Divestitures

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2019

Discontinued Operations and Disposal Groups [Abstract]

Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations, Disclosure [Text Block]

Divestitures:

Polyolefin Catalysts and Components Business

On December 14, 2017, the Company signed a definitive agreement to sell the polyolefin catalysts and components portion of its Performance Catalyst Solutions (“PCS”) business (“Polyolefin Catalysts Divestiture”) to W.R. Grace & Co., with the sale closing on April 3, 2018. We received net cash proceeds of approximately $413.6 million and have recorded a gain of $210.4 million before income taxes in 2018 related to the sale of this business. The transaction included Albemarle’s Product Development Center located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and operations at its Yeosu, South Korea site. The sale did not include the Company’s organometallics or curatives portion of its PCS business. The Polyolefin Catalysts Divestiture reflects the Company’s commitment to investing in the future growth of its high priority businesses and returning capital to shareholders.