Ashland Inc. announces price increase for global coatings hydroxyethylcellulose (HEC) effective September 1, 2013

Ashland Inc. announces price increase for global coatings hydroxyethylcellulose (HEC) effective September 1, 2013

WILMINGTON, Del. - Ashland Specialty Ingredients, a commercial unit of Ashland Inc. (NYSE: ASH), today announced plans to increase the price of its global coatings hydroxyethylcellulose (HEC) by 6 percent. The increase is effective September 1, 2013, or as contracts allow.

Higher raw material costs are driving this price increase. This price increase is necessary to ensure continued investment in this product area and to support our customers' growth.

Customers who have questions about this increase are asked to contact their Ashland sales representative.

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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:
Media Relations
Lisa Porter
+1 (973) 533-5765
lporter@ashland.com