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STATES</font></div>
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AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</font></div>
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D. C. 20549</font></div>
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8-K</font></div>
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REPORT</font></div>
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to Section 13 or 15(d) of</font></div>
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Securities Exchange Act of 1934</font></div>
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of report (Date of earliest event reported):&#160;&#160;January 26,
2010</font></div>
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INC.</font></div>
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name of registrant as specified in its charter)</font></div>
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other jurisdiction of incorporation)</font></div>
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E. RiverCenter Boulevard, Covington, Kentucky&#160;&#160;41011</font></div>
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Box 391, Covington, Kentucky&#160;&#160;41012-0391</font></div>
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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:</font></div>
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2.02.</font></font><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
&#160;</font></font><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; TEXT-DECORATION: underline"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Results
of Operations and Financial Condition</font></font><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><br></font></font></div>
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              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 13.7pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 18pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 13.7pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">
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                      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">
                        <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">On
January 26, 2010, Ashland Inc. (&#8220;Ashland&#8221;) announced its first quarter results,
which are discussed in more detail in the news release attached hereto as
Exhibit 99.1, which is incorporated by reference into this Item
2.02.</font></div>
                        <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
                        <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">The
information in this report, being furnished pursuant to Item 2.02 of Form 8-K,
shall not be deemed to be &#8220;filed&#8221; for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the &#8220;Exchange Act&#8221;), or otherwise subject to
the liabilities of that Section, and is not incorporated by reference in any
filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except
as expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.</font></div>
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9.01</font>.&#160;&#160;<font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; TEXT-DECORATION: underline">Financial
Statements and Exhibits</font></font></font></div>
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<tr valign="top" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 18pt;">
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          </tr></table>
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<tr>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="5%" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 18pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">99.1</font></font></td>
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    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 13.7pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&#160;</font></div>
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      <div id="FTR">
        <div id="GLFTR" style="WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; COLOR: #000000; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">-2-</font></div>
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      <div id="PN" style="PAGE-BREAK-AFTER: always">
        <div style="WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-ALIGN: center">
        </div>
        <div style="WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&#160;
</font></div>
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      <div id="HDR">
        <div id="GLHDR" style="WIDTH: 100%" align="right">
        </div>
      </div>
    </div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 13.7pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">SIGNATURES</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 12pt">&#160;</div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 12pt">&#160;</div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 20.5pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 20.5pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">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.</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 12pt">&#160;</div>
    <div>
      <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">
<tr>
            <td valign="top" width="40%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
            <td valign="top" width="37%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 13.7pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">ASHLAND
      INC.</font></div>
            </td>
          </tr><tr>
            <td valign="top" width="40%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
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            </td>
          </tr><tr>
            <td valign="top" width="40%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td valign="top" width="37%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
          </tr><tr>
            <td valign="top" width="40%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td valign="top" width="37%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
          </tr><tr>
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      26,&#160;2010</font></font></td>
            <td valign="top" width="37%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 13.7pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">/s/
      Lamar M. Chambers</font></div>
            </td>
          </tr><tr>
            <td valign="top" width="40%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td valign="top" width="37%">
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      M. Chambers</font></div>
            </td>
          </tr><tr>
            <td valign="top" width="40%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td valign="top" width="37%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 13.7pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Senior
      Vice President and</font></div>
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 13.7pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 13.7pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Chief
      Financial Officer</font></div>
              </div>
            </td>
          </tr></table>
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    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 12pt">&#160;</div>
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      </div>
      <div id="PN" style="PAGE-BREAK-AFTER: always">
        <div style="WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-ALIGN: center">
        </div>
        <div style="WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&#160;
</font></div>
      </div>
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        <div id="GLHDR" style="WIDTH: 100%" align="right">
        </div>
      </div>
    </div>
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    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 13.7pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">EXHIBIT
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    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 18pt">&#160;</div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 18pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center">
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          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 18pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
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          </div>
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<tr style="LINE-HEIGHT: 18pt;">
                  <td align="left" valign="top" width="5%" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 18pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">99.1</font></font></td>
                  <td align="left" valign="middle" width="70%" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 18pt">
                    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 13.7pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left">
                      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 13.7pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">News
      Release dated January 26,
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                    </div>
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                </tr></table>
          </div>
          <div align="left">&#160;</div>
          <div align="left">&#160;</div>
        </div><font style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">-4-<br></font></div>
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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):  January 26,
2010
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))
-1-
Item
2.02.
Results
of Operations and Financial Condition
On
January 26, 2010, Ashland Inc. ("Ashland") announced its first quarter results,
which are discussed in more detail in the news release attached hereto as
Exhibit 99.1, which is incorporated by reference into this Item
2.02.
The
information in this report, being furnished pursuant to Item 2.02 of Form 8-K,
shall not be deemed to be "filed" for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), or otherwise subject to
the liabilities of that Section, and is not incorporated by reference in any
filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except
as expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.
Item
9.01
.
Financial
Statements and Exhibits
(d)
Exhibits
99.1
News
      Release dated January 26, 2010.
-2-
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)
January
      26, 2010
/s/
      Lamar M. Chambers
Lamar
      M. Chambers
Senior
      Vice President and
Chief
      Financial Officer
-3-
EXHIBIT
INDEX
99.1
News
      Release dated January 26,
2010.
-4-