Albemarle Reports Third Quarter 2009 Results

BATON ROUGE, La., Oct. 26  /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- 

  Third quarter highlights:


  --  Net sales of $515.3 million and earnings of $52.1 million, or 57 cents
      per share for the quarter.


  --  Sequential improvement in net sales in all business segments.


  --  Strong sequential segment income gains in Polymer Additives and Fine
      Chemicals segments.


  --  Strong cash generation leading to net debt reduction of approximately
      $115 million in the quarter.



                                 Third Quarter Ended    Nine Months Ended
                                    September 30,          September 30,
                                    -------------          -------------
  In thousands of dollars,
   except per share amounts         2009      2008        2009        2008
  -------------------------         ----      ----        ----        ----

  Net Sales                     $515,276  $660,463  $1,447,166  $1,949,390

  Operating Profit               $62,925   $76,892    $122,843    $238,496

  Net Income attributable
   to Albemarle Corporation      $52,131   $56,175    $116,023    $181,091

  Diluted earnings per share       $0.57     $0.61       $1.26       $1.95

  Special item per share              $-        $-      $(0.09)     $(0.02)

  Per share amount for one
   time tax items                     $-        $-       $0.13          $-

  Diluted earnings per share
   excluding special and one
   time tax items                  $0.57     $0.61       $1.23       $1.97



Albemarle Corporation (NYSE:ALB) reported third quarter 2009 earnings of $52.1 million, or 57 cents per share, compared to third quarter 2008 earnings of $56.2 million, or 61 cents per share. The Company reported net sales in the third quarter of 2009 totaling $515.3 million compared to third quarter 2008 net sales of $660.5 million.

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Earnings for the first nine months of 2009 were $116.0 million, or $1.26 per share, compared to $181.1 million, or $1.95 per share, for the first nine months of 2008. Excluding the second quarter 2009 special item related to Port de Bouc ($8.2 million after tax) and tax benefits related to prior periods ($11.5 million), earnings for the first nine months of 2009 were $112.7 million, or $1.23 per share. Excluding first quarter 2008 restructuring charges ($2.1 million after tax), earnings for the first nine months of 2008 were $183.2 million, or $1.97 per share. Net sales for the first nine months of 2009 were $1.45 billion compared to $1.95 billion for the first nine months of 2008.

"Volumes continue to improve for many of our products, and we are encouraged by the sequential increase in sales and profitability over the prior two quarters. Our order patterns thus far in the fourth quarter alleviate some of the concern we previously expressed about the sustainability of the recovery going forward; however, we remain cautious in this difficult environment," said Mark C. Rohr, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.  "We're very proud of our strong cash generation and working capital management. We have repaid $113 million of debt in the first nine months and have $260 million of cash and equivalents at September 30, 2009. We continue to focus on cost-saving initiatives and aggressive innovation efforts to drive growth. We've demonstrated an ability to deliver high quality results in both good as well as tough times and we continue to drive value for our shareholders."

Quarterly Segment Results

Polymer Additives recorded net sales for the third quarter of 2009 of $196.7 million, a 25 percent decrease versus record net sales in the third quarter of 2008. Softness in consumer end-markets contributed to the year-over-year decline; however, demand continues to improve sequentially. Polymer Additives segment income for the third quarter of 2009 was $26.0 million compared to $27.4 million in the third quarter of 2008. Unfavorable year-over-year volume and pricing impacts were partially offset by improvements in raw materials and other operating costs. Higher sales levels and increased utilization rates contributed to the segment's strong sequential segment income improvement of 78 percent over the second quarter of 2009.

Catalysts net sales for the third quarter of 2009 were $188.9 million, a decrease of 18 percent versus the third quarter of 2008. This decrease was due primarily to metals impacts on HPC refinery catalysts revenues, currency exchange rates and less favorable product mix in polyolefin catalysts. Catalysts segment income for the third quarter of 2009 was $33.4 million compared to $36.5 million for the third quarter of 2008.  This decline was due primarily to lower equity income, unfavorable currency exchange rates and metals impacts on HPC refinery catalysts. Segment income declined $4.3 million sequentially due primarily to polyolefin catalysts product mix and lower equity income.

Fine Chemicals net sales for the third quarter of 2009 were $129.6 million, down 22 percent from the third quarter of 2008, but up 25 percent from the second quarter 2009. Segment income for the third quarter of 2009 was $14.2 million compared to $24.7 million in the third quarter of 2008. These declines were primarily attributable to our industrial bromides business. Segment income margins improved, however, over 600 basis points from second quarter 2009 due mainly to stronger sales volumes and utilization rates in the bromine franchise.

Cash Flow

In the first nine months of 2009, cash flow from operations funded net repayments of debt of over $113 million, capital expenditures for plant, machinery and equipment of $84 million and dividends to shareholders of $33 million. During the quarter, interest and financing expenses were $6.2 million versus $9.8 million in the third quarter of 2008. This decrease was due primarily to lower average interest rates year over year.

At September 30, 2009, the Company had approximately $260 million in cash and equivalents. In addition, the Company has sufficient capacity to borrow under existing lines of credit and has no significant debt maturities before 2013.

Taxes

Our third quarter 2009 effective income tax rate was 9.7 percent, down from 15.3 percent in the third quarter of 2008. The full year effective tax rate is expected to be 12 percent, excluding special and one time tax items, which is approximately 2.0 percent lower than our previous annual effective tax rate forecast. The tax rate continues to be influenced by the level and mix of income and has benefited from a more favorable mix of income in lower tax jurisdictions.

Outlook

While challenging conditions still persist in some sectors, underlying market fundamentals seem to be improving. Short term, we remain cautious and continue to focus on cash generation until we get more comfortable with the sustainability of improved market conditions. We remain confident that Albemarle is well positioned to manage through the uncertainties of the present market cycle and to capture the expected medium to long-term upside.

Earnings Call

The Company's performance for the third quarter ended September 30, 2009 will be discussed on a conference call at 11:00 AM Eastern Daylight time on October 27, 2009, which can be accessed through Albemarle's website under Investor Information at http://www.albemarle.com/.

Albemarle Corporation, headquartered in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, is a leading global developer, manufacturer and marketer of highly-engineered specialty chemicals for consumer electronics; petroleum and petrochemical processing; transportation and industrial products; pharmaceuticals; agricultural products; construction and packaging materials. The Company operates in three business segments, Polymer Additives, Catalysts and Fine Chemicals and serves customers in approximately 100 countries.

Forward-Looking Statements

Some of the information presented in this press release may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Although we believe our expectations as reflected are based on reasonable assumptions within the bounds of our knowledge of our business and operations, there can be no assurance that actual results will not differ materially. Factors that could cause actual results to differ from expectations include, without limitation: deterioration in economic and business conditions; future financial and operating performance of our major customers and industries served by us; the inability to pass through increases in costs and expenses for raw materials and energy; competition from other manufacturers; changes in demand for our products; the gain or loss of significant customers; fluctuations in foreign currencies; and increased government regulation of our operations or our products. Additional factors that could cause our results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements can be found under "Risk Factors" in Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2008 and in our other public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Readers are urged to review and consider carefully the disclosures we make in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

  Albemarle Corporation and Subsidiaries
  Consolidated Statements of Income
  (In Thousands of Dollars, Except Share and Per Share Amounts) (Unaudited)

                            Third Quarter Ended       Nine Months Ended
                                September 30,           September 30,
                              2009        2008        2009          2008
                              ----        ----        ----          ----

  Net sales               $515,276    $660,463  $1,447,166    $1,949,390
  Cost of goods sold       381,197     506,280   1,112,763     1,464,815
  ------------------       -------     -------   ---------     ---------

     Gross profit          134,079     154,183     334,403       484,575
  Selling, general and
   administrative
   expenses                 56,171      59,899     153,086       191,016
  Research and development
   expenses                 14,983      17,392      46,081        51,785
  Port de Bouc charges           -           -      12,393(a)          -
  Restructuring charges          -           -           -         3,278(b)
  ---------------------        ---         ---         ---         -----

     Operating profit       62,925      76,892     122,843       238,496
  Interest and financing
   expenses                 (6,199)     (9,815)    (18,561)      (28,472)
  Other income
   (expenses), net             343      (2,718)        488         2,066
  ----------------             ---      ------         ---         -----
  Income before income
   taxes and equity
   in net income of
   unconsolidated
   investments              57,069      64,359     104,770       212,090
  Income tax (expense)
   benefit                  (5,549)     (9,878)      1,675(c)    (39,406)
  --------------------      -----       ------       -----       -------
  Income before equity
   in net income of
   unconsolidated
   investments              51,520      54,481     106,445       172,684
  Equity in net income
   of unconsolidated
   investments (net of
   tax)                      5,809       6,281      17,962        21,975
  --------------------       -----       -----      ------        ------
  Net income                57,329      60,762(d)  124,407       194,659(d)
  Net income
   attributable to
   noncontrolling
   interests                (5,198)     (4,587)(d)  (8,384)      (13,568)(d)
  ---------------           ------      ------      ------       -------
  Net income
   attributable to
   Albemarle
   Corporation             $52,131     $56,175(d) $116,023      $181,091(d)
  ----------------         -------     -------    --------      --------
  Basic earnings
   per share                 $0.57       $0.61(e)    $1.27         $1.97(e)

  Diluted earnings
   per share                 $0.57       $0.61(e)    $1.26         $1.95(e)


  Weighted-average
   common shares
   outstanding - Basic      91,588      91,395(e)   91,481        91,846(e)

  Weighted-average
   common shares
   outstanding - Diluted    92,174      92,463(e)   91,955        92,977(e)
  ----------------------    ------      ------      ------        ------

  See accompanying notes to the condensed consolidated financial
  information.


  Albemarle Corporation and Subsidiaries
  Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
  (In Thousands of Dollars) (Unaudited)

                                           September 30,  December 31,
                                                   2009           2008
                                                   ----           ----
  ASSETS
  Cash and cash equivalents                    $260,434       $253,303
  Other current assets                          742,319        925,620
                                                -------        -------

       Total current assets                   1,002,753      1,178,923
                                              ---------      ---------

  Property, plant and equipment               2,416,735      2,322,996
  Less accumulated depreciation
   and amortization                           1,374,405      1,310,648
                                              ---------      ---------
       Net property, plant and equipment      1,042,330      1,012,348

  Other assets and intangibles                  735,065        681,446
                                                -------        -------
   Total assets                              $2,780,148     $2,872,717
                                             ==========     ==========

  LIABILITIES & EQUITY
  Current portion of long-term debt             $27,721        $26,202
  Other current liabilities                     314,151        412,165
                                                -------        -------

       Total current liabilities                341,872        438,367
                                                -------        -------

  Long-term debt                                793,098        906,062
  Other noncurrent liabilities                  320,328        336,967
  Deferred income taxes                          80,578         74,838
  Albemarle Corporation shareholders'
   equity (d)                                 1,197,063      1,065,771
  Noncontrolling interests (d)                   47,209         50,712
                                                 ------         ------
     Total liabilities & equity              $2,780,148     $2,872,717
                                             ==========     ==========

  See accompanying notes to the condensed consolidated financial
  information.


  Albemarle Corporation and Subsidiaries
  Selected Consolidated Cash Flows Data
  (In Thousands of Dollars) (Unaudited)

                                                      Nine Months Ended
                                                         September 30,
                                                         -------------
                                                      2009            2008
                                                      ----            ----
  Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of
   year                                           $253,303        $130,551
  Cash and cash equivalents at end of period      $260,434        $207,211

  Sources of cash and cash equivalents:
    Net income (d)                                 124,407         194,659
    Proceeds from borrowings                        20,269         285,303
    Proceeds from exercise of stock options          4,083           3,931

  Uses of cash and cash equivalents:
    Capital expenditures                           (83,610)        (63,467)
    Purchases of common stock                            -        (163,502)
    Repayments of long-term debt                  (133,332)        (42,605)
    Dividends paid to shareholders                 (33,306)        (31,394)
    Dividends paid to noncontrolling interests      (8,911)        (11,836)

  Non-cash items:
    Depreciation and amortization                   74,539          81,555

  See accompanying notes to the condensed consolidated financial
  information.




  Albemarle Corporation and Subsidiaries
  Consolidated Summary of Segment Results
  (In Thousands of Dollars) (Unaudited)

                                  Third Quarter Ended     Nine Months Ended
                                     September 30,          September 30,
                                     ------------           ------------
                                    2009      2008        2009        2008
                                    ----      ----        ----        ----

  Net sales:
    Polymer Additives           $196,716  $261,746    $492,636    $766,844
    Catalysts                    188,911   231,562     600,101     716,045
    Fine Chemicals               129,649   167,155     354,429     466,501
                                 -------   -------     -------     -------
      Total net sales           $515,276  $660,463  $1,447,166  $1,949,390
                                ========  ========  ==========  ==========

  Segment operating profit:
    Polymer Additives            $27,243   $28,705     $31,562     $86,337
    Catalysts                     28,845    30,941      90,314     112,617
    Fine Chemicals                16,482    26,830      32,525      77,983
                                  ------    ------      ------      ------
      Subtotal                   $72,570   $86,476    $154,401    $276,937
                                 =======   =======    ========    ========

  Equity in net income (loss) of
   unconsolidated investments:
    Polymer Additives             $1,293      $777      $1,563      $3,454
    Catalysts                      4,543     5,544      16,480      18,598
    Fine Chemicals                     -         -           -           -
    Corporate & other                (27)      (40)        (81)        (77)
                                     ---       ---         ---         ---
      Total equity in net income
       of unconsolidated
       investments                $5,809    $6,281     $17,962     $21,975
                                  ======    ======     =======     =======

  Net (income) loss attributable
   to noncontrolling interests:
    Polymer Additives            $(2,490)  $(2,078)    $(4,145)    $(6,183)
    Catalysts                          -         -           -           -
    Fine Chemicals                (2,244)   (2,146)     (4,402)     (7,304)
    Corporate & other               (464)     (363)        163         (81)
                                    ----      ----         ---         ---
      Total net income
       attributable to
       noncontrolling interests  $(5,198)  $(4,587)    $(8,384)   $(13,568)
                                 =======   =======     =======    ========

  Segment income:
    Polymer Additives            $26,046   $27,404     $28,980     $83,608
    Catalysts                     33,388    36,485     106,794     131,215
    Fine Chemicals                14,238    24,684      28,123      70,679
                                  ------    ------      ------      ------
      Total segment income        73,672    88,573     163,897     285,502
  Corporate & other              (10,136)   (9,987)    (19,083)    (35,321)
  Port de Bouc charges (a)             -         -     (12,393)          -
  Restructuring charges (b)            -         -           -      (3,278)
  Interest and financing
   expenses                       (6,199)   (9,815)    (18,561)    (28,472)
  Other income (expenses), net       343    (2,718)        488       2,066
  Income tax (expense)
   Benefit (c)                    (5,549)   (9,878)      1,675     (39,406)
                                 -------   -------       -----    --------
  Net income attributable to
   Albemarle Corporation (d)     $52,131   $56,175    $116,023    $181,091
                                 =======   =======    ========    ========

  See accompanying notes to the condensed consolidated financial
  information.

  Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Information



(a) The nine-month period ended September 30, 2009 included charges amounting to $12.4 million ($8.2 million after income taxes, or 9 cents per share) that related to the costs of a final contract settlement arising from our 2008 disposition of the Port de Bouc, France facility.

(b) The nine-month period ended September 30, 2008 included charges amounting to $3.3 million ($2.1 million after income taxes, or 2 cents per share) that related to severance costs in conjunction with personnel reductions at the Company's former Richmond, Virginia headquarters and its Singapore sales office.

(c) The nine-month period ended September 30, 2009 included a $9.2 million (10 cents per share) one time benefit due mainly to a tax issue settlement for the years 2005 through 2007 with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service, a $4.2 million benefit associated with the Port de Bouc charge described in footnote (a), and a non-recurring net benefit of $2.5 million (3 cents per share) resulting from adjustments related to prior periods.

(d) As adjusted due to the adoption of new accounting guidance which requires retroactive application for the presentation of noncontrolling interests on the balance sheet and statements of income.

(e) As adjusted due to the adoption of new accounting guidance associated with share-based payment transactions considered to be participating securities. Basic earnings per share decreased one cent for the three-month period ended September 30, 2008 as a result of an increase in our basic weighted-average common shares outstanding of approximately 321,000 shares. Diluted weighted-average common shares outstanding increased by approximately 198,000 shares for the three-month period ended September 30, 2008. Basic earnings per share decreased one cent for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2008 as a result of an increase in our basic weighted-average common shares outstanding of approximately 311,000 shares. Diluted weighted-average common shares outstanding increased by approximately 203,000 shares for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2008.

Additional Information

It should be noted that earnings or per share amounts excluding special items and one time tax items is a financial measure that is not required by, or presented in accordance with, accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, or GAAP. It is presented here to exclude the impact of certain non-recurring items on our results. We believe this measure is more reflective of our operations, provides transparency to investors and enables period-to-period comparability of financial performance.

Net debt is a supplemental financial measure that is not required by, or presented in accordance with GAAP. We believe net debt is helpful in analyzing leverage and as a performance measure. We define net debt as total debt plus the portion of outstanding joint venture indebtedness guaranteed by us (or less the portion of outstanding joint venture indebtedness consolidated but not guaranteed by us), less cash and cash equivalents. Set forth below is a reconciliation of net debt, a non-GAAP financial measure, to total debt, the most directly comparable financial measure calculated and reported in accordance with GAAP, as of September 30, 2009, June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008.

A description of other non-GAAP financial measures that we use to evaluate our operations and financial performance, and reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable financial measures calculated and reported in accordance with GAAP, can be found in the Investor Information section of our website at http://www.albemarle.com/, under "Non-GAAP Reconciliations" under "Investor Relations."

                   ALBEMARLE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
                          Net Debt Reconciliation
                          (In Thousands of Dollars)
                                (Unaudited)


                           Third Quarter      Second Quarter       Year
                               Ended               Ended           Ended
                           September 30,          June 30,      December 31,
                                2009               2009             2008

  Total debt                   $820,819          $847,327          $932,264
  JV debt consolidated by
   the Company but
   guaranteed by others         (27,272)          (27,182)          (29,064)
  Less: Cash and cash
   equivalents                 (260,434)         (172,476)         (253,303)

  Net Debt                     $533,113          $647,669          $649,897

  See accompanying notes to the condensed consolidated financial
  information.


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DATASOURCE: Albemarle Corporation



CONTACT:  Sandra Rodriquez of Albemarle Corporation, [phone]



Web Site:  http://www.albemarle.com/ 

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