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 (Amendment No. 2)
Filed by the Registrant [x]
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant [ ]
Check the appropriate box:
[x] Preliminary Proxy Statement
[ ] CONFIDENTIAL, FOR USE OF THE COMMISSION ONLY (AS PERMITTED BY RULE
14A-6(E)(2))
[ ] Definitive Proxy Statement
[ ] 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 INCORPORATED
Hercules Plaza
1313 North Market Street
Wilmington, DE 19894-0001
[HERCULES LOGO]
March __, 2001
Dear Shareholder:
We are pleased to invite you to attend the 2001 annual meeting
of shareholders of Hercules Incorporated, which will be held on Thursday, April
26, 2001, at 11:00 a.m., local time, at the Delaware Art Museum, 2301 Kentmere
Parkway, Wilmington, Delaware.
The items to be considered and voted on at the annual meeting
are described in the notice of the 2001 annual meeting of shareholders and proxy
statement accompanying this letter.
You may have already received proxy-soliciting materials from
International Specialty Products Inc, or ISP, in connection with items ISP
intends to present at the annual meeting. YOUR BOARD BELIEVES THAT THE ELECTION
OF ISP'S NOMINEES IS NOT IN YOUR BEST INTERESTS. WE ARE ACTIVELY PURSUING A SALE
OR MERGER OF THE COMPANY IN ORDER TO MAXIMIZE VALUE FOR ALL SHAREHOLDERS,
ALTHOUGH THERE CAN BE NO ASSURANCE THAT A TRANSACTION WILL OCCUR. WE STRONGLY
URGE YOU TO VOTE FOR THE NOMINEES PROPOSED BY YOUR BOARD USING THE ENCLOSED
WHITE PROXY CARD. WE URGE YOU NOT TO VOTE FOR ANY ISP NOMINEES AND NOT TO
EXECUTE ANY ISP PROXY CARD.
Your vote is important. We encourage you to vote your shares as soon as
possible. If you have any questions or need assistance in voting your shares,
please call our proxy solicitor, MacKenzie Partners, Inc., toll free at (800)
322-2885.
Sincerely,
Thomas L. Gossage
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
HERCULES INCORPORATED
Hercules Plaza
1313 North Market Street
Wilmington, DE 19894-0001
To: Our Shareholders
Subject: Notice of 2001 Annual Meeting of Shareholders
The 2001 annual meeting of shareholders of Hercules Incorporated will
be held on April 26, 2001, at 11:00 a.m., at the Delaware Art Museum, 2301
Kentmere Parkway, Wilmington, Delaware, to consider and take action on the
following proposals:
1. Reelection of the following four directors, each to serve for three-year
terms expiring at the 2004 annual meeting of shareholders: Thomas L.
Gossage, Ralph L. MacDonald, Jr., John A. H. Shober and Paula A. Sneed.
YOUR BOARD UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR THE ELECTION OF THE HERCULES
DIRECTOR NOMINEES ON THE ENCLOSED WHITE PROXY CARD. WE URGE YOU NOT TO VOTE
FOR ANY ISP NOMINEES AND NOT TO EXECUTE ANY ISP PROXY CARD.
2. Ratification of the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as
independent accountants for 2001. YOUR BOARD UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE
FOR THIS PROPOSAL.
3. To transact such other business as may properly come before the annual
meeting or at any adjournments or postponements thereof.
Shareholders of record as of March 6, 2001, will be entitled to vote at
the annual meeting. Seating is limited. THIS ANNUAL MEETING IS OF PARTICULAR
IMPORTANCE TO ALL SHAREHOLDERS OF THE COMPANY IN LIGHT OF THE COMPANY'S ONGOING
VALUE MAXIMIZATION PROCESS BEGUN IN NOVEMBER 2000 WITH THE BOARD'S ANNOUNCEMENT
TO PURSUE A SALE OR MERGER OF THE COMPANY. THERE CAN BE NO ASSURANCE THAT A
TRANSACTION WILL OCCUR. WHETHER OR NOT YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE ANNUAL MEETING IN
PERSON AND REGARDLESS OF THE NUMBER OF SHARES OF COMMON STOCK YOU OWN, YOUR
BOARD URGES YOU TO COMPLETE, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THE WHITE PROXY CARD IN THE
ACCOMPANYING ENVELOPE, WHICH IS POSTAGE PAID IF MAILED IN THE UNITED STATES.
YOUR BOARD ALSO URGES YOU NOT TO SIGN ANY BLUE PROXY CARDS SENT TO YOU
BY ISP. EVEN IF YOU HAVE PREVIOUSLY SIGNED A PROXY CARD SENT TO YOU BY ISP, YOU
CAN REVOKE IT BY SIGNING, DATING AND MAILING THE ENCLOSED WHITE PROXY CARD IN
THE ENVELOPE PROVIDED.
An admission ticket, which is required for entry into the annual
meeting, is attached to your proxy card. If you plan to attend the annual
meeting, please vote your proxy but keep the admission ticket and bring it to
the annual meeting. If your shares are held in the name of a bank,
broker or other holder of record and you plan to attend the annual meeting, you
can obtain an admission ticket in advance by contacting the Office of the
Corporate Secretary at (800) 441-9274.
By order of the Board of Directors,
Israel J. Floyd
Executive Vice President, Secretary
and General Counsel
-2-
PRELIMINARY PROXY MATERIALS DATED MARCH 26, 2001
SUBJECT TO COMPLETION
PROXY STATEMENT
Hercules Incorporated
Hercules Plaza
1313 North Market Street
Wilmington, DE 19894-0001
March ___, 2001
The accompanying proxy is solicited on behalf of the board of directors
of Hercules Incorporated for use at the 2001 annual meeting of shareholders to
be held on April 26, 2001, and at any adjournments or postponements thereof.
Throughout this document we refer to our company as Hercules or the Company.
This proxy statement and the accompanying proxy are first being mailed to
shareholders on or about March ___, 2001. Hercules' Annual Report will be mailed
to shareholders not later than April 6, 2001, a date at least 20 calendar days
before the date of the 2001 annual meeting.
International Specialty Products Inc., a company controlled by Samuel
J. Heyman, is conducting a proxy solicitation in opposition to the Hercules
Board. ISP has notified the Company and has filed a proxy statement with the
Securities and Exchange Commission stating that it is nominating four
individuals for election to the board of directors in opposition to Hercules'
nominees for election as directors.
The Hercules Board is actively pursuing a sale or merger of the Company
in order to maximize value for all shareholders, although there can be no
assurance that a transaction will occur. The Hercules nominees are familiar with
the Company and its business and operations. In addition, three of our nominees
are independent and all four of them, including Thomas L. Gossage, the Chairman
and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, are free from issues of divided
loyalty that we believe could affect at least two of ISP's nominees. See
"Election of Directors." Therefore, we believe that the Hercules nominees are
best suited to bring the current sale or merger process to fruition and to
maximize value for all shareholders, although there can be no assurance that a
transaction will occur. Your Board is soliciting votes FOR Hercules' slate of
nominees for election to the Hercules Board and FOR ratification of the
appointment of the firm of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLC as the Company's
independent accountants for the year 2001. We urge you not to vote for any ISP
nominees and not to execute any ISP proxy card. Unless contrary instructions are
indicated on the WHITE proxy card, all shares represented by valid proxies
received pursuant to this solicitation (and not revoked) will be voted:
o FOR the election of all of the Hercules nominees for directors named in
this proxy statement, and
o FOR the ratification of the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLC as
the Company's independent accountants for the year 2001.
If you specify a different choice on the proxy card, your shares will
be voted as specified. Signing and dating Hercules' WHITE proxy card will have
the effect of revoking any proxy card, including any ISP proxy card, you signed
on an earlier date and will constitute a revocation of all previously granted
authority to vote at the 2001 annual meeting.
BACKGROUND OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS' EFFORTS TO MAXIMIZE
SHAREHOLDER VALUE AND ISP'S PROXY CONTEST
On October 17, 2000, the Hercules Board named Thomas L. Gossage
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, following the resignation
of the then Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Gossage, who
had previously been Hercules' President and Chief Executive Officer, had retired
as Chairman of the Company at the end of 1996. The Board of Directors asked Mr.
Gossage to return because of his strong track record, knowledge of the Company
and commitment to delivering shareholder value.
At the time of Mr. Gossage's appointment, the Board expressed its
belief that Mr. Gossage was the ideal person to lead the Company during a
critical transitional period as it worked to restructure and refinance the
company, restore acceptable financial performance and rebuild credibility with
Hercules shareholders, while it also searched for a permanent Chairman and CEO.
Upon his appointment, Mr. Gossage stated that, while he and the Board were
intensively evaluating the feasibility of the restructuring and refinancing
program undertaken by the Company and alternatives to it, they would also
consider all strategic alternatives, including a proposal made by Mr. Heyman on
October 11 to commence a partial tender offer for 25 million Hercules common
shares, based on their considered view of what is in the best interests of all
Hercules shareholders.
During the following weeks, Mr. Gossage and his management team, in
consultation with their outside financial advisors, analyzed the Company's
strategic options and considered what the best strategic direction for the
Company would be going forward. The management team analyzed the rapid
consolidation that the specialty chemicals industry was experiencing and
determined that a company the size of Hercules would be at a competitive
disadvantage unless it became part of a larger enterprise. The management team
also examined the Company's financial situation, particularly in light of the
Company's substantial debt, and concluded that a sale to, or merger with, a
company of strong financial standing would greatly enhance the Company's future
prospects.
On November 28, 2000, Hercules publicly announced its intention to
pursue a sale or merger of the Company in the belief that over the long-term,
becoming part of a larger enterprise is the best strategic path for the Company,
while acknowledging that it would
-2-
continue to weigh and consider other opportunities available to Hercules. To
assist it in pursuing this strategic path, the Company hired financial and legal
advisors who are leaders in their respective businesses. The Company's financial
advisors are Goldman, Sachs & Co. and Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation.
The Company and its financial advisors believe that the strategic path announced
in November can provide the maximum value and opportunity for shareholders,
employees and customers, in light of the Company's existing alternatives and
current market conditions. With the assistance of its legal and financial
advisors, the Company has contacted many potential purchasers of the Company or
certain of its businesses, and has entered into confidentiality agreements with,
and supplied information to, a large number of potential transaction partners.
Shortly after Mr. Gossage was named Chairman and Chief Executive
Officer and stated that the Company would consider its strategic alternatives,
representatives of the Company were in contact with ISP regarding ISP's
participation in the process the Company was pursuing with respect to its
strategic alternatives. ISP indicated that it was interested in receiving the
confidential information memorandum prepared by the Company and in potentially
making a proposal to acquire all of the Company. In the course of negotiating
the form of confidentiality agreement, ISP indicated that the agreement's
standard standstill provision, which would prevent ISP from conducting a proxy
contest, was unacceptable. Hercules offered to amend the standstill provision to
permit ISP to conduct proxy contests, such as the one it is conducting
currently, if it chose to do so. Despite the Company's willingness to
accommodate ISP's concerns in this fashion, ISP declined to enter into such a
form of confidentiality agreement. In late February 2001, a representative of
ISP informed representatives of Hercules that ISP did not wish to receive
confidential information because it was no longer interested in acquiring the
Company.
On January 23, 2001, Mr. Gossage received a letter from Samuel J.
Heyman, the Chairman and controlling shareholder of ISP, expressing ISP's
willingness to purchase 25 million shares, or approximately 23% of the Company's
common stock, at a price of $17.50 per share, which would result in ISP owning
approximately 33% of the Company. That letter followed an October 11 letter, in
which Mr. Heyman had stated that he was prepared to commence a partial tender
offer on the terms reiterated in the January 23 letter. On February 7, 2001, the
Company received another letter from Mr. Heyman asking that, if Hercules did not
promptly allow ISP to proceed with its partial tender offer, the Company
consider an alternative ISP proposal to raise the threshold under its
shareholder rights plan to 20% and exempt any such purchase from the provisions
of the Delaware takeover statute. The next day, Mr. Gossage stated publicly that
Mr. Heyman's proposals were being reviewed by the Hercules Board as part of the
entire process of considering alternatives for the Company and that the Board
would respond to these proposals in due course. At that time, Mr. Gossage stated
that whatever course the Board decided to pursue, it would decide "on the basis
of what is in the best interest of all of the company's stockholders, rather
than pursuing a course that benefits any single stockholder or group of
stockholders to the detriment of others." Whether or not a transaction results
from the Company's efforts, the Board will act in the best interests of all
Hercules shareholders.
-3-
On February 20, 2001, Mr. Heyman sent a letter to Mr. Gossage stating
that, in addition to his previous proposals for shareholder action at the
Company's annual meeting, ISP also would be nominating a slate of directors to
run for the four Board seats held by directors whose terms expire in 2001. On
February 21, ISP announced it was withdrawing its proposal to make a partial
tender offer. On February 23, Mr. Gossage wrote to Mr. Heyman to advise him that
at its February 22 meeting, the Board had considered ISP's request to amend the
rights plan, and had unanimously concluded that such an amendment would not be
in the best interests of the Company's shareholders, in light of the purposes
served by the rights plan and, in particular, the ongoing process to consider a
sale or merger of the Company as announced in November 2000. Mr. Gossage also
pointed out that he considered Mr. Heyman's recent public statements detrimental
to the Company's efforts to achieve this goal, particularly in light of the fact
that some third parties who had been contacted by the Company as potential
transaction partners had expressed concern that Mr. Heyman's statements and
actions -- including his highly publicized proposals to acquire a 33% stake in
the Company through a partial tender offer and to initiate a proxy contest --
could jeopardize the ongoing sale process, and some had expressed concern about
entering or continuing to participate in the process. Mr. Gossage stated that,
should Mr. Heyman submit a proposal to acquire the entire Company rather than a
significant minority interest, it would be considered along with other potential
offers. Because ISP had withdrawn its partial tender offer shortly before the
Board meeting, the Board did not take any action with respect to it. In a
February 28, 2001 letter to Mr. Gossage, Mr. Heyman reiterated his intention to
present ISP's proposals to the Company's shareholders at the upcoming annual
meeting.
On March 5, 2001, ISP filed with the SEC a preliminary proxy statement
soliciting proxies from the Company's shareholders to vote for its own slate of
director nominees and to vote on six proposals, including (A) amendments to the
Company bylaws requiring that directors be elected by a plurality vote, that the
Board redeem the rights distributed under the Company's rights plan, terminate
the plan and refrain from adopting any new rights plan without shareholder
approval, and that Hercules opt out of Section 203 of the Delaware corporation
law (which restricts certain transactions between the Company and a shareholder
owning 15% or more of its common stock), and (B) a resolution repealing any and
all amendments made by the Board to the Hercules bylaws between March 29, 2000
and the date of the annual meeting. On March 12, 2001, the Company filed its
preliminary proxy statement responding to ISP's various proposals and soliciting
proxies for the election of the Hercules nominees and the ratification of the
appointment of its independent accountants. Also on March 12, 2001, ISP filed an
amended preliminary proxy statement and sent a letter to Mr. Gossage indicating
that ISP would "table" all of the proposals made in its March 5 preliminary
proxy statement "to focus the proxy contest on the election of [its] nominees."
ISP further amended its preliminary proxy statement on March 20, clarifying that
it does not presently intend to raise any of its prior proposals (primarily
relating to the Company's poison pill and Section 203 of the Delaware
corporation law) at the 2001 Annual Meeting, and, on March 23, filed a
definitive proxy statement.
In its proxy statement, ISP states that it is seeking election of its
nominees in order to, among other things, bring about the prompt sale of the
Company in an effort to maximize value for all Hercules shareholders. For the
reasons described below, we have serious reservations about
-4-
ISP's real intentions concerning value maximization for all Hercules
shareholders. In addition, THE HERCULES BOARD HAS ALREADY, CLEARLY AND
UNAMBIGUOUSLY, DECLARED ITS INTENTION TO MAXIMIZE SHAREHOLDER VALUE THROUGH A
SALE OR MERGER OF THE COMPANY. We have retained Goldman, Sachs & Co. and Credit
Suisse First Boston Corporation as financial advisors to assist the Company in
carrying out this process and, IF AN OFFER THAT IS FAIR TO AND IN THE BEST
INTERESTS OF ALL HERCULES SHAREHOLDERS IS PRESENTED TO THE COMPANY, THE BOARD IS
FULLY COMMITTED TO BRINGING THE PROCESS TO FRUITION. We have given both Goldman
Sachs and Credit Suisse First Boston a clear mandate to this effect, and each of
them has conducted and is continuing to conduct thorough and extensive searches,
within the United States and internationally, for potential transaction
candidates. Although we cannot assure you that a transaction will occur, we
believe your Board is fully qualified and in the best position to carry out this
process and we know of no reason why ISP's nominees would be better positioned
than the Board to achieve these objectives.
The Board's actions to maximize shareholder value through a sale or
merger of the Company are consistent with Mr. Gossage's statement, at the time
of his appointment as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, in
October 2000, that he and the Board would explore all strategic alternatives for
the Company, based on their considered view of what is in the best interests of
all Hercules shareholders. MR. GOSSAGE HAS EXPRESSED HIS COMPLETE CONFIDENCE IN
THE BOARD'S COMMITMENT TO MAXIMIZE SHAREHOLDER VALUE FOR ALL SHAREHOLDERS AND
THE INTEGRITY OF THE SALE PROCESS CURRENTLY UNDER WAY.
Not only do we believe that the Hercules' nominees are best positioned
to fulfill the Board's commitment to maximizing shareholder value, we also
believe that, because of Mr. Heyman's prior activities, and the conflicts of
interest affecting at least two of ISP's nominees (see "Election of Directors"),
ISP'S NOMINEES ARE NOT THE RIGHT PEOPLE FOR THE JOB.
Notwithstanding public declarations by Mr. Heyman that ISP's intentions
are consistent with the Company's desire to maximize value for all our
shareholders, we continue to have grave concerns about ISP's statements and
actions with respect to the Company. ISP has declined to submit a proposal to
acquire the entire Company, indicating instead an interest in increasing its
ownership in the Company from its current 9.9% to approximately 33% through a
partial tender offer (subsequently withdrawn), which at the time it was made was
at a price higher than the market price of Hercules' common stock prior to the
offer. Had the Board allowed ISP to complete its partial tender offer, ISP
potentially could have had the ability to block actions that the Board believes
would be in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders, and to
dismantle certain of the Company's defenses, which defenses the Board believes,
for the reasons described below, are beneficial to the Company's shareholders.
In short, ISP might have acquired effective control of the Company by paying a
premium on only a fraction of the Company's shares. This possible outcome raised
grave concerns with the Board, particularly in light of Mr. Heyman's past
involvement with Union Carbide Corporation in 1985, CBI Industries in 1986,
BorgWarner in 1987 and Cabot Corporation in 1988 where, according to public
sources, he generally acquired an investment in a company, made an acquisition
proposal at a low price and ultimately sold his position in the company at a
profit and, more recently, with Dexter Corporation, where he
-5-
mounted an unsuccessful bid for Dexter which led to its breakup and brought him
a substantial financial gain.
For the reasons stated above, the Board also believes that Mr. Heyman's
interference with the Company's efforts to maximize value by his highly public
statements in press releases and SEC filings and other activities, raises
concerns among potential transaction partners participating in the Board's
value-maximization process, or considering participating in that process.
Although we have told Mr. Heyman that his actions with respect to the Company
are interfering with that process, Mr. Heyman has rejected our requests to
refrain from statements and activities that those parties may consider
disruptive of their efforts to formulate a purchase proposal. Mr. Heyman has
repeatedly been invited to enter into a confidentiality agreement on terms even
more favorable than those offered to other participants in the Company's sale
process and, like such other participants, submit an offer for the entire
Company, but has refused to do so.
ISP's proxy statement also states that ISP is seeking election of its
nominees in order to remove barriers to offers for Hercules shares, particularly
the Company's rights plan. The Board has clearly and unambiguously declared that
it is exploring alternatives to maximize shareholder value through a sale or
merger of the Company. The Board will not attempt to utilize the Company's
rights plan to block a business combination or other transaction that is fair to
and in the best interests of all of the shareholders and is reasonably capable
of being consummated. In fact, IF THE BOARD RECEIVES A PROPOSAL TO ACQUIRE THE
COMPANY AT AN ATTRACTIVE PRICE, THE BOARD IS COMMITTED TO APPROVING SUCH A
TRANSACTION AND WOULD, UNDER SUCH CIRCUMSTANCES, RENDER THE RIGHTS PLAN
INEFFECTIVE. THERE CAN BE NO ASSURANCE THAT A TRANSACTION WILL OCCUR.
The Board also believes that ISP is incorrect in contending that rights
plans, such as the Company's rights plan, generally serve to deter credible
acquisition proposals. While it is true that the Company's anti-takeover
defenses would generally prohibit third parties from gaining control without the
acquiescence of the Company or its Board of Directors, there is no evidence that
the Company's rights plan has in any way deterred credible acquisition proposals
or had any negative effect on the process undertaken by the Company. None of the
entities that have engaged in discussions with the Company in connection with a
potential purchase of the Company or its businesses have expressed the view that
the existence of the Company's rights plan (or, for that matter, the fact that
the Company is subject to Section 203 of the Delaware corporation law) is in any
way an impediment to their interest in the Company or their ability to formulate
a proposal. Not one of them has asked the Company to remove its rights plan (or
opt out of Section 203) in advance of making a bid or entering into a
transaction. In addition, empirical studies, including two conducted by J.P.
Morgan & Co. in 1995 and 1997, show that companies with rights plans receive
higher takeover premiums than those without such plans and that rights plans do
not decrease the likelihood that takeover bids will be made or completed. For
example, the 1997 J.P. Morgan & Co. study found that:
o premiums paid to companies with rights plans were nearly 10% higher on
average than premiums paid to purchase target companies that did not
have such rights plans;
-6-
o the presence of a rights plans did not increase the likelihood that a
hostile takeover bid would be defeated or that a friendly bid would be
withdrawn; and
o a rights plans did not reduce the likelihood that a company would
become a takeover target.
FOR THESE REASONS, THE BOARD DOES NOT BELIEVE THAT REPEAL OF THE
COMPANY'S RIGHTS PLAN WOULD HAVE ANY POSITIVE EFFECT ON THE COMPANY'S EFFORTS TO
MAXIMIZE SHAREHOLDER VALUE THROUGH A SALE OR MERGER OF THE COMPANY. THE BOARD
DOES BELIEVE, HOWEVER, THAT DISMANTLING THE RIGHTS PLAN COULD HINDER THE SALE
PROCESS. To the extent that such action could cause a potential buyer to
conclude that the Board may not be able to effectively consummate a transaction,
the Board believes that repeal of the rights plan would damage the sale process.
Moreover, the Board believes that, should an opportunity to sell or merge the
Company or otherwise maximize shareholder value, that is fair to and in the best
interests of all of the shareholders, not present itself, the interests of
Hercules' shareholders would be better served if the Company continued to have
in place its current rights plan.
It is also important to remember that the Board's use of the rights
plan is subject to its fiduciary duties to shareholders and to review by the
courts. The Delaware courts have made clear that a board's decision to refuse to
make a rights plan inapplicable to an acquisition proposal is subject to review
under well established principles of Delaware law. By the same token, by
precluding the Board from using the rights plan under circumstances in which the
Board believes it would benefit shareholders -- for example, to defend the
Company from hostile acquisitions at unattractive prices -- a repeal of the
rights plan could actually require the Board to act in a manner inconsistent
with what it believes to be its fiduciary duties; as repeatedly stated by the
Delaware courts, a board of directors has the affirmative legal duty to respond
to and resist takeover attempts that it determines in good faith to be contrary
to the best interests of the corporation and its shareholders.
ISP's proxy statement finally states that ISP is seeking election of
its nominees in order to reverse the requirement under the Company bylaws that
directors be elected by a majority vote of all outstanding shares. ISP claims
that the Company's directors should be elected by plurality vote -- that is,
based on the number of votes cast at the annual meeting. Article II, Section 2
of the Company bylaws provides that directors are elected at each annual meeting
by the majority vote of the stock then issued and outstanding and entitled to
vote at the annual meeting. ISP claims that the voting requirement for electing
directors stated in this provision is "ambiguous," and that the existing bylaw
provision should be interpreted to mean that directors may be elected by
plurality vote.
The Company believes that ISP's contention is without merit. The
provisions of Article II, Section 2 plainly state that: "[a]t each annual
meeting, there shall be elected by ballot, by the majority vote of the stock
then issued and outstanding and entitled to vote thereat, the number of
directors necessary to fill the class of those whose term then expires." There
is no ambiguity in that provision.
The Board believes that a requirement that new directors acquire their
seats on the Hercules Board only if a majority of the outstanding shares vote in
favor of the nominee, far from disenfranchising shareholders, is desirable
because Board composition should
-7-
not be affected unless a genuine majority of the equity of the Company supports
the election of a particular nominee or nominees. We do not believe there is
anything unfair, or contrary to shareholder interests, in requiring that a
nominee secure the affirmative support of a majority of the equity of the
Company in order to be elected.
THE ANNUAL MEETING
WHO IS ENTITLED TO VOTE
Shareholders of record as of the close of business on March 6, 2001,
will be entitled to vote for each share registered in the shareholder's name. As
of that date, there were 108,115,824 shares of Hercules common stock
outstanding.
HOW YOU MAY VOTE
You may vote by completing and returning the enclosed WHITE proxy card
by mail. To vote your proxy, mark your selections on the enclosed WHITE proxy
card, date and sign your name exactly as it appears on your card.
If you sign your WHITE proxy card but do not make any selections, you
will give authority to Thomas L. Gossage and Israel J. Floyd to vote on the
proposals and any other matter that may arise at the annual meeting. Messrs.
Gossage and Floyd intend to use that authority to vote for the election of all
of the Hercules nominees and for the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLC
as the Company's 2001 independent accountants.
VOTE REQUIRED AND VOTING PROCEDURES
According to the Company bylaws, a majority of the shares entitled to
vote, present in person or represented by proxy, constitutes a quorum. Votes
will be counted and certified by independent inspectors of election. Under the
rules of the SEC, boxes and a designated blank space are provided on the proxy
card for you to mark if you wish to vote "for" or "withhold" authority for one
or more of the nominees for director or to vote "for" or "against" or "abstain"
from voting on the proposal concerning the Company's 2001 independent
accountants. Abstentions are counted in determining whether a quorum is present.
Because ISP has initiated a proxy contest, there will be no routine matters and,
therefore, no broker non-votes.
-8-
Pursuant to the Company bylaws, directors are elected by a majority
vote of all issued and outstanding Hercules shares. Votes withheld in connection
with the election of one or more nominees for director will not be counted as
votes cast for those individuals and therefore will have the same effect as not
voting for director nominees.
Ratification of the selection of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as
independent accountants for 2001 will require the affirmative vote of the
holders of a majority of the shares present in person or by proxy and entitled
to vote at the 2001 annual meeting. Abstentions are counted in determining
whether a quorum is present but are not counted in determining the votes cast
for or against the 2001 independent accountants selection proposal.
You are urged to sign and date the enclosed WHITE proxy card and return
it in the enclosed prepaid envelope whether or not you plan to attend the annual
meeting. A person giving any proxy has the power to revoke it (even if such
proxy was not solicited by the Hercules Board or ISP) at any time before the
voting by submitting to the Company or to ISP a written revocation or duly
executed proxy bearing a later date. In addition, any shareholder who attends
the annual meeting in person may vote by ballot at the meeting, thereby
canceling any proxy previously given. YOU ALSO ARE URGED NOT TO SIGN ANY BLUE
PROXY CARDS SENT TO YOU BY ISP. EVEN IF YOU HAVE PREVIOUSLY SIGNED A PROXY CARD
SENT TO YOU BY ISP, YOU CAN REVOKE IT BY SIGNING, DATING AND MAILING THE
ENCLOSED WHITE PROXY CARD IN THE ENVELOPE PROVIDED.
EMPLOYEE SAVINGS PLANS
Your proxy card will include full shares credited to your savings plan
as of March 6, 2001. Fractional shares are not included. The plan trustee will
vote your shares after consideration of your preferences as indicated on your
proxy card. If you do not vote, the plan trustee will vote your shares in
proportion to the other proxies received from plan participants.
SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS
To be included in Hercules' 2002 proxy statement, shareholder proposals
must be submitted in writing and received by Israel J. Floyd, Esquire, Corporate
Secretary, Hercules Incorporated, Hercules Plaza, 1313 North Market Street,
Wilmington, Delaware 19894-0001, no later than November ___, 2001 (or, if the
date of the annual meeting is changed by more than 30 days from the date of this
year's annual meeting, a reasonable time before the Company begins to print and
mail its proxy materials). Upon receipt of a proposal, the Company will
determine whether or not to include the proposal in Hercules' 2002 proxy
statement in accordance with applicable law.
If any shareholder wishes to present a proposal to the Company's 2002
annual meeting that is not included in the Company's proxy statement for that
meeting and fails to submit such proposal on or before February ___, 2002, then
the persons named as proxies in the Company's proxy card accompanying the proxy
statement for the 2002 annual meeting will be allowed to use their discretionary
voting authority when the proposal is raised at the annual meeting, without any
discussion of the matter in the Company's proxy statement for the 2002 annual
meeting.
-9-
SHAREHOLDER NOMINATION OF DIRECTORS
Shareholders may submit written recommendations with respect to
director nominees (accompanied by a notarized statement from the nominee
indicating willingness to serve if elected and principal occupations or
employment over the past five years) to the Chairman of the Nominating
Committee, c/o Israel J. Floyd, Esquire, Corporate Secretary, Hercules
Incorporated, Hercules Plaza, 1313 North Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware
19894-0001.
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
The Company's restated certificate of incorporation and bylaws provide
for three classes of directors, with the term of one class expiring at each
annual meeting of the shareholders. Pursuant to the authority granted to the
Board in Article Six of the restated certificate of incorporation, the Board has
determined that, effective on the date of the 2001 annual meeting, the number of
directors is fixed at 12: four in the class whose term expires in 2002, four in
the class whose term expires in 2003 and four in the class whose term expires in
2004. At the 2001 annual meeting, four directors are to be elected, all of whom
shall constitute the class whose term will expire in 2004. The Board has
nominated Mr. Thomas L. Gossage (director since 2000), Mr. Ralph L. MacDonald,
Jr. (director since 1989), Mr. John A. H. Shober (director since 1998) and Ms.
Paula A. Sneed (director since 1994), who currently are serving as directors.
Dr. Robert G. Jahn, whose term expires in 2001, has reached the retirement age
of 70 under the Company's Board policies and, accordingly, is not seeking
reelection. Each nominee has consented to serve for the specified term. It is
intended that the shares represented by the accompanying proxy will be voted for
the election of Messrs. Gossage, MacDonald and Shober and Ms. Sneed.
If for any reason any nominee should be unavailable to serve as a
director at the time of the annual meeting, a contingency which the Board does
not expect, the shares represented by the accompanying proxy may be voted for
the election in his or her stead of such person as may be determined by the
holders of the proxy, unless the proxy withholds authority to vote for all
director nominees. The majority vote of the outstanding shares of common stock
entitled to vote at the annual meeting is required to elect each director. We
unanimously recommend a vote "FOR" each of the nominees.
ISP is seeking to elect its own slate of four directors in opposition
to the nominees proposed by your Board. YOUR BOARD BELIEVES THAT THE ELECTION OF
ISP'S NOMINEES WOULD NOT BE IN YOUR BEST INTERESTS AND OPPOSES SUCH ELECTION FOR
SEVERAL REASONS.
Under "Background of ISP's Proxy Contest," we explain the reasons why
we do not believe that, contrary to its public statements, ISP is actually
seeking to maximize value for all Hercules shareholders, or that ISP is better
positioned than your Board to bring about the sale of the Company. Since the
Board, with the assistance of its financial advisors, is actively engaged in a
shareholder value maximization process, the Board believes that IT is in the
best position to be an impartial auctioneer for the sale or merger of the
Company -- in its entirety or by business unit -- in order to maximize value for
all of the Company shareholders, while protecting shareholders against potential
abuses during a takeover. There can be no assurance that a transaction will
occur.
-10-
Independence is a key qualification for a director of the Company,
particularly in light of the Hercules' announced decision to explore all
strategic alternatives that may be available to maximize shareholder value. The
Board believes that at least two of ISP's nominees, who are officers and
directors of ISP, lack independence. The Board believes they would be committed
to furthering the interests of ISP and its shareholders, by virtue of their
affiliation with ISP and legal duties to ISP and its shareholders, in preference
to the interests of Hercules' shareholders, if a conflict of interest were to
arise. In addition, according to ISP's proxy statement, the other two ISP
nominees will each be receiving $25,000 from ISP for their services as nominees.
In contrast, three of Hercules' nominees are independent and all four of them
are free from issues of divided loyalty that we believe affect two of the ISP's
nominees.
FOR THESE REASONS, YOUR BOARD BELIEVES YOU WOULD BE FAR BETTER SERVED
BY ELECTING THE COMPANY'S NOMINEES-- THOMAS L. GOSSAGE, RALPH L. MACDONALD, JR.,
JOHN A. H. SHOBER AND PAULA A. SNEED-- TO THE BOARD, AND YOU ARE URGED TO VOTE
FOR THESE INDIVIDUALS ON THE ENCLOSED WHITE PROXY CARD. THE BOARD URGES YOU NOT
TO SIGN ANY BLUE PROXY CARD SENT TO YOU BY ISP.
The following information relates to the Company's nominees for
reelection at the 2001 annual meeting, the other directors and the named
executive officers of the Company, who include those serving as Chief Executive
Officer and the other most highly compensated executive officers of the Company.
There are no family relationships among the directors and executive officers of
the Company. The Board held 23 meetings in 2000.
HERCULES NOMINEES FOR DIRECTORS
THOMAS L. GOSSAGE-- Director since 2000
Mr. Gossage, age 66, is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Hercules
Incorporated. Mr. Gossage became Chairman and Chief Executive Officer on October
17, 2000. He is a native of Nashville, Tennessee, and earned his B.S. and M.S.
degrees in Chemical Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 1956
and 1957, respectively. Mr. Gossage joined Hercules in 1988 as President,
Hercules Specialty Chemicals Company, after serving 26 years with Monsanto
Company. He was named President and Chief Executive Officer of Aqualon Company
in 1989. Later that year, he was named Senior Vice President of Hercules and was
elected to the Hercules board of directors. Mr. Gossage became Chairman and
Chief Executive Officer of Hercules in 1991 and was also President from 1992 to
1995. Mr. Gossage stepped down as Chief Executive Officer on August 1, 1996, and
as Chairman effective January 1, 1997. He retired from Hercules in January 1997.
In May 1997, The American Section of the Societe de Chimie Industrielle awarded
Mr. Gossage the International Palladium Medal. Mr. Gossage is a member of the
board of directors of The Dial Corporation, Alliant Techsystems Inc., and Fluor
Corporation.
-11-
RALPH L. MACDONALD, JR.-- Director since 1989
Mr. MacDonald, age 59, has been a principal in Amelia Investment Corp., a
private investment firm dedicated to the acquisition and development of small-
to medium-sized industrial manufacturing and distribution companies, since July
1996. Prior to joining Amelia, he was a principal in Island Capital Corporation,
a firm similar to Amelia, and managing director of Global Corporate Finance,
Bankers Trust Company. He also is a director of Gaylord Container Corporation.
JOHN A. H. SHOBER-- Director since 1998
Mr. Shober, age 67, is a private investor. He served as Vice Chairman of the
board of directors of Penn Virginia Corporation, a natural resources company,
from 1992 to 1996. Mr. Shober is a director of Airgas, Inc., Anker Coal Company,
C&D Technologies, Inc., Ensign Bickford Industries, Inc., First Reserve
Corporation, MIBRA GmbH, Penn Virginia Corporation, and several other
organizations, including The Eisenhower Exchange Fellowships.
PAULA A. SNEED-- Director since 1994
Ms. Sneed, age 53, is Group Vice President, President e-Commerce and Marketing
Services of Kraft Foods, Inc., the nation's largest packaged foods company. She
joined General Foods (which later merged with Kraft Foods) in 1977 and has held
a variety of management positions, including Vice President, Consumer Affairs;
Senior Vice President and President, Foodservice Division; Executive Vice
President and General Manager, Desserts Division; Executive Vice President and
General Manager, Dinners and Enhancers Division; Senior Vice President,
Marketing Services and Chief Marketing Officer; and Executive Vice President,
President e-Commerce Division. She is also a director of Airgas, Inc.
DIRECTORS CONTINUING IN OFFICE
TERMS EXPIRING IN 2002:
JOHN G. DROSDICK-- Director since 1998
Mr. Drosdick, age 57, is Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President of
Sunoco, Inc., an independent petroleum refiner-marketer in the United States. He
was president and Chief Operating Officer of Sunoco from 1996 to 2000. Mr.
Drosdick was president of Ultramar Corporation from 1992 to 1996. He is a
director of Sunoco, Inc., and serves on the board of Lincoln National
Corporation.
GAYNOR N. KELLEY-- Director since 1989
Mr. Kelley, age 69, retired as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of The
Perkin-Elmer Corporation, a manufacturer of biotechnology instrumentation and
systems, in June 1996. He is a member of the boards of directors of Alliant
Techsystems Inc. and Prudential Insurance Co. of America.
PETER MCCAUSLAND-- Director since 1997
-12-
Mr. McCausland, age 51, is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Airgas, Inc.
(a distributor of industrial, medical, and specialty gases and related
equipment), a company he founded in 1982. He served as General Counsel for MG
Industries, Inc., an industrial gas producer. He was a partner in the firm of
McCausland, Keen & Buckman that specialized in mergers, acquisitions,
and financings. He is a director of the Independence Seaport Museum and The
Eisenhower Exchange Fellowships.
GEORGE MACKENZIE-- Director since 2000
Mr. MacKenzie, age 51, is Vice Chairman of the Hercules Board. Mr. MacKenzie
joined Hercules in 1979, in 1988 was named Vice President and Controller and in
1991 became Vice President and Treasurer. In 1995, he was named Vice President,
Finance, and later that year he was named Vice President and Chief Financial
Officer. In 1996, he was named Senior Vice President and Chief Financial
Officer, and in 1999 became Executive Vice President, Hercules Incorporated,
President, Chemical Specialties Segment and Chief Financial Officer. Mr.
MacKenzie became Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer in April
2000. He assumed his current position in November 2000. Mr. MacKenzie is a
member of the Board of Trustees of the Medical Center of Delaware and the
Investment Committee at the University of Delaware as well as Manufacturers'
Alliance. Mr. MacKenzie is also on the board of directors of C&D Technologies,
Inc., Blue Bell, Pennsylvania, where he is chair of the Audit Committee.
TERMS EXPIRING IN 2003:
RICHARD FAIRBANKS-- Director since 1993
Mr. Fairbanks, age 60, is a Counselor at the Center for Strategic &
International Studies. He was Ambassador-at-Large under President Reagan. He is
a member of the boards of directors of SEACOR Smit, Inc., GATX Corporation, and
SPACEHAB, Inc.; member, Council on Foreign Relations, Council of American
Ambassadors; and founder, The American Refugee Committee of Washington.
ALAN R. HIRSIG-- Director since 1998
Mr. Hirsig, age 61, retired as President and Chief Executive Officer of ARCO
Chemical Company, which was bought by Lyondell Chemical Company, in 1998. He is
a director of Philadelphia Suburban Corporation, Celanese A.G., and Checkpoint
Systems Corporation. Additionally, he is a director or trustee of Bryn Mawr
College, Curtis Institute of Music, Rosenbach Museum and Library, as well as a
chairman of the YMCA of Philadelphia. Mr. Hirsig served as past chairman of the
Chemical Manufacturers Association.
EDITH E. HOLIDAY-- Director since 1993
Ms. Holiday, age 49, is an attorney. She was assistant to the President of the
United States and Secretary of the Cabinet from 1990 until early 1993 and served
as General Counsel of the U.S. Treasury Department from 1989 through 1990. She
served as counselor to the Secretary of the Treasury and Assistant Secretary for
Public Affairs and Public Liaison, U.S. Treasury Department from 1988 to 1989.
Ms. Holiday is a director of Amerada Hess Corporation, H. J. Heinz Company,
Beverly Enterprises, Inc., RTI International Metals, Inc.,
-13-
and director or trustee of various investment companies in the Franklin
Templeton Group of Funds.
H. EUGENE MCBRAYER-- Director since 1992
Mr. McBrayer, age 69, retired as President of Exxon Chemical Company in January
1992, after 37 years of service. He is a former Chairman of the Board of the
Chemical Manufacturers Association.
DIRECTORS RETIRING FROM OFFICE
ROBERT G. JAHN-- Director since 1985
Professor Jahn, age 70, has taught at Princeton University, Department of
Mechanical and Aerospace Sciences since 1962. He was Dean of the School of
Engineering and Applied Science at Princeton, 1971-1986. Professor Jahn is a
trustee, fellow, and a member of several academic and professional societies. He
is Vice President and a founding member of the Society for Scientific
Exploration.
Professor Jahn, whose term expires in 2001, has reached the retirement age of 70
under the Company's Board policies and, accordingly, is not seeking reelection
and will be retiring after 16 years of service.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The members of our board of directors are: J. G. Drosdick, R. Fairbanks, T.
L. Gossage, A. R. Hirsig, E. E. Holiday, R. G. Jahn, G. N. Kelley, R. L.
MacDonald, Jr., G. MacKenzie, H. E. McBrayer, P. McCausland, J. A. H. Shober,
and P. A. Sneed. Mr. Gossage was appointed a director on October 17, 2000 and is
the Chairman of the Board. Mr. MacKenzie was appointed a director on April 5,
2000, and became Vice Chairman of the Board on November 15, 2000. Dr. Jahn,
whose term expires in 2001, is not seeking reelection and will be retiring as of
the 2001 annual meeting.
COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
AUDIT-- Reviews and discusses auditing, accounting, financial reporting and
internal control functions with management. Recommends the appointment of the
Company's independent accountants, reviews their services and receives written
disclosures from them. The Audit Committee is governed by a charter. All members
are independent (as "independence" is defined in the New York Stock Exchange
listing standards). The members of the Audit Committee are: H. E. McBrayer, A.
R. Hirsig, R. L. MacDonald, Jr. and J. A. H. Shober. Mr. McBrayer is the
Chairman of the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee held eight meetings in
2000.
COMPENSATION-- Administers executive compensation programs, policies and
practices. Acts in an advisory role on employee compensation. All members are
non-employee directors. The members of the Compensation Committee are: J. G.
Drosdick, G. N.
-14-
Kelley, P. McCausland and P. A. Sneed. Mr. Kelley is the Chairman of the
Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee held seven meetings in 2000.
EMERGENCY-- Has limited powers to act on behalf of the Board whenever the
Board is not in session. Meets only as needed and acts only by unanimous vote.
If any non-employee director wants a matter to be addressed by the Board rather
than the Emergency Committee, then such matter is submitted to the Board. The
members of the Emergency Committee are: J. G. Drosdick, T. L. Gossage, R. G.
Jahn, A. R. Hirsig, P. McCausland, and J. A. H. Shober. Mr. Shober is the
Chairman of the Emergency Committee. The Emergency Committee held no meetings in
2000.
FINANCE-- Reviews Hercules' financial affairs. Has full and final authority
on certain financial matters. Serves as the named fiduciary for all of Hercules'
employee benefit plans. The members of the Finance Committee are: R. Fairbanks,
T. L. Gossage, E. E. Holiday, R. L. MacDonald, Jr. and P. A. Sneed. Mr.
MacDonald is the Chairman of the Finance Committee. The Finance Committee held
three meetings in 2000.
INTERNATIONAL-- Reviews Hercules' international business, programs and
activities with a focus on opportunities for expansion. The members of the
International Committee are: R. Fairbanks, E. E. Holiday, H. E. McBrayer and J.
A. H. Shober. Mr. Fairbanks is the Chairman of the International Committee. The
International Committee held three meetings in 2000.
NOMINATING-- Considers and recommends nominees for election as directors
and officers. Conducts an annual evaluation of the Board. All members are
non-employee directors. The members of the Nominating Committee are: J. G.
Drosdick, E. E. Holiday, R. G. Jahn, G. N. Kelley and P. McCausland. Mr. Holiday
is the Chairman of the Nominating Committee. The Nominating Committee held eight
meetings in 2000.
SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY-- Reviews Hercules' policies, programs and practices
on equal employment opportunity; environmental, safety and health matters;
ethics; and community affairs. The members of the Social Responsibility
Committee are: T. L. Gossage, A. R. Hirsig, R. G. Jahn and P. A. Sneed. Ms.
Sneed is the Chairman of the Social Responsibility Committee. The Social
Responsibility Committee held three meetings in 2000.
TECHNOLOGY-- Reviews the strategic direction of Hercules' intellectual
property, research and development and emerging technologies. The members of the
Technology Committee are: T. L. Gossage, A. R. Hirsig, R. G. Jahn, G. N. Kelley
and H. E. McBrayer. Dr. Jahn is the Chairman of the Technology Committee. The
Technology Committee held four meetings in 2000.
During 2000, each of the directors attended at least 75% of the
aggregate number of meetings of the Board and committees of the Board on which
he or she served during the time for which he or she served.
COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS
Employee directors receive no additional compensation other than their
normal salary for serving on the Board or its Committees.
-15-
During 2000, non-employee directors received a right to defer
compensation in exchange for restricted stock under the Non-employee Director
Stock Accumulation Plan; a $23,000 annual fee; $1,000 for each meeting attended;
$3,000 for chairing a committee; $1,000 per day for special assignments; and
reimbursement for out-of-pocket expenses.
NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTOR STOCK ACCUMULATION PLAN. Directors can defer all
or part of their compensation in exchange for stock (restricted until retirement
from the Board) at 85% of the fair market value of such stock on the date of
exchange.
Each director annually receives a nonqualified stock option to purchase
3,000 shares of common stock. The option price is the fair market value of the
Hercules common share on the date of grant. As each non-employee director
received an accelerated grant of 9,000 stock options in 1998 in lieu of any
annual stock option grant for the next three years, no grant was made during
2000. Vesting occurs in three equal annual increments beginning one year after
the grant date.
EQUITY AWARD. Each director has a one-time opportunity to purchase 750
Hercules common shares at fair market value when first elected to the Board.
Upon the purchase, Hercules awards an additional 1,500 Hercules common shares
that cannot be transferred until retirement or resignation from the Board.
RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS. Upon election to the Board, each director
receives 1,100 restricted stock units, which are placed in an unfunded account
where they accrue dividend equivalents and interest. Each restricted stock unit
represents the right to receive one Hercules common share at retirement.
Restricted stock units do not carry any voting rights. Of these units, 200
immediately vest. Thereafter, for every year served on the Board, 100 additional
units vest (up to a maximum of nine years). Upon retirement from the Board, all
vested restricted stock units are paid in Hercules common shares in a lump sum
or spread over a period not to exceed ten years.
CHARITABLE AWARD PROGRAM. This program is designed to promote
charitable giving. It is available to directors and is funded by life insurance
policies on the lives of the directors. Upon the retirement or death of a
director, Hercules will donate Hercules common shares with an expected aggregate
value of $1,000,000, to one or more designated charitable institutions over a
ten-year period. The actual number of Hercules common shares delivered to the
charitable institutions will be based on a projected share price growth. The
first installment will be paid immediately after the director's retirement or
death, but no sooner than April 1, 2002.
Directors derive no financial benefit from this program since all
charitable deductions accrue solely to Hercules. Furthermore, the insurance
funding is structured so that the program results in nominal cost to Hercules
over time.
CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS AND LEGAL MATTERS
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,
requires the Company's directors, executive officers and holders of more than
10% of the Company's common stock to file with the SEC and the New York Stock
Exchange reports of beneficial ownership and changes in beneficial ownership of
the common stock and other equity
-16-
securities of the Company. These persons are required by SEC rules to furnish
the Company with copies of all Section 16(a) forms they file. Based solely on a
review of the copies of those reports furnished to the Company, the Company
believes that, during 2000, its directors, executive officers and holders of
more than 10% of the Company's common stock complied with all applicable Section
16(a) filing requirements.
RATIFICATION OF PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS LLP AS INDEPENDENT
ACCOUNTANTS FOR 2001
The Audit Committee and the Board believe that PricewaterhouseCoopers
LLP has invaluable knowledge about Hercules. Partners and employees of
PricewaterhouseCoopers are periodically changed, providing Hercules with new
expertise and experience. Representatives of PricewaterhouseCoopers have direct
access to the Audit Committee and regularly attend the Audit Committee's
meetings. Representatives of PricewaterhouseCoopers will attend the annual
meeting to answer questions and may make a statement if they choose to do so.
The affirmative vote of the majority of shares present in person or by proxy and
entitled to vote at the annual meeting is required to ratify
PricewaterhouseCoopers as independent accountants for 2001.
YOUR BOARD UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR THE RATIFICATION OF
PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS LLP AS INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS.
OTHER MATTERS
The Board is not aware of any matters, other than those described
above, that will be presented for consideration at the annual meeting. If other
matters properly come before the annual meeting, it is the intention of the
persons named in the enclosed proxy card to vote thereon in accordance with
their best judgment. Moreover, the Board reserves the right to adjourn or
postpone the annual meeting, depending on circumstances and the Board's belief
that such adjournments or postponements would be in the best interests of the
Hercules shareholders.
AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT
The Board has charged the Audit Committee with a number of
responsibilities, including review of the adequacy of the Company's financial
reporting and accounting systems and controls. The Audit Committee has a direct
line of communication with the Company's independent accountants and the
Director, Auditing Services. The Audit Committee is composed entirely of
independent directors as defined by the listing standards of the New York Stock
Exchange. The Board has adopted a written Audit Committee charter, a copy of
which is included as Annex III to this proxy statement.
The Audit Committee has received from the independent accountants
written disclosures and a letter concerning the independent accountants'
independence from Hercules, as required by Independence Standards Board Standard
No. 1, "Independence Discussions with Audit Committees." These disclosures have
been reviewed by the Audit Committee and discussed with the independent
accountants.
-17-
In the discharge of its responsibilities, the Audit Committee will
review and discuss with management and the independent accountants the audited
consolidated financial statements for fiscal 2000. In addition, the Audit
Committee will discuss with the independent accountants matters such as the
quality (in addition to acceptability), clarity, consistency and completeness of
the Company's financial reporting, as required by Statement on Auditing
Standards No. 61, "Communication with Audit Committees."
Based on these reviews and discussions, the Audit Committee will
recommend to the Board that the audited consolidated financial statements be
included in the Hercules 2000 Annual Report on Form 10-K for filing with the
SEC.
FEES OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
AUDIT FEES. Fees billed by our independent accountants for professional
services rendered to us in connection with the audit of the Company's financial
statements for the year ended December 31, 2000 and the review conducted by the
independent accountants of the financial statements included in the quarterly
reports on Form 10-Q that we were required to file during 2000 were
approximately $2.1 million, of which an aggregate amount of $1.4 million has
been billed through December 31, 2000.
FINANCIAL INFORMATION SYSTEMS DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION FEES. Our
independent accountants did not render financial information systems design and
implementation services to us during fiscal 2000.
ALL OTHER FEES. The aggregate fees billed by our independent
accountants for professional services rendered to us during 2000, other than the
audit services referred to above, were approximately $8.6 million, and primarily
include services rendered to us in connection with tax planning and compliance,
other audit related services and non-information system finance process controls
consulting.
The foregoing report of the Audit Committee does not constitute
soliciting material and should not be deemed filed or incorporated by reference
into any other of our filings under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, except to the extent we
specifically incorporate this report by reference therein.
Audit Committee
H. E. McBrayer, Chair
A. R. Hirsig
R. L. MacDonald, Jr.
J. A. H. Shober
REPORT OF THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE
The Hercules Executive Compensation Policy, as established by the
Compensation Committee, is to pay a competitive base salary component adjusted
for individual performance while linking annual incentive compensation to
achievement of specific corporate goals, which
-18-
are identified as necessary components in achieving the business plan of the
Company. The Executive Compensation Policy also includes a long-term incentive
component that is directly linked to shareholder interest through grants of
stock-based awards. The total potential value of these components is then
benchmarked against competitive norms for our industry group. Additionally, it
is the policy of the Compensation Committee to recognize extraordinary
achievements through special stock-based awards.
BASE SALARY
In 1999, Dr. Vincent J. Corbo, then Chief Executive Officer of
Hercules, consistent with his executive team concept, requested Compensation
Committee approval to adjust the base salaries of team members to the same
level. Following approval, salary adjustments were made in 1999 and in early
2000 taking into consideration competitive pay levels for similar level
positions in the chemical and general industry segments, including those
designated in the Standard & Poor's Chemical and Specialty Chemical Indices.
Since 1999, there have been no merit increases granted or performance
adjustments made to these salaries.
In 2000, the Company's performance did not meet the goals established
at the beginning of the year. Accordingly, Dr. Corbo's salary was not adjusted
from the level that was established in 1999. Effective November 1, 2000, Dr.
Corbo retired from Hercules.
In accordance with Mr. Gossage's agreement to return to Hercules on
October 17, 2000, as Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, the
Compensation Committee entered into an agreement with Mr. Gossage under which
Mr. Gossage agreed to forego a base monthly salary (other than one dollar per
week for benefit participation purposes).
ANNUAL INCENTIVE
The Management Incentive Compensation Plan ("MICP") is based upon the
achievement of predetermined financial, corporate, organizational unit and
individual goals. For 2000, corporate and business unit performance was measured
by earnings per share (weighted 30%), net cash flow (weighted 30%), revenue
growth (weighted 10%) and earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and
amortization (weighted 30%) against business plan goals established at the
beginning of the year. Individual performance is measured primarily by
performance against goals formally established at the beginning of the year. For
the Chief Executive Officer and other executive officers, the Compensation
Committee reviews these individual objectives versus results achieved, and
determines MICP payouts accordingly. MICP awards are paid in cash up to the
target bonus level and in restricted stock if performance warrants payouts above
the target level. No payouts occur under this plan unless certain minimum
performance levels are exceeded. The maximum payout under this plan is 200% of
the target pool at outstanding levels of performance. The Compensation Committee
intends that payouts at target levels result in executive compensation at
competitive market levels.
For the performance year 2000, plan thresholds were not achieved.
Therefore, no payouts were made under the plan for the Chief Executive Officer,
named officers or any other participant in MICP.
Mr. Gossage has agreed not to be eligible for any MICP award.
-19-
LONG-TERM INCENTIVES
The focus of the Long-Term Incentive Compensation Plan is to place pay
at risk and to align its value directly with shareholder value. Under this plan
the Compensation Committee grants to officers and other key employees stock
and/or stock options that vest at predetermined intervals and/or on an
accelerated basis upon achievement of predetermined objectives. The plan permits
the Chief Executive Officer to approve all awards for other eligible employees.
In 2000, the Compensation Committee granted stock options to Messrs.
Corbo, DiDonna, MacKenzie, Floyd and Tucci and to Ms. Barry, as listed in the
summary compensation table. In addition, Messrs. MacKenzie and Floyd were
granted restricted stock in the year 2000. In determining the above grants, the
Compensation Committee considered the individual executives' responsibilities,
accountabilities, position in the Company, and competitive compensation data
provided by an outside consulting firm.
In lieu of receiving a fixed salary or annual incentive award (other
than the previously referenced salary of one dollar per week), Mr. Gossage was
granted restricted stock and stock options, listed in the summary compensation
table, as his total compensation package.
IRS LIMITS ON THE DEDUCTIBILITY OF COMPENSATION
Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended,
provides that compensation in excess of $1 million paid to named executives is
not deductible unless it is performance-based compensation and satisfies the
conditions of the available exemption. Base salary does not qualify as
performance-based compensation for purposes of Section 162(m), while option
grants made to the Chief Executive Officer and other named executives qualify
for deductibility under Section 162(m).
STOCK OWNERSHIP GUIDELINES
In 1997, Hercules established formal stock ownership guidelines for
executives. The guidelines reinforce the practice of encouraging executives to
hold Hercules stock and to closely link their interests with those of
shareholders.
PERFORMANCE GRAPH
The following graph shows how an initial investment of $100 in the
Company's common stock would have compared to an equal investment in the S&P 500
Index, the S&P Specialty Chemicals Index or the S&P Chemical Index over the
five-year period beginning December 31, 1995 and ending December 31, 2000. The
graph reflects reinvestment of all dividends.
The total shareholder return shown on the graph below is not
necessarily indicative of future returns on the Company's common stock.
COMPARISON OF FIVE-YEAR CUMULATIVE TOTAL SHAREHOLDER RETURNS
(ASSUMING AN INVESTMENT OF $100 ON DECEMBER 31, 1995)
-20-
[GRAPH OMITTED]
Hercules Incorporated S&P 500 Index S&P Specialty Chemicals Index S&P Chemical Index
--------------------- ------------- ----------------------------- ------------------
1995 $100.00 $100.00 $100.00 $100.00
1996 $ 78.06 $122.96 $102.57 $132.11
1997 $ 92.28 $163.98 $127.01 $162.37
1998 $ 51.80 $210.85 $108.16 $147.89
1999 $ 54.96 $255.21 $119.73 $193.45
2000 $ 39.06 $231.98 $106.50 $161.82
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER
PARTICIPATION
The Compensation Committee is composed of four members: Messrs.
Drosdick, Kelley (Chairman) and McCausland and Ms. Sneed. None of the members of
the Compensation Committee is an officer, employee or former officer or employee
of the Company or its subsidiaries. In 2000, none of the members of the
Compensation Committee had any relationship requiring disclosure in accordance
with Item 402(j)(3) of Regulation S-K of the SEC.
-21-
BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF STOCK
The following table sets forth information, as of March 6, 2001, with
respect to the beneficial ownership of Hercules common shares by
o beneficial owners of more than five percent of Hercules common stock,
o each Hercules director and nominee for director,
o each of the executive officers named in the summary compensation table
set forth below, and
o all directors, nominees and executive officers of Hercules as a group.
This beneficial ownership is reported in accordance with the rules of
the SEC, under which a person may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of shares
if that person has or shares the power to vote or dispose of those shares or has
the right to acquire beneficial ownership of those shares within 60 days (for
example, through the exercise of an option). Accordingly, the shares shown in
the table as beneficially owned by certain individuals may include shares owned
by certain members of their respective families. Because of these rules, more
than one person may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of the same shares. The
inclusion of the shares shown in the table is not necessarily an admission of
beneficial ownership of those shares by the person indicated.
SHARES OPTIONS
BENEFICIALLY EXERCISABLE RESTRICTED PERCENT OF
NAME OWNED (1) WITHIN 60 DAYS STOCK UNITS SHARES
---------------------------------------------- ------------ -------------- ----------- ----------
DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
Thomas L. Gossage, Director and Officer (2) 129,003 264,000 0 *
J. Barry, Officer 71,954 7,200 0 *
D. W. DiDonna, Officer 44,637 148,100 0 *
J. G. Drosdick, Director 9,423 6,000 1,100 *
R. M. Fairbanks, III, Director 12,088 21,000 1,253 *
I. J. Floyd, Officer 65,944 71,800 0 *
A. R. Hirsig, Director 6,554 6,000 1,100 *
E. E. Holiday, Director 3,999 18,000 1,376 *
R. G. Jahn, Director 14,236 27,000 0 *
G. N. Kelley, Director 9,744 27,000 2,185 *
R. L. MacDonald, Jr., Director 15,421 27,000 1,928 *
G. MacKenzie, Officer 125,997 190,820 1,299 *
H. E. McBrayer, Director 77,324 24,000 1,527 *
P. McCausland, Director 7,784 9,000 1,100 *
J. A. H. Shober, Director 5,250 6,000 1,100 *
P. A. Sneed, Director 11,925 18,000 1,253 *
V. J. Corbo, Director and Officer (3) 109,119 245,200 0 *
H. J. Tucci, Officer (4) 53,231 209,200 0 *
-22-
SHARES OPTIONS
BENEFICIALLY EXERCISABLE RESTRICTED PERCENT OF
NAME OWNED (1) WITHIN 60 DAYS STOCK UNITS SHARES
---------------------------------------------- ------------ -------------- ----------- ----------
ALL DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AS A GROUP 773,633 1,325,320 15,221 2%
5% SHAREHOLDERS
International Specialty Products, Inc. (5) 10,719,200 9.9%
ISP Investments Inc.
ISP Opco Holdings Inc.
c/o ISP Management Company, Inc.
1361 Alps Road
Wayne, New Jersey 07670
T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. (6) 7,198,428 6.7%
100 E. Pratt Street
Baltimore, Maryland 21202
Mario J. Gabelli and related entities(7) 6,707,400 6.2%
c/o Gabelli Asset Management Inc.
One Corporate Center
Rye, New York 10580
--------------
* Less than 1% of the outstanding Hercules common shares.
(1) Includes shares, as of December 31, 2000, in the Hercules Savings and
Investments Plan as follows: J. Barry, 2,351; D.W. DiDonna, 1,276; I. J.
Floyd, 1,372; and G. MacKenzie, 3,421; and all directors and officers as a
group, 8,420. Includes shares with restrictions and forfeiture risks as
specified under the Long-Term Incentive Compensation Plan: T. L. Gossage,
128,003; J. Barry, 38,000; D.W. DiDonna, 39,747; G. MacKenzie, 76,270; I.
J. Floyd, 45,910; H. J. Tucci, 1,821; and all directors and officers as a
group, 274,956. Owners have the same voting and dividend rights as other
shareholders of Hercules, but no right to sell or transfer. Included in the
non-employee directors' totals is a one-time equity award. Mr. Kelley's
total includes 1,594 shares that he holds jointly with his spouse.
(2) Named Chairman and Chief Executive Officer on October 17, 2000.
(3) Resigned as President, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer on October 17,
2000.
(4) Retired on December 1, 2000.
(5) Share holding as of March 6, 2001, as reported on Amendment No. 7 to the
Schedule 13D filed by such shareholder.
(6) Share holding as of March 6, 2001, as reported on Schedule 13G most
recently filed by such shareholder.
(7) Share holding as of March 6, 2001, as reported on Amendment No. 1 to the
Schedule 13D filed by such shareholder.
-23-
COMPENSATION OF EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
The following table contains information concerning compensation paid
or to be paid to those serving as Chief Executive Officer and the other most
highly compensated executive officers of the Company for services rendered to
the Company and its subsidiaries during the past three completed fiscal years.
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
LONG-TERM
ANNUAL COMPENSATION COMPENSATION AWARDS
------------------------------ ----------------------------------
SALARY BONUS OTHER RESTRICTED OPTIONS INCENTIVE ALL OTHER
YEAR ($) ($) ($) STOCK(6)($) (SHARES) PAYOUTS ($) COMPENSATION(7)
---- ------- ----- ----- ---------- -------- ----------- ---------------
T. L. Gossage 2000 (1) 27,995 1,848,043 1,000,000 63,588(8)
Chief Executive Officer and 1999
Chairman 1998
V. J. Corbo(2) 2000 687,500 281,217 387,500 2,718,000 6,181,087
Chairman, President 1999 721,878 160,679 3,548,500 112,500 102,116
and Chief Executive Officer 1998 494,273 320,000 90,493 2,367,602 93,048
G. MacKenzie 2000 500,004 17,601 639,375 50,000 29,649
Vice Chairman(3) 1999 359,170 20,910 893,000 37,470
1998 271,670 200,000 19,514 160,000 37,581
D. W. DiDonna 2000 400,008 22,029 142,000 5,100
Executive Vice President 1999 357,420 27,508 893,000 33,375 9,669
Corporate Development 1998 260,402 120,000 11,260 181,375 7,855
H. J. Tucci(4) 2000 400,006 31,566 50,000 16,355
Executive Vice President and 1999 341,670 72,618 893,000 33,000 29,966
Chief Development Officer 1998 245,850 185,000 18,707 50,083 175,000 27,369
I. J. Floyd 2000 383,340 24,029 256,000 50,000 9,926
Executive Vice President, 1999 225,259 3,110 517,000 9,375 10,647
Secretary, and General 1998 165,328 33,000 50,375 7,274
Counsel
J. B. Barry(5) 2000 400,000 18,167 50,000 12,447
Executive Vice President 1999 323,519 9,824 893,000 39,000 5,536
Corporate Resources 1998 56,466 20,000
--------------------------------------------
(1) Effective October 17, 2000, Mr. Gossage succeeded Dr. Corbo as Chief
Executive Officer and Chairman. Mr. Gossage received a nominal salary of
$1.00/week for benefit participation purposes. Mr. Gossage received no
other cash compensation (base or annual incentive).
(2) Dr. Corbo resigned his positions as Chairman of the Board, President and
Chief Executive Officer of the Company on October 17, 2000, and retired
from the Company effective November 1, 2000. His base salary reflects the
period through October 31, 2000. The "Other" column includes $90,272 for
use of the Company plane for Dr. Corbo. Dr. Corbo's termination of
employment arrangements are described more fully below under "Employment
Contracts." Dr. Corbo's "all other compensation" includes, pursuant to the
severance agreement outlined under "Employment Contracts," 48 semi-monthly
payments of $65,312.50 each, totaling $3,135,000, plus a cash payment of
$2,832,754. Amounts also included in this column are $22,250, the total
value of the annual Company contributions to the defined contribution plans
plus earnings thereon, $47,096, the dividends and interest on stock
options, and $143,987, dividends on restricted stock units.
(3) Prior to November 15, 2000, Mr. MacKenzie was Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer.
(4) Mr. Tucci retired on December 1, 2000. His base salary reflects the period
through November 30, 2000.
(5) Ms. Barry became a Hercules employee on October 15, 1998. Salary and bonus
for 1998 reflect period from October 15, 1998, to December 31, 1998.
-24-
(6) These values are determined by multiplying the number of shares of
restricted stock awarded by the closing market price of Hercules common
stock on the date of grant and subtracting the consideration, if any, paid
by the executive officer. Dividends may be paid on a current basis or
accrued. Mr. Floyd's restricted stock grant for the year 2000 will vest
only if Hercules' stock price reaches $50 before 11/4/2002.
The number and value (determined by taking the number of shares of
restricted stock multiplied by the year-end closing market price, $19.0625,
net of any consideration paid) of aggregate restricted stock holdings is
shown below. Included in the table are restricted shares that each
executive officer purchased under the terms of the Hercules Long-Term
Incentive Compensation Plan as well as shares that have been granted
outright. The aggregate amount paid for restricted shares by executive
officers was $1,071,907.
(7) Major components of "all other compensation" are listed below in addition
to components indicated in notes 2 and 8:
AGGREGATE COMPANY MATCH DIVIDEND AND
RESTRICTED (DEFINED INTEREST CREDITS
NAME SHARES NET VALUE CONTRIBUTION PLANS) ON STOCK OPTIONS
---------------------------- ------------- --------------- ------------------ -----------------
T. L. Gossage 128,003 $2,440,057 0 0
V. J. Corbo 0 0 22,250 47,096
G. MacKenzie 99,492 1,542,175 18,334 11,314
D. W. DiDonna 39,747 724,375 5,100 0
H. J. Tucci 0 0 11,846 4,509
I. J. Floyd 42,910 741,531 9,926 0
J. B. Barry 38,000 724,375 12,447 0
(8) When Mr. Gossage retired from Hercules effective January 1, 1997, as
reported in Hercules' 1997 proxy statement, he was granted a special
pension benefit to be paid over the period from his retirement through the
end of 2001. In connection with his return to Hercules effective October
17, 2000, the remaining 14 monthly payments under this arrangement were
settled in a lump sum, as reflected below. The value to Mr. Gossage of this
lump sum payment without discount was $63,588, as shown in the table above.
OPTION GRANTS IN LAST FISCAL YEAR
The following table discloses information concerning individual grants
of stock options made during the last completed fiscal year to the executive
officers named in the summary compensation table.
NO. OF PERCENT OF
SECURITIES TOTAL
UNDERLYING OPTIONS EXERCISE OR
OPTIONS GRANTED TO BASE PRICE EXPIRATION GRANT VALUE GRANT DATE
NAME GRANTED EMPLOYEES ($/SH) DATE DATE VALUE(1)
------------------------ ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- --------- ---------
T. L. Gossage 500,000(2) 13.9% 14.4375 (2) 10/17/2000 $2,130,500
500,000(2) 13.9% 17.325 (2) 10/17/2000 1,636,550
V. J. Corbo 200,000(3) 5.5% 17.25 10/17/2005 2/18/2000 1,469,580
187,500(4) 5.2% 14.0625 10/17/2005 6/30/2000 1,097,888
G. MacKenzie 50,000(3) 1.4% 17.25 2/18/2010 2/18/2000 442,385
D. W. DiDonna 50,000(3) 1.4% 17.25 2/18/2010 2/18/2000 442,385
92,000(5) 2.5% 16.00 4/27/2010 4/27/2000 746,442
H. J. Tucci 50,000(3) 1.4% 17.25 12/1/2005 2/18/2000 367,395
I. J. Floyd 40,000(3) 1.1% 17.25 2/18/2010 2/18/2000 353,908
10,000(5) 0.3% 16.00 4/27/2010 4/27/2000 81,135
J. B. Barry 50,000(3) 1.4% 17.25 2/18/2010 2/18/2000 442,385
(1) The Black-Scholes option-pricing model was used to determine the fair value
of employee stock options in the table above as of the date of the grant.
No adjustments for risk of forfeiture have been made. Significant
assumptions are as follows:
-25-
REGULAR
OPTIONS PASOS
----------- ---------
Dividend yield 0.0% 0.0%
Risk free interest rate 5.9% 6.2%
Expected life 3.6 years 5 years
Expected volatility 41.3% 35.6%
(2) Vesting date is the earlier of October 15, 2001, or retirement, death or
termination because of disability, or a change of control. The expiration
date is the first anniversary of retirement, death or termination because
of disability.
(3) Vesting schedule is as follows: 40% on February 19, 2001; 40% on February
18, 2002; and 20% on February 18, 2003.
(4) Performance-accelerated stock options (PASOs) become exercisable upon the
achievement of predetermined performance goals. If goals are not achieved,
the options become exercisable at 9.5 years and expire at 10 years;
however, due to retirement, the expiration date for this award is October
17, 2005.
(5) Vesting schedule is as follows: 40% on April 27, 2001; 40% on April 29,
2002; and 20% on April 28, 2003.
-26-
AGGREGATED OPTION EXERCISES IN LAST FISCAL YEAR AND FISCAL
YEAR-END OPTION VALUES
The table set forth below discloses certain information concerning the
exercise of stock options (exercised and unexercised) during the last completed
fiscal year by the executive officers named in the summary compensation table as
well as certain information concerning the number and value of unexercised
options. The value of options is calculated using the difference between the
option exercise price and $19.0625 (year-end stock price) multiplied by the
number of shares underlying the option.
NO. OF SECURITIES VALUE OF UNEXERCISED
NO. OF UNDERLYING UNEXERCISED IN-THE-MONEY OPTIONS
SHARES OPTIONS AT YEAR-END AT YEAR-END
ACQUIRED ON VALUE --------------------------- -------------- ------------------
NAME EXERCISE REALIZED ($) EXERCISABLE UNEXERCISABLE EXERCISABLE ($) UNEXERCISABLE ($)
---------------------- ------------ ------------- ------------- ------------- --------------- -----------------
T. L. Gossage 0 264,000 1,174,000 0 3,181,250
V. J. Corbo(1) 0 462,700 619,500 1,381,876 0
G. MacKenzie 0 170,820 353,500 3,231 90,625
D. W. DiDonna 0 148,100 331,175 0 372,375
H. J. Tucci 9,900 33,825 322,400 120,000 176,975 0
I. J. Floyd 0 71,800 112,575 35,812 103,125
J. B. Barry 0 7,200 81,800 0 90,625
---------------------------
(1) Dr. Corbo resigned his positions as Chairman of the Board, President and
Chief Executive Officer of the Company on October 17, 2000, and retired from
the Company effective on November 1, 2000. As a result of his retirement,
187,500 of Dr. Corbo's options became exercisable as of November 1, 2000.
PENSION PLANS
The following table shows the estimated annual pension benefits payable
to a covered participant at normal retirement age under Hercules' qualified
benefits pension plan, as well as nonqualified supplemental benefits, based on
the stated remuneration and years of service with Hercules and its subsidiaries.
REMUNERATION 15 YEARS 20 YEARS 25 YEARS 30 YEARS 35 YEARS
---------------- --------- ---------- ----------- ---------- -----------
$200,000 $45,714.00 $60,952.00 $76,190.00 $91,428.00 $106,666.00
250,000 57,714.00 76,952.00 96,190.00 115,428.00 134,666.00
300,000 69,714.00 92,952.00 116,190.00 139,428.00 162,666.00
350,000 81,714.00 108,952.00 136,190.00 163,428.00 190,666.00
400,000 93,714.00 124,952.00 156,190.00 187,428.00 218,666.00
450,000 105,714.00 140,952.00 176,190.00 211,428.00 246,666.00
500,000 117,714.00 156,952.00 196,190.00 235,428.00 274,666.00
600,000 141,714.00 188,952.00 236,190.00 283,428.00 330,666.00
700,000 165,714.00 220,952.00 276,190.00 331,428.00 386,666.00
750,000 177,714.00 236,952.00 296,190.00 355,428.00 414,666.00
800,000 189,714.00 252,952.00 316,190.00 379,428.00 442,666.00
900,000 213,714.00 284,952.00 356,190.00 427,428.00 498,666.00
1,000,000 237,714.00 316,952.00 396,190.00 475,428.00 554,666.00
-27-
1,500,000 357,714.00 476,952.00 596,190.00 715,428.00 834,666.00
2,000,000 477,714.00 636,952.00 796,190.00 955,428.00 1,114,666.00
Annual contributions by Hercules to its qualified pension plan, if any
are required, are determined statistically by an independent actuary, and no
amount is attributed to an individual employee. Due to the funded status of the
qualified pension plan, Hercules did not make a contribution to it in 2000.
Except in special cases, the aggregate retirement benefit, under both
the qualified and nonqualified plans, is an amount determined by taking the sum
of (i) 1.2% of the employee's average annual earnings (based on the highest 60
consecutive months during the last 10 years of employment) up to one-half the
Social Security Tax Base ($76,200 in 2000), and (ii) 1.6% of the employee's
average annual earnings (as determined above) in excess of one-half of the
Social Security Tax Base, multiplied by the employee's total years and months of
credited service. For this purpose, "average annual earnings" consist of salary
plus annual incentive or bonus compensation.
For Ms. Barry, who participates in the former BetzDearborn Retirement
Plan, the aggregate retirement benefit is determined by taking the sum of (i)
1.2% of the employee's average annual earnings (based on the highest three
consecutive calendar years during the last 10 calendar years of employment) up
to the Social Security Covered Compensation (average of 35 years of the Social
Security Taxable Wage Base), and (ii) 1.8% of the employee's average annual
earnings (as determined above) in excess of the Social Security Covered
Compensation, multiplied by the employee's total years of credited service.
For Messrs. Gossage, Corbo, MacKenzie, DiDonna, Tucci and Floyd and Ms.
Barry, the compensation amounts used for average annual earnings for 2000 are
shown under the "Salary" and "Bonus" columns of the summary compensation table.
The estimated credited years of service for Messrs. Gossage, Corbo, MacKenzie,
DiDonna, Tucci and Floyd and Ms. Barry are 35, 31, 21, 20, 23, 27 and 9,
respectively.
Until attainment of age 55, Ms. Barry is entitled to, upon retirement
or termination for reason other than cause, an enhancement of pension benefits
of approximately $750,000 with interest, payable in a lump sum, which represents
her years of service to BetzDearborn prior to becoming an employee of Hercules.
If Ms. Barry remains with Hercules until she attains 55 years of age, she is
entitled to 50% of her final average earnings.
In February 2000, Hercules granted to Mr. MacKenzie an enhancement of
pension benefits upon retirement if he is employed through March 31, 2004, which
provides for a supplemental retirement benefit of $4,166.67 per month for 120
consecutive months plus an additional 3 years of service credit and the
elimination of the early retirement reduction, if otherwise applicable.
EMPLOYMENT CONTRACTS
On October 17, 2000, Hercules entered into a written agreement with Mr.
Gossage which provides for him to suspend his regular Hercules retirement
benefits and serve as our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Gossage's
compensation consists of (i) a nominal salary of $1.00 per week to cover
employee benefit participation requirements plus employment-related
-28-
benefits available to other salaried employees and (ii) the grant under the
terms of our Long-Term Incentive Compensation Plan of (a) a stock option to
purchase 1,000,000 Hercules common shares, half at a per share exercise price of
$14.4375 (the price of our common stock on the date of grant) and the balance at
a per share exercise price of $17.325 and (b) 128,003 shares of restricted
stock. The stock options and restricted stock vest at the earlier of October 15,
2001, or his retirement, death or termination because of disability or a change
in control. Hercules also agreed to accelerate payment of the balance of a
special pension benefit of $1,300,000 per year over 5 years, which became
effective January 1, 1997. This special pension was reported in the 1997 proxy
statement.
On October 17, 2000, Dr. Corbo resigned from all of his positions at
Hercules and its subsidiaries including his positions as Chief Executive Officer
and Chairman of the Hercules Board. Dr. Corbo has received and he (or in the
event in his death, his estate or named beneficiary) is entitled to receive
certain severance payments and continuing benefits pursuant to a resignation
agreement between Dr. Corbo and Hercules dated October 17, 2000. Specifically,
Dr. Corbo received a lump sum cash payment of $2,832,753.83 upon his resignation
and Dr. Corbo (or in the event of his death, his estate or named beneficiary)
will receive (i) two times his then current salary and target annual bonus (or a
total of $3,135,000), which amount is paid over 48 semi-monthly equal
installments beginning November 1, 2000, (ii) certain continuing rights and
accelerated vesting schedules under Hercules' various stock option plans and
long-term compensation plans, (iii) certain continuing pension benefits based on
granting three additional years of service credits plus elimination of early
retirement reduction and (iv) certain one-time perquisites, such as,
reimbursement for legal fees incurred in connection with the resignation
agreement and reimbursement for tax return preparation and advice. Additionally,
Dr. Corbo and his immediate family will receive medical, dental and vision
benefits until the earlier of his death and December 31, 2002 and life insurance
benefits payable at his death. Many of the above listed items are contingent
upon Dr. Corbo's adherence to certain covenants in the resignation agreement
regarding confidentiality, non-competition and non-disparagement.
On December 1, 2000, Mr. Tucci retired from the Company. He is
currently serving as the Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President of CP
Kelco, a joint venture in which Hercules holds a minority interest. In
conjunction with Mr. Tucci's resignation, Hercules agreed to make certain
severance payments to Mr. Tucci. Mr. Tucci will receive (i) 120 consecutive
monthly payments of $7,000, (ii) an additional four full years of pension
service credit as well as additional pension payments depending upon the number
of years of service to CP Kelco, (iii) reimbursement for certain equity
interests in Hercules held by Mr. Tucci, which were forfeited upon his
resignation and (iv) reimbursement for certain other perquisites. Additionally,
Hercules will pay, in the event of Mr. Tucci's death, his named beneficiary or
estate an amount equal to two times his final twelve-month salary plus average
of his last two calendar year MICP awards.
CHANGE IN CONTROL AGREEMENTS
Since 1986, Hercules has entered into change in control agreements with
its senior executives. These agreements seek to ensure the stability of
Hercules' management during a period of transition within Hercules and only
become effective upon a change in control event. Hercules' Compensation
Committee periodically reviews these
-29-
agreements and revises them, if necessary, to reflect contemporary business
practices in change in control situations.
During fiscal year 2000, Hercules entered into change in control
agreements with each of Ms. Barry, Messrs. DiDonna, Floyd and MacKenzie. Under
the terms of the agreements, a change in control occurs:
o if any individual, entity or group (with certain exceptions) becomes
the beneficial owner of 20% or more of the outstanding shares of
Hercules common stock;
o if there is a change in a majority of the board of directors other
than by election or nomination by a vote of the majority of directors
comprising the incumbent board;
o upon consummation of a reorganization, merger, consolidation or sale
that results in Hercules' shareholders owning less than 60% of the
combined voting power of the surviving corporation following the
transaction; or
o if Hercules' shareholders approve a complete liquidation of the
Company.
Under the terms of these agreements, upon a change in control, Hercules
is required to continue to employ the above named executives, in substantially
the same position and level of compensation (including benefits) as that
executive held immediately before the change in control, for a period of three
years following the change in control.
If Hercules terminates the executive (within the three year period
following a change in control) for any reason other than cause, death or
disability, or if Hercules takes actions which permit the executive to terminate
his or her employment for good reason, such as diminishing the executive's
responsibilities or requiring the executive to relocate, during such three year
period, the executive is entitled to the following:
o a lump sum cash payment equal to:
- any unpaid prorated portion of the executive's bonus;
- three times the executive's base salary and bonus; and
- the difference between the amount the executive would be entitled to
if Hercules contributed for up to an additional six years of service
and five years of age to the executive's benefit plans and that amount
the executive was actually entitled to under these plans on the date
of termination;
o three years of continued welfare benefits and perquisites;
o outplacement services equal to $50,000;
o full vesting of all stock options held by or previously granted to the
executive; and
-30-
o payment for any Internal Revenue Service excise taxes for "excess
parachute payments" (as defined under the Internal Revenue Code).
SEVERANCE AGREEMENTS
In addition to the change in control agreements, Hercules has entered
into a severance agreement with Mr. MacKenzie which provides for the payment of
two years' base salary plus two years' target bonus in the event of Mr.
MacKenzie's termination by Hercules other than for cause or change of control.
ANNUAL REPORT
PURSUANT TO RULE 14a-13 UNDER THE EXCHANGE ACT, THE COMPANY UNDERTAKES
TO FURNISH A COPY OF THE COMPANY'S ANNUAL REPORT CONTAINING AUDITED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2000, PREPARED IN CONFORMITY WITH
GENERALLY ACCEPTED ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES, TO HERCULES SHAREHOLDERS NOT LATER
THAN APRIL 6, 2001, A DATE 20 CALENDAR DAYS BEFORE THE DATE OF THE 2001 ANNUAL
MEETING.
A copy of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K, as filed with the
SEC, will be sent without charge to any shareholder upon written request
directed to:
Hercules Incorporated
Hercules Plaza
1313 North Market Street
Wilmington, DE 19894-0001
Attention: Secretary
METHOD AND COST OF PROXY SOLICITATION
Proxies may be solicited, without additional compensation, by
directors, officers or employees of the Company by mail, telephone, telegram, in
person or otherwise. The Company will bear the costs of the solicitation of
proxies, which may include the cost of preparing, printing and mailing the proxy
materials. In addition, the Company will request banks, brokers and other
custodians, nominees and fiduciaries to forward proxy materials to the
beneficial owners of common stock and obtain their voting instructions. The
Company will reimburse those firms for their expenses in accordance with the
rules of the SEC and the New York Stock Exchange. In addition, the Company has
retained MacKenzie Partners, Inc., 156 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010, to
assist in soliciting proxies, for which services the Company will pay a fee
expected not to exceed $325,000 plus out-of-pocket expenses. MacKenzie will
employ approximately 65 persons in connection with its solicitation of proxies.
Expenses related to the solicitation of shareholders in excess
of those normally spent for an annual meeting and excluding the costs of
litigation, are expected to aggregate approximately $725,000, of which
approximately $125,000 has been spent to date. ANNEX I SETS FORTH CERTAIN
INFORMATION RELATING TO THE COMPANY'S DIRECTORS, NOMINEES, OFFICERS AND OTHER
EMPLOYEES OF THE COMPANY WHO WILL BE SOLICITING PROXIES ON THE COMPANY'S BEHALF.
-31-
YOUR VOTE AT THE 2001 ANNUAL MEETING IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT. PLEASE SIGN
AND DATE THE ENCLOSED WHITE PROXY CARD AND RETURN IT IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE
PROMPTLY.
WE URGE YOU NOT TO SIGN OR RETURN ANY PROXY CARD THAT MAY BE SENT TO YOU
BY ISP, EVEN AS A PROTEST VOTE AGAINST ISP. IF YOU PREVIOUSLY VOTED ON AN ISP
BLUE PROXY CARD, YOU HAVE EVERY LEGAL RIGHT TO CHANGE YOUR VOTE. YOU CAN DO SO
SIMPLY BY SIGNING, DATING AND RETURNING THE ENCLOSED WHITE PROXY CARD. A PERSON
GIVING ANY PROXY HAS THE POWER TO REVOKE IT (WHETHER SUCH PROXY WAS SOLICITED BY
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OR BY ISP) AT ANY TIME BEFORE THE VOTING BY SUBMITTING TO
HERCULES OR TO ISP A WRITTEN REVOCATION OR DULY EXECUTED PROXY CARD BEARING A
LATER DATE. ONLY YOUR LATEST DATED PROXY CARD WILL COUNT. PLEASE REFER TO "VOTE
REQUIRED AND VOTING PROCEDURES" ON PAGE __ FOR A DISCUSSION OF HOW TO REVOKE
YOUR PROXY.
IMPORTANT: If the Hercules common shares you own are held in the name of a
brokerage firm, bank, nominee or other institution, only it can sign a WHITE
proxy card with respect to your shares and only upon specific instructions from
you. Please contact the person responsible for your account and give
instructions for a WHITE proxy card to be signed representing your Hercules
common shares. We urge you to confirm in writing your instructions to the person
responsible for your account and to provide a copy of such instructions to the
Company's proxy solicitor, MacKenzie Partners, at the address indicated below so
that MacKenzie Partners can attempt to ensure that your instructions are
followed. If you have any questions about executing your proxy or require
assistance, please contact:
MacKenzie Partners, Inc.
156 Fifth Avenue
New York, New York 10010
Call Toll Free: (800) 322-2885
or Call Collect: (212) 929-5500
-32-
ANNEX I
INFORMATION CONCERNING THE DIRECTORS AND CERTAIN OFFICERS OF
THE COMPANY WHO ALSO MAY SOLICIT PROXIES
The following table sets forth the name, principal business address and
the present office or other principal occupation or employment, and the name,
principal business and the address of any corporation or other organization in
which their employment is carried on, of the directors and certain officers of
Hercules ("Participants") who also may solicit proxies from Hercules
shareholders. Unless otherwise indicated, the principal occupation refers to
such person's position with the Company and the business address is Hercules
Incorporated, Hercules Plaza, 1313 North Market Street, Wilmington, DE
19894-0001.
DIRECTORS
The principal occupations of the Company's directors who are deemed
Participants in the solicitation are set forth under "Proposal (1) Election of
Directors" in this proxy statement. The principal business address of Mr.
Gossage is that of the Company. The name, business and address of the
director-Participants' organization of employment are as follows:
NAME ADDRESS
---- -------
Thomas L. Gossage Hercules Incorporated, 1313 N. Market Street,
Wilmington, DE 19894-0001
John G. Drosdick Sunoco, Inc., Ten Penn Center, 1801 Market
Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103-1699
Richard M. Fairbanks, III Center for Strategic & International Studies,
Suite 400, 1800 K Street, N.W.,
Washington, DC 20006-2202
Alan R. Hirsig *
Edith E. Holiday *
Gaynor N. Kelley *
Ralph L. MacDonald Amelia Investment Corp., 1890 South 14th Street,
Suite 110, Amelia Island, FL
32034-4730
George MacKenzie Hercules Incorporated, 1313 N. Market Street,
Wilmington, DE 19894-0001
H. Eugene McBrayer *
Peter McCausland Airgas, Inc., PO Box 6675, Radnor, PA 19087-8675
John A. H. Shober ESU Associates, 12 Bugle Lane, Blue Bell, PA 19422
Paula A. Sneed Kraft Foods, 3 Lakes Drive, Northfield, IL 60093-9999
---------------------
* Unless otherwise indicated, the Director's address is c/o Hercules
Incorporated, 1313 N. Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware
19894-0001.
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CERTAIN CORPORATE OFFICERS
NAME PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION
---- --------------------
Thomas L. Gossage Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Israel J. Floyd Executive Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel
George MacKenzie Vice Chairman
J. Neil Stalter Vice President, Corporate Communications
Allen A. Spizzo Vice President, Corporate Affairs and Strategic Planning
INFORMATION REGARDING OWNERSHIP OF THE COMPANY'S SECURITIES BY PARTICIPANTS
None of the Participants owns any of the Company's securities of record
but not beneficially. The number of shares of common stock of the Company held
by directors and the named executive officers is set forth on page __ of this
proxy statement. The number of shares of common stock of the Company held by the
other Participants as of March 6, 2001 is set forth below. The information
includes Hercules common shares that may be acquired by the exercise of stock
options within 60 days of March 6, 2001:
NAME SHARE OWNERSHIP*
---- ---------------
Allen A. Spizzo 3,056
J. Neil Stalter 12,339
-----------------------
* Includes shares as of December 31, 2000, in the Savings and Investments Plan
as follows: A. A. Spizzo, 1,201 and J.N. Stalter, 485. Includes shares with
restrictions and forfeiture risks as specified under the Long-Term Incentive
Compensation Plan: A. A. Spizzo, 1,055 and J. N. Stalter, 8,854.
I-2
INFORMATION REGARDING TRANSACTIONS IN THE COMPANY'S SECURITIES BY PARTICIPANTS
The following table sets forth purchases and sales of the Company's
securities by the Participants listed below during the past two years. Unless
otherwise indicated, all transactions are in the public market.
<
NUMBER OF SHARES
OF COMMON STOCK
NAME DATE PURCHASED OR (SOLD) NOTES
------------------------- --------------- -------------------- --------
DIRECTORS
John G. Drosdick 2/18/1999 1,419 (1)
5/11/1999 750 (1)
5/11/1999 1,500 (1)
2/8/2000 2,754 (1)
Richard Fairbanks 2/18/1999 1,711 (1)
11/30/1999 82 (1)
2/8/2000 2,754 (1)
Thomas L. Gossage 10/17/2000 128 (2)
Alan R. Hirsig 2/18/1999 1,419 (1)
5/11/1999 750 (1)
5/11/1999 1,500 (1)
2/8/2000 2,885 (1)
Edith E. Holiday 2/18/1999 417 (1)
2/8/2000 655 (1)
Robert G. Jahn 1/18/1999 1,836 (1)
2/8/2000 3,148 (1)
Gaynor N. Kelley 2/18/1999 918 (1)
2/8/2000 1,605 (1)
Ralph L. MacDonald 2/18/1999 1,711 (1)
2/8/2000 2,557 (1)
George MacKenzie 2/1/1999 (609) (3)
2/18/1999 751 (2)
11/2/1999 38,000 (2)
1/20/2000 30,000 (2)
H. Eugene McBrayer 2/18/1999 1,878 (1)
2/8/2000 3,017 (1)
Peter McCausland 2/18/1999 1,419 (1)
2/8/2000 2,754 (1)
Paula A. Sneed 2/18/1999 1,878 (1)
2/8/2000 3,148 (1)
I-3
NUMBER OF SHARES
OF COMMON STOCK
NAME DATE PURCHASED OR (SOLD) NOTES
-------------------------- --------------- -------------------- --------
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
June B. Barry 6/15/1999 (3,778) (3)
11/2/1999 38,000 (2)
2/15/2000 (6,612) (3)
2/15/2000 7,512 (4)
10/16/2000 (7,901) (3)
10/16/2000 11,453 (1)
Vincent J. Corbo 2/1/1999 (1,170) (3)
11/2/1999 151,000 (2)
11/1/2000 (2,722) (3)
11/1/2000 (64,024) (3)
Dominick W. DiDonna 2/1/1999 (539) (3)
11/2/1999 38,000 (2)
Israel J. Floyd 2/1/1999 697 (2)
5/3/1999 900 (2)
11/2/1999 22,000 (2)
3/1/2000 16,000 (2)
5/1/2000 1,500 (2)
Harry J. Tucci 2/1/1999 (833) (3)
2/18/1999 3,957 (2)
5/13/1999 8,400 (5)
11/2/1999 38,000 (2)
6/2/2000 (597) (3)
12/1/2000 (13) (3)
12/1/2000 (177) (3)
12/1/2000 (14) (3)
12/1/2000 (57) (3)
12/1/2000 (8,230) (3)
12/1/2000 (38,000) (3)
-----------------
(1) Acquisition of restricted shares pursuant to the Company's Nonemployee
Director Stock Accumulation Plan.
(2) Acquisition of restricted shares pursuant to the Company's Long-Term
Incentive Compensation Plan.
(3) Surrender of shares to pay withholding tax on restricted shares whose
restrictions lapsed.
(4) Acquired under the Company's Long-Term Incentive Compensation Plan.
(5) Acquired upon exercise of options.
MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION CONCERNING PARTICIPANTS
Except as described in this Annex I or in the proxy statement, none of
the participants nor any of their respective affiliates or associates (together,
the "Participant Affiliates"), (i) directly beneficially owns any shares of
common stock of the Company or any securities of any
I-4
subsidiary of the Company or (ii) has had any relationship with the Company in
any capacity other than as a shareholder, employee, officer or director.
Furthermore, except as described in this Annex I or in the proxy statement, no
Participant or Participant Affiliate is either a party to any transaction or
series of transactions since December 31, 1999, or has knowledge of any
currently proposed transaction or series of transactions, (i) to which the
Company or any of its subsidiaries was or is to be a party, (ii) in which the
amount involved exceeds $60,000, and (iii) in which any Participant or
Participant Affiliate had or will have, a direct or indirect material interest.
Except as described in this Annex I or in the proxy statement, no participant or
Participant Affiliate has any arrangement or understanding with any person (i)
with respect to any future employment by the registrant or its affiliates; or
(ii) with respect to any future transactions to which the registrant or any of
its affiliates will or may be a party.
I-5
ANNEX II
HERCULES INCORPORATED
AUDIT COMMITTEE CHARTER
ORGANIZATION
MEMBERSHIP
The Audit Committee is composed of independent members of the Board of
Directors. Membership is determined by the Board on the recommendation of the
Nominating Committee. As needed, the Audit Committee should consider training
and education programs to ensure that its membership has the proper background
and knowledge base and stays current as to relevant developments in accounting
and finance. At least one member of the Audit Committee should have accounting
or related financial management expertise.
MEETINGS
The Committee generally meets once a quarter, or more frequently
as circumstances require. Regular meetings are scheduled in accordance with the
annual schedule approved by the Board. Minutes are recorded by the Secretary to
the Committee. The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, other Senior
Officers of the Company, the Director of Auditing Services (internal auditors),
and representatives of the Company's independent public accountant
(PricewaterhouseCoopers) attend meetings at the invitation of the Committee.
BASIC FUNCTION AND PURPOSE
The Audit Committee oversees the Company's financial reporting process
on behalf of the Board of Directors. The Committee reviews and discusses the
adequacy of the Company's internal controls; accounting practices; financial
reports; and the scope, specific plans, and effectiveness of the audits
performed by the internal auditors and the independent accountants. The Audit
Committee should conduct candid discussions with management, the internal
auditors, and outside auditors regarding issues implicating judgment and
impacting quality.
At least annually, the Audit Committee should consider the relevance of
this Charter.
RESPONSIBILITIES
INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
The Committee shall:
1. Recommend to the Board of Directors the selection and
retention of independent public accountants, subject to
ratification by shareholders, to perform the annual audit of
financial statements and the appropriate fees to compensate
the independent public accountant. In this regard, the outside
auditor is ultimately accountable to the Board and the Audit
Committee.
2. Consider, in consultation with the independent public
accountant and management, the planned scope of the
annual audit of financial statements, including a review of
coordination of audit efforts between the independent public
accountant and Auditing Services Division (internal
auditors), and reliance of the independent public accountant
on the work of Auditing Services.
3. Confirm and ensure the independence of the independent public
accountant, including a review of any significant out-of-scope
services and related compensation provided by the independent
public accountant.
4. Consider and review with the independent public accountant and
management: a) the adequacy of the Company's internal
controls; b) the Company's annual financial statements and
related footnotes including the quality of accounting
principles as applied and the Company's compliance with
"Generally Accepted Accounting Principles" in all material
respects; c) emerging accounting standards and issues
affecting the Company; d) any significant and related findings
and recommendations of the independent public accountant,
together with management's response.
5. At least annually, at a regularly scheduled meeting of the
Committee, meet privately with the independent public
accountant without members of management in attendance to
discuss any necessary matters.
6. Prior to public release of quarterly earnings, require that
the outside auditor, in conjunction with SAS 71 Interim
Financial Review related to the Company's future filing of its
form 10-Q, discuss with the Committee whenever possible
or with the chair of the Audit Committee or his/her designee
if not possible with the Committee, and a representative
of financial management, in person or by telephone conference
call, the matters described in AU Section 380, Communications
with the Audit Committee.
INTERNAL AUDITING
The Committee shall:
1. Consider and review with management the annual work plan and
planned activities of Auditing Services, the budget and
staffing for the internal audit function, the charter of the
Auditing Services Division, and compliance of the internal
audit function with the Standards for the Professional
Practice of Internal Auditing (IIA).
2. Consider and review the coordination of audit efforts
between Auditing Services and the independent public
accountant to ensure completeness of coverage and efficient
use of audit resources, including internal audit assistance
to the independent public accountant.
3. Consider and review with management and Auditing Services
significant internal auditing findings and recommendations
related to the adequacy of internal controls, compliance
with policies and procedures, and effective and efficient
use of Company resources; also consider and review
management's response.
II-2
4. Meet privately with Auditing Services as required, but at
least annually, at a regularly scheduled meeting of the
Committee.
OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS EXPENSES AND SIGNIFICANT MANAGEMENT ESTIMATES
The Committee shall:
1. Review policies and procedures with respect to expense
accounts and perquisites of officers and directors,
including their use of corporate assets; and consider the
results of an annual review of expenses and perquisites of
officers and directors by Auditing Services or the
independent public accountant.
2. Review policies and procedures with respect to the adequacy
of significant management estimates particularly with
respect to recognition of contingent liabilities, such as
those resulting from identified environmental problems, and
legal matters, including the use of outside counsel.
REPORTING RESPONSIBILITY
All action taken by the Audit Committee shall be reported to the Board
of Directors at its next meeting succeeding such action.
Note: The revision of paragraph 6 under "Responsibilities" was
approved at the Audit Committee meeting on February 21,
2001.
II-3
[PROXY CARD: FRONT SIDE]
HERCULES INCORPORATED
2001 ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE HERCULES BOARD OF DIRECTORS
FOR THE 2001 ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS ON APRIL 26, 2001.
The undersigned hereby appoints Thomas L. Gossage and Israel J. Floyd,
and each of them, as proxies, acting jointly and severally and with full power
of substitution, for and in the name of the undersigned to vote all shares of
common stock of Hercules Incorporated that the undersigned is entitled to vote
at the annual meeting of shareholders to be held on Thursday, April 26, 2001, at
11:00 A.M., local time, at the Delaware Art Museum, 2301 Kentmere Parkway,
Wilmington, Delaware, or at any adjournments or postponements thereof, as
directed, upon the matters set forth in the Hercules proxy statement and upon
such other matters as may properly come before the annual meeting.
Signing and dating Hercules' proxy card will have the effect of
revoking any ISP proxy card you signed on an earlier date, and will constitute a
revocation of all previously granted authority to vote for every proposal
included on the ISP proxy card.
(CONTINUED AND TO BE MARKED, DATED AND SIGNED ON REVERSE SIDE)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- FOLD AND DETACH HERE -
YOUR VOTE IS VERY IMPORTANT!
MARK, SIGN AND DATE YOUR PROXY CARD AND RETURN IT
PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.
[PROXY CARD: FIRST HALF OF REVERSE SIDE]
THIS PROXY WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED WILL BE VOTED ---------------------
IN THE MANNER DIRECTED VOTES HEREIN. IF NO CHOICE
IS SPECIFIED AND THE PROXY IS RETURNED WITH THE PLEASE MARK
STOCKHOLDER'S SIGNATURE(S), THEN THE PROXY WILL VOTES AS IN THIS
BE VOTED FOR APPROVAL OF EACH OF PROPOSALS 1 AND 2, SAMPLE
AND IN THE DISCRETION OF THE PROXIES ON ANY OTHER
MATTERS AS MAY PROPERLY COME BEFORE THE ANNUAL /X/
MEETING.
--------------------
YOUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE "FOR" PROPOSALS 1 AND 2.
1. Election of the following director nominees for a three-year term
Nominees are: 1. Thomas L. Gossage
2. Ralph L. MacDonald, Jr.
3. John A. H. Shober
4. Paula A. Sneed
FOR WITHHOLD
/ / / /
Withhold vote only from ______________________________.
2. Ratification of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as independent accountants
FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN
/ / / / / /
Mark here if your address has changed New Address:
and provide us with your new address __________________________________
in the space provided to the right: / / __________________________________
__________________________________
Mark here if you plan to attend the annual meeting: / /
PLEASE MARK, DATE, SIGN AND RETURN THIS PROXY IN THE ENCLOSED PROXY RETURN
ENVELOPE.
Signature(s): ________________________ Dated: _________, 2001
Title:___________________________________
-2-
IMPORTANT: Please sign exactly as name or names appear on this proxy. Joint
owners should each sign personally. When signing as attorney, executor,
administrator, trustee or guardian, please give your full title as such. When
signing as a corporation or a partnership, please sign in the name of the entity
by an authorized person.
PLEASE SIGN THIS PROXY AND RETURN PROMPTLY WHETHER OR NOT YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE
ANNUAL MEETING.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- Fold and Detach Here -
-3-
---------------------------------------
ADMISSION TICKET
HERCULES INCORPORATED
ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
THURSDAY, APRIL 26, 2001
11:00 A.M.
THE DELAWARE ART MUSEUM,
2301 KENTMERE PARKWAY
WILMINGTON, DELAWARE
--------------------------------------
-4-