UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

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FORM 8-K

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CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of The Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): June 14, 2017

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ASHLAND GLOBAL HOLDINGS INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

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50 E. RiverCenter Boulevard

Covington, Kentucky 41011

(Address of principal executive offices)

(859) 815-3333

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

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

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

 

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On June 14, 2017, Ashland LLC, a Kentucky limited liability company (the “Company”) and an indirect subsidiary of Ashland Global Holdings Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Ashland”), entered into Amendment No. 2 (the “Amendment”) to the Credit Agreement, dated as of May 17, 2017 (the “Credit Agreement”), among the Company, as Borrower, The Bank of Nova Scotia, as Administrative Agent, each lender and letter of credit issuer party thereto and the other agents party thereto. The Amendment provides for a new $600 million seven-year senior secured term loan B facility (the “TLB Facility”) under the Credit Agreement.

In connection with the TLB Facility, Ashland issued a notice of redemption in respect of all of its outstanding 3.875% Senior Notes due 2018, of which approximately $659 million are currently outstanding. The redemption is scheduled to occur on June 26, 2017. As set forth in the redemption notice, Ashland's obligation to redeem the notes is subject to the condition that Ashland receives not less than $600 million in gross proceeds from borrowings under the TLB Facility, which condition has now been satisfied. Proceeds of borrowings under the TLB Facility, together with cash on hand, will be used to pay for the redemption.

At the Company’s option, loans issued under the TLB Facility will bear interest at either (x) LIBOR plus 2.00% per annum or (y) an alternate base rate plus 1.00% per annum. The TLB Facility may be prepaid at any time, subject to a prepayment premium if the prepayment is made on or prior to December 14, 2017 in connection with a Repricing Transaction (as defined in the Credit Agreement). The TLB Facility will amortize at a rate of 1.00% per annum (payable in equal quarterly installments) with the outstanding balance to be paid on May 17, 2024.

Except as otherwise provided in the Credit Agreement and subject to the following sentence, the guarantees, security provisions, events of default and covenants of the TLB Facility are substantially the same as those of the term loan A facilities and the Revolving Credit Facility under the Credit Agreement. The TLB Facility does not have the benefit of the financial maintenance covenants set forth in the Credit Agreement.

The foregoing summary of the Amendment does not purport to be complete and is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to the Amendment, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 10.1 hereto and incorporated herein by reference.

The Credit Agreement has been previously filed with, and is described in, Ashland’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated May 18, 2017.

The information set forth under “Item 1.01. Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement” is incorporated herein by reference.

(d) Exhibits.  The following Exhibit is filed as part of this Report on Form 8-K.

 

 

 

Forward-Looking Statements

This report contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Ashland has 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. These forward-looking statements include statements relating to Ashland’s plan to redeem its 3.875% Senior Notes due 2018. In addition, Ashland may from time to time make forward-looking statements in its annual reports, quarterly reports and other filings with the SEC, news releases and other written and oral communications. These forward-looking statements are based on Ashland’s expectations and assumptions, as of the date such statements are made, regarding Ashland’s future operating performance and financial condition. Ashland’s 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: Ashland’s substantial indebtedness (including the possibility that such indebtedness and related restrictive covenants may adversely affect Ashland’s future cash flows, results of operations, financial condition and its ability to repay debt); the impact of acquisitions and/or divestitures Ashland has made or may make, including the acquisition of Pharmachem Laboratories, Inc. and its subsidiaries (“Pharmachem”) (including the possibility that Ashland may not realize the anticipated benefits of such transactions, such as the expected sales and growth opportunities, synergies and cost savings and the ability of Ashland to integrate the businesses of Pharmachem successfully and efficiently with Ashland’s businesses); and 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 Ashland that are described in Ashland’s most recent Form 10-K (including Item 1A Risk Factors) filed with the SEC, which is available on Ashland’s website at http://investor.ashland.com or on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov. Ashland believes its expectations and assumptions are reasonable, but there can be no assurance that the expectations reflected herein will be achieved. Unless legally required, Ashland undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements made in this report whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Information on Ashland’s website is not incorporated into or a part of this report.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

 

	ASHLAND GLOBAL HOLDINGS INC.
	(Registrant)
Date:  June 14, 2017	By:	/s/ Peter J. Ganz
		Name:  Peter J. Ganz
		Title:    Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit Number		Description of Exhibit
10.1		Amendment No. 2 dated as of June 14, 2017, among Ashland LLC, as Borrower (the “Borrower”), certain subsidiaries of the Borrower, The Bank of Nova Scotia, as Administrative Agent (the “Administrative Agent”), and Citibank, N.A., as the Term B Lender, to the Credit Agreement dated as of May 17, 2017, among the Company, the Administrative Agent, each lender and letter of credit issuer party thereto and the other agents party thereto.

AMENDMENT NO. 2, dated as of June 14, 2017 (this “Agreement”), to the Credit Agreement dated as of May 17, 2017, among Ashland LLC, a Kentucky limited liability company (the “Borrower”), the Lenders from time to time party thereto, The Bank of Nova Scotia, as Administrative Agent (in such capacity, the “Administrative Agent”), Swing Line Lender and an L/C Issuer, each other L/C Issuer from time to time party thereto and Citibank, N.A., as Syndication Agent, and the various other parties thereto (as amended by Amendment No. 1 to the Credit Agreement, dated as of May 19, 2017, and as further amended, restated, modified and supplemented from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”).  Capitalized terms used in this Agreement but not defined herein shall have the meaning assigned to such terms in the Credit Agreement.

W I T N E S S E T H:

WHEREAS, the Borrower notified the Administrative Agent that it is requesting an Incremental Term Loan Facility in the form of Term B Loans in an aggregate amount of $600,000,000 pursuant to Section 2.14(e)(iii)(C) of the Credit Agreement;

WHEREAS, pursuant to Sections 2.01(c) and 2.14(e)(iii)(C) of the Credit Agreement, the Borrower may incur Incremental Term Commitments under the Credit Agreement by entering into one or more Incremental Amendments (including this Agreement) with the Administrative Agent and Persons who agree to become Term B Lenders and to provide the Term B Commitments, in each case subject to the terms and conditions set forth in Section 2.14 of the Credit Agreement;

WHEREAS, each Term B Lender party hereto has indicated its willingness to provide (on a several and not joint basis), subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein and in the Credit Agreement, a Term B Commitment, as of the date hereof, in the amount set forth opposite such Term B Lender’s name on Schedule 1 hereto; and

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and for other good and valuable consideration (the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged), the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

SECTION 1.    Incremental Amendment.  Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein and pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.14 of the Credit Agreement, each Term B Lender hereby agrees, on a several and not joint basis, to extend the Term B Commitments in the amount set forth opposite such Term B Lender’s name on Schedule 1 hereto which shall take the form of Term B Loans under a Term B Facility under the Credit Agreement on the date hereof.  The aggregate amount of the Term B Commitments shall be $600,000,000, all of which will be drawn on the Second Amendment Effective Date (as defined below). The Term B Commitments shall terminate on the Second Amendment Effective Date following the funding to the Borrower in full in immediately available funds of the Term B Loans. After giving effect to the Term B Commitments under this Agreement, no additional amount of Term B Loans shall be available under Section 2.14(e)(iii)(C) of the Credit Agreement.

SECTION 2.    Amendments to the Credit Agreement.  Upon the Second Amendment Effective Date (as defined below), each of the parties hereto hereby agrees as follows:

(a)    Term B Loans.

 

 

 

 (i)    Except as expressly contemplated in the Credit Agreement, the Term B Loans will rank pari passu in right of payment and of security with the Loans outstanding under the Credit Agreement.

 (ii)    The Term B Loans will be issued at a price equal to 100% of the aggregate principal amount thereof.

 (iii)    The Second Amendment Effective Date shall be deemed the “Term B Funding Date” under the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents.

 (iv)    Each Term B Lender shall be deemed a “Term B Lender”, a “Term Lender” and a “Lender” under the Credit Agreement, and shall be bound by all obligations of a Term B Lender, a Term Lender and a Lender under the Credit Agreement.

 (v)    Each Term B Commitment under this Agreement shall be deemed for all purposes a “Term B Commitment”, a “Term Commitment” and a “Commitment” under the Credit Agreement, and each Loan made thereunder shall be deemed for all purposes a “Term B Loan” , a “Term Loan” and a “Loan” under the Credit Agreement.

 (vi)    This Agreement shall be deemed an “Incremental Amendment” under Section 2.14(d) of the Credit Agreement and be deemed a “Loan Document” for all purposes under the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents.

(b)    Maturity Date. The Term B Facility will mature on the date that is seven years after the Closing Date (the “Term B Maturity Date”); provided, however, that, if such date is not a Business Day, the Term B Maturity Date shall be the next preceding Business Day.

(c)    Amortization.  For purposes of Section 2.07(c) of the Credit Agreement, the Borrower shall repay to the Term B Lenders the aggregate principal amount of all Term B Loans outstanding on the following dates in the respective amounts set forth opposite such dates (which amounts shall be reduced as a result of the application of prepayments in accordance with the order of priority set forth in Section 2.05 of the Credit Agreement):

Date	Amount
September 30, 2017	$1,500,000
December 31, 2017	$1,500,000
March 31, 2018	$1,500,000
June 30, 2018	$1,500,000
September 30, 2018	$1,500,000
December 31, 2018	$1,500,000
March 31, 2019	$1,500,000
June 30, 2019	$1,500,000
September 30, 2019	$1,500,000
December 31, 2019	$1,500,000
March 31, 2020	$1,500,000
June 30, 2020	$1,500,000
September 30, 2020	$1,500,000
December 31, 2020	$1,500,000

Date	Amount
March 31, 2021	$1,500,000
June 30, 2021	$1,500,000
September 30, 2021	$1,500,000
December 31, 2021	$1,500,000
March 31, 2022	$1,500,000
June 30, 2022	$1,500,000
September 30, 2022	$1,500,000
December 31, 2022	$1,500,000
March 31, 2023	$1,500,000
June 30, 2023	$1,500,000
September 30, 2023	$1,500,000
December 31, 2023	$1,500,000
March 31, 2024	$1,500,000
Term B Maturity Date	$559,500,000

provided, however, that the final principal repayment installment of the Term B Loans shall be repaid on the Term B Maturity Date and in any event shall be in an amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of all Term B Loans outstanding on such date.

(d)    Interest; Interest Periods.

 (i)    Interest.  The Applicable Rate for the Term B Loans shall be (x) 1.00% per annum, in the case of any Term B Loan that is a Base Rate Loan and (y) 2.00% per annum, in the case of any Term B Loan that is a Eurodollar Rate Loan.

 (ii)    Interest Periods.  Pursuant to Section 2.02(e) of the Credit Agreement, after giving effect to all Term B Borrowings, all conversions of Term B Loans from one Type to the other, and all continuations of Term B Loans as the same Type, there shall not be more than six Interest Periods in effect in respect of the Term B Facility.  On the Second Amendment Effective Date, the Term B Loans shall initially be incurred in one or more Borrowings, with each Borrowing subject to the applicable Interest Period indicated in the Committed Loan Notice delivered pursuant to Section 3(g) hereof. The Administrative Agent shall record the Term B Loans in the Register, together with the principal amounts and stated interest of the Term B Loans owing to the Term B Lenders and their subsequent permitted assignees.

(e)    Mandatory and Voluntary Prepayments.

 (i)    Mandatory Prepayments. Except as expressly provided in Section 2.05(b)(iii) of the Credit Agreement, the Term B Loans shall be entitled to share in mandatory prepayments of Term Loans under Section 2.05(b) of the Credit Agreement on a pro rata basis with the Term Loans existing under the Credit Agreement immediately prior to the Second Amendment Effective Date (the “Existing Term Loans”).  Mandatory prepayments shall be applied to scheduled installments of principal of Term Loans (including the Term B Loans) as directed by the Borrower.

 (ii)    Voluntary Prepayments.

(x)    The Term B Loans shall be entitled to the same provisions for voluntary prepayments as the Existing Term Loans, as set forth in Section 2.05(a) of the Credit Agreement, and each prepayment of the outstanding Term Loans (including the Term B Loans) pursuant to Section 2.05(a)(i) of the Credit Agreement shall be applied (x) to one or more of the Term A-1 Facility, the Term A-2 Facility and the Term B Facility as the Borrower directs and (y) to the then remaining principal repayment installments of the Term Facilities as the Borrower directs, and each prepayment of Term Loans shall be paid to the Lenders in accordance with their respective Applicable Percentages in respect of each of the relevant Facilities.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Schedule 1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Schedule 1 - 1