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<div style="LINE-HEIGHT: 12.55pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">CURRENT REPORT</font></div>

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<div style="LINE-HEIGHT: 12.55pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of</font></div>

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<div style="LINE-HEIGHT: 12.55pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Date of report (Date of earliest event reported):&#160;&#160;February 18, 2014</font></div>

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<td width="96%"><font style="FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><font style="FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)</font></font></td>
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<div><font style="FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b)&#160;under the Exchange Act </font><font style="FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">(17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))</font></div>
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<div><font style="FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act </font><font style="FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">(17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))&#160;</font></div>
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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">On February 18, 2014, Ashland Inc. (&#8220;Ashland&#8221;) announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to sell its Ashland Water Technologies commercial unit to a fund managed by&#160;Clayton, Dubilier &amp; Rice in a transaction valued at approximately&#160;$1.8 billion. The transaction is expected to close by the end of Ashland&#8217;s fiscal year on September 30, 2014, contingent on certain customary regulatory approvals, standard closing conditions and completion of required employee information and consultation processes.</font></font></font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><font id="TAB1" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 35pt"></font>On February 18, 2014, Ashland also announced that the Board of Directors has authorized a $1.35 billion common stock repurchase program, effective immediately. This new authorization replaces the Company&#8217;s $600 million stock buyback program announced in May 2013, which had approximately $450 million remaining. Under the new program, the Company's common shares may be repurchased in open market transactions, privately negotiated transactions or pursuant to one or more accelerated stock repurchase programs or Rule 10b5-1 plans. The exact amount and timing of any purchases will depend on a number of factors, including trading price, trading volume and general market conditions. The new repurchase program will expire on December 31, 2015.</font></font></font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><font id="TAB1" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 35pt"></font>The transaction and the stock repurchase program are discussed in more detail in the news release attached to this Current Report on Form 8-K as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated by reference into this Item 8.01.</font></font></font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Forward-Looking Statements</font></font></font></div>

<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">This Current Report on Form 8-K contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Ashland has identified some of these forward-looking statements with words such as &#8220;anticipates,&#8221; &#8220;believes,&#8221; &#8220;expects,&#8221; &#8220;estimates,&#8221; &#8220;may,&#8221; &#8220;will,&#8221; &#8220;should&#8221; and &#8220;intends&#8221; and the negatives of these words or other comparable terminology. In addition, Ashland may from time to time make forward-looking statements in its filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), news releases and other written and oral communications. These forward-looking statements are based on Ashland&#8217;s expectations and assumptions, as of the date such statements are made, regarding Ashland&#8217;s future operating performance and financial condition, the economy and other future events or circumstances. Ashland&#8217;s expectations and assumptions include, without limitation, internal forecasts and analyses of current and future market conditions and trends, management plans and strategies, operating efficiencies and economic conditions (such as prices, supply and demand, cost of raw materials, and the ability to recover raw-material cost increases through price increases), and risks and uncertainties associated with the following: Ashland&#8217;s substantial indebtedness (including the possibility that such indebtedness and related restrictive covenants may adversely affect Ashland&#8217;s future cash flows, results of operations, financial condition and its ability to repay debt); the potential sale transactions involving Ashland Water Technologies and the elastomers business (including the possibility that one or both transactions may not occur or that, if a transaction does occur, Ashland may not realize the anticipated benefits from such transaction); the global restructuring program (including the possibility that Ashland may not achieve the anticipated revenue and earnings growth, cost reductions, and other expected benefits from the program); Ashland&#8217;s ability to generate sufficient cash to finance its stock repurchase plans, severe weather, natural disasters, and legal proceedings and claims (including environmental and asbestos matters). Various risks and uncertainties may cause actual results to differ materially from those stated, projected or implied by any forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, risks and uncertainties affecting Ashland that are described in its most recent Form 10-K (including Item 1A Risk Factors) filed with the SEC, which is available on Ashland&#8217;s website at <font style="DISPLAY: inline; TEXT-DECORATION: underline">http://investor.ashland.com</font> or on the SEC&#8217;s website at <font style="DISPLAY: inline; TEXT-DECORATION: underline">www.sec.gov</font>. Ashland believes its expectations and assumptions are reasonable, but there can be no assurance that the expectations reflected herein </font></font></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):  February 18, 2014
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
P.O. Box 391
Covington, Kentucky  41012-0391
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))
Item 8.01
.
Other Events.
On February 18, 2014, Ashland Inc. ("Ashland") announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to sell its Ashland Water Technologies commercial unit to a fund managed by Clayton, Dubilier & Rice in a transaction valued at approximately $1.8 billion. The transaction is expected to close by the end of Ashland's fiscal year on September 30, 2014, contingent on certain customary regulatory approvals, standard closing conditions and completion of required employee information and consultation processes.
On February 18, 2014, Ashland also announced that the Board of Directors has authorized a $1.35 billion common stock repurchase program, effective immediately. This new authorization replaces the Company's $600 million stock buyback program announced in May 2013, which had approximately $450 million remaining. Under the new program, the Company's common shares may be repurchased in open market transactions, privately negotiated transactions or pursuant to one or more accelerated stock repurchase programs or Rule 10b5-1 plans. The exact amount and timing of any purchases will depend on a number of factors, including trading price, trading volume and general market conditions. The new repurchase program will expire on December 31, 2015.
The transaction and the stock repurchase program are discussed in more detail in the news release attached to this Current Report on Form 8-K as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated by reference into this Item 8.01.
Forward-Looking Statements
This Current Report on Form 8-K contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Ashland has identified some of these forward-looking statements with words such as "anticipates," "believes," "expects," "estimates," "may," "will," "should" and "intends" and the negatives of these words or other comparable terminology. In addition, Ashland may from time to time make forward-looking statements in its filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), news releases and other written and oral communications. These forward-looking statements are based on Ashland's expectations and assumptions, as of the date such statements are made, regarding Ashland's future operating performance and financial condition, the economy and other future events or circumstances. Ashland's expectations and assumptions include, without limitation, internal forecasts and analyses of current and future market conditions and trends, management plans and strategies, operating efficiencies and economic conditions (such as prices, supply and demand, cost of raw materials, and the ability to recover raw-material cost increases through price increases), and risks and uncertainties associated with the following: Ashland's substantial indebtedness (including the possibility that such indebtedness and related restrictive covenants may adversely affect Ashland's future cash flows, results of operations, financial condition and its ability to repay debt); the potential sale transactions involving Ashland Water Technologies and the elastomers business (including the possibility that one or both transactions may not occur or that, if a transaction does occur, Ashland may not realize the anticipated benefits from such transaction); the global restructuring program (including the possibility that Ashland may not achieve the anticipated revenue and earnings growth, cost reductions, and other expected benefits from the program); Ashland's ability to generate sufficient cash to finance its stock repurchase plans, severe weather, natural disasters, and legal proceedings and claims (including environmental and asbestos matters). Various risks and uncertainties may cause actual results to differ materially from those stated, projected or implied by any forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, risks and uncertainties affecting Ashland that are described in its most recent Form 10-K (including Item 1A Risk Factors) filed with the SEC, which is available on Ashland's website at
http://investor.ashland.com
or on the SEC's website at
www.sec.gov
. Ashland believes its expectations and assumptions are reasonable, but there can be no assurance that the expectations reflected herein
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will be achieved. Ashland undertakes no obligation to subsequently update any forward-looking statements made in this Current Report on Form 8-K or otherwise except as required by securities or other applicable law.
Item 9.01
.
Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d)
Exhibits
99.1
News Release dated February 18, 2014.
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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 hereunto duly authorized.
ASHLAND INC.
(Registrant)
February 18, 2014
/s/ Peter J. Ganz
Peter J. Ganz
Senior Vice President, General Counsel
and Secretary
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EXHIBIT INDEX
99.1
News Release dated February 18, 2014
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