Segment Information

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2022

Segment Reporting [Abstract]

Segment Information

Segment Information:

Our three reportable segments include: (1) Lithium; (2) Bromine; 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 included only the FCS business that did not fit into any of our core businesses. On June 1, 2021, we completed the sale

of the FCS business. See Note 3, “Divestitures,” for additional information. Amounts in the “All Other” category represent activity in this business until divested on June 1, 2021.

The Corporate category is not considered to be a segment and includes corporate-related items not allocated to the operating segments. Pension and other post-employment benefit (“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 and financing expenses, income tax expenses, depreciation and amortization, as adjusted on a consistent basis for certain non-operating, non-recurring or unusual items in a balanced manner and on a segment basis. These non-operating, non-recurring or unusual items may include acquisition and integration related costs, gains or losses on sales of businesses, restructuring charges, facility divestiture charges, certain litigation and arbitration costs and charges, non-operating pension and OPEB items and other significant non-recurring items. In addition, management uses adjusted EBITDA for business and enterprise 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 (loss) 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 March 31,
	2022		2021
	(In thousands)
Net sales:
Lithium	$	550,272	$	278,976
Bromine	359,579		280,447
Catalysts	217,877		220,243
All Other	—		49,625
Total net sales	$	1,127,728	$	829,291
Adjusted EBITDA:
Lithium	$	308,615	$	106,436
Bromine	129,234		94,640
Catalysts	16,910		25,427
All Other	—		21,479
Corporate	(22,829)		(17,928)
Total adjusted EBITDA	$	431,930	$	230,054

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

	Lithium		Bromine		Catalysts		Reportable Segments Total		All Other		Corporate		Consolidated Total
Three months ended March 31, 2022
Net income (loss) attributable to Albemarle Corporation	$	261,689	$	116,561	$	3,989	$	382,239	$	—	$	(128,856)	$	253,383
Depreciation and amortization	38,526		12,673		12,921		64,120		—		2,454		66,574
Loss on sale of interest in properties(a)	8,400		—		—		8,400		—		—		8,400
Acquisition and integration related costs(b)	—		—		—		—		—		1,724		1,724
Interest and financing expenses(c)	—		—		—		—		—		27,834		27,834
Income tax expense	—		—		—		—		—		80,530		80,530
Non-operating pension and OPEB items	—		—		—		—		—		(5,280)		(5,280)
Other(d)	—		—		—		—		—		(1,235)		(1,235)
Adjusted EBITDA	$	308,615	$	129,234	$	16,910	$	454,759	$	—	$	(22,829)	$	431,930
Three months ended March 31, 2021
Net income (loss) attributable to Albemarle Corporation	$	74,630	$	82,113	$	12,916	$	169,659	$	20,016	$	(93,998)	$	95,677
Depreciation and amortization	31,806		12,527		12,511		56,844		1,463		3,953		62,260
Acquisition and integration related costs(b)	—		—		—		—		—		2,162		2,162
Interest and financing expenses(e)	—		—		—		—		—		43,882		43,882
Income tax expense	—		—		—		—		—		22,107		22,107
Non-operating pension and OPEB items	—		—		—		—		—		(5,465)		(5,465)
Other(f)	—		—		—		—		—		9,431		9,431
Adjusted EBITDA	$	106,436	$	94,640	$	25,427	$	226,503	$	21,479	$	(17,928)	$	230,054

(a)Expense recorded as a result of revised estimates of the obligation to construct certain lithium hydroxide conversion assets in Kemerton, Western Australia, due to anticipated cost overruns from supply chain, labor and COVID-19 pandemic related issues. The corresponding obligation was recorded in Accrued liabilities to be transferred to Mineral Resources Limited (“MRL”), which maintains a 40% ownership interest in these Kemerton assets.

(b)Costs related to the acquisition, integration and potential divestitures for various significant projects, recorded in Selling, general and administrative expenses (“SG&A”).

(c)Included in Interest and financing expenses is the correction of an out of period error of $17.5 million related to the overstatement of capitalized interest in prior periods. See Note 1, “Basis of Presentation,” for further details.

(d)Included amounts for the three months ended March 31, 2022 recorded in:

•SG&A - $4.3 million of gains from the sale of legacy properties not part of our operations, partially offset by $2.8 million of charges for environmental reserves at sites not part of our operations and $0.7 million of facility closure expenses related to offices in Germany.

•Other income, net - $0.6 million gain related to a settlement received from a legal matter in a prior period.

(e)Included in Interest and financing expenses is a loss on early extinguishment of debt of $27.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021. See Note 9, “Long-Term Debt,” for additional information.

(f)Included amounts for the three months ended March 31, 2021 recorded in:

▪SG&A - $5.5 million of expenses primarily related to non-routine labor and compensation related costs that are outside normal compensation arrangements.

▪Other income, net - $3.9 million of expenses primarily related to asset retirement obligation charges to update of an estimate at a site formerly owned by Albemarle.