================================================================================ SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION, WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549 -------------------- SCHEDULE TO (RULE 14D-100) TENDER OFFER STATEMENT UNDER SECTION 14(D) (1) OR 13(E) (1) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 DEXTER CORPORATION - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Name of Subject Company (Issuer)) ISP ACQUISITION CORP. (OFFEROR) a wholly owned subsidiary of INTERNATIONAL SPECIALTY PRODUCTS INC. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Names of Filing Persons (Identifying Status as Offeror, Issuer or Other Person)) Common Stock, par value $1.00 per share, together with associated Rights to Purchase Fractional Units of Preferred Stock - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Title of Class of Securities) 252165105 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (CUSIP Number of Class of Securities) Richard A. Weinberg, Esq. c/o ISP Management Company, Inc. 1361 Alps Road Wayne, New Jersey 07470 (973) 628-4000 COPY TO: Stephen E. Jacobs, Esq. Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP 767 Fifth Avenue New York, New York 10153 (212) 310-8320 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Name, Address and Telephone Numbers of Person Authorized to Receive Notices and Communications on Behalf of Filing Persons) NY2:\924024\01 CALCULATION OF FILING FEE - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Transaction Valuation Amount of Filing Fee not applicable not applicable - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [ ] Check the box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Rule 0-11(a) (2) and identify the filing with which the offsetting fee was previously paid. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing. Amount Previously Paid:______________________ Filing Party:___________________ Form or Registration No.:______________________ Date Filed:___________________ [X] Check the box if the filing relates solely to preliminary communications made before the commencement of a tender offer: Check the appropriate boxes below to designate any transactions to which the statement relates: [X] third-party tender offer subject to Rule 14d-1. [ ] issuer tender offer subject to Rule 13e-4. [ ] going-private transaction subject to Rule 13e-3. [ ] amendment to Schedule 13D under Rule 13d-2. Check the following box if the filing is a final amendment reporting the results of the tender offer: [ ] - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Wednesday, June 21, 2000 Edward G. Novotny & Associates, Inc. (212) 490-2065/2977 WAYNE, NJ--The following statement was released this afternoon by International Specialty Products Inc. Chairman Samuel J. Heyman, expanding on his earlier comments on Dexter Corporation's (NYSE: "DEX") announcement of proposed asset sales: "We continue to believe that our $45 per share cash tender offer is a full and fair one. While we are skeptical that Dexter's piecemeal liquidation plan announced today will provide shareholders with equal or superior value, only when the Company provides full disclosure concerning the details of its plan will shareholders be able to make an informed decision as to what is in their best interest. Moreover, Dexter's attempt to force these transactions upon its shareholders without their approval is in our opinion a blatant attempt to disenfranchise the Company's shareholders." * * * * International Specialty Products Inc. is a leading multinational manufacturer of specialty chemicals and mineral products. NY2:\925116\01 ISP HAS FILED A FINAL, DEFINITIVE 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 PROXY STATEMENT BECAUSE IT CONTAINS IMPORTANT INFORMATION. THE PROXY STATEMENT HAS BEEN MAILED TO ALL OWNERS OF DEXTER COMMON STOCK AS OF THE MAY 15 RECORD DATE AND IS AVAILABLE AT NO CHARGE ON THE SEC'S WEB SITE AT HTTP:\\WWW.SEC.GOV. DEXTER SHAREHOLDERS MAY ALSO OBTAIN THE PROXY STATEMENT FOR FREE FROM INNISFREE M&A INCORPORATED, BY CALLING (888) 750-5834. ISP INTENDS TO FILE AN OFFER TO PURCHASE AND A LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL WITH THE U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION RELATING TO ISP'S OFFER TO PURCHASE ALL OUTSTANDING SHARES OF COMMON STOCK OF DEXTER CORPORATION. ISP STRONGLY ADVISES ALL DEXTER SHAREHOLDERS TO READ THE OFFER TO PURCHASE AND LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL WHEN THEY ARE AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION RELATING TO THE OFFER. THESE DOCUMENTS WILL BE AVAILABLE AT NO CHARGE ON THE SEC'S WEBSITE AT HTTP:\\WWW.SEC.GOV AND MAY BE OBTAINED FOR FREE FROM INNISFREE M&A INCORPORATED, BY CALLING (888) 750-5834. 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. 2