AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                                 ON MAY 1, 2000

================================================================================
                            SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
                Proxy Statement Pursuant To Section 14(a) of the
                        Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

Filed by the Registrant [__]
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant [X]

Check the appropriate box:
       [__] Preliminary Proxy Statement
       [__] Confidential, For Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule
            14a-6 (e) (2))
       [__] Definitive Proxy Statement
       [__] Definitive Additional Materials
       [X ] Soliciting Material Under Rule 14a-12

                               DEXTER CORPORATION

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                (NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)

                      INTERNATIONAL SPECIALTY PRODUCTS INC.
                              ISP INVESTMENTS INC.

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    (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) (1) and
           0-11.

            1)    Title of each class of securities to which transaction
                  applies:


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            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:


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NY2:\875649\01\54104.0016


            5)    Total fee paid:


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      [_] 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:

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                     CONTACT:
Monday, May 1, 2000                       Edward G. Novotny & Associates, Inc.
                                          (212) 490-2065/2977

             INTERNATIONAL SPECIALTY PRODUCTS TERMINATES DISCUSSIONS
             -------------------------------------------------------
              WITH DEXTER CORPORATION; WILL CONTINUE PROXY CONTEST
              ----------------------------------------------------

      WAYNE, NJ - International Specialty Products Inc. (NYSE - "ISP") announced
today that it has forwarded the following letter to K. Grahame Walker, Chairman
and Chief Executive Officer of Dexter Corporation (NYSE - "DEX"):


May 1, 2000

Mr. K. Grahame Walker
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Dexter Corporation
One Elm Street
Windsor Lock, CT  06096


Dear Grahame,

This is to advise you that ISP is terminating further discussions with Dexter
and continuing its proxy contest so that Dexter shareholders can decide for
themselves how to best realize shareholder values.

The reasons for this are as follows:

First, your representatives have indicated that ISP's most recent offer is
unacceptable, both as to price and a number of contract terms. As you know, we
consider our recent offer (which by its own terms has expired) to have been a
very fair and full one and tried to meet with your advisors and lawyers over the
April 22-23 weekend to try and consummate a transaction, but your people refused
to meet;

Second, despite the continued optimistic, public prognostications of Dexter and
its representatives -- 29 interested parties, results of first stage of sale
program "very positive," and "we expect to be in a position to make a definitive
announcement in the next few weeks or so" (April 2nd statement) -- Dexter has


NY2:\907732\01\54104.0016


failed over the last four months to provide shareholders with a creditable
alternative to our proposals for the Company;

Finally, although ISP suggested that Dexter demonstrate additional value, if it
could, by providing information with respect to third party interest in Life
Technologies, no such information has been forthcoming. While it was
constructive for Dexter to have facilitated our contact with a third party
interested in acquiring Life Technologies, presumably with a view toward
assisting us in creating additional value for Dexter shareholders, based upon
the most preliminary of discussions with the third party's advisors, there is
little reason to believe that this avenue will prove fruitful. You should know
that we intend now to deal directly with interested parties for Life
Technologies, with a view toward determining what makes the most sense, while at
the same time continuing our proxy contest.

Sincerely,
/s/ Samuel J. Heyman
Chairman
International Specialty Products Inc.


                                     * * * *

      International Specialty Products Inc. is a leading multinational
manufacturer of specialty chemicals and mineral products.

      ISP HAS FILED A PRELIMINARY PROXY STATEMENT WITH THE U.S. SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION RELATING TO ISP'S SOLICITATION OF PROXIES FROM THE
SHAREHOLDERS OF DEXTER CORPORATION FOR USE AT DEXTER'S 2000 ANNUAL MEETING. ISP
STRONGLY ADVISES ALL DEXTER SHAREHOLDERS TO READ THE FINAL, DEFINITIVE PROXY
STATEMENT WHEN IT IS AVAILABLE BECAUSE IT WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION.
WHEN COMPLETED, THE FINAL DEFINITIVE PROXY STATEMENT AND A FORM OF PROXY WILL BE
MAILED TO ALL DEXTER SHAREHOLDERS AND WILL BE AVAILABLE AT NO CHARGE ON THE
SEC'S WEB SITE AT HTTP:\\WWW.SEC.GOV. THE PRELIMINARY PROXY STATEMENT IS
CURRENTLY AVAILABLE AT NO CHARGE ON THE SEC'S WEB SITE. INFORMATION RELATING TO
THE PARTICIPANTS IN ISP'S PROXY SOLICITATION IS CONTAINED IN THE PRELIMINARY
PROXY STATEMENT.

      This press release may contain "forward looking statements" within the
meaning of the federal securities laws with respect to the Company's financial
results and future operations and, as such, concerns matters that are not
historical facts. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that
could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in such
statements. Important factors that could cause such differences are discussed in
the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K, that is filed with the U.S. Securities
and Exchange Commission and are incorporated herein by reference.


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