Ashland Water Technologies and Dorf Ketal enter strategic distribution partnership

Wilmington, Del. - Ashland Water Technologies, a commercial unit of Ashland Inc. (NYSE: ASH), and Dorf Ketal Chemicals, LLC, a specialty chemicals company serving the downstream refining and petrochemical industries, today announced they have entered a strategic distribution agreement within North America and the Caribbean.

Under the terms of the agreement, Water Technologies will serve as Dorf Ketal's sole distributor in the assigned territory, initially North America and the Caribbean. Ashland Water Technologies and Dorf Ketal intend to accelerate the delivery of innovative products and services to the refining and chemical processing industries. Field engineers and applications specialists from both companies will work together to deliver highly differentiated process and water treatment solutions, as well as documented return on investment, to customers.

"With market-leading positions around the world, Dorf Ketal has demonstrated its ability to rapidly innovate and deliver sustainable solutions to the most difficult challenges facing refiners and chemical producers today," said Matt Knight, president and chief executive officer, Dorf Ketal Chemicals. "As a new entrant to the North American market, we have been looking for a partner that shares our commitment to innovation and service. We believe that Ashland Water Technologies is that partner and will help accelerate our rate of market penetration and growth."

"Our industrial water treatment team has a proven track record of delivering documented return on investment for more than 30 years across all major industries, including refining and petrochemical production," said John Schumann, vice president, industrial water, Ashland Water Technologies. "We take a proactive approach to working with our customers, who are increasingly asking to evaluate the process side of their operations and to deliver value-added solutions. Our partnership with Dorf Ketal will allow us to do just that."

About Dorf Ketal
Dorf Ketal Chemicals LLC is a Delaware-based company and a wholly owned subsidiary of Dorf Ketal Pvt, Ltd., a privately owned specialty chemical company based in Mumbai, India. Globally, Dorf Ketal is the industry's fastest growing provider of formulated specialty chemicals to the downstream hydrocarbon markets. A new product vitality index of over 35 percent, has contributed to sustained and rapid global growth with Dorf Ketal serving many of the world's leading refiners and petrochemical producers.

About Ashland Water Technologies
Ashland Water Technologies is a leading global producer of papermaking chemicals and a leading specialty chemicals supplier to the pulp, paper, food and beverage, chemical processing, refining, petrochemical, mining and municipal markets. Its process, utility and functional chemistries are used to improve operational efficiencies, enhance product quality, protect plant assets and help ensure environmental compliance.

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
Catherine Abernathy
+1 (904) 256-0333
cmabernathy@ashland.com