ASHLAND INC
10-K405, 1995-11-29
PETROLEUM REFINING
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                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                               Washington, D.C. 20549

                                      FORM 10-K

               Annual Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
                           Securities Exchange Act of 1934

                   FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1995

                           Commission file number 1-2918

                                    ASHLAND INC.
                             (a Kentucky corporation)

                                I.R.S. No. 61-0122250
                                  1000 Ashland Drive
                               Russell, Kentucky 41169

                          Telephone Number: (606) 329-3333

                    Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12(b):

                                                      Name of each exchange
     Title of each class                               on which registered
     -------------------                              ------------------------
Common Stock, par value $1.00 per share              New York Stock Exchange
                                                      and Chicago Stock Exchange
Rights to Purchase Cumulative Preferred Stock,       New York Stock Exchange
  Series of 1987                                      and Chicago Stock Exchange
$3.125 Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock        New York Stock Exchange
6 3/4% Convertible Subordinated Debentures,          New York Stock Exchange
  due 2014

                 Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12(g): None

     Indicate  by check  mark  whether  the  Registrant  (1) has  filed all
reports  required  to be filed  by  Section  13 or 15(d) of the  Securities
Exchange  Act of 1934 during the  preceding  12 months (or for such shorter
period that the Registrant was required to file such reports),  and (2) has
been subject to such filing  requirements  for  the  past 90 days. Yes__X__
No ___

     Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent  filers pursuant to
Item  405 of  Regulation  S-K is not  contained  herein,  and  will  not be
contained,  to the best of Registrant's  knowledge,  in definitive proxy or
information  statements  incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form
10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. [ x ]

     At October  31,  1995,  based on the New York Stock  Exchange  closing
price, the aggregate market value of voting stock held by non-affiliates of
the  Registrant  was  approximately  $1,618,029,653.  In  determining  this
amount,  Ashland Inc. has assumed that directors,  certain of its executive
officers,  and persons known to it to be the beneficial owners of more than
five percent of its common stock are affiliates.  Such assumption shall not
be deemed conclusive for any other purpose.

     At October 31,  1995,  there were  63,741,478  shares of  Registrant's
common stock outstanding.

                         Documents Incorporated by Reference

     Portions of Registrant's  Annual Report to Shareholders for the fiscal
year ended  September 30, 1995 are  incorporated  by reference into Parts I
and II.

     Portions of  Registrant's  definitive  Proxy Statement for its January
25, 1996 Annual Meeting of Shareholders  are incorporated by reference into
Part III.

===============================================================================
<PAGE>

                             TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                                                           Page

PART I
   Item 1.    Business ....................................................  1
                       Corporate Developments..............................  1
                       Petroleum...........................................  2
                       SuperAmerica........................................  4
                       Valvoline...........................................  5
                       Chemical............................................  6
                       APAC................................................  7
                       Coal................................................  8
                       Exploration......................................... 10
                       Other Business...................................... 13
                       Miscellaneous....................................... 13
    Item 2.   Properties................................................... 16
    Item 3.   Legal Proceedings............................................ 16
    Item 4.   Submission of Matters to a
                Vote of Security Holders................................... 16
    Item X.   Executive Officers of Ashland................................ 17

PART II
    Item 5.   Market for Registrant's Common Stock and Related
                Security Holder Matters.................................... 18
    Item 6.   Selected Financial Data...................................... 18
    Item 7.   Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
                Condition and Results of Operations........................ 18
    Item 8.   Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.................. 18
    Item 9.   Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants
                on Accounting and Financial Disclosure..................... 18

PART III
    Item 10.  Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant........... 18
    Item 11.  Executive Compensation....................................... 18
    Item 12.  Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial
                Owners and Management...................................... 19
    Item 13.  Certain Relationships and Related Transactions............... 19

PART IV
    Item 14.  Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules and Reports
                on Form 8-K................................................ 19



<PAGE>


                                PART I

ITEM 1. BUSINESS
     Ashland Inc. is a Kentucky corporation, organized on October 22, 1936,
with  its  principal  executive  offices  located  at 1000  Ashland  Drive,
Russell,  Kentucky 41169 (Mailing Address: P.O. Box 391, Ashland,  Kentucky
41114) (Telephone:  (606) 329-3333).  The terms "Ashland" and the "Company"
as used herein  include  Ashland  Inc. and its  consolidated  subsidiaries,
except where the context indicates otherwise.
     Ashland's   businesses  are  grouped  into  seven  industry  segments:
Petroleum,  SuperAmerica,  Valvoline, Chemical, APAC, Coal and Exploration.
Financial  information about these segments for the five fiscal years ended
September  30,  1995 is set  forth on Pages 58 and 59 of  Ashland's  Annual
Report to  Shareholders  for the  fiscal  year  ended  September  30,  1995
("Annual Report").
     Ashland Petroleum is one of the nation's largest independent petroleum
refiners and a leading supplier of petroleum products to the transportation
and commercial fleet industries, other industrial customers and independent
marketers,  and to  SuperAmerica  for  retail  distribution.  In  addition,
Ashland Petroleum  gathers and transports crude oil and petroleum  products
and  distributes  petroleum  products  under  the  Ashland(R)  brand  name.
SuperAmerica operates combination gasoline and merchandise stores under the
SuperAmerica(R)  and  Rich(R)  brand  names.  Valvoline  is a  marketer  of
branded, packaged motor oil and automotive chemicals,  antifreeze, filters,
rust  preventives  and coolants.  In addition,  Valvoline is engaged in the
"fast oil change"  business  through outlets  operating under the Valvoline
Instant Oil Change(R) and Valvoline Rapid Oil Change(R) names.
     Ashland   Chemical   distributes   industrial   chemicals,   solvents,
thermoplastics  and resins,  and fiberglass  materials,  and manufactures a
wide  variety of  specialty  chemicals  and  certain  petrochemicals.  APAC
performs  contract  construction  work including highway paving and repair,
excavation  and grading,  and bridge and sewer  construction,  and produces
asphaltic  and  ready-mix  concrete,  crushed  stone and  other  aggregate,
concrete  block  and  certain  specialized  construction  materials  in the
southern United States.
     Ashland's coal operations are conducted by 54% owned,  publicly traded
Ashland Coal, Inc.  ("Ashland Coal"), a producer of low-sulfur,  bituminous
coal in  central  Appalachia  for sale to  domestic  and  foreign  electric
utility and industrial customers. Ashland also holds a 50% interest in Arch
Mineral Corporation  ("Arch"),  a producer of low sulfur coal and steam and
metallurgical  coal in  Illinois,  Kentucky,  West  Virginia  and  Wyoming.
Ashland  Exploration  explores for, develops,  produces and sells crude oil
and  natural  gas  principally  in the  eastern and Gulf Coast areas of the
United  States,  explores for and produces  crude oil in Nigeria for export
and explores for oil and gas in other international areas.
     At September 30, 1995,  Ashland and its consolidated  subsidiaries had
approximately 32,800 employees (excluding contract employees).

                           CORPORATE DEVELOPMENTS
     During  fiscal  1995,  Ashland  filed a universal  shelf  registration
statement  with  the  Securities  and  Exchange  Commission  to  allow  for
offerings  from time to time of up to $600  million in debt  and/or  equity
securities.  Ashland  has  filed  amendments  to  this  shelf  registration
statement to allow for offerings from time to time of up to $200 million in
medium-term notes and $100 million in shares of Ashland Common Stock. As of
September 30,  1995, $46 million of the medium-term notes and $51.3 million
of Ashland Common Stock (1,428,600 shares) had been issued.
     Columbia  Gas  Transmission  and  Columbia  Gas Systems  (collectively
"Columbia"),  as part of their  reorganization  plans  filed  with the U.S.
Bankruptcy Court in Delaware, included a proposed settlement agreement with
certain gas producers,  including  Ashland,  which resolved  claims between
Ashland and Columbia. The settlement agreement provided that Columbia would
pay Ashland  $78.5  million,  of which 5% would be withheld to  potentially
satisfy claims of other  non-settling  gas producers.  Ashland received its
payment of $74,575,000 in November, 1995.
     Effective  September 30, 1995,  Ashland adopted  Financial  Accounting
Standards  Board  Statement  No. 121,  "Accounting  for the  Impairment  of
Long-Lived  Assets  and for  Long-Lived  Assets  to Be  Disposed  Of." As a
result,  Ashland  recorded an after tax charge of $54 million to write down
certain assets to their fair value.  In addition,  after tax charges of $25
million  related  to  early  retirement  and  restructuring  programs  were
incurred,  reflecting  efforts by Ashland  Petroleum and other divisions to
reduce their costs and improve their competitive positions.


                                       1
<PAGE>

                                    PETROLEUM

     Ashland  Petroleum,  a division of  Ashland,  has  responsibility  for
obtaining Ashland's crude oil requirements,  operating Ashland's refineries
and marketing the refined petroleum products,  and transporting and storing
crude oil and refined products.
CRUDE OIL SUPPLY
     The crude oil processed in Ashland Petroleum's  refineries is obtained
from  negotiated  lease,  contract and spot purchases or exchanges.  During
fiscal  1995,  Ashland  Petroleum's  negotiated  lease,  contract  and spot
purchases of United States crude oil for refinery  input  averaged  110,185
barrels per day (1 barrel = 42 United  States  gallons),  including  94,476
barrels per day which were  acquired  through  Ashland's  Scurlock  Permian
subsidiary.  Purchases from Canada  averaged  87,327 barrels per day during
fiscal 1995,  including  68,303 barrels per day acquired  through  Scurlock
Permian's Canadian subsidiary. The balance of Ashland Petroleum's crude oil
requirements  during fiscal 1995 were met largely  through  purchases  from
various foreign national oil companies and producing  companies.  Purchases
of  foreign  crude  oil  (including  Canada)  represented  68%  of  Ashland
Petroleum's  crude oil  requirements  during  fiscal  1995  compared to 65%
during fiscal 1994.
     Ashland Petroleum's crude oil requirements in fiscal 1996 are expected
to  be  met  through   contract  and  spot  purchases  from  United  States
independent  producers and from various foreign  national oil companies and
traders as worldwide  availability  and prices dictate.  Ashland's share of
Nigerian  production  will either be sold,  traded or used to help  satisfy
part of Ashland  Petroleum's fiscal 1996 crude oil requirements,  depending
upon  world  crude oil  prices  and other  economic  factors.  For  further
information concerning Nigerian production, see  "Exploration-International
Operations."
     In addition to providing crude oil for Ashland Petroleum's refineries,
Scurlock  Permian is actively  engaged in  purchasing,  selling and trading
crude oil, principally at Midland, Texas; Cushing, Oklahoma; and St. James,
Louisiana,  three of the major distribution  points for United States crude
oil.
REFINING AND MARKETING
     Ashland  Petroleum owns and operates three  refineries  located in its
key markets with an aggregate refining capacity of 354,200 barrels of crude
oil per day. The Catlettsburg, Kentucky refinery has a refining capacity of
219,300 barrels per day and the St. Paul Park,  Minnesota and Canton,  Ohio
refineries  have refining  capacities of 69,000  barrels and 65,900 barrels
per day,  respectively.  Ashland  Petroleum's  refineries  are  complex and
include crude oil  atmospheric  and vacuum  distillation,  fluid  catalytic
cracking,  catalytic reforming,  desulfurization and sulfur recovery units.
Each has the  capability  to  process a wide  variety  of crude oils and to
produce normal  refinery  products,  including  reformulated  gasoline.  In
addition, the Catlettsburg refinery is equipped to manufacture  lubricating
oils and a wide range of petrochemicals.
     Ashland  Petroleum's  principal  marketing  area for gasoline and fuel
oils includes the Ohio River  Valley,  the upper  Midwest,  the upper Great
Plains and the southeastern United States. In addition to gasoline and fuel
oils,  Ashland  also  manufactures  and markets  liquified  petroleum  gas,
asphalt  and  asphaltic  products,   pitch,  base  lube  stocks,  kerosene,
petrochemicals, jet fuels, and residual fuels.
     Ashland Petroleum's  production of gasoline,  kerosene, and light fuel
oils  is sold in 21  states  through  wholesale  channels  of  distribution
(including  company owned and exchange  terminals and Ashland  Branded bulk
plants) and at retail through Ashland's retail outlets and Ashland(R) brand
locations.   Gasoline  is  sold  at  wholesale   primarily  to  independent
marketers, jobbers, and chain retailers who resell through several thousand
retail  outlets  primarily  under  their  own  names,  and also  under  the
Ashland(R)  brand  name.  Gasoline,  kerosene,  distillates,  and  aviation
products are also sold to  utilities,  railroads,  river towing  companies,
commercial fleet operators,  aviation and airline  companies,  governmental
agencies and other end users.
     Ashland Petroleum also markets petroleum products under the Ashland(R)
brand name  through a network of 83 (72 owned and 11  leased)  bulk  plants
located  in 5  states.  These  plants  maintain  inventories  of  gasoline,
distillate,  kerosene,  motor  oils,  greases and other  related  products.
Ashland   supplies   71  (60  owned  and  11   leased)   Ashland(R)   brand
lessee-dealers  and  336  reseller  outlets.  In  1994,  Ashland  Petroleum
announced a new program to modernize  and upgrade  Ashland  Branded  retail
marketing.  This program focuses on expanding the Ashland(R)  brand through
an independent  jobber  network.  Several jobbers have committed to the new
program,  and Ashland  Petroleum has sold or  transferred  company owned or
leased bulk plants and stations to some of these  jobbers.  Retail  outlets
will be reimaged,  including  the use of the new  Ashland(R)  brand logo to
improve customer recognition and use of Ashland(R) brand locations. Ashland
Petroleum  currently  plans to  continue  expanding  the  Ashland(R)  brand
through  jobbers,  and company  owned or leased bulk plants will be sold to
jobbers  in the  process.  It also  plans to have  approximately  225 units
reimaged by calendar year-end 1995.

                                       2
<PAGE>


     Sales of gasoline  (excluding excise taxes) represented  approximately
17%, 18% and 20% of Ashland's  consolidated  sales and  operating  revenues
(excluding excise taxes) in fiscal years 1995, 1994 and 1993, respectively.
Sales of crude oil  represented  approximately  7%, 8% and 10% of Ashland's
consolidated  sales and  operating  revenues  (excluding  excise  taxes) in
fiscal years 1995, 1994 and 1993, respectively.
     Ashland   Petroleum  also  produces  and  markets   asphalt   cements,
polymerized  asphalt,  asphalt  emulsions,  and industrial  asphalts in the
United States.  Ashland  Petroleum  markets asphalt  products in 21 states.
Additionally,  Ashland Petroleum  manufactures  petroleum pitch,  primarily
used in the graphite electrode, clay target and refractory industries.
     Ashland Petroleum  produces residual fuels at its three refineries and
markets and sells these  products in nine states,  primarily to  industrial
customers as boiler fuel.
     The table below shows Ashland's refining operations for the last three
fiscal years:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                             Years Ended September 30
                                                                       ------------------------------------
                                                                        1995           1994           1993
                                                                       -----          -----          -----
<S>                                                                    <C>            <C>            <C>
     Refinery Input (In thousands of barrels per day)                  353.8          341.8          339.7
     ------------------------------------------------
     Refinery Production (In thousands of barrels per day)
     -----------------------------------------------------
     Gasoline                                                          176.8          168.0          166.8
     Distillates and Kerosene                                           92.5           90.6           88.6
     Asphalt                                                            31.5           29.3           27.4
     Jet and Turbine Fuel                                               11.1           10.9           12.2
     Heavy Fuel Oils                                                     6.7            7.7            9.0
     Lubricants                                                          7.7            7.6            7.6
     Other                                                              16.8           16.8           17.0
</TABLE>

     The  table  below  shows  the  average  daily  consolidated  sales  of
petroleum  products  and  crude  oil by  Ashland  Petroleum,  SuperAmerica,
Valvoline and Exploration (excluding intercompany sales) for the last three
fiscal years:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                             Years Ended September 30
                                                                       ------------------------------------
                                                                        1995           1994           1993
                                                                       -----          -----          -----
<S>                                                                    <C>            <C>            <C>
     Consolidated Product Sales (In thousands of barrels per day)
     ------------------------------------------------------------
     Gasoline                                                          193.7          181.9          182.1
     Crude Oil                                                         131.8          142.1          150.3
     Distillates and Kerosene                                          102.8           97.0           93.0
     Asphalt                                                            36.8           34.3           31.4
     Jet and Turbine Fuel                                                9.6           10.9           11.2
     Heavy Fuel Oils                                                     7.1            8.4            9.7
     Lubricants                                                         15.0           14.7           15.6
     Other                                                              28.3           23.3           21.3
</TABLE>

TRANSPORTATION AND STORAGE
     Ashland owns,  leases, or has an ownership  interest in 5,790 miles of
pipeline  in 13  states.  This  network  transports  crude oil and  refined
products  to and from  terminals,  refineries  and  other  pipelines.  This
includes 2,287 miles of crude oil gathering lines, 2,987 miles of crude oil
trunk lines, 475 miles of refined product lines and 41 miles of natural gas
liquid lines.
     Ashland has an 18.6%  ownership  interest in LOOP INC.  ("LOOP"),  the
only U.S. deep water port facility capable of receiving crude oil from very
large crude  carriers  and which has a capacity to  off-load  1,000,000  to
1,200,000  barrels per day. Ashland also has a 21.4% ownership  interest in
LOCAP INC.  ("LOCAP") which has a capacity of 1,200,000 barrels per day and
a 21.6% undivided  ownership  interest in the Capline Pipeline System which
has a nominal capacity of 1,175,000  barrels per day. LOCAP owns a pipeline
connecting  LOOP and the  Capline  System  that  originates  at St.  James,
Louisiana.  These port and pipeline systems provide Ashland  Petroleum with
access to common  carrier  transportation  from the Louisiana Gulf Coast to
Patoka,  Illinois. At Patoka, the Capline System connects with other common
carrier  pipelines owned or leased by Ashland which

                                       3

<PAGE>

provide  transportation to Ashland  Petroleum's  refineries in Kentucky and
Ohio. For summarized  financial  statements and information with respect to
advances and transportation payments made by Ashland to LOOP and LOCAP, see
Notes D and G of Notes to  Consolidated  Financial  Statements in Ashland's
Annual Report.
     In addition,  Ashland owns a 33% stock  interest in the Minnesota Pipe
Line Company, which owns a crude oil pipeline in Minnesota.  Minnesota Pipe
Line Company provides Ashland  Petroleum with access to 270,000 barrels per
day of crude oil common carrier  transportation from Clearbrook,  Minnesota
to  Cottage  Grove,  Minnesota,   which  is  in  the  vicinity  of  Ashland
Petroleum's St. Paul Park,  Minnesota  refinery.
     Ashland Petroleum's river transportation operations include 8 towboats
(6 owned,  2 leased)  and 165 barges that  transport  crude oil and refined
products on the Ohio,  Mississippi and Illinois rivers,  their tributaries,
and the Intracoastal  Waterway.  In 1995, Ashland entered into an agreement
with Jeffboat, a division of American Commercial Marine Service Company, to
construct 42 new  double-skin  inland river tank barges.  These barges will
replace current  single-skin  barges owned and operated by Ashland in order
to comply with  requirements  of the Oil  Pollution  Act of 1990.  See also
"Miscellaneous-Governmental     Regulation     and     Action-Environmental
Protection."
     Ashland   Petroleum  leases  on  a  long-term  basis  two  80,000  ton
deadweight  tankers  which are  normally  used for third party  delivery of
foreign crude oil to the United States.  Additional requirements are met by
chartering tankers for individual voyages.
     Ashland Petroleum leases rail cars in various sizes and capacities for
movement of petroleum products and chemicals. Ashland Petroleum also owns a
large number of tractor-trailers, additional trailers, and a large fleet of
tank trucks and general service trucks.
     Ashland  Petroleum  owns or has an interest in 35 terminal  facilities
from which it sells a wide range of petroleum  products.  These  facilities
are supplied by a  combination  of river barge,  pipeline,  truck and rail.
Ashland  Petroleum  also owns or operates a number of other  terminals that
are used in connection  with the  transportation  of petroleum  products or
crude oil.
OTHER MATTERS
     For  information on federal,  state and local statutes and regulations
relating to releases into the environment or protection of the environment,
see   "Miscellaneous-Governmental   Regulation   and   Action-Environmental
Protection." For information relating to certain environmental  litigation,
see "Legal Proceedings-Environmental Proceedings."
     There are traditional seasonal variations in Ashland Petroleum's sales
and operating results.  The seasonality that Ashland Petroleum  experiences
is due primarily to increased demand for gasoline during the summer driving
season,  higher demand for distillate during the winter heating season, and
increased  demand for asphalt from the road paving industry during the last
six months of Ashland's  fiscal year. The refining  industry  experiences a
similar  seasonality.  For  Ashland's  fiscal years 1993 to 1995,  refining
margins  for  Ashland  Petroleum  have  averaged  $3.79 per  barrel for the
six-month  periods  ended  March 31 and $4.53 per barrel for the  six-month
periods ended September 30.


                                SUPERAMERICA

     SuperAmerica  Group, a division of Ashland,  conducts retail petroleum
marketing  operations under the SuperAmerica(R) and Rich(R) names. See also
"Petroleum-Refining and Marketing."
     SuperAmerica(R)  Stores - SuperAmerica operates 609 (507 owned and 102
leased)  combination  gasoline and  merchandise  stores in 11 states in the
Ohio Valley and Upper Midwest under the SuperAmerica(R)  name. These stores
are designed for high volume  sales.  SuperAmerica  stores offer  consumers
gasoline,  diesel fuel at selected locations and a broad mix of other goods
and services such as fresh-baked  goods,  automated teller machines,  video
rentals,   automotive  accessories  and  a  line  of  private-label  items.
SuperAmerica is also adding to its one-stop  shopping concept by partnering
with fast food  chains  including  Taco  Bell,  Subway,  TCBY,  Arby's  and
Blimpies.  During  fiscal  1995,  40% of the  revenues of the  SuperAmerica
stores were derived from the sale of  merchandise  and 60% of such revenues
were derived from the sale of gasoline and diesel fuel.
     SuperAmerica  operates warehouse  distribution centers in Bloomington,
Minnesota,  and Ashland,  Kentucky,  that distribute certain merchandise to
stores.  SuperAmerica also operates a commissary in Russell, Kentucky, that
produces fresh sandwiches,  salads and other food products for distribution
to stores in the Ohio Valley.  A



                                       4

<PAGE>

wholly-owned  subsidiary  of  Ashland  also  operates  a large  bakery  and
commissary in St. Paul Park, Minnesota, under the name SuperMom's(R) Inc.

     In  addition  to the  609  SuperAmerica  stores,  SuperAmerica  has 28
jobber/franchisees who operate 40 stores in 3 states in the upper Midwest.
     Rich(R) Oil -  SuperAmerica  also operates 95 (76 owned and 19 leased)
retail  gasoline  outlets in  Kentucky,  Ohio and West  Virginia  under the
Rich(R) Oil name.  These outlets  generate lower gasoline  volumes than the
average  SuperAmerica  store,  primarily  because the outlets are generally
smaller and located in less-densely-populated areas.




                                      VALVOLINE

     The  Valvoline  Company,  a division  of  Ashland,  is a  marketer  of
automotive and industrial oils,  automotive  chemicals,  and automotive and
environmental  services,  with  sales  in  more  than  140  countries.  The
Valvoline(R)  trademark was federally  registered in 1873 and is the oldest
trademark  for  a  lubricating   oil  in  the  United   States.   See  also
"Petroleum-Refining   and   Marketing."   Valvoline  has   diversified  its
operations  in recent  years and is  comprised  of the  following  business
units:
     Valvoline U.S.A. - In 1995,  Valvoline  combined its Branded Sales and
Car Care  Products  Groups to form  Valvoline  U.S.A.  Prior to the change,
Branded Sales was Valvoline's largest business unit, marketing Valvoline(R)
brand lubricants to the U.S. consumer and commercial fleet markets. The Car
Care Products  Group was  responsible  for marketing the company's  growing
portfolio of automotive  chemical products including  Zerex(R)  antifreeze,
Pyroil(R)  automotive   refrigerants,   and  Pyroil(R)  and  private  label
automotive  chemicals.  The two groups  were  combined  to  improve  sales,
marketing,  and  production  efficiencies  as well as to  better  serve the
company's  network  of U.S.  distributors,  retailers,  and  direct  market
customers.
     During  fiscal  1995,  marketshare  for  Valvoline(R)  brand motor oil
increased;  a new  engine  treatment  product,  TM8,  was  introduced;  and
advertising  and  marketing  for  Zerex(R)  brand  antifreeze,   which  was
purchased from the BASF Corp. in 1994, was revamped.  Although refrigerants
containing  chlorofluorocarbons  are now phased out of  production,  Pyroil
will continue to be a leading supplier of R-12 for air conditioning systems
for older cars until its  inventory of R-12 is depleted.  At the same time,
Pyroil is actively  supporting  an  industry-wide  transition to ozone-safe
refrigerants.
     Valvoline International - Valvoline through wholly-owned subsidiaries,
markets  Valvoline(R)  branded  products  and  TECTYL(R)  rust  preventives
worldwide  and operates  company-owned  affiliates  in  Australia,  Canada,
Denmark,  Great Britain,  the Netherlands,  Sweden,  Germany,  Switzerland,
Austria,  France,  Italy and Belgium.  Licensees  and  distributors  market
products in other parts of Europe, Central and South America, the Far East,
the Middle East and  certain  African  countries.  Packaging  and  blending
plants and  distribution  centers in Australia,  Canada,  Denmark,  Sweden,
Great Britain,  the Netherlands and the United States supply  international
customers.  Through a joint  venture with  Western  India  Petroleum  Ltd.,
Valvoline has announced  plans to construct a blending and packaging  plant
in India before the end of the decade.
     Valvoline Instant Oil Change(R)  ("VIOC") - VIOC is one of the largest
competitors  in the  expanding  U.S.  "fast oil change"  service  business,
providing  Valvoline with a significant  share of the installed  segment of
the  passenger car and light truck motor oil market.  Incorporation  of the
Valvoline name and trademark in VIOC's name,  store signage and advertising
provides an ongoing  Valvoline  presence in the  communities  in which VIOC
stores are located.  As of September  30, 1995,  365  company-owned  and 90
franchise service centers were operating in 14 and 18 states, respectively.
     In 1995,  VIOC  introduced  the "MVP"  (maximum  vehicle  performance)
program to maintain industry leadership in customer-service innovation. MVP
is a computer-based  program that maintains service records on all customer
vehicles,  system-wide.  MVP also  contains a database on all car makes and
models  which  allows  service  recommendations  based  strictly on vehicle
owner's manual recommendations.
     Ecogard,  Inc. - As of September 30, 1995, Ecogard,  Inc., through its
First Recovery division, was collecting used motor oil at an annual rate of
43 million gallons from a network of automotive  aftermarket  retailers and
service  businesses  in 42  states.  Completing  Valvoline's  "total  fluid
management"  approach  to  customer  service,  First  Recovery  provides an
environmental  service  to  Valvoline  U.S.A.  customers,  collecting  used
antifreeze and oil filters as well.




                                       5

<PAGE>

    Lube Refinery  Sales - Valvoline's  Lube Refinery Sales division sells
excess base stock production from the Catlettsburg,  Kentucky lube refinery
to other U.S. motor oil and industrial oil marketers as well as to fuel and
lube additive  companies in the United States. It also markets slack wax, a
lube  byproduct,  through a network of resellers and to other  refiners for
further processing.  The division is also engaged in private label blending
and   packaging   for   other   North   American    refiners.    See   also
"Petroleum-Refining and Marketing."


                                    CHEMICAL

     Ashland  Chemical  Company,  a division of Ashland,  is engaged in the
manufacture,  distribution  and  sale of a wide  variety  of  chemical  and
plastic  products.   Ashland  Chemical  owns  or  leases  45  manufacturing
facilities  in 11 states  and 16  foreign  countries  and owns or leases 94
distribution  facilities  in 33 states  and 11 foreign  countries.  Ashland
Chemical is comprised of the following operations:
DISTRIBUTION
     Industrial  Chemicals  & Solvents  Division  ("IC&S")  - IC&S  markets
chemical  products  and  solvents  to  industrial  chemical  users in major
markets  through  distribution  centers  in the United  States,  Canada and
Puerto Rico. It distributes  approximately  3,500 chemical products made by
many of the nation's  leading chemical  manufacturers,  a growing number of
off-shore  producers,  plus  petrochemicals from Ashland's  refineries.  It
specializes  in  supplying   mixed   truckloads   and   less-than-truckload
quantities  to many  industries  including  the paint and  coatings,  inks,
adhesives, industrial and institutional compounding,  automotive, appliance
and  paper  industries.   In  addition,   IC&S  distributes   cosmetic  and
pharmaceutical   specialty   chemicals   and   food-grade   additives   and
ingredients.  It also offers customers environmental  services,  working in
cooperation  with major  chemical  waste  disposal,  recycling and recovery
companies.
     FRP  Supply  Division - This  division  markets  to  customers  in the
reinforced  plastics and cultured  marble  industries  mixed  truckload and
less-than-truckload  quantities of polyester  resins,  fiberglass and other
specialty  reinforcements,  catalysts and allied products from more than 50
distribution locations throughout North America.
     General  Polymers  Division - This  division  markets a broad range of
thermoplastic  injection  molding and extrusion  materials to processors in
the plastics industry through distribution  locations in the United States,
Canada,  Mexico and Puerto Rico. It also provides plastic material transfer
and  packaging  services  and  less-than-truckload  quantities  of packaged
thermoplastics.  The basic resins business unit markets bulk  thermoplastic
resins to a variety of proprietary processors in North America.
     Ashland  Plastics  Division - This  division  markets a broad range of
thermoplastics  to processors  outside North America.  Ashland Plastics has
distribution  centers located in Australia,  Belgium,  France,  Italy,  the
Netherlands,  Ireland,  New Zealand,  and the United Kingdom and exports to
Latin America from the United States.
SPECIALTY CHEMICALS
     Composite  Polymers Division - This division  manufactures and sells a
broad  range  of  chemical-resistant,  fire-retardant  and  general-purpose
grades of  unsaturated  polyester and vinyl ester resins for the reinforced
plastics  industry.  Key markets include the automotive,  construction  and
marine industries.  It has manufacturing  plants in Colton and Los Angeles,
California;  Bartow,  Florida;  Ashtabula,  Ohio;  Philadelphia and Neville
Island, Pennsylvania and Jacksonville, Arkansas.
     Specialty Polymers & Adhesives  Division - This division  manufactures
and sells  specialty  phenolic resins for paper  impregnation  and friction
material  bonding;  acrylic  polymers  for  pressure  sensitive  adhesives;
emulsion  polymer   isocyanate   adhesives  for  structural  wood  bonding;
polyurethane  and  epoxy  structural   adhesives  for  bonding   fiberglass
reinforced plastics,  composites,  thermoplastics and metals in automotive,
recreational,  and industrial  applications;  induction bonding systems for
thermoplastic  materials;  elastomeric  polymer  adhesives and butyl rubber
roofing  tapes for  commercial  roofing  applications;  and  vapor  curing,
high-performance  urethane coatings systems. It has manufacturing plants in
Calumet City, Illinois; Norwood, New Jersey; and Ashland, Ohio.
     Drew  Ameroid  Marine  Division  - This  division  supplies  specialty
chemicals for water and fuel  treatment and general  maintenance as well as
refrigeration services,  sealing products, welding and refrigerant products
and fire fighting and safety services to the world's merchant marine fleet.
Drew Ameroid Marine currently provides shipboard technical service for more
than 15,000  vessels from 140 locations  serving 800 ports  throughout  the
world.




                                       6

<PAGE>

     Electronic Chemicals Division - This division manufactures and sells a
variety of ultra  high-purity  chemicals  for the  worldwide  semiconductor
manufacturing  industry  through various  manufacturing  locations and also
custom  blends  and  packages  high-purity  liquid  chemicals  to  customer
specifications.  It has manufacturing plants in Newark, California;  Milan,
Italy; Easton, Pennsylvania; and Dallas, Texas. In addition, it also enters
into long-term agreements to provide complete chemical management services,
including  purchasing,  warehousing  and delivering  chemicals for in-plant
use, for major facilities of large consumers of high-purity chemicals.
     Foundry  Products  Division  - This  division  manufactures  and sells
foundry chemicals worldwide,  including a complete line of foundry binders,
core and mold coatings,  sand additives,  mold releases,  core pastes,  die
lubes and  other  specialties.  It has two  domestic  manufacturing  plants
located in  Cleveland,  Ohio and 18  foreign  subsidiaries  and  affiliates
manufacturing  and/or marketing foundry and other chemicals.  It also has a
metals  applications  laboratory as part of the company's technical center,
which is used for test castings and mold and core material testing.
     Drew  Industrial   Division  -  This  division  supplies   specialized
chemicals  and  consulting  services  for the  treatment  of boiler  water,
cooling  water,  steam,  fuel and waste streams.  It also supplies  process
chemicals  and  technical  services  to  the  pulp  and  paper  and  mining
industries  and also supplies  additives  used in  manufacturing  latex and
paints. It conducts operations throughout North America, Europe and the Far
East through  subsidiaries,  joint venture companies and distributors.  The
division has  manufacturing  plants in Kansas  City,  Kansas;  Kearny,  New
Jersey; Houston, Texas; Ajax, Ontario, Canada; and Singapore.
PETROCHEMICALS
     This  division  markets  aromatic  hydrocarbons,  principally  cumene,
toluene,   xylene,  and  aromatic  and  aliphatic  solvents  and  propylene
manufactured at facilities located at the Catlettsburg,  Kentucky refinery.
It manufactures maleic anhydride at Neal, West Virginia and Neville Island,
Pennsylvania and methanol near Plaquemine, Louisiana.
OTHER MATTERS
     Melamine Chemicals, Inc. ("MCI") - Ashland owns 23% of the outstanding
common stock of MCI, a public company (NASDAQ:MTWO).  MCI produces melamine
at its Donaldsonville, Louisiana plant and sells it to customers throughout
the world.  Melamine is a specialty chemical having numerous industrial and
commercial applications.
     For information relating to the Comprehensive  Environmental  Response
Compensation  and Liability Act ("CERCLA") and the Superfund  Amendment and
Reauthorization Act of 1986 ("SARA") (CERCLA and SARA hereinafter sometimes
referred to collectively as "Superfund"), and the Resource Conservation and
Recovery  Act  ("RCRA"),  see  "Miscellaneous-Governmental  Regulation  and
Action-Environmental Protection."




                                     APAC

     The APAC group of companies,  which are located in 13 southern states,
perform construction work such as paving,  repair and resurfacing highways,
streets, airports, residential and commercial developments,  sidewalks, and
driveways;  grading and base work; and excavation and related activities in
the  construction  of bridges and  structures,  sanitary  sewers,  drainage
facilities  and  underground  utilities.   APAC  also  produces  and  sells
construction  materials such as asphaltic and ready-mix  concrete,  crushed
stone and other  aggregate,  and in  certain  markets,  concrete  block and
specialized construction materials, such as architectural block.
     To  deliver  its  services  and  products,   APAC  utilizes  extensive
aggregate-producing properties and construction equipment. It currently has
14 permanent  operating  quarry  locations,  29 other aggregate  production
facilities, 30 ready-mix concrete plants, 143 hot-mix asphalt plants, and a
fleet of over 8,500 mobile  equipment units,  including heavy  construction
equipment and transportation-related equipment.
     Raw aggregate generally consists of sand, gravel,  granite,  limestone
and sandstone.  About 28% of the raw aggregate  produced by APAC is used in
the performance of APAC's own contract construction work and the production
of various processed construction materials. The remainder is sold to third
parties. APAC also purchases  substantial  quantities of raw aggregate from
other  producers  whose  proximity  to the job site render it  economically
feasible. Most other raw materials, such as liquid asphalt, portland cement
and  reinforcing  steel,  are purchased from others.  APAC is not dependent
upon any one supplier or customer.
     Approximately  60% of APAC's  revenues  are derived  from  highway and
other public sector  sources.  The other 40% is derived from industrial and
commercial customers and other private developers and contractors.


                                       7

<PAGE>

     Climate and weather  significantly affect revenues in the construction
business.  Due to its  location,  APAC  tends  to enjoy a  relatively  long
construction  season.  Most of APAC's  operating income is generated during
the construction period of May to October.
     Total backlog at September 30, 1995 was $672 million, compared to $554
million at September 30, 1994. The backlog orders at September 30, 1995 are
considered firm, and a major portion is expected to be filled during fiscal
1996.

                                       COAL

     Ashland Coal, Inc.  ("Ashland Coal") - Ashland owns  approximately 54%
of  Ashland  Coal,  a public  company  (NYSE:ACI)  which is  engaged in the
production,  transportation,  processing  and marketing of bituminous  coal
produced  in  eastern   Kentucky  and  southern  West   Virginia.   Carboex
International  Ltd., a subsidiary of Sociedad  Espanola De Carbon Exterior,
S.A., a coal supply firm controlled by entities of the Government of Spain,
owns  approximately  a 10% interest in Ashland  Coal.  The remaining 36% of
Ashland Coal is owned by the public.  The primary emphasis and direction of
Ashland Coal is on the acquisition and development of low-sulfur steam coal
reserves.
     For its fiscal year ended  December  31,  1994,  Ashland  Coal and its
independent  operating  subsidiaries  sold 20.2  million  tons of coal,  as
compared to 16.0 and 19.1 million tons sold in 1993 and 1992, respectively.
Of the total number of tons sold during fiscal 1994,  approximately 62% was
under  long-term  contracts,  as compared to 57% for 1993 and 66% for 1992,
with the balance  being sold on the spot market.  In fiscal  1994,  Ashland
Coal and its independent  operating  subsidiaries  sold 1.7 million tons of
coal in the export  market,  compared to 2.1  million  tons in 1993 and 3.9
million tons in 1992. Approximately 54%, 61%, and 71% of total revenues for
1994, 1993, and 1992, respectively,  were derived from long-term contracts.
For the year ended December 31, 1994, Ashland Coal's independent  operating
subsidiaries produced  approximately 19.2 million tons of coal, as compared
to 14.2 and 16.7 million tons for 1993 and 1992, respectively. In addition,
Ashland Coal  purchased for resale  approximately  1.3 million tons of coal
during 1994 and  approximately 1.6 and 2.0 million tons of coal during 1993
and 1992.
     Ashland  Coal's  consolidated  results  for  1993  were  significantly
affected  by a  selective  strike by the  United  Mine  Workers  of America
("UMWA")  from  May  to  December  1993  against  the   operations  of  two
subsidiaries  of  Ashland  Coal's  Dal-Tex  Coal   Corporation   subsidiary
("Dal-Tex")  and the  operations  of  Ashland  Coal's  Hobet  Mining,  Inc.
subsidiary  ("Hobet").  On December  14, 1993,  UMWA  members  ratified the
National  Bituminous  Coal Wage  Agreement of 1993, and thereafter the UMWA
miners returned to work at the Dal-Tex and Hobet operations.
     For the nine months ended  September  30,  1995,  Ashland Coal and its
independent  operating  subsidiaries sold 16.5 million tons of coal. Of the
total number of tons sold during the nine months ended  September 30, 1995,
61.2%  was  under   long-term   contracts.   These  sales   accounted   for
approximately  63.2% of Ashland  Coal's total  revenues for the  nine-month
period.  Of the 16.5 million tons sold during the  nine-month  period,  2.1
million tons were sold in the export market.  For the nine months,  Ashland
Coal's  independent  operating  subsidiaries  produced  approximately  15.7
million  tons of coal and  purchased  approximately  1.0  million  tons for
resale.
     Ashland Coal has announced that it  anticipates  1996 earnings will be
significantly  adversely  affected by the  expiration at the end of 1995 of
favorable  sales  contracts with  Cincinnati Gas & Electric  Company and by
price reopeners under other supply contracts. In addition, Ashland Coal has
announced that its Board of Directors has authorized the  repurchase,  from
time to time, of up to one million shares of Ashland Coal's Common Stock.
     The labor forces at Ashland Coal's Mingo Logan Coal Company subsidiary
("Mingo  Logan") and Mingo Logan's  Mountaineer  Mining  Company and Bearco
divisions  are  not  currently  unionized.  However,  in a  National  Labor
Relations  Board  ("NLRB")  proceeding,   Mingo  Logan  and  certain  other
employers  with whom Mingo  Logan  contracts  for  construction  and mining
services  were  determined  to be joint  employers  by the Acting  Regional
Director for NLRB Region 9. As a consequence of this ruling, the bargaining
unit  at  Mingo  Logan's   Mountaineer  Mine  for  purposes  of  collective
bargaining has been  determined to be comprised of employees of Mingo Logan
and its  contractors,  and these  employees  voted  together on January 19,
1995,  on the  question of whether or not to be  represented  by the United
Mine Workers of America. The result of this vote, which was required by the
NLRB  decision,  is not yet known as the ballots  have been sealed  pending
appeal of the initial determination  concerning the appropriate  bargaining
unit. Mingo Logan has appealed the Acting Regional  Director's  decision to
the NLRB and expects to prevail in its appeal.  If Mingo Logan does prevail
on appeal,  the January 19, 1995  representation  election  results will be
invalidated.




                                       8

<PAGE>

     Substantially  all of Ashland  Coal's coal  properties  are in eastern
Kentucky and southern  West Virginia and are  controlled by lease.  Most of
these leases run until the exhaustion of minable and merchantable coal. The
remaining leases have primary terms ranging from one to 40 years, with many
containing  options to renew.  Royalties  paid to  lessors  are either on a
fixed  price per ton basis or on a  percentage  of the  gross  sales  price
basis.
     As of December 31, 1994,  Ashland Coal estimates that its subsidiaries
controlled  approximately  688 million tons of recoverable  reserves in the
proven and probable  categories.  Based upon limited  information  obtained
from preliminary prospecting, drilling and coal seam analysis, Ashland Coal
estimates  that a substantial  percentage of this coal has a sulfur content
of 1% or less.  Ashland has not made an  independent  verification  of this
information.  The extent to which reserves will eventually be mined depends
upon a variety of  variables,  including  future  economic  conditions  and
governmental  actions  affecting  both  the  mining  and  marketability  of
low-sulfur steam coal.
     Arch Mineral Corporation ("Arch") - Ashland currently owns 50% of Arch
and has the right to acquire an additional  1.25% of Arch pursuant to a Put
and Call  Agreement  with an Arch  shareholder.  Through  its wholly  owned
subsidiaries,  Arch mines,  processes,  markets, and transports  bituminous
coal in the domestic and export steam and  metallurgical  markets and owns,
controls  and  manages  mineral-bearing  properties  throughout  the United
States. Arch has mines located in the Appalachian,  Midwestern, and Western
coal fields with access to rail,  inland waterway and truck  transportation
networks,  including several of its own transloading facilities.  Arch also
controls  undeveloped  reserves  in the San Juan Basin of New  Mexico,  the
Green  River  area  in  southwest  Wyoming,  southern  Illinois,   Indiana,
southeast Kentucky, western Virginia and southern West Virginia.
     For its fiscal year ended  December 31,  1994,  Arch sold 27.9 million
tons of coal  compared to sales of 17.6  million tons and 20.9 million tons
in 1993 and 1992, respectively.  In 1994, 73% of Arch's sales were from the
production of its wholly owned independent operating subsidiaries, compared
to 79% and 82% in 1993 and 1992,  respectively.  The  remainder of the coal
sold in each of  these  periods  came  from  brokerage  activities  or from
independent  contractors  operating on property controlled by Arch. Surface
mines  accounted for 52% of the  production in 1994, as compared to 69% and
62% in 1993 and 1992, respectively. In each of these periods, the remainder
of Arch's production came from its underground and auger mines. Sales under
contracts with a duration of more than one year accounted for 69% of Arch's
sales in 1994, compared with 78% and 86% in 1993 and 1992, respectively.
     As of  September  30, 1995,  Arch had 28 coal supply  contracts of one
year or longer duration.  In the nine-months ended September 30, 1995, Arch
sold 19.8 million tons of coal, 74% of which was sold under  contracts with
a duration of more than one year.  During this period,  77% of Arch's total
sales came from the  production  of its  subsidiaries,  while the remaining
coal  sold  came  from  brokerage  activities  or  independent  contractors
operating on properties  controlled by Arch. During this nine-month period,
58% of Arch's  production  was from its surface mines and the remainder was
from its underground and auger mines.
     As  of  December  31,  1994,   Arch  owned  or  controlled   estimated
recoverable  coal  reserves  in  the  proven  and  probable  categories  of
approximately  1.6 billion tons,  based on an estimate  prepared by Arch. A
majority of these reserves have a sulfur content of less than 1.6 pounds of
sulfur  dioxide  per million Btu and a  substantial  portion  have a sulfur
content of less than 1.2 pounds of sulfur dioxide per million Btu.  Ashland
has not made an independent verification of this information.
     Apogee Coal Company ("Apogee"), an independent operating subsidiary of
Arch, is a member of the Bituminous Coal Operators Association ("BCOA") and
a signatory to a five year  collective  bargaining  agreement with the UMWA
that expires on August 1, 1998.  This contract was ratified on December 14,
1993,  after a 219-day  strike  against  certain  BCOA  members,  including
Apogee. This strike significantly affected Apogee's performance in 1993. In
the nine months ended September 30, 1995, Apogee's  production  represented
approximately 50% of Arch's total sales. Two other independent subsidiaries
of  Arch  are   signatories  to  collective   bargaining   agreements  with
independent  employees  associations.  Employees of the remainder of Arch's
operating subsidiaries are not represented by labor unions.
     During 1995, Arch sold substantially all of the assets associated with
its  mining  supply  business  and its  timber  rights  on  certain  of its
Appalachian  properties,  and  acquired  32.7  million  tons of  additional
reserves.
     Other  Matters - Ashland  Coal and Arch are  subject to  environmental
regulations,  including the Surface Mining Control and  Reclamation  Act of
1977,  the Clean Water Act,  RCRA and the Clean Air Act, as well as related
federal  environmental   regulations  and  similar  state  enactments.   In
addition,  the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 ("MSHA")  imposes
health and safety  standards on all mining  operations.  Regulations  under
MSHA are  comprehensive  and affect numerous aspects of mining  operations,
including the training of mine 




                                       9


<PAGE>
personnel,  mining  procedures,  blasting and the equipment  used in mining
operations.  These laws,  regulations and  requirements are not expected to
have a  material  adverse  impact on Ashland  Coal's or Arch's  competitive
position.
     Ashland  Coal and  Arch  are  subject  to the  provisions  of the Coal
Industry Retiree Health Benefit Act of 1992. This legislation  provides for
the funding of medical and death  benefits for certain  retired  members of
the UMWA through premiums to be paid by assigned operators,  transfers from
an  overfunded  pension trust  established  for the benefit of retired UMWA
members,  and transfers from the Abandoned Mine Lands Fund, which is funded
by a federal tax on coal production.
     For   information    relating   to   acid   rain   legislation,    see
"Miscellaneous-Governmental     Regulation     and     Action-Environmental
Protection."


                                EXPLORATION

     Ashland's  oil and  gas  exploration  and  production  activities  are
conducted  through  wholly  owned  subsidiaries  of  Ashland  (collectively
referred to as "Ashland  Exploration").  Ashland  Exploration  is currently
engaged in the  exploration for and production of crude oil and natural gas
in the United States and in the exploration for and production of crude oil
in Nigeria. Exploration activity is also ongoing in Australia.
     For information regarding Ashland Exploration's  estimated oil and gas
reserves and other financial data, see Supplemental Oil and Gas Information
on Pages 60 and 61 in Ashland's  Annual  Report.  Since October 1, 1994, no
estimates  of Ashland  Exploration's  total  proved net oil or gas reserves
have been filed or included in reports to any federal  authority  or agency
other than the SEC.
DOMESTIC OPERATIONS
     Ashland   Exploration  has  concentrated  its  domestic  drilling  and
production  efforts in two core areas:  the Appalachian  Basin and the Gulf
Coast. In addition,  minor royalty  interests are located  primarily in the
Southwest and Midcontinent regions of the United States.
     In the Appalachian  Basin,  Ashland  Exploration's  activities consist
primarily  of shallow  gas  development  drilling  on  leaseholds  totaling
approximately  917,000  acres  in  eastern  Kentucky,   Virginia  and  West
Virginia.  In fiscal 1995,  it completed 86 net gas wells,  excluding 5 net
wells which were being drilled at year-end.
     Ashland  Exploration's  exploratory efforts are concentrated along the
Gulf Coast. In fiscal 1995, Ashland Exploration participated in drilling 16
gross exploratory  prospects.  Ashland Exploration's  exploratory leasehold
position  in the Gulf of Mexico  has risen to  164,000  net  acres.  
     During fiscal 1995, Ashland Exploration's domestic production averaged
609 net  barrels of oil per day and 103  million  net cubic feet of natural
gas per day. The average price  received  during fiscal 1995 was $15.96 per
barrel of oil and $1.89 per thousand cubic feet (MCF) of gas.
     Ashland  Exploration  owned a working  interest in 4,269 gross  (3,870
net) domestic producing wells at September 30, 1995.
INTERNATIONAL OPERATIONS
     Ashland Exploration's oil production in Nigeria during fiscal 1995 was
18,800  barrels per day from 103,000  acres  onshore ("OPL 118") and 74,000
acres offshore ("OPL 98") held under a production-sharing  contract ("PSC")
with the Nigerian National  Petroleum  Corporation  ("NNPC"),  the Nigerian
state-owned  petroleum  company.  Ashland  Exploration  has  satisfied  the
financial  commitment  required in the revised PSC by the drilling of three
exploratory  wells during fiscal 1995. The first  exploratory  well came on
production  in June  1995 at a rate of 2,000  barrels  of oil per day.  The
second  well tested  2,500  barrels of oil per day and is  currently  being
evaluated.   The  third  well  was   economically   unsuccessful.   Ashland
Exploration plans to drill two additional  appraisal wells on OPL 98 during
fiscal 1996.
     Other  exploratory  efforts  in  Nigeria  will be  carried  out on two
additional  offshore blocks ("OPL's 90/225")  comprising a contract area of
approximately 580,000 gross acres under another production-sharing contract
with NNPC.  Ashland  Exploration holds a 50% interest in these blocks.  The
first exploratory well drilled in 1994 was successful. A second exploratory
well drilled in fiscal 1995 was economically unsuccessful. Data from a 1995
seismic program is being evaluated currently.  Ashland Exploration plans to
drill an appraisal well to the 1994 discovery and another  exploratory well
on OPL's 90/225 in fiscal 1996.


                                       10

<PAGE>

     In  Australia,   Ashland  Exploration  owns  a  50%  interest  in  one
exploration  permit consisting of 335,000 gross acres and a 25% interest in
another exploration permit consisting of 590,000 gross acres, both of which
are located offshore western Australia.  One unsuccessful  exploratory well
was drilled in Australia in fiscal 1995.
     Ashland Exploration's international operations are necessarily subject
to factors beyond its control.  Foreign  operations may also be affected by
laws  and  policies  of  the  United  States  relating  to  foreign  trade,
investment, and taxation.
OPERATING STATISTICS
ACREAGE AND WELLS
     The following table sets forth the gross and net productive  wells and
acreage at September 30, 1995:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Productive wells - Gas                                                                      Gross          Net
                                                                                            -----        -----
<S>                                                                                         <C>          <C>  
      United States .......................................                                 4,269        3,870


Productive wells - Oil
      United States........................................                                    49           29
      Nigeria .............................................                                    36           36
                                                                                            -----        -----
           Total*..........................................                                 4,354        3,935
                                                                                            =====        ===== 
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                      Developed                  Undeveloped
                                                                       Acreage                     Acreage
                                                                       -------                     -------

<S>                                                              <C>         <C>            <C>          <C>  
   Acreage (in thousands)                                        Gross         Net          Gross          Net
                                                                 -----         ---          -----          ---
      United States........................................      1,287         954            751          422
      Nigeria .............................................        177         177            580          290
      Australia............................................                                   925          315
                                                                 -----       -----          -----        -----
           Total...........................................      1,464       1,131          2,256        1,027
                                                                 =====       =====          =====        =====
   -----------------
<FN>
   *  These wells  include 342 gross wells (330  domestic and 12  international)  and 293 net wells (281  domestic
   and 12 international) which have multiple completions.
</TABLE>




                                       11

<PAGE>


   The following table summarizes the exploration and production activities
for the last three fiscal years:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                            Years Ended September 30
                                                               --------------------------------------------------
                                                                    1995              1994                1993
                                                                    ----              ----                ----

<S>                                                               <C>               <C>                 <C>
   Net Natural Gas Production (MMCF per day)
      United States........................................        102.9              94.3                99.3
   Net Crude Oil Production (average barrels per day)
      United States........................................          609               822               1,001
      Nigeria (1) .........................................       18,791            18,707              21,660
                                                                  ------            ------              ------
           Total...........................................       19,400            19,529              22,661
                                                                  ======            ======              ======
   Average Sales Prices - Natural Gas (per MCF)
      United States........................................       $ 1.89             $2.42               $2.45
   Average Sales Prices - Crude Oil (per barrel)
      United States........................................       $15.96            $14.29              $17.54
      Nigeria .............................................        16.17             15.01               17.77

   Average Production Product Cost (per equivalent barrel) (2)
      United States........................................        $4.09             $3.87               $3.84
      Nigeria .............................................         9.17              7.69                7.27

   Net Exploratory Wells Drilled - United States
      Net Productive Wells.................................            2                 2                   1
      Net Dry Wells .......................................            5                 4                   2
                                                                      --                --                  --
            Total..........................................            7                 6                   3
                                                                      ==                ==                  ==
   Net Exploratory Wells Drilled - International
      Net Productive Wells.................................            1                 1                   0
      Net Dry Wells .......................................            2                 1                   0
                                                                      --                --                  --
            Total..........................................            3                 2                   0
                                                                      ==                ==                  ==
   Net Development Wells Drilled
      Net Productive Wells
      United States........................................           88                59                  84
      International .......................................            0                 0                   0
                                                                      --                --                  --
           Total...........................................           88                59                  84
                                                                      ==                ==                  ==
      Net Dry Wells
      United States........................................            0                 1                   1
      International .......................................            0                 0                   0
                                                                      --                --                  --
           Total...........................................            0                 1                   1
                                                                      ==                ==                  ==
</TABLE>
[FN]
   -----------------
   (1)Net production for Nigeria is before royalty.
   (2)Equivalent barrels computed on a six MCF to one barrel ratio.


                                       12

<PAGE>



                                   OTHER BUSINESS

     AECOM Technology Corporation ("AECOM"), which is 19% owned by Ashland,
provides  a wide  array of design,  engineering,  architectural,  planning,
operations  and  maintenance,  construction  and  construction  management,
development, environmental and other technical and professional services to
industrial,  commercial and government  clients.  AECOM is headquartered in
Los Angeles,  California,  and performs  services  through  offices located
throughout the world.  Under an agreement between AECOM and Ashland,  AECOM
will be  repurchasing  all of Ashland's  equity  interest in AECOM with the
repurchase scheduled to be completed in stages through 1998.
     Ashland,  through a special purpose subsidiary,  Ashland Ethanol, Inc.
("AEI"),  has a 50% interest in a  partnership  that owns an ethanol  plant
located in South  Point,  Ohio.  The  partnership  is  comprised of AEI and
subsidiaries of Ohio Farm Bureau  Federation,  Inc.,  Publicker  Industries
Inc. and UGI  Corporation.  The plant began operation in September 1982 but
discontinued  operations  due to low  margins  in August  1995.  Because of
concerns  about the venture's  long-term  viability,  Ashland wrote off its
investment  in AEI in fiscal 1986.  The  partnership  is in default under a
loan  with  the  Farmers  Home   Administration   with  a  balance  due  of
approximately  $14.7  million plus  interest  and has an unpaid  balance of
$24.5 million under a Department of Energy cooperative agreement.

                                   MISCELLANEOUS
GOVERNMENTAL REGULATION AND ACTION
     Ashland's  operations are affected by political  developments and laws
and  regulations,  such as  restrictions  on  production,  restrictions  on
imports and exports, the maintenance of specified reserves, price controls,
tax  increases  and  retroactive  tax claims,  expropriation  of  property,
cancellation of contract rights, environmental protection controls and laws
pertaining  to workers'  health and safety.  As discussed in part below,  a
number of bills have been enacted or proposed by the United States Congress
and various state governments which have or could have a significant impact
on Ashland.
     General - As a refiner,  Ashland is substantially  affected by changes
in world  crude  oil  prices.  Many  world  and  regional  events  can have
substantial  effects on world crude oil prices and can increase  volatility
in world markets.  Ashland expects to be able to acquire adequate  supplies
of crude oil at competitive prices. However, Ashland cannot predict whether
foreign and United  States  petroleum  product price levels will permit its
refineries  to operate on a  profitable  basis.  Neither can it predict the
effect on its operations and financial  condition from possible  changes in
the Organization of Petroleum  Exporting  Countries ("OPEC") policies or in
actions by the  President  of the  United  States  and the  Congress,  from
changes in taxes and federal  regulation of the oil and gas business in the
United States, or from other developments that cannot be foreseen.
     The  stability of Ashland's  crude oil supply from foreign  sources is
subject to factors beyond its control,  such as military  conflict  between
oil-producing  countries,  the  possibility of  nationalization  of assets,
embargoes of the type imposed by OPEC in 1973, internal  instability in one
or more oil-producing  countries,  and rapid increases in crude oil prices.
Although Ashland will continue,  for economic reasons, to rely upon foreign
crude oil sources for a  substantial  portion of its crude oil supply,  the
extent of operation in the domestic  crude oil market  afforded by Scurlock
Permian  Corporation  assists in offsetting the adverse effects  frequently
associated with market  volatility.  See  "Petroleum-Crude  Oil Supply" for
Ashland's crude oil processing requirements.
     Imported crude oil is subject at present to payment of duty,  which is
10.5(cent) per barrel for crudes over 25(degree) API gravity (2.1(cent) per
barrel for  Canadian  imports) and  5.25(cent)  per barrel for crudes below
25(degree)  API  gravity  (1.05(cent)  per  barrel for  Canadian  imports).
Imported  crude oil is also  subject to a customs  users fee of .17% of the
value of the crude oil. For information  with respect to tax assessments on
crude oil, see also "Environmental Protection."
     Retail  marketing  "divorcement"  legislation and wholesale and retail
pricing  regulations  have been adopted in some  states.  They are proposed
from  time  to time in  other  states  and at the  federal  level.  If such
legislation  were  adopted  at the  federal  level or in the  states  where
SuperAmerica sells petroleum products,  it could have a substantial adverse
impact.


                                       13

<PAGE>

     Environmental  Protection  -  Federal,  state and local  statutes  and
regulations   relating  to  the  protection  of  the  environment   have  a
significant  impact  on the  conduct  of  Ashland's  businesses.  Ashland's
capital and operating  expenditures  for air, water and solid waste control
facilities are summarized below.

                                              Years Ended September 30
                                 -----------------------------------------------
   (In millions)                  1995                   1994              1993
- ----------------------           ------                 ------           ------

Capital expenditures              $  44                  $  63            $137
Operating expenditures              151                    140             148


     At  September   30,  1995,   Ashland's   reserves  for   environmental
assessments and remediation efforts were $174 million, reflecting Ashland's
most likely  estimates of the costs which will be incurred over an extended
period to remediate identified environmental conditions for which costs are
reasonably estimable.
     Based on current environmental regulations,  Ashland estimates capital
expenditures  for air,  water and solid waste control  facilities to be $50
million in 1996.  Expenditures  for  investigatory  and remedial efforts in
future years are subject to the uncertainties associated with environmental
exposures,  including identification of new environmental sites and changes
in laws and regulations and their application. Such expenditures,  however,
are  not  expected  to  have  a  material   adverse   effect  on  Ashland's
consolidated financial position,  cash flow or liquidity,  but could have a
material adverse effect on results of operations in a particular quarter or
fiscal year.  Ashland does not believe the nature and  significance  of its
costs  will  vary  significantly  from  those  of  its  competitors  in the
petroleum, chemical and mining industries.
     The United States  Environmental  Protection  Agency ("USEPA") and the
states have adopted  regulations  and laws concerning  underground  storage
tanks  covering,  among  other  things,   registration  of  tanks,  release
detection,  corrosion  protection,  response to  releases,  closure of, and
financial responsibility for, underground storage tank systems.
     Superfund  provides for the  establishment  of a fund to be used for a
waste clean-up program administered by the USEPA. The law provides for five
separate  taxes:  (i) a petroleum tax on domestic crude oil and on imported
crude oil  equalized at 9.7(cent)  per barrel plus a 5(cent) per barrel oil
spill tax, as more fully described  below,  (ii) a chemical  feedstock tax,
(iii) a tax on imported  chemical  derivatives,  and (iv) an "environmental
tax" based on corporate  alternative  minimum taxable income.  Ashland paid
approximately $19 million in Superfund taxes during fiscal 1995. Superfund,
which provides for cleanup of certain  hazardous waste sites, is undergoing
consideration for significant  amendments,  including a reevaluation of the
liability allocation provisions and improved cleanup remedy selection, both
of  which  should  make  Superfund  more  cost  effective.  However,  it is
uncertain at this time exactly what the revisions  will be, or if they will
in fact be adopted.
     Effective  October 1, 1993, the USEPA reduced by 90 percent,  from 0.5
to 0.05 percent by weight,  the allowable  sulfur level in diesel fuel used
on highways.  The USEPA's action was designed to provide  cleaner fuel that
will permit reduced  particulate  emissions from truck engines.  Ashland is
currently producing ultra-low-sulfur diesel fuel for on-highway use.
     The Oil  Pollution  Act of 1990  ("OPA 90")  established  a $1 billion
trust  fund  to  cover  cleanup-related  costs  of  oil  spills  after  the
responsible  party's  liability  limits  have  been  reached,  or where the
responsible  party is otherwise  unidentifiable or unable to pay. The trust
fund is financed,  when depleted below specified levels,  through an excise
tax of 5(cent) per barrel on domestic crude oil and imported  petroleum oil
products  (pursuant  to  Superfund).  OPA 90  subjects  spillers  to strict
liability  for  removal  costs  and  damages  (including  natural  resource
damages)  resulting  from oil spills,  and  requires  the  preparation  and
implementation   of   spill-response   plans  at  designated   vessels  and
facilities. Additionally, OPA 90 requires that new tank vessels entering or
operating  in domestic  waters be  equipped  with  double  hulls,  and that
existing tank vessels  without  double hulls be retrofitted or removed from
domestic service according to a phase-out schedule.
     On July 1, 1994,  the United  States Coast Guard issued  interim final
regulations dealing with financial responsibility for water pollution under
OPA 90 and  CERCLA.  The  regulations  require  self-propelled  tank vessel
owners and  operators  to maintain  evidence of  financial  responsibility,
effective December 28, 1994,  sufficient to meet their potential  liability
defined under OPA 90 and CERCLA for spills of oil or hazardous  substances.
The  Director,  Coast Guard  National  Pollution  Funds  Center has granted
permission to Ashland to self-insure  the financial  responsibility  amount
for liability purposes for Ashland's ocean tankers as provided in OPA 90.




                                       14

<PAGE>
     The Federal  Clean Air Act required  the  refining  industry to market
cleaner-burning,  reformulated  gasoline ("RFG") beginning January 1, 1995,
in nine specified  metropolitan areas across the country.  Ashland does not
directly supply gasoline in any of the nine  metropolitan  areas.  However,
several urban locations within Ashland's marketing area have opted into the
RFG program and  Ashland has been able to meet  expected  demand for RFG in
its marketing  area. The Clean Air Act also required the refining  industry
to  supply 39 carbon  monoxide  (CO)  non-attainment  areas  with  gasoline
containing 2.7 weight percent oxygen for four winter months each year. Upon
being  re-designated  CO attainment,  several of these areas are seeking to
opt-out of the oxygenated gasoline  requirements.  Ashland believes it will
have a continuing  need to directly supply this fuel only at St. Paul Park,
Minnesota, whose primary market is a CO non-attainment area.
     The Clean Air Act also  contains  acid rain  provisions  which require
substantial  reductions in sulfur dioxide  emissions by power plants in the
United States. Both Ashland Coal and Arch have significant  low-sulfur coal
reserves.
     RCRA, which requires "cradle to grave"  management of hazardous waste,
is  slated  to  be  reauthorized  by  Congress,  although  timing  of  such
reauthorization  is  uncertain.   Reauthorization  issues  may  include  an
expansion of hazardous  waste program  coverage,  recycling,  used oil, and
solid waste  management.  These same issues may be addressed in  additional
USEPA rulemakings  unrelated to reauthorization  efforts. It is anticipated
that both the  reauthorization  and other future rulemakings will result in
increased  environmental  compliance costs, but the amount of such increase
is uncertain at this time.
RESEARCH
     Ashland conducts a program of research and development directed toward
the invention and improvement of products and processes and also toward the
improvement  of  environmental  controls  for its existing  facilities.  It
maintains its primary research  facilities in Catlettsburg,  Kentucky,  and
Dublin,  Ohio. Research and development costs are expensed as incurred ($24
million in 1995, $23 million in 1994 and $21 million in 1993).
COMPETITION
     In all of its  operations,  Ashland is subject to intense  competition
both from companies in the  respective  industries in which it operates and
from products of companies in other  industries.  In all of these segments,
competition is based  primarily on price,  with factors such as reliability
of supply, service and quality being considered. Ashland Petroleum competes
primarily  with other  domestic  refiners  and,  to a lesser  extent,  with
imported products. However, Ashland Petroleum typically enjoys a geographic
advantage  for  products  in  its  primary  marketing  areas.   While  some
integrated  competitors  have sources of controlled crude  production,  few
competitors in Ashland  Petroleum's  market areas are  significantly  crude
self-sufficient.   SuperAmerica   competes   with   major  oil   companies,
independent  oil  companies  and  independent  marketers.  Virtually all of
SuperAmerica's   refined  products  are  supplied  by  Ashland   Petroleum.
SuperAmerica  strives to  maintain  one of the lowest  net  operating  cost
structures in the industry and enjoys  gasoline and  merchandise  sales per
store  exceeding the convenience  store industry  average based on the 1995
National Association of Convenience Store State of the Industry Survey.
     Valvoline  competes  primarily  with domestic oil companies  and, to a
lesser  extent,  with  international  oil  companies on a worldwide  basis.
Valvoline's  brand recognition and increasing market share in the "fast oil
change" market are important competitive factors. Ashland Chemical competes
in a number of chemical distribution,  specialty chemical and petrochemical
markets.  Its chemicals and solvents  distribution  businesses compete with
national,  regional  and local  companies  throughout  North  America.  Its
plastics  distribution  businesses  compete  worldwide.  Ashland Chemical's
specialty  chemicals  businesses compete globally in selected niche markets
and compete  largely on the basis of  technology  and service while holding
proprietary   technology  in  virtually  all  their   specialty   chemicals
businesses.  Petrochemicals  are  largely  commodities,  with  pricing  and
quality being the most important factors.  The majority of the business for
which APAC  competes is  obtained  by  competitive  bidding.  An  important
competitive factor in Ashland Exploration's domestic production activity is
the  ability of its  exploration  staff to identify  potential  natural gas
prospects,  obtain  exploration rights and formulate and complete plans for
the  development of  properties.  Similarly,  competitive  factors that are
important for Ashland  Exploration's  international  production include its
experience  in   identifying   prospects  and   developing   and  operating
properties.  The coal industry is highly competitive,  and Ashland Coal and
Arch compete  (principally  in price,  location and quality of coal) with a
large number of other coal producers, some of


 


                                       15

<PAGE>
which are  substantially  larger and have greater  financial  resources and
larger reserve bases than Ashland Coal and Arch.
ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
     Ashland's corporate  headquarters,  which is leased, and the principal
offices of Ashland  Petroleum,  which are owned,  are  located in  Russell,
Kentucky.  Principal  offices of other  segments are located in  Lexington,
Kentucky  (SuperAmerica and Valvoline);  Dublin, Ohio (Chemical);  Atlanta,
Georgia (APAC);  Huntington,  West Virginia  (Ashland  Coal)   and Houston,
Texas  (Exploration),   all  of  which  are  leased.   Ashland's  principal
manufacturing, marketing and other materially important physical properties
are  described  under the  appropriate  segment  under Item 1. See also the
statistical  data  included  under  "Exploration"  and "Coal" in Item 1 and
Supplemental Oil and Gas Information on Pages 60 and 61 in Ashland's Annual
Report.  Additional  information  concerning certain leases may be found in
Note G of Notes to Consolidated  Financial  Statements in Ashland's  Annual
Report. Such information is incorporated in this Item by reference.
ITEM 3.  LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
     Environmental Proceedings  -(1) As of September 30, 1995,  Ashland was
subject  to 85 notices  received  from the USEPA  identifying  Ashland as a
"potentially responsible party" ("PRP") under Superfund for potential joint
and several liability for cleanup costs in connection with alleged releases
of hazardous  substances  from various waste  treatment or disposal  sites.
These sites are  currently  subject to ongoing  investigation  and remedial
activities, overseen by the USEPA in accordance with procedures established
under Superfund  regulations,  in which Ashland may be  participating  as a
member of various PRP groups.  Generally,  the type of relief sought by the
USEPA  includes   remediation  of  contaminated  soil  and/or  groundwater,
reimbursement  for the costs of site cleanup or  oversight  expended by the
USEPA,  and/or  long-term  monitoring  of  environmental  conditions at the
sites.  Ashland also  receives  notices from state  environmental  agencies
pursuant to similar  state  legislation.  Ashland  carefully  monitors  the
investigatory  and remedial  activity at many of these sites.  Based on its
experience   with  site   remediation,   its   familiarity   with   current
environmental laws and regulations,  its analysis of the specific hazardous
substances at issue, the existence of other financially viable PRPs and its
current estimates of  investigatory,  clean-up and monitoring costs at each
site,   Ashland  believes  that  its  liability  at  these  sites,   either
individually  or in the  aggregate,  after taking into account  established
reserves, will not have a material adverse effect on Ashland's consolidated
financial  position,  cash  flow or  liquidity  but could  have a  material
adverse  effect on results of operations in a particular  quarter or fiscal
year.  Estimated  costs for these matters are recognized in accordance with
generally  accepted  accounting  principles  governing  probability and the
ability to reasonably  estimate  future costs.  For additional  information
regarding  Superfund,   see   "Miscellaneous-Governmental   Regulation  and
Action-Environmental Protection."
     (2) In connection with a demand for penalties,  Ashland has received a
draft  Stipulation  Agreement from the Minnesota  Pollution  Control Agency
relating to various alleged  environmental  regulatory violations regarding
hazardous  waste and water  quality and spill matters at Ashland's St. Paul
Park refinery.  Ashland is having discussions with the Minnesota  Pollution
Control Agency toward finalization of the Stipulation Agreement.
     (3) On or about April 21,  1995,  Ashland  received an  Administrative
Complaint  and a Notice of  Proposed  Assessment  of  Administrative  Civil
Penalty  from the USEPA - Region IV. The  Complaint  alleges  that  Ashland
missed  its April 1, 1994  interim  construction  deadline  and  maintained
insufficient records regarding  construction of a waste sewer system at its
Catlettsburg,  Kentucky  refinery.  The USEPA is seeking an  administrative
civil  penalty of $162,500 for these alleged  violations.  Ashland filed an
Answer and has  requested  an  administrative  hearing on the merits of the
complaint.
     (4)  Ashland  has  brought an  administrative  proceeding  against the
Kentucky Division of Air Quality ("KDAQ") challenging the denial by KDAQ of
certain regulatory relief from emission standards for seven malfunctions at
its Catlettsburg, Kentucky refinery. In the proceeding, KDAQ has asserted a
counterclaim for penalties for the malfunctions.
ITEM 4.  SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS
     No matters were  submitted to a vote of security  holders  through the
solicitation  of proxies or otherwise,  during the quarter ended  September
30, 1995.


                                       16

<PAGE>

ITEM X.  EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF ASHLAND
     The following is a list of Ashland's  executive  officers,  their ages
and  their  positions  and  offices  during  the last  five  years  (listed
alphabetically  as to Senior Vice  Presidents  who are members of Ashland's
core management group,  other Senior Vice Presidents,  Administrative  Vice
Presidents and other executive officers.)
     John R. Hall (age 63) is  Chairman  of the Board of  Directors,  Chief
Executive Officer and Director of Ashland and has served in such capacities
since 1981, 1981 and 1968, respectively.
     Paul W.  Chellgren (age 52) is President and Chief  Operating  Officer
and  Director  of Ashland  and has served in such  capacities  since  1992.
During the past five years, he has also served as Senior Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer of Ashland.
     James R. Boyd (age 49) is Senior Vice  President  of Ashland and Group
Operating Officer - Ashland  Exploration,  Inc., Arch Mineral  Corporation,
Ashland  Services Company and APAC, Inc. Mr. Boyd has served as Senior Vice
President since 1989 and as Group Operating Officer for the above companies
since 1990, with the exception of APAC for which he assumed  responsibility
as of October 1, 1993.
     John A.  Brothers  (age 55) is Senior  Vice  President  of Ashland and
Group Operating Officer - Ashland Chemical Company,  SuperAmerica Group and
The  Valvoline  Company  and has served in such  capacities  since 1984 and
1988, respectively.
     Thomas L. Feazell (age 58) is Senior Vice  President,  General Counsel
and Secretary of Ashland and has served in such capacities since 1992, 1981
and 1992,  respectively.  During the past five years he has also  served as
Administrative Vice President of Ashland.
     J. Marvin Quin (age 48) is Senior Vice  President and Chief  Financial
Officer of Ashland and has served in such capacities since 1992. During the
past five years,  he has also served as  Administrative  Vice President and
Treasurer of Ashland.
     Robert E.  Yancey,  Jr. (age 50) is Senior Vice  President of Ashland,
President  of  Ashland  Petroleum  Company  and Group  Operating  Officer -
Ashland  Petroleum  Company and has served in such  capacities  since 1986,
1986, and 1988, respectively. During the past five years, he also served as
Group Operating Officer of APAC, Inc.
     Harry M. Zachem (age 51) is Senior Vice President - Public Affairs and
has served in such capacity since 1988.
     David J.  D'Antoni  (age 50) is Senior Vice  President  of Ashland and
President  of Ashland  Chemical  Company and has served in such  capacities
since 1988.
     John F.  Pettus  (age 52) is Senior  Vice  President  of  Ashland  and
President of  SuperAmerica  Group and has served in such  capacities  since
1989 and 1988, respectively.
     Charles F.  Potts (age 51) is Senior  Vice  President  of Ashland  and
President  of APAC,  Inc.  and has served in such  capacities  since  1992.
During the past five years he has also served as Senior Vice  President and
Chief Operating Officer and Regional Vice President of APAC.
     G. Thomas  Wilkinson  (age 57) is Senior Vice President of Ashland and
President of Ashland  Exploration,  Inc. and has served in such  capacities
since 1992 and 1990,  respectively.  During the past five years he has also
served as Vice President of Ashland.
     Kenneth  L.  Aulen  (age  46) is  Administrative  Vice  President  and
Controller  of Ashland and has served in such capacity  since 1992.  During
the past five years he has also served as Auditor and Assistant  Controller
of Ashland.
     Philip W.  Block (age 48) is  Administrative  Vice  President  - Human
Resources of Ashland and has served in such capacity since 1992. During the
past five years he has also  served as Vice  President  -  Corporate  Human
Resources.
     John W. Dansby (age 50) is Administrative Vice President and Treasurer
of Ashland and has served in such  capacities  since 1992.  During the past
five years he has also served as Ashland's Vice President of Planning.


                                       17
<PAGE>


     William R. Sawran  (age 50) is Vice  President  and Chief  Information
Officer of  Ashland,  and  President  of Ashland  Services  Company and has
served  in  such  capacities  since  1984,  with  the  exception  of  Chief
Information Officer which he assumed in 1994.
     James J. O'Brien (age 41) is Vice  President of Ashland and  President
of The Valvoline  Company and has served in such  capacities  since October
1995.  During the past five years he has also served as Vice  President  of
Ashland  Petroleum  Company,  Executive  Assistant  to the Chief  Executive
Officer  and  Regional  Manager  of  Ashland  Chemical's  General  Polymers
division.
     Fred E. Lutzeier (age 43) is Auditor of Ashland and has served in such
capacity since December 1992. During the past five years he has also served
as Vice President and Controller of Arch Mineral Corporation.
     Each executive  officer (other than Vice  Presidents who are appointed
by Ashland's  management) is elected by the Board of Directors to a term of
one year, or until the successor is duly elected,  at the annual meeting of
the Board of  Directors,  except in those  instances  where the  officer is
elected at other than an annual meeting of the Board of Directors, in which
case the  tenure  will  expire at the next  annual  meeting of the Board of
Directors unless the officer is re-elected.

                                  PART II

ITEM 5. MARKET FOR  REGISTRANT'S COMMON  STOCK AND  RELATED SECURITY HOLDER
        MATTERS
     There is hereby  incorporated by reference the  information  appearing
under the caption "Management's Discussion and Analysis-Quarterly Financial
Information" on Page 40 in Ashland's Annual Report.
     At September  30, 1995,  there were  approximately  24,600  holders of
record of Ashland's Common Stock. Ashland Common Stock is listed on the New
York and  Chicago  stock  exchanges  (ticker  symbol  ASH) and has  trading
privileges on the Boston, Cincinnati,  Pacific,  Philadelphia and Amsterdam
stock exchanges. 
ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
     There is hereby  incorporated by reference the  information  appearing
under the caption "Five Year Selected Financial  Information" on Page 57 in
Ashland's Annual Report.
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S  DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL  CONDITION AND
        RESULTS OF OPERATIONS 
     There is hereby  incorporated by reference the  information  appearing
under the caption "Management's  Discussion and Analysis" on Pages 34 to 40
in Ashland's Annual Report.
ITEM 8.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
     There is hereby  incorporated by reference the consolidated  financial
statements  appearing on Pages 41 through 55, the supplemental  information
appearing on Pages 58 through 61, and the  information  appearing under the
caption   "Management's   Discussion   and   Analysis-Quarterly   Financial
Information" on Page 40 in Ashland's Annual Report. 
ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING 
        AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
     None

                                 PART III

ITEM 10.  DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT
     There is hereby  incorporated  by reference the  information to appear
under the caption  "Election of  Directors" in Ashland's  definitive  Proxy
Statement for its January 25, 1996 Annual  Meeting of  Shareholders,  which
will be filed with the SEC within 120 days after September 30, 1995 ("Proxy
Statement").  See also the list of Ashland's executive officers and related
information under "Executive Officers of Ashland" in Item X herein.
ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
     There is hereby  incorporated  by reference the  information to appear
under the captions "Executive Compensation" and "Compensation of Directors"
in Ashland's Proxy Statement.


                                       18

<PAGE>


ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
     There is hereby  incorporated  by reference the  information to appear
under the caption "Election of Directors" and the information regarding the
ownership of securities of Ashland in Ashland's Proxy  Statement.  
ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
     There is hereby  incorporated  by reference the  information to appear
under  the  caption   "Compensation   Committee   Interlocks   and  Insider
Participation" in Ashland's Proxy Statement.

                                    PART IV

ITEM 14. EXHIBITS,  FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K
     (A)  DOCUMENTS  FILED  AS PART OF THIS  REPORT  
     (1) and (2)  Financial Statements and Financial Schedule
     The  consolidated  financial  statements  and  financial  schedule  of
Ashland presented or incorporated by reference in this report are listed in
the index on Page 23.
     (3) Exhibits
          3.1   -   Second Restated Articles of Incorporation of Ashland,
                    as amended to January 27, 1995 (filed as Exhibit 3.1 to
                    Ashland's  Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December 31,
                    1994, and incorporated herein by reference).
          3.2   -   Bylaws of  Ashland,  as amended to January  27,  1995
                    (filed as Exhibit  3.2 to  Ashland's  Form 10-Q for the
                    quarter  ended  December  31,  1994,  and  incorporated
                    herein by reference).
          4.1   -   Ashland  agrees to  provide  the SEC,  upon  request,
                    copies of instruments defining the rights of holders of
                    long-term debt of Ashland,  and all of its subsidiaries
                    for  which  consolidated  or  unconsolidated  financial
                    statements are required to be filed with the SEC.
          4.2   -   Indenture,  dated as of August 15,  1989,  as amended
                    and restated as of August 15, 1990, between Ashland and
                    Citibank,  N.A.,  as Trustee  (filed as Exhibit 4(a) to
                    Ashland's Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September
                    30, 1991, and incorporated herein by reference).

          The following  Exhibits 10.1 through 10.20 are compensatory plans
          or arrangements or management  contracts  required to be filed as
          exhibits pursuant to Item 601(b)(10)(iii)(A) of Regulation S-K.

          10.1  -   Amended  Stock  Incentive  Plan for Key  Employees of
                    Ashland  Inc.  and its  Subsidiaries  (filed as Exhibit
                    10(c).1  to  Ashland's  Form 10-K for the  fiscal  year
                    ended  December 30, 1994,  and  incorporated  herein by
                    reference).
          10.2  -   Ashland  Inc.   Deferred   Compensation   and  Stock
                    Incentive  Plan for  Non-Employee  Directors  (filed as
                    Exhibit 10(c).18 to Ashland's Form 10-Q for the quarter
                    ended  December 31, 1993,  and  incorporated  herein by
                    reference).
          10.3  -   Ashland  Inc.  Director  Retirement  Plan  (filed as
                    Exhibit  10(c).3 to Ashland's  Form 10-K for the fiscal
                    year ended September 30, 1988, and incorporated  herein
                    by reference).
          10.4  -   Eighth Amended and Restated Ashland Inc. Supplemental
                    Early   Retirement   Plan  for  Certain  Key  Executive
                    Employees  (filed as Exhibit  10(c).4 to Ashland's Form
                    10-K for the fiscal year ended  September 30, 1992, and
                    incorporated herein by reference).
          10.5  -   Ashland Inc. Amended  Performance Unit Plan (filed as
                    Exhibit  10(c).5 to Ashland's  Form 10-K for the fiscal
                    year ended September 30, 1994, and incorporated  herein
                    by reference).
          10.6  -   Ashland Inc.  Incentive  Compensation  Plan (filed as
                    Exhibit  10(c).6 to  Ashland's Form 10-K for the fiscal
                    year ended September 30, 1993, and incorporated  herein
                    by reference).
          10.7  -   Ashland Inc. Director Death Benefit Program (filed as
                    Exhibit  10(c).10 to Ashland's Form 10-K for the fiscal
                    year ended September 30, 1990, and incorporated  herein
                    by reference).
          10.8  -   Ashland  Inc.  Salary   Continuation  Plan  (filed  as
                    Exhibit  10(c).11 to Ashland's Form 10-K for the fiscal
                    year ended September 30, 1988, and incorporated  herein
                    by reference).
          10.9  -   Forms of Ashland Inc. Executive  Employment  Contract
                    between Ashland Inc. and certain executive  officers of
                    Ashland  (filed as Exhibit  10(c).12 to Ashland's  Form
                    10-K for the fiscal year ended  September 30, 1989, and
                    incorporated  herein  by  reference).  


                                       19
<PAGE>

          10.10 -   Form of  Indemnification  Agreement  between  Ashland
                    Inc. and each member of its Board of  Directors  (filed
                    as  Exhibit  10(c).13  to  Ashland's  Form 10-K for the
                    fiscal year ended September 30, 1990, and  incorporated
                    herein by reference).
          10.11 -   Ashland Inc. Nonqualified Excess Benefit Pension Plan
                    (filed as Exhibit  10(c).14 to Ashland's  Form 10-K for
                    the  fiscal  year  ended   September   30,  1988,   and
                    incorporated herein by reference).
          10.12 -   Ashland  Inc.  Long-Term  Incentive  Plan  (filed as
                    Exhibit  10(c).15 to Ashland's Form 10-K for the fiscal
                    year ended September 30, 1994, and incorporated  herein
                    by reference).
          10.13 -   Ashland  Inc.  Directors'  Charitable  Award  Program
                    (filed as Exhibit  10(c).16 to Ashland's  Form 10-K for
                    the  fiscal  year  ended   September   30,  1991,   and
                    incorporated herein by reference).
          10.14 -   Ashland  Inc.  1993 Stock  Incentive  Plan  (filed as
                    Exhibit  10(c).17 to Ashland's Form 10-K for the fiscal
                    year ended September 30, 1994, and incorporated  herein
                    by reference).
          10.15 -   Ashland  Inc.  1995  Performance  Unit Plan (filed as
                    Exhibit 10(c).18 to Ashland's Form 10-Q for the quarter
                    ended  December 31, 1994,  and  incorporated  herein by
                    reference).
          10.16 -   Ashland  Inc.  Incentive  Compensation  Plan for Key
                    Executives (filed as Exhibit 10(c).19 to Ashland's Form
                    10-Q for the  quarter  ended  December  31,  1994,  and
                    incorporated herein by reference).
          10.17 -   Ashland  Inc.  Deferred  Compensation  Plan (filed as
                    Exhibit 10(c).20 to Ashland's Form 10-Q for the quarter
                    ended  December 31, 1994,  and  incorporated  herein by
                    reference).

          11    -   Computation of Earnings Per Share  (appearing on Page
                    26 of  Ashland's  Form 10-K for the  fiscal  year ended
                    September 30, 1995).
          13    -   Portions of Ashland's  Annual Report to Shareholders,
                    incorporated by reference  herein,  for the fiscal year
                    ended September 30, 1995.
          21    -   List of Subsidiaries.
          23    -   Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, independent auditors.
          24    -   Power of Attorney, including resolutions of the Board
                    of Directors.
          27    -   Financial Data Schedule.
     Upon written or oral  request,  a copy of the above  exhibits  will be
furnished at cost. 

(B) REPORTS ON FORM 8-K

     A report on Form 8-K dated  September 15, 1995 was filed by Ashland to
disclose that it adopted a new accounting  standard,  Financial  Accounting
Standards  Board  Statement  No. 121,  "Accounting  for the  Impairment  of
Long-Lived Assets and for Long-Lived Assets to Be Disposed Of," which would
result in an unusual pre-tax charge against earnings of  approximately  $90
million in the September  quarter.  Ashland also  announced it would take a
pre-tax  charge  against  earnings  of  approximately  $40  million  in the
September quarter for Ashland Petroleum  Company's early retirement program
and unrelated reorganization costs for Valvoline and Arch Mineral.



                                       20

<PAGE>



                               SIGNATURES

     PURSUANT TO THE  REQUIREMENTS OF SECTION 13 OR 15(D) 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)
       
                                        By:   /s/ Kenneth L. Aulen
                                            -----------------------------------
                                              (Kenneth L. Aulen, Administrative
                                              Vice President and Controller)

                                        Date:   November 29, 1995

     PURSUANT TO THE  REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES  EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934,
THIS REPORT HAS BEEN SIGNED BELOW BY THE FOLLOWING PERSONS ON BEHALF OF THE
REGISTRANT, IN THE CAPACITIES INDICATED, ON NOVEMBER 29, 1995.

           Signatures                      Capacity
           ----------                      --------

/s/ John R. Hall                 Chairman of the Board of  Directors,  Chief
- ----------------------           Executive Officer and Director
     JOHN R. HALL

 /s/ J. Marvin Quin              Senior  Vice   President   and  Chief   
- ----------------------           Financial Officer
    J. MARVIN QUIN

/s/ Kenneth L. Aulen             Administrative   Vice   President,   
- ----------------------           Controller  and Principal Accounting Officer
    KENNETH L. AULEN

      *                          Director
- ----------------------
Jack S. Blanton

      *                          Director
- ----------------------
Thomas E. Bolger

      *                          Director
- ----------------------
Samuel C. Butler

      *                          Director
- ----------------------
Frank C. Carlucci

      *                          Director
- ----------------------
Paul W. Chellgren

      *                          Director
- ----------------------
James B. Farley

      *                          Director
- ----------------------
Ralph E. Gomory

      *                          Director
- ----------------------
Mannie L. Jackson

                                       21
<PAGE>

      *                          Director
- ----------------------
Patrick F. Noonan

      *                          Director
- ----------------------
Jane C. Pfeiffer

      *                          Director
- ----------------------
James R. Rinehart

      *                          Director
- ----------------------
Michael D. Rose

      *                          Director
- ----------------------
William L. Rouse , Jr.

      *                          Director
- ----------------------
Robert B. Stobaugh



  *  By: /s/ Thomas L. Feazell
        --------------------------
             Thomas L. Feazell
             Attorney-in-Fact


     Date: November 29, 1995



                                       22

<PAGE>



               INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND FINANCIAL SCHEDULES

                                                                        Page
Consolidated financial statements and supplemental information:
  Statements of consolidated income                                       *
  Consolidated balance sheets                                             *
  Statements of consolidated common stockholders' equity                  *
  Statements of consolidated cash flows                                   *
  Notes to consolidated financial statements                              *
  Five year information by industry segment                               *
  Supplemental oil and gas information                                    *
  Management's discussion and analysis-Quarterly financial information    *

Consolidated financial schedule:
  II - Valuation and qualifying accounts                                  25
- -----------


     *The consolidated  financial  statements appearing on Pages 41 through
55, the supplemental  information  appearing on Pages 58 through 61 and the
information  appearing  under  the  caption  "Management's  Discussion  and
Analysis-Quarterly  Financial  Information" on Page 40 in Ashland's  Annual
Report are incorporated by reference in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

     Schedules  other than that listed above have been  omitted  because of
the absence of the conditions  under which they are required or because the
information  required is shown in the consolidated  financial statements or
the  notes  thereto.   Separate  financial   statements  of  unconsolidated
affiliates  are  omitted   because  each  company  does  not  constitute  a
significant  subsidiary  using the 20% tests when considered  individually.
Summarized financial information for such affiliates is disclosed in Note D
of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Ashland's Annual Report.


                                       23

<PAGE>
                       REPORT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

     We have audited the consolidated  financial statements and schedule of
Ashland Inc. and subsidiaries listed in the accompanying index to financial
statements and financial schedules (Item 14(a)). These financial statements
and  schedule  are  the   responsibility  of  Ashland's   management.   Our
responsibility  is to express an opinion on these financial  statements and
schedule based on our audits.
     We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards.  Those  standards  require that we plan and perform the audit to
obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free
of material  misstatement.  An audit includes  examining,  on a test basis,
evidence   supporting   the  amounts  and   disclosures  in  the  financial
statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used
and  significant  estimates made by  management,  as well as evaluating the
overall  financial  statement  presentation.  We  believe  that our  audits
provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
     In our opinion,  the financial  statements  listed in the accompanying
index to financial  statements (Item 14(a)) present fairly, in all material
respects,   the  consolidated   financial  position  of  Ashland  Inc.  and
subsidiaries at September 30, 1995 and 1994, and the  consolidated  results
of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the
period ended  September  30, 1995, in conformity  with  generally  accepted
accounting  principles.   Also,  in  our  opinion,  the  related  financial
statement  schedule,  when  considered  in relation to the basic  financial
statements taken as a whole,  presents fairly in all material  respects the
information set forth therein.
     As discussed in Note A to the consolidated  financial  statements,  in
fiscal  1995  Ashland   changed  its  method  of  accounting   relative  to
impairments of long-lived assets.

                                                          Ernst & Young LLP
Louisville, Kentucky 
November 1, 1995


                                       24

<PAGE>  
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ashland Inc. and Subsidiaries
Schedule II - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts

=================================================================================================================================
(In millions)                                           Balance at      Provisions                                       Balance
                                                         beginning      charged to       Reserves            Other        at end
Description                                                of year        earnings       utilized          changes       of year
=================================================================================================================================
<S>                                                           <C>            <C>             <C>            <C>             <C>
YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1995
Reserves deducted from asset accounts
   Accounts receivable                                        $23            $  9            $(7) (1)       $  -            $25
   Inventories                                                  6               3             (3)              -              6
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1994
Reserves deducted from asset accounts
   Accounts receivable                                        $20             $11            $(8) (1)       $  -            $23
   Inventories                                                  5               3             (2)              -              6
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1993
Reserves deducted from asset accounts
   Accounts receivable                                        $18             $13            $(9) (1)        $(2)           $20
   Inventories                                                  9               2             (6)              -              5
=================================================================================================================================
<FN>

(1)  Uncollected amounts written off, net of recoveries of $1 million in 1995, $2 million in 1994 and $3 million in 1993.
</TABLE>



                                       25

<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ashland Inc. and Subsidiaries
Exhibit 11 - Computation of Earnings Per Share
Years Ended September 30

====================================================================================================================================
(In millions except per share data)                                                        1995             1994              1993
====================================================================================================================================
<S>                                                                                        <C>             <C>               <C>  
PRIMARY EARNINGS PER SHARE
Income available to common shares
   Net income                                                                              $ 24            $ 197             $ 142
   Ashland Coal, Inc. (ACI) equity income and Ashland's share of
      ACI's cumulative effect of accounting changes (net of income
      taxes)                                                                                  -                -               (25)
   Ashland's share of ACI primary earnings
      per share (net of income taxes)                                                         -                -                23
   Dividends on convertible preferred stock                                                 (19)             (19)               (6)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                           $  5            $ 178             $ 134
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Average common shares and equivalents outstanding
   Average common shares outstanding                                                         62               60                60
   Common shares issuable upon exercise of stock options                                      -                1                 -
   Share adjustment for prepaid contribution to leveraged
      employee stock ownership plan (LESOP)                                                   -                -                (1)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                             62               61                59
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Earnings per share                                                                         $.08            $2.94             $2.26
====================================================================================================================================
EARNINGS PER SHARE ASSUMING FULL DILUTION
Income available to common shares
   Net income                                                                              $ 24            $ 197             $ 142
   ACI equity income and Ashland's share of ACI's cumulative
      effect of accounting changes (net of income taxes)                                      -                -               (25)
   Ashland's share of ACI earnings per share assuming
      full dilution (net of income taxes)                                                     -                -                21
   Interest on convertible debentures (net of income taxes)                                   -                5                 6
   Dividends on convertible preferred stock                                                 (19)               -                 -
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                           $  5            $ 202             $ 144
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Average common shares and equivalents outstanding
   Average common shares outstanding                                                         62               60                60
   Common shares issuable upon
      Exercise of stock options                                                               1                1                 1
      Conversion of debentures                                                                -                2                 3
      Conversion of preferred stock                                                           -                9                 3
   Share adjustment for prepaid contribution to LESOP                                         -                -                (1)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                             63               72                66
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Earnings per share                                                                         $.08            $2.79             $2.20
====================================================================================================================================


                                       26

</TABLE>


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Ashland Inc. and Subsidiaries
MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

Years Ended September 30
<S>                                                               <C>                 <C>              <C>

(In millions)                                                        1995                 1994             1993
===========================================================================================================================

SALES AND OPERATING REVENUES
Petroleum                                                         $ 5,050             $  4,666         $  4,752
SuperAmerica                                                        1,788                1,706            1,785
Valvoline                                                           1,113                1,000              938
Chemical                                                            3,551                2,885            2,586
APAC                                                                1,123                1,101            1,116
Coal(1)                                                               610                    -                -
Exploration                                                           198                  199              247
Intersegment sales                                                 (1,266)              (1,223)          (1,225)
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                  $12,167             $ 10,334         $ 10,199
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

OPERATING INCOME
Petroleum                                                         $   (54)            $    113         $     56
SuperAmerica                                                           53                   59               65
Valvoline                                                              (4)                  52               56
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Total Refining and Marketing Group                                  (5)                 224              177
Chemical                                                              159                  125              108
APAC                                                                   75                   70               53
Coal(1)                                                                66                    -                -
Exploration                                                            (6)                  28               36
General corporate expenses                                            (91)                 (80)             (77)
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                  $   198             $    367         $    297
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

EQUITY INCOME
Ashland Coal, Inc.(1)                                             $     -             $      6         $     27
Arch Mineral Corporation                                               (4)                   7              (10)
Other                                                                  11                    9                9
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                  $     7             $     22         $     26
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

OPERATING INFORMATION
Petroleum
   Product sales (thousand barrels per day)(2)                      377.2                357.7            350.3
   Refining inputs (thousand barrels per day)(3)                    349.5                338.4            335.9
   Value of products manufactured per barrel                      $ 22.41             $  21.49         $  23.00
   Input cost per barrel                                            18.55                16.76            19.06
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Refining margin per barrel                                     $  3.86             $   4.73         $   3.94
SuperAmerica
   Product sales (thousand barrels per day)                          71.5                 70.2             73.8
   Merchandise sales (millions)                                   $   547             $    519         $    549
Valvoline lubricant sales (thousand barrels per day)(2)              19.1                 17.9             16.3
APAC construction backlog at September 30 (millions)              $   672             $    554         $    495
Ashland Coal, Inc.(4)
   Tons sold (millions)                                              22.0                 18.2             18.0
   Sales price per ton                                            $ 27.80             $  29.85         $  29.77
Arch Mineral Corporation(4)
   Tons sold (millions)                                              27.2                 24.3             19.2
   Sales price per ton                                            $ 26.23             $  26.35         $  25.26
Exploration
   Net daily production
     Natural gas (million cubic feet)(2)                            102.9                 94.3             99.3
     Nigerian crude oil (thousand barrels)                           18.8                 18.7             21.7
   Sales price
     Natural gas (per thousand cubic feet)                        $  1.89             $   2.42         $   2.45
     Nigerian crude oil (per barrel)                              $ 16.17             $  15.01         $  17.77
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<FN>
(1)   Ashland Coal was  consolidated  in 1995 and accounted for on the equity method in 1994 and 1993 (see Note B to 
      the financial statements).
(2)   Includes intersegment sales.
(3)   Includes crude oil and other purchased feedstocks.
(4)   Ashland's ownership interest is 54% in Ashland Coal (39% prior to 1995) and 50% in Arch Mineral.

</TABLE>


                                       34
<PAGE>
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Ashland's net income  amounted to $24 million in 1995, $197 million in 1994
and $142  million  in 1993.  However,  comparisons  of  these  results  are
affected by various unusual items. The following table shows the effects of
unusual  items on  operating  and net  income  for the  three  years  ended
September 30, 1995.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                            Operating income                          Net income
                                                ----------------------------       -----------------------------
(In millions)                                   1995        1994        1993       1995        1994         1993
=================================================================================================================
<S>                                             <C>         <C>         <C>        <C>         <C>          <C>

Income before unusual items                     $318        $356        $282       $103        $190         $115
   Asset impairment write-downs                  (83)          -           -        (54)          -            -
   Early retirement and restructuring programs   (37)          -           -        (25)          -            -
   Litigation matters                              -          11           -          -           7            -
   Ashland Coal unusual items                      -           -           -          -           -           18
   Gain on sale of Petroleum operation             -           -          15          -           -            9
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Income as reported                              $198        $367        $297       $ 24        $197         $142
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

Effective   September  30,  1995,  Ashland  adopted  Financial   Accounting
Standards Board Statement No. 121 (FAS 121), "Accounting for the Impairment
of  Long-Lived  Assets and for  Long-Lived  Assets to Be Disposed Of." As a
result,  Ashland  recorded  charges of $83  million  to write down  certain
assets to their fair values,  including an idle unit at Ashland Petroleum's
Catlettsburg,   Kentucky  refinery,  certain  unused  crude  oil  gathering
pipelines  of  Scurlock   Permian,   various  petroleum  product  marketing
properties to be sold or shutdown,  and various  other assets.  Fair values
were based upon appraisals or estimates of discounted future cash flows, as
appropriate.   In  addition,  charges  of  $37  million  related  to  early
retirement and restructuring programs were incurred,  reflecting efforts by
Ashland  Petroleum  and several  other  divisions to reduce their costs and
improve their competitive positions.

Excluding  unusual  items,  net income  amounted  to $103  million in 1995,
compared to $190  million in 1994.  Results were mixed,  as record  results
from  Ashland  Chemical,  APAC and  Ashland  Coal were more than  offset by
reduced earnings from Ashland Petroleum, Valvoline and Ashland Exploration,
as well as higher interest costs.  Net income before unusual items amounted
to $190 million in 1994, compared to $115 million in 1993. Operating income
from Ashland  Petroleum was significantly  higher,  and record results were
achieved by Ashland Chemical and APAC. In addition, equity income from Arch
Mineral improved considerably after the prolonged strike by the United Mine
Workers (UMW) was settled in December 1993.

The following  table  compares  operating  income  before  unusual items by
segment for the three years ended  September  30,  1995.  Due to  Ashland's
purchase of an  additional  15% interest in Ashland  Coal during 1995,  the
results of Ashland  Coal are  consolidated  and shown as a new  segment for
1995.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
(In millions)                                              1995              1994              1993
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                       <C>                <C>               <C>
Operating income (loss)
   Petroleum                                              $  48              $113              $ 41
   SuperAmerica                                              53                59                65
   Valvoline                                                  1                52                56
   Chemical                                                 164               125               108
   APAC                                                      75                70                53
   Coal                                                      66                 -                 -
   Exploration                                               (2)               28                36
   General corporate expenses                               (87)              (91)              (77)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           $318              $356              $282
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

PETROLEUM

Operating income of Ashland Petroleum declined from $113 million in 1994 to
$48 million in 1995 before  unusual  items.  Refining  margins in 1995 were
adversely affected by the market confusion  surrounding the introduction of
reformulated  gasoline and by excess industry production of gasoline in the
March quarter when refiners switched production from distillate to gasoline
in response to one of the warmest  winters of this century.  While refining
margins recovered and averaged $4.66 a barrel during the last half of 1995,
overall  refining margins for the year declined from $4.73 a barrel in 1994
to $3.86 a barrel in 1995.  Refining  expenses  per  barrel  also  declined
somewhat  from 1994 as the  refineries  operated  at near  capacity  levels
during  the last half of 1995 and cost  savings  from  Ashland  Petroleum's
restructuring  programs  began to be realized.  Earnings from pipelines and
Scurlock  Permian were up $19 million,  reflecting a combination  of tariff
increases, higher throughput and reduced expenses.

Operating  income of Ashland  Petroleum  amounted to $113  million in 1994,
compared to 1993 when operating income amounted to $41 million, excluding a
gain  of $15  million  on  the  sale  of its  TPT  inland  waterways  barge
operation. Ashland Petroleum's strong performance was due to higher margins
in its Midwest  markets,  as well as actions to improve crude oil selection
and other profit enhancement efforts. Margins were very strong in the first
half of 1994,  reflecting  favorable  distillate prices concurrent with the
implementation  of low-sulfur  diesel  requirements in 

                                       35


<PAGE>
Ashland Inc. and Subsidiaries
MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

the December quarter and reduced crude oil costs in the March quarter.  The
last half of 1994 was  adversely  affected by  increasing  crude oil costs,
with wholesale product prices not keeping pace. Crude oil throughput was up
slightly in 1994 despite major  turnarounds  at two of Ashland  Petroleum's
refineries.  Although  refining margins were volatile for most of the year,
such margins did increase  from $3.94 a barrel in 1993 to $4.73 a barrel in
1994. This improvement was partially offset,  however, by higher turnaround
and   depreciation   costs.   Earnings  from  Scurlock   Permian   improved
considerably,  as crude oil gathering and handling  margins  increased from
their depressed levels in 1993.

SUPERAMERICA

Earnings from SuperAmerica declined from $59 million in 1994 to $53 million
in 1995.  Gasoline  volumes were up slightly  reflecting a higher number of
stores and merchandise sales volumes were up on a per store basis. However,
the  effects  were more than  offset by higher  labor and  training  costs,
reflecting  the increased  number of stores,  the tight labor  market,  and
costs associated with the continuing rollout of the co-branding partnership
program  with  popular   fast-food  chains.  At  September  30,  1995,  609
SuperAmerica stores were operating,  compared to 598 stores in 1994 and 588
stores in 1993. Of these stores,  66 included  fast-food  operations at the
end of 1995, compared to only 10 at the end of 1994.

Operating income of $59 million for SuperAmerica in 1994 was second only to
its  record  earnings  of  $65  million  achieved  in  1993.  Gasoline  and
merchandise  margins  were up  considerably  and largely  offset the volume
reductions associated with the sale of 80 SuperAmerica stores in 1993. Such
stores  were  located  in Florida  and other  non-strategic  areas  outside
markets directly supplied by Ashland Petroleum.  While the number of stores
was up at the end of 1994 compared to 1993, the average number of stores in
operation in 1994 was actually down 4%, and operations of the  newly-opened
stores had not yet fully matured.

VALVOLINE

Valvoline had an extremely  difficult  year in 1995,  operating  just above
break-even  levels before unusual items,  compared to 1994 when earnings of
$52  million  were   achieved.   Domestic  motor  oil  earnings  were  down
considerably,   reflecting   reductions  in  branded  sales  volumes,  cost
increases for additives and packaging  materials,  higher  advertising  and
promotional  expenses,  and a continuing  shift from  packaged  products to
lower margin bulk sales.  Due to  competitive  pressures,  the higher costs
could not be fully passed through in higher sales prices, particularly with
respect to private label sales.  Results from car care products  (including
Zerex   antifreeze)   were  adversely   affected  by  illegal   imports  of
refrigerants,   escalating  costs  for  ethylene  glycol  and  weak  demand
reflecting  the  unusually  warm  winter  weather.  Operating  income  from
international  operations was also down due to higher  distribution  costs,
and aggressive  advertising and promotional expenses to expand the European
distributorships  acquired in 1994.  Although average car counts and ticket
prices  continued  to improve,  results from  Valvoline  Instant Oil Change
(VIOC) were down due to increased  labor and material  costs.  At September
30, 1995, VIOC operated 365 company-owned outlets,  compared to 347 in 1994
and 341 in 1993. In addition,  the VIOC  franchising  program  continued to
expand with 90 outlets open in 1995, compared to 75 in 1994 and 66 in 1993.

Valvoline had its second best year ever in 1994,  with operating  income of
$52 million,  compared to a record $56 million in 1993. The major factor in
the decline was reduced margins on automotive  refrigerants  resulting from
built-up customer inventories.  Earnings from Valvoline's branded motor oil
business were relatively  unchanged as the effects of volume increases were
largely offset by reduced margins  associated with a continuing  shift from
packaged products to lower margin bulk sales, and by significant  increases
in  raw  material  costs  during  the  last  half  of  1994.  International
operations  were up  considerably,  spurred in part by the  acquisition  of
Valvoline distributorships in six European countries during 1994. Valvoline
Instant Oil Change (VIOC)  achieved higher earnings for the second straight
year with continued improvements in average car counts and ticket prices.

CHEMICAL

For the fourth  consecutive year, Ashland Chemical was the leading earnings
contributor to Ashland's  results.  Operating income of $164 million before
unusual  items  was up over 30%  from  1994  results  of $125  million  and
represented a third  straight  record year for Ashland  Chemical.  A strong
performance  from the  petrochemical  businesses  was a key  factor  in the
improvement. Exceptionally strong prices for methanol during the first half
of the  year,  and  higher  sales  volumes  and  margins  for  cumene  were
responsible for most of the  petrochemical  improvement.  Operating  income
from methanol  returned to more normal levels during the last half of 1995,
declining $22 million from the earnings  achieved  during the first half of
the fiscal year.  Results from the  distribution  businesses were up nearly
25%,  reflecting higher sales volumes.  However,  operating income from the
specialty  chemicals  businesses  was down 10% due to reduced  margins  for
water treatment chemicals and foundry products.

Operating income from Ashland Chemical  increased from $108 million in 1993
to  $125  million  in  1994,  despite  incurring  increased   environmental
remediation costs.  Earnings from the distribution  businesses were up 22%,
principally  due to higher  sales  volumes  for  thermoplastics.  Operating
income from the  specialty  chemicals  group  increased  25%,  with foundry
products  and  water  treatment  chemicals  leading  an  across  the  board
improvement.  

                                       36

<PAGE>

Results from  petrochemicals  were up 15%,  with  improvements  in methanol
margins more than offsetting the effects of production and  weather-related
problems on cumene results early in 1994.

APAC

Despite  the sale of its  Arizona  operations  in 1994,  APAC  construction
companies  achieved  their second  straight year of record results in 1995.
Operating  income amounted to $75 million in 1995,  compared to $70 million
in 1994,  which  included  income  of $9  million  related  to the  Arizona
operations.  A strong  backlog  which  enhanced  revenues  and margins from
construction  jobs,  and close  attention  to costs and safety were primary
factors in APAC's improvement.

APAC achieved  earnings of $70 million in 1994,  compared to $53 million in
1993. Each of its continuing operating regions achieved improvements on the
strength  of a higher  quality  backlog,  better  margins  on  construction
materials  and more  favorable  weather  conditions.  In  addition,  APAC's
Arizona  operations  contributed  operating income (including a gain on the
sale of those  operations)  of $9 million,  which was up from $6 million in
1993.

COAL

As a result of Ashland's acquisition of an additional 15% interest, Ashland
Coal was  consolidated in 1995.  Prior to 1995,  Ashland  accounted for its
investment  in  Ashland  Coal on the  equity  method  of  accounting.  On a
comparable  basis,  operating  income from Ashland Coal  increased from $35
million in 1994 to $66 million in 1995. The improvement  reflects increased
productivity and cost reductions in 1995, combined with the adverse effects
of the UMW strike  (including  the related  aftereffects)  on 1994 results.
Such  improvements  more than offset the  reduction in average sales prices
resulting  from the  expiration  of a sales  contract in the December  1994
quarter and other contract changes.

EXPLORATION

Ashland Exploration incurred an operating loss of $2 million in 1995 before
unusual items, compared to operating income of $28 million in 1994. Results
from  domestic  operations  were  down $14  million,  reflecting  depressed
natural  gas prices.  The effect of reduced  prices was  partially  offset,
however, by a 9% increase in natural gas production, in part reflecting the
operations of Appalachian  producing  properties  acquired in 1995. Foreign
earnings  were  down $16  million,  reflecting  a  combination  of  reduced
profitability from the Nigerian operations, and increased exploration costs
associated  with Nigerian  offshore blocks acquired under a 1992 production
sharing agreement.

Ashland Exploration's operating income declined from $36 million in 1993 to
$28 million in 1994. Operating income from domestic operations was down $19
million,  resulting from reduced production and prices for both natural gas
and crude oil, increased exploration expenses,  and the favorable effect of
a contract  settlement  that was  included in results  for 1993.  Operating
income from foreign  operations  improved by $11 million,  reflecting lower
exploration  costs and improved results from crude oil trading  activities.
Such  factors  more than offset the effects of normal  declines in Nigerian
crude oil production as developed reserves continue to be depleted.

During 1995, Ashland Exploration  entered into a settlement  agreement with
Columbia Gas  Transmission  to resolve claims  involving  natural gas sales
contracts  which were  abrogated  by  Columbia  in 1991.  Columbia  and its
parent,  Columbia Gas Systems,  have filed  reorganization  plans including
this agreement with the U.S.  Bankruptcy  Court in Delaware.  The Court has
approved  the  fairness  of the  settlement  agreement  and the  disclosure
statements  allowing the reorganization  plans to be voted on by creditors.
Subject to the outcome of the voting  process and various other  approvals,
the settlement agreement would provide for a $78 million payment to Ashland
Exploration,  of  which  5% would be  withheld  by  Columbia  to be used to
potentially satisfy the claims of non-settling producers.

GENERAL CORPORATE EXPENSES

Excluding  unusual items,  general  corporate  expenses were $87 million in
1995,  $91  million  in 1994 and $77  million  in 1993.  Expenses  for 1994
included  consulting  fees and other expenses  related to a  corporate-wide
cost   control   program   and  higher   accruals   for   performance-based
compensation.  In addition, expenses for both 1994 and 1993 were reduced by
income  from  the  resolution  of  matters  related  to  Ashland's   former
engineering subsidiaries.

OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE)

Interest expense (net of interest income) amounted to $171 million in 1995,
$117 million in 1994 and $123 million in 1993.  Adjusting  for  capitalized
interest  on  refinery  projects  of $9  million  in 1993,  interest  costs
incurred  amounted to $132 million that year. The changes in interest costs
incurred during the last three years resulted principally from fluctuations
in debt levels and, to a lesser extent, higher interest rates in 1995.

Results of Arch Mineral produced equity income of $2 million in 1995 before
unusual  items,  compared  to $7 million in 1994 and an equity  loss of $10
million in 1993.  The major factor in the  fluctuations  was the  prolonged
strike by the UMW which  extended  from April into  December 1993 and had a
significant effect on the comparability of results for both fiscal 1993 and
1994. Results for 1995 were negatively affected by weak demand for Illinois
high-sulfur  coal  and by high  mining  costs  resulting  from  unfavorable
overburden ratios and adverse geological  conditions at certain Appalachian
operations.

As indicated  previously,  Ashland Coal was  consolidated  in 1995.  Equity
income  from  Ashland  Coal for  1993  included  a net gain of $20  million
resulting from a favorable  adjustment to income tax expense due to tax law
changes,  partially offset by a charge to increase the valuation  allowance
for certain prepaid  royalties.  Excluding this 

                                       37


<PAGE>
Ashland Inc. and Subsidiaries
MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

unusual  gain,  equity  income from Ashland Coal  amounted to $6 million in
1994, compared to $7 million in 1993. The UMW strike reduced Ashland Coal's
earnings in both years.

FINANCIAL POSITION
LIQUIDITY

Ashland's  financial  position  has  enabled it to obtain  capital  for its
financing needs and maintain investment grade ratings on its senior debt of
Baa1 from  Moody's and BBB from  Standard & Poor's.  Ashland has  revolving
credit agreements  providing for up to $370 million in borrowings,  none of
which were in use at  September  30, 1995.  In  addition,  Ashland Coal has
revolving credit agreements providing for up to $500 million in borrowings,
of which $40  million  was in use at  September  30,  1995.  At that  date,
Ashland could issue an additional $154 million in medium-term notes under a
shelf registration should future  opportunities or needs arise. Ashland and
Ashland  Coal also have access to various  uncommitted  lines of credit and
commercial paper markets,  and had short-term notes and commercial paper of
$160  million  outstanding  at  September  30,  1995.  While  certain  debt
agreements  contain  covenants  restricting the amount by which Ashland can
increase its indebtedness,  such indebtedness  could have been increased by
up to $1.07 billion at September 30, 1995.

Cash and cash equivalents at September 30, 1995, were $52 million, compared
to $40  million for 1994.  Cash flows from  operations,  a major  source of
Ashland's  liquidity,  amounted  to $500  million in 1995  (including  $130
million from Ashland Coal),  $454 million in 1994 and $250 million in 1993.
Most of the unusual  items  which  reduced  earnings in 1995 were  non-cash
charges and therefore did not adversely  affect cash flow.  Cash flows from
operations provided 85% of Ashland's capital  requirements for net property
additions and dividends  during the last three years.  The remainder of its
capital requirements during this period, plus funds for acquisitions,  have
come from borrowings, the issuance of stock, and sales of operations.

Property  additions  amounted to $1.25 billion  during the last three years
and are  summarized  in the  Information  by  Industry  Segment on page 59.
Expenditures  by Ashland  Petroleum  amounted  to over 50% of the total for
1993, as the refineries were upgraded to produce  cleaner-burning fuels and
to   meet   tougher   environmental   regulations.   Accordingly,   capital
expenditures  by  Ashland's  related  energy and chemical  businesses  were
curtailed  during  that year to meet the capital  needs of the  refineries.
With the completion of various  refinery units in 1993,  investments in the
energy and chemical businesses were accelerated,  accounting for nearly 60%
of Ashland's capital expenditures in 1994 and nearly 70% in 1995.

Long-term  borrowings  provided funds of $748 million during the last three
years, including the issuance of $439 million of medium-term notes and $250
million of 8.80% senior debentures. The proceeds from long-term borrowings,
as well as $293 million from the issuance of convertible preferred stock in
1993,  were  used to retire  $536  million  of  long-term  debt  (scheduled
maturities as well as refundings to reduce interest costs) and to partially
fund capital expenditures and acquisitions. Cash flows were supplemented as
necessary by the issuance of short-term notes and commercial paper.

Acquisitions  (including  operations  acquired  through the issuance of $41
million of Ashland  common  stock)  amounted  to $432  million  since 1992,
including  $156  million  for  certain   operations  of  Aristech  Chemical
Corporation  and various  other  chemical  companies,  $110  million for an
additional  15%  interest  in  Ashland  Coal,  $69  million  for  Zerex and
Valvoline's European distributorships,  $68 million for Appalachian natural
gas  producing  properties,   and  $24  million  for  various  construction
companies.  Proceeds  from the sale of  operations  generated  $176 million
during the last  three  years,  including  divestitures  of APAC's  Arizona
operations,  80  SuperAmerica  stores,  various assets acquired in the 1991
acquisition of The Permian Corporation,  and Ashland Petroleum's TPT inland
waterways barge operation.

Investment purchases, sales and maturities relate primarily to the turnover
in the debt securities held by Ashland's captive insurance  companies.  The
net cash  outflow  related to these  transactions  in the last three  years
principally  reflects the increase in the  investment  portfolios  of these
companies.

Working  capital at September 30, 1995,  was $481 million and liquid assets
(cash, cash equivalents and accounts receivable) amounted to 78% of current
liabilities  at that  date.  Ashland's  working  capital  is  significantly
affected by its use of the LIFO method of inventory valuation, which valued
such inventories at $400 million below their replacement costs at September
30, 1995.

CAPITAL RESOURCES

Ashland's capital employed at September 30, 1995,  consisted of debt (53%),
deferred income taxes (1%), minority interest (5%),  convertible  preferred
stock  (7%) and common  stockholders'  equity  (34%).  Debt as a percent of
capital employed increased from 48% at the end of 1994, reflecting the high
level of acquisitions  during 1995, as well as the consolidation of Ashland
Coal's year-end debt of $228 million.  Long-term debt for 1995 included $68
million of floating-rate  debt and the interest rates on an additional $405
million  of  fixed-rate  debt were  converted  to  floating  


                                       38
<PAGE>

rates through interest rate swap agreements. As a result, interest costs in
1996 will fluctuate  based on short-term  interest rates on $473 million of
Ashland's  consolidated  long-term debt, as well as on any short-term notes
and commercial paper.

During  fiscal  1996,   Ashland   anticipates   capital   expenditures   of
approximately $535 million.  Ashland Petroleum's  capital  expenditures are
expected  to amount  to about  $180  million,  with the  remaining  capital
directed to growth  opportunities in Ashland's  related energy and chemical
businesses.  Ashland anticipates meeting its 1996 capital  requirements for
property additions and dividends from internally generated funds. Debt as a
percent of Ashland's  capital employed is expected to decline to around 50%
during 1996.

At September 30, 1995,  Ashland could issue up to an additional $49 million
in common stock under a shelf registration. During 1995, 1.4 million shares
were issued under this registration,  generating net proceeds to Ashland of
$51 million.

ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS

Federal, state and local laws and regulations relating to the protection of
the  environment  have  resulted  in higher  operating  costs  and  capital
investments  by the  industries in which Ashland  operates.  Because of the
continuing  trends toward  greater  environmental  awareness and increasing
regulations,   Ashland  believes  that   expenditures   for   environmental
compliance will continue to have a significant effect on the conduct of its
businesses.  Although it cannot accurately  predict how these  developments
will affect future operations and earnings, Ashland believes the nature and
significance of its costs will be comparable to those of its competitors in
the petroleum, chemical and extractive industries.

Capital  expenditures  for air,  water and solid waste  control  facilities
amounted  to $44 million in 1995,  $63 million in 1994 and $137  million in
1993. Based on current environmental regulations,  Ashland anticipates such
capital  expenditures  will amount to about $50 million in 1996.  Ashland's
environmental  remediation and compliance costs amounted to $151 million in
1995, $140 million in 1994 and $148 million in 1993, and are expected to be
in the range of $140 million in 1996. Such compliance  costs do not include
expenditures for additives,  such as MTBE and ethanol, required to meet the
reformulated gasoline and oxygenated fuel requirements.

Environmental  reserves  are subject to  considerable  uncertainties  which
affect  Ashland's  ability to estimate its share of the  ultimate  costs of
required  remediation  efforts.  Such uncertainties  involve the nature and
extent of  contamination  at each  site,  the  extent of  required  cleanup
efforts under existing environmental  regulations,  widely varying costs of
alternate  cleanup  methods,  changes  in  environmental  regulations,  the
potential effect of continuing improvements in remediation technology,  and
the number and financial strength of other potentially  responsible parties
at  multiparty  sites.  As a result,  charges to income  for  environmental
liabilities  could have a material  effect on  results of  operations  in a
particular  quarter or fiscal year as assessments and  remediation  efforts
proceed or as new remediation sites are identified.  However,  such charges
are  not  expected  to  have  a  material   adverse   effect  on  Ashland's
consolidated financial position, cash flow or liquidity.

OUTLOOK

Although  refining  margins are expected to remain  volatile,  key external
factors look promising for the refining industry. The industry is currently
operating  at a  high  rate  of  capacity,  with  gasoline  and  distillate
inventories  down from last  year's  levels at this  time.  The  economy is
reasonably  strong,  inflation  appears to be under  control  and  economic
growth  continues at a modest  pace.  In  addition,  gasoline  demand is up
nearly  3% for the year and is  expected  to  continue  increasing  over 1%
annually  for  the  rest  of the  decade,  reflecting  a  leveling  of fuel
efficiency in the passenger car fleet,  increasing sales of light-truck and
sport-utility  vehicles which average fewer miles per gallon than passenger
cars, and an increasing number of vehicle miles traveled.  And finally, the
regulatory  environment  appears more relaxed with reforms remaining on the
Congressional  agenda  which  would  require  new  regulations  to  include
cost-benefit analyses.

During 1995,  Ashland  Petroleum was  reorganized  into four business units
around its three refineries and Scurlock Permian. Results from its steps to
improve profitability, including the reorganization to push decision-making
closer to the marketplace,  the elimination of 321 jobs, increased refining
capacity resulting from prior investments and other efficiency measures are
beginning to be realized.  In addition,  an aggressive program was begun in
1995 to revitalize marketing efforts under the Ashland brand name, focusing
on jobber  distribution.  This program should result in a larger percentage
of Ashland Petroleum's  gasoline being sold under company brands and reduce
its dependence on wholesale markets.

Since Ashland Petroleum's  regulatory  compliance  expenditures have peaked
for now, Ashland's discretionary cash flow position has improved,  allowing
it to accelerate its investment in related energy and chemical  businesses.
SuperAmerica  has renewed its expansion  efforts,  expecting to build about
270 new stores over the next five years and expand its partnership  program
with fast-food chains. The new stores should increase  SuperAmerica's share
in  strategic  markets  where  it  is  already  a  leader,  enabling  it to
distribute a growing percentage of Ashland Petroleum's gasoline production.

Ashland Chemical and APAC will continue to pursue growth through  selective
acquisitions.  Ashland  Chemical  will  continue  to  emphasize  integrated
marketing  efforts  targeting  its North  American  customers and a growing


                                       39

<PAGE>
Ashland Inc. and Subsidiaries
MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

international  sales base.  Ashland Chemical is expecting another good year
in  1996,   despite  methanol  margins  declining   considerably  from  the
exceptionally  high  levels  experienced  during  the  first  half of 1995.
Increased  infrastructure spending and an expanding economy should continue
to benefit APAC's efforts to build market position in existing  markets and
reduce  costs.  APAC's  construction  backlog is a record  $672  million at
September  30,  1995,  reflecting  increases in both the public and private
sectors, and is expected to contain margins comparable to those included in
last year's backlog.

After several years of aggressive  growth,  Valvoline is shifting its focus
to reassessing its growth initiatives, reducing costs and rebuilding return
on investment.  Valvoline moved  aggressively  in the September  quarter to
reduce raw material and packaging costs and limit  discretionary  spending.
Ashland Exploration's  earnings will continue to be depressed until natural
gas prices recover and its Nigerian reserves are replaced.  In an effort to
optimize cash flow, Ashland  Exploration's natural gas drilling program was
reduced  during 1995.  Exploratory  work  continues on two Nigerian  blocks
acquired in 1992 with drilling of two wells  planned in 1996.  During 1996,
Ashland  Exploration expects to resolve its claims against the Columbia Gas
companies, with most of the settlement proceeds recognized as income.

Ashland Coal's results in 1996 will be adversely affected by the expiration
of several high priced,  high volume sales contracts and by price reopeners
under  other  contracts.  Numerous  steps  have been  taken at its mines to
control  the effects of these price  changes  and  increase  profitability.
While such steps will have favorable  effects on earnings in 1996 and 1997,
unfavorable  market conditions are hindering  Ashland Coal's efforts.  As a
result,   earnings   from   Ashland  Coal  in  1996  will  likely  be  down
significantly from 1995.  However,  improved results are expected from Arch
Mineral, which undertook a restructuring of operations in 1995 (including a
staff  reduction  of  about  120   positions),   sold  a  group  of  small,
non-strategic  mines and idled an Illinois  mine due to reduced  demand for
its high-sulfur  coal. Arch will continue to have difficulty  marketing its
high-sulfur  Illinois coal, but is working to increase its low-sulfur  coal
production and improve its market position.

EFFECTS OF INFLATION AND CHANGING PRICES

Ashland's  financial  statements are prepared on the historical cost method
of  accounting  and, as a result,  do not reflect  changes in the  dollar's
purchasing  power.  Although annual inflation rates have been low in recent
years, Ashland's results are still affected by the cumulative  inflationary
trend from prior years.

In the capital-intensive industries in which Ashland operates,  replacement
costs for its properties  would generally  exceed their  historical  costs.
Accordingly,  depreciation,  depletion  and  amortization  expense would be
greater if it were  based on  current  replacement  costs.  However,  since
replacement facilities would reflect technological improvements and changes
in  business  strategies,  such  facilities  would be  expected  to be more
productive  than  existing  facilities,  mitigating  somewhat the increased
depreciation expense.

Ashland uses the last-in,  first-out  (LIFO)  method to value a substantial
portion of its  inventories  to provide a better  matching of revenues with
current  costs.   However,   LIFO  values  such  inventories   below  their
replacement costs.

Monetary  assets (such as cash, cash  equivalents and accounts  receivable)
lose purchasing power as a result of inflation,  while monetary liabilities
(such as accounts payable and  indebtedness)  result in a gain because they
can be settled  with  dollars of  diminished  purchasing  power.  Ashland's
monetary  liabilities  exceed its  monetary  assets,  which  results in net
purchasing  power gains and provides a hedge  against the effects of future
inflation.

QUARTERLY FINANCIAL INFORMATION

The following table presents quarterly financial  information and per share
data relative to Ashland's common stock.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

Quarters ended                                December 31          March 31          June 30             September 30
- ---------------------------------------------------------   ---------------   --------------       ------------------
(In millions except per share data)         1994     1993     1995     1994     1995    1994         1995        1994
===========================================================================================================================
<S>                                       <C>      <C>      <C>      <C>      <C>     <C>          <C>         <C>

Sales and operating revenues              $2,924   $2,572   $2,735   $2,207   $3,256  $2,703       $3,252      $2,853
Operating income (loss)                       91      120        4       68      109      72           (7)(1)     107(2)
Net income (loss)                             35       58      (29)      33       48      44          (30)(1)      61(2)
Primary earnings (loss) per share            .50      .90     (.55)     .47      .69     .65         (.55)        .93
Common dividends per share                  .275      .25     .275      .25     .275     .25         .275         .25
Market price per common share 
    High                                  39-7/8   35-5/8   35-5/8   44-1/2   38-3/8  42-3/4       35-3/8      37-7/8
    Low                                   31-1/4       31   31-5/8       34   33-1/2  33-1/2           32      33-1/4
===========================================================================================================================
<FN>

(1)  Charges  for  asset  impairment  write-downs  under  FAS 121 and early retirement and restructuring programs 
     reduced operating income by $120 million and net income by $79 million in the quarter ended September 30, 1995.
(2)  A net gain related to litigation matters increased  operating income by $11 million and net income by $7 million 
     in the quarter ended September 30, 1994.

</TABLE>


                                       40

<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Ashland Inc. and Subsidiaires
STATEMENTS OF CONSOLIDATED INCOME

Years Ended September 30
(In millions except per share data)                                          1995                 1994                1993
===========================================================================================================================
<S>                                                                       <C>                  <C>                 <C>
REVENUES
Sales and operating revenues (including excise taxes)                     $12,167              $10,334             $10,199
Other                                                                          72                   48                  57
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                           12,239               10,382              10,256
COSTS AND EXPENSES
Cost of sales and operating expenses                                        9,286                7,742               7,951
Excise taxes on products and merchandise                                      988                  877                 645
Selling, general and administrative expenses                                1,205                1,021                 993
Depreciation, depletion and amortization                                      471                  295                 293
General corporate expenses                                                     91                   80                  77
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                           12,041               10,015               9,959
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

OPERATING INCOME                                                              198                  367                 297

OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE)
Interest expense (net of interest income) - Notes A and F                    (171)                (117)               (123)
Equity income - Note D                                                          7                   22                  26
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES AND MINORITY INTEREST                               34                  272                 200
Income taxes - Note H                                                          13                  (75)                (58)
Minority interest in earnings of subsidiaries                                 (23)                   -                   -
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NET INCOME                                                                     24                  197                 142
Dividends on convertible preferred stock                                      (19)                 (19)                 (6)
Other deductions - net                                                          -                    -                  (2)
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INCOME AVAILABLE TO COMMON SHARES                                          $    5             $    178            $    134
===========================================================================================================================
EARNINGS PER SHARE - NOTE A
Primary                                                                    $  .08             $   2.94            $   2.26
Assuming full dilution                                                     $  .08             $   2.79            $   2.20
AVERAGE COMMON SHARES AND EQUIVALENTS OUTSTANDING
Primary                                                                        62                   61                  59
Assuming full dilution                                                         63                   72                  66
===========================================================================================================================
</TABLE>

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.



                                       41
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Ashland Inc. and Subsidiaries
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

September 30
(In millions)                                                                                   1995                 1994
===========================================================================================================================
<S>                                                                                         <C>                  <C>
ASSETS

CURRENT ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents - Note A                                                          $     52             $     40
Accounts receivable (less allowances for doubtful accounts of
    $25 million in 1995 and $23 million in 1994)                                               1,575                1,323
Construction completed and in progress - at contract prices                                       42                   55
Inventories - Note A                                                                             726                  601
Deferred income taxes - Note H                                                                    90                   71
Other current assets                                                                              90                   81
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                               2,575                2,171


INVESTMENTS AND OTHER ASSETS
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated affiliates - Note D                                145                  291
Investments of captive insurance companies - Note A                                              192                  181
Cost in excess of net assets of companies acquired (less accumulated
   amortization of $35 million in 1995 and $32 million in 1994)                                  107                   80
Other noncurrent assets                                                                          403                  276
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                 847                  828


PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
Cost
   Petroleum                                                                                   2,860                2,911
   SuperAmerica                                                                                  488                  459
   Valvoline                                                                                     294                  273
   Chemical                                                                                      737                  633
   APAC                                                                                          566                  528
   Coal                                                                                          972                    -
   Exploration (successful efforts method)                                                     1,011                  943
   Corporate                                                                                     150                  151
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                               7,078                5,898
Accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization                                          (3,508)              (3,082)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                               3,570                2,816
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                              $6,992               $5,815
==========================================================================================================================

</TABLE>


See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.


                                       42
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

(In millions)                                                                                1995                1994
===========================================================================================================================
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
<S>                                                                                       <C>                <C>
CURRENT LIABILITIES
Debt due within one year
   Notes payable to banks                                                                 $   185            $     57
   Commercial paper                                                                            15                  15
   Current portion of long-term debt                                                           72                  61
Trade and other payables                                                                    1,778               1,520
Income taxes                                                                                   44                  35
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                            2,094               1,688

NONCURRENT LIABILITIES
Long-term debt (less current portion) - Notes E and F                                       1,828               1,391
Employee benefit obligations - Note K                                                         613                 531
Reserves of captive insurance companies                                                       169                 173
Deferred income taxes - Note H                                                                 49                  30
Other long-term liabilities and deferred credits                                              405                 407
Commitments and contingencies - Notes F, G and L
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                            3,064               2,532

MINORITY INTEREST IN CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES                                                179                   -

STOCKHOLDERS'  EQUITY - Notes E, I and J 
Preferred  stock, no par value, 30 million shares authorized
   Convertible preferred stock, 6 million shares issued, $300 million liquidation value       293                 293

Common stockholders' equity
   Common stock, par value $1.00 per share
      Authorized - 150 million shares
      Issued - 64 million shares in 1995 and 61 million shares in 1994                         64                  61
   Paid-in capital                                                                            256                 159
   Retained earnings                                                                        1,063               1,126
   Loan to leveraged employee stock ownership plan (LESOP)                                    (11)                (33)
   Other                                                                                      (10)                (11)
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total common stockholders' equity                                                           1,362               1,302
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                            1,655               1,595
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                           $6,992              $5,815
===========================================================================================================================
</TABLE>


                                       43

<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Ashland Inc. and Subsidiaries
STATEMENTS OF CONSOLIDATED COMMON STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY



                                                                                              Prepaid
                                     Common      Paid-in      Retained        Loan to    contribution
(In millions)                         stock      capital      earnings          LESOP        to LESOP    Other       Total
===========================================================================================================================
<S>                                     <C>         <C>        <C>              <C>              <C>     <C>        <C>
BALANCE AT OCTOBER 1, 1992              $60         $146       $   931          $(34)            $(24)   $   7      $1,086
Net income                                                         142                                                 142
Dividends
    Preferred stock                                                 (6)                                                 (6)
    Common stock, $1.00 a share                                    (59)                            (1)                 (60)
Decrease in equity due to
    change in Ashland Coal
    capital structure                                 (6)                                                               (6)
Issued common stock under
    stock incentive plans                              2                                                                 2
Allocation of LESOP shares
    to participants                                                                                19                   19
Other changes                                          1                           1                        (17)       (15)
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

BALANCE AT SEPTEMBER 30, 1993            60          143         1,008           (33)              (6)      (10)     1,162
Net income                                                         197                                                 197
Dividends
    Preferred stock                                                (19)                                                (19)
    Common stock, $1.00 a share                                    (60)                                                (60)
Issued common stock under
    stock incentive plans                 1           16                                                                17
Allocation of LESOP shares
    to participants                                                                                6                     6
Other changes                                                                                                (1)        (1)
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

BALANCE AT SEPTEMBER 30, 1994            61          159         1,126           (33)              -        (11)     1,302
Net income                                                          24                                                  24
Dividends
    Preferred stock                                                (19)                                                (19)
    Common stock, $1.10 a share                                    (68)                                                (68)
Issued common stock under
    Share offering program                2           49                                                                51
    Acquisition of operations
         of other companies               1           40                                                                41
    Stock incentive plans                              7                                                                 7
LESOP loan repayments                                                             22                                    22
Other changes                                          1                                                      1          2
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BALANCE AT SEPTEMBER 30, 1995           $64         $256        $1,063          $(11)          $   -       $(10)    $1,362
===========================================================================================================================

</TABLE>

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.


                                       44

<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Ashland Inc. and Subsidiaries
STATEMENTS OF CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOWS

Years Ended September 30

(In millions)                                                               1995                 1994                1993
===========================================================================================================================
<S>                                                                       <C>                   <C>                 <C>
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATIONS
Net income                                                                $   24                $ 197               $ 142
Expense (income) not affecting cash
   Depreciation, depletion and amortization(1)                               487                  308                 305
   Deferred income taxes                                                     (73)                   2                  14
   Other noncash items                                                        33                   22                 (27)
Change in operating assets and liabilities(2)                                 29                  (75)               (184)
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                             500                  454                 250
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt                                     330                   77                 341
Proceeds from issuance of capital stock                                       55(3)                17                 295
Loan repayment from leveraged employee stock ownership plan                   22                    -                   -
Repayment of long-term debt                                                  (60)                (109)               (367)
Increase (decrease) in short-term debt                                        38                   (5)               (159)
Dividends paid                                                               (92)                 (79)                (66)
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                             293                  (99)                 44
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTMENT
Additions to property, plant and equipment                                  (444)                (376)               (432)
Purchase of operations - net of cash acquired                               (327)(3)              (62)                 (2)
Proceeds from sale of operations                                              10                   59                 107
Investment purchases(4)                                                     (725)                (335)               (451)
Investment sales and maturities(4)                                           704                  335                 440
Other - net                                                                    1                   23                  32
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                            (781)                (356)               (306)
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS                              12                   (1)                (12)
Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of year                                 40                   41                  53
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS - END OF YEAR                                  $    52               $   40               $  41
===========================================================================================================================

DECREASE (INCREASE) IN OPERATING ASSETS(2) 
Accounts receivable                                                      $  (112)              $ (153)              $  26
Construction completed and in progress                                        13                   (3)                (13)
Inventories                                                                  (63)                 (45)                 67
Deferred income taxes                                                         (7)                   -                  15
Other current assets                                                          12                   (7)                 (8)
Investments and other assets                                                  31                   15                   2
INCREASE (DECREASE) IN OPERATING LIABILITIES(2) 
Trade and other payables                                                     169                   95                (245)
Income taxes                                                                   4                  (10)                (20)
Noncurrent liabilities                                                       (18)                  33                  (8)
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CHANGE IN OPERATING ASSETS AND LIABILITIES                                $   29               $  (75)             $ (184)
===========================================================================================================================
<FN>
(1) Includes amounts charged to general corporate expenses.
(2) Excludes changes resulting from operations acquired or sold.
(3) Excludes $41 million of common stock issued in acquisitions.
(4) Represents primarily investment transactions of captive insurance companies.

</TABLE>

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.



                                       45

<PAGE>
Ashland Inc. and Subsidiaries
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

NOTE A - SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
GENERAL

The consolidated  financial  statements include the accounts of Ashland and
its majority-owned  subsidiaries.  Investments in joint ventures and 20% to
50% owned affiliates are accounted for on the equity method.  Since Ashland
Coal, Inc. was  consolidated in 1995 and accounted for on the equity method
in 1994 and 1993  (see  Note  B),  the  comparability  of  various  amounts
included  in   Ashland's   consolidated   financial   statements   and  the
accompanying notes are affected.

The  preparation  of  Ashland's   consolidated   financial   statements  in
conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires Ashland's
management  to make  estimates  and  assumptions  that  affect the  amounts
reported in these  financial  statements  and  accompanying  notes.  Actual
results could differ from those estimates.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

INVENTORIES
(In millions)                                                   1995                  1994
===========================================================================================================================
<S>                                                             <C>                   <C>

Crude oil                                                       $285                  $243
Petroleum products                                               284                   286
Chemicals and other products                                     491                   421
Materials and supplies                                            66                    46
Excess of replacement costs over LIFO carrying values           (400)                 (395)
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                $726                  $601
===========================================================================================================================
</TABLE>

Crude oil,  petroleum  products and chemicals  with a  replacement  cost of
approximately  $741  million at  September  30,  1995,  and $705 million at
September 30, 1994, are valued using the last-in,  first-out (LIFO) method.
The remaining  inventories are stated generally at the lower of cost (using
the first-in, first-out (FIFO) or average cost method) or market.

PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

The cost of plant and equipment (other than capitalized lease  acquisition,
exploration  and  development  costs) is depreciated  by the  straight-line
method over the  estimated  useful  lives of the assets.  Oil and gas lease
acquisition,  exploration and development costs are accounted for using the
successful  efforts method.  Coal lease  acquisition and development  costs
which are recoverable are capitalized.  Coal exploration costs are expensed
as  incurred.  Capitalized  costs are  depleted by the  units-of-production
method over the estimated recoverable reserves.

Estimated  costs of major  refinery  turnarounds  are accrued,  while other
maintenance  and repair  costs are expensed as  incurred.  Maintenance  and
repair expense  amounted to $355 million in 1995,  $279 million in 1994 and
$248 million in 1993.

ENVIRONMENTAL COSTS

Accruals for environmental  costs are recognized when it is probable that a
liability  has  been  incurred  and the  amount  of that  liability  can be
reasonably  estimated.  Such costs are charged to expense if they relate to
the remediation of conditions caused by past operations or are not expected
to mitigate or prevent  contamination from future operations.  Accruals are
recorded at  undiscounted  amounts  based on  experience,  assessments  and
current  technology without regard to any third-party  recoveries,  and are
regularly  adjusted as  environmental  assessments and remediation  efforts
proceed.

EARNINGS PER SHARE

Primary earnings per share is based on net income less preferred  dividends
divided by the average number of common shares and equivalents  outstanding
during the  respective  years.  Shares of common stock issuable under stock
options are treated as common stock equivalents when dilutive.

Earnings per share assuming full dilution begins with the primary  earnings
per share  computation.  Shares  issuable upon  conversion of the preferred
stock and 6.75% subordinated  debentures are added to average common shares
and  equivalents  when  dilutive.  In such  cases,  net  income is  further
adjusted by adding back  preferred  dividends and interest  expense (net of
tax) on these debentures.

DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS

Ashland uses commodity  futures and option contracts to reduce its exposure
to  fluctuations  in prices for crude oil,  petroleum  products and natural
gas. Gains and losses on these  contracts are deferred and accounted for as
part of the transactions or activities being hedged.


                                       46

<PAGE>

Ashland uses interest rate swap  agreements to obtain greater access to the
lower  borrowing  costs normally  available on  floating-rate  debt,  while
minimizing  refunding  risk through the issuance of  long-term,  fixed-rate
debt.  Periodic  settlements  under the swap  agreements  are recognized as
adjustments of interest expense for the related periods.

ACCOUNTING CHANGES

Effective   September  30,  1995,  Ashland  adopted  Financial   Accounting
Standards Board Statement No. 121 (FAS 121), "Accounting for the Impairment
of  Long-Lived  Assets and for  Long-Lived  Assets to Be Disposed Of." As a
result,  Ashland recorded charges of $83 million (included in depreciation,
depletion  and  amortization)  to write down  certain  assets to their fair
value.   These  assets  included  an  idle  unit  at  Ashland   Petroleum's
Catlettsburg,   Kentucky  refinery,  certain  unused  crude  oil  gathering
pipelines  of  Scurlock   Permian,   various  petroleum  product  marketing
properties to be sold or shutdown, and various other assets. Fair value was
based upon  appraisals  or estimates of  discounted  future cash flows,  as
appropriate. Operating income was reduced for each of the affected segments
as follows: Petroleum ($68 million),  Valvoline ($3 million),  Chemical ($4
million),  Exploration  ($4  million)  and general  corporate  expenses ($4
million).  In addition,  Arch Mineral adopted FAS 121 and recorded a charge
to write down certain idle facilities,  decreasing  Ashland's equity income
by $3 million.  The adoption of FAS 121 reduced Ashland's net income by $54
million or $.86 per share.

OTHER

Cash equivalents  include highly liquid  investments  maturing within three
months after  purchase.  Investments  of captive  insurance  companies  are
primarily foreign corporate and government debt obligations and are carried
at market value plus accrued  interest,  with  foreign  currency  exposures
hedged through forward contracts.

Income  related to  construction  contracts is generally  recognized by the
units-of-production    method,    which    is   a    variation    of    the
percentage-of-completion  method.  Any anticipated losses on such contracts
are charged against operations as soon as such losses are estimable.

Costs in excess of net assets of companies  acquired  are  amortized by the
straight-line  method over periods  generally  ranging from 10 to 40 years,
with an average remaining life of 15 years.

Research and  development  costs are  expensed as incurred  ($24 million in
1995, $23 million in 1994 and $21 million in 1993).

Interest is capitalized on projects  where  construction  of an asset takes
considerable  time  and  entails  substantial   expenditures.   Capitalized
interest amounted to $9 million in 1993 and was not significant in 1995 and
1994.

Certain  prior year  amounts  have been  reclassified  in the  consolidated
financial statements to conform with 1995 classifications.

NOTE B - ACQUISITIONS AND DIVESTITURES
ACQUISITIONS

In February 1995,  Ashland  purchased from  Saarbergwerke AG all of Ashland
Coal's Class B Preferred  Stock for $110  million.  The purchase  increased
Ashland's  ownership  of Ashland  Coal from 39 percent to 54 percent.  As a
result  of this  transaction,  Ashland  Coal  has  been  consolidated  into
Ashland's financial  statements  retroactive to October 1, 1994.  Ashland's
investment in Ashland Coal  previously had been accounted for on the equity
method.

Also during  1995,  Ashland  acquired  the  unsaturated  polyester  resins,
polyester distribution and maleic anhydride businesses of Aristech Chemical
Corporation,  the Zerex(R)  antifreeze  product  line,  the  northern  West
Virginia  assets of two natural gas  producers,  and various other chemical
and  construction  businesses.   These  acquisitions  and  several  smaller
acquisitions completed in various segments during the last three years were
generally  accounted for as purchases and did not have a significant effect
on Ashland's consolidated financial statements.

DIVESTITURES

In 1994,  Ashland sold APAC's  Arizona  operations.  In 1993,  Ashland sold
various operations, including its TPT inland waterways barge operation, the
Thunderbird  crude  oil  common  carrier  pipeline  system in  Montana  and
Wyoming,  and 80  SuperAmerica  stores in Florida  and other  non-strategic
areas  outside  markets  served  by  Ashland  Petroleum's  refineries.   In
addition,  several other smaller operations engaged in petroleum,  chemical
and  construction  activities  were sold.  Except for a pretax  gain of $15
million on the sale of TPT in 1993, the  divestitures  discussed  above and
several smaller divestitures  completed in various segments during the last
three years did not have a  significant  effect on  Ashland's  consolidated
financial statements.


                                       47

<PAGE>

NOTE C - INFORMATION BY INDUSTRY SEGMENT

Ashland's  operations are conducted  primarily in the United States and are
managed along industry  segments,  which include  Petroleum,  SuperAmerica,
Valvoline,  Chemical,  APAC, Coal and Exploration.  Information by industry
segment is shown on pages 58 and 59.

Petroleum  operations  are  conducted  by  Ashland  Petroleum,  one  of the
nation's largest independent  petroleum refiners.  In addition to supplying
petroleum products to SuperAmerica,  Valvoline,  Ashland Chemical and APAC,
Ashland  Petroleum  is a leading  supplier  of  petroleum  products  to the
transportation and commercial fleet industries,  other industrial customers
and independent marketers (including dealers operating under the Ashland(R)
brand name). Principal products include gasoline, distillates and kerosene,
asphalt,  jet and turbine fuel,  lubricants,  and heavy fuel oils.  Ashland
Petroleum also gathers and transports  crude oil and petroleum  products in
connection with its refining and wholesale marketing operations and markets
crude oil through Scurlock Permian.

SuperAmerica  includes Ashland's retail gasoline and merchandise  marketing
operations,  including  the  SuperAmerica(R)  chain of  high-volume  retail
stores.  Gasoline and  merchandise  are also sold from outlets  operated by
SuperAmerica  under  the  Rich(R)  brand  name.  Operations  are  conducted
primarily in the Ohio Valley and Upper Midwest.

Valvoline  is a marketer of  automotive  and  industrial  oils,  automotive
chemicals, antifreeze, filters, rust preventives and coolants with sales in
more than 140 countries. In addition, Valvoline is engaged in the "fast oil
change" business through outlets  operating under the Valvoline Instant Oil
Change(R)  and  Valvoline   Rapid  Oil   Change(R)   names,   and  provides
environmental  services  for the  collection  of used oil,  antifreeze  and
filters.

Chemical  businesses  are managed by Ashland  Chemical,  which  distributes
industrial chemicals,  solvents,  thermoplastics and resins, and fiberglass
materials.  Ashland Chemical also  manufactures a wide variety of specialty
chemicals and certain  petrochemicals.  Major specialty  chemicals  include
foundry products,  water treatment and marine service chemicals,  specialty
polymers and  adhesives,  unsaturated  polyester  resins,  and  high-purity
electronic  and  laboratory  chemicals.  Principal  petrochemicals  include
cumene, toluene, xylene, aromatic and aliphatic solvents, propylene, maleic
anhydride and methanol.

APAC performs  contract  construction  work  including  highway  paving and
repair,  excavation and grading,  and bridge and sewer  construction.  APAC
also produces  asphaltic and  ready-mix  concrete,  crushed stone and other
aggregate, concrete block and certain specialized construction materials in
thirteen southern states.

Coal  operations are conducted by 54% owned,  publicly traded Ashland Coal,
Inc., which produces  low-sulfur  bituminous coal in central Appalachia for
sale to domestic  and foreign  electric  utility  and  industrial  markets.
Ashland also holds a 50% equity interest in Arch Mineral  Corporation  (see
Note D). Arch Mineral  produces  metallurgical  and steam coal from surface
and deep mines in Illinois, Kentucky, West Virginia and Wyoming for sale to
utility and steel companies. Both Ashland Coal and Arch Mineral market coal
mined by independent producers.

Exploration  operations  are  conducted  by Ashland  Exploration,  which is
engaged in crude oil and  natural  gas  production  in the eastern and Gulf
Coast areas of the United States and crude oil production in Nigeria.

Certain information with respect to foreign operations follows.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                     Total assets                     Income before income taxes
                                              -------------------            ----------------------------------------------
(In millions)                                 1995           1994             1995           1994           1993
===========================================================================================================================
<S>                                           <C>           <C>                <C>            <C>            <C>

Foreign operations
     Petroleum                                $ 30          $  -               $ 4            $ 1            $ 2
     Valvoline                                 124           106                 3             10              6
     Chemical                                  302           220                42             28             27
     Exploration                                36            46                 9             22             14
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                              $492          $372               $58            $61            $49
===========================================================================================================================
</TABLE>



                                       48

<PAGE>
NOTE D - UNCONSOLIDATED AFFILIATES

Affiliated  companies  accounted  for on the equity  method  include:  Arch
Mineral  Corporation (a 50% owned coal  company);  LOOP INC. and LOCAP INC.
(18.6% and 21.4%  owned  corporate  joint  ventures  operating  a deepwater
offshore port and related pipeline  facilities in the Gulf of Mexico);  and
various other  companies.  Prior to 1995,  Ashland Coal, Inc. was less than
50% owned and accounted  for on the equity method (see Note B).  Summarized
financial  information  reported by these  affiliates  and a summary of the
amounts recorded in Ashland's consolidated financial statements follow.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                    Ashland           Arch Mineral         LOOP INC. and
(In millions)                    Coal, Inc.            Corporation            LOCAP INC.           Other          Total
===========================================================================================================================
<S>                                                          <C>                  <C>              <C>           <C>

SEPTEMBER 30, 1995
Financial position
   Current assets                                            $ 148                $   27           $ 238
   Current liabilities                                        (134)                  (91)           (130)
                                                         ------------------------------------------------------------------
   Working capital                                              14                   (64)            108
   Noncurrent assets                                           790                   633             202
   Noncurrent liabilities                                     (693)                 (506)           (101)
                                                         ------------------------------------------------------------------
   Stockholders' equity                                      $ 111                $   63           $ 209
                                                         ==================================================================
Results of operations
   Sales and operating revenues                              $ 714                 $ 119           $ 775
   Gross profit                                                 50                    36             193
   Net income (loss)                                            (8)(1)                 4              29
Amounts recorded by Ashland
   Investments and advances                                     63                    12              70          $ 145
   Equity income (loss)                                         (4)                    1              10              7
   Dividends received                                            3                     1               8             12
===========================================================================================================================

SEPTEMBER 30, 1994
Financial position
   Current assets                     $ 119                  $ 173                $   36           $ 204
   Current liabilities                 (110)                  (132)                  (86)           (123)
                                   ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Working capital                        9                     41                   (50)             81
   Noncurrent assets                    721                    797                   638             203
   Noncurrent liabilities              (373)                  (713)                 (525)            (96)
                                   ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Stockholders' equity               $ 357                  $ 125                $   63           $ 188
                                   ========================================================================================
Results of operations
   Sales and operating revenues       $ 561                  $ 641                $  149           $ 701
   Gross profit                          71                     60                    54             172
   Net income                            17                     14                    15              14
Amounts recorded by Ashland
   Investments and advances             138                     70                    12              71          $ 291
   Equity income                          6                      7                     3               6             22
   Dividends received                     3                      -                     -               5              8
===========================================================================================================================

SEPTEMBER 30, 1993
Results of operations
   Sales and operating revenues       $ 550                  $ 485                 $ 143           $ 654
   Gross profit (loss)                   58                    (13)                   49             154
   Net income (loss)                     41(2)                 (20)                    9              17
Amounts recorded by Ashland 
   Equity income (loss)                  27                    (10)                    2               7         $   26
   Dividends received                     3                      4                     1               6             14
===========================================================================================================================
<FN>
(1)  Includes  a charge of $12  million  resulting  from  asset  impairment write-downs under FAS 121 and provisions for 
     early retirement and restructuring programs.
(2)  Includes  a net  gain  of  $44  million  resulting  from  a  favorable adjustment to income tax expense due to tax law 
     changes,  partially  offset by a  charge to increase the valuation allowance for certain prepaid royalties. Also 
     includes a net charge of $19 million for the cumulative effect of the adoption of FAS 106 and FAS 109, which was 
     recorded by Ashland in 1992.
</TABLE>

Ashland's  retained earnings include $92 million of undistributed  earnings
from unconsolidated affiliates accounted for on the equity method.


                                       49

<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NOTE E - LONG-TERM DEBT
(In millions)                                                                       1995                   1994
===========================================================================================================================
<S>                                                                              <C>                    <C>
Senior debt of Ashland
   Medium-term notes, due 1996-2025, interest at an average rate
      of 8.5% at September 30, 1995 (5.8% to 10.4%)                              $   895                $   661
   8.80% debentures, due 2012                                                        250                    250
   11.125% sinking fund debentures, due 2017                                         200                    200
   Pollution control and industrial revenue bonds, due
      1996 to 2022, interest at an average rate of 6.6%
      at September 30, 1995 (4.2% to 8.1%)                                           217                    162
   Note payable to bank for financing of leveraged employee
      stock ownership plan, due 1996, interest at a combination
      of an adjusted certificate of deposit rate and 76% of
      the prime rate (5.7% at September 30, 1995)                                     11                     33
   Other                                                                              23                     22
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                   1,596                  1,328
6.75% convertible subordinated debentures, due 2014,
   convertible into common stock at $51.34 per share                                 124                    124
Debt of Ashland Coal, Inc. not guaranteed by Ashland
   9.78% senior notes, due 1997-2000                                                 101                      -
   9.66% senior notes, due 2001-2006                                                  54                      -
   8.92% senior notes, due 1996                                                       22                      -
   Other                                                                               3                      -
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                   1,900                  1,452
Current portion of long-term debt                                                    (72)                   (61)
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                  $1,828                 $1,391
===========================================================================================================================
</TABLE>

Aggregate  maturities  of  long-term  debt are $72  million  in 1996,  $104
million in 1997,  $74 million in 1998,  $73 million in 1999 and $66 million
in 2000.  Excluded  from such  maturities  are $38 million of floating rate
pollution control and industrial  revenue bonds, due between 2003 and 2009.
These bonds are subject to early  redemptions at the  bondholders'  option,
but generally not before 1997.

Ashland has various revolving credit agreements totaling $370 million under
which no borrowings  were  outstanding at September 30, 1995. The agreement
providing for $320 million in borrowings expires on February 9, 2000, while
the agreements  providing for $50 million in borrowings  expire on February
23, 1996. In addition,  Ashland Coal has revolving credit  agreements which
expire  on  November  15,  1999,  providing  for  up  to  $500  million  in
borrowings, of which $40 million was in use at September 30, 1995.

Certain debt agreements  contain  covenants  restricting  dividends,  share
repurchases  and other  distributions  with  respect to  Ashland's  capital
stock, as well as covenants limiting new borrowings. At September 30, 1995,
distributions  with respect to Ashland's  capital stock were  restricted to
$634 million and additional debt was limited to $1.07 billion.

Interest  payments on all  indebtedness  amounted to $163  million in 1995,
$119  million  in 1994  and $131  million  in 1993.  The  weighted  average
interest rate on short-term  borrowings  outstanding  was 6.0% at September
30, 1995, and 5.1% at September 30, 1994.

NOTE F - FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

Ashland uses interest rate swap  agreements to obtain greater access to the
lower  borrowing  costs normally  available on  floating-rate  debt,  while
minimizing  refunding  risk through the issuance of  long-term,  fixed-rate
debt. At September 30, 1995, Ashland had unleveraged swap agreements with a
notional  principal amount of $405 million which were used to convert fixed
rates  on  certain  debt,   including  the  8.80%  debentures  and  various
medium-term  notes,  to variable  rates.  The variable  rates are generally
adjusted  quarterly or semiannually based on London Interbank Offered Rates
(LIBOR),  but may be fixed for longer terms using forward rate  agreements.
At  September  30, 1995,  Ashland was  receiving a  weighted-average  fixed
interest rate of 5.4% and paying a weighted-average  variable interest rate
of  6.0%,  calculated  on the  notional  amount.  Notional  amounts  do not
quantify risk or represent  assets or liabilities of Ashland,  but are used
in the  determination of cash settlements  under the agreements.  The terms
remaining  on  Ashland's  swaps  range  from  13  to  60  months,   with  a
weighted-average remaining life of 33 months.

Interest expense was reduced by an insignificant amount in 1995, $9 million
in 1994 and $8 million  in 1993  resulting  from  settlements  under  these
agreements.   Ashland  is  exposed  to  credit  losses  from   counterparty
nonperformance, but does not anticipate any losses from its agreements, all
of which are with major financial institutions. The estimated fair value of
Ashland's  swaps amounted to a net liability of $5 million at September 30,
1995,  compared to a net  liability of $15 million at  September  30, 1994.
This decline in the  liability  was more than offset by the increase in the
fair value of the related fixed-rate  indebtedness.  Under its current swap
agreements,  Ashland's annual interest expense in 1996 will change by about
$4 million for each 1% change in LIBOR.



                                       50

<PAGE>

The  carrying  amounts and fair values of Ashland's  significant  financial
instruments at September 30, 1995 and 1994 are shown below. The fair values
of cash and cash  equivalents,  notes payable to banks and commercial paper
approximate  their  carrying  amounts.  The fair values of  investments  of
captive insurance  companies are based on quoted market prices plus accrued
interest.  The fair  values of  long-term  debt are based on quoted  market
prices or, if market prices are not  available,  the present  values of the
underlying cash flows discounted at Ashland's  incremental borrowing rates.
The fair values of interest rate swaps are based on quoted  market  prices,
which reflect the present values of the difference between estimated future
variable-rate payments and future fixed-rate receipts.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                      1995                          1994
                                                                  ------------------------             --------------------
                                                                  Carrying            Fair             Carrying     Fair
(In millions)                                                       amount           value               amount    value
===========================================================================================================================
<S>                                                               <C>             <C>                 <C>         <C>

Assets
   Cash and cash equivalents                                      $     52        $     52            $     40    $   40
   Investments of captive insurance companies                          192             192                 181       181
Liabilities
   Notes payable to banks and commercial paper                         200             200                  72        72
   Long-term debt (including current portion)                        1,900           2,090               1,452     1,517
   Interest rate swaps                                                   -               5                   -        15
===========================================================================================================================

</TABLE>

NOTE G - LEASES AND OTHER COMMITMENTS
LEASES

Ashland  and  its  subsidiaries   are  lessees  in  noncancelable   leasing
agreements for office buildings, warehouses, pipelines,  transportation and
marine  equipment,  storage  facilities,   retail  outlets,   manufacturing
facilities  and other  equipment  and  properties  which  expire at various
dates.  Capitalized  lease obligations are not significant and are included
in long-term  debt.  Future minimum rental  payments at September 30, 1995,
and rental expense under operating leases follow.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

(In millions)
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                        <C>        <C>                          <C>         <C>         <C>
Future minimum rental payments                        Rental expense               1995        1994        1993
================================================      =====================================================================
1996                                       $  82
1997                                          76      Minimum rentals
1998                                          66       (including rentals under
1999                                          49       short-term leases)          $142        $113        $111
2000                                          46      Contingent rentals             10          12          11
Later years                                  222      Sublease rental income        (18)        (12)        (17)
- ------------------------------------------------      ---------------------------------------------------------------------
                                            $541                                   $134        $113        $105
===========================================================================================================================
</TABLE>

In addition,  Ashland Coal has entered into various  noncancelable  royalty
lease agreements under which future minimum payments are  approximately $23
million annually through 2000 and $212 million in the aggregate thereafter.

OTHER COMMITMENTS

Under  agreements  with LOOP and LOCAP (see Note D),  Ashland is obligated,
based  upon its  equity  ownership,  to provide a portion of the total debt
service  and  defined  operating  and  administrative  costs of these joint
ventures.  This annual obligation is reduced by transportation charges paid
by Ashland  and by a pro rata  portion of  transportation  charges  paid by
third  parties who are not equity  participants.  If, after each  obligor's
requirements  have been  satisfied,  the joint  ventures are unable to meet
cash  requirements,  Ashland is  obligated to advance its pro rata share of
the  deficiency.  All funds  provided to these joint  ventures  are used as
advances against future transportation  charges. At September 30, 1995, all
advances  made to LOOP  and  LOCAP by  Ashland  had  been  applied  against
transportation  charges.  Transportation  charges incurred  amounted to $21
million in 1995,  $24 million in 1994 and $21 million in 1993. At September
30, 1995,  Ashland's contingent liability for its share of the indebtedness
of LOOP and LOCAP secured by throughput and deficiency  agreements amounted
to approximately $94 million.

Ashland  Coal owns 17.5% of a joint  venture  operating a coal  loading and
storage facility at Newport News,  Virginia.  Venture partners are required
to pay their share of the  venture's  costs in relation to their  ownership
(for  fixed  operating  costs and debt  service)  or  facility  usage  (for
variable  operating costs).  Ashland Coal's share of such payments amounted
to $3 million  annually in 1995,  1994 and 1993.  Future payments for fixed
operating  costs and debt service are estimated to  approximate  $3 million
annually  through  2015 and $26 million in 2016.  Additionally,  Ashland is
contingently  liable  for a  guarantee  relating  to  the  office  building
currently  occupied by Ashland Coal. At September 30, 1995, such obligation
has a present value of approximately $7 million.

Ashland is contingently  liable for up to $16 million of borrowings under a
revolving   credit   agreement   of  AECOM   Technology   Corporation,   an
unconsolidated  affiliate.  Ashland's  guaranteed  portion  of  outstanding
borrowings  under this  agreement  amounted to $8 million at September  30,
1995.


                                       51

<PAGE>
NOTE H - INCOME TAXES

A summary of the provision for income taxes follows. The 1993 provision was
not  significantly  affected by tax legislation  that,  among other things,
increased the federal income tax rate 1%, effective January 1, 1993.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
(In millions)                                                           1995             1994              1993
===========================================================================================================================
<S>                                                                     <C>             <C>               <C>

Current(1)
   Federal                                                              $ 38            $  56             $  24
   State                                                                  11                8                13
   Foreign                                                                11                9                 7
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                          60               73                44

Deferred                                                                 (73)               2                14
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                        $(13)           $  75             $  58
===========================================================================================================================
<FN>
(1) Income tax  payments  amounted to $54  million in 1995,  $71 million in 1994 and $42 million in 1993.
</TABLE>

Deferred income taxes are provided for significant income and expense items
recognized  in different  years for tax and financial  reporting  purposes.
Temporary  differences  which give rise to significant  deferred tax assets
(liabilities) follow.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

(In millions)                                                                            1995              1994
===========================================================================================================================

<S>                                                                                      <C>               <C> 
Employee benefit obligations                                                             $250              $205
Environmental, insurance and litigation reserves                                          126               116
Alternative minimum tax credit carryforwards                                               75                23
Uncollectible accounts receivable                                                          18                17
Compensated absences                                                                       15                10
Other items                                                                                47                65
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Total deferred tax assets                                                                 531               436
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Property, plant and equipment                                                            (445)             (372)
Undistributed equity income                                                               (17)              (16)
Prepaid royalties                                                                         (17)                -
Coal supply agreements                                                                    (11)                -
Other items                                                                                 -                (7)
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total deferred tax liabilities                                                           (490)             (395)
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Net deferred tax asset                                                                  $  41             $  41
===========================================================================================================================
</TABLE>
The U.S.  and  foreign  components  of  income  before  income  taxes and a
reconciliation  of  the  normal  statutory  federal  income  tax  with  the
provision for income taxes follow.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
(In millions)                                                           1995              1994             1993
===========================================================================================================================
<S>                                                                    <C>               <C>              <C> 

Income before income taxes and minority interest
   United States                                                       $(24)             $211             $151
   Foreign                                                               58                61               49
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                       $ 34              $272             $200
===========================================================================================================================

Income taxes computed at U.S. statutory rates                          $ 12             $  95            $  70
Increase (decrease) in amount computed resulting from
   Equity income                                                         (2)               (7)              (6)
   State income taxes                                                     5                 6                9
   Net impact of foreign results                                         (5)               (7)              (7)
   Non-conventional fuel credit                                         (10)              (10)              (9)
   Percentage depletion allowance                                       (12)                -                -
   Other items                                                           (1)               (2)               1
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Income taxes                                                           $(13)            $  75            $  58
===========================================================================================================================
</TABLE>

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has examined Ashland's consolidated U.S.
income tax returns through 1991. As a result of its  examinations,  the IRS
has proposed adjustments,  certain of which are being contested by Ashland.
Ashland  believes  it has  adequately  provided  for any  income  taxes and
related interest which may ultimately be paid on contested issues.


                                       52

<PAGE>

NOTE I - CAPITAL STOCK

In May 1993,  Ashland  sold six million  shares of  cumulative  convertible
preferred  stock  priced at $50 per  share.  Net  proceeds,  after fees and
expenses,  totaled $293  million and were used to reduce  debt.  The shares
have no voting  rights and are entitled to cumulative  annual  dividends of
$3.125 per share. They have liquidation  preferences equal to $50 per share
plus accrued and unpaid  dividends,  and are convertible at any time at the
option of the  holders  into 1.546  shares of  Ashland  common  stock.  The
preferred  shares  are  redeemable  at the  option of Ashland at $51.88 per
share beginning March 25, 1997, and declining gradually to $50 per share by
March 15, 2003, plus accrued and unpaid dividends to the redemption date.

Under Ashland's  Shareholder  Rights Plan, each common share is accompanied
by one-half of a Right to purchase  one-tenth  share of preferred stock for
$120 (the "Exercise  Price").  Each one-tenth share of preferred stock will
be entitled to dividends and to vote on an equivalent basis with two common
shares. The Rights are not exercisable or detachable from the common shares
until 10 days after any party  acquires 15% or more (or  announces a tender
offer for 20% or more) of Ashland's common stock. If any party acquires 20%
or more of  Ashland's  common  stock  or  acquires  Ashland  in a  business
combination, each Right (other than those held by the acquiring party) will
entitle the holder to purchase  stock of Ashland or the  acquiring  company
having a market value of two times the Exercise Price. The Rights expire on
May  15,  1996,  and  can  be  redeemed  at  any  time  prior  to  becoming
exercisable.

At September 30, 1995, 10 million shares of cumulative  preferred stock are
reserved for  potential  issuance  under the  Shareholder  Rights Plan.  At
September 30, 1995, 17 million common shares are reserved for conversion of
debentures  and preferred  stock and for issuance under  outstanding  stock
options.

NOTE J - STOCK OWNERSHIP PLANS
LEVERAGED EMPLOYEE STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN

During 1986, Ashland  established a leveraged employee stock ownership plan
(LESOP) to cover the majority of its salaried employees. LESOP purchases of
Ashland  common stock that year were  generally  funded through a loan from
Ashland,  of which the remaining  principal at September 30, 1986, amounted
to $246 million.  In 1987, Ashland contributed excess assets recovered from
certain  company pension plans to the LESOP and prepaid $212 million of the
remaining principal. Because one-half of employees' LESOP accounts serve to
fund future benefits paid by certain  pension plans,  one-half of the funds
used to prepay  the LESOP  debt was  accounted  for by Ashland as a prepaid
LESOP contribution.

Ashland  common  shares held by the LESOP  related to the  contribution  of
excess  pension  assets  were  allocated  to  employees'  accounts  over an
eight-year period ending September 30, 1994. The remaining shares are being
allocated as the loan to the LESOP is repaid.  The  projected  costs of the
LESOP  (including  the prepaid  contribution,  projected  dividends  on the
related  unallocated  shares and projected future  contributions) are being
expensed  on a pro rata  basis as the  original  shares  are  allocated  to
employees.  This  expense  totaled  $14  million  in 1995  and $18  million
annually in 1994 and 1993.  Additional  contributions from Ashland were not
required through September 30, 1994, since dividends on unallocated  shares
exceeded interest and administrative  costs, with the excess used to prepay
portions of the remaining principal on the loan. Contributions from Ashland
in 1995 amounted to $22 million.

STOCK INCENTIVE PLANS

Ashland has stock  incentive  plans under which key  employees or directors
can purchase shares of common stock under stock options or restricted stock
awards. Stock options are granted to employees at a price equal to the fair
market value of the stock on the date of grant and become  exercisable over
periods of one to three years. Unexercised options lapse 10 years after the
date of grant.  Restricted  stock awards entitle  employees or directors to
purchase  shares at a nominal  cost, to vote such shares and to receive any
dividends  thereon.  However,  such shares are subject to  forfeiture  upon
termination of service before the restriction period ends.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                           1995                           1994                        1993
                                       ------------------------        -----------------------     -----------------------
                                       Common       Price range        Common      Price range     Common      Price range
(In thousands except per share data)   shares         per share        shares        per share     shares        per share
===========================================================================================================================
<S>                                     <C>     <C>                     <C>    <C>                  <C>    <C>
Options outstanding -
     beginning of year(1)               4,697      $14-1/4 - 41         4,504     $13-3/8 - 41      3,918     $13-3/8 - 41
Options granted                           839       33 - 33-7/8           860  35-7/8 - 37-1/2        934  24-5/8 - 33-1/8
Options exercised                        (164)  14-1/4 - 35-5/8          (639)     13-3/8 - 41        (81) 13-3/8 - 33-3/8
Options canceled                         (150)      23-7/8 - 41           (28)     23-7/8 - 41       (267)     23-7/8 - 41
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Options outstanding -
     end of year(1)                     5,222      $23-7/8 - 41         4,697     $14-1/4 - 41      4,504     $13-3/8 - 41
===========================================================================================================================
Options exercisable -
     end of year                        3,777      $23-7/8 - 41         3,242     $14-1/4 - 41      3,080     $13-3/8 - 41
===========================================================================================================================
<FN>
(1) Shares of common stock  available for issuance  under options or awards amounted to 4,236,000 at September 30, 1995, and 
    2,295,000 at October 1, 1994.
</TABLE>


                                       53

<PAGE>
NOTE K - EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS
PENSION PLANS

Ashland  sponsors  pension plans which cover  substantially  all employees,
other than union  employees  covered by  multiemployer  pension plans under
collective bargaining agreements.  Benefits under Ashland's plans generally
are based on the employee's  years of service and  compensation  during the
years immediately preceding retirement.For certain plans, such benefits are
expected to come in part from  one-half of  employees'  leveraged  employee
stock  ownership  (LESOP)  accounts.   Ashland   determines  the  level  of
contributions to its pension plans annually and contributes  amounts within
allowable  limitations  imposed by Internal  Revenue  Service  regulations.
Ashland contributed the maximum tax-deductible contributions to its pension
plans in 1995, 1994 and 1993. The following tables detail the funded status
of the plans and the components of pension expense. A discount rate of 7.5%
and an assumed rate of salary  increases of 5% were used in determining the
actuarial present value of projected  benefit  obligations at September 30,
1995 (8% and 5% at September 30, 1994).
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                                  1995                               1994
                                                      --------------------------------   ----------------------------------
                                                           Plans with       Plans with         Plans with      Plans with
                                                     assets in excess    ABO in excess   assets in excess   ABO in excess
(In millions)                                                  of ABO        of assets             of ABO       of assets
===========================================================================================================================

<S>                                                              <C>              <C>                <C>            <C> 
Plan assets at fair value (primarily listed stocks and bonds)    $ 14             $290               $ 36           $185
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Accumulated benefit obligations (ABO)
   Vested                                                          13              289                 30            188
   Nonvested                                                        1               69                  5             44
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                   14              358                 35            232
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Plan assets less than (in excess of) ABO                            -               68(1)              (1)            47
Provision for future salary increases                               1              162                 12            131
Deferred pension costs                                             (3)             (63)                (8)           (40)
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net (prepaid) accrued pension costs(2)                           $ (2)            $167               $  3           $138
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Components of deferred pension costs
   Unrecognized transition gain                                  $  -             $  9               $  3           $ 10
   Unrecognized net loss                                           (2)             (93)               (10)           (63)
   Unrecognized prior service costs                                (1)              (9)                (1)            (9)
   Recognition of minimum liability                                 -               30                  -             22
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                 $ (3)            $(63)              $ (8)          $(40)
===========================================================================================================================

(In millions)                                                                     1995               1994           1993
===========================================================================================================================

Components of pension expense
   Service cost                                                                   $ 23               $ 24           $ 26
   Interest cost                                                                    34                 29             28
   Actual investment (gain) loss on plan assets                                    (51)                 7            (24)
   Deferred investment gain (loss)(3)                                               30                (27)            10
   Other amortization and deferral                                                   1                  4              5
   Enhanced retirement program pension cost                                         15                  -              -
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                  $ 52               $ 37           $ 45
===========================================================================================================================

<FN>
(1)  Includes  unfunded ABO of $62 million for  non-qualified  supplemental pension  plans.  
(2)  Amounts are  recorded in various  asset and  liability accounts on Ashland's consolidated balance sheets.
(3)  The expected long-term rate of return on plan assets was 9%.
</TABLE>


OTHER POSTRETIREMENT BENEFIT PLANS

Ashland  sponsors  several unfunded benefit plans which provide health care
and life insurance  benefits for eligible  employees who retire from active
service or are  disabled.  The health  care  plans are  contributory,  with
retiree contributions adjusted periodically, and contain other cost-sharing
features such as deductibles and coinsurance.  The life insurance plans are
generally  noncontributory.  Ashland  funds the  costs of these  plans on a
pay-as-you-go basis.

During 1993, Ashland amended nearly all of its retiree health care plans to
place a cap on the  company's  contributions  and to  adopt a  cost-sharing
method  based  upon a  retiree's  years  of  service.  The cap  limits  the
company's  contribution to average retiree per capita health care costs for
1992 (net of direct retiree contributions),  increasing thereafter by up to
4.5% per year. If per capita  health care costs  increase by more than 4.5%
per year,  the  additional  costs will be paid by retirees  through  higher
contributions.   As  a  result,  the  accumulated   postretirement  benefit
obligation (APBO) for retiree health care plans was reduced by $197 million
as of October 1, 1992.

The following  tables detail the status of the plans and the  components of
postretirement  benefit  expense.  The APBO was determined using a discount
rate of 7.5% at September 30, 1995, and 8% at September 30, 1994. Under the
amended plan, the assumed annual rate of increase in the per capita cost is
4.5%.


                                       54

<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                        1995                1994                  1993
                                                           -----------------    ----------------     -----------------
                                                           Health       Life    Health      Life     Health       Life
(In millions)                                                care  insurance      care  insurance      care   insurance
===========================================================================================================================
<S>                                                          <C>         <C>      <C>        <C>      <C>          <C>

Accumulated postretirement benefit obligations (APBO)
   Retired or disabled employees                             $146        $26      $ 93       $19
   Fully eligible active plan participants                     33          4        38         5
   Other active plan participants                             123          5        86         5
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                              302         35       217        29
Unrecognized net loss                                          (2)        (4)      (17)        -
Unrecognized plan amendment credit                            129          6       158         8
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Accrued other postretirement benefit costs                   $429        $37      $358       $37
===========================================================================================================================

Components of other postretirement benefit expense
   Service cost                                              $ 12        $ 1      $  7       $ 1      $  6         $ 1
   Interest cost                                               20          2        16         2        16           2
   Amortization and deferral
     (principally plan amendment credit)                      (15)        (1)      (15)       (1)      (17)         (1)
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                             $ 17        $ 2      $  8       $ 2      $  5         $ 2
==========================================================================================================================
</TABLE>

OTHER PLANS

Certain union  employees are covered under  multiemployer  defined  benefit
pension plans  administered  by unions.  Amounts charged to pension expense
and  contributed  to the  plans  were $2  million  in 1995  and $1  million
annually in 1994 and 1993.

Ashland  sponsors  various  savings plans to assist  eligible  employees in
providing for retirement or other future needs.  Ashland  matches  employee
contributions  up to 6% of their  qualified  earnings at a rate of 70% (20%
for LESOP participants).  Ashland's contributions amounted to $9 million in
1995 and $7 million annually in 1994 and 1993.

NOTE L - LITIGATION, CLAIMS AND CONTINGENCIES

Ashland is subject to various federal,  state and local  environmental laws
and regulations which require  remediation  efforts at multiple  locations,
including operating  facilities,  previously owned or operated  facilities,
and Superfund or other waste sites.  Consistent with its accounting  policy
for environmental costs,  Ashland's reserves for environmental  assessments
and remediation efforts amounted to $174 million at September 30, 1995, and
$167 million at September 30, 1994.  Such amounts  reflect  Ashland's  most
likely  estimates  of the costs  which will be  incurred  over an  extended
period to remediate identified environmental conditions for which costs are
reasonably estimable.

Environmental  reserves  are subject to  considerable  uncertainties  which
affect  Ashland's  ability to estimate its share of the  ultimate  costs of
required  remediation  efforts.  Such uncertainties  involve the nature and
extent of  contamination  at each  site,  the  extent of  required  cleanup
efforts under existing environmental  regulations,  widely varying costs of
alternate  cleanup  methods,  changes  in  environmental  regulations,  the
potential effect of continuing improvements in remediation technology,  and
the number and financial strength of other potentially  responsible parties
at  multiparty  sites.  As a result,  charges to income  for  environmental
liabilities  could have a material  effect on  results of  operations  in a
particular  quarter or fiscal year as assessments and  remediation  efforts
proceed or as new remediation sites are identified.  However,  such charges
are  not  expected  to  have  a  material   adverse   effect  on  Ashland's
consolidated financial position.

Ashland has numerous  insurance  policies that provide  coverage at various
levels  for  environmental   costs.   Ashland  is  currently   involved  in
negotiations  concerning the amount of insurance coverage for environmental
costs  under  some  of  these  policies.  In  addition,  various  costs  of
remediation  efforts related to underground  storage tanks are eligible for
reimbursement from state administered funds. Probable recoveries related to
certain  costs  incurred or  expected  to be  incurred in future  years are
included in other noncurrent assets.

In addition,  Ashland and its  subsidiaries  are parties to numerous claims
and  lawsuits  (some of which are for  substantial  amounts).  While  these
actions  are being  contested,  the  outcome of  individual  matters is not
predictable   with  assurance.   Although  any  actual   liability  is  not
determinable as of September 30, 1995,  Ashland believes that any liability
resulting from these  matters,  after taking into  consideration  Ashland's
insurance  coverages and amounts  provided for,  should not have a material
adverse effect on Ashland's consolidated financial position.

During 1995, Ashland Exploration  entered into a settlement  agreement with
Columbia Gas  Transmission  to resolve claims  involving  natural gas sales
contracts  which were  abrogated  by  Columbia  in 1991.  Columbia  and its
parent,  Columbia Gas Systems,  have filed  reorganization  plans including
this agreement with the U.S.  Bankruptcy  Court in Delaware.  The Court has
approved  the  fairness  of the  settlement  agreement  and the  disclosure
statements  allowing the reorganization  plans to be voted on by creditors.
Subject to the outcome of the voting  process and various other  approvals,
the settlement agreement would provide for a $78 million payment to Ashland
Exploration,  of  which  5% would be  withheld  by  Columbia  to be used to
potentially  satisfy  the  claims of  non-settling  producers.  Payment  is
expected  to be  received  in 1996,  with most of the  settlement  proceeds
recognized as income.



                                       55

<PAGE>
Ashland Inc. and Subsidiaries
FIVE YEAR SELECTED FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Years Ended September 30
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
(In millions except per share data)                                   1995         1994         1993         1992         1991
================================================================================================================================
<S>                                                                <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>           <C>   
SUMMARY OF OPERATIONS
Revenues
   Sales and operating revenues (including excise taxes)           $12,167      $10,334      $10,199      $10,211       $9,867
   Other                                                                72           48           57           40           56
Costs and expenses
   Cost of sales and operating expenses                             (9,286)      (7,742)      (7,951)      (8,210)      (7,725)
   Excise taxes on products and merchandise                           (988)        (877)        (645)        (659)        (620)
   Selling, general and administrative expenses                     (1,205)      (1,021)        (993)      (1,023)        (926)
   Depreciation, depletion and amortization                           (471)        (295)        (293)        (290)        (265)
   General corporate expenses                                          (91)         (80)         (77)        (132)         (93)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Operating income (loss)                                                198          367          297          (63)         294
Other income (expense)
   Interest expense (net of interest income)                          (171)        (117)        (123)        (128)        (115)
   Equity income                                                         7           22           26           33           14
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Income (loss) before income taxes, minority interest and
   the cumulative effect of accounting changes                          34          272          200         (158)         193
Income taxes                                                            13          (75)         (58)          90          (48)
Minority interest in earnings of subsidiaries                          (23)           -            -            -            -
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Income (loss) before the cumulative effect
   of accounting changes                                                24          197          142          (68)         145
Cumulative effect of accounting changes                                  -            -            -         (268)           -
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net income (loss)                                                  $    24      $   197      $   142      $  (336)     $   145
===============================================================================================================================

BALANCE SHEET INFORMATION
Working capital
   Current assets                                                  $ 2,575      $ 2,171      $ 1,973      $ 2,110      $ 2,119
   Current liabilities                                               2,094        1,688        1,619        2,046        1,823
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                   $   481      $   483      $   354      $    64      $   296
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total assets                                                       $ 6,992      $ 5,815      $ 5,552      $ 5,668      $ 5,449
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Capital employed
   Debt due within one year                                        $   272      $   133      $   159      $   306      $   195
   Long-term debt (less current portion)                             1,828        1,391        1,399        1,444        1,337
   Deferred income taxes                                                49           30           44           59          312
   Minority interest in consolidated subsidiaries                      179            -            -            -            -
   Convertible preferred stock                                         293          293          293            -            -
   Common stockholders' equity                                       1,362        1,302        1,162        1,086        1,444
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                   $ 3,983      $ 3,149      $ 3,057      $ 2,895      $ 3,288
===============================================================================================================================

CASH FLOW INFORMATION
Cash flows from operations                                         $   500      $   454      $   250      $   398      $   473
Additions to property, plant and equipment                             444          376          432          504          445
Dividends                                                               92           79           66           60           58
===============================================================================================================================

COMMON STOCK INFORMATION
Primary earnings (loss) per share                                  $   .08      $  2.94      $  2.26      $ (1.18)(1)  $  2.56
Dividends per share                                                   1.10         1.00         1.00         1.00         1.00
==============================================================================================================================
<FN>
(1) Excludes the cumulative effect of accounting changes of $(4.57) per share.
</TABLE>

                                       57

<PAGE>
Ashland Inc. and Subsidiaries
FIVE YEAR INFORMATION BY INDUSTRY SEGMENT

Years Ended September 30
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
(In millions)                                             1995             1994            1993            1992          1991
==============================================================================================================================
<S>                                                    <C>              <C>             <C>             <C>           <C>    
SALES AND OPERATING REVENUES
Petroleum                                              $ 5,050          $ 4,666         $ 4,752         $ 4,848       $ 4,877
SuperAmerica                                             1,788            1,706           1,785           1,888         1,948
Valvoline                                                1,113            1,000             938             900           793
Chemical                                                 3,551            2,885           2,586           2,488         2,285
APAC                                                     1,123            1,101           1,116           1,043         1,019
Coal(1)                                                    610                -               -               -             -
Exploration                                                198              199             247             262           323
Intersegment sales(2)
   Petroleum                                            (1,228)          (1,193)         (1,195)         (1,182)       (1,335)
   Other                                                   (38)             (30)            (30)            (36)          (43)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                       $12,167          $10,334         $10,199         $10,211       $ 9,867
==============================================================================================================================
OPERATING INCOME (LOSS)
Petroleum                                              $   (54)         $   113         $    56(3)      $  (125)      $   138
SuperAmerica                                                53               59              65               1            30
Valvoline                                                   (4)              52              56              50            39
                                                       -----------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total Refining and Marketing Group                      (5)             224             177             (74)          207
Chemical                                                   159              125             108              81            98
APAC                                                        75               70              53              45            41
Coal(1)                                                     66                -               -               -             -
Exploration                                                 (6)              28              36              17            41
General corporate expenses                                 (91)             (80)(4)         (77)           (132)          (93)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                       $   198(5)       $   367         $   297         $   (63)(6)   $   294
==============================================================================================================================
IDENTIFIABLE ASSETS
Petroleum                                              $ 2,258          $ 2,259         $ 2,240         $ 2,296       $ 2,274
SuperAmerica                                               401              398             364             446           437
Valvoline                                                  603              532             430             402           377
Chemical                                                 1,372            1,122             958             999           834
APAC                                                       433              404             440             437           434
Coal(1)                                                    928                -               -               -             -
Exploration                                                424              374             375             361           337
Corporate(7)                                               573              726             745             727           756
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                       $ 6,992          $ 5,815         $ 5,552         $ 5,668       $ 5,449
==============================================================================================================================
</TABLE>

                                       58

<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
(In millions)                                                  1995          1994           1993           1992           1991
===============================================================================================================================
<S>                                                            <C>           <C>            <C>            <C>            <C> 

ADDITIONS TO PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
Petroleum                                                      $136          $155           $230           $273           $249
SuperAmerica                                                     47            39             25             37             37
Valvoline                                                        25            25             21             19             14
Chemical                                                         76            61             51             47             41
APAC                                                             47            45             43             42             36
Coal(1)                                                          58             -              -              -              -
Exploration                                                      45            41             42             67             60
Corporate                                                        10            10             20             19              8
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                               $444          $376           $432           $504           $445
===============================================================================================================================

DEPRECIATION, DEPLETION AND AMORTIZATION
Petroleum                                                      $204          $134           $127           $125           $103
SuperAmerica                                                     29            27             28             31             31
Valvoline                                                        24            19             18             17             16
Chemical                                                         58            43             42             43             41
APAC                                                             42            40             44             45             48
Coal(1)                                                          72             -              -              -              -
Exploration                                                      41            33             34             28             26
Corporate                                                        17            12             12             13             14
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                               $487(8)       $308           $305           $302           $279
===============================================================================================================================

<FN>
(1)  Amounts relate to Ashland Coal which was consolidated in 1995.
(2)  Intersegment sales are accounted for at prices which approximate market value.
(3)  Includes a gain of $15 million on the sale of TPT, an inland waterways barge operation.
(4)  Includes a net gain of $11 million related to litigation matters.
(5)  Includes charges for unusual items totaling $120 million, consisting of asset impairment write-downs of $83 million under FAS
     121 and provisions of $37 million for early retirement and restructuring programs. The combined effect of these items reduced
     operating  income for each of the  segments as follows:  Petroleum  ($102  million),  Valvoline  ($5  million),  Chemical ($5
     million), Exploration ($4 million) and general corporate expenses ($4 million).
(6)  Includes charges for unusual items totaling $208 million consisting of provisions for a voluntary enhanced retirement program
     ($31 million);  various asset  write-downs  including  properties  held for sale and assets of  discontinued  operations ($64
     million); future environmental cleanup costs ($41 million);  reserves for future costs associated with certain custom boilers
     built by a former  engineering  subsidiary and other matters ($38 million);  and the current year effect of the adoption of a
     new  accounting  standard for  postretirement  benefits  ($34  million).  The combined  effect of all of these items  reduced
     operating  income for each of the segments as follows:  Petroleum ($89 million),  SuperAmerica  ($28 million),  Valvoline ($2
     million), Chemical ($15 million), APAC ($9 million), Exploration ($16 million) and general corporate expenses ($49 million).
(7)  Includes  principally  cash, cash equivalents,  investments in and advances to  unconsolidated  affiliates and investments of
     captive insurance companies.
(8)  Includes charges of $83 million for asset impairment write-downs which increased depreciation, depletion and amortization for
     each of the segments as follows:  Petroleum ($68 million),  Valvoline ($3 million),  Chemical ($4 million),  Exploration  ($4
     million) and Corporate ($4 million).
</TABLE>


                                       59

<PAGE>
Ashland Inc. and Subsidiaries
SUPPLEMENTAL OIL AND GAS INFORMATION

OIL AND GAS RESERVES, REVENUES AND COSTS

The  following  tables  summarize  Ashland's  (1) crude oil and natural gas
reserves,  (2)  results  of  operations  from  oil  and gas  producing  and
marketing activities, (3) costs incurred, both capitalized and expensed, in
oil and gas producing activities, and (4) capitalized costs for oil and gas
producing  activities,  along with the  related  accumulated  depreciation,
depletion  and  amortization.  U.S.  crude oil and natural gas reserves are
reported net of royalties and interests owned by others.  Foreign crude oil
reserves  relate to reserves  available to Ashland,  as  producer,  under a
long-term  contract  with  the  Nigerian  National  Petroleum  Corporation.
Reserves  reported  in the table are  estimated  and are  subject to future
revisions.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                     1995                           1994                      1993
                                                   ----------------------        -----------------------     ---------------------
                                                   U. S.  Foreign   Total        U. S.  Foreign    Total     U. S.  Foreign  Total
===================================================================================================================================
<S>                                                <C>      <C>     <C>          <C>     <C>       <C>       <C>      <C>   <C> 
CRUDE OIL RESERVES (millions of barrels)
Proved developed and undeveloped reserves
   Beginning of year                                  .9      7.6     8.5          1.4     7.7       9.1       1.6     13.3   14.9
   Revisions of previous estimates                    .2     12.3    12.5          (.1)    6.7       6.6        .2      2.3    2.5
   Extensions and discoveries                          -      1.4     1.4            -       -         -         -        -      -
   Purchases (net of sales) of reserves in place      .4        -      .4          (.1)      -       (.1)        -        -      -
   Production                                        (.2)    (6.9)   (7.1)         (.3)   (6.8)     (7.1)      (.4)    (7.9)  (8.3)
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   End of year                                       1.3     14.4    15.7           .9     7.6       8.5       1.4      7.7    9.1
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Proved developed reserves
   Beginning of year                                  .9      7.6     8.5          1.3     7.7       9.0       1.5     13.3   14.8
   End of year                                       1.3     14.4    15.7           .9     7.6       8.5       1.3      7.7    9.0
===================================================================================================================================

NATURAL GAS RESERVES (billions of cubic feet)
Proved developed and undeveloped reserves
   Beginning of year                               349.2                         455.5                       463.9
   Revisions of previous estimates                  90.7                         (98.2)                        4.9
   Extensions and discoveries                       21.2                          25.9                        19.4
   Purchases (net of sales) of reserves in place    83.8                            .4                         3.5
   Production                                      (37.5)                        (34.4)                      (36.2)
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   End of year                                     507.4                         349.2                       455.5
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Proved developed reserves
   Beginning of year                               320.5                         352.0                       346.5
   End of year                                     427.3                         320.5                       352.0
===================================================================================================================================

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (in millions)
Revenues
   Sales to third parties                          $  86     $110    $196        $  96    $ 99      $195      $106     $135   $241
   Intersegment sales(1)                               2        -       2            4       -         4         6        -      6
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                      88      110     198          100      99       199       112      135    247
Costs and expenses
   Production (lifting) costs(2)                     (27)     (49)    (76)         (24)    (90)     (114)      (25)     (60)   (85)
   Exploration expenses                              (11)     (27)    (38)         (13)     (1)      (14)       (8)     (10)   (18)
   Depreciation, depletion, amortization
      and valuation provisions                       (41)      (1)    (42)         (34)     (1)      (35)      (33)      (3)   (36)
   Other costs(3)                                    (24)      (1)    (25)         (25)     (2)      (27)      (23)      (5)   (28)
   Income and foreign exploration taxes               16      (23)     (7)           7      19        26         -      (44)   (44)
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                    $  1     $  9    $ 10        $  11    $ 24      $ 35      $ 23     $ 13   $ 36
===================================================================================================================================

COSTS INCURRED (in millions)
Property acquisition costs
   Proved properties                                $ 69     $  -    $ 69        $   1    $  -      $  1      $  3     $  -   $  3
   Unproved properties                                 2        -       2            2       -         2         2        -      2
Exploration costs                                     17       31      48           19       1        20        10       10     20
Development costs                                     30       10      40           32       2        34        35        2     37
===================================================================================================================================

CAPITALIZED COSTS (in millions)
Proved properties                                   $584     $400    $984         $494    $392      $886
Unproved properties                                   11        1      12           45       1        46
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                     595      401     996          539     393       932
Accumulated depreciation,
   depletion and amortization                       (226)    (392)   (618)        (231)   (392)     (623)
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                    $369     $  9    $378         $308    $  1      $309
===================================================================================================================================
</TABLE>

                                       60

<PAGE>

STANDARDIZED MEASURE OF DISCOUNTED FUTURE NET CASH FLOWS RELATING TO OIL AND 
GAS RESERVES

The following tables summarize discounted future net cash flows and changes
in such flows in  accordance  with  Financial  Accounting  Standards  Board
Statement  No.  69 (FAS  69),  "Disclosures  about  Oil  and Gas  Producing
Activities."  Under the guidelines of FAS 69,  estimated  future cash flows
are  determined  based on  current  prices for crude oil and  natural  gas,
estimated  production  of  proved  crude  oil  and  natural  gas  reserves,
estimated future  production and development  costs of those reserves based
on current costs and economic  conditions,  and estimated future income and
foreign  exploration  taxes  based on  taxing  arrangements  in  effect  at
year-end.  Such cash flows are then  discounted  using the  prescribed  10%
rate.

Many other  assumptions  could have been made  which may have  resulted  in
significantly  different  estimates.  Ashland  does  not  rely  upon  these
estimates  in  making  investment  and  operating  decisions.  Furthermore,
Ashland  does not  represent  that such  estimates  are  indicative  of its
expected future cash flows or the current value of its reserves.  Since gas
prices  utilized in deriving these  estimates are based on conditions  that
existed at September 30 and are usually different than prices that exist at
calendar  year-end due to seasonal  fluctuations in the natural gas market,
the  estimates  may not be  comparable  to those of  other  companies  with
different fiscal year-ends.  Prices can also vary significantly at the same
point in time from year to year due to a variety of  factors.  The  average
gas price  used in the  discounted  future net cash flow  calculations  was
based on $1.64 per million BTU at Henry Hub for 1995 and $1.48 for 1994.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

Discounted future net cash flows (in millions)                                         U. S.           Foreign              Total
===================================================================================================================================
<S>                                                                                   <C>                  <C>             <C>   
SEPTEMBER 30, 1995
Future cash inflows                                                                   $1,060               228             $1,288
Future production (lifting) costs                                                       (505)               59)              (664)
Future development costs                                                                 (58)               16)               (74)
Future income and foreign exploration taxes                                              (33)               33)               (66)
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                         464                20                484
Annual 10% discount                                                                     (212)               (3)              (215)
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                      $  252             $  17             $  269
===================================================================================================================================

SEPTEMBER 30, 1994
Future cash inflows                                                                   $  691             $ 124             $  815
Future production (lifting) costs                                                       (315)              (80)              (395)
Future development costs                                                                 (22)               (9)               (31)
Future income and foreign exploration taxes                                              (17)              (24)               (41)
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                         337                11                348
Annual 10% discount                                                                     (140)               (1)              (141)
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                      $  197             $  10             $  207
===================================================================================================================================
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                     1995                        1994                        1993
Changes in discounted future                     ------------------------    ------------------------    --------------------------
       net cash flows (in millions)              U. S.   Foreign    Total    U. S.   Foreign    Total    U. S.   Foreign    Total
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                              <C>       <C>      <C>      <C>      <C>       <C>     <C>       <C>      <C>   

Net change due to extensions and
      discoveries                                $  25     $   6    $  31    $  21    $    -    $  21   $   20    $    -   $   20
Sales of oil and gas produced - net of
      production (lifting) costs                   (61)      (61)    (122)     (76)       (9)     (85)     (87)      (75)    (162)
Changes in prices                                   24        24       48     (186)       (3)    (189)     (35)      (25)     (60)
Previously estimated development
      costs incurred                                 7        35       42       24         2       26       38         2       40
Net change due to revisions of
      previous estimates of reserves                 7        46       53      (17)       34       17        3         7       10
Purchases (net of sales) of reserves in place       40         -       40        -         -        -        3         -        3
Accretion of 10% discount                           20         1       21       31         1       32       33         2       35
Other - net(4)                                      (9)      (40)     (49)      33       (11)      22      (16)        1      (15)
Net change in income and foreign
      exploration taxes                              2        (4)      (2)      59       (13)      46       14        71       85
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                    55         7       62     (111)        1     (110)     (27)      (17)     (44)
Discounted future net cash flows
      Beginning of year                            197        10      207      308         9      317      335        26      361
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      End of year                                 $252      $ 17     $269     $197    $   10     $207    $ 308     $   9   $  317
===================================================================================================================================

<FN>
(1) Intersegment sales are accounted for at prices which approximate market value.  
(2) Includes  only costs  incurred to operate and  maintain  wells, related equipment and facilities.
(3) Includes results of crude oil trading.
(4) Includes changes in future production and development costs and changes in the timing of future production.

</TABLE>



                                       61



                                EXHIBIT 21

LIST OF SUBSIDIARIES

     Subsidiaries  of Ashland Inc.  ("AI") at October 1, 1995  included the
companies  listed below.  Ashland has numerous  unconsolidated  affiliates,
which are primarily  accounted for on the equity method, and majority-owned
consolidated  subsidiaries in addition to the companies listed below.  Such
affiliates  and  subsidiaries  are not  listed  below  since they would not
constitute a significant subsidiary considered in the aggregate as a single
entity.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                        Jurisdiction of          Immediate
                              Company                                    Incorporation            Parent*

<S>                                                                     <C>                 <C>
AECOM Technology Corporation.........................................      Delaware              ATEC 19%
APAC-Alabama, Inc....................................................      Delaware                 AHI
APAC-Arkansas, Inc...................................................      Delaware                 AHI
APAC-Carolina, Inc...................................................      Delaware                 AHI
APAC-Florida, Inc....................................................      Delaware                 AHI
APAC-Georgia, Inc....................................................       Georgia                 AHI
APAC Holdings, Inc. ("AHI")..........................................      Delaware                 AI
APAC, Inc............................................................      Delaware                 AHI
APAC-Kansas, Inc.....................................................      Delaware                 AHI
APAC-Mississippi, Inc................................................      Delaware                 AHI
APAC-Oklahoma, Inc...................................................      Delaware                 AHI
APAC-Tennessee, Inc..................................................      Delaware                 AHI
APAC-Texas, Inc......................................................      Delaware                 AHI
APAC-Virginia, Inc...................................................      Delaware                 AHI
Arch Mineral Corporation.............................................      Delaware               AI 50%
Ashland Chemical Canada Ltd..........................................   Alberta, Canada             AI
Ashland Coal, Inc....................................................      Delaware               AI 54%
Ashland Crude Marketing, Inc.........................................      Delaware                 AII
Ashland Crude Trading, Inc...........................................      Delaware                 AI
Ashland Exploration, Inc.............................................      Delaware                 AI
Ashland Foundry International, Inc...................................      Delaware                 AI
Ashland Nigerian Development Company ("ANDC")........................      Delaware                 AII
Ashland of Nigeria, Ltd. ("ANL").....................................      Delaware                 AII
Ashland Oil (Nigeria) Company Ultd...................................       Nigeria          ANL 50%-ANDC 50%
Ashland Overseas Investments, Inc. ("AII")...........................      Delaware                 AI
Ashland Pipe Line Company ("APL")....................................        Ohio                   AI
Ashland Plastics International, Inc..................................      Delaware                 AI
Ashland Scurlock Permian Canada, Ltd.................................   Alberta, Canada             SPC
Ash Property, Inc....................................................        Ohio                   AI
Ashmont Insurance Company, Inc. ("AIC")..............................       Vermont                 AI
ATEC, Inc. ("ATEC")..................................................      Delaware                 AI
Bluegrass Insurance Company Limited..................................       Bermuda                 AIC
Bluegrass International Insurance Limited............................       Bermuda                 AIC
Drew Chemical Corporation ("DCC")....................................      Delaware                 AI
Iberia Ashland Chemical S.A..........................................        Spain                AI 70%
Mid-Valley Supply Co.................................................      Kentucky                 AI
Ohio River Pipe Line Company.........................................      Delaware                 APL
Scurlock Permian Corporation ("SPC").................................      Kentucky                 AI
Valvoline (Australia) Pty. Ltd.......................................      Australia                VHI
Valvoline Canada Ltd.................................................   Ontario, Canada             VHI
Valvoline Holdings, Inc. ("VHI").....................................      Delaware                 AI
- ---------------

   *100% of the voting securities are owned by the immediate parent except as otherwise indicated.

</TABLE>


Exhibit 23 


                             CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS 

We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration  Statement
(Form  S-8  No.   33-52125)   pertaining  to  the  Ashland  Inc.   Deferred
Compensation  and Stock Incentive Plan for Non-Employee  Directors,  in the
Registration  Statement  (Form S-8 No.  2-95022)  pertaining to the Ashland
Inc.  Amended Stock Incentive Plan for Key Employees,  in the  Registration
Statement  (Form S-8 No. 33-7501)  pertaining to the Ashland Inc.  Employee
Savings  Plan,  in the  Registration  Statement  (Form  S-8  No.  33-26101)
pertaining  to  the  Ashland  Inc.   Long-Term   Incentive   Plan,  in  the
Registration  Statement (Form S-8 No.  33-55922)  pertaining to the Ashland
Inc. 1993 Stock Incentive Plan, in the Registration Statement (Form S-8 No.
33-49907) pertaining to the Ashland Inc. Leveraged Employee Stock Ownership
Plan, in the Registration  Statement (Form S-8 No. 33-62901)  pertaining to
the  Ashland  Inc.  Deferred  Compensation  Plan,  and in the  Registration
Statement (Form S-3 No.  33-57011) as amended by  Post-Effective  Amendment
No. 1, pertaining to the U.S.  $200,000,000 Ashland Inc. Medium-Term Notes,
Series G, and  3,000,000  shares of  Ashland  Inc.  common  stock,  and the
related  Prospectus,  of our report dated November 1, 1995, with respect to
the  consolidated  financial  statements  and  schedule of Ashland Inc. and
subsidiaries  included in the Annual  Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended
September 30, 1995.



                                                         Ernst & Young LLP 


November 28, 1995 



                             POWER OF ATTORNEY


KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS,  that each of the undersigned Directors and
Officers of ASHLAND INC., a Kentucky corporation, which is about to file an
Annual  Report on Form 10-K with the  Securities  and  Exchange  Commission
under the  provisions of the  Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,
hereby  constitutes and appoints JOHN R. HALL, PAUL W. CHELLGREN, THOMAS L.
FEAZELL,  JAMES G. STEPHENSON and DAVID L. HAUSRATH,  and each of them, his
true and  lawful  attorneys-in-fact  and  agents,  with  full  power to act
without  the others to sign and file such  Annual  Report and the  exhibits
thereto and any and all other  documents in connection  therewith  with the
Securities and Exchange Commission,  and to do and perform any and all acts
and  things  requisite  and  necessary  to be done in  connection  with the
foregoing  as fully  as he or she  might  or  could  do in  person,  hereby
ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any
of them, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
<TABLE>

<S>                                                        <C>
Dated:  November 2, 1995
/s/  John R. Hall                                          /s/ Ralph E. Gomory
- ---------------------------------------                    -------------------------------------------
John R. Hall, Chairman of the Board of                     Ralph E. Gomory, Director
Directors, Chief Executive Officer and
Director

/s/  Paul W. Chellgren                                     /s/ Mannie L. Jackson
- ---------------------------------------                    -------------------------------------------
Paul W. Chellgren, President,                              Mannie L. Jackson, Director
Chief Operating Officer and Director

/s/  J. Marvin Quin                                        /s/ Patrick F. Noonan      
- ---------------------------------------                    -------------------------------------------
J. Marvin Quin, Chief Financial                            Patrick F. Noonan, Director
Officer and Senior Vice President

/s/  Jack S. Blanton                                       /s/ Jane C. Pfeiffer
- ---------------------------------------                    -------------------------------------------
Jack S. Blanton, Director                                  Jane C. Pfeiffer, Director

/s/ Thomas E. Bolger                                       /s/ James R. Rinehart
- ---------------------------------------                    -------------------------------------------
Thomas E. Bolger, Director                                 James R. Rinehart, Director

/s/  Samuel C. Butler                                      /s/ Michael D. Rose
- ---------------------------------------                    -------------------------------------------
Samuel C. Butler, Director                                 Michael D. Rose, Director

/s/  Frank C. Carlucci                                     /s/ William L. Rouse, Jr.
- ---------------------------------------                    -------------------------------------------
Frank C. Carlucci, Director                                William L. Rouse, Jr., Director

/s/  James B. Farley                                       /s/ Robert B. Stobaugh
- ---------------------------------------                    -------------------------------------------
James B. Farley, Director                                  Robert B. Stobaugh, Director


- ---------------------------------------                    -------------------------------------------
Edmund B. Fitzgerald, Director                             James W. Vandeveer, Director



<PAGE>
EXCERPT FROM 
MINUTES OF DIRECTORS' MEETING 
ASHLAND INC. 
November 2, 1995 

RESOLVED,  that the  Corporation's  Annual  Report  to the  Securities  and
Exchange  Commission  ("SEC")  on Form 10-K (the  "Form  10-K") in the form
previously  circulated to the Board in preparation  for the meeting be, and
it hereby is, approved with such changes as the Chairman of the Board,  the
President,  any  Vice  President,  the  Secretary  and  David  L.  Hausrath
("Authorized  Persons") shall approve, the execution and filing of the Form
10-K with the SEC to be  conclusive  evidence of such  approval;  provided,
however,  that without  derogating from the binding effect of the above, it
is understood than an Authorized Person shall cause the distribution  prior
to the filing with the SEC, of a copy of such Form 10-K to the directors in
substantially  that  form  which is to be filed  with the SEC and that each
director's  oral  concurrence  with  respect to such form shall be obtained
prior to the filing with the SEC;

FURTHER RESOLVED,  that the Authorized  Persons be, and each of them hereby
is,  authorized  to file  with  the SEC the Form  10-K  and any  amendments
thereto on Form 10-K/A and/or any other applicable form; and

FURTHER RESOLVED,  that the Authorized  Persons be, and each of them hereby
is,  authorized  and directed to take such other action as may be necessary
and proper to implement the foregoing resolutions.


</TABLE>

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE>     5
<LEGEND>      THIS  SCHEDULE   CONTAINS  SUMMARY   FINANCIAL   INFORMATION
              EXTRACTED FROM ASHLAND INC.'S ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS  FOR 
              THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 30,  1995 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS
              ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH ANNUAL REPORT.
<MULTIPLIER>  1,000,000
<PERIOD-TYPE>                       YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                   SEP-30-1995
<PERIOD-END>                        SEP-30-1995
<CASH>                                       52
<SECURITIES>                                  0
<RECEIVABLES>                             1,600
<ALLOWANCES>                                 25
<INVENTORY>                                 726
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                          2,575
<PP&E>                                    7,078
<DEPRECIATION>                            3,508
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                            6,992
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                     2,094
<BONDS>                                   1,828
<COMMON>                                     64
                         0
                                 293
<OTHER-SE>                                1,298
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>              6,992
<SALES>                                  12,167
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                         12,239
<CGS>                                    10,745
<TOTAL-COSTS>                            10,745
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                          1,296
<LOSS-PROVISION>                              9
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                          171
<INCOME-PRETAX>                              27
<INCOME-TAX>                                (13)
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                          24
<DISCONTINUED>                                0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                               0
<CHANGES>                                     0
<NET-INCOME>                                 24
<EPS-PRIMARY>                               .08
<EPS-DILUTED>                               .08

</TABLE>


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