SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) March 8, 1999
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Albemarle Corporation
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(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Virginia 1-12658 54-1692118
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(State or other jurisdiction (Commission (IRS Employer
of incorporation) File Number) Identification No.)
330 South Fourth Street, Richmond, Virginia 23219
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(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code (804) 788-6000
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Item 5. Other Events.
On March 8, 1999, Albemarle Corporation (the "Company") announced that it will
offer to acquire the outstanding shares of Albright & Wilson plc, headquartered
in London, tendering for shares at 130 pence or about $2.08 per share. Based on
Albright & Wilson's 313.8 million shares outstanding, the offer price is
expected to be approximately $657 million. The offer has been recommended by
Albright & Wilson's Board of Directors. The offer will be made through Albemarle
U.K. Holdings Limited, a newly formed United Kingdom corporation and
wholly-owned indirect subsidiary of the Company.
The offer will not be made to Albright & Wilson's shareholders in the United
States, Japan, Canada or Australia.
Albright & Wilson is a United Kingdom chemicals company with leadership
positions in phosphate chemicals used in beverages and as detergent builders and
in purified phosphoric acid. Albright & Wilson operates in three business areas
- -- phosphates, surfactants and phosphorus derivatives and acrylics -- and its
annual sales are approximately $1 billion to $1.2 billion. Albright & Wilson
employs approximately 5,000 people.
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SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
ALBEMARLE CORPORATION
(Registrant)
Date: March 11, 1999 By: /s/ E. Whitehead Elmore
Name: E. Whitehead Elmore
Title: Senior Vice President
