Corporate costs for the quarter were $11.8 million, compared with $19.0 million a year ago primarily due to an $8.4 million recovery of historic pension costs. The effective tax rate for the quarter was 25.4 percent compared to 17.5 percent in the same period last year, due to the geographical mix of taxable profits.
For the quarter, cash provided by operating activities was $73.5 million compared to $58.1 million a year ago. As of September 30, 2024, Innospec had $303.8 million in cash and cash equivalents and no debt.
Mr. Williams concluded,
“I am pleased with the overall results this quarter which were in line with our expectations. Fuel Specialties and Performance Chemicals both delivered double digit operating income growth and improved margins over the prior year, while Oilfield Services was flat as expected with the quarter ended June 30, 2024. We continue to execute against a broad set of growth opportunities in all businesses. We believe our businesses will drive full-year growth in Fuel Specialties and Performance Chemicals, and sequential quarterly recovery in Oilfield Services in 2025.
Cash generation was excellent. With over $300 million in net cash we expect to continue to pursue organic investments and complementary M&A while returning value to shareholders through dividend growth. In line with this, I am pleased to announce an increase in our semi-annual dividend to 79 cents, bringing our dividend to $1.55 for the full year, an annual increase of 10 percent.”
Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures
The information presented in this press release includes financial measures that are not calculated or presented in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles in the United States (GAAP). These non-GAAP financial measures comprise adjusted EBITDA, income before income taxes excluding special items, net income excluding special items and related per share amounts together with net cash. Adjusted EBITDA is net income per our consolidated financial statements adjusted for the exclusion of interest (income)/expense, net, income taxes, depreciation and amortization, recovery of historical pension costs, foreign currency exchange losses/(gains), legacy costs of closed operations, adjustment to fair value of contingent consideration and acquisition related costs. Income before income taxes, net income and diluted EPS, excluding special items, per our consolidated financial statements are adjusted for the exclusion of recovery of historical pension costs, foreign currency exchange losses/(gains), amortization of acquired intangible assets, settlement of historical tax audits, adjustment of income tax provisions, legacy costs of closed operations, adjustment to fair value of contingent consideration and acquisition related costs. Net cash is cash and cash equivalents less total debt. Reconciliations of these non-GAAP financial measures to their most directly comparable GAAP financial measures are provided herein and in the schedules below. The Company believes that such non-GAAP financial measures provide useful information to investors and may assist them in evaluating the Company’s underlying performance and identifying operating trends. In addition, these non-GAAP measures address questions the Company routinely receives from analysts and investors and the Company has determined that it is appropriate to make this data available to all investors. While the Company believes that such measures are useful in evaluating the Company’s performance, investors should not consider them to be a substitute for financial measures prepared in accordance with GAAP. In addition, these non-GAAP financial measures may differ from similarly titled non-GAAP financial measures used by other companies and do not provide a comparable view of the Company’s performance relative to other companies in similar industries. Management uses adjusted EPS (the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure for which is GAAP EPS) and net income excluding special items and adjusted EBITDA (the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure for which is GAAP net income) to allocate resources and evaluate the performance of the Company’s operations and has provided a reconciliation of adjusted EBITDA and net income excluding special items, and related per share amounts, to GAAP net income herein and in the schedules below.
About Innospec Inc.
Innospec Inc. is an international specialty chemicals company with approximately 2,400 employees in 22 countries. Innospec manufactures and supplies a wide range of specialty chemicals to markets in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia-Pacific. The Performance Chemicals business creates innovative technology-based solutions for our customers in the Personal Care, Home Care, Agrochemical, Mining and Industrial markets. The Fuel Specialties business specializes in manufacturing and supplying fuel additives that improve fuel efficiency, boost engine performance and reduce harmful emissions. Oilfield Services provides specialty chemicals to all elements of the oil and gas exploration and production industry.