Monday, January 26, 2000

American Refining Group announces the purchase of
Valvoline’s Railroad Engine Oil Business

American Refining Group’s Lubricants and Specialty Products Division will manufacture and market zinc free engine oils under the Ashland ^® trademark.

American Refining Group, Inc. (ARG) announced today that it has purchased certain assets from The Valvoline Company, a division of Ashland, Inc. which gives ARG the right to sell zinc free engine oils and other specialty products under the Ashland and Valvoline^® trademarks to the railroad and marine diesel markets. ARG has been producing railroad engine oils for Valvoline for the past year and a half.

Harvey Golubock, President and COO of American Refining Group, stated, "The purchase of the railroad engine oil business from Valvoline is consistent with our vision of being a premier specialty refiner." In a related transaction ARG has been appointed a Valvoline distributor for certain packaged goods that are sold to the railroad engine market.

American Refining Group’s Lubricants and Specialty Products Division is a premier refiner of petroleum specialties and a blender/packager of private label and Gulf ^® and Brad Penn ^® branded lubricants.