8-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (date of earliest event reported): January 20, 2017

WESTLAKE CHEMICAL CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware	001-32260	76-0346924
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)	(Commission File Number)	(IRS Employer Identification No.)
2801 Post Oak Boulevard, Suite 600 Houston, Texas		77056
(Address of principal executive offices)		(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (713) 960-9111

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

☐ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

☐ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure.

On January 19, 2017, Westlake Chemical Partners LP, a publicly traded master limited partnership formed by Westlake Chemical Corporation (“Westlake Chemical”), issued a press release regarding the issuance by the Internal Revenue Service and U.S. Department of Treasury of final regulations relating to qualifying income activities. A copy of the press release is furnished with this Current Report as Exhibit 99.1.

The information furnished pursuant to this Current Report, including Exhibit 99.1, shall not be deemed to be “filed” for the purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and will not be incorporated by reference into any filing by Westlake Chemical under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, unless specifically identified as being incorporated therein.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d)    Exhibits

The following exhibit is furnished herewith:

99.1 Press Release dated January 19, 2017 issued by Westlake Chemical Partners LP

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SIGNATURE

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 hereunto duly authorized.

WESTLAKE CHEMICAL CORPORATION
By:	/s/ L. Benjamin Ederington
	L. Benjamin Ederington
	Vice President, General Counsel, Chief Administrative Officer and Corporate Secretary

Date: January 20, 2017

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EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit Number	Description
99.1	Press Release dated January 19, 2017 issued by Westlake Chemical Partners LP

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EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

Westlake Chemical Partners LP Statement on Final Regulations Relating to its Qualifying Income Activities

• Final regulations uphold previous favorable private letter ruling granted on ethylene by the Internal Revenue Service to Westlake

HOUSTON, TX – January 19, 2017 – The Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) and U.S. Department of Treasury (“Treasury”) today issued final regulations under section 7704(d)(1)(E) of the Internal Revenue Code (the “Code”) relating to qualifying income from the processing, refining and transportation of minerals or natural resources, which allows a business to be treated as a partnership for U.S. federal tax purposes.

Westlake Chemical Corporation (NYSE: WLK) previously requested and received a favorable private letter ruling from the IRS, prior to formation and initial public offering of Westlake Chemical Partners LP (NYSE: WLKP) (the “Partnership”), to the effect that the production, transportation, storage and marketing of ethylene constitutes “qualifying income” within the meaning of section 7704(d)(1)(E).

The final regulations issued today by the IRS and Treasury uphold Westlake’s private letter ruling and holds that the Partnership’s activities constitute “qualifying income.”

“We appreciate the thorough process taken by the IRS and Treasury Department to reach their final decision and are pleased that the final regulations reconfirm and properly recognize these industry practices and remove uncertainty that our activities will continue to generate qualifying income under the Code,” said Albert Chao, President and Chief Executive Officer.

Westlake Chemical Partners LP

Westlake Chemical Partners LP is a limited partnership formed by Westlake Chemical Corporation to operate, acquire and develop facilities for the processing of natural gas liquids as well as other qualifying activities. Headquartered in Houston, Texas, the Partnership owns a 13.3% interest in Westlake Chemical OpCo LP. Westlake Chemical OpCo LP’s assets include three facilities in Calvert City, Kentucky, and Lake Charles, Louisiana, which process ethane and propane into ethylene, and an ethylene pipeline. For more information about Westlake Chemical Partners LP, please visit http://www.wlkpartners.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain of the statements contained in this press release are forward-looking statements. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this press release that address activities, events or developments that the Partnership expects, projects, believes or anticipates 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,” “expects,” “will” or comparable terminology, or by discussions of strategies or trends. Although the Partnership believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, the Partnership cannot give any assurances that these expectations will prove to be correct.

Contacts

Westlake:

Investor Inquiries:

Mr. Steve Bender

713-960-9111

investorrelations@westlake.com

Media Inquiries:

Mr. Ben Ederington

713-960-9111

mediarelations@westlake.com