Albemarle Corp. (ALB)

Albemarle Corporation develops, manufactures, and markets engineered specialty chemicals. It operates in three segments: Polymer Additives, Catalysts, and Fine Chemicals. Polymer Additives segment offers brominated, mineral, and phosphorus flame retardants that are used in plastic enclosures for consumer electronics, printed circuit boards, wire and cable, electrical connectors, foam insulation, foam seating in furniture, automobiles, and textiles. This segment also produces plastic and other additives, such as curatives, antioxidants, and stabilizers. Catalysts segment provides refinery catalysts, including hydroprocessing catalysts, fluidized catalytic cracking catalysts, and additives; and polyolefin catalysts comprising aluminum and magnesium-alkyls, which are used as co-catalysts, as well as metallocene/single-site catalysts that aid in the development and production of new polymers. Fine Chemicals segment offers performance chemicals, including elemental bromine, alkyl bromides, inorganic bromides, and various bromine fine chemicals, which are used in various industrial applications; and tertiary amines for surfactants, biocides, disinfectants, and sanitizers; potassium and chlorine-based products that are used in industrial applications; alkenyl succinic anhydride for paper-sizing formulations; and aluminum oxides that are used in various refractory, ceramic, and polishing applications. This segment also engages in fine chemistry services business, which offers custom manufacturing, research, and chemical scale-up services for companies. The company provides its products and services to manufacturers of consumer electronics, building and construction materials, automotive parts, packaging, pharmachemicals and agrichemicals, and petroleum refiners in the United States and internationally. Albemarle Corporation was founded in 1993 and is based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

For the nine months ended 30 September 2006, Albemarle Corporation's revenues increased 17% to $1.78B. Net income decreased 3% to $80M. Revenues reflect an increase in revenues from Catalysts segments pricing, higher sales in Polymer Additives segment and improved Fine Chemicals segment revenues and improved pricing. Net income was offset by an increase in selling, general and administrative expenses and higher interest expenses.