SEC FORM 4

SEC Form 4

FORM 4

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

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Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person^*

ESLER SUSAN B

(Last)

(First)

(Middle)

50 E. RIVERCENTER BOULEVARD

(Street)

COVINGTON

41012-0391

(City)

(State)

(Zip)

2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
ASHLAND INC. [ ASH ]

5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)

	Director	10% Owner
X	Officer (give title below)	Other (specify below)
	Vice President

3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
06/15/2012

4. If Amendment, Date of Original Filed (Month/Day/Year)

6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line)

X	Form filed by One Reporting Person
	Form filed by More than One Reporting Person

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1. Title of Security (Instr. 3)	2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)		4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed Of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5)			5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4)	6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
1. Title of Security (Instr. 3)	2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	Code	V	Amount	(A) or (D)	Price		6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
Restricted Stock	06/15/2012		J⁽¹⁾		26	A	$0	7,817	D
Common Stock								975⁽²⁾	I	401(k)

Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned (e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3)	2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security	3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)		5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5)		6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year)		7. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security (Instr. 3 and 4)		8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5)	9. Number of derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4)	10. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3)	2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security	3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	Code	V	(A)	(D)	Date Exercisable	Expiration Date	Title	Amount or Number of Shares	8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5)		10. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
Common Stock Units	$0⁽³⁾	06/15/2012		J⁽⁴⁾		31		⁽⁵⁾	⁽⁵⁾	Common Stock	0	$66.44	9,130	D

Explanation of Responses:

1. Restricted Common Stock paid in lieu of cash dividends (exempt pursuant to Rule 16b-3) as required under the terms of the Restricted Stock Agreement dated January 27, 2010. These shares will vest 100% on January 27, 2014.

2. Based on Employee Savings Plan information as of 6-15-12, the latest date for which such information is reasonably available.

3. 1-for-1

4. Common Stock Units acquired pursuant to Ashland's Deferred Compensation Plan (the "Plan") as of 6-15-12, and exempt under Rule 16b-3(d). (One (1) Common Stock Unit in the Deferred Compensation Plan is the equivalent of one (1) share of Ashland Common Stock.)

5. Subject to any deferral election on timing of distribution by the reporting person under the Plan, the Common Stock Units are payable in Common Stock upon the reporting person's in-service distribution election, retirement or other termination.

	/s/ David A. Rines, Attorney-in-Fact	06/19/2012
	** Signature of Reporting Person	Date
Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4 (b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
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