MOSCOW (MRC) -- Westlake Chemical Corporation has announced that it has closed its previously announced offering of USD750,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 3.600% senior unsecured notes due 2026 and USD700,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 5.000% senior unsecured notes due 2046 to qualified institutional buyers in the United States, said the producer on its site.
Westlake intends to use the proceeds from the proposed offering, together with the proceeds from other financing transactions and cash on hand, to finance the previously announced proposed acquisition of Axiall Corporation, to repay certain indebtedness of Axiall and pay related fees and expenses. The Notes are guaranteed, jointly and severally on a senior basis, by certain of Westlake’s subsidiaries.
The Notes and related guarantees have not been and will not be registered under the Securities Act or the securities laws of any other jurisdiction and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to, or for the benefit of, U.S. persons absent registration under, or an applicable exemption from, the registration requirements of the Securities Act.
As MRC informed before, Axiall and Westlake have received all regulatory approvals required for the transaction, including clearance from both the U.S. and Canadian competition authorities. On August 1, 2016, Axiall filed a definitive proxy statement with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission to notify Axiall"s shareholders of a special meeting to be held on August 30, 2016 to vote on the transaction. Assuming the Axiall shareholders approve the transaction at that meeting, the closing is expected to occur on August 31, 2016.
Westlake Chemical Corporation is a U.S. manufacturer and supplier of petrochemicals and polymers, headquartered in Houston, Texas. The range of company"s products includes ethylene, polyethylene, styrene, propylene, caustics, polyvinyl chloride and plastic products. Westlake is one of the major ethylene producers in the US and its Calvert City operation is a large integrated PVC site. Westlake"s 2015 financial results showed sales of USD4.46 billion and profit of USD646 million. The sales total was up 1% vs. 2014, while the profit level was down almost 5%. Lower selling prices - particularly for polyethylene and ethylene feedstock - impacted Westlake in 2015.
MRC