EXHIBIT 99.1
NEWS RELEASE
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:
Media Relations: Investor Relations:
Jim Vitak Bill Henderson
(614) 790-3715 (859) 815-4454
jevitak@ashland.com wehenderson@ashland.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 14, 2004
ASHLAND INC. PROVIDES UPDATE ON ITS
AGREEMENT TO TRANSFER ITS INTEREST IN
MAP TO MARATHON OIL CORPORATION
COVINGTON, Ky. - 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.
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
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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.
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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 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.