Hillenbrand Industries Announces Formal Board Approval of Separation by Means of Share Distribution and Details for ...( -- Board sets record ...),Health

-- Board sets record date of March 24, 2008

-- Share distribution date set for March 31, 2008

-- Shareholders vote approves Hillenbrand Industries name change to

Hill-Rom Holdings, Inc., at separation; recently created Batesville

Holdings will be re-named Hillenbrand, Inc., at separation -- "Ex-Distribution" and "When Issued" Trading expected to commence March

19, 2008

BATESVILLE, Ind., March 17 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Hillenbrand Industries, Inc. (NYSE: HB) announced today that on March 14, 2008, its Board of Directors formally approved the previously announced tax-free spin-off of Batesville Holdings, Inc., to be the post separation holding company for the Batesville Casket funeral service business. The Board set a record date of March 24, 2008, and a distribution date of March 31, 2008 for the distribution by Hillenbrand Industries to its shareholders of all of the shares of Batesville Holdings.

In addition, Hillenbrand Industries' shareholders approved in a March 13, 2008, special meeting, the change of Hillenbrand Industries, Inc.'s name to Hill-Rom Holdings, Inc. at the time of the separation. At the same time, Batesville Holdings, Inc. will change its name to Hillenbrand, Inc. The new Hill-Rom Holdings will trade on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) under the ticker symbol HRC. The new Hillenbrand, Inc. will trade on the NYSE under the symbol HI.

After the close of business on the distribution date, shareholders of Hillenbrand Industries, Inc. at the close of business on the record date will receive one share of the new Hillenbrand, Inc. (Batesville Holdings) common stock for each share of Hillenbrand Industries common stock
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