transactions and eliminate timing differences between the closing price of the exchange-traded derivatives and their underlying instruments. OTC derivatives are valued using market transactions and other market evidence whenever possible, including market-based inputs to models, model calibration to market transactions, broker or dealer quotations or alternative pricing sources with reasonable levels of price transparency. When models are used, the selection of a particular model to value an OTC derivative depends on the contractual terms of, and specific risks inherent in, the instrument as well as the availability of pricing information in the market. The Company generally uses similar models to value similar instruments. Valuation models require a variety of inputs, including contractual terms, market prices and rates, forward curves, measures of volatility, and correlations of such inputs. For OTC derivatives that trade in liquid markets, such as forward contracts, swaps and options, model inputs can generally be corroborated by observable market data by correlation or other means, and model selection does not involve significant management judgment.
The Company has interest rate caps, natural gas swaps and cross-currency swaps that are fair valued using Level 2 inputs. In addition, the Company applies a credit valuation adjustment to reflect credit risk which is calculated based on credit default swaps. To the extent that the Company’s net exposure under a specific master agreement is an asset, the Company utilizes the counterparty’s default swap rate. If the net exposure under a specific master agreement is a liability, the Company utilizes a default swap rate comparable to PQ Group Holdings. The credit valuation adjustment is added to the discounted fair value to reflect the exit price that a market participant would be willing to receive to assume the Company’s liabilities or that a market participant would be willing to pay for the Company’s assets.

5. Stockholders' Equity:
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
The following tables present the tax effects of each component of other comprehensive income for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019:
Three months ended March 31,
20202019
Pre-tax amountTax benefit/(expense)After-tax amountPre-tax amountTax benefit/(expense)After-tax amount
Defined benefit and other postretirement plans:
Amortization of net gains and (losses)$44  $(8) $36  $(8) $ $(6) 
Amortization of prior service cost(64) 13  (51) (32)  (24) 
Benefit plans, net(20)  (15) (40) 10  (30) 
Net loss from hedging activities(705) 176  (529) (2,070) 518  (1,552) 
Foreign currency translation(1)
(50,057) 3,702  (46,355) 9,282  (2,115) 7,167  
Other comprehensive income (loss)$(50,782) $3,883  $(46,899) $7,172  $(1,587) $5,585  

(1) The income tax benefit or expense included in other comprehensive income is attributed to the portion of foreign currency translation associated with the Company’s cross-currency interest rate swaps, for which the tax effect is based on the applicable U.S. deferred income tax rate. See Note 13 to these condensed consolidated financial statements for information regarding the Company’s cross-currency interest rate swaps.
13

Table of Contents

PQ GROUP HOLDINGS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Dollars in thousands, except share and per share amounts)amounts
(unaudited)


5. Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income:
The following tables presenttable presents the tax effects of each component ofchanges in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax, by component for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019March 31, 2020 and 2018:2019:
Defined benefit
and other
postretirement
plans 
Net gain (loss)
from hedging
activities
Foreign
currency
translation 
Total 
December 31, 2019$3,568  $(1,838) $(17,078) $(15,348) 
Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications(2) (984) (42,867) (43,853) 
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income(1)
(13) 455  —  442  
March 31, 2020$3,553  $(2,367) $(59,945) $(58,759) 
December 31, 2018$(546) $637  $(39,195) $(39,104) 
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications (1,501) 6,852  5,352  
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income(1)
(31) (51) —  (82) 
Net current period other comprehensive income (loss)(30) (1,552) 6,852  5,270  
Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, reclassification from AOCI to retained earnings1,684  190  —  1,874  
March 31, 2019$1,108  $(725) $(32,343) $(31,960) 
  Three months ended September 30,
  2019 2018
  Pre-tax amount Tax benefit/(expense) After-tax amount Pre-tax amount Tax benefit/(expense) After-tax amount
Defined benefit and other postretirement plans:            
Amortization of net gains and (losses) $(10) $4
 $(6) $(50) $13
 $(37)
Amortization of prior service cost (63) 10
 (53) (19) 4
 (15)
Benefit plans, net (73) 14
 (59) (69) 17
 (52)
Net (loss) gain from hedging activities 46
 (11) 35
 494
 (124) 370
Foreign currency translation(1)
 (10,020) (3,852) (13,872) 3,391
 1,795
 5,186
Other comprehensive income (loss) $(10,047) $(3,849) $(13,896) $3,816
 $1,688
 $5,504
             
  Nine months ended September 30,
  2019 2018
  Pre-tax amount Tax benefit/(expense) After-tax amount Pre-tax amount Tax benefit/(expense) After-tax amount
Defined benefit and other postretirement plans:            
Amortization of net gains and (losses) $(26) $8
 $(18) $1,798
 $(449) $1,349
Amortization of prior service cost (128) 26
 (102) (58) 14
 (44)
Benefit plans, net (154) 34
 (120) 1,740
 (435) 1,305
Net (loss) gain from hedging activities (3,579) 895
 (2,684) 4,143
 (1,037) 3,106
Foreign currency translation(1)
 4,731
 (5,351) (620) (16,442) 806
 (15,636)
Other comprehensive income (loss) $998
 $(4,422) $(3,424) $(10,559) $(666) $(11,225)
             

(1)
(1) See the following table for details about these reclassifications. Amounts in parentheses indicate debits.
The income tax benefit or expense included in other comprehensive income is attributed to the portion of foreign currency translation associated with the Company’s cross-currency interest rate swaps, for which the tax effect is based on the applicable U.S. deferred income tax rate. See Note 14 to these condensed consolidated financial statements for information regarding the Company’s cross-currency interest rate swaps.


14

Table of Contents

PQ GROUP HOLDINGS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Dollars in thousands, except share and per share amounts)amounts
(unaudited)


The following table presents the changes inreclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax, by component for the ninethree months ended September 30, 2019March 31, 2020 and 2018:2019:
Details about Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Components
Amounts Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income(1)
Affected Line Item where Income is Presented
Three months ended
March 31,
20202019
Amortization of defined benefit and other postretirement items:
Prior service credit (cost)$52  $33  
Other income (expense)(2)
Actuarial gains (losses)(34)  
Other income (expense)(2)
18  41  Total before tax
(5) (10) Tax expense
$13  $31  Net of tax
Gains and losses on cash flow hedges:
Interest rate caps$(231) $(123) Interest expense
Natural gas swaps(373) 191  Cost of goods sold
(604) 68  Total before tax
149  (17) Tax benefit
$(455) $51  Net of tax
Total reclassifications for the period$(442) $82  Net of tax
  Defined benefit
and other
postretirement
plans 
 
Net gain (loss)
from hedging
activities
 Foreign
currency
translation 
 Total 
December 31, 2018 $(546) $637
 $(39,195) $(39,104)
Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications (27) (3,163) (665) (3,855)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income(1)
 (93) 479
 
 386
Net current period other comprehensive loss (120) (2,684) (665) (3,469)
Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, reclassification from AOCI to retained earnings 1,684
 190
 
 1,874
September 30, 2019 $1,018
 $(1,857) $(39,860) $(40,699)
         
December 31, 2017 $7,412
 $967
 $(4,068) $4,311
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications 1,360
 2,906
 (16,363) (12,097)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income(1)  
 (55) 200
 
 145
Net current period other comprehensive income (loss) 1,305
 3,106
 (16,363) (11,952)
September 30, 2018 $8,717
 $4,073
 $(20,431) $(7,641)
         

(1)
(1) Amounts in parentheses indicate debits to profit/loss.
(2) These accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) components are components of net periodic pension and other postretirement cost (see Note 15 to these condensed consolidated financial statements for additional details).
Stock Repurchase Program
The Company records repurchases of its common stock for treasury at cost. Upon the reissuance of the Company’s common stock from treasury, differences between the proceeds from reissuance and the average cost of the treasury stock are credited or charged to capital in excess of par value to the extent of prior credits related to the reissuance of treasury stock. If no such credits exist, the differences are charged to retained earnings.
On March 12, 2020, the Company announced plans to purchase up to $50,000 of PQ Group Holdings Inc. common stock under a stock repurchase program approved by the Company’s Board of Directors. The Company may repurchase shares from time to time for cash in open market transactions or in privately negotiated transactions in accordance with applicable federal securities laws. The Company will determine the timing and the amount of any repurchases based on its evaluation of market conditions, share price and other factors. The stock repurchase program is valid until March 2022.
From the announcement date of the program through March 31, 2020, the Company repurchased 211,700 shares on the open market at an average price of $9.73 for a total of $2,059. As of March 31, 2020, $47,941 was available for additional share repurchases under the program.
6. Asset Swap Transaction:
On February 19, 2020, the Company entered into a long-term agreement with a leading global thermoplastic producer to supply glass beads, and to meet that supply, exchanged inventory and production equipment related to the Company’s ThermoDrop® product line for inventory, production equipment and two glass bead manufacturing facilities (the “beads business”) of the thermoplastic producer (the “asset swap”) in a non-cash transaction. The acquisition of the beads business qualified for recognition as a business combination, which has been recorded using the acquisition method of accounting. Under the acquisition method, the purchase price is
15

See the following table for details about these reclassifications. Amounts in parentheses indicate debits.

PQ GROUP HOLDINGS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Dollars in thousands, except share and per share amounts)amounts
(unaudited)



allocated to the identifiable net assets acquired based on the fair value as of the acquisition date. The excess of the purchase price over the fair value of the identifiable net assets acquired is recorded to goodwill.
The following table presentsfair value of the reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive incomeassets exchanged related to the Company’s ThermoDrop® product line represents the purchase price consideration for the beads business. Based on the preliminary estimate of the fair value of the assets disposed, the Company recognized a loss on disposal of $9,907 during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018:
Details about Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Components Amounts Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income(1) Affected Line Item where Income is Presented
  Three months ended
September 30,
 Nine months ended
September 30,
  
  2019 2018 2019 2018  
Amortization of defined benefit and other postretirement items:          
Prior service credit (cost) $32
 $40
 $97
 $79
 
Other income (expense)(2)
Actuarial gains (losses) 8
 (2) 26
 (5) 
Other income (expense)(2)
  40
 38
 123
 74
 Total before tax
  (10) (13) (30) (19) Tax expense
  $30
 $25
 $93
 $55
 Net of tax
           
Gains and losses on cash flow hedges:          
Interest rate caps $(157) $(71) $(449) $(164) Interest expense
Natural gas swaps (291) (30) (187) (101) Cost of goods sold
  (448) (101) (636) (265) Total before tax
  111
 24
 157
 65
 Tax benefit
  $(337) $(77) $(479) $(200) Net of tax
           
Total reclassifications for the period $(307) $(52) $(386) $(145) Net of tax
(1)
Amounts in parentheses indicate debits to profit/loss.
(2)
These accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) components are components of net periodic pension and other postretirement cost (see Note 16 to these condensed consolidated financial statements for additional details).
6. Sale of Product Line:
On June 28, 2019, the Company completed the sale of a portion of its sulfate salts product line within its Performance Chemicals segment for $28,000 and recorded a pre-tax gain on sale of $11,362. The transaction was recorded as an asset sale, with the gain on dispositionMarch 31, 2020, which is included in the other operating expense, net line itemin the Company’s condensed consolidated statement of income. The following table sets forth the preliminary estimate of the consideration given and the identifiable net assets acquired with respect to the asset swap:
Provisional Purchase Price Allocation
Total consideration$25,166 
Recognized amounts of identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed:
Inventories$9,912 
Property, plant and equipment9,490 
Right-of-use lease assets378 
Fair value of assets acquired19,780 
Operating lease liabilities, current(203)
Operating lease liabilities, non-current(175)
(378)
Fair value of net assets acquired19,402 
Goodwill5,764 
$25,166 
The valuation of the identifiable net assets acquired is preliminary and subject to change, as the Company is in the process of evaluating the information required to determine both the fair values of the assets disposed as well as the net assets acquired, including those related to inventory and property, plant and equipment. Adjustments to the provisional amounts during the measurement period that result in changes to depreciation or other income effects will be recognized in the reporting period(s) in which the adjustments are determined. Results of the beads business since the date of the asset swap are included in the Company’s condensed consolidated statement of income and are not material for disclosure.
The Company believes that the asset swap will expand its geographic footprint, enabling it to better serve its current and future customers. Combined with anticipated synergies within its existing business, this contributed to a total purchase price that resulted in the recognition of goodwill. All of the goodwill was assigned to the Company’s Performance Materials segment. The goodwill associated with the asset swap is still under evaluation for tax purposes.
7. Goodwill:
The change in the carrying amount of goodwill for the ninethree months ended September 30, 2019 (see Note 8 to these condensed consolidated financial statements for additional details). At the timeMarch 31, 2020 is summarized as follows:
 Refining ServicesCatalystsPerformance MaterialsPerformance ChemicalsTotal
Balance as of December 31, 2019$311,892  $78,611  $275,919  $593,383  $1,259,805  
Goodwill recognized—  —  5,764  —  5,764  
Foreign exchange impact—  (1,438) (1,745) (13,652) (16,835) 
Balance as of March 31, 2020$311,892  $77,173  $279,938  $579,731  $1,248,734  
    

16

Table of disposition, the carrying value of the Company’s net working capital related to this non-core product line was $4,215. In addition to the net working capital sold as part of the transaction, the Company also derecognized $3,423 of property, plant and equipment related to the product line and allocated $9,000 of the consideration received to a liability for deferred revenue.Contents
Concurrent with the product line sale, the Company entered into a tolling arrangement with the buyer in which the Company will use its existing manufacturing facilities for the product line to manufacture the product for the buyer, the majority of which runs until June 2021. The Company deferred $9,000 of the $28,000 consideration received as a liability, to be recognized as the Company executes its performance obligations over the term of the contractual agreement with the buyer. Additionally, the Company concluded that an embedded lease arrangement exists as a result of the combination of the sale and tolling agreements. Given the ability of the buyer to control substantially all of the output of the facilities and the existence of bargain purchase options on the manufacturing assets, the Company determined that the buyer is effectively leasing the assets from the Company and derecognized the associated property, plant and equipment under a sales-type leasing arrangement. The gain on the sale of fixed assets is included as part of the Company’s overall gain on sale related to the transaction, with the Company’s net investment in the leased assets having been settled as part of the consideration received in the transaction with no additional future cash flows to be recognized on the lease.


PQ GROUP HOLDINGS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Dollars in thousands, except share and per share amounts)amounts
(unaudited)


7. Goodwill:
The change in the carrying amount of goodwill for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 is summarized as follows:
  Refining Services Catalysts Performance Materials Performance Chemicals Total
Balance as of December 31, 2018 $311,892
 $77,759
 $274,947
 $590,331
 $1,254,929
Foreign exchange impact 
 (844) 458
 (3,247) (3,633)
Balance as of September 30, 2019 $311,892
 $76,915
 $275,405
 $587,084
 $1,251,296
           

8. Other Operating Expense, Net:
A summary of other operating expense, net is as follows:
Three months ended
March 31,
20202019
Amortization expense$8,637  $8,664  
 Transaction and other related costs1,869  —  
Restructuring and other related costs1,989  —  
 Net loss on asset disposals(1)
9,420  820  
Other, net27  1,255  
$21,942  $10,739  
  Three months ended
September 30,
 Nine months ended
September 30,
  2019 2018 2019 2018
Amortization expense $8,607
 $8,711
 $25,907
 $26,404
Transaction and other related costs 2,930
 215
 3,938
 827
Net (gain) loss on asset disposals(1)
 1,136
 5,202
 (7,697) 11,106
Insurance recoveries(2)
 
 
 
 (1,557)
Environmental related costs 1,174
 39
 2,501
 526
Other, net 1,948
 2,334
 3,704
 4,382
  $15,795
 $16,501
 $28,353
 $41,688
         

(1)
(1) During the three months ended March 31, 2020, the Company recognized a net loss of $9,907 related to the asset swap and a gain of $672 related to the sale of its interest in the Quaker Holdings joint venture. Refer to Note 6 to these condensed consolidated financial statements for details on the asset swap and Note 10 to these condensed consolidated financial statements for details on the sale of the Company’s interest in the Quaker Holdings joint venture.
During the nine months ended September 30, 2019, the Company recognized a gain of $11,362 related to the sale of a product line. Refer to Note 6 of these condensed consolidated financial statements for additional details.
(2)
During the nine months ended September 30, 2018, the Company recognized $2,500 of insurance recoveries in its condensed consolidated statements of income related to the Company’s claim for losses sustained during Hurricane Harvey in August 2017. For the nine months ended September 30, 2018, $1,557 was recorded as a gain in other operating expense, net, as reimbursement of expenses, $207 was recorded as a gain in net loss on asset disposals within other operating expense, net, for the Company’s previously recognized property losses, and $736 represented recoveries in excess of the Company’s property losses which was recorded as a non-operating gain in other expense, net, in the Company’s condensed consolidated statements of income.
9. Inventories, Net:
Inventories, net, are classified and valued as follows:
March 31,
2020
December 31,
2019
Finished products and work in process$217,426  $222,940  
Raw materials47,616  58,005  
$265,042  $280,945  
Valued at lower of cost or market:
LIFO basis$156,269  $168,935  
Valued at lower of cost and net realizable value:
FIFO or average cost basis108,773  112,010  
$265,042  $280,945  
  September 30,
2019
 December 31,
2018
Finished products and work in process $206,419
 $206,188
Raw materials 53,347
 58,560
  $259,766
 $264,748
     
Valued at lower of cost or market:    
LIFO basis $155,089
 $160,863
Valued at lower of cost and net realizable value:    
FIFO or average cost basis 104,677
 103,885
  $259,766
 $264,748
     


PQ GROUP HOLDINGS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Dollars in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
(unaudited)


10. Investments in Affiliated Companies:
The Company accounts for investments in affiliated companies under the equity method. Affiliated companies accounted for on the equity basis as of September 30, 2019March 31, 2020 are as follows:
CompanyCountryPercent
Ownership
PQ Silicates Ltd.Taiwan50%
Zeolyst InternationalUSA50%
Zeolyst C.V.Netherlands50%
CompanyCountryPercent
Ownership
PQ Silicates Ltd.Taiwan50%
Zeolyst InternationalUSA50%
Zeolyst C.V.Netherlands50%
Quaker HoldingsSouth Africa49%
Asociacion para el Estudio de las Tecnologias de Equipamiento de Carreteras, S.A. (“Aetec”)Spain20%
17

Table of Contents

PQ GROUP HOLDINGS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Dollars in thousands, except share and per share amounts
(unaudited)


Following is summarized information of the combined investments(1)
Three months ended
March 31,
20202019
Sales$71,207  $68,094  
Gross profit31,139  19,414  
Operating income21,009  9,207  
Net income20,035  9,240  
  Three months ended
September 30,
 Nine months ended
September 30,
  2019 2018 2019 2018
Sales $121,471
 $74,088
 $279,503
 $271,562
Gross profit 48,416
 24,495
 102,966
 100,686
Operating income 37,958
 14,594
 74,217
 72,257
Net income 37,852
 14,545
 75,002
 72,204

(1)
(1) Summarized information of the combined investments is presented at 100%; the Company’s share of the net assets and net income of affiliates is calculated based on the percent ownership specified in the table above.
In March 2020, the Company sold its 49% interest in the Quaker Holdings joint venture to a third party. Prior to the Company’s disposition of its shares in the joint venture, the Company received a liquidating dividend of $729 as well as $1,032 for the sale of the joint venture shares, which were included in proceeds from sale of investment within the investing activities section of the Company’s consolidated statement of cash flows.
Summarized information of the combined investments is presented at 100%; the Company’s share of the net assets and net income of affiliates is calculated based on the percent ownership specified in the table above.
The Company’s investments in affiliated companies balance as of September 30, 2019March 31, 2020 and December 31, 20182019 includes net purchase accounting fair value adjustments of $252,190$248,874 and $258,066,$250,532, respectively, related to the series of transactions consummated on May 4, 2016 to reorganize and combine the businesses of PQ Holdings Inc. and Eco Services Operations LLC, consisting primarily of goodwill and intangible assets such as customer relationships, technical know-how and trade names. Consolidated equity in net income from affiliates is net of $1,658 and $5,875$2,558 of amortization expense related to purchase accounting fair value adjustments for the three and nine months ended September 30,March 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. Consolidated equity in net income from affiliates is net of $1,658 and $4,975 of amortization expense related to purchase accounting fair value adjustments for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, respectively.
11. Property, Plant and Equipment:
A summary of property, plant and equipment, at cost, and related accumulated depreciation is as follows:
  September 30,
2019
 December 31,
2018
Land $189,234
 $190,772
Buildings 219,380
 212,284
Machinery and equipment 1,162,273
 1,125,117
Construction in progress 111,984
 102,185
  1,682,871
 1,630,358
Less: accumulated depreciation (504,392) (421,379)
  $1,178,479
 $1,208,979
     

March 31,
2020
December 31,
2019
Land$176,502  $183,117  
Buildings220,898  221,449  
Machinery and equipment1,226,748  1,236,531  
Construction in progress76,375  82,687  
1,700,523  1,723,784  
Less: accumulated depreciation(552,644) (537,014) 
$1,147,879  $1,186,770  
Depreciation expense was $31,554$33,501 and $30,626$33,154 for the three months ended September 30,March 31, 2020 and 2019, and 2018, respectively. Depreciation expense was $97,088 and $99,491 for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

18

Table of Contents

PQ GROUP HOLDINGS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Dollars in thousands, except share and per share amounts)amounts
(unaudited)


12. Leases:
The Company has operating and finance lease agreements with remaining lease terms as of September 30, 2019 of up to 30 years, including leases of land, buildings, railcars, vehicles, manufacturing equipment and general office equipment. Some leases include options to terminate or extend for one or more years. These options are incorporated in the Company’s lease term when it is reasonably certain that the option will be exercised. Some leases include options to purchase, which the Company assesses under the guidance to determine if these leases should be classified as finance lease agreements.
When the Company enters into an arrangement, at inception, the Company determines if the arrangement contains a lease and whether that lease meets the classification criteria of a finance or operating lease. Some of the Company’s lease arrangements contain lease components (e.g. minimum rent payments) and non-lease components (e.g. maintenance). The Company accounts for the lease and non-lease components based on the estimated standalone price of each component. Certain of the Company’s lease agreements include rental payments that are adjusted periodically for an index or rate and these are initially measured using the index or rate in effect at the commencement date. Variable lease expense is recognized in the period in which the obligation for those payments is incurred. The Company’s lease agreements do not contain any material residual value guarantees or material restrictive covenants.
The Company recognizes a right-of-use lease asset and lease liability at the lease commencement date based on the present value of the remaining lease payments over the lease term using the Company’s incremental borrowing rate. The Company is required to use the rate of interest that it would have to pay to borrow on a collateralized basis over a similar term an amount equal to the lease payments in a similar economic environment. When the Company is unable to readily determine the discount rate implicit in the lease agreement, the Company utilizes its incremental borrowing rate over the relevant lease term. Short-term leases, which have an initial term of twelve months or less, are not recorded on the Company’s balance sheet.
Lease expense for operating leases is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term. Operating lease costs of $4,858 and $14,217 are included in cost of goods sold and in selling, general and administrative expenses on the condensed consolidated statements of income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019, respectively.
Lease expense for financing leases is bifurcated into two components, with the amortization expense component of the right-of-use asset recognized on a straight-line basis and the interest expense component recognized using the effective interest method over the lease term. The amortization expense component of the right-of-use lease asset is included in cost of goods sold and in selling, general and administrative expenses and the interest expense component is included in interest expense, net on the condensed consolidated statements of income. Finance lease, short-term lease and variable lease costs for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 were not material. Lease income is not material to the results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019.
The table below presents the operating and finance right-of-use lease assets and lease liabilities recognized on the condensed consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2019:
  Classification September 30,
2019
Assets    
Operating lease assets Right-of-use lease assets $54,238
Finance lease assets Property, plant and equipment, net 1,582
Total leased assets   $55,820
     
Liabilities    
Current:    
Operating lease liabilities Operating lease liabilities—current $14,095
Finance lease liabilities Accrued liabilities 176
     
Noncurrent:    
Operating lease liabilities Operating lease liabilities—noncurrent 38,473
Finance lease liabilities Other long-term liabilities 364
Total lease liabilities   $53,108
     


PQ GROUP HOLDINGS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Dollars in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
(unaudited)


The Company’s weighted average remaining lease term and weighted average discount rate for operating leases as of September 30, 2019 are as follows:
September 30,
2019
Weighted average remaining lease term (in years):
Operating leases5.86
Finance leases2.90
Weighted average discount rate:
Operating leases5.74%
Finance leases4.67%

Maturities of lease liabilities as of September 30, 2019 are as follows:
  
Operating
Leases
 
Finance
Leases
Remainder of 2019 $16,522
 $47
2020 13,198
 201
2021 9,816
 201
2022 7,256
 123
2023 4,767
 3
Thereafter 11,395
 
Total lease payments 62,954
 575
Less: Interest (10,386) (35)
Total lease liabilities (1)
 $52,568
 $540
     

(1)
Refer to the above table regarding the Company’s right-of-use lease assets and lease liabilities for the presentation of the lease liabilities in the Company’s condensed consolidated balance sheet at September 30, 2019.
At December 31, 2018, future minimum payments under non-cancelable operating leases under previous lease guidance was as follows:
Year Amount
2019 $18,457
2020 14,344
2021 11,432
2022 8,354
2023 6,198
Thereafter 17,477
  $76,262
   



PQ GROUP HOLDINGS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Dollars in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
(unaudited)


The following table presents other information related to our operating and finance leases and the impact on the Company’s condensed consolidated statement of cash flows:
  Nine months ended
September 30, 2019
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities:  
Payments on operating leases included in operating cash flows $12,158
Interest payments under finance lease obligations included in operating cash flows 29
Principal payments under finance lease obligations included in financing cash flows 169
   
Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for new lease liabilities (non-cash):  
Operating leases 5,148
Finance leases 
   

13.12. Long-term Debt:
The summary of long-term debt is as follows:
  September 30,
2019
 December 31, 2018
Term Loan Facility $1,057,497
 $1,157,498
6.75% Senior Secured Notes due 2022 625,000
 625,000
5.75% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2025 295,000
 300,000
ABL Facility 
 
Other 65,778
 65,925
Total debt 2,043,275
 2,148,423
Original issue discount (15,331) (18,584)
Deferred financing costs (13,017) (15,882)
Total debt, net of original issue discount and deferred financing costs 2,014,927
 2,113,957
Less: current portion (8,210) (7,237)
Total long-term debt, excluding current portion $2,006,717
 $2,106,720
     

March 31,
2020
December 31,
2019
Term Loan Facility$947,497  $947,497  
6.75% Senior Secured Notes due 2022625,000  625,000  
5.75% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2025295,000  295,000  
ABL Facility63,989  —  
Other65,283  64,629  
Total debt1,996,769  1,932,126  
Original issue discount(15,010) (13,434) 
Deferred financing costs(11,583) (11,730) 
Total debt, net of original issue discount and deferred financing costs1,970,176  1,906,962  
Less: current portion(8,489) (7,766) 
Total long-term debt, excluding current portion$1,961,687  $1,899,196  
The fair value of a financial instrument is defined as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants. As of September 30, 2019March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2018,2019, the fair value of the term loan facility and senior secured and unsecured notes was $2,009,555$1,778,748 and $2,010,023,$1,905,822, respectively. The fair value is classified as Level 2 based upon the fair value hierarchy (see Note 4 to these condensed consolidated financial statements for further information on fair value measurements).
Term Loan Facility
During the quarter ended September 30, 2019,March 31, 2020, the Company prepaid $100,000amended its Term Loan Facility to, among other things, (a) reduce the interest rate applicable to all LIBOR rate tranche B-1 term loans to LIBOR plus 2.25% per annum, (b) reduce the interest rate applicable to all base rate tranche B-1 term loans to the alternate base rate plus 1.25% per annum and (c) extend the maturity date of outstanding principal balance onall tranche B-1 term loans to February 7, 2027.
As a result of amending the Term Loan Facility. TheFacility during the three months ended March 31, 2020, the Company wrote off $502recorded $2,188 of previouslynew creditor and third-party financing costs as debt extinguishment costs. In addition, previous unamortized deferred financing costs of $97 and original issue discount of $1,181$228 associated with the previously outstanding debt were written off as debt extinguishment costs relatedcosts.
Asset-Based Revolving Credit Facility (the “ABL Facility”)
On March 20, 2020, the Company amended its existing ABL Facility to increase the aggregate amount of the revolving loan commitments available by $50,000 to $250,000, consisting of up to $195,000 in U.S. commitments, up to $15,000 in Canadian commitments and up to $40,000 in European commitments. The maturity of the facility has been extended to March 20, 2025. Following the amendment, the borrowings under the amended ABL Facility bear interest at a rate equal to the Term Loan Facility forLIBOR rate or the three months ended September 30, 2019.base rate plus a margin of between 1.25% to 1.75% or 0.25% to 0.75% respectively.
14.13. Financial Instruments:
The Company uses (1) interest rate related derivative instruments to manage its exposure to changes in interest rates on its variable-rate debt instruments, (2) commodity derivatives to manage its exposure to commodity price fluctuations, and (3) foreign currency related derivative instruments to manage its foreign currency exposure to its net investments in certain foreign operations. The Company does not speculate using derivative instruments.
By using derivative financial instruments to hedge exposures to changes in interest rates, commodity prices and foreign currency, the Company exposes itself to credit risk and market risk. Credit risk is the failure of the counterparty to perform under the terms of the

PQ GROUP HOLDINGS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Dollars in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
(unaudited)


derivative contract. When the fair value of a derivative contract is an asset, the counterparty owes the Company, which creates credit risk for the Company. When the fair value of a derivative contract is a liability, the Company owes the counterparty and therefore, the Company is not exposed to the counterparty’s credit risk in those circumstances. The Company minimizes counterparty
19

Table of Contents

PQ GROUP HOLDINGS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Dollars in thousands, except share and per share amounts
(unaudited)

credit risk in derivative instruments by entering into transactions with high quality counterparties. The derivative instruments entered into by the Company do not contain credit-risk-related contingent features.
Market risk is the adverse effect on the value of a derivative instrument that results from a change in interest rates, currency exchange rates or commodity prices. The market risk associated with the Company’s derivative instruments is managed by establishing and monitoring parameters that limit the types and degree of market risk that may be undertaken.
Use of Derivative Financial Instruments to Manage Commodity Price Risk. The Company is exposed to risks in energy costs due to fluctuations in energy prices, particularly natural gas. The Company has a hedging program in the United States which allows the Company to mitigate exposure to natural gas volatility with natural gas swap agreements. Fair value is determined based on estimated amounts that would be received or paid to terminate the contracts at the reporting date based on quoted market prices of comparable contracts. The respective current and non-current liabilities are recorded in accrued liabilities and other long-term liabilities and the respective current and non-current assets are recorded in prepaid and other current assets and other long-term assets, as applicable, in the Company’s consolidated balance sheet. As the derivatives are designated and qualify as cash flow hedges, the gains or losses on the natural gas swaps are recorded in stockholders’ equity as a component of other comprehensive income (loss) (“OCI”), net of tax. Reclassifications of the gains and losses on natural gas hedges into earnings are recorded in production costs and subsequently charged to cost of goods sold in the condensed consolidated statements of income in the period in which the associated inventory is sold. As of September 30, 2019,March 31, 2020, the Company’s natural gas swaps had a remaining notional quantity of 3.33.1 million MMBTU to mitigate commodity price volatility through December 2021.
Use of Derivative Financial Instruments to Manage Interest Rate Risk. The Company is exposed to fluctuations in interest rates on its senior secured credit facilities. Changes in interest rates will not affect the market value of such debt but will affect the Company’s interest payments over the term of the loans. Likewise, an increase in interest rates could have a material impact on the Company’s cash flow. The Company hedges the interest rate fluctuations on debt obligations through interest rate cap agreements. The Company records these agreements at fair value as assets or liabilities in its consolidated balance sheet. As the derivatives are designated and qualify as cash flow hedges, the gains or losses on the interest rate cap agreements are recorded in stockholders’ equity as a component of OCI, net of tax. Reclassifications of the gains and losses on the interest rate cap agreements into earnings are recorded as part of interest expense in the condensed consolidated statements of income as the Company makes its interest payments on the hedged portion of its senior secured credit facilities. Fair value is determined based on estimated amounts that would be received or paid to terminate the contracts at the reporting date based on quoted market prices.
In July 2016, the Company entered into interest rate cap agreements, paying a premium of $1,551 to mitigate interest rate volatility from July 2016 through July 2020 by employing varying cap rates, ranging from 1.50% to 3.00%, on $1,000,000 of notional variable-rate debt. The cap rate currently in effect at September 30, 2019 is 3.00%.
In November 2018, the Company entered into additional interest rate cap agreements to mitigate interest rate volatility from July 2020 through July 2022, with a cap rate of 3.50% on $500,000 of notional variable-rate debt.debt and a $3,380 premium annuitized during the effective period. In February 2020, the Company restructured its $500,000 of notional variable-rate debt interest rate cap agreements from July 2020 through July 2022, to lower the interest cap rate to 2.50% with an incremental $130 premium annuitized during the effective period. In March 2020, the Company again amended such interest rate cap agreements to lower the cap rate to 0.84% from 2.50% on $500,000 of notional variable-rate debt and paid an additional incremental $900 premium annuitized during the effective period. The term remains unchanged from July 2020 through July 2022. The total cumulative annuitized premium on the $500,000 of notional variable-rate debt is $4,410. The cap rate in effect at March 31, 2020 is 3.00%.
Use of Derivative Financial Instruments to Manage Foreign Currency Risk. The Company is exposed to risks related to its net investments in foreign operations due to fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates, particularly between the United States dollar and the Euro. In February 2018, the Company entered into multiple cross-currency interest rate swap arrangements with an aggregate notional amount of €280,000 ($306,345309,291 as of September 30, 2019)March 31, 2020) to hedge this exposure on the net investments of certain of its Euro-denominated subsidiaries. The Company records these swap agreements at fair value as assets or liabilities in its consolidated balance sheet. As the derivatives are designated and qualify as net investment hedges, changes in the fair value of the swaps attributable to changes in the spot exchange rates are recognized in cumulative translation adjustment (“CTA”) within OCI and are held there until the hedged net investments are sold or substantially liquidated. Upon such sale or liquidation, the amount recognized in CTA is reclassified to earnings and reported in the same line item as the gain or loss on the liquidation of the net investments. Changes in the fair value of the swaps attributable to the cross-currency basis spread are excluded from the assessment of hedge effectiveness and are recorded in current period earnings.

20

Table of Contents

PQ GROUP HOLDINGS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Dollars in thousands, except share and per share amounts)amounts
(unaudited)


The fair values of derivative instruments held as of September 30, 2019March 31, 2020 and December 31, 20182019 are shown below:
Balance sheet locationMarch 31,
2020
December 31,
2019
Derivative assets:
Derivatives designed as net investment hedges:
Cross-currency interest rate swapsPrepaid and other current assets5,234  3,928  
Cross-currency interest rate swapsOther long-term assets5,370  —  
Total derivative assets$10,604  $3,928  
Derivative liabilities:
Derivatives designated as cash flow hedges:
Natural gas swapsAccrued liabilities$995  $813  
Interest rate capsAccrued liabilities1,073  420  
Natural gas swapsOther long-term liabilities386  226  
Interest rate capsOther long-term liabilities2,763  2,822  
5,217  4,281  
Derivatives designated as net investment hedges:
Cross-currency swapsOther long-term liabilities—  8,134  
Total derivative liabilities$5,217  $12,415  
 Balance sheet location September 30, 2019 December 31, 2018
Derivative assets:     
Derivatives designated as cash flow hedges:     
Natural gas swapsPrepaid and other current assets $
 $21
Interest rate capsPrepaid and other current assets 
 1,358
Interest rate capsOther long-term assets 
 546
   
 1,925
Derivatives designed as net investment hedges:     
Cross-currency interest rate swapsPrepaid and other current assets 7,517
 5,499
Cross-currency interest rate swapsOther long-term assets 32,608
 13,344
   40,125
 18,843
Total derivative assets  $40,125
 $20,768
      
Derivative liabilities:     
Derivatives designated as cash flow hedges:     
Natural gas swapsAccrued liabilities $626
 $36
Natural gas swapsOther long-term liabilities 302
 148
Interest rate capsOther long-term liabilities 3,202
 1,842
Total derivative liabilities  $4,130
 $2,026
      

The following tables showtable shows the effect of the Company’s derivative instruments designated as cash flow hedges on AOCI for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019March 31, 2020 and 2018:2019:
Three months ended March 31,
20202019
Location of gain (loss) reclassified from AOCI into incomeAmount of gain (loss) recognized in OCI on derivativesAmount of gain (loss) reclassified from AOCI into incomeAmount of gain (loss) recognized in OCI on derivativesAmount of gain (loss) reclassified from AOCI into income
Interest rate capsInterest (expense) income$(595) $(231) $(2,373) $(123) 
Natural gas swapsCost of goods sold(715) (373) 371  191  
$(1,310) $(604) $(2,002) $68  
    Three months ended September 30,
    2019 2018
  Location of gain (loss) reclassified from AOCI into income Amount of gain (loss) recognized in OCI on derivatives Amount of gain (loss) reclassified from AOCI into income Amount of gain (loss) recognized in OCI on derivatives Amount of gain (loss) reclassified from AOCI into income
Interest rate caps Interest (expense) income $(216) $(157) $(93) $(71)
Natural gas swaps Cost of goods sold (185) (291) (300) (30)
    $(401) $(448) $(393) $(101)
           
           
    Nine months ended September 30,
    2019 2018
  Location of gain (loss) reclassified from AOCI into income Amount of gain (loss) recognized in OCI on derivatives Amount of gain (loss) reclassified from AOCI into income Amount of gain (loss) recognized in OCI on derivatives Amount of gain (loss) reclassified from AOCI into income
Interest rate caps Interest (expense) income $(3,264) $(449) $(3,396) $(164)
Natural gas swaps Cost of goods sold (951) (187) (482) (101)
    $(4,215) $(636) $(3,878) $(265)
           


21

Table of Contents


PQ GROUP HOLDINGS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Dollars in thousands, except share and per share amounts)amounts
(unaudited)


The following tables showtable shows the effect of the Company’s cash flow hedge accounting on the condensed consolidated statements of income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019March 31, 2020 and 2018:2019:
  Location and amount of gain (loss) recognized in income on cash flow hedging relationships
  Three months ended September 30,
  2019 2018
  Cost of goods sold Interest (expense) income Cost of goods sold Interest (expense) income
Total amounts of income and expense line items presented in the statement of income in which the effects of cash flow hedges are recorded $(310,904) $(27,697) $(319,703) $(28,238)
         
The effects of cash flow hedging:        
Gain (loss) on cash flow hedging relationships:        
Interest contracts:        
Amount of gain (loss) reclassified from AOCI into income 
 (157) 
 (71)
Commodity contracts:        
Amount of gain (loss) reclassified from AOCI into income (291) 
 (30) 
         
  Location and amount of gain (loss) recognized in income on cash flow hedging relationships
  Nine months ended September 30,
  2019 2018
  Cost of goods sold Interest (expense) income Cost of goods sold Interest (expense) income
Total amounts of income and expense line items presented in the statement of income in which the effects of cash flow hedges are recorded (905,395) (84,855) (934,088) (84,622)
         
The effects of cash flow hedging:        
Gain (loss) on cash flow hedging relationships:        
Interest contracts:        
Amount of gain (loss) reclassified from AOCI into income 
 (449) 
 (164)
Commodity contracts:        
Amount of gain (loss) reclassified from AOCI into income (187) 
 (101) 

Location and amount of gain (loss) recognized in income on cash flow hedging relationships
Three months ended March 31,
20202019
Cost of goods soldInterest (expense) incomeCost of goods soldInterest (expense) income
Total amounts of income and expense line items presented in the statement of income in which the effects of cash flow hedges are recorded(272,999) (24,455) (278,311) (28,618) 
The effects of cash flow hedging:
Gain (loss) on cash flow hedging relationships:
Interest contracts:
Amount of gain (loss) reclassified from AOCI into income—  (231) —  (123) 
Commodity contracts:
Amount of gain (loss) reclassified from AOCI into income(373) —  191  —  
The amount of unrealized losses in AOCI related to the Company’s cash flow hedges that is expected to be reclassified to the condensed consolidated statement of income over the next twelve months is $1,431$597 as of September 30,March 31, 2020.
The following table shows the effect of the Company’s net investment hedges on AOCI and the condensed consolidated statements of income for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019:
Amount of gain (loss) recognized in OCI on derivativeLocation of gain (loss) reclassified from AOCI into incomeAmount of gain (loss) reclassified from AOCI into incomeLocation of gain (loss) recognized in income on derivative (amount excluded from effectiveness testing)Amount of gain (loss) recognized in income on derivative (amount excluded from effectiveness testing)
Three months ended
March 31,
Three months ended
March 31,
Three months ended
March 31,
202020192020201920202019
Cross-currency interest rate swaps$14,809  $8,553  Gain (loss) on sale of subsidiary$—  $—  Interest (expense) income$1,692  $1,446  

14. Income Taxes:
The effective income tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2020 was 73.7% compared to 41.6% for the three months ended March 31, 2019. The Company’s effective income tax rate has fluctuated primarily due to income shifts in jurisdictions with rates differing from statutory rates (including the effect of loss companies), the impacts of the Global Intangible Low Taxed Income (“GILTI”) tax rules and changes in foreign exchange gains and losses, which create permanent differences in certain jurisdictions.

The difference between the U.S. federal statutory income tax rate and the Company’s effective income tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2020 was mainly due to the tax effect of permanent differences related to foreign currency exchange gain or loss, the impacts of GILTI, the discrete tax impacts of the Company entering into an asset swap agreement, pre-tax losses with no associated tax benefit and state taxes.
The difference between the U.S. federal statutory income tax rate and the Company’s effective income tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2019 was mainly due to the tax effect of permanent differences related to foreign currency exchange gain or loss, inclusion of foreign earnings in the U.S. as a result of recently enacted tax law, pre-tax losses with no associated tax benefit, prior year tax refunds not previously accrued for and state taxes.
22

Table of Contents

PQ GROUP HOLDINGS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Dollars in thousands, except share and per share amounts)amounts
(unaudited)


The following tables show the effect of the Company’s net investment hedges on AOCI and the condensed consolidated statements of income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018:
 Amount of gain (loss) recognized in OCI on derivative Location of gain (loss) reclassified from AOCI into income Amount of gain (loss) reclassified from AOCI into income Location of gain (loss) recognized in income on derivative (amount excluded from effectiveness testing) Amount of gain (loss) recognized in income on derivative (amount excluded from effectiveness testing)
 Three months ended September 30,  Three months ended September 30,  Three months ended September 30,
 20192018  20192018  20192018
Cross-currency interest rate swaps$15,342
$1,138
 Gain (loss) on sale of subsidiary $
$
 Interest (expense) income $2,395
$2,271
             
 Amount of gain (loss) recognized in OCI on derivative Location of gain (loss) reclassified from AOCI into income Amount of gain (loss) reclassified from AOCI into income Location of gain (loss) recognized in income on derivative (amount excluded from effectiveness testing) Amount of gain (loss) recognized in income on derivative (amount excluded from effectiveness testing)
 Nine months ended
September 30,
  Nine months ended
September 30,
  Nine months ended
September 30,
 20192018  20192018  20192018
Cross-currency interest rate swaps$21,282
$8,799
 Gain (loss) on sale of subsidiary $
$
 Interest (expense) income $6,888
$5,662

15. Income Taxes:
The effective income tax rate for the three months ended September 30, 2019 was 38.4% comparedWith respect to 37.0% for the three months ended September 30, 2018. The effective income tax rate for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 was 39.3% compared to 40.9% for the nine months ended September 30, 2018. The Company’s effective income tax rate has fluctuated primarily because of changes in income mix (including the effect of loss companies), the impact of including foreign earnings in U.S. taxable income and changes in foreign exchange gains and losses, which create permanent differences in certain jurisdictions.
The difference between the U.S. federal statutory income tax rate and the Company’s effective income tax rate for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 was mainly due to the tax effect of permanent differences related to foreign currency exchange gain or loss, inclusion of foreign earnings in U.S. taxable income, pre-tax losses with no associated tax benefit, the discrete tax effects of the Company’s sale of a non-core product line and state taxes.
The difference between the U.S. federal statutory income tax rate and the Company’s effective income tax rate for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 was mainly due to the tax effect of permanent differences related to foreign currency exchange gain or loss, inclusion of foreign earnings in the U.S. as a result of recently enacted tax law, pre-tax losses with no associated tax benefit, discrete impacts of opening balance sheet adjustments related to the Sovitec acquisition and state taxes.
The TCJA enacted certain provisions that became effective on January 1, 2018. These provisions include, but are not limited to, the new Global Intangible Low-Taxed Income (“GILTI”) tax rules. Due to the complexity of the new GILTI, tax, the Company is continuing to evaluate the GILTI provision of the TCJA and its impact on the financial statements, which remains uncertain. Perper guidance issued by the FASB, the Company is permitted to make an accounting policy election to either (1) treat the taxes incurred as a result of the GILTI provisionprovisions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (“TCJA”) as a current-period expense when incurred or (2) factor such amounts into its measurement of deferred taxes. The Company has elected to treat any tax expense incurred as a result of GILTI as a current-period expense. Additionally, in regards to GILTI’s impact in assessing the ability to realize deferred tax assets, the Company has made a policy election to use the tax law ordering approach.
With respect to operating results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019,March 31, 2020, the Company has continued to incorporate an estimate of the GILTI income inclusion when estimating annualannual effective tax rate used for GAAP purposes. The Company expects this amount to be included in its 20192020 U.S. taxable income. However, the estimated 20192020 GILTI income inclusion may change materially as the Company continues to evaluate future legislative or administrative guidance that is put forth, any updates to assumptions and figures used for the current estimate, or as a result of future changes to the Company’s current structure and business.

PQ GROUP HOLDINGS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Dollars in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
(unaudited)


16.15. Benefit Plans:
The following information is provided for (1) the Company-sponsored defined benefit pension plans covering employees in the U.S. and certain employees at its foreign subsidiaries, (2) the Company-sponsored unfunded plans to provide certain health care benefits to retired employees in the U.S. and Canada, and (3) the Company’s defined benefit supplementary retirement plans which provide benefits for certain U.S. employees in excess of qualified plan limitations.
Components of net periodic expense (benefit) are as follows:
Defined Benefit Pension Plans
U.S. Foreign 
Three months ended
March 31,
Three months ended
March 31,
2020201920202019
Service cost$192  $219  $997  $806  
Interest cost2,152  2,507  707  833  
Expected return on plan assets(3,331) (2,757) (810) (603) 
Amortization of net loss—  —  41  —  
Amortization of prior service cost—  —   —  
Net periodic expense (benefit)$(987) $(31) $941  $1,036  
  
U.S. 
 Foreign
  Three months ended
September 30,
 Three months ended
September 30,
  2019 2018 2019 2018
Service cost $251
 $243
 $780
 $933
Interest cost 2,653
 2,395
 801
 (601)
Expected return on plan assets (2,912) (3,165) (782) 453
Amortization of net loss 
 
 1
 13
Amortization of prior service cost 
 
 6
 
Net periodic expense (benefit) $(8) $(527) $806
 $798
         
  U.S.  Foreign 
  Nine months ended
September 30,
 Nine months ended
September 30,
  2019 2018 2019 2018
Service cost $751
 $776
 $2,464
 $2,665
Interest cost 7,958
 7,137
 2,458
 2,512
Expected return on plan assets (8,733) (9,515) (2,375) (2,494)
Amortization of net loss 
 
 1
 38
Amortization of prior service cost 
 
 18
 
Curtailment gain recognized 
 (576) 
 
Net periodic expense (benefit) $(24) $(2,178) $2,566
 $2,721
         
23

Table of Contents

Supplemental Retirement Plans
  Three months ended
September 30,
 Nine months ended
September 30,
  2019 2018 2019 2018
Interest cost $121
 $110
 $364
 $330
Net periodic expense $121
 $110
 $364
 $330
         
Other Postretirement Benefit Plans
  Three months ended
September 30,
 Nine months ended
September 30,
  2019 2018 2019 2018
Service cost $3
 $3
 $10
 $12
Interest cost 38
 43
 114
 108
Amortization of prior service credit (32) (40) (97) (79)
Amortization of net gain (9) (11) (27) (33)
Net periodic expense (benefit) $
 $(5) $
 $8
         


PQ GROUP HOLDINGS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Dollars in thousands, except share and per share amounts)amounts
(unaudited)


17.Supplemental Retirement Plans
Three months ended
March 31,
20202019
Interest cost$86  $121  
Net periodic expense$86  $121  

Other Postretirement Benefit Plans
Three months ended
March 31,
20202019
Service cost$—  $ 
Interest cost24  38  
Amortization of prior service credit(58) (33) 
Amortization of net gain(7) (8) 
Net periodic expense (benefit)$(41) $—  

16. Commitments and Contingent Liabilities:
There is a risk of environmental impact in chemical manufacturing operations. The Company’s environmental policies and practices are designed to comply with existing laws and regulations and to minimize the possibility of significant environmental impact. The Company is also subject to various other lawsuits and claims with respect to matters such as governmental regulations, labor and other actions arising out of the normal course of business. While management believes that the liabilities resulting from such lawsuits and claims are not probable or reasonably estimable, certain accruals have been reflected in the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements. When these matters are ultimately concluded and determined, the Company believes that there will be no material adverse effect on its consolidated financial position, results of operations or liquidity.

24

Table of Contents

PQ GROUP HOLDINGS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Dollars in thousands, except share and per share amounts)amounts
(unaudited)


18.17. Reportable Segments:
Summarized financial information for the Company’s reportable segments is shown in the following table:
Three months ended
March 31,
20202019
Sales:
Refining Services$100,690  $105,844  
Catalysts(1)
24,864  15,866  
Performance Materials65,569  61,089  
Performance Chemicals174,279  180,462  
Eliminations(2)
(3,804) (4,040) 
Total$361,598  $359,221  
 Segment Adjusted EBITDA:(3)
Refining Services$37,183  $39,731  
Catalysts(4)
22,667  18,127  
Performance Materials13,507  10,515  
Performance Chemicals40,474  42,673  
 Total Segment Adjusted EBITDA(5)
$113,831  $111,046  
  Three months ended
September 30,
 Nine months ended
September 30,
  2019 2018 2019 2018
Sales:        
Refining Services $118,335
 $123,369
 $341,469
 $336,154
Catalysts(1)
 25,612
 16,347
 62,335
 50,167
Performance Materials 115,134
 115,380
 295,095
 304,660
Performance Chemicals 167,949
 174,722
 526,239
 548,446
Eliminations(2)   
 (3,229) (2,615) (10,441) (11,314)
Total $423,801
 $427,203
 $1,214,697
 $1,228,113
         
Segment Adjusted EBITDA:(3)
        
Refining Services $51,166
 $49,559
 $133,721
 $126,368
Catalysts(4)
 31,638
 15,751
 79,372
 62,227
Performance Materials 25,769
 21,255
 65,505
 61,880
Performance Chemicals 36,804
 41,832
 120,642
 131,748
Total Segment Adjusted EBITDA(5)   
 $145,377
 $128,397
 $399,240
 $382,223
         

(1)Excludes the Company’s proportionate share of sales from the Zeolyst International and Zeolyst C.V. joint ventures (collectively, the “Zeolyst Joint Venture”) accounted for using the equity method (see Note 10 to these condensed consolidated financial statements for further information). The proportionate share of sales is $32,291 and $29,478 for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.
(2)  The Company eliminates intersegment sales when reconciling to the Company’s condensed consolidated statements of income.
(3) The Company defines Adjusted EBITDA as EBITDA adjusted for certain items as noted in the reconciliation below. Management evaluates the performance of its segments and allocates resources based on several factors, of which the primary measure is Adjusted EBITDA. Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered as an alternative to net income as an indicator of the Company’s operating performance. Adjusted EBITDA as defined by the Company may not be comparable with EBITDA or Adjusted EBITDA as defined by other companies.
(4)  
Excludes the Company’s proportionate share of sales from the Zeolyst International and Zeolyst C.V. joint ventures (collectively, the “Zeolyst Joint Venture”) accounted for using the equity method (see Note 10 to these condensed consolidated financial statements for further information). The proportionate share of sales is $54,414 and $32,297 for the three months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively. The proportionate share of sales is $123,016 and $120,159 for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
(2)
The Company eliminates intersegment sales when reconciling to the Company’s condensed consolidated statements of income.
(3)
The Company defines Adjusted EBITDA as EBITDA adjusted for certain items as noted in the reconciliation below. Management evaluates the performance of its segments and allocates resources based on several factors, of which the primary measure is Adjusted EBITDA. Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered as an alternative to net income as an indicator of the Company’s operating performance. Adjusted EBITDA as defined by the Company may not be comparable with EBITDA or Adjusted EBITDA as defined by other companies.
(4)
The Adjusted EBITDA from the Zeolyst Joint Venture included in the Catalysts segment is $22,628 for the three months ended September 30, 2019, which includes $17,248 of equity in net income plus $1,658 of amortization of investment in affiliate step-up and $3,722 of joint venture depreciation, amortization and interest. The Adjusted EBITDA from the Zeolyst Joint Venture included in the Catalysts segment is $10,513 for the three months ended September 30, 2018, which includes $5,563 of equity in net income plus $1,658 of amortization of investment in affiliate step-up and $3,292 of joint venture depreciation, amortization and interest.
The Adjusted EBITDA from the Zeolyst Joint Venture included in the Catalysts segment is $48,621$13,725 for the ninethree months ended September 30, 2019,March 31, 2020, which includes $31,548$8,317 of equity in net income plus $5,875$1,658 of amortization of investment in affiliate step-up and $11,198$3,750 of joint venture depreciation, amortization and interest. The Adjusted EBITDA from the Zeolyst Joint Venture included in the Catalysts segment is $45,194$8,357 for the ninethree months ended September 30, 2018,March 31, 2019, which includes $31,005$2,036 of equity in net income plus $4,975$2,558 of amortization of investment in affiliate step-up and $9,214$3,763 of joint venture depreciation, amortization and interest.
(5)  Total Segment Adjusted EBITDA differs from the Company’s consolidated Adjusted EBITDA due to unallocated corporate expenses.
25

Total Segment Adjusted EBITDA differs from the Company’s consolidated Adjusted EBITDA due to unallocated corporate expenses.

PQ GROUP HOLDINGS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Dollars in thousands, except share and per share amounts)amounts
(unaudited)


A reconciliation of net income attributable to PQ Group Holdings to Segment Adjusted EBITDA is as follows:
Three months ended
March 31,
20202019
Reconciliation of net income attributable to PQ Group Holdings Inc. to Segment Adjusted EBITDA
Net income attributable to PQ Group Holdings Inc.$224  $3,151  
Provision for income taxes1,427  2,447  
Interest expense, net24,455  28,618  
Depreciation and amortization45,670  45,894  
Segment EBITDA71,776  80,110  
Joint venture depreciation, amortization and interest3,750  3,763  
Amortization of investment in affiliate step-up1,658  2,558  
Debt extinguishment costs2,513  —  
Net loss on asset disposals9,420  820  
Foreign currency exchange (gain) loss3,337  (2,689) 
LIFO expense(329) 10,158  
Transaction and other related costs2,062  80  
Equity-based compensation5,920  3,400  
Restructuring, integration and business optimization expenses2,030  732  
Defined benefit pension plan (benefit) cost(249) 993  
Other1,256  1,116  
Adjusted EBITDA103,144  101,041  
Unallocated corporate expenses10,687  10,005  
Segment Adjusted EBITDA$113,831  $111,046  
  Three months ended
September 30,
 Nine months ended
September 30,
  2019 2018 2019 2018
Reconciliation of net income attributable to PQ Group Holdings Inc. to Segment Adjusted EBITDA        
Net income attributable to PQ Group Holdings Inc. $26,713
 $14,185
 $60,438
 $30,181
Provision for income taxes 16,718
 8,470
 39,472
 21,590
Interest expense, net 27,697
 28,238
 84,855
 84,622
Depreciation and amortization 44,246
 43,827
 135,230
 139,298
Segment EBITDA 115,374
 94,720
 319,995
 275,691
Unallocated corporate expenses 7,693
 10,276
 28,062
 27,322
Joint venture depreciation, amortization and interest 3,722
 3,292
 11,198
 9,214
Amortization of investment in affiliate step-up 1,658
 1,658
 5,875
 4,975
Amortization of inventory step-up 
 
 
 1,603
Debt extinguishment costs 1,767
 864
 1,767
 6,743
Net (gain) loss on asset disposals 1,136
 5,202
 (7,697) 11,106
Foreign currency exchange loss 4,457
 3,527
 5,380
 15,347
LIFO expense 534
 856
 10,814
 5,903
Transaction and other related costs 670
 210
 1,725
 895
Equity-based compensation 4,806
 4,252
 13,576
 11,879
Restructuring, integration and business optimization expenses 717
 2,178
 1,436
 5,662
Defined benefit pension plan cost 834
 112
 2,379
 260
Other 2,009
 1,250
 4,730
 5,623
Segment Adjusted EBITDA $145,377
 $128,397
 $399,240
 $382,223
         

19.18. Stock-Based Compensation:
The Company is authorized to issue shares for common stock awards to employees, directors and affiliates of the Company in connection with the PQ Group Holdings Inc. 2017 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “2017 Plan”). During the ninethree months ended September 30, 2019,March 31, 2020, the Company granted 1,245,6281,144,072 restricted stock units and 550,676456,311 performance stock units at target(at target) under the 2017 Plan as part of its equity incentive compensation program. Each restricted stock unit provides the recipient with the right to receive a share of common stock subject to graded vesting terms based on service, which for the awards granted during the ninethree months ended September 30, 2019,March 31, 2020, requires approximately one year of service for members of the Company’s board of directors and approximately three years of service for employees.
The performance stock units granted during the ninethree months ended September 30, 2019March 31, 2020 provide the recipients with the right to receive shares of common stock dependent 50% on the achievement of twoa Company-specific financial performance targetstarget and 50% on a total shareholder return (“TSR”) goal, as well as generally subject to the provision of service through the vesting date.date of the award. The Company-specific financial performance target and the TSR goal are measured independently of each other, but achievement of both of the metrics is measured based on the same three-year performance period from January 1, 2020 through December 31, 2022. The TSR goal is based on the Company’s relative TSR performance against the companies included in the Russell 2000 Index over the performance period. Achievement of the metricsCompany-specific financial performance target is measured based on the average levels of achievement across the three-year period from January 1, 2019 through December 31, 2021.performance period. Depending on the Company’s performance against the pre-determinedpredetermined thresholds for achievement, each performance stock unit award holderrecipient is eligible to earn a percentage of the target number of shares granted to the holder,recipient, ranging from 0 to 200%. The performance stock units, to the extent earned, will vest on the date the Company’s compensation and governance committee certifies the achievement of the performance metrics for the three-yearthree-year period ending December 31, 2021,2022, which will occur no later than March 1, 2022.2023.

26

Table of Contents

PQ GROUP HOLDINGS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Dollars in thousands, except share and per share amounts)amounts
(unaudited)


The value of the restricted stock units granted during the ninethree months ended September 30, 2019March 31, 2020 was based on the average of the high and low trading prices of the Company’s common stock on the NYSE on the preceding trading day, in accordance with the Company’s policy for valuing such awards. Compensation expense related to the restricted stock units is recognized on a straight-line basis over the respective vesting period.
The value of the portion of the performance stock units granted during the ninethree months ended September 30, 2019March 31, 2020 eligible to be earned based on the achievement of the Company-specific financial performance target (50% of the award) was measured on the same basis as that of the restricted stock units, and based on the target number of shares granted; because the performance vesting conditions affect the ability of the recipients to vest in the awards, they are not factored into the fair value measure of the award. Compensation expense related to thesuch performance stock units is recognized ratably over the requisite service period, and the Company must assess the probability that the performance conditions will be met each reporting period, and the level at which they are estimated to be attained. Should the probability assessment change during a given reporting period, the total compensation cost (both recognized and unrecognized) will be adjusted to reflect the revised assessment.
The TSR goal, which determines how much of the other 50% of the performance stock units granted during the three months ended March 31, 2020 may be earned, is considered a market condition as opposed to a vesting condition. Because a market condition is not considered a vesting condition, it is reflected in the grant date fair value of an award and the associated compensation cost based on the fair value of the award is recognized over the performance period, regardless of whether the Company actually achieves the market condition or the level of achievement, as long as service is provided by the recipient. The Company used a Monte Carlo simulation to estimate the fair value of the portion of the awards subject to the TSR goal. The following table provides the assumptions used to determine the grant date fair value of the market condition-dependent / TSR goal-based portion of the Company’s performance stock units granted during the three months ended March 31, 2020 using a Monte Carlo simulation:
Expected dividend yield— %
Risk-free interest rate1.56 %
Expected volatility28.57 %
Expected term (in years)2.95
Grant date fair value$24.11 
The following table summarizes the activity for the Company’s restricted stock units and performance stock units for the ninethree months ended September 30, 2019:March 31, 2020:
  Restricted Stock Units Performance Stock Units
  Number of
Units
 Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value (per share) Number of
Units
 Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value (per share)
Nonvested as of December 31, 2018 998,786
 $16.83
 
 $
Granted 1,245,628
 $15.42
 550,676
 $15.41
Vested (148,551) $15.90
 
 $
Forfeited (20,837) $16.00
 
 $
Nonvested as of September 30, 2019 2,075,026
 $16.06
 550,676
 $15.41
         

Restricted Stock UnitsPerformance Stock Units
Number of
Units
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value (per share)Number of
Units
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value (per share)
Nonvested as of December 31, 20191,628,436  $15.83  550,676  $15.41  
Granted1,144,072  $16.65  456,311  $20.38  
Vested(431,755) $15.42  —  $—  
Forfeited(77,848) $16.27  (31,069) $15.41  
Nonvested as of March 31, 20202,262,905  $16.31  975,918  $17.74  
Total stock-based compensation expense for all of the Company’s equity incentive awards was $4,806$5,920 and $4,252$3,400 for the three months ended September 30,March 31, 2020 and 2019, and 2018, respectively, and $13,576 and $11,879 for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively. The income tax benefit recognized in the condensed consolidated statements of incomeincome was $1,187$1,468 and $1,051 for$840 for the three months ended September 30,March 31, 2020 and 2019, and 2018, respectively, and $3,353 and $2,935 for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively. With the new grants of restricted stock units and performance stock units during the ninethree months ended September 30, 2019,March 31, 2020, unrecognized compensation cost at September 30, 2019March 31, 2020 related to nonvested awards was $22,434$31,661 and $6,906$13,709 for restricted stock units and performance stock units, respectively. The weighted-average period over which these costs are expected to be recognized at September 30, 2019March 31, 2020 is 1.722.04 years for the restricted stock units and 2.412.4 years for the performance stock units. Activity related to the Company’s stock options and restricted stock awards was not material for the three months ended March 31, 2020.
At September 30, 2019, 3,841,617March 31, 2020, 2,599,935 shares of common stock were available for issuance under the 2017 Plan, after giving effect to the new grants as well as other minor activity during the ninethree months ended SeptemberMarch 31, 2020. On April 30, 2019. Activity related to2020, the Company’s stock optionsstockholders approved an amendment and restricted stock awards was not material forrestatement of the nine months ended September 30, 2019.2017 Plan to increase the number of shares available under it by an additional 9,000,000 shares and include more limited share recycling provisions, resulting in fewer shares recycled in the future.
27

Table of Contents
20.
PQ GROUP HOLDINGS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Dollars in thousands, except share and per share amounts
(unaudited)

19. Earnings per Share:
Basic earnings per share is calculated as income (loss) available to common stockholders, divided by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. The weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period for the computation of basic earnings per share excludes restricted stock awards that have legally been issued but are nonvested during the period, as the sale of these shares is prohibited pending satisfaction of certain vesting conditions by the award recipients in order to earn the rights to the shares.
Diluted earnings per share is calculated as income (loss) available to common stockholders, divided by the weighted average number of common and potential common shares outstanding during the period, if dilutive. Potential common shares reflect (1) unvested restricted stock awards and restricted stock units with service vesting conditions, (2) performance stock units with vesting conditions considered probable of achievement and (3) options to purchase common stock, all of which have been included in the diluted earnings per share calculation using the treasury stock method.

The reconciliation from basic to diluted weighted average shares outstanding is as follows:
Three months ended
March 31,
20202019
Weighted average shares outstanding – Basic135,240,897  133,946,308  
Dilutive effect of unvested common shares and restricted stock units with service conditions, performance stock units considered probable of vesting and assumed stock option exercises and conversions845,185  948,046  
Weighted average shares outstanding – Diluted136,086,082  134,894,354  

Basic and diluted earnings per share are calculated as follows:
Three months ended
March 31,
20202019
Numerator:
Net income attributable to PQ Group Holdings Inc.$224  $3,151  
Denominator:
Weighted average shares outstanding – Basic135,240,897  133,946,308  
Weighted average shares outstanding – Diluted136,086,082  134,894,354  
Net income per share:
Basic income per share$—  $0.02  
Diluted income per share$—  $0.02  
28

Table of Contents

PQ GROUP HOLDINGS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Dollars in thousands, except share and per share amounts)amounts
(unaudited)


The reconciliation from basic to diluted weighted average shares outstanding is as follows:
  Three months ended
September 30,
 Nine months ended
September 30,
  2019 2018 2019 2018
Weighted average shares outstanding – Basic 134,511,819
 133,336,352
 134,213,571
 133,237,653
Dilutive effect of unvested common shares and restricted stock units with service conditions, performance stock units considered probable of vesting and assumed stock option exercises and conversions 1,137,891
 1,239,810
 1,091,799
 985,975
Weighted average shares outstanding – Diluted 135,649,710
 134,576,162
 135,305,370
 134,223,628
         

Basic and diluted earnings per share are calculated as follows:
  Three months ended
September 30,
 Nine months ended
September 30,
  2019 2018 2019 2018
Numerator:        
Net income attributable to PQ Group Holdings Inc. $26,713
 $14,185
 $60,438
 $30,181
         
Denominator:        
Weighted average shares outstanding – Basic 134,511,819
 133,336,352
 134,213,571
 133,237,653
Weighted average shares outstanding – Diluted 135,649,710
 134,576,162
 135,305,370
 134,223,628
Net income per share:        
Basic income per share $0.20
 $0.11
 $0.45
 $0.23
Diluted income per share $0.20
 $0.11
 $0.45
 $0.22
         

The table below presents the details of the Company’s weighted average equity-based awards outstanding during each respective period that were excluded from the calculation of diluted earnings per share:
  Three months ended
September 30,
 Nine months ended
September 30,
  2019
2018 2019
2018
Restricted stock awards with performance only targets not yet achieved 1,537,572
 1,709,463
 1,601,474
 1,719,775
Stock options with performance only targets not yet achieved 578,564
 586,253
 583,204
 586,253
Anti-dilutive restricted stock awards, restricted stock units and performance stock units 
 
 
 18,076
Anti-dilutive stock options 863,063
 760,766
 863,063
 668,596
         

Three months ended
March 31,
20202019
Restricted stock awards with performance only targets not yet achieved1,526,613  1,639,514  
Stock options with performance only targets not yet achieved516,000  586,253  
Anti-dilutive restricted stock awards, restricted stock units and performance stock units1,264,324  —  
Anti-dilutive stock options850,807  863,063  
Restricted stock awards and stock options with performance only vesting conditions were not included in the dilution calculation, as the performance targets have not been achieved nor were probable of achievement as of the end of the respective periods. On a weighted average basis, options to purchase 609,491 and 621,747 shares of common stock at $16.97 per share for the three and nine months ended September 30,March 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively, and 2018, options to purchase 241,316 shares of common stock at $17.50 per share for the three and nine months ended September 30,March 31, 2020 and 2019, and 139,019 and 46,849 shares of common stock at $17.50 per share for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, respectively, were excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share for the respective periods, because the combination of the options’ exercise price and remaining unamortized stock-based compensation expense was greater than the average market price of the common shares. The 621,747609,491 stock options expire on October 2, 2027, while the 241,316 stock options expire on August 9, 2028. All of the options were outstanding as of September 30, 2019.March 31, 2020. Anti-dilutive awards are not included in the dilution calculation, as their inclusion would have the effect of increasing diluted income per share.
29

Table of Contents


PQ GROUP HOLDINGS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Dollars in thousands, except share and per share amounts)amounts
(unaudited)


21.20. Supplemental Cash Flow Information:
The following table presents supplemental cash flow information for the Company:
Three months ended
March 31,
20202019
Cash paid during the period for:
Income taxes, net of refunds$10,346  $4,387  
Interest(1)
19,973  23,740  
Non-cash investing activity(2):
Capital expenditures acquired on account but unpaid as of the period end11,660  15,391  
Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for new lease liabilities (non-cash)(2):
Operating leases1,850  508  
  Nine months ended
September 30,
  2019 2018
Cash paid during the period for:    
Income taxes, net of refunds $13,261
 $16,121
Interest(1)
 82,349
 83,612
Non-cash investing activity(2):
    
Capital expenditures acquired on account but unpaid as of the period end 13,265
 10,624
     

(1)
(1) Cash paid for interest is shown net of capitalized interest for the periods presented and excludes $1,771 and $3,890 of net interest proceeds on swaps designated as net investment hedges for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively, which are included within cash flows from investing activities in the Company’s condensed consolidated statements of cash flows.
(2) The Company entered into a non-monetary asset swap arrangement whereby it exchanged certain assets with a third party. Details of the associated non-cash investing activities are further described in Note 6 to these condensed consolidated financial statements. As part of the asset swap transaction, the Company assumed a lease contract that is exclusive of those summarized in the above table.
Excludes capitalized interest for the periods presented, as well as $8,435 and $4,279 of net interest proceeds on swaps designated as net investment hedges for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively, all of which is included within cash flows from investing activities in the Company’s condensed consolidated statements of cash flows.
(2)
For the supplemental non-cash information on lease liabilities arising from obtaining right-of-use lease assets, see Note 12 to these condensed consolidated financial statements for additional details.
The following table provides a reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash reported within the condensed consolidated balance sheets as of September 30,March 31, 2020 and 2019 and 2018 to the total of the same amounts shown in the condensed consolidated statements of cash flows for the ninethree months then ended:
March 31,
20202019
Cash and cash equivalents$107,667  $52,341  
Restricted cash included in prepaid and other current assets2,621  1,744  
Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash shown in the condensed consolidated statements of cash flows$110,288  $54,085  
  September 30,
  2019 2018
Cash and cash equivalents $78,510
 $56,684
Restricted cash included in prepaid and other current assets 1,745
 1,333
Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash shown in the condensed consolidated statements of cash flows $80,255
 $58,017
     

22.21. Subsequent Events:
In October 2019, the Company settled all of its cross-currency interest rate swap arrangements (the “February 2018 swaps”) and concurrently entered into new cross-currency interest rate swap arrangements (the “October 2019 swaps”) with the same notional amount of €280,000 ($311,379) and same maturity of February 2023. Consistent with the February 2018 swaps, the October 2019 swaps are designed to enable the Company to effectively convert a portion of its fixed-rate U.S. dollar-denominated debt obligations under the Term Loan Facility into a Euro-denominated equivalent. The October 2019 swaps have been designated and qualify as net investment hedges of the Company’s foreign currency exchange rate exposure on the net investments of certain of its Euro-denominated subsidiaries. The settlement of the February 2018 swaps resulted in cash proceeds to the Company of $38,070, which the Company plans to use for additional debt repayment on the Company’s Term Loan Facility.
Other than the settlement of the February 2018 swaps and concurrent execution of the October 2019 swaps, the Company has evaluated subsequent events since the balance sheet date and determined that there are no additional items to disclose.

30

Table of Contents
ITEM 2.MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.
ITEM 2.  MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.
Unless the context requires otherwise, references in this report to “PQ Group Holdings,” “the company,” “we,” “us” or “our” refer to PQ Group Holdings Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries.
Forward-looking Statements
This periodic report on Form 10-Q (“Form 10-Q”) includes statements that express our opinions, expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions or projections regarding future events or future results and therefore are, or may be deemed to be, “forward-looking statements”. The words “believe,” “may,” “will,” “estimate,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “expect,” “should” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. We have based these forward-looking statements largely on our current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends that we believe may affect our financial condition, results of operations, business strategy, short- and long-term business operations and objectives, and financial needs. Examples of forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements we make regarding the impact of the novel coronavirus (“COVID-19”) pandemic on our operations and financial results and our liquidity, including our belief that our existing cash, cash equivalents and cash flow from operations, combined with availability under our asset based lending revolving credit facility will be sufficient to meet our presently anticipated future cash needs for at least the next 12 months. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Moreover, we operate in a very competitive and rapidly changing environment and new risks emerge from time to time. It is not possible for our management to predict all risks, nor can we assess the impact of all factors on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements we may make. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the forward-looking events and circumstances discussed herein may not occur and actual results could differ materially and adversely from those anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements. Some of the key factors that could cause actual results to differ from our expectations include risks related to:
the impact of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic on the global economy and financial markets, as well as on our business, and the response of governments and of our company to the outbreak;
our exposure to local business risks and regulations in different countries;
general economic conditions;
exchange rate fluctuations;
tariffs and trade disputes;
legal and regulatory compliance;
significant developments relating to the U.S. administration, U.S. courts’ or the United Kingdom’s referendum on membership inexit from the European Union;
technological or other changes in our customers’ products;
our and our competitors’ research and development;
fluctuations in prices of raw materials and relationships with our key suppliers;
substantial competition;
non-payment or non-performance by our customers;
reliance on a small number of customers;
potential early termination or non-renewal of customer contracts in our Refining Services segment;
reductions in highway safety spending or taxes earmarked for highway safety spending;
seasonal fluctuations in demand for some of our products;
retention of certain key personnel;
realization of our growth projects;
potential product liability claims;
existing and potential future government regulation;
the extensive environmental, health and safety regulations to which we are subject;
disruption of production and distribution of our products;
risk of loss beyond our available insurance coverage;
31

Table of Contents
product quality;

successful integration of acquisitions;
our joint venture investments;
our failure to protect our intellectual property and infringement on the intellectual property rights of third parties;
information technology risks;
potential labor disruptions;
litigation and other administrative and regulatory proceedings;
our substantial indebtedness; and
other factors set forth in Part I, “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018.2019.
The forward-looking statements included herein are made only as of the date hereof. You should not rely upon forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee that the future results, levels of activity, performance or events and circumstances reflected in the forward-looking statements will be achieved or occur. Moreover, neither we nor any other person assumes responsibility for the accuracy and completeness of the forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements for any reason after the date of this Form 10-Q to conform these statements to actual results or to changes in our expectations.
Overview
We are a leading integrated and innovative global provider of specialty catalysts, materials, and chemicals and services. We support customers globally through our strategically located network of manufacturing facilities. We believe that our products, which are predominantly inorganic, and services contribute to improving the sustainability of the environment.
We conduct operations through four reporting segments: (1) Refining Services, (2) Catalysts (including our 50% interest in the Zeolyst Joint Venture), (3) Performance Materials, and (4) Performance Chemicals.
Refining Services: We are the leading provider of sulfuric acid recycling services to North American refineries for the production of alkylate, an essential gasoline component for lowering vapor pressure and increasing octane to meet stringent gasoline specifications and fuel efficiency standards. We are also a leading North American producer of on-purpose virgin sulfuric acid for water treatment, mining, and industrial applications.
Catalysts: We are a global supplier of finished silica catalysts and catalyst supports necessary to produce high strength and high stiffness plastics used in packaging films, bottles, containers, and other molded applications. We are also a leading global supplier of zeolites used for catalysts that remove nitric oxide from diesel engine emissions as well as sulfur from fuels during the refining process.
Performance Materials: We are an industry leader in North America, Europe, and South America in transportation safety. Our products are used to delineate roads and runways with highly reflective markings, improving safety by enhancing visibility at night and in poor weather. Our microspheres also serve as functional additives in industrial applications, including polymers and plastics, and in abrasive applications for metal surfaces.
Performance Chemicals: We are a leading global supplierproducer of sodium silicates and downstream specialty silicas as well as other silicate and derivative products. These products which serve as an environmentally friendly substitute for materialsare used in a wide variety of applications. These include end usesindustrial and consumer applications such as matting agents in surface coatings, clarifying agents for edible oils and beverages,beer, precursors for green tires, additives into paintsfor dental cleaning and coatings,personal care products, and as feedstock for our additives and catalyst platforms.
Impact of COVID-19 on our Business and Results
In March 2020, the outbreak of COVID-19 was declared a National Public Health Emergency by the United States. COVID-19 continues to spread throughout the world and has adversely impacted economic activity and contributed to significant declines and volatility in cosmeticsfinancial markets. In response to improve feel attributes.
Effective March 1, 2019,the COVID-19 pandemic, the federal government, various states, local and foreign governments have issued decrees and orders that have closed many businesses and implemented social distancing, travel and other restrictions. In response to these restrictions, we changed the structurehave taken a variety of actions, including an international travel ban, distribution of personal protective equipment to employees, and work-at-home requirements for many of our internal organizationemployees who are not an integral part of our manufacturing operations. We have also implemented and refined our existing business continuity plans in an effort to createminimize disruptions to our manufacturing operations.
32

Table of Contents
Our manufacturing operations, as well as the four independentoperations of our key vendors and the majority of our key customers, have continued to operate with limited interruptions as essential businesses. Some of the ways our businesses described above in order to promote increased visibility to business unit performance, optimizesupport the battle against COVID-19 include:
In our product portfolio and create efficiencies. Previously, we had two reportable segments, namely the Environmental Catalysts andRefining Services segment, our plants provide critical services that refineries need to produce fuel that powers vehicles that transport goods and people to essential businesses;
In our Catalysts segment, we produce supports used to manufacture polypropylene, which is the most common material used to make surgical masks, and we also produce catalysts and supports needed to manufacture polyethylene, which is used in packaging materials for detergents, bleaches, specialized medical equipment and other sanitation items that are critical to preventing COVID-19;
In our Performance Materials segment, we produce high-quality microspheres which are used as ingredients in respirators, hospital beds and protective goggles; and
In our Performance Chemicals segment. Beginning withsegment, our silicates are used in cleaning products such as soaps and detergents used in homes, businesses and hospitals.
Near Term Demand
During the quarter ended March 31, 2019,2020, our businesses did not experience a material impact related to COVID-19. However, as governments continue to maintain existing travel and other restrictions, or impose new restrictions on businesses and individuals, we expect such restrictions to impact demand for certain of our products, as detailed below:
In our Refining Services segment, we believe that high gasoline inventories and reduced gasoline demand due to stay-at-home decrees will reduce demand for sulfuric acid.
In our Performance Materials segment, transportation safety product demand has been stable in North America with only a limited number of states slowing highway striping projects; however, demand for our engineered glass materials and highway safety products outside of the U.S. has been weaker than anticipated and we expect this trend to continue for the near term.
In our Performance Chemicals segment, resultswe expect lower demand for sodium silicate for industrial applications and disclosures includedchemical manufacturing. In addition, due to local business closures and the related rise in unemployment claims we anticipate a decline in consumer spending that may adversely impact the demand for our products that are sold to the consumer products industry.
In our Catalyst segment, silica catalysts demand to date has not been adversely impacted by COVID-19 as we have seen increased demand for polyolefin catalysts, which are used to manufacture certain medical supplies and single-use plastics. In the Zeolyst Joint Venture, demand for our emission control catalysts may be impacted by temporary shutdowns of customer manufacturing facilities. The Zeolyst Joint Venture may also experience timing related delays for hydrocracking and specialty catalysts orders as customers extend the life cycle of the catalyst through lower production.
Operations and Supply
Although the full impact of COVID-19 on our business is currently unknown, we believe that our manufacturing facilities will continue to operate and provide critical materials necessary to aid in combating the COVID-19 pandemic and products we manufacture for other essential businesses. Our manufacturing plants require a limited number of on-site employees in order to continue to operate effectively. We have not experienced any material production issues to date, but have had limited and temporary shutdowns or slowdowns in some of our facilities. Several of our manufacturing facilities experienced production delays as a result of employee absenteeism related to COVID-19. We have also seen limited disruptions in the availability of certain of our raw materials and other supplies, which to date have not had a material impact on production.
Liquidity
In response to the COVID-19 outbreak, and to strengthen our liquidity and financial flexibility, we have drawn $64.0 million on our revolving credit facility during the three months ended March 31, 2020. As of March 31, 2020, we had cash and cash equivalents of $107.7 million and total available liquidity of $236.3 million. During the quarter ended March 31, 2020, we amended our Term Loan Facility to reduce the applicable interest rate and extend the maturity of the facility to February 2027. We also amended our existing ABL Facility to reduce the applicable interest rate, extend the maturity, and increase the aggregate amount of the revolving loan commitments available by $50.0 million to $250.0 million. With the recent amendments and extensions of our Term Loan Facility and ABL Facility, we have no significant debt maturities prior to November 2022 and our outstanding debt obligations do not contain material financial covenants requiring us to maintain a leverage ratio below a particular level.
Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act
On March 27, 2020, the CARES Act was signed into law. The provisions of the CARES Act provide substantial stimulus and financial assistance measures intended to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. These provisions include certain tax relief as well as government loans, grants and investments. The CARES Act did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements reflectfor the new segment structure for all periods presented. three months ended March 31, 2020. We continue to monitor any effects that may result from the CARES Act.
33

Table of Contents
The changesimpact of the COVID-19 outbreak and associated containment and remediation efforts is rapidly evolving. We expect the duration and magnitude of the virus’s impact on the levels of economic activity in the United States and globally to our segment structure affect only the manner in which themagnitude of its impact on our results of operations, which could be material.
Stock Repurchase Program
On March 12, 2020, our reportable segments were previously reported; there are no changesBoard of Directors authorized a share repurchase program for up to an aggregate of $50.0 million of our consolidated balance sheet, statementoutstanding common stock. The authorization is valid for a period of incometwenty-four months. Repurchases under the program may be made at our management’s discretion from time to time on the open market or cash flowsin privately negotiated transactions.
From the announcement date of the program through March 31, 2020, we repurchased 211,700 shares on the open market at an average price of $9.73 for a total of $2.1 million. As of March 31, 2020, $47.9 million was available for additional share repurchases under the prior periods.

program.
Key Performance Indicators
Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Net Income
Adjusted EBITDA and adjusted net income are financial measures that are not prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”) and that we use to evaluate our operating performance, for business planning purposes and to measure our performance relative to that of our competitors. Adjusted EBITDA and adjusted net income are presented as key performance indicators as we believe these financial measures will enhance a prospective investor’s understanding of our results of operations and financial condition. EBITDA consists of net income (loss) attributable to PQ Group Holdings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization. Adjusted EBITDA consists of EBITDA adjusted for (i) non-operating income or expense, (ii) the impact of certain non-cash, nonrecurring or other items included in net income (loss) and EBITDA that we do not consider indicative of our ongoing operating performance, and (iii) depreciation, amortization and interest of our 50% share of the Zeolyst Joint Venture. Adjusted net income consists of net income (loss) attributable to PQ Group Holdings adjusted for (i) non-operating income or expense and (ii) the impact of certain non-cash, nonrecurring or other items included in net income (loss) that we do not consider indicative of our ongoing operating performance. We believe that these non-GAAP financial measures provide investors with useful financial metrics to assess our operating performance from period-to-period by excluding certain items that we believe are not representative of our core business.
You should not consider adjusted EBITDA andor adjusted net income in isolation or as alternatives to the presentation of our financial results in accordance with GAAP. The presentation of our adjusted EBITDA and adjusted net income financial measures may differ from similar measures reported by other companies and may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures. In evaluating adjusted EBITDA and adjusted net income, you should be aware that we are likely to incur expenses similar to those eliminated in this presentation in the future and that certain of these items could be considered recurring in nature. Our presentation of adjusted EBITDA and adjusted net income should not be construed as an inference that our future results will be unaffected by unusual or nonrecurring items. Reconciliations of adjusted EBITDA and adjusted net income to GAAP net income (loss) are included in the results of operations discussion that follows for each of the respective periods.
Key Factors and Trends Affecting Operating Results and Financial Condition
Sales
Our Refining Services and Catalysts segments’ sales have grown primarily due to expansion into new end applications, including emission control catalysts, polymer catalysts, and refining catalysts, as well as continued supply share gains. Sales in our Refining Services and Catalysts segments are made on both a purchase order basis and pursuant to long-term contracts.
Historically, our Performance Materials and Performance Chemicals segments have experienced relatively stable demand throughout economic cycles due to the diverse consumer and industrial end uses that our products serve. Expansions into new applications, including personal care and consumer cleaning, as well as share gains in existing end uses, have added to our sales growth. Product sales from our Performance Chemicals segment are made onthrough both aindividual purchase order basisorders and pursuant to long-term contracts. In the Performance Materials segment, sales have been driven by the growth of spending on repair, maintenance and upgrade of existing highways and the construction of new highways and roads by governments around the world. Product sales in our Performance Materials segment are made principally on a purchase order basis. There may be modest fluctuations in timing of orders, but orders are mainly driven by demand and general economic conditions.
As discussed above under “Impact of COVID-19 on our Business and Results,” we expect the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic to decrease demand for certain of our products in the near term, primarily in our Refining Services and Performance Chemicals segments and, to a lesser extent, in our Catalysts and Performance Materials segments.
34

Table of Contents
Cost of Goods Sold
Cost of goods sold consists of variable product costs, fixed manufacturing expenses, depreciation expense and freight expenses. Variable product costs include all raw materials, energy and packaging costs that are directly related to the manufacturing process. Fixed manufacturing expenses include all plant employment costs, manufacturing overhead and periodic maintenance costs. The primary raw materials for our Refining Services segment include spent sulfuric acid, sulfur, sodium silicates, acids, bases (including sodium hydroxide, or “caustic soda”), and certain metals. The primary raw materials used in the manufacture of products in our Performance Materials, Performance Chemicals and Catalysts segments include soda ash, industrial sand, aluminum trihydrate, sodium hydroxide, and cullet.
Most of our Refining Services contracts feature take-or-pay volume protection and/or quarterly price adjustments for commodity inputs, labor, the Chemical Engineering Index (U.S. chemical plant construction cost index) and natural gas. Spent acid for our Refining Services segment is supplied by customers for a nominal charge as part of their contracts. Over 80%90% of our Refining Services segment sales for the year ended December 31, 20182019 were under contracts featuring quarterly price adjustments. The price adjustments generally reflect actual costs for producing acid and tend to protect us from volatility in labor, fixed costs and raw material pricing.

For the year ended December 31, 2018,2019, approximately 40%50% of our North American silicate sales, withwhich is a significant portion of our largest sodium silicate customers in North AmericaPerformance Chemicals segment sales, were made underderived from contracts that include price adjustments for changes in the price ofincluded raw materials and natural gas.material pass-through clauses. Under these contracts, there generally is a time lag of three to nine months for price changes to pass through, depending on the magnitude of the change in cost and other market dynamics. Freight expenses are generally passed through directly to customers.
While natural gas is not a direct feedstock for any product, all businesses use natural gas powered furnaces to heat raw materials and create the chemical reactions necessary to produce end-products. We maintain multiple suppliers wherever possible, hedge exposure to fluctuations in prices for natural gas purchases in the United States, make forward purchases of natural gas in the United States, Canada, and Europe to mitigate our exposure to price volatility, and structure our customer contracts when possible to allow for the pass-through of raw material and natural gas costs.
Joint Ventures
We account for our investments in our equity joint ventures under the equity method. Our largest joint venture, the Zeolyst Joint Venture, manufactures high performance, specialty, zeolite-based catalysts for use in the emissionsemission control industry, the refining and petrochemical industry and other areas of the broader chemicals industry. We share proportionally in the management of our joint ventures with the other parties to each such joint venture.
Seasonality
Seasonal changes and weather conditions typically affect our Performance Materials and Refining Services segments. In particular, our Performance Materials segment generally experiences lower sales and profit in the first and fourth quarters of the year because highway striping projects typically occur during warmer weather months. Additionally, our Refining Services segment typically experiences similar seasonal fluctuations as a result of higher demand for gasoline products in the summer months. As a result, working capital requirements tend to be higher in the first and second quarters of the year, which can adversely affect our liquidity and cash flows. Because of this seasonality associated with certain of our segments, results for any one quarter are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be achieved for any other quarter or for the full year.
Foreign Currency
As a global business, we are subject to the impact of gains and losses on currency translations, which occur when the financial statements of foreign operations are translated into U.S. dollars. We operate a geographically diverse business with approximately 40% of our sales for the ninethree months ended September 30, 2019March 31, 2020 and the year ended December 31, 20182019 in currencies other than the U.S. dollar. Because our consolidated financial results are reported in U.S. dollars, sales or earnings generated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar can result in a significant increase or decrease in the amount of those sales and earnings when translated to U.S. dollars. The foreign currencies to which we have the most significant exchange rate exposure include the Euro, British pound, Canadian dollar, Brazilian real and the Mexican peso.
Results of Operations
Three Months Ended September 30, 2019March 31, 2020 Compared to the Three Months Ended September 30, 2018March 31, 2019
Highlights
The following is a summary of our financial performance for the three months ended September 30, 2019March 31, 2020 compared with the three months ended September 30, 2018.March 31, 2019.
35

Table of Contents
Sales
•  Sales decreased $3.4increased $2.4 million to $423.8$361.6 million. The decreaseincrease in sales was primarily due to lowerhigher sales volumes, which was partially offset by the impact of the pass-through of lower sulfur pricing in our Refining Services segment and the unfavorable effects of foreign currency translation of $5.2 million, partially offset by higher average customer prices and favorable mix.$5.7 million.
Gross Profit
•  Gross profit increased $5.4$7.7 million to $112.9$88.6 million. The increase in gross profit was primarily due to favorable pricing, which wasan increase in sales volumes, partially offset by higher manufacturing costs and lower sales volumes.the unfavorable effects of foreign currency translation.
Operating Income
• Operating income increaseddecreased by $8.7$6.0 million to $57.6$23.4 million. The increasedecrease in operating income was primarily due to a loss incurred as the result of an asset swap arrangement, partially offset by the increase in gross profit for the three months ended September 30, 2019.

profit.
Equity in Net Income of Affiliated Companies
• Equity in net income of affiliated companies for the three months ended September 30, 2019March 31, 2020 was $17.3$8.4 million, compared to $5.6with $2.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018.March 31, 2019. The increase of $11.7$6.3 million was due to higherincreased earnings generated by ourthe Zeolyst Joint Venture for the three months ended September 30, 2019.March 31, 2020.
36

Table of Contents
The following is our unaudited condensed consolidated statements of income and a summary of financial results for the three months ended September 30, 2019March 31, 2020 and 2018:2019:
 Three months ended
September 30,
 ChangeThree months ended
March 31,
Change
 2019 2018 $ %20202019$%
 (in millions, except percentages)(in millions, except percentages)
Sales $423.8
 $427.2
 $(3.4) (0.8)%Sales$361.6  $359.2  $2.4  0.7 %
Cost of goods sold 310.9
 319.7
 (8.8) (2.8)%Cost of goods sold273.0  278.3  (5.3) (1.9)%
Gross profit 112.9
 107.5
 5.4
 5.0 %Gross profit88.6  80.9  7.7  9.5 %
Gross profit margin 26.6% 25.2%    Gross profit margin24.5 %22.5 %
Selling, general and administrative expenses 39.5
 42.1
 (2.6) (6.2)%Selling, general and administrative expenses43.3  40.7  2.6  6.4 %
Other operating expense, net 15.7
 16.5
 (0.8) (4.8)%Other operating expense, net21.9  10.8  11.1  102.8 %
Operating income 57.6
 48.9
 8.7
 17.8 %Operating income23.4  29.4  (6.0) (20.4)%
Operating income margin 13.6% 11.4%    Operating income margin6.5 %8.2 %
Equity in net (income) from affiliated companies (17.3) (5.6) (11.7) 208.9 %Equity in net (income) from affiliated companies(8.4) (2.1) (6.3) 300.0 %
Interest expense, net 27.7
 28.2
 (0.5) (1.8)%Interest expense, net24.5  28.6  (4.1) (14.3)%
Debt extinguishment costs 1.8
 0.9
 0.9
 100.0 %Debt extinguishment costs2.5  —  2.5  — %
Other expense, net 1.9
 2.5
 (0.6) (24.0)%
Other (income) expense, netOther (income) expense, net2.9  (3.0) 5.9  (196.7)%
Income before income taxes and noncontrolling interest 43.5
 22.9
 20.6
 90.0 %Income before income taxes and noncontrolling interest1.9  5.9  (4.0) (67.8)%
Provision for income taxes 16.7
 8.5
 8.2
 96.5 %Provision for income taxes1.4  2.4  (1.0) (41.7)%
Effective tax rate 38.4% 37.0%    Effective tax rate73.7 %41.6 %
Net income 26.8
 14.4
 12.4
 86.1 %Net income0.5  3.5  (3.0) (85.7)%
Less: Net income attributable to the noncontrolling interest 0.1
 0.2
 (0.1) (50.0)%Less: Net income attributable to the noncontrolling interest0.3  0.3  —  — %
Net income attributable to PQ Group Holdings Inc. $26.7
 $14.2
 $12.5
 88.0 %Net income attributable to PQ Group Holdings Inc.$0.2  $3.2  $(3.0) (93.8)%
        
Sales
Three months ended
March 31,
Change
20202019$%
(in millions, except percentages)
Sales:
Refining Services$100.7  $105.8  $(5.1) (4.8)%
Catalysts24.9  15.9  9.0  56.6 %
Performance Materials65.5  61.1  4.4  7.2 %
Performance Chemicals174.3  180.5  (6.2) (3.4)%
Eliminations(3.8) (4.1) 0.3  
Total sales$361.6  $359.2  $2.4  0.7 %
  Three months ended
September 30,
 Change
  2019 2018 $ %
  (in millions, except percentages)
Sales:        
Refining Services $118.3
 $123.4
 $(5.1) (4.1)%
Catalysts 25.6
 16.3
 9.3
 57.1 %
Performance Materials 115.1
 115.4
 (0.3) (0.3)%
Performance Chemicals 167.9
 174.7
 (6.8) (3.9)%
Eliminations (3.1) (2.6) (0.5)  
Total sales $423.8
 $427.2
 $(3.4) (0.8)%
         

Refining Services: Sales in Refining Services for the three months ended September 30, 2019March 31, 2020 were $118.3$100.7 million, a decrease of $5.1 million, or 4.1%4.8%, compared to sales of $123.4$105.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018.March 31, 2019. The decrease in sales was primarily due to lower average selling prices of $7.2 million partially offset by an increase in sales volumes of $2.1 million.
The decrease in average selling price was a result of the pass-through of lower sulfur pass-through costspricing in our virgin sulfuric acid product line. The increase in sales volumes was a result of $3.4 million.increased year-over-year sales within our virgin sulfuric acid product line, which were burdened in the prior year period with extended planned plant maintenance outages.
Catalysts: Sales in Catalysts for the three months ended September 30, 2019March 31, 2020 were $25.6$24.9 million, an increase of $9.3$9.0 million, or 57.1%56.6%, compared to sales of $16.3$15.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018.March 31, 2019. The increase in sales was primarily due to an increase in sales volumes of $7.9 million and higher average selling prices and favorable customer mix of $1.6$9.0 million.

The increase in sales wasvolumes is due to thehigher customer demand for our polyolefin catalysts product line and timing of customer order patternsorders for our methyl methacrylate catalyst and continued growth in polyolefin catalysts.catalyst.
Performance Materials: Sales in Performance Materials for the three months ended September 30, 2019March 31, 2020 were $115.1$65.5 million, a decreasean increase of $0.3$4.4 million, or 0.3%7.2%, compared towith sales of $115.4$61.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018.March 31, 2019. The decreaseincrease in
37

Table of Contents
sales was primarily due to loweran increase in sales volumes of $6.9$4.8 million and higher average selling prices and favorable customer mix of $1.0 million, partially offset by the unfavorable effects of foreign currency translation of $2.1 million, which was offset by higher average selling price and favorable customer mix of $8.7$1.4 million.
The decreaseincrease in sales volumes was a result of lower highway safety sales in North America and Europeanincreased demand for engineered glass products. This was offset by higher average selling prices forNorth American highway safety products sold in North America.coupled with favorable weather conditions and price increases. The unfavorable effects of foreign currency translation was due to the stronger U.S. dollar.
Performance Chemicals: Sales in Performance Chemicals for the three months ended September 30, 2019March 31, 2020 were $167.9$174.3 million, a decrease of $6.8$6.2 million, or 3.9%3.4%, compared to sales of $174.7$180.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018.March 31, 2019. The decrease in sales was primarily due to lower sales volumes of $7.1$4.3 million and the unfavorable effects of foreign currency translation of $3.1$4.2 million, which was partially offset by higher average selling price and favorable sales mix of $3.4$2.3 million.
The decrease in sales was a result of lower volumes of product sold toin the consumer products end use and packaging and engineered plastics end markets. The decrease in volumes was partially offset by higher pricing to cover raw material cost increases. Thethe unfavorable effects of foreign currency translation was driven by the stronger U.S. dollar.dollar, partially offset by favorable customer mix.
Gross Profit
Gross profit for the three months ended September 30, 2019March 31, 2020 was $112.9$88.6 million, an increase of $5.4$7.7 million, or 5.0%9.5%, compared with $107.5$80.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018.March 31, 2019. The increase in gross profit was due to increased sales volumes of $14.4 million and favorable manufacturing costs of $4.1 million, partially offset by unfavorable product mix of $5.7 million, unfavorable customer pricing of $18.7 million, which was partially offset by lower volumes of $4.2 million, unfavorable manufacturing costs of $7.1$3.8 million, and the unfavorable effects of foreign currency translation of $1.2 million.
Favorable customer pricingThe increase in sales volumes was a result of a roll-off of a below-market contract inhigher customer demand for our regeneratedpolyolefin catalysts and increased demand for North American highway safety products, coupled with favorable weather and increased virgin sulfuric acid product line and higher average selling prices in North America for our highway safety products.sales. The decrease in volumes was due to a decline in sulfuric acid sales and lower sales to the consumer products industry. The unfavorable change in manufacturing costs was drivena result of the lower sulfur costs partially offset by higher-costhigher variable manufacturing costs. The unfavorable impact from product mix relates to increased sales of lower margin products being soldin Europe as well as in our Catalystsengineered glass materials and North American highway product group, the timing of plant maintenance projects and increased transportation costs.groups. The unfavorable effects of foreign currency were driven by the stronger U.S. dollar.
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
Selling, general and administrative expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2019 were $39.5March 31, 2020 was $43.3 million, a decreasean increase of $2.6 million as compared with $42.1to $40.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018.March 31, 2019. The decreaseincrease in selling, general and administrative expenses was due to lower compensation-related expenses.an increase in stock compensation expense.
Other Operating Expense, Net
Other operating expense, net for the three months ended September 30, 2019March 31, 2020 was $15.7$21.9 million, a decreasean increase of $0.8$11.1 million, compared with $16.5$10.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018.March 31, 2019. The decreaseincrease in other operating expense net was due to a decrease in asset disposals, which typically occursloss incurred as a result of our recurring plant maintenance projects offset by higher transactionan asset swap arrangement and increased transaction-related costs.
Equity in Net Income of Affiliated Companies
Equity in net income of affiliated companies for the three months ended September 30, 2019March 31, 2020 was $17.3$8.4 million, compared to $5.6$2.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018.March 31, 2019. The increase was primarily due to $11.7$6.3 million of higher earnings from ourthe Zeolyst Joint Venture during the three months ended September 30, 2019 as compared to the three months ended September 30, 2018. The increase in earnings from our Zeolyst Joint VentureMarch 31, 2020, which was due to timing ofincreased sales of hycrocracking catalysts and an acceleration of specialty catalyst orders.emission control catalyst.
Interest Expense, Net
Interest expense, net for the three months ended September 30, 2019March 31, 2020 was $27.7$24.5 million, a decrease of $0.5$4.1 million, as compared with $28.2$28.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018.March 31, 2019. The decrease in interest expense net iswas due to lower outstandingaverage debt balances, mainly as a result of prior year prepayments on our variable rate debt during the three months ended September 30, 2019 as compared to the three months ended September 30, 2018.

Term Loan Facility.
Debt Extinguishment Costs
Debt extinguishment costs for the three months ended September 30, 2019March 31, 2020 were $2.5 million. On February 7, 2020, we amended our existing senior secured term loan facility to reduce the applicable interest rates and 2018 were $1.8 million and $0.9 million, respectively. Duringextend the quarter ended September 30, 2019,maturity of the Company prepaid $100.0facility to February 2027. We recorded $2.2 million of outstanding principal balance on the Term Loan Facility. The Company wrote off $0.5 million of previously unamortized deferrednew creditor and third-party financing costs and original issue discount of $1.2 millionfees as debt extinguishment costs for the three months ended September 30, 2019.
During the quarter ended September 30, 2018, the Company prepaid $45.0 million of outstanding principal balance on the Term Loan Facility. The Company wrote off $0.3 million ofMarch 31, 2020. In addition, previously unamortized deferred financing costs of $0.1 million and original issue discount of $0.6$0.2 million associated with the existing senior secured term loan facility were written off as debt extinguishment costs for the three months ended September 30, 2018.March 31, 2020.
38

Table of Contents
Other Expense, Net
Other expense, net for the three months ended September 30, 2019March 31, 2020 was an expense of $1.9$2.9 million, a decreasean increase of $0.6$5.9 million, as compared with an expenseincome of $2.5$3.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018.March 31, 2019. The change in other expense, net was generally consistent withprimarily consisted of $3.3 million of foreign currency losses for the prior period.three months ended March 31, 2020 as compared to $2.7 million of foreign currency gains for the three months ended March 31, 2019. The losses and gains are driven by the fluctuations in our non-permanent intercompany debt denominated in local currency and translated to U.S. dollars.
Provision for Income Taxes
The provision for income taxes for the three months ended September 30, 2019March 31, 2020 was $16.7$1.4 million compared to a $8.5$2.4 million provision for the three months ended September 30, 2018.March 31, 2019. The effective income tax rate for the three months ended September 30, 2019March 31, 2020 was 38.4%73.7% compared to 37.0%41.6% for the three months ended September 30, 2018.March 31, 2019.
The Company’s effective income tax rate fluctuates based primarily on changesdue to income shifts in income mixjurisdictions with rates differing from statutory rates (including the effect of loss companies), the impactimpacts of including foreign earnings in U.S. taxable incomethe Global Intangible Low Taxed Income (“GILTI”) tax rules, and changes in foreign exchange gains and losses, which create permanent differences in certain jurisdictions.
The difference between the U.S. federal statutory income tax rate and the Company’s effective income tax rate for the three months ended September 30, 2019March 31, 2020 was mainly due to the tax effect of permanent differences related to foreign currency exchange gain or loss, the inclusionimpacts of foreign earnings in U.S. taxable income,GILTI, the discrete tax impacts related to the asset swap agreement, pre-tax losses with no associated tax benefit and state taxes.
Net Income Attributable to PQ Group Holdings
For the foregoing reasons and after the effect of the non-controlling interest in earnings of subsidiaries for each period presented, net income attributable to PQ Group Holdings was $26.7$0.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2019March 31, 2020 compared with net income of $14.2$3.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018.March 31, 2019.
Adjusted EBITDA
Summarized Segment Adjusted EBITDA information is shown below in the following table:
Three months ended
March 31,
Change
20202019$%
(in millions, except percentages)
Segment Adjusted EBITDA:(1)
Refining Services$37.2  $39.7  $(2.5) (6.3)%
Catalysts(2)
22.7  18.1  4.6  25.4 %
Performance Materials13.5  10.5  3.0  28.6 %
Performance Chemicals40.5  42.7  (2.2) (5.2)%
Total Segment Adjusted EBITDA(3)
113.8  111.0  2.8  2.5 %
Unallocated corporate expenses(10.7) (10.0) (0.7) 7.0 %
Total Adjusted EBITDA$103.1  $101.0  $2.1  2.1 %
  Three months ended
September 30,
 Change
  2019 2018 $ %
  (in millions, except percentages)
Segment Adjusted EBITDA:(1)
        
Refining Services $51.2
 $49.6
 $1.6
 3.2 %
Catalysts(2)
 31.6
 15.7
 15.9
 101.3 %
Performance Materials 25.8
 21.3
 4.5
 21.1 %
Performance Chemicals 36.8
 41.8
 (5.0) (12.0)%
Total Segment Adjusted EBITDA(3)
 145.4
 128.4
 17.0
 13.2 %
Unallocated corporate expenses (7.7) (10.3) 2.6
 (25.2)%
Total Adjusted EBITDA $137.7
 $118.1
 $19.6
 16.6 %
         

(1)
(1) We define Segment Adjusted EBITDA as EBITDA adjusted for certain items as noted in the reconciliation below. Our management evaluates the performance of our segments and allocates resources based primarily on Segment Adjusted EBITDA. Segment Adjusted EBITDA does not represent cash flow for periods presented and should not be considered as an alternative to net income as an indicator of our operating performance or as an alternative to cash flows as a source of liquidity. Segment Adjusted EBITDA may not be comparable with EBITDA or Adjusted EBITDA as defined by other companies.
(2) The Adjusted EBITDA from the Zeolyst Joint Venture included in the Catalysts segment is $13.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020, which includes $8.3 million of equity in net income, excluding $1.7 million of amortization of investment in affiliate step-up plus $3.8 million of joint venture depreciation, amortization and interest. The Adjusted EBITDA from the Zeolyst Joint Venture included in the Catalysts segment is $8.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019, which includes $2.0 million of equity in net income, excluding $2.6 million of amortization of investment in affiliate step-up plus $3.8 million of joint venture depreciation, amortization and interest.
(3) Our total Segment Adjusted EBITDA differs from our total consolidated Adjusted EBITDA due to unallocated corporate expenses. Rounding discrepancies may arise when rounding segment results from dollars (in thousands) to dollars (in millions).
39

We define Segment Adjusted EBITDA as EBITDA adjusted for certain items as noted in the reconciliation below. Our management evaluates the performance of our segments and allocates resources based primarily on Segment Adjusted EBITDA. Segment Adjusted EBITDA does not represent cash flow for periods presented and should not be considered as an alternative to net income as an indicator of our operating performance or as an alternative to cash flows as a source of liquidity. Segment Adjusted EBITDA may not be comparable with EBITDA or Adjusted EBITDA as defined by other companies.

(2)
The Adjusted EBITDA from our Zeolyst Joint Venture included in the Catalysts segment is $22.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2019, which includes $17.2 million of equity in net income, excluding $1.7 million of amortization of investment in affiliate step-up plus $3.7 million of joint venture depreciation, amortization and interest. The Adjusted EBITDA from our Zeolyst Joint Venture included in the Catalysts segment is $10.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018, which includes $5.6 million of equity in net income, excluding $1.7 million of amortization of investment in affiliate step-up plus $3.3 million of joint venture depreciation, amortization and interest.
(3)
Our total Segment Adjusted EBITDA differs from our total consolidated Adjusted EBITDA due to unallocated corporate expenses.
Refining Services: Adjusted EBITDA for the three months ended September 30, 2019March 31, 2020 was $51.2$37.2 million, an increasea decrease of $1.6$2.5 million, or 3.2%6.3%, compared with $49.6$39.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018.March 31, 2019. The increasedecrease in Adjusted EBITDA was a result ofdriven by higher average selling price from customer mix.raw material usage and production costs.
Catalysts: Adjusted EBITDA for the three months ended September 30, 2019March 31, 2020 was $31.6$22.7 million, an increase of $15.9$4.6 million, or 101.3%25.4%, compared with $15.7$18.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018.March 31, 2019. The increase in Adjusted EBITDA was primarily a result of increased sales ofhigher customer demand for our hydrocracking catalysts, specialty catalysts andpolyolefin, methyl methacrylate catalyst.and pressure products catalyst product groups, which was partially offset by unfavorable inventory absorption.
Performance Materials: Adjusted EBITDA for the three months ended September 30, 2019March 31, 2020 was $25.8$13.5 million, an increase of $4.5$3.0 million, or 21.1%28.6%, compared with $21.3$10.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018.March 31, 2019. The increase in Adjusted EBITDA was a result of increased demand for North American highway safety products coupled with favorable pricing in North America, which was partially offset by increased manufacturing costs.weather conditions.
Performance Chemicals: Adjusted EBITDA for the three months ended September 30, 2019March 31, 2020 was $36.8$40.5 million, a decrease of $5.0$2.2 million, or 12.0%5.2%, compared with $41.8$42.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018.March 31, 2019. The decrease in Adjusted EBITDA was due to lower volumes of product sold to the consumer products and packaging and engineered plastics industriesend use and the strengthening of the U.S. dollar.

40

Table of Contents
A reconciliation of net income attributable to PQ Group Holdings to Segment Adjusted EBITDA is as follows:
Three months ended
March 31,
20202019
(in millions)
Reconciliation of net income attributable to PQ Group Holdings Inc. to Segment Adjusted EBITDA
Net income attributable to PQ Group Holdings Inc.$0.2  $3.2  
Provision for income taxes1.4  2.4  
Interest expense, net24.5  28.6  
Depreciation and amortization45.7  45.9  
EBITDA71.8  80.1  
Joint venture depreciation, amortization and interest(a)
3.8  3.8  
Amortization of investment in affiliate step-up(b)
1.7  2.6  
Debt extinguishment costs2.5  —  
Net loss on asset disposals(c)
9.4  0.8  
Foreign currency exchange loss (gain)(d)
3.3  (2.7) 
LIFO expense(e)
(0.3) 10.2  
Transaction and other related costs(f)
2.1  0.1  
Equity-based compensation5.9  3.4  
Restructuring, integration and business optimization expenses(g)
2.0  0.7  
Defined benefit pension plan (benefit) cost(h)
(0.2) 1.0  
Other(i)
1.1  1.0  
Adjusted EBITDA103.1  101.0  
Unallocated corporate expenses10.7  10.0  
Segment Adjusted EBITDA$113.8  $111.0  
  Three months ended
September 30,
  2019 2018
  (in millions)
Reconciliation of net income attributable to PQ Group Holdings Inc. to Segment Adjusted EBITDA    
Net income attributable to PQ Group Holdings Inc. $26.7
 $14.2
Provision for income taxes 16.7
 8.5
Interest expense, net 27.7
 28.2
Depreciation and amortization 44.2
 43.8
EBITDA 115.3
 94.7
Joint venture depreciation, amortization and interest(a)
 3.7
 3.3
Amortization of investment in affiliate step-up(b)
 1.7
 1.7
Debt extinguishment costs 1.8
 0.9
Net loss on asset disposals(c)
 1.1
 5.2
Foreign currency exchange loss(d)
 4.5
 3.5
LIFO expense(e)
 0.5
 0.9
Transaction and other related costs(f)
 0.7
 0.2
Equity-based compensation 4.8
 4.3
Restructuring, integration and business optimization expenses(g)
 0.7
 2.2
Defined benefit pension plan cost(h)
 0.8
 0.1
Other(i)
 2.1
 1.1
Adjusted EBITDA 137.7
 118.1
Unallocated corporate expenses 7.7
 10.3
Segment Adjusted EBITDA $145.4
 $128.4
     


(a)
(a) We use Adjusted EBITDA as a performance measure to evaluate our financial results. Because our Catalysts segment includes our 50% interest in the Zeolyst Joint Venture, we include an adjustment for our 50% proportionate share of depreciation, amortization and interest expense of the Zeolyst Joint Venture.
(b) Represents the amortization of the fair value adjustments associated with the equity affiliate investment in the Zeolyst Joint Venture as a result of a business combination consummated in a prior year period. We determined the fair value of the equity affiliate investment and the fair value step-up was then attributed to the underlying assets of the Zeolyst Joint Venture. Amortization is primarily related to the fair value adjustments associated with fixed assets and intangible assets, including customer relationships and technical know-how.
(c) When asset disposals occur, we remove the impact of net gain/loss of the disposed asset because such impact primarily reflects the non-cash write-off of long-lived assets no longer in use.
(d) Reflects the exclusion of the foreign currency transaction gains and losses in the statements of income primarily related to the non-permanent intercompany debt denominated in local currency translated to U.S. dollars.
(e) Represents non-cash adjustments to the Company’s LIFO reserves for certain inventories in the U.S. that are valued using the LIFO method, which we believe provides a means of comparison to other companies that may not use the same basis of accounting for inventories.
(f) Relates to certain transaction costs, including debt financing, due diligence and other costs related to transactions that are completed, pending or abandoned, that we believe are not representative of our ongoing business operations.
(g) Includes the impact of restructuring, integration and business optimization expenses which are incremental costs that are not representative of our ongoing business operations.
(h) Represents adjustments for defined benefit pension plan (benefit) costs in our statements of income. More than two-thirds of our defined benefit pension plan obligations are under defined benefit pension plans that are frozen, and the remaining obligations
41

primarily relate to plans operated in certain of our non-U.S. locations that, pursuant to jurisdictional requirements, cannot be frozen. As such, we do not view such income or expenses as core to our ongoing business operations.
(i) Other costs consist of certain expenses that are not core to our ongoing business operations, including environmental remediation-related costs associated with the legacy operations of our business prior to a business combination consummated in a prior year period, capital and franchise taxes, non-cash asset retirement obligation accretion and the initial implementation of procedures to comply with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. Included in this line-item are rounding discrepancies that may arise from rounding from dollars (in thousands) to dollars (in millions).
We use Adjusted EBITDA as a performance measure to evaluate our financial results. Because our Catalysts segment includes our 50% interest in our Zeolyst Joint Venture, we include an adjustment for our 50% proportionate share of depreciation, amortization and interest expense of our Zeolyst Joint Venture.
(b)
Represents the amortization of the fair value adjustments associated with the equity affiliate investment in our Zeolyst Joint Venture as a result of the combination of the businesses of PQ Holdings Inc. and Eco Services Operations LLC in May 2016 (the “Business Combination”). We determined the fair value of the equity affiliate investment and the fair value step-up was then attributed to the underlying assets of our Zeolyst Joint Venture. Amortization is primarily related to the fair value adjustments associated with fixed assets and intangible assets, including customer relationships and technical know-how.
(c)
When asset disposals occur, we remove the impact of net gain/loss of the disposed asset because such impact primarily reflects the non-cash write-off of long-lived assets no longer in use.
(d)
Reflects the exclusion of the foreign currency transaction gains and losses in the statements of income which primarily relates to the non-permanent intercompany debt denominated in local currency translated to U.S. dollars.
(e)
Represents non-cash adjustments to the Company’s LIFO reserves for certain inventories in the U.S. that are valued using the LIFO method, which we believe provides a means of comparison to other companies that may not use the same basis of accounting for inventories.
(f)
Relates to certain transaction costs, including debt financing, due diligence and other costs related to transactions that are completed, pending or abandoned, that we believe are not representative of our ongoing business operations.
(g)
Includes the impact of restructuring, integration and business optimization expenses which are incremental costs that are not representative of our ongoing business operations.

(h)
Represents adjustments for defined benefit pension plan costs in our statements of income. More than two-thirds of our defined benefit pension plan obligations are under defined benefit pension plans that are frozen, and the remaining obligations primarily relate to plans operated in certain of our non-U.S. locations that, pursuant to jurisdictional requirements, cannot be frozen. As such, we do not view such expenses as core to our ongoing business operations.
(i)
Other costs consist of certain expenses that are not core to our ongoing business operations, including environmental remediation-related costs associated with the legacy operations of our business prior to the Business Combination, capital and franchise taxes, non-cash asset retirement obligation accretion and the initial implementation of procedures to comply with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. Included in this line-item are rounding discrepancies that may arise from rounding from dollars (in thousands) to dollars (in millions).
Adjusted Net Income
Summarized adjusted net income information is shown below in the following table:
Three months ended March 31,
20202019
Pre-taxTax expense (benefit)After-taxPre-taxTax expense (benefit)After-tax
(in millions)
Reconciliation of net income attributable to PQ Group Holdings Inc. to Adjusted Net Income(1)(2)
Net income before non-controlling interest$1.9  $1.4  $0.5  $5.9  $2.4  $3.5  
Less: Net income attributable to non-controlling interest0.3  —  0.3  0.30.3
Net income attributable to PQ Group Holdings Inc.1.6  1.4  0.2  5.62.43.2
Amortization of investment in affiliate step-up(b)
1.7  0.6  1.1  2.6  1.0  1.6  
Debt extinguishment costs2.5  0.9  1.6  —  —  —  
Net loss on asset disposals(c)
9.4  2.3  7.1  0.8  0.3  0.5  
Foreign currency exchange loss (gain)(d)
3.3  2.3  1.0  (2.7) (0.7) (2.0) 
LIFO expense(e)
(0.3) (0.1) (0.2) 10.2  3.7  6.5  
Transaction and other related costs(f)
2.1  0.8  1.3  0.1  —  0.1  
Equity-based compensation5.9  2.1  3.8  3.4  1.2  2.2  
Restructuring, integration and business optimization expenses(g)
2.0  0.7  1.3  0.7  0.2  0.5  
Defined benefit pension plan (benefit) cost(h)
(0.2) (0.1) (0.1) 1.0  0.4  0.6  
Other(i)
1.1  0.4  0.7  1.0  0.4  0.6  
Adjusted Net Income, including non-cash GILTI tax$29.1  $11.3  $17.8  $22.7  $8.9  $13.8  
Impact of non-cash GILTI tax(3)
—  (3.9) 3.9  —  (3.7) 3.7  
Adjusted Net Income$29.1  $7.4  $21.7  $22.7  $5.2  $17.5  
  Three months ended
September 30,
  2019 2018
  (in millions)
Reconciliation of net income attributable to PQ Group Holdings Inc. to Adjusted Net Income(1)(2)
    
Net income attributable to PQ Group Holdings Inc. $26.7
 $14.2
Amortization of investment in affiliate step-up(b)
 1.1
 0.9
Debt extinguishment costs 1.2
 0.2
Net loss on asset disposals(c)
 0.8
 2.9
Foreign currency exchange loss(d)
 3.9
 4.0
LIFO expense(e)
 0.4
 0.3
Transaction and other related costs(f)
 0.4
 0.1
Equity-based compensation 3.2
 2.2
Restructuring, integration and business optimization expenses(g)
 0.5
 1.2
Defined benefit pension plan cost (benefit)(h)
 0.5
 0.1
Other(i)
 1.4
 0.4
Adjusted Net Income, including non-cash GILTI tax $40.1
 $26.5
     
Impact of non-cash GILTI tax(3)
 8.2
 11.4
Impact of tax reform(4)
 
 (2.5)
Adjusted Net Income $48.3
 $35.4

(1)
(1)We define adjusted net income as net income attributable to PQ Group Holdings adjusted for non-operating income or expense and the impact of certain non-cash or other items that are included in net income that we do not consider indicative of our ongoing operating performance. Adjusted net income is presented as a key performance indicator as we believe it will enhance a prospective investor’s understanding of our results of operations and financial condition. Adjusted net income may not be comparable with net income or adjusted net income as defined by other companies.
(2)
Refer to the Adjusted EBITDA notes above for more information with respect to each adjustment.

(3)
Amount represents the impact to tax expense in net income before non-controlling interest and the related adjustments to net income associated with the Global Intangible Low Taxed Income (“GILTI”) provisions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (“TCJA”). Beginning January 1, 2018, GILTI results in taxation of “excess of foreign earnings,” which is defined as amounts greater than a 10% rate of return on applicable foreign tangible asset basis. The Company is required to record incremental tax provision impact with respect to GILTI as a result of having historical U.S. net operating loss (“NOL”) amounts to offset the GILTI taxable income inclusion. This NOL utilization precludes us from recognizing foreign tax credits (“FTCs”) which would otherwise help offset the tax impacts of GILTI. No FTCs will be recognized with respect to GILTI until our cumulative NOL balance has been exhausted. Because the GILTI provision does not impact our cash taxes (given available U.S. NOLs), and given that we expect to recognize FTCs to offset GILTI impacts once the NOLs are exhausted, we do not view this item as a component of core operations.
(4)
Represents the provisional adjustment for the impact of the TCJA recorded in net income.
The adjustments to net income attributable to PQ Group Holdings Inc. are shown net of applicable tax rates as determined by the calculation of our quarterly tax provision under interim financial reportingadjusted for the three months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, except for the foreign currency exchange lossnon-operating income or expense and the effectsimpact of our sale of a non-core product line for which the taxescertain non-cash or other items that are calculated as discrete items using the applicable statutory income tax rates.
Results of Operations
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2019 Compared to the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2018
Highlights
The following is a summary of our financial performance for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 compared with the nine months ended September 30, 2018.
Sales
Sales decreased $13.4 million to $1,214.7 million. The decrease in sales was primarily due to lower sales volumes and the unfavorable effects of foreign currency translation of $26.8 million, partially offset by higher average customer prices and favorable mix.
Gross Profit
Gross profit increased $15.3 million to $309.3 million. The increase in gross profit was primarily due to favorable pricing and product mix and lower depreciation expenses, which was partially offset by higher manufacturing costs and lower volumes.
Operating Income
Operating income increased by $31.2 million to $157.3 million. The increase in operating income was due to a gain on the sale of a non-core product line of $11.4 million and an increase in gross profit for the nine months ended September 30, 2019.
Equity in Net Income of Affiliated Companies
Equityincluded in net income that we do not consider indicative of affiliated companies for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 was $31.6 million, comparedour ongoing operating performance. Adjusted net income is presented as a key performance indicator as we believe it will enhance a prospective investor’s understanding of our results of operations and financial condition. Adjusted net income may not be comparable with $31.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018. The increase of $0.5 million was due to increased earnings generatednet income or adjusted net income as defined by our Zeolyst Joint Venture for the nine months ended September 30, 2019.

The following is our unaudited condensed consolidated statements of income and a summary of financial results for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018:
  Nine months ended
September 30,
 Change
  2019 2018 $ %
  (in millions, except percentages)
Sales $1,214.7
 $1,228.1
 $(13.4) (1.1)%
Cost of goods sold 905.4
 934.1
 (28.7) (3.1)%
Gross profit 309.3
 294.0
 15.3
 5.2 %
Gross profit margin 25.5% 23.9%    
Selling, general and administrative expenses 123.6
 126.2
 (2.6) (2.1)%
Other operating expense, net 28.4
 41.7
 (13.3) (31.9)%
Operating income 157.3
 126.1
 31.2
 24.7 %
Operating income margin 13.0% 10.3%    
Equity in net (income) from affiliated companies (31.6) (31.1) (0.5) 1.6 %
Interest expense, net 84.9
 84.6
 0.3
 0.4 %
Debt extinguishment costs 1.8
 6.7
 (4.9) (73.1)%
Other expense, net 1.8
 13.1
 (11.3) (86.3)%
Income before income taxes and noncontrolling interest 100.4
 52.8
 47.6
 90.2 %
Provision for income taxes 39.5
 21.6
 17.9
 82.9 %
Effective tax rate 39.3% 40.9%    
Net income 60.9
 31.2
 29.7
 95.2 %
Less: Net income attributable to the noncontrolling interest 0.5
 1.0
 (0.5) (50.0)%
Net income attributable to PQ Group Holdings Inc. $60.4
 $30.2
 $30.2
 100.0 %
         
Sales
  Nine months ended
September 30,
 Change
  2019 2018 $ %
  (in millions, except percentages)
Sales:        
Refining Services $341.5
 $336.2
 $5.3
 1.6 %
Catalysts 62.3
 50.2
 12.1
 24.1 %
Performance Materials 295.1
 304.7
 (9.6) (3.2)%
Performance Chemicals 526.2
 548.4
 (22.2) (4.0)%
Eliminations (10.4) (11.4) 1.0
  
Total sales $1,214.7
 $1,228.1
 $(13.4) (1.1)%
         
Refining Services: Sales in Refining Services for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 were $341.5 million, an increase of $5.3 million, or 1.6%, compared to sales of $336.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018. The increase in sales was primarily due to favorable customer mix driving higher average selling prices of $23.2 million, which offset lower sales volumes of $17.9 million.other companies.
The favorable customer mix was driven by(2)  Refer to the roll-offAdjusted EBITDA notes above for more information with respect to each adjustment.
(3)  Amount represents the impact to tax expense in net income before non-controlling interest and the related adjustments to net income associated with the GILTI provisions of a below-market contract and other contract renewalsthe TCJA. As of January 1, 2018, GILTI results in our regenerated sulfuric acid and virgin sulfuric acid product lines. The favorable customer mix more than offset a decrease in volumes due to decreased demand for virgin sulfuric acid and unexpected customer plant outages.
Catalysts: Sales in Catalysts for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 were $62.3 million, an increasetaxation of $12.1 million, or 24.1%, compared to sales of $50.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018. The increase in sales was primarily due to higher sales volumes of $11.0 million and higher average selling price from product mix of $2.5 million, which was partially offset by the unfavorable effects“excess of foreign currency translationearnings,” which is defined as amounts greater than a 10% rate of $1.4 million.

return on applicable foreign tangible asset basis. The change in sales was dueCompany is required to higher customer demand within our polyolefin catalysts product line, the timing of customer orders for methyl methacrylate catalyst and favorable product mix, which was offset by the unfavorable effects of foreign currency driven by the stronger U.S. dollar.
Performance Materials: Sales in Performance Materials for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 were $295.1 million, a decrease of $9.6 million, or 3.2%, comparedrecord incremental tax provision impact with sales of $304.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018. The decrease in sales was primarily duerespect to lower sales volume of $20.4 million and the unfavorable effects of foreign currency translation of $8.6 million, which was partially offset by higher average selling price and favorable customer mix of $19.4 million.
The decrease in sales volumes was a result of unfavorable weather conditions in North America as well as lower European demand for engineered glass materials. The unfavorable effects of foreign currency translation was due to the stronger U.S. dollar as compared with the Euro. This was partially offset by higher average selling prices for products sold in North and Latin America.
Performance Chemicals: Sales in Performance Chemicals for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 were $526.2 million, a decrease of $22.2 million, or 4.0%, compared to sales of $548.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018. The decrease in sales was primarily due to the unfavorable effects of foreign currency translation of $17.3 million and lower sales volumes of $19.6 million, which was partially offset by higher average selling price and favorable mix of $14.7 million.
The decrease in sales was a result of lower volumes sold to the consumer products and industrial and process chemicals industries and the unfavorable effects of foreign currency translation driven by the stronger U.S. dollar, which was partially offset by higher pricing to cover raw material cost increases.
Gross Profit
Gross profit for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 was $309.3 million, an increase of $15.3 million, or 5.2%, compared with $294.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018. The increase in gross profit was due to favorable customer pricing of $59.8 million, favorable product mix of $6.0 million and lower depreciation expense of $2.6 million, which was partially offset by unfavorable manufacturing costs of $25.8 million, lower volumes of $20.6 million and the unfavorable effects of foreign currency translation of $6.7 million.
Favorable customer pricing was a result of contract renewals and improved product mix. The unfavorable change in manufacturing costs was driven by increased production and transportation costs. The decrease in volumes was due to unplanned customer plant outages, lower virgin sulfuric acid demand and lower sales to the consumer products industry. The unfavorable effects of foreign currency were driven by the stronger U.S. dollar.
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
Selling, general and administrative expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 was $123.6 million, a decrease of $2.6 million as compared to $126.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018. The decrease in selling, general and administrative expenses was due to lower research and development expenditures.
Other Operating Expense, Net
Other operating expense, net for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 was $28.4 million, a decrease of $13.3 million, compared with $41.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018. The decrease in other operating expense, net was due to a $11.4 million gain on disposition of assets related to a non-core product line and a decrease in asset disposals, which typically occurGILTI as a result of having historical U.S. net operating losses (“NOL”) to offset the GILTI taxable income inclusion. This NOL utilization precludes us from recognizing foreign tax credits (“FTCs”) which would otherwise help offset the tax impacts of GILTI. No FTCs will be recognized with respect to GILTI until our recurring plant maintenance projects. Duringcumulative NOL balance has been exhausted. Because the nine months ended September 30, 2018,GILTI provision does not impact our cash taxes
42

Table of Contents
(given available U.S. NOLs), and given that we recognized insurance recovery proceeds totaling $2.5 million relatedexpect to losses sustainedrecognize FTCs to offset GILTI impacts once the NOLs are exhausted, we do not view this item as a resultcomponent of Hurricane Harvey in August 2017 (of which $1.6 million was recorded in other operating expense, net), and which claim was fully settled by the end of 2018.core operations.
Equity in Net Income of Affiliated Companies
Equity in net income of affiliated companies for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 was $31.6 million, compared to $31.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018. The increase was primarily due to $0.5 million of higher earnings from our Zeolyst Joint Venture during the nine months ended September 30, 2019.
Interest Expense, Net
Interest expense, net for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 was $84.9 million, an increase of $0.3 million, as compared with $84.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018. The increase in interest expense was due to higher interest rates on our variable rate debt.

Debt Extinguishment Costs
Debt extinguishment costs for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018 were $1.8 million and $6.7 million, respectively. During the nine months ended September 30, 2019, the Company prepaid $100.0 million of outstanding principal balance on the Term Loan Facility. The Company wrote off $0.5 million of previously unamortized deferred financing costs and original issue discount of $1.2 million as debt extinguishment costs for the three months ended September 30, 2019.
On February 8, 2018, we refinanced our existing senior secured term loan facility with a new $1,267.0 million senior secured term loan facility to reduce the applicable interest rates. We recorded $2.1 million of new creditor and third-party financing fees as debt extinguishment costs for the nine months ended September 30, 2018. In addition, previously unamortized deferred financing costs of $1.4 million and original issue discount of $2.4 million associated with the existing senior secured term loan facility were written off as debt extinguishment costs for the nine months ended September 30, 2018.
During the nine months ended September 30, 2018, the Company prepaid $45.0 million of outstanding principal balance on the Term Loan Facility. The Company wrote off $0.9 million of previously unamortized deferred financing costs and original issue discount as debt extinguishment costs for the nine months ended September 30, 2018.
Other Expense, Net
Other expense, net for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 was an expense of $1.8 million, a decrease of $11.3 million, as compared with an expense of $13.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018. The change in other expense, net primarily consisted of a decrease of $10.0 million related to foreign currency losses mainly driven by the February 8, 2018 refinancing of our Euro-denominated term loan and the non-permanent intercompany debt denominated in local currency and translated to U.S. dollars.
Provision for Income Taxes
The provision for income taxes for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 was $39.5 million compared to a $21.6 million provision for the nine months ended September 30, 2018. The effective income tax rate for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 was 39.3% compared to 40.9% for the nine months ended September 30, 2018.
The Company’s effective income tax rate fluctuates based primarily on changes in income mix (including the effect of loss companies), the impact of including foreign earnings in U.S. taxable income and changes in foreign exchange gains and losses, which create permanent differences in certain jurisdictions.
The difference between the U.S. federal statutory income tax rate and the Company’s effective income tax rate for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 was mainly due to the tax effect of permanent differences related to foreign currency exchange gain or loss, the inclusion of foreign earnings in U.S. taxable income, pre-tax losses with no associated tax benefit, the discrete tax effects of our sale of a non-core product line and state taxes.
Net Income Attributable to PQ Group Holdings
For the foregoing reasons and after the effect of the non-controlling interest in earnings of subsidiaries for each period presented, net income attributable to PQ Group Holdings was $60.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 compared with net income of $30.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018.
Adjusted EBITDA
Summarized Segment Adjusted EBITDA information is shown below in the following table:
  Nine months ended
September 30,
 Change
  2019 2018 $ %
  (in millions, except percentages)
Segment Adjusted EBITDA:(1)
        
Refining Services $133.7
 $126.4
 $7.3
 5.8 %
Catalysts(2)
 79.4
 62.2
 17.2
 27.7 %
Performance Materials 65.5
 61.9
 3.6
 5.8 %
Performance Chemicals 120.6
 131.7
 (11.1) (8.4)%
Total Segment Adjusted EBITDA(3)
 399.2
 382.2
 17.0
 4.4 %
Unallocated corporate expenses (28.0) (27.3) (0.7) 2.6 %
Total Adjusted EBITDA $371.2
 $354.9
 $16.3
 4.6 %
         

(1)
We define Segment Adjusted EBITDA as EBITDA adjusted for certain items as noted in the reconciliation below. Our management evaluates the performance of our segments and allocates resources based primarily on Segment Adjusted EBITDA. Segment Adjusted EBITDA does not represent cash flow for periods presented and should not be considered as an alternative to net income as an indicator of our operating performance or as an alternative to cash flows as a source of liquidity. Segment Adjusted EBITDA may not be comparable with EBITDA or Adjusted EBITDA as defined by other companies.
(2)
The Adjusted EBITDA from our Zeolyst Joint Venture included in the Catalysts segment is $48.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2019, which includes $31.5 million of equity in net income, excluding $5.9 million of amortization of investment in affiliate step-up plus $11.2 million of joint venture depreciation, amortization and interest. The Adjusted EBITDA from our Zeolyst Joint Venture included in the Catalysts segment is $45.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018, which includes $31.0 million of equity in net income, excluding $5.0 million of amortization of investment in affiliate step-up plus $9.2 million of joint venture depreciation, amortization and interest.
(3)
Our total Segment Adjusted EBITDA differs from our total consolidated Adjusted EBITDA due to unallocated corporate expenses.
Refining Services: Adjusted EBITDA for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 was $133.7 million, an increase of $7.3 million, or 5.8%, compared with $126.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018. The increase in Adjusted EBITDA was driven by customer mix due to the roll-off of a below-market contract and other contract renewals, partially offset by lower volumes from unplanned customer plant outages and the timing of insurance recovery proceeds recognized during the nine months ended September 30, 2018.
Catalysts: Adjusted EBITDA for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 was $79.4 million, an increase of $17.2 million, or 27.7%, compared with $62.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018. The increase in Adjusted EBITDA was a result of higher customer demand for our hydrocracking, specialty and polyolefin catalysts and the timing of customer orders for our methyl methacrylate catalyst product line, which was partially offset by lower emission control demand.
Performance Materials: Adjusted EBITDA for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 was $65.5 million, an increase of $3.6 million, or 5.8%, compared with $61.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018. The increase in Adjusted EBITDA was a result of improved pricing and product mix, which was offset by lower volumes due to unfavorable weather conditions in North America and higher manufacturing costs.
Performance Chemicals: Adjusted EBITDA for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 was $120.6 million, a decrease of $11.1 million, or 8.4%, compared with $131.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018. The decrease in Adjusted EBITDA was due to lower volumes of product sold to the consumer products and industrial and process chemicals industries and the strengthening of the U.S. dollar, which was partially offset by favorable product mix.

A reconciliation of net income attributable to PQ Group Holdings to Segment Adjusted EBITDA is as follows:
  Nine months ended
September 30,
  2019 2018
  (in millions)
Reconciliation of net income attributable to PQ Group Holdings Inc. to Segment Adjusted EBITDA    
Net income attributable to PQ Group Holdings Inc. $60.4
 $30.2
Provision for income taxes 39.5
 21.6
Interest expense, net 84.9
 84.6
Depreciation and amortization 135.2
 139.3
EBITDA 320.0
 275.7
Joint venture depreciation, amortization and interest(a)
 11.2
 9.2
Amortization of investment in affiliate step-up(b)
 5.9
 5.0
Amortization of inventory step-up(c)
 
 1.6
Debt extinguishment costs 1.8
 6.7
Net (gain) loss on asset disposals(d)
 (7.7) 11.1
Foreign currency exchange loss(e)
 5.4
 15.3
LIFO expense(f)
 10.8
 5.9
Transaction and other related costs(g)
 1.7
 0.9
Equity-based compensation 13.6
 11.9
Restructuring, integration and business optimization expenses(h)
 1.4
 5.7
Defined benefit pension plan cost(i)
 2.4
 0.3
Other(j)
 4.7
 5.6
Adjusted EBITDA 371.2
 354.9
Unallocated corporate expenses 28.0
 27.3
Segment Adjusted EBITDA $399.2
 $382.2
(a)
We use Adjusted EBITDA as a performance measure to evaluate our financial results. Because our Catalysts segment includes our 50% interest in our Zeolyst Joint Venture, we include an adjustment for our 50% proportionate share of depreciation, amortization and interest expense of our Zeolyst Joint Venture.
(b)
Represents the amortization of the fair value adjustments associated with the equity affiliate investment in our Zeolyst Joint Venture as a result of the Business Combination. We determined the fair value of the equity affiliate investment and the fair value step-up was then attributed to the underlying assets of our Zeolyst Joint Venture. Amortization is primarily related to the fair value adjustments associated with fixed assets and intangible assets, including customer relationships and technical know-how.
(c)
As a result of the Sovitec acquisition there was a step-up in the fair value of inventory, which is amortized through cost of goods sold in the statements of income.
(d)
When asset disposals occur, we remove the impact of net gain/loss of the disposed asset because such impact primarily reflects the non-cash write-off of long-lived assets no longer in use. During the nine months ended September 30, 2019, net (gain) loss on asset disposals reflects the gain related to the sale of a non-core product line.
(e)
Reflects the exclusion of the foreign currency transaction gains and losses in the statements of income primarily related to the non-permanent intercompany debt denominated in local currency translated to U.S. dollars during 2019 and primarily related to the Euro denominated term loan (which was settled as part of the February 2018 term loan refinancing) and the non-permanent intercompany debt denominated in local currency translated to U.S. dollars during 2018.
(f)
Represents non-cash adjustments to the Company’s LIFO reserves for certain inventories in the U.S. that are valued using the LIFO method, which we believe provides a means of comparison to other companies that may not use the same basis of accounting for inventories.
(g)
Relates to certain transaction costs, including debt financing, due diligence and other costs related to transactions that are completed, pending or abandoned, that we believe are not representative of our ongoing business operations.

(h)
Includes the impact of restructuring, integration and business optimization expenses which are incremental costs that are not representative of our ongoing business operations.
(i)
Represents adjustments for defined benefit pension plan costs in our statements of income. More than two-thirds of our defined benefit pension plan obligations are under defined benefit pension plans that are frozen, and the remaining obligations primarily relate to plans operated in certain of our non-U.S. locations that, pursuant to jurisdictional requirements, cannot be frozen. As such, we do not view such expenses as core to our ongoing business operations.
(j)
Other costs consist of certain expenses that are not core to our ongoing business operations, including environmental remediation-related costs associated with the legacy operations of our business prior to the Business Combination, capital and franchise taxes, non-cash asset retirement obligation accretion and the initial implementation of procedures to comply with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. Included in this line-item are rounding discrepancies that may arise from rounding from dollars (in thousands) to dollars (in millions).
Adjusted Net Income
Summarized adjusted net income information is shown below in the following table:
  Nine months ended
September 30,
  2019 2018
  (in millions)
Reconciliation of net income attributable to PQ Group Holdings Inc. to Adjusted Net Income(1)(2)
    
Net income attributable to PQ Group Holdings Inc. $60.4
 $30.2
Amortization of investment in affiliate step-up(b)
 3.8
 3.1
Amortization of inventory step-up(c)
 
 1.0
Debt extinguishment costs 1.2
 4.3
Net (gain) loss on asset disposals(d)
 (6.1) 6.9
Foreign currency exchange loss(e)
 6.0
 12.0
LIFO expense(f)
 7.0
 3.6
Transaction and other related costs(g)
 1.1
 0.6
Equity-based compensation 8.8
 7.3
Restructuring, integration and business optimization expenses(h)
 0.9
 3.5
Defined benefit pension plan cost(i)
 1.6
 0.2
Other(j)
 3.2
 3.3
Adjusted Net Income, including non-cash GILTI tax $87.9
 $76.0
     
Impact of non-cash GILTI tax(3)
 19.3
 19.0
Impact of tax reform(4)
 
 (1.5)
Adjusted Net Income $107.2
 $93.5
(1)
We define adjusted net income as net income attributable to PQ Group Holdings adjusted for non-operating income or expense and the impact of certain non-cash or other items that are included in net income that we do not consider indicative of our ongoing operating performance. Adjusted net income is presented as a key performance indicator as we believe it will enhance a prospective investor’s understanding of our results of operations and financial condition. Adjusted net income may not be comparable with net income or adjusted net income as defined by other companies.
(2)
Refer to the Adjusted EBITDA notes above for more information with respect to each adjustment.

(3)
Amount represents the impact to tax expense in net income before non-controlling interest and the related adjustments to net income associated with the GILTI provisions of the TCJA. Beginning January 1, 2018, GILTI results in taxation of “excess of foreign earnings,” which is defined as amounts greater than a 10% rate of return on applicable foreign tangible asset basis. The Company is required to record incremental tax provision impact with respect to GILTI as a result of having historical U.S. NOL amounts to offset the GILTI taxable income inclusion. This NOL utilization precludes us from recognizing FTCs which would otherwise help offset the tax impacts of GILTI. No FTCs will be recognized with respect to GILTI until our cumulative NOL balance has been exhausted. Because the GILTI provision does not impact our cash taxes (given available U.S. NOLs), and given that we expect to recognize FTCs to offset GILTI impacts once the NOLs are exhausted, we do not view this item as a component of core operations.
(4)
Represents the provisional adjustment for the impact of the TCJA recorded in net income.
The adjustments to net income attributable to PQ Group Holdings Inc. are shown net of applicable tax rates of 34.9%36.5% and 38.2%36.5% for the ninethree months ended September 30,March 31, 2020 and 2019, and 2018, respectively, except for the foreign currency exchange loss and the effects of our sale of a non-core product line for which the taxes are calculated as discrete items using the applicable statutory income tax rates.
 Financial Condition, Liquidity and Capital Resources
Our primary sources of liquidity consist of cash flow from operations, existing cash balances as well as funds available under our asset based lending revolving credit facility. We expect that ongoing requirements for debt service and capital expenditures will be funded from these sources of funds. Our primary liquidity requirements include funding working capital requirements (primarily inventory and accounts receivable, net of accounts payable and other accrued liabilities), debt service requirements and capital expenditures. Our capital expenditures include both maintenance of business, which include spending on maintenance and health, safety and environmental initiatives as well as growth, which includes spending to drive organic sales growth and cost savings initiatives.
We believe that our existing cash, cash equivalents and cash flows from operations, combined with availability under our asset based lending revolving credit facility, will be sufficient to meet our presently anticipated future cash needs for at least the next 12twelve months. We may also pursue strategic acquisition or divestiture opportunities, which may impact our future cash requirements. We may, from time to time, increase borrowings under our asset based lending revolving credit facility to meet our future cash needs. In response to the COVID-19 outbreak, and to strengthen our liquidity and financial flexibility, we have drawn $64.0 million on our revolving credit facility during the three months ended March 31, 2020. As of September 30, 2019,March 31, 2020, we had cash and cash equivalents of $78.5$107.7 million and availability of $170.1$128.6 million under our asset based lending revolving credit facility, after giving effect to $20.0$18.8 million of outstanding letters of credit and $0.0$64.0 million of revolving credit facility borrowings, for a total available liquidity of $248.6$236.3 million. As of September 30, 2019,March 31, 2020, we were in compliance with all covenants under our debt agreements.
Included in our cash and cash equivalents balance as of September 30, 2019March 31, 2020 was $39.2$57.0 million of cash and cash equivalents held in foreign jurisdictions. We repatriate cash held outside of the United States from certain foreign subsidiaries in order to meet domestic liquidity needs. Depending on domestic and foreign cash balances, we have certain flexibility to repatriate funds in order to meet those needs. Specifically, we have an intercompany loan structure in place with several of our foreign subsidiaries that allows us to repatriate foreign cash in a tax efficient manner from those subsidiaries. In certain cases, the repatriation of foreign cash under previous U.S. tax law had generally been subject to U.S. income taxes at the time of cash distribution. Due to the enactment of the TCJA in December 2017, future overseas earnings repatriation will generally no longer be subject to U.S. federal income taxes at the time of cash distribution. However, future foreign earnings may still be taxed for state income tax purposes, as well as subject to certain foreign withholding tax obligations, when cash amounts are distributed back to the U.S.
As of September 30, 2019,March 31, 2020, our total indebtedness was $2,043.3$1,996.8 million, with up to $170.1$128.6 million of available borrowings under our asset based lending revolving credit facility. Our liquidity requirements are significant, primarily due to debt service requirements. As reported, our cash interest paid for the ninethree months ended September 30,March 31, 2020 and 2019 and 2018 was approximately $82.3$20.0 million and $83.6$23.7 million, respectively. Before any impact of hedges, a one percent change in assumed interest rates for our variable interest credit facilities would have an annual impact of approximately $10.7$10.2 million on interest expense. We hedge the interest rate fluctuations on debt obligations through interest rate cap agreements. As of September 30, 2019,March 31, 2020, we had interest rate caps on $1.0 billion of notional variable debt with a cap rate of 3.0%.

3.00% through July 2020 and, beginning in July 2020, have interest rate caps on $500.0 million of notional variable debt with a cap rate of 0.84% through July 2022.
Cash Flow
Three months ended
March 31,
20202019
(in millions)
Net cash provided by (used in):
Operating activities$4.5  $26.8  
Investing activities(22.1) (29.2) 
Financing activities58.2  (2.5) 
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash(4.2) (0.7) 
Net change in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash36.4  (5.6) 
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period73.9  59.7  
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period$110.3  $54.1  
43

Table of Contents
  Nine months ended
September 30,
  2019 2018
  (in millions)
Net cash provided by (used in):    
Operating activities $181.9
 $166.0
Investing activities (54.7) (95.8)
Financing activities (103.2) (77.8)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash (3.4) (1.6)
Net change in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash 20.6
 (9.2)
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period 59.7
 67.2
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period $80.3
 $58.0
     

Three months ended
March 31,
20202019
(in millions)
Net income$0.5  $3.5  
Non-cash and non-working capital related activities(1)
50.7  44.6  
Changes in working capital(46.0) (19.9) 
Other operating activities(0.7) (1.4) 
Net cash provided by operating activities$4.5  $26.8  
  Nine months ended
September 30,
  2019 2018
  (in millions)
Net income $60.9
 $31.2
Non-cash and non-working capital related activities(1)
 149.7
 190.4
Changes in working capital (21.5) (43.1)
Other operating activities (7.2) (12.5)
Net cash provided by operating activities $181.9
 $166.0

(1)
(1) Includes depreciation, amortization, amortization of deferred financing costs and original issue discount, debt extinguishment costs, foreign currency exchange gains and losses, pension and postretirement healthcare benefit expense and funding, deferred income tax provision (benefit), net (gains) losses on asset disposals, stock compensation expense, net interest proceeds on swaps designated as net investment hedges (which is reflected below in net cash used in investing activities) and equity in net income and dividends received from affiliated companies.
Includes depreciation, amortization, charges related to purchase accounting fair value adjustments, amortization of deferred financing costs and original issue discount, debt extinguishment costs, foreign currency exchange gains and losses, deferred income tax provision (benefit), net (gains) losses on asset disposals, stock compensation expense, net interest proceeds on swaps designated as net investment hedges (which is reflected below in net cash used in investing activities) and equity in net income and dividends received from affiliated companies.
 Nine months ended
September 30,
Three months ended
March 31,
 2019 201820202019
 (in millions)(in millions)
Working capital changes that provided (used) cash:    Working capital changes that provided (used) cash:
Receivables $(22.5) $(43.1)Receivables$(26.1) $1.1  
Inventories (1.8) 8.8
Inventories(9.7) (19.2) 
Prepaids and other current assets 0.3
 (1.6)Prepaids and other current assets(0.7) 2.9  
Accounts payable (4.1) (7.6)Accounts payable(1.3) (3.9) 
Accrued liabilities 6.6
 0.4
Accrued liabilities(8.2) (0.8) 
 $(21.5) $(43.1)
    $(46.0) $(19.9) 


Three months ended
March 31,
20202019
(in millions)
Purchases of property, plant and equipment$(28.1) $(33.6) 
Net interest proceeds on swaps designated as net investment hedges1.8  3.9  
Proceeds from sale of assets2.4  —  
Proceeds from sale of investment1.8  —  
Other, net—  0.5  
Net cash used in investing activities$(22.1) $(29.2) 

Three months ended
March 31,
20202019
(in millions)
Net revolving credit facilities borrowings$64.7  $3.5  
Net cash repayments on debt obligations—  (5.0) 
Other financing activities(6.5) (1.0) 
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities$58.2  $(2.5) 
44
  Nine months ended
September 30,
  2019 2018
  (in millions)
Purchases of property, plant and equipment $(91.7) $(95.3)
Investment in affiliated companies 
 (5.0)
Business combinations, net of cash acquired 
 (1.0)
Net interest proceeds on swaps designated as net investment hedges 8.4
 4.3
Proceeds from sale of product line 28.0
 
Other, net 0.6
 1.2
Net cash used in investing activities $(54.7) $(95.8)

  Nine months ended
September 30,
  2019 2018
  (in millions)
Net revolving credit facilities borrowings $1.3
 $(23.5)
Net cash repayments on debt obligations (105.8) (53.0)
Other financing activities 1.3
 (1.3)
Net cash used in financing activities $(103.2) $(77.8)
Net cash provided by operating activities was $181.9$4.5 million for the ninethree months ended September 30, 2019,March 31, 2020, compared to $166.0$26.8 million provided for the ninethree months ended September 30, 2018.March 31, 2019. Cash generated by net income plus non-cash and non-working capital related activities was lowerhigher during the ninethree months ended September 30, 2019March 31, 2020 by $11.2$3.9 million compared to the same period in the prior year. The change in working capital during the ninethree months ended September 30, 2019March 31, 2020 was favorableunfavorable compared to the ninethree months ended September 30, 2018.March 31, 2019. Cash used to fund working capital was $21.5$46.0 million and $43.1$19.9 million for the ninethree months ended September 30,March 31, 2020 and 2019, and 2018, respectively.
The decreaseincrease in cash generated by net income plus non-cash and non-working capital related activities of $11.2$3.9 million as compared to the prior year period was primarily due to lower dividends received from affiliated companies and net interest income on our cross-currency swaps.higher sales volumes, which was partially offset by higher transaction-related costs.
The increasedecrease in cash from working capital of $21.6$26.1 million as compared to the prior year was primarily due to favorableunfavorable changes in accounts receivable and prepaid and other current assets, accounts payable and accrued liabilities, which was partially offset by unfavorablefavorable changes in inventory.inventory, accounts payable and accrued liabilities.
The favorableunfavorable change in accounts receivable was due to Refining Serviceshigher current year sales and timing of customer paymentscollections at the end of the quarter. The unfavorable change in prepaid and lower highway safety product group salesother current assets is due to the timing of insurance prepayments and collection of insurance proceeds in our Performance Materials product group.the prior year period. The favorableunfavorable change in accrued liabilities was primarily due to the timing of lower accrued interest from the Term Loan Facility amendment in February 2020 and lower outstanding Term Loan Facility principal balances, as well as the timing of various expenses. The favorable change in inventory was due to lower inventory on higher sales volumes. The favorable change in accounts payable was a result of timing of vendor payments. The unfavorable change in inventory was due to an inventory build to support anticipated future sales.
Net cash used in investing activities was $54.7$22.1 million for the ninethree months ended September 30, 2019,March 31, 2020, compared to cash used of $95.8$29.2 million during the same period in 2018.2019. Cash used in investing activities primarily consisted of utilizing $91.7$28.1 million and $95.3$33.6 million to fund capital expenditures during the ninethree months ended September 30,March 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. We received $1.8 million and 2018,$3.9 million in interest proceeds related to our cross-currency swaps during the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. During the ninethree months ended September 30, 2019,March 31, 2020, we received proceeds of $28.0$2.4 million related to the sale of a non-core product line and received $8.4 million million in interest proceeds related to our cross-currency swaps.asset.
Net cash used inprovided by financing activities was $103.2$58.2 million for the ninethree months ended September 30, 2019,March 31, 2020, compared to net cash used of $77.8$2.6 million during the same period in 2018.2019. Net cash used inprovided by financing activities was primarily driven by $100.0$64.7 million in long-term debt repayments on our Term Loan Facility offset by $1.3and $3.5 million of net borrowings under our revolving credit facilities made through the ninethree months ended September 30, 2019. Net cash used by financing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 was mainly due to $23.5 million of net borrowings under our revolving credit facility partially offset by the net impact of the term loan refinancing (including debt issuance costs).

March 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.
Debt
 September 30,
2019
 December 31,
2018
March 31,
2020
December 31, 2019
 (in millions)(in millions)
Term Loan Facility $1,057.5
 $1,157.5
Term Loan Facility$947.5  $947.5  
6.75% Senior Secured Notes due 2022 625.0
 625.0
6.75% Senior Secured Notes due 2022625.0  625.0  
5.75% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2025 295.0
 300.0
5.75% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2025295.0  295.0  
ABL Facility 
 
ABL Facility64.0  —  
Other 65.8
 65.9
Other65.3  64.6  
Total debt 2,043.3
 2,148.4
Total debt1,996.8  1,932.1  
Original issue discount (15.4) (18.6)Original issue discount(15.0) (13.4) 
Deferred financing costs (13.0) (15.9)Deferred financing costs(11.6) (11.7) 
Total debt, net of original issue discount and deferred financing costs 2,014.9
 2,114.0
Total debt, net of original issue discount and deferred financing costs1,970.2  1,907.0  
Less: current portion (8.2) (7.2)Less: current portion(8.5) (7.8) 
Total long-term debt, excluding current portion $2,006.7
 $2,106.8
Total long-term debt, excluding current portion$1,961.7  $1,899.2  
    
As of September 30, 2019,March 31, 2020, our total debt was $2,043.3$1,996.8 million, including $14.0$13.5 million of other foreign debt and $51.8 million of notes payable for the New Market Tax Credit financing and excluding the original issue discount of $15.4$15.0 million and deferred financing fees of $13.0$11.6 million for our senior secured credit facilities and notes. Our net debt as of September 30, 2019March 31, 2020 was $1,964.8$1,889.1 million, including cash and cash equivalents of $78.5$107.7 million. On August 7, 2019, we prepaid $100.0 million of outstanding principal balance on the Term Loan Facility. We may seek, subject to market conditions and other factors, opportunities to repurchase, refinance or otherwise reprice our debt.
45

Table of Contents
Capital Expenditures
Maintenance capital expenditures include spending on maintenance of business, health, safety and environmental initiatives. Growth capital expenditures include spending to drive organic sales growth and cost savings initiatives. These capital expenditures represent our “book” capital expenditures for which the company has recorded, but not necessarily paid for the capital expenditures.
 Nine months ended
September 30,
Three months ended
March 31,
 2019 2018 20202019
 (in millions) (in millions)
Maintenance capital expenditures $58.1
 $61.8
Maintenance capital expenditures$12.9  $18.5  
Growth capital expenditures 21.9
 22.8
Growth capital expenditures3.8  6.7  
Total capital expenditures $80.0
 $84.6
Total capital expenditures$16.7  $25.2  
    
Capital expenditures remained at a level sufficient for required maintenance and certain expansion growth initiatives during these periods. Maintenance capital expenditures are lower in the ninethree months ended September 30, 2019March 31, 2020 as compared to the ninethree months ended September 30, 2018March 31, 2019 due to fewer plant maintenance projects incurred during the period. Growth capital expenditures are lower in the ninethree months ended September 30, 2019March 31, 2020 as compared to the ninethree months ended September 30, 2018March 31, 2019 due to decreased spending to expandenhance capacity at our production facilities.
Pension Funding
We paid $8.9$3.2 million and $6.4$3.4 million in cash contributions into our defined benefit pension plans and other post-retirement plans during the ninethree months ended September 30,March 31, 2020 and 2019, and 2018, respectively. The net periodic pension benefit was $0.1 million and net periodic pension expense was $2.7 million and $0.3$1.2 million for those same periods, respectively.
Off–Balance Sheet Arrangements
We had $20.0$18.8 million of outstanding letters of credit on our ABL Facility as of September 30, 2019.

March 31, 2020.
Contractual Obligations
Information related to our contractual obligations at December 31, 20182019 can be found in Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018,2019, filed with the SEC on March 1, 2019,February 27, 2020, which we refer to as our Annual Report on Form 10-K. During the ninethree months ended September 30, 2019,March 31, 2020, there have been no significant changes to our contractual obligations as disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K.10-K, other than the following items.
During the quarter ended March 31, 2020, we amended our Term Loan Facility to reduce the applicable interest rate and extend the maturity of the facility to February 2027. We anticipate that the reduction in interest rates will result in a $2.4 million reduction in interest payments per year at current interest rates. During the quarter ended March 31, 2020, we amended our ABL Facility to increase the aggregate amount of the revolving loan commitments to $250.0 million, reduce the interest rate and extend the maturity to March 2025. We have approximately $64.0 million in outstanding borrowings as of March 31, 2020, which, if outstanding for the entire year, would result in an immaterial increase in our annual interest payments. Refer to Note 12, “Long-term Debt,” to our condensed consolidated financial statements under Item 1, “Financial Statements,” in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for additional information, and to Item 3, “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk,” in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for information on changes to the Company’s estimated interest payments on long-term debt as a result of the Term Loan Facility amendment and ABL Facility amendment.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
We prepare our condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP and our significant accounting policies are described in Note 2 to our audited consolidated financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect reported amounts and related disclosures. We base our estimates and judgments on historical experience and other relevant factors that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions. We evaluate our critical accounting estimates, assumptions and judgments on an ongoing basis.
There has been no material change in our critical accounting policies and use of estimates from those described in Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K.10-K, other than the following item.
Goodwill and Intangible Assets
46

Table of Contents
Goodwill and intangible assets with indefinite lives are not amortized, but are tested for impairment annually or more frequently if events occur or circumstances change that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of the reporting unit below its carrying amount. We perform our annual impairment tests of goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets as of October 1 of each year.
For the purposes of the quantitative goodwill impairment test, we determine the fair value of our reporting units using a combination of a market approach and an income, or discounted cash flow, approach. Estimating the fair value of a reporting unit requires various assumptions including the use of projections of future cash flows and discount rates that reflect the risks associated with achieving those cash flows. The key assumptions used in estimating the fair value are operating margin growth rates, revenue growth rates, the weighted average cost of capital, the perpetual growth rate, and the estimated earnings market multiples of each reporting unit. The market value is estimated using publicly traded comparable company values by applying their most recent annual EBITDA multiples to the reporting unit’s EBITDA for the trailing twelve months. The income approach value is estimated using a discounted cash flow approach. The assumptions about future cash flows and growth rates are based on our assessment of a number of factors including the reporting unit’s recent performance against budget as well as management’s ability to execute on planned future strategic initiatives. Discount rate assumptions are based on an assessment of the risk inherent in those future cash flows. The fair values of the Company’s four reporting units exceeded their respective carrying amounts as of the last annual goodwill impairment test date on October 1, 2019 by the following percentages: 179% for Refining Services, 67% for Catalysts, 27% for Performance Materials and 18% for Performance Chemicals.
Based on the operating results for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and other considerations, we believe that it is more likely than not that the fair values for each of our reporting units and of our indefnite-lived intangible assets are still greater than their respective carrying values. Accordingly, no interim goodwill or intangible asset impairment assessments were considered necessary at March 31, 2020. The Company will continue to monitor business plans throughout 2020 to determine if an interim goodwill and intangible assets impairment evaluation should be conducted. Changes in assumptions regarding future business performance and macroeconomic conditions, particularly those associated with the the COVID-19 pandemic, may have a significant impact on future cash flows and reporting unit or intangible asset valuations. A significant downturn in global economic growth, or recessionary conditions in the U.S., Europe, South America and Asia for prolonged periods, may lead to reduced customer demand for the Company’s reporting units, or material supply chain interruptions or product shortages. To the extent that such developing economic conditions negatively impact customer demand for our products or product availability over an extended period, our businesses, results of operations and financial condition could be significantly and adversely affected, which could result in future impairments of goodwill and intangible assets.
Accounting Standards Not Yet Adopted
See Note 2 to our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements for a discussion of recently issued accounting standards and their effect on us.
ITEM 3.QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK.
ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK.
Our major market risk exposure is potential losses arising from changing rates and prices regarding foreign currency exchange rate risk, interest rate risk, commodity price risk and credit risk. The audit committee of our board of directors regularly reviews foreign exchange, interest rate and commodity hedging activity and monitors compliance with our hedging policy. We do not use financial instruments for speculative purposes, and we limit our hedging activity to the underlying economic exposure.
There have been no material changes in the foreign exchange risk, interest rate risk, commodity risk or credit risk discussed in Item 7A., “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk,” included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K.10-K other than the following items:
Interest Rate Risk
In February 2020, we restructured our $500.0 million notional interest rate cap agreements from July 31, 2020 through July 31, 2022 to lower the interest cap rate to 2.50% with a $0.1 million premium annuitized during the effective period. In March 2020, we further restructured our $500.0 million notional interest rate cap agreements from July 31, 2020 through July 31, 2022 to lower the interest cap rate to 0.84% with a $0.9 million premium annuitized during the effective period. Including the premiums on the original November 2018 agreement and the February and March 2020 restructurings, the total cumulative annuitized premium of $4.4 million will be paid through July 31, 2022 on our interest rate cap agreements.
ITEM 4.CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES.
ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES.
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Our management, with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of September 30, 2019,March 31, 2020, the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.
47

Table of Contents
The term “disclosure controls and procedures,” as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“Exchange Act”), means controls and other procedures of a company that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by a company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by a company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to the company’s management, including its principal executive and principal financial officers, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Management recognizes that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving their objectives and management necessarily applies its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures. Based on that evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that, as of such date, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective at a reasonable assurance level.
Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
NoStarting with the last few weeks of the quarter ended March 31, 2020, the majority of our office and management personnel have been working remotely as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Included within this group are individuals responsible for the execution of the Company’s set of internal controls over financial reporting. We have provided these individuals with what we believe to be the appropriate resources to continue to perform their duties on a remote basis, and are not aware of any impediments or other issues that materially affected, or which are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting. We will continue to monitor and assess the COVID-19 situation for any potential impact on the design and operating effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting. There were no other changes in our internal control over financial reporting occurred during the quarter ended September 30, 2019March 31, 2020 that materially affected, or which are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.



48

Table of Contents
PART IIOTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 1.LEGAL PROCEEDINGS.
ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS.
From time to time we may be subject to various legal claims and proceedings incidental to the normal conduct of business, relating to such matters as personal injury, product liability and warranty claims, waste disposal practices, release of chemicals into the environment and other matters that may arise in the ordinary course of our business. We currently believe that there is no litigation pending that is likely to have a material adverse effect on our business. Regardless of the outcome, legal proceedings can have an adverse impact on us because of defense and settlement costs, diversion of management resources and other factors.
ITEM 1A.RISK FACTORS.
There hasITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS.
“Item 1A, Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K includes a discussion of our risk factors. The information presented below updates, and should be read in conjunction with, the risk factors disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K. The effects of the events and circumstances described in the following risk factor may have the additional effect of heightening many of the risks noted in our Annual Report on Form 10-K. Except as presented below, there have been no material changechanges from the risk factors described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K.
The recent COVID-19 pandemic may adversely affect the Company’s operations. It is likely that there will be future negative effects that we cannot presently predict, including near term effects. The longer the pandemic persists, the more material the ultimate effects are likely to be.
Economic and health conditions across most of the globe continue to change rapidly in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. COVID-19 is affecting our customers, suppliers, vendors and other business partners, and we are unable to assess the full extent of the current impact nor predict the ultimate consequences that may result. Further, we are unable to predict how long the COVID-19 pandemic will persist and the responses by the government, private parties or society that may have an impact on the business. The impact of the COVID-19 outbreak and associated containment and remediation efforts is rapidly evolving. We expect the duration and magnitude of the virus’s impact on the levels of economic activity in the United States and globally to affect the magnitude of its impact on our results of operations, which could be material. Any extended disruption to our sales, supply or distribution channels or extended decrease in the demand for our products may substantially impact our results of operations.
We expect decreased demand for certain of our products in the near term, primarily in our Refining Services and Performance Chemicals segments, and, to a lesser extent, in our Catalysts and Performance Materials segments, as a result of stay-at-home decrees and other government restrictions. For example, in our Refining Services segment, we believe that high gasoline inventories and reduced gasoline demand due to stay-at-home decrees will reduce demand for sulfuric acid. In addition, in our Performance Chemicals segment, we expect lower demand for sodium silicate for industrial applications and chemical manufacturing. Due to local business closures and the related rise in unemployment claims, we anticipate a decline in consumer discretionary spending that may adversely impact the demand for our products that are sold to the consumer products industry.
We have also experienced disruptions in the availability of certain of our raw materials and other supplies, and any continued disruptions may adversely impact our production. For example, glass cullet suppliers in Canada, France and the United Kingdom have suspended operations, which has caused short-term delays in acquiring raw materials used in our manufacturing process.
Further, our employees are being affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Nearly all of our office and management personnel are working remotely and those employees engaged in manufacturing operations have been provided with equipment in response to local governmental orders. Due to local government imposed quarantines, we have had limited and temporary shutdowns or slowdowns in some of our manufacturing facilities, which have not caused a material disruption in operations. We have also experienced production delays at several of our manufacturing facilities as a result of employee absenteeism related to the COVID-19 pandemic. We may need to enact further precautionary measures to help minimize the risk of our employees being exposed to the coronavirus, which would result in further production delays. In the event that an outbreak of COVID-19 occurs at a manufacturing facility or if national, state or local governments impose additional orders that require the suspension of manufacturing at our facilities, we would experience additional delays in production.
49

Table of Contents
ITEM 2.
ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS.
Tax Withholdings
The following table contains information about purchases of our common stock during the three months ended March 31, 2020.
Total Number of Shares of Common Stock PurchasedAverage Price Paid per Share of Common StockTotal Number of Shares of Common Stock Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or ProgramsMaximum Number (or Dollar Value) of Shares of Common Stock that May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs (in thousands)
January 1, 2020 - January 31, 2020109,564  (1)$16.70  N/AN/A
February 1, 2020 - February 29, 2020—  $—  N/AN/A
March 1, 2020 - March 31, 2020211,700  (2)$9.73  211,700$47,941
321,264  

(1) Represents shares of common stock delivered to the Company by employees to satisfy income tax withholding obligations of the employees in connection with the vesting of restricted stock units and restricted stock awards duringawards.
(2) In March 2020, the third quarterCompany’s Board of 2019:Directors authorized a share repurchase program for up to an aggregate of $50 million of its outstanding common stock. The authorization is valid for a period of twenty-four months. Repurchases under the program may be made at management’s discretion from time to time on the open market or in privately negotiated transactions. During the three months ended March 31, 2020, a total of 211,700 shares were repurchased for $2.1 million. As of March 31, 2020, $47.9 million remains outstanding under the share repurchase program.

50
  Total Number of Shares of Common Stock Purchased Average Price Paid per Share of Common Stock Total Number of Shares of Common Stock Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs Maximum Number (or Dollar Value) of Shares of Common Stock that May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs
July 1, 2019—July 31, 2019 11,445
 $15.97
 N/A N/A
August 1, 2019—August 31, 2019 46,441
 $15.36
 N/A N/A
September 1, 2019—September 30, 2019 
 
 N/A N/A
  57,886
      
         


Table of Contents


ITEM 6.EXHIBITS.
ITEM 6. EXHIBITS.
The following exhibits are being filed or furnished as part of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q:
Exhibit No.Description
31.110.1
10.2*
10.3*
31.1
31.2
32.1
32.2
101The following materials from the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of PQ Group Holdings Inc. for the quarter ended September 30, 2019,March 31, 2020, formatted in Inline XBRL: (i) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income, (ii) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income, (iii) Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets, (iv) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity, (v) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, (vi) Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and (vii) document and entity information, tagged as blocks of text and including detailed tags
104The cover page from the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of PQ Group Holdings Inc. for the quarter ended September 30, 2019,March 31, 2020, formatted in Inline XBRL and included as Exhibit 101


* Management contract or compensatory plan
51

SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

PQ GROUP HOLDINGS INC.
Date:May 11, 2020By:PQ GROUP HOLDINGS INC.
Date:November 5, 2019By:/s/ MICHAEL CREWS
Michael Crews
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
(Duly Authorized Officer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)



59
52