Segment Information

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2020

Segment Reporting [Abstract]

Segment Information

Segment Information:

Our three reportable segments include: (1) Lithium; (2) Bromine Specialties; and (3) Catalysts. Each segment has a dedicated team of sales, research and development, process engineering, manufacturing and sourcing, and business strategy personnel and has full accountability for improving execution through greater asset and market focus, agility and responsiveness. This business structure aligns with the markets and customers we serve through each of the segments. This structure also facilitates the continued standardization of business processes across the organization, and is consistent with the manner in which information is presently used internally by the Company’s chief operating decision maker to evaluate performance and make resource allocation decisions.

Summarized financial information concerning our reportable segments is shown in the following tables. The “All Other” category includes only the fine chemistry services business that does not fit into any of our core businesses.

The Corporate category is not considered to be a segment and includes corporate-related items not allocated to the operating segments. Pension and OPEB service cost (which represents the benefits earned by active employees during the period) and amortization of prior service cost or benefit are allocated to the reportable segments, All Other, and Corporate, whereas the remaining components of pension and OPEB benefits cost or credit (“Non-operating pension and OPEB items”) are included in Corporate. Segment data includes inter-segment transfers of raw materials at cost and allocations for certain corporate costs.

The Company’s chief operating decision maker uses adjusted EBITDA (as defined below) to assess the ongoing performance of the Company’s business segments and to allocate resources. The Company defines adjusted EBITDA as earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, as adjusted on a consistent basis for certain non-recurring or unusual items in a balanced manner and on a segment basis. These non-recurring or unusual items may include acquisition and integration related costs, gains or losses on sales of businesses, restructuring charges, facility divestiture charges, non-operating pension and OPEB items and other significant non-recurring items. In addition, management uses adjusted EBITDA for business planning purposes and as a significant component in the calculation of performance-based compensation for management and other employees. The Company has reported adjusted EBITDA because management believes it provides transparency to investors and enables period-to-period comparability of financial performance. Adjusted EBITDA is a financial measure that is not required by, or presented in accordance with, U.S. GAAP. Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered as an alternative to Net income attributable to Albemarle Corporation, the most directly comparable financial measure calculated and reported in accordance with U.S. GAAP, or any other financial measure reported in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2020		2019		2020		2019
	(In thousands)				(In thousands)
Net sales:
Lithium	$	265,646	$	330,386	$	786,186	$	947,030
Bromine Specialties	237,193		256,267		701,564		760,752
Catalysts	197,919		261,346		602,179		779,295
All Other	46,110		31,748		159,833		109,786
Total net sales	$	746,868	$	879,747	$	2,249,762	$	2,596,863
Adjusted EBITDA:
Lithium	$	97,789	$	127,459	$	270,962	$	384,854
Bromine Specialties	79,448		88,814		235,751		248,743
Catalysts	37,834		66,944		108,081		193,890
All Other	24,985		10,448		66,407		28,931
Corporate	(24,001)		(39,314)		(83,588)		(114,300)
Total adjusted EBITDA	$	216,055	$	254,351	$	597,613	$	742,118

See below for a reconciliation of adjusted EBITDA, the non-GAAP financial measure, from Net income attributable to Albemarle Corporation, the most directly comparable financial measure calculated and reported in accordance with U.S. GAAP (in thousands):

	Lithium		Bromine Specialties		Catalysts		Reportable Segments Total		All Other		Corporate		Consolidated Total
Three months ended September 30, 2020
Net income (loss) attributable to Albemarle Corporation	$	69,102	$	66,548	$	25,176	$	160,826	$	22,798	$	(85,323)	$	98,301
Depreciation and amortization	28,687		12,900		12,658		54,245		2,187		2,247		58,679
Restructuring and other(a)	—		—		—		—		—		2,251		2,251
Acquisition and integration related costs(b)	—		—		—		—		—		5,928		5,928
Interest and financing expenses	—		—		—		—		—		19,227		19,227
Income tax expense	—		—		—		—		—		30,653		30,653
Non-operating pension and OPEB items	—		—		—		—		—		(2,901)		(2,901)
Other(c)	—		—		—		—		—		3,917		3,917
Adjusted EBITDA	$	97,789	$	79,448	$	37,834	$	215,071	$	24,985	$	(24,001)	$	216,055
Three months ended September 30, 2019
Net income (loss) attributable to Albemarle Corporation	$	102,136	$	75,224	$	54,345	$	231,705	$	8,305	$	(84,940)	$	155,070
Depreciation and amortization	25,212		12,448		12,599		50,259		2,143		2,085		54,487
Acquisition and integration related costs(b)	—		—		—		—		—		4,114		4,114
Interest and financing expenses	—		—		—		—		—		11,108		11,108
Income tax expense	—		—		—		—		—		25,341		25,341
Non-operating pension and OPEB items	—		—		—		—		—		(551)		(551)
Other(d)	111		1,142		—		1,253		—		3,529		4,782
Adjusted EBITDA	$	127,459	$	88,814	$	66,944	$	283,217	$	10,448	$	(39,314)	$	254,351
Nine months ended September 30, 2020
Net income (loss) attributable to Albemarle Corporation	$	188,380	$	198,905	$	70,770	$	458,055	$	60,069	$	(226,995)	$	291,129
Depreciation and amortization	82,582		36,846		37,311		156,739		6,338		7,137		170,214
Restructuring and other(a)	—		—		—		—		—		10,831		10,831
Acquisition and integration related costs(b)	—		—		—		—		—		14,349		14,349
Interest and financing expenses	—		—		—		—		—		53,964		53,964
Income tax expense	—		—		—		—		—		64,526		64,526
Non-operating pension and OPEB items	—		—		—		—		—		(8,704)		(8,704)
Other(c)	—		—		—		—		—		1,304		1,304
Adjusted EBITDA	$	270,962	$	235,751	$	108,081	$	614,794	$	66,407	$	(83,588)	$	597,613
Nine months ended September 30, 2019
Net income (loss) attributable to Albemarle Corporation	$	312,609	$	212,320	$	156,328	$	681,257	$	22,629	$	(261,049)	$	442,837
Depreciation and amortization	71,669		35,281		37,562		144,512		6,302		5,904		156,718
Restructuring and other(a)	—		—		—		—		—		5,290		5,290
Acquisition and integration related costs(b)	—		—		—		—		—		14,388		14,388
Gain on sale of property(e)	—		—		—		—		—		(11,079)		(11,079)
Interest and financing expenses	—		—		—		—		—		35,295		35,295
Income tax expense	—		—		—		—		—		93,266		93,266
Non-operating pension and OPEB items	—		—		—		—		—		(1,810)		(1,810)
Other(d)	576		1,142		—		1,718		—		5,495		7,213
Adjusted EBITDA	$	384,854	$	248,743	$	193,890	$	827,487	$	28,931	$	(114,300)	$	742,118

(a)In 2020, we recorded severance expenses as part of business reorganization plans, impacting each of our businesses and Corporate, primarily in the U.S., Germany and with our Jordanian joint venture partner. During the three months ended September 30, 2020, we recorded severance expenses of $2.3 million in SG&A. During the nine months ended September 30, 2020, we recorded expenses of

$0.7 million in Cost of goods sold, $10.4 million in SG&A and a $0.3 million gain in Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests for the portion of severance expense allocated to our Jordanian joint venture partner. The balance of unpaid severance is recorded in Accrued expenses and is expected to primarily be paid through 2021. During the nine months ended September 30, 2019, severance expenses of $5.3 million, respectively, were recorded in SG&A as part of a business reorganization plan primarily in Catalysts, Lithium and Corporate.

(b)Costs related to the acquisition, integration and potential divestitures for various significant projects, recorded in SG&A.

(c)Included amounts for the three months ended September 30, 2020 recorded in:

▪SG&A - $3.8 million of a net expense primarily relating to the increase of environmental reserves at non-operating businesses we have previously divested.

▪Other expenses, net - $0.2 million loss resulting from the settlement of a historical legal matter of an acquired company.

Included amounts for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 recorded in:

•SG&A - $3.8 million of a net expense primarily relating to the increase of environmental reserves at non-operating businesses we have previously divested.

▪Other expenses, net - $2.5 million net gain resulting from the settlement of legal matters related to a business sold or a site in the process of being sold, and $0.8 million net gain primarily relating to the sale of idle properties in Germany, partially offset by a $0.8 million loss resulting from the adjustment of indemnifications related to previously disposed businesses.

(d)    Included amounts for the three months ended September 30, 2019 recorded in:

▪Cost of goods sold - $0.1 million related to non-routine labor and compensation related costs in Chile that were outside normal compensation arrangements.

▪SG&A - $1.1 million of a write-off of uncollectable accounts receivable from a terminated distributor in the Bromine Specialties segment.

▪Other expenses, net - $3.1 million of unrecoverable vendor costs outside the operations of the business related to the construction of the future Kemerton production facility, as well as a net loss of $0.4 million primarily resulting from the settlement of legal matters related to previously disposed businesses or recorded in purchase accounting.

Included amounts for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 recorded in:

▪Cost of goods sold - $0.6 million related to non-routine labor and compensation related costs in Chile that were outside normal compensation arrangements.

▪SG&A - $1.0 million of shortfall contributions for our multiemployer plan financial improvement plan and $1.1 million of a write-off of uncollectable accounts receivable from a terminated distributor in the Bromine Specialities segment.

▪Other expenses, net - $3.1 million of unrecoverable vendor costs outside the operations of the business related to the construction of the future Kemerton production facility, a net loss of $0.4 million primarily resulting from the settlement of legal matters related to previously disposed businesses or recorded in purchase accounting, and $0.9 million of a net loss primarily resulting from the revision of indemnifications and other liabilities related to previously disposed businesses.

(e) Gain recorded in Other expenses, net related to the sale of land in Pasadena, Texas not used as part of our operations.