NewMarket Corporation Reports Record Results for the Year 2012

NewMarket Corporation Reports Record Results for the Year 2012

• Record Net Income and Earnings Per Share for the Year 2012

• Record Petroleum Additives Operating Profit for the Year

• Special Dividend of $25 Per Share Paid in the Fourth Quarter

RICHMOND, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- NewMarket Corporation (NYS: NEU) President and Chief Executive Officer, Thomas E. Gottwald, released the following earnings report of the Company's operations for the year and fourth quarter 2012.

NewMarket's net income for the year 2012 increased to a record $239.6 million, or $17.85 per share, compared to net income of $206.9 million, or $15.09 per share for the year 2011. For the fourth quarter of this year, net income was $53.1 million, or $3.94 per share, compared to net income of $33.7 million, or $2.51 per share for the same period last year.

The earnings for 2012 and prior year periods include certain special items which are presented in the following Summary of Earnings and discussed more fully on the financial statements and footnotes that are a part of this earnings release.

Excluding these special items from all periods, earnings for the year 2012 were a record $242.8 million, or $18.08 per share, an increase of 25 percent compared to last year's results of $193.7 million, or $14.13 per share. On this same basis, earnings for this year's fourth quarter were $46.7 million, or $3.47 per share, an improvement of 35 percent over fourth quarter last year results of $34.5 million, or $2.57 per share. Earnings per share for the year and fourth quarter of this year increased 28 percent and 35 percent, respectively, on this same basis.

Petroleum additives operations had a record performance for the year 2012 with operating profit of $372.0 million, an improvement of 20 percent over last year's operating profit of $309.6 million excluding the 2011 gain on the legal settlement. Sales of petroleum additives for the year increased to $2.2 billion, an increase of 3 percent over sales last year of $2.1 billion while shipments were down almost 2 percent. Petroleum additives operating profit for the fourth quarter of 2012 was $71.6 million, an improvement of 21 percent over fourth quarter operating profit last year of $59.3 million. Sales for the fourth quarter of 2012 increased 2 percent to $511.2 million, compared to sales for the same period last year of $499.0 million and included the benefit of 4 percent higher shipments. Our petroleum additives business continues to deliver excellent results. We believe the fundamentals of how we run the business - a safety-first culture, customer-focused solutions, technology driven product offerings, world-class supply chain and regional organizational structure to better serve our customers' needs - are the core to this success. We continue to increase our investment in research and development and regional presence as evidence of our commitment to our customers.

These operational results continue to generate strong cash flows. During the year 2012, we paid dividends of $375.7 million (including special dividend of $335.4 million), funded capital expenditures of $38.8 million and increased cash $38.8 million while only increasing debt by $185.2 million.

This special year in which we celebrated the 125^th anniversary of our Company was another year of growth and success. The excellent results reflect the outstanding performance and dedication of NewMarket employees around the world and the confidence our customers have entrusted in us. Our strong financial position enhances our capability for future growth and improving shareholder value.

Sincerely,

Thomas E. Gottwald

The results for both the fourth quarter and year for both this year and last year include the impact from valuing an interest rate swap agreement at fair value at the end of each reporting period. This year's fourth quarter and year also include a tax benefit from the special $25 per share dividend paid in the fourth quarter. The current year results also include a loss on the early extinguishment of debt while the results for the year 2011 include a gain on a legal settlement. The Company is reporting net income including these items, as well as income excluding them, and related per share amounts in the Summary of Earnings included in the earnings release. The Company has also included the non-GAAP financial measure EBITDA in this earnings release. A schedule following the financial statements included in this earnings release is provided reflecting the calculation of EBITDA, defined as net income, before the deduction of interest and financing expenses, income taxes, depreciation and amortization. EBITDA is shown on the schedule both including and excluding the items noted above. The Company believes that even though these items are not required by or presented in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), these additional measures enhance understanding of the Company's performance and period to period comparability. The Company believes that these items should not be considered an alternative to net income determined under GAAP.

As a reminder, a conference call and Internet webcast is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. EST on Tuesday, January 29, 2013, to review fourth quarter and year 2012 financial results. You can access the conference call live by dialing 1-877-407-8031 (domestic) or 1-201-689-8031 (international) and requesting the NewMarket conference call. To avoid delays, callers should dial in five minutes early. The call will also be broadcast via the Internet and can be accessed through the Company's website at www.NewMarket.com or www.investorcalendar.com. A teleconference replay of the call will be available until February 5, 2013 at 11:59 p.m. EST by dialing 1-877-660-6853 (domestic) and 1-201-612-7415 (international). The conference ID number is 407213. A webcast replay will be available for 30 days.

NewMarket Corporation through its subsidiaries, Afton Chemical Corporation and Ethyl Corporation, develops, manufactures, blends, and delivers chemical additives that enhance the performance of petroleum products. From custom-formulated chemical blends to market-general additive components, the NewMarket family of companies provides the world with the technology to make fuels burn cleaner, engines run smoother and machines last longer.

Some of the information contained in this press release constitutes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Although NewMarket's management believes its expectations are based on reasonable assumptions within the bounds of its knowledge of its business and operations, there can be no assurance that actual results will not differ materially from expectations.

Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations include, but are not limited to: availability of raw materials and transportation systems; supply disruptions at single sourced facilities; ability to respond effectively to technological changes in our industry; failure to protect our intellectual property rights; hazards common to chemical businesses; occurrence or threat of extraordinary events, including natural disasters and terrorist attacks; competition from other manufacturers; sudden or sharp raw materials price increases; gain or loss of significant customers; risks related to operating outside of the United States; the impact of fluctuations in foreign exchange rates; political, economic, and regulatory factors concerning our products; future governmental regulation; resolution of environmental liabilities or legal proceedings; inability to complete future acquisitions or successfully integrate future acquisitions into our business and other factors detailed from time to time in the reports that NewMarket files with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the risk factors in Item 1A, "Risk Factors" of our 2011 Annual Report on Form 10-K, which is available to shareholders upon request.

You should keep in mind that any forward-looking statement made by NewMarket in the foregoing discussion speaks only as of the date on which such forward-looking statement is made. New risks and uncertainties come up from time to time, and it is impossible for us to predict these events or how they may affect the company. We have no duty to, and do not intend to, update or revise the forward-looking statements in this discussion after the date hereof, except as may be required by law. In light of these risks and uncertainties, you should keep in mind that the events described in any forward-looking statement made in this discussion, or elsewhere, might not occur.