QUAKER CHEMICAL CORP (KWR) Business

Item 1. Business.

General Description

The Company was organized in 1918 and incorporated as a Pennsylvania business corporation in 1930. Quaker Houghton is the global leader in industrial process fluids. With a robust presence around the world, including operations in over 25 countries, the Company’s customers include thousands of the world’s most advanced and specialized steel, aluminum, automotive, aerospace, offshore, can, mining, and metalworking companies. Quaker Houghton develops, produces, and markets a broad range of formulated specialty chemical products and offers chemical management services (which we refer to as “FluidcareTM”) for various heavy industrial and manufacturing applications throughout its three segments: Americas; Europe, Middle East and Africa (“EMEA”); and Asia/Pacific.

The major product lines of Quaker Houghton include metal removal fluids, cleaning fluids, corrosion inhibitors, metal drawing and forming fluids, die cast mold releases, heat treatment and quenchants, metal forging fluids, hydraulic fluids, surface solutions, specialty greases, offshore sub-sea energy control fluids, rolling lubricants, and rod and wire drawing fluids. The following are the respective contributions to consolidated net sales of each of our principal product lines representing more than 10% of consolidated net sales for any of the past three years based on the Company’s current product line segmentation:

Sales Revenue

The majority of the Company’s sales worldwide are made directly through its own employees and its FluidcareTM programs, with the balance sold through distributors and agents. The Company’s employees typically visit the plants of customers regularly, work on site, and through training and experience, identify production needs which can be resolved or otherwise addressed either by utilizing the Company’s existing products or by applying new formulations developed in its laboratories.

As part of the Company’s FluidcareTM business, certain third-party product sales to customers are managed by the Company. Where the Company acts as principal, revenues are recognized on a gross reporting basis at the selling price negotiated with its customers. Where the Company acts as an agent for its customers, revenue is recognized on a net reporting basis at the amount of the administrative fee earned by the Company for ordering the goods. See Note 5, Net Sales and Revenue Recognition, to the Consolidated Financial Statements for more information.

Competition

The specialty chemical industry comprises a number of companies similar in size to Quaker Houghton, as well as companies larger and smaller in size. The Company cannot readily determine its precise competitive position in every industry it serves. However, the Company estimates it holds the leading global position in the market for industrial process fluids including leading global positions in the markets for process fluids in portions of the automotive and industrial markets, and a leading position in the market for process fluids to produce sheet steel and aluminum. The offerings of many of the Company’s competitors differ from those of Quaker Houghton; some offer a broad portfolio of fluids, including general lubricants, while others have more specialized product ranges. All competitors provide different levels of technical services to individual customers. Competition in the industry is based primarily on the ability to supply products and provide technical services that meet the needs of the customer at an appropriate price and value to both the Company and the customer.

Major Customers and Markets

In 2025, Quaker Houghton’s five largest customers (each composed of multiple subsidiaries or divisions with semi-autonomous purchasing authority) accounted for approximately 11% of consolidated net sales, with its largest customer accounting for approximately 3% of consolidated net sales. A significant portion of the Company’s revenues are realized from the sale of process fluids and services to manufacturers of steel, aluminum, automotive, aerospace, industrial equipment, and durable goods, and therefore, Quaker Houghton is subject to the same business cycles as those experienced by these manufacturers and their customers.

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The Company’s financial performance is generally correlated to the volume of global production within the industries it serves, rather than directly related to the financial performance of its customers. Furthermore, steel and aluminum customers typically have limited manufacturing locations compared to metalworking customers and generally use higher volumes of products at a single location.

Raw Materials

Quaker Houghton uses approximately 3,000 raw materials, including animal fats, vegetable oils, mineral oils, oleochemicals, surfactant agents and various chemical compounds that act as additives to our base formulations. Quaker Houghton uses a significant number of raw materials derived from crude oil and natural gas. Other than of mineral oils, most of these raw material inputs are fourth to sixth generation derivatives of crude oil and natural gas, which are subject to volatile oil and gas prices and can cause significant variations in our raw materials costs. Oleochemicals are impacted by their own unique supply and demand factors. As experienced during 2025 and 2024, the Company’s earnings have been and could continue to be affected by market changes in raw material prices. Refer to the disclosure contained in Item 7A of this Report for additional information.

Patents and Trademarks

Quaker Houghton has a limited number of patents and patent applications including patents issued, applied for, or acquired in the U.S. and in various foreign countries, some of which may be material to its business, with the earliest patent expiry in 2026. The Company principally relies on its proprietary formulas and its applications know-how and experience to meet customer needs. Quaker Houghton products are identified by numerous trademarks that are registered throughout its marketing area.

Research and Development- Laboratories

The Company maintains approximately 30 separate laboratory facilities worldwide that are primarily devoted to applied research and development. In addition, the Company maintains quality control labs at each of its manufacturing facilities. Quaker Houghton research and development is directed primarily toward applied technology since the nature of the Company’s business requires continual modification and improvement of formulations to provide specialty chemicals to satisfy customer requirements. If problems are encountered which cannot be resolved by local laboratories, the problem is referred to one of our 10 principal laboratories, located in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania; Valley Forge, Pennsylvania; Aurora, Illinois; Santa Fe Springs, California; Uithoorn, Netherlands; Coventry, United Kingdom; Dortmund, Germany; Barcelona, Spain; Turin, Italy or Qingpu, China.

Research and development costs are expensed as incurred. Research and development expenses during the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023 were $60.7 million, $57.3 million and $50.3 million, respectively.

Recent Acquisition Activity

In April 2025, the Company acquired Dipsol Chemicals Co., Ltd. and its subsidiaries, (“Dipsol”). Dipsol is headquartered in Japan and is a leading supplier of surface treatment and plating solutions and services primarily for the automotive and other industrial applications end markets. Dipsol has operations in several countries and these operations are reported within the Company’s respective Americas, EMEA, and Asia/Pacific segments. This acquisition expands the Company’s advanced solutions businesses in attractive end markets with solid growth characteristics. Dipsol also provides significant cross-selling opportunities and enhances the Company’s ability to meet the needs of our customers across the globe.

In April 2025, the Company acquired Natech, Ltd., (“Natech”). Natech is based in the United Kingdom and is a manufacturer of surface treatment chemicals for a variety of industrial applications. Natech is reported as part of the EMEA reportable segment. This acquisition strengthens Quaker Houghton’s overall surface treatment product and application capabilities within Europe.

In February 2025, the Company acquired Chemical Solutions & Innovations (Pty) Ltd. (“CSI”). CSI is based in South Africa and is a supplier of metalworking fluids and lubricants to the South African market. CSI is reported as part of the EMEA reportable segment. This acquisition strengthens Quaker Houghton’s position in South Africa and expands the Company’s presence in that region.

In July 2024, the Company acquired the Sutai Group (“Sutai”). Sutai is based in Japan and provides impregnation treatment products and services to the automotive and other industries. Sutai is reported as part of the Asia/Pacific reportable segment. This acquisition strengthens Quaker Houghton’s technology portfolio, enabling the Company to better support and optimize production processes for customers across the Japanese, Asia Pacific and global markets.

In February 2024, the Company acquired I.K.V. Tribologie IKVT and its subsidiaries (“IKV”). IKV, which is part of the Company’s EMEA segment, specializes in high-performance lubricants and greases, including original equipment manufacturer first-fill greases that are primarily used in the automotive, aerospace, electronics and other industrial markets. The acquisition of IKV strengthens the Company’s position in first-fill greases.

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Regulatory Matters

In order to facilitate compliance with applicable federal, state, and local statutes and regulations relating to occupational health and safety and protection of the environment, the Company has an ongoing program of site assessments for the purpose of identifying capital expenditures or other actions that may be necessary to comply with such requirements. The program includes periodic inspections of each facility by the Company and/or independent experts, as well as ongoing inspections and training by on-site personnel. Such inspections, among other things, address operational matters, record keeping, reporting requirements and capital improvements. Capital expenditures directed solely or primarily to regulatory compliance amounted to approximately $9.4 million, $6.0 million and $3.5 million during the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023, respectively.

Company Segmentation

The Company’s operating segments, which are consistent with its reportable segments, reflect the structure of the Company’s internal organization, the method by which the Company’s resources are allocated and the manner by which the Chief Operating Decision Maker assesses the Company’s performance. The Company has three reportable segments: (i) Americas; (ii) EMEA; and (iii) Asia/Pacific. See Notes 4, 5, and 15 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 of this Report.

Non-U.S. Activities

Since significant revenues and earnings are generated by non-U.S. operations, the Company’s financial results are affected by currency fluctuations, particularly between the U.S. dollar and the Euro, the Brazilian real, the Mexican peso, the Chinese renminbi, the British pound sterling and the Indian rupee, and the impact of those currency fluctuations on the underlying economies. In addition, trade policies and tariffs, including those affecting the Company’s key markets, could further impact exchange rates and economic stability, influencing both the cost of raw materials and the competitiveness of the Company’s products in international markets. Reference is made to (i) the foreign exchange risk information contained in Item 7A of this Report, (ii) the geographic information in Note 4, Business Segments, to the Consolidated Financial Statements and (iii) information regarding risks attendant to foreign operations included in Item 1A of this Report.

Number of Employees

On December 31, 2025, Quaker Houghton had approximately 4,700 full-time employees globally of whom approximately 900 were employed by the parent company and its U.S. subsidiaries, and approximately 3,800 were employed by its non-U.S. subsidiaries. Associated companies of Quaker Houghton (in which it owns 50% or less and has significant influence) employed approximately 900 people on December 31, 2025.

Core Values

Quaker Houghton considers its employees as its greatest strength in differentiating our business and strengthening our market positions. The Company’s goal is to have an organization that is inclusive of all of its people and is representative of the communities in which we operate.

The Company’s core values are (i) live safe; (ii) act with integrity; (iii) drive results; (iv) exceed customer expectations; (v) embrace diversity; and (vi) do great things together. Our core values embody who we are as a company, build a safer, stronger Quaker Houghton, and guide the Company’s internal conduct and relationship with the outside world. By fostering a culture and environment that exemplifies our core values, we gain, as a company, unique perspectives, backgrounds and varying experiences to ensure continued long-term success.

Aligned to our core values, all full-time employees are provided up to 16 hours per calendar year to volunteer for a non-profit or charity of their choice. The approach is supported by recommendations to our employees regarding volunteering opportunities, such as environmental conservation, STEM education, community health, safety and development opportunities for underrepresented groups. In 2025, we continued our donation-matching and grantmaking programs to impact our local communities globally with matching and grants available to eligible organizations across the globe.

Sustainability Governance and Strategy

In 2020, the Company established the Board Sustainability Committee, which has specific responsibility to assist the Board of Directors (the “Board”) in its assessment, evaluation, and oversight of the Company’s sustainability programs and initiatives. In formulating our sustainability strategy, our Executive Leadership Team (“ELT”) and Board consider certain risks and uncertainties that may materially impact our financial condition and results of operations. These risks and uncertainties are further described in Item 1A of this Report.

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Sustainability Report

We report our progress on our Sustainability strategy in our sustainability report, which is published annually and is available on our corporate website at https://home.quakerhoughton.com/sustainability. The Company’s 2024 Sustainability Report reflects the most recent data on a variety of topics, including specific information relating to the Company’s environmental, social, and governance initiatives. Information in these sustainability reports and on our website are not incorporated by reference in this Report and, accordingly, should not be considered part of this Report.

Talent Development, Culture and Total Rewards

Our Compensation and Human Resources Committee is responsible for overseeing our policies and strategies related to culture and human capital. We place importance on developing our leaders at all levels. Our leaders have access to training on coaching, performance and rewards, development planning and change management, as well as specialized opportunities for external coaching, leadership assessments, or external development programs. In 2025, we introduced a leadership competency model and tools designed to support individual growth, enhance performance, and strengthen leadership impact at every level of the organization. We continue to utilize a robust process to review each department’s talent landscape, assess our talent, identify critical roles, and update succession plans. The process results in targeted development actions and career growth opportunities designed to ensure we have the talent we need to deliver results both now and in the future.

Additionally, we regularly evaluate our total rewards offerings to ensure that our total compensation and benefits packages are aligned with our business strategy and organizational culture. We strive to create a culture where recognition is ingrained, including utilization of an enterprise reward and recognition program that incentivizes the results and behaviors of our employees and their impacts on our teams and business.

Inclusion

Quaker Houghton strives to cultivate an inclusive culture. Accordingly, Quaker Houghton provides equal employment opportunities and does not discriminate based on age, ethnicity, sex, sexual identity, disability/medical condition, race, religion, or sexual orientation.

In 2025, we reinforced our commitment to creating a culture where every colleague feels valued and included through the launch of our WeBelong campaign. This initiative served as the umbrella brand for all culture and engagement programs, ensuring alignment and visibility across the enterprise. This campaign highlights initiatives related to Colleague Resource Groups, Inclusion training, Giving, Volunteering, Colleague Stories and more. We launched an enterprise-wide Engagement Survey to better understand colleague challenges and opportunities. Insights from this survey are driving action plans focused on efficiency, clarity, and inclusion, ensuring that every colleague has the tools and support to thrive.

Inclusion begins with the Board and ELT. For additional information on the Company’s leadership, refer to Item 4(a) Information about our Executive Officers and Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance.

Workplace Safety

We are committed to maintaining a strong safety culture and to emphasizing the importance of our employees’ role in identifying, mitigating and communicating safety risks. We maintain policies and operational practices that communicate a culture where all levels of employees are responsible for safety. We believe that the achievement of superior safety performance is both an important short-term and long-term strategic goal in managing our operations. We emphasize ten “Lifesaving Rules’ which make a significant difference in preventing serious injuries and fatalities. We have launched several “Live Safe” initiatives to create an environment of openness and awareness in which all employees are actively engaged in proactive safety activities. We are keen in reporting near misses, hazard identifications and educating our employees on their “Stop Work Authority,” which are seen as leading indicators, helping us in our “Path to Zero” incidents. Our leading indicators are proactive and preventive measures that can shed light about the effectiveness of safety and health initiatives and reveal potential risks in the tasks that they perform each day. We also require all employees to regularly complete safety training. Additionally, our ELT is closely involved in our safety programs, conducts regular reviews of safety performance metrics and shares the collective safety performance during Company-wide meetings.

Quaker Houghton on the Internet

Financial results, news and other information about Quaker Houghton can be accessed from the Company’s website at https://www.quakerhoughton.com. This site includes important information on the Company’s locations, products and services, financial reports, news releases and career opportunities. The Company’s periodic and current reports on Forms 10-K, 10-Q, 8-K, and other filings, including exhibits and supplemental schedules filed therewith, and amendments to those reports, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) are available on the Company’s website as soon as reasonably practicable after they are electronically filed with or furnished to the SEC. Information contained on, or that may be accessed through, the Company’s website is not incorporated by reference in this Report and, accordingly, you should not consider that information part of this Report.

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Factors that May Affect Our Future Results

Certain information included in this Report and other materials filed or to be filed by us with the SEC, including the Company’s other periodic reports on Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K, press releases, and other materials released to, or statements made to, the public, as well as information included in oral statements or other written statements made or to be made by us, contain or may contain forward-looking statements that fall under the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. These statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts and can generally be identified by words such as “may,” “could,” “should,” “would,” “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “intend,” “outlook,” “target,” “possible,” “potential,” “plan” or similar expressions, but these terms are not the exclusive means of identifying such statements. Such statements include information relating to current and future business activities, operational matters, capital spending, and financing sources. We have based these forward-looking statements on assumptions, projections and expectations about future events that we believe are reasonable based on currently available information, including statements regarding the potential effects of economic downturns, tariffs, including retaliatory tariffs, “trade wars” and uncertainty surrounding changes in tariffs, inflation, and global supply chain constraints on the Company’s business, results of operations, and financial condition; our expectation that we will maintain sufficient liquidity and remain in compliance with the terms of the Company’s credit facility; expectations about future demand and raw material costs; and statements regarding the impact of increased raw material costs and pricing initiatives.

These forward-looking statements include statements with respect to our beliefs, plans, objectives, goals, expectations, anticipations, intentions, financial condition, results of operations, future performance, and business, which may differ materially from expectations, estimates and projections because of many factors, including, but not limited to:

•the timing and extent of the impacts on our business from acts of war, terrorism and military conflicts, including those in Ukraine and the Middle East, as well as related economic, political and governmental actions taken by various government organizations in response;

•inflationary pressures, increases in raw material costs, supply chain constraints and other impacts of economic downturns, as well as high interest rates and their impact on our and our customers’ business operations;

•the potential timing, impacts, benefits and other uncertainties of acquisitions and divestitures, including our ability to finance any acquisition on commercially reasonable terms or to realize synergies, integrate acquisitions and acquired businesses or separate divested assets and businesses;

•broader macroeconomic factors, including potential for changes in global and regional economic conditions, the possibility of global or regional slowdowns or recessions, other macroeconomic stresses and uncertainties, including political and geopolitical events, civil disturbances and endemics/pandemics or extreme weather events and other natural disasters that may adversely affect regional economic conditions; and

•our future results and plans including our sustainability goals and enterprise strategy.

A major risk is that demand for the Company’s products and services is largely derived from the demand for our customers’ products, which subjects the Company to uncertainties related to downturns in a customer’s business and unanticipated customer production slowdowns and shutdowns.

Other major risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, legislative and regulatory developments including changes to existing laws and regulations, or the way they are interpreted, applied or enforced; tariffs, trade restrictions and the economic and other sanctions imposed by other nations on Russia and Belarus and/or other government organizations; suspensions of activities in Russia by many multinational companies; foreign currency fluctuations; significant changes in applicable tax rates and regulations and the potential impacts therefrom, including those arising from H.R.1, commonly known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act”, terrorist attacks and other acts of violence; the impacts of consolidation in our industry, including loss or consolidation of a major customer; the effects of climate change, fire or other natural disasters; and the potential occurrence of cyber-security breaches, cyber-security attacks, and other technology outages and security incidents.

Furthermore, the Company is subject to the same business cycles as those experienced by our customers in the steel, automotive, aerospace, industrial equipment, aluminum, and durable goods industries.

Any or all of the forward-looking statements in this Report, in the Company’s Annual Report to Shareholders for 2025 or in any other public statements we make may prove to be incorrect due to inaccurate assumptions or unforeseen risks and uncertainties. In addition to the factors above, our forward-looking statements are qualified with respect to the risks disclosed elsewhere in this Report, including in Item 1A, Risk Factors, Item 7, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, and Item 7A, Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk. These risks, uncertainties, and possible inaccurate assumptions relevant to our business could materially impact our future performance and cause our actual results to differ materially from expected and historical results. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. However, additional disclosures on related subjects may be found in the Company’s subsequent reports on Forms 10-K, 10-Q, 8-K and other related filings.

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We caution you not to place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements.