Filed
by Ashland Inc.
Pursuant to Rule
425
Under the Securities Act
of 1933
Subject
Company
Hercules
Incorporated
Commission
File Number 1-00496
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Message
from Jim O’Brien, Ashland Chairman and CEO
July 31,
2008
To the
Hercules team throughout the Asia Pacific region,
It is just a few weeks since we made
the announcement about joining our two great companies together and I wanted to
let you know how very excited I am about the proposed merger of Ashland and
Hercules. I realize this may be a somewhat uncertain time for you, which is
completely understandable, and I would like to try to put your mind at
ease.
The
Hercules team and businesses throughout the Asia Pacific region are extremely
important to the long-term success of our combined companies. Whether your
function is in sales, manufacturing, technology, or within the support groups,
your role is needed and essential to our future growth.
With the
combination of our two organizations, we are creating one of the top companies
in the world and we will have a very significant presence in the Asia Pacific
market … and that is very important to our strategic future. Within Ashland, we
have focused on growth outside of North America and I am committed to expanding
further beyond the growth we have today.
Together
our two companies will have strength and opportunity beyond what either has
individually today. That applies to our businesses and also to our
employees. I
envision that each of our global employees will have more, not less, opportunity
to grow in his or her career.
This is truly an exciting moment for
everyone in Ashland and Hercules. Each of us comes from various backgrounds and
cultures, which means everyone brings his or her unique talents and passions to
contribute in a meaningful way to our combined success.
I
look forward to welcoming all of Ashland and Hercules employees to the world of
opportunity that lies ahead.
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All the
Best,
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James J.
O'Brien
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ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION
In
connection with the proposed transaction, Ashland and Hercules will be filing
documents with the SEC, including the filing by Ashland of a registration
statement on Form S-4, and the filing by Hercules of a related preliminary and
definitive proxy statement/prospectus. Investors and security holders
are urged to read the registration statement on Form S-4 and the related
preliminary and definitive proxy/prospectus when they become available because
they will contain important information about the proposed
transaction. Investors and security holders may obtain free copies of
these documents (when they are available) and other documents filed with the SEC
at the SEC’s web site at www.sec.gov and by contacting Ashland Investor
Relations at (859) 815-4454 or Hercules Investor Relations at (302)
594-7151. Investors and security holders may obtain free copies of
the documents filed with the SEC on Ashland’s Investor Relations website at
www.ashland.com/investors or Hercules’ website at www.herc.com or the SEC’s
website at www.sec.gov.