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Proposed Spin-off
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2014
Property Plant And Equipment [Abstract]  
Proposed Spin-off
15. Proposed Spin-off

On May 1, 2014, the Company announced that its Board of Directors had given final approval for the spin-off of its distribution business. The resulting company will be known as NOW Inc. (“NOW”), headquartered in Houston, Texas.

The separation will be completed by way of a pro rata distribution of all of the outstanding shares of NOW common stock to holders of NOV common stock. This distribution is expected to occur after market close on May 30, 2014 (the “Distribution Date”) to NOV stockholders of record as of the close of business on May 22, 2014 (the “Record Date”). On the Distribution Date, each NOV stockholder as of the Record Date will receive one share of NOW common stock for every four shares of NOV common stock held at the close of business on the Record Date.

Following the distribution of NOW common stock, NOW will be an independent, publicly traded company, and NOV will retain no ownership interest in NOW. NOW expects to receive approval soon for the listing of its common stock on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol DNOW.

The Company expects to receive an opinion from its legal counsel to the effect that, based on certain facts, assumptions, representations and undertakings, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the distribution of NOW common stock and certain related transactions generally will not be taxable to NOV or U.S. holders of NOV common stock. No action is required by NOV stockholders in order to receive shares of NOW common stock in the distribution.