Ashland Inc. Provides Update on its Agreement to Transfer its Interest in MAP to Marathon Oil Corporation

COVINGTON, Ky., Dec 14, 2004 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ -- In its fiscal 2004 Form 10-K, which was filed today, Ashland Inc. stated that it continues to discuss with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) the complex tax issues related to its previously disclosed agreement to transfer its interest in Marathon Ashland Petroleum LLC (MAP) to Marathon Oil Corporation.

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On March 19, 2004, Ashland announced the signing of an agreement under which it would transfer its 38-percent interest in MAP and two wholly-owned businesses to Marathon in a transaction structured to be generally tax free and valued at approximately $3.0 billion. The two other businesses are Ashland's maleic anhydride business and 61 Valvoline Instant Oil Change centers. The transaction is subject to several previously disclosed conditions, including approval by Ashland's shareholders, consent from Ashland's public debt holders and receipt of a favorable private letter ruling from the IRS with respect to the tax treatment of the transaction. Ashland has filed registration statements and proxy materials with the SEC and is responding to comments. In addition, Ashland submitted a request to the IRS for a private letter ruling on the tax-free status of the proposed transaction. Ashland continues to discuss the complex tax issues related to this transaction with the IRS. Ashland has not resolved all issues with the IRS and is exploring alternatives for the resolution of these issues. At this time, Ashland cannot predict whether the requested rulings will be received. If the requested rulings are not received, the transaction would have to be modified or terminated. In any event, Ashland does not believe that a transaction will close earlier than March 2005.

Ashland Inc. (NYSE: ASH) is a Fortune 500 transportation construction, chemical and petroleum company providing products, services and customer solutions throughout the world. To learn more about Ashland, visit www.ashland.com .

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements, within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These statements include those that refer to Ashland's operating performance, earnings and expectations about the MAP transaction. Although Ashland believes its expectations are based on reasonable assumptions, it cannot assure the expectations reflected herein will be achieved. These forward-looking statements are based upon internal forecasts and analyses of current and future market conditions and trends, management plans and strategies, weather, operating efficiencies and economic conditions, such as prices, supply and demand, cost of raw materials, and legal proceedings and claims (including environmental and asbestos matters) and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties, and assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from those we describe in the forward- looking statements. The risks, uncertainties, and assumptions include the possibility that Ashland will be unable to fully realize the benefits anticipated from the MAP transaction; the possibility of failing to receive a favorable ruling from the Internal Revenue Service; the possibility that Ashland fails to obtain the approval of its shareholders; the possibility that the transaction may not close or that Ashland may be required to modify some aspect of the transaction to obtain regulatory approvals; and other risks that are described from time to time in the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) reports of Ashland. Other factors and risks affecting Ashland are contained in Ashland's Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended Sept. 30, 2004, filed with the SEC and available on Ashland's Investor Relations website at www.ashland.com/investors or the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. Ashland undertakes no obligation to subsequently update or revise the forward-looking statements made in this news release to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this news release.

Additional Information about the MAP Transaction

In connection with the proposed transaction, Ashland filed a preliminary proxy statement on Schedule 14A with the SEC on June 21, 2004 and an amended preliminary proxy statement on Schedule 14A on August 31, 2004. ATB Holdings Inc. and New EXM Inc. filed a registration statement on Form S-4, which includes a further amended preliminary proxy statement/prospectus, with the SEC on October 12, 2004. Investors and security holders are urged to read those documents and any other relevant documents filed or that will be filed with the SEC, including the definitive proxy statement/prospectus regarding the proposed transaction as they become available, because they contain, or will contain, important information. The definitive proxy statement/prospectus will be filed with the SEC by Ashland, and security holders may obtain a free copy of the definitive proxy statement/prospectus when it becomes available, and other documents filed with the SEC by Ashland, including the preliminary proxy statement at the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. The definitive proxy statement/prospectus, and other documents filed with the SEC by Ashland, including the preliminary proxy statement, may also be obtained for free in the SEC filings section on Ashland's Investor Relations website at http://www.ashland.com/investors, or by directing a request to Ashland at 50 E. RiverCenter Blvd., Covington, KY 41012. The respective directors and executive officers of Ashland and other persons may be deemed to be participants in solicitation of proxies in respect of the proposed transaction. Information regarding Ashland's directors and executive officers is available in its proxy statement filed with the SEC by Ashland on December 8, 2003. Investors may obtain information regarding the interests of participants in the solicitation of proxies in connection with the transaction referenced in the foregoing information by reading the definitive proxy statement/prospectus when it becomes available.

SOURCE Ashland Inc.

Media Relations, Jim Vitak, +1-614-790-3715, or
jevitak@ashland.com, or Investor Relations, Bill Henderson, +1-859-815-4454,
or wehenderson@ashland.com, both of Ashland Inc.
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