================================================================================ SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549 SCHEDULE 14A (RULE 14A-101) SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION PROXY STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(A) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 FILED BY THE REGISTRANT [ ] FILED BY A PARTY OTHER THAN THE REGISTRANT [X] CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX: [ ] PRELIMINARY PROXY STATEMENT [ ] DEFINITIVE PROXY STATEMENT [ ] CONFIDENTIAL, FOR USE OF THE [ ] DEFINITIVE ADDITIONAL MATERIALS COMMISSION ONLY (AS PERMITTED) [X] SOLICITING MATERIAL PURSUANT TO BY RULE 14A-6(E)(2) RULE 14A-12 HERCULES INCORPORATED -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER) INTERNATIONAL SPECIALTY PRODUCTS INC. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (NAME OF PERSON(S) FILING PROXY STATEMENT, IF OTHER THAN THE REGISTRANT) PAYMENT OF FILING FEE (CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX): [X] NO FEE REQUIRED. [ ] FEE COMPUTED ON TABLE BELOW PER EXCHANGE ACT RULES 14A-6(I)(4) AND 0-11. (1) TITLE OF EACH CLASS OF SECURITIES TO WHICH TRANSACTION APPLIES: NOT APPLICABLE -------------------------------------------------------------------------- (2) AGGREGATE NUMBER OF SECURITIES TO WHICH TRANSACTION APPLIES: NOT APPLICABLE. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- (3) PER UNIT PRICE OR OTHER UNDERLYING VALUE OF TRANSACTION COMPUTED PURSUANT TO EXCHANGE ACT RULE 0-11 (SET FORTH THE AMOUNT ON WHICH THE FILING FEE IS CALCULATED AND STATE HOW IT WAS DETERMINED): NOT APPLICABLE. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- (4) PROPOSED MAXIMUM AGGREGATE VALUE OF TRANSACTION: NOT APPLICABLE. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- (5) TOTAL FEE PAID: NOT APPLICABLE. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- [ ] FEE PAID PREVIOUSLY WITH PRELIMINARY MATERIALS: [ ] CHECK BOX IF ANY PART OF THE FEE IS OFFSET AS PROVIDED BY EXCHANGE ACT RULE 0-11(A)(2) AND IDENTIFY THE FILING FOR WHICH THE OFFSETTING FEE WAS PAID PREVIOUSLY. IDENTIFY THE PREVIOUS FILING BY REGISTRATION STATEMENT NUMBER, OR THE FORM OR SCHEDULE AND THE DATE OF ITS FILING. (1) AMOUNT PREVIOUSLY PAID: NOT APPLICABLE. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- (2) FORM, SCHEDULE OR REGISTRATION STATEMENT NO.: NOT APPLICABLE. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- (3) FILING PARTY: NOT APPLICABLE. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- (4) DATE FILED: NOT APPLICABLE. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- ================================================================================ SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549 SCHEDULE 13D Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. 6) ------------------------------ HERCULES INCORPORATED (Name of Issuer) COMMON STOCK, $25/48 STATED VALUE PER SHARE 427056106 (Title of class of securities) (CUSIP number) RICHARD A. WEINBERG, ESQ. C/O ISP MANAGEMENT COMPANY, INC. 1361 ALPS ROAD WAYNE, NEW JERSEY 07470 (973) 628-4000 (Name, address and telephone number of person authorized to receive notices and communications) WITH A COPY TO: STEPHEN E. JACOBS, ESQ. WEIL, GOTSHAL & MANGES LLP 767 FIFTH AVENUE NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10153-0119 (212) 310-8000 MARCH 5, 2001 (Date of event which requires filing of this statement) If the filing person has previously filed a statement on Schedule 13G to report the acquisition that is the subject of this Schedule 13D, and is filing this schedule because of ss.ss. 240.13d-1(e), 240.13d-1(f) or 240.13d-(g), check the following box. [ ] Note: Schedules filed in paper format shall include a signed original and five copies of the schedule, including all exhibits. Seess. 240.13d-7 for other parties to whom copies are to be sent. * The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person's initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter disclosures provided in a prior cover page. The information required on the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed to be "filed" for the purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Act") or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act. (However, see the Notes.) (Continued on following pages) (Page 1 of 7 Pages) ================================================================================ NY2:\1022077\01\lwn101!.DOC\54104.0018 ----------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------- CUSIP No. 427056106 13D Page 2 of 7 Pages ----------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 NAME OF REPORTING PERSON ISP OPCO HOLDINGS INC. S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON ---------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2 CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP: (a) [ ] (b) [X] ---------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3 SEC USE ONLY ---------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4 SOURCE OF FUNDS: OO ---------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5 CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEM 2(d) OR 2(e): [ ] ---------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6 CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION: Delaware ---------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7 SOLE VOTING POWER: 0 NUMBER OF SHARES ------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8 SHARED VOTING POWER: 10,719,200 BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY ------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- EACH 9 SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER: 0 REPORTING PERSON WITH ------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10 SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER: 10,719,200 ---------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11 AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY REPORTING PERSON: 10,719,200 ---------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12 CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES: [ ] ---------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 13 PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11): 9.98% ---------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 14 TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON: CO ---------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------- CUSIP No. 427056106 13D Page 3 of 7 Pages ----------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 NAME OF REPORTING PERSON ISP INVESTMENTS INC. S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON ---------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2 CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP: (a) [ ] (b) [X] ---------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3 SEC USE ONLY ---------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4 SOURCE OF FUNDS: WC, OO ---------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5 CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEM 2(d) OR 2(e): [ ] ---------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6 CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION: Delaware ---------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7 SOLE VOTING POWER: 10,719,200 NUMBER OF SHARES ------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8 SHARED VOTING POWER: 0 BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY ------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- EACH 9 SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER: 10,719,200 REPORTING PERSON WITH ------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10 SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER: 0 ---------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11 AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY REPORTING PERSON: 10,719,200 ---------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12 CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES: [ ] ---------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 13 PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11): 9.98% ---------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 14 TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON: CO ---------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------- CUSIP No. 427056106 13D Page 4 of 7 Pages ----------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 NAME OF REPORTING PERSON INTERNATIONAL SPECIALTY PRODUCTS INC. S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON ---------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2 CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP: (a) [ ] (b) [X] ---------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3 SEC USE ONLY ---------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4 SOURCE OF FUNDS: OO ---------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5 CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEM 2(d) OR 2(e): [ ] ---------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6 CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION: Delaware ---------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7 SOLE VOTING POWER: 0 NUMBER OF SHARES ------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8 SHARED VOTING POWER: 10,719,200 BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY ------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- EACH 9 SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER: 0 REPORTING PERSON WITH ------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10 SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER: 10,719,200 ---------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11 AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY REPORTING PERSON: 10,719,200 ---------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12 CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES: [ ] ---------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 13 PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11): 9.98% ---------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 14 TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON: CO ---------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This Amendment No. 6 ("Amendment No. 6") amends the statement of beneficial ownership on Schedule 13D ("Schedule 13D") filed on July 24, 2000, as amended by Amendment No. 1 filed on October 11, 2000, Amendment No. 2 filed on January 23, 2001, Amendment No. 3 filed on February 7, 2001, Amendment No. 4 filed on February 20, 2001, and Amendment No. 5 filed on February 28, 2001, by and on behalf of ISP Opco Holdings Inc. ("ISP Opco"), ISP Investments Inc. ("ISP Investments"), and International Specialty Products Inc. ("ISP" and together with ISP Investments and ISP Opco, the "Reporting Persons") with respect to their ownership of common stock, stated value $25/48 per share ("Common Stock"), of Hercules Incorporated (the "Company"). Capitalized terms used herein and not defined herein have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Schedule 13D, as previously amended. ITEM 4. PURPOSE OF TRANSACTION On March 5, 2001, Samuel J. Heyman, Chairman of the Board of ISP, sent the following letter to Mr. Thomas Gossage, Chairman, CEO and President of the Company: Mr. Thomas Gossage Chairman, CEO and President Hercules Incorporated Hercules Plaza 1313 North Market Street Wilmington, Delaware 19894-0001 Dear Tom: Just a note to close the loop with you regarding the discussions between our General Counsel, Rich Weinberg, and your David Katz. When I received your February 23rd letter, although I do not believe for a minute that we are in any way hindering your efforts to sell the Company, in an effort to bend over backwards, I asked Rich to contact David to see whether there was anything we could do to be helpful. Rich and David met on February 26th and talked on the telephone several days later, during which time we were requested to delay the filing of our preliminary proxy materials. We suggested, and quite appropriately I believe, that if you wanted us to delay our filing for some period, we would be willing to accommodate you so long as there was a similar adjustment to the Annual Meeting date. Obviously, we cannot be put in the position of delaying our filing and as a result SEC clearance of our materials while at the same time Hercules reserves its right to press forward with its April 26th Annual Meeting date. And so we were completely floored when David got back to us to indicate that this was apparently what you had in mind. Tom, we attempted to respond to your stated concerns, but the upshot of these discussions is that you have left us no alternative but to proceed with our filing, which should take place later today. Sincerely, /s./ Samuel J. Heyman * * * 5 ISP HAS FILED A PRELIMINARY PROXY STATEMENT WITH THE U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION RELATING TO ISP'S SOLICITATION OF PROXIES FROM THE STOCKHOLDERS OF THE COMPANY FOR USE AT THE 2001 ANNUAL MEETING. ISP STRONGLY ADVISES ALL HERCULES STOCKHOLDERS TO READ THE FINAL DEFINITIVE PROXY STATEMENT WHEN IT IS AVAILABLE BECAUSE IT WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION. WHEN COMPLETED, THE FINAL DEFINITIVE PROXY STATEMENT AND A FORM OF PROXY WILL BE MAILED TO ALL HERCULES STOCKHOLDERS AND WILL BE AVAILABLE AT NO CHANGE ON THE SEC WEBSITE AT HTTP:\\WWW.SEC.GOV. THE PRELIMINARY PROXY STATEMENT, CONTAINING INFORMATION RELATING TO THE PARTICIPANTS IN ISP'S PROXY SOLICITATION, IS CURRENTLY AVAILABLE AT TO CHARGE ON THE SEC'S WEBSITE. [The remainder of this page intentionally left blank.] 6 SIGNATURES After reasonable inquiry and to the best of their knowledge and belief, the undersigned certify that the information set forth in this Statement is true, complete and correct. Dated: March 7, 2001 ISP OPCO HOLDINGS INC. ISP INVESTMENTS INC. INTERNATIONAL SPECIALTY PRODUCTS INC. By: /s/ Richard A. Weinberg ---------------------------------------- Richard A. Weinberg Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary 7