Exhibit 99.1

PQ Group Holdings Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2018 Results;

9% Sales growth, 50% operating cash flow improvement and ~$135 million of debt repayment for the year

▪	Sales increased 6% to $380.1 million for the fourth quarter and 9% to $1,608.2 million for the year;

▪	Net income of $28.2 million for the fourth quarter and $58.3 million for the year;

▪	Adjusted EBITDA of $109.1 million for the fourth quarter and $464.0 million for the year;

▪	Operating cash flow higher by 50% to $248.6 million for the year; Adjusted free cash flow up $109.4 million for the year leading to approximately $135 million debt reduction for the year;

▪	2019 Guidance: Sales of $1,640 million to $1,670 million; Adjusted EBITDA of $470 million to $485 million; Adjusted free cash flow of $125 million to $145 million; and

▪	Announcing realignment into four distinct business units including Catalysts, Performance Chemicals, Performance Materials, and Refining Services

MALVERN, PA, February 21, 2019 -- PQ Group Holdings Inc. (NYSE:PQG) (“PQ” or the “Company”) reported results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2018. For the fourth quarter, sales of $380.1 million were up 6% from the fourth quarter of 2017. Net income was $28.2 million or $0.21 diluted EPS and Adjusted net income was $23.2 million or $0.17 Adjusted diluted EPS. Adjusted EBITDA was $109.1 million. For the year, sales were $1,608.2 million, an increase of 9% over 2017. Net income was $58.3 million or $0.43 diluted EPS. Adjusted net income was $116.6 million or $0.87 Adjusted diluted EPS. Adjusted EBITDA was $464.0 million.

“In the fourth quarter, we delivered on both pricing and volume growth plans that drove a solid finish to the year. We generated strong operating and adjusted free cash flow for 2018 that was all allocated to debt reduction, achieving meaningful progress towards our deleveraging target,” commented Belgacem Chariag, PQ President and Chief Executive Officer. “Despite more modest macroeconomic trends in 2019, we expect growth in all our product groups driven by continued underlying secular demand.”

Chariag also added, “Since our last quarter earnings call, we advanced our strategic review to make our business portfolio simpler and stronger. As a first step in this process, we are delayering our business structure effective March 1 to empower our four strong business units, creating an environment of focus and accountability to drive additional efficiencies.”

The financial results and outlook include non-GAAP financial measures. These non-GAAP measures are more fully described and are reconciled from the respective measures determined under GAAP in “Presentation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures” and the attached appendix tables.

PQ Group Holdings Fourth Quarter and Year 2018 Earnings Release		Page 1

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Environmental Catalysts & Services (“EC&S”) Segment Results

    

For the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2018, sales of $141.3 million rose 15.0% versus the same period in 2017, driven by higher demand for regeneration services and virgin sulfuric acid in Refining Services as well as polyolefin catalysts in Silica Catalysts. Net sales from the Zeolyst Joint Venture decreased by 14.7% to $36.5 million, largely on expected lower hydrocracking catalyst volumes due to timing of customer demand. Adjusted EBITDA of $69.0 million was up 13.1%, benefiting from the higher Refining Services operating results coupled with a gain related to a Hurricane Harvey insurance recovery.

For the year ended December 31, 2018, sales of $527.7 million grew 11.4% from 2017 largely driven by higher sales demand in Refining Services and polyolefin catalysts offsetting lower chemical catalyst volumes in Silica Catalysts. Net sales from the Zeolyst Joint Venture increased 9.0% to $156.7 million due to higher demand for hydrocracking and emission control catalysts. Adjusted EBITDA of $257.6 million was up 5.7% from 2017, largely driven by the operating performance in Refining Services.

Performance Materials & Chemicals (“PM&C”) Segment Results

For the quarter ended December 31, 2018, sales of $239.5 million improved 1.5% versus the same period in 2017. This was largely driven by higher sales in the Performance Materials North America highway safety product line, offsetting lower demand in Performance Chemicals and unfavorable currency. Adjusted EBITDA of $49.8 million decreased 10.2% from the same period in 2017 largely as a result of higher costs in Performance Materials.

For the year ended December 31, 2018, sales of $1,083.8 million rose 8.2% and Adjusted EBITDA of $243.4 million was up 1.3% from 2017 driven by demand growth in the Performance Materials North America highway safety product line, including ThermoDrop®, and higher Performance Chemicals sodium silicates and specialty silicas sales.

Cash Flows and Balance Sheet

For the year ended December 31, 2018, the Company had cash flows from operating activities of $248.6 million, compared to $165.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2017. This increase was primarily driven by lower cash interest of $65.1 million and improved operating performance.

At December 31, 2018, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $57.9 million and total debt outstanding of $2,148.4 million. During the year ended December 31, 2018, the Company repaid approximately $135 million in debt, including $109.5 million of its term loan facility.

2019 Financial Outlook

The Company provides 2019 guidance as below:

▪	Sales of $1,640 million to $1,670 million

▪	Adjusted EBITDA of $470 million to $485 million

▪	Adjusted diluted EPS of $0.75 to $0.93

▪	Adjusted free cash flow of $125 million to $145 million

PQ Group Holdings Fourth Quarter and Year 2018 Earnings Release		Page 2

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Conference Call and Webcast Details

On Thursday, February 21, 2019, PQ management will release its fourth quarter and full year 2018 results during a conference call and audio-only webcast scheduled for 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time.

Conference Call: Investors may listen to the conference call live via telephone by dialing 1 (877) 883-0383 (domestic) or 1 (412) 902-6506 (international) and use the participant code 4583942.

Webcast: An audio-only live webcast of the conference call and presentation materials can be accessed at http://investor.pqcorp.com.

A replay of the conference call/webcast will be made available at http://investor.pqcorp.com/events-presentations.

Investor Contact:

Nahla A. Azmy

(610) 651-4561    

Nahla.Azmy@pqcorp.com

About PQ Group Holdings Inc.

PQ Group Holdings Inc. is an integrated, global provider of specialty catalysts, materials and chemicals, and services. Our Environmental Catalysts and Services business is a leading global innovator and producer of catalysts for the refinery, emissions control, and petrochemical industries and is also a leading provider of catalyst recycling services to the North American refining industry. Our Performance Materials and Chemicals business is a silicates and specialty materials producer with leading supply positions for the majority of our products sold in North America, Europe, South America, Australia and Asia (excluding China) serving diverse and growing end uses such as personal and industrial cleaning products, fuel efficient tires, surface coatings, and food and beverage products.

Presentation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

In addition to the results provided in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) throughout this press release, the Company has provided non-GAAP financial measures—Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA margin, Adjusted free cash flow, Adjusted net income, Adjusted EPS and Adjusted diluted EPS—which present results on a basis adjusted for certain items. The Company uses these non-GAAP financial measures for business planning purposes and in measuring its performance relative to that of its competitors. The Company believes that these non-GAAP financial measures are useful financial metrics to assess its operating performance from period-to-period by excluding certain items that the Company believes are not representative of its core business. These non-GAAP financial measures are not intended to replace, and should not be considered superior to, the presentation of the Company’s financial results in accordance with GAAP. The use of the terms Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA margin, Adjusted free cash flow, Adjusted net income, Adjusted EPS and Adjusted diluted EPS may differ from similar measures reported by other companies and may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures. Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted free cash flow, Adjusted net income, Adjusted EPS and Adjusted diluted EPS are reconciled from the respective measures under GAAP in the appendix below.

The Company is not able to provide a reconciliation of the Company’s non-GAAP financial guidance to the corresponding GAAP measures without unreasonable effort because of the inherent difficulty in forecasting and quantifying certain amounts necessary for such a reconciliation such as certain non-cash, nonrecurring or other items that are included in net income and EBITDA as well as the related tax impacts of these items and asset dispositions/

PQ Group Holdings Fourth Quarter and Year 2018 Earnings Release		Page 3

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acquisitions and changes in foreign currency exchange rates that are included in cash flow, due to the uncertainty and variability of the nature and amount of these future charges and costs.

Zeolyst Joint Venture

The Company’s zeolite catalysts product group operates through its Zeolyst Joint Venture, which is accounted for as an equity method investment in accordance with GAAP. The presentation of the Zeolyst Joint Venture’s total net sales represents 50% of the total net sales of the Zeolyst Joint Venture. The Company does not record sales by the Zeolyst Joint Venture as revenue and such sales are not consolidated within the Company’s results of operations. However, the Company’s Adjusted EBITDA reflects the share of earnings of the Zeolyst Joint Venture that have been recorded as equity in net income from affiliated companies in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations for such periods and includes Zeolyst Joint Venture adjustments on a proportionate basis based on the Company’s 50% ownership interest. Accordingly, the Company’s Adjusted EBITDA margins are calculated including 50% of the total net sales of the Zeolyst Joint Venture for the relevant periods in the denominator.

Note on Forward-Looking Statements

Some of the information contained in this press release constitutes “forward-looking statements.” Forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as “anticipates,” “intends,” “plans,” “seeks,” “believes,” “estimates,” “expects,” “projects” and similar references to future periods. Forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations and assumptions regarding our business, the economy and other future conditions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict. Examples of forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding our results of operations, financial condition, liquidity, prospects, growth, strategies, product and service offerings and 2019 outlook. Our actual results may differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements. We caution you, therefore, against relying on any of these forward-looking statements. They are neither statements of historical fact nor guarantees or assurances of future performance. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, regional, national or global political, economic, business, competitive, market and regulatory conditions, currency exchange rates and other factors, including those described in the sections titled “Risk Factors” and “Management Discussion & Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in our filings with the SEC, which are available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this release. Factors or events that could cause our actual results to differ may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all of them. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as may be required by applicable law.

PQ Group Holdings Fourth Quarter and Year 2018 Earnings Release		Page 4

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PQ GROUP HOLDINGS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

		Three months ended December 31,								%			Years ended December 31,								%
		2018				2017				Change			2018				2017				Change
		(in millions, except percentages, share and per share amounts)
Sales		$	380.1			$	358.1			6.1	%		$	1,608.2			$	1,472.1			9.2	%
Cost of goods sold		292.4				274.0				6.7	%		1,226.5				1,095.3				12.0	%
Gross profit		87.7				84.1				4.3	%		381.7				376.8				1.3	%
Selling, general and administrative expenses		42.3				40.3				5.0	%		168.6				146.7				14.9	%
Other operating (income) expense, net		(12.2		)		17.0				(172.5	)%		29.5				64.2				(54.0	)%
Operating income		57.6				26.8				115.0	%		183.6				165.9				10.7	%
Equity in net income from affiliated companies		(6.5		)		(13.9		)		(53.1	)%		(37.6		)		(38.8		)		(3.1	)%
Interest expense, net		29.1				35.0				(16.9	)%		113.7				179.0				(36.5	)%
Debt extinguishment costs		1.1				61.4				(98.3	)%		7.8				61.9				(87.4	)%
Other expense (income), net		(2.0		)		3.2				(163.9	)%		11.1				24.4				(54.5	)%
Income (loss) before income taxes and noncontrolling interest		35.9				(58.9		)		(160.9	)%		88.6				(60.6		)		(246.2	)%
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes(1)		7.4				(124.5		)		(105.9	)%		29.0				(119.2		)		(124.3	)%
Effective tax rate		20.6		%		211.4		%					32.7		%		196.6		%
Net income		28.5				65.6				(56.6	)%		59.6				58.6				1.7	%
Less: Net income attributable to the noncontrolling interest		0.3				0.6				(42.7	)%		1.3				1.0				30.0	%
Net income attributable to PQ Group Holdings Inc.		$	28.2			$	65.0			(56.7	)%		$	58.3			$	57.6			1.2	%
Net income per share:
Basic income per share		$	0.21			$	0.49						$	0.44			$	0.52
Diluted income per share		$	0.21			$	0.49						$	0.43			$	0.52
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic		133,765,294				133,138,140							133,380,567				111,299,670
Diluted		134,987,604				133,895,646							134,684,931				111,669,037

(1)

Net of a $5.8 million and $15.6 million provision for GILTI for the three months and year-ended December 31, 2018, respectively, and a $4.5 million and $6.0 million provisional benefit adjustment for the impact of the U.S. Tax Cuts and Job Act of 2017 and the Dutch Tax Plan 2019 for the three months and year-ended December 31, 2018, respectively. Net of a $106.5 million provisional benefit adjustment for the impact of the U.S. Tax Cuts and Job Act of 2017 for the year-ended December 31, 2017.

PQ Group Holdings Fourth Quarter and Year 2018 Earnings Release		Page 5

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PQ GROUP HOLDINGS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(in millions, except share and per share amounts)

	December 31, 2018				December 31, 2017
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	$	57.9			$	66.2
Receivables, net	196.8				193.5
Inventories	264.7				262.4
Prepaid and other current assets	39.2				26.9
Total current assets	558.6				549.0
Investments in affiliated companies	468.2				469.3
Property, plant and equipment, net	1,209.0				1,230.4
Goodwill	1,254.9				1,306.0
Other intangible assets, net	728.4				786.1
Other long-term assets	108.3				74.7
Total assets	$	4,327.4			$	4,415.5
LIABILITIES
Notes payable and current maturities of long-term debt	$	7.2			$	45.2
Accounts payable	148.4				149.3
Accrued liabilities	100.0				93.9
Total current liabilities	255.6				288.4
Long-term debt, excluding current portion	2,106.7				2,185.3
Deferred income taxes	196.1				189.3
Other long-term liabilities	104.8				120.6
Total liabilities	2,663.2				2,783.6
Commitments and contingencies
EQUITY
Common stock ($0.01 par); authorized shares 450,000,000; issued shares 135,758,269 and 135,244,379 on December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively; outstanding shares 135,592,045 and 135,244,379 on December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively	1.4				1.4
Preferred stock ($0.01 par); authorized shares 50,000,000; no shares issued or outstanding on December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017	—				—
Additional paid-in capital	1,674.7				1,655.1
Retained earnings (accumulated deficit)	25.5				(32.8		)
Treasury stock, at cost; shares 166,224 and 0 on December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively	(2.9		)		—
Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income	(39.1		)		4.3
Total PQ Group Holdings Inc. equity	1,659.6				1,628.0
Noncontrolling interest	4.6				3.9
Total equity	1,664.2				1,631.9
Total liabilities and equity	$	4,327.4			$	4,415.5

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PQ GROUP HOLDINGS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

		Years ended December 31,
		2018				2017
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income		$	59.6			$	58.6
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation		132.6				124.6
Amortization		52.6				52.6
Amortization of inventory step-up		1.6				0.9
Amortization of deferred financing costs and original issue discount		6.1				8.7
Debt extinguishment costs		5.6				61.4
Foreign currency exchange loss		13.8				25.8
Pension and postretirement healthcare benefit expense		1.1				3.3
Pension and postretirement healthcare benefit funding		(7.6		)		(7.9		)
Deferred income tax provision (benefit)		3.4				(140.2		)
Net loss on asset disposals		6.6				5.8
Stock compensation		19.5				8.8
Equity in net income from affiliated companies		(37.6		)		(38.8		)
Dividends received from affiliated companies		40.2				44.1
Net interest income on swaps designated as net investment hedges		(4.9		)		—
Gain on contract termination		(20.6		)		—
Other, net		(1.5		)		(4.2		)
Working capital changes that provided (used) cash, excluding the effect of business combinations:
Receivables		(10.5		)		(11.5		)
Inventories		(9.0		)		(21.2		)
Prepaids and other current assets		(6.3		)		(3.4		)
Accounts payable		(0.1		)		4.3
Accrued liabilities		4.0				(6.5		)
Net cash provided by operating activities		248.6				165.2
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of property, plant and equipment		(131.7		)		(140.5		)
Investment in affiliated companies		(5.0		)		(9.0		)
Loan receivable under the New Markets Tax Credit Arrangement		—				(6.2		)
Business combinations, net of cash acquired		(1.0		)		(41.6		)
Proceeds from sale of assets		12.4				—
Net interest proceeds on swaps designated as net investment hedges		4.9				—
Other, net		1.1				1.3
Net cash used in investing activities		(119.3		)		(196.0		)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Draw down of revolver		141.8				357.8
Repayments of revolver		(166.8		)		(334.2		)
Issuance of long-term debt under the New Market Tax Credit arrangement		—				8.8
Issuance of long-term debt, net of original issue discount and financing fees		1,267.0				299.7
Debt issuance costs		(6.4		)		(4.7		)
Debt prepayment fees		—				(47.9		)
Repayments of long-term debt		(1,369.7		)		(739.5		)
IPO proceeds		—				507.5
IPO costs		—				(26.8		)
Stock repurchases		(2.8		)		—
Distributions to noncontrolling interests		(0.7		)		(0.9		)
Other		0.4				—
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities		(137.2		)		19.8
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash		0.4				(6.9		)
Net change in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash		(7.5		)		(17.9		)
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period		67.2				85.1
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period		$	59.7			$	67.2

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Appendix Table A-1: Reconciliation of Net Income to Adjusted EBITDA

		Three months ended December 31,								Years ended December 31,
		2018				2017				2018				2017
		(in millions)
Reconciliation of net income attributable to PQ Group Holdings Inc. to Segment Adjusted EBITDA
Net income attributable to PQ Group Holdings Inc.		$	28.2			$	65.0			$	58.3			$	57.6
Provision (benefit) for income taxes		7.4				(124.5		)		29.0				(119.2		)
Interest expense, net		29.1				35.0				113.7				179.0
Depreciation and amortization		45.9				48.0				185.2				177.1
EBITDA		110.6				23.5				386.2				294.5
Joint venture depreciation, amortization and interest(a)		3.4				3.0				12.6				11.1
Amortization of investment in affiliate step-up(b)		1.6				1.7				6.6				8.6
Amortization of inventory step-up(c)		—				—				1.6				0.9
Debt extinguishment costs		1.1				61.4				7.8				61.9
Net (gain) loss on asset disposals(d)		(4.5		)		(0.6		)		6.6				5.8
Foreign currency exchange (gain) loss(e)		(1.5		)		4.2				13.8				25.8
LIFO expense(f)		2.5				0.5				8.4				3.7
Management advisory fees(g)		—				—				—				3.8
Transaction and other related costs(h)		—				2.1				0.9				7.4
Equity-based compensation		7.6				4.9				19.5				8.8
Restructuring, integration and business optimization expenses(i)		8.3				5.2				14.0				13.2
Defined benefit plan pension cost(j)		(1.1		)		0.7				(0.8		)		2.9
Gain on contract termination(k)		(20.6		)		—				(20.6		)		—
Other(l)		1.7				2.8				7.4				4.9
Adjusted EBITDA		109.1				109.4				464.0				453.3
Unallocated corporate expenses		9.7				7.0				37.0				30.5
Segment Adjusted EBITDA		$	118.8			$	116.4			$	501.0			$	483.8

Descriptions to PQ Non-GAAP Reconciliations

(a)	We use Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted Net Income, and Adjusted Basic and Diluted EPS as performance measures to evaluate our financial results. Because our Environmental Catalysts and Services segment includes our 50% interest in our Zeolyst Joint Venture, we include an adjustment for our 50% proportionate share of depreciation, amortization and interest expense of our Zeolyst Joint Venture.

(b)

Represents the amortization of the fair value adjustments associated with the equity affiliate investment in our Zeolyst Joint Venture as a result of the combination of the businesses of PQ Holdings Inc. and Eco Services Operations LLC (“Eco”) in May 2016 (the “Business Combination”). We determined the fair value of the equity affiliate investment and the fair value step-up was then attributed to the underlying assets of our Zeolyst Joint Venture. Amortization is primarily related to the fair value adjustments associated with inventory, fixed assets and intangible assets, including customer relationships and technical know-how.

(c)	As a result of the Sovitec acquisition and the Business Combination, there was a step-up in the fair value of inventory, which is amortized through cost of goods sold in the statement of operations.

(d)	When asset disposals occur, we remove the impact of net gain/loss of the disposed asset because such impact primarily reflects the non-cash write-off of long-lived assets no longer in use.

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(e)	Reflects the exclusion of the negative or positive transaction gains and losses of foreign currency in the statement of operations primarily related to the Euro-denominated term loan (which was settled as part of the February 2018 term loan refinancing) and the non-permanent intercompany debt denominated in local currency translated to U.S. dollars.

(f)	Represents non-cash adjustments to the Company’s LIFO reserves for certain inventories in the U.S. that are valued using the LIFO method, which we believe provides a means of comparison to other companies that may not use the same basis of accounting for inventories.

(g)	Reflects consulting fees paid to CCMP and affiliates of INEOS for consulting services that include certain financial advisory and management services. These consulting agreements were terminated upon completion of our initial public offering (“IPO”) on October 3, 2017.

(h)	Relates to certain transaction costs related to our IPO and the Sovitec acquisition as well as other costs related to several transactions that are completed, pending or abandoned and that we believe are not representative of our ongoing business operations.

(i)	Includes the impact of restructuring, integration and business optimization expenses which are incremental costs that are not representative of our ongoing business operations.

(j)

Represents adjustments for defined benefit pension plan costs in our statement of operations. More than two-thirds of our defined benefit pension plan obligations are under defined benefit pension plans that are frozen, and the remaining obligations primarily relate to plans operated in certain of our non-U.S. locations that, pursuant to jurisdictional requirements, cannot be frozen. As such, we do not view such expenses as core to our ongoing business operations.

(k)

Represents a non-cash gain on the write-off of the remaining liability under a contractual supply arrangement. As part of Eco’s acquisition of substantially all of the assets of Solvay USA Inc’s sulfuric acid refining services business unit on December 1, 2014, we recognized a liability as part of business combination accounting related to our obligation to serve a customer under a pre-existing unfavorable supply agreement. In December 2018, the customer who was party to the agreement closed its facility, and as a result, we were relieved from our obligation to continue to supply the customer on the below market contract. Because the fair value of the unfavorable contract liability was recognized as part of the application of business combination accounting, and since the write-off of the remaining liability was non-cash in nature, we believe this gain is a special item that is not representative of our ongoing business operations.

(l)

Other costs consist of certain expenses that are not core to our ongoing business operations, including environmental remediation-related costs associated with the legacy operations of our business prior to the Business Combination, capital and franchise taxes, non-cash asset retirement obligation accretion and the initial implementation of procedures to comply with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. Included in this line-item are rounding discrepancies that may arise from rounding from dollars (in thousands) to dollars (in millions).

PQ Group Holdings Fourth Quarter and Year 2018 Earnings Release		Page 9

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Appendix Table A-2: Reconciliation of Net Income to Adjusted Net Income⁽¹⁾ 

		Three months ended December 31,
		2018												2017
		Pre-tax				Tax expense (benefit)				After-tax				Pre-tax				Tax expense (benefit)				After-tax
		(in millions)
Net income before non-controlling interest		$	35.9			$	7.4			$	28.5			$	(58.9	)		$	(124.5	)		$	65.6
Less: Net income attributable to non-controlling interest		0.3				—				0.3				0.6				—				0.6
Net income attributable to PQ Group Holdings Inc.		35.6				7.4				28.2				(59.5		)		(124.5		)		65.0
Amortization of investment in affiliate step-up(b)		1.6				0.6				1.0				1.7				(0.8		)		2.5
Debt extinguishment costs		1.1				0.5				0.6				61.4				15.3				46.1
Net (gain) loss on asset disposals(d)		(4.5		)		(1.8		)		(2.7		)		(0.6		)		(0.8		)		0.2
Foreign currency exchange (gain) loss(e)		(1.5		)		2.3				(3.8		)		4.2				3.0				1.2
LIFO expense(f)		2.5				0.8				1.7				0.5				(0.4		)		0.9
Transaction and other related costs(h)		—				—				—				2.1				(0.4		)		2.5
Equity-based compensation		7.6				—				7.6				4.9				0.5				4.4
Restructuring, integration and business optimization expenses(i)		8.3				3.0				5.3				5.2				2.2				3.0
Defined benefit plan pension cost(j)		(1.1		)		(0.4		)		(0.7		)		0.7				—				0.7
Gain on contract termination(k)		(20.6		)		(7.6		)		(13.0		)		—				—				—
Other(l)		1.7				0.4				1.3				2.8				(2.5		)		5.3
Adjusted Net Income, including non-cash GILTI tax and tax reform		30.6				5.2				25.5				23.4				(108.6		)		131.9
Impact of non-cash GILTI tax(2)		—				(2.2		)		2.2				—				—				—
Impact of tax reform(3)		—				4.5				(4.5		)		—				106.5				(106.5		)
Adjusted Net Income(1)		$	30.6			$	7.5			$	23.2			$	23.4			$	(2.1	)		$	25.4
Adjusted Net Income per share:
Basic income per share										$	0.17											$	0.19
Diluted income per share										$	0.17											$	0.19
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic										133,765,294												133,138,140
Diluted										134,987,604												133,895,646

PQ Group Holdings Fourth Quarter and Year 2018 Earnings Release		Page 10

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		Years ended December 31,
		2018												2017
		Pre-tax				Tax expense (benefit)				After-tax				Pre-tax				Tax expense (benefit)				After-tax
		(in millions)
Net income before non-controlling interest		$	88.6			$	29.0			$	59.6			$	(60.6	)		$	(119.2	)		$	58.6
Less: Net income attributable to non-controlling interest		1.3				—				1.3				1.0				—				1.0
Net income attributable to PQ Group Holdings Inc.		87.3				29.0				58.3				(61.6		)		(119.2		)		57.6
Amortization of investment in affiliate step-up(b)		6.6				2.5				4.1				8.6				2.1				6.5
Amortization of inventory step-up(c)		1.6				0.6				1.0				0.9				0.3				0.6
Debt extinguishment costs		7.8				2.9				4.9				61.9				15.5				46.4
Net loss on asset disposals(d)		6.6				2.4				4.2				5.8				1.9				3.9
Foreign currency exchange loss(e)		13.8				5.6				8.2				25.8				9.7				16.1
LIFO expense(f)		8.4				3.1				5.3				3.7				0.9				2.8
Management advisory fees(g)		—				—				—				3.8				1.0				2.8
Transaction and other related costs(h)		0.9				0.3				0.6				7.4				1.8				5.6
Equity-based compensation		19.5				4.6				14.9				8.8				2.2				6.6
Restructuring, integration and business optimization expenses(i)		14.0				5.2				8.8				13.2				5.6				7.6
Defined benefit plan pension cost(j)		(0.8		)		(0.3		)		(0.5		)		2.9				0.9				2.0
Gain on contract termination(k)		(20.6		)		(7.6		)		(13.0		)		—				—				—
Other(l)		7.4				2.8				4.6				4.9				(1.0		)		5.9
Adjusted Net Income, including non-cash GILTI tax and tax reform		152.5				51.1				101.4				86.1				(78.4		)		164.4
Impact of non-cash GILTI tax(2)		—				(21.2		)		21.2				—				—				—
Impact of tax reform(3)		—				6.0				(6.0		)		—				106.5				(106.5		)
Adjusted Net Income(1)		$	152.5			$	35.9			$	116.6			$	86.1			$	28.1			$	57.9
Adjusted Net Income per share:
Basic income per share										$	0.87											$	0.52
Diluted income per share										$	0.87											$	0.52
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic										133,380,567												111,299,670
Diluted										134,684,931												111,669,037

See Appendix Table A-1 for Descriptions to PQ Non-GAAP Reconciliations in the table above.

PQ Group Holdings Fourth Quarter and Year 2018 Earnings Release		Page 11

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(1)

We define adjusted net income as net income attributable to PQ Group Holdings adjusted for non-operating income or expense and the impact of certain non-cash or other items that are included in net income that we do not consider indicative of our ongoing operating performance. Adjusted net income is presented as a key performance indicator as we believe it will enhance a prospective investor’s understanding of our results of operations and financial condition. Adjusted net income may not be comparable with net income or adjusted net income as defined by other companies.

(2)

Amount represents the impact to tax expense in net income before non-controlling interest and the related adjustments to net income associated with the GILTI provisions of the TCJA. Beginning January 1, 2018, GILTI results in taxation of “excess of foreign earnings,” which is defined as amounts greater than a 10% rate of return on applicable foreign tangible asset basis. The Company is required to record incremental tax provision impact with respect to GILTI as a result of having historical U.S. net operating loss (“NOL”) amounts to offset the GILTI taxable income inclusion. This NOL utilization precludes us from recognizing foreign tax credits (“FTCs”) which would otherwise help offset the tax impacts of GILTI. No FTCs will be recognized with respect to GILTI until our cumulative NOL balance has been exhausted. Because the GILTI provision does not impact our cash taxes (given available U.S. NOLs), and given that we expect to recognize FTCs to offset GILTI impacts once the NOLs are exhausted, we do not view this item as a component of core operations.

(3)	Represents the adjustment for the impact of the TCJA and the Dutch Tax Plan 2019 recorded in net income.

PQ Group Holdings Fourth Quarter and Year 2018 Earnings Release		Page 12

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Appendix Table A-3: Business Segment Sales and Adjusted EBITDA

		Three months ended December 31,											Years ended December 31,
		2018				2017				% Change			2018				2017				% Change
		(in millions, except percentages)
Sales:
EC&S		$	141.3			$	122.9			15.0	%		$	527.7			$	473.7			11.4	%
PM&C		239.5				235.9				1.5	%		1,083.8				1,001.8				8.2	%
Eliminations		(0.7		)		(0.7		)		—	%		(3.3		)		(3.4		)		(2.9	)%
Total sales		$	380.1			$	358.1			6.1	%		$	1,608.2			$	1,472.1			9.2	%
Zeolyst Joint Venture Sales		$	36.5			$	42.8			(14.7	)%		$	156.7			$	143.8			9.0	%
Adjusted EBITDA:
EC&S		$	69.0			$	61.0			13.1	%		$	257.6			$	243.6			5.7	%
PM&C		49.8				55.4				(10.2	)%		243.4				240.2				1.3	%
Corporate		(9.7		)		(7.0		)		37.7	%		(37.0		)		(30.5		)		21.3	%
Total Adjusted EBITDA		$	109.1			$	109.4			(0.3	)%		$	464.0			$	453.3			2.4	%
Adjusted EBITDA Margin:
EC&S(1)		38.8		%		36.8		%					37.6		%		39.4		%
PM&C		20.8		%		23.5		%					22.5		%		24.0		%
Total Adjusted EBITDA Margin		26.2		%		27.3		%					26.3		%		28.1		%

(1)	Adjusted EBITDA margin calculation includes proportionate 50% share of sales from the Zeolyst Joint Venture.

 

PQ Group Holdings Fourth Quarter and Year 2018 Earnings Release		Page 13

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Appendix Table A-4: Adjusted Free Cash Flow

		Three months ended December 31,								Years ended December 31,
		2018				2017				2018				2017
		(in millions)
Net cash provided by operating activities		$	82.6			$	55.4			$	248.6			$	165.2
Less:
Purchases of property, plant and equipment(1)		(36.4		)		(50.3		)		(131.7		)		(140.5		)
Free cash flow		46.2				5.1				116.9				24.7
Adjustments to free cash flow:
Proceeds from sale of assets		12.4				—				12.4				—
Net interest proceeds on currency swaps		0.6				—				4.9				—
Adjusted free cash flow(2)		$	59.2			$	5.1			$	134.2			$	24.7
Net cash used in investing activities(3)		$	(23.5	)		$	(49.5	)		$	(119.3	)		$	(196.0	)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities		$	(59.4	)		$	(9.4	)		$	(137.2	)		$	19.8

(1)	Excludes the Company’s proportionate 50% share of capital expenditures from the Zeolyst joint venture.

(2)

We define adjusted free cash flow as net cash provided by operating activities less purchases of property, plant and equipment, adjusted for proceeds from sale of assets and net interest proceeds on swaps designated as net investment hedges. Adjusted free cash flow is a non-GAAP financial measure that we believe will enhance a prospective investor’s understanding of our ability to generate additional cash from operations, including the reduction in cash paid for interest related to our cross-currency interest rate swaps, and is an important financial measure for use in evaluating our financial performance. Our presentation of adjusted free cash flow is not intended to replace, and should not be considered superior to, the presentation of our net cash provided by operating activities determined in accordance with GAAP. Additionally, our definition of adjusted free cash flow is limited, in that it does not represent residual cash flows available for discretionary expenditures, due to the fact that the measure does not deduct the payments required for debt service and other contractual obligations or payments made for business acquisitions. Therefore, we believe it is important to view adjusted free cash flow as a measure that provides supplemental information to our consolidated statements of cash flows.

(3)	Net cash used in investing activities includes purchases of property, plant and equipment, proceeds on sale of assets and net interest proceeds on swaps designated as net investment hedges, which are also included in our computation of adjusted free cash flow.

PQ Group Holdings Fourth Quarter and Year 2018 Earnings Release		Page 14