Purchase strengthens Ashland's
position in high-growth markets and furthers the company's
expansion in sustainable, natural-based specialty
ingredients
July 2, 2015
WILMINGTON, Delaware - Ashland Specialty
Ingredients, a commercial unit of Ashland Inc. (NYSE: ASH) and a
world leader in the production of biofunctional ingredients, today
announced it has signed a definitive agreement to purchase the Zeta
Fraction technology from AkzoNobel. The acquisition broadens
Ashland's value-added portfolio in the personal care,
pharmaceutical, food and beverage, and agriculture markets. The
transaction is expected to be completed during the current fiscal
quarter. Financial terms were not disclosed.
The patented Zeta Fraction process and technology
selectively isolates efficacious components from living plants and
marine sources to produce a wide range of biofunctional
ingredients. Targeted cellular fractions are gently separated based
on unique patented technology, preserving the inherent value of the
plant cell juice. Conventional plant extraction technology
isolates botanical extracts from dried plants and uses external
solvents that limit shelf life stability and reproducibility, among
other limitations.
"As global consumers increasingly ask for more
sophisticated personal-care products, Ashland is bringing
enterprise solutions to finished product manufacturers for
implementation across their product platforms," said James Mish,
group vice president, Consumer Specialties, Ashland Specialty
Ingredients. "This unique, naturally based technology is a catalyst
to expand Ashland's comprehensive expertise in biofunctionals
gained from our Vincience(TM) technology and our core competency in
bioavailability."
Creating enterprise-level solutions in key areas
of consumer care requires leadership in ingredient technology,
applications development, formulations and consumer science.
Ashland has integrated all of these capabilities in-house and has
organized them in a way that enables the company to bring forward
solutions for large-scale adoption and implementation.
"A major challenge in many consumer markets is
bioavailability," Mish continued. "Making actives or
substances more available in a formulated product is essential to a
superior consumer experience. Ashland's objective is to work with
innovative manufacturers of consumer care products at
the early stages of product development, and to deliver
bioavailability solutions that lead to better market opportunities
for customers. This also applies to the pharmaceutical, nutrition,
and agricultural market segments."
During the in-cosmetics show held earlier this
year in Barcelona, Spain, the company provided insight about the
future of products based on enhanced ingredient delivery in skin,
scalp, hair and oral-care applications. At that time, Ashland's
Vincience research center in Sophia Antipolis, France, introduced
Elixiance(TM) biofunctional, a new ecological and sustainable
ingredient for skin-care products to help reduce the effects of
pollution on skin. The Zeta Fraction technology, when combined with
Ashland's ongoing work and recent investments in biofunctionals,
will better position the company for growth in the natural-based
specialty ingredients market.
About Ashland Specialty
Ingredients
Ashland Specialty Ingredients is the leading global producer of
cellulose ethers and a global leader in vinyl pyrrolidones. It
offers industry-leading products, technologies and resources for
solving formulation and product-performance challenges. Using
natural, synthetic and semisynthetic polymers derived from plant
and seed extract, cellulose ethers and vinyl pyrrolidones, as well
as acrylic and polyurethane-based adhesives, Specialty Ingredients
offers comprehensive and innovative solutions for today's demanding
consumer and industrial applications. Key customers include:
pharmaceutical companies; makers of personal care products, food
and beverages; manufacturers of paint, coatings and construction
materials; packaging and converting; and oilfield service
companies. Visit ashland.com to learn more.
About Ashland Inc.
Ashland Inc. (NYSE: ASH) is a global leader in providing specialty
chemical solutions to customers in a wide range of consumer and
industrial markets, including architectural coatings, automotive,
construction, energy, food and beverage, personal care and
pharmaceutical. Through our three commercial units - Ashland
Specialty Ingredients, Ashland Performance Materials and Valvoline
- we use good chemistry to make great things happen for customers
in more than 100 countries. Visit ashland.com to learn more.
- 0 -
C-ASH
Forward-Looking
Statements
This news release contains forward-looking statements within the
meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
Ashland has identified some of these forward-looking statements
with words such as "anticipates," "believes," "expects,"
"estimates," "is likely," "predicts," "projects," "forecasts,"
"may," "will," "should" and "intends" and the negative of these
words or other comparable terminology. In addition, Ashland may
from time to time make forward-looking statements in its annual
report, quarterly reports and other filings with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (SEC), news releases and other written and oral
communications. These forward-looking statements are based on
Ashland's expectations and assumptions, as of the date such
statements are made, regarding Ashland's future operating
performance and financial condition, the economy and other future
events or circumstances. Ashland's expectations and assumptions
include, without limitation, internal forecasts and analyses of
current and future market conditions and trends, management plans
and strategies, operating efficiencies and economic conditions
(such as prices, supply and demand, cost of raw materials, and the
ability to recover raw-material cost increases through price
increases), and risks and uncertainties associated with the
following: Ashland's substantial indebtedness (including the
possibility that such indebtedness and related restrictive
covenants may adversely affect Ashland's future cash flows, results
of operations, financial condition and its ability to repay debt),
the impact of acquisitions and/or divestitures Ashland has made or
may make (including the possibility that Ashland may not achieve
the anticipated benefits from such transactions), the global
restructuring program (including the possibility that Ashland may
not realize the anticipated revenue and earnings growth, cost
reductions and other expected benefits from the program), Ashland's
ability to generate sufficient cash to finance its stock repurchase
plans, severe weather, natural disasters, and legal proceedings and
claims (including environmental and asbestos matters). Various
risks and uncertainties may cause actual results to differ
materially from those stated, projected or implied by any
forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, risks
and uncertainties affecting Ashland that are described in its most
recent Form 10-K (including Item 1A Risk Factors) filed with the
SEC, which is available on Ashland's website at
http://investor.ashland.com or on the SEC's website at
http://www.sec.gov. Ashland believes its expectations and
assumptions are reasonable, but there can be no assurance that the
expectations reflected herein will be achieved. Unless legally
required, Ashland undertakes no obligation to update any
forward-looking statements made in this news release whether as a
result of new information, future event or otherwise.
FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION:
Media Relations
Carolmarie
Brown
+1 (302) 995-3158
ccbrown@ashland.com
Investor Relations
Jason Thompson
+1 (859) 815-3527
jthompson@ashland.com
(TM) Trademark,
Ashland or its subsidiaries, registered in various
countries.
*Trademark owned by AkzoNobel.
This
announcement is distributed by NASDAQ OMX Corporate Solutions on
behalf of NASDAQ OMX Corporate Solutions clients.
The issuer of this announcement warrants that they are solely
responsible for the content, accuracy and originality of the
information contained therein.
Source: Ashland Inc. via Globenewswire
HUG#1933805
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