BATON ROUGE - Chemicals company Albemarle announced Tuesday they will move their headquarters and other parts of their business out of Baton Rouge next year.

The company announced they will be relocating their HQ and Performance Chemicals business to Charlotte, N. C., and their Refining Solutions business to Clear Lake, Texas in June 2016. They will keep their research and development, some manufacturing, and other support and functional operations in Baton Rouge.

Luke Kissam, Albemarle's president and CEO, said 120 employees will be relocated to either Texas or North Carolina as part of the move, leaving 500 in the Baton Rouge area.

"As we look at the ever-increasing demands for communication, collaboration and mobility for our employees and our customers, Charlotte is the best strategic location to base the new Albemarle," said Luke Kissam, Albemarle's president and chief executive officer.

Albemarle acquired Rockwood Holdings, Inc. in January as part of a $5.7 billion deal. The acquisition doubled the company's size to 6,900 employees and increased their global reach to 100 countries.

Kissam said they were grateful to the community for their years spent in Baton Rouge, where they relocated to from Richmond, Va. in 2008.

"Through the Albemarle Foundation, our employees have donated over $11 million and countless hours toward enhancing the community, and we look forward to continuing this work well into the future," he said.

Albemarle began as a paper company in 1887 before transforming into a chemical manufacturer. Today they produce several chemicals including bromine, lithium, and flame-retardant chemicals.