Franchisees add seven locations to Valvoline Instant Oil Change Franchise System

In the three months between May 15 and August 15, franchisees of Valvoline Instant Oil Change (VIOC) opened six new service centers and converted a company-owned location to bring the total number of VIOC Franchise locations to 331 and boost the overall VIOC population to 688. Twenty-three franchise sites opened between the beginning of the company's fiscal year on October 1, 2001, and mid-August, pushing the system ever closer to its goal of a 50/50 ratio of franchise to company locations.

Three of the new franchise locations marked the entry of VIOC franchisees into the ranks of VIOC operators: Waxhaw, N.C.-based Whitehall Oil Specialist, Inc., operated by Gary Middlebrook, opened its first service center in Mooresville, N.C., on July 29; Clark Consultants, Inc., based in Winchester, Ky., assumed operation of a company-owned service center in Lexington, Ky., on June 12; and Miami Oil Company of Middletown, Ohio, opened its first location on July 22 in Xenia, Ohio. Miami Oil opened a second location two days later in Mason, Ohio.

In addition, a new service center in Brooklyn Park, Md., marked the fourth location for Wellesley, Mass.-based Mid-Atlantic Lube, LLC, operated by franchisee Don Smith. Westminster, Colo.-based Fastrac Lube Center, Inc., operated by Steven Spahn, opened its second location in Centennial, Colo. And Carmel, Ind.-based BIG, Inc., debuted a fourth Indianapolis location, bringing franchisee Don Berger's total to seven service centers.

VIOC's strategic plan for 2002 calls for the addition of 20 franchisees, of which 14 have been signed year-to-date. VIOC expects to add several new franchisees as a result of a new turnkey program in the Dallas/Fort Worth market, where it hopes to grow to 25 locations by acquiring properties and building locations before turning them over to franchisees, thus saving considerable startup time. The first of these franchisees, Phillip and Susan Cerpanya of Mustang Lube & Oil, LLC in Dallas, expect to assume operation of their first location this month.

VIOC has received more than 2,000 inquiries about its Franchise Opportunity this year. Franchise Sales Manager David Young says interest in VIOC's comprehensive program remains high as the trend toward do-it-for-me automotive services continues and as investors seek alternatives to the volatile stock market.

"As more motorists are taking better care of their cars in an effort to hold on to them longer and extend their investment, and as more of these individuals turn to professional service centers to provide that maintenance, we feel confident our system will continue to achieve impressive growth," he says.

About VIOC and the VIOC Franchise Opportunity

With nearly 700 locations nationally, VIOC is one of the nation's largest providers of automotive fluid maintenance services. Its comprehensive program includes draining and replacing motor oil, installing new Valvoline® oil filters and lubricating vehicles, checking tire pressure, air filters, breather filters, windshield wiper blades, radiator caps and brake-fluid levels, and refilling fluids for the power steering, windshield washer, coolant system, transmission, differential and transfer case. Air filter, cap and wiper blade replacements as well as radiator and transmission flushes are available for an additional charge, and all work is backed by a 100-percent satisfaction guarantee.

VIOC also features the proprietary Maximum Vehicle Performance (MVPT) program, a state-of-the-art automated system that lets technicians instantly access manufacturer recommendations for products and service, tracks each vehicle's maintenance history and provides access to it at any VIOC location. Another proprietary program, the hands-on SuperPro® technical certification program, maps out daily operation procedures and doubles as an ongoing, regularly updated reference source.

The VIOC franchise program includes unsurpassed services, products, knowledgeable personnel and technology and targets investors with the sophistication to use these assets to answer the growing demand for "do-it-for-me" automotive services. VIOC is a division of Ashland Inc. (NYSE: ASH), a 78-year-old Fortune 500 company.