Chemetall Acquires Aluminum Finishing Business of Chemal GmbH & Co. KG


BATON ROUGE, La. – Chemetall, a global business unit of Albemarle Corporation (NYSE: ALB), announced today that it has acquired the business of Chemal GmbH and Co. KG, based in Hamm, Germany. This transaction will enhance Chemetall's integrated portfolio for the Aluminum Finishing industry.



Founded in 1975, Chemal GmbH Co. KG specializes in research and development of surface finishing chemicals for aluminum and its alloys with emphasis on anodizing and pretreatment technologies. With an extensive history of success, Chemal has become a reference point for the surface finishing of aluminum.



"Consisting of advanced pretreatment and anodizing technologies, Chemetall is one of the few players globally positioned with a comprehensive product range for the Aluminium Finishing industry," says Joris Merckx, President Chemetall. "This transaction will expand our expertise in this market and, combined with strong technical services offered by our wholly-owned subsidiaries around the world, will enable us to further expand our presence in a key market."



Chemetall has achieved a growing reputation in the Aluminium Finishing industry. With chrome-free pretreatment technologies, such as the zirconium-titanium Gardobond® X and the silane-based, multi-metal Oxsilan® technology, the company has taken a leading role in launching innovative and high quality processes to the market. "Our customers expect us to deliver a full portfolio of solutions to meet upcoming environmental legislation and achieve process cost savings," says Martin Ings, Global Segment Manager Aluminium Finishing. "With the completion of this acquisition we can offer differentiated products and services to bring true value for our customers with minimal investments," Mr. Ings added.



About Albemarle

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



Chemetall Surface Treatment, a global business unit of Albemarle Corporation, is a leading global supplier of specialty chemicals with a focus on processes for the surface treatment of metals and plastics. To learn more, visit www.chemetall.com.



CONTACT: Investors: Matt Juneau, 225-388-7322, Matt.Juneau@albemarle.com; Albemarle Media: Ashley Mendoza, (225) 388-7137, Ashley.Mendoza@albemarle.com; Chemetall products and service: North America - Julia Murray, VP Global Marketing Communications, Phone: +1 908 508 2107, julia.murray@chemetall.com, Chemetall US, Inc., 675 Central Avenue, New Providence, NJ 07974, USA; Europe, South America, South Africa - Sandra Zirm, Global Marketing, Communications Manager, Phone: +49 69 7165 2308, sandra.zirm@chemetall.com, PR@chemetall.com, Chemetall GmbH, Trakehner Str. 3, D-60487 Frankfurt a. Main, Germany; Asia Pacific - Maggie Zhou, Global Marketing Communications Manager, Phone: +86 21 581 209 296 611, zhouhan@chemetall.com.cn, Shanghai Chemetall Chemicals Co., Ltd., Building 1, 316 Kang Hua Road, Kang Qiao Industrial Zone, PRC-201315 Shanghai, China

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