Newpark Resources Responds to FTC Notification

THE WOODLANDS, Texas, Oct. 23 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Newpark Resources,
Inc. (NYSE: NR) today was informed by the Federal Trade Commission ("FTC")
that they intend to file suit to block the proposed sale of the Company's
environmental services business to CCS, Inc. The FTC stated that it believes
that the proposed sale would be anti-competitive. While the Company has not
been served with the lawsuit papers and expects to comment further upon
reviewing them, Newpark disagrees with the conclusions reached by the FTC and
is currently evaluating its options.
More information regarding the status of this action will be discussed on
Newpark's regularly scheduled third quarter conference call, which will be
broadcast live over the Internet, on Friday, October 31, 2008 at 10:00 a.m.
Eastern Time / 9:00 a.m. Central Time. To participate in the call, dial (303)
262-2137 and ask for the Newpark Resources conference call at least 10 minutes
prior to the start time, or access it live over the Internet at
http://www.newpark.com. For those who cannot listen to the live call, a
replay will be available through November 7, 2008 and may be accessed by
dialing (303) 590-3000 and using pass code 11119474#. Also, an archive of the
webcast will be available shortly after the call at http://www.newpark.com for
90 days.
Newpark Resources, Inc. is a worldwide provider of drilling fluids,
temporary worksites and access roads for oilfield and other commercial
markets, and environmental waste treatment solutions. For more information,
visit our website at http://www.newpark.com.
This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning
of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act that are based on management's
current expectations, estimates and projections. All statements that address
expectations or projections about the future, including Newpark's strategy for
growth, product development, market position, expected expenditures and
financial results are forward-looking statements. Some of the forward-looking
statements may be identified by words like "expects," "anticipates," "plans,"
"intends," "projects," "indicates," and similar expressions. These statements
are not guarantees of future performance and involve a number of risks,
uncertainties and assumptions. Many factors, including those discussed more
fully elsewhere in this release and in documents filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission by Newpark, particularly its Annual Report on Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2007, as well as others, could cause results
to differ materially from those stated. These factors include, but are not
limited to, the access to the credit markets by both Newpark and Newpark's
customers, the outlook for drilling activity in North America and the rest of
the world, Newpark's successful completion of the proposed sale of the
environmental business, the investigation of the certain accounting matters by
the Securities and Exchange Commission; changes in the laws, regulations,
policies and economic conditions, including inflation, interest and foreign
currency exchange rates, of countries in which Newpark does business;
competitive pressures; successful integration of structural changes, including
restructuring plans, acquisitions, divestitures and alliances; cost of raw
materials, research and development of new products, including regulatory
approval and market acceptance; and seasonality of sales of Newpark products.
Newpark's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission can be obtained
at no charge at http://www.sec.gov, as well as through our website at
http://www.newpark.com.
Contacts: James E. Braun, CFO
Newpark Resources, Inc.
281-362-6800

Ken Dennard, Managing Partner
Dennard Rupp Gray & Easterly, LLC
ksdennard@drg-e.com
713-529-6600

SOURCE Newpark Resources, Inc.

James E. Braun, CFO of Newpark Resources, Inc., +1-281-362-6800; or Ken
Dennard, Managing Partner of Dennard Rupp Gray & Easterly, LLC,
+1-713-529-6600, ksdennard@drg-e.com, for Newpark Resources, Inc.