Wilmington, DE, Oct. 25, 2004 - - Hercules Incorporated (NYSE: HPC) President and CEO Craig Rogerson will ring The Closing Bell^SM at the New York Stock Exchange on Tuesday, October 26, 2004, to commemorate Hercules 75th anniversary as a public company listed on the exchange.

From a historical perspective, Hercules official date of birth—the date of its incorporation—is October 19, 1912.  The company opened its doors for business on January 1, 1913, as Hercules Powder Company.  On July 11, 1929, the Company was listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

In commenting on this memorable occasion, Rogerson said, "Hercules is 92 years old this year.  It has gone through many transformations since its founding in 1912 as a leading manufacturer of explosives to its present day profile as a leading global specialty chemical company.  Celebrating 75 years on the New York Stock Exchange is a milestone made possible by the support of our employees, customers and shareholders.  We appreciate their confidence in Hercules through the decades."

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