EX-99.6 7 ex99-6.htm ASHLAND HERCULES WATER TECHNOLOGIES GROSS PROFIT ex99-6.htm
“PRELIMINARY DATA”
 
Exhibit 99.6
(Text of graph posted to Ashland Inc.'s website concerning
 Ashland Hercules Water Technologies gross profit)
 
3 Month Rolling Average (%)*
          
          #    
 
2005
2006
2007
 2008 2009
January
49.0
48.2
39.1
 38.1 31.0
February
49.4
47.5
38.4
 36.4  
March
48.0
47.2
38.8
 37.3  
April
48.2
46.8
39.6
 36.9  
May
47.5
46.6
39.6
 37.8  
June
46.9
45.5
38.2
 37.2
  
July
46.6
42.3
 39.3
 37.1
  
August
47.2
39.6
 39.0
 36.2
  
September
47.2
38.4
 39.7
32.9
  
October
47.4
38.7
 39.0
 33.0
  
November
47.5
39.9
39.8
 31.5  
December
48.5
40.3
 39.3
 32.5  
 

12 Month Rolling Average (%)*
          
          #    
 
2005
2006
2007
 2008 2009
January
48.8
47.6
41.0
 39.0 34.1
February
48.7
47.4
40.5
 38.7  
March
48.5
47.4
40.2
 38.6  
April
48.5
47.2
39.8
 38.3  
May
48.2
47.2
39.4
 38.3  
June
48.0
46.9
38.9
 38.4
  
July
47.9
45.7
 39.2
 37.8
  
August
47.9
44.5
 39.2
37.5
  
September
47.8
43.7
 39.2
36.7
  
October
47.7
43.0
 39.3
 36.3
  
November
47.9
42.4
39.2
 35.3  
December
47.6
41.9
 39.0
 34.8  

*NOTE:  Information from October 2008 and prior does not include the Paper Technologies and Ventures operations of Hercules acquired on November 13, 2008.  The calculated gross profit percentages for November and December of 2008 exclude the impact of purchase accounting inventory step-up adjustments.  August and September 2007 information (and 3 and 12 month rolling averages that contain August and September 2007 information) is affected by the 13 month foreign reporting impact described on the Business Fundamentals page of this website.  In May 2006 Ashland acquired the water treatment business of Degussa AG.
 
# - January 2009 data is currently a preliminary estimate until Ashland completes its monthly close process and files an updated Form 8-K at the end of February 2009.