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<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 12.55pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of</font></div>
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<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 12.55pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Date of report (Date of earliest event reported):&#160;&#160;December 16, 2008</font></div>
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<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 12.55pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;</font></div>
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<td width="96%"><font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"><font style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)</font></font></td></tr><tr>
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<td width="4%"><font style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">[&#160; ]&#160;</font></td>
<td width="96%"><font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"><font style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)</font></font></td></tr><tr>
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<div><font style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b)&#160;under the Exchange Act</font></div>
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<td width="4%"><font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"><font style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">[&#160; ]</font></font></td>
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<div><font style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act</font></div>
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Events</font></font></font></div>
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process has essentially been concluded. The parties are now considering alternative structures.</font></div>
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[{"type": "8-K", "sequence": "1", "filename": "form8k.htm", "description": "FORM 8-K ASHLAND INC.", "secsgml_size_bytes": 24345}]
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form8k.htm
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D. C. 20549
______________
FORM 8-K
______________
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of report (Date of earliest event reported):  December 16, 2008
ASHLAND INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Kentucky
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)
1-32532
20-0865835
(Commission File Number)
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
50 E. RiverCenter Boulevard, Covington, Kentucky  41011
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)
P.O. Box 391, Covington, Kentucky  41012-0391
(Mailing Address)   (Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code (859) 815-3333
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
[  ]
Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
[  ]
Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
[  ]
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act
(17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
[  ]
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act
(17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
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Item 8.01.
Other
Events
On June 18, 2008, Ashland Inc. and Süd-Chemie AG, a global specialty chemicals company headquartered in Munich, Germany, announced a nonbinding memorandum of understanding for a proposed 50-50 joint venture for serving the metal casting industry. Since then, amid ongoing discussions, the preliminary due diligence
process has essentially been concluded. The parties are now considering alternative structures.
Should Ashland and Süd-Chemie complete the negotiation of definitive agreements, targeted for the first half of 2009, closing would further depend upon a number of standard closing conditions, including regulatory review.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange
Act
of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
ASHLAND INC.
(Registrant)
December 16, 2008
/s/ Lamar M. Chambers
Lamar M. Chambers
Senior Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
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