Ashland, Inc.

Chemicals
NYSE: ASH
USA
Ashland

According to its Annual Report filed with the SEC for fiscal year 2013: "Ashland, indirectly through a subsidiary, owns 50% of the equity interests in ASK Chemicals GmbH (ASK), and Ashland has the right to appoint, and has appointed, two out of the five directors on the ASK supervisory board. For the period commencing October 1, 2012 and ending June 30, 2013, two subsidiaries of ASK sold granulate, coatings and hot top products to certain Iranian entities. Based on information available to Ashland, Ashland has reason to believe that some or all of these entities are owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by the Government of Iran. The gross revenues and net profits attributable to such sales during the six months ended March 31, 2013, were approximately €715,000 and €75,000, respectively and during the three months ended June 30, 2013, were approximately €179,500 and €12,700, respectively.


In March 2013, the ASK supervisory board unanimously resolved to terminate and refrain from engaging in, and to cause all of ASK’s subsidiaries to terminate and refrain from engaging in, any transactions or activities with Iran, including transactions or activities prohibited by, or requiring disclosure under, ITRSHRA. Accordingly, ASK and all of its subsidiaries have terminated all business with or in Iran. None of Ashland or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates, including ASK and its subsidiaries, which may be considered affiliates of Ashland, has any intention to continue this activity or engage in any activity prohibited by, or requiring disclosure under, ITRSHRA."

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"Ashland Inc. (ASH), the biggest producer of specialty papermaking chemicals, said a 50-50 joint venture with Switzerland's Clariant AG (CLN) sold products to Iran without the approval of the U.S. government. Units of the ASK Chemicals GmbH venture sold "granulate, coatings and hot top products" from Oct. 1 through March 1 to entities that may be owned or controlled by the Iranian government, Covington, Kentucky-based Ashland said today in its 10-Q filing. The products generated 715,000 euros ($934,000) of sales and 75,000 euros of profit, Ashland said. The products are used in metal casting, said Gary Rhodes, an Ashland spokesman. ASK's supervisory board unanimously voted in March to end transactions with Iran and ASK is terminating all business in the country, Ashland said in the filing." (Bloomberg, "Ashland Says Joint Venture Sold Products to Iran," 5/2/13)