-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, KGpzRyl3miznDY8B15wgYkwlGMrDNwUjK+UyFw2qo3jSoG7iUdEmYcd8YUdoO9nU r2gBzoOe9Zvui9jnmcGkug== 0001305014-06-000214.txt : 20060821 0001305014-06-000214.hdr.sgml : 20060821 20060821082114 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0001305014-06-000214 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 8-K PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 3 CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 20060818 ITEM INFORMATION: Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement ITEM INFORMATION: Other Events FILED AS OF DATE: 20060821 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20060821 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: ASHLAND INC. CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001305014 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: WHOLESALE-CHEMICALS & ALLIED PRODUCTS [5160] IRS NUMBER: 200865835 STATE OF INCORPORATION: KY FISCAL YEAR END: 0930 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 8-K SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 001-32532 FILM NUMBER: 061044990 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 50 EAST RIVERCENTER BLVD., 16TH FLOOR CITY: COVINGTON STATE: KY ZIP: 41012 BUSINESS PHONE: 859-815-3483 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 50 EAST RIVERCENTER BLVD., 16TH FLOOR CITY: COVINGTON STATE: KY ZIP: 41012 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: New EXM Inc. DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 20041004 8-K 1 form8k.txt FORM 8-K UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D. C. 20549 -------------- FORM 8-K -------------- CURRENT REPORT Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): August 18, 2006 ASHLAND INC. (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) Kentucky (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) 1-32532 20-0865835 (Commission File Number) (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) 50 E. RiverCenter Boulevard, Covington, Kentucky 41011 (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code) P.O. Box 391, Covington, Kentucky 41012-0391 (Mailing Address) (Zip Code) Registrant's telephone number, including area code (859) 815-3333 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: [ ] Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) [ ] Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) [ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) [ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) -1- Item 1.01. Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement Today, Ashland Inc. ("Ashland") announced that it entered into a stock purchase agreement (the "Agreement") with Oldcastle Materials, Inc. ("Oldcastle") on August 19, 2006, pursuant to which Oldcastle would purchase all issued and outstanding shares of common stock in Ashland's wholly owned subsidiary, Ashland Paving And Construction, Inc. (together with its subsidiaries, "APAC"). Ashland announced the signing of the Agreement in a press release issued on August 21, 2006, which is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated by reference herein. The parties plan to close the transaction by the end of the month. The purchase price for APAC under the Agreement is $1.30 billion, subject to a post-closing adjustment for any changes in specified balance sheet items (primarily working capital accounts) from September 30, 2005, to the closing date. Oldcastle's obligations under the Agreement are guaranteed by Oldcastle's United States parent, Oldcastle, Inc. The Agreement includes customary representations, warranties and covenants. Breaches of such provisions would be subject to mutual indemnification obligations, certain of which would be limited by a deductible and a cap on the amount of liability. Ashland also would agree to indemnify Oldcastle for liabilities with respect to certain environmental matters. A complete copy of the Agreement will be filed with Ashland's Form 10-K for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2006, or after closing but prior to the submission of that periodic report. Oldcastle will be responsible for the payment of any post-closing employment-related liabilities that arise under severance and retention agreements that Ashland has entered into with certain employees, including the Retention and Severance Letter Agreement for APAC President Robert K. Randolph, entered into on August 18, 2006, which is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.1 and provides for severance payments in the event of termination and a retention bonus of $350,000 which would be payable by Ashland in the event the transaction with Oldcastle failed to close. The parties have received clearance for the transaction under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, and their other respective obligations to close the transaction are subject to customary conditions. The Agreement includes customary termination provisions and, in any event, can be terminated if closing does not occur on or prior to October 2, 2006. Item 8.01. Other Items Today, Ashland also announced in the press release referenced in Item 1.01 above that, at the company's September board meeting, Ashland management intends to recommend to its board of directors that substantially all of the net after-tax proceeds from the sale of APAC be used to fund the completion of the existing share repurchase authorization, an additional share repurchase authorization and a special cash dividend. The aggregate share repurchases under the existing authorization and, if approved, the additional share repurchase authorization would be limited to approximately 10 million -2- shares. There can be no assurance that the board of directors will accept management's recommendation. Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits (d) Exhibits 10.1 Retention and Severance Letter Agreement for Robert K. Randolph entered into on August 18, 2006. 99.1 Press Release dated August 21, 2006. Forward-Looking Statements This report 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. These statements include those that refer to Ashland's operating performance and expectations about the APAC transaction, including those statements that refer to the expected benefits of the transaction and management's recommendation of anticipated use of proceeds and expected benefits to Ashland's shareholders. Although Ashland believes its expectations are based on reasonable assumptions, it cannot assure the expectations reflected herein will be achieved. The risks, uncertainties and assumptions include the possibility that Ashland will be unable to fully realize the benefits anticipated from the transaction, the possibility that the transaction may not close, and other risks that are described from time to time in the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) reports of Ashland. Other factors and risks affecting Ashland are contained in Ashland's Form 10-K, as amended, for the fiscal year ended Sept. 30, 2005, filed with the SEC and available on Ashland's Investor Relations website at www.ashland.com/investors or the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. Ashland undertakes no obligation to subsequently update or revise the forward-looking statements made in this news release to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this report. -3- 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 thereunto duly authorized. ASHLAND INC. ------------------------------------------- (Registrant) August 21, 2006 /s/ J. Marvin Quin ------------------------------------------- J. Marvin Quin Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer -4- EXHIBIT INDEX 10.1 Retention and Severance Letter Agreement for Robert K. Randolph entered into on August 18, 2006. 99.1 Press Release dated August 21, 2006. -5- EX-10 2 ex101.txt EXHIBIT 10.1 EXHIBIT 10.1 [GRAPHIC OMITTED] Susan B. Esler Ashland Inc. Vice President, Human Resources 50 E. RiverCenter Blvd. P.O. Box 391 Covington, KY 41012-0391 Tel: 859 815-3543, Fax: 859 815-3693 August 15, 2006 - - Via Federal Express - Robert K. Randolph 130 Millwick Cove Alpharetta, GA 30005 Dear Kirk: Ashland Inc. ("Ashland") considers the services you provide as the President of the APAC group of companies ("APAC") to be essential to its continuing operations. Due to the potential change in ownership of APAC ("the Transaction"), Ashland would like to extend the following offer to you, in order to encourage your continued employment during this transition period. Your acceptance of this offer (the "Letter Agreement") will rescind and replace any other written or verbal agreements in place between you and Ashland and/or APAC concerning your continued employment prior to the close of the Transaction and the severance benefits you are eligible to receive upon a termination of your employment. Subject to the conditions provided in this Letter Agreement, in the event you remain employed through the date on which one of the following events occurs (your "Stay Date"), then Ashland will provide you with a lump sum payment ("Retention Bonus") of $350,000, less applicable withholdings, to be paid within 15 days of your Stay Date. Your Stay Date will be determined as follows: i) In the event your active employment with Ashland ends prior to the close of the sale of APAC, then your Stay Date will be your last day of active employment with Ashland; ii) In the event you accept an offer of employment from the purchaser of the APAC business (the "Buyer"), your Stay Date will be the earlier of 6 months from the date of your transfer to Buyer, or the date on which you are released from active employment by the Buyer; iii) In the event your position with Ashland is eliminated at the close of the Transaction, and you are not offered employment with the Buyer, or you reject an offer of non-equivalent employment from the Buyer, then your Stay Date will be your last day of active employment with Ashland; For the purpose of this offer "equivalent employment" means an offer of employment that provides you with base compensation of at least the Robert K. Randolph August 15, 2006 Page 2 of 4 same amount you are receiving in your current position, at a work location not more than 50 miles from your current work location. iv) In the event your active employment with Ashland does not end at the close of the Transaction, and you continue to provide transitional support to Ashland relating to the APAC business, then your Stay Date will be the earlier of 24 months from the date of the close of the Transaction, or your last day of active employment with Ashland; v) In the event the Transaction does not occur, then your Stay Date will be the date on which negotiations with potential buyers of APAC have concluded without an agreement for the sale of the business, and the decision is made not to seek other prospective buyers for the APAC business. In the event your active employment with Ashland terminates as a result of the Transaction, and you meet the conditions for receipt of severance benefits under the APAC Divestiture Severance Program for Executive Level Employees, a copy of which is enclosed, then in addition to the Retention Bonus provided for above, Ashland will offer to you a Separation Agreement and General Release, which will provide you with severance benefits under this program, with the following exceptions: i) your severance benefit shall be payroll continuation payments for the 24-month period following your Release Date; ii) you will continue to earn age and service credit for pension calculation purposes during your entire payroll continuation period; iii) although you are not retirement eligible, during your payroll continuation period you will be eligible to participate in company provided employee benefit programs as though you were a retirement eligible employee; v) any award you would otherwise be eligible to receive under any incentive compensation program in which you were a participant during FY 2006 will be calculated as though your were actively employed for the full year, regardless of whether your active employment ends prior to September 30, 2006. Your employment will then terminate on the last day of your payroll continuation period, and thereafter your treatment under Ashland's employee benefit plans will be on the same terms and conditions as apply to non-retirement eligible employees. Provided that all your Ashland Inc. stock options issued prior to September 2006, that continued to vest during your payroll continuation period, will become fully vested as of your termination date, and will thereafter be fully exercisable for their remaining term(s). Robert K. Randolph August 15, 2006 Page 3 of 4 You understand that your Separation Agreement and General Release will contain a general release of any claims you may have against Ashland which you must sign as a condition of receiving these severance benefits. You further understand that these severance benefits will be in lieu of any benefits you would otherwise be eligible to receive upon termination under the terms of your Executive Employment Agreement. In addition to the above referenced severance benefits, on your last day of active employment with Ashland (your "Release Date") a pro-rata share of the restricted stock previously granted to you by Ashland will become fully vested. The pro-rata vesting schedule will be calculated based on the number of shares issued to you, multiplied by the percentage of the total grant period that has elapsed as of your Release Date. During the term of this Letter Agreement, you will continue to receive compensation at a rate at least equivalent to your level of base pay in effect at the time this Agreement is executed. Ashland agrees that you will also continue to be eligible to participate in those employee benefits in which you are a current participant to the same extent as other regular full-time employees, including participation in applicable incentive compensation plans. You agree that you will keep the terms of this Letter Agreement, as well as the terms of the earlier retention agreements offered to you, completely confidential, and that you will not hereafter disclose any information concerning any of these agreements to anyone except your immediate family, financial advisor and/or attorney; provided, that they agree in advance of said disclosure to keep this information confidential and not disclose it to others. You further understand that this agreement will immediately terminate (an "Early Termination"), and Ashland will be relieved of any obligation to provide the Retention Bonus or the additional benefits described above if any of the following occurs during the term of this Agreement: i) you voluntarily terminate your employment with Ashland; ii) you elect to accept a different position with Ashland that does not support the APAC business; iii) you violate the confidentiality provisions contained herein; iv) Ashland or Buyer terminates your employment for cause; For the purposes of this letter, termination for cause will arise if you: (a) substantially fail to perform your duties with Ashland or Buyer, unless such failure is due to your incapacity as a result of physical or mental illness; or (b) you engage in willful misconduct or gross negligence in performing your duties; Robert K. Randolph August 15, 2006 Page 4 of 4 v) you become disabled and you become eligible to receive payments under Ashland's Long Term Disability Plan at any time thereafter; or vi) in the event of your death. Provided, however, that Ashland will not be relieved of any obligations under its employee benefits plans which arise due to your death. This Letter Agreement shall terminate on the earlier of i) your Stay Date or ii) the date on which an Early Termination occurs. Provided, however, that the confidentiality provisions of this Letter Agreement and any obligations on the part of Ashland arising under this Letter Agreement during its term, or triggered under this Letter Agreement on the date of its termination, shall survive the termination of this Letter Agreement. This Letter Agreement does not, in any way, constitute a contract or agreement guaranteeing your continued employment. Ashland reserves the right to terminate your employment at any time, with or without cause. If you agree with the foregoing, please sign and date each original of this Letter Agreement in the space provided for your signature and fax a copy of this executed agreement to me at (859) 815-3823 no later than the close of business on August 18, 2006. Please then return one signed original to me by regular mail that same day. You may retain the other enclosed original for your records. Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact me. Sincerely yours, /s/ Susan B. Esler ------------------------ Susan B. Esler Agreed to and accepted this 18 day of August, 2006. /s/ Robert K. Randolph - ---------------------------- Robert K. Randolph cc: David L. Hausrath EX-99 3 ex991.txt EXHIBIT 99.1 EXHIBIT 99.1 [GRAPHIC OMITTED] FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Media Relations: Investor Relations: Jim Vitak Daragh Porter (614) 790-3715 (859) 815-3825 jevitak@ashland.com dlporter@ashland.com FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 21, 2006 ASHLAND INC. TO SELL APAC TO OLDCASTLE MATERIALS, INC., FOR $1.30 BILLION COVINGTON, Ky. - Ashland Inc. (NYSE: ASH) today announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to sell the stock of its wholly owned subsidiary, Ashland Paving And Construction, Inc. ("APAC"), to Oldcastle Materials, Inc., for $1.30 billion, the final price to be adjusted for changes in working capital and certain other accounts from Sept. 30, 2005, until closing. After-tax proceeds, pre-adjustment, are estimated to total $1.25 billion. The transaction, which has received antitrust clearance, is expected to close by the end of the month, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions. At the company's September board meeting, Ashland management intends to recommend to its board of directors that substantially all of the net after-tax proceeds from this transaction be used to fund the completion of the existing share repurchase authorization, an additional share repurchase authorization and a special cash dividend. The aggregate share repurchases under the existing authorization and, if approved, the additional share repurchase authorization would be limited to approximately 10 million shares. There can be no assurance that the board of directors will accept management's recommendation. "Today, Ashland sharpens its focus on its future as a diversified chemical company," said James J. O'Brien, Ashland's chairman and chief executive officer. "When the transaction is completed, Ashland will consist of its four chemical divisions: Ashland Performance Materials, Ashland Distribution, Valvoline and Ashland Water Technologies." Continuing, Mr. O'Brien said, "While Ashland has been pleased with APAC's recent performance, the sale to Oldcastle is an important step in achieving Ashland's strategic objectives. In addition to our recommended use of proceeds, we continue to focus on creating - more - Ashland Inc. - Covington, Ky. - 41012-0391 - (859) 815-3333 - www.ashland.com Ashland Inc. to sell APAC to Oldcastle Materials for $1.30 billion, pg.2 long-term value for Ashland's shareholders. We have the financial flexibility to pursue organic growth and seek acquisitions that complement and strengthen our core chemical businesses." In connection with the transaction, Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC acted as financial advisor, and Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP acted as legal counsel to Ashland. Today at 10 a.m., EDT, Ashland will conduct a conference call and audio webcast for securities analysts. The event will be accessible through Ashland's Investor Relations website, www.ashland.com/investors. Afterward, an archived version of the webcast will be available on the Ashland website for 12 months. Minimum requirements to listen to the webcast include the free Windows MediaPlayer software and a 28.8 Kbps connection to the Internet. With approximately 9,700 employees, APAC currently operates in 14 Southern and Midwestern states and has 93 aggregate production facilities, including 36 permanent operating quarry locations; 31 ready-mix concrete plants; 226 hot-mix asphalt plants and more than 13,000 pieces of mobile equipment. Ashland Inc. (NYSE: ASH) is a FORTUNE 500 chemical and transportation construction company providing products, services and customer solutions throughout the world. To learn more about Ashland, visit www.ashland.com. -0- FORTUNE 500 is a registered trademark of Time Inc. 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. These statements include those that refer to Ashland's operating performance and expectations about the APAC transaction, including those statements that refer to the expected benefits of the transaction and management's recommendation of anticipated use of proceeds and expected benefits to Ashland's shareholders. Although Ashland believes its expectations are based on reasonable assumptions, it cannot assure the expectations reflected herein will be achieved. The risks, uncertainties and assumptions include the possibility that Ashland will be unable to fully realize the benefits anticipated from the transaction, the possibility that the transaction may not close, and other risks that are described from time to time in the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) reports of Ashland. Other factors and risks affecting Ashland are contained in Ashland's Form 10-K, as amended, for the fiscal year ended Sept. 30, 2005, filed with the SEC and available on Ashland's Investor Relations website at www.ashland.com/investors or the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. Ashland undertakes no obligation to subsequently update or revise the forward-looking statements made in this news release to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this release. -----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----