Ashland to raise prices on Vinac™ and Flexbond™ emulsion products

DUBLIN, Ohio – Ashland Performance Materials, a commercial unit of Ashland Inc. (NYSE: ASH), will increase the North American price of emulsion products effective May 1, 2011. Products comprise those sold in the adhesives, coatings, paper, construction, carpet, non-woven and textile markets, and include Vinac™ and Flexbond™ emulsion products.

Prices will increase by three cents per wet pound for all vinyl acetate homopolymer and copolymer; five cents per wet pound for all vinyl acrylic emulsions; and six cents per wet pound for all 100 percent acrylic emulsions.

“This price increase is necessary as the cost of key raw materials, particulary vinyl acetate and acryclic monomers, continues to escalate in a period of tightness in global raw material production,” said Rex Noel, sales manager, Ashland Performance Materials.

Ashland Performance Materials is the global leader in unsaturated polyester resins and epoxy vinyl ester resins.  In addition, it provides customers with leading technologies in gelcoats, and pressure-sensitive and structural adhesives.
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, personal care, pharmaceutical, tissue and towel, and water treatment. Visit www.ashland.com to see the innovations we offer through our four commercial units – Ashland Aqualon Functional Ingredients, Ashland Hercules Water Technologies, Ashland Performance Materials and Ashland Consumer Markets (Valvoline).

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