XML 63 R68.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.2.0.727

Fair Value Measurement Financial Assets and Liabilities Accounted for at Fair Value on Recurring Basis (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands | Jun. 30, 2015 | Dec. 31, 2014
--- | --- | ---
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items] |  |  |
Investments under executive deferred compensation plan | [1] | $ 21,316 | $ 22,168
Private equity securities | [2] | 1,796 | 1,806
Foreign currency forward contracts, assets | [3] | 36 | 631
Obligations under executive deferred compensation plan | [1] | 21,316 | 22,168
Foreign currency forward contracts, liabilities | [3] | 291 |
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Items (Level 1) |  |  |
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items] |  |  |
Investments under executive deferred compensation plan | [1] | 21,316 | 22,168
Private equity securities | [2] | 24 | 21
Foreign currency forward contracts, assets | [3] | 0 | 0
Obligations under executive deferred compensation plan | [1] | 21,316 | 22,168
Foreign currency forward contracts, liabilities | [3] | 0 |
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Similar Items (Level 2) |  |  |
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items] |  |  |
Investments under executive deferred compensation plan | [1] | 0 | 0
Private equity securities | [2] | 0 | 0
Foreign currency forward contracts, assets | [3] | 36 | 631
Obligations under executive deferred compensation plan | [1] | 0 | 0
Foreign currency forward contracts, liabilities | [3] | 291 |
Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) |  |  |
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items] |  |  |
Investments under executive deferred compensation plan | [1] | 0 | 0
Private equity securities | [2] | 1,772 | 1,785
Foreign currency forward contracts, assets | [3] | 0 | 0
Obligations under executive deferred compensation plan | [1] | 0 | $ 0
Foreign currency forward contracts, liabilities | [3] | 0 |
Rockwood Merger Appraisal Shares Litigation |  |  |
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items] |  |  |
Liability for appraisal shares | [4] | 74,934 |
Rockwood Merger Appraisal Shares Litigation | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Items (Level 1) |  |  |
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items] |  |  |
Liability for appraisal shares | [4] | 0 |
Rockwood Merger Appraisal Shares Litigation | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Similar Items (Level 2) |  |  |
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items] |  |  |
Liability for appraisal shares | [4] | 74,934 |
Rockwood Merger Appraisal Shares Litigation | Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) |  |  |
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items] |  |  |
Liability for appraisal shares | [4] | $ 0 |
[1] | We maintain an Executive Deferred Compensation Plan (“EDCP”) that was adopted in 2001 and subsequently amended. The purpose of the EDCP is to provide current tax planning opportunities as well as supplemental funds upon the retirement or death of certain of our employees. The EDCP is intended to aid in attracting and retaining employees of exceptional ability by providing them with these benefits. We also maintain a Benefit Protection Trust (the “Trust”) that was created to provide a source of funds to assist in meeting the obligations of the EDCP, subject to the claims of our creditors in the event of our insolvency. Assets of the Trust are consolidated in accordance with authoritative guidance. The assets of the Trust consist primarily of mutual fund investments (which are accounted for as trading securities and are marked-to-market on a monthly basis through the consolidated statements of income) and cash and cash equivalents. As such, these assets and obligations are classified within Level 1.
[2] | Primarily consists of private equity securities classified as available-for-sale and are reported in Investments in the condensed consolidated balance sheets. The changes in fair value are reported in Other income (expenses), net, in our consolidated statements of income. Holdings in private equity securities are typically valued using the net asset valuations provided by the underlying private investment companies and as such are classified within Level 3.
[3] | As a result of our global operating and financing activities, we are exposed to market risks from changes in foreign currency exchange rates, which may adversely affect our operating results and financial position. When deemed appropriate, we minimize our risks from foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations through the use of foreign currency forward contracts. Unless otherwise noted, these derivative financial instruments are not designated as hedging instruments under ASC 815, Derivatives and Hedging. The foreign currency forward contracts are valued using broker quotations or market transactions in either the listed or over-the-counter markets. As such, these derivative instruments are classified within Level 2.
[4] | See Note 2, “Acquisitions.”

X
- Definition Investments under executive deferred compensation plan fair value + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | alb_InvestmentsUnderExecutiveDeferredCompensationPlanFairValue
Namespace Prefix: | alb_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Obligations under executive deferred compensation plan fair value. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | alb_ObligationsUnderExecutiveDeferredCompensationPlanFairValue
Namespace Prefix: | alb_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Fair value portion of asset contracts related to the exchange of different currencies, including, but not limited to, foreign currency options, forward contracts, and swaps. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_ForeignCurrencyContractAssetFairValueDisclosure
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Fair value portion of liability contracts related to the exchange of different currencies, including, but not limited to, foreign currency options, forward (delivery or nondelivery) contracts, and swaps entered into. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_ForeignCurrencyContractsLiabilityFairValueDisclosure
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Aggregate carrying amount of the estimated litigation liability for known or estimated probable loss from litigation, which may include attorneys' fees and other litigation costs. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 450 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=25496072&loc=d3e14326-108349 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.25) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_LitigationReserve
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition For an unclassified balance sheet, this item represents investments in common and preferred stocks and other forms of securities that provide ownership interests in a corporation. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 210 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.1(b)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_MarketableSecuritiesEquitySecurities
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis=us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis=us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis=us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_LitigationCaseAxis=alb_RockwoodMergerAppraisalSharesLitigationMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |