Background and Basis of Presentation |
9 Months Ended |
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Sep. 30, 2018 | |
| Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract] | |
| Background and Basis of Presentation |
1. Background and Basis of Presentation:
Description of Business
PQ Group Holdings Inc. and subsidiaries (the “Company” or “PQ Group Holdings”) conducts operations through two reporting segments: (1) Environmental Catalysts & Services (“EC&S”): 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; and (2) Performance Materials & Chemicals (“PM&C”): 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.
Seasonal changes and weather conditions typically affect the Company’s performance materials and refining services product groups. In particular, the Company’s performance materials product group generally experiences lower sales and profit in the first and fourth quarters of the year because highway striping projects typically occur during warmer weather months. Additionally, the Company’s 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, which can adversely affect the Company’s liquidity and cash flows. Because of this seasonality associated with certain of the Company’s product groups, results for any one quarter are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be achieved for any other quarter or for the full year.
Basis of Presentation
The condensed consolidated financial statements included herein are unaudited. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in annual financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“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 Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017. Other than the update to our accounting policies described in Note 3, the Company has continued to follow the accounting policies set forth in those consolidated financial statements.
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