Basis of Financial Statements (Policies)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2024

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

Basis of Financial Statements

The accompanying unaudited consolidated interim financial statements were prepared in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") for interim periods. Accordingly, certain information and footnotes required for complete financial statements under generally accepted accounting principles in the United States ("U.S. GAAP") have not been included. These interim consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto of Westlake Corporation (the "Company"), included in the annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 (the "2023 Form 10-K"), filed with the SEC on February 22, 2024. These consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with the accounting principles and practices as disclosed in the notes to the consolidated financial statements of the Company for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023. The Company operates as an integrated global manufacturer and marketer of performance and essential materials and housing and infrastructure products. These products include some of the most widely used materials in the world, which are fundamental to many diverse consumer and industrial markets, including residential construction, flexible and rigid packaging, automotive products, healthcare products, materials used in turbines to generate wind energy, water treatment, coatings as well as other durable and non-durable goods. The Company's customers range from large chemical processors and plastics fabricators to small construction contractors, municipalities and supply warehouses throughout North America, Europe and Asia.

In the opinion of the Company's management, the accompanying unaudited consolidated interim financial statements reflect all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring adjustments) that are necessary for a fair statement of the Company's financial position as of March 31, 2024, its results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, and the changes in its cash position for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023.

Results of operations and changes in cash position for the interim periods presented are not necessarily indicative of the results that will be realized for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2024 or any other interim period. The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures (ASU No.2023-09)

In December 2023, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued accounting standards update No. 2023-09 to enhance the transparency and decision-usefulness of income tax disclosures and to provide information to better assess how an entity's operations and related tax risks and tax planning and operational opportunities affect its tax rate and prospects for future cash flows. For public business entities, the amendments in this update are effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2024. The Company is in the process of evaluating the impact of this standard on the Company's disclosures in the financial statements.

Business Combinations—Joint Venture Formations (Subtopic 805-60): Recognition and Initial Measurement (ASU 2023-05)

In August 2023, the FASB issued accounting standards update No. 2023-05 to address the accounting for contributions made to a joint venture, upon formation, in a joint venture's financial statements, and to (1) provide decision-useful information to investors and other allocators of capital (collectively, investors) in a joint venture's financial statements and (2) reduce diversity in practice. Under the ASU, upon formation, a joint venture should recognize and initially measure its assets and liabilities at fair value (with exceptions to fair value measurement that are consistent with guidance for business combinations). The amendments in this update become effective for all joint venture formations with a formation date on or after January 1, 2025. Additionally, a joint venture that was formed before January 1, 2025 may elect to apply the amendments retrospectively if it has sufficient information. Early adoption is permitted in any interim or annual period in which financial statements have not yet been issued (or made available for issuance), either prospectively or retrospectively. The Company does not expect that this accounting standard will have a material impact, upon adoption, on the Company's consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

Recently Adopted Accounting Standards

Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures (ASU 2023-07)

In November 2023, the FASB issued accounting standards update No. 2023-07 to improve reportable segment disclosure requirements, primarily through enhanced disclosures about significant segment expenses. The update requires public entities to disclose, on an annual and interim basis, significant segment expenses that are regularly provided to the chief operating decision maker (CODM), the title and position of the CODM and an explanation of how the CODM uses the reported measure(s) of segment profit or loss in assessing segment performance and deciding how to allocate resources. The amendments in this update are effective for public entities in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024, and are to be applied retrospectively to all prior periods presented in the financial statements. Early adoption is permitted. The Company adopted this accounting standard effective January 1, 2024, and the adoption will result in additional segment disclosures in the Company's annual consolidated financial statements for the year ending December 31, 2024 and the interim periods thereafter.

Leases (Topic 842): Common Control Arrangements (ASU 2023-01)

In March 2023, the FASB issued accounting standards update No. 2023-01 to amend certain provisions of ASC 842 that apply to arrangements between related parties under common control. The update requires all companies to amortize leasehold improvements associated with common control leases over the asset's useful life to the common control group regardless of the lease term. The amendment in this update is effective for all entities in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early application is permitted. The Company adopted this accounting standard effective January 1, 2024, and the adoption did not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows.