The National Oilwell Varco (NOV) board of directors has given final approval for the spin-off of its distribution business. The resulting company will be known as NOW Inc. and will be headquartered in Houston.
NOW separation
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 30 May 2014 (the Distribution Date) to NOV stockholders of record as of the close of business on 22 May 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. Fractional shares of NOW common stock will not be distributed and any fractional share of NOW common stock otherwise issuable to a NOV stockholder will be sold in the open market on such stockholder’s behalf, and such stockholder will receive a cash payment with respect to that fractional share.
Independent company
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.
NOV expects to receive an opinion from its legal counsel to the effect that, based on certain facts, assumptions, representations and undertakings, for US federal income tax purposes, the distribution of NOW common stock and certain related transactions generally will not be taxable to NOV or US holders of NOV common stock, except in respect to cash received in lieu of fractional shares, which generally will be taxable to such holders as capital gain.
Stockholders
No action is required by NOV stockholders in order to receive shares of NOW common stock in the distribution. Stockholders entitled to receive the distribution will receive a book-entry account statement reflecting their ownership of NOW common stock, or their brokerage account will be credited for the shares.
Adapted from press release by Katie Woodward