NewMarket Corporation Reports First Quarter 2021 Results

• Net Income of $69.7 Million and Earnings Per Share of $6.38
• Petroleum Additives Operating Profit of $94.1 Million
• Focus Remains on Investing in the Long-Term Success of the Company

NewMarket Corporation (NYSE:NEU) Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Thomas E. Gottwald, released the following earnings report of the Company’s operations for the first quarter of 2021.

Net income for the first quarter of 2021 was $69.7 million, or $6.38 per share, compared to net income of $85.5 million, or $7.67 per share, for the first quarter of 2020.

Sales for the petroleum additives segment for the first quarter of 2021 were $564.9 million, up 1.4% compared to the same period last year. Petroleum additives operating profit for the first quarter of 2021 was $94.1 million, a 17.2% decrease compared to record first quarter operating profit last year of $113.7 million. This decrease was due mainly to lower selling prices and higher conversion and raw material costs, partially offset by increased shipments. Shipments increased 2.6% between periods, with increases in lubricant additives shipments partially offset by decreases in fuel additives shipments. All regions except Europe contributed to the increase in lubricant additives shipments, and Asia Pacific was the only region reporting an increase in fuel additives shipments.

We are pleased with our petroleum additives operating results for the first quarter, but are mindful of the negative impact that our increasing raw material costs have on our operating margins. We will focus on margin improvement during 2021 to help ensure our operating margins remain at the historical ranges our shareholders have come to expect. Government restrictions on travel and work related to COVID-19 have had a negative effect on our business. The pace and stability of improvement in demand for our products will continue to depend heavily on economic recovery and the rate at which restrictions are lifted and remain lifted. We will continue to monitor the government restrictions as well as the status of vaccination programs that are being implemented globally. We expect successful vaccination efforts will help provide more stability in the global economy in 2021.

During the quarter we funded capital expenditures of $20.5 million, and paid dividends of $20.8 million. In March 2021, we issued $400 million 2.70% senior notes that are due in 2031. The proceeds will be used for the repayment of our $350 million 4.10% senior notes that are due in 2022 and for general corporate purposes.

We remain focused on the long-term success of our company, including emphasis on satisfying customer needs, generating solid operating results, and promoting the greatest long-term value for our shareholders, customers and employees. We believe the fundamentals of how we run our business – a long-term view, safety and people first culture, customer-focused solutions, technology-driven product offerings, and a world-class supply chain capability – will continue to be beneficial for all our stakeholders.

Sincerely,

Thomas E. Gottwald

The petroleum additives segment consists of the North America (the United States and Canada), Latin America (Mexico, Central America, and South America), Asia Pacific, and Europe/Middle East/Africa/India (Europe or EMEAI) regions.

The Company has disclosed the non-GAAP financial measure EBITDA and the related calculation in the schedules included with this earnings release. EBITDA is defined as income from continuing operations before the deduction of interest and financing expenses, income taxes, depreciation (on property, plant and equipment) and amortization (on intangibles and lease right-of-use assets). The Company believes that even though this item is not required by or presented in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), this additional measure enhances understanding of the Company’s performance and period to period comparability. The Company believes that this item should not be considered an alternative to net income determined under GAAP.

As a reminder, a conference call and Internet webcast is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. EDT on Thursday, April 22, 2021 to review first quarter results. You can access the conference call live by dialing 1-844-369-8770 (domestic) or 1-862-298-0840 (international) and requesting the NewMarket conference call. To avoid delays, callers should dial in five minutes early. A teleconference replay of the call will be available until April 29, 2021 at 3:00 p.m. EDT by dialing 1-877-481-4010 (domestic) or 1-919-882-2331 (international). The replay passcode number is 40638. The call will also be broadcast via the Internet and can be accessed through the Company’s website at www.NewMarket.com or www.webcaster4.com/Webcast/Page/2001/40638 . A webcast replay will be available for 30 days.

NewMarket Corporation, through its subsidiaries Afton Chemical Corporation and Ethyl Corporation, develops, manufactures, blends, and delivers chemical additives that enhance the performance of petroleum products. From custom-formulated additive packages to market-general additives, the NewMarket family of companies provides the world with the technology to make engines run smoother, machines last longer, and fuels burn cleaner.

Some of the information contained in this press release constitutes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Although NewMarket’s management believes its expectations are based on reasonable assumptions within the bounds of its knowledge of its business and operations, there can be no assurance that actual results will not differ materially from expectations.

Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations include, but are not limited to, the availability of raw materials and distribution systems; disruptions at production facilities, including single-sourced facilities; hazards common to chemical businesses; the ability to respond effectively to technological changes in our industry; failure to protect our intellectual property rights; sudden or sharp raw material price increases; competition from other manufacturers; current and future governmental regulations; the gain or loss of significant customers; failure to attract and retain a highly-qualified workforce; an information technology system failure or security breach; the occurrence or threat of extraordinary events, including natural disasters; terrorist attacks and health-related epidemics such as the COVID-19 pandemic; risks related to operating outside of the United States; political, economic, and regulatory factors concerning our products; the impact of substantial indebtedness on our operational and financial flexibility; the impact of fluctuations in foreign exchange rates; resolution of environmental liabilities or legal proceedings; limitation of our insurance coverage; our inability to realize expected benefits from investment in our infrastructure or from recent or future acquisitions, or our inability to successfully integrate recent or future acquisitions into our business; the underperformance of our pension assets resulting in additional cash contributions to our pension plans; and other factors detailed from time to time in the reports that NewMarket files with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the risk factors in Item 1A. “Risk Factors” of our 2020 Annual Report on Form 10-K, which is available to shareholders upon request.

You should keep in mind that any forward-looking statement made by NewMarket in the foregoing discussion speaks only as of the date on which such forward-looking statement is made. New risks and uncertainties arise from time to time, and it is impossible for us to predict these events or how they may affect the Company. We have no duty to, and do not intend to, update or revise the forward-looking statements in this discussion after the date hereof, except as may be required by law. In light of these risks and uncertainties, you should keep in mind that the events described in any forward-looking statement made in this discussion, or elsewhere, might not occur.

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FOR INVESTOR INFORMATION CONTACT:
Brian D. Paliotti
Investor Relations
Phone: 804.788.5555
Fax: 804.788.5688
Email: investorrelations@newmarket.com