Quaker Chemical announced last Thursday that it has acquired Verkol, S.A., a specialty grease and lubricating oil manufacturer and marketer based in Northern Spain, for approximately $40.1 million, including net cash of $10.5 million. In 2014, Verkol recorded revenues of approximately $33.0 million and estimated adjusted EBITDA of $4.3 million.

Shell has reached an agreement with Japan's Idemitsu for the sale of 125,261,200 shares in Showa Shell Sekiyu KK, representing a 33.24% shareholding in the company, for a total amount of JPY 169 billion (approximately US$1.4 billion). Shell will retain a 1.80% holding in the company.

Afton Chemical reported last Wednesday that its operating profit for the second quarter of 2015 was $94.1 million, a 13.8% decline over the record second quarter operating profit set last year of $109.1 million. Sales for the second quarter of 2015 were $557.4 million, down 9.7% versus the same period last year.

BP, Shell, ExxonMobil and Chevron last week all reported significantly reduced second quarter net income with BP reporting a loss and Chevron reporting a reduction of 90% in second quarter earnings. Refiner Phillips 66, on the other hand, reported an increase in second quarter earnings compared to the previous quarter.

Valvoline reported record quarterly earnings for its most recent quarter, the third of its fiscal year. EBITDA rose 17 percent, to $116 million, marking the seventh consecutive quarter of year-over-year growth. Total sales declined 4 percent, to $510 million.

Hydrodec announced it has entered into an agreement with Manchester Ship Canal Company Ltd for a proposed long term lease of a 9 acre site near Eastham Locks, Port Wirral, Merseyside, North West England. The site would be used by Hydrodec for building a used oil re-refinery, the first in the UK.

• Kline’s July Index of Base Stock Production and Re-refining Cash Margins Indicates Continued Declines for Base Oil Producers
• Cimcool Introduces Hybrid Semi-synthetic Metalworking Fluid, CIMPERIAL® 861 With InSol™ Technology Metalworking Fluid; Approved for Use by Boeing
• Sea-Land Chemical Company Signs Distribution Agreement with Aceites Especiales Del Mediterraneo S.A. (AEMEDSA)
• UPS Announces Agreements to Use up to 46 Million Gallons of Renewable Fuels over Next Three Years, a 15-fold Increase over Prior Contracts; to be Supplied by Neste, REG and Solazyme
• Chemtura Reports Lower 2Q Sales & Earnings
• Heritage-Crystal Clean, Inc. Announces 2015 Second Quarter Financial Results
• Gulf Oil Lubricants India Limited Posts Net Profit of Rs 20.5 crore for Q1 Ended June 30, 2015, Up 13%, From Net Profit of Rs 18.02 crore for Q1 Last Year
• Engen Ghana Limited, subsidiary of PETRONAS, Appoints Samir Engineering and Trading Company Limited (SETL)/ Quantum Petroleum, as Its Official Lubricants Distributor in Ghana
• CEPSA Reaches Agreement with Continental Tire to Supply Its XTAR Lubricants for Continental Tire's Network of Auto Repair Shops in Spain