ASHLAND INC. 8-K

What Happened Ashland Inc. filed an 8-K reporting the results of its annual meeting of stockholders held January 20, 2026. A total of 45,762,099 shares (90.94% of outstanding shares eligible to vote) were represented, constituting a quorum. All eight director nominees were elected to serve until the next annual meeting. Votes for directors ranged from 37,690,628 (Steven D. Bishop) down to 36,206,666 (Jerome A. Peribere); there were 3,711,606 broker non-votes. Stockholders also ratified Ernst & Young LLP as Ashland’s independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal 2026 (41,483,293 for) and approved the non‑binding advisory “say-on-pay” on executive compensation (36,593,493 for).

Key Details

• Total shares represented: 45,762,099 (90.94% of shares outstanding eligible to vote).
• Directors elected: 8 nominees (all elected); “For” votes ranged ~36.2M–37.7M; broker non-votes: 3,711,606.
• Auditor ratified: Ernst & Young LLP — 41,483,293 For; 109,138 Against; 24,628 Abstain.
• Say‑on‑pay advisory approved: 36,593,493 For; 1,247,959 Against; 64,001 Abstain.

Why It Matters The filing confirms board continuity and governance outcomes that affect oversight of company strategy and management. Ratification of Ernst & Young ensures the company’s auditor for fiscal 2026, and the approved say‑on‑pay (non‑binding) signals overall shareholder support for Ashland’s executive compensation approach, though a meaningful minority voted against it. Investors tracking board composition, auditor relationships, or shareholder sentiment on pay should note these recorded vote totals and the quorum level reported.