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As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 11, 2016

Registration No. 333-211719

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

AMENDMENT NO. 1

TO

FORM S-4

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

 

Ashland Global Holdings Inc.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

 

Delaware (State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)		5160 (Primary Standard Industrial Classification Code Number)		81-2587835 (IRS Employer Identification Number)

50 E. RiverCenter Boulevard

P.O. Box 391

Covington, Kentucky 41012-0391

(859) 815-3333

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)

 

 

Peter J. Ganz, Esq.

Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary

50 E. RiverCenter Boulevard

P.O. Box 391

Covington, Kentucky 41012-0391

(859) 815-3333

(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

 

 

With Copies to:

Susan Webster

Thomas E. Dunn

Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP

Worldwide Plaza

825 Eighth Avenue

New York, New York 10019

(212) 474-1000

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale of the securities to the public: As soon as practicable after the effective date of this registration statement.

If the securities being registered on this form are being offered in connection with the formation of a holding company and there is compliance with General Instruction G, check the following box:  ¨

If this form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  ¨

If this form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer”, “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large accelerated filer		x		Accelerated filer		¨
Non-accelerated filer		¨  (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)		Smaller reporting company		¨

If applicable, place an X in the box to designate the appropriate rule provision relied upon in conducting this transaction:

 

Exchange Act Rule 13e-4(i) (Cross-Border Issuer Tender Offer)		¨
Exchange Act Rule 14d-1(d) (Cross-Border Third-Party Tender Offer)		¨

The registrant hereby amends this registration statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this registration statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until the registration statement shall become effective on such date as the Securities and Exchange Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.

 

 

 

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The proxy statement/prospectus that forms a part of this Registration Statement consists of (i) a proxy statement relating to a special meeting of shareholders of Ashland Inc. (“Ashland”, the “Company”, “we”, “us” and “our”) and (ii) a prospectus relating to the common stock of Ashland Global Holdings Inc. (“Ashland Global”).

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The information in this proxy statement/prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This proxy statement/prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.

 

SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED JULY 11, 2016

 

  

 

		Ashland Inc.
		50 E. RiverCenter Blvd., P.O. Box 391 Covington, KY 41012-0391
		, 2016

PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS

A REORGANIZATION IS PROPOSED—YOUR VOTE IS VERY IMPORTANT

Dear Ashland Inc. Shareholder:

You are invited to attend a special meeting of shareholders of Ashland Inc. (“Ashland” or the “Company”), to be held at the Metropolitan Club, 50 E. RiverCenter Boulevard, Covington, KY 41011, on                     , 2016 at              a.m. (EDT).

At the special meeting, you will be asked to vote on a proposal, which we refer to as the “reorganization proposal,” to approve an agreement and plan of merger to create a holding company structure for Ashland, which we refer to as the “reorganization.” The new holding company will be called Ashland Global Holdings Inc. (“Ashland Global”).

Reorganizing into a holding company will allow Ashland to reincorporate in the State of Delaware and will help facilitate the previously announced plan to pursue the separation of Ashland into two independent, publicly traded companies (one company comprising Ashland’s specialty ingredients and performance materials businesses and the other comprising Ashland’s Valvoline business) by allowing Ashland to organize and segregate the assets of its different businesses in a tax-efficient manner prior to the separation. Through this planned separation, we are working to create two strong public companies—Ashland and Valvoline—to maximize long-term shareholder value.

In considering the reorganization proposal, you should consider the following important aspects of the reorganization:

 

•

Your existing shares of Ashland common stock will be automatically converted in the reorganization, on a one-for-one basis, into shares of common stock of Ashland Global. As a result, you will own the same number and percentage of shares of Ashland Global as you currently own of Ashland.

 

•

The reorganization will be tax-free for Ashland shareholders for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

 

•

We expect the shares of Ashland Global to trade on the New York Stock Exchange under Ashland’s current trading symbol, “ASH”.

 

•

Your rights as a shareholder of Ashland Global will be substantially the same as your rights as a shareholder of Ashland. There are differences, however, that you should carefully review under the caption “Comparative Rights of Holders of Ashland Global Common Stock and Ashland Common Stock” beginning on page 41.

Our Board has carefully considered the agreement and plan of merger and believes that it is advisable and in the best interest of our shareholders, and unanimously recommends that you vote FOR the reorganization proposal.

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Approval of the reorganization proposal requires the affirmative vote of at least a majority of all of the issued and outstanding shares of Ashland common stock.

You are not being asked to vote on the separation, and the separation is not conditioned on shareholder approval of the reorganization proposal. If a sufficient number of affirmative votes are not cast in favor of the reorganization proposal, we intend to continue to pursue the separation. However, implementing the separation without the reorganization could result in substantial delay in commencing the separation, could make the separation less tax-efficient and may not achieve the capital structures for Ashland Global and Valvoline that the Board believes will provide an optimal level of financial flexibility for each company to pursue its long-term strategies and maximize the long-term value of the separation to shareholders. In addition, the separation remains subject to a number of contingencies and there can be no assurances that the separation will occur. In the event we believe the separation is unlikely to occur, we may elect not to complete the reorganization, even if approved by shareholders.

The total number of shares of Ashland Global to be issued in the reorganization will not be known until immediately prior to completing the reorganization, but is expected to be up to approximately 62 million shares of Ashland Global based on, among other factors, the number of shares of Ashland common stock currently outstanding. On May 27, 2016, the last trading day before announcement of the reorganization proposal, the closing price per share of our common stock was $114.18.

At the special meeting, in addition to the reorganization proposal (Item 1 on the proxy card), you will be asked to vote on a proposal to approve, if necessary, the adjournment of the special meeting to solicit additional proxies in favor of the reorganization proposal (Item 2 on the proxy card).

Our Board unanimously recommends that you vote FOR the adjournment proposal.

Your vote is important. Whether or not you plan to attend the special meeting, please vote as soon as possible. You may vote via the Internet, by telephone or by signing, dating and mailing the enclosed proxy card. Specific instructions for shareholders of record who wish to use Internet or telephone voting procedures are included in the enclosed proxy statement/prospectus. Any shareholder attending the special meeting may vote in person even if a proxy has been returned.

The accompanying notice of meeting and this proxy statement/prospectus provide specific information about the special meeting and explain the various proposals. Please read these materials carefully. In particular, you should consider the discussion of risk factors beginning on page 13 before voting on the reorganization proposal.

We appreciate your continued confidence in Ashland and look forward to seeing you at the meeting.

 

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of the securities to be issued under this proxy statement/prospectus or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this proxy statement/prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

This proxy statement/prospectus is dated                 , 2016 and is being first mailed to Ashland shareholders on or about                 , 2016.

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To be held                 , 2016

To our Shareholders:

Ashland Inc., a Kentucky corporation, will hold a special meeting of shareholders on                 , 2016 at          (EDT) at the Metropolitan Club, 50 E. RiverCenter Boulevard, Covington, KY 41011 (the “Special Meeting”). Ashland’s shareholders will act on the following matters at the Special Meeting or any adjournment of that meeting:

 

1.

Consider a proposal, which we refer to as the “reorganization proposal”, to approve an agreement and plan of merger that will create a holding company structure for Ashland, which will allow Ashland to reincorporate in the State of Delaware and will help facilitate the previously announced plan to pursue the separation of Ashland into two independent, publicly traded companies (one company comprising Ashland’s specialty ingredients and performance materials businesses and the other comprising Ashland’s Valvoline business). This agreement is included in the accompanying proxy statement/prospectus as Annex I.

 

2.

Consider a proposal, which we refer to as the “adjournment proposal”, to approve, if necessary, the adjournment of the Special Meeting to solicit additional proxies in favor of the reorganization proposal.

Our Board of Directors has determined that the proposed agreement and plan of merger is advisable and in the best interest of our shareholders, and unanimously recommends that shareholders vote FOR the reorganization proposal. In addition, our Board unanimously recommends that shareholders vote FOR the adjournment proposal.

Only shareholders of record at the close of business on                 , 2016 (the “Record Date”) are entitled to vote at the Special Meeting or any adjournment of that meeting.

 

		You can vote in one of several ways:
		Visit the website listed on your proxy card to vote VIA THE INTERNET
		Call the telephone number specified on your proxy card to vote BY TELEPHONE
		Sign, date and return your proxy card in the enclosed envelope to vote BY MAIL
		Attend the meeting to vote IN PERSON

Shareholders as of the Record Date are entitled to assert dissenters’ rights under Subchapter 271B.13 of the Kentucky Business Corporation Act (the “KBCA”) with respect to the reorganization proposal. A copy of Subchapter 271B.13 is attached as Annex IV to the accompanying proxy statement/prospectus.

If you are a participant in the Ashland Inc. Employee Savings Plan (the “Employee Savings Plan”), the Ashland Inc. Leveraged Employee Stock Ownership Plan (the “LESOP”), the Ashland Inc. Employee Union Savings Plan (the “Union Plan”) or the International Specialty Products Inc. 401(k) Plan (the “ISP Plan”), your vote will constitute voting instructions to Fidelity Management Trust Company, who serves as trustee of all four of these plans (the “Trustee”), for the shares held in your account.

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If you are a participant in the Employee Savings Plan, the LESOP, the Union Plan or the ISP Plan, then our proxy tabulator, Corporate Election Services, or its agent must receive all voting instructions, whether given by telephone, over the Internet or by mail, before              (EDT) on         ,             , 2016.

By Order of the Board of Directors,

PETER J. GANZ

Senior Vice President, General Counsel and

Secretary; and Chief Compliance Officer

Covington, Kentucky

                , 2016

 

This document, which is sometimes referred to as this proxy statement/prospectus, constitutes a proxy statement of Ashland Inc. with respect to the solicitation of proxies by Ashland Inc. for the special meeting described within and a prospectus of Ashland Global Holdings Inc. for the shares of common stock of Ashland Global Holdings Inc. to be issued pursuant to the proposed agreement and plan of merger. As permitted under the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), this proxy statement/prospectus incorporates important business and financial information about us that is contained in documents filed with the SEC that are not included in or delivered with this proxy statement/prospectus. You may obtain copies of these documents, without charge, from the web site maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov, as well as other sources. See “Where You Can Find Additional Information” on page 70. You may also obtain copies of these documents, without charge, from Ashland Inc. by calling us at (859) 815-3527 or writing us at the following address:

Ashland Inc.

50 E. RiverCenter Boulevard

P.O. Box 391

Covington, KY 41012-0391

Attention: Investor Relations

You also may obtain documents incorporated by reference into this proxy statement/prospectus by requesting them in writing or by telephone from the proxy solicitor for the merger at the following addresses and telephone number:

[                    ]

In order to ensure timely delivery of the requested documents, requests should be made no later than                     , 2016, which is                      business days before the date of the Special Meeting.

You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this proxy statement/prospectus and the registration statement of which this proxy statement/prospectus is a part to vote on the proposals being presented at the Special Meeting. We have not authorized any person to provide you with any information or represent anything about us or the proposals that is not contained in this proxy statement/prospectus or the registration statement of which this proxy statement/prospectus is a part or incorporated by reference herein. If given or made, any such other information or representation should not be relied upon as having been authorized by us.

This proxy statement/prospectus is dated                     , 2016. You should not assume that the information contained in this proxy statement/prospectus is accurate as of any date other than this date, and neither the mailing of this proxy statement/prospectus to shareholders nor the issuance of Ashland Global Holdings Inc. common stock pursuant to the proposed agreement and plan of merger implies that information is accurate as of any other date.

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		Page
Letter from the Chairman/CEO
Notice of Special Meeting of Shareholders
Questions and Answers About the Reorganization Proposal and the Special Meeting			1
Questions and Answers About the Separation			6
Summary of the Reorganization Proposal			9
Risk Factors			13
Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements			19
Selected Historical Consolidated Financial Information for Ashland			20
Certain Financial Information			22
Selected Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Financial Information for Ashland Global			23
Comparative Historical and Unaudited Pro Forma Per Share Data			24
Description of the Reorganization Proposal			26
Overview			26
The Principal Parties			26
Reasons for the Reorganization			27
Required Vote			27
Recommendation of our Board			27
Reorganization Procedure			27
Pre-Separation and Post-Separation Structure			28
Treatment of Common Stock in the Reorganization			29
Treatment of Ashland Equity Incentive Compensation Plans and Outstanding Awards in connection with the Reorganization and the Separation			29
Issuances of Ashland Global Common Stock Under the Ashland Plans			29
Corporate Name Following the Reorganization			29
Conditions to Completion of the Reorganization			29
Effectiveness of the Reorganization			30
Termination of Merger Agreement			30
Amendment of Merger Agreement			30
Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences			30
Anticipated Accounting Treatment			32
Authorized Capital Stock			32
Security Ownership of Directors and Executive Officers			32
Regulatory Requirements in Connection With the Reorganization			32
Dissenters’ Rights			32
Markets and Market Prices			33
De-listing of Ashland Common Stock			33
Board of Directors and Executive Officers of Ashland Global Following the Reorganization			33
Interest of Certain Directors and Executive Officers in the Separation			33
Description of the Adjournment Proposal			34
General			34
Required Vote			34
Description of Ashland Global Capital Stock			35
Comparative Rights of Holders of Ashland Global Common Stock and Ashland Common Stock			41
Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Financial Information for Ashland Global			52
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners			62

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Certain Information Regarding Directors and Executive Officers			63
Certain Transactions with Related Parties			65
Validity of Shares			69
Experts			69
Shareholder Proposals for the 2017 Annual Meeting			69
Householding			70
Where You Can Find Additional Information			70
ANNEX I—Agreement and Plan of Merger			A-1
ANNEX II—Form of Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Ashland Global
ANNEX III—Form of Amended and Restated By-laws of Ashland Global
ANNEX IV—Kentucky Revised Statutes Chapter 271B.13

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1.	What matters will be voted on at the Special Meeting?

There are two proposals scheduled to be considered and voted on at the Special Meeting:

 

•

The approval of an agreement and plan of merger that will create a new holding company structure for Ashland (the “reorganization proposal”); and

 

•

The approval, if necessary, of the adjournment of the Special Meeting to solicit additional proxies in favor of the reorganization proposal (the “adjournment proposal”).

 

2.	What is the reorganization proposal?

We are asking you to approve the creation of a new holding company structure for Ashland to help facilitate Ashland’s reincorporation in the State of Delaware and its previously announced plan to pursue the separation (the “Separation”) of Ashland into two independent, publicly traded companies (one company comprising Ashland’s specialty ingredients and performance materials businesses (the “Ashland Global businesses”) and the other comprising the Valvoline business (the “Valvoline business”)).

The proposal is for shareholders to approve an agreement and plan of merger (the “Merger Agreement”) by and among (i) Ashland, (ii) Ashland Global Holdings Inc., a Delaware corporation and direct, wholly owned subsidiary of Ashland, which we refer to herein as “Ashland Global,” and (iii) Ashland Merger Sub Corp., a Kentucky corporation and a direct, wholly owned subsidiary of Ashland Global, which we refer to herein as “Merger Sub.” Ashland Global and Merger Sub are newly formed entities organized by Ashland for the purpose of participating in the Reorganization (as defined below).

As a result of the Reorganization, Ashland Global will replace Ashland as the publicly held corporation and, through its subsidiaries, will conduct all of the operations currently conducted by Ashland. Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, Merger Sub will merge with and into Ashland, with Ashland continuing as the surviving corporation, and each outstanding share of Ashland common stock will be automatically converted into one share of Ashland Global common stock (the “Reorganization”). Following consummation of the Reorganization, (i) Ashland will be an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of Ashland Global, (ii) Ashland Global, as the new holding company, will, through its subsidiaries, conduct all of the operations conducted by Ashland immediately prior to the Reorganization and (iii) you will own the same ownership percentage of Ashland Global as you owned of Ashland immediately prior to the Reorganization.

A copy of the Merger Agreement is attached as Annex I to this proxy statement/prospectus. You are encouraged to read the Merger Agreement carefully.

 

3.	What is the Board’s voting recommendation?

Our Board of Directors (the “Board”) recommends that you vote as follows:

 

•

FOR the reorganization proposal; and

 

•

FOR the adjournment proposal.

 

4.	Why are you creating a holding company structure for Ashland?

On September 22, 2015, we announced that our Board had approved a plan to pursue the Separation of Ashland into two independent, publicly traded companies (one company comprising the Ashland Global businesses and the other comprising the Valvoline business). The holding company structure created by the Reorganization will allow us to reincorporate in the State of Delaware and will help facilitate the Separation by allowing Ashland to organize and segregate the assets of its different businesses in a tax-efficient manner prior to the Separation.

For more information, see “Description of the Reorganization Proposal—Reasons for the Reorganization” on page 27.

 

5.	If the shareholders do not approve the reorganization proposal, does Ashland intend to continue to pursue the Separation?

If a sufficient number of affirmative votes are not cast in favor of the reorganization proposal, we intend to continue to pursue the Separation. However, implementing the Separation without the Reorganization could result in substantial delay in commencing the Separation, could make the Separation less tax-efficient and may not achieve the capital structures for Ashland Global and Valvoline

 

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that the Board believes will provide an optimal level of financial flexibility for each company to pursue its long-term strategies and maximize the long-term value of the separation to shareholders.

 

6.	Am I being asked to vote on the Separation?

No. Shareholder approval of the Separation is not required. You are not being asked to vote on the Separation, and the Separation is not conditioned on shareholder approval of the reorganization proposal.

 

7.	Will the management or the businesses of Ashland change as a result of the Reorganization?

No. Our management and businesses will not change as a result of the Reorganization. However, the Board believes the Reorganization will help facilitate the Separation by allowing Ashland to organize and segregate the assets of its different businesses in a tax-efficient manner prior to the Separation and the Separation will have the effects on our business discussed in the answer to question 2 of the “Questions and Answers about the Separation,” below.

 

8.	What will be the name of the public company following the Reorganization?

The name of the public company following the Reorganization will be “Ashland Global Holdings Inc.”

 

9.	How will being a shareholder of Ashland Global be different from being a shareholder of Ashland?

Your rights as a shareholder of Ashland Global will be substantially the same as your rights as a shareholder of Ashland, including rights as to voting and dividends. There are differences, however, that you should carefully review under the caption “The Reorganization Proposal—Comparative Rights of Holders of Ashland Global Common Stock and Ashland Common Stock.” For more information, also see “Risk Factors—Risks Related to the Reorganization” and “Description of Ashland Global Capital Stock.”

 

10.	Will the Reorganization affect my U.S. federal income taxes?

The Reorganization is intended to be a tax-free transaction under U.S. federal income tax laws. As a result, you will not recognize any gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes upon the receipt of Ashland Global common stock in exchange for your shares of Ashland common stock. The discussion of the material U.S. federal income tax consequences contained in this registration statement is not a complete description of all potential U.S. federal income tax consequences of the Reorganization. You are urged to consult your own tax advisors concerning the specific tax consequences of the Reorganization to you, including any state, local or foreign tax consequences.

For more information, see “The Reorganization Proposal—Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences.”

 

11.	How will the Reorganization be treated for accounting purposes?

For accounting purposes, the Reorganization will be treated as a merger of entities under common control. Accordingly, the consolidated financial position and results of operations of Ashland will be included in the consolidated financial statements of Ashland Global on the same basis as currently presented.

 

12.	If the shareholders approve the reorganization proposal, when will the Reorganization occur?

We plan to complete the Reorganization before the end of calendar 2016, provided that our shareholders approve the reorganization proposal at the Special Meeting and that all other conditions to completion of the Reorganization, as set forth in the Merger Agreement, have been satisfied or waived on or prior to such date. However, there can be no assurance that the Reorganization will be consummated even if the shareholders approve the reorganization proposal. In fact, even if the shareholders approve the reorganization proposal, we may elect not to complete the Reorganization unless we believe we will also complete the Separation. In addition, our Board can terminate the Merger Agreement at any time prior to consummation of the Reorganization if it determines that, for any reason, the completion of the Reorganization would be inadvisable or not in the best interest of Ashland or its shareholders.

 

13.	What will happen to my Ashland stock as a result of the Reorganization?

In the Reorganization, your shares of Ashland common stock will automatically be converted into the same number of shares of common stock of Ashland Global. As a result, you will become a shareholder of Ashland Global and will own the same number and percentage of shares of Ashland Global common stock that you owned of Ashland common stock immediately prior to the Reorganization. We expect that Ashland Global common stock will be listed on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) under Ashland’s current trading symbol, “ASH.”

 

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14.	Will I have to turn in my stock certificates?

No. You do not have to turn in your stock certificates. We will not require you to exchange your stock certificates as a result of the Reorganization. After the Reorganization, your Ashland common stock certificates will represent the same number of shares of Ashland Global common stock as they represented of Ashland common stock prior to the Reorganization.

 

15.	Will the company’s CUSIP number change as a result of the reorganization?

Following the Reorganization, Ashland Global’s CUSIP number will be         .

 

16.	Do I have dissenters’ (or appraisal) rights in connection with the Reorganization?

Yes. You are entitled to dissenters’ rights under Subchapter 271B.13 of the KBCA.

For more information, see “Description of the Reorganization Proposal—Dissenters’ Rights”.

 

17.	How do I exercise my dissenters’ rights?

Prior to the vote on the Reorganization, you must deliver notice to us of your intent to demand payment for your Ashland shares if the Reorganization is effectuated. You must not vote in favor of the reorganization proposal or you will forfeit your dissenters’ rights. If the Reorganization is approved by holders of the requisite number of shares, no later than 10 days thereafter we will deliver a dissenters’ notice to all dissenting shareholders, which will include additional information on the procedures for perfecting your dissenters’ rights, including when we must receive your payment demand and when certificates or certificated shares must be deposited. If you follow these procedures and perfect your dissenters’ rights, your shares of Ashland common stock will not be converted into shares of Ashland Global common stock in the Reorganization and, upon the consummation of the Reorganization or receipt of your demand, we will be obligated to pay you the amount that we estimate to be the fair value of your Ashland shares, plus accrued interest. If you are unsatisfied with our estimate or we fail to make payment within 60 days after the date we set for demanding payment, you may object not later than 30 days after we made or offered payment for your shares, and if you and we cannot settle on an estimate within 60 days of us receiving your objection, we must commence a proceeding and petition a court in Kentucky to determine the fair value of the shares and accrued interest. If we fail to commence the proceeding within the 60 day time period after we receive your objection, we are required to pay you the amount you demanded.

For more information, see “The Reorganization Proposal—Dissenters’ Rights.”

 

18.	Who may vote at the Special Meeting?

Our shareholders at the close of business on the Record Date are entitled to vote at the Special Meeting. As of the Record Date, there were              shares of our common stock outstanding. Each share of our common stock is entitled to one vote.

 

19.	What vote is required for approval of each of the proposals?

The affirmative vote of a majority of all the shares of common stock that are entitled to vote is required to approve the reorganization proposal. As of the Record Date,              shares of our common stock were outstanding and entitled to vote.

Provided a quorum is present, the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares of common stock present or represented at the Special Meeting, and entitled to vote thereat, is required to approve the adjournment proposal.

 

20.	What constitutes a quorum?

As of the Record Date,          shares of our common stock were outstanding and entitled to vote. A majority of the shares issued and outstanding and entitled to vote thereat must be present in person or by proxy to constitute a quorum to transact business at the Special Meeting. If you vote in person, by telephone, over the Internet or by returning a properly executed proxy card, you will be considered a part of that quorum. Abstentions and broker non-votes (i.e., when a broker does not have authority to vote on a specific issue) will be treated as present for the purpose of determining a quorum but as unvoted shares for the purpose of determining the approval of any matter submitted to the shareholders for a vote.

 

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21.	Who can attend the Special Meeting?

All of our shareholders as of the Record Date are invited to attend the Special Meeting, although seating is limited. If your shares are held in the name of a broker, bank or other nominee, you will need to bring a proxy or letter from that nominee that confirms you are the beneficial owner of those shares.

 

22.	What shares are included in the proxy card?

Your proxy card represents all shares of our common stock that are registered in your name and any shares you hold in the Employee Savings Plan, the LESOP, the Union Plan or the ISP Plan (collectively, the “Plans”). Additionally, your proxy card includes shares you hold in the dividend reinvestment plan (the “DRP”) administered by Wells Fargo Bank, National Association (“Wells Fargo”) for investors in our common stock. If your shares are held through a broker, bank or other nominee, you will receive either a voting instruction form or a proxy card from the broker, bank or other nominee instructing you on how to vote your shares.

 

23.	How do I vote if I am a registered holder or I own shares through a broker, bank or other nominee?

If you are a registered shareholder as of the Record Date, you can vote (i) by attending the Special Meeting, (ii) by following the instructions on the proxy card for voting by telephone or Internet or (iii) by signing, dating and mailing in your proxy card. If you hold shares through a broker, bank or other nominee, that institution will instruct you as to how your shares may be voted by proxy, including whether telephone or Internet voting options are available. If you hold your shares through a broker, bank or other nominee and would like to vote in person at the meeting, you must first obtain a proxy issued in your name from the institution that holds your shares.

All shares represented by validly executed proxies will be voted at the Special Meeting, and such shares will be voted in accordance with the instructions provided. If no voting specification is made on your returned proxy card, William A. Wulfsohn or Peter J. Ganz, as individuals named on the proxy card, will vote FOR the reorganization proposal and FOR the adjournment proposal.

 

24.	How will broker non-votes be treated?

We will treat broker non-votes as present to determine whether or not there is a quorum at the Special Meeting, but they will not be treated as entitled to vote on the matters, if any, for which the broker indicates it does not have discretionary authority.

This means that broker non-votes will (i) have the same effect as a vote AGAINST the reorganization proposal and (ii) have no effect on whether the adjournment proposal passes.

 

25.	How do I vote my shares in the DRP?

Shares of our common stock credited to your account in the DRP will be voted by Wells Fargo, the plan sponsor and administrator, in accordance with your voting instructions.

 

26.	How will the Trustee of the Employee Savings Plan, the LESOP, the Union Plan and the ISP Plan vote?

Each participant in the Employee Savings Plan, the LESOP, the Union Plan or the ISP Plan will instruct the Trustee how to vote the shares of our common stock credited to the participant’s account in each plan. This instruction also applies to a proportionate number of those shares of our common stock allocated to participants’ accounts for which voting instructions are not timely received by the Trustee. These shares are collectively referred to as non-directed shares. Each participant who gives the Trustee such an instruction acts as a named fiduciary for the applicable plan under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended. Your vote must be received by our proxy tabulator, Corporate Election Services (“CES”), before          (EDT) on             ,         , 2016.

 

27.	Can a plan participant vote the non-directed shares differently from shares credited to his or her account?

Yes, provided that you are a participant in the Employee Savings Plan or the LESOP. Any participant in the Employee Savings Plan or the LESOP who wishes to vote the non-directed shares differently from the shares credited to his or her account or who wishes not to vote the non-directed shares at all may do so by requesting a separate voting instruction card from CES at Corporate Election Services, P.O. Box 1150, Pittsburgh, PA 15230. Participants in the Union Plan and the ISP Plan, however, cannot direct that the non-directed shares be voted differently from the shares in their accounts.

 

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28.	Can I change my vote once I vote by mail, by telephone or over the Internet?

Yes. You have the right to change or revoke your proxy (1) at any time before the Special Meeting by (a) notifying our Secretary in writing, (b) returning a later-dated proxy card or (c) entering a later dated telephone or Internet vote; or (2) by voting in person at the Special Meeting. However, any changes or revocations of voting instructions to the Trustee of the Employee Savings Plan, the LESOP, the Union Plan or the ISP Plan must be received by our proxy tabulator, CES, before          (EDT) on             ,         , 2016.

 

29.	Who will count the vote?

Representatives of CES will tabulate the votes and will act as the inspector of election.

 

30.	Is my vote confidential?

Yes. Your vote is confidential.

 

31.	What percentage of the outstanding shares do directors and executive officers hold?

On             , the Record Date for the Special Meeting, directors, executive officers and their affiliates beneficially owned approximately     % of our outstanding shares of common stock. To that extent, their interest in the reorganization proposal is the same as the interest of our shareholders generally.

 

32.	Where can I find the voting results of the meeting?

We intend to announce preliminary voting results at the Special Meeting. We will report the final results on a current report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC no later than             ,             , 2016. You can obtain a copy of the Form 8-K by logging on to our website at http://investor.ashland.com, by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for the location of the nearest public reference room or through the SEC’s EDGAR system at http://www.sec.gov.

If you have any questions about voting your shares or attending the Special Meeting, please call our Secretary at (859) 815-3333 or          at          .

 

33.	Whom do I contact if I have questions about the reorganization proposal?

You may contact us at:

Ashland Inc.

50 E. RiverCenter Blvd.

P.O. Box 391 Covington, KY 41012-0391

Attn: Seth A. Mrozek–Director, Investor Relations

Tel: (859) 815-3527

samrozek@ashland.com

or our proxy solicitor at:

[            ]

 

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1.	What is the Separation?

The Separation refers to a transaction by which Ashland will be separated into two independent, publicly traded companies (one company comprising the Ashland Global businesses and the other comprising the Valvoline business).

 

2.	What are the reasons for and expected benefits of the Separation?

Our Board has determined that the Ashland Global businesses and Valvoline business have two distinctly different business platforms with attractive growth opportunities and experienced leadership teams. Further, the Board has determined that the size, capabilities and financial strength of the Ashland Global businesses, on the one hand, and the Valvoline business, on the other, enable these two groups of businesses to independently execute their strategies to best enhance and maximize shareholder value. The Board believes that creating two public companies will achieve a number of benefits, including:

 

•

Enhanced Focus: Each group of businesses is large enough to independently establish strategic priorities, growth strategies and financial objectives and allocate capital in a manner that is best tailored to each group. Moreover, the Board and management of each company will be able to focus exclusively on the operation of its own business and streamline operational and strategic decision-making. The Separation will enable each company to implement a capital structure that is tailored to the needs of each business. Both companies will have more direct access to capital markets to fund their growth plans. Enhanced focus will also positively impact the long-term growth and return prospects of both companies and provide greater potential long-term value to shareholders.

 

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Employee Incentives: Each company will have its own separate stock, which will allow for equity-based incentive awards that more directly link and closely align the interests of each company and its employees, making equity-based incentive awards an even more effective management tool to attract, motivate and retain key employees.

 

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Greater Transparency: The Separation will allow for greater visibility into relative financial and operating performance of each company.

 

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Distinctive Investment Identity: The Separation will provide investors with two distinct and targeted investment opportunities. Each company will appeal to a more focused shareholder base that is attracted to the particular business profile of that company and the specific industries in which it operates. This focus will also enable potential investors and the financial community to evaluate the performance of each company separately, which we believe will result in higher aggregate market value than the value of the combined company.

 

3.	How will the Separation be completed?

Prior to the closing of the Reorganization, Ashland will take initial steps to reorganize its assets and liabilities so that the Ashland Global businesses and Valvoline business are held in separate subsidiaries of Ashland. Promptly following the closing of the Reorganization, Ashland Global will take steps to further reorganize its assets and liabilities so that the Ashland Global businesses are contributed to Ashland Global and the Valvoline business is contributed to a newly formed subsidiary, Valvoline Inc. (“Valvoline”). To complete the initial phase of the Separation, Ashland Global plans to cause Valvoline to do an initial public offering of up to 20% of its common stock (the “IPO”). We sometimes refer to these reorganization transactions and the closing of the IPO as the “initial phase” of the Separation. We expect the initial phase of the Separation to be followed by Ashland Global distributing, on a pro rata basis, the remaining common stock of Valvoline to Ashland Global’s shareholders upon expiration of the IPO lock-up (typically six months after completion of the IPO). We sometimes refer to this distribution as the “Final Separation.”

 

4.	How are Ashland Global and Valvoline currently expected to be capitalized after the initial phase of the Separation?

With respect to Valvoline, it is currently expected that:

 

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Valvoline expects to enter into new senior secured term loans in an aggregate principal amount of approximately $             million.

 

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Valvoline expects to obtain a new senior secured revolving credit facility providing for aggregate borrowings of up to $         million.

 

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•

Valvoline, through a financing subsidiary, expects to issue new senior unsecured notes in an aggregate principal amount of $         million

 

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Valvoline will obtain a trade receivables securitization facility with up to $         million of available funding from qualified receivables.

With respect to Ashland Global, it is currently expected that:

 

•

Ashland’s 4.750% notes due 2022, 3.875% notes due 2018 and 6.875% notes due 2043 will remain outstanding and may be partially repaid, resulting in aggregate amounts outstanding of approximately $         million, $         million and $         million, respectively, at the time of the initial Separation.

 

•

Ashland will continue to have a senior revolving credit facility providing for aggregate borrowings of up to $         million and expects to repay all or a portion of its senior term credit facility.

 

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Ashland Global will obtain an accounts receivable securitization facility with up to $         million of available funding from qualified receivables.

 

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Ashland Global will retain approximately $         of other debt, comprised primarily of 6.50% Junior Subordinated Debentures due 2029, 6.60% Debentures due 2027, other short-term international loans and medium-term notes.

 

5.	How does Ashland intend to use the proceeds of any Valvoline debt financings prior to the IPO? How does Ashland intend to use the proceeds of the IPO?

Ashland intends to use the net proceeds received from the Valvoline senior term loans and the Valvoline senior unsecured notes primarily to repay existing debt of Ashland. In addition, Valvoline may incur certain short-term indebtedness immediately prior to the IPO (which may be in lieu of, or in addition to, the proceeds drawn from the Valvoline senior term loans) and transfer the net proceeds thereof to Ashland, in which case Ashland would use the net proceeds thereof to repay existing debt of Ashland. The net proceeds of the Valvoline debt financings will be transferred to Ashland through intercompany transfers.

Ashland expects that if the IPO is completed, Valvoline will use $         million of the net proceeds of the IPO to repay any such Valvoline short-term indebtedness in full and to reduce Valvoline’s obligations under its senior secured term loan facility such that there will be no more than $         million outstanding under the secured term loan facility and no borrowings outstanding under any such Valvoline short-term indebtedness. Any remaining IPO proceeds will be used by Valvoline for general corporate purposes.

 

6.	How will Ashland’s asbestos, environmental and pension liabilities be allocated in the Separation?

Ashland Global will retain all asbestos liabilities of Ashland, including any asbestos liabilities related to the Valvoline business and arising prior to the initial phase of the Separation, substantially all environmental liabilities of Ashland, but no environmental liabilities related to the Valvoline business, and approximately $         million of unfunded qualified and non-qualified pension liabilities and other post retirement plan liabilities in the aggregate related to certain retained plans of Ashland Global. Valvoline will assume a substantial portion of Ashland’s historical U.S. qualified and non-qualified pension and other post retirement plan liabilities, consisting of approximately $         million of unfunded liabilities in the aggregate. For more information, see “Certain Transactions with Related Parties—Relationship between Ashland Global and Valvoline Following the Separation.”

 

7.	Will I receive additional information about the Separation?

Yes. If the IPO is successfully completed as the initial phase of the Separation, Ashland Global will file a current report on Form 8-K announcing that the offering has been completed and containing information about any material agreements between Valvoline and Ashland Global. If the Final Separation of Valvoline is accomplished through a distribution of the remaining shares of Valvoline common stock, Ashland Global will mail to its shareholders an information statement with disclosure concerning such distribution and Final Separation. Finally, if the Final Separation occurs, Ashland Global will file a current report on Form 8-K containing updated pro forma financial information for Ashland Global giving effect to the Final Separation.

 

8.	If Ashland shareholders do not approve the reorganization proposal, does Ashland intend to continue to pursue the Separation?

If Ashland shareholders do not approve the reorganization proposal, we intend to continue to pursue the Separation. However, implementing the Separation without the Reorganization could result in substantial delay in commencing the Separation, could make

 

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the Separation less tax-efficient and may not achieve the capital structures for Ashland Global and Valvoline that the Board believes will provide an optimal level of financial flexibility for each company to pursue its long-term strategies and maximize the long-term value of the separation to shareholders.

 

9.	Am I being asked to vote on the Separation?

No. You are not being asked to vote on the Separation, and the Separation is not conditioned on shareholder approval of the reorganization proposal. If a sufficient number of affirmative votes are not cast in favor of the reorganization proposal, we intend to continue to pursue the Separation.

 

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In addition to the other information contained or incorporated by reference in this proxy statement/prospectus, you should carefully consider the risks described below in determining whether or not to vote for approval of the reorganization proposal. You should carefully consider the additional risks described in our annual, quarterly and current reports, including those identified in our annual Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2015 and our quarterly Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2016. For more information, see “Where You Can Find More Information”. You should refer to the explanation of the qualifications and limitations on these forward-looking statements in “Special Note About Forward-Looking Information”.

Risks Related to the Reorganization

If the Reorganization does not qualify as a “reorganization” under Section 368(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), or a transfer described in Section 351(a) of the Code, shareholders of Ashland may be required to pay substantial U.S. federal income taxes.

The Reorganization is conditioned on, among other things, Ashland’s receipt of an opinion from its tax counsel, Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP, to the effect that for U.S. federal income tax purposes the Reorganization should qualify as a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code or a transfer described in Section 351(a) of the Code. The opinion will be based on certain assumptions and representations as to factual matters from Ashland, Ashland Global and Merger Sub, as well as certain covenants by those parties. The opinion cannot be relied upon if any of the assumptions, representations or covenants is incorrect, incomplete or inaccurate or is violated in any material respect. In addition, the opinion is based on current law and cannot be relied upon if current law changes with retroactive effect. The opinion of counsel is not binding upon the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) or the courts, and there is no assurance that the IRS or a court will not take a contrary position. Ashland does not intend to request a ruling from the IRS regarding any aspects of the U.S. federal income tax consequences of the Reorganization. If the IRS or a court determines that the Reorganization should not be treated as described in the opinion, an Ashland shareholder that is a U.S. person (as defined in the section entitled “Description of the Reorganization Proposal—Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences” beginning on page 30) would generally recognize gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes upon the exchange of Ashland common stock for Ashland Global common stock in the Reorganization. For more information on the material U.S. federal income tax consequences of the Reorganization, see the section entitled “Description of the Reorganization Proposal—Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences” beginning on page 30.

Our Board may choose to defer or abandon the Reorganization.

Completion of the Reorganization may be deferred or abandoned, at any time prior to consummation, by action of our Board, whether before or after the Special Meeting. Assuming that the reorganization proposal is approved at the Special Meeting, we currently expect the Reorganization to take place before the end of calendar 2016. However, even if shareholders approve the reorganization proposal, the Board may elect not to complete the Reorganization unless it believes we will also complete the Separation. In addition, the Board may defer completion of the Reorganization or may terminate the Merger Agreement and abandon the Reorganization should it determine, for any reason, that the Reorganization would not be in the best interests of us or our shareholders. In the event of such termination and abandonment, the Merger Agreement will become void and none of Ashland, Ashland Global or Merger Sub shall have any liability with respect to such termination and abandonment.

We may not obtain the expected benefits of the Reorganization.

We believe the Reorganization will provide us with benefits in the future, including our reincorporation in the State of Delaware and the facilitation of a tax-efficient Separation. These expected benefits may not be obtained if market conditions or other circumstances prevent us from taking advantage of the strategic, business and other potential flexibility that we expect the Reorganization will afford us. As a result, we may incur the costs of the Reorganization without realizing the possible benefits. In addition, the Reorganization may not be successful in insulating the liabilities of our subsidiaries from each other or from Ashland Global. Ashland Global or its future subsidiaries may be liable for the liabilities of one another, particularly if Ashland Global does not observe corporate formalities or adequately capitalize itself, Valvoline or their respective subsidiaries.

 

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As a shareholder of Ashland Global, a Delaware corporation, your rights after the Reorganization in some instances will be different from, and may be more or less favorable than, your current rights as a shareholder of Ashland, a Kentucky corporation.

Upon the completion of the Reorganization, you will become a shareholder of a public company incorporated in Delaware instead of Kentucky. As a result, your rights as a shareholder will be governed by Delaware corporate law, as opposed to Kentucky corporate law. Delaware corporate law is different in some respects than Kentucky corporate law, as discussed in “Comparative Rights of Holders of Ashland Global Common Stock and Ashland Common Stock”. Some of these differences may be more or less favorable to shareholders.

In addition, Ashland Global’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the form of which is attached as Annex II to this proxy statement/prospectus (“Ashland Global’s Certificate”) and Amended and Restated By-laws, the form of which is attached as Annex III to this proxy statement/prospectus (“Ashland Global’s By-laws” and together with Ashland Global’s Certificate, “Ashland Global’s Organizational Documents”) will be different from Ashland’s Fourth Restated Articles of Incorporation (“Ashland’s Articles”) and Ashland’s By-laws, as amended (“Ashland’s By-laws and together with Ashland’s Articles, “Ashland’s Organizational Documents”), as discussed in “Comparative Rights of Holders of Ashland Global Common Stock and Ashland Common Stock”. Some of these differences may be more or less favorable to shareholders.

You should carefully review Ashland Global’s Organizational Documents, which will govern your rights as a shareholder of Ashland Global, as well as “Description of Ashland Global Capital Stock” and “Comparative Rights of Holders of Ashland Global Common Stock and Ashland Common Stock”.

Delaware law and Ashland Global’s Organizational Documents may impede or discourage a takeover that you may consider favorable.

Although Delaware law and Ashland Global’s Organizational Documents generally contain provisions similar to Kentucky law and Ashland’s Organizational Documents, certain provisions in Delaware law and Ashland Global’s Organizational Documents could have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control of Ashland Global, discourage others from making tender offers for Ashland Global’s shares, lower the market price of Ashland Global’s stock or delay the ability of our shareholders to change our management, even if such changes would be beneficial to our shareholders. These provisions of Delaware law and Ashland Global’s Organizational Documents include:

 

•

that Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (“DGCL”) will prevent us from engaging in a business combination with a person who acquires at least 15% of our common stock for a period of three years from the date such person acquired such common stock, unless board or shareholder approval were obtained;

 

•

the availability under Ashland Global’s Certificate of authorized but unissued shares of stock for issuance by Ashland Global from time to time at the discretion of the Board;

 

•

requirements in Ashland Global’s By-laws for advance notice to raise business or make nominations at a meeting of shareholders;

 

•

that under Ashland Global’s Certificate shareholder actions can only be effected at a duly called meeting of shareholders or by unanimous written consent; and

 

•

that under Delaware law only the Board may call a special meeting of Ashland Global’s shareholders unless otherwise provided in Ashland Global’s Certificate or Ashland Global’s By-laws.

You should carefully review Ashland Global’s Organizational Documents, which will govern your rights as a shareholder of Ashland Global, as well as “Description of Ashland Global Capital Stock” and “Comparative Rights of Holders of Ashland Global Common Stock and Ashland Common Stock”.

As a holding company, Ashland Global will depend on dividends from its operating subsidiaries to satisfy its obligations.

After the completion of the Reorganization, Ashland Global will be a holding company with no business operations of its own. Its only significant assets will be the outstanding equity interests in Ashland and Valvoline. As a result, it will rely on funds from us, Valvoline (until the Final Separation) and any subsidiaries that it may form in the future to meet its obligations.

If shareholders exercise dissenters’ rights in connection with the Reorganization, we may be forced to spend a material amount of our available cash to pay the fair value of such shareholders’ stock or settle such dissenters’ rights claims.

Under Kentucky law, if the Reorganization is consummated, our shareholders will have certain rights to dissent and to receive payment for their shares of our common stock. See “Description of the Reorganization Proposal—Dissenters’ Rights”, beginning on

 

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page 32, for a more detailed discussion. Upon the proper exercise of dissenters’ rights, we will be obligated to pay the fair value of such shares, plus accrued interest. If dissenters’ rights are exercised in respect of a significant number of our shares or if dissenting shareholders disagree with our estimate of the fair value of their shares, the costs of the Reorganization may materially increase and we may be forced to spend a material amount of our available cash in settlement of such dissenters’ rights claims.

Risks Related to the Separation

The Final Separation could result in significant tax liability to Ashland Global and its shareholders.

Ashland Global expects to obtain a written opinion of counsel to the effect that the Final Separation should qualify for non-recognition of gain and loss under Section 355 of the Code. The opinion of counsel would not address any U.S. state or local or foreign tax consequences of the Final Separation. The opinion will assume that the Final Separation will be completed according to the terms of the separation agreement and will rely on the facts as described in the separation agreement, the tax matters agreement, other ancillary agreements, the information statement to be distributed to Ashland Global’s shareholders in connection with the Final Separation and a number of other documents. In addition, the opinion will be based on certain representations as to factual matters from, and certain covenants by, Ashland Global and Valvoline. The opinion cannot be relied on if any of the assumptions, representations or covenants is incorrect, incomplete or inaccurate or is violated in any material respect. The opinion will be based on current law and cannot be relied upon if current law changes with retroactive effect.

The opinion of counsel will not be binding on the IRS or the courts, and there can be no assurance that the IRS or a court will not take a contrary position. Ashland has not requested, and, as long as shareholders approve the reorganization proposal, neither Ashland nor Ashland Global intends to request, a ruling from the IRS regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences of the Final Separation.

If the Final Separation were determined not to qualify for non-recognition of gain and loss, Ashland Global shareholders could be subject to tax. In this case, each Ashland Global shareholder who receives Valvoline common stock in the Final Separation would generally be treated as receiving a distribution in an amount equal to the fair market value of the Valvoline common stock received, which would generally result in (i) a taxable dividend to the Ashland Global shareholder to the extent of that Ashland Global shareholder’s pro rata share of Ashland Global’s current and accumulated earnings and profits; (ii) a reduction in the Ashland Global shareholder’s basis (but not below zero) in Ashland Global common stock to the extent the amount received exceeds the shareholder’s share of Ashland Global’s earnings and profits; and (iii) a taxable gain from the exchange of Ashland Global common stock to the extent the amount received exceeds the sum of the Ashland Global shareholder’s share of Ashland Global’s earnings and profits and the Ashland Global shareholder’s basis in its Ashland Global common stock.

If the Final Separation were determined not to qualify for non-recognition of gain and loss, then Ashland Global would recognize gain in an amount up to the fair market value of the Valvoline common stock it distributed in the Final Separation. In addition, certain reorganization transactions undertaken in connection with the Separation could be determined to be taxable, which could result in additional taxable gain. Under certain circumstances (as described below under “Certain Transactions with Related Parties—Relationship Between Ashland Global and Valvoline Following the Separation—Tax Matters Agreement”), Valvoline could have an indemnification obligation to Ashland Global with respect to tax on any such gain.

The IPO and certain internal reorganization transactions undertaken during the initial phase of the Separation could give rise to material tax liabilities to Ashland or Ashland Global.

Ashland and Ashland Global expect that the IPO and certain internal reorganization transactions undertaken to effectuate the Separation should be nontaxable transactions for U.S. federal income tax purposes and intend to obtain a written opinion of counsel to that effect. The opinion will be based on certain assumptions and representations as to factual matters from Ashland, Ashland Global and Valvoline, as well as certain covenants by those parties. The opinion cannot be relied upon if any of the assumptions, representations or covenants is incorrect, incomplete or inaccurate or is violated in any material respect. The opinion of counsel is not binding upon the IRS or the courts, and there is no assurance that the IRS or a court will not take a contrary position. It is possible that the IRS or a state or local taxing authority could take the position that those reorganization transactions or the receipt of proceeds of the IPO result in the recognition of significant taxable gain by Ashland or Ashland Global, in which case Ashland or Ashland Global may be subject to material tax liabilities.

 

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The initial phase of the Separation and the Final Separation will each involve significant time and expense and may not be completed in accordance with the expected plans or anticipated timeline, or at all. Even if both the initial phase of the Separation and the Final Separation are completed in accordance with the expected plans and timeline, we may not achieve some or all of the expected benefits of the Separation.

The initial phase of the Separation is intended to be completed as soon as practicable, but is not anticipated to be completed prior to the fourth calendar quarter of 2016. The Final Separation is expected to take approximately six additional months. Each of the initial Separation and the Final Separation is subject to final approval from the Board. In addition, other unanticipated developments, including changes to the competitive environment for the Ashland Global businesses or the Valvoline business, possible delays in obtaining or failure to obtain tax opinions, regulatory or other approvals or clearances to approve or facilitate the Separation, adverse changes in laws or regulations, uncertainty in financial markets and other challenges in executing the Separation as planned, could delay or prevent the initial phase of the Separation and/or the Final Separation, or cause the Separation to occur on terms or conditions that are different or less favorable than expected.

We expect that the process of completing the initial phase of the Separation and the Final Separation will be time-consuming and involve significant costs and expenses, which may be significantly higher than those currently anticipated and may not yield a discernible benefit if either the initial phase of the Separation or the Final Separation is not completed. We currently anticipate the total cost of the initial phase of the Separation, other than IPO costs, to be approximately $225 million to $275 million, consisting of tax separation costs, advisory fees, financing fees, severance payments and other transaction costs. Also, the time and energy required from our senior management and other employees to plan and execute each of the initial phase of the Separation and the Final Separation may lead to increased costs, increased expenses, negative effects on relationships with business partners, suppliers, and customers, disruptions in operations and ultimately harm our businesses. We may also experience difficulty attracting, retaining and motivating employees during the pendency of each the initial phase of the Separation and the Final Separation, which could also harm our businesses.

If the Separation is completed, there is a further risk that the sum of the value of the two independent, publicly traded companies will be less than our value before the Separation. There is also a risk that the completed Separation will not meet all of the intended financial, strategic, and operational benefits that were the impetus for our decision to separate the Company and that the Separation will adversely affect our operating results and financial condition.

Even if shareholders approve the reorganization proposal and the Reorganization is ultimately consummated, there can be no assurances that the Separation will be consummated.

We expect the Reorganization to help facilitate the Separation by allowing us to organize and segregate the assets of our different businesses in a tax-efficient manner prior to the Separation. However, whether or not the reorganization proposal is approved and the Reorganization is ultimately consummated, there can be no assurances that the Separation will be completed. In addition, the Separation remains subject to a number of contingencies, including final approval by our Board. In the event we believe the Separation is unlikely to occur, we may elect not to complete the Reorganization, even if approved by shareholders.

The historical and pro forma financial information included in this proxy statement/prospectus is not necessarily representative of the results Ashland Global would have achieved as a separate, publicly traded company and may not be a reliable indicator of future results.

The historical financial information of Ashland, which will become the historical financial information of Ashland Global following the Reorganization, does not reflect, and the pro forma financial information of Ashland Global included in this proxy statement/prospectus or incorporated by reference herein may not reflect, what the financial position, results of operations or cash flows of Ashland Global would have been had the initial phase of the Separation and/or the Final Separation been completed prior to the periods presented, or what the financial position, results of operations or cash flows of Ashland Global will be in the future if the initial phase of the Separation and/or the Final Separation is completed.

The pro forma financial information included in this proxy statement/prospectus includes adjustments based upon available information believed to be reasonable. However, the assumptions may change and actual results may differ. For additional information about the basis of presentation of Ashland Global’s pro forma financial information and Ashland’s historical financial information included in this proxy statement/prospectus, see “Certain Financial Information”, “Selected Historical Consolidated Financial Information for Ashland”, “Selected Unaudited Pro Forma Consolidated Financial Information for Ashland Global”, “Comparative Historical and Unaudited Pro Forma Per Share Data” and “Unaudited Pro Forma Consolidated Financial Information for Ashland Global”.

 

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We will be subject to business uncertainties while we pursue the planned Separation, which could adversely affect our business and operations.

As a result of the planned Separation, it is possible that some customers, suppliers and other persons with whom we have business relationships may delay or defer certain business decisions or might decide to seek to terminate, change or renegotiate their relationship with us, which could have an adverse effect on our revenues, earnings and cash available for distribution, as well as the market price of our common stock, regardless of whether the Separation is completed. Furthermore, the process of planning to separate two businesses can divert management attention and resources and could ultimately have an adverse effect on us.

Our business, financial condition and results of operations may be adversely affected if we are not able to obtain consents to assign certain contracts.

The separation agreement provides for the assignment of a number of contracts in the event the Separation is completed. Certain of these contracts require the contractual counterparty’s consent to such an assignment. While a number of these consents have already been obtained, we may be unable to obtain the remaining consents on terms favorable to us or at all, which could have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

If the Separation is completed, Valvoline will indemnify Ashland Global for certain liabilities. However, there can be no assurance that the indemnity will be sufficient to insure Ashland Global against the full amount of such liabilities, or that Valvoline’s ability to satisfy its indemnification obligation will not be impaired in the future.

Pursuant to the separation agreement and certain other agreements with Valvoline, Valvoline will agree to indemnify Ashland Global for certain liabilities if the Separation is completed. However, third parties could also seek to hold Ashland Global responsible for any of the liabilities that Valvoline has agreed to retain, and there can be no assurance that the indemnity from Valvoline will be sufficient to protect Ashland Global against the full amount of such liabilities, or that Valvoline will be able to fully satisfy its indemnification obligations in the future. Even if Ashland Global ultimately succeeds in recovering from Valvoline any amounts for which we are held liable, Ashland Global may be temporarily required to bear these losses. Each of these risks could negatively affect the business, financial position, results of operations and cash flows of Ashland Global.

Ashland Global will be subject to continuing contingent liabilities of Valvoline even if the Separation is completed.

Even if the Separation is completed, there are several significant areas where the liabilities of Valvoline may become Ashland Global’s obligations. For example, under the Internal Revenue Code and the related rules and regulations, each corporation that is a member of the consolidated U.S. federal income tax return group of Ashland during a taxable period or portion of a taxable period ending on or before the effective date of the Separation will be severally liable for the U.S. federal income tax liability of the consolidated U.S. federal income tax return group of Ashland for that taxable period. Consequently, if Valvoline is unable to pay its consolidated U.S. federal income tax liability for a pre-Separation period, Ashland Global could be required to pay the amount of such tax, which could be substantial and in excess of the amount allocated to Ashland Global under the tax matters agreement. Other provisions of federal law establish similar liability for other matters, including laws governing tax-qualified pension plans, as well as other contingent liabilities.

Ashland Global’s inability to resolve favorably any disputes that arise between it and Valvoline with respect to past and ongoing relationships may adversely affect Ashland Global’s operating results.

Disputes may arise between Valvoline and Ashland Global in a number of areas relating to their ongoing relationships, including:

 

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labor, tax, employee benefit, indemnification and other matters arising from our separation from Valvoline;

 

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business combinations involving Ashland Global; and

 

•

the nature, quality and pricing of services Ashland Global has agreed to provide Valvoline.

Ashland Global may not be able to resolve potential conflicts, and even if it does, the resolution may be less favorable than if Ashland Global were dealing with an unaffiliated party.

 

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If the Separation is completed, conflicts of interest, or the appearance of conflicts of interest, may develop between the management and directors of Ashland Global, on the one hand, and the management and directors of Valvoline, on the other hand.

If the Separation is completed, the management and directors of Ashland Global and Valvoline may own both Ashland Global common stock and Valvoline common stock. This ownership overlap could create, or appear to create, potential conflicts of interest when Ashland Global’s and Valvoline’s directors and executive officers face decisions that could have different implications for Ashland Global and Valvoline. For example, potential conflicts of interest could arise in connection with the resolution of any dispute between Ashland Global and Valvoline regarding terms of the agreements governing the Separation and the relationship between Ashland Global and Valvoline thereafter, including the separation agreement, the employee matters agreement, the tax matters agreement, the transition services agreements or any other commercial agreements between Ashland Global and Valvoline. Potential conflicts of interest could also arise if Ashland Global and Valvoline enter into commercial arrangements in the future.

In addition, Mr. Wulfsohn will serve as Non-Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors of Valvoline, while retaining his role as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Ashland and certain of our independent directors may serve as directors of Valvoline after the initial Separation, while retaining their roles as directors of Ashland Global. The fact that Mr. Wulfsohn or these directors hold positions with both Ashland Global and Valvoline could create, or appear to create, potential conflicts of interest for Mr. Wulfsohn or these directors when they face decisions that may affect both Ashland Global and Valvoline. Mr. Wulfsohn may also face conflicts of interest with regard to the allocation of his time between Ashland Global and Valvoline.

If the Separation is completed Ashland Global will be a smaller company, which could result in increased costs because of a decrease in purchasing power. Ashland Global may also experience decreased revenue due to difficulty maintaining existing customer relationships and obtaining new customers.

We are currently able to take advantage of our size and purchasing power in procuring goods, technology and services, including insurance, employee benefit support and audit and other professional services. If the Separation is completed, Ashland Global will be a smaller company and may not have access to financial and other resources comparable to those available to it prior to the Separation. As a smaller company, Ashland Global may be unable to obtain office space, goods, technology and services at prices or on terms as favorable as those available to it prior to the Separation, which could increase its costs and reduce its profitability. Ashland Global’s future success depends on its ability to maintain its current relationships with existing customers, and it may have difficulty attracting new customers.

 

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Certain statements in this proxy statement/prospectus, and in the documents incorporated by reference in this proxy statement/prospectus, contain “forward-looking” information, as defined in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), which represent our management’s beliefs and assumptions concerning future events. We have identified some of these forward-looking statements with words such as “anticipates”, “believes”, “expects”, “estimates”, “is likely”, “predicts”, “projects”, “forecasts”, “objectives”, “may”, “will”, “should”, “plans” and “intends” and the negative of these words or other comparable terminology. In addition, we may from time to time make forward-looking statements in its annual report, quarterly reports and other filings with the SEC, news releases and other written and oral communications.

These forward-looking statements are based on our expectations and assumptions, as of the date such statements are made, regarding our future operating performance and financial condition, including the proposed separation of the Ashland Global businesses and Valvoline business, the proposed IPO of the Valvoline business, the expected timetable for completing the IPO, the Reorganization and the Separation, the future financial and operating performance of each company, strategic and competitive advantages of each company, the leadership of each company, and future opportunities for each company, as well as the economy and other future events or circumstances. Our expectations and assumptions include, without limitation, internal forecasts and analyses of current and future market conditions and trends, management plans and strategies, operating efficiencies and economic conditions (such as prices, supply and demand, cost of raw materials, and the ability to recover raw-material cost increases through price increases), and risks and uncertainties associated with the following: the possibility that the proposed IPO, Reorganization or Separation will not be consummated within the anticipated time period or at all, including as the result of regulatory, market or other factors or the failure to obtain shareholder approval of the reorganization proposal; the potential for disruption to our business in connection with the proposed IPO, Reorganization or Separation; the potential that Ashland Global and Valvoline do not realize all of the expected benefits of the proposed IPO, Reorganization or Separation or obtain the expected credit ratings following the proposed IPO, Reorganization or Separation; our substantial indebtedness (including the possibility that such indebtedness and related restrictive covenants may adversely affect our future cash flows, results of operations, financial condition and its ability to repay debt); the impact of acquisitions and/or divestitures we have made or may make (including the possibility that we may not realize the anticipated benefits from such transactions); severe weather, natural disasters, and legal proceedings and claims (including environmental and asbestos matters). Various risks and uncertainties may cause actual results to differ materially from those stated, projected or implied by any forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, risks and uncertainties affecting us that are described in our most recent Form 10-K and Form 10-Q (including Item 1A Risk Factors) filed with the SEC, which are available on our website at http://investor.ashland.com or on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov. We believe our expectations and assumptions are reasonable, but there can be no assurance that the expectations reflected herein will be achieved. Unless legally required, we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements made in this proxy statement/prospectus whether as a result of new information, future event or otherwise.

 

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The following table sets forth selected historical consolidated financial data for Ashland as of and for the six months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 and as of and for the years ended September 30, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012 and 2011. The following selected historical financial information of Ashland is being provided to assist you in your analysis of the financial aspects of the Reorganization. Ashland derived the selected historical financial information as of and for the six months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 from its unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and the selected historical financial information as of and for the years ended September 30, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, and 2011 from its audited consolidated financial statements. The information set forth below is only a summary that you should read together with the audited consolidated financial statements of Ashland and the accompanying notes thereto, as well as the section titled “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” contained in Ashland’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2015 and Ashland’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2016 that were previously filed with the SEC and are incorporated by reference into this proxy statement/prospectus. The selected historical financial information may not be indicative of the future performance of Ashland and give no effect to the Separation. For more information, see “Where You Can Find Additional Information” beginning on page 70 of this proxy statement/prospectus.

 

		Six months ended March 31,								Year ended September 30,
		2016				2015				2015				2014				2013				2012				2011
		(in millions, except per share data)
Summary of Operations Data:
Sales		$	2,410			$	2,741			$	5,387			$	6,121			$	6,091			$	6,472			$	4,600
Cost of sales			1,595				1,906				3,814				4,605				4,304				4,813				3,563
Gross profit			815				835				1,573				1,516				1,787				1,659				1,037
Selling, general and administrative expense			483				429				1,028				1,358				670				1,327				980
Research and development expense			49				50				110				114				142				104				49
Equity and other income			15				6				23				2				64				53				45
Operating income			298				362				458				46				1,039				281				53
Net interest and other financing expense			85				81				174				166				282				317				121
Net gain (loss) on divestitures			-				(118)				(115)				4				(8)				(7)				2
Other expense			-				-				-				-				-				-				1
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes			213				163				169				(116)				749				(43)				(67)
Income tax expense (benefit)			35				27				(22)				(188)				196				(57)				(70)
Income from continuing operations			178				136				191				72				553				14				3
Income (loss) from discontinued operations (net of tax)			(2)				121				118				161				130				12				411
Net income		$	176			$	257			$	309			$	233			$	683			$	26			$	414
Cash Flow Data:
Cash flows from operating activities from continuing operations		$	250			$	96			$	89			$	580			$	653			$	189			$	50
Additions to property, plant and equipment			103				86				265				248				264				242				152
Cash dividends			48				46				98				103				88				63				51
Per Share Data:
Basic earnings per share
Income from continuing operations		$	2.79			$	1.97			$	2.81			$	0.94			$	7.06			$	0.18			$	0.05
Net income			2.76				3.73				4.54				3.04				8.71				0.33				5.28
Diluted earnings per share
Income from continuing operations			2.76				1.95				2.78				0.93				6.95				0.17				0.05
Net income			2.73				3.68				4.48				3.00				8.57				0.33				5.17
Dividends			0.78				0.68				1.46				1.36				1.13				0.80				0.65

 

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		As of March 31,								As of September 30,
		2016				2015				2015				2014				2013				2012				2011
		(in millions, except per share data)
Balance Sheet Data
Current assets (a)		$	2,912			$	2,782			$	3,093			$	3,443			$	2,766			$	3,093			$	3,223
Current liabilities (a)			1,702				1,250				1,442				1,679				1,723				1,911				1,732
Working capital (a)		$	1,210			$	1,532			$	1,651			$	1,764			$	1,043			$	1,182			$	1,491
Total assets (a)		$	9,901			$	9,768			$	10,054			$	10,907			$	11,964			$	12,441			$	12,736
Short-term debt			694				233				326				329				308				344				83
Long-term debt (including current portion and debt issuance cost discounts) (b)			3,383				2,924				3,403				2,920				2,922				3,193				3,676
Stockholders’ equity			2,723				3,019				3,037				3,583				4,553				4,029				4,135

 

 

 

(a)

As a result of the retrospective adoption of the Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2015-17 at March 31, 2016, the September 30, 2014 through 2011 and March 31, 2015 deferred tax balances have been reclassified from previous SEC filings to reflect the post-adoption presentation of current deferred tax assets and liabilities as noncurrent. The balances as of March 31, 2016 and September 30, 2015 agree to the corresponding balances in Ashland’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2016, as these already reflect the adoption of this new guidance.

 

(b)

The balance as of March 31, 2015 has been revised from its previously reported figure to reflect the adoption of ASU 2015-03 related to the reclassification of deferred debt issuance costs from noncurrent assets to long-term debt.

 

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We have not provided historical financial statements of Ashland Global because, prior to the Reorganization, it will have no assets, liabilities or operations other than those incident to its formation. For selected historical consolidated financial data of Ashland, see “Selected Historical Consolidated Financial Information for Ashland” beginning on page 20. We have not provided pro forma financial information giving effect solely to the completion of the Reorganization because, immediately after the completion of the Reorganization, the consolidated financial statements of Ashland Global will be the same as Ashland’s consolidated financial statements immediately prior to the Reorganization, and the Reorganization will result in the conversion of each share of Ashland common stock (other than shares held by the shareholders that properly exercise dissenters’ rights) into one share of Ashland Global common stock.

For unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial information of Ashland Global giving effect to the Final Separation, see “Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Financial Information for Ashland Global” beginning on page 52. For certain historical and pro forma financial comparative per share information giving effect to the Final Separation, see “Comparative Historical and Unaudited Pro Forma Per Share Data” beginning on page 24.

 

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The following selected unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial information consists of selected unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated statement of operations information for the six months ended March 31, 2016 and for the years ended September 30, 2015, 2014 and 2013 and selected unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated balance sheet information as of March 31, 2016.

The following selected unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial information is derived from Ashland Global’s unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial information included elsewhere in this prospectus. The selected unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated statement of operations information gives effect to the Final Separation as though it had occurred as of October 1, 2012. The selected unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated balance sheet information gives effect to the Final Separation as though it had occurred as of March 31, 2016.

The selected unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial information has been derived from and should be read in conjunction with the more detailed unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial information appearing elsewhere in this proxy statement/prospectus and the related notes thereto. In addition, the unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial information was based on, and should be read in conjunction with, the audited and unaudited consolidated financial statements of Ashland and the related notes thereto, which are incorporated by reference in this proxy statement/prospectus.

The selected unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial information is for illustrative and informational purposes only and is not necessarily indicative of what Ashland Global’s financial position or results of operations would have been if it had operated separately from Valvoline during the periods presented or if the Final Separation had actually occurred as of the dates indicated. Readers should not rely on the selected unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial information as being indicative of the historical operating results that Ashland would have achieved or any future operating results or financial position that it will experience after the transaction closes. In addition, there is no assurance the Final Separation will occur even if the reorganization proposal is approved by Ashland shareholders. The pro forma adjustments made in connection with the Final Separation are calculated assuming the reorganization proposal is approved by Ashland shareholders.

Selected Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations Information (Dollars in Millions, Except Per Share Data)

 

Six Months   Ended March 31, 2016

Year Ended   September 30,   2015

Year Ended September 30, 2014

Year Ended September 30, 2013

(Pro Forma)

Sales

$

-

$

-

$

-

$

-

Income from continuing operations before income taxes

$

-

$

-

$

-

$

-

Income from continuing operations

$

-

$

-

$

-

$

-

Earnings per Share, Basic and Diluted

Basic

$

-

$

-

$

-

$

-

Diluted

$

-

$

-

$

-

$

-

Selected Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet Information

(In millions)

 

		March 31, 2016
		(Pro Forma)
Total current assets		$	-
Total noncurrent assets		$	-
		$	-
Long-term debt (less current portion)		$	-
Total noncurrent liabilities		$	-

 

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The following tables should be read in conjunction with Ashland’s historical financial statements and the related notes thereto, which are incorporated by reference in this proxy statement/prospectus, and Ashland Global’s unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial information and the related notes thereto, which are included elsewhere in this proxy statement/prospectus.

The tables below reflect historical per share data of Ashland common stock and the unaudited pro forma per share data of Ashland Global giving effect to the Final Separation.

The historical per share data for Ashland common stock below is derived from the audited consolidated financial statements of Ashland for the years ended September 30, 2015, 2014 and 2013 and the unaudited consolidated financial statements of Ashland as of and for the six months ended March 31, 2016, incorporated by reference herein.

The unaudited pro forma per share data for Ashland Global common stock set forth below gives effect to the Final Separation (i) as though it had occurred as of October 1, 2012, in the case of earnings per share data and dividends declared data, and as of March 31, 2016, in the case of book value per share data and (ii) assuming that each outstanding share of Ashland common stock had been converted into one share of Ashland Global common stock. The unaudited pro forma per share data for Ashland Global is derived from the unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial information for Ashland Global, included elsewhere in this prospectus. In addition, the unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial information was based on, and should be read in conjunction with, the audited and unaudited consolidated financial statements of Ashland and the related notes thereto, which are incorporated by reference in this proxy statement/prospectus.

The unaudited pro forma per share data is for illustrative and informational purposes only and is not necessarily indicative of what the financial positions or results of operations of Ashland Global or Valvoline would have been if they had operated as separate companies during the periods presented or if the Final Separation had actually occurred as of the dates indicated. Readers should not rely on the unaudited pro forma per share data as being indicative of the historical operating results that Ashland would have achieved or any future operating results or financial position that it will experience after the transaction closes. In addition, there is no assurance the Final Separation will occur even if the reorganization proposal is approved by Ashland shareholders. The pro forma adjustments made in connection with the Final Separation are calculated assuming the reorganization proposal is approved by Ashland shareholders.

		As of/For the Six Months Ended March 31, 2016
		As Reported				Pro Forma   Adjustment (a)		Pro Forma
Basic earnings per common share from continuing operations		$	2.79
Diluted earnings per common share from continuing operations		$	2.76
Cash dividends declared per common share		$	0.78
Book value per common share		$	43.88	(b)

 

		For the Year Ended September 30, 2015
		As Reported				Pro Forma   Adjustment (a)		Pro Forma
Basic earnings per common share from continuing operations		$	2.81
Diluted earnings per common share from continuing operations		$	2.78
Cash dividends declared per common share		$	1.46

 

		For the Year Ended September 30, 2014
		As Reported				Pro Forma   Adjustment (a)		Pro Forma
Basic earnings per common share from continuing operations		$	0.94
Diluted earnings per common share from continuing operations		$	0.93
Cash dividends declared per common share		$	1.36

 

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		For the Year Ended September 30, 2013
		As Reported				Pro Forma   Adjustment (a)		Pro Forma
Basic earnings per common share from continuing operations		$	7.06
Diluted earnings per common share from continuing operations		$	6.95
Cash dividends declared per common share		$	1.13

 

(a)

The adjustment reflects the elimination of the operations of Valvoline as a result of the Final Separation, as if the Final Separation had occurred on October 1, 2012, in the case of earnings per share data and dividends declared data, and March 31, 2016, in the case of book value per share data.

(b)

Book value per common share, as reported, represents (i) total assets less the sum of (x) total current liabilities plus (y) total noncurrent liabilities, divided by (ii) the number of shares of Ashland’s common stock outstanding, in each case as of March 31, 2016.

 

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This section of the proxy statement/prospectus describes the reorganization proposal. Although we believe that the description in this section covers the material terms of the reorganization proposal, this summary may not contain all of the information that is important to you. The summary of the material provisions of the Merger Agreement provided below is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Merger Agreement, which we have attached as Annex I to this proxy statement/prospectus and which we incorporate by reference into this proxy statement/prospectus. You should carefully read the entire proxy statement/prospectus and the Merger Agreement for a more complete understanding of the reorganization proposal. Your approval of the reorganization proposal will constitute your approval of the Merger Agreement, the Reorganization, Ashland Global’s Certificate, the form of which is attached as Annex II to this proxy statement/prospectus and Ashland Global’s By-laws, the form of which is attached as Annex III to this proxy statement/prospectus.

Overview

We are asking you to approve the creation of a new holding company structure for Ashland to help facilitate Ashland’s reincorporation in the State of Delaware and its previously announced plan to separate into two independent, publicly traded companies (one company comprising the Ashland Global businesses and the other comprising the Valvoline business).

The proposal is for shareholders to approve the Merger Agreement by and among (i) Ashland, (ii) Ashland Global and (iii) Merger Sub. Ashland Global and Merger Sub are newly formed entities organized by Ashland for the purpose of participating in the Reorganization.

As a result of the Reorganization, Ashland Global will replace Ashland as the publicly held corporation and, through its subsidiaries, will conduct all of the operations currently conducted by Ashland. Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, Merger Sub will merge with and into Ashland, with Ashland continuing as the surviving corporation, and each outstanding share of Ashland common stock will be automatically converted into one share of Ashland Global common stock. Following consummation of the Reorganization, Ashland will be an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of Ashland Global and you will own the same ownership percentage of Ashland Global as you owned of Ashland immediately prior to the Reorganization.

The Principal Parties

Ashland Inc.

50 E. RiverCenter Boulevard

P.O. Box 391

Covington, Kentucky 41012-0391

(859) 815-3333

Our company, headquartered in Covington, Kentucky, was organized in 2004 as the successor to a Kentucky corporation of the same name organized in 1936. We are a leading, global specialty chemical company that provides products, services and solutions that meet customers’ needs throughout a variety of industries in more than 100 countries. Our chemistry is used in a wide variety of markets and applications, including adhesives, architectural coatings, automotive, construction, energy, food and beverage, personal care and pharmaceutical. In addition, through our Valvoline business, we are a premium consumer-branded lubricant supplier.

Following the Reorganization, Ashland will become an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of Ashland Global and shareholders’ existing shares of Ashland common stock will be automatically converted, on a one-for-one basis, into shares of Ashland Global common stock.

Ashland Global Holdings Inc.

50 E. RiverCenter Boulevard

P.O. Box 391

Covington, Kentucky 41012-0391

(859) 815-3333

Ashland Global, a Delaware corporation, is a newly formed, direct, wholly owned subsidiary of Ashland. Ashland formed Ashland Global for the purpose of participating in the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement. Prior to the Reorganization, Ashland Global will have no assets or operations other than those incident to its formation. If we complete the Reorganization, Ashland Global will replace Ashland as the publicly held corporation and, through its subsidiaries, will conduct all of the operations currently conducted by Ashland.

 

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Ashland Merger Sub Corp.

50 E. RiverCenter Boulevard

P.O. Box 391

Covington, Kentucky 41012-0391

(859) 815-3333

Merger Sub, a Kentucky corporation, is a newly formed, direct, wholly owned subsidiary of Ashland Global. Ashland caused Merger Sub to be formed for the purpose of participating in the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement. Prior to the Reorganization, Merger Sub will have no assets or operations other than those incident to its formation.

Reasons for the Reorganization

Reorganizing into a holding company will allow Ashland to reincorporate in the State of Delaware and will help facilitate the previously announced plan to pursue the separation of Ashland into two independent, publicly traded companies (one company comprising the Ashland Global businesses and the other comprising the Valvoline business) by allowing Ashland to organize and segregate the assets of its different businesses in a tax-efficient manner prior to the Separation. Through this planned separation, we are working to create two strong public companies—Ashland and Valvoline—to maximize long-term shareholder value.

Required Vote

Approval of the reorganization proposal requires the affirmative vote of at least a majority of all of the issued and outstanding shares of Ashland common stock.

You are not being asked to vote on the Separation, and the Separation is not conditioned on shareholder approval of the reorganization proposal. If a sufficient number of affirmative votes are not cast in favor of the reorganization proposal, we intend to continue to pursue the Separation. However, implementing the Separation without the Reorganization could result in substantial delay in commencing the Separation, could make the Separation less tax-efficient and may not achieve the capital structures for Ashland Global and Valvoline that the Board believes will provide an optimal level of financial flexibility for each company to pursue its long-term strategies and maximize the long-term value of the separation to shareholders. In addition, the Separation remains subject to a number of contingencies and there can be no assurances that the Separation will occur. In the event we believe the Separation is unlikely to occur, we may elect not to complete the Reorganization, even if approved by shareholders.

Recommendation of our Board

After careful consideration, our Board concluded that the Reorganization is advisable and in the best interests of Ashland and its shareholders and approved the Merger Agreement. The Board recommends that shareholders vote FOR the approval of the reorganization proposal.

Reorganization Procedure

Ashland currently owns all of the issued and outstanding common stock of Ashland Global and Ashland Global currently owns all of the issued and outstanding common stock of Merger Sub. Following the approval of the Merger Agreement by Ashland shareholders and the satisfaction or waiver of the other conditions to the Reorganization specified in the Merger Agreement (which are described below), Merger Sub will merge with and into Ashland, with Ashland continuing as the surviving corporation, and the separate corporate existence of Merger Sub will cease. As a result of the Reorganization:

 

•

Each outstanding share of Ashland common stock (other than shares held by shareholders that properly exercise dissenters’ rights) will automatically be converted into one share of Ashland Global common stock and current shareholders of Ashland will become shareholders of Ashland Global;

 

•

Ashland will become an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of Ashland Global; and

 

•

Ashland Global, as the new holding company, will, through its subsidiaries, conduct all of the operations currently conducted by Ashland.

Following the completion of the Reorganization, Ashland Global and its subsidiaries will undertake a series of additional internal restructuring steps. As a result of these additional internal restructuring steps:

 

•

Ashland Inc. will be converted into a Kentucky limited liability company called “Ashland LLC”;

 

•

Ashland LLC will be contributed to a new holding company, Ashland Chemco Inc., a Delaware corporation and direct, wholly owned subsidiary of Ashland Global;

 

•

Ashland Chemco Inc., Ashland LLC and their subsidiaries will own the Ashland Global businesses; and

 

•

Valvoline Inc., a direct, wholly owned subsidiary of Ashland Global, and its subsidiaries will own the Valvoline business.

 

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Following these additional internal restructuring steps, to complete the initial phase of the Separation, Ashland Global plans to cause Valvoline to do an initial public offering of up to 20% of its common stock.

Pre-Separation and Post-Separation Structure

Below is (i) the current structure of Ashland, (ii) the structure of Ashland Global immediately following the initial phase of the Separation and (iii) the structure of Ashland Global immediately following the Final Separation. Except as indicated, the diagrams below do not include any subsidiaries of Ashland, Ashland Global or Valvoline.

 

 

 

 

 

*

Promptly following the Reorganization, Ashland Inc. will be converted into a Kentucky limited liability company called “Ashland LLC”.

 

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Treatment of Common Stock in the Reorganization

Each share of Ashland common stock (other than shares held by shareholders that properly exercise dissenters’ rights) will automatically be converted into one share of Ashland Global common stock. Therefore, after the completion of the Reorganization, you will own the same number and percentage of shares of Ashland Global common stock as you own of Ashland common stock immediately prior to the Reorganization.

The total number of shares of Ashland Global to be issued in the reorganization will not be known until immediately prior to completing the reorganization, but is expected to be up to approximately 62 million shares of Ashland Global based on the number of shares of Ashland common stock currently outstanding, excluding the shares that may be issuable pursuant to outstanding stock appreciation rights, performance share awards, restricted share awards, restricted share units, common stock units and deferred stock units and other incentive awards and deferrals prior to the date the reorganization is expected to be completed (which will also be issuable into shares of Ashland Global following the reorganization).

Treatment of Ashland Equity Incentive Compensation Plans and Outstanding Awards in connection with the Reorganization and the Separation

At the time of the Reorganization, Ashland Global will assume each Ashland Plan, including all stock appreciation rights, performance share awards, restricted share awards, restricted stock units, common stock units and deferred stock units and other incentive awards and deferrals covering shares of Ashland common stock, whether vested or not vested, that are then outstanding under each Ashland Plan and the remaining unallocated reserve of shares of Ashland common stock issuable under each Ashland Plan. At the time of the Reorganization, the reserve of Ashland common stock under each Ashland Plan, whether allocated to outstanding incentive awards under such plan or unallocated at that time, will automatically be converted on a one-share-for-one-share basis into a reserve of shares of Ashland Global common stock, and the terms and conditions that are in effect immediately prior to the Reorganization under each outstanding incentive award and deferral assumed by Ashland Global will continue in full force and effect after the Reorganization, including (without limitation) the vesting schedule and applicable issuance date, the per share exercise price, the expiration date and other applicable termination provisions, except that the shares of common stock issuable under each such award and deferral will be shares of Ashland Global common stock. Incentive awards granted outside of the U.S will generally be treated as described above, except to the extent required by local law.

No adjustments to the Ashland incentive awards and deferrals outstanding under the Ashland Plans will be made in connection with the initial phase of the Separation.

Issuances of Ashland Global Common Stock Under the Ashland Plans

The approval of the reorganization proposal by the holders of Ashland common stock will also constitute approval of the assumption by Ashland Global of each of the Ashland Plans (including the existing share reserves under such plans), which were previously approved by shareholders, and all the outstanding awards under such plans and all future issuances of shares of Ashland Global common stock in lieu of shares of Ashland common stock under each of the Ashland Plans, as each will be amended in connection with the Reorganization without further shareholder action.

Corporate Name Following the Reorganization

The name of the public company following the Reorganization will be “Ashland Global Holdings Inc.”

Conditions to Completion of the Reorganization

We will complete the Reorganization only if each of the following conditions is satisfied or waived:

 

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absence of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the registration statement, of which this proxy statement/prospectus forms a part, relating to the shares of Ashland Global common stock to be issued in the Reorganization;

 

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approval of the reorganization proposal by the affirmative vote of at least a majority of all issued and outstanding shares of Ashland common stock;

 

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receipt of approval for listing on the NYSE of shares of Ashland Global common stock to be issued in the Reorganization;

 

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absence of any order or proceeding that would prohibit or make illegal completion of the Reorganization;

 

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receipt by Ashland of a legal opinion of Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP to the effect that for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the Reorganization should qualify as a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code or a transfer described in Section 351(a) of the Code; and

 

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•

receipt of all material approvals, licenses and certifications from, and notifications and filings to, governmental entities and non-governmental third parties required to be made or obtained in connection with the Reorganization.

Effectiveness of the Reorganization

The Reorganization will become effective on the date we file the Articles of Merger with the Secretary of State of the Commonwealth of Kentucky or a later date that we specify therein.

Termination of Merger Agreement

The Merger Agreement may be terminated at any time prior to the completion of the Reorganization (even after approval by our shareholders) by action of the Board if it determines that, for any reason, the completion of the transactions provided for therein would be inadvisable or not in the best interest of our Company or our shareholders.

Amendment of Merger Agreement

The Merger Agreement may, to the extent permitted by the KBCA, be supplemented, amended or modified at any time prior to the completion of the Reorganization (even after approval by our shareholders), by the mutual consent of the parties thereto.

Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences

The following is a discussion of the material U.S. federal income tax consequences of the Reorganization to U.S. persons who hold Ashland common stock. For purposes of this discussion, we use the term “U.S. person” to mean a beneficial owner that is:

 

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a citizen or individual resident of the United States;

 

•

a corporation or other entity taxable as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes created in or organized under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia;

 

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an estate the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income tax without regard to its source; or

 

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a trust that (1) is subject to the supervision of a court within the United States and the control of one or more U.S. persons or (2) has a valid election in effect under applicable U.S. Treasury regulations to be treated as a U.S. person.

Holders of Ashland common stock who are not U.S. persons may have different tax consequences than those described below and are urged to consult their own tax advisors regarding the tax treatment to them under U.S. and non-U.S. laws. This discussion applies only to shareholders who hold Ashland common stock as a capital asset within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Code (generally, for investment purposes). The discussion assumes that the Reorganization will be completed in accordance with the Merger Agreement and as further described in this proxy statement/prospectus. This discussion is not a complete description of all of the consequences of the Reorganization to a particular holder and may not address U.S. federal income tax consequences applicable to Ashland shareholders subject to special treatment under U.S. federal income tax law, including, without limitation:

 

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financial institutions or insurance companies;

 

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mutual funds;

 

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tax-exempt organizations;

 

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pass-through entities or investors in such entities;

 

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dealers or brokers in securities or foreign currencies;

 

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shareholders who hold individual retirement or other tax-deferred accounts;

 

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traders in securities who elect to apply a mark-to-market method of accounting;

 

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shareholders who actually or constructively own 5 percent or more of the outstanding shares of Ashland common stock;

 

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shareholders who hold Ashland common stock as part of a hedge, appreciated financial position, straddle, constructive sale or conversion transaction; or

 

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shareholders who acquired their shares of Ashland common stock pursuant to the exercise of employee stock options or otherwise as compensation.

In addition, tax consequences arising under the unearned income Medicare contribution tax pursuant to the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, and under state, local and foreign laws, the alternative minimum tax or under federal laws other than federal income tax laws, are not addressed in this proxy statement/prospectus.

 

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If a partnership, or other entity or arrangement treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes is an Ashland shareholder, the tax treatment of a partner in the partnership will depend upon the status of that partner and the activities of the partnership. A partner in a partnership that is an Ashland shareholder is strongly urged to consult with its own tax advisor regarding the tax consequences of the Reorganization.

This discussion is based, and the tax opinion referred to in the following paragraphs will be based, upon the provisions of the Code, applicable Treasury regulations, published positions of the Internal Revenue Service, which we refer to as the IRS, judicial decisions and other applicable authorities, as in effect on the date of the registration statement on Form S-4 of which this proxy statement/prospectus is a part or the date of the tax opinion, as the case may be. There can be no assurance that future legislative, administrative or judicial changes or interpretations, which could apply retroactively, will not affect the accuracy of this discussion or the statements or conclusions set forth in the tax opinion referred to in the following paragraphs. No rulings have been or will be sought from the IRS concerning the tax consequences of the Reorganization, and the tax opinion of counsel to be received in connection with the Reorganization will not be binding on the IRS or any court. There can be no assurance that the IRS will not take a contrary position regarding the tax consequences of the Reorganization described in this discussion or the tax opinion of counsel, or that any such contrary position would not be sustained.

Tax matters are complicated, and the tax consequences of the Reorganization to Ashland shareholders will depend on each shareholder’s particular tax situation.

Ashland shareholders are strongly urged to consult with their own tax advisors regarding the tax consequences of the Reorganization, including the effects of U.S. federal, state and local, foreign and other tax laws.

U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences to Ashland Shareholders

The Reorganization is conditioned on, among other things, Ashland’s receipt of a written opinion from Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP, tax counsel to Ashland, to the effect that for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the Reorganization should qualify as a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code or a transfer described in Section 351(a) of the Code.

Ashland does not intend to waive this opinion condition to completion of the Reorganization. If Ashland waives this opinion condition after the registration statement of which this proxy statement/prospectus forms a part is declared effective by the SEC, and if the U.S. federal income tax consequences of the Reorganization have materially changed, Ashland will recirculate this proxy statement/prospectus and resolicit the votes of Ashland shareholders.

Subject to qualifications and limitations set forth herein, Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP, counsel to Ashland, is of the opinion that for U.S. federal income tax purposes:

 

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Ashland shareholders (other than Ashland shareholders who exercise dissenters’ rights, as discussed below under “—U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences to Dissenting Shareholders”) will not recognize any gain or loss in the Reorganization.

 

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The aggregate tax basis of the Ashland Global common stock received in the Reorganization by an Ashland shareholder will be the same as such shareholder’s aggregate tax basis in the Ashland common stock surrendered in exchange therefor. The holding period of each share of Ashland Global common stock received in the Reorganization by an Ashland shareholder will include the holding period of the share of Ashland common stock that such shareholder surrendered in exchange therefor.

This opinion of counsel does not address any state, local or foreign tax consequences of the Reorganization. It is based on certain assumptions and representations as to factual matters from Ashland, Ashland Global and Merger Sub, as well as certain covenants by those parties. The opinion cannot be relied upon if any of the assumptions, representations or covenants is incorrect, incomplete or inaccurate or is violated in any material respect. In addition, the opinion is based on current law and cannot be relied upon if current law changes with retroactive effect. The opinion of counsel is not binding upon the IRS or the courts, and there is no assurance that the IRS or a court will not take a contrary position. Ashland does not intend to request a ruling from the IRS regarding any aspects of the U.S. federal income tax consequences of the Reorganization.

U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences to Dissenting Shareholders

Ashland shareholders are entitled to dissenters’ rights in connection with the Reorganization, subject to properly perfecting such rights. See “—Dissenters’ Rights” below. If an Ashland shareholder receives cash pursuant to the exercise of dissenters’ rights, such shareholder will recognize gain or loss, measured by the difference between the amount of cash received and the tax basis in its shares

 

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of Ashland common stock. A holder of Ashland common stock who exercises dissenters’ rights is urged to consult his or her tax advisor.

The discussion of the U.S. federal income tax consequences set forth above is not intended to be a complete analysis or description of all potential U.S. federal income tax consequences of the Reorganization. The discussion set forth above does not address tax consequences that may vary with, or are dependent on, individual circumstances. In addition, the discussion set forth above does not address any non-income tax or any foreign, state or local tax consequences of the Reorganization and does not address the tax consequences of any transaction other than the Reorganization.

Anticipated Accounting Treatment

For accounting purposes, our Reorganization will be treated as a merger of entities under common control. Accordingly, the financial position and results of operations of Ashland will be included in the consolidated financial statements of Ashland Global on the same basis as currently presented.

Authorized Capital Stock

Ashland’s Articles authorize the issuance of 200,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share and 30,000,000 shares of cumulative preferred stock, no par value, in one or more series. Ashland Global’s Certificate, which will govern the rights of our shareholders after the Reorganization, authorizes the issuance of 200,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share and 30,000,000 shares of cumulative preferred stock, no par value, in one or more series. Upon completion of the Reorganization, the number of shares of Ashland Global common stock that will be outstanding will be equal to the number of shares of Ashland common stock (excluding shares held by shareholders that properly exercise dissenters’ rights) outstanding immediately prior to the Reorganization and there will be no shares of Ashland Global preferred stock outstanding. No other shares are presently reserved for any other purpose.

Security Ownership of Directors and Executive Officers

On                 , 2016, the record date for the Special Meeting, directors, executive officers and their affiliates beneficially owned approximately     % of the issued and outstanding common stock of Ashland. The affirmative vote of a majority of all the issued and outstanding shares of common stock of Ashland is required to approve the reorganization proposal.

Regulatory Requirements in Connection With the Reorganization

The Reorganization is conditioned on, among other things, (i) the SEC declaring effective the registration statement, of which this proxy statement/prospectus forms a part and (ii) receipt of approval for listing on the NYSE of shares of Ashland Global common stock to be issued in the Reorganization. No other material federal or state regulatory requirements must be complied with or material approvals obtained in connection with the Reorganization.

Dissenters’ Rights

If the Reorganization is consummated, our shareholders will have certain rights under Subchapter 271B.13 of the KBCA to dissent and to receive payment for their shares of our common stock.

Prior to the vote on the Reorganization, shareholders who wish to exercise dissenters’ rights must deliver notice to us of their intent to demand payment for their Ashland shares if the Reorganization is effectuated. Such shareholders must not vote in favor of the reorganization proposal or they will forfeit their dissenters’ rights. If the Reorganization is approved by holders of the requisite number of our shares, no later than 10 days thereafter we will deliver a dissenters’ notice to all dissenting shareholders, which will include additional information and procedures for perfecting dissenters’ rights, including (i) where the payment demand must be sent and where and when certificates for certificated shares must be deposited; (ii) the extent of any restrictions on transfer of uncertificated shares after the payment demand is received; and (iii) a date by which we must receive the payment demand, which may not be fewer than 30 nor more than 60 days after the date by which certificates for certificated shares must be delivered.

Pursuant to Section 271B.13-230 of the KBCA, a dissenting shareholder has a duty to demand payment within the requisite time stated in the dissenters’ notice, certify whether the dissenting shareholder acquired beneficial ownership of the shares before the date required that is set forth in the dissenters’ notice, deposit such shareholder’s certificates for certificated shares in accordance with the terms of the dissenters’ notice and comply with the other procedures for perfecting dissenters’ rights specified in the dissenters’ notice. Pursuant to Sections 271B.13-230 and 271B.13-240 of the KBCA, the shares of a shareholder who perfects his, her or its dissenters’ rights by demanding payment and depositing his, her or its share certificates within the requisite times shall retain all

 

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rights, other than any restrictions on transfer of uncertificated shares, that the corporation may place on uncertificated shares from the date the demand for payment is received until these rights are cancelled or modified by the taking of the proposed corporate action.

Pursuant to Section 271B.13-250 of the KBCA, as soon as the Reorganization takes place or upon receipt of a payment demand we will be obligated to pay a shareholder who properly perfects his, her or its dissenters’ rights in accordance with the procedures outlined above and in Section 271B.13 of the KBCA our estimate of the fair value of such dissenting shareholder’s shares, plus accrued interest. Section 271B.13-010 of the KBCA defines “fair value” with respect to a dissenter’s shares as the value of the shares immediately before the effectuation of the corporate action to which the dissenter objects, excluding any appreciation or depreciation in anticipation of the corporate action unless exclusion would be inequitable, and “interest” as interest from the effective date of the corporate action until the date of payment, at the average rate currently paid by the corporation on its principal bank loans or, if none, at a rate that is fair and equitable under all the circumstances.

Under Section 271B.13-270 of the KBCA, we may elect to withhold payment required by Section 271B.13-250 if a dissenter was not the beneficial owner of the shares before the date set forth in the dissenters’ notice as the date of the first announcement to news media or to shareholders of the terms of the Reorganization (such shares, “After-acquired Shares”). To the extent Ashland makes such election, after the Reorganization it shall estimate the fair value, plus accrued interest, of such After-acquired Shares and shall pay this amount to each dissenter who agrees to accept it in full satisfaction of his or her demand.

Pursuant to Section 271B.13-280 of the KBCA, if the dissenter is dissatisfied with our payment or offer of payment or we fail to make payment in respect of the dissenter’s demand within 60 days after the date set for demanding payment, the dissenter may notify us in writing, not later than 30 days after we made or offered payment for the dissenter’s shares, of such dissenter’s objection. If the shareholder and Ashland cannot settle on an estimate within 60 days of Ashland receiving such objection, Ashland must commence a proceeding and petition a court in Kentucky to determine the fair value of the shares and accrued interest. If Ashland fails to commence the proceeding within the 60 day time period after Ashland receives such objection, Ashland is required to pay the dissenter the amount demanded by the dissenting shareholder.

A copy of Subchapter 271B.13 of the KBCA, which contains the sections described above, is provided in Annex IV to this proxy statement/prospectus.

Markets and Market Prices

Ashland Global common stock is not currently traded on any stock exchange. The completion of the Reorganization is conditioned on the approval for listing of the shares of Ashland Global common stock issuable in the Reorganization (and any other shares to be reserved for issuance in connection with the Reorganization) on the NYSE. Following the Reorganization, we expect Ashland Global common stock to trade on the NYSE under Ashland’s current ticket symbol, “ASH”. On May 27, 2016, the last trading day before the announcement of the reorganization proposal, the closing price per Ashland share was $114.18.

De-listing of Ashland Common Stock

Following the Reorganization, Ashland’s common stock will no longer be quoted on the NYSE and will no longer be registered under the Exchange Act.

Board of Directors and Executive Officers of Ashland Global Following the Reorganization

We expect that the directors and executive officers of Ashland Global following the Reorganization will be the same as those of Ashland immediately prior to the Reorganization. On or prior to the time of the initial Separation, Samuel J. Mitchell Jr. will resign as an officer of Ashland and become Chief Executive Officer of Valvoline.

Interest of Certain Directors and Executive Officers in the Separation

Following the initial Separation, Mr. Wulfsohn will serve as Non-Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors of Valvoline, while retaining his role as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Ashland and certain of our independent directors may serve as directors of Valvoline after the initial Separation, while retaining their roles as directors of Ashland Global. The fact that Mr. Wulfsohn or these directors hold positions with both Ashland Global and Valvoline could create, or appear to create, potential conflicts of interest for Mr. Wulfsohn or these directors when they face decisions that may affect both Ashland Global and Valvoline. Mr. Wulfsohn may also face conflicts of interest with regard to the allocation of his time between Ashland Global and Valvoline.

 

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General

If there are not sufficient votes at the time of the Special Meeting to approve the reorganization proposal, the Board may propose to adjourn the Special Meeting to a later date or dates in order to permit the solicitation of additional proxies. Under the provisions of Ashland’s By-laws, no notice of adjournment need be given to you other than the announcement of the adjournment at the Special Meeting, unless the adjournment is for more than 120 days or, after the adjournment, a new record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting.

In order to permit proxies that have been received by Ashland at the time of the Special Meeting to be voted for an adjournment, if necessary, Ashland has submitted the adjournment proposal to you as a separate matter for your consideration.

In the adjournment proposal, Ashland is asking you to authorize the holder of any proxy solicited by the Board to vote in favor of adjourning the Special Meeting and any later adjournments. If Ashland’s shareholders approve the adjournment proposal, Ashland could adjourn the Special Meeting, and any adjourned session of the Special Meeting, to use the additional time to solicit additional proxies in favor of the reorganization proposal, including the solicitation of proxies from shareholders that have previously voted against the reorganization proposal. As a result, even if proxies representing a sufficient number of votes against the reorganization proposal have been received, Ashland could adjourn the Special Meeting without a vote on the reorganization proposal and seek to convince the holders of those shares of common stock to change their votes to votes in favor of the reorganization proposal.

The Board believes that if the number of shares of common stock present or represented at the Special Meeting and voting in favor of the reorganization proposal is insufficient to approve the reorganization proposal, it is in the best interests of the shareholders to enable the Board, for a limited period of time, to continue to seek to obtain a sufficient number of additional votes to approve the reorganization proposal.

Required Vote

The affirmative vote of a majority of the shares present in person or by proxy at the Special Meeting, and entitled to vote thereat, is required to approve the adjournment proposal. Abstentions and broker non-votes (i.e., when a broker does not have authority to vote on a specific issue) will be treated as present for the purpose of determining a quorum but as unvoted shares for the purpose of determining the approval of any matter submitted to the shareholders for a vote.

 

 

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Ashland Global is incorporated in the State of Delaware. The rights of shareholders of Ashland Global will generally be governed by Delaware law and Ashland Global’s Certificate and Ashland Global’s By-laws, which will be adopted by Ashland Global at the time of the Reorganization in substantially the forms attached as Annex II and Annex III, respectively, to this proxy statement/prospectus. As described under the caption “Comparative Rights of Holders of Ashland Global Common Stock and Ashland Common Stock” beginning on page 41, the rights of shareholders of Ashland Global under Ashland Global’s Organizational Documents and the DGCL are substantially similar to the rights of Ashland shareholders under Ashland’s Organizational Documents and the KBCA. There are differences, however, that are listed under the caption “Comparative Rights of Holders of Ashland Global Common Stock and Ashland Common Stock” beginning on page 41, and you should carefully review that summary in deciding how to vote on the reorganization proposal.

The following is a summary of the material provisions of Ashland Global’s Organizational Documents and certain related provisions of the DGCL. This summary is not complete and is qualified by reference to the full text of Ashland Global’s Certificate, the form of which is attached as Annex II to this proxy statement/prospectus, and Ashland Global’s By-laws, the form of which is attached as Annex III to this proxy statement/prospectus.

General

Upon completion of the Reorganization, the authorized capital of Ashland Global will consist of:

 

•

200,000,000 shares of common stock, $0.01 par value, and

 

•

30,000,000 shares of preferred stock, no par value, in one or more series.

Upon completion of the Reorganization, the number of shares of Ashland Global common stock that will be outstanding will be equal to the number of shares of Ashland common stock (excluding shares held by shareholders that properly exercise dissenters’ rights) outstanding immediately prior to the Reorganization and there will be no shares of Ashland Global preferred stock outstanding.

Common Stock

Voting Rights.    Each share of common stock entitles its holder to one vote in the election of directors and other matters properly submitted to a vote of the holders of Ashland Global common stock; provided, however, that, except where required by law, holders of Ashland Global common stock will not be entitled to vote on any amendment to Ashland Global’s Certificate (including any certificate of designation relating to any series of preferred stock) that relates solely to the terms of one or more outstanding series of preferred stock if the holders of such affected series are entitled, either separately or together with the holders of one or more other such series, to vote thereon.

Dividend Rights.    Subject to any prior rights of the holders of any preferred stock that may be outstanding, holders of common stock are entitled to receive, on a pro rata basis, such dividends and distributions, if any, as may be lawfully declared from time to time by the Ashland Global board of directors (the “Ashland Global Board”). Declaration and payment of dividends are subject to the discretion of the Ashland Global Board, and the holders of outstanding shares of Ashland Global common stock will be entitled to receive dividends only when declared by the Ashland Global Board. If declared, dividends may be paid in cash, in property or in shares of Ashland Global’s capital stock.

Liquidation Rights.    In the event of Ashland Global’s liquidation, dissolution or winding up, either voluntary or involuntary, subject to any prior rights of the holders of any preferred stock that may be outstanding, the holders of Ashland Global common stock will be entitled to share, ratably according to the number of shares of common stock held by them, in all Ashland Global’s remaining assets legally available for distribution to its shareholders after payment of all of Ashland Global’s prior obligations.

Other.    The holders of Ashland Global common stock will not have preemptive or other subscription rights. There are no redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable to Ashland Global common stock.

Preferred Stock

The Ashland Global Board may, by a majority vote and without shareholder approval, designate and issue, out of our unissued authorized shares of preferred stock, shares of preferred stock from time to time in one or more series. Each such series will have such

 

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distinctive designation as shall be stated and expressed in the resolution or resolutions adopted by the Ashland Global Board providing for the initial issuance of shares of such series. The Ashland Global Board may fix and determine the preferences, limitations and relative rights of each series of preferred stock, including voting rights (if any), which could have the effect of, among other things, restricting dividends on the Ashland Global common stock, diluting the voting power of the Ashland Global common stock or providing that holders of preferred stock have the right to vote on matters as a class, impairing the liquidation rights of the Ashland Global common stock, or delaying or discouraging a change in control of Ashland Global or the removal of Ashland Global’s existing directors. There are no present plans to issue any shares of preferred stock.

Board of Directors

Size of the Board of Directors.    The board of directors must have at least one director. Under the DGCL, the number of directors may be fixed in the manner provided in the by-laws. Under Ashland Global’s By-laws, the number of directors will be fixed from time to time by resolution of the Ashland Global Board. At the time of the Reorganization, the size of the Ashland Global Board is expected to be ten.

Election of Directors.    Ashland Global’s Certificate and By-laws provide that directors shall be elected at each annual meeting and shall hold office until the next annual meeting of shareholders and until each of their successors has been duly elected and qualified. The vote required for the election of directors, other than in a contested election of directors, shall be the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast with respect to a director nominee. In any contested election of directors, the persons receiving the greatest number of the votes cast for their election, up to the number of directors to be elected in such election, shall be deemed elected.

Vacancies on the Board.    Ashland Global’s Certificate provides that, subject to the rights of any preferred stock then outstanding, newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the number of directors may be filled by the Ashland Global Board, and any vacancy occurring on the Ashland Global Board resulting from death, resignation, removal or other cause can be filled only by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors then in office, whether or not a quorum, or by a sole remaining director. A director appointed to fill such a vacancy will hold office for the remainder of the full term of the Ashland Global Board and until the director’s successor is elected and qualified.

In addition, under Section 223 of the DGCL, if, at the time of the filling of any vacancy or newly created directorship, the directors in office constitute less than a majority of the whole board of directors (as constituted immediately before any such increase), the Delaware Court of Chancery may, upon application of any shareholder or shareholders holding at least 10 percent of the total number of outstanding shares entitled to vote for such directors, summarily order an election to fill any such vacancy or newly created directorship, or replace the directors chosen by the directors then in office.

Removal.    Section 141(k) of the DGCL provides in relevant part that any director or the entire board may be removed, with or without cause, by the holders of a majority of the shares then entitled to vote at an election of directors. As required by the DGCL, Ashland Global’s directors will be subject to removal under this statutory standard and therefore may be removed, with or without cause, by the holders of a majority of the shares then entitled to vote at an election of directors.

No Cumulative Voting.    Under the DGCL, the right to vote cumulatively in director elections does not exist unless a corporation’s certificate of incorporation specifically authorizes cumulative voting. Ashland Global’s Certificate will not grant shareholders the right to vote cumulatively.

Ability to Call Special Meetings of the Shareholders

Section 211(d) of the DGCL provides that a special meeting of shareholders may be called by the board of directors or by any other person authorized to do so in the certificate of incorporation or by-laws. Ashland Global’s By-laws provide that a special meeting of shareholders may be called by a majority of the members of the Ashland Global Board.

Action by Written Consent of the Shareholders

Section 228(a) of the DGCL provides that, unless otherwise provided in the certificate of incorporation, shareholders may act by written consent of the holders of the minimum number of votes that would be needed to approve such a matter at an annual or special meeting of shareholders at which all shares entitled to vote were present and voted.

 

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Under Ashland Global’s Certificate, subject to the rights of the holders of any outstanding series of preferred stock, any action required or permitted to be taken by Ashland Global’s shareholders may be effected by the unanimous written consent of such shareholders.

Notice of Meetings of Shareholders

Ashland Global’s By-laws require notice to shareholders of the place, date, and time of each annual and special meeting of shareholders at least 10 days, but no more than 60 days, before the meeting date. Notice of a special meeting must also state the purpose for which the meeting is being called. Under Ashland Global’s By-Laws, notice of adjournment of a meeting of the shareholders need not be given if the place, date and hour to which the meeting is adjourned are announced at such meeting, unless, as required by the DGCL, the adjournment is for more than 30 days or, after adjournment, a new record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting.

Advance Notice Requirements for Shareholder Nominations and Proposals

Ashland Global’s By-laws require shareholders seeking to nominate persons for election as directors at an annual or special meeting of shareholders, or to bring other business before an annual or special meeting, to provide timely notice, in proper form, to Ashland Global’s corporate secretary. To be timely in the case of an annual meeting, a shareholder’s notice generally must be received between 90 and 120 days prior to the first anniversary of the date of the immediately preceding annual meeting; provided, however, if the annual meeting of the shareholders is more than 30 days earlier or more than 60 days later than such anniversary date, notice by the shareholder must be received not earlier than the 120th day prior to such annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the 10th day following the day on which public announcement of such meeting is first made. To be timely in the case of a special meeting, a shareholder’s notice must be received no later than the close of business on the 10th day following the date on which public announcement of such meeting is first made.

Such notice must be in proper written form and must set forth certain information described in Ashland Global’s By-laws related to the shareholder giving the notice, any other beneficial owner of Ashland Global capital stock owned by such shareholder and certain affiliates of the foregoing.

Dividends

Subject to any restrictions in the certificate of incorporation, the DGCL permits a corporation to declare and pay dividends out of “surplus” or, if there is no “surplus”, out of its net profits for the fiscal year in which the dividend is declared and/or the preceding fiscal year. “Surplus” is defined as the excess of the net assets of the corporation over the amount determined to be the capital of the corporation by the board of directors. The capital of the corporation cannot be less than the aggregate par value of all issued shares of capital stock. Net assets equals total assets minus total liabilities. The DGCL also provides that dividends may not be paid out of net profits if, after the payment of the dividend, capital is less than the capital represented by the outstanding stock of all classes having a preference upon the distribution of assets.

Under Ashland Global’s Certificate, subject to applicable law and any preference of any outstanding series of preferred stock, dividends may be declared and paid on the common stock at such times and in such amounts as the Ashland Global Board in its discretion shall determine.

Amendment to Certificate of Incorporation

The DGCL provides that amendments to the certificate of incorporation generally require the board of directors to adopt a resolution setting forth the proposed amendment, which must then be approved by the affirmative vote of a majority of the voting power of outstanding stock entitled to vote thereon and a majority of the voting power of outstanding stock of each class entitled to vote thereon separately as a class. However, a corporation’s certificate of incorporation may provide for a greater vote.

In addition to any vote required by law, Ashland Global’s Certificate requires the affirmative vote of holders of at least 80% of the voting power of the then outstanding voting stock of Ashland Global, voting together as a single class, to amend, alter, change, or repeal or to adopt any provision inconsistent with the provisions regarding (i) this 80% voting requirement; (ii) the board size, vacancies and terms of office and election and nomination of directors; (iii) action by written consent of the shareholders and (iv) the adoption, amendment or repeal of by-laws.

Ashland Global’s Certificate also provides that, except as otherwise required by law, holders of common stock, as such, shall not be entitled to vote on any amendment to Ashland Global’s Certificate (including any certificate of designation relating to any series of

 

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preferred stock) that relates solely to the terms of one or more outstanding series of preferred stock if the holders of such affected series are entitled, either separately or together with the holders of one or more other such series, to vote thereon pursuant to Ashland Global’s Certificate (including any certificate of designation relating to any series of preferred stock) or pursuant to the DGCL.

Amendment to By-laws

Under the DGCL, the power to adopt, alter and repeal by-laws is vested in the shareholders, except to the extent that a corporation’s certificate of incorporation vests concurrent power in the board of directors.

Ashland Global’s Certificate expressly authorize the Ashland Global Board to adopt, repeal, alter or amend Ashland Global’s By-laws by the vote of a majority of the entire Ashland Global Board or such greater vote as shall be specified in the By-laws.

Ashland Global’s Certificate expressly provides that for shareholders to adopt, alter, amend or repeal by-laws, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 80% of the then outstanding voting power of Ashland Global, voting as a single class, is required.

Mergers, Consolidations or Certain Dispositions

Under the DGCL, a merger, consolidation or sale of all or substantially all of a corporation’s assets must be approved by the board of directors and by a majority of the outstanding stock of the corporation entitled to vote thereon.

However, no vote of shareholders of a constituent corporation surviving a merger is required under the DGCL, unless the corporation provides otherwise in its certificate of incorporation, if: (i) the merger agreement does not amend the certificate of incorporation of the surviving corporation; (ii) each share of stock of the surviving corporation outstanding before the merger is an identical outstanding or treasury share after the merger; and (iii) either no shares of common stock of the surviving corporation are to be issued or delivered pursuant to the merger or, if such common stock will be issued or delivered, it will not increase the number of shares of common stock outstanding immediately before the merger by more than 20%.

Appraisal Rights

The DGCL provides shareholders of a corporation involved in a merger the right to demand and receive payment in cash of the fair value of their stock in certain mergers if the shareholder continuously holds such shares through the effective date of the merger and has neither voted in favor of the merger nor consented thereto in writing. As a general matter, appraisal rights are not available with respect to shares:

 

•

listed on a national securities exchange; or

 

•

held of record by more than 2,000 shareholders,

unless holders of shares are required to accept in the merger anything other than any combination of:

 

•

shares of stock of the corporation surviving or resulting from such merger or consolidation, or depository receipts in respect thereof;

 

•

shares of stock (or depository receipts in respect thereof) of another corporation that, at the effective date of the merger, will be (i) listed on a national securities exchange or (ii) held of record by more than 2,000 holders; and

 

•

cash instead of fractional shares of stock or fractional depository receipts received.

Under the DGCL, appraisal rights may be perfected by the following methods:

 

(i)

if the proposed merger is submitted to a meeting of shareholders for approval, then the company must notify each applicable shareholder that appraisal rights are available at least 20 days prior to the meeting. Each shareholder electing to demand appraisal shall deliver a written demand prior to the merger vote; or

 

(ii)

if the proposed merger does not go to a meeting of shareholders, then either the constituent corporation before the merger or the surviving corporation within 10 days thereafter will notify each shareholder of his or her appraisal rights. Each shareholder may then demand appraisal in writing within 20 days.

 

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Anti-Takeover Effects under Certain Delaware Laws

Ashland Global will be subject to Section 203 of the DGCL, which, subject to certain exceptions, prohibits a Delaware corporation from engaging in any “business combination” (as defined below) with any “interested stockholder” (as defined below) for a period of three years following the date that such stockholder became an interested stockholder, unless: (i) prior to such date, the board of directors of the corporation approved either the business combination or the transaction that resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder; (ii) on consummation of the transaction that resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder, the interested stockholder owned at least 85% of the voting stock of the corporation outstanding at the time the transaction commenced, excluding for purposes of determining the number of shares outstanding those shares owned (a) by persons who are directors and also officers and (b) by employee stock plans in which employee participants do not have the right to determine confidentially whether shares held subject to the plan will be tendered in a tender or exchange offer; or (iii) on or subsequent to such date, the business combination is approved by the board of directors and authorized at an annual or special meeting of shareholders, and not by written consent, by the affirmative vote of at least 66 2/3% of the outstanding voting stock that is not owned by the interested stockholder.

Section 203 of the DGCL defines “business combination” to include: (i) any merger or consolidation involving the corporation and the interested stockholder; (ii) any sale, transfer, pledge or other disposition of 10% or more of the assets of the corporation involving the interested stockholder; (iii) subject to certain exceptions, any transaction that results in the issuance or transfer by the corporation of any stock of the corporation to the interested stockholder; (iv) any transaction involving the corporation that has the effect of increasing the proportionate share of the stock of any class or series of the corporation beneficially owned by the interested stockholder; or (v) the receipt by the interested stockholder of the benefit of any loans, advances, guarantees, pledges or other financial benefits provided by or through the corporation. In general, Section 203 defines an “interested stockholder” as any entity or person beneficially owning 15% or more of the outstanding voting stock of the corporation and any entity or person affiliated with or controlling or controlled by such entity or person.

Duties of Directors

The Delaware standards of conduct for directors have developed through written opinions of the Delaware courts. Generally, directors of Delaware corporations are subject to a duty of loyalty and a duty of care. The duty of care requires that directors act in an informed and deliberate manner and inform themselves, before making a business decision, of all relevant material information reasonably available to them. The duty of care also requires that directors exercise care in overseeing and investigating the conduct of corporate employees. The duty of loyalty may be summarized as the duty to act in good faith, not out of self-interest, and in a manner that the director reasonably believes to be in the best interests of the corporation and its shareholders. When directors act consistently with their duties of loyalty and care, their decisions generally are presumed to be valid under the “business judgment rule”.

Under Delaware law, a member of the board of directors, or a member of any committee designated by the board of directors, will, in the performance of such member’s duties, be fully protected in relying in good faith upon the records of the corporation and upon such information, opinions, reports or statements presented to the corporation by any of the corporation’s officers or employees, or committees of the board of directors, or by any other person as to matters the member reasonably believes are within such other person’s professional or expert competence and who has been selected with reasonable care by or on behalf of the corporation.

Limitations on Directors’ Liability

Delaware law permits a corporation to adopt a provision in its certificate of incorporation eliminating or limiting the personal liability of a director to the corporation or its shareholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except that such provision may not limit the liability of a director for (i) any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to the corporation or its shareholders, (ii) acts or omissions not in good faith or that involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii) unlawful payment of dividends or stock purchases or redemptions or (iv) any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit.

Ashland Global’s Certificate provides that, to the fullest extent that the DGCL or any other law of the State of Delaware permits the limitation or elimination of the liability of directors, no director of Ashland Global shall be liable to Ashland Global or its shareholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director.

 

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Indemnification

The DGCL provides that a corporation may indemnify any individual made, or threatened to be made, a party to any type of proceeding because he or she is or was an officer, director, employee or agent of the corporation, or was serving at the request of the corporation as an officer, director, employee or agent of another corporation or entity, against expenses, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred in connection with such proceeding if he or she acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation or, in the case of a criminal proceeding, he or she had no reasonable cause to believe that his or her conduct was unlawful. In the case of an action brought by or in the right of the corporation, known as a derivative action, indemnification will be denied if the individual is liable to the corporation, unless otherwise determined by a court.

A corporation must indemnify a present or former director or officer who successfully defends himself or herself in a proceeding to which he or she was a party because he or she was a director or officer of the corporation against expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him or her. Expenses incurred by an officer or director, or any employees or agents as deemed appropriate by the board of directors, in defending civil or criminal proceedings may be paid by the corporation in advance of the final disposition of such proceedings upon receipt of an undertaking to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that he or she is not entitled to be indemnified.

In general, Ashland Global’s Certificate permits, and Ashland Global’s By-laws require, such indemnification with respect to directors and officers, to the fullest extent permitted under Delaware or other applicable law. Ashland Global is required by its By-laws to advance expenses that will be incurred by a director, officer, employee or agent of Ashland Global, or any person that is or was serving at the request of Ashland Global as a director, officer, employee or agent of another entity (a “Covered Person”) in connection with any such Proceeding.

We also expect to maintain directors’ and officers’ insurance.

Exclusive Forum

Ashland Global’s By-laws provide that, unless Ashland Global consents in writing to the selection of another forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware shall be the exclusive forum for: (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on Ashland Global’s behalf, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer or employee to Ashland Global or its shareholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim pursuant to the DGCL or (iv) any action asserting a claim governed by the internal affairs doctrine. In the event the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware lacks subject matter jurisdiction over any such action or proceeding, the sole and exclusive forum for such action or proceeding shall be another state or federal court located within the State of Delaware. Ashland Global’s By-laws provide that any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in shares of our capital stock shall be deemed to have notice of and to have consented to this provision. Although we believe this provision benefits Ashland Global by providing increased consistency in the application of Delaware law in the types of lawsuits to which it applies, the provision may have the effect of discouraging lawsuits against Ashland Global’s directors and officers.

Transfer Agent

We expect that the transfer agent for Ashland Global common stock will be Wells Fargo.

NYSE Listing

We expect that Ashland Global common stock will be listed on the NYSE under the trading symbol “ASH”.

 

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After consummation of the Reorganization, former Ashland shareholders will hold shares of Ashland Global common stock and the rights of such holders will be governed by the DGCL and Ashland Global’s Organizational Documents. The rights that will be afforded to Ashland Global shareholders under Ashland Global’s Organizational Documents and the DGCL are substantially similar to the rights afforded to Ashland shareholders under Ashland’s Organizational Documents and the KBCA, respectively. There are differences, however, that are listed below and you should carefully review this summary in deciding how to vote on the reorganization proposal. This summary is not complete and is qualified by reference to the full text of Ashland’s Certificate, filed as Exhibit 3.2 to Ashland’s Form 8-K filed on February 4, 2014, and incorporated by reference herein, Ashland’s By-laws, filed as Exhibit 3.3 to Ashland’s Form 8-K filed on February 4, 2014, and incorporated by reference herein, Ashland Global’s Certificate, the form of which is attached as Annex II to this proxy statement/prospectus, and Ashland Global’s By-laws, the form of which is attached as Annex III to this proxy statement/prospectus.

Capitalization

 

Ashland		Ashland Global
The authorized capital stock of Ashland currently consists of 200,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, and 30,000,000 shares of cumulative preferred stock, no par value, which can be issued, from time to time, in one or more series, by resolution of the Ashland Board.		The authorized capital stock of Ashland Global will be identical to Ashland. See “Description of Ashland Global Capital Stock—General”.
Voting Rights of Shareholders
Ashland		Ashland Global
Unless otherwise provided in a resolution by the board of directors, the holders of preferred stock are entitled to one vote for each share of preferred stock held by them on all matters properly presented to shareholders, the holders of common stock and the holders of all series of preferred stock voting together as one class. However, the holders of a series of preferred stock are not entitled to vote those shares if a notice to redeem those shares of preferred stock has been mailed to such holders and Ashland has deposited with a financial institution a sum sufficient to redeem that entire series of preferred stock at the redemption price under an irrevocable obligation to pay the redemption price for the shares of that series of preferred stock.   Each outstanding share of Ashland common stock is entitled to one vote on each matter properly presented to shareholders.		In the same manner as for Ashland, the Ashland Global Board may designate and issue shares of preferred stock from time to time in one or more series and fix and determine the rights, preferences and limitations of any such series, including voting rights (if any).   The voting rights of Ashland Global shareholders will be substantially identical to the voting rights of Ashland shareholders.
Size of the Board of Directors
Ashland		Ashland Global
The board of directors must have at least one director. Ashland’s By-laws state that the exact number of directors is to be determined by a resolution adopted by a majority of the board of directors. Under the KBCA and Ashland’s By-laws, a vote of the shareholders is required to increase or decrease by more than 30% the number of directors from that number last approved by shareholders. The current size of the Ashland Board is ten.		The board of directors must have at least one director. Under the DGCL, the number of directors may be fixed in the manner provided in the by-laws. Under Ashland Global’s By-laws, the number of directors will be fixed from time to time by resolution of the Ashland Global Board. At the time of the Reorganization, the size of the Ashland Global Board is expected to be ten. See “Description of Ashland Global Capital Stock—Board of Directors—Size of the Board of Directors”.

 

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Election of Directors
Ashland		Ashland Global
Ashland’s Articles provide that the members of its board of directors shall be elected at each annual meeting for one-year terms and shall hold office until his or her successor is elected and qualified.		Ashland Global’s directors will be elected in the same manner as Ashland’s directors. See “Description of Ashland Global Capital Stock—Board of Directors—Election of Directors”.
Vacancies on the Board
Ashland		Ashland Global
Ashland’s Articles and Ashland’s By-laws provide that, subject to the rights of any preferred stock then outstanding, any vacancy occurring on the Ashland Board resulting from the death, resignation, removal or other cause shall be filled only by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors then in office, whether or not a quorum, or by a sole remaining director. Under the KBCA and Ashland’s Articles any vacancy on the Ashland Board resulting from an increase in the number of directors may be filled by the Ashland Board or the shareholders. A director appointed to fill such a vacancy will hold office for the remainder of the full term of the Ashland Board and until the director’s successor is elected and qualified.   Under the KBCA, a vacancy may, in the case of a resignation, be filled before the vacancy occurs. However, the director may not take office until the vacancy occurs.		Vacancies of the Ashland Global Board will be filled in the same manner as for Ashland. See “Description of Ashland Global Capital Stock—Board of Directors—Vacancies on the Board”.
Removal of Directors
Ashland		Ashland Global
Under the KBCA, a director may be removed with or without cause (unless the articles of incorporation provide that directors may be removed only with cause) if the number of votes cast to remove the director exceeds the number of votes cast not to remove the director.   Ashland’s Articles increase the vote required to remove a director without “cause”, requiring the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 80% of the voting power of the then outstanding voting stock of Ashland, voting together as a single class. Ashland’s Articles define “cause” as the willful and continuous failure of a director to substantially perform such director’s duties to Ashland (other than any failure resulting from incapacity due to physical or mental illness) or the willful engagement by a director in gross misconduct materially and demonstrably injurious to Ashland.   Additionally, the KBCA provides that a director may be removed by the shareholders only at a meeting called for that purpose. The meeting notice must state that removal is the purpose, or one of the purposes, of the meeting.		Section 141(k) of the DGCL provides in relevant part that any director or the entire board may be removed, with or without cause, by the holders of a majority of the shares then entitled to vote at an election of directors.   As required by the DGCL, Ashland Global’s directors will be subject to removal under this statutory standard and therefore may be removed, with or without cause, by the holders of a majority of the shares then entitled to vote at an election of directors.

 

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Ability to Call Special Meetings of Shareholders
Ashland		Ashland Global
Under the KBCA, a special meeting of shareholders may be called by a majority of the members of the board of directors, any person or persons authorized to do so by the corporation’s articles of incorporation or by-laws or by written request to the secretary by holders of not less than 33 1/3% of all the shares entitled to vote at such meeting.   Consistent with the KBCA, Ashland’s By-laws provide that a special meeting of shareholder may be called by written request to the secretary by holders of not less than 33 1/3% of all the shares entitled to vote at such meeting.		Under the DGCL, a special meeting of shareholders may be called by the board of directors or by any person or persons authorized by the certificate of incorporation or the by-laws.   Ashland Global’s By-laws provide that a special meeting of shareholders may be called by a majority of the members of the Ashland Global Board.
Action by Written Consent of Shareholders
Ashland		Ashland Global
Under the KBCA, any action required or permitted to be taken at a meeting of shareholders may be taken without a meeting, and without prior notice (except as noted below), if one or more written consents describing the action taken is signed by all of the shareholders entitled to vote on the action. If the KBCA requires that notice of the proposed action be given to nonvoting shareholders and the action is to be taken by consent of voting shareholders, the corporation must give its nonvoting shareholders written notice of the proposed action at least 10 days before the action is taken.		Under Ashland Global’s Certificate, subject to the rights of the holders of any outstanding series of preferred stock, any action required or permitted to be taken by Ashland Global’s shareholders at a meeting of shareholders may be taken without a meeting if one or more written consents describing the action taken is signed by all of the shareholders entitled to vote on the action.
Notice of Meetings of Shareholders
Ashland		Ashland Global
Both the KBCA and Ashland’s By-laws require notice to shareholders of the place, date, and time of each annual and special meeting of shareholders at least 10 days, but no more than 60 days, before the meeting date. Notice of a special meeting must also state the purpose for which the meeting is being called.   Under Ashland’s By-Laws, notice of adjournment of a meeting of the shareholders need not be given if the place, date and hour to which the meeting is adjourned are announced at such meeting, unless the adjournment is for more than 120 days or, after adjournment, a new record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting.		Under the DGCL and Ashland Global’s By-laws, shareholders will be entitled to the same notice of meetings of shareholders as for Ashland, except that, as required by the DGCL, notice of an adjourned meeting must be given if the adjournment is for more than 30 days. See “Description of Ashland Global Capital Stock—Notice of Meetings of Shareholders”.
Shareholder Proposals
Ashland		Ashland Global
Ashland’s By-laws state that, in order for business to be brought before an annual meeting by a shareholder, the shareholder must give written notice to the secretary of the proposed matter no later than 90 days in advance of such meeting; provided, however, if the annual meeting of the shareholders is held earlier than the last		Ashland Global’s By-laws contain similar requirements for prior written notice of shareholder proposals, including that such proposals generally must be received by the secretary no later than 90 days in advance of such meeting. See “Description of Ashland Global Capital Stock—Advance Notice Requirements for Shareholder Nominations and Proposals”.

 

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Thursday in January, the notice must be given within 10 days after the first public disclosure of the date of the annual meeting.   The notice must set forth certain information described in Ashland’s By-laws.
Director Nominations by Shareholders
Ashland		Ashland Global
Ashland’s By-laws provide that any shareholder entitled to vote for the election of directors may nominate a director. In order for a shareholder to nominate a director for election, the shareholder must give timely written notice to the secretary of Ashland.   The notice must be delivered to, or mailed and received at, Ashland’s principal office:   •   with respect to an annual meeting, no later than 90 days in advance of such meeting (provided that if the annual meeting of the shareholders is held earlier than the last Thursday in January, the notice must be given within 10 days after the first public disclosure of the date of the annual meeting); and   •   with respect to a special meeting, the close of business on the seventh day following the date on which notice of such meeting is first given to shareholders.   The notice must set forth certain information described in Ashland’s By-laws.		Ashland Global’s By-laws provide similar requirements for timely prior written notice of director nominations by shareholders, including that such notice must be delivered to, or mailed and received at, Ashland Global’s principal office:   •   with respect to an annual meeting, not less than 90 days nor more than 120 days prior to the first anniversary of the date of the immediately preceding annual meeting; (provided, however, that in the event that the date of the annual meeting is more than 30 days earlier or more than 60 days later than such anniversary date, notice by the shareholder must be delivered or received not earlier than the 120th day prior to such annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the 10th day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made); and   •   with respect to a special meeting, no later than the close of business on the 10th day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made.   Ashland Global’s By-laws provide that the notice must set forth certain information similar to that required by Ashland’s By-laws. See “Description of Ashland Global Capital Stock—Advance Notice Requirements for Shareholder Nominations and Proposals”.
Dividends
Ashland		Ashland Global
The KBCA permits a corporation to declare and pay dividends and make other distributions to shareholders, unless after giving effect to the distribution:   •   the corporation would be unable to pay its debts as they became due in the usual course of business; or   •   the corporation’s total assets would be less than the sum of its total liabilities plus, unless the articles of incorporation permit otherwise, the amount that would be needed, if the corporation were to be dissolved at the time of the distribution, to satisfy the preferential rights upon dissolution of shareholders whose preferential rights are superior to those receiving the distribution.		Subject to any restrictions in the certificate of incorporation, the DGCL permits a corporation to declare and pay dividends out of “surplus” or, if there is no “surplus”, out of its net profits for the fiscal year in which the dividend is declared and/or the preceding fiscal year. “Surplus” is defined as the excess of the net assets of the corporation over the amount determined to be the capital of the corporation by the board of directors. The capital of the corporation cannot be less than the aggregate par value of all issued shares of capital stock. Net assets equals total assets minus total liabilities. The DGCL also provides that dividends may not be paid out of net profits if, after the payment of the dividend, capital is less than the capital represented by the outstanding stock of all classes having a preference upon the distribution of assets.

 

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Accordingly, Ashland’s Articles state that, subject to applicable law and the preferential rights of preferred shareholders, dividends may be declared and paid on the common stock at such times and in such amounts as the Ashland Board in its discretion shall determine.		Under Ashland Global’s Certificate, subject to applicable law and any preference of any outstanding series of preferred stock, dividends may be declared and paid on the common stock at such times and in such amounts as the Ashland Global Board in its discretion shall determine.
Amendment to Certificate of Incorporation
Ashland		Ashland Global
The KBCA provides that, unless a corporation’s articles of incorporation require a greater vote, amendments to the corporation’s articles of incorporation generally require the board of directors to adopt a resolution recommending to the shareholders the approval of the proposed amendment, which must then be approved by shareholders representing a majority of the voting power of each voting group entitled to vote on the amendment.   Ashland’s Articles impose increased voting requirements for certain types of amendments.   The affirmative vote of holders of shares representing not less than 80% of the votes entitled to be cast by the voting stock is required to alter, amend or adopt any provision inconsistent with or repeal the provisions regarding (i) this 80% voting requirement, (ii) the board size, vacancies and the terms of office and removal of directors and (iii) the adoption, amendment or repeal of by-laws.   The affirmative vote of holders of shares representing (i) not less than 80% of the votes entitled to be cast by the voting stock voting together as a single class and (ii) not less than 66 2/3% of the votes entitled to be cast by the voting stock not beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by any interested shareholder voting together as a single class is required to amend, repeal, or adopt any provisions inconsistent with the provisions restricting certain business combinations with interested shareholders described under the heading “—Anti-takeover Statutes and Charter Provisions”.		The DGCL provides that amendments to the certificate of incorporation generally require the board of directors to adopt a resolution setting forth the proposed amendment, which must then be approved by the affirmative vote of a majority of the voting power of outstanding stock entitled to vote thereon and a majority of the voting power of outstanding stock of each class entitled to vote thereon separately as a class. However, a corporation’s certificate of incorporation may provide for a greater vote.   In addition to any vote required by law, Ashland Global’s Certificate requires the affirmative vote of holders of at least 80% of the voting power of the then outstanding voting stock of Ashland Global, voting together as a single class, to amend, alter, change, or repeal or to adopt any provision inconsistent with the provisions regarding (i) this 80% voting requirement, (ii) the board size, vacancies and terms of office and election and nomination of directors, (iii) action by written consent of shareholders and (iv) the adoption, amendment or repeal of by-laws.
Amendment to By-laws
Ashland		Ashland Global
Under the KBCA, a corporation’s board of directors may adopt, amend or repeal by-laws, except to the extent that the articles of incorporation or the KBCA reserve the power exclusively to the shareholders or the shareholders, in amending or repealing a particular bylaw, provide expressly that the Board of Directors may not amend or repeal that bylaw. Under the KBCA, a by-law provision originally adopted by the shareholders that fixes a greater quorum or voting requirement for the board of directors may only be amended or repealed by the shareholders.		Under the DGCL, the power to adopt, alter and repeal by-laws is vested in the shareholders, except to the extent that a corporation’s certificate of incorporation vests concurrent power in the board of directors.   Ashland Global’s Certificate expressly authorizes the Ashland Global Board to adopt, repeal, alter or amend Ashland Global’s By-laws by the vote of a majority of the entire Ashland Global Board or such greater vote as shall be specified in the By-laws.

 

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Ashland’s Articles authorize the board of directors to adopt by-laws concerning the conduct of the affairs of the corporation, including, but not limited to, the conduct of, and matters considered at, meetings of shareholders, including special meetings. The Ashland Articles also provide that the board may also alter, amend or repeal the by-laws, except the by-laws may not be amended by a committee of the board.   For shareholders to adopt, amend, alter or repeal any provisions of the by-laws, Ashland’s Articles require the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 80% of the voting power of the then outstanding voting power of Ashland, voting as a single class.		Ashland Global’s Certificate expressly provides that for shareholders to adopt, alter, amend or repeal by-laws, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 80% of the then outstanding voting power of Ashland Global, voting as a single class, is required.
Mergers, Consolidations or Certain Dispositions
Ashland		Ashland Global
Under the KBCA, specified actions such as mergers, share exchanges and sales or any other disposition of all or substantially all of a corporation’s assets not in the ordinary course of business, must be generally proposed and recommended by the board of directors and, unless the KBCA, the corporation’s articles of incorporation or the board of directors requires a greater vote, approved by each voting group entitled to vote separately on the transaction by a majority of the votes entitled to be cast on the transaction by that voting group.   However, the KBCA generally does not require that a merger be approved by the shareholders of the corporation surviving the merger if (i) the articles of incorporation of the surviving corporation will not differ from its articles before the merger; (ii) each shareholder of the surviving corporation will hold the same number of shares after the merger as before; and (iii) the number of voting and participating shares outstanding immediately after the merger, plus the number of shares issuable as a result of the merger will not exceed by more than 20% the total number of voting and participating shares of the surviving corporation outstanding immediately prior to the merger.		Under the DGCL, a merger, consolidation or sale of all or substantially all of a corporation’s assets must be approved by the board of directors and by a majority of the outstanding stock of the corporation entitled to vote thereon.   However, no vote of shareholders of a constituent corporation surviving a merger is required under the DGCL, unless the corporation provides otherwise in its certificate of incorporation, if: (i) the merger agreement does not amend the certificate of incorporation of the surviving corporation; (ii) each share of stock of the surviving corporation outstanding before the merger is an identical outstanding or treasury share after the merger; and (iii) either no shares of common stock of the surviving corporation are to be issued or delivered pursuant to the merger or, if such common stock will be issued or delivered, it will not increase the number of shares of common stock outstanding immediately before the merger by more than 20%.
Appraisal Rights
Ashland		Ashland Global
Under the KBCA, a shareholder is entitled to dissent from, and obtain payment of the fair value of his or her shares in the event of consummation of a plan of merger that requires shareholder approval, plan of share exchange where the corporation’s shares are being acquired, a sale of all or substantially all of the corporation’s assets, a plan of conversion, an amendment to the articles of incorporation that materially and adversely affects certain rights of the shareholder, certain business combinations, or any action which results in the entitlement to dissenter’s rights pursuant to the articles of incorporation, by-laws or board resolution.		The DGCL provides shareholders of a corporation involved in a merger the right to demand and receive payment in cash of the fair value of their stock in certain mergers if the shareholder continuously holds such shares through the effective date of the merger and has neither voted in favor of the merger nor consented thereto in writing. As a general matter, appraisal rights are not available with respect to shares:   •   listed on a national securities exchange; or   •   held of record by more than 2,000 shareholders,

 

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A shareholder entitled to dissent and obtain payment for his or her shares under the KBCA shall not challenge the corporate action creating his or her entitlement, except by an application for injunctive relief prior to the consummation of the corporate action.   If a proposed corporate action creating dissenters’ rights is submitted to a vote at a meeting of shareholders, the meeting notice must state that shareholders are or may be entitled to assert dissenters’ rights and the corporation must undertake to provide a copy of the statutes governing the shareholder’s dissenter rights to any shareholder entitled to vote at the meeting of shareholders upon request of that shareholder. Before the vote is taken, a shareholder who wishes to assert dissenters’ rights must deliver to the corporation a written notice of intent to demand payment for his or her shares if the action is effectuated and the shareholder must not vote the shareholder’s shares in favor of the proposed action.   If corporate action creating dissenters’ rights is taken without a vote of shareholders, the corporation must notify in writing all shareholders entitled to assert dissenters’ rights that the action was taken and send them the dissenters’ notice no later than 10 days after the proposed action was authorized.   The shareholder then has a duty to demand payment within the requisite time stated in the dissenters’ notice. The shares of a shareholder who perfects his, her or its dissenters’ rights by demanding payment and depositing his, her or its share certificates within the requisite times shall retain all rights, other than restrictions on transfer of uncertificated shares that the corporation may place on uncertified shares, from the date the demand for payment is received until these rights are canceled or modified by the taking of the proposed corporate action, and, as soon as the proposed corporate action is taken, or upon receipt of the payment demand, Ashland will be entitled to pay such shareholders the amount that it estimates to be the fair value of the shares, plus accrued interest. If such dissenting shareholder is unsatisfied with Ashland’s estimate or Ashland fail to make payment within 60 days after the date it set for demanding payment, the shareholder may object not later than 30 days after Ashland made or offered payment for the shareholder’s shares, and if the shareholder and Ashland cannot settle on an estimate within 60 days of Ashland receiving such objection, Ashland must commence a proceeding and petition a court in Kentucky to determine the fair value of the shares and accrued interest. If Ashland fails to commence the proceeding within the 60 day time period after Ashland receives such objection, Ashland is required to pay the dissenting shareholder the amount demanded by the dissenting shareholder.		unless holders of shares are required to accept in the merger anything other than any combination of:   •   shares of stock of the corporation surviving or resulting from such merger or consolidation, or depository receipts in respect thereof;   •   shares of stock (or depository receipts in respect thereof) of another corporation that, at the effective date of the merger, will be (i) listed on a national securities exchange or (ii) held of record by more than 2,000 holders; and   •   cash instead of fractional shares of stock or fractional depository receipts received.   Under the DGCL, appraisal rights may be perfected by the following methods:   (i)     if the proposed merger is submitted to a meeting of shareholders for approval, then the company must notify each applicable shareholder that appraisal rights are available at least 20 days prior to the meeting. Each shareholder electing to demand appraisal shall deliver a written demand prior to the merger vote; or   (ii)    if the proposed merger does not go to a meeting of shareholders, then either the constituent corporation before the merger or the surviving corporation within 10 days thereafter will notify each shareholder of his or her appraisal rights. Each shareholder may then demand appraisal in writing within 20 days.
Anti-takeover Statutes and Charter Provisions
Ashland		Ashland Global
The KBCA generally prohibits certain business combinations by a corporation or a subsidiary with an interested shareholder (generally defined as a beneficial owner of 10% or more of the		Section 203 of the DGCL generally prohibits a Delaware corporation from engaging in any “business combination” (as defined below) with any “interested stockholder” (as defined

 

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voting power of the corporation’s outstanding voting shares) for a period of five years after the date the interested shareholder becomes an interested shareholder, unless the business combination was approved by a majority of the independent members of the board of directors of the corporation before the date the interested shareholder became an interested shareholder. In addition, the KBCA requires that, absent an exemption, certain business combinations by a corporation or a subsidiary with an interested shareholder must either be approved by a majority of the independent members of the board of directors of the corporation or by the affirmative vote of at least (i) 80% of the votes entitled to be cast by the corporation’s voting stock and (ii) 66 2/3% of the votes entitled to be cast by holders of such voting stock other than voting stock owned by the interested shareholder, its affiliates and associates.   The shareholder transactions constituting a “business combination” and subject to these special requirements generally include, but are not limited to, (i) mergers or consolidations by a corporation or a subsidiary with an interested shareholder, or with any other corporation which is, or after the merger or consolidation will be, an affiliate of the interested shareholder; (ii) any sale, lease, transfer or other disposition or issuance or transfer of equity securities within 12 months by a corporation or a subsidiary to an interested shareholder that represents an aggregate book value of 5% or more of the total market value of the outstanding stock of the corporation; (iii) adoption of any plan or proposal for liquidation or dissolution by a corporation or a subsidiary in which an interested shareholder will receive anything other than cash or (iv) any reclassification, merger or consolidation of a corporation with any subsidiary, which has the effect of increasing by 5% or more the proportionate amount of the outstanding shares of any class of the corporation’s or a subsidiary’s equity securities owned by an interested shareholder.   Ashland’s Articles also require that such business combinations must be approved by at least (i) 80% of the votes entitled to be cast by Ashland’s voting stock and (ii) 66 2/3% of the votes entitled to be cast by holders of such voting stock other than voting stock owned by the interested shareholder, its affiliates and associates unless:   •   a majority of Ashland’s directors who are not affiliates or associates of the interested shareholder and who were in office before the interested shareholder became an interested shareholder (or were recommended or elected by a majority of such directors) approve the transaction; or   •   the shareholders of Ashland receive in the business combination a “fair price” based on market value and/or prices previously paid by the interested shareholder, as measured on certain designated dates; there has been no reduction in or failure to pay dividends to Ashland’s shareholders after the interested shareholder became an		below) for a period of three years following the date that such stockholder became an interested stockholder, unless: (i) prior to such date, the board of directors of the corporation approved either the business combination or the transaction that resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder; (ii) on consummation of the transaction that resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder, the interested stockholder owned at least 85% of the voting stock of the corporation outstanding at the time the transaction commenced, excluding for purposes of determining the number of shares outstanding those shares owned (a) by persons who are directors and also officers and (b) by employee stock plans in which employee participants do not have the right to determine confidentially whether shares held subject to the plan will be tendered in a tender or exchange offer; or (iii) on or subsequent to such date, the business combination is approved by the board of directors and authorized at an annual or special meeting of shareholders, and not by written consent, by the affirmative vote of at least 66 2/3% of the outstanding voting stock that is not owned by the interested stockholder.   Section 203 of the DGCL defines “business combination” to include: (i) any merger or consolidation involving the corporation and the interested stockholder; (ii) any sale, transfer, pledge or other disposition of 10% or more of the assets of the corporation involving the interested stockholder; (iii) subject to certain exceptions, any transaction that results in the issuance or transfer by the corporation of any stock of the corporation to the interested stockholder; (iv) any transaction involving the corporation that has the effect of increasing the proportionate share of the stock of any class or series of the corporation beneficially owned by the interested stockholder; or (v) the receipt by the interested stockholder of the benefit of any loans, advances, guarantees, pledges or other financial benefits provided by or through the corporation. In general, Section 203 defines an “interested stockholder” as any entity or person beneficially owning 15% or more of the outstanding voting stock of the corporation and any entity or person affiliated with or controlling or controlled by such entity or person.   Ashland Global will be subject to Section 203 of the DGCL.

 

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interested shareholder and prior to the business combination; and after becoming an interested shareholder, the interested shareholder did not receive the benefit of any loans or other financial assistance from Ashland.
Duties of Directors
Ashland		Ashland Global
The KBCA requires a director to discharge such director’s duties as a director, including such director’s duties as a member of a committee, in good faith, on an informed basis and in a manner in which the director honestly believes is in the best interests of the corporation. A director is considered to discharge his or her duties on an informed basis if he or she makes, with the care an ordinarily prudent person in a like position would exercise under similar circumstances, inquiry into the business and affairs of the corporation, or into a particular action to be taken or decision to be made.   In performing the director’s duties, unless a director has knowledge concerning the matter in question that makes reliance unwarranted, a director is entitled to rely on information, opinions, reports or statements, including financial statements and other financial data, if prepared or presented by:   •   one or more officers or employees of the corporation whom the director honestly believes to be reliable and competent in the matters presented;   •   legal counsel, public accountants or other persons as to matters that the director believes are within the professional or expert competence of that person; or   •   a committee of the board of which the director is not a member, which committee the director honestly believes to merit confidence.		The Delaware standards of conduct for directors have developed through written opinions of the Delaware courts. Generally, directors of Delaware corporations are subject to a duty of loyalty and a duty of care. The duty of care requires that directors act in an informed and deliberate manner and inform themselves, before making a business decision, of all relevant material information reasonably available to them. The duty of care also requires that directors exercise care in overseeing and investigating the conduct of corporate employees. The duty of loyalty may be summarized as the duty to act in good faith, not out of self-interest, and in a manner that the director reasonably believes to be in the best interests of the corporation and its shareholders. When directors act consistently with their duties of loyalty and care, their decisions generally are presumed to be valid under the “business judgment rule”.   Under Delaware law, a member of the board of directors, or a member of any committee designated by the board of directors, will, in the performance of such member’s duties, be fully protected in relying in good faith upon the records of the corporation and upon such information, opinions, reports or statements presented to the corporation by any of the corporation’s officers or employees, or committees of the board of directors, or by any other person as to matters the member reasonably believes are within such other person’s professional or expert competence and who has been selected with reasonable care by or on behalf of the corporation.
Limitations on Directors’ Liability
Ashland		Ashland Global
The KBCA states that any action taken as a director, or failure to take an action, shall not be a basis for monetary damages or injunctive relief unless the director breaches or fails to perform the duties of a director as required by the KBCA and, in the case of monetary damages, breach or failure to perform constitutes willful misconduct or wanton or reckless disregard for the best interests of the corporation and shareholders. A person bringing an action for monetary damages against a director for a violation of the standards of a director’s conduct must prove the violation by clear and convincing evidence.		The DGCL permits a corporation to adopt a provision in its certificate of incorporation eliminating or limiting the personal liability of a director to the corporation or its shareholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except that such provision may not limit the liability of a director for:   •   any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to the corporation or its shareholders;   •   acts or omission     s not in good faith or that involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law;

 

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Ashland’s Articles include provisions eliminating the personal liability to Ashland and its shareholders of directors for monetary damages for any breach of their duties as directors to the extent permitted under Kentucky law.		•   unlawful payment of dividends or stock purchases or redemptions; or   •   any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit.   Ashland Global’s Certificate provides that, to the fullest extent that the DGCL or any other law of the State of Delaware permits the limitation or elimination of the liability of directors, no director of Ashland Global shall be liable to Ashland Global or its shareholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director.
Indemnification of Directors and Officers
Ashland		Ashland Global
The KBCA permits a corporation to indemnify an individual who is made a party to a proceeding because the individual is or was a director or officer of the corporation as long as the individual conducted himself or herself in good faith, reasonably believed that the conduct, in the case of conduct in his or her official capacity with the corporation, was in the best interest of the corporation or, in all other cases, was at least not opposed to its best interest, and in a criminal proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe that the conduct was unlawful.   The KBCA does not, however, permit indemnification in connection with a proceeding by or in the right of the corporation in which the director is held liable to the corporation or in connection with any other proceeding where the director or officer is adjudged to have received an improper personal benefit.   A determination that indemnification is permitted by the terms of the KBCA must first be made before a director or officer can be indemnified.   The KBCA provides that, unless limited by the articles of incorporation, a corporation shall indemnify any director or officer who is wholly successful in the defense of any proceeding to which the individual was a party because he or she is or was a director or officer of the corporation against reasonable expenses incurred in connection with the proceeding.   In general, Ashland’s Articles permit, and Ashland’s By-laws require, indemnification of any individual who was or is a party to any threatened, pending or completed claim, action, suit or proceeding by reason of his or her status as a director, officer or employee of Ashland or of another entity at Ashland’s request against any reasonable costs and expenses, judgments, fines or settlements paid by or imposed against the individual. Ashland is required by its by-laws, subject to certain conditions, to advance expenses to a director, officer or employee.		The DGCL provides that a corporation may indemnify any individual made, or threatened to be made, a party to any type of proceeding because he or she is or was an officer, director, employee or agent of the corporation, or was serving at the request of the corporation as an officer, director, employee or agent of another corporation or entity, against expenses, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred in connection with such proceeding if he or she acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation or, in the case of a criminal proceeding, he or she had no reasonable cause to believe that his or her conduct was unlawful. In the case of an action brought by or in the right of the corporation, known as a derivative action, indemnification will be denied if the individual is liable to the corporation, unless otherwise determined by a court. A corporation must indemnify a present or former director or officer who successfully defends himself or herself in a proceeding to which he or she was a party because he or she was a director or officer of the corporation against expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him or her. Expenses incurred by an officer or director, or any employees or agents as deemed appropriate by the board of directors, in defending civil or criminal proceedings may be paid by the corporation in advance of the final disposition of such proceedings upon receipt of an undertaking to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that he or she is not entitled to be indemnified.   In general, Ashland Global’s Certificate permits, and Ashland Global’s By-laws require, such indemnification with respect to directors and officers, to the fullest extent permitted under Delaware or other applicable law. Ashland Global is required by its by-laws to advance expenses that will be incurred by a Covered Person in connection with any such Proceeding.

 

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Exclusive Forum
Ashland		Ashland Global
The Ashland By-laws do not contain a provision regarding exclusive forum.		Ashland Global’s By-laws provide that, unless Ashland Global consents in writing to the selection of another forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware shall be the exclusive forum for: (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on Ashland Global’s behalf, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer or employee to Ashland Global or its shareholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim pursuant to the DGCL or (iv) any action asserting a claim governed by the internal affairs doctrine. In the event the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware lacks subject matter jurisdiction over any such action or proceeding, the sole and exclusive forum for such action or proceeding shall be another state or federal court located within the State of Delaware. Ashland Global’s By-laws provide that any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in shares of our capital stock shall be deemed to have notice of and to have consented to this provision. Although we believe this provision benefits Ashland Global by providing increased consistency in the application of Delaware law in the types of lawsuits to which it applies, the provision may have the effect of discouraging lawsuits against Ashland Global’s directors and officers.

 

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The following unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial information consists of unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated statements of operations information for the six months ended March 31, 2016 and for the years ended September 30, 2015, 2014 and 2013, and unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated balance sheet information as of March 31, 2016. For accounting purposes, the historical consolidated financial statements of Ashland will become the historical consolidated financial statements of Ashland Global following the Reorganization. Accordingly, the unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial information presented below has been derived by application of pro forma adjustments to Ashland’s historical financial statements.

The following unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial information is based upon the historical financial statements of Ashland and its consolidated subsidiaries, adjusted to reflect the Final Separation. The following unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial information of Ashland Global should be read in conjunction with the related notes and with the historical consolidated financial statements of Ashland and the related notes, which are incorporated by reference into this proxy statement/prospectus. The unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated statements of operations give effect to the Final Separation as if it occurred on October 1, 2012, the beginning of the earliest period presented, while the unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated balance sheet gives effect to the Final Separation of Valvoline as if it occurred on March 31, 2016. The pro forma adjustments, described in the related notes, are based on the best available information and certain assumptions that Ashland management believe are reasonable. Excluded from the pro forma adjustments are amounts that are non-recurring in nature, including, but not limited to, Separation-related legal and advisory fees, or amounts that are not material.

The unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial information is provided for illustrative purposes only and are not necessarily indicative of the operating results or financial position that would have occurred had the Final Separation been completed on October 1, 2012 for the unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated statements of operations or on March 31, 2016 for the unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated balance sheet. For example, this financial information does not reflect any potential earnings or other impacts from the use of the proceeds from the disposition or cost reductions of previously allocated corporate costs and potential subsequent restructuring charges. Readers should not rely on the unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial information as being indicative of the historical operating results that Ashland Global would have achieved or any future operating results or financial position that it will experience after the transaction closes. In addition, there is no assurance the Final Separation will occur even if the reorganization proposal is approved by Ashland shareholders. The pro forma adjustments made in connection with the Final Separation are calculated assuming the reorganization proposal is approved by Ashland shareholders. In addition, the preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions. These estimates and assumptions affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. These estimates and assumptions are preliminary and have been made solely for purposes of developing this unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial information. Actual results could differ, perhaps materially, from these estimates and assumptions.

Ashland Global’s unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial information has been prepared to reflect adjustments to Ashland’s historical financial information that are (1) directly attributable to the Final Separation; (2) factually supportable; and (3) with respect to the unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated statements of operations, expected to have a continuing impact on Ashland Global’s results.

 

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Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations

Six Months Ended March 31, 2016

(In millions except per share data)

 

						Deconsolidation (B)
		Ashland   Historical				Valvoline				Adjustments				Ashland   Pro Forma
Sales		$	2,410			$	-			$	-			$	-
Cost of sales			1,595				-				-	(F)			-
Gross profit			815				-				-				-
Selling, general and administrative expense			483				-				-	(F)			-
											-	(C)
Research and development expense			49				-				-				-
Equity and other income			15				-				-				-
Operating income			298				-				-				-
Net interest and other financing expense			85				-				-	(E)			-
Income from continuing operations before income taxes			213				-				-				-
Income tax expense			35				-				-	(J)			-
Income from continuing operations		$	178			$	-			$	-			$	-
Earnings per Share, Basic and Diluted
Basic		$	2.79											$	-
Diluted			2.76												-
Weighted Average Shares Outstanding
Basic			63								-	(I)			-
Diluted			64								-	(I)			-

 

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Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations

Year Ended September 30, 2015

(In millions except per share data)

 

						Deconsolidation (B)
		Ashland   Historical				Valvoline				Adjustments				Ashland   Pro Forma
Sales		$	5,387			$	-			$	-			$	-
Cost of sales			3,814				-				-	(F)			-
Gross profit			1,573				-				-				-
Selling, general and administrative expense			1,028				-				-	(F)			-
											-	(C)
Research and development expense			110				-				-				-
Equity and other income			23				-				-				-
Operating income			458				-				-				-
Net interest and other financing expense			174				-				-	(E)			-
Net loss on divestitures			(115)				-				-				-
Income from continuing operations before income taxes			169				-				-				-
Income tax expense (benefit)			(22)				-				-	(J)			-
Income from continuing operations		$	191			$	-			$	-			$	-
Earnings per Share, Basic and Diluted
Basic		$	2.81											$	-
Diluted			2.78												-
Weighted Average Shares Outstanding
Basic			68								-	(I)			-
Diluted			69								-	(I)			-

 

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Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations

Year Ended September 30, 2014

(In millions except per share data)

 

						Deconsolidation(B)
		Ashland   Historical				Valvoline				Adjustments								Ashland   Pro Forma
Sales		$	6,121			$	-			$	-							$	-
Cost of sales			4,605				-				-				(F	)			-
Gross profit			1,516				-				-								-
Selling, general and administrative expense			1,358				-				-				(F	)			-
											-				(C	)
Research and development expense			114				-				-								-
Equity and other income			2				-				-								-
Operating income			46				-				-								-
Net interest and other financing expense			166				-				-				(E	)			-
Net gain on divestitures			4				-				-								-
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes			(116)				-				-								-
Income tax expense (benefit)			(188)				-				-				(J	)			-
Income from continuing operations		$	72			$	-			$	-							$	-
Earnings per Share, Basic and Diluted
Basic		$	0.94															$	-
Diluted			0.93																-
Weighted Average Shares Outstanding
Basic			77								-				(I	)			-
Diluted			78								-				(I	)			-

 

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Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations

Year Ended September 30, 2013

(In millions except per share data)

 

						Deconsolidation(B)
		Ashland   Historical				Valvoline				Adjustments								Ashland Pro Forma
Sales		$	6,091			$	-			$	-							$	-
Cost of sales			4,304				-				-				(F	)			-
Gross profit			1,787				-				-								-
Selling, general and administrative expense			670				-				-				(F	)			-
											-				(C	)
Research and development expense			142				-				-								-
Equity and other income			64				-				-								-
Operating income			1,039				-				-								-
Net interest and other financing expense			282				-				-				(E	)			-
Net loss on divestitures			(8)				-				-								-
Income from continuing operations before income taxes			749				-				-								-
Income tax expense			196				-				-				(J	)			-
Income from continuing operations		$	553			$	-			$	-							$	-
Earnings per Share, Basic and Diluted
Basic		$	7.06															$	-
Diluted			6.95																-
Weighted Average Shares Outstanding
Basic			78								-				(I	)			-
Diluted			80								-				(I	)			-

 

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Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet

As of March 31, 2016

(In millions)

 

										Deconsolidation (B),(K)
		Ashland   Historical				Valvoline   IPO (A),(K)				Valvoline   Post IPO				Adjustments				Ashland   Pro Forma
Assets
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents		$	1,136			$	-			$	-			$	-	(D)		$	-
															-	(D)			-
															-	(H)
Accounts receivable			935				-				-				-	(G)			-
Inventories			726				-				-				-				-
Other assets			115				-				-				-				-
Total current assets			2,912				-				-				-				-
Noncurrent assets
Property, plant and equipment, net			2,166				-				-				-	(G)			-
Goodwill			2,578				-				-				-				-
Intangibles			1,110				-				-				-				-
Restricted investments			280				-				-				-				-
Asbestos insurance receivable			171				-				-				-				-
Equity and other unconsolidated investments			64				-				-				-				-
Deferred income taxes			213				-				-				-	(G)			-
															-	(J)
Other assets			407				-				-				-	(D)			-
															-	(G)
Total noncurrent assets			6,989				-				-				-				-
		$	9,901			$	-			$	-			$	-			$	-
Liabilities and stockholders’ equity
Current liabilities
Short-term debt		$	694			$	-			$	-			$	-			$	-
Current portion of long-term debt			55				-				-				-	(D)			-
Trade and other payables			519				-				-				-	(G)			-
Accrued expenses and other liabilities			434				-				-				-	(F)			-
															-	(G)
Total current liabilities			1,702				-				-				-				-
Noncurrent liabilities
Long-term debt (less current portion)			3,328				-				-				-	(D)			-
Employee benefit obligations			1,013				-				-				-	(F)			-
Asbestos litigation reserve			636				-				-				-				-
Deferred income taxes			85				-				-				-	(J)			-
Other liabilities			414				-				-				-	(G)			-
Total noncurrent liabilities			5,476				-				-				-				-
Stockholders’ equity
Common stock			1				-				-				-				-
Additional paid-in capital			6				-				-				-				-
Retained earnings			2,958				-				-				-				-
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)			(242)				-				-				-	(F)			-
Total stockholders’ equity			2,723				-				-				-				-
		$	9,901			$	-			$	-			$	-			$	-

 

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Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Pro Forma Financial Information

(A) Initial Public Offering of Valvoline

Valvoline expects to complete the initial public offering of its common stock, through which it expects to sell approximately     % of its outstanding common stock. Total net proceeds from the initial public offering are expected to aggregate $         million. As a result of the initial public offering, Ashland will establish a noncontrolling interest on its consolidated balance sheet of $         million for the carrying value of the approximately     % public ownership in Valvoline. The initial public offering has been accounted for as an equity transaction, since Ashland will retain a controlling financial interest and continue to consolidate Valvoline until Final Separation occurs. The adjustment of $         million to additional paid-in-capital reflects the excess of the net proceeds received from the initial public offering over the carrying value of the noncontrolling interest and the effect of the adjustment of $         million to accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) due to the approximately     % public ownership of Valvoline.

Ashland expects that the IPO will be consummated pursuant to a firm commitment underwriting. Consistent with customary practices, at the time of pricing the IPO, Valvoline and the underwriters will enter into an underwriting agreement for the sale of the Valvoline common stock to the underwriters, subject to customary limited conditions. As of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus, Valvoline and the underwriters are not party to an underwriting agreement and do not expect to become party to any such agreement until following the Special Meeting. Accordingly, the foregoing adjustments in connection with the proposed IPO are provided for illustrative purposes only and are not necessarily indicative of the actual offering size, offering price or offering proceeds that Ashland Global could realize in the IPO. For an illustration of alternative assumptions about the offering size, price and proceeds, including a scenario illustrating the Separation with no initial public offering, refer to note (K) below. The IPO and its terms are subject to numerous contingencies, including satisfactory market conditions, receipts of SEC and other required approvals, the future performance of Valvoline and investors’ expectations with respect to the value of Valvoline common stock. In addition, there is no assurance the IPO will occur even if the reorganization proposal is approved by Ashland shareholders. The pro forma adjustments made in connection with the IPO are calculated assuming the reorganization proposal is approved by Ashland shareholders.

(B) Deconsolidation

Subsequent to the IPO of Valvoline, Ashland expects to own approximately     % of the outstanding shares of Valvoline common stock. Upon expiration of the IPO lock-up (typically six months after completion of the IPO), Ashland intends to dispose of the remaining amount of the shares of Valvoline common stock that it owned by means of a tax-free separation. As a result, Valvoline will be accounted for as a discontinued operation of Ashland as the disposition reflects the culmination of Ashland Global’s strategic shift to a specialty chemical company.

The deconsolidation adjustments eliminate the operating results of Valvoline as if the Final Separation occurred on October 1, 2012 for the unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated statements of operations or on March 31, 2016 for the unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheet. These adjustments include the reversal of (i) the historical assets and liabilities and results of operations of Valvoline, including the related tax impact (ii) consolidation entries and (iii) previously eliminated transactions between Valvoline and subsidiaries of Ashland, as a result of the completion of the Separation. Certain allocations of corporate expenses included in selling, general and administrative expenses have been excluded from the deconsolidation adjustments of Valvoline. Allocation of corporate overhead remaining with Ashland Global may not be allocated to discontinued operations for financial statement presentation.

(C) Executive Performance Incentive and Retention Program

Certain executives were granted performance-based restricted shares of Ashland in October 2015 in order to provide an incentive to remain employed with us in the period after the Final Separation. The expense is not recognized until the Final Separation occurs and will be recognized ratably over the vesting period, which is generally three years. The unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated statement of operations reflects the assumption that the Final Separation occurred on October 1, 2012 and that the median amount of potential shares to be awarded will be earned and expensed over the service period, therefore our estimate of the fair value of the awards resulted in expense of $         million, $         million, $         million and $         million for the years ended September 30, 2015, 2014, and 2013 and the six months ended March 31, 2016, respectively.

(D) Existing Debt

The unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated balance sheet reflects the incurrence of the following events as if they occurred on March 31, 2016. Valvoline will enter into new senior secured term loans and may also obtain certain short-term indebtedness, in a

 

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combined aggregate amount of approximately $         million. Valvoline, through a financing subsidiary, will also issue new senior unsecured notes in an aggregate principal amount of approximately $         million. The net proceeds of these financings will be transferred to Ashland through intercompany transfers. Ashland will use the approximately $         million of the net proceeds received from Valvoline to repay existing debt. Upon completing the IPO, Valvoline will use $         million of net proceeds of the IPO to repay indebtedness incurred prior to the IPO. Included in the adjustments is the removal of $         million of deferred debt issuance costs related to the debt repaid within long-term debt as of March 31, 2016. The $         million revolving credit agreement and the $             million accounts receivable securitization facility are assumed to have no amounts outstanding as of March 31, 2016. In the event that the IPO is completed with a different offering size, offering price or offering proceeds than presented in this pro forma, the amounts of Valvoline existing debt repayment and Ashland existing debt repayment may vary. Refer to note (K) for an illustration of certain alternative scenarios.

(E) Interest expense

The unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated statements of operations for the years ended September 30, 2015, 2014 and 2013 and the six months ended March 31, 2016 reflect an adjustment for the reduction in interest expense of $         million, $         million, $         million and $         million, respectively, as if Ashland repaid $         million of existing debt on October 1, 2012.

The following table reflects the adjustments in the unaudited pro forma condensed combined statements of operations to reflect the impact of the adjustments to interest expense.

 

Six months ended March 31, 2016

Year ended September 30, 2015

Year ended September 30, 2014

Year ended September 30, 2013

Interest expense

$

$

$

$

Amortization of deferred debt issuance costs

Pro forma adjustment to interest expense

$

$

$

$

(F) Pension and other postretirement plans

Reflects the reduction of net pension and other postretirement plan liabilities that will be transferred to Valvoline by Ashland as part of the Separation. Plans transferred to Valvoline by Ashland include a substantial portion of the largest U.S. qualified pension plan and non-qualified U.S. pension plans. This adjustment includes a $         million adjustment to accrued expenses and other liabilities, a $         million adjustment to employee benefit obligations, $         million adjustment, net of tax of $         million, to accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) and $         million of related deferred tax assets as of March 31, 2016. The reduction in expense, split between cost of sales and selling, general and administrative expense captions, related to these transferring plans was $         million, $         million and $         million for the years ended September 30, 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively, and $         million for the six months ended March 31, 2016.

(G) Legacy assets and liabilities

Represents certain Ashland legacy assets and liabilities that are expected to transfer to Valvoline as a result of the Separation. These assets to be transferred principally relate to deferred compensation and tax attributes and the liabilities to be transferred primarily consist of deferred compensation, certain Ashland legacy business insurance reserves and certain trade payables. This adjustment includes a $         million adjustment to current assets, $         million adjustment to other noncurrent assets, a $         million adjustment to current liabilities, and a $         million adjustment to other noncurrent liabilities as of March 31, 2016. No adjustments were made to the statement of operations as the effect on the periods presented was immaterial.

(H) Cash and Cash Equivalents

Represents $        million of cash that will be transferred from Ashland to Valvoline once the Separation occurs.

(I) Common stock outstanding

There were no adjustments to the weighted-average basic shares outstanding for the years ended September 30, 2015, 2014 and 2013 and six months ended March 31, 2016.

The weighted-average diluted shares outstanding for the years ended and six months ended September 30, 2015, 2014 and 2013 and March 31, 2016, respectively, have been adjusted for the dilutive impact of shares granted for the Executive Performance

 

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Incentive and Retention Program discussed in Note (C) and for estimated Ashland stock-based compensation awards that will be converted into Valvoline equity-based compensation awards in connection with the Separation.

(J) Resulting tax effects

Reflects an income tax expense adjustment and deferred tax asset and liability adjustments for the items noted in (A) through (G).

 

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(K) Additional Pro Forma Information

Ashland Global expects to complete the initial phase of the Separation by causing Valvoline to complete an initial public offering of up to 20% of its common stock. The unaudited condensed consolidated pro forma financial information was prepared on the basis of an initial public offering of approximately         % of Valvoline’s common stock, which would give rise to approximately $         million of net proceeds to Valvoline to be applied by Valvoline to repay existing debt (the “Base Case”). In the event that Valvoline completes an initial public offering resulting in net proceeds in excess of $         million (a “Large IPO”), Valvoline would seek to incur certain short-term indebtedness immediately prior to the closing of the initial public offering and transfer the net proceeds thereof to a subsidiary of Ashland Global. Ashland Global would then use the contributed proceeds to repay existing debt of Ashland. Upon closing the initial public offering, Valvoline would apply the net proceeds of the initial public offering to repay in full the short-term indebtedness and repay $         million of existing Valvoline debt. Alternatively, Ashland Global could complete the Separation without an initial public offering of Valvoline by means of a pro rata distribution of 100% of the common stock of Valvoline to Ashland Global’s shareholders (a “100% Spin”).

The following unaudited pro forma financial information summarizes the potential impact of the Large IPO and 100% Spin structures on Ashland Global’s and Valvoline’s pro forma long-term debt levels as compared to the Base Case.

The following unaudited pro forma financial information is provided for illustrative purposes only and is not necessarily indicative of the actual offering size, offering price or offering proceeds that Ashland Global could realize in the Base Case or Large IPO scenarios or any other particular scenario. Any IPO and its terms are subject to numerous contingencies, including satisfactory market conditions, receipt of SEC and other required approvals, the future performance of Valvoline and investors’ expectations with respect to the value of Valvoline common stock. In addition, there is no assurance that any IPO will occur, or that in the absense of an IPO, a 100% Spin will occur, even if the reorganization proposal is approved by Ashland shareholders. The pro forma adjustments are calculated assuming the reorganization proposal is approved by Ashland shareholders.

Selected Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet

As of March 31, 2016

(In millions)

 

Base Case (a)

Large IPO (b)

100% Spin-Off

Ashland Historical

Valvoline IPO

Valvoline Post IPO

Ashland Pro Forma

Valvoline IPO

Valvoline Post IPO

Ashland Pro Forma

Valvoline IPO

Valvoline Post IPO

Ashland Pro Forma

Cash and cash equivalents

$

1,136

Total current assets

2,912

Current portion of long-term debt

$

55

Total current liabilities

1,702

Long-term debt (less current portion)

3,328

Total noncurrent liabilities

5,476

 

 

 

(a)

Base Case scenario assumes $         million of net IPO proceeds, which corresponds to an initial public offering of approximately     % of Valvoline’s common stock.

(b)

Large IPO scenario assumes $         million of net IPO proceeds, which corresponds to an initial public offering of approximately         % of Valvoline’s common stock.

 

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The following table lists the names and addresses of the only shareholders known by us on December 31, 2015 to have owned beneficially more than five percent of our common stock outstanding, the number of shares they beneficially own, and the percentage of outstanding shares such ownership represents, based upon the most recent reports filed with the SEC. Except as indicated in the footnotes, such shareholders have sole voting and dispositive power over shares they beneficially own.

 

Name and Address of Beneficial Owner		Amount and     Nature of Common     Stock Beneficial Ownership				Percent of Class of     Common Stock*
T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. 100 East Pratt Street Baltimore, Maryland 21202			11,611,761	(1)			18.36	%
BlackRock Inc. 55 East 52nd Street New York, New York 10055			4,936,319	(2)			7.80	%
The Vanguard Group 100 Vanguard Blvd. Malvern, Pennsylvania 19355			4,765,246	(3)			7.53	%

 

 

 

*

Based on 63,255,021 shares of Ashland Common Stock outstanding as of December 31, 2015.

 

(1)

Based upon information contained in the Schedule 13G/A filed by T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. (“T. Rowe Price”) with the SEC on February 11, 2016, T. Rowe Price beneficially owned 11,611,761 shares of Ashland Common Stock as of December 31, 2015, with sole voting power over 3,686,688 shares, shared voting power over no shares, sole dispositive power over 11,611,761 shares and shared dispositive power over no shares.

 

(2)

Based upon information contained in the Schedule 13G/A filed by BlackRock, Inc. (“BlackRock”) with the SEC on January 25, 2016, BlackRock beneficially owned 4,936,319 shares of Ashland Common Stock as of December 31, 2015, with sole voting power over 4,501,357 shares, shared voting power over no shares, sole dispositive power over 4,936,319 shares and shared dispositive power over no shares. BlackRock reported its beneficial ownership on behalf of itself and the following direct and indirect subsidiaries and affiliates: BlackRock (Luxembourg) S.A., BlackRock (Netherlands) B.V., BlackRock Advisors (UK) Limited; BlackRock Advisors, LLC; BlackRock Asset Management Canada Limited; BlackRock Asset Management Ireland Limited; BlackRock Asset Management North Asia Limited; BlackRock Asset Management Schweiz AG; BlackRock Capital Management; BlackRock Financial Management, Inc.; BlackRock Fund Advisors; BlackRock Fund Managers Ltd; BlackRock Institutional Trust Company, N.A.; BlackRock International Limited; BlackRock Investment Management (Australia) Limited; BlackRock Investment Management (UK) Ltd; BlackRock Investment Management, LLC; BlackRock Japan Co Ltd; and BlackRock Life Limited.

 

(3)

Based upon information contained in the Schedule 13G/A filed by The Vanguard Group (“Vanguard”) with the SEC on February 10, 2016, Vanguard beneficially owned 4,765,246 shares of Ashland Common Stock as of December 31, 2015, with sole voting power over 58,719 shares, shared voting power over 6,200 shares, sole dispositive power over 4,696,827 shares and shared dispositive power over 68,419 shares. Vanguard reported its beneficial ownership on behalf of itself and the following wholly owned subsidiaries: Vanguard Fiduciary Trust Company and Vanguard Investments Australia, LTD.

 

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The following table shows as of April 30, 2016, the beneficial ownership of Ashland Common Stock by each Ashland director and Ashland’s Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and each of the other three most highly compensated executive officers in fiscal 2015 and the beneficial ownership of Ashland Common Stock by the directors and executive officers of Ashland as a group.

Common Stock Ownership

 

Name of Beneficial Owner		Aggregate Number of Shares of Common Stock Beneficially Owned				Percentage of Common Stock Outstanding
William A. Wulfsohn			144,761			*		(4)
J. Kevin Willis			88,495			*		(1)(2)(3)(4)
Peter J. Ganz			66,057			*		(3)(4)
Luis Fernandez-Moreno			84,703			*		(3)(4)
Samuel J. Mitchell, Jr.			112,909			*		(1)(2)(3)(4)
Brendan M. Cummins			5,581			*		(2)
Roger W. Hale			39,535			*		(2)(5)(6)
Stephen F. Kirk			3,513			*		(2)(5)
Vada O. Manager			26,867			*		(2)(5)
Barry W. Perry			27,925			*		(2)(5)
Mark C. Rohr			30,752			*		(2)(5)
George A. Schaefer, Jr.			30,661			*		(2)(5)
Janice J. Teal			7,809			*		(2)(5)
Michael J. Ward			65,229			*		(2)(5)
All directors and executive officers as a group (18 people)			792,321			1.27%		(1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6)

 

 

 

*

None of the listed individuals owned more than 1% of Ashland’s Common Stock outstanding as of April 30, 2016.

As of April 30, 2016, there were 62,071,615 shares of Ashland Common Stock outstanding. All directors and executive officers as a group owned 792,321 shares of Ashland Common Stock, which equaled 1.27% of the Ashland Common Stock outstanding as of April 30, 2016. Shares deemed to be beneficially owned are included in the number of shares of Ashland Common Stock outstanding on April 30, 2016, for computing the percentage ownership of the applicable person and the group, but shares are not deemed to be outstanding for computing the percentage ownership of any other person.

 

(1)

Includes shares of Ashland Common Stock held under the Employee Savings Plan and/or the LESOP by executive officers: as to Mr. Willis, 16,302 shares; as to Mr. Mitchell, 1,900 shares; and as to all executive officers as a group, 20,335 shares. Participants can vote the Employee Savings Plan and the LESOP shares.

 

(2)

Includes common stock units and/or restricted stock units (share equivalents) held by executive officers in the Ashland Common Stock Fund under Ashland’s non-qualified deferred compensation plans for employees (the “Employees’ Deferral Plan”) or by directors under the non-qualified deferred compensation plans for non-employee directors (the “Directors’ Deferral Plan”): as to Mr. Willis, 14,877 units; as to Mr. Mitchell, 34,263 units; as to Mr. Hale, 37,397 units; as to Mr. Kirk, 2,055 units; as to Mr. Manager, 24,415 units; as to Mr. Perry, 26,925 units; as to Mr. Rohr, 24,752 units; as to Mr. Schaefer, 26,925 units; as to Dr. Teal, 6,809 units; as to Mr. Ward, 64,229 units; and as to all directors and executive officers as a group, 262,647 units. Mr. Cummins, as a non-U.S. resident, is not eligible to defer U.S.-based compensation and therefore holds 5,581 restricted stock units directly and not through the Directors’ Deferral Plan.

 

(3)

Includes shares of Ashland Common Stock with respect to which the directors and executive officers have the right to acquire beneficial ownership within 60 calendar days after April 30, 2016, through the exercise of stock options or stock appreciation rights (“SARs”): as to Mr. Willis, 4,232 shares through SARs; as to Mr. Ganz, 8,473 shares through SARs; as to Mr. Fernandez-Moreno, 2,051 shares through SARs; as to Mr. Mitchell, 20,061 shares through SARs; and as to all directors and executive officers as a group, 41,270 shares through SARs. All SARs included in this table are reported on a net basis based on the closing price for Ashland Common Stock as reported on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) Composite Tape on April 30, 2016. All SARs are stock settled and are not issued in tandem with an option.

 

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(4)

Includes restricted shares of Ashland Common Stock; as to Mr. Wulfsohn, 127,947 shares; as to Mr. Willis, 51,079 shares; as to Mr. Ganz, 43,824 shares; as to Mr. Fernandez-Moreno, 75,653 shares; as to Mr. Mitchell, 41,365 shares; and as to all executive officers as a group, 372,034 shares.

 

(5)

Includes 1,000 restricted shares of Ashland Common Stock for each of the non-employee directors, except for Mr. Cummins who received 1,000 restricted stock units in lieu of 1,000 restricted shares (discussed in footnote 2 above).

 

(6)

Includes shares of Ashland Common Stock held under the DRP, which provides participants with voting power with respect to such shares.

 

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The following related party transaction information is in addition to the related party transaction information described in Ashland’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2015, filed with the SEC on November 20, 2015, including information specifically incorporated by reference therein from Ashland’s Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed with the SEC on December 4, 2015, incorporated by reference herein.

Relationship between Ashland Global and Valvoline Following the Separation

To govern their relationship following the Separation, Ashland Global and Valvoline will enter into various agreements described in this section, including:

 

•

a separation agreement;

 

•

a transition services agreement;

 

•

a reverse transition services agreement;

 

•

a tax matters agreement;

 

•

a registration rights agreement;

 

•

an employee matters agreement; and

 

•

a shared environmental liabilities agreement.

Separation Agreement

Ashland Global will enter into a separation agreement with Valvoline before the initial Separation. The separation agreement will set forth the agreements between Ashland Global and Valvoline regarding the principal actions to be taken in connection with the Separation. It will also set forth other agreements that govern aspects of the relationship between Ashland Global and Valvoline following the initial Separation.

Transfer of Assets and Assumption of Liabilities.    The separation agreement will identify certain transfers of assets and assumptions of liabilities that are necessary in advance of the Separation so that Ashland Global and Valvoline retain the assets of, and the liabilities associated with, their respective businesses.

However, certain liabilities that are not associated with the Ashland Global businesses or the Valvoline business will be allocated regardless of which business they are associated with (if any). For example, Ashland Global will retain, or assume from Valvoline, substantially all liabilities arising from or relating to the exposure of any person to asbestos from the manufacture, production, sale, distribution, conveyance or placement in the stream of commerce on or prior to the date of the Separation of any product or other item, as well as from repair, use, abatement or disposal on or prior to the date of the Separation of any building material or equipment containing asbestos, regardless of whether related to the Ashland Global businesses or the Valvoline business. In addition, Ashland Global will retain, or assume from Valvoline, all environmental liabilities, known or unknown, arising from or relating to the Ashland Global businesses or any other historical business of Ashland Inc., other than the Valvoline business, arising or relating to events, conduct or conditions occurring prior to, on or after the date of the Separation.

The separation agreement will also provide for the settlement or extinguishment of certain liabilities and other obligations between Ashland Global and Valvoline.

Internal Transactions.    The separation agreement will describe certain internal transactions related to the Separation that will occur prior to the Separation.

Intercompany Arrangements.    All agreements, arrangements, commitments and understandings, including most intercompany accounts payable or accounts receivable, between Ashland Global, on the one hand, and Valvoline, on the other hand, will terminate effective as of the Separation, except specified agreements and arrangements that are intended to survive the Separation.

 

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Shared Liabilities.    The tax matters agreement, employee matters agreement and shared environmental liabilities agreement will describe certain current and future liabilities that will be shared between Ashland Global and Valvoline following the Separation. These agreements will respectively specify the portion of the economic costs of such liabilities between Ashland Global and Valvoline and will establish a process for managing, defending and resolving, as well as sharing the costs related to, such liabilities as between Ashland Global and Valvoline.

Credit Support.    Valvoline will agree to use reasonable best efforts to arrange, prior to the Separation, for the replacement of all guarantees, covenants, indemnities, surety bonds, letters of credit or similar assurances of credit support currently provided by or through Ashland or any of its affiliates for the benefit of the Valvoline business.

Representations and Warranties.    In general, neither Ashland Global nor Valvoline will make any representations or warranties regarding any assets or liabilities transferred or assumed, any consents or approvals that may be required in connection with these transfers or assumptions, the value or freedom from any lien or other security interest of any assets transferred, the absence of any defenses relating to any claim of either party or the legal sufficiency of any conveyance documents. Except as expressly set forth in the separation agreement, all assets will be transferred on an “as is”, “where is” basis.

Further Assurances.    Ashland Global and Valvoline will use reasonable best efforts to affect any transfers contemplated by the separation agreement that have not been consummated prior to the Separation as promptly as practicable following the initial Separation. In addition, Ashland Global and Valvoline will use reasonable best efforts to affect any transfer or re-transfer of any asset or liability that was improperly transferred or retained as promptly as practicable following the Separation.

The Initial Public Offering.    The separation agreement will govern Ashland Global’s and Valvoline’s respective rights and obligations regarding the proposed IPO. Prior to the completion of the IPO, Valvoline will take all actions reasonably requested by Ashland in connection with the IPO. Ashland Global will have the sole and absolute discretion to determine the terms of, and whether to proceed with, the IPO and any subsequent spin-off or disposition of Valvoline stock by Ashland Global.

Conditions.    The separation agreement will also provide that several conditions must be satisfied or waived by Ashland Global in its sole and absolute discretion before the Separation can occur.

Ashland Global will have the right not to complete the Separation if, at any time, the Ashland Global Board determines, in its sole and absolute discretion, that the Separation is not in the best interests of Ashland Global or its shareholders or is otherwise not advisable.

Exchange of Information.    Ashland Global and Valvoline will agree to provide each other with information reasonably necessary to comply with reporting, disclosure, filing or other requirements of any national securities exchange or governmental authority, for use in judicial, regulatory, administrative and other proceedings and to satisfy audit, accounting, regulatory, litigation and other similar requests. Ashland Global and Valvoline will also agree to use reasonable best efforts to retain such information in accordance with Ashland Global’s record retention policies as in effect on the date of the separation agreement. Each party will also agree to use its reasonable best efforts to assist the other with its financial reporting and audit obligation for an agreed period of time.

Termination.    The Ashland Global Board, in its sole and absolute discretion, will be able to terminate the separation agreement at any time prior to the initial Separation.

Release of Claims.    Ashland Global and Valvoline will each agree to release the other and its affiliates, successors and assigns, and all persons that prior to the Separation have been the other’s shareholders, directors, officers, agents and employees, and their respective heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns, from any claims against any of them that arise out of or relate to events, circumstances or actions occurring or failing to occur or any conditions existing at or prior to the time of the Separation. These releases will be subject to exceptions set forth in the separation agreement.

Indemnification.    Ashland Global and Valvoline will each agree to indemnify the other and each of the other’s current and former directors, officers and employees, and each of the heirs, administrators, executors, successors and assigns of any of them, against certain liabilities incurred in connection with the separation of the Ashland Global and Valvoline businesses. The amount of either Ashland Global’s or Valvoline’s indemnification obligations will be reduced by any insurance proceeds the party being indemnified receives. The separation agreement will also specify procedures regarding claims subject to indemnification.

 

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Transition Services Agreement

Ashland Global intends to enter into a transition services agreement pursuant to which it will provide Valvoline with specified services for a limited time to help ensure an orderly transition following the initial Separation. The transition services agreement will specify the calculation of costs for these services. The cost of these services will be negotiated between Ashland Global and Valvoline and may not necessarily be reflective of prices that Valvoline could have obtained for similar services from an independent third party.

In general, the services will begin on the date of the initial Separation and will cover a period not expected to exceed 24 months following the initial Separation.

Reverse Transition Services Agreement

Valvoline intends to enter into a transition services agreement pursuant to which it will provide Ashland Global with specified services for a limited time to help ensure an orderly transition following the initial Separation. The transition services agreement will specify the calculation of costs for these services. The cost of these services will be negotiated between Ashland Global and Valvoline and may not necessarily be reflective of prices that Ashland Global could have obtained for providing similar services to an independent third party.

In general, the services will begin on the date of the initial Separation and will cover a period not expected to exceed 24 months following the initial Separation.

Tax Matters Agreement

Ashland and Valvoline intend to enter into a tax matters agreement that will govern the rights, responsibilities and obligations of Ashland and Valvoline after the closing of the IPO with respect to all tax matters (including tax liabilities, tax attributes, tax returns and tax contests) (the “Tax Matters Agreement”).

Valvoline will be included in the U.S. federal consolidated group tax return, and possibly certain combined or similar group tax returns, with Ashland (the “Ashland Group Returns”) for the period starting approximately on the date of the closing of the IPO and through the date of the Final Separation (the “Interim Period”). Under the Tax Matters Agreement, Ashland will generally make all necessary tax payments to the relevant tax authorities with respect to Ashland Group Returns, and Valvoline will make tax sharing payments to Ashland. The amount of Valvoline’s tax sharing payments will generally be determined as if Valvoline and each of its relevant subsidiaries included in the Ashland Group Returns filed its own consolidated, combined or separate tax returns for the Interim Period that include only Valvoline and/or its relevant subsidiaries, as the case may be.

For taxable periods that begin on or after the day after the date of the Final Separation, Valvoline will no longer be included in any Ashland Group Returns and will file tax returns that include only Valvoline and/or its subsidiaries, as appropriate. Valvoline will not be required to make tax sharing payments to Ashland for those taxable periods. Nevertheless, Valvoline has (and will continue to have following the Final Separation) joint and several liability with Ashland to the IRS for the consolidated U.S. federal income taxes of the Ashland consolidated group for the taxable periods in which Valvoline was part of the Ashland consolidated group.

The Tax Matters Agreement will also generally provide that Valvoline will indemnify Ashland for the following taxes:

 

•

Taxes of Valvoline for all taxable periods that begin on or after the day after the date of the Final Separation;

 

•

Taxes of Valvoline Inc. for the Interim Period, and taxes of subsidiaries of Valvoline Inc. for all taxable periods that end on or before the date of the Final Separation, that are not attributable to Ashland Group Returns;

 

•

Taxes for any tax period prior to the closing of the IPO (the “Pre-IPO Period”) that arise on audit or examination and are directly attributable to the Valvoline business;

 

•

Certain U.S. federal, state or local taxes for the Pre-IPO Period of Ashland and/or its subsidiaries for that period that arise on audit or examination and are directly attributable to neither the Valvoline business nor the Ashland Global businesses; and

 

•

Transaction Taxes (as described below) that are allocated to Valvoline under the Tax Matters Agreement.

The Tax Matters Agreement will also provide that Valvoline will indemnify Ashland for any taxes (and reasonable expenses) resulting from the failure of the Final Separation to qualify for non-recognition of gain and loss or certain reorganization transactions related to the Separation or the Final Separation to qualify for their intended tax treatment (“Transaction Taxes”), where the taxes

 

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result from (1) breaches of covenants that Valvoline will agree to in connection with these transactions (including covenants containing the restrictions described below that are designed to preserve the tax-free nature of the Final Separation), (2) the application of certain provisions of U.S. federal income tax law to the Final Separation with respect to acquisitions of Valvoline’s common stock or (3) any other actions that Valvoline knows or reasonably should expect would give rise to such taxes. The Tax Matters Agreement will also require Valvoline to indemnify Ashland for a portion of certain other Transaction Taxes allocated to Valvoline based on Valvoline’s market capitalization relative to the market capitalization of Ashland.

Valvoline will generally have either sole control, or joint control with Ashland, over any audit or examination related to taxes for which Valvoline is required to indemnify Ashland.

The Tax Matters Agreement will impose certain restrictions on Valvoline and Valvoline’s subsidiaries (including restrictions on share issuances or repurchases, business combinations, sales of assets, and similar transactions) that will be designed to preserve the tax-free nature of the Final Separation. These restrictions will apply for the two-year period after the Final Separation. However, Valvoline will be able to engage in an otherwise restricted action if Valvoline obtains an appropriate opinion from counsel or ruling from the IRS.

Registration Rights Agreement

Prior to the initial Separation, Ashland Global and Valvoline expect to enter into a registration rights agreement with customary representations, warranties and covenants, pursuant to which Valvoline will grant Ashland Global and its affiliates certain registration rights with respect to Valvoline’s common stock owned by Ashland Global.

Employee Matters Agreement

Ashland and Valvoline intend to enter into an employee matters agreement that will address employment, compensation and benefits matters, including the allocation and treatment of assets and liabilities relating to Valvoline’s employees and the compensation and benefit plans and programs in which Valvoline’s employees participate prior to the Final Separation, as well as other human resources, employment and employee benefit matters.

Employment-Related Liabilities. With certain exceptions, on or prior to the closing of the IPO, Valvoline will assume responsibility for all employment-related liabilities of or relating to Valvoline’s current and former employees. Employment-related liabilities of or relating to former employees who were employed by a shared resource group will be allocated between Valvoline and Ashland based on the cost center to which the employee was charged or otherwise allocated at the time the event giving rise to such liability occurred.

Benefit and Welfare Plans. Following the closing of the IPO and prior to the Final Separation, Valvoline will establish benefit plans for its employees that generally will recognize all service, compensation and other factors affecting benefit determinations to the same extent recognized under the corresponding Ashland benefit plan. Until such time, claims incurred by Valvoline’s employees will continue to be covered under Ashland ‘s benefit plans, and Valvoline will reimburse Ashland for such costs if they are not otherwise charged to Valvoline in the ordinary course.

Pension and Retirement Plans. Prior to the closing of the IPO, Valvoline will assume responsibility for certain Ashland qualified and nonqualified pension and retirement plans as well as a portion of the trusts or other funding vehicles that have been established to fund such plans. Specifically, prior to the IPO, Valvoline will assume all liabilities and assets relating to the Ashland Hercules pension plan, other than liabilities and assets relating to active employees who are covered by the Hopewell collective bargaining agreement provided such employees have not agreed to a freeze of their benefits under the Ashland Hercules pension plan, which will be retained by Ashland. In addition, Valvoline will assume responsibility for certain Ashland excess benefit and supplemental pension plan liabilities, as well as the portions of the Ashland nonqualified deferred compensation plans that relate to Valvoline’s employees and our non-employee directors. Following the IPO and prior to the Final Separation, Valvoline will establish one or more defined contributions plans that will accept a trust-to-trust transfer of its employees’ account balances from the Ashland Global 401(k) plan.

Labor Matters. Valvoline will assume and comply with any collective bargaining arrangements that cover its employees.

 

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Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP will pass upon the validity of the shares of Ashland Global common stock offered by this proxy statement/prospectus.

 

The consolidated financial statements of Ashland Inc. and Consolidated Subsidiaries as of September 30, 2015 and for the year then ended, appearing in Ashland Inc.’s Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended September 30, 2015, and the effectiveness of Ashland Inc. and Consolidated Subsidiaries’ internal control over financial reporting as of September 30, 2015, have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth in their reports thereon, included therein, and incorporated herein by reference. Such consolidated financial statements are incorporated herein by reference in reliance upon such reports given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

The consolidated financial statements of Ashland Inc. as of September 30, 2014 and for each of the two years in the period ended September 30, 2014 incorporated in this proxy statement/prospectus by reference to Ashland Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2015 have been so incorporated in reliance on the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.

The independent reserve estimates for future asbestos claims and related costs given various assumptions (which is included in Financial Statements and Supplementary Data) incorporated in this proxy statement/prospectus by reference to Ashland Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2015, have been so incorporated in reliance on estimates provided by Hamilton, Rabinovitz & Associates, Inc.

 

Shareholders interested in presenting a proposal for consideration at the 2017 Annual Meeting may do so by following the procedures prescribed in SEC Rule 14a-8 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Ashland’s By-laws. To be eligible for inclusion in the proxy statement for the 2017 Annual Meeting, shareholder proposals must be received by Ashland’s Secretary no later than August 12, 2016.

Ashland’s By-laws provide that for business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a shareholder, the shareholder must give written notice (as specified below) to the Secretary of Ashland not later than ninety days in advance of the annual meeting (provided that if the annual meeting of shareholders is held earlier than the last Thursday in January, such notice must be given within ten days after the first public disclosure of the date of the annual meeting) (such applicable notice deadline, the “By-law Notice Deadline”). The first public disclosure of that date may be a public filing with the SEC. Such notice must set forth as to each matter the shareholder proposes to bring before the annual meeting:

 

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A brief description of the business desired to be brought before the meeting and the reasons for conducting such business at the meeting and, in the event that such business includes a proposal to amend either the Articles or By-laws of Ashland, the language of the proposed amendment;

 

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The name and address of the shareholder proposing such business;

 

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A representation that the shareholder is a holder of record of Ashland Common Stock entitled to vote at such meeting and intends to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to propose such business;

 

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Any material interest of the shareholder in such business; and

 

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A representation as to whether or not the shareholder will solicit proxies in support of the proposal.

Ashland’s By-laws further provide that no business shall be conducted at any annual meeting except in accordance with the foregoing procedures and that the chair of any such meeting may refuse to permit any business to be brought before an annual meeting that is not made in compliance with the procedures described above or if the shareholder fails to comply with the representations set forth in the notice.

 

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For any shareholder proposal that is not submitted for inclusion in next year’s proxy statement pursuant to SEC Rule 14a-8, but is instead sought to be considered as timely and presented directly at the 2017 Annual Meeting, SEC rules permit management to vote proxies in its discretion if: (1) Ashland receives written notice of the proposal before the By-law Notice Deadline, and Ashland advises shareholders in the 2017 Annual Meeting Proxy Statement about the nature of the matter and how management intends to vote on such matter; or (2) Ashland does not receive notice of the proposal prior to the By-law Notice Deadline.

Note that if the reorganization proposal is approved by shareholders and the Reorganization is consummated, the 2017 Annual Meeting will be the annual meeting of Ashland Global, instead of Ashland, but the same procedures for presenting a proposal as those described above will apply.

 

Individual shareholders sharing an address with one or more other shareholders may elect to “household” the mailing of the proxy statement. This means that only one proxy statement will be sent to that address unless one or more shareholders at that address specifically elect to receive separate mailings. Shareholders who participate in householding will continue to receive separate proxy cards. Also, householding will not affect dividend check mailings. We will promptly send a separate proxy statement to a shareholder at a shared address on request. Shareholders with a shared address may also request us to send separate proxy statements in the future, or to send a single copy in the future if we are currently sending multiple copies to the same address.

Requests related to householding should be mailed to Ashland Inc., P.O. Box 391, Covington, KY 41012-0391, Attn: Investor Relations or by calling (859) 815-3527. If you are a shareholder whose shares are held by a bank, broker or other nominee, you can request information about householding from your bank, broker or other nominee.

 

Ashland Global filed a registration statement on Form S-4 to register with the SEC the shares of Ashland Global common stock that our shareholders will receive in connection with the Reorganization if the Reorganization is completed. This proxy statement/prospectus is a part of that registration statement and constitutes a prospectus of Ashland Global and a proxy statement of Ashland for its Special Meeting.

This proxy statement/prospectus does not contain all of the information we have included in the registration statement and the accompanying exhibits and schedules in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC and we refer you to the omitted information. The statements this proxy statement/prospectus makes pertaining to the content of any contract, agreement or other document that is an exhibit to the registration statement necessarily are summaries of their material provisions and do not describe all exceptions and qualifications contained in those contracts, agreements or documents. You should read those contracts, agreements or documents for information that may be important to you. The registration statement, exhibits and schedules are available at the SEC’s public reference room or through its website.

We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC under the Exchange Act. You may read and copy any of this information at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. You may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 or 202-942-8090. The SEC also maintains an Internet website that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information about issuers who file electronically with the SEC. The address of that site is www.sec.gov. These reports, proxy statements and other information may also be inspected at the offices of the NYSE at 20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005. General information about us, including our annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K, as well as any amendments and exhibits to those reports, are available free of charge through our website at www.ashland.com as soon as reasonably practicable after we file them with, or furnish them to, the SEC. Information on our website is not incorporated into this proxy statement/prospectus or our other securities filings and is not a part of these filings.

The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” into this proxy statement/prospectus information we file with the SEC, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is deemed to be part of this proxy statement/prospectus except for any information superseded by information in this proxy statement/prospectus or in any document subsequently filed with the SEC that is also incorporated by reference. This proxy statement/

 

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prospectus incorporates by reference the documents set forth below that we have previously filed with the SEC. These documents contain important information about us and our financial condition.

 

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Ashland’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2015;

 

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Ashland’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015; and

 

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Ashland’s Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A, filed on December 4, 2015.

 

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Ashland’s Current Reports on Form 8-K, filed October 1, 2015, October 6, 2015, October 9, 2015, November 3, 2015, November 18, 2015, December 28, 2015, February 1, 2016, March 22, 2016, April 13, 2016, May 31, 2016, June 7, 2016, June 20, 2016, and July 11, 2016.

In addition, all documents filed by us or Ashland Global under Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act from the date of this proxy statement/prospectus and prior to the date of the Special Meeting shall also be deemed to be incorporated in this proxy statement/prospectus by reference. These documents include annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, as well as proxy statements.

Following the Reorganization described in this proxy statement/prospectus, Ashland Global will become subject to the same informational requirements that Ashland is subject to prior to the Reorganization, and will file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC in accordance with the Exchange Act and with the NYSE pursuant to the Exchange Act and NYSE Listing Rules.

You can obtain any documents incorporated by reference, without charge, from Ashland Inc. by calling us at (859) 815-3333 or writing us at the following address:

Ashland Inc.

P.O. Box 391

Covington, KY 41012-0391

Attention: Investor Relations

Exhibits to the filings will not be sent, unless those exhibits have been specifically incorporated by reference in this prospectus.

If you would like to request documents from us, please do so by                     , 2016 to receive them before the Special Meeting. We will send requested documents by first-class mail within one business day after receiving the request.

You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this proxy statement/prospectus and the registration statement of which this proxy statement/prospectus is a part to vote on the proposals. No one has been authorized to provide you with information that is different from what is contained in this proxy statement/prospectus or in the incorporated documents.

 

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Annex I

 

This AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER (this “Agreement”), dated as of May 31, 2016, is by and among Ashland Inc., a Kentucky corporation (“Ashland”), Ashland Global Holdings Inc., a Delaware corporation and a direct, wholly owned subsidiary of Ashland (“Ashland Global”), and Ashland Merger Sub Corp., a Kentucky corporation and a direct, wholly owned subsidiary of Ashland Global (“Merger Sub”).

RECITALS

WHEREAS Ashland Global and Merger Sub are newly formed entities organized for the purpose of participating in the transactions contemplated by this Agreement;

WHEREAS as of the date hereof, (i) Ashland holds all of the issued and outstanding shares of common stock of Ashland Global (“Ashland Global Common Stock”) and (ii) Ashland Global holds all of the issued and outstanding shares of common stock of Merger Sub (“Merger Sub Common Stock”);

WHEREAS the Board of Directors of Ashland has determined that it is advisable and in the best interests of Ashland’s shareholders to reorganize to create a new holding company structure by merging Merger Sub with and into Ashland (the “Merger”), with Ashland being the surviving corporation (sometimes referred to herein as the “Surviving Corporation”), and converting each outstanding share of common stock of Ashland (“Ashland Common Stock”) into one share of Ashland Global Common Stock;

WHEREAS the Board of Directors of Ashland has determined that, among other things, the Merger will help facilitate the previously-announced plan to pursue the separation of Ashland into two independent, publicly-traded companies (one company comprising Ashland’s specialty ingredients and performance materials businesses and the other comprising the Valvoline business) (the “Separation”);

WHEREAS the Boards of Directors of each of Ashland, Ashland Global and Merger Sub have approved this Agreement and the Merger, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement;

WHEREAS the Board of Directors of Ashland unanimously has determined to submit this Agreement and the Merger for approval by Ashland’s shareholders, in accordance with the provisions of the Kentucky Business Corporation Act (the “KBCA”), at a special meeting of Ashland shareholders;

WHEREAS Ashland Global, as the sole shareholder of Merger Sub, has approved this Agreement and the Merger; and

WHEREAS the parties intend, by executing this Agreement, to adopt a plan of reorganization within the meaning of Section 368 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and to cause the Merger to qualify as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code or a transfer described in Section 351(a) of the Code (the “Intended Tax Treatment”).

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the covenants and agreements contained in this Agreement, and intending to be legally bound hereby, Ashland, Ashland Global and Merger Sub hereby agree as follows:

ARTICLE I

THE MERGER

SECTION 1.1 The Merger. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement and in accordance with the applicable provisions of the KBCA, at the Effective Time, Merger Sub will be merged with and into Ashland and the separate existence of Merger Sub will cease. Ashland will continue as the Surviving Corporation as a wholly owned subsidiary of Ashland Global and will continue to be governed by the laws of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. At the Effective Time, the effect of the Merger will be as provided in Section 271B.11-060 of the KBCA.

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SECTION 1.2 Effective Time. The Merger shall become effective upon the filing of Articles of Merger with the Secretary of State of the Commonwealth of Kentucky pursuant to Section 271B.11-050 of the KBCA or at such later date as may be specified therein (the “Effective Time”).

SECTION 1.3 Organizational Documents of the Surviving Corporation. From and after the Effective Time, the Fourth Restated Articles of Incorporation of Ashland, as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time, shall continue in full force and effect as the Fourth Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Surviving Corporation until thereafter amended as provided therein or by applicable law. From and after the Effective Time, the Bylaws of Ashland, as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time, shall continue in full force and effect as the Bylaws of the Surviving Corporation until thereafter amended as provided therein or by applicable law.

SECTION 1.4 Directors and Officers of the Surviving Corporation. The directors and officers of Merger Sub immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be the initial directors and officers of the Surviving Corporation and shall hold office from the Effective Time until their successors are duly elected or appointed and qualified in the manner provided in the Bylaws of the Surviving Corporation or as otherwise provided by law.

SECTION 1.5 Directors and Officers of Ashland Global. Prior to the Effective Time, Ashland, in its capacity as the sole shareholder of Ashland Global, shall take or cause to be taken all such actions as are necessary to cause those persons serving as the directors and officers of Ashland immediately prior to the Effective Time to be elected or appointed as the directors and officers of Ashland Global, each such person to have the same position(s) with Ashland Global (and the same committee memberships in the case of directors) as he or she held with Ashland immediately prior to the Effective Time, with the directors serving until the earlier of the next meeting of the Ashland Global shareholders at which an election of directors is held and until their successors are elected or appointed or their earlier death, resignation or removal.

SECTION 1.6 Additional Actions. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the parties hereto shall take all such reasonable and lawful action as may be necessary or appropriate in order to effectuate the Merger and to comply with the requirements of the KBCA. If, at any time after the Effective Time, the Surviving Corporation shall consider or be advised that any other actions or things are necessary or desirable in connection with the Merger or to otherwise carry out this Agreement, the officers of the Surviving Corporation shall be authorized to take and do, in the name and on behalf of each of Merger Sub and Ashland, all such other actions and things as may be necessary or desirable to carry out this Agreement.

SECTION 1.7 Effect on Capital Stock. At the Effective Time, by virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part of Ashland, Ashland Global, Merger Sub or the holders of any securities of Ashland, Ashland Global or Merger Sub:

(a) Conversion of Ashland Common Stock. Each share of Ashland Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time (other than shares to be cancelled pursuant to Section 1.7(b) and other than Dissenting Shares (as defined below)) shall automatically be converted into one duly issued, fully paid and nonassessable share of Ashland Global Common Stock.

(b) Cancellation of Treasury Stock. Each share of Ashland Common Stock held in the treasury of Ashland immediately prior to the Effective Time shall automatically be cancelled and retired and shall cease to exist.

(c) Conversion of Merger Sub Common Stock. Each share of Merger Sub Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall automatically be converted into one share of common stock of the Surviving Corporation.

(d) Cancellation of Ashland Global Common Stock. Each share of Ashland Global Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall automatically be cancelled and retired and shall cease to exist.

SECTION 1.8 Dissenting Shares.

(a) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, shares of Ashland Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time and held by a holder who has not voted in favor of the Merger or consented thereto in writing and who has otherwise satisfied the requirements of Section 271B.13-210 of the KBCA (the “Dissenting Shares”) shall not be converted into shares of Ashland Global Common Stock and holders of such Dissenting Shares will be entitled only to receive payment of the fair value of such Dissenting Shares, plus accrued interest, in accordance with the provisions of Section 271B.13-250

 

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of the KBCA, unless such holder fails to perfect, withdraws or otherwise loses the right to dissent. If, after the Effective Time, such holder fails to perfect, withdraws or otherwise loses the right to dissent, such shares shall be treated as if they had been converted as of the Effective Time into shares of Ashland Global Common Stock pursuant to Section 1.7, without interest.

(b) No later than ten (10) days after the date that Ashland’s shareholders approve the Merger, Ashland or the Surviving Corporation shall notify each holder of Dissenting Shares of: (i) the approval of the Merger, (ii) the availability of dissenters’ rights for such shares and (iii) such additional matters as the Surviving Corporation deems appropriate and as required by Section 271B.13-220 of the KBCA. The Surviving Corporation shall include in such notice a copy of Chapter 271B.13 of the KBCA.

SECTION 1.9 No Required Surrender of Stock Certificates.

(a) At and after the Effective Time, (i) each certificate which, immediately prior to the Effective Time, represented outstanding shares of Ashland Common Stock (an “Ashland Certificate”) shall be deemed for all purposes to evidence ownership of, and to represent, the number of shares of Ashland Global Common Stock into which the shares of Ashland Common Stock represented by such Ashland Certificate immediately prior to the Effective Time have been converted pursuant to Section 1.7 and (ii) where no Ashland Certificate has been issued in the name of a holder of shares of Ashland Common Stock, a “book-entry” (i.e., a computerized or manual entry) shall be made in the shareholder records of Ashland Global to evidence the issuance to such holder of the number of uncertificated shares of Ashland Global Common Stock into which such shares of Ashland Common Stock have been converted pursuant to Section 1.7.

(b) The registered holder of any Ashland Certificate outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time, as such holder appears in the books and records of Ashland, or of the transfer agent in respect of the shares of Ashland Common Stock, immediately prior to the Effective Time, shall, until such Ashland Certificate is surrendered for transfer or exchange, have and be entitled to exercise any voting and other rights with respect to, and to receive any dividends or other distributions on, the shares of Ashland Global Common Stock into which the shares of Ashland Common Stock represented by any such Ashland Certificate have been converted pursuant to Section 1.7, subject to the KBCA and the Delaware General Corporation Law, each as applicable.

(c) If any Ashland Certificate shall have been lost, stolen or destroyed, Ashland Global may, in its discretion and as a condition to the issuance of any Ashland Global Certificate or uncertificated shares of Ashland Global Common Stock in book-entry form, require the owner of such lost, stolen or destroyed Ashland Certificate to post a bond, in such reasonable and customary amount as Ashland Global may direct, as indemnity against any claim that may be made against Ashland Global or the Surviving Corporation with respect to such Ashland Certificate.

(d) If any Ashland Global Certificate is to be issued in a name other than that in which the Ashland Certificate surrendered for exchange is registered, such exchange shall be conditioned upon (i) the Ashland Certificate so surrendered being properly endorsed or otherwise in proper form for transfer and (ii) the person requesting such exchange either paying any transfer or other taxes required by reason of the issuance of the Ashland Global Certificate in a name other than that of the registered holder of the Ashland Certificate surrendered, or establishing to the satisfaction of Ashland Global, or the transfer agent in respect of the Ashland Global Common Stock, that such tax has been paid or is not applicable.

SECTION 1.10 Stock Transfer Books. At the Effective Time, the stock transfer books of Ashland shall be closed and thereafter there shall be no further registration of transfers of shares of Ashland Common Stock theretofore outstanding on the records of Ashland.

SECTION 1.11 Plan of Reorganization. This Agreement is intended to constitute a “plan of reorganization” within the meaning of Treasury Regulations Section 1.368-2(g). Each party hereto shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Merger to qualify, and will not knowingly take any actions or cause any actions to be taken which could reasonably be expected to prevent the Merger from qualifying, as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code, and a transfer described in Section 351 of the Code.

SECTION 1.12 Successor Issuer. It is the intent of the parties hereto that Ashland Global be deemed a “successor issuer” of Ashland in accordance with Rule 12g-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and Rule 414 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). At or after the Effective Time, Ashland Global shall file (i) an appropriate report on Form 8-K describing the Merger and (ii) appropriate pre-effective and/or post-effective amendments, as applicable, to any registration statements of Ashland on Form S-8.

 

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ARTICLE II

ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN IN CONNECTION WITH THE MERGER

SECTION 2.1 Assumption of Ashland Plans and Awards. At the Effective Time, Ashland Global shall assume each Ashland equity incentive and deferred compensation plan (collectively, the “Ashland Plans”), including (i) all unexercised and unexpired options to purchase shares of Ashland Common Stock (“Ashland Options”) and all stock appreciation rights, performance share awards, restricted share awards, restricted stock equivalents, restricted stock units, common stock units, deferred stock units and other incentive awards and deferrals covering shares of Ashland Common Stock, whether or not vested (collectively, “Ashland Awards”) that are then outstanding under each such Ashland Plan and (ii) the remaining unallocated reserve of shares of Ashland Common Stock issuable under each such Ashland Plan. At the Effective Time, the reserve of shares of Ashland Common Stock under each such Ashland Plan, whether allocated to outstanding Ashland Awards or unallocated at that time, shall be converted on a one-share-for-one-share basis into a reserve of shares of Ashland Global Common Stock, and each Ashland Award assumed by Ashland Global shall continue to have, and be subject to, the same terms and conditions as set forth in the applicable Ashland Plan and the agreement(s) evidencing each such award as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time (including, without limitation, the vesting schedule and applicable issuance dates (without acceleration thereof by virtue of the Merger and the transactions contemplated hereby), the per share exercise price, the expiration date and other applicable termination provisions and the tax withholding procedures), except that each Ashland stock appreciation right and Ashland Option will be exercisable (or will become exercisable in accordance with its terms) for, and each other Ashland Award shall be denominated with reference to and shall be issuable as to, that number of shares of Ashland Global Common Stock equal to the number of shares of Ashland Common Stock that were subject to each such Ashland stock appreciation right and Ashland Option and other Ashland Award immediately prior to the Effective Time.

SECTION 2.2 Assignment and Assumption of Agreements. Effective as of the Effective Time, Ashland hereby assigns to Ashland Global, and Ashland Global hereby assumes and agrees to perform, all obligations of Ashland pursuant to the Ashland Plans and each stock option agreement, stock appreciation right award agreement, performance unit (LTIP) award agreement, restricted stock award agreement, restricted stock equivalent award agreement, restricted stock unit award agreement and performance-based restricted stock award agreement evidencing an outstanding Ashland Award under the Ashland Plans. Effective as of the Effective Time, Ashland Global shall become the successor issuer of securities under the Ashland Plans and shall, as soon as practicable following the Effective Time, file a post-effective amendment to each existing S-8 registration statement covering the Ashland Plans, pursuant to which Ashland Global as successor to Ashland shall expressly adopt such S-8 registration statements as its own in accordance with Rule 414 issued under the Securities Act.

SECTION 2.3 Non-U.S Jurisdictions. In the event that Ashland and Ashland Global are not able to assign or assume any Ashland Plans, Ashland Awards or applicable award agreements, in each case as contemplated by Sections 2.1 and 2.2, due to a conflict with applicable law or regulation in any non-U.S. jurisdiction, then both parties shall use their reasonable best efforts to enter into any lawful arrangement substantially consistent with the intent of Sections 2.1 and 2.2 or to otherwise cooperate in good faith to preserve the benefits and obligations of such Ashland Plans, Ashland Awards and applicable award agreements after giving effect to the Merger.

SECTION 2.4 Reservation of Shares. On or prior to the Effective Time, Ashland Global shall reserve sufficient shares of Ashland Global Common Stock to provide for the issuance of Ashland Global Common Stock upon the exercise or other settlement of all Ashland Awards and to cover any additional shares of Ashland Global Common Stock that may become issuable under future awards made with respect to the remaining share reserves under the assumed Ashland Plans that are, in accordance with the foregoing provisions of this Agreement, converted into reserves of shares of Ashland Global Common Stock.

SECTION 2.5 Registration Statement; Proxy/Prospectus. Promptly following the execution of this Agreement, Ashland shall prepare and file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) a proxy statement in preliminary form relating to the Shareholders’ Meeting (as defined below) (together with any amendments thereof or supplements thereto, the “Proxy Statement”) and Ashland Global shall prepare and file with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-4 (together with all amendments thereto, the “Registration Statement” and the prospectus contained in the Registration Statement together with the Proxy Statement, the “Proxy/Prospectus”), in connection with the registration under the Securities Act of the shares of Ashland Global Common Stock to be issued to the shareholders of Ashland pursuant to the Merger. Each of Ashland Global and Ashland shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Registration Statement to become effective and the Proxy/Prospectus to be cleared by the SEC as promptly as practicable,

 

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and, prior to the effective date of the Registration Statement, Ashland Global shall take all actions reasonably required under any applicable federal securities laws or state blue sky laws in connection with the issuance of shares of Ashland Global Common Stock pursuant to the Merger. As promptly as reasonably practicable after the Registration Statement shall have become effective and the Proxy/Prospectus shall have been cleared by the SEC, Ashland shall mail or cause to be mailed or otherwise make available in accordance with the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, the Proxy/Prospectus to its shareholders; provided, however, that the parties shall consult and cooperate with each other in determining the appropriate time for mailing or otherwise making available to Ashland’s shareholders the Proxy/Prospectus in light of the date set for the Shareholders’ Meeting.

SECTION 2.6 Meeting of Ashland Shareholders; Board Recommendation. Ashland shall take all action necessary in accordance with the KBCA and its governing documents to call, hold and convene a meeting of its shareholders to consider the approval of this Agreement and the Merger (the “Shareholders’ Meeting”). Ashland shall use its reasonable best efforts to solicit from its shareholders proxies in favor of the approval of this Agreement and the Merger. Ashland may adjourn or postpone the Shareholders’ Meeting to the extent necessary to ensure that any necessary supplement or amendment to the Proxy/Prospectus is provided to its shareholders in advance of any vote on this Agreement and the Merger if as of the time for which the Shareholders’ Meeting is originally scheduled (as set forth in the Proxy/Prospectus), there are insufficient shares of Ashland Common Stock voting in favor of the approval of this Agreement and the Merger or represented (either in person or by proxy) to constitute a quorum necessary to conduct the business of such Shareholders’ Meeting.

SECTION 2.7 Section 16 Matters. Prior to the Effective Time, the Boards of Directors of Ashland and Ashland Global or an appropriate committee of non-employee directors (as such term is defined for purposes of Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) shall adopt resolutions consistent with the interpretive guidance of the SEC so that the disposition by any officer or director of Ashland or Ashland Global who is a covered person for purposes of Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act of shares of Ashland Common Stock (or derivative securities) and the receipt of shares of Ashland Global Common Stock (or derivative securities) in exchange therefor by virtue of this Agreement and the Merger will be an exempt transaction for purposes of Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act.

SECTION 2.8 Other Employee Benefit Plans and Arrangements. Ashland Global shall assume each of Ashland’s other employee benefit plans and arrangements and the obligations of Ashland thereunder upon the same terms and conditions as set forth in such plans and arrangements as in effect at the Effective Time.

ARTICLE III

CONDITIONS OF MERGER

SECTION 3.1 Conditions Precedent. The obligations of the parties to this Agreement to consummate the Merger and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be subject to the satisfaction or waiver by the parties hereto at or prior to the Effective Time of each of the following conditions:

(a) The Registration Statement shall have been declared effective by the SEC under the Securities Act and no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall have been issued by the SEC and no proceeding for that purpose shall have been initiated or, to the knowledge of Ashland Global or Ashland, threatened by the SEC and not concluded or withdrawn. No similar proceeding with respect to the Proxy/Prospectus shall have been initiated or, to the knowledge of Ashland Global or Ashland, threatened by the SEC and not concluded or withdrawn.

(b) This Agreement and the Merger shall have been approved by the affirmative vote of at least a majority of all issued and outstanding shares of Ashland Common Stock in accordance with the KBCA.

(c) The Ashland Global Common Stock to be issued pursuant to the Merger shall have been approved for listing by the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”).

(d) No order, statute, rule, regulation, executive order, injunction, stay, decree, judgment or restraining order that is in effect shall have been enacted, entered, promulgated or enforced by any court or governmental or regulatory authority or instrumentality that prohibits or makes illegal the consummation of the Merger or the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

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(e) Ashland shall have received a legal opinion of Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to it indicating the Merger should qualify for the Intended Tax Treatment.

(f) All material approvals, licenses and certifications from, and notifications and filings to, governmental entities and non-governmental third parties shall have been obtained or made, as applicable.

(g) Ashland shall have received relief from the SEC confirming that Ashland Global shall be deemed a “successor issuer” of Ashland in accordance with Rule 12g-3 under the Exchange Act and Rule 414 under the Securities Act and confirming such other matters as may be requested by Ashland.

ARTICLE IV

COVENANTS

SECTION 4.1 Listing of Ashland Global Common Stock. Ashland and Ashland Global shall use their reasonable best efforts to obtain, at or before the Effective Time, confirmation of listing on the NYSE of the Ashland Global Common Stock issuable pursuant to the Merger.

SECTION 4.2 Expenses. Ashland and Ashland Global shall pay their own expenses in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

SECTION 4.3 Activities of Ashland Global and Merger Sub. Prior to the Effective Time, Ashland Global and Merger Sub shall not conduct any business activities and shall not conduct any other activities except as necessary to effectuate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

ARTICLE V

TERMINATION AND AMENDMENT

SECTION 5.1 Termination. This Agreement may be terminated and the Merger contemplated hereby may be abandoned at any time prior to the Effective Time by action of the Board of Directors of Ashland if such Board of Directors should determine that, for any reason, the completion of the transactions provided for herein would be inadvisable or not in the best interest of Ashland or its shareholders. In the event of such termination and abandonment, this Agreement shall become void and none of Ashland, Ashland Global or Merger Sub nor their respective shareholders, members, directors or officers shall have any liability with respect to such termination and abandonment.

SECTION 5.2 Amendment. At any time prior to the Effective Time, this Agreement may, to the extent permitted by the KBCA, be supplemented, amended or modified by the mutual written consent of the parties to this Agreement.

ARTICLE VI

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

SECTION 6.1 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced under the laws of the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

SECTION 6.2 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which when executed shall be deemed to be an original but all of which shall constitute one and the same agreement.

 

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SECTION 6.3 Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement, and supersedes all other agreements and undertakings, both written and oral, among the parties, or any of them, with respect to the subject matter hereof.

SECTION 6.4 Severability. The provisions of this Agreement are severable, and in the event any provision hereof is determined to be invalid or unenforceable, such invalidity or unenforceability shall not in any way affect the validity or enforceability of the remaining provisions hereof.

SECTION 6.5 No Third-Party Beneficiaries. Nothing contained in this Agreement is intended by the parties hereto to confer upon any person other than the parties hereto any rights or remedies hereunder.

SECTION 6.6 Tax Matters. Each of Ashland and Ashland Global will comply with the recordkeeping and information reporting requirements of the Code that are imposed as a result of the transactions contemplated hereby, and will provide information reporting statements to holders of shares of Ashland Common Stock at the time and in the manner prescribed by the Code and applicable Treasury Regulations.

[Signature page follows]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Ashland, Ashland Global and Merger Sub have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first written above by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized.

 

 

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Annex II

 

To be filed by amendment.

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Annex III

 

To be filed by amendment.

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Annex IV

 

271B.13-010 Definitions for subtitle.

As used in this subtitle:

 

(1)	“Corporation” means the issuer of the shares held by a dissenter, except that in the case of a merger where the issuing corporation is not the surviving corporation, then, after consummation of the merger, “corporation” shall mean the surviving corporation.

 

(2)	“Dissenter” means a shareholder who is entitled to dissent from corporate action under KRS 271B.13-020 and who exercises that right when and in the manner required by KRS 271B.13-200 to 271B.13-280.

 

(3)

“Fair value,” with respect to a dissenter’s shares, means the value of the shares immediately before the effectuation of the corporate action to which the dissenter objects, excluding any appreciation or depreciation in anticipation of the corporate action unless exclusion would be inequitable. In any transaction subject to the requirements of KRS 271B.12-210 or exempted by KRS 271B.12-220(2), “fair value” shall be at least an amount required to be paid under KRS 271B.12-220(2) in order to be exempt from the requirements of KRS 271B.12-210.

 

(4)	“Interest” means interest from the effective date of the corporate action until the date of payment, at the average rate currently paid by the corporation on its principal bank loans or, if none, at a rate that is fair and equitable under all the circumstances.

 

(5)	“Record shareholder” means the person in whose name shares are registered in the records of a corporation or the beneficial owner of shares to the extent of the rights granted by a nominee certificate on file with a corporation.

 

(6)	“Beneficial shareholder” means the person who is a beneficial owner of shares held in a voting trust or by a nominee as the record shareholder.

 

(7)	“Shareholder” means the record shareholder or the beneficial shareholder.

271B.13-020 Right to dissent.

 

(1)	A shareholder shall be entitled to dissent from, and obtain payment of the fair value of his shares in the event of, any of the following corporate actions:

 

(a)

Consummation of a plan of merger to which the corporation is a party:

 

1.

If shareholder approval is required for the merger by KRS 271B.11-030 or the articles of incorporation and the shareholder is entitled to vote on the merger; or

 

2.

If the corporation is a subsidiary that is merged with its parent under KRS 271B.11-040;

 

(b)

Consummation of a plan of share exchange to which the corporation is a party as the corporation whose shares will be acquired, if the shareholder is entitled to vote on the plan;

 

(c)

Consummation of a sale or exchange of all, or substantially all, of the property of the corporation other than in the usual and regular course of business, if the shareholder is entitled to vote on the sale or exchange, including a sale in dissolution but not including a sale pursuant to court order or a sale for cash pursuant to a plan by which all or substantially all of the net proceeds of the sale will be distributed to the shareholders within one (1) year after the date of sale;

 

(d)

Consummation of a plan of conversion of the corporation into a limited liability company or statutory trust;

 

(e)

An amendment of the articles of incorporation that materially and adversely affects rights in respect of a dissenter’s shares because it:

 

1.

Alters or abolishes a preferential right of the shares to a distribution or in dissolution;

 

2.

Creates, alters, or abolishes a right in respect of redemption, including a provision respecting a sinking fund for the redemption or repurchase of the shares;

 

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3.

Excludes or limits the right of the shares to vote on any matter other than a limitation by dilution through issuance of shares or other securities with similar voting rights; or

 

4.

Reduces the number of shares owned by the shareholder to a fraction of a share, if the fractional share so created is to be acquired for cash under KRS 271B.6-040;

 

(f)

Any transaction subject to the requirements of KRS 271B.12-210 or exempted by KRS 271B.12-220(2); or

 

(g)

Any corporate action taken pursuant to a shareholder vote to the extent the articles of incorporation, bylaws, or a resolution of the board of directors provides that voting or nonvoting shareholders are entitled to dissent and obtain payment for their shares.

 

(2)	A shareholder entitled to dissent and obtain payment for his shares under this chapter shall not challenge the corporate action creating his entitlement except by an application for injunctive relief prior to the consummation of the corporate action.

271B.13-030 Dissent by nominees and beneficial owners.

 

(1)

A record shareholder may assert dissenters’ rights as to fewer than all the shares registered in his name only if he shall dissent with respect to all shares beneficially owned by any one (1) person and notify the corporation in writing of the name and address of each person on whose behalf he asserts dissenters’ rights. The rights of a partial dissenter under this subsection shall be determined as if the shares as to which he dissents and his other shares were registered in the names of different shareholders.

 

(2)	A beneficial shareholder may assert dissenters’ rights as to shares held on his behalf only if:

 

(a)

He submits to the corporation the record shareholder’s written consent to the dissent not later than the time the beneficial shareholder asserts dissenters’ rights; and

 

(b)

He does so with respect to all shares of which he is the beneficial shareholder or over which he has power to direct the vote.

271B.13-200 Notice of dissenters’ rights.

 

(1)

If proposed corporate action creating dissenters’ rights under KRS 271B.13-020 is submitted to a vote at a shareholders’ meeting, the meeting notice must state that shareholders are or may be entitled to assert dissenters’ rights under this subtitle and the corporation shall undertake to provide a copy of this subtitle to any shareholder entitled to vote at the shareholders’ meeting upon request of that shareholder.

 

(2)	If corporate action creating dissenters’ rights under KRS 271B.13-020 is taken without a vote of shareholders, the corporation shall notify in writing all shareholders entitled to assert dissenters’ rights that the action was taken and send them the dissenters’ notice described in KRS 271B.13-220.

271B.13-210 Notice of intent to demand payment.

 

(1)	If proposed corporate action creating dissenters’ rights under KRS 271B.13-020 is submitted to a vote at a shareholders’ meeting, a shareholder who wishes to assert dissenters’ rights:

 

(a)

Shall deliver to the corporation before the vote is taken written notice of his intent to demand payment for his shares if the proposed action is effectuated; and

 

(b)

Shall not vote his shares in favor of the proposed action.

 

(2)	A shareholder who does not satisfy the requirements of subsection (1) of this section shall not be entitled to payment for his shares under this chapter.

271B.13-220 Dissenters’ notice.

 

(1)	If proposed corporate action creating dissenters’ rights under KRS 271B.13-020 is authorized at a shareholders’ meeting, the corporation shall deliver a written dissenters’ notice to all shareholders who satisfied the requirements of KRS 271B.13-210.

 

(2)	The dissenters’ notice shall be sent no later than ten (10) days after the date the proposed corporate action was authorized by the shareholders, or, if no shareholder authorization was obtained, by the board of directors, and shall:

 

(a)

State where the payment demand must be sent and where and when certificates for certificated shares must be deposited;

 

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(b)

Inform holders of uncertificated shares to what extent transfer of the shares will be restricted after the payment demand is received;

 

(c)

Supply a form for demanding payment that includes the date of the first announcement to news media or to shareholders of the terms of the proposed corporate action and requires that the person asserting dissenters’ rights certify whether or not he acquired beneficial ownership of the shares before that date;

 

(d)

Set a date by which the corporation must receive the payment demand, which date may not be fewer than thirty (30), nor more than sixty (60) days after the date the notice provided in subsection (1) of this section is delivered; and

 

(e)

Be accompanied by a copy of this subtitle.

271B.13-230 Duty to demand payment.

 

(1)

A shareholder who is sent a dissenters’ notice described in KRS 271B.13-220 shall demand payment, certify whether he acquired beneficial ownership of the shares before the date required to be set forth in the dissenters’ notice pursuant to subsection (2)(c) of KRS 271B.13-220, and deposit his certificates in accordance with the terms of the notice.

 

(2)	The shareholder who demands payment and deposits his share certificates under subsection (1) of this section shall retain all other rights of a shareholder until these rights are canceled or modified by the taking of the proposed corporate action.

 

(3)	A shareholder who does not demand payment or deposit his share certificates where required, each by the date set in the dissenters’ notice, shall not be entitled to payment for his shares under this subtitle.

271B.13-240 Share restrictions.

 

(1)	The corporation may restrict the transfer of uncertificated shares from the date the demand for their payment is received until the proposed corporate action is taken or the restrictions released under KRS 271B.13-260.

 

(2)	The person for whom dissenters’ rights are asserted as to uncertificated shares shall retain all other rights of a shareholder until these rights are canceled or modified by the taking of the proposed corporate action.

271B.13-250 Payment.

 

(1)	Except as provided in KRS 271B.13-270, as soon as the proposed corporate action is taken, or upon receipt of a payment demand, the corporation shall pay each dissenter who complied with KRS 271B.13-230 the amount the corporation estimates to be the fair value of his shares, plus accrued interest.

 

(2)	The payment shall be accompanied by:

 

(a)

The corporation’s balance sheet as of the end of a fiscal year ending not more than sixteen (16) months before the date of payment, an income statement for that year, a statement of changes in shareholders’ equity for that year, and the latest available interim financial statements, if any;

 

(b)

A statement of the corporation’s estimate of the fair value of the shares;

 

(c)

An explanation of how the interest was calculated; and

 

(d)

A statement of the dissenter’s right to demand payment under KRS 271B.13- 280.

271B.13-260 Failure to take action.

 

(1)	If the corporation does not take the proposed action within sixty (60) days after the date set for demanding payment and depositing share certificates, the corporation shall return the deposited certificates and release the transfer restrictions imposed on uncertificated shares.

 

(2)	If after returning deposited certificates and releasing transfer restrictions, the corporation takes the proposed action, it shall send a new dissenters’ notice under KRS 271B.13-220 and repeat the payment demand procedure.

271B.13-270 After-acquired shares.

 

(1)

A corporation may elect to withhold payment required by KRS 271B.13-250 from a dissenter unless he was the beneficial owner of the shares before the date set forth in the dissenters’ notice as the date of the first announcement to news media or to shareholders of the terms of the proposed corporate action.

 

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(2)

To the extent the corporation elects to withhold payment under subsection (1) of this section, after taking the proposed corporate action, it shall estimate the fair value of the shares, plus accrued interest, and shall pay this amount to each dissenter who agrees to accept it in full satisfaction of his demand. The corporation shall send with its offer a statement of its estimate of the fair value of the shares, an explanation of how the interest was calculated, and a statement of the dissenter’s right to demand payment under KRS 271B.13-280.

271B.13-280 Procedure if shareholder dissatisfied with payment or offer.

 

(1)

A dissenter may notify the corporation in writing of his own estimate of the fair value of his shares and amount of interest due, and demand payment of his estimate (less any payment under KRS 271B.13-250), or reject the corporation’s offer under KRS 271B.13-270 and demand payment of the fair value of his shares and interest due, if:

 

(a)

The dissenter believes that the amount paid under KRS 271B.13-250 or offered under KRS 271B.13-270 is less than the fair value of his shares or that the interest due is incorrectly calculated;

 

(b)

The corporation fails to make payment under KRS 271B.13-250 within sixty (60) days after the date set for demanding payment; or

 

(c)

The corporation, having failed to take the proposed action, does not return the deposited certificates or release the transfer restrictions imposed on uncertificated shares within sixty (60) days after the date set for demanding payment.

 

(2)	A dissenter waives his right to demand payment under this section unless he shall notify the corporation of his demand in writing under subsection (1) of this section within thirty (30) days after the corporation made or offered payment for his shares.

271B.13-300 Court action.

 

(1)

If a demand for payment under KRS 271B.13-280 remains unsettled, the corporation shall commence a proceeding within sixty (60) days after receiving the payment demand and petition the court to determine the fair value of the shares and accrued interest. If the corporation does not commence the proceeding within the sixty (60) day period, it shall pay each dissenter whose demand remains unsettled the amount demanded.

 

(2)

The corporation shall commence the proceeding in the Circuit Court of the county where a corporation’s principal office (or, if none in this state, its registered office) is located. If the corporation is a foreign corporation without a registered office in this state, it shall commence the proceeding in the county in this state where the registered office of the domestic corporation merged with or whose shares were acquired by the foreign corporation was located.

 

(3)

The corporation shall make all dissenters (whether or not residents of this state) whose demands remain unsettled parties to the proceeding as in an action against their shares and all parties shall be served with a copy of the petition. Nonresidents may be served by registered or certified mail or by publication as provided by law.

 

(4)

The jurisdiction of the court in which the proceeding is commenced under subsection (2) of this section shall be plenary and exclusive. The court may appoint one (1) or more persons as appraisers to receive evidence and recommend decision on the question of fair value. The appraisers have the powers described in the order appointing them, or in any amendment to it. The dissenters shall be entitled to the same discovery rights as parties in other civil proceedings.

 

(5)	Each dissenter made a party to the proceeding shall be entitled to judgment:

 

(a)

For the amount, if any, by which the court finds the fair value of his shares, plus interest, exceeds the amount paid by the corporation; or

 

(b)

For the fair value, plus accrued interest, of his after-acquired shares for which the corporation elected to withhold payment under KRS 271B.13-270.

271B.13-310 Court costs and counsel fees.

 

(1)

The court in an appraisal proceeding commenced under KRS 271B.13-300 shall determine all costs of the proceeding, including the reasonable compensation and expenses of appraisers appointed by the court. The court shall assess the costs against the corporation, except that the court may assess costs against all or some of the dissenters, in amounts the court finds equitable, to the extent the court finds the dissenters acted arbitrarily, vexatiously, or not in good faith in demanding payment under KRS 271B.13-280.

 

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(2)	The court may also assess the fees and expenses of counsel and experts for the respective parties, in amounts the court finds equitable:

 

(a)

Against the corporation and in favor of any or all dissenters, if the court finds the corporation did not substantially comply with the requirements of KRS 271B.13-200 to 271B.13-280; or

 

(b)

Against either the corporation or a dissenter, in favor of any other party, if the court finds that the party against whom the fees and expenses are assessed acted arbitrarily, vexatiously, or not in good faith with respect to the rights provided by this subtitle.

 

(3)

If the court finds that the services of counsel for any dissenter were of substantial benefit to other dissenters similarly situated, and that the fees for those services should not be assessed against the corporation, the court may award to these counsel reasonable fees to be paid out of the amounts awarded the dissenters who were benefited.

 

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PART II

 

Item 20. Indemnification of Directors and Officers

A. Indemnification

The DGCL provides that a corporation may indemnify any individual made, or threatened to be made, a party to any type of proceeding because he or she is or was an officer, director, employee or agent of the corporation, or was serving at the request of the corporation as an officer, director, employee or agent of another corporation or entity, against expenses, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred in connection with such proceeding if he or she acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation or, in the case of a criminal proceeding, he or she had no reasonable cause to believe that his or her conduct was unlawful. In the case of an action brought by or in the right of the corporation, known as a derivative action, indemnification will be denied if the individual is liable to the corporation, unless otherwise determined by a court.

A corporation must indemnify a present or former director or officer who successfully defends himself or herself in a proceeding to which he or she was a party because he or she was a director or officer of the corporation against expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him or her. Expenses incurred by an officer or director, or any employees or agents as deemed appropriate by the board of directors, in defending civil or criminal proceedings may be paid by the corporation in advance of the final disposition of such proceedings upon receipt of an undertaking to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that he or she is not entitled to be indemnified.

In general, Ashland Global’s Certificate permits, and Ashland Global’s By-laws require, such indemnification with respect to directors and officers, to the fullest extent permitted under Delaware or other applicable law. Ashland Global is required by its By-laws to advance expenses that will be incurred by a Covered Person in connection with any such Proceeding.

B. Limitations on Directors’ Liability

The DGCL permits a corporation to adopt a provision in its certificate of incorporation eliminating or limiting the personal liability of a director to the corporation or its shareholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except that such provision may not limit the liability of a director for (i) any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to the corporation or its shareholders, (ii) acts or omissions not in good faith or that involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii) unlawful payment of dividends or stock purchases or redemptions or (iv) any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit.

Ashland Global’s Certificate provides that, to the fullest extent that the DGCL or any other law of the State of Delaware permits the limitation or elimination of the liability of directors, no director of Ashland Global shall be liable to Ashland Global or its shareholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director.

C. Contracts

Prior to the consummation of the Reorganization, Ashland Global will enter into indemnification agreements with each of its directors that require indemnification to the fullest extent permitted by law (as described above), subject to certain exceptions and limitations.

D. Insurance

Section 145 of the DGCL permits a corporation to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of directors, officers, employees or agents of the corporation, who are or were serving in that capacity, against liability asserted against or incurred in that capacity or arising from that status, whether or not the corporation would have power to indemnify against the same liability.

Ashland Global has purchased insurance which insures (subject to certain terms and conditions, exclusions and deductibles) Ashland Global against certain costs that it might be required to pay by way of indemnification to directors or officers under the Ashland Global Organizational Documents, indemnification agreements or otherwise, and protects individual directors and officers from certain losses for which they might not be indemnified by Ashland Global. In addition, Ashland Global has purchased insurance that provides liability coverage (subject to certain terms and conditions, exclusion and deductibles) for amounts that Ashland Global or the fiduciaries under their employee benefit plans, which may include its respective directors, officers and employees, might be required to pay as a result of a breach of fiduciary duty.

 

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Item 21. Exhibits

The following exhibits are filed herewith or incorporated by reference.

 

Exhibit Number		Document
2.1*		Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of May 31, 2016, by and among Ashland Inc., Ashland Global Holdings Inc. and Ashland Merger Sub Corp. (included as Annex I to the proxy statement/prospectus that is part of this Registration Statement)
3.1**		Form of Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Ashland Global Holdings Inc. (included as Annex II to the proxy statement/prospectus that is part of this Registration Statement)
3.2**		Form of Amended and Restated By-laws of Ashland Global Holdings Inc. (included as Annex III to the proxy statement/prospectus that is part of this Registration Statement)
5.1**		Opinion of Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP as to legality of the securities being issued
8.1**		Opinion of Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP as to certain U.S. federal income tax matters
23.1*		Consent of Ernst & Young LLP
23.2*		Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
23.3*		Consent of Hamilton, Rabinovitz & Associates, Inc.
23.4**		Consent of Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1)
23.5**		Consent of Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP (included in Exhibit 8.1)
24.1†		Power of Attorney
99.1†		Form of Proxy Card
99.2†		Consents of persons named as about to become a director of the registrant

 

  *       Filed herewith.

  **     To be filed by amendment.

  †       Previously filed.

Item 22. Undertakings

The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

 

(a)

That, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 

(b)

To deliver or cause to be delivered with the prospectus, to each person to whom the prospectus is sent or given, the latest annual report, to security holders that is incorporated by reference in the prospectus and furnished pursuant to and meeting the requirements of Rule 14a-3 or Rule 14c-3 under the Exchange Act; and, where interim financial information required to be presented by Article 3 of Regulation S-X is not set forth in the prospectus, to deliver, or cause to be delivered to each person to whom the prospectus is sent or given, the latest quarterly report that is specifically incorporated by reference in the prospectus to provide such interim financial information.

 

(c)

That prior to any public reoffering of the securities registered hereunder through use of a prospectus which is a part of this registration statement, by any person or party who is deemed to be an underwriter within the meaning of Rule 145(c), the issuer undertakes that such reoffering prospectus will contain the information called for by the applicable registration form with respect to reofferings by persons who may be deemed underwriters, in addition to the information called for by the other items of the applicable form.

 

(d)

That every prospectus: (i) that is filed pursuant to paragraph (c) immediately preceding, or (ii) that purports to meet the requirements of Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act and is used in connection with an offering of securities subject to Rule 415, will be filed as a part of an amendment to the registration statement and will not be used until such amendment is effective, and that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 

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(e)

To respond to requests for information that is incorporated by reference into the prospectus pursuant to Item 4, 10(b), 11 or 13 of this Form, within one business day of receipt of such request, and to send the incorporated documents by first class mail or other equally prompt means. This includes information contained in documents filed subsequent to the effective date of the registration statement through the date of responding to the request.

 

(f)

To supply by means of a post-effective amendment all information concerning a transaction, and the company being acquired involved therein, that was not the subject of and included in the registration statement when it became effective.

 

(g)

Insofar as indemnification by the registrant for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that, in the opinion of the SEC, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

 

II-3

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Table of Contents

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant has duly caused this registration statement on Form S-4 to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons, in the capacities indicated, on July 11, 2016.

 

Signature		Capacity
* William A. Wulfsohn		Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and Director (Principal Executive Officer)
* J. Kevin Willis		Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer and Director (Principal Financial Officer)
* J. William Heitman		Vice President and Controller (Principal Accounting Officer)
/s/ Peter J. Ganz Peter J. Ganz		Director

 

*By:		/s/ Peter J. Ganz
		Peter J. Ganz Attorney-in-Fact

Date: July 11, 2016

 

II-4

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Table of Contents

Index to Exhibits

 

Exhibit Number		Document
2.1*		Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of May 31, 2016, by and among Ashland Inc., Ashland Global Holdings Inc. and Ashland Merger Sub Corp. (included as Annex I to the proxy statement/prospectus that is part of this Registration Statement)
3.1**		Form of Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Ashland Global Holdings Inc. (included as Annex II to the proxy statement/prospectus that is part of this Registration Statement)
3.2**		Form of Amended and Restated By-laws of Ashland Global Holdings Inc. (included as Annex III to the proxy statement/prospectus that is part of this Registration Statement)
5.1**		Opinion of Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP as to legality of the securities being issued
8.1**		Opinion of Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP as to certain U.S. federal income tax matters
23.1*		Consent of Ernst & Young LLP
23.2*		Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
23.3*		Consent of Hamilton, Rabinovitz & Associates, Inc.
23.4**		Consent of Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1)
23.5**		Consent of Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP (included in Exhibit 8.1)
24.1†		Power of Attorney
99.1†		Form of Proxy Card
99.2†		Consents of persons named as about to become a director of the registrant

 

  *       Filed herewith.

  **     To be filed by amendment.

  †       Previously filed.

 

II-5

Exhibit 23.1

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

We consent to the reference to our firm under the caption “Experts” in Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement (Form S-4 No. 333-211719) and related Proxy Statement/Prospectus of Ashland Global Holdings Inc. for the registration of shares of its common stock and to the incorporation by reference therein of our reports dated November 20, 2015, with respect to the consolidated financial statements of Ashland Inc. and Consolidated Subsidiaries, and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting of Ashland Inc. and Consolidated Subsidiaries, included in Ashland Inc.’s Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended September 30, 2015, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

/s/ Ernst & Young LLP

Cincinnati, Ohio

July 11, 2016

Exhibit 23.2

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-4 (No. 333-211719) of Ashland Global Holdings Inc. of our report dated November 24, 2014 relating to the consolidated financial statements of Ashland Inc. and its subsidiaries as of September 30, 2014 and for each of the two years in the period ended September 30, 2014, which appears in Ashland Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2015. We also consent to the reference to us under the heading “Experts” in such Registration Statement.

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Cincinnati, OH

July 11, 2016

Exhibit 23.3

CONSENT OF HAMILTON, RABINOVITZ & ASSOCIATES, INC.

We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in Ashland Global Holdings Inc.’s Amendment No. 1 to its Registration Statement on Form S-4 (as amended, the “Registration Statement”) of our being named in the Ashland Inc. Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2015, in the form and context in which we are named. We also consent to the reference to us under the heading “Experts” in such Registration Statement. We do not authorize or cause the filing of such Registration Statement and do not make or purport to make any statement other than as reflected in the Registration Statement.

/s/ Francine F. Rabinovitz                

Hamilton, Rabinovitz & Associates, Inc.

By: Francine F. Rabinovitz

Date: July 11, 2016

ASHLAND GLOBAL HOLDINGS INC.

50 E. RiverCenter Boulevard

P.O. Box 391

Covington, KY 41012

July 11, 2016

Securities and Exchange Commission

Division of Corporation Finance

100 F Street, N.E.

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

Attention:

Pamela Long

cc:	Craig Slivka

cc:	Terence O’Brien

cc:	Tracie Mariner

cc:	David Korvin

 

Re:

Ashland Global Holdings Inc.

Registration Statement on Form S-4

Filed May 31, 2016

File No. 333-211719

Dear Ms. Long:

We refer to the letter dated June 27, 2016 (the “Comment Letter”) from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC” or the “Commission”) to Ashland Global Holdings Inc., a corporation organized and existing under the laws of Delaware (including, where applicable, its subsidiaries, “Ashland”, the “Company”, “our” or “we”), setting forth the comments of the staff of the SEC (the “Staff”) with respect to Ashland’s Registration Statement on Form S-4, Commission File No. 333-211719, filed on May 31, 2016 (the “Registration Statement”), in connection with Ashland’s proposed reorganization (the “Reorganization”).

Concurrently with this response letter, Ashland is electronically transmitting Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement (the “Registration Statement Amendment”). The Registration Statement Amendment includes revisions made in response to the comments of the Staff in the Comment Letter. We have enclosed for your convenience six clean copies of the Registration Statement Amendment and six copies of the Registration Statement Amendment that have been marked to show changes made to the Registration Statement.

The numbered paragraphs and headings below correspond to the paragraphs and headings set forth in the Comment Letter. Each of the Staff’s comments is set forth in bold, followed by Ashland’s response to each comment. The page numbers in the responses refer to pages in the Registration Statement Amendment.

 

1.

We note the disclosure that the discussion of the material U.S. federal income tax consequences contained in this registration statement is intended to provide only a general summary. Because the discussion is an opinion of counsel, please remove the disclosure that it is a “intended to provide only a general summary.”

Response: The Staff’s comment is noted. In response to the Staff’s comment, we have removed the language stating that the disclosure is “intended to provide only a general summary”.

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2.

Please quantify to the extent possible, the “significant costs and expenses” you expect to incur in the process of completing the initial phase of the separation and the final separation.

Response: The Staff’s comment is noted. In response to the Staff’s comment, the disclosure on page 16 of the Registration Statement Amendment has been supplemented to state an expected range of costs and expenses to be incurred in the process of completing the initial phase of the separation and the final separation. These costs and expenses include tax separation costs, advisory fees, financing fees, severance payments and other transaction costs.

 

3.

We note you have incorporated your interim financial statements for the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2016, filed on April 26, 2016, by reference in your filing. In this regard, we have the following comments on your Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2016:

 

•

Please expand your disclosures in your Management’s Discussion and Analysis to provide substantive justification specific to your circumstances as to why each non-GAAP measure presented is useful to investors in accordance with Item 10(e)(1)(i)(c) of Regulation S-K.

 

•

We note your disclosure of “Losses on pension and other postretirement plan remeasurements” which are excluded in your reconciliation of net income to Adjusted EBITDA on pages 41 and 42. Please expand your disclosure to quantify the amounts of actual and expected asset returns and the amount of net periodic pension cost that is included in the non-GAAP measure.

Response: We have noted your request for expanded disclosures within our Management’s Discussion and Analysis (MD&A) to provide substantive justification as to why each non-GAAP measure presented is useful to investors in accordance with Item 10(e)(1)(i)(c). Ashland has disclosed within MD&A in Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2016, under the “Use of non-GAAP measures” section on page 38, that “Management believes the use of non-GAAP measures on a consolidated and reportable segment basis assists investors in understanding the ongoing operating performance by presenting comparable financial results between periods. The non-GAAP information provided is used by Ashland management and may not be determined in a manner consistent with the methodologies used by other companies.” In addition, Ashland goes on further to say the following, “Management believes Adjusted EBITDA, which includes the expected return on pension plan assets and excludes both the actual return on pension plan assets and the impact of actuarial gains and losses, provides investors with a meaningful supplemental presentation of Ashland’s operating performance.”

In future filings, we will expand our disclosures within this section of the MD&A to specifically emphasize our discussion around the usefulness of certain non-GAAP measures for investors by reorganizing the non-GAAP discussion so that the disclosure is more clearly defined and prominent. The following is an example of our revised disclosure that we expect to include in Ashland’s Form 10-Q for the interim period ended June 30, 2016.

Ashland has included within this document the following non-GAAP measures, on both a consolidated and reportable segment basis, which are not defined within U.S. GAAP and do not purport to be alternatives to net income or cash flows from operating activities as a measure of operating performance or cash flows:

 

•

EBITDA - net income, plus income tax expense (benefit), net interest and other financing expenses, and depreciation and amortization.

•

Adjusted EBITDA - EBITDA adjusted for discontinued operations, net gain (loss) on acquisitions and divestitures, other income and (expense) and key items (including the remeasurement gains and losses related to pension and other postretirement plans).

•

Adjusted EBITDA margin - Adjusted EBITDA, which can include pro forma adjustments, divided by sales.

•

Free cash flow - operating cash flows less capital expenditures and certain other adjustments as applicable.

Management believes the use of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA measures on a consolidated and reportable segment basis assists investors in understanding the ongoing operating performance by presenting comparable financial results between periods. Ashland believes that by removing the

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impact of depreciation and amortization and excluding certain non-cash charges, amounts spent on interest and taxes and certain other charges that are highly variable from year to year, EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA provide Ashland’s investors with performance measures that reflect the impact to operations from trends in changes in sales, margin and operating expenses, providing a perspective not immediately apparent from net income and operating income. The adjustments Ashland makes to derive the non-GAAP measures of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA exclude items which may cause short-term fluctuations in net income and operating income and which Ashland does not consider to be the fundamental attributes or primary drivers of its business. EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA provide disclosure on the same basis as that used by Ashland’s management to evaluate financial performance on a consolidated and reportable segment basis and provide consistency in our financial reporting, facilitate internal and external comparisons of Ashland’s historical operating performance and its business units and provide continuity to investors for comparability purposes.

The free cash flow metric enables Ashland to provide a better indication of the ongoing cash being generated that is ultimately available for both debt and equity holders as well as other investment opportunities. Unlike cash flow provided by operating activities, free cash flow includes the impact of capital expenditures from continuing operations, providing a more complete picture of cash generation. Free cash flow has certain limitations, including that it does not reflect adjustment for certain non-discretionary cash flows such as mandatory debt repayments. The amount of mandatory versus discretionary expenditures can vary significantly between periods.

These non-GAAP measures should be considered supplemental in nature and should not be construed as more significant than comparable measures defined by U.S. GAAP. Limitations associated with the use of these non-GAAP measures include that these measures do not present all of the amounts associated with our results as determined in accordance with U.S. GAAP. The non-GAAP measures provided are used by Ashland management and may not be determined in a manner consistent with the methodologies used by other companies. EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA provide a supplemental presentation of Ashland’s operating performance on a consolidated and reportable segment basis. Adjusted EBITDA generally includes adjustments for items that impact comparability between periods. In addition, certain financial covenants related to Ashland’s 2015 Senior Credit Agreement are based on similar non-GAAP measures and are defined further in the sections that reference this metric.

In accordance with U.S. GAAP, Ashland recognizes actuarial gains and losses for defined benefit pension and other postretirement benefit plans annually in the fourth quarter of each fiscal year and whenever a plan is determined to qualify for a remeasurement during a fiscal year. Actuarial gains and losses occur when actual experience differs from the estimates used to allocate the change in value of pension and other postretirement benefit plans to expense throughout the year or when assumptions change, as they may each year. Significant factors that can contribute to the recognition of actuarial gains and losses include changes in discount rates used to remeasure pension and other postretirement obligations on an annual basis or upon a qualifying remeasurement, differences between actual and expected returns on plan assets and other changes in actuarial assumptions, for example the life expectancy of plan participants. Management believes Adjusted EBITDA, which includes the expected return on pension plan assets yet excludes both the actual return on pension plan assets and the impact of actuarial gains and losses, provides investors with a meaningful supplemental presentation of Ashland’s operating performance (see the Adjusted EBITDA reconciliation table on page [    ] and [    ] for additional details on exact amounts included within this non-GAAP measure related to pension and other postretirement plans.) Management believes these actuarial gains and losses are primarily financing activities that are more reflective of changes in current conditions in global financial markets (and in particular interest rates) that are not directly related to the underlying business. For further information on the actuarial assumptions and plan assets referenced above, see the MD&A - Critical Accounting Policies – Employee benefit obligations and Note M of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements within the 2015 Form 10-K.

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Additionally, we have noted your comment on the expansion of disclosure related to the amount of net periodic pension cost included in Adjusted EBITDA. There are generally two significant components to the pension and other postretirement benefit costs recognized in Ashland’s Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income for a given year or period:

 

•

Pension and other postretirement costs recorded during the year – Ashland records the following elements of pension and other postretirement costs throughout the year based on actuarial assumptions which are established at the beginning of a given year, or after a qualifying interim remeasurement: service cost, interest cost, amortization of prior service cost (credit) and expected return on plan assets (applicable only to pension cost, as other postretirement benefit plans are unfunded).

 

•

Remeasurement gains and losses – Ashland immediately recognizes actuarial gains and losses in conjunction with the annual remeasurement or a qualifying interim remeasurement of pension and other postretirement benefits.

Within the Results of Operations – Consolidated Review “Use of non-GAAP measures” on page 39 of the Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2016, we disclose that Adjusted EBITDA includes the expected return on pension plan assets and excludes both the actual return on pension plan assets and the impact of actuarial gains and losses. In future filings, we will expand our disclosures to quantify the amount of net periodic pension and other postretirement cost included in Adjusted EBITDA. The following is the example of the enhanced disclosure to be presented within the MD&A under the Results of Operations – Consolidated Review, Adjusted EBITDA reconciliation tables, as footnote (b) to the Adjusted EBITDA reconciliation:

Quarterly table:

(b) Includes $14 million and $8 million during the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively, of net periodic pension and other postretirement income recognized ratably through the fiscal year. This income is comprised of service cost, interest cost, expected return on plan assets, and amortization of prior service credit and is disclosed in further detail in Note K of the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

Year to date table:

(b) Includes $27 million and $13 million during the six months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively, of net periodic pension and other postretirement income recognized ratably through the fiscal year. This income is comprised of service cost, interest cost, expected return on plan assets, and amortization of prior service credit and is disclosed in further detail in Note K of the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

4.

We note that the tax opinion states that Ashland shareholders should not recognize any gain or loss in the Reorganization and that the aggregate tax basis of the Ashland Global common stock received in the Reorganization by an Ashland shareholder should be the same as such shareholder’s aggregate tax basis in the Ashland common stock surrendered in exchange. Please explain why counsel cannot give a “will” opinion and describe the degree of uncertainty in the opinion and provide risk factor and/or other appropriate disclosure setting forth the risks of uncertain tax treatment to investors.

Response: The Staff’s comment is noted. In response to the Staff’s comment, we have revised our disclosure to indicate that counsel intends to provide a “will” opinion with respect to the tax consequences described in the two bullet points under “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences—U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences to Ashland Shareholders”.

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5.

With regard to the presentation of offering proceeds, please provide us details of your expectations for a firm commitment from your underwriters. Tell us how you intend to present pro forma information necessary to reflect varying assumptions about the size of the offering and application of proceeds. Refer to Rule 11-02(b) of Regulation S-X.

Response: The Staff’s comment is noted. In response to the first part of the Staff’s comment, our expectation is that the IPO will be consummated pursuant to a firm commitment underwriting. As part of the separation process, Ashland and Valvoline have been working with a financial advisor for over 12 months. In the 1-2 months prior to filing the registration statement on Form S-1 with respect to the IPO on May 31, 2016, Ashland and Valvoline identified a group of investment banks to act as lead underwriters in the IPO, including our financial advisor. Valvoline and the underwriters worked together closely leading up to the filing of the IPO registration statement to prepare the offering document, conduct due diligence and negotiate forms of certain key underwriting documents. At the time the IPO registration statement was filed with the Commission on May 31, 2016, the three active lead underwriters consented to have their names appear on the cover page of the IPO prospectus. These lead underwriters continue to assist Valvoline with revisions to the offering document and conduct customary due diligence, and are actively engaged in preparing a presentation to be used during the road show phase of the offering. Prior to the presentation of the anticipated offering proceeds in the pro forma information in the registration statement, we expect to consult with the lead underwriters extensively so that this assumption is consistent with the price range and other assumptions for the offering that will be included in the IPO registration statement in advance of the launch of the road show. Consistent with customary practices, at the time of pricing the offering, Valvoline and the underwriters will enter into an underwriting agreement for the sale of Valvoline common stock to the underwriters, subject to customary limited conditions.

In response to the second part of the Staff’s comment, we acknowledge that the size of the offering and application of proceeds may vary from the size of the offering and application of proceeds presented in the Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Financial Information beginning on page 52 of the Registration Statement Amendment and outlined in more detail in Note (A) thereto on page 58, which we refer to as our “base case” scenario. To illustrate to investors how the base case financial information with respect to Ashland Global and Valvoline would be impacted by these variations, we have included under “Additional Pro Forma Information” on page 61 of the Registration Statement Amendment selected pro forma financial information for a separation without an initial public offering by means of a pro rata distribution of 100% of the common stock of Valvoline to Ashland Global’s shareholders. We believe that the presentation of this alternative structure will illustrate to our shareholders how the base case capitalization of Ashland Global and Valvoline could be impacted by alterations in the separation structure. We believe that the presentation of the unaudited pro forma financial information and accompanying notes in the Registration Statement Amendment conforms in all material respects with Rule 11-02(b) of Regulation S-X.

 

6.

Please explain your basis for reflecting the IPO of Valvoline in the pro forma balance sheet, considering the spin-off of Valvoline will occur before the intended offering and the offering is not a condition to completion of the reorganization.

Response: The staff’s comment is noted. Rule 11-01(a) of Regulation S-X requires a registrant to furnish pro forma financial information when disposition of a significant portion of a business either by sale, abandonment or distribution to shareholders by means of a spin-off, split-up or split-off has occurred or is probable. Although neither the IPO nor the spin-off are conditioned on the Reorganization, we respectfully submit that they are probable. In September 2015, Ashland publicly announced its plan to separate its Valvoline business from its chemicals businesses, which businesses consist of its specialty ingredients and performance materials segments. Subsequently, Ashland began preliminary steps to reorganize its assets and liabilities so that it could separate its Valvoline business. In April 2016, Ashland publicly announced that it would pursue a two-step separation. To complete the initial phase of the separation, Ashland Global would cause Valvoline to do an initial public offering of up to 20% of its common stock. The separation would be followed by Ashland Global distributing, on a pro rata basis, the remaining common stock of Valvoline to Ashland Global’s shareholders upon expiration of the IPO lock-up (typically six months after completion of the IPO). In May 2016, Ashland Global and Valvoline filed registration statements with the Commission in an additional significant step toward completing the separation. Based on this public and demonstrable commitment to completing the separation and our current expectations, we believe that the

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separation is probable within the meaning of Rule 11-01(a) of Regulation S-X and, subject to market conditions, the two step process is the most likely means by which it will be completed. Accordingly, to present pro forma financial information giving effect to the spin-off without giving effect to the IPO is inconsistent with our well-founded expectations. Moreover, we believe it will be helpful for investors to understand how the IPO proceeds will be applied, as well as for investors to understand how Ashland Global will be comprised in the interim period between the IPO and the spin-off. Conversely, if we are not permitted to present the offering in the pro forma financial information, the circumstances of the larger transaction could lead to investor confusion insofar as, within a few short weeks of the mailing of the proxy statement for the Reorganization, the publicly available IPO registration statement will be updated to contain a comparable set of pro forma information that reflects the proceeds of the IPO. Investors will be better served if the Valvoline offering, including the anticipated application of the proceeds thereof, can be reflected in the Reorganization proxy statement because the publicly available information on the transactions as a whole included in the Registration Statement and the IPO registration statement will be aligned and will reflect our best assumptions about the transactions.

 

7.

We note that you have not incorporated by reference the Forms 8-K filed since the end of the fiscal year covered by Ashland’s 2015 Form 10-K. Please see Item 11(a)(2) of Form S-4, and revise.

Response: The Staff’s comment is noted. In response to the Staff’s comment we have included a bulleted statement on page 71 that incorporates by reference the Company’s Current Reports filed on Form 8-K since the end of the fiscal year covered by our 2015 Form 10-K.

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We hope that these responses adequately address the Staff’s comments. If the Staff has any questions concerning this response letter or requires further information, please do not hesitate to contact our outside counsel, Thomas E. Dunn, of Cravath, Swaine and Moore LLP, at (212) 474-1108.

 

 

cc:	Michael S. Roe, Ashland

Thomas E. Dunn, Cravath