Detjen to Lead Ashland Inc. Global ERP Project

COVINGTON, Ky., Jan. 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Larry L. Detjen has been named an Ashland Inc. vice president and selected to lead the implementation of the SAP^® software as the global Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system for Ashland Distribution Company, Ashland Specialty Chemical Company and The Valvoline Company, wholly owned divisions of Ashland Inc. (NYSE: ASH). The announcement was made by Gary A. Cappeline, Ashland Inc. senior vice president and group operating officer, to whom Detjen will now report.

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"The selection and implementation of the SAP^® software will provide Ashland a common system to support instituting common processes across the organization," Cappeline said. He noted, however, that Ashland Paving And Construction, Inc. (APAC, Inc.), the company's transportation construction enterprise, will continue to use J.D. Edwards as its ERP software for the foreseeable future.

The implementation of the SAP^® software project will begin soon and will occur in phases over the next several years.

Detjen, who will lead the effort from definition phase through implementation, has instituted similar programs in Ashland's Valvoline division. His tenure there includes positions as president of VIOC, president of Eagle One and most recently as senior vice president and general manager of Valvoline's DIFM (Do-It-For-Me) business unit.

"I am confident that Larry will make this project a success," said Ashland Inc. Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Jim O'Brien. "His 30 years of experience within Ashland make him the perfect candidate for this assignment."

Ashland Inc. is a Fortune 500 transportation construction, chemical and energy company providing products, services, and customer solutions throughout the world. Through the dedication of our employees, we are "The Who In How Things Work^™." Find us at www.ashland.com .

^™Trademark, Ashland Inc.

^® Registered trademark/service mark, SAP Aktiengesellschaft

SOURCE Ashland Inc.

"Safe Harbor" Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: 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.