UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Form 10-Q
For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2007
or
For the Transition Period from to
Commission File No. 001-32260
Westlake Chemical Corporation
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
(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 is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of “accelerated filer and large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
Large accelerated filer ¨ Accelerated filer x Non-accelerated filer ¨
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 October 30, 2007, was 65,486,692.
INDEX
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PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
WESTLAKE CHEMICAL CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Unaudited)
September 30,
2007
December 31,
2006
ASSETS
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents
Accounts receivable, net
Inventories, net
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
Deferred income taxes
Total current assets
Property, plant and equipment, net
Equity investment
Other assets, net
Total assets
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current liabilities
Accounts payable
Accrued liabilities
Total current liabilities
Long-term debt
Other liabilities
Total liabilities
Commitments and Contingencies (Notes 12 and 15)
Stockholders’ equity
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value, 50,000,000 shares authorized; no shares issued and outstanding
Common stock, $0.01 par value, 150,000,000 shares authorized; 65,485,785 and 65,268,585 shares issued and outstanding in 2007 and 2006, respectively
Additional paid-in capital
Retained earnings
Accumulated other comprehensive income
Benefits liability, net of tax
Cumulative translation adjustment
Total stockholders’ equity
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
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CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
Three Months Ended
Nine Months Ended
Net sales
Cost of sales
Gross profit
Selling, general and administrative expenses
Income from operations
Interest expense
Debt retirement cost
Other income, net
Income before income taxes
Provision for income taxes
Net income
Basic and diluted earnings per share:
Basic
Diluted
Weighted average shares outstanding:
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CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
Cash flows from operating activities
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization
Provision for doubtful accounts
Amortization of debt issue costs
Loss from disposition of fixed assets
Deferred tax expense
Equity in income of joint venture
Write-off of debt issuance costs
Changes in operating assets and liabilities
Accounts receivable
Inventories
Other, net
Net cash provided by operating activities
Cash flows from investing activities
Additions to property, plant and equipment
Additions to equity investments
Settlement of acquisition purchase price
Purchases of short-term investments
Sales and maturities of short-term investments
Proceeds from disposition of assets
Settlements of derivative instruments
Net cash used for investing activities
Cash flows from financing activities
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options
Dividends paid
Proceeds from borrowings
Repayment of borrowings
Capitalized debt costs
Net cash provided by (used for) financing activities
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars in thousands, except 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 have not been included. These interim consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the December 31, 2006 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, 2006, filed with the SEC on February 26, 2007. 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, 2006.
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 September 30, 2007, its results of operations for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006 and the changes in its cash position for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006.
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 year ending December 31, 2007 or any other interim period. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States 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
In February 2007, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standard No. 159 (“SFAS 159”), “The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities.” SFAS 159 allows entities the option to measure eligible financial instruments at fair value as of specified dates. Such election, which may be applied on an instrument by instrument basis, is typically irrevocable once elected. SFAS 159 is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007, and the Company has not yet determined the impact this interpretation might have on its financial position.
2. Accounts Receivable
Accounts receivable consist of the following:
Accounts receivable — trade
Accounts receivable — affiliates
Allowance for doubtful accounts
Accounts receivable — other
Accounts receivable — net
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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (Continued)
3. Inventories
Inventories consist of the following:
Finished product
Feedstock, additives and chemicals
Materials and supplies
Allowance for inventory obsolescence
4. Property, Plant and Equipment
Depreciation expense on property, plant and equipment of $22,700 and $18,623 is included in cost of sales in the consolidated statements of operations for the three months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively, and $63,336 and $54,722 is included for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively.
5. Other Assets
Amortization expense on other assets of $4,198 and $2,644 is included in the consolidated statements of operations for the three months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively, and $14,656 and $7,913 is included for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively.
6. Acquisition
On November 30, 2006, the Company acquired Eastman Chemical Company’s polyethylene and Epolene® polymers business, related assets and a 200 mile, 10 inch pipeline from Mont Belvieu, Texas to Longview, Texas for a purchase price of $235,028, subject to further adjustment based on final values of working capital at the purchase date. During the second quarter of 2007, the Company received $8,043 to settle the working capital adjustment. The adjustment resulted in a final purchase price of $226,985. This adjustment, along with other purchase price adjustments, has resulted in a goodwill balance of $29,990 at September 30, 2007.
7. Stock-Based Compensation
The Board of Directors of the Company has adopted, and the stockholders have approved, the Westlake Chemical Corporation 2004 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “2004 Plan”). Under the 2004 Plan, all employees 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 2004 Plan. At the discretion of the administrator of the 2004 Plan, employees and non-employee directors may be granted awards in the form of stock options, stock appreciation rights, stock awards or cash awards (any of which may be a performance award). The Company utilizes the fair value method to account for these awards, and the total compensation expense related to the 2004 Plan was $721 and $440 for the three months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively and $2,108 and $1,384 for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively.
Option activity and changes during the nine months ended September 30, 2007 were as follows:
Outstanding at December 31, 2006
Granted
Exercised
Cancelled
Outstanding at September 30, 2007
Exercisable at September 30, 2007
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For options outstanding at September 30, 2007, the options had the following range of exercise prices:
Range of Prices
$14.50
$25.42 - $36.10
The aggregate intrinsic value in the table represents the total pretax intrinsic value (the difference between the Company’s closing stock price on the last trading day of the third quarter of 2007 and the exercise price, multiplied by the number of in-the-money options) that would have been received by the option holders had all option holders exercised their options on September 30, 2007. This amount changes based on the fair market value of the Company’s common stock. The total intrinsic value of options exercised for the three months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006 was $221 and $1,052, and the total intrinsic value of options exercised for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006 was $278 and $1,564, respectively.
As of September 30, 2007, $4,650 of total unrecognized compensation cost related to stock options is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 4.7 years.
The Company used the Black-Scholes option pricing model to value its options. The table below presents the weighted average value and assumptions used in determining each option’s fair value for each option granted during the third quarters of 2007 and 2006, and the first nine months of 2007 and 2006. Volatility was calculated using historical trends of the Company’s common stock price.
Weighted average fair value of grants
Risk-free interest rate
Expected life in years
Expected volatility
Expected dividend yield
Non-vested restricted stock awards as of September 30, 2007 and changes during the nine months ended September 30, 2007 were as follows:
Non-vested at December 31, 2006
Vested
Forfeited
Non-vested at September 30, 2007
As of September 30, 2007, there was $5,667 of unrecognized stock-based compensation expense related to non-vested restricted stock awards. This cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 4.3 years.
8. Derivative Commodity Instruments
The Company uses derivative instruments, in conjunction with certain physical commodity positions, to reduce price volatility risk on commodities. The Company had a net gain of $6,424 in connection with trading activity for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 compared to a net gain of $17,675 for the nine months ended September 30, 2006. Of the 2007 net gain, $7,902 related to sales of related physical feedstock positions and was partially offset by $1,478 related to
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derivative losses. Of the 2006 net gain, $4,137 related to sales of related physical feedstock positions and $13,538 related to derivative gains. Net trading gains in the third quarter of 2007 totaled $1,616 ($3,421 in gains related to sales of related physical feedstock positions, offset by $1,805 related to derivative losses) compared to a net gain of $5,390 ($3,202 related to sales of related physical positions and $2,188 related to derivative gains) for the third quarter of 2006. Gains and losses in connection with trading activity are included in cost of sales. Risk management asset balances of $1,887 and $5,721 were included in “Accounts receivable, net” and risk management liability balances of $279 and $1,211 were included in current liabilities in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets as of September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006, respectively.
9. Income Taxes
The Company adopted the provisions of Financial Standards Accounting Board Interpretation No. 48 “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes, an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109” (“FIN 48”) on January 1, 2007. The Company recognized no adjustments in the liability for unrecognized income tax benefits. As of January 1, 2007, the total gross unrecognized tax benefits were $9,637. Of this total, $5,072, net of federal tax benefits, would favorably impact the effective income tax rate if recognized.
The Company recognizes penalties and interest accrued related to unrecognized tax benefits in income tax expense. As of January 1, 2007, the Company had approximately $3,069 of accrued interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions. The Company has increased the accrued interest and penalties approximately $820 during the nine months ended September 30, 2007.
The Company files income tax returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction, various states and foreign jurisdictions. With few exceptions, the Company is no longer subject to the examinations by tax authorities before the year 1999. The Company is currently under audit by the Internal Revenue Service for the 2005 tax year.
Management anticipates no significant changes to the total amount of unrecognized tax benefits within the next twelve months.
The effective income tax rate was 32.9% for the nine months ended September 30, 2007. The 2007 tax rate was below the statutory rate of 35% primarily due to state tax credits and the domestic manufacturing deduction, partially offset by state income taxes. The effective tax rate was 34.3% for the nine months ended September 30, 2006. The 2006 tax rate was below the statutory rate of 35% primarily due to adjustments to state income taxes and the extra-territorial exclusion income benefit.
10. Earnings per Share
There are no adjustments to “Net income” for the diluted earnings per share computations.
The following table reconciles the denominator for the basic and diluted earnings per share computations shown in the consolidated statements of operations:
Weighted average common shares—basic
Plus incremental shares from:
Assumed conversion of options
Restricted stock
Weighted average common shares—diluted
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11. Pension and Post-Retirement Benefits
Components of Net Periodic Costs are as follows:
Service cost
Interest cost
Expected return on plan assets
Amortization of transition obligation
Amortization of prior service cost
Amortization of net loss
Net periodic benefit cost
The Company made no contributions to the Salaried and Wage pension plans during the quarters ended September 30, 2007 and 2006 but contributed $2,498 to the Salaried and Wage pension plans during the nine months ended September 30, 2006. The Company is not scheduled to contribute any funds to the pension plans during the fiscal year ending December 31, 2007.
12. 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, 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 requirements will have on the Company.
Contract Litigation with Goodrich and PolyOne. In connection with the 1990 and 1997 acquisitions of the Goodrich Corporation chemical manufacturing complex in Calvert City, Kentucky, Goodrich agreed to indemnify the Company for any liabilities related to preexisting contamination at the complex. 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 complex, which does not include the Company’s nearby PVC facility, had been extensively contaminated by Goodrich’s operations. In 1993, Goodrich spun off the predecessor of PolyOne, and that predecessor assumed Goodrich’s indemnification obligations relating to preexisting contamination. PolyOne is now coordinating the investigation and remediation of contamination at the complex. In mid-1997 the Company began operating (pursuant to contract) a certain piece of groundwater remediation equipment at the complex owned by Goodrich.
For a number of years, PolyOne has asserted that the Company’s operations after the 1990 and 1997 acquisitions have contributed to the contamination. In May 2003, Goodrich asserted that the Company is responsible for a portion of the costs of treating the complex’s contaminated groundwater. Goodrich then began withholding payment of 45% of the monthly costs incurred by the Company to operate certain remediation equipment.
In October 2003, the Company sued Goodrich in the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky for breach of contract to recover its unpaid invoices for providing these services. Goodrich filed a counterclaim against the Company and a third-party complaint against PolyOne. PolyOne in turn filed motions to dismiss, counterclaims against Goodrich, and cross-claims against the Company, in which it alleged, among other things, that Goodrich and the Company had conspired to defraud PolyOne.
In March 2005, the court dismissed PolyOne’s claims against the Company and granted the Company’s motion for summary judgment on its breach of contract claim against Goodrich. In July 2005, Goodrich agreed to pay the Company all past due amounts, including interest, in the amount of $3,132. This reimbursement is reflected in the consolidated statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2005, resulting in a $2,606 reduction of selling, general and administrative expenses and $526 of interest income. Goodrich further agreed to timely and fully pay the Company for all future services.
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On October 30, 2007, the parties reached an agreement in principle to terminate the litigation. The principal elements of the agreement in principle are:
The settlement is subject to the execution of definitive documentation and does not affect the administrative proceedings and related litigation discussed below.
The current groundwater remediation activities at the Calvert City complex do not have a specified termination date but are expected to last for the foreseeable future. Since the Company acquired in mid-1997 the relevant portion of the complex where certain groundwater remediation equipment is located, the Company has spent $25,352 through September 30, 2007 in operating this equipment, all of which has been reimbursed to the Company by Goodrich. Goodrich has continued to reimburse the Company on a monthly basis as ongoing expenses for these services are incurred. Upon implementation of the settlement described above, PolyOne would bear these costs going forward, subject to possible adjustment of its 100% allocation also as indicated above. The costs incurred to operate the groundwater remediation equipment were $2,054 in the first nine months of 2007 and $2,388 in the first nine months of 2006.
Administrative Proceedings. There are several administrative proceedings in Kentucky involving the Company, Goodrich and PolyOne and the same manufacturing complex in Calvert City. In 2003, the Kentucky Environmental and Public Protection Cabinet (“Cabinet”) re-issued Goodrich’s Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, or RCRA, permit which requires Goodrich to remediate contamination at the Calvert City manufacturing complex. 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.
In January 2004, the Cabinet notified the Company that the Company’s ownership of a closed landfill (known as former Pond 4) requires it to submit an application for its own permit under RCRA. This could require the Company to bear the cost of performing remediation work at former Pond 4 and adjacent areas at the complex. The Company challenged the Cabinet’s January 2004 order and has obtained several extensions to submit the required permit application. In October 2006, the Cabinet notified Goodrich and the Company that both were “operators” of former Pond 4 under RCRA, and ordered them to jointly submit an application for a RCRA permit. The permit application is now due on March 8, 2008. Goodrich and the Company have both challenged the Cabinet’s October 2006 order.
All of these administrative proceedings have been consolidated. The hearing date has been postponed until January 14, 2008.
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Litigation Related to the Administrative Proceedings. The Company has the contractual right to reconvey title to former Pond 4 back to Goodrich, and the Company has tendered former Pond 4 back to Goodrich under this provision. In March 2005, the Company sued Goodrich in the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky to require Goodrich to accept the tendered reconveyance and to indemnify the Company for costs the Company incurred in connection with former Pond 4. Goodrich subsequently filed a third-party complaint against PolyOne, seeking to hold PolyOne responsible for any of Goodrich’s former Pond 4 liabilities to the Company. Goodrich moved to dismiss the Company’s suit against it, the Company filed a motion for partial summary judgment against Goodrich, and PolyOne moved to dismiss Goodrich’s third-party complaint against it. On March 30, 2007, the court granted Goodrich’s motion to dismiss the Company’s claim that Goodrich is required to accept the tendered reconveyance. Although the Company’s motion for partial summary judgment was denied on March 30, the Company’s claim for indemnification of its costs incurred in connection with Pond 4 is still before the court.
Monetary Relief. Except as noted above, with respect to the settlement of the contract litigation among the Company, Goodrich and PolyOne, neither the court nor the Cabinet has established any allocation of the costs of remediation among the various parties that are involved in the judicial and administrative proceedings discussed above. The Company is not in a position at this time to state what effect, if any, the resolution of these proceedings could have on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows in 2008 and later years. Any cash expenditures that the Company might incur in the future with respect to the remediation of contamination at the complex 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.
Environmental Investigations. In 2002, the EPA’s National Enforcement Investigations Center, or NEIC, investigated the Company’s manufacturing complex in Calvert City. In early 2004, the NEIC investigated the Company’s nearby PVC plant. The EPA subsequently submitted information requests to the Company under the Clean Air Act and RCRA. The Company and the EPA met in June 2004 to attempt to voluntarily resolve the notices of violation that were issued to the Company for the 2002 investigation and to voluntarily resolve any issues raised at the PVC plant in the 2004 investigation. Since then, parties have continued to engage in settlement discussions. The EPA has indicated that it will impose monetary penalties and require plant modifications that will involve capital expenditures. The Company expects that, based on the EPA’s past practices, the amount of any monetary penalties would be reduced by a portion of the expenditures that the Company would agree to make for certain “supplemental environmental projects.” The Company has recorded an accrual for a probable loss related to monetary penalties and other items to be expensed; however, based on correspondence with the EPA, the Company reduced its loss accrual by $1,500 during the fourth quarter of 2006. Although the ultimate amount of liability is not ascertainable, the Company believes that any amounts exceeding the recorded accruals should not materially affect the Company’s financial condition. It is possible, however, that the ultimate resolution of this matter could result in a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations or cash flows for a particular reporting period.
In addition to the matters described above, the Company is involved in various routine legal proceedings incidental to the conduct of its business. The Company does not believe that any of these routine legal proceedings will have a material adverse effect on its financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.
13. Segment Information
The Company operates in two principal business 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.
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Net sales to external customers
Olefins
Polyethylene
Ethylene, styrene and other
Total olefins
Vinyls
Fabricated finished goods
VCM, PVC and other
Total vinyls
Intersegment sales
Income (loss) from operations
Corporate and other
Other income (expense), net
Capital expenditures
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A reconciliation of total segment income from operations to consolidated income before taxes is as follows:
Income before taxes
Total Assets
14. Comprehensive Income Information
Other comprehensive income:
Change in foreign currency translation
Comprehensive income
15. Long-Term Debt
Long-term indebtedness consists of the following:
6 5/8% Senior notes due 2016
Revolving line of credit
Loan related to tax-exempt revenue bonds
As of September 30, 2007, the Company had borrowings of $75,000 under its $300,000 senior secured revolving credit facility that bore interest at either LIBOR plus 1.00% or prime rate minus 0.50%. The revolving credit facility also requires an unused commitment fee of 0.25%. All interest rates under the facility are subject to quarterly grid pricing adjustments based on a fixed charge coverage ratio. The interest rate for borrowings under the facility in the third quarter of 2007 was 6.5%. The facility matures on January 6, 2011.
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16. Guarantor Disclosures
The Company’s payment obligations under its 65/8% senior notes are fully and unconditionally guaranteed by each of its current and future domestic restricted subsidiaries that guarantee other debt of the Company or of another guarantor of the 6 5/8% senior notes in excess of $5,000 (the “Guarantor Subsidiaries”). Each Guarantor Subsidiary is 100% owned by the parent 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 Guarantor Subsidiaries and the remaining subsidiaries that do not guarantee the notes (the “Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries”), together with consolidating adjustments necessary to present the Company’s results on a consolidated basis.
Condensed Consolidating Financial Information as of September 30, 2007
Balance Sheet
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Condensed Consolidating Financial Information as of December 31, 2006
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Condensed Consolidating Financial Information for the Three Months Ended September 30, 2007
Statement of Operations
Income (loss) before income taxes
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes
Net income (loss)
Condensed Consolidating Financial Information for the Three Months Ended September 30, 2006
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Condensed Consolidating Financial Information for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2007
Condensed Consolidating Financial Information for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2006
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Statement of Cash Flows
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash used for operating activities
Net changes in working capital and other
Net cash (used for) provided by operating activities
Acquisition of business
Net cash provided by (used for) investing activities
Intercompany financing
Proceeds from exercise of stock options
Repayments of borrowings
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents
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Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities
Provision for bad debts
Gain from disposition of fixed assets
Net cash provided by (used for) operating activities
Additions to equity investment
Purchase of short-term investments
Settlements of futures contracts
Other
Net cash used for (provided by) financing activities
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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, 2006. 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 manufacturer and marketer of petrochemicals, polymers and fabricated products. Our two principal business segments are Olefins and Vinyls. We use the majority of our internally-produced basic chemicals to produce higher value-added chemicals and fabricated products.
Recent Developments
In October 2007, we announced that we intend to expand our chlor-alkali and PVC resin units and build a large diameter PVC pipe plant, all at our Calvert City, Kentucky manufacturing complex. The expanded chlor-alkali unit is expected to add 50,000 ECUs, bringing our total capacity to 275,000 ECUs per year. The expansion is expected to improve the vertical integration of our vinyls business from chlorine downstream into VCM and PVC and increase caustic soda sales once the expansion is completed, which is expected to occur in the second half of 2009. The PVC resin plant expansion is expected to increase capacity by 300 million pounds per year, bringing our total PVC capacity to 1.7 billion pounds annually and is expected to be completed in the first half of 2009. The expansion is expected to consume VCM that is currently being sold on the merchant market and will enhance the integration of the vinyls product chain. We have also begun planning for the construction of a new large diameter PVC pipe facility with a capacity of approximately 50 million pounds per year of large diameter pipe. We expect this project will be completed in the second half of 2008, bringing our total annual capacity for PVC pipe to 850 million pounds. We expect this strategic capital investment, totaling approximately $90.0 million, will enhance the vertical integration of our business, further strengthen our position in the large diameter pipe market and increase our ability to serve our customers through an improved overall product mix.
In April 2006, we announced that we had entered into a Memorandum of Understanding to study the development of an ethane-based ethylene, polyethylene and other derivatives project in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. The Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago has expressed an interest in becoming a minority equity partner in the project. As currently envisioned, the project would use 37,500 barrels per day of ethane to produce 570,000 metric tons (1.25 billion pounds) per year of ethylene, which would in turn be used to produce polyethylene and other derivative products. The project could be expanded in the future as more ethane becomes available. The capital cost is currently estimated to be approximately $1.9 billion. The size, scope, and cost of the project are subject to further definition in connection with a detailed feasibility study that we are currently performing. It is expected that the project will be financed through a project financing arrangement.
On November 30, 2006 we acquired Eastman Chemical Company’s polyethylene business, related assets and a 200 mile, 10-inch pipeline from Mont Belvieu, Texas to Longview, Texas, all of which are headquartered in Longview, Texas (Longview). A more detailed description of this acquisition can be found in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006. See Note 6 to the accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements for more information.
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Results of Operations
Segment Data
Net External Sales
Total income from operations
Earnings per share (diluted)
Product sales price and volume percentage change from prior year period
Olefins(1)
Company average(1)
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Average industry prices (1)
Ethane (cents/lb)
Propane (cents/lb)
Ethylene (cents/lb) (2)
Polyethylene (cents/lb) (3)
Styrene (cents/lb) (4)
Caustic ($/short ton) (5)
Chlorine ($/short ton) (6)
VCM (cents/lb) (7)
PVC (cents/lb) (8)
Source: CMAI
Summary
For the third quarter of 2007, net income was $38.3 million, or $0.59 per diluted share, a decrease of 37.9% from the third quarter of 2006 net income of $61.7 million, or $0.95 per diluted share. Income from operations was $59.8 million on net sales of $840.2 million for the third quarter of 2007 as compared to third quarter 2006 income from operations of $87.0 million on net sales of $672.4 million. Sales increased $167.8 million, or 25.0%, over the third quarter of 2006, primarily as a result of additional polyethylene volumes from the acquisition of the Longview facilities in late 2006, partially offset by overall lower prices. The decline in income from operations was primarily due to weakness in our Vinyls segment, particularly our downstream products businesses, as a result of weakness in the residential construction market. Margins remained at low levels primarily due to rising feedstock costs and the vinyls industry’s inability to raise prices to cover these cost increases. Our Vinyls segment third quarter 2007 income from operations was also negatively impacted by $6.7 million for the settlement of the contract litigation with Goodrich and PolyOne and associated legal expenses related to past environmental issues at the Calvert City facilities. This decline was partially offset by an increase in income from operations for our Olefins segment. Our Olefins business benefited from the earnings from our Longview facilities, which were acquired in November 2006, and balanced industry supply and demand fundamentals for polyethylene.
For the nine months ended September 30, 2007, net income was $95.9 million, or $1.47 per diluted share, on net sales of $2,341.6 million. This represents a decrease of $84.3 million, or $1.29 per diluted share, from the nine months ended September 30, 2006 net income of $180.2 million, or $2.76 per diluted share, which included an after-tax charge of $16.3 million, or $0.25 per diluted share, related to debt retirement costs incurred in the first quarter of 2006. Sales for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 increased over the first nine months of 2006 sales of $1,960.5 million, primarily due to higher sales volumes for polyethylene. The significant increase in polyethylene sales for the first nine months of 2007 was a result of the additional volume from the Longview acquisition and was partially offset by lower average sales prices for our products. Income from operations was $154.7 million for the first nine months of 2007 as compared to $304.7 million for the first nine months of 2006. The 2007 results have been negatively impacted by a number of factors including a slowdown in housing starts and a dramatic drop in selling prices and margins that began early in the fourth quarter of 2006. Our Vinyls segment margins have remained at low levels throughout 2007 primarily due to the industry’s inability to raise prices in the downstream products in order to cover the significant increase in feedstock costs. Our Olefins segment, however, has gained strength throughout 2007 largely due to balanced industry supply and demand fundamentals for polyethylene and strong export demand. Income from operations also benefited from earnings from our Longview facilities.
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RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Third Quarter 2007 Compared with Third Quarter 2006
Net Sales. Net sales increased by $167.8 million to $840.2 million in the third quarter of 2007 from $672.4 million in the third quarter of 2006. This increase was primarily due to higher sales volumes for ethylene and polyethylene. Polyethylene sales volumes were significantly higher in the third quarter of 2007 as compared to the third quarter of 2006 largely due to the acquisition of the Longview facilities in late 2006.
Gross Margin. Gross margin percentage decreased to 10.2% in the third quarter of 2007 from 16.2% in the third quarter of 2006. This decrease was primarily due to the vinyls industry’s inability to raise prices in order to cover the significant increase in feedstock costs. Our raw material cost in both segments normally tracks industry prices, which experienced an increase of 8.2% for ethane and 11.5% for propane as compared to the third quarter of 2006. Gross margin was also negatively impacted by our $3.0 million settlement in connection with the Goodrich and PolyOne contract litigation. In addition, we had a $1.6 million gain in connection with trading activity for the third quarter of 2007 compared to a $5.4 million gain for the third quarter of 2006, a decrease of $3.8 million (see Note 8 to the consolidated financial statements).
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses. Selling, general and administrative expenses increased $4.1 million, or 18.5%, in the third quarter of 2007 as compared to the third quarter of 2006. The increase was primarily due to operating expenses related to the acquisition of the Longview facilities and increased legal fees, largely due to the Goodrich and PolyOne contract litigation.
Interest Expense. Interest expense in the third quarter of 2007 increased by $1.3 million to $4.7 million from $3.4 million in the third quarter of 2006, primarily due to higher average debt outstanding for the period as a result of borrowings under the revolving credit facility in the third quarter of 2007. In addition, during the 2006 period, we capitalized interest on our feedstock flexibility project, which was completed during the second quarter of 2007.
Other Income, Net. Other income, net decreased by $3.0 million to income of $0.3 million in the third quarter of 2007 from income of $3.3 million in the third quarter of 2006 primarily due to lower interest income associated with lower cash balances.
Income Taxes. The effective income tax rate was 30.8% in the third quarter of 2007 as compared to 29.0% in the third quarter of 2006. The 2007 tax rate was below the statutory rate of 35% primarily due to state tax credits and the domestic manufacturing deduction, partially offset by state income taxes. The 2006 tax rate was below the statutory rate of 35% primarily due to adjustments to state income taxes and the extra-territorial exclusion income benefit.
Olefins Segment
Net Sales. Net sales increased by $208.9 million, or 57.8%, to $570.4 million in the third quarter of 2007 from $361.5 million in the second quarter of 2006. This increase was primarily due to higher polyethylene sales volumes. The sales volume increase was largely due to the polyethylene sales volume from our Longview facilities, which were acquired in the fourth quarter of 2006.
Income from Operations. Income from operations increased by $15.1 million, or 36.0%, to $57.0 million in the third quarter of 2007 from $41.9 million in the third quarter of 2006. This increase was primarily due to additional polyethylene volume as a result of the Longview acquisition and the negative impact of an unscheduled outage at our Lake Charles ethylene facility in the third quarter of 2006. These increases were partially offset by lower polyethylene prices and higher feedstock costs. In addition, trading activity resulted in a gain in the third quarter of 2007 of $1.6 million as compared to a gain of $5.4 million in the third quarter of 2006.
Vinyls Segment
Net Sales. Net sales decreased by $41.2 million, or 13.3%, to $269.7 million in the third quarter of 2007 from $310.9 million in the third quarter of 2006. This decrease was due to lower selling prices for VCM, PVC resin and PVC pipe and lower sales volumes for PVC pipe. These decreases were partially offset by higher sales volumes for PVC resin and caustic soda and higher caustic soda sales prices. Average selling prices for the Vinyls segment decreased by 18.0% in the third quarter of 2007 as compared to the third quarter of 2006.
Income from Operations. Income from operations decreased by $43.5 million to $5.4 million in the third quarter of 2007 from $48.9 million in the third quarter of 2006. This decrease was primarily due to lower selling prices and margins for most of our vinyls products as well as lower PVC pipe sales volumes. Selling prices and margins for PVC resin and PVC pipe have suffered over the last year due to weakness in the housing market. Sales prices and margins continued under pressure in the third quarter of 2007 due to the industry’s inability to raise prices in response to higher feedstock costs, especially for
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downstream products. Income from operations was also negatively impacted by $6.7 million for the settlement of the Goodrich and PolyOne contract litigation and legal expenses associated with the litigation.
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2007 Compared with Nine Months Ended September 30, 2006
Net Sales. Net sales increased by $381.1 million to $2,341.6 million in the first nine months of 2007 from $1,960.5 million in the first nine months of 2006. This increase was primarily due to higher sales volumes for polyethylene, ethylene, caustic and PVC resin. Polyethylene sales volumes were significantly higher in the first nine months of 2007 as compared to the first nine months of 2006 due to the acquisition of the Longview facilities. These increases were partially offset by overall lower sales prices for our major products.
Gross Margin. Gross margin percentage decreased to 9.8% in the first nine months of 2007 from 18.6% in the first nine months of 2006. This decrease was primarily due to lower sales prices for most of our major products and higher cost of raw materials. Our raw material cost in both segments normally tracks industry prices, which experienced an increase of 6.2% for ethane and 7.4% for propane as compared to the first nine months of 2006. In addition, we had a $6.4 million gain in connection with trading activity for the first nine months of 2007 compared to a $17.7 million gain for the first nine months of 2006, a decrease of $11.3 million (see Note 8 to the consolidated financial statements).
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses. Selling, general and administrative expenses increased $13.0 million, or 21.4%, in the first nine months of 2007 as compared to the first nine months of 2006. The increase was primarily due to transition costs and other operating expenses related to the acquisition of the Longview facilities and increased legal fees, largely related to the Goodrich and PolyOne litigation.
Interest Expense. Interest expense in the first nine months of 2007 decreased by $0.6 million to $12.8 million from $13.4 million in the first nine months of 2006, primarily due to lower average interest rates for the period. Average interest rates were lower due to the refinancing completed in the first quarter of 2006.
Debt Retirement Cost. As a result of the redemption of $247.0 million aggregate principal amount of 8 3/4% senior notes due July 15, 2011 and the repayment of $9.0 million of our term loan, we recognized $25.9 million in non-operating expense in the first quarter of 2006, consisting of a pre-payment premium on our 8 3/4% senior notes of $22.2 million and a write-off of $3.7 million in previously capitalized debt issuance cost. We did not recognize any debt retirement costs in the first nine months of 2007.
Other Income, Net. Other income, net decreased by $7.7 million to $1.0 million in the first nine months of 2007 from $8.7 million in the first nine months of 2006 primarily due to lower interest income associated with lower cash balances and the write-down of a long-term investment.
Income Taxes. The effective income tax rate was 32.9% in the first nine months of 2007 as compared to 34.3% in the first nine months of 2006. The 2007 tax rate was below the statutory rate of 35% primarily due to state tax credits and the domestic manufacturing deduction, partially offset by state income taxes. The 2006 tax rate was below the statutory rate of 35% primarily due to adjustments to state income taxes and the extra-territorial exclusion income benefit.
Net Sales. Net sales increased by $519.6 million, or 49.5%, to $1,569.5 million in the first nine months of 2007 from $1,049.9 million in the first nine months of 2006. This increase was due to the additional polyethylene sales volume from our Longview facilities, which were acquired in the fourth quarter of 2006.
Income from Operations. Income from operations decreased by $36.4 million, or 22.3%, to $127.0 million in the first nine months of 2007 from $163.4 million in the first nine months of 2006. This decrease was primarily due to the sharp decrease in product prices and margins which began early in the fourth quarter of 2006 and continued in 2007. There have been several price increases during the first nine months of 2007, but margins were still below 2006 levels due to higher feedstock costs. In addition, trading activity resulted in a gain in the first nine months of 2007 of $6.4 million as compared to a gain of $17.7 million in the first nine months of 2006. Results for the 2006 period were negatively impacted by an unscheduled outage at our Lake Charles ethylene facility.
Net Sales. Net sales decreased by $138.5 million, or 15.2%, to $772.1 million in the first nine months of 2007 from $910.6 million in the first nine months of 2006. This decrease was due to lower selling prices for all of our major vinyls products. The decreased sales prices were partially offset by higher sales volumes for PVC resin and caustic. Average selling prices for the Vinyls segment decreased by 20.8% in the first nine months of 2007 as compared to the first nine months of 2006.
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Income from Operations. Income from operations decreased by $113.6 million, or 77.0%, to $34.0 million in the first nine months of 2007 from $147.6 million in the first nine months of 2006. This decrease was primarily due to lower selling prices for all of our major vinyls products and higher feedstock costs which was partially offset by higher sales volumes for PVC resin and caustic soda. Margins and demand in the first nine months of 2006 were very strong due to supply constraints resulting from the impact from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Selling prices, margins and sales volumes for PVC resin and PVC pipe fell dramatically in the fourth quarter of 2006 due to weakness in the housing market, falling energy prices and seasonal slowdowns. These margins have remained under pressure during 2007 due to the continued weakness in the housing market, higher feedstock costs and the inability to raise prices for our downstream products in response to these higher costs. Income from operations was also negatively impacted by $6.7 million for the settlement of the Goodrich and PolyOne contract litigation and legal expenses associated with the litigation.
CASH FLOW DISCUSSION FOR NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2007 AND 2006
Cash Flows
Operating Activities
Operating activities provided cash of $95.0 million in the first nine months of 2007 compared to $213.9 million in the first nine months of 2006. The $118.9 million decrease in cash flows from operating activities was primarily due to lower income from operations in 2007 and unfavorable changes in working capital, which were partially offset by $25.9 million of debt retirement costs incurred in 2006. Income from operations decreased by $150.0 million in the first nine months of 2007 as compared to the first nine months of 2006. Changes in components of working capital, which we define for purposes of this cash flow discussion as accounts receivable, inventories, prepaid expense and other current assets less accounts payable and accrued liabilities, used cash of $83.7 million in the first nine months of 2007, compared to $18.8 million of cash used in the first nine months of 2006, an increase in cash use of $64.9 million. In the first nine months of 2007, accounts receivable increased by $129.3 million largely due to increased sales while inventory increased by $10.1 million. Accounts payable and accrued liabilities increased by $46.8 million during the first nine months of 2007. The primary reason for the $18.8 million use of cash related to working capital in the first nine months of 2006 was due to an increase in accounts receivable of $33.0 million and a decrease in accounts payable and accrued liabilities of $12.5 million, partially offset by a decrease in inventory of $26.9 million.
Investing Activities
Net cash used for investing activities during the first nine months of 2007 was $75.2 million compared to $233.0 million in the first nine months of 2006. The primary reason for the decrease in net cash used was the purchase of short-term investments in the third quarter of 2006. In addition, capital expenditures were $86.3 million in the first nine months of 2007 compared to $100.7 million in the first nine months of 2006. The 2006 period included significant expenditures related to a project designed to upgrade the feedstock flexibility in our ethylene unit. The costs related to this project were lower in the 2007 period as the project was put into service during the second quarter of 2007. The remaining capital expenditures in the first nine months of 2007 and 2006 primarily related to maintenance capital, safety and environmental projects. In addition, we received $8.0 million as an adjustment to the purchase price of the Longview facilities in the 2007 period. The cash settlement of derivative instruments in the first nine months of 2006 related to derivative losses recognized in 2005.
Financing Activities
Net cash provided by financing activities during the first nine months of 2007 was $66.8 million compared to cash used by financing activities of $15.9 million in the first nine months of 2006. The 2007 activity was primarily related to borrowings under our revolving credit facility, partially offset by the payment of cash dividends. During the first nine months of 2006, we received proceeds of $249.2 million from the issuance of our 6 5/8% senior notes, which was offset by the repayment of $256.0 million of debt and the payment of $6.2 million of cash dividends. We also incurred $4.3 million in costs associated with the refinancing that were capitalized during the first nine months of 2006 that will be amortized over the term of the new debt.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Liquidity and Financing Arrangements
Our principal sources of liquidity are from cash and cash equivalents, cash from operations, borrowings under a revolving credit facility and long-term financing. In addition, on October 24, 2007 the Louisiana State Bond Commission awarded us a $250.0 million allocation under The Gulf Opportunity Zone Act of 2005. The allocation award together with the Louisiana Governor’s allocation letter dated October 26, 2007, will allow us to issue tax-exempt bonds in a principal amount of up to that level through an approved conduit issuer for the purpose of funding capital expenditures within the Louisiana Parishes of Ascension and Calcasieu. We anticipate issuing the bonds within 120 days from the date of the
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allocation letter. Also, as discussed previously, we are currently performing a feasibility study in connection with the potential development of an ethane-based ethylene, polyethylene and other derivatives project in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. The capital cost is currently estimated to be approximately $1.9 billion, in which we would be a majority partner. If this project is approved, construction could commence in 2008. It is expected that we would invest some level of cash and the remainder would be financed through a project financing arrangement. We believe that our sources of liquidity as described above, along with any additional project financing, will be adequate to fund our cash requirements.
Cash
Cash balances were $139.3 million at September 30, 2007 compared to $52.6 million at December 31, 2006. This increase was the result of a $75.0 million borrowing under our revolving line of credit to provide liquidity for capital expenditures and operating expenses.
Debt
Our $300.0 million senior secured revolving credit facility is a source of liquidity. During the first nine months of 2007, borrowings under the revolving credit facility bore interest at either LIBOR plus 1.00% or prime rate minus 0.50%. The revolving credit facility also requires an unused commitment fee of 0.25%. All interest rates under the facility are subject to quarterly grid pricing adjustments based on a fixed charge coverage ratio. The interest rate for borrowings under the facility in the third quarter of 2007 was 6.5%. The facility matures on January 6, 2011.
As of September 30, 2007, our long term debt totaled $335.2 million, consisting of $249.3 million principal amount of 65/8% senior notes due 2016, a $10.9 million loan from the proceeds of tax-exempt revenue bonds (supported by a $11.3 million letter of credit) and $75.0 million of borrowings under our revolving credit facility. Debt outstanding under the revolving credit facility and the tax-exempt bonds bears interest at variable rates.
On January 13, 2006, we issued $250.0 million of 65/8% aggregate principal amount of senior notes due 2016, the proceeds of which, together with cash on hand, were used to redeem our 83/4% senior notes due 2011 and repay our term loan as follows:
On January 18, 2006, we repaid the entire $9.0 million outstanding under our term loan, plus accrued but unpaid interest.
•
On two redemption dates, February 8, 2006 and February 13, 2006, we redeemed the entire $247.0 million principal amount outstanding of our 83/4% senior notes due 2011, and paid a make-whole premium of $22.2 million, plus accrued and unpaid interest.
As a result of the early redemption of the 83/4% senior notes due 2011 and the repayment of the term loan, we recognized $25.9 million in non-operating expense in the first quarter of 2006 consisting of a pre-payment premium on the 83/4% senior notes of $22.2 million and a write-off of $3.7 million in previously capitalized debt issuance cost.
The 65/8% senior notes are unsecured and were issued with an original issue discount of $0.8 million. There is no sinking fund and no scheduled amortization of the notes prior to maturity. The notes are subject to redemption and the holders may require us to repurchase the notes upon a change of control. 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 the notes.
The agreements governing the 65/8% senior notes and the revolving credit facility each contain customary covenants and events of default. Accordingly, these agreements 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. 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 $0.20 per share (currently $0.05 per share). The 65/8% senior notes indenture does not allow distributions unless, after giving pro forma effect to the distribution, our fixed charge coverage ratio is at least 2.0 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. The amount allowed under this restriction was $474,485 at September 30, 2007. The revolving credit facility also restricts dividend payments unless, after giving effect to such payment, the availability under the line of credit equals or exceeds $60.0 million. None of the agreements require us to maintain specified financial ratios, except that the revolving credit facility requires us to maintain a minimum fixed charge coverage ratio of 1.0 to 1.0 when availability falls below $60.0 million. In addition, the 65/8% senior notes indenture and the revolving credit facility restrict our ability to create liens, to engage in certain affiliate transactions and to engage in sale-leaseback transactions.
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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, we believe our cash flow from operations, available cash and available borrowings under our revolving credit facility will be adequate to meet our liquidity needs for the foreseeable future.
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. These include such matters as:
timing and results of the planned expansions of our chlor-alkali and PVC resin units and building of a large diameter PVC pipe plant at our Calvert City, Kentucky manufacturing complex;
timing, size, scope, cost and other matters related to the project in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago;
anticipated future results of operations;
industry outlook;
production capacities;
our ability to borrow additional funds under our credit facility;
our ability to meet our liquidity needs;
expected outcomes of legal and administrative proceedings and their expected effects on our financial position, results of operations and cash flows; and
compliance with present and future environmental regulations and costs associated with environmentally related penalties, capital expenditures and remedial actions.
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. These statements are subject to a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, including those described in “Risk Factors” in Westlake Chemical Corporation’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006 and the following:
general economic and business conditions;
timing, duration and impact of turnarounds;
the cyclical nature of the chemical industry;
the availability, cost and volatility of raw materials and energy;
uncertainties associated with the United States and worldwide economies, including those due to political tensions in the Middle East and elsewhere;
current and potential governmental regulatory actions in the United States and regulatory actions and political unrest in other countries;
industry production capacity and operating rates;
the supply/demand balance for our products;
competitive products and pricing pressures;
access to capital markets;
terrorist acts;
operating interruptions (including leaks, explosions, fires, natural disasters, weather-related incidents, mechanical failure, unscheduled downtime, labor difficulties, transportation interruptions, spills and releases and other environmental risks);
changes in laws or regulations;
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technological developments;
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.
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 product 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 September 30, 2007, a hypothetical $1.00 increase in the price of a MMBTU of natural gas would have increased our income before taxes by $6.8 million, a hypothetical $1.00 increase in the price of a barrel of crude oil would have decreased our income before taxes by $1.0 million, a hypothetical $0.10 increase in the price of a gallon of ethane would have increased our income before taxes by $2.0 million and a hypothetical $0.10 increase in the price of a gallon of propane would have decreased our income before taxes by $1.2 million. Additional information concerning derivative commodity instruments appears in Note 8 to the consolidated financial statements.
Interest Rate Risk
We are exposed to interest rate risk with respect to fixed and variable rate debt. At September 30, 2007, we had variable rate debt of $85.9 million outstanding. All of the debt under our credit facility and tax exempt revenue bonds is 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 $85.9 million as of September 30, 2007 was 6.19%. A hypothetical 100 basis point increase in the average interest rate on our variable rate debt would increase our annual interest expense by approximately $0.9 million. Also, at September 30, 2007, we had $249.3 million of fixed rate debt. We are subject to the risk of higher interest cost if and when this debt is refinanced. If interest rates are 1% higher at the time of refinancing, our annual interest expense would increase by approximately $2.5 million.
We carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our President and Chief Executive Officer and our Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to Rule 13a-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 Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures are effective, in all material respects, 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 September 30, 2007, 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
Westlake Chemical Corporation’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006 (the “2006 Form 10-K”), filed on February 26, 2007, contained a description of various legal proceedings in which we are involved, including environmental proceedings at our facilities in Calvert City, Kentucky. See Note 12 to the consolidated financial statements for an update of certain of those proceedings, which information is incorporated by reference herein.
For a discussion of risk factors, please read Item 1A, “Risk Factors” in the 2006 Form 10-K.
The following table provides information on our purchase of equity securities during the quarter ended September 30, 2007.
Period
Total Number
of Shares
Purchased(1)
Average Price
Paid Per
Share
of SharesPurchased as Partof Publicly
Announced Plans
or Programs
Maximum Number
(or Approximate
Dollar Value) of
Shares that
May Yet Be
Purchased Under the
Plans or Programs
July 2007
August 2007
September 2007
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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.
Date: November 2, 2007
/s/ Albert Chao
President and Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)
/s/ M. Steven Bender
Vice President, Chief Financial Officer & Treasurer
(Principal Financial Officer)
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