Form 4: Albemarle Director Holly Van Deursen Receives Annual Phantom Stock Award

Albemarle Corporation's Director, Holly Van Deursen, was granted 2,725 phantom stock units as part of her annual non-employee director compensation, vesting on July 1, 2026.

Summary

• Holly Van Deursen, a Director of Albemarle Corporation (ALB), acquired 2,725 phantom stock units.
• The transaction date for this acquisition was July 1, 2025.
• These phantom stock units represent an annual award of non-employee director stock compensation.
• The award was issued under the 2023 Stock Compensation and Deferral Election Plan for Non-Employee Directors of Albemarle Corporation.
• The units will vest on July 1, 2026.
• Each phantom stock unit converts 1 for 1 into common stock.
• The units are payable as shares of common stock upon events established by the reporting person in accordance with the 2023 Directors Plan.
• Following this transaction, Holly Van Deursen beneficially owns 8,692 phantom stock units, which includes dividend equivalent rights.
• A Power of Attorney was granted by Holly A. Van Deursen on June 5, 2025, authorizing specific individuals to prepare and submit SEC filings on her behalf.

Sentiment

Score: 6

Explanation: The document reports a routine, expected compensation event for a director, which is a neutral to slightly positive signal as it aligns director interests with shareholders. There are no negative surprises or significant financial impacts reported.

Positives

• The award of phantom stock units aligns the director's interests with those of shareholders, as the value of the compensation is tied to the company's stock performance.
• The compensation plan (2023 Directors Plan) provides a structured approach to remunerating non-employee directors.

Future Outlook

The 2,725 phantom stock units awarded to Director Holly Van Deursen are scheduled to vest on July 1, 2026, indicating a future milestone for this compensation.

Industry Context

The granting of equity-based compensation, such as phantom stock, to non-employee directors is a common practice across various industries, including the chemicals and materials sector where Albemarle operates. This practice is designed to align the interests of directors with long-term shareholder value.

Comparison to Industry Standards

• The use of phantom stock as director compensation is a standard practice, aligning director incentives with company performance without immediate share issuance.
• The vesting schedule of one year (July 1, 2025, to July 1, 2026) for annual director awards is typical for retaining and incentivizing board members.
• While specific comparable companies' director compensation details are not provided in the document, this type of equity award is consistent with corporate governance best practices seen in large-cap companies like those in the S&P 500.

Corporate Governance

Related Party Transactions

• The phantom stock award to Holly Van Deursen, a director, constitutes a related party transaction as it involves compensation from the company to a member of its board.

Stakeholder Impact

• Shareholders: The award aligns the director's long-term interests with shareholder value, as the phantom stock converts to common stock.

Next Steps

• The phantom stock units are expected to vest on July 1, 2026.
• The units will be payable as shares of common stock upon events established by the reporting person in accordance with the 2023 Directors Plan.

Key Dates

Keywords

Albemarle Corporation, ALB, SEC Form 4, Phantom Stock, Director Compensation, Stock Award, Corporate Governance, Insider Transaction, Equity Compensation, Non-Employee Director