February 26, 2013
COVINGTON, Ky. - Ashland Inc. (NYSE: ASH) announced today that it has closed its previously announced offering of $600 million aggregate principal amount of 3.000% senior notes due 2016, $700 million aggregate principal amount of 3.875% senior notes due 2018, $650 million aggregate principal amount of 4.750% senior notes due 2022 and $350 million aggregate principal amount of 6.875% senior notes due 2043 (collectively, the Notes). The Notes are unsecured, unsubordinated obligations of Ashland.
Ashland used the net proceeds of the Notes offering (after deducting the initial purchasers' discounts and other fees and expenses), together with cash on hand, (i) to prepay $1.21 billion of the term loan A facility under the senior secured credit facility, (ii) to pay off in full the remaining $1.03 billion outstanding under the term loan B facility under the senior secured credit facility and (iii) to pay $52 million to terminate certain interest rate swaps entered into in connection with the senior secured credit facility. The remaining principal amount outstanding under Ashland's term loan A facility is $200 million. In connection with the completion of the Notes offering and the foregoing use of proceeds, Ashland reaffirms its expectation that fiscal 2013 interest expense under U.S. GAAP will be approximately $180 million, excluding expenses associated with the prepayment of debt and the termination of related interest rate swaps.
The Notes were offered in the United States to qualified institutional buyers pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act), and outside the United States pursuant to Regulation S under the Securities Act. The Notes have not been registered under the Securities Act and may not be offered or sold in the United States without registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements.
This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any security, including the Notes. No offer, solicitation, or sale will be made in any jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful.
About Ashland
In more than 100 countries, the people of Ashland Inc. (NYSE: ASH) provide the specialty chemicals, technologies and insights to help customers create new and improved products for today and sustainable solutions for tomorrow. Our chemistry is at work every day in a wide variety of markets and applications, including architectural coatings, automotive, construction, energy, food and beverage, personal care, pharmaceutical, tissue and towel, and water treatment. Visit ashland.com to see the innovations we offer through our four commercial units - Ashland Specialty Ingredients, Ashland Water Technologies, Ashland Performance Materials and Ashland Consumer Markets.
Forward-Looking Statements
This news release 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," "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 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), 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 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 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. Ashland undertakes no obligation to subsequently update any forward-looking statements made in this news release or otherwise except as required by securities or other applicable law.
C-ASH
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:
Media Relations:
Gary Rhodes
+1 (859) 815-3047
glrhodes@ashland.com
Investor Relations:
Jason Thompson
+1 (859) 815-4454
jlthompson@ashland.com
The owner of this announcement warrants that:
(i) the releases contained herein are protected by copyright and other applicable laws; and
(ii) they are solely responsible for the content, accuracy and originality of the
information contained therein.
Source: Ashland Inc. via Thomson Reuters ONE
