HOUSTON - Westlake Corporation (NYSE:WLK), a manufacturer of industrial organic chemicals, announced today that it will temporarily cease operations of certain units at its Pernis facility in the Netherlands. The decision, which affects the allyl chloride (AC) and epichlorohydrin (ECH) units, was made in response to a strategic evaluation by the company's management.
The mothballing process is set to begin in 2025, following the completion of local consultation obligations. Westlake has informed the employees at the affected units of the plan, which is expected to lead to a workforce reduction of approximately 30 positions.
The company anticipates incurring pre-tax costs of roughly EUR 80 million due to this decision. These costs include around EUR 5 million for employee severance and separation, and approximately EUR 75 million for environmental remediation and other plant mothballing expenses. Westlake expects to record the majority of these costs in the third quarter of 2024, with cash outflows projected to spread over the following years starting in 2025.
Despite the temporary shutdown of the AC and ECH units, Westlake will maintain operations of the liquid epoxy resin (LER) and bisphenol A (BPA) units at the same site. The company aims to improve the financial performance of the Pernis facility through this action while continuing to serve its customers with BPA, LER solutions, and epoxy specialty resins.
This news is based on a press release statement.
In other recent news, Westlake Chemical (NYSE:WLK) Partners announced the appointment of Jean-Marc Gilson as its new President and CEO, succeeding Albert Chao. Gilson, a veteran in the chemical industry, brings a wealth of experience from his time at Mitsubishi Chemical Group Corporation, Roquette, NuSil Technology, and Dow Corning (NYSE:GLW). This move is part of a strategic succession plan aimed at driving long-term value creation for the company.
In the meantime, Westlake Corporation has joined an anti-dumping complaint against imports of epoxy resins from several Asian countries into the European Union. This action is an effort to protect the company's market position. Additionally, Westlake Innovations, a subsidiary of Westlake Corporation, has invested in the Blackhorn Industrial Impact Fund II, aligning with the company's sustainability efforts.
On the financial front, Westlake Chemical reported a significant increase in net sales, EBITDA, and net income for the first quarter of 2024, with its Housing and Infrastructure Products (HIP) segment seeing a 14% year-over-year rise in sales volume. Analyst firms BMO Capital and RBC Capital maintained their Market Perform and Sector Perform ratings respectively, while Citi and Piper Sandler raised their price targets for the company's shares.
These developments underline the ongoing changes and strategic moves at Westlake. The company anticipates 2024 revenue for the HIP segment to be between $4 billion and $4.4 billion with an EBITDA margin of around 20%.
These recent developments are based on analyst projections and company announcements.
InvestingPro Insights
In light of Westlake Corporation's recent strategic decisions regarding its Pernis facility, a snapshot of the company's financial health and market position can provide additional context for investors. As of the first quarter of 2024, Westlake's market capitalization stands at $18.39 billion, showcasing its substantial size in the chemical manufacturing industry. The company's price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio has adjusted to 31.98, which offers a more current perspective on its valuation relative to earnings.
Investors may also be interested in the company's profitability metrics, with a gross profit margin of 15.56% and an operating income margin of 7.56% in the last twelve months. These figures highlight Westlake's ability to manage costs and generate earnings from its operations. Additionally, while the company faces a decline in revenue growth, evidenced by a -19.39% change in the last twelve months, it still maintains a positive year-to-date price total return of 2.89%.
For those considering a deeper investment analysis, Westlake's fair value estimates might be of interest. According to InvestingPro, the fair value is calculated at $133.06, which provides a data point for investors to consider when evaluating the stock's current price. To access more insights and make informed investment decisions, readers can explore additional InvestingPro Tips that delve into Westlake's financials and market performance. Remember to use the coupon code PRONEWS24 to get up to 10% off a yearly Pro and a yearly or biyearly Pro+ subscription.
This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.