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

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                                BETZDEARBORN INC.
                (Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

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                  BETZDEARBORN INC. ANNOUNCES MEETING DATE FOR
                      SHAREHOLDERS VOTE ON HERCULES MERGER


TREVOSE, PA., SEPT. 4 -- BetzDearborn Inc. (NYSE: BTL) announced today that
the special meeting at which shareholders will be asked to consider the proposed
merger with Hercules Incorporated (NYSE: HPC) will be held on Thursday,  October
8, 1998,  at 11:00 a.m. at  BetzDearborn's  world  headquarters  located at 4636
Somerton  Road,  Trevose, PA.  The record date for the meeting is  September  4,
1998.

The proxy  statement  for the  special  meeting  will be mailed to  shareholders
beginning on or about  September 8, 1998.  As disclosed in the proxy  statement,
Hercules and BetzDearborn filed the required notice under the Hart-Scott-Rodino
Antitrust  Improvements Act on August 24, 1998, and the required filing with the
commission of the European Communities on September 2, 1998.

Subject to the  satisfaction or waiver of the conditions to the merger set forth
in the merger  agreement,  BetzDearborn  and Hercules  currently  intend for the
closing date for consummation of the merger to be October 15, 1998.

/CONTACT: W.T. Drury, Investor Relations,  215-953-2355,  or R.J. Palangio,
Public Relations, 215-953-2417, both of BetzDearborn/