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Divestitures
3 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2019
Divestitures [Abstract]  
Divestitures

NOTE B – DIVESTITURES

Composites and Marl facility

On November 15, 2018, Ashland announced that it had signed a definitive agreement to sell its Composites segment and Intermediates and Solvents Marl facility to INEOS Enterprises in a transaction valued at $1.1 billion. Ashland retained the remaining Intermediates and Solvents facility in Lima, Ohio primarily for its own internal business use.

In late July of 2019, Ashland and INEOS agreed to certain additional changes to the sale agreement. As part of the proposed changes, the purchase price was adjusted to $1.015 billion while Ashland retained the right to the Maleic business, including the retention of any subsequent sale proceeds.

On August 30, 2019 Ashland completed the sale of its Composites business (excluding the Maleic business) and butanediol manufacturing facility in Marl, Germany to INEOS.

Since this disposal group signifies a strategic shift in Ashland’s business and had a major effect on Ashland’s operations and financial results, the operating results and cash flows related to Composites and the Marl facility, including the Maleic business, have been reflected as discontinued operations in the Statements of Consolidated Comprehensive Income (Loss) and Statements of Condensed Consolidated Cash Flows. See Note C of the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for the results of operations for Composites and the Marl facility, including the Maleic business, for all periods presented.

Certain indirect corporate costs included within the selling, general and administrative expense caption of the Statements of Consolidated Comprehensive Income (Loss) that were previously allocated to the Composites segment and Marl facility do not qualify for classification within discontinued operations and are now reported as selling, general and administrative expense within continuing operations on a consolidated basis and within the Unallocated and other segment. These costs were zero and $12 million during the three months ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

Subsequent to the completion of the sale, Ashland is providing certain transition services to INEOS for a fee. While the transition services are expected to vary in duration depending upon the type of service provided, Ashland expects to reduce costs as the transition services are completed. Ashland recognized transition service fee income of $3 million during the three month period ending December 31, 2019.

 

Held for sale classification

The assets and liabilities of the Maleic business, along with other planned corporate asset divestitures as of December 31, 2019 and September 30, 2019 have been reflected as assets and liabilities held for sale. As a result, in accordance with U.S. GAAP standards, depreciation and amortization were not being recorded within the Statements of Consolidated Comprehensive Income (Loss) and the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. These assets and liabilities are comprised of the following components:

 

 

 

December 31

 

 

September 30

 

(In millions)

 

2019

 

 

2019

 

Accounts receivable, net

 

$

4

 

 

$

5

 

Inventories

 

 

3

 

 

 

3

 

Net property, plant and equipment

 

 

34

 

 

 

34

 

Goodwill

 

 

14

 

 

 

14

 

Other assets

 

 

5

 

 

 

3

 

Current assets held for sale

 

$

60

 

 

$

59

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Trade and other payables

 

$

5

 

 

$

6

 

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

 

 

1

 

 

 

1

 

Current liabilities held for sale

 

$

6

 

 

$

7