Ashland Inc.: Ashland Inc. enters into $150 million accelerated share repurchase agreement

May 20, 2013

COVINGTON, Ky. - Ashland Inc. (NYSE: ASH) announced today that it has entered into a $150 million accelerated share repurchase agreement (ASR) with Citibank, N.A. Under the ASR, Ashland has agreed to repurchase an aggregate of $150 million of its common stock from Citi, with immediate delivery of approximately 1.3 million shares based on current market prices. The ASR is part of the company's recently announced $600 million common stock repurchase program and reflects Ashland's continued commitment to return capital to its shareholders. 

The total number of shares to be ultimately repurchased by the company under the ASR will be based on Ashland's volume-weighted average stock price during the term of the ASR, less an agreed discount. The term of the ASR is expected to be between one to three months, and the actual number of shares purchased will be determined at the completion of the ASR. The ASR is being funded with cash on hand.

About Ashland
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.

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," "may," "will," "should" and "intends" and the negatives of these words or other comparable terminology. In addition, Ashland may from time to time make forward-looking statements in its 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), 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. Ashland undertakes no obligation to subsequently update any forward-looking statements made in this news release or otherwise except as required by securities or other applicable law.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:
Media Relations:
Gary Rhodes
[phone]
[e-mail] (mailto:[e-mail])

Investor Relations:
Jason Thompson
[phone]
[e-mail] (mailto:[e-mail])

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Source: Ashland Inc. via Thomson Reuters ONE

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