Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Background and Basis of Presentation

v3.8.0.1
Background and Basis of Presentation
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2017
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]  
Background and Basis of Presentation
Background and Basis of Presentation:
Description of Business
PQ Group Holdings Inc. and subsidiaries (the “Company” or “PQ Group Holdings”) conducts operations through two principal segments: (1) Performance Materials & Chemicals: a fully integrated, global leader in silicate technology, producing sodium silicate, specialty silicas, zeolites, spray dry silicates, magnesium silicate, and other high performance chemical products used in a variety of end-uses such as adsorbents for surface coatings, clarifying agents for beverages, cleaning and personal care products and engineered glass products for use in highway safety, polymer additives, metal finishing and electronics end uses; and (2) Environmental Catalysts & Services: a leading global innovator and producer of silica catalysts used in the production of high-density polyethylene (“HDPE”), methyl methacrylate (“MMA”), specialty zeolite-based catalysts sold to the emissions control industry, the petrochemical industry and other areas of the broader chemicals industry and a merchant sulfuric acid producer operating a network of plants serving a variety of end uses, including the oil refining, nylon, mining, general industrial and chemical industries.
The Company experiences some seasonality, primarily with respect to the performance materials and refining services product groups. With respect to the performance materials product group, sales and earnings are generally higher during the second and third quarters of the year as highway striping projects typically occur during warmer weather months. Additionally, the refining services product group typically experiences similar seasonal fluctuations as a result of higher demand for gasoline products in the summer months. As a result, working capital requirements tend to be higher in the first and fourth quarters of the year, while higher cash generation occurs in the second and third quarters of the year.
Basis of Presentation
On August 17, 2015, the Company, PQ Holdings Inc. (“PQ Holdings”), Eco Services Operations LLC (“Eco Services”), certain investment funds affiliated with CCMP Capital Advisors, LLC (now known as CCMP Capital Advisors, LP; “CCMP”), and stockholders of PQ Holdings and Eco Services entered into a reorganization and transaction agreement pursuant to which the companies consummated a series of transactions to reorganize and combine the businesses of PQ Holdings and Eco Services (the “Business Combination”), under a new holding company, PQ Group Holdings Inc. The Business Combination was consummated on May 4, 2016.
In accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”), Eco Services is the accounting predecessor to PQ Group Holdings. Certain investment funds affiliated with CCMP held a controlling interest position in Eco Services prior to the Business Combination. In addition, certain investment funds affiliated with CCMP owned a non-controlling interest in PQ Holdings prior to the Business Combination and the merger with Eco Services constituted a change in control under the PQ Holdings credit agreements and bond indenture that were in place at the time of the Business Combination. Therefore, Eco Services is deemed to be the accounting acquirer. These condensed consolidated financial statements are the continuation of Eco Services’ business prior to the Business Combination.
The condensed consolidated financial statements included herein are unaudited. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in annual financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations for interim reporting. In the opinion of management, all adjustments of a normal and recurring nature necessary to state fairly the financial position and results of operations have been included. The results of operations are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year. The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and related notes included in the Company’s prospectus dated September 28, 2017, as filed with the SEC pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The Company has continued to follow the accounting policies set forth in those consolidated financial statements.
Prior to September 22, 2017, the Company had two classes of common stock designated as Class A and Class B common stock. On September 22, 2017, the Company reclassified its Class A common stock into common stock and then effected a 8.8275-for-1 split of its common stock. On September 28, 2017, the Company converted each outstanding share of Class B common stock into 8.8275 shares of common stock plus an additional number of shares determined by dividing the unreturned paid-in capital amount of such Class B common stock, or $113.74 per share, by $17.50, the initial public offering price of a share of our common stock in the Company’s initial public offering (“IPO”), rounded to the nearest whole share. Holders of Class B common stock did not receive any cash payments from the Company in connection with the conversion of the Class B common stock.
On October 3, 2017, the Company completed its IPO whereby it issued 29,000,000 shares of its common stock at an initial public offering price of $17.50 per share. The shares began trading on the New York Stock Exchange on September 29, 2017. The aggregate proceeds received by the Company from the offering were approximately $480,525, net of underwriting discounts, commissions and estimated offering expenses. The net proceeds were used to repay existing indebtedness as further described in Note 20.