Albemarle reports first quarter 2015 results

BATON ROUGE, La., May 6, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --

First quarter 2015 highlights:

• Adjusted earnings of $1.17 per share, up 19% versus first quarter 2014.
• Net sales of $884.4 million, up 47% versus first quarter 2014; adjusted EBITDA grew 95% to $265.6 million, a 30% margin.
• Completed acquisition of Rockwood on January 12; operating in new, market-focused realignment of global business units.
• $40 million in acquisition synergies for 2015 already achieved and on pace to meet our expectations.
• Raising full year guidance to $3.65 - $4.05 adjusted EPS

Albemarle Corporation (NYSE: ALB) reported first quarter 2015 earnings of $43.1 million, or $0.40 per share, compared to first quarter 2014 earnings of $56.6 million, or $0.71 per share.  First quarter 2015 adjusted earnings were $127.2 million, or $1.17 per share, compared to $78.4 million, or $0.98 per share, for the first quarter of 2014 (see notes to the condensed consolidated financial information).  The Company reported net sales of $884.4 million in the first quarter of 2015, up from net sales of $599.8 million in the first quarter of 2014, driven primarily by the inclusion of the Rockwood acquisition, which closed January 12, 2015.

"We are pleased with our strong start to 2015, in which both Chemetall^® Surface Treatment and Performance Chemicals, including Bromine, Lithium and PCS, met or exceeded our January expectations, despite increasing foreign exchange headwinds from the strengthening US dollar and continued low crude oil prices," said Albemarle President and CEO Luke Kissam. "We are moving quickly to meet our integration and synergy targets related to the Rockwood acquisition, and are very pleased with the progress so far as we are already operating our businesses in the new organizational structure announced in January. Given the strong operational start to the year, the one time foreign exchange gain related to cash on hand in quarter one and our confidence in continued good performance, we are both raising and narrowing our guidance for 2015 from Adjusted EPS of $3.15 - $3.70 to $3.65 - $4.05."

Quarterly Segment Results

As previously announced on January 20, 2015, as a result of the completion of its acquisition of Rockwood Holdings, Inc. ("Rockwood"), the Company has realigned its global business units. The new structure aligns the Company's strategic assets and businesses to be market-focused and allows it to more effectively leverage its combined resources on innovation and growth. The new reporting structure consists of three reportable operating segments, or global business units ("GBUs"): Chemetall Surface Treatment, Refining Solutions and Performance Chemicals. Three businesses that the Company previously announced it intends to sell will be reported together in the "All Other" category.

In order to provide a meaningful comparison of the results of operations, where applicable, segment results for the first quarter of 2015 are compared against pro forma segment results for the first quarter of 2014. The pro forma 2014 segment results are based on the historical combined consolidated financial statements of Albemarle and Rockwood and were prepared to illustrate the effects of the integration of the Rockwood business, as well as the change in reporting structure discussed above. This supplemental pro forma financial information is also located on our website and in Albemarle's current report on Form 8-K filed April 13, 2015.  The acquisition of Rockwood was completed on January 12, 2015.  The results of Rockwood from January 1, 2015 to January 12, 2015 ("stub period") are excluded from the first quarter of 2015 as presented here.  Excluded net sales and adjusted EBITDA for the stub period were $33.2 million and $3.4 million, respectively.

Performance Chemicals reported net sales of $388.4 million in the first quarter of 2015, a decrease of 1% from pro forma net sales in the first quarter of 2014 of $391.7 million.  The decrease is primarily due to unfavorable impacts from currency exchange, the stub period, and unfavorable Bromine pricing, partially offset by favorable Lithium and PCS volumes and favorable Lithium pricing.  Adjusted EBITDA for Performance Chemicals was $130.5 million, an increase of 13% from first quarter 2014 pro forma results of $115.2 million.  The increase was primarily driven by higher overall sales volumes, favorable Lithium pricing and the addition of our Talison joint venture, partially offset by unfavorable Bromine pricing and unfavorable impacts from currency exchange.

Refining Solutions generated net sales of $179.2 million in the first quarter of 2015, a decrease of 8% from net sales in the first quarter of 2014 of $194.7 million, primarily driven by unfavorable Heavy Oil Upgrading volumes, unfavorable Clean Fuels Technology pricing and mix, and unfavorable impacts from currency exchange, partially offset by favorable Clean Fuel Technologies volumes. Adjusted EBITDA for Refining Solutions was $42.2 million in the first quarter of 2015, down 31% from first quarter 2014 results of $61.0 million, due primarily to lower overall net sales, unfavorable Clean Fuels Technology pricing and mix, unfavorable impacts from currency exchange and the west coast port strike, partially offset by favorable pricing on raw materials and natural gas.

Chemetall Surface Treatment reported net sales of $192.1 million in the first quarter of 2015, a decrease of 6% from first quarter of 2014  pro forma net sales of $203.7 million, primarily due to the stub period and unfavorable impacts from currency exchange, partially offset by favorable pricing and additional sales volumes related to the acquisition of the remaining shares of the Chemetall Shanghai joint venture in February.  Adjusted EBITDA for Chemetall Surface Treatment was $46.0 million in the first quarter of 2015, a decrease of 1% from first quarter 2014 pro forma results of $46.4 million, primarily driven by the stub period and unfavorable impacts from currency exchange.

All Other net sales were $122.4 million in the first quarter of 2015, a decrease of 24% from pro forma net sales in the first quarter of 2014 of $161.2 million primarily due to unfavorable Fine Chemistry Services volumes and unfavorable impacts from currency exchange.  All Other adjusted EBITDA was $13.6 million in the first quarter of 2015, down 51% from first quarter 2014 pro forma results of $27.6 million, due primarily to lower overall sales volumes and unfavorable impacts from currency exchange.

Corporate Results

Corporate adjusted EBITDA was $33.3 million in the first quarter of 2015 which includes a $52.4 million currency exchange gain related primarily to cash and excludes stub period expenses of $2.0 million. Excluding the currency exchange gain on cash and including expenses from the stub period, adjusted EBITDA was ($21.1) million compared to $(33.9) million pro forma adjusted EBITDA in the first quarter of 2014.  The $12.8 million improvement is related to achieved synergies and lower spending.

Income Taxes

Our adjusted effective income tax rates, which exclude discontinued operations, special and non-operating pension and OPEB items, were 26.3% and 23.8% for the first quarter of 2015 and 2014, respectively.  Our effective tax rate continues to be influenced by the level and geographic mix of income, and benefits from a favorable mix of income in lower tax jurisdictions.

Cash Flow

Our cash flow from operations was approximately $45.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015, down 69% versus the same period in 2014 primarily due to significant cash expenses in the current period related to the Rockwood acquisition.  We had $261.4 million in cash and cash equivalents at March 31, 2015 as compared to $2.5 billion at December 31, 2014.  Cash on hand, cash provided by operations and proceeds from borrowings funded $2.1 billion for acquisitions, $56.7 million of capital expenditures for plant, machinery and equipment and dividends to shareholders of $21.7 million during the three months ended March 31, 2015. We completed the acquisition of Rockwood on January 12, 2015 for a purchase price of approximately $5.7 billion. The cash consideration was funded with proceeds from our 2014 Senior Notes, Term Loan, Cash Bridge Facility and February 2014 Credit Agreement.

Earnings Call

The Company's performance for the first quarter ended March 31, 2015 will be discussed on a conference call at 9:00 AM Eastern time on May 7, 2015.  The call can be accessed by dialing 888-680-0890 (International Dial-In # 617-213-4857), and entering conference ID 37447304.  The Company's earnings presentation and supporting material can be accessed through Albemarle's website under Investors at www.albemarle.com.

About Albemarle

Albemarle Corporation, headquartered in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, is a premier specialty chemicals company with leading positions in attractive end markets around the world. With a broad customer reach and diverse end markets, Albemarle develops, manufactures and markets technologically advanced and high value added products, including lithium and lithium compounds, bromine and bromine derivatives, catalysts and surface treatment chemistries used in a wide range of applications including consumer electronics, flame retardants, metal processing, plastics, contemporary and alternative transportation vehicles, refining, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, construction and custom chemistry services. Albemarle is focused on delivering differentiated, performance-based technologies that deliver innovative and sustainable solutions to its customers. The Company employs approximately 6,900 people and serves customers in approximately 100 countries. Albemarle regularly posts information to www.albemarle.com, including notification of events, news, financial performance, investor presentations and webcasts, Regulation G reconciliations, SEC filings and other information regarding the Company, its businesses and the markets it serves.

Forward-Looking Statements

Some of the information presented in this press release and the conference call and discussions that follow, including, without limitation, statements with respect to the transaction with Rockwood and the anticipated consequences and benefits of the transaction, product development, changes in productivity, market trends, price, expected growth and earnings, input costs, surcharges, tax rates, stock repurchases, dividends, cash flow generation, costs and cost synergies, portfolio diversification, economic trends, outlook and all other information relating to matters that are not historical facts may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. There can be no assurance that actual results will not differ materially. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include, without limitation: changes in economic and business conditions; changes in financial and operating performance of our major customers and industries and markets served by us; the timing of orders received from customers; the gain or loss of significant customers; competition from other manufacturers; changes in the demand for our products; limitations or prohibitions on the manufacture and sale of our products; availability of raw materials; changes in the cost of raw materials and energy; changes in our markets in general; fluctuations in foreign currencies; changes in laws and government regulation impacting our operations or our products; the occurrence of claims or litigation; the occurrence of natural disasters; the inability to maintain current levels of product or premises liability insurance or the denial of such coverage; political unrest affecting the global economy; political instability affecting our manufacturing operations or joint ventures; changes in accounting standards; the inability to achieve results from our global manufacturing cost reduction initiatives as well as our ongoing continuous improvement  and rationalization programs; changes in the jurisdictional mix of our earnings and changes in tax laws and rates; changes in monetary policies, inflation or interest rates; volatility and substantial uncertainties in the debt and equity markets; technology or intellectual property infringement; decisions we may make in the future; the ability to successfully operate and integrate Rockwood's operations and realize estimated synergies; and the other factors detailed from time to time in the reports we file with the SEC, including those described under "Risk Factors" in the joint proxy statement / prospectus we filed in connection with the transaction with Rockwood, and in our Annual Report on Form 10-K and our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q.  These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release. We assume no obligation to provide any revisions to any forward-looking statements should circumstances change, except as otherwise required by securities and other applicable laws.

 See accompanying notes to the condensed consolidated financial information.

See accompanying notes to the condensed consolidated financial information.

See accompanying notes to the condensed consolidated financial information.

Performance Chemicals - details by product category:

See accompanying notes to the condensed consolidated financial information and non-GAAP reconciliations below.

Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Information

(a)   Non-operating pension and OPEB items, consisting of mark-to-market (MTM) actuarial gains/losses, settlements/curtailments  and interest cost and expected return on assets, were included in Corporate as follows:

• For the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, net (benefits) charges amounted to $(3.5) million ($2.2 million after income taxes, or $0.02 per share) and $14.1 million ($8.9 million after income taxes, or $0.11 per share), respectively.  Net benefits for the three months ended March 31, 2015 included a gain of $2.6 million ($1.6 million after income taxes, or $0.02 per share) related to the termination of a domestic OPEB plan during the first quarter of 2015. Net charges for the three months ended March 31, 2014 included an actuarial loss of $15.4 million ($9.8 million after income taxes, or $0.12 per share) resulting from a curtailment related to one of our U.S. defined benefit pension plans and our supplemental executive retirement plan which required a remeasurement of the related assets and obligations during that period.

Although non-operating pension and OPEB items are included in cost of goods sold and selling, general and administrative expenses in accordance with GAAP, we believe that these components of pension cost are mainly driven by market performance, and we manage these separately from the operational performance of our businesses. Non-operating pension and OPEB items included in cost of goods sold and selling, general and administrative expenses were as follows (in millions):

(b)   In addition to the non-operating pension and OPEB items disclosed above, we have identified certain other items within the periods presented as special and excluded them from our adjusted earnings calculation.  A listing of these items, as well as a detailed description of each follows below (per share):

(1)  In connection with the acquisition of Rockwood, the Company valued Rockwood's existing inventory at fair value as of the acquisition date, which resulted in a step-up of the underlying net book value of the inventory. The inventory step-up is being expensed over the estimated remaining selling period. For the three months ended March 31, 2015, $40.3 million ($28.7 million after income taxes, or $0.27 per share) was included in Cost of goods sold and $7.9 million ($0.07 per share) was included in Equity in net income of unconsolidated investments related to the utilization of the inventory step up.

(2)  Restructuring and other charges for the three months ended March 31, 2014 included net charges amounting to $17.0 million ($11.1 million after income taxes, or $0.14 per share) in connection with a reduction of aluminum alkyls high cost supply capacity.

(3)  Acquisition and integration related costs for the three months ended March 31, 2015 included transaction and integration fees related to the acquisition of Rockwood of $57.4 million ($40.8 million after income taxes, or $0.38 per share) and costs on other significant projects of $2.1 million ($1.5 million after income taxes, or $0.01 per share).

(4)  Included in Interest and financing expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2015 was $1.6 million ($1.1 million after income taxes, or $0.01 per share) for interest and financing expenses incurred from our new senior notes issued during the fourth quarter 2014 in connection with the acquisition of Rockwood, which did not close until January 12, 2015.

(5)  Included in Other income, net for the three months ended March 31, 2015 was $4.4 million ($3.2 million after income taxes, or $0.03 per share) for amortization of bridge facility fees and other financing fees related to the acquisition of Rockwood.

(6)  Included in Income tax expense for the three months ended March 31, 2015 was $3.2 million, or $0.03 per share, associated with U.S. provision to return adjustments, the release of FIN 48 reserves associated with a lapse in the statute of limitations and the inclusion of liabilities for non-indefinitely invested earnings on the announcement of our German entity divestitures.

(c)   Totals may not add due to rounding.

Additional Information

It should be noted that adjusted net income attributable to Albemarle Corporation ("adjusted earnings"), adjusted diluted earnings per share, adjusted effective income tax rates, EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, EBITDA margin and adjusted EBITDA margin are financial measures that are not required by, or presented in accordance with, accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, or GAAP.  These measures are presented here to provide additional useful measurements to review our operations, provide transparency to investors and enable period-to-period comparability of financial performance.

A description of other non-GAAP financial measures that we use to evaluate our operations and financial performance, and reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable financial measures calculated and reported in accordance with GAAP, can be found in the Investors section of our website at www.albemarle.com, under "Non-GAAP Reconciliations" under "Financials." Also, see below for supplemental reconciliations of the non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable financial measures calculated and reported in accordance with GAAP.

ALBEMARLE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Non-GAAP Reconciliations

(In Thousands)

(Unaudited)

See below for a reconciliation of adjusted net income attributable to Albemarle Corporation ("adjusted earnings"), EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA, the non-GAAP financial measures, to Net income attributable to Albemarle Corporation, the most directly comparable financial measure calculated and reported in accordance with GAAP.  Adjusted net income attributable to Albemarle Corporation is defined as Net income attributable to Albemarle Corporation before discontinued operations and the special and non-operating pension and OPEB items as listed below. EBITDA is defined as Net income attributable to Albemarle Corporation before interest and financing expenses, income taxes, depreciation and amortization.  Adjusted EBITDA is defined as EBITDA before discontinued operations and the special and non-operating pension and OPEB items as listed below.

See below for a reconciliation of adjusted EBITDA on a segment basis, the non-GAAP financial measure, to Income from continuing operations before income taxes and equity in net income of unconsolidated investments, the most directly comparable financial measure calculated and reporting in accordance with GAAP.  Adjusted EBITDA on a segment basis is defined as Income from continuing operations before income taxes and equity in net income of unconsolidated investments, excluding Interest and financing expenses and depreciation and amortization, and adjusted for special and non-operating pension and OPEB items as listed below, plus Equity in net income (loss) of unconsolidated investments, less Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests.

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