Ashland to increase global prices of foam control agents

WILMINGTON, Del. – Ashland Aqualon Functional Ingredients, a commercial unit of Ashland Inc. (NYSE: ASH), is increasing the global price of its Drewplus™, Advantage™ and Logos™ foam control agents and their derivatives by 8 percent effective April 1, 2011.

The price increase is necessary to offset the recent cost increases of key raw materials used to manufacture these products. Responding to changing market conditions allows Ashland to continue to invest in new capacity and product innovation.

Ashland Aqualon Functional Ingredients is a leading producer of hydrocolloids, primarily cellulose ethers, worldwide. It provides specialty additives and functional ingredients that manage the physical properties of aqueous and non-aqueous systems including rheology control, water retention, bonding strength, film formation, conditioning, deposition and stabilization. Many of its products – used in paint and coatings, construction, food, personal care, pharmaceuticals, oil and gas field production and specialty industries – are derived from renewable and natural raw materials.

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 five commercial units – Ashland Aqualon Functional Ingredients, Ashland Hercules Water Technologies, Ashland Performance Materials, Ashland Consumer Markets (Valvoline) and Ashland Distribution.

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