News Flash

Quaker - settlement of environmental litigation in California

24 Oct '07

2 min read

AC Products Inc (ACP), a subsidiary of Quaker Chemical Corporation has entered into a settlement agreement with Orange County Water District (OCWD), effective October 17, 2007, relating to environmental litigation initiated in late 2004. OCWD sued ACP and other unrelated parties seeking damages arising from water contamination.

In the third quarter, Quaker will take a charge of $3.3 million to cover a payment of $2.0 million in settlement of the litigation, plus it will increase its reserve for its soil and water remediation program by $1.3 million, bringing the total reserved to $2.75 million.

Ronald J. Naples, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, commented, "It's great to get this situation behind us and to see it resolved so favorably. This settlement removes significant uncertainty and financial exposure for us and recognizes the remediation work we've been doing voluntarily over the past 12 years at considerable cost to the Company.

Further, the litigation itself, which relates in large part to events from a long time ago, has been costly and time consuming. Indeed, the remediation and litigation expenses absorbed into our income statement were approximately $2.9 million through third quarter of this year, and approximately $2.5 million in 2006.

Now with this matter settled, ACP's management can focus on its business and the completion of the soil and water remediation program without the ongoing distractions of litigation."

Quaker Chemical Corporation

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