AMERICAN PACIFIC CORP
S-4, 1998-04-10
INDUSTRIAL INORGANIC CHEMICALS
Previous: GOLDEN OIL CO /DE/, 10-K405, 1998-04-10
Next: US 1 INDUSTRIES INC, 10KSB, 1998-04-10



As filed  with  the  Securities  and  Exchange  Commission  on  April  10,  1998
                                                     Registration No.___________

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

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


                                    FORM S-4
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                      UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                      ------------------------------------


                          AMERICAN PACIFIC CORPORATION
             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)


            DELAWARE                       2819                 59-6490478
(State or other jurisdiction       (Primary Standard        (I.R.S. Employer
    of incorporation or          Industrial Classification   Identification No.)
         organization)                 Code Number)

                          AMERICAN PACIFIC CORPORATION
                                   3770 HOWARD
                                 HUGHES PARKWAY
                                    SUITE 300
                             LAS VEGAS, NEVADA 89109
                                 (702) 735-2200
   (Address and telephone number of registrant's principal executive offices)

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

                                  DAVID N. KEYS
                          AMERICAN PACIFIC CORPORATION
                             CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
                           3770 HOWARD HUGHES PARKWAY
                                    SUITE 300
                             LAS VEGAS, NEVADA 89109
                                 (702) 735-2200
    (Name, address and telephone number of agent for service for registrant)

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

                                    Copy to:

                           VICTOR M. ROSENZWEIG, ESQ.
                     OLSHAN GRUNDMAN FROME & ROSENZWEIG LLP
                                 505 PARK AVENUE
                            NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10022
                                 (212) 753-7200

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

         APPROXIMATE DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF PROPOSED EXCHANGE OFFER: As soon as
practicable after this Registration Statement becomes effective.

         If the  securities  being  registered on this Form are being offered in
connection  with the formation of a holding company and there is compliance with
General Instruction G, check the following box. / /

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

                                                   CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
====================================================================================================================================
                                                                                           Proposed Maximum
        Title of Each Class of           Amount to be            Proposed Maximum         Aggregate Offering         Amount of
      Securities to be Registered         Registered         Offering Price Per Note            Price            Registration Fee
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                      <C>                       <C>                    <C>                      <C>
9 1/4% Senior Notes Due 2005             $75,000,000               $1,000                 $75,000,000              $22,125
====================================================================================================================================
</TABLE>

         THE REGISTRANT HEREBY AMENDS THIS  REGISTRATION  STATEMENT ON SUCH DATE
OR DATES AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO DELAY ITS  EFFECTIVE  DATE UNTIL THE  REGISTRANT
SHALL FILE A FURTHER AMENDMENT WHICH SPECIFICALLY  STATES THAT THIS REGISTRATION
STATEMENT SHALL  THEREAFTER  BECOME EFFECTIVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 8(A) OF
THE  SECURITIES  ACT OF 1933 OR UNTIL THE  REGISTRATION  STATEMENT  SHALL BECOME
EFFECTIVE ON SUCH DATE AS THE COMMISSION,  ACTING PURSUANT TO SAID SECTION 8(A),
MAY DETERMINE.


<PAGE>
Information   contained  herein  is  subject  to  completion  or  amendment.   A
registration  statement  relating  to these  securities  has been filed with the
Securities  and Exchange  Commission.  These  securities may not be sold nor may
offers to buy be accepted prior to the time the registration  statement  becomes
effective.  This prospectus shall not constitute an offer to buy nor shall there
be any sale of these  securities in any state in which such offer,  solicitation
or sale would be  unlawful  prior to  registration  or  qualification  under the
securities laws of any such state.

PROSPECTUS (Subject to Completion)
DATED APRIL ____, 1998

                                OFFER TO EXCHANGE
                          9 1/4% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2005
                                       FOR
                                 ALL OUTSTANDING
                          9 1/4% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2005
              ($75,000,000 AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OUTSTANDING)

                                       OF

                          AMERICAN PACIFIC CORPORATION

                               THE EXCHANGE OFFER
                  WILL EXPIRE AT 5:00 P.M., NEW YORK CITY TIME
                     ON __________ __, 1998, UNLESS EXTENDED

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

         SEE "RISK FACTORS" AT  PAGE 11 FOR A DISCUSSION OF CERTAIN  INFORMATION
THAT  SHOULD  BE  CONSIDERED  IN  CONNECTION  WITH  THE  EXCHANGE  OFFER  AND AN
INVESTMENT IN THE NEW NOTES.

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

          THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE
          SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR BY 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 _________, 1998

                                                        (Continued on next page)

<PAGE>
(Cover page continued)

         American Pacific  Corporation,  a Delaware corporation (the "Company"),
hereby  offers,  upon the terms and subject to the  conditions set forth in this
Prospectus and the accompanying Letter of Transmittal (the "Exchange Offer"), to
exchange $1,000  principal  amount of its 9 1/4% Senior Notes Due 2005 (the "New
Notes") for each $1,000  principal amount of its outstanding 9 1/4% Senior Notes
Due 2005 (the  "Old  Notes").  The  offer  and sale of the New  Notes  have been
registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities  Act"),
pursuant  to the  Registration  Statement  (as  defined  herein)  of which  this
Prospectus constitutes a part. As of the date of this Prospectus,  $75.0 million
aggregate principal amount of the Old Notes was outstanding.  The Exchange Offer
is being made pursuant to the terms of the  Registration  Rights  Agreement (the
"Registration  Rights  Agreement")  dated  March 12,  1998,  by and  between the
Company and Credit Suisse First Boston  Corporation  as Initial  Purchaser  (the
"Initial  Purchaser")  under the terms of a Purchase  Agreement  dated  March 6,
1998,  by and between the Company and the Initial  Purchaser.  The New Notes and
the Old Notes  are  referred  to herein  collectively  as the  "Notes."  As used
herein, the term "Holder" means a holder of Notes.

         THE NOTES ARE SENIOR UNSECURED OBLIGATIONS OF THE COMPANY AND RANK PARI
PASSU IN RIGHT OF PAYMENT WITH ALL EXISTING AND FUTURE UNSUBORDINATED, UNSECURED
INDEBTEDNESS OF THE COMPANY.

         The  Company  will accept for  exchange  any and all Old Notes that are
validly tendered and not withdrawn on or prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time,
on the date the Exchange  Offer  expires,  which will be __________ __, 1998 [20
BUSINESS DAYS AFTER  COMMENCEMENT  OF THE EXCHANGE  OFFER],  unless the Exchange
Offer is extended (the "Expiration Date"). Tenders of Old Notes may be withdrawn
at any time prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the Expiration  Date. The
Exchange Offer is not conditioned upon any aggregate minimum principal amount of
Old Notes being tendered for exchange. However, the Exchange Offer is subject to
certain  conditions,  which may be waived by the  Company,  and to the terms and
provisions of the Registration Rights Agreement.  Old Notes may be tendered only
in  denominations of $1,000  aggregate  principal amount and integral  multiples
thereof.  The Company has agreed to pay the expenses of the Exchange Offer.  See
"The Exchange Offer."

         Any waiver,  extension or  termination  of the  Exchange  Offer will be
publicly  announced  by the  Company  through  a release  to the Dow Jones  News
Service and as otherwise required by applicable law or regulations.

         The Old Notes were issued in a private placement (the "March Offering")
under an indenture  (the  "Indenture"),  dated as of March 1, 1998, by and among
the Company and United States Trust Company of New York (in such  capacity,  the
"Trustee"). The New Notes will be obligations of the Company and are entitled to
the benefits of the Indenture.  The net proceeds of the March Offering were used
primarily in connection with the acquisition (the "Acquisition") from Kerr-McGee
Chemical  Corporation  ("Kerr-McGee")  of certain  intangible  assets and rights
related to the production of ammonium  perchlorate  ("AP") and the repurchase of
the  Company's  outstanding  11%  Subordinated  Secured Term Notes due 2002 (the
"Azide Notes").

         The form and  terms of the New  Notes  are  identical  in all  material
respects to the form and terms of the Old Notes,  except that the offer and sale
of the New Notes have been  registered  under the Securities  Act. Any Old Notes
not tendered and accepted in the Exchange Offer will remain outstanding and will
be  entitled  to all the  rights  and  preferences  and will be  subject  to the
limitations  applicable thereto under the Indenture.  Following  consummation of
the Exchange Offer,  the Holders of Old Notes will continue to be subject to the
existing restrictions upon transfer thereof and the Company will have no further
obligation to such Holders to provide for the registration  under the Securities
Act of the  offer  and  sale  of the  Old  Notes  held by  them.  Following  the
completion  of the  Exchange  Offer,  none of the Notes will be  entitled to the
contingent  increase  in interest  rate  provided  pursuant to the  Registration
Rights Agreement. See "The Exchange Offer."

         The Notes will  mature on March 1, 2005.  Interest on the Notes will be
paid in cash at a rate of 9 1/4% per  annum  on each  March 1 and  September  1,
commencing September 1, 1998.

         The Notes will be redeemable at the option of the Company,  in whole or
in part,  at any time or from time to time,  on or after  March 1, 2002,  at the
redemption prices set forth herein, together with accrued and unpaid


<PAGE>
interest,  if any,  to the date of  redemption.  In  addition,  upon a Change of
Control (as hereinafter defined),  the Company will be required to make an offer
to  purchase  the Notes at a  purchase  price  equal to 101% of their  principal
amount  plus  accrued  interest.  See  "Description  the New  Notes -- Change of
Control."

         Based on no-action  letters  issued by the staff of the  Securities and
Exchange  Commission (the  "Commission") to third parties,  the Company believes
that New Notes issued  pursuant to this Exchange Offer in exchange for Old Notes
may be offered for resale,  resold and otherwise transferred by a Holder thereof
other than (i) a  broker-dealer  who purchased  such Old Notes directly from the
Company to resell pursuant to Rule 144A or any other  available  exemption under
the Securities  Act or (ii) a person that is an "affiliate"  (within the meaning
of Rule 405 of the Securities  Act) of the Company  without  compliance with the
registration and prospectus  delivery provisions of the Securities Act, provided
that the  Holder  is  acquiring  the New  Notes in the  ordinary  course  of its
business and is not participating,  and has no arrangement or understanding with
any person to participate,  in the distribution of the New Notes. Holders of Old
Notes who tender in the Exchange  Offer with the intention to  participate  in a
distribution of the New Notes may not rely upon the position of the staff of the
Commission  enunciated in the  above-referenced  no-action letters,  and, in the
absence of an  exemption,  must  comply  with the  registration  and  prospectus
delivery  requirements  of the  Securities  Act in  connection  with a secondary
resale transaction.  Holders of Old Notes wishing to participate in the Exchange
Offer must  represent  to the  Company in the  Letter of  Transmittal  that such
conditions have been met.

         Each  broker-dealer  (other than an  "affiliate"  of the Company)  that
receives  New Notes for its own  account  pursuant  to the  Exchange  Offer must
acknowledge  that it will deliver a prospectus in connection  with any resale of
such New Notes. The Letter of Transmittal states that by so acknowledging and by
delivering a prospectus,  a broker-dealer will not be deemed to admit that it is
an "underwriter"  within the meaning of the Securities Act. This Prospectus,  as
it may be  amended  or  supplemented  from  time  to  time,  may  be  used  by a
broker-dealer  in connection  with resales of New Notes received in exchange for
Old Notes where such Old Notes were acquired by such  broker-dealer  as a result
of market-making activities or other trading activities.  The Company has agreed
that, for a period of 180 days after the  consummation of the Exchange Offer, it
will make this Prospectus  available to any  broker-dealer for use in connection
with any such resale.  See "Plan of  Distribution."  Any broker-dealer who is an
affiliate of the Company may not rely on such no-action  letters and must comply
with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act
in connection with a secondary resale transaction.

         The New Notes  constitute a new issue of securities with no established
trading market. The Old Notes are eligible for trading in The Portal(sm) Market,
a subsidiary of The Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc.  ("Nasdaq").  The Company does not
intend to list the New Notes on any securities  exchange or to seek approval for
quotation through any automated  quotation system.  The Company has been advised
by the Initial  Purchaser that,  following  completion of the Exchange Offer, it
currently  intends  to make a market  in the New  Notes;  however,  the  Initial
Purchaser  is not  obligated  to do so and  any  market-making  activities  with
respect to the New Notes may be discontinued at any time. The Initial  Purchaser
may act as  principal or agent in such  transactions.  There can be no assurance
that an active trading market for the New Notes will develop. To the extent that
Old Notes are tendered and accepted in the Exchange Offer, a Holder's ability to
sell untendered Old Notes could be adversely affected.

         This Prospectus, together with the Letter of Transmittal, is being sent
to all registered Holders of Old Notes as of ________________ ___, 1998.

         The Company will not receive any proceeds from this Exchange  Offer. No
dealer-manager is being used in connection with this Exchange Offer. See "Use of
Proceeds" and "Plan of Distribution."

         No person has been  authorized to give any  information  or to make any
representations in connection with the Exchange Offer other than those contained
in this  Prospectus  and the Letter of Transmittal  and, if given or made,  such
information or representation  must not be relied upon as having been authorized
by the Company or the Exchange Agent (as defined  herein).  This Prospectus does
not  constitute  an offer to sell or a  solicitation  of an offer to buy the New
Notes in any  jurisdiction  to any  person to whom it is  unlawful  to make such
offer or  solicitation  in such  jurisdiction.  The delivery of this  Prospectus
shall not, under any circumstances,  create any implication that the information
herein is correct at any time subsequent to its date.

<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                 TABLE OF CONTENTS

                                                   PAGE                                                     PAGE
                                                   ----                                                     ----

<S>                                                  <C>  <C>                                                <C>
AVAILABLE INFORMATION.................................1   MATERIAL CHANGES....................................23
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN                                  DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW NOTES........................25
 DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE...............................2   CERTAIN UNITED STATES FEDERAL
PROSPECTUS SUMMARY....................................3    INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS..........................52
RISK FACTORS.........................................11   PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION................................53
THE EXCHANGE OFFER...................................16   LEGAL MATTERS.......................................53
USE OF PROCEEDS......................................22   EXPERTS.............................................54
</TABLE>

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

                              AVAILABLE INFORMATION

         The Company has filed with the Commission a  Registration  Statement on
Form S-4 under the  Securities  Act with respect to the New Notes offered in the
Exchange Offer. For the purposes hereof, the term "Registration Statement" means
the original  Registration  Statement  and any and all  amendments  thereto.  In
accordance  with the rules and  regulations of the  Commission,  this Prospectus
does not contain all of the information set forth in the Registration  Statement
and the schedules and exhibits  thereto.  Each statement made in this Prospectus
concerning  a  document  filed as an exhibit to the  Registration  Statement  is
qualified in its entirety by reference to such exhibit for a complete  statement
of its provisions. For further information pertaining to the Company and the New
Notes  offered in the Exchange  Offer,  reference  is made to such  Registration
Statement,  including  the  exhibits  and  schedules  thereto and the  financial
statements,  notes  and  schedules  filed as a part  thereof.  The  Registration
Statement  (and the exhibits and schedules  thereto) may be inspected and copied
at the public reference facilities maintained by the Commission at its principal
office at Judiciary Plaza, 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Room 1024,  Washington,  D.C.
20549,  or at its  regional  offices at 500 West  Madison  Street,  Suite  1400,
Chicago,  Illinois 60661 and at Seven World Trade Center,  Suite 1300, New York,
New York 10048.  Any interested party may obtain copies of all or any portion of
the Registration Statement and the exhibits thereto at prescribed rates from the
Public Reference  Section of the Commission at its principal office at Judiciary
Plaza,  450 Fifth  Street,  Room 1024,  Washington,  D.C.  20549.  In  addition,
registration  statements and other filings made with the Commission  through its
Electronic Data Gathering,  Analysis and Retrieval ("EDGAR") system are publicly
available  through  the  Commission's  site on the  Internet's  World  Wide Web,
located at http://www.sec.gov.

         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 and other  information  with the Commission.
Such reports and other  information  can be  inspected  and copied at the public
reference facilities  maintained by the Commission at Judiciary Plaza, 450 Fifth
Street,  N.W.,  Washington,  D.C. 20549;  500 West Madison  Street,  Suite 1400,
Chicago, Illinois 60661; and Seven World Trade Center, Suite 1300, New York, New
York 10048.  Copies of such material can be obtained  from the Public  Reference
Section  of  the  Commission  at  Judiciary  Plaza,  450  Fifth  Street,   N.W.,
Washington, D.C. 20549, at prescribed rates.

         The Indenture requires the Company to file with the Commission,  and to
provide  to the  Trustee  and each  Holder  without  cost,  the annual and other
reports  required by Sections 13 and 15(d) of the Exchange  Act,  regardless  of
whether such Sections are applicable to the Company.


<PAGE>
                 INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

         The Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K and Form 10-K/A for the fiscal
year ended  September  30, 1997,  Quarterly  Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter
ended December 31, 1997 and Current  Reports on Form 8-K dated February 19, 1998
and March 27, 1998 are incorporated by reference in this Prospectus and shall be
deemed to be a part  hereof.  All  documents  subsequently  filed by the Company
prior to the  termination  of this Exchange  Offer  pursuant to Sections  13(a),
13(c),  14 or 15 of the  Exchange  Act are  incorporated  by  reference  in this
Prospectus  and shall be deemed to be a part  hereof  from the date of filing of
such documents.

         The Company hereby  undertakes to provide without charge to each person
to whom a copy of this  Prospectus  has been  delivered,  on the written or oral
request of any such person,  a copy of any or all of the  documents  referred to
above that have been or may be  incorporated  in this  Prospectus  by reference,
other than exhibits to such documents.  Written  requests for such copies should
be directed to American Pacific Corporation,  3770 Howard Hughes Parkway,  Suite
300, Las Vegas, Nevada 89109, Attention:  Chief Financial Officer. Oral requests
should be directed to such individual (telephone number (702) 735-2200).

         No dealer,  salesman or other  person has been  authorized  to give any
information or to make any  representations  other than those  contained in this
Prospectus in connection with the offer made hereby, 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, the securities  offered hereby to any person in
any state or other jurisdiction in which such offer or solicitation is unlawful.
The  delivery  of this  Prospectus  at any time does not imply that  information
contained herein is correct as of any time subsequent to its date.

THE EXCHANGE OFFER IS NOT BEING MADE TO, NOR WILL THE COMPANY ACCEPT  SURRENDERS
FOR  EXCHANGE  FROM,  HOLDERS  OF OLD  NOTES IN ANY  JURISDICTION  IN WHICH  THE
EXCHANGE  OFFER OR THE  ACCEPTANCE  THEREOF WOULD NOT BE IN COMPLIANCE  WITH THE
SECURITIES OR BLUE SKY LAWS OF SUCH JURISDICTION.

         THIS  PROSPECTUS  INCORPORATES  DOCUMENTS  BY  REFERENCE  THAT  ARE NOT
PRESENTED  HEREIN OR DELIVERED  HEREWITH.  THESE  DOCUMENTS ARE  AVAILABLE  UPON
REQUEST FROM AMERICAN  PACIFIC  CORPORATION,  3770 HOWARD HUGHES PARKWAY,  SUITE
300,  LAS  VEGAS,  NEVADA  89109,  ATTENTION:  CHIEF  FINANCIAL  OFFICER,  (702)
735-2200.  IN ORDER TO ENSURE  TIMELY  DELIVERY  OF THE  DOCUMENTS,  ANY REQUEST
SHOULD BE MADE BY ________,  1998 [FIVE BUSINESS DAYS PRIOR TO THE DATE ON WHICH
THE FINAL INVESTMENT DECISION MUST BE MADE].

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

         This  Prospectus  includes  "forward-looking   statements"  within  the
meaning of Section 27A of the  Securities  Act and  Section 21E of the  Exchange
Act. All  statements  other than  statements  of  historical  facts  included or
incorporated by reference in this  Prospectus,  including,  without  limitation,
statements  regarding  industry  prospects,  the  Company's  prospects  and  the
Company's  financial  position,  are  forward-looking  statements.  Although the
Company  believes  that  the  expectations  reflected  in  such  forward-looking
statements are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will
prove to have been correct. Important factors that could cause actual results to
differ materially from the Company's expectations (the "Cautionary  Statements")
are disclosed in this Prospectus,  including,  without limitation, those factors
described under "Risk Factors." All subsequent written and oral  forward-looking
statements  attributable  to the  Company  or  persons  acting on its behalf are
expressly qualified in their entirety by the Cautionary Statements.

                                       -2-

<PAGE>
                               PROSPECTUS SUMMARY

         The following  summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the
more detailed  information  included  elsewhere and incorporated by reference in
this  Prospectus.  Unless  the  context  otherwise  requires,  as  used  in this
Prospectus:  the term  "Company"  means  American  Pacific  Corporation  and its
subsidiaries; the terms "fiscal" and "fiscal year" refer to the Company's fiscal
years ended September 30, 1993,  1994,  1995,  1996, 1997 and 1998; and the term
"year" refers to a calendar  year.  Unless  otherwise  indicated,  industry data
contained  herein,  other than with  respect to the  Company,  are derived  from
publicly-available  industry publications,  the Company's internal estimates and
other sources,  which the Company has not  independently  verified but which the
Company believes to be reliable.

                                   THE COMPANY

         The Company's principal business is the production of AP, which is used
as an oxidizing agent in composite solid propellants for rockets, booster motors
and missiles.  AP is employed in the Space Shuttle,  the U.S.  military's  Titan
missile, the Delta family of commercial rockets and most other solid fuel rocket
motors. AP customers include  contractors of the National  Aeronautics and Space
Administration  ("NASA"),  the United States  Department of Defense  ("DOD") and
certain  commercial rocket programs used to launch satellites for communication,
navigation,  intelligence gathering, space exploration,  weather forecasting and
environmental monitoring.

         The Company also  produces a variety of other  specialty  chemicals and
environmental protection equipment for niche applications, including: (i) sodium
azide, used in the inflation of automotive airbags;  (ii) Halotron(R)  products,
used to extinguish fires; and (iii) water treatment equipment, used to disinfect
effluents from sewage treatment and industrial  facilities and for the treatment
of seawater. In addition, the Company has interests in two real estate assets in
the Las Vegas, Nevada area, consisting of approximately 100 acres of undeveloped
land in an industrial  park and a 50% interest in a  master-planned  residential
community on approximately 320 acres.

                               RECENT DEVELOPMENTS

         On March 12, 1998,  the Company sold $75.0  million of the Old Notes in
the March Offering. Of the net proceeds of the March Offering, $39.0 million was
used in connection with the Acquisition, approximately $28.2 million was used to
repurchase  the Azide  Notes and the  balance  was and will be used for  general
corporate  purposes.  The March Offering,  the Acquisition and the repurchase of
the Azide Notes are referred to herein collectively as the "Transactions."

         The  intangible  assets  and rights  acquired  from  Kerr-McGee  in the
Acquisition were acquired pursuant to an Asset Purchase  Agreement dated October
10, 1997 (the  "Purchase  Agreement")  and consist  primarily  of process  data,
technical  information,  customer  lists and  marketing  contacts  related to AP
production.  The  Kerr-McGee  AP  production  facility was not  purchased by the
Company;  however,  under the Purchase Agreement Kerr-McGee ceased manufacturing
AP at this  facility,  except to the limited  extent  permitted  by the Purchase
Agreement. See "Material Changes--The Kerr-McGee Acquisition." Upon consummation
of the  Acquisition,  the  Company  effectively  became the sole North  American
producer of AP.

         The Company's  principal  executive  offices are located at 3770 Howard
Hughes Parkway, Suite 300, Las Vegas, Nevada 89109 and its phone number is (702)
735-2200.

                                       -3-

<PAGE>
                   SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL INFORMATION

     The selected consolidated  financial information presented below for fiscal
years  1993,  1994,  1995,  1996  and 1997 has  been  derived  from the  audited
consolidated  financial  statements  of the Company,  which have been audited by
Deloitte  &  Touche  LLP,   independent   auditors   for  the  Company  and  its
subsidiaries.  The consolidated financial information for the three months ended
December 31, 1996 and 1997 and as of December 31, 1997 has been derived from the
Company's   unaudited   consolidated   financial   statements.   The   unaudited
consolidated  financial  statements have been prepared by the Company on a basis
consistent with the audited financial  statements and include, in the opinion of
the Company, all normal recurring  adjustments necessary for a fair presentation
of the  information.  Operating  results for the three months ended December 31,
1997 are not  necessarily  indicative  of the results  that will be achieved for
future  periods,  including for the fiscal year ending  September 30, 1998.  The
selected  consolidated  financial information should be read in conjunction with
the  consolidated   financial  statements  and  notes  thereto  incorporated  by
reference in this Prospectus.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                       THREE MONTHS
                                                                                          ENDED
                                             YEARS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30,                 DECEMBER 31,
                                    --------------------------------------------     --------------
                                    1993      1994      1995     1996      1997      1996       1997
                                    ----      ----      ----     ----      ----      ----       ----
                                                         (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS DATA:
<S>                                <C>       <C>      <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>        <C>    
Sales and operating revenues.....  $37,441   $42,280  $39,250   $42,381   $44,050   $8,396     $11,268
Surcharge revenues (a)...........   19,774     8,913       --        --        --       --          --
                                   -------   -------  -------   -------   -------   ------     -------
Total sales and operating revenues  57,215    51,193   39,250    42,381    44,050    8,396      11,268
Cost of sales....................   24,612    26,317   29,861    32,579    36,420    7,083       8,106
                                    ------    ------   ------    ------    ------    -----       -----
Gross profit.....................   32,603    24,876    9,389     9,802     7,630    1,313       3,162
Operating expenses...............   11,931    12,522   11,210     9,367     9,509    2,363       2,183
Impairment charge (b)............       --    39,401       --        --    52,605       --          --
Employee separation and management
   reorganization costs (c).......      --        --      226        --     3,616       --          --
Equity in earnings of real estate
   venture.......................       --        --       --       700       200       --         300
                                    ------    ------   ------     -----    ------   ------       -----

Operating income (loss)..........   20,672   (27,047)  (2,047)    1,135   (57,900)  (1,050)       1,279
Net income (loss)................   10,435   (19,337)  (1,536)     (211)  (48,685)    (850)         566

OTHER DATA:
Depreciation and amortization....   11,365     7,679    5,883     7,810     7,685    1,900         837
Capital expenditures.............   47,865     9,218    4,462     3,248     1,557      912         969
Ratio of earnings to fixed
  charges (d)....................      1.8x     (e)      (e)       (e)       (e)       (e)         1.5x
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                  AT SEPTEMBER 30,                                 AT
                                  ---------------------------------------------                DECEMBER 31,
                                    1993      1994      1995     1996      1997                   1997
                                  --------  --------  -------- --------  ------                ------------
BALANCE SHEET DATA:
<S>                               <C>       <C>       <C>      <C>        <C>                  <C>    
Cash (including restricted cash). $ 50,005  $ 24,468  $ 28,283 $ 23,470   $22,461              $19,397
Total assets.....................  231,138   154,922   157,789  150,019    90,081               89,854
Total debt.......................   89,681    42,680    42,554   36,786    31,066               30,006
Shareholders' equity.............  114,253    95,846    94,251   94,156    45,551               46,117
</TABLE>

_____________________
(a) Reflects revenues from surcharges imposed on Thiokol Corporation ("Thiokol")
    under certain agreements for the purchase of AP.
(b) During the fourth  quarter of fiscal 1997,  the Company  concluded  that the
    cash flows  associated with sodium azide  operations would not be sufficient
    to recover the  Company's  investment  in sodium azide related fixed assets,
    and,  accordingly,  a  non-cash  impairment  charge  of  $52.6  million  was
    recognized in such quarter.  During fiscal 1994,  the Company  recognized an
    impairment charge of $39.4 million relating to its perchlorate manufacturing
    facility.
(c) During  the third  quarter of fiscal  1995 and the fourth  quarter of fiscal
    1997,  the Company  recognized  charges of $0.2  million  and $3.6  million,
    respectively,  to account for the costs associated with employee separations
    and management reorganizations.
(d) The ratio of earnings to fixed charges is computed by dividing pretax income
    from  continuing  operations  before fixed charges  (other than  capitalized
    interest)  by fixed  charges.  Fixed  charges  consist of interest  expense,
    amortization   of  debt   expense  and   discount  or  premium   related  to
    indebtedness,  capitalized  interest and such portion of rental expense,  as
    can be  demonstrated  to be  representative  of  the  interest  factor  in a
    particular case.

                                       -4-
<PAGE>
(e) The ratios for the fiscal years ended  September  30, 1994,  1995,  1996 and
    1997 and the three months ended December 31, 1996 have been omitted  because
    the earnings were not  sufficient to cover fixed charges.  The  deficiencies
    were $33.4  million,  $5.5  million,  $1.9 million and $61.1 million for the
    fiscal years ended September 30, 1994,  1995,  1996 and 1997,  respectively,
    and $1.9 million for the three months ended December 31, 1996.


                                       -5-

<PAGE>
                   SUMMARY OF THE TERMS OF THE EXCHANGE OFFER

The Exchange Offer.....................Pursuant to the Exchange Offer, New Notes
                                       will   be   issued   in   exchange    for
                                       outstanding  Old Notes  validly  tendered
                                       and   not   withdrawn.    The   aggregate
                                       principal amount of the New Notes will be
                                       equal to that of the Old  Notes  and will
                                       be issued in  denominations  of $1,000 in
                                       principal   amount   and   any   integral
                                       multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof. The
                                       Company will issue New Notes to tendering
                                       Holders  of  Old  Notes  as  promptly  as
                                       practicable after the Expiration Date.

Resale   ..............................Based on an  interpretation  by the staff
                                       of the  Commission set forth in no-action
                                       letters  issued  to  third  parties,  the
                                       Company   believes  that  the  New  Notes
                                       issued  pursuant to the Exchange Offer in
                                       exchange for Old Notes may be offered for
                                       resale,  resold and otherwise transferred
                                       by  any  Holder   thereof   (other   than
                                       broker-dealers,  as set forth below,  and
                                       any such Holder  that is an  "affiliate,"
                                       within the  meaning of Rule 405 under the
                                       Securities  Act, of the Company)  without
                                       compliance  with  the   registration  and
                                       prospectus  delivery  provisions  of  the
                                       Securities  Act,  provided  that such New
                                       Notes are acquired in the ordinary course
                                       of such  Holder's  business and that such
                                       Holder    has    no     arrangement    or
                                       understanding    with   any   person   to
                                       participate in the  distribution  of such
                                       New Notes. Each broker-dealer (other than
                                       an  affiliate   of  the   Company)   that
                                       receives New Notes for its own account in
                                       exchange for Old Notes that were acquired
                                       as a  result  of  market-making  or other
                                       trading activity must acknowledge that it
                                       will deliver a prospectus  in  connection
                                       with any  resale of such New  Notes.  The
                                       Letter of  Transmittal  states that by so
                                       acknowledging     and     delivering    a
                                       prospectus,  such  broker-dealer will not
                                       be  deemed   to  admit   that  it  is  an
                                       "underwriter"  within the  meaning of the
                                       Securities  Act. This  Prospectus,  as it
                                       may be amended or supplemented  from time
                                       to   time,    may   be   used   by   such
                                       broker-dealer  in connection with resales
                                       of New Notes received in exchange for Old
                                       Notes where such New Notes were  acquired
                                       by  such  broker-dealer  as a  result  of
                                       market-making activities or other trading
                                       activities.  The Company has agreed that,
                                       for  a  period  of  180  days  after  the
                                       Expiration   Date,   it  will  make  this
                                       Prospectus    available   to   any   such
                                       broker-dealer  for use in connection with
                                       any   such    resale.    See   "Plan   of
                                       Distribution."  Any Holder who tenders in
                                       the Exchange  Offer with the intention to
                                       participate,   or  for  the   purpose  of
                                       participating,  in a distribution  of the
                                       New Notes or who is an  affiliate  of the
                                       Company  may not rely on the  position of
                                       the staff of the Commission enunciated in
                                       Exxon   Capital   Holdings    Corporation
                                       (available   May  13,  1988)  or  similar
                                       no-action  letters and, in the absence of
                                       an exemption therefrom,  must comply with
                                       the registration and prospectus  delivery
                                       requirements  of  the  Securities  Act in
                                       connection   with  a   secondary   resale
                                       transaction.  Failure to comply with such
                                       requirements  in such instance may result
                                       in  such  Holder  incurring   liabilities
                                       under  the  Securities  Act for which the
                                       Holder is not indemnified by the Company.

                                       The Exchange  Offer is not being made to,
                                       nor will the  Company  accept  surrenders
                                       for exchanges from, Holders of

                                       -6-

<PAGE>
                                       Old  Notes in any  jurisdiction  in which
                                       this  Exchange  Offer  or the  acceptance
                                       thereof would not be in  compliance  with
                                       the  securities  or blue sky laws of such
                                       jurisdiction.

Expiration Date......................  5:00 p.m., New York City time, on _______
                                       __,   1998  [20   BUSINESS   DAYS   AFTER
                                       COMMENCEMENT  OF  THE  EXCHANGE   OFFER],
                                       unless the Exchange Offer is extended, in
                                       which  case  the term  "Expiration  Date"
                                       means the  latest  date and time to which
                                       the  Exchange  Offer  is  extended.   Any
                                       extension,  if  made,  will  be  publicly
                                       announced  through a  release  to the Dow
                                       Jones  News   Service  and  as  otherwise
                                       required    by    applicable    law    or
                                       regulations.

Conditions to the
  Exchange Offer.......................The Exchange  Offer is subject to certain
                                       conditions,  which  may be  waived by the
                                       Company.   See  "The  Exchange  Offer  --
                                       Conditions  to the  Exchange  Offer." The
                                       Exchange  Offer is not  conditioned  upon
                                       any minimum principal amount of Old Notes
                                       being tendered.

Procedures for Tendering Old Notes.....Each  Holder  of  Old  Notes  wishing  to
                                       accept the Exchange  Offer must complete,
                                       sign and date the Letter of  Transmittal,
                                       or a  facsimile  thereof,  in  accordance
                                       with the  instructions  contained  herein
                                       and   therein,   and  mail  or  otherwise
                                       deliver the Letter of  Transmittal,  or a
                                       facsimile thereof,  together with the Old
                                       Notes  to  be  exchanged  and  any  other
                                       required  documentation  to United States
                                       Trust  Company of New York,  as  Exchange
                                       Agent  (the  "Exchange  Agent"),  at  the
                                       address set forth herein and therein.  By
                                       executing a Letter of  Transmittal,  each
                                       Holder  will  represent  to  the  Company
                                       that,  among other things,  the New Notes
                                       acquired  pursuant to the Exchange  Offer
                                       are being obtained in the ordinary course
                                       of business of the person  receiving such
                                       New Notes,  whether or not such person is
                                       the Holder,  that  neither the Holder nor
                                       any such other person has any arrangement
                                       or  understanding   with  any  person  to
                                       participate in the  distribution  of such
                                       New Notes and that neither the Holder nor
                                       any such other person is an  "affiliate,"
                                       as   defined   in  Rule  405   under  the
                                       Securities Act, of the Company.

Special Procedures for
  Beneficial Owners....................Any beneficial  owner whose Old Notes are
                                       registered  in  the  name  of  a  broker,
                                       dealer, commercial bank, trust company or
                                       other nominee and who wishes to tender in
                                       the Exchange  Offer  should  contact such
                                       registered  Holder  promptly and instruct
                                       such registered  Holder to tender on such
                                       beneficial   owner's   behalf.   If  such
                                       beneficial  owner wishes to tender on his
                                       own behalf,  such beneficial  owner must,
                                       prior to  completing  and  executing  the
                                       Letter of Transmittal  and delivering his
                                       Old  Notes,   either   make   appropriate
                                       arrangements to register ownership of the
                                       Old Notes in such  owner's name or obtain
                                       a properly  completed bond power from the
                                       registered   Holder.   The   transfer  of
                                       registered     ownership     may     take
                                       considerable  time and may not be able to
                                       be  completed  prior  to  the  Expiration
                                       Date.

                                       -7-

<PAGE>
Guaranteed Delivery Procedures.........Holders  of Old  Notes who wish to tender
                                       such Old  Notes  and  whose Old Notes are
                                       not  immediately  available or who cannot
                                       deliver  their Old  Notes and a  properly
                                       completed  Letter of  Transmittal  or any
                                       other documents required by the Letter of
                                       Transmittal  to the Exchange  Agent prior
                                       to the  Expiration  Date may tender their
                                       Old  Notes  according  to the  guaranteed
                                       delivery  procedures  set  forth  in "The
                                       Exchange    Offer   --   Procedures   for
                                       Tendering."

Acceptance of Old Notes and
  Delivery of New Notes................Subject   to   certain   conditions   (as
                                       described  more  fully  in "The  Exchange
                                       Offer  --   Conditions  to  the  Exchange
                                       Offer"),  the  Company  will  accept  for
                                       exchange  any and all Old Notes  that are
                                       properly  tendered in the Exchange  Offer
                                       and not  withdrawn,  prior to 5:00  p.m.,
                                       New York  City  time,  on the  Expiration
                                       Date.  The New Notes  issued  pursuant to
                                       the  Exchange  Offer will be delivered as
                                       promptly  as  practicable  following  the
                                       Expiration Date.

Withdrawal Rights......................Subject  to  the   conditions  set  forth
                                       herein,  tenders  of  Old  Notes  may  be
                                       withdrawn at any time prior to 5:00 p.m.,
                                       New York  City  time,  on the  Expiration
                                       Date.   See   "The   Exchange   Offer  --
                                       Withdrawal of Tenders."

Certain United States Federal
  Income Tax Considerations............The  exchange  pursuant  to the  Exchange
                                       Offer  should  not  constitute  a taxable
                                       exchange for United States federal income
                                       tax  purposes.  Each New Note  should  be
                                       treated as having been originally  issued
                                       at  the  time  the  Old  Note   exchanged
                                       therefor  was  originally   issued.   See
                                       "Certain United States Federal Income Tax
                                       Considerations."

Exchange Agent.........................United  States Trust Company of New York,
                                       the  Trustee  under  the  Indenture,   is
                                       serving as Exchange  Agent in  connection
                                       with the Exchange Offer.  For information
                                       with respect to the Exchange  Offer,  the
                                       telephone  number for the Exchange  Agent
                                       is  (800)   548-6565  and  the  facsimile
                                       number  for the  Exchange  Agent is (212)
                                       780-0592.

See "The Exchange Offer" for more detailed  information  concerning the terms of
the Exchange Offer.

                                       -8-
<PAGE>
                      SUMMARY DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW NOTES

         The Exchange Offer applies to $75.0 million aggregate  principal amount
of Old  Notes.  The form  and  terms  of the New  Notes  will be the same in all
material respects as the form and terms of the Old Notes,  except that the offer
and sale of the New  Notes  will be  registered  under the  Securities  Act and,
therefore, the New Notes will not bear legends restricting the transfer thereof.
Upon  consummation of the Exchange Offer,  none of the Notes will be entitled to
registration rights under the Registration Rights Agreement.  The New Notes will
evidence the same debt as the Old Notes, will be entitled to the benefits of the
Indenture  and will be treated as a single class  thereunder  with any Old Notes
that remain outstanding. See "Description of the New Notes."

Securities Offered..................$75.0 million aggregate  principal amount of
                                    9 1/4% Senior Notes Due 2005.

Maturity Date.......................March 1, 2005

Interest Payment Dates..............March  1  and  September  1  of  each  year,
                                    commencing September 1, 1998.

Optional Redemption.................The Notes may be  redeemed  at the option of
                                    the  Company,  in whole  or in part,  at any
                                    time  on or  after  March  1,  2002,  at the
                                    redemption prices set forth herein, together
                                    with accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to
                                    the date of redemption.  See "Description of
                                    the New Notes -- Optional Redemption."

Excess Cash Purchase Offer..........Within  90 days  of the  end of each  fiscal
                                    year,  the Company  will be required to make
                                    an Excess  Cash  Purchase  Offer to purchase
                                    the maximum  principal  amount of Notes that
                                    may be purchased with 50% of the Excess Cash
                                    Flow in respect of the year then  ended,  at
                                    an  offer   price   equal  to  102%  of  the
                                    principal   amount   of  the   Notes  to  be
                                    purchased, plus accrued and unpaid interest,
                                    if any, to the date of  purchase;  provided,
                                    however,   that  the  Company  will  not  be
                                    required  to make an  Excess  Cash  Purchase
                                    Offer  unless  and  until  Excess  Cash Flow
                                    exceeds $1.0 million.  See  "Description  of
                                    the  New  Notes--Certain   Covenants--Excess
                                    Cash Purchase Offer."

Change of Control...................Upon a Change  of  Control  and  subject  to
                                    certain  conditions,  each  Holder will have
                                    the  right  to   require   the   Company  to
                                    repurchase such Holder's Notes at a purchase
                                    price in cash equal to 101% of the principal
                                    amount  thereof,  plus  accrued  and  unpaid
                                    interest,  if any, to the date of  purchase.
                                    See "Description of the New Notes--Change of
                                    Control."

Ranking  ...........................The Notes are senior  unsecured  obligations
                                    of the Company  ranking  pari passu in right
                                    of payment of principal  and  interest  with
                                    all    other     existing     and     future
                                    unsubordinated,  unsecured  indebtedness  of
                                    the  Company  and  rank  senior  in right of
                                    payment   to   all    future    subordinated
                                    indebtedness of the Company.  As of December
                                    31,  1997,  after giving pro forma effect to
                                    the Transactions, the Company would have had
                                    outstanding  approximately  $76.2 million of
                                    senior indebtedness. See "Description of the
                                    New    Notes--Ranking"    and    "Prospectus
                                    Summary--Selected   Consolidated   Financial
                                    Information."

Restrictive Covenants...............The  Indenture  contains  certain  covenants
                                    which,  among  other  things,  limit (i) the
                                    incurrence of additional indebtedness by the
                                    Company and its Restricted  Subsidiaries (as
                                    defined),  (ii) the payment of  dividends on
                                    capital   stock  of  the   Company  and  the
                                    purchase,   redemption   or   retirement  of
                                    capital stock or subordinated  indebtedness,
                                    (iii)  certain  investments,   (iv)  certain
                                    transactions  with  affiliates,  (v) certain
                                    liens and sale and

                                       -9-

<PAGE>
                                    leaseback transactions, (vi) sales of assets
                                    and   (vii)   certain   consolidations   and
                                    mergers.   The  Indenture   also   prohibits
                                    certain  restrictions on distributions  from
                                    subsidiaries.  All of these  limitations and
                                    prohibitions,  however,  are  subject  to  a
                                    number  of  important  qualifications.   See
                                    "Description   of  the  New   Notes--Certain
                                    Covenants."

                                      -10-

<PAGE>
                                  RISK FACTORS

         In addition to the other information set forth in this Prospectus,  the
following risk factors should be carefully  considered in evaluating the Company
and its business before exchanging Old Notes for New Notes.

DEPENDENCE ON THE CONTINUED  OPERATION OF THE SPACE SHUTTLE AND CONTINUED USE OF
SOLID FUEL ROCKETS

     A substantial  proportion of the Company's EBITDA and sales is attributable
to perchlorate operations, principally AP production. In recent years, the Space
Shuttle program has accounted for  approximately 40% to 70% of North American AP
market demand. Accordingly, the Company's AP business is highly dependent on the
continued  operation of the Space  Shuttle and the  Shuttle's  continued  use of
solid fuel booster  rockets.  From January 1986 to September  1988, all missions
aboard the Space Shuttle were  suspended  pending the redesign of certain of its
subcomponents that contributed to the loss of the Space Shuttle  Challenger.  In
addition,  the Space Shuttle fleet was temporarily  grounded in 1990 as a result
of a hydrogen leak from the Space  Shuttle's main engine system and again during
July and August 1995 to  implement  a design  change to prevent  future  hot-gas
damage to the  Space  Shuttle's  O-ring  seal in the  nozzle  of its solid  fuel
boosters. In addition,  NASA is seeking to develop a fly-back booster rocket for
use with the Space Shuttle and an  alternative  manned  reusable  launch vehicle
(the X-33),  which would replace the Space Shuttle at least for certain flights.
Both of these  programs  would use liquid fuel,  which does not require AP as an
oxidizer.  Any  interruption  or curtailment  of Space Shuttle  missions for any
reason  (including  accidents)  or any  reduction or  elimination  of solid fuel
rocket boosters for any reason (including technological obsolescence) would have
a material  adverse effect on the Company's  financial  condition and results of
operations.

RISKS   INHERENT  IN   GOVERNMENT   CONTRACTS;   DEPENDENCE   ON   CONGRESSIONAL
APPROPRIATIONS

     Prospective  purchasers  of AP depend for  revenue  and  profit  upon their
principal  customers,  which are  NASA,  DOD and  similar  agencies  of  foreign
countries.  Demand for the products and services produced by purchasers of AP is
affected  by  several  factors,  including  the  success  or  failure of ongoing
programs,  the  availability  of adequate  funding for ongoing and  contemplated
programs and societal attitudes toward space exploration, weapons production and
the environment.  The contracts of the Company's customers with NASA and DOD may
be  terminated  by such  agencies  at any time "for  convenience,"  which  would
include  failure to receive  sufficient  funds from Congress.  Congress  usually
appropriates  funds for a given  program  on a fiscal  year  basis  even  though
contract performance may take more than one year. No assurance can be given that
Congress  will continue to fund NASA and DOD programs at levels that will permit
Space  Shuttle  missions  and such DOD  programs to  continue  on their  current
schedules or that Congress will appropriate the funds necessary for NASA and DOD
to  fulfill  their  obligations  under  relevant  contracts  with the  Company's
customers.  Any substantial reduction in Congressional funding for Space Shuttle
missions  or such DOD  programs  would  have a  material  adverse  effect on the
Company's financial condition and results of operations.

     As a supplier to United States  government  projects,  the Company has been
and may  continue  to be subject to audit and  review by the  government  of the
negotiation  and  performance  of, and of the accounting  and general  practices
relating to, government contracts.  Most of the Company's contracts for the sale
of AP are in whole or in part  subject to the Federal  Acquisition  Regulations.
The  Company's AP costs are audited by its  customers  and by  government  audit
agencies such as the United States Defense Contract Audit Agency.  The Company's
costs and prices under such  contracts may be subject to  adjustment  based upon
the results of such audits.  To date, such audits have not had a material effect
on the  Company's  results of  operations  or financial  position or resulted in
material adjustments.

LIMITED CUSTOMER BASE; ABSENCE OF ASSURED PURCHASE VOLUMES

     Prospective  purchasers of AP are primarily contractors in programs of NASA
and DOD. As a practical  matter,  the  specialized  nature of the  activities of
these  contractors  restricts  entry  by  others  into  competition  with  them.
Therefore,  there are relatively few potential  customers for AP, and individual
AP  customers  typically  account  for a  significant  portion of the  Company's
revenues.  Thiokol accounted for approximately 71%, 47% and 35% of the Company's
revenues during fiscal 1995, 1996 and 1997,  respectively.  Alliant Techsystems,
Inc.  ("Alliant")  accounted for  approximately  10% of the  Company's  revenues
during the fiscal  year ended  September  30,  1997.  For the fiscal  year ended
September 30, 1997, on a pro forma basis after giving effect to the Acquisition,
Thiokol  and  Alliant  would  have  accounted  for  approximately  30% and  19%,
respectively, of the Company's pro forma revenues. The

                                      -11-

<PAGE>
loss of either  customer  would have a material  adverse  effect on the Company.
Although the Company has entered into long-term pricing  agreements with Thiokol
and Alliant,  Alliant is not obligated to purchase its AP requirements  from the
Company,  and the Company  does not have  agreements  with any of its  customers
providing for any minimum purchases of AP.

     The Company's  prospective  customers in its sodium azide business are also
limited.  There are at present only two major  suppliers of  azide-based  airbag
systems to the United States automotive  industry,  Autoliv ASP, Inc.,  formerly
Morton International Safety Products ("Autoliv") and TRW Vehicle Safety Systems,
Inc.  ("TRW").  Autoliv or its predecessor  accounted for 9%, 22% and 27% of the
Company's  revenues in fiscal  1995,  1996 and 1997,  respectively.  TRW obtains
substantially all of its sodium azide from competitors of the Company.

DEPENDENCE ON SINGLE FACILITY

     The Company has one operating  facility  located in Iron County,  Utah. The
loss or shutdown of operations  over an extended period of time at such facility
would have a material  adverse effect on the Company.  The Company's  operations
are subject to the usual hazards associated with chemical  manufacturing and the
related storage and transportation of products and wastes, including explosions,
fires, inclement weather and natural disasters,  mechanical failure, unscheduled
downtime, transportation interruptions,  chemical spills, discharges or releases
of toxic or hazardous substances or gases and other environmental risks, such as
required  remediation of contamination.  These hazards can cause personal injury
and loss of life,  severe damage to or destruction of property and equipment and
environmental  damage,  and may result in the  suspension of operations  and the
imposition  of civil or  criminal  penalties.  The Company  maintains  property,
business  interruption and casualty insurance at levels which it believes are in
accordance with customary industry practice,  but there can be no assurance that
the Company will not incur  losses  beyond the limits or outside the coverage of
its insurance. See "-- Environmental Regulation and Risks."

     On May 4, 1988,  the former  manufacturing  and  office  facilities  of the
Company in Henderson,  Nevada were  destroyed by a series of massive  explosions
and  associated  fires  (the "May 1988  Incident").  Extensive  property  damage
occurred both at the Company's  facilities and in adjacent areas,  the principal
damage occurring within a three-mile radius of the facilities. Production of AP,
the Company's  principal  business,  ceased for a 15-month  period.  Significant
interruptions  also occurred in the Company's other  businesses,  which occupied
the same or adjacent sites.  While the Company's current facility is designed to
site particular components of the manufacturing process in discrete areas of the
facility  and  incorporates  modern  equipment  and  materials-handling  systems
designed,  constructed  and operated in accordance with the operating and safety
requirements of the Company's  customers,  insurance  carriers and  governmental
authorities, there can be no assurance that another incident could not interrupt
some or all of the activities carried on at the Company's current  manufacturing
site. See "--Safety Considerations."

SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS

     AP, in the particle sizes and chemical purities produced by the Company, is
categorized  for  transportation  purposes by the United  States  Department  of
Transportation as a Class IV oxidizer.  This  classification  indicates that the
Department of Transportation considers AP to be non-explosive, non-flammable and
non-toxic.  The Company's AP  manufacturing  plant was  constructed  in a manner
intended to minimize,  to the extent of known  technologies and safety measures,
the  combination  of AP with other  materials  in a manner that could  result in
explosions or combustion.  However, no assurance can be given that the Company's
safety precautions will be effective in preventing  explosions,  fires and other
such events from occurring.  On July 30, 1997, an explosion and fire occurred at
the Company's AP production  facility in Iron County,  Utah.  Although damage to
the  Company's  property was confined to a relatively  small area,  the incident
resulted in the death of one employee and injured three others,  one  seriously.
As a result of this incident,  the Utah Occupational  Safety and Health Division
of the Utah  Labor  Commission  cited  the  Company  for  violation  of  certain
applicable  Utah safety  regulations  in connection  with the handling of AP and
assessed fines totalling $5,250. Although the Company has taken steps to improve
safety  measures  and  training in response  to this  incident,  there can be no
assurance  that such measures will be effective in preventing  other such events
in the future.

     Sodium azide is flammable and has exhibited  toxicity in laboratory  animal
tests.  The Company's  method of production is intended to limit the quantity of
sodium azide in process at any one time and to utilize known safety  measures in
an effort to lessen  attendant  risks. In late 1992, a fire occurred in a sodium
azide reactor vessel at the Company's  facility  during  start-up and testing of
the reactor vessel. In addition, fires are reported to have affected

                                      -12-

<PAGE>
production  at a  competitor's  facility in the past.  There can be no assurance
that a fire or other  incident  will not  occur at the  Company's  sodium  azide
production facility in the future.

     The  Company  believes  that  exposure  to sodium  azide after an airbag is
installed in an automobile is highly unlikely because of the way in which sodium
azide is used in the airbag and the housing in which it is encased. However, the
Company  understands  that claims have been asserted by  automobile  drivers and
passengers  that they have  suffered  hand  burns  from  heated  gas and  facial
abrasions  from airbag  fabric  after an airbag's  deployment,  although no such
claims have been asserted against the Company.

DECLINE IN MARKET FOR SODIUM AZIDE

     Sodium  azide  prices have  decreased  significantly  over the past several
years.  The  Company  believes  this  price  erosion  is the  result of a highly
competitive market environment with competing  technologies  reducing the use of
sodium  azide.  The Company has  incurred  significant  operating  losses in its
sodium  azide  operations  during the last three fiscal  years,  and the Company
expects  demand for sodium azide to decline as sodium azide use in inflators for
airbags is  substantially  reduced  and  ultimately  discontinued.  Based on the
uncertainties of the sodium azide market and the Company's view of the economics
thereof,  the Company  concluded  that cash flows  associated  with sodium azide
operations  would not be sufficient  to recover the Company's  investment in its
sodium azide  related  fixed  assets.  Accordingly,  the Company  recognized  an
impairment  charge of $52.6  million  with respect to those assets in the fourth
quarter of fiscal 1997.

SUBSTANTIAL LEVERAGE AND ABILITY TO REPAY THE NOTES

     The Company is highly  leveraged.  As of December 31, 1997,  on a pro forma
basis  after  giving  effect to the  Transactions,  the  Company  would have had
outstanding  indebtedness of  approximately  $76.2 million  (excluding the Azide
Notes).  Although the Indenture limits the incurrence of additional indebtedness
by the Company,  under  certain  circumstances  the amount of such  indebtedness
could be substantial. See "Description of the New Notes--Certain Covenants."

     The Company's leverage could have important  consequences to the holders of
the Notes, including but not limited to the following: (i) the Company's ability
to obtain  additional  financing  for  working  capital,  capital  expenditures,
acquisitions,  debt service  requirements,  general corporate  purposes or other
purposes  may be  impaired  in the  future;  (ii) a  substantial  portion of the
Company's  cash flow from  operations  will be required to be  dedicated  to the
payment of principal  and  interest on its  indebtedness,  thereby  reducing the
funds available to the Company for other purposes,  including its operations and
future  business  opportunities;  (iii) the Company's  flexibility  to adjust to
changing market conditions and ability to withstand  competitive pressures could
be limited by its  leveraged  position and the  covenants  contained in its debt
instruments,  thus putting the Company at a competitive  disadvantage;  and (iv)
the Company may be more vulnerable to a downturn in general economic  conditions
or in its business.

     During fiscal 1997, the Company's  earnings were  insufficient to cover its
fixed charges by $61.1 million.  Even after eliminating the non-cash  impairment
charge  included in such period,  the Company would still have had a deficiency.
The Company's ability to make scheduled payments or to refinance its obligations
with  respect  to its  indebtedness,  including  the Notes,  will  depend on its
financial and operating performance, which is subject to prevailing economic and
competitive  conditions  and to certain  financial,  business and other  factors
beyond  its  control,  including  those  described  under  "--Dependence  on the
Continued  Operation  of the  Space  Shuttle  and  Continued  Use of Solid  Fuel
Rockets," "--Risks Inherent in Government Contracts; Dependence on Congressional
Appropriations," "--Limited Customer Base; Absence of Assured Purchase Volumes,"
"--Dependence on Single Facility" and "--Safety Considerations." There can be no
assurance  that the Company will  maintain a level of cash flow from  operations
sufficient to permit it to pay the principal,  premium,  if any, and interest on
its indebtedness (including the Notes).

     If the Company's cash flow and capital  resources are  insufficient to fund
its debt  service  obligations,  the  Company  may be  forced to reduce or delay
capital  expenditures,  sell assets, or seek to obtain additional equity capital
or  restructure  or refinance its debt  (including  the Notes).  There can be no
assurance that such alternative measures would be successful or would permit the
Company to meet its scheduled debt service  obligations.  In the absence of such
operating  results and resources,  the Company could face substantial  liquidity
problems and might be required to dispose of material  assets or  operations  to
meet its debt service and other obligations. There can be no assurance

                                      -13-

<PAGE>
as to the ability of the Company to consummate  such sales or the proceeds which
the Company could realize  therefrom or that such proceeds  would be adequate to
meet the obligations then due.

     In the event that the  Company is unable to generate  sufficient  cash flow
and the Company is otherwise  unable to obtain funds  necessary to meet required
payments of principal,  premium, if any, and interest on its indebtedness, or if
the  Company  otherwise  fails to  comply  with  the  various  covenants  in the
instruments governing such indebtedness  (including covenants in the Indenture),
the Company could be in default under the terms of the agreements governing such
indebtedness, including the Indenture. In the event of such default, the holders
of such  indebtedness  could elect to declare all indebtedness  thereunder to be
due and payable  together with accrued and unpaid interest and the Company could
be forced into  bankruptcy  or  liquidation.  Any default  under the  agreements
governing  the  indebtedness  of the Company  could have a  significant  adverse
effect on the Company's ability to pay principal,  premium, if any, and interest
on the Notes and on the market value of the Notes.  See  "Description of the New
Notes--Defaults."

REPURCHASE OBLIGATION WITH RESPECT TO WARRANTS

     On December  31, 1999,  the holders of certain  warrants  (the  "Warrants")
issued by the Company to the purchasers of the Azide Notes have the right to put
to the Company up to  one-third  of the  Warrants at a price  determined  by the
Company's fully diluted earnings per share and a multiple of 11, up to a maximum
of $5.0 million of cost to the Company.  Such rights may not be exercised if the
Company's  common  stock,  par value $.10 per share (the  "Common  Stock"),  has
traded at values  during the  preceding  90-day  period  that would yield to the
Warrant  holders a 25% per annum  internal rate of return to the date of the put
(inclusive of the Azide Notes' interest rate of 11%).

HOLDING COMPANY STRUCTURE; STRUCTURAL SUBORDINATION

     The Company is a holding  company that derives all of its operating  income
and cash  flow  from its  subsidiaries.  Generally,  claims  of  creditors  of a
subsidiary,  including trade creditors,  secured creditors and creditors holding
indebtedness and guarantees  issued by such subsidiary,  and claims of preferred
stockholders (if any) of such  subsidiary,  will have priority in the assets and
earnings of such  subsidiary over the claims of creditors of its parent company,
except to the  extent  that  claims  of  creditors  of the  parent  company  are
guaranteed  by such  subsidiary.  The  Notes,  therefore,  will  be  effectively
subordinated to creditors (including trade creditors) and preferred stockholders
(if any) of the direct and indirect  subsidiaries of the Company. As of December
31,  1997,  after  giving  pro  forma  effect  to the  Transactions,  the  total
liabilities of the Company's  subsidiaries  would have been  approximately  $4.4
million.  Although the  Indenture  limits the  incurrence  of  indebtedness  and
issuance  of  preferred  stock of certain of the  Company's  subsidiaries,  such
limitation is subject to a number of significant  qualifications.  Moreover, the
Indenture does not impose any limitation on the incurrence by such  subsidiaries
of liabilities that are not considered "Indebtedness" or "Preferred Stock" under
the Indenture. See "Description of the New Notes--Certain  Covenants--Limitation
on Indebtedness." In addition,  the ability of the Company's subsidiaries to pay
dividends  and make other  payments to the Company may be  restricted  by, among
other things,  applicable  corporate and other laws and  regulations  and by the
terms of  agreements to which such  subsidiaries  become  subject.  Although the
Indenture  limits the  ability  of such  subsidiaries  to enter into  consensual
restrictions  on their ability to pay dividends  and make other  payments,  such
limitations  are  subject  to  a  number  of  significant  qualifications.   See
"Description of the New Notes--Certain  Covenants--Limitation on Restrictions on
Distributions from Restricted Subsidiaries."

ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATION AND RISKS

     The Company's operations are subject to extensive federal,  state and local
regulation governing,  among other things, emissions to air, discharges to water
and waste  management.  The Company's  production  facilities  require operating
permits that are subject to revocation,  modification and substantial  fines and
civil or criminal  sanctions for  noncompliance.  The operation of the Company's
manufacturing  plant entails risk of adverse  environmental  and health effects,
including  exposure  to  chemical  products  and  by-products.  There  can be no
assurance that material costs or liabilities will not be incurred to rectify any
such occurrence.  In addition,  potentially  significant  expenditures  could be
required  in order to comply  with  environmental,  health and  safety  laws and
regulations  that may be  adopted or imposed  in the  future.  To meet  changing
licensing  and  regulatory  standards,  the  Company  may be  required  to  make
additional significant site or operational modifications,  potentially involving
substantial  expenditures or the reduction or suspension of certain  operations.
See "--Dependence on Single Facility."

                                      -14-

<PAGE>
     The  Southern   Nevada  Water  Authority  has  detected  trace  amounts  of
perchlorate  chemicals in Lake Mead and the Las Vegas Wash, bodies of water near
the Company's real estate development  property in Henderson,  Nevada. Lake Mead
is a source of drinking water for the City of Las Vegas,  neighboring  areas and
certain  areas  of  metropolitan  Southern  California.   Perchlorate  chemicals
(including AP) are a potential  health  concern  because they can interfere with
the production of a growth  hormone by the thyroid gland,  although they are not
currently  included in the list of hazardous  substances  compiled by the United
States  Environmental  Protection  Agency.  The  Company  manufactured  AP  at a
facility on the Henderson  site until the facility was destroyed in the May 1988
Incident,  described above under "-- Dependence on Single Facility", after which
the  Company  relocated  its AP  production  to its current  facilities  in Iron
County,  Utah.  Kerr-McGee has for many years operated an AP production facility
at a site near the Company's Henderson  property.  The Water Authority's testing
showed  concentrations  of 8 to 11 parts per billion (ppb) in drinking water. In
response to this discovery, the Company has engaged environmental consultants to
drill test wells and evaluate  ground water and soils at the Henderson site. The
results of the  Company's  tests have shown  perchlorate  concentrations  in the
ground water at the Henderson  property ranging from 0 to approximately  600,000
ppb at certain  wells.  It has been  reported that levels as high as 3.7 million
ppb have been detected at a well at the Kerr-McGee site. The State of California
has adopted a standard of 18 ppb for perchlorate  levels in drinking water,  but
there are  currently  no federal  or State of Nevada  standards  for  acceptable
levels  of  perchlorate  in ground  water or  drinking  water.  The  Company  is
cooperating  with  State  and  local  agencies,  and with  Kerr-McGee  and other
interested  firms, in the  investigation  and evaluation of perchlorate found at
its site and of the source or sources of perchlorates in Lake Mead and potential
remediation  methods.  Until these  investigations  and evaluations have reached
appropriate  conclusions,  it will not be possible  for the Company to determine
the extent to which,  if at all, the Company may be called upon to contribute to
or assist with future remediation  efforts,  or the financial impact, if any, of
such contributions or assistance.

DEPENDENCE UPON KEY PERSONNEL

     The  Company's  AP  manufacturing  operations  depend  upon the  skill  and
experience of key officers and management  personnel.  The loss of key personnel
could have a material adverse effect on the Company.

RESTRICTIONS ON CHANGE IN CONTROL AND ABILITY TO REMOVE DIRECTORS

     The  Company's  Restated  Certificate  of  Incorporation,  as amended,  and
By-laws  contain  provisions  that have the effect of delaying or  preventing  a
change in control of the Company.  These provisions include a staggered Board of
Directors, provisions authorizing the incumbent directors to fill vacancies that
may exist in the  membership of the Board of Directors and  restrictions  on the
ability of  stockholders to nominate  directors and to call special  meetings of
the  Board of  Directors  or to elect  new  directors.  The  Company's  Restated
Certificate  of  Incorporation,  as  amended,  also  requires  an  80%  vote  of
stockholders  to take  certain  actions,  including  the election and removal of
directors. The Company's Certificate of Incorporation also empowers the Board of
Directors to issue shares of preferred stock having such rights and preferences,
including voting rights, as the Board of Directors may determine.

LACK OF PUBLIC MARKET FOR THE NOTES

     There is no existing  trading market for the New Notes, and there can be no
assurance regarding the future development of a market for the New Notes, or the
ability of  holders  of the New Notes to sell their  Notes or the price at which
such holders may be able to sell their Notes.  If such a market were to develop,
the Notes  could  trade at prices  that may  depend on many  factors,  including
prevailing  interest rates, the Company's  operating  results and the market for
similar  securities.  The Initial  Purchaser  has  advised  the Company  that it
currently  intends to make a market in the Notes.  The Initial  Purchaser is not
obligated to do so, however, and any market-making with respect to the Notes may
be discontinued at any time without notice. Therefore, there can be no assurance
as to the  liquidity  of any  trading  market for the  Notes,  or that an active
public market for the Notes will  develop.  The Company does not intend to apply
for  listing  or  quotation  of the Notes on any  securities  exchange  or stock
market. See "Plan of Distribution".

     Historically,  the  market for  non-investment  grade debt has from time to
time been subject to disruptions that have caused substantial  volatility in the
prices of such securities. There can be no assurance that the market for the New
Notes will not be subject to similar disruptions.  Any such disruptions may have
an adverse effect on holders of the New Notes.


                                      -15-

<PAGE>
                               THE EXCHANGE OFFER

PURPOSE AND EFFECT OF THE EXCHANGE OFFER

     The Old Notes  were sold by the  Company on March 12,  1998 to the  Initial
Purchaser,  which placed the Old Notes with certain  institutional  investors in
reliance  on Section  4(2) of,  and Rule 144A  under,  the  Securities  Act.  In
connection  with  the  sale of the Old  Notes,  the  Company  entered  into  the
Registration  Rights Agreement,  pursuant to which the Company agreed to use its
best efforts to  consummate an offer to exchange the Old Notes for the New Notes
pursuant to an effective  registration statement on or before August 10, 1998. A
copy of the  Registration  Rights Agreement has been filed as an exhibit to this
Registration Statement. Unless the context requires otherwise, the term "Holder"
with respect to the Exchange  Offer means any person in whose name Old Notes are
registered  on the books of the Company or any other  person who has  obtained a
properly  completed bond power from the registered  Holder,  or any person whose
Old Notes are held of record by DTC who  desires  to  deliver  such Old Notes by
book-entry transfer at DTC.

     The  Company  has not  requested,  and  does  not  intend  to  request,  an
interpretation  by the staff of the  Commission  with respect to whether the New
Notes issued pursuant to the Exchange Offer in exchange for the Old Notes may be
offered  for  sale,  resold  or  otherwise  transferred  by any  Holder  without
compliance  with the  registration  and  prospectus  delivery  provisions of the
Securities  Act.  Based on  interpretations  by the staff of the  Commission set
forth in no-action  letters issued to third parties,  the Company  believes that
New Notes issued pursuant to the Exchange Offer in exchange for Old Notes may be
offered for resale,  resold and otherwise  transferred by any Holder of such New
Notes (other than any such Holder that is an "affiliate" of the Company,  within
the  meaning  of Rule 405 under  the  Securities  Act and  except in the case of
broker-dealers, as set forth below) without compliance with the registration and
prospectus  delivery  provisions of the Securities  Act,  provided that such New
Notes are acquired in the  ordinary  course of such  Holder's  business and such
Holder has no arrangement or understanding with any person to participate in the
distribution of such New Notes. Any Holder who tenders in the Exchange Offer for
the purpose of  participating  in a  distribution  of the New Notes or who is an
affiliate of the Company may not rely on such interpretation by the staff of the
Commission  and  must  comply  with the  registration  and  prospectus  delivery
requirements  of the  Securities  Act in connection  with any  secondary  resale
transaction.  Each  broker-dealer that receives New Notes for its own account in
exchange for Old Notes, where such Old Notes were acquired by such broker-dealer
as a result  of  market-making  activities  or other  trading  activities,  must
acknowledge  that it will deliver a prospectus in connection  with any resale of
such New Notes. See "Plan of Distribution."

     By tendering in the Exchange Offer, each Holder of Old Notes will represent
to the Company that, among other things,  (i) the New Notes acquired pursuant to
the Exchange Offer are being obtained in the ordinary  course of business of the
person receiving such New Notes, whether or not such person is such Holder, (ii)
neither the Holder of Old Notes,  nor any such other person,  has an arrangement
or understanding  with any person to participate in the distribution of such New
Notes,  (iii) if the Holder is not a  broker-dealer,  or is a broker-dealer  but
will not  receive  New Notes for its own  account  in  exchange  for Old  Notes,
neither  the  Holder,  nor any such  other  person,  is engaged in or intends to
participate  in the  distribution  of such New Notes and (iv) neither the Holder
nor any such other person is an "affiliate" of the Company within the meaning of
Rule 405 under the  Securities  Act or, if such Holder is an  "affiliate,"  that
such  Holder  will  comply  with  the  registration   and  prospectus   delivery
requirements of the Securities Act to the extent applicable.

     Following the consummation of the Exchange Offer,  Holders of Old Notes not
tendered  will not have any further  registration  rights and the Old Notes will
continue to be subject to certain  restrictions  on transfer.  Accordingly,  the
liquidity of the market for the Old Notes could be adversely affected.

TERMS OF THE EXCHANGE OFFER

     Upon the terms and subject to the conditions  set forth in this  Prospectus
and in the Letter of Transmittal,  the Company will accept any and all Old Notes
validly tendered and not withdrawn prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City

                                      -16-

<PAGE>
time, on the Expiration Date. Subject to the minimum  denomination  requirements
of the New Notes, the Company will issue $1,000 principal amount of New Notes in
exchange for each $1,000  principal  amount of outstanding Old Notes accepted in
the Exchange  Offer.  Holders may tender some or all of their Old Notes pursuant
to the  Exchange  Offer.  However,  Old Notes may be  tendered  only in integral
multiples of $1,000 principal amount.

     The  forms and terms of the New Notes  will be  identical  in all  material
respects to the forms and terms of the corresponding Old Notes,  except that the
offer and sale of the New Notes will have been  registered  under the Securities
Act and, therefore, the New Notes will not bear legends restricting the transfer
thereof.  The  Exchange  Offer is not  conditioned  upon any  minimum  aggregate
principal  amount of Old Notes being  tendered for  exchange.  As of the date of
this Prospectus,  $75.0 million aggregate principal amount of the Old Notes were
outstanding. This Prospectus,  together with the Letter of Transmittal, is being
sent to all Holders as of ________,  1998.  Holders of Old Notes do not have any
appraisal or  dissenters'  rights under the  Indenture  in  connection  with the
Exchange Offer.  The Company intends to conduct the Exchange Offer in accordance
with the applicable  requirements  of the Exchange Act and the applicable  rules
and regulations of the Commission thereunder.

     The Company  shall be deemed to have  accepted  validly  tendered Old Notes
when,  as and if the  Company  has given oral or written  notice  thereof to the
Exchange Agent.  The Exchange Agent will act as agent for the tendering  Holders
for the purpose of receiving the New Notes from the Company. If any tendered Old
Notes are not accepted for exchange because of an invalid tender, the occurrence
of certain other events set forth herein or otherwise, such unaccepted Old Notes
will be returned,  without expense,  to the tendering Holder thereof as promptly
as practicable after the Expiration Date.

     Holders who tender Old Notes in the Exchange  Offer will not be required to
pay brokerage  commissions or fees or, subject to the instructions in the Letter
of  Transmittal,  transfer  taxes  with  respect  to the  exchange  of Old Notes
pursuant to the Exchange  Offer.  The Company will pay all charges and expenses,
other than certain  applicable taxes, in connection with the Exchange Offer. See
" -- Fees and Expenses."

EXPIRATION DATE; EXTENSIONS; AMENDMENTS

     The term  "Expiration  Date" shall mean 5:00 p.m.,  New York City time,  on
_____________,  1998 [20 BUSINESS  DAYS AFTER THE  COMMENCEMENT  OF THE EXCHANGE
OFFER],  unless the Company in its sole discretion,  extends the Exchange Offer,
in which case the term "Expiration  Date" shall mean the latest date and time to
which the  Exchange  Offer is  extended.  Although  the  Company  has no current
intention to extend the Exchange Offer, the Company reserves the right to extend
the  Exchange  Offer at any time and from time to time by giving oral or written
notice to the Exchange  Agent and by timely  public  announcement  communicated,
unless otherwise  required by applicable law or regulation,  by making a release
to the Dow Jones News Service.  During any extension of the Exchange Offer,  all
Old Notes previously  tendered  pursuant to the Exchange Offer and not withdrawn
will remain subject to the Exchange  Offer.  The date of the exchange of the New
Notes  for  Old  Notes  will be the  first  Nasdaq  trading  day  following  the
Expiration Date.

     The Company  expressly  reserves  the right to (i)  terminate  the Exchange
Offer and not accept for  exchange  any Old Notes if any of the events set forth
below under " -- Conditions to the Exchange Offer" shall have occurred and shall
not have been  waived by the  Company  and (ii) amend the terms of the  Exchange
Offer in any manner that, in its good faith  judgment,  is  advantageous  to the
Holders of the Old Notes, whether before or after any tender of the Old Notes.

PROCEDURES FOR TENDERING

     The tender to the Company of Old Notes by a Holder thereof  pursuant to one
of the  procedures  set forth below will  constitute  an agreement  between such
Holder  and the  Company  in  accordance  with  the  terms  and  subject  to the
conditions  set forth  herein  and in the Letter of  Transmittal  signed by such
holder.  A Holder  of the Old Notes may  tender  such Old Notes by (i)  properly
completing and signing a Letter of Transmittal or a facsimile thereof (all

                                      -17-

<PAGE>
references  in this  Prospectus  to a Letter of  Transmittal  shall be deemed to
include  a  facsimile  thereof)  and  delivering  the  same,  together  with any
corresponding  certificate  or  certificates  representing  the Old Notes  being
tendered (if in certificated form) and any required signature guarantees, to the
Exchange Agent at its address set forth in the Letter of Transmittal on or prior
to the Expiration Date (or complying with the procedure for book-entry  transfer
described  below) or (ii)  complying  with the  guaranteed  delivery  procedures
described below.

     If  tendered  Old Notes  are  registered  in the name of the  signer of the
Letter of Transmittal and the New Notes to be issued in exchange therefor are to
be issued (and any  untendered  Old Notes are to be reissued) in the name of the
registered holder (which term, for the purposes described herein,  shall include
any participant in DTC whose name appears on a security  listing as the owner of
Old Notes),  the signature of such signer need not be  guaranteed.  In any other
case,  the  tendered  Old Notes  must be  endorsed  or  accompanied  by  written
instruments of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and duly executed by
the  registered  Holder and the  signature on the  endorsement  or instrument of
transfer must be guaranteed by a member firm of a registered national securities
exchange  or  of  the  National  Association  of  Securities  Dealers,  Inc.,  a
commercial bank or trust company having an office or correspondent in the United
States or an "eligible  guarantor  institution" as defined by Rule 17Ad-15 under
the Exchange Act (any of the foregoing  hereinafter  referred to as an "Eligible
Institution").  If the New Notes  and/or the Old Notes not  exchanged  are to be
delivered to an address other than that of the  registered  Holder  appearing on
the register for the Old Notes,  the signature in the Letter of Transmittal must
be guaranteed by an Eligible Institution.

     THE METHOD OF DELIVERY OF OLD NOTES,  LETTER OF  TRANSMITTAL  AND ALL OTHER
DOCUMENTS  IS AT THE  ELECTION  AND RISK OF THE HOLDER.  IF SUCH  DELIVERY IS BY
MAIL, IT IS RECOMMENDED  THAT REGISTERED  MAIL,  PROPERLY  INSURED,  WITH RETURN
RECEIPT REQUESTED,  BE USED. IN ALL CASES,  SUFFICIENT TIME SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO
ASSURE TIMELY DELIVERY.  NO LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL OR OLD NOTES SHOULD BE SENT TO
THE COMPANY.

     The  Company  understands  that the  Exchange  Agent  will  make a  request
promptly after the date of this  Prospectus to establish an account with respect
to the Old Notes at DTC for the purpose of facilitating  the Exchange Offer, and
subject  to the  establishment  thereof,  any  financial  institution  that is a
participant in DTC's system may make book-entry delivery of Old Notes by causing
DTC to transfer such Old Notes into the Exchange Agent's account with respect to
the Old Notes in accordance  with DTC's  procedure for such  transfer.  Although
delivery of the Old Notes may be effected through  book-entry  transfer into the
Exchange  Agent's account at DTC, an appropriate  Letter of Transmittal with any
required  signature  guarantee and all other revised documents must in each case
be transmitted to and received or confirmed by the Exchange Agent at the address
set forth in the Letter of Transmittal  on or prior to the Expiration  Date, or,
if the guaranteed delivery procedures  described below are complied with, within
the time period provided under such procedures.

     If the Holder desires to accept the Exchange Offer and time will not permit
a Letter of  Transmittal  or Old Notes to reach the  Exchange  Agent  before the
Expiration Date or the procedure for book-entry  transfer cannot be completed on
a timely basis,  a tender may be effected if the Exchange  Agent has received at
its office, on or prior to the Expiration Date, a letter,  telegram or facsimile
transmission from an Eligible  Institution setting forth the name and address of
the tendering Holder,  the name(s) in which the Old Notes are registered and the
certificate  number(s)  of the Old Notes to be  tendered,  and stating  that the
tender is being made thereby and guaranteeing  that, within three Nasdaq trading
days  after  the  date  of  execution  of such  letter,  telegram  or  facsimile
transmission  by the Eligible  Institution,  such Old Notes,  in proper form for
transfer (or a  confirmation  of book-entry  transfer of such Old Notes into the
Exchange Agent's account at DTC), will be delivered by such Eligible Institution
together with a properly  completed and duly executed Letter of Transmittal (and
any  other  required  documents).   Unless  Old  Notes  being  tendered  by  the
above-described  method are  deposited  with the Exchange  Agent within the time
period set forth above  (accompanied or preceded by a properly  completed Letter
of  Transmittal  and any other  required  documents),  the  Company  may, at its
option, reject the tender. Copies of a Notice of Guaranteed Delivery,  which may
be used by Eligible  Institutions for the purposes  described in this paragraph,
are available from the Exchange Agent.

                                      -18-

<PAGE>
     A tender  will be deemed to have been  received as of the date when (i) the
tendering  Holder's  properly  completed and duly signed  Letter of  Transmittal
accompanied by the Old Notes (or a confirmation  of book-entry  transfer of such
Old Notes into the Exchange Agent's account at DTC), is received by the Exchange
Agent or (ii) a Notice of Guaranteed  Delivery or letter,  telegram or facsimile
transmission to similar effect (as provided above) from an Eligible  Institution
is received by the  Exchange  Agent.  Issuances of New Notes in exchange for Old
Notes tendered pursuant to a Notice of Guaranteed  Delivery or letter,  telegram
or facsimile  transmission  to similar effect (as provided above) by an Eligible
Institution  will be made only  against  submission  of a duly signed  Letter of
Transmittal  (and any other required  documents) and deposit of the tendered Old
Notes.

     All  questions as to the validity,  form,  eligibility  (including  time of
receipt)  and  acceptance  for  exchange  of any  tender  of Old  Notes  will be
determined by the Company,  whose  determination will be final and binding.  The
Company  reserves the absolute  right to reject any or all tenders not in proper
form or the  acceptance  for  exchange  of  which  may,  in the  opinion  of the
Company's counsel, be unlawful.  The Company also reserves the absolute right to
waive any of the conditions of the Exchange Offer or any defect or  irregularity
in the tender of any Old Notes.  None of the Company,  the Exchange Agent or any
other  person  will be under any duty to give  notification  of any  defects  or
irregularities  in tenders or will incur any  liability  for failure to give any
such  notification.  Any Old Notes  received by the Exchange  Agent that are not
validly  tendered  and as to which the defects or  irregularities  have not been
cured or waived, or if Old Notes are submitted in an aggregate  principal amount
greater than the aggregate  principal amount of Old Notes being tendered by such
tendering  Holder,  will be  returned  by the  Exchange  Agent to the  tendering
holders,  unless  otherwise  provided in the Letter of  Transmittal,  as soon as
practicable following the Expiration Date.

     In addition,  the Company  reserves the right in its sole discretion to (a)
purchase or make offers for any Old Notes that remain outstanding  subsequent to
the Expiration Date and (b) to the extent permitted by applicable law,  purchase
Old Notes in the open market, in privately negotiated transactions or otherwise.
The terms of any such  purchases  or offers  will  differ  from the terms of the
Exchange Offer.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL

     The Letter of Transmittal contains, among other things, the following terms
and conditions, which are part of the Exchange Offer.

     The party  tendering Old Notes for exchange (the  "Transferor")  exchanges,
assigns and transfers the Old Notes to the Company and  irrevocably  constitutes
and appoints the Exchange Agent as the Transferor's  agent and  attorney-in-fact
to cause the Old Notes to be assigned, transferred and exchanged. The Transferor
represents  and  warrants  that it has  full  power  and  authority  to  tender,
exchange,  assign and transfer  the Old Notes and to acquire New Notes  issuable
upon the  exchange  of such  tendered  Old  Notes,  and that,  when the same are
accepted for exchange,  the Company will acquire good and unencumbered  title to
the tendered Old Notes, free and clear of all liens,  restrictions,  charges and
encumbrances  and not subject to any adverse claim. The Transferor also warrants
that it will, upon request,  execute and deliver any additional documents deemed
by the Company to be necessary or desirable to complete the exchange, assignment
and  transfer of tendered  Old Notes or transfer  ownership of such Old Notes on
the account books  maintained by DTC. All authority  conferred by the Transferor
will survive the death,  bankruptcy or incapacity  of the  Transferor  and every
obligation   of  the   Transferor   will  be  binding  upon  the  heirs,   legal
representatives,  successors,  assigns,  executors  and  administrators  of such
Transferor.

     By executing a Letter of Transmittal,  each Holder will make to the Company
the representations set forth above under the heading " -- Purpose and Effect of
the Exchange Offer."

                                      -19-

<PAGE>
WITHDRAWAL OF TENDERS

     Tenders of Old Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer are irrevocable, except
that Old Notes  tendered  pursuant to the Exchange Offer may be withdrawn at any
time prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the Expiration Date.

     To be effective, a written, telegraphic or facsimile transmission notice of
withdrawal  must be timely  received  by the  Exchange  Agent at the address set
forth in the Letter of Transmittal prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time on the
Expiration  Date. Any such notice of withdrawal must specify the holder named in
the Letter of  Transmittal  as having  tendered Old Notes to be  withdrawn,  the
certificate numbers and designation of Old Notes to be withdrawn,  the principal
amount of Old Notes  delivered  for  exchange,  a statement  that such Holder is
withdrawing his election to have such Old Notes  exchanged,  and the name of the
registered  Holder of such Old  Notes,  and must be signed by the  Holder in the
same manner as the original  signature on the Letter of  Transmittal  (including
any required signature guarantees) or be accompanied by evidence satisfactory to
the  Company  that the  person  withdrawing  the  tender  has  succeeded  to the
beneficial  ownership of the Old Notes being withdrawn.  The Exchange Agent will
return the properly  withdrawn Old Notes promptly following receipt of notice of
withdrawal.  If Old Notes  have been  tendered  pursuant  to the  procedure  for
book-entry  transfer,  any notice of withdrawal must specify the name and number
of the account at DTC to be credited  with the  withdrawn Old Notes or otherwise
comply  with DTC  procedure.  All  questions  as to the  validity  of notices of
withdrawal,  including time of receipt,  will be determined by the Company,  and
such determination will be final and binding on all parties.

CONDITIONS TO THE EXCHANGE OFFER

     Notwithstanding any other provision of the Exchange Offer, or any extension
of the  Exchange  Offer,  the Company will not be required to issue New Notes in
exchange for any properly  tendered Old Notes not  theretofore  accepted and may
terminate the Exchange Offer,  or, at its option,  modify or otherwise amend the
Exchange Offer, if either of the following events occur:

     (a) any statute,  rule or regulation shall have been enacted, or any action
     shall have been taken by any court or governmental  authority which, in the
     sole judgment of the Company, would prohibit,  restrict or otherwise render
     illegal consummation of the Exchange Offer, or

     (b) there shall occur a change in the current  interpretation  by the staff
     of the Commission  which, in the Company's sole judgment,  might materially
     impair the Company's ability to proceed with the Exchange Offer.

     The Company  expressly  reserves the right to terminate the Exchange  Offer
and not accept for exchange any Old Notes upon the  occurrence  of either of the
foregoing  conditions  (which  represent  all of the material  conditions to the
acceptance by the Company of properly tendered Old Notes).

     The foregoing conditions are for the sole benefit of the Company and may be
waived  by the  Company,  in  whole  or in part,  in its  sole  discretion.  The
foregoing  conditions must be either satisfied or waived prior to termination of
the Exchange Offer. Any determination  made by the Company  concerning an event,
development  or  circumstance  described  or referred to above will be final and
binding on all parties.

EXCHANGE AGENT

     United  States  Trust  Company of New York has been  appointed  as Exchange
Agent for the Exchange Offer.  Questions and requests for  assistance,  requests
for additional  copies of this  Prospectus or of the Letter of  Transmittal  and
requests for Notices of Guaranteed  Delivery  should be directed to the Exchange
Agent addressed as follows:

By Mail (registered or certified mail recommended):

     United States Trust Company of New York
     P.O. Box 844
     Cooper Station
     New York, New York 10276-0844

By Overnight Courier:

     United States Trust Company of New York
     770 Broadway, 13th Floor
     Corporate Trust Operations Department
     New York, New York 10003

By Hand Delivery:

     United States Trust Company of New York
     111 Broadway
     New York, New York 10006
     Attn: Corporate Trust Services

By Facsimile:     (212) 780-0592 Confirm by Telephone: (800) 548-6565

                  (For Eligible Institutions Only)

                                      -20-

<PAGE>
FEES AND EXPENSES

         The expense of  soliciting  tenders will be borne by the  Company.  The
principal solicitation is being made by mail; however,  additional solicitations
may be made by  telegraph,  telephone  or in  person  by  officers  and  regular
employees of the Company and its affiliates.  No additional compensation will be
paid to any such officers and employees who engage in soliciting tenders.

         The Company has not retained  any  dealer-manager  or other  soliciting
agent in  connection  with the Exchange  Offer and will not make any payments to
brokers,  dealers or others  soliciting  acceptances of the Exchange Offer.  The
Company,  however, will pay the Exchange Agent reasonable and customary fees for
its services and will reimburse it for its reasonable  out-of-pocket expenses in
connection  therewith.  The  Company  may also pay  brokerage  houses  and other
custodians,  nominees and  fiduciaries  the  reasonable  out-of-pocket  expenses
incurred  by  them in  forwarding  copies  of this  Prospectus,  the  Letter  of
Transmittal and related  documents to the beneficial owners of the Old Notes and
in handling or forwarding tenders for exchange.

         The  expenses to be incurred in  connection  with the  Exchange  Offer,
including fees and expenses of the Exchange Agent and Trustee and accounting and
legal fees of the Company, will be paid by the Company.

         The Company  will pay all transfer  taxes,  if any,  applicable  to the
exchange of Old Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer. If, however, New Notes, or
Old Notes for principal amounts not tendered or accepted for exchange, are to be
delivered  to, or are to be issued in the name of,  any  person  other  than the
registered  Holder of the Old Notes tendered or if a transfer tax is imposed for
any reason other than the exchange of Old Notes pursuant to the Exchange  Offer,
then the amount of any such transfer  taxes  (whether  imposed on the registered
Holder or any  other  persons)  will be  payable  by the  tendering  Holder.  If
satisfactory  evidence of payment of such taxes or  exemption  therefrom  is not
submitted with the Letter of Transmittal, the amount of such transfer taxes will
be billed directly to such tendering Holder.

                                      -21-

<PAGE>
ACCOUNTING TREATMENT

         The New Notes will be  recorded at the same  carrying  value as the Old
Notes  as  reflected  in the  Company's  accounting  records  on the date of the
exchange  because  the  exchange  of the Old  Notes  for the  New  Notes  is the
completion of the selling process contemplated in the issuance of the Old Notes.
Accordingly,  no gain or loss for accounting  purposes will be  recognized.  The
expenses  of the  Exchange  Offer and the  unamortized  expenses  related to the
issuance of the Old Notes will be amortized over the term of the New Notes.

OTHER

         Participation  in the Exchange  Offer is voluntary  and Holders  should
carefully  consider  whether  to  accept.  Holders of the Old Notes are urged to
consult  their  financial and tax advisors in making their own decisions on what
action to take.

         No person has been  authorized to give any  information  or to make any
representations in connection with the Exchange Offer other than those contained
in this Prospectus. If given or made, such information or representations should
not be  relied  upon as having  been  authorized  by the  Company.  Neither  the
delivery of this  Prospectus  nor any exchange made hereunder  shall,  under any
circumstances,  create  any  implication  that  there  has been no change in the
affairs of the Company since the  respective  dates as of which  information  is
given  herein.  The  Exchange  Offer is not being  made to (nor will  tenders be
accepted from or on behalf of) Holders of Old Notes in any jurisdiction in which
the  making of the  Exchange  Offer or the  acceptance  thereof  would not be in
compliance with the laws of such jurisdiction.  However, the Company may, at its
discretion, take such action as it may deem necessary to make the Exchange Offer
in any such  jurisdiction  and extend the Exchange Offer to Holders of Old Notes
in such jurisdiction.

         As a result of the making of the Exchange Offer,  the Company will have
fulfilled a covenant contained in the Registration Rights Agreement.  Holders of
the Old Notes who do not  tender  their Old  Notes in the  Exchange  Offer  will
continue  to hold such Old  Notes and will be  entitled  to all the  rights  and
limitations  applicable  thereto under the Indenture  except for any such rights
under the  Registration  Rights Agreement and except that the Old Notes will not
be entitled to the contingent  increase in interest rate provided for in the Old
Notes.  All untendered Old Notes will continue to be subject to the restrictions
on transfer set forth in the Indenture and the Old Notes. To the extent that Old
Notes are tendered and accepted in the Exchange Offer,  the trading  market,  if
any, for untendered Old Notes could be adversely affected.

                                 USE OF PROCEEDS

         The Company will not receive any cash proceeds from the issuance of the
New  Notes  offered  hereby.  In  consideration  for  issuing  the New  Notes as
contemplated in this Prospectus,  the Company will receive in exchange Old Notes
in like  principal  amount,  the terms of which are  identical  in all  material
respects to the New Notes, except that the offer and sale of such New Notes will
be registered  under the  Securities Act and,  therefore,  will not bear legends
restricting  the transfer  thereof.  Old Notes  surrendered  in exchange for New
Notes  will be  retired  and  cancelled  and  cannot be  reissued.  Accordingly,
issuance of the New Notes will not result in a change in the indebtedness of the
Company.

         The Company received net proceeds of  approximately  $72.0 million from
the March Offering,  of which $39.0 million was used to pay the consideration in
connection  with  the  Acquisition,  approximately  $28.2  million  was  used to
repurchase  the Azide  Notes and the  balance  was and will be used for  general
corporate purposes.

                                      -22-

<PAGE>
                                MATERIAL CHANGES

THE MARCH OFFERING

         On March 12, 1998, the Company sold $75.0 million  principal  amount of
the Old Notes in the March Offering, consummated the Acquisition and repurchased
the Azide Notes. See "Use of Proceeds."

THE KERR-MCGEE ACQUISITION

         On March 12, 1998 (the "Closing Date"), the Company acquired,  pursuant
to the Purchase  Agreement  with  Kerr-McGee,  certain  process data,  technical
information,  customer  lists,  marketing  contacts  and  related  expertise  of
Kerr-McGee  related to its  production of AP (the "Rights") for a purchase price
of $39.0 million.  Under the Purchase Agreement,  the Company acquired an option
(the  "Option") to purchase all or any portion of the  inventory of AP stored at
Kerr-McGee's  premises on the Closing Date, which is not owned by, or identified
to a firm order from, a Kerr-McGee  customer  (the  "Inventory").  The Option is
exercisable  from time to time  within  the 12 month  period  commencing  on the
Closing Date (the "Option Period"). The Acquisition did not include Kerr-McGee's
production  facilities (the  "Production  Facilities") and certain related water
and power supply  agreements  used by Kerr-McGee in the  production of AP. Under
the Purchase Agreement,  Kerr-McGee ceased the production and sale of AP, except
under  certain  limited  circumstances   described  below,  and  the  Production
Facilities  may continue to be used by  Kerr-McGee  for  production  of AP under
those  circumstances.  Under  the  Purchase  Agreement,  Kerr-McGee  reserved  a
perpetual,  royalty-free,  nonexclusive  license  to use  any of the  technology
forming part of the Rights as may be necessary or useful to use,  repair or sell
the Production Facilities (the "Reserved License").

         Under the Purchase Agreement, Kerr-McGee reserved the right to sell the
Inventory to the extent not purchased by the Company pursuant to the Option,  to
process and sell certain reclaimed AP that is not suitable for use in solid fuel
rocket  motors  (the  "Reclaimed  Product"),  and to produce  and sell AP (i) to
fulfill  orders  scheduled  for delivery  after the  closing,  subject to making
payments to the Company with respect to such orders, as provided in the Purchase
Agreement  and (ii) in the event of the  Company's  inability  to meet  customer
demand or requirements,  breach of the Purchase  Agreement or termination of the
Company's AP business.

         The  Purchase  Agreement  provides  that,  together  with the  Reserved
License,  Kerr-McGee  is  permitted  in  its  discretion  to  (i)  lease,  sell,
dismantle,   demolish  and/or  scrap  all  or  any  portion  of  the  Production
Facilities,  (ii) retain the Production  Facilities for manufacture of Reclaimed
Product  and  (iii)  maintain  the  Production  Facilities  in  a  "standby"  or
"mothballed" condition so they will be capable of being used to produce AP under
the limited circumstances referred to above.

         Under the Purchase  Agreement,  Kerr-McGee  has agreed to indemnify the
Company against loss or liability from claims  associated with the ownership and
use of the Rights prior to consummation of the Acquisition or resulting from any
breach of its warranties,  representations and covenants. The Company has agreed
to indemnify  Kerr-McGee  against loss and liability from claims associated with
the ownership and use of the Rights after  consummation  of the  Acquisition  or
resulting from any breach of its warranties,  representations and covenants.  In
addition,  Kerr-McGee has agreed that it will, at the Company's  request,  store
any inventory as to which the Option is exercised until 90 days after the Option
expires,  introduce the Company to AP customers that are not currently customers
of the  Company,  and consult  with the Company  regarding  the  production  and
marketing of AP. The Company has agreed that, at Kerr-McGee's  request,  it will
use reasonable efforts to market Reclaimed Product on Kerr-McGee's behalf for up
to three years following consummation of the Acquisition.

REPURCHASE OF THE AZIDE NOTES

         The Azide Notes were 11% noncallable  subordinated  secured term notes,
which were issued and sold in February 1992 to finance the design,  construction
and  start-up  of the  Company's  sodium  azide  facility.  A portion of the net
proceeds  from sale of the Old Notes was applied to  repurchase  the Azide Notes
for approximately

                                      -23-

<PAGE>
$28.2 million  (approximately 113% of the outstanding principal amount thereof).
In connection with the repurchase,  the Company recognized an extraordinary loss
on debt extinguishment of approximately $5.1 million.

                                      -24-

<PAGE>
                          DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW NOTES

     The Old Notes were issued under the Indenture among the Company,  as issuer
and United States Trust Company of New York, as Trustee (in such  capacity,  the
"Trustee").  The New Notes  will be issued  under the  Indenture,  which will be
qualified  under  the  Trust  Indenture  Act of 1939,  as  amended  (the  "Trust
Indenture Act"), upon the  effectiveness of the Registration  Statement of which
this  Prospectus is a part.  The form and terms of the New Notes are the same in
all  material  respects as the form and terms of the Old Notes,  except that the
offer and sale of the New Notes will have been  registered  under the Securities
Act and,  therefore,  the New Notes will not bear legends  restricting  transfer
thereof.  Upon the consummation of the Exchange Offer, Holders of Notes will not
be entitled to registration rights under, or the contingent increase in interest
rate provided pursuant to, the Registration Rights Agreement. The New Notes will
evidence  the same debt as the Old Notes and will be treated  as a single  class
under the Indenture with any Old Notes that remain outstanding.

     The terms of the Notes include those stated in the Indenture and those made
part of the  Indenture by reference to the Trust  Indenture  Act as in effect on
the date of the Indenture. The Notes are subject to all such terms and reference
is made to the Indenture and the Trust Indenture Act for a statement  thereof. A
copy of the  Indenture  has been filed with the  Commission as an exhibit to the
Registration  Statement of which this  Prospectus  forms a part.  The  following
summary, which describes certain provisions of the Indenture and the Notes, does
not purport to be complete  and is subject to, and is  qualified in its entirety
by reference to, the Indenture and the Notes,  including the definitions therein
of terms not  defined  herein and those  terms made a part  thereof by the Trust
Indenture Act. Whenever  particular defined terms of the Indenture not otherwise
defined  herein are referred to, such defined terms are  incorporated  herein by
reference.

     The Notes are issued only in fully  registered form,  without  coupons,  in
denominations of $1,000 and any integral  multiple of $1,000.  No service charge
shall be made for any  registration  of transfer  or exchange of Notes,  but the
Company may require  payment of a sum  sufficient  to cover any  transfer tax or
other similar governmental charge payable in connection therewith.

TERMS OF THE NOTES

     The Notes are unsecured senior obligations of the Company, limited to $75.0
million aggregate  principal amount, and will mature on March 1, 2005. The Notes
will bear  interest at the rate of 9 1/4 per annum from March 12, 1998,  or from
the most recent date to which  interest has been paid or provided  for,  payable
semiannually to Holders of record at the close of business on the February 15 or
August  15  immediately  preceding  the  interest  payment  date on  March 1 and
September 1 of each year,  commencing  September  1, 1998.  The Company will pay
interest  on overdue  principal  at 1% per annum in excess of such rate,  and it
will pay interest on overdue installments of interest at such higher rate to the
extent lawful.

OPTIONAL REDEMPTION

     The Notes  will not be  redeemable  at the option of the  Company  prior to
March 1,  2002.  Thereafter,  the Notes  will be  redeemable,  at the  Company's
option,  in whole or in part,  at any time or from  time to time,  upon not less
than 30 nor more than 60 days' prior notice mailed by  first-class  mail to each
Holder's registered  address,  at the following  redemption prices (expressed in
percentages of principal  amount),  plus accrued interest to the redemption date
(subject  to the  right of  Holders  of record on the  relevant  record  date to
receive interest due on the relevant  interest payment date), if redeemed during
the twelve-month period commencing on March 1 of the years set forth below:

                                      -25-

<PAGE>
                                                                    REDEMPTION
            PERIOD                                                    PRICE
            ------                                                    -----
            2002..............................................        104.625%
            2003..............................................        102.313
            2004 and thereafter...............................        100.000


     In  the  case  of any  partial  redemption,  selection  of  the  Notes  for
redemption  will be made by the Trustee on a pro rata  basis,  by lot or by such
other  method as the  Trustee in its sole  discretion  shall deem to be fair and
appropriate,  although  no Note of $1,000 in  principal  amount or less shall be
redeemed  in part.  If any Note is to be  redeemed  in part only,  the notice of
redemption relating to such Note shall state the portion of the principal amount
thereof to be redeemed.  A new Note in principal  amount equal to the unredeemed
portion  thereof  will  be  issued  in the  name  of  the  Holder  thereof  upon
cancellation of the original Note.

RANKING

     The indebtedness evidenced by the Notes is a senior unsecured obligation of
the  Company,  ranks pari passu in right of payment with all existing and future
senior  indebtedness  of the  Company  and is senior in right of  payment to all
future subordinated  indebtedness of the Company. As of December 31, 1997, after
giving effect to the issuance of the Notes and the  application  of the proceeds
therefrom,  the  Company's  senior  indebtedness  outstanding  would  have  been
approximately $76.2 million.

     All  of  the   operations  of  the  Company  are   conducted   through  its
subsidiaries.  Claims  of  creditors  of  such  subsidiaries,   including  trade
creditors,  secured creditors and creditors holding  indebtedness and guarantees
issued by such  subsidiaries,  and claims of preferred  stockholders (if any) of
such  subsidiaries  generally  have  priority  with  respect  to the  assets and
earnings  of such  subsidiaries  over the claims of  creditors  of the  Company,
including  holders  of  the  Notes.  The  Notes,   therefore,   are  effectively
subordinated to creditors (including trade creditors) and preferred stockholders
(if any) of subsidiaries of the Company.  At December 31, 1997, after giving pro
forma  effect  to the  Transactions,  the  total  liabilities  of the  Company's
subsidiaries  would  have  been  approximately  $4.4  million,  including  trade
payables.  Although the  Indenture  limits the  incurrence of  Indebtedness  and
preferred  stock of certain of the Company's  subsidiaries,  such  limitation is
subject to a number of significant qualifications.  Moreover, the Indenture does
not impose any limitation on the incurrence by such  subsidiaries of liabilities
that are not considered Indebtedness or Preferred Stock under the Indenture. See
"--Certain Covenants --Limitation on Indebtedness."

BOOK-ENTRY, DELIVERY AND FORM

     The New Notes will be issued in the form of a Global Note.  The Global Note
will be  deposited  with,  or on behalf of, The  Depository  Trust  Company (the
"Depository")  and  registered  in the name of the  Depository  or its  nominee.
Except as set forth below, the Global Note may be transferred,  in whole and not
in part, only to the Depository or another nominee of the Depository.  Investors
may hold their  beneficial  interests  in the Global Note  directly  through the
Depository if they have an account with the  Depository  or  indirectly  through
organizations that have accounts with the Depository.

     The  Depository  has advised the Company as follows:  The  Depository  is a
limited-purpose  trust company and organized  under the laws of the State of New
York, a member of the Federal Reserve System,  a "clearing  corporation"  within
the meaning of the New York Uniform  Commercial  Code,  and "a clearing  agency"
registered  pursuant to the  provisions  of Section 17A of the Exchange Act. The
Depository  was created to hold  securities of  institutions  that have accounts
with  the  Depository  ("participants")  and to  facilitate  the  clearance  and
settlement of securities  transactions among its participants in such securities
through electronic  book-entry changes in accounts of the participants,  thereby
eliminating  the need for  physical  movement of  securities  certificates.  The
Depository's

                                      -26-

<PAGE>
participants  include  securities  brokers and dealers banks,  trust  companies,
clearing   corporations   and  certain  other   organizations.   Access  to  the
Depository's  book-entry  system  is also  available  to  others  such as banks,
brokers,  dealers and trust companies that clear through or maintain a custodial
relationship with a participant, whether directly or indirectly.

     Upon the issuance of the Global Note,  the Depository  will credit,  on its
book-entry  registration and transfer system,  the principal amount of the Notes
represented  by such Global Note to the accounts of  participants.  Ownership of
beneficial  interests  in the Global  Note will be limited  to  participants  or
persons that may hold interests  through  participants.  Ownership of beneficial
interests  in the  Global  Note  will be shown  on,  and the  transfer  of those
ownership  interests  will be effected only through,  records  maintained by the
Depository (with respect to participants'  interest) and such participants (with
respect  to the owners of  beneficial  interests  in the Global  Note other than
participants).   The  laws  of  some  jurisdictions  may  require  that  certain
purchasers of securities take physical delivery of such securities in definitive
form.  Such  limits  and laws may  impair  the  ability  to  transfer  or pledge
beneficial interests in the Global Note.

     So long as the  Depository,  or its nominee,  is the registered  holder and
owner of the Global Note,  the  Depository or such nominee,  as the case may be,
will be considered  the sole legal owner and holder of the related Notes for all
purposes of such Notes and the Indenture.  Except as set forth below,  owners of
beneficial  interests  in the Global Note will not be entitled to have the Notes
represented by the Global Note registered in their names, will not receive or be
entitled to receive physical  delivery of certificated  Notes in definitive form
and will not be  considered  to be the owners or holders of any Notes  under the
Global Note. The Company  understands that under existing industry practice,  in
the event an owner of a  beneficial  interest in the Global Note desires to take
any action that the Depository, as the holder of the Global Note, is entitled to
take, the Depository would authorize the  participants to take such action,  and
that the  participants  would  authorize  beneficial  owners owning through such
participants to take such action or would otherwise act upon the instructions of
beneficial owners owning through them.

     Payment of  principal of and  interest on Notes  represented  by the Global
Note registered in the name of and held by the Depository or its nominee will be
made to the  Depository  or its nominee,  as the case may be, as the  registered
owner and holder of the Global Note.

     The Company expects that the Depository or its nominee, upon receipt of any
payment  of  principal   of  or  interest  on  the  Global  Note,   will  credit
participants'   accounts  with  payments  in  amounts   proportionate  to  their
respective  beneficial  interests in the principal  amount of the Global Note as
shown on the records of the Depository or its nominee.  The Company also expects
that payments by  participants  to owners of beneficial  interests in the Global
Note held through such  participants  will be governed by standing  instructions
and customary practices and will be the responsibility of such participants. The
Company  will not have any  responsibility  or  liability  for any aspect of the
records  relating  to, or  payments  made on account  of,  beneficial  ownership
interests  in the Global Note for any Note or for  maintaining,  supervising  or
reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests or for any
other aspect of the relationship  between the Depository and its participants or
the  relationship  between  such  participants  and  the  owners  of  beneficial
interests in the Global Note owning through such participants.

     Unless and until it is exchanged in whole or in part for certificated Notes
in definitive form, the Global Note may not be transferred  except as a whole by
the  Depository  to a  nominee  of  such  Depository  or by a  nominee  of  such
Depository to such Depository or another nominee of such Depository.

     Although the Depository has agreed to the foregoing  procedures in order to
facilitate  transfers of interests in the Global Note among  participants of the
Depository,  it is under no  obligation  to perform or continue to perform  such
procedures,  and such procedures may be  discontinued  at any time.  Neither the
Trustee nor the Company will have any  responsibility for the performance by the
Depository or its  participants  or indirect  participants  of their  respective
obligations under the rules and procedures governing their operations.

                                      -27-

<PAGE>
CERTIFICATED NOTES

     The Notes  represented by the Global Note are exchangeable for certificated
Notes in definitive  form of like tenor as such Notes in  denominations  of U.S.
$1,000 and integral multiples thereof if (i) the Depository notifies the Company
that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depository  for the Global Note or
if at any time the Depository  ceases to be a clearing agency  registered  under
the  Exchange  Act and a successor  Depository  is not  appointed by the Company
within 90 days, (ii) the Company in its discretion at any time determines not to
have  all of the  Notes  represented  by the  Global  Note or  (iii) an Event of
Default has occurred and is continuing.  Any Note that is exchangeable  pursuant
to the preceding  sentence is exchangeable  for  certificated  Notes issuable in
authorized  denominations  and registered in such names as the Depository  shall
direct.  Subject to the foregoing,  the Global Note is not exchangeable,  except
for a Global Note of the same  aggregate  denomination  to be  registered in the
name of the Depository or its nominee.

SAME-DAY PAYMENT

     The  Indenture  requires  that  payments  in  respect  of Notes  (including
principal,  premium  and  interest)  be  made by wire  transfer  of  immediately
available funds to the accounts  specified by the holders thereof or, if no such
account  is  specified,  by  mailing  a check to each such  holder's  registered
address.

CHANGE OF CONTROL

     Upon the  occurrence  of any of the  following  events  (each a "Change  of
Control"),  each  Holder  shall  have the  right  to  require  that the  Company
repurchase  such Holder's Notes at a purchase price in cash equal to 101% of the
principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid  interest,  if any, to the date
of purchase  (subject to the right of holders of record on the  relevant  record
date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date):

          (i) any "person" (as such term is used in Sections  13(d) and 14(d) of
     the Exchange Act) is or becomes the "beneficial owner" (as defined in Rules
     13d-3 and 13d-5 under the  Exchange  Act,  except that for purposes of this
     clause (i) such person shall be deemed to have  "beneficial  ownership"  of
     all shares  that any such  person has the right to  acquire,  whether  such
     right is  exercisable  immediately  or only  after  the  passage  of time),
     directly or  indirectly,  of more than 35% of the total voting power of the
     Voting Stock of the Company;

          (ii)  individuals  who on the  Issue  Date  constituted  the  Board of
     Directors  (together with any new directors whose election by such Board of
     Directors  or whose  nomination  for  election by the  shareholders  of the
     Company was approved by a vote of 66 2/3% of the  directors  of the Company
     then still in office who were either  directors  on the Issue Date or whose
     election or nomination for election was  previously so approved)  cease for
     any reason to  constitute  a  majority  of the Board of  Directors  then in
     office;

          (iii)  the  adoption  of  a  plan  relating  to  the   liquidation  or
dissolution of the Company; or

          (iv) the merger or  consolidation  of the Company with or into another
     Person or the merger of another  Person  with or into the  Company,  or the
     sale of all or  substantially  all the  assets of the  Company  to  another
     Person,  and,  in the  case  of  any  such  merger  or  consolidation,  the
     securities of the Company that are  outstanding  immediately  prior to such
     transaction and which  represent 100% of the aggregate  voting power of the
     Voting  Stock of the  Company  are  changed  into or  exchanged  for  cash,
     securities or property, unless pursuant to such transaction such securities
     are changed into or exchanged for, in addition to any other  consideration,
     securities of the surviving  corporation that represent  immediately  after
     such transaction,  at least a majority of the aggregate voting power of the
     Voting Stock of the surviving corporation.

                                      -28-

<PAGE>
     Within 30 days  following  any Change of Control,  the Company shall mail a
notice to each Holder with a copy to the Trustee (the "Change of Control Offer")
stating:  (1) that a Change of Control has occurred and that such Holder has the
right to require the Company to purchase such Holder's Notes at a purchase price
in cash equal to 101% of the  principal  amount  thereof plus accrued and unpaid
interest,  if any, to the date of  purchase  (subject to the right of holders of
record on the relevant record date to receive interest on the relevant  interest
payment date); (2) the circumstances and relevant facts regarding such Change of
Control (including  information with respect to historical and pro forma income,
cash flow and capitalization  after giving effect to such Change of Control,  if
such  information  is then  available to the Company or can be obtained  without
unreasonable  effort or  expense);  (3) the  repurchase  date (which shall be no
earlier  than 30 days  nor  later  than 60 days  from the date  such  notice  is
mailed); and (4) the instructions determined by the Company, consistent with the
covenant  described  hereunder,  that a Holder  must follow in order to have its
Notes purchased.

     The Company  will not be required to make a Change of Control  Offer upon a
Change of Control  if a third  party  makes the  Change of Control  Offer in the
manner, at the times and otherwise in compliance with the requirements set forth
in the Indenture applicable to a Change of Control Offer made by the Company and
purchases  all Notes  validly  tendered and not  withdrawn  under such Change of
Control Offer.

     The Company shall comply, to the extent  applicable,  with the requirements
of  Section  14(e)  of the  Exchange  Act  and  any  other  securities  laws  or
regulations in connection with the repurchase of Notes pursuant to this covenant
described hereunder. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or
regulations  conflict with the provisions of the covenant  described  hereunder,
the Company shall comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and
shall  not be  deemed  to have  breached  its  obligations  under  the  covenant
described hereunder by virtue thereof.

     The Change of Control purchase feature is a result of negotiations  between
the Company and the Initial  Purchaser.  Management has no present  intention to
engage in a transaction  involving a Change of Control,  although it is possible
that the Company would decide to do so in the future. Subject to the limitations
discussed  below,  the  Company  could,  in  the  future,   enter  into  certain
transactions,  including acquisitions,  refinancings or other recapitalizations,
that would not  constitute  a Change of Control  under the  Indenture,  but that
could increase the amount of indebtedness  outstanding at such time or otherwise
affect the Company's  capital  structure or credit ratings.  Restrictions on the
ability of the Company to incur  additional  Indebtedness  are  contained in the
covenants  described under "--Certain  Covenants--Limitation  on  Indebtedness,"
"--Limitation on Liens" and "--Limitation on Sale/Leaseback  Transactions." Such
restrictions can only be waived with the consent of the holders of a majority in
principal  amount of the Notes  then  outstanding.  Except  for the  limitations
contained  in such  covenants,  however,  the  Indenture  will not  contain  any
covenants or provisions  that may afford holders of the Notes  protection in the
event of a highly leveraged transaction.

     Future  indebtedness  of  the  Company  may  contain  prohibitions  on  the
occurrence  of  certain  events  that  would  constitute  a Change of Control or
require such indebtedness to be repurchased upon a Change of Control.  Moreover,
the exercise by the holders of their right to require the Company to  repurchase
the Notes could cause a default under such  indebtedness,  even if the Change of
Control itself does not, due to the financial  effect of such  repurchase on the
Company.  Finally,  the  Company's  ability to pay cash to the  holders of Notes
following the  occurrence of a Change of Control may be limited by the Company's
then existing  financial  resources.  There can be no assurance that  sufficient
funds will be available  when  necessary to make any required  repurchases.  The
provisions under the Indenture  relative to the Company's  obligation to make an
offer to  repurchase  the Notes as a result of a Change of Control may be waived
or modified  with the written  consent of the holders of a majority in principal
amount of the Notes.

CERTAIN COVENANTS

   The Indenture contains covenants including, among others, the following:

                                      -29-

<PAGE>
     Limitation on Indebtedness. (a) The Company shall not, and shall not permit
any Restricted Subsidiary to, Incur,  directly or indirectly,  any Indebtedness;
provided,  however,  that the Company may Incur  Indebtedness if, on the date of
such Incurrence and after giving effect thereto, the Consolidated Coverage Ratio
exceeds 2.5 to 1.

     (b)  Notwithstanding  the  foregoing  paragraph  (a),  the  Company and the
Restricted Subsidiaries may Incur any or all of the following Indebtedness:

          (1) Indebtedness pursuant to the Revolving Credit Facility;  provided,
     however,  that, after giving effect to any such  Incurrence,  the aggregate
     principal amount of such  Indebtedness  then outstanding  together with the
     aggregate  principal amount of Indebtedness  then  outstanding  pursuant to
     clause  (8) below  does not  exceed  the  greater  of $10.0  million or the
     Borrowing Base;

          (2)  Indebtedness  owed to and held by the  Company or a Wholly  Owned
     Subsidiary; provided, however, that (i) any subsequent issuance or transfer
     of any Capital  Stock which  results in any such  Wholly  Owned  Subsidiary
     ceasing to be a Wholly Owned Subsidiary or any subsequent  transfer of such
     Indebtedness (other than to the Company or a Wholly Owned Subsidiary) shall
     be deemed,  in each case, to constitute the Incurrence of such Indebtedness
     by the  obligor  thereon  and (ii) if the  Company  is the  obligor on such
     Indebtedness,  such  Indebtedness  is expressly  subordinated  to the prior
     payment in full in cash of all obligations with respect to the Notes;

          (3) the Notes;

          (4)   Indebtedness   outstanding   on  the  Issue  Date   (other  than
     Indebtedness described in clause (1), (2) or (3) of this covenant);

          (5) Indebtedness of a Subsidiary  Incurred and outstanding on or prior
     to the date on which such  Subsidiary  was  acquired by the Company  (other
     than  Indebtedness  Incurred in  connection  with, or to provide all or any
     portion  of the  funds  or  credit  support  utilized  to  consummate,  the
     transaction  or series  of  related  transactions  pursuant  to which  such
     Subsidiary became a Subsidiary or was acquired by the Company);  provided ,
     however,  that on the date of such  acquisition  and  after  giving  effect
     thereto,  the  Company  would  have  been  able to Incur at least  $1.00 of
     additional Indebtedness pursuant to clause (a);

          (6)  Refinancing  Indebtedness  in  respect of  Indebtedness  Incurred
     pursuant to  paragraph  (a) or  pursuant to clause (3),  (4) or (5) or this
     clause  (6);  provided,  however,  that  to  the  extent  such  Refinancing
     Indebtedness directly or indirectly Refinances Indebtedness of a Subsidiary
     Incurred  pursuant to clause (5), such  Refinancing  Indebtedness  shall be
     Incurred only by such Subsidiary;

          (7)  Hedging  Obligations   consisting  of  Interest  Rate  Agreements
     directly  related to  Indebtedness  permitted to be Incurred by the Company
     pursuant to the Indenture; and

          (8) Indebtedness in an aggregate principal amount which, together with
     all  other  Indebtedness  of the  Company  outstanding  on the date of such
     Incurrence  (other than  Indebtedness  permitted by clauses (1) through (7)
     above or paragraph  (a)) does not exceed $5.0 million;  provided,  however,
     that, after giving effect to any such Incurrence,  the aggregate  principal
     amount of such  Indebtedness  then outstanding  together with the aggregate
     principal amount of Indebtedness  then  outstanding  pursuant to clause (1)
     above does not exceed the greater of $10.0 million or the Borrowing Base.

     (c)  Notwithstanding  the  foregoing,  the  Company  shall  not  Incur  any
     Indebtedness  pursuant  to the  foregoing  paragraph  (b)  if the  proceeds
     thereof are used,  directly or  indirectly,  to Refinance any  Subordinated
     Obligations  unless such Indebtedness shall be subordinated to the Notes to
     at least the same extent as such Subordinated Obligations.

                                      -30-

<PAGE>
     (d) For purposes of determining compliance with the foregoing covenant, (i)
     in the event that an item of  Indebtedness  meets the criteria of more than
     one of the types of Indebtedness  described above, the Company, in its sole
     discretion, will classify such item of Indebtedness and only be required to
     include  the  amount  and  type of such  Indebtedness  in one of the  above
     clauses and (ii) an item of  Indebtedness  may be divided and classified in
     more than one of the types of Indebtedness described above.

     Limitation on Restricted Payments. (a) The Company shall not, and shall not
permit any Restricted Subsidiary,  directly or indirectly,  to make a Restricted
Payment if at the time the  Company  or such  Restricted  Subsidiary  makes such
Restricted  Payment:  (1) a Default shall have  occurred and be  continuing  (or
would  result  therefrom);  (2) the  Company is not able to Incur an  additional
$1.00 of Indebtedness  pursuant to paragraph (a) of the covenant described under
"--Limitation on Indebtedness;"  (3) the Company would have on its balance sheet
less than $10.0 million of cash and cash equivalents after giving effect to such
Restricted  Payment;  or (4) the aggregate amount of such Restricted Payment and
all other Restricted Payments since the Issue Date would exceed the sum of:

          (A) 50% of the  Consolidated  Net  Income  accrued  during  the period
     (treated as one accounting period) from the beginning of the fiscal quarter
     immediately  following  the  fiscal  quarter  during  which  the  Notes are
     originally  issued to the end of the most recent fiscal  quarter  ending at
     least 45 days prior to the date of such  Restricted  Payment  (or,  in case
     such  Consolidated  Net  Income  shall  be a  deficit,  minus  100% of such
     deficit);

          (B) the aggregate  Net Cash Proceeds  received by the Company from the
     issuance  or sale of its Capital  Stock  (other  than  Disqualified  Stock)
     subsequent  to the  Issue  Date  (other  than  an  issuance  or  sale  to a
     Subsidiary of the Company and other than an issuance or sale to an employee
     stock ownership plan or to a trust established by the Company or any of its
     Subsidiaries for the benefit of their employees);

          (C) the amount by which  Indebtedness of the Company is reduced on the
     Company's  balance sheet upon the  conversion or exchange  (other than by a
     Subsidiary of the Company) subsequent to the Issue Date of any Indebtedness
     of the Company  convertible or  exchangeable  for Capital Stock (other than
     Disqualified  Stock) of the  Company  (less the amount of any cash,  or the
     fair value of any other  property,  distributed  by the  Company  upon such
     conversion or exchange);

          (D) an amount equal to the sum of (i) the net reduction in Investments
     in Unrestricted Subsidiaries resulting from dividends,  repayments of loans
     or advances or other  transfers  of assets,  in each case to the Company or
     any Restricted  Subsidiary  from  Unrestricted  Subsidiaries,  and (ii) the
     portion (proportionate to the Company's equity interest in such Subsidiary)
     of the fair market value of the net assets of an Unrestricted Subsidiary at
     the  time  such   Unrestricted   Subsidiary   is  designated  a  Restricted
     Subsidiary;  provided, however, that the foregoing sum shall not exceed, in
     the  case  of  any  Unrestricted  Subsidiary,  the  amount  of  Investments
     previously made (and treated as a Restricted Payment) by the Company or any
     Restricted Subsidiary in such Unrestricted Subsidiary; and

          (E) 50% of (i) the cash  returns  on real  estate  equity  investments
     related to the Real Estate Joint  Venture (as  indicated  on the  Company's
     cash flow  statement  prepared in  accordance  with GAAP) during the period
     (treated as one accounting period) from the beginning of the fiscal quarter
     immediately  following  the  fiscal  quarter  during  which  the  Notes are
     originally  issued to the end of the most recent fiscal  quarter  ending at
     least 45 days prior to the date of such  Restricted  Payment  less (ii) the
     increase (if any) in the Company's real estate equity  investments  related
     to the Real Estate  Joint  Venture (as  indicated on the  Company's  income
     statement prepared in accordance with GAAP) during such period.

     (b) The provisions of the foregoing paragraph (a) shall not prohibit:

          (i) any  acquisition  of any Capital  Stock of the Company made out of
     the proceeds of the  substantially  concurrent sale of, or made by exchange
     for, Capital Stock of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock and

                                      -31-

<PAGE>
     other than Capital  Stock issued or sold to a Subsidiary  of the Company or
     an employee stock  ownership plan or to a trust  established by the Company
     or any of its Subsidiaries for the benefit of their  employees);  provided,
     however,  that (A) such  acquisition  of Capital Stock shall be excluded in
     the  calculation of the amount of Restricted  Payments and (B) the Net Cash
     Proceeds from such sale shall be excluded from the  calculation  of amounts
     under clause (4)(B) of paragraph (a) above;

          (ii)  any  purchase,  repurchase,   redemption,  defeasance  or  other
     acquisition or retirement  for value of  Subordinated  Obligations  made by
     exchange for, or out of the proceeds of the  substantially  concurrent sale
     of,  Indebtedness of the Company which is permitted to be Incurred pursuant
     to the covenant described under  "--Limitation on Indebtedness;"  provided,
     however, that such purchase,  repurchase,  redemption,  defeasance or other
     acquisition or retirement for value shall be excluded in the calculation of
     the amount of Restricted Payments;

          (iii)  dividends  paid  within 60 days  after the date of  declaration
     thereof if at such date of  declaration  such dividend  would have complied
     with this covenant;  provided, however, that at the time of payment of such
     dividend, no other Default shall have occurred and be continuing (or result
     therefrom); provided further, however, that such dividend shall be included
     in the calculation of the amount of Restricted Payments;

          (iv) the  repurchase or other  acquisition of shares of, or options to
     purchase shares of, common stock of the Company or any of its  Subsidiaries
     from  employees,  former  employees,  directors or former  directors of the
     Company  or any of its  Subsidiaries  (or  permitted  transferees  of  such
     employees,  former employees,  directors or former directors),  pursuant to
     the terms of the agreements (including employment  agreements) or plans (or
     amendments  thereto)  approved by the Board of  Directors  under which such
     individuals purchase or sell or are granted the option to purchase or sell,
     shares of such common stock;  provided,  however, that the aggregate amount
     of such repurchases and other acquisitions shall not exceed $500,000 in any
     calendar year; provided further,  however,  that such repurchases and other
     acquisitions  shall  be  excluded  in  the  calculation  of the  amount  of
     Restricted Payments;

          (v) any  purchase of the  Warrants;  provided,  however,  that (A) the
     aggregate amount of such purchases shall not exceed $5.0 million and (B) at
     the time of such purchase and after giving effect thereto the Company would
     not be prohibited  from making a Restricted  Payment in the amount of $1.00
     pursuant  to  clause  (1),  (2) or (3) of  paragraph  (a)  above;  provided
     further,  however, that such purchases shall be included in the calculation
     of the amount of Restricted Payments; or

          (vi) any  payment or  distribution  in the nature of  satisfaction  of
     dissenters'  rights  pursuant  to or in  connection  with a  consolidation,
     merger or transfer  of assets  that  complies  with the  provisions  of the
     Indenture  applicable  to  consolidations,  mergers and transfers of all or
     substantially all the assets of the Company;  provided,  however,  that (A)
     the aggregate  amount of such payments and  distributions  shall not exceed
     $500,000  and (B) at the time of such  payment  or  distribution  and after
     giving effect  thereto the Company  would not be  prohibited  from making a
     Restricted  Payment in the amount of $1.00  pursuant to clause (1),  (2) or
     (3) of paragraph (a) above; provided further, however, that such payment or
     distribution  shall  be  included  in  the  calculation  of the  amount  of
     Restricted Payments.

     Excess Cash Purchase Offer. Within 90 days following the end of each fiscal
year,  commencing  with the fiscal year ending  September 30, 1998,  the Company
shall make an offer to all holders of Notes (the "Excess Cash  Purchase  Offer")
to purchase the maximum  principal amount of Notes that is an integral  multiple
of $1,000 that may be  purchased  with 50% of the Excess Cash Flow (the  "Excess
Cash Offer  Amount") in respect of the year then ended,  at an offer price equal
to 102% of the principal  amount of the Notes to be purchased,  plus accrued and
unpaid  interest,  if any, to the date fixed for the closing of such Excess Cash
Purchase Offer (the "Excess Cash Offer  Price").  The Excess Cash Purchase Offer
will be required to remain open for 20 Business Days following its  commencement
and no  longer,  except  to the  extent  that a longer  period  is  required  by
applicable law. Upon the expiration of such

                                      -32-

<PAGE>
period,  the Company  will apply the Excess Cash Offer Amount to the purchase of
all Notes  tendered at the Excess Cash Offer Price.  If the aggregate  principal
amount of Notes tendered pursuant to any such Excess Cash Purchase Offer exceeds
the Excess Cash Offer Amount,  the Company will be required to purchase Notes on
a pro rata basis (subject to minimum  denominations)  in the manner described in
the  Indenture.  To the  extent  that the  aggregate  principal  amount of Notes
tendered pursuant to any Excess Cash Purchase Offer is less than the Excess Cash
Offer  Amount  with  respect  thereto,  the  Company  may,  subject to the other
provisions  of the  Indenture,  use any  remaining  Excess Cash Flow for general
corporate purposes.  Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this paragraph,
the Company  shall not be required to make an Excess Cash  Purchase  Offer or to
apply any Excess Cash Flow in accordance  with this  paragraph  unless and until
Excess Cash Flow exceeds $1.0 million.

     Limitation on Restrictions on Distributions  from Restricted  Subsidiaries.
The Company shall not, and shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, create
or  otherwise  cause or  permit  to exist or  become  effective  any  consensual
encumbrance or  restriction  on the ability of any Restricted  Subsidiary to (a)
pay  dividends  or make any  other  distributions  on its  Capital  Stock to the
Company or a Restricted  Subsidiary or pay any Indebtedness owed to the Company,
(b) make  any  loans or  advances  to the  Company  or (c)  transfer  any of its
property or assets to the Company, except:

          (i) any encumbrance or restriction  pursuant to an agreement in effect
     at or entered into on the Issue Date;

          (ii) any  encumbrance  or  restriction  with  respect to a  Restricted
     Subsidiary  pursuant to an agreement relating to any Indebtedness  Incurred
     by such  Restricted  Subsidiary  on or  prior  to the  date on  which  such
     Restricted  Subsidiary was acquired by the Company (other than Indebtedness
     Incurred as consideration in, or to provide all or any portion of the funds
     or credit  support  utilized to  consummate,  the  transaction or series of
     related transactions  pursuant to which such Restricted Subsidiary became a
     Restricted  Subsidiary or was acquired by the Company) and  outstanding  on
     such date;

          (iii)  any  encumbrance  or  restriction   pursuant  to  an  agreement
     effecting a Refinancing of Indebtedness  Incurred  pursuant to an agreement
     referred to in clause (i) or (ii) of this  covenant or this clause (iii) or
     contained in any  amendment  to an  agreement  referred to in clause (i) or
     (ii) of this covenant or this clause  (iii);  provided,  however,  that the
     encumbrances  and restrictions  with respect to such Restricted  Subsidiary
     contained  in any  such  refinancing  agreement  or  amendment  are no less
     favorable  to the  Noteholders  than  encumbrances  and  restrictions  with
     respect  to  such  Restricted  Subsidiary  contained  in  such  predecessor
     agreements;

          (iv) any such  encumbrance  or  restriction  consisting  of  customary
     nonassignment  provisions in leases  governing  leasehold  interests to the
     extent such  provisions  restrict the transfer of the lease or the property
     leased thereunder;

          (v) in the  case  of  clause  (c)  above,  restrictions  contained  in
     security  agreements  or mortgages  securing  Indebtedness  of a Restricted
     Subsidiary  to the extent such  restrictions  restrict  the transfer of the
     property subject to such security agreements or mortgages; and

          (vi) any restriction with respect to a Restricted  Subsidiary  imposed
     pursuant to an agreement entered into for the sale or disposition of all or
     substantially all the Capital Stock or assets of such Restricted Subsidiary
     pending the closing of such sale or disposition.

     Limitation on Sales of Assets and Subsidiary  Stock.  (a) The Company shall
not, and shall not permit any Restricted  Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly,
consummate  any Asset  Disposition  unless (i) the  Company  or such  Restricted
Subsidiary receives consideration at the time of such Asset Disposition at least
equal  to the fair  market  value  (including  as to the  value of all  non-cash
consideration),  as determined  in good faith by the Board of Directors,  of the
shares and assets  subject  to such  Asset  Disposition  and at least 85% of the
consideration  thereof  received  by the Company or such  Restricted  Subsidiary
(other than in the case of a Permitted Asset Disposition) is in the form

                                      -33-

<PAGE>
of  cash  or cash  equivalents  and  (ii)  an  amount  equal  to 100% of the Net
Available  Cash from such Asset  Disposition  is applied by the Company (or such
Restricted Subsidiary,  as the case may be) (A) first, to the extent the Company
elects (or is  required  by the terms of any  Indebtedness),  to prepay,  repay,
redeem  or  purchase  Senior   Indebtedness  or  Indebtedness  (other  than  any
Disqualified  Stock)  of a Wholly  Owned  Subsidiary  (in each case  other  than
Indebtedness owed to the Company or an Affiliate of the Company) within one year
from the later of the date of such Asset  Disposition or the receipt of such Net
Available  Cash; (B) second,  to the extent of the balance of such Net Available
Cash after  application in accordance with clause (A), to the extent the Company
elects, to acquire  Additional Assets within one year from the later of the date
of such Asset  Disposition or the receipt of such Net Available Cash; (C) third,
to the extent of the balance of such Net  Available  Cash after  application  in
accordance  with  clauses  (A) and (B),  to make an offer to the  holders of the
Notes to purchase Notes  pursuant to and subject to the conditions  contained in
the  Indenture;  and (D)  fourth,  to the  extent  of the  balance  of such  Net
Available Cash after  application in accordance with clauses (A), (B) and (C) to
(x) the acquisition by the Company or any Wholly Owned  Subsidiary of Additional
Assets or (y) the prepayment,  repayment or purchase of Indebtedness (other than
any  Disqualified  Stock) of the  Company  (other than  Indebtedness  owed to an
Affiliate  of the  Company)  or  Indebtedness  of  any  Subsidiary  (other  than
Indebtedness  owed to the Company or an Affiliate of the Company),  in each case
within one year from the later of the receipt of such Net Available Cash and the
date the offer described in clause (b) below is consummated; provided , however,
that in connection  with any  prepayment,  repayment or purchase of Indebtedness
pursuant  to clause  (A),  (C) or (D)  above,  the  Company  or such  Restricted
Subsidiary  shall  permanently  retire  such  Indebtedness  and shall  cause the
related loan commitment (if any) to be permanently reduced in an amount equal to
the  principal  amount so  prepaid,  repaid or  purchased.  Notwithstanding  the
foregoing  provisions  of  this  paragraph,   the  Company  and  the  Restricted
Subsidiaries shall not be required to apply any Net Available Cash in accordance
with this  paragraph  except to the extent that the aggregate Net Available Cash
from all  Asset  Dispositions  which are not  applied  in  accordance  with this
paragraph  exceeds $5.0  million.  Pending  application  of Net  Available  Cash
pursuant  to this  covenant,  such  Net  Available  Cash  shall be  invested  in
Permitted Investments.

     For the purposes of this  covenant,  the following are deemed to be cash or
cash  equivalents:  (x) the  assumption  of  Indebtedness  of the Company or any
Restricted  Subsidiary  and  the  release  of the  Company  or  such  Restricted
Subsidiary from all liability on such Indebtedness in connection with such Asset
Disposition  and  (y)  securities  received  by the  Company  or any  Restricted
Subsidiary  from the  transferee  that are promptly  converted by the Company or
such Restricted Subsidiary into cash.

     (b) In the event of an Asset  Disposition that requires the purchase of the
Notes  pursuant to clause  (a)(ii)(C)  above,  the  Company  will be required to
purchase Notes  tendered  pursuant to an offer by the Company for the Notes at a
purchase price of 100% of their principal amount (without  premium) plus accrued
but unpaid  interest in accordance with the procedures  (including  prorating in
the event of  oversubscription)  set forth in the  Indenture.  If the  aggregate
purchase  price of Notes  tendered  pursuant  to such offer is less than the Net
Available Cash allotted to the purchase thereof, the Company will be required to
apply the  remaining Net Available  Cash in  accordance  with clause  (a)(ii)(D)
above. The Company shall not be required to make such an offer to purchase Notes
pursuant to this covenant if the Net Available Cash  available  therefor is less
than $5.0 million (which lesser amount shall be carried  forward for purposes of
determining  whether such an offer is required with respect to the Net Available
Cash from any subsequent Asset Disposition).

     (c)  The  Company  shall  comply,  to  the  extent  applicable,   with  the
requirements of Section 14(e) of the Exchange Act and any other  securities laws
or  regulations  in connection  with the  repurchase  of Notes  pursuant to this
covenant.  To  the  extent  that  the  provisions  of  any  securities  laws  or
regulations conflict with provisions of this covenant,  the Company shall comply
with the applicable  securities  laws and regulations and shall not be deemed to
have breached its obligations under this clause by virtue thereof.

     Limitation on Affiliate Transactions.  (a) The Company shall not, and shall
not  permit  any  Restricted  Subsidiary  to,  enter into or permit to exist any
transaction  (including the purchase,  sale,  lease or exchange of any property,
employee  compensation  arrangements  or the  rendering of any service) with any
Affiliate of the Company (an

                                      -34-

<PAGE>
"Affiliate  Transaction")  unless the terms thereof (1) are no less favorable to
the Company or such  Restricted  Subsidiary than those that could be obtained at
the time of such  transaction in arm's-length  dealings with a Person who is not
such an  Affiliate,  (2) if such  Affiliate  Transaction  involves  an amount in
excess of $500,000,  (i) are set forth in writing and (ii) have been approved by
a majority of the members of the Board of Directors  having no personal stake in
such Affiliate  Transaction  and (3) if such Affiliate  Transaction  involves an
amount  in  excess  of  $2.5  million,  have  been  determined  by a  nationally
recognized investment banking firm to be fair, from a financial  standpoint,  to
the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries.

     (b) The  provisions of the  foregoing  paragraph (a) shall not prohibit (i)
any Restricted  Payment permitted to be paid pursuant to the covenant  described
under "--Limitation on Restricted Payments," (ii) any issuance of securities, or
other payments,  awards or grants in cash,  securities or otherwise pursuant to,
or the funding of,  employment  arrangements,  stock options and stock ownership
plans  approved by the Board of  Directors,  (iii) the grant of stock options or
similar  rights to  employees  and  directors  of the Company  pursuant to plans
approved  by the Board of  Directors,  (iv) the  payment of  reasonable  fees to
directors of the Company and its Restricted  Subsidiaries  who are not employees
of the Company or its  Restricted  Subsidiaries,  (v) any Affiliate  Transaction
between  the Company  and a Wholly  Owned  Subsidiary  or between  Wholly  Owned
Subsidiaries  and (vi) the  issuance  or sale of any Capital  Stock  (other than
Disqualified Stock) of the Company.

     Limitation  on  the  Sale  or  Issuance  of  Capital  Stock  of  Restricted
Subsidiaries.  The Company  shall not sell or  otherwise  dispose of any Capital
Stock  of  a  Restricted  Subsidiary,   and  shall  not  permit  any  Restricted
Subsidiary, directly or indirectly, to issue or sell or otherwise dispose of any
of its Capital  Stock  except (i) to the Company or a Wholly  Owned  Subsidiary,
(ii)  if,  immediately  after  giving  effect  to such  issuance,  sale or other
disposition,  neither the Company  nor any of its  Subsidiaries  own any Capital
Stock of such Restricted  Subsidiary,  (iii) if, immediately after giving effect
to such issuance, sale or other disposition, such Restricted Subsidiary would no
longer  constitute a Restricted  Subsidiary  and any  Investment  in such Person
remaining after giving effect thereto would have been permitted to be made under
the covenant  described under  "--Limitation on Restricted  Payments" if made on
the date of such issuance,  sale or other  disposition or (iv) to the holders of
the  Warrants to the extent  required by the terms of the  Warrants in effect on
the Issue Date.

     Limitation  on Liens.  The  Company  shall  not,  and shall not  permit any
Restricted  Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly,  Incur or permit to exist any
Lien of any nature whatsoever on any of its properties  (including Capital Stock
of a  Restricted  Subsidiary),  whether  owned at the Issue  Date or  thereafter
acquired,  other than Permitted Liens,  without  effectively  providing that the
Notes shall be secured equally and ratably with (or prior to) the obligations so
secured for so long as such obligations are so secured.

     Limitation on Sale/Leaseback Transactions. The Company shall not, and shall
not  permit  any  Restricted   Subsidiary  to,  enter  into  any  Sale/Leaseback
Transaction  with  respect  to any  property  unless  (i)  the  Company  or such
Subsidiary would be entitled to (A) Incur Indebtedness in an amount equal to the
Attributable Debt with respect to such  Sale/Leaseback  Transaction  pursuant to
the covenant  described under  "--Limitation on  Indebtedness"  and (B) create a
Lien on such  property  securing  such  Attributable  Debt  without  equally and
ratably   securing  the  Notes   pursuant  to  the  covenant   described   under
"--Limitation  on Liens," (ii) the net  proceeds  received by the Company or any
Restricted Subsidiary in connection with such Sale/Leaseback  Transaction are at
least equal to the fair value (as  determined by the Board of Directors) of such
property  and (iii) the Company  applies the  proceeds  of such  transaction  in
compliance with the covenant described under "--Limitation on Sale of Assets and
Subsidiary Stock."

     Merger and  Consolidation.  The Company shall not consolidate with or merge
with or into, or convey,  transfer or lease,  in one  transaction or a series of
transactions,  all or substantially all its assets to, any Person,  unless:  (i)
the resulting, surviving or transferee Person (the "Successor Company") shall be
a Person  organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America,
any State thereof or the District of Columbia and the Successor  Company (if not
the Company)  shall  expressly  assume,  by an indenture  supplemental  thereto,
executed and delivered to the Trustee, in form satisfactory to the Trustee,  all
the obligations of the Company under the Notes and the Indenture;

                                      -35-

<PAGE>
(ii)  immediately  after giving  effect to such  transaction  (and  treating any
Indebtedness  which  becomes  an  obligation  of the  Successor  Company  or any
Subsidiary  as a result of such  transaction  as having  been  Incurred  by such
Successor  Company  or such  Subsidiary  at the  time of such  transaction),  no
Default shall have occurred and be continuing;  (iii)  immediately  after giving
effect to such  transaction,  the  Successor  Company  would be able to Incur an
additional  $1.00 of  Indebtedness  pursuant to  paragraph  (a) of the  covenant
described under  "--Limitation on  Indebtedness;"  (iv) immediately after giving
effect to such  transaction,  the Successor  Company shall have Consolidated Net
Worth in an  amount  that is not less  than the  Consolidated  Net  Worth of the
Company  immediately  prior to such  transaction;  (v) the  Company  shall  have
delivered  to the Trustee an  Officers'  Certificate  and an Opinion of Counsel,
each stating that such  consolidation,  merger or transfer and such supplemental
indenture  (if any) comply with the  Indenture  and (vi) the Company  shall have
delivered  to the  Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect  that the Holders
will not  recognize  income,  gain or loss for Federal  income tax purposes as a
result of such transaction and will be subject to Federal income tax on the same
amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if
such transaction had not occurred.

     The  Successor  Company  shall be the  successor  to the  Company and shall
succeed to, and be  substituted  for, and may exercise every right and power of,
the Company under the Indenture,  but the  predecessor  Company in the case of a
conveyance,  transfer or lease shall not be released from the  obligation to pay
the principal of and interest on the Notes.

     SEC  Reports.  Notwithstanding  that the  Company may not be subject to the
reporting  requirements  of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, the Company
shall file with the SEC and provide the Trustee and Noteholders with such annual
reports and such  information,  documents  and other reports as are specified in
Sections 13 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act and  applicable to a U.S.  corporation
subject to such Sections, such information, documents and other reports to be so
filed and provided at the times  specified  for the filing of such  information,
documents and reports under such Sections.

DEFAULTS

     An Event of Default is  defined  in the  Indenture  as (i) a default in the
payment of interest on the Notes when due, continued for 30 days, (ii) a default
in the payment of  principal of any Note when due at its Stated  Maturity,  upon
optional redemption,  upon required  repurchase,  upon declaration or otherwise,
(iii) the failure by the Company to comply with its obligations under "--Certain
Covenants-- Merger and Consolidation"  above, (iv) the failure by the Company to
comply for 30 days after  notice with any of its  obligations  in the  covenants
described  above  under  "Change of  Control"  (other than a failure to purchase
Notes) or under  "--Certain  Covenants" under  "--Limitation  on  Indebtedness,"
"--Limitation  on Restricted  Payments,"  "--Excess Cash Purchase  Offer" (other
than  a  failure  to  purchase   Notes),   "--Limitation   on   Restrictions  on
Distributions  from Restricted  Subsidiaries,"  "--Limitation on Sales of Assets
and Subsidiary Stock" (other than a failure to purchase Notes), "--Limitation on
Affiliate Transactions,"  "--Limitation on the Sale or Issuance of Capital Stock
of  Restricted   Subsidiaries,"   "--Limitation  on  Liens,"   "--Limitation  on
Sale/Leaseback  Transactions" or "--SEC Reports," (v) the failure by the Company
to comply for 60 days after  notice with its other  agreements  contained in the
Indenture, (vi) Indebtedness of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary is not
paid within any  applicable  grace period after final maturity or is accelerated
by the  holders  thereof  because  of a  default  and the  total  amount of such
Indebtedness unpaid or accelerated exceeds $5.0 million (the "cross acceleration
provision"), (vii) certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of
the Company or a Significant Subsidiary (the "bankruptcy  provisions") or (viii)
any  judgment  or decree  for the  payment  of money in excess of $5  million is
entered against the Company or a Significant Subsidiary, remains outstanding for
a period of 60 days  following  such judgment and is not  discharged,  waived or
stayed within 10 days after notice (the "judgment default provision").  However,
a default  under clauses  (iv),  (v) and (viii) will not  constitute an Event of
Default  until the  Trustee  or the  holders of 25% in  principal  amount of the
outstanding  Notes  notify the Company of the  default and the Company  does not
cure such default within the time specified after receipt of such notice.


                                      -36-

<PAGE>
     If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or the holders
of at least 25% in  principal  amount of the  outstanding  Notes may declare the
principal  of and  accrued  but unpaid  interest  on all the Notes to be due and
payable.  Upon such a declaration,  such principal and interest shall be due and
payable  immediately.  If an Event of  Default  relating  to  certain  events of
bankruptcy,   insolvency  or   reorganization  of  the  Company  occurs  and  is
continuing,  the  principal  of and  interest  on all the Notes  will ipso facto
become and be immediately  due and payable  without any declaration or other act
on the  part  of the  Trustee  or  any  holders  of  the  Notes.  Under  certain
circumstances,  the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding
Notes  may  rescind  any such  acceleration  with  respect  to the Notes and its
consequences.

     Subject to the  provisions of the  Indenture  relating to the duties of the
Trustee, in case an Event of Default occurs and is continuing,  the Trustee will
be under no  obligation  to  exercise  any of the  rights  or  powers  under the
Indenture  at the request or direction of any of the holders of the Notes unless
such  holders  have  offered to the  Trustee  reasonable  indemnity  or security
against any loss,  liability or expense.  Except to enforce the right to receive
payment of principal, premium (if any) or interest when due, no holder of a Note
may pursue any remedy with respect to the Indenture or the Notes unless (i) such
holder  has  previously  given the  Trustee  notice  that an Event of Default is
continuing,  (ii) holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding
Notes have  requested the Trustee to pursue the remedy,  (iii) such holders have
offered the Trustee reasonable security or indemnity against any loss, liability
or expense,  (iv) the Trustee has not complied with such request  within 60 days
after the receipt  thereof and the offer of  security or  indemnity  and (v) the
holders of a majority  in  principal  amount of the  outstanding  Notes have not
given the Trustee a direction  inconsistent with such request within such 60-day
period. Subject to certain restrictions,  the holders of a majority in principal
amount of the outstanding  Notes are given the right to direct the time,  method
and place of conducting any  proceeding for any remedy  available to the Trustee
or of  exercising  any trust or power  conferred  on the  Trustee.  The Trustee,
however,  may  refuse to follow any  direction  that  conflicts  with law or the
Indenture or that the Trustee  determines is unduly prejudicial to the rights of
any  other  holder of a Note or that  would  involve  the  Trustee  in  personal
liability.

     The Indenture  provides that if a Default  occurs and is continuing  and is
known to the  Trustee,  the Trustee must mail to each holder of the Notes notice
of the Default  within 90 days after it occurs.  Except in the case of a Default
in the payment of principal of or interest on any Note, the Trustee may withhold
notice if and so long as a  committee  of its  trust  officers  determines  that
withholding  notice is not opposed to the  interest of the holders of the Notes.
In addition, the Company is required to deliver to the Trustee,  within 120 days
after the end of each fiscal year, a certificate  indicating whether the signers
thereof know of any Default that occurred  during the previous year. The Company
also is required to deliver to the Trustee,  within 30 days after the occurrence
thereof,  written notice of any event which would constitute  certain  Defaults,
their  status and what  action  the  Company  is taking or  proposes  to take in
respect thereof.

AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS

     Subject to  certain  exceptions,  the  Indenture  may be  amended  with the
consent  of the  holders  of a majority  in  principal  amount of the Notes then
outstanding  (including  consents  obtained in connection with a tender offer or
exchange for the Notes) and any past default or compliance  with any  provisions
may also be waived with the  consent of the  holders of a majority in  principal
amount of the Notes  then  outstanding.  However,  without  the  consent of each
holder of an outstanding  Note affected  thereby,  no amendment may, among other
things,  (i)  reduce  the  amount of Notes  whose  holders  must  consent  to an
amendment, (ii) reduce the rate of or extend the time for payment of interest on
any Note,  (iii) reduce the  principal  of or extend the Stated  Maturity of any
Note,  (iv) reduce the amount  payable upon the redemption of any Note or change
the  time at which  any Note may be  redeemed  as  described  under  "--Optional
Redemption"  above, (v) make any Note payable in money other than that stated in
the Note, (vi) impair the right of any holder of the Notes to receive payment of
principal  of and  interest  on such  holder's  Notes on or after  the due dates
therefor  or to  institute  suit for the  enforcement  of any payment on or with
respect to such holder's

                                      -37-

<PAGE>
Notes or (vii) make any change in the  amendment  provisions  which require each
holder's consent or in the waiver provisions.

     Without the consent of any holder of the Notes, the Company and Trustee may
amend the Indenture to cure any ambiguity, omission, defect or inconsistency, to
provide for the assumption by a successor  corporation of the obligations of the
Company under the Indenture,  to provide for uncertificated Notes in addition to
or in place of certificated  Notes (provided that the  uncertificated  Notes are
issued in  registered  form for purposes of Section  163(f) of the Code, or in a
manner such that the uncertificated  Notes are described in Section 163(f)(2)(B)
of the Code),  to add guarantees with respect to the Notes, to secure the Notes,
to add to the  covenants  of the  Company  for the benefit of the holders of the
Notes or to surrender any right or power conferred upon the Company, to make any
change that does not  adversely  affect the rights of any holder of the Notes or
to comply with any requirement of the SEC in connection  with the  qualification
of the Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act.

     The  consent  of the  holders  of the  Notes  is not  necessary  under  the
Indenture  to approve  the  particular  form of any  proposed  amendment.  It is
sufficient if such consent approves the substance of the proposed amendment.

     After an amendment under the Indenture  becomes  effective,  the Company is
required  to mail to  holders  of the  Notes a notice  briefly  describing  such
amendment. However, the failure to give such notice to all holders of the Notes,
or any defect therein, will not impair or affect the validity of the amendment.

TRANSFER

     The Notes are issued in registered form and are transferable  only upon the
surrender of the Notes being  transferred  for  registration  of  transfer.  The
Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax,  assessment or
other  governmental  charge  payable in  connection  with certain  transfers and
exchanges.

DEFEASANCE

     The Company at any time may terminate all its  obligations  under the Notes
and  the  Indenture  ("legal  defeasance"),   except  for  certain  obligations,
including those  respecting the defeasance trust and obligations to register the
transfer or  exchange of the Notes,  to replace  mutilated,  destroyed,  lost or
stolen  Notes and to  maintain a  registrar  and paying  agent in respect of the
Notes.  The Company at any time may terminate its  obligations  under "Change of
Control" and under the covenants  described under "--Certain  Covenants"  (other
than the covenant described under "--Merger and  Consolidation"),  the operation
of the cross acceleration  provision,  the bankruptcy provisions with respect to
Significant  Subsidiaries  and the judgment  default  provision  described under
"--Defaults" above and the limitations contained in clauses (iii) and (iv) under
"--Certain Covenants--Merger and Consolidation" above ("covenant defeasance").

     The Company may exercise its legal defeasance  option  notwithstanding  its
prior exercise of its covenant  defeasance  option. If the Company exercises its
legal defeasance option,  payment of the Notes may not be accelerated because of
an Event of Default with respect thereto.  If the Company exercises its covenant
defeasance  option,  payment of the Notes may not be  accelerated  because of an
Event of Default  specified in clause (iv),  (vi),  (vii) (with  respect only to
Significant  Subsidiaries) or (viii) under  "--Defaults" above or because of the
failure of the  Company to comply  with  clause  (iii) or (iv) under  "--Certain
Covenants--Merger and Consolidation" above.

     In order to exercise either defeasance option, the Company must irrevocably
deposit  in  trust  (the  "defeasance  trust")  with the  Trustee  money or U.S.
Government Obligations for the payment of principal and interest on the Notes to
redemption  or maturity,  as the case may be, and must comply with certain other
conditions,  including  delivery  to the Trustee of an Opinion of Counsel to the
effect that  holders of the Notes will not  recognize  income,  gain or loss for
Federal  income tax purposes as a result of such deposit and defeasance and will
be subject to Federal

                                      -38-

<PAGE>
income tax on the same  amounts  and in the same manner and at the same times as
would have been the case if such deposit and  defeasance  had not occurred (and,
in the case of legal defeasance only, such Opinion of Counsel must be based on a
ruling of the Internal  Revenue  Service or other change in  applicable  Federal
income tax law).

CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE

     United  States Trust Company of New York is the Trustee under the Indenture
and has been  appointed by the Company as Registrar and Paying Agent with regard
to the Notes.

     The Indenture  contains  certain  limitations on the rights of the Trustee,
should it become a  creditor  of the  Company,  to obtain  payment  of claims in
certain cases, or to realize on certain property received in respect of any such
claim as security or otherwise. The Trustee will be permitted to engage in other
transactions;  provided,  however, if it acquires any conflicting  interest,  it
must eliminate such conflict  within 90 days and apply to the SEC for permission
to continue or resign.

     The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Notes have
the right to direct the time,  method and place of conducting any proceeding for
exercising any remedy available to the Trustee,  subject to certain  exceptions.
The Indenture  provides  that if an Event of Default  occurs (and is not cured),
the Trustee will be required, in the exercise of its power, to use the degree of
care of a  prudent  man in the  conduct  of his  own  affairs.  Subject  to such
provisions,  the Trustee  will be under no  obligation  to  exercise  any of its
rights or powers  under the  Indenture  at the  request  of any Holder of Notes,
unless such Holder  shall have  offered to the Trustee  security  and  indemnity
satisfactory  to it against any loss,  liability or expense and then only to the
extent required by the terms of the Indenture.

GOVERNING LAW

     The Indenture provides that it and the Notes are governed by, and construed
in accordance  with,  the laws of the State of New York without giving effect to
applicable  principles of conflicts of law to the extent that the application of
the law of another jurisdiction would be required thereby.

CERTAIN DEFINITIONS

     "Additional   Assets"   means  (i)  any  property  or  assets  (other  than
Indebtedness and Capital Stock) in a Related Business; (ii) the Capital Stock of
a Person that becomes a Restricted  Subsidiary as a result of the acquisition of
such  Capital  Stock by the Company or another  Restricted  Subsidiary  or (iii)
Capital Stock  constituting a minority  interest in any Person that at such time
is  a  Restricted  Subsidiary;  provided,  however,  that  any  such  Restricted
Subsidiary  described in clauses  (ii) or (iii) above is primarily  engaged in a
Related Business.

     "Affiliate"  of any specified  Person means any other  Person,  directly or
indirectly,  controlling  or  controlled  by or under direct or indirect  common
control  with  such  specified  Person.  For the  purposes  of this  definition,
"control"  when used with  respect to any  Person  means the power to direct the
management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly,  whether through
the  ownership of voting  securities,  by contract or  otherwise;  and the terms
"controlling" and "controlled" have meanings  correlative to the foregoing.  For
purposes of the provisions described under "--Certain  Covenants--Limitation  on
Restricted    Payments,"   "--Certain    Covenants--Limitation    on   Affiliate
Transactions"  and  "--Certain  Covenants--Limitation  on  Sales of  Assets  and
Subsidiary  Stock" only,  "Affiliate"  shall also mean any  beneficial  owner of
Capital  Stock  representing  5% or more of the total voting power of the Voting
Stock (on a fully  diluted  basis) of the  Company or of rights or  warrants  to
purchase  such Capital  Stock  (whether or not  currently  exercisable)  and any
Person who would be an Affiliate of any such  beneficial  owner  pursuant to the
first sentence hereof.

                                      -39-

<PAGE>
     "Asset  Disposition"  means any sale, lease,  transfer or other disposition
(or series of related sales,  leases,  transfers or dispositions) by the Company
or any Restricted  Subsidiary,  including any  disposition by means of a merger,
consolidation or similar  transaction (each referred to for the purposes of this
definition  as a  "disposition"),  of (i)  any  shares  of  Capital  Stock  of a
Restricted  Subsidiary  (other  than  directors'  qualifying  shares  or  shares
required by  applicable  law to be held by a Person  other than the Company or a
Restricted Subsidiary), (ii) all or substantially all the assets of any division
or line of  business of the Company or any  Restricted  Subsidiary  or (iii) any
other assets of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary outside of the ordinary
course of business of the Company or such Restricted  Subsidiary (other than, in
the  case of (i),  (ii) and  (iii)  above,  (w) a  disposition  by a  Restricted
Subsidiary  to the Company or by the  Company or a  Restricted  Subsidiary  to a
Wholly  Owned  Subsidiary,  (x) for  purposes of the  covenant  described  under
"--Certain  Covenants--Limitation on Sales of Assets and Subsidiary Stock" only,
a disposition  that constitutes a Restricted  Payment  permitted by the covenant
described under "--Certain  Covenants--Limitation  on Restricted  Payments," (y)
disposition  of assets with a fair market value of less than  $250,000 and (z) a
disposition of real estate in the Gibson Business Park near Las Vegas, Nevada).

     "Attributable Debt" in respect of a Sale/Leaseback Transaction means, as at
the time of  determination,  the present value  (discounted at the interest rate
borne by the Notes,  compounded annually) of the total obligations of the lessee
for rental  payments  during the  remaining  term of the lease  included in such
Sale/Leaseback  Transaction  (including any period for which such lease has been
extended).

     "Average Life" means, as of the date of determination,  with respect to any
Indebtedness or Preferred Stock,  the quotient  obtained by dividing (i) the sum
of the products of numbers of years from the date of  determination to the dates
of  each  successive   scheduled  principal  payment  of  such  Indebtedness  or
redemption or similar payment with respect to such Preferred Stock multiplied by
the amount of such payment by (ii) the sum of all such payments.

     "Azide Notes" means the Company's 11% subordinated secured notes originally
issued on February 21, 1992, in an original principal amount of $40.0 million.

     "Board of  Directors"  means the Board of  Directors  of the Company or any
committee thereof duly authorized to act on behalf of such Board.

     "Borrowing Base" means at any time an amount equal to the sum of (i) 50% of
the book value of the inventory of the Company and its  Restricted  Subsidiaries
and (ii) 80% of the book value of the accounts receivable of the Company and its
Restricted Subsidiaries.

     "Business Day" means each day that is not a Legal Holiday.

     "Capital  Expenditures"  means,  for  any  period,  (a)  the  additions  to
property,  plant and equipment and other capital expenditures of the Company and
its consolidated Subsidiaries that are (or would be) set forth in a consolidated
statement  of cash flows of the Company for such period  prepared in  accordance
with GAAP and (b)  Capital  Lease  Obligations  incurred  by the Company and its
consolidated Subsidiaries during such period.

     "Capital  Lease  Obligations"  means an  obligation  that is required to be
classified and accounted for as a capital lease for financial reporting purposes
in accordance  with GAAP,  and the amount of  Indebtedness  represented  by such
obligation  shall be the  capitalized  amount of such  obligation  determined in
accordance with GAAP; and the Stated  Maturity  thereof shall be the date of the
last payment of rent or any other amount due under such lease prior to the first
date upon which such lease may be terminated by the lessee without  payment of a
penalty.

     "Capital Stock" of any Person means any and all shares,  interests,  rights
to  purchase,  warrants,  options,  participations  or other  equivalents  of or
interests in (however designated) equity of such Person, including any Preferred
Stock, but excluding any debt securities convertible into such equity.

     "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

                                      -40-

<PAGE>
     "Consolidated  Coverage  Ratio" as of any date of  determination  means the
ratio of (i) the  aggregate  amount of EBITDA for the period of the most  recent
four  consecutive  fiscal  quarters ending at least 45 days prior to the date of
such  determination to (ii)  Consolidated  Interest Expense for such four fiscal
quarters;  provided,  however,  that  (1)  if  the  Company  or  any  Restricted
Subsidiary has Incurred any Indebtedness since the beginning of such period that
remains  outstanding or if the transaction  giving rise to the need to calculate
the  Consolidated  Coverage  Ratio is an  Incurrence of  Indebtedness,  or both,
EBITDA and  Consolidated  Interest  Expense for such period shall be  calculated
after  giving  effect  on a pro  forma  basis  to such  Indebtedness  as if such
Indebtedness had been Incurred on the first day of such period and the discharge
of any other Indebtedness repaid, repurchased,  defeased or otherwise discharged
with the proceeds of such new  Indebtedness as if such discharge had occurred on
the first day of such period,  (2) if the Company or any  Restricted  Subsidiary
has repaid, repurchased, defeased or otherwise discharged any Indebtedness since
the  beginning  of  such  period  or  if  any  Indebtedness  is  to  be  repaid,
repurchased,   defeased  or  otherwise  discharged  (in  each  case  other  than
Indebtedness   Incurred  under  any  revolving   credit   facility  unless  such
Indebtedness has been permanently  repaid and has not been replaced) on the date
of the  transaction  giving  rise to the  need  to  calculate  the  Consolidated
Coverage Ratio,  EBITDA and Consolidated  Interest Expense for such period shall
be  calculated  on a pro forma basis as if such  discharge  had  occurred on the
first day of such period and as if the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary has
not earned the interest  income actually earned during such period in respect of
cash or  Temporary  Cash  Investments  used to  repay,  repurchase,  defease  or
otherwise discharge such Indebtedness, (3) if since the beginning of such period
the Company or any Restricted  Subsidiary shall have made any Asset Disposition,
the EBITDA for such period shall be reduced by an amount equal to the EBITDA (if
positive)  directly  attributable  to the assets  which are the  subject of such
Asset Disposition for such period, or increased by an amount equal to the EBITDA
(if negative),  directly  attributable  thereto for such period and Consolidated
Interest  Expense  for such  period  shall be reduced by an amount  equal to the
Consolidated  Interest Expense directly  attributable to any Indebtedness of the
Company or any Restricted Subsidiary repaid, repurchased,  defeased or otherwise
discharged   with  respect  to  the  Company  and  its   continuing   Restricted
Subsidiaries in connection  with such Asset  Disposition for such period (or, if
the  Capital  Stock  of any  Restricted  Subsidiary  is sold,  the  Consolidated
Interest  Expense for such period directly  attributable to the  Indebtedness of
such  Restricted  Subsidiary  to the  extent  the  Company  and  its  continuing
Restricted  Subsidiaries are no longer liable for such  Indebtedness  after such
sale),  (4) if since the beginning of such period the Company or any  Restricted
Subsidiary  (by  merger  or  otherwise)  shall  have made an  Investment  in any
Restricted  Subsidiary (or any person which becomes a Restricted  Subsidiary) or
an  acquisition  of assets,  including any  acquisition  of assets  occurring in
connection  with a  transaction  requiring a calculation  to be made  hereunder,
which  constitutes all or substantially  all of an operating unit of a business,
EBITDA and  Consolidated  Interest  Expense for such period shall be  calculated
after  giving  pro  forma  effect  thereto  (including  the  Incurrence  of  any
Indebtedness) as if such Investment or acquisition  occurred on the first day of
such  period and (5) if since the  beginning  of such  period  any Person  (that
subsequently  became a  Restricted  Subsidiary  or was  merged  with or into the
Company or any Restricted  Subsidiary  since the beginning of such period) shall
have made any Asset  Disposition,  any  Investment or acquisition of assets that
would have required an adjustment pursuant to clause (3) or (4) above if made by
the  Company  or  a  Restricted   Subsidiary  during  such  period,  EBITDA  and
Consolidated  Interest  Expense for such period shall be calculated after giving
pro forma effect thereto as if such Asset Disposition, Investment or acquisition
occurred  on the first day of such  period.  For  purposes  of this  definition,
whenever pro forma effect is to be given to an acquisition of assets, the amount
of income or earnings  relating thereto and the amount of Consolidated  Interest
Expense associated with any Indebtedness Incurred in connection  therewith,  the
pro  forma  calculations  shall be  determined  in good  faith by a  responsible
financial or  accounting  Officer of the Company.  If any  Indebtedness  bears a
floating rate of interest and is being given pro forma  effect,  the interest of
such  Indebtedness  shall be  calculated as if the rate in effect on the date of
determination  had been the  applicable  rate for the entire period (taking into
account any Interest  Rate  Agreement  applicable to such  Indebtedness  if such
Interest Rate Agreement has a remaining term in excess of 12 months).

     "Consolidated  Interest Expense" means, for any period,  the total interest
expense of the Company and its consolidated  Restricted  Subsidiaries,  plus, to
the  extent  not  included  in such total  interest  expense,  and to the extent
incurred by the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries, without duplication, (i)
interest  expense  attributable  to  capital  leases  and the  interest  expense
attributable to leases constituting part of a Sale/Leaseback Transaction, (ii)

                                      -41-

<PAGE>
amortization  of  debt  discount  and  debt  issuance  cost,  (iii)  capitalized
interest, (iv) non-cash interest expenses, (v) commissions,  discounts and other
fees and charges owed with respect to letters of credit and bankers'  acceptance
financing,  (vi)  net  costs  associated  with  Hedging  Obligations  (including
amortization  of fees),  (vii)  Preferred  Stock  dividends  in  respect  of all
Preferred  Stock  held by  Persons  other  than the  Company  or a Wholly  Owned
Subsidiary,   (viii)  interest   incurred  in  connection  with  Investments  in
discontinued operations, (ix) interest accruing on any Indebtedness of any other
Person to the extent  such  Indebtedness  is  Guaranteed  by (or  secured by the
assets  of)  the  Company  or  any  Restricted   Subsidiary  and  (x)  the  cash
contributions  to any  employee  stock  ownership  plan or similar  trust to the
extent such contributions are used by such plan or trust to pay interest or fees
to any Person (other than the Company) in connection with Indebtedness  Incurred
by such plan or trust.

     "Consolidated  Net Income"  means,  for any  period,  the net income of the
Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries;  provided,  however, that there shall
not be included in such Consolidated Net Income:

          (i) any net  income of any Person  (other  than the  Company)  if such
     Person is not a  Restricted  Subsidiary,  except  that (A)  subject  to the
     exclusion  contained in clause (iv) below,  the Company's equity in the net
     income  of any such  Person  for such  period  shall  be  included  in such
     Consolidated  Net  Income  up to the  aggregate  amount  of  cash  actually
     distributed  by  such  Person  during  such  period  to  the  Company  or a
     Restricted Subsidiary as a dividend or other distribution  (subject, in the
     case of a dividend or other  distribution paid to a Restricted  Subsidiary,
     to the  limitations  contained in clause (iii) below) and (B) the Company's
     equity in a net loss of any such Person for such  period  shall be included
     in determining such Consolidated Net Income;

          (ii) any net income (or loss) of any Person acquired by the Company or
     a Subsidiary in a pooling of interests  transaction for any period prior to
     the date of such acquisition;

          (iii) any net income of any Restricted  Subsidiary if such  Restricted
     Subsidiary  is subject to  restrictions,  directly  or  indirectly,  on the
     payment of  dividends  or the making of  distributions  by such  Restricted
     Subsidiary, directly or indirectly, to the Company, except that (A) subject
     to the exclusion  contained in clause (iv) below,  the Company's  equity in
     the net income of any such  Restricted  Subsidiary for such period shall be
     included in such Consolidated Net Income up to the aggregate amount of cash
     actually  distributed by such Restricted  Subsidiary  during such period to
     the  Company  or  another  Restricted  Subsidiary  as a  dividend  or other
     distribution (subject, in the case of a dividend or other distribution paid
     to another  Restricted  Subsidiary,  to the  limitation  contained  in this
     clause) and (B) the Company's  equity in a net loss of any such  Restricted
     Subsidiary  for  such  period  shall  be  included  in   determining   such
     Consolidated Net Income;

          (iv)  any  gain  (but  not  loss)  realized  upon  the  sale or  other
     disposition of any assets of the Company, its consolidated  Subsidiaries or
     any other Person (including pursuant to any sale-and-leaseback arrangement)
     which  is not sold or  otherwise  disposed  of in the  ordinary  course  of
     business  and any  gain  (but  not  loss)  realized  upon the sale or other
     disposition of any Capital Stock of any Person;

          (v) extraordinary gains or losses; and

          (vi) the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles.

Notwithstanding the foregoing,  for the purposes of the covenant described under
"Certain  Covenants--Limitation  on Restricted  Payments"  only,  there shall be
excluded  from  Consolidated  Net Income any  dividends,  repayments of loans or
advances or other  transfers  of assets from  Unrestricted  Subsidiaries  to the
Company or a Restricted  Subsidiary to the extent such dividends,  repayments or
transfers  increase  the  amount of  Restricted  Payments  permitted  under such
covenant pursuant to clause (a)(3)(D) thereof.

     "Consolidated  Net  Worth"  means  the  total of the  amounts  shown on the
balance sheet of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries,  determined on a
consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, as of the end of the most

                                      -42-

<PAGE>
recent fiscal quarter of the Company ending at least 45 days prior to the taking
of any action for the purpose of which the  determination  is being made, as (i)
the par or stated  value of all  outstanding  Capital  Stock of the Company plus
(ii) paid-in  capital or capital  surplus  relating to such  Capital  Stock plus
(iii) any retained  earnings or earned surplus less (A) any accumulated  deficit
and (B) any amounts attributable to Disqualified Stock.

     "Currency  Agreement"  means in respect of a Person  any  foreign  exchange
contract, currency swap agreement or other similar agreement designed to protect
such Person against fluctuations in currency values.

     "Default"  means any event which is, or after  notice or passage of time or
both would be, an Event of Default.

     "Disqualified  Stock" means, with respect to any Person,  any Capital Stock
which by its terms (or by the terms of any security into which it is convertible
or for which it is  exchangeable) or upon the happening of any event (i) matures
or is mandatorily redeemable pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise,
(ii) is convertible or exchangeable  for  Indebtedness or Disqualified  Stock or
(iii) is redeemable or must be purchased,  upon the occurrence of certain events
or otherwise, by such Person at the option of the holder thereof, in whole or in
part, in each case on or prior to the first  anniversary of the Stated  Maturity
of the  Notes;  provided,  however,  that  any  Capital  Stock  that  would  not
constitute  Disqualified Stock but for provisions thereof giving holders thereof
the right to require such Person to purchase or redeem such  Capital  Stock upon
the occurrence of an "asset sale" or "change of control"  occurring prior to the
first  anniversary  of the Stated  Maturity  of the Notes  shall not  constitute
Disqualified  Stock if (x) the "asset  sale" or "change of  control"  provisions
applicable to such Capital  Stock are not more  favorable to the holders of such
Capital  Stock  than the  terms  applicable  to the Notes  and  described  under
"--Certain Covenants--Limitation on Sales of Assets and Subsidiary Stock" and
 "--Certain  Covenants--Change  of Control"  and (y) any such  requirement  only
becomes  operative  after  compliance  with such terms  applicable to the Notes,
including the purchase of any Notes tendered pursuant thereto.

     "EBITDA"  for any period  means the sum of  Consolidated  Net Income,  plus
Consolidated  Interest  Expense  plus the  following  to the extent  deducted in
calculating  such  Consolidated  Net  Income:  (a) all income tax expense of the
Company and its consolidated Restricted  Subsidiaries,  (b) depreciation expense
of the Company and its consolidated  Restricted  Subsidiaries,  (c) amortization
expense of the Company and its consolidated  Restricted  Subsidiaries (excluding
amortization  expense  attributable  to a  prepaid  cash item that was paid in a
prior  period)  and  (d) all  other  non-cash  charges  of the  Company  and its
consolidated  Restricted Subsidiaries (excluding any such non-cash charge to the
extent that it represents an accrual of or reserve for cash  expenditures in any
future period), in each case for such period. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the
provision for taxes based on the income or profits of, and the  depreciation and
amortization and non-cash charges of, a Restricted  Subsidiary shall be added to
Consolidated  Net Income to compute  EBITDA  only to the extent (and in the same
proportion)  that the net income of such  Restricted  Subsidiary was included in
calculating  Consolidated Net Income and only if a corresponding amount would be
permitted at the date of  determination  to be dividended to the Company by such
Restricted  Subsidiary  without  prior  approval  (that has not been  obtained),
pursuant to the terms of its charter and all agreements, instruments, judgments,
decrees, orders, statutes, rules and governmental regulations applicable to such
Restricted Subsidiary or its stockholders.

     "Excess Cash Flow" means, for any period, the sum (without  duplication) of
the following with respect to the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries:

          (a) the Consolidated Net Income for such period; plus

          (b) the  depreciation,  amortization  and other  non-cash  charges  or
     losses deducted in determining the Consolidated Net Income for such period;
     plus

          (c) the amount,  if any, by which Net Working Capital decreased during
such period; plus


                                      -43-

<PAGE>
          (d) Net Available Cash from Asset Dispositions received in such period
     to the extent not included in Consolidated Net Income in such period; plus

          (e) the aggregate  principal  amount of Capital Lease  Obligations and
     other   Indebtedness   Incurred  during  such  period  to  finance  Capital
     Expenditures, to the extent that mandatory principal payments in respect of
     such  Indebtedness  would not be excluded  from clause (i) below when made;
     minus

          (f) any non-cash gains included in determining Consolidated Net Income
for such period; minus

          (g) the amount,  if any, by which Net Working Capital increased during
such period; minus

          (h) Capital Expenditures for such period; minus

          (i) the aggregate  principal amount of Indebtedness  repaid or prepaid
     by the  Company  and its  consolidated  Subsidiaries  during  such  period,
     excluding (i)  Indebtedness  in respect of any Revolving  Credit  Facility,
     (ii) Notes  prepaid  pursuant  to the  covenant  described  under  "Certain
     Covenants--Excess Cash Purchase Offer," (iii) Indebtedness  Refinanced with
     Refinancing  Indebtedness and (iv) Indebtedness  referred to in clauses (7)
     and  (8)  of  paragraph  (b)  of  the  covenant  described  under  "Certain
     Covenants--Limitation on Indebtedness;" minus

          (j)  the  aggregate  cash  used  by the  Company  and  its  Restricted
     Subsidiaries  to acquire  Additional  Assets and not otherwise  included in
     clause (h) above.

     "Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

     "GAAP" means generally accepted accounting  principles in the United States
of America as in effect as of the Issue Date,  including  those set forth in (i)
the  opinions  and  pronouncements  of the  Accounting  Principles  Board of the
American  Institute  of  Certified  Public  Accountants,   (ii)  statements  and
pronouncements  of the Financial  Accounting  Standards Board,  (iii) such other
statements  by such other  entity as  approved by a  significant  segment of the
accounting  profession  and (iv) the rules and  regulations of the SEC governing
the inclusion of financial statements (including pro forma financial statements)
in periodic  reports required to be filed pursuant to Section 13 of the Exchange
Act,  including  opinions and  pronouncements in staff accounting  bulletins and
similar written statements from the accounting staff of the SEC.

     "Guarantee"  means any obligation,  contingent or otherwise,  of any Person
directly  or  indirectly  guaranteeing  any  Indebtedness  of any Person and any
obligation,  direct or indirect,  contingent or otherwise, of such Person (i) to
purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such
Indebtedness or other  obligation of such Person  (whether  arising by virtue of
partnership  arrangements,  or by agreements to keep-well,  to purchase  assets,
goods, securities or services, to take-or-pay or to maintain financial statement
conditions or otherwise) or (ii) entered into for the purpose of assuring in any
other  manner the  obligee of such  Indebtedness  of the  payment  thereof or to
protect  such  obligee  against  loss in respect  thereof (in whole or in part);
provided,  however, that the term "Guarantee" shall not include endorsements for
collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business.  The term  "Guarantee"
used as a verb has a corresponding  meaning. The term "Guarantor" shall mean any
Person Guaranteeing any obligation.

     "Hedging  Obligations"  of any Person means the  obligations of such Person
pursuant to any Interest Rate Agreement or Currency Agreement.

     "Holder"  or  "Noteholder"  means  the  Person  in  whose  name a  Note  is
registered on the Registrar's books.

     "Incur" means issue,  assume,  Guarantee,  incur or otherwise become liable
for;  provided,  however,  that any  Indebtedness  or Capital  Stock of a Person
existing at the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary (whether by merger,

                                      -44-

<PAGE>
consolidation,  acquisition or otherwise) shall be deemed to be Incurred by such
Subsidiary at the time it becomes a Subsidiary.  The term "Incurrence" when used
as a noun shall have a correlative  meaning. The accretion of principal of a non
interest-bearing  or other discount  security shall not be deemed the Incurrence
of Indebtedness.

     "Indebtedness"   means,   with  respect  to  any  Person  on  any  date  of
determination (without duplication):

          (i) the  principal in respect of (A)  indebtedness  of such Person for
     money borrowed and (B) indebtedness evidenced by notes,  debentures,  bonds
     or other  similar  instruments  for the  payment  of which  such  Person is
     responsible  or  liable,  including,  in each  case,  any  premium  on such
     indebtedness to the extent such premium has become due and payable;

          (ii) all Capital Lease Obligations of such Person and all Attributable
     Debt in respect of Sale/Leaseback Transactions entered into by such Person;

          (iii) all obligations of such Person issued or assumed as the deferred
     purchase price of property, all conditional sale obligations of such Person
     and all obligations of such Person under any title retention agreement (but
     excluding  trade  accounts  payable  arising  in  the  ordinary  course  of
     business);

          (iv) all  obligations  of such  Person  for the  reimbursement  of any
     obligor on any  letter of credit,  banker's  acceptance  or similar  credit
     transaction  (other  than  obligations  with  respect  to letters of credit
     securing  obligations  (other  than  obligations  described  in clauses (i)
     through  (iii) above)  entered  into in the ordinary  course of business of
     such Person to the extent such  letters of credit are not drawn upon or, if
     and to the extent drawn upon,  such drawing is reimbursed no later than the
     tenth Business Day following payment on the letter of credit);

          (v) the amount of all  obligations  of such Person with respect to the
     redemption,  repayment or other  repurchase of any  Disqualified  Stock or,
     with respect to any Subsidiary of such Person,  the liquidation  preference
     with respect to, any  Preferred  Stock (but  excluding,  in each case,  any
     accrued dividends);

          (vi) all  obligations  of the type  referred to in clauses (i) through
     (v) of other  Persons and all dividends of other Persons for the payment of
     which,  in either case,  such Person is responsible or liable,  directly or
     indirectly, as obligor,  guarantor or otherwise,  including by means of any
     Guarantee;

          (vii) all  obligations  of the type referred to in clauses (i) through
     (vi) of other Persons  secured by any Lien on any property or asset of such
     Person  (whether or not such  obligation  is assumed by such  Person),  the
     amount of such  obligation  being  deemed to be the  lesser of the value of
     such property or assets or the amount of the obligation so secured; and

          (viii)  to the  extent  not  otherwise  included  in this  definition,
Hedging Obligations of such Person.

The amount of  Indebtedness  of any Person at any date shall be the  outstanding
balance at such date of all unconditional obligations as described above and the
maximum  liability,  upon the occurrence of the  contingency  giving rise to the
obligation, of any contingent obligations at such date.

     "Interest  Rate  Agreement"  means in respect of a Person any interest rate
swap  agreement,  interest  rate cap agreement or other  financial  agreement or
arrangement  designed to protect such Person  against  fluctuations  in interest
rates.

     "Investment"  in any Person  means any  direct or  indirect  advance,  loan
(other than  advances to customers in the ordinary  course of business  that are
recorded as  accounts  receivable  on the balance  sheet of the lender) or other
extensions of credit  (including by way of Guarantee or similar  arrangement) or
capital  contribution  to (by means of any transfer of cash or other property to
others or any payment for property or services for the account or use of

                                      -45-

<PAGE>
others), or any purchase or acquisition of Capital Stock,  Indebtedness or other
similar  instruments  issued by such Person.  For purposes of the  definition of
"Unrestricted  Subsidiary,"  the  definition  of  "Restricted  Payment"  and the
covenant   described  under  "--Certain   Covenants--Limitation   on  Restricted
Payments,"  (i)  "Investment"  shall include the portion  (proportionate  to the
Company's  equity  interest in such  Subsidiary) of the fair market value of the
net assets of any Subsidiary of the Company at the time that such  Subsidiary is
designated  an  Unrestricted   Subsidiary;   provided,   however,  that  upon  a
redesignation of such Subsidiary as a Restricted  Subsidiary,  the Company shall
be  deemed to  continue  to have a  permanent  "Investment"  in an  Unrestricted
Subsidiary  equal  to an  amount  (if  positive)  equal  to  (x)  the  Company's
"Investment" in such Subsidiary at the time of such  redesignation  less (y) the
portion  (proportionate  to the Company's equity interest in such Subsidiary) of
the fair market value of the net assets of such  Subsidiary  at the time of such
redesignation;  and (ii) any  property  transferred  to or from an  Unrestricted
Subsidiary  shall  be  valued  at its  fair  market  value  at the  time of such
transfer, in each case as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors.

     "Issue Date" means the date on which the Notes are originally issued.

     "Lien" means any mortgage, pledge, security interest,  encumbrance, lien or
charge of any kind  (including  any  conditional  sale or other title  retention
agreement or lease in the nature thereof).

     "Net Available Cash" from an Asset Disposition means cash payments received
therefrom  (including any cash payments  received by way of deferred  payment of
principal pursuant to a note or installment receivable or otherwise and proceeds
from the sale or other disposition of any securities  received as consideration,
but only as and when received, but excluding any other consideration received in
the  form of  assumption  by the  acquiring  Person  of  Indebtedness  or  other
obligations  relating  to such  properties  or assets or  received  in any other
noncash  form),  in each  case net of (i) all  legal,  title and  recording  tax
expenses,  commissions  and other fees and expenses  incurred,  and all Federal,
state, provincial, foreign and local taxes required to be accrued as a liability
under GAAP, as a consequence of such Asset  Disposition,  (ii) all payments made
on any  Indebtedness  which is  secured  by any  assets  subject  to such  Asset
Disposition,  in  accordance  with the terms of any Lien upon or other  security
agreement of any kind with  respect to such assets,  or which must by its terms,
or in order to obtain a  necessary  consent  to such  Asset  Disposition,  or by
applicable law, be repaid out of the proceeds from such Asset Disposition, (iii)
all  distributions  and other payments  required to be made to minority interest
holders in Restricted  Subsidiaries  as a result of such Asset  Disposition  and
(iv) the deduction of appropriate  amounts  provided by the seller as a reserve,
in accordance with GAAP, against any liabilities associated with the property or
other assets  disposed in such Asset  Disposition and retained by the Company or
any Restricted Subsidiary after such Asset Disposition.

     "Net Cash  Proceeds"  means with respect to any issuance or sale of Capital
Stock,  the cash  proceeds  of such  issuance  or sale net of  attorneys'  fees,
accountants'  fees,  underwriters'  or  placement  agents'  fees,  discounts  or
commissions  and  brokerage,  consultant  and other fees  actually  incurred  in
connection  with such  issuance  or sale and net of taxes  paid or  payable as a
result thereof.

     "Net Working  Capital"  means,  at any date, (a) the  consolidated  current
assets  of the  Company  and  its  consolidated  Subsidiaries  as of  such  date
(excluding cash and Permitted  Investments)  minus (b) the consolidated  current
liabilities  of the Company and its  consolidated  Subsidiaries  as of such date
(excluding current liabilities in respect of Indebtedness).  Net Working Capital
at any date may be a positive or negative number.  Net Working Capital increases
when it becomes more  positive or less  negative and  decreases  when it becomes
less positive or more negative.

     "Permitted  Asset  Disposition"  means any Asset  Disposition of all or any
part of the Company's  Halotron business or environmental  protection  equipment
business.

     "Permitted Investment" means an Investment by the Company or any Restricted
Subsidiary  in (i) the Company,  a Restricted  Subsidiary or a Person that will,
upon the making of such Investment, become a Restricted Subsidiary;

                                      -46-

<PAGE>
provided,  however, that the primary business of such Restricted Subsidiary is a
Related  Business;  (ii) another Person if as a result of such  Investment  such
other Person is merged or consolidated with or into, or transfers or conveys all
or  substantially  all its assets to, the  Company or a  Restricted  Subsidiary;
provided,  however,  that such Person's primary business is a Related  Business;
(iii) Temporary Cash  Investments;  (iv) receivables owing to the Company or any
Restricted  Subsidiary if created or acquired in the ordinary course of business
and payable or dischargeable in accordance with customary trade terms; provided,
however, that such trade terms may include such concessionary trade terms as the
Company  or  any  such  Restricted   Subsidiary   deems   reasonable  under  the
circumstances;  (v) payroll,  travel and similar  advances to cover matters that
are expected at the time of such  advances  ultimately to be treated as expenses
for  accounting  purposes and that are made in the ordinary  course of business;
(vi) loans or  advances to  employees  made in the  ordinary  course of business
consistent  with past  practices of the Company or such  Restricted  Subsidiary;
(vii) stock,  obligations or securities  received in settlement of debts created
in the ordinary  course of business  and owing to the Company or any  Restricted
Subsidiary or in satisfaction of judgments; (viii) any Person to the extent such
Investment represents the non-cash portion of the consideration  received for an
Asset  Disposition  as  permitted  pursuant  to  the  covenant  described  under
"--Certain Covenants-- Limitation on Sales of Assets and Subsidiary Stock;" (ix)
Investments existing on the Issue Date; (x) a joint venture of which the Company
or any Wholly  Owned  Subsidiary  owns at least 50% of the  economic  and voting
interest;  provided,  however,  that (A) such  Investment  consists  solely of a
capital  contribution  of real  property  at the Gibson  Business  Park near Las
Vegas, Nevada, (B) the constitutive  documents of such joint venture prohibit it
from having  outstanding at any time  Indebtedness in excess of $5.0 million and
(C) at the time of the Investment,  the Consolidated  Coverage Ratio exceeds 2.0
to 1; and (xi)  Investments  in the Real Estate Joint Venture other than capital
contributions of real property made prior to the Issue Date; provided,  however,
that the aggregate amount of all such  Investments  pursuant to this clause (xi)
shall not exceed $4.1 million  (including any such  Investments  existing on the
Issue Date).

     "Permitted  Liens"  means,  with  respect  to any  Person,  (a)  pledges or
deposits by such Person under worker's compensation laws, unemployment insurance
laws or similar  legislation,  or good faith  deposits in connection  with bids,
tenders,  contracts  (other than for the payment of  Indebtedness)  or leases to
which  such  Person  is a party,  or  deposits  to secure  public  or  statutory
obligations of such Person or deposits of cash or United States government bonds
to secure surety or appeal bonds to which such Person is a party, or deposits as
security for  contested  taxes or import  duties or for the payment of rent,  in
each case Incurred in the ordinary course of business; (b) Liens imposed by law,
such as carriers',  warehousemen's  and mechanics'  Liens, in each case for sums
not yet due or being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings or other
Liens  arising out of  judgments  or awards  against such Person with respect to
which such Person shall then be proceeding  with an appeal or other  proceedings
for review; (c) Liens for taxes, assessments,  government charges and claims, in
each  case not yet  subject  to  penalties  for  non-payment  or which are being
contested in good faith and by  appropriate  proceedings;  (d) Liens in favor of
issuers of surety bonds or letters of credit  issued  pursuant to the request of
and for the  account  of such  Person in the  ordinary  course of its  business;
provided,  however, that such letters of credit do not constitute  Indebtedness;
(e) minor survey exceptions,  minor encumbrances,  easements or reservations of,
or  rights of others  for,  licenses,  rights-of-way,  sewers,  electric  lines,
telegraph and telephone  lines and other  similar  purposes,  or zoning or other
restrictions  as to the use of real property or Liens  incidental to the conduct
of the business of such Person or to the ownership of its properties  which were
not Incurred in connection with  Indebtedness  and which do not in the aggregate
materially  adversely  affect the value of said properties or materially  impair
their use in the  operation of the business of such Person;  (f) Liens  securing
Indebtedness  Incurred  to finance  the  construction,  purchase or lease of, or
repairs,  improvements  or  additions  to,  property of such  Person;  provided,
however, that the Lien may not extend to any other property owned by such Person
or  any of  its  Subsidiaries  at  the  time  the  Lien  is  Incurred,  and  the
Indebtedness  (other than any interest  thereon)  secured by the Lien may not be
Incurred  more than 180 days after the later of the  acquisition,  completion of
construction, repair, improvement, addition or commencement of full operation of
the  property  subject  to the Lien;  (g) Liens on  inventory,  receivables  and
proceeds thereof to secure Indebtedness permitted under the provisions described
in clause (b)(1) under "--Certain  Covenants--Limitation  on Indebtedness;"  (h)
Liens  existing  on the Issue  Date;  (i) Liens on property or shares of Capital
Stock of another  Person at the time such other Person  becomes a Subsidiary  of
such Person;  provided,  however,  that such Liens are not created,  incurred or
assumed in connection with, or in  contemplation  of, such other Person becoming
such a Subsidiary; provided further, however,

                                      -47-

<PAGE>
that such Lien may not extend to any other  property owned by such Person or any
of its Subsidiaries; (j) Liens on property at the time such Person or any of its
Subsidiaries  acquires the  property,  including any  acquisition  by means of a
merger or consolidation with or into such Person or a Subsidiary of such Person;
provided,  however,  that such  Liens are not  created,  incurred  or assumed in
connection with, or in contemplation  of, such  acquisition;  provided  further,
however,  that the Liens may not  extend  to any  other  property  owned by such
Person or any of its  Subsidiaries;  (k) Liens  securing  Indebtedness  or other
obligations  of a  Subsidiary  of such  Person  owing to such Person or a wholly
owned Subsidiary of such Person; (l) Liens securing Hedging  Obligations so long
as such Hedging  Obligations relate to Indebtedness that is, and is permitted to
be under the  Indenture,  secured by a Lien on the same  property  securing such
Hedging  Obligations;  and (m) Liens to secure any  Refinancing  (or  successive
Refinancings)  as a whole, or in part, of any  Indebtedness  secured by any Lien
referred to in the foregoing clauses (f), (h), (i) and (j);  provided,  however,
that (x) such new Lien shall be limited to all or part of the same property that
secured the original Lien (plus improvements to or on such property) and (y) the
Indebtedness  secured by such Lien at such time is not  increased  to any amount
greater  than the sum of (A) the  outstanding  principal  amount or, if greater,
committed  amount of the  Indebtedness  described under clauses (f), (h), (i) or
(j) at the time the  original  Lien  became a  Permitted  Lien and (B) an amount
necessary  to pay any fees and  expenses,  including  premiums,  related to such
refinancing,  refunding, extension, renewal or replacement.  Notwithstanding the
foregoing, "Permitted Liens" will not include any Lien described in clauses (f),
(i) or (j)  above to the  extent  such Lien  applies  to any  Additional  Assets
acquired directly or indirectly from Net Available Cash pursuant to the covenant
described  under  "--Certain   Covenants--Limitation   on  Sale  of  Assets  and
Subsidiary  Stock." For  purposes of this  definition,  the term  "Indebtedness"
shall be deemed to include interest on such Indebtedness.

     "Person" means any individual, corporation,  partnership, limited liability
company, joint venture, association,  joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated
organization,  government or any agency or political  subdivision thereof or any
other entity.

     "Preferred  Stock," as applied to the Capital  Stock of any  Person,  means
Capital Stock of any class or classes (however designated) which is preferred as
to the payment of  dividends  or  distributions,  or as to the  distribution  of
assets upon any voluntary or  involuntary  liquidation  or  dissolution  of such
Person, over shares of Capital Stock of any other class of such Person.

     "principal" of a Note means the principal of the Note plus the premium,  if
any,  payable  on the Note  which is due or  overdue  or is to become due at the
relevant time.

     "Real Estate Joint Venture" means the Company's  joint venture  existing on
the Issue Date in connection with the Ventana Canyon residential project.

     "Refinance"  means, in respect of any Indebtedness,  to refinance,  extend,
renew,  refund,  repay,  prepay,  redeem,  defease or retire,  or to issue other
Indebtedness in exchange or replacement for, such indebtedness. "Refinanced" and
"Refinancing" shall have correlative meanings.

     "Refinancing   Indebtedness"   means   Indebtedness   that  Refinances  any
Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted  Subsidiary  existing on the Issue
Date or Incurred in compliance with the Indenture,  including  Indebtedness that
Refinances   Refinancing   Indebtedness;   provided,   however,  that  (i)  such
Refinancing  Indebtedness  has a Stated  Maturity  no  earlier  than the  Stated
Maturity  of  the   Indebtedness   being   Refinanced,   (ii)  such  Refinancing
Indebtedness  has an Average Life at the time such  Refinancing  Indebtedness is
Incurred  that is equal to or greater than the Average Life of the  Indebtedness
being  Refinanced  and (iii)  such  Refinancing  Indebtedness  has an  aggregate
principal  amount (or if Incurred with  original  issue  discount,  an aggregate
issue price) that is equal to or less than the aggregate principal amount (or if
Incurred with  original  issue  discount,  the  aggregate  accreted  value) then
outstanding  or committed  (plus fees and  expenses,  including  any premium and
defeasance  costs) under the Indebtedness  being  Refinanced;  provided further,
however, that Refinancing Indebtedness shall not include (x) Indebtedness of a

                                      -48-

<PAGE>
Subsidiary  that Refinances  Indebtedness of the Company or (y)  Indebtedness of
the  Company or a  Restricted  Subsidiary  that  Refinances  Indebtedness  of an
Unrestricted Subsidiary.

     "Related  Business" means any business related,  ancillary or complementary
to the businesses  (not  including the real estate  business) of the Company and
the Restricted Subsidiaries on the Issue Date.

     "Restricted  Payment" with respect to any Person means (i) the  declaration
or payment of any dividends or any other distributions of any sort in respect of
its  Capital  Stock  (including  any  payment in  connection  with any merger or
consolidation  involving  such  Person)  or  similar  payment  to the  direct or
indirect  holders of its Capital  Stock (other than  dividends or  distributions
payable  solely  in its  Capital  Stock  (other  than  Disqualified  Stock)  and
dividends  or  distributions  payable  solely  to the  Company  or a  Restricted
Subsidiary,  and other than pro rata dividends or other  distributions made by a
Subsidiary that is not a Wholly Owned  Subsidiary to minority  stockholders  (or
owners of an equivalent  interest in the case of a Subsidiary  that is an entity
other than a corporation)),  (ii) the purchase,  redemption or other acquisition
or  retirement  for value of any Capital Stock of the Company held by any Person
or of any Capital Stock of a Restricted  Subsidiary held by any Affiliate of the
Company  (other than a  Restricted  Subsidiary),  including  the exercise of any
option to exchange  any Capital  Stock  (other  than into  Capital  Stock of the
Company  that  is not  Disqualified  Stock),  (iii)  the  purchase,  repurchase,
redemption,  defeasance or other  acquisition or retirement for value,  prior to
scheduled maturity, scheduled repayment or scheduled sinking fund payment of any
Subordinated   Obligations  (other  than  the  purchase,   repurchase  or  other
acquisition of Subordinated  Obligations purchased in anticipation of satisfying
a sinking fund obligation, principal installment or final maturity, in each case
due  within  one year of the date of  acquisition)  or (iv)  the  making  of any
Investment in any Person (other than a Permitted Investment).

     "Restricted  Subsidiary" means any Subsidiary of the Company that is not an
Unrestricted Subsidiary.

     "Revolving  Credit Facility" means any revolving credit facility  available
to the Company from time to time.

     "Sale/Leaseback  Transaction" means an arrangement relating to property now
owned or  hereafter  acquired  whereby  the Company or a  Restricted  Subsidiary
transfers  such property to a Person and the Company or a Restricted  Subsidiary
leases it from such Person.

     "SEC" means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

     "Senior  Indebtedness"  means  (i)  Indebtedness  of the  Company,  whether
outstanding  on the Issue Date or  thereafter  Incurred,  and (ii)  accrued  and
unpaid  interest  (including  interest  accruing  on or after the  filing of any
petition  in  bankruptcy  or for  reorganization  relating to the Company to the
extent  post-filing  interest is allowed in such  proceeding)  in respect of (A)
indebtedness of the Company for money borrowed and (B) indebtedness evidenced by
notes,  debentures,  bonds or other similar instruments for the payment of which
the Company is responsible or liable unless, in the case of (i) and (ii), in the
instrument  creating  or  evidencing  the same or  pursuant to which the same is
outstanding,  it is provided that such  obligations  are subordinate in right of
payment to the Notes;  provided,  however,  that Senior  Indebtedness  shall not
include (1) any obligation of the Company to any  Subsidiary,  (2) any liability
for Federal,  state, local or other taxes owed or owing by the Company,  (3) any
accounts  payable or other liability to trade creditors  arising in the ordinary
course of business (including guarantees thereof or instruments  evidencing such
liabilities),  (4) any  Indebtedness  of the Company (and any accrued and unpaid
interest in respect  thereof)  which is  subordinate or junior in any respect to
any other Indebtedness or other obligation of the Company or (5) that portion of
any Indebtedness which at the time of Incurrence is Incurred in violation of the
Indenture.

     "Significant  Subsidiary"  means any Restricted  Subsidiary that would be a
"Significant  Subsidiary"  of the Company  within the meaning of Rule 1-02 under
Regulation S-X promulgated by the SEC.


                                      -49-

<PAGE>
     "Stated Maturity" means,  with respect to any security,  the date specified
in such  security as the fixed date on which the final  payment of  principal of
such security is due and payable, including pursuant to any mandatory redemption
provision  (but  excluding  any provision  providing for the  repurchase of such
security  at  the  option  of the  holder  thereof  upon  the  happening  of any
contingency unless such contingency has occurred).

     "Subordinated  Obligation"  means any  Indebtedness of the Company (whether
outstanding  on the Issue Date or thereafter  Incurred)  which is subordinate or
junior in right of payment to the Notes pursuant to a written  agreement to that
effect.

     "Subsidiary" means, in respect of any Person, any corporation, association,
partnership or other business  entity of which more than 50% of the total voting
power of shares  of  Capital  Stock or other  interests  (including  partnership
interests)  entitled  (without  regard to the occurrence of any  contingency) to
vote in the election of directors,  managers or trustees  thereof is at the time
owned or  controlled,  directly or  indirectly,  by (i) such  Person,  (ii) such
Person  and one or  more  Subsidiaries  of  such  Person  or  (iii)  one or more
Subsidiaries of such Person.

     "Temporary Cash Investments" means any of the following:

          (i) any  investment  in direct  obligations  of the  United  States of
     America  or any  agency  thereof or  obligations  guaranteed  by the United
     States of America or any agency thereof,

          (ii) investments in time deposit accounts, certificates of deposit and
     money market  deposits  maturing within 180 days of the date of acquisition
     thereof issued by a bank or trust company which is organized under the laws
     of the United States of America,  any state thereof or any foreign  country
     recognized  by the  United  States,  and which  bank or trust  company  has
     capital, surplus and undivided profits aggregating in excess of $50,000,000
     (or the foreign currency equivalent thereof) and has outstanding debt which
     is rated "A" (or such similar  equivalent rating) or higher by at least one
     nationally  recognized  statistical rating organization (as defined in Rule
     436 under the  Securities  Act) or any  money-market  fund  sponsored  by a
     registered broker dealer or mutual fund distributor,

          (iii) repurchase  obligations with a term of not more than 30 days for
     underlying  securities  of the types  described in clause (i) above entered
     into with a bank meeting the qualifications described in clause (ii) above,

          (iv) investments in commercial  paper,  maturing not more than 90 days
     after the date of  acquisition,  issued  by a  corporation  (other  than an
     Affiliate of the Company)  organized and in existence under the laws of the
     United  States of America or any foreign  country  recognized by the United
     States of  America  with a rating  at the time as of which  any  investment
     therein  is made of  "P-1"  (or  higher)  according  to  Moody's  Investors
     Service, Inc. or "A-1" (or higher) according to Standard and Poor's Ratings
     Group, and

          (v)  investments in securities  with  maturities of six months or less
     from the date of  acquisition  issued  or fully  guaranteed  by any  state,
     commonwealth  or  territory  of the  United  States of  America,  or by any
     political  subdivision or taxing authority thereof,  and rated at least "A"
     by Standard & Poor's  Ratings  Group or "A" by Moody's  Investors  Service,
     Inc.

     "Unrestricted  Subsidiary"  means (i) any Subsidiary of the Company that at
the time of determination shall be designated an Unrestricted  Subsidiary by the
Board of Directors in the manner  provided  below and (ii) any  Subsidiary of an
Unrestricted Subsidiary.  The Board of Directors may designate any Subsidiary of
the Company  (including any newly acquired or newly formed  Subsidiary) to be an
Unrestricted  Subsidiary  unless such Subsidiary or any of its Subsidiaries owns
any Capital Stock or Indebtedness  of, or holds any Lien on any property of, the
Company or any other  Subsidiary  of the Company that is not a Subsidiary of the
Subsidiary  to  be  so  designated;  provided,  however,  that  either  (A)  the
Subsidiary to be so designated has total assets of $1,000 or less or (B) if such
Subsidiary has assets greater than $1,000,  such designation  would be permitted
under the covenant described under

                                      -50-

<PAGE>
"--Certain Covenants--Limitation on Restricted Payments." The Board of Directors
may  designate  any  Unrestricted  Subsidiary  to  be a  Restricted  Subsidiary;
provided,  however, that immediately after giving effect to such designation (x)
the Company could Incur $1.00 of additional  Indebtedness under paragraph (a) of
the covenant described under "--Certain  Covenants-- Limitation on Indebtedness"
and (y) no Default shall have occurred and be continuing.  Any such  designation
by the Board of Directors  shall be evidenced to the Trustee by promptly  filing
with the  Trustee  a copy of the  resolution  of the Board of  Directors  giving
effect to such  designation  and an Officers'  Certificate  certifying that such
designation complied with the foregoing provisions.

     "U.S.  Government  Obligations"  means direct  obligations (or certificates
representing an ownership  interest in such obligations) of the United States of
America  (including  any agency or  instrumentality  thereof) for the payment of
which the full faith and credit of the United  States of America is pledged  and
which are not callable at the issuer's option.

     "Voting  Stock" of a Person  means all  classes of  Capital  Stock or other
interests (including  partnership interests) of such Person then outstanding and
normally  entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote
in the election of directors, managers or trustees thereof.

     "Warrants"  means the  Company's  warrants  outstanding  on the Issue  Date
originally issued to purchasers of the Azide Notes.

     "Wholly Owned  Subsidiary"  means a Restricted  Subsidiary  all the Capital
Stock of which (other than directors' qualifying shares) is owned by the Company
or one or more Wholly Owned Subsidiaries.


                                      -51-

<PAGE>
             CERTAIN UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS

     In the opinion of Olshan  Grundman  Frome & Rosenzweig  LLP, tax counsel to
the Company,  subject to the limitations  set forth herein,  the following is an
accurate  summary of the material U.S.  Federal income tax  consequences  of the
exchange  of Old  Notes for New  Notes  pursuant  to the  Exchange  Offer.  This
discussion assumes that a holder of Notes will hold such Notes as capital assets
within the meaning of Section  1221 of the  Internal  Revenue  Code of 1986,  as
amended (the "Code"). This discussion does not deal with all U.S. Federal income
tax consequences that may be relevant to particular  investors in light of their
personal investment circumstances,  including persons holding Notes as part of a
conversion or  constructive  sale  transaction  or as part of a hedge or hedging
transaction,  or as a  position  in a  straddle  for tax  purposes,  nor does it
discuss U.S.  Federal  income tax  consequences  applicable  to certain types of
investors  subject to special  treatment  under  U.S.  Federal  income tax laws,
including insurance companies, tax-exempt organizations,  financial institutions
or broker-dealers,  persons that have a functional  currency other than the U.S.
dollar,  investors  in  pass-through  entities  and foreign  persons,  including
foreign corporations, partnerships and individuals. In addition, this discussion
does not consider the effect of any foreign, state, local, gift, estate or other
tax laws that may be applicable to a particular investor.

     This  discussion  is based upon current  provisions  of the Code,  Treasury
regulations promulgated thereunder, administrative rulings and pronouncements of
the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") and judicial decisions currently in effect,
all of which are  subject to  change,  possibly  with  retroactive  effect.  The
Company  has not and will not seek any  rulings  or  opinions  from the IRS with
respect  to the  matters  discussed  herein,  and as a  result,  there can be no
assurance  that  the  IRS  will  not  disagree  with  or  challenge  any  of the
conclusions set forth in this discussion.

     The  exchange  of Old Notes for New Notes  pursuant to the  Exchange  Offer
should not constitute a taxable event for U.S. Federal income tax purposes. As a
result, (i) a holder of Old Notes should not recognize taxable gain or loss as a
result of the  exchange  of Old Notes for New  Notes  pursuant  to the  Exchange
Offer,  (ii) the  holding  period of the New Notes  should  include  the holding
period of the Old Notes  surrendered  in exchange  therefor and (iii) a holder's
adjusted tax basis in the New Notes should be the same as such holder's adjusted
tax basis in the Old Notes  immediately prior to the surrender of such Old Notes
pursuant to the Exchange Offer.

     PROSPECTIVE INVESTORS ARE URGED TO CONSULT THEIR OWN TAX ADVISORS REGARDING
THE PARTICULAR TAX  CONSEQUENCES  TO THEM OF ACQUIRING,  OWNING AND DISPOSING OF
THE NOTES,  INCLUDING THE APPLICATION OF FEDERAL,  STATE,  LOCAL AND FOREIGN TAX
LAWS AND POSSIBLE FUTURE CHANGES IN SUCH TAX LAWS.


                                      -52-

<PAGE>
                              PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

     Except as described below,  (i) a broker-dealer  may not participate in the
Exchange  Offer in connection  with a distribution  of the New Notes,  (ii) such
broker-dealer   would  be  deemed  an  underwriter   in  connection   with  such
distribution and (iii) such  broker-dealer  would be required to comply with the
registration  and  prospectus  delivery  requirements  of the  Securities Act in
connection with any secondary resale transactions. A broker-dealer may, however,
receive New Notes for its own account pursuant to the Exchange Offer in exchange
for Old Notes when such Old Notes  were  acquired  as a result of  market-making
activities or other trading activities. Each such broker-dealer must acknowledge
that it will  deliver a  prospectus  in  connection  with any resale of such New
Notes. This Prospectus,  as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time,
may be used by a  broker-dealer  (other than an  "affiliate"  of the Company) in
connection  with  resales of such New Notes.  The  Company has agreed that for a
period of 180 days after the Expiration Date, it will make this  Prospectus,  as
amended  or  supplemented,  available  to  any  such  broker-dealer  for  use in
connection with any such resale.

     The Company  will not receive  any  proceeds  from any sale of New Notes by
broker-dealers.  New Notes  received  by  broker-dealers  for their own  account
pursuant  to the  Exchange  Offer  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 New Notes 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 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 New Notes.  Any  broker-dealer
that resells New Notes that were received by it for its own account  pursuant to
the Exchange  Offer may be deemed to be an  "underwriter"  within the meaning of
the  Securities  Act and any  profit  on any such  resale  of New  Notes and any
commissions  or  concessions  received  by any such  persons may be deemed to be
underwriting  compensation  under the Securities  Act. The Letter of Transmittal
states  that  by  acknowledging  that  it  will  deliver  and  by  delivering  a
prospectus,  a  broker-dealer  will  not  be  deemed  to  admit  that  it  is an
"underwriter" within the meaning of the Securities Act.

     For a period of 180 days  after  the  Expiration  Date,  the  Company  will
promptly  send  additional  copies  of  this  Prospectus  and any  amendment  or
supplement to this Prospectus to any broker-dealer  that requests such documents
in a Letter of Transmittal.  The Company has agreed to pay all expenses incident
to the Exchange  Offer other than  commissions  or concessions of any brokers or
dealers  and  transfer  taxes and will  indemnify  the  Holders of the Old Notes
(including  any   broker-dealers)   against   certain   liabilities,   including
liabilities under the Securities Act.

     The Initial  Purchaser  has  indicated  to the  Company  that it intends to
effect  offers  and  sales of the New  Notes in  market-making  transactions  at
negotiated  prices related to prevailing  market prices at the time of sale, but
is not obligated to do so and such market-making  activities may be discontinued
at any  time.  The  Initial  Purchaser  may act as  principal  or  agent in such
transactions.  There can be no assurance that an active market for the New Notes
will develop.

                                  LEGAL MATTERS

     Certain  legal  matters  with respect to the issuance and sale of the Notes
offered  hereby will be passed upon for the Company by Olshan  Grundman  Frome &
Rosenzweig  LLP, New York, New York.  Victor M.  Rosenzweig,  a member of Olshan
Grundman  Frome &  Rosenzweig  LLP, is a Director of the Company and holds 1,400
shares and options to  purchase an  additional  15,000  shares of the  Company's
Common Stock.


                                      -53-

<PAGE>
                                     EXPERTS

     The consolidated  financial  statements of American Pacific Corporation and
Subsidiaries  incorporated  in this  Prospectus by reference  from the Company's
Annual  Report on Form 10-K for the year ended  September 30, 1997 and financial
statements  of Gibson  Ranch  Limited  Liability  Company  incorporated  in this
Prospectus by reference from the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K as amended
by Form  10-K/A  for the year  ended  September  30,  1997 have been  audited by
Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent auditors,  as stated in their reports,  which
are incorporated herein by reference,  and have been so incorporated in reliance
upon the  reports  of such  firm  given  upon  their  authority  as  experts  in
accounting and auditing.

                                      -54-

<PAGE>
                                     PART II

                   INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN THE PROSPECTUS


ITEM 20. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.

         The  General  Corporation  Law of the State of  Delaware  (the  "DGCL")
permits indemnification of directors, employees and agents of corporations under
certain conditions and subject to certain limitations. Pursuant to the DGCL, the
Company has included provisions in its Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as
amended,  (A) to provide that the Company  shall  indemnify  its  directors  and
officers to the full extent permitted by the DGCL and any other laws of Delaware
as from time to time in  effect  and (B) to limit the  personal  liability  of a
director to the Company for monetary  damages for breach of fiduciary  duty as a
director;  except that  liability  is not  eliminated  for (i) any breach of the
director's  duty of loyalty to the  Company  or its  stockholders,  (ii) acts or
omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing
violation of law,  (iii)  unlawful  payment of  dividends or stock  purchases or
redemptions  pursuant to Section 174 of the DGCL, or (iv) any  transaction  from
which the director derived an improper personal benefit.

         The  Company's  by-laws  provide that the Company  shall  indemnify any
person  who  was or is a  party  or is  threatened  to be  made a  party  to any
threatened,  pending or completed  action,  suit or  proceeding by reason of the
fact that he is or was a director,  officer, employee or an agent of the Company
or is or was  serving at the  request of the  Company  as a  director,  officer,
employee  or  agent  of  (or  in  any  other  capacity)   another   corporation,
partnership,  joint  venture,  trust or other  enterprise,  against all expenses
(including  attorneys'  fees),  judgments,  fines and amounts paid in settlement
actually  and  reasonably  incurred  by him in  connection  with the  defense or
settlement of such action,  suit or proceeding,  to the extent and in the manner
substantially  the same as set forth in and permitted by the DGCL. Such right of
indemnification  is not to be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which such
director,  officer,  employee  or agent and shall  inure to the  benefit  of the
heirs, executors and administrators of each such person.


ITEM 21. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES.

  (a) The  following  is a  complete  list of  Exhibits  filed as a part of this
Registration Statement:

         1     Purchase  Agreement  dated  March 6,  1998,  by and  between  the
               Company and the Initial Purchaser.

         4.1   Indenture  dated as of March 1, 1998,  by and between the Company
               and United States Trust Company of New York.

         5     Opinion of Olshan Grundman Frome & Rosenzweig LLP.

         8     Opinion of Olshan  Grundman  Frome & Rosenzweig  LLP (included in
               Exhibit 5 to this Registration Statement).

         23.1  Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP.

         23.2  Consent of Olshan  Grundman  Frome & Rosenzweig  LLP (included in
               Exhibit 5 to this Registration Statement).

         25    Statement of eligibility of trustee.

         99.1  Registration  Rights  Agreement  dated  March  12,  1998,  by and
               between the Company and the Initial Purchaser.

         99.2  Form of Letter of  Transmittal  for Tender of  outstanding 9 1/4%
               Senior  Notes Due 2005 in exchange  for 9 1/4%  Senior  Notes Due
               2005 of the Company.

                                      II-1

<PAGE>
         99.3  Form of Tender for  outstanding  9 1/4% Senior  Notes Due 2005 in
               exchange for 9 1/4% Senior Notes Due 2005 of the Company.

         99.4  Form of Instruction to Registered Holder from Beneficial Owner of
               9 1/4% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2005 of the Company.

         99.5  Form of Notice of  Guaranteed  Delivery  for  outstanding  9 1/4%
               Senior  Notes Due 2005 in exchange  for 9 1/4%  Senior  Notes Due
               2005 of the Company.


ITEM 22. UNDERTAKINGS.

(a)      The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

         (1) That prior to any public  reoffering of the  securities  registered
hereunder  through the use of a prospectus which is a part of this  registration
statement,  by any person or party who is deemed to be an underwriter within the
meaning  of Rule  145(c)  under the  Securities  Act of 1933,  as  amended  (the
"Securities  Act"), the issuer  undertakes that such reoffering  prospectus will
contain the  information  called for by the  applicable  registration  form with
respect to reofferings by persons who may be deemed underwriters, in addition to
the information called for by the other Items of the applicable form.

         (2) That every  prospectus  (i) that is filed pursuant to paragraph (1)
immediately preceding, or (ii) that purports to meet the requirements of section
10(a)(3) of the  Securities  Act and is used in  connection  with an offering of
securities subject to Rule 415 under the Securities Act, will be filed as a part
of an amendment to the  registration  statement  and will not be used until such
amendment is  effective,  and that,  for purposes of  determining  any liability
under the Securities Act, each such post-effective  amendment shall be deemed to
be a new registration  statement relating to the securities offered therein, and
the offering of such  securities  at that time shall be deemed to be the initial
bona fide offering thereof.

(b) Insofar as indemnification  for liabilities arising under the Securities Act
may  be  permitted  to  directors,  officers  and  controlling  persons  of  the
registrant pursuant to the foregoing  provisions,  or otherwise,  the registrant
has been advised that in the opinion of the Commission such  indemnification  is
against  public  policy as expressed in the  Securities  Act and is,  therefore,
unenforceable.  In the  event  that a claim  for  indemnification  against  such
liabilities  (other than the payment by the  registrant of expenses  incurred or
paid by a  director,  officer or  controlling  person of the  registrant  in the
successful  defense of any  action,  suit or  proceedings)  is  asserted by such
director,  officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being
registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter
has been  settled by  controlling  precedent,  submit to a court of  appropriate
jurisdiction the question whether indemnification by it is against public policy
as  expressed  in  the  Securities  Act  and  will  be  governed  by  the  final
adjudication of such issue.

(c) The  undersigned  registrant  hereby  undertakes  to respond to requests for
information  that is incorporated  by reference into the prospectus  pursuant to
Items 4, 10(b),  11 or 13 of this Form,  within one  business  day of receipt of
such  request,  and to send the  incorporated  documents  by first class mail or
other equally  prompt means.  This includes  information  contained in documents
filed subsequent to the effective date of the registration statement through the
date of responding to the request.

(d) The  undersigned  registrant  hereby  undertakes  to  supply  by  means of a
post-effective  amendment  all  information  concerning a  transaction,  and the
company  being  acquired  involved  therein,  that  was not the  subject  of and
included in the registration statement when it became effective.


                                      II-2

<PAGE>
(e)  The  undersigned   registrant  hereby  undertakes  that,  for  purposes  of
determining  any  liability  under  the  Securities  Act,  each  filing  of  the
registrant's  annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable,  each filing of an employee benefit
plan's annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934) that is incorporated by reference in the  registration  statement shall be
deemed to be a new  registration  statement  relating to the securities  offered
therein,  and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be
the initial bona fide offering thereof.

                                      II-3

<PAGE>
                                   SIGNATURES

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
American Pacific  Corporation has duly caused this Registration  Statement to be
signed on its behalf by the undersigned,  thereunto duly authorized, in the City
of Las Vegas, State of Nevada, on April 9, 1998.

                                   AMERICAN PACIFIC CORPORATION

                                   By: /S/ JOHN R. GIBSON
                                       -----------------------------------------
                                       John R. Gibson
                                       President and Chief Executive Officer

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

         Each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints John
R.  Gibson and David N. Keys,  and each of them  singly,  as his true and lawful
attorneys-in-fact and agents with full power of substitution and resubstitution,
for him, and his name,  place and stead,  in any and all  capacities to sign any
and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) and supplements to this
Registration Statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and all
other  documents  in  connection  therewith,  with the  Securities  and Exchange
Commission,  granting  unto said  attorneys-in-fact  and  agents  full power and
authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary
to be  done,  as full to all  intents  and  purposes  as he might or could do in
person,  hereby  ratifying and  confirming all that said  attorneys-in-fact  and
agents or their substitute or substitutes may lawfully do or cause to be done by
virtue hereof.

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
this  Registration  Statement  has been signed by the  following  persons in the
capacities indicated on April 9, 1998.

        SIGNATURE                               TITLE
        ---------                               -----

    /s/ JOHN R. GIBSON            President,  Chief Executive Officer (Principal
 -------------------------        Executive Officer) and Director
    (John R. Gibson)

    /s/ DAVID N. KEYS             Executive  Vice  President,   Chief  Financial
 -------------------------        Officer  (Principal  Financial  and  Principal
     (David N. Keys)              Accounting Officer), Treasurer,  Secretary and
                                  Director

   /s/ FRED D. GIBSON
 ------------------------
  (Fred D. Gibson, Jr.)           Director

 /s/ EUGENE A. CAFIERO
 ------------------------
   (Eugene A. Cafiero)            Director

   /s/ THOMAS A. TURNER
 ------------------------
   (Thomas A. Turner)             Director

  /s/ JAN H. LOEB
 ------------------------
      (Jan H. Loeb)               Director

  /s/ NORVAL F. POHL
 ------------------------
    (Norval F. Pohl)              Director

  /s/  C. KEITH ROOKER
 ------------------------
    (C. Keith Rooker)             Director

  /s/  JANE L. WILLIAMS
 ------------------------
   (Jane L. Williams)             Director

  /s/  BERLYN D. MILLER
 ------------------------
   (Berlyn D. Miller)             Director

 /s/ VICTOR M. ROSENZWEIG
 ------------------------
 (Victor M. Rosenzweig)           Director

 /s/ DEAN M. WILLARD
 ------------------------
    (Dean M. Willard)             Director

                                      II-4
<PAGE>
                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

         1     Purchase  Agreement  dated  March 6,  1998,  by and  between  the
               Company and the Initial Purchaser.

         4.1   Indenture  dated as of March 1, 1998,  by and between the Company
               and United States Trust Company of New York.

         5     Opinion of Olshan Grundman Frome & Rosenzweig LLP.

         8     Opinion of Olshan  Grundman  Frome & Rosenzweig  LLP (included in
               Exhibit 5 to this Registration Statement).

         23.1  Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP.

         23.2  Consent of Olshan  Grundman  Frome & Rosenzweig  LLP (included in
               Exhibit 5 to this Registration Statement).

         25    Statement of eligibility of trustee.

         99.1  Registration  Rights  Agreement  dated  March  12,  1998,  by and
               between the Company and the Initial Purchaser.

         99.2  Form of Letter of  Transmittal  for Tender of  outstanding 9 1/4%
               Senior  Notes Due 2005 in exchange  for 9 1/4%  Senior  Notes Due
               2005 of the Company.

         99.3  Form of Tender for  outstanding  9 1/4% Senior  Notes Due 2005 in
               exchange for 9 1/4% Senior Notes Due 2005 of the Company.

         99.4  Form of Instruction to Registered Holder from Beneficial Owner of
               9 1/4% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2005 of the Company.

         99.5  Form of Notice of  Guaranteed  Delivery  for  outstanding  9 1/4%
               Senior  Notes Due 2005 in exchange  for 9 1/4%  Senior  Notes Due
               2005 of the Company.



                                                                  EXECUTION COPY

                                   $75,000,000

                          AMERICAN PACIFIC CORPORATION

                          9 1/4% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2005

                               PURCHASE AGREEMENT


                                                                   March 6, 1998


Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation,
  Eleven Madison Avenue,
  New York, N.Y. 10010-3629


Dear Sirs:

                  1.  Introductory.  American  Pacific  Corporation,  a Delaware
corporation  (the  "Company"),  proposes,  subject  to the terms and  conditions
stated herein, to issue and sell to Credit Suisse First Boston  Corporation (the
"Purchaser")  $75,000,000  principal  amount of its 9 1/4% Senior Notes Due 2005
(the "Offered  Securities") to be issued under an Indenture dated as of March 1,
1998 (the  "Indenture"),  between the Company and United States Trust Company of
New York,  as Trustee,  on a private  placement  basis  pursuant to an exemption
under Section 4(2) of the United States  Securities Act of 1933 (the "Securities
Act").

                  The Offered Securities are being issued and sold in connection
with the  consummation  of the  transactions  contemplated by the Asset Purchase
Agreement,  dated as of  October  10,  1997 (the  "Asset  Purchase  Agreement"),
between  Ampac  Inc.,  a Nevada  corporation  and a  subsidiary  of the  Company
("AMPAC"),  and  Kerr-  McGee  Chemical  Corporation,  a  Delaware  corporation,
pursuant to which AMPAC has agreed,  subject to certain  conditions,  to acquire
rights to certain  intangible  assets  related  to the  production  of  ammonium
perchlorate (the "Acquisition"). In connection with the Acquisition, the Company
entered  into  a  pricing  arrangement  with  Thiokol  Corporation,  a  Delaware
corporation,  on December  12, 1997 (the  "Thiokol  Agreement"),  and an amended
pricing arrangement with Alliant Techsystems,  Inc., a Delaware corporation,  on
November 24, 1997 (the "Alliant Agreement").  Concurrently with the consummation
of the  Acquisition  and the  Offering,  the Company  proposes to  repurchase or
defease its outstanding 11% noncallable  subordinated  secured notes (the "Azide
Notes").
<PAGE>
                                       2

                  Holders of the Notes  (including  the Purchaser and its direct
and indirect  transferees)  will be entitled to the  benefits of a  Registration
Rights  Agreement of even date hereof  between the Issuer and the Purchaser (the
"Registration  Rights  Agreement"),  pursuant  to  which  the  Company  will  be
obligated to file with the  Commission (i) a  registration  statement  under the
Securities  Act (the "Exchange  Offer  Registration  Statement")  registering an
issue of senior  notes of the  Company  (the  "Exchange  Notes")  which shall be
identical in all material  respects to the Notes (except that the Exchange Notes
will not contain  terms with  respect to transfer  restrictions)  and (ii) under
certain circumstances, a shelf registration statement pursuant to Rule 415 under
the Securities Act.

                  2.  Representations and Warranties of the Company. The Company
represents and warrants to, and agrees with, the Purchaser that:

                  (a) A preliminary  offering  circular and an offering circular
relating to the Offered  Securities  have been  prepared  by the  Company.  Such
preliminary  offering circular and offering circular,  as supplemented as of the
date of this Agreement, together with any other document approved by the Company
for use in connection with the  contemplated  resale of the Offered  Securities,
are hereinafter collectively referred to as the "Offering Document." On the date
of this Agreement,  the Offering  Document does not include any untrue statement
of a material  fact or omit to state any  material  fact  required  to be stated
therein or necessary in order to make the  statements  therein,  in the light of
the  circumstances  under which they were made,  not  misleading.  The preceding
sentence does not apply to statements in or omissions from the Offering Document
based  upon  written  information  furnished  to the  Company  by the  Purchaser
specifically for use therein,  it being understood and agreed that the only such
information  is that  described as such in Section 7(b).  Except as disclosed in
the Offering  Document,  on the date of this  Agreement,  the  Company's  Annual
Report  on Form  10-K most  recently  filed  with the  Securities  and  Exchange
Commission (the  "Commission")  and all subsequent  reports  (collectively,  the
"Exchange Act Reports")  that have been filed by the Company with the Commission
or sent to  stockholders  pursuant to the  Securities  Exchange Act of 1934,  as
amended (the "Exchange  Act") do not include any untrue  statement of a material
fact or omit to  state  any  material  fact  necessary  to make  the  statements
therein,  in the light of the  circumstances  under  which they were  made,  not
misleading. Such documents, when they were filed with the Commission,  conformed
in all material  respects to the  requirements of 

<PAGE>
                                                                              3


the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.

                  (b) The Company has been duly  incorporated and is an existing
corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, with power
and  authority  (corporate  and other) to own its  properties  and  conduct  its
business  as  described  in the  Offering  Document;  and  the  Company  is duly
qualified to do business as a foreign corporation in good standing in all other

jurisdictions  in which its ownership or lease of property or the conduct of its
business requires such qualification.

                  (c) Each subsidiary of the Company has been duly  incorporated
and  is an  existing  corporation  in  good  standing  under  the  laws  of  the
jurisdiction  of its  incorporation,  with power and  authority  (corporate  and
other) to own its  properties  and conduct  its  business  as  described  in the
Offering  Document;  and each  subsidiary of the Company is duly qualified to do
business as a foreign corporation in good standing in all other jurisdictions in
which its ownership or lease of property or the conduct of its business requires
such  qualification;  all of the issued and  outstanding  capital  stock of each
subsidiary  of the Company has been duly  authorized  and validly  issued and is
fully paid and nonassessable;  and the capital stock of each subsidiary owned by
the  Company,  directly  or  through  subsidiaries,  is owned  free from  liens,
encumbrances and defects.

                  (d) The  Indenture  has  been  duly  authorized;  the  Offered
Securities  have been  duly  authorized;  and when the  Offered  Securities  are
delivered  and paid for  pursuant  to this  Agreement  on the  Closing  Date (as
defined below),  the Indenture will have been duly executed and delivered,  such
Offered  Securities  will have been duly  executed,  authenticated,  issued  and
delivered and will conform to the description  thereof contained in the Offering
Document,  and the Indenture and such Offered  Securities will constitute  valid
and legally binding  obligations of the Company,  enforceable in accordance with
their  terms,   subject  to   bankruptcy,   insolvency,   fraudulent   transfer,
reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general applicability relating to
or affecting creditors' rights and to general equity principles.

                  (e) Except as disclosed in the Offering Document, there are no
contracts,  agreements or understandings between the Company and any person that
would give rise to a valid  claim  against the  Company or the  Purchaser  for a
brokerage commission,  finder's fee or other like payment in connection

<PAGE>
                                                                               4

with the  issuance  and sale of the  Offered  Securities  by the  Company to the
Purchaser.

                  (f) No consent, approval, authorization or order of, or filing
with,  any  governmental  agency  or  body  or any  court  is  required  for the
consummation  of the  transactions  contemplated by this Agreement in connection
with the issuance and sale of the Offered Securities by the Company.

                  (g) The execution,  delivery and performance of the Indenture,
this Agreement and the  Registration  Rights Agreement and the issuance and sale
of the Offered  Securities and compliance with the terms and provisions  thereof
will not result in a breach or violation of any of the terms and  provisions of,
or constitute a default under, any statute, any rule, regulation or order of any
governmental  agency  or  body  or  any  court,  domestic  or  foreign,   having
jurisdiction  over the Company or any  subsidiary of the Company or any of their
properties,  or any  agreement  or  instrument  to which the Company or any such
subsidiary is a party or by which the Company or any such subsidiary is bound or
to which any of the properties of the Company or any such subsidiary is subject,
or the charter or by-laws of the Company or any such subsidiary, and the Company
has full power and authority to authorize, issue and sell the Offered Securities
as contemplated by this Agreement.

                  (h) This Agreement and the Registration  Rights Agreement have
been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company.

                  (i) Except as disclosed in the Offering Document,  the Company
and its  subsidiaries  have good and marketable title to all real properties and
all other  properties  and assets  owned by them,  in each case free from liens,
encumbrances  and  defects  that would  materially  affect the value  thereof or
materially interfere with the use made or to be made thereof by them; and except
as disclosed in the Offering Document, the Company and its subsidiaries hold any
leased real or personal  property  under  valid and  enforceable  leases with no
exceptions  that  would  materially  interfere  with  the use made or to be made
thereof by them.

                  (j)  The  Company  and  its   subsidiaries   possess  adequate
certificates, authorities or permits issued by appropriate governmental agencies
or bodies  necessary  to conduct the  business now operated by them and have not
received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of
any such certificate,  authority or permit that, if determined  adversely to the

<PAGE>
                                                                               5


Company or any of its subsidiaries,  would individually or in the aggregate have
a material adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole.

                  (k) No labor  dispute with the employees of the Company or any
subsidiary  exists or, to the  knowledge of the Company,  is imminent that might
have a material  adverse effect on the Company and its  subsidiaries  taken as a
whole.

                  (l) The  Company  and its  subsidiaries  own,  possess  or can
acquire on reasonable terms,  adequate trademarks,  trade names and other rights
to inventions, know-how, patents, copyrights, confidential information and other
intellectual property  (collectively,  "intellectual property rights") necessary
to conduct the business now operated by them, or presently employed by them, and
have not received any notice of infringement of or conflict with asserted rights
of others with respect to any  intellectual  property rights that, if determined
adversely to the Company or any of its  subsidiaries,  would  individually or in
the aggregate have a material adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries
taken as a whole.

                  (m) The execution, delivery and performance by the Company and
its subsidiaries of the Asset Purchase Agreement,  the Thiokol Agreement and the
Alliant Agreement (collectively,  the "Acquisition  Agreements") will not result
in a breach or violation of any of the terms and  provisions of, or constitute a
default under, any statute, rule, regulation or order of any governmental agency
or body or any court, domestic or foreign,  having jurisdiction over the Company
or any subsidiary of the Company or any of their properties, or any agreement or
instrument  to which the Company or any such  subsidiary  is a party or by which
the Company or any such subsidiary is bound or to which any of the properties of
the Company or any such subsidiary is subject,  or the charter or by-laws of the
Company or any such subsidiary.

                  (n) The  Acquisition  Agreements  have been  duly  authorized,
executed and delivered by the Company or AMPAC,  as the case may be, and conform
in all material respects to the descriptions thereof in the Offering Document.

                  (o) The  Acquisition  Agreements,  assuming due  execution and
delivery by the other  parties  thereto,  constitute  valid and legally  binding
obligations  of each of the  Company  and  AMPAC,  as the case  may be,  and are
enforceable  against  each of the  Company  and  AMPAC,  as the case may be,  in
accordance  with their  terms,  subject to  bankruptcy,  insolvency,  fraudulent
transfer,  reorganization,


<PAGE>
                                                                               6


moratorium  and similar laws of general  applicability  relating to or affecting
creditors' rights and to general equity principles.

                  (p) The  Company  has  delivered  to the  Purchaser  true  and
correct  copies of the  Acquisition  Agreements,  in each  case,  in the form as
originally executed,  and there have been no amendments or waivers thereto or in
the exhibits or  schedules  thereto  other than those as to which the  Purchaser
shall have been advised.

                  (q) The  repurchase  or defeasance of the Azide Notes has been
duly authorized and will not result in a breach or violation of any of the terms
and  provisions  of, or  constitute  a default  under,  any  statute,  any rule,
regulation or order of any governmental agency or body or any court, domestic or
foreign,  having  jurisdiction over the Company or any subsidiary of the Company
or any of their properties,  or any agreement or instrument to which the Company
or any such subsidiary is a party or by which the Company or any subsidiary is a
party or by which the Company or any  subsidiary is bound or to which any of the
properties  of the  Company or any  subsidiary  is  subject,  or the  charter or
by-laws of the Company or any such subsidiary.

                  (r) Except as disclosed in the Offering Document,  neither the
Company nor any of its  subsidiaries  is in violation of any statute,  any rule,
regulation,  decision or order of any governmental  agency or body or any court,
domestic or foreign,  relating to the use,  disposal or release of  hazardous or
toxic substances or relating to the protection or restoration of the environment
or human exposure to hazardous or toxic substances (collectively, "environmental
laws"), owns or operates any real property  contaminated with any substance that
is subject to any  environmental  laws,  is liable for any off-site  disposal or
contamination  pursuant to any  environmental  laws,  or is subject to any claim
relating to any environmental laws, which violation, contamination, liability or
claim would  individually or in the aggregate have a material  adverse effect on
the Company and its subsidiaries  taken as a whole; and the Company is not aware
of any pending investigation which might lead to such a claim.

                  (s) Except as disclosed in the Offering Document, there are no
pending actions,  suits or proceedings against or affecting the Company,  any of
its  subsidiaries  or any of their  respective  properties  that,  if determined
adversely to the Company or any of its  subsidiaries,  would  individually or in
the aggregate  have a material  adverse  effect on the  condition  (financial or
other),  business,  properties  or

<PAGE>
                                                                               7

results of operations of the Company and its  subsidiaries  taken as a whole, or
would  materially and adversely affect the ability of the Company to perform its
obligations under the Indenture,  the Acquisition Agreements,  this Agreement or
the  Registration  Rights  Agreement,  or which are  otherwise  material  in the
context of the sale of the Offered  Securities;  and no such  actions,  suits or
proceedings are threatened or, to the Company's knowledge, contemplated.

                  (t) The financial statements included in the Offering Document
present  fairly the  financial  position  of the  Company  and its  consolidated
subsidiaries  as of the dates  shown and their  results of  operations  and cash
flows for the periods shown, and such financial statements have been prepared in
conformity with generally  accepted  accounting  principles in the United States
applied on a consistent  basis;  and the  assumptions  used in preparing the pro
forma  financial   statements  included  in  the  Offering  Document  provide  a
reasonable basis for presenting the significant effects directly attributable to
the transactions or events described therein,  the related pro forma adjustments
give appropriate effect to those assumptions,  and the pro forma columns therein
reflect  the  proper  application  of  those  adjustments  to the  corresponding
historical financial statement amounts.

                  (u) Except as disclosed in the  Offering  Document,  since the
date  of the  latest  audited  financial  statements  included  in the  Offering
Document there has been no material adverse change, nor any development or event
involving a prospective  material adverse change, in the condition (financial or
other),  business,  properties  or results of  operations of the Company and its
subsidiaries  taken as a whole,  and,  except as disclosed in or contemplated by
the Offering  Document,  there has been no dividend or  distribution of any kind
declared, paid or made by the Company on any class of its capital stock.

                  (v) The Company is not an open-end  investment  company,  unit
investment trust or face-amount certificate company that is or is required to be
registered under Section 8 of the United States Investment  Company Act of 1940,
as amended (the  "Investment  Company  Act");  and the Company is not and, after
giving  effect  to the  offering  and  sale of the  Offered  Securities  and the
application of the proceeds thereof as described in the Offering Document,  will
not be an "investment company" as defined in the Investment Company Act.

                  (w) No  securities  of the same class  (within  the meaning of
Rule 144A(d)(3)  under the Securities Act) as the

<PAGE>
                                                                               8


Offered  Securities are listed on any national  securities  exchange  registered
under  Section 6 of the  Exchange  Act or quoted  in an  automated  inter-dealer
quotation system.

                  (x) The  offer  and  sale  of the  Offered  Securities  by the
Company to the Purchaser in the manner  contemplated  by this  Agreement will be
exempt from the  registration  requirements  of the  Securities Act by reason of
Section 4(2) and Regulation S ("Regulation S") thereof;  and it is not necessary
to qualify an  indenture in respect of the Offered  Securities  under the United
States Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the "Trust Indenture Act").

                  (y) Neither the Company,  nor any of its  affiliates,  nor any
person acting on its or their behalf (i) has, within the six-month  period prior
to the date  hereof,  offered or sold in the United  States or to any person (as
such terms are defined in  Regulation  S under the  Securities  Act) the Offered
Securities or any security of the same class or series as the Offered Securities
or (ii) has  offered or will  offer or sell the  Offered  Securities  (A) in the
United  States  by  means  of  any  form  of  general  solicitation  or  general
advertising  within the meaning of Rule 502(c) under the  Securities  Act or (B)
with respect to any securities  sold in reliance on Rule 903 of Regulation S, by
means of any  directed  selling  efforts  within the  meaning of Rule  902(b) of
Regulation S.

                  (z)      The Company is subject to Section 13 or 15(d) under
the Exchange Act.

                  3. Purchase,  Sale and Delivery of Offered Securities.  On the
basis of the  representations,  warranties and agreements herein contained,  but
subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Company agrees to sell
to the Purchaser,  and the Purchaser  agrees to purchase from the Company,  at a
purchase price of 97% of the principal amount thereof plus accrued interest from
March 12, 1998 to the Closing Date,  $75,000,000 principal amount of the Offered
Securities.

                  The Company will deliver against payment of the purchase price
the Offered Securities in the form of one or more permanent global securities in
definitive  form  (the  "Global  Securities")  deposited  with  the  Trustee  as
custodian for The Depository Trust Company ("DTC") and registered in the name of
Cede & Co., as nominee for DTC.  Interests in any  permanent  Global  Securities
will  be held  only in  book-entry  form  through  DTC,  except  in the  limited
circumstances  described  in the  Offering  Document.  Payment  for the  Offered
Securities  shall be made by the  Purchaser in Federal  (same



<PAGE>
                                                                               9


day) funds by wire  transfer to an account or accounts at a bank  acceptable  to
the Purchaser drawn to the order of American  Pacific  Corporation at the office
of Cravath, Swaine & Moore at 10:00 a.m. (New York time), on March 12 , 1998, or
at such other time not later than seven full  business  days  thereafter  as the
Purchaser and the Company  determine,  such time being herein referred to as the
"Closing  Date,"  against  delivery to the Trustee as  custodian  for DTC of the
Global  Securities  representing  all  of the  Offered  Securities.  The  Global
Securities  will be made  available for checking at the above office of Cravath,
Swaine & Moore at least 24 hours prior to the Closing Date.

                  4. Representations by Purchaser;  Resale by Purchaser. (a) The
Purchaser  represents  and  warrants  to the Company  that it is an  "accredited
investor" within the meaning of Regulation D under the Securities Act.

                  (b) The  Purchaser  acknowledges  that the Offered  Securities
have not been registered under the Securities Act and may not be offered or sold
within the United  States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S.  persons
except in  accordance  with  Regulation S or pursuant to an  exemption  from the
registration  requirements of the Securities  Act. The Purchaser  represents and
agrees that it has offered  and sold the Offered  Securities  and will offer and
sell the Offered Securities (i) as part of its distribution at any time and (ii)
otherwise  until the later of the  commencement  of the offering and the Closing
Date,  only in  accordance  with Rule 144A  ("Rule  144A") or Rule 903 under the
Securities Act. Accordingly,  neither the Purchaser nor its affiliates,  nor any
persons  acting  on its or their  behalf,  have  engaged  or will  engage in any
directed  selling  efforts  with  respect  to the  Offered  Securities,  and the
Purchaser,  its  affiliates  and all persons  acting on its or their behalf have
complied  and  will  comply  with  the  offering  restrictions   requirement  of
Regulation S.

                  Terms used in this  subsection  (b) have the meanings given to
them by Regulation S.

                  (c) The  Purchaser  agrees that it and each of its  affiliates
has not entered and will not enter into any contractual arrangement with respect
to the  distribution  of the Offered  Securities  except with the prior  written
consent of the Company.

                  (d) The  Purchaser  agrees that it and each of its  affiliates
will not offer or sell the  Offered  Securities  by means of any form of general
solicitation or general advertising, within the meaning of Rule 502(c) under the

<PAGE>
                                                                              10


Securities Act,  including,  but not limited to (i) any advertisement,  article,
notice or other  communication  published in any newspaper,  magazine or similar
media or  broadcast  over  television  or radio,  or (ii) any seminar or meeting
whose  attendees  have been  invited  by any  general  solicitation  or  general
advertising.  The Purchaser agrees,  with respect to resales made in reliance on
Rule  144A  of any  of the  Offered  Securities,  to  deliver  either  with  the
confirmation  of such resale or otherwise  prior to  settlement of such resale a
notice to the effect that the resale of such Offered Securities has been made in
reliance upon the exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities
Act provided by Rule 144A.

                   (e) The Purchaser  represents  and agrees that (i) it has not
offered or sold and prior to the date six months  after the date of issue of the
Offered  Securities will not offer or sell any Offered  Securities to persons in
the United Kingdom except to persons whose ordinary  activities  involve them in
acquiring, holding, managing or disposing of investments (as principal or agent)
for the purposes of their  businesses or otherwise in  circumstances  which have
not resulted and will not result in an offer to the public in the United Kingdom
within the meaning of the Public Offers of Securities  Regulations 1995; (ii) it
has complied and will comply with all  applicable  provisions  of the  Financial
Services Act 1986 with respect to anything done by it in relation to the Offered
Securities in, from or otherwise involving the United Kingdom;  and (iii) it has
only  issued or passed on and will only issue or pass on in the  United  Kingdom
any  document  received  by it in  connection  with  the  issue  of the  Offered
Securities  to a  person  who is of a kind  described  in  Article  11(3) of the
Financial Services Act 1986 (Investment  Advertisements)(Exemptions)  Order 1996
or is a person to whom such document may otherwise  lawfully be issued or passed
on.

                  5. Certain Agreements of the Company.  The Company agrees with
the Purchaser that:

                  (a) The  Company  will  advise the  Purchaser  promptly of any
proposal to amend or supplement  the Offering  Document and will not effect such
amendment or supplement without the Purchaser's  consent.  If, at any time prior
to the  completion of the resale of the Offered  Securities by the Purchaser any
event  occurs as a result of which the  Offering  Document  as then  amended  or
supplemented  would  include an untrue  statement of a material  fact or omit to
state any material fact  necessary in order to make the statements  therein,  in
the light of the circumstances  under which they were made, not misleading,  the
Company promptly will notify the Purchaser of such event and promptly

<PAGE>
                                                                              11



will prepare,  at its own expense, an amendment or supplement which will correct
such  statement  or  omission.  Neither  the  Purchaser's  consent  to,  nor the
Purchaser's  delivery  to  offerees  or  investors  of,  any such  amendment  or
supplement  shall  constitute  a waiver  of any of the  conditions  set forth in
Section 6.

                  (b) The Company  will furnish to the  Purchaser  copies of any
preliminary  offering  circular,  the Offering  Document and all  amendments and
supplements  to such  documents,  in each case as soon as available  and in such
quantities  as the  Purchaser  requests,  and the  Company  will  furnish to the
Purchaser  on the date hereof two copies of the  Offering  Document  signed by a
duly  authorized  officer  of  the  Company,  one  of  which  will  include  the
independent  accountants'  reports therein  manually signed by such  independent
accountants.  At any time when the Company is not subject to Section 13 or 15(d)
of the Exchange Act, the Company will promptly  furnish or cause to be furnished
to the Purchaser and, upon request of holders and prospective  purchasers of the
Offered  Securities,  to such holders and purchasers,  copies of the information
required to be delivered to holders and  prospective  purchasers  of the Offered
Securities  pursuant  to  Rule  144A(d)(4)  under  the  Securities  Act  (or any
successor  provision  thereto) in order to permit  compliance  with Rule 144A in
connection with resales by such holders of the Offered  Securities.  The Company
will pay the expenses of printing and distributing all such documents.

                  (c) The  Company  will  arrange for the  qualification  of the
Offered  Securities  for sale and the  determination  of their  eligibility  for
investment  under the laws of such states in the United  States as the Purchaser
designates and will continue such  qualifications  in effect so long as required
for the resale of the Offered  Securities  by the  Purchaser  provided  that the
Company  will not be  required  to qualify as a foreign  corporation,  to file a
general  consent to service of process or to take any action that would  subject
it to taxation in any such state where it is not then so subject.

                  (d) During the period of five  years  hereafter,  the  Company
will  furnish  to the  Purchaser  as soon as  practicable  after the end of each
fiscal year, a copy of its annual report to stockholders  for such year; and the
Company will furnish to the Purchaser  (i) as soon as available,  a copy of each
report  and any  definitive  proxy  statement  of the  Company  filed  with  the
Commission under the Exchange Act or mailed to stockholders,  and (ii) from time
to time,  such

<PAGE>
                                                                              12

other  information  concerning  the  Company  as the  Purchaser  may  reasonably
request.

                  (e) During the period of two years after the Closing Date, the
Company will,  upon request,  furnish to the Purchaser and any holder of Offered
Securities  a copy of the  restrictions  on transfer  applicable  to the Offered
Securities.

                  (f) The  Company  will  not,  and will not  permit  any of its
affiliates (as defined in Rule 144 under the  Securities  Act) to, resell any of
the Offered Securities that have been reacquired by any of them.

                  (g) During the period of two years after the Closing Date, the
Company will not be or become an open-end  investment  company,  unit investment
trust or face-amount certificate company that is or is required to be registered
under Section 8 of the Investment Company Act.

                  (h) The  Company  will  pay  all  expenses  incidental  to the
performance  of  its  obligations   under  this  Agreement  and  the  Indenture,
including:  (i) the  fees  and  expenses  of the  Trustee  and its  professional
advisers;   (ii)  all  expenses  in  connection   with  the  execution,   issue,
authentication,  packaging and initial delivery of the Offered  Securities,  the
preparation and printing of this Agreement, the Offered Securities, the Offering
Document and amendments and supplements thereto, and any other document relating
to the issuance,  offer, sale and delivery of the Offered Securities;  (iii) the
cost of qualifying the Offered  Securities for trading in The Portal(sm)  Market
("PORTAL") of The Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc. and any expenses incidental thereto,
(iv) the cost of any advertising  approved by the Company in connection with the
issue  of  the  Offered  Securities,   (v)  any  expenses  (including  fees  and
disbursements  of counsel)  incurred in  connection  with  qualification  of the
Offered  Securities  for  sale  under  the  laws  of such  jurisdictions  as the
Purchaser  designates and the printing of memoranda  relating thereto,  (vi) any
fees  charged  by  investment  rating  agencies  for the  rating of the  Offered
Securities  and (vii) expenses  incurred in  distributing  preliminary  offering
circulars and the Offering  Document  (including any amendments and  supplements
thereto) to the  Purchaser.  The Company will  reimburse  the  Purchaser for all
travel  expenses of the Purchaser  and the Company's  officers and employees and
any other expenses of the Purchaser and the Company in connection with attending
or hosting meetings with prospective purchasers of the Offered Securities.


<PAGE>
                                                                              13

                  (i) In connection with the offering of the Offered Securities,
until the  Purchaser  shall have  notified the Company of the  completion of the
resale of the Offered Securities,  neither the Company nor any of its affiliates
has or will, either alone or with one or more other persons, bid for or purchase
for any account in which it or any of its affiliates  has a beneficial  interest
any Offered  Securities  or attempt to induce any person to purchase any Offered
Securities; and neither it nor any of its affiliates will make bids or purchases
for the  purpose of  creating  actual,  or  apparent,  active  trading in, or of
raising the price of, the Offered Securities.

                  (j) For a period  of 180 days  after  the date of the  initial
offering of the Offered Securities by the Purchaser, the Company will not offer,
sell,  contract to sell, pledge or otherwise dispose of, directly or indirectly,
any United States dollar-denominated debt securities issued or guaranteed by the
Company and having a maturity of more than one year from the date of issue.  The
Company will not at any time offer, sell,  contract to sell, pledge or otherwise
dispose of, directly or indirectly,  any securities  under  circumstances  where
such offer,  sale,  pledge,  contract or  disposition  would cause the exemption
afforded by Section 4(2) of the  Securities Act to cease to be applicable to the
offer and sale of the Offered Securities.

                  6.  Conditions  of  the  Obligation  of  the  Purchaser.   The
obligation of the Purchaser to purchase and pay for the Offered  Securities will
be subject to the accuracy of the  representations and warranties on the part of
the Company herein, to the accuracy of the statements of officers of the Company
made  pursuant to the  provisions of this Section 6, to the  performance  by the
Company of its obligations  hereunder and to the following additional conditions
precedent:

                  (a) The Purchaser shall have received a letter, dated the date
of this Agreement, of Deloitte & Touche LLP confirming that they are independent
public  accountants  within the meaning of the Securities Act and the applicable
published rules and regulations  thereunder ("Rules and Regulations") and to the
effect that:

                  (i) in their opinion the financial statements examined by them
         and included in the  Offering  Document and in the Exchange Act Reports
         comply  as to  form  in  all  material  respects  with  the  applicable
         accounting requirements of the Securities Act and the related published
         Rules and Regulations;



<PAGE>
                                                                              14


                  (ii) they  have  performed  the  procedures  specified  by the
         American  Institute of  Certified  Public  Accountants  for a review of
         interim  financial  information  as  described in Statement of Auditing
         Standards  No. 71,  Interim  Financial  Information,  on the  unaudited
         financial  statements  included  in the  Offering  Document  and in the
         Exchange Act Reports;

                  (iii) on the basis of the review  referred  to in clause  (ii)
         above, a reading of the latest available interim  financial  statements
         of the  Company,  inquiries  of  officials  of  the  Company  who  have
         responsibility for financial and accounting matters and other specified
         procedures, nothing came to their attention that caused them to believe
         that:

                            (A) the unaudited  financial  statements included in
                  the  Offering  Document or in the  Exchange Act Reports do not
                  comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable
                  accounting  requirements of the Securities Act and the related
                  published Rules and Regulations or any material  modifications
                  should be made to such unaudited financial statements for them
                  to  be  in  conformity  with  generally  accepted   accounting
                  principles;

                           (B) each of the unaudited consolidated net sales, net
                  operating  income,  net income and ratio of  earnings to fixed
                  charges amounts for (i) the three-month  period ended December
                  1997,  (ii) the fiscal year of the Company ended September 30,
                  1997 and (iii) the  twelve-month  period  ended  December  31,
                  1997,  included in the Offering Document do not agree with the
                  amounts  set  forth in the  unaudited  consolidated  financial
                  statements  for those same periods or were not determined on a
                  basis substantially  consistent with that of the corresponding
                  amounts in the audited statements of income;

                           (C) at the date of the latest available balance sheet
                  read by such  accountants,  or at a subsequent  specified date
                  not more than  three  business  days prior to the date of this
                  Agreement,  there was any change in the  capital  stock or any
                  increase in short-term  indebtedness  or long-term debt of the
                  Company and its  consolidated  subsidiaries or, at the date of
                  the latest available  balance sheet read by such  accountants,
                  there was any decrease in  consolidated  net current

<PAGE>
                                                                              15


                  assets or net assets,  as compared  with amounts  shown on the
                  latest balance sheet included in the Offering Document; or

                           (D) for  the  period  from  the  closing  date of the
                  latest income statement  included in the Offering  Document to
                  the closing date of the latest available income statement read
                  by such accountants there were any decreases, as compared with
                  the  corresponding  period of the  previous  year and with the
                  period of  corresponding  length  ended the date of the latest
                  income  statement  included  in  the  Offering  Document,   in
                  consolidated  net sales,  net operating income or in the total
                  or  per  share   amounts   of   consolidated   income   before
                  extraordinary  items or net income or in the ratio of earnings
                  to fixed charges;

         except in all cases set forth in clauses (C) and (D) above for changes,
         increases  or  decreases  which the  Offering  Document  disclose  have
         occurred or may occur and which are described in such letter; and

                  (iv)  they  have  compared   specified   dollar   amounts  (or
         percentages  derived  from such  dollar  amounts)  and other  financial
         information  contained  in the  Offering  Document and the Exchange Act
         Reports  (in  each  case  to  the  extent  that  such  dollar  amounts,
         percentages  and  other  financial  information  are  derived  from the
         general accounting records of the Company and its subsidiaries  subject
         to the  internal  controls of the  Company's  accounting  system or are
         derived directly from such records by analysis or computation) with the
         results obtained from inquiries,  a reading of such general  accounting
         records and other  procedures  specified  in such letter and have found
         such dollar amounts,  percentages and other financial information to be
         in agreement with such results,  except as otherwise  specified in such
         letter.

                  (b)   Subsequent   to  the  execution  and  delivery  of  this
Agreement,  there shall not have occurred (i) a change in U.S. or  international
financial,  political  or  economic  conditions  or currency  exchange  rates or
exchange  controls  as would,  in the  judgment of the  Purchaser,  be likely to
prejudice  materially the success of the proposed issue, sale or distribution of
the Offered Securities,  whether in the primary market or in respect of dealings
in the secondary  market,  or (ii) (A) any change,  or any  development or event
involving a prospective change, in the condition (financial or other), business,
properties or results of operations of

<PAGE>
                                                                              16


        the Company or its subsidiaries  which, in the judgment of the Purchaser
         is material  and adverse and makes it  impractical  or  inadvisable  to
         proceed with  completion of the offering or the sale of and payment for
         the Offered  Securities;  (B) any downgrading in the rating of any debt
         securities  or  preferred  stock  of the  Company  by  any  "nationally
         recognized statistical rating organization" (as defined for purposes of
         Rule 436(g) under the Securities Act), or any public  announcement that
         any such  organization  has under  surveillance or review its rating of
         any debt  securities or preferred  stock of the Company  (other than an
         announcement with positive implications of a possible upgrading, and no
         implication  of a  possible  downgrading,  of  such  rating);  (C)  any
         suspension or limitation of trading in securities  generally on the New
         York Stock  Exchange  or any  setting of minimum  prices for trading on
         such  exchange,  or any  suspension of trading of any securities of the
         Company on any  exchange  or in the  over-the-counter  market;  (D) any
         banking moratorium declared by Federal or New York authorities;  or (E)
         any outbreak or  escalation  of major  hostilities  in which the United
         States is  involved,  any  declaration  of war by Congress or any other
         substantial national or international  calamity or emergency if, in the
         judgment of the Purchaser, the effect of any such outbreak, escalation,
         declaration,  calamity or emergency makes it impractical or inadvisable
         to proceed with  completion  of the offering or sale of and payment for
         the Offered Securities.

                  (c) The Purchaser  shall have  received an opinion,  dated the
Closing  Date,  of Olshan  Grundman  Frome &  Rosenzweig  LLP,  counsel  for the
Company, that:

                  (i) The Company has been duly  incorporated and is an existing
         corporation  in good standing  under the laws of the State of Delaware,
         with  corporate  power and authority to own its  properties and conduct
         its business as described in the Offering Document;  and the Company is
         duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation in good standing
         in all other  jurisdictions in which its ownership or lease of property
         or the conduct of its business requires such  qualification,  except to
         the  extent  that  the  failure  to be so  qualified  would  not have a
         material adverse effect on the properties, assets, condition (financial
         or other),  business or operations of the Company and its subsidiaries,
         taken as a whole;

                  (ii) The  Indenture  has been duly  authorized,  executed  and
         delivered  by the  Company;  the  Offered  Securities  have  been  duly
         authorized, executed,  authenticated,  issued and delivered and conform
         to the



<PAGE>
                                                                              17


         description  thereof  contained  in  the  Offering  Document;  and  the
         Indenture  and the  Offered  Securities  constitute  valid and  legally
         binding  obligations of the Company  enforceable against the Company in
         accordance  with  their  terms,  subject  to  bankruptcy,   insolvency,
         fraudulent  transfer,  reorganization,  moratorium  and similar laws of
         general applicability relating to or affecting creditors' rights and to
         general equity principles;

                  (iii)  The  Company  is not and,  after  giving  effect to the
         offering and sale of the Offered  Securities and the application of the
         proceeds thereof as described in the Offering Document,  will not be an
         "investment company" as defined in the Investment Company Act.

                  (iv) No  consent,  approval,  authorization  or order  of,  or
         filing with, any  governmental  agency or body or any court is required
         for the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
         in  connection  with the issuance or sale of the Offered  Securities by
         the Company,  except such as may be required  under the  securities  or
         Blue Sky laws of the various  states of the United States of America or
         the laws of foreign jurisdictions;

                  (v) No consent, approval, authorization or order of, or filing
         with, any governmental  agency or body or any court is required for the
         consummation of the Asset Purchase Agreement,  except such as have been
         obtained or made prior to the date hereof;

                  (vi) The execution, delivery and performance by the Company of
         the Indenture, this Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement and
         the issuance and sale of the Offered  Securities  and compliance by the
         Company  with the terms and  provisions  thereof  will not  result in a
         breach  or  violation  of  any of  the  terms  and  provisions  of,  or
         constitute a default under, (A) any statute, rule or regulation, (B) to
         such counsel's knowledge,  any order of any governmental agency or body
         or any court having  jurisdiction over the Company or any subsidiary of
         the Company or any of their properties, (C) any agreement or instrument
         listed on Schedule A hereto to which the Company or any such subsidiary
         is a party or by which the Company or any such  subsidiary  is bound or
         to which any of the properties of the Company or any such subsidiary is
         subject,  or (D) the  charter  or  by-laws  of the  Company or any such
         subsidiary,  and the Company has full corporate  power and authority to
         authorize,  issue and

<PAGE>
                                                                              18


         sell the Offered Securities as contemplated by this Agreement;

                  (vii) The execution,  delivery and  performance by the Company
         and its subsidiaries of the Acquisition Agreements will not result in a
         breach  or  violation  of  any of  the  terms  and  provisions  of,  or
         constitute a default under, (A) any statute, rule or regulation, (B) to
         such counsel's knowledge,  any order of any governmental agency or body
         or any court, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Company
         or any  subsidiary of the Company or any of their  properties,  (C) any
         agreement or instrument to which the Company or any such  subsidiary is
         a party or by which the Company or any such  subsidiary  is bound or to
         which any of the  properties  of the Company or any such  subsidiary is
         subject,  or (D) the  charter  or  by-laws  of the  Company or any such
         subsidiary;

                  (viii) The Acquisition  Agreements have been duly  authorized,
         executed and  delivered  by the Company and AMPAC,  as the case may be,
         and conform in all material respects to the descriptions thereof in the
         Offering Document;

                  (ix) The  Acquisition  Agreements,  assuming due execution and
         delivery by the other  parties  thereto,  constitute  valid and legally
         binding  obligations of each of the Company and AMPAC,  as the case may
         be,  and are  enforceable  against  each of the  Company  and  AMPAC in
         accordance  with  their  terms,  subject  to  bankruptcy,   insolvency,
         fraudulent  transfer,  reorganization,  moratorium  and similar laws of
         general applicability relating to or affecting creditors' rights and to
         general equity principles;

                  (x) The  repurchase  or defeasance of the Azide Notes has been
         duly  authorized and will not result in a breach or violation of any of
         the terms and  provisions  of, or constitute a default  under,  (A) any
         statute, rule or regulation, (B) to such counsel's knowledge, any order
         of any governmental  agency or body or any court,  domestic or foreign,
         having  jurisdiction  over the Company or any subsidiary of the Company
         or any of their  properties,  (C) any agreement or instrument listed on
         Schedule  A hereto to which the  Company  or any such  subsidiary  is a
         party or by which the  Company  or any such  subsidiary  is bound or to
         which any of the  properties  of the Company or any such  subsidiary is
         subject,  or (D) the  charter  or  by-laws  of the  Company or any such
         subsidiary;


<PAGE>
                                                                              19

                  (xi) Such  counsel has no reason to believe  that the Offering
         Document,  or any amendment or supplement  thereto, or any Exchange Act
         Report as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date,  contained any
         untrue  statement  of a material  fact or omitted to state any material
         fact  necessary  to make the  statements  therein not  misleading;  the
         descriptions  in the Offering  Document and the Exchange Act Reports of
         statutes,  legal and  governmental  proceedings and contracts and other
         documents are accurate in all material  respects and fairly present the
         information required to be shown; it being understood that such counsel
         need  express  no  opinion  as to the  financial  statements  or  other
         financial or accounting data contained in the Offering Document and the
         Exchange Act Reports;

                  (xii) This  Agreement and the  Registration  Rights  Agreement
         have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company; and

                  (xiii) It is not necessary in  connection  with (i) the offer,
         sale and  delivery  of the  Offered  Securities  by the  Company to the
         Purchaser pursuant to this Agreement or (ii) the resales of the Offered
         Securities  by the  Purchaser  in the manner  contemplated  hereby,  to
         register the Offered  Securities under the Securities Act or to qualify
         an indenture in respect thereof under the Trust Indenture Act.

                  The opinions set forth in clauses (iv),  (v) and (vi), as they
relate  to  antitrust  matters,  may be given by Kaye  Scholer  Fierman  Hayes &
Handler, counsel to the Company on antitrust matters, and the opinions set forth
in clauses (i), (v), (vii) and (ix) may be given by Rooker & Gibson,  counsel to
the Company.

                  (d) The Purchaser  shall have received from Cravath,  Swaine &
Moore,   counsel  for  the  Purchaser,   such  opinion  or  opinions  (or  where
appropriate,  a  statement),  dated  the  Closing  Date,  with  respect  to  the
incorporation  of the  Company,  the  validity  of the Offered  Securities,  the
Offering Document, the exemption from registration for the offer and sale of the
Offered  Securities  by the  Company  to the  Purchaser  and the  resales by the
Purchaser as contemplated  hereby and other related matters as the Purchaser may
require,  and the Company shall have furnished to such counsel such documents as
they request for the purpose of enabling them to pass upon such matters.

                  (e) The  Purchaser  shall have received a  certificate,  dated
such Closing Date, of the President or


<PAGE>
                                                                              20


any Vice  President  and a  principal  financial  or  accounting  officer of the
Company in which such officers,  to the best of their knowledge after reasonable
investigation,  shall  state  that the  representations  and  warranties  of the
Company in this  Agreement  are true and correct,  that the Company has complied
with all  agreements and satisfied all conditions on its part to be performed or
satisfied hereunder at or prior to the Closing Date, and that, subsequent to the
date of the most recent financial statements in the Offering Document, there has
been no  material  adverse  change,  nor any  development  or event  involving a
prospective  material  adverse  change,  in the condition  (financial or other),
business,   properties   or  results  of  operations  of  the  Company  and  its
subsidiaries  taken as a whole  except  as set forth in or  contemplated  by the
Offering Document or as described in such certificate.

                  (f) The  Purchaser  shall have  received  a letter,  dated the
Closing  Date,  of  Deloitte  & Touche  LLP  which  meets  the  requirements  of
subsection  (a) of this Section,  except that the specified  date referred to in
such  subsection  will be a date not more than three  business days prior to the
Closing Date for the purposes of this subsection.

                  (g) Concurrently with or prior to the issuance and sale of the
Offered  Securities,  each condition  precedent to the Asset Purchase  Agreement
(other  than the  delivery of original  bills of sale and  original  opinions of
counsel)  shall have been  satisfied,  excluding the payment of the  Acquisition
Consideration (as defined in the Offering Document).

                  (h)  Immediately  following  issuance  and sale of the Offered
Securities by the Company,  the  Acquisition  shall be consummated on terms that
conform in all  material  respects to the  description  thereof in the  Offering
Document,  and the  Purchaser  shall  receive  true and  correct  copies  of all
documents  pertaining  thereto  and  evidence  reasonably  satisfactory  to  the
Purchaser of such consummation.

                  The Company will  furnish the  Purchaser  with such  conformed
copies of such  opinions,  certificates,  letters and documents as the Purchaser
reasonably requests.

                  7.  Indemnification  and  Contribution.  (a) The Company  will
indemnify and hold harmless the Purchaser against any losses, claims, damages or
liabilities, to which the Purchaser may become subject, under the Securities Act
or the Exchange Act or  otherwise,  insofar as such losses,  claims,  damages or
liabilities  (or actions in respect


<PAGE>
                                                                              21



thereof)  arise out of or are based upon any untrue  statement or alleged untrue
statement  of any material  fact  contained  in the  Offering  Document,  or any
amendment or supplement thereto, or any related preliminary offering circular or
the  Exchange  Act  Reports,  or arise out of or are based upon the  omission or
alleged  omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein
or  necessary  in  order  to  make  the  statements  therein,  in  light  of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, and will reimburse the
Purchaser for any legal or other expenses  reasonably  incurred by the Purchaser
in connection  with  investigating  or defending any such loss,  claim,  damage,
liability or action as such expenses are incurred;  PROVIDED,  HOWEVER, that the
Company  will not be liable in any such case to the  extent  that any such loss,
claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon an untrue statement or
alleged  untrue  statement in or omission or alleged  omission  from any of such
documents in reliance upon and in conformity with written information  furnished
to the  Company  by  the  Purchaser  specifically  for  use  therein,  it  being
understood and agreed that the only such information consists of the information
described as such in subsection (b) below.

                  (b) The Purchaser will indemnify and hold harmless the Company
against  any losses,  claims,  damages or  liabilities  to which the Company may
become  subject,  under the  Securities  Act or the Exchange  Act or  otherwise,
insofar as such losses,  claims,  damages or liabilities  (or actions in respect
thereof)  arise out of or are based upon any untrue  statement or alleged untrue
statement  of any material  fact  contained  in the  Offering  Document,  or any
amendment or supplement thereto,  or any related preliminary  offering circular,
or arise out of or are based upon the omission or the alleged  omission to state
therein a material fact  necessary in order to make the statements  therein,  in
the light of the  circumstances  under which they were made, not misleading,  in
each case to the extent,  but only to the extent,  that such untrue statement or
alleged  untrue  statement or omission or alleged  omission was made in reliance
upon and in conformity with written information  furnished to the Company by the
Purchaser  specifically  for use therein,  and will reimburse any legal or other
expenses  reasonably incurred by the Company in connection with investigating or
defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action as such expenses are
incurred,  it  being  understood  and  agreed  that the  only  such  information
furnished by the Purchaser consists of the following information in the Offering
Document furnished on behalf of the Purchaser:  the last paragraph at the bottom
of the cover page  concerning  the terms of the offering by the


<PAGE>
                                                                              22


Purchaser,  the legend concerning  over-allotments and stabilizing on the inside
front  cover page and the second  sentence of the second  paragraph,  the fourth
paragraph  and the  third  sentence  of the  sixth  paragraph  and the  material
relationship  disclosure contained in the last paragraph under the caption "Plan
of Distribution."

                  (c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified  party under this
Section of notice of the  commencement  of any action,  such  indemnified  party
will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party
under  subsection  (a)  or (b)  above,  notify  the  indemnifying  party  of the
commencement  thereof; but the omission so to notify the indemnifying party will
not relieve it from any  liability  which it may have to any  indemnified  party
otherwise  than under  subsection  (a) or (b) above.  In case any such action is
brought against any indemnified party and it notifies the indemnifying  party of
the commencement thereof, the indemnifying party will be entitled to participate
therein and, to the extent that it may wish, jointly with any other indemnifying
party  similarly  notified,   to  assume  the  defense  thereof,   with  counsel
satisfactory to such  indemnified  party (who shall not, except with the consent
of the  indemnified  party,  be counsel to the  indemnifying  party),  and after
notice from the indemnifying  party to such indemnified party of its election so
to assume the defense thereof, the indemnifying party will not be liable to such
indemnified   party  under  this  Section  for  any  legal  or  other   expenses
subsequently  incurred by such indemnified  party in connection with the defense
thereof other than reasonable  costs of  investigation.  No  indemnifying  party
shall,  without the prior written consent of the indemnified  party,  effect any
settlement  of any  pending  or  threatened  action  in  respect  of  which  any
indemnified  party is or could have been a party and  indemnity  could have been
sought  hereunder by such indemnified  party unless such settlement  includes an
unconditional release of such indemnified party from all liability on any claims
that are the subject matter of such action.

                  (d) If the  indemnification  provided  for in this  Section is
unavailable  or  insufficient  to  hold  harmless  an  indemnified  party  under
subsection (a) or (b) above,  then each  indemnifying  party shall contribute to
the amount paid or payable by such indemnified  party as a result of the losses,
claims, damages or liabilities referred to in subsection (a) or (b) above (i) in
such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative  benefits  received by
the Company on the one hand and the  Purchaser on the other from the offering of
the Offered Securities or (ii) if the


<PAGE>
                                                                              23



allocation  provided by clause (i) above is not permitted by applicable  law, in
such  proportion  as is  appropriate  to reflect not only the relative  benefits
referred  to in clause (i) above but also the  relative  fault of the Company on
the one hand and the Purchaser on the other in connection with the statements or
omissions which resulted in such losses,  claims, damages or liabilities as well
as any other relevant equitable  considerations.  The relative benefits received
by the Company on the one hand and the Purchaser on the other shall be deemed to
be in the same  proportion as the total net proceeds  from the offering  (before
deducting  expenses)  received by the Company  bear to the total  discounts  and
commissions received by the Purchaser from the Company under this Agreement. The
relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among other things,  whether
the untrue or alleged  untrue  statement  of a material  fact or the omission or
alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the
Company or the Purchaser and the parties' relative intent, knowledge,  access to
information  and  opportunity  to correct or prevent  such untrue  statement  or
omission.  The amount  paid by an  indemnified  party as a result of the losses,
claims,  damages  or  liabilities  referred  to in the  first  sentence  of this
subsection (d) shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably
incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending
any action or claim which is the subject of this subsection (d). Notwithstanding
the provisions of this  subsection  (d), the Purchaser  shall not be required to
contribute  any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which
the Offered  Securities  purchased  by it were resold  exceeds the amount of any
damages which the Purchaser has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such
untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.

                  (e) The obligations of the Company under this Section shall be
in addition to any  liability  which the  Company may  otherwise  have and shall
extend, upon the same terms and conditions, to each person, if any, who controls
the Purchaser  within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act; and
the  obligations of the Purchaser under this Section shall be in addition to any
liability which the Purchaser may otherwise have and shall extend, upon the same
terms and  conditions,  to each person,  if any, who controls the Company within
the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act.

                  8. Survival of Certain  Representations  and Obligations.  The
respective  indemnities,  agreements,  representations,   warranties  and  other
statements  of the Company or its officers and of the  Purchaser set forth in or

<PAGE>
                                                                              24


made pursuant to this Agreement will remain in full force and effect, regardless
of any  investigation,  or  statement as to the results  thereof,  made by or on
behalf of the Purchaser, the Company or any of their respective representatives,
officers or directors or any controlling  person,  and will survive  delivery of
and payment for the Offered  Securities.  If for any reason the  purchase of the
Offered Securities by the Purchaser is not consummated, the Company shall remain
responsible  for the expenses to be paid or reimbursed by it pursuant to Section
5(h) and the respective obligations of the Company and the Purchaser pursuant to
Section 7 shall remain in effect.  If the purchase of the Offered  Securities by
the Purchaser is not consummated for any reason other than solely because of the
occurrence of any event  specified in Section  6(b)(i) or clause (C), (D) or (E)
of  Section  6(b)(ii),   the  Company  will  reimburse  the  Purchaser  for  all
out-of-pocket  expenses (including fees and disbursements of counsel) reasonably
incurred by it in connection with the offering of the Offered Securities.

                  9. Notices.  All  communications  hereunder will be in writing
and, if sent to the  Purchaser  will be mailed,  delivered  or  telegraphed  and
confirmed  to the  Purchaser  at  Eleven  Madison  Avenue,  New  York,  New York
10010-3629,  Attention:  Investment Banking  Department - Transactions  Advisory
Group, or, if sent to the Company, will be mailed,  delivered or telegraphed and
confirmed to it at 3770 Howard  Hughes  Parkway,  Suite 300,  Las Vegas,  Nevada
89109, Attention:  Chief Financial Officer, with a copy to Olshan Grundman Frome
& Rosenzweig LLP, 505 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10022, Attention: David J.
Adler, Esq.

                  10.  Successors.  This  Agreement will inure to the benefit of
and be binding upon the parties hereto and their  respective  successors and the
controlling  persons referred to in Section 7, and no other person will have any
right or obligation  hereunder,  except that holders of Offered Securities shall
be entitled to enforce the agreements for their benefit  contained in the second
and third  sentences  of Section  5(b)  hereof  against  the  Company as if such
holders were parties hereto.

                  11. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number
of counterparts,  each of which shall be deemed to be an original,  but all such
counterparts shall together constitute one and the same Agreement.

                  12.  Applicable  Law. This Agreement shall be governed by, and
construed in accordance  with,  the laws of the State of New York without regard
to principles of conflicts of laws.


<PAGE>
                                                                              25

                  If  the  foregoing  is  in  accordance  with  the  Purchaser's
understanding of our agreement, kindly sign and return to the Company one of the
counterparts  hereof,  whereupon it will become a binding  agreement between the
Company and the Purchaser in accordance with its terms.

                                         Very truly yours,
                                         AMERICAN PACIFIC CORPORATION,

                                         by /s/ David N. Keys
                                            -----------------------------------
                                            Name:   David N. Keys
                                            Title:  Senior Vice President -
                                                    Chief Financial Officer


The foregoing Purchase Agreement is hereby confirmed and accepted as of the date
first above written.

CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON
CORPORATION,


by /s/ Andrew G. Schwendiman
   ----------------------------
   Name:  Andrew G. Schwendiman
   Title: Attorney-in-Fact


<PAGE>
                                                                              26

                                   SCHEDULE A






                                                                  EXECUTION COPY


================================================================================



                          American Pacific Corporation


                          9 1/4% Senior Notes Due 2005


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

                                    INDENTURE


                            Dated as of March 1, 1998


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



                     United States Trust Company of New York
                                     Trustee






================================================================================
<PAGE>
                              CROSS-REFERENCE TABLE

  TIA                                                          Indenture
SECTION                                                         Section

310(a)(1)...........................................................7.10
      (a)(2)........................................................7.10
      (a)(3)........................................................N.A.
      (a)(4)........................................................N.A.
      (b)...........................................................7.08; 7.10
      (c)...........................................................N.A.
311(a)..............................................................7.11
      (b)...........................................................7.11
      (c)...........................................................N.A.
312(a)..............................................................2.05
      (b)..........................................................10.03
      (c)..........................................................10.03
313(a)..............................................................7.06
      (b)(1)........................................................N.A.
      (b)(2)........................................................7.06
      (c)..........................................................10.02
      (d)...........................................................7.06
314(a).............................................................4.02;
                                                                   4.13; 10.02
      (b)...........................................................N.A.
      (c)(1).......................................................10.04
      (c)(2).......................................................10.04
      (c)(3)........................................................N.A.
      (d)...........................................................N.A.
      (e)..........................................................10.05
      (f)...........................................................4.13
315(a)..............................................................7.01
      (b)...........................................................7.05; 10.02
      (c)...........................................................7.01
      (d)...........................................................7.01
      (e)...........................................................6.11
316(a)(last sentence)..............................................10.06
      (a)(1)(A).....................................................6.05
      (a)(1)(B).....................................................6.04
      (a)(2)........................................................N.A.
      (b)...........................................................6.07
317(a)(1)...........................................................6.08
      (a)(2)........................................................6.09
      (b)...........................................................2.04
318(a).............................................................10.01

                           N.A. means Not Applicable.


- -----------------
Note:  This  Cross-Reference  Table shall not, for any purpose,  be deemed to be
part of the Indenture.

<PAGE>
                                TABLE OF CONTENTS


                                 ARTICLE 1 PAGE

                   DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE


SECTION 1.01.   Definitions..................................................1
SECTION 1.02.   Other Definitions...........................................24
SECTION 1.03.   Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act...........24
SECTION 1.04.   Rules of Construction.......................................25


                                    ARTICLE 2

                                 THE SECURITIES

SECTION 2.01.   Form and Dating.............................................26
SECTION 2.02.   Execution and Authentication................................26
SECTION 2.03.   Registrar and Paying Agent..................................27
SECTION 2.04.   Paying Agent To Hold Money in Trust.........................27
SECTION 2.05.   Securityholder Lists........................................28
SECTION 2.06.   Transfer and Exchange.......................................28
SECTION 2.07.   Replacement Securities......................................29
SECTION 2.08.   Outstanding Securities......................................29
SECTION 2.09.   Temporary Securities........................................30
SECTION 2.10.   Cancellation................................................30
SECTION 2.11.   Defaulted Interest..........................................30
SECTION 2.12.   CUSIP Numbers...............................................31


                                    ARTICLE 3

                                   REDEMPTION

SECTION 3.01.   Notices to Trustee..........................................31
SECTION 3.02.   Selection of Securities To Be...............................31
SECTION 3.03.   Notice of Redemption........................................32
SECTION 3.04.   Effect of Notice of Redemption..............................32
SECTION 3.05.   Deposit of Redemption Price.................................33
SECTION 3.06.   Securities Redeemed in Part.................................33


<PAGE>
                                                                               2

                                    ARTICLE 4

                                    COVENANTS

SECTION 4.01.   Payment of Securities.......................................33
SECTION 4.02.   SEC Reports.................................................33
SECTION 4.03.   Limitation on Indebtedness..................................34
SECTION 4.04.   Limitation on Restricted Payments...........................36
SECTION 4.05.   Excess Cash Purchase Offer..................................39
SECTION 4.06.   Limitation on Restrictions on Distributions from
                  Restricted Subsidiaries...................................40
SECTION 4.07.   Limitation on Sales of Assets and Subsidiary Stock..........41
SECTION 4.08.   Limitation on Affiliate Transactions........................45
SECTION 4.09.   Limitation on the Sale or Issuance of Capital Stock
                  of Restricted Subsidiaries................................46
SECTION 4.10.   Change of Control...........................................46
SECTION 4.11.   Limitation on Liens.........................................48
SECTION 4.12.   Limitation on Sale/Leaseback Transactions...................48
SECTION 4.13.   Compliance Certificate......................................48
SECTION 4.14.   Further Instruments and Acts................................48


                                    ARTICLE 5

                                SUCCESSOR COMPANY

SECTION 5.01.   When Company May Merge or Transfer Assets...................49


                                    ARTICLE 6

                              DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES

SECTION 6.01.   Events of Default...........................................50
SECTION 6.02.   Acceleration................................................52
SECTION 6.03.   Other Remedies..............................................53
SECTION 6.04.   Waiver of Past Defaults.....................................53
SECTION 6.05.   Control by Majority.........................................53
SECTION 6.06.   Limitation on Suits.........................................54
SECTION 6.07.   Rights of Holders To Receive Payment........................54
SECTION 6.08.   Collection Suit by Trustee..................................54
SECTION 6.09.   Trustee May File Proofs of Claim............................55


<PAGE>
                                                                               3


SECTION 6.10.   Priorities..................................................55
SECTION 6.11.   Undertaking for Costs.......................................55
SECTION 6.12.   Waiver of Stay or Extension Laws............................56

                                    ARTICLE 7

                                     TRUSTEE

SECTION 7.01.   Duties of Trustee...........................................56
SECTION 7.02.   Rights of Trustee...........................................57
SECTION 7.03.   Individual Rights of Trustee................................58
SECTION 7.04.   Trustee's Disclaimer........................................58
SECTION 7.05.   Notice of Defaults..........................................58
SECTION 7.06.   Reports by Trustee to Holders...............................59
SECTION 7.07.   Compensation and Indemnity..................................59
SECTION 7.08.   Replacement of Trustee......................................60
SECTION 7.09.   Successor Trustee by Merger.................................61
SECTION 7.10.   Eligibility; Disqualification...............................61
SECTION 7.11.   Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company...........61


                                    ARTICLE 8

                       DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE; DEFEASANCE

SECTION 8.01.   Discharge of Liability on Securities; Defeasance............62
SECTION 8.02.   Conditions to Defeasance....................................63
SECTION 8.03.   Application of Trust Money..................................64
SECTION 8.04.   Repayment to Company........................................64
SECTION 8.05.   Indemnity for Government Obligations........................65
SECTION 8.06.   Reinstatement...............................................65

                                    ARTICLE 9

                                   AMENDMENTS

SECTION 9.01.   Without Consent of Holders..................................65
SECTION 9.02.   With Consent of Holders.....................................66
SECTION 9.03.   Compliance with Trust Indenture.............................67
SECTION 9.04.   Revocation and Effect of Consents and Waivers...............67

<PAGE>
                                                                               4


SECTION 9.05.   Notation on or Exchange of Securities.......................67
SECTION 9.06.   Trustee To Sign Amendments..................................68
SECTION 9.07.   Payment for Consent.........................................68

                                   ARTICLE 10

                                  MISCELLANEOUS

SECTION 10.01.  Trust Indenture Act Controls................................68
SECTION 10.02.  Notices.....................................................69
SECTION 10.03.  Communication by Holders with Other Holders.................69
SECTION 10.04.  Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent..........70
SECTION 10.05.  Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion...............70
SECTION 10.06.  When Securities Disregarded.................................70
SECTION 10.07.  Rules by Trustee, Paying Agent and Registrar................71
SECTION 10.08.  Legal Holidays..............................................71
SECTION 10.09.  Governing Law...............................................71
SECTION 10.10.  No Recourse Against Others..................................71
SECTION 10.11.  Successors..................................................71
SECTION 10.12.  Multiple Originals..........................................71
SECTION 10.13.  Table of Contents; Headings.................................72

Rule 144A/Regulation S Appendix

Exhibit 1 to Rule 144A/Regulation S Appendix - Form of Initial Security

Exhibit 2 to Rule  144A/Regulation  S  Appendix  - Form of  Exchange  or Private
Exchange Security


<PAGE>

                           INDENTURE dated as of March 1, 1998, between AMERICAN
                  PACIFIC  CORPORATION,  a Delaware corporation (the "Company"),
                  and  UNITED  STATES  TRUST  COMPANY  OF NEW  YORK,  a New York
                  corporation (the "Trustee").

                  Each  party  agrees as  follows  for the  benefit of the other
party and for the equal and ratable  benefit of the  Holders of the  Company's 9
1/4% Senior Notes Due 2005 (the  "Initial  Securities")  and, if and when issued
pursuant to a registered exchange for Initial  Securities,  the Company's 9 1/4%
Senior  Notes  Due 2005  (the  "Exchange  Securities")  and if and  when  issued
pursuant to a private  exchange  for Initial  Securities,  the  Company's 9 1/4%
Senior Notes Due 2005 (the  "Private  Exchange  Securities",  together  with the
Exchange Securities and the Initial Securities, the "Securities"):


                                    ARTICLE 1
                   DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

                  SECTION 1.01.  DEFINITIONS.

                  "Additional  Assets"  means (i) any property or assets  (other
than  Indebtedness  and Capital Stock) in a Related  Business;  (ii) the Capital
Stock of a Person  that  becomes  a  Restricted  Subsidiary  as a result  of the
acquisition  of  such  Capital  Stock  by  the  Company  or  another  Restricted
Subsidiary;  or (iii)  Capital  Stock  constituting  a minority  interest in any
Person that at such time is a Restricted Subsidiary; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that any
such Restricted Subsidiary described in clauses (ii) or (iii) above is primarily
engaged in a Related Business.

                  "Affiliate"  of any  specified  Person means any other Person,
directly or indirectly, controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect
common control with such specified Person.  For the purposes of this definition,
"control"  when used with  respect to any  Person  means the power to direct the
management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly,  whether through
the  ownership of voting  securities,  by contract or  otherwise;  and the terms
"controlling" and "controlled" have meanings  correlative to the foregoing.  For
purposes of Sections 4.04, 4.07 and 4.08 only,  "Affiliate"  shall also mean any
beneficial  owner of Capital Stock  representing  5% or more of the total voting
power of the Voting Stock (on a fully diluted basis) of the Company or of rights
or  warrants

<PAGE>
                                                                               2


to purchase such Capital Stock  (whether or not currently  exercisable)  and any
Person who would be an Affiliate of any such  beneficial  owner  pursuant to the
first sentence hereof.

                  "Asset  Disposition" means any sale, lease,  transfer or other
disposition (or series of related sales,  leases,  transfers or dispositions) by
the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary,  including any disposition by means of
a  merger,  consolidation  or  similar  transaction  (each  referred  to for the
purposes of this  definition as a  "disposition"),  of (i) any shares of Capital
Stock of a Restricted  Subsidiary  (other than directors'  qualifying  shares or
shares  required by applicable law to be held by a Person other than the Company
or a Restricted  Subsidiary),  (ii) all or  substantially  all the assets of any
division  or line of business of the  Company or any  Restricted  Subsidiary  or
(iii) any other assets of the Company or any  Restricted  Subsidiary  outside of
the  ordinary  course of business of the Company or such  Restricted  Subsidiary
(other than,  in the case of (i), (ii) and (iii) above,  (w) a disposition  by a
Restricted  Subsidiary  to  the  Company  or  by  the  Company  or a  Restricted
Subsidiary to a Wholly Owned Subsidiary,  (x) for purposes of Section 4.07 only,
a disposition that constitutes a Restricted  Payment  permitted by Section 4.04,
(y) disposition of assets with a fair market value of less than $250,000 and (z)
a disposition of real estate in the Gibson Business Park near Las Vegas, Nevada.

                  "Attributable Debt" in respect of a Sale/Leaseback Transaction
means,  as at the time of  determination,  the present value  (discounted at the
interest  rate  borne  by the  Securities,  compounded  annually)  of the  total
obligations of the lessee for rental  payments  during the remaining term of the
lease  included in such  Sale/Leaseback  Transaction  (including  any period for
which such lease has been extended).

                  "Average Life" means,  as of the date of  determination,  with
respect to any  Indebtedness  or  Preferred  Stock,  the  quotient  obtained  by
dividing  (i) the sum of the  products  of the numbers of years from the date of
determination  to the dates of each successive  scheduled  principal  payment of
such  Indebtedness  or  redemption  or  similar  payment  with  respect  to such
Preferred Stock  multiplied by the amount of such payment by (ii) the sum of all
such payments.

                  "Azide  Notes" means the Company's  11%  subordinated  secured
notes originally issued on February 21, 1992, in an original principal amount of
$40.0 million.




<PAGE>
                                                                               3


                  "Board  of  Directors"  means the  Board of  Directors  of the
Company or any committee thereof duly authorized to act on behalf of such Board.

                  "Borrowing  Base" means at any time an amount equal to the sum
of (i) 50% of the book value of the inventory of the Company and its  Restricted
Subsidiaries  and (ii) 80% of the book value of the accounts  receivable  of the
Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries.

                  "Business Day" means each day that is not a Legal Holiday.

                  "Capital   Expenditures"   means,  for  any  period,  (a)  the
additions to property, plant and equipment and other capital expenditures of the
Company and its consolidated  Subsidiaries that are (or would be) set forth in a
consolidated  statement of cash flows of the Company for such period prepared in
accordance with GAAP and (b) Capital Lease  Obligations  incurred by the Company
and its consolidated Subsidiaries during such period.

                  "Capital  Lease  Obligations"  means  an  obligation  that  is
required to be  classified  and  accounted  for as a capital lease for financial
reporting  purposes  in  accordance  with GAAP,  and the amount of  Indebtedness
represented  by  such  obligation  shall  be  the  capitalized  amount  of  such
obligation  determined in accordance with GAAP; and the Stated Maturity  thereof
shall be the date of the last payment of rent or any other amount due under such
lease  prior to the first date upon which  such lease may be  terminated  by the
lessee without payment of a penalty.

                  "Capital  Stock"  of any  Person  means  any and  all  shares,
interests,  rights  to  purchase,  warrants,  options,  participations  or other
equivalents  of or  interests  in (however  designated)  equity of such  Person,
including any Preferred  Stock,  but excluding any debt  securities  convertible
into such equity.

                  "Change  of  Control"  means  the  occurrence  of  any  of the
following events on or after the Issue Date:

                  (i) any "person"  (as such term is used in Sections  13(d) and
         14(d) of the  Exchange  Act) is or becomes the  "beneficial  owner" (as
         defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the  Exchange  Act,  except that
         for  purposes of this  clause (i) such  person  shall be deemed to have
         "beneficial ownership" of all shares that any such person has the right
         to acquire, whether





<PAGE>
                                                                               4


         such right is  exercisable  immediately  or only  after the  passage of
         time),  directly or  indirectly,  of more than 35% of the total  voting
         power of the Voting Stock of the Company;

                  (ii)  individuals who on the Issue Date  constituted the Board
         of Directors  (together  with any new directors  whose election by such
         Board of Directors or whose nomination for election by the shareholders
         of the Company was  approved by a vote of 66-2/3% of the  directors  of
         the Company then still in office who were either directors on the Issue
         Date or whose  election or  nomination  for election was  previously so
         approved) cease for any reason to constitute a majority of the Board of
         Directors then in office;

                  (iii) the adoption of a plan  relating to the  liquidation  or
         dissolution of the Company; or

                  (iv) the merger or  consolidation  of the Company with or into
         another  Person  or the  merger  of  another  Person  with or into  the
         Company,  or the sale of all or  substantially  all the  assets  of the
         Company  to  another  Person,  and,  in the case of any such  merger or
         consolidation,  the  securities  of the  Company  that are  outstanding
         immediately  prior to such  transaction and which represent 100% of the
         aggregate  voting  power of the Voting Stock of the Company are changed
         into or exchanged for cash, securities or property,  unless pursuant to
         such  transaction such securities are changed into or exchanged for, in
         addition  to any  other  consideration,  securities  of  the  surviving
         corporation that represent immediately after such transaction, at least
         a majority of the  aggregate  voting  power of the Voting  Stock of the
         surviving corporation.

                  "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

                  "Company"  means  the  party  named as such in this  Indenture
until a successor  replaces it and,  thereafter,  means the  successor  and, for
purposes of any provision  contained  herein and required by the TIA, each other
obligor on the indenture securities.

                  "Consolidated  Coverage Ratio" as of any date of determination
means the ratio of (i) the aggregate amount of EBITDA for the period of the most
recent four  consecutive  fiscal  quarters  ending at least 45 days prior to the
date of

<PAGE>
                                                                               5


such  determination to (ii)  Consolidated  Interest Expense for such four fiscal
quarters;  PROVIDED,  HOWEVER,  that  (1)  if  the  Company  or  any  Restricted
Subsidiary has Incurred any Indebtedness since the beginning of such period that
remains  outstanding or if the transaction  giving rise to the need to calculate
the  Consolidated  Coverage  Ratio is an  Incurrence of  Indebtedness,  or both,
EBITDA and  Consolidated  Interest  Expense for such period shall be  calculated
after  giving  effect  on a pro  forma  basis  to such  Indebtedness  as if such
Indebtedness had been Incurred on the first day of such period and the discharge
of any other Indebtedness repaid, repurchased,  defeased or otherwise discharged
with the proceeds of such new  Indebtedness as if such discharge had occurred on
the first day of such period,  (2) if the Company or any  Restricted  Subsidiary
has repaid, repurchased, defeased or otherwise discharged any Indebtedness since
the  beginning  of  such  period  or  if  any  Indebtedness  is  to  be  repaid,
repurchased,   defeased  or  otherwise  discharged  (in  each  case  other  than
Indebtedness   Incurred  under  any  revolving   credit   facility  unless  such
Indebtedness has been permanently  repaid and has not been replaced) on the date
of the  transaction  giving  rise to the  need  to  calculate  the  Consolidated
Coverage Ratio,  EBITDA and Consolidated  Interest Expense for such period shall
be  calculated  on a pro forma basis as if such  discharge  had  occurred on the
first day of such period and as if the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary has
not earned the interest  income actually earned during such period in respect of
cash or  Temporary  Cash  Investments  used to  repay,  repurchase,  defease  or
otherwise discharge such Indebtedness, (3) if since the beginning of such period
the Company or any Restricted  Subsidiary shall have made any Asset Disposition,
the EBITDA for such period shall be reduced by an amount equal to the EBITDA (if
positive)  directly  attributable  to the assets  which are the  subject of such
Asset Disposition for such period, or increased by an amount equal to the EBITDA
(if negative),  directly  attributable  thereto for such period and Consolidated
Interest  Expense  for such  period  shall be reduced by an amount  equal to the
Consolidated  Interest Expense directly  attributable to any Indebtedness of the
Company or any Restricted Subsidiary repaid, repurchased,  defeased or otherwise
discharged   with  respect  to  the  Company  and  its   continuing   Restricted
Subsidiaries in connection  with such Asset  Disposition for such period (or, if
the  Capital  Stock  of any  Restricted  Subsidiary  is sold,  the  Consolidated
Interest  Expense for such period directly  attributable to the  Indebtedness of
such  Restricted  Subsidiary  to the  extent  the  Company  and  its  continuing
Restricted  Subsidiaries are no longer liable for such  Indebtedness  after such
sale),  (4) if since the beginning of


<PAGE>
                                                                               6


such period the Company or any  Restricted  Subsidiary  (by merger or otherwise)
shall have made an Investment in any Restricted  Subsidiary (or any person which
becomes a Restricted  Subsidiary)  or an  acquisition  of assets,  including any
acquisition  of assets  occurring in connection  with a transaction  requiring a
calculation to be made hereunder,  which constitutes all or substantially all of
an operating unit of a business,  EBITDA and  Consolidated  Interest Expense for
such period shall be calculated after giving pro forma effect thereto (including
the  Incurrence  of any  Indebtedness)  as if  such  Investment  or  acquisition
occurred on the first day of such period and (5) if since the  beginning of such
period any Person  (that  subsequently  became a  Restricted  Subsidiary  or was
merged with or into the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary since the beginning
of such  period)  shall  have  made any Asset  Disposition,  any  Investment  or
acquisition of assets that would have required an adjustment  pursuant to clause
(3) or (4) above if made by the Company or a Restricted  Subsidiary  during such
period,  EBITDA and  Consolidated  Interest  Expense  for such  period  shall be
calculated  after giving pro forma effect thereto as if such Asset  Disposition,
Investment or acquisition occurred on the first day of such period. For purposes
of this  definition,  whenever pro forma effect is to be given to an acquisition
of assets,  the amount of income or earnings  relating thereto and the amount of
Consolidated  Interest  Expense  associated  with any  Indebtedness  Incurred in
connection  therewith,  the pro forma  calculations  shall be determined in good
faith by a responsible  financial or accounting  Officer of the Company.  If any
Indebtedness  bears a floating  rate of  interest  and is being  given pro forma
effect,  the interest of such Indebtedness shall be calculated as if the rate in
effect on the date of determination  had been the applicable rate for the entire
period  (taking into  account any Interest  Rate  Agreement  applicable  to such
Indebtedness  if such Interest Rate  Agreement has a remaining term in excess of
12 months).

                  "Consolidated  Interest  Expense" means,  for any period,  the
total  interest  expense  of  the  Company  and  its   consolidated   Restricted
Subsidiaries,  plus, to the extent not included in such total interest  expense,
and to the  extent  incurred  by the  Company  or its  Restricted  Subsidiaries,
without duplication, (i) interest expense attributable to capital leases and the
interest expense  attributable to leases  constituting  part of a Sale/Leaseback
Transaction,  (ii)  amortization of debt discount and debt issuance cost,  (iii)
capitalized  interest,   (iv)  non-cash  interest  expenses,   (v)  commissions,
discounts  and other fees and charges owed with respect to letters of credit and


<PAGE>
                                                                               7


bankers'   acceptance   financing,   (vi)  net  costs  associated  with  Hedging
Obligations (including amortization of fees), (vii) Preferred Stock dividends in
respect  of all  Preferred  Stock held by  Persons  other than the  Company or a
Wholly Owned Subsidiary, (viii) interest incurred in connection with Investments
in discontinued  operations,  (ix) interest  accruing on any Indebtedness of any
other Person to the extent such Indebtedness is Guaranteed by (or secured by the
assets  of)  the  Company  or  any  Restricted   Subsidiary  and  (x)  the  cash
contributions  to any  employee  stock  ownership  plan or similar  trust to the
extent such contributions are used by such plan or trust to pay interest or fees
to any Person (other than the Company) in connection with Indebtedness  Incurred
by such plan or trust.

                  "Consolidated  Net  Income"  means,  for any  period,  the net
income of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that
there shall not be included in such Consolidated Net Income:

                  (i) any net income of any Person  (other than the  Company) if
         such Person is not a Restricted Subsidiary,  except that (A) subject to
         the exclusion  contained in clause (iv) below,  the Company's equity in
         the net income of any such Person for such period  shall be included in
         such  Consolidated  Net  Income  up to the  aggregate  amount  of  cash
         actually  distributed  by such Person during such period to the Company
         or  a  Restricted  Subsidiary  as  a  dividend  or  other  distribution
         (subject,  in the case of a dividend  or other  distribution  paid to a
         Restricted  Subsidiary,  to the  limitations  contained in clause (iii)
         below) and (B) the  Company's  equity in a net loss of any such  Person
         for such period shall be included in determining such  Consolidated Net
         Income;

                  (ii) any net income (or loss) of any  Person  acquired  by the
         Company or a Subsidiary in a pooling of interests  transaction  for any
         period prior to the date of such acquisition;

                  (iii) any net  income  of any  Restricted  Subsidiary  if such
         Restricted   Subsidiary  is  subject  to   restrictions,   directly  or
         indirectly,  on the payment of dividends or the making of distributions
         by such Restricted Subsidiary,  directly or indirectly, to the Company,
         except  that (A)  subject to the  exclusion  contained  in clause  (iv)
         below,  the Company's  equity in the net income of any such  Restricted
         Subsidiary for such period shall be included in such  Consolidated  Net


<PAGE>
                                                                               8


         Income up to the aggregate amount of cash actually  distributed by such
         Restricted  Subsidiary  during  such  period to the  Company or another
         Restricted Subsidiary as a dividend or other distribution  (subject, in
         the case of a dividend or other distribution paid to another Restricted
         Subsidiary,  to the  limitation  contained  in this clause) and (B) the
         Company's  equity in a net loss of any such  Restricted  Subsidiary for
         such period  shall be included in  determining  such  Consolidated  Net
         Income;

                  (iv) any gain (but not loss)  realized  upon the sale or other
         disposition of any assets of the Company, its consolidated Subsidiaries
         or any  other  Person  (including  pursuant  to any  sale-and-leaseback
         arrangement) which is not sold or otherwise disposed of in the ordinary
         course of business and any gain (but not loss)  realized  upon the sale
         or other disposition of any Capital Stock of any Person;

                  (v)  extraordinary gains or losses; and

                  (vi) the   cumulative   effect  of  a  change  in   accounting
                       principles.

Notwithstanding  the  foregoing,  for the purposes of Section  4.04 only,  there
shall be excluded  from  Consolidated  Net Income any  dividends,  repayments of
loans or advances or other transfers of assets from Unrestricted Subsidiaries to
the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary to the extent such dividends,  repayments
or transfers  increase the amount of Restricted  Payments  permitted  under such
Section pursuant to clause (a)(3)(D) thereof.

                  "Consolidated  Net Worth" means the total of the amounts shown
on  the  balance  sheet  of  the  Company  and  its  consolidated  Subsidiaries,
determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, as of the end of the
most recent fiscal  quarter of the Company  ending at least 45 days prior to the
taking of any action for the purpose of which the  determination  is being made,
as (i) the par or stated value of all  outstanding  Capital Stock of the Company
plus (ii) paid-in capital or capital surplus relating to such Capital Stock plus
(iii) any retained  earnings or earned surplus less (A) any accumulated  deficit
and (B) any amounts attributable to Disqualified Stock.

                  "Currency  Agreement" means in respect of a Person any foreign
exchange  contract,  currency swap agreement or


<PAGE>
                                                                               9


other similar agreement designed to protect such Person against  fluctuations in
currency values.

                  "Default" means any event which is, or after notice or passage
of time or both would be, an Event of Default.

                  "Disqualified  Stock" means,  with respect to any Person,  any
Capital  Stock which by its terms (or by the terms of any security into which it
is  convertible  or for which it is  exchangeable)  or upon the happening of any
event (i)  matures  or is  mandatorily  redeemable  pursuant  to a sinking  fund
obligation or otherwise, (ii) is convertible or exchangeable for Indebtedness or
Disqualified  Stock  or  (iii)  is  redeemable  or must be  purchased,  upon the
occurrence of certain  events or otherwise,  by such Person at the option of the
holder  thereof,  in  whole or in part,  in each  case on or prior to the  first
anniversary of the Stated Maturity of the Securities;  PROVIDED,  HOWEVER,  that
any  Capital  Stock  that  would  not  constitute  Disqualified  Stock  but  for
provisions  thereof giving  holders  thereof the right to require such Person to
purchase or redeem such Capital Stock upon the  occurrence of an "asset sale" or
"change  of  control"  occurring  prior to the first  anniversary  of the Stated
Maturity of the Securities  shall not constitute  Disqualified  Stock if (x) the
"asset sale" or "change of control" provisions  applicable to such Capital Stock
are not more  favorable to the holders of such Capital Stock than the provisions
of Sections 4.07 and 4.10 and (y) any such  requirement  only becomes  operative
after  compliance with such terms  applicable to the  Securities,  including the
purchase of any Securities tendered pursuant thereto.

                  "EBITDA"  for any  period  means the sum of  Consolidated  Net
Income,  plus  Consolidated  Interest  Expense plus the  following to the extent
deducted in calculating such Consolidated Net Income: (a) all income tax expense
of the Company and its consolidated  Restricted  Subsidiaries,  (b) depreciation
expense  of the  Company  and  its  consolidated  Restricted  Subsidiaries,  (c)
amortization expense of the Company and its consolidated Restricted Subsidiaries
(excluding  amortization  expense  attributable  to a prepaid cash item that was
paid in a prior  period) and (d) all other  non-cash  charges of the Company and
its consolidated  Restricted Subsidiaries (excluding any such non-cash charge to
the extent that it represents an accrual of or reserve for cash  expenditures in
any future period), in each case for such period. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
the provision for taxes based on the income or profits of, and the  depreciation
and amortization and non-cash charges of, a

<PAGE>
                                                                              10


Restricted  Subsidiary  shall be added to  Consolidated  Net  Income to  compute
EBITDA  only to the extent (and in the same  proportion)  that the net income of
such Restricted  Subsidiary was included in calculating  Consolidated Net Income
and  only  if  a  corresponding  amount  would  be  permitted  at  the  date  of
determination  to be  dividended  to the Company by such  Restricted  Subsidiary
without prior  approval (that has not been  obtained),  pursuant to the terms of
its  charter  and  all  agreements,  instruments,  judgments,  decrees,  orders,
statutes,  rules and  governmental  regulations  applicable  to such  Restricted
Subsidiary or its stockholders.

                  "Excess  Cash Flow"  means,  for any period,  the sum (without
duplication)  of the following with respect to the Company and its  consolidated
Subsidiaries:

                  (a) the Consolidated Net Income for such period; PLUS

                  (b) the depreciation,  amortization and other non-cash charges
         or losses deducted in determining the  Consolidated Net Income for such
         period; PLUS

                  (c) the amount, if any, by which Net Working Capital decreased
         during such period; PLUS

                  (d) Net  Available  Cash from Asset  Dispositions  received in
         such period to the extent not  included in  Consolidated  Net Income in
         such period; PLUS

                  (e)  the   aggregate   principal   amount  of  Capital   Lease
         Obligations  and other  Indebtedness  Incurred  during  such  period to
         finance Capital  Expenditures,  to the extent that mandatory  principal
         payments in respect of such  Indebtedness  would not be  excluded  from
         clause (i) below when made; MINUS

                  (f) any non-cash gains  included in  determining  Consolidated
         Net Income for such period; MINUS

                  (g) the amount, if any, by which Net Working Capital increased
         during such period; MINUS

                  (h) Capital Expenditures for such period; MINUS

                  (i) the aggregate  principal amount of Indebtedness  repaid or
         prepaid by the Company and its  consolidated  Subsidiaries  during such
         period,  excluding (i)  Indebtedness in respect of any Revolving Credit
         Facility,  (ii)  Securities  prepaid  pursuant to Section


<PAGE>
                                                                              11


         4.05, (iii) Indebtedness  Refinanced with Refinancing  Indebtedness and
         (iv)  Indebtedness  referred  to in  clauses  (7)  and  (8) of  Section
         4.03(b); MINUS

                  (j) the aggregate  cash used by the Company and its Restricted
         Subsidiaries to acquire Additional Assets and not otherwise included in
         clause (h) above.

                  "Exchange Act" means the  Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended.

                  "GAAP" means generally accepted  accounting  principles in the
United States of America as in effect as of the Issue Date,  including those set
forth in (i) the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting  Principles Board
of the American Institute of Certified Public  Accountants,  (ii) statements and
pronouncements  of the Financial  Accounting  Standards Board,  (iii) such other
statements  by such other  entity as  approved by a  significant  segment of the
accounting  profession  and (iv) the rules and  regulations of the SEC governing
the inclusion of financial statements (including pro forma financial statements)
in periodic  reports required to be filed pursuant to Section 13 of the Exchange
Act,  including  opinions and  pronouncements in staff accounting  bulletins and
similar written statements from the accounting staff of the SEC.

                  "Guarantee" means any obligation,  contingent or otherwise, of
any Person directly or indirectly  guaranteeing  any  Indebtedness of any Person
and any obligation,  direct or indirect, contingent or otherwise, of such Person
(i) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply  funds for the  purchase or payment
of) such  Indebtedness or other  obligation of such Person  (whether  arising by
virtue of partnership  arrangements,  or by agreements to keep-well, to purchase
assets,  goods,  securities or services, to take-or-pay or to maintain financial
statement  conditions  or  otherwise)  or (ii)  entered  into for the purpose of
assuring  in any other  manner the obligee of such  Indebtedness  of the payment
thereof or to protect such obligee  against loss in respect thereof (in whole or
in  part);  PROVIDED,  HOWEVER,  that the term  "Guarantee"  shall  not  include
endorsements  for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business.  The
term  "Guarantee"  used  as  a  verb  has  a  corresponding  meaning.  The  term
"Guarantor" shall mean any Person Guaranteeing any obligation.

                  "Hedging  Obligations"  of any Person means the obligations of
such Person pursuant to any Interest Rate Agreement or Currency Agreement.


<PAGE>
                                                                              12


                  "Holder" or "Securityholder"  means the Person in whose name a
Security is registered on the Registrar's books.

                  "Incur"  means issue,  assume,  Guarantee,  incur or otherwise
become liable for; PROVIDED,  HOWEVER, that any Indebtedness or Capital Stock of
a Person  existing  at the time such  Person  becomes a  Subsidiary  (whether by
merger, consolidation,  acquisition or otherwise) shall be deemed to be Incurred
by such  Subsidiary at the time it becomes a Subsidiary.  The term  "Incurrence"
when used as a noun shall have a correlative meaning. The accretion of principal
of a  non-interest  bearing or other  discount  security shall not be deemed the
Incurrence of Indebtedness.

                  "Indebtedness"  means,  with respect to any Person on any date
of determination (without duplication):

                  (i) the  principal  in  respect  of (A)  indebtedness  of such
         Person for money  borrowed  and (B)  indebtedness  evidenced  by notes,
         debentures, bonds or other similar instruments for the payment of which
         such Person is  responsible  or liable,  including,  in each case,  any
         premium on such  indebtedness to the extent such premium has become due
         and payable;

                  (ii) all  Capital  Lease  Obligations  of such  Person and all
         Attributable  Debt in respect of  Sale/Leaseback  Transactions  entered
         into by such Person;

                  (iii) all  obligations of such Person issued or assumed as the
         deferred  purchase price of property,  all conditional sale obligations
         of such  Person  and all  obligations  of such  Person  under any title
         retention  agreement (but excluding  trade accounts  payable arising in
         the ordinary course of business);

                  (iv) all obligations of such Person for the  reimbursement  of
         any  obligor on any letter of credit,  banker's  acceptance  or similar
         credit  transaction  (other than obligations with respect to letters of
         credit  securing  obligations  (other  than  obligations  described  in
         clauses (i) through (iii) above) entered into in the ordinary course of
         business of such  Person to the extent  such  letters of credit are not
         drawn  upon or,  if and to the  extent  drawn  upon,  such  drawing  is
         reimbursed no later than the tenth  Business Day  following  payment on
         the letter of credit);


<PAGE>
                                                                              13

                  (v) the amount of all  obligations of such Person with respect
         to the redemption,  repayment or other  repurchase of any  Disqualified
         Stock  or,  with  respect  to  any  Subsidiary  of  such  Person,   the
         liquidation  preference  with  respect  to,  any  Preferred  Stock (but
         excluding, in each case, any accrued dividends);

                  (vi) all  obligations  of the type  referred to in clauses (i)
         through (v) of other Persons and all dividends of other Persons for the
         payment of which, in either case, such Person is responsible or liable,
         directly or indirectly, as obligor,  guarantor or otherwise,  including
         by means of any Guarantee;

                  (vii) all  obligations  of the type referred to in clauses (i)
         through  (vi) of other  Persons  secured by any Lien on any property or
         asset of such Person (whether or not such obligation is assumed by such
         Person), the amount of such obligation being deemed to be the lesser of
         the value of such property or assets or the amount of the obligation so
         secured; and

                  (viii)  to  the  extent  not   otherwise   included   in  this
         definition, Hedging Obligations of such Person.

The amount of  Indebtedness  of any Person at any date shall be the  outstanding
balance at such date of all unconditional obligations as described above and the
maximum  liability,  upon the occurrence of the  contingency  giving rise to the
obligation, of any contingent obligations at such date.

                  "Indenture"  means this  Indenture as amended or  supplemented
from time to time.

                "Interest  Rate  Agreement"  means in  respect of a Person any
interest rate swap  agreement,  interest  rate cap agreement or other  financial
agreement or arrangement designed to protect such Person against fluctuations in
interest rates.

                  "Investment"  in any  Person  means  any  direct  or  indirect
advance,  loan  (other than  advances to  customers  in the  ordinary  course of
business  that are recorded as accounts  receivable  on the balance sheet of the
lender) or other extensions of credit  (including by way of Guarantee or similar
arrangement)  or capital  contribution  to (by means of any  transfer of cash or
other property to others or any payment for property or services for the account
or use of others), or any purchase or acquisition of Capital Stock, Indebtedness
or  other  similar  instruments  issued  by such


<PAGE>
                                                                              14


Person.  For  purposes  of the  definition  of  "Unrestricted  Subsidiary",  the
definition of  "Restricted  Payment" and Section 4.04,  (i)  "Investment"  shall
include the portion  (proportionate  to the  Company's  equity  interest in such
Subsidiary)  of the fair market value of the net assets of any Subsidiary of the
Company  at  the  time  that  such  Subsidiary  is  designated  an  Unrestricted
Subsidiary; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that upon a redesignation of such Subsidiary as a
Restricted  Subsidiary,  the  Company  shall be  deemed  to  continue  to have a
permanent  "Investment"  in an  Unrestricted  Subsidiary  equal to an amount (if
positive) equal to (x) the Company's "Investment" in such Subsidiary at the time
of such  redesignation  less (y) the  portion  (proportionate  to the  Company's
equity  interest in such  Subsidiary) of the fair market value of the net assets
of such  Subsidiary  at the time of such  redesignation;  and (ii) any  property
transferred to or from an  Unrestricted  Subsidiary  shall be valued at its fair
market value at the time of such  transfer,  in each case as  determined in good
faith by the Board of Directors.

                  "Issue  Date"  means  the date on  which  the  Securities  are
originally issued.

                  "Lien"  means  any  mortgage,   pledge,   security   interest,
encumbrance, lien or charge of any kind (including any conditional sale or other
title retention agreement or lease in the nature thereof).

                  "Net  Available  Cash"  from an Asset  Disposition  means cash
payments  received  therefrom  (including  any cash payments  received by way of
deferred  payment of principal  pursuant to a note or installment  receivable or
otherwise  and proceeds  from the sale or other  disposition  of any  securities
received as  consideration,  but only as and when  received,  but  excluding any
other  consideration  received in the form of assumption by the acquiring Person
of  Indebtedness or other  obligations  relating to such properties or assets or
received in any other noncash  form),  in each case net of (i) all legal,  title
and recording tax expenses,  commissions  and other fees and expenses  incurred,
and all  Federal,  state,  provincial,  foreign and local  taxes  required to be
accrued as a liability  under GAAP, as a consequence of such Asset  Disposition,
(ii) all  payments  made on any  Indebtedness  which is  secured  by any  assets
subject to such Asset Disposition, in accordance with the terms of any Lien upon
or other  security  agreement of any kind with respect to such assets,  or which
must by its  terms,  or in order to obtain a  necessary  consent  to such  Asset
Disposition, or by applicable law, be repaid out of


<PAGE>
                                                                              15


the proceeds  from such Asset  Disposition,  (iii) all  distributions  and other
payments  required  to be  made  to  minority  interest  holders  in  Restricted
Subsidiaries  as a result of such Asset  Disposition  and (iv) the  deduction of
appropriate  amounts  provided by the seller as a reserve,  in  accordance  with
GAAP,  against any  liabilities  associated  with the  property or other  assets
disposed in such Asset Disposition and retained by the Company or any Restricted
Subsidiary after such Asset Disposition.

                  "Net Cash Proceeds" means with respect to any issuance or sale
of Capital  Stock,  the cash proceeds of such issuance or sale net of attorneys'
fees,  accountants' fees,  underwriters' or placement agents' fees, discounts or
commissions  and  brokerage,  consultant  and other fees  actually  incurred  in
connection  with such  issuance  or sale and net of taxes  paid or  payable as a
result thereof.

                  "Net Working Capital" means, at any date, (a) the consolidated
current assets of the Company and its consolidated  Subsidiaries as of such date
(excluding cash and Permitted  Investments)  minus (b) the consolidated  current
liabilities  of the Company and its  consolidated  Subsidiaries  as of such date
(excluding current liabilities in respect of Indebtedness).  Net Working Capital
at any date may be a positive or negative number.  Net Working Capital increases
when it becomes more  positive or less  negative and  decreases  when it becomes
less positive or more negative.

                  "Officer" means the Chairman of the Board, the President,  any
Vice President, the Treasurer or the Secretary of the Company.

                  "Officers'  Certificate"  means a  certificate  signed  by two
Officers.

                  "Opinion  of  Counsel"  means a  written  opinion  from  legal
counsel who is acceptable  to the Trustee.  The counsel may be an employee of or
counsel to the Company.

                  "Permitted Asset  Disposition"  means any Asset Disposition of
all or any part of the Company's  Halotron business or environmental  protection
equipment business.

                  "Permitted  Investment"  means an Investment by the Company or
any  Restricted  Subsidiary  in (i) the Company,  a Restricted  Subsidiary  or a
Person  that  will,  upon the  making of such  Investment,  become a  Restricted
Subsidiary;  provided,  however,  that the primary  business of such



<PAGE>
                                                                              16

Restricted Subsidiary is a Related Business;  (ii) another Person if as a result
of such Investment such other Person is merged or consolidated  with or into, or
transfers  or conveys all or  substantially  all its assets to, the Company or a
Restricted Subsidiary; provided, however, that such Person's primary business is
a Related Business; (iii) Temporary Cash Investments;  (iv) receivables owing to
the Company or any Restricted  Subsidiary if created or acquired in the ordinary
course of business and payable or  dischargeable  in accordance  with  customary
trade  terms;  PROVIDED,  HOWEVER,  that  such  trade  terms  may  include  such
concessionary trade terms as the Company or any such Restricted Subsidiary deems
reasonable under the circumstances;  (v) payroll, travel and similar advances to
cover  matters that are expected at the time of such  advances  ultimately to be
treated as expenses  for  accounting  purposes and that are made in the ordinary
course of  business;  (vi) loans or advances to  employees  made in the ordinary
course  of  business  consistent  with past  practices  of the  Company  or such
Restricted  Subsidiary;  (vii)  stock,  obligations  or  securities  received in
settlement of debts created in the ordinary  course of business and owing to the
Company or any Restricted Subsidiary or in satisfaction of judgments; (viii) any
Person to the extent such  Investment  represents  the  non-cash  portion of the
consideration received for an Asset Disposition as permitted pursuant to Section
4.07; (ix) Investments  existing on the Issue Date; (x) a joint venture of which
the Company or any Wholly Owned Subsidiary owns at least 50% of the economic and
voting interest;  PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that (A) such Investment consists solely of
a capital  contribution  of real  property at the Gibson  Business Park near Las
Vegas, Nevada, (B) the constitutive  documents of such joint venture prohibit it
from having  outstanding at any time  Indebtedness in excess of $5.0 million and
(C) at the time of the Investment,  the Consolidated  Coverage Ratio exceeds 2.0
to 1; and (xi)  Investments  in the Real Estate Joint Venture other than capital
contributions of real property made prior to the Issue Date; PROVIDED,  HOWEVER,
that the aggregate amount of all such  Investments  pursuant to this clause (xi)
shall not exceed $4.1 million  (including any such  Investments  existing on the
Issue Date).

                  "Permitted  Liens"  means,  with  respect to any  Person,  (a)
pledges  or  deposits  by  such  Person  under   worker's   compensation   laws,
unemployment  insurance laws or similar  legislation,  or good faith deposits in
connection  with  bids,  tenders,  contracts  (other  than  for the  payment  of
Indebtedness)  or leases to which such Person is a party,  or deposits to secure
public or  statutory  obligations  of such

<PAGE>
                                                                              17


Person or deposits of cash or United States government bonds to secure surety or
appeal  bonds to which such  Person is a party,  or  deposits  as  security  for
contested  taxes or  import  duties  or for the  payment  of rent,  in each case
Incurred in the ordinary  course of business;  (b) Liens imposed by law, such as
carriers',  warehousemen's  and mechanics'  Liens, in each case for sums not yet
due or being  contested in good faith by appropriate  proceedings or other Liens
arising out of  judgments  or awards  against  such Person with respect to which
such Person shall then be  proceeding  with an appeal or other  proceedings  for
review; (c) Liens for taxes, assessments, government charges and claims, in each
case not yet subject to penalties for  non-payment or which are being  contested
in good faith and by appropriate  proceedings;  (d) Liens in favor of issuers of
surety bonds or letters of credit issued  pursuant to the request of and for the
account  of such  Person  in the  ordinary  course  of its  business;  PROVIDED,
HOWEVER, that such letters of credit do not constitute  Indebtedness;  (e) minor
survey exceptions,  minor encumbrances,  easements or reservations of, or rights
of others for, licenses,  rights-of-way,  sewers,  electric lines, telegraph and
telephone lines and other similar purposes,  or zoning or other  restrictions as
to the use of real  property or Liens  incidental to the conduct of the business
of such Person or to the ownership of its properties  which were not Incurred in
connection  with  Indebtedness  and  which  do not in the  aggregate  materially
adversely affect the value of said properties or materially  impair their use in
the operation of the business of such Person;  (f) Liens  securing  Indebtedness
Incurred  to  finance  the  construction,  purchase  or lease  of,  or  repairs,
improvements or additions to, property of such Person;  PROVIDED,  HOWEVER, that
the Lien may not extend to any other property owned by such Person or any of its
Subsidiaries at the time the Lien is Incurred,  and the Indebtedness (other than
any interest thereon) secured by the Lien may not be Incurred more than 180 days
after  the  later  of  the  acquisition,  completion  of  construction,  repair,
improvement,  addition or commencement of full operation of the property subject
to the Lien; (g) Liens on inventory,  receivables and proceeds thereof to secure
Indebtedness  permitted  under clause (b)(1) of Section 4.03; (h) Liens existing
on the Issue Date;  (i) Liens on property or shares of Capital  Stock of another
Person at the time  such  other  Person  becomes a  Subsidiary  of such  Person;
PROVIDED,  HOWEVER,  that such  Liens are not  created,  incurred  or assumed in
connection  with,  or in  contemplation  of, such other Person  becoming  such a
Subsidiary;  PROVIDED  FURTHER,  HOWEVER,  that such Lien may not  extend to any
other  property  owned by such Person or any of its  Subsidiaries;  (j) Liens on
property  at the  time  such

<PAGE>
                                                                              18

Person  or  any  of  its  Subsidiaries  acquires  the  property,  including  any
acquisition by means of a merger or consolidation  with or into such Person or a
Subsidiary of such Person;  PROVIDED,  HOWEVER, that such Liens are not created,
incurred  or  assumed  in  connection  with,  or  in   contemplation   of,  such
acquisition;  PROVIDED  FURTHER,  HOWEVER,  that the Liens may not extend to any
other  property  owned by such  Person  or any of its  Subsidiaries;  (k)  Liens
securing  Indebtedness or other obligations of a Subsidiary of such Person owing
to such Person or a wholly owned  Subsidiary of such Person;  (l) Liens securing
Hedging  Obligations so long as such Hedging  Obligations relate to Indebtedness
that is, and is permitted to be under this  Indenture,  secured by a Lien on the
same  property  securing such Hedging  Obligations;  and (m) Liens to secure any
Refinancing  (or  successive  Refinancings)  as a  whole,  or in  part,  of  any
Indebtedness  secured by any Lien referred to in the foregoing clauses (f), (h),
(i) and (j); PROVIDED,  HOWEVER,  that (x) such new Lien shall be limited to all
or part of the same property  that secured the original Lien (plus  improvements
to or on such  property) and (y) the  Indebtedness  secured by such Lien at such
time is not increased to any amount greater than the sum of (A) the  outstanding
principal amount or, if greater,  committed amount of the Indebtedness described
under  clauses  (f),  (h),  (i) or (j) at the time the  original  Lien  became a
Permitted  Lien  and (B) an  amount  necessary  to pay any  fees  and  expenses,
including premiums, related to such refinancing,  refunding,  extension, renewal
or  replacement.  Notwithstanding  the  foregoing,  "Permitted  Liens"  will not
include any Lien  described  in clauses (f), (i) or (j) above to the extent such
Lien applies to any Additional  Assets acquired  directly or indirectly from Net
Available  Cash pursuant to Section 4.07. For purposes of this  definition,  the
term "Indebtedness" shall be deemed to include interest on such Indebtedness.

                  "Person"  means  any  individual,  corporation,   partnership,
limited liability  company,  joint venture,  association,  joint-stock  company,
trust,  unincorporated  organization,  government  or any  agency  or  political
subdivision thereof or any other entity.

                  "Preferred  Stock",  as  applied to the  Capital  Stock of any
Person,  means Capital Stock of any class or classes (however  designated) which
is  preferred  as to the payment of  dividends  or  distributions,  or as to the
distribution  of  assets  upon  any  voluntary  or  involuntary  liquidation  or
dissolution  of such Person,  over shares of Capital Stock of any other class of
such Person.


<PAGE>
                                                                              19

                  "principal"  of a Security means the principal of the Security
plus the premium,  if any, payable on the Security which is due or overdue or is
to become due at the relevant time.

                  "Real Estate Joint Venture" means the Company's  joint venture
existing on the Issue Date in  connection  with the Ventana  Canyon  residential
project (in Clark County, Nevada).

                  "Refinance"   means,  in  respect  of  any  Indebtedness,   to
refinance,  extend, renew, refund, repay, prepay,  redeem, defease or retire, or
to issue other  Indebtedness in exchange or replacement for, such  indebtedness.
"Refinanced" and "Refinancing" shall have correlative meanings.

                  "Refinancing  Indebtedness" means Indebtedness that Refinances
any  Indebtedness  of the Company or any Restricted  Subsidiary  existing on the
Issue Date or Incurred in compliance with this Indenture, including Indebtedness
that  Refinances  Refinancing  Indebtedness;  PROVIDED,  HOWEVER,  that (i) such
Refinancing  Indebtedness  has a Stated  Maturity  no  earlier  than the  Stated
Maturity  of  the   Indebtedness   being   Refinanced,   (ii)  such  Refinancing
Indebtedness  has an Average Life at the time such  Refinancing  Indebtedness is
Incurred  that is equal to or greater than the Average Life of the  Indebtedness
being  Refinanced  and (iii)  such  Refinancing  Indebtedness  has an  aggregate
principal  amount (or if Incurred with  original  issue  discount,  an aggregate
issue price) that is equal to or less than the aggregate principal amount (or if
Incurred with  original  issue  discount,  the  aggregate  accreted  value) then
outstanding  or committed  (plus fees and  expenses,  including  any premium and
defeasance  costs) under the Indebtedness  being  Refinanced;  PROVIDED FURTHER,
HOWEVER,  that Refinancing  Indebtedness shall not include (x) Indebtedness of a
Subsidiary  that Refinances  Indebtedness of the Company or (y)  Indebtedness of
the  Company or a  Restricted  Subsidiary  that  Refinances  Indebtedness  of an
Unrestricted Subsidiary.

                  "Registration  Rights Agreement" means the Registration Rights
Agreement  dated as of March 12,  1998,  between the  Company and Credit  Suisse
First Boston Corporation.

                  "Related  Business" means any business  related,  ancillary or
complementary  to the businesses (not including the real estate business) of the
Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries on the Issue Date.


<PAGE>
                                                                              20


                  "Restricted  Payment" with respect to any Person means (i) the
declaration or payment of any dividends or any other  distributions  of any sort
in respect of its Capital Stock  (including  any payment in connection  with any
merger or consolidation  involving such Person) or similar payment to the direct
or indirect  holders of its Capital Stock (other than dividends or distributions
payable  solely  in its  Capital  Stock  (other  than  Disqualified  Stock)  and
dividends  or  distributions  payable  solely  to the  Company  or a  Restricted
Subsidiary,  and other than pro rata dividends or other  distributions made by a
Subsidiary that is not a Wholly Owned  Subsidiary to minority  stockholders  (or
owners of an equivalent  interest in the case of a Subsidiary  that is an entity
other than a corporation)),  (ii) the purchase,  redemption or other acquisition
or  retirement  for value of any Capital Stock of the Company held by any Person
or of any Capital Stock of a Restricted  Subsidiary held by any Affiliate of the
Company  (other than a  Restricted  Subsidiary),  including  the exercise of any
option to exchange  any Capital  Stock  (other  than into  Capital  Stock of the
Company  that  is not  Disqualified  Stock),  (iii)  the  purchase,  repurchase,
redemption,  defeasance or other  acquisition or retirement for value,  prior to
scheduled maturity, scheduled repayment or scheduled sinking fund payment of any
Subordinated   Obligations  (other  than  the  purchase,   repurchase  or  other
acquisition of Subordinated  Obligations purchased in anticipation of satisfying
a sinking fund obligation, principal installment or final maturity, in each case
due  within  one year of the date of  acquisition)  or (iv)  the  making  of any
Investment in any Person (other than a Permitted Investment).

                  "Restricted  Subsidiary"  means any  Subsidiary of the Company
that is not an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

                  "Revolving   Credit   Facility"  means  any  revolving  credit
facility available to the Company from time to time.

                  "Sale/Leaseback  Transaction" means an arrangement relating to
property  now owned or  hereafter  acquired  whereby the Company or a Restricted
Subsidiary  transfers  such property to a Person and the Company or a Restricted
Subsidiary leases it from such Person.

                  "SEC" means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

                  "Securities" means the Securities issued under this Indenture.
<PAGE>
                                                                              21


                  "Senior  Indebtedness"  means (i) Indebtedness of the Company,
whether outstanding on the Issue Date or thereafter  Incurred,  and (ii) accrued
and unpaid interest  (including  interest accruing on or after the filing of any
petition  in  bankruptcy  or for  reorganization  relating to the Company to the
extent  post-filing  interest is allowed in such  proceeding)  in respect of (A)
indebtedness of the Company for money borrowed and (B) indebtedness evidenced by
notes,  debentures,  bonds or other similar instruments for the payment of which
the Company is responsible or liable unless, in the case of (i) and (ii), in the
instrument  creating  or  evidencing  the same or  pursuant to which the same is
outstanding,  it is provided that such  obligations  are subordinate in right of
payment to the Securities; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that Senior Indebtedness shall not
include (1) any obligation of the Company to any  Subsidiary,  (2) any liability
for Federal,  state, local or other taxes owed or owing by the Company,  (3) any
accounts  payable or other liability to trade creditors  arising in the ordinary
course of business (including guarantees thereof or instruments  evidencing such
liabilities),  (4) any  Indebtedness  of the Company (and any accrued and unpaid
interest in respect  thereof)  which is  subordinate or junior in any respect to
any other Indebtedness or other obligation of the Company or (5) that portion of
any  Indebtedness  which at the time of  Incurrence  is Incurred in violation of
this Indenture.

                  "Significant  Subsidiary" means any Restricted Subsidiary that
would be a  "Significant  Subsidiary"  of the Company within the meaning of Rule
1-02 under Regulation S-X promulgated by the SEC.

                  "Stated  Maturity"  means,  with respect to any security,  the
date  specified in such security as the fixed date on which the final payment of
principal  of  such  security  is due and  payable,  including  pursuant  to any
mandatory  redemption  provision (but excluding any provision  providing for the
repurchase  of such  security  at the  option  of the  holder  thereof  upon the
happening of any contingency unless such contingency has occurred).

                  "Subordinated   Obligation"  means  any  Indebtedness  of  the
Company (whether  outstanding on the Issue Date or thereafter Incurred) which is
subordinate  or junior  in right of  payment  to the  Securities  pursuant  to a
written agreement to that effect.

                  "Subsidiary" means, in respect of any Person, any corporation,
association,  partnership or other business



<PAGE>
                                                                              22


entity of which  more than 50% of the total  voting  power of shares of  Capital
Stock or other interests  (including  partnership  interests)  entitled (without
regard  to the  occurrence  of any  contingency)  to  vote  in the  election  of
directors,  managers  or  trustees  thereof is at the time owned or  controlled,
directly or  indirectly,  by (i) such  Person,  (ii) such Person and one or more
Subsidiaries of such Person or (iii) one or more Subsidiaries of such Person.

                  "Temporary Cash Investments" means any of the following:

                  (i) any investment in direct  obligations of the United States
         of America  or any agency  thereof  or  obligations  guaranteed  by the
         United States of America or any agency thereof,

                  (ii)  investments in time deposit  accounts,  certificates  of
         deposit and money market deposits  maturing within 180 days of the date
         of  acquisition  thereof  issued  by a bank or trust  company  which is
         organized  under the laws of the United  States of  America,  any state
         thereof or any foreign  country  recognized by the United  States,  and
         which bank or trust company has capital,  surplus and undivided profits
         aggregating  in  excess  of  $50,000,000   (or  the  foreign   currency
         equivalent  thereof)  and has  outstanding  debt which is rated "A" (or
         such similar  equivalent  rating) or higher by at least one  nationally
         recognized  statistical  rating  organization  (as  defined in Rule 436
         under the  Securities  Act) or any  money-market  fund  sponsored  by a
         registered broker dealer or mutual fund distributor,

                  (iii)  repurchase  obligations with a term of not more than 30
         days for  underlying  securities  of the types  described in clause (i)
         above entered into with a bank meeting the qualifications  described in
         clause (ii) above,

                  (iv) investments in commercial  paper,  maturing not more than
         90 days after the date of acquisition,  issued by a corporation  (other
         than an Affiliate of the Company)  organized and in existence under the
         laws of the United States of America or any foreign country  recognized
         by the United  States of America  with a rating at the time as of which
         any  investment  therein  is made of "P-1"  (or  higher)  according  to
         Moody's  Investors  Service,  Inc.  or "A-1" (or higher)  according  to
         Standard and Poor's Ratings Group, and
<PAGE>
                                                                              23


                  (v) investments in securities with maturities of six months or
         less from the date of  acquisition  issued or fully  guaranteed  by any
         state, commonwealth or territory of the United States of America, or by
         any political  subdivision or taxing  authority  thereof,  and rated at
         least  "A" by  Standard  &  Poor's  Ratings  Group  or  "A" by  Moody's
         Investors Service, Inc.

                  "TIA"  means  the  Trust  Indenture  Act of  1939  (15  U.S.C.
SectionSection 77aaa-77bbbb) as in effect on the date of this Indenture.

                  "Trustee"  means  the  party  named as such in this  Indenture
until a successor replaces it and, thereafter, means the successor.

                  "Trust Officer" means the Chairman of the Board, the President
or any other officer or assistant officer of the Trustee assigned by the Trustee
to administer its corporate trust matters.

                  "Uniform   Commercial   Code"  means  the  New  York   Uniform
Commercial Code as in effect from time to time.

                  "Unrestricted  Subsidiary"  means  (i) any  Subsidiary  of the
Company that at the time of  determination  shall be designated an  Unrestricted
Subsidiary by the Board of Directors in the manner  provided  below and (ii) any
Subsidiary of an Unrestricted  Subsidiary.  The Board of Directors may designate
any  Subsidiary  of the Company  (including  any newly  acquired or newly formed
Subsidiary) to be an  Unrestricted  Subsidiary  unless such Subsidiary or any of
its Subsidiaries owns any Capital Stock or Indebtedness of, or holds any Lien on
any property of, the Company or any other  Subsidiary of the Company that is not
a Subsidiary of the  Subsidiary to be so  designated;  provided,  however,  that
either (A) the Subsidiary to be so designated has total assets of $1,000 or less
or (B) if such Subsidiary has assets greater than $1,000, such designation would
be permitted  under  Section  4.04.  The Board of Directors  may  designate  any
Unrestricted Subsidiary to be a Restricted Subsidiary;  provided,  however, that
immediately  after giving effect to such designation (x) the Company could Incur
$1.00 of additional  Indebtedness under Section 4.03(a) and (y) no Default shall
have occurred and be continuing.  Any such designation by the Board of Directors
shall be evidenced to the Trustee by promptly  filing with the Trustee a copy of
the resolution of the Board of Directors  giving effect to such  designation and
an Officers' Certificate certifying

<PAGE>
                                                                              24


that such designation complied with the foregoing provisions.

                  "U.S.  Government  Obligations"  means direct  obligations (or
certificates  representing  an ownership  interest in such  obligations)  of the
United States of America (including any agency or  instrumentality  thereof) for
the  payment of which the full faith and credit of the United  States of America
is pledged and which are not callable at the issuer's option.

                  "Voting  Stock" of a Person means all classes of Capital Stock
or  other  interests  (including  partnership  interests)  of such  Person  then
outstanding  and normally  entitled  (without  regard to the  occurrence  of any
contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees thereof.

                  "Warrants"  means the Company's  warrants  outstanding  on the
Issue Date originally issued to purchasers of the Azide Notes.

                  "Wholly Owned  Subsidiary"  means a Restricted  Subsidiary all
the Capital Stock of which (other than directors' qualifying shares) is owned by
the Company or one or more Wholly Owned Subsidiaries.

                  SECTION 1.02.  OTHER DEFINITIONS.

                                                                    DEFINED IN
                TERM                                                  SECTION

         "Affiliate Transaction".........................................4.08
         "Bankruptcy Law"................................................6.01
         "covenant defeasance option"....................................8.01(b)
         "Change of Control Offer".......................................4.10(b)
         "Custodian".....................................................6.01
         "Event of Default"..............................................6.01
         "Excess Cash Offer Price".......................................4.05
         "Excess Cash Purchase Offer"....................................4.05
         "legal defeasance option".......................................8.01(b)
         "Legal Holiday"................................................10.08
         "Offer".........................................................4.07(b)
         "Offer Amount"..................................................4.07(c)
         "Offer Period"..................................................4.07(c)
         "Paying Agent"..................................................2.03
         "Purchase Date".................................................4.07(c)
         "Registrar".....................................................2.03
         "Successor Company".............................................5.01

<PAGE>
                                                                              25


                SECTION 1.03.  INCORPORATION  BY REFERENCE OF TRUST  INDENTURE
ACT. This Indenture is subject to the mandatory  provisions of the TIA which are
incorporated  by reference in and made a part of this  Indenture.  The following
TIA terms have the following meanings:

                  "Commission" means the SEC;

                  "indenture securities" means the Securities;

                  "indenture security holder" means a Securityholder;

                  "indenture to be qualified" means this Indenture;

                  "indenture  trustee"  or  "institutional  trustee"  means  the
Trustee; and

                  "obligor" on the  indenture  securities  means the Company and
any other obligor on the indenture securities.

                  All other TIA terms used in this Indenture that are defined by
the TIA, defined by TIA reference to another statute or defined by SEC rule have
the meanings assigned to them by such definitions.

                  SECTION  1.04.  RULES  OF  CONSTRUCTION.  Unless  the  context
otherwise requires:

                  (1) a term has the meaning assigned to it;

                  (2) an accounting  term not otherwise  defined has the meaning
         assigned to it in accordance with GAAP;

                  (3) "or" is not exclusive;

                  (4) "including" means including without limitation;

                  (5) words in the singular  include the plural and words in the
         plural include the singular;

                  (6)  unsecured   Indebtedness   shall  not  be  deemed  to  be
         subordinate or junior to Secured  Indebtedness  merely by virtue of its
         nature as unsecured Indebtedness;

                  (7) the principal  amount of any noninterest  bearing or other
         discount  security at any date shall be the  principal  amount  thereof
         that would be shown on a


<PAGE>
                                                                              26


         balance sheet of the issuer dated such date prepared in accordance with
         GAAP;

                  (8) the principal  amount of any Preferred  Stock shall be (i)
         the  maximum  liquidation  value  of such  Preferred  Stock or (ii) the
         maximum mandatory redemption or mandatory repurchase price with respect
         to such Preferred Stock, whichever is greater;

                  (9) all references to the date the Securities  were originally
         issued shall refer to the date the Initial  Securities  were originally
         issued.

                                    ARTICLE 2

                                 THE SECURITIES

                  SECTION  2.01.  FORM AND  DATING.  Provisions  relating to the
Initial Securities,  the Private Exchange Securities and the Exchange Securities
are set  forth in the Rule  144A/Regulation  S  Appendix  attached  hereto  (the
"Appendix")  which is hereby  incorporated  in and  expressly  made part of this
Indenture.   The  Initial   Securities   and  the   Trustee's   certificate   of
authentication  shall be  substantially in the form of Exhibit 1 to the Appendix
which is hereby incorporated in and expressly made a part of this Indenture. The
Exchange   Securities,   the  Private  Exchange  Securities  and  the  Trustee's
certificate of  authentication  shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A,
which is hereby incorporated in and expressly made a part of this Indenture. The
Securities may have notations,  legends or  endorsements  required by law, stock
exchange  rule,  agreements  to which the Company is  subject,  if any, or usage
(provided that any such notation,  legend or endorsement is in a form acceptable
to the Company).  Each Security  shall be dated the date of its  authentication.
The terms of the  Securities set forth in the Appendix and Exhibit A are part of
the terms of this Indenture.

                  SECTION 2.02. EXECUTION AND AUTHENTICATION. Two Officers shall
sign the  Securities  for the  Company  by manual or  facsimile  signature.  The
Company's  seal shall be  impressed,  affixed,  imprinted or  reproduced  on the
Securities and may be in facsimile form.

                  If an Officer whose signature is on a Security no longer holds
that office at the time the Trustee  authenti-

<PAGE>
                                                                              27

cates the Security, the Security shall be valid nevertheless.

                  A Security shall not be valid until an authorized signatory of
the Trustee  manually signs the certificate of  authentication  on the Security.
The  signature  shall  be  conclusive   evidence  that  the  Security  has  been
authenticated under this Indenture.

                  The Trustee  shall  authenticate  and deliver  Securities  for
original issue in an aggregate  principal amount of $75,000,000,  upon a written
order of the  Company  signed by two  Officers  or by an  Officer  and either an
Assistant Treasurer or an Assistant  Secretary of the Company.  Such order shall
specify the amount of the Securities to be  authenticated  and the date on which
the original issue of Securities is to be authenticated. The aggregate principal
amount of Securities  outstanding  at any time may not exceed that amount except
as provided in Section 2.07.

                  The  Trustee may appoint an  authenticating  agent  reasonably
acceptable to the Company to authenticate the Securities.  Unless limited by the
terms of such appointment,  an authenticating agent may authenticate  Securities
whenever  the  Trustee  may  do  so.  Each   reference  in  this   Indenture  to
authentication  by  the  Trustee  includes  authentication  by  such  agent.  An
authenticating agent has the same rights as any Registrar, Paying Agent or agent
for service of notices and demands.

                  SECTION 2.03.  REGISTRAR  AND PAYING AGENT.  The Company shall
maintain an office or agency where  Securities may be presented for registration
of transfer or for  exchange  (the  "Registrar")  and an office or agency  where
Securities  may be presented  for payment (the "Paying  Agent").  The  Registrar
shall keep a register of the Securities and of their transfer and exchange.  The
Company may have one or more  co-registrars  and one or more  additional  paying
agents. The term "Paying Agent" includes any additional paying agent.

                  The Company shall enter into an appropriate  agency  agreement
with any Registrar,  Paying Agent or co-registrar not a party to this Indenture,
which shall  incorporate the terms of the TIA. The agreement shall implement the
provisions of this Indenture that relate to such agent. The Company shall notify
the Trustee of the name and address of any such agent.  If the Company  fails to
maintain a Registrar or Paying Agent, the Trustee shall act as such and shall be
entitled to  appropriate  compensation  therefor




<PAGE>
                                                                              28


pursuant to Section 7.07.  The Company or any of its  domestically  incorporated
Wholly Owned  Subsidiaries may act as Paying Agent,  Registrar,  co-registrar or
transfer agent.

                  The Company  initially  appoints the Trustee as Registrar  and
Paying Agent in connection with the Securities.

                  SECTION  2.04.  PAYING AGENT TO HOLD MONEY IN TRUST.  Prior to
each due date of the principal  and interest on any Security,  the Company shall
deposit  with  the  Paying  Agent a sum  sufficient  to pay such  principal  and
interest  when so becoming  due.  The Company  shall  require  each Paying Agent
(other than the Trustee) to agree in writing that the Paying Agent shall hold in
trust for the  benefit of  Securityholders  or the Trustee all money held by the
Paying Agent for the payment of principal of or interest on the  Securities  and
shall  notify  the  Trustee  of any  default  by the  Company in making any such
payment. If the Company or a Subsidiary acts as Paying Agent, it shall segregate
the money held by it as Paying Agent and hold it as a separate  trust fund.  The
Company  at any time may  require a Paying  Agent to pay all money held by it to
the Trustee and to account for any funds  disbursed  by the Paying  Agent.  Upon
complying  with this Section,  the Paying Agent shall have no further  liability
for the money delivered to the Trustee.

                  SECTION 2.05. SECURITYHOLDER LISTS. The Trustee shall preserve
in as current a form as is reasonably practicable the most recent list available
to it of the names and addresses of  Securityholders.  If the Trustee is not the
Registrar,  the Company shall  furnish to the Trustee,  in writing at least five
Business Days before each  interest  payment date and at such other times as the
Trustee may  request in writing,  a list in such form and as of such date as the
Trustee may reasonably require of the names and addresses of Securityholders.

                  SECTION 2.06.  TRANSFER AND EXCHANGE.  The Securities shall be
issued in registered form and shall be transferable only upon the surrender of a
Security  for  registration  of  transfer.  When a Security is  presented to the
Registrar or a co-registrar with a request to register a transfer, the Registrar
shall register the transfer as requested if the requirements of Section 8-401(1)
of the Uniform  Commercial  Code are met. When  Securities  are presented to the
Registrar  or a  co-registrar  with a  request  to  exchange  them  for an equal
principal amount of Securities of other denominations,  the Registrar shall make
the  exchange  as  requested  if  the  same  requirements  are  met.  To



<PAGE>
                                                                              29


permit  registration  of transfers and exchanges,  the Company shall execute and
the Trustee shall  authenticate  Securities at the Registrar's or co-registrar's
request.  The Company may require  payment of a sum sufficient to pay all taxes,
assessments  or other  governmental  charges in connection  with any transfer or
exchange pursuant to this Section. The Company shall not be required to make and
the Registrar  need not register  transfers or exchanges of Securities  selected
for  redemption  (except,  in the case of Securities to be redeemed in part, the
portion  thereof not to be redeemed) or any  Securities  for a period of 15 days
before a selection  of  Securities  to be redeemed or 15 days before an interest
payment date.

                  Prior to the due  presentation for registration of transfer of
any Security,  the Company,  the Trustee, the Paying Agent, the Registrar or any
co-registrar  may  deem  and  treat  the  person  in whose  name a  Security  is
registered  as the absolute  owner of such Security for the purpose of receiving
payment of principal of and interest on such Security and for all other purposes
whatsoever,  whether or not such  Security is overdue,  and none of the Company,
the  Trustee,  the Paying  Agent,  the  Registrar or any  co-registrar  shall be
affected by notice to the contrary.

                  All Securities  issued upon any transfer or exchange  pursuant
to the terms of this  Indenture will evidence the same debt and will be entitled
to the same benefits  under this Indenture as the  Securities  surrendered  upon
such transfer or exchange.

                  SECTION 2.07. REPLACEMENT SECURITIES.  If a mutilated Security
is surrendered  to the Registrar or if the Holder of a Security  claims that the
Security has been lost,  destroyed or wrongfully  taken, the Company shall issue
and the Trustee shall authenticate a replacement Security if the requirements of
Section 8-405 of the Uniform  Commercial  Code are met and the Holder  satisfies
any other reasonable requirements of the Company and the Trustee. If required by
the  Trustee  or the  Company,  such  Holder  shall  furnish an  indemnity  bond
sufficient  in the  judgment  of the  Company  and the  Trustee to  protect  the
Company,  the Trustee, the Paying Agent, the Registrar and any co-registrar from
any loss which any of them may suffer if a Security is replaced. The Company and
the Trustee may charge the Holder for their expenses in replacing a Security.

                  Every replacement Security is an additional  obligation of the
Company.


<PAGE>
                                                                              30


                  SECTION 2.08. OUTSTANDING  SECURITIES.  Securities outstanding
at any time are all  Securities  authenticated  by the Trustee  except for those
canceled by it, those  delivered to it for  cancellation  and those described in
this Section as not  outstanding.  A Security  does not cease to be  outstanding
because the Company or an Affiliate of the Company holds the Security.

                  If a Security is replaced  pursuant to Section 2.07, it ceases
to be outstanding  unless the Trustee and the Company receive proof satisfactory
to them that the replaced Security is held by a bona fide purchaser.

                  If  the  Paying  Agent  segregates  and  holds  in  trust,  in
accordance  with this  Indenture,  on a redemption  date or maturity  date money
sufficient to pay all  principal and interest  payable on that date with respect
to the Securities (or portions thereof) to be redeemed or maturing,  as the case
may be, and the Paying  Agent is not  prohibited  from  paying such money to the
Securityholders  on that date pursuant to the terms of this  Indenture,  then on
and  after  that  date  such  Securities  (or  portions  thereof)  cease  to  be
outstanding and interest on them ceases to accrue.

                  SECTION   2.09.   TEMPORARY   SECURITIES.   Until   definitive
Securities are ready for delivery, the Company may prepare and the Trustee shall
authenticate  temporary Securities.  Temporary Securities shall be substantially
in the form of definitive  Securities but may have  variations  that the Company
considers appropriate for temporary Securities.  Without unreasonable delay, the
Company shall prepare and the Trustee shall authenticate  definitive  Securities
and deliver them in exchange for temporary Securities.

                  SECTION  2.10.  CANCELLATION.  The  Company  at any  time  may
deliver Securities to the Trustee for cancellation. The Registrar and the Paying
Agent  shall  forward to the  Trustee  any  Securities  surrendered  to them for
registration of transfer, exchange or payment. The Trustee and no one else shall
cancel and destroy (subject to the record retention requirements of the Exchange
Act) all Securities surrendered for registration of transfer,  exchange, payment
or  cancellation  and deliver a certificate  of such  destruction to the Company
unless the Company  directs the Trustee to deliver  canceled  Securities  to the
Company.  The Company may not issue new Securities to replace  Securities it has
redeemed, paid or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation.



<PAGE>
                                                                              31


                  SECTION 2.11. DEFAULTED INTEREST. If the Company defaults in a
payment of interest on the Securities,  the Company shall pay defaulted interest
(plus  interest on such  defaulted  interest to the extent lawful) in any lawful
manner.  The  Company  may pay the  defaulted  interest  to the  persons who are
Securityholders  on a subsequent  special  record date. The Company shall fix or
cause  to be  fixed  any  such  special  record  date  and  payment  date to the
reasonable  satisfaction  of  the  Trustee  and  shall  promptly  mail  to  each
Securityholder  a notice that states the special  record date,  the payment date
and the amount of defaulted interest to be paid.

                  SECTION  2.12.  CUSIP  NUMBERS.  The  Company in  issuing  the
Securities  may use "CUSIP"  numbers (if then  generally in use) and, if so, the
Trustee shall use "CUSIP"  numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience  to
Holders;   PROVIDED,   HOWEVER,   that  any  such   notice  may  state  that  no
representation  is made as to the  correctness of such numbers either as printed
on the  Securities  or as  contained  in any  notice  of a  redemption  and that
reliance may be placed only on the other  identification  numbers printed on the
Securities,  and any such  redemption  shall not be affected by any defect in or
omission of such numbers.

                                    ARTICLE 3
                                   REDEMPTION

                  SECTION  3.01.  NOTICES TO TRUSTEE.  If the Company  elects to
redeem Securities pursuant to paragraph 5 of the Securities, it shall notify the
Trustee in writing of the redemption date, the principal amount of Securities to
be redeemed and the paragraph of the Securities pursuant to which the redemption
will occur.

                  The Company shall give each notice to the Trustee provided for
in this Section at least 60 days before the  redemption  date unless the Trustee
consents to a shorter  period.  Such notice shall be accompanied by an Officers'
Certificate  and an Opinion of Counsel  from the Company to the effect that such
redemption will comply with the conditions herein.

                  SECTION 3.02. SELECTION OF SECURITIES TO BE REDEEMED. If fewer
than all the  Securities  are to be  redeemed,  the  Trustee  shall  select  the
Securities  to be  redeemed  pro  rata or by lot that  the  Trustee  in its sole


<PAGE>
                                                                              32


discretion  shall deem to be fair and appropriate and in accordance with methods
generally used at the time of selection by fiduciaries in similar circumstances.
The Trustee shall make the selection from outstanding  Securities not previously
called for  redemption.  The Trustee may select for  redemption  portions of the
principal of Securities that have denominations  larger than $1,000.  Securities
and  portions  of them the  Trustee  selects  shall be in amounts of $1,000 or a
whole multiple of $1,000.  Provisions of this Indenture that apply to Securities
called  for  redemption  also  apply  to  portions  of  Securities   called  for
redemption.  The Trustee shall notify the Company  promptly of the Securities or
portions of Securities to be redeemed.

                  SECTION 3.03.  NOTICE OF REDEMPTION.  At least 30 days but not
more than 60 days before a date for redemption of Securities,  the Company shall
mail a notice of redemption by first-class  mail to each Holder of Securities to
be redeemed at such Holder's registered address.

                  The notice shall  identify the  Securities  to be redeemed and
shall state:

                  (1) the redemption date;

                  (2) the redemption price;

                  (3) the name and address of the Paying Agent;

                  (4) that Securities  called for redemption must be surrendered
         to the Paying Agent to collect the redemption price;

                  (5) if fewer  than all the  outstanding  Securities  are to be
         redeemed,  the  identification  and principal amounts of the particular
         Securities to be redeemed;

                  (6)  that,   unless  the  Company   defaults  in  making  such
         redemption  payment or the Paying Agent is prohibited  from making such
         payment pursuant to the terms of this Indenture, interest on Securities
         (or  portion  thereof)  called for  redemption  ceases to accrue on and
         after the redemption date; and

                  (7) that no  representation  is made as to the  correctness or
         accuracy of the CUSIP number,  if any, listed in such notice or printed
         on the Securities.

                  At the Company's request, the Trustee shall give the notice of
redemption in the Company's  name and at the



<PAGE>
                                                                              33


Company's expense. In such event, the Company shall provide the Trustee with the
information required by this Section.

                  SECTION 3.04.  EFFECT OF NOTICE OF REDEMPTION.  Once notice of
redemption is mailed, Securities called for redemption become due and payable on
the  redemption  date and at the  redemption  price  stated in the notice.  Upon
surrender to the Paying Agent,  such Securities  shall be paid at the redemption
price  stated in the  notice,  plus  accrued  interest  to the  redemption  date
(subject  to the  right of  Holders  of record on the  relevant  record  date to
receive  interest due on the related  interest  payment  date).  Failure to give
notice or any defect in the notice to any Holder  shall not affect the  validity
of the notice to any other Holder.

                  SECTION  3.05.  DEPOSIT  OF  REDEMPTION  PRICE.  Prior  to the
redemption  date,  the Company  shall  deposit with the Paying Agent (or, if the
Company or a Subsidiary is the Paying Agent,  shall segregate and hold in trust)
money  sufficient  to pay the  redemption  price of and accrued  interest on all
Securities  to be  redeemed  on that date other than  Securities  or portions of
Securities called for redemption which have been delivered by the Company to the
Trustee for cancellation.

                  SECTION 3.06. SECURITIES REDEEMED IN PART. Upon surrender of a
Security  that is redeemed in part,  the Company  shall  execute and the Trustee
shall  authenticate  for the Holder (at the  Company's  expense) a new  Security
equal in principal amount to the unredeemed portion of the Security surrendered.


                                    ARTICLE 4
                                    COVENANTS

                  SECTION  4.01.  PAYMENT  OF  SECURITIES.   The  Company  shall
promptly pay the principal of and interest on the Securities on the dates and in
the manner  provided in the  Securities  and in this  Indenture.  Principal  and
interest shall be considered paid on the date due if on such date the Trustee or
the Paying Agent holds in accordance with this Indenture money sufficient to pay
all principal and interest then due.

                  The Company  shall pay  interest on overdue  principal  at the
rate specified therefor in the Securities,  and it

<PAGE>
                                                                              34


shall pay interest on overdue  installments  of interest at the same rate to the
extent lawful.

                  SECTION 4.02.  SEC REPORTS.  Notwithstanding  that the Company
may not be subject to the reporting  requirements  of Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Exchange  Act,  the Company  shall file with the SEC and provide the Trustee and
Securityholders  with such annual  reports and such  information,  documents and
other  reports as are specified in Sections 13 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act and
applicable to a U.S.  corporation  subject to such Sections,  such  information,
documents and reports to be so filed and provided at the times specified for the
filing of such  information,  documents  and reports  under such  Sections.  The
Company also shall comply with the other provisions of TIA Section 314(a).

                  SECTION  4.03.  LIMITATION  ON  INDEBTEDNESS.  (a) The Company
shall not, and shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, Incur, directly or
indirectly,  any  Indebtedness;  PROVIDED,  HOWEVER,  that the Company may Incur
Indebtedness if, on the date of such Incurrence and after giving effect thereto,
the Consolidated Coverage Ratio exceeds 2.5 to 1.

                  (b)  Notwithstanding  the foregoing paragraph (a), the Company
         and the Restricted  Subsidiaries  may Incur any or all of the following
         Indebtedness:

                  (1)  Indebtedness  Incurred  pursuant to the Revolving  Credit
         Facility;  PROVIDED,  HOWEVER,  that,  after giving  effect to any such
         Incurrence,  the aggregate  principal amount of such  Indebtedness then
         outstanding   together   with  the   aggregate   principal   amount  of
         Indebtedness  then  outstanding  pursuant to clause (8) of this Section
         4.03(b) does not exceed the greater of $10.0  million or the  Borrowing
         Base;

                  (2)  Indebtedness  owed to and held by the Company or a Wholly
         Owned Subsidiary;  PROVIDED,  HOWEVER, that (i) any subsequent issuance
         or transfer of any Capital Stock which results in any such Wholly Owned
         Subsidiary  ceasing to be a Wholly Owned  Subsidiary or any  subsequent
         transfer  of such  Indebtedness  (other than to the Company or a Wholly
         Owned  Subsidiary)  shall be deemed,  in each case, to  constitute  the
         Incurrence of such  Indebtedness by the obligor thereon and (ii) if the
         Company  is the  obligor on such  Indebtedness,  such  Indebtedness  is
         expressly  subordinated  to the  prior


<PAGE>
                                                                              35


         payment  in  full  in  cash  of all  obligations  with  respect  to the
         Securities;

                  (3) the Securities;

                  (4)  Indebtedness  outstanding  on the Issue Date  (other than
         Indebtedness  described  in  clause  (1),  (2) or (3) of  this  Section
         4.03(b));

                  (5)  Indebtedness of a Subsidiary  Incurred and outstanding on
         or prior  to the date on which  such  Subsidiary  was  acquired  by the
         Company  (other than  Indebtedness  Incurred in connection  with, or to
         provide all or any portion of the funds or credit  support  utilized to
         consummate,  the transaction or series of related transactions pursuant
         to which such  Subsidiary  became a  Subsidiary  or was acquired by the
         Company);  PROVIDED,  HOWEVER, that on the date of such acquisition and
         after giving effect thereto,  the Company would have been able to Incur
         at least $1.00 of Indebtedness pursuant to Section 4.03(a);

                  (6)  Refinancing   Indebtedness  in  respect  of  Indebtedness
         Incurred  pursuant to Section 4.03(a) or pursuant to clause (3), (4) or
         (5) of this Section 4.03(b) or this clause (6); PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that
         to the extent such  Refinancing  Indebtedness  directly  or  indirectly
         Refinances  Indebtedness  of a Subsidiary  Incurred  pursuant to clause
         (5),  such  Refinancing  Indebtedness  shall be  Incurred  only by such
         Subsidiary;

                  (7) Hedging Obligations consisting of Interest Rate Agreements
         directly  related  to  Indebtedness  permitted  to be  Incurred  by the
         Company pursuant to this Indenture; and

                  (8)  Indebtedness  in an  aggregate  principal  amount  which,
         together with all other Indebtedness of the Company  outstanding on the
         date of such Incurrence (other than  Indebtedness  permitted by clauses
         (1) through (7) of this Section  4.03(b) or Section  4.03(a))  does not
         exceed $5.0 million;  PROVIDED,  HOWEVER,  that, after giving effect to
         any  such   Incurrence,   the  aggregate   principal   amount  of  such
         Indebtedness  then  outstanding  together with the aggregate  principal
         amount of Indebtedness then outstanding  pursuant to clause (1) of this
         Section  4.03(b)  does not exceed the  greater of $10.0  million or the
         Borrowing Base.


<PAGE>
                                                                              36


                  (c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall not Incur
any  Indebtedness  pursuant to Section 4.03(b) if the proceeds thereof are used,
directly or indirectly,  to Refinance any Subordinated  Obligations  unless such
Indebtedness shall be subordinated to the Securities to at least the same extent
as such Subordinated Obligations.

                  (d) For purposes of determining  compliance  with this Section
4.03, (i) in the event that an item of  Indebtedness  meets the criteria of more
than one of the types of Indebtedness described herein, the Company, in its sole
discretion,  will  classify  such item of  Indebtedness  and only be required to
include the amount and type of such Indebtedness in one of the above clauses and
(ii) an item of  Indebtedness  may be divided and classified in more than one of
the types of Indebtedness described herein.

                  SECTION  4.04.  LIMITATION  ON  RESTRICTED  PAYMENTS.  (a) The
Company shall not, and shall not permit any Restricted  Subsidiary,  directly or
indirectly,  to make a  Restricted  Payment  if at the time the  Company or such
Restricted Subsidiary makes such Restricted Payment:

                  (1) a Default shall have occurred and be continuing  (or would
         result therefrom);

                  (2) the  Company is not able to Incur an  additional  $1.00 of
         Indebtedness under Section 4.03(a);

                  (3) the  Company  would  have on its  balance  sheet less than
         $10.0 million of cash and cash equivalents  after giving effect to such
         Restricted Payment; or

                  (4) the aggregate  amount of such  Restricted  Payment and all
         other Restricted Payments since the Issue Date would exceed the sum of:

                           (A) 50% of the Consolidated Net Income accrued during
                  the  period  (treated  as  one  accounting  period)  from  the
                  beginning  of the fiscal  quarter  immediately  following  the
                  fiscal  quarter  during which the  Securities  are  originally
                  issued to the end of the most recent fiscal  quarter ending at
                  least 45 days  prior to the  date of such  Restricted  Payment
                  (or, in case such  Consolidated Net Income shall be a deficit,
                  minus 100% of such deficit);

                           (B) the aggregate  Net Cash Proceeds  received by the
                  Company from the issuance or sale of its


<PAGE>
                                                                              37


                  Capital Stock (other than  Disqualified  Stock)  subsequent to
                  the Issue Date (other than an issuance or sale to a Subsidiary
                  of the  Company  and  other  than  an  issuance  or sale to an
                  employee stock ownership plan or to a trust established by the
                  Company or any of its  Subsidiaries  for the  benefit of their
                  employees);

                           (C) the amount by which  Indebtedness  of the Company
                  is reduced on the Company's  balance sheet upon the conversion
                  or  exchange  (other  than  by a  Subsidiary  of the  Company)
                  subsequent  to  the  Issue  Date  of any  Indebtedness  of the
                  Company  convertible or exchangeable  for Capital Stock (other
                  than  Disqualified  Stock) of the Company  (less the amount of
                  any cash, or the fair value of any other property, distributed
                  by the Company upon such conversion or exchange);

                            (D) an  amount  equal  to the  sum  of (i)  the  net
                  reduction  in   Investments   in   Unrestricted   Subsidiaries
                  resulting from  dividends,  repayments of loans or advances or
                  other transfers of assets,  in each case to the Company or any
                  Restricted Subsidiary from Unrestricted Subsidiaries, and (ii)
                  the portion (proportionate to the Company's equity interest in
                  such Subsidiary) of the fair market value of the net assets of
                  an  Unrestricted  Subsidiary  at the  time  such  Unrestricted
                  Subsidiary  is designated a Restricted  Subsidiary;  provided,
                  however,  that the foregoing sum shall not exceed, in the case
                  of any  Unrestricted  Subsidiary,  the  amount of  Investments
                  previously  made (and treated as a Restricted  Payment) by the
                  Company  or any  Restricted  Subsidiary  in such  Unrestricted
                  Subsidiary; and

                           (E) 50% of (i) the cash returns on real estate equity
                  investments  related  to the Real  Estate  Joint  Venture  (as
                  indicated on the  Company's  cash flow  statement  prepared in
                  accordance  with  GAAP)  during  the  period  (treated  as one
                  accounting  period) from the  beginning of the fiscal  quarter
                  immediately  following  the fiscal  quarter  during  which the
                  Securities are originally issued to the end of the most recent
                  fiscal  quarter  ending at least 45 days  prior to the date of
                  such Restricted Payment less (ii) the increase (if any) in the
                  Company's real estate equity  investments  related to the Real
                  Estate



<PAGE>
                                                                              38


                  Joint Venture (as indicated on the Company's  income statement
                  prepared in accordance with GAAP) during such period.

                  (b)  The provisions of Section 4.04(a) shall not prohibit:

                  (i) any  acquisition  of Capital Stock of the Company made out
         of the  proceeds of the  substantially  concurrent  sale of, or made by
         exchange  for,  Capital Stock of the Company  (other than  Disqualified
         Stock and other than Capital  Stock  issued or sold to a Subsidiary  of
         the  Company  or  an  employee  stock  ownership  plan  or  to a  trust
         established by the Company or any of its  Subsidiaries  for the benefit
         of their employees);  PROVIDED,  HOWEVER,  that (A) such acquisition of
         Capital  Stock shall be excluded  in the  calculation  of the amount of
         Restricted  Payments and (B) the Net Cash Proceeds from such sale shall
         be excluded  from the  calculation  of amounts  under clause  (4)(B) of
         Section 4.04(a);

                  (ii) any purchase, repurchase, redemption, defeasance or other
         acquisition or retirement for value of Subordinated Obligations made by
         exchange  for, or out of the proceeds of the  substantially  concurrent
         sale of,  Indebtedness of the Company which is permitted to be Incurred
         pursuant  to  Section  4.03;  PROVIDED,  HOWEVER,  that such  purchase,
         repurchase,  redemption,  defeasance or other acquisition or retirement
         for  value  shall be  excluded  in the  calculation  of the  amount  of
         Restricted Payments;

                  (iii)  dividends  paid  within  60  days  after  the  date  of
         declaration  thereof if at such date of declaration such dividend would
         have complied with Section 4.04(a); PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that at the time
         of payment of such  dividend,  no other Default shall have occurred and
         be continuing (or result therefrom);  PROVIDED FURTHER,  HOWEVER,  that
         such  dividend  shall be included in the  calculation  of the amount of
         Restricted Payments;

                  (iv) the  repurchase  or other  acquisition  of shares  of, or
         options to purchase  shares of,  common  stock of the Company or any of
         its Subsidiaries from employees, former employees,  directors or former
         directors  of the  Company  or any of its  Subsidiaries  (or  permitted
         transferees of such employees,  former  employees,  directors or former
         directors),   pursuant  to  the  terms  of  the  agreements  (including
         employment agreements) or


<PAGE>
                                                                              39


         plans (or amendments  thereto) approved by the Board of Directors under
         which such  individuals  purchase  or sell or are granted the option to
         purchase or sell, shares of such common stock; provided,  however, that
         the aggregate amount of such repurchases and other  acquisitions  shall
         not exceed $500,000 in any calendar year;  PROVIDED  FURTHER,  HOWEVER,
         that such repurchases and other  acquisitions  shall be excluded in the
         calculation of the amount of Restricted Payments;

                  (v) any purchase of the Warrants;  provided, however, that (A)
         the aggregate  amount of such  purchases  shall not exceed $5.0 million
         and (B) at the time of such  purchase and after giving  effect  thereto
         the Company would not be prohibited from making a Restricted Payment in
         the  amount of $1.00  pursuant  to clause  (1),  (2) or (3) of  Section
         4.04(a);  provided  further,  however,  that  such  purchases  shall be
         included in the calculation of the amount of Restricted Payments; or

                  (vi) any payment or distribution in the nature of satisfaction
         of   dissenters'   rights   pursuant  to  or  in   connection   with  a
         consolidation,  merger or transfer of assets that complies with Section
         5.01; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that (A) the aggregate amount of such payments
         and distributions shall not exceed $500,000 and (B) at the time of such
         payment or  distribution  and after giving  effect  thereto the Company
         would not be prohibited from making a Restricted  Payment in the amount
         of  $1.00  pursuant  to  clause  (1),  (2) or (3) of  Section  4.04(a);
         PROVIDED FURTHER,  HOWEVER,  that such payment or distribution shall be
         included in the calculation of the amount of Restricted Payments.

                  SECTION  4.05.  EXCESS  CASH  PURCHASE  OFFER.  Within 90 days
following  the end of each fiscal year,  commencing  with the fiscal year ending
September 30, 1998, the Company shall make an offer to all holders of Securities
(the "Excess Cash Purchase  Offer") to purchase the maximum  principal amount of
Securities that is an integral multiple of $1,000 that may be purchased with 50%
of the Excess Cash Flow (the "Excess Cash Offer  Amount") in respect of the year
then  ended,  at an offer  price  equal to 102% of the  principal  amount of the
Securities to be  purchased,  plus accrued and unpaid  interest,  if any, to the
date fixed for the closing of such Excess Cash Purchase  Offer (the "Excess Cash
Offer  Price").  The Excess Cash Purchase  Offer will be required to remain open
for 20 Business Days  following its  commencement  and no longer,  except to the
extent that a longer period is

<PAGE>
                                                                              40


required by applicable law. Upon the expiration of such period, the Company will
apply the Excess Cash Offer Amount to the purchase of all Securities tendered at
the Excess Cash Offer Price.  If the  aggregate  principal  amount of Securities
tendered pursuant to any such Excess Cash Purchase Offer exceeds the Excess Cash
Offer Amount, the Company will be required to purchase  Securities on a pro rata
basis as follows:  the Company shall select the  Securities to be purchased on a
pro rata  basis  (with  such  adjustments  as may be deemed  appropriate  by the
Company  so that  only  Securities  in  denominations  of  $1,000,  or  integral
multiples thereof,  shall be purchased);  Holders whose Securities are purchased
only in part shall be issued new  Securities  equal in  principal  amount to the
unpurchased  portion  of the  Securities  surrendered.  To the  extent  that the
aggregate  principal amount of Securities  tendered  pursuant to any Excess Cash
Purchase  Offer is less than the Excess Cash Offer Amount with respect  thereto,
the Company may,  subject to the other  provisions  of this  Indenture,  use any
remaining Excess Cash Flow for general corporate  purposes.  Notwithstanding the
foregoing  provisions of this Section 4.05, the Company shall not be required to
make an  Excess  Cash  Purchase  Offer  or to  apply  any  Excess  Cash  Flow in
accordance with this Section 4.05 unless and until Excess Cash Flow exceeds $1.0
million.

                  Section 4.06. LIMITATION ON RESTRICTIONS ON DISTRIBUTIONS FROM
RESTRICTED  SUBSIDIARIES.  The  Company  shall  not,  and shall not  permit  any
Restricted Subsidiary to, create or otherwise cause or permit to exist or become
effective  any  consensual  encumbrance  or  restriction  on the  ability of any
Restricted  Subsidiary to (a) pay dividends or make any other  distributions  on
its  Capital  Stock  to the  Company  or a  Restricted  Subsidiary  or  pay  any
Indebtedness owed to the Company,  (b) make any loans or advances to the Company
or (c) transfer any of its property or assets to the Company, except:

                  (i) any encumbrance or restriction pursuant to an agreement in
         effect at or entered into on the Issue Date;

                  (ii)  any  encumbrance  or  restriction   with  respect  to  a
         Restricted   Subsidiary  pursuant  to  an  agreement  relating  to  any
         Indebtedness  Incurred by such Restricted Subsidiary on or prior to the
         date on which such  Restricted  Subsidiary  was acquired by the Company
         (other than  Indebtedness  Incurred as consideration  in, or to provide
         all  or  any  portion  of the  funds  or  credit  support  utilized  to
         consummate,  the transaction or


<PAGE>
                                                                              41


         series  of  related  transactions  pursuant  to which  such  Restricted
         Subsidiary  became  a  Restricted  Subsidiary  or was  acquired  by the
         Company) and outstanding on such date;

                  (iii) any encumbrance or restriction  pursuant to an agreement
         effecting  a  Refinancing  of  Indebtedness  Incurred  pursuant  to  an
         agreement  referred  to in clause (i) or (ii) of this  Section  4.06 or
         this  clause  (iii)  or  contained  in any  amendment  to an  agreement
         referred to in clause (i) or (ii) of this  Section  4.06 or this clause
         (iii);  PROVIDED,  HOWEVER, that the encumbrances and restrictions with
         respect to such Restricted Subsidiary contained in any such refinancing
         agreement or  amendment  are no less  favorable to the  Securityholders
         than  encumbrances  and  restrictions  with respect to such  Restricted
         Subsidiary contained in such predecessor agreements;

                  (iv)  any  such  encumbrance  or  restriction   consisting  of
         customary  nonassignment   provisions  in  leases  governing  leasehold
         interests  to the extent such  provisions  restrict the transfer of the
         lease or the property leased thereunder;

                  (v) in the case of clause (c) above, restrictions contained in
         security agreements or mortgages securing  Indebtedness of a Restricted
         Subsidiary to the extent such restrictions restrict the transfer of the
         property subject to such security agreements or mortgages; and

                  (vi) any restriction  with respect to a Restricted  Subsidiary
         imposed  pursuant  to  an  agreement  entered  into  for  the  sale  or
         disposition of all or substantially  all the Capital Stock or assets of
         such  Restricted  Subsidiary  pending  the  closing  of  such  sale  or
         disposition.

                  SECTION  4.07.  LIMITATION  ON SALES OF ASSETS AND  SUBSIDIARY
STOCK. (a) The Company shall not, and shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary
to,  directly or  indirectly,  consummate any Asset  Disposition  unless (i) the
Company or such Restricted Subsidiary receives consideration at the time of such
Asset  Disposition at least equal to the fair market value  (including as to the
value of all non-cash  consideration),  as determined in good faith by the Board
of Directors,  of the shares and assets subject to such Asset Disposition and at
least  85%  of  the  consideration  thereof  received  by the  Company  or  such
Restricted  Subsidiary (other than in the case of a Permitted Asset Disposition)
is in the


<PAGE>
                                                                              42

form of cash or cash  equivalents  and (ii) an  amount  equal to 100% of the Net
Available  Cash from such Asset  Disposition  is applied by the Company (or such
Restricted Subsidiary,  as the case may be) (A) FIRST, to the extent the Company
elects (or is  required  by the terms of any  Indebtedness),  to prepay,  repay,
redeem  or  purchase  Senior   Indebtedness  or  Indebtedness  (other  than  any
Disqualified  Stock)  of a Wholly  Owned  Subsidiary  (in each case  other  than
Indebtedness owed to the Company or an Affiliate of the Company) within one year
from the later of the date of such Asset  Disposition or the receipt of such Net
Available  Cash; (B) SECOND,  to the extent of the balance of such Net Available
Cash after  application in accordance with clause (A), to the extent the Company
elects, to acquire  Additional Assets within one year from the later of the date
of such Asset  Disposition or the receipt of such Net Available Cash; (C) THIRD,
to the extent of the balance of such Net  Available  Cash after  application  in
accordance  with  clauses  (A) and (B),  to make an offer to the  holders of the
Securities to purchase  Securities  pursuant to and subject to the conditions of
Section  4.07(b);  and (D)  FOURTH,  to the  extent of the  balance  of such Net
Available Cash after  application in accordance with clauses (A), (B) and (C) to
(x) the acquisition by the Company or any Wholly Owned  Subsidiary of Additional
Assets or (y) the prepayment,  repayment or purchase of Indebtedness (other than
any  Disqualified  Stock) of the  Company  (other than  Indebtedness  owed to an
Affiliate  of the  Company)  or  Indebtedness  of  any  Subsidiary  (other  than
Indebtedness  owed to the Company or an Affiliate of the Company),  in each case
within one year from the later of the receipt of such Net Available Cash and the
date the offer described in Section 4.07(b) is consummated;  PROVIDED,  HOWEVER,
that in connection  with any  prepayment,  repayment or purchase of Indebtedness
pursuant  to clause  (A),  (C) or (D)  above,  the  Company  or such  Restricted
Subsidiary  shall  permanently  retire  such  Indebtedness  and shall  cause the
related loan commitment (if any) to be permanently reduced in an amount equal to
the  principal  amount so  prepaid,  repaid or  purchased.  Notwithstanding  the
foregoing  provisions of this Section  4.07(a),  the Company and the  Restricted
Subsidiaries shall not be required to apply any Net Available Cash in accordance
with this Section  4.07(a) except to the extent that the aggregate Net Available
Cash from all Asset  Dispositions  which are not applied in accordance with this
Section 4.07(a) exceeds $5.0 million.  Pending application of Net Available Cash
pursuant to this Section  4.07(a),  such Net Available Cash shall be invested in
Permitted Investments.


<PAGE>
                                                                              43


                  For the purposes of this Section  4.07(a),  the  following are
deemed to be cash or cash equivalents: (x) the assumption of Indebtedness of the
Company or any  Restricted  Subsidiary  and the  release of the  Company or such
Restricted Subsidiary from all liability on such Indebtedness in connection with
such  Asset  Disposition  and (y)  securities  received  by the  Company  or any
Restricted  Subsidiary  from the transferee  that are promptly  converted by the
Company or such Restricted Subsidiary into cash.

(b) In the event of an Asset  Disposition  that  requires  the  purchase  of the
Securities  pursuant  to  Section  4.07(a)(ii)(C)  above,  the  Company  will be
required to purchase Securities tendered pursuant to an offer by the Company for
the  Securities  (the  "Offer") at a purchase  price of 100% of their  principal
amount (without premium) plus accrued but unpaid interest in accordance with the
procedures  (including prorating in the event of oversubscription)  set forth in
Section 4.07(c). If the aggregate purchase price of Securities tendered pursuant
to such  offer is less than the Net  Available  Cash  allotted  to the  purchase
thereof,  the Company will be required to apply the remaining Net Available Cash
in  accordance  with Section 4.07  (a)(ii)(D)  above.  The Company  shall not be
required to make such an offer to purchase  Securities pursuant to this covenant
if the Net Available  Cash  available  therefor is less than $5.0 million (which
lesser amount shall be carried forward for purposes of determining  whether such
an offer is required with respect to the Net Available  Cash from any subsequent
Asset Disposition).

                  (c) (1)  Promptly,  and in any event  within 10 days after the
Company  becomes  obligated to make an Offer,  the Company shall be obligated to
deliver to the Trustee and send, by first-class  mail to each Holder,  a written
notice stating that the Holder may elect to have his Securities purchased by the
Company  either  in  whole  or in part  (subject  to  prorating  as  hereinafter
described  in the event the Offer is  oversubscribed)  in integral  multiples of
$1,000 of principal amount,  at the applicable  purchase price. The notice shall
specify a  purchase  date not less than 30 days nor more than 60 days  after the
date of such notice (the  "Purchase  Date") and shall  contain such  information
concerning  the  business of the  Company as the Company in good faith  believes
will enable such Holders to make an informed  decision  (which at a minimum will
include  (i) the most  recently  filed  Annual  Report on Form  10-K  (including
audited  consolidated  financial  statements)  of the  Company,  the most recent
subsequently  filed Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and any Current Report on Form
8-K of the Company filed


<PAGE>
                                                                              44


subsequent to such Quarterly Report, other than Current Reports describing Asset
Dispositions  otherwise  described in the offering  materials (or  corresponding
successor reports), (ii) a description of material developments in the Company's
business  subsequent  to the date of the  latest of such  Reports,  and (iii) if
material,  appropriate pro forma financial information) and all instructions and
materials  necessary to tender Securities  pursuant to the Offer,  together with
the information contained in clause (3).

                  (2) Not later  than the date upon which  written  notice of an
Offer is  delivered  to the Trustee as  provided  in clause (1) of this  Section
4.07(c), the Company shall deliver to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate as to
(i) the amount of the Offer (the "Offer Amount"), (ii) the allocation of the Net
Available Cash from the Asset Dispositions pursuant to which such Offer is being
made and (iii) the compliance of such  allocation with the provisions of Section
4.07(a).  On such date,  the Company  shall also  irrevocably  deposit  with the
Trustee or with a paying  agent (or,  if the Company is acting as its own paying
agent,  segregate and hold in trust) in Temporary Cash Investments,  maturing on
the last day prior to the  Purchase  Date or on the  Purchase  Date if funds are
immediately  available by open of business,  an amount equal to the Offer Amount
to be held for payment in accordance  with the provisions of this Section.  Upon
the  expiration  of the  period  for which the Offer  remains  open (the  "Offer
Period"),  the  Company  shall  deliver  to the  Trustee  for  cancellation  the
Securities or portions  thereof which have been properly  tendered to and are to
be accepted by the Company.  The Trustee shall,  on the Purchase  Date,  mail or
deliver payment to each tendering Holder in the amount of the purchase price. In
the event that the aggregate  purchase price of the Securities  delivered by the
Company  to the  Trustee  is  less  than  the  Offer  Amount  applicable  to the
Securities,  the Trustee  shall  deliver  the excess to the Company  immediately
after the expiration of the Offer Period for application in accordance with this
Section.

                  (3)  Holders  electing to have a Security  purchased  shall be
required to surrender the Security,  with an appropriate form duly completed, to
the Company at the address  specified in the notice at least three Business Days
prior to the Purchase Date. Holders shall be entitled to withdraw their election
if the Trustee or the Company  receives not later than one Business Day prior to
the Purchase Date, a telex,  facsimile  transmission or letter setting forth the
name of the Holder, the principal amount of the Security which was delivered for
purchase by the Holder and a


<PAGE>
                                                                              45

statement  that  such Holder is  withdrawing  his election to have such Security
purchased.  If at the  expiration  of the Offer Period the  aggregate  principal
amount of Securities  surrendered by holders  thereof  exceeds the Offer Amount,
the Company  shall  select the  Securities  to be  purchased on a pro rata basis
(with such adjustments as may be deemed  appropriate by the Company so that only
Securities in denominations of $1,000, or integral multiples  thereof,  shall be
purchased).  Holders whose Securities are purchased only in part shall be issued
new  Securities  equal in  principal  amount to the  unpurchased  portion of the
Securities surrendered.

                  (4) At the time the Company delivers Securities to the Trustee
which are to be  accepted  for  purchase,  the  Company  shall  also  deliver an
Officers'  Certificate  stating that such  Securities  are to be accepted by the
Company pursuant to and in accordance with the terms of this Section. A Security
shall be deemed to have been  accepted  for  purchase  at the time the  Trustee,
directly  or  through  an  agent,  mails or  delivers  payment  therefor  to the
surrendering Holder.

                  (d) The Company shall comply, to the extent  applicable,  with
the  requirements of Section 14(e) of the Exchange Act and any other  securities
laws or regulations in connection with the repurchase of Securities  pursuant to
this  Section.  To the extent  that the  provisions  of any  securities  laws or
regulations  conflict with provisions of this Section,  the Company shall comply
with the applicable  securities  laws and regulations and shall not be deemed to
have breached its obligations under this Section by virtue thereof.

                  SECTION 4.08.  LIMITATION ON AFFILIATE  TRANSACTIONS.  (a) The
Company shall not, and shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, enter into
or permit to exist any  transaction  (including  the  purchase,  sale,  lease or
exchange of any property, employee compensation arrangements or the rendering of
any  service)  with any  Affiliate of the Company (an  "Affiliate  Transaction")
unless  the terms  thereof  (1) are no less  favorable  to the  Company  or such
Restricted  Subsidiary  than those that  could be  obtained  at the time of such
transaction in arm's-length dealings with a Person who is not such an Affiliate,
(2) if such Affiliate Transaction involves an amount in excess of $500,000,  (i)
are set forth in  writing  and (ii)  have been  approved  by a  majority  of the
members of the Board of  Directors  having no personal  stake in such  Affiliate


<PAGE>
                                                                              46


Transaction and (3) if such Affiliate  Transaction  involves an amount in excess
of $2.5  million,  have been  determined by a nationally  recognized  investment
banking  firm to be fair,  from a financial  standpoint,  to the Company and its
Restricted Subsidiaries.

                  (b) The  provisions of Section  4.08(a) shall not prohibit (i)
any Restricted  Payment  permitted to be paid pursuant to Section 4.04, (ii) any
issuance of securities,  or other payments, awards or grants in cash, securities
or otherwise  pursuant  to, or the funding of,  employment  arrangements,  stock
options and stock ownership plans approved by the Board of Directors,  (iii) the
grant of stock  options or similar  rights to  employees  and  directors  of the
Company  pursuant to plans approved by the Board of Directors,  (iv) the payment
of reasonable  fees to directors of the Company and its Restricted  Subsidiaries
who are not  employees of the Company or its  Restricted  Subsidiaries,  (v) any
Affiliate  Transaction  between  the Company and a Wholly  Owned  Subsidiary  or
between Wholly Owned  Subsidiaries  and (vi) the issuance or sale of any Capital
Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company.

                  SECTION  4.09.  LIMITATION  ON THE SALE OR ISSUANCE OF CAPITAL
STOCK OF  RESTRICTED  SUBSIDIARIES.  The  Company  shall  not sell or  otherwise
dispose of any Capital  Stock of a Restricted  Subsidiary,  and shall not permit
any Restricted Subsidiary, directly or indirectly, to issue or sell or otherwise
dispose of any of its Capital  Stock except (i) to the Company or a Wholly Owned
Subsidiary,  (ii) if, immediately after giving effect to such issuance,  sale or
other  disposition,  neither  the Company  nor any of its  Subsidiaries  own any
Capital Stock of such Restricted Subsidiary,  (iii) if, immediately after giving
effect to such issuance,  sale or other disposition,  such Restricted Subsidiary
would no longer  constitute a Restricted  Subsidiary  and any Investment in such
Person  remaining  after giving effect  thereto would have been  permitted to be
made  pursuant  to Section  4.04 if made on the date of such  issuance,  sale or
other  disposition or (iv) to the holders of the Warrants to the extent required
by the terms of the Warrants in effect on the Issue Date.

                  SECTION 4.10. CHANGE OF CONTROL.  (a) Upon the occurrence of a
Change of Control,  each Holder shall have the right to require that the Company
repurchase such Holder's Securities at a purchase price in cash equal to 101% of
the principal  amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid  interest,  if any, to the
date of  purchase  (subject  to the right of holders  of record on the  relevant
record date to 




<PAGE>
                                                                              47

receive interest on the relevant  interest payment date), in accordance with the
terms contemplated in Section 4.10(b).

                  (b)  Within  30 days  following  any  Change of  Control,  the
Company  shall  mail a notice to each  Holder  with a copy to the  Trustee  (the
"Change of Control Offer") stating:

                  (1) that a Change of Control has occurred and that such Holder
         has the  right  to  require  the  Company  to  purchase  such  Holder's
         Securities  at a purchase  price in cash equal to 101% of the principal
         amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of
         purchase  (subject  to the right of Holders  of record on the  relevant
         record date to receive interest on the relevant interest payment date);

                  (2) the circumstances and relevant facts regarding such Change
         of Control (including  information with respect to pro forma historical
         income, cash flow and capitalization,  each after giving effect to such
         Change of Control, if such information is then available to the Company
         or can be obtained without unreasonable effort or expense);

                  (3) the  repurchase  date (which  shall be no earlier  than 30
         days nor later than 60 days from the date such notice is mailed); and

                  (4) the  instructions  determined  by the Company,  consistent
         with  this  Section,  that a Holder  must  follow  in order to have its
         Securities purchased.

                  (c)  Holders  electing  to have a Security  purchased  will be
required to surrender the Security,  with an appropriate form duly completed, to
the Company at the address  specified in the notice at least three Business Days
prior to the purchase date.  Holders will be entitled to withdraw their election
if the Trustee or the Company  receives not later than one Business Day prior to
the purchase date, a telegram,  telex,  facsimile transmission or letter setting
forth the name of the Holder,  the  principal  amount of the Security  which was
delivered  for  purchase  by the  Holder  and a  statement  that such  Holder is
withdrawing his election to have such Security purchased.

                  (d) On the  purchase  date,  all  Securities  purchased by the
Company under this Section  shall be delivered by the Trustee for  cancellation,
and the Company shall pay


<PAGE>
                                                                              48


the  purchase  price plus  accrued and unpaid  interest,  if any, to the Holders
entitled thereto.

                  (e) Notwithstanding the foregoing  provisions of this Section,
the Company will not be required to make a Change of Control Offer upon a Change
of Control if a third party makes the Change of Control Offer in the manner,  at
the times and otherwise in compliance  with the  requirements  set forth in this
Section  applicable  to a  Change  of  Control  Offer  made by the  Company  and
purchases all Securities validly tendered and not withdrawn under such Change of
Control Offer.

                  (f) The Company shall comply, to the extent  applicable,  with
the  requirements of Section 14(e) of the Exchange Act and any other  securities
laws or regulations in connection with the repurchase of Securities  pursuant to
this  Section.  To the extent  that the  provisions  of any  securities  laws or
regulations  conflict with provisions of this Section,  the Company shall comply
with the applicable  securities  laws and regulations and shall not be deemed to
have breached its obligations under this Section by virtue thereof.

                  SECTION 4.11.  LIMITATION ON LIENS. The Company shall not, and
shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly,  Incur or
permit  to exist  any Lien of any  nature  whatsoever  on any of its  properties
(including Capital Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary), whether owned at the Issue
Date or thereafter  acquired,  other than Permitted Liens,  without  effectively
providing  that the  Securities  shall be secured  equally and ratably  with (or
prior to) the  obligations  so secured  for so long as such  obligations  are so
secured.

                  SECTION 4.12. LIMITATION ON SALE/LEASEBACK  TRANSACTIONS.  The
Company shall not, and shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, enter into
any  Sale/Leaseback  Transaction  with  respect to any  property  unless (i) the
Company or such  Subsidiary  would be entitled to (A) Incur  Indebtedness  in an
amount  equal to the  Attributable  Debt  with  respect  to such  Sale/Leaseback
Transaction  pursuant  to Section  4.03 and (B)  create a Lien on such  property
securing  such  Attributable  Debt  without  equally  and ratably  securing  the
Securities  pursuant  to Section  4.11,  (ii) the net  proceeds  received by the
Company or any  Restricted  Subsidiary  in connection  with such  Sale/Leaseback
Transaction  are at least equal to the fair value (as determined by the Board of
Directors) of such  property and


<PAGE>
                                                                              49


(iii) the Company  applies the proceeds of such  transaction in compliance  with
Section 4.07.

                  SECTION  4.13.  COMPLIANCE  CERTIFICATE.   The  Company  shall
deliver to the Trustee  within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of the
Company an Officers'  Certificate  stating that in the course of the performance
by the signers of their  duties as Officers of the Company  they would  normally
have knowledge of any Default and whether or not the signers know of any Default
that occurred during such period. If they do, the certificate shall describe the
Default,  its status and what  action the  Company is taking or proposes to take
with respect thereto. The Company also shall comply with TIA Section 314(a)(4).

                  SECTION 4.14.  FURTHER  INSTRUMENTS  AND ACTS. Upon request of
the Trustee,  the Company will execute and deliver such further  instruments and
do such further acts as may be reasonably  necessary or proper to carry out more
effectively the purpose of this Indenture.


                                    ARTICLE 5
                                SUCCESSOR COMPANY

                  SECTION 5.01. WHEN COMPANY MAY MERGE OR TRANSFER  ASSETS.  (a)
The  Company  shall  not  consolidate  with or merge  with or into,  or  convey,
transfer  or  lease,  in one  transaction  or a series of  transactions,  all or
substantially all its assets to, any Person, unless:

                  (i)  the  resulting,   surviving  or  transferee  Person  (the
         "Successor Company") shall be a Person organized and existing under the
         laws of the United States of America, any State thereof or the District
         of  Columbia  and the  Successor  Company  (if not the  Company)  shall
         expressly assume,  by an indenture  supplemental  hereto,  executed and
         delivered to the Trustee, in form satisfactory to the Trustee,  all the
         obligations of the Company under the Securities and this Indenture;

                  (ii) immediately  after giving effect to such transaction (and
         treating any Indebtedness  which becomes an obligation of the Successor
         Company or any  Subsidiary  as a result of such  transaction  as having
         been Incurred by the Successor  Company or such  Subsidiary at the time
         of such transaction), no Default shall have occurred and be continuing;


<PAGE>
                                                                              50


                  (iii) immediately after giving effect to such transaction, the
         Successor  Company  would  be able to  Incur  an  additional  $1.00  of
         Indebtedness pursuant to Section 4.03(a);

                  (iv) immediately after giving effect to such transaction,  the
         Successor  Company shall have  Consolidated Net Worth in an amount that
         is not less than the Consolidated Net Worth of the Company  immediately
         prior to such transaction;

                  (v)  the  Company  shall  have  delivered  to the  Trustee  an
         Officers' Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such
         consolidation,  merger or transfer and such supplemental  indenture (if
         any)  is  authorized  or  permitted   under,  and  complies  with  this
         Indenture; and

                  (vi) the  Company  shall  have  delivered  to the  Trustee  an
         Opinion of Counsel to the effect  that the Holders  will not  recognize
         income,  gain or loss for  Federal  income tax  purposes as a result of
         such  transaction and will be subject to Federal income tax on the same
         amounts,  in the same  manner  and at the same times as would have been
         the case if such transaction had not occurred.

                  The  Successor  Company  shall be the successor to the Company
and shall succeed to, and be  substituted  for, and may exercise every right and
power of, the Company under this Indenture,  but the predecessor  Company in the
case  of a  conveyance,  transfer  or  lease  shall  not be  released  from  the
obligation to pay the principal of and interest on the Securities.


                                    ARTICLE 6
                              DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES

                  SECTION 6.01. EVENTS OF DEFAULT.  An "Event of Default" occurs
if:

                  (1) the  Company  defaults  in any  payment of interest on any
         Security  when the  same  becomes  due and  payable,  and such  default
         continues for a period of 30 days;


<PAGE>
                                                                              51


                  (2) the Company (i)  defaults in the payment of the  principal
         of any  Security  when the same  becomes  due and payable at its Stated
         Maturity, upon redemption, upon declaration or otherwise, or (ii) fails
         to  redeem  or  purchase  Securities  when  required  pursuant  to this
         Indenture or the Securities;

                  (3) the Company fails to comply with Section 5.01;

                  (4) the Company fails to comply with Section 4.02, 4.03, 4.04,
         4.05,  4.06, 4.07, 4.08, 4.09, 4.10, 4.11 or 4.12 (other than a failure
         to purchase  Securities when required under Section 4.05, 4.07 or 4.10)
         and such  failure  continues  for 30 days  after the  notice  specified
         below;

                  (5) the Company fails to comply with any of its  agreements in
         the  Securities  or this  Indenture  (other  than those  referred to in
         clause (1),  (2), (3) or (4) above) and such failure  continues  for 60
         days after the notice specified below;

                  (6) Indebtedness of the Company or any Significant  Subsidiary
         is not paid within any applicable  grace period after final maturity or
         is  accelerated  by the  holders  thereof  because of a default and the
         total amount of such  Indebtedness  unpaid or accelerated  exceeds $5.0
         million,  or its  foreign  currency  equivalent  at the  time  and such
         failure continues for 10 days after the notice specified below;

                  (7) the Company or any Significant  Subsidiary  pursuant to or
         within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law:

                           (A) commences a voluntary case;

                           (B)  consents  to the  entry of an order  for  relief
                  against it in an involuntary case;

                           (C) consents to the  appointment of a Custodian of it
                  or for any substantial part of its property; or

                           (D) makes a general assignment for the benefit of its
                  creditors;

                  or takes any comparable action under any foreign laws relating
                  to insolvency;


<PAGE>
                                                                              52


                  (8) a court  of  competent  jurisdiction  enters  an  order or
         decree under any Bankruptcy Law that:

                           (A)  is  for  relief   against  the  Company  or  any
                  Significant Subsidiary in an involuntary case;

                           (B)  appoints  a  Custodian  of  the  Company  or any
                  Significant  Subsidiary  or for  any  substantial  part of its
                  property; or

                           (C)  orders  the  winding  up or  liquidation  of the
                  Company or any Significant Subsidiary;

         or any similar  relief is granted  under any foreign laws and the order
         or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 60 days; or

                  (9) any  judgment or decree for the payment of money in excess
         of $5.0  million  or its  foreign  currency  equivalent  at the time is
         entered  against the  Company or any  Significant  Subsidiary,  remains
         outstanding  for a  period  of 60  days  following  the  entry  of such
         judgment  or decree  and is not  discharged,  waived  or the  execution
         thereof stayed within 10 days after the notice specified below.

                  The foregoing will constitute  Events of Default  whatever the
reason for any such Event of Default and whether it is voluntary or  involuntary
or is effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment,  decree or order
of any  court  or any  order,  rule  or  regulation  of  any  administrative  or
governmental body.

                  The term  "Bankruptcy Law" means Title 11, UNITED STATES CODE,
or any  similar  Federal  or  state  law for the  relief  of  debtors.  The term
"Custodian"  means any receiver,  trustee,  assignee,  liquidator,  custodian or
similar official under any Bankruptcy Law.

                  A Default  under  clauses (4),  (5), or (9) is not an Event of
Default until the Trustee or the holders of at least 25% in principal  amount of
the  outstanding  Securities  notify the  Company of the Default and the Company
does not cure such  Default  within  the time  specified  after  receipt of such
notice.  Such notice must  specify the  Default,  demand that it be remedied and
state that such notice is a "Notice of Default".

                  The Company shall deliver to the Trustee, within 30 days after
the occurrence thereof,  written notice in the


<PAGE>
                                                                              53


form of an Officers'  Certificate  of any Event of Default  under clause (6) and
any event  which with the giving of notice or the lapse of time would  become an
Event of Default  under  clause (4),  (5) or (9), its status and what action the
Company is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto.

                  SECTION 6.02. ACCELERATION. If an Event of Default (other than
an Event of  Default  specified  in Section  6.01(7) or (8) with  respect to the
Company) occurs and is continuing,  the Trustee by notice to the Company, or the
Holders of at least 25% in principal  amount of the  Securities by notice to the
Company and the  Trustee,  may declare the  principal  of and accrued but unpaid
interest on all the  Securities to be due and payable  immediately.  Upon such a
declaration,  such principal and interest shall be due and payable  immediately.
If an Event of Default  specified in Section  6.01(7) or (8) with respect to the
Company occurs,  the principal of and interest on all the Securities  shall IPSO
FACTO become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other
act on the part of the Trustee or any Securityholders. The Holders of a majority
in principal  amount of the  Securities  by notice to the Trustee may rescind an
acceleration  and its consequences if the rescission would not conflict with any
judgment  or decree and if all  existing  Events of  Default  have been cured or
waived  except  nonpayment  of principal or interest  that has become due solely
because of acceleration.  No such rescission shall affect any subsequent Default
or impair any right consequent thereto.

                  SECTION 6.03.  OTHER  REMEDIES.  If an Event of Default occurs
and is  continuing,  the Trustee may pursue any available  remedy to collect the
payment  of  principal  of or  interest  on the  Securities  or to  enforce  the
performance of any provision of the Securities or this Indenture.

                  The  Trustee  may  maintain a  proceeding  even if it does not
possess any of the Securities or does not produce any of them in the proceeding.
A delay or omission by the Trustee or any Securityholder in exercising any right
or remedy accruing upon an Event of Default shall not impair the right or remedy
or constitute a waiver of or acquiescence in the Event of Default.  No remedy is
exclusive of any other remedy. All available remedies are cumulative.

                  SECTION  6.04.  WAIVER  OF PAST  DEFAULTS.  The  Holders  of a
majority  in  principal  amount of the  Securities  by notice to the Trustee may
waive an  existing  Default  and its  consequences  except  (i) a Default in the
payment of the  principal  of or interest on a Security  (ii) a Default


<PAGE>
                                                                              54

arising  from the  failure to redeem or  purchase  any  Security  when  required
pursuant to this  Indenture  or (iii) a Default in respect of a  provision  that
under Section 9.02 cannot be amended without the consent of each  Securityholder
affected. When a Default is waived, it is deemed cured, but no such waiver shall
extend to any subsequent or other Default or impair any consequent right.

                  SECTION 6.05.  CONTROL BY MAJORITY.  The Holders of a majority
in principal  amount of the Securities may direct the time,  method and place of
conducting  any  proceeding  for  any  remedy  available  to the  Trustee  or of
exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee. However, the Trustee may
refuse to follow any direction  that  conflicts  with law or this  Indenture or,
subject to Section 7.01,  that the Trustee  determines is unduly  prejudicial to
the rights of other  Securityholders  or would  involve  the Trustee in personal
liability;  PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the Trustee may take any other action deemed
proper by the Trustee that is not  inconsistent  with such  direction.  Prior to
taking any action  hereunder,  the Trustee shall be entitled to  indemnification
satisfactory to it in its sole discretion against all losses and expenses caused
by taking or not taking such action.

                  SECTION 6.06. LIMITATION ON SUITS. Except to enforce the right
to receive  payment of  principal,  premium  (if any) or  interest  when due, no
Securityholder  may pursue  any remedy  with  respect to this  Indenture  or the
Securities unless:

                  (1) the Holder  gives to the Trustee  written  notice  stating
         that an Event of Default is continuing;

                  (2) the  Holders  of at least 25% in  principal  amount of the
         Securities make a written request to the Trustee to pursue the remedy;

                  (3) such  Holder or Holders  offer to the  Trustee  reasonable
         security or indemnity against any loss, liability or expense;

                  (4) the Trustee  does not comply  with the  request  within 60
         days  after  receipt  of the  request  and the  offer  of  security  or
         indemnity; and

                  (5) the  Holders  of a  majority  in  principal  amount of the
         Securities  do not give the Trustee a direction  inconsistent  with the
         request during such 60-day period.


<PAGE>
                                                                              55


                  A  Securityholder  may not use this Indenture to prejudice the
rights of another  Securityholder  or to obtain a  preference  or priority  over
another Securityholder.

                  SECTION   6.07.   RIGHTS  OF  HOLDERS   TO  RECEIVE   PAYMENT.
Notwithstanding  any other provision of this Indenture,  the right of any Holder
to receive  payment of principal of and interest on the Securities  held by such
Holder, on or after the respective due dates expressed in the Securities,  or to
bring suit for the  enforcement of any such payment on or after such  respective
dates, shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of such Holder.

                  SECTION  6.08.  COLLECTION  SUIT BY  TRUSTEE.  If an  Event of
Default  specified  in Section  6.01(1) or (2)  occurs  and is  continuing,  the
Trustee may recover  judgment in its own name and as trustee of an express trust
against  the  Company for the whole  amount  then due and owing  (together  with
interest on any unpaid  interest to the extent lawful) and the amounts  provided
for in Section 7.07.

                  SECTION  6.09.  TRUSTEE MAY FILE PROOFS OF CLAIM.  The Trustee
may file such proofs of claim and other  papers or documents as may be necessary
or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee and the  Securityholders
allowed in any judicial  proceedings  relative to the Company,  its creditors or
its property and, unless prohibited by law or applicable  regulations,  may vote
on behalf of the  Holders in any  election of a trustee in  bankruptcy  or other
Person  performing  similar  functions,  and any  Custodian in any such judicial
proceeding  is hereby  authorized by each Holder to make payments to the Trustee
and, in the event that the Trustee  shall consent to the making of such payments
directly  to the  Holders,  to pay to the  Trustee  any  amount  due it for  the
reasonable  compensation,  expenses,  disbursements and advances of the Trustee,
its agents and its counsel,  and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section
7.07.

                  SECTION 6.10. PRIORITIES. If the Trustee collects any money or
property  pursuant to this  Article 6, it shall pay out the money or property in
the following order:

                  FIRST:  to the Trustee for amounts due under Section 7.07;

                  SECOND: to  Securityholders  for amounts due and unpaid on the
         Securities for principal and interest,  ratably,  without preference or
         priority of any kind,


<PAGE>
                                                                              56


         according  to  the  amounts  due  and  payable  on the  Securities  for
         principal and interest, respectively; and

                  THIRD:  to the Company.

                  The Trustee  may fix a record  date and  payment  date for any
payment to  Securityholders  pursuant to this  Section.  At least 15 days before
such record date, the Company shall mail to each  Securityholder and the Trustee
a notice that states the record date, the payment date and amount to be paid.

                  SECTION  6.11.  UNDERTAKING  FOR  COSTS.  In any  suit for the
enforcement  of any right or remedy under this  Indenture or in any suit against
the  Trustee for any action  taken or omitted by it as  Trustee,  a court in its
discretion  may  require  the  filing  by any party  litigant  in the suit of an
undertaking  to pay the costs of the suit,  and the court in its  discretion may
assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys' fees, against any party
litigant  in the suit,  having  due  regard to the  merits and good faith of the
claims or defenses made by the party litigant.  This Section does not apply to a
suit by the  Trustee,  a suit by a Holder  pursuant to Section 6.07 or a suit by
Holders of more than 10% in principal amount of the Securities.

                  SECTION 6.12.  WAIVER OF STAY OR EXTENSION  LAWS.  The Company
(to the extent it may  lawfully  do so) shall not at any time  insist  upon,  or
plead,  or in any manner  whatsoever  claim or take the benefit or advantage of,
any stay or extension  law  wherever  enacted,  now or at any time  hereafter in
force, which may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture;  and
the Company (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) hereby  expressly  waives
all benefit or advantage of any such law, and shall not hinder,  delay or impede
the execution of any power herein  granted to the Trustee,  but shall suffer and
permit the execution of every such power as though no such law had been enacted.


                                    ARTICLE 7
                                     TRUSTEE

                  SECTION  7.01.  DUTIES OF TRUSTEE.  (a) If an Event of Default
has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee shall exercise the rights and powers
vested  in it by this  Indenture  and use the same  degree  of care and skill in
their


<PAGE>
                                                                              57


exercise as a prudent  Person would exercise or use under the  circumstances  in
the conduct of such Person's own affairs.

                  (b)  Except during the continuance of an Event of Default:

                  (1) the  Trustee  undertakes  to perform  such duties and only
         such  duties as are  specifically  set forth in this  Indenture  and no
         implied  covenants  or  obligations  shall be read into this  Indenture
         against the Trustee; and

                  (2) in the  absence of bad faith on its part,  the Trustee may
         conclusively   rely,  as  to  the  truth  of  the  statements  and  the
         correctness of the opinions  expressed  therein,  upon  certificates or
         opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of
         this Indenture. However, the Trustee shall examine the certificates and
         opinions to determine  whether or not they conform to the  requirements
         of this Indenture.

                  (c) The Trustee may not be relieved from liability for its own
negligent action, its own negligent failure to act or its own wilful misconduct,
except that:

                  (1) this  paragraph does not limit the effect of paragraph (b)
         of this Section;

                  (2) the Trustee  shall not be liable for any error of judgment
         made in good  faith by a Trust  Officer  unless it is  proved  that the
         Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts; and

                  (3) the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action
         it takes or omits to take in good faith in accordance  with a direction
         received by it pursuant to Section 6.05.

                  (d) Every  provision of this Indenture that in any way relates
to the Trustee is subject to paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of this Section.

                  (e) The Trustee  shall not be liable for interest on any money
received by it except as the Trustee may agree in writing with the Company.

                  (f) Money held in trust by the Trustee need not be  segregated
from other funds except to the extent required by law.


<PAGE>
                                                                              58


                  (g) No provision of this  Indenture  shall require the Trustee
to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise  incur  financial  liability in the
performance  of any of its duties  hereunder  or in the  exercise  of any of its
rights or powers, if it shall have reasonable  grounds to believe that repayment
of such  funds or  adequate  indemnity  against  such risk or  liability  is not
reasonably assured to it.

                  (h) Every provision of this Indenture  relating to the conduct
or affecting  the  liability of or affording  protection to the Trustee shall be
subject to the provisions of this Section and to the provisions of the TIA.

                  SECTION 7.02.  RIGHTS OF TRUSTEE.  (a) The Trustee may rely on
any  document  believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented
by the proper person. The Trustee need not investigate any fact or matter stated
in the document.

                  (b) Before the Trustee acts or refrains  from  acting,  it may
require an Officers' Certificate or an Opinion of Counsel. The Trustee shall not
be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in  reliance on
the Officers' Certificate or Opinion of Counsel.

                  (c) The  Trustee  may act  through  agents  and  shall  not be
responsible  for the  misconduct or negligence of any agent  appointed  with due
care.

                  (d) The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or
omits to take in good faith  which it believes  to be  authorized  or within its
rights  or  powers;  PROVIDED,  HOWEVER,  that the  Trustee's  conduct  does not
constitute wilful misconduct or negligence.

                  (e) The Trustee may consult  with  counsel,  and the advice or
opinion of counsel with respect to legal matters  relating to this Indenture and
the Securities  shall be full and complete  authorization  and  protection  from
liability in respect to any action taken, omitted or suffered by it hereunder in
good faith and in accordance with the advice or opinion of such counsel.

                  SECTION 7.03. INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS OF TRUSTEE. The Trustee in its
individual  or any other  capacity may become the owner or pledgee of Securities
and may otherwise deal with the Company or its  Affiliates  with the same rights
it would have if it were not Trustee. Any Paying Agent, Registrar,  co-registrar
or co-paying agent may do the same


<PAGE>
                                                                              59

with like rights. However, the Trustee must comply with Sections 7.10 and 7.11.

                  SECTION 7.04. TRUSTEE'S  DISCLAIMER.  The Trustee shall not be
responsible  for and makes no  representation  as to the validity or adequacy of
this Indenture or the Securities,  it shall not be accountable for the Company's
use of the proceeds from the Securities, and it shall not be responsible for any
statement  of  the  Company  in  the  Indenture  or in any  document  issued  in
connection  with the sale of the Securities or in the Securities  other than the
Trustee's certificate of authentication.

                  SECTION 7.05.  NOTICE OF DEFAULTS.  If a Default occurs and is
continuing  and if it is known to the  Trustee,  the Trustee  shall mail to each
Securityholder  notice of the Default within 90 days after it occurs.  Except in
the case of a Default in payment of  principal  of or interest  on any  Security
(including  payments  pursuant to the  mandatory  redemption  provisions of such
Security,  if any),  the  Trustee  may  withhold  the notice if and so long as a
committee of its Trust Officers in good faith  determines  that  withholding the
notice is in the interests of Securityholders.

                  SECTION  7.06.  REPORTS BY TRUSTEE TO HOLDERS.  As promptly as
practicable  after each January 15 beginning  with the January 15 following  the
date of this  Indenture,  and in any event  prior to March 15 in each year,  the
Trustee shall mail to each  Securityholder a brief report dated as of January 15
that  complies with TIA Section  313(a).  The Trustee also shall comply with TIA
Section 313(b).

                  A  copy  of  each  report  at  the  time  of  its  mailing  to
Securityholders  shall be filed with the SEC and each stock exchange (if any) on
which the  Securities  are listed.  The Company  agrees to notify  promptly  the
Trustee  whenever the Securities  become listed on any stock exchange and of any
delisting thereof.

                  SECTION 7.07.  COMPENSATION  AND INDEMNITY.  The Company shall
pay to the Trustee from time to time reasonable  compensation  for its services.
The Trustee's  compensation shall not be limited by any law on compensation of a
trustee of an express  trust.  The Company  shall  reimburse  the  Trustee  upon
request  for  all  reasonable  out-of-pocket  expenses  incurred  or made by it,
including costs of collection, in addition to the compensation for its services.
Such  expenses   shall  include  the  reasonable   compensation   and  expenses,
disbursements  and advances of the Trustee's  agents,  counsel,  accountants and
experts.  The


<PAGE>
                                                                              60

Company  shall  indemnify  the Trustee  against any and all loss,  liability  or
expense  (including  attorneys'  fees)  incurred  by it in  connection  with the
administration  of this trust and the performance of its duties  hereunder.  The
Trustee  shall  notify the  Company  promptly of any claim for which it may seek
indemnity. Failure by the Trustee to so notify the Company shall not relieve the
Company of its obligations hereunder. The Company shall defend the claim and the
Trustee  may  have  separate  counsel  and the  Company  shall  pay the fees and
expenses  of such  counsel.  The  Company  need not  reimburse  any  expense  or
indemnify against any loss, liability or expense incurred by the Trustee through
the Trustee's own wilful misconduct, negligence or bad faith.

                  To secure the Company's  payment  obligations in this Section,
the Trustee  shall have a lien prior to the  Securities on all money or property
held or collected by the Trustee  other than money or property  held in trust to
pay principal of and interest on particular Securities.  Such lien shall survive
the satisfaction and discharge of the Indenture.

                  The  Company's  payment  obligations  pursuant to this Section
shall survive the discharge of this Indenture.  When the Trustee incurs expenses
after the  occurrence  of a Default  specified  in  Section  6.01(7) or (8) with
respect to the Company,  the expenses  are  intended to  constitute  expenses of
administration under the Bankruptcy Law.

                  SECTION 7.08.  REPLACEMENT OF TRUSTEE.  The Trustee may resign
at any time by so notifying the Company.  The Holders of a majority in principal
amount of the  Securities may remove the Trustee by so notifying the Trustee and
may appoint a successor Trustee. The Company shall remove the Trustee if:

                  (1) the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.10;

                  (2) the Trustee is adjudged bankrupt or insolvent;

                  (3) a receiver or other  public  officer  takes  charge of the
         Trustee or its property; or

                  (4) the Trustee otherwise becomes incapable of acting.

                  If the  Trustee  resigns,  is removed by the Company or by the
Holders of a majority in principal  amount of the Securities and such Holders do
not reasonably  promptly


<PAGE>
                                                                              61


appoint a successor Trustee, or if a vacancy exists in the office of Trustee for
any reason (the  Trustee in such event being  referred to herein as the retiring
Trustee), the Company shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee.

                  A successor Trustee shall deliver a written  acceptance of its
appointment  to  the  retiring  Trustee  and  to  the  Company.   Thereupon  the
resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become  effective,  and the
successor  Trustee  shall have all the rights,  powers and duties of the Trustee
under  this  Indenture.  The  successor  Trustee  shall  mail  a  notice  of its
succession to Securityholders.  The retiring Trustee shall promptly transfer all
property  held by it as Trustee to the  successor  Trustee,  subject to the lien
provided for in Section 7.07.

                  If a successor  Trustee  does not take  office  within 60 days
after the retiring  Trustee resigns or is removed,  the retiring  Trustee or the
Holders of 10% in principal  amount of the  Securities may petition any court of
competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee.

                  If  the  Trustee  fails  to  comply  with  Section  7.10,  any
Securityholder may petition any court of competent  jurisdiction for the removal
of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor Trustee.

                  Notwithstanding  the  replacement  of the Trustee  pursuant to
this Section,  the Company's  obligations  under Section 7.07 shall continue for
the benefit of the retiring Trustee.

                  SECTION  7.09.  SUCCESSOR  TRUSTEE BY MERGER.  If the  Trustee
consolidates  with,  merges or converts into, or transfers all or  substantially
all its corporate  trust business or assets to,  another  corporation or banking
association,  the  resulting,  surviving or transferee  corporation  without any
further act shall be the successor Trustee.

                  In case at the time such  successor or  successors  by merger,
conversion or  consolidation  to the Trustee shall succeed to the trusts created
by this Indenture any of the Securities  shall have been  authenticated  but not
delivered,  any such  successor  to the  Trustee  may adopt the  certificate  of
authentication  of any  predecessor  trustee,  and deliver  such  Securities  so
authenticated;  and in case at that  time any of the  Securities  shall not have
been  authenticated,   any  successor  to  the  Trustee  may  authenticate  such
Securities either in the name of any predecessor hereunder or in the name of the
successor to the Trustee; and in all such cases


<PAGE>
                                                                              62


such  certificates  shall  have  the full  force  which  it is  anywhere  in the
Securities or in this  Indenture  provided that the  certificate  of the Trustee
shall have.

                  SECTION 7.10. ELIGIBILITY; DISQUALIFICATION. The Trustee shall
at all times satisfy the  requirements of TIA Section 310(a).  The Trustee shall
have a combined capital and surplus of at least  $50,000,000 as set forth in its
most recent published annual report of condition.  The Trustee shall comply with
TIA Section  310(b);  PROVIDED,  HOWEVER,  that there shall be excluded from the
operation of TIA Section 310(b)(1) any indenture or indentures under which other
securities or certificates of interest or  participation  in other securities of
the Company are outstanding if the  requirements for such exclusion set forth in
TIA Section 310(b)(1) are met.

                  SECTION  7.11.   PREFERENTIAL  COLLECTION  OF  CLAIMS  AGAINST
COMPANY.  The  Trustee  shall  comply  with TIA Section  311(a),  excluding  any
creditor  relationship  listed in TIA Section 311(b). A Trustee who has resigned
or been removed shall be subject to TIA Section 311(a) to the extent indicated.


                                    ARTICLE 8
                       DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE; DEFEASANCE

                  SECTION   8.01.   DISCHARGE  OF   LIABILITY   ON   SECURITIES;
DEFEASANCE.  (a) When (i) the Company  delivers  to the Trustee all  outstanding
Securities  (other  than  Securities  replaced  pursuant  to  Section  2.07) for
cancellation  or (ii) all  outstanding  Securities  have become due and payable,
whether at  maturity  or as a result of the  mailing  of a notice of  redemption
pursuant  to  Article 3 hereof and the  Company  irrevocably  deposits  with the
Trustee funds  sufficient to pay at maturity or upon  redemption all outstanding
Securities,  including  interest  thereon to  maturity or such  redemption  date
(other than Securities replaced pursuant to Section 2.07), and if in either case
the Company  pays all other sums payable  hereunder  by the  Company,  then this
Indenture shall, subject to Sections 8.01(c), cease to be of further effect. The
Trustee shall acknowledge satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture on demand
of the Company accompanied by an Officers' Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel
and at the cost and expense of the Company.

                  (b) Subject to Sections  8.01(c) and 8.02,  the Company at any
time  may  terminate  (i) all its  obligations


<PAGE>
                                                                              63


under the Securities and this Indenture ("legal defeasance  option") or (ii) its
obligations under Sections 4.02, 4.03, 4.04, 4.05, 4.06, 4.07, 4.08, 4.09, 4.10,
4.11 and 4.12 and the operation of Sections 6.01(4),  6.01(6),  6.01(7), 6.01(8)
and 6.01(9) (but, in the case of Sections  6.01(7) and (8), with respect only to
Significant Subsidiaries) and the limitations contained in Sections 5.01(a)(iii)
and (iv)  ("covenant  defeasance  option").  The Company may  exercise its legal
defeasance option  notwithstanding its prior exercise of its covenant defeasance
option.

                  If the Company exercises its legal defeasance option,  payment
of the  Securities  may not be  accelerated  because of an Event of Default with
respect  thereto.  If the Company  exercises  its  covenant  defeasance  option,
payment of the Securities may not be accelerated  because of an Event of Default
specified in Sections 6.01(4),  6.01(6),  6.01(7),  6.01(8) and 6.01(9) (but, in
the  case of  Sections  6.01(7)  and  (8),  with  respect  only  to  Significant
Subsidiaries)  or because of the failure of the  Company to comply with  Section
5.01(a)(iii) or (iv).

                  Upon  satisfaction of the conditions set forth herein and upon
the written request of the Company, the Trustee shall acknowledge in writing the
discharge of those obligations that the Company terminates.

                  (c)  Notwithstanding  clauses (a) and (b) above, the Company's
obligations in Sections 2.03, 2.04, 2.05, 2.06, 2.07, 2.08, 7.07 and 7.08 and in
this  Article  8 shall  survive  until  the  Securities  have been paid in full.
Thereafter,  the Company's  obligations  in Sections  7.07,  8.04 and 8.05 shall
survive.

                  SECTION  8.02.  CONDITIONS  TO  DEFEASANCE.  The  Company  may
exercise its legal defeasance option or its covenant defeasance option only if:

                  (1) the Company irrevocably deposits in trust with the Trustee
         money or U.S.  Government  Obligations  for the payment of principal of
         and interest on the Securities to maturity or  redemption,  as the case
         may be;

                  (2) the Company  delivers to the Trustee a certificate  from a
         nationally recognized firm of independent  accountants expressing their
         opinion  that the  payments  of  principal  and  interest  when due and
         without reinvestment on the deposited U.S. Government  Obligations plus
         any deposited money without  investment will provide cash at such times
         and in such amounts as will


<PAGE>
                                                                              64


         be  sufficient  to pay  principal  and  interest  when  due on all  the
         Securities to maturity or redemption, as the case may be;

                  (3) 123 days pass  after the  deposit  is made and  during the
         123-day  period no Default  specified  in Sections  6.01(7) or (8) with
         respect to the Company  occurs  which is  continuing  at the end of the
         period;

                  (4) the deposit does not  constitute a default under any other
         agreement binding on the Company and is not prohibited by Article 10;

                  (5) the Company  delivers to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel
         to the  effect  that the  trust  resulting  from the  deposit  does not
         constitute,  or is qualified as, a regulated  investment  company under
         the Investment Company Act of 1940;

                  (6) in the case of the legal  defeasance  option,  the Company
         shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel  stating that
         (i) the Company has received  from, or there has been published by, the
         Internal  Revenue  Service  a  ruling,  or (ii)  since the date of this
         Indenture there has been a change in the applicable  Federal income tax
         law, in either case to the effect that,  and based thereon such Opinion
         of Counsel shall confirm that, the  Securityholders  will not recognize
         income,  gain or loss for  Federal  income tax  purposes as a result of
         such  defeasance  and will be subject to Federal income tax on the same
         amounts,  in the same  manner  and at the same times as would have been
         the case if such defeasance had not occurred;

                  (7) in the case of the covenant defeasance option, the Company
         shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect
         that the  Securityholders  will not recognize income,  gain or loss for
         Federal income tax purposes as a result of such covenant defeasance and
         will be subject to Federal income tax on the same amounts,  in the same
         manner  and at the  same  times  as  would  have  been the case if such
         covenant defeasance had not occurred; and

                  (8)  the  Company   delivers  to  the  Trustee  an   Officers'
         Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions
         precedent  to  the  defeasance  and  discharge  of  the  Securities  as
         contemplated by this Article 8 have been complied with.


<PAGE>
                                                                              65


                  Before or after a deposit,  the Company may make  arrangements
satisfactory to the Trustee for the redemption of Securities at a future date in
accordance with Article 3.

                  SECTION 8.03.  APPLICATION  OF TRUST MONEY.  The Trustee shall
hold in trust money or U.S. Government Obligations deposited with it pursuant to
this  Article  8. It shall  apply the  deposited  money and the money  from U.S.
Government  Obligations  through the Paying  Agent and in  accordance  with this
Indenture to the payment of principal of and interest on the  Securities.  Money
and securities so held in trust are not subject to Article 10.

                  SECTION 8.04. REPAYMENT TO COMPANY. The Trustee and the Paying
Agent shall  promptly  turn over to the Company upon request any excess money or
securities held by them at any time.

                  Subject to any applicable  abandoned property law, the Trustee
and the Paying  Agent  shall pay to the Company  upon  request any money held by
them for the payment of principal or interest  that  remains  unclaimed  for two
years, and, thereafter,  Securityholders  entitled to the money must look to the
Company for payment as general creditors.

                  SECTION  8.05.  INDEMNITY  FOR  GOVERNMENT  OBLIGATIONS.   The
Company shall pay and shall  indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other
charge imposed on or assessed against deposited U.S.  Government  Obligations or
the principal and interest received on such U.S.
Government Obligations.

                  SECTION 8.06. REINSTATEMENT. If the Trustee or Paying Agent is
unable to apply any money or U.S. Government Obligations in accordance with this
Article  8 by  reason  of any  legal  proceeding  or by  reason  of any order or
judgment  of any  court or  governmental  authority  enjoining,  restraining  or
otherwise  prohibiting such  application,  the Company's  obligations under this
Indenture  and the  Securities  shall be  revived  and  reinstated  as though no
deposit had  occurred  pursuant to this Article 8 until such time as the Trustee
or  Paying  Agent is  permitted  to  apply  all  such  money or U.S.  Government
Obligations in accordance with this Article 8; PROVIDED,  HOWEVER,  that, if the
Company  has made any  payment of interest  on or  principal  of any  Securities
because of the reinstatement of its obligations, the Company shall be subrogated
to the rights of the Holders of such Securities to receive such payment from the
money or U.S. Government Obligations held by the Trustee or Paying Agent.


<PAGE>
                                                                              66


                                    ARTICLE 9
                                   AMENDMENTS

                  SECTION 9.01. WITHOUT CONSENT OF HOLDERS.  The Company and the
Trustee may amend this Indenture or the Securities  without notice to or consent
of any Securityholder:

                  (1) to cure any ambiguity, omission, defect or inconsistency;

                  (2) to comply with Article 5;

                  (3) to provide for uncertificated Securities in addition to or
         in  place  of  certificated  Securities;  PROVIDED,  HOWEVER,  that the
         uncertificated Securities are issued in registered form for purposes of
         Section 163(f) of the Code or in a manner such that the  uncertificated
         Securities are described in Section 163(f)(2)(B) of the Code;

                  (4) to add guarantees  with respect to the  Securities,  or to
         secure the Securities;

                  (5) to add to the  covenants of the Company for the benefit of
         the Holders or to surrender  any right or power herein  conferred  upon
         the Company;

                  (6) to comply with any  requirements  of the SEC in connection
         with qualifying,  or maintaining the  qualification  of, this Indenture
         under the TIA; or

                  (7) to make any  change  that does not  adversely  affect  the
         rights of any Securityholder.

                  After an amendment under this Section becomes  effective,  the
Company  shall  mail  to   Securityholders  a  notice  briefly  describing  such
amendment. The failure to give such notice to all Securityholders, or any defect
therein,  shall not impair or affect the  validity  of an  amendment  under this
Section.

                  SECTION  9.02.  WITH  CONSENT OF HOLDERS.  The Company and the
Trustee  may  amend  this  Indenture  or the  Securities  without  notice to any
Securityholder  but  with  the  written  consent  of the  Holders  of at least a
majority in


<PAGE>
                                                                              67


principal amount of the Securities then outstanding (including consents obtained
in  connection  with a tender  offer or exchange for the  Securities).  However,
without the consent of each  Securityholder  affected thereby,  an amendment may
not:

                  (1) reduce the amount of Securities whose Holders must consent
         to an amendment;

                  (2)  reduce  the rate of or  extend  the time for  payment  of
         interest on any Security;

                  (3) reduce the  principal of or extend the Stated  Maturity of
         any Security;

                  (4) reduce  the  amount  payable  upon the  redemption  of any
         Security  or change the time at which any  Security  may be redeemed in
         accordance with Article 3;

                  (5) make any Security  payable in money other than that stated
         in the Security; or

                  (6) make any  change  in  Section  6.04 or 6.07 or the  second
         sentence of this Section.

                  It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Holders under
this Section to approve the particular  form of any proposed  amendment,  but it
shall be sufficient if such consent approves the substance thereof.

                  After an amendment under this Section becomes  effective,  the
Company  shall  mail  to   Securityholders  a  notice  briefly  describing  such
amendment. The failure to give such notice to all Securityholders, or any defect
therein,  shall not impair or affect the  validity  of an  amendment  under this
Section.

                  SECTION  9.03.  COMPLIANCE  WITH TRUST  INDENTURE  ACT.  Every
amendment to this Indenture or the Securities  shall comply with the TIA as then
in effect.

                  SECTION 9.04. REVOCATION AND EFFECT OF CONSENTS AND WAIVERS. A
consent to an  amendment  or a waiver by a Holder of a  Security  shall bind the
Holder and every  subsequent  Holder of that Security or portion of the Security
that  evidences  the same  debt as the  consenting  Holder's  Security,  even if
notation of the consent or waiver is not made on the Security. However, any such
Holder or subsequent Holder may revoke the consent or waiver as to such Holder's
Security  or portion  of the  Security  if the  Trustee


<PAGE>
                                                                              68


receives  the  notice of  revocation  before  the date the  amendment  or waiver
becomes effective. After an amendment or waiver becomes effective, it shall bind
every  Securityholder.  An  amendment  or  waiver  becomes  effective  upon  the
execution of such amendment or waiver by the Trustee.

                  The Company may,  but shall not be obligated  to, fix a record
date for the purpose of determining the  Securityholders  entitled to give their
consent or take any other action  described above or required or permitted to be
taken   pursuant  to  this   Indenture.   If  a  record  date  is  fixed,   then
notwithstanding  the  immediately  preceding  paragraph,  those Persons who were
Securityholders at such record date (or their duly designated proxies), and only
those  Persons,  shall be entitled to give such consent or to revoke any consent
previously  given or to take  any  such  action,  whether  or not  such  Persons
continue to be Holders after such record date. No such consent shall be valid or
effective for more than 120 days after such record date.

                  SECTION  9.05.  NOTATION ON OR EXCHANGE OF  SECURITIES.  If an
amendment changes the terms of a Security, the Trustee may require the Holder of
the Security to deliver it to the Trustee.  The Trustee may place an appropriate
notation  on the  Security  regarding  the  changed  terms and  return it to the
Holder. Alternatively,  if the Company or the Trustee so determines, the Company
in exchange for the Security  shall issue and the Trustee shall  authenticate  a
new Security that reflects the changed  terms.  Failure to make the  appropriate
notation  or to issue a new  Security  shall not  affect  the  validity  of such
amendment.

                  SECTION 9.06.  TRUSTEE TO SIGN  AMENDMENTS.  The Trustee shall
sign any amendment  authorized  pursuant to this Article 9 if the amendment does
not  adversely  affect the rights,  duties,  liabilities  or  immunities  of the
Trustee.  If it does,  the  Trustee  may but need not sign it. In  signing  such
amendment  the  Trustee  shall  be  entitled  to  receive  indemnity  reasonably
satisfactory to it and to receive,  and (subject to Section 7.01) shall be fully
protected in relying  upon, an Officers'  Certificate  and an Opinion of Counsel
stating that such amendment is authorized or permitted by this Indenture.

                  SECTION 9.07. PAYMENT FOR CONSENT. Neither the Company nor any
Affiliate of the Company shall, directly or indirectly,  pay or cause to be paid
any consideration,  whether by way of interest, fee or otherwise,  to any Holder
for or as an inducement to any consent,  waiver or amendment of any of the terms
or provisions of this Indenture or the


<PAGE>
                                                                              69


Securities  unless such  consideration is offered to be paid to all Holders that
so consent,  waive or agree to amend in the time frame set forth in solicitation
documents relating to such consent, waiver or agreement.

                                   ARTICLE 10

                                  MISCELLANEOUS

                  SECTION 10.01. TRUST INDENTURE ACT CONTROLS.  If any provision
of this Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with another provision which is
required to be included in this  Indenture by the TIA,  the  required  provision
shall control.

                  SECTION 10.02.  NOTICES.  Any notice or communication shall be
in writing and delivered in person or mailed by  first-class  mail  addressed as
follows:

                  if to the Company:

                  American Pacific Corporation
                  3770 Howard Hughes Parkway, Suite 300
                  Las Vegas, NV 89109
                  Attention of:  Chief Financial Officer


                  if to the Trustee:

                  United States Trust Company of New York
                  114 West 47th Street
                  New York, NY 10036
                  Attention of:  Corporate Trust Department

                  The  Company  or  the  Trustee  by  notice  to the  other  may
designate   additional  or  different   addresses  for  subsequent   notices  or
communications.

                  Any notice or communication  mailed to a Securityholder  shall
be mailed to the Securityholder at the Securityholder's address as it appears on
the  registration  books of the Registrar and shall be sufficiently  given if so
mailed within the time prescribed.

                  Failure to mail a notice or  communication to a Securityholder
or any  defect in it shall not  affect  its  sufficiency  with  respect to other
Securityholders.  If a notice or  communication is mailed in the manner provided

<PAGE>
                                                                              70

above, it is duly given, whether or not the addressee receives it.

                  SECTION  10.03.  COMMUNICATION  BY HOLDERS WITH OTHER HOLDERS.
Securityholders  may  communicate  pursuant  to TIA  Section  312(b)  with other
Securityholders  with  respect  to their  rights  under  this  Indenture  or the
Securities.  The Company,  the Trustee, the Registrar and anyone else shall have
the protection of TIA Section 312(c).

                  SECTION  10.04.  CERTIFICATE  AND  OPINION  AS  TO  CONDITIONS
PRECEDENT. Upon any request or application by the Company to the Trustee to take
or refrain  from  taking any action  under this  Indenture,  the  Company  shall
furnish to the Trustee:

                  (1) an Officers'  Certificate in form and substance reasonably
         satisfactory  to  the  Trustee  stating  that,  in the  opinion  of the
         signers, all conditions  precedent and covenants,  if any, provided for
         in this  Indenture  relating to the proposed  action have been complied
         with; and

                  (2) an Opinion of  Counsel  in form and  substance  reasonably
         satisfactory  to the  Trustee  stating  that,  in the  opinion  of such
         counsel, all such conditions precedent and covenants have been complied
         with.

                  SECTION 10.05.  STATEMENTS REQUIRED IN CERTIFICATE OR OPINION.
Each  certificate  or opinion  with  respect to  compliance  with a covenant  or
condition provided for in this Indenture shall include:

                  (1) a statement that the individual making such certificate or
         opinion has read such covenant or condition;

                  (2) a  brief  statement  as to the  nature  and  scope  of the
         examination  or  investigation  upon which the  statements  or opinions
         contained in such certificate or opinion are based;

                  (3) a statement  that, in the opinion of such  individual,  he
         has made such  examination or  investigation  as is necessary to enable
         him to express an informed  opinion as to whether or not such  covenant
         or condition has been complied with; and


<PAGE>
                                                                              71


                  (4) a  statement  as to whether or not, in the opinion of such
         individual, such covenant or condition has been complied with.

                  SECTION 10.06.  WHEN  SECURITIES  DISREGARDED.  In determining
whether  the  Holders  of the  required  principal  amount  of  Securities  have
concurred in any direction,  waiver or consent,  Securities owned by the Company
or by any Person  directly or indirectly  controlling  or controlled by or under
direct or indirect  common  control with the Company  shall be  disregarded  and
deemed not to be  outstanding,  except  that,  for the  purpose  of  determining
whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such direction,  waiver
or consent,  only  Securities  which the Trustee  knows are so owned shall be so
disregarded.  Also, subject to the foregoing, only Securities outstanding at the
time shall be considered in any such determination.

                  SECTION 10.07.  RULES BY TRUSTEE,  PAYING AGENT AND REGISTRAR.
The  Trustee  may  make  reasonable   rules  for  action  by  or  a  meeting  of
Securityholders.  The Registrar and the Paying Agent may make  reasonable  rules
for their functions.

                  SECTION  10.08.  LEGAL  HOLIDAYS.   A  "Legal  Holiday"  is  a
Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banking institutions are not required to be
open in the State of New York.  If a payment  date is a Legal  Holiday,  payment
shall be made on the next  succeeding  day that is not a Legal  Holiday,  and no
interest shall accrue for the intervening  period. If a regular record date is a
Legal Holiday, the record date shall not be affected.

                  SECTION   10.09.   GOVERNING   LAW.  This  Indenture  and  the
Securities  shall be governed by, and construed in accordance  with, the laws of
the State of New York but without  giving  effect to  applicable  principles  of
conflicts  of law to the  extent  that the  application  of the laws of  another
jurisdiction would be required thereby.

                  SECTION  10.10.  NO  RECOURSE   AGAINST  OTHERS.  A  director,
officer,  employee or  stockholder,  as such,  of the Company shall not have any
liability  for any  obligations  of the  Company  under the  Securities  or this
Indenture  or for any  claim  based  on,  in  respect  of or by  reason  of such
obligations  or their  creation.  By accepting a Security,  each  Securityholder
shall waive and release all such liability. The waiver and release shall be part
of the consideration for the issue of the Securities.


<PAGE>
                                                                              72


                  SECTION  10.11.  SUCCESSORS.  All agreements of the Company in
this Indenture and the Securities  shall bind its successors.  All agreements of
the Trustee in this Indenture shall bind its successors.

                  SECTION 10.12.  MULTIPLE  ORIGINALS.  The parties may sign any
number of copies of this Indenture.  Each signed copy shall be an original,  but
all of them together represent the same agreement.  One signed copy is enough to
prove this Indenture.

                  SECTION  10.13.  TABLE OF  CONTENTS;  HEADINGS.  The  table of
contents,  cross-reference  sheet and  headings of the  Articles and Sections of
this  Indenture have been inserted


<PAGE>

for  convenience  of reference  only,  are not intended to be  considered a part
hereof and shall not modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.


                  IN WITNESS WHEREOF,  the parties have caused this Indenture to
be duly executed as of the date first written above.


                                      AMERICAN PACIFIC CORPORATION

                                      by /s/ David N. Keys
                                        ---------------------------
                                        Name:  David N. Keys
                                        Title: Senior Vice President


                                   UNITED STATES TRUST COMPANY OF NEW
                                   YORK,

                                   by /s/ Louis P. Young
                                      ------------------------
                                      Name:  Louis P. Young
                                      Title: Vice President



<PAGE>
                                                 RULE 144A/REGULATION S APPENDIX


                   PROVISIONS RELATING TO INITIAL SECURITIES,
                           PRIVATE EXCHANGE SECURITIES
                             AND EXCHANGE SECURITIES

         1. DEFINITIONS

         1.1  DEFINITIONS

         For the purposes of this  Appendix the  following  terms shall have the
meanings indicated below:

                  "Depository" means The Depository Trust Company,  its nominees
and their respective successors.

                  "Exchange  Securities"  means the 9 1/4% Senior Notes Due 2005
to be issued pursuant to this Indenture in connection with a Registered Exchange
Offer pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement.

                  "Initial   Purchaser"   means   Credit   Suisse  First  Boston
Corporation.

                  "Initial  Securities"  means the 9 1/4% Senior Notes Due 2005,
issued under this Indenture on or about the date hereof.

                  "Private Exchange" means the offer by the Company, pursuant to
the Registration Rights Agreement, to the Initial Purchaser to issue and deliver
to the Initial  Purchaser,  in exchange for the Initial  Securities  held by the
Initial  Purchaser  as  part  of its  initial  distribution,  a  like  aggregate
principal amount of Private Exchange Securities.

                  "Purchase  Agreement" means the Purchase Agreement dated March
6, 1998, between the Company and the Initial Purchaser.

                  "QIB" means a  "qualified  institutional  buyer" as defined in
Rule 144A.

                  "Registered  Exchange  Offer"  means the offer by the Company,
pursuant to the  Registration  Rights  Agreement,  to certain Holders of Initial
Securities,  to issue and deliver to such  Holders,  in exchange for the Initial
Securities,  a like aggregate principal amount of Exchange Securities registered
under the Securities Act.

                  "Registration  Rights Agreement" means the Registration Rights
Agreement dated March 12, 1998, between the Company and the Initial Purchaser.


<PAGE>
                                                                               2


                  "Securities"  means  the  Initial  Securities,   the  Exchange
Securities and the Private Exchange Securities, treated as a single class.

                  "Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933.

                  "Securities  Custodian"  means the custodian with respect to a
Global  Security  (as  appointed by the  Depository),  or any  successor  person
thereto and shall initially be the Trustee.

                  "Shelf   Registration   Statement"   means  the   registration
statement  issued  by the  Company,  in  connection  with the  offer and sale of
Initial Securities or Private Exchange Securities,  pursuant to the Registration
Rights Agreement.

                  "Transfer Restricted  Securities" means Definitive  Securities
and Securities that bear or are required to bear the legend set forth in Section
2.3(b)hereto.



         1.2  OTHER DEFINITIONS

                                                                      DEFINED IN
                  TERM                                                 SECTION:

"Agent Members"...........................................................2.1(b)
"Global Security".........................................................2.1(a)
"Regulation S"............................................................2.1(a)
"Rule 144A"...............................................................2.1(a)

         2.       THE SECURITIES.

         2.1  FORM AND DATING.

                  The  Initial  Securities  are  being  offered  and sold by the
Company pursuant to the Purchase Agreement.

                  (a) GLOBAL SECURITIES.  Initial Securities offered and sold to
a QIB in  reliance  on Rule 144A under the  Securities  Act ("Rule  144A") or in
reliance on Regulation S under the Securities Act ("Regulation S"), in each case
as provided in the Purchase Agreement,  shall be issued initially in the form of
one or more permanent  global  Securities in definitive,  fully  registered form
without  interest  coupons  with the global  securities  legend  and  restricted
securities  legend set forth in  Exhibit 1 hereto  (each,  a Global  Security"),
which shall be deposited on behalf of the


<PAGE>
                                                                               3


purchasers of the Initial Securities  represented  thereby with the Trustee,  at
its New York  office,  as  custodian  for the  Depository  (or with  such  other
custodian as the  Depository  may  direct),  and  registered  in the name of the
Depository  or a nominee of the  Depository,  duly  executed  by the Company and
authenticated by the Trustee as hereinafter  provided.  The aggregate  principal
amount of the Global  Securities may from time to time be increased or decreased
by  adjustments  made on the records of the Trustee  and the  Depository  or its
nominee as hereinafter provided.

                  (b)  BOOK-ENTRY  PROVISIONS.  This Section  2.1(b) shall apply
only to a Global Security deposited with or on behalf of the Depository.

                  The Company shall execute and the Trustee shall, in accordance
with this Section 2.1(b),  authenticate and deliver initially one or more Global
Securities  that (a) shall be registered in the name of the  Depository for such
Global  Security or Global  Securities or the nominee of such Depository and (b)
shall be  delivered  by the  Trustee  to such  Depository  or  pursuant  to such
Depository's   instructions  or  held  by  the  Trustee  as  custodian  for  the
Depository.

                  Members  of,  or  participants  in,  the  Depository   ("Agent
Members")  shall have no rights under this  Indenture with respect to any Global
Security  held on  their  behalf  by the  Depository  or by the  Trustee  as the
custodian of the  Depository or under such Global  Security,  and the Depository
may be treated by the  Company,  the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the
Trustee  as the  absolute  owner  of  such  Global  Security  for  all  purposes
whatsoever.  Notwithstanding  the  foregoing,  nothing  herein shall prevent the
Company,  the  Trustee or any agent of the  Company or the  Trustee  from giving
effect to any written certification,  proxy or other authorization  furnished by
the Depository or impair,  as between the Depository and its Agent Members,  the
operation of customary  practices of such  Depository  governing the exercise of
the rights of a holder of a beneficial interest in any Global Security.

                  (c)  CERTIFICATED  SECURITIES.  Except  as  provided  in  this
Section  2.1 or Section 2.3 or 2.4,  owners of  beneficial  interests  in Global
Securities  will not be entitled to receive  physical  delivery of  certificated
Securities.

         2.2  AUTHENTICATION.  The Trustee shall  authenticate and deliver:  (1)
Initial  Securities  for  original  issue in an  aggregate  principal  amount of
$75,000,000 and (2) Exchange Securities or Private Exchange Securities for issue
only  in a


<PAGE>
                                                                               4


Registered Exchange Offer or a Private Exchange,  respectively,  pursuant to the
Registration   Rights  Agreement,   for  a  like  principal  amount  of  Initial
Securities,  in each  case  upon a written  order of the  Company  signed by two
Officers  or by an Officer and either an  Assistant  Treasurer  or an  Assistant
Secretary of the Company.  Such order shall specify the amount of the Securities
to be authenticated and the date on which the original issue of Securities is to
be  authenticated  and  whether  the  Securities  are to be Initial  Securities,
Exchange  Securities or Private  Exchange  Securities.  The aggregate  principal
amount of Securities  outstanding at any time may not exceed  $75,000,000 except
as provided in Section 2.07 of this Indenture.

         2.3  TRANSFER  AND  EXCHANGE.  (a)  TRANSFER  AND  EXCHANGE  OF  GLOBAL
SECURITIES.  (i) The transfer and exchange of Global  Securities  or  beneficial
interests  therein shall be effected through the Depository,  in accordance with
this Indenture (including applicable  restrictions on transfer set forth herein,
if any)  and the  procedures  of the  Depository  therefor.  A  transferor  of a
beneficial  interest  in a Global  Security  shall  deliver to the  Registrar  a
written order given in accordance with the  Depositary's  procedures  containing
information  regarding the participant  account of the Depositary to be credited
with a beneficial  interest in the Global  Security.  The  Registrar  shall,  in
accordance  with such  instructions  instruct  the  Depositary  to credit to the
account of the Person  specified in such  instructions a beneficial  interest in
the Global  Security and to debit the account of the Person  making the transfer
the beneficial interest in the Global Security being transferred.

                  (ii)  Notwithstanding  any other  provisions  of this Appendix
         (other than the provisions set forth in Section 2.4), a Global Security
         may not be transferred as a whole except by the Depository to a nominee
         of the  Depository or by a nominee of the  Depository to the Depository
         or another  nominee of the  Depository or by the Depository or any such
         nominee  to a  successor  Depository  or a  nominee  of such  successor
         Depository.

                  (iii) In the event that a Global  Security  is  exchanged  for
         Securities  in  definitive  registered  form pursuant to Section 2.4 or
         Section  2.09  of  the  Indenture,  prior  to  the  consummation  of  a
         Registered  Exchange Offer or the effectiveness of a Shelf Registration
         Statement  with  respect to such  Securities,  such  Securities  may be
         exchanged only in accordance with such procedures as are  substantially
         consistent  with the  provisions  of this  Section 2.3  (including  the
         certification  requirements  set


<PAGE>
                                                                               5


         forth on the reverse of the Initial Securities  intended to ensure that
         such  transfers  comply with Rule 144A or Regulation S, as the case may
         be) and such  other  procedures  as may from time to time be adopted by
         the Company.

                  (b)  LEGEND.

                  (i) Except as  permitted  by the  following  paragraphs  (ii),
         (iii)  and  (iv),  each  Security  certificate  evidencing  the  Global
         Securities and the Definitive  Securities (and all Securities issued in
         exchange  therefor or in  substitution  thereof) shall bear a legend in
         substantially the following form:

                  "THIS SECURITY (OR ITS PREDECESSOR) WAS ORIGINALLY ISSUED IN A
                  TRANSACTION  EXEMPT FROM REGISTRATION  UNDER THE UNITED STATES
                  SECURITIES  ACT OF  1933  (THE  "SECURITIES  ACT"),  AND  THIS
                  SECURITY MAY NOT BE OFFERED,  SOLD OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED IN
                  THE ABSENCE OF SUCH  REGISTRATION  OR AN APPLICABLE  EXEMPTION
                  THEREFROM.  EACH PURCHASER OF THIS SECURITY IS HEREBY NOTIFIED
                  THAT  THE  SELLER  OF  THIS  SECURITY  MAY BE  RELYING  ON THE
                  EXEMPTION  FROM THE  PROVISIONS OF SECTION 5 OF THE SECURITIES
                  ACT PROVIDED BY RULE 144A THEREUNDER.

                  THE  HOLDER OF THIS  SECURITY  AGREES  FOR THE  BENEFIT OF THE
                  COMPANY THAT (A) THIS SECURITY MAY BE OFFERED, RESOLD, PLEDGED
                  OR OTHERWISE  TRANSFERRED ONLY (I) INSIDE THE U.S. TO A PERSON
                  WHOM  THE  SELLER   REASONABLY   BELIEVES   IS  A   "QUALIFIED
                  INSTITUTIONAL  BUYER" (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A),  (II) OUTSIDE
                  THE U.S. IN A TRANSACTION  IN  ACCORDANCE  WITH RULE 904 UNDER
                  THE  SECURITIES  ACT,  (III)  PURSUANT  TO AN  EXEMPTION  FROM
                  REGISTRATION  UNDER THE  SECURITIES  ACT  PROVIDED BY RULE 144
                  THEREUNDER  (IF  AVAILABLE)  OR (IV)  PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE
                  REGISTRATION  STATEMENT  UNDER THE SECURITIES  ACT, IN EACH OF
                  CASES  (I)  THROUGH  (IV) IN  ACCORDANCE  WITH ANY  APPLICABLE
                  SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OF THE UNITED STATES, AND (B) THE
                  HOLDER WILL, AND EACH SUBSEQUENT HOLDER IS REQUIRED TO, NOTIFY
                  ANY   PURCHASER  OF  THIS  SECURITY  FROM  IT  OF  THE  RESALE
                  RESTRICTIONS REFERRED TO IN (A) ABOVE."

                  (ii)  Upon  any  sale or  transfer  of a  Transfer  Restricted
         Security (including any Transfer  Restricted Security  represented by a
         Global Security)  pursuant to


<PAGE>
                                                                               6

         Rule  144  under  the  Securities  Act,  in the  case  of any  Transfer
         Restricted  Security  that is  represented  by a Global  Security,  the
         Registrar  shall permit the Holder  thereof to exchange  such  Transfer
         Restricted Security for a certificated  Security that does not bear the
         legend set forth above and rescind any  restriction  on the transfer of
         such Transfer Restricted  Security,  if the Holder certifies in writing
         to the  Registrar  that  its  request  for  such  exchange  was made in
         reliance on Rule 144 (such certification to be in the form set forth on
         the reverse of the Security).

                  (iii) After a transfer of any  Initial  Securities  or Private
         Exchange  Securities  during the period of the effectiveness of a Shelf
         Registration  Statement  with  respect to such  Initial  Securities  or
         Private  Exchange  Securities,  as the  case may be,  all  requirements
         pertaining to legends on such Initial Security or such Private Exchange
         Security  will  cease to apply,  the  requirements  requiring  any such
         Initial  Security or such Private  Exchange  Security issued to certain
         Holders  be  issued  in  global  form  will  cease  to  apply,   and  a
         certificated  Initial  Security or Private  Exchange  Security  without
         legends  will be  available  to the  transferee  of the  Holder of such
         Initial Securities or Private Exchange Securities upon exchange of such
         transferring Holder's certificated Initial Security or Private Exchange
         Security or directions to transfer such Holder's interest in the Global
         Security, as applicable.

                  (iv) Upon the consummation of a Registered Exchange Offer with
         respect to the Initial  Securities  pursuant  to which  Holders of such
         Initial  Securities  are offered  Exchange  Securities  in exchange for
         their Initial Securities,  all requirements  pertaining to such Initial
         Securities that Initial  Securities issued to certain Holders be issued
         in global form will cease to apply and certificated  Initial Securities
         with the  restricted  securities  legend  set forth in Exhibit 1 hereto
         will be  available to Holders of such  Initial  Securities  that do not
         exchange  their  Initial   Securities,   and  Exchange   Securities  in
         certificated  or global form will be available to Holders that exchange
         such Initial Securities in such Registered Exchange Offer.

                  (v) Upon the  consummation of a Private  Exchange with respect
         to the Initial  Securities  pursuant to which  Holders of such  Initial
         Securities  are offered  Private  Exchange  Securities  in exchange for
         their Initial Securities,  all requirements  pertaining to such Initial

<PAGE>
                                                                               7

         Securities that Initial  Securities issued to certain Holders be issued
         in global form will still apply,  and Private  Exchange  Securities  in
         global form with the Restricted  Securities Legend set forth in Exhibit
         1 hereto  will be  available  to Holders  that  exchange  such  Initial
         Securities in such Private Exchange.

                  (c)  CANCELLATION  OR ADJUSTMENT OF GLOBAL  SECURITY.  At such
time as all beneficial interests in a Global Security have either been exchanged
for  certificated  Securities,  redeemed,  repurchased or canceled,  such Global
Security shall be returned to the Depository  for  cancellation  or retained and
canceled  by the  Trustee.  At any  time  prior  to  such  cancellation,  if any
beneficial   interest  in  a  Global  Security  is  exchanged  for  certificated
Securities,   redeemed,   repurchased  or  canceled,  the  principal  amount  of
Securities  represented  by  such  Global  Security  shall  be  reduced  and  an
adjustment  shall be made on the books and records of the Trustee (if it is then
the Securities  Custodian for such Global  Security) with respect to such Global
Security, by the Trustee or the Securities Custodian, to reflect such reduction.

                  (d)  OBLIGATIONS  WITH RESPECT TO TRANSFERS  AND  EXCHANGES OF
SECURITIES.

                  (i) To permit  registrations  of transfers and exchanges,  the
         Company shall execute and the Trustee shall  authenticate  certificated
         Securities and Global  Securities at the Registrar's or  co-registrar's
         request.

                  (ii) No service charge shall be made for any  registration  of
         transfer or  exchange,  but the  Company  may require  payment of a sum
         sufficient  to  cover  any  transfer  tax,   assessments,   or  similar
         governmental  charge  payable in connection  therewith  (other than any
         such transfer taxes, assessments or similar governmental charge payable
         upon exchange or transfer pursuant to Sections 3.06, 4.10 and 9.05.

                  (iii) The Registrar or  co-registrar  shall not be required to
         register the transfer of or exchange of (a) any  certificated  Security
         selected for  redemption  in whole or in part  pursuant to Article 3 of
         this  Indenture,  except the  unredeemed  portion  of any  certificated
         Security  being  redeemed  in part,  or (b) any  Security  for a period
         beginning  15 Business  Days before the mailing of a notice of an offer
         to  repurchase  or redeem  Securities  or 15  Business  Days  before an
         interest payment date.


<PAGE>
                                                                               8


                  (iv)  Prior  to  the  due  presentation  for  registration  of
         transfer of any Security,  the Company,  the Trustee, the Paying Agent,
         the  Registrar  or any  co-registrar  may deem and treat the  person in
         whose name a  Security  is  registered  as the  absolute  owner of such
         Security  for the  purpose of  receiving  payment of  principal  of and
         interest  on  such  Security  and for all  other  purposes  whatsoever,
         whether or not such Security is overdue,  and none of the Company,  the
         Trustee,  the Paying Agent, the Registrar or any co-registrar  shall be
         affected by notice to the contrary.

                  (v) All  Securities  issued  upon  any  transfer  or  exchange
         pursuant to the terms of this  Indenture  shall  evidence the same debt
         and shall be entitled to the same benefits  under this Indenture as the
         Securities surrendered upon such transfer or exchange.

                  (e)  NO OBLIGATION OF THE TRUSTEE.

                  (i) The Trustee shall have no  responsibility or obligation to
         any  beneficial  owner  of  a  Global  Security,  a  member  of,  or  a
         participant  in the  Depository  or other  Person  with  respect to the
         accuracy  of the  records of the  Depository  or its  nominee or of any
         participant or member thereof,  with respect to any ownership  interest
         in the  Securities or with respect to the delivery to any  participant,
         member, beneficial owner or other Person (other than the Depository) of
         any notice  (including  any notice of redemption) or the payment of any
         amount,  under or with  respect to such  Securities.  All  notices  and
         communications  to be given to the Holders and all  payments to be made
         to Holders under the Securities  shall be given or made only to or upon
         the order of the  registered  Holders (which shall be the Depository or
         its nominee in the case of a Global Security). The rights of beneficial
         owners in any Global  Security  shall be  exercised  only  through  the
         Depository  subject  to the  applicable  rules  and  procedures  of the
         Depository.  The  Trustee  may rely and  shall  be fully  protected  in
         relying upon  information  furnished by the Depository  with respect to
         its members, participants and any beneficial owners.

                  (ii) The Trustee  shall have no obligation or duty to monitor,
         determine or inquire as to compliance with any restrictions on transfer
         imposed under this  Indenture or under  applicable  law with respect to
         any transfer of any interest in any Security  (including  any transfers
         between or among Depository participants,  members or beneficial owners
         in any  Global  Security)  other  than  to  require


<PAGE>
                                                                               9


         delivery of such  certificates  and other  documentation or evidence as
         are expressly  required by, and to do so if and when expressly required
         by, the terms of this  Indenture,  and to examine the same to determine
         substantial compliance as to form with the express requirements hereof.

         2.4  CERTIFICATED SECURITIES.

                  (a) A Global  Security  deposited  with the Depository or with
the Trustee as  custodian  for the  Depository  pursuant to Section 2.1 shall be
transferred  to the  beneficial  owners  thereof  in the  form  of  certificated
Securities in an aggregate  principal  amount equal to the  principal  amount of
such  Global  Security,  in  exchange  for such  Global  Security,  only if such
transfer  complies with Section 2.3 and (i) the Depository  notifies the Company
that it is  unwilling  or unable  to  continue  as  Depository  for such  Global
Security  or if at any time such  Depository  ceases to be a  "clearing  agency"
registered under the Exchange Act and a successor depositary is not appointed by
the  Company  within 90 days of such  notice,  or (ii) an Event of  Default  has
occurred  and is  continuing  or (iii)  the  Company,  in its  sole  discretion,
notifies  the  Trustee  in  writing  that it  elects to cause  the  issuance  of
certificated Securities under this Indenture.

                  (b) Any Global Security that is transferable to the beneficial
owners  thereof  pursuant to this Section shall be surrendered by the Depository
to the Trustee located in the Borough of Manhattan,  The City of New York, to be
so transferred,  in whole or from time to time in part,  without charge, and the
Trustee shall  authenticate  and deliver,  upon such transfer of each portion of
such  Global  Security,  an equal  aggregate  principal  amount of  certificated
Initial Securities of authorized denominations. Any portion of a Global Security
transferred  pursuant  to this  Section  shall be  executed,  authenticated  and
delivered only in denominations of $1,000 and any integral  multiple thereof and
registered  in such  names as the  Depository  shall  direct.  Any  certificated
Initial  Security  delivered in exchange for an interest in the Global  Security
shall,  except as  otherwise  provided by Section  2.3(d),  bear the  restricted
securities legend set forth in Exhibit 1 hereto.

                  (c)  Subject  to  the  provisions  of  Section   2.4(b),   the
registered Holder of a Global Security may grant proxies and otherwise authorize
any Person,  including Agent Members and Persons that may hold interests through
Agent Members,  to take any action which a Holder is entitled to take under this
Indenture or the Securities.


<PAGE>
                                                                              10

                  (d) In the event of the  occurrence  of  either of the  events
specified in Section  2.4(a),  the Company will promptly  make  available to the
Trustee a reasonable  supply of  certificated  Securities in  definitive,  fully
registered form without interest coupons.


<PAGE>
                                                                       EXHIBIT 1


                       [FORM OF FACE OF INITIAL SECURITY]

                           [Global Securities Legend]

                  UNLESS  THIS   CERTIFICATE   IS  PRESENTED  BY  AN  AUTHORIZED
REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITARY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION  ("DTC"),
NEW YORK,  NEW YORK, TO THE COMPANY OR ITS AGENT FOR  REGISTRATION  OF TRANSFER,
EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT,  AND ANY  CERTIFICATE  ISSUED IS  REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF
CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF
DTC  (AND ANY  PAYMENT  IS MADE TO CEDE & CO.,  OR TO SUCH  OTHER  ENTITY  AS IS
REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED  REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC) ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER
USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR  OTHERWISE  BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL  INASMUCH AS
THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.

                  TRANSFERS  OF  THIS  GLOBAL   SECURITY  SHALL  BE  LIMITED  TO
TRANSFERS  IN  WHOLE,  BUT NOT IN PART,  TO  NOMINEES  OF DTC OR TO A  SUCCESSOR
THEREOF OR SUCH  SUCCESSOR'S  NOMINEE AND  TRANSFERS  OF PORTIONS OF THIS GLOBAL
SECURITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE  RESTRICTIONS
SET FORTH IN THE INDENTURE REFERRED TO ON THE REVERSE HEREOF.

                         [Restricted Securities Legend]

                  "THIS SECURITY (OR ITS PREDECESSOR) WAS ORIGINALLY ISSUED IN A
                  TRANSACTION  EXEMPT FROM REGISTRATION  UNDER THE UNITED STATES
                  SECURITIES  ACT OF  1933  (THE  "SECURITIES  ACT"),  AND  THIS
                  SECURITY MAY NOT BE OFFERED,  SOLD OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED IN
                  THE ABSENCE OF SUCH  REGISTRATION  OR AN APPLICABLE  EXEMPTION
                  THEREFROM.  EACH PURCHASER OF THIS SECURITY IS HEREBY NOTIFIED
                  THAT  THE  SELLER  OF  THIS  SECURITY  MAY BE  RELYING  ON THE
                  EXEMPTION  FROM THE  PROVISIONS OF SECTION 5 OF THE SECURITIES
                  ACT PROVIDED BY RULE 144A THEREUNDER.

                  THE  HOLDER OF THIS  SECURITY  AGREES  FOR THE  BENEFIT OF THE
                  COMPANY THAT (A) THIS SECURITY MAY BE OFFERED, RESOLD, PLEDGED
                  OR OTHERWISE  TRANSFERRED ONLY (I) INSIDE THE U.S. TO A PERSON
                  WHOM  THE  SELLER   REASONABLY   BELIEVES   IS  A   "QUALIFIED
                  INSTITUTIONAL  BUYER" (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A),  (II) OUTSIDE
                  THE U.S. IN A TRANSACTION  IN  ACCORDANCE  WITH RULE 904 UNDER
                  THE  SECURITIES  ACT,  (III)  PURSUANT  TO AN  EXEMPTION  FROM
                  REGISTRATION  UNDER THE  SECURITIES  ACT  PROVIDED BY RULE 144
                  THEREUNDER  (IF  AVAILABLE)  OR (IV)  PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE
                  REGISTRATION  STATEMENT  UNDER THE SECURITIES  ACT, IN EACH OF
                  CASES  (I)  THROUGH  (IV) IN  ACCORDANCE  WITH ANY  APPLICABLE
                  SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OF THE UNITED STATES,


<PAGE>
                                                                               2

                  AND (B)  THE  HOLDER  WILL,  AND  EACH  SUBSEQUENT  HOLDER  IS
                  REQUIRED TO,  NOTIFY ANY PURCHASER OF THIS SECURITY FROM IT OF
                  THE RESALE RESTRICTIONS REFERRED TO IN (A) ABOVE."



<PAGE>
                                                                               3

No.  SN-01                                                   Cusip No. 028740AC2
                                                                     $75,000,000

                          9 1/4% Senior Notes Due 2005


                  American Pacific Corporation, a Delaware corporation, promises
to pay to CEDE & CO., or registered  assigns,  the principal sum of SEVENTY FIVE
MILLION DOLLARS ($75,000,000) on March 1, 2005. .

                  Interest  Payment  Dates:  March 1 and September 1,  beginning
September 1, 1998.

                  Record Dates: February 15 and August 15.

                  Additional  provisions  of this  Security are set forth on the
other side of this Security.


Dated:

                                                AMERICAN PACIFIC CORPORATION,

                                                by

                                                 -----------------------
                                                     President



                                                ------------------------
                                                     Secretary

  [Seal]

TRUSTEE'S CERTIFICATE OF
         AUTHENTICATION

UNITED STATES TRUST COMPANY OF
NEW YORK, as Trustee,  certifies
that this is one
of the Securities referred
to in the Indenture.

  by
    -----------------------------
          Authorized Signatory


<PAGE>
                                                                               4

                   [FORM OF REVERSE SIDE OF INITIAL SECURITY]


                           9 1/4% Senior Note Due 2005

1.  INTEREST

                  American Pacific  Corporation,  a Delaware  corporation  (such
corporation,  and its  successors  and assigns under the  Indenture  hereinafter
referred to, being herein called the "Company"), promises to pay interest on the
principal  amount of this Security at the rate per annum shown above;  PROVIDED,
HOWEVER,  that if a Registration  Default (as defined in the Registration Rights
Agreement) occurs, additional interest will accrue on this Security at a rate of
0.50%  per annum  from and  including  the date on which  any such  Registration
Default shall occur to but excluding the date on which all Registration Defaults
have been  cured.  The Company  will pay  interest  semiannually  on March 1 and
September 1 of each year.  Interest on the Securities  will accrue from the most
recent date to which  interest  has been paid or, if no interest  has been paid,
from March 12, 1998. Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of
twelve 30-day months. The Company shall pay interest on overdue principal at the
rate borne by the  Securities  plus 1% per annum,  and it shall pay  interest on
overdue installments of interest at the same rate to the extent lawful.

2.  METHOD OF PAYMENT

                  The  Company  will  pay  interest  on the  Securities  (except
defaulted  interest) to the Persons who are registered  holders of Securities at
the  close of  business  on the  February  15 or August  15 next  preceding  the
interest  payment date even if Securities are canceled after the record date and
on or before the interest payment date.  Holders must surrender  Securities to a
Paying Agent to collect principal  payments.  The Company will pay principal and
interest  in money of the  United  States  that at the time of  payment is legal
tender for  payment  of public and  private  debts.  Payments  in respect of the
Securities  represented by a Global Security (including  principal,  premium and
interest)  will be made by wire transfer of immediately  available  funds to the
accounts  specified by The Depository  Trust Company.  The Company will make all
payments in respect of a certificated Security (including principal, premium and
interest) by mailing a check to the registered  address of each Holder


<PAGE>
                                                                               5

thereof;  PROVIDED,  HOWEVER,  that payments on a certificated  Security will be
made by wire transfer to a U.S.  dollar  account  maintained by the payee with a
bank in the United  States if such  Holder  elects  payment by wire  transfer by
giving  written  notice  to the  Trustee  or the  Paying  Agent  to such  effect
designating  such  account  no  later  than 30 days  immediately  preceding  the
relevant  due date for  payment (or such other date as the Trustee may accept in
its discretion).

3.  PAYING AGENT AND REGISTRAR

                  Initially, United States Trust Company of New York, a New York
corporation ("Trustee"), will act as Paying Agent and Registrar. The Company may
appoint and change any Paying Agent,  Registrar or co-registrar  without notice.
The Company or any of its domestically  incorporated  Wholly Owned  Subsidiaries
may act as Paying Agent, Registrar or co-registrar.

4.  INDENTURE

                  The Company issued the Securities  under an Indenture dated as
of March 1, 1998 ("Indenture"),  between the Company and the Trustee.  The terms
of the  Securities  include those stated in the Indenture and those made part of
the  Indenture  by  reference  to the  Trust  Indenture  Act of 1939 (15  U.S.C.
SectionSection  77aaa-77bbbb)  as in  effect on the date of the  Indenture  (the
"Act").  Terms defined in the Indenture and not defined herein have the meanings
ascribed thereto in the Indenture. The Securities are subject to all such terms,
and Securityholders are referred to the Indenture and the Act for a statement of
those terms.

                  The  Securities  are  general  unsecured  obligations  of  the
Company limited to $75,000,000  aggregate  principal  amount (subject to Section
2.07 of the Indenture).  The Indenture  contains certain covenants which,  among
other things,  will limit (i) the incurrence of additional  indebtedness  by the
Company  and  certain of its  subsidiaries,  (ii) the  payment of  dividends  on
capital  stock of the Company and the  purchase,  redemption  or  retirement  of
capital stock or  subordinated  indebtedness,  (iii) certain  investments,  (iv)
certain  transactions with affiliates,  (v) certain liens and sale and leaseback
transactions, (vi) sales of assets and (vii) certain consolidations and mergers.
The Indenture also will prohibit  certain  restrictions  on  distributions  from
subsidiaries. All of these limitations and prohibitions, however, are subject to
a number of important qualifications.

<PAGE>
                                                                               6

5. OPTIONAL REDEMPTION

                  The  Securities may not be redeemed prior to March 1, 2002. On
and after that date,  the Company may redeem the Securities in whole at any time
or in part from time to time at the following  redemption  prices  (expressed in
percentages of principal  amount),  plus accrued interest to the redemption date
(subject  to the  right of  Holders  of record on the  relevant  record  date to
receive  interest due on the related  interest payment date), if redeemed during
the 12-month period beginning March 1,



 PERIOD                                                              PERCENTAGE
 ------                                                              ----------

2002........................................................          104.625%

2003........................................................          102.313

2004 and thereafter.........................................          100.000

6.  NOTICE OF REDEMPTION

                  Notice of  redemption  will be mailed at least 30 days but not
more than 60 days before the redemption  date to each Holder of Securities to be
redeemed at his  registered  address.  Securities in  denominations  larger than
$1,000 may be redeemed in part but only in whole  multiples of $1,000.  If money
sufficient to pay the redemption price of and accrued interest on all Securities
(or portions  thereof) to be redeemed on the  redemption  date is deposited with
the Paying Agent on or before the redemption  date and certain other  conditions
are  satisfied,  on and  after  such  date  interest  ceases  to  accrue on such
Securities (or such portions thereof) called for redemption.

7.  EXCESS CASH PURCHASE OFFER

                  Within  90  days  following  the  end  of  each  fiscal  year,
commencing  with the fiscal year ending  September  30, 1998,  the Company shall
make an offer to all holders of  Securities  to purchase  the maximum  principal
amount  of  Securities  that is an  integral  multiple  of  $1,000  that  may be
purchased with 50% of the Excess Cash Flow in respect of the year then ended, at
an offer price equal to 102% of the  principal  amount of the  Securities  to be
purchased,  plus accrued and unpaid interest,  if any, to the date fixed for the
closing of such Excess Cash Purchase Offer.  The Excess Cash Purchase Offer will
be required to remain open for 20 Business


<PAGE>
                                                                               7


Days  following  its  commencement  and no longer,  except to the extent  that a
longer period is required by applicable law. Upon the expiration of such period,
the  Company  will apply the Excess  Cash Offer  Amount to the  purchase  of all
Securities  tendered at the Excess Cash Offer Price. If the aggregate  principal
amount of Securities  tendered  pursuant to any such Excess Cash Purchase  Offer
exceeds the Excess Cash Offer  Amount,  the Company will be required to purchase
Securities on a pro rata basis (subject to minimum denominations). To the extent
that the  aggregate  principal  amount of  Securities  tendered  pursuant to any
Excess  Cash  Purchase  Offer is less than the  Excess  Cash Offer  Amount  with
respect  thereto,  the  Company  may,  subject  to the other  provisions  of the
Indenture,  use any remaining Excess Cash Flow for general  corporate  purposes.
Notwithstanding  the  foregoing,  the  Company  shall not be required to make an
Excess Cash Purchase  Offer or to apply any Excess Cash Flow in accordance  with
this paragraph unless and until Excess Cash Flow exceeds $1.0 million.

8.  PUT PROVISIONS

                  Upon a Change of Control,  any Holder of Securities  will have
the right to cause the Company to repurchase  all or any part of the  Securities
of such Holder at a repurchase  price equal to 101% of the  principal  amount of
the Securities to be repurchased plus accrued interest to the date of repurchase
(subject  to the  right of  holders  of record on the  relevant  record  date to
receive  interest due on the related  interest payment date) as provided in, and
subject to the terms of, the Indenture.

9.  DENOMINATIONS; TRANSFER; EXCHANGE

                  The  Securities  are in  registered  form  without  coupons in
denominations  of $1,000 and whole multiples of $1,000. A Holder may transfer or
exchange Securities in accordance with the Indenture.  The Registrar may require
a Holder,  among other things, to furnish  appropriate  endorsements or transfer
documents  and to pay any taxes and fees  required  by law or  permitted  by the
Indenture.  The  Registrar  need not  register  the  transfer of or exchange any
Securities  selected  for  redemption  (except,  in the case of a Security to be
redeemed  in part,  the  portion  of the  Security  not to be  redeemed)  or any
Securities  for a period  of 15 days  before a  selection  of  Securities  to be
redeemed or 15 days before an interest payment date.

<PAGE>
                                                                               8


10.  PERSONS DEEMED OWNERS

                  The  registered  Holder of this Security may be treated as the
owner of it for all purposes.

11.  UNCLAIMED MONEY

                  If money for the  payment of  principal  or  interest  remains
unclaimed for two years, the Trustee or Paying Agent shall pay the money back to
the Company at its request unless an abandoned  property law designates  another
Person. After any such payment,  Holders entitled to the money must look only to
the Company and not to the Trustee for payment.


12.  DISCHARGE AND DEFEASANCE

                  Subject to  certain  conditions,  the  Company at any time may
terminate some or all of its obligations  under the Securities and the Indenture
if the Company  deposits with the Trustee money or U.S.  Government  Obligations
for the payment of principal  and interest on the  Securities  to  redemption or
maturity, as the case may be.

13.  AMENDMENT, WAIVER

                  Subject to certain exceptions set forth in the Indenture,  (i)
the Indenture or the Securities  may be amended with the written  consent of the
Holders of at least a majority in principal amount outstanding of the Securities
and (ii) any default or noncompliance  with any provision may be waived with the
written consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount  outstanding of
the  Securities.  Subject  to  certain  exceptions  set forth in the  Indenture,
without the consent of any Securityholder, the Company and the Trustee may amend
the  Indenture or the  Securities  to cure any  ambiguity,  omission,  defect or
inconsistency,  or to comply with Article 5 of the Indenture,  or to provide for
uncertificated Securities in addition to or in place of certificated Securities,
or to add guarantees with respect to the Securities or to secure the Securities,
or to add additional  covenants or surrender  rights and powers conferred on the
Company,  or to comply with any request of the SEC in connection with qualifying
the  Indenture  under the Act,  or to make any  change  that does not  adversely
affect the rights of any Securityholder.

<PAGE>
                                                                               9


14.  DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES

                  Under the Indenture, Events of Default include (i) default for
30 days in payment of interest  on the  Securities;  (ii)  default in payment of
principal on the Securities at maturity, upon redemption pursuant to paragraph 5
or 6 of the  Securities,  upon  acceleration  or  otherwise,  or  failure by the
Company to redeem or purchase  Securities  when  required;  (iii) failure by the
Company to comply with other  agreements in the Indenture or the Securities,  in
certain  cases subject to notice and lapse of time;  (iv) certain  accelerations
(including failure to pay within any grace period after final maturity) of other
Indebtedness  of the Company if the amount  accelerated  (or so unpaid)  exceeds
$5.0 million; (v) certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency with respect to the
Company and the Significant Subsidiaries;  and (vi) certain judgments or decrees
for the  payment  of money in excess  of $5.0  million.  If an Event of  Default
occurs  and is  continuing,  the  Trustee  or the  Holders  of at  least  25% in
principal  amount of the Securities may declare all the Securities to be due and
payable  immediately.  Certain  events of bankruptcy or insolvency are Events of
Default which will result in the  Securities  being due and payable  immediately
upon the occurrence of such Events of Default.

                  Securityholders   may  not  enforce  the   Indenture   or  the
Securities  except as  provided  in the  Indenture.  The  Trustee  may refuse to
enforce the Indenture or the Securities unless it receives reasonable  indemnity
or security. Subject to certain limitations,  Holders of a majority in principal
amount of the  Securities may direct the Trustee in its exercise of any trust or
power.  The Trustee may withhold from  Securityholders  notice of any continuing
Default  (except a Default in payment of principal or interest) if it determines
that withholding notice is in the interest of the Holders.

15.  TRUSTEE DEALINGS WITH THE COMPANY

                  Subject to certain limitations imposed by the Act, the Trustee
under the  Indenture,  in its individual or any other  capacity,  may become the
owner  or  pledgee  of  Securities  and may  otherwise  deal  with  and  collect
obligations  owed to it by the Company or its  Affiliates and may otherwise deal
with the Company or its Affiliates with the same rights it would have if it were
not Trustee.


<PAGE>
                                                                              10


16.  NO RECOURSE AGAINST OTHERS

                  A director,  officer, employee or stockholder, as such, of the
Company or the Trustee shall not have any liability for any  obligations  of the
Company  under the  Securities  or the  Indenture  or for any claim based on, in
respect of or by reason of such  obligations or their  creation.  By accepting a
Security, each Securityholder waives and releases all such liability. The waiver
and release are part of the consideration for the issue of the Securities.

17.  AUTHENTICATION

                  This Security shall not be valid until an authorized signatory
of the Trustee (or an  authenticating  agent)  manually signs the certificate of
authentication on the other side of this Security.

18.  ABBREVIATIONS

                  Customary   abbreviations  may  be  used  in  the  name  of  a
Securityholder  or an assignee,  such as TEN COM  (=tenants in common),  TEN ENT
(=tenants by the entireties), JT TEN (=joint tenants with rights of survivorship
and not as tenants in common), CUST (=custodian),  and U/G/M/A (=Uniform Gift to
Minors Act).

19.  HOLDERS' COMPLIANCE WITH REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

                  Each Holder of a Security, by acceptance hereof,  acknowledges
and agrees to the provisions of the Registration  Rights  Agreement,  including,
without   limitation,   the  obligations  of  the  Holders  with  respect  to  a
registration  and the  indemnification  of the  Company to the  extent  provided
therein.

20.  GOVERNING LAW

                  THIS   SECURITY   SHALL  BE  GOVERNED  BY,  AND  CONSTRUED  IN
ACCORDANCE  WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK BUT WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO
APPLICABLE  PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW TO THE EXTENT THAT THE APPLICATION OF
THE LAWS OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION WOULD BE REQUIRED THEREBY.

                  THE COMPANY  WILL FURNISH TO ANY  SECURITYHOLDER  UPON WRITTEN
REQUEST AND WITHOUT CHARGE TO THE  SECURITYHOLDER  A


<PAGE>
                                                                              11


COPY OF THE INDENTURE  WHICH HAS IN IT THE TEXT OF THIS SECURITY IN LARGER TYPE.
REQUESTS MAY BE MADE TO:

                  AMERICAN PACIFIC CORPORATION
                  3770 HOWARD HUGHES PARKWAY, SUITE 300
                  LAS VEGAS, NV 89109

                  ATTENTION OF:  CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER




<PAGE>
                                                                              12

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


                                 ASSIGNMENT FORM

To assign this Security, fill in the form below:

I or we assign and transfer this Security to


         (Print or type assignee's name, address and zip code)

         (Insert assignee's soc. sec. or tax I.D. No.)


and irrevocably appoint  ___________________  agent to transfer this Security on
the books of the Company. The agent may substitute another to act for him.


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

Date: ____________________________________ Your Signature: _____________________


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

Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Security.

In  connection  with any  transfer of any of the  Securities  evidenced  by this
certificate  occurring prior to the expiration of the period referred to in Rule
144(k) under the Securities Act after the later of the date of original issuance
of such  Securities  and the last date,  if any, on which such  Securities  were
owned by the Company or any Affiliate of the Company,  the undersigned  confirms
that such Securities are being transferred in accordance with its terms:

CHECK ONE BOX BELOW

         (1)      / /      to the Company; or

         (2)      / /      pursuant to an effective registration statement under
                           the Securities Act of 1933; or

         (3)      / /      inside   the   United    States   to   a   "qualified
                           institutional  buyer" (as  defined in Rule 144A under
                           the  Securities  Act of 1933) that  purchases for its
                           own  account  or  for  the


<PAGE>
                                                                              13

                           account of a  qualified  institutional  buyer to whom
                           notice is given that such  transfer  is being made in
                           reliance on Rule 144A,  in each case  pursuant to and
                           in compliance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act
                           of 1933; or

         (4)      / /      outside the United States in an offshore  transaction
                           within  the  meaning  of   Regulation   S  under  the
                           Securities Act in compliance  with Rule 904 under the
                           Securities Act of 1933; or

         (5)      / /      pursuant   to  another   available   exemption   from
                           registration   provided   by  Rule  144   under   the
                           Securities Act of 1933.

         Unless one of the boxes is checked, the Trustee will refuse to register
         any of the Securities  evidenced by this certificate in the name of any
         person other than the registered  holder  thereof;  PROVIDED,  HOWEVER,
         that if box (4) or (5) is checked,  the Trustee may  require,  prior to
         registering any such transfer of the  Securities,  such legal opinions,
         certifications  and other  information  as the Company  has  reasonably
         requested  to confirm that such  transfer is being made  pursuant to an
         exemption  from, or in a transaction  not subject to, the  registration
         requirements  of the  Securities  Act of  1933,  such as the  exemption
         provided by Rule 144 under such Act.


                                                     --------------------------
                                                       Signature

Signature Guarantee:

- ---------------------------                          --------------------------
Signature must be guaranteed                                   Signature

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


              TO BE COMPLETED BY PURCHASER IF (3) ABOVE IS CHECKED.

                  The undersigned  represents and warrants that it is purchasing
this  Security  for its own  account  or an  account  with  respect  to which it
exercises  sole  investment  discretion  and that it and any such  account  is a
"qualified  institutional  buyer"  within  the  meaning  of Rule 144A  under the
Securities  Act of  1933,  and is aware  that  the  sale to it is being  made in

<PAGE>
                                                                              14


reliance on Rule 144A and  acknowledges  that it has received  such  information
regarding the Company as the undersigned has requested  pursuant to Rule 144A or
has  determined  not to request such  information  and that it is aware that the
transferor is relying upon the undersigned's foregoing  representations in order
to claim the exemption from registration provided by Rule 144A.


Dated: ________________                           ______________________________
                                                  NOTICE:  To be executed by
                                                           an executive officer

<PAGE>
                                                                              15

                      [TO BE ATTACHED TO GLOBAL SECURITIES]

              SCHEDULE OF INCREASES OR DECREASES IN GLOBAL SECURITY

                  The following  increases or decreases in this Global  Security
have been made:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

              Amount of decrease in       Amount of increase in       Principal amount of this    Signature of authorized
Date of       Principal  Amount of this   Principal Amount of this    Global Security following   officer of Trustee or
Exchange      Global Security             Global Security             such decrease or increase)  Securities Custodian
- --------      ---------------             ---------------             --------------------------  --------------------
<S>           <C>                         <C>                         <C>                         <C>



</TABLE>






<PAGE>
                                                                              16

                       OPTION OF HOLDER TO ELECT PURCHASE

                  If you want to elect to have this  Security  purchased  by the
Company pursuant to Section 4.05, 4.07 or 4.10 of the Indenture, check the box:

                                        /   /

                  If you  want to  elect  to  have  only  part of this  Security
purchased  by the  Company  pursuant  to  Section  4.05,  4.07  or  4.10  of the
Indenture, state the amount in principal amount: $



Date: _______________   Your Signature:     ____________________________________
                                            (Sign exactly as your name appears
                                            on the other side of this Security.)

Signature Guarantee: _______________________________________
                         (Signature must be guaranteed)




<PAGE>
                                                                       EXHIBIT 2


        [FORM OF FACE OF EXCHANGE SECURITY OR PRIVATE EXCHANGE SECURITY]

/*/]
/**/]

No.                                                          Cusip No. 028740AC2
                                                                     $75,000,000

                          9 1/4% Senior Notes Due 2005

         American Pacific Corporation,  a Delaware corporation,  promises to pay
to CEDE & CO., or registered assigns,  the principal sum of SEVENTY FIVE MILLION
DOLLARS ($75,000,000) on March 1, 2005.

         Interest Payment Dates: March 1 and September 1, beginning September 1,
1998.

         Record Dates:  February 15 and August 15.

         Additional  provisions of this Security are set forth on the other side
of this Security.

Dated:

                                             AMERICAN PACIFIC CORPORATION,

                                              by
                                                -----------------------
                                                President

                                                -----------------------
                                                Secretary

[Seal]
TRUSTEE'S CERTIFICATE OF
AUTHENTICATION

UNITED STATES TRUST COMPANY
  OF NEW YORK
    ,
  as Trustee, certifies
  that this is one of
  the Securities referred
  to in the Indenture.

  by
    -----------------------------
   Authorized Signatory
<PAGE>
                                                                               2



- -------------------
/*/ [If the  Security is to be issued in global  form add the Global  Securities
Legend  from  Exhibit 1 to  Appendix A and the  attachment  from such  Exhibit 1
captioned  "[TO BE ATTACHED TO GLOBAL  SECURITIES]  - SCHEDULE OF  INCREASES  OR
DECREASES IN GLOBAL SECURITY".]

/**/ [If the  Security  is a  Private  Exchange  Security  issued  in a  Private
Exchange  to an  Initial  Purchaser  holding an unsold  portion  of its  initial
allotment, add the Restricted Securities Legend from Exhibit 1 to Appendix A and
replace the Assignment  Form included in this Exhibit A with the Assignment Form
included in such Exhibit 1.]



<PAGE>
                                                                               3

         [FORM OF REVERSE SIDE OF EXCHANGE SECURITY OR PRIVATE EXCHANGE
                                    SECURITY]


                           9 1/4% Senior Note Due 2005


1.  INTEREST

                  American Pacific  Corporation,  a Delaware  corporation  (such
corporation,  and its  successors  and assigns under the  Indenture  hereinafter
referred to, being herein called the "Company"), promises to pay interest on the
principal  amount of this Security at the rate per annum shown above;  PROVIDED,
HOWEVER,  that if a Registration  Default (as defined in the Registration Rights
Agreement) occurs, additional interest will accrue on this Security at a rate of
0.50%  per annum  from and  including  the date on which  any such  Registration
Default shall occur to but excluding the date on which all Registration Defaults
have been cured] ***/. The Company will pay interest semiannually on March 1 and
September 1 of each year.  Interest on the Securities  will accrue from the most
recent date to which  interest  has been paid or, if no interest  has been paid,
from March 12, 1998. Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of
twelve 30-day months. The Company shall pay interest on overdue principal at the
rate borne by the  Securities  plus 1% per annum,  and it shall pay  interest on
overdue installments of interest at the same rate to the extent lawful.








- -----------------
***/  Insert if at the time of  issuance  of the  Exchange  Security  or Private
Exchange Security (as the case may be) neither the Registered Exchange Offer has
been consummated nor a Shelf Registration  Statement has been declared effective
in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement.
<PAGE>
                                                                               4


2.  METHOD OF PAYMENT

                  The  Company  will  pay  interest  on the  Securities  (except
defaulted  interest) to the Persons who are registered  holders of Securities at
the  close of  business  on the  February  15 or August  15 next  preceding  the
interest  payment date even if Securities are canceled after the record date and
on or before the interest payment date.  Holders must surrender  Securities to a
Paying Agent to collect principal  payments.  The Company will pay principal and
interest  in money of the  United  States  that at the time of  payment is legal
tender  for  payment  of public  and  private  debts.  Payments  in  respect  of
Securities  (including  principal,  premium and  interest)  will be made by wire
transfer of immediately available funds to the accounts specified by the holders
thereof or, if no U.S. dollar account maintained by the payee with a bank in the
United  States is designated by any holder to the Trustee or the Paying Agent at
least 30 days prior to the  relevant due date for payment (or such other date as
the Trustee may accept in its discretion),  by mailing a check to the registered
address of such holder.

3.  PAYING AGENT AND REGISTRAR

                  Initially, United States Trust Company of New York, a New York
corporation ("Trustee"), will act as Paying Agent and Registrar. The Company may
appoint and change any Paying Agent,  Registrar or co-registrar  without notice.
The Company or any of its domestically  incorporated  Wholly Owned  Subsidiaries
may act as Paying Agent, Registrar or co-registrar.

4.  INDENTURE

                  The Company issued the Securities  under an Indenture dated as
of March 1, 1998 ("Indenture"),  between the Company and the Trustee.  The terms
of the  Securities  include those stated in the Indenture and those made part of
the  Indenture  by  reference  to the  Trust  Indenture  Act of 1939 (15  U.S.C.
SectionSection  77aaa-77bbbb)  as in  effect on the date of the  Indenture  (the
"Act").  Terms defined in the Indenture and not defined herein have the meanings
ascribed thereto in the Indenture. The Securities are subject to all such terms,
and Securityholders are referred to the Indenture and the Act for a statement of
those terms.

                  The  Securities  are  general  unsecured  obligations  of  the
Company limited to $75,000,000  aggregate  principal  amount (subject to Section
2.07 of the Indenture).  The Indenture  contains certain covenants which,  among
other things,  will


<PAGE>
                                                                               5


limit (i) the incurrence of additional  indebtedness  by the Company and certain
of its  subsidiaries,  (ii) the  payment of  dividends  on capital  stock of the
Company  and  the  purchase,  redemption  or  retirement  of  capital  stock  or
subordinated indebtedness,  (iii) certain investments, (iv) certain transactions
with  affiliates,  (v) certain liens and sale and leaseback  transactions,  (vi)
sales of assets and (vii) certain consolidations and mergers. The Indenture also
will prohibit certain  restrictions on distributions from  subsidiaries.  All of
these  limitations  and  prohibitions,  however,  are  subject  to a  number  of
important qualifications.

5. OPTIONAL REDEMPTION

                  The  Securities may not be redeemed prior to March 1, 2002. On
and after that date,  the Company may redeem the Securities in whole at any time
or in part from time to time at the following  redemption  prices  (expressed in
percentages of principal  amount),  plus accrued interest to the redemption date
(subject  to the  right of  Holders  of record on the  relevant  record  date to
receive  interest due on the related  interest payment date), if redeemed during
the 12-month period beginning March 1,

             PERIOD                                                PERCENTAGE

2002....................................................           104.625%

2003....................................................           102.313

2004 and thereafter.....................................           100.000

6.  NOTICE OF REDEMPTION

                  Notice of  redemption  will be mailed at least 30 days but not
more than 60 days before the redemption  date to each Holder of Securities to be
redeemed at his  registered  address.  Securities in  denominations  larger than
$1,000 may be redeemed in part but only in whole  multiples of $1,000.  If money
sufficient to pay the redemption price of and accrued interest on all Securities
(or portions  thereof) to be redeemed on the  redemption  date is deposited with
the Paying Agent on or before the redemption  date and certain other  conditions
are  satisfied,  on and  after  such  date  interest  ceases  to  accrue on such
Securities (or such portions thereof) called for redemption.


<PAGE>
                                                                               6


7.  EXCESS CASH PURCHASE OFFER

                  Within  90  days  following  the  end  of  each  fiscal  year,
commencing  with the fiscal year ending  September  30, 1998,  the Company shall
make an offer to all holders of  Securities  to purchase  the maximum  principal
amount  of  Securities  that is an  integral  multiple  of  $1,000  that  may be
purchased with 50% of the Excess Cash Flow in respect of the year then ended, at
an offer price equal to 102% of the  principal  amount of the  Securities  to be
purchased,  plus accrued and unpaid interest,  if any, to the date fixed for the
closing of such Excess Cash Purchase Offer.  The Excess Cash Purchase Offer will
be required to remain open for 20 Business Days following its  commencement  and
no longer,  except to the extent that a longer  period is required by applicable
law. Upon the expiration of such period,  the Company will apply the Excess Cash
Offer Amount to the purchase of all Securities tendered at the Excess Cash Offer
Price. If the aggregate  principal amount of Securities tendered pursuant to any
such Excess Cash  Purchase  Offer  exceeds  the Excess  Cash Offer  Amount,  the
Company will be required to purchase  Securities on a pro rata basis (subject to
minimum  denominations).  To the extent that the aggregate  principal  amount of
Securities  tendered pursuant to any Excess Cash Purchase Offer is less than the
Excess Cash Offer Amount with respect  thereto,  the Company may, subject to the
other  provisions  of the  Indenture,  use any  remaining  Excess  Cash Flow for
general corporate purposes. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall not
be required to make an Excess  Cash  Purchase  Offer or to apply any Excess Cash
Flow in accordance with this paragraph unless and until Excess Cash Flow exceeds
$1.0 million.

8.  PUT PROVISIONS

                  Upon a Change of Control,  any Holder of Securities  will have
the right to cause the Company to repurchase  all or any part of the  Securities
of such Holder at a repurchase  price equal to 101% of the  principal  amount of
the Securities to be repurchased plus accrued interest to the date of repurchase
(subject  to the  right of  holders  of record on the  relevant  record  date to
receive  interest due on the related  interest payment date) as provided in, and
subject to the terms of, the Indenture.

9.  DENOMINATIONS; TRANSFER; EXCHANGE

                  The  Securities  are in  registered  form  without  coupons in
denominations  of $1,000 and whole multiples of $1,000. A Holder may transfer or
exchange Securities in


<PAGE>
                                                                               7


accordance with the Indenture.  The Registrar may require a Holder,  among other
things, to furnish appropriate endorsements or transfer documents and to pay any
taxes and fees required by law or permitted by the Indenture. The Registrar need
not register the transfer of or exchange any Securities  selected for redemption
(except,  in the case of a Security to be  redeemed in part,  the portion of the
Security not to be redeemed) or any  Securities for a period of 15 days before a
selection  of  Securities  to be redeemed or 15 days before an interest  payment
date.

10.  PERSONS DEEMED OWNERS

                  The  registered  Holder of this Security may be treated as the
owner of it for all purposes.

11.  UNCLAIMED MONEY

                  If money for the  payment of  principal  or  interest  remains
unclaimed for two years, the Trustee or Paying Agent shall pay the money back to
the Company at its request unless an abandoned  property law designates  another
Person. After any such payment,  Holders entitled to the money must look only to
the Company and not to the Trustee for payment.

12.  DISCHARGE AND DEFEASANCE

                  Subject to  certain  conditions,  the  Company at any time may
terminate some or all of its obligations  under the Securities and the Indenture
if the Company  deposits with the Trustee money or U.S.  Government  Obligations
for the payment of principal  and interest on the  Securities  to  redemption or
maturity, as the case may be.

13.  AMENDMENT, WAIVER

                  Subject to certain exceptions set forth in the Indenture,  (i)
the Indenture or the Securities  may be amended with the written  consent of the
Holders of at least a majority in principal amount outstanding of the Securities
and (ii) any default or noncompliance  with any provision may be waived with the
written consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount  outstanding of
the  Securities.  Subject  to  certain  exceptions  set forth in the  Indenture,
without the consent of any Securityholder, the Company and the Trustee may amend
the  Indenture or the  Securities  to cure any  ambiguity,  omission,  defect or
inconsistency,  or to comply with Article 5 of the Indenture,  or to provide for
uncertificated Securities in addition to or in place of certificated Securities,
or to add guarantees with respect to the Securities or to secure the


<PAGE>
                                                                               8


Securities,  or to add  additional  covenants  or  surrender  rights  and powers
conferred on the Company, or to comply with any request of the SEC in connection
with qualifying the Indenture under the Act, or to make any change that does not
adversely affect the rights of any Securityholder.

14.  DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES

                  Under the Indenture, Events of Default include (i) default for
30 days in payment of interest  on the  Securities;  (ii)  default in payment of
principal on the Securities at maturity, upon redemption pursuant to paragraph 5
or 6 of the  Securities,  upon  acceleration  or  otherwise,  or  failure by the
Company to redeem or purchase  Securities  when  required;  (iii) failure by the
Company to comply with other  agreements in the Indenture or the Securities,  in
certain  cases subject to notice and lapse of time;  (iv) certain  accelerations
(including failure to pay within any grace period after final maturity) of other
Indebtedness  of the Company if the amount  accelerated  (or so unpaid)  exceeds
$5.0 million; (v) certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency with respect to the
Company and the Significant Subsidiaries;  and (vi) certain judgments or decrees
for the  payment  of money in excess  of $5.0  million.  If an Event of  Default
occurs  and is  continuing,  the  Trustee  or the  Holders  of at  least  25% in
principal  amount of the Securities may declare all the Securities to be due and
payable  immediately.  Certain  events of bankruptcy or insolvency are Events of
Default which will result in the  Securities  being due and payable  immediately
upon the occurrence of such Events of Default.

                  Securityholders   may  not  enforce  the   Indenture   or  the
Securities  except as  provided  in the  Indenture.  The  Trustee  may refuse to
enforce the Indenture or the Securities unless it receives reasonable  indemnity
or security. Subject to certain limitations,  Holders of a majority in principal
amount of the  Securities may direct the Trustee in its exercise of any trust or
power.  The Trustee may withhold from  Securityholders  notice of any continuing
Default  (except a Default in payment of principal or interest) if it determines
that withholding notice is in the interest of the Holders.

15.  TRUSTEE DEALINGS WITH THE COMPANY

                  Subject to certain limitations imposed by the Act, the Trustee
under the  Indenture,  in its individual or any other  capacity,  may become the
owner  or  pledgee  of  Securities  and may  otherwise  deal  with  and  collect
obligations  owed to it by the Company or its  Affiliates and may otherwise deal
with

<PAGE>
                                                                               9

the Company or its Affiliates  with the same rights it would have if it were not
Trustee.

16.  NO RECOURSE AGAINST OTHERS

                  A director,  officer, employee or stockholder, as such, of the
Company or the Trustee shall not have any liability for any  obligations  of the
Company  under the  Securities  or the  Indenture  or for any claim based on, in
respect of or by reason of such  obligations or their  creation.  By accepting a
Security, each Securityholder waives and releases all such liability. The waiver
and release are part of the consideration for the issue of the Securities.

17.  AUTHENTICATION

                  This Security shall not be valid until an authorized signatory
of the Trustee (or an  authenticating  agent)  manually signs the certificate of
authentication on the other side of this Security.

18.  ABBREVIATIONS

                  Customary   abbreviations  may  be  used  in  the  name  of  a
Securityholder  or an assignee,  such as TEN COM  (=tenants in common),  TEN ENT
(=tenants by the entireties), JT TEN (=joint tenants with rights of survivorship
and not as tenants in common), CUST (=custodian),  and U/G/M/A (=Uniform Gift to
Minors Act).

19.  CUSIP NUMBERS

                  Pursuant to a  recommendation  promulgated by the Committee on
Uniform Security Identification  Procedures the Company has caused CUSIP numbers
to be  printed  on the  Securities  and has  directed  the  Trustee to use CUSIP
numbers  in  notices of  redemption  as a  convenience  to  Securityholders.  No
representation  is made as to the accuracy of such numbers  either as printed on
the  Securities or as contained in any notice of redemption  and reliance may be
placed only on the other identification numbers placed thereon.

20.  HOLDERS' COMPLIANCE WITH REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

                  Each Holder of a Security, by acceptance hereof,  acknowledges
and agrees to the provisions of the Registration  Rights  Agreement,  including,
without   limitation,   the  obligations  of  the  Holders  with  respect  to  a
registration  and the  indemnification  of the  Company to the  extent  provided
therein.


<PAGE>
                                                                              10


21.  GOVERNING LAW

                  THIS   SECURITY   SHALL  BE  GOVERNED  BY,  AND  CONSTRUED  IN
ACCORDANCE  WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK BUT WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO
APPLICABLE  PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW TO THE EXTENT THAT THE APPLICATION OF
THE LAWS OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION WOULD BE REQUIRED THEREBY.

                  THE COMPANY  WILL FURNISH TO ANY  SECURITYHOLDER  UPON WRITTEN
REQUEST AND WITHOUT CHARGE TO THE  SECURITYHOLDER  A COPY OF THE INDENTURE WHICH
HAS IN IT THE TEXT OF THIS SECURITY IN LARGER TYPE. REQUESTS MAY BE MADE TO:

                  AMERICAN PACIFIC CORPORATION
                  3770 HOWARD HUGHES PARKWAY, SUITE 300
                  LAS VEGAS, NV 89109

                  ATTENTION OF:  CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER



<PAGE>
                                                                              11


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

                                 ASSIGNMENT FORM

To assign this Security, fill in the form below:

I or we assign and transfer this Security to


         (Print or type assignee's name, address and zip code)

         (Insert assignee's soc. sec. or tax I.D. No.)


and irrevocably appoint             agent to transfer this Security on the books
of the Company.  The agent may substitute another to act for him.


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

Date: ________________________________ Your Signature:   _______________________


- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Security.



<PAGE>
                                                                              12

                       OPTION OF HOLDER TO ELECT PURCHASE

                  If you want to elect to have this  Security  purchased  by the
Company pursuant to Section 4.05, 4.07 or 4.10 of the Indenture,  check the box:

                                       / /

                  If you  want to  elect  to  have  only  part of this  Security
purchased  by the  Company  pursuant  to  Section  4.05,  4.07  or  4.10  of the
Indenture, state the amount: $


Date: __________________  Your Signature: ______________________________________
                                          (Sign exactly as your name  appears on
                                          the other side of the Security)


Signature Guarantee:____________________________________________________________
                    (Signature  must be  guaranteed  by a member
                    firm of the New  York  Stock  Exchange  or a
                    commercial bank or trust company)



                     OLSHAN GRUNDMAN FROME & ROSENGWEIG LLP
                                505 PARK AVENUE
                            NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10022
                                 (212) 753-7200


                                                     April 10, 1998






Securities and Exchange Commission
450 Fifth Street, N.W.
Judiciary Plaza
Washington, D.C.  20549

                  Re:      American Pacific Corporation -
                           Registration Statement on Form S-4

Ladies and Gentlemen:

                  Reference  is  made  to  the   above-referenced   Registration
Statement on Form S-4 (the  "Registration  Statement") filed with the Securities
and Exchange  Commission by American Pacific  Corporation (the "Company") on the
date hereof, and the prospectus forming a part thereof (the  "Prospectus").  The
Registration  Statement  relates to an offer with respect to the  exchange  (the
"Exchange  Offer") of outstanding 9 1/4% Senior Notes due 2005 (the "Old Notes")
of the  Company for 9 1/4% Senior  Exchange  Notes due 2005 of the Company  (the
"New Notes" and together with the Old Notes, the "Notes"). The form and terms of
the New Notes are  identical in all  material  respects to the form and terms of
the Old  Notes,  except  that the  offer  and sale of the New  Notes  have  been
registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

                  We  advise  you  that we have  examined  originals  or  copies
certified  or  otherwise   identified  to  our   satisfaction  of  the  Restated
Certificate  of  Incorporation  and By-laws of the  Company,  each as amended to
date,  corporate  proceedings of the Company, the Indenture dated as of March 1,
1998,  by and among the Company and United  States Trust Company of New York, as
Trustee,  relating  to the  Notes  and such  other  documents,  instruments  and
certificates  of  officers  and   representatives  of  the  Company  and  public
officials,  and we have  made such  examination  of the law,  as we have  deemed
appropriate as the basis for the opinion hereinafter  expressed.  In making such
examination, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the authenticity
of all documents submitted to us as


<PAGE>
Securities and Exchange Commission
April 10, 1998
Page -2-

originals, and the conformity to original documents of documents submitted to us
as certified or photostatic copies.

                  Based upon the  foregoing,  we are of the opinion that the New
Notes,  upon issuance in accordance with the terms of the Exchange  Offer,  will
have been duly and validly issued,  and will constitute legal, valid and binding
obligations of the Company,  enforceable  against the Company in accordance with
their terms, except as such enforceability may be limited or affected by (i) any
applicable  bankruptcy,  insolvency,  moratorium  or other similar law affecting
generally the rights of creditors, now or hereafter in effect, and (ii) the fact
that  equitable  remedies or relief  (including but not limited to the remedy of
specific performance) are subject to the discretion of the court from which such
relief may be sought.

                  Our opinion with respect to the United States  federal  income
tax consequences of the exchange of the New Notes for the Old Notes is set forth
in  full  under  the  caption   "Certain   United  States   Federal  Income  Tax
Consequences" in the Prospectus.

                  We are  members  of the Bar of the  State  of New  York and we
express no opinion  as to the laws of any  jurisdiction  other than those of the
State of New York and the federal laws of the United States of America.

                  We advise you that Mr. Victor M. Rosenzweig, a Director of the
Company,  is a member of this  firm,  owns  shares of  common  stock,  and holds
options to purchase common stock, of the Company.

                  We consent to the  reference  to this firm under the  captions
"Legal Matters" and "Certain United States Federal Income
Tax Considerations" in the Prospectus.

                                     Very truly yours,



                                     /S/ OLSHAN GRUNDMAN FROME & ROSENZWEIG LLP
                                     ------------------------------------------
                                         OLSHAN GRUNDMAN FROME & ROSENZWEIG LLP




                         INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' CONSENT

American Pacific Corporation and Subsidiaries:

We consent to the incorporation by reference in this  Registration  Statement of
American Pacific Corporation and Subsidiaries (the "Company") on Form S-4 of our
report dated  November 14, 1997,  appearing in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of
American  Pacific  Corporation for the year ended September 30, 1997, and of our
report dated March 6, 1998, on Gibson Ranch Limited  Liability Company appearing
in the  Company's  Form  10-K as  amended  by Form  10-K/A  for the  year  ended
September  30, 1997,  and to the  reference to us  under the headings  "Selected
Consolidated  Financial  Information" and "Experts" in the Prospectus,  which is
part of this Registration Statement.


/S/ DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
- -------------------------
DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP


Las Vegas, Nevada
April 8, 1998


                                    FORM T-1
                 ==============================================

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
                               ------------------

                            STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY
                    UNDER THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939 OF
                   A CORPORATION DESIGNATED TO ACT AS TRUSTEE
                               ------------------

                      CHECK IF AN APPLICATION TO DETERMINE
                      ELIGIBILITY OF A TRUSTEE PURSUANT TO
                            SECTION 305(b)(2) _______
                               ------------------

                     UNITED STATES TRUST COMPANY OF NEW YORK
               (Exact name of trustee as specified in its charter)


            New York                                     13-3818954
 (Jurisdiction of incorporation                       (I.R.S. employer
  if not a U.S. national bank)                       identification No.)

      114 West 47th Street                               10036-1532
          New York, NY                                   (Zip Code)
      (Address of principal
       executive offices)

                               ------------------
                          AMERICAN PACIFIC CORPORATION
               (Exact name of obligor as specified in its charter)

                Delaware                                  59-6490478
    (State or other jurisdiction of                    (I.R.S. employer
     incorporation or organization)                   identification No.)

       3770 Howard Hughes Parkway
                Suite 300
            Las Vegas, Nevada                                89109
(Address of principal executive offices)                  (Zip Code)
                               ------------------
                          9 1/4% Senior Notes due 2005
                       (Title of the indenture securities)
                 ==============================================

<PAGE>
                                     GENERAL


1.     GENERAL INFORMATION

       Furnish the following information as to the trustee:

       (a)  Name and address of each examining or supervising authority to which
            it is subject.

                 Federal Reserve Bank of New York (2nd District),  New York, New
                 York
                        (Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System)
                 Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Washington, D.C.
                 New York State Banking Department, Albany, New York

       (b) Whether it is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers.

                 The trustee is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers.

2.     AFFILIATIONS WITH THE OBLIGOR

       If the  obligor  is an  affiliate  of the  trustee,  describe  each  such
affiliation.

                 None

3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15:

       American Pacific Corporation currently is not in default under any of its
       outstanding  securities for which United States Trust Company of New York
       is Trustee. Accordingly,  responses to Items 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11,
       12, 13, 14 and 15 of Form T-1 are not required under General  Instruction
       B.

16.    LIST OF EXHIBITS

       T-1.1   --  Organization Certificate,  as amended, issued by the State of
                   New York Banking  Department to transact  business as a Trust
                   Company,  is  incorporated  by reference to Exhibit  T-1.1 to
                   Form T-1 filed on  September  15,  1995  with the  Commission
                   pursuant to the Trust  Indenture  Act of 1939,  as amended by
                   the Trust  Indenture  Reform  Act of 1990  (Registration  No.
                   33-97056).

       T-1.2   --  Included in Exhibit T-1.1.

       T-1.3   --  Included in Exhibit T-1.1.

                                      -2-

<PAGE>
16.    LIST OF EXHIBITS
       (cont'd)

       T-1.4   --  The By-Laws of United  States Trust  Company of New York,  as
                   amended,  is  incorporated  by reference to Exhibit  T-1.4 to
                   Form T-1 filed on  September  15,  1995  with the  Commission
                   pursuant to the Trust  Indenture  Act of 1939,  as amended by
                   the Trust  Indenture  Reform  Act of 1990  (Registration  No.
                   33-97056).

       T-1.6   --  The consent of the trustee  required by Section 321(b) of the
                   Trust  Indenture  Act  of  1939,  as  amended  by  the  Trust
                   Indenture Reform Act of 1990.

       T-1.7   --  A copy of the  latest  report  of  condition  of the  trustee
                   pursuant to law or the  requirements  of its  supervising  or
                   examining authority.

NOTE

As of  April  1,  1998,  the  trustee  had  2,999,020  shares  of  Common  Stock
outstanding,  all  of  which  are  owned  by  its  parent  company,  U.S.  Trust
Corporation. The term "trustee" in Item 2, refers to each of United States Trust
Company of New York and its parent company, U. S. Trust Corporation.

In answering Item 2 in this  statement of  eligibility as to matters  peculiarly
within the  knowledge  of the obligor or its  directors,  the trustee has relied
upon information  furnished to it by the obligor and will rely on information to
be furnished  by the obligor and the trustee  disclaims  responsibility  for the
accuracy or completeness of such information.

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

Pursuant to the  requirements  of the Trust  Indenture Act of 1939, the trustee,
United States Trust  Company of New York, a  corporation  organized and existing
under the laws of the State of New  York,  has duly  caused  this  statement  of
eligibility  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the  undersigned,  thereunto  duly
authorized,  all in the City of New York,  and State of New York, on the 2nd day
of April, 1998.

UNITED STATES TRUST COMPANY
            OF NEW YORK, Trustee

By: /s/ Louis P. Young
    ----------------------------
       Louis P. Young
       Vice President


<PAGE>
                                                                   EXHIBIT T-1.6

        The consent of the trustee required by Section 321(b) of the Act.

                     United States Trust Company of New York
                              114 West 47th Street
                               New York, NY 10036


January 7, 1997

Securities and Exchange Commission
450 5th Street, N.W.
Washington, DC  20549

Gentlemen:

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 321(b) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939,
as  amended  by the Trust  Indenture  Reform  Act of 1990,  and  subject  to the
limitations  set forth  therein,  United States Trust Company of New York ("U.S.
Trust") hereby  consents that reports of  examinations of U.S. Trust by Federal,
State,  Territorial or District authorities may be furnished by such authorities
to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon request therefor.




Very truly yours,


UNITED STATES TRUST COMPANY
            OF NEW YORK


            /S/GERARD F. GANEY
            ------------------
By:         Gerard F. Ganey
            Senior Vice President


<PAGE>
                                                                   EXHIBIT T-1.7

                     UNITED STATES TRUST COMPANY OF NEW YORK
                       CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CONDITION
                                DECEMBER 31, 1997
                                ($ IN THOUSANDS)

ASSETS
Cash and Due from Banks                                               $   80,246

Short-Term Investments                                                   386,006

Securities, Available for Sale                                           661,596

Loans                                                                  1,774,551
Less:  Allowance for Credit Losses                                        16,202
                                                                      ----------
        Net Loans                                                      1,758,349
Premises and Equipment                                                    61,477
Other Assets                                                             124,499
                                                                      ----------
        TOTAL ASSETS                                                  $3,072,173
                                                                      ==========

LIABILITIES
Deposits:
        Non-Interest Bearing                                          $  686,507
        Interest Bearing                                               1,773,254
                                                                      ----------
           Total Deposits                                              2,459,761
Short-Term Credit Facilities                                             295,342
Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities                                 149,775
                                                                      ----------
        TOTAL LIABILITIES                                             $2,904,878
                                                                      ==========

STOCKHOLDER'S EQUITY
Common Stock                                                              14,995
Capital Surplus                                                           49,541
Retained Earnings                                                        100,235
Unrealized Gains on Securities
     Available for Sale (Net of Taxes)                                     2,524
                                                                      ----------

TOTAL STOCKHOLDER'S EQUITY                                               167,295
                                                                      ----------
    TOTAL LIABILITIES AND
     STOCKHOLDER'S EQUITY                                             $3,072,173
                                                                      ==========

I, Richard E.  Brinkmann,  Senior Vice President & Comptroller of the named bank
do  hereby  declare  that this  Statement  of  Condition  has been  prepared  in
conformance with the instructions issued by the appropriate regulatory authority
and is true to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Richard E. Brinkmann, SVP & Controller

February 9, 1998

                                                                  EXECUTION COPY







                                   $75,000,000

                          AMERICAN PACIFIC CORPORATION

                          9 1/4% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2005


                          REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT


                                                                  March 12, 1998

Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation
   Eleven Madison Avenue
      New York, New York 10010-3629

Dear Sirs:

         American Pacific  Corporation,  a Delaware corporation (the "Company"),
proposes  to issue and sell to  Credit  Suisse  First  Boston  Corporation  (the
"Initial  Purchaser"),  upon the terms set forth in a purchase agreement of even
date herewith (the "Purchase Agreement"), $75,000,000 aggregate principal amount
of its 9 1/4%  Senior  Notes Due 2005 (the  "Initial  Securities").  The Initial
Securities  will be issued  pursuant to an  Indenture  dated as of March 1, 1998
(the  "Indenture"),  between the Company and United  States Trust Company of New
York, as trustee (the "Trustee").  As an inducement to the Initial  Purchaser to
enter  into  the  Purchase  Agreement,  the  Company  agrees  with  the  Initial
Purchaser,  for the benefit of the holders of the Initial Securities (including,
without limitation,  the Initial Purchaser), the Exchange Securities (as defined
below) and the Private Exchange Securities (as defined below)  (collectively the
"Holders"), as follows:

         1.  Registered  Exchange  Offer.  The Company  shall,  at its own cost,
prepare  and, not later than 45 days after (or if the 45th day is not a business
day,  the first  business  day  thereafter)  the date of  original  issue of the
Initial  Securities  (the "Issue  Date"),  file with the Securities and Exchange
Commission  (the  "Commission")  a registration  statement (the "Exchange  Offer
Registration  Statement")  on an  appropriate  form under the  Securities Act of
1933, as amended (the "Securities  Act"),  with respect to a proposed offer (the
"Registered  Exchange Offer") to the


<PAGE>

Holders of Initial  Securities,  who are not  prohibited by any law or policy of
the Commission from participating in the Registered Exchange Offer, to issue and
deliver  to such  Holders,  in  exchange  for  the  Initial  Securities,  a like
aggregate principal amount of debt securities (the "Exchange Securities") of the
Company issued under the Indenture and identical in all material respects to the
Initial Securities (except for the transfer restrictions relating to the Initial
Securities  and the  provisions  relating to the matters  described in Section 6
hereof) that would be registered under the Securities Act. The Company shall use
its best efforts to cause such Exchange Offer  Registration  Statement to become
effective under the Securities Act within 120 days (or if the 120th day is not a
business  day, the first  business day  thereafter)  after the Issue Date of the
Initial  Securities  and shall keep the Exchange  Offer  Registration  Statement
effective for not less than 30 days (or longer,  if required by applicable  law)
after the date notice of the Registered  Exchange Offer is mailed to the Holders
(such period being called the "Exchange Offer Registration Period").

         If the Company effects the Registered  Exchange Offer, the Company will
be  entitled  to  close  the  Registered   Exchange  Offer  30  days  after  the
commencement  thereof  provided  that the Company has  accepted  all the Initial
Securities  theretofore  validly  tendered in  accordance  with the terms of the
Registered Exchange Offer.

         Following the  declaration of the  effectiveness  of the Exchange Offer
Registration  Statement,  the Company  shall  promptly  commence the  Registered
Exchange  Offer,  it being the objective of such  Registered  Exchange  Offer to
enable each Holder of Transfer  Restricted  Securities  electing to exchange the
Initial Securities for Exchange Securities  (assuming that such Holder is not an
affiliate of the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act,  acquires the
Exchange  Securities in the ordinary course of such Holder's business and has no
arrangements  with any person to participate in the distribution of the Exchange
Securities  and is not  prohibited by any law or policy of the  Commission  from
participating  in  the  Registered   Exchange  Offer)  to  trade  such  Exchange
Securities  from and after their receipt without any limitations or restrictions
under the Securities Act and without material  restrictions under the securities
laws of the several states of the United States.

         The Company  acknowledges that, pursuant to current  interpretations by
the Commission's  staff of Section 5 of the Securities Act, in the absence of an
applicable exemption therefrom, (i) each Holder that is a broker-dealer electing
to  exchange  Initial  Securities  that were  acquired  for its own account as a
result of market making  activities or other  trading  activities,  for Exchange
Securities  (an

                                       2
<PAGE>

"Exchanging  Dealer"),  is  required  to  deliver a  prospectus  containing  the
information set forth in (a) Annex A hereto on the cover,  (b) Annex B hereto in
the "Exchange Offer Procedures"  section and the "Purpose of the Exchange Offer"
section,  and (c) Annex C hereto in the "Plan of  Distribution"  section of such
prospectus in connection with a sale of any such Exchange Securities received by
such Exchanging  Dealer  pursuant to the Registered  Exchange Offer and (ii) the
Initial  Purchaser,  if it elects to sell Securities (as defined below) acquired
in  exchange  for  Initial  Securities  constituting  any  portion  of an unsold
allotment,  is  required  to deliver a  prospectus  containing  the  information
required by Items 507 or 508 of Regulation S-K promulgated by the Commission, as
applicable, in connection with such sale.

         The  Company  shall use its best  efforts  to keep the  Exchange  Offer
Registration  Statement  effective and to amend and  supplement  the  prospectus
contained  therein,  in order to permit such prospectus to be lawfully delivered
by all persons subject to the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities
Act for such period of time as such persons  must comply with such  requirements
in order to resell the Exchange Securities;  PROVIDED,  HOWEVER, that (i) in the
case where such  prospectus  and any  amendment  or  supplement  thereto must be
delivered by an Exchanging Dealer or the Initial Purchaser, such period shall be
the  lesser of 180 days and the date on which  all  Exchanging  Dealers  and the
Initial  Purchaser have sold all Exchange  Securities  held by them (unless such
period is extended  pursuant to Section  3(j) below) and (ii) the Company  shall
make such  prospectus and any amendment or supplement  thereto  available to any
broker-dealer  for use in connection with any resale of any Exchange  Securities
for a period of not less than 180 days after the  consummation of the Registered
Exchange Offer.

         If, upon  consummation of the Registered  Exchange  Offer,  the Initial
Purchaser  holds  Initial  Securities  acquired  by it as  part  of its  initial
distribution,  the  Company,  simultaneously  with the  delivery of the Exchange
Securities pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer, shall issue and deliver to
the Initial  Purchaser  upon the written  request of the Initial  Purchaser,  in
exchange (the "Private Exchange") for the Initial Securities held by the Initial
Purchaser,  a like  principal  amount of debt  securities of the Company  issued
under the  Indenture  and  identical in all  material  respects  (including  the
existence  of  restrictions  on  transfer  under  the  Securities  Act  and  the
securities  laws of the  several  states of the  United  States,  but  excluding
provisions relating to the matters described in Section 6 hereof) to the Initial
Securities (the "Private  Exchange  Securities").  The Initial  Securities,  the
Exchange
                                       3

<PAGE>

Securities and the Private Exchange  Securities are herein  collectively  called
the "Securities".

         In connection with the Registered Exchange Offer, the Company shall:

                  (a) mail to each Holder a copy of the prospectus  forming part
         of  the  Exchange  Offer  Registration  Statement,   together  with  an
         appropriate letter of transmittal and related documents;

                  (b) keep the Registered  Exchange Offer open for not less than
         30 days (or  longer,  if  required  by  applicable  law) after the date
         notice thereof is mailed to the Holders;

                  (c) utilize the  services of a depositary  for the  Registered
         Exchange Offer with an address in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of
         New York, which may be the Trustee or an affiliate of the Trustee;

                  (d) permit Holders to withdraw tendered Securities at any time
         prior to the close of business, New York time, on the last business day
         on which the Registered Exchange Offer shall remain open; and

                  (e) otherwise comply with all applicable laws.

         As soon as practicable after the close of the Registered Exchange Offer
or the Private Exchange, as the case may be, the Company shall:

                  (x) accept for exchange all the  Securities  validly  tendered
         and not withdrawn  pursuant to the  Registered  Exchange  Offer and the
         Private Exchange;

                  (y) deliver to the Trustee  for  cancellation  all the Initial
         Securities so accepted for exchange; and

                  (z) cause the Trustee to authenticate  and deliver promptly to
         each Holder of the Initial  Securities,  Exchange Securities or Private
         Exchange  Securities,  as the case may be, equal in principal amount to
         the Initial Securities of such Holder so accepted for exchange.

         The  Indenture  will provide that the Exchange  Securities  will not be
subject to the transfer restrictions set forth in the Indenture and that all the
Securities  will vote and consent  together on all matters as one class and that
none of the  Securities  will  have  the  right  to vote or  consent  as a class
separate from one another on any matter.

                                       -4-

<PAGE>

         Interest on each Exchange Security and Private Exchange Security issued
pursuant  to the  Registered  Exchange  Offer and in the Private  Exchange  will
accrue from the last  interest  payment  date on which  interest was paid on the
Initial Securities  surrendered in exchange therefor or, if no interest has been
paid on the Initial  Securities,  from the date of original issue of the Initial
Securities.

         Each Holder  participating  in the  Registered  Exchange Offer shall be
required to represent to the Company that at the time of the consummation of the
Registered  Exchange Offer (i) any Exchange  Securities  received by such Holder
will be acquired in the ordinary course of business,  (ii) such Holder will have
no  arrangements  or  understanding  with  any  person  to  participate  in  the
distribution of the Securities or the Exchange  Securities within the meaning of
the Securities  Act, (iii) such Holder is not an "affiliate," as defined in Rule
405 of the Securities Act, of the Company or if it is an affiliate,  such Holder
will comply with the  registration and prospectus  delivery  requirements of the
Securities  Act  to  the  extent  applicable,  (iv)  if  such  Holder  is  not a
broker-dealer,  that it is not engaged in, and does not intend to engage in, the
distribution   of  the  Exchange   Securities  and  (v)  if  such  Holder  is  a
broker-dealer,  that it will receive Exchange  Securities for its own account in
exchange for Initial  Securities that were acquired as a result of market-making
activities  or  other  trading  activities  and  that  it will  be  required  to
acknowledge  that it will deliver a prospectus in connection  with any resale of
such Exchange Securities.

         Notwithstanding  any other provisions  hereof,  the Company will ensure
that (i) any Exchange Offer Registration Statement and any amendment thereto and
any prospectus  forming part thereof and any supplement  thereto complies in all
material  respects  with  the  Securities  Act and  the  rules  and  regulations
thereunder,  (ii) any Exchange  Offer  Registration  Statement and any amendment
thereto does not, when it becomes  effective,  contain an untrue  statement of a
material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated  therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading and (iii) any prospectus
forming part of any Exchange Offer Registration Statement, and any supplement to
such prospectus, does not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit
to state a material fact required to be stated  therein or necessary in order to
make the statements  therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they
were made, not misleading.

         2.  Shelf  Registration.  If,  (i)  because  of any change in law or in
applicable  interpretations thereof by the staff of the Commission,  the Company
is not  permitted to effect a Registered  Exchange  Offer,  as  contemplated  by
Section 1 hereof,  (ii) the Registered  Exchange Offer is not 

                                       -5-

<PAGE>
consummated  within 150 days of the Issue Date,  (iii) the Initial  Purchaser so
requests  with  respect  to the  Initial  Securities  (or the  Private  Exchange
Securities)  not  eligible  to be  exchanged  for  Exchange  Securities  in  the
Registered  Exchange  Offer  and  held  by  it  following  consummation  of  the
Registered  Exchange Offer or (iv) any Holder (other than an Exchanging  Dealer)
is not eligible to participate in the Registered  Exchange Offer or, in the case
of any  Holder  (other  than an  Exchanging  Dealer)  that  participates  in the
Registered  Exchange  Offer,  such  Holder  does not  receive  freely  tradeable
Exchange  Securities  on the date of the  exchange,  the Company  shall take the
following actions:

                  (a) The Company shall, at its cost, as promptly as practicable
         (but in no event  more  than 30 days  after so  required  or  requested
         pursuant to this  Section 2) file with the  Commission  and  thereafter
         shall  use its  best  efforts  to  cause  to be  declared  effective  a
         registration   statement  (the  "Shelf  Registration   Statement"  and,
         together   with  the   Exchange   Offer   Registration   Statement,   a
         "Registration  Statement") on an appropriate  form under the Securities
         Act  relating  to  the  offer  and  sale  of  the  Transfer  Restricted
         Securities (as defined in Section 6 hereof) by the Holders thereof from
         time to time in accordance with the methods of  distribution  set forth
         in the Shelf  Registration  Statement and Rule 415 under the Securities
         Act (hereinafter, the "Shelf Registration"); PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that no
         Holder (other than the Initial Purchaser) shall be entitled to have the
         Securities  held by it  covered by such  Shelf  Registration  Statement
         unless such Holder agrees in writing to be bound by all the  provisions
         of this Agreement applicable to such Holder.

                  (b) The Company  shall use its best  efforts to keep the Shelf
         Registration  Statement  continuously  effective in order to permit the
         prospectus  included therein to be lawfully delivered by the Holders of
         the relevant Securities,  for a period of two years (or for such longer
         period if extended pursuant to Section 3(j) below) from the date of its
         effectiveness  or such shorter  period that will terminate when all the
         Securities  covered by the Shelf  Registration  Statement (i) have been
         sold pursuant thereto or (ii) are no longer  restricted  securities (as
         defined in Rule 144 under the  Securities  Act, or any  successor  rule
         thereof) or are eligible for resale under the provisions of Rule 144(k)
         under the Securities  Act. The Company shall be deemed not to have used
         its best  efforts to keep the Shelf  Registration  Statement  effective
         during the  requisite  period if it  voluntarily  takes any action that
         would result in Holders of Securities covered thereby not being able to
         offer and
                                       -6-

<PAGE>
         sell such  Securities  during  that  period,  unless (i) such action is
         required by applicable  law or (ii) the Company is proceeding  promptly
         and in good  faith to  amend  or  supplement  such  Shelf  Registration
         Statement  and related  prospectus  to the extent  necessary  to enable
         Holders  of  Securities   covered   thereby  to  offer  and  sell  such
         Securities,  and such amendment or supplement  becomes effective within
         30 days after such action,  PROVIDED,  HOWEVER,  that there shall be no
         more than two actions to which this clause  (ii) is  applicable  in any
         twelve-month period.

                  (c)  Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement to
         the contrary,  the Company shall cause the Shelf Registration Statement
         and the related prospectus and any amendment or supplement  thereto, as
         of the effective date of the Shelf Registration Statement, amendment or
         supplement,  (i) to comply in all material respects with the applicable
         requirements of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations of the
         Commission  and (ii) not to contain any untrue  statement of a material
         fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated  therein or
         necessary  in  order to make the  statements  therein,  in light of the
         circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

         3. Registration  Procedures.  In connection with any Shelf Registration
contemplated by Section 2 hereof and, to the extent  applicable,  any Registered
Exchange Offer contemplated by Section 1 hereof, the following  provisions shall
apply:

                  (a) The Company  shall (i)  furnish to the Initial  Purchaser,
         prior  to the  filing  thereof  with  the  Commission,  a  copy  of the
         Registration  Statement and each amendment thereof and each supplement,
         if any, to the prospectus  included  therein and, in the event that the
         Initial  Purchaser (with respect to any portion of an unsold  allotment
         from the original offering) is participating in the Registered Exchange
         Offer or the Shelf  Registration  Statement,  the Company shall use its
         best efforts to reflect in each such  document,  when so filed with the
         Commission,  such  comments as the  Initial  Purchaser  reasonably  may
         propose;  (ii) include the  information  set forth in Annex A hereto on
         the cover, in Annex B hereto in the "Exchange Offer Procedures" section
         and the "Purpose of the Exchange  Offer"  section and in Annex C hereto
         in the "Plan of Distribution"  section of the prospectus forming a part
         of  the  Exchange   Offer   Registration   Statement  and  include  the
         information  set forth in Annex D hereto in the  letter of  transmittal
         delivered pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer; (iii) if requested
         by the Initial


                                       -7-

<PAGE>

         Purchaser,  include  the  information  required  by Items 507 or 508 of
         Regulation  S-K  under  the  Securities  Act,  as  applicable,  in  the
         prospectus forming a part of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement;
         (iv) include  within the  prospectus  contained  in the Exchange  Offer
         Registration  Statement  a  section  entitled  "Plan of  Distribution,"
         reasonably  acceptable to the Initial Purchaser,  which shall contain a
         summary  statement of the positions taken or policies made by the staff
         of the Commission with respect to the potential "underwriter" status of
         any  broker-dealer  that is the  beneficial  owner (as  defined in Rule
         13d-3  under the  Securities  Exchange  Act of 1934,  as  amended  (the
         "Exchange Act")) of Exchange  Securities received by such broker-dealer
         in the  Registered  Exchange Offer (a  "Participating  Broker-Dealer"),
         whether such positions or policies have been publicly  disseminated  by
         the staff of the  Commission  or such  positions  or  policies,  in the
         reasonable  judgment  of the  Initial  Purchaser  based upon  advice of
         counsel (which may be in-house counsel), represent the prevailing views
         of the  staff  of the  Commission;  and  (v) in  the  case  of a  Shelf
         Registration Statement, include the names of the Holders who propose to
         sell Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement as selling
         securityholders.

                  (b) The  Company  shall  give  written  notice to the  Initial
         Purchaser,   the  Holders  of  the  Securities  and  any  Participating
         Broker-Dealer  from whom the Company has received  prior written notice
         that  it  will  be a  Participating  Broker-Dealer  in  the  Registered
         Exchange Offer (which notice pursuant to clauses  (ii)-(v) hereof shall
         be  accompanied  by an instruction to suspend the use of the prospectus
         until the requisite changes have been made):

                           (i) when the Registration  Statement or any amendment
                  thereto  has  been  filed  with  the  Commission  and when the
                  Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto
                  has become effective;

                           (ii) of any request by the  Commission for amendments
                  or supplements to the Registration Statement or the prospectus
                  included therein or for additional information;

                           (iii) of the issuance by the  Commission  of any stop
                  order   suspending  the   effectiveness  of  the  Registration
                  Statement  or the  initiation  of  any  proceedings  for  that
                  purpose;
                                       8

<PAGE>

                           (iv)  of the  receipt  by the  Company  or its  legal
                  counsel of any notification  with respect to the suspension of
                  the   qualification   of  the   Securities  for  sale  in  any
                  jurisdiction   or  the   initiation  or   threatening  of  any
                  proceeding for such purpose; and

                           (v) of the  happening of any event that  requires the
                  Company to make changes in the  Registration  Statement or the
                  prospectus   so  that  the   Registration   Statement  or  the
                  prospectus  do not contain an untrue  statement  of a material
                  fact nor omit to state a material  fact  required to be stated
                  therein or  necessary to make the  statements  therein (in the
                  case of the prospectus,  in light of the  circumstances  under
                  which they were made) not misleading.

                  (c) The Company shall make every  reasonable  effort to obtain
         the withdrawal at the earliest  possible time, of any order  suspending
         the effectiveness of the Registration Statement.

                  (d) The Company  shall  furnish to each  Holder of  Securities
         included within the coverage of the Shelf Registration, without charge,
         at  least  one  copy  of  the  Shelf  Registration  Statement  and  any
         post-effective  amendment thereto,  including financial  statements and
         schedules,  and, if the Holder so requests  in  writing,  all  exhibits
         thereto (including those, if any, incorporated by reference).

                  (e) The Company  shall deliver to each  Exchanging  Dealer and
         the Initial Purchaser, and to any other Holder who so requests, without
         charge, at least one copy of the Exchange Offer Registration  Statement
         and  any   post-effective   amendment  thereto,   including   financial
         statements  and  schedules,  and, if the Initial  Purchaser or any such
         Holder requests,  all exhibits thereto (including those incorporated by
         reference).

                  (f) The Company shall,  during the Shelf Registration  Period,
         deliver to each Holder of  Securities  included  within the coverage of
         the  Shelf  Registration,   without  charge,  as  many  copies  of  the
         prospectus  (including  each  preliminary  prospectus)  included in the
         Shelf Registration Statement and any amendment or supplement thereto as
         such person may reasonably  request.  The Company consents,  subject to
         the provisions of this  Agreement,  to the use of the prospectus or any
         amendment or supplement  thereto by each of the selling  Holders of the
         Securities in connection  with the offering and sale of the  Securities
         covered by the prospectus, or any amendment or

                                       9

<PAGE>


         supplement thereto, included in the Shelf Registration Statement.

                  (g) The Company  shall deliver to the Initial  Purchaser,  any
         Exchanging  Dealer,  any  Participating  Broker-Dealer  and such  other
         persons  required  to deliver a  prospectus  following  the  Registered
         Exchange Offer,  without charge, as many copies of the final prospectus
         included in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement and any amendment
         or  supplement  thereto as such  persons may  reasonably  request.  The
         Company consents,  subject to the provisions of this Agreement,  to the
         use of the  prospectus or any  amendment or  supplement  thereto by the
         Initial Purchaser,  if necessary,  any Participating  Broker-Dealer and
         such other  persons  required  to deliver a  prospectus  following  the
         Registered  Exchange Offer in connection  with the offering and sale of
         the Exchange Securities covered by the prospectus,  or any amendment or
         supplement  thereto,  included  in  such  Exchange  Offer  Registration
         Statement.

                  (h) Prior to any public offering of the Securities pursuant to
         any  Registration  Statement,  the Company shall register or qualify or
         cooperate with the Holders of the Securities included therein and their
         respective counsel in connection with the registration or qualification
         of the Securities for offer and sale under the securities or "blue sky"
         laws  of  such  states  of  the  United  States  as any  Holder  of the
         Securities reasonably requests in writing and do any and all other acts
         or things  necessary  or advisable to enable the offer and sale in such
         jurisdictions of the Securities covered by such Registration Statement;
         PROVIDED,  HOWEVER,  that the  Company  shall  not be  required  to (i)
         qualify  generally to do business in any  jurisdiction  where it is not
         then so  qualified  or (ii) take any action  which would  subject it to
         general service of process or to taxation in any jurisdiction  where it
         is not then so subject.

                  (i) The  Company  shall  cooperate  with  the  Holders  of the
         Securities  to  facilitate  the  timely  preparation  and  delivery  of
         certificates  representing  the  Securities  to be sold pursuant to any
         Registration  Statement  free of any  restrictive  legends  and in such
         denominations and registered in such names as the Holders may request a
         reasonable period of time prior to sales of the Securities  pursuant to
         such Registration Statement.

                  (j)  Upon  the  occurrence  of  any  event   contemplated   by
         paragraphs (ii) through (v) of Section 3(b) above during the period for
         which the Company is required  to


<PAGE>

         maintain  an  effective  Registration  Statement,   the  Company  shall
         promptly   prepare  and  file  a   post-effective   amendment   to  the
         Registration  Statement or a supplement to the related  prospectus  and
         any other required document so that, as thereafter delivered to Holders
         of the Securities or purchasers of Securities,  the prospectus will not
         contain an untrue  statement  of a  material  fact or omit to state any
         material  fact  required to be stated  therein or necessary to make the
         statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were
         made, not misleading.  If the Company  notifies the Initial  Purchaser,
         the Holders of the Securities and any known Participating Broker-Dealer
         in accordance with paragraphs (ii) through (v) of Section 3(b) above to
         suspend the use of the  prospectus  until the requisite  changes to the
         prospectus have been made, then the Initial  Purchaser,  the Holders of
         the Securities and any such Participating  Broker-Dealers shall suspend
         use of such  prospectus,  and the period of  effectiveness of the Shelf
         Registration  Statement  provided  for in  Section  2(b)  above and the
         Exchange Offer  Registration  Statement provided for in Section 1 above
         shall each be  extended  by the number of days from and  including  the
         date of the giving of such  notice to and  including  the date when the
         Initial  Purchaser,  the  Holders  of  the  Securities  and  any  known
         Participating   Broker-Dealer  shall  have  received  such  amended  or
         supplemented prospectus pursuant to this Section 3(j).

                  (k) Not  later  than  the  effective  date  of the  applicable
         Registration Statement, the Company will provide a CUSIP number for the
         Initial  Securities,  the Exchange  Securities or the Private  Exchange
         Securities, as the case may be, and provide the applicable trustee with
         printed   certificates  for  the  Initial   Securities,   the  Exchange
         Securities or the Private Exchange Securities, as the case may be, in a
         form eligible for deposit with The Depository Trust Company.

                  (l) The Company will comply with all rules and  regulations of
         the  Commission to the extent and so long as they are applicable to the
         Registered  Exchange  Offer or the  Shelf  Registration  and will  make
         generally  available to its security  holders (or otherwise  provide in
         accordance  with  Section  11(a)  of the  Securities  Act) an  earnings
         statement  satisfying the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities
         Act,  no later than 45 days  after the end of a 12-month  period (or 90
         days, if such period is a fiscal year)  beginning  with the first month
         of the Company's  first fiscal quarter  commencing  after the effective
         date of the  Registration  Statement,  which statement shall cover such
         12-month period.

                                       11

<PAGE>

                  (m) The Company  shall  cause the  Indenture  to be  qualified
         under the Trust  Indenture Act of 1939, as amended,  in a timely manner
         and  containing  such  changes,  if any, as shall be necessary for such
         qualification.  In the event that such qualification  would require the
         appointment  of a new trustee  under the  Indenture,  the Company shall
         appoint a new trustee thereunder pursuant to the applicable  provisions
         of the Indenture.

                  (n) The Company may require  each Holder of  Securities  to be
         sold  pursuant to the Shelf  Registration  Statement  to furnish to the
         Company such  information  regarding the Holder and the distribution of
         the Securities as the Company may from time to time reasonably  require
         for inclusion in the Shelf Registration Statement,  and the Company may
         exclude  from such  registration  the  Securities  of any  Holder  that
         unreasonably fails to furnish such information within a reasonable time
         after receiving such request.

                  (o) The  Company  shall enter into such  customary  agreements
         (including,  if requested, an underwriting agreement in customary form)
         and take all such other action, if any, as any Holder of the Securities
         shall reasonably  request in order to facilitate the disposition of the
         Securities pursuant to any Shelf Registration.

                  (p) In the case of any Shelf  Registration,  the Company shall
         (i) make  reasonably  available  for  inspection  by the Holders of the
         Securities,  any underwriter  participating in any disposition pursuant
         to the Shelf  Registration  Statement and any  attorney,  accountant or
         other  agent  retained  by the  Holders of the  Securities  or any such
         underwriter  all  relevant  financial  and  other  records,   pertinent
         corporate  documents  and  properties of the Company and (ii) cause the
         Company's officers, directors,  employees,  accountants and auditors to
         supply all relevant information  reasonably requested by the Holders of
         the Securities or any such underwriter,  attorney,  accountant or agent
         in connection with the Shelf Registration  Statement,  in each case, as
         shall be  reasonably  necessary  to enable such  persons,  to conduct a
         reasonable  investigation  within  the  meaning  of  Section  11 of the
         Securities Act; PROVIDED,  HOWEVER,  that the foregoing  inspection and
         information  gathering  shall be  coordinated  on behalf of the Initial
         Purchaser  by you and on behalf of the other  parties,  by one  counsel
         designated  by and on behalf of such  other  parties  as  described  in
         Section 4 hereof.

                                       12

<PAGE>

                  (q) In the case of any Shelf  Registration,  the  Company,  if
         requested by any Holder of Securities covered thereby,  shall cause (i)
         its counsel to deliver an opinion and updates  thereof  relating to the
         Securities in customary form addressed to such Holders and the managing
         underwriters,  if any,  thereof  and dated,  in the case of the initial
         opinion,  the effective date of such Shelf  Registration  Statement (it
         being  agreed  that the  matters to be covered  by such  opinion  shall
         include, without limitation, the due incorporation and good standing of
         the Company and its subsidiaries;  the qualification of the Company and
         its subsidiaries to transact business as foreign corporations;  the due
         authorization,  execution and delivery of the relevant agreement of the
         type  referred  to in  Section  3(o)  hereof;  the  due  authorization,
         execution,   authentication   and   issuance,   and  the  validity  and
         enforceability,  of the applicable Securities;  the absence of material
         legal  or  governmental  proceedings  involving  the  Company  and  its
         subsidiaries;  the  absence of  governmental  approvals  required to be
         obtained  in  connection  with the Shelf  Registration  Statement,  the
         offering and sale of the applicable Securities, or any agreement of the
         type referred to in Section 3(o) hereof;  the  compliance as to form of
         such Shelf  Registration  Statement and any documents  incorporated  by
         reference  therein and of the Indenture  with the  requirements  of the
         Securities Act and the Trust  Indenture Act,  respectively;  and, as of
         the  date of the  opinion  and as of the  effective  date of the  Shelf
         Registration Statement or most recent post-effective amendment thereto,
         as the case may be, the absence from such Shelf Registration  Statement
         and the prospectus  included therein,  as then amended or supplemented,
         and from any documents  incorporated by reference  therein of an untrue
         statement  of a  material  fact or the  omission  to  state  therein  a
         material  fact  required to be stated  therein or necessary to make the
         statements  therein not misleading (in the case of any such  documents,
         in the  light  of the  circumstances  existing  at the time  that  such
         documents were filed with the Commission  under the Exchange Act); (ii)
         its  officers  to execute  and  deliver  all  customary  documents  and
         certificates  and updates thereof  requested by any underwriters of the
         applicable  Securities and (iii) its independent  public accountants to
         provide to the selling  Holders of the  applicable  Securities  and any
         underwriter  therefor a comfort  letter in customary  form and covering
         matters  of  the  type  customarily   covered  in  comfort  letters  in
         connection with primary underwritten  offerings,  subject to receipt of
         appropriate  documentation as contemplated,  and only if permitted,  by
         Statement of Auditing Standards No. 72.

                                       13

<PAGE>
                  (r) In the case of the Registered Exchange Offer, if requested
         by the Initial Purchaser or any known Participating Broker-Dealer,  the
         Company shall cause (i) its counsel to deliver to the Initial Purchaser
         or such  Participating  Broker-Dealer  a signed opinion in the form set
         forth in Section  6(c) of the Purchase  Agreement  with such changes as
         are  customary in connection  with the  preparation  of a  Registration
         Statement and (ii) its independent public accountants to deliver to the
         Initial Purchaser or such Participating Broker-Dealer a comfort letter,
         in customary form, meeting the requirements as to the substance thereof
         as  set  forth  in  Section  6(a)  of  the  Purchase  Agreement,   with
         appropriate date changes.

                  (s) If a Registered Exchange Offer or a Private Exchange is to
         be consummated,  upon delivery of the Initial  Securities by Holders to
         the  Company (or to such other  Person as  directed by the  Company) in
         exchange  for  the  Exchange   Securities   or  the  Private   Exchange
         Securities, as the case may be, the Company shall mark, or caused to be
         marked,  on the  Initial  Securities  so  exchanged  that such  Initial
         Securities are being  canceled in exchange for the Exchange  Securities
         or the  Private  Exchange  Securities,  as the case may be; in no event
         shall the Initial Securities be marked as paid or otherwise satisfied.

                  (t) The  Company  will  use  its  best  efforts  to (a) if the
         Initial  Securities  have been rated prior to the initial  sale of such
         Initial  Securities,  confirm such ratings will apply to the Securities
         covered by a Registration  Statement,  or (b) if the Initial Securities
         were  not  previously  rated,   cause  the  Securities   covered  by  a
         Registration   Statement  to  be  rated  with  the  appropriate  rating
         agencies,  if so  requested  by  Holders  of a  majority  in  aggregate
         principal amount of Securities covered by such Registration  Statement,
         or by the managing underwriters, if any.

                  (u) In the event that any  broker-dealer  registered under the
         Exchange Act shall underwrite any Securities or participate as a member
         of an  underwriting  syndicate  or  selling  group  or  "assist  in the
         distribution" (within the meaning of the Conduct Rules (the "Rules") of
         the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. ("NASD")) thereof,
         whether  as a  Holder  of  such  Securities  or  as an  underwriter,  a
         placement or sales agent or a broker or dealer in respect  thereof,  or
         otherwise, the Company will assist such broker-dealer in complying with
         the requirements of such Rules, including,  without limitation,  by (i)
         if such Rules, including Rule 2720, shall so require,

                                       14

<PAGE>

         engaging a  "qualified  independent  underwriter"  (as  defined in Rule
         2720) to participate in the preparation of the  Registration  Statement
         relating  to  such  Securities,  to  exercise  usual  standards  of due
         diligence  in respect  thereto  and,  if any  portion  of the  offering
         contemplated by such Registration Statement is an underwritten offering
         or is made through a placement or sales agent,  to recommend  the yield
         of such Securities,  (ii)  indemnifying any such qualified  independent
         underwriter  to the  extent  of  the  indemnification  of  underwriters
         provided in Section 5 hereof and (iii)  providing  such  information to
         such  broker-dealer as may be required in order for such  broker-dealer
         to comply with the requirements of the Rules.

                  (v) The Company  shall use its best  efforts to take all other
         steps necessary to effect the registration of the Securities covered by
         a Registration Statement contemplated hereby.

         4. Registration  Expenses. The Company shall bear all fees and expenses
incurred in connection with the performance of its obligations  under Sections 1
through  3 hereof  (including  the  reasonable  fees and  expenses,  if any,  of
Cravath,  Swaine  &  Moore,  counsel  for the  Initial  Purchaser,  incurred  in
connection with the Registered  Exchange  Offer),  whether or not the Registered
Exchange Offer or a Shelf  Registration is filed or becomes  effective,  and, in
the event of a Shelf  Registration,  shall bear or reimburse  the Holders of the
Securities covered thereby for the reasonable fees and disbursements of one firm
of counsel  designated  by the Holders of a majority in principal  amount of the
Securities  covered  thereby to act as counsel for the Holders of the Securities
in connection therewith.

         5.  Indemnification.  (a) The  Company  agrees  to  indemnify  and hold
harmless each Holder of the Securities, any Participating Broker-Dealer and each
person,  if any, who controls  such Holder or such  Participating  Broker-Dealer
within the meaning of the Securities  Act or the Exchange Act (each Holder,  any
Participating  Broker-Dealer  and  such  controlling  persons  are  referred  to
collectively as the "Indemnified  Parties") from and against any losses, claims,
damages or  liabilities,  joint or several,  or any  actions in respect  thereof
(including,  but not limited to, any losses,  claims,  damages,  liabilities  or
actions  relating  to  purchases  and  sales of the  Securities)  to which  each
Indemnified  Party may become subject under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act
or otherwise,  insofar as such losses, claims,  damages,  liabilities or actions
arise out of or are based upon any untrue  statement or alleged untrue statement
of a material fact contained in a Registration Statement or prospectus or in any
amendment or supplement thereto or in 

                                       15
<PAGE>

any preliminary prospectus relating to a Shelf Registration, or arise out of, or
are based upon,  the  omission or alleged  omission to state  therein a material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the  statements  therein
not misleading,  and shall reimburse,  as incurred,  the Indemnified Parties for
any legal or other  expenses  reasonably  incurred  by them in  connection  with
investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage,  liability or action in
respect thereof; PROVIDED,  HOWEVER, that (i) the Company shall not be liable in
any such case to the extent that such loss,  claim,  damage or liability  arises
out of or is based upon any untrue  statement  or alleged  untrue  statement  or
omission or alleged  omission made in a Registration  Statement or prospectus or
in any amendment or supplement thereto or in any preliminary prospectus relating
to a  Shelf  Registration  in  reliance  upon  and in  conformity  with  written
information  pertaining  to such  Holder and  furnished  to the Company by or on
behalf of such Holder  specifically for inclusion  therein and (ii) with respect
to any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made
in any preliminary  prospectus relating to a Shelf Registration  Statement,  the
indemnity  agreement  contained  in this  subsection  (a) shall not inure to the
benefit  of any  Holder or  Participating  Broker-Dealer  from  whom the  person
asserting  any  such  losses,  claims,  damages  or  liabilities  purchased  the
Securities  concerned,  to  the  extent  that  a  prospectus  relating  to  such
Securities  was  required  to be  delivered  by  such  Holder  or  Participating
Broker-Dealer  under the Securities Act in connection with such purchase and any
such  loss,  claim,   damage  or  liability  of  such  Holder  or  Participating
Broker-Dealer  results  from the fact  that  there was not sent or given to such
person,  at or prior to the written  confirmation of the sale of such Securities
to such person,  a copy of the final  prospectus  if the Company had  previously
furnished copies thereof to such Holder or Participating Broker-Dealer; PROVIDED
FURTHER,  HOWEVER,  that this  indemnity  agreement  will be in  addition to any
liability which the Company may otherwise have to such  Indemnified  Party.  The
Company shall also indemnify underwriters, their officers and directors and each
person who controls such  underwriters  within the meaning of the Securities Act
or the  Exchange  Act to the same extent as provided  above with  respect to the
indemnification of the Holders of the Securities if requested by such Holders.

         (b) Each Holder of the  Securities,  severally  and not  jointly,  will
indemnify  and hold  harmless the Company and each person,  if any, who controls
the Company  within the meaning of the  Securities  Act or the Exchange Act from
and against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities or any actions in respect
thereof,  to which the Company or any such controlling person may become subject
under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses,
claims,  damages,  liabilities  or  actions  arise out of or are

                                       16

<PAGE>

based upon any untrue  statement or alleged untrue  statement of a material fact
contained in a  Registration  Statement  or  prospectus  or in any  amendment or
supplement  thereto  or  in  any  preliminary  prospectus  relating  to a  Shelf
Registration, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission
to state therein a material fact  necessary to make the  statements  therein not
misleading,  but in each case only to the extent  that the untrue  statement  or
omission or alleged  untrue  statement or omission was made in reliance upon and
in conformity with written  information  pertaining to such Holder and furnished
to the  Company  by or on  behalf  of such  Holder  specifically  for  inclusion
therein;  and,  subject to the limitation set forth  immediately  preceding this
clause,  shall  reimburse,  as  incurred,  the  Company  for any  legal or other
expenses  reasonably  incurred by the Company or any such controlling  person in
connection with investigating or defending any loss, claim, damage, liability or
action in respect thereof.  This indemnity  agreement will be in addition to any
liability  which such  Holder may  otherwise  have to the  Company or any of its
controlling persons.

         (c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 5
of  notice  of the  commencement  of  any  action  or  proceeding  (including  a
governmental investigation),  such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect
thereof is to be made  against  the  indemnifying  party  under this  Section 5,
notify the indemnifying party of the commencement  thereof;  but the omission so
to  notify  the  indemnifying  party  will  not,  in  any  event,   relieve  the
indemnifying  party from any obligations to any indemnified party other than the
indemnification  obligation  provided in paragraph (a) or (b) above. In case any
such  action is brought  against any  indemnified  party,  and it  notifies  the
indemnifying party of the commencement  thereof,  the indemnifying party will be
entitled to  participate  therein  and, to the extent that it may wish,  jointly
with any other  indemnifying  party  similarly  notified,  to assume the defense
thereof,  with counsel  reasonably  satisfactory to such indemnified  party (who
shall not, except with the consent of the  indemnified  party, be counsel to the
indemnifying  party),  and  after  notice  from the  indemnifying  party to such
indemnified  party  of  its  election  so to  assume  the  defense  thereof  the
indemnifying  party  will not be liable to such  indemnified  party  under  this
Section  5 for any  legal or other  expenses,  other  than  reasonable  costs of
investigation,  subsequently  incurred by such  indemnified  party in connection
with the defense thereof. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written
consent of the  indemnified  party,  effect  any  settlement  of any  pending or
threatened  action in  respect of which any  indemnified  party is or could have
been a party and indemnity could have been sought  hereunder by such indemnified
party  unless  such  settlement  includes  an

                                       17
<PAGE>

unconditional release of such indemnified party from all liability on any claims
that are the subject matter of such action.

         (d)  If  the  indemnification   provided  for  in  this  Section  5  is
unavailable  or  insufficient  to  hold  harmless  an  indemnified  party  under
subsections (a) or (b) above, then each  indemnifying  party shall contribute to
the amount paid or payable by such indemnified  party as a result of the losses,
claims,  damages or liabilities (or actions in respect  thereof)  referred to in
subsection (a) or (b) above (i) in such  proportion as is appropriate to reflect
the relative benefits  received by the indemnifying  party or parties on the one
hand and the indemnified party on the other from the exchange of the Securities,
pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer, or (ii) if the allocation provided by
the foregoing  clause (i) is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion
as is  appropriate  to reflect  not only the  relative  benefits  referred to in
clause  (i)  above  but also the  relative  fault of the  indemnifying  party or
parties  on the one hand and the  indemnified  party on the other in  connection
with the statements or omissions that resulted in such losses,  claims,  damages
or  liabilities  (or actions in respect  thereof) as well as any other  relevant
equitable considerations.  The relative fault of the parties shall be determined
by  reference  to,  among other  things,  whether  the untrue or alleged  untrue
statement  of a material  fact or the  omission  or alleged  omission to state a
material fact relates to information  supplied by the Company on the one hand or
such Holder or such other  indemnified  party, as the case may be, on the other,
and  the  parties'  relative  intent,  knowledge,   access  to  information  and
opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The amount paid by
an indemnified party as a result of the losses,  claims,  damages or liabilities
referred  to in the first  sentence  of this  subsection  (d) shall be deemed to
include any legal or other  expenses  reasonably  incurred  by such  indemnified
party in connection with investigating or defending any action or claim which is
the subject of this subsection (d).  Notwithstanding any other provision of this
Section 5(d), the Holders of the Securities  shall not be required to contribute
any amount in excess of the amount by which the net  proceeds  received  by such
Holders from the sale of the  Securities  pursuant to a  Registration  Statement
exceeds the amount of damages which such Holders have otherwise been required to
pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue  statement or omission or alleged
omission. No person guilty of fraudulent  misrepresentation  (within the meaning
of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to  contribution  from
any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. For purposes
of this paragraph (d), each person,  if any, who controls such indemnified party
within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act shall

                                       18

<PAGE>

have the same rights to contribution as such indemnified  party and each person,
if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act or the
Exchange Act shall have the same rights to contribution as the Company.

         (e) The  agreements  contained in this Section 5 shall survive the sale
of the Securities pursuant to a Registration  Statement and shall remain in full
force and effect, regardless of anytermination or cancellation of this Agreement
or any investigation made by or on behalf of any indemnified party.

         6.  Additional  Interest  Under Certain  Circumstances.  (a) Additional
interest  (the  "Additional  Interest")  with respect to the Initial  Securities
shall be assessed  as follows if any of the  following  events  occur (each such
event in clauses (i) through (iii) below a "Registration Default"):

                  (i) If by the end of 45 days after the  original  issuance  of
         the  Initial  Securities,   neither  the  Exchange  Offer  Registration
         Statement  nor a Shelf  Registration  Statement has been filed with the
         Commission;

                  (ii) If by the end of 150 days after the original  issuance of
         the  Initial  Securities,  neither  the  Registered  Exchange  Offer is
         consummated  nor, if required in lieu thereof,  the Shelf  Registration
         Statement is declared effective by the Commission; or

                  (iii)  If  after  either  the  Exchange   Offer   Registration
         Statement or the Shelf Registration Statement is declared effective (A)
         such Registration  Statement thereafter ceases to be effective prior to
         the end of the  periods  specified  herein;  or (B)  such  Registration
         Statement  or the  related  prospectus  ceases to be usable  (except as
         permitted  in  paragraph  (b)) in  connection  with resales of Transfer
         Restricted  Securities  during the  periods  specified  herein  because
         either (1) any event occurs as a result of which the related prospectus
         forming part of such  Registration  Statement  would include any untrue
         statement  of a  material  fact or  omit to  state  any  material  fact
         necessary  to  make  the  statements   therein  in  the  light  of  the
         circumstances  under  which  they were made not  misleading,  or (2) it
         shall be necessary to amend such  Registration  Statement or supplement
         the  related  prospectus,  to  comply  with the  Securities  Act or the
         Exchange Act or the respective rules thereunder.

Additional  Interest shall accrue on the Initial  Securities  over and above the
interest set forth in the title of the Securities from and including the date on
which any such

                                       19

<PAGE>
Registration  Default  shall occur to but  excluding  the date on which all such
Registration  Defaults  have  been  cured,  at a rate  of  0.50%  per  annum.  A
Registration  Default  under  clause (i) of this Section 6(a) shall be deemed to
have  been  cured  when an  Exchange  Offer  Registration  Statement  or a Shelf
Registration  Statement  has been  filed  with the  Commission.  A  Registration
Default  under  clause  (ii) of this  Section  6(a) shall be deemed to have been
cured  when the  Registered  Exchange  Offer has been  consummated  or the Shelf
Registration Statement has been declared effective.

         (b) A Registration  Default referred to in Section  6(a)(iii)(B) hereof
shall be deemed not to have  occurred and be  continuing  in relation to a Shelf
Registration  Statement  or the  related  prospectus  if (i)  such  Registration
Default has  occurred  solely as a result of (x) the filing of a  post-effective
amendment to such Shelf  Registration  Statement to  incorporate  annual audited
financial  information  with  respect to the Company  where such  post-effective
amendment  is not yet  effective  and needs to be declared  effective  to permit
Holders to use the related prospectus or (y) other material events, with respect
to the  Company  that would  need to be  described  in such  Shelf  Registration
Statement  or the related  prospectus  and (ii) in the case of clause  (y),  the
Company is  proceeding  promptly and in good faith to amend or  supplement  such
Shelf  Registration  Statement  and related  prospectus to describe such events;
PROVIDED,  HOWEVER,  that in any case if such Registration  Default occurs for a
continuous period in excess of 30 days,  Additional Interest shall be payable in
accordance  with the  above  paragraph  from the day such  Registration  Default
occurs until such Registration Default is cured.

         (c) Any amounts of Additional Interest due pursuant to clause (i), (ii)
or (iii) of Section  6(a) above will be payable in cash on the regular  interest
payment dates with respect to the Initial  Securities.  The amount of Additional
Interest will be determined by multiplying  the applicable  Additional  Interest
rate  by  the  principal  amount  of the  Initial  Securities,  multiplied  by a
fraction,  the numerator of which is the number of days such Additional Interest
rate was  applicable  during such period  (determined  on the basis of a 360-day
year comprised of twelve 30-day months), and the denominator of which is 360.

         (d) "Transfer Restricted  Securities" means each Security until (i) the
date on  which  such  Security  has been  exchanged  by a  person  other  than a
broker-dealer  for a freely  transferable  Exchange  Security in the  Registered
Exchange Offer, (ii) following the exchange by a broker-dealer in the Registered
Exchange Offer of such Security for an Exchange Security, the date on which such
Exchange Security is sold to a purchaser who receives from

                                       29

<PAGE>

such broker-dealer on or prior to the date of such sale a copy of the prospectus
contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement,  (iii) the date on which
such  Security has been  effectively  registered  under the  Securities  Act and
disposed of in accordance with the Shelf Registration Statement or (iv) the date
on which such Security is distributed  to the public  pursuant to Rule 144 under
the Securities  Act or is saleable  pursuant to Rule 144(k) under the Securities
Act.

     7. Rules 144 and 144A.  The Company  shall use its best efforts to file the
reports required to be filed by it under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act
in a timely  manner and, if at any time the Company is not required to file such
reports,  it will,  upon the request of any Holder of Securities,  make publicly
available  other  information  so long as  necessary  to  permit  sales of their
securities  pursuant to Rules 144 and 144A.  The Company  covenants that it will
take such further action as any Holder of Securities may reasonably request, all
to the  extent  required  from  time to  time  to  enable  such  Holder  to sell
Securities  without  registration under the Securities Act within the limitation
of the exemptions  provided by Rules 144 and 144A (including the requirements of
Rule  144A(d)(4)).  The  Company  will  provide  a copy  of  this  Agreement  to
prospective  purchasers of Initial  Securities  identified to the Company by the
Initial  Purchaser  upon  request.  Upon the  request  of any  Holder of Initial
Securities,  the Company shall deliver to such Holder a written  statement as to
whether it has complied with such requirements.  Notwithstanding  the foregoing,
nothing in this Section 7 shall be deemed to require the Company to register any
of its securities pursuant to the Exchange Act.

         8.  Underwritten  Registrations.  If  any of  the  Transfer  Restricted
Securities  covered by any Shelf  Registration are to be sold in an underwritten
offering,  the investment  banker or investment  bankers and manager or managers
that will administer the offering ("Managing  Underwriters") will be selected by
the  Holders  of a  majority  in  aggregate  principal  amount of such  Transfer
Restricted Securities to be included in such offering.

         No person may participate in any  underwritten  registration  hereunder
unless  such  person  (i)  agrees  to sell  such  person's  Transfer  Restricted
Securities on the basis  reasonably  provided in any  underwriting  arrangements
approved by the persons entitled hereunder to approve such arrangements and (ii)
completes  and executes  all  questionnaires,  powers of attorney,  indemnities,
underwriting  agreements and other documents reasonably required under the terms
of such underwriting arrangements.

                                       21

<PAGE>

         9.       Miscellaneous.

         (a) Amendments and Waivers. The provisions of this Agreement may not be
amended,  modified or  supplemented,  and waivers or consents to departures from
the  provisions  hereof may not be given,  except by the Company and the written
consent of the  Holders  of a majority  in  principal  amount of the  Securities
affected by such amendment, modification, supplement, waiver or consents.

         (b)  Notices.  All notices  and other  communications  provided  for or
permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand delivery, first-class mail,
facsimile transmission, or air courier which guarantees overnight delivery:

                  (1) if to a Holder  of the  Securities,  at the  most  current
address given by such Holder to the Company.

                  (2)if to the Initial Purchaser;

                           Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation
                           Eleven Madison Avenue
                           New York, NY 10010-3629
                           Fax No.:  (212) 325-8278
                          Attention: Transactions Advisory Group

         with a copy to:

                           Kris F. Heinzelman, Esq.
                           Cravath, Swaine & Moore
                           825 Eighth Avenue
                           New York, NY 10019-7475

                  (3)      if to the Company, at its address as follows:

                           American Pacific Corporation
                           3770 Howard Hughes Parkway
                           Suite 300
                           Las Vegas, NV 89109

                           Attention:  Chief Financial Officer

         with a copy to:

                           David J. Adler, Esq.
                           Olshan Grundman Frome & Rosenzweig LLP
                           505 Park Avenue
                           New York, NY 10022-1170

         All such notices and  communications  shall be deemed to have been duly
given:  at the time delivered by hand, if personally  delivered;  three business
days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; when

                                       22

<PAGE>

receipt is acknowledged by recipient's  facsimile machine  operator,  if sent by
facsimile  transmission;  and on the day  delivered,  if sent by  overnight  air
courier guaranteeing next day delivery.

         (c) No  Inconsistent  Agreements.  The  Company has not, as of the date
hereof, entered into, nor shall it, on or after the date hereof, enter into, any
agreement with respect to its securities  that is  inconsistent  with the rights
granted to the Holders herein or otherwise conflicts with the provisions hereof.

         (d)  Successors and Assigns.  This Agreement  shall be binding upon the
Company and its successors and assigns.

         (e)  Counterparts.  This  Agreement  may be  executed  in any number of
counterparts and by the parties hereto in separate  counterparts,  each of which
when so  executed  shall be  deemed  to be an  original  and all of which  taken
together shall constitute one and the same agreement.

         (f) Headings.  The headings in this  Agreement are for  convenience  of
reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.

         (g) Governing Law. THIS  AGREEMENT  SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED
IN  ACCORDANCE  WITH,  THE  LAWS OF THE  STATE  OF NEW YORK  WITHOUT  REGARD  TO
PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAWS.

         (h)  Severability.  If any  one or  more  of the  provisions  contained
herein, or the application thereof in any circumstance, is held invalid, illegal
or  unenforceable,  the  validity,  legality  and  enforceability  of  any  such
provision  in every other  respect  and of the  remaining  provisions  contained
herein shall not be affected or impaired thereby.

         (i) Securities Held by the Company. Whenever the consent or approval of
Holders of a specified  percentage of principal amount of Securities is required
hereunder,  Securities  held  by the  Company  or  its  affiliates  (other  than
subsequent  Holders of  Securities if such  subsequent  Holders are deemed to be
affiliates  solely by reason of their holdings of such Securities)  shall not be
counted in determining whether such consent or approval was given by the Holders
of such required percentage.


                                       23
<PAGE>
         If the  foregoing  is in  accordance  with  your  understanding  of our
agreement, please sign and return to the Company a counterpart hereof, whereupon
this instrument,  along with all  counterparts,  will become a binding agreement
among the Initial Purchaser and the Company in accordance with its terms.

                                                  Very truly yours,

                                      AMERICAN PACIFIC CORPORATION

                                      by /s/ David N. Keys
                                        ---------------------------
                                        Name:  David N. Keys
                                        Title: Senior Vice President


The foregoing  Registration
Rights Agreement is hereby confirmed
and accepted as of the date first
above written.

CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON CORPORATION


       by /s/ Andrew G. Schwendiman
          -----------------------------
           Name:  Andrew G. Schwendiman
           Title: Attorney-in-fact



<PAGE>
                                                                         ANNEX A


       Each broker-dealer that receives Exchange  Securities for its own account
pursuant  to the  Exchange  Offer  must  acknowledge  that  it  will  deliver  a
prospectus in connection with any resale of such Exchange Securities. The Letter
of Transmittal states that by so acknowledging and by delivering a prospectus, a
broker-dealer will not be deemed to admit that it is an "underwriter" within the
meaning  of the  Securities  Act.  This  Prospectus,  as it may  be  amended  or
supplemented  from time to time,  may be used by a  broker-dealer  in connection
with resales of Exchange  Securities received in exchange for Initial Securities
where such Initial Securities were acquired by such broker-dealer as a result of
market-making  activities  or other trading  activities.  The Company has agreed
that, for a period of 180 days after the Expiration Date (as defined herein), it
will make this Prospectus  available to any  broker-dealer for use in connection
with any such resale. See "Plan of Distribution."



                                       25

<PAGE>
                                                                         ANNEX B


         Each  broker-dealer  that  receives  Exchange  Securities  for  its own
account in exchange for Initial  Securities,  where such Initial Securities were
acquired by such broker-dealer as a result of market-making  activities or other
trading  activities,  must  acknowledge  that it will  deliver a  prospectus  in
connection  with  any  resale  of  such  Exchange   Securities.   See  "Plan  of
Distribution."



                                      -26-

<PAGE>
                                                                         ANNEX C


                              PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

       Each broker-dealer that receives Exchange  Securities for its own account
pursuant  to the  Exchange  Offer  must  acknowledge  that  it  will  deliver  a
prospectus  in  connection  with any resale of such  Exchange  Securities.  This
Prospectus,  as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, may be used
by a broker-dealer in connection with resales of Exchange Securities received in
exchange for Initial Securities where such Initial Securities were acquired as a
result of market-making activities or other trading activities.  The Company has
agreed that,  for a period of 180 days after the  Expiration  Date, it will make
this prospectus, as amended or supplemented,  available to any broker-dealer for
use in connection with any such resale. In addition, until               , 199 ,
all dealers effecting transactions in the Exchange Securities may be required to
deliver a prospectus.(1)

       The  Company  will not  receive  any  proceeds  from any sale of Exchange
Securities by broker-dealers. Exchange Securities received by broker-dealers for
their own account  pursuant to the Exchange  Offer 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  Exchange  Securities  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 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 or the purchasers of any such Exchange
Securities.  Any  broker-dealer  that  resells  Exchange  Securities  that  were
received by it for its own account pursuant to the Exchange Offer and any broker
or dealer that participates in a distribution of such Exchange Securities may be
deemed to be an  "underwriter"  within the meaning of the Securities Act and any
profit  on any  such  resale  of  Exchange  Securities  and  any  commission  or
concessions  received  by any such  persons  may be  deemed  to be  underwriting
compensation under the Securities Act. The Letter of Transmittal states that, by
acknowledging   that  it  will  deliver  and  by  delivering  a  prospectus,   a
broker-dealer


- ---------------
(1)  In  addition,  the legend  required by Item 502(e) of  Regulation  S-K will
appear on the back cover page of the Exchange Offer prospectus.

                                      -27-

<PAGE>

will not be deemed to admit that it is an  "underwriter"  within the  meaning of
the Securities Act.

       For a period  of 180 days  after the  Expiration  Date the  Company  will
promptly  send  additional  copies  of  this  Prospectus  and any  amendment  or
supplement to this Prospectus to any broker-dealer  that requests such documents
in the  Letter of  Transmittal.  The  Company  has  agreed  to pay all  expenses
incident to the Exchange  Offer  (including  the expenses of one counsel for the
Holders of the Securities)  other than commissions or concessions of any brokers
or dealers and will  indemnify  the  Holders of the  Securities  (including  any
broker-dealers)  against certain  liabilities,  including  liabilities under the
Securities Act.



                                      -28-

<PAGE>
                                                                         ANNEX D





         CHECK HERE IF YOU ARE A BROKER-DEALER AND WISH TO RECEIVE 10 ADDITIONAL
COPIES OF THE PROSPECTUS AND 10 COPIES OF ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS THERETO.

           Name: _________________________
           Address:_______________________
                   _______________________



If the undersigned is not a broker-dealer, the undersigned represents that it is
not  engaged  in, and does not intend to engage in, a  distribution  of Exchange
Securities.  If the  undersigned is a broker-dealer  that will receive  Exchange
Securities  for its own account in exchange  for  Initial  Securities  that were
acquired as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities, it
acknowledges  that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of
such  Exchange  Securities;  however,  by so  acknowledging  and by delivering a
prospectus,  the  undersigned  will  not  be  deemed  to  admit  that  it  is an
"underwriter" within the meaning of the Securities Act.


                                      -29-


                              LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL
                                       FOR
                              TENDER OF OUTSTANDING
                          9 1/4% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2005
                                 IN EXCHANGE FOR
                          9 1/4% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2005
                                       OF
                          AMERICAN PACIFIC CORPORATION

                  THE EXCHANGE OFFER WILL EXPIRE AT 5:00 P.M.,
      NEW YORK CITY TIME, ON ______, ______, 1998 (THE "EXPIRATION DATE"),
                 UNLESS EXTENDED BY American Pacific Corporation

                                 EXCHANGE AGENT:

                     UNITED STATES TRUST COMPANY OF NEW YORK

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

By Mail:                           By Overnight Courier:           By Hand:                           By Facsimile:

<S>                                <C>                             <C>                                <C> 
United States Trust                United States Trust             United States Trust                fax no. (212) 780-0592
  Company of New York                Company of New York             Company of New York              (For Eligible Institutions
P.O. Box 844                       770 Broadway - 13th Floor       111 Broadway                       Only)
Cooper Station                     Corporate Trust Operations      Lower Level
New York, NY 10276-0844              Department                    New York, NY 10006                 Confirm by telephone:
(registered or certified mail      New York, NY 10003              Attn:  Corporate Trust Services    telephone no. (800) 548-6565
recommended)
</TABLE>

         DELIVERY OF THIS LETTER OF  TRANSMITTAL TO AN ADDRESS OTHER THAN AS SET
FORTH ABOVE OR TRANSMISSION OF  INSTRUCTIONS  VIA A FACSIMILE  TRANSMISSION TO A
NUMBER OTHER THAN AS SET FORTH ABOVE WILL NOT CONSTITUTE A VALID DELIVERY.

         The undersigned acknowledges receipt of the Prospectus dated _________,
1998 (the  "Prospectus") of American Pacific  Corporation (the "Company") which,
together  with  this  Letter  of  Transmittal  (the  "Letter  of  Transmittal"),
constitute  the Company's  offer (the  "Exchange  Offer") to exchange  $1,000 in
principal  amount  of a new  series  of 9 1/4%  Senior  Notes Due 2005 (the "New
Notes") of the Company for each $1,000 in principal amount of outstanding 9 1/4%
Senior  Notes Due 2005 (the "Old  Notes") of the  Company.  The terms of the New
Notes are  identical in all material  respects to the terms of the Old Notes for
which they may be  exchanged  pursuant to the  Exchange  Offer,  except that the
offer and sale of the New Notes will have been  registered  under the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities  Act"), and,  therefore,  the New Notes
will not bear legends restricting the transfer thereof.

         The undersigned has checked the appropriate boxes below and signed this
Letter of  Transmittal  to indicate the action the  undersigned  desires to take
with respect to the Exchange Offer.


<PAGE>
         PLEASE  READ  THE  ENTIRE  LETTER  OF  TRANSMITTAL  AND THE  PROSPECTUS
CAREFULLY BEFORE CHECKING ANY BOX BELOW.

         THE  INSTRUCTIONS  INCLUDED  WITH THIS  LETTER OF  TRANSMITTAL  MUST BE
FOLLOWED.  QUESTIONS AND REQUESTS FOR ASSISTANCE OR FOR ADDITIONAL COPIES OF THE
PROSPECTUS AND THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL MAY BE DIRECTED TO THE EXCHANGE AGENT.

         List below the Old Notes to which this Letter of  Transmittal  relates.
If the space provided below is inadequate, the Certificate Numbers and Principal
Amounts should be listed on a separate signed schedule affixed hereto.

================================================================================
                   DESCRIPTION OF OLD NOTES TENDERED HEREWITH
================================================================================
Name(s) and address(es) of   Certificate   Aggregate           Principal Amount
Registered Holder(s)         Number(s)     Principal Amount    Tendered*
(Please fill in)                           Represented by
                                           Notes







                                          --------------------------------------
                                          --------------------------------------
                             Total         $                   $
                             ===================================================
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Unless  otherwise  indicated,  the holder will be deemed to have  tendered the
  full aggregate principal amount represented by Old Notes. See Instruction 2.
================================================================================

         This Letter of Transmittal is to be used if certificates  for Old Notes
are to be forwarded herewith.

         Unless the context requires  otherwise,  the term "Holder" for purposes
of this  Letter  of  Transmittal  means any  person in whose  name Old Notes are
registered or any other person who has obtained a properly  completed bond power
from the registered holder.

         Holders  whose Old Notes are not  immediately  available  or who cannot
deliver their Old Notes and all other documents  required hereby to the Exchange
Agent on or prior to the Expiration Date may tender their Old Notes according to
the guaranteed  delivery procedure set forth in the Prospectus under the caption
"The Exchange Offer--Procedures for Tendering."

                                       -2-

<PAGE>
|_|      CHECK HERE IF  TENDERED  OLD NOTES ARE BEING  DELIVERED  PURSUANT  TO A
         NOTICE OF GUARANTEED DELIVERY AND COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING:

         Name of Registered Holder(s):__________________________________________

         Name of Eligible Institution that Guaranteed Delivery:_________________

|_|      CHECK HERE IF YOU ARE A BROKER-DEALER AND WISH TO RECEIVE 10 ADDITIONAL
         COPIES OF THE PROSPECTUS AND 10 COPIES OF ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS
         THERETO.

         Name:__________________________________________________________________

         Address:_______________________________________________________________


                                       -3-

<PAGE>
               PLEASE READ THE ACCOMPANYING INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the Exchange Offer, the
undersigned hereby tenders to the Company the  above-described  principal amount
of Old Notes. Subject to, and effective upon, the acceptance for exchange of the
Old Notes tendered  herewith,  the  undersigned  hereby  exchanges,  assigns and
transfers to, or upon the order of, the Company right, title and interest in and
to such Old Notes. The undersigned hereby  irrevocably  constitutes and appoints
the  Exchange  Agent as the true and lawful  agent and  attorney-in-fact  of the
undersigned  (with full  knowledge that said Exchange Agent acts as the agent of
the undersigned in connection with the Exchange Offer) to cause the Old Notes to
be assigned,  transferred and exchanged. The undersigned represents and warrants
that it has full power and  authority to tender,  exchange,  assign and transfer
the Old Notes  and to  acquire  New Notes  issuable  upon the  exchange  of such
tendered  Old Notes,  and that,  when the same are accepted  for  exchange,  the
Company will acquire good and unencumbered title to the tendered Old Notes, free
and clear of all liens,  restrictions,  charges and encumbrances and not subject
to any adverse claim.  The undersigned also warrants that it will, upon request,
execute and deliver any additional documents deemed by the Exchange Agent or the
Company to be necessary or desirable to complete the  exchange,  assignment  and
transfer of tendered Old Notes.

         The Exchange Offer is subject to certain conditions as set forth in the
Prospectus  under the caption  "Exchange  Offer --  Conditions  to the  Exchange
Offer." The undersigned  recognizes that as a result of these conditions  (which
may be waived,  in whole or in part,  by the Company) as more  particularly  set
forth in the Prospectus,  the Company may not be required to exchange any of the
Old Notes tendered  hereby and, in such event,  the Old Notes not exchanged will
be returned to the  undersigned  at the address shown below the signature of the
undersigned.

         By tendering,  each Holder of Old Notes  represents to the Company that
(i) the New Notes acquired  pursuant to the Exchange Offer are being obtained in
the ordinary course of business of the person receiving such New Notes,  whether
or not such person is such Holder,  (ii) neither the Holder of Old Notes nor any
such  other  person  has an  arrangement  or  understanding  with any  person to
participate in the distribution of such New Notes,  (iii) if the Holder is not a
broker-dealer  or is a broker-dealer  but will not receive New Notes for its own
account in exchange for Old Notes,  neither the Holder nor any such other person
is engaged in or intends to participate  in a distribution  of the New Notes and
(iv)  neither  the  Holder nor any such other  person is an  "affiliate"  of the
Company  within  the  meaning of Rule 405 under the  Securities  Act or, if such
Holder  is  such  an  "affiliate,"   that  such  Holder  will  comply  with  the
registration and prospectus  delivery  requirements of the Securities Act to the
extent applicable. If the tendering Holder is a broker-dealer (whether or not it
is also an  "affiliate"  of the Company within the meaning of Rule 405 under the
Securities  Act) that will receive New Notes for its own account in exchange for
Old Notes,  it  represents  that the Old Notes to be exchanged for the New Notes
were  acquired by it as a result of  market-making  activities  or other trading
activities,  and  acknowledges  that it will  deliver a  prospectus  meeting the
requirements of the Securities Act

                                       -4-

<PAGE>
in connection with any resale of such New Notes. By  acknowledging  that it will
deliver  and  by  delivering  a  prospectus  meeting  the  requirements  of  the
Securities Act in connection with any resale of such New Notes,  the undersigned
is not deemed to admit  that it is an  "underwriter"  within the  meaning of the
Securities Act.

         All authority  herein conferred or agreed to be conferred shall survive
the death,  bankruptcy or incapacity of the undersigned and every  obligation of
the   undersigned   hereunder   shall  be  binding  upon  the  heirs,   personal
representatives,  successors and assigns of the undersigned.  Tendered Old Notes
may be  withdrawn  at any time  prior to 5:00  p.m.,  New York  City time on the
business day prior to the Expiration Date.

         Certificates  for all New Notes  delivered in exchange for tendered Old
Notes and any Old  Notes  delivered  herewith  but not  exchanged,  in each case
registered in the name of the undersigned, shall be delivered to the undersigned
at the address shown below the signature of the undersigned.

                                                (signature(s) on following page)


                                       -5-

<PAGE>
                          TENDERING HOLDER(S) SIGN HERE


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

- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                            Signature(s) of Holder(s)

Dated:               , 1997

(Must be  signed  by  registered  Holder(s)  exactly  as  name(s)  appear(s)  on
certificate(s) for Old Notes or by any person(s) authorized to become registered
Holder(s) by endorsements and documents  transmitted herewith. If signature by a
trustee,  executor,  administrator,  guardian,  attorney-in-fact,  officer  of a
corporation  or other person acting in a fiduciary or  representative  capacity,
please set forth the full title of such person.) See Instruction 3.

Name(s):________________________________________________________________________

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 (Please Print)

Capacity (full title):__________________________________________________________

Address:________________________________________________________________________

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                              (Including Zip Code)

Area Code and Telephone No.: ___________________________________________________

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                             Tax Identification No.



                                       -6-

<PAGE>
                            GUARANTEE OF SIGNATURE(S)
                       (IF REQUIRED -- SEE INSTRUCTION 3)


Authorized
Signature:_____________________________________________________________________

Name:__________________________________________________________________________

Title:_________________________________________________________________________

Address:_______________________________________________________________________

Name of Firm:__________________________________________________________________

Area Code and Telephone No.:___________________________________________________

Dated: __________________, 1997


                                       -7-

<PAGE>
                                  INSTRUCTIONS

                    FORMING PART OF THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS
                              OF THE EXCHANGE OFFER

         1.   DELIVERY  OF  THIS  LETTER  OF   TRANSMITTAL   AND   CERTIFICATES.
Certificates  for all  physically  delivered  Old  Notes,  as well as a properly
completed  and duly  executed  copy of this Letter of  Transmittal  or facsimile
thereof, and any other documents required by this Letter of Transmittal, must be
received by the Exchange  Agent at any of its  addresses  set forth herein on or
prior to the Expiration Date.

         THE METHOD OF DELIVERY OF THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL, THE OLD NOTES AND
ANY OTHER  REQUIRED  DOCUMENTS  IS AT THE  ELECTION  AND RISK OF THE HOLDER AND,
EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE  PROVIDED BELOW,  THE DELIVERY WILL BE DEEMED MADE ONLY WHEN
ACTUALLY  RECEIVED BY THE  EXCHANGE  AGENT.  INSTEAD OF DELIVERY BY MAIL,  IT IS
RECOMMENDED THAT HOLDERS USE AN OVERNIGHT OR HAND DELIVERY SERVICE.

         Holders  whose Old Notes are not  immediately  available  or who cannot
deliver their Old Notes and all other  required  documents to the Exchange Agent
on or prior to the  Expiration  Date may tender their Old Notes  pursuant to the
guaranteed  delivery  procedure  set  forth in the  Prospectus  under  "Exchange
Offer--Procedures  for Tendering."  Pursuant to such procedure:  (i) such tender
must  be  made  by or  through  an  Eligible  Institution  (as  defined  in  the
Prospectus);  (ii) on or prior to the  Expiration  Date, the Exchange Agent must
have  received from such  Eligible  Institution a letter,  telegram or facsimile
transmission  setting  forth the name and address of the tendering  Holder,  the
names in which such Old Notes are registered,  and, if possible, the certificate
numbers of the Old Notes to be  tendered;  and (iii) all  tendered  Old Notes as
well as this  Letter of  Transmittal  and all other  documents  required by this
Letter of  Transmittal  must be  received by the  Exchange  Agent  within  three
American Stock Exchange trading days after the date of execution of such letter,
telex,  telegram or facsimile  transmission,  all as provided in the  Prospectus
under the caption "Exchange Offer -- Procedures for Tendering."

         No alternative,  conditional,  irregular or contingent  tenders will be
accepted.  All tendering Holders, by execution of this Letter of Transmittal (or
facsimile thereof), shall waive any right to receive notice of the acceptance of
the Old Notes for exchange.

         2. PARTIAL TENDERS; WITHDRAWALS.  Tenders of Old Notes will be accepted
in denominations  of $1,000  principal  amount and integral  multiples in excess
thereof.  If less than the entire  principal  amount of Old Notes evidenced by a
submitted  certificate  is  tendered,  the  tendering  Holder  must  fill in the
principal  amount tendered in the box entitled  "Principal  Amount  Tendered." A
newly issued certificate for the principal amount of Old Notes submitted but not
tendered will be sent to such Holder as soon as practicable after the Expiration
Date. All Old Notes  delivered to the Exchange Agent will be deemed to have been
tendered unless otherwise indicated.


                                       -8-

<PAGE>
         Tenders of Old Notes  pursuant to the Exchange  Offer are  irrevocable,
except that Old Notes  tendered  pursuant to the Exchange Offer may be withdrawn
at any time prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the business day prior to
the Expiration Date. To be effective, a written, telegraphic, telex or facsimile
transmission notice of withdrawal must be timely received by the Exchange Agent.
Any such notice of  withdrawal  must  specify the person  named in the Letter of
Transmittal  as having  tendered  Old  Notes to be  withdrawn,  the  certificate
numbers and designation of the Old Notes to be withdrawn,  the principal  amount
of Old  Notes  delivered  for  exchange,  a  statement  that  such a  Holder  is
withdrawing its election to have such Old Notes  exchanged,  and the name of the
registered  Holder of such Old  Notes,  and must be signed by the  Holder in the
same manner as the original  signature on the Letter of  Transmittal  (including
any required signature guarantees) or be accompanied by evidence satisfactory to
the  Comapny  that the  person  withdrawing  the  tender  has  succeeded  to the
beneficial  ownership of the Old Notes being withdrawn.  The Exchange Agent will
return the properly  withdrawn Old Notes promptly following receipt of notice of
withdrawal.

         3. SIGNATURE ON THIS LETTER OF  TRANSMITTAL;  WRITTEN  INSTRUMENTS  AND
ENDORSEMENTS;  GUARANTEE OF SIGNATURES.  If this Letter of Transmittal is signed
by the registered Holder(s) of the Old Notes tendered hereby, the signature must
correspond  with the  name(s)  as written  on the face of  certificates  without
alteration, enlargement or any change whatsoever.

         If any of the Old Notes  tendered  hereby are owned of record by two or
more joint owners, all such owners must sign this Letter of Transmittal.

         If a number of Old Notes registered in different names are tendered, it
will be necessary to complete,  sign and submit as many separate  copies of this
Letter of Transmittal as there are different registrations of Old Notes.

         When this Letter of Transmittal  is signed by the registered  Holder or
Holders of Old Notes listed and tendered hereby, no endorsements of certificates
or separate written instruments of transfer or exchange are required.

         If this  Letter of  Transmittal  is signed by a person  other  than the
registered  Holder or  Holders of the Old Notes  listed,  such Old Notes must be
endorsed or accompanied by separate written  instruments of transfer or exchange
in form  satisfactory to the Company and duly executed by the registered  Holder
or Holders, in either case signed exactly as the name or names of the registered
Holder or Holders appear(s) on the Old Notes.

         If this Letter of Transmittal,  any  certificates  or separate  written
instruments  of  transfer  or  exchange  are  signed  by  trustees,   executors,
administrators, guardians, attorneys-in-fact, officers of corporations or others
acting  in a  fiduciary  or  representative  capacity,  such  persons  should so
indicate  when  signing,  and,  unless  waived by the Company,  proper  evidence
satisfactory to the Company of their authority to so act must be submitted.

                                       -9-

<PAGE>
         Endorsements  on   certificates  or  signatures  on  separate   written
instruments  of  transfer or exchange  required  by this  Instruction  3 must be
guaranteed by an Eligible Institution.

         Signatures on this Letter of  Transmittal  need not be guaranteed by an
Eligible Institution,  provided the Old Notes are tendered:  (i) by a registered
Holder of such Old Notes; or (ii) for the account of any Eligible Institution.

         4. TRANSFER  TAXES.  The Company will pay all transfer  taxes,  if any,
applicable  to the  exchange of Old Notes  pursuant to the Exchange  Offer.  If,
however, certificates representing New Notes, or Old Notes for principal amounts
not tendered or accepted  for  exchange,  are to be  delivered  to, or are to be
issued in the name of, any person  other than the  registered  Holder of the Old
Notes tendered hereby, or if a transfer tax is imposed for any reason other than
the exchange of Old Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer, then the amount of any
such  transfer  taxes  (whether  imposed on the  registered  Holder or any other
person) will be payable by the tendering  Holder.  If  satisfactory  evidence of
payment of such taxes or exemption  therefrom  is not  submitted  herewith,  the
amount of such transfer taxes will be billed directly to such tendering Holder.

         Except as provided in this  Instruction 4, it will not be necessary for
transfer  tax  stamps to be affixed  to the Old Notes  listed in this  Letter of
Transmittal.

         5. WAIVER OF  CONDITIONS.  The Company  reserves the absolute  right to
waive,  in whole or in part,  any of the  conditions  to the Exchange  Offer set
forth in the Prospectus.

         6. MUTILATED,  LOST,  STOLEN OR DESTROYED  NOTES.  Any Holder whose Old
Notes have been mutilated, lost, stolen or destroyed should contact the Exchange
Agent at the address indicated above for further instructions.

         7. REQUESTS FOR ASSISTANCE OR ADDITIONAL COPIES.  Questions relating to
the procedure for tendering,  as well as requests for  additional  copies of the
Prospectus and this Letter of Transmittal, may be directed to the Exchange Agent
at the address and telephone number set forth above. In addition,  all questions
relating to the Exchange Offer, as well as requests for assistance or additional
copies of the Prospectus and this Letter of Transmittal,  may be directed to the
Exchange Agent at the address specified in the Prospectus.

         8. IRREGULARITIES.  All questions as to the validity, form, eligibility
(including  time of receipt),  and  acceptance of Letters of  Transmittal or Old
Notes will be resolved by the  Company,  whose  determination  will be final and
binding. The Company reserves the absolute right to reject any or all Letters of
Transmittal  or tenders that are not in proper form or the  acceptance  of which
would, in the opinion of the Company's  counsel,  be unlawful.  The Company also
reserves the right to waive any irregularities or conditions of tender as to the
particular Old Notes covered by any Letter of  Transmittal or tendered  pursuant
to such Letter of  Transmittal.  None of the Company,  the Exchange Agent or any
other  person  will be under any duty to give  notification  of any  defects  or
irregularities in tenders or incur any liability for

                                      -10-

<PAGE>
failure to give any such notification. The Company's interpretation of the terms
and conditions of the Exchange Offer shall be final and binding.

         9.  DEFINITIONS.  Capitalized  terms used in this Letter of Transmittal
and not otherwise defined have the meanings given in the Prospectus.

         IMPORTANT:  THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL OR A FACSIMILE THEREOF (TOGETHER
WITH CERTIFICATES FOR OLD NOTES AND ALL OTHER REQUIRED DOCUMENTS) OR A NOTICE OF
GUARANTEED  DELIVERY  MUST BE RECEIVED BY THE EXCHANGE  AGENT ON OR PRIOR TO THE
EXPIRATION DATE.


                                      -11-


                             TENDER FOR OUTSTANDING
                          9 1/4% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2005
                                 IN EXCHANGE FOR
                          9 1/4% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2005
                                       OF
                          AMERICAN PACIFIC CORPORATION


To Registered Holders:

                  We are enclosing  herewith the material  listed below relating
to the offer (the "Exchange Offer") by American Pacific Corporation,  a Delaware
corporation ("Company"),  to exchange its 9 1/4% Senior Notes Due 2005 (the "New
Notes"),  the offer and sale of which have been registered  under the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended (the  "Securities  Act"), for a like principal amount of
the  Company's  issued and  outstanding  9 1/4% Senior  Notes Due 2005 (the "Old
Notes"),  upon  the  terms  and  subject  to the  conditions  set  forth  in the
Prospectus of the Company, dated ______________, 1998, and the related Letter of
Transmittal.

                  Enclosed herewith are copies of the following documents:

         1.       Prospectus dated ______________, 1998;

         2.       Letter of Transmittal;

         3.       Notice of Guaranteed Delivery;

         4.       Instruction to Registered Holder from Beneficial Owner; and

         5.       Letter that may be sent to your clients for whose  account you
                  hold Old Notes in your name or in the name of your nominee, to
                  accompany  the  instruction   form  referred  to  above,   for
                  obtaining  such  client's   instruction  with  regard  to  the
                  Exchange Offer.

                  WE URGE YOU TO CONTACT YOUR CLIENTS PROMPTLY. PLEASE NOTE THAT
THE EXCHANGE OFFER WILL EXPIRE AT 5:00 P.M., NEW YORK CITY TIME, ON ___________,
_____________, 1998, UNLESS EXTENDED.


                  The  Exchange  Offer  is  not  conditioned  upon  any  minimum
principal amount of Old Notes being tendered.

                  Pursuant  to the  Letter of  Transmittal,  each  holder of Old
Notes will represent to the Company that (i) the New Notes acquired  pursuant to
the Exchange Offer are being obtained in the ordinary  course of business of the
person receiving such New Notes, whether or not such


<PAGE>

person is such  holder,  (ii)  neither  the holder of the Old Notes nor any such
other person has an arrangement or understanding  with any person to participate
in  the  distribution  of  such  New  Notes,  (iii)  if  the  holder  is  not  a
broker-dealer,  or is a broker-dealer but will not receive New Notes for its own
account in exchange for Old Notes,  neither the holder nor any such other person
is engaged in or intends to participate  in a distribution  of the New Notes and
(iv)  neither  the  holder nor any such other  person is an  "affiliate"  of the
Company  within  the  meaning of Rule 405 under the  Securities  Act or, if such
person is an "affiliate," that such holder will comply with the registration and
prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act to the extent applicable.
If the tendering  holder is a broker-dealer  that will receive New Notes for its
own  account in exchange  for Old Notes,  you will  represent  on behalf of such
broker-dealer that the Old Notes to be exchanged for the New Notes were acquired
by it as a result of market-making  activities or other trading activities,  and
acknowledge  on behalf of such  broker-dealer  that it will deliver a prospectus
meeting the  requirements of the Securities Act in connection with any resale of
such New Notes.  By  acknowledging  that it will  deliver  and by  delivering  a
prospectus meeting the requirements of the Securities Act in connection with any
resale of such New Notes,  such  broker-dealer is not deemed to admit that it is
an "underwriter" within the meaning of the Securities Act.

                  The enclosed  Instruction to Registered Holder from Beneficial
Owner contains an  authorization  by the beneficial  owners of the Old Notes for
you to make the foregoing representations on their behalf.

                  The Company will not pay any fee or  commission  to any broker
or  dealer  or to any  other  persons  (other  than the  exchange  agent for the
Exchange  Offer) in  connection  with the  solicitation  of tenders of Old Notes
pursuant to the  Exchange  Offer.  The Company  will pay or cause to be paid any
transfer  taxes  payable on the transfer of Old Notes to it, except as otherwise
provided in Instruction 4 of the enclosed Letter of Transmittal.

                  Additional  copies of the  enclosed  material  may be obtained
from the undersigned.

                                            Very truly yours,


                                            U.S. Trust Company of New York

                                 Exchange Agent


NOTHING  CONTAINED HEREIN OR IN THE ENCLOSED  DOCUMENTS SHALL CONSTITUTE YOU THE
AGENT OF THE COMPANY OR U.S.  TRUST COMPANY OF NEW YORK, OR AUTHORIZE YOU TO USE
ANY  DOCUMENT  OR MAKE ANY  STATEMENT  ON THEIR  BEHALF IN  CONNECTION  WITH THE
EXCHANGE  OFFER OTHER THAN THE DOCUMENTS  ENCLOSED  HEREWITH AND THE  STATEMENTS
CONTAINED THEREIN.

                                       -2-


             INSTRUCTION TO REGISTERED HOLDER FROM BENEFICIAL OWNER
                                       OF
                          9 1/4% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2005
                                       OF
                          AMERICAN PACIFIC CORPORATION

To Registered Holder:

         The undersigned  hereby  acknowledges  receipt of the Prospectus  dated
_________,  1998 (the "Prospectus") of American Pacific Corporation,  a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), and accompanying Letter of Transmittal (the "Letter
of  Transmittal"),  that together  constitute the Company's offer (the "Exchange
Offer") to exchange  $1,000 in principal amount of a new series of 9 1/4% Senior
Notes Due 2005 (the "New  Notes") of the Company  for each  $1,000 in  principal
amount of  outstanding  9 1/4%  Senior  Notes Due 2005 (the "Old  Notes") of the
Company.  Capitalized  terms  used but not  defined  herein  have  the  meanings
ascribed to them in the Prospectus.

                  This will  instruct  you,  the  registered  holder,  as to the
action to be taken by you relating to the Exchange Offer with respect to the Old
Notes held by you for the account of the undersigned.

                  The aggregate face amount of the Old Notes held by you for the
account of the undersigned is (fill in amount):

                  $__________ of 9 1/4% Senior Notes Due 2005.

                  With respect to the Exchange  Offer,  the  undersigned  hereby
instructs you (check appropriate box):

                  |_| To TENDER  the  following  Old  Notes  held by you for the
                  account of the  undersigned  (insert  principal  amount of Old
                  Notes to be tendered (if any)):

                  $__________ of 9 1/4% Senior Notes Due 2005.

                  |_| NOT to TENDER any Old Notes held by you for the account of
                  the undersigned.

                  If the  undersigned  instructs you to tender Old Notes held by
you for the account of the undersigned, it is understood that you are authorized
to make, on behalf of the  undersigned  (and the  undersigned,  by its signature
below, hereby makes to you), the representations and warranties contained in the
Letter of Transmittal  that are to be made with respect to the  undersigned as a
beneficial owner, including but not limited to the representations, that (i) the
New Notes  acquired  pursuant to the  Exchange  Offer are being  obtained in the
ordinary course of business of the undersigned, (ii) neither the undersigned nor
the person


<PAGE>
receiving such New Notes (of other than the  undersigned)  has an arrangement or
understanding  with any person to  participate in the  distribution  of such New
Notes,  (iii) if the undersigned is not a  broker-dealer,  or is a broker-dealer
but will not receive  New Notes for its own  account in exchange  for Old Notes,
neither the  undersigned  nor any such other  person is engaged in or intends to
participate  in the  distribution  of  such  New  Notes  and  (iv)  neither  the
undersigned  nor any such other person is an  "affiliate"  of the Company within
the  meaning  of Rule 405 under the  Securities  Act of 1933,  as  amended  (the
"Securities   Act"),  or,  if  the  undersigned  is  an  "affiliate,"  that  the
undersigned  will  comply  with  the   registration   and  prospectus   delivery
requirements of the Securities Act to the extent applicable.  If the undersigned
is a broker-dealer  (whether or not it is also an "affiliate") that will receive
New Notes for its own account in exchange for Old Notes, it represents that such
Old Notes were acquired as a result of market-making activities or other trading
activities,  and it acknowledges  that it will deliver a prospectus  meeting the
requirements  of the  Securities  Act in connection  with any resale of such New
Notes.  By  acknowledging  that it will  deliver and by  delivering a prospectus
meeting the  requirements of the Securities Act in connection with any resale of
such  New  Notes,  the  undersigned  is  not  deemed  to  admit  that  it  is an
"underwriter" within the meaning of the Securities Act.


                                    SIGN HERE


Name of beneficial owner(s) (please print):_____________________________________

Signature(s):___________________________________________________________________

Address:________________________________________________________________________

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

Telephone Number:_______________________________________________________________

Taxpayer identification or Social Security Number:______________________________

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

Date:___________________________________________________________________________


                                       -2-

<PAGE>
                             TENDER FOR OUTSTANDING
                          9 1/4% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2005
                                 IN EXCHANGE FOR
                          9 1/4% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2005
                                       OF
                          AMERICAN PACIFIC CORPORATION


To Our Clients:

                  We are enclosing herewith a Prospectus,  dated ______________,
of American  Pacific  Corporation,  a Delaware  corporation  ("Company"),  and a
related Letter of Transmittal  (which together  constitute the "Exchange Offer")
relating  to the offer by the Company to  exchange  its 9 1/4% Senior  Notes Due
2005 (the "New Notes"),  the offer and sale of which have been registered  under
the  Securities  Act of 1933,  as amended  (the  "Securities  Act"),  for a like
principal amount of its issued and outstanding 9 1/4% Senior Notes Due 2005 (the
"Old  Notes"),  upon the terms and  subject to the  conditions  set forth in the
Exchange Offer.

         PLEASE NOTE THAT THE EXCHANGE  OFFER WILL EXPIRE AT 5:00 P.M., NEW YORK
CITY TIME, ON ______________, _______________, 1998 UNLESS EXTENDED.

                  The Exchange Offer is not conditioned  upon any minimum number
of Old Notes being tendered.

                  We are the  holder of record of Old Notes  held by us for your
account.  A tender of such Old Notes can be made only by us as the record holder
and pursuant to your instructions. The Letter of Transmittal is furnished to you
for your  information only and cannot be used by you to tender Old Notes held by
us for your account.

                  We request  instructions  as to whether you wish to tender any
or all of the Old Notes held by us for your  account  pursuant  to the terms and
conditions of the Exchange  Offer.  We also request that you confirm that we may
on your behalf make the representations contained in the Letter of Transmittal.

                  Pursuant  to the  Letter of  Transmittal,  each  holder of Old
Notes will  represent  to the  Company  that (i) the New Notes  acquired  in the
Exchange  Offer are being  obtained  in the  ordinary  course of business of the
person receiving such New Notes, whether or not such person is such holder, (ii)
neither the holder of the Old Notes nor any such other person has an arrangement
or understanding  with any person to participate in the distribution of such New
Notes, (iii) if the holder is not a broker-dealer or is a broker-dealer but will
not receive New Notes for its own account in exchange for Old Notes, neither the
holder nor any such other  person is engaged in or intends to  participate  in a
distribution  of the New Notes and (iv)  neither  the  holder nor any such other
person is an "affiliate" of the Company within the meaning of Rule 405 under the
Securities Act or, if such holder is an "affiliate," that such holder will


<PAGE>
comply  with  the  registration  and  prospectus  delivery  requirements  of the
Securities  Act  to  the  extent  applicable.  If  the  tendering  holder  is  a
broker-dealer  (whether or not it is also an "affiliate")  that will receive New
Notes for its own account in exchange for Old Notes, we will represent on behalf
of such  broker-dealer that the Old Notes to be exchanged for the New Notes were
acquired  by it  as a  result  of  market-making  activities  or  other  trading
activities, and acknowledge on behalf of such broker-dealer that it will deliver
a prospectus  meeting the  requirements of the Securities Act in connection with
any resale of such New  Notes.  By  acknowledging  that it will  deliver  and by
delivering  a  prospectus  meeting the  requirements  of the  Securities  Act in
connection with any resale of such New Notes, a broker-dealer will not be deemed
to admit that it is an "underwriter" within the meaning of the Securities Act.

                                                 Very truly yours,

                          NOTICE OF GUARANTEED DELIVERY
                                       for
                              Tender of Outstanding
                          9 1/4% Senior Notes Due 2005
                                 in Exchange for
                          9 1/4% Senior Notes Due 2005
                                       of
                          American Pacific Corporation

         Registered  holders of  outstanding  9 1/4% Senior  Notes Due 2005 (the
"Old  Notes") of American  Pacific  Corporation  ("Company")  who wish to tender
their Old Notes in exchange for a like  principal  amount of 9 1/4% Senior Notes
Due 2005  (the  "New  Notes")  of the  Company,  and  whose  Old  Notes  are not
immediately  available  or who  cannot  deliver  their Old  Notes and  Letter of
Transmittal  (and any other documents  required by the Letter of Transmittal) to
U.S. Trust Company of New York (the "Exchange  Agent"),  prior to the Expiration
Date, may use this Notice of Guaranteed Delivery or one substantially equivalent
hereto.  This Notice of Guaranteed  Delivery may be delivered by hand or sent by
facsimile transmission (receipt confirmed by telephone and an original delivered
by  guaranteed  overnight  delivery)  or mail to the  Exchange  Agent.  See "The
Exchange Offer -- Procedures for Tendering" in the Prospectus.

                  The Exchange Agent for the Exchange Offer is:


                     UNITED STATES TRUST COMPANY OF NEW YORK

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

By Mail:                           By Overnight Courier:         By Hand:                              By Facsimile:

<S>                                <C>                           <C>                                   <C> 
United States Trust                United States Trust           United States Trust                   fax no. (212) 780-0592
  Company of New York                Company of New York           Company of New York                 (For Eligible Institutions
P.O. Box 844                       770 Broadway - 13th Floor     111 Broadway                          Only)
Cooper Station                     Corporate Trust Operations    Lower Level
New York, NY 10276-0844              Department                  New York, NY 10006                    Confirm by telephone:
(registered or certified mail      New York, NY 10003            Attn:  Corporate Trust Services       telephone no. (800) 548-6565
recommended)
</TABLE>


<PAGE>
Delivery of this Notice of  Guaranteed  Delivery to an address other than as set
forth above or transmission of  instructions  via a facsimile  transmission to a
number other than as set forth above will not constitute a valid delivery.

This Notice of Guaranteed Delivery is not to be used to guarantee signatures. If
a  signature  on a Letter of  Transmittal  is required  to be  guaranteed  by an
Eligible  Institution,  such  signature  guarantee must appear in the applicable
space provided on the Letter of Transmittal for Guarantee of Signatures.

                                                (signature(s) on following page)


                                       -2-

<PAGE>



Ladies & Gentlemen:

         The  undersigned  hereby  tender(s) to the Company,  upon the terms and
subject  to the  conditions  set forth in the  Exchange  Offer and the Letter of
Transmittal,  receipt of which is hereby  acknowledged,  the aggregate principal
amount  of Old  Notes  set  forth  below  pursuant  to the  guaranteed  delivery
procedures set forth in the Prospectus.

         The undersigned  understands that tenders of Old Notes will be accepted
only in principal  amounts equal to $1,000 or integral  multiples  thereof.  The
undersigned understands that tenders of Old Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer
may not be  withdrawn  after 5:00 p.m.,  New York City time on the  business day
prior to the Expiration Date.  Tenders of Old Notes may also be withdrawn if the
Exchange  Offer  is  terminated  without  any  such Old  Notes  being  purchased
thereunder or as otherwise provided in the Prospectus.

         All authority herein conferred or agreed to be conferred by this Notice
of Guaranteed  Delivery shall survive the death or incapacity of the undersigned
and every obligation of the undersigned under this Notice of Guaranteed Delivery
shall  be  binding  upon  the  heirs,   personal   representatives,   executors,
administrators,  successors,  assigns,  trustees in  bankruptcy  and other legal
representatives of the undersigned.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                            PLEASE SIGN AND COMPLETE


<S>                                                           <C>
Signature(s) of Registered Owner(s) or Authorized             Name(s) of Registered Holder(s):
Signatory:_______________________________________
                                                              -------------------------------------------
- -----------------------------------------------
                                                              -------------------------------------------
- -----------------------------------------------
                                                              -------------------------------------------
Principal Amount of Old Notes
Tendered:_______________________________________              Address:___________________________________

- -----------------------------------------------
                                                              -------------------------------------------
Certificate No(s). of Old Notes (if available)___________
                                                              Area Code and Telephone No.:_________________
- -----------------------------------------------
                                                              Date:______________________________________
- -----------------------------------------------
</TABLE>



                                       -3-

<PAGE>


- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     This  Notice  of  Guaranteed  Delivery  must be  signed  by the  registered
holder(s) of Old Notes exactly as its (their) name(s)  appear(s) on certificates
for Old Notes or on a  security  position  listing it (them) as the owner of Old
Notes, or by person(s) authorized to become registered Holder(s) by endorsements
and documents  transmitted with this Notice of Guaranteed Delivery. If signature
is by a trustee, executor, administrator, guardian, attorney-in-fact, officer or
other person acting in a fiduciary or representative  capacity, such person must
provide the following information.


                                       PLEASE PRINT NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES)

Name(s):          ______________________________________________________________

                  --------------------------------------------------------------
Capacity:         ______________________________________________________________
Address(es):      ______________________________________________________________

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

DO NOT SEND OLD NOTES WITH THIS FORM.  OLD NOTES  SHOULD BE SENT TO THE EXCHANGE
AGENT  TOGETHER  WITH  A  PROPERLY   COMPLETED  AND  DULY  EXECUTED   LETTER  OF
TRANSMITTAL.

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

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    GUARANTEE
                    (NOT TO BE USED FOR SIGNATURE GUARANTEE)

     The undersigned, a member firm of a registered national securities exchange
or of the National Association of Securities Dealers,  Inc. or a commercial bank
or trust company having an office or a correspondent  in the United States or an
"eligible guarantor institution" as defined by Rule 17Ad-15 under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the  "Exchange  Act"),  hereby (a)  represents
that each holder of Old Notes on whose behalf this tender is being made "own(s)"
the Old Notes covered hereby within the meaning of Rule 14e-4 under the Exchange
Act, (b) represents that such tender of Old Notes complies with such Rule 14e-4,
and (c) guarantees that, within three New York Stock Exchange trading days after
the date of this Notice of Guaranteed  Delivery,  a properly  completed and duly
executed  Letter  of  Transmittal  (or  a  facsimile  thereof),   together  with
certificates  representing  the Old Notes  covered  hereby  in  proper  form for
transfer and required  documents will be deposited by the  undersigned  with the
Exchange Agent.

     THE UNDERSIGNED ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT MUST DELIVER THE LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL
AND OLD NOTES  TENDERED  HEREBY TO THE EXCHANGE  AGENT WITHIN THE TIME SET FORTH
ABOVE  AND  THAT  FAILURE  TO DO SO  COULD  RESULT  IN  FINANCIAL  LOSS  TO  THE
UNDERSIGNED.


Name of Firm:_______________________               Authorized Signature
Address:____________________________
___________________________________       Name:_________________________________
Area Code and Telephone No.:_________     Title:________________________________
___________________________________       Date:_________________________________

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


                                       -4-



© 2022 IncJournal is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission