Big purchase boosts investor value

Article Excerpt

QUAKER CHEMICAL CORP. $162 is a buy for our subscribers. The company (New York symbol KWR; Income Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares o/s: 17.7 million; Market cap: $2.9 billion; P/S ratio: 3.0; Divd. yield: 0.9%; TSINetwork Rating: Average; www.quakerchem.com) has completed its acquisition of rival Houghton International as a way to add value for investors. That specialty chemicals maker draws customers from the automotive, aerospace and mining industries. Under the terms of the sale, Quaker paid Houghton’s owners $170.8 million in cash and a 24.5% stake in the combined company. We continue to advise you to be wary of companies that rely on growth by acquisition; that strategy carries the possibility of big writedowns if the new operations fail to perform. However, Houghton strengthens Quaker’s share of its niche market. The merger should also add value for investors by cutting $60 million in annual costs. costs…