KV PHARMACEUTICAL CO /DE/
S-3, 1999-11-05
PHARMACEUTICAL PREPARATIONS
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    As Filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 5, 1999
                                               Registration No. 333-
================================================================================

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549
                          -----------------------------
                                    FORM S-3
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                      Under
                           The Securities Act of 1933
                          -----------------------------

                           K-V PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANY
             (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

        Delaware                                            43-0618919
(State or Other Jurisdiction of                  (I.R.S. Employer Identification
Incorporation or Organization)                    Number)

                2503 South Hanley Road, St. Louis, Missouri 63144
                                 (314) 645-6600
    (Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, Including Area Code,
                  of Registrant's Principal Executive Offices)

                             Frank M. D'Amore, Esq.
                       Vice President and General Counsel
                2503 South Hanley Road, St. Louis, Missouri 63144
                                 (314) 645-6600
            (Name, Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number,
                   Including Area Code, of Agent For Service)

                        Copies of all correspondence to:
                               John P. Walsh, Esq.
                         Gallop, Johnson & Neuman, L.C.
                        101 South Hanley Road, 16th Floor
                            St. Louis, Missouri 63105
                                 (314) 862-1200

         Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to public: As soon as
practicable after this Registration Statement becomes effective.

         If the only securities  being registered on this form are being offered
pursuant to dividend or interest  reinvestment plans, please check the following
box. |_|

         If any of the  securities  being  registered  on  this  form  are to be
offered  on a  delayed  or  continuous  basis  pursuant  to Rule 415  under  the
Securities Act of 1933,  other than  securities  offered only in connection with
dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box. |X|

         If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering
pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the  Securities  Act,  check the following box and
list the Securities Act registration  statement number of the earlier  effective
registration statement for the same offering.|_|

         If this  Form is a  post-effective  amendment  filed  pursuant  to Rule
462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities
Act  registration   statement  number  of  the  earlier  effective  registration
statement for the same offering. |_|

         If delivery of the  prospectus  is expected to be made pursuant to Rule
434, please check the following box. |_|

                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                      Proposed        Proposed
Title of each class      Amount        maximum         maximum         Amount of
of securities to be      to be      offering price    Aggregate     registration
registered             Registered    per share(1)   offering price       fee
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class A common stock,   259,110        $17.00         $ 4,404,870     $   1,225
$.01 par value
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

(1)      Estimated  solely for the purpose of calculating the  registration  fee
         pursuant to Rule 457(c) based on the average of the high and low prices
         on October 29, 1999 as reported by the New York Stock Exchange.

<PAGE>

         The Registrant hereby amends this  Registration  Statement on such date
or dates as may be necessary to delay its  effective  date until the  Registrant
shall file a further amendment which specifically  states that this Registration
Statement shall  thereafter  become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of
the  Securities  Act of 1933, as amended,  or until the  Registration  Statement
shall become  effective on such date as the Commission,  acting pursuant to said
Section 8(a), may determine.
================================================================================
<PAGE>


                  SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED NOVEMBER 5, 1999


                                 259,110 Shares


                           K-V PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANY

                              Class A Common Stock


         The stockholder named in the Section entitled "Selling  Stockholder" is
offering  up to  259,110  shares of Class A common  stock of K-V  Pharmaceutical
Company.

         Our Class A common stock is quoted on the New York Stock Exchange under
the symbol  "KV.A." On November 4, 1999,  the last  reported  sale price for the
Class A common stock on the New York Stock Exchange was $19.25 per share.

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

              Investing in the Class A common stock involves risk.
                     See "Risk Factors" beginning on page 2.

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

         We will not  receive  any  proceeds  from the sale of the  shares.  The
selling  stockholder  may sell the shares in  transactions on the New York Stock
Exchange, in negotiated  transactions or otherwise,  at market prices prevailing
at  the  time  of the  sale  or at  negotiated  or  fixed  prices.  The  selling
stockholder  may  sell  some  or all of its  shares  in  transactions  involving
broker-dealers,  who may  act  either  as  agent  or  principal.  To the  extent
required,  the  aggregate  amount of Class A common stock being  offered and the
terms of the offering,  the names of any agents, dealers or underwriters and any
applicable commission or discount with respect to a particular offer will be set
forth in an accompanying  prospectus  supplement.  The aggregate proceeds to the
selling  stockholder  from the  sale of the  Class A  common  stock  will be the
selling  price of the  Class A common  stock  sold  less the  aggregate  agents'
commissions  and underwriter  discounts,  if any, and other expenses of issuance
and distribution. See "Selling Stockholder" and "Plan of Distribution."

         Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any other regulatory
body has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the adequacy
or accuracy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal
offense.

                 The date of this Prospectus is __________, 1999

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

The  information  in this  prospectus  is not complete  and may be changed.  The
selling  stockholder  may not  sell  these  securities  until  the  registration
statement filed with the Securities and Exchange  Commission is effective.  This
prospectus is not an offer to sell these  securities and it is not soliciting an
offer to buy  these  securities  in any  state  where  the  offer or sale is not
permitted.

                              --------------------
<PAGE>

                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

                                                                           Page
                                                                           ----
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information................   ii
Prospectus Summary........................................................    1
Risk Factors..............................................................    2
Use of Proceeds...........................................................    6
Selling Stockholder.......................................................    6
Plan of Distribution......................................................    6
Legal Matters.............................................................    6
Experts...................................................................    7
How to Get Additional Information.........................................    7
Information Incorporated by Reference.....................................    7

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

           CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

         This prospectus contains forward-looking  statements that involve risks
and  uncertainties,  some of which are beyond our control.  We use words such as
"anticipates,"  "believes,"  "plans," "expects," "future," "intends" and similar
expressions  to identify  forward-looking  statements.  Our actual results could
differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking  statements as a
result of any number of factors and possible events,  including, but not limited
to, the risks  highlighted  in the section  entitled  "Risk  Factors" as well as
those  discussed  elsewhere in this  prospectus  and any documents  incorporated
herein by reference.  You should not place a lot of weight on these  statements.
These  statements  speak only as of the date of this document or, in the case of
any  document  incorporated  by  reference,  the  date  of  that  document.  All
subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to us or any
person acting on our behalf are qualified by the  cautionary  statements in this
section. We expressly disclaim any obligation or undertaking to release publicly
any updates or revisions to any  forward-looking  statement  contained within or
incorporated  by  reference  in this  prospectus  to  reflect  any change in our
expectations  with regard to those  forward-looking  statements or any change in
events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.

<PAGE>

                               PROSPECTUS SUMMARY

         This  summary  highlights  selected  information  about  us and may not
contain all of the information  that is important to you. The other  information
is important, so please read carefully this entire prospectus, together with the
more detailed  information about us, the Class A common stock being sold and our
financial  statements and the notes thereto incorporated into this prospectus by
reference.  Generally,  when we use the words "we," "our," "us" or the "Company"
we are referring to K-V Pharmaceutical Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries
ETHEX Corporation,  Ther-Rx  Corporation,  Particle Dynamics,  Inc. and DrugTech
Corporation.

Our Company

         Our  Company is a  specialty  pharmaceutical  company  which  acquires,
internally develops and markets brand name and generic prescription products for
many  therapeutic  areas,   including   cardiovascular,   women's  health,  pain
management  and  respiratory.  We are a  pioneer  in the  use of  advanced  drug
delivery technologies,  and most of our products incorporate technology from our
proprietary drug delivery systems. We have developed and patented a wide variety
of drug delivery and  formulation  technologies,  including four oral controlled
release, eight oral and topical site-specific,  three tastemasking and one quick
dissolving  tablet  systems.  We use these  systems  in the  development  of the
products  we market to improve  and  control  the human  body's  absorption  and
utilization of the active pharmaceutical compounds. This allows the compounds to
be administered less frequently with potentially reduced side effects,  improved
drug efficacy and/or enhanced patient compliance.

         Our  business is  currently  organized  into three  principal  business
units,  including Ther-Rx  Corporation for brand name  pharmaceutical  products,
ETHEX  Corporation for specialty  generic  pharmaceutical  products and Particle
Dynamics, Inc. for value-added raw materials.

         Our principal  executive offices are located at 2503 South Hanley Road,
St. Louis, Missouri 63144, and our phone number is (314) 645-6600.

The Offering

Class A common stock offered by
the selling stockholder................ Up to 259,110 shares

Use of Proceeds........................ We will not receive  any of the proceeds
                                        of the offering.

Risk Factors........................... See  "Risk Factors" for a  discussion of
                                        factors  you  should carefully  consider
                                        before  deciding to invest in shares  of
                                        our Class A common stock.

Dividend Policy........................ We   historically  have  not  paid  cash
                                        dividends on our common stock and do not
                                        plan to do so in the near future.

New York Stock Exchange symbols:
           Class A common stock........ KV.A
           Class B common stock........ KV.B


<PAGE>

                                  RISK FACTORS

         Before you buy our Class A common  stock,  you should  know that making
such an investment involves some risks, including the risks described below. The
risks  that we  have  highlighted  here  are not the  only  ones  that we  face.
Additional risks presently unknown to us or that we currently  consider unlikely
to occur could also affect our operations.

         If any of the risks actually occur, our business,  financial  condition
or results of operations could be negatively affected. In that case, the trading
price  of our  stock  could  decline,  and  you  may  lose  all or  part of your
investment.

Our Future Acquisitions May Not Be Successful

         We intend to  acquire  pharmaceutical  products,  novel  drug  delivery
technologies  and/or  companies  that  fit  into  our  research,  manufacturing,
distribution  or sales and  marketing  operations  or that could provide us with
additional products,  technologies or sales and marketing  capabilities.  We may
not be able to  successfully  identify,  evaluate and acquire any such products,
technologies  or companies or, if acquired,  we may not be able to  successfully
integrate such  acquisitions  into our business.  In March 1999, we acquired the
Micro-K(R)  product  line  from  the  Wyeth-Ayerst  division  of  American  Home
Products.  In August 1999, we acquired the Precare(R) product line from UCB PHIP
Inc. and UCB Pharma, Inc. Our sales personnel have little experience with either
of these products. As a result, there is a risk we will be unable to achieve our
sales objectives for either product.

Our Industry Is Susceptible to Product Related Liabilities

         Like all pharmaceutical  companies, we face the risk of loss related to
the use of products we market from such  actions as lawsuits.  We cannot  assure
you that we can avoid such claims.  We cannot be sure that our product liability
insurance  will  be  adequate  to  cover  claims  or that we will be able to get
adequate  insurance  coverage in the future at  acceptable  costs.  A successful
product  liability  claim in  excess of our  coverage  could  require  us to pay
substantial sums.

We May Be  Adversely Affected by Changes  in Third Party Reimbursement Practices
and Related Pricing Pressures

         The market for our  products  may be limited by actions of third  party
payors,  such as  government  and  private  health  insurers  and  managed  care
organizations.  For example,  many  managed  health care  organizations  are now
controlling  the  pharmaceuticals  that  appear on their  lists of  reimbursable
medications.  The resulting competition among pharmaceutical  companies to place
their products on these formulary lists has created a trend of downward  pricing
pressure in the  industry.  In addition,  many managed  care  organizations  are
pursuing  various  ways to  reduce  pharmaceutical  costs  and  are  considering
formulary contracts primarily with those pharmaceutical companies that can offer
a full line of  products  for a given  therapy  sector  or  disease  state.  Our
products  might  not  be  included  in  the  formulary  lists  of  managed  care
organizations.  Also,  downward pricing  pressure in the industry  generally may
negatively impact our results of operations.

         Further,  a number of  legislative  and regulatory  proposals  aimed at
changing the health care system have been proposed.  We cannot  predict  whether
any such  proposals will be adopted or the effect such proposals may have on our
business.  The  fact  that  such  proposals  are  pending,  the  nature  of such
proposals, and the adoption of any proposal are likely to increase industry-wide
pricing pressures.

We Need to Develop New Products

         To  maintain  ETHEX's  growth we will  need to  identify,  develop  and
commercialize technologically distinguished brand name drugs that are either off
patent or approaching  patent expiration and that can be produced and sold by us
using our drug delivery technologies.  If we are unable to identify, develop and
commercialize new products, we will need to license additional rights to generic
products, which could decrease our gross margins.

We May Not Be Able to Commercialize Products Under Development

         We  are   developing   numerous   products   using  our  drug  delivery
technologies. These products will require significant additional development and
investment,  including preclinical and clinical testing where required, prior to
their  commercialization.  We  expect  that  many of the  products  will  not be
commercially available for several years, if at all. We cannot be sure that such
products or future products will:

          o   be successfully developed;

          o   prove to be safe and effective in clinical trials (if required);

          o   meet applicable regulatory standards; or

          o   be  capable of  being  manufactured  in  commercial quantities  at
              reasonable cost.

<PAGE>

Our Business Is Subject to Extensive Government Regulation

         Our   business  is  subject  to   extensive   regulation   by  numerous
governmental authorities in the United States and other countries,  particularly
the  United  States  Food  and  Drug  Administration.  Failure  to  comply  with
applicable  FDA  or  other  regulatory   requirements  may  result  in  criminal
prosecution, civil penalties,  injunctions, recall or seizure of products, total
or partial suspension of production,  as well as other regulatory action against
our products and us.

         We market  certain  drug  products  in the United  States  without  FDA
approval  under  certain  "grandfather"  clauses and  statutory  and  regulatory
exceptions  to the  pre-market  approval  requirement  for "new drugs" under the
Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. These provisions exempt certain  categories
of drugs  from some or all  pre-market  approval  requirements  or apply to drug
products that fall outside the legal definition of a "new drug." A determination
as to whether a  particular  product  does or does not  require  FDA  pre-market
review and approval can involve  consideration of numerous complex and imprecise
factors. If a determination is made by the FDA that any product marketed without
approval  requires  pre-market  approval,  the  FDA  may  institute  enforcement
actions,  including product seizure,  or an action seeking an injunction against
further  marketing.  As a consequence  of such actions,  we could be required or
could decide to cease  distribution of a product until such pre-market  approval
is obtained. In addition, we may not be able to obtain any such approval or such
approvals may not be obtained on a timely basis.  The FDA also has the authority
to revoke for cause drug approvals previously granted.

         In addition to  compliance  with current Good  Manufacturing  Practices
requirements,  drug manufacturers must register each manufacturing facility with
the FDA.  Manufacturers  also  must be  registered  with  the  Drug  Enforcement
Administration and similar state and local regulatory authorities if they handle
controlled substances,  and with the Environmental Protection Agency and similar
state and local  regulatory  authorities  if they  generate  toxic or  dangerous
wastes. KV is currently in material compliance with Good Manufacturing Practices
and is registered with the appropriate  agencies.  Noncompliance with applicable
Good Manufacturing  Practices requirements or the rules and regulations of these
agencies can result in fines,  recall or seizure of  products,  total or partial
suspension of production and/or distribution,  refusal of government agencies to
approve pre-market approval or other applications and criminal prosecution.

Our Industry Is Competitive

         Numerous pharmaceutical  companies are involved or becoming involved in
the development and  commercialization of products  incorporating  advanced drug
delivery  systems.  Such  business is highly  competitive,  and we believe  that
competition  will  substantially  increase  in the future.  Many  pharmaceutical
companies have invested, and are continuing to invest,  significant resources in
the  development  of proprietary  drug delivery  systems.  In addition,  several
companies have been formed to develop specific  advanced drug delivery  systems.
Many of these  pharmaceutical  and other companies who may develop drug delivery
systems have greater  financial,  research and  development  and other resources
than we do, as well as more  experience in  commercializing  pharmaceutical  and
drug delivery  products.  Such  companies may develop  products using their drug
delivery  systems more rapidly than we do or develop drug delivery  systems that
are more  effective  than  ours and thus  may  represent  significant  potential
competitors.

         The Company's generic pharmaceutical business is subject to competitive
pressures  from a number of  companies,  some of which  have  greater  financial
resources and broader  product lines.  Competition is generally on price,  which
can have an adverse effect on profitability as falling prices erode margins.  In
addition,   the  continuing   consolidation  of  the  customer  base  (wholesale
distributors  and retail drug chains)  will  increase  competition  as suppliers
compete  for  fewer  customers.   Consolidation  of  competitors  will  increase
competitive  pressures as larger  suppliers are able to offer a broader  product
line.

         The  Company's  branded  pharmaceutical  business  is also  subject  to
competition from larger companies,  with greater financial  resources,  that can
support a larger  sales  force.  The  ability  of a sales  force to  compete  is
affected by the number of physician calls it can make which is directly  related
to its size,  the  brand  name  recognition  it has in the  marketplace  and its
advertising and promotional  efforts.  The Company is in the start-up phase with
its branded sales initiative and could be adversely effected by competition from
companies with a larger, more established sales force.

Our Industry Experiences Rapid Technological Change

         The drug delivery  industry is a rapidly  evolving  field.  A number of
companies,   including  major  pharmaceutical   companies,  are  developing  and
marketing  advanced  delivery  systems  for the  controlled  delivery  of drugs.
Products currently on the market or under development by competitors deliver the
same  drugs,  or  other  drugs to treat  the  same  indications,  as many of the
products  we  market or are  developing.  The first  pharmaceutical  generic  or
branded  product to reach the market in a  therapeutic  area often  obtains  and
maintains significant market share relative to later entrants to the market. Our
products also compete with drugs marketed not only in similar  delivery  systems
but also in traditional  dosage forms. New drugs, new therapeutic  approaches or
future  developments  in  alternative  drug  delivery  technologies  may provide
advantages over the drug delivery  systems and products that we are marketing or
have developed.

         Changes  in  drug   delivery   technology   will  require   substantial
investments by companies to maintain their competitive  position and may provide
opportunities  for new  competitors to enter the industry.  We cannot assure you
that  developments by others will not render our drug delivery products or other
technologies  uncompetitive  or  obsolete.  If others  develop  drugs  which are
cheaper or more  effective or which are first to market,  sales or prices of our
products could decline.

We Depend on Our Patents and Proprietary Rights

         Our  success  depends,  in large  part,  on our  ability to protect our
current and future  technologies  and  products  and to defend our  intellectual
property rights. We have been issued numerous patents covering our technologies,
and have filed, and expect to continue to file, patent  applications  seeking to
protect newly developed  technologies and products.  Patent  applications in the
United  States  are  maintained  in secrecy  until the  patent is issued.  Since
publication  of  discoveries  in the  scientific or patent  literature  tends to
follow actual discovery by several months, we cannot be certain that we were the
first to file patent  applications on such  discoveries.  We cannot be sure that
patents  will issue with respect to any of our patent  applications  or that any
existing or future patents issued to or licensed by us will provide  competitive
advantages  for  our  products  or  will  not  be  challenged,   invalidated  or
circumvented  by  competitors.   We  also  rely  on  trade  secrets,  unpatented
proprietary  know-how and continuing  technological  innovation  that we seek to
protect, in  part  by  confidentiality  agreements  with  licensees,  suppliers,
employees and  consultants.  We cannot assure that these  agreements will not be
breached.  We also cannot be certain that we will have adequate remedies for any
breach.  Disputes may arise concerning the ownership of intellectual property or
the applicability of confidentiality  agreements.  Furthermore we cannot be sure
that our trade secrets and  proprietary  technology  will not  otherwise  become
known or be  independently  developed by our  competitors or, if patents are not
issued with respect to products  arising from research,  that we will be able to
maintain the confidentiality of information relating to such products.

Third Parties May Claim That We Infringe on Their Proprietary Rights

         We may be required to defend against  charges of infringement of patent
or proprietary rights of third parties.  This is especially true with respect to
the sale of the generic  version of products  on which the patent  covering  the
branded product is expiring, an area where infringement litigation is prevalent.
Such  defense  could  require  us to incur  substantial  expense  and to  divert
significant effort of our technical and management  personnel,  and could result
in our loss of rights to develop or make  certain  products or require us to pay
monetary damages or royalties to license  proprietary rights from third parties.
Although patent and intellectual property disputes in the pharmaceutical product
area have often been settled through  licensing or similar  arrangements,  costs
associated with such  arrangements  may be substantial and could include ongoing
royalties.  Furthermore,  we cannot be certain that the necessary licenses would
be available to us on terms we believe to be acceptable. Accordingly, an adverse
determination  in a judicial or  administrative  proceeding or failure to obtain
necessary  licenses could prevent us from  manufacturing  and selling certain of
our products.

Management Stockholders Control Our Company

         As  of  September  30,  1999,  our  directors  and  executive  officers
beneficially   owned   approximately  25%  of  our  Class  A  common  stock  and
approximately 57% of our Class B common stock, respectively.  As a result, these
persons controlled approximately 54% of the combined voting power represented by
our  securities.  These  persons  will retain  effective  voting  control of the
Company  and will  continue  to have the ability to  effectively  determine  the
outcome of any matter being voted on by our stockholders, including the election
of  directors  and any merger,  sale of assets or other change in control of the
Company.

We Have Enacted Charter Provisions That May Have Anti-Takeover Effects

         Our  Certificate  of  Incorporation  authorizes  the issuance of common
stock in two classes,  Class A common stock and Class B common stock. Each share
of Class A common stock entitles the holder to one-twentieth  (1/20) vote on all
matters  to be voted  upon by  stockholders,  while each share of Class B common
stock  entitles  the holder to one full vote on each  matter  considered  by the
stockholders.  In addition,  our directors have the authority to issue shares of
preferred stock and to determine the price, rights, preferences,  privileges and
restrictions  of  those  shares  without  any  further  vote  or  action  by the
stockholders.  The rights of the holders of common stock will be subject to, and
may be adversely  affected by, the rights of the holders of any preferred  stock
that may be issued in the future.  The  existence of two classes of common stock
with  different  voting  rights  and  the  ability  of our  directors  to  issue
additional  shares of  preferred  stock  could have the effect of making it more
difficult  for a third  party to acquire a majority of our voting  stock.  Other
provisions of our  Certificate of  Incorporation  and Bylaws,  such as staggered
directorships, also may have the effect of discouraging,  delaying or preventing
a merger,  tender offer or proxy contest,  which could have an adverse effect on
the market price of the Class A common stock.

<PAGE>

The Market Price of Our Stock Has Been and May Continue to Be Volatile

         The market prices of securities of companies  engaged in pharmaceutical
development and marketing activities  historically have been highly volatile. In
addition,  any or all of the  following  may have a  significant  impact  on the
market price of the Class A common stock:

         o  announcements of technological innovations or new commercial
            products;

         o  delays in the development or approval of products;

         o  developments or disputes concerning patent or proprietary rights;

         o  publicity regarding actual or potential medical results relating to
            products under development;

         o  regulatory developments in both the United States and foreign
            countries;

         o  publicity regarding actual or potential acquisitions;

         o  public concern as to the safety of drug technologies; and

         o  economic and other external factors, as well as period to period
            fluctuations in financial results.

We May Be Unable to Manage Our Growth

         Recently,   our   businesses   and   product   offerings   have   grown
substantially.  This  growth and  expansion  have  placed,  and is  expected  to
continue to place,  a  significant  strain on our  management,  operational  and
financial  resources.  To manage our growth,  we must (1) continue to expand our
operational,  customer support and financial control systems and (2) hire, train
and retain qualified personnel.

We May Have Future Capital Needs

         We anticipate that the funds generated  internally  together with funds
available under our credit facility will be sufficient to implement our business
plan for the foreseeable  future,  subject to such additional needs as may arise
if acquisition  opportunities become available. We could need additional capital
if unexpected events occur or opportunities arise. Such additional capital might
be raised through our public or private sale of debt or equity securities. If we
sell equity securities,  your percentage  ownership of the Company will decrease
and you could  experience  dilution.  Furthermore,  such  securities  could have
rights,  preferences  and  privileges  more  favorable than those of the Class A
common stock. We cannot assure you that additional funding will be available, or
available on terms favorable to us. If the funding is not available,  we may not
be able to fund our expansion,  take advantage of acquisition  opportunities  or
respond to competitive pressures.

Our New Products May Not Pass Testing Procedures

         Some of our new  products  will  require  FDA  approval.  FDA  approval
typically involves lengthy,  detailed and costly laboratory and clinical testing
procedures.  We cannot be certain  that the products we are  developing  will be
determined to be safe and effective in these testing procedures.

Our Computer Systems, and Those  of Others on Whom We Rely, May Not Achieve Year
2000 Readiness

         We are working to resolve the potential  impact of the year 2000 on the
ability of the  computerized  information  systems we use to process  accurately
information  that may be  date-sensitive.  Any of the programs we or our vendors
use that  recognize a date using "00" as the year 1900 rather than the year 2000
could  result in errors or system  failures.  This  could  require us to curtail
operations pending resolution of the problem. We believe our principal risk lies
in the  potential  inability  of our outside  vendors and service  providers  to
process date-sensitive information involving the year 2000.

                                 USE OF PROCEEDS

         We will not  receive  any  proceeds  from  the  offering.  The  selling
stockholder  will receive all the proceeds  from the  offering.  We will pay all
expenses  incurred in connection with the offering other than any commissions or
discounts paid or allowed by the selling stockholder to any dealers or brokers.

                               SELLING STOCKHOLDER

         The selling stockholder is UCB PHIP, Inc., which holds, as of September
30,  1999,  259,110  shares of Class A common  stock.  The  selling  stockholder
acquired  these shares in  connection  with our  acquisition  of the  Precare(R)
product line from the selling  stockholder and UCB Pharma, Inc. Assuming all the
shares offered hereby are sold, the selling stockholder will not hold any shares
of Class A common stock after completion of this offering.

<PAGE>

                              PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

         The 259,110  shares of Class A common  stock  offered  pursuant to this
prospectus are being offered for the account of the selling stockholder.

         The selling  stockholder  may sell the shares being  offered  hereby in
transactions  on the New York Stock  Exchange,  in  negotiated  transactions  or
otherwise,  at market prices prevailing at the time of the sale or at negotiated
fixed  prices.  The  selling  stockholder  may sell some or all of its shares in
transactions involving broker-dealers, who may act either as agent or principal,
and who may  receive  compensation  in the  form of  discounts,  commissions  or
concessions  from the selling  stockholder  or the  purchaser of shares for whom
such broker-dealers act as agent or to whom they sell as principal, or both.

         We have advised the selling  stockholder  of its  obligation  under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended,  to deliver copies of this prospectus to the
purchaser of shares of Class A common stock.  At the time a particular  offering
of the Class A common stock is made hereunder,  to the extent required by law, a
prospectus  supplement  will be  distributed  which will set forth the aggregate
number of shares of Class A common stock being offered and the material terms of
the  offering,  including  the  name or names of any  underwriters,  dealers  or
agents, the purchase price to be paid by any underwriter or dealer for the Class
A common  stock being  purchased,  any  discounts,  commissions  and other items
constituting  compensation  from  the  selling  stockholder  and any  discounts,
commissions  or  concessions  allowed or reallowed  or paid to dealers,  and the
proposed selling price to the public.

         The selling  stockholder and any broker-dealers that participate in the
distribution  of the  shares  of  Class  A  common  stock  may be  deemed  to be
"underwriters"  within the  meaning of the  Securities  Act in  connection  with
sales,  and any  profit  on the sale of  shares  of Class A common  stock by the
selling  stockholder  and  any  fees  and  commissions   received  by  any  such
broker-dealers may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions.

                                 LEGAL MATTERS

         Our attorneys,  Gallop,  Johnson & Neuman,  L.C., St. Louis,  Missouri,
will  opine as to the  validity  of the  Class A common  stock  offered  by this
prospectus.

                                     EXPERTS

         The consolidated  financial statements of K-V Pharmaceutical Company as
of March 31, 1999 and 1998 and for each of the three  years in the period  ended
March 31, 1999,  incorporated by reference and in the registration  statement of
which this  prospectus  is a part,  have been  audited by BDO  Seidman,  L.L.P.,
independent  certified public accountants as set forth in their report dated May
14, 1999,  and are included in reliance on such report given upon the  authority
of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

                        HOW TO GET ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

         We file annual,  quarterly and special  reports,  proxy  statements and
other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  You can read and
obtain a copy of any document we file:

         o  At the  Public Reference  Room of  the SEC at 450 Fifth Street, Room
            1024, N.W.,  Washington,  D.C. 20549;

         o  At the public reference  facilities of the SEC's regional offices at
            Seven World  Trade Center, Suite 1300,  New York, New York 10048; or
            Citicorp  Center,  Suite 1400, 500  West  Madison  Street,  Chicago,
            Illinois 60661;

         o  At the offices of the New York Stock Exchange, 20 Broad Street,  New
            York, New York 10005; or

         o  From the SEC's web site at WWW.SEC.GOV.

         You may obtain  information  on the  operation of the Public  Reference
Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330.  The SEC's web site contains reports,
proxy  statements and other  information  about issuers,  including us, who file
electronically  with the SEC. Some of the locations described above may charge a
fee for copies.

         We  have  filed  with  the SEC a  registration  statement  on Form  S-3
(herein,  together  with  all  amendments  and  exhibits,  referred  to  as  the
"Registration Statement") under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, covering
the shares of Class A common stock  offered  hereby.  This  Prospectus  does not
contain all of the information set forth in the Registration Statement,  certain
parts of which are omitted in accordance  with the rules and  regulations of the
SEC. For further information, you should examine the Registration Statement that
can be obtained at the  locations  listed  above.  Statements  contained in this
prospectus  concerning  the contents of contracts  and other  documents  are not
necessarily  complete.  You should refer to the  contract or other  document for
additional information.

<PAGE>

                      INFORMATION INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

         The SEC permits us to "incorporate  by reference" the information  that
we have filed with it. This means that important  information,  not presented in
this  prospectus,  may be contained  elsewhere.  We incorporate by reference the
following  documents and any future  filings made with the SEC until the selling
stockholder  completes its offering of shares:

        o  Our Annual Report on  Form 10-K for the  fiscal year ended  March 31,
           1999;

        o  Our Quarterly  Report on Form 10-Q  for the fiscal quarter ended June
           30, 1999;

        o  Our Current Reports on Form 8-K and Form 8-K/A filed on April 5, 1999
           and June 4, 1999, respectively;

        o  Our  definitive  proxy  statement  for  the  1999  Annual Meeting  of
           Stockholders; and

        o  The  description of  our common stock set  forth in the  registration
           statement on Form 8-A filed on March 22, 1999.

         You  may  obtain  a copy of any or all  documents  referred  to  above,
without charge, by making a written or telephone request to Investor  Relations,
2503 South Hanley Road, St. Louis, Missouri 63144, telephone: (314) 645-6600.

<PAGE>


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


                                 259,110 Shares

                           K-V Pharmaceutical Company

                              Class A Common Stock

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

                                   PROSPECTUS

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


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

                              November _____, 1999

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


         You should rely only on information  contained in this  prospectus.  We
have  not  authorized  anyone  to  provide  you  with  information  or make  any
representation  about K-V Pharmaceutical  Company different from, or in addition
to, that contained in this prospectus. This prospectus does not offer to sell or
seek an offer to buy,  shares  of Class A common  stock in  jurisdictions  where
offers and sales are not permitted. The information contained in this prospectus
is accurate  only as of the date of this  prospectus,  regardless of the time of
delivery of this prospectus or of any sale of the Class A common stock.


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


<PAGE>

                                     PART II

                     INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

Item 14.  Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution

         The following table sets forth the estimated expenses of the Company in
connection with the issuance and distribution of the shares offered hereby*:

         SEC registration fee .............................        $      1,225
         Legal and accounting fees and expenses............              12,500
         Miscellaneous.....................................               1,000

                  Total....................................        $     14,725

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

*   The selling stockholder will pay any sale commissions incurred in connection
    with its sale of shares registered hereunder.

Item 15.  Indemnification of Directors and Officers

         Section  145 of the  General  Corporation  Law of the State of Delaware
permits  indemnification  by  a  corporation  of  certain  officers,  directors,
employees and agents.  Consistent therewith,  Article IX of the Company's Bylaws
requires that the Company  indemnify all persons whom it may indemnify  pursuant
thereto to the fullest extent permitted by Section 145. Article IX also provides
that  expenses  incurred  by an officer or director of the Company or any of its
direct or indirect  wholly-owned  subsidiaries  in defending a civil or criminal
action,  suit or proceeding  will be paid by the Company in advance of the final
disposition of such action, suit or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by
or on behalf of such officer,  director,  employee or agent to repay such amount
if it shall  ultimately be determined  that he is not entitled to be indemnified
by the Company as  authorized.  Such  expenses  incurred by other  employees and
agents may be so paid upon such terms and  conditions,  if any,  as the Board of
Directors deems appropriate.

         In addition,  Article 12 of the Company's  Certificate of Incorporation
provides  that  directors  of the  Company  shall not be  personally  liable for
monetary  damages to the Company or its  stockholders  for a breach of fiduciary
duty as a  director,  except  for  liability  as a result of (i) a breach of the
director's  duty of loyalty to the  Company  or its  stockholders;  (ii) acts or
omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing
violation  of law;  (iii) an act related to the  unlawful  stock  repurchase  or
payment of a dividend under Section 174 of Delaware General Corporation Law; and
(iv) transactions from which the director derived an improper personal benefit.

         The Company  maintains a policy of insurance  under which the directors
and  officers of the Company are  insured,  subject to the limits of the policy,
against  certain  losses  arising from claims made against  such  directors  and
officers by reason of any acts or omissions  covered  under such policy in their
respective capacities as directors or officers.

Item 16.  Exhibits

Exhibit
Number      Description
- ------      -----------

5(a)        Opinion of Gallop, Johnson & Neuman, L.C.

23(a)       Consent of BDO Seidman, L.L.P.

23(b)       Consent of Gallop, Johnson & Neuman, L.C. (included in Exhibit 5(a))

24(a)       Power of Attorney (set forth on signature page)


<PAGE>


Item 17.  Undertakings

          (a)     The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

                  (1) To file,  during any  period in which  offers or sales are
         being made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement;

                         (i) To  include  any  prospectus  required  by  Section
                  10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended;

                         (ii) To reflect in the  prospectus  any facts or events
                  arising after the effective date of the Registration Statement
                  (or the most recent  post-effective  amendment thereof) which,
                  individually  or in the  aggregate,  represent  a  fundamental
                  change  in the  information  set  forth  in  the  Registration
                  Statement.  Notwithstanding  the  foregoing,  any  increase or
                  decrease in volume of securities  offered (if the total dollar
                  value of  securities  offered  would not exceed that which was
                  registered)  and any deviation from the low or high end of the
                  estimated  maximum offering range may be reflected in the form
                  of  prospectus  filed  with the  Commission  pursuant  to Rule
                  424(b) if, in the  aggregate,  the changes in volume and price
                  represent  no more than a 20% change in the maximum  aggregate
                  offering price set forth in the  "Calculation  of Registration
                  Fee" table in the effective Registration Statement; and

                         (iii) To include any material  information with respect
                  to the plan of  distribution  not previously  disclosed in the
                  Registration   Statement  or  any  material   change  to  such
                  information in the Registration Statement;

         Provided,  however,  that  paragraphs  (i) and (ii) do not apply if the
         information  required to be included in a  post-effective  amendment by
         those  paragraphs  is  contained  in  periodic  reports  filed  with or
         furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or
         Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,  that
         are incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement.

                  (2) That, for the purpose of determining  any liability  under
         the Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new
         registration  statement relating to the securities offered therein, and
         the offering of such  securities at that time shall be deemed to be the
         initial bona fide offering thereof.

                  (3) To remove from  registration by means of a  post-effective
         amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at
         the termination of the offering.

         (b) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes,  that for purposes of
determining  any liability  under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the
registrant's  Annual Report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable,  each filing of an Employee Benefit
Plan's Annual Report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934) that is incorporated by reference in the  Registration  Statement shall be
deemed to be a new  registration  statement  relating to the securities  offered
therein, and this Offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be
the initial bona fide offering thereof.

         (c) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that:

                  (1) For purposes of determining liability under the Securities
         Act of 1933, the information  omitted from the form of Prospectus filed
         as part of this  Registration  Statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and
         contained in a form of Prospectus  filed by the registrant  pursuant to
         Rule  424(b)(1)  or (4) or  497(h)  under the  Securities  Act shall be
         deemed to be part of this Registration  Statement as of the time it was
         declared effective.

                  (2) For the purpose of  determining  any  liability  under the
         Securities Act of 1933,  each post effective  amendment that contains a
         form of Prospectus shall be deemed to be a new  registration  statement
         relating to the securities  offered therein,  and this Offering of such
         securities  at that time  shall be deemed to be the  initial  bona fide
         offering thereof.

<PAGE>

         (d)  Insofar  as  indemnification  for  liabilities  arising  under the
Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors,  officers and  controlling
persons of the registrant  pursuant to the foregoing  provisions,  or otherwise,
the  undersigned  registrant  has  been  advised  that  in  the  opinion  of the
Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy
as expressed in the  Securities  Act and is,  therefore,  unenforceable.  In the
event that a claim for indemnification  against such liabilities (other than the
payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or
controlling  person of the registrant in the  successful  defense of any action,
suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director,  officer or controlling person
in connection with the securities being registered,  the registrant will, unless
in the  opinion  of its  counsel  the matter  has been  settled  by  controlling
precedent,  submit to a court of appropriate  jurisdiction  the question whether
such  indemnification  by it is  against  public  policy  as  expressed  in  the
Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

<PAGE>

                                   SIGNATURES

         Pursuant  to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Act  of  1933,  the
Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all
of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this Registration
Statement  to be  signed  on its  behalf  by  the  undersigned,  thereunto  duly
authorized,  in the County of St.  Louis and State of Missouri on the 5th day of
November, 1999.

                             K-V PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANY
                             (Registrant)


                             By:  /s/ Marc S. Hermelin
                                  ----------------------------------------------
                                  Marc S. Hermelin
                                  Vice Chairman of the Board and
                                  Chief Executive Officer


         Each of the undersigned  hereby appoints Gerald R. Mitchell and Alan G.
Johnson,  and each of them (with  full power to act  alone),  as  attorneys  and
agents  for the  undersigned,  with full power of  substitution,  for and in the
name, place and stead of the  undersigned,  to sign and file with the Securities
and Exchange  Commission under the Securities Act of 1933 any and all amendments
and  exhibits  to this  Registration  Statement  and  any and all  applications,
instruments  and other  documents to be filed with the  Securities  and Exchange
Commission pertaining to the registration of the securities covered hereby, with
full  power  and  authority  to do and  perform  any and  all  acts  and  things
whatsoever requisite or desirable.

         Pursuant  to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Act of  1933,  this
Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons and in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.


  Signature                    Title                         Date
  ---------                    -----                         ----

/s/ Victor M. Hermelin         Director, Chairman of         November 5, 1999
- ---------------------------    the Board and Treasurer
Victor M. Hermelin


/s/ Marc S. Hermelin           Director, Vice Chairman       November 5, 1999
- ---------------------------    of the Board and
Marc S. Hermelin               Chief Executive Officer
                               (principal executive
                               officer)


/s/ Alan G. Johnson            Director, Senior Vice         November 5, 1999
- ---------------------------    President and Secretary
Alan G. Johnson


/s/ Garnet E. Peck, Ph.D.      Director                      November 5, 1999
- ---------------------------
Garnet E. Peck, Ph.D.


/s/ Norman D. Schellenger      Director                      November 5, 1999
- ---------------------------
Norman D. Schellenger


/s/ Gerald R. Mitchell         Vice President - Finance      November 3, 1999
- ---------------------------    (principal financial and
Gerald R. Mitchell             accounting officer)


<PAGE>

                                  EXHIBIT INDEX


Exhibit Number         Description                                   Page
- --------------         -----------                                   ----

    5(a)        Opinion of Gallop, Johnson & Neuman, L.C.

   23(a)        Consent of BDO Seidman, L.L.P.

   23(b)        Consent of Gallop, Johnson & Neuman, L.C.
                (included in Exhibit 5(a))

   24(a)        Power of Attorney (set forth on signature page)




                                                                  Exhibit 5(a)


                                November 2, 1999


Board of Directors
K-V Pharmaceutical Company
2503 South Hanley Road
St. Louis, Missouri 63144

         Re:      Registration Statement on Form S-3 for Resale of
                  259,110 Shares of Class A Common Stock

Gentlemen:

         We have acted as counsel  for K-V  Pharmaceutical  Company,  a Delaware
corporation  (the  "Company"),  in  connection  with the various  legal  matters
relating  to  the  filing  of  a   Registration   Statement  on  Form  S-3  (the
"Registration  Statement")  under the  Securities  Act of 1933,  as amended (the
"Act"),  relating  to the sale by certain  stockholders  of the Company of up to
259,110  shares of the Class A common stock of the Company,  $0.01 par value per
share (the "Shares"), as described in the Registration Statement.

         We have examined such corporate  records of the Company,  such laws and
such other  information as we have deemed  relevant,  including the Registration
Statement, the Company's Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, the Company's
Bylaws,  as amended,  and  resolutions  adopted by the Board of Directors of the
Company  relating to the original  issuance of the Shares in connection  with an
acquisition by the Company completed August 2, 1999. In delivering this opinion,
we have assumed,  without  independent  investigation,  the  genuineness  of all
signatures,  the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, and
the  conformity to the originals of all documents  submitted to us as certified,
photostatic or conformed copies.

         Based solely on the foregoing,  the  undersigned is of the opinion that
the Shares are duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

         We  consent  to  the  filing  of  this  opinion  as an  exhibit  to the
Registration  Statement and to the use of our name in the Registration Statement
and  related  Prospectus  in the  section  of  the  Prospectus  entitled  "Legal
Matters." In giving this consent, we do not thereby admit that we are within the
category of persons  whose  consent is required  under Section 7 of the Act, the
rules and  regulations  of the Securities  and Exchange  Commission  promulgated
thereunder, or Item 509 of Regulation S-K.

         This opinion  letter is rendered as of the date first written above and
we disclaim  any  obligation  to advise you of facts,  circumstances,  events or
other developments which hereafter may be brought to our attention and which may
alter,  affect or modify the opinion expressed herein.  Our opinion is expressly
limited to the  matters  set forth  above and we render no  opinion,  whether by
implication or otherwise, as to any other matters relating to the Company or the
Shares.

                                           Very truly yours,

                                           /s/ Gallop, Johnson & Neuman, L.C.

                                           GALLOP, JOHNSON & NEUMAN, L.C.




Consent of Independent
Certified Public Accountants


K-V Pharmaceutical Company
St. Louis, Missouri


We  hereby  consent  to  the   incorporation  by  reference  in  the  Prospectus
constituting a part of this  Registration  Statement of our report dated May 14,
1999,  relating to the consolidated  financial  statements of K-V Pharmaceutical
Company appearing in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
March 31, 1999.

We also  consent  to the  reference  to us under the  caption  "Experts"  in the
Prospectus.

                                             /s/ BDO Seidman, L.L.P.

                                             BDO SEIDMAN, L.L.P.

St. Louis, Missouri
November 2, 1999



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