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

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

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1. Name and Address of Reporting Person * ESLER SUSAN B   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 (Last) (First) (Middle) 50 E. RIVERCENTER BOULEVARD 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year) 12/14/2012 (Street) COVINGTON, KY 41012-0391 4. If Amendment, Date 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 (City) (State) (Zip) 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) Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price Restricted Stock 12/14/2012   J(1)   24 A $ 0 7,864 D   Common Stock               978 (2) I 401(k)

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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 Underlying Securities (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 of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)

11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)

Code

V

(A)

(D)

Date Exercisable

Expiration Date

Title

Amount or Number of Shares

Common Stock Units

$ 0 (3)

12/14/2012

J(4)

27

(5)

(5)

Common Stock

27

$ 75.75

9,184

D

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address	Relationships
	Director	10% Owner	Officer	Other
ESLER SUSAN B 50 E. RIVERCENTER BOULEVARD COVINGTON, KY 41012-0391			Vice President

Signatures

/s/ David A. Rines, Attorney-in-Fact		12/17/2012
**Signature of Reporting Person		Date

Explanation of Responses:

*	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).
(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 12-13-12, 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 12-14-12, 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.

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