CHATTEM INC
424B3, 1995-02-21
PHARMACEUTICAL PREPARATIONS
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<PAGE>
PROSPECTUS

                                     [LOGO]

                         417,182 SHARES OF COMMON STOCK

                                  ------------

    This  Prospectus relates to 417,182 shares of Common Stock of Chattem, Inc.,
a Tennessee corporation (the "Company"),  issuable upon exercise of  outstanding
warrants  (the  "Warrants")  previously  issued  by  the  Company  in  a private
placement of  75,000 Units  (the "Units")  consisting of  $75,000,000  principal
amount  of the Company's 12.75% Series A Senior Subordinated Notes due 2004 (the
"Old Notes")  and  the Warrants  to  Kidder,  Peabody &  Co.  Incorporated  (the
"Initial  Purchaser")  on June  17, 1994.  The Company,  on September  19, 1994,
completed an  exchange  offer  (the  "Exchange  Offer"),  in  which  $75,000,000
principal  amount of its 12.75% Series B Senior Subordinated Notes due 2004 (the
"Notes"), which  have been  registered  under the  Securities  Act of  1933,  as
amended (the "Securities Act"), pursuant to a Registration Statement on Form S-2
filed August 4, 1994, were issued in exchange for the outstanding Old Notes. The
Common  Stock issuable  pursuant to the  Warrants is being  offered hereunder in
order to satisfy the obligations of  the Company under the Warrant  Registration
Rights  Agreement  dated as  of  June 17,  1994  entered into  with  the Initial
Purchaser. All expenses of the registration of the Common Stock will be borne by
the Company.

    Each Warrant  entitles  the holder  thereof  to purchase  from  the  Company
5.56242  shares of  Common Stock at  an exercise  price of $7.15  per share. The
exercise price and the number of shares of Common Stock for which a Warrant  may
be exercised are subject to adjustment under certain circumstances. The Warrants
entitle the holders thereof to purchase in the aggregate approximately 5% of the
outstanding Common Stock on a fully diluted basis as of the date of the issuance
of the Warrants.

    The  Company's Common Stock is included on the National Market System of the
National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation System ("NASDAQ")
under the symbol "CHTT."

                              -------------------

    SEE "RISK FACTORS" FOR  A DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN  RISKS TO BE CONSIDERED  IN
CONNECTION WITH AN INVESTMENT IN THE COMMON STOCK.

                              -------------------

 THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND
    EXCHANGE  COMMISSION OR ANY  STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION  NOR HAS THE
       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE  COMMISSION OR  ANY STATE  SECURITIES
            COMMISSION  PASSED UPON THE  ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF
                THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO  THE
                          CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.

                THE DATE OF THIS PROSPECTUS IS FEBRUARY 21, 1995
<PAGE>
CHATTEM
OUR FAMILY OF CONSUMER BRANDS
[PHOTOGRAPH OF THE COMPANY'S PRIMARY CONSUMER PRODUCTS PACKAGED FOR RETAIL SALE]

                                       ii
<PAGE>
                             AVAILABLE INFORMATION

    The  Company has filed with the  Commission a Registration Statement on Form
S-3 under the Securities Act, for  the registration of the Common Stock  offered
hereby. This Prospectus, which constitutes a part of the Registration Statement,
does not contain all of the information set forth in the Registration Statement,
certain  items  of  which  are  contained  in  exhibits  and  schedules  to  the
Registration Statement  as  permitted  by  the  rules  and  regulations  of  the
Commission.  For further information with respect  to the Company and the Common
Stock offered hereby, reference is made to the Registration Statement, including
the exhibits  thereto,  filed  as  a  part  thereof.  Statements  made  in  this
Prospectus  concerning the contents  of any document referred  to herein are not
necessarily complete.  With  respect  to  each  such  document  filed  with  the
Commission as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, reference is made to the
exhibit  for a more complete  description of the matter  involved, and each such
statement shall be deemed qualified in its entirety by such reference.

    The Company is subject to  the informational requirements of the  Securities
Exchange  Act  of 1934,  as  amended (the  "Exchange  Act"), and,  in accordance
therewith, files  reports,  proxy  statements and  other  information  with  the
Commission. Reports, proxy statements and other information filed by the Company
with  the  Commission  may  be  inspected and  copied  at  the  public reference
facilities maintained by the  Commission at Room 1024,  450 Fifth Street,  N.W.,
Judiciary  Plaza,  Washington D.C.  20549-1004,  and at  the  following Regional
Offices of the Commission: Chicago Regional Office, Northwestern Atrium  Center,
500  West  Madison Street,  Suite 1400,  Chicago, Illinois  60621; and  New York
Regional Office, 7  World Trade Center,  13th Floor, New  York, New York  10048.
Copies of such material may also be obtained at prescribed rates from the Public
Reference Section of the Commission at its principal office at 450 Fifth Street,
N.W.,  Judiciary Plaza, Washington, D.C.  20549-1004. The Company's common stock
is listed on  the National  Association of Securities  Dealers Inc.'s  Automated
Quotation System National Market System under the symbol "CHTT."

    Pursuant to the Warrant Registration Rights Agreement, so long as any of the
Warrants are outstanding, whether or not the Company is subject to the reporting
requirements  of Section  13(a) or  15(d) of  the Exchange  Act, the  Company is
obligated to submit for filing with the Commission the annual reports, quarterly
reports and other documents  that the Company would  have been required to  file
with  the Commission  pursuant to  Section 13(a)  or 15(d)  if the  Company were
subject to such reporting requirements.

    In addition, so long  as any of the  Warrants remain outstanding and  during
any  period in which  the Company is not  subject to Section 13  or 15(d) of the
Exchange Act,  the Company  has  agreed to  make  available to  any  prospective
purchaser of the Warrants or beneficial owner of the Warrants in connection with
any  sale  thereof  the  information  required  by  Rule  144A(d)(4)  under  the
Securities Act.  The Company  has  agreed to  keep this  Registration  Statement
effective for a period of not less than five years and, in certain instances, to
amend and/or supplement the Prospectus, as necessary to permit resales.

               INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE

    The  Company's Annual Report  on Form 10-K  for the year  ended November 30,
1993, its Quarterly  Reports on Form  10-Q for the  quarters ended February  28,
1994,  May 31, 1994 and  August 31, 1994, its Current  Reports on Form 8-K dated
May 12, 1994 and June  23, 1994 and its  final prospectus included in  Amendment
No.  1 to Registration Statement on Form S-2 (File No. 33-80770) dated August 4,
1994, which have been filed by the Company with the Commission, are incorporated
by reference herein.  All documents  filed by  the Company  pursuant to  Section
13(a),  13(c) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act  after the date of the Prospectus and
prior to termination  of this  offering shall be  deemed to  be incorporated  by
reference  herein and to be a part of this Prospectus from the date of filing of
such documents. Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed  to
be incorporated herein by reference shall be deemed to be modified or superseded
for   purposes  of  this  Prospectus  to  the  extent  that  such  statement  is
inconsistent with a statement contained herein. Any statement as so modified  or
superseded  shall not be deemed to constitute  a part of this Prospectus, except
as so modified or superseded.

    The Company will provide, without charge,  upon written or oral request,  to
each  person to  whom a  copy of  this Prospectus  is delivered,  a copy  of any
documents  incorporated  by  reference  herein  (other  than  exhibits  to  such
document,  unless such exhibits are  specifically incorporated by reference into
the information that  this Prospectus  incorporates). Requests  for such  copies
should  be directed  to the Company's  principal executive offices  at 1715 West
38th Street,  Chattanooga,  Tennessee  37409,  Attention:  Robert  E.  Bosworth;
telephone number (615) 821-4571.

                                      iii
<PAGE>
                               PROSPECTUS SUMMARY

    THE  FOLLOWING SUMMARY  IS QUALIFIED  IN ITS  ENTIRETY BY  THE MORE DETAILED
INFORMATION AND  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS,  INCLUDING THE  NOTES THERETO,  APPEARING
ELSEWHERE  OR INCORPORATED BY  REFERENCE IN THIS  PROSPECTUS. REFERENCES IN THIS
PROSPECTUS TO  THE  "COMPANY" SHALL  MEAN  CHATTEM, INC.  AND  ITS  CONSOLIDATED
SUBSIDIARIES, UNLESS THE CONTEXT OTHERWISE REQUIRES.

                                  THE COMPANY

    The  Company is a diversified manufacturer and marketer of consumer products
and specialty chemicals.  Through its  consumer products  division, the  Company
manufactures  and markets branded over-the-counter ("OTC") pharmaceuticals, such
as  FLEX-  ALL   454-Registered  Trademark-,   ICY  HOT-Registered   Trademark-,
PAMPRIN-Registered    Trademark-,   PREMSYN    PMS-Registered   Trademark-   and
NORWICH-Registered Trademark- aspirin, and functional toiletries and  cosmetics,
including   CORN  SILK-Registered  Trademark-,  BULLFROG-Registered  Trademark-,
ULTRASWIM-Registered Trademark-, SUN-IN-Registered Trademark- and
MUDD-Registered Trademark-. The Company's specialty chemicals division develops,
manufactures  and  sells  value-added  specialty  chemicals,  such  as  aluminum
hydroxides,  aluminum derivatives and glycine, to selected industries, including
the pharmaceutical and printing ink industries.

    The objective of the Company's consumer  products division is to offer  high
quality  brand name  products in  niche market  segments in  which the Company's
products can be  among the market  leaders. The Company  strives to achieve  its
objective  by  identifying  brands  with  favorable  demographic  appeal,  being
flexible in modifying products and  promotions in response to changing  consumer
demands  and developing  creative and  cost-effective marketing  and advertising
programs. The Company manufactures substantially all of its consumer products.

    The Company anticipates that its consumer products division will continue to
expand through a combination of brand acquisitions and internal growth.  Between
1986  and 1991, the Company acquired five  brands, two of which are FLEX-ALL 454
and ICY  HOT, which  place  the Company  as the  market  leader in  the  topical
analgesic  market.  Other brands  acquired during  this period  include NORWICH,
BULLFROG and ULTRASWIM. The Company's acquisition strategy is to identify brands
that are embryonic or have  unrealized potential, which can complement  existing
brands,  and which can be among the leaders in attractive niche market segments.
Since 1991, the Company has relied on internal growth with programs designed  to
capitalize  on the value of existing brands  and product line extensions such as
Maximum Strength FLEX-ALL 454-Registered Trademark- introduced in 1993.

    The objective of the Company's  specialty chemicals division is to  develop,
manufacture  and  sell  value-added  specialty  chemicals  to  selected industry
segments in which the Company is or can  be among the market leaders and a  high
value  provider. Products supplied by the Company's specialty chemicals division
are generally  essential  elements of  a  customer's manufacturing  process  but
represent  only a relatively small portion of the customer's overall cost in the
process. The Company believes its specialty chemicals division can capitalize on
its technical strength and strong  customer relationships to expand through  the
development  of new  products and  the application  of existing  products to new
uses.

                              RECENT DEVELOPMENTS

    On June  11,  1993, the  Company  paid  a special  cash  dividend  ("Special
Dividend")  of $20.00 per  share to holders  of its common  stock. In connection
with the payment  of the  Special Dividend, the  Company borrowed  approximately
$97.0 million under a $100.0 million senior secured bank agreement consisting of
a  $75 million  term loan facility  divided into  a $63 million  facility with a
6.1875% interest rate at  November 30, 1993  and a $12  million facility with  a
6.9735%  interest rate at November  30, 1993 and a  $25 million revolving credit
facility with a 6.035% weighted average interest rate at November 30, 1993 ("Old
Credit Agreement"), which  was repaid  in full with  the net  proceeds from  the
issuance  of the Units together with a portion  of the proceeds from a new $55.0
million revolving credit facility ("New Credit Agreement"). The financing of the
Special Dividend  resulted in  a  substantial increase  in the  Company's  total
indebtedness. See "Recent Developments".

                                       1
<PAGE>
    On  May 12,  1994, the  Company acquired  Benzodent-Registered Trademark-, a
topical oral  analgesic,  from  The  Procter &  Gamble  Company.  The  Benzodent
business  acquired  consisted  principally of  trademarks  and  finished product
inventories. Benzodent, a denture analgesic  cream in an adhesive base,  expands
the Company's current specialty analgesic presence by complementing FLEX-ALL 454
and  ICY HOT in the topical analgesics market and PAMPRIN and PREMSYN PMS in the
menstrual analgesics category.  The Company financed  the purchase of  Benzodent
with borrowings under its Old Credit Agreement.

    On    June   17,   1994,   the   Company   acquired   a   license   to   the
pHisoDerm-Registered Trademark-  trademark  in  the United  States,  Canada  and
Puerto  Rico (the  "Territory"), together  with certain  other pHisoDerm related
assets from Sterling Winthrop Inc. ("Sterling").  pHisoDerm is a unique line  of
specialty  skin cleansers with annual sales in  the Territory in excess of $10.0
million. Sterling retained  certain hospital and  other institutional  pHisoDerm
sales  in  the  Territory,  the  related pHisohex  product  line  and  all pHiso
businesses outside the  Territory. The  purchase price  for the  license of  the
pHisoDerm  in the Territory and the other assets was $16.0 million. If net sales
of pHisoDerm products in the United States only exceed (i) $10.0 million for the
12-month period beginning July 1,  1994 and ending June  30, 1995 or (ii)  $11.0
million  for either of the  12-month periods beginning July  1, 1995 and July 1,
1996, respectively, and ending  June 30, 1996 and  June 30, 1997,  respectively,
then within 45 days after the end of the applicable 12-month period with respect
to  which the applicable net sales threshold  specified in (i) or (ii) above has
been exceeded, the Company will pay Sterling $1.0 million for such year.

    Despite the  high level  of  consumer awareness  and broad  distribution  of
Benzodent and pHisoDerm, sales of each product have declined over the past three
years. The Company believes that this decline with respect to pHisoDerm sales is
primarily  attributable to the decision by Sterling to cease all advertising for
pHisoDerm since  1991. In  1993, Benzodent  and pHisoDerm  had strong  operating
margins  and  market  positions despite  the  relative lack  of  advertising and
promotion expenditures by their owners. The Company intends to increase spending
on advertising and  promotion in an  effort to increase  each brand's sales  and
market share.

    Also  on  June 17,  1994, the  Company  sold the  Units consisting  of $75.0
million aggregate principal amount of the Old Notes, issued at an original issue
discount of 98.623% of principal amount,  with the Warrants to purchase  417,182
shares  of Company common stock at $7.15  per share to the Initial Purchaser and
entered into the New Credit Agreement. The last reported sales price on the  day
prior  to  the issuance  of the  Warrants was  $6.50 per  share. The  New Credit
Agreement includes a  $20.0 million  term loan with  a 8.000%  interest rate  at
November  30,  1994, a  $22.5  million working  capital  facility with  a 8.300%
weighted average interest rate at November 30, 1994 and a $12.5 million facility
for future  acquisitions,  with respect  to  which  no funds  were  borrowed  at
November  30,  1994.  The proceeds  of  the  financings were  used  to  fund the
pHisoDerm acquisition and repay all  existing indebtedness under the Old  Credit
Agreement,  and  will  be  used  for  working  capital  and  to  make additional
acquisitions.

    On September 19, 1994, the Company completed the Exchange Offer in which the
Notes, which were registered under the  Securities Act, were issued in  exchange
for the Old Notes.

                                       2
<PAGE>
                                   THE OFFERING

<TABLE>
<S>                                 <C>
Securities Offered................  Up  to 417,182 shares of the Company's Common Stock, all
                                    of which are  being offered by  the Company pursuant  to
                                    the  exercise of  the Warrants  at an  exercise price of
                                    $7.15 per share.

Registration Rights Agreement.....  Pursuant to a purchase agreement dated June 10, 1994, by
                                    and between  the Company  and its  subsidiaries and  the
                                    Initial   Purchaser  (the   "Purchase  Agreement"),  the
                                    Company and the Initial Purchaser entered into a Warrant
                                    Registration Rights Agreement dated as of June 17,  1994
                                    (the  "Registration Rights Agreement"), which grants the
                                    holders of the Warrants certain registration rights. The
                                    offer made hereby is intended to satisfy such  registra-
                                    tion rights.

Common Stock Outstanding After the
 Offering (1).....................  7,709,381 shares.

Use of Proceeds...................  Proceeds  to  the  Company  from  the  exercise  of  the
                                    Warrants will be used for general corporate purposes.

NASDAQ Symbol.....................  CHTT.
<FN>
- ------------------------
(1)  Assumes the exercise of  all of the Warrants  and that outstanding  options
     granted to employees are not exercised.
</TABLE>

                                       3
<PAGE>
                              RECENT DEVELOPMENTS

    On  June 11, 1993, the Company paid the Special Dividend of $20.00 per share
to holders of its Common Stock. In connection with its determination to  declare
the Special Dividend, the Company retained Houlihan, Lokey, Howard & Zukin, Inc.
("HLHZ")  to conduct a valuation of the  Company's assets and liabilities and to
furnish an opinion  to the Board  in connection therewith.  Under the  Tennessee
Business  Corporation  Act  ("TBCA"),  it is  unlawful  to  make  a distribution
(including the cash distribution  reflected by the  Special Dividend) if,  after
giving  effect to the transaction, (i) the  corporation would not be able to pay
its debts  as they  become due  in the  usual course  of business,  or (ii)  the
corporation's  total assets would be less than  the sum of its total liabilities
plus the amount that would be needed, if the corporation were to be dissolved at
the  time  of  the  distribution,  to  satisfy  the  preferential  rights   upon
dissolution  of  shareholders whose  preferential rights  are superior  to those
receiving the distribution. Based in part upon the valuation and opinion of HLHZ
and in accordance with Section 48-16-401 of the TBCA, the Board determined prior
to the declaration of the Special Dividend  that (i) the fair saleable value  of
the  Company's  total  assets  would  exceed  the  Company's  stated liabilities
including the amount, if any, that  would be needed to satisfy the  preferential
rights of shareholders, (ii) the Company should be able to pay its debts as they
become  due in the usual course of business  and (iii) the Company does not have
unreasonable small capital to carry on its business as management has  indicated
it  is  now  conducted  and  as  it  was  proposed  to  be  conducted  following
consummation of  the  Special  Dividend  transaction.  Payment  of  the  Special
Dividend  was contingent upon confirmation  by HLHZ of such  opinion on the date
the Special Dividend was paid.

    In order to  pay the  Special Dividend and  related fees  and expenses,  the
Company  borrowed  approximately  $97.0  million  pursuant  to  the  Old  Credit
Agreement with First Union National Bank of North Carolina ("First Union  Bank")
and  a syndicate of  banks. In addition  to the loan  proceeds, the Company sold
1,866,667 shares of its Common Stock  to First Union Capital Partners, Inc.,  an
affiliate  of First Union Bank,  for $7.50 per share,  for an aggregate price of
$14.0 million before offering expenses. The Company also used $4.75 million from
the sale of  certain investments and  $1.0 million from  available cash for  the
Special   Dividend.  The  purpose  of  the   Special  Dividend  was  to  provide
shareholders with  a substantial  immediate return  on their  investment in  the
Common  Stock, to enable shareholders to retain a significant ownership interest
in the Company,  to continue  to share  in its  future growth  prospects and  to
utilize  leverage to achieve an  earnings per share growth  rate that is greater
than if the Special Dividend transaction had not been effected.

    The payment of the Special Dividend effected a leveraged recapitalization of
the Company that significantly increased indebtedness of the Company and created
a shareholders' deficit. On the basis of management's forecast of operations  at
the  time of the Special Dividend, which assumed that operating results would be
unaffected by the Special  Dividend except for  increased interest expense,  the
earnings  per share growth  rate calculated from  the first full  year after the
Special Dividend  transaction would  be  greater than  if the  Special  Dividend
transaction  had  not occurred  because  the repayment  of  indebtedness reduces
interest expense (and thus increases net income) over time. Management continues
to expect that  the growth  rate will  be higher  than if  the Special  Dividend
transaction  had not occurred,  although the rate  of increase may  be less than
forecasted at the time of the Special Dividend as a result of the refinancing of
indebtedness in June 1994 with the proceeds  from the issuance of the Notes  and
the  New Credit  Agreement, which  requires smaller  principal payments  and has
higher interest rates than under the Old Credit Agreement.

    The funding  of the  Special  Dividend resulted  in a  substantial  negative
balance  in the Company's  shareholders' equity and  significantly increased the
use of leverage in the Company's capital structure. The increase in debt has had
several important consequences for the Company's financial position and  results
of  operations,  including  a  significant  increase  in  interest  expense  and
principal repayment  obligations, which  have  required substantial  amounts  of
cash. The amount and terms of the Company's debt and the resulting shareholders'
deficit  have  limited the  ability  of the  Company  to effect  additional debt
financing. Since the  Special Dividend transaction,  the Company has  refinanced
its debt obligations with the proceeds from the issuance of the Notes, which has
fixed  the  interest rate  payable  on a  significant  portion of  the Company's
indebtedness and reduced expenses related to  amortization of debt, and the  New
Credit Agreement, which

                                       4
<PAGE>
includes  a $22.5 million working capital  facility and a $12.5 million facility
for future acquisitions.  Moreover, the Company  has completed two  acquisitions
that are anticipated to contribute toward future interest and debt repayments.

    During  fiscal 1993,  several factors  adversely affected  the Company's net
sales and profits. First, factory  shipments significantly trailed retail  sales
as  measured by A.C. Nielsen reflecting inventory reductions at the trade level.
Second, the  Company's  specialty  chemicals division  lost  the  Warner-Lambert
Company   ("Warner-Lambert")  as  a  customer  in   July  as  a  result  of  the
reformulation  of  its  Rolaids-Registered   Trademark-  product  line.  On   an
annualized basis, Warner-Lambert had accounted for approximately $4.0 million of
the  division's  sales  of  DASC  and  recovered  alcohol  byproducts.  Finally,
unfavorable foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations adversely impacted sales
and profits of the Company's international consumer products division.

    For the  year ended  November 30,  1993, the  Company also  recognized  $5.5
million  of pretax nonrecurring  charges, a $480,000  (net of tax) extraordinary
loss and  a  $569,000 net  benefit  from the  cumulative  effect of  changes  in
accounting  principles.  The  nonrecurring  charges  principally  reflected  the
restructuring of  the  Company's  international operations,  a  noncash  expense
related  to the  repricing of  stock options  undertaken as  a component  of the
Special Dividend transaction and, to a  lesser extent, a reduction in  corporate
staffing. The extraordinary loss related to the early extinguishment of debt was
recognized  in the first quarter of fiscal 1993. Finally, an expense of $731,000
(net of tax)  and a  benefit of  $1.3 million  were recorded  pertaining to  the
adoption  in  1993  of Statements  of  Financial Accounting  Standards  No. 106,
"Employers' Accounting for Postretirement  Benefits Other Than Pensions"  ("SFAS
106") and No. 109, "Accounting for Income Taxes" ("SFAS 109"), respectively.

    On  May 12,  1994, the  Company acquired  Benzodent-Registered Trademark-, a
topical oral  analgesic,  from  The  Procter &  Gamble  Company.  The  Benzodent
business  acquired  consisted  principally of  trademarks  and  finished product
inventories. Benzodent, a denture analgesic  cream in an adhesive base,  expands
the Company's current specialty analgesic presence by complementing FLEX-ALL 454
and  ICY HOT in the topical analgesics market and PAMPRIN and PREMSYN PMS in the
menstrual analgesics category.  The Company financed  the purchase of  Benzodent
with borrowings under its Old Credit Agreement.

    On    June   17,   1994,   the   Company   acquired   a   license   to   the
pHisoDerm-Registered Trademark-  trademark  in  the United  States,  Canada  and
Puerto  Rico (the  "Territory"), together  with certain  other pHisoDerm related
assets from Sterling.  pHisoDerm is a  unique line of  specialty skin  cleansers
with  annual sales in  the Territory in  excess of $10.0  million. Sterling will
retain  certain  hospital  and  other  institutional  pHisoDerm  sales  in   the
Territory,  the related pHisohex  product line and  all pHiso businesses outside
the Territory. The purchase price for the license of pHisoDerm in the  Territory
and  the other assets was  $16.0 million. If net  sales of pHisoDerm products in
the United  States  only  exceed  (i) $10.0  million  for  the  12-month  period
beginning July 1, 1994 and ending June 30, 1995 or (ii) $11.0 million for either
of  the 12-month periods beginning July 1,  1995 and July 1, 1996, respectively,
and ending June 30, 1996  and June 30, 1997,  respectively, then within 45  days
after  the  end of  the applicable  12-month  period with  respect to  which the
applicable net sales threshold specified in (i) or (ii) above has been exceeded,
the Company will pay Sterling $1.0 million for such year.

    Despite the  high level  of  consumer awareness  and broad  distribution  of
Benzodent and pHisoDerm, sales of each product have declined over the past three
years.  The Company  believes that  this decline as  it relates  to pHisoDerm is
primarily attributable to the decision by Sterling to cease all advertising with
respect to pHisoDerm  since 1991. In  1993, Benzodent and  pHisoDerm had  strong
operating  margins and market positions despite the relative lack of advertising
and promotion  expenditures by  their owners.  The Company  intends to  increase
spending  on advertising  and promotion  in an  effort to  increase each brand's
sales and market share.

    Also on June 17,  1994, the Company sold  Units consisting of $75.0  million
aggregate  principal  amount of  the  Old Notes  with  the Warrants  to purchase
417,182 shares of common stock at $7.15  per share to the Initial Purchaser  and
entered into the New Credit Agreement. The New Credit Agreement includes a $20.0
million  term loan, a $22.5 million working capital facility and a $12.5 million
facility for future

                                       5
<PAGE>
acquisitions. The proceeds  of the financings  were used to  fund the  pHisoDerm
acquisition  and repay all existing indebtedness under the Old Credit Agreement,
and will be used for working capital and to make additional acquisitions.

    The refinancing of the Old Credit  Agreement with the issuance of the  Notes
and  the Warrants and the proceeds from the New Credit Agreement has resulted in
a reduction in annual debt service obligations and exposure to variable interest
rates, although indebtedness under the New Credit Agreement will continue to  be
at  variable rates, since the Notes provide  for payments of interest only until
maturity and bear interest at  a fixed rate. Prior to  maturity of the Notes  on
June  15, 2004, the Company  will have to either  refinance its obligations with
respect to the Notes, sell assets or raise equity capital to repay the principal
amount of the  Notes, since the  company does not  currently expect to  generate
sufficient  cash  flow from  operations  to make  the  principal payment  due at
maturity on the Notes. Moreover, the Warrants obligate the Company to issue  the
underlying  shares of common stock  upon payment of the  exercise price of $7.15
per share during  the five year  term regardless of  the then prevailing  market
price of the Common Stock.

    On September 19, 1994, the Company completed the Exchange Offer in which the
Notes,  which were registered under the  Securities Act, were issued in exchange
for the Old Notes.

    The Company's operations  continue to  be impacted by  the Special  Dividend
transaction.  The consequences to the  Company have been significantly increased
interest expense and debt repayment obligations, and thus greater  vulnerability
to  adverse  business  conditions.  These factors  have  adversely  affected the
Company's net  income and,  to  a lesser  extent,  operating income.  Until  the
Company's  indebtedness is reduced significantly,  the Company's net income will
likely continue to  be adversely affected  as a result  of the Special  Dividend
transaction.

                                       6
<PAGE>
                                  RISK FACTORS

    THE  FOLLOWING RISK FACTORS IN ADDITION TO THE OTHER INFORMATION INCLUDED OR
INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE IN THIS  PROSPECTUS SHOULD BE CAREFULLY CONSIDERED  IN
CONNECTION WITH AN INVESTMENT IN THE COMMON STOCK.

LEVERAGE AND DEBT SERVICE

    As  of  August 31,  1994, the  Company's long-term  debt was  $103.1 million
(including $2.5 million in current  maturities) and the Company's  shareholders'
deficit  was $31.2 million. The Company may incur additional indebtedness in the
future, subject  to certain  limitations imposed  by law  and contained  in  the
instruments  governing its indebtedness. The Company  will continue to be highly
leveraged, although  its annual  debt service  obligations and  its exposure  to
variable interest rates was reduced as a result of the issuance of the Units.

    The   degree  to  which  the  Company  is  leveraged  could  have  important
consequences to holders  of the Warrants  and Common Stock,  including, but  not
limited  to,  the  following: (i)  the  Company's ability  to  obtain additional
financing in the future for working capital, capital expenditures, acquisitions,
general corporate purposes or other purposes may be limited or become  impaired;
(ii) certain of the Company's borrowings are and will continue to be at variable
rates  of interest, which could result in  higher interest expenses in the event
of increases in interest  rates; and (iii) such  indebtedness contains and  will
contain  financial and restrictive  covenants, the failure  to comply with which
may result in an event  of default which, if not  cured or waived, could have  a
material adverse effect on the Company.

    The  Notes will mature on  June 15, 2004. The  Company believes that it will
generate sufficient cash flow from operations  to be able to make the  scheduled
interest  and principal  payments under  the New  Credit Agreement  and interest
payments under the  Notes, although  the Company  does not  currently expect  to
generate  sufficient cash flow from operations to make the principal payment due
at maturity on the Notes. Accordingly, the Company will have to either refinance
its obligations with  respect to  the Notes prior  to maturity,  sell assets  or
raise  equity capital to repay the principal  amount of the Notes. The Company's
ability to make  its principal  payment under the  Notes, sell  assets or  raise
equity  capital depends  on its financial  and operating  performance, which, in
turn, is subject to  prevailing economic conditions  and to financial,  business
and other factors, some of which are beyond its control. The Company's cash flow
from  its operations and borrowings have  been sufficient to meet its historical
obligations under substantially less indebtedness than has existed following the
payment of the Special  Dividend. There can be  no assurance that the  Company's
cash  flow  from  operations  will  continue to  be  sufficient  or  that future
borrowing facilities or other sources of funds will be available for the payment
or refinancing of the Notes or the Company's other indebtedness.

RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS

    The New Credit Agreement and the Indenture with respect to the Notes contain
various operating covenants including, among others, restrictions on the ability
of the  Company to  incur  additional indebtedness,  to  create liens  or  other
encumbrances, to make certain payments and investments, and to sell or otherwise
dispose  of assets and merge or consolidate  with another entity. The New Credit
Agreement and the Indenture also require  the Company to meet certain  financial
ratios  and tests, including  a minimum net  worth test, a  minimum fixed charge
coverage ratio  and a  maximum leverage  ratio. Any  failure of  the Company  to
comply with the covenants contained in the New Credit Agreement or the Indenture
could result in an event of default under either the New Credit Agreement or the
Indenture  which  could permit  acceleration of  the obligations  thereunder and
acceleration of debt under other instruments that may contain cross-acceleration
or cross-default provisions.  Other indebtedness  of the  Company could  contain
financial  and other  covenants more  restrictive than  those applicable  to the
Notes.

SHAREHOLDERS' DEFICIT

    Primarily as a result of the payment of the Special Dividend,  shareholders'
equity  of the Company changed from  approximately $58.6 million at November 30,
1992 to a deficit of approximately $31.2 million at August 31, 1994.

STATE LAW LIMITATIONS ON DISTRIBUTIONS

    Under the  Tennessee Business  Corporation Act,  it is  unlawful to  make  a
distribution  if, after  giving effect to  the transaction,  (i) the corporation
would  not   be  able   to  pay   its  debts   as  they   become  due   in   the

                                       7
<PAGE>
usual  course of business, or (ii) the  corporation's total assets would be less
than the sum of its total liabilities  plus the amount that would be needed,  if
the corporation were to be dissolved at the time of the distribution, to satisfy
the  preferential  rights upon  dissolution  of shareholders  whose preferential
rights are superior to those  receiving the distribution. Distributions  include
any  direct or  indirect transfer  of money or  other property  or incurrence of
indebtedness by  a corporation  to or  for the  benefit of  its shareholders  in
respect  of any of its shares and may be  in the form of a dividend, a purchase,
redemption or other  acquisition of  shares, a distribution  of indebtedness  or
otherwise.  The Company presently  intends to retain  earnings to finance future
growth, service indebtedness  and for  general corporate purposes  and does  not
presently  intend to pay dividends  on its capital stock.  The Indenture and the
New Credit Agreement restrict the payment of distributions.

COMPETITION

    The OTC pharmaceutical and functional toiletry products markets in which the
Company competes are highly  competitive. The markets  are characterized by  the
frequent  introduction of new  products, including the  movement of prescription
drugs to the OTC market, often accompanied by major advertising and  promotional
programs. The Company competes primarily on the basis of product quality, price,
brand  loyalty and consumer acceptance.  The Company's competitors include other
OTC pharmaceutical  companies and  large consumer  products companies,  many  of
which  have  considerably greater  financial  and marketing  resources  than the
Company. The products  offered by these  companies are often  supported by  much
larger  advertising  and promotional  expenditures and  are generally  backed by
larger sales  forces. In  addition, the  Company's competitors  have often  been
willing  to  use  aggressive spending  on  trade  promotions as  a  strategy for
building market  share  at  the  expense of  their  competitors,  including  the
Company.   The  private  label  products  have  also  become  increasingly  more
competitive in  certain  of the  Company's  product categories.  Another  factor
affecting   the  OTC  pharmaceutical  and  toiletry  products  business  is  the
consolidation of retailers  and increasingly more  competitive negotiations  for
access to shelf space.

    In  the specialty chemicals  division, the Company competes  on the basis of
product quality, technical service and price. In the principal markets currently
served by the specialty chemicals division, there are a limited number of  firms
with which the Company competes.

GOVERNMENT REGULATION

    The  Company's products  are generally subject  to governmental regulations,
primarily those of the Federal Food and Drug Administration (the "FDA"). Certain
of the Company's consumer products are regulated  by the FDA as OTC drugs,  with
the  rest of the products being regulated as "cosmetics." All such products must
comply with FDA regulations governing the safety of the products themselves  and
the   ingredients   used  in   their  manufacture.   FDA  regulations   for  all
pharmaceuticals products also include requirements for product labeling and  for
adherence to "current good manufacturing practices."

    All  of the Company's OTC drug products  are regulated pursuant to the FDA's
"monograph" system for OTC drugs. The monographs set out the active  ingredients
and  labeling indications that are permitted for certain broad categories of OTC
drug products,  such  as  topical  analgesics.  Compliance  with  the  monograph
provisions  means that the product is generally recognized as safe and effective
and is not  misbranded. Future  changes in the  monographs could  result in  the
Company having to revise product labeling and formulations.

    The  Company has supplied data to the  FDA in connection with the OTC review
process with respect to pyrilamine maleate, one of the three active  ingredients
used  in the PAMPRIN and PREMSYN PMS  products, to support the classification of
pyrilamine maleate as a generally  recognized safe and effective ingredient  for
menstrual  relief products. Based on study results and marketing experience, the
Company believes  that further  clinical testing  of pyrilamine  maleate may  be
required.  Although the  exact requirements  of the  final monographs  cannot be
predicted, it is possible that pyrilamine maleate will no longer be permitted to
be indicated for relief from  the "negative effects cluster," including  tension
and  irritability. The Company has been actively monitoring the process and does
not believe that its  OTC drug brands will  be materially adversely affected  by
the  FDA review. The Company believes that  any adverse finding by the FDA would
likewise affect the  Company's principal  competitors in  the menstrual  product
category.

    With  regard to all of the Company's products, the FDA may revise applicable
regulations or provide new interpretations  of existing regulations which  could
necessitate product labeling changes, reformulation

                                       8
<PAGE>
or other changes in the Company's products or the conduct of its business. While
it  is  impossible to  predict the  impact of  future FDA  actions, to  date the
Company has not been adversely  affected as a result  of compliance with FDA  or
state regulations.

    In  addition to the FDA regulations  discussed above, the Company is subject
to numerous other statutory  and regulatory restrictions, including  regulations
relating  to product packaging.  As a result  of an agreement  with the Consumer
Product Safety Commission, the Company will  change the packaging of certain  of
its PAMPRIN products to child resistant packaging, even though there has been no
consumer  safety claims filed  related to the current  package. This change will
take approximately one year to complete and will require new packaging equipment
at a  cost of  approximately $500,000.  The  Company does  not expect  that  the
repackaging will materially adversely affect PAMPRIN's sales or the market share
of that product generally.

    The Company is continually engaged in assessing compliance of its operations
with  applicable federal, state and local  health, safety and environmental laws
and regulations, including those pertaining to underground storage tanks,  clean
air  rules and the likely designation of a site in the vicinity of the Company's
manufacturing facility as a National Priorities List Superfund site.

PRODUCT LIABILITY AND INSURANCE

    An inherent risk of the Company's business is exposure to product  liability
claims brought by users of the Company's products or others. The Company has not
had  any material claims in the past ten  years and is not aware of any material
claims pending  against the  Company or  its products.  While the  Company  will
continue  to attempt  to take what  it considers to  be appropriate precautions,
there can  be no  assurance that  it will  avoid significant  product  liability
exposure.  The  Company, through  HBA Insurance  Limited, its  captive insurance
company subsidiary, maintains product liability insurance that it believes to be
adequate; however, there can be no assurance that it will be able to retain  its
existing  coverage or that such coverage will be cost-justified or sufficient to
satisfy future claims, if any.

SEASONALITY

    During recent fiscal years, the Company's first quarter net sales and income
have trailed the other  fiscal quarters on  average from 25%  to 35% because  of
slower  sales of  international consumer  products and  the relative  absence of
promotional campaigns during this quarter.

DEPENDENCE ON SENIOR MANAGEMENT

    The Company's future performance  will depend to  a significant degree  upon
the efforts and abilities of certain members of senior management, in particular
those  of Zan  Guerry, Chairman  of the Board  and Chief  Executive Officer, and
Robert E. Bosworth, Executive  Vice President and  Chief Financial Officer.  The
Company has recently restructured certain of its management responsibilities. As
a result of this restructuring, the Company will become even more reliant on the
services  of Messrs. Guerry and Bosworth. The  loss of the services of either of
Messrs. Guerry or Bosworth could have an adverse effect on the Company.

VOLATILITY OF STOCK PRICE

    The trading  price of  the  Common Stock  could  be subject  to  significant
fluctuations  in  response  to  variations  in  the  results  of  the  Company's
operations, its leveraged  financial position,  general trends  in the  consumer
products industry and stock market conditions generally.

DIVIDEND POLICY

    The  Company  intends  to  retain  its earnings,  if  any,  for  use  in its
operations  and  repayment  of  outstanding  indebtedness  and  has  no  current
intention of paying dividends to the holders of Common Stock.

                                USE OF PROCEEDS

    In  the event that all of  the currently outstanding Warrants are exercised,
of which there can  be no assurance,  the Company will  receive net proceeds  of
approximately  $2.9  million. The  net proceeds  from  exercise of  the Warrants
received by the Company will be considered uncommitted funds that may be used by
the Company for general corporate purposes.

                                       9
<PAGE>
                              PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

    The shares of Common Stock received pursuant to the exercise of Warrants may
be  sold from time to  time in one or  more transactions in the over-the-counter
market, in negotiated transactions, through the writing of options on the Common
Stock or a combination of such methods of resale, at market prices prevailing at
the time of resale,  at prices related  to such prevailing  market prices or  at
negotiated  prices. Any such resale may be  made directly to purchasers or to or
through brokers  or  dealers  who  may  receive  compensation  in  the  form  of
commissions  or concessions from any such broker-dealer and/or the purchasers of
any such Common Stock. Any person  that resells Common Stock that were  received
by  it for its own  account pursuant to the exercise  of Warrants and any person
that participates in  a distribution  of Common  Stock may  be deemed  to be  an
"underwriter"  within the meaning  of the Securities  Act and any  profit on any
such resale of Common Stock and  any commissions or concessions received by  any
such  person may be deemed to  be underwriting compensation under the Securities
Act. The Company has no arrangement  or understanding with any broker or  dealer
to distribute the Common Stock received upon the exercise of Warrants.

    Under  applicable rules and  regulations under the  Exchange Act, any person
engaged in the distribution of the Common Stock may not simultaneously engage in
market making activities with respect  to the Common Stock  for a period of  two
business  days prior to  the commencement of such  distribution. In addition and
without limiting the foregoing, each such  person will be subject to  applicable
provisions  of  the  Exchange  Act and  the  rules  and  regulations thereunder,
including, without limitation, rules 10b-6 and 10b-7, which may limit the timing
and purchases  and  sales of  the  Common Stock  by  such persons.  All  of  the
foregoing may affect the marketability of the Common Stock.

    At  the  time a  particular  offer of  Common  Stock is  made,  a Prospectus
Supplement, if required, will be distributed which will set forth the  aggregate
amount  of Common Stock being  offered and the terms  of the offering, including
the name  or  names of  any  underwriters,  dealers or  agents,  any  discounts,
commissions  and other terms constituting  compensation from the selling holders
of the  Common Stock  and  any discounts,  commissions or  concessions  allowed,
reallowed or paid to dealers.

    Pursuant  to  the  Registration  Rights  Agreement,  the  Company  will  pay
substantially all of  the expenses  incident to the  registration, offering  and
sale  of the Common Stock pursuant hereto, other than commissions, discounts and
allowances to underwriters, dealers or  agents, which expenses are estimated  to
be  $20,000. The Registration  Rights Agreement provides  for indemnification of
persons engaged in the sale  of the Common Stock and  the Company to the  extent
permitted  by law for losses, claims,  damages, liabilities and expenses arising
under certain circumstances and out of the registration of the Common Stock.

                          DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

    The authorized Common Stock of the Company consists of 20,000,000 shares  of
Common  Stock,  without par  value,  of which  7,292,199  shares are  issued and
outstanding as of July 29, 1994 and 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock, none of
which are issued  and outstanding.  On that  date there  were approximately  638
record  holders and  an estimated 2,500  beneficial holders of  shares of Common
Stock.

    COMMON STOCK

    Holders of Common  Stock are entitled  to receive such  dividends as may  be
declared  from  time to  time by  the Board  of Directors  out of  funds legally
available therefor, if any.  The holders of Common  Stock are entitled to  share
ratably in any distribution to shareholders upon liquidation of the Company. The
holders  of Common Stock  have no preemptive,  conversion, registration or other
subscription or  conversion rights,  and  the Common  Stock  is not  subject  to
further  calls  or  assessments  by  the  Company.  The  Common  Stock currently
outstanding is, and the Common Stock to  be issued by the Company upon  exercise
of   the  Warrants  will  be,  when  issued,  validly  issued,  fully  paid  and
non-assessable.

                                       10
<PAGE>
    Holders of Common Stock are entitled to one vote per share on all matters to
be voted on by the shareholders and do not have cumulative voting rights in  the
election  of  directors.  This means  that  the  holders of  a  majority  of the
outstanding shares of Common Stock voting in an election of directors can  elect
all of the directors then standing for election, if they choose to do so.

    PREFERRED STOCK

    The  Board of  Directors has  authority to  divide the  preferred stock into
series and  to  fix  the rate  of  dividend,  whether shares  may  be  redeemed,
liquidation  preferences,  sinking  fund  provisions,  terms  and  conditions of
conversion,  voting  rights,  cumulative  rights  and  any  other   designations
pertaining  to such shares not forbidden by law. Except as otherwise provided by
law or by action of  the Board of Directors, the  entire voting power is  vested
exclusively  in  the  Common  Stock.  Dividends  on  any  outstanding  shares of
preferred stock must be declared and paid before any dividends on Common  Stock.
The  issuance of the preferred stock could  adversely affect the voting power of
holders of Common  Stock and  could have the  effect of  delaying, deferring  or
preventing a change in control of the Company.

    CERTAIN CHARTER PROVISIONS

    The  Company's Charter contains the following  provisions which may have the
effect of delaying or  preventing a change  of control of  the Company: (i)  the
Charter  provides that the  Company's directors are  divided into three classes,
that only one class of directors is elected at each annual meeting and that each
director is elected for a  term of three years;  (ii) the Charter provides  that
directors  may be removed only for cause prior to the expiration of their terms;
and (iii) the Charter  requires that, in addition  to any other vote  ordinarily
required  by law, the  affirmative vote of holders  of not less  than 75% of the
outstanding shares of Common Stock shall  be necessary to approve certain  sales
of  Company assets, acquisitions, mergers, changes of control and other Business
Combinations (as defined in the Company's Charter) unless the proposed  Business
Combination  shall have been approved by  a majority of the Continuing Directors
(as defined in  the Company's Charter)  or certain measures  designed to  ensure
that  fair  value  is  received  by  all  shareholders  are  complied  with. The
provisions enumerated  above  may  have  the  effect  of  deterring  unsolicited
acquisition  proposals  or  delaying changes  in  control or  management  of the
Company.

                             VALIDITY OF SECURITIES

    The validity of the  securities offered hereby will  be passed upon for  the
Company  by Miller & Martin, Chattanooga,  Tennessee. A. Alexander Taylor, II, a
Director of the Company, is a partner in the law firm of Miller & Martin.

                                    EXPERTS

    The  consolidated  financial  statements   and  schedules  incorporated   by
reference  in this Prospectus and elsewhere in the Registration Statement to the
extent and  for the  periods indicated  in their  reports have  been audited  by
Arthur  Andersen  LLP, independent  public  accountants, as  indicated  in their
reports with  respect  thereto,  and  are included  or  incorporated  herein  in
reliance upon the authority of said firm as experts in giving said reports.

                                       11
<PAGE>
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    NO  DEALER,  SALESMAN,  OR OTHER  PERSON  HAS  BEEN AUTHORIZED  TO  GIVE ANY
INFORMATION OR TO  MAKE ANY  REPRESENTATIONS NOT CONTAINED  IN THIS  PROSPECTUS,
AND,  IF GIVEN OR MADE,  SUCH INFORMATION OR REPRESENTATIONS  MUST NOT BE RELIED
UPON AS  HAVING  BEEN  AUTHORIZED  BY THE  COMPANY.  THIS  PROSPECTUS  DOES  NOT
CONSTITUTE  AN OFFER TO  SELL OR A  SOLICITATION OF AN  OFFER TO BUY  ANY OF THE
SECURITIES OFFERED  HEREBY IN  ANY JURISDICTION  TO  ANY PERSON  TO WHOM  IT  IS
UNLAWFUL  TO MAKE SUCH OFFER IN SUCH  JURISDICTION. NEITHER THE DELIVERY OF THIS
PROSPECTUS NOR ANY SALE  MADE HEREUNDER SHALL,  UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES,  CREATE
ANY  IMPLICATION THAT THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS CORRECT AS OF ANY TIME
SUBSEQUENT TO THE DATE HEREOF OR THAT THERE HAS BEEN NO CHANGE IN THE AFFAIRS OF
THE COMPANY SINCE SUCH DATE.

                              -------------------

                               TABLE OF CONTENTS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                    PAGE
                                                    -----

<S>                                              <C>
Available Information..........................         iii
Incorporation of Certain Information by
 Reference.....................................         iii
Prospectus Summary.............................           1
Recent Developments............................           4
Risk Factors...................................           7
Use of Proceeds................................           9
Plan of Distribution...........................          10
Description of Capital Stock...................          10
Validity of Securities.........................          11
Experts........................................          11
</TABLE>

                               -----------------

                                 417,182 SHARES

                                     [LOGO]

                                  COMMON STOCK

                               -----------------

                                   PROSPECTUS
                               -----------------

                               February 21, 1995

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