SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549 ----------- FORM 11-K ANNUAL REPORT Pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ----------- (Mark One): ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE |X| SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 [NO FEE REQUIRED] For the Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 1998 OR TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE |_| SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 [NO FEE REQUIRED] For the transition period from ______ to ______ Commission file number: 33-63525 A. Full title of the plan and the address of the plan, if different from that of the issuer named below: SAVINGS PLAN FOR THE EMPLOYEES OF ETHYL CORPORATION B. Name of issuer of the securities held pursuant to the plan and the address of its principal executive office: Ethyl Corporation P. O. Box 2189 Richmond, Virginia 23218 REQUIRED INFORMATION See Appendix 1. SIGNATURES The Plan. Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the trustees (or other persons who administer the employee benefit plan) have duly caused this annual report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized. SAVINGS PLAN FOR THE EMPLOYEES OF ETHYL CORPORATION BY: /s/ J. Robert Mooney -------------------------------- J. Robert Mooney Chairman of the Savings Plan Committee Dated: July 1, 1999 -2- EXHIBIT INDEX 23.1 Consent of Independent Auditors Appendix 1 SAVINGS PLAN FOR THE EMPLOYEES OF ETHYL CORPORATION ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1998 AND 1997 SAVINGS PLAN FOR THE EMPLOYEES OF ETHYL CORPORATION INDEX OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SCHEDULES PAGES Report of Independent Accountants Financial Statements: Statement of Assets Available for Benefits with Fund Information at December 31, 1998 Statement of Assets Available for Benefits with Fund Information at December 31, 1997 Statement of Changes in Assets Available for Benefits with Fund Information for the Year Ended December 31, 1998 Notes to Financial Statements Supplemental Schedules: Assets Held for Investment Purposes, December 31, 1998 Nonexempt Party-in-Interest Transactions for the Year Ended December 31, 1998 * Obligations in Default for the Year Ended December 31, 1998 * Leases in Default for the Year Ended December 31, 1998 * Reportable Transactions for the Year Ended December 31, 1998 *Trustee reported no such transactions, obligations or leases in default. REPORT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS To the Participants and Administrator of the Savings Plan for the Employees of Ethyl Corporation: In our opinion, the accompanying statements of assets available for benefits and the related statement of changes in assets available for benefits present fairly, in all material respects, the assets available for benefits of the Savings Plan for the Employees of Ethyl Corporation (the "Plan") at December 31, 1998 and 1997, and the changes in assets available for benefits for the year ended December 31, 1998, in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Plan's management; our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits. We conducted our audits of these statements in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards which require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for the opinion expressed above. Our audits were conducted for the purpose of forming an opinion on the basic financial statements taken as a whole. The supplemental schedules of assets held for investment purposes and reportable transactions are presented for the purpose of additional analysis and are not a required part of the basic financial statements but are supplementary information required by the Department of Labor's Rules and Regulations for Reporting and Disclosure under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. The fund information in the statements of assets available for benefits and the statement of changes in assets available for benefits is presented for purposes of additional analysis rather than to present the assets available for plan benefits and changes in assets available for benefits of each fund. These supplemental schedules and fund information are the responsibility of the Plan's management. The supplemental schedules and fund information have been subjected to the auditing procedures applied in the audits of the basic financial statements and, in our opinion, are fairly stated in all material respects in relation to the basic financial statements taken as a whole. Richmond, Virginia June 18, 1999 SAVINGS PLAN FOR THE EMPLOYEES OF ETHYL CORPORATION STATEMENT OF ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS WITH FUND INFORMATION December 31, 1998 Participant Directed --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mutual Funds --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pimco Merrill Merrill Franklin Davis Total Lynch Lynch Small Cap Ivy New York Return Capital Growth Growth International Venture Fund Fund Fund Fund Fund Fund Assets: Cash Investments: Mutual Funds: Pimco Total Return Fund (cost $2,036,285) $1,997,645 Merrill Lynch Capital Fund (cost $5,565,128) $5,457,298 Merrill Lynch Growth Fund (cost $1,578,529) $1,298,667 Franklin Small Cap Fund (cost $4,468,792) $ 4,290,455 Ivy International Fund (cost $1,455,140) $ 1,478,952 Davis New York Venture Fund (cost $2,259,655) $2,448,375 Commingled Trusts: Merrill Lynch Equity Index Trust (cost $23,786,940) Merrill Lynch Retirement Preservation Trust (cost $11,328,033) Common stocks: Ethyl Corporation (cost $30,096,499): Participant directed Non-participant directed Albemarle Corporation (cost $5,357,605) Tredegar Industries, Inc. (cost $925,778) Loans to participants ----------- ------------ ------------- -------------- -------------- ------------ Total investments 1,997,645 5,457,298 1,298,667 4,290,455 1,478,952 2,448,375 Receivables: Interest and dividends ----------- ------------ ------------- -------------- -------------- ---------- Assets available for benefits $1,997,645 $5,457,298 $1,298,667 $4,290,455 $1,478,952 $2,448,375 ========== ============ ============= ============== ============== ========== Participant Directed -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Commingled Trusts Common Stock Loans --------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------- Merrill Merrill Lynch Ethyl Albemarle Tredegar Lynch Retirement Corporation Corporation Industries, Inc. Equity Index Preservation Common Common Common Loans to Trust Trust Stock Fund Stock Fund Stock Fund Participants Assets: Cash $ 16,652 Investments: Mutual Funds: Pimco Total Return Fund (cost $2,036,285) Merrill Lynch Capital Fund(cost $5,565,128) Merrill Lynch Growth Fund (cost $1,578,529) Franklin Small Cap Fund (cost $4,468,792) Ivy International Fund (cost $1,455,140) Davis New York Venture Fund (cost $2,259,655) Commingled Trusts: Merrill Lynch Equity Index Trust (cost $23,786,940) $30,782,833 Merrill Lynch Retirement Preservation Trust (cost $11,328,033) 11,330,330 Common stocks: Ethyl Corporation (cost $30,096,499): Participant directed $ 11,414,540 Non-participant directed Albemarle Corporation (cost $5,357,605) $ 15,647,640 Tredegar Industries, Inc. (cost $925,778) $ 7,975,088 Loans to participants $899,003 ------------- ------------- ------------------- ---------------- -------------- Total investments 30,782,833 11,330,330 11,414,540 15,647,640 7,975,088 899,003 Receivables: Interest and dividends 128,689 66,165 14,194 --------------- ------------- ------------ ------------ ---------- ----------- Assets available for benefits $30,782,833 $11,346,982 $11,543,229 $15,713,805 $7,989,282 $899,003 =============== ============= ============ =========== ========== ============ Non-Participant Directed ---------------- Common Stock ---------------- Ethyl Corporation Common Stock Fund Total Assets: $ 16,652 Cash Investments: Mutual Funds: Pimco Total Return Fund (cost $2,036,285) 1,997,645 Merrill Lynch Capital Fund (cost $5,565,128) 5,457,298 Merrill Lynch Growth Fund (cost $1,578,529) 1,298,667 Franklin Small Cap Fund (cost $4,468,792) 4,290,455 Ivy International Fund (cost $1,455,140) 1,478,952 Davis New York Venture Fund (cost $2,259,655) 2,448,375 Commingled Trusts: Merrill Lynch Equity Index Trust (cost $23,786,940) 30,782,833 Merrill Lynch Retirement Preservation Trust (cost $11,328,033) 11,330,330 Common stocks: Ethyl Corporation (cost $30,096,499): Participant directed 11,414,540 Non-participant directed $ 9,775,539 9,775,539 Albemarle Corporation (cost $5,357,605) 15,647,640 Tredegar Industries, Inc. (cost $925,778) 7,975,088 Loans to participants 899,003 -------------- ------------- Total investments 9,775,539 104,796,365 Receivables: Interest and dividends 106,706 315,754 -------------- ------------- Assets available for benefits $9,882,245 $105,128,771 ============== ============= The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements. SAVINGS PLAN FOR THE EMPLOYEES OF ETHYL CORPORATION STATEMENT OF ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS WITH FUND INFORMATION December 31, 1997 Participant Directed ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Mutual Funds ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Pimco Merrill Merrill Franklin Davis Total Lynch Lynch Small Cap Ivy New York Return Capital Growth Growth International Venture Fund Fund Fund Fund Fund Fund Assets: Cash Investments: Mutual Funds: Pimco Total Return Fund (cost $1,517,808) $1,502,694 Merrill Lynch Capital Fund (cost $5,549,458) $5,442,793 Merrill Lynch Growth Fund (cost $396,654) $406,845 Franklin Small Cap Fund (cost $250,381) $ 257,818 Ivy International Fund (cost $77,807) $78,121 Davis New York Venture Fund (cost $465,317) $473,107 Commingled Trusts: Merrill Lynch Equity Index Trust (cost $26,046,370) Merrill Lynch Retirement Preservation Trust (cost $20,430,188) Common stocks: Ethyl Corporation (cost $28,699,714): Participant directed Non-participant directed Albemarle Corporation (cost $6,440,725) Tredegar Industries, Inc. (cost $437,052) Loans to participants ----------- ------------ ---------- ----------- ----------- ------------ Total investments 1,502,694 5,442,793 406,845 257,818 78,121 473,107 Receivables: Interest and dividends ----------- ------------ ---------- ----------- ----------- ------------ Assets available for benefits $1,502,694 $5,442,793 $406,845 $257,818 $78,121 $473,107 =========== ============ ========== =========== =========== ============ Participant Directed --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Commingled Trusts Common Stock ------------------------------ -------------------------------------------- Merrill Merrill Lynch Ethyl Albemarle Tredegar Lynch Retirement Corporation Corporation Industries, Inc. Equity Index Preservation Common Common Common Trust Trust Stock Fund Stock Fund Stock Fund Assets: Cash $ 15,893 Investments: Mutual Funds: Pimco Total Return Fund (cost $1,517,808) Merrill Lynch Capital Fund(cost $5,549,458) Merrill Lynch Growth Fund (cost $396,654) Franklin Small Cap Fund (cost $250,381) Ivy International Fund (cost $77,807) Davis New York Venture Fund (cost $465,317) Commingled Trusts: Merrill Lynch Equity Index Trust (cost $26,046,370) $26,976,114 Merrill Lynch Retirement Preservation Trust (cost $20,430,188) 20,430,188 Common stocks: Ethyl Corporation (cost $28,699,714): Participant directed $14,557,538 Non-participant directed Albemarle Corporation (cost $6,440,725) $19,961,469 Tredegar Industries, Inc. (cost $437,052) $ 8,923,964 Loans to participants ------------- --------------- ------------- ------------- --------------- Total investments 26,976,114 20,430,188 14,557,538 19,961,469 8,923,964 Receivables: Interest and dividends 261 118,885 75,548 12,174 ------------- --------------- ------------- ------------- --------------- Assets available for benefits $26,976,114 $20,446,342 $14,676,423 $20,037,017 $8,936,138 ============= =============== ============= ============= =============== Participant Non-Participant Directed Directed ----------- --------------- Loans Common Stock ----------- ---------------- Ethyl Corporation Loans to Common Participants Stock Fund Total Assets: Cash $15,893 Investments: Mutual Funds: Pimco Total Return Fund (cost $1,517,808) 1,502,694 Merrill Lynch Capital Fund (cost $5,549,458) 5,442,793 Merrill Lynch Growth Fund (cost $396,654) 406,845 Franklin Small Cap Fund (cost $250,381) 257,818 Ivy International Fund (cost $77,807) 78,121 Davis New York Venture Fund (cost $465,317) 473,107 Commingled Trusts: Merrill Lynch Equity Index Trust (cost $26,046,370) 26,976,114 Merrill Lynch Retirement Preservation Trust (cost $20,430,188) 20,430,188 Common stocks: Ethyl Corporation (cost $28,699,714): Participant directed 14,557,538 Non-participant directed $10,810,984 10,810,984 Albemarle Corporation (cost $6,440,725) 19,961,469 Tredegar Industries, Inc. (cost $437,052) 8,923,964 Loans to participants $91,776 91,776 ----------- --------------- ------------- Total investments 91,776 10,810,984 109,913,411 Receivables: Interest and dividends 86,473 293,341 ----------- --------------- ------------- Assets available for benefits $91,776 $10,897,457 $110,222,645 =========== =============== ============= The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements. SAVINGS PLAN FOR THE EMPLOYEES OF ETHYL CORPORATION STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS WITH FUND INFORMATION December 31, 1998 Participant Directed ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Pimco Merrill Merrill Franklin Total Lynch Lynch Small Cap Ivy Return Capital Growth Growth International Fund Fund Fund Fund Fund Additions: Investment income: Dividends $183,783 $326,302 $23,717 $58,925 $24,271 Interest: Funds Loans to participants 542 3,544 2,238 2,580 1,131 Net appreciation (depreciation) in fair value of investments (12,573) 38,786 (341,461) (211,318) 22,109 ----------- ------------- ------------- ------------- ------------- 171,752 368,632 (315,506) (149,813) 47,511 Contributions: Employee contributions 210,754 849,596 322,429 215,238 67,444 Employer contributions ----------- ------------- ------------- ------------- ------------- 210,754 849,596 322,429 215,238 67,444 ----------- ------------- ------------- ------------- ------------- Total additions 382,506 1,218,228 6,923 65,425 114,955 Deductions: Benefit payments (281,588) (951,656) (4,144) (179,064) (116,160) ----------- ------------ ------------- ------------- ------------- Total deductions (281,588) (951,656) (4,144) (179,064) (116,160) Interfund transfers (net) 394,033 (252,067) 889,043 4,146,276 1,402,036 ----------- ------------ ------------- ------------- ------------- Total deductions and transfers 112,445 (1,203,723) 884,899 3,967,212 1,285,876 ----------- ------------ ------------- ------------- ------------- Net increase (decrease) for the year 494,951 14,505 891,822 4,032,637 1,400,831 Assets available for benefits, December 31, 1997 1,502,694 5,442,793 406,845 257,818 78,121 ----------- ------------ ------------- ------------- ------------- Assets available for benefits, December 31, 1998 $1,997,645 $5,457,298 $1,298,667 $4,290,455 $1,478,952 =========== ============ ============= ============= ============= Participant Directed ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Davis Merrill Merrill Lynch Ethyl New York Lynch Retirement Corporation Venture Equity Index Preservation Common Fund Trust Trust Stock Fund Additions: Investment income: Dividends $54,764 $856,810 $474,571 Interest: Funds 15,813 Loans to participants 1,149 17,864 4,563 9,590 Net appreciation (depreciation) in fair value of investments 190,038 6,966,885 2,297 (3,455,940) ----------- ---------- ------------- -------------- 245,951 6,984,749 879,48 (2,971,779) Contributions: Employee contributions 259,365 2,463,498 540,356 987,709 Employer contributions ----------- ----------- ------------- -------------- 259,365 2,463,498 540,356 987,709 ----------- ----------- ------------- -------------- Total additions 505,316 9,448,247 1,419,839 (1,984,070) Deductions: Benefit payments (228,747) (3,551,017) (6,704,540) (595,609) ---------- ----------- ----------- -------------- Total deductions (228,747) (3,551,017) (6,704,540) (595,609) Interfund transfers (net) 1,698,699 (2,090,511) (3,814,659) (553,515) ---------- ----------- ----------- -------------- Total deductions and transfers 1,469,952 (5,641,528) (10,519,199) (1,149,124) ---------- ----------- ----------- -------------- Net increase (decrease) for the year 1,975,268 3,806,719 (9,099,360) (3,133,194) Assets available for benefits, December 31, 1997 473,107 26,976,114 20,446,342 14,676,423 ---------- ----------- ----------- -------------- Assets available for benefits, December 31, 1998 $2,448,375 $30,782,833 $11,346,982 $11,543,229 ========== =========== =========== ============== Non-Participant Participant Directed Directed ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Albemarle Tredegar Ethyl Corporation Industries, Inc. Corporation Common Common Loans to Common Stock Fund Stock Fund Participants Stock Fund Additions: Investment income: Dividends $268,619 $54,032 $389,119 Interest: Funds Loans to participants 56 364 Net appreciation (depreciation) in fair value of investments (1,021,756) (445,053) (2,833,324) ------------ ----------- ---------------- ------------ (753,081) (390,657) 0 (2,444,205) Contributions: Employee contributions 38,607 32,552 Employer contributions 2,406,851 ------------ ----------- ---------------- ------------- 38,607 32,552 0 2,406,851 ------------ ----------- ---------------- ------------- Total additions (714,474) (358,105) 0 (37,354) Deductions: Benefit payments (1,451,114) (272,984) (10,755) (813,932) ------------ ----------- ---------------- ------------- Total deductions (1,451,114) (272,984) (10,755) (813,932) Interfund transfers (net) (2,157,624) (315,767) 817,982 (163,926) ------------ ----------- ---------------- ------------- Total deductions and transfers (3,608,738) (588,751) 807,227 (977,858) ------------ ----------- ---------------- ------------- Net increase (decrease) for the year (4,323,212) (946,856) 807,227 (1,015,212) Assets available for benefits, December 31, 1997 20,037,017 8,936,138 91,776 10,897,457 ------------ ----------- ---------------- ------------- Assets available for benefits, December 31, 1998 $15,713,805 $7,989,282 $899,003 $9,882,245 ============ =========== ================ ============= ---------------------------------------- Total Additions: Investment income: Dividends $2,714,913 Interest: Funds 15,813 Loans to participants 43,621 Net appreciation (depreciation) in fair value of investments (1,101,310) --------------- 1,673,037 Contributions: Employee contributions 5,987,548 Employer contributions 2,406,851 --------------- 8,394,399 --------------- Total additions 10,067,436 Deductions: Benefit payments (15,161,310) ------------- Total deductions (15,161,310) Interfund transfers (net) 0 ------------- Total deductions and transfers (15,161,310) ------------- Net increase (decrease) for the year (5,093,874) Assets available for benefits, December 31, 1997 110,222,645 ------------- Assets available for benefits, December 31, 1998 $105,128,771 ============= The accompanying notes are an integral part of the Financial Statements. SAVINGS PLAN FOR THE EMPLOYEES OF ETHYL CORPORATION NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES: GENERAL: The accompanying financial statements of the Savings Plan for the Employees of Ethyl Corporation (the "Plan") have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles. ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES: The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires the Plan's management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, and changes therein, and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. Actual results could differ from those estimates. RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES: The Plan provides for various mutual fund investment options in stocks, bonds and fixed income securities as well as direct common stock investments. Investments are exposed to various risks, such as interest rate, market and credit risk. Due to the level of risk associated with certain investment securities and the level of uncertainty related to changes in the value of investment securities, it is at least reasonably possible that changes in risks in the near term would materially affect participants' account balances and the amounts reported in the statements of assets available for benefits and the statement of changes in assets available for benefits. SECURITY VALUATION: Investments are stated at fair value determined as follows: Merrill Lynch Retirement Preservation Trust - Investments in Guaranteed Investment Contracts ("GIC's") Mutual funds and Merrill Lynch - quoted market value Equity Index Trust Common stocks - last published sales price on the New York Stock Exchange Loans to participants - balances due which approximate fair value NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, CONTINUED 1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES, CONTINUED: SECURITY TRANSACTIONS AND RELATED INVESTMENT INCOME: Security transactions are accounted for on a trade-date basis and dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date. Interest income is recorded on the accrual basis. The Plan presents in the statement of changes in assets available for benefits the "net appreciation (depreciation) in the fair value of investments" which consists of realized gains or losses and changes in the unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on those investments. Investment income is allocated to participant accounts in proportion to the participant's account balance. 2. DESCRIPTION OF PLAN: The Plan is a defined contribution plan. It is subject to the provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. Information regarding plan benefits, priority of distributions upon termination of the Plan, and vesting is provided in the plan agreement which is available at the main office of the plan administrator at 330 South Fourth Street, Richmond, Virginia. 3. INVESTMENT FUNDS: Effective November 3, 1997, Merrill Lynch Trust Company of America was appointed investment manager and trustee and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith, Inc. was appointed recordkeeper (collectively "Merrill Lynch" and "ML"). The Plan currently consists of 11 active options as follows: o ETHYL CORPORATION COMMON STOCK FUND - Invested in common stock of Ethyl Corporation; o ALBEMARLE CORPORATION COMMON STOCK FUND - Invested in common stock of Albemarle Corporation; o TREDEGAR INDUSTRIES, INC. COMMON STOCK FUND - Invested in common stock of Tredegar Industries, Inc.; o MERRILL LYNCH RETIREMENT PRESERVATION TRUST - A collective trust maintained by Merrill Lynch Trust Company of America and invested primarily in a broadly diversified portfolio of GIC's and BIC's, synthetic GIC's and separate accounts, in obligations of the U.S. government and U.S. government agency securities, and in high-quality money market securities; o MERRILL LYNCH EQUITY INDEX TRUST - A collective trust maintained by Merrill Lynch Trust Company of America, indexed to the S&P 500 Index and invested in a portfolio of equity securities designed to substantially match the S&P 500 Index; o MERRILL LYNCH CAPITAL FUND - Funds are invested in units of a registered investment company that is invested in domestic and/or foreign equity, debt and convertible securities; NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, CONTINUED 3. INVESTMENT FUNDS, CONTINUED: o MERRILL LYNCH GROWTH FUND - Funds are invested in units of a registered investment company that is invested in equity securities considered undervalued compared to market averages or the investee company's historic values; o PIMCO TOTAL RETURN FUND - Funds are invested in units of a registered investment company that is invested in a diversified portfolio of fixed income securities of varying maturities, including some high-yield and foreign fixed income securities; o DAVIS NEW YORK VENTURE FUNDS - Funds are invested in units of a registered investment company that is invested primarily in common stocks or convertible securities of companies with a market capitalization of at least $250 million. Cash or fixed-income securities may also be included in the portfolio; o FRANKLIN SMALL CAP GROWTH FUND - Funds are invested in a long-term capital growth fund registered investment company that is invested in equity securities of companies with market capitalizations of less than $1 billion at initial investment; and o IVY INTERNATIONAL FUND - Funds are invested in units of a registered investment company that is invested primarily in equity securities traded in European, Pacific Basin and Latin American markets. Participants currently in the Plan may select a program for investment in any of the 11 funds, or in any combination thereof. Contributions made by Ethyl Corporation (the "Company" or "Ethyl") are invested in the non-participant directed portion of the Ethyl Corporation Common Stock Fund, which contains both participant and non-participant directed balances. Transfers may be made between the funds. In addition, participants have a one time election to transfer the Company's contributions to the Ethyl Corporation Common Stock Fund into other funds during the course of their employment. Any shares tendered in connection with Ethyl's offer to purchase shares of its common stock dated August 27, 1997 are not considered as the use of the one time election. NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, CONTINUED 3. INVESTMENT FUNDS, CONTINUED: At December 31, 1998 and 1997, there were 985 and 1,005 active employees, respectively, participating in the Plan. As of December 31, 1998 and 1997, approximately 1,068 and 1,045 employees were eligible to participate in the Plan. Participation in each fund was as follows: NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS* DECEMBER 31, ------------------------------- 1998 1997 Ethyl Corporation Common Stock 1,154 1,241 Tredegar Industries, Inc. Common Stock 321 329 Albemarle Corporation Common Stock 805 951 Loans to Participants 110 17 ML Retirement Preservation Trust 790 960 ML Equity Index Trust 756 786 ML Capital Fund 405 407 ML Growth Fund 132 32 PIMCO Total Return Fund 271 271 Davis New York Venture Fund 167 27 Franklin Small Cap Growth Fund 164 34 Ivy International Fund 73 11 *Includes former employees 4. CONTRIBUTIONS: Participants in the Plan may make pre-tax and/or after-tax contributions from 1% to 15% of their base pay, as defined in the plan document. Any combination of pre-tax and after-tax contributions are subject to the 15% limit. Ethyl makes a matching contribution to the Plan equal to 50% of participant contributions up to 10%. Participant contributions are 100% vested at all times while contributions made by Ethyl are 60% vested after three years of service, 80% vested after four years of service and 100% vested after five years of service. 5. DISTRIBUTIONS: Benefits are recorded when paid. Employees become fully vested in matching and discretionary accounts after completing five years of service. An employee is considered to be partially vested if he or she has completed three to five years of service. Employees may decide whether benefits will be received directly in the form of a lump sum or rolled over to an individual retirement account or to another qualified plan. NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, CONTINUED 6. PARTICIPANT LOANS: Participants may borrow from their fund accounts a minimum of $1,000 up to a maximum equal to the lesser of $50,000 or 50 percent of their vested account balance. Loan transactions are treated as a transfer to (from) the investment fund from (to) the Loan fund. Loans are made over a period not to exceed five years. The loans are collateralized by the balance in the participant's account and bear a reasonable rate of interest determined by the Plan administrator based on a rate of return commensurate with the prevailing interest rate charged on similar commercial loans by persons in the business of lending money. 7. PLAN TERMINATION: Although it has not expressed any intent to do so, Ethyl has the right under the Plan to discontinue its contributions at any time and to terminate the Plan subject to the provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. In the event of Plan termination, participants will become 100% vested in their account balances and the assets of the Plan shall be allocated to participants in proportion to their account balances as of the effective date of termination. 8. FEDERAL INCOME TAXES: The U.S. Treasury Department advised the plan administrator on July 7, 1995 that the Plan, as amended and restated effective March 1, 1994, constitutes a qualified trust under Section 401 of the Internal Revenue Code and therefore is exempt from federal income taxes. The Plan has been amended since March 1, 1994 and was restated effective January 1, 1998. Currently the U.S. Treasury Department has not reviewed the restated plan. However, the plan administrator and the Plan's tax counsel believe the Plan is designed and currently is being operated in compliance with the applicable provisions of the Internal Revenue Code. Therefore, they believe that the Plan was qualified and the related trust was tax-exempt as of the financial statement date. Until such time as participants withdraw all or part of their accumulated account balance, their invested funds are not subject to federal income taxes for contributions made on their behalf by Ethyl or for investment income and gains received on such investments. 9. STOCK PRICES: Closing stock prices per share at December 31 were as follows (as adjusted for stock splits): 1998 1997 Ethyl Corporation Common Stock $ 5.625 $ 7.687 Tredegar Industries, Inc. Common Stock 22.500 21.960 Albemarle Corporation Common Stock 23.750 23.875 NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, CONTINUED 10. ADMINISTRATION EXPENSES: Expenses for administering the Plan are borne entirely by Ethyl and no charge is made to the Plan with respect thereto. 11. FORFEITURES: Employees who leave Ethyl before becoming fully vested in Ethyl contributions forfeit the value of their nonvested account. Forfeitures during a Plan year serve to reduce required Company contributions and are reflected in the statement of changes in assets available for benefits with fund information of the year in which the forfeitures are applied to Ethyl's contribution. For the year ended December 31, 1998, $194,232 of forfeitures became available and were used as a reduction of required Company contributions for the 1998 Plan year. 12. PLAN AMENDMENTS: Effective September 1, 1997, the Plan was amended to provide for the pass through of ownership rights to participants in the Albemarle Corporation Common Stock Fund and the Tredegar Industries, Inc. Common Stock Fund. The Plan was amended and restated effective January 1, 1998, to include all amendments that have been adopted since the Plan's most recent restatement; to effect changes enacted by the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994, the Small Business Job Protection Act of 1996, and the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997; to reflect the appointment of a new Trustee and recordkeeper effective November 1, 1997, and specify the available investment options following this change; to permit rollover contributions into the Plan without Company approval; and certain other changes designed to ease administration. Effective September 1, 1998, the Plan was amended to allow non-highly compensated members as defined by the Plan document to make a pre-tax or after-tax election percentage ranging from a minimum of one percent (1%) to a maximum of 15 percent (15%) to be contributed to the Plan. SAVINGS PLAN FOR THE EMPLOYEES OF ETHYL CORPORATION ITEM 27a - SCHEDULE OF ASSETS HELD FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSES December 31, 1998 EIN: 54-011882 PN:002 (a) (b) Identity of issuer, (c) Description of investment, including borrower, lessor or maturity date, rate of interest, collateral, (d) Cost of (e) Current similar party par or maturity value each item value* ** Ethyl Corporation Common stock $1.00 par value (3,767,125 shares) $30,096,499 $ 21,190,079 Tredegar Industries, Inc. Common stock, no par value (354,448 shares) 925,778 7,975,088 Albemarle Corporation Common stock, $.01 par value (658,848 shares) 5,357,605 15,647,640 Loans to participants bearing interest at 8.5% - 899,003 ** Merrill Lynch Retirement Preservation Trust (11,330,330 units) 11,328,033 11,330,330 ** Merrill Lynch Equity Index Trust (366,803 units) 23,786,940 30,782,833 PIMCO Total Return Fund (189,530 units) 2,036,285 1,997,645 ** Merrill Lynch Capital Fund (158,596 units) 5,565,128 5,457,298 ** Merrill Lynch Growth Fund (60,375 units) 1,578,529 1,298,667 Franklin Small Cap Growth Fund (190,095 units) 4,468,792 4,290,455 Ivy International Fund (35,897 units) 1,455,140 1,478,952 Davis New York Venture Fund (97,896 units) 2,259,655 2,448,375 ----------------- ------------------ Total plan investments $88,858,384 $ 104,796,365 ================= ================== *See Note 1 of notes to financial statements. **Denotes a party in interest to the Plan SAVINGS PLAN FOR THE EMPLOYEES OF ETHYL CORPORATION Item 27 (d) - SCHEDULE OF REPORTABLE TRANSACTIONS for the year ended December 31, 1998 a. b. c. d. e. f. g. Identity of Party Description of Asset (Include Purchase Selling Lease Expense Cost of Asset Involved interest rate and maturity Price Price Rental Incurred in case of a loan) With Trans action(1) PURCHASES *Ethyl Corporation Common stock(2) $ 3,285,176 $ 3,285,176 *Merrill Lynch Equity Index Trust (3) 4,960,372 4,960,372 *Merrill Lynch Retirement Preservation Trust(4) 7,102,903 7,102,903 *Merrill Lynch Pending Settlement Fund(5) 5,343,239 5,343,239 SALES *Ethyl Corporation Common stock(6) 2,861,941 3,256,129 *Merrill Lynch Equity Index Fund(7) 8,120,538 7,219,801 *Merrill Lynch Retirement Preservation Trust(8) 16,205,059 16,205,059 *Merrill Lynch Pending Settlement Fund(9) 5,344,875 5,344,875 * Denotes a party-in-interest to the Plan a. b. h. i. Identity of Party Description of Asset (Include Current Value Net Gain or Involved interest rate and maturity of Asset on (Loss) in case of a loan) Transaction Date PURCHASES *Ethyl Corporation Common stock(2) $ 3,285,176 *Merrill Lynch Equity Index Trust (3) 4,960,372 *Merrill Lynch Retirement Preservation Trust(4) 7,102,903 *Merrill Lynch Pending Settlement Fund(5) 5,343,239 SALES *Ethyl Corporation Common stock(6) 2,861,941 (394,188) *Merrill Lynch Equity Index Fund(7) 8,120,538 900,737 *Merrill Lynch Retirement Preservation Trust(8) 16,205,059 *Merrill Lynch Pending Settlement Fund(9) 5,344,875 * Denotes a party-in-interest to the Plan (1)Ordinary brokerage charges on purchases or sales (5)186 purchase transactions transactions are included in the purchase price (6)408 sales transactions or shown as a reduction of sales price (7)374 sales transactions (2)288 purchase transactions (8)413 sales transactions (3)339 purchase transactions (9)190 sales transactions (4)534 purchase transactions