Valvoline Inc. Reports First Quarter Results

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Feb 06, 2024, 07:00 ET

Delivers 7.1% system-wide SSS growth and 38 store additions

Sales from continuing operations of $373 million grew 12%, driven by system-wide same store sales (SSS) growth of 7.1%
Reported income from continuing operations of $34 million grew 26% and earnings per diluted share (EPS) of $0.26 increased 73%
Continuing operations adjusted EBITDA of $90 million increased 23% and adjusted EPS of $0.29 increased 81%
Store additions totaled 38 (19 franchised and 19 company-operated) bringing total system-wide stores to 1,890

LEXINGTON, Ky., Feb. 6, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Valvoline Inc. (NYSE: VVV), the quick, easy, trusted leader in preventive automotive maintenance, today reported financial results for its first quarter of fiscal 2024, which ended December 31, 2023. All comparisons in this press release are made to the same prior-year period unless otherwise noted.

"I want to thank our team and franchise partners for their continued hard work to start fiscal 2024," said Lori Flees, President and CEO. "We began the year delivering another quarter of growth with a 7.1% increase in system-wide same-store sales."

"Our network growth is off to a great start for the year with 38 total store additions this quarter, with half coming from franchise," continued Flees. "We also continue to deliver on our commitment to return a substantial amount of the net proceeds from the sale of the Global Products business to shareholders by repurchasing over $170 million of our stock this quarter, with $40 million remaining on the current share repurchase authorization."

Continuing Operations - Operating Results

(In millions, except per share amounts and store counts)	Q1 results	YoY growth
Net revenues	$ 373.4	12 %
Operating income	$ 62.8	114 %
Income from continuing operations^(a)	$ 33.9	26 %
EPS ^(a)	$ 0.26	73 %
Adjusted EPS^(b)	$ 0.29	81 %
Adjusted EBITDA^(b)	$ 90.2	23 %
System-wide store sales^(b)	$ 722.9	12 %
	Q1 results	Quarter change
System-wide stores^(b)	1,890	+38
Company-operated stores	895	+19
Franchised stores^(b)	995	+19
	Q1 - YoY growth
System-wide SSS^(b)	7.1 %


(a)	Includes the effects of certain unusual, infrequent or non-operational activity not directly attributable to the underlying business, which management believes impacts the comparability of operational results between periods ("key items"). These key items are delineated within Table 6 - Non-GAAP Reconciliation - Income from Continuing Operations and Diluted Earnings per Share.
(b)	Refer to Key Business Measures, Use of Non-GAAP Measures, Table 4 - Retail Stores Operating Information, Table 6 - Non-GAAP Reconciliation - Income from Continuing Operations and Diluted Earnings per Share, and Table 7 - Non-GAAP Reconciliation - Adjusted Net Revenues and EBITDA from Continuing Operations for management's definitions of the metrics presented above and reconciliation to the corresponding GAAP measures, where applicable.

Balance Sheet and Cash Flow

Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments balance of $540 million; total debt of $1.6 billion
Continuing operations cash flow from operations of $22 million and free cash flow of $(20) million
Returned $171 million in cash to shareholders via share repurchases, with $40 million remaining on the authorization
Included in net interest expense is income of $8 million earned on invested net proceeds from the sale of Global Products

Outlook

Flees added, "For the first quarter we delivered profitability results consistent with our expectations. We remain on track with our full-year guidance while continuing to make progress across our critical priorities of driving the full potential of our existing business, accelerating network growth, and expanding services to meet the needs of an evolving customer base and car parc."

Conference Call Webcast

Valvoline will host a live audio webcast of its first quarter fiscal 2024 conference call today, February 6, 2024, at 9 a.m. ET. The webcast and supporting materials will be accessible through Valvoline's website at http://investors.valvoline.com. Following the live event, an archived version of the webcast and supporting materials will be available.

Key Business Measures

Valvoline tracks its operating performance and manages its business using certain key measures, including system-wide, company-operated and franchised store counts and SSS; and system-wide store sales. Management believes these measures are useful to evaluating and understanding Valvoline's operating performance and should be considered as supplements to, not substitutes for, Valvoline's net revenues and operating income, as determined in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

Net revenues are influenced by the number of service center stores and the business performance of those stores. Stores are considered open upon acquisition or opening for business. Temporary store closings remain in the respective store counts with only permanent store closures reflected in the activity and end of period store counts. SSS is defined as net revenues by U.S. Valvoline Instant Oil Change ("VIOC") stores (company-operated, franchised and the combination of these for system-wide SSS), with new stores, including franchised conversions, excluded from the metric until the completion of their first full fiscal year in operation as this period is generally required for new store sales levels to begin to normalize.

Net revenues are limited to sales at company-operated stores, in addition to royalties and other fees from independent franchised and Express Care stores. Although Valvoline does not recognize store-level sales from franchised stores as net revenues in its Statements of Condensed Consolidated Income, management believes system-wide and franchised SSS comparisons, store counts, and total system-wide store sales are useful to assess market position relative to competitors and overall store and operating performance.

Use of Non-GAAP Measures

The following non-GAAP measures are included herein: Adjusted net revenues; EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, and adjusted EBITDA margin; adjusted net income and adjusted diluted earnings per share; and free cash flow and discretionary free cash flow. Refer to the tables herein for management's definition of each non-GAAP measure and reconciliation to the most comparable U.S. GAAP measure.

Non-GAAP measures include adjustments from results based on U.S. GAAP that management believes enables comparison of certain financial trends and results between periods and provides a useful supplemental presentation of Valvoline's operating performance that allows for transparency with respect to key metrics used by management in operating the business and measuring performance. These non-GAAP measures have limitations as analytical tools and should not be considered in isolation from, an alternative to, or more meaningful than, the financial results presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP. The financial results presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP and the reconciliations of non-GAAP measures should be carefully evaluated. The manner used to compute the non-GAAP information used by management may differ from the methods used by other companies and may not be comparable.

Refer to the Appendix at the end of this release for descriptions of the adjustments that depart from the computations in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

About Valvoline Inc.

Valvoline Inc. (NYSE: VVV), is the quick, easy, trusted leader in automotive preventive maintenance. Valvoline Inc. is creating shareholder value by driving the full potential in our core business, accelerating network growth and innovating to meet the needs of customers and the evolving car parc. With nearly 1,900 service centers throughout North America, Valvoline Inc. and the Company's franchise partners keep customers moving with our 4.6 out of 5 star* rated service that includes 15-minute stay-in-your-car oil changes; battery, bulb and wiper replacements; tire rotations; and other manufacturer recommended maintenance services. In fiscal year 2023, Valvoline's network delivered approximately 27 million services to generate $1.4 billion in revenue from $2.8 billion in system-wide store sales, marking 17 years of consecutive system-wide same-store sales growth. At Valvoline Inc., it all starts with our people, including our more than 10,000 team members and strong, long-standing franchise partners. We are proud to be a ten-time winner of the BEST Award for training excellence and a top-rated franchisor in our category by Entrepreneur and Franchise Times. To learn more, or to find a service center near you, visit vioc.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements herein, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements may include, without limitation, executing on its growth strategy to create shareholder value by driving the full potential in the Company's core business, accelerating network growth and innovating to meet the needs of customers and the evolving car parc; realizing the benefits from the sale of Global Products; and future opportunities for the remaining stand-alone retail business; and any other statements regarding Valvoline's future operations, financial or operating results, capital allocation, debt leverage ratio, anticipated business levels, dividend policy, anticipated growth, market opportunities, strategies, competition, and other expectations and targets for future periods. Valvoline has identified some of these forward-looking statements with words such as "anticipates," "believes," "expects," "estimates," "is likely," "predicts," "projects," "forecasts," "may," "will," "should," and "intends," and the negative of these words or other comparable terminology. These forward-looking statements are based on Valvoline's current expectations, estimates, projections, and assumptions as of the date such statements are made and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Additional information regarding these risks and uncertainties are described in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), including in the "Risk Factors," "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations," and "Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk" sections of Valvoline's most recently filed periodic reports on Forms 10-K and 10-Q, which are available on Valvoline's website at http://investors.valvoline.com/sec-filings or on the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov. Valvoline assumes no obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements for any reason, even if new information becomes available in the future, unless required by law.

^TM Trademark, Valvoline Inc., or its subsidiaries, registered in various countries
^SM Service mark, Valvoline Inc., or its subsidiaries, registered in various countries
* Based on a survey of more than 900,000 Valvoline Instant Oil Change℠ customers annually

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

Investor Inquiries
Elizabeth B. Russell
+1 (859) 357-3155
[email protected]

Media Inquiries
Angela Davied
[email protected]

Valvoline Inc. and Consolidated Subsidiaries		Table 1
Statements of Consolidated Income
(In millions, except per share amounts - preliminary and unaudited)

	Three months ended
	December 31
	2023	2022
Net revenues	$ 373.4	$ 332.8
Cost of sales	238.6	214.0
Gross profit	134.8	118.8
Selling, general and administrative expenses	74.5	66.0
Net legacy and separation-related expenses	0.1	25.4
Other income, net	(2.6)	(1.9)
Operating income	62.8	29.3
Net pension and other postretirement plan expenses	3.4	3.7
Net interest and other financing expenses	13.6	18.7
Income before income taxes	45.8	6.9
Income tax expense (benefit)	11.9	(20.1)
Income from continuing operations	33.9	27.0
(Loss) income from discontinued operations, net of tax	(2.0)	54.9
Net income	$ 31.9	$ 81.9

Net earnings per share
Basic earnings (loss) per share
Continuing operations	$ 0.26	$ 0.16
Discontinued operations	(0.02)	0.31
Basic earnings per share	$ 0.24	$ 0.47

Diluted earnings (loss) per share
Continuing operations	$ 0.26	$ 0.15
Discontinued operations	(0.02)	0.31
Diluted earnings per share	$ 0.24	$ 0.46

Weighted average common shares outstanding
Basic	131.8	175.2
Diluted	132.7	176.3

Valvoline Inc. and Consolidated Subsidiaries				Table 2
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(In millions - preliminary and unaudited)

			December 31	September 30
			2023	2023
Assets
	Current assets
		Cash and cash equivalents	$ 420.7	$ 409.1
		Receivables, net	83.5	81.3
		Inventories, net	31.5	33.3
		Prepaid expenses and other current assets	55.2	65.5
		Short-term investments	119.7	347.5
	Total current assets		710.6	936.7

	Noncurrent assets
		Property, plant and equipment, net	841.5	818.3
		Operating lease assets	273.1	266.5
		Goodwill and intangibles, net	685.6	680.6
		Other noncurrent assets	198.5	187.8
	Total assets		$ 2,709.3	$ 2,889.9

Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
	Current liabilities
		Current portion of long-term debt	$ 23.8	$ 23.8
		Trade and other payables	77.2	118.7
		Accrued expenses and other liabilities	216.4	215.9
		Current liabilities held for sale	—	3.9
	Total current liabilities		317.4	362.3

	Noncurrent liabilities
		Long-term debt	1,556.8	1,562.3
		Employee benefit obligations	169.9	168.0
		Operating lease liabilities	253.9	247.3
		Other noncurrent liabilities	346.5	346.8
	Total noncurrent liabilities		2,327.1	2,324.4

	Stockholders' equity		64.8	203.2

	Total liabilities and stockholders' equity		$ 2,709.3	$ 2,889.9

Valvoline Inc. and Consolidated Subsidiaries				Table 3
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(In millions - preliminary and unaudited)

			Three months ended
			December 31
			2023	2022
Cash flows from operating activities
	Net income		$ 31.9	$ 81.9
	Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash flows from operating activities:
		Loss (income) from discontinued operations	2.0	(54.9)
		Depreciation and amortization	24.6	18.5
		Deferred income taxes	—	(26.5)
		Stock-based compensation expense	2.4	2.9
		Other, net	1.0	0.6
	Change in operating assets and liabilities		(40.0)	26.0
	Operating cash flows from continuing operations		21.9	48.5
	Operating cash flows from discontinued operations		(2.0)	(57.2)
	Total cash provided by (used in) operating activities		19.9	(8.7)
Cash flows from investing activities
	Additions to property, plant and equipment		(42.3)	(39.9)
	Acquisitions of businesses		(8.3)	(9.6)
	Proceeds from maturities of short-term investments		230.0	—
	Other investing activities, net		(7.1)	1.1
	Investing cash flows from continuing operations		172.3	(48.4)
	Investing cash flows from discontinued operations		—	(8.4)
	Total cash provided by (used in) investing activities		172.3	(56.8)
Cash flows from financing activities
	Proceeds from borrowings		—	250.0
	Repayments on borrowings		(5.9)	(119.4)
	Repurchases of common stock		(171.7)	(87.4)
	Cash dividends paid		—	(21.8)
	Other financing activities		(7.1)	(8.9)
	Financing cash flows from continuing operations		(184.7)	12.5
	Financing cash flows from discontinued operations		—	60.0
	Total cash (used in) provided by financing activities		(184.7)	72.5
	Effect of currency exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash		0.1	2.1
Increase in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash			7.6	9.1
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash - beginning of period			413.1	83.9
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash - end of period			$ 420.7	$ 93.0

Valvoline Inc. and Consolidated Subsidiaries		Table 4
Retail Stores Operating Information
(Preliminary and unaudited)

	Three months ended December 31
	Three months ended December 31
	2023	2022
Sales information
System-wide store sales - in millions^(a)	$ 722.9	$ 644.0
Year-over-year growth^(a)	12.3 %	16.9 %

Same-store sales growth^(b)
Company-operated	6.1 %	12.7 %
Franchised ^(a)	8.0 %	11.2 %
System-wide ^(a)	7.1 %	11.9 %

	Number of stores at end of period
	First Quarter 2024	Fourth Quarter 2023	Third Quarter 2023	Second Quarter 2023	First Quarter 2023
Company-operated	895	876	854	832	813
Franchised ^(a)	995	976	950	949	933

				December 31
				2023	2022
System-wide store count ^(a)				1,890	1,746
Year-over-year growth^(a)				8.2 %	6.8 %


(a)	Measures include Valvoline franchisees, which are independent legal entities. Valvoline does not consolidate the results of operations of its franchisees.
(b)	Valvoline determines SSS growth as sales by U.S. VIOC stores (company-operated, franchised, and the combination of these for system-wide SSS), with new stores, including franchised conversions, excluded from the metric until the completion of their first full fiscal year in operation.

Valvoline Inc. and Consolidated Subsidiaries						Table 5
System-wide Retail Stores
(Preliminary and unaudited)

		Company-operated
		First Quarter 2024	Fourth Quarter 2023	Third Quarter 2023	Second Quarter 2023	First Quarter 2023
Beginning of period		876	854	832	813	790
	Opened	14	14	12	13	17
	Acquired	5	8	8	6	5
	Net conversions between company-operated and franchised	—	—	2	—	2
	Closed	—	—	—	—	(1)
End of period		895	876	854	832	813

		Franchised ^(a)
		First Quarter 2024	Fourth Quarter 2023	Third Quarter 2023	Second Quarter 2023	First Quarter 2023
Beginning of period		976	950	949	933	925
	Opened	19	26	3	16	11
	Acquired^(b)	—	—	—	—	—
	Net conversions between company-operated and franchised	—	—	(2)	—	(2)
	Closed	—	—	—	—	(1)
End of period		995	976	950	949	933

Total system-wide stores^(a)		1,890	1,852	1,804	1,781	1,746


(a)	Measures include Valvoline franchisees, which are independent legal entities. Valvoline does not consolidate the results of operations of its franchisees.
(b)	Represents the acquisition of franchise stores that are new to the Valvoline system by Valvoline Inc.

Valvoline Inc. and Consolidated Subsidiaries			Table 6
Non-GAAP Reconciliation - Income from Continuing Operations and Diluted Earnings per Share
(In millions, except per share amounts - preliminary and unaudited)

		Three months ended
		December 31
		2023	2022
Reported income from continuing operations		$ 33.9	$ 27.0
Adjustments:
	Net pension and other postretirement plan expenses	3.4	3.7
	Net legacy and separation-related expenses^(a)	0.1	25.4
	Information technology transition costs	2.7	0.3
	Suspended operations	—	(0.2)
	Total adjustments, pre-tax	6.2	29.2
	Income tax benefit of adjustments	(1.6)	(27.8)
	Total adjustments, after tax	4.6	1.4
Adjusted income from continuing operations^{(b) (c)}		$ 38.5	$ 28.4

Reported diluted earnings per share from continuing operations		$ 0.26	$ 0.15
Adjusted diluted earnings per share from continuing operations^{(c) (d)}		$ 0.29	$ 0.16

Weighted average diluted common shares outstanding		132.7	176.3


(a)	During the three months ended December 31, 2022, the Company recognized $24.4 million of expense within Net legacy and separation-related expenses in the Statement of Consolidated Income, in addition to an income tax benefit of $26.5 million to reflect its increased indemnity obligation and the release of valuation allowances, respectively, in connection with the amendment of its tax matters agreement with Valvoline's former parent company.
(b)	Adjusted income from continuing operations is defined as income from continuing operations adjusted for the effects of key items. Refer to "Use of Non-GAAP Measures" and the Appendix for management's definition of key items.
(c)	Represents a non-GAAP measure. Refer to "Use of Non-GAAP Measures" and the Appendix for additional details.
(d)	Adjusted diluted earnings per share from continuing operations is defined as diluted earnings per share calculated using adjusted income from continuing operations.

Valvoline Inc. and Consolidated Subsidiaries		Table 7
Non-GAAP Reconciliation - Adjusted Net Revenues and EBITDA from Continuing Operations
(In millions - preliminary and unaudited)

	Three months ended
	December 31
	2023	2022
Reported net revenues	$ 373.4	$ 332.8
Key items:
Suspended operations	—	(0.2)
Adjusted net revenues^{(a) (b)}	$ 373.4	$ 332.6

Income from continuing operations	$ 33.9	$ 27.0
Add:
Income tax expense (benefit)	11.9	(20.1)
Net interest and other financing expenses	13.6	18.7
Depreciation and amortization	24.6	18.5
EBITDA from continuing operations^{(b) (c)}	84.0	44.1
Key items:
Net pension and other postretirement plan expenses	3.4	3.7
Net legacy and separation-related expenses	0.1	25.4
Information technology transition costs	2.7	0.3
Suspended operations	—	(0.2)
Key items - subtotal	6.2	29.2
Adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations^{(b) (c)}	$ 90.2	$ 73.3

Net profit margin^(d)	9.1 %	8.1 %
Adjusted EBITDA margin^{(b) (e)}	24.2 %	22.0 %


(a)	Adjusted net revenues are reported net revenues adjusted for key items.
(b)	Represents a non-GAAP measure. Refer to "Use of Non-GAAP Measures" and the Appendix for additional details.
(c)	EBITDA from continuing operations is defined as Income from continuing operations, plus Income tax expense (benefit), Net interest and other financing expenses, and Depreciation and amortization attributable to continuing operations. Adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations is EBITDA adjusted for key items attributable to continuing operations.
(d)	Net profit margin is defined as reported income from continuing operations divided by reported net revenues.
(e)	Adjusted EBITDA margin is defined as Adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations divided by adjusted net revenues.

Valvoline Inc. and Consolidated Subsidiaries		Table 8
Non-GAAP Reconciliation - Free Cash Flows from Continuing Operations
(In millions - preliminary and unaudited)

Free cash flow^(a)	Three months ended
	December 31
	2023	2022
Total cash flows provided by operating activities from continuing operations	$ 21.9	$ 48.5
Adjustments:
Additions to property, plant and equipment from continuing operations	(42.3)	(39.9)
Free cash flow from continuing operations ^(b)	$ (20.4)	$ 8.6

Discretionary free cash flow^(c)	Three months ended
	December 31
	2023	2022
Total cash flows provided by operating activities from continuing operations	$ 21.9	$ 48.5
Adjustments:
Maintenance additions to property, plant and equipment from continuing operations	(7.0)	(4.3)
Discretionary free cash flow from continuing operations ^(b)	$ 14.9	$ 44.2


(a)	Free cash flow from continuing operations is defined as operating cash flows from continuing operations less capital expenditures of the continuing operations and certain other adjustments attributable to continuing operations, as applicable.
(b)	Represents a non-GAAP measure. Refer to "Use of Non-GAAP Measures" and the Appendix for additional details.
(c)	Discretionary free cash flow from continuing operations is defined as operating cash flows from continuing operations less maintenance capital expenditures of the continuing operations and certain other adjustments attributable to continuing operations, as applicable.

Valvoline Inc. and Consolidated Subsidiaries
Appendix - Description of Non-GAAP Measures and Adjustments

EBITDA Measures

Management believes EBITDA measures provide a meaningful supplemental presentation of Valvoline's operating performance between periods on a comparable basis due to the depreciable assets associated with the nature of the Company's operations, as well as income tax and interest costs related to Valvoline's tax and capital structures, respectively.

Free Cash Flow and Discretionary Free Cash Flow

Management uses free cash flow and discretionary free cash flow as additional non-GAAP metrics of cash flow generation. By including capital expenditures and certain other adjustments, as applicable, management is able to provide an indication of the ongoing cash being generated that is ultimately available for both debt and equity holders as well as other investment opportunities. Free cash flow includes the impact of capital expenditures, providing a supplemental view of cash generation. Discretionary free cash flow includes maintenance capital expenditures, which are routine uses of cash that are necessary to maintain the Company's operations and provides a supplemental view of cash flow generation to maintain operations before discretionary investments in growth. Free cash flow and discretionary free cash flow have certain limitations, including that they do not reflect adjustments for certain non-discretionary cash flows, such as mandatory debt repayments.

Adjusted Net Revenue and Profitability Measures

Adjusted net revenue and profitability measures (i.e., adjusted net income, diluted earnings per share and EBITDA) enable the comparison of financial trends and results between periods where certain items may not be reflective of the Company's underlying and ongoing operational performance or vary independent of business performance.

Key Items

The non-GAAP measures used by management exclude the impact of certain unusual, infrequent or non-operational activity not directly attributable to the underlying business, which management believes impacts the comparability of operational results between periods ("key items"). Key items are often related to legacy matters or market-driven events considered by management to not be reflective of the ongoing operating performance. Key items may consist of adjustments related to: legacy businesses, including the separation from Valvoline's former parent company, the former Global Products reportable segment, and associated impacts of related activity and indemnities; non-service pension and other postretirement plan activity; restructuring-related matters, including organizational restructuring plans, the separation of Valvoline's businesses, significant acquisitions or divestitures, debt extinguishment and modification, and tax reform legislation; in addition to other matters that management considers non-operational, infrequent or unusual in nature.

Refer to the below for descriptions of the key items that comprise the adjustments which depart from the computations in accordance with U.S. GAAP:

Net pension and other postretirement plan expenses: Includes several elements impacted by changes in plan assets and obligations that are primarily driven by the debt and equity markets, including remeasurement gains and losses, when applicable; and recurring non-service pension and other postretirement net periodic activity, which consists of interest cost, expected return on plan assets and amortization of prior service credits. Management considers these elements are more reflective of changes in current conditions in global markets (in particular, interest rates), outside the operational performance of the business, and are also legacy amounts that are not directly related to the underlying business and do not have an impact on the compensation and benefits provided to eligible employees for current service.

Net legacy and separation-related expenses: Activity associated with legacy businesses, including the separation from Valvoline's former parent company and its former Global Products reportable segment. This activity includes the recognition of and adjustments to indemnity obligations to its former parent company; certain legal, financial, professional advisory and consulting fees; and other expenses incurred by the continuing operations in connection with and directly related to these separation transactions and legacy matters. This incremental activity directly attributable to legacy matters and separation transactions is not considered reflective of the underlying operating performance of the Company's continuing operations.

During the three months ended December 31, 2022, the Company recognized $24.4 million of pre-tax expense to reflect its increased estimated indemnity obligation which also resulted in an income tax benefit of $26.5 million to reflect the release of valuations allowances in connection with the amendment of the Tax Matters Agreement with Valvoline's former parent company.

Information technology transition costs: Consists of expenses incurred related to the Company's transition to a stand-alone enterprise resource planning software system during fiscal years 2023 and 2024, including redundant expenses incurred from duplicative technology platforms during implementation. These expenses are reflective of incremental costs directly associated with technology transitions and are not considered to be reflective of the ongoing expenses of operating the Company's technology platforms.

Suspended operations: Represents the results of a former Global Products business where operations were suspended during fiscal 2022. This business was not included in the sale of the Global Products business in March 2023 and was sold during the three months ended December 31, 2023. These results are not indicative of the operating performance of the Company's ongoing continuing operations.

SOURCE Valvoline Inc.