Brands to be sold include Car
BriteTM and Eagle
OneTM appearance
products, as well as automotive maintenance chemicals such as
PyroilTM
April 8, 2015
COVINGTON, Ky. - Ashland Inc.
(NYSE: ASH) and Niteo Products, LLC, a newly formed affiliate of
Highlander Partners, L.P., today announced they have reached a
definitive agreement under which Niteo will purchase Valvoline's
car-care products assets, including manufacturing and distribution
facilities in Hernando, Mississippi. The transaction is expected to
close within 90 days, subject to certain standard closing
conditions. Financial terms were not disclosed.
Car-care products, which
represented less than four percent of Valvoline's $2.0 billion in
sales for the 12 months ended December 31, 2014, includes the
following brands:
-
Car Brite - Professional automotive detailing
products such as cleaners and degreasers sold through the
Do-It-For-Me (DIFM) channel;
-
Eagle One - Consumer detailing products such as
cleaners and degreasers sold through the Do-It-Yourself (DIY)
channel; and
-
Pyroil - A full line of automotive maintenance
chemicals.
Also included in the sale are
Valvoline-branded and private-label maintenance chemicals sold into
the DIY channel. Approximately 140 employees work in car-care
products, including approximately 120 based at the manufacturing
and distribution facilities in Mississippi.
"The proceeds from the sale of
this non-strategic asset will be reinvested in generating more
rapid, profitable growth within our core lubricants business, such
as through the continued expansion of our Valvoline Instant Oil
Change store base," said Sam Mitchell, Ashland senior vice
president and Valvoline president. "We have a great team working on
the car-care business and I believe that under Highlander's
ownership, it will be better positioned for growth within the
appearance products and chemicals segments."
"Valvoline is a highly profitable
business that continues to perform well, and we intend to continue
investing in higher-return opportunities within its core business,"
said William A. Wulfsohn, Ashland chairman and chief executive
officer.
Jeff L. Hull, Managing Partner of
Highlander and Chairman of Niteo, said, "We have been targeting
investments in the consumer products and specialty chemical sectors
for some time. As an investment group with a long-term time
horizon, we believe the automotive chemicals
segment provides an excellent opportunity for long-term
growth. Additionally, Valvoline has built a
portfolio of exceptional products, strong brands and high quality
manufacturing and distribution
facilities, which will provide the foundation for a
strong buy and build platform."
Newly appointed CEO of Niteo,
Allen D. Schaar, commented, "When we look at the potential of
this business, we are extremely impressed by the strong
distribution partners that market these products.
Additionally, we are excited by the team of
outstanding professionals in the business who have a
real passion for succeeding in the automotive chemicals
industry. We look forward to working with this talented
and energized team, our valued channel partners and
strategic suppliers to build a market leading business."
About Highlander
Partners
Highlander Partners, L.P. is a Dallas-based private investment firm
with over $1 billion of assets under management. The firm focuses
on making investments in businesses in targeted industries in which
the principals of the firm have significant operating and investing
experience, including basic manufacturing, food, chemicals,
building materials, consumer products, and others. Highlander
Partners uses a "buy and build" investment approach, creating value
by helping companies grow organically and through acquisitions. For
more information, visit www.highlander-partners.com.
About Ashland
Ashland Inc. (NYSE: ASH) is a global leader in providing specialty
chemical solutions to customers in a wide range of consumer and
industrial markets, including architectural coatings, automotive,
construction, energy, food and beverage, personal care and
pharmaceutical. Through our three commercial units - Ashland
Specialty Ingredients, Ashland Performance Materials and Valvoline
- we use good chemistry to make great things happen for customers
in more than 100 countries. Visit ashland.com to learn more.
- 0 -
C-ASH
Forward-Looking
Statements
This news release contains forward-looking statements within the
meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section
21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Ashland has identified
some of these forward-looking statements with words such as
"anticipates," "believes," "expects," "estimates," "is
likely," "predicts," "projects," "may," "will," "should" and
"intends" and the negative of these words or other comparable
terminology. In addition, Ashland may from time to time make
forward-looking statements in its annual report, quarterly reports
and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission
(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, the economy and other future events or
circumstances. 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 possibility that Ashland may not realize the
anticipated benefits from such transactions); the global
restructuring program (including the possibility that Ashland may
not achieve the anticipated revenue and earnings growth, cost
reductions, and other expected benefits from the program),
Ashland's ability to generate sufficient cash to finance its stock
repurchase plans, 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 contained in its 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 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 news release whether as a result of new information,
future events or otherwise.
FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION:
Ashland Media Relations:
Gary
Rhodes
+1 (859)
815-3047
glrhodes@ashland.com
Ashland Investor Relations:
Jason
Thompson
+1 (859) 815-4454
jlthompson@ashland.com
This
announcement is distributed by NASDAQ OMX Corporate Solutions on
behalf of NASDAQ OMX Corporate Solutions clients.
The issuer of this announcement warrants that they are solely
responsible for the content, accuracy and originality of the
information contained therein.
Source: Ashland Inc. via Globenewswire
HUG#1909638
Ashland (NYSE:ASH)
Historical Stock Chart
From Mar 2024 to Apr 2024
Ashland (NYSE:ASH)
Historical Stock Chart
From Apr 2023 to Apr 2024