ASHLAND INC. - Quarter Report: 2020 December (Form 10-Q)

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C.  20549

FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)

For the quarterly period ended December 31, 2020

OR

For the transition period from                  to                 

Commission file number 333-211719

ASHLAND GLOBAL HOLDINGS INC.

(a Delaware corporation)

I.R.S. No. 81-2587835

8145 Blazer Drive

Wilmington, Delaware 19808

Telephone Number (302) 995-3000

Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:  None

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes  ☑ No  ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to submit such files).   Yes  ☑ No  ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    Yes  ☐ No ☑

At December 31, 2020, there were 60,667,388 shares of Registrant’s Common Stock outstanding.

PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

ASHLAND GLOBAL HOLDINGS INC. AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES

STATEMENTS OF CONSOLIDATED COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

SEE NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

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ASHLAND GLOBAL HOLDINGS INC. AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

SEE NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

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ASHLAND GLOBAL HOLDINGS INC. AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES

STATEMENT OF CONSOLIDATED EQUITY

SEE NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

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ASHLAND GLOBAL HOLDINGS INC. AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES

STATEMENTS OF CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOWS

SEE NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

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ASHLAND GLOBAL HOLDINGS INC. AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

NOTE A – SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of presentation

The accompanying unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States for interim financial reporting and Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) regulations. In the opinion of management, all adjustments considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. These statements omit certain information and footnote disclosures required for complete annual financial statements and, therefore, should be read in conjunction with Ashland Global Holdings Inc. and consolidated subsidiaries (Ashland) Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2020. Results of operations for the period ended December 31, 2020 are not necessarily indicative of the expected results for the remaining quarters in the fiscal year. All amounts are presented in millions except per-share amounts.

Ashland’s reportable segments include the consumer specialty businesses: Life Sciences and Personal Care & Household; the industrial specialty businesses: Specialty Additives and Performance Adhesives; and Intermediates and Solvents. Unallocated and Other includes corporate governance activities and certain legacy matters.  For additional information, see Note Q.

Use of estimates, risks and uncertainties

The preparation of Ashland’s Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, and the disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities. Significant items that are subject to such estimates and assumptions include, but are not limited to, long-lived assets (including goodwill and other intangible assets), income taxes and liabilities and receivables associated with asbestos litigation and environmental remediation. 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.

Ashland’s results are affected by domestic and international economic, political, legislative, regulatory and legal actions. Economic conditions, such as recessionary trends, inflation, interest and monetary exchange rates, government fiscal policies and changes in the prices of certain key raw materials, can have a significant effect on operations. While Ashland maintains reserves for anticipated liabilities and carries various levels of insurance, Ashland could be affected by civil, criminal, regulatory or administrative actions, claims or proceedings relating to asbestos, environmental remediation or other matters.

New accounting pronouncements

A description of new U.S. GAAP accounting standards issued or adopted during the current year is required in interim financial reporting. A detailed listing of new accounting standards relevant to Ashland is included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2020. The following standards relevant to Ashland were either issued or adopted in the current fiscal year or will become effective in a subsequent period.  

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In June 2016, the FASB issued amended accounting guidance related to the measurement of credit losses on financial instruments. The amended accounting guidance changes the impairment model for most financial assets to require measurement and recognition of expected credit losses for financial assets held. This guidance became effective for Ashland on October 1, 2020. As a result, Ashland recorded a $3 million increase in its allowance for credit losses, primarily related to asbestos receivables, and a $2 million decrease to retained earnings, net of tax, reflecting the cumulative effect on retained earnings.

Under the new expected credit loss model, Ashland records an allowance for credit losses inherent in its receivables from revenue transactions and reinsurance recoverables. The allowance for credit losses is a valuation account deducted from the amortized cost basis of the assets to present their net carrying value at the amount expected to be collected. Ashland estimates expected credit losses based on relevant information about past events, including historical experience, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts that affect the collectability of the reported amount. When measuring expected credit losses, Ashland pools assets with similar country risk and credit risk characteristics. Each period the allowance for credit losses is adjusted through earnings to reflect expected credit losses over the remaining lives of the assets. For the three months ending December 31, 2020, no significant credit losses were incurred within the Statements of Consolidated Comprehensive Income (Loss).  

NOTE B – DIVESTITURES

Composites and Marl facility

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 Enterprises (INEOS). 

On September 30, 2020, Ashland completed the sale of its Maleic business to AOC.  Net proceeds from the sale were approximately $98 million.

Since this disposal group signifies a strategic shift in Ashland’s business and had a major effect of 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.

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 certain costs as the transition services are completed. Ashland recognized transition service fee income of $3 million during the three months ended December 31, 2020 and 2019.

Other manufacturing facility sales

During the three months ended December 31, 2020, Ashland completed the sale of a Specialty Additives facility, the assets and liabilities of which were classified as held for sale as of September 30, 2020.  Net proceeds from the sale were approximately $14 million in the current quarter ($20 million in total including a deposit received in fiscal year 2020) and the Company recognized a pre-tax gain of $14 million recorded within the Net income on divestitures caption in the Statements of Consolidated Comprehensive Income (Loss).

NOTE C– DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS

Ashland has divested certain businesses that have qualified as discontinued operations. The operating results from these divested businesses and subsequent adjustments related to ongoing assessments of certain retained liabilities and tax items have been recorded within the discontinued operations caption in the Statements of Consolidated Comprehensive Income (Loss) for all periods presented.

Components of amounts reflected in the Statements of Consolidated Comprehensive Income (Loss) related to discontinued operations are presented in the following table for the three months ended December 31, 2020 and 2019.

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The following table presents a reconciliation of the captions within Ashland's Statements of Consolidated Comprehensive Income (Loss) for the income (loss) from discontinued operations attributable to Composites and the Marl facility for the three months ended December 31, 2019. The Maleic business, which was sold during fiscal 2020 to AOC, was operated under the Composites business and Marl facility disposal group and is therefore reported in discontinued operations.

NOTE D – RESTRUCTURING ACTIVITIES

Company-wide restructuring activities

Ashland periodically implements company-wide restructuring programs related to acquisitions, divestitures and other cost reduction programs in order to enhance profitability through streamlined operations and an improved overall cost structure.

Fiscal 2020 and 2021 restructuring costs

During the three months ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, Ashland incurred severance expense of $8 million and $3 million, respectively, attributable to executive management changes and business management changes within the organization. As of December 31, 2020, the severance reserve associated with this transition was $36 million.

The following table details at December 31, 2020 and 2019, the amount of restructuring severance reserves related to this program. The severance reserves were primarily recorded within accrued expenses and other liabilities in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019.

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Fiscal 2018 restructuring costs

During fiscal 2018, Ashland initiated a company-wide cost reduction program as a result of ongoing strategic asset plans and activities. As part of this restructuring program, Ashland announced a voluntary severance offer to certain qualifying employees that was formally approved during 2018. Additionally, during fiscal 2018, an involuntary program for employees was also initiated as part of the restructuring program. These programs resulted in additional severance expense of $1 million for the three months ended December 31, 2019 which was primarily recorded within the selling, general and administrative expense caption of the Statement of Consolidated Comprehensive Income (Loss). As of December 31, 2020, the severance reserve for the company-wide restructuring program was zero.

The following table details at December 31, 2019, the amount of restructuring reserves related to the programs discussed above, and the related activity in these reserves during the three months ended December 31, 2019. The severance reserve was primarily recorded within accrued expenses and other liabilities in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2019.

NOTE E – FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

As required by U.S. GAAP, Ashland uses applicable guidance for defining fair value, the initial recording and periodic remeasurement of certain assets and liabilities measured at fair value and related disclosures for instruments measured at fair value. Fair value accounting guidance establishes a fair value hierarchy, which prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value into three broad levels. The fair value hierarchy gives the highest priority to quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3). An instrument’s categorization within the fair value hierarchy is based upon the lowest level of input that is significant to the instrument’s fair value measurement. The three levels within the fair value hierarchy are described as follows.

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 within 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 Ashland’s own 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 might include Ashland’s own financial data such as internally developed pricing models, discounted cash flow methodologies, as well as instruments for which the fair value determination requires significant management judgment.

For assets that are measured using quoted prices in active markets (Level 1), the total fair value is the published market price per unit multiplied by the number of units held without consideration of transaction costs. Assets and liabilities that are measured using significant other observable inputs (Level 2) are primarily valued by reference to quoted prices of similar assets or liabilities in active markets, adjusted for any terms specific to that asset or liability. For all other assets and liabilities for which unobservable inputs are used (Level 3), fair value is derived using fair value models, such as a discounted cash flow model or other standard pricing models that Ashland deems reasonable.

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The following table summarizes financial instruments subject to recurring fair value measurements as of December 31, 2020.

The following table summarizes financial asset instruments subject to recurring fair value measurements as of September 30, 2020.

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Restricted investments

Investment income and realized gains and losses on these company-restricted investments are reported within the net interest and other expense caption on the Statements of Consolidated Comprehensive Income (Loss). The following table provides a summary of the activity within the investment portfolio as of December 31, 2020 and September 30, 2020:

The following table presents gross unrealized gains and losses for the restricted investment securities as of December 31, 2020 and September 30, 2020:

The following table presents the investment income, net gains and losses realized and disbursements related to the investments within the portfolio for the three months ended December 31, 2020 and 2019.

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Foreign currency derivatives

Ashland conducts business in a variety of foreign currencies. Accordingly, Ashland regularly uses foreign currency derivative instruments to manage exposure on certain transactions denominated in foreign currencies to curtail potential earnings volatility effects on certain assets and liabilities, including short-term inter-company loans, denominated in currencies other than Ashland’s functional currency of an entity. These derivative contracts generally require exchange of one foreign currency for another at a fixed rate at a future date and generally have maturities of less than twelve months. All contracts are valued at fair value with net changes in fair value recorded within the selling, general and administrative expense caption. The impacts of these contracts were largely offset by gains and losses resulting from the impact of changes in exchange rates on transactions denominated in non-functional currencies. The following table summarizes the net gains and losses recognized during the three months ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 within the Statements of Consolidated Comprehensive Income (Loss).

The following table summarizes the fair values of the outstanding foreign currency derivatives as of December 31, 2020 and September 30, 2020 included in accounts receivable and accrued expenses and other liabilities of the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Other financial instruments

At December 31, 2020 and September 30, 2020, Ashland's long-term debt (including the current portion and excluding debt issuance cost discounts) had a carrying value of $1,616 million and $1,588 million, respectively, compared to a fair value of $1,806 million and $1,708 million, respectively. The fair values of long-term debt are based on quoted market prices or, if market prices are not available, the present values of the underlying cash flows discounted at Ashland’s incremental borrowing rates.

NOTE F – INVENTORIES

Inventories are carried at the lower of cost or net realizable value. Inventories are primarily stated at cost using the weighted-average cost method. In addition, certain inventories are valued at cost using the last-in, first-out (LIFO) method.

The following table summarizes Ashland’s inventories as of the reported Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet dates.

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NOTE G – GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLES

Goodwill

Ashland tests goodwill and other indefinite-lived intangible assets for impairment annually as of July 1 and when events and circumstances indicate an impairment may have occurred. Ashland tests goodwill and other indefinite-lived intangible assets for impairment by comparing the estimated fair value of the reporting units (for goodwill) and other indefinite-lived intangible assets to the related carrying value. If the carrying amount of a reporting unit or other indefinite-lived intangible asset exceeds its estimated fair value, Ashland records an impairment loss based on the difference between fair value and carrying amount, in the case of reporting units, not to exceed to the associated carrying amount of goodwill.

Ashland’s assessment of an impairment on any of these assets classified currently as having indefinite lives, including goodwill, could change in future periods if significant events happen and/or circumstances change that effect the previously mentioned assumptions such as: a significant change in projected business results, a divestiture decision, increase in Ashland’s weighted-average cost of capital rates, decrease in growth rates or assumptions, economic deterioration that is more severe or of a longer duration than anticipated, or another significant economic event.

Ashland’s reporting units align with its reportable segments. Ashland determined that its reporting units are Life Sciences, Personal Care & Household, Specialty Additives, Performance Adhesives, and Intermediates and Solvents.  

No indicators of impairment were identified in the first quarter of Fiscal 2021.

The following is a progression of goodwill by reportable segment for the three months ended December 31, 2020.

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Other intangible assets

Intangible assets principally consist of trademarks and trade names, intellectual property and customer and supplier relationships. Intangible assets classified as finite are amortized on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives. The cost of trademarks and trade names is amortized principally over 3 to 25 years, intellectual property over 5 to 25 years, and customer and supplier relationships over 3 to 24 years.

Ashland annually reviews, as of July 1, indefinite-lived intangible assets for possible impairment or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that carrying amounts may not be recoverable.

Trademarks and trade names are valued using a “relief-from-royalty” valuation method compared to the carrying value. No indicators of impairment were identified in the first quarter of Fiscal 2021.

Intangible assets were comprised of the following as of December 31, 2020 and September 30, 2020.

Amortization expense recognized on intangible assets was $21 million for both the three months ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively, and is included in the Intangibles Amortization Expense caption of the Statements of Consolidated Comprehensive Income (Loss). Estimated amortization expense for future periods is $87 million in 2021 (includes three months actual and nine months estimated), $86 million in 2022, $86 million in 2023, $72 million in 2024 and $69 million in 2025. Actual amounts may change from such estimated amounts due to fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates, additional intangible asset acquisitions and divestitures, potential impairment, accelerated amortization, or other events.

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NOTE H – DEBT

The following table summarizes Ashland’s current and long-term debt as of the dates reported in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

The scheduled aggregate maturities of long-term debt by year (including the current portion and excluding debt issuance costs) are as follows as of December 31, 2020: zero remaining in 2021, $421 million in 2022, $22 million in 2023, $44 million in 2024 and $175 million in 2025.

Available borrowing capacity

The borrowing capacity remaining under the 2020 $600 million Revolving Credit Facility was $580 million due to a reduction of $20 million for letters of credit outstanding as of December 31, 2020. Ashland's total borrowing capacity at December 31, 2020 was $694 million, which included $114 million of available capacity from the two accounts receivable securitization facilities.

Covenants related to current Ashland debt agreements

Ashland's debt contains usual and customary representations, warranties and affirmative and negative covenants, including financial covenants for leverage and interest coverage ratios, limitations on liens, additional subsidiary indebtedness, restrictions on subsidiary distributions, investments, mergers, sale of assets and restricted payments and other customary limitations. As of December 31, 2020, Ashland is in compliance with all debt agreement covenant restrictions.

The maximum consolidated net leverage ratio permitted under Ashland's most recent credit agreement (the 2020 Credit Agreement) is 4.0. At December 31, 2020, Ashland’s calculation of the consolidated net leverage ratio was 2.6.

The minimum required consolidated interest coverage ratio under the 2020 Credit Agreement during its entire duration is 3.0. At December 31, 2020, Ashland’s calculation of the interest coverage ratio was 7.8.

NOTE I – LEASING ARRANGEMENTS

Ashland determines if an arrangement is or contains a lease at contract inception and determines its classification as an operating or finance lease at lease commencement. Ashland leases certain office buildings, transportation equipment, warehouses and storage facilities, and equipment. All of Ashland’s leases are operating leases. Real estate leases represent approximately 89% of the total lease liability. Operating lease assets and obligations are reflected within operating lease assets, net; current operating lease obligations; and non-current operating lease obligations captions on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

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Lease expense for these leases is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term, with variable lease payments recognized in the period those payments are incurred. The components of lease cost recognized within our Statements of Consolidated Comprehensive Income (Loss) were as follows:

The following table summarizes Ashland’s lease assets and liabilities as presented in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet:

Ashland often has options to renew lease terms for buildings and other assets.  The exercise of lease renewal options are generally at Ashland’s sole discretion. In addition, certain lease arrangements may be terminated prior to their original expiration date at Ashland’s discretion. Ashland evaluates renewal and termination options at the lease commencement date to determine if it is reasonably certain to exercise the option on the basis of economic factors. The weighted average remaining lease term for operating leases as of December 31, 2020 and September 30, 2020 was approximately 15 years for each period.

Residual value guarantees are not common within Ashland’s lease agreements nor are restrictions or covenants imposed by leases. Ashland has elected the practical expedient to combine lease and non-lease components. The discount rate implicit within the leases is generally not determinable. Therefore, Ashland determines the discount rate based on its incremental borrowing rate.  The incremental borrowing rate is determined using a buildup method resulting in an estimated range of secured borrowing rates matching the lease term and the currency of the jurisdiction in which lease payments are made, adjusted for impacts of collateral.  Consideration was given to Ashland’s own relevant debt issuances as well as debt instruments of comparable companies with similar credit characteristics. The weighted average discount rate used to measure operating lease liabilities as of December 31, 2020 and September 30, 2020 was 2.9%. There are no leases that have not yet commenced but that create significant rights and obligations for Ashland.

Right-of-use assets exchanged for new operating lease obligations were $2 million and less than $1 million for the three months ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of operating lease liabilities:

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Maturity Analysis of Lease Liabilities

Maturities of lease liabilities are shown below as of December 31, 2020 and September 30, 2020:

NOTE J – INCOME TAXES

Current fiscal year

Ashland’s effective tax rate in any interim period is subject to adjustments related to discrete items and the mix of domestic and foreign operating results. The overall effective tax rate was zero for the three months ended December 31, 2020. The current quarter tax rate was impacted by jurisdictional income mix, as well as $13 million from favorable tax discrete items primarily related to the Specialty Additives facility sale.

Prior fiscal year

The overall effective tax rate was a benefit of 240% for the three months ended December 31, 2019. The quarter tax rate was primarily impacted by jurisdictional income mix, as well as $27 million from favorable tax discrete items primarily related to the Swiss Tax Reform.

Unrecognized tax benefits

Changes in unrecognized tax benefits are summarized as follows for the three months ended December 31, 2020.

From a combination of statute expirations and audit settlements in the next twelve months, Ashland expects a decrease in the amount accrued for uncertain tax positions of between $50 million and $60 million for continuing operations. It is reasonably possible that there could be other material changes to the amount of uncertain tax positions due to activities of the taxing authorities, settlement of audit issues or the reassessment of existing uncertain tax positions; however, Ashland is not able to estimate the impact of these items at this time.

NOTE K - EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS

Plan contributions

For the three months ended December 31, 2020, Ashland contributed $2 million to its non-U.S. pension plans and zero to its U.S. pension plans. Ashland expects to make additional contributions of approximately $3 million to its non-U.S. plans and $2 million to its U.S. pension plans during the remainder of fiscal 2021.

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Components of net periodic benefit costs (income)

The following table details the components of pension and other postretirement benefit costs for continuing operations.

For segment reporting purposes, service cost is proportionately allocated to each segment, excluding the Unallocated and other segment, and is recorded within the selling, general and administrative expense and cost of sales captions on the Statements of Consolidated Comprehensive Loss (Income). All other components are recorded within the other net periodic benefit income caption on the Statements of Consolidated Comprehensive Loss (Income).

NOTE L – LITIGATION, CLAIMS AND CONTINGENCIES

Asbestos litigation

Ashland is subject to liabilities from claims alleging personal injury caused by exposure to asbestos. Such claims result from indemnification obligations undertaken in 1990 in connection with the sale of Riley Stoker Corporation (Riley) and the acquisition of Hercules in November 2008. Although Riley, a former subsidiary, was neither a producer nor a manufacturer of asbestos, its industrial boilers contained some asbestos-containing components provided by other companies. Hercules, an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Ashland, has liabilities from claims alleging personal injury caused by exposure to asbestos. Such claims typically arise from alleged exposure to asbestos fibers from resin encapsulated pipe and tank products sold by one of Hercules’ former subsidiaries to a limited industrial market.

To assist in developing and annually updating independent reserve estimates for future asbestos claims and related costs given various assumptions for Ashland and Hercules asbestos claims, Ashland retained Nathan Associates Inc. (Nathan). The methodology used by Nathan to project future asbestos costs is based largely on recent experience, including claim-filing and settlement rates, disease mix, enacted legislation, open claims and litigation defense. The claim experience of Ashland and Hercules are separately compared to the results of previously conducted third party epidemiological studies estimating the number of people likely to develop asbestos-related diseases. Those studies were undertaken in connection with national analyses of the population expected to have been exposed to asbestos. Using that information, Nathan estimates a range of the number of future claims that may be filed, as well as the related costs that may be incurred in resolving those claims. Changes in asbestos-related liabilities and receivables are recorded on an after-tax basis within the discontinued operations caption in the Statements of Consolidated Comprehensive Income (Loss).

Ashland asbestos-related litigation

The claims alleging personal injury caused by exposure to asbestos asserted against Ashland result primarily from indemnification obligations undertaken in 1990 in connection with the sale of Riley. The amount and timing of settlements and number of open claims can fluctuate from period to period. A summary of Ashland asbestos claims activity, excluding Hercules claims, follows.

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