AkzoNobel honors Ashland Specialty Ingredients with 2012 Best Service Award as a top global supplier

Shanghai, China - Ashland Specialty Ingredients, a commercial unit of Ashland Inc. (NYSH: ASH), recently received the 2012 Best Service Award from AkzoNobel, the world's largest coatings manufacturer. The award recognized Ashland's outstanding achievements as a top global supplier in delivering high-quality coating additives solutions while fulfilling application requirements.

The Best Service honor is awarded annually to suppliers in recognition of "world class" performance in the areas of product quality, technical service and supply reliability. Ashland is among the top seven winners this year.

"We're proud to receive AkzoNobel's highest award for suppliers, as it drives us to continue contributing toward their growth and success," said William Zhao, sales director, Ashland Specialty Ingredients China. "Our effective collaboration makes it possible to bring innovative products and solutions more rapidly to the global market."

In addition to supplying rheology products, Ashland works with Akzo to develop new generations of products catering to the local market. "Our coating sales team also scored high on our expertise and outstanding service," says James Huang, sales manager, Coating Specialty, Ashland Specialty Ingredient China.

About Ashland Specialty Ingredients
Ashland Specialty Ingredients offers industry-leading products, technologies and resources for solving formulation and product performance challenges in key markets including personal care, pharmaceutical, food and beverage, coatings and energy. Using natural, synthetic and semi-synthetic polymers derived from plant and seed extract, cellulose ethers and vinyl pyrrolidones, Ashland Specialty Ingredients offers comprehensive and innovative solutions for today's demanding consumer and industrial applications.

About Ashland Inc.
In more than 100 countries, the people of Ashland Inc. (NYSE: ASH) provide the specialty chemicals, technologies and insights to help customers create new and improved products for today and sustainable solutions for tomorrow. Our chemistry is at work every day in a wide variety of markets and applications, including architectural coatings, automotive, construction, energy, food and beverage, personal care, pharmaceutical, tissue and towel, and water treatment. Visit ashland.com to see the innovations we offer through our four commercial units - Ashland Specialty Ingredients, Ashland Water Technologies, Ashland Performance Materials and Ashland Consumer Markets.

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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:

Media Relationsa
Gillian Zhou
86 21 2402 4881
gzhou@ashland.com