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Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2023

The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) and Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) regulations. The financial statements are presented on a consolidated basis for all periods presented and include the operations of the Company and its majority-owned and controlled subsidiaries. All intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation.

Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified in the accompanying consolidated financial statements and notes thereto to conform to the current period presentation.

Use of estimates, risks and uncertainties

The preparation of the consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, and

the disclosures of contingent matters. Although management bases its estimates on historical experience and various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, actual results could differ significantly from the estimates under different assumptions or conditions.

Assets held for sale and discontinued operations

Held for sale and discontinued operations

The Company classifies assets and liabilities to be sold (disposal group) as held for sale in the period when all of the applicable criteria are met, including: (i) management commits to a plan to sell, (ii) the disposal group is available to sell in its present condition, (iii) there is an active program to locate a buyer, (iv) the disposal group is being actively marketed at a reasonable price in relation to its fair value, (v) significant changes to the plan to sell are unlikely, and (vi) the sale of the disposal group is generally probable of being completed within one year. Management performs an assessment at least quarterly or when events or changes in business circumstances indicate that a change in classification may be necessary.

Assets and liabilities held for sale are presented separately within the Consolidated Balance Sheets with any adjustments necessary to measure the disposal group at the lower of its carrying value or fair value less costs to sell. Depreciation of property, plant and equipment and amortization of intangible and right-of-use assets are not recorded while these assets are classified as held for sale. For each period the disposal group remains classified as held for sale, its recoverability is reassessed and any necessary adjustments are made to its carrying value.

The Company reports the results of operations of a business as discontinued operations if a disposal represents a strategic shift that will have a major effect on its operations and financial results. The results of discontinued operations are reported as Income from discontinued operations, net of tax in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the current and prior periods commencing in the period in which the held for sale criteria are met. Income from discontinued operations, net of tax includes direct costs attributable to the divested business and excludes any cost allocations associated with any shared or corporate functions unless otherwise dedicated to the divested business. Income from discontinued operations, net of tax will include any gain or loss recognized upon disposition or from adjustment of the carrying amount to fair value less costs to sell while classified as held for sale.

Transactions between the businesses held for sale and businesses held for use that are expected to continue after the disposal are not eliminated in order to appropriately reflect the continuing operations as well as the activity to be disposed of. Interest costs are included as a component of Income from discontinued operations, net of tax for debt specifically attributable to the discontinued operation or debt that is obligated to be repaid in connection with the completion of the divestiture. Activity within comprehensive income directly associated with a divested business is not realized as a component of Income from discontinued operations, net of tax until completion of the sale or disposition.

Cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalentsAll short-term, highly liquid investments having original maturities of three months or less are considered to be cash equivalents.

Short-term investments

U.S. treasury securities with a maturity of greater than three months and less than one year are considered to be short-term investments. Valvoline determines the classification of these securities as trading, available for sale or held-to-maturity at the time of purchase and evaluates those determinations at each balance sheet date. The Company’s short-term investments are stated at amortized cost within the Consolidated Balance Sheet and classified as held-to-maturity based on the intent and ability to hold to these investments to maturity.

Receivables and allowance for credit losses

The majority of Valvoline’s sales are tendered at the point of service in its retail stores, and its receivables are generally limited to those with its fleet customers and independent store operators, in addition to credit card receivables. Valvoline recognizes a receivable within its Consolidated Balance Sheets once control is transferred, typically upon the completion of services, at which point its right to consideration becomes unconditional and only the passage of time is required before payment of that consideration is due. As the majority of the Company’s

performance obligations are satisfied at a point in time and customers typically do not make material payments in advance, nor does Valvoline have a right to consideration in advance of control transfer, the Company has no contract assets or contract liabilities.

Valvoline recognizes credit losses following the current expected credit loss model, which results in the immediate recognition of losses that are expected to occur over the life of the financial instruments, principally trade and other receivables. Allowances are maintained to estimate expected lifetime credit losses that are based on a broad range of reasonable and supportable information and factors, including the length of time receivables are past due, the financial health of its customers, macroeconomic conditions, and historical collection experience. If the financial condition of its customers deteriorates or other circumstances occur that result in an impairment of customers’ ability to make payments, the Company records additional allowances as needed. The Company writes off uncollectible receivables against the allowance when collection efforts have been exhausted and/or any legal action taken by the Company has concluded.

Inventories

Inventories are comprised of purchased finished goods that are carried at the lower of cost or net realizable value using the weighted average cost method. The Company regularly reviews inventory quantities on hand and the estimated utilization of inventory. Excess and obsolete reserves are established when inventory is estimated to not be usable based on forecasts, demand, life cycle, or utility.

Property, plant and equipment

Property, plant and equipment is recorded at cost and is depreciated using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets. Buildings generally have useful lives of seven to 20 years and machinery and equipment typically have five to seven year useful lives, dependent on the nature and utility of the assets. Building and leasehold improvements are depreciated over the shorter of their estimated useful lives or the period from which the date the assets are placed in service to the end of the lease term, as appropriate. Depreciation expense is recognized in Cost of sales or Selling, general and administrative expenses within the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income based on the function the underlying asset supports. Property, plant and equipment is relieved of the cost and related accumulated depreciation when assets are disposed of or otherwise retired. Gains or losses on the dispositions of property, plant and equipment are included in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income and generally reported in Other income, net.

Property, plant and equipment carrying values are evaluated for recoverability at the lowest level of identifiable cash flows when impairment indicators are present. Such indicators could include, among other factors, operating losses, unused capacity, market value declines and technological obsolescence. Recorded values of asset groups of long-lived assets that are not expected to be recovered through undiscounted future net cash flows are written down to fair value, which generally is determined from estimated discounted future net cash flows (assets held for use) or net realizable value (assets held for sale).

Cloud computing arrangements

The Company periodically enters into cloud computing arrangements to access and use third-party software in support of its operations. The Company assesses its cloud computing arrangements to determine whether the contract meets the definition of a service contract or conveys a software license. For cloud computing arrangements that meet the definition of a service contract, the Company capitalizes implementation costs incurred during the application development stage and amortizes the costs on a straight-line basis over the term of the service contract.

Leases

Certain of the properties Valvoline utilizes, including its retail service center stores, offices, and storage facilities, in addition to certain equipment, are leased. Valvoline determines if an arrangement contains a lease at inception primarily based on whether or not the Company has the right to control the asset during the contract period. For all agreements where it is determined that a lease exists, the related lease assets and liabilities are recognized within the Consolidated Balance Sheets as either operating or finance leases at the commencement date.

The lease liability is measured based on the present value of future payments over the lease term, and the right-of-use asset is measured as the lease liability, adjusted for prepaid lease payments, lease incentives, and initial direct costs (e.g., commissions). Valvoline's leases generally have terms ranging from less than one year to more than 20 years, and leases with an initial term of 12 months or less are included in the measurement of its right-of-use asset and lease liability balances. The lease term includes options to extend or terminate the lease when it is reasonably certain that the option will be exercised.

Fixed rental payments, including variable payments based on a rate or index, are included in the determination of the lease liability. Many leases also require the payment of taxes, insurance, operating expenses, and maintenance. In instances where these other components are fixed, they are included in the measurement of the lease liability due to Valvoline's election to combine lease and non-lease components and account for them as a single component. Otherwise, these components are recognized along with other variable lease payments in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income in the period in which the obligation for those payments is incurred.

As most leases do not provide the rate implicit in the lease, the Company estimates its incremental borrowing rate to best approximate the rate of interest that Valvoline would have to pay to borrow on a collateralized basis over a similar term an amount equal to the lease payments in a similar economic environment. Valvoline applies the incremental borrowing rate to groups of leases with similar lease terms in determining the present value of future payments. In determining the incremental borrowing rate, the Company considers information available at the commencement date, including lease term, interest rate yields for specific interest rate environments and the Company's credit spread.

Lessor arrangements

Valvoline is the lessor in arrangements to sublease and lease certain properties and equipment. Sublease income is recognized in Other income, net within the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income.

Business combinations

The Company allocates the purchase consideration to the identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed in business combinations based on their acquisition-date fair values. The excess of the purchase consideration over the amounts assigned to the identifiable assets and liabilities is recognized as goodwill, or if the fair value of the net assets acquired exceeds the purchase consideration, a bargain purchase gain is recorded. Factors giving rise to goodwill generally include operational synergies that are anticipated as a result of the business combination and growth expected to result in economic benefits from access to new customers and markets. The fair values of identifiable intangible assets acquired in business combinations are generally determined using an income approach, requiring financial forecasts and estimates as well as market participant assumptions. The fair values are preliminary for up to one year from the date of acquisition as they are subject to measurement period adjustments as new information is obtained about facts and circumstances that existed as of the acquisition date.

The incremental financial results of the businesses that Valvoline has acquired are included in the Company’s consolidated financial results from the respective dates of each acquisition.

Goodwill and other intangible assets

Valvoline evaluates goodwill for impairment annually as of July 1 or when events and circumstances indicate an impairment may have occurred by monitoring for the existence of potential impairment indicators throughout the fiscal year. This assessment consists of evaluating a reporting unit’s fair value compared to its carrying value. Reporting units may be operating segments as a whole or an operation one level below an operating segment,

referred to as a component. Goodwill is assigned to reporting units for purposes of impairment testing based upon the relative fair value of the asset to reporting units. The Company determined that it has one reporting unit in fiscal 2023.

In evaluating goodwill for impairment, Valvoline has the option to first perform a qualitative assessment to determine whether further impairment testing is necessary or to perform a quantitative assessment by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit to its carrying amount, including goodwill. Under the qualitative assessment, the Company is not required to calculate the fair value of a reporting unit unless the entity determines that it is more likely than not that its fair value is less than its carrying amount. Qualitative factors considered include macroeconomic conditions, industry and market conditions, cost factors, and overall financial performance, among others.

Under the quantitative assessment, if the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, then the amount of the impairment loss, if any, is measured as the excess of the carrying value of the reporting unit’s goodwill over its fair value, not to exceed the total goodwill allocated to the reporting unit. Fair values of the reporting units are estimated using a weighted methodology considering the output from both the income and market approaches. The income approach incorporates the use of a discounted cash flow (“DCF”) analysis, and a number of significant assumptions and estimates are involved in the application of the DCF model to forecast operating cash flows, including markets and market shares, sales volumes and prices, costs to produce, tax rates, capital spending, discount rate, weighted average cost of capital, terminal values, and working capital changes. Several of these assumptions vary among reporting units, and the cash flow forecasts are generally based on approved strategic operating plans. The market approach is performed using the Guideline Public Companies method based on earnings multiple data. The Company also performs a reconciliation between market capitalization and the estimated aggregate fair value of the reporting units, including consideration of a control premium.

Acquired finite-lived intangible assets principally consist of certain trademarks and trade names, reacquired franchise rights, and customer relationships. Intangible assets acquired in an asset acquisition are carried at cost, less accumulated amortization. For intangible assets acquired in a business combination, the estimated fair values of the assets acquired are used to establish the carrying values, which are determined using assumptions from the perspective of a market participant and generally an income approach. These intangible assets are amortized on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives. Valvoline evaluates finite-lived intangible assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable, and any assets not expected to be recovered through undiscounted future net cash flows are written down to current fair value.

Pension and other postretirement benefit plans

Valvoline sponsors defined benefit pension and other postretirement plans in the U.S. The Company's U.S. pension plans are closed to new participants and the accrual of pension benefits has been frozen since September 30, 2016. Valvoline also sponsors retiree healthcare and life insurance plans for certain qualifying participants with amendments effective in fiscal 2017 to limit annual per capita costs.

Valvoline recognizes the funded status of each applicable plan within the Consolidated Balance Sheets whereby each unfunded plan is recognized as a liability and each funded plan is recognized as either an asset or liability based on its funded status. The funded status is measured as the difference between the fair value of plan assets and the benefit obligation. Changes in the fair value of plan assets and net actuarial gains or losses are recognized upon remeasurement as of September 30, the annual measurement date, and whenever a remeasurement is triggered. The remaining components of pension and other postretirement benefits income or expense are recorded ratably throughout the year.

The fair value of plan assets represents the current market value of assets held by irrevocable trust funds for the sole benefit of participants, and the benefit obligation is the actuarial present value of the benefits expected to be paid upon retirement, death, or other distributable event based on estimates. These valuations reflect the terms of the plans and use participant-specific information such as compensation, age and years of service, as well as certain key assumptions that require significant judgment, including, but not limited to, estimates of discount rates, rate of compensation increases, interest rates and mortality rates. Actuarial gains and losses may be related to actual results that differ from assumptions as well as changes in assumptions, which may occur each year. All

components of net periodic benefit income or costs are recognized below operating income within Net pension and other postretirement plan (income) expenses in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income.

Commitments and contingencies

Commitments and contingenciesLiabilities for loss contingencies arising from claims, assessments, litigation, fines, penalties and other sources are recorded when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated. Legal costs such as outside counsel fees and expenses are charged to expense in the period incurred and are recorded in Selling, general and administrative expenses in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income.

Revenue recognition

Revenue is recognized for the amount that reflects the consideration the Company is expected to be entitled to receive based on when control of the promised good or service is transferred to the customer. Revenue recognition is evaluated through the following five steps: (i) identification of the contract(s) with a customer; (ii) identification of the performance obligation(s) in the contract(s); (iii) determination of the transaction price; (iv) allocation of the transaction price to the performance obligation(s) in the contract(s); and (v) recognition of revenue when or as a performance obligation is satisfied.

Nature of services

Valvoline generates all revenues from contracts with customers, primarily as a result of delivery of automotive maintenance services through the following two principal activities: (i) company-operated service center operations and (ii) independent service center operations. Valvoline’s revenues from delivering preventive vehicle maintenance and related services are from end consumers, independent franchisees and operators, and other end customers, including fleet managers and others that require service solutions to address light and medium-duty vehicles.

Valvoline's net revenues are predominantly derived at a point in time with approximately 95% recognized either through services delivered at company-operated service centers or fees for arranging product supply to independent store operators. The remainder of the Company's sales generally relate to fees, including royalties, transferred over time. The following table summarizes Valvoline's sales by timing of revenue recognized for the fiscal years ended September 30:


(In millions)	2023		2022		2021
Net revenues transferred at a point in time	$	1,375.0	$	1,177.2	$	986.8
Franchised revenues transferred over time	68.5		58.9		50.4
Net revenues	$	1,443.5	$	1,236.1	$	1,037.2

Below is a summary of the key considerations for Valvoline's material revenue-generating activities:

Company-operated service center operations

Performance obligations related to company-operated service center operations primarily include the sale of engine and automotive maintenance products and related services. These performance obligations are distinct and are delivered simultaneously at a point in time. Accordingly, sales from company-operated service center operations is recognized when payment is tendered at the point of sale, which coincides with the completion of product and service delivery and the transfer of control and benefits from the performance obligations to the customer.

Non-company operated service center operations

The primary performance obligations related to independent service center operations include arrangement of product supply and the license of intellectual property, which provides access to the Valvoline brand and proprietary information to operate service center stores over the term of a franchise agreement. Other franchise performance obligations do not result in material revenue. Each performance obligation is distinct, and franchisees generally receive and consume the benefits provided by the Company’s performance over the course of the franchise

agreement, which typically ranges from 10 to 15 years. Billings and payments occur monthly. Variable consideration is not disclosed as remaining performance obligations qualify for the sales-based royalty and usage-based exemptions.

In exchange for the license of Valvoline intellectual property, franchisees generally remit initial fees upon opening a service center store and royalties at a contractual rate of the applicable service center store sales over the term of the franchise agreement. The license provides access to the intellectual property over the term of the franchise agreement and is considered a right-to-access license of symbolic intellectual property as substantially all of its utility is derived from association with the Company’s past and ongoing activities. The license granted to operate each franchised service center store is the predominant item to which the royalties relate and represents a distinct performance obligation which is recognized over time as the underlying sales occur, as this is the most appropriate measure of progress toward complete satisfaction of the performance obligation.

Valvoline is the agent in arranging product supply for its independent operators as the Company has no control of the products prior to transfer to the customer. Accordingly, revenue is recognized on a net basis for the fees charged for this service. The Company determines the point in time at which service delivery occurs and the performance obligation is satisfied by considering when the customer has the ability to direct the use of and obtain substantially all of the remaining benefits of the product, which generally coincides with the transfer of title and risk of loss from the supplier to the independent operators.

Customer payment terms vary by customer and are generally 30 to 60 days after service delivery. Valvoline does not provide extended payment terms greater than one year and therefore, does not adjust the promised amount of consideration for the effects of a significant financing component.

Revenue disaggregation

The following table summarizes net revenues by category for the years ended September 30:


(In millions)	2023		2022		2021

Oil changes and related fees	$	1,074.3	$	913.4	$	762.3
Non-oil changes and related fees	297.6		248.3		207.9
Franchise fees and other (a)	71.6		74.4		67.0
Total	$	1,443.5	$	1,236.1	$	1,037.2

(a)Includes $0.2 million, $11.6 million, and $14.9 million of net revenues associated with suspended operations of a former Global Products business which was not included in the sale for the years ended September 30, 2023, 2022, and 2021, respectively.

The following presents net revenues by geographic area where services are delivered for the years ended September 30:



(In millions)	2023		2022		2021
United States	$	1,407.7	$	1,191.8	$	997.3
Non-U.S. (a)	35.8		44.3		39.9
Total	$	1,443.5	$	1,236.1	$	1,037.2

(a)Includes the amounts noted above in each fiscal year of net revenues associated with suspended operations of a former Global Products business which was not included in the sale.

Valvoline did not have a single customer that represented 10% or more of consolidated net revenues in fiscal 2023, 2022 or 2021.

Variable consideration

The nature of Valvoline’s transactions with its customers often gives rise to variable consideration consisting of customer discounts, incentives or rebates. The Company determines transaction price as the amount of consideration it expects to be entitled to in exchange for fulfilling the performance obligations, including variable consideration to the extent it is probable that a significant future reversal will not occur. Variable consideration is

recorded as a reduction of the transaction price at the time of sale and is primarily estimated utilizing the most likely amount method that is expected to be earned as the Company is able to estimate the anticipated discounts within a sufficiently narrow range of possible outcomes based on its extensive historical experience with certain customers and similar programs. Variable consideration is reassessed at each reporting date and adjustments are made, when necessary.

The reduction of revenues due to customer incentives was $190.3 million, $176.5 million, and $140.1 million in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the years ended September 30, 2023, 2022, and 2021, respectively. Reserves for these customer programs and incentives were $3.2 million and $2.8 million as of September 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively, and are recorded within Accrued expenses and other liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Allocation of transaction price

In each contract with multiple performance obligations, Valvoline allocates the transaction price, including variable consideration, to each performance obligation on a relative standalone selling price basis, which is generally determined based on the directly observable data of the Company’s standalone sales of the performance obligations in similar circumstances to similar customers. The amount allocated to each performance obligation is recognized as revenue commensurate with the transfer of control to the customer.

The Company excludes taxes collected from customers from sales, which are reflected in accrued expenses until remitted to the appropriate governmental authority. Incremental direct costs of obtaining a contract, primarily sales commissions, are expensed when incurred due to the short-term nature of individual contracts, which would result in amortization periods of one year or less. These costs are not material and are recorded within Selling, general and administrative expenses in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income.

Cost of sales

Cost of sales are expensed as incurred and include product, labor and benefits, store operating and occupancy, and depreciation expenses.

Selling, general and administrative expenses

Selling, general and administrative expenses are recognized as incurred and include sales and marketing costs, advertising, customer support, and other corporate and administrative costs.

Stock-based compensation

Stock-based compensationThe Company recognizes expense related to stock-based compensation, net of actual forfeitures, over the requisite vesting period based on the grant date fair value of new or modified awards. Substantially all of the awards granted by the Company are routine annual grants. Management evaluates its award grants and modifications and will adjust the fair value if any are determined to be spring-loaded.

Income taxes

Income tax expense is provided based on income before income taxes. The Company estimates its tax expense based on current tax laws in the statutory jurisdictions in which it operates. These estimates include judgments about the recognition and realization of deferred tax assets and liabilities resulting from the expected future tax consequences of events that have been included in the financial statements. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on the difference between the financial statement carrying amounts and tax bases of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to be recovered or settled. As changes in tax laws or rates occur, deferred tax assets and liabilities are adjusted in the period changes are enacted through income tax expense. Valvoline records valuation allowances related to its deferred income tax assets when it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred income tax assets will not be realized.

The Company recognizes the tax benefit from an uncertain tax position only if it is more likely than not that the tax position will be sustained on examination by the taxing authorities based on the technical merits of the position. The tax benefits recognized in the consolidated financial statements from such a position are measured based on the largest benefit that has a greater than fifty percent likelihood of being sustained upon examination by authorities. Interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits are recognized as part of the provision for income taxes

and are accrued beginning in the period that such interest and penalties would be applicable under relevant tax law and until such time that the related tax benefits are recognized. Interest and penalties were not material to any of the periods presented herein.Once the consolidated income tax provision is computed, the tax effect of pre-tax income from continuing operations is determined without consideration of the current year pre-tax income or loss from other financial statement components, including discontinued operations. The portion of total income tax that remains after the attribution of tax to continuing operations is allocated to the remaining components.

Derivatives

Valvoline’s derivative instruments consist of currency exchange and interest rate swap agreements, each of which is described further below.

Currency derivatives

The Company's currency exchange contracts are used to manage non-functional currency denominated balance sheet exposures and exchange on currency for another at a fixed rate on a future date of generally a month or less. These contracts are not designated as hedging instruments and are accounted for as either assets or liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheets at fair value with the resulting gains or losses recognized as adjustments to earnings within Selling, general and administrative expenses in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income. Gains and losses are recognized as exchange rates change the fair value of these instruments and upon settlement to offset the remeasurement gain or loss on the related currency-denominated exposures in the same period. The Company classifies its cash flows related to currency exchange contracts as investing activities in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.

Interest rate swap agreements

The Company's interest rate swap agreements effectively modify its exposure to interest rate risk by converting floating rate debt to a fixed rate for the term of the swap agreements, reducing the impact of interest rate changes on future interest expense. These agreements involve the receipt of floating rate amounts in exchange for fixed rate interest payments over the life of the agreement without an exchange of the underlying principal amount.

Valvoline's interest rate swap agreements are designated as cash flow hedges with effectiveness of the hedges assessed at inception and quarterly thereafter. To the extent the hedging relationship is highly effective, the unrealized gains or losses on the swaps are recorded in Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) and reclassified into earnings within Net interest and other financing expense when the payments occur. The Company classifies its cash flows related to interest rate swap agreements as operating activities in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.

The fair values of the interest rate swaps are reflected as an asset or liability in the Consolidated Balance Sheets and the change in fair value is reported in Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). The fair values of the interest rate swaps are estimated as the net present value of projected cash flows based upon forward interest rates at the balance sheet date. The Company does not offset fair value amounts recognized in its Consolidated Balance Sheets for presentation purposes.

Fair value measurements

Fair value is defined as an exit price, representing an amount that would be received to sell an asset or the amount paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. As such, fair value is a market-based measurement determined based on assumptions that market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability. As a basis for considering such assumptions, the accounting guidance prioritizes the inputs used to measure fair value into the following three-tier fair value hierarchy for which an instrument’s classification within the fair value hierarchy is based upon the lowest level of input that is significant to the instrument’s fair value measurement:

•Level 1 - Observable inputs such as unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

•Level 2 - Inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. These include quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets and quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active.

•Level 3 - Unobservable inputs for the asset or liability for which there is little, if any, market activity at the measurement date. Unobservable inputs reflect the Valvoline's assumptions about what market participants would use to price the asset or liability. The inputs are developed based on the best information available in the circumstances, which may include the Company's own financial data, such as internally developed pricing models, DCF methodologies, as well as instruments for which the fair value determination requires significant management judgment.

Certain investments which measure fair value using the net asset value (“NAV”) per share practical expedient are not classified within the fair value hierarchy and are separately disclosed.

Valvoline measures its financial assets and financial liabilities at fair value based on one or more of the following three valuation techniques:

•Market approach: Prices and other relevant information generated by market transactions involving identical or comparable assets or liabilities

•Cost approach: Amount that would be required to replace the service capacity of an asset (replacement cost)

•Income approach: Techniques to convert future amounts to a single present amount based upon market expectations (including present value techniques, option pricing and excess earnings models)

The Company generally uses a market approach, when practicable, in valuing financial instruments. In certain instances, when observable market data is lacking, the Company uses valuation techniques consistent with the income approach whereby future cash flows are converted to a single discounted amount. The Company uses multiple sources of pricing as well as trading and other market data in its process of reporting fair values.

The fair values of accounts receivables and accounts payable approximate their carrying values due to the relatively short-term nature of the instruments. Valvoline's notes receivable consist of fixed and variable-rate interest term loans extended to franchisees to provide financial assistance. These notes bear interest comparable with the market rates within Valvoline's variable rate borrowings, and accordingly, their carrying amounts approximate fair value.

The methods described above may produce a fair value that may not be indicative of net realizable value or reflective of future fair values. Furthermore, while the Company believes its valuation methods are appropriate and consistent with other market participants, the use of different methodologies or assumptions to determine the fair value of certain financial instruments could result in a different fair value measurement.

Currency translation

Operations outside the United States are measured generally using the local currency as the functional currency. Upon consolidation, the results of operations of the subsidiaries and affiliates whose functional currency is other than the U.S. dollar are translated into U.S. dollars at the average exchange rates for the year while assets and liabilities are translated at year-end exchange rates. Adjustments to translate assets and liabilities into U.S. dollars are recorded in the Stockholders’ Equity section of the Consolidated Balance Sheets as a component of Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) and are included in net earnings only upon sale or substantial liquidation of the underlying non-U.S. subsidiary or affiliated company.

Earnings per share

Basic earnings per share (“EPS”) is calculated by dividing net income by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the reported period. Diluted EPS is calculated similar to basic EPS, except that the weighted-average number of shares outstanding includes the number of shares that would have been outstanding

had potentially dilutive common shares been issued. Potentially dilutive securities include stock appreciation rights and nonvested stock-based awards. Nonvested market and performance-based share awards are included in the weighted-average diluted shares outstanding each period if established market or performance criteria have been met at the end of the respective periods.

Share repurchases

Shares that are repurchased are retired and returned to the status of authorized, unissued shares. The excess of the repurchase price over the par value of shares acquired is recognized in Retained earnings.

Inflation Reduction Act of 2022

The Inflation Reduction Act (the “IRA”) was enacted in the United States in August 2022, which includes, among other provisions, a 15% alternative minimum tax on corporate adjusted income in excess of certain thresholds for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2022. The Company does not expect this provision will have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

The IRA also imposes an excise tax of one percent on share repurchases that occur after December 31, 2022. Corporations are permitted to credit certain new stock issuances against their stock repurchases during the same taxable period. Valvoline has repurchased 38.9 million shares of its common stock for $1,431.5 million since January 1, 2023 and recognized excise taxes of $14.3 million in Retained earnings as incremental costs to complete the repurchases during the nine months ended September 30, 2023.

Recent accounting pronouncements

The following standards relevant to Valvoline were either issued or are expected to have a meaningful impact on Valvoline in future periods.

In March 2020, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued guidance related to reference rate reform that simplifies the accounting for contract modifications and hedging arrangements as the market transitions from the London Interbank Offered Rate ("LIBOR") and other interbank reference rates to alternative reference rates. In December 2022, FASB issued guidance to extend the temporary transition period which now can be applied on a prospective basis through the end of December 2024 for qualifying modified arrangements.

Valvoline amended its Credit Agreement, effective upon the sale of Global Products on March 1, 2023. This amendment includes the transition from LIBOR to the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”) or an alternate base rate, among other modifications. Refer to Note 8 for additional details. Concurrent with the amendment of the Credit Agreement, Valvoline modified its interest rate swap agreements solely to change the reference rates from LIBOR to SOFR and applied the optional expedients available under the reference rate reform accounting guidance. This modification aligns with changes to its variable rate debt under the Credit Agreement amendment. Valvoline expects these hedges to continue to effectively hedge its exposure risk to interest rates.

As of September 30, 2023, Valvoline has no outstanding long-term debt or interest rate swap agreements with payments based on LIBOR.