EX-99.1 2 ex991_160630earningsrelease.htm EXHIBIT 99.1 Exhibit


EXHIBIT 99.1
WESTLAKE CHEMICAL CORPORATION

Contact—(713) 960-9111
Investors—Steve Bender
Media—Ben Ederington

 

Westlake Chemical Corporation Announces Second Quarter 2016 Earnings

•
Entered into a definitive agreement in June to acquire Axiall Corporation, a leading North American manufacturer and international marketer of integrated chlorovinyls and vinyl-based building and home improvement products
•
Cash flow from operations of $369.9 million for the first six months of 2016
Westlake Chemical Corporation (NYSE: WLK) today reported net income for the three months ended June 30, 2016 of $111.1 million, or $0.85 per diluted share, on net sales of $1,086.1 million. This represents a decrease in net income of $94.0 million, or $0.69 per diluted share, compared to the quarter ended June 30, 2015 net income of $205.1 million, or $1.54 per diluted share, on net sales of $1,185.0 million. Net income for the second quarter of 2016 was impacted by (1) pre-tax unabsorbed fixed manufacturing costs and other costs associated with the planned turnaround and expansion of the Lake Charles Petro 1 ethylene unit, an unplanned outage at the Calvert City, Kentucky facility and unplanned outages at other chemical facilities totaling approximately $65.7 million, or $0.33 per diluted share, (2) lost sales associated with such turnarounds and outages, and (3) pre-tax acquisition-related costs of approximately $7.7 million, or $0.04 per diluted share, related to the pending Axiall acquisition. Net income for the second quarter of 2015 included a net pre-tax gain of $15.5 million, or $0.13 per diluted share, related to the bargain purchase gain from the acquisition of a controlling interest in Suzhou Huasu Plastics Co., Ltd. ("Huasu") and the partial impairment of an equity method investment. Net sales for the second quarter of 2016 decreased by $98.9 million compared to net sales for the second quarter of 2015, mainly due to lower sales prices for all our major products and lower sales volumes for polyethylene, ethylene and ethylene co-products, partially offset by higher sales volumes for PVC resin and styrene and sales contributed by Huasu. We acquired a controlling interest in Huasu in June 2015. Sales prices in the second quarter of 2016 were negatively impacted by lower crude oil prices as compared to the prior-year period. Income from operations was $179.9 million for the second quarter of 2016 as compared to $295.4 million for the second quarter of 2015. The decrease in income from operations for the second quarter of 2016 was mainly a result of the lost sales, lower production rates, unabsorbed fixed manufacturing costs and other costs associated with the planned turnaround and expansion of the Lake Charles Petro 1 ethylene unit, the unplanned outage at the Calvert City facility and other unplanned outages. In addition, income from operations for the second quarter of 2016 was impacted by lower sales prices for all of our major products and costs related to the pending Axiall acquisition. This decrease was partially offset by lower average feedstock and energy costs and higher product margins at our European operations, as compared to the second quarter of 2015.
Second quarter 2016 net income of $111.1 million, or $0.85 per diluted share, decreased $12.0 million, or $0.09 per diluted share, from the $123.1 million reported in the first quarter of 2016. Net sales in the second quarter of 2016 were $1,086.1 million compared to net sales of $975.2 million in the first quarter of 2016, an increase of $110.9 million. The increase in net sales was largely due to higher sales prices for most of our major products, higher sales volumes for polyethylene, specialty PVC resin, building products and styrene, and sales contributed by Huasu. Second quarter 2016 income from operations of $179.9 million decreased $22.4 million from the first quarter 2016 income from operations of $202.3 million. The decrease was primarily due to lost sales, lower production rates, unabsorbed fixed manufacturing costs and other costs associated with the planned turnaround and expansion of the Lake Charles Petro 1 ethylene unit, the unplanned outage at our Calvert City facility and other unplanned outages. The decrease in operating income was partially offset by higher integrated product margins.
For the six months ended June 30, 2016, net income for Westlake Chemical Corporation was $234.3 million, or $1.79 per diluted share, on net sales of $2,061.2 million. This represents a decrease in net income of $117.1 million, or $0.85 per diluted share, from the six months ended June 30, 2015 net income of $351.4 million, or $2.64 per diluted share, on net sales of $2,288.5 million. Net income for the six months ended June 30, 2016 was impacted by (1) pre-tax unabsorbed fixed manufacturing costs and other costs associated with the planned turnaround and expansion of the Lake Charles Petro 1 ethylene

i


unit, the unplanned outage at the Calvert City facility and the unplanned outages at other chemical facilities totaling approximately $67.5 million, or $0.34 per diluted share, (2) lost sales related to the outages, and (3) pre-tax acquisition-related costs of approximately $9.4 million, or $0.05 per diluted share, related to the pending Axiall acquisition. Net income for the six months ended June 30, 2015 included a net pre-tax gain of $15.5 million, or $0.13 per diluted share, related to the bargain purchase gain from the acquisition of a controlling interest in Huasu and the partial impairment of an equity method investment. Net sales for the six months ended June 30, 2016 decreased by $227.3 million compared to the prior-year period, primarily due to lower sales prices for all our major products and lower sales volumes for ethylene and ethylene co-products, partially offset by higher sales volumes for PVC resin and styrene and sales contributed by Huasu. Income from operations was $382.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2016 as compared to $524.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2015, a decrease mainly attributable to the lost sales, lower production rates, unabsorbed fixed manufacturing costs and other costs associated with the planned turnaround and expansion of the Lake Charles Petro 1 ethylene unit, the unplanned outage at the Calvert City facility and other unplanned outages. In addition, income from operations for the six months ended June 30, 2016 was impacted by lower sales prices and costs related to the pending Axiall acquisition, partially offset by lower average feedstock and energy costs and higher product margins at our European operations, as compared to the prior-year period.
"We are excited about our recently announced pending acquisition of Axiall Corporation, which we believe should add meaningfully to the earnings potential of our company, and we look forward to welcoming the Axiall employees into the Westlake family. We achieved solid earnings for the second quarter, despite the impact of the planned and unplanned outages at our Lake Charles and Calvert City sites, however we benefited from improving product margins and increased sales volumes for our end-products.  We are pleased to have recently completed the expansion of our Petro 1 ethylene unit, which we are currently in the process of restarting. This expansion adds 250 million pounds of ethylene capacity, and further strengthens our olefins integration," said Albert Chao, President and Chief Executive Officer.
Net cash provided by operating activities was $241.0 million for the second quarter of 2016 and $369.9 million for the first six months of 2016. Capital expenditures for the six months of 2016 were $287.2 million. As of June 30, 2016, we had cash, cash equivalents and current marketable securities of $1.1 billion and our long-term debt was $758.5 million.
EBITDA (earnings before interest expense, income taxes, depreciation and amortization) of $255.4 million for the second quarter of 2016 decreased $122.4 million compared to EBITDA of $377.8 million in the second quarter of 2015. EBITDA for the second quarter of 2016 decreased $15.2 million compared to EBITDA of $270.6 million in the first quarter of 2016. A reconciliation of EBITDA to reported net income and to net cash provided by operating activities can be found in the financial schedules at the end of this press release.

OLEFINS SEGMENT
The Olefins segment reported income from operations of $140.6 million in the second quarter of 2016, a decrease of $80.3 million, from the $220.9 million operating income reported in the second quarter of 2015. This decrease was mainly attributable to the lost sales, lower production rates, unabsorbed fixed manufacturing costs and other costs related to the planned turnaround and expansion of the Lake Charles Petro 1 ethylene unit and several unplanned outages in the second quarter of 2016. In addition, lower sales prices, partially offset by lower feedstock and energy costs, resulted in lower olefins integrated product margins for the second quarter of 2016 as compared to the prior-year period.
The Olefins segment income from operations of $140.6 million for the second quarter of 2016 decreased by $8.6 million from the $149.2 million reported in the first quarter of 2016. The lower operating income was primarily attributable to lost sales, lower production rates, unabsorbed fixed manufacturing costs and other costs related to the planned turnaround and expansion of the Lake Charles Petro 1 ethylene unit and other unplanned outages in the second quarter of 2016. This decrease was partially offset by higher integrated margins and higher sales volumes for polyethylene and styrene in the second quarter of 2016 as compared to the first quarter of 2016.
The Olefins segment reported income from operations of $289.8 million for the six months ended June 30, 2016 as compared to income from operations of $412.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2015, a decrease of $122.2 million. This decrease was mainly attributable to the lost sales, lower production rates, unabsorbed fixed manufacturing costs and other costs related to the planned turnaround and expansion of the Lake Charles Petro 1 ethylene unit and other unplanned outages in the first six months of 2016. In addition, olefins integrated product margins decreased primarily as a result of lower sales prices, partially offset by lower feedstock and energy costs, for the six months ended June 30, 2016 as compared to the prior-year period.


ii


VINYLS SEGMENT
The Vinyls segment reported income from operations of $52.2 million in the second quarter of 2016, a decrease of $35.8 million, compared to the $88.0 million of income from operations reported in the second quarter of 2015. This decrease was mainly caused by the lost sales, lower production rates, unabsorbed fixed manufacturing costs and other costs associated with the unplanned outage at the Calvert City facility, costs incurred related to several planned maintenance turnarounds completed in the second quarter of 2016 and lower sales prices for all of our major products, partially offset by higher product margins at our European operations, as compared to the prior-year period.
The Vinyls segment income from operations of $52.2 million for the second quarter of 2016 decreased by $9.9 million from the $62.1 million reported in the first quarter of 2016. This decrease was primarily attributable to lost sales, lower production rates, unabsorbed fixed manufacturing costs and other costs associated with the unplanned outage at our Calvert City facility and costs incurred related to several planned maintenance turnarounds completed in the second quarter of 2016, partially offset by higher integrated margins.
The Vinyls segment reported income from operations of $114.3 million for the six months ended June 30, 2016 as compared to income from operations of $135.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2015, a decrease of $20.8 million. This decrease was mainly caused by lost sales, lower production rates, unabsorbed fixed manufacturing costs and other costs associated with the unplanned outage at the Calvert City facility and costs incurred related to several planned maintenance turnarounds completed in the first six months of 2016. Income from operations for the six months ended June 30, 2016 was also lower as a result of lower sales prices for our major products, partially offset by higher product margins at our European operations and higher caustic soda sales volume primarily attributable to higher production rates at our Geismar, Louisiana chlor-alkali plant, as compared to the prior-year period.

The statements in this release and the related teleconference relating to matters that are not historical facts, such as statements regarding the results of expansion projects, the completion of our pending acquisition of Axiall Corporation and anticipated earnings potential of our company and other benefits of the pending acquisition, are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially, based on factors including, but not limited to: general economic and business conditions; the cyclical nature of the chemical industry; availability, cost and volatility of raw materials and utilities, including natural gas from shale production; the price of crude oil; uncertainties associated with the United States and worldwide economies, including those due to global economic and financial conditions; governmental regulatory actions, including environmental regulation; political unrest; industry production capacity and operating rates; the supply/demand balance for Westlake's products; competitive products and pricing pressures; access to capital markets; technological developments; our ability to consummate the Axiall acquisition; our ability to realize anticipated benefits of the Axiall acquisition and to integrate Axiall's business; the effect and results of litigation and settlements of litigation; operating interruptions; and other risk factors. For more detailed information about the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, please refer to Westlake's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015, which was filed with the SEC in February 2016 and the risk factors in our other filings with the SEC.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures
This release makes reference to certain "non-GAAP" financial measures, such as EBITDA, as defined in Regulation G of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. We report our financial results in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("U.S. GAAP"), but believe that certain non-GAAP financial measures, such as EBITDA, provide useful supplemental information to investors regarding the underlying business trends and performance of the company's ongoing operations and are useful for period-over-period comparisons of such operations. These non-GAAP financial measures should be considered as a supplement to, and not as a substitute for, or superior to, the financial measures prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. A reconciliation of EBITDA to reported net income and to net cash provided by operating activities can be found in the financial schedules at the end of this press release.


iii


Westlake Chemical Corporation Conference Call Information:
A conference call to discuss Westlake Chemical Corporation's second quarter 2016 results will be held Thursday, July 28, 2016 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time (4:00 p.m. Central Time). To access the conference call, dial (855) 760-8160, or (704) 288-0624 for international callers, approximately 10 minutes prior to the scheduled start time and reference passcode 49754021.
A replay of the conference call will be available beginning two hours after its conclusion until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on Thursday, August 4, 2016. To hear a replay, dial (855) 859-2056, or (404) 537-3406 for international callers. The replay passcode is 49754021.
The conference call will also be available via webcast at: http://edge.media-server.com/m/p/ovvhg8qt and the earnings release can be obtained via the company's web page at: http://www.westlake.com/investor-relations.


iv



WESTLAKE CHEMICAL CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Unaudited)
 
 
Three Months Ended June 30,
 
Six Months Ended June 30,
 
 
2016
 
2015
 
2016
 
2015
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(In thousands of dollars, except per share data)
Net sales
 
$
1,086,061

 
$
1,185,002

 
$
2,061,248

 
$
2,288,533

Cost of sales
 
844,695

 
831,821

 
1,564,297

 
1,650,806

Gross profit
 
241,366

 
353,181

 
496,951

 
637,727

Selling, general and administrative expenses
 
61,428

 
57,807

 
114,737

 
113,073

Income from operations
 
179,938

 
295,374

 
382,214

 
524,654

Interest expense
 
(5,915
)
 
(8,958
)
 
(12,600
)
 
(18,549
)
Other income, net
 
8,181

 
22,058

 
10,826

 
31,154

Income before income taxes
 
182,204

 
308,474

 
380,440

 
537,259

Provision for income taxes
 
66,584

 
98,413

 
135,884

 
176,791

Net income
 
115,620

 
210,061

 
244,556

 
360,468

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests
 
4,496

 
4,966

 
10,304

 
9,031

Net income attributable to
   Westlake Chemical Corporation
 
$
111,124

 
$
205,095

 
$
234,252

 
$
351,437

Earnings per common share attributable to
   Westlake Chemical Corporation:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic
 
$
0.85

 
$
1.55

 
$
1.80

 
$
2.65

Diluted
 
$
0.85

 
$
1.54

 
$
1.79

 
$
2.64


v



WESTLAKE CHEMICAL CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Unaudited)
 
 
June 30,
2016
 
December 31,
2015
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(In thousands of dollars)
ASSETS
 
 
 
 
Current assets
 
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
 
$
770,997

 
$
662,525

Marketable securities
 
352,021

 
520,144

Accounts receivable, net
 
582,855

 
508,532

Inventories
 
448,526

 
434,060

Other current assets
 
35,642

 
49,928

Total current assets
 
2,190,041

 
2,175,189

Property, plant and equipment, net
 
3,230,523

 
3,004,067

Other assets, net
 
500,000

 
390,029

Total assets
 
$
5,920,564

 
$
5,569,285

 
 
 
 
 
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
 
 
 
 
Current liabilities (accounts payable and accrued liabilities)
 
$
620,101

 
$
522,642

Long-term debt
 
758,453

 
758,148

Other liabilities
 
804,574

 
726,564

Total liabilities
 
2,183,128

 
2,007,354

Total Westlake Chemical Corporation stockholders' equity
 
3,439,163

 
3,265,878

Noncontrolling interests
 
298,273

 
296,053

Total equity
 
3,737,436

 
3,561,931

Total liabilities and equity
 
$
5,920,564

 
$
5,569,285


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WESTLAKE CHEMICAL CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Unaudited)
 
 
Six Months Ended June 30,
 
 
2016
 
2015
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(In thousands of dollars)
Cash flows from operating activities
 
 
 
 
Net income
 
$
244,556

 
$
360,468

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
 
 
 
 
Depreciation and amortization
 
132,964

 
118,981

Deferred income taxes
 
102,990

 
3,088

Other balance sheet changes
 
(110,618
)
 
(47,182
)
Net cash provided by operating activities
 
369,892

 
435,355

Cash flows from investing activities
 
 
 
 
Additions to property, plant and equipment
 
(287,160
)
 
(203,933
)
Proceeds from sales and maturities of securities
 
302,432

 
15,037

Purchase of securities
 
(138,422
)
 
—

Other, net
 
(3,267
)
 
14,608

Net cash used for investing activities
 
(126,417
)
 
(174,288
)
Cash flows from financing activities
 
 
 
 
Debt issuance costs
 
(9,700
)
 
—

Dividends paid
 
(47,317
)
 
(43,896
)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests
 
(8,084
)
 
(7,218
)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options
 
481

 
831

Proceeds from issuance of notes payable
 
3,842

 
2,392

Repayment of notes payable
 
(8,626
)
 
(4,299
)
Repurchase of common stock for treasury
 
(67,404
)
 
(62,804
)
Other, net
 
319

 
1,895

Net cash used for financing activities
 
(136,489
)
 
(113,099
)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents
 
1,486

 
(2,000
)
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents
 
108,472

 
145,968

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
 
662,525

 
880,601

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
 
$
770,997

 
$
1,026,569


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WESTLAKE CHEMICAL CORPORATION
SEGMENT INFORMATION
(Unaudited)
 
 
Three Months Ended June 30,
 
Six Months Ended June 30,
 
 
2016
 
2015
 
2016
 
2015
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(In thousands of dollars)
Net external sales
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Olefins
 
$
494,484

 
$
620,878

 
$
925,504

 
$
1,203,955

Vinyls
 
591,577

 
564,124

 
1,135,744

 
1,084,578

 
 
$
1,086,061

 
$
1,185,002

 
$
2,061,248

 
$
2,288,533

Income (loss) from operations
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Olefins
 
$
140,564

 
$
220,938

 
$
289,799

 
$
412,041

Vinyls
 
52,208

 
87,966

 
114,324

 
135,052

Corporate and other
 
(12,834
)
 
(13,530
)
 
(21,909
)
 
(22,439
)
 
 
$
179,938

 
$
295,374

 
$
382,214

 
$
524,654

Depreciation and amortization
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Olefins
 
$
30,236

 
$
27,623

 
$
58,933

 
$
54,562

Vinyls
 
36,268

 
32,599

 
72,555

 
64,183

Corporate and other
 
746

 
118

 
1,476

 
236

 
 
$
67,250

 
$
60,340

 
$
132,964

 
$
118,981

Other income (expense), net
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Olefins
 
$
1,093

 
$
(104
)
 
$
2,606

 
$
2,448

Vinyls
 
4,466

 
1,413

 
2,949

 
6,916

Corporate and other
 
2,622

 
20,749

 
5,271

 
21,790

 
 
$
8,181

 
$
22,058

 
$
10,826

 
$
31,154


viii



WESTLAKE CHEMICAL CORPORATION
RECONCILIATION OF EBITDA TO NET INCOME AND
TO NET CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES
(Unaudited)
 
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
Three Months Ended June 30,
 
Six Months Ended June 30,
 
 
2016
 
2016
 
2015
 
2016
 
2015
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(In thousands of dollars)
EBITDA
 
$
270,635

 
$
255,369

 
$
377,772

 
$
526,004

 
$
674,789

Less:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Provision for income taxes
 
69,300

 
66,584

 
98,413

 
135,884

 
176,791

Interest expense
 
6,685

 
5,915

 
8,958

 
12,600

 
18,549

Depreciation and amortization
 
65,714

 
67,250

 
60,340

 
132,964

 
118,981

Net income
 
128,936

 
115,620

 
210,061

 
244,556

 
360,468

Changes in operating assets and liabilities
 
(58,638
)
 
80,984

 
36,981

 
22,346

 
71,799

Deferred income taxes
 
58,637

 
44,353

 
(2,243
)
 
102,990

 
3,088

Net cash provided by operating activities
 
$
128,935

 
$
240,957

 
$
244,799

 
$
369,892

 
$
435,355


ix



WESTLAKE CHEMICAL CORPORATION
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
Product Sales Price and Volume Variance by Operating Segments
 
 
Second Quarter 2016 vs. Second Quarter 2015
 
Second Quarter 2016 vs. First Quarter 2016
 
 
Average
Sales Price
 
Volume
 
Average
Sales Price
 
Volume
Olefins
 
-12.1
 %
 
-8.3
 %
 
+9.0
%
 
+5.7
%
Vinyls
 
-6.2
 %
 
+11.1
 %
 
+4.9
%
 
+3.9
%
Company
 
-9.3
 %
 
+0.9
 %
 
+6.7
%
 
+4.7
%

Average Quarterly Industry Prices (1) 
 
 
Quarter Ended
 
 
June 30,
2015
 
September 30,
2015
 
December 31,
2015
 
March 31,
2016
 
June 30,
2016
Ethane (cents/lb)
 
6.2
 
6.4
 
5.9
 
5.3
 
6.8
Propane (cents/lb)
 
10.8
 
9.6
 
9.9
 
9.1
 
11.7
Ethylene (cents/lb) (2)
 
36.1
 
28.2
 
21.4
 
21.1
 
25.9
Polyethylene (cents/lb) (3)
 
78.3
 
75.3
 
71.0
 
68.3
 
75.0
Styrene (cents/lb) (4)
 
65.8
 
64.2
 
58.3
 
58.0
 
65.2
Caustic soda ($/short ton) (5)
 
576.7
 
563.3
 
595.8
 
582.5
 
611.7
Chlorine ($/short ton) (6)
 
268.3
 
275.0
 
285.0
 
285.0
 
296.7
PVC (cents/lb) (7)
 
67.5
 
66.5
 
64.5
 
64.8
 
70.5
________________
(1)
Industry pricing data was obtained from IHS Chemical. We have not independently verified the data.
(2)
Represents average North American spot prices of ethylene over the period as reported by IHS Chemical.
(3)
Represents average North American contract prices of polyethylene low density GP-Film grade over the period as reported by IHS Chemical.
(4)
Represents average North American contract prices of styrene over the period as reported by IHS Chemical.
(5)
Represents average North American undiscounted contract prices of caustic soda over the period as reported by IHS Chemical.
(6)
Represents average North American contract prices of chlorine (into chemicals) over the period as reported by IHS Chemical.
(7)
Represents average North American contract prices of PVC over the period as reported by IHS Chemical.


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