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): October 29, 2007
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 7.01. Regulation FD Disclosure
On October 29, 2007, Ashland Inc. will include the information contained in exhibits 99.1-99.15, and graphic images thereof, on the “Investor Center” section of its website located at www.ashland.com, or in employee communications.
Ashland is furnishing the information pursuant to the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (“SEC”) Regulation FD. The information contained in exhibits 99.1-99.15 is summary information concerning key metrics for Ashland’s divisional operations and is intended to be considered in the context of Ashland’s SEC filings and other public announcements that Ashland may make from time to time. Included in the financial information are the effects of changes in Ashland’s accounting methodology as a result of the implementation of Ashland’s enterprise resource planning (“ERP”) system. The new ERP system allows Ashland to report income from certain foreign jurisdictions (which were previously on different computer systems) at the same time as United States operations. Previously this information was available only on a one-month lag. As a result of this change, operations in these non-United States jurisdictions will generate thirteen months of sales in fiscal 2007. The change had an effect on sales reported in August on Ashland Form 8-K filed on September 25, 2007, and will have an effect on sales reported on this Form 8-K for September 2007. The effect is as follows for the September 2007 results:
| Exhibit 99.1 | Ashland Distribution Sales/Shipping Day | +1.111 |
| Exhibit 99.2 | Ashland Distribution Revenue | +21 |
| Ashland Distribution Revenue – 12 Month Rolling Average | +2 | |
| Exhibit 99.3 | Ashland Distribution Gross Profit | No change |
| Exhibit 99.4 | Ashland Performance Materials Sales/Shipping Day | +2.193 |
| Exhibit 99.5 | Ashland Performance Materials Revenue | +41.6 |
| Ashland Performance Materials Revenue – 12 Month Rolling | +3.5 | |
| Exhibit 99.6 | Ashland Performance Materials Gross Profit – 3 Month | -0.3% |
| Ashland Performance Materials Gross Profit 12 Month | -0.2% | |
| Exhibit 99.7 | Ashland Water Technologies Sales/Shipping Day | +0.863 |
| Exhibit 99.8 | Ashland Water Technologies Revenue | +16.4 |
| Ashland Water Technologies Revenue – 12 Month Rolling | +1.4 | |
| Exhibit 99.9 | Ashland Water Technologies Gross Profit – 3 Month Rolling | +0.2% |
| Ashland Water Technologies Gross Profit – 12 Month Rolling | No change | |
| Exhibit 99.10 | Valvoline Premium Oil Sales | No change |
| Exhibit 99.11 | Valvoline Revenue | +0.3 |
| Valvoline Revenue – 12 Month Rolling Average | No change | |
| Exhibit 99.12 | Valvoline Gross Profit | No change |
| Exhibit 99.13 | Valvoline Lubricant Gallons | No change |
| Exhibit 99.14 | VIOC 12 Month Rolling Average Sales | No change |
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By filing this report on Form 8-K, Ashland makes no admission as to the materiality of any information in this report. Ashland reserves the right to discontinue the availability of the data in the attached exhibits.
Item 9.01. | Financial Statements and Exhibits |
| (d) | Exhibits |
| 99.1 | Website data concerning Ashland Distribution’s sales per shipping day | ||
| 99.2 | Website data concerning Ashland Distribution’s revenue | ||
| 99.3 | Website data concerning Ashland Distribution’s gross profit | ||
| 99.4 | Website data concerning Ashland Performance Materials’ average sales per shipping day | ||
| 99.5 | Website data concerning Ashland Performance Materials’ revenue | ||
| 99.6 | Website data concerning Ashland Performance Materials’ gross profit | ||
| 99.7 | Website data concerning Ashland Water Technologies’ average sales per shipping day | ||
| 99.8 | Website data concerning Ashland Water Technologies’ revenue | ||
| 99.9 | Website data concerning Ashland Water Technologies’ gross profit | ||
| 99.10 | Website data concerning Valvoline’s premium oil sales | ||
| 99.11 | Website data concerning Valvoline’s revenue | ||
| 99.12 | Website data concerning Valvoline’s gross profit | ||
| 99.13 | Website data concerning Valvoline’s lubricant gallons | ||
| 99.14 | Website data concerning Valvoline Instant Oil Change’s twelve month rolling average sales | ||
| 99.15 | Ashland Distribution's non-GAAP metric information |
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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) |
October 29, 2007 | /s/ J. Marvin Quin |
J. Marvin Quin | |
Senior Vice President | |
and Chief Financial Officer |
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| 99.1 | Website data concerning Ashland Distribution’s sales per shipping day | ||
| 99.2 | Website data concerning Ashland Distribution’s revenue | ||
| 99.3 | Website data concerning Ashland Distribution’s gross profit | ||
| 99.4 | Website data concerning Ashland Performance Materials’ average sales per shipping day | ||
| 99.5 | Website data concerning Ashland Performance Materials’ revenue | ||
| 99.6 | Website data concerning Ashland Performance Materials’ gross profit | ||
| 99.7 | Website data concerning Ashland Water Technologies’ average sales per shipping day | ||
| 99.8 | Website data concerning Ashland Water Technologies’ revenue | ||
| 99.9 | Website data concerning Ashland Water Technologies’ gross profit | ||
| 99.10 | Website data concerning Valvoline’s premium oil sales | ||
| 99.11 | Website data concerning Valvoline’s revenue | ||
| 99.12 | Website data concerning Valvoline’s gross profit | ||
| 99.13 | Website data concerning Valvoline’s lubricant gallons | ||
| 99.14 | Website data concerning Valvoline Instant Oil Change’s twelve month rolling average sales | ||
| 99.15 | Ashland Distribution's non-GAAP metric information |
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