Quaker Chemical Corporation announced net sales and earnings per diluted share of $172.9 million and $0.99 per diluted share for the fourth quarter of 2012, respectively, compared to fourth quarter 2011 net sales and earnings per diluted share of $173.3 million and $0.80 per diluted share, respectively. Net income for the fourth quarter of 2012 was $13.0 million compared to net income of $10.4 million for the fourth quarter of 2011.
Full year net sales and earnings per diluted share were $708.2 million and $3.63 per diluted share for 2012, respectively, compared to net sales and earnings per diluted share of $683.2 million and $3.66 per diluted share for 2011, respectively. Full year 2012 net income was $47.4 million compared to 2011 net income of $45.9 million. Changes in foreign exchange rates negatively impacted the full year 2012 net sales by $26.8 million, or 4%, and net income by $1.7 million or $0.13 per diluted share.
Fourth Quarter 2012 Summary
Net sales for the fourth quarter of 2012 were $172.9 million, a decrease of less than 1% from $173.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2011. Product volumes, including acquisitions, increased revenues by approximately 3%, which were offset by decreases due to foreign exchange rate translation of $3.7 million, or 2%, and a slight decrease due to selling and price mix of less than 1%.
Gross profit increased approximately $2.5 million, or 4%, from the fourth quarter of 2011. The increase in gross profit on consistent sales was due to an improvement in gross margin to 34.2% compared to 32.7% for the fourth quarter of 2011 and 32.7% for the third quarter of 2012. The increase in gross margin is primarily the result of some stabilization in raw material costs experienced in the fourth quarter of 2012, allowing margins to return to more acceptable levels.
Selling, general and administrative expenses ("SG&A") increased approximately $0.2 million compared to the fourth quarter of 2011, primarily related to acquisitions and higher selling, inflationary and other labor related costs which were partially offset by a decrease in foreign exchange rate translation and lower incentive compensation. SG&A for the fourth quarter of 2012 also includes certain uncommon expenses totaling $0.06 per diluted share largely consisting of severance and related items and costs associated with the launch of the Company's new revitalized Brand. SG&A, as a percentage of sales, was slightly up at 26.3% for the fourth quarter of 2012 compared to 26.1% for the fourth quarter of 2011.
The decrease in interest expense was primarily due to lower average borrowings and lower interest rates in the fourth quarter of 2012 as compared to the fourth quarter of 2011.
The increase in other income in the fourth quarter of 2012 was primarily due to higher other income related to the change in fair value of a contingent consideration liability of $1.7 million, or $0.09 per diluted share, compared to $0.6 million, or $0.03 per diluted share, in the fourth quarter of 2011 and, also, a separate increase to other income of approximately $1.0 million, or $0.08 per diluted share, related to the change in fair value of an acquisition-related liability, was recorded in the fourth quarter of 2012.
The increase in equity in net income of associated companies was caused by improved performance over the majority of the Company's equity affiliates in the fourth quarter of 2012 as compared to the fourth quarter of 2011, in particular in our Japanese affiliate, partially offset by lower income from the Company's equity investment in its captive insurance company.
Changes in foreign exchange rates negatively impacted the fourth quarter of 2012 net income by approximately $0.3 million, or $0.02 per diluted share.
Full Year Summary
Net sales for 2012 were $708.2 million, an increase of 4% from $683.2 million in 2011. Product volumes, including acquisitions, increased revenues by approximately 5% and selling and price mix increased revenues by approximately 3%, while foreign exchange rate translation decreased revenues by approximately $26.8 million, or 4%.
Gross profit increased by approximately $16.1 million, or 7%, from 2011, with gross margin improving to 33.7% from 32.6% for 2011, reflecting some stabilization in raw material costs experienced primarily at the end of 2012, allowing margins to return to more acceptable levels.
The decrease in interest expense was primarily due to lower average borrowings and lower interest rates in 2012 as compared to 2011, and the decrease in interest income from 2011 to 2012 was primarily caused by lower cash levels invested in higher interest rate jurisdictions.
Other income for 2012 included increases due to changes in the fair value of the contingent consideration liability of $1.7 million, or $0.09 per diluted share, and the fair value of the acquisition-related liability of $1.0 million, or $0.08 per diluted share, noted above.
Other income for 2011 included a lower adjustment to the fair value of the contingent consideration liability of $0.6 million, or $0.03 per diluted share, noted above, and, also, approximately $2.7 million, or $0.22 per diluted share, of other income related to the revaluation of the Company's previously held ownership interest in its Mexican affiliate to its fair value, which was related to the Company's 2011 purchase of the remaining ownership interest in this entity.
In addition, the Company experienced higher foreign exchange losses in 2012 and, also, received lower third party license fees in 2012, primarily as a result of the prior year purchase of the remaining ownership interest in the Company's Mexican affiliate.
The Company's 2012 and 2011 effective tax rates of 24.7% and 24.0%, respectively, reflect decreases in reserves for uncertain tax positions due to the expiration of applicable statutes of limitations for certain tax years of approximately $0.17 and $0.16 per diluted share, respectively.
The Company has experienced and expects to further experience volatility in its effective tax rates due to the varying timing of tax audits and the expiration of applicable statutes of limitations as they relate to uncertain tax positions, among other factors. The Company estimates its 2013 effective tax rate to be in the high twenty percent range.
