-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, JCYlNxhmYpFt3mOfYkQ1P+Z5tEQBzpSAi05IdEPdHCB4BH9NGhyJnXNq3zQN6s7N joh0yhhJklQg0gVKkxki9A== 0001305014-08-000379.txt : 20081201 0001305014-08-000379.hdr.sgml : 20081201 20081201162157 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0001305014-08-000379 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 8-K/A PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 3 CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 20081126 ITEM INFORMATION: Changes in Registrant.s Certifying Accountant ITEM INFORMATION: Financial Statements and Exhibits FILED AS OF DATE: 20081201 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20081201 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: ASHLAND INC. CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001305014 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: WHOLESALE-CHEMICALS & ALLIED PRODUCTS [5160] IRS NUMBER: 200865835 STATE OF INCORPORATION: KY FISCAL YEAR END: 0930 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 8-K/A SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 001-32532 FILM NUMBER: 081222529 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 50 EAST RIVERCENTER BLVD., 16TH FLOOR CITY: COVINGTON STATE: KY ZIP: 41012 BUSINESS PHONE: 859-815-3483 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 50 EAST RIVERCENTER BLVD., 16TH FLOOR CITY: COVINGTON STATE: KY ZIP: 41012 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: New EXM Inc. DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 20041004 8-K/A 1 form8k.htm FORM 8-K/A ASHLAND INC. form8k.htm


 
 

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D. C. 20549
______________
 
FORM 8-K/A
______________
 
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 1, 2008 (November 26, 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))
 
 
 



 
-1- 
 
 
 

 
This Current Report on Form 8-K/A amends and restates Item 4.01 of the Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 29, 2008, as amended on September 8, 2008 (the “Form 8-K”) regarding a change in registrant’s certifying accountant.
 
Item 4.01.  Change in Registrant’s Certifying Accountant

Effective November 26, 2008, upon the filing of the Ashland Inc. (“Ashland”) annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2008, Ernst & Young LLP (“E&Y") has completed its audit for Ashland’s fiscal year and is no longer Ashland’s independent registered public accounting firm.

As a result of a competitive request for proposal process undertaken by the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors (the “Audit Committee”) of Ashland, on August 25, 2008, the Audit Committee approved the engagement of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (“PwC”) as Ashland’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2009.  PwC was engaged on August 26, 2008.

On August 26, 2008, the Audit Committee notified E&Y that it will be dismissed as Ashland’s independent registered public accounting firm to audit Ashland’s consolidated financial statements, effective upon the completion of its audit for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2008.

No Dissatisfaction with Services:

The change in accountants did not result from any dissatisfaction with the quality of professional services rendered by E&Y.

No Prior Consultation with New Accountant:

During Ashland’s two most recent fiscal years ended September 30, 2007 and 2006 and through August 26, 2008, neither Ashland nor anyone on its behalf has consulted with PwC regarding (i) the application of accounting principles to a specified transaction, either completed or proposed; or the type of audit opinion that might be rendered on Ashland’s financial statements, and neither a written report nor oral advice was provided to Ashland  that PwC concluded was an important factor considered by Ashland in reaching a decision as to the accounting, auditing or financial reporting issue; or (ii) any matter that was either the subject of a “disagreement” (as that term is defined in Item 304(a)(1)(iv) of Regulation S-K and the related instructions to Item 304 of Regulation S-K) or a “reportable event” (as that term is defined in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K).  In deciding to select PwC, the Audit Committee reviewed auditor independence issues and existing commercial relationships with PwC and concluded that PwC has no commercial relationship with Ashland that would impair its independence.

No Adverse Opinion or Disagreement:

E&Y’s reports on Ashland’s consolidated financial statements for fiscal years ended September 30, 2008 and 2007 did not contain an adverse opinion or a disclaimer of opinion, and were not qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principles.  During the fiscal
 

 
-2- 
 
 
 
years ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, and in the subsequent interim period through November 26, 2008, there were (i) no disagreements between Ashland and E&Y on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure or auditing scope or procedure, which disagreement, if not resolved to the satisfaction of E&Y, would have caused E&Y to make reference to the subject matter of the disagreement in its reports on the consolidated financial statements for such years, and (ii) no “reportable events” as that term is defined in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K.

 
Ashland provided E&Y with a copy of this Current Report on Form 8-K/A, and requested that E&Y furnish Ashland with a letter addressed to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission stating whether E&Y agrees with the disclosure contained in this report, or, if not, stating the respects in which it does not agree.  Ashland has received the requested letter from E&Y, and a copy of E&Y’s letter is filed as Exhibit 16.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K/A.
 

Item 9.01.  Financial Statements and Exhibits

 
 
(d)
Exhibits
16.1
Letter of Ernst & Young LLP, dated December 1, 2008, regarding change in independent registered public accounting firm.
 

 
-3-
 
 
 
 
 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 1, 2008 /s/ Lamar M. Chambers 
   Lamar M. Chambers
 
 Senior Vice President and
   Chief Financial Officer
 
 
 
-4-
 
 
 EXHIBIT INDEX
 
 
16.1
 
Letter of Ernst & Young LLP, dated December 1, 2008, regarding change in independent registered public accounting firm.
 

 
-5-
 
 
EX-16.1 2 ex16.htm EXHIBIT 16.1 E&Y LETTER ex16.htm
EXHIBIT 16.1
 
 
December 1, 2008

Securities and Exchange Commission
100 F Street, N.E.
Washington, DC 20549

Gentlemen:

We have read Item 4.01 of Form 8-K/A dated December 1, 2008, of Ashland Inc. and are in agreement with the statements contained in paragraphs 1, 3, 6, and 7 on pages 2 and 3 therein. We have no basis to agree or disagree with other statements of the registrant contained therein.
 
 
/s/ Ernst & Young LLP

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