MINING SERVICES INTERNATIONAL CORP/
10-K, 1999-03-31
MISCELLANEOUS CHEMICAL PRODUCTS
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- - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                     U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
                             Washington, D.C. 20549
                           --------------------------

                                    Form 10-K
(Mark One)
         [ X ]    ANNUAL REPORT UNDER SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
                  SECURITIES   EXCHANGE  ACT OF  1934  [Fee  Required]  For  the
                               fiscal year ended December 31, 1998.

         [   ]    TRANSITION REPORT UNDER SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
                  SECURITIES  EXCHANGE  ACT OF 1934  [No Fee  Required]  For the
                       transition period from ____________ to ____________


                           Commission File No. 0-10634

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

                    Mining Services International Corporation
             (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)


          Utah                                            87-0351702
 (State or other jurisdiction               (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
of incorporation or organization)


                            8805 South Sandy Parkway
                             Sandy, Utah 84070-6408
               (Address of principal executive offices, zip code)

                    Issuers telephone number: (801) 233-6000

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

           Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
           None Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the
                                  Exchange Act:

                                 Title of Class
                                 --------------
                         Common Stock, $0.001 Par Value

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

         Check whether the Issuer (1) filed all reports  required to be filed by
Section 13 or 15(d) of the  Exchange  Act during the past 12 months (or for such
shorter period that the  registrant was required to file such reports),  and (2)
has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes x No ___

         Check if there is no  disclosure  of  delinquent  filers in response to
Item 405 of Regulation S-K not contained in this form, and no disclosure will be
contained,  to the  best of  registrant's  knowledge,  in  definitive  proxy  or
information  statements  incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K
or any amendment to this Form 10-K. [ ]

         Based on the  closing  sales  price of March 12,  1999,  the  aggregate
market  value  of the  voting  stock  held  by  non-affiliates  was  $19,158,000
(3,331,774 shares estimated to be held by non-affiliates).

         The number of shares  outstanding of the  registrant's par value $0.001
Common Stock as of March 12, 1999 was 7,339,760.

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

         Portions of the Registrant's  Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of
Stockholders scheduled to be held on May 19, 1999, which Proxy Statement will be
filed no later than 120 days after the close of  Registrant's  fiscal year ended
December  31,  1998,  are  incorporated  by reference in Part III of this Annual
Report on Form 10-K.

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


<PAGE>


                    Mining Services International Corporation

                                Table of Contents



Part I                                                                  Page No.
                                                                        --------
    Item 1.     Business                                                    1
    Item 2.     Properties                                                  4
    Item 3.     Legal Proceedings                                           5
    Item 4.     Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security 
                Holders                                                     5

Part II
    Item 5.     Market for Registrant's Common Equity and Related
                Stockholder Matters                                         6
    Item 6.     Selected Financial Data                                     6
    Item 7.     Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial 
                Condition and Results of Operations                         7
    Item 8.     Financial Statements and Supplementary Data                 F1
    Item 9.     Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on 
                Accounting and Financial Disclosure                         10

Part III
    Item 10.    Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant          10
    Item 11.    Executive Compensation                                      10
    Item 12.    Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and
                Management                                                  10
    Item 13.    Certain Relationships and Related Transactions              10

Part IV
    Item 14.    Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules, and 
                Reports on Form 8-K                                         10

<PAGE>
                                     PART I

Item 1.           Business

General

         Mining Services International Corporation ("MSI" or the "Company") is a
Utah corporation  organized in 1979. The Company's primary products and services
include the manufacture,  licensing and supply of commercial  explosives used in
mining and  construction  throughout  the world.  In addition,  its wholly owned
subsidiary,   Nevada  Chemicals,   Inc.,  owns  a  50%  interest  in  Cyanco,  a
non-corporate  joint venture with Degussa  Corporation,  which  manufactures and
sells liquid sodium cyanide used in the extraction of gold from gold deposits in
the western United States.

Recent Business Developments

         The Company's  business  development  strategy is to become a worldwide
supplier of niche chemical  products and services to the mining and construction
industries.  The Company  continues to focus on three major product  lines:  (1)
bulk blasting agents,  oxidizers,  fuels and related raw materials; (2) packaged
explosives and accessories;  and (3) liquid sodium cyanide.  The Company markets
for its own  account in the  United  States  and  Canada  and has  licensed  the
production  of its  products in regions of the world where  large-scale  surface
mining  occurs.  The  Company  has  acquired  and  continues  developing  equity
positions in U.S. and International market niches which need effective solutions
for blasting and ore treatment.  Recent  developments in the Company's  business
are described below.

         Cyanco:  Early in 1996  Cyanco  announced  its  intent to  construct  a
back-up  production  facility at its  Winnemucca,  Nevada Plant in order to meet
growing market  demands for liquid sodium  cyanide  without the need to purchase
back-up  supply.  The project was completed and started up in March 1997 on time
and below  budget.  With the added  facility,  Cyanco  has an annual  production
capacity  of at least  85  million  pounds  of  liquid  sodium  cyanide.  Cyanco
continues  to enhance its plant  efficiencies  and  develop  markets and product
enhancements which maximize the output of the Winnemucca plant.

         During 1998, worldwide gold prices continued flat - between $280.00 and
$300.00 per ounce.  Gold  production in the Company's  market area is planned to
remain stable for the  foreseeable  future.  Although  prices for sodium cyanide
have been and are likely to remain depressed in the short-run, it is likely that
Cyanco will benefit  long-term  as prices  rebound and Cyanco  increases  market
share.

         MSI Explosives Business:  During 1998, the Company continued to develop
and secure partnering arrangements for its mining explosives business worldwide,
to  develop  its  EMGEL(R)  packaged  explosives  business  and to secure  major
customers in the United States and Canada. In addition,  the Company renewed two
significant  explosives  contracts  in the  U.S.,  which  over  the  life of the
contracts will provide in excess of $18 million of revenue.  It also added other
contracts  directly with mines and made arrangements  with certain  distributors
through  which the Company will market  products.  The Company also  anticipates
that,  taken as a whole,  its  licensees  should  continue to expand  operations
during 1999.

         On December  9, 1998,  MSI  acquired  100%  interest in Green  Mountain
Explosives, Inc. (GME), an explosives and blasting services company operating in
the New England market.  Its 1998 annual sales were  approximately $8.5 million,
which  the  Company  believes  will  continue  to  grow  and  represent  a major
enhancement to the Company's U.S. market penetration.

         In addition,  MSI acquired 100% interest in O'Brien Design  Associates,
Inc.  (ODA),  a  company  located  in  Charlestown,  Rhode  Island,  which  owns
technology and facilities for the production of certain  explosive  accessories.
This acquisition  will enable the Company to add other explosives  product lines
necessary  for  international  and domestic  long-term  growth as an  explosives
provider.

         During 1998, the Company entered into a joint venture with Norsk Hydro,
the largest  fertilizer  producer in the world, with whom the Company also has a
joint venture in Colombia,  to produce and service bulk explosives operations in
the Kovdor  Mining  district in Russia.  Norsk Hydro  purchases  fertilizer  raw
materials  mined  at  Kovdor,  thus  providing  reasonable  assurance  that  the
Company's  joint  venture will be able to achieve  repatriation  of earnings and
convertibility  of local  currency.  The contract is for a period of seven years
and  MSI's  share of the  capital  required  for the  project  will  approximate
$750,000. Operations are scheduled to begin during the second half of 1999.


                                       1
<PAGE>

         The Uzbekistan joint venture,  Turon-MSI Ltd.,  formed in October 1995,
as a 51/49  joint  venture  between the  Company  and an  Uzbekistan  government
controlled entity,  "Ammofos," officially opened its explosives plant in October
1997 and began to produce on a regular  basis in 1998,  producing  approximately
10,000  metric  tons of bagged  ANFO,  an  ammonium  nitrate  and fuel oil based
explosive, for local mines and construction companies. Because convertibility of
local currency to U.S. Dollars is primarily  limited to imports of raw materials
and capital items at the present time, the joint  venture's  strategy is to also
market a significant  amount of its  production in future periods to neighboring
foreign  markets.  Shortage of capital in Uzbekistan  limited full production of
explosives in Uzbekistan  during 1998,  which is likely to continue during 1999.
The operations were profitable in 1998.

         The MSI and Norsk Hydro joint venture in Colombia  produced  explosives
during  1998 to support  the mining of  approximately  4 million  metric tons of
coal.  The  Company  expects  production  to be  decreased  during  1999  due to
curtailed mining,  reflecting  current lower coal prices in Europe where much of
the Colombian coal is marketed.  During 1998, however,  the Colombian Government
and certain  large coal  companies  finalized  agreements,  which will allow the
Company's major  customers to have access to much less expensive  transportation
and port facilities via railroad.  These enhancements  should be in place within
the next two  years,  thus  allowing  the coal  companies  to expand  production
significantly.

         The Company continues making arrangements with various manufacturers of
explosives   accessories   and  has   become   a  base   line   distributor   of
Ensign-Bickford,  a major independent  accessories  supplier, to market in areas
which require the  explosives  provider to have a complete  line of  explosives,
including  accessories.  In 1998 the company also  provided  such  products from
third party suppliers in foreign markets, such as Africa and the Mediterranean.

Description of Business

         Products and Markets: The Company, through its subsidiaries,  licensees
and joint  ventures,  primarily  services  the surface  mining and  construction
industries.  The  Company's  products  are divided into  explosives  and related
products and liquid sodium cyanide.

         Explosives:  The Company's products are used in the blasting operations
of surface mines in base and precious metals,  coal and industrial  minerals and
construction  projects.  The  explosive  products  are  divided  into four major
categories:  (1) HEF(R), a proprietary  oil-in-water  emulsified  oxidizer which
enhances the quality and control of the  explosion or blast at the mine in order
to produce more  consistent  breakage of ore, (2) bulk ammonium  nitrate  prill,
acquired from third  parties,  used with HEF(R) and in ANFO, a common  explosive
blasting  agent  used in  surface  boreholes  which is made  from a  mixture  of
ammonium  nitrate prill and diesel fuel,  (3)  explosives  accessories,  such as
boosters,  initiators and detonating cord and (4) packaged explosives (EMGEL(R))
which are currently being  manufactured at the Company's West Virginia Plant. In
September 1993, the Company was granted a patent on the compositions and methods
used to formulate  this unique  explosive and has recently  introduced  EMGEL(R)
which is a water-in-oil type emulsion  explosive produced by emulsifying a water
solution of oxidizer  salts into a blend of oils.  The emulsion is then packaged
into small  polyethylene  cartridges  or "chubs"  using a special  form and fill
machine  designed by the Company.  A variety of cartridge  diameters and lengths
can be produced.  As the emulsion is being loaded into the  cartridges,  a trace
quantity of a cross-linking  chemical is added to the  composition  which reacts
with one of the oils and  polymerizes or crosslinks the entire mass into a soft,
rubber-like  material.  The  uniquely  crosslinked  emulsion  is stable  and the
package or cartridge  can be punctured or split  without  product  spills.  This
significantly  improves  the  handling  characteristics  of  the  explosive  and
provides additional safety in transportation, storage and use.

         With the addition of packaged explosives,  the Company has strengthened
its position for worldwide market production. With both HEF(R) and EMGEL(R), the
Company is able to joint venture the  technology and  manufacturing  plants on a
relatively  small  scale and enter  markets  where  locally  produced  explosive
products have been  unavailable due to cost or inadequate  infrastructure.  With
the technology and facilities  know-how acquired from ODA, the Company will also
be positioned to supply its own explosives  accessories to certain niche markets
around the world.

         In the U.S. and Canadian markets, the Company markets and services mine
and  construction  sites  directly  for its own  account.  The U.S.  markets are
concentrated in New England,  the West Virginia coal belt, the Wyoming,  Montana
and Colorado coal belts,  western U.S. surface gold  operations,  principally in
Nevada, and industrial  minerals in California.  Aggregates,  tar sands and coal
mining operations in western and central Canada are also major markets where the
Company markets for its own account.

         The Company has traditionally  licensed its HEF(R) technology  directly
to mines or to explosive  manufacturers  or supply companies in foreign markets.
Currently, the Company has licensees in South Africa, Namibia, Australia, India,

                                       2
<PAGE>

Korea and Thailand.  The Company  plans to continue its licensing  activities in
certain  geographic  areas,  but has shifted its marketing focus toward creating
long-term  positions of ownership  through  strategic  alliances  with  existing
suppliers and government entities in developing  countries.  Because of inherent
economic and political risks in developing economies,  the Company's strategy is
to join with local suppliers or government  entities where the company  believes
that the alliance will survive  periodic  political and economic changes because
of the Company's technology and unique services.

         Sodium Cyanide:  The Company's joint venture with Degussa for producing
and  marketing  liquid  sodium  cyanide  from the  Winnemucca,  Nevada plant has
concentrated on quality and service. There are principally two types of products
marketed  to  the  gold  mines  for  the  heap  leaching  process:  (1) a  solid
"briquette"   sodium  cyanide  product  which  requires  handling  and  physical
dissolution  before use and (2) the type  provided  by Cyanco,  a liquid  sodium
cyanide which provides for greater personal and  environmental  safety and comes
ready-to-use by the mining customer.  The manufacturing  cost for the product is
substantially   lower  than  for  solid  products  when  handling  and  chemical
adjustment costs are taken into account.

         Since the liquid product is shipped by truck from the plant to the mine
site in a solution of about 30% sodium cyanide and 70% water,  freight costs are
very significant and shipping must be managed  carefully both in terms of safety
and environmental protection.  Cyanco has contracted this service with Transwood
Inc., an Omaha, Nebraska company which utilizes dedicated equipment specifically
designed  for  Cyanco.  Cyanco  renewed  its  contract  with  Transwood  for  an
additional five years commencing March 1, 1995.

         There are two  competitors in the western liquid market (see discussion
under "Competition"). One of Cyanco's advantages over its competitors is that it
is the only producer of liquid sodium cyanide which is  manufactured  completely
from raw materials at its plant in the gold district.  Other competitors  either
ship liquid  product by rail to a transfer  facility and then on to the mines by
truck or tanker or they ship solid products from distant plants to special tanks
or tankers where the product is dissolved before being discharged into mine site
vessels.  Cyanco's  competitors are limited in their ability to react quickly to
changes in the market and to  technological  changes.  Cyanco is  positioned  to
efficiently take advantage of these changes.

         Dependence  on  Customers:  Since  most of MSI's  customers  are  large
surface  mining  companies,  the number of companies  it services is  relatively
small compared to those of a wholesale  distribution or retail  business.  A net
loss of such customers,  which is not expected to occur,  could adversely affect
1999 sales. In most cases the Company has long-term contracts with its customers
(see Note 11 to the Company's financial statements).

         Patents, Trademarks and Licenses: The Company is the holder of six U.S.
patents,  four of which relate to the  composition and control of its HEF(R) and
EMGEL(R)  emulsion  products  and two of which  relate to methods of delivery of
explosives  products  at the mine  site.  These  patents,  which are not  deemed
material to the Company's ability to compete in the explosives business,  expire
at various dates  beginning in 1999 and ending in 2013. The Company has obtained
similar  patents in several  foreign  countries and has licensed all or parts of
its technology to manufacture  HEF(R) and EMGEL(R) to companies in South Africa,
Namibia, Australia, India, Thailand and Korea.

         The  composition of E-21,  the Company's  proprietary  ingredient  upon
which its HEF(R) emulsion  product is based, is deemed an important trade secret
by the Company.  The Company has also  trademarked  HEF(R) as a component of its
bulk blasting agent and EMGEL(R) as its crosslinked packaged emulsion explosive.
The trademarks are  registered in the United  States,  Canada,  South Africa and
several other foreign countries.

         In March 1989,  Cyanco obtained from  Mitsubishi Gas Chemical  Company,
Inc.  ("Mitsubishi"),  a Japanese corporation,  in consideration of payment of a
one-time  licensee  fee, a perpetual  license of a patented  process and related
technical  information  covering the manufacture of hydrogen  cyanide for use in
the  manufacture of liquid sodium cyanide at the Cyanco Plant.  The license is a
nonexclusive,  nonsublicensable and nontransferable  right to use the technology
at the  Cyanco  Plant  which  is  deemed  materially  important  to the  plant's
operation.

         Research  and  Development:  Expenditures  for  technical  research and
development  for the fiscal years ended  December  31, 1998,  1997 and 1996 were
$587,000,  $488,000 and $503,000,  respectively.  The Company actively  conducts
research on product improvement and development. The expenditures in each of the
years  ending  December 31,  1998,  1997 and 1996 were related to the  Company's
explosives  business.  There has not been any  customer-sponsored  research  and
development.

                                       3
<PAGE>

         Raw Materials:  The Company has not experienced  significant difficulty
in obtaining  necessary raw materials used in the  manufacture of its explosives
products and does not expect  significant  difficulty in obtaining raw materials
in the future except temporarily where import restrictions may occur due to lack
of convertibility or other foreign political or economic factors which may occur
in countries  experiencing hard currency shortages or devaluations.  The Company
must  compete  with  the  agricultural  market  for a major  portion  of its raw
materials  (ammonium and calcium  nitrate).  The supplies of these products have
been  adequate  in past  years  to  meet  the  needs  of  industrial  as well as
agricultural  users.  The Company has ensured its supply of needed  materials by
entering into several  supply  agreements  with the  manufacturers  of these raw
materials.  The  Company  does  not deem any of the  supply  agreements  to be a
contract upon which its explosives business is substantially dependent.

         Long-term  contracts for the raw materials  required for the production
of liquid sodium cyanide by Cyanco have been  obtained.  Cyanco has entered into
long-term transportation  agreements with Paiute Pipeline and Northwest Pipeline
for  transportation  services of natural gas to the Cyanco facility.  Cyanco has
not had any difficulty in obtaining  other  necessary raw materials and does not
believe that its business is materially  dependent  upon any one of its existing
contracts.  Alternative  sources of supply are  available  for raw  materials at
competitive prices.

         Competition:  The manufacture and sale of bulk and packaged  explosives
and related equipment is a highly competitive  business with particular emphasis
in recent years on price.  This emphasis on price continues to adversely  affect
gross  profit  margins  because  the Company has  offered  price  reductions  in
response to lower prices offered by its competitors. The Company, in its efforts
to develop,  manufacture  and sell its products,  is competing  with a number of
companies having greater financial resources and well established  relationships
in the industry  than it does.  The Company  believes  that ORICA,  formerly ICI
Explosives,  Austin Powder and Dyno Nobel Group are  significant  competitors in
the industry. Although the competitive position of the Company is not relatively
significant, the Company believes its bulk explosives and packaged products have
a number of  advantages in product  performance  and safety over products of its
competitors (see "Products and Markets").

         The Cyanco  Plant  represents  one of two sources of  delivered  liquid
sodium cyanide in the Western United States. The world market for sodium cyanide
briquette or dry form is  dominated by E.I.  DuPont  Nemours  ("DuPont").  There
continue to be  opportunities in the worldwide market for liquid sodium cyanide,
however,   currently   supply  of  dry  product,   worldwide,   exceeds  demand.
Consequently,  changes  in  market  share  worldwide  would  likely  be met with
resistance  from the major  suppliers  of dry  product.  Domestically,  Cyanco's
product  competes with DuPont and also with FMC which markets  delivered  liquid
sodium cyanide.  The Company believes that the important  competitive factors in
the liquid sodium cyanide market are location,  service and quality. However, as
gold prices have declined and Cyanco's innovations in the marketplace have taken
effect, liquid sodium cyanide price has become a significant competitive factor.
Cyanco  expects  that  efforts to gain market  share during this period of lower
gold prices will  continue to keep product  prices at low levels  during 1999 in
the Nevada market.

         Employees:  The Company  employs 95 full time  employees  in its direct
explosives  operations.  Employment  at  joint  ventures  include  28  permanent
employees  at the Cyanco  Plant in  Winnemucca,  Nevada,  14 local  employees in
Colombia,  7 local  employees and 1 expatriate  employee in Ghana,  and 60 local
employees in Uzbekistan.  In Canada and  Uzbekistan,  employees  belong to labor
unions.  The  Company  and its joint  ventures  consider  relations  with  their
employees to be positive.

         Environmental Regulation:  The Company is subject to federal, state and
local laws regulating the protection of the environment in the handling, storage
and shipment of explosives materials. To date, except as noted below, compliance
with  these  regulations  has not  required  material  expenditures  and has not
materially  affected  earnings or the  competitive  position of the Company.  In
preparation  for the manufacture and sale of liquid sodium cyanide at the Cyanco
Plant, Cyanco incurred material capital expenditures relating to compliance with
environmental  laws  and  regulations,   including   expenditures  required  for
specialty  trucks and tankers and  development of an emergency  response plan in
the event of a spill of hazardous  materials.  Cyanco's  operations are designed
such that no hazardous  waste is created during the  manufacture of its product.
The Company and Cyanco will continue to be subject to environmental  laws, rules
and regulations in their respective operations. Compliance with such laws, rules
and  regulations  on an ongoing  basis is not  expected  to  require  additional
material expenditures.


                                       4
<PAGE>

Item 2:           Properties

         The  corporate  offices of the Company,  built in 1997,  are located at
8805 South Sandy Parkway,  Sandy, Utah. The corporate facilities,  consisting of
1.8 acres,  an office building and adjacent  research and lab  facilities,  were
constructed by the Company at a cost of approximately $1.2 million.

         The  Company  manufactures  HEF(R)  and  EMGEL(R)  for sale to its mine
customers  at  facilities  located  on mine  sites or  adjacent  to mine  sites,
typically under leases tied to supply  agreements.  Joint Venture  facilities in
Colombia,  Uzbekistan and Ghana are located on mine  production  facilities of a
major customer or leased from  third-parties.  The land owner normally  supplies
water,  sewer,  electricity and other  infrastructure.  The Company leases a 640
acre site in Tooele County,  Utah, which is equipped with a fully developed test
range and  explosives  magazine  facility.  The  Company  currently  leases  the
property on a  year-to-year  basis.  The rent on the  property is  approximately
$15,000 per year. The Company also rents on a month-to-month basis approximately
422  acres in  Boone  County,  West  Virginia  which  it uses for  manufacturing
commercial explosives and emulsions.  Rent on the property is approximately $500
per month.

         Cyanco is the owner of  approximately  five-hundred  fifty  (550) acres
located near Winnemucca, in Humboldt County, Nevada, upon which the Cyanco Plant
is located. The Cyanco plant was expanded in 1997 to include a backup production
facility having a capacity equal to the capacity of the  pre-existing  facility.
The combined  capacity of the Cyanco plant is now at least 85 million pounds per
year.

         O'Brien Design  Associates owns the lot, office and facilities  located
at its principal place of business  located at 366 Ross Hill Road,  Charlestown,
Rhode Island.  It also has adequate  access to magazines and testing  facilities
for its explosives accessories products.

         Green  Mountain  Explosives  built its corporate  offices  during 1998,
consisting  of land,  office  building and other  improvements,  located at Gold
Lodge Avenue,  Auburn,  New Hampshire.  It also rents and owns various magazines
near market areas for storage of explosives.

         The  property  and  facilities  of the Company and its joint  ventures,
including   Cyanco  are  deemed  adequate  and  suitable  for  their  respective
operations.


Item 3:           Legal Proceedings

         The legal  proceeding  against  the  Company  filed in 1992  concerning
claims of patent infringement in the Federal Court of Canada,  Trial Division by
Hanex  Products,  Inc.,  Explosives  Limited  and Bulk  Explosives  Limited,  as
plaintiffs,  was dismissed as agreed upon between the Company and the Plaintiffs
on August 20, 1998. All counterclaims filed by the Company were also accordingly
dismissed.

         Unrelated to the foregoing proceeding,  on August 18, 1998, the Company
waived  notice  of a  patent  infringement  action  filed in the  United  States
District  Court  for the  District  of Utah on or  about  June 4,  1998 by Hanex
Products,  Inc.,  as  plaintiff.  The  plaintiff  alleges  that the  Company has
infringed  certain of its patents  regarding  the  composition  of certain  bulk
explosives in the United States. The plaintiff is seeking damages plus costs and
attorney's  fees resulting from the alleged  infringement.  On October 13, 1998,
the Company  filed its Answer to the Complaint  and counter  claim,  denying the
validity and/or the enforceability of the patents and any infringement  thereof.
It also asserted  certain  counterclaims  and affirmative  defenses  against the
Plaintiff.  The  management  does not  believe  this action will have a material
effect on the Company.

         On March 22, 1999, MSI received a complaint filed on March 10, 1999, in
the Riverside Superior Court,  Riverside,  California,  by Mr. Paul Marlett,  an
individual doing business as Marlett Technical Services and Sales. The Plaintiff
alleges the company owes him, as a prior independent contractor,  commissions of
approximately  $200,000  and claims  treble  damages due to breach of the Unfair
Practices Act of  California.  The Company  plans to file an Answer  denying all
claims with appropriate counterclaims and defenses.  Management does not believe
this action will have a material effect on the Company.


Item 4:           Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

         There were no matters  submitted to a vote of security  holders  during
the fourth quarter of the fiscal year.



                                       5
<PAGE>


                                     PART II


Item 5:           Market  for  the   Registrant's   Common   Stock  and  Related
                  Stockholder Matters

                  (a) Price Range of Common Stock. The Company's Common Stock is
         traded on NASDAQ and the  following  table  shows the range of high and
         low bid prices for the Company's Common Stock for the calendar quarters
         indicated.  The quotations,  obtained from NASDAQ,  represent prices in
         the  over-the-counter  market  between  dealers in  securities,  do not
         include retail markup, markdown or commissions,  and do not necessarily
         represent actual transactions.

                                                          Bid Prices
                                                          ----------
                                                      High             Low
                                                      ----             ----
1998     First Quarter                                8.38             6.50
         Second Quarter                               8.44             6.13
         Third Quarter                                6.50             4.88
         Fourth Quarter                               5.63             4.38

1997     First Quarter                               12.75            10.25
         Second Quarter                              12.75             9.75
         Third Quarter                               12.13             9.75
         Fourth Quarter                              11.58             7.56


                  (b)  Approximate  number  of  equity  security  holders.   The
         approximate  number of record holders of the Company's  Common Stock as
         of March 12,  1999 was 591 which does not  include  shareholders  whose
         stock is held through securities position listings.

                  (c) Dividends.  The Company paid cash dividends of $184,590 or
         $.025 per share on  December  21,  1998,  $146,880 or $.02 per share on
         December 19, 1997 and $109,000 or $.015 per share on December 20, 1996.
         Payment of dividends is within the discretion of the Company's Board of
         Directors and there are no material restrictions that limit the ability
         to pay dividends on the Common Stock of the Company.  During the fourth
         quarter 1996, the Company issued stock  distributions of 573,910 shares
         on October 15,  1996 and  941,799  shares on  December  10,  1996.  The
         combined stock split amounted to 26.5%.


Item 6:           Selected Financial Data

         The following  consolidated  selected financial data as of and for each
of the fiscal  years in the  five-year  period  ending  December  31,  1998 were
derived from audited  financial  statements of the Company and its  consolidated
subsidiaries. The financial statements as of and for each of the fiscal years in
the  five-year  period  were  audited  by  Tanner  +  Co.,   independent  public
accountants.  The  data  set  forth  should  be read  in  conjunction  with  the
"Management  Discussion  and  Analysis  of  Financial  Condition  and Results of
Operations"  and the Company's  Consolidated  Financial  Statements  and related
Notes.

                                       6
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                       Year Ended December 31,                     
                                             ------------------------------------------------------------------------
Operation Results Data:                          1998          1997             1996           1995            1994
                                                 ----          ----             ----           ----            ----
<S>                                          <C>             <C>            <C>            <C>             <C>       
Operating Revenues                           29,865,000      26,969,000     25,172,000     23,278,000      18,555,000
Income from operations                        5,819,000       6,400,000      6,084,000      3,332,000       2,269,000
Net Income                                    3,872,000       5,008,000      4,545,000      2,763,000       1,630,000
Earnings per common
share diluted                                       .52            0.66           0.60           0.37            0.23
     Cash dividends declared
     per common share                              .025           0.020          0.015          0.015           0.010

Financial Position Data
     Total assets                            31,919,000      24,701,000     19,846,000     14,560,000      11,635,000
     Long-term debt                           1,213,000               -        714,000        513,000         752,000
     Deferred gain on sale
          and leaseback                               -               -              -         84,000         135,000
     Stockholder's equity                    24,077,000      20,605,000     15,769,000     11,271,000       8,429,000
</TABLE>


Item 7:           Management's  Discussion  and Analysis of Financial  Condition
                  and Results of Operations

Results of Operations

         Because of the  increasing  investment of the Company in joint ventures
("JV" or "JV's") which are not consolidated,  but accounted for under the equity
method,  the  following   comparative   schedule  is  prepared  to  clarify  and
demonstrate  the  significance  of JV  operations  underlying  the  Consolidated
Revenue of the Company  during the periods  ending  December 31, 1998,  1997 and
1996. As demonstrated  below, the Company manages  significantly more sales than
is reported in "Consolidated Revenue."

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                   Amount            MSI's
      Joint              Joint Venture             Included in       Non-JV       Consolidated
      Venture Sales      Net Income       Co's %   MSI Revenue       Revenue      Revenue

<S>    <C>               <C>              <C>      <C>               <C>          <C>        
1998   $37,353,000       $ 9,978,000      50%      $4,989,000        $24,876,000  $29,865,000
1997   $38,115,000       $12,356,000      50%      $6,179,000        $20,790,000  $26,969,000
1996   $31,598,000       $10,610,000      50%      $5,305,000        $19,867,000  $25,172,000
</TABLE>

1998 vs. 1997
- - -------------

         Consolidated  Revenues in 1998  increased 11% over 1997,  with JV sales
decreasing 2% and non-JV Revenues up 20%, a $4.1 million increase. A significant
part of the decrease in JV sales was  attributable to Cyanco's  decrease in 1998
sales of $4.6 million or 15% compared to 1997 sales.  Sales in Colombia remained
basically  unchanged from those of a year earlier.  Sales in Ghana decreased 34%
from  those in 1997,  but the  sales  amount  is  small.  In  Uzbekistan,  sales
increased to $3.5 million  representing  a 13 fold  increase over sales in 1997,
thus overcoming to a large degree the decrease in Cyanco sales.

         The Company's share of joint venture net income  decreased in 1998 from
that  of 1997 by  $1.2  million.  The  Company's  equity  earnings  from  Cyanco
decreased by $1.6 million,  a decrease of 26%, which is almost entirely due to a
decrease in price since production  volume remained  relatively  constant during
1998 compared to 1997.  It is estimated  that  production  volume at Cyanco will
continue at a similar pace for 1999 as that  experienced  in 1998.  The combined
equity earnings from Colombia,  Uzbekistan and Ghana increased by  approximately
$400,000 during 1998 over that of 1997. However,  equity earnings from the joint
ventures in Colombia, Ghana and Uzbekistan may decrease in 1999 if gold and coal
prices decline or continue at current levels. Furthermore, if the current global
financial downturn  continues,  it is likely to affect earnings negatively since


                                       7
<PAGE>

there may be currency  fluctuations  impacting  convertibility of currencies and
translation accounting negatively impacting the financial statements.

         Despite the possible  flatness to slight  decrease in earnings from the
current  joint   ventures   projected  for  1999,   these  joint   ventures  are
strategically  attractive for the Company and will continue to provide steady or
increasing  returns  on  assets  over a long  period of time.  Furthermore,  the
addition of the Kovdor joint venture and other direct foreign investments of MSI
through MSIC,  CAC, ODA and MSIR, in developing  foreign  trading in accessories
and raw materials, direct bulk explosive service to mines, royalties,  technical
fees and financing  gains should  continue to increase  revenues and earnings in
1999 over those of 1998.

         The $4.1  million  increase in non-JV  revenues  is largely  made up of
increased  sales in the U.S. and Canada aided by sales due to the acquisition of
GME in December 1998.  Direct revenues from foreign  royalties,  technical fees,
interest income on foreign loans, accessories trading and direct bulk explosives
activities  in  foreign  locations  represented  approximately  8% of the  $24.9
million of non-JV revenue. It is expected that consolidated non-JV revenues will
significantly  increase in 1999 over those of 1998 due to the acquisition of GME
and the addition of other major U.S. contracts despite the expected winding down
of a major dam  project  in  California  later in 1999,  for  which the  Company
supplies explosives.

         Consolidated  income from  operations  decreased on a percentage  basis
from 23.7 % to 19.5% of revenue comparing 1997 to 1998. The $581,000 decrease in
1998 income from  operations  can be  summarized  as a $1.6 million  decrease in
Equity  Earnings from Cyanco largely offset by an increase of net  contributions
and JV earning of $1 million  from  explosives.  The $1 million  increase in net
contribution  from  explosives  from 1997 to 1998  included  an  increase of net
contribution  from U.S. and Canada  operations  of  approximately  $900,000,  an
increase from other  foreign  related  explosives  activities of $180,000 and an
increase from explosives JV's of  approximately  $400,000.  This increase of net
contribution  at the  projects  level  were  partially  offset  during  1998  by
increases in corporate  expenditures  in R&D of $100,000 and other  development,
general and administrative costs of approximately $380,000.

         Raw material  costs should be reduced or remain  stable during 1999 and
it is expected that there will be no major supply  problems except where imports
may be limited by lack of convertibility to hard currency.

         Income  before  provision  for  income  taxes  for 1998 was down by 10%
compared to that of 1997.  The effective tax rate  increased from 25% in 1997 to
35% in 1998 due  primarily to the large number of options  exercised in 1997 and
the  utilization of certain other one-time tax benefits  carried over from prior
years.  It is expected  that during 1999 the income tax rate will continue at an
effective tax rate in excess of 35% due to the non-deductibility of amortization
of goodwill associated with the acquisition of GME.

1997 vs. 1996
- - -------------

         Consolidated  revenues for the Company  showed a 7.2% increase  between
1996 and 1997. This was due to the increase of MSI's revenue attributable to its
share of equity earnings from JV's which increase in 1997 was primarily  derived
from explosives JV's.  Cyanco's 1997 revenues increased only slightly at 1% over
those of 1996.

         Net income of $5,008,000 for 1997 increased by  approximately  $463,000
or 10% over that earned in 1996.  Pre-tax earnings  increased from $5,960,000 in
1996 to  $6,666,000 in 1997 which  represents a 12% increase.  The effective tax
rate in 1997 was 25% compared to 24% in 1996.

Year 2000 Issue
- - ---------------

         Management  believes  the  concerns  for Year  2000  issues  have  been
adequately  addressed  internally  during 1998. All material systems used in the
Company,  including accounting,  manufacturing,  facilities and desktop systems,
are being converted to be Year 2000 compliant by the end of 1999.  Management is
of the opinion  that  consequences  of Year 2000 issues will not have a material
effect on the Company's business, results of operations, or financial condition.
However,  no  organization,  including  the Company,  can control all aspects of
achieving and maintaining Year 2000 compliance. The Company plans to monitor the
Year 2000  compliance of the third parties on which the company may rely.  There
can be no  guarantee  that  timely  conversion,  or that a failure to convert by
another  company  would not have a materially  adverse  effect on the  Company's
business,  results of operations or financial condition.  Management's estimated
cost for assessing and reaching Year 2000 compliance during 1998 and 1999 should
be  under  $50,000.  In  plants  where  the  processing  operations  are  either
controlled or monitored by computerized systems, the Company plans on having all
operations physically shut down at the end of 1999 and then restarted in the new
year,  thus  eliminating  any  chance of an  operational  failure  due Year 2000
issues.

                                       8
<PAGE>

Liquidity and Financial Resources

        The Company ended 1998 with a very strong financial position.  Cash flow
from  operating  activities  was  $3,886,000  during 1998 compared to $3,553,000
during 1997,  an  improvement  of about 9.4%.  The current  ratio,  a measure of
current  liquidity,  declined  during 1998 from 3.6 at the end of 1997 to 2.1 at
the end of 1998.  Long-term  debt existing at the end of 1998 was  approximately
$1.2  million made up primarily  of debts  relating to the  acquisition  of GME.
Deferred taxes were increased from $2,222,000 to $2,532,000 reflecting primarily
the  increased  tax  deferral  of certain  foreign  based  income and  increased
differences  between book and tax accumulated  depreciation.  Receivables by the
end of 1998 had increased $1,818,000 over 1997. This increase was due in part to
delayed payments of royalties,  the consolidation of GME, increased sales in the
U.S., and approximately  $700,000 from slow paying  receivables due from lack of
timely  convertibility  to hard  currency in  Uzbekistan.  It is  expected  that
increases of cash flow from  operating  activities  should  continue to increase
during 1999.

         Net cash used in investing activities increased from $2,356,000 in 1997
to  $4,935,000  in 1998,  primarily  due to an increase in  investment  in joint
ventures and the  acquisitions  of ODA and GME. The  increase in  investment  in
joint ventures was primarily due to  approximately  $725,000 of  expenditures in
the Turon-MSI joint venture and $445,000 spent construction of equipment for the
Kovdor  project,  offset  with  excess  distributions  of  earnings  from  joint
ventures.  Cash needed for investing activities during 1999 likely will continue
in North American  operations,  Kovdor and other foreign operations.  It is also
anticipated  that  several  announcements  will be made  during  1999  regarding
additional  joint  ventures  and  business   arrangements   which  will  require
additional  capital.  It is expected that cash needed for investment during 1999
will be provided from operations.

         The Company  has a revolving  line of credit with its bank in Salt Lake
City, Utah in the amount of $2,250,000 bearing interest at the bank's prime rate
less 3/4% and an equipment line of credit of $1,250,000  bearing interest at the
bank's prime rate less 3/4% secured by  equipment.  $1,000,000  of the revolving
line of credit is available to be used for the increasing  demand for Letters of
Credit  internationally.  The  Company  owed  $662,000 on its lines of credit at
December 31, 1998.  During 1998 the revolving  line of credit was utilized up to
$662,000.

         Because of inflation  associated with  third-world  countries where the
Company  invests,  there exists a substantial risk that the value of investments
in those  jurisdictions  may erode.  Also, the internal  balance of payments and
capital  shortages  in some of those  countries,  particularly  Uzbekistan,  may
temporarily  limit the ability to convert  local  currencies  into hard currency
necessary for importing raw materials or remitting  profits.  Management intends
to use  appropriate  transfer  pricing,  investments in hedges,  loans and other
credit  facilities  where practical and available to minimize the risks inherent
in doing business in these countries. The Company continues to pursue its policy
of investing with government entities or stable international and U.S. companies
as its partners to help insure its long-term  success.  To date, the Company has
not utilized any hedging activities to minimize exchange risks.

Inflation and Other Comments

         The amounts  presented in the  financial  statements do not provide for
the effect of inflation on the Company's  operations or its financial  position.
Amounts  shown for  property,  plant and  equipment  and for costs and  expenses
reflect  historical cost and do not necessarily  represent  replacement  cost or
charges to operations  based on  replacement  cost.  The  Company's  operations,
together with other sources,  are intended to provide funds to replace property,
plant and equipment as necessary. Net income would be lower than reported if the
effects of inflation were reflected  either by charging  operations with amounts
that represent replacement costs or by using other inflation adjustments.

         Within this Annual  Report filed on Form 10-K,  including  this Item 7,
there are  forward-looking  statements made in an effort to inform the reader of
factors  and  results  which,  in  management's  opinion,  are likely to have an
ongoing  material  effect on the Company.  These  factors  include,  but are not
limited  to,  changes in world  supply and  demand for  commodities,  political,
environmental,  economic and financial  risks,  especially those associated with
underdeveloped  and  developing  countries,  changes in demand for  construction
activities,  major changes in technology  which could affect the mining industry
as a whole or which could affect  explosives  and sodium  cyanide  specifically,
competition,  the continued availability of highly qualified technical and other
professional  employees of the Company who can  successfully  manage the ongoing
change and growth.  The Company  believes  it is taking  appropriate  actions in
order to address  these and other factors  previously  disclosed;  however,  the
actual results could  materially  differ from those  indicated in the statements
made.

                                       9
<PAGE>

Item 8:           Financial Statements

         The  Financial  Statements  of the Company  called for by this Item are
contained  in a  separate  section  of this  report.  See  "Index  to  Financial
Statements" on Page F-1.


Item 9:           Changes in and  Disagreements  With  Accountants on Accounting
                  and Financial Disclosure

         None.



                                    PART III

Item 10:          Directors,  Executive Officers, Promoters and Control Persons;
                  Compliance with Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act

         The  information  required  hereunder is incorporated by reference from
page 2 to page 3 of the Company's  Proxy  Statement filed in connection with its
May 19, 1999 Annual Meeting of  Stockholders  entitled  "Directors and Executive
Officers" and "Compliance with Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act."


Item 11:          Executive Compensation

         The  information  required  hereunder is incorporated by reference from
page 4 and page 5 of the Company's  Proxy Statement filed in connection with its
May 19, 1999 Annual Meeting of Stockholders  entitled  "Executive  Compensation"
and "Director Compensation."


Item 12:          Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management

         The  information  required  hereunder is incorporated by reference from
page 5 and page 6 of the Company's  Proxy Statement filed in connection with its
May 19, 1999 Annual Meeting of Stockholders  entitled "Security Ownership of and
Certain Beneficial Owners and Management."


Item 13:          Certain Relationships and Related Transactions

         The  information  required  hereunder is incorporated by reference from
page 6 of the Company's  Proxy  Statement  filed in connection  with its May 19,
1999 Annual Meeting of Stockholders entitled "Certain  Relationships and Related
Transactions."


Item 14:          Exhibits,  Financial  Statement  Schedules and Reports on Form
                  8-K

         1.   a.   The  consolidated  financial  statements  for the fiscal year
                   ended  1998 of the  Company  and the  report  of  independent
                   certified public accountants  required in Part II, Item 8 are
                   included on pages F-1 to F-26.

              b.   Also included as financial  statement schedules to the Annual
                   Report on Form 10-K as Exhibit 99 are:

                         The financial statements for the fiscal year ended 1998
                         of Cyanco,  a  significant  subsidiary  reported on the
                         equity method, and the report of independent  certified
                         public accountants as exhibit 99.

              c.   No other required  financial  statement  schedules are listed
                   because they are not  applicable or the required  information
                   is  shown  in the  Company's  financial  statements  or notes
                   thereto.

                                       10
<PAGE>

         2.       Exhibits:

                  3(i)       Amendment to Articles of  Incorporation  to reflect
                             the  one-for-five  reverse stock split which became
                             effective June 15, 1987  (Incorporated by reference
                             from the Form  10-KSB  Report  filed by the Company
                             for the  fiscal  year  ended  December  31,  1987.)
                             Articles of Incorporation  (Incorporated  herein by
                             reference from Form 10-KSB filed by the Company for
                             the fiscal year ended
                             December 31, 1985.)

                  3(ii)      Bylaws of the Corporation as amended March 1, 1988.
                             (Incorporated  by reference  from the 10-KSB Report
                             filed by the  Company  for the  fiscal  year  ended
                             December  31,  1987.)  Bylaws  of  the  Corporation
                             (Incorporated  herein by reference from Form 10-KSB
                             Report  filed by the  Company  for the fiscal  year
                             ended December 31, 1985.)

                  4(i)       1988 Nonqualified Stock Option Plan.  (Incorporated
                             by reference  from the Form 10-KSB  Report filed by
                             the Company for the fiscal year ended  December 31,
                             1987.)

                  4(ii)      Amendments to 1988 Nonqualified  Stock Option Plan.
                             (Incorporated by reference from the Form S-8 Report
                             filed by the Company on July 7, 1997.)

                  10(i)      Joint venture  (shareholder)  agreement between the
                             Company  and  Norsk  Hydro  for  joint  venture  in
                             Colombia.  (Incorporated by reference from the Form
                             10-KSB  Report  filed by the Company for the fiscal
                             year ended December 31, 1996.)

                  10(ii)     Joint venture  (shareholder)  agreement between the
                             Company  and  Omnia  Group  via  Chemical   Holding
                             International  Limited.  (Incorporated by reference
                             from the Form  10-KSB  Report  filed by the Company
                             for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1996.)

                  10(iii)    Extension  of license  agreement  with Bulk  Mining
                             Explosives via Dawn Holding Company.  (Incorporated
                             by reference  from the Form 10-KSB  Report filed by
                             the Company for the fiscal year ended  December 31,
                             1996.)

                  21         List of Subsidiaries

                  27         Financial Data Schedule

                  99         The financial  statements for the fiscal year ended
                             1998 of Cyanco, a significant  subsidiary  reported
                             on the equity method, and the report of independent
                             certified public accountants.

         3.       Reports on Form 8-K

              No reports on Form 8-K have been filed  during the  quarter  ended
December 31, 1998.


<PAGE>



                                   SIGNATURES

         In  accordance  with  Section  13 or 15(d)  of the  Exchange  Act,  the
registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.


                    MINING SERVICES INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION



                                                /s/ John T. Day
                                                ----------------------
                                                John T. Day, President


                                                Date:  March 30, 1999


         In accordance  with the Exchange Act, this report has been signed below
by the following  persons on behalf of the  registrant and in the capacities and
on the dates indicated.


    Signatures               Capacity in Which Signed                 Date
- - ------------------------- ----------------------------------- ------------------


/s/ Edward Neff Bagley        Chairman of the Board               March 30, 1999
- - ----------------------        of Directors
Edward Neff Bagley


/s/ Lex L. Udy                Vice Chairman and Secretary         March 30, 1999
- - ----------------------        and Director
Lex L. Udy


/s/ John T. Day               President and Chief                 March 30, 1999
- - ----------------------        Executive Officer 
John T. Day                   and Director (Principal 
                              Executive Officer)


/s/ Nathan L. Wade            Director                            March 30, 1999
- - ----------------------
Nathan L. Wade


/s/ Stephen Fleischer         Director                            March 30, 1999
- - ----------------------
Stephen Fleischer


/s/ Duane W. Moss             Chief Financial Officer             March 30, 1999
- - ----------------------        and Legal Counsel
Duane W. Moss


<PAGE>
                                       MINING SERVICES INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
                                      Index to Consolidated Financial Statements

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


                                                                            Page
                                                                            ----

Independent Auditors' Report                                                 F-2

Consolidated balance sheet                                                   F-3

Consolidated statement of income                                             F-4

Consolidated statement of stockholders' equity                               F-5

Consolidated statement of cash flows                                         F-7

Notes to consolidated financial statements                                   F-8











- - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                             F-1

<PAGE>


                                       MINING SERVICES INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
                                                    INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT








To the Board of Directors and Stockholders
of Mining Services International Corporation


We have audited the consolidated balance sheet of Mining Services  International
Corporation  and  Subsidiaries as of December 31, 1998 and 1997, and the related
consolidated statements of income,  stockholders' equity, and cash flows for the
years ended December 31, 1998,  1997,  and 1996.  These  consolidated  financial
statements   are  the   responsibility   of  the   Company's   management.   Our
responsibility  is  to  express  an  opinion  on  these  consolidated  financial
statements based on our audits.

We  conducted  our  audits  in  accordance  with  generally   accepted  auditing
standards.  Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement.  An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements.  An audit also includes
assessing the  accounting  principles  used and  significant  estimates  made by
management,  as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.
We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the consolidated  financial statements referred to above present
fairly,  in all material  respects,  the financial  position of Mining  Services
International Corporation and Subsidiaries as of December 31, 1998 and 1997, and
the  results  of their  operations  and their  cash  flows  for the years  ended
December  31,  1998,  1997,  and  1996 in  conformity  with  generally  accepted
accounting principles.







                                                           TANNER + Co.



Salt Lake City, Utah
March 5, 1999

                                                                             F-2

<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                 MINING SERVICES INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
                                                                                Consolidated Balance Sheet
                                                                  (In thousands, except per share amounts)

                                                                                              December 31,
- - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


              Assets                                                         1998              1997
              ------                                                                               
                                                                       -----------------------------------

<S>                                                                    <C>                <C>             
Current assets:
     Cash                                                              $             314  $          1,160
     Receivables, net                                                              6,050             4,232
     Inventories                                                                   1,721               830
     Prepaid expenses                                                                126               139
     Current portion of related party notes receivable                               435               435
                                                                       -----------------------------------

                  Total current assets                                             8,646             6,796

Investment in and advances to joint ventures                                      13,371            12,448
Property, plant and equipment, net                                                 6,248             4,122
Goodwill                                                                           2,243                 -
Related party notes receivable                                                     1,190               965
Other assets                                                                         221               370
                                                                       -----------------------------------

                                                                       $          31,919  $         24,701
                                                                       -----------------------------------

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


              Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity

Current liabilities:
     Accounts payable and accrued expenses                             $           2,943  $          1,874
     Current portion of long-term debt                                             1,154                 -
                                                                       -----------------------------------

                  Total current liabilities                                        4,097             1,874

Long-term debt                                                                     1,213                 -
Deferred income taxes                                                              2,532             2,222
                                                                       -----------------------------------

                  Total liabilities                                                7,842             4,096
                                                                       -----------------------------------

Commitments and contingencies                                                          -                 -

Stockholders' equity:
     Common stock, $.001 par value, 500,000,000 shares
       authorized; 7,339,760 and 7,353,344 shares issued
       and outstanding, respectively                                                   7                 7
     Capital in excess of par value                                                5,443             5,416
     Cumulative foreign currency translation adjustments                            (242)                -
     Retained earnings                                                            18,869            15,182
                                                                       -----------------------------------

              Total stockholders' equity                                          24,077            20,605
                                                                       -----------------------------------

                                                                       $          31,919  $         24,701
                                                                       -----------------------------------

- - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
                                                                                                       F-3

</TABLE>
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                 MINING SERVICES INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
                                                                          Consolidated Statement of Income
                                                                  (In thousands, except per share amounts)

                                                                                  Years Ended December 31,
- - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------




                                                            1998             1997              1996
                                                     -----------------------------------------------------

<S>                                                  <C>                 <C>              <C>             
Revenue:
     Net sales                                       $           23,414  $        19,086  $         18,324
     Royalties                                                    1,345            1,581             1,543
     Equity in earnings of joint ventures                         4,989            6,179             5,305
     Other income                                                   117              123                 -
                                                     -----------------------------------------------------

                                                                 29,865           26,969            25,172
                                                     -----------------------------------------------------

Costs and expenses:
     Costs of sales                                              22,128           18,817            17,523
     General and administrative                                   1,331            1,264             1,062
     Research and development                                       587              488               503
                                                     -----------------------------------------------------

                                                                 24,046           20,569            19,088
                                                     -----------------------------------------------------

Income from operations                                            5,819            6,400             6,084

Other income (expense), net                                         153              266              (124)
                                                     -----------------------------------------------------

Income before provision for income taxes                          5,972            6,666             5,960
                                                     -----------------------------------------------------

Provision for income taxes:
     Current                                                     (1,790)            (883)             (943)
     Deferred                                                      (310)            (775)             (472)
                                                     -----------------------------------------------------

                                                                 (2,100)          (1,658)           (1,415)
                                                     -----------------------------------------------------

              Net income                             $            3,872  $         5,008  $          4,545
                                                     -----------------------------------------------------

Earnings per common share-basic                      $              .53  $           .68  $            .63
                                                     -----------------------------------------------------

Earnings per common share-diluted                    $              .52  $           .66  $            .60
                                                     -----------------------------------------------------

- - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
                                                                                                       F-4

</TABLE>
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                 MINING SERVICES INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
                                                            Consolidated Statement of Stockholders' Equity
                                                                  (In thousands, except per share amounts)

                                                              Years Ended December 31, 1998, 1997 and 1996
- - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------




                                                                      Cumulative
                                              Capital in    Notes      Foreign
                                                Excess    Receivable   Currency
                          Common Stock          of Par    from Stock Translation   Retained
                    -------------------------
                       Shares      Amount       Value       Sales    Adjustments   Earnings      Total
                    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                    <C>        <C>          <C>         <C>                 <C> <C>          <C>       
Balance at
January 1, 1996        5,525,545  $         6  $    5,888  $     (509)          -  $     5,886  $   11,271

Shares issued under
stock option plan        228,011            -         459        (280)          -            -         179

Stock split-up 
effected in the 
form of a
distribution           1,515,709            1           -           -           -           (1)          -

Shares retired for:
  Exercise of stock
    options               (4,618)           -         (34)          -           -            -         (34)
  Payment of interest 
    on notes 
    receivable            (2,670)           -         (45)          -           -            -         (45)
  Payment of advances     (3,033)           -         (38)          -           -            -         (38)

Cash dividends paid            -            -           -           -           -         (109)       (109)

Net income                     -            -           -           -           -        4,545       4,545
                    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Balance at
December 31, 1996      7,258,944            7       6,230        (789)          -       10,321      15,769

Shares issued under
stock option plan        188,841            -         277           -           -            -         277

Shares retired for:
  Exercise of stock
    options              (16,680)           -        (163)          -           -            -        (163)
  Payment of 
    principal and 
    interest on notes 
    receivable           (69,959)           -        (837)        789           -            -         (48)
  Payment of advances     (7,802)           -         (91)          -           -            -         (91)

Cash dividends paid            -            -           -           -           -         (147)       (147)

Net income                     -            -           -           -           -        5,008       5,008
                    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Balance at
December 31, 1997      7,353,344            7       5,416           -           -       15,182      20,605


- - -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
                                                                                                       F-5
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                 MINING SERVICES INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
                                                            Consolidated Statement of Stockholders' Equity
                                                                  (In thousands, except per share amounts)
                                                                                                 Continued

- - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                      Cumulative
                                              Capital in    Notes      Foreign
                                                Excess    Receivable   Currency
                          Common Stock          of Par    from Stock Translation   Retained
                    -------------------------
                       Shares      Amount       Value       Sales    Adjustments   Earnings      Total
                    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                    <C>        <C>          <C>         <C>        <C>          <C>          <C>       
Shares issued for:
  Exercise of
  stock options           33,407            -         119           -           -            -         119
  Acquisition of
    subsidiary            28,009            -         302           -           -            -         302

Acquisition and
  retirement of common
  stock                  (75,000)           -        (394)          -           -            -        (394)

Cash dividends paid            -            -           -           -           -         (185)       (185)

Net income                     -            -           -           -           -        3,872       3,872

Comprehensive net
 income calculation:
  Net income                   -            -           -           -       3,872            -           -

  Other comprehensive
    income-foreign
    currency translation
    adjustment, net            -            -           -           -        (242)           -        (242)
                                                                      -----------
Comprehensive income                                                        3,630
                    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Balance at
December 31, 1998      7,339,760  $         7  $    5,443  $        - $      (242) $    18,869  $   24,077
                    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

- - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
                                                                                                       F-6

</TABLE>
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                 MINING SERVICES INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
                                                                      Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows
                                                                                            (In Thousands)
                                                                                  Years Ended December 31,
- - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------




                                                                 1998            1997           1996
                                                           ----------------------------------------------
<S>                                                        <C>              <C>            <C>           
Cash flows from operating activities:
     Net income                                            $         3,872  $       5,008  $        4,545
     Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash
       provided by operating activities:
         Depreciation and amortization                                 797            650             593
         Provision and reserves for losses on assets                   147              2              40
         (Gain) loss on disposal of equipment                          (14)           (33)            147
         Stock compensation expense                                     37             22               -
         Interest income on common stock notes receivable                -            (48)            (45)
         Undistributed earnings of joint ventures                      (11)        (1,136)         (2,805)
         Deferred income taxes                                         305            775             472
         (Increase) decrease in:
              Receivables                                           (1,735)        (1,645)            122
              Inventories                                              320            294            (267)
              Prepaid expenses                                         185             (3)            (18)
              Other assets                                             157           (291)             71
         Increase (decrease) in:
              Accounts payable and accrued  expenses                  (174)           (42)            159
              Deferred gain on sale and leaseback                        -              -             (12)
                                                           ----------------------------------------------
                      Net cash provided by
                      operating activities                           3,886          3,553           3,002
                                                           ----------------------------------------------

Cash flows from investing activities:
     Proceeds from the sale of plant and equipment                      74             85             140
     Increase in notes receivable                                     (475)          (400)         (1,250)
     Payments on note receivable                                       250            250               -
     Purchase of plant and equipment                                (1,189)        (2,214)         (1,183)
     Investment in joint ventures                                   (1,196)           (77)           (913)
     Net cash paid in acquisition                                   (2,399)             -               -
                                                           ----------------------------------------------
                      Net cash used in
                      investing activities                          (4,935)        (2,356)         (3,206)
                                                           ----------------------------------------------

Cash flows from financing activities:
     Proceeds from long-term debt                                      700              -             311
     Payments on long-term debt                                          -           (714)           (182)
     Retirement of common stock                                       (394)             -             (38)
     Cash dividend paid                                               (185)          (147)           (109)
     Issuance of common stock                                           82             92             145
                                                           ----------------------------------------------
                      Net cash provided by (used in)
                      financing activities                             203           (769)            127
                                                           ----------------------------------------------

Net decrease (increase) in cash                                       (846)           428             (77)

Cash, beginning of year                                              1,160            732             809
                                                           ----------------------------------------------

Cash, end of year                                          $           314  $       1,160  $          732
                                                           ----------------------------------------------




- - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
                                                                                                      F-7

</TABLE>
<PAGE>


                                       MINING SERVICES INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
                                      Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
                                        (In thousands, except per share amounts)

                                               December 31, 1998, 1997, and 1996
- - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------


1.   Organization and Significant Accounting Policies

Organization
Mining  Services  International  Corporation  (the Company) and its wholly owned
subsidiaries,  MSI  Chemicals  Ltd.  (MSIC),  Central Asia  Chemicals LTD (CAC),
O'Brien  Design  Associates,  Inc.(ODA)  which the  Company  acquired  effective
October  30,  1998,  Green  Mountain  Explosives,  Inc.  (GME) which the Company
acquired  effective  December 9, 1998, and MSI Russia,  L.L.C.  (MSIR) which the
Company  organized  effective  October 16, 1998,  are  primarily  engaged in the
development,  manufacture  and sale of bulk  explosives and related  support and
services. In addition,  Nevada Chemicals,  Inc., also a wholly-owned subsidiary,
has a fifty percent interest in Cyanco Company (Cyanco),  a non-corporate  joint
venture,  which is engaged in the manufacture and sale of liquid sodium cyanide.
The financial  statements  reflect the investment in joint ventures of which the
Company  owns a 50% or less  interest  under the  equity  method of  accounting.
Summarized financial information for such joint ventures is included in note 15.


The acquisitions of ODA and GME were accounted for as purchase transactions.


The Company has an agreement with Production  Association  "Ammofos" of Almalyk,
the Republic of Uzbekistan  (PAA),  a government  owned chemical  producer.  The
Agreement  creates a joint venture with the Company and PAA which operates under
a limited liability  enterprise  organized under Uzbekistan laws. The enterprise
is called  Turon-MSI Ltd., in which MSI holds a 51% interest and PAA holds a 49%
interest.  MSI has  committed  to supply  plant  and  equipment  along  with its
technological  know-how in return for its interest in the joint  venture and PAA
has committed to provide the  infrastructure of the plant.  Although the Company
owns a 51% interest in the share  capital,  the joint  venture is accounted  for
under the equity method due to the facts and circumstances of control related to
mutual consent affecting the joint venture in Uzbekistan.

- - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                             F-8

<PAGE>


                                       MINING SERVICES INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
                                      Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
                                        (In thousands, except per share amounts)
                                                                       Continued

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



1.   Organization and Significant Accounting Policies
     Continued

Organization - Continued
The Company owns a 50% interest in a joint venture in Grand Cayman called Cayman
Mining Services  Limited (CMS). CMS owns virtually all of Colombia Mining Supply
and Services Limited (SSMC), a Colombia-based company, which has an agreement to
manufacture and supply mining explosives in Colombia.


The Company also has a joint  venture to  manufacture  and supply  explosives in
West Africa.  The joint venture operates as a Ghanaian company called West Coast
Explosives  Limited (WCE). WCE is wholly owned by West Africa Chemicals  Limited
(WAC), a Mauritius company owned 50% by the Company.


MSIR owns a 50%  interest  in Eastern  Mining  Services  Ltd.  (EMS),  a Russian
company being  registered in Moscow,  to manufacture and deliver bulk explosives
in the Kovdor mining district in Russia.


Principles of consolidation
The consolidated  financial  statements include the accounts of the Company, and
its  consolidated  subsidiaries.   All  significant  intercompany  balances  and
transactions have been eliminated.

Cash Equivalents
For  purposes  of the  statement  of cash  flows,  cash  includes  all  cash and
investments with original maturities to the Company of three months or less.


Inventories
Inventories are recorded at the lower of cost or market,  cost being  determined
on a first-in, first-out (FIFO) method.


Property, Plant and Equipment
Property,   plant  and  equipment  are  recorded  at  cost,   less   accumulated
depreciation.  Depreciation  and  amortization  on capital  leases and property,
plant and  equipment  are  determined  using the  straight-line  method over the
estimated  useful  lives of the assets or terms of the lease.  Expenditures  for
maintenance   and  repairs  are  expensed  when  incurred  and  betterments  are
capitalized.  Gains and  losses on sale of  property,  plant and  equipment  are
reflected in net income.


- - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                             F-9

<PAGE>


                                       MINING SERVICES INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
                                      Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
                                        (In thousands, except per share amounts)
                                                                       Continued

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



1.   Organization and Significant Accounting Policies
     Continued

Goodwill
Goodwill  reflects the excess of the costs of purchasing GME over the fair value
of the related net assets at the date of acquisition,  and is being amortized on
the straight-line  basis over 10 years.  Amortization of the goodwill will begin
in 1999.

Other Assets
Certain items  included in other assets are amortized  over five years using the
straight-line  method.  Amortization  expense  totaled  $4, $4, and $8, in 1998,
1997, and 1996, respectively.


Translation of Foreign Currencies
The  cumulative  effect of  currency  translation  adjustments  are  included in
stockholders' equity. These items represent the effect of translating assets and
liabilities of the Company's foreign operations.

Generally for joint ventures, except for Uzbekistan, unrealized gains and losses
resulting from translating  foreign  companies' assets and liabilities into U.S.
dollars are  accumulated  in an equity  account on the joint  venture's  balance
sheet, which is reported using the equity method, until such time as the company
is sold or substantially or completely liquidated.  Translation gains and losses
relating to operations of companies like Uzbekistan where hyperinflation exists,
are included in equity in earnings from joint ventures.

Revenue Recognition
Revenue is recognized upon shipment of product or performance of services.


Income Taxes
Deferred  income  taxes are  provided  in amounts  sufficient  to give effect to
temporary  differences between financial and tax reporting,  principally related
to depreciation and undistributed  earnings from  foreign-based  joint ventures,
which qualify under certain tax deferral treatment.


Earnings Per Common Share
The  computation  of earnings per common share is based on the weighted  average
number of shares outstanding during the year.


- - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                            F-10

<PAGE>


                                       MINING SERVICES INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
                                      Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
                                        (In thousands, except per share amounts)
                                                                       Continued

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



1.   Organization and Significant Accounting Policies
     Continued

Earnings Per Common Share - Continued
The  computation of earnings per common share assuming  dilution is based on the
weighted average number of shares  outstanding during the year plus the weighted
average  common stock  equivalents  which would arise from the exercise of stock
options outstanding using the treasury stock method and the average market price
per share during the year.


Concentration of Credit Risk
Financial  instruments which potentially subject the Company to concentration of
credit risk consist  primarily  of trade  receivables.  In the normal  course of
business, the Company provides credit terms to its customers.  Accordingly,  the
Company  performs  ongoing  credit  evaluations  of its  customers and maintains
allowances for possible losses which, when realized,  have been within the range
of management's expectations.


The Company's customer base consists primarily of mining companies. Although the
Company  is  directly  affected  by  the  well-being  of  the  mining  industry,
management does not believe significant credit risk exists at December 31, 1998.


The Company  maintains its cash in bank deposit  accounts which,  at times,  may
exceed federally  insured limits.  The Company has not experienced any losses in
such accounts and believes it is not exposed to any  significant  credit risk on
cash and cash equivalents.


Use of Estimates in the  Preparation of Financial  Statements The preparation of
financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles
requires  management to make estimates and assumptions  that affect the reported
amounts  of assets and  liabilities  and  disclosure  of  contingent  assets and
liabilities at the date of the financial  statements and the reported amounts of
revenues and expenses during the reporting  period.  Actual results could differ
from those estimates.


Reclassifications
Certain   accounts  in  the  1997  and  1996  financial   statements  have  been
reclassified to conform with the current year presentation.



- - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                            F-11

<PAGE>


                                       MINING SERVICES INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
                                      Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
                                        (In thousands, except per share amounts)
                                                                       Continued

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



2.   Detail of Certain Balance Sheet Accounts

                                                        December 31,
                                             -----------------------------------
                                                   1998              1997
                                             -----------------------------------
Receivables:
     Trade receivables                       $           2,710  $         2,980
     Income tax refund receivable                          121              449
     Related party receivables (see Note 10)             2,968              622
     Other                                                 288              193
     Less allowance for doubtful accounts                  (37)             (12)
                                             -----------------------------------

                                             $           6,050  $         4,232
                                             -----------------------------------



Inventories:
     Raw materials                           $             707  $           407
     Finished goods                                      1,014              423
                                             -----------------------------------

                                             $           1,721  $           830
                                             -----------------------------------



Accounts payable and accrued expenses:
     Trade payables                          $           1,805  $        1,196
     Accrued expenses                                    1,138             678
                                             -----------------------------------

                                             $           2,943  $        1,874
                                             -----------------------------------


3.   Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, plant and equipment consists of the following:


                                                   December 31,
                                        ----------------------------------
                                              1998             1997
                                        ----------------------------------
Plant equipment and fixtures            $          6,459  $          4,438
Support equipment and fixtures                     5,142             4,740
Office equipment and fixtures                        521               474
Vehicles                                             634               579
Land                                                 107               107
                                        ----------------------------------

                                                  12,863            10,338

Less accumulated depreciation and
amortization                                      (6,615)           (6,216)
                                        ----------------------------------

                                        $          6,248  $          4,122
                                        ----------------------------------


- - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                            F-12

<PAGE>


                                       MINING SERVICES INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
                                      Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
                                        (In thousands, except per share amounts)
                                                                       Continued

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



4.   Related Party Notes Receivable

Notes receivable are comprised of the following:


                                                   December 31,
                                        -----------------------------------
                                               1998             1997
                                        -----------------------------------

     Unsecured note receivable from
     CMS, in annual installments of
     $250 and semi-annual  interest
     payments  at the  rate of 1.5%
     above the six-month LIBOR          $              750  $         1,000

     Unsecured note receivable from
     WAC, in annual installments of
     $185 and semi-annual  interest
     payments  at  the  rate  of 2%
     above the six-month LIBOR                         700              400


     Notes receivable from officers
     of  the  Company   secured  by
     stock,  interest  payments due
     annually   at  1%  above   the
     three-month  LIBOR,  principal
     due in full April 2003                            175                -
                                        -----------------------------------

                                                     1,625            1,400

     Less current portion                             (435)            (435)
                                        -----------------------------------

                                        $            1,190  $           965
                                        -----------------------------------




- - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                            F-13

<PAGE>


                                       MINING SERVICES INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
                                      Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
                                        (In thousands, except per share amounts)
                                                                       Continued

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




5.   Long-Term Debt

Long-term debt is comprised of the following:


                                                          December 31,
                                                  -----------------------------
                                                       1998           1997
                                                  -----------------------------

     Unsecured  performance deposit
     payable to a  company,  due in
     monthly  installments  of $16,
     including  imputed interest at
     7%, due on December 9, 2003                  $            785  $        -

     Line-of-credit agreement which
     allows the Company to borrow a
     maximum amount of $2,250 at an
     interest  rate .75%  below the
     bank's prime rate, due May 30,
     1999                                                      662           -

     Notes payable to  individuals,
     due in monthly installments of
     $13,   including  interest  at
     12%,  secured by property  and
     equipment,   due  December  9,
     2003                                                      600           -

     Construction  loan  payable in
     monthly  installments  of  $2,
     including  interest  at 8.75%,
     secured by property, due April
     10, 2004                                                  250            -

     Unsecured          non-compete
     agreement    payable   to   an
     individual,   due  in  monthly
     installments of $1,  including
     imputed  interest  at 7%,  due
     December 9, 2003                                           57            -

     Mortgage  note  payable  to an
     individual,   due  in   annual
     installments of $4,  including
     interest  at 10%,  due October
     13, 2003                                                   13            -
                                                  -----------------------------

                                                             2,367            -

Less current portion                                        (1,154)           -
                                                  -----------------------------

                                                  $          1,213  $         -
                                                  -----------------------------


- - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                            F-14

<PAGE>


                                       MINING SERVICES INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
                                      Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
                                        (In thousands, except per share amounts)
                                                                       Continued

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



5.   Long-Term Debt
     Continued

Future maturities of long-term debt are as follows:


Year Ending December 31:                                        Amount
- - ------------------------                                  -----------------

     1999                                                 $           1,154
     2000                                                               265
     2001                                                               290
     2002                                                               317
     2003                                                               341
                                                          -----------------

                                                          $           2,367
                                                          -----------------



6.   Operating Leases

During the year ended December 31, 1998,  the Company  leased certain  vehicles,
property,  and equipment under various  non-cancelable  operating leases.  Lease
expense relating the operating leases was  approximately  $10 for the year ended
December 31, 1998. Future minimum lease payments are as follows:


Year Ending December 31:                                       Amount
- - ------------------------                                 ------------------

     1999                                                $              153
     2000                                                               124
     2001                                                                53
     2002                                                                 8
                                                         ------------------

                                                         $              338
                                                         ------------------



7.   Income Taxes

The current  provision for income taxes  represents  U.S.  federal income taxes,
taxes withheld on royalties and other foreign income taxes.


- - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                            F-15

<PAGE>


                                       MINING SERVICES INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
                                      Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
                                        (In thousands, except per share amounts)
                                                                       Continued

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



7.   Income Taxes
     Continued

The provision for income taxes is different than amounts which would be provided
by applying the statutory federal income tax rate to income before provision for
income taxes for the following reasons:


                                          Years Ended December 31,
                                -------------------------------------------
                                     1998           1997          1996
                                -------------------------------------------

Federal income tax provision
at statutory rate               $        (2,030)  $    (2,266)  $    (2,026)
Stock options                                 -           525           585
Life insurance and meals                    (12)            2            (1)
Other                                       (58)           81            27
                                -------------------------------------------

                                $        (2,100)  $    (1,658)  $    (1,415)
                                -------------------------------------------



Deferred tax assets (liabilities) are comprised of the following:


                                                     December 31,
                                             -----------------------------
                                                  1998           1997
                                             -----------------------------

Depreciation                                 $        (2,547)   $   (2,177)
Deferred income                                         (327)          (45)
Foreign tax credit carryforward                          342             -
                                             -----------------------------

                                             $        (2,532)   $   (2,222)
                                             -----------------------------



8.   Stock Dividend and Split-up

On October 15, 1996 and December 10,  1996,  the Company  declared a 10% and 15%
stock split-up  effected in the form of a distribution,  to all  shareholders of
record as of September 20, 1996 and December 10, 1996, respectively.  On October
15, 1996 and December 10, 1996, the Company issued 573,910 and 941,799 shares of
common  stock,   respectively,   in  conjunction  with  these  stock  split-ups.
Accordingly,  amounts  equal to the par  value of the  shares  issued  have been
charged to retained earnings and credited to common stock.


Earnings per common share,  weighted average shares  outstanding,  and all stock
option activity have been restated retroactively to reflect these changes.



- - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                            F-16

<PAGE>


                                       MINING SERVICES INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
                                      Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
                                        (In thousands, except per share amounts)
                                                                       Continued

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



9.   Supplemental Cash Flow Information

During the year ended December 31, 1998, the Company  purchased  subsidiaries in
exchange  for cash,  common  stock,  and debt,  and recorded net assets from the
acquisition as follows:


Fair value of assets acquired                             $           5,616
Libilities assumed and debt issued                                   (2,915)
Common stock issued                                                    (302)
                                                          -----------------

     Net cash paid                                        $           2,399
                                                          -----------------



During the year ended  December 31,  1997,  officers  and  shareholders  retired
common stock with a market value of $1,091 in order to exercise  stock  options,
pay notes receivable, related interest, and advances.


During the year ended December 31, 1996:

o    The Company issued common stock in exchange for long-term notes  receivable
     of $280.

o    The Company  capitalized  retained  earnings of $1 due to the issuance of a
     10% and 15% stock split-up effected in the form of a distribution.

o    Officers and shareholders  retired common stock with a market value of $117
     in order to pay interest on notes receivable from stock sales.

o    The  Company  refinanced  long-term  debt in the amount of $413 and reduced
     deferred gain on sale lease backs in exchange for long-term debt of $72.


Actual amounts paid for interest and income taxes are as follows:


                                    Years Ended December 31,
                      -----------------------------------------------------
                             1998              1997             1996
                      -----------------------------------------------------

Interest              $               16   $            35   $           77
                      -----------------------------------------------------

Income taxes          $            1,965   $           766   $          500
                      -----------------------------------------------------




- - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                            F-17

<PAGE>


                                       MINING SERVICES INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
                                      Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
                                        (In thousands, except per share amounts)
                                                                       Continued

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



10.  Related Party Transactions

The Company performs  certain  functions for Cyanco for which it receives a fee,
the fee is offset against costs of sales. Fees totaled $326, $474, and $420, for
the years ended December 31, 1998, 1997, and 1996, respectively.


At December 31, 1998 and 1997,  the Company had  receivables of $2,968 and $622,
respectively, from joint ventures (see Note 1).


As of December 31, 1998 and 1997,  the Company had notes  receivable  from joint
ventures of $1,450 and $1,400, respectively (see Note 4).


As of December 31, 1998, the Company had notes  receivable  from officers of the
Company for $175, (see Note 4).


At December 31, 1998 and 1997, the Company  recognized  interest  income of $117
and $123, respectively, related to notes receivable from joint ventures.


During  the year  ended  December  31,  1998 and 1997,  the  Company  recognized
revenues of  approximately  $686 and $690,  respectively,  from joint  ventures,
related to royalties, services provided, and the sale of manufacturing products.


11.  Major Customers and Foreign Operations

Sales to major  customers  which  exceeded  10% of net sales are as follows  (in
thousands):


                                        Years Ended December 31,
                              ---------------------------------------------
                                   1998           1997           1996
                              ---------------------------------------------

Company A                     $         4,844  $       4,474  $           -
Company B                     $         3,855  $       4,271  $       4,184
Company C                     $         2,781  $       1,937  $           -
Company D                     $             -  $           -  $       3,919

Management  believes that the loss of any one customer would not have a material
adverse effect on the Company's consolidated operations.


- - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                            F-18

<PAGE>


                                       MINING SERVICES INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
                                      Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
                                        (In thousands, except per share amounts)
                                                                       Continued

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



11.  Major Customers and Foreign Operations
     Continued

The  Company  has  operations  in  the  United  States,  Canada,  other  foreign
locations,  and equity in earnings of joint ventures. The following is a summary
of operations by geographic region:

 
                                            Years Ended December 31,
                              ---------------------------------------------
                                   1998           1997           1996
                              ---------------------------------------------
Revenue:
  United States               $        18,648  $      16,300  $      14,807
  Canada                                4,134          4,362          5,060
  Other foreign                         2,094            128              -
  Equity in earnings of JV              4,989          6,179          5,305
                              ---------------------------------------------

Total revenues                $        29,865  $      26,969  $      25,172
                              ---------------------------------------------



                                            Years Ended December 31,
                              ---------------------------------------------
                                   1998           1997           1996
                              ---------------------------------------------
Income from Operations:
  United States               $         1,580  $       1,009  $       1,811
  Canada                                  660            359            533
  Other foreign                           204            (21)             -
  Equity in earnings of JV              4,989          6,179          5,305
  Corporate Expenses                   (1,614)        (1,126)        (1,565)
                              ---------------------------------------------

Total income from
operations                    $         5,819  $       6,400  $       6,084
                              ---------------------------------------------




                                                 December 31,
                              ---------------------------------------------
                                   1998           1997           1996
                              ---------------------------------------------
Identifiable Assets:
  United States               $        13,864  $       9,878  $       5,796
  Canada                                  733            702          1,257
  Other foreign                         2,807          1,257            524
  Investments/advances to
  JV's                                 14,515         12,864         12,269
                              ---------------------------------------------

Total identifiable assets     $        31,919  $      24,701  $      19,846
                              ---------------------------------------------

- - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                            F-19

<PAGE>


                                       MINING SERVICES INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
                                      Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
                                        (In thousands, except per share amounts)
                                                                       Continued

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

12.  Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan

Under the Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan (the Option Plan), as amended in 1988,
1990,  1992,  1993 and 1998,  a maximum of  1,315,130  options may be granted to
purchase common stock at prices generally not less than the fair market value of
common  stock  at  the  date  of  grant.   Under  the  Option  Plan,  grants  of
non-qualified options may be made to selected officers and key employees without
regard to any performance measures.  The options may be immediately  exercisable
or may vest over time as  determined  by the Board of  Directors.  However,  the
maximum  term  of an  option  may  not  exceed  ten  years.  Options  may not be
transferred except by reason of death, with certain exceptions,  and termination
of employment  accelerates the expiration date of any outstanding  options to 30
days from the date of termination.


Information regarding the Option Plan is summarized below:


                                            Number of       Option Price
                                             Options          Per Share
                                        -----------------------------------

Outstanding at January 1, 1996                     653,110   $    .96-5.75
     Granted                                       120,368        .82-8.00
     Exercised                                    (228,011)       .96-8.00
     Expired                                        (7,875)           2.26
                                        -----------------------------------

Outstanding at December 31, 1996                   537,592        .82-4.55
     Granted                                        17,657      9.75-11.30
     Exercised                                    (188,841)       .82-3.80
     Expired                                        (5,799)           3.80
                                        -----------------------------------

Outstanding at December 31, 1997                   360,609      2.96-11.30
     Granted                                        46,950      2.96-11.30
     Exercised                                     (33,266)      5.00-7.56
     Expired                                       (14,546)      4.12-5.00
                                        -----------------------------------

Outstanding at December 31, 1998                   359,747   $  3.93-11.30
                                        -----------------------------------



- - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                            F-20

<PAGE>


                                       MINING SERVICES INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
                                      Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
                                        (In thousands, except per share amounts)
                                                                       Continued

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




12.  Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan
     Continued

Options exercisable and available for future grant are as follows:


                                                 December 31,
                            -----------------------------------------------
                                  1998           1997            1996
                            -----------------------------------------------

Options exercisable                   76,816         41,832          72,706
Options available for
grant                                230,261        276,051         271,866



13.  Stock-Based Compensation

The Company has adopted the disclosure-only provisions of Statement of Financial
Accounting  Standards (SFAS) No. 123,  Accounting for Stock-Based  Compensation.
Accordingly,   no  compensation  cost  has  been  recognized  in  the  financial
statements.  Had  compensation  cost for the  Company's  stock option plans been
determined  based on the fair value at the grant date for awards in 1998,  1997,
and 1996  consistent  with the  provisions  of SFAS No. 123, the  Company's  net
earnings and earnings per share would have been reduced to the pro forma amounts
indicated below (in thousands, except per share amounts):


                                             Years Ended December 31,
                                 ----------------------------------------------
                                       1998           1997           1996
                                 ----------------------------------------------

Net Income - as reported         $          3,872  $       5,008  $       4,545
Net Income - pro forma           $          3,961  $       4,919  $       4,465
Earnings per share - as reported $            .52  $         .66  $         .60
Earnings per share - pro forma   $            .51  $         .65  $         .59
                                 ----------------------------------------------



- - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                            F-21

<PAGE>


                                       MINING SERVICES INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
                                      Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
                                        (In thousands, except per share amounts)
                                                                       Continued

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




13   Stock-Based Compensation
     Continued

The fair value of each option  grant is estimated at the date of grant using the
Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following assumptions:


                                                  December 31,
                               -------------------------------------------
                                      1998         1997          1996
                               -------------------------------------------

Expected dividend yield        $        .02              .02         .01
Expected stock price
volatility                              33%              48%         49%
Risk-free interest rate                  5%            5.25%        4.5%
Expected life of options            3 years          3 years     3 years
                               -------------------------------------------

The weighted  average fair value of options granted during 1998,  1997, and 1996
are $1.20, $3.41, and $2.97, respectively.


The following table summarizes  information  about stock options  outstanding at
December 31, 1998:


                        Options Outstanding              Options Exercisable
              ------------------------------------------------------------------
                             Weighted
                              Average
                             Remaining                  Number
                 Number     Contractual   Weighted    Exercisable    Weighted
   Range of   Outstanding at   Life        Average        at         Average
Exercise Prices 12/31/98      (Years)   Exercise Price 12/31/98   Exercise Price
- - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

$ 2.96 to  4.09   305,497         6.4   $      3.62    26,566      $      3.04
  5.00 to  5.51    38,750         3.1          5.04    34,750             2.94
  7.56 to 11.30    15,500         1.1         10.36    15,500            10.36
- - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

$ 2.96 to 11.30   359,747         5.8   $     4.06     76,816      $      3.77
- - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------



- - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                            F-22

<PAGE>


                                       MINING SERVICES INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
                                      Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
                                        (In thousands, except per share amounts)
                                                                       Continued

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




14.   Earnings Per Share

Financial  accounting  standards require companies to present basic earnings per
share (EPS) and diluted  earnings per share along with additional  informational
disclosures.  Information  related  to  earnings  per  share is as  follows  (in
thousands, except per share amounts):


                                                     Years Ended
                                                    December 31,
                                      -----------------------------------------
                                           1998          1997         1996
                                      -----------------------------------------
Basic EPS:
  Net income available to common
    stockholders                      $        3,872  $      5,008  $     4,545
                                      -----------------------------------------

  Weighted average common shares               7,368         7,342        7,193
                                      -----------------------------------------

  Net income per share                $          .53  $        .68  $       .63
                                      -----------------------------------------




Diluted EPS:
  Net income available to common
    stockholders                      $        3,872  $      5,008  $     4,545
                                      -----------------------------------------

  Weighted average common shares               7,492         7,614        7,556
                                      -----------------------------------------

  Net income per share                $          .52  $        .66  $       .60
                                      -----------------------------------------

- - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                            F-23

<PAGE>


                                       MINING SERVICES INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
                                      Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
                                        (In thousands, except per share amounts)
                                                                       Continued

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




15.  Significant Unconsolidated Affiliates

Summarized financial  information for significant  unconsolidated  affiliates of
the Company, are as follows:


                                               December 31,
                             ----------------------------------------------
                                      1998            1997           1996
                             ----------------------------------------------

Result for year:
     Gross revenues          $        37,353  $       38,115  $      31,598
     Gross profit            $        14,365  $       16,048  $      13,928
     Net income              $         9,978  $       12,273  $      10,610

Year-end financial
position:
     Current assets          $        10,415  $        8,567  $       7,219
     Non-current assets      $        24,998  $       22,945  $      18,990
     Current liabilities     $         4,256  $        4,106  $       3,473
     Non-current liabilities $         5,323  $        4,559  $       2,443



16.  Profit Sharing Plan

The Company has a defined  contribution  profit sharing plan, which is qualified
under Section 401(K) of the Internal Revenue Code. The plan provides  retirement
benefits  for   employees   meeting   minimum  age  and  service   requirements.
Participants  may  contribute up to 20 percent of their gross wages,  subject to
certain limitations. The plan provides for discretionary matching contributions,
as  determined  by the  Board  of  Directors,  to be  made by the  Company.  The
discretionary  amount contributed to the plan by the Company for the years ended
December 31, 1998, 1997, and 1996 was $48, $37, and $25, respectively.



- - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                            F-24

<PAGE>


                                       MINING SERVICES INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
                                      Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
                                        (In thousands, except per share amounts)
                                                                       Continued

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


17.  Fair Value of Financial Instruments

None of the Company's financial  instruments are held for trading purposes.  The
Company  estimates that the fair value of all financial  instruments at December
31, 1998, does not differ  materially from the aggregate  carrying values of its
financial  instruments recorded in the accompanying balance sheet. The estimated
fair value amounts have been  determined by the Company using  available  market
information and appropriate valuation  methodologies.  Considerable judgement is
necessarily  required in  interpreting  market data to develop the  estimates of
fair value, and,  accordingly,  the estimates are not necessarily  indicative of
the amounts that the Company could realize in a current market exchange.


18.  Commitments and Contingencies

The Company has agreed to indemnify  its joint  venture  partner for any amounts
paid by Cyanco under a deferred  royalty  agreement,  which at December 31, 1998
and 1997, had an outstanding balance of $2,442 and $2,443, respectively.


The  Company  may  become or is subject to  investigations,  claims or  lawsuits
ensuing  out  of the  conduct  of  its  business,  including  those  related  to
environmental safety and health, product liability, commercial transactions etc.
The Company is  currently  not aware of any such items  which it believes  could
have a material adverse affect on its financial position.


19.  Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In June  1998,  the  FASB  issued  SFAS  No.  133,  "Accounting  for  Derivative
Instruments and Hedging Activities." This statement  establishes  accounting and
reporting standards for derivative  instruments and requires  recognition of all
derivatives as assets or liabilities in the statement of financial  position and
measurement of those  instruments at fair value.  The statement is effective for
fiscal  years  beginning  after June 15,  1999.  The Company  believes  that the
adoption  of SFAS  133  will  not have  any  material  effect  on the  financial
statements of the Company.



- - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                            F-25

                          Mining Services International
                                   Exhibit 21

                              List of Subsidiaries

Name of Subsidiary                                                   Ownership %
- - ------------------                                                   -----------
Nevada Chemicals, Inc., a Nevada Corporation                             100%

         Cyanco, unincorporated joint venture of Nevada
         Chemicals, Inc., 50% owned

Turon-MSI Ltd., an Uzbekistan Limited Liability Company                   51%

Central Asia Chemicals  Limited  (previously  Turon-MSI
Ltd.), a Grand Cayman 100% Company

Cayman Mining Services Limited, a Grand Cayman company                    50%

         Suministros  y Servicios  Mineros de Colombia,
         Ltda., a Colombian limited liability  company,
         a 99.999% subsidiary of Cayman Mining Services
         Ltd.

         Mining Capital Resources Ltd. , a Grand Cayman
         company,  a wholly owned  subsidiary of Cayman
         Mining Services Limited

MSI Chemicals Limited, a Grand Cayman company                            100%

West Africa Chemicals Limited, a Mauritius company                        50%

         West  Coast   Explosives   Ltd.,   a  Ghanaian
         company,  a wholly  owned  subsidiary  of West
         Africa Chemicals Limited

MSI Russia Ltd., a Nevada limited liability company                      100%

         Eastern   Mining   Services  Ltd.,  a  Russian
         limited   liability   company,   a  50%  owned
         subsidiary of MSI Russia Ltd..

O'Brien Design Associates, Inc., a Delaware Corporation                  100%

Green Mountain Explosives, Inc., a Maine Corporation                     100%


<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE>                            5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE  CONTAINS  SUMMARY  FINANCIAL  INFORMATION  EXTRACTED  FROM MINING
SERIVCES INTERNATIONAL  CORPORATION FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS
ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
       
<S>                                  <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                        YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                   DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                        DEC-31-1998
<CASH>                                                  314,000
<SECURITIES>                                                  0
<RECEIVABLES>                                         2,710,000
<ALLOWANCES>                                             37,000
<INVENTORY>                                           1,721,000
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                      8,646,000
<PP&E>                                               12,863,000
<DEPRECIATION>                                        6,615,000
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                       31,919,000
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                 4,097,000
<BONDS>                                               1,213,000
                                         0
                                                   0
<COMMON>                                                  7,000
<OTHER-SE>                                           24,070,000
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                         31,919,000
<SALES>                                              23,414,000
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                     30,034,000
<CGS>                                                22,128,000
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                        24,046,000
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                              0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                              0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                       16,000
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                       5,972,000
<INCOME-TAX>                                          2,100,000
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                   3,872,000
<DISCONTINUED>                                                0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                               0
<CHANGES>                                                     0
<NET-INCOME>                                          3,872,000
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                              0.53
<EPS-DILUTED>                                              0.52
        

</TABLE>

<PAGE>
                                                    INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT








To the Joint Venture Participants
of Cyanco Company


We have audited the accompanying  balance sheet of Cyanco Company as of December
31, 1998 and 1997, and the related statements of income,  joint venture capital,
and cash flows for the years ended  December 31,  1998,  1997,  and 1996.  These
financial  statements are the  responsibility of the Company's  management.  Our
responsibility  is to express an opinion on these financial  statements based on
our audits.

We  conducted  our  audits  in  accordance  with  generally   accepted  auditing
standards.  Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement.  An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements.  An audit also includes
assessing the  accounting  principles  used and  significant  estimates  made by
management,  as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.
We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion,  the financial  statements  referred to above present fairly, in
all material  respects,  the financial position of Cyanco Company as of December
31, 1998 and 1997,  and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the
years ended  December 31, 1998,  1997,  and 1996, in conformity  with  generally
accepted accounting principles.










                                                  TANNER + Co.


Salt Lake City, Utah
January 26, 1999


<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


                                                                                            CYANCO COMPANY

                                                                                             Balance Sheet
                                                                                            (In Thousands)

                                                                                              December 31,
- - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------




                                                                             1998              1997
                                                                       -----------------------------------
              Assets
<S>                                                                    <C>                <C>             
Current assets:
     Cash                                                              $           2,183  $          2,929
     Accounts receivable, net                                                      2,436             2,421
     Inventories                                                                   1,014               938
     Prepaid expenses                                                                174               240
                                                                       -----------------------------------

                  Total current assets                                             5,807             6,528

Property, plant and equipment, net                                                19,114            19,963
Other assets, net                                                                    601               630
                                                                       -----------------------------------

                                                                       $          25,522  $         27,121
                                                                       -----------------------------------

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


              Liabilities and Joint Venture Capital

Current liabilities - accounts payable and accrued expenses            $           1,398  $          2,103
                                                                       -----------------------------------

Deferred royalty                                                                   2,422             2,443
                                                                       -----------------------------------

Commitments and contingencies                                                          -                 -

Joint venture capital                                                             21,702            22,575
                                                                       -----------------------------------

                                                                       $          25,522  $         27,121
                                                                       -----------------------------------

- - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
See accompanying notes to financial statements.
                                                                                                         1
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                                            CYANCO COMPANY
                                                                                       Statement of Income
                                                                                            (In Thousands)

                                                                                  Years Ended December 31,
- - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                                            1998             1997              1996
                                                     -----------------------------------------------------

<S>                                                  <C>                 <C>              <C>             
Revenues:
     Net sales                                       $           27,141  $        31,596  $         31,181
     Other                                                          104              242               417
                                                     -----------------------------------------------------

                                                                 27,245           31,838            31,598
                                                     -----------------------------------------------------


Costs and expenses:
     Cost of sales                                               16,498           17,791            17,670
     General and administrative                                   1,641            1,765             3,265
     Interest                                                         -                -                53
                                                     -----------------------------------------------------

                                                                 18,139           19,556            20,988
                                                     -----------------------------------------------------

                  Net income                         $            9,106  $        12,282  $         10,610
                                                     -----------------------------------------------------

- - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
See accompanying notes to financial statements.
                                                                                                         2
</TABLE>

<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


                                                                                            CYANCO COMPANY
                                                                        Statement of Joint Venture Capital
                                                                                            (In Thousands)

                                                             Years Ended December 31, 1998, 1997, and 1996
- - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------




                                                           Nevada
                                                         Chemicals,         Degussa
                                                            Inc.             Corp.            Total
                                                     -----------------------------------------------------

<S>                                                 <C>                 <C>              <C>             
Balance, January 1, 1996                             $            7,239  $         7,411  $         14,650

Distributions                                                    (2,500)          (2,500)           (5,000)

Capital contributions                                                33                -                33

Net income                                                        5,305            5,305            10,610
                                                     -----------------------------------------------------

Balance, December 31, 1996                                       10,077           10,216            20,293

Distributions                                                    (5,000)          (5,000)          (10,000)

Net income                                                        6,141            6,141            12,282
                                                     -----------------------------------------------------

Balance, December 31, 1997                                       11,218           11,357            22,575

Distributions                                                    (5,000)          (5,000)          (10,000)

Capital contributions                                                21                -                21

Net income                                                        4,553            4,553             9,106
                                                     -----------------------------------------------------

Balance, December 31, 1998                           $           10,792  $        10,910  $         21,702
                                                     -----------------------------------------------------


- - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
See accompanying notes to financial statements.
                                                                                                         3
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                                            CYANCO COMPANY
                                                                                   Statement of Cash Flows
                                                                                            (In Thousands)

                                                                                  Years Ended December 31,
- - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                                                 1998            1997           1996
                                                            ----------------------------------------------
<S>                                                         <C>              <C>             <C>          
Cash flows from operating activities:
     Net income                                             $         9,106  $       12,282  $      10,610
     Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash
       provided by operating activities:
         Depreciation and amortization                                1,188           1,441          1,903
         Loss on disposal of equipment                                    -               1              -
         (Increase) decrease in:
              Accounts receivable                                       (15)            906             73
              Inventories                                               (76)            (55)          (121)
              Prepaid expenses                                           66              18            (53)
         (Decrease) increase in accounts payable
           and accrued expenses                                        (705)         (1,370)           835
                                                            ----------------------------------------------

                  Net cash provided by
                  operating activities                                9,564          13,223         13,247
                                                            ----------------------------------------------

Cash flows from investing activities:
     Purchase of property, plant and equipment                         (310)         (3,106)        (5,125)
     Decrease (increase) in other assets                                  -              61            (21)
                                                            ----------------------------------------------

                  Net cash used in
                  investing activities                                 (310)         (3,045)        (5,146)
                                                            ----------------------------------------------

Cash flows from financing activities:
     Payments on long-term debt                                           -               -         (1,903)
     Distributions to joint venture
       participants                                                 (10,000)        (10,000)        (5,000)
                                                            ----------------------------------------------

                  Net cash used in
                  financing activities                              (10,000)        (10,000)        (6,903)
                                                            ----------------------------------------------

                  Net (decrease) increase in cash                      (746)            178          1,198

Cash, beginning of year                                               2,929           2,751          1,553
                                                            ----------------------------------------------

Cash, end of year                                           $         2,183  $        2,929  $       2,751
                                                            ----------------------------------------------



- - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
See accompanying notes to financial statements.
                                                                                                         4
</TABLE>
<PAGE>


                                                                  CYANCO COMPANY
                                                   Notes to Financial Statements

                                                      December 31, 1998 and 1997
- - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 1.  Organization and Significant Accounting Policies

Organization
Cyanco  Company  (the  Company)  is the owner and  operator  of a liquid  sodium
cyanide manufacturing  facility located in Humboldt County,  Nevada. The Company
operates within the mining industry.

The Company is a non-corporate  joint venture.  Nevada  Chemicals,  Inc. (Nevada
Chemicals),   a  wholly-owned   subsidiary  of  Mining  Services   International
Corporation  (MSI) owns a 50 percent interest in the joint venture,  and Degussa
Corporation (Degussa) owns a 50 percent interest in the joint venture.


The joint venture  agreement  also provides that each party has a first right of
refusal to purchase the other party's interest in the event of withdrawal of one
of the parties.


Cash Equivalents
For  purposes  of the  statement  of cash  flows,  cash  includes  all  cash and
investments with original maturities to the Company of three months or less.


Inventories
Inventories are recorded at the lower of cost or market,  cost being  determined
on a first-in, first-out (FIFO) method.


Property, Plant and Equipment
Property,   plant  and  equipment  are  recorded  at  cost,   less   accumulated
depreciation.  Depreciation  on property,  plant and  equipment,  other than the
sodium  cyanide plant,  is determined  using the  straight-line  method over the
estimated  useful  lives of the  assets  which  range  from  three to ten years.
Depreciation   on  the   sodium   cyanide   plant  is   determined   using   the
units-of-production   method.  Expenditures  for  maintenance  and  repairs  are
expensed when incurred and betterments are capitalized. Gains and losses on sale
of property, plant and equipment are reflected in current operations.


Other Assets
Included in other  assets are  amounts  relating to a payment for the license of
certain  technology  and  deferred  costs  associated  with the  sodium  cyanide
manufacturing  facility.  Amortization  of these costs is  determined  using the
units-of-production  method.  Amortization  expense of other assets  totaled (in
thousands) $29, $47, and $83, in 1998, 1997 and 1996, respectively.

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



                                                                               5

<PAGE>


                                                                  CYANCO COMPANY
                                                   Notes to Financial Statements
                                                                       Continued

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



 1.  Organization and Significant Accounting Policies
     Continued

Revenue Recognition
Revenue is recognized upon shipment of the product.

Income Taxes
The joint  venture is not subject to federal  income  taxes since all income tax
effects accrue directly to the joint venture participants.

Concentration of Credit Risk
Financial  instruments which potentially subject the Company to concentration of
credit risk consist  primarily  of trade  receivables.  In the normal  course of
business, the Company provides credit terms to its customers.  The Company has a
distribution  agreement with Degussa,  which  requires  Degussa to indemnify the
Company against any credit risk from receivables.


The Company  maintains its cash in bank deposit  accounts which,  at times,  may
exceed federally  insured limits.  The Company has not experienced any losses in
such  account and believes it is not exposed to any  significant  credit risk on
cash and cash equivalents.


The  Company's  customer  base  consists  primarily  of mining  companies in the
Western  United  States.  Although  the  Company  is  directly  affected  by the
well-being  of the mining  industry,  management  does not  believe  significant
credit risk exists at December 31, 1998


Use of Estimates in the  Preparation of Financial  Statements The preparation of
financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles
requires  management to make estimates and assumptions  that affect the reported
amounts  of assets and  liabilities  and  disclosure  of  contingent  assets and
liabilities at the date of the financial  statements and the reported amounts of
revenues and expenses during the reporting  period.  Actual results could differ
from those estimates.


Reclassification
Certain amounts in the prior years financial  statements have been  reclassified
to conform with the current year presentation.



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



                                                                               6

<PAGE>


                                                                  CYANCO COMPANY
                                                   Notes to Financial Statements
                                                                       Continued

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



2.   Detail of Certain Balance Sheet Accounts

                                                        December 31,
                                            ------------------------------------
                                                   1998              1997
                                            ------------------------------------
Accounts receivable (in thousands):
     Trade receivables                      $            2,436  $         2,424

     Less allowance for doubtful
       accounts                                              -               (3)
                                            ------------------------------------

                                            $            2,436  $         2,421
                                            ------------------------------------




Inventories (in thousands):
     Raw materials                          $              822  $           741
     Finished goods                                        192              197
                                            ------------------------------------

                                            $            1,014  $           938
                                            ------------------------------------




Accounts payable and accrued expenses (in thousands):
     Trade payables                         $            1,050  $         1,738
     Accrued expenses                                       70             303
     Due to joint venture participants                     278              62
                                            ------------------------------------

                                            $            1,398  $         2,103
                                            ------------------------------------






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



                                                                               7

<PAGE>


                                                                  CYANCO COMPANY
                                                   Notes to Financial Statements
                                                                       Continued

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



3.   Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, plant and equipment is comprised of the following (in thousands):


                                                   December 31,
                                        -----------------------------------
                                               1998             1997
                                        -----------------------------------

Plant                                   $           25,438  $        24,190
Machinery and equipment                              1,702            1,610
Land                                                   463              463
Vehicles                                               286              220
Office equipment and fixtures                          186              158
Construction in progress                                17            1,141
                                        -----------------------------------

                                                    28,092           27,782

Less accumulated depreciation
 and amortization                                   (8,978)          (7,819)
                                        -----------------------------------

                                        $           19,114  $        19,963
                                        -----------------------------------



4.   Bank Line-of-Credit

The  Company has a bank  line-of-credit  agreement  which  allows the Company to
borrow a maximum  amount of  $7,000,000  at an interest rate equal to the bank's
LIBOR  plus .5%.  The  line-of-credit  matures  on July 8,  1999,  is secured by
guarantees  from Degussa and MSI and had no outstanding  balance at December 31,
1998 and 1997.

5.   Deferred Royalty

The Company has a royalty agreement which calls for the Company to pay a royalty
on the first 28,000,000 pounds of sodium cyanide produced in the original plant.
The  royalty is  computed  as  one-half  cent per pound for each pound of sodium
cyanide sold on annual gross sales above  $12,500,000 and less than  $15,000,000
and one cent per pound for each  pound of sodium  cyanide  sold on annual  gross
sales  above  $15,000,000.  The  Company  has the option to buy out the  royalty
agreement  at any  time  for  $2,500,000  (the  initial  amount  of the  royalty
agreement) less royalties previously paid. The Company's joint venture agreement
provides  for  payments  made under the  royalty  agreement  to be  specifically
allocated  to Nevada  Chemicals  as a  reduction  of their  allocable  income or
distribution of assets upon dissolution or sale of the Company.

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



                                                                               8

<PAGE>


                                                                  CYANCO COMPANY
                                                   Notes to Financial Statements
                                                                       Continued

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



5.   Deferred Royalty
     continued

No amount is due under  this  agreement  for 1998.  The  amount  due under  this
agreement for the 1997  production was  approximately  $21,000 which was paid in
1998 by Nevada Chemicals.



6.   Related Party Transactions

Related party transactions consist of the following (in thousands):


                                             Years Ended December 31,
                                  ----------------------------------------------
                                       1998           1997            1996
                                  ----------------------------------------------

Sales to a joint venture
partner (see note 7)              $        27,141  $      31,596  $       31,181

Raw materials purchased
from a joint venture partner      $             -  $         568  $        2,443

Management fees, cost
reimbursements and other
fees paid to the joint venture
 partners included in selling,
 general and administrative
expenses                          $           820  $         948  $          951

Amounts payable to a joint
venture partner included in
accounts payable                  $            70  $          62  $           87

Lease payment to a joint
venture partner                   $            53  $          62  $           18



7.   Distribution Agreement

The Company has entered  into an  agreement  with  Degussa  which  provides  for
Degussa to act as the exclusive  (with certain  exceptions)  distributor  of the
Company's products.


Consequently,  substantially all of the Company's revenues and trade receivables
are from Degussa.  The agreement expires on May 23, 2000, but may be renewed for
subsequent terms subject to approval of both of the joint venture partners.

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



                                                                               9

<PAGE>


                                                                  CYANCO COMPANY
                                                   Notes to Financial Statements
                                                                       Continued

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


8.   Profit Sharing Plan

The  Company  has  adopted a defined  contribution  profit  sharing  plan  which
qualifies  under Section 401(K) of the Internal  Revenue Code. The plan provides
retirement benefits for employees meeting minimum age and service  requirements.
Participants  may  contribute up to 20 percent of their gross wages,  subject to
certain limitations.  The Company made contributions of (in thousands) $28, $33,
and $29, during 1998, 1997 and 1996, respectively.


9.   Supplemental Cash Flow Information


                                             Years Ended December 31,
                                  ----------------------------------------------
                                       1998           1997            1996
                                  ----------------------------------------------

Amounts paid for interest
(in thousands)                    $           -  $          -  $             79
                                  ----------------------------------------------

During the years  ended  December  31, 1998 and 1996,  the  Company  reduced its
deferred  royalty and increased its joint venture  capital for royalty  payments
made by Nevada Chemicals Inc., of (in thousands) $21 and $33, respectively.


10.  Fair Value of Financial Instruments

None of the Company's financial  instruments are held for trading purposes.  The
Company  estimates that the fair value of all financial  instruments at December
31, 1998, does not differ  materially from the aggregate  carrying values of its
financial  instruments recorded in the accompanying balance sheet. The estimated
fair value amounts have been  determined by the company using  available  market
information and appropriate valuation  methodologies.  Considerable judgement is
necessarily  required in  interpreting  market data to develop the  estimates of
fair value, and,  accordingly,  the estimates are not necessarily  indicative of
the amounts that the Company could realize in a current market exchange.

11.  Commitments and Contingencies

The Company  provides  medical  benefits for its employees under a plan which is
partially self-funded by the Company.

The Company has entered into long-term transportation agreements for natural gas
to its plant. The terms of these agreements  provide for the supplier to provide
natural gas to the plant site and for the Company to  purchase  certain  minimum
quantities  of such gas per  year.  The term of the  agreement  is for ten years
beginning in February 1990.

- - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                              10




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