Ashland's Valvoline Division Completes Car Brite Purchase
Press Release
Ashland's Valvoline Division Completes Car Brite Purchase
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20040113/ASHLANDLOGO )
Car Brite's products -- a broad array of interior and exterior cleaners, paint restorers and protectants and final detail dressings, paints and dyes -- are sold through a dedicated network of more than 100 distributors.
"Car Brite is a premium brand that has earned a great reputation with auto and recreational vehicle (RV) dealerships, auto auctions, detail shops and car washes," says Samuel J. Mitchell, Valvoline president. "This acquisition will help Valvoline expand its customer base and help us achieve our aggressive growth plans," he says.
Car Brite President John Campbell says the sale will benefit both businesses and their customers. "Distributors of Car Brite products will have a much greater opportunity to grow because of the strong brands and marketing power that Valvoline brings to the table," he says.
About Ashland and Valvoline
Ashland Inc. (NYSE: ASH) is a Fortune 500 transportation construction, chemicals and petroleum company providing services and customer solutions throughout the world. Find more information at www.ashland.com .
Valvoline, a division of Ashland Inc., has been serving American motorists longer than any other motor oil company and is a leading innovator and supplier of quality, high-performing automotive and industrial products in more than 100 countries. Best known for its lubricants, Valvoline also markets Eagle One® appearance products, Zerex® antifreeze, SynPower® performance products, Pyroil® automotive chemicals and MaxLife® products created for higher-mileage engines. Valvoline also has a stake in the growing quick-lube market with its Valvoline Instant Oil Change unit. Find more information at www.valvoline.com
About Car Brite
Car Brite was founded in 1947 as a formulator of specialty chemical products and successfully served the Indiana automotive market for 30 years. In 1977, Car Brite was purchased by a group of investors who increased the company's broad range of premium quality products by providing automotive reconditioning premium products and services. Car Brite serves customers in auto and RV dealerships, auto auctions, car washes and detail shops. Car Brite is based in Indianapolis where it also maintains a manufacturing complex. Car Brite products are sold through an exclusive network that includes more than 100 distributors. Visit www.carbrite.com to learn more about the business.
® Registered trademark, Ashland Inc.
SOURCE Ashland Inc.
-0- 05/31/2005
/CONTACT: Media Relations, Jim Vitak of Ashland Inc., +1-614-790-3715, or
jevitak@ashland.com ; or Devin Anderson of E & A Industries, +1-317-684-3150
ext. 101/
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/Company News On-Call: http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/065263.html /
/Web site: http://www.ashland.com
http://www.valvoline.com
http://www.carbrite.com /
(ASH)
CO: Ashland Inc.; Valvoline; E & A Industries; Car Brite
ST: Kentucky, Ohio, Georgia, Indiana
IN: OIL AUT CHM CST TRN
SU: TNM
JE-LA
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0760 05/31/2005 14:08 EDT http://www.prnewswire.com
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Statements in this press release regarding Ashland's business which are not historical
facts are "forward-looking statements" that involve risks and uncertainties. For a
discussion of such risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ from
those contained in the forward-looking statements, see "Risk Factors" in the Company's
Annual Report or Form 10-K for the most recently ended fiscal year.