Basis of Presentation

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2020

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

Basis of Presentation

Basis of Presentation

In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited 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 statement, in all material respects, of our condensed consolidated balance sheets as of June 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, our consolidated statements of income, consolidated statements of comprehensive income and consolidated statements of changes in equity for the three-month and six-month periods ended June 30, 2020 and 2019 and our condensed consolidated statements of cash flows for the six-month periods ended June 30, 2020 and 2019. Cost of goods sold for the three-month period ended June 30, 2020 includes a net expense of $9.8 million for the correction of out-of-period errors regarding understated cost of goods sold for inventory values within the Catalysts segment and overstated freight accruals primarily within the Lithium and Catalysts segments. These errors understated (overstated) Income before income taxes and equity in net income of unconsolidated investments for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 and the three-month period ended March 31, 2020 by $0.5 million and ($10.3) million, respectively. The Company does not believe these adjustments are material to the consolidated financial statements for any of the prior periods presented or to the three-month period ended June 30, 2020 in which they were corrected. These unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, which was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on February 26, 2020. The December 31, 2019 condensed consolidated balance sheet data herein was derived from audited financial statements, but does not include all disclosures required by generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) in the United States (“U.S.”). The results of operations for the three-month and six-month periods ended June 30, 2020 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year.

The current novel coronavirus (“COVID-19”) pandemic is having an impact on overall global economic conditions. While we have not seen a material impact to our operations to date, the ultimate impact on our business will depend on the length and severity of the outbreak throughout the world. The Company has taken, and plans to continue to take, certain measures to maintain financial flexibility, including delaying certain capital expenditure projects and accelerating our cost savings initiative, while still protecting our employees and customers. In addition, on May 11, 2020, the Company amended its revolving, unsecured credit agreement dated as of June 21, 2018, as amended on August 14, 2019 (the “2018 Credit Agreement”) and unsecured credit facility entered into on August 14, 2019 (the “2019 Credit Facility”) (together “the Credit Agreements”) to modify its financial covenant based on the Company’s current expectations. As of June 30, 2020, the Company is in compliance with its financial covenant under its Credit Agreements and expects to be in compliance with its financial covenant for at least one year from the issuance of these interim financial statements. If conditions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic worsen and the Company’s earnings and cash flow from operations do not start to recover as contemplated in the Company's current plans, the Company may not be able to maintain compliance with its amended financial covenant and could have a material adverse effect on the Company. See Note 8, “Long-Term Debt,” for further discussion of covenant amendment.

In addition, as of June 30, 2020, we assessed other accounting estimates based on forecasted financial information, including, but not limited to, our allowance for credit losses, the carrying value of our goodwill, intangible assets, and other long-lived assets. At this time we cannot predict the ultimate financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business, and to what extent economic and operating conditions recover on a sustainable basis globally. Accordingly, if the impact is more severe or longer in duration than we have assumed, such impact could potentially result in impairments and increases in credit allowances.