Contract
EXHIBIT 10.1
AMENDMENT, dated as of January 13, 2023 (this “Amendment”), between ASHLAND INC. (f/k/a ASHLAND GLOBAL HOLDINGS INC.), Delaware corporation (“Ashland Global”), VALVOLINE INC., (a Kentucky corporation) (“Valvoline”). Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings given them in the Tax Matters Agreement referred to below.
WHEREAS Ashland Global and Valvoline are parties to that certain Tax Matters Agreement, dated as of September 22, 2016 (the “Tax Matters Agreement”);
WHEREAS Ashland Global and Valvoline wish to amend the terms of the Tax Matters Agreement as of the date of this Amendment;
WHEREAS capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in the Tax Matters Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements contained herein, Ashland Global and Valvoline hereby agree as follows:
2
“Amendments. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, each Company shall not (and shall not cause its Affiliates to) file, amend, withdraw, revoke or otherwise alter any Tax Return if doing so would reasonably be expected to (a) obligate the other Company to make an indemnity payment under Article IV, (b) cause the other Company or any of its Affiliates to incur any taxes for which it is not indemnified under this Agreement, or (c) adversely affect a refund or other Tax Attribute to which the other Company or any of its Affiliates is entitled (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any Legacy Tax Attribute with respect to which Ashland Global is entitled to a payment pursuant to Section 3.02(c)), in each case without the prior written consent of the other Company or as required under applicable Law. Any amendments to a Valvoline post-consolidation Tax Return reflecting an adjustment to a Valvoline Tax Attribute claimed on such Tax Return or an adjustment to taxable income shall not be treated as adversely affecting a Legacy Tax Attribute to the extent such adjustment is unrelated to a Legacy Tax Attribute and, if applicable, such Valvoline Tax Attribute is not of the same type as a Legacy Tax Attribute previously used by Valvoline.”
“(a) Actual Tax Returns.
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4
(b) Hypothetical Tax Return Workpapers. For each taxable year of Valvoline beginning on or after October 1, 2018, Valvoline shall prepare workpapers supporting hypothetical pro forma Tax Returns that are consistent in all material respects to the Tax Returns actually filed by Valvoline for that year (including, where applicable, Valvoline Amended Returns), except that the tax liability reflected on the hypothetical pro forma workpapers shall be determined on a cumulative basis, as if all Legacy Tax Attributes had a balance of zero at the date of Deconsolidation and taking into account available Valvoline Tax Attributes not used on an applicable Valvoline Tax Return to the extent permitted under the Code, Regulations, or applicable state tax Law (“Valvoline Hypothetical Tax Return Workpapers”). Valvoline shall provide to Ashland Global the Valvoline Hypothetical Tax Return Workpapers (including supporting documentation reasonably requested by Ashland) for taxable years beginning on October 1, 2018, October 1, 2019 and October 1, 2020 as soon as reasonably practicable and in any event by March 15, 2023. Valvoline shall provide to Ashland Global the Valvoline Hypothetical Tax Return Workpapers for each taxable year beginning on or after October 1, 2021 within five Business Days of filing the final Valvoline Actual Tax Return for such taxable year. The Valvoline Hypothetical Tax Return Workpapers shall include the supporting documentation prepared by Valvoline in preparation of the Valvoline Hypothetical Tax Return
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Workpapers reasonably requested by Xxxxxxx Global. Ashland Global shall provide Valvoline with any written comments to the Valvoline Hypothetical Tax Return Workpapers within ten Business Days of Ashland Global’s receipt thereof. Except as provided in Section 3.02(e), Valvoline shall revise each Valvoline Hypothetical Return Workpapers to incorporate any reasonable written comments timely provided by Ashland Global to the extent such comments (A) do not affect any position taken on any Valvoline Hypothetical Tax Return Workpapers with respect to its taxable income prior to taking any Legacy Tax Attributes into account, and (B) relate directly to the use of any Legacy Tax Attributes or Tax Attributes of the same type as any Legacy Tax Attributes previously used by Valvoline. For the avoidance of doubt and notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, Valvoline shall credit, rather than deduct, any foreign taxes reflected on a Valvoline Hypothetical Tax Return Workpaper unless otherwise agreed by the Parties in writing.
(c) Tax Reimbursement Amount.
(ii) Unless otherwise agreed to in writing, the “Payment Due Date” for a taxable year shall be (i) if Valvoline is required to file Valvoline Amended Returns for that year pursuant to Section 3.02(a)(i), the 10th Business Day after the date Valvoline has filed all Valvoline Amended Returns required to be filed for that year or (ii) if no Valvoline Amended Return is required to be filed for that year, the later of either (y) September 20th of the calendar year following the end of that taxable year or (z) 10 Business Days following the date the Valvoline Tax Return is actually filed.”
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“(d) Schedule X. Xxxxxxxx J sets forth:
Valvoline shall update Schedule J to reflect actual amounts for the items set forth in Section 3.02(d)(ii) above and shall provide such updated Schedule to Ashland Global as soon as reasonably practicable and in any event by the date that Valvoline files all Valvoline Amended Returns pursuant to Section 3.02(a)(ii). Each taxable year of Valvoline thereafter, Valvoline shall update Schedule J to reflect actual amounts and revised projections, as applicable, for the items set forth in Section 3.02(d)(iii) and shall provide such updated Schedule to Ashland Global as soon as reasonably practicable and in any event no later than five Business Days after the Payment Due Date for such year. Valvoline expects in good faith, as of the date of this Amendment, that: (i) for each Legacy Tax
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Attribute listed on Schedule J, Valvoline will pay Ashland Global with respect to such Legacy Tax Attribute pursuant to Section 3.02(c) in the taxable years when Valvoline estimates that such Legacy Tax Attribute will be reflected on a Tax Return of Valvoline (including a Valvoline Amended Return) under Section 3.02(d)(ii)(B) or 3.02(d)(iii)(B), as applicable; and (ii) Valvoline’s own Tax Attributes will not materially affect the timing of such payments.
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“Specified Tax Proceedings. If in the course of any audit or examination of any Tax Return filed by Valvoline (a “Specified Tax Proceeding”) Valvoline receives notice (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the receipt of any Information Document Request or similar inquiry) that a Taxing Authority is examining the validity of a Legacy Tax Attribute claimed by Valvoline on an Actual Tax Return (including any amendment), then Valvoline shall notify Ashland Global as soon as practicable following the receipt of such notice (but in no event later than ten Business Days following the date of the receipt of such notice or, if earlier, 5 Business Days before the due date for any response to an Information Document Request or similar inquiry ). Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, Ashland Global will control, at its expense, only the portion of any Specified Tax Proceeding that relates to the validity of a Legacy Tax Attribute, and Valvoline will not take any action with respect to such Specified Tax Proceeding without the prior written consent of Ashland Global, including pursuing or foregoing any administrative appeals, proceedings, hearings and conferences with any Taxing Authority with respect thereto or settling such Specified Tax Proceeding. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, this Section 3.03, and not Section 6.01(a), shall govern Specified Tax Proceedings.”
“(e) any penalties, interest or additions to Tax incurred by Valvoline as a result of a Determination that the balance of any Legacy Tax Attribute is less than the balance of such Legacy Tax Attribute as of the date of Deconsolidation, as reflected on Schedule J; and
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(f) all reasonable out-of-pocket costs incurred by Valvoline to defend the validity of any Legacy Tax Attributes during a Specified Tax Proceeding pursuant to Section 3.03 and as reasonably agreed to by Ashland Global.”
“Subject to Section 3.03 and Section 6.01(b)”
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SCHEDULE I
Federal |
FY19-FY21 |
Alabama |
FY19-FY21 |
Alaska |
FY19-FY21 |
Arizona |
FY19 |
Arkansas |
FY19-FY20 |
Colorado |
FY19-FY20 |
Connecticut |
FY19-FY21 |
Delaware |
FY19-FY21 |
Florida |
FY19 |
Georgia |
FY19-FY21 |
Idaho |
FY19 |
Illinois |
FY19-FY21 |
Indiana |
FY19-FY20 |
Iowa |
FY19-FY21 |
Kansas |
FY19-FY20 |
Kentucky |
FY19-FY21 |
Louisiana |
FY19-FY21 |
Maryland |
FY19-FY21 |
Massachusetts |
FY19 |
Michigan |
FY19 |
Mississippi |
FY19-FY21 |
Missouri |
FY19-FY21 |
Nebraska |
FY19-FY21 |
New Mexico |
FY19-FY21 |
New York |
FY19-FY21 |
North Carolina |
FY19-FY21 |
North Dakota |
FY19-FY21 |
Oklahoma |
FY19-FY21 |
Pennsylvania |
FY19-FY21 |
Rhode Island |
FY19-FY20 |
South Carolina |
FY19-FY21 |
Virginia |
FY19-FY21 |
West Virginia |
FY19-FY21 |
Wisconsin |
FY19-FY21 |
Note: To the extent there are open, ongoing audits/notices in any of the above states, will work with auditor to include adjustments in that process if possible; otherwise amended returns will be filed.
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SCHEDULE J
LTA Description
|
5/12/2017 |
|
Tax Year Ending
9/30/2018 |
|
|
Tax Year Ending
9/30/2019 |
|
|
Tax Year Ending
9/30/2020 |
|
|
Tax Year Ending 9/30/2021 |
|
|||
Estimated unused balance at beginning |
Estimated amount to be reflected on Tax Returns |
Estimated amount expired |
Estimated ending balance |
Estimated unused balance at beginning of year |
Estimated amount to be reflected on Tax Returns |
Estimated amount expired |
Estimated ending balance |
Estimated unused balance at beginning of year |
Estimated amount to be reflected on Tax Returns |
Estimated amount expired |
Estimated ending balance |
Estimated unused balance at beginning of year |
Estimated amount to be reflected on Tax Returns |
Estimated amount expired |
Estimated ending balance |
|
Federal |
$3,723,479 |
$0 |
$0 |
$3,723,479 |
$3,723,479 |
$0 |
$0 |
$3,723,479 |
$3,723,479 |
$1,870,000 |
$0 |
$1,953,479 |
$1,853,479 |
$1,245,000 |
$0 |
$600,479 |
R&D Credits |
$6,986,677 |
$0 |
$0 |
$6,986,677 |
$6,986,677 |
$4,529,177 |
$0 |
$2,457,5110 |
$2,457,500 |
$2,457,500 |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
AMT Credits |
$932,484 |
$0 |
$0 |
$932,484 |
$932,484 |
$932,484 |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
State NOL |
$24,491,610 |
$0 |
$320,940 |
$24,170,670 |
$24,170,670 |
$1,623,355 |
$10,285 |
$22,537,031 |
$22,537,031 |
$3,041,129 |
$304,809 |
$19,191,092 |
$19,191,092 |
$2,451,881 |
$0 |
$16,739,212 |
State NOL |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
State Credits |
$1,342,249 |
$0 |
$0 |
$1,342,249 |
$1,342,249 |
$0 |
$0 |
$1,342,249 |
$1,342,249 |
$0 |
$0 |
$1,342,249 |
$1,342,249 |
$0 |
$0 |
$1,342,249 |
State Credits Gross VA |
($394,349), |
$0 |
$0 |
($394,349) |
($394,349) |
$0 |
$0 |
($394,349) |
($394,349) |
$0 |
$0 |
($394,349) |
($394,349) |
$0 |
$0 |
($394,349) |
Total |
$37,082,150. |
$0 |
$320,940 |
$36,761,210 |
$36,761,210 |
$7,085,016 |
$10,285 |
$29,665,910 |
$29,665,910 |
$7,368,629 |
$304,809 |
$21,992,471 |
$21,992,471 |
$3,696,881 |
$0 |
$18,295,591 |
Net Federal |
($5,342,297) |
$0 |
($67,397) |
($5,274,900) |
($5,274,900) |
($340,905) |
($2,160) |
($4,931,835) |
($4,931,835) |
($638,637) |
($64,010) |
($4,229,188) |
($4,229,188) |
($514,895) |
$0 |
($3,714,293) |
Net DTA - Indemnity |
$31,739,853 |
$0 |
$253,542 |
$31,486,311 |
$31,486,311 |
$6,744,112 |
$8,125 |
$24,734,074 |
$24,734,074 |
$6,729,992 |
$240,799 |
$17,763,283 |
$17,763,283 |
$3,181,986 |
$0 |
$14,581,297 |
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LTA Description
|
|
Tax Year Ending |
|
|
Tax Year Ending
9/30/2023 |
|
|
Tax Year Ending
9/30/2024 |
|
|
Tax Year Ending 9/30/2025 |
|
||||
Estimated unused balance at beginning |
Estimated amount to be reflected on Tax Returns |
Estimated amount expired |
Estimated ending balance |
Estimated unused balance at beginning of year |
Estimated amount to be reflected on Tax Returns |
Estimated amount expired |
Estimated ending balance |
Estimated unused balance at beginning of year |
Estimated amount to be reflected on Tax Returns |
Estimated amount expired |
Estimated ending balance |
Estimated unused balance at beginning of year |
Estimated amount to be reflected on Tax Returns |
Estimated amount expired |
Estimated ending balance |
|
Federal |
$608,479 |
$608,479 |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
R&D Credits |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
AMT Credits |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
State NOL |
$16,739,212 |
$2,713,502 |
$0 |
$14,025,709 |
$14,025,709 |
$9,220,422 |
$0 |
$4,805.287 |
$4,805,287 |
$319,757 |
$0 |
$4,485,531 |
$4,485,531 |
$319,757 |
$0 |
$4,165,774 |
State NOL |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
State Credits |
$1,342,249 |
$0 |
$0 |
$1,342,249 |
$1,342,249 |
$0 |
$0 |
$1,342,249 |
$1,342,249 |
$0 |
$0 |
$1,342,249 |
$1,342,249 |
$0 |
$0 |
$1,342,249 |
State Credits Gross VA |
($394,349) |
$0 |
$0 |
($394,349) |
($394,349) |
$0 |
$0 |
($394,349) |
($394,349) |
$0 |
$0 |
($394,349) |
($394,349) |
$0 |
$0 |
($394,349) |
Total |
$18,295,591 |
$3,321,981 |
$0 |
$14,973,609 |
$14,973,609 |
$9,220,422 |
$0 |
$5,753,187 |
$5,753,187 |
$319,757 |
$0 |
$5,433,431 |
$5,433,431 |
$319,757 |
$0 |
$5,113,674 |
Net Federal |
($3,714,293) |
($569,835) |
$0 |
($3,144,458) |
($3,144,458) |
($1,936,289) |
$0 |
($1,208,169) |
($1,208,169) |
($67,149) |
$0 |
($1,141,020) |
($1,141,020) |
($67,149) |
$0 |
($1,073,871) |
Net DTA - Indemnity |
$14,581,297 |
$2,752,146 |
$0 |
$11,829,151 |
$11,829,151 |
$7,284,133 |
$0 |
$4.545,018 |
$4,545,018 |
$252,608 |
$0 |
$4,292,410 |
$4,292,410 |
$252,608 |
$0 |
$4,039,802 |
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Amendment to be duly executed by their respective authorized officers as of the date first written above.
By |
|
|
/s/Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx von Xxxxxxxxxx |
|
Name: Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx xxx Xxxxxxxxxx |
|
Title: Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary |
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valvoline INC. |
|
By |
|
|
/s/ Xxxxx X. X’Xxxxxx |
|
Name: Xxxxx X. X’Xxxxxx |
|
Title: General Counsel and Chief Legal Officer |