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                                                                 EXHIBIT (a)(9)

                                                       Contact: Faith Rosenfeld
                                                                 (212) 339-9100

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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                 BEACON TENDERS FOR ALL COMMON SHARES OF AMBAR

New York, New York, July 9, 1996 -- The Beacon Group announced today that its
affiliate, AI Acquisitions Corp., has commenced its previously announced cash
tender offer for all common shares of AMBAR, Inc., of Lafayette, Louisiana
(NASDAQ: AMBR) at a price of $18 per share.


On Tuesday, July 2, 1996, Beacon and AMBAR announced they had entered into a
Merger Agreement which contemplated the cash tender offer commenced today.
Following the successful completion of the tender offer, AI Acquisitions Corp.
will be merged with and into AMBAR.

As previously disclosed, Beacon has also entered into agreements to purchase
the 50% of the outstanding shares of AMBAR owned by Randolph M. Moity, AMBAR's
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer and the 6% of the outstanding
shares of AMBAR owned by Kenneth J. Boutte, an AMBAR Director.

The Board of Directors of AMBAR has approved the tender offer and the merger and
determined that the terms of the offer and the merger are fair to, and in the
best interests of, the Company and its stockholders and has recommended that
AMBAR's stockholders accept the tender offer and tender their shares. The Board
has received the opinion of Raymond James & Co. that the transaction is fair,
from a financial point of view, to AMBAR's stockholders. The consummation of the
tender offer and merger are subject to various conditions, including that at
least 90% of AMBAR's outstanding shares be tendered.

The tender offer is scheduled to expire at 12:00 midnight, New York City time,
on Monday, August 5, 1996, unless extended.

AMBAR designs, blends and markets certain fluids and chemicals, and provides
environmental services, primarily along the Louisiana and Texas Gulf Coast.

The Beacon Group, a private investment firm in New York, manages The Beacon
Group Energy Investment Fund, L.P., a $658 million equity limited partnership
focused on strategic investments in the energy industry, and provides strategic
advisory services to public and private companies.

Georgeson & Company Inc. has been retained by Beacon as Information Agent in
connection with the Offer. Information on the Offer can be obtained by phoning
Georgeson & Company Inc. at (800) 223-2064 (toll free) or (212) 440-9800
(collect).
