Barentz Becomes Exclusive Distributor in Bulgaria and Romania for Ashland Aqualon Functional Ingredients

Barentz Bulgaria and Barentz Romania S.R. are part of the Barentz group with whom Ashland Aqualon Functional Ingredients has successfully developed markets in various other European countries.

30/03/09 Ashland Aqualon Functional Ingredients a commercial unit of Ashland Inc., has entered into an exclusive distribution agreement with Barentz in Bulgaria and Romania effective April 1, 2009.

Barentz will represent AAFI’s full line of products used primarily in the food, pharmaceutical, cosmetic and chemical industries where the following functional properties are desired:

• thickening and rheology control                      
• adhesive strength              
• binding power
• film formation
• protective colloid, suspending and emulsifying action

Barentz Bulgaria and Barentz Romania S.R. are part of the Barentz group with whom Ashland Aqualon Functional Ingredients has successfully developed markets in various other European countries. For more than six years, Barentz has been active in the Bulgarian and Romania markets, and have established Sales and Supply Chain structures covering this part of the Balkan region. The Barentz sales force supporting Ashland’s product portfolio in these countries is comprised of specialists for the coatings and construction markets as well as for pharmaceutical, personal care, animal nutrition and food applications.

Ashland Aqualon Functional Ingredients is a global leader in the production of cellulose ethers and the world’s only producer of refined wood rosin and wood rosin derivatives from stumpwood extracts. Most of its specialty additives and functional ingredients are derived from renewable and natural raw materials and are used to manage the physical properties of aqueous and non-aqueous systems in a wide variety of applications and industries.