Exhibit 10.18


                     FORM OF RESTRICTED STOCK AGREEMENT


NAME OF COMPANY:                   ASHLAND  INC.

NAME OF PARTICIPANT:

NUMBER OF SHARES OF ASHLAND INC.
    COMMON STOCK

PAR VALUE PER SHARE:               $0.01

VESTING SCHEDULE:                  60% OR XXX ON XXX
                                   40% OR XXX ON XXX


DATE OF AWARD:


     WHEREAS,  Ashland Inc. (hereinafter called "Ashland") desires to award
to the  above-named  Participant  (hereinafter  called the  "Participant"),
________ shares of Ashland Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share, subject
to certain restrictions  (hereinafter called "Restricted Stock"),  pursuant
to the 2006 Ashland Inc. Incentive Plan (hereinafter called the "Plan"), in
order to provide the Participant  with an additional  incentive to continue
his/her  services to Ashland and to continue to work for the best interests
of Ashland;

     NOW, THEREFORE, Ashland hereby confirms this award to the Participant,
as a matter of  separate  agreement  and not in lieu of salary or any other
compensation for services,  of the number of shares of Restricted Stock set
forth above,  subject to and upon all the terms,  provisions and conditions
contained herein and in the Plan, which is incorporated by reference.  Full
details  of the Plan are in the legal  text of the  Plan.  If there are any
differences  between the general  description of the  restrictions  offered
herein and the legal text of the Plan, the Plan governs.

     Your award will be  evidenced  by the  issuance  of  Restricted  Stock
Certificates.  Each  certificate  issued in respect of shares of Restricted
Stock shall be registered in the name of the  Participant,  but held in the
custody of Ashland  along with a copy of an executed  Stock Power (the form
of which is  attached  hereto as Exhibit  A), and shall bear the  following
legend:

     "The  transferability of this certificate and the shares of stock
     represented  hereby  are  subject  to the  terms  and  conditions
     (including  forfeitures)  contained in the Ashland Inc. Incentive
     Plan from which the shares were issued and the Agreement  entered
     into between the registered owner and Ashland Inc."


     The Restricted  Stock will vest according to the Vesting  Schedule and
may not be sold,  assigned,  transferred,  pledged, or otherwise encumbered
(except to the extent  such  shares  shall  have  vested)  until such date.
Unless otherwise  determined and directed by the Personnel and Compensation
Committee (the "Committee"),  in the case of the Participant's  termination
for any reason  prior to the lapse of all  restrictions  on the  Restricted
Stock,  all such  Restricted  Stock which has not vested will be forfeited.
Except for such restrictions described above, the Participant will have all
rights of a  shareholder  with  respect to the shares of  Restricted  Stock
including,  but not limited to, the right to vote and to receive  dividends
if and when paid.

     As the Restricted Stock vests, you will owe applicable  federal income
and employment taxes and state and local income and employment taxes at the
Vesting Date of the shares of Restricted  Stock. The amount of taxes due in
each  instance  is based  on the fair  market  value of the  shares  on the
Vesting Date.

     Nothing  contained in this  Agreement or in the Plan shall confer upon
the Participant any right to remain in the service of Ashland.

     Subject to the terms and conditions  specified herein and of the Plan,
the Restricted  Stock shall be confirmed by execution of this Agreement and
delivery thereof no later than _______________ to Ashland, which is located
at 3499 Blazer Parkway,  Lexington, KY 40509 Attention:  Karen Willett. THE
RIGHT TO THE  RESTRICTED  STOCK UNDER THE PLAN SHALL EXPIRE IF NOT ACCEPTED
BY ______________ AS SET FORTH ABOVE.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF,  ASHLAND has caused this instrument to be executed
and delivered  effective as of the day and year first above  written.  This
Restricted  Stock  Agreement  shall  not be valid  unless  signed by a Vice
President, Human Resources of Ashland.

                                            ASHLAND  INC.
                                            By:


                                            Vice President, Human Resources

I hereby elect to receive my award of Restricted Stock subject to the terms
and  conditions  of the 2006 Ashland Inc.  Incentive  Plan.  My election to
accept the award of Restricted Stock is effective _________________,  which
is the date  that the grant  was  approved  by the  Ashland  Inc.  Board of
Directors.



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{Insert Name}                                                     Date





STOCK POWER                                                       Exhibit A


FOR VALUE RECEIVED, _______________________________________________________

hereby sells, assigns and transfers unto __________________________________

_________________________ (______) Shares of the __________________________

Capital Stock of ____________________ standing in _________________________

name on the books of said _____________ represented by Certificate No._____

herewith and do hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint _________________

attorney  to  transfer  the said  stock on the  books of the  within  named
Company with full power of substitution in the premises.

Dated: __________, ____                 ___________________________________
                                        Participant


                                        Signature Guaranteed By:

                                        Not Required_______________________
                                                        (Name of Bank)


                                        By:________________________________
                                                (Signature of Officer)

                                        ___________________________________
                                                (Title of Officer)

                                        TO BE EXECUTED BY A DULY
                                        AUTHORIZED OFFICER OF THE
                                        BANK