UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON D.C. 20549 SCHEDULE 14A (RULE 14A-101) INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION PROXY STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(A) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 Filed by the Registrant [x] Filed by a Party other than the Registrant [ ] Check the appropriate box: [ ] Preliminary Proxy Statement [ ] CONFIDENTIAL, FOR USE OF THE COMMISSION ONLY (AS PERMITTED BY RULE 14A-6(E)(2)) [ ] Definitive Proxy Statement [x] Definitive Additional Materials [ ] Soliciting Material Pursuant to Rule 14a-12 Hercules Incorporated ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter) N/A ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (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: ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies: ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 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): ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction: ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 5) Total fee paid: ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ [ ] 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: ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.: ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 3) Filing Party: ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 4) Date Filed: ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ HERCULES TO HOLD TELECONFERENCE-- MAY 17, 2001 WILMINGTON, DE, MAY 16, 2001 . . . Hercules Incorporated (NYSE: HPC) today announced that it has scheduled a teleconference for Thursday, May 17th. The call will take place at 9:00 AM. Hercules Chairman Thomas L. Gossage will host the teleconference and introduce the new Chief Executive Officer William H. Joyce. The conference will provide an update on the status of the merger and sale process, which is continuing. To join us, please dial 973-872-3100 approximately 10 minutes before the starting time and ask the operator for the Hercules Teleconference. A replay of the meeting will be available from mid morning on May 17th until midnight May 21st by dialing 973-341-3080, pin number 2606364. INVESTOR CONTACT: Allen A. Spizzo 302-594-6491 MEDIA CONTACT: John S. Riley 302-594-6025