AMERICAN PACIFIC CORP
S-4/A, 1998-07-28
INDUSTRIAL INORGANIC CHEMICALS
Previous: AMERICAN PACIFIC CORP, 10-K/A, 1998-07-28
Next: HEI INC, DEFA14A, 1998-07-28




   
      As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 28, 1998
                                                      Registration No. 333-49883
    

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

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

   
                               AMENDMENT NO. 4 TO
                                    FORM S-4
    
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                      UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                      ------------------------------------

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

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

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

                          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
                             CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
                          AMERICAN PACIFIC CORPORATION
                           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. / /

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

         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  JULY 28, 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 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 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 APRIL 30, 1998,  THE TOTAL  LIABILITIES  OF THE COMPANY'S  SUBSIDIARIES  WERE
APPROXIMATELY $3.7 MILLION.

         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


<PAGE>
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 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 Portalsm 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."


<PAGE>
         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 in "Summary of the Terms of the
Exchange  Offer").  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.


                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                   PAGE                                                     PAGE

<S>                                                  <C>  <C>                                                <C>
AVAILABLE INFORMATION.................................1   MATERIAL CHANGES....................................25
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN                                  DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW NOTES........................27
 DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE...............................2   UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAX
PROSPECTUS SUMMARY....................................3     CONSIDERATIONS....................................54
RISK FACTORS.........................................12   PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION................................55
THE EXCHANGE OFFER...................................18   LEGAL MATTERS.......................................55
USE OF PROCEEDS......................................24   EXPERTS.............................................56
</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.


<PAGE>
         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.


                                       -2-

<PAGE>
                 INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
   

         The  Company's  Annual  Report on Form 10-K for the  fiscal  year ended
September  30,  1997,  as  amended by Form  10-K/A  (Amendment  No.  1),  10-K/A
(Amendment No. 2), 10-K/A (Amendment No. 3), 10-K/A (Amendment No. 4) and 10-K/A
(Amendment  No.  5),  Quarterly  Reports  on Form  10-Q for the  quarters  ended
December  31,  1997  and  March  31,  1998,  each as  amended  by a Form  10-Q/A
(Amendment No. 1), Form 10-Q/A  (Amendment No. 2) and Form 10-Q/A (Amendment No.
3),  Current  Report on Form 8-K filed on October 15,  1997,  as amended by Form
8-K/A filed on July 22, 1998,  Current  Report on Form 8-K filed on February 20,
1998,  Current  Report on Form 8-K filed on March 3,  1998,  as  amended by Form
8-K/A  (Amendment No. 1) filed on June 15, 1998 and Form 8-K/A (Amendment No. 2)
filed on July 22, 1998,  and Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 27, 1998,
as amended by Form 8-K/A filed on July 10, 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.

                                       -3-

<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.


                                   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  percentage  of Company  sales  attributable  to
perchlorate  operations  was 75%,  51% and 52%  during  the 1995,  1996 and 1997
fiscal years, respectively.

         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").  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.

                                       -4-

<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 six months ended
March  31,  1997 and 1998 and as of March  31,  1998 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 six months ended March 31, 1998
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>

                                                                                         SIX MONTHS
                                                                                           ENDED
                                              YEARS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30,                   MARCH 31,
                                     -------------------------------------------       --------------
                                     1993      1994      1995     1996      1997       1997      1998
                                     ----      ----      ----     ----      ----       ----      ----
                                                 (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
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   $17,778    $25,387
Surcharge revenues (a)............   19,774     8,913       --        --        --       --          --
                                    -------   -------  -------   -------   -------   ------     -------
Total sales and operating revenues   57,215    51,193   39,250    42,381    44,050   17,778      25,387
Cost of sales.....................   24,612    26,317   29,861    32,579    36,420   15,108      17,235
                                    -------   -------  -------   -------   -------   ------     -------
Gross profit......................   32,603    24,876    9,389     9,802     7,630    2,670       8,152
Operating expenses................   11,931    12,522   11,210     9,367     9,509    4,632       4,430
Impairment charge (b).............       --    39,401       --        --    52,605       --          --
Employee separation and management
   reorganization costs (c).......       --        --      226        --     3,616       --          --
Operating income (loss)...........   20,672   (27,047)  (2,047)       435  (58,000)  (1,962)      3,722
Equity in earnings of real estate
   venture........................       --        --       --       700       200      100         300

Extraordinary loss...............                                                                 5,105
Net income (loss).................   10,435   (19,337)  (1,536)     (211)  (48,685)  (1,579)     (2,446)

Basic Net Income (Loss) Per
   Share (d)                          $1.29    ($2.38)   ($.19)    ($.03)   ($6.01)   ($.19)      ($.30)
Diluted Net Income (Loss)
   Per Share (d)                      $1.26    ($2.38)   ($.19)    ($.03)   ($6.01)   ($.19)      ($.30)
OTHER DATA:
Depreciation and amortization.....   11,365     7,679    5,883     7,810     7,685    3,387       1,525
Capital expenditures..............   47,865     9,218    4,462     3,248     1,557    1,301       1,648
Ratio of earnings to
   fixed charges (e)                   1.85      (f)      (f)       (f)       (f)      (f)         2.22
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                   AT SEPTEMBER 30,                               AT
                                                  ------------------                           MARCH 31,
                                     1993      1994      1995     1996      1997                 1998
                                   --------  --------  -------- --------  ------             -----------
BALANCE SHEET DATA:
<S>                                <C>       <C>       <C>      <C>        <C>                 <C>
Cash (including restricted cash).. $ 50,005  $ 24,468  $ 28,283 $ 23,470   $22,461             $ 19,029
Total assets......................  231,138   154,922  157,789   150,019    90,081              130,128
Total debt........................   89,681    42,680   42,554    36,786    31,066               76,168
 Shareholders' equity.............  114,253    95,846   94,251    94,156    45,551               43,704
</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.

                                       -5-
<PAGE>
(d) During the first quarter of fiscal 1998,  the Company  adopted  Statement of
    Financial  Accounting  Standards ("SFAS") No. 128 "Earnings Per Share." SFAS
    No. 128 requires the  presentation  of basic net income (loss) per share and
    diluted net income (loss) per share. Basic per share amounts are computed by
    dividing net income (loss) by average shares  outstanding during the period.
    Diluted per share  amounts are  computed  by dividing  net income  (loss) by
    average  shares  outstanding  plus  the  dilutive  effect  of  common  share
    equivalents.  All prior periods presented have been restated to conform with
    the requirements of SFAS No. 128.
(e) 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.
(f) The ratios for the fiscal years ended  September  30, 1994,  1995,  1996 and
    1997 and the six months ended March 31, 1997 have been  omitted  because the
    earnings were not sufficient to cover fixed charges.  The deficiencies  were
    $33.3 million,  $5.4 million,  $1.7 million and $60.9 million for the fiscal
    years ended September 30, 1994, 1995, 1996 and 1997, respectively,  and $3.5
    million for the six months ended March 31, 1997.


                     CERTAIN PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION

    The following pro forma financial  information  gives effect to the issuance
of the Old Notes ,  repurchase  of the Azide  Notes  and  amortization  of costs
associated with the Acquisition.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                 Year Ended             Six Months
                                                             September 30, 1997    Ended March 31, 1998
                                                           ---------------------------------------------

<S>                                                             <C>                    <C>      
Net income (loss) before extraordinary item as reported         $ (48,685)             $   2,559

Add:  Azide Notes interest expense (including amortization
      of debt issue costs)                                          2,001                  1,639
Deduct:
      Incremental interest expense on Notes                        (6,937)                (3,103)
      Amortization of debt issue costs of Notes(a)                   (500)                  (250)
      Amortization of Acquisition costs(a)                         (4,000)                (2,000)
                                                               -----------          ------------

Pro forma net loss before extraordinary item                   $  (58,121)           $      (655)
                                                               ===========           ============

Pro forma diluted loss per share                               $    (7.17)           $      (.08)
                                                               ===========           ============

 Pro forma ratio of earnings to fixed charges (b)                      (c)                    (c)
                                                               ===========           ============
</TABLE>
a)  Amortization of Acquisition  costs consists  principally of the amortization
    of an intangible  asset  acquired in the  Acquisition in the amount of $39.0
    million over a ten-year  period.  The Old Notes were issued in the principal
    amount of $75.0 million and bear interest at a rate of 9.25% per annum. Debt
    issue costs are estimated to amount to between $3.0 and $3.5 million and are
    amortized over the life of the Old Notes, or seven years.

(b) The pro forma  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.

(c) The pro forma ratio of  earnings to fixed  charges for the fiscal year ended
    September  30, 1997 and for the six months ended March 31, 1998 were omitted
    because  the  earnings  were not  sufficient  to cover  fixed  charges.  The
    deficiencies were $60.3 million and $.7 million, respectively.


                                       -6-

<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.  The
                                   Company has not entered into any  arrangement
                                   or   understanding   with   any   person   to
                                   distribute  the New Notes to be issued in the
                                   Exchange  Offer.  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.

                                       -7-

<PAGE>

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


                                       -8-

<PAGE>

                                   time  and may  not be  able  to be  completed
                                   prior to the Expiration Date.

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."

United States Federal Income Tax
  Considerations...................In the  opinion  of Olshan  Grundman  Frome &
                                   Rosenzweig LLP,  counsel to the Company,  the
                                   exchange  pursuant to the Exchange Offer will
                                   not constitute a taxable  exchange for United
                                   States federal income tax purposes.  Each New
                                   Note  will  be   treated   as   having   been
                                   originally  issued  at the  time the Old Note
                                   exchanged therefor was originally issued. See
                                   "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.

                                       -9-

<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   in    "Description   of   the   New
                                   Notes--Certain   Definitions"),    (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)

                                      -10-

<PAGE>
                                   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 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."




                                      -11-

<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

         The  percentage  of the Company's  sales  attributable  to  perchlorate
operations  (principally  AP  production)  was 75%, 51% and 52% during the 1995,
1996 and 1997 fiscal years,  respectively.  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.

NET LOSSES

         The Company had net losses of approximately $1.5 million,  $1.1 million
and $58.8 million (inclusive of a non- cash-impairment  charge of $52.6 million)
for the fiscal years 1995, 1996 and 1997, respectively.  Continued net losses in
the future could impair the  Company's  ability to meet its  obligations  on the
Notes.

EARNINGS  INSUFFICIENT  TO COVER  FIXED  CHARGES;  UNCERTAINTY  AS TO  CHANGE OF
CONTROL EVENT

         The   Company's   earnings   were  less  than  its  fixed   charges  by
approximately $5.4 million,  $1.7 million and $60.9 million (after giving effect
to a non-cash impairment charge of $52.6 million for fiscal years 1995, 1996 and
1997,  respectively.  If such deficiencies  were to continue in the future,  the
Company's  ability  to meed its  obligations  on the  Notes  could be  adversely
affected.  The Company's  fixed  charges on a pro forma basis,  giving effect to
issuance of the Old Notes and repurchase of the Azide Notes,  are  approximately
$635,000 per month.

         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.
The definition of Change of Control  includes the sale by the Company of "all or
substantially  all the assets of the Company" to another person or entity.  Upon
advice of  Counsel,  the  Company  believes  that such  phrase  does not have an
established meaning under applicable law. Accordingly,  were a sale of assets to
occur and a dispute to arise as to whether such sale  constituted a sale of "all
or  substantially  all the assets of the Company," the Holders or the Trustee on
behalf of the Holders  might be  required to commence an action to resolve  such
dispute, which could delay substantially any such repurchase.

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

                                      -12-

<PAGE>
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 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

                                      -13-

<PAGE>
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
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 from approximately  $7.00 per pound in 1994 to between $4.50 and $5.00 per
pound  currently.  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  operating  losses in its sodium
azide operations during the last three fiscal years totalling $8.1 million, $3.7
million  and $54.8  million  (including  a non-cash  impairment  charge of $52.6
million) for fiscal years 1995, 1996 and 1997, respectively. 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.

RISKS RELATED TO REAL ESTATE ACTIVITIES

         The Company's  real estate  activities are dependent upon the Las Vegas
commercial,  industrial and residential real estate markets. Reduced demand from
changes  in local  economic  conditions  or  otherwise  in those  markets  could
adversely affect the Company's ability to develop its properties.  Interest rate
fluctuations  affecting the  availability  and the cost of financing  could also
affect the Company's ability to develop real property if they impede the ability
of prospective  purchasers to obtain financing for those purchases.  The Company
is also  dependent  upon the  efforts of the  managing  partner of Gibson  Ranch
Limited Liability Company,  the developer of the Ventana Canyon project in which
the Company has an interest.  In addition,  environmental  matters affecting the
property, such as those discussed under "--Environmental  Regulation and Risks,"
below, could have a negative impact on sales or costs.

                                      -14-

<PAGE>
SUBSTANTIAL LEVERAGE AND ABILITY TO REPAY THE NOTES

         The Company is highly leveraged.  As of April 30, 1998, the Company had
outstanding indebtedness of approximately $76.2 million.  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 $60.9  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 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
difference  between the exercise  price of the Warrants and a price  obtained by
multiplying the Company's fully diluted  earnings per share by a multiple of 11,
up to a maximum of $5.0  million  of cost to the  Company.  If these  rights are
exercised,  the Company will be required to make a payment of up to $5.0 million
in respect thereof,  which payment if made could impair the Company's ability to
meet its obligations on the Notes.

                                      -15-

<PAGE>
The Warrants are exercisable at an exercise price of $14.00 per share and expire
on December 31, 2003. The maximum number of shares  purchasable upon exercise of
the Warrants is 2,857,000 shares.

HOLDING COMPANY STRUCTURE; STRUCTURAL SUBORDINATION;  DEPENDENCE UPON SUBSIDIARY
DISTRIBUTIONS

         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."

         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

                                      -16-

<PAGE>
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.  If and to the extent that the Company is required
to expend  material  amounts,  there could be a material  adverse  effect on the
financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

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.

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.


                                      -17-

<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

                                      -18-

<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

                                      -19-

<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.


                                      -20-

<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."


                                      -21-

<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:

                                      -22-
<PAGE>
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)

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.


                                      -23-

<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.

                                      -24-

<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 intangible assets related to
Kerr-McGee's  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

                                      -25-

<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.




                                      -26-

<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 the material provisions of the Indenture and
the Notes,  is subject to, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to, the
Indenture and the Notes.

         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:

                                      -27-

<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 April 30,
1998, the Company's  senior  indebtedness  outstanding was  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  April  30,  1998,  the  total
liabilities  of the  Company's  subsidiaries  were  approximately  $3.7 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,  in
definitive,  fully  registered  form  without  interest  coupons  with a  global
securities  legend and restricted  securities  legend (the "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

                                      -28-

<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.


                                      -29-

<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.


                                      -30-

<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.  The  definition of Change
of Control  includes  the sale by the Company of "all or  substantially  all the
assets of the Company" to another  person or entity.The  definition of Change of
Control includes the sale by the Company of "all or substantially all the assets
of the Company" to another person or entity. Upon advice of Counsel, the Company
believes that such phrase does not have an established  meaning under applicable
law.  Accordingly,  were a sale of assets to occur and a dispute  to arise as to
whether such sale constituted a sale of "all or substantially  all the assets of
the  Company,"  the  Holders or the  Trustee on behalf of the  Holders  might be
required  to  commence  an action to resolve  such  dispute,  which  could delay
substantially any such repurchase.

     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

                                      -31-

<PAGE>
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:

     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.

     As of the date of this Prospectus,  the Consolidated Coverage Ratio exceeds
3.5 to 1. Assuming no change in the Company's  EBITDA  resulting from incurrence
of additional  Indebtedness,  or  otherwise,  the Company would be able to incur
approximately $50.0 million of additional  Indebtedness at an interest rate of 9
1/4% per annum (the interest rate on the Notes) before the Consolidated Coverage
Ratio  would  cease to  exceed  the 2.5 to 1 level  set  forth in the  foregoing
paragraph (a).

     (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;

                                      -32-

<PAGE>
          (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.

     (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

                                      -33-

<PAGE>
     (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 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

                                      -34-

<PAGE>
     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 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;

                                      -35-

<PAGE>
          (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 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

                                      -36-

<PAGE>
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 "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

                                      -37-

<PAGE>
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;  (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

                                      -38-

<PAGE>
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.

     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.  The Event of  Default  provisions  do not  impair  the right of a
Holder of Notes to institute a suit for  enforcement of the payment of principal
or interest.

     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.

                                      -39-

<PAGE>
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  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").

                                      -40-

<PAGE>
     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  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 Trustee may refuse to follow any direction  that  conflicts  with law or the
Indenture  or,  subject  to its  duties  in  such  capacity,  that  the  Trustee
determines is unduly prejudicial to the rights of other Holders or would involve
the Trustee in personal  liability.  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

                                      -41-

<PAGE>
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.

     "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.


                                      -42-

<PAGE>
     "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.

     "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

                                      -43-

<PAGE>
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 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;


                                      -44-

<PAGE>
          (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 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

                                      -45-

<PAGE>
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) 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.

                                      -46-

<PAGE>
     "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,
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;


                                      -47-

<PAGE>
          (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
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

                                      -48-

<PAGE>
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;  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

                                      -49-

<PAGE>
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, 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.


                                      -50-

<PAGE>
     "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
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.

                                      -51-

<PAGE>
     "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.

     "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,


                                      -52-

<PAGE>
          (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  "--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.


                                      -53-

<PAGE>
                 UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS

     The  following  discussion  is the  opinion  of  Olshan  Grundman  Frome  &
Rosenzweig LLP, tax counsel to the Company, subject to the limitations set forth
herein,  on 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 will
not  constitute  a taxable  event for U.S.  Federal  income tax  purposes.  As a
result,  (i) a Holder of Old Notes will 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 will include the holding period
of the Old Notes  surrendered in exchange therefor and (iii) a Holder's adjusted
tax basis in the New Notes will 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.



                                      -54-

<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.


                                      -55-

<PAGE>
                                     EXPERTS

     The  consolidated   financial   statements  of  American  Pacific  and  its
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.



                                      -56-

<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).

         *12      Computation of ratio of earnings to fixed charges.

         **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.

                                      II-1

<PAGE>

         *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.

- -------------------
*        Previously filed
**       Filed herewith.

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 Amendment to the Registration
Statement  to be  signed  on its  behalf  by  the  undersigned,  thereunto  duly
authorized, in the City of Las Vegas, State of Nevada, on July 27, 1998.
    

                                       AMERICAN PACIFIC CORPORATION


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

   
         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
this  Amendment to the  Registration  Statement has been signed by the following
persons in the capacities indicated on July 27, 1998.
    
         SIGNATURE                                TITLE

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


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

      *
- ------------------------------
    (Fred D. Gibson, Jr.)         Director

      *
- ------------------------------
     (Eugene A. Cafiero)          Director

      *
- ------------------------------
     (Thomas A. Turner)           Director

      *
- ------------------------------
        (Jan H. Loeb)             Director

      *
- ------------------------------
      (Norval F. Pohl)            Director

      *
- ------------------------------
      (C. Keith Rooker)           Director

      *
- ------------------------------
     (Jane L. Williams)           Director

      *
- ------------------------------
     (Berlyn D. Miller)           Director

      *
- ------------------------------
   (Victor M. Rosenzweig)         Director

     *
- ------------------------------
      (Dean M. Willard)           Director



*By: S/ JOHN R. GIBSON
     ---------------------
     John R. Gibson,
     Attorney-in-Fact


                                      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).

          *12     Computation of ratio of earnings to fixed charges.

         **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.


- ------------------
*        Previously filed.
**       Filed herewith.



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 Amendment No. 4
to Registration Statement No. 333-49883 on Form S-4 of our report dated November
14, 1997,  appearing in the Annual Report on Form 10-K as amended by Form 10-K/A
Amendment No. 5 of American Pacific Corporation for the year ended September 30,
1997,  and of our report dated July 10, 1998, on Gibson Ranch Limited  Liability
Company appearing in the Company's Form 10-K as amended by Form 10-K/A Amendment
No. 5 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
July 28, 1998



© 2022 IncJournal is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission