EXHIBIT 99.1

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News Release         Ashland Logo



                                                FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:
                                                Media Relations:
                                                Jim Vitak
                                                (614) 790-3715
                                                jevitak@ashland.com

                                                FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
                                                December 4, 2006


ASHLAND DISTRIBUTION PROVIDES OPTIONS
FOR FORMER DOW PLASTICS CUSTOMERS

DUBLIN,  Ohio - Ashland  Distribution,  a division of Ashland  Inc.  (NYSE:
ASH),  will be advising  customers  that Dow Chemical  Company has provided
notice  of  its  intent  to  terminate   Ashland's   supply  agreement  for
distribution of Dow plastics in North America, effective March 1, 2007.

     "While we regret Dow's decision,  we are prepared to respond quickly,"
said  Ted  Harris,  president,   Ashland  Distribution.   "Because  of  our
partnerships  with a  variety  of  global  plastics  manufacturers,  we are
prepared to offer our customers a range of conversion options to meet their
performance, quality and delivery needs."

     Fiscal 2006  purchases  under this  agreement  totaled  $170  million,
representing  approximately  5  percent  of  Ashland  Distribution's  total
materials  purchases  that year.  The  decision by Dow is specific  only to
plastics distribution in North America.  However, Ashland Distribution also
has a plastics  distribution  contract  with Dow in Europe,  under which it
purchased $60 million of plastics in fiscal 2006, which could at some point
be impacted.

     While a substantial  number of customers may choose to continue  using
Dow  plastics,  especially  initially,  Ashland  will  aggressively  pursue
retention of these customers, with the support of its plastics manufacturer
partners.

     Ashland  Distribution,  a  division  of  Ashland  Inc.,  is a  leading
distributor of chemicals,  plastics,  composite materials and environmental
services.

     Ashland Inc.  (NYSE:  ASH), a diversified,  global  chemical  company,
provides quality products, services and solutions to customers in more than
100 countries. A FORTUNE 500 company, it operates through four wholly owned
divisions: Ashland Performance Materials,  Ashland Distribution,  Valvoline
and  Ashland  Water  Technologies.  To  learn  more  about  Ashland,  visit
www.ashland.com.

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