Form 10-Q
Table of Contents

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D. C. 20549

 


FORM 10-Q

 


 

x QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For Quarterly Period Ended September 30, 2007

OR

 

¨ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For Transition Period from              to             .

Commission File Number 1-12658

 


ALBEMARLE CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 


 

VIRGINIA   54-1692118

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

330 SOUTH FOURTH STREET

RICHMOND, VIRGINIA

  23219
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code - (804) 788-6000

 


Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes  x    No  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of “accelerated filer and large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

Large accelerated filer  x    Accelerated filer  ¨    Non-accelerated filer  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    Yes   ¨    No  x

Number of shares of common stock, $.01 par value, outstanding as of November 1, 2007: 95,829,720

 



Table of Contents

ALBEMARLE CORPORATION

INDEX – FORM 10-Q

 

          Page
Number(s)

PART I.

   FINANCIAL INFORMATION   

Item 1.

   Financial Statements (Unaudited)   
   Consolidated Statements of Income – Three Months and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2007 and 2006    3
   Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets – September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006    4
   Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows – Nine Months Ended September 30, 2007 and 2006    5
   Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income – Three Months and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2007 and 2006    6
   Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements    7-14

Item 2.

   Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations    14-30

Item 3.

   Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk    30

Item 4.

   Controls and Procedures    30

PART II.

   OTHER INFORMATION   

Item 1.

   Legal Proceedings    31

Item 1A.

   Risk Factors    31

Item 2.

   Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds    31

Item 6.

   Exhibits    32

SIGNATURES

   33

EXHIBITS

  

 

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PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements (Unaudited).

ALBEMARLE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(In Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)

(Unaudited)

 

     Three Months Ended
September 30,
    Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
     2007     2006     2007     2006  

Net sales

   $ 583,981     $ 607,818     $ 1,737,031     $ 1,783,969  

Cost of goods sold

     431,019       459,590       1,270,898       1,381,904  
                                

Gross profit

     152,962       148,228       466,133       402,065  

Selling, general and administrative expenses

     61,004       58,000       182,745       178,055  

Research and development expenses

     15,422       11,549       46,057       34,192  

Dayton facility closure charge

     —         —         4,944       —    

Loss on Thann facility divestiture

     —         89,175       —         89,175  
                                

Operating profit (loss)

     76,536       (10,496 )     232,387       100,643  

Interest and financing expenses

     (9,500 )     (10,759 )     (28,827 )     (33,415 )

Other income (expenses), net

     828       1,007       3,411       (370 )
                                

Income (loss) before income tax expense (benefit), minority interests and equity in net income of unconsolidated investments

     67,864       (20,248 )     206,971       66,858  

Income tax expense (benefit)

     10,433       (23,330 )     42,954       (952 )
                                

Income before minority interests and equity in net income of unconsolidated investments

     57,431       3,082       164,017       67,810  

Minority interests in income of consolidated subsidiaries (net of tax)

     (4,613 )     (5,176 )     (12,310 )     (8,795 )

Equity in net income of unconsolidated investments (net of tax)

     6,281       4,383       19,363       20,977  
                                

Net income

   $ 59,099     $ 2,289     $ 171,070     $ 79,992  
                                

Basic earnings per share

   $ 0.62     $ 0.02     $ 1.80     $ 0.85  
                                

Diluted earnings per share

   $ 0.61     $ 0.02     $ 1.76     $ 0.82  
                                

Cash dividends declared per share of common stock (Note 7)

   $ —       $ 0.09     $ 0.315     $ 0.255  

Weighted-average common shares outstanding - basic

     95,245       94,755       95,269       94,532  

Weighted-average common shares outstanding - diluted

     97,106       97,298       97,288       97,009  

See accompanying Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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ALBEMARLE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In Thousands)

 

     September 30,
2007
   December 31,
2006
 
     (Unaudited)  

ASSETS

     

Current assets:

     

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 101,281    $ 149,499  

Trade accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts (2007 - $835; 2006 - $1,419)

     366,223      333,708  

Other accounts receivable

     68,966      66,345  

Inventories (Note 8)

     446,298      378,302  

Deferred income taxes and prepaid expenses

     28,606      33,000  
               

Total current assets

     1,011,374      960,854  
               

Property, plant and equipment, at cost

     2,276,046      2,169,433  

Less accumulated depreciation and amortization

     1,252,365      1,188,858  
               

Net property, plant and equipment

     1,023,681      980,575  

Prepaid pension assets

     44,451      39,361  

Investments

     124,594      111,633  

Other assets, deferred charges and noncurrent deferred income taxes

     84,890      34,894  

Goodwill

     263,236      251,100  

Other intangibles, net of amortization

     172,761      151,951  
               

Total assets

   $ 2,724,987    $ 2,530,368  
               

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

     

Current liabilities:

     

Accounts payable

   $ 181,936    $ 202,488  

Accrued expenses

     161,304      159,822  

Current portion of long-term debt

     18,774      50,731  

Dividends payable

     8,089      8,133  

Income taxes payable

     31,160      61,775  
               

Total current liabilities

     401,263      482,949  
               

Long-term debt

     679,726      681,859  

Postretirement benefits

     58,182      59,324  

Pension benefits

     62,238      54,446  

Other noncurrent liabilities

     219,333      122,824  

Deferred income taxes

     88,641      100,868  

Commitments and contingencies (Note 12)

     

Shareholders’ equity:

     

Common stock, $.01 par value, issued and outstanding – 95,746 in 2007 and 94,860 in 2006

     957      949  

Additional paid-in capital

     197,373      199,045  

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)

     42,925      (10,058 )

Retained earnings

     974,349      838,162  
               

Total shareholders’ equity

     1,215,604      1,028,098  
               

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

   $ 2,724,987    $ 2,530,368  
               

See accompanying Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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ALBEMARLE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(In Thousands)

(Unaudited)

 

     Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
     2007     2006  

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year

   $ 149,499     $ 58,570  
                

Cash flows from operating activities:

    

Net income

     171,070       79,992  

Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash flows from operating activities:

    

Depreciation and amortization

     79,824       86,015  

Loss on Thann facility divestiture

     —         89,175  

Stock-based compensation expense

     13,455       11,517  

Excess tax benefits realized from stock-based compensation arrangements

     (20,471 )     (6,017 )

Minority interests in income of consolidated subsidiaries

     12,310       8,795  

Equity in net income of unconsolidated investments

     (19,363 )     (20,977 )

Postretirement plan elimination gain

     (2,107 )     —    

Dayton facility closure charge

     4,944       —    

Working capital changes, net of the effects of acquisitions and the Thann facility divestiture

     (79,519 )     (36,118 )

Dividends received from unconsolidated investments and nonmarketable securities

     6,894       4,965  

Net change in pension assets and liabilities

     2,328       9,528  

Net change in noncurrent environmental liabilities

     (5,085 )     300  

Withholding taxes paid on stock-based compensation award distributions

     (3,819 )     (4,955 )

Deferred income taxes

     (11,950 )     (10,385 )

Other, net

     329       4,023  
                

Net cash provided from operating activities

     148,840       215,858  
                

Cash flows from investing activities:

    

Capital expenditures

     (71,262 )     (73,103 )

Acquisitions, net of $3,880 cash acquired in 2007

     (17,444 )     (25,000 )

Cash transferred and payments related to the Thann facility divestiture

     (6,100 )     (13,947 )

Investments in marketable securities

     (4,063 )     (3,342 )

Investments in other corporate investments

     (84 )     (168 )

Proceeds from sale of marketable securities

     414       —    
                

Net cash used in investing activities

     (98,539 )     (115,560 )
                

Cash flows from financing activities:

    

Repayments of long-term debt

     (129,246 )     (184,181 )

Proceeds from borrowings

     78,125       133,810  

Dividends paid to shareholders

     (30,172 )     (23,086 )

Purchases of common stock

     (51,956 )     (14,694 )

Proceeds from exercise of stock options

     20,459       13,694  

Excess tax benefits realized from stock-based compensation arrangements

     20,471       6,017  

Dividends paid to minority interests

     (11,888 )     (3,600 )

Debt financing costs

     (1,153 )     —    
                

Net cash used in financing activities

     (105,360 )     (72,040 )
                

Net effect of foreign exchange on cash and cash equivalents

     6,841       2,747  
                

(Decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents

     (48,218 )     31,005  
                

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

   $ 101,281     $ 89,575  
                

See accompanying Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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ALBEMARLE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(In Thousands)

(Unaudited)

 

     Three Months Ended
September 30,
    Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
     2007    2006     2007     2006  

Net income

   $ 59,099    $ 2,289     $ 171,070     $ 79,992  

Other comprehensive income, net of tax:

         

Unrealized gain (loss) on hedging derivatives

     —        390       —         (242 )

Unrealized gain on securities available for sale

     —        25       21       15  

Reclassification adjustment for realized gain on sale of marketable equity securities included in net income

     —        —         (203 )     —    

Amortization of realized loss on treasury lock agreements

     40      35       110       103  

Minimum pension liability

     —        (6 )     —         357  

Amortization of prior service benefit, net transition asset and net loss included in net periodic pension cost

     1,451      —         3,811       —    

Change in benefit plan funded status

     —        —         (241 )     —    

Foreign currency translation adjustment

     35,213      4,141       49,485       33,168  
                               

Other comprehensive income

     36,704      4,585       52,983       33,401  
                               

Comprehensive income

   $ 95,803    $ 6,874     $ 224,053     $ 113,393  
                               

See accompanying Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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ALBEMARLE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

1. In the opinion of management, the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements of Albemarle Corporation and our wholly owned, majority owned and controlled subsidiaries (collectively, “Albemarle,” “we,” “us,” “our,” or “the Company”) contain all adjustments necessary for a fair presentation, in all material respects, of our condensed consolidated financial position as of September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006, and our condensed consolidated results of operations and comprehensive income for the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, and our condensed consolidated cash flows for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2007 and 2006. All adjustments are of a normal and recurring nature. These unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006, which was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, on March 1, 2007. The December 31, 2006 consolidated balance sheet data herein was derived from audited financial statements, but does not include all disclosures required by generally accepted accounting principles in the United States. The results of operations for the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2007 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year. Certain reclassifications have been made to the accompanying consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto to conform to the current presentation.

2. On February 7, 2007, the Company’s Board of Directors approved a two-for-one stock split in the form of a share distribution. The Company distributed 47.8 million shares of common stock on March 1, 2007, to shareholders of record as of February 20, 2007. The par value of the common stock remains $0.01 per share. All share and per share amounts have been retroactively adjusted to reflect this two-for-one stock split.

3. The nine-month period ended September 30, 2007 includes a charge amounting to $4.9 million ($3.1 million after income taxes, or $0.03 per share) that relates to the closure of our Dayton, Ohio Fine Chemicals segment facility. The operations of this cGMP (pharmaceutical-grade) pilot plant will be moved to our recently acquired, multi-scale cGMP manufacturing facility in South Haven, Michigan, to efficiently utilize equipment and staffing at the two sites. The pre-tax charge is composed of $3.4 million to write-off net asset values and $1.5 million for other closure costs.

The three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2006 include a charge amounting to $89.2 million ($58.4 million after income taxes, or $0.60 per share) that relates to the divestiture of the Thann, France Fine Chemicals segment facility to International Chemical Investors S.A. effective August 31, 2006. The charge is principally due to the write-off of net asset values and other exit costs. We retained certain product lines previously manufactured at the Thann site, which are now manufactured at our other facilities and are expected to generate continuing cash flows.

4. Our consolidated statements of income includes foreign exchange transaction gains (losses) of $0.4 million and ($0.6) million for the three-month periods ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively, and $0.5 million and ($2.5) million for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively.

 

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5. The significant differences between the U.S. federal statutory income tax rate on pretax income and the effective income tax rate for the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively, are as follows:

 

     % of Income Before Income Taxes  
    

Three Months Ended

September 30,

   

Nine Months Ended

September 30,

 
     2007     2006     2007     2006  

Federal statutory rate

   35.0 %   35.0 %   35.0 %   35.0 %

State taxes, net of federal tax benefit

   0.9     0.6     0.7     0.3  

Tax rate changes

   (3.4 )   15.2     (1.1 )   (4.6 )

Foreign tax rate differences (a)

   (10.7 )   46.9     (11.3 )   (21.1 )

Depletion

   (4.5 )   2.4     (2.4 )   (1.7 )

Effect of minority interests in income of consolidated subsidiaries

   (1.0 )   2.7     (0.9 )   (2.3 )

Impact of foreign earnings (b)

   1.3     16.4     0.4     (7.3 )

Extraterritorial income exclusion

   —       1.9     —       (1.5 )

Domestic production deduction

   —       (1.2 )   —       —    

Other items, net

   (2.2 )   (4.7 )   0.4     1.8  
                        

Effective income tax rate

   15.4 %   115.2 %   20.8 %   (1.4 )%
                        

(a)

Includes the benefits of lower foreign tax rates on earnings which management has designated as permanent reinvestment.

(b)

Relates mainly to earnings from foreign operations not designated as permanent reinvestment.

Our effective tax rate fluctuates based on, among other factors, where income is earned and the level of income relative to available tax credits. The three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2007 reflect a $2.1 million benefit from an enacted tax rate reduction in Germany as well as adjustments totaling $4.9 million identified in the completion of various income tax filings. We believe the adjustments did not have a material effect on our reported financial position and results of operations for the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2007. The three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2006 were impacted by the reduction in pre-tax income caused by the Thann divestiture charge of $89.2 million and the associated tax benefit of $30.8 million, or 34.5%, on that charge, management’s decision to permanently reinvest the earnings of certain foreign subsidiaries, tax rate changes, and the benefits from foreign tax credits associated with high taxed earnings from foreign operations. Excluding the Thann divestiture charge, the effective income tax rate for the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2006 are 10.8% and 19.1%, respectively.

We adopted the provisions of FASB Interpretation No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes,” or FIN 48, on January 1, 2007. FIN 48 prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement attributes for the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken, or expected to be taken, in a tax return. FIN 48 also provides guidance on derecognition, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure, and transition. As a result of the implementation of FIN 48, we recognized an increase of approximately $4.8 million in the liability for unrecognized tax benefits, which was accounted for as a reduction to retained earnings. The liability for unrecognized tax benefits at adoption, exclusive of interest, is $83.3 million. This liability is reduced by $41.2 million of offsetting benefits associated with the corresponding effects of potential transfer pricing adjustments, state income taxes and temporary adjustments. The net liability of $42.1 million, if recognized, would favorably affect earnings.

In addition, pursuant to FIN 48 we reclassified $32.0 million of income tax liabilities from current to noncurrent liabilities as payment of cash is not anticipated within one year of the balance sheet date. These liabilities are recorded in “Other noncurrent liabilities” in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Interest and penalties related to income tax liabilities are included in income tax expense. The balance of accrued interest and penalties recorded in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at January 1, 2007 was $4.1 million, of which $3.6 million was reclassified from current to noncurrent liabilities upon implementation of FIN 48.

The liability for unrecognized tax benefits, including interest and penalties, recorded in “Other noncurrent liabilities” totaled $87.3 million and $94.6 million at January 1, 2007 and September 30, 2007, respectively. Related assets for corresponding offsetting benefits recorded in “Other assets, deferred charges and noncurrent deferred income taxes” totaled $39.0 million and $43.9 million at January 1, 2007 and September 30, 2007, respectively.

 

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We are subject to income taxes in the U.S. and numerous foreign jurisdictions. We are no longer subject to U.S. federal income tax examinations by tax authorities for years before 2000. The Internal Revenue Service, or IRS, has completed a review of our income tax returns through the year 2004. In 2006, we received tax assessments from the IRS for the years 2000 through 2002. We have taken the issues contested to the appeals process and anticipate a resolution in early 2008. During the second quarter of 2007, we received a tax assessment from the IRS for the years 2003 through 2004. We have taken the issues contested to the appeals process and anticipate a resolution in 2008.

With respect to jurisdictions outside the U.S., we are no longer subject to income tax audits for years before 2002. The Company received examination notifications from three jurisdictions. United Kingdom tax authorities are examining tax year 2003. The German tax authorities are examining tax years 2002 through 2005. Dutch tax authorities are examining tax years 2004 and 2005.

While we believe we have adequately provided for all tax positions, amounts asserted by taxing authorities could be greater than our accrued position. Accordingly, additional provisions on federal and foreign tax-related matters could be recorded in the future as revised estimates are made or the underlying matters are settled or otherwise resolved.

Since the timing of resolutions and/or closure of tax audits is uncertain, it is difficult to predict with certainty the range of reasonably possible significant increases or decreases in the liability for unrecognized tax benefits that may occur within the next twelve months. Our current view is that it is reasonably possible that we could record a decrease in the liability for unrecognized tax benefits, relating to a number of issues, ranging from approximately $9 million to $32 million as a result of settlements with taxing authorities, closure of tax statutes and/or resolution of issues at appeals.

6. Basic and diluted earnings per share for the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2007 and 2006 are calculated as follows:

 

     Three Months Ended
September 30,
   Nine Months Ended
September 30,
     2007    2006    2007    2006
     (In thousands, except per share amounts)

Basic earnings per share

           

Numerator:

           

Income available to shareholders, as reported

   $ 59,099    $ 2,289    $ 171,070    $ 79,992
                           

Denominator:

           

Average number of shares of common stock outstanding

     95,245      94,755      95,269      94,532
                           

Basic earnings per share

   $ 0.62    $ 0.02    $ 1.80    $ 0.85
                           

Diluted earnings per share

           

Numerator:

           

Income available to shareholders, as reported

   $ 59,099    $ 2,289    $ 171,070    $ 79,992
                           

Denominator:

           

Average number of shares of common stock outstanding

     95,245      94,755      95,269      94,532

Incremental shares under stock compensation plans

     1,861      2,543      2,019      2,477
                           

Total shares

     97,106      97,298      97,288      97,009
                           

Diluted earnings per share

   $ 0.61    $ 0.02    $ 1.76    $ 0.82
                           

7. Cash dividends declared for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2007 totaled 31.5 cents per share. There were no cash dividends declared in the three-month period ended September 30, 2007 due to the timing of the Board of Directors meetings. Cash dividends declared for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2006 totaled 25.5 cents per share. Cash dividends declared for the three-month period ended September 30, 2006 totaled 9 cents per share, and included a dividend declared on August 15, 2006 paid on October 1, 2006.

 

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8. The following table provides a breakdown of inventories at September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006:

 

     September 30,
2007
   December 31,
2006
     (In thousands)

Finished goods

   $ 325,301    $ 282,634

Raw materials

     73,698      51,680

Stores, supplies and other

     47,299      43,988
             

Total inventories

   $ 446,298    $ 378,302
             

9. Long-term debt consists of the following:

 

    

September 30,

2007

  

December 31,

2006

     (In thousands)

Variable-rate domestic bank loans

   $ 298,115    $ 220,772

Variable-rate foreign bank loans

     —        101,201

Senior notes

     324,755      324,730

Fixed rate foreign borrowings

     56,870      55,203

Capital lease obligation

     18,002      18,870

Industrial revenue bonds

     —        11,000

Miscellaneous

     758      814
             

Total

     698,500      732,590

Less amounts due within one year

     18,774      50,731
             

Total long-term debt

   $ 679,726    $ 681,859
             

Maturities of long-term debt are as follows: 2007—$5.0 million; 2008—$17.7 million; 2009—$8.1 million; 2010—$8.6 million; 2011—$9.0 million; 2012—$305.6 million and 2013 through 2017—$344.5 million.

In March 2007, we exchanged our prior senior credit agreement for a new five-year, revolving, unsecured senior credit facility to improve operating flexibility and to take advantage of favorable market conditions. The March 2007 credit agreement (i) exchanged both the $450.0 million five-year term loan facility ($316.7 million outstanding at December 31, 2006) and the $300.0 million revolving credit facility for a $675.0 million unsecured five-year revolving credit facility, (ii) provides for an additional $200.0 million in credit, if needed, upon additional loan commitments by our existing and/or additional lenders, (iii) provides for the ability to extend the maturity date of the revolving credit facility, under certain conditions, at each anniversary of the closing date, (iv) replaced the consolidated fixed charge coverage covenant and debt to capitalization ratio covenant with a maximum leverage ratio covenant, and (v) reduced the interest rate spread and commitment fees applicable to the Company’s borrowings under the credit facility. The total spreads and fees can range from 0.32% to 0.675% over the London inter-bank offered rate (LIBOR) applicable to the currency of denomination of the borrowing based upon our credit rating, applicable from time to time, from one of the major credit rating agencies. The March 2007 credit agreement extends the maturity of the credit facility to March 2012 from July 2009. We paid fees and expenses of $1.0 million related to this new agreement.

In July 2007, we repaid our variable-rate foreign bank loans with excess operating cash. In September 2007, we redeemed the $11.0 million tax-exempt variable interest industrial revenue bonds. A nominal fee was paid related to this redemption.

 

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10. The Company has the following recorded environmental liabilities primarily included in “Other noncurrent liabilities” at September 30, 2007 (in thousands):

 

Beginning balance at December 31, 2006

   $ 29,571  

Additions

     10  

Change in estimate

     (4,670 )

Payments

     (2,163 )

Foreign exchange

     1,379  
        

Ending balance at September 30, 2007

   $ 24,127  
        

The amounts recorded represent our future remediation and other anticipated environmental liabilities. Although it is difficult to quantify the potential financial impact of compliance with environmental protection laws, management estimates (based on the latest available information) that there is a reasonable possibility that future environmental remediation costs associated with our past operations, in excess of amounts already recorded, could be up to approximately $16 million before income taxes.

We believe that any sum we may be required to pay in connection with environmental remediation matters in excess of the amounts recorded should occur over a period of time and should not have a material adverse effect upon our results of operations, financial condition or cash flows on a consolidated annual basis although any such sum could have a material adverse impact on our results of operations, financial condition or cash flows in a particular quarterly reporting period.

On July 3, 2006, we received a Notice of Violation, or NOV, from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 4, or EPA, regarding the implementation of the Pharmaceutical Maximum Achievable Control Technology standards at our plant in Orangeburg, SC. The alleged violations include (i) the applicability of the specific regulations to certain intermediates manufactured at the plant, (ii) failure to comply with certain reporting requirements, (iii) improper evaluation and testing to properly implement the regulations and (iv) the sufficiency of the leak detection and repair program at the plant. We are currently engaged in discussions with the EPA seeking to resolve these allegations, but no assurances can be given that we will be able to reach a resolution that is acceptable to both parties. Any settlement or finding adverse to us could result in the payment by us of fines, penalties, capital expenditures, or some combination thereof. At this time, it is not possible to predict with any certainty the outcome of our discussions with the EPA or the financial impact, which may result therefrom. However, we do not expect any financial impact to have a material adverse effect on the Company.

 

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11. Segment income represents operating profit and equity in net income of unconsolidated investments and is reduced by minority interests in income of our consolidated subsidiaries, Stannica LLC and Jordan Bromine Company Limited, or JBC. Following the July 31, 2007 acquisition of controlling interests in our two antioxidant joint ventures in China: Ningbo Jinhai Albemarle Chemical and Industry Co., Ltd. and Shanghai Jinhai Albemarle Fine Chemicals Co., Ltd. (see Note 14), the joint ventures are consolidated subsidiaries with minority interests in income recorded for the remaining 25% ownership maintained by a third party. Segment data includes intersegment transfers of raw materials at cost and foreign exchange transaction gains and losses, as well as allocations for certain corporate costs.

Summarized financial information concerning our reportable segments is shown in the following table. The Corporate & Other segment includes corporate-related items not allocated to the reportable segments.

 

     Three Months Ended
September 30,
    Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
     2007     2006     2007     2006  
     (In thousands)  

Segment net sales:

        

Polymer Additives

   $ 232,700     $ 240,746     $ 670,969     $ 691,176  

Catalysts

     216,399       217,366       659,674       646,767  

Fine Chemicals

     134,882       149,706       406,388       446,026  
                                

Total segment net sales

   $ 583,981     $ 607,818     $ 1,737,031     $ 1,783,969  
                                

Segment operating profit (loss):

        

Polymer Additives

   $ 30,970     $ 40,736     $ 102,741     $ 112,100  

Catalysts

     35,474       35,032       97,490       75,677  

Fine Chemicals (a)

     22,772       18,025       75,272       43,632  

Corporate & Other

     (12,680 )     (15,114 )     (38,172 )     (41,591 )
                                

Total segment operating profit

     76,536       78,679       237,331       189,818  
                                

Minority interests in income of consolidated subsidiaries:

        

Polymer Additives

     (2,351 )     (3,333 )     (6,410 )     (6,706 )

Catalysts

     —         —         —         —    

Fine Chemicals

     (2,361 )     (1,823 )     (6,067 )     (3,972 )

Corporate & Other

     99       (20 )     167       1,883  
                                

Total minority interests in income of consolidated subsidiaries

     (4,613 )     (5,176 )     (12,310 )     (8,795 )
                                

Equity in net income of unconsolidated investments:

        

Polymer Additives

     746       1,193       4,037       3,662  

Catalysts

     5,555       3,208       15,355       17,410  

Fine Chemicals

     —         —         —         —    

Corporate & Other

     (20 )     (18 )     (29 )     (95 )
                                

Total equity in net income of unconsolidated investments

     6,281       4,383       19,363       20,977  
                                

Segment income (loss):

        

Polymer Additives

     29,365       38,596       100,368       109,056  

Catalysts

     41,029       38,240       112,845       93,087  

Fine Chemicals (a)

     20,411       16,202       69,205       39,660  

Corporate & Other

     (12,601 )     (15,152 )     (38,034 )     (39,803 )
                                

Total segment income

     78,204       77,886       244,384       202,000  

Dayton facility closure charge

     —         —         (4,944 )     —    

Loss on Thann facility divestiture

     —         (89,175 )     —         (89,175 )

Interest and financing expenses

     (9,500 )     (10,759 )     (28,827 )     (33,415 )

Other income (expenses), net

     828       1,007       3,411       (370 )

Income tax (expense) benefit

     (10,433 )     23,330       (42,954 )     952  
                                

Net income

   $ 59,099     $ 2,289     $ 171,070     $ 79,992  
                                

(a)

Excludes the Thann facility divestiture loss and the Dayton facility closure charge.

 

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12. Commitments and Contingencies

We have contracts with certain of our customers, which serve as guarantees on product delivery and performance according to customer specifications that can cover both shipments on an individual basis as well as blanket coverage of multiple shipments under customer supply contracts, that are executed through certain financial institutions. The financial coverage provided by these guarantees is typically based on a percentage of net sales value.

In connection with the remediation of a local landfill site as required by the German environmental authorities, we have pledged certain of our land and housing facilities at our Bergheim, Germany plant site with a recorded value of $6.3 million.

In addition, we are involved from time to time in legal proceedings of types regarded as common in our businesses, particularly administrative or judicial proceedings seeking remediation under environmental laws, such as Superfund, products liability and premises liability litigation. We maintain a financial accrual for these proceedings that includes defense costs and potential damages, as estimated by our general counsel. We also maintain insurance to mitigate certain of such risks. See Note 10 above.

13. The following information is provided for domestic and foreign pension and postretirement benefit plans:

 

     Three Months Ended
September 30,
    Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
     2007     2006     2007     2006  
     (In thousands)  

Net Periodic Pension Benefit Cost:

        

Service cost

   $ 2,972     $ 2,834     $ 8,892     $ 8,493  

Interest cost

     7,273       6,877       21,798       21,566  

Expected return of assets

     (9,728 )     (9,464 )     (29,180 )     (29,038 )

Net transition asset

     (2 )     (3 )     (8 )     (8 )

Prior service benefit

     (252 )     (243 )     (757 )     (726 )

Net loss

     2,952       3,168       8,864       9,148  
                                

Total net periodic pension benefit cost

   $ 3,215     $ 3,169     $ 9,609     $ 9,435  
                                

We made nominal contributions to a foreign funded pension plan and made no contributions to our domestic pension plans during the nine-month period ended September 30, 2007.

 

     Three Months Ended
September 30,
    Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
     2007     2006     2007     2006  
     (In thousands)  

Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost:

        

Service cost

   $ 148     $ 210     $ 443     $ 628  

Interest cost

     982       981       2,945       2,939  

Expected return of assets

     (138 )     (132 )     (415 )     (397 )

Plan elimination gain*

     —         —         (2,107 )     —    

Prior service benefit

     (977 )     (977 )     (2,930 )     (2,930 )

Net loss

     126       194       380       583  
                                

Total net periodic postretirement benefit cost (credit)

   $ 141     $ 276     $ (1,684 )   $ 823  
                                

* During the nine-month period ended September 30, 2007, a postretirement medical plan in the Netherlands was eliminated resulting in a gain of $2.1 million (pre-tax). This plan elimination was consistent with the change in the Netherlands law and follows the process of collective bargaining. We assumed the obligation of this postretirement medical plan in connection with the 2004 acquisition of the refinery catalysts business, which would have been effective for certain employees in the Netherlands who retired after August 2009.

 

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14. On July 31, 2007, we acquired controlling interests in our two antioxidant joint ventures in China: Ningbo Jinhai Albemarle Chemical and Industry Co., Ltd. and Shanghai Jinhai Albemarle Fine Chemicals Co., Ltd. Our ownership interests in these Polymer Additives business segment joint ventures increased from 25% to 75%. The acquisition of the additional interests totaled approximately $37.3 million payable in cash due primarily within one year. Additional consideration of up to a total of approximately $7.3 million cumulatively for the two joint ventures will be payable between the first and second anniversary of the closing date if the joint ventures meet certain specified performance criteria subsequent to the acquisition date. At September 30, 2007, the preliminary purchase price allocation included amortizable intangible assets of $25.4 million and goodwill of $4.6 million.

15. Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

We adopted the provisions of FIN 48 on January 1, 2007. For information relating to the implementation of FIN 48, see Note 5 above.

In September 2006, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards, or SFAS, No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements,” or SFAS No. 157. SFAS No. 157 defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value in generally accepted accounting principles, and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. SFAS No. 157 is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007. We are currently evaluating what impact the adoption of SFAS No. 157 will have on our consolidated financial statements.

In February 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 159, “The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities—Including an Amendment of FASB Statement No. 115,” or SFAS No. 159. SFAS No. 159 permits us to choose to measure certain financial assets and liabilities at fair value that are not currently required to be measured at fair value, or the Fair Value Option. Election of the Fair Value Option is made on an instrument-by-instrument basis and is irrevocable. At the adoption date, unrealized gains and losses on financial assets and liabilities for which the Fair Value Option has been elected would be reported as a cumulative adjustment to beginning retained earnings. If we elect the Fair Value Option for certain financial assets and liabilities, we will report unrealized gains and losses due to changes in their fair value in earnings at each subsequent reporting date. SFAS No. 159 is effective as of January 1, 2008. We are currently evaluating the potential impact of adopting SFAS No. 159 on our consolidated financial statements.

 

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

The following is a discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations since December 31, 2006. A discussion of consolidated financial condition and sources of additional capital is included under a separate heading “Financial Condition and Liquidity” on page 27.

Forward-looking Statements

Some of the information presented in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, including the documents incorporated by reference, may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations, which are in turn based on assumptions that we believe are reasonable based on our current knowledge of our business and operations. We have used words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “should,” “will” and variations of such words and similar expressions to identify such forward-looking statements.

These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions, which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond our control. There can be no assurance, therefore, that our actual results will not differ materially from the results and expectations expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include, without limitation:

 

   

the timing of orders received from customers;

 

   

the gain or loss of significant customers;

 

   

competition from other manufacturers;

 

   

changes in U.S. and international laws and regulations;

 

   

changes in the demand for our products;

 

   

limitations or prohibitions on the manufacture and sale of our products;

 

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increases in the cost of raw materials and energy, and our inability to pass through such increases;

 

   

changes in our markets in general;

 

   

fluctuations in foreign currencies;

 

   

the occurrence of claims or litigation;

 

   

the inability to maintain current levels of product or premises liability insurance or the denial of such coverage;

 

   

political unrest affecting the global economy, including adverse effects from terrorism or hostilities;

 

   

changes in accounting standards;

 

   

the inability to achieve results from our global manufacturing cost reduction initiatives as well as our ongoing continuous improvement and rationalization programs;

 

   

changes in interest rates, to the extent they (1) affect our ability to raise capital or increase our cost of funds, (2) have an impact on the overall performance of our pension fund investments and (3) increase our pension expense and funding obligations; and

 

   

the other factors detailed from time to time in the reports we file with the SEC.

We assume no obligation to provide revisions to any forward-looking statements should circumstances change, except as otherwise required by securities and other applicable laws. The following discussion should be read together with our consolidated financial statements and related notes included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

Overview

We are a leading global developer, manufacturer and marketer of highly-engineered specialty chemicals. Our products and services enhance the value of our customers’ end-products by improving performance, providing essential product attributes, lowering cost and simplifying processing. We sell a highly diversified mix of products to a wide range of customers, including manufacturers of consumer electronics, building and construction materials, automotive parts, packaging, pharmachemicals and agrichemicals, and petroleum refiners. We believe that our commercial and geographic diversity, technical expertise, flexible, low-cost global manufacturing base, and experienced management team enable us to maintain leading market positions in those areas of the specialty chemicals industry in which we operate.

Third Quarter 2007

During the third quarter of 2007:

 

   

quarterly Catalysts segment income increased to a record $41.0 million;

 

   

Fine Chemicals segment income margin increased over 400 basis points to 15.1% from 10.8%, compared to the same period last year (excluding the Thann divestiture charge of $89.2 million);

 

   

research and development spending increased by 35% compared to the same period last year due to higher investments in new catalysts to satisfy the needs in the fuels markets and in new polymer additives products;

 

   

we acquired controlling interests, increasing our ownership interests from 25% to 75%, in our two Chinese antioxidant joint ventures (Jinhai). We believe Albemarle Jinhai will be the largest Chinese provider of antioxidants for the polyolefin industry; and

 

   

the hydroprocessing catalyst expansion at our Bayport, Texas facility is now mechanically complete.

 

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Outlook

Polymer Additives: Growth of our Polymer Additives segment is expected to come from increasing demand for electrical and electronic equipment, new construction and increasingly stringent fire-safety regulations in many countries around the world. We expect modest sequential growth in the fourth quarter of 2007 in anticipation of a slower but sustainable recovery in the printed circuit board and connectors markets. We are cautiously optimistic that we will see stronger flame retardant volumes as we head into the holiday season.

We are increasing our presence in China as we build a foundation for expanding our business in Asia. Our technology center in Nanjing is now operational. This center provides technical support for our Polymer Additives customers in the Asia Pacific region. In addition, we believe the construction of our phosphorous flame retardant plant in Nanjing is on schedule for an early 2008 start up. We intend to produce phosphorous flame retardants at this site to serve the rapidly growing Asia-Pacific construction and electronic markets.

New product development momentum continues in Polymer Additives. The trend in some electronic components toward halogen free flame retardants is creating numerous development opportunities with our diverse customer base. A new patent protected environmentally friendly form of one of our proprietary products is being commercialized. A new technical innovation in our mineral flame retardant business was also recently introduced to the market.

Catalysts: We expect revenue growth in our Catalysts segment to be driven by global demand for petroleum products, generally deteriorating quality of crude oil feedstock and implementation of more stringent fuel quality requirements as a part of clean air initiatives. We expect Catalysts profit growth in the fourth quarter of 2007 to come primarily from new product introductions, new markets that we successfully penetrate, FCC pricing improvements, and the continued growth in our polyolefin catalysts business. We expect Catalysts volumes will be up slightly during the fourth quarter of 2007 as we prepare for an anticipated increase in Catalyst volumes in 2008.

As oil demand remains elevated, we believe refiners will process more sour crudes, which will require HPC catalysts to remove the metals and impurities, further driving demand for these catalysts. The HPC catalysts expansion at our Bayport, Texas facility is now mechanically complete. Plant commissioning activities are progressing, and we anticipate our first production run toward year’s end. When fully operational, this plant will add approximately 10,000 metric tons to our capacity, more than double the capacity at our Bayport site and increase our global HPC capacity by approximately 30%. We believe this will provide us with the capacity to meet the strong growth demands for 2008 and 2009 that we expect in this business. We continue to evaluate whether we may need additional HPC capacity expansion in 2009 and thereafter due to expected increased demand. We believe HPC catalysts volumes will continue to grow in the fourth quarter of 2007.

Our focus in FCC catalysts is on improving margins to support the value these products bring to the market. While we believe there is room for further margin improvement, we believe to be successful we must continue to deliver high-performing, superior quality products to meet the growing demands of refiners processing increasingly heavy crudes. In addition, we expect to continue to see incremental benefits in future quarters due to our FCC price increase that went into effect in January 2007 as well as our most recent 15% price increase that will go into effect in January 2008. Our FCC business continues to be faced with high raw material costs increases related to energy, metals, imported rare earths, and transportation costs. We believe, however, that our price increases will offset increasing raw material and energy costs and, therefore, will allow margin expansion.

We are focused on new product development in catalysts and have introduced high-throughput experimentation to more rapidly test and develop new technologies. Our marketing and research groups are tightly aligned so we can continue to bring innovative technologies to the market. We will continue to explore new opportunities for our catalysts in the alternative fuels business which includes biodiesel, Canadian oil sands, gas to liquids (GTL), and coal to liquids (CTL) markets. These opportunities become increasingly viable as oil remains at historically high levels.

Fine Chemicals: The Fine Chemicals segment continues to benefit from the continued rapid pace of innovation and the introduction of new products, coupled with the movement by pharmaceutical companies to outsource certain research, product development and manufacturing functions. We believe the repositioning of our Fine Chemicals segment in 2007 is fundamentally complete with additional modest portfolio adjustments. We expect stable growth throughout the remainder of 2007 and into 2008. In addition to an overall focus on margin improvement, our two strategic areas of focus in Fine Chemicals have been to maximize our bromine franchise value and to continue the growth of our fine chemistry services business.

We are focused on profitably growing our globally competitive bromine and derivatives production network to serve all major bromine consuming products and markets. In addition, we will continue our focus on developing our fine chemistry services business. Our new products pipeline in this business has approximately doubled in the last three years, allowing us to develop preferred outsourcing positions serving leading chemical and pharmaceutical innovators in diverse industries. We remain confident in continuing to generate growth in profitable niche products leveraged from this service business.

 

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Corporate and Other: We believe our global effective tax rate in 2007 will approximate 21.5%, but the rate can vary based on the locales in which we earn incremental income. We continue to focus on reducing working capital and repaying debt in 2007. We increased our quarterly dividend payout in 2007 to $0.105 per share. Under our existing share repurchase program, we expect to accelerate the amount of shares repurchased in 2007 as compared to 2006. For the nine-month period ended September 30, 2007, we repurchased more shares of our common stock than in the entire 2006 year. We continue to evaluate the merits of any opportunities that may arise for acquisitions that complement our business footprint.

Additional information regarding our products, markets and financial performance is provided at our web site, www.albemarle.com. Our web site is not a part of this document nor is it incorporated herein by reference.

 

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Results of Operations

The following data and discussion provides an analysis of certain significant factors affecting our results of operations during the periods included in the accompanying consolidated statements of income.

Third Quarter 2007 Compared with Third Quarter 2006

Selected Financial Data (Unaudited)

 

     Three Months Ended
September 30,
    Percentage
Change
 
     2007     2006     2007 vs. 2006  
     (In millions, except percentages and per share amounts)  

NET SALES

   $ 584.0     $ 607.8     (4 )%

Cost of goods sold

     431.0       459.6     (6 )%
                      

GROSS PROFIT

     153.0       148.2     3 %

GROSS PROFIT MARGIN

     26.2 %     24.4 %  

Selling, general and administrative expenses

     61.0       58.0     5 %

Research and development expenses

     15.5       11.5     35 %

Loss on Thann facility divestiture

     —         89.2     *  
                      

OPERATING PROFIT (LOSS)

     76.5       (10.5 )   *  

OPERATING PROFIT MARGIN

     13.1 %     *    

Interest and financing expenses

     (9.5 )     (10.7 )   (11 )%

Other income, net

     0.9       1.0     *  
                      

INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE INCOME TAX EXPENSE, MINORITY INTERESTS AND EQUITY IN NET INCOME OF UNCONSOLIDATED INVESTMENTS

     67.9       (20.2 )   *  

Income tax expense (benefit)

     10.5       (23.3 )   *  

Effective tax rate

     15.4 %     115.2 %  
                      

INCOME BEFORE MINORITY INTERESTS AND EQUITY IN NET INCOME OF UNCONSOLIDATED INVESTMENTS

     57.4       3.1     *  

Minority interests in income of consolidated subsidiaries (net of tax)

     (4.6 )     (5.2 )   (12 )%

Equity in net income of unconsolidated investments (net of tax)

     6.3       4.4     43 %
                      

NET INCOME

   $ 59.1     $ 2.3     *  
                      

PERCENTAGE OF NET SALES

     10.1 %     *    
                      

Basic earnings per share

   $ 0.62     $ 0.02     *  
                      

Diluted earnings per share

   $ 0.61     $ 0.02     *  
                      

* Calculation is not meaningful.

Net Sales

For the three-month period ended September 30, 2007, we recorded net sales of $584.0 million, a 4% decrease compared to net sales of $607.8 million for the three-month period ended September 30, 2006. This decrease was due primarily to reduced volumes in all segments and the disposition of our Thann, France facility, partially offset by improved pricing in all segments. Overall price/mix increased 6%, foreign currency increased 2% and volumes declined 12% compared to the same period last year.

Polymer Additives’ net sales decreased $8.0 million, or 3%, for the three-month period ended September 30, 2007 compared to the same period in 2006. Compared to the same period last year, price/mix improved 7%, foreign currency increased 2% and volume declined 12%. Catalysts’ net sales decreased nominally due mainly to reduced volumes of 10%, partially offset by an 8% improvement in price/mix and an increase in foreign currency of 2%. Fine Chemicals’ net sales decreased $14.8 million, or 10%, primarily due to the disposition of our Thann, France facility in addition to reduced volumes of 4%, partially offset by an increase in foreign currency of 1%. For a detailed discussion of revenues and segment income before taxes for each segment see “Segment Information Overview” below.

 

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Gross Profit

Our gross profit margin for the three-month period ended September 30, 2007 increased to 26.2% from 24.4% for the corresponding period in 2006. For the three-month period ended September 30, 2007, our gross profit increased $4.8 million, or 3%, to $153.0 million from the corresponding 2006 period due to improved pricing and the disposition of our Thann, France facility, which had historically low profit margins. These increases were partially offset by reduced volumes and increased manufacturing and raw material costs.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

For the three-month period ended September 30, 2007, our selling, general and administrative, or SG&A, expenses increased $3.0 million, or 5%, from the three-month period ended September 30, 2006. This increase was primarily due to an increase in outside legal and consulting services.

Research and Development Expenses

For the three-month period ended September 30, 2007, our research and development, or R&D, expenses increased $4.0 million, or 35%, from the three-month period ended September 30, 2006. This increase was primarily due to higher investments in new catalysts to satisfy the needs in the fuels markets and in new polymer additives and fine chemicals products.

Interest and Financing Expenses

Interest and financing expenses for the three-month period ended September 30, 2007 decreased $1.2 million to $9.5 million from the corresponding 2006 period due to lower average outstanding debt levels and lower interest rates.

Other Income, Net

Other income, net for the three-month period ended September 30, 2007 decreased nominally to $0.9 million from the corresponding 2006 period. Other income, net is comprised primarily of interest income.

Income Tax Expense (Benefit)

Our effective tax rate fluctuates based on, among other factors, where income is earned and the level of income relative to available tax credits. For the three-month period ended September 30, 2007, our effective income tax rate was 15.4% as compared to 115.2% for the three-month period ended September 30, 2006. The effective tax rate in the three-month period ended September 30, 2007 reflects a $2.1 million benefit from an enacted tax rate reduction in Germany as well as adjustments totaling $4.9 million identified in the completion of various income tax filings. We believe the adjustments did not have a material effect on our reported financial position and results of operations for the three-month period ended September 30, 2007. The 2006 period was impacted by the reduction in pre-tax income caused by the Thann divestiture charge of $89.2 million and the associated tax benefit of $30.8 million, or 34.5%, on that charge. Excluding the Thann charge and related tax impact, the effective tax rate for the three-month period ended September 30, 2006 was 10.8%.

 

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The significant differences between the U.S. federal statutory income tax rate on pretax income, excluding the Thann divestiture charge of $89.2 million and the associated tax benefit of $30.8 million, or 34.5%, on that charge in the 2006 period, and the effective income tax rate for the three-month periods ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively, are as follows:

 

     % of Income Before Income Taxes excluding the
Thann divestiture charge
 
    

Three Months Ended

September 30,

 
     2007     2006  

Federal statutory rate

   35.0 %   35.0 %

State taxes, net of federal tax benefit

   0.9     (0.2 )

Tax rate changes

   (3.4 )   (4.2 )

Foreign tax rate differences (a)

   (10.7 )   (14.5 )

Depletion

   (4.5 )   (0.7 )

Effect of minority interests in income of consolidated subsidiaries

   (1.0 )   (0.8 )

Impact of foreign earnings (b)

   1.3     (4.9 )

Extraterritorial income exclusion

   —       (0.6 )

Domestic production deduction

   —       0.3  

Other items, net

   (2.2 )   1.4  
            

Effective income tax rate

   15.4 %   10.8 %
            

(a)

Includes the benefits of lower foreign tax rates on earnings which management has designated as permanent reinvestment.

(b)

Relates mainly to earnings from foreign operations not designated as permanent reinvestment.

Minority Interests in Income of Consolidated Subsidiaries

For the three-month period ended September 30, 2007, minority interests’ share of net income was $4.6 million compared to $5.2 million in the same period last year. This decrease of $0.6 million is due primarily to lower earnings (and related minority interest expense) of Jordan Bromine Company Limited, or JBC, primarily due to decreased volumes.

Equity in Net Income of Unconsolidated Investments

Equity in net income of unconsolidated investments was $6.3 million for the three-month period ended September 30, 2007 compared to $4.4 million in the same period last year. This increase of $1.9 million is due primarily to increased equity earnings from our Catalysts segment joint ventures Nippon Ketjen and Fábrica Carioca de Catalisadores S.A. as a result of increased volumes.

Net Income

Our net income increased to $59.1 million in the three-month period ended September 30, 2007 from $2.3 million in the three-month period ended September 30, 2006 primarily due to improved margins and the Thann divestiture charge of $89.2 million ($58.4 million after income taxes), which occurred in 2006.

Segment Information Overview. We have identified three reportable segments as required by Statement of Financial Accounting Standards, or SFAS, No. 131, “Disclosures about Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information.” Our Polymer Additives segment is comprised of the flame retardants and stabilizers and curatives product areas. Our Catalysts segment is comprised of the refinery catalysts and polyolefin catalysts product areas. Our Fine Chemicals segment is comprised of the performance chemicals and fine chemistry services and intermediates product areas. Segment income represents operating profit and equity in net income of unconsolidated investments and is reduced by minority interests in income of our consolidated subsidiaries, Stannica LLC, JBC, Ningbo Jinhai Albemarle Chemical and Industry Co., Ltd., and Shanghai Jinhai Albemarle Fine Chemicals Co., Ltd. Segment data includes intersegment transfers of raw materials at cost and foreign exchange transaction gains and losses, allocations for certain corporate costs, equity in net income of unconsolidated investments, and is reduced by minority interests in income of consolidated subsidiaries.

 

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     Three Months Ended
September 30,
    Percentage
Change
 
     2007     2006     2007 vs 2006  
     (In millions, except percentages)  

Segment net sales:

  

Polymer Additives

   $ 232.7     $ 240.7     (3 )%

Catalysts

     216.4       217.4     —   %

Fine Chemicals

     134.9       149.7     (10 )%
                  

Total segment net sales

   $ 584.0     $ 607.8     (4 )%
                  

Segment operating profit (loss):

      

Polymer Additives

   $ 31.0     $ 40.7     (24 )%

Catalysts

     35.4       35.0     1 %

Fine Chemicals (a)

     22.8       18.1     26 %

Corporate & Other

     (12.7 )     (15.1 )   16 %
                  

Total segment operating profit

     76.5       78.7     (3 )%
                  

Minority interests in income of consolidated subsidiaries:

      

Polymer Additives

     (2.3 )     (3.3 )   (30 )%

Catalysts

     —         —       —   %

Fine Chemicals

     (2.4 )     (1.9 )   26 %

Corporate & Other

     0.1       —       *  
                  

Total minority interests in income of consolidated subsidiaries

     (4.6 )     (5.2 )   (12 )%
                  

Equity in net income of unconsolidated investments:

      

Polymer Additives

     0.7       1.2     (42 )%

Catalysts

     5.6       3.2     75 %

Fine Chemicals

     —         —       —   %

Corporate & Other

     —         —       —   %
                  

Total equity in net income of unconsolidated investments

     6.3       4.4     43 %
                  

Segment income (loss):

      

Polymer Additives

     29.4       38.6     (24 )%

Catalysts

     41.0       38.2     7 %

Fine Chemicals (a)

     20.4       16.2     26 %

Corporate & Other

     (12.6 )     (15.1 )   17 %
                  

Total segment income

     78.2       77.9     —   %

Loss on Thann facility divestiture

     —         (89.2 )   *  

Interest and financing expenses

     (9.5 )     (10.7 )   (11 )%

Other income, net

     0.9       1.0     *  

Income tax (expense) benefit

     (10.5 )     23.3     *  
                  

Net income

   $ 59.1     $ 2.3     *  
                  

* Calculation is not meaningful.

(a)

Excludes the Thann facility divestiture loss.

 

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Polymer Additives

The Polymer Additives segment recorded net sales for the three-month period ended September 30, 2007 of $232.7 million, down $8.0 million, or 3%, versus the three-month period ended September 30, 2006. Net sales declined in our flame retardant portfolio primarily due to reduced volumes in our tetrabrom product line, partially offset by higher year over year pricing and increased sales in certain of our proprietary products. Net sales improved in stabilizers and curatives due to the effects of improved pricing, increased volumes and slightly favorable foreign exchange rates. Segment income declined 24%, or $9.2 million, to $29.4 million due mainly to lower tetrabrom volumes and increased raw material and other costs, partially offset by improved pricing and favorable foreign exchange rates, for the three-month period ended September 30, 2007 as compared to the three-month period ended September 30, 2006.

Catalysts

Our Catalysts segment recorded net sales for the three-month period ended September 30, 2007 of $216.4 million, a nominal decrease versus the three-month period ended September 30, 2006. This decrease is a result of lower volumes in HPC refinery catalysts, partially offset by pricing improvements in FCC refinery catalysts and polyolefin catalysts. Segment income increased 7%, or $2.8 million, to $41.0 million due mainly to higher pricing and increased equity earnings from our Nippon Ketjen and Fábrica Carioca de Catalisadores S.A. joint ventures, partially offset by increased raw material and other costs.

Fine Chemicals

Fine Chemicals segment net sales for the three-month period ended September 30, 2007 were $134.9 million, down $14.8 million, or 10%, versus the three-month period ended September 30, 2006. This decrease was due mainly to the disposition of our Thann, France facility. Excluding the impact of the Thann facility divestiture, net sales decreased 3% primarily due to a decrease in volumes in our fine chemistry services business. Segment income for the three-month period ended September 30, 2007 was $20.4 million, up $4.2 million, or 26% from the three-month period ended September 30, 2006 due mainly to improved plant production efficiencies and favorable foreign exchange rates.

Corporate and Other

For the three-month period ended September 30, 2007, our Corporate and Other expenses decreased $2.5 million, or 17%, to $12.6 million from the three-month period ended September 30, 2006. This decrease was primarily due to a reduction in certain employee benefit expenses and incentive compensation partially offset by an increase in legal and consulting costs.

 

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Nine-Months 2007 Compared with Nine-Months 2006

Selected Financial Data (Unaudited)

 

     Nine Months Ended
September 30,
    Percentage
Change
 
     2007     2006     2007 vs. 2006  
     (In millions, except percentages and per share amounts)  

NET SALES

   $ 1,737.0     $ 1,784.0     (3 )%

Cost of goods sold

     1,270.9       1,381.9     (8 )%
                      

GROSS PROFIT

     466.1       402.1     16 %

GROSS PROFIT MARGIN

     26.8 %     22.5 %  

Selling, general and administrative expenses

     182.7       178.1     3 %

Research and development expenses

     46.1       34.2     35 %

Dayton facility closure charge

     4.9       —       *  

Loss on Thann facility divestiture

     —         89.2     *  
                      

OPERATING PROFIT

     232.4       100.6     131 %

OPERATING PROFIT MARGIN

     13.4 %     5.6 %  

Interest and financing expenses

     (28.8 )     (33.4 )   (14 )%

Other income (expenses), net

     3.4       (0.3 )   *  
                      

INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAX EXPENSE, MINORITY INTERESTS AND EQUITY IN NET INCOME OF UNCONSOLIDATED INVESTMENTS

     207.0       66.9     209 %

Income tax expense (benefit)

     43.0       (0.9 )   *  

Effective tax rate

     20.8 %     (1.4 )%  
                      

INCOME BEFORE MINORITY INTERESTS AND EQUITY IN NET INCOME OF UNCONSOLIDATED INVESTMENTS

     164.0       67.8     142 %

Minority interests in income of consolidated subsidiaries (net of tax)

     (12.3 )     (8.8 )   40 %

Equity in net income of unconsolidated investments (net of tax)

     19.4       21.0     (8 )%
                      

NET INCOME

   $ 171.1     $ 80.0     114 %
                      

PERCENTAGE OF NET SALES

     9.9 %     4.5 %  
                      

Basic earnings per share

   $ 1.80     $ 0.85     112 %
                      

Diluted earnings per share

   $ 1.76     $ 0.82     115 %
                      

* Calculation is not meaningful.

Net Sales

For the nine-month period ended September 30, 2007, we recorded net sales of $1,737.0 million, a decrease of $47.0 million, or 3%, compared to net sales of $1,784.0 million for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2006. This decrease was due primarily to reduced volumes in all segments and the disposition of our Thann, France facility, partially offset by improved pricing in all segments. Overall price/mix increased 6%, foreign currency increased 2% and volumes declined 11% compared to the same period last year.

Polymer Additives’ net sales decreased $20.3 million, or 3%, for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2007 compared to the same period in 2006. Compared to the same period last year, price/mix improved 7%, foreign currency increased 2% and volume declined 12%. Catalysts’ net sales increased $12.9 million, or 2%, due mainly to a 7% improvement in price/mix and an increase of 2% related to foreign currency, partially offset by a 7% decline in volume. Fine Chemicals’ net sales decreased $39.6 million, or 9%, primarily due to the disposition of our Thann, France facility in addition to reduced volumes of 3%, partially offset by improved price/mix of 4% and an increase of 2% in foreign currency. For a detailed discussion of revenues and segment income before taxes for each segment see “Segment Information Overview” below.

 

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Gross Profit

For the nine-month period ended September 30, 2007, our gross profit increased $64.0 million, or 16%, to $466.1 million from the corresponding 2006 period due to improved pricing and the disposition of our Thann, France facility, which had historically low profit margins. These increases were partially offset by reduced volumes and increased manufacturing and raw material costs. Our gross profit margin for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2007 increased to 26.8% from 22.5% for the corresponding period in 2006.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

For the nine-month period ended September 30, 2007, our SG&A expenses increased $4.6 million, or 3%, from the nine-month period ended September 30, 2006. This increase was primarily due to an increase in outside legal and consulting services and employee benefit expenses.

Research and Development Expenses

For the nine-month period ended September 30, 2007, our R&D expenses increased $11.9 million, or 35%, from the nine-month period ended September 30, 2006. This increase was primarily due to higher investments in new catalysts to satisfy the needs in the fuels markets and in new polymer additives and fine chemicals products.

Interest and Financing Expenses

Interest and financing expenses for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2007 decreased $4.6 million to $28.8 million from the corresponding 2006 period due to lower average outstanding debt levels and slightly lower interest rates.

Other Income (Expenses), Net

Other income (expenses), net for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2007 increased $3.7 million to $3.4 million from the corresponding 2006 period due to a $3.0 million foreign exchange adjustment on foreign denominated debt of JBC which occurred in 2006 and an increase in interest income of $1.5 million.

Income Tax Expense (Benefit)

Our effective tax rate fluctuates based on, among other factors, where income is earned and the level of income relative to available tax credits. For the nine-month period ended September 30, 2007, our effective income tax rate was 20.8% as compared to (1.4%) for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2006. The effective tax rate in the nine-month period ended September 30, 2007 reflects a $2.1 million benefit from an enacted tax rate reduction in Germany as well as adjustments totaling $4.9 million identified in the completion of various income tax filings. We believe the adjustments did not have a material effect on our reported financial position and results of operations for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2007. The 2006 period was impacted by the reduction in pre-tax income caused by the Thann divestiture charge of $89.2 million and the associated tax benefit of $30.8 million, or 34.5%, on that charge. Excluding the Thann charge and related tax impact, the effective tax rate for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2006 was 19.1%.

 

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The significant differences between the U.S. federal statutory income tax rate on pretax income, excluding the Thann divestiture charge of $89.2 million and the associated tax benefit of $30.8 million, or 34.5%, on that charge in the 2006 period, and the effective income tax rate for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively, are as follows:

 

     % of Income Before Income Taxes excluding the
Thann divestiture charge
 
    

Nine Months Ended

September 30,

 
     2007     2006  

Federal statutory rate

   35.0 %   35.0 %

State taxes, net of federal tax benefit

   0.7     0.1  

Tax rate changes

   (1.1 )   (1.9 )

Foreign tax rate differences (a)

   (11.3 )   (9.4 )

Depletion

   (2.4 )   (0.8 )

Effect of minority interests in income of consolidated subsidiaries

   (0.9 )   (1.0 )

Impact of foreign earnings (b)

   0.4     (2.3 )

Extraterritorial income exclusion

   —       (0.7 )

Other items, net

   0.4     0.1  
            

Effective income tax rate

   20.8 %   19.1 %
            

(a)

Includes the benefits of lower foreign tax rates on earnings which management has designated as permanent reinvestment.

(b)

Relates mainly to earnings from foreign operations not designated as permanent reinvestment.

We adopted the provisions of FASB Interpretation No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes,” or FIN 48, on January 1, 2007. FIN 48 prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement attributes for the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken, or expected to be taken, in a tax return. FIN 48 also provides guidance on derecognition, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure and transition. As a result of the implementation of FIN 48, we recognized an increase of approximately $4.8 million in the liability for unrecognized tax benefits, which was accounted for as a reduction to retained earnings. The liability for unrecognized tax benefits at adoption, exclusive of interest, is $83.3 million. This liability is reduced by $41.2 million of offsetting benefits associated with the corresponding effects of potential transfer pricing adjustments, state income taxes and temporary adjustments. The net liability of $42.1 million, if recognized, would favorably affect earnings.

Minority Interests in Income of Consolidated Subsidiaries

For the nine-month period ended September 30, 2007, minority interests’ share of net income was $12.3 million compared to $8.8 million in the same period last year. This increase of $3.5 million is due primarily to increased earnings (and related minority interest expense) of JBC primarily due to improved pricing and margins. In addition, the expense for the same period last year includes a benefit for the minority interest portion of the foreign exchange adjustment on foreign denominated debt of JBC. See Other Income (Expenses), Net above.

Equity in Net Income of Unconsolidated Investments

Equity in net income of unconsolidated investments was $19.4 million for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2007 compared to $21.0 million in the same period last year. This decrease of $1.6 million is due primarily to lower equity earnings from our Catalysts segment joint venture Nippon Ketjen as a result of decreased volumes. This decrease is partially offset by additional equity earnings in our other Catalysts segment joint ventures.

Net Income

Our net income increased 114% to $171.1 million in the nine-month period ended September 30, 2007 from $80.0 million in the nine-month period ended September 30, 2006 primarily due to improved margins and the Fine Chemicals facility restructuring which included the Thann divestiture charge of $89.2 million ($58.4 million after income taxes) in 2006.

 

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Segment Information Overview

 

     Nine Months Ended
September 30,
    Percentage
Change
 
     2007     2006     2007 vs 2006  
     (In millions, except percentages)  

Segment net sales:

  

Polymer Additives

   $ 670.9     $ 691.2     (3 )%

Catalysts

     659.7       646.8     2 %

Fine Chemicals

     406.4       446.0     (9 )%
                  

Total segment net sales

   $ 1,737.0     $ 1,784.0     (3 )%
                  

Segment operating profit (loss):

      

Polymer Additives

   $ 102.7     $ 112.1     (8 )%

Catalysts

     97.5       75.7     29 %

Fine Chemicals (a)

     75.3       43.6     73 %

Corporate & Other

     (38.2 )     (41.6 )   8 %
                  

Total segment operating profit

     237.3       189.8     25 %
                  

Minority interests in income of consolidated subsidiaries:

      

Polymer Additives

     (6.4 )     (6.7 )   (4 )%

Catalysts

     —         —       —   %

Fine Chemicals

     (6.1 )     (4.0 )   53 %

Corporate & Other

     0.2       1.9     *  
                  

Total minority interests in income of consolidated subsidiaries

     (12.3 )     (8.8 )   40 %
                  

Equity in net income of unconsolidated investments:

      

Polymer Additives

     4.1       3.7     11 %

Catalysts

     15.3       17.4     (12 )%

Fine Chemicals

     —         —       —   %

Corporate & Other

     —         (0.1 )   *  
                  

Total equity in net income of unconsolidated investments

     19.4       21.0     (8 )%
                  

Segment income (loss):

      

Polymer Additives

     100.4       109.1     (8 )%

Catalysts

     112.8       93.1     21 %

Fine Chemicals (a)

     69.2       39.6     75 %

Corporate & Other

     (38.0 )     (39.8 )   5 %
                  

Total segment income

     244.4       202.0     21 %

Dayton facility closure charge

     (4.9 )     —       *  

Loss on Thann facility divestiture

     —         (89.2 )   *  

Interest and financing expenses

     (28.8 )     (33.4 )   (14 )%

Other income (expenses), net

     3.4       (0.3 )   *  

Income tax (expense) benefit

     (43.0 )     0.9     *  
                  

Net income

   $ 171.1     $ 80.0     114 %
                  

* Calculation is not meaningful.

(a)

Excludes the Thann facility divestiture loss and the Dayton facility closure charge.

 

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Table of Contents

Polymer Additives

The Polymer Additives segment recorded net sales for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2007 of $670.9 million, down $20.3 million, or 3%, versus the nine-month period ended September 30, 2006. Net sales declined in our flame retardant portfolio primarily due to reduced volumes in our tetrabrom product line, partially offset by higher year over year pricing in certain of our proprietary products and favorable foreign exchange rates. Net sales improved in stabilizers and curatives due to the effects of improved pricing and favorable foreign exchange rates partially offset by slightly reduced volumes. Segment income decreased by 8% to $100.4 million due mainly to lower tetrabrom volumes and increased raw material and other costs, partially offset by improved pricing and favorable foreign exchange rates, for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2007 as compared to the nine-month period ended September 30, 2006.

Catalysts

Our Catalysts segment recorded net sales for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2007 of $659.7 million, up $12.9 million, or 2%, versus the nine-month period ended September 30, 2006. This increase is a result of pricing improvements in FCC refinery catalysts and polyolefin catalysts partially offset by reduced volumes in refinery catalysts. Segment income increased 21%, or $19.7 million, to $112.8 million due mainly to higher pricing, increased polyolefin catalysts volumes and additional equity earnings in several of our Catalysts segment joint ventures, partially offset by increased raw material costs and a decrease in equity earnings from our Nippon Ketjen joint venture. In addition, Catalysts segment income for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2007 includes a $2.1 million pre-tax benefit from the elimination of an employee benefit plan.

Fine Chemicals

Fine Chemicals segment net sales for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2007 were $406.4 million, down $39.6 million, or 9%, versus the nine-month period ended September 30, 2006. This decrease was due mainly to the disposition of our Thann, France facility. This decrease was partially offset by the acquisition of the South Haven facility and improved pricing in our bromine portfolio and fine chemistry services business. Segment income for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2007 was $69.2 million, up $29.6 million, or 75% from the nine-month period ended September 30, 2006 due mainly to increased pricing, improved plant production efficiencies and favorable foreign exchange rates.

Corporate and Other

For the nine-month period ended September 30, 2007, our Corporate and Other expenses decreased $1.8 million, or 5%, to $38.0 million from the nine-month period ended September 30, 2006. This decrease was primarily due to reduction in certain employee benefit expenses and incentive compensation partially offset by an increase in legal and consulting costs.

Financial Condition and Liquidity

Overview

The principal uses of cash in our business generally have been investment in our assets, funding working capital and repayment of debt. Cash to fund the needs of our business has been provided primarily by operations, debt financing and equity issuances.

We expect business activity levels to increase in 2008. The increase in business activity may cause our working capital needs to increase. We are continuing our program to improve working capital efficiency and working capital metrics particularly in the areas of accounts receivable and inventory. We expect our current cash balances and our availability under our revolving credit facility, which is discussed below, to be sufficient to fund working capital requirements for the foreseeable future.

Cash Flow

Our cash balance decreased by $48.2 million to $101.3 million at September 30, 2007 from $149.5 million at December 31, 2006. For the nine-month period ended September 30, 2007, our operations provided $148.8 million of cash compared to $215.9 million in the nine-month period ended September 30, 2006. This decrease of $67.1 million is primarily due to an increase in inventory and a decrease in accounts payable partially offset by collections of value added tax, or VAT, receivables in our European trading company. Cash flows from operating activities funded investing activities of $98.5 million, which consisted principally of capital expenditures for plant machinery and equipment improvements and acquisition of additional interests in our two antioxidant joint ventures in China: Ningbo Jinhai Albemarle Chemical and Industry Co., Ltd. and Shanghai Jinhai Albemarle Fine Chemicals Co., Ltd. Remaining cash provided from operating activities together with proceeds from borrowings of $78.1 million and the proceeds from stock option exercises of $20.5 million, funded long-term debt repayments of $129.2 million, purchases of our common stock of $52.0 million and quarterly dividends to shareholders of $30.2 million.

 

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Table of Contents

Net current assets increased $132.2 million to $610.1 million at September 30, 2007 from $477.9 million at December 31, 2006. The increase in net current assets was due primarily to an increase in trade accounts receivable, notes receivable and inventory as well as a decrease in accounts payable, income taxes payable and current portion of long-term debt partially offset by a decrease in cash and VAT receivables in our European trading company.

Our foreign currency translation adjustments, net of related deferred taxes, included in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) in the condensed consolidated balance sheets on page 4 increased from December 31, 2006, primarily due to the weakening of the U.S. Dollar against the euro. Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) also includes unrecognized losses and prior service benefit for our defined benefit plans in accordance with SFAS No. 158, “Employer’s Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans — an amendment of certain requirements of FASB Statements No. 87, 106 and 132 (R).”

Capital expenditures for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2007 of $71.3 million were used to expand capacities at existing facilities and were comparable to 2006 expenditures of $73.1 million. We expect our capital expenditures to be approximately $100 to $105 million in 2007 and comparable levels in 2008. We anticipate that future capital spending will be financed primarily with cash flow provided from operations with additional cash needed, if any, provided by borrowings, including borrowings under our revolving credit facility. The amount and timing of any additional borrowings will depend on our specific cash requirements.

Long-Term Debt

We maintained a senior credit agreement with several banks and other financial institutions that consisted of a $300.0 million revolving credit facility and a $450.0 million five-year term loan facility. In March 2007, we exchanged our prior senior credit agreement for a new five-year, revolving, unsecured senior credit facility to improve operating flexibility and to take advantage of favorable market conditions. The March 2007 credit agreement (i) exchanged both the $450.0 million five-year term loan facility ($316.7 million outstanding at December 31, 2006) and the $300.0 million revolving credit facility for a $675.0 million unsecured five-year revolving credit facility, (ii) provides for an additional $200.0 million in credit, if needed, upon additional loan commitments by our existing and/or additional lenders, (iii) provides for the ability to extend the maturity date of the revolving credit facility, under certain conditions, at each anniversary of the closing date, (iv) replaced the consolidated fixed charge coverage covenant and debt to capitalization ratio covenant with a maximum leverage ratio covenant, and (v) reduced the interest rate spread and commitment fees applicable to the Company’s borrowings under the credit facility. The total spreads and fees can range from 0.32% to 0.675% over the London inter-bank offered rate (LIBOR) applicable to the currency of denomination of the borrowing based upon our credit rating, applicable from time to time, from one of the major credit rating agencies. The March 2007 credit agreement extends the maturity of the credit facility to March 2012 from July 2009. Fees and expenses of $1.0 million were paid related to this new agreement. There were aggregate borrowings outstanding under the March 2007 agreement of $260.0 million at September 30, 2007. Borrowings under the March 2007 agreement bear interest at variable rates, which was a weighted average of 5.85% at September 30, 2007.

Borrowings under our senior credit agreement are conditioned upon compliance with the following covenants: (a) consolidated funded debt, as defined, must be less than or equal to 3.50 times consolidated EBITDA, as defined, as of the end of any fiscal quarter; (b) consolidated tangible domestic assets, as defined, must be greater than or equal to $750.0 million for us to make investments in entities and enterprises that are organized outside the United States; and (c) with the exception of liens specified in our senior credit agreement, liens may not attach to assets where the aggregate amount of all indebtedness secured by such liens plus unsecured indebtedness, other than indebtedness incurred under the revolving credit facility, at our subsidiaries would exceed 20% of consolidated net worth, as defined. We believe that as of September 30, 2007, we were, and currently are, in compliance with all of our debt covenants.

In July 2007, we repaid our variable-rate foreign bank loans with excess operating cash. In September 2007, we redeemed the $11.0 million tax-exempt variable interest industrial revenue bonds. A nominal fee was paid related to this redemption.

We currently have $325.0 million of 5.10% senior notes that are due in 2015. These notes are senior unsecured obligations and will rank equally with all of our other senior unsecured indebtedness from time to time outstanding. The senior notes will be effectively subordinated to any of our future secured indebtedness and to existing and future indebtedness of our subsidiaries. We may redeem the senior notes before their maturity, in whole at any time or in part from time to time, at a redemption price equal to the greater of (1) 100% of the principal amount of the senior notes to be redeemed or (2) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest thereon (exclusive of interest accrued to the date of redemption) discounted to the

 

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redemption date on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Treasury Rate (as defined in the indenture governing the senior notes) plus 15 basis points, plus, in each case, accrued interest thereon to the date of redemption.

The principal amount of the senior notes becomes immediately due and payable upon the occurrence of certain bankruptcy or insolvency events involving us or certain of our subsidiaries and may be declared immediately due and payable by the trustee or the holders of not less than 25% of the senior notes upon the occurrence of an event of default. Events of default include, among other things: failure to pay principal or interest at required times; failure to perform or remedy a breach of covenants within prescribed periods; an event of default on any of our other indebtedness or certain of our subsidiaries of $40.0 million or more that is caused by a failure to make a payment when due or that results in the acceleration of that indebtedness before its maturity; and certain bankruptcy or insolvency events involving us or certain of our subsidiaries. We believe that as of September 30, 2007, we were, and currently are, in compliance with all of our senior notes covenants.

The non-current portion of our long-term debt amounted to $679.7 million at September 30, 2007, compared to $681.9 million at December 31, 2006. In addition, at September 30, 2007, we had the ability to borrow an additional $545.7 million under our various credit arrangements.

Other Obligations

The following table summarizes our contractual obligations for plant construction, purchases of equipment and various take or pay and throughput agreements (in thousands):

 

    

4Q

2007

   2008    2009    2010    2011    2012    There-after

Long-term debt obligations

   $ 3,465    $ 14,356    $ 4,617    $ 4,866    $ 5,128    $ 303,521    $ 344,545

Capital lease obligation

     1,581      3,298      3,490      3,692      3,905      2,036      —  

Expected interest payments on long-term debt obligations*

     10,329      35,731      32,546      29,336      26,102      18,460      34,245

Operating lease obligations (rental)

     2,828      8,883      5,819      4,974      3,729      2,921      20,804

Take or pay / throughput agreements

     59,588      157,303      26,279      10,287      8,113      4,994      16,972

Letters of credit and guarantees

     4,312      27,555      24,988      5,256      1,240      —        —  

Capital projects

     20,339      2,426      1,413      1,413      1,060      —        —  

Facility divestiture obligation

     3,693      2,462      —        —        —        —        —  

Additional investment commitment payments

     57      75      21      20      —        —        —  
                                                

Total

   $ 106,192    $ 252,089    $ 99,173    $ 59,844    $ 49,277    $ 331,932    $ 416,566
                                                

* These amounts are based on a weighted-average interest rate of 5.9% for the senior credit facility, 5.6% for variable rate long-term debt obligations and capital lease, and 5.1% interest rate for the senior notes for 2007. The weighted average rate for years 2008 and thereafter is 5.8% for the senior credit facility, 5.7% for the variable rate long-term debt obligations and capital lease, and 5.1% for the senior notes.

We are subject to federal, state, local, and foreign requirements regulating the handling, manufacture and use of materials (some of which may be classified as hazardous or toxic by one or more regulatory agencies), the discharge of materials into the environment and the protection of the environment. To our knowledge, we are currently complying and expect to continue to comply in all material respects with applicable environmental laws, regulations, statutes and ordinances. Compliance with existing federal, state, local, and foreign environmental protection laws is not expected to have in the future a material effect on earnings or our competitive position, but the costs associated with increased legal or regulatory requirements could have an adverse effect on our results.

Among other environmental requirements, we are subject to the federal Superfund law, and similar state laws, under which we may be designated as a potentially responsible party, or PRP, and may be liable for a share of the costs associated with cleaning up various hazardous waste sites. Management believes that in most cases, our participation is de minimis. Further, almost all such sites represent environmental issues that are quite mature and have been investigated, studied and in many cases settled. In de minimis situations, our policy generally is to negotiate a consent decree and to pay any apportioned settlement, enabling us to be effectively relieved of any further liability as a PRP, except for remote contingencies. In other than de minimis PRP matters, our records indicate that unresolved PRP exposures should be immaterial. We accrue and expense our proportionate share of PRP costs. Because management has been actively involved in evaluating environmental matters, we are able to conclude that the outstanding environmental liabilities for unresolved PRP sites should not be material to operations.

 

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As previously mentioned, we implemented FIN 48 effective January 1, 2007. The liability for unrecognized tax benefits, including interest and penalties, recorded in “Other noncurrent liabilities” totaled $87.3 million and $94.6 million at January 1, 2007 and September 30, 2007, respectively. Related assets for corresponding offsetting benefits recorded in “Other assets, deferred charges and noncurrent deferred income taxes” totaled $39.0 million and $43.9 million at January 1, 2007 and September 30, 2007, respectively. We cannot estimate the amounts of any cash payments during the next twelve months associated with these liabilities and are unable to estimate the timing of any such cash payments in the future at this time.

Liquidity Outlook

We anticipate that cash provided from operating activities in the future and borrowings under our senior credit agreement will be sufficient to pay our operating expenses, satisfy debt service obligations, fund capital expenditures, and make dividend payments for the foreseeable future. For flexibility, we maintain a shelf registration statement that permits us to issue from time to time a range of securities, including common stock, preferred stock and senior and subordinated debt of up to $220.0 million. In addition, as we have historically done, we will continue to evaluate the merits of any opportunities that may arise for acquisitions of businesses or assets, which may require additional liquidity.

 

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.

There have been no significant changes in our interest rate risk, marketable securities price risk or raw material price risk from the information we provided in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006 except as noted below.

We had outstanding variable interest rate borrowings at September 30, 2007 of $298.1 million, bearing an average interest rate of 5.82%. A hypothetical 10% change (approximately 60 basis points) in the interest rate applicable to these borrowings would change our annualized interest expense by approximately $1.7 million. We may enter into interest rate swaps, collars or similar instruments with the objective of reducing interest rate volatility relating to our borrowing costs.

In 2004, we entered into treasury lock agreements, or T-locks, with a notional value of $275.0 million, to fix the yield on the U.S. Treasury security used to set the yield for approximately 85% of our January 2005 public offering of senior notes. The T-locks fixed the yield on the U.S. Treasury security at approximately 4.25%. The value of the T-locks resulted from the difference between (1) the yield-to-maturity of the 10-year U.S. Treasury security that had the maturity date most comparable to the maturity date of the notes issued and (2) the fixed rate of approximately 4.25%. The cumulative loss effect of the T-lock agreements was $2.2 million and is being amortized over the life of the notes as an adjustment to the notes interest expense. At September 30, 2007, there were losses of approximately $1.6 million ($1.0 million after income taxes) in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) that remain to be expensed.

In addition, certain of our operations use natural gas as a source of energy which can expose our business to market risk when the price of natural gas changes suddenly. In an attempt to mitigate the impact and volatility of price swings in the natural gas market, we purchase natural gas contracts, when appropriate, for a portion of our 12-month rolling forecast for North American natural gas requirements.

Our natural gas hedge transactions are executed with a major financial institution. Such derivatives are held to secure natural gas at fixed prices and not for trading. Our natural gas contracts qualify as cash flow hedges and are marked to market. The unrealized gains and/or losses on these contracts are deferred and accounted for in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) to the extent that the unrealized gains and losses are offset by the forecasted transaction. At September 30, 2007, there were no natural gas hedge contracts outstanding and no natural gas contracts were purchased in the three-month period ended September 30, 2007. Additionally, any unrealized gains and/or losses on the derivative instrument that are not offset by the forecasted transaction are recorded in earnings as appropriate, but do not have a significant impact on results of operations.

 

Item 4. Controls and Procedures.

Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, we conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act), as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on this evaluation, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer concluded that, as of end of the period covered by this report, our disclosure controls and procedures are effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act, is recorded,

 

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processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

No change in our internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(f)) occurred during the third quarter ended September 30, 2007 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1. Legal Proceedings.

On July 3, 2006, we received a Notice of Violation, or NOV, from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 4, or EPA, regarding the implementation of the Pharmaceutical Maximum Achievable Control Technology standards at our plant in Orangeburg, SC. The alleged violations include (i) the applicability of the specific regulations to certain intermediates manufactured at the plant, (ii) failure to comply with certain reporting requirements, (iii) improper evaluation and testing to properly implement the regulations and (iv) the sufficiency of the leak detection and repair program at the plant. We are currently engaged in discussions with the EPA seeking to resolve these allegations, but no assurances can be given that we will be able to reach a resolution that is acceptable to both parties. Any settlement or finding adverse to us could result in the payment by us of fines, penalties, capital expenditures, or some combination thereof. At this time, it is not possible to predict with any certainty the outcome of our discussions with the EPA or the financial impact, which may result therefrom. However, we do not expect any financial impact to have a material adverse effect on the Company.

In addition, we are involved from time to time in legal proceedings of types regarded as common in our businesses, particularly administrative or judicial proceedings seeking remediation under environmental laws, such as Superfund, products liability and premises liability litigation. We maintain a financial accrual for these proceedings that includes defense costs and potential damages, as estimated by our general counsel. We also maintain insurance to mitigate certain of such risks.

 

Item 1A. Risk Factors.

While we attempt to identify, manage and mitigate risks and uncertainties associated with our business to the extent practical under the circumstances, some level of risk and uncertainty will always be present. Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006 as supplemented by Item 1A of our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2007, describe some of the risks and uncertainties associated with our business. These risks and uncertainties have the potential to materially affect our results of operations and our financial condition. We do not believe that there have been any material changes to the risk factors previously disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006 as supplemented by Item 1A of our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2007.

 

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.

The following table summarizes our repurchases of equity securities for the three-month period ended September 30, 2007:

 

Period

   Total Number
of Shares
Repurchased
  

Average

Price Paid
Per share

   Total Number of Shares
Repurchased as Part of
Publicly Announced Plan
or Program *
   Maximum Number of
Shares that May Yet Be
Repurchased Under the
Plans or Programs *

July 1, 2007 to July 31, 2007

   —        —      —      5,472,102

August 1, 2007 to August 31, 2007

   —        —      —      5,472,102

September 1, 2007 to September 30, 2007

   102,000    $ 41.77    102,000    5,370,102
                     

Total

   102,000    $ 41.77    102,000    5,370,102
                     

* The stock repurchase plan, which was authorized by our Board of Directors, became effective on October 25, 2000 and included ten million shares. The stock repurchase plan will expire when we have repurchased all shares authorized for repurchase thereunder, unless the repurchase plan is earlier terminated by action of our Board of Directors.

 

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Item 6. Exhibits.

 

  (a) Exhibits

 

31.1   Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)
31.2   Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)
32.1   Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(b) and 18 U.S.C. Section 1350
32.2   Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(b) and 18 U.S.C. Section 1350

 

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 

  ALBEMARLE CORPORATION
  (Registrant)

Date: November 6, 2007

  By:  

/S/ RICHARD J. DIEMER, JR.

   

Richard J. Diemer, Jr.

Senior Vice President and

Chief Financial Officer

(principal financial and accounting officer)

 

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