SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 13G

UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

ASHLAND INC.

(Name of Issuer)

Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share

(Title of Class of Securities)

044186104

(CUSIP Number)

07/29/2026

(Date of Event Which Requires Filing of this Statement)

Check the appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which this Schedule is filed:

Rule 13d-1(b)

Rule 13d-1(c)

Rule 13d-1(d)

SCHEDULE 13G

CUSIP Number(s):

044186104

Names of Reporting Persons

COOPERMAN LEON G

Check the appropriate box if a member of a Group (see instructions)

(a)

(b)

Sec Use Only

Citizenship or Place of Organization

DELAWARE

Number of Shares Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person With:

5	Sole Voting Power 2,915,000.00
6	Shared Voting Power 0.00
7	Sole Dispositive Power 2,915,000.00
8	Shared Dispositive Power 0.00

Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person

2,915,000.00

Check box if the aggregate amount in row (9) excludes certain shares (See Instructions)

Checkbox not checked

Percent of class represented by amount in row (9)

6.4 %

Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions)

SCHEDULE 13G

Item 1.

(a)

Name of issuer:

ASHLAND INC.

(b)

Address of issuer's principal executive offices:

8145 Blazer Drive, Wilmington, DE 19808

Item 2.

(a)

Name of person filing:

This statement is filed on behalf of Leon G. Cooperman ("Mr. Cooperman"). Mr. Cooperman is engaged in, among other activities, investing for his own account. Mr. Cooperman is the Managing Member of Omega Associates, L.L.C. ("Associates"), a limited liability company organized under the laws of the State of Delaware. Associates is a private investment firm formed to invest in and act as general partner of investment partnerships or similar investment vehicles. Associates is the general partner of a limited partnership organized under the laws of Delaware known as Omega Capital Partners, L.P. ("Capital LP"), a private investment firm comprised of Cooperman family funds engaged in the purchase and sale of securities for investment for its own account.

(b)

Address or principal business office or, if none, residence:

Mr. Cooperman's principal business office address is St. Andrews Country Club, 7118 Melrose Castle Lane, Boca Raton, FL 33496.

(c)

Citizenship:

Mr. Cooperman is a United States citizen.

(d)

Title of class of securities:

Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share

(e)

CUSIP Number(s):

044186104

Item 3.

If this statement is filed pursuant to §§ 240.13d-1(b) or 240.13d-2(b) or (c), check whether the person filing is a:

(a)

Broker or dealer registered under section 15 of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78o);

(b)

Bank as defined in section 3(a)(6) of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78c);

(c)

Insurance company as defined in section 3(a)(19) of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78c);

(d)

Investment company registered under section 8 of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-8);

(e)

An investment adviser in accordance with § 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(E);

(f)

An employee benefit plan or endowment fund in accordance with § 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(F);

(g)

A parent holding company or control person in accordance with § 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(G);

(h)

A savings associations as defined in Section 3(b) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1813);

(i)

A church plan that is excluded from the definition of an investment company under section 3(c)(14) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-3);

(j)

A non-U.S. institution in accordance with § 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J). If filing as a non-U.S. institution in accordance with § 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J),
please specify the type of institution:

(k)

Group, in accordance with Rule 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(K).

Item 4.

Ownership

(a)

Amount beneficially owned:

The information required by this item with respect to the Reporting Person is set forth in Rows 5 through 9 and 11 of the cover page to this Schedule 13G. Mr. Cooperman may be deemed the beneficial owner of 2,915,000 shares of Common Stock held directly by Capital L.P., which constitute approximately 6.4% of the total number of shares of Common Stock outstanding, calculated based on 45,793,370 shares of Common Stock outstanding as of June 30, 2026, as reported in the Issuer's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 29, 2026.

(b)

Percent of class:

6.4%

(c)

Number of shares as to which the person has:

(i) Sole power to vote or to direct the vote:

2,915,000

(ii) Shared power to vote or to direct the vote:

(iii) Sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of:

2,915,000

(iv) Shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition of:

Item 5.

Ownership of 5 Percent or Less of a Class.

Not Applicable

Item 6.

Ownership of more than 5 Percent on Behalf of Another Person.

Not Applicable

Item 7.

Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary Which Acquired the Security Being Reported on by the Parent Holding Company or Control Person.

Not Applicable

Item 8.

Identification and Classification of Members of the Group.

Not Applicable

Item 9.

Notice of Dissolution of Group.

Not Applicable

Item 10.

Certifications:

By signing below I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, the securities referred to above were not acquired and are not held for the purpose of or with the effect of changing or influencing the control of the issuer of the securities and were not acquired and are not held in connection with or as a participant in any transaction having that purpose or effect, other than activities solely in connection with a nomination under § 240.14a-11.

SIGNATURE

After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.

COOPERMAN LEON G

Signature:	/s/ Edward Levy
Name/Title:	Attorney-in-Fact
Date:	08/05/2026

Comments accompanying signature: Duly authorized under POA effective as of August 10, 2016 and filed on August 12, 2016.