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WESTLAKE CORP - Quarter Report: 2016 March (Form 10-Q)


UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 
 
 
 
 
Form 10-Q
 
 
 
 
 
x
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2016
or
¨
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
For the Transition Period from                    to                    
Commission File No. 001-32260
 
 
 
 
 
Westlake Chemical Corporation
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
 
 
 
 
 

Delaware
 
76-0346924
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
 
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification Number)
2801 Post Oak Boulevard, Suite 600
Houston, Texas 77056
(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)
(713) 960-9111
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.     Yes   x     No   ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).     Yes   x     No   ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See definitions of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer" and "smaller reporting company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act (Check one):
Large accelerated filer
 
x
 
Accelerated filer
 
¨
Non-accelerated filer
 
¨  (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
 
Smaller reporting company
 
¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act)     Yes   ¨     No   x
The number of shares outstanding of the registrant's sole class of common stock as of April 27, 2016 was 130,306,311.


INDEX

 
 
Item
Page
 
 
 
 

Table of Contents


PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1. Financial Statements
WESTLAKE CHEMICAL CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Unaudited)
 
 
March 31,
2016
 
December 31,
2015
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(in thousands of dollars, except
par values and share amounts)
ASSETS
 
 
 
 
Current assets
 
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
 
$
614,976

 
$
662,525

Marketable securities
 
525,008

 
520,144

Accounts receivable, net
 
549,037

 
508,532

Inventories
 
478,656

 
434,060

Prepaid expenses and other current assets
 
24,057

 
14,489

Deferred income taxes
 
—

 
35,439

Total current assets
 
2,191,734

 
2,175,189

Property, plant and equipment, net
 
3,114,821

 
3,004,067

Equity investments
 
9,431

 
9,208

Other assets, net
 
 
 
 
Intangible assets, net
 
213,508

 
213,404

Deferred charges and other assets, net
 
194,907

 
167,417

Total other assets, net
 
408,415

 
380,821

Total assets
 
$
5,724,401

 
$
5,569,285

LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
 
 
 
 
Current liabilities
 
 
 
 
Accounts and notes payable
 
$
257,384

 
$
235,329

Accrued liabilities
 
248,777

 
287,313

Total current liabilities
 
506,161

 
522,642

Long-term debt, net
 
758,300

 
758,148

Deferred income taxes
 
609,752

 
575,603

Other liabilities
 
145,786

 
150,961

Total liabilities
 
2,019,999

 
2,007,354

Commitments and contingencies (Notes 8 and 18)
 


 


Stockholders' equity
 
 
 
 
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value, 50,000,000 shares authorized;
   no shares issued and outstanding
 
—

 
—

Common stock, $0.01 par value, 300,000,000 shares authorized;
   134,663,244 shares issued at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015
 
1,347

 
1,347

Common stock, held in treasury, at cost; 4,372,222 and 4,444,898 shares
   at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively
 
(256,459
)
 
(258,312
)
Additional paid-in capital
 
542,886

 
542,148

Retained earnings
 
3,209,415

 
3,109,987

Accumulated other comprehensive loss
 
(90,663
)
 
(129,292
)
Total Westlake Chemical Corporation stockholders' equity
 
3,406,526

 
3,265,878

Noncontrolling interests
 
297,876

 
296,053

Total equity
 
3,704,402

 
3,561,931

Total liabilities and equity
 
$
5,724,401

 
$
5,569,285

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

1
Table of Contents


WESTLAKE CHEMICAL CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Unaudited)
 
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
 
2016
 
2015
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(in thousands of dollars, except
per share data and share amounts)
Net sales
 
$
975,187

 
$
1,103,531

Cost of sales
 
719,602

 
818,985

Gross profit
 
255,585

 
284,546

Selling, general and administrative expenses
 
53,309

 
55,266

Income from operations
 
202,276

 
229,280

Other income (expense)
 
 
 
 
Interest expense
 
(6,685
)
 
(9,591
)
Other income, net
 
2,645

 
9,096

Income before income taxes
 
198,236

 
228,785

Provision for income taxes
 
69,300

 
78,378

Net income
 
128,936

 
150,407

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests
 
5,808

 
4,065

Net income attributable to Westlake Chemical Corporation
 
$
123,128

 
$
146,342

Earnings per common share attributable to Westlake Chemical Corporation:
 
 
 
 
Basic
 
$
0.94

 
$
1.10

Diluted
 
$
0.94

 
$
1.10

Weighted average common shares outstanding:
 
 
 
 
Basic
 
130,189,964

 
132,714,566

Diluted
 
130,600,514

 
133,205,306

Dividends per common share
 
$
0.1815

 
$
0.1650

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

2
Table of Contents


WESTLAKE CHEMICAL CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(Unaudited)
 
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
 
2016
 
2015
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(in thousands of dollars)
Net income
 
$
128,936

 
$
150,407

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of income taxes
 
 
 
 
Pension and other post-retirement benefits liability
 
 
 
 
Amortization of benefits liability
 
334

 
652

Income tax provision on pension and other post-retirement benefits liability
 
(128
)
 
(225
)
Foreign currency translation adjustments
 
22,805

 
(59,698
)
Available-for-sale investments
 
 
 
 
Unrealized holding gains on investments
 
24,428

 
1,626

Reclassification of net realized gains to net income
 
(52
)
 
—

Income tax provision on available-for-sale investments
 
(8,758
)
 
(584
)
Other comprehensive income (loss)
 
38,629

 
(58,229
)
Comprehensive income
 
167,565

 
92,178

Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests, net of tax
 
5,808

 
4,065

Comprehensive income attributable to Westlake Chemical Corporation
 
$
161,757

 
$
88,113

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

3
Table of Contents


WESTLAKE CHEMICAL CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Unaudited)
 
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
 
2016
 
2015
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(in thousands of dollars)
Cash flows from operating activities
 
 
 
 
Net income
 
$
128,936

 
$
150,407

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities
 
 
 
 
Depreciation and amortization
 
65,714

 
58,641

Provision for (recovery of) doubtful accounts
 
148

 
(9
)
Amortization of debt issuance costs
 
220

 
501

Stock-based compensation expense
 
2,303

 
2,340

Loss from disposition of property, plant and equipment
 
309

 
133

Gains from sales of securities
 
(52
)
 
—

Deferred income taxes
 
58,637

 
5,331

Windfall tax benefits from share-based payment arrangements
 
(266
)
 
(1,701
)
Income from equity method investments, net of dividends
 
(223
)
 
(3,416
)
Other losses (gains), net
 
661

 
(554
)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities
 
 
 
 
Accounts receivable
 
(36,324
)
 
18,517

Inventories
 
(40,878
)
 
35,979

Prepaid expenses and other current assets
 
(10,791
)
 
(6,202
)
Accounts payable
 
23,752

 
(3,625
)
Accrued liabilities
 
(54,257
)
 
(59,585
)
Other, net
 
(8,954
)
 
(6,201
)
Net cash provided by operating activities
 
128,935

 
190,556

Cash flows from investing activities
 
 
 
 
Additions to property, plant and equipment
 
(136,328
)
 
(95,822
)
Proceeds from disposition of assets
 
104

 
—

Proceeds from sales and maturities of securities
 
26,859

 
—

Purchase of securities
 
(36,637
)
 
—

Settlements of derivative instruments
 
(1,219
)
 
(833
)
Net cash used for investing activities
 
(147,221
)
 
(96,655
)
Cash flows from financing activities
 
 
 
 
Dividends paid
 
(23,700
)
 
(21,964
)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests
 
(3,985
)
 
(3,558
)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options
 
22

 
157

Proceeds from issuance of notes payable
 
2,050

 
—

Repayment of notes payable
 
(7,095
)
 
—

Repurchase of common stock for treasury
 
(679
)
 
(2,000
)
Windfall tax benefits from share-based payment arrangements
 
266

 
1,701

Net cash used for financing activities
 
(33,121
)
 
(25,664
)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents
 
3,858

 
(3,189
)
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents
 
(47,549
)
 
65,048

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
 
662,525

 
880,601

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
 
$
614,976

 
$
945,649

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

4
Table of Contents
WESTLAKE CHEMICAL CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
(in thousands of dollars, except share amounts and per share data)


1. 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 December 31, 2015 financial statements and notes thereto of Westlake Chemical Corporation (the "Company") included in the annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015 (the "2015 Form 10-K"), filed with the SEC on February 24, 2016. These 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, 2015.
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, 2016, its results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 and the changes in its cash position for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015.
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, 2016 or any other interim period. The preparation of 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
Revenue from Contracts with Customers
In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued an accounting standards update on a comprehensive new revenue recognition standard that will supersede the existing revenue recognition guidance. The new accounting guidance creates a framework by which an entity will allocate the transaction price to separate performance obligations and recognize revenue when each performance obligation is satisfied. Under the new standard, entities will be required to use judgment and make estimates, including identifying performance obligations in a contract, estimating the amount of variable consideration to include in the transaction price, allocating the transaction price to each separate performance obligation and determining when an entity satisfies its performance obligations. The standard allows for either "full retrospective" adoption, meaning that the standard is applied to all of the periods presented with a cumulative catch-up as of the earliest period presented, or "modified retrospective" adoption, meaning the standard is applied only to the most current period presented in the financial statements with a cumulative catch-up as of the current period. In March 2016, the FASB issued additional authoritative guidance to provide clarification on principal versus agent considerations included within the new revenue recognition standard. The accounting standard (including the clarification guidance issued in March 2016) will be effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017. The Company is in the process of evaluating the impact that the new accounting guidance will have on its consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows.
Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities
In January 2016, the FASB issued an accounting standards update making certain changes principally to the current guidance for equity investments, financial liabilities under the fair value option and the presentation and disclosure requirements for financial instruments. Among other things, the guidance (1) requires equity investments (except those accounted for under the equity method of accounting or those that result in consolidation of the investee) to be measured at fair value, with changes in fair value recognized in net income; (2) provide entities with a policy election to record equity investments without readily determinable fair values at cost, less impairment, and subsequent adjustments for observable price changes (changes in the basis of these equity investments to be reported in net income); (3) requires an entity that has elected the fair value option for financial liabilities to recognize changes in fair value due to instrument-specific credit risk separately in other comprehensive income; (4) clarified current guidance related to the valuation allowance assessment when recognizing deferred tax assets resulting from unrealized losses on available-for-sale debt securities; and (5) requires specific disclosure pertaining to financial assets and financial liabilities in the financial statements. The accounting standard will be effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017. The Company is in the process of evaluating the impact that the new accounting guidance will have on its consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

5
Table of Contents
WESTLAKE CHEMICAL CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—Continued
(Unaudited)
(in thousands of dollars, except share amounts and per share data)

Leases
In February 2016, the FASB issued an accounting standards update on a new lease standard that will supersede the existing lease guidance. The standard requires a lessee to recognize assets and liabilities related to long-term leases that are classified as operating leases under current guidance on its balance sheet. An asset would be recognized related to the right to use the underlying asset and a liability would be recognized related to the obligation to make lease payments over the term of the lease. The standard also requires expanded disclosures related to leases. The accounting standard will be effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018. The Company is in the process of evaluating the impact that the new accounting guidance will have on its consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows.
Stock Compensation
In March 2016, the FASB issued an accounting standards update to simplify several aspects of the accounting for share-based payment transactions, including income tax consequences, classifications of awards as either equity or liabilities and certain related classifications on the statement of cash flows. The accounting standard is effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016. The Company is in the process of evaluating the impact that the new accounting guidance will have on its consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows.
Recently Adopted Accounting Standards
Amendments to the Consolidation Analysis
In February 2015, the FASB issued an accounting standards update making certain changes to the current consolidation guidance. The amendments affect both the variable interest entity and voting interest entity consolidation models. The new standard changes the consideration of substantive rights, related party interests and fees paid to the decision maker when applying the variable interest entity consolidation model and eliminates certain guidance for limited partnerships and similar entities under the voting interest consolidation model. The accounting standard is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2015. The Company adopted this accounting standard effective January 1, 2016 and the adoption did not have an impact on the Company's consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows.
Intangibles—Goodwill and Other—Internal use software
In April 2015, the FASB issued an accounting standards update to provide clarification on accounting for cloud computing arrangements which include a software license. The accounting standard is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2015. The Company adopted this accounting standard, to be applied prospectively, effective January 1, 2016. Consistent with the prospective application of this accounting standard, prior period comparative information was not adjusted. The adoption did not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows.
Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs
In April 2015, the FASB issued an accounting standards update on simplifying the presentation of debt issuance costs, which requires all costs incurred to issue debt to be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying value of the associated debt liability, consistent with the presentation of a debt discount. The accounting standard is effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2015. The Company adopted this accounting standard effective January 1, 2016. As a result, Other assets, net—Deferred charges and other assets, net and Long-term debt on the consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2015 have been adjusted to $167,417 and $758,148, respectively, from the originally reported $173,384 and $764,115, respectively, to reflect the retrospective application of the new accounting guidance. The adoption of this accounting standard did not have an impact on the Company's results of operations and cash flows.
Simplifying the Accounting for Measurement-Period Adjustments
In September 2015, the FASB issued an accounting standards update that requires an acquirer to recognize adjustments to provisional amounts that are identified during the measurement period in the reporting period in which the adjustment amounts are determined. The guidance requires that the acquirer record, in the same period's financial statements, the effect on earnings of changes in depreciation, amortization or other income effects, if any, as a result of the change to the provisional amounts, calculated as if the accounting had been completed at the acquisition date. The new guidance further requires specific disclosure pertaining to the measurement period adjustments. The accounting standard is effective for reporting periods beginning after

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Table of Contents
WESTLAKE CHEMICAL CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—Continued
(Unaudited)
(in thousands of dollars, except share amounts and per share data)

December 15, 2015. The Company adopted this accounting standard effective January 1, 2016 and the adoption did not have an impact on the Company's consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows.
Balance Sheet Classification of Deferred Taxes
In November 2015, the FASB issued an accounting standards update that requires all deferred tax assets and liabilities, along with any related valuation allowance, to be classified as noncurrent on the balance sheet. As a result, each jurisdiction will now only have one net noncurrent deferred tax asset or liability. The new guidance does not change the existing requirement that only permits offsetting within a jurisdiction. The accounting standard is required to be adopted for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016; however, early adoption of this standard is permitted. The Company elected to early adopt this accounting standard, to be applied prospectively, effective January 1, 2016. Consistent with the prospective application of this accounting standard, prior period comparative information was not adjusted. The early adoption of this accounting standard did not have an impact on the Company's results of operations and cash flows.
2. Financial Instruments
Cash Equivalents
The Company had $292,903 and $221,918 of held-to-maturity securities with original maturities of three months or less, primarily consisting of corporate debt securities, classified as cash equivalents at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively. The Company's investments in held-to-maturity securities are held at amortized cost, which approximates fair value.
Available-for-Sale Marketable Securities
Investments in available-for-sale securities were classified as follows:
 
March 31,
2016
 
December 31,
2015
Current
$
525,008

 
$
520,144

Non-current
75,114

 
48,081

Total available-for-sale securities
$
600,122

 
$
568,225

The cost, gross unrealized gains, gross unrealized losses and fair value of the Company's available-for-sale securities were as follows:
 
 
March 31, 2016
 
 
Cost
 
Gross
Unrealized
Gains
 
Gross
Unrealized
Losses (1)
 
Fair Value
Debt securities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Corporate bonds
 
$
341,856

 
$
1,411

 
$
(185
)
 
$
343,082

U.S. government debt (2)
 
125,114

 
425

 
(9
)
 
125,530

Asset-backed securities
 
56,289

 
120

 
(13
)
 
56,396

Equity securities
 
60,283

 
14,927

 
(96
)
 
75,114

Total available-for-sale securities
 
$
583,542

 
$
16,883

 
$
(303
)
 
$
600,122


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Table of Contents
WESTLAKE CHEMICAL CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—Continued
(Unaudited)
(in thousands of dollars, except share amounts and per share data)

 
 
December 31, 2015
 
 
Cost
 
Gross
Unrealized
Gains
 
Gross
Unrealized
Losses (1)
 
Fair Value
Debt securities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Corporate bonds
 
$
336,665

 
$
55

 
$
(1,076
)
 
$
335,644

U.S. government debt (2)
 
135,226

 
2

 
(374
)
 
134,854

Asset-backed securities
 
49,759

 
2

 
(115
)
 
49,646

Equity securities
 
54,371

 
466

 
(6,756
)
 
48,081

Total available-for-sale securities
 
$
576,021

 
$
525

 
$
(8,321
)
 
$
568,225

_____________
(1)
All unrealized loss positions were held at a loss for less than 12 months.
(2)
U.S. Treasury obligations, U.S. government agency obligations and U.S government agency mortgage-backed securities.

As of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, net unrealized gains (losses) on the Company's available-for-sale securities of $10,623 and $(4,995), respectively, net of income tax expense (benefit) of $5,957 and $(2,801), respectively, were recorded in accumulated other comprehensive loss. See Note 13 for the fair value hierarchy of the Company's available-for-sale securities.
As of March 31, 2016, the corporate bond securities held by the Company had maturities ranging between one month to five years; the U.S. government debt securities held by the Company, excluding U.S. government agency mortgage-backed securities, had maturities ranging between one month to four years; the U.S. government agency mortgage-backed securities held by the Company had maturities of approximately five years; and the asset-backed securities held by the Company had maturities ranging between one month to five years.
The proceeds from sales and maturities of available-for-sale securities included in the consolidated statement of cash flows and the gross realized gains and losses included in the consolidated statement of operations are reflected in the table below. The cost of securities sold was determined using the specific identification method. There were no sales or maturities of available-for-sale securities during the three months ended March 31, 2015.
 
 
Three Months Ended March 31, 2016
Proceeds from sales and maturities of securities
 
$
26,859

Gross realized gains
 
61

Gross realized losses
 
(9
)
3. Accounts Receivable
Accounts receivable consist of the following:
 
 
March 31,
2016
 
December 31,
2015
Trade customers
 
$
465,697

 
$
438,538

Allowance for doubtful accounts
 
(14,321
)
 
(14,095
)
 
 
451,376

 
424,443

Federal and state taxes
 
81,255

 
60,748

Other
 
16,406

 
23,341

Accounts receivable, net
 
$
549,037

 
$
508,532


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WESTLAKE CHEMICAL CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—Continued
(Unaudited)
(in thousands of dollars, except share amounts and per share data)

4. Inventories
Inventories consist of the following:
 
 
March 31,
2016
 
December 31,
2015
Finished products
 
$
298,236

 
$
253,338

Feedstock, additives and chemicals
 
103,837

 
106,435

Materials and supplies
 
76,583

 
74,287

Inventories
 
$
478,656

 
$
434,060

5. Property, Plant and Equipment
As of March 31, 2016, the Company had property, plant and equipment, net totaling $3,114,821. The Company assesses these assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable, including when negative conditions such as significant current or projected operating losses exist. Other factors considered by the Company when determining if an impairment assessment is necessary include, but are not limited to, significant changes or projected changes in supply and demand fundamentals (which would have a negative impact on operating rates or margins), new technological developments, new competitors with significant raw material or other cost advantages, adverse changes associated with the U.S. and world economies and uncertainties associated with governmental actions. Long-lived assets assessed for impairment are grouped at the lowest level for which identifiable cash flows are largely independent of the cash flows of other assets and liabilities.
Depreciation expense on property, plant and equipment of $56,041 and $49,658 is included in cost of sales in the consolidated statements of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.
6. Other Assets
Amortization expense on intangible and other assets of $9,770 and $9,361 is included in the consolidated statements of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.
Goodwill
Goodwill for the Olefins segment was $29,990 at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015. Goodwill for the Vinyls segment was $32,026 at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015. There were no changes in the carrying amount of goodwill for either operating segment for the three months ended March 31, 2016.
7. Accounts and Notes Payable
Accounts and notes payable consist of the following:
 
 
March 31,
2016
 
December 31,
2015
Accounts payable
 
$
256,351

 
$
229,219

Notes payable to banks
 
1,033

 
6,110

Accounts and notes payable
 
$
257,384

 
$
235,329

8. Long-Term Debt
The Company adopted an accounting standards update to simplify the presentation of debt issuance costs effective January 1, 2016. The standard requires, on a retrospective basis, all costs incurred to issue debt, excluding line-of-credit arrangements, to be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying value of the associated debt liability. As a result, Other assets, net—Deferred charges and other assets, net and Long-term debt on the consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2015 have been adjusted to $167,417 and $758,148, respectively, from the originally reported $173,384 and $764,115, respectively, to reflect the retrospective application of the new accounting guidance.

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WESTLAKE CHEMICAL CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—Continued
(Unaudited)
(in thousands of dollars, except share amounts and per share data)

Long-term debt consists of the following:
 
 
March 31, 2016
 
December 31, 2015
 
 
Principal
Amount
 
Unamortized
Discount
and Debt
Issuance
Costs
 
Net
Long-term
Debt
 
Principal
Amount
 
Unamortized
Discount
and Debt
Issuance
Costs
 
Net
Long-term
Debt
3.60% senior notes due 2022
 
$
250,000

 
$
(2,147
)
 
$
247,853

 
$
250,000

 
$
(2,232
)
 
$
247,768

6 ½% senior notes due 2029
 
100,000

 
(971
)
 
99,029

 
100,000

 
(989
)
 
99,011

6 ¾% senior notes due 2032
 
250,000

 
(1,972
)
 
248,028

 
250,000

 
(2,002
)
 
247,998

6 ½% senior notes due 2035 (the "6 ½%
   GO Zone Senior Notes Due 2035")
 
89,000

 
(873
)
 
88,127

 
89,000

 
(884
)
 
88,116

6 ½% senior notes due 2035 (the "6 ½%
   IKE Zone Senior Notes Due 2035")
 
65,000

 
(626
)
 
64,374

 
65,000

 
(634
)
 
64,366

Loan related to tax-exempt waste disposal
   revenue bonds due 2027
 
10,889

 
—

 
10,889

 
10,889

 
—

 
10,889

Long-term debt, net
 
$
764,889

 
$
(6,589
)
 
$
758,300

 
$
764,889

 
$
(6,741
)
 
$
758,148

Revolving Credit Facility
The Company has a $400,000 senior secured revolving credit facility. The facility includes a provision permitting the Company to increase the size of the facility, up to four times, in increments of at least $25,000 each (up to a maximum of $200,000) under certain circumstances if the lenders agree to commit to such an increase. At March 31, 2016, the Company had no borrowings outstanding under the revolving credit facility. Any borrowings under the facility will bear interest at either LIBOR plus a spread ranging from 1.25% to 1.75%, provided that so long as the Company is rated investment grade, the margin for LIBOR loans will not exceed 1.50%, or a base rate plus a spread ranging from 0.00% to 0.50%. The revolving credit facility also requires an unused commitment fee of 0.25% per annum. All interest rates under the facility are subject to monthly grid pricing adjustments based on prior month average daily loan availability. The revolving credit facility matures on July 17, 2019. As of March 31, 2016, the Company had outstanding letters of credit totaling $30,445 and borrowing availability of $354,821 under the revolving credit facility. 

10
Table of Contents
WESTLAKE CHEMICAL CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—Continued
(Unaudited)
(in thousands of dollars, except share amounts and per share data)

9. Stockholders' Equity
Changes in stockholders' equity for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 were as follows:
 
 
Common
Stock
 
Common
Stock,
Held in
Treasury
 
Additional
Paid-in
Capital
 
Retained
Earnings
 
Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive 
Income (Loss)
 
Noncontrolling
Interests
 
Total
Balances at December 31, 2015
 
$
1,347

 
$
(258,312
)
 
$
542,148

 
$
3,109,987

 
$
(129,292
)
 
$
296,053

 
$
3,561,931

Net income
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
123,128

 
—

 
5,808

 
128,936

Other comprehensive income,
   net of income taxes:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Pension and other post-
   retirement benefits
   liability
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
206

 
—

 
206

Foreign currency
   translation adjustments
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
22,805

 
—

 
22,805

Net unrealized holding
   gains on investments
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
15,618

 
—

 
15,618

Shares issued—stock-
   based compensation
 
—

 
1,853

 
(1,831
)
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
22

Stock-based compensation,
   net of tax on stock options
   exercised
 
—

 
—

 
2,569

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
2,569

Dividends paid
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(23,700
)
 
—

 
—

 
(23,700
)
Distributions to noncontrolling
   interests
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(3,985
)
 
(3,985
)
Balances at March 31, 2016
 
$
1,347

 
$
(256,459
)
 
$
542,886

 
$
3,209,415

 
$
(90,663
)
 
$
297,876

 
$
3,704,402

 
 
Common
Stock
 
Common
Stock,
Held in
Treasury
 
Additional
Paid-in
Capital
 
Retained
Earnings
 
Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive 
Income (Loss)
 
Noncontrolling
Interests
 
Total
Balances at December 31, 2014
 
$
1,347

 
$
(96,372
)
 
$
530,441

 
$
2,555,528

 
$
(79,433
)
 
$
290,377

 
$
3,201,888

Net income
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
146,342

 
—

 
4,065

 
150,407

Other comprehensive income
   (loss), net of income taxes
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Pension and other post-
   retirement benefits
   liability
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
427

 
—

 
427

Foreign currency
   translation adjustments
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(59,698
)
 
—

 
(59,698
)
Net unrealized holding
   gains on investments
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
1,042

 
—

 
1,042

Common stock repurchased
 
—

 
(2,000
)
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(2,000
)
Shares issued—stock-
   based compensation
 
—

 
97

 
60

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
157

Stock-based compensation,
   net of tax on stock options
   exercised
 
—

 
—

 
4,041

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
4,041

Dividends paid
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(21,964
)
 
—

 
—

 
(21,964
)
Distributions to noncontrolling
   interests
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(3,558
)
 
(3,558
)
Balances at March 31, 2015
 
$
1,347

 
$
(98,275
)
 
$
534,542

 
$
2,679,906

 
$
(137,662
)
 
$
290,884

 
$
3,270,742


11
Table of Contents
WESTLAKE CHEMICAL CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—Continued
(Unaudited)
(in thousands of dollars, except share amounts and per share data)

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
Changes in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) by component for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 were as follows:
 
 
Benefits
Liability,
Net of Tax
 
Cumulative
Foreign
Currency
Exchange
 
Net Unrealized
Holding (Losses)
Gains on
Investments,
Net of Tax
 
Total
Balances at December 31, 2015
 
$
(8,607
)
 
$
(115,690
)
 
$
(4,995
)
 
$
(129,292
)
Other comprehensive income before reclassifications
 
—

 
22,805

 
15,651

 
38,456

Amounts reclassified from accumulated other
   comprehensive loss (income)
 
206

 
—

 
(33
)
 
173

Net other comprehensive income for the period
 
206

 
22,805

 
15,618

 
38,629

Balances at March 31, 2016
 
$
(8,401
)
 
$
(92,885
)
 
$
10,623

 
$
(90,663
)
 
 
Benefits
Liability,
Net of Tax
 
Cumulative
Foreign
Currency
Exchange
 
Net Unrealized
Holding Gains
on Investments,
Net of Tax
 
Total
Balances at December 31, 2014
 
$
(23,442
)
 
$
(56,224
)
 
$
233

 
$
(79,433
)
Other comprehensive (loss) income before
   reclassifications
 
—

 
(59,698
)
 
1,042

 
(58,656
)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other
   comprehensive loss
 
427

 
—

 
—

 
427

Net other comprehensive income (loss) for the period
 
427

 
(59,698
)
 
1,042

 
(58,229
)
Balances at March 31, 2015
 
$
(23,015
)
 
$
(115,922
)
 
$
1,275

 
$
(137,662
)
The following table provides the details of the amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) into net income in the consolidated statements of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015:
Details about Accumulated
   Other Comprehensive
   Income (Loss) Components
 
Location of Reclassification
(Income (Expense)) in
Consolidated Statements
of Operations
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
2016
 
2015
Amortization of pension and other post-retirement items
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net loss
 
(1)
 
$
(334
)
 
$
(652
)
 
 
Provision for income taxes
 
128

 
225

 
 
 
 
(206
)
 
(427
)
Net unrealized gains on available-for-sale investments
 
 
 
 
 
 
Realized gain on available-for-sale investments
 
Other income, net
 
52

 
—

 
 
Provision for income taxes
 
(19
)
 
—

 
 
 
 
33

 
—

Total reclassifications for the period
 
 
 
$
(173
)
 
$
(427
)
_____________
(1)
These accumulated other comprehensive loss components are included in the computation of net periodic benefit cost. For additional information, please read Note 11 (Employee Benefits) to the financial statements included in the 2015 Form 10-K.

12
Table of Contents
WESTLAKE CHEMICAL CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—Continued
(Unaudited)
(in thousands of dollars, except share amounts and per share data)

10. Pension and Post-Retirement Benefit Costs
Defined Benefit Plans
Components of net periodic benefit cost for the Company's pension plans are as follows:
 
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
 
2016
 
2015
 
 
U.S.
Plans
 
Non-U.S.
Plans
 
U.S.
Plans
 
Non-U.S.
Plans
Service cost
 
$
—

 
$
323

 
$
28

 
$
422

Interest cost
 
567

 
568

 
544

 
535

Expected return on plan assets
 
(802
)
 
—

 
(819
)
 
—

Amortization of net loss
 
303

 
—

 
290

 
266

Net periodic benefit cost
 
$
68

 
$
891

 
$
43

 
$
1,223

The Company made no contribution to the U.S. salaried pension plan in the first three months of 2016 and 2015. The Company made no contribution to the U.S. wage pension plan in the first three months of 2016. The Company contributed $112 to the U.S. wage pension plan in the first three months of 2015. The Company's funding policy for its U.S. plans is consistent with the minimum funding requirements of federal law and regulations, and based on preliminary estimates, the Company expects to make contributions of approximately $900 each for both the salaried and wage pension plans for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2016.
Other Post-retirement Benefits
Components of net periodic benefit cost for the Company's other post-retirement benefits are as follows:
 
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
 
2016
 
2015
 
 
U.S. Plans
 
U.S. Plans
Service cost
 
$
5

 
$
6

Interest cost
 
145

 
149

Amortization of net loss
 
31

 
96

Net periodic benefit cost
 
$
181

 
$
251

11. Stock-Based Compensation
Under the Westlake Chemical Corporation 2013 Omnibus Incentive Plan (as amended and restated, the "2013 Plan"), all employees and non-employee directors of the Company, as well as certain individuals who have agreed to become the Company's employees, are eligible for awards. Shares of common stock may be issued as authorized in the 2013 Plan. At the discretion of the administrator of the 2013 Plan, employees and non-employee directors may be granted awards in the form of stock options, stock appreciation rights, stock awards, restricted stock units or cash awards (any of which may be a performance award). Total stock-based compensation expense related to the 2013 Plan was $2,303 and $2,340 for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.
12. Derivative Instruments
Commodity Risk Management
The Company uses derivative instruments to reduce price volatility risk on raw materials and products as a substantial portion of its raw materials and products are commodities whose prices fluctuate as market supply and demand fundamentals change. Business strategies to protect against such instability include ethylene product feedstock flexibility and moving downstream into the olefins and vinyls products where pricing is more stable. The Company does not use derivative instruments to engage in speculative activities.
Gains and losses from changes in the fair value of derivative instruments that are not designated as hedging instruments were included in gross profit in the consolidated statements of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015.

13
Table of Contents
WESTLAKE CHEMICAL CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—Continued
(Unaudited)
(in thousands of dollars, except share amounts and per share data)

The exposure on commodity derivatives used for price risk management includes the risk that the counterparty will not pay if the market declines below the established fixed price. In such case, the Company would lose the benefit of the derivative differential on the volume of the commodities covered. In any event, the Company would continue to receive the market price on the actual volume hedged. The Company also bears the risk that it could lose the benefit of market improvements over the fixed derivative price for the term and volume of the derivative instruments (as such improvements would accrue to the benefit of the counterparty).
The fair values of derivative instruments in the Company's consolidated balance sheets were as follows:
 
 
Derivative Assets
 
 
Balance Sheet Location
 
Fair Value as of
 
 
March 31,
2016
 
December 31,
2015
Not designated as hedging instruments
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commodity forward contracts
 
Accounts receivable, net
 
$
4,239

 
$
3,465

Commodity forward contracts

 
Deferred charges and
   other assets, net
 
1,716

 
2,088

Total derivative assets
 
 
 
$
5,955

 
$
5,553

 
 
Derivative Liabilities
 
 
Balance Sheet Location
 
Fair Value as of
 
 
March 31,
2016
 
December 31,
2015
Not designated as hedging instruments
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commodity forward contracts
 
Accrued liabilities
 
$
7,730

 
$
9,325

Commodity forward contracts
 
Other liabilities
 
9,137

 
12,437

Total derivative liabilities
 
 
 
$
16,867

 
$
21,762

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The impact of derivative instruments that have not been designated as hedges on the Company's consolidated statements of operations were as follows:
Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments
 
Location of Gain (Loss) Recognized
   in Income on Derivative
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
2016
 
2015
Commodity forward contracts
 
Gross profit
 
$
4,057

 
$
4,241

See Note 13 for the fair value of the Company's derivative instruments.
Disclosure about Offsetting Asset and Liability Derivatives
Certain of the Company's derivative instruments are executed under an International Swaps and Derivatives Association ("ISDA") Master Agreement, which permits the Company and a counterparty to aggregate the amounts owed by each party under multiple transactions and replace them with a single net amount payable by one party to the other. The following tables present the Company's derivative assets and derivative liabilities reported on the consolidated balance sheets and derivative assets and derivative liabilities subject to enforceable master netting arrangements.
 
 
Derivative Assets as of
 
 
March 31,
2016
 
December 31,
2015
Derivative assets subject to enforceable master netting arrangements
 
$
340

 
$
—

Derivative assets not subject to enforceable master netting arrangements
 
513

 
462

Total derivative assets
 
$
853

 
$
462


14
Table of Contents
WESTLAKE CHEMICAL CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—Continued
(Unaudited)
(in thousands of dollars, except share amounts and per share data)

 
 
March 31, 2016
 
December 31, 2015
Offsetting of Derivative Assets
 
Gross Amounts of
Recognized Assets
 
Gross Amounts Offset in the
Consolidated Balance Sheet
 
Net Amounts of Assets Presented
in the Consolidated Balance Sheet
 
Gross Amounts of
Recognized Assets
 
Gross Amounts Offset in the
Consolidated Balance Sheet
 
Net Amounts of Assets Presented
in the Consolidated Balance Sheet
Commodity forward contracts
 
$
5,442

 
$
(5,102
)
 
$
340

 
$
5,091

 
$
(5,091
)
 
$
—

 
 
March 31, 2016
 
December 31, 2015
Derivative Assets by Counterparty
 
Net Amounts of Assets Presented
in the Consolidated Balance Sheet
 
Gross Amounts Not Offset in the
Consolidated Balance Sheet
 
Net
Amount
 
Net Amounts of Assets Presented
in the Consolidated Balance Sheet
 
Gross Amounts Not Offset in the
Consolidated Balance Sheet
 
Net
Amount
Counterparty A
 
$
340

 
$
—

 
$
340

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
 
Derivative Liabilities as of
 
 
March 31,
2016
 
December 31,
2015
Derivative liabilities subject to enforceable master netting arrangements
 
$
3,278

 
$
5,803

Derivative liabilities not subject to enforceable master netting arrangements
 
8,487

 
10,868

Total derivative liabilities
 
$
11,765

 
$
16,671

 
 
March 31, 2016
 
December 31, 2015
Offsetting of Derivative Liabilities
 
Gross Amounts of
Recognized Liabilities
 
Gross Amounts Offset in the
Consolidated Balance Sheet
 
Net Amounts of Liabilities Presented
in the Consolidated Balance Sheet
 
Gross Amounts of
Recognized Liabilities
 
Gross Amounts Offset in the
Consolidated Balance Sheet
 
Net Amounts of Liabilities Presented
in the Consolidated Balance Sheet
Commodity forward contracts
 
$
8,380

 
$
(5,102
)
 
$
3,278

 
$
10,894

 
$
(5,091
)
 
$
5,803

 
 
March 31, 2016
 
December 31, 2015
Derivative Liabilities by Counterparty
 
Net Amounts of Liabilities Presented
in the Consolidated Balance Sheet
 
Gross Amounts Not Offset in the
Consolidated Balance Sheet
 
Net
Amount
 
Net Amounts of Liabilities Presented
in the Consolidated Balance Sheet
 
Gross Amounts Not Offset in the
Consolidated Balance Sheet
 
Net
Amount
Counterparty A
 
$
3,149

 
$
—

 
$
3,149

 
$
5,564

 
$
—

 
$
5,564

Counterparty B
 
129

 
—

 
129

 
239

 
—

 
239

Total
 
$
3,278

 
$
—

 
$
3,278

 
$
5,803

 
$
—

 
$
5,803

13. Fair Value Measurements
The Company reports certain assets and liabilities at fair value, which is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date (exit price). Under the accounting guidance for fair value measurements, inputs used to measure fair value are classified in one of three levels:
Level 1: Quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

15
Table of Contents
WESTLAKE CHEMICAL CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—Continued
(Unaudited)
(in thousands of dollars, except share amounts and per share data)

Level 2: Observable market-based inputs or unobservable inputs that are corroborated by market data.
Level 3: Unobservable inputs that are not corroborated by market data.
The following tables summarize, by level within the fair value hierarchy, the Company's assets and liabilities that were accounted for at fair value on a recurring basis:
 
 
March 31, 2016
 
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Total
Derivative instruments
 
 
 
 
 
 
Risk management assets—Commodity forward contracts
 
$
5,896

 
$
59

 
$
5,955

Risk management liabilities—Commodity forward contracts
 
(11,983
)
 
(4,884
)
 
(16,867
)
Marketable securities
 
 
 
 
 
 
Available-for-sale securities
 
75,114

 
525,008

 
600,122

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
December 31, 2015
 
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Total
Derivative instruments
 
 
 
 
 
 
Risk management assets—Commodity forward contracts
 
$
5,553

 
$
—

 
$
5,553

Risk management liabilities—Commodity forward contracts
 
(11,648
)
 
(10,114
)
 
(21,762
)
Marketable securities
 
 
 
 
 
 
Available-for-sale securities
 
48,081

 
520,144

 
568,225

The Level 2 measurements for the Company's commodity contracts are derived using forward curves supplied by industry-recognized and unrelated third-party services. The Level 2 measurements for the Company's available-for-sale securities are derived using market-based pricing provided by unrelated third-party services.
There were no transfers in or out of Levels 1 and 2 of the fair value hierarchy for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015.
In addition to the financial assets and liabilities above, the Company has other financial assets and liabilities subject to fair value measures. These financial assets and liabilities include cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, net, accounts and notes payable and long-term debt, all of which are recorded at carrying value. The amounts reported in the consolidated balance sheets for cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, net and accounts and notes payable approximate their fair value due to the short maturities of these instruments. The carrying and fair values of the Company's long-term debt are summarized in the table below. The Company's long-term debt instruments are publicly-traded. A market approach, based upon quotes from financial reporting services, is used to measure the fair value of the Company's long-term debt. Because the Company's long-term debt instruments may not be actively traded, the inputs used to measure the fair value of the Company's long-term debt are classified as Level 2 inputs within the fair value hierarchy.
 
 
March 31, 2016
 
December 31, 2015
 
 
Carrying
Value
 
Fair
Value
 
Carrying
Value
 
Fair
Value
3.60% senior notes due 2022
 
$
247,853

 
$
245,500

 
$
247,768

 
$
244,828

6 ½% senior notes due 2029
 
99,029

 
115,436

 
99,011

 
117,153

6 ¾% senior notes due 2032
 
248,028

 
267,593

 
247,998

 
268,490

6 ½% GO Zone Senior Notes Due 2035
 
88,127

 
106,167

 
88,116

 
106,491

6 ½% IKE Zone Senior Notes Due 2035
 
64,374

 
77,538

 
64,366

 
76,741

Loan related to tax-exempt waste disposal revenue
   bonds due 2027
 
10,889

 
10,889

 
10,889

 
10,889

The carrying values of the Company's long-term debt as of December 31, 2015 have been adjusted to reflect the retrospective application of the accounting standards update on simplifying the presentation of debt issuance costs discussed in Note 8.

16
Table of Contents
WESTLAKE CHEMICAL CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—Continued
(Unaudited)
(in thousands of dollars, except share amounts and per share data)

14. Income Taxes
The Company elected to early adopt an accounting standards update requiring the noncurrent classification of all deferred tax assets and liabilities, along with any related valuation allowance, effective January 1, 2016. As a result, the Company's deferred tax assets and liabilities have been classified, by jurisdiction, as a net noncurrent deferred tax asset or liability on the consolidated balance sheet. Consistent with the prospective application of this accounting standard, prior period comparative information was not adjusted.
The effective income tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2016 was at the U.S. federal statutory rate of 35.0% primarily due to the benefit of state tax credits, the domestic manufacturing deduction, income attributable to noncontrolling interests and the foreign earnings rate differential, offset by state income taxes. The effective income tax rate was 34.3% for the three months ended March 31, 2015. The effective income tax rate for the 2015 period was below the U.S. federal statutory rate of 35.0% primarily due to the benefit of state tax credits, the domestic manufacturing deduction, income attributable to noncontrolling interests and the foreign earnings rate differential, partially offset by state income taxes.
There were no unrecognized tax benefits for the three months ended March 31, 2016. The Company recognizes penalties and interest accrued related to unrecognized tax benefits in income tax expense. As of March 31, 2016, the Company had no accrued interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions.
The Company files income tax returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction, various states and foreign jurisdictions. The Company is no longer subject to examinations by tax authorities before the year 2010.
The Company intends to reinvest its foreign subsidiaries' undistributed earnings, which are estimated to be $115,000 for the year ending December 31, 2016, indefinitely outside of the U.S. to support its foreign operations. The estimated deferred tax liability associated with such foreign undistributed earnings is expected to be immaterial for the year ending December 31, 2016, taking into account the availability of foreign tax credits under current law to reduce the resulting U.S. income tax liability.
15. Earnings per Share
The Company has unvested shares of restricted stock and restricted stock units outstanding that are considered participating securities and, therefore, computes basic and diluted earnings per share under the two-class method. Basic earnings per share for the periods are based upon the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the periods. Diluted earnings per share include the effect of certain stock options.
 
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
 
2016
 
2015
Net income attributable to Westlake Chemical Corporation
 
$
123,128

 
$
146,342

Less:
 
 
 
 
Net income attributable to participating securities
 
(549
)
 
(200
)
Net income attributable to common shareholders
 
$
122,579

 
$
146,142

The following table reconciles the denominator for the basic and diluted earnings per share computations shown in the consolidated statements of operations:
 
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
 
2016
 
2015
Weighted average common shares—basic
 
130,189,964

 
132,714,566

Plus incremental shares from:
 
 
 
 
Assumed exercise of options
 
410,550

 
490,740

Weighted average common shares—diluted
 
130,600,514

 
133,205,306

 
 
 
 
 
Earnings per common share attributable to Westlake Chemical Corporation:
 
 
 
 
Basic
 
$
0.94

 
$
1.10

Diluted
 
$
0.94

 
$
1.10


17
Table of Contents
WESTLAKE CHEMICAL CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—Continued
(Unaudited)
(in thousands of dollars, except share amounts and per share data)

Excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share are options to purchase 555,948 and 241,312 shares of common stock for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. These options were outstanding during the periods reported but were excluded because the effect of including them would have been antidilutive.
16. Supplemental Information
Accrued Liabilities
Accrued liabilities were $248,777 and $287,313 at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively. Accrued capital expenditures and accrued incentive compensation, which are components of accrued liabilities, were $32,037 and $25,680 at March 31, 2016, respectively, and $21,597 and $41,168 at December 31, 2015, respectively. No other component of accrued liabilities was more than five percent of total current liabilities.
Other Liabilities
Other liabilities were $145,786 and $150,961 at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively. Non-current pension obligation, which is a component of other liabilities, was $107,413 and $106,250 at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively. No other component of other liabilities was more than five percent of total liabilities.
17. Insurance Recovery
During the second and third quarters of 2015, the Company's production rates and operating costs at its Knapsack, Germany and Cologne, Germany facilities were negatively impacted due to an interruption of feedstock supply as a result of a fire at a third-party supplier's ethylene production facility. During the three months ended March 31, 2016, the Company received a final insurance recovery of approximately $2,670 related to business interruption costs. The insurance recovery is included in cost of sales in the consolidated statement of operations. The Company had received and recognized approximately $7,809 as a partial insurance recovery during the year ended December 31, 2015.
18. Commitments and Contingencies
The Company is subject to environmental laws and regulations that can impose civil and criminal sanctions and that may require it to mitigate the effects of contamination caused by the release or disposal of hazardous substances into the environment. Under one law, the U.S. Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act ("CERCLA"), an owner or operator of property may be held strictly liable for remediating contamination without regard to whether that person caused the contamination, and without regard to whether the practices that resulted in the contamination were legal at the time they occurred. Because several of the Company's production sites have a history of industrial use, it is impossible to predict precisely what effect these legal requirements will have on the Company.
European Regulations. Under the Industrial Emission Directive ("IED"), European Union member state governments are expected to adopt rules and implement environmental permitting programs relating to air, water and waste for industrial facilities. In this context, concepts such as BAT ("best available technique") are being explored. Future implementation of these concepts may result in technical modifications in the Company's European facilities. In addition, under the Environmental Liability Directive, European Union member states can require the remediation of soil and groundwater contamination in certain circumstances, under the "polluter pays principle." The Company is unable to predict the impact these requirements and concepts may have on its future costs of compliance.
Contract Disputes with Goodrich and PolyOne. In connection with the 1990 and 1997 acquisitions of the Goodrich Corporation ("Goodrich") chemical manufacturing facility in Calvert City, Kentucky, Goodrich agreed to indemnify the Company for any liabilities related to preexisting contamination at the site. For its part, the Company agreed to indemnify Goodrich for post-closing contamination caused by the Company's operations. The soil and groundwater at the site, which does not include the Company's nearby polyvinyl chloride ("PVC") facility, had been extensively contaminated under Goodrich's operations. In 1993, Goodrich spun off the predecessor of PolyOne Corporation ("PolyOne"), and that predecessor assumed Goodrich's indemnification obligations relating to preexisting contamination.
In 2003, litigation arose among the Company, Goodrich and PolyOne with respect to the allocation of the cost of remediating contamination at the site. The parties settled this litigation in December 2007 and the case was dismissed. In the settlement the parties agreed that, among other things: (1) PolyOne would pay 100% of the costs (with specified exceptions), net of recoveries or credits from third parties, incurred with respect to environmental issues at the Calvert City site from

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WESTLAKE CHEMICAL CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—Continued
(Unaudited)
(in thousands of dollars, except share amounts and per share data)

August 1, 2007 forward; (2) either the Company or PolyOne might, from time to time in the future (but not more than once every five years), institute an arbitration proceeding to adjust that percentage; and (3) the Company and PolyOne would negotiate a new environmental remediation utilities and services agreement to cover the Company's provision to, or on behalf of, PolyOne of certain environmental remediation services at the site. The current environmental remediation activities at the Calvert City site do not have a specified termination date but are expected to last for the foreseeable future. The costs incurred by the Company that have been invoiced to PolyOne to provide the environmental remediation services were $2,210 in 2015. By letter dated March 16, 2010, PolyOne notified the Company that it was initiating an arbitration proceeding under the settlement agreement. In this proceeding, PolyOne sought to readjust the percentage allocation of costs and to recover approximately $1,400 from the Company in reimbursement of previously paid remediation costs. In December 2015, the arbitration panel dismissed the proceeding with prejudice. In a separate proceeding in Ohio state court, the Company is seeking certain insurance documents from PolyOne.
State Administrative Proceedings. There are several administrative proceedings in Kentucky involving the Company, Goodrich and PolyOne related to the same manufacturing site in Calvert City. In 2003, the Kentucky Environmental and Public Protection Cabinet (the "Cabinet") re-issued Goodrich's Resource Conservation and Recovery Act ("RCRA") permit which requires Goodrich to remediate contamination at the Calvert City manufacturing site. Both Goodrich and PolyOne challenged various terms of the permit in an attempt to shift Goodrich's clean-up obligations under the permit to the Company. The Company intervened in the proceedings. The Cabinet has suspended all corrective action under the RCRA permit in deference to a remedial investigation and feasibility study ("RIFS") being conducted, under the auspices of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ("EPA"), pursuant to an Administrative Settlement Agreement ("AOC"), which became effective on December 9, 2009. See "Federal Administrative Proceedings" below. The proceedings have been postponed. Periodic status conferences will be held to evaluate whether additional proceedings will be required.
Federal Administrative Proceedings. In May 2009, the Cabinet sent a letter to the EPA requesting the EPA's assistance in addressing contamination at the Calvert City site under CERCLA. In its response to the Cabinet also in May 2009, the EPA stated that it concurred with the Cabinet's request and would incorporate work previously conducted under the Cabinet's RCRA authority into the EPA's cleanup efforts under CERCLA. Since 1983, the EPA has been addressing contamination at an abandoned landfill adjacent to the Company's plant which had been operated by Goodrich and which was being remediated pursuant to CERCLA. The EPA has directed Goodrich and PolyOne to conduct additional investigation activities at the landfill and at the Company's plant. In June 2009, the EPA notified the Company that the Company may have potential liability under section 107(a) of CERCLA at its plant site. Liability under section 107(a) of CERCLA is strict and joint and several. The EPA also identified Goodrich and PolyOne, among others, as potentially responsible parties at the plant site. The Company negotiated, in conjunction with the other potentially responsible parties, an AOC and an order to conduct a RIFS. On July 12, 2013, the parties submitted separate draft RIFS reports to the EPA. The EPA has hired a contractor to complete the remedial investigation report.
Monetary Relief. Except as noted above with respect to the settlement of the contract litigation among the Company, Goodrich and PolyOne, none of the court, the Cabinet nor the EPA has established any allocation of the costs of remediation among the various parties that are involved in the judicial and administrative proceedings discussed above. At this time, the Company is not able to estimate the loss or reasonable possible loss, if any, on the Company's financial statements that could result from the resolution of these proceedings. Any cash expenditures that the Company might incur in the future with respect to the remediation of contamination at the site would likely be spread out over an extended period. As a result, the Company believes it is unlikely that any remediation costs allocable to it will be material in terms of expenditures made in any individual reporting period.
Potential Flare Modifications. For several years, the EPA has been conducting an enforcement initiative against petroleum refineries and petrochemical plants with respect to emissions from flares. A number of companies have entered into consent agreements with the EPA requiring both modifications to reduce flare emissions and the installation of additional equipment to better track flare operations and emissions. On April 21, 2014, the Company received a Clean Air Act Section 114 Information Request from the EPA which sought information regarding flares at the Calvert City and Lake Charles, Louisiana facilities. The EPA has informed the Company that the information provided leads the EPA to believe that some of the flares are out of compliance with applicable standards. The EPA has demanded that the Company conduct additional flare sampling and provide supplemental information. The Company is currently in negotiations with the EPA regarding these demands. The EPA has indicated that it is seeking a consent decree that would obligate the Company to take corrective actions relating to the alleged noncompliance. The Company has not agreed that any flares are out of compliance or that any corrective actions are

19
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WESTLAKE CHEMICAL CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—Continued
(Unaudited)
(in thousands of dollars, except share amounts and per share data)

warranted. Depending on the outcome of the Company's negotiations with the EPA, additional controls on emissions from its flares may be required and these could result in increased capital and operating costs.
Louisiana Notice of Violations. The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality ("LDEQ") has issued notices of violations ("NOVs") regarding the Company's assets for various air compliance issues. The Company is working with LDEQ to settle these claims, and a global settlement of all claims is being discussed. The Company has reached a verbal agreement with the LDEQ to settle certain of the NOVs in two separate settlements for a combined $192 in civil penalties. The Company does not believe that any settlements for the remaining NOVs will have a material adverse effect on the Company's financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.
In addition to the matters described above, the Company is involved in various legal proceedings incidental to the conduct of its business. The Company does not believe that any of these legal proceedings will have a material adverse effect on its financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.
19. Segment Information
The Company operates in two principal operating segments: Olefins and Vinyls. These segments are strategic business units that offer a variety of different products. The Company manages each segment separately as each business requires different technology and marketing strategies.
 
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
 
2016
 
2015
Net external sales
 
 
 
 
Olefins
 
 
 
 
Polyethylene
 
$
346,032

 
$
409,432

Styrene, feedstock and other
 
84,988

 
173,645

Total Olefins
 
431,020

 
583,077

Vinyls
 
 
 
 
PVC, caustic soda and other
 
430,902

 
416,988

Building products
 
113,265

 
103,466

Total Vinyls
 
544,167

 
520,454

 
 
$
975,187

 
$
1,103,531

 
 
 
 
 
Intersegment sales
 
 
 
 
Olefins
 
$
27,949

 
$
23,462

Vinyls
 
364

 
370

 
 
$
28,313

 
$
23,832

 
 
 
 
 
Income (loss) from operations
 
 
 
 
Olefins
 
$
149,235

 
$
191,103

Vinyls
 
62,116

 
47,086

Corporate and other
 
(9,075
)
 
(8,909
)
 
 
$
202,276

 
$
229,280

 
 
 
 
 
Depreciation and amortization
 
 
 
 
Olefins
 
$
28,697

 
$
26,939

Vinyls
 
36,287

 
31,584

Corporate and other
 
730

 
118

 
 
$
65,714

 
$
58,641

 
 
 
 
 

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WESTLAKE CHEMICAL CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—Continued
(Unaudited)
(in thousands of dollars, except share amounts and per share data)

 
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
 
2016
 
2015
Other income (expense), net
 
 
 
 
Olefins
 
$
1,513

 
$
2,552

Vinyls
 
(1,519
)
 
5,503

Corporate and other
 
2,651

 
1,041

 
 
$
2,645

 
$
9,096

 
 
 
 
 
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes
 
 
 
 
Olefins
 
$
52,533

 
$
66,457

Vinyls
 
17,270

 
12,805

Corporate and other
 
(503
)
 
(884
)
 
 
$
69,300

 
$
78,378

 
 
 
 
 
Capital expenditures
 
 
 
 
Olefins
 
$
95,152

 
$
55,300

Vinyls
 
40,256

 
36,855

Corporate and other
 
920

 
3,667

 
 
$
136,328

 
$
95,822

A reconciliation of total segment income from operations to consolidated income before income taxes is as follows:
 
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
 
2016
 
2015
Income from operations
 
$
202,276

 
$
229,280

Interest expense
 
(6,685
)
 
(9,591
)
Other income, net
 
2,645

 
9,096

Income before income taxes
 
$
198,236

 
$
228,785

 
 
March 31,
2016
 
December 31,
2015
Total assets
 
 
 
 
Olefins
 
$
1,971,395

 
$
1,869,888

Vinyls
 
2,704,560

 
2,638,833

Corporate and other
 
1,048,446

 
1,060,564

 
 
$
5,724,401

 
$
5,569,285

20. Subsequent Events
Subsequent events were evaluated through the date on which the financial statements were issued.

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WESTLAKE CHEMICAL CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—Continued
(Unaudited)
(in thousands of dollars, except share amounts and per share data)

21. Guarantor Disclosures
The Company's payment obligations under the 3.60% senior notes due 2022 are fully and unconditionally guaranteed by each of its current and future domestic subsidiaries that guarantee other debt of the Company or of another guarantor of the 3.60% senior notes due 2022 in excess of $5,000 (the "Guarantor Subsidiaries"). Except for Westlake Chemical OpCo LP ("OpCo"), which is less than 100% owned, each Guarantor Subsidiary is 100% owned by Westlake Chemical Corporation (the "100% Owned Guarantor Subsidiaries"). The August 4, 2014 initial public offering of Westlake Chemical Partners LP ("Westlake Partners") resulted in OpCo ceasing to be a 100% owned subsidiary of the Company. These guarantees are the joint and several obligations of the Guarantor Subsidiaries. The following unaudited condensed consolidating financial information presents the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of Westlake Chemical Corporation, the 100% owned Guarantor Subsidiaries, OpCo and the remaining subsidiaries that do not guarantee the 3.60% senior notes due 2022 (the "Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries"), together with consolidating eliminations necessary to present the Company's results on a consolidated basis.


22
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WESTLAKE CHEMICAL CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—Continued
(Unaudited)
(in thousands of dollars, except share amounts and per share data)

Condensed Consolidating Financial Information as of March 31, 2016
 
 
Westlake
Chemical
Corporation
 
100% Owned
Guarantor
Subsidiaries
 
OpCo
(Less Than
100% Owned
Guarantor
Subsidiary)
 
Non-
Guarantor
Subsidiaries
 
Eliminations
 
Consolidated
Balance Sheet
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Current assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
 
$
263,150

 
$
1,164

 
$
170,755

 
$
179,907

 
$
—

 
$
614,976

Marketable securities
 
525,008

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
525,008

Accounts receivable, net
 
11,705

 
2,205,593

 
62,109

 
133,547

 
(1,863,917
)
 
549,037

Inventories
 
—

 
363,470

 
2,590

 
112,596

 
—

 
478,656

Prepaid expenses and other current assets
 
2,373

 
16,525

 
157

 
8,605

 
(3,603
)
 
24,057

Total current assets
 
802,236

 
2,586,752

 
235,611

 
434,655

 
(1,867,520
)
 
2,191,734

Property, plant and equipment, net
 
—

 
1,588,966

 
1,096,354

 
429,501

 
—

 
3,114,821

Equity investments
 
5,154,970

 
1,218,592

 
—

 
472,217

 
(6,836,348
)
 
9,431

Other assets, net
 
46,836

 
499,714

 
44,191

 
133,641

 
(315,967
)
 
408,415

Total assets
 
$
6,004,042

 
$
5,894,024

 
$
1,376,156

 
$
1,470,014

 
$
(9,019,835
)
 
$
5,724,401

Current liabilities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Accounts and notes payable
 
$
1,834,419

 
$
138,467

 
$
36,118

 
$
87,489

 
$
(1,839,109
)
 
$
257,384

Accrued liabilities
 
15,686

 
138,401

 
34,991

 
88,110

 
(28,411
)
 
248,777

Total current liabilities
 
1,850,105

 
276,868

 
71,109

 
175,599

 
(1,867,520
)
 
506,161

Long-term debt
 
747,411

 
10,889

 
308,184

 
—

 
(308,184
)
 
758,300

Deferred income taxes
 
—

 
565,865

 
1,571

 
50,099

 
(7,783
)
 
609,752

Other liabilities
 
—

 
43,015

 
—

 
102,771

 
—

 
145,786

Total liabilities
 
2,597,516

 
896,637

 
380,864

 
328,469

 
(2,183,487
)
 
2,019,999

Total Westlake Chemical Corporation stockholders' equity
 
3,406,526

 
4,997,387

 
995,292

 
843,669

 
(6,836,348
)
 
3,406,526

Noncontrolling interests
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
297,876

 
—

 
297,876

Total equity
 
3,406,526

 
4,997,387

 
995,292

 
1,141,545

 
(6,836,348
)
 
3,704,402

Total liabilities and equity
 
$
6,004,042

 
$
5,894,024

 
$
1,376,156

 
$
1,470,014

 
$
(9,019,835
)
 
$
5,724,401


23
Table of Contents
WESTLAKE CHEMICAL CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—Continued
(Unaudited)
(in thousands of dollars, except share amounts and per share data)

Condensed Consolidating Financial Information as of December 31, 2015
 
 
Westlake
Chemical
Corporation
 
100% Owned
Guarantor
Subsidiaries
 
OpCo
(Less Than
100% Owned
Guarantor
Subsidiary)
 
Non-Guarantor
Subsidiaries
 
Eliminations
 
Consolidated
Balance Sheet
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Current assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
 
$
303,131

 
$
6,828

 
$
163,430

 
$
189,136

 
$
—

 
$
662,525

Marketable securities
 
520,144

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
520,144

Accounts receivable, net
 
10,943

 
2,183,276

 
51,582

 
113,321

 
(1,850,590
)
 
508,532

Inventories
 
—

 
326,588

 
3,879

 
103,593

 
—

 
434,060

Prepaid expenses and other current assets
 
2,201

 
12,166

 
267

 
2,734

 
(2,879
)
 
14,489

Deferred income taxes
 
702

 
32,787

 
—

 
1,950

 
—

 
35,439

Total current assets
 
837,121

 
2,561,645

 
219,158

 
410,734

 
(1,853,469
)
 
2,175,189

Property, plant and equipment, net
 
—

 
1,567,897

 
1,020,469

 
415,701

 
—

 
3,004,067

Equity investments
 
4,991,167

 
1,207,679

 
—

 
469,915

 
(6,659,553
)
 
9,208

Other assets, net
 
11,929

 
450,428

 
44,157

 
129,539

 
(255,232
)
 
380,821

Total assets
 
$
5,840,217

 
$
5,787,649

 
$
1,283,784

 
$
1,425,889

 
$
(8,768,254
)
 
$
5,569,285

Current liabilities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Accounts payable
 
$
1,817,963

 
$
121,820

 
$
33,901

 
$
87,510

 
$
(1,825,865
)
 
$
235,329

Accrued liabilities
 
9,117

 
195,785

 
21,873

 
88,142

 
(27,604
)
 
287,313

Total current liabilities
 
1,827,080

 
317,605

 
55,774

 
175,652

 
(1,853,469
)
 
522,642

Long-term debt
 
747,259

 
10,889

 
248,665

 
—

 
(248,665
)
 
758,148

Deferred income taxes
 
—

 
532,837

 
1,392

 
47,941

 
(6,567
)
 
575,603

Other liabilities
 
—

 
49,334

 
—

 
101,627

 
—

 
150,961

Total liabilities
 
2,574,339

 
910,665

 
305,831

 
325,220

 
(2,108,701
)
 
2,007,354

Total Westlake Chemical Corporation stockholders' equity
 
3,265,878

 
4,876,984

 
977,953

 
804,616

 
(6,659,553
)
 
3,265,878

Noncontrolling interests
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
296,053

 
—

 
296,053

Total equity
 
3,265,878

 
4,876,984

 
977,953

 
1,100,669

 
(6,659,553
)
 
3,561,931

Total liabilities and equity
 
$
5,840,217

 
$
5,787,649

 
$
1,283,784

 
$
1,425,889

 
$
(8,768,254
)
 
$
5,569,285



24
Table of Contents
WESTLAKE CHEMICAL CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—Continued
(Unaudited)
(in thousands of dollars, except share amounts and per share data)

Condensed Consolidating Financial Information for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2016
 
 
Westlake
Chemical
Corporation
 
100% Owned
Guarantor
Subsidiaries
 
OpCo
(Less Than
100% Owned
Guarantor
Subsidiary)
 
Non-
Guarantor
Subsidiaries
 
Eliminations
 
Consolidated
Statement of Operations
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net sales
 
$
—

 
$
784,060

 
$
252,604

 
$
262,915

 
$
(324,392
)
 
$
975,187

Cost of sales
 
—

 
665,462

 
142,190

 
230,874

 
(318,924
)
 
719,602

Gross profit
 
—

 
118,598

 
110,414

 
32,041

 
(5,468
)
 
255,585

Selling, general and administrative expenses
 
607

 
40,628

 
5,278

 
12,264

 
(5,468
)
 
53,309

(Loss) income from operations
 
(607
)
 
77,970

 
105,136

 
19,777

 
—

 
202,276

Interest expense
 
(10,411
)
 
(3
)
 
(251
)
 
(78
)
 
4,058

 
(6,685
)
Other income (expense), net
 
1,815

 
6,445

 
84

 
(1,641
)
 
(4,058
)
 
2,645

(Loss) income before income taxes
 
(9,203
)
 
84,412

 
104,969

 
18,058

 
—

 
198,236

(Benefit from) provision for income taxes
 
(3,219
)
 
66,580

 
399

 
5,540

 
—

 
69,300

Equity in net income of subsidiaries
 
129,112

 
90,687

 
—

 
13,883

 
(233,682
)
 
—

Net income
 
123,128

 
108,519

 
104,570

 
26,401

 
(233,682
)
 
128,936

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
5,808

 
—

 
5,808

Net income attributable to Westlake Chemical Corporation
 
$
123,128

 
$
108,519

 
$
104,570

 
$
20,593

 
$
(233,682
)
 
$
123,128

Comprehensive income attributable to
   Westlake Chemical Corporation
 
$
161,757

 
$
120,405

 
$
104,570

 
$
43,398

 
$
(268,373
)
 
$
161,757



25
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WESTLAKE CHEMICAL CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—Continued
(Unaudited)
(in thousands of dollars, except share amounts and per share data)

Condensed Consolidating Financial Information for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2015
 
 
Westlake
Chemical
Corporation
 
100% Owned
Guarantor
Subsidiaries
 
OpCo
(Less Than
100% Owned
Guarantor
Subsidiary)
 
Non-
Guarantor
Subsidiaries
 
Eliminations
 
Consolidated
Statement of Operations
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net sales
 
$
—

 
$
903,492

 
$
258,391

 
$
245,643

 
$
(303,995
)
 
$
1,103,531

Cost of sales
 
—

 
727,399

 
162,164

 
228,269

 
(298,847
)
 
818,985

Gross profit
 
—

 
176,093

 
96,227

 
17,374

 
(5,148
)
 
284,546

Selling, general and administrative expenses
 
413

 
43,684

 
5,046

 
11,271

 
(5,148
)
 
55,266

(Loss) income from operations
 
(413
)
 
132,409

 
91,181

 
6,103

 
—

 
229,280

Interest expense
 
(10,752
)
 
(1
)
 
(1,376
)
 
(42
)
 
2,580

 
(9,591
)
Other income, net
 
6,612

 
2,827

 
5

 
2,232

 
(2,580
)
 
9,096

(Loss) income before income taxes
 
(4,553
)
 
135,235

 
89,810

 
8,293

 
—

 
228,785

(Benefit from) provision for income taxes
 
(1,578
)
 
77,999

 
467

 
1,490

 
—

 
78,378

Equity in net income of subsidiaries
 
149,317

 
79,891

 
—

 
9,452

 
(238,660
)
 
—

Net income
 
146,342

 
137,127

 
89,343

 
16,255

 
(238,660
)
 
150,407

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
4,065

 
—

 
4,065

Net income attributable to Westlake Chemical Corporation
 
$
146,342

 
$
137,127

 
$
89,343

 
$
12,190

 
$
(238,660
)
 
$
146,342

Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to
   Westlake Chemical Corporation
 
$
88,113

 
$
137,365

 
$
89,343

 
$
(47,319
)
 
$
(179,389
)
 
$
88,113



 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


26
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WESTLAKE CHEMICAL CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—Continued
(Unaudited)
(in thousands of dollars, except share amounts and per share data)

Condensed Consolidating Financial Information for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2016
 
 
Westlake
Chemical
Corporation
 
100% Owned
Guarantor
Subsidiaries
 
OpCo
(Less Than
100% Owned
Guarantor
Subsidiary)
 
Non-
Guarantor
Subsidiaries
 
Eliminations
 
Consolidated
Statement of Cash Flows
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash flows from operating activities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income
 
$
123,128

 
$
108,519

 
$
104,570

 
$
26,401

 
$
(233,682
)
 
$
128,936

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash
   provided by operating activities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Depreciation and amortization
 
220

 
35,383

 
20,396

 
9,935

 
—

 
65,934

Deferred income taxes
 
(2,724
)
 
59,139

 
179

 
2,043

 
—

 
58,637

Net changes in working capital and other
 
(120,565
)
 
(188,331
)
 
(11,115
)
 
(38,243
)
 
233,682

 
(124,572
)
Net cash provided by operating activities
 
59

 
14,710

 
114,030

 
136

 
—

 
128,935

Cash flows from investing activities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Additions to property, plant and equipment
 
—

 
(50,568
)
 
(79,091
)
 
(6,669
)
 
—

 
(136,328
)
Proceeds from disposition of assets
 
—

 
6

 
98

 
—

 
—

 
104

Proceeds from sales and maturities of securities
 
26,859

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
26,859

Purchase of securities
 
(29,045
)
 
(7,592
)
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(36,637
)
Settlements of derivative instruments
 
—

 
(1,219
)
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(1,219
)
Net cash used for investing activities
 
(2,186
)
 
(59,373
)
 
(78,993
)
 
(6,669
)
 
—

 
(147,221
)
Cash flows from financing activities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Intercompany financing
 
(13,763
)
 
(41,000
)
 
59,519

 
(4,756
)
 
—

 
—

Dividends paid
 
(23,700
)
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(23,700
)
Distributions paid
 
—

 
79,999

 
(87,231
)
 
3,247

 
—

 
(3,985
)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options
 
22

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
22

Proceeds from issuance of notes payable
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
2,050

 
—

 
2,050

Repayment of notes payable
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(7,095
)
 
—

 
(7,095
)
Repurchase of common stock for treasury
 
(679
)
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(679
)
Windfall tax benefits from share-based payment arrangements
 
266

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
266

Net cash (used for) provided by financing activities
 
(37,854
)
 
38,999

 
(27,712
)
 
(6,554
)
 
—

 
(33,121
)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
3,858

 
—

 
3,858

Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents
 
(39,981
)
 
(5,664
)
 
7,325

 
(9,229
)
 
—

 
(47,549
)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
 
303,131

 
6,828

 
163,430

 
189,136

 
—

 
662,525

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
 
$
263,150

 
$
1,164

 
$
170,755

 
$
179,907

 
$
—

 
$
614,976


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Table of Contents
WESTLAKE CHEMICAL CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—Continued
(Unaudited)
(in thousands of dollars, except share amounts and per share data)

Condensed Consolidating Financial Information for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2015
 
 
Westlake
Chemical
Corporation
 
100% Owned
Guarantor
Subsidiaries
 
OpCo
(Less Than
100% Owned
Guarantor
Subsidiary)
 
Non-
Guarantor
Subsidiaries
 
Eliminations
 
Consolidated
Statement of Cash Flows
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash flows from operating activities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income
 
$
146,342

 
$
137,127

 
$
89,343

 
$
16,255

 
$
(238,660
)
 
$
150,407

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash (used for)
   provided by operating activities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Depreciation and amortization
 
501

 
29,592

 
19,803

 
9,246

 
—

 
59,142

Deferred income taxes
 
(124
)
 
6,431

 
54

 
(1,030
)
 
—

 
5,331

Net changes in working capital and other
 
(151,572
)
 
(114,779
)
 
6,973

 
(3,606
)
 
238,660

 
(24,324
)
Net cash (used for) provided by operating activities
 
(4,853
)
 
58,371

 
116,173

 
20,865

 
—

 
190,556

Cash flows from investing activities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Additions to property, plant and equipment
 
—

 
(47,385
)
 
(39,540
)
 
(8,897
)
 
—

 
(95,822
)
Settlements of derivative instruments
 
—

 
(833
)
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(833
)
Net cash used for investing activities
 
—

 
(48,218
)
 
(39,540
)
 
(8,897
)
 
—

 
(96,655
)
Cash flows from financing activities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Intercompany financing
 
72,634

 
(99,765
)
 
30,191

 
(3,060
)
 
—

 
—

Dividends paid
 
(21,964
)
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(21,964
)
Distributions paid
 
—

 
89,161

 
(95,364
)
 
2,645

 
—

 
(3,558
)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options
 
157

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
157

Repurchase of common stock for treasury
 
(2,000
)
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(2,000
)
Windfall tax benefits from share-based payment arrangements
 
1,701

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
1,701

Net cash provided by (used for) financing activities
 
50,528

 
(10,604
)
 
(65,173
)
 
(415
)
 
—

 
(25,664
)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(3,189
)
 
—

 
(3,189
)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
 
45,675

 
(451
)
 
11,460

 
8,364

 
—

 
65,048

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
 
655,947

 
3,057

 
131,545

 
90,052

 
—

 
880,601

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
 
$
701,622

 
$
2,606

 
$
143,005

 
$
98,416

 
$
—

 
$
945,649


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Item 2.
Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
This discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with information contained in the accompanying unaudited consolidated interim financial statements of Westlake Chemical Corporation and the notes thereto and the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto of Westlake Chemical Corporation included in Westlake Chemical Corporation's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015 (the "2015 Form 10-K"). The following discussion contains forward-looking statements. Please read "Forward-Looking Statements" for a discussion of limitations inherent in such statements.
We are a vertically integrated global manufacturer and marketer of basic chemicals, vinyls, polymers and building products. Our two principal operating segments are Olefins and Vinyls. We are highly integrated along our olefins product chain with significant downstream integration into polyethylene and styrene monomer. We are also an integrated global producer of vinyls with substantial downstream integration into polyvinyl chloride ("PVC") building products.
Since 2009 and continuing through the first quarter of 2016, a cost advantage for ethane-based ethylene producers over naphtha-based ethylene producers has allowed a strong export market for polyethylene, ethylene derivatives and higher margins for North American chemical producers, including Westlake. Continued strong global demand for polyethylene has resulted in improved operating margins and cash flow for our Olefins segment in recent years. However, we have seen a significant reduction in the cost advantage enjoyed by North American ethane-based ethylene producers due to lower crude oil prices, beginning in the third quarter of 2014 and continuing through the first quarter of 2016. Falling crude oil prices have resulted in reduced prices and margins and may continue to do so. However, our European operations rely primarily on feedstock derived from naphtha-based ethylene crackers and may benefit from lower crude oil prices. Looking forward, new olefins capacity additions in Asia, the Middle East and North America, a number of which have been announced in recent years, may lead to periods of over-supply and lower profitability.
Continued slow recovery in the U.S. construction markets and budgetary constraints in municipal spending have contributed to lower North American demand for our vinyls products, which may continue to negatively impact our Vinyls segment operating rates and margins. Likewise, European industry production capacities currently exceed demand in the region, largely due to the weak economic environment in Europe. However, since late 2010, the PVC industry in North America has experienced an increase in PVC resin export demand, driven largely by more competitive feedstock and energy cost positions in North America. As a consequence, North American PVC resin industry operating rates have improved since 2010, largely due to higher PVC resin export shipments. In addition, the completion of our world-scale Geismar, Louisiana chlor-alkali plant and the ethane feedstock conversion and ethylene expansion project at Westlake Chemical OpCo LP's ("OpCo") Calvert City, Kentucky ethylene plant in 2013 and 2014, respectively, as well as the July 2014 acquisition of Vinnolit Holdings GmbH and its subsidiary companies ("Vinnolit"), an integrated global leader in specialty PVC resins, have contributed to improved operating margins and cash flow for our Vinyls segment.
The economic environment in the United States and globally appears to be slowly improving. However, depending on the performance of the global economy in the remainder of 2016 and beyond, our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows may still be negatively impacted. In addition, the European economy has been slower to recover than the U.S. economy.

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Table of Contents


Recent Developments
In April 2016, OpCo commenced planned major maintenance activities, or a turnaround, of its Petro 1 ethylene unit at our Lake Charles, Louisiana site. In conjunction with this turnaround, OpCo also commenced an upgrade and capacity expansion of the Petro 1 ethylene unit. The Petro 1 expansion project is expected to increase ethylene capacity by approximately 250 million pounds annually. We anticipate that the Petro 1 turnaround and expansion project will take approximately 80 days to complete.
On January 29, 2016, we announced that we had submitted a proposal to Axiall Corporation ("Axiall") on January 25, 2016 to acquire all of the outstanding shares of Axiall for $20.00 per share (comprised of $11.00 in cash and 0.1967 of a Westlake share, which represented a value of $9.00 based on our closing price on January 22, 2016, the last trading day before we made this initial proposal). The total value of this initial proposal was approximately $2.9 billion, including the assumption of certain Axiall liabilities, which included approximately $1.5 billion of debt outstanding. Our initial proposal was not subject to a financing contingency. Axiall rejected this proposal on January 27, 2016. On February 16, 2016, we announced that we notified Axiall of our intention to nominate a slate of ten independent, highly qualified individuals to Axiall's Board of Directors at Axiall's 2016 Annual Meeting. On April 4, 2016, we announced that we increased our proposal to acquire all of the outstanding shares of Axiall for $23.35 per share (comprised of $14.00 in cash and 0.1967 of a Westlake share, which represented a value of $9.35 based on our closing price on April 1, 2016, the last trading day before we announced our revised proposal). The total value of the revised proposal is approximately $3.1 billion, including the assumption of the same Axiall liabilities included in the initial proposal. The revised proposal was rejected by Axiall's Board of Directors. As a result, we intend to proceed with soliciting proxies to elect our alternate slate of candidates to Axiall's Board of Directors at Axiall's 2016 Annual Meeting. As of April 27, 2016, we held shares representing approximately 4.4% of the outstanding shares of common stock of Axiall.
In January 2016, OpCo announced an expansion project to increase the ethylene capacity of its ethylene plant at our Calvert City facility. The expansion is expected to increase ethylene capacity by approximately 70 million pounds annually and is targeted for completion during the first half of 2017. Combined with other incremental capacity increases, the total ethylene capacity of OpCo's ethylene plant at our Calvert City facility is expected to increase to 730 million pounds annually at the completion of this project.

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Table of Contents


Results of Operations
 
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
 
2016
 
2015
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(dollars in thousands,
except per share data)
Net external sales
 
 
 
 
Olefins
 
 
 
 
Polyethylene
 
$
346,032

 
$
409,432

Styrene, feedstock and other
 
84,988

 
173,645

Total Olefins
 
431,020

 
583,077

Vinyls
 
 
 
 
PVC, caustic soda and other
 
430,902

 
416,988

Building products
 
113,265

 
103,466

Total Vinyls
 
544,167

 
520,454

Total
 
$
975,187

 
$
1,103,531

 
 
 
 
 
Income (loss) from operations
 
 
 
 
Olefins
 
$
149,235

 
$
191,103

Vinyls
 
62,116

 
47,086

Corporate and other
 
(9,075
)
 
(8,909
)
Total income from operations
 
202,276

 
229,280

Interest expense
 
(6,685
)
 
(9,591
)
Other income, net
 
2,645

 
9,096

Provision for income taxes
 
69,300

 
78,378

Net income
 
128,936

 
150,407

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests
 
5,808

 
4,065

Net income attributable to Westlake Chemical Corporation
 
$
123,128

 
$
146,342

Diluted earnings per share
 
$
0.94

 
$
1.10

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Three Months Ended March 31, 2016
 
 
Average
Sales Price
 
Volume
Product sales price and volume percentage change from prior-year period
 
 
 
 
Olefins
 
-17.5
 %
 
-8.6
 %
Vinyls
 
-8.6
 %
 
+13.2
 %
Company average
 
-13.3
 %
 
+1.7
 %
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
 
2016
 
2015
Average industry prices (1)
 
 
 
 
Ethane (cents/lb)
 
5.3

 
6.3

Propane (cents/lb)
 
9.1

 
12.6

Ethylene (cents/lb) (2)
 
21.1

 
36.6

Polyethylene (cents/lb) (3)
 
68.3

 
76.7

Styrene (cents/lb) (4)
 
58.0

 
54.3

Caustic soda ($/short ton) (5)
 
582.5

 
588.3

Chlorine ($/short ton) (6)
 
285.0

 
239.2

PVC (cents/lb) (7)
 
64.8

 
65.5


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_____________
(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.
Summary
For the quarter ended March 31, 2016, net income attributable to Westlake Chemical Corporation was $123.1 million, or $0.94 per diluted share, on net sales of $975.2 million. This represents a decrease in net income attributable to Westlake Chemical Corporation of $23.2 million, or $0.16 per diluted share, compared to the quarter ended March 31, 2015 net income attributable to Westlake Chemical Corporation of $146.3 million, or $1.10 per diluted share, on net sales of $1,103.5 million. Net sales for the first quarter of 2016 decreased by $128.3 million compared to net sales for the first quarter of 2015, mainly due to lower sales prices for all our major products, partially offset by higher sales volumes for polyethylene and most of our major Vinyls products. Sales prices in the first quarter of 2016 were negatively impacted by lower crude oil prices as compared to the prior-year period. Income from operations was $202.3 million for the first quarter of 2016 as compared to $229.3 million for the first quarter of 2015. The decrease in income from operations for the first quarter of 2016 was mainly attributable to lower North American integrated product margins, primarily as a result of lower sales prices in the first quarter of 2016, partially offset by lower average feedstock and energy costs, higher product margins at our European operations and higher chlor-alkali production, as compared to the first quarter of 2015.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
First Quarter 2016 Compared with First Quarter 2015
Net Sales. Net sales decreased by $128.3 million, or 11.6%, to $1.0 billion in the first quarter of 2016 from $1.1 billion in the first quarter of 2015, primarily attributable to lower sales prices for all of our major products, partially offset by higher sales volumes for polyethylene and most of our major Vinyls products. Average sales prices for the first quarter of 2016 decreased by 13.3% as compared to the first quarter of 2015. Sales prices in the first quarter of 2016 were negatively impacted by lower crude oil prices as compared to the prior-year period. Overall sales volumes increased by 1.7% as compared to the first quarter of 2015.
Gross Profit. Gross profit margin percentage increased to 26.2% in the first quarter of 2016 from 25.8% in the first quarter of 2015. The first quarter 2016 gross profit benefited from higher product margins at our European operations and lower average feedstock and energy costs. However, this increase was partially offset by lower sales prices for our major products as sales prices decreased an average of 13.3% for the first quarter of 2016 as compared to the first quarter of 2015. First quarter 2015 gross profit was negatively impacted by the lost sales, lower production rates, unabsorbed fixed manufacturing costs and other costs associated with a maintenance turnaround at our Geismar facility.
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses. Selling, general and administrative expenses decreased by $2.0 million to $53.3 million in the first quarter of 2016 as compared to $55.3 million in the first quarter of 2015. This decrease was mainly due to lower payroll and related labor costs, including incentive compensation, and a decrease in consulting and professional fees, as compared to the prior-year period, partially offset by the general and administrative costs incurred by Suzhou Huasu Plastics Co., Ltd. ("Huasu") for the first quarter of 2016. We acquired an additional 35.7% controlling interest in Huasu in June 2015.
Interest Expense. Interest expense decreased by $2.9 million to $6.7 million in the first quarter of 2016 from $9.6 million in the first quarter of 2015 largely as a result of increased capitalized interest on major capital projects as compared to the prior-year period. Debt balances remained relatively unchanged from the prior-year period.
Other Income, Net. Other income, net decreased by $6.5 million to $2.6 million in the first quarter of 2016 from $9.1 million in the first quarter of 2015, mainly due to the negative impact of foreign exchange changes and lower income from our equity method investments.

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Table of Contents


Income Taxes. The effective income tax rate for the first quarter of 2016 was at the U.S. federal statutory rate of 35.0% primarily due to the benefit of state tax credits, the domestic manufacturing deduction, income attributable to noncontrolling interests and the foreign earnings rate differential, offset by state income taxes. The effective income tax rate was 34.3% for the first quarter of 2015. The effective income tax rate for the first quarter of 2015 was below the U.S. federal statutory rate of 35.0% primarily due to the benefit of state tax credits, the domestic manufacturing deduction, income attributable to noncontrolling interests and the foreign earnings rate differential, partially offset by state income taxes.
Olefins Segment
Net Sales. Net sales for the Olefins segment decreased by $152.1 million, or 26.1%, to $431.0 million in the first quarter of 2016 from $583.1 million in the first quarter of 2015, primarily due to lower sales prices for our major products and lower ethylene sales volume, partially offset by higher polyethylene sales volume, as compared to the prior-year period. Average sales prices for the Olefins segment decreased by 17.5% in the first quarter of 2016 as compared to the first quarter of 2015. Average sales volumes for the Olefins segment decreased by 8.6% in the first quarter of 2016 as compared to the first quarter of 2015, mainly due to lower ethylene sales volume as a result of inventory planning for OpCo's Petro 1 turnaround in April 2016, partially offset by higher polyethylene sales volume.
Income from Operations. Income from operations for the Olefins segment decreased by $41.9 million, or 21.9%, to $149.2 million in the first quarter of 2016 from $191.1 million in the first quarter of 2015. This decrease was mainly attributable to lower olefins integrated product margins primarily as a result of lower sales prices, partially offset by higher polyethylene sales volume and lower feedstock and energy costs as compared to the prior-year period. Trading activity in the first quarter of 2016 resulted in a gain of $4.1 million as compared to a gain of $4.2 million in the first quarter of 2015.
Vinyls Segment
Net Sales. Net sales for the Vinyls segment increased by $23.7 million, or 4.6%, to $544.2 million in the first quarter of 2016 from $520.5 million in the first quarter of 2015. This increase was mainly attributable to sales contributed by Huasu and higher sales volumes for most of our major products, partially offset by lower sales prices for all of our major products, as compared to the prior-year period. Average sales prices for the Vinyls segment decreased by 8.6% in the first quarter of 2016 as compared to the first quarter of 2015. Average sales volumes for the Vinyls segment increased by 13.2% in the first quarter of 2016 as compared to the first quarter of 2015, primarily as a result of strong North American and export PVC resin demand and sales contributed by Huasu in the first quarter of 2016. First quarter 2015 PVC resin sales volume was negatively impacted by the maintenance turnaround at our Geismar facility.
Income from Operations. Income from operations for the Vinyls segment increased by $15.0 million, or 31.8%, to $62.1 million in the first quarter of 2016 from $47.1 million in the first quarter of 2015, mainly attributable to higher product margins at our European operations and higher North American caustic soda sales volume, as compared to the prior-year period. First quarter 2015 income from operations was negatively impacted by the lost sales, lower production rates, unabsorbed fixed manufacturing costs and other costs associated with the maintenance turnaround at our Geismar facility.
CASH FLOW DISCUSSION FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2016 AND 2015
Cash Flows
Operating Activities
Operating activities provided cash of $128.9 million in the first three months of 2016 compared to cash provided by operating activities of $190.6 million in the first three months of 2015. The $61.7 million decrease in cash flows from operating activities was mainly due to a decrease in income from operations and an increase in working capital requirements, partially offset by an increase in deferred taxes, as compared to the prior-year period. Income from operations decreased by $27.0 million in the first three months of 2016, mostly attributable to lower North American integrated product margins primarily as a result of lower sales prices in the first quarter of 2016, partially offset by lower average feedstock and energy costs, higher product margins at our European operations and higher chlor-alkali production, as compared to the prior-year period. Changes in components of working capital, which we define for purposes of this cash flow discussion as accounts receivable, net, inventories, prepaid expenses and other current assets, less accounts payable and accrued liabilities, used cash of $118.5 million in the first three months of 2016, compared to $14.9 million of cash used in the first three months of 2015, an unfavorable change of $103.6 million. The change was mainly attributable to higher inventory balances in the 2016 period as a result of inventory planning for OpCo's Petro 1 turnaround in April 2016. In addition, inventory decreased, primarily due to lower product prices, during the 2015 period.

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Table of Contents


Investing Activities
Net cash used for investing activities during the first three months of 2016 was $147.2 million as compared to net cash used for investing activities of $96.7 million in the first three months of 2015. Capital expenditures were $136.3 million in the first three months of 2016 compared to $95.8 million in the first three months of 2015. Capital expenditures in the first three months of 2016 and 2015 were primarily incurred on the planned upgrade and expansion of OpCo's Petro 1 ethylene unit at our Lake Charles site. The remaining capital expenditures in the first three months of 2016 and 2015 primarily related to projects to improve production capacity or reduce costs, maintenance and safety projects and environmental projects at our various facilities. Purchases of securities in the first three months of 2016 totaled $36.6 million and were comprised of corporate debt securities, U.S. government debt securities and equity securities. We also received aggregate proceeds of $26.9 million from the sales and maturities of our investments in the first three months of 2016.
Financing Activities
Net cash used for financing activities during the first three months of 2016 was $33.1 million as compared to net cash used for financing activities of $25.7 million in the first three months of 2015. The activity during the first three months of 2016 was primarily related to the $23.7 million payment of cash dividends, the $4.0 million payment of cash distributions to noncontrolling interests and the $0.7 million of cash used for repurchases of shares of our common stock. In addition, we repaid $7.1 million of Huasu's short-term notes payable to banks in connection with the payment of suppliers through letters of credit, partially offset by $2.1 million of proceeds received by Huasu from the issuance of such letters of credit. The financing activities during the first three months of 2015 was mainly related to the payment of cash dividends, the payment of cash distributions to noncontrolling interests and the repurchase of shares of our common stock.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
Liquidity and Financing Arrangements
Our principal sources of liquidity are from cash and cash equivalents, investments in current marketable securities, cash from operations, short-term borrowings under our revolving credit facility and our long-term financing.
In January 2016, OpCo announced an expansion project to increase the ethylene capacity of its ethylene plant at our Calvert City facility. The expansion is expected to increase ethylene capacity by approximately 70 million pounds annually and is targeted for completion during the first half of 2017. This capital project is currently estimated to cost in the range of $70.0 million to $80.0 million and is expected to be funded with cash on hand, cash flow from operations, and, if necessary, borrowings under each of our revolving credit facility and OpCo's revolving credit facility with another subsidiary of ours and other external financing. Combined with other incremental capacity increases, the total ethylene capacity of OpCo's ethylene plant at our Calvert City facility is expected to increase to 730 million pounds annually at the completion of this project.
In April 2011, we announced an expansion program to increase the ethane-based ethylene capacity of both of OpCo's ethylene units at our Lake Charles site. We completed the expansion of the Petro 2 ethylene unit in the first quarter of 2013. OpCo commenced the upgrade and capacity expansion of its Petro 1 ethylene unit at our Lake Charles site in April 2016. This project is currently estimated to cost OpCo in the range of $285.0 million to $345.0 million and is expected to add approximately 250 million pounds of ethylene capacity. The additional capacity from this expansion is expected to provide ethylene for existing internal uses and may also be sold in the merchant market. This capital project is expected to be funded with cash on hand, cash flow from operations, and, if necessary, borrowings under each of our revolving credit facility and OpCo's revolving credit facility with another subsidiary of ours and other external financing.
As of March 31, 2016, OpCo had incurred a total cost of approximately $263.4 million on the Lake Charles Petro 1 and Calvert City ethylene expansion capital projects.
In November 2014, our Board of Directors authorized a $250.0 million share repurchase program (the "2014 Program"). In November 2015, our Board of Directors approved the expansion of the 2014 Program by an additional $150.0 million. During the three months ended March 31, 2016, no shares of our common stock were repurchased under the 2014 Program. As of March 31, 2016, we had repurchased 2,682,489 shares of our common stock for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $162.0 million under the 2014 Program. Purchases under the 2014 Program may be made either through the open market or in privately negotiated transactions. Decisions regarding the amount and the timing of purchases under the 2014 Program will be influenced by our cash on hand, our cash flow from operations, general market conditions and other factors. The 2014 Program may be discontinued by our Board of Directors at any time.
We believe that our sources of liquidity as described above will be adequate to fund our normal operations and ongoing capital expenditures. Funding of any potential large expansions or any potential acquisitions would likely necessitate and therefore depend on our ability to obtain additional financing in the future. We intend to pay for the cash portion of our offer to

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Axiall with a combination of cash on hand and external funding, if necessary. We may not be able to access additional liquidity at cost effective interest rates due to the volatility of the commercial credit markets. Our management believes that borrowing under our revolving credit facility should be available up to our borrowing base, if needed. At March 31, 2016, the borrowing base of our credit facility was $385.3 million, which is below the maximum borrowing capacity of $400.0 million due to our low carrying amount of accounts receivable and inventory, which make up the borrowing base.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
As of March 31, 2016, our cash, cash equivalents and current marketable securities totaled $1.1 billion. In addition, we have a revolving credit facility available to supplement cash if needed, as described under "Debt" below.
Debt
As of March 31, 2016, our long-term debt, including current maturities, totaled $758.3 million, consisting of $250.0 million principal amount of 3.60% senior notes due 2022, $100.0 million of 6 ½% senior notes due 2029, $250.0 million of 6 ¾% senior notes due 2032, $89.0 million of 6 ½% senior notes due 2035 (the "6 ½% GO Zone Senior Notes Due 2035"), $65.0 million of 6 ½% senior notes due 2035 (the "6 ½% IKE Zone Senior Notes Due 2035") (collectively, but excluding the 3.60% senior notes due 2022, the "Senior Notes") and a $10.9 million loan from the proceeds of tax-exempt waste disposal revenue bonds (supported by an $11.3 million letter of credit), less unamortized discount and debt issuance costs of $6.6 million. The 6 ½% senior notes due 2029, the 6 ¾% senior notes due 2032, the 6 ½% GO Zone Senior Notes Due 2035 and the 6 ½% IKE Zone Senior Notes Due 2035 evidence and secure our obligations to the Louisiana Local Government Environmental Facility and Development Authority (the "Authority"), a political subdivision of the State of Louisiana, under four loan agreements relating to the issuance of $100.0 million, $250.0 million, $89.0 million and $65.0 million aggregate principal amount of the Authority's tax-exempt revenue bonds, respectively. As of March 31, 2016, debt outstanding under the tax-exempt waste disposal revenue bonds bore interest at a variable rate. As of March 31, 2016, we were in compliance with all of the covenants with respect to the 3.60% senior notes due 2022, the Senior Notes, our waste disposal revenue bonds and our revolving credit facility.
Our ability to make payments on our indebtedness and to fund planned capital expenditures will depend on our ability to generate cash in the future, which is subject to general economic, financial, competitive, legislative, regulatory and other factors that are beyond our control. Based on our current level of operations and unless we were to undertake a new expansion or large acquisition, we believe our cash flow from operations, available cash and available borrowings under our revolving credit facility will be adequate to meet our normal operating needs for the foreseeable future.
Revolving Credit Facility
We have a $400.0 million senior secured revolving credit facility. The facility includes a provision permitting us to increase the size of the facility, up to four times, in increments of at least $25.0 million each (up to a maximum of $200.0 million) under certain circumstances if certain lenders agree to commit to such an increase.
At March 31, 2016, we had no borrowings outstanding under the revolving credit facility. Any borrowings under the facility will bear interest at either LIBOR plus a spread ranging from 1.25% to 1.75%, provided that so long as we are rated investment grade, the margin for LIBOR loans will not exceed 1.50%, or a base rate plus a spread ranging from 0.0% to 0.50%. The revolving credit facility also requires an unused commitment fee of 0.25% per annum. All interest rates under the facility are subject to monthly grid pricing adjustments based on prior month average daily loan availability. The revolving credit facility matures on July 17, 2019. As of March 31, 2016, we had outstanding letters of credit totaling $30.4 million and borrowing availability of $354.8 million under the revolving credit facility.
Our revolving credit facility generally restricts our ability to make distributions unless, on a pro forma basis after giving effect to the distribution, the borrowing availability under the facility equals or exceeds the greater of (1) 20% of the commitments under the facility and (2) $80.0 million; or the borrowing availability under the facility equals or exceeds the greater of (1) 15% of the commitments under the facility and (2) $60.0 million, and our fixed charge coverage ratio is at least 1.0:1. However, we may make specified distributions up to an aggregate of $82.7 million in 2016, to be increased by 5% in each fiscal year thereafter, on an aggregate basis, for each fiscal year.
In order to make acquisitions or investments, our revolving credit facility provides that (1) we must maintain a minimum borrowing availability of at least the greater of $60.0 million or 15% of the total bank commitments under our revolving credit facility or (2) we must maintain a minimum borrowing availability of at least the greater of $50.0 million or 12.5% of the total bank commitments under our revolving credit facility and meet a minimum fixed charge coverage ratio of 1.0:1 under our revolving credit facility. Notwithstanding the foregoing, we may make investments in the aggregate up to the greater of $50.0 million and 1.25% of tangible assets and acquisitions in the aggregate up to the greater of $100.0 million and 2.5% of tangible

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assets, if, on a pro forma basis after giving effect to the acquisition or investment, either (X) the borrowing availability under the facility equals or exceeds the greater of (A) 12.5% of the total bank commitments under the facility and (B) $50.0 million, but is less than the greater of (A) 15% of the total bank commitments and (B) $60.0 million, or (Y) our fixed charge coverage ratio is at least 1.0:1.
The revolving credit facility contains other customary covenants and events of default that impose significant operating and financial restrictions on us. These restrictions, among other things, provide limitations on the occurrence of additional indebtedness and our ability to create liens, to engage in certain affiliate transactions and to engage in sale-leaseback transactions. See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Liquidity and Capital Resources—Debt" in the 2015 Form 10-K for more information on the revolving credit facility.
GO Zone and IKE Zone Bonds
As of March 31, 2016, we had drawn all the proceeds from the issuance of the 6 ½% senior notes due 2029, 6 ¾% senior notes due 2032, 6 ½% GO Zone Senior Notes Due 2035 and 6 ½% IKE Zone Senior Notes Due 2035. See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Liquidity and Capital Resources—Debt" in the 2015 Form 10-K for more information on the 6 ½% senior notes due 2029, the 6 ¾% senior notes due 2032, the 6 ½% GO Zone Senior Notes Due 2035 and the 6 ½% IKE Zone Senior Notes Due 2035. All domestic restricted subsidiaries that guarantee other debt of ours or of another guarantor of the Senior Notes in excess of $5.0 million are guarantors of these notes.
The indentures governing the Senior Notes contain customary covenants and events of default. Accordingly, these agreements generally impose significant operating and financial restrictions on us. These restrictions, among other things, provide limitations on incurrence of additional indebtedness, the payment of dividends, certain investments and acquisitions and sales of assets. However, the effectiveness of certain of these restrictions is currently suspended because the Senior Notes are currently rated investment grade by at least two nationally recognized credit rating agencies. The most significant of these provisions, if it were currently effective, would restrict us from incurring additional debt, except specified permitted debt (including borrowings under our credit facility), when our fixed charge coverage ratio is below 2.0:1. These limitations are subject to a number of important qualifications and exceptions, including, without limitation, an exception for the payment of our regular quarterly dividend of up to $0.10 per share. If the restrictions were currently effective, distributions in excess of $100.0 million would not be allowed unless, after giving pro forma effect to the distribution, our fixed charge coverage ratio is at least 2.0:1 and such payment, together with the aggregate amount of all other distributions after January 13, 2006, is less than the sum of 50% of our consolidated net income for the period from October 1, 2003 to the end of the most recent quarter for which financial statements have been filed, plus 100% of net cash proceeds received after October 1, 2003 as a contribution to our common equity capital or from the issuance or sale of certain securities, plus several other adjustments.
3.60% Senior Notes due 2022
The 3.60% senior notes due 2022 are unsecured and were issued with an original issue discount of $1.2 million. There is no sinking fund and no scheduled amortization of the 3.60% senior notes due 2022 prior to maturity. See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Liquidity and Capital Resources—Debt" in the 2015 Form 10-K for more information on the 3.60% senior notes due 2022. All of our domestic subsidiaries that guarantee other indebtedness of ours or of another guarantor of the 3.60% senior notes due 2022 in excess of $5.0 million are guarantors of the 3.60% senior notes due 2022.
The indenture governing the 3.60% senior notes due 2022 contains customary events of default and covenants that will restrict our and certain of our subsidiaries' ability to (1) incur certain secured indebtedness, (2) engage in certain sale-leaseback transactions and (3) consolidate, merge or transfer all or substantially all of our assets.
Revenue Bonds
In December 1997, we entered into a loan agreement with a public trust established for public purposes for the benefit of the Parish of Calcasieu, Louisiana. The public trust issued $10.9 million principal amount of tax-exempt waste disposal revenue bonds in order to finance our construction of waste disposal facilities for an ethylene plant. The waste disposal revenue bonds expire in December 2027 and are subject to redemption and mandatory tender for purchase prior to maturity under certain conditions. Interest on the waste disposal revenue bonds accrues at a rate determined by a remarketing agent and is payable quarterly.
Westlake Chemical Partners LP Credit Arrangements
Our subsidiary, Westlake Chemical Finance Corporation, is the lender party to a $300.0 million revolving credit facility with Westlake Chemical Partners LP ("Westlake Partners"). The revolving credit facility matures in 2018. Borrowings under the

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revolver bear interest at LIBOR plus a spread ranging from 2.0% to 3.0% (depending on Westlake Partners' consolidated leverage ratio), payable quarterly. Westlake Partners may pay all or a portion of the interest on any borrowings in kind, in which case any such amounts would be added to the principal amount of the loan. As of March 31, 2016, outstanding borrowings under the credit facility totaled $135.3 million and bore interest at the LIBOR rate plus 2.0%.
Our subsidiary, Westlake Development Corporation, is the lender party to a $600.0 million revolving credit facility with OpCo. The revolving credit facility matures in 2019. As of March 31, 2016, outstanding borrowings under the credit facility totaled $276.4 million and bore interest at the LIBOR rate plus 3.0%, which is accrued in arrears quarterly.
We consolidate Westlake Partners and OpCo for financial reporting purposes as we have a controlling financial interest. As such, the revolving credit facilities described above between our subsidiaries and Westlake Partners and OpCo are eliminated upon consolidation.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
None.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides safe harbor provisions for forward-looking information. Certain of the statements contained in this report are forward-looking statements. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this report that address activities, events or developments that we expect, project, believe or anticipate will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "believes," "intends," "may," "should," "could," "anticipates," "expected" or comparable terminology, or by discussions of strategies or trends. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot give any assurances that these expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements relate to matters such as:
•
future operating rates, margins, cash flow and demand for our products;
•
industry market outlook, including the price of crude oil;
•
production capacities;
•
currency devaluation;
•
our ability to borrow additional funds under our credit facility;
•
our ability to meet our liquidity needs;
•
our ability to meet debt obligations under our debt instruments;
•
our intended quarterly dividends;
•
future capacity additions and expansions in the industry;
•
timing, funding and results of capital projects, such as the expansion programs at our Lake Charles and Calvert City facilities;
•
results of acquisitions;
•
pension plan obligations, funding requirements and investment policies;
•
compliance with present and future environmental regulations and costs associated with environmentally related penalties, capital expenditures, remedial actions and proceedings, including any new laws, regulations or treaties that may come into force to limit or control carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases emissions or to address other issues of climate change;
•
effects of pending legal proceedings; and
•
timing of and amount of capital expenditures.
We have based these statements on assumptions and analyses in light of our experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other factors we believe were appropriate in the circumstances when the statements were made. Forward-looking statements by their nature involve substantial risks and uncertainties that could significantly impact expected results, and actual future results could differ materially from those described in such statements. These statements are subject to a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, including those described in "Risk Factors" in the 2015 Form 10-K and the following:
•
general economic and business conditions;

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•
the cyclical nature of the chemical industry;
•
the availability, cost and volatility of raw materials and energy;
•
uncertainties associated with the United States, European and worldwide economies, including those due to political tensions and unrest in the Middle East, the Commonwealth of Independent States (including Ukraine) and elsewhere;
•
current and potential governmental regulatory actions in the United States, Europe and Asia and regulatory actions and political unrest in other areas;
•
industry production capacity and operating rates;
•
the supply/demand balance for our products;
•
competitive products and pricing pressures;
•
instability in the credit and financial markets;
•
access to capital markets;
•
terrorist acts;
•
operating interruptions (including leaks, explosions, fires, weather-related incidents, mechanical failure, unscheduled downtime, labor difficulties, transportation interruptions, spills and releases and other environmental risks);
•
changes in laws or regulations;
•
technological developments;
•
our ability to integrate acquired businesses;
•
foreign currency exchange risks;
•
our ability to implement our business strategies; and
•
creditworthiness of our customers.
Many of these factors are beyond our ability to control or predict. Any of the factors, or a combination of these factors, could materially affect our future results of operations and the ultimate accuracy of the forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of our future performance, and our actual results and future developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Management cautions against putting undue reliance on forward-looking statements or projecting any future results based on such statements or present or prior earnings levels. Every forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of the particular statement, and we undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements.
Item 3.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
Commodity Price Risk
A substantial portion of our products and raw materials are commodities whose prices fluctuate as market supply and demand fundamentals change. Accordingly, product margins and the level of our profitability tend to fluctuate with changes in the business cycle. We try to protect against such instability through various business strategies. Our strategies include ethylene feedstock flexibility and moving downstream into the olefins and vinyls products where pricing is more stable. We use derivative instruments in certain instances to reduce price volatility risk on feedstocks and products. Based on our open derivative positions at March 31, 2016, a hypothetical $0.10 increase in the price of a gallon of ethane would have increased our income before taxes by $15.1 million and a hypothetical $0.10 increase in the price of an MMBtu of natural gas would have increased our income before taxes by $0.8 million. Additional information concerning derivative commodity instruments appears in Notes 12 and 13 to the unaudited consolidated financial statements within this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.
Interest Rate Risk
We are exposed to interest rate risk with respect to fixed and variable rate debt. At March 31, 2016, we had $10.9 million principal amount of variable rate debt outstanding. All of the debt outstanding under our revolving credit facility (none was outstanding at March 31, 2016) and our loan relating to the tax-exempt waste disposal revenue bonds are at variable rates. We do not currently hedge our variable interest rate debt, but we may do so in the future. The average variable interest rate for our variable rate debt of $10.9 million as of March 31, 2016 was 0.56%. A hypothetical 100 basis point increase in the average interest rate on our variable rate debt would increase our annual interest expense by approximately $0.1 million. Also, at March 31, 2016, we had $754.0 million aggregate principal amount of fixed rate debt. We are subject to the risk of higher

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interest cost if and when this debt is refinanced. If interest rates were 1% higher at the time of refinancing, our annual interest expense would increase by approximately $7.5 million.
Foreign Currency Exchange Rate Risk
We are exposed to foreign currency exchange rate risk associated with our international operations. However, the effect of fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates caused by our international operations has not had a material impact on our overall operating results. We may engage in activities to mitigate our exposure to foreign currency exchange risk in certain instances through the use of currency exchange derivative instruments, including forward exchange contracts, or spot purchases. A forward exchange contract obligates us to exchange predetermined amounts of specified currencies at a stated exchange rate on a stated date.

Item 4.
Controls and Procedures
We carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our President and Chief Executive Officer and our Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to Rules 13a-15 or 15d-15 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based upon that evaluation, our President and Chief Executive Officer and our Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures are effective with respect to (i) the accumulation and communication to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer, of information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we submit under the Exchange Act, and (ii) the recording, processing, summarizing and reporting of such information within the time periods specified in the SEC's rules and forms.
There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the three months ended March 31, 2016 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.


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PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1.
Legal Proceedings
The 2015 Form 10-K, filed on February 24, 2016, contained a description of various legal proceedings in which we are involved, including environmental proceedings at our facilities in Calvert City. See Note 18 to the unaudited consolidated financial statements within this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for a description of certain of those proceedings, which information is incorporated by reference herein.
 
Item 1A.
Risk Factors
For a discussion of risk factors, please read Item 1A, "Risk Factors" in the 2015 Form 10-K. There have been no material changes from those risk factors.
 
Item 2.
Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
The following table provides information on our purchase of equity securities during the quarter ended March 31, 2016.
Period
 
Total Number
of Shares
Purchased (1)
 
Average Price
Paid Per
Share
 
Total Number
of Shares
Purchased as Part
of Publicly
Announced Plans
or Programs (2)
 
Maximum Number
(or Approximate
Dollar Value) of
Shares that
May Yet Be
Purchased Under the
Plans or Programs (2)
January 2016
 
—

 
$
—

 
—

 
$
238,012,000

February 2016
 
19,692

 
$
43.54

 
—

 
$
238,012,000

March 2016
 
—

 
$
—

 
—

 
$
238,012,000

 
 
19,692

 
$
43.54

 
—

 
 
_____________
(1)
Represents shares withheld in satisfaction of withholding taxes due upon the vesting of restricted stock units granted to our employees under the 2013 Plan.
(2)
In November 2014, our Board of Directors authorized a $250.0 million share repurchase program (the "2014 Program"). In November 2015, our Board of Directors approved the expansion of the 2014 Program by an additional $150.0 million. As of March 31, 2016, 2,682,489 shares of common stock had been acquired at an aggregate purchase price of approximately $162.0 million under the 2014 Program. Transaction fees and commissions are not reported in the average price paid per share in the table above. Decisions regarding the amount and the timing of purchases under the 2014 Program will be influenced by our cash on hand, our cash flow from operations, general market conditions and other factors. The 2014 Program may be discontinued by our Board of Directors at any time.
 

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Item 6.
Exhibits
Exhibit No.
 
 
 
 
 
31.1†
 
Rule 13a – 14(a) / 15d – 14(a) Certification (Principal Executive Officer)
 
 
 
31.2†
 
Rule 13a – 14(a) / 15d – 14(a) Certification (Principal Financial Officer)
 
 
 
32.1#
 
Section 1350 Certification (Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer)
 
 
 
99.1#
 
Unaudited Financial Statements of Non Wholly-Owned Subsidiary Guarantor (Westlake Chemical OpCo LP)
 
 
 
101.INS†
 
XBRL Instance Document
 
 
 
101.SCH†
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
 
 
 
101.CAL†
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
 
 
 
101.DEF†
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
 
 
 
101.LAB†
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
 
 
 
101.PRE†
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document

______________________________
†
Filed herewith.
#
Furnished herewith.


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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.


 
 
 
 
WESTLAKE CHEMICAL CORPORATION
 
 
 
 
Date:
May 4, 2016
 
 
By:
 
/S/    ALBERT CHAO        
 
 
 
 
 
 
Albert Chao
 
 
 
 
 
 
President and Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)
 
 
 
 
Date:
May 4, 2016
 
 
By:
 
/S/    M. STEVEN BENDER        
 
 
 
 
 
 
M. Steven Bender
 
 
 
 
 
 
Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
and Treasurer
(Principal Financial Officer)

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EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit No.
 
Exhibit
 
 
 
31.1†
 
Rule 13a – 14(a) / 15d – 14(a) Certification (Principal Executive Officer)
 
 
 
31.2†
 
Rule 13a – 14(a) / 15d – 14(a) Certification (Principal Financial Officer)
 
 
 
32.1#
 
Section 1350 Certification (Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer)
 
 
 
99.1#
 
Unaudited Financial Statements of Non Wholly-Owned Subsidiary Guarantor (Westlake Chemical OpCo LP)
 
 
 
101.INS†
 
XBRL Instance Document
 
 
 
101.SCH†
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
 
 
 
101.CAL†
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
 
 
 
101.DEF†
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
 
 
 
101.LAB†
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
 
 
 
101.PRE†
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document

______________________________
†
Filed herewith.
#
Furnished herewith.


43