Free Writing Prospectus

Filed pursuant to Rule 433

Free Writing Prospectus dated December 7, 2010

Registration Statement No. 333-171014

ALBEMARLE CORPORATION

Pricing Term Sheet – December 7, 2010

$350,000,000 4.500% Senior Notes due 2020

The following information, filed pursuant to Rule 433, supplements the Preliminary Prospectus Supplement dated

December 7, 2010, filed as part of Registration Statement No. 333-171014

 

Issuer:   Albemarle Corporation (the “Company”)
Security:   4.500% Senior Notes due 2020
Aggregate Principal Amount Offered:   $350,000,000
Rating1:   Baa1 by Moody’s Investors Service (stable outlook) and BBB by Standard and Poor’s Ratings Services (positive outlook)
Trade Date:   December 7, 2010
Settlement Date:   December 10, 2010 (T + 3)
Maturity:   December 15, 2020
Coupon Payment Dates:   June 15 and December 15 of each year, beginning June 15, 2011
Benchmark Treasury:   2.625% due November 15, 2020
Benchmark Price:   95-22
Benchmark Treasury Yield:   3.133%
Spread to Benchmark Treasury:   T+148 bps
Coupon:   4.500%
Price to Public:   99.101%
Net Proceeds to Issuer (excluding transaction related expenses):   $344,578,500
Yield to Maturity:   4.613%
CUSIP & ISIN:   012725 AA5; US012725AA56
Optional Redemption:  

Make-whole at T+25 bps

At any time on or after three months prior to the maturity date, the notes will be redeemable as a whole or in part, at our option, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the notes to be redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest on the notes to be redeemed to the date of redemption.

Change of Control Triggering Event:   Putable at 101% of the principal amount plus accrued interest, if any, up to but not including the redemption date
Joint Bookrunning Managers:  

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC

UBS Securities LLC

Senior Co-Managers:  

BNP Paribas Securities Corp.

Wells Fargo Securities, LLC

Co-Managers:  

BNY Mellon Capital Markets, LLC

HSBC Securities (USA) Inc.

Mitsubishi UFJ Securities (USA), Inc.

RBS Securities Inc.

SMBC Nikko Capital Markets Limited

SunTrust Robinson Humphrey, Inc.

As Adjusted Capitalization:  

As of September 30, 2010

(In thousands)

         As Adjusted (1)  
   Cash and cash equivalents     $524,673(2)   
          
   Senior Unsecured Revolving Credit Facility     64,147 (3)   
   5.10% Senior notes due 2015     324,855   
   Senior Notes offered hereby     346,854   
   Subtotal senior debt     735,856   
   Other Debt     132,879   
   Total Debt     868,735   
          
   Total Equity     1,438,041   
          
   Total Capitalization.     $2,306,776   
   

   (1) Assumes net proceeds of approximately $343.9 million after underwriting discounts
   and transaction related expenses.

   (2) Includes approximately $100.0 million of net proceeds expected to be used to fund

   pension related obligations.

   (3) Assumes pay down of revolving credit facility of approximately $243.9 million.

Pro forma ratio of earnings to fixed charges:

   
        2009   Nine months
ended
September 30,
2010
          Pro forma ratio of earnings to fixed charges   4.1x   8.7x

The information in this communication supersedes the information in the preliminary prospectus supplement to the extent it is inconsistent with such information. Before you invest, you should read the preliminary prospectus supplement (including the documents incorporated by reference therein) for more information concerning the Company and the Notes.

The Company has previously filed a registration statement (including a prospectus) on Form S-3 with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) for the offering to which this communication relates, which registration statement was automatically effective on December 7, 2010. Before you invest, you should read the prospectus supplement to the prospectus in that registration statement and the other documents the Company has filed with the SEC for more complete information about the Company and this offering. You may get these documents for free by visiting EDGAR on the SEC website at www.sec.gov. Alternatively, the issuer, any underwriter or any dealer participating in the offering will arrange to send you the prospectus if you request it by calling J.P. Morgan Securities LLC collect at 212-834-4533, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated toll free at 800-294-1322 or UBS Securities LLC toll free at 877-827-6444 (ext. 561-3884).

 

1

A securities rating is not a recommendation to buy, sell or hold securities and should be evaluated independently of any other rating. The rating is subject to revision or withdrawal at any time by the assigning rating organization.