DEF 14A 1 a2020albdefinitiveproxy.htm DEF 14A
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
______________________________________________________________________________________
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ALBEMARLE CORPORATION
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NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Albemarle Corporation 2020 Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the “Annual Meeting”) will be held at* Albemarle Corporation, 4250 Congress Street, Charlotte, North Carolina 28209, on Tuesday, May 5, 2020, at 7:00 a.m., Eastern Time, for the following purposes:

1. | To consider and vote on a non-binding advisory resolution approving the compensation of our named executive officers;

2. | To elect the ten nominees named in the accompanying Proxy Statement to the Board of Directors to serve for the ensuing year or until their successors are duly elected and qualified;

3. | To ratify the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2020; and

4. | To conduct any other business which may properly come before the Annual Meeting or any adjournments or postponements thereof.

Only shareholders of record at the close of business on Monday, March 9, 2020, are entitled to receive notice of and vote at the Annual Meeting.
To ensure your vote is counted, you are requested to vote your shares promptly, regardless of whether you expect to attend the Meeting. Voting by the Internet or telephone is fast and convenient, and your vote is immediately tabulated. In addition, by using the Internet or telephone, you help reduce our postage and proxy tabulation costs. You may also vote by completing, signing, dating, and returning by May 4, 2020 the proxy enclosed with paper copies of the materials in the postage-paid envelope provided.
This year, we are again electronically disseminating Annual Meeting materials to some of our shareholders, as permitted under the “Notice and Access” rules approved by the Securities and Exchange Commission. Shareholders to whom Notice and Access applies will receive a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials ("Notice") containing instructions on how to access Annual Meeting materials via the Internet. The Notice also provides instructions on how to obtain paper copies if preferred.
If you are present at the Annual Meeting, you may vote in person even if you already have voted your proxy by the Internet, telephone, or mail. Seating at the Annual Meeting will be on a first-come, first-served basis.
By Order of the Board of Directors
Karen G. Narwold, Secretary
March 24, 2020
* While we intend to hold our annual meeting in person as scheduled, we are sensitive to public health and travel concerns and recommendations that public health officials may issue in light of the evolving coronavirus (COVID-19) situation. As a result, we may impose additional procedures on meeting attendance or may decide to postpone the meeting or hold the meeting solely by means of remote communication (a virtual-only meeting). We will announce any such updates on our website www.albemarle.com, including any postponement and how to access and vote at any virtual meeting, and we encourage you to monitor this website for updates and prior to traveling to the meeting if you plan to attend in person.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PROXY STATEMENT SUMMARY | 1
COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS | 3
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION | 20
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT | 22
COMPENSATION OF EXECUTIVE OFFICERS | 23
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE | 23
COMPENSATION RISK ASSESSMENT | 25
GRANTS OF PLAN-BASED AWARDS | 26
OUTSTANDING EQUITY AWARDS AT FISCAL YEAR-END | 28
OPTION EXERCISES AND STOCK VESTED | 31
RETIREMENT BENEFITS | 32
Pension Benefits | 32
Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan | 33
Nonqualified Deferred Compensation | 34
Agreements with Executive Officers and Other Potential Payments Upon Termination or a Change in Control | 35
CEO Pay Ratio | 39
EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION | 40
PROPOSAL 1 – ADVISORY RESOLUTION APPROVING EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION | 41
GOVERNANCE MATTERS | 42
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS | 49
DIRECTOR COMPENSATION | 50
STOCK OWNERSHIP | 52
Principal Shareholders | 52
Directors and Executive Officers | 53
DELINQUENT SECTION 16(a) REPORTS | 54
PROPOSAL 2 – ELECTION OF DIRECTORS | 55
AUDIT & FINANCE COMMITTEE REPORT | 63
PROPOSAL 3 – RATIFICATION OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM | 65
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THIS PROXY STATEMENT AND THE ANNUAL MEETING | 66
SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS | 72
CERTAIN MATTERS RELATING TO PROXY MATERIALS AND ANNUAL REPORTS | 73
OTHER MATTERS | 74

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PROXY STATEMENT SUMMARY
This summary provides an overview and highlights information contained elsewhere in this Proxy Statement ("Proxy Statement"). This summary does not contain all information that you should consider, and you should read the entire Proxy Statement carefully before voting. Throughout the Proxy Statement, “we,” “us,” “our,” “the Company,” and “Albemarle” refer to Albemarle Corporation, a Virginia corporation.
Annual Meeting

Date and Time | Place*
Tuesday, May 5, 2020 | Albemarle Corporation
7:00 a.m., Eastern Time | 4250 Congress Street
| Charlotte, North Carolina 28209

Voting Matters
The following table summarizes the proposals to be considered at the Annual Meeting and the Board’s voting recommendation with respect to each proposal.

Proposal | Board Vote Recommendation
#1 | Advisory Vote to Approve the Compensation of our Named Executive Officers (Say-on-Pay) | FOR
#2 | Election of Directors | FOR each Nominee
#3 | Ratification of Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm for Fiscal Year 2020 | FOR

Our Business

Business Segments
Lithium | Bromine Specialties | Catalysts
-- Energy Storage -- Glasses and Ceramics -- Greases and Lubricants -- Pharmaceutical Synthesis | -- Flame retardants -- Industrial water treatment -- Completion fluids for oilfield -- Plastic and synthetic rubber -- C3Ag and pharma synthesis | -- Fluid Cracking Catalysts -- Clean Fuels Technologies -- Organometallics & Curatives

Our Strategy

• | Capture growth in lithium through smart investments and our advantaged resource position

• | Maximize operating cash from our businesses through sustainable cost savings and investment in systems, people, processes, and operational excellence

• | Continuously assess the portfolio

• | Prudently allocate capital to generate significant cash and outsized returns for our shareholders

* While we intend to hold our annual meeting in person as scheduled, we are sensitive to public health and travel concerns and recommendations that public health officials may issue in light of the evolving coronavirus (COVID-19) situation. As a result, we may impose additional procedures on meeting attendance or may decide to postpone the meeting or hold the meeting solely by means of remote communication (a virtual-only meeting). We will announce any such updates on our website www.albemarle.com, including any postponement and how to access and vote at any virtual meeting, and we encourage you to monitor this website for updates and prior to traveling to the meeting if you plan to attend in person.
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2019 Company Performance

• | Net sales of $3.59 billion increased ~6% compared to 2018 and adjusted EBITDA* of $1.04 billion up 3% from 2018

• | Diluted EPS of $5.02 decreased ~21% compared to 2018, due to the gain on the sale of Polyolefin Catalysts in 2018, and adjusted diluted EPS* of $6.04 up ~10% from 2018

• | Cash from operations of $719.4 million increased ~32% compared to 2018

• | Our 3-year Total Shareholder Return for the 2017-2019 period placed us at the 20th percentile relative to our peer group, resulting in zero payout of performance units for the period

• | Completed the Lithium joint venture with Mineral Resources Limited, providing access to high-quality spodumene source and further diversifying Albemarle’s lithium asset base

• | In collaboration with ExxonMobil, created the Galexia™ platform, a transformative hydroprocessing suite of catalyst and service solutions for the refining industry

• | Deployed dividends to shareholders totaling $152.2 million, up 5% from 2018

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* Non-GAAP financial measure, reconciliations from US GAAP financial measures are available in Q4/FY2019 earnings release.
Governance Highlights
We believe good governance is integral to achieving long-term shareholder value. We are committed to governance policies and practices that best serve the interests of our Company and its shareholders. Our Board of Directors (the “Board of Directors” or the "Board") monitors developments in governance best practices to ensure it continues to meet its commitment to thoughtful and independent representation of shareholder interests. The following table summarizes certain corporate governance practices and certain facts about the nominees for our Board of Directors.

Governance Practices
Annual Election of all Directors | Longstanding Commitment to Sustainability and Corporate Responsibility | Policies Prohibiting Hedging, Short Sale, and Pledging Our Stock by Directors, Officers, and Employees
Resignation Policy for Directors Not Receiving Majority Approval | Board and Committee Authority to Retain Independent Advisors | No Shareholder Rights Plan (Poison Pill)
Policy Requiring Directors to Not Stand for Re-election in the Year in Which They Reach 72 Years of Age | Regular Executive Sessions of Independent Directors | Robust Stock Ownership Guidelines (6x Salary for CEO)
Compensation Recovery Policy (Clawback Policy) | Risk Oversight by Full Board and Committees | Annual Board and Committee Evaluation Process led by Lead Independent Director

Director Nominees: Key Facts
Less than 5 years average tenure | 9 of 10 are independent | 50% ethnic and gender diversity | 70% have c-suite experience

CEO Compensation

• | Target Total Direct Compensation is 2.4% below the median of our peer group

• | Pay Mix: 85% of CEO compensation is based on incentive pay

• | CEO pay shows a strong correlation between 3 year relative realizable pay and 3 year relative total shareholder return

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COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
The following pages describe Albemarle’s executive compensation program and the compensation decisions made by the Executive Compensation Committee (the “Committee”) for our Named Executive Officers ("NEOs") listed below.

NEO | Title
Luther C. Kissam IV | Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer
Scott A. Tozier | Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
Netha N. Johnson, Jr. | President, Bromine Specialties
Karen G. Narwold | Executive Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer and Corporate Secretary
Raphael G. Crawford | President, Catalysts

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Compensation Program Highlights

• | Our pay mix supports our short and long term goals.

• | Chief Executive Officer ("CEO") compensation over a three-year period shows a strong correlation between realizable pay and total shareholder return relative to our Peer Group (as defined on page 7), with our performance rank well aligned with our pay rank.

• | Performance metrics were aligned with our Peer Group and our company goals.

◦ | Annual Goals: Adjusted EBITDA(1), Adjusted Cash Flow from Operations(1), and Stewardship

◦ | Long Term Goals: Total Shareholder Return (“TSR”) relative to our Peer Group of companies ("rTSR")(1) and Return on Invested Capital (ROIC)(1); each measured over a 3-year performance period

• | Focused Peer Group of similarly-sized companies

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(1) | See pages 10-14 for a discussion of how Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted Cash Flow from Operations, rTSR, and ROIC are defined and calculated.

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Aligning Our Incentives With Our Strategy and Shareholder Interests
In May 2019, the Company held our annual shareholder advisory vote to approve the compensation paid to our NEOs in 2018, which resulted in approximately 96% of the votes cast approving such compensation.
In the fall of 2019 we continued our annual engagement with our shareholders. This engagement gave us a basis for further evaluation of our practices in executive compensation and corporate governance. This initiative was led by a group of senior officers of the Company, acting on behalf and at the request of the Committee, by reaching out to shareholders holding 65% of our outstanding shares. For those shareholders who elected to engage with us (representing approximately 39% of our outstanding shares), we organized follow-up calls. This outreach reflects our commitment to understand and address key issues of importance to our shareholders. In line with the high support for our executive compensation program as expressed in the 2019 annual shareholder advisory vote to approve our NEO compensation, shareholders continued their support for our compensation program and the changes made over the past few years:

• | 2019: We introduced ROIC as a second metric for our long term incentive, to ensure alignment between our expected return on capital (as we entered a period of higher investments) and long term payout opportunities for our executives. We put a payout cap of 100% on rTSR payouts if, in absolute terms, total shareholder return is negative.

• | 2017: We included a "double trigger" in our equity plan and award agreements, so that in the event of a Change in Control, equity would only vest following a termination of employment.

• | 2016: We changed our Peer Group from the Dow Jones Chemical Index to a smaller group of chemical companies that were similarly situated to and sized as Albemarle.

In considering investor feedback, our evolving business needs, and our desire to continue to link executive pay to performance, the Committee did not make any changes to our executive compensation program for 2020.
Pay for Performance: 2019 Compensation Outcomes
CEO Pay At-A-Glance: Realizable Pay Relative Degree of Alignment
We believe our CEO’s total compensation reflects a pay opportunity commensurate with median levels among our Peer Group and aligns payout opportunities with the Company's long-term performance. Realizable Pay Relative Degree of Alignment (“RPRDA”) is an important measure the Committee uses to assess whether realizable pay is commensurate with the total shareholder return achieved by shareholders relative to our Peer Group.
RPRDA compares the percentile ranks of a CEO’s three-year realizable pay and a company’s three-year TSR performance relative to the peer group. The RPRDA is equal to the difference between the combined performance rank minus the combined pay rank. Values for the RPRDA can measure between -100 and 100. On that scale, the values can be interpreted as outlined below.

• | A value of 100 represents a situation where the pay rank is the lowest, while the performance rank is the highest among the peer group.

• | A value of 0 represents the situation where the pay rank and the performance rank among the peer group are perfectly aligned.

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• | A value of -100 represents a situation where the pay rank is the highest, while the performance rank is the lowest among the peer group.

Realizable pay captures the following elements of compensation for the three-year period:

• | Base salary in the year it is earned;

• | Annual incentive compensation paid for the year it is earned; and

• | “In-the-money” value of outstanding equity awards granted during the period, calculated based on stock price at year-end rather than the grant date fair value. The use of an end-of-year stock price directly correlates the value of an executive’s equity with the return our shareholders receive from investing in our common stock over the same period;

◦ | Stock Options: calculated using intrinsic value (closing stock price less strike price);

◦ | Restricted Stock: calculated using face value (closing stock price);

◦ | Performance Stock Units for awards granted and earned during the period: calculated using dollar value based on actual performance; and

◦ | Performance Stock Units for awards granted and not earned (due to incomplete performance periods): calculated using face value at target performance.

Albemarle has used rTSR as its long-term performance measure since 2014. Since then we have consistently measured RPRDA. The following table shows Albemarle's percentile rank relative to our Peer Group for the 3-year periods starting in 2014. No compensation data is included for the 2017-2019 period as such data cannot be obtained until after peer group company proxies are available in 2020.
The following table shows Mr. Kissam’s RPRDA for the 3-year periods.

3-Year Period | Realizable Pay | Relative Total Shareholder Return | Realizable Pay Relative Degree of Alignment
Percentile Ranking | Percentile Ranking
2017-2019 | Not available yet | 20% | Not available yet
2016-2018 | 50% | 81% | 31%
2015-2017 | 88% | 100% | 12%
2014-2016 | 88% | 81% | (7)%

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION PROGRAM IN DETAIL
Compensation principles
The Committee designs and oversees the Company’s compensation policies and approves compensation for our NEOs. Our overarching goal is to create executive compensation plans that incent and are aligned with the creation of sustained shareholder value. To accomplish this, our plans are designed to:

• | Support our Business Strategy – We align our programs with business strategies focused on long-term growth and sustained shareholder value. Our plans provide incentives to our NEOs to overcome challenges and exceed our Company goals.

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• | Pay for Performance – A large portion of our executive pay is dependent upon the achievement of specific corporate, business unit and individual performance goals. We pay higher compensation when goals are exceeded and lower compensation when goals are not met.

• | Pay Competitively – We set target compensation to be at or around the market median relative to the companies that make up our Peer Group.

• | Discourage Excessive Risk-taking – Our compensation programs are balanced and designed to discourage excessive risk-taking.

Compensation principles are aligned with good governance practices and pay-for-performance
Below is a list of things that we do and don’t do in order to ensure that our program reflects good governance practices and pay for performance.

What We Do |  | What We Don’t Do
We require above-Peer Group median stock ownership for our NEOs |  | No excessive perquisites are provided to any NEO
We have a clawback policy for the recovery of cash and non-cash compensation in the event of NEO misconduct which results in a financial restatement |  | No stock option re-pricing without shareholder approval or discounted stock options are permitted under our 2017 equity plan
We have an annual advisory vote on executive compensation ("Say-on-Pay") |  | No excise tax gross-ups for change of control payments are provided to any NEO
We require a double trigger for equity to vest following a Change in Control ("CIC") |  | No hedging and short selling of our shares is permitted for our Directors, officers, and employees

The components of our executive compensation program
We provide our NEOs with the following components of compensation:

Annual | Annual base salary and annual cash incentive opportunities.
Long-Term | Long-term incentive awards for our NEOs comprise a combination of 50% Performance Stock Units (PSUs), 25% Restricted Stock Units (RSUs), and 25% stock options.
Benefits | Various health and welfare benefits, including health and life insurance, retirement benefits and savings plan that are generally available to all our employees.
Post-Termination Benefits | Severance and change in control benefits.

For each NEO, the Committee reviews and approves annually each component of compensation and the resulting total compensation. The Committee benchmarks the individual components of compensation and total compensation to our Peer Group. In setting the compensation for each NEO, the Committee also considers other factors, including the scope and complexity of his or her position, level of performance, skills and experience, and contribution to the overall success of the Company. As a result, we do not set compensation for our NEOs in a formulaic manner.
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Our compensation program is designed to focus our NEOs on long-term success
We design our compensation programs to keep our NEOs focused on the long-term success of our Company by making a substantial portion of their compensation subject to the achievement of specific performance measures, requiring NEOs to hold a significant amount of Company stock during the term of their employment, and granting stock-based awards with multi-year vesting periods.
The performance period covered by our PSU grants is three years, with the vesting of any award earned occurring in two equal tranches – the first tranche vests after the end of the third year of the performance period and the second tranche vests on January 1 of the following year. PSUs issued in 2019 were based on rTSR as compared to our Peer Group and ROIC, each with equal weighting. The Committee chose these measures to provide a strong linkage between the rewards for our leaders and the returns experienced by our shareholders, and also because these measures were thought to be well-aligned with the longer three-year performance period and the higher level of investments in capital for that period.
RSUs have a minimum vesting period of three years and also vest in two equal tranches – the first tranche at the third anniversary of the Grant Date and the second tranche at the fourth anniversary of the Grant Date.
Stock option grants made after 2015 cliff vest at the third anniversary of the Grant Date.
Competitive Compensation – Peer Group
The committee uses a group of peer companies to align executive compensation with comparable positions within that peer group. We use the following criteria for selecting peer companies that we include in our compensation peer group (our "Peer Group").

Criteria for selecting peer companies |  | How we use the compensation peer group
Companies with the same eight-digit GICS code as Albemarle |  | As an input in designing compensation plans, benefits and perquisites
Comparable size based on revenue of approximately 0.5-2.0 times that of Albemarle |  | As an input in developing base salary ranges, annual incentive targets and long-term awards
Market capitalization of approximately 0.25-4.0 times that of Albemarle |  | To benchmark total direct compensation, including the pay mix

We use industry and revenue as our two main indicators for determining our peers. We believe that using an industry-specific group of companies with similar revenue is appropriate because it provides us with the best comparisons for competitive compensation offered by publicly-held companies with similar business challenges and the type of leadership talent needed to achieve success over the long-term. We consider market value as an important factor for peer selection, but believe that market value should be balanced with sales (which are less volatile and a better predictor of compensation levels).
In setting base salaries, target total cash compensation, and target total direct compensation, the Committee generally focused on the median of the last reported data from our 2019 Peer Group. The Committee also referred to survey information from nationally recognized compensation surveys.
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For 2019, Albemarle used the same peer group that it used in 2017 and 2018, with the exception of A. Schulman Inc. which was acquired in 2018. Our selected 2019 Peer Group (the "2019 Peer Group") consists of the below 16 chemical companies.

2019 Peer Group
Ashland Global Holdings, Inc. Cabot Corporation The Chemours Company Celanese Corporation CF Industries Holdings, Inc. FMC Corporation | H. B. Fuller Company W. R. Grace & Co. International Flavors & Fragrances, Inc. Koppers Holdings Inc. The Mosaic Company | Minerals Technologies Inc. Olin Corporation PolyOne Corporation RPM International Inc. Scotts Miracle-Gro Company

For 2020, we are continuing with 15 of these 16 companies (Koppers Holdings is removed as it does not fit our revenue criteria), while adding four other companies that fit our selection criteria (Axalta Coating Systems Ltd., Eastman Chemical, NewMarket, and Trinseo SA).
NEO Target and Actual Compensation
The Committee utilizes the Peer Group data and survey data as two of its tools in establishing target levels of compensation. However, the Committee does not rely exclusively on such data and does not employ a rigid or formulaic process to set compensation levels. In setting compensation levels, the Committee considers the following factors:

• | The competitive data (Peer Group and other survey data), focusing on the median data as a starting point;

• | Each NEO’s performance;

• | Each NEO’s scope of responsibility and impact on the Company’s performance;

• | Internal equity – NEO’s compensation relative to his or her peers, direct reports and supervisors;

• | The recommendations of the Board’s independent executive compensation consultant, Pearl Meyer, with respect to the NEOs; and

• | The CEO’s recommendations for his direct reports.

The Committee evaluates the performance of each NEO in light of our overall financial performance (as described in greater detail below) and non-financial performance goals and strategic objectives approved by the Committee and the Board of Directors. For 2019, as in past years, the Committee structured a compensation package for our NEOs comprised of base salary and benefits coupled with annual and long-term incentives, which we believe provides an appropriate mix of financial security, risk and reward.
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2019 Base Salaries
Base salary provides our NEOs with a basic level of financial security and supports the Committee’s objectives in attracting and retaining top talent. Base salaries for our NEOs, other than the CEO, are recommended by our CEO and are reviewed and approved by the Committee. Base salary for our CEO is recommended and approved by the Committee. Salary changes went into effect on April 1, 2019. The Committee believes that each NEO’s salary was reasonable and appropriate.

Executive Officer | 2018 Year-End Base Salary | 2019 Increase in Annual Base Salary | 2019 Annual Base Salary
Luther C. Kissam IV |  |  |
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer | $ | 1,000,000 |  | $ | — |  | $ | 1,000,000 |
Scott A. Tozier |  |  |
Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer | $ | 588,000 |  | $ | 12,000 |  | $ | 600,000 |
Netha N. Johnson, Jr. |  |  |
President, Bromine Specialties | $ | 475,000 |  | $ | 25,000 |  | $ | 500,000 |
Karen G. Narwold |  |  |
Executive Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer and Corporate Secretary | $ | 509,250 |  | $ | 15,750 |  | $ | 525,000 |
Raphael G. Crawford |  |  |
President, Catalysts | $ | 475,000 |  | $ | 15,000 |  | $ | 490,000 |

Purpose and key features of the 2019 Annual Incentive Program (AIP)
The Committee designed the AIP to provide both an incentive to achieve, and a reward for achieving, our annual goals and objectives. Each year, the Committee and the Board approve the performance goals under the AIP. These performance goals are intended to ensure that our NEOs execute on short-term financial and strategic initiatives that drive our business strategy and long-term shareholder value.
For all NEOs, performance is based 85% on company performance and 15% on individual performance. Company performance for the CEO, CFO, and Chief Administrative Officer and Corporate Secretary ("CAO") is defined as the Corporate performance. For GBU Presidents, company performance is defined as a combination of Global Business Unit (GBU) and Corporate performance, with a weighting of 70% and 30%, respectively. For 2019, the Committee established the Company AIP metrics as shown in the table below, including for each metric its weighting and payout opportunities at threshold, target and superior performance levels.

Metrics | Adjusted EBITDA | Adjusted Cash Flow from Operations | Stewardship
Corporate | Global Business Unit (GBU) | Corporate | Global Business Unit (GBU) | Corporate | Global Business Unit (GBU)
CEO, CFO, CAO | 50% |  | 25% |  | 10% |
GBU Presidents | 15% | 35% | 7.5% | 17.5% | 3% | 7%
Weighted Payout Opportunities |  |  |
Payout at Target Based on Weight | 50% | 25% | 10%

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For performance at target and based on their weight, Adjusted EBITDA pays out 50%, Adjusted Cash Flow from Operations 25%, and Stewardship 10%. Threshold performance on Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Cash Flow from Operations pays out 35% of the target level. Stewardship performance below target does not result in any payout. For performance at the superior level payout doubles for all three metrics. We use linear interpolation to determine awards for performance between the identified points. Individual performance pays out between 0% and 30%.
Rationale behind the performance metrics
The Committee chose these performance metrics to align the AIP with our 2019 goals and objectives. The Committee chose the relative weights of the performance measures based on the desire to emphasize financial results while maintaining a focus on non-financial objectives.
The Committee chose Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Cash Flow from Operations as the 2019 AIP metrics because they were considered the key measures of financial performance in the Company’s 2019 annual operating plan.

• | The level of Adjusted EBITDA aligned with the Target payout level was set by the Committee at the 2019 operating plan amount. Adjusted EBITDA is defined as total Albemarle earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization, as adjusted for non-recurring, non-operating and special items.

• | The Committee focused on Adjusted Cash Flow from Operations as a performance measure aligned with our objectives of generating cash for debt reduction and growth. The level of Adjusted Cash Flow from Operations aligned with the Target payout level was set by the Committee at the 2019 operating plan amount. Adjusted Cash Flow from Operations is defined as cash from Operations as reported on our Statement of Cash Flows, adjusted for pension contributions, joint venture earnings distribution timing, non-recurring and one-time or unusual items.

• | The superior performance levels for both of these metrics were set by the Committee at levels that while believed to be realistic, were achievable only as the result of exceptional performance.

Stewardship metrics were included because they are critical to our license to operate and consistent with our values. These health, safety and environment ("HSE") metrics were ambitious, as the Committee set a quantitative target and superior levels of performance for each of these metrics at levels that required year-over-year improvement, with no payout earned for any one individual Stewardship metric if target performance for that metric was not achieved.
Individual performance is included to emphasize the individual accountability for each of the executives for achieving specific goals. Performance goals typically include both leadership objectives and strategic business objectives.
The Committee may take into account extraordinary or infrequently occurring events, or significant corporate transactions in deciding to adjust the results used to determine whether the AIP objectives have been met. The Committee retains the right to exercise discretion in determining the final level of the awards paid, in order to ensure that the AIP remains consistent with its stated objectives. In the last 10 years the Committee has not used its discretion in determining the achievement of the company performance metrics.
Individual performance was evaluated by comparing actual performance to the pre-established leadership objectives and considering individual accomplishments not contemplated in the setting of the
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pre-established objectives. The Committee assessed the performance of the CEO, and the CEO presented his assessment of each other NEO to the Committee.
Performance against our 2019 AIP Metrics
For the NEOs three different plans apply based on their Corporate or GBU responsibility.

• | The Corporate plan applies to Mr. Kissam, Mr. Tozier and Ms. Narwold, with 85% of the plan based on Corporate performance and 15% based on individual performance.

• | The Bromine Plan applies to Mr. Johnson, with 59.5% of the plan based on Bromine performance, 25.5% on Corporate performance, and 15% on individual performance.

• | The Catalyst plan applies to Mr. Crawford, with 59.5% of the plan based on Catalyst performance, 25.5% on Corporate performance, and 15% on individual performance.

The performance for the stewardship metrics (occupational safety, process safety, and environmental responsibility) was determined by the Committee’s quantitative assessment of the level of achievement for the three different stewardship objectives. For each of the three stewardship metrics, we have set a target and superior performance level. Performance below target does not pay out. Occupational safety was measured as our lost time severity rate, which is calculated as the number of lost days x 200,000 and divided by the total man-hours worked; process safety was measured by severity score; and environmental responsibility was measured by the number of environmental incidents.
The following tables summarize the threshold, target, and superior performance levels set by the Committee and actual results for the Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Cash Flow from Operations metrics for 2019, for each of the plans that apply to our NEOs. Our Lithium GBU, which is our largest GBU and responsible for more than half of our Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Cash Flow from Operations, did not meet its threshold performance levels in 2019 for Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Cash Flow from Operations. As such, Corporate payout was impacted and Lithium payout, driven only by its positive performance on Stewardship, was well below target level.
Corporate Metrics

2019 Annual Incentive Plan (AIP) Metrics
AIP Metric | Weight | Threshold | Target | Superior | 2019 Results | Achievement Against Target | Payout Based on Weight
Adjusted EBITDA | 50 | % |  | $ | 1,040 |  | MM | $ | 1,156 |  | MM | $ | 1,272 |  | MM | $ | 1,064 |  | MM | 92.1 | % | 24.2 | %
Adjusted Cash Flow from Operations | 25 | % |  | $ | 887 |  | MM | $ | 985 |  | MM | $ | 1,084 |  | MM | $ | 862 |  | MM | 87.6 | % | — | %
Stewardship |  | Score based on three Quantitative Stewardship Metrics: |  | 15.9 | %
4 | % | ● | Occupational Safety | 200 | % |
3 | % | ● | Process Safety | 107 | %
3 | % | ● | Environment | 157 | %
Payout Based on Business Performance |  | 40.2 | %

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Bromine Metrics

2019 Annual Incentive Plan (AIP) Metrics
AIP Metric | Weight | Threshold | Target | Superior | 2019 Results | Achievement Against Target | Payout Based on Weight
Adjusted EBITDA | 35.0 | % |  | $ | 269 |  | MM | $ | 299 |  | MM | $ | 329 |  | MM | $ | 331 |  | MM | 111 | % | 70.0 | %
Adjusted Cash Flow from Operations | 17.5 | % |  | $ | 242 |  | MM | $ | 269 |  | MM | $ | 296 |  | MM | $ | 313 |  | MM | 116 | % | 35.0 | %
Stewardship |  | Score based on three Quantitative Stewardship Metrics: |  | 8.8 | %
2.8 | % | ● | Occupational Safety | 200 | % |
2.1 | % | ● | Process Safety | 0 | %
2.1 | % | ● | Environment | 150 | %
Payout Based on GBU Performance |  | 113.8 | %
Corporate Performance | 25.5% |  | Payout Based on Corporate Performance |  | 12.0 | %
Business Performance | 85% |  | Payout Based on the Combination of GBU and Corporate Performance |  | 125.8 | %

Catalyst Metrics

2019 Annual Incentive Plan (AIP) Metrics
AIP Metric | Weight | Threshold | Target | Superior | 2019 Results | Achievement Against Target | Payout Based on Weight
Adjusted EBITDA | 35.0 | % |  | $ | 240 |  | MM | $ | 267 |  | MM | $ | 294 |  | MM | $ | 276 |  | MM | 103 | % | 46.8 | %
Adjusted Cash Flow from Operations | 17.5 | % |  | $ | 221 |  | MM | $ | 246 |  | MM | $ | 271 |  | MM | $ | 260 |  | MM | 106 | % | 27.7 | %
Stewardship |  |  | Score based on three Quantitative Stewardship Metrics: |  | 11.4 | %
2.8 | % | ● | Occupational Safety | 200 | % |
2.1 | % | ● | Process Safety | 150 | %
2.1 | % | ● | Environment | 125 | %
Payout Based on GBU Performance |  | 85.8 | %
Corporate Performance | 25.5% |  | Payout Based on Corporate Performance |  | 12.0 | %
Business Performance | 85% |  | Payout Based on the Combination of GBU and Corporate Performance |  | 97.9 | %

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The following table illustrates the 2019 AIP payout for the Corporate plan against payout levels over the previous years. We believe the fluctuations in payout confirm the correlation of pay to performance at Albemarle.
Note: 2019 AIP percentile includes additive 15% individual component
AIP earning opportunity for our NEOs
Under the AIP, each of our current NEOs can earn a bonus targeted at a certain percentage of his or her base salary. For 2019, our NEOs’ target bonus percentages were 125% (Mr. Kissam), 80% (Mr. Tozier), and 75% (Messrs. Johnson and Crawford and Ms. Narwold) for achieving target performance levels for company and individual performance combined.
Note: Mr. Tozier's bonus target January 1, 2019 - March 31, 2019 was 75%. As of April 1, 2019 his bonus target increased to 80%.
Actual earnings for our NEOs under the 2019 AIP
The Committee reviewed the Company’s 2019 performance and determined that the potential awards for the NEOs were funded consistent with the plan metrics set during the first quarter of the year. After this determination was made, Mr. Kissam engaged the Committee in a further discussion of the Company’s performance and of each NEO’s individual performance compared to their objectives. In light of the accomplishments by each NEO that were cited by Mr. Kissam to the Committee, it was recommended by Mr. Kissam and approved by the Committee that the individual performance related payout for each NEO be set as follows: Mr. Tozier 15%, Mr. Johnson 25%, Ms. Narwold 20%, and, Mr. Crawford 15%.
In the case of Mr. Kissam, in early 2020 the Board assessed his performance against both quantitative metrics (stewardship and financial goals) and qualitative objectives (capital expansions, operational excellence, SAP program implementation, portfolio management, people, and Board management) and determined that an individual performance payout of 20% was appropriate given performance against these measures.
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When applied to and combined with the Company score, this yielded actual bonus payouts for each NEO shown in the table below.

2019 AIP Payouts
Name | Average Base Salary | X | Average Target Bonus % | = | Target Bonus Amount | X | Payout Based on (Company Performance + Individual Performance) | = | Actual Bonus Amount
Luther C. Kissam IV | $ | 1,000,000 |  | x | 125% | = | $ | 1,250,000 |  | x | 40.2% | + | 20% | = | 751,991 |
Scott A. Tozier | $ | 597,041 |  | x | 79% | = | $ | 470,383 |  | x | 40.2% | + | 15% | = | 259,460 |
Netha N. Johnson, Jr. | $ | 493,836 |  | x | 75% | = | $ | 370,376 |  | x | 125.8% | + | 25% | = | 558,520 |
Karen G. Narwold | $ | 521,116 |  | x | 75% | = | $ | 390,837 |  | x | 40.2% | + | 20% | = | 235,125 |
Raphael G. Crawford | $ | 486,301 |  | x | 75% | = | $ | 364,726 |  | x | 97.9% | + | 15% | = | 411,754 |

Purpose and key features of the Long Term Incentive Plan (LTIP)
We believe it is important to provide a long-term incentive opportunity to our NEOs charged with driving sustainable growth and long-term value creation for Albemarle, further aligning their interests with those of our shareholders. We do this through an annual LTIP grant, in 2019 comprised of PSUs, RSUs and stock options, designed to ensure an equity mix that is primarily performance-based and retentive in nature.
Our PSU grant performance measures are rTSR as compared to our Peer Group for the three-year performance period and ROIC, each with equal weighting. The rTSR performance metric emphasizes the linkage between our pay-for-performance philosophy and our shareholders' interests. As we execute on our large planned capital projects, the Committee added an ROIC measure in 2019. The ROIC performance metric emphasizes our continued commitment to invest efficiently and generate long-term returns, and ensures alignment between our expected return on capital (as we enter a period of higher investments) and long term payout opportunities for our executives. Both measures are aligned with the longer three-year performance period.
Vesting
We employ longer vesting periods than our Peer Group median.

| Albemarle | Compensation Peer Group Median
PSUs | PSUs vest 50% after the award date, which is the date at which the Committee determines the earnings level for the award for the 3-year performance period. The remaining 50% vests at January 1 of the following year. | Earned PSU grants vest in full after 3 years.
RSUs | RSUs vest 50% after 3 years, with the remaining 50% vesting after 4 years. | RSUs cliff vest after 3 years.
Stock Options | Stock Options cliff vest after 3 years. | Stock options step-vest over a 3-year period.

PSU results for the 2017-2019 performance period
Payouts under the 2017 PSU grants are earned based on the achievement of TSR performance relative to the 2017 Peer Group over a three year measurement period. The 2017 Peer Group included 17 companies. One company was acquired during the period and is therefore not included in the rTSR calculation. Our rTSR for the period placed us at the 20 th percentile relative to the 2017 Peer Group.
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The following table illustrates threshold, target and superior relative performance levels and the percentage of the target grant earned for each performance level. Results between threshold and target, and target and superior performance, are interpolated. The table also includes the relative performance result and the percentage of grants earned as determined by the Committee.

| 2017 PSU Grant Metrics
Threshold | Target | Superior | Metric Result
Percentile performance relative to the 2017 Peer Group | 25th |  | 50th |  | 75th |  | 20th |
% of Grants Earned | 25 | % | 100 | % | 200 | % | 0 | %

The following table shows the grants approved in February 2017 by the Committee for the NEOs. The table also includes the grant values approved by the Committee in February 2020 after it determined the 2017-2019 relative performance results.

| 2017 PSU Grants
| Number of Units | Number of Units | Number of Units |
| at Threshold | at Target | at Superior | 2017 Earned PSUs
| 25% | 100% | 200% |
Luther C. Kissam IV | 5,381 |  | 21,522 |  | 43,044 |  | 0 |
Scott A. Tozier | 1,346 |  | 5,382 |  | 10,764 |  | 0 |
Netha N. Johnson, Jr. | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |
Karen G. Narwold | 1,211 |  | 4,844 |  | 9,688 |  | 0 |
Raphael G. Crawford | 942 |  | 3,768 |  | 7,536 |  | 0 |

Note: Mr. Johnson joined the Company after these grants were made.
2019 LTIP grants
In February 2019, the Committee approved a total grant value for the NEOs under the LTIP. The values granted to each NEO are set forth below, as well as the approximate percentage apportioned in the form of PSUs, RSUs and Stock Options. Mr. Kissam’s equity grant reflects our emphasis on long-term incentives in our pay mix.

| 2019 Grants
| Value Granted | Stock Options | RSUs | PSUs
Luther C. Kissam IV | $ | 4,500,000 |  | 25 | % | 25 | % | 50 | %
Scott A. Tozier | $ | 1,100,000 |  | 25 | % | 25 | % | 50 | %
Netha N. Johnson, Jr. | $ | 800,000 |  | 25 | % | 25 | % | 50 | %
Karen G. Narwold | $ | 1,050,000 |  | 25 | % | 25 | % | 50 | %
Raphael G. Crawford | $ | 800,000 |  | 25 | % | 25 | % | 50 | %

The number of units for the PSUs and RSUs was based on the stock closing price at the grant date. The number of stock options was determined using the Black Scholes value of the options.
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PSU Grants
The performance based PSU grants are based 50% on the Company's TSR relative to the 2019 Peer Group as measured over a three-year period and 50% based on the Company's ROIC performance as calculated for each calendar year during the three-year performance period. The following table illustrates the number of units to be granted for performance at threshold, target and superior levels for the rTSR PSU grants and ROIC PSU grants.

| 2019 PSU Grants
| Number of Units at Threshold |  | Number of Units at Target |  | Number of Units at Superior
Luther C. Kissam IV | 12,364 |  |  | 24,728 |  |  | 49,456 |
Scott A. Tozier | 3,022 |  |  | 6,044 |  |  | 12,088 |
Netha N. Johnson, Jr. | 2,198 |  |  | 4,396 |  |  | 8,792 |
Karen G. Narwold | 2,886 |  |  | 5,772 |  |  | 11,544 |
Raphael G. Crawford | 2,198 |  |  | 4,396 |  |  | 8,792 |

The following table illustrates threshold, target and superior relative performance levels for the rTSR PSUs and the performance of the target grant earned for each performance level. Results between threshold and target and target and superior performance will be interpolated.

| 2019 rTSR PSU Grants
| Threshold | Target | Superior
Percentile performance relative to the 2019 Peer Group | 25th |  | 50th |  | 75th |
% of Grants Earned | 50 | % | 100 | % | 200 | %

The 2019 ROIC PSU grant is measured against ROIC performance levels set by the ECC. ROIC is calculated for each calendar year during the three-year performance period and is determined by the following formula:

Annual ROIC | = | Net Income + (Interest Income and Interest Expense, net of tax)
(Prior Year End Total Capital + Current Year End Total Capital)/2

The following table illustrates the percentage of the target ROIC grant earned for each performance level. Results between threshold and target and target and superior performance will be interpolated.

| 2019 ROIC PSU Grants
| Threshold | Target | Superior
% of Grants Earned | 50 | % | 100 | % | 200 | %

Performance and payout opportunities reflect the dual character of both rTSR and ROIC PSU grants:

• | The grants are performance-based to ensure payout opportunities are aligned with shareholder interests.

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• | The grants are also competitive in nature and as such reflect performance and payout opportunities aligned with the Peer Group and the broader market in which we compete for talent.

Half of any shares earned will vest in early 2022 at the time the Committee evaluates the three-year performance for both rTSR and ROIC. The other half will vest on January 1, 2023.
RSU Grants
In February 2019, the Committee approved RSU awards to our NEOs, as follows:

| 2019 Restricted Stock Units
Luther C. Kissam IV | 12,364 |
Scott A. Tozier | 3,022 |
Netha N. Johnson, Jr. | 2,198 |
Karen G. Narwold | 2,886 |
Raphael G. Crawford | 2,198 |

Half of the RSUs will vest on each of the third and fourth anniversary of the grant date in 2022 and 2023.
Stock Option Grants
In February 2019, the Committee approved a grant of stock options to our NEOs, as follows:

| 2019 Stock Options
Luther C. Kissam IV | 40,600 |
Scott A. Tozier | 9,925 |
Netha N. Johnson, Jr. | 7,218 |
Karen G. Narwold | 9,474 |
Raphael G. Crawford | 7,218 |

The options vest on the third anniversary of the grant date and expire ten years from the date of the grant.
Other benefits the Company provides to NEOs
The Company provides NEOs with the same benefits provided to other Albemarle employees, including:

• | Health and dental insurance (Company pays a portion of costs);

• | Basic life insurance;

• | Long-term disability insurance;

• | Participation in the Albemarle Corporation Savings Plan (the “Savings Plan”), including Company matching and defined contribution pension contributions;

• | Participation in the Executive Deferred Compensation Plan;

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• | Participation in Albemarle Corporation Pension Plan, defined below, for those executives hired prior to 2004 (Mr. Kissam is the only NEO that meets this qualification); and

• | Matching charitable contributions.

Executive Deferred Compensation Plan (“EDCP”)
We maintain a deferred compensation plan that covers executives, including the NEOs, who are limited in how much they can contribute to tax-qualified deferred compensation plans (such as our Savings Plan). We maintain this plan in order to be competitive and because we want to encourage executives to save for their retirement. A participant in the EDCP may defer up to 50% of base salary and/or up to 100% of cash incentive awards (net of FICA and Medicare taxes due). We also provide for employer contributions in the EDCP to provide executives with the same proportional benefits as are provided to all other employees, but that cannot be provided under our tax-qualified plan because of statutory limitations that apply under that plan. The EDCP also provides for a supplemental benefit of 5% of compensation in excess of amounts that may be recognized under the tax-qualified Savings Plan and of the cash incentive bonus award paid during the year.
Beginning on January 1, 2013, all our NEOs, regardless of hire date, participate in the same tax- qualified Savings Plan and EDCP. The new defined contribution plan design provides all participating employees the opportunity to receive a Company contribution of 11% of their base and bonus earnings for the calendar year if they contribute at least 9% of their base and bonus earnings to the Savings Plan. Such Company contributions go into the tax-qualified Savings Plan up to the compensation and benefit limitations under the Internal Revenue Code (the "Code"), and after that are credited to an EDCP account.
Defined Benefit Plan
We previously maintained a traditional tax-qualified defined benefit pension plan ("Pension Plan"), which was fully frozen as of December 31, 2014. In 2004, we implemented a new defined contribution pension benefit in our tax-qualified Savings Plan for all non-represented employees hired on or after April 1, 2004, and limited participation in the "Pension Plan" to then-current participants. Mr. Kissam joined the Company prior to April 1, 2004, and, as such, participated in the Pension Plan. We also maintain a supplemental executive retirement plan (“SERP”) to provide participants with the difference between (i) the benefits they would actually accrue under the Pension Plan but for the maximum compensation and benefit limitations under the Code, and (ii) the benefits actually accrued under the Pension Plan, which are subject to the Code’s compensation and benefit limits. Certain provisions of the SERP also permitted the Committee to award key executives additional pension credits related to offset reduction in the Pension Plan plan as a mid-career hire. This provision was also limited to then-current participants in 2004 concurrent with the Pension Plan changes. The Company froze accruals in the Pension Plan and SERP effective December 31, 2014.
Perquisites
Our perquisites are intended to be limited in nature, and are focused in areas directly related to a business purpose, or in helping to foster the health, security and well-being of our senior executives for the benefit of the Company.
When an NEO is required to geographically relocate in order to join the Company, or is asked to relocate due to a change in their work location after joining the Company, we provide them with the same relocation package that is also offered to management and senior professional employees. Certain relocation expenses are grossed-up for taxes, as is the competitive practice within our Peer Group, and more broadly, in the general marketplace.
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We also offer executive physical exams and limited reimbursement for financial planning. We do not provide tax gross-ups on such amounts to NEOs.
Post-termination payments
We believe that providing our executives, including our NEOs, with reasonable severance benefits aligns their interests with shareholders’ interests in the context of potential change in control transactions, and also believe that such benefits help facilitate our recruitment and retention of senior executive talent.
Consistent with this philosophy, we maintain a Severance Pay Plan (“SPP”) that provides severance payments to certain of our employees if we (a) terminate their employment without cause or request that they relocate and they elect not to do so after a change in control or (b) eliminate their position or have a change in our organizational structure with a similar effect absent a change in control. The SPP provides severance payments only in the absence of a change in control.
We entered into severance compensation agreements with each of our NEOs, providing for severance payments for a change in control-related termination. None of these severance compensation agreements include an excise tax gross-up.
The Committee periodically reviews our post-employment compensation arrangements taking best practices into consideration, and believes that these arrangements are generally consistent with arrangements currently being offered by our Peer Group. The Committee has determined that both the terms and payout levels are appropriate to accomplish our stated objectives. The Committee also considered the non-competition agreement that we would receive from the NEO in exchange for any post-employment termination benefits. Based on these considerations, the Committee believes that such arrangements are appropriate and reasonable.
For additional information with respect to change in control arrangements, please see “Agreements with Executive Officers and Other Potential Payments upon Termination or a Change in Control” on page 35.
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
We believe this additional information may assist you in better understanding our compensation practices and principles.
Role of the Committee and the CEO
The Committee, consisting entirely of independent Directors, is responsible for executive compensation. As part of the compensation-setting process each year, the Committee meets periodically with the CEO to review a list of corporate performance goals and receives comments from members of the Board of Directors. The CEO recommends to the Committee the compensation amounts for each of our NEOs, other than himself. The Committee has retained an independent compensation consultant, Pearl Meyer, to provide advice on best practices and market developments. The CEO, the Chief HR Officer, Human Resources staff members, and the Committee’s consultant attend Committee meetings and make recommendations regarding plan design and levels of compensation.
While the Committee will ask for advice and recommendations from management and Pearl Meyer, the Committee is responsible for executive compensation and as such:

• | Sets NEO base salaries;

• | Reviews financial and operational goals, performance measures, and strategic and operating plans for the Company;

• | Establishes specific goals, objectives, and potential awards for the AIP and LTIP;

• | Reviews annual and long-term performance against goals and objectives and approves payment of any incentive earned;

• | Reviews contractual agreements and benefits, including supplemental retirement and any payments that may be earned upon termination, and makes changes as appropriate;

• | Reviews incentive plan designs and makes changes as appropriate; and

• | Reviews total compensation to ensure compensation earned by NEOs is fair and reasonable relative to corporate and individual performance.

Total compensation actions, annual and long-term performance goals and objectives, contractual agreements, and benefits are evaluated and determined by the Committee and discussed with the Board. The Incentive Plan is approved by the Board and subject to shareholder approval.
Role of Compensation Consultant
The Committee retained Pearl Meyer to provide independent advice to the Committee. Pearl Meyer gathers and analyzes data at the direction of the Committee, advises the Committee on compensation standards and trends, and assists in the development of policies and programs. The Committee directs, approves, and evaluates Pearl Meyer’s work in relation to all executive compensation matters. The Committee considers Pearl Meyer to be independent from our management pursuant to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission standards. Please see “Independence of the Executive Compensation Consultant” on page 46.
The Committee regularly meets with Pearl Meyer without management present. Pearl Meyer participates in Committee meetings throughout the year, reviews materials in advance, consults with the Chairperson of the Committee, provides to the Committee data on market trends and compensation
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design, assesses recommendations for base salary and annual incentive awards for our NEOs, and periodically meets with management. Pearl Meyer may provide consulting advice to management outside the scope of executive compensation with the approval of the Committee. In 2019, Pearl Meyer did not provide consulting advice to management outside the scope of executive compensation. The Committee does not delegate authority to Pearl Meyer.
Clawbacks
In 2017, the Company adopted a Compensation Recoupment and Forfeiture Policy under the 2017 Incentive Plan. In the event misconduct by any employee results in a financial restatement, as more specifically defined in the policy, the policy requires that our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer reimburse the Company for (i) the gross amount of any bonus or other incentive-based or equity-based compensation received by such officer from the Company during the 12-month period following the date the document required to be restated was first publicly issued or filed (whichever occurs first) with the SEC and (ii) any profits realized from the sale of securities of the Company during such 12-month period. The policy further requires any employee who engaged in such misconduct to reimburse the Company the same amounts set forth in (i) and (ii) above applicable to that employee, and requires any such employee whose employment is terminated for cause to forfeit all unpaid cash-based incentive compensation under our incentive plan (whether or not accrued and/or payable at such time) and all unvested equity-based awards (whether or not earned at such time), in each case as of the date such employee is notified of termination of his or her employment for cause (as defined under the policy).
In addition, in 2018 we disclosed that based on an internal investigation, we voluntarily self-reported potential issues relating to the use of third party sales representatives in our Refining Solutions business to the U.S. Department of Justice (the "DOJ"), the SEC, and the Dutch Public Prosecutor (the "DPP") and that we intended to cooperate with the DOJ, the SEC, and the DPP in their review of these matters. Our Board of Directors determined, as a prudent governance measure while the investigation is pending, to condition payment of each of our named executive officers for fiscal year 2017 (the "2017 NEO’s") cash incentive bonus for the fiscal year 2017 (the “2017 cash incentive”) on each 2017 NEO executing a clawback agreement applicable to the 2017 cash incentive. Accordingly, in February 2018, the Company entered into a clawback agreement with each of our 2017 NEOs and other executives at that time. The clawback agreements supplement the Company’s existing policy described above and provide that each 2017 NEO's 2017 cash incentive is subject to clawback by the Company in the event that the Committee determines that, with respect to the Company’s internal investigation or the government’s review of these matters following such self-report, the NEO: (1) engaged in unlawful conduct or misconduct; (2) failed to cooperate in any related investigation; (3) violated the Company’s Code of Conduct or any other Company policy; or (4) failed to exercise appropriate supervision or oversight.
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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT
The Executive Compensation Committee has reviewed and discussed the Compensation Discussion and Analysis section of this Proxy Statement with management and, based on such review and discussion, recommended to the Board of Directors that it be included in this Proxy Statement.

| EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE
| Alejandro D. Wolff, Chair
| J. Kent Masters
| Diarmuid B. O'Connell
| Gerald A. Steiner
| Harriett Tee Taggart
| Holly A. Van Deursen

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COMPENSATION OF EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
Total Compensation of Our Named Executive Officers
The following table presents information for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 relating to total compensation of our CEO, CFO, and the three other highest paid executive officers (the “NEOs”).
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE

Summary Compensation Table
Name and Principal Position(1) | Year | Salary ($)(2) | Bonus ($)(3) | Stock Awards ($)(4)(5) | Option Awards ($)(4) | Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation ($) | Change in Pension Value and Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Earnings ($)(6) | All Other Compensation ($)(7) | Total ($)
Luther C. Kissam IV | 2019 | $ | 1,000,000 |  | $ | — |  | $ | 3,702,153 |  | $ | 1,125,026 |  | $ | 751,991 |  | $ | 1,697,660 |  | $ | 244,754 |  | $ | 8,521,584 |
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer | 2018 | $ | 1,000,000 |  | $ | — |  | $ | 3,579,097 |  | $ | 1,000,009 |  | $ | 856,389 |  | $ | (411,490 | ) | $ | 230,899 |  | $ | 6,254,904 |
2017 | $ | 970,500 |  | $ | — |  | $ | 3,465,777 |  | $ | 1,000,005 |  | $ | 1,857,250 |  | $ | 857,015 |  | $ | 346,188 |  | $ | 8,496,735 |
Scott A. Tozier | 2019 | $ | 597,041 |  | $ | — |  | $ | 904,877 |  | $ | 275,022 |  | $ | 259,460 |  | $ | — |  | $ | 117,789 |  | $ | 2,154,189 |
Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer | 2018 | $ | 581,000 |  | $ | — |  | $ | 939,722 |  | $ | 262,533 |  | $ | 314,302 |  | $ | — |  | $ | 112,817 |  | $ | 2,210,374 |
2017 | $ | 546,250 |  | $ | — |  | $ | 866,753 |  | $ | 250,001 |  | $ | 656,880 |  | $ | — |  | $ | 149,673 |  | $ | 2,469,557 |
Netha N. Johnson, Jr. | 2019 | $ | 493,836 |  | $ | 150,000 |  | $ | 658,147 |  | $ | 200,011 |  | $ | 558,520 |  | $ | — |  | $ | 304,852 |  | $ | 2,365,366 |
President, Bromine Specialties |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Karen G. Narwold | 2019 | $ | 521,116 |  |  | $ | 864,155 |  | $ | 262,525 |  | $ | 235,125 |  | $ | — |  | $ | 104,781 |  | $ | 1,987,702 |
Executive Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer and Corporate Secretary | 2018 | $ | 503,187 |  | $ | — |  | $ | 894,986 |  | $ | 250,021 |  | $ | 299,428 |  | $ | — |  | $ | 101,423 |  | $ | 2,049,045 |
2017 | $ | 478,750 |  | $ | — |  | $ | 780,029 |  | $ | 225,015 |  | $ | 568,905 |  | $ | — |  | $ | 129,442 |  | $ | 2,182,141 |
Raphael G. Crawford | 2019 | $ | 486,301 |  | $ | — |  | $ | 658,147 |  | $ | 200,011 |  | $ | 411,754 |  | $ | — |  | $ | 112,248 |  | $ | 1,868,461 |
President, Catalysts |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |

___________________________________________________

(1) | No salary amounts or other compensation are reported for Messrs. Johnson and Crawford for 2017 and 2018. Mr. Johnson joined the company on July 31, 2018 and was not a named executive officer in 2018. Mr. Crawford was not a named executive officer in 2017 or 2018.

(2) | Salary amounts include cash compensation earned by each named executive officer during the applicable fiscal year, as well as any amounts earned in the applicable fiscal year but contributed into the Savings Plan and/or deferred at the election of the named executive officer into the EDCP. For a discussion of the deferred compensation program and amounts deferred by the named executive officers in fiscal year 2019, including earnings on amounts deferred, please see “Nonqualified Deferred Compensation” on page 34.

(3) | Bonus amount includes a new-hire bonus of $150,000 for Mr. Johnson when he joined the Company.

(4) | The amount represents the aggregate grant date fair value of stock or option awards recognized in the fiscal year in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. This amount does not reflect our accounting expense for these award(s) during the year and does not correspond to the actual cash value that will be recognized by the named executive officer when received. For more information on the assumptions for these awards, please see Note 19 to our Consolidated Financial Statements filed on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019. Information on individual equity awards granted to each of the named executive officers in fiscal year 2019 is set forth in the section entitled “Grants of Plan-Based Awards” on page 27.

(5) | Amounts for fiscal year 2019 include two performance unit awards calculated at 100% of Target level. The rTSR performance unit awards are calculated assuming a fair value per share of $128.59 using the Monte Carlo valuation method. The ROIC performance unit awards are calculated assuming a fair value price per share of $85.42. The maximum payable for Superior level performance on our 2019 PSU awards is 200% of Target level. The aggregate grant date fair value of the rTSR performance unit awards at the Superior level of 200% for each of the named executive officers is: Mr. Kissam $3,179,774; Mr. Tozier $777,198; Mr. Johnson $565,282; Ms. Narwold $742,222; and Mr. Crawford $565,282. The aggregate grant date fair value of the RIOC performance unit awards at the Superior level of 200% for each of the named executive officers is: Mr. Kissam $2,112,266; Mr. Tozier $516,278; Mr. Johnson $375,506; Ms. Narwold $493,044; and Mr. Crawford $375,506. Also includes 2019 Restricted Stock Units assuming a fair value price per share of $85.42 with an aggregate grant date fair value for Mr. Kissam $1,056,133; Mr. Tozier $258,139; Mr. Johnson $187,753; Ms. Narwold $246,522; and Mr. Crawford $187,753.

(6) | Includes the actuarial increases in the present values of the named executive officers’ benefits under our pension plans determined using interest rate and mortality rate assumptions consistent with those used in our financial statements. Mr. Kissam had a gain of $1,697,660 in 2019. For a full description of the pension plan assumptions used by us for financial

23

reporting purposes, see Note 15 to our Consolidated Financial Statements filed on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019.

(7) | All other compensation amounts reported for 2019 include:

All Other Compensation
Name | Company Contribution to Albemarle 401K Plan | Company Contributions to Defined Retirement Benefit in Savings Plan | Company Contributions to Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan | Perquisites(a) | Total
Luther C. Kissam IV | $ | 13,700 |  | $ | 14,000 |  | $ | 199,359 |  | $ | 17,695 |  | $ | 244,754 |
Scott A. Tozier | $ | 13,700 |  | $ | 14,000 |  | $ | 73,194 |  | $ | 16,895 |  | $ | 117,789 |
Netha N. Johnson, Jr. | $ | 10,408 |  | $ | 14,000 |  | $ | 121,713 |  | $ | 158,731 |  | $ | 304,852 |
Karen G. Narwold | $ | 13,700 |  | $ | 14,000 |  | $ | 60,780 |  | $ | 16,301 |  | $ | 104,781 |
Raphael G. Crawford | $ | 13,700 |  | $ | 14,000 |  | $ | 58,470 |  | $ | 26,078 |  | $ | 112,248 |

___________________________________________________

(a) | Includes the following: personal financial consulting expenses in the amount of $14,000 paid by the Company on behalf of Messrs. Kissam, Tozier, and Johnson and Ms. Narwold; moving expenses in the amounts of $144,730 and $23,183 for Messrs. Johnson and Crawford, respectively; executive wellness exams for Mr. Kissam $3,300, Mr. Tozier $2,500, Ms. Narwold $2,680, and Mr. Crawford $2,500.

24

Compensation Risk Assessment
As part of its oversight of the Company’s executive compensation program, the Committee considers the impact of the Company’s executive compensation program and the incentives created by the compensation awards that it administers, on the Company’s risk profile. In addition, the Company reviews all employee compensation policies and procedures, including the incentives that they create and factors that may reduce the likelihood of excessive risk-taking, to determine whether they present a significant risk to the Company. At the Committee’s direction, our Chief Human Resources Officer and members of our Human Resources team, together with our Vice President, Audit & Risk Management and members of our internal audit team, conducted a risk assessment of our compensation programs. This assessment included, but was not limited to, evaluation of each compensation program based on the following categories: (i) performance measures, (ii) funding, (iii) performance period, (iv) pay mix, (v) goal setting and leverage, and (vi) controls and processes.
The Committee reviewed the findings of the assessment and concluded that our compensation programs are designed with the appropriate balance of risk and reward in relation to our overall business strategy and that the balance of compensation elements discourages excessive risk-taking. The Committee therefore determined that the risks arising from our compensation policies and practices for employees are not reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company. In its discussions, the Committee considered the attributes of our programs, including:

• | The balance between annual and long-term performance opportunities;

• | Alignment of our programs with business strategies focused on long-term growth and sustained shareholder value;

• | Dependence upon the achievement of specific corporate and individual performance goals that are objectively determined with verifiable results;

• | The corporate goals include both financial and stewardship metrics (safety and environment) and have pre-established Threshold, Target and Maximum award limits;

• | The Executive Compensation Committee’s ability to consider non-financial and other qualitative performance factors in determining actual compensation payouts;

• | Stock ownership guidelines that are reasonable and align executives’ interests with those of our shareholders; and

• | Forfeiture and recoupment policy provisions for cash and equity awards.

25

Grants of Plan-Based Awards
The Albemarle Corporation 2017 Incentive Plan (the "Plan") serves as the core program for the performance-based compensation components of our NEO's total compensation. This plan:

• | Defines the incentive arrangements for eligible participants;

• | Authorizes the granting of annual and long-term cash incentive awards, stock options, stock appreciation rights, performance shares, performance share units, restricted stock, RSUs and other incentive awards, all of which may be made subject to the attainment of performance goals recommended by management and approved by the Executive Compensation Committee;

• | Provides for the enumeration of the business criteria on which performance goals are to be based; and

• | Establishes the maximum share grants or awards (or, in the case of cash incentive awards, the maximum compensation) that can be paid to a participant under the Plan.

With the exception of significant promotions and new executive hires, grants generally are made at the first meeting of the Executive Compensation Committee each year following the availability of the financial results for the prior year. Awards to our named executive officers were made on February 26, 2019, for the 2019 LTIP. These awards consisted of stock options, PSUs and RSUs.

• | The awards of PSUs vest 50% at the time the Executive Compensation Committee determines the performance relative to the goals after the end of the three-year performance period, with the remaining 50% vesting on the following January 1.

• | The 2019 stock options fully vest on the third anniversary of the grant date.

• | The 2019 award of RSUs will vest 50% on the third anniversary of the grant date, while the remaining 50% will vest on the fourth anniversary of the grant date.

For additional information with respect to these awards, please see “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” beginning on page 3.
26

GRANTS OF PLAN-BASED AWARDS
The following table presents information regarding grants of plan-based awards to our named executive officers during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019.

Grants of Plan-Based Awards(1)
Name | Grant Date | Estimated Future Payouts Under Non-Equity Incentive Plan Awards | Estimated Future Payouts Under Equity Incentive Plan Awards | All Other Stock Awards: Number of Shares of Stock or Units | All Other Option Awards: Number of Securities Underlying Options (#) | Base Price per Option Award(4) | Grant Date Aggregate Fair Value of Stock and Option Awards(2)(3)(4) $
Threshold | Target | Max | Threshold # of shares | Target # of shares | Max # of shares
|  | $ | — |  | $ | 1,250,000 |  | $ | 2,500,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Luther C. Kissam IV | 2/26/2019 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 40,600 |  | 91.00 | $ | 1,125,026 |
| 2/26/2019 |  |  |  |  |  |  | 12,364 |  |  |  | $ | 1,056,133 |
| 2/26/2019 |  |  |  | 6,182 |  | 12,364 |  | 24,728 |  |  |  |  | $ | 1,589,887 |
| 2/26/2019 |  |  |  | 6,182 |  | 12,364 |  | 24,728 |  |  |  |  | $ | 1,056,133 |
|  | $ | — |  | $ | 480,000 |  | $ | 960,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Scott A. Tozier | 2/26/2019 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 9,925 |  | 91.00 | $ | 275,022 |
| 2/26/2019 |  |  |  |  |  |  | 3,022 |  |  |  | $ | 258,139 |
| 2/26/2019 |  |  |  | 1,511 |  | 3,022 |  | 6,044 |  |  |  |  | $ | 388,599 |
| 2/26/2019 |  |  |  | 1,511 |  | 3,022 |  | 6,044 |  |  |  |  | $ | 258,139 |
|  | $ | — |  | $ | 375,000 |  | $ | 750,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Netha N. Johnson, Jr. | 2/26/2019 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 7,218 |  | 91.00 | $ | 200,011 |
| 2/26/2019 |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2,198 |  |  |  | $ | 187,753 |
| 2/26/2019 |  |  |  | 1,099 |  | 2,198 |  | 4,396 |  |  |  |  | $ | 282,641 |
| 2/26/2019 |  |  |  | 1,099 |  | 2,198 |  | 4,396 |  |  |  |  | $ | 187,753 |
|  | $ | — |  | $ | 393,750 |  | $ | 787,500 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Karen G. Narwold | 2/26/2019 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 9,474 |  | 91.00 | $ | 262,525 |
| 2/26/2019 |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2,886 |  |  |  | $ | 246,522 |
| 2/26/2019 |  |  |  | 1,443 |  | 2,886 |  | 5,772 |  |  |  |  | $ | 371,111 |
| 2/26/2019 |  |  |  | 1,443 |  | 2,886 |  | 5,772 |  |  |  |  | $ | 246,522 |
|  | — |  | 367,500 |  | 735,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Raphael G. Crawford | 2/26/2019 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 7,218 |  | 91.00 | $ | 200,011 |
| 2/26/2019 |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2,198 |  |  |  | $ | 187,753 |
| 2/26/2019 |  |  |  | 1,099 |  | 2,198 |  | 4,396 |  |  |  |  | 282,641 |
| 2/26/2019 |  |  |  | 1,099 |  | 2,198 |  | 4,396 |  |  |  |  | 187,753 |

___________________________________________________

(1) | For additional information with respect to the plan-based awards, please see “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” beginning on page 3.

(2) | Reflects the full grant date fair market value of the PSU award made February 26, 2019, with a performance measure of rTSR calculated at 100% of Target level that vests 50% in 2022 and 50% in 2023 if the performance metrics are met. Assumes a fair value per share of $128.59 using the Monte Carlo valuation method.

(3) | Reflects the full grant date fair market value of the PSU award made February 26, 2019, with a performance measure of ROIC calculated at 100% of Target level that vests 50% in 2022 and 50% in 2023 if the performance metrics are met. Assumes the full grant date fair market values of the PSUs.

(4) | Reflects the full grant date fair market values of the RSU award made February 26, 2019. The restricted stock units will vest in equal increments on the third and fourth anniversaries of the grant date.

(5) | On February 26, 2019, the Committee approved grants of 40,600, 9,925, 7,218, 9,474 and 7,218 options to Mr. Kissam, Mr. Tozier, Mr. Johnson, Ms. Narwold, and Mr. Crawford, respectively, under the Plan. Assumes a fair value per share of $27.71 under the Black Scholes fair value model. The exercise price of each stock option is $91.00, which represents the closing price of our Common Stock as of the date of the grants. The options will cliff vest on the third anniversary of the date of grant, or February 26, 2022. The expiration date of the options is February 25, 2029, ten years from date of grant. If the individual terminates employment with us for any reason prior to the full vesting of such award, the unvested portions of such award will be forfeited. However, if the individual retires, becomes disabled, dies, or is terminated by the company without cause, then the individual will become vested in a pro-rata portion of the stock options.

27

OUTSTANDING EQUITY AWARDS AT FISCAL YEAR-END
The following table presents information concerning the number and value of unexercised options, non-vested stock (including restricted stock units or performance units) and incentive plan awards for the named executive officers outstanding as of the end of the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019.

| Option Awards | Stock Awards
Name | Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options (#)Exercisable (1) | Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options (#)Unexercisable(1) | Option Exercise Price ($) | Option Expiration Date | Number Of Shares Or Units Of Stock That Have Not Vested (#) | Market Value Of Shares Or Units Of Stock That Have Not Vested ($) (2) |  | Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Number Of Unearned Shares, Units, Or Other Rights That Have Not Vested (#) |  | Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Market Or Payout Value Of Unearned Shares, Units, Or Other Rights That Have Not Vested ($) (2)
Luther C. Kissam IV | 40,000 |  | — |  | $ | 56.16 |  | 1/30/2021 |  |  |  |  |  |
59,000 |  | — |  | $ | 66.14 |  | 2/23/2022 |  |  |  |  |  |
82,390 |  | — |  | $ | 65.00 |  | 2/21/2023 |  |  |  |  |  |
81,801 |  | — |  | $ | 63.84 |  | 2/23/2024 |  |  |  |  |  |
66,130 |  | 33,065 |  | $ | 56.08 |  | 2/23/2025 |  |  |  |  |  |
62,267 |  | — |  | $ | 56.56 |  | 2/25/2026 |  |  |  |  |  |
— |  | 35,740 |  | $ | 92.93 |  | 2/23/2027 |  |  |  |  |  |
— |  | 26,774 |  | $ | 118.75 |  | 2/22/2028 |  |  |  |  |  |
— |  | 40,600 |  | $ | 91.00 |  | 2/25/2029 |  |  |  |  |  |
|  |  |  | 8,841 | $645,747 | (3) |  |  |
|  |  |  | 10,762 | $786,056 | (4) |  |  |
|  |  |  | 8,422 | $615,143 | (5) |  |  |
|  |  |  | 12,364 | $903,067 | (7) |  |  |
|  |  |  |  |  |  | 35,362 | (8) | $ | 2,582,840 |
|  |  |  |  |  |  | 21,522 | (9) | $ | 1,571,967 |
|  |  |  |  |  |  | 16,844 | (10) | $ | 1,230,286 |
|  |  |  |  |  |  | 12,364 | (11) | $ | 903,067 |
|  |  |  |  |  |  | 12,364 | (11) | $ | 903,067 |
Scott A. Tozier | 14,500 |  | — |  | $ | 66.14 |  | 2/23/2022 |  |  |  |  |  |
16,478 |  | — |  | $ | 65.00 |  | 2/21/2023 |  |  |  |  |  |
18,405 |  | — |  | $ | 63.84 |  | 2/23/2024 |  |  |  |  |  |
14,880 |  | 7,440 |  | $ | 56.08 |  | 2/23/2025 |  |  |  |  |  |
14,010 |  | — |  | $ | 56.56 |  | 2/25/2026 |  |  |  |  |  |
— |  | 8,935 |  | $ | 92.93 |  | 2/23/2027 |  |  |  |  |  |
— |  | 7,029 |  | $ | 118.75 |  | 2/22/2028 |  |  |  |  |  |
— |  | 9,925 |  | $ | 91 |  | 2/26/2029 |  |  |  |  |  |
|  |  |  | 1,990 | $145,350 | (3) |  |  |
|  |  |  | 2,692 | $196,624 | (4) |  |  |
|  |  |  | 2,212 | $161,564 | (5) |  |  |
|  |  |  | 3,022 | $220,727 | (7) |  |  |
|  |  |  |  |  |  | 7,958 | (8) | $ | 581,252 |
|  |  |  |  |  |  | 5,382 | (9) | $ | 393,101 |
|  |  |  |  |  |  | 4,422 | (10) | $ | 322,983 |
|  |  |  |  |  |  | 3,022 | (11) | $ | 220,727 |
|  |  |  |  |  |  | 3,022 | (11) | $ | 220,727 |
Netha N. Johnson, Jr. | — |  | 7,218 |  | $ | 91.00 |  | 2/25/2029 |  |  |  |  |  |
|  |  |  | 6,616 | $483,233 | (6) |  |  |
|  |  |  | 2,198 | $160,542 | (7) |  |  |
|  |  |  |  |  |  | 2,198 | (11) | $ | 160,542 |
|  |  |  |  |  |  | 2,198 | (11) | $ | 160,542 |

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| Option Awards | Stock Awards
Name | Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options (#)Exercisable (1) | Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options (#)Unexercisable(1) | Option Exercise Price ($) | Option Expiration Date | Number Of Shares Or Units Of Stock That Have Not Vested (#) | Market Value Of Shares Or Units Of Stock That Have Not Vested ($) (2) |  | Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Number Of Unearned Shares, Units, Or Other Rights That Have Not Vested (#) |  | Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Market Or Payout Value Of Unearned Shares, Units, Or Other Rights That Have Not Vested ($) (2)
Karen G. Narwold | 12,500 |  | — |  | $ | 66.14 |  | 2/23/2022 |  |  |  |  |  |
12,359 |  | — |  | $ | 65.00 |  | 2/21/2023 |  |  |  |  |  |
12,270 |  | — |  | $ | 63.84 |  | 2/23/2024 |  |  |  |  |  |
11,574 |  | 5,787 |  | $ | 56.08 |  | 2/23/2025 |  |  |  |  |  |
10,897 |  | — |  | $ | 56.56 |  | 2/25/2026 |  |  |  |  |  |
— |  | 8,042 |  | $ | 92.93 |  | 2/23/2027 |  |  |  |  |  |
— |  | 6,694 |  | $ | 118.75 |  | 2/22/2028 |  |  |  |  |  |
— |  | 9,474 |  | $ | 91.00 |  | 2/25/2029 |  |  |  |  |  |
|  |  |  | 1,548 | $113,066 | (3) |  |  |
|  |  |  | 2,422 | $176,903 | (4) |  |  |
|  |  |  | 2,106 | $153,822 | (5) |  |  |
|  |  |  | 2,886 | $210,793 | (7) |  |  |
|  |  |  |  |  |  | 6,190 | (8) | $ | 452,118 |
|  |  |  |  |  |  | 4,844 | (9) | $ | 353,806 |
|  |  |  |  |  |  | 4,212 | (10) | $ | 307,644 |
|  |  |  |  |  |  | 2,886 | (11) | $ | 210,793 |
|  |  |  |  |  |  | 2,886 | (11) | $ | 210,793 |
Raphael G. Crawford | 1,030 |  | — |  | $ | 65.00 |  | 2/21/2023 |  |  |  |  |  |
2,046 |  | — |  | $ | 63.84 |  | 2/23/2024 |  |  |  |  |  |
2,480 |  | 1,240 |  | $ | 56.08 |  | 2/23/2025 |  |  |  |  |  |
7,784 |  | — |  | $ | 56.56 |  | 2/25/2026 |  |  |  |  |  |
— |  | 6,255 |  | $ | 92.93 |  | 2/23/2027 |  |  |  |  |  |
— |  | 5,021 |  | $ | 118.75 |  | 2/22/2028 |  |  |  |  |  |
— |  | 7,218 |  | $ | 91.00 |  | 2/25/2029 |  |  |  |  |  |
|  |  |  | 1,106 | $80,782 | (3) |  |  |
|  |  |  | 1,884 | $137,607 | (4) |  |  |
|  |  |  | 1,580 | $115,403 | (5) |  |  |
|  |  |  | 2,198 | $160,542 | (7) |  |  |
|  |  |  |  |  |  | 4,422 | (8) | $ | 322,983 |
|  |  |  |  |  |  | 3,768 | (9) | $ | 275,215 |
|  |  |  |  |  |  | 3,158 | (10) | $ | 230,660 |
|  |  |  |  |  |  | 2,198 | (11) | $ | 160,542 |
|  |  |  |  |  |  | 2,198 | (11) | 160,542 |

____________________________________

(1) | The vesting dates for the stock options outstanding are as follows per option grant date:

Grant Date | Vesting Schedule
1/31/2011 | Vested in three equal increments on the first, second and third anniversaries of the grant date, or January 31, 2012, 2013 and 2014
2/24/2012 | Vested in three equal increments on the first, second and third anniversaries of the grant date, or February 24, 2013, 2014 and 2015
2/22/2013 | Vested in three equal increments on the third, fourth and fifth anniversaries of the grant date, or February 22, 2016, 2017 and 2018
2/24/2014 | Vests in three equal increments on the third, fourth and fifth anniversaries of the grant date, or February 24, 2017, 2018 and 2019
2/24/2015 | Vests in three equal increments on the third, fourth and fifth anniversaries of the grant date, or February 24, 2018, 2019 and 2020
2/26/2016 | Cliff vests on the third anniversary of the grant date, or February 26, 2019
2/24/2017 | Cliff vests on the third anniversary of the grant date, or February 24, 2020
2/23/2018 | Cliff vests on the third anniversary of the grant date, or February 23, 2021
2/26/2019 | Cliff vests on the third anniversary of the grant date, or February 26, 2022

29

(2) | The vesting dates for the stock options outstanding are as follows per option grant date:

(3) | Based on the closing price per share of Common Stock on December 31, 2019, which was $73.04.

(4) | Reflects a RSU award granted in 2016 that vested 50% in 2019 with the remaining 50% vesting in 2020. For further information on the RSU awards, please see “Compensation Discussion and Analysis.”

(5) | Reflects a RSU award granted in 2017 that will vest 50% in 2020 with the remaining 50% vesting in 2021. For further information on the RSU awards, please see “Compensation Discussion and Analysis.”

(6) | Reflects a RSU award granted in 2018 that will vest 50% in 2021 with the remaining 50% vesting in 2022. For further information on the RSU awards, please see “Compensation Discussion and Analysis.”

(7) | Reflects a RSU award granted in 2018 that vests in three equal increments on the third, fourth and fifth anniversaries of the grant date, or August 8, 2019, 2020 and 2021. For further information on the RSU awards, please see “Compensation Discussion and Analysis.”

(8) | Reflects a RSU award granted in 2019 that will vest 50% in 2022 with the remaining 50% vesting in 2021. For further information on the RSU awards, please see “Compensation Discussion and Analysis.”

(9) | Reflects a PSU award granted in 2016 that vested 50% in 2019 with the remaining 50% having vested on January 1, 2020. Assumes 100% vesting of the award at the earned amount of 200% Superior level. For further information on the PSU awards, please see “Compensation Discussion and Analysis.”

(10) | Reflects a PSU award granted in 2017 that if earned will vest 50% in 2020 with the remaining 50% vesting on January 1, 2021. Assumes 100% vesting of the award at a 100% Target level. For further information on the PSU awards, please see “Compensation Discussion and Analysis.”

(11) | Reflects a PSU award granted in 2018 that if earned will vest 50% in 2021 with the remaining 50% vesting on January 1, 2022. Assumes 100% vesting of the award at a 100% Target level. For further information on the PSU awards, please see “Compensation Discussion and Analysis.”

(12) | Reflects a PSU award granted in 2019 that if earned will vest 50% in 2022 with the remaining 50% vesting on January 1, 2023. Assumes 100% vesting of the award at a 100% Target level. For further information on the PSU awards, please see “Compensation Discussion and Analysis.”

30

OPTION EXERCISES AND STOCK VESTED
The following table presents information concerning the exercise of stock options and the vesting of stock (including restricted stock units or performance units) for the named executive officers during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019.

| Option Awards |  | Stock Awards |
Name | Number of Shares Acquired on Exercise (#) | Value Realized on Exercise ($) | Number of Shares Acquired on Vesting (#) | Value Realized on Vesting ($)
Luther C. Kissam IV | 36,000 |  |  | $ | 1,010,160 |  | (1) | 42,798 |  |  | $ | 3,298,442 |  | (2)
|  |  |  |  | 35,360 |  |  | $ | 3,217,760 |  | (3)
|  |  |  |  | 8,841 |  |  | $ | 809,570 |  | (4)
Scott A. Tozier |  |  |  |  | 9,630 |  |  | $ | 742,184 |  | (2)
|  |  |  |  | 7,956 |  |  | $ | 723,996 |  | (3)
|  |  |  |  | 1,990 |  |  | $ | 182,224 |  | (4)
Netha N. Johnson, Jr. |  |  |  |  | 3,309 |  |  | $ | 243,178 |  | (5)
Karen G. Narwold |  |  |  |  | 7,490 |  |  | $ | 577,254 |  | (2)
|  |  |  |  | 6,188 |  |  | $ | 563,108 |  | (3)
|  |  |  |  | 1,548 |  |  | $ | 141,750 |  | (4)
|  |  |  |  | 6,591 |  |  | $ | 478,704 |  | (6)
Raphael G. Crawford |  |  |  |  | 1,606 |  |  | $ | 123,774 |  | (2)
|  |  |  |  | 4,420 |  |  | $ | 402,220 |  | (3)
|  |  |  |  | 1,106 |  |  | $ | 101,276 |  | (4)

___________________________________________________

(1) | On September 13, 2019, Mr. Kissam exercised and sold options for 36,000 shares of Common Stock at a grant price of $41.94 and a sale price of $70.00.

(2) | A PSU award granted in 2015 vested on January 1, 2019. The value realized on vesting was calculated using a value of $77.07 per share, which was the closing price of our common stock on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) on December 31, 2018.

(3) | A PSU award granted in 2016 vested on February 26, 2019. The value realized on vesting was calculated using a value of $91.00 per share, which was the closing price of our common stock on the NYSE on February 26, 2019.

(4) | A RSU award granted in 2016 vested on February 26, 2019. The value realized on vesting was calculated using a value of $91.57 per share, which was the closing price of our common stock on the NYSE on February 25, 2019.

(5) | A RSU award granted in 2018 vested on August 9, 2019. The value realized on vesting was calculated using a value of $73.49 per share, which was the closing price of our common stock on the NYSE on August 8, 2019.

(6) | A RSU award granted in 2016 vested on May 12, 2019. The value realized on vesting was calculated using a value of $72.63 per share, which was the closing price of our common stock on the NYSE on May 10, 2019.

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Retirement Benefits
Pension Benefits
In 2004, we implemented a new defined contribution retirement pension benefit (“DCPB”) in the Savings Plan for all non-represented employees hired on or after April 1, 2004. Non-represented employees hired prior to that date continued to participate in our Pension Plan.
On October 1, 2012, the Board of Directors approved an amendment to our retirement plans to freeze accrued benefits in the Pension Plan and SERP effective December 31, 2014, and to provide for non-represented employees hired before April 1, 2004 who are participants in the Pension Plan to (i) become eligible for the DCPB in the Savings Plan effective January 1, 2013, and (ii) receive a one-time employer discretionary contribution in the Savings Plan in December 2012. In addition, the Board of Directors authorized application of a higher benefit formula for calculating accrued benefits in 2013 and 2014 only, as well as including an offset factor that would be applied to accrued benefits earned in 2013 and 2014.
PENSION BENEFITS
The following table presents information concerning the Pension Plan and the SERP. The Pension Plan provides for payments or other benefits to our named executive officers at, following, or in connection with retirement. To the extent benefits under the Pension Plan exceed limits imposed under applicable provisions of the Code, they will be paid under the SERP.

Pension Benefits
Name | Plan Name | Number of Years Credited Service (#) |  | Present Value of Accumulated Benefit ($)(2)(4) |  | Payments During Last Fiscal Year
Luther C. Kissam IV | Pension Plan | 11.3325 |  | (1) | 517,885 |  |  | --
| SERP (3) | 11.2500 |  | (1) | 8,685,133 |  |  | --
Scott A. Tozier | Pension Plan | N/A |  |  | N/A |  |  | N/A
| SERP | N/A |  |  | N/A |  |  | N/A
Netha N. Johnson, Jr. | Pension Plan | N/A |  |  | N/A |  |  | N/A
| SERP | N/A |  |  | N/A |  |  | N/A
Karen G. Narwold | Pension Plan | N/A |  |  | N/A |  |  | N/A
| SERP | N/A |  |  | N/A |  |  | N/A
Raphael G. Crawford | Pension Plan | N/A |  |  | N/A |  |  | N/A
| SERP | N/A |  |  | N/A |  |  | N/A

___________________________________________________

(1) | The differences in service between the qualified Pension Plan and the SERP are generally due to rounding differences. The qualified plan bases credited service on hours worked during the year, whereas the SERP special 4% pension benefit bases credited service on the completed years and months of employment. Credited Service for both plans froze as of 12/31/2014.

(2) | For the qualified Pension Plan, pension earnings are limited by the 401(a)(17) pay limit. A temporary supplemental early retirement allowance of $5 per month per year of service is payable from the Pension Plan for participants who retire at age 60 with at least 15 years of service. SERP pay for the special 4% benefit includes 100% of cash incentive bonuses paid during the year.

(3) | Mr. Kissam is vested in his SERP benefits.

(4) | The present value of accumulated benefits including supplements, if any, is based on the actuarial present value of benefits payable at age 60, the earliest age at which unreduced benefits are payable. The following assumptions were used to determine the above present values:

a. | Discount rates of 4.04%, 4.59% and 3.57% as of December 31, 2017, 2018 and 2019, respectively;

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b. | Payment form of a life annuity with a 60-month guarantee of payments from the qualified Pension Plan, and a lump sum from the SERP; and

c. | Mortality based on the RP2006 (revised in 2015) healthy annuitants with MP2017 generational projection scales, mortality based on the RP2006 (revised in 2015) healthy annuitants with MP2018 generational projection scales, and Pri2012 healthy annuitants with MP2019 generational projection scales, respectively.

The benefit formula under the Pension Plan is based on the participant’s final average earnings, which are defined as the average of the highest three consecutive calendar years’ earnings (base pay plus 50% of incentive awards paid in any fiscal year) during the ten consecutive calendar years immediately preceding the date of determination. Benefits under the Pension Plan are computed on the basis of a life annuity with 60 months of guaranteed payments. The benefits listed in the above compensation table (other than short service benefits under the SERP) are not subject to deduction for Social Security or other offset payments.
Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan
The SERP is a nonqualified defined benefit pension plan that provides eligible individuals the difference between the benefits they would actually accrue under the qualified Pension Plan but for the maximum benefit and compensation limitations under the qualified plan and deferrals of their compensation under our EDCP, and the benefits they actually accrue under the qualified Pension Plan. SERP benefits are paid in a lump sum on the later of (i) age 55 (65 if the employee has not completed at least ten years of service with us) and (ii) the employee’s separation from service (except that for key employees, as defined under relevant law, not earlier than six months after the employee’s separation from service).
All benefits under the SERP will be immediately paid (except that for key employees as defined under relevant law, not earlier than six months after the employee’s separation from service) if, within 24 months following a change in control, a participant’s employment is terminated.
The SERP is administered by our Employee Relations Committee, which consists of employees appointed by the CEO and the Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer. The Board or the Executive Compensation Committee of the Board may generally amend or terminate the SERP at any time. Certain amendments to the SERP may also be approved by the Employee Relations Committee.
In 2005, we amended and restated the SERP. Some of the amendments to the SERP were made to ensure compliance with Section 409A of the Code, enacted as part of the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004 (“Code Section 409A”), which imposes restrictions and requirements that must be satisfied in order to assure the deferred taxation of benefits as intended by the SERP. In 2012, the Board of Directors further amended the SERP (i) to remove the current provisions for freezing Final Average Compensation (as defined in the SERP) on and after December 31, 2012, and (ii) to freeze all benefits under the SERP as of December 31, 2014, which is consistent with the changes under our qualified Pension Plan.
In addition to the retirement benefits provided under the Pension Plan and the SERP, which are reflected in the table above, certain key employees may be granted special pension benefits equal to 4% of the employee’s average pay over the highest three consecutive years of service before the determination date, multiplied by the number of years of service up to 15 years, net of certain other benefits (including amounts received under the qualified and nonqualified plans). These benefits vest only after the employee has completed five years of service with us and are paid on the later of (i) age 55 (65 if the employee has not completed at least ten years of service with us) and (ii) the employee’s separation from service (except that for key employees as defined under relevant law, not earlier than six months after the employee’s separation from service). All such benefits shall be paid in one lump sum payment. These benefits have been granted to Mr. Kissam as the only NEO who was employed at Albemarle when these benefits were in effect.
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Nonqualified Deferred Compensation
Executive Deferred Compensation Plan. Company contributions that cannot be made under our qualified Savings Plan because of limitations under the Code are credited under the EDCP. In addition to these Savings Plan’s make-up contributions, an EDCP participant may elect to defer up to 50% of base salary and/or 100% of each cash incentive award paid in a year (net of FICA and Medicare taxes due). Such amounts are deferred and will be paid at specified payment dates or upon retirement or other termination of employment. The EDCP also provides for a supplemental benefit of 5% of compensation in excess of amounts that may be recognized under the tax-qualified Savings Plan and of the cash incentive bonus award paid during the year.
Amounts credited under the EDCP are credited daily with investment gains and losses as if such amounts were invested in one or more of the Plan’s investment options. Accounts are generally paid at the time and in the form specified by participants when they make deferral elections, or upon a participant’s earlier death or disability.
The EDCP is administered by our Employee Relations Committee, which consists of employees appointed by the CEO and the Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer. The Executive Compensation Committee of the Board may generally amend or terminate the EDCP at any time. Certain amendments to the EDCP may also be approved by the Employee Relations Committee.
NONQUALIFIED DEFERRED COMPENSATION
The following table presents information concerning our named executive officers’ benefits under the EDCP.

Nonqualified Deferred Compensation(1)
Name | Executive Contributions in Last FY ($) | Company Contributions in Last FY ($)(2) | Net Aggregate Earnings in Last FY ($)(3) | Aggregate Withdrawals/ Distributions ($) | Aggregate Balance at Last FYE ($)(4)(5)
Luther C. Kissam IV | $ | — |  | $ | 174,387 |  | $ | 323,162 |  | $ | — |  | $ | 1,973,221 |
Scott A. Tozier | $ | — |  | $ | 71,274 |  | $ | 112,638 |  | $ | — |  | $ | 766,432 |
Netha N. Johnson, Jr. | $ | — |  | $ | 81,416 |  | $ | 5,854 |  | $ | — |  | $ | 87,146 |
Karen G. Narwold | $ | — |  | $ | 61,444 |  | $ | 77,322 |  | $ | — |  | $ | 592,062 |
Raphael G. Crawford | $ | 76,196 |  | $ | 74,176 |  | $ | 257,142 |  | $ | — |  | $ | 1,243,332 |

___________________________________________________

(1) | Amounts reflected are based on activities recorded by Merrill Lynch, the plan’s administrator, as of December 31, 2019.

(2) | All amounts are reported as compensation to the named executive officers in the Summary Compensation Table.

(3) | Amounts reflected are based on aggregate earnings and gain/loss in last FY.

(4) | Ending balances include Saving Plan’s make-up contributions and Company contributions on deferred base salary and/or cash incentive awards of the following amounts: Mr. Kissam: $96,529; Mr. Tozier: $40,286; Mr. Johnson: $37,276; Ms. Narwold: $34,924; and Mr. Crawford: $37,276.

(5) | Mr. Crawford's 2019 contribution of $76,197 is reported as compensation in the Summary Compensation Table.

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Agreements with Executive Officers and Other Potential Payments Upon Termination or a Change in Control
Severance Pay
For our named executive officers, we provide for severance payments if we terminate their employment without cause because the individual’s position is eliminated or the organizational structure of the Company is changed which results in a redesign of work process and responsibilities affecting at least two individuals. In addition to offering outplacement assistance benefits for one year, we provide for severance payments to our named executive officers, consisting of (other than for Mr. Kissam) the sum of (x) one year of base salary in effect at the termination time, and (y) the employee’s target cash incentive award for the most recent year in which the employee participated in an annual bonus program. Mr. Kissam is eligible to receive 1.5 times the amount of his annual base salary in effect at the termination time plus 1.5 times his target cash bonus for the year in which the termination takes place (or the most recent year he participated in an annual bonus program if he is not participating in the year of the termination).
Mr. Kissam is also eligible to receive the benefits described above in the event of a termination pursuant to a “good reason for resignation.” Termination to a “good reason for resignation” is defined as (a) a material diminution in base compensation, authority, duties, responsibilities or the budget over which the officer retains authority, (b) a material change in the geographic location at which services must be performed, or (c) any other action or inaction that constitutes our material breach of any written employment arrangement between us and the officer.
Our named executive officers (each of whom is a party to a severance compensation agreement as described below, but not an employment agreement) are eligible to receive payments as described above, only if a change in control has not occurred. If their employment is terminated in the event of a change of control, they are only eligible to receive severance payments under their severance compensation agreements (described below).
Assuming the triggering event took place on December 31, 2019, each named executive officer would receive the following estimated payments and benefits:

Estimated Payments and Benefits
Name | Estimated Payments Pre-Change in Control
Luther C. Kissam IV | $ | 3,375,000 |
Scott A. Tozier | $ | 1,080,000 |
Netha N. Johnson, Jr. | $ | 875,000 |
Karen G. Narwold | $ | 918,750 |
Raphael G. Crawford | $ | 857,500 |

Note: Post-change in control payments for executives are provided only under the individual severance compensation agreements described below.
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Severance Compensation Agreements
We have severance compensation agreements in place for our named executive officers. Our severance compensation agreements provide that if we terminate an executive’s employment other than for “cause” or the executive resigns due to a “good reason for resignation” on or before the second anniversary of a “change in control” (as such terms are defined in the agreements), or if the executive dies after we execute a definitive agreement that results in a change in control, the executive will be entitled to (i) base salary and vacation pay accrued through the termination date for the year in which the termination occurs, (ii) annual cash incentive award accrued through the termination date, (iii) the elimination of certain offsets for short service benefits under our supplemental executive retirement plan (“SERP”), as applicable, (iv) continued Company-paid medical, dental, and vision insurance, as applicable, for 18 months (24 months for Mr. Kissam), (v) financial and outplacement counseling benefits, (vi) relocation benefits, as per the Company’s U.S. Domestic Executive Relocation Policy, but only for the executive to return to the state he or she relocated from within two years prior to the change in control, (vii) the lump sum severance payment described below, and (viii) special treatment of outstanding awards granted under our incentive plans in accordance with the terms of the notices granting such awards. None of our named executive officers is entitled to excise tax gross-ups for change in control payments.
In the event of a change in control and termination of employment as referenced above, the lump sum severance payment referenced in clause (vii) above consists of two times the sum of (a) the executive’s annual base salary immediately prior to termination or immediately before the change in control (whichever is greater) and (b) the executive’s target cash incentive award in place immediately before the termination date or immediately before the change in control (whichever is greater), except that for Mr. Kissam it is his target cash incentive award for the year in which the change in control occurs or his actual annual cash incentive award for the year preceding the change in control date (whichever is greater). The severance payment will be reduced dollar for dollar by the amount of the non-competition payment described below. If excise taxes would be levied against the amounts payable under the severance compensation agreements for the named executive officers, then the payments will be reduced so that excise taxes will not apply.
With respect to the impact of a change in control, equity awards issued prior to January 1, 2017 are treated differently than awards granted after January 1, 2017. For awards granted prior to January 1, 2017, accelerated vesting of time-based awards will apply, and performance awards will be treated as earned at 100% of target, regardless of whether the executive’s employment also terminates in connection with the change in control or whether the Company remains publicly traded. For awards granted after January 1, 2017, the award agreements provide that if a replacement award is issued or the award continues because the Company remains publicly traded after the change in control, there is no special treatment of the awards unless an executive is involuntarily terminated without “cause” or voluntarily terminates for “good reason” (as defined in the award agreements) within two years after the change in control, in which event accelerated vesting of time-based awards will occur (except that stock options continue on the original exercisability schedule). For performance awards granted after January 1, 2017, if the Company is no longer publicly traded, awards will be immediately earned and payable on a pro-rata basis at the higher of target or actual performance as of the change in control.
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The following table illustrates the difference in Change in Control ("CIC") impact on awards granted prior to and after January 1, 2017.

| Situation | RSUs | Options | PSUs
Awards Granted prior to January 1, 2017 | All CIC events | Full and accelerated vesting upon CIC | Full and accelerated vesting upon CIC | Full and accelerated vesting at target unless performance period has been completed
Awards Granted after January 1, 2017 | 1. CIC + Termination of Employment (including good reason for resignation) | Full and accelerated vesting upon CIC + Termination of Employment | Full and accelerated vesting upon CIC + Termination of Employment | Prorated and accelerated vesting at higher of actual or target upon CIC + termination
| 2. CIC + Continuation of Employment and Albemarle is no longer publicly traded | • Replace with an award with the same value but allows for full and accelerated vesting if not converted to the same value and conditions. • If the executive is terminated without “cause” or terminates for “good reason” within two years of the CIC, accelerated vesting occurs. | Prorated vesting based on higher of actual or target performance upon CIC.
| 2. CIC + Continuation of Employment and Albemarle continues to be traded | • No change to the existing vesting schedule. • If the executive is terminated without “cause” or terminates for “good reason” within two years of the CIC, accelerated vesting of time based equity occurs. PSUs will vest prorated based on the higher of actual or target performance.

Each severance compensation agreement provides that if the executive’s employment is terminated by reason of retirement (for individuals in our retirement plans) or death, the executive’s benefits will be determined in accordance with the Company’s benefits and insurance programs then in effect, except that if the death occurs after the execution of a definitive agreement which results in a change in control, then the executive’s beneficiary will be entitled to the benefits under the severance compensation agreement as if the Company issued the executive a notice of termination 30 days after the change in control. If an executive is terminated for “cause” or voluntarily quits other than for “good reason for resignation” (as such terms are defined in the agreements), he or she is entitled to receive only a lump sum payment equal to his or her salary and benefits accrued through the termination date. If an executive is unable to perform full-time duties due to a qualifying disability, the executive shall continue to receive base salary and all other compensation and benefits provided under the Company benefit and disability plans. If an executive is terminated due to disability, he or she is entitled to receive the benefits determined in accordance with our retirement and insurance programs and other applicable programs in effect immediately prior to the change in control or the programs in effect at the time they are paid (whichever is greater).
Each severance compensation agreement’s term ends on December 31, subject to automatic one-year extensions unless either the executive or our Executive Compensation Committee notifies the other of its desire not to extend. If there is a change in control, the severance compensation agreement will remain in effect until the second anniversary of the change in control. In order to receive the benefits under the severance compensation agreements, each executive who is terminated following a change in control must agree not to compete with the Company from the date of termination of employment with the
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Company until the second anniversary thereof. In consideration of this agreement not to compete, the executive will receive a non-competition payment equal to the value of the non-compete agreement as determined by an unrelated third-party business retained by the Company that is in the business of valuing non-competition payments, with the intent that the non-competition payment should qualify as reasonable compensation for purposes of relevant tax law. Should any federal, state, or local taxing authority challenge the non-competition payment’s treatment as reasonable compensation, the Company shall engage legal and other professionals necessary to defend against any such challenge.
For purposes of the severance compensation agreements, “change in control” means the occurrence of any of the following events:

• | Any person or group (as defined in Section 13(d)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) becomes the direct or indirect beneficial owner of 20% or more of the combined voting power of our then-outstanding voting securities (other than as a result of an issuance of securities approved by Continuing Directors (as defined in the 2017 Incentive Plan and applicable change in control agreements) or open-market purchases approved by Continuing Directors at the time of purchase), unless (in the case of beneficial ownership that does not exceed 30% of such voting securities) at least two-thirds of Continuing Directors determine that such event does not constitute a “change in control”;

• | As a result of a reorganization, merger, share exchange or consolidation (each, a “Business Combination”), a contested election of Directors, or a combination thereof, the Continuing Directors cease to constitute a majority of our or any successor’s board of directors within two years of the last of such transaction(s); or

• | There is a shareholder-approved Business Combination unless (a) all or substantially all of our outstanding voting securities’ beneficial owners immediately prior to the Business Combination own more than 60% of the combined voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of Directors resulting from the Business Combination (with no one person owning more than 30%), in substantially the same proportions as immediately before the Business Combination and (b) at least a majority of the post-Business Combination Directors are Continuing Directors.

In the event of a hypothetical occurrence of both a change in control and a termination of a named executive officer’s employment in accordance with such officer’s severance compensation agreement and applicable incentive award agreements, and assuming these events took place on December 31, 2019, with the closing market price of our Common Stock at $73.04 per share as of that date, each named executive officer would be entitled to the following estimated payments and accelerated vesting:

Estimated Payments and Benefits under the Severance Compensation Agreements(1)
Name | Lump-sum severance payment and Non- competition agreement(2) | Accelerated value(s) of time-based equity compensation | Accelerated value(s) of performance units | Elimination of offsets under SERP | Counseling and other insurance benefits(3) | Total
Luther C. Kissam IV | $ | 5,251,991 |  | $ | 3,510,795 |  | $ | 5,577,042 |  | $ | 306,000 |  | $ | 96,968 |  | $ | 14,742,796 |
Scott A. Tozier | $ | 2,419,460 |  | $ | 850,447 |  | $ | 1,336,827 |  | N/A |  | $ | 82,238 |  | $ | 4,688,972 |
Netha N. Johnson, Jr. | $ | 2,308,520 |  | $ | 643,775 |  | $ | 107,028 |  | N/A |  | $ | 294,303 |  | $ | 3,353,626 |
Karen G. Narwold | $ | 2,072,625 |  | $ | 752,732 |  | $ | 1,151,549 |  | N/A |  | $ | 82,238 |  | $ | 4,059,144 |
Raphael G. Crawford | $ | 2,126,754 |  | $ | 515,365 |  | $ | 858,999 |  | N/A |  | $ | 299,214 |  | $ | 3,800,332 |

___________________________________________________

(1) | We do not provide our executives with excise tax gross ups for change in control payments.

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(2) | As described above, upon termination following a change in control, the named executive officer would be entitled to a lump-sum severance payment equal to two times annual base compensation and target annual variable compensation (except that Mr. Kissam would be entitled to two times annual base compensation and the higher of target variable compensation for the year the change in control occurs or the actual annual variable compensation for the year preceding the change in control), in all cases reduced by the non-competition payment amount as determined by a third-party in the business of valuing non-competition payments in return for an agreement not to compete for a two-year period post-termination. As the non-competition payment is not determinable at this time, only the total severance payment amount without the reduction, is reflected in the table.

(3) | This amount includes (i) outplacement counseling and financial counseling, in each case not to exceed $25,000, (ii) estimated relocation benefits if the executive has relocated within two years prior to the change in control and is relocating back to his/her original location, and (iii) the value of medical, dental and vision benefits continuation for (a) two years post-termination for Mr. Kissam and (b) 18 months post-termination for all other NEOs listed.

CEO Pay Ratio
The principles that guide us for our executive compensation program are not different than for the organization at large:

• | We use the market median as our reference point for our compensation and benefits program

• | The market median is specific for the country in which we compete for talent

• | The market median is also specific to the job level for each of our employees

• | The market median also determines the mix between base pay, short term incentive pay, long term equity and benefits; as the job level increases we typically see an increase in total compensation as well as an increase in that portion of total compensation that is equity based and the portion that is based on performance

We disclose below the ratio of our Chief Executive Officer’s (CEO’s) annual total compensation relative to the median annual total compensation of the median employee of the Company for the year ended December 31, 2019. As permitted or required by Item 402(u) of Regulation S-K, our process for determining the total employee population and the median employee annual total compensation included the following factors.

• | Employee population

◦ | We used our global system of record for all of our employees worldwide.

◦ | We included all employees, whether a salaried employee or an hourly worker, and whether employed on a full-time, part-time, or seasonal basis.

◦ | We used November 15, 2019 as our record date.

◦ | To allow for comparisons across international jurisdictions, we converted into U.S. dollars any base cash compensation amounts denominated in non-U.S. currencies.

◦ | We did not adjust for global cost of living differences.

• | Consistently applied compensation measure

◦ | We determined the median employee annual total compensation by using a consistently applied compensation measure, namely, base salary or wages (“base cash compensation”), for all individuals, excluding our CEO, who were employed by us on November 15, 2019.

◦ | For part-time workers, we did not adjust base cash compensation to the equivalent for a full time employee.

◦ | We annualized the compensation for all permanent employees (full or part-time) who were not employed by us for all of 2019.

◦ | For hourly employees base cash compensation is based on their hourly rate in combination with their standard hours of work.

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Applying these and other relevant factors, we identified a median employee with total compensation (calculated in accordance with Item 402(c)(2)(x) of Regulation S-K) of $77,782 for the year ended December 31, 2019. On the same basis, the total compensation for our CEO for the year ended December 31, 2019 was $8,521,584. Accordingly, for the year ended December 31, 2019, the ratio of our CEO’s total compensation to that of our median employee is 110:1.
Given the different methodologies that various public companies will use to determine an estimate of their CEO pay ratio, the ratio reported above should not be used as a basis for comparison between companies.
Equity Compensation Plan Information
The following table presents information as of December 31, 2019, with respect to compensation plans under which shares of our Common Stock are authorized for issuance.

Equity Compensation Plan Information
Equity Compensation Plans Approved by Shareholders (1) | Number of Securities to be Issued upon Exercise of Outstanding Options, Warrants and Rights | Weighted Average Exercise Price of Outstanding Options, Warrants and Rights | Number of Securities Remaining Available for Future Issuance under Equity Compensation Plans
2008 Incentive Plan | 1,280,090 |  | (2) | $ | 65.37 |  | 1,507,820 |
2017 Incentive Plan | 478,633 |  | (3) | 104.99 |  | 4,005,657 |
2013 Stock Plan for Non-Employee Directors | 35,166 |  | (4) | - |  | 360,575 |
Total | 1,793,889 |  |  | 69.31 |  | 5,874,052 |

___________________________________________________

(1) | We have no equity compensation plans that are not shareholder approved.

(2) | Amount includes, in addition to outstanding options and restricted stock unit awards payable in shares, 41,749 units and 67,880 units of the 2016 and 2017 Performance Unit Awards at Target, respectively.

(3) | Amount includes, in addition to outstanding options and restricted stock unit awards payable in shares, 56,814 units and 93,290 units of the 2018 and 2019 Performance Unit Awards at Target, respectively.

(4) | Amount reflects 35,166 deferred units invested in phantom shares under the 2013 Directors Plan that are to be paid in shares at a future time under the terms of the Plan.

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PROPOSAL 1 – ADVISORY RESOLUTION APPROVING EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

Shareholders have an opportunity to cast an advisory vote on compensation of our named executive officers as disclosed in this Proxy Statement. This proposal, commonly known as “Say-on-Pay,” gives shareholders the opportunity to approve, reject or abstain from voting on the proposed resolution regarding our fiscal year 2019 executive compensation program.
Our compensation philosophy policies are described in the "Compensation Discussion and Analysis" and the "Compensation of Executive Officers" sections, and the accompanying tables (including all footnotes) and narrative, beginning on page 3 of this Proxy Statement. The Committee designs our compensation policies for our named executive officers to create executive compensation arrangements linked to the creation of long-term growth, sustained shareholder value and individual and annual corporate performance, and to be competitive with peer companies of similar size, value, and complexity, as well as encourage stock ownership by our senior management. Based on its review of the total compensation of our named executive officers for fiscal year 2019, the Committee believes that the total compensation for each of the named executive officers is reasonable and effectively achieves the designed objectives of driving superior business and financial performance, attracting, retaining and motivating our people, aligning our executives with shareholders’ long-term interests, focusing on the long-term, and creating balanced program elements that discourage excessive risk-taking.
At our 2019 annual meeting of shareholders we conducted our Say-on-Pay vote regarding our 2018 executive compensation program. Approximately 96% of the shares voted at our 2019 annual meeting were cast in favor of our advisory vote on NEO compensation. In 2019, as in previous years, we conducted our annual outreach effort with our largest shareholders. We requested feedback on our governance practices, executive compensation program, and their concerns and we take this feedback into consideration when making changes to our executive compensation programs that we believe further align our compensation program with our business strategy and our shareholders’ interests. See “Aligning our Incentives with our Strategy and Shareholder Interests,” beginning on page 4 of this Proxy Statement, for more information on our compensation program.
The Committee values the opinions of our shareholders, and will consider the outcome of the vote when making future executive compensation decisions as it deems appropriate. The approval of the non-binding resolution approving the compensation of our named executive officers requires that the votes cast in favor of the proposal exceed the number of votes cast in opposition to the proposal. However, neither the approval nor the disapproval of this resolution will be binding on the Board of Directors or the Company nor construed as overruling a decision by the Board of Directors or the Company. Neither the approval nor the disapproval of this resolution will create or imply any change to our fiduciary duties or create or imply any additional fiduciary duties for the Board of Directors or the Company.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT SHAREHOLDERS VOTE “FOR” THE APPROVAL OF THE NON-BINDING ADVISORY RESOLUTION APPROVING THE COMPANY’S COMPENSATION OF OUR NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS:
“RESOLVED, that the Company’s shareholders APPROVE, on a non-binding advisory basis, the compensation paid to the Company’s named executive officers as disclosed in this Proxy Statement pursuant to the SEC’s compensation disclosure rules, including the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, compensation tables and narrative discussion.”
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GOVERNANCE MATTERS
Our Board of Directors and management periodically review our Corporate Governance Guidelines and other corporate governance policies, principles, and procedures, to determine whether they should be revised to address recent changes in regulatory requirements and evolving governance practices.
Our Corporate Governance Guidelines, including Director independence standards, our Code of Conduct, and the charters of our Audit & Finance, Executive Compensation, Nominating & Governance, Capital Investment, and Health, Safety & Environment committees are available on our website at www.albemarle.com (See Investors/Corporate Governance) and are available in print to any shareholder upon request by contacting our Investor Relations department.
Director Independence
The Board has determined that Directors Brlas, Masters, Minor, O’Brien, O'Connell, Seavers, Steiner, Van Deursen, and Wolff are each “independent” as described by the NYSE listing standards and the independence standards of our Corporate Governance Guidelines.
In order for a Director or nominee to be considered “independent” by the Board, he or she must (i) be free of any relationship that, applying the rules of the NYSE, would preclude a finding of independence, and (ii) not have any material relationship (either directly or as a partner, shareholder, or officer of an organization) with us or any of our affiliates or any of our executive officers or any of our affiliates’ executive officers. In evaluating the materiality of any such relationship, the Board takes into consideration whether disclosure of the relationship would be required by the proxy rules under the Exchange Act. If disclosure of the relationship is required, the Board must make a determination that the relationship is not material as a prerequisite to finding that the Director or nominee is “independent.”
Board Leadership Structure and Role in Risk Oversight
Leadership Structure
As part of our annual corporate governance and succession planning review, the Nominating & Governance Committee and the Board evaluate our board leadership structure to ensure that the structure in place is appropriate for the Company at the time.
The Company combined the roles of Chairman of the Board and CEO in November 2016. Given our current circumstances and operating strategies, we believe that having a combined Chairman of the Board and CEO is the appropriate structure for our shareholders and our Company. Mr. Masters serves as our Lead Independent Director. The Company continues to benefit from the leadership experience of our Lead Independent Director, Mr. Masters, and the strategic vision of our Chairman, President and CEO, Mr. Kissam.
Our Corporate Governance Guidelines provide for either structure by including a description of the responsibilities for both a Non-executive Chairman of the Board and a Lead Independent Director in Annexes B and A thereof, respectively.
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Risk Oversight
Our Board has primary responsibility for risk oversight, with general oversight delegated to the Audit & Finance Committee. To assist the Board and the Audit & Finance Committee with that responsibility, management established an Enterprise Risk Management (“ERM”) process that is led by the Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”) and our Vice President, Audit & Risk Management, and managed by the Company’s ERM Committee, with cross functional representation by senior Company leaders worldwide. The ERM Committee meets regularly to identify, discuss and assess Company-wide risks and develop action plans to mitigate those risks categorized as having the largest potential financial, reputational, and/or health, safety, or environmental impacts – all of which are included in an annual report. The CFO and Vice President, Audit & Risk Management regularly report to the Audit & Finance Committee, generally highlighting those risks identified as the most significant, reviewing the Company’s methods of risk assessment and risk mitigation strategies, and updating the Audit & Finance Committee on issues the ERM Committee has identified as possible emerging risks.
The Audit & Finance Committee reports to the full Board on risk oversight, among other matters. Additionally, the Board receives a copy of the annual ERM report presented by the Vice President, Audit & Risk Management to the Audit & Finance Committee in which the Company identifies its risk areas and oversight responsibility. The Board also engages in periodic discussions with the CFO, Chief Compliance Officer and other members of the ERM Committee, as appropriate.
While the Audit & Finance Committee is responsible for, among other matters, general ERM, the full Board and each of the other standing Board committees consider risks within their area of responsibility. The Board oversees corporate strategy, business development, capital structure, market exposure, intellectual property, legal, and country-specific risks. The Executive Compensation Committee considers human resources risks and potential risks relating to our employee (including executive) compensation programs. See the “Compensation Risk Assessment,” beginning on page 25. The Nominating & Governance Committee considers governance risks. The Health, Safety & Environment Committee considers the effectiveness of our health, safety, and environmental protection programs and initiatives. The Health, Safety & Environment Committee also assists the Board with oversight of matters related to the enhancement of our global reputation, our corporate social responsibility, and the stewardship and sustainability of our products and operations. Each of the committees regularly reports to the Board.
We believe the current leadership structure of the Board supports the risk oversight functions described above by providing independent leadership at the committee level, with ultimate oversight by the full Board.
Director Retirement Policy
Our Corporate Governance Guidelines provide that in general, a non-employee director should not stand for re-election in the year in which he or she reaches 72 years of age, although the Board shall have the authority to grant exceptions to this limitation on a case-by-case basis. Three of our directors, Mr. Hernandez, Mr. Maine, and Ms. Taggart, attained or will attain the age of 72 in 2020, and, accordingly are not standing for re-election at this annual meeting. In anticipation of these retirements, the Board appointed Mses. Minor and Van Deursen in July 2019.
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Meetings of Non-Management Directors
Executive sessions of the non-management members of the Board were held regularly in conjunction with scheduled meetings of the full Board during 2019. Mr. Masters, in his role as Lead Independent Director, presided at the executive sessions of the non-management Directors held during the year. Shareholders and other interested persons may contact the Chair of the Nominating & Governance Committee or the non-management members of the Board as a group through the method described in “Questions and Answers about this Proxy Statement and the Annual Meeting,” on page 66.
Director Continuing Education
We encourage Directors to attend periodic director continuing education programs. Typically, director education programs focus on issues and trends affecting directors of publicly-held companies. We reimburse our Directors for tuition and expenses associated with attending these programs.
Attendance at Annual Meeting
We anticipate all Directors will attend the annual meeting of shareholders each year. All incumbent Directors attended our 2019 annual meeting of shareholders, except Mr. Seavers who had an unavoidable conflict. Mses. Minor and Van Deursen were appointed to our Board after our 2019 annual meeting of shareholders and first stand for election by our stockholders at this our 2020 annual meeting.
Board Meetings
The Board meets during the year to review significant developments affecting us and to act on matters requiring Board’s approval, and may hold special meetings between scheduled meetings when appropriate. During 2019, the Board held 6 meetings.
Committees of the Board of Directors; Assignments and Meetings
The Board maintains five standing "Committees" as follows: Audit & Finance; Executive Compensation; Nominating & Governance; Health, Safety & Environment, and Capital Investment. In addition, the Board maintains an Executive Committee, composed of Messrs. Masters and Kissam. Additionally, the Board determined that all members of the standing Committees are “independent” within the meaning of the listing standards of the NYSE and the independence standards of our Corporate Governance Guidelines. See “Director Independence” on page 42.
The following table lists committee assignments of each current Director as of the March 9, 2020 record date and the number of times each committee met during 2019. Each of the Directors attended at least 75% of the total number of Board meetings and meetings of the committees of the Board of Directors on which the Director served in 2019, except Ms. Van Deursen who was appointed to the Board of Directors and certain committees of the Board in July of 2019 and had a pre-existing conflict for our October Board meetings and meetings of the committees of the Board of Directors causing her to miss one Board meeting, one Executive Compensation Committee meeting, and one Health, Safety & Environment Committee meeting, resulting in a 57% attendance rate.
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| Audit & Finance Committee | Executive Compensation Committee | Nominating & Governance Committee | Health, Safety & Environment Committee | Capital Investment Committee
Management Director |  |  |  |  |
Luther C. Kissam IV |  |  |  |  |
Independent Directors |  |  |  |  |
M. Laurie Brlas | ¨ |  |  |  | l
William H. Hernandez(1) | l |  | ¨ |  |
Douglas L. Maine(1) | ¨ |  | ¨ |  |
J. Kent Masters |  | ¨ |  |  | ¨
Glenda J. Minor(2) | ¨ |  | ¨ |  |
James J. O’Brien | ¨ |  | l |  |
Diarmuid B. O'Connell |  | ¨ |  | ¨ |
Dean L. Seavers | ¨ |  |  |  | ¨
Gerald A. Steiner |  | ¨ |  | l |
Harriett Tee Taggart(1) |  | ¨ |  | ¨ |
Holly Van Deursen(3) |  | ¨ |  | ¨ |
Alejandro D. Wolff |  | l |  | ¨ |
Number of Meetings in 2019 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 5

l | Chair | o | Member

___________________________________________________

(1) | Attained or will attain the age of 72 in 2020, not standing for re-election in 2020.

(2) | Ms. Minor joined the Board and applicable committees in July 2019.

(3) | Ms. Van Deursen joined the Board and applicable committees in July 2019.

Audit & Finance Committee
The Audit & Finance Committee is a separately designated standing committee in accordance with Section 3(a)(58)(A) of the Exchange Act. The duties of the Audit & Finance Committee are set forth in its charter, which can be found on the Company’s website at www.albemarle.com (see Investors/Corporate Governance/Governance Documents). The Board of Directors has determined that all Audit & Finance Committee members, as required by SEC regulations and NYSE rules, are financially literate, and the Board of Directors has determined that each of Mses. Brlas and Minor and Messrs. Hernandez, Maine, and O’Brien is an “audit committee financial expert,” as that term is defined in the rules of the SEC under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. Please also see the “Audit & Finance Committee Report,” beginning on page 63.
Executive Compensation Committee
The duties of the Executive Compensation Committee are set forth in its charter, which can be found on the Company’s website at www.albemarle.com (see Investors/Corporate Governance/Governance Documents).
The Executive Compensation Committee’s primary role is to develop and oversee the implementation of our philosophy with respect to the compensation of our executive officers and other key employees, including the named executive officers listed in this Proxy Statement. The Executive Compensation Committee has the overall responsibility of evaluating the performance (and determining the compensation) of the CEO and approving the compensation structure for senior management and other key employees.
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The Executive Compensation Committee also approves cash incentive awards and compensation packages of certain executive-level personnel and may grant stock options, stock appreciation rights, performance units, restricted stock, restricted stock units and cash incentive awards under the Plan.
The Executive Compensation Committee reviews and approves the performance, compensation and annual performance goals of the CEO with input from all independent Directors and the CEO’s self-evaluation. The Executive Compensation Committee approves the compensation of the other named executive officers based upon the evaluation and recommendation of the CEO. The Executive Compensation Committee periodically meets with members of senior management in order to assess progress toward meeting long-term objectives. The Executive Compensation Committee reports regularly to the Board of Directors on matters relating to the Executive Compensation Committee’s responsibilities. In addition, the Executive Compensation Committee follows regulatory and legislative developments and considers corporate governance best practices in performing its duties. For additional information with respect to the Executive Compensation Committee, please see “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” beginning on page 3.
In performing its responsibilities with respect to executive compensation decisions, the Compensation Committee receives information and support from the Company’s Human Resources Department and has retained Pearl Meyer as the Executive Compensation Committee’s outside independent compensation consulting firm. Pearl Meyer is a nationally recognized executive compensation consultant and the Executive Compensation Committee has retained it to provide information concerning compensation paid by competitors and members of our Peer Group and to assist in designing executive compensation plans. No member of the Executive Compensation Committee or the management of the Company is, or has been, affiliated with Pearl Meyer. For additional information with respect to the Executive Compensation Committee and Pearl Meyer, please see “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” beginning on page 3.
Independence of the Executive Compensation Consultant
The Executive Compensation Committee has concluded that its compensation consultant, Pearl Meyer, is independent and does not have a conflict of interest in its engagement by the Executive Compensation Committee. In making this conclusion, the Executive Compensation Committee considered the following factors confirmed to the Executive Compensation Committee by the compensation consultant:

• | In 2019, Pearl Meyer provided compensation advisory services only to the Executive Compensation Committee and the Nominating & Governance Committee;

• | The ratio of Pearl Meyer’s fees from the Company to Pearl Meyer’s total revenue over the last 12 months is less than 1%;

• | Pearl Meyer maintains a conflicts policy to prevent a conflict of interest or any other independence issue;

• | None of the individuals on the Pearl Meyer team assigned to the Company has any business or personal relationship with members of the Executive Compensation Committee outside the engagement;

• | Neither the individuals on the Pearl Meyer team assigned to the Company, nor to our knowledge, Pearl Meyer, has any business or personal relationship with any of our executive officers outside the engagement; and

• | None of the individuals on the Pearl Meyer team assigned to the engagement maintains any direct individual position in our stock.

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Executive Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
No member of the Executive Compensation Committee was at any time an officer or employee of the Company, nor is any member of the Executive Compensation Committee related to any other member of the Executive Compensation Committee, any other member of the Board of Directors or any executive officer of the Company. No executive officer of the Company served as a Director or member of the compensation committee of another entity, one of whose executive officers is a member of the Company’s Executive Compensation Committee.
Nominating & Governance Committee
The duties of the Nominating & Governance Committee are set forth in its charter, which can be found on the Company’s website at www.albemarle.com (see Investors/Corporate Governance/Governance Documents).
The Nominating & Governance Committee assists the Board of Directors on all matters relating to the selection, qualification, duties, and compensation of members of the Board of Directors, as well as the annual evaluation of the Board of Directors’ performance and processes. The Nominating & Governance Committee also assists the Board of Directors with oversight of corporate governance.
The Nominating & Governance Committee identifies Director candidates through recommendations made by members of the Board of Directors, management, shareholders, and others, including professional search firms.
Director Candidate Recommendations and Nominations by Shareholders
Shareholders should submit any director candidate recommendations to the Nominating & Governance Committee through the method described in “Questions and Answers About This Proxy Statement and the Annual Meeting,” “How do I communicate with the Board of Directors?” on page 71. In addition, in accordance with our Bylaws, any shareholder entitled to vote for the election of Directors may nominate persons for election to the Board of Directors if such shareholder complies with the procedures set forth in our Bylaws and summarized in “Shareholder Proposals” on page 72. Copies of our Bylaws are available at no charge in the Company’s public filings with the SEC or from the Secretary of the Company.
Nominating & Governance Committee Process for Identifying and Evaluating Director Candidates
The Nominating & Governance Committee identifies and evaluates all Director candidates in accordance with the Director qualification standards described in the Corporate Governance Guidelines. The Board of Directors as a whole is constituted to be strong in its diversity and collective knowledge of accounting and finance, management and leadership, vision and strategy, business operations, business judgment, crisis management, risk assessment, industry knowledge, corporate governance, and global markets. The Nominating & Governance Committee reviews its effectiveness in balancing these considerations through its ongoing consideration of Directors and nominees, as well as the Nominating & Governance Committee’s annual self-evaluation process.
The Nominating & Governance Committee evaluates a candidate’s qualifications to serve as a member of the Board of Directors based on the background and expertise of individual members of the Board of Directors as well as the background and expertise of the Board of Directors as a whole. The Nominating & Governance Committee also considers such other relevant factors as it deems appropriate, including the current composition of the Board of Directors; the balance of management and independent Directors; diversity in gender, ethnicity, background, and experiences; the need for Audit & Finance Committee expertise; and the evaluation of other prospective nominees. The Nominating & Governance Committee is committed to including in each director search qualified candidates who reflect a diversity of backgrounds, including diversity of gender and ethnicity.
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In addition, the Nominating & Governance Committee will evaluate a candidate’s background and expertise in the context of the Board of Directors’ needs. The Committee maintains a list of general criteria for the nomination of Director candidates, which incorporates the skills, qualities, and experiences deemed most important to the successful governance of the Company. The Nominating & Governance Committee periodically reviews this list to determine if there are new skills, qualities, and/or experiences that ought to be considered. At the same time, it evaluates the skills and performance of existing Directors to assess the future needs of the Board of Directors (upon the retirement of Directors or otherwise). When particular needs are identified, a search is initiated with sufficient time for adequate research and deliberation.
When considering a Director standing for re-election, in addition to the attributes described above, the Nominating & Governance Committee also considers that individual’s past contribution and future commitment to the Company. The Nominating & Governance Committee evaluates the totality of the merits of each prospective nominee that it considers and does not restrict itself by establishing minimum qualifications or attributes. The Nominating & Governance Committee is committed to effective succession planning and refreshment for our Board of Directors, including having honest and difficult conversations with existing Directors as may be deemed necessary.
After completing potential Director nominees’ evaluations, the Nominating & Governance Committee makes a recommendation to the full Board of Directors as to the persons who should be nominated by the Board of Directors, and the Board of Directors determines the nominees after considering the recommendation of the Nominating & Governance Committee. There is no difference in the manner by which the Nominating & Governance Committee evaluates prospective nominees for Directors based upon the source from which the individual was first identified, including whether a candidate is recommended by a shareholder.
In addition, in 2017, the Board adopted amendments to our Bylaws to implement proxy access. A shareholder, or group of up to 20 shareholders, that has owned continuously for at least three years shares of Albemarle stock representing an aggregate of at least 3% of our outstanding shares, may nominate and include in the Company’s proxy materials director nominees constituting up to 20% of the Board, provided that the shareholder(s) and nominee(s) satisfy the requirements in our Bylaws.
The Nominating & Governance Committee did not receive any Board of Director candidate recommendations from any shareholders in connection with the 2020 Annual Meeting.
Health, Safety & Environment Committee
The duties of the Health, Safety & Environment Committee are set forth in its charter, which can be found on the Company’s website at www.albemarle.com (see Investors/Corporate Governance/Governance Documents).
The Health, Safety & Environment Committee assists the Board of Directors in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities in assessing the effectiveness of our health, safety, and environmental programs and initiatives, including our progress toward the enhancement of our global reputation, our corporate social responsibility, and the stewardship and sustainability of our products and operations.
Capital Investment Committee
The duties of the Capital Investment Committee are further set forth in its charter, which can be found on the Company’s website at www.albemarle.com (see Investors/Corporate Governance/Governance Documents).
The Capital Investment Committee assists the Board with oversight of management's execution of major capital expenditure projects in support of the Company's strategic plans. This committee is responsible for, among other matters, advising and informing the Board on the critical path and costs for capital projects, as well as risk oversight and making recommendations to the Board with respect to new major capital expenditures.
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CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
The Board of Directors has adopted a written related person transaction policy that governs the review, approval or ratification of covered related person transactions. The Audit & Finance Committee manages this policy. The policy generally provides that we may enter into a related person transaction only if the Audit & Finance Committee or the disinterested members of the Board of Directors approves or ratifies such transaction in accordance with the guidelines set forth in the policy, if the transaction is in, or not inconsistent with, the best interests of the Company and its shareholders, and if the transaction is on terms comparable to those that could be obtained in arm’s length dealings with an unrelated third party, or if the transaction involves compensation approved by our Executive Compensation Committee.
In the event our management determines to recommend a related person transaction, such transaction must be presented to the Audit & Finance Committee for approval. After review, the Audit & Finance Committee will approve or disapprove such transaction and at each subsequently scheduled Audit & Finance Committee meeting, our management will update the Audit & Finance Committee as to any material change to the proposed related person transaction. In those instances in which our General Counsel, in consultation with our CEO or the CFO, determines that it is not practicable or desirable for us to wait until the next Audit & Finance Committee meeting to review a proposed related person transaction, the Chair of the Audit & Finance Committee has delegated authority to act on behalf of the Audit & Finance Committee. The Audit & Finance Committee (or its Chair) approves only those related person transactions that it determines in good faith to be in, or not inconsistent with, our best interests and the best interests of our shareholders and which is on terms comparable to those that could be obtained in arm’s length dealings with an unrelated third party.
To the extent that the Board of Directors has approved a standing resolution with respect to the repurchase of outstanding shares of Common Stock, the Audit & Finance Committee has pre-approved the repurchase of shares of Common Stock from related persons, provided that such repurchase is in compliance with such standing resolution and the terms offered to the related persons are no less favorable to us than those that could be obtained in arm’s length dealings with an unrelated third party.
For purposes of this policy, a “related person transaction” is a transaction, arrangement or relationship (or any series of similar transactions, arrangements or relationships) in which we were, are or will be a participant and the amount involved exceeds $120,000 and in which any related person had, has or will have a direct or indirect interest. For purposes of determining whether a transaction is a related person transaction, the Audit & Finance Committee may rely upon Item 404 of Regulation S‑K.
A “related person” is (i) any person who is, or at any time since the beginning of our last fiscal year was, a Director or executive officer of the Company or a nominee to become a Director, (ii) any person who is known to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of any class of our voting securities, (iii) any immediate family member of any of the foregoing persons, which means any child, stepchild, parent, stepparent, spouse, sibling, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law or sister-in-law of the Director, executive officer, nominee or more than 5% beneficial owner and any person (other than a tenant or employee) sharing the household of such Director, executive officer, nominee or more than 5% beneficial owner, or (iv) any firm, corporation or other entity in which any of the foregoing persons is employed or is a general partner or principal or in a similar position or in which such person has a 5% or greater beneficial ownership interest.
The Audit & Finance Committee was not presented with, and the Company did not participate in, any related person transactions in 2019.
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DIRECTOR COMPENSATION
In 2019, non-employee Directors received an annual retainer fee that was paid quarterly and an additional amount of cash compensation based on their service as Non-executive Chairman of the Board or Lead Independent Director or chairperson of a Committee (prorated for less than full year service, if applicable). The amounts payable with respect to each of such roles were the following:

| Annually
Lead Independent Director or Non-Executive Chairman of the Board, as applicable | $50,000
Director Retainer Fee | $100,000
Audit & Finance Committee Chair Fee | $20,000
Capital Investment Committee Chair | $10,000
Executive Compensation Committee Chair Fee | $15,000
Health, Safety & Environment Committee Chair Fee | $10,000
Nominating & Governance Committee Chair Fee | $10,000

In addition, in accordance with the 2013 Stock Compensation and Deferral Election Plan for Non-Employee Directors of Albemarle Corporation (the “2013 Directors Plan”), non-employee Directors received shares of Common Stock equal to the amount of $130,000 divided by the closing price per share of Common Stock on July 1, 2019, which was $70.33. The number of shares granted was rounded up to the nearest 25-share increment. We also reimbursed each of our non-employee Directors for reasonable travel expenses incurred in connection with attending Board of Directors and Committee meetings. Mr. Kissam was not paid separately for his service on the Board of Directors.
The following table presents information relating to total compensation of the Directors for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, excluding Mr. Kissam who does not receive compensation from the Company in his capacity as a Director.

Name | Cash Compensation (1) | Stock Awards (2) | Total
Mary Lauren Brlas | $ | 110,000 |  | $ | 130,111 |  | $ | 240,111 |
William H. Hernandez(3) | $ | 120,000 |  | $ | 130,111 |  | $ | 250,111 |
Douglas L. Maine(3) | $ | 100,000 |  | $ | 130,111 |  | $ | 230,111 |
J. Kent Masters | $ | 150,000 |  | $ | 130,111 |  | $ | 280,111 |
Glenda J. Minor | $ | 44,022 |  | $ | 123,057 |  | $ | 167,079 |
James J. O'Brien | $ | 110,000 |  | $ | 130,111 |  | $ | 240,111 |
Diarmuid B. O'Connell | $ | 100,000 |  | $ | 130,111 |  | $ | 230,111 |
Dean L. Seavers | $ | 100,000 |  | $ | 130,111 |  | $ | 230,111 |
Gerald A. Steiner | $ | 110,000 |  | $ | 130,111 |  | $ | 240,111 |
Harriett Tee Taggart(3) | $ | 100,000 |  | $ | 130,111 |  | $ | 230,111 |
Holly A. Van Deursen | $ | 44,022 |  | $ | 123,057 |  | $ | 167,079 |
Alejandro Wolff | $ | 115,000 |  | $ | 130,111 |  | $ | 245,111 |

___________________________________________________

(1) | Amounts shown include fees that have been deferred at the election of the Director under the 2013 Directors Plan and, as applicable, its predecessor deferred compensation plans.

(2) | Amounts shown represent the aggregate grant date fair value of stock awards recognized in fiscal year 2019 in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. On July 1, 2019, each then serving non-employee Director received 1,850 shares of Common Stock (some of which were deferred by certain Directors) for their service as a Director. In accordance with the 2013

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Directors Plan, non-employee Directors received shares of Common Stock equal to $130,000 divided by the closing price per share of Common Stock on July 1, 2019, which was $70.33, rounded up to the nearest 25-share increment. In addition, directors Minor and Van Deursen, who joined the Board on July 23, 2019, received 1,650 shares of Common Stock for service as a director in the remaining 2019 compensation year. Each of Minor and Van Deursen received shares of Common Stock equal to $130,000, prorated for the remaining 2019 compensation year (93.99%) divided by the closing price per share of Common Stock on July 23, 2019, which was $74.58, and rounded up to the nearest 25-share increment. The amounts set forth above reflect our accounting expense for these awards and do not correspond to the actual value that will be recognized by each of the non-employee Directors. All shares granted pursuant to the 2013 Directors Plan vest the July 1st next following the grant date.

(3) | Attained or will attain the age of 72 in 2020, not standing for re-election in 2020.

2013 Directors Plan
The 2013 Directors Plan provides for the grant of shares of Common Stock to each non-employee Director (each, a “participant”) of the Company. In the event of a change in capital, shares of capital stock or any special distribution to our shareholders, the administrator of the 2013 Directors Plan will make equitable adjustments in the number of shares of Common Stock that have been, or thereafter may be, granted to participants. The maximum aggregate number of shares of Common Stock that may be issued under the 2013 Directors Plan is 500,000 shares.
Our General Counsel administers the 2013 Directors Plan, interpreting all provisions of the 2013 Directors Plan, establishing administrative regulations to further the purpose of the 2013 Directors Plan and taking any other action necessary for the proper operation of the 2013 Directors Plan. The Company has discretionary authority to increase the amount of shares of Common Stock issued to each participant during the compensation year, subject to a $150,000 limitation on the value of the shares to be issued to any participant in any compensation year.
Our General Counsel may amend, suspend or terminate the 2013 Directors Plan, but no such amendment can (i) increase the number of shares of Common Stock that may be granted to any participant (except as described above) or (ii) increase the total number of shares of Common Stock that may be granted under the 2013 Directors Plan. Any amendment of the 2013 Directors Plan must comply with applicable rules of the NYSE.
Deferred Compensation
Under the 2013 Directors Plan, non-employee Directors may defer, in 10% increments, all or part of their retainer fee and/or chair fees into a deferred cash account and may defer, in 10% increments, all or part of their stock compensation into a deferred phantom stock account. Fees deferred, in whole or in part, into a phantom stock account are recorded by the Company as phantom shares. Deferred cash accounts and phantom stock accounts are unfunded and maintained for record-keeping purposes only.
Distributions under the 2013 Directors Plan will generally be paid in a lump sum unless the participant specifies installment payments over a period up to ten years. Deferred cash account amounts are paid in the form of cash and deferred phantom stock account amounts are paid in whole shares of Common Stock. Unless otherwise elected by the participant as permitted under the 2013 Directors Plan, distributions will begin on February 15 following the earlier of the participant’s turning 65 years old or ending his or her tenure as a Company Director. For 2019, Messrs. O’Brien and Wolff each elected to defer all of their stock compensation into their respective deferred phantom stock accounts.
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STOCK OWNERSHIP
Principal Shareholders
The following table lists any person (including any “group” as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) who, to our knowledge, was the beneficial owner, as of March 9, 2020, of more than 5% of the issued and outstanding shares of our common stock.

Name and Address of Beneficial Owners | Number of Shares | Percent of Class*
The Vanguard Group |  |  |
100 Vanguard Blvd. |  |  |
Malvern, Pennsylvania 19355 | 12,882,430 | (1) | 12.1 | %
Franklin Resources, Inc. |  |  |
One Franklin Parkway |  |  |
San Mateo, California 94403 | 9,345,879 | (2) | 8.8 | %
BlackRock, Inc. |  |  |
55 East 52nd Street |  |  |
New York, New York 10055 | 8,795,905 | (3) | 8.3 | %
State Street Corp. |  |  |
One Lincoln Street |  |  |
Boston, Massachusetts 02111 | 7,607,489 | (4) | 7.2 | %

___________________________________________________

* | Calculated based upon 106,318,614 shares of Common Stock outstanding as of March 9, 2020.

(1) | Based solely on the information contained in the Schedule 13G Amendment filed by the Vanguard Group (“Vanguard”) with the SEC on February 11, 2020. The report states that Vanguard has sole voting power over 154,236 shares of common stock, shared voting power over 32,318 shares of common stock, sole dispositive power over 12,701,534 shares of common stock and shared dispositive power over 180,896 shares of common stock.

(2) | Based solely on the information contained in the Schedule 13G Amendment filed jointly by Franklin Resources Inc. (“Franklin Resources”), Charles B. Johnson, Rupert H. Johnson, Jr., and Franklin Advisors, Inc. with the SEC on February 4, 2020. The report states that Franklin Resources has sole voting and sole dispositive power over 8,518,827 shares of common stock. The shares of common stock are beneficially owned by one or more open- or closed-end investment companies or other managed accounts that are investment management clients of investment managers that are direct and indirect subsidiaries of Franklin Resources.

(3) | Based solely on the information contained in the Schedule 13G Amendment filed by BlackRock, Inc. (“BlackRock”) with the SEC on February 5, 2020. The report states that BlackRock has sole voting power over 7,848,408 shares of common stock and sole dispositive power over 8,795,905 shares of common stock.

(4) | Based solely on the information contained in the Schedule 13G filed by State Street Corp. (“State Street”) with the SEC on February 13, 2020. The report states that State Street has aggregate beneficial ownership of 7,607,489 shares of common stock, including shared voting power over 7,092,526 shares of common stock and shared dispositive power over 7,469,623 shares of common stock.

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Directors and Executive Officers
The following table sets forth as of March 9, 2020, the beneficial ownership of Common Stock by each Director of the Company, the named executive officers listed in the Summary Compensation Table, and all Directors and named executive officers of the Company as a group. The business address for matters related to the Company for each of our Directors, Director nominees and named executive officers is 4250 Congress Street, Suite 900, Charlotte, North Carolina 28209.

Name of Beneficial Owner or Number of Persons in the Group | Number of Shares Beneficially Owned(1) | % of Class | Phantom Shares Without Voting or Investment Power(2)
Mary Lauren Brlas | 4,400 |  |  | * | — |
Raphael G. Crawford | 34,071 |  | (3) | * | — |
William H. Hernandez | 1,850 |  |  | * | 12,439 |
Luther C. Kissam IV | 756,243 |  | (4) | * | 2,816 |
Netha N. Johnson | 2,326 |  |  | * | — |
Douglas L. Maine | 28,550 |  |  | * | — |
J. Kent Masters | 17,054 |  |  | * | — |
Glenda J. Minor | 1,650 |  |  | * | — |
Karen G. Narwold | 115,398 |  | (5) | * | 226 |
James J. O’Brien | 2,082 |  |  | * | 12,188 |
Diarmuid B. O'Connell | 3,450 |  |  | * | — |
Dean L. Seavers | 3,450 |  |  | * | — |
Gerald A. Steiner | 4,000 |  |  | * | 8,331 |
Harriett Tee Taggart | 13,686 |  | (6) | * | — |
Scott A. Tozier | 135,267 |  | (7) | * | 255 |
Holly A. Van Deursen | 1,650 |  |  | * | — |
Alejandro Wolff | 6,486 |  |  | * | 2,208 |
Directors and executive officers as a group (21 persons) | 1,142,890 |  |  | 1.07% | 39,563 |

___________________________________________________

* | Indicates beneficial ownership of less than 1% of Common Stock. Calculated based upon 106,318,614 shares of Common Stock outstanding as of March 9, 2020 and assuming conversion or exercise of such holder’s options, as the case may be, for purposes of calculating the total number of shares outstanding, but not the conversion or exercise of securities held by third parties.

(1) | The amounts in this column include shares of Common Stock with respect to which certain persons had the right to acquire beneficial ownership within 60 days of March 9, 2020: Mr. Kissam:420,393 shares; Mr. Tozier: 80,148 shares; Ms. Narwold: 73,429 shares; and Mr. Crawford: 23,918 shares.

(2) | The amounts in this column reflect phantom shares held in the deferred stock account of each person and represent an equivalent number of shares of Common Stock. Although such shares are not “beneficially owned” as defined under SEC rules, we believe that inclusion of such shares gives our shareholders important additional information regarding the shareholdings of our Directors.

(3) | Includes 40 shares held in the Albemarle Savings Plan.

(4) | Includes 8,420 shares held in the Albemarle Savings Plan.

(5) | Includes 540 shares held in the Albemarle Savings Plan.

(6) | Shares held jointly with spouse.

(7) | Includes 1,591 shares held in the Albemarle Savings Plan.

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Stock Ownership Guidelines
To further align the interests of our Directors and officers with our shareholders, the Company also has stock ownership guidelines that require the retention of our shares. Officers are expected to achieve ownership in the amounts set forth in the table below within five years of being appointed to the relevant role.

Name | Guideline
CEO | 6x base salary
CFO | 4x base salary
Other NEOs | 3x base salary

Non-employee Directors are expected to achieve ownership of an amount equal to 5x their annual cash retainer within five years of being appointed as a Director, which retainer is currently set at $100,000. In order to help ensure robust stock ownership, directors and officers will be required to hold at least 50% of the post-tax net shares vesting in any twelve month period until they meet their guideline multiple, and will be deemed to be in compliance with the guidelines if they sell no more than that amount.
Our insider trading policy prohibits, among other things, Directors, officers, and employees of the Company from hedging, short selling, or pledging the Company’s shares. In addition, to further align our Directors’ and NEOs’ interests with those of our shareholders, our insider trading policy restricts purchases and sales of our stock by Directors and certain employees, including NEOs, to the 30-day period beginning on the third trading day following an earnings announcement (the day of the announcement constituting the first day) and only after being cleared to trade by our General Counsel or a designee thereof, or in accordance with a previously existing Rule 10b5-1 trading plan that meets applicable SEC requirements.
DELINQUENT SECTION 16(a) REPORTS
Based solely on our review of the forms required by Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act furnished to us, we believe that our directors, officers, and beneficial owners of greater than 10% of Common Stock were compliant with applicable filing requirements in 2019, except Mr. Raphael Crawford—President, Catalysts, inadvertently failed to include existing stock holdings on his Form 3 in May 2019 and reported those holdings on a Form 3/A in January 2020.
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PROPOSAL 2 – ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

The Board of Directors, upon unanimous recommendation of the Nominating & Governance Committee, unanimously approved the persons named below as nominees for election to the Board of Directors at the Annual Meeting. Each of the nominees is currently a member of the Board of Directors. Each of the nominees (i) has been nominated for election at the 2020 Annual Meeting to hold office until the 2021 annual meeting of shareholders or, if earlier, the election or appointment of his or her successor, and (ii) has consented to being named as such and to serve as such if elected. The proxies submitted for the Annual Meeting cannot be voted for more than ten nominees.
Of the nominees up for election at this Annual Meeting, two of the non-employee directors were appointed by the Board in July of 2019. In accordance with the previously described process, the Nominating & Governance Committee identified director candidates through references from directors, management, and an outside search firm. Mses. Minor and Van Deursen were identified through an outside search firm.
In February 2020, Luther Kissam, IV, our Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, announced that he will retire, effective June 2020. If elected at the Annual Meeting, we anticipate that Mr. Kissam will serve as a director until his retirement date. As previously announced, the Board has appointed a search committee to facilitate an effective transition and consider qualified internal and external candidates to fill Mr. Kissam's role. The Company’s Bylaws provide that any vacancy on the Board may be filled by a majority vote of the directors then in office.
Proxies will be voted “FOR” the election of the persons named below (or if for any reason such persons are unavailable, for such substitutes as the Board of Directors may designate) as Directors for the ensuing year. The Board of Directors has no reason to believe that any of the nominees will be unavailable. Each nominee who is elected will serve as a Director until his or her successor is elected at our 2021 annual meeting of shareholders or until his or her earlier resignation, replacement or removal.
Each nominee is listed below with information as of the Record Date (March 9, 2020) concerning age, principal occupation, employment and directorships during the past five years and positions with the Company, if applicable, and the year in which he or she first became a Director of the Company. Also set forth below is a brief discussion of the specific experience, qualifications, attributes or skills that led to his or her nomination as a Director, in light of the Company’s business and governance structure.
The table below highlights the qualifications and experience of each member of our Board that contributed to the Board’s determination that each individual is uniquely qualified to serve on the Board. While a dot indicates competency or experience in the relevant area, this high-level summary is not intended to be an exhaustive list of each nominee’s skills or contributions.
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Director Skills Matrix
Albemarle Corporation Board of Directors | M. Laurie Brlas | Luther Kissam | J. Kent Masters | Glenda Minor | James O'Brien | Diarmuid O'Connell | Dean Seavers | Gerald Steiner | Holly Van Deursen | Alejandro Wolff
KEY COMPETENCIES |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | '
Current or Recent Service as a Public Company CEO or COO | Y | Y | Y | N | Y | N | Y | N | N | N
P&L Experience | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • |
Relevant Industry Experience | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • |
R&D/Innovation Experience | • | • | • |  | • | • | • | • | • | •
Manufacturing/Operations Experience | • | • | • |  | • | • | • |  | • | •
Global/Emerging Markets Experience | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | •
Supply Chain and Logistics Experience | • |  | • |  | • | • |  |  | • |
IT/Cybersecurity/Technology Capability | • |  |  | • | • | • | • |  |  | •
Financial Literacy | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | •
M&A Experience | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | •
Risk Management | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | •
Public Company Compliance/Governance | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | •
Strategy Development | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | •
Public Company Executive Compensation | • |  | • | • | • |  |  |  | • | •
Leadership Development/Succession Planning | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | •
Public/Government Affairs |  | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | •
BOARD COMPOSITION |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Age | 62 | 55 | 59 | 63 | 65 | 56 | 59 | 59 | 61 | 63
Tenure (Years) | 3 | 8 | 5 | 1 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 1 | 5
Diversity | • |  |  | • |  |  | • |  | • | •

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Director Nominees

| Skills that align with our strategy:
● | Operations and finance experience in the natural resources industry brings relevant perspective during time of growth in our Lithium business
● | Extensive background in financial and governance matters
Experience:
● | Former Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Newmont Mining Corporation from September 2013 until October 2016 (retired December 2016)
● | Former Executive Vice President and President Global Operations of Cliffs Natural Resources
M. Laurie Brlas Age: 62 Director since 2017 | ● | Former Chairman of the Board of Perrigo Company plc, April 2016 - April 2019; Director from August 2003 - April 2019
Other Public Company Directorships:
● | Director, Exelon Corporation since October 2018
● | Director, Graphic Packaging since January 2019
| Skills that align with our strategy:
● | Mr. Kissam’s knowledge of the Company and its operations is invaluable to the Board of Directors in evaluating and governing the Company’s future
● | Extensive knowledge in the areas of leadership, global operations management, corporate finance, safety, risk oversight, mergers and acquisitions, and corporate governance
Experience:
● | Chief Executive Officer of the Company since September 2011; retiring in June 2020
● | President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company since May 2013
Luther C. Kissam IV Age: 55 Director since 2011 Chairman since 2016 | ● | President from March 2010 through March 2012
● | Former Executive Vice President, Manufacturing, Law and HS&E from May 2009 through March 2010
● | Former Senior Vice President, Manufacturing and Law, and Corporate Secretary from January 2008 through May 2009 and our Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary from October 2003 through December 2007
● | Former Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of Merisant Co. (manufacturer and marketer of sweetener and consumer food products)
● | Assistant General Counsel of Monsanto Company (provider of agricultural products and solutions)
| Other Public Company Directorships:
| ● | DuPont de Nemours, since June 2019

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| Skills that align with our strategy:
● | Significant global business experience in key industries relevant to our large capital projects, such as engineering and construction, power equipment and industrial gases
● | Prior service on the board of Rockwood
Experience:
● | Former Chief Executive Officer of Foster Wheeler AG, a global engineering and construction contractor and power equipment supplier (October 2011 to November 2014 when acquired by Amec Plc) when Foster Wheeler AG was acquired by Amec plc to form Amec Foster Wheeler plc
J. Kent Masters Age: 59 Director since 2015 Lead Director since 2018 | ● | Former member of the executive board of Linde AG, a global leader in manufacturing and sales of industrial gases, with responsibility for the Americas, Africa and the South Pacific
● | Former member of the board of directors of BOC Group, plc, a global industrial gas company, which was acquired by Linde AG in 2006
Other directorships:
● | QSuper Holdings, Inc. (private environmental services company) 2016 - 2018
| ● | Amec Foster Wheeler plc from 2015 to 2017
| ● | Prince International Corp. (private producer of engineered additives), 2019 - current
| Skills that align with our strategy:
● | Extensive financial and international leadership experience across different industries and different continents
● | In-depth understanding of the preparation and analysis of financial statements, experience in capital market transactions, accounting, treasury, investor relations, financial and strategic planning, and business expansion
Experience:
● | Chief Executive Officer and Principal of Silket Advisory Services since 2016, a privately owned consulting firm advising companies on financial, strategic, and operational initiatives
Glenda J. Minor Age: 63 Director since 2019 | ● | Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Evraz North America Limited, a leading steel manufacturer, from June 2010 to September 2015
● | Held both domestic and international executive finance and Corporate Officer roles at Visteon Corporation, a leading global automotive supplier, and DaimlerChrysler, a leading global automotive manufacturer, as well as financial management roles at General Motors Corporation, a leading global automotive manufacturer, and General Dynamics Corporation, a leading global aerospace and defense company
Other public company directorships:
● | Curtiss-Wright Corporation, July 2019 - current

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| Skills that align with our strategy:
● | Extensive knowledge of the chemical industry
● | Significant management experience and knowledge in the areas of finance, accounting, international business operations, risk oversight and corporate governance
● | Significant experience gained from service on the board of directors of other public companies
Experience:
● | Retired, Former Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Ashland Inc. through December 2014
James J. O'Brien Age: 65 Director since 2012 | ● | Former President and Chief Operating Officer of Ashland Inc.; previously Senior Vice President and Group Operating Officer
● | Former President of Valvoline
Other Public Company Directorships:
● | Eastman Chemical Company (a specialty chemical company) since February 2016
| ● | Humana Inc. (a managed health care company) since April 2006
| Skills that align with our strategy:
● | Experience in electric vehicle and energy storage industry, as well as valuable perspectives on global applications of alternative energy, that provide insights into the end uses of our products
● | Background in marketing, government relations, operations and manufacturing will further contribute to the effectiveness of our Board
Experience:
● | Most recently served as Vice President, Corporate & Business Development of Tesla Motors Inc., an American electric vehicle manufacturer, energy storage company and solar panel manufacturer from 2010 to 2017; Vice President, Business Development from 2006 to 2010
Diarmuid B. O'Connell Age: 56 Director since 2018 |
● | Former Chief of Staff, Bureau of Political Military Affairs at the U.S. Department of State
Other Public Company Directorships:
● | Dana Incorporated since February 2018

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| Skills that align with our strategy:
● | Executive leadership experience with companies in the energy, fire safety and technology industries
● | Operational perspective and vision from a variety of industries representing end uses of our products
Experience:
● | Former President, National Grid U.S., 2014 - December 2019
● | Former Executive Director, National Grid plc, April 2015 - December 2019
● | Founder and former President and CEO of Red Hawk Fire & Security (2012-2014)
Dean L. Seavers Age: 59 Director since 2018 | ● | Former President of Global Services, United Technologies Corporation’s Fire & Security businesses
Other directorships:
● | Red Hawk Fire & Security, 2012 to present
| Skills that align with our strategy:
● | Extensive experience in government affairs, global business, strategy and the renewable fuels and agricultural industry
Experience:
● | Chief Executive Officer and member of the board of managers of Arvegenix Inc., a renewable fuel development company, since January 2015
● | Formerly Executive Vice President, Sustainability and Corporate Affairs of Monsanto Company (retired January 2014)
● | Principal of Alta Grow Consulting LLC
Gerald A. Steiner Age: 59 Director since 2013 | ● | Former Chair of the Food and Agriculture Section of the Biotechnology Industry Organization
● | Chairman of The Keystone Center and director since 2004
● | Founder and board member of the Global Harvest Initiative, a public-private initiative whose mission is to sustainably double agricultural production by 2050 and co-founder of Field to Market, an agricultural sustainability organization

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| Skills that align with our strategy:
● | Extensive experience in the chemical, industrial and contract manufacturing sectors; previously a director for companies in the oilfield services and packaging sectors
● | Has held executive roles in business management, business development and mergers & acquisitions in the U.S. and globally, and as a public company director will provide insight into board operations and governance, leadership, and international business
Experience:
● | Former Group Vice President, Petrochemicals and Group Vice President, Strategy for BP plc/Amoco Corporation, a $250 billion oil, gas, and energy company
Holly Van Deursen Age: 61 Director since 2019 | ● | Experience in various engineering, manufacturing and product development roles for Dow Corning Corporation
Other public company directorships:
● | Chair, Capstone Turbine Corp., Aug. 2017 - current
| ● | Synthomer, Inc., Sept. 2018 - current
| ● | Kimball Electronics, Inc., Nov. 2019 - current
| Skills that align with our strategy:
● | Prior service on the board of Rockwood
● | Expertise in international political, economic and commercial affairs
Experience:
● | U.S. Ambassador to Chile from September 2010 until retirement in August 2013
● | U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations (2005-2010)
● | 33 years of service in the U.S. Department of State, including service in Algeria, Morocco, Chile, Cyprus, the U.S. Mission to the European Union in Brussels, and as Deputy Chief of Mission and Charge d’Affaires in France
Ambassador (Ret.) Alejandro Wolff Age: 63 Director since 2015 | ● | Former Managing Director of Gryphon Partners LLC (a global advisory firm focused on frontier markets) from 2014 - 2016
Other directorships:
● | PG&E Corporation, April 2019 - current
| ● | JetSMART Airlines, SoA (a private airline in South America) since 2017
| ● | Frontier Airlines (private), since 2019
| ● | Versum Materials, Inc. (an electronic materials company), 2016 - 2019

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Election of each Director requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast by the holders of shares represented at the Annual Meeting and entitled to vote (which means that the number of shares voted “FOR” a director must exceed the number of shares voted “AGAINST” a director). In uncontested elections, any Director who does not receive a majority of the votes cast must tender his or her resignation to the Board of Directors. The Nominating & Governance Committee will make a recommendation to the Board of Directors on whether or not to accept the tendered resignation.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT SHAREHOLDERS VOTE “FOR” ALL OF THE FOREGOING NOMINEES.
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AUDIT & FINANCE COMMITTEE REPORT
The Audit & Finance Committee of the Board of Directors is composed of six independent Directors and operates under a written charter adopted by the Board of Directors. The Audit & Finance Committee approves the selection of our independent registered public accounting firm.
Management is responsible for our disclosure controls, internal controls and the financial reporting process, and for assessing the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting. The independent registered public accounting firm is responsible for performing an independent audit of our consolidated financial statements in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) and for issuing a report thereon. The Audit & Finance Committee’s primary responsibility is to monitor and oversee these processes and to report thereon to the Board of Directors. In this context, the Audit & Finance Committee has met privately with management, the internal auditors, and PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP ("PwC"), our independent registered public accounting firm, all of whom have unrestricted access to the Audit & Finance Committee. In addition, the Audit & Finance Committee approves the appointment of the Company's independent registered public accounting firm.
The Audit & Finance Committee has discussed with PwC the matters required to be discussed by the applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, including the scope of the auditor’s responsibilities and whether there are any significant accounting adjustments or any disagreements with management.
The Audit & Finance Committee also has received the written disclosures and the letter from PwC required by applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding the independent accountant’s communications with the Audit & Finance Committee concerning independence, and has discussed with PwC that firm’s independence from the Company.
The Audit & Finance Committee has reviewed and discussed the consolidated financial statements with management and PwC. Based on this review and these discussions, the representation of management that the consolidated financial statements were prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and the report of PwC to the Audit & Finance Committee, the Audit & Finance Committee recommended that the Board of Directors include the audited consolidated financial statements in the 2019 Annual Report.
The Audit & Finance Committee also reviews with management and the independent registered public accounting firm the results of that firm’s review of the unaudited financial statements that are included in our Quarterly Reports on Forms 10-Q.

| THE AUDIT & FINANCE COMMITTEE
| William H. Hernandez, Chair
| Mary Lauren Brlas
| Douglas L. Maine
| Glenda J. Minor
| James J. O’Brien
| Dean L. Seavers

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Audit & Finance Committee Pre-Approval Policy
The Audit & Finance Committee has adopted a policy for the provision of audit services and permitted non-audit services by our independent registered public accounting firm. Our CFO has primary responsibility to the Audit & Finance Committee for administration and enforcement of this policy and for reporting noncompliance. Under the policy, the CFO is responsible for presenting to the Audit & Finance Committee an annual budget and plan for audit services and for any proposed audit-related, tax, or other non-audit services to be performed by the independent registered public accounting firm. The presentation must be in sufficient detail to define clearly the services included. Any services included within the budget and plan that the Audit & Finance Committee approves requires no further approval for that budget year. All other audit and permissible non-audit engagements of the independent registered public accounting firm must be approved in advance by the Audit & Finance Committee. The pre-approval requirements do not prohibit the delivery of permissible non-audit services that were not recognized as non-audit services at the time of the engagement so long as (i) all such services are less than 5% of fees paid to the independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year and (ii) the services are approved by the Audit & Finance Committee prior to completion of the audit.
Fees Billed by PwC
During the fiscal years ended 2018 and 2019, we retained our independent registered public accounting firm, PwC, to perform services in the categories and approximate fees set forth below:

| 2018 | 2019
Audit Fees(1) | $ | 6,196,241 |  | $ | 5,792,350 |
Audit-Related Fees(2) | $ | 1,005,000 |  | $ | 1,095,000 |
Tax Fees | $ | — |  | $ | — |
All Other Fees(3) | $ | 5,900 |  | $ | 5,900 |
Total Fees | $ | 7,207,141 |  | $ | 6,893,250 |

___________________________________________________

(1) | Fees for audit services billed or expected to be billed related to (a) audit of our annual financial statements, including assessment of internal controls over financial reporting, (b) reviews of our quarterly financial statements, (c) audits provided in connection with statutory filings, regulatory audits and services that generally only the principal auditor reasonably can provide to a client and (d) audit work related to mergers, acquisitions and divestitures and new accounting standards adoption.

(2) | Fees for audit-related services include audits of our employee benefit plans, ​comfort letter and offering memorandum procedures for debt issuance, system pre-implementation procedures, and carve-out audit procedures.

(3) | Fees for all other services consist of licensing fees for accounting software that provides access to authoritative guidance dealing with financial reporting rules and regulations.

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PROPOSAL 3 – RATIFICATION OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

The Audit & Finance Committee of the Board of Directors has appointed PwC as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal year 2020. Under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules of the SEC promulgated thereunder, the Audit & Finance Committee is solely responsible for the appointment, compensation, and oversight of the work of our independent registered public accounting firm. The submission of this matter for ratification by shareholders is not required by current law, rules, or regulations; however, the Board of Directors believes that such submission is consistent with best practices in corporate governance and is an opportunity for shareholders to provide direct feedback to the Board of Directors on an important issue of corporate governance. If the selection is not ratified, the Audit & Finance Committee will consider whether it is appropriate to select another independent registered public accounting firm. Even if the selection is ratified, the Audit & Finance Committee in its discretion may select a different independent registered public accounting firm at any time during the year if it determines that such a change would be in the best interests of the Company and our shareholders.
Representatives of PwC will be present at the Annual Meeting, will have the opportunity to make a statement at the Annual Meeting if they so desire, and will be available to respond to appropriate questions.
Approval of this proposal requires that the number of votes cast in favor of the ratification exceed the number of votes cast in opposition to the ratification.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT SHAREHOLDERS VOTE “FOR” THE RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS LLP AS THE COMPANY’S INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2020.
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QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THIS PROXY STATEMENT AND THE ANNUAL MEETING

Q1: | Why am I being asked to review this document?

A: | The accompanying proxy is solicited on behalf of the Board of Directors of Albemarle. We are providing these proxy materials to you in connection with the Annual Meeting. As a Company shareholder, you are invited to attend the Annual Meeting and are entitled and encouraged to vote on the matters described in this Proxy Statement.

Q2: | Who is entitled to vote?

A: | You may vote all shares of our Common Stock that you owned at the close of business on Monday, March 9, 2020, the record date (“Record Date”). On the Record Date, the Company had 106,318,614 shares of Common Stock outstanding and entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting. Each share of Common Stock you held on the Record Date is entitled to one vote.

Q3: | What is a proxy?

A: | A proxy is your legal designation of another person to vote the stock you own. If you designate someone as your proxy or proxy holder in a written document, that document also is called a proxy. Mr. Luther C. Kissam IV and Ms. Karen G. Narwold have been designated as proxies or proxy holders for the Meeting. Proxies properly executed and received by our Secretary prior to the Meeting and not revoked will be voted by the proxy holders in accordance with the instructions provided.

Q4: | What is a voting instruction form?

A: | If you hold your shares of Common Stock in “street name,” you are a beneficial owner of those shares and should receive a “voting instruction form” from your bank, broker, or its nominee who is the record holder of those shares. The voting instruction form provides information on how you may instruct your bank, broker, or its nominee, as record holder, to vote your shares of Common Stock.

Q5: | Why did I receive a notice in the mail regarding the Internet availability of proxy materials instead of a full set of proxy materials?

A: | In accordance with rules adopted by the SEC, we may furnish proxy materials (including this Proxy Statement and our Annual Report) to our shareholders by providing access to such documents on the Internet instead of mailing printed copies. Most shareholders will not receive printed copies of the proxy materials unless they request them. Instead, the Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials (the “Notice”), which was mailed to most of our shareholders, instructs you as to how you may access and review proxy materials on the Internet. The Notice also instructs you as to how you may submit your proxy on the Internet. If you would like to receive a paper or email copy of our proxy materials, you should follow the instructions for requesting such materials in the Notice.

Q6: | How can I access the proxy materials over the Internet?

A: | The Notice, proxy card or voting instruction form contain instructions on how to:

• | View our proxy materials for the Meeting on the Internet and vote your shares; and

• | Instruct us to send our future proxy materials to you electronically by email.

Choosing to receive your future proxy materials by email will save us the cost of printing and mailing documents to you, and will reduce the impact of printing and mailing these materials on the environment. If you choose to receive future proxy materials by email,
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you will receive an email next year with instructions containing a link to those materials and a link to the proxy voting site. Your election to receive proxy materials by email will remain in effect until you revoke it.

Q7: | What proposals will be voted on at the Annual Meeting?

A: | There are three proposals to be considered and voted on at the Annual Meeting. Please see the information included in the Proxy Statement relating to these proposals. The proposals to be voted on are as follows:

1. | To consider and vote on the non-binding advisory resolution approving the compensation of our named executive officers;

2. | To elect the ten nominees named in this Proxy Statement to the Board of Directors to serve for the ensuing year or until their successors are duly elected and qualified; and

3. | To ratify the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2020.

We will also consider other business that properly comes before the Annual Meeting in accordance with Virginia law and our Bylaws.

Q8: | How many shares must be present to hold the Annual Meeting?

A: | In order for the Annual Meeting to be conducted, a majority of the outstanding shares of Common Stock as of the Record Date must be present in person or represented by proxy at the Annual Meeting. This is referred to as a quorum. Abstentions, withheld votes, and shares held of record by a bank, broker or its nominee (“broker shares”) pursuant to a signed proxy or voting instruction form that are voted on any matter (including an abstention or withheld vote by broker shares) are included in determining the number of shares present. Broker shares that are not voted on any matter will not be included in determining whether a quorum is present.

Q9: | What vote is needed to approve the non-binding resolution approving the compensation of our named executive officers?

A: | The approval of the non-binding resolution approving the compensation of our named executive officers requires that the votes cast in favor of the proposal exceed the number of votes cast in opposition to the proposal. Because your vote on this proposal is advisory, it will not be binding on the Board of Directors or the Company. However, the Board of Directors will review the voting results on this resolution and take them into consideration when making future decisions regarding executive compensation.

Q10: | What vote is needed to elect Directors?

A: | The election of each nominee for Director requires that the votes cast for such nominee’s election exceed the votes cast against such nominee’s election; provided, however, that directors shall be elected by a plurality of the votes cast at any meeting of the shareholders if, as of the tenth day preceding the date the Company first mails its notice of meeting for such meeting to the shareholders of the Company, the number of nominees for director exceeds the number of directors to be elected (a contested election). If directors are to be elected by a plurality of the votes cast, the shareholders shall not be permitted to vote against a nominee. In uncontested elections, any Director who does not receive a majority of the votes cast, which means that the number of shares voted “FOR” a Director must exceed the number of shares voted “AGAINST” a Director, must tender his or her resignation to the Board of Directors. The Nominating &

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Governance Committee will make a recommendation to the Board of Directors on whether or not to accept the tendered resignation.

Q11: | What vote is needed to ratify the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP?

A: | The ratification of the appointment of PwC requires that the number of votes cast in favor of the ratification exceeds the number of votes cast in opposition to the ratification.

Q12: | What are the voting recommendations of the Board of Directors?

A: | The Board of Directors recommends that shareholders vote “FOR” approval of the non-binding advisory resolution approving the compensation of our named executive officers, “FOR” all proposed Director nominees, and “FOR” the ratification of the appointment of PwC.

Q13: | How do I vote?

A: | If your shares are registered directly in your name with our transfer agent, EQ Shareowner Services, you are considered a shareholder of record with respect to those shares. If you are a shareholder of record, you may vote your shares using any of the following proxy voting alternatives:

• | By Internet at http://www.ProxyVote.com. Use the Internet to transmit your proxy instructions and for electronic delivery of information up until 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time, on Monday, May 4, 2020.

• | By Telephone by dialing 1.800.690.6903. Use any touch tone telephone to transmit your proxy instructions up until 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time, on Monday, May 4, 2020.

• | By Mail by completing, signing, dating, and returning the enclosed proxy in the postage-paid envelope provided for receipt on or before Monday, May 4, 2020.

• | In Person at the Meeting.

Please carefully consider all of the proxy materials before voting your shares as they contain important information necessary to make an informed decision. Whether or not you plan to attend the Meeting, vote by one of the above methods so that we can be assured of having a quorum present at the Meeting and so that your shares may be voted in accordance with your wishes, even if you later decide to attend the Meeting.
If you hold your shares in “street name” through a bank, broker, or other nominee rather than directly in your own name, you are considered the beneficial owner of those shares. If you are a beneficial owner of shares, you should receive a “voting instruction form” from your bank, broker, or its nominee that holds those shares. The voting instruction form provides information on how you may instruct your bank, broker, or its nominee, as record holder, to vote your shares of Common Stock.
If you attend the Meeting, you may also submit your vote in person, and any votes that you previously submitted – whether via the Internet, telephone, or mail – will be superseded by the vote you cast at the Meeting. If your proxy is properly completed and submitted, whether by the Internet, telephone, or mail, and if you do not revoke it prior to the Meeting, your shares will be voted at the Meeting in accordance with the voting instructions that you provide on your proxy card or, if none are provided, then as recommended by our Board of Directors and as set forth in this Proxy Statement. To vote at the Meeting, shareholders that hold shares in “street name” will need to contact the bank, broker, or other nominee that holds their shares to obtain a “legal proxy” to bring to the Meeting.
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While we intend to hold our annual meeting in person as scheduled, we are sensitive to public health and travel concerns and recommendations that public health officials may issue in light of the evolving coronavirus (COVID-19) situation. As a result, we may impose additional procedures on meeting attendance or may decide to postpone the meeting or hold the meeting solely by means of remote communication (a virtual-only meeting). We will announce any such updates on our website www.albemarle.com, including any postponement and how to access and vote at any virtual meeting, and we encourage you to monitor this website for updates and prior to traveling to the meeting if you plan to attend in person.

Q14: | How will my shares be voted if I sign, date, and return my proxy or voting instruction form, but do not provide complete voting instructions with respect to each proposal?

A: | Shareholders should specify their choice for each matter on the proxy they submit whether by Internet, telephone, mail, or voting instruction form. If no specific instructions are given, it is intended that signed and returned proxies will be voted “FOR” the approval of the non-binding advisory resolution approving the compensation of our named executive officers, “FOR” the election of all Director nominees, and “FOR” the ratification of the appointment of PwC, and, in the discretion of the proxy holders, on any other business proposal which may properly come before the Meeting (the Board of Directors does not presently know of any other such business), with the following two exceptions:

• | Shares of Common Stock held in our Albemarle Corporation Savings Plan (the “Savings Plan”) for which no direction is provided on a properly executed, returned, and unrevoked voting instruction form will be voted proportionately in the same manner as those shares held in our Savings Plan for which timely and valid voting instructions are received with respect to such proposals; and

• | Shares of Common Stock held in our Savings Plan for which timely and valid voting instructions are not received will be considered to have been designated to be voted by the trustee proportionately in the same manner as those shares held in our Savings Plan for which timely and valid voting instructions are received.

Q15: | How will my shares be voted if I do not return my proxy or my voting instruction form?

A: | It will depend on how your ownership of shares of Common Stock is registered. If you own your shares as a registered holder, which means that your shares of Common Stock are registered in your name with EQ Shareowner Services, our transfer agent, your shares will only be voted if EQ Shareowner Services receives specific voting instructions from you. Otherwise, your unvoted shares will not be represented at the Meeting and will not count toward the quorum requirement (which is explained under “Questions and Answers about this Proxy Statement and the Meeting,” “How many shares must be present to hold the Meeting?” on page 67), unless you attend the Meeting to vote them in person.

If you are a shareholder whose shares of Common Stock are held in “street name,” which means that your shares are registered in the name of your bank, broker, or other nominee, your bank, broker, or other nominee may or may not vote your shares in its discretion if you have not provided voting instructions to the bank, broker, or its nominee. Whether the bank, broker, or other nominee may vote your shares depends on the proposals before the Meeting. Under the rules of the NYSE, your broker may vote your shares in its discretion on “routine matters.” Based on the rules of the NYSE, we believe that the ratification of the appointment of PwC as our independent registered public
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accounting firm is a routine matter for which brokerage firms may vote in their discretion on behalf of their clients if no voting instructions are provided. Therefore, if you are a shareholder whose shares of Common Stock are held in “street name” with a bank, broker, or other nominee and you do not return your voting instruction form, your bank, broker, or other nominee may vote your shares on the ratification of the appointment of PwC as our independent registered public accounting firm.
The rules of the NYSE, however, do not permit your bank, broker, or other nominee to vote your shares on proposals that are not considered “routine.” When a proposal is not a routine matter and your bank, broker, or other nominee has not received your voting instructions with respect to that proposal, your bank, broker, or other nominee cannot vote your shares on that proposal. This is called a “broker non-vote.” Your bank, broker, or other nominee may not vote your shares with respect to the election of the Director nominees or the other matters to be considered at the 2020 Annual Meeting (except for the ratification of the appointment of PwC, which is considered routine) in the absence of your specific instructions as to how to vote with respect to each of these matters because, under the rules of the NYSE, these matters are not considered “routine.”

Q16: | How are abstentions and broker non-votes counted?

A: | Broker non-votes will not be included in the vote totals and will have no effect on the other proposals. Abstentions will have no effect on any proposals.

Q17: | What happens if additional matters are presented at the Meeting?

A: | Other than the items of business described in this Proxy Statement, we are unaware of any other business to be acted upon at the Meeting. If you grant a proxy, the proxy holders will have the discretion to vote your shares on any additional matters properly presented for a vote at the Meeting in accordance with Virginia law and our Bylaws.

Q18: | Can I change or revoke my vote?

A: | Any shareholder giving a proxy may change or revoke it at any time before it is voted at the Meeting. A proxy can be changed or revoked by:

• | Delivering a later dated proxy, or written notice of revocation, to our Secretary at the address listed at the top of this Proxy Statement; or

• | Appearing at the Meeting and voting in person.

If you voted by telephone or over the Internet, you can also revoke your vote by any of these methods or you can change your vote by voting again by telephone or over the Internet. If you decide to vote by completing, signing, dating, and returning the enclosed proxy, you should retain a copy of the voter control number found on the proxy in the event that you decide later to change or revoke your proxy by telephone or over the Internet. Your attendance at the Meeting will not by itself revoke a proxy.
If you are a shareholder whose stock is held in “street name” with a bank, broker, or other nominee, you must follow the instructions found on the voting instruction form provided by the bank, broker, or other nominee, or contact your bank, broker, or other nominee in order to change or revoke any voting instructions that you have previously provided on such voting instruction form.

Q19: | Where can I find the results of the Meeting?

A: | We intend to announce preliminary voting results at the Meeting and publish final results through a Current Report on Form 8-K that we will file with the SEC within four business days after the Meeting.

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Q20: | Who pays for the solicitation of proxies?

A: | We will pay for the cost of preparing, assembling, printing, mailing, and distributing these proxy materials and soliciting votes. If you choose to access the proxy materials and/or vote over the Internet, you are responsible for Internet access charges you may incur. If you choose to vote by telephone, you are responsible for telephone charges you may incur. In addition to the mailing of these proxy materials, the solicitation of proxies or votes may be made in person, by telephone, or by electronic communication by our Directors, officers, and employees, who will not receive any additional compensation for such solicitation activities. Alliance Advisors, LLC (“Alliance”) has been engaged to assist in the solicitation of proxies from brokers, nominees, fiduciaries, and other custodians. We will pay Alliance approximately $8,000 for its services and reimburse its out-of-pocket expenses for such items as mailing, copying, phone calls, faxes, and other related matters and will indemnify Alliance against any losses arising out of Alliance’s proxy soliciting services on our behalf.

Q21: | How do I communicate with the Board of Directors?

A: | Shareholders and other interested persons may communicate with the full Board of Directors, a specified Committee of the Board of Directors or a specified individual member of the Board of Directors in writing by mail addressed to Albemarle Corporation, 4250 Congress Street, Suite 900, Charlotte, North Carolina 28209, Attention: Chair of the Nominating & Governance Committee or by electronic mail at governance@albemarle.com. The Chair of the Nominating & Governance Committee and his or her duly authorized agents are responsible for collecting and organizing shareholder communications. Absent a conflict of interest, the Chair of the Nominating & Governance Committee is responsible for evaluating the materiality of each shareholder communication and determining whether further distribution is appropriate, and, if so, whether to (i) the full Board of Directors, (ii) one or more Committee members, (iii) one or more Board members, and/or (iv) other individuals or entities.

Q22: | How will the Meeting be conducted?

A: | The chairperson of the Meeting (as determined in accordance with our Bylaws) will preside over the Meeting and make any and all determinations regarding the conduct of the Meeting. Please note that seating is limited and will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Cameras, recording devices, and other electronic devices are not permitted at the Meeting. No items will be allowed into the Meeting that might pose a concern for the safety of those attending. Additionally, to attend the Meeting you will need to bring identification and proof sufficient to us that you were a shareholder of record as of the Record Date or that you are a duly authorized representative of a shareholder of record as of the Record Date.

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SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS
Under applicable regulations of the SEC, any shareholder desiring to make a proposal to be acted upon at the 2021 annual meeting of shareholders must present such proposal to our Secretary at our principal office at Albemarle Corporation, 4250 Congress Street, Suite 900, Charlotte, North Carolina 28209, not later than 120 calendar days before March 24, 2021, or November 24, 2020 (unless the date of the 2021 annual meeting of shareholders is changed by more than 30 days from the one year anniversary date of the 2020 annual meeting of shareholders, in which case the deadline is a reasonable time before the Company begins to print and send its proxy materials), in order for the proposal to be considered for inclusion in our 2021 Proxy Statement. We anticipate holding the 2021 annual meeting of shareholders on Friday, May 7, 2021.
Our Bylaws provide that for a nomination or other business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a shareholder, the shareholder must have given timely notice thereof in writing to the Secretary of the Company and any such proposed business other than the nominations of persons for election to the Board must constitute a proper matter for shareholder action.
To be timely, a shareholder’s notice relating to matters other than proposals for the Company to include in its proxy statement one or more directors nominated by a shareholder shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Company no later than the close of business on the 90th day or earlier than the close of business on the 120th day prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting; provided, however, that in the event that the date of the annual meeting is more than 30 days before or more than 70 days after such anniversary date, notice by such shareholder must be so delivered not earlier than the close of business on the 120th day prior to such annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the 90th day prior to such annual meeting or the 10th day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made by the Company. The public announcement of an adjournment or postponement of an annual meeting does not commence a new time period, or extend any time period, for the giving of a shareholder’s notice as described above.
A shareholder, or group of up to 20 shareholders, that has owned continuously for at least three years shares of Albemarle stock representing an aggregate of at least 3% of our outstanding shares, may nominate and include in the Company’s proxy materials director nominees constituting up to 20% of the Board, provided that the shareholder(s) and nominee(s) satisfy the requirements in our Bylaws. Notice of proxy access director nominees must be received by the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Company not later than the close of business on the 120th day nor earlier than the close of business on the 150th day prior to the anniversary date of the immediately preceding mailing date for the notice of annual meeting of shareholders.
To be in proper form, a shareholder’s notice to the Secretary must set forth, as to the shareholder giving the notice, the information required pursuant to our Bylaws. The Company may also require shareholders to furnish additional information. The requirements found in our Bylaws are separate from, and in addition to, the requirements of the SEC that a shareholder must meet to have a proposal included in our Proxy Statement.
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CERTAIN MATTERS RELATING TO PROXY MATERIALS
AND ANNUAL REPORTS
Notice and Access
We have elected to provide access to our proxy materials over the Internet under the Securities and Exchange Commission’s “notice and access” rules. We believe that providing our proxy materials over the Internet increases the ability of our shareholders to connect with the information they need, while reducing the environmental impact associated with the printing and delivery of materials. If you want more information, please see “Questions and Answers about this Proxy Statement and the Annual Meeting” starting on page 66.
Electronic Access of Proxy Materials and Annual Reports
This Proxy Statement and the 2019 Annual Report are available on our Internet website at www.albemarle.com (see Investors/Financials/Annual Reports). Shareholders can elect to access future proxy statements and annual reports over the Internet instead of receiving paper copies in the mail. Providing these documents over the Internet will reduce our printing and postage costs and the number of paper documents shareholders would otherwise receive. We will notify shareholders who consent to accessing these documents over the Internet when such documents will be available. Once given, a shareholder’s consent will remain in effect until such shareholder revokes it by notifying us otherwise at Attn: Corporate Secretary, Albemarle Corporation, 4250 Congress Street, Suite 900, Charlotte, North Carolina 28209. Shareholders of record voting by mail can choose this option by marking the appropriate box on the proxy, and shareholders of record voting by telephone or over the Internet can choose this option by following the instructions provided by telephone or over the Internet, as applicable. Beneficial owners whose shares are held in “street name” should refer to the information provided by the institution that holds such beneficial owner’s shares and follow the instructions on how to elect to access future proxy statements and annual reports over the Internet, if this option is provided by such institution. Paper copies of these documents may be requested by writing us at Investor Relations, Albemarle Corporation, 4250 Congress Street, Suite 900, Charlotte, North Carolina 28209 or by telephoning 980.299.5700.
“Householding” of Proxy Materials and Annual Reports for Record Owners
The SEC rules permit us, with your permission, to deliver a single copy of the Notice and, if applicable, the proxy statement and annual report to any household at which two or more shareholders of record reside at the same address. Each shareholder will continue to be able to access and receive separate proxy cards. This procedure, known as “householding,” reduces the volume of duplicate information you receive and helps to reduce our expenses.
Shareholders of record voting by mail can choose this option by marking the appropriate box on the proxy included with the Notice and shareholders of record voting by telephone or over the Internet can choose this option by following the instructions provided by telephone or over the Internet, as applicable. Once given, a shareholder’s consent will remain in effect until such shareholder revokes it by notifying our Secretary as described above. If you revoke your consent, we will begin sending you individual copies of future mailings of these documents within 30 days after we receive your revocation notice. Shareholders of record who elect to participate in householding may also request a separate copy of future proxy statements and annual reports by contacting our Investor Relations department as described above.
Separate Copies for Beneficial Owners
Institutions that hold shares in “street name” for two or more beneficial owners with the same address are permitted to deliver a single copy of the Notice and, if applicable, the proxy statement and
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annual report to that address. Any such beneficial owner can request a separate copy of the Notice (and, if applicable, this Proxy Statement or the 2019 Annual Report) by contacting our Investor Relations department as described above. Beneficial owners with the same address who receive more than one copy of the Notice (or, as applicable, of the Proxy Statement and the 2019 Annual Report) may request delivery of a single copy of the Notice (or, as applicable, the Proxy Statement and the 2019 Annual Report) by contacting our Investor Relations department as described above.
OTHER MATTERS
The Board of Directors is not aware of any matters to be presented for action at the Annual Meeting other than as set forth in this Proxy Statement. However, if any other matters properly come before the Annual Meeting, or any adjournment or postponement thereof, the person or persons voting the proxies will vote them in accordance with their best judgment.
By Order of the Board of Directors

| Karen G. Narwold, Secretary
March 24, 2020 |

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Important Notice Regarding the Internet Availability of Proxy Materials for the Meeting to Be Held on Tuesday, May 5, 2020.
This Proxy Statement and the 2019 Annual Report are both available free of charge at our Internet website at www.albemarle.com (see Investors/Financials/Annual Reports). The 2019 Annual Report is not incorporated by reference into this Proxy Statement and shall not be considered a part of this Proxy Statement or soliciting materials, unless otherwise specifically stated herein. Upon request, we will provide shareholders with paper copies of this Proxy Statement and the 2019 Annual Report, without charge. Requests should be directed to our Investor Relations department as described below:
Albemarle Corporation
4250 Congress Street
Suite 900
Charlotte, NC 28209
Attention: Investor Relations
We make available free of charge through our Internet website www.albemarle.com our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), as well as reports on Forms 3, 4, and 5 filed pursuant to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, as soon as reasonably practicable after such documents are electronically filed with, or furnished to, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). The information on our Internet website is not, and shall not be deemed to be, a part of this Proxy Statement or incorporated into any other filings we make with the SEC.
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