COVINGTON, Ky., July 13, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ashland Inc. (NYSE:ASH) today announced that on Friday, July 24, at 9 a.m. (EDT), it will conduct a live webcast of its third-quarter earnings presentation to the investment community. The presentation will cover results for the quarter ended June 30, 2009, the third quarter of Ashland's 2009 fiscal year. The company's results will be issued earlier in the day.

In attendance at the presentation will be: James J. O'Brien, chairman and chief executive officer; Lamar M. Chambers, senior vice president and chief financial officer; John E. Panichella, vice president and president, Ashland Aqualon Functional Ingredients; and Eric N. Boni, director, investor relations.

The webcast, which will last approximately 60 minutes, will be accessible through Ashland's Investor Relations website, http://investor.ashland.com. Following the live event, an archived version of the webcast will be available on the Ashland website for 12 months. Minimum requirements to listen to the webcast include the free Windows MediaPlayer software and a 28.8 Kbps connection to the Internet.

Ashland Inc. (NYSE:ASH) provides specialty chemical products, services and solutions for many of the world's most essential needs and industries. Serving customers in more than 100 countries, it operates through five commercial units: Ashland Aqualon Functional Ingredients, Ashland Hercules Water Technologies, Ashland Performance Materials, Ashland Consumer Markets (Valvoline) and Ashland Distribution. To learn more about Ashland, visit www.ashland.com.

CONTACT:  Ashland Inc.
          Media Relations:
          Jim Vitak
            (614) 790-3715
            jevitak@ashland.com
          Investor Relations:
          Eric Boni
            (859) 815-4454
            enboni@ashland.com