作為2021年6月1日出售精細化學服務(“FCS”)業務所得款項的一部分,W.R. Grace&Co.(“Grace”)對其子公司發行了總面額為$的美國雅保優先權益股。270百萬美元。該優先權益在特定條件下可以由Grace自行贖回,並於2023年6月1日開始按“PIK”分紅以每年的%比例增加。 12此外,當累積餘額達到原始價值的%時,雅保可以贖回此優先權益。 200這項優先權益在2024年9月30日和2023年12月31日分別的公平價值為$百萬,並記載在合併資產負債表的投資項下。304.5 百萬美元和289.3 million at September� 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively, which is reported in Investments in the consolidated balance sheets.
▪Capital project asset write-offs and associated contract cancellation costs recorded in 2024 primarily related to stopping construction of Kemerton Trains 3 and 4. The Company determined that these assets will not provide future value or will require significant re-engineering if the related projects are restarted.
▪Severance and other restructuring costs associated with placing Kemerton Train 2 into care and maintenance in 2024
▪2023 included separation and other severance costs to employees in Corporate and the Ketjen business
Research and Development Expenses
In thousands
YTD 2024
YTD 2023
$ Change
% Change
Research and development expenses
$
66,699
$
62,972
$
3,727
6
%
Percentage of Net sales
1.6
%
0.9
%
Interest and Financing Expenses
In thousands
YTD 2024
YTD 2023
$ Change
% Change
Interest and financing expenses
$
(120,916)
$
(81,686)
$
(39,230)
48
%
▪Increased debt balance outstanding during the first nine months of 2024, primarily in variable-rate commercial paper paid off in March 2024
▪Lower capitalized interest in 2024
•Increased amortization of debt discounts in 2024 primarily from interest-free loan entered into in the second quarter of 2023
Other Income, Net
In thousands
YTD 2024
YTD 2023
$ Change
% Change
Other income, net
$
61,311
$
147,628
$
(86,317)
(58)
%
•2024 included losses of $65.9 million related to the sale and fair market value adjustment of equity securities in public companies compared to $34.4 million of net gains for similar fair value adjustments in 2023
•$35.8 million decrease attributable to foreign exchange gains in 2024 compared to 2023. Foreign exchange gains in 2024 are net of a loss of $21.5 million due to the reclass from accumulated other comprehensive loss related to the dedesignation of cash flow hedge.
•$17.3 million gain primarily from the sale of assets at a site not part of our operations in 2024
•$15.9 million increase of income from PIK dividends of preferred equity in a Grace subsidiary in 2024
Income Tax Expense
In thousands
YTD 2024
YTD 2023
$ Change
% Change
Income tax expense
$
76,472
$
311,399
$
(234,927)
(75)
%
Effective income tax rate
(4.2)
%
26.7
%
•Change in geographic mix of earnings, with lower 2024 earnings in various jurisdictions
•2024 included the impact of the valuation allowance for losses in our consolidated Australian entities and certain entities in China
•2024 included the impact of the 15% global minimum tax under Pillar Two
•2023 included tax impact of a non-deductible $218.5 million legal accrual recorded for the agreements in principle to resolve a previously disclosed legal matter with the DOJ, SEC and DPP
Equity in Net Income of Unconsolidated Investments
In thousands
YTD 2024
YTD 2023
$ Change
% Change
Equity in net income of unconsolidated investments
$
696,436
$
1,417,545
$
(721,109)
(51)
%
▪Decreased earnings from lower pricing from the Windfield joint venture in Energy Storage
Net Income Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests
In thousands
YTD 2024
YTD 2023
$ Change
% Change
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests
$
(34,154)
$
(82,679)
$
48,525
(59)
%
▪Decrease in consolidated income related to our JBC joint venture primarily due to lower pricing
Net (Loss) Income Attributable to Albemarle Corporation
In thousands
YTD 2024
YTD 2023
$ Change
% Change
Net (loss) income attributable to Albemarle Corporation
$
(1,254,742)
$
2,191,156
$
(3,445,898)
NM
Percentage of Net sales
(30.3)
%
30.2
%
Net (loss) income attributable to Albemarle Corporation common shareholders
$
(1,349,701)
$
2,191,156
$
(3,540,857)
NM
Basic (loss) earnings per share
$
(11.49)
$
18.68
$
(30.17)
NM
Diluted (loss) earnings per share
$
(11.49)
$
18.60
$
(30.09)
NM
▪Decrease in 2024 results due to reasons noted above
▪Net (loss) income attributable to Albemarle Corporation common shareholders in 2024 includes $95.0 million reduction for mandatory convertible preferred stock dividends
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax
In thousands
YTD 2024
YTD 2023
$ Change
% Change
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
$
58,925
$
(140,337)
$
199,262
NM
▪Foreign currency translation and other
$
61,753
$
(103,376)
$
165,129
NM
▪2024 included favorable movements in the Euro of approximately $79 million, partially offset by unfavorable movements in the Brazilian Real of approximately $8 million, the Chinese Renminbi of approximately $3 million, the Taiwanese Dollar of approximately $3 million and a net unfavorable variance in various other currencies of $4 million
▪2023 included unfavorable movements in the Euro of approximately $90 million, the Japanese Yen of approximately $13 million, partially offset by a net favorable variance in various other currencies of less than $1 million
Segment Information Overview.Summarized financial information concerning our reportable segments is shown in the following tables.
Nine Months Ended September 30,
Percentage Change
2024
%
2023
%
2024 vs 2023
(In thousands, except percentages)
Net sales:
Energy Storage
$
2,398,299
57.8
%
$
5,403,910
74.5
%
(56)
%
Specialties
993,041
24.0
%
1,142,802
15.7
%
(13)
%
Ketjen
754,473
18.2
%
714,326
9.8
%
6
%
Total net sales
$
4,145,813
100.0
%
$
7,261,038
100.0
%
(43)
%
Adjusted EBITDA:
Energy Storage
$
623,862
70.2
%
$
3,337,720
90.7
%
(81)
%
Specialties
155,629
17.5
%
268,665
7.3
%
(42)
%
Ketjen
95,288
10.7
%
72,584
2.0
%
31
%
Total segment adjusted EBITDA
874,779
98.4
%
3,678,969
100.0
%
(76)
%
Corporate
14,315
1.6
%
1,949
—
%
NM
Total adjusted EBITDA
$
889,094
100.0
%
$
3,680,918
100.0
%
(76)
%
See below for a reconciliation of total segment adjusted EBITDA to consolidated Net (loss) income attributable to Albemarle Corporation, the most directly comparable financial measure calculated and reported in accordance with U.S. GAAP (in thousands):
Nine Months Ended September 30,
2024
2023
Total segment adjusted EBITDA
$
874,779
$
3,678,969
Corporate expenses, net
14,315
1,949
Depreciation and amortization
(425,532)
(285,801)
Interest and financing expenses
(120,916)
(81,686)
Income tax expense
(76,472)
(311,399)
Proportionate share of Windfield income tax expense(a)
(292,992)
(599,646)
Acquisition and integration related costs(b)
(3,927)
(21,653)
Restructuring charges and asset write-offs(c)
(1,194,614)
(9,196)
Non-operating pension and OPEB items
993
(1,833)
(Loss) gain in fair value on public equity securities(d)
(65,922)
34,401
Legal accrual(e)
—
(218,510)
Other(f)
35,546
5,561
Net (loss) income attributable to Albemarle Corporation
$
(1,254,742)
$
2,191,156
(a)Albemarle’s 49% ownership interest in the reported income tax expense of the Windfield joint venture.
(b)Costs related to the acquisition, integration and potential divestitures for various significant projects, recorded in SG&A.
(c)See Note 9, “Restructuring Charges and Asset Write-offs,” to the Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for further details.
(d)Loss of $33.7 million recorded in Other income, net for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 resulting from the sale of investments in public equity securities and a (loss) gain of ($32.2) million and $34.4 million recorded in Other income, net for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively, resulting from the net change in fair value of investments in public equity securities.
(e)Accrual recorded in SG&A representing for the agreements in principle to resolve a previously disclosed legal matter with the DOJ and SEC. This matter was settled in the third quarter of 2023.
(f)Included amounts for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 recorded in:
•Cost of goods sold - $1.4 million of expenses related to non-routine labor and compensation related costs that are outside normal compensation arrangements.
•SG&A - $5.3 million of expenses related to certain historical legal and environmental matters.
•Other income, net - $26.8 million of income from PIK dividends of preferred equity in a Grace subsidiary, a $17.3 million gain primarily from the sale of assets at a site not part of our operations, a $0.6 million gain from an updated cost estimate of an environmental reserve at a site not part of our operations and a $0.4 million net gain primarily resulting from the adjustment of
indemnification related to previously disposed businesses, partially offset by $2.9 million of charges for asset retirement obligations at a site not part of our operations.
Included amounts for the ninemonths ended September 30, 2023 recorded in:
•SG&A - $2.1 million of facility closure expenses related to offices in Germany, $1.9 million of charges primarily for environmental reserves at sites not part of our operations and $1.0 million primarily related to shortfall contributions for a multiemployer plan financial improvement plan.
•Other income, net - $10.9 million gain in the fair value of preferred equity of a Grace subsidiary and a $7.2 million gain resulting from insurance proceeds of a prior legal matter, partially offset by $3.9 million of a loss resulting from the adjustment of indemnification related to previously disposed businesses and $3.6 million of charges for asset retirement obligations at a site not part of our operations.
Energy Storage
In thousands
YTD 2024
YTD 2023
$ Change
% Change
Net sales
$
2,398,299
$
5,403,910
$
(3,005,611)
(56)
%
•$4.5 billion decrease attributable to unfavorable pricing impacts, primarily in battery- and tech-grade carbonate and hydroxide sold under index-referenced and variable-priced contracts, and mix
•$1.5 billion increase attributable to higher sales volume, primarily driven by the La Negra III/IV expansion in Chile, as well as sales of chemical-grade spodumene to meet growing customer demand
•$30.3 million decrease attributable to unfavorable currency translation resulting from the stronger U.S. Dollar against various currencies
Adjusted EBITDA
$
623,862
$
3,337,720
$
(2,713,858)
(81)
%
•Unfavorable pricing impacts in lithium carbonate and hydroxide
•Decreased equity in net income from the Windfield joint venture, driven by lower spodumene pricing
•Higher sales volume
•Decreased commission expenses in Chile resulting from the lower pricing
•Savings from designed restructuring and productivity improvements
•$66.9 million increase attributable to favorable currency translation resulting from the weaker U.S. Dollar against various currencies
Specialties
In thousands
YTD 2024
YTD 2023
$ Change
% Change
Net sales
$
993,041
$
1,142,802
$
(149,761)
(13)
%
•$167.2 million decrease attributable to unfavorable pricing impacts
•$24.0 million increase attributable to higher sales volume related to increased demand across all products
•$6.5 million decrease attributable to unfavorable currency translation resulting from the stronger U.S. Dollar against various currencies
Adjusted EBITDA
$
155,629
$
268,665
$
(113,036)
(42)
%
•Unfavorable pricing impacts
•Decreased manufacturing costs resulting from higher production volume and productivity initiatives
•Higher sales volume related to increased demand across all products
•Decrease in noncontrolling interests to JBC joint venture resulting from lower pricing
•$6.4 million decrease attributable to unfavorable currency translation resulting from the stronger U.S. Dollar against various currencies
Ketjen
In thousands
YTD 2024
YTD 2023
$ Change
% Change
Net sales
$
754,473
$
714,326
$
40,147
6
%
•$33.0 million increase attributable to higher sales volume, primarily in the CFT division
•$7.9 million increase attributable to favorable product mix, primarily in the CFT division
Adjusted EBITDA
$
95,288
$
72,584
$
22,704
31
%
•Higher sales volume and favorable product mix, primarily in the CFT division
•Increased manufacturing input costs
•2023 included a $24 million gain recorded for insurance claim receipts
▪Reduced expenses as part of announced cost reduction efforts, including outside services and travel and entertainment costs
▪$18.6 million decrease attributable to unfavorable currency exchange impacts
Financial Condition and Liquidity
Overview
The principal uses of cash in our business generally have been capital investments and resource development costs, funding working capital, and service of debt. We also make contributions to our defined benefit pension plans, pay dividends to our shareholders and have the ability to repurchase shares of our common stock. Historically, cash to fund the needs of our business has been principally provided by cash from operations, debt financing and equity issuances.
We are continually focused on working capital efficiency particularly in the areas of accounts receivable, payables and inventory. We anticipate that cash on hand, cash provided by operating activities, proceeds from divestitures and borrowings will be sufficient to pay our operating expenses, satisfy debt service obligations, fund capital expenditures and other investing activities, fund pension contributions and pay dividends for the foreseeable future.
Cash Flow
During the first nine months of 2024, cash on hand, cash provided by operations and net proceeds from the issuance of mandatory convertible preferred stock of $2.2 billion funded the repayment of a net balance of $620.0 million of commercial paper, $1.3 billion of capital expenditures for plant, machinery and equipment, dividends to common shareholders of $140.9 million and dividends to mandatory convertible preferred shareholders of $81.1 million. Our operations provided $701.4 million of cash flows during the first nine months of 2024, as compared to $1.4 billion for the first nine months of 2023. The change compared to prior year was primarily due to decreased earnings from the Energy Storage segment, driven by lower lithium market prices, and lower dividends received from unconsolidated investments, partially offset by positive working capital changes year-over-year of $2.2 billion. The inflow from working capital in 2024 was primarily driven by the impact of lower lithium pricing in inventories and accounts receivable. This was partially offset by lower accounts payable driven by similar lower lithium pricing. Overall, our cash and cash equivalents increased by $774.6 million to $1.7 billion at September 30, 2024 from $889.9 million at December 31, 2023.
Capital expenditures for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2024 of $1.3 billion were primarily associated with plant, machinery and equipment. We expect our capital expenditures to be at the lower-end of $1.7 billion to $1.8 billion in 2024, primarily for Energy Storage growth and capacity increases, including in Chile, China and the U.S., as well as productivity and continuity of operations projects in all segments. Capital expenditures in 2024 also include spending for construction of Kemerton Trains 3 and 4 and certain other capital projects, which were stopped as part of our announced comprehensive review of our cost and operating structure.
In addition, in stopping construction of Kemerton Trains 3 and 4, and putting Kemerton Train 2 on care and maintenance, the Company incurred $72.7 million of related contract cancellation costs and required charges under take or pay contracts, as well as $27.4 million of severance charges. The Company’s actions regarding Kemerton are part of a broader effort that will focus on preserving its world-class resource advantages, optimizing its global conversion network, improving the Company’s cost competitiveness and efficiency, reducing capital intensity and enhancing the Company’s financial flexibility. As part of this effort, on October 7, 2024, the Company announced it will transition to a new operating structure effective November 1, 2024. The new operating structure will transition to a fully integrated functional model (excluding Ketjen) from a global business unit model. As a result, the Company expects to record severance and employee benefits of approximately $30 million to $50 million and other restructuring costs of approximately $25 million to $30 million associated with these actions in the fourth quarter of 2024.
In January 2024, the Company sold equity securities of a public company for proceeds of approximately $81.5 million. As a result of the sale, the Company realized a loss of $33.7 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2024.
On March 8, 2024, the Company issued 46,000,000 depositary shares, each representing a 1/20th interest in a share of Preferred Stock. The 2,300,000 shares of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock issued had a $1,000 per share liquidation preference. As a result of this transaction, the Company received cash proceeds of approximately $2.2 billion, net of underwriting fees and offering costs. The Company intends to use the proceeds for general corporate purposes, which may
include, among other uses, funding growth capital expenditures, such as the construction and expansion of lithium operations in Australia and China that are significantly progressed or near completion, following the repayment of commercial paper using a portion of the proceeds in the first quarter of 2024. See Note 8, “Equity,” for additional information.
Net current assets were $2.8 billion and $1.7 billion at September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively. The increase is primarily due to the increased cash and cash equivalents balance as a result of the $2.2 billion of net proceeds from the issuance of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock in March 2024, and the resulting paydown of commercial paper. In addition, accounts receivable, inventory and accounts payable balances all decreased from December 31, 2023 due to the lower lithium market prices. Additional changes in the components of net current assets are primarily due to the timing of the sale of goods and other ordinary transactions leading up to the balance sheet dates. The additional changes are not the result of any policy changes by the Company, and do not reflect any change in either the quality of our net current assets or our expectation of success in converting net working capital to cash in the ordinary course of business.
On July 16, 2024, our board of directors declared a cash dividend of $0.405, which was paid on October 1, 2024 to shareholders of record at the close of business as of September 13, 2024.
At September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, our cash and cash equivalents included $980.8 million and $857.6 million, respectively, held by our foreign subsidiaries. The majority of these foreign cash balances are associated with earnings that we have asserted are indefinitely reinvested and which we plan to use to support our continued growth plans outside the U.S. through funding of capital expenditures, acquisitions, research, operating expenses or other similar cash needs of our foreign operations. From time to time, we repatriate cash associated with earnings from our foreign subsidiaries to the U.S. for normal operating needs through intercompany dividends, but only from subsidiaries whose earnings we have not asserted to be indefinitely reinvested or whose earnings qualify as “previously taxed income” as defined by the Internal Revenue Code. During the first nine months of 2024 and 2023, we repatriated $28.8 million and $3.0 million, respectively, of cash as part of these foreign earnings cash repatriation activities.
While we continue to closely monitor our cash generation, working capital management and capital spending in light of continuing uncertainties in the global economy, we believe that we will continue to have the financial flexibility and capability to opportunistically fund future growth initiatives. Additionally, we anticipate that future capital spending, including business acquisitions and other cash outlays, should be financed primarily with cash flow provided by operations, cash on hand and additional issuances of debt or equity securities, as needed.
Long-Term Debt
We currently have the following notes outstanding:
Issue Month/Year
Principal (in millions)
Interest Rate
Interest Payment Dates
Maturity Date
November 2019
€377.1
1.125%
November 25
November 25, 2025
May 2022(a)
$650.0
4.65%
June 1 and December 1
June 1, 2027
November 2019
€500.0
1.625%
November 25
November 25, 2028
November 2019(a)
$171.6
3.45%
May 15 and November 15
November 15, 2029
May 2022(a)
$600.0
5.05%
June 1 and December 1
June 1, 2032
November 2014(a)
$350.0
5.45%
June 1 and December 1
December 1, 2044
May 2022(a)
$450.0
5.65%
June 1 and December 1
June 1, 2052
(a) Denotes senior notes.
Our senior notes are senior unsecured obligations and rank equally with all our other senior unsecured indebtedness from time to time outstanding. The notes are effectively subordinated to all of our existing or future secured indebtedness and to the existing and future indebtedness of our subsidiaries. As is customary for such long-term debt instruments, each series of notes outstanding has terms that allow us to redeem the notes before maturity, in whole at any time or in part from time to time, at a redemption price equal to the greater of (i) 100% of the principal amount of these notes to be redeemed, or (ii) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest thereon (exclusive of interest accrued to the date of redemption) discounted to the redemption date on a semi-annual basis using the comparable government rate (as defined in the indentures governing these notes) plus between 25 and 40 basis points, depending on the series of notes, plus, in each case, accrued interest thereon to the date of redemption. Holders may require us to purchase such notes at 101% upon a change of control triggering event, as defined in the indentures. These notes are subject to typical events of default, including bankruptcy and insolvency events, nonpayment and the acceleration of certain subsidiary indebtedness of $40 million or more caused by a nonpayment default.
Our Euro notes issued in 2019 are unsecured and unsubordinated obligations and rank equally in right of payment to all our other unsecured senior obligations. The Euro notes are effectively subordinated to all of our existing or future secured indebtedness and to the existing and future indebtedness of our subsidiaries. As is customary for such long-term debt instruments, each series of notes outstanding has terms that allow us to redeem the notes before their maturity, in whole at any time or in part from time to time, at a redemption price equal to the greater of (i) 100% of the principal amount of the notes to be redeemed and (ii) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal thereof and interest thereon (exclusive of interest accrued to, but excluding, the date of redemption) discounted to the redemption date on an annual basis using the bond rate (as defined in the indentures governing these notes) plus between 25 and 35 basis points, depending on the series of notes, plus, in each case, accrued and unpaid interest on the principal amount being redeemed to, but excluding, the date of redemption. Holders may require us to purchase such notes at 101% upon a change of control triggering event, as defined in the indentures. These notes are subject to typical events of default, including bankruptcy and insolvency events, nonpayment and the acceleration of certain subsidiary indebtedness exceeding $100 million caused by a nonpayment default.
Given current economic conditions, specifically around the market pricing of lithium, and the related impact on the Company’s future earnings, on October 31, 2024, we further amended the 2022 Credit Agreement, which provides for borrowings of up to $1.5 billion and matures on October 28, 2027. Borrowings under the 2022 Credit Agreement bear interest at variable rates based on a benchmark rate depending on the currency in which the loans are denominated, plus an applicable margin which ranges from 0.910% to 1.375%, depending on the Company’s credit rating from Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services LLC (“S&P”), Moody’s Investors Services, Inc. (“Moody’s”) and Fitch Ratings, Inc. (“Fitch”). With respect to loans denominated in U.S. dollars, interest is calculated using the term Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”) plus a term SOFR adjustment of 0.10%, plus the applicable margin. The applicable margin on the facility was 1.20% as of September 30, 2024. As of September 30, 2024 there were no borrowings outstanding under the 2022 Credit Agreement.
Total expected 2024 contributions to our domestic and foreign qualified and nonqualified pension plans, including the Albemarle Corporation Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan, are expected to approximate $14 million. We may choose to make additional pension contributions in excess of this amount. We have made contributions of $11.9 million to our domestic and foreign pension plans (both qualified and nonqualified) during the nine-month period ended September 30, 2024.
The liability related to uncertain tax positions, including interest and penalties, recorded in Other noncurrent liabilities totaled $240.1 million at September 30, 2024 and $220.6 million at December 31, 2023. Related assets for corresponding offsetting benefits recorded in Other assets totaled $74.4 million at September 30, 2024 and $73.0 million at December 31, 2023. We cannot estimate the amounts of any cash payments associated with these liabilities for the remainder of 2024 or the next twelve months, and we are unable to estimate the timing of any such cash payments in the future at this time.
We are subject to federal, state, local and foreign requirements regulating the handling, manufacture and use of materials (some of which may be classified as hazardous or toxic by one or more regulatory agencies), the discharge of materials into the environment and the protection of the environment. To our knowledge, we are currently complying, and expect to continue to comply, in all material respects with applicable environmental laws, regulations, statutes and ordinances. Compliance with existing federal, state, local and foreign environmental protection laws is not expected to have a material effect on capital expenditures, earnings or our competitive position, but the costs associated with increased legal or regulatory requirements could have an adverse effect on our operating results.
Among other environmental requirements, we are subject to the federal Superfund law, and similar state laws, under which we may be designated as a potentially responsible party (“PRP”), and may be liable for a share of the costs associated with cleaning up various hazardous waste sites. Management believes that in cases in which we may have liability as a PRP, our liability for our share of cleanup is de minimis. Further, almost all such sites represent environmental issues that are quite mature and have been investigated, studied and in many cases settled. In de minimis situations, our policy generally is to negotiate a consent decree and to pay any apportioned settlement, enabling us to be effectively relieved of any further liability as a PRP, except for remote contingencies. In other than de minimis PRP matters, our records indicate that unresolved PRP exposures should be immaterial. We accrue and expense our proportionate share of PRP costs. Because management has been actively involved in evaluating environmental matters, we are able to conclude that the outstanding environmental liabilities for unresolved PRP sites should not have a material adverse effect upon our results of operations or financial condition.
Liquidity Outlook
We anticipate that cash on hand and cash provided by operating activities, divestitures and borrowings will be sufficient to pay our operating expenses, satisfy debt service obligations, fund any capital expenditures, make acquisitions, make pension contributions and pay dividends for the foreseeable future. We also could issue additional debt or equity securities to fund these activities in an effort to maintain our financial flexibility. Our main focus in the short-term, during the continued uncertainty surrounding the global economy, including lithium market pricing and recent inflationary trends, is to continue to maintain financial flexibility by continuing our cost savings initiative, while still protecting our employees and customers, committing to shareholder returns and maintaining an investment grade rating. Over the next three years, in terms of uses of cash, we will continue to invest in growth of the businesses and return value to shareholders. Additionally, we will continue to evaluate the merits of any opportunities that may arise for acquisitions of businesses or assets, which may require additional liquidity. Financing the purchase price of any such acquisitions could involve borrowing under existing or new credit facilities and/or the issuance of debt or equity securities, in addition to cash on hand.
We expect 2024 capital expenditures to be down from 2023 levels. In January 2024, we announced an intentional re-phasing of larger projects to focus on those that are significantly progressed, near completion and in start up. At that time, we also announced actions to optimize our cost structure by reducing costs primarily related to sales, general and administrative expenses, including a reduction in headcount and lower spending on contracted services. During the nine months ended September 30, 2024, the Company stopped construction of Kemerton Trains 3 and 4, as well as put the Kemerton Train 2 on care and maintenance. Kemerton Train 1 will continue to operate and is currently focusing on commercialization efforts. As part of the comprehensive review of our cost and operating structure, we are planning to reduce capital expenditures by approximately 50% versus 2024 to a range of $800 million to $900 million.
The Company’s actions regarding Kemerton are part of a broader effort that will focus on preserving its world-class resource advantages, optimizing its global conversion network, improving the Company’s cost competitiveness and efficiency, reducing capital intensity and enhancing the Company’s financial flexibility. As part of this effort, on October 7, 2024, the Company announced it will transition to a new operating structure effective November 1, 2024. The new operating structure will transition to a fully integrated functional model (excluding Ketjen) from a global business unit model. As a result, the Company expects to record severance and employee benefits of approximately $30 million to $50 million and other restructuring costs of approximately $25 million to $30 million associated with these actions in the fourth quarter of 2024. We expect the comprehensive review of our cost and operating structure to drive additional cost and productivity improvements of $300 million to $400 million per year.
In 2024, we entered into a Master Receivables Purchase Agreement under which we may sell up to $250.0 million of available and eligible outstanding customer accounts receivable generated by sales to two specified customers. This agreement is uncommitted and has initial terms that expire on April 25, 2025, unless earlier terminated by the purchaser. Transactions under this agreement are accounted for as sales of accounts receivable, and the receivables sold are removed from the consolidated balance sheets at the time of the sales transaction. As of September 30, 2024, there were no accounts receivable sold under this Master Receivables Purchase Agreement.
The 3.45% Senior Notes are obligations of the Issuer. The Issuer’s cash flow and ability to make payments on the 3.45% Senior Notes could be dependent upon the earnings it derives from the production from MARBL for the Wodgina Project. Absent income received from sales of its share of production from MARBL, the Issuer’s ability to service the 3.45% Senior Notes could be dependent upon the earnings of the Parent Guarantor’s subsidiaries and other joint ventures and the payment of those earnings to the Issuer in the form of equity, loans or advances and through repayment of loans or advances from the Issuer.
The Issuer’s obligations in respect of MARBL are guaranteed by the Parent Guarantor. Further, under MARBL pursuant to a deed of cross security between the Issuer, the joint venture partner and the manager of the project (the “Manager”), each of the Issuer, and the joint venture partner have granted security to each other and the Manager for the obligations each of the Issuer and the joint venture partner have to each other and to the Manager. The claims of the joint venture partner, the Manager and other secured creditors of the Issuer will have priority as to the assets of the Issuer over the claims of holders of the 3.45% Senior Notes.
Albemarle Corporation Issued Notes
In March 2021, Albemarle New Holding GmbH (the “Subsidiary Guarantor”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Albemarle Corporation, added a full and unconditional guarantee (the “Upstream Guarantee”) to all securities of Albemarle Corporation (the “Parent Issuer”) issued and outstanding as of such date and, subject to the terms of the applicable amendment or supplement, securities issuable by the Parent Issuer pursuant to the Indenture, dated as of January 20, 2005, as amended and supplemented from time to time (the “Indenture”). No other direct or indirect subsidiaries of the Parent Issuer guarantee these securities (such subsidiaries are referred to as the “Upstream Non-Guarantors”). See Long-term debt section above for a description of the securities issued by the Parent Issuer.
The current securities outstanding under the Indenture are the Parent Issuer’s unsecured and unsubordinated obligations and rank equally in right of payment with all other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness of the Parent Issuer.All securities currently outstanding under the Indenture are effectively subordinated to the Parent Issuer’s existing and future secured indebtedness to the extent of the value of the assets securing that indebtedness. With respect to any series of securities issued under the Indenture that is subject to the Upstream Guarantee (which series of securities does not include the 2022 Notes), the Upstream Guarantee is, and will be, an unsecured and unsubordinated obligation of the Subsidiary Guarantor, ranking pari passu with all other existing and future unsubordinated and unsecured indebtedness of the Subsidiary Guarantor. All securities currently outstanding under the Indenture (other than the 2022 Notes) are effectively subordinated to all existing and future indebtedness and other liabilities of the Parent’s Subsidiaries other than the Subsidiary Guarantor.The 2022 Notes are effectively subordinated to all existing and future indebtedness and other liabilities of the Parent’s Subsidiaries, including the Subsidiary Guarantor.
For cash management purposes, the Parent Issuer transfers cash among itself, the Subsidiary Guarantor and the Upstream Non-Guarantors through intercompany financing arrangements, contributions or declaration of dividends between the respective parent and its subsidiaries. The transfer of cash under these activities facilitates the ability of the recipient to make specified third-party payments for principal and interest on the Parent Issuer and/or the Subsidiary Guarantor’s outstanding debt, common stock dividends and common stock repurchases. There are no significant restrictions on the ability of the Parent Issuer or the Subsidiary Guarantor to obtain funds from subsidiaries by dividend or loan.
The following tables present summarized financial information for the Subsidiary Guarantor and the Parent Issuer on a combined basis after elimination of (i) intercompany transactions and balances among the Parent Issuer and the Subsidiary Guarantor and (ii) equity in earnings from and investments in any subsidiary that is an Upstream Non-Guarantor. Each entity in the combined financial information follows the same accounting policies as described herein and in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023.
Summarized Statement of Operations
$ in thousands
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2024
Year Ended December 31, 2023
Net sales(a)
$
501,236
$
1,297,308
Gross profit
(24,758)
68,743
Loss before income taxes and equity in net income of unconsolidated investments(b)
(299,159)
(444,249)
Loss attributable to the Subsidiary Guarantor and the Parent Issuer
(220,205)
(697,911)
(a) Includes net sales to Non-Guarantors of $189.6 million and $482.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and year ended December 31, 2023, respectively.
(b) Includes intergroup income to Non-Guarantors of $117.2 million and $146.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and year ended December 31, 2023, respectively.
(a) Includes receivables from Non-Guarantors of $473.0 million and $472.5 million at September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively.
(b) Includes noncurrent receivables from Non-Guarantors of $1.5 billion and $1.1 billion at September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively.
(c) Includes current payables to Non-Guarantors of $1.6 billion and $1.0 billion at September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively.
(d) Includes noncurrent payables to Non-Guarantors of $5.9 billion and $6.4 billion at September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively.
These securities are structurally subordinated to the indebtedness and other liabilities of the Upstream Non-Guarantors. The Upstream Non-Guarantors are separate and distinct legal entities and have no obligation, contingent or otherwise, to pay any amounts due pursuant to these securities or the Indenture under which these securities were issued, or to make any funds available therefor, whether by dividends, loans, distributions or other payments. Any right that the Subsidiary Guarantor has to receive any assets of any of the Upstream Non-Guarantors upon the liquidation or reorganization of any Upstream Non-Guarantors, and the consequent rights of holders of these securities to realize proceeds from the sale of any of an Upstream Non-Guarantor’s assets, would be effectively subordinated to the claims of such Upstream Non-Guarantor’s creditors, including trade creditors and holders of preferred equity interests, if any, of such Upstream Non-Guarantor. Accordingly, in the event of a bankruptcy, liquidation or reorganization of any of the Upstream Non-Guarantors, the Upstream Non-Guarantors will pay the holders of their debts, holders of preferred equity interests, if any, and their trade creditors before they will be able to distribute any of their assets to the Subsidiary Guarantor.
Summary of Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
There have been no significant changes in our critical accounting policies and estimates from the information we provided in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023. However, we are expanding the description of our property, plant and equipment critical accounting policy and estimates as follows.
Property, Plant and Equipment. We assign the useful lives of our property, plant and equipment based upon our internal engineering estimates, which are reviewed periodically. The estimated useful lives of our property, plant and equipment range from two to sixty years and depreciation is recorded on the straight-line method, with the exception of our mineral rights and reserves, which are depleted on a units-of-production method. We evaluate the recovery of our property, plant and equipment annually and when events or changes in circumstances indicate that its carrying amount may not be recoverable. Events that may trigger a test for recoverability include, but are not limited to, significant adverse changes to projected revenues, costs, or capital plans or changes to government regulations that may adversely impact our current or future operations. An impairment is determined to exist if the total projected future cash flows on an undiscounted basis are not recoverable or are less than the carrying amount of a long-lived asset group. We estimate future cash flows based on numerous assumptions, which are consistent or reasonable in relation to internal budgets and projections, and actual future cash flows may be significantly different than the estimates. Significant estimates used include, but are not limited to, market pricing (including lithium index pricing), customer demand, operating and production costs, and the timing and capital costs of expansion and sustaining projects. Significant management judgment is involved in estimating these variables and they include inherent uncertainties since they are forecasting future events.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
For a description of recent accounting pronouncements, see Item 1 Financial Statements – Note 19, “Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements” to the Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.
There have been no significant changes in our interest rate risk, foreign currency exchange rate exposure, marketable securities price risk or raw material price risk from the information we provided in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, except as noted below.
We had variable interest rate borrowings of $29.7 million outstanding at September 30, 2024, bearing a weighted average interest rate of 0.33% and representing 1% of our total outstanding debt. A hypothetical 100 basis point increase in the interest rate applicable to these borrowings would change our annualized interest expense by $0.3 million as of September 30, 2024. We may enter into interest rate swaps, collars or similar instruments with the objective of reducing interest rate volatility relating to our borrowing costs.
Our financial instruments, which are subject to foreign currency exchange risk, primarily consist of foreign currency forward contracts with an aggregate notional value of $7.0 billion and with a fair value representing a net liability position of $15.2 million at September 30, 2024. Fluctuations in the value of these contracts are generally offset by the value of the underlying exposures being hedged. We conducted a sensitivity analysis on the fair value of our foreign currency hedge portfolio assuming an instantaneous 10% change in select foreign currency exchange rates from their levels as of September 30, 2024, with all other variables held constant. A 10% appreciation of the U.S. Dollar against foreign currencies that we hedge would result in an increase of approximately $19.1 million in the fair value of our foreign currency forward contracts. A 10% depreciation of the U.S. Dollar against these foreign currencies would result in a decrease of approximately $19.1 million in the fair value of our foreign currency forward contracts. The sensitivity of the fair value of our foreign currency hedge portfolio represents changes in fair values estimated based on market conditions as of September 30, 2024, without reflecting the effects of underlying anticipated transactions. When those anticipated transactions are realized, actual effects of changing foreign currency exchange rates could have a material impact on our earnings and cash flows in future periods.
Item 4.
Controls and Procedures.
Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, we conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act), as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on this evaluation, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer concluded that, as of the end of the period covered by this report, our disclosure controls and procedures are effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act, is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
No change in our internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(f)) occurred during the third quarter ended September 30, 2024 that materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1.
Legal Proceedings.
We are involved from time to time in legal proceedings of types regarded as common in our business, including administrative or judicial proceedings seeking remediation under environmental laws, such as Superfund, products liability, breach of contract liability and premises liability litigation. Where appropriate, we may establish financial reserves for such proceedings. We also maintain insurance to mitigate certain of such risks. Additional information with respect to this Item 1 is contained in Note 7 to the Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.
Item 1A.
Risk Factors.
While we attempt to identify, manage and mitigate risks and uncertainties associated with our business to the extent practical under the circumstances, some level of risk and uncertainty will always be present. The risk factors set forth in Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 describe some of the risks and uncertainties associated with our business. These risks and uncertainties have the potential to materially affect our results of operations and our financial condition. We do not believe that there have been any material changes to the risk factors previously disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023.
In October 2024, the Company announced that its operating structure will transition from two core global business units – Energy Storage and Specialties – to a fully integrated functional model designed to increase agility, deliver significant cost savings and maintain long-term competitiveness. This transition includes a workforce reduction of 6% to 7% of the Company’s global employees, primarily in non-manufacturing roles. As a result, the Company expects to record cash charges in the range of $30 million to $50 million in the fourth quarter of 2024 for severance and related benefit costs. The restructuring is expected to be largely completed by the end of the first half of 2025; however, the Company may incur additional charges in 2025 as it continues to advance its comprehensive review of its cost and operating structure.
The information presented above contains forward-looking statements regarding the restructuring based on the Company’s current expectations. For factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed above, see “Forward-Looking Statements” of Part 1, Item 2 Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.
On October 31, 2024, Albemarle Corporation, Albemarle Europe Srl, the lenders party thereto and Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent, entered into the second amendment (the “Second Amendment”) to that certain amended and restated credit agreement dated as of October 28, 2022, as previously amended on February 9, 2024 (the “2022 Credit Agreement”). The Second Amendment modifies (a) the leverage ratio financial maintenance covenant in the 2022 Credit Agreement by temporarily increasing the maximum leverage ratio permitted by the covenant to (i) 4.75:1.0 (as of the end of first quarter of 2025), (ii) 5.75:1.0 (as of the end of second quarter of 2025), (iii) 5.50:1.0 (as of the end of third quarter of 2025), (iv) 5.00:1.0 (as of the end of fourth quarter of 2025), and (v) 4.75:1.0 (as of the end of each of first and second quarters of 2026), returning to the original 3.50:1.0 maximum leverage ratio as of the end of third quarter of 2026 and thereafter, and (b) interest coverage ratio financial maintenance covenant in the 2022 Credit Agreement by temporarily decreasing the minimum interest coverage ratio permitted by the covenant to (i) 1.00:1.0 (as of the end of fourth quarter of 2024 and each fiscal quarter thereafter through the second quarter of 2025), (ii) 2.00:1.0 (as of the end of third quarter of 2025), and (iii) 2.50:1.0 (as of the end of fourth quarter of 2025), returning to the original 3.00:1.0 minimum interest coverage ratio as of the end of first quarter of 2026 and thereafter. The Second Amendment includes certain other amendments to the 2022 Credit Agreement, including certain limitations on liens, subsidiary indebtedness, share repurchases and common dividends.
The foregoing description of the Second Amendment does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Second Amendment, which is filed as Exhibit 10.1 to this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.
Interactive Data File (Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2024, furnished in XBRL (eXtensible Business Reporting Language)).
*104
Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101).
Attached as Exhibit 101 to this report are the following documents formatted in XBRL: (i) the Consolidated Statements of (Loss) Income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, (ii) the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive (Loss) Income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, (iii) the Consolidated Balance Sheets at September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, (iv) the Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, (v) the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023 and (vi) the Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
ALBEMARLE CORPORATION
(Registrant)
Date:
November 6, 2024
By:
/s/ NEAL R. SHEOREY
Neal R. Sheorey
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer