Financial Performance and Key Metrics - Sales for the quarter were $386 million, down 5% year-over-year, with the Avoca divestiture accounting for approximately $10 million of the decline [18] - Adjusted EBITDA was $58 million, down 5% year-over-year, reflecting lower volumes and modest pricing pressure, with adjusted EBITDA margins holding steady at 15% [19][21] - Adjusted EPS, excluding intangible amortization, was $0.26, down 7% from the prior year [22] - The company ended the quarter with total liquidity of approximately $900 million and net debt of $1.1 billion, maintaining a net leverage of 2.7x [23] Business Segment Performance - Life Sciences sales were $139 million, up 4% year-over-year, driven by resilient pharma demand and strong performance in injectables and tablet coatings [24][25] - Personal Care sales were $123 million, down 8% year-over-year, primarily due to the Avoca divestiture, with organic sales declining 1% [32] - Specialty Additives sales were $102 million, down 11% year-over-year, with coatings and construction driving the decline, particularly in China [38] - Intermediates sales were $31 million, down 6% year-over-year, with captive BDO sales declining due to lower volumes and pricing [30] Market Conditions - Demand in coatings and construction remained soft, particularly in China and select export markets, while personal care showed stable demand overall [8][10] - The company noted that the coatings market is expected to recover gradually, with mixed demand conditions anticipated [49][90] Company Strategy and Industry Competition - The company is focused on executing its strategic priorities, including innovation and global expansion, to drive growth and improve margins [15][46] - Cost actions and operational efficiencies are expected to support margin durability and position the company for stronger leverage as demand recovers [15][44] Management Commentary on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed cautious optimism regarding demand recovery in the second quarter, with expectations for improved order volumes [68][70] - The company anticipates that operational challenges, including delays in the Calvert City unit startup, will impact performance but remain manageable [51][52] Other Important Information - The company is on track to achieve total cost savings of approximately $30 million for fiscal 2026, with ongoing productivity improvements expected [42][44] - Innovation remains a key driver of long-term growth, with several new product launches and advancements in technology platforms [54][61] Q&A Session Summary Question: Impact of customer outages on personal care demand - Management confirmed that customer outages were temporary and recoverable, with expectations to regain lost volumes in the second quarter [72][73] Question: Outlook for personal care volumes - Management indicated that with the Avoca divestiture now lapped, positive volume growth is expected as the year progresses [77] Question: China coatings demand outlook - Management noted that while the coatings market in China has faced challenges, there are signs of stabilization, and the company is well-positioned to capitalize on future opportunities [90][92] Question: Risks around global trade issues - Management highlighted Europe as a key area of focus regarding potential trade pressures, with ongoing discussions but no clear decisions yet [97]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Sales for the quarter were $386 million, down 5% year-over-year, with the Avoca divestiture accounting for approximately $10 million or about 2% of the decline [18] - Adjusted EBITDA was $58 million, down 5% year-over-year, including a $1 million impact from the Avoca divestiture [19] - Adjusted EPS, excluding intangible amortization, was $0.26, down 7% from the prior year [22] - The company ended the quarter with total liquidity of approximately $900 million and net debt of $1.1 billion, with a net leverage of 2.7x [23] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Life Sciences sales were $139 million, up 4% from the prior year, driven by resilient pharma demand and strong performance in injectables and tablet coatings [24] - Personal Care sales were $123 million, down 8% year-over-year, primarily due to the Evoca divestiture, with organic sales declining 1% [32] - Specialty Additives sales were $102 million, down 11% year-over-year, with coatings and construction driving the decline [38] - Intermediates sales were $31 million, down 6% year-over-year, with captive BDO sales declining due to lower volumes and transfer prices [30] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Coatings demand was particularly weak in China and select export markets, while construction softness reflected broader market conditions [10] - The company experienced stable demand in consumer-oriented categories at the start of the second quarter [50] - Foreign exchange contributed a favorable $9 million or 2% to sales versus the prior year [19] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on executing its strategic priorities, including innovation and globalized initiatives, to drive growth and margin improvement [15][46] - The total cost savings target of approximately $30 million for fiscal 2026 remains on track, with ongoing network optimization and productivity improvements [42][44] - The company aims to deliver structural cost improvements and enhance systems and processes to strengthen planning and performance [64] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted ongoing demand softness in coatings and construction but expressed optimism about improving momentum in Life Sciences and Personal Care [8][50] - The company anticipates a gradual recovery in coatings demand, particularly in China, but expects muted demand to persist for a while [90] - Repairs to the Calvert City unit are taking longer than anticipated, impacting the second quarter outlook [51] Other Important Information - The company is advancing several innovative technology platforms that are expected to drive long-term growth across multiple end markets [54][61] - The company is focused on maintaining uninterrupted customer supply while managing production and inventory with discipline [54] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you talk about the customer outage impacting demand in Personal Care? - Management confirmed that the outages were on the customer side and not related to supply issues from the company. Most outages have been resolved, and recovery is expected in Q2 [72][73] Question: Should we see volumes start to turn the corner in Personal Care? - Management indicated that with the Evoca divestiture now lapped, they expect to see positive volume growth as the year progresses [77] Question: What is the outlook for coatings demand in China? - Management noted that while the market has been challenging, they expect to see easing in the second half of the year, with efforts focused on commercial discipline and innovation [89][90] Question: Where are the most significant risks around global trade issues? - Management highlighted Europe as a key area of focus due to ongoing discussions about cost competitiveness and plant consolidations [97]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Sales for the quarter were $386 million, down 5% year-over-year, with the Avoca divestiture accounting for approximately $10 million or about 2% of the decline [10] - Adjusted EBITDA was $58 million, down 5% year-over-year, including a $1 million impact from the Avoca divestiture [11] - Adjusted EPS, excluding intangible amortization, was $0.26, down 7% from the prior year [12] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Life Sciences sales were $139 million, up 4% from the prior year, driven by resilient pharma demand and strength in high-value cellulosic excipients [14] - Personal Care sales were $123 million, down 8% year-over-year, primarily due to the Evoca divestiture, with organic sales declining 1% [18] - Specialty Additives sales were $102 million, down 11% year-over-year, with coatings and construction driving the decline [23] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Coatings demand was particularly weak in China and select export markets, while construction softness reflected broader market conditions [5] - Life Sciences continued to grow, supported by steady demand and ongoing innovation momentum [10] - Specialty Additives faced muted demand, particularly in coatings and construction [5] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on executing its strategic priorities, including innovation and globalized initiatives, to drive growth and improve margins [4] - The total cost savings target of approximately $30 million for fiscal 2026 remains on track, with ongoing efforts in network optimization and productivity improvements [25] - The company aims to deliver structural cost improvements and enhance systems and processes to strengthen performance [26] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted ongoing demand softness in coatings and construction but expressed optimism about improving momentum in Life Sciences and Personal Care [4] - The outlook for fiscal 2026 has been narrowed to an adjusted EBITDA range of $400 million to $420 million, reflecting a prudent view of market conditions [28] - Temporary impacts from operational challenges, including delays in the Calvert City unit startup and weather-related disruptions, are expected to affect the second quarter [30] Other Important Information - The company reported strong cash generation with $125 million from operating activities and $26 million of ongoing free cash flow [12] - Total liquidity at the end of the quarter was approximately $900 million, with net debt at $1.1 billion and net leverage at 2.7x [12] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you talk about the customer outage impacting demand in Personal Care? - Management confirmed that the outages were on the customer side and not related to supply issues from the company. Most outages have been resolved, and recovery is expected in Q2 [43][44] Question: Should we see volumes start to turn the corner in Personal Care? - Management indicated that with the Evoca divestiture now lapped, they expect to see positive volume growth as the year progresses, with most customers indicating flat to low single-digit growth [48] Question: On the China coatings demand, is there a line of sight to the bottom? - Management noted that while the market has been challenging, they expect to see easing in the second half of the year, with efforts focused on commercial discipline, productivity, and innovation [61][62]