Quaker set to complete big merger

Article Excerpt

QUAKER CHEMICAL CORP. $187 (New York symbol KWR; Income Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares o/s: 13.3 million; Market cap: $2.5 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 2.9; Dividend yield: 0.8%; TSINetwork Rating: Average; www.quakerchem.com) agreed to acquire rival Houghton International Inc. in 2017. Based in Philadelphia, the privately owned firm makes specialty chemicals, oils, and lubricants for customers in the automotive, aerospace, mining, and beverage industries. Under the terms of the takeover, Houghton’s owners will receive $172.5 million in cash and a 24.5% stake in the combined company. The purchase will double Quaker’s annual sales and gross profits, excluding any cost savings from combining the two businesses. The company now expects to complete the transaction by June 30, 2019. Quaker will also raise its quarterly dividend by 4.1%. Starting with the July 2019 payment, investors will receive $0.385 a share instead of $0.37. The new annual rate of $1.54 yields 0.8%. Quaker Chemical is a buy. buy…