NBTY INC
10-K, 1996-12-16
PHARMACEUTICAL PREPARATIONS
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                                  FORM 10-K
                     SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                           WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

[x]   ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 or 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES 
      EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 for the fiscal year ended September 30, 1996. 
                                     OR
[ ]   TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 or 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES 
      EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 For the transition period from ________________ 
      to__________________.

                       Commission file number 0-10666
                                 NBTY, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

                 DELAWARE                                  11-2228617
     -------------------------------                 -------------------
     (State or other jurisdiction of                  (I.R.S. Employer
     incorporation or organization)                  Identification No.)

             90 Orville Drive                                11716
             ----------------                                -----
             Bohemia, New York                             (Zip Code)
             -----------------
 (Address of principal executive office)

(516) 567-9500
- --------------
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

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

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
Common Stock, par value $0.008 per share

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports 
required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act 
of 1934 during the preceding 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 __

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 
405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to 
the best of the registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information 
statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any 
amendment for this Form 10-K [X].

The aggregate market value of the voting stock held by nonaffiliates of the 
registrant, based upon the closing price of shares of Common Stock on the 
National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation ("NASDAQ") 
National Market System at November 22, 1996 was approximately $251,552,000.

The number of shares of Common Stock of the registrant outstanding at 
November 22, 1996 was approximately 18,592,119.

Documents Incorporated by Reference: None


                                   PART I

Item 1.  BUSINESS

Products

      NBTY, Inc. (the "Company"), collectively with its subsidiaries is a 
manufacturer and marketer of nutritional supplements in the United States.  
It sells more than 500 products consisting of vitamins and other nutritional 
supplements such as minerals, amino acids and herbs.  Vitamins, minerals and 
amino acids are sold as a single vitamin and in multi-vitamin combinations 
and in varying potency levels in powder, tablet, soft gel, chewable, and 
hard shell capsule form.  The Company's branded products are sold by 
independent and chain pharmacies, wholesalers, supermarkets and health food 
stores and by direct mail.


Marketing and Distribution

      The Company markets its products through different channels of 
distribution: wholesale-retail and direct mail.

      Wholesale.  The Company markets its products under various brand names 
to various stores including drug store chains and supermarkets, independent 
pharmacies, health food stores, health food store wholesalers and other 
retailers such as mass merchandisers.  The Nature's Bounty brand is sold to 
drug store chains and drug wholesalers.  The Company sells a full line of 
products to supermarket chains and wholesalers under the brand name Natural 
Wealth at prices designed for the "price conscious" consumer.  

      In addition to a complete line of vitamins and other nutritional 
supplements, the Company sells a comprehensive line of over-the-counter 
products such as cold remedies and analgesic formulas to independent 
pharmacies under the Hudson brand name.  

      The Company sells directly to health food stores under the brand name 
Good'N Natural and sells products, including a specialty line of vitamins, 
to health food wholesalers under the brand name American Health.

      Retail.  The Company operates 83 retail locations in thirty states 
under the name Vitamin World.  Such locations carry a full line of products 
under the Vitamin World brand name and products manufactured by others.  
Through direct interaction between the Company's personnel and the public, 
the Company is able to identify buying trends, customer preferences or 
dislikes, acceptances of new products and price trends in various regions of 
the country.  This information is useful in initiating sales programs for 
all divisions of the Company.

      Direct Mail.  The Company offers its full line of vitamins and other 
nutritional supplement products as well as selected personal care items 
under its Puritan's Pride brand name at prices which are normally at a 
discount from those of similar products sold in retail stores.  

      International.  The Company has expanded sales of various products to 
many countries throughout Europe, Asia and Latin America.  In the United 
Kingdom, the Company has leased a warehouse for distribution of its products 
under the Vitamin World brand name.


Sales and Advertising

      The Company has approximately 70 sales employees located throughout 
the country who are paid on a salary plus commission basis.  In addition, 
the Company sells through commissioned sales representative organizations 
which sell the Company's products on an exclusive basis.

      In 1995 and 1996, the Company spent approximately $19.3 million and 
$17.6 million, respectively, on advertising in print and media, cooperative 
advertising with its customers.  The Company creates its own advertising 
materials through a staff of approximately 22 employees.  The Company 
expects advertising costs to increase as net sales increase.


Manufacturing, Distribution and Quality Control

      All manufacturing is conducted in accordance with good manufacturing 
practice standards of the United States Food and Drug Administration and 
other applicable regulatory standards.  The Company believes that the 
capacity of its manufacturing and distribution facilities is adequate to 
meet the requirements of its current business and, at the completion of its 
expansion program, will be adequate to meet the requirements of anticipated 
increases in net sales.  The Company manufactures approximately 60% of its 
vitamins and other nutritional supplements and expects to increase such 
percentage upon completion of its manufacturing improvement program.

      The Company's manufacturing process places special emphasis on quality 
control.  All raw materials used in production initially are held in 
quarantine during which time the Company's laboratory employees assay the 
production against the manufacture's certificate of analysis.  Once cleared, 
a lot number is assigned, samples are retained and the material is processed 
by formulating, mixing and granulating, compression and sometimes coating 
operations.  After the tablet is manufactured, laboratory 
employees test its weight, purity, potency, dissolution and stability.  When 
a product such as  vitamin tablets is ready for bottling, the Company's 
automated equipment counts the tablets, inserts them into bottles, adds a 
tamper-resistant cap with an inner safety seal and affixes a label.  The 
Company uses computer-generated documentation for picking and packing for 
order fulfillment.

      The principal raw materials used in the manufacturing process are 
natural and synthetic vitamins, purchased from bulk manufacturers in the 
United States, Japan and Europe.  Although raw materials are available from 
numerous sources, one supplier currently provides approximately 25% of the 
Company's purchases, and no other single supplier accounts for more than 10% 
of the Company's raw material purchases.


Research and Development

      In 1994, 1995 and 1996, the Company did not expend any significant 
amounts for research and development of new products.


Government Regulation

      The processing, formulation, packaging, labeling and advertising of 
the Company's products are subject to regulation by one or more federal 
agencies, including the United States Food and Drug Administration (the 
"FDA"), the Federal Trade Commission (the "FTC"), the Consumer Product 
Safety Commission, the United States Department of Agriculture and the 
Environmental Protection Agency.  These activities are also regulated by 
various agencies of the states and localities in which the Company's 
products are sold.  In particular, the FDA regulates the safety, labeling 
and distribution of dietary supplements, including vitamins, minerals and 
herbs, food additives, food supplements, over-the-counter ("OTC") and 
prescription drugs and cosmetics.  In addition, the FTC has overlapping 
jurisdiction with the FDA to regulate the labeling, promotion and 
advertising of vitamins, OTC drugs, cosmetics and foods.  In addition, the 
United States Postal Service regulates advertising claims with respect to 
the Company's products sold by mail order.

      In The Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 ("DSHEA") 
was enacted on October 25, 1994. DSHEA amends the Federal Food, Drug and 
Cosmetic Act by defining dietary supplements, which include vitamins, 
minerals, amino acids, nutritional supplements and herbs as a new category 
of food separate from conventional food.  DSHEA provides a regulatory 
framework to ensure safe, quality dietary supplements and the dissemination 
of accurate information about such products.  Under DSHEA, the FDA is 
generally prohibited from regulating the active ingredients in dietary 
supplements as food additives or as drugs unless product claims, such as 
claims that a product may heal, mitigate, cure or prevent an illness, 
disease or malady, trigger drug status.

      DSHEA provides for specific nutritional labeling requirements for 
dietary supplements effective January 1, 1997, although final regulations 
have not been published and implementation will be delayed.  DSHEA permits 
substantiated, truthful and non-misleading statements of nutritional support 
to be made in labeling, such as statements describing general well-being 
resulting from consumption of a dietary ingredient or the role of a nutrient 
or dietary ingredient in affecting or maintaining structure or function of 
the body.  Any statement of nutritional support beyond such "traditional" 
claims must be accompanied by disclosure that the FDA has not evaluated such 
statement and that the product is not intended to cure or prevent any 
disease.  The Company anticipates that the FDA will promulgate good 
manufacturing practices ("GMPs") which are specific to dietary supplements 
and require at least some of the quality control provisions contained in the 
GMPs for drugs.  The Company currently manufactures its vitamins and 
nutritional supplement products in compliance with the applicable food GMPs.

      The FDA has proposed but not finalized regulations to implement DSHEA.  
The Company cannot determine what effect such regulations, when promulgated, 
will have on its business in the future.  Such regulations are most likely 
to require expanded or different labeling for the Company's vitamins and 
nutritional products and could, among other things, require the recall, 
reformulation or discontinuance of certain products, additional 
recordkeeping, warnings, notification procedures and expanded documentation 
of the properties of certain products and scientific substantiation 
regarding ingredients, product claims, safety or efficacy.  The Company 
believes that it is in material compliance with all applicable laws.

      DSHEA created two new governmental bodies.  The Commission on Dietary 
Supplements was established for two years to provide recommendations for the 
regulation of supplement labeling and health claims, including procedures 
for making disease-related claims.  The Office of Dietary Supplements, 
established within the National Institute of Health, is charged with 
coordinating research on dietary supplements and disease prevention, 
compiling research results, and advising the Secretary of Health and Human 
Services on supplement regulation, safety and health claims.

      Although the vitamin and nutritional supplement industry is subject to 
regulations by the FDA and local authorities, dietary supplements, including 
vitamins, minerals, herbs and nutritional supplements, have now been 
statutorily affirmed as a food and not as a drug or food additive.  
Therefore, the regulation of dietary supplements is far less restrictive 
than that imposed upon manufactures and distributors of drugs or food 
additives.  Unlike food additives, which are more pervasively regulated, and 
new drugs, which require regulatory approval of formulation and labeling 
prior to marketing, dietary supplement companies are authorized to make 
substantiated statements of nutritional support and to market new, 
manufacture-substantiated-as-safe dietary supplement products without FDA 
preclearances.  Failure to comply with applicable FDA requirements can 
result in sanctions being imposed on the Company or the manufacturers of its 
products, including, depending on the product category, warning letters, 
fines, product recalls and seizures.

      The OTC pharmaceutical products distributed by the Company are subject 
to regulation by a number of Federal and State governmental agencies.  In 
particular, the FDA regulates the formulation, manufacture, packaging and 
labeling of all OTC pharmaceutical products.  The Company believes that the 
OTC pharmaceutical products distributed by the Company comply in all 
material respects with existing regulations.

      The Company is subject to regulation under various international, 
state and local laws which include provisions regulating, among other 
things, the operations of direct sales programs.  The Company believes that 
it is in material compliance with such provisions and has, in certain cases, 
established procedures providing greater protection for its distributors 
than is required by law.


Competition

      The market for vitamins and other nutritional supplements is highly 
competitive in all of the Company's channels of distribution.  The Company's 
Nature's Bounty and Natural Wealth brands compete for sales to drug store 
chains and supermarkets with heavily advertised national brands manufactured 
by large pharmaceutical companies, as well as Your Life and Nature Made, 
sold by Leiner Health Products, Inc. and Pharmavite Corp., respectively.  
The Vitamin World stores compete with specialty vitamin stores, such as GNC 
Stores, health food stores and other retail stores.  With respect to direct 
mail sales, the Company's Puritan's Pride brand is the largest seller of 
vitamins and other nutritional supplements and competes with a large number 
of smaller, usually less geographically diverse, direct mail companies, some 
of which manufacture their own products and some of which sell products 
manufactured by others.

      It is not possible to estimate accurately the number of competitors 
since the nutritional supplement industry is fragmented.  The Company is not 
capable of assessing market penetration of such competitors since they do 
not publish marketing figures.  No one company dominates the industry.  
However, it is the Company's belief that there may be between one and two 
dozen companies competing for the drug store and supermarket business.  In 
its Vitamin World operations, the Company competes regionally with specialty 
vitamin stores, such as GNC stores and local drug stores, health food 
stores, supermarkets, department stores and mass merchandisers. 

      The Company believes that it competes favorably with other direct mail 
sellers of similar products on a basis of price and customer service, 
including speed of delivery and new product offerings.  The Company believes 
that it competes favorably with the large pharmaceutical companies and other 
companies which sell to wholesalers, on the basis of price, breadth of 
product line, reputation and customer service, including innovative 
packaging and displays and other services.  The Company believes that it 
derives a competitive advantage from its ability to manufacture and package 
its own vitamin and nutritional supplement products, which affords it the 
flexibility to respond to the shifting demands of each channel of 
distribution and, consequently, the ability to achieve the manufacturing and 
operating efficiencies resulting from larger production runs of products 
which can be packaged for sale in one or more such channels.


Trademarks

      The Company owns trademarks registered with the United States Patent 
and Trademark Office and many other major jurisdictions of the world for its 
Nature's Bounty, Good'N Natural, Hudson, American Health, Puritan's Pride, 
Vitamin World, Natural Wealth and Stur-Dee trademarks, among others, and has 
rights to use other names essential to its business.  Federally registered 
trademarks have a perpetual life, as long as they are renewed on a timely 
basis and used properly as trademarks, subject to the rights of third 
parties to seek cancellation of the trademarks if they claim priority or 
confusion of usage.  The Company regards its trademarks and other propriety 
rights as valuable assets and believes they have significant value in the 
marketing of its products.  The Company vigorously protects its trademarks 
against infringement.


Employees

      The Company employs approximately 1,300 persons, of whom 41 are in 
executive and administrative capacities, approximately 80 are in sales, 
approximately 400 are in the Company's Vitamin World stores and the 
remainder are in manufacturing, shipping and packaging.  None of the 
Company's employees are represented by a labor union.  The Company believes 
its relationship with its employees is excellent.


Item 2.  PROPERTIES

      The Company owns a total of approximately 625,000 square feet of plant 
facilities located at 60, 90, 105 and 115 Orville Drive in Bohemia, New York 
and 4320 Veterans Memorial Highway, Holbrook, New York, of which 100,000 
square feet is devoted to manufacturing, 72,000 square feet is utilized for 
offices and the balance is or is to be used for shipping and warehouse.  In 
1995, the Company purchased a 62 acre plot in close proximity to its other 
facilities in Islip, New York in order to construct an additional 
manufacturing facility.

      The Company operates 68 retail stores and 15 kiosks in thirty states 
under the name Vitamin World.  The stores have an average selling area of 
1,000 square feet and each kiosk has a selling area of approximately 190 
square feet.  Generally, the Company leases the stores and kiosks for three 
to five years for annual base rents ranging from $12,000 to $94,000 and 
percentage rents in the event sales exceed a specified amount.


Item 3.  LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

      L-tryptophan Litigation.  The Company and certain other companies in 
the industry, including distributors, wholesalers and retailers (the 
"Indemnified Group") had been named as defendants in cases arising out of 
the ingestion of products containing L-Tryptophan.  The Company had been 
named in more than 265 such lawsuits, of which 4 are still pending against 
the Company.  All of such companies have entered into an agreement with the 
Company's supplier of bulk L-tryptophan, Showa Denko America, Inc. (the 
"Supplier") under which the Supplier, a U.S. subsidiary of a major Japanese 
corporation, Showa Denko K.K., has assumed the defense of all claims against 
the Indemnified Group and has agreed to pay the legal fees and expenses in 
that defense.  The Supplier and Showa Denko K.K. have agreed to indemnify 
the Indemnified Group against any judgments and to fund settlements arising 
out of those actions and claims.

      The Supplier has posted a revolving, irrevocable letter of credit of 
$20 million to be used for the benefit of the Indemnified Group in the event 
that the Supplier is unable or unwilling to satisfy any claims or judgments.

      While not all of these suits quantify the amount demanded, it can 
reasonably be assumed that the amount required to either settle these cases 
or to pay judgments rendered therein will be paid by the Supplier or by the 
Company's product liability insurance carrier.  To date, no cases in which 
the Company is a party have been reached for trial.    

      Shareholder Litigation.  In October 1994, litigation was commenced in 
the U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York, against the Company 
and two of its officers (the "Defendants").  The Complaint alleges that 
false and misleading statements and representations were made concerning the 
Company's sales and earnings estimates for the fourth fiscal quarter and the 
year ending September 30, 1994.  The allegations are that: (a) sales were 
artificially inflated; (b) costs were improperly capitalized; (c) sales and 
profit margins were materially declining; (d) inventory and accounts 
receivable were overstated; and (e) that because of the foregoing, the 
Company would incur a loss in its fourth fiscal quarter.  The Plaintiffs' 
seek Class Action certification and an unspecified amount of monetary 
damages.  The Company and its officers deny the allegations of the complaint 
and intend to vigorously contest the litigation.  In 1994, prior to 
commencement of these lawsuits, the Company purchased a directors and 
officers Indemnity Policy.  Special counsel has been retained to represent 
the Company and its officers.  Since the outcome of any litigation is 
uncertain, the Company is unable to predict (i) whether it will ultimately 
prevail; (ii) whether it will be fully or partially indemnified, if at all; 
(iii) the amount of loss, if any, that may be attributable to the above; and 
(iv) the amount of expense which may be incurred in the defense of these 
actions.  

      Miscellaneous Claims and Litigations.  The Company is involved in 
miscellaneous claims and litigation, which taken individually or in the 
aggregate, would not materially impact on the Company's financial position 
or its business.


Item 4.  SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS

      On February 14, 1996, at the annual meeting of the shareholders, the 
following directors were elected: Bernard G. Owen and Alfred Sacks.


                                   PART II

Item 5.  MARKET FOR THE REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER
         MATTERS

                               DIVIDEND POLICY

      Since 1973, the Company has not paid any cash dividends on its Common 
Stock.  On April 24, 1992, the Company effected a two-for-one stock split in 
the form of a 100% stock dividend to stockholders of record on May 8, 1992.  
On September 25, 1992, the Company effected a three-for-one stock split in 
the form of a 200% stock dividend to stockholders of record on November 2, 
1992.  In addition, on August 3, 1993, the Company effected a two-for-one 
stock split in the form of a 100% stock dividend to shareholders of record 
on August 13, 1993.  Future determination as to the payment of cash or stock 
dividends will depend upon the Company's results of operations, financial 
condition and capital requirements and such other factors as the Company's 
Board of Directors may consider.

                         PRICE RANGE OF COMMON STOCK

      The Common Stock is traded in the over-the-counter market and is 
included for quotation on the National Association of Securities Dealers 
National Market System under the trading symbol "NBTY".  The following table 
sets forth, for the periods indicated, the high and low closing sale prices 
for the Common Stock, as reported on NASDAQ/NMS:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Fiscal year ended September 30, 1995
                                                High            Low
                                                ----            ---

      <S>                                       <C>             <C>
      First Quarter                             10-1/2          4-3/4
      Second Quarter                             8-3/8          5-1/16
      Third Quarter                              6-7/8          5-7/16
      Fourth Quarter                             7-1/4          5-1/2

Fiscal year ended September 30, 1996

      First Quarter                             5-3/4           4
      Second Quarter                            7-13/16         4-5/8
      Third Quarter                            11-3/8           7-7/16
      Fourth Quarter                           17-7/8           9-3/8


</TABLE>

      On November 21, 1996, the closing sale price of the Common Stock was 
$16.44.  There were approximately 682 record holders of Common Stock as of 
November 21, 1996.  The Company believes that there were in excess of 10,000 
beneficial holders of Common Stock as of such date.


Item 6. SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                   1992         1993         1994         1995         1996
                                   ----         ----         ----         ----         ----     

<S>                                <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>
Selected Income
Statement Data:

Net Sales                          $100,907     $138,430     $156,057     $178,760     $194,403
Costs & Expenses:
  Cost of Sales                      50,555       67,951       79,891       93,875       95,638
  Catalog, printing, postage
   & promotion                        7,455       11,507       14,786       19,262       17,635
 Selling, general
  & administrative                   35,516       42,776       49,208       56,728       58,515
                                   ------------------------------------------------------------

Income from operations                7,381       16,196       12,172        8,895       22,615
Interest expense                      1,321        1,227          914        1,084        1,445
Other, net                             (181)         743        1,285          571        1,203
                                   ------------------------------------------------------------

Income before income taxes            5,879       15,712       12,543        8,382       22,373
Income taxes                          2,071        5,939        4,767        3,246        9,021
                                   ------------------------------------------------------------
Net income                         $  3,808     $  9,773     $  7,776     $  5,136     $ 13,352
                                   ============================================================  

Per Share Data:
Earnings per common share:
  Primary                             $0.28        $0.53        $0.38        $0.26        $0.67
  Fully-diluted                       $0.25        $0.53        $0.38        $0.26        $0.67

Weighted average number of
 shares outstanding:
  Primary                            13,718       18,435       20,257       19,974       19,976
  Fully-diluted                      15,250       18,523       20,257       19,974       19,976

Selected Balance Sheet Data:

Working capital                    $ 13,082     $ 42,869     $ 39,462     $ 40,665     $ 52,268
Total assets                       $ 58,300     $102,647     $115,112     $123,529     $145,550
Long-term debt and capital
 lease, obligations, less
 current portion                   $ 20,987     $  8,265     $  7,566     $ 10,924     $ 18,398
Total stockholders' equity         $ 16,490     $ 70,002     $ 78,017     $ 82,615     $ 96,950

</TABLE>

All amounts in thousands, except Per Share Data


Item 7.  MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND 
         RESULTS OF OPERATION

Results of Operations

      The following table sets forth income statement data of the Company as 
a percentage of net sales for the periods indicated:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                             Year Ended September 30
                                       ------------------------------------
                                       1994            1995            1996
                                       ----            ----            ----  

<S>                                    <C>             <C>             <C>
Net sales                              100.0%          100.0%          100.0%

Costs and expenses:
  Cost of sales                         51.2            52.5            49.2
  Catalog printing & promotion           9.5            10.8             9.1
  Selling, general & administrative     31.5            31.7            30.1
                                       -------------------------------------

                                        92.2            95.0            88.4
                                       -------------------------------------

Income from operations                   7.8             5.0            11.6
Interest expense and other                .2             (.3)            (.1)
                                       -------------------------------------
				     
Income before income taxes               8.0             4.7            11.5
Income taxes                             3.1             1.8             4.6
                                       -------------------------------------

Net income                               5.0%            2.9%            6.9%
                                       ===================================== 
</TABLE>

1996 Compared to 1995  

      Net Sales.  Net sales for 1996 were $194.4 million, an increase of 
$15.6 million or 8.8% over 1995.  Of the $15.6 million increase, $10.6 
million was attributable to wholesale-retail sales and $13.2 million was 
attributable to mail order sales, less a decrease of $8.2 million from 
Beautiful Visions, a cosmetic catalog which was sold in October, 1995.

      Cost and Expenses.  Cost of sales for 1996 was $95.6 million, an 
increase of $1.8 million or 1.9% over 1995.  Gross profit increased to 50.8% 
in 1996 from 47.5% in 1995.  Such increase was due to various factors, 
including increased sales of higher margin products, long-term purchase 
commitments of raw materials resulting in lower costs and manufacturing 
efficiencies.

      Catalog, Printing, Postage and Promotion. Catalog, printing, postage 
and promotion for 1996 was $17.6 million, an decrease of $1.6 million over 
1995.  Such cost, as a percentage of net sales was 9.1% in 1996 compared 
with 10.8% in 1995.  The decrease was mainly due to the discontinuance of 
the Beautiful Visions mail order operation.

      Selling, General and Administrative Expenses.  Selling, general and 
administrative expenses for 1996 was $58.5 million, an increase of $1.8 
million over 1995; as a percentage of net sales, these costs were 30.1% in 
1996 and 31.7% in 1995.  Decreases in payroll fringes and other 
miscellaneous costs were offset by increases in outlet store rentals and 
professional fees.

      Interest expense.  Interest expense in 1996 was $1.4 million, an 
increase of $.4 million.

      Income taxes.  The Company's effective tax rate was 40.3% in 1996 and 
38.7% in 1995.  The Company adopted Statement of Accounting Standard 
("SFAS") No. 109, "Accounting for Income Taxes", in 1993.  The impact from 
the implementation of SFAS No. 109 was not material to the Company's 
financial statements.

      Seasonality.  The Company believes that its business is not seasonal 
except that historically it has the lowest net sales in its first fiscal 
quarter, slightly higher net sales in its second fiscal quarter and may have 
higher net sales in a quarter depending upon when it has engaged in 
significant promotional activities.

1995 Compared to 1994

      Net Sales.  Net sales for 1995 were $178.8 million, an increase of 
$22.7 million or 14.5% over 1994.  Of the $22.7 million increase, $12.5 
million was attributable to wholesale-retail sales and $10.3 million was 
attributable to mail order sales.  In October, 1995, Beautiful Visions, a 
cosmetic catalog operation, was sold.  Sales for such operation in 1995 were 
$8.3 million, a decrease of $5 million from the prior year.

      Cost and Expense.  Cost of sales for 1995 was $93.9 million, an 
increase of $14.0 million or 17.5% over 1994.  Gross profit decreased to 
47.5% in 1995 from 48.8% in 1994.  Such decrease as a percentage of net 
sales was due to various factors which included pricing pressures and write-
downs for labels and unsold Beautiful Visions inventory.

      Catalog, Printing, Postage and Promotion.  Catalog, printing, postage 
and promotion for 1995 was $19.2 million, an increase of $4.5 million or 
30.3% over 1994.  Such cost, as a percentage of net sales was 10.8% in 1995 
compared with 9.5% in 1994.  This increase was mainly due to expanded trade 
advertising and costs associated with promotional programs to independent 
stores and chain stores.

      Selling, General and Administrative Expenses.  Selling, general and 
administrative expenses for 1995 was $56.7 million, an increase of $7.5 
million or 15.3% over 1994; as a percentage of net sales, these costs 
remained relatively constant at 31.7% in 1995 and 31.5% in 1994.  The 
increase was primarily a result of increases in salaries, wages, fringe 
benefits and professional services.

      Interest Expense.  Interest expense in 1995 was $1.0 million, an 
increase of $.1 million.

      Income Taxes.  The Company's effective tax rate was 38.7% in 1995 and 
38.0% in 1994.  The Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting 
Standards ("SFAS") No. 109, "Accounting for Income Taxes", in 1993.  The 
impact from the implementation of SFAS No. 109 was not material to the 
Company's financial statements.

      Seasonality.  The Company believes that its business is not seasonal 
except that historically it has the lowest net sales in its first fiscal 
quarter, slightly higher net sales in its second fiscal quarter and may have 
highest net sales in a quarter depending upon when it has engaged in 
significant promotional activities.   

Liquidity and Capital Resources.

      Working capital was $51.9 million at September 30, 1996, compared with 
$40.7 million at September 30, 1995, an increase of $11.3 million.

      The Company finances its working capital with internally-generated 
funds.  The Company maintains an unsecured $15 million Revolving Credit 
Agreement (RCA) expiring on March 31, 1999 and a $8.4 million Master 
Equipment Lease Agreement (MELA) expiring on December 31, 1996.  As of 
September 30, 1996, $15 million remained available under the RCA and $7.4 
million under the MELA.

      In September 1990, the Company financed its plant expansion program 
with the proceeds of an $8 million taxable Industrial Development Revenue 
Bond due September 1, 2000 with monthly principal and interest payments of 
$74,821 through 2000 and a final payment of $6,891,258 on September 1, 2000.  
A portion of this loan, which is collateralized by a mortgage in favor of an 
insurance company, was also utilized to repay debt which was outstanding in 
1989.

      The mix of revenues among wholesale, direct mail and retail sales 
remained relatively constant for 1996, 1995 and 1994.

      The Company believes that existing cash balances, internally-generated 
funds from operations and amounts available under the RCA and MELA will 
provide sufficient liquidity to satisfy the Company's working capital needs 
for the next 24 months and to finance anticipated capital expenditures 
incurred in the ordinary course of business.


Item 8.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

      See attached financial statements.  Part IV, Item 14. Exhibits.


Item 9.  CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND
         FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE

      None.


                                  PART III

Item 10.  DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT

      Set forth below are the names and other relevant information regarding 
officers, directors, and 
significant employees of the Company as of October 31, 1996.  Their stated 
positions are as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                          Year           Commencement
                                                          first          of term of
                                                          elected        office as
Name                        Age      Position             Director       Officer
- ----                        ---      --------             --------       ------------   

<S>                         <C>      <S>                  <C>            <C>
Scott Rudolph               39       Chairman of
                                     the Board   
                                     and President        1986           1986

Harvey Kamil                52       Executive Vice
                                     President, 
                                     Secretary            ----           1982

Barry Drucker               48       Senior Vice
                                     President-Sales      ----           1985

Patricia E. Ciccarone       40       Vice President-
                                     Vitamin World        ----           1992

James P. Flaherty           38       Vice President-
                                     Advertising          ----           1988

Abraham K. Kleinman         71       Vice President-
                                     Manufacturing        ----           1982

Jean Palladino              61       Vice President-
                                     Hudson               ----           1988

Abraham Rubenstein          66       Vice President-
                                     Mail Order           ----           1985

William J. Shanahan         38       Vice President-
                                     Data Processing      ----           1988

Robert Silverman            34       Vice President-
                                     Good'N Natural       ----           1991

James A. Taylor             56       Vice President-
                                     Production           ----           1982

William Dougherty           45       Vice President-
                                     Merchandising        ----           1996
      
Arthur Rudolph              68       Director             1971           1971

Aram Garabedian             61       Director             1971           ----      

Bernard G. Owen             68       Director             1971           ----

Alfred Sacks                68       Director             1971           ----

Murray Daly                 69       Director             1971           ----

Glenn Cohen                 37       Director             1988           ----

Bud Solk                    62       Director             1994           ----

Nathan Rosenblatt           39       Director             1994           ----      

</TABLE>

      The Directors of the Company are elected to serve a three year term or 
until their respective successors are elected and qualified.  Officers of 
the Company hold office until the meeting of the Board of Directors 
immediately following the next annual shareholders meeting or until removal 
by the Board, whether with or without cause.       
                        
      Scott Rudolph is the Chairman of the Board of Directors, President, 
      Chief Executive and is a shareholder of the Company. He is a trustee 
      of Dowling College, Long Island, New York.  He joined the Company in 
      1986.

      Harvey Kamil is Executive Vice President.  He joined the Company in 
      July 1982.

      Barry Drucker is Senior Vice President of Sales.  He joined the 
      Company in 1976.

      Patricia E. Ciccarone is Vice President of Vitamin World.  She joined 
      the Company in 1988.

      James P. Flaherty is Vice President of Advertising.  He joined the 
      Company in 1979.

      Abraham H. Kleinman is Vice President of Manufacturing.  He joined the 
      Company in December, 1973.

      Jean Palladino is Vice President of The Hudson Corporation.  She 
      joined the Company in 1986.

      Abraham Rubenstein is Vice President of Mail Order.  He joined the 
      Company in January, 1985.

      William J. Shanahan is Vice President of Data Processing.  He joined 
      the Company in 1980.

      Robert Silverman is Vice President of Good'N Natural.  He joined the 
      Company in 1985. 

      James E. Taylor is Vice President of Production.  He joined the 
      Company in December 1981.

      William Dougherty is Vice President of Merchandising.  He joined the 
      Company in 1994.

      Arthur Rudolph founded Arco Pharmaceuticals, Inc. the Company's 
      predecessor, in 1960 and had served as the Company's Chief Executive 
      Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors since that date until 
      his resignation in September 1993.  However, he remains a member of 
      the Board of Directors.  He was responsible for the formation of the 
      Company in 1971. He is the father of Scott Rudolph.  

      Aram Garabedian is, and has been since 1988, a real estate developer 
      in Rhode Island.  He had been associated with the Company and its 
      predecessor, Arco Pharmaceuticals, Inc., for 20 years in a sales 
      capacity and as an officer.  He has served as a director since 1971. 

      Bernard G. Owen has been engaged as President of Cafiero, Cuchel and 
      Owen Insurance Agency for the past twenty-five years.

      Alfred Sacks has been engaged as President of Al Sacks, Inc., an 
      insurance agency for the past thirty years.

      Murray Daly, formerly a Vice President of J. P. Egan Office Equipment 
      Co., is currently a consultant to the office equipment industry.

      Glenn Cohen is the President of Glenn-Scott Landscaping, Inc.

      Bud Solk is President of Chase/Ehrenberg & Rosene, Inc., an 
      advertising and marketing agency located in Chicago, Illinois.  
      Previously, Mr. Solk had been President of Bud Solk Associates, Inc., 
      which he founded in 1958.

      Nathan Rosenblatt is the President and Chief Executive Officer of 
      Ashland Maintenance Corp., a commercial maintenance organization 
      located in Long Island, New York.


Item 12.  SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND
          MANAGEMENT

(a)  Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners

Securities ownership of persons owning of record, or beneficially, 5% or 
more of the outstanding Common Stock, as of September 30, 1996.  The Company 
is not aware of any other beneficial holders of 5% or more of the Common 
Stock.  All information with respect to beneficial ownership, set forth in 
the foregoing stock ownership table, is based on information furnished by 
the shareholder, director or officer, or contained in filings made with the 
Securities and Exchange Commission.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                     Amount & Nature      Percent
                      Name and Address of            of Beneficial        of
Title of Class        Beneficial Owner               Ownership (1)        Class (1)
- --------------        -------------------            ---------------      --------- 
                                   
<S>                   <C>                            <C>                  <C>
Common Stock          Scott Rudolph                  3,673,555            18.8
(Par Value            90 Orville Drive               Record and
$.008)                Bohemia, NY 11716              Beneficial 

Common Stock          Harvey Kamil                   718,439               3.8
(Par Value            90 Orville Drive               Record and
$.008)                Bohemia, NY 1716               Beneficial 
      
Common Stock          NBTY, Inc.                     1,062,228             5.7
(Par Value            Profit Sharing Plan            Record and
$.008)                                               Beneficial 

<F1>  Includes shares issuable upon exercise of options held by executive 
      officers and directors.

</TABLE>

(b)  Security Ownership of Management (directors and Officers) 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                     Amount &
                                                     Nature of            Percent
                      Name and Address of            Beneficial           of      
Title of Class        Beneficial Owner               Ownership (1)        Class (1)
- --------------        -------------------            -------------        ---------

<S>                   <C>                            <C>                  <C>
Common Stock          Scott Rudolph(2)               3,673,555            18.8                            
(Par Value            90 Orville Drive               Record and 
$.008)                Bohemia, NY 11716              Beneficial                                

Common Stock          Harvey Kamil                   718,439               3.8
(Par Value            90 Orville Drive               Record and
$.008)                Bohemia, NY 11716              Beneficial 

Common Stock          Arthur Rudolph                 671,500               3.6                  
(Par value            90 Orville Drive               Record and
$.008)                Bohemia, NY 11716              Beneficial

Common Stock          Barry Drucker                  43,600                Nil
(Par Value            90 Orville Drive               Record and
$.008)                Bohemia, NY 11716              Beneficial 

Common Stock          Aram Garabedian                24,000                Nil
(Par Value            90 Orville Drive               Record and
$.008)                Bohemia, NY 11716              Beneficial 

Common Stock          Bernard G. Owen                31,500                Nil
(Par Value            90 Orville Drive               Record and
$.008)                Bohemia, NY 11716              Beneficial 

Common Stock          Alfred Sacks                   15,000                Nil
(Par Value            90 Orville Drive               Record and
$.008)                Bohemia, NY 11716              Beneficial 

Common Stock          Murray Daly                    22,000                Nil
(Par Value            90 Orville Drive               Record and
$.008)                Bohemia, NY 11716              Beneficial 

Common Stock          Glenn Cohen                    12,000                Nil
(Par Value            90 Orville Drive               Record and
$.008)                Bohemia, NY 11716              Beneficial 

Common Stock          Bud Solk                       0                     ___  
(Par Value            90 Orville Drive               Record and
$.008)                Bohemia, NY 11716              Beneficial

Common Stock          Nathan Rosenblatt              0                     ___
(Par Value            90 Orville Drive               Record and
$.008)                Bohemia, NY 11716              Beneficial

Common Stock          All Directors,                 4,801,994            23.7            
(Par Value            Officers and as a              Record and  
$.008)                group (11 persons)             Beneficial                           

<F1>  Each named person or group is deemed to be the beneficial owner of 
      securities which may be acquired within 60 days through the exercise 
      or conversion of options, if any, and such securities are deemed to be 
      outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage beneficially 
      owned by such person or group. Such securities are not deemed to be 
      outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage of class 
      beneficially owned by any person or group. Accordingly, the indicated 
      number of shares includes shares issuable upon exercise of options 
      (including employee stock options) and any other beneficial ownership 
      of securities held by such person or group.

<F2>  Includes shares held in a Trust created by Arthur Rudolph for the 
      benefit of Scott Rudolph and others.

</TABLE>

NBTY Inc. Profit Sharing Plan (formerly Employee Stock Ownership Plan and
Trust)

The basic terms of the Plan are as follows:

Eligibility

      All employees of the Company, including officers, over the age of 21 
and who have been employed by the Company for one year or more are eligible 
participants in the Plan.

Contributions

      Contributions are made on a voluntary basis by the Company. There is 
no minimum contribution required in any one year.

      There will be no contributions required by an employee.  All 
contributions will be made by the Company at the rate of up to 15% of the 
Company's annual payroll, at the discretion of the Company.  Each eligible 
employee receives an account or share in the Trust and the cash and/or 
shares of stock contributed to the Plan each year are credited to his or her 
account.

Vesting

      Once an employee is eligible, a portion of the stock in his or her 
account becomes "vested" each year, as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

  Number of Years        Percentage of Shares
  of Service             earned each year
  ---------------        --------------------

  <S>                    <C>
  0 - 2                   0%
      3                  20%
      4                  20%
      5                  20%
      6                  20%
      7                  20%

</TABLE>

Distribution

      If an employee retires, is disabled, dies or his or her employment is 
otherwise terminated, that employee or that employee's estate will receive 
the vested portion held in trust for that employee.

      At the end of the vesting period, the employees become full beneficial 
owners of the stock.  There is no tax consequence attached to his or her 
Plan for an employee until that employee sells the shares, at which time any 
profit realized by the employee is taxed as a capital gain.

      Distribution is to be made only in the shares of NBTY, Inc. which 
shares were purchased for the Trust from the cash contributions of the 
Company.


Item 13.  CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS

      The Company has had, and in the future may continue to have, business 
transactions with firms affiliated with certain of the Company's directors.  
Each such transaction is in the ordinary course of the Company's business.

      During the fiscal year ended September 30, 1996, the following 
transactions occurred:

      A.  Gail Radvin, Inc., a corporation wholly-owned by Gail Radvin, 
received commissions from the Company totalling $417,182 on account of sales 
made in certain foreign countries.  Gail Radvin is the sister of Arthur 
Rudolph ( a director) and the aunt of Scott Rudolph (Chairman and 
President).

      B.  Chase/Ehrenberg & Rosene, Inc., a company partly owned by Bud 
Solk, a director, placed $505,832 of advertising for the Company.

      C.  Cafiero, Cuchel & Owen, a company partly-owned by Bernard G. Owen, 
a director, received $2,091,228 in premiums for various policies obtained 
for the Company.

      D.  In February, 1996, the following officers, in connection with the 
exercise of stock options, executed promissory notes in favor of the 
Company.  Each of the notes was with full recourse, each bore interest at 
the prime rate, and was due and payable as set forth below:

      (i)      Scott Rudolph            $312,500            12/31/96
      (ii)     Harvey Kamil             $125,000            12/31/96
      
      E.  Arthur Rudolph, a director, has been retained under a Consulting 
Agreement, at a monthly fee of $25,000, which Agreement expires on December 
31, 1996.  The Company and Mr. Rudolph are presently negotiating a renewal 
of the Agreement under substantially comparable terms.


                                   PART IV

Item 14.  EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, SCHEDULE AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K

      (a) The following documents are filed as a part of this report

                                                                   Page
                                                                   Number
                                                                   ------
1.    Financial Statements

      Report of Independent Accountants                            F-1

      Consolidated Balance Sheets as of 
      September 30, 1996 and 1995                                  F-2

      Consolidated Statements of Income for the years
      ended September 30, 1996, 1995 and 1994                      F-3

      Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity
      for the years ended September 30, 1996, 1995 and 1994        F-4

      Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years
      ended September 30, 1996, 1995 and 1994                      F-5 to F-6

      Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements                   F-7 to F-18

2.    Financial Statement Schedule

      Schedule  II                                                 S-1 

      Schedules not listed above are omitted because of the absence of the 
conditions under which they are required or because the required information 
is included in the financial statements or notes thereto.                   

3.  Exhibits

11.   Statement Re: Computation of Per Share Earnings

      (b)   Reports on Form 8-K

            None.


                         NBTY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

                      CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

            FOR THE YEARS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1996, 1995 AND 1994



Coopers                                            Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P.
& Lybrand                                          a professional services firm


REPORT of INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS


To the Board of Directors of NBTY, Inc.:

We have audited the consolidated financial statements and the financial 
statement schedule of NBTY, Inc. and Subsidiaries (formerly Nature's Bounty, 
Inc. and Subsidiaries) listed in Item 14(a) of this Form 10-K.  These 
financial statements and the financial statement schedule are the 
responsibility of the Company's management.  Our responsibility is to 
express an opinion on these financial statements and the financial statement 
schedule 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 consolidated financial 
position of NBTY, Inc. and Subsidiaries as of September 30, 1996 and 1995, 
and the consolidated results of their operations and their cash flows for 
each of the three years in the period ended September 30, 1996, in 
conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.  In addition, in 
our opinion, the financial statement schedule referred to above, when 
considered in relation to the basic financial statements taken as a whole, 
presents fairly, in all material respects, the information required to be 
included therein.


                                       COOPERS & LYBRAND L.L.P.



Melville, New York
November 5, 1996.



NBTY, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Balance Sheets
September 30, 1996 and 1995

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

ASSETS:                              1996         1995          LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY:  1996         1995

<S>                                  <C>          <C>           <S>                                    <C>          <C>
Current assets:                                                 Current liabilities:
 Cash and cash equivalents           $  9,292,374 $ 10,378,476   Current portion of long-term debt
                                                                  and capital lease obligations        $    934,887 $    358,675
 Short-term investments                11,024,624                Accounts payable                        10,943,228   16,411,562
                                                                 Accrued expenses                        14,704,507   10,287,989
                                                                                                       ------------ ------------
 Accounts receivable, less allowance                                 Total current liabilities           26,582,622   27,058,226
  for doubtful accounts of $793,669
  in 1996 and $576,579 in 1995         11,625,112   12,354,545  Long-term debt                           15,178,412    9,705,534
                                                                Obligations under capital leases          3,219,127    1,218,920
                                                                 (less current portion)
 Inventories                           38,070,071   36,972,592  Deferred income taxes                     2,827,198    2,161,537
                                                                Other liabilities                           792,985      768,985
                                                                                                       ------------ ------------
 Deferred income taxes                  3,155,163    1,846,875       Total liabilities                   48,600,344   40,913,202
                                                                                                       ------------ ------------
						   
 Prepaid catalog costs and other                                Commitments and contingencies
  current assets                        5,682,874    6,170,243
                                     ------------ ------------
                                                                Stockholders' equity:
     Total current assets              78,850,218   67,722,731   Common stock, $.008 par; authorized
                                                                  25,000,000 shares; issued 20,079,676
                                                                  shares in 1996 and 19,207,676 shares
                                                                  in 1995 and outstanding 18,592,119
                                                                  shares in 1996 and 17,766,119 shares
                                                                  in 1995                                   160,638      153,662
Property, plant and equipment, net     61,731,625   48,324,576  Capital in excess of par                 56,012,910   54,151,206
                                                                Retained earnings                        44,008,465   30,656,586
                                                                                                       ------------ ------------
Intangible assets, net                  3,974,573    5,813,031                                          100,182,013   84,961,454
                                                                Less 1,487,557 and 1,441,557 treasury
Other assets                              993,785    1,668,309   shares at cost, in 1996 and 1995,
                                     ------------ ------------   respectively                             2,648,256    2,346,009
                                                                Stock subscriptions receivable              583,900
                                                                                                       ------------ ------------
                                                                     Total stockholders' equity          96,949,857   82,615,445
                                                                                                       ------------ ------------

     Total assets                    $145,550,201 $123,528,647       Total liabilities and
                                     ============ ============        stockholders' equity             $145,550,201 $123,528,647
                                                                                                       ============ ============
</TABLE>

See notes to consolidated financial statements.
                                                          


NBTY, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Income
Years ended September 30, 1996, 1995 and 1994

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                              1996            1995            1994

<S>                                           <C>             <C>             <C>
Net sales                                     $194,403,040    $178,759,871    $156,057,056
                                              ------------    ------------    ------------

Costs and expenses:
  Cost of sales                                 95,638,272      93,875,162      79,891,302
  Catalog printing, postage and promotion       17,634,801      19,261,733      14,786,217
  Selling, general and administrative           58,515,059      56,728,368      49,207,943
                                              ------------    ------------    ------------
                                               171,788,132     169,865,263     143,885,462
                                              ------------    ------------    ------------

Income from operations                          22,614,908       8,894,608      12,171,594
                                              ------------    ------------    ------------

Other income (expenses):
  Interest, net                                 (1,445,036)     (1,084,331)       (913,583)
  Miscellaneous, net                             1,203,061         571,098       1,284,953
                                              ------------    ------------    ------------
                                                  (241,975)       (513,233)        371,370
                                              ------------    ------------    ------------

Income before income taxes                      22,372,933       8,381,375      12,542,964

Income taxes                                     9,021,054       3,245,517       4,766,526
                                              ------------    ------------    ------------

      Net income                              $ 13,351,879    $  5,135,858    $  7,776,438
                                              ============    ============    ============

Net income per share
  Primary                                     $       0.67    $       0.26    $       0.38
                                              ============    ============    ============

Weighted average common shares outstanding
  Primary                                       19,975,678      19,974,270      20,257,325
                                              ============    ============    ============

</TABLE>

See notes to consolidated financial statements.



NBTY, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity
Years ended September 30, 1996, 1995 and 1994

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                 Common stock                                  Treasury stock
                              ------------------                             -------------------        Stock
                              Number of             Capital in    Retained   Number of              subscriptions
                               shares     Amount  excess of par   earnings    shares      Amount     receivables       Total
                              -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


<S>                           <C>        <C>       <C>          <C>          <C>       <C>           <C>            <C>
Balance, September 30, 1993   18,717,676 $149,742  $52,970,926  $17,744,290  1,213,404 $  (862,722)                 $70,002,236

Net income for year ended
 September 30, 1994                                               7,776,438                                           7,776,438
Expenses associated with
 prior year public offering
 of stock                                             (225,000)                                                        (225,000)
Exercise of stock options         60,000      480       29,520                                                           30,000
Tax benefit from exercise of
 stock options                                         433,200                                                          433,200
                              ---------- --------  -----------  -----------  --------- -----------   ---------      -----------

Balance, September 30, 1994   18,777,676  150,222   53,208,646   25,520,728  1,213,404    (862,722)                  78,016,874

Net income for year ended
 September 30, 1995                                               5,135,858                                           5,135,858
Exercise of stock options        430,000    3,440      211,560                                                          215,000
Tax benefit from exercise
 of stock options                                      731,000                                                          731,000
Purchase of treasury stock,
 at cost                                                                       228,153  (1,483,287)                  (1,483,287)
                              ---------- --------  -----------  -----------  --------- -----------   ---------      -----------

Balance, September 30, 1995   19,207,676  153,662   54,151,206   30,656,586  1,441,557  (2,346,009)                  82,615,445

Net income for year ended
 September 30, 1996                                 13,351,879                                                       13,351,879
Exercise of stock options        872,000    6,976      587,904                                       $(583,900)          10,980
Tax benefit from exercise
 of stock options                                    1,273,800                                                        1,273,800
Purchase of treasury stock,
 at cost                                                                        46,000    (302,247)                    (302,247)
                              ---------- --------  -----------  -----------  --------- -----------   ---------      -----------
Balance, September 30, 1996   20,079,676 $160,638  $56,012,910  $44,008,465  1,487,557 $(2,648,256)  $(583,900)	    $96,949,857
                              ========== ========  ===========  ===========  ========= ===========   =========      ===========

</TABLE>

See notes to consolidated financial statements.


NBTY, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
Years ended September 30, 1996, 1995 and 1994

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                 1996          1995          1994
                                                             ---------------------------------------

<S>                                                          <C>           <C>           <C>
Cash flows from operating activities:
  Net income                                                 $13,351,879   $ 5,135,858   $ 7,776,438
  Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash
   provided by operating activities:
    Loss on disposal/sale of property, plant
     and equipment                                                   422       374,126           519
    Depreciation and amortization                              5,623,277     4,840,570     4,243,985
    Provision (recovery) for allowance for doubtful
     accounts                                                    217,090       (17,943)       89,968
    Deferred income taxes                                       (642,627)      684,426     3,046,493
    Changes in assets and liabilities:
      Accounts receivable                                      1,615,504    (2,119,589)     (454,841)
      Inventories                                             (2,035,883)    4,453,583   (10,770,809)
      Income tax receivable                                    1,300,198     3,089,929
      Prepaid catalog costs and other current assets             487,369      (264,253)   (2,297,276)
      Other assets                                               674,524     1,123,818    (2,465,151)
      Accounts payable                                        (5,468,334)    3,160,180    (2,828,998)
      Accrued expenses                                         5,690,318     2,809,518     3,226,894
      Other liabilities                                           24,000       274,999      (353,225)
                                                             -----------   -----------   -----------
        Net cash provided by operating activities             19,537,539    21,755,491     2,303,926
                                                             -----------   -----------   -----------

Cash flows from investment activities:
  Purchase of property, plant and equipment                  (15,750,517)  (11,547,570)  (11,592,662)
  Increase in intangible assets                                  (66,691)   (1,063,953)     (253,772)
  Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment              4,270                      11,000
  Purchase of short-term investments                         (11,024,624)
  Receipt of payments on notes from sale of direct
   mail cosmetics business                                       741,303
  Proceeds from sale of direct mail cosmetic business            350,000
                                                             -----------   -----------   -----------
        Net cash used in investing activities                (25,746,259)  (12,611,523)  (11,835,434)
                                                             -----------   -----------   -----------

Cash flows from financing activities:
  Net (payments) borrowings under line of credit agreement                  (5,000,000)    5,000,000
  Borrowings under long-term debt agreements                   6,000,000     2,400,000
  Principal payments under long-term debt agreements
   and capital leases                                           (586,115)     (797,799)     (221,307)
  Purchase of treasury stock                                    (302,247)   (1,292,287)
  Proceeds from stock options exercised                           10,980        24,000        30,000
  Proceeds from public offering, less expenses                                              (225,000)
                                                             -----------   -----------   -----------
        Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities    5,122,618    (4,666,086)    4,583,693
                                                             -----------   -----------   -----------

Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents          (1,086,102)    4,477,882    (4,947,815)

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year                10,378,476     5,900,594    10,848,409
                                                             -----------   -----------   -----------

Cash and cash equivalents at end of year                     $ 9,292,374   $10,378,476   $ 5,900,594
                                                             ===========   ===========   ===========

Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:

  Cash paid during the period for interest                   $ 1,454,380   $ 1,085,647   $   913,145
                                                             ===========   ===========   ===========

  Cash paid during the period for income taxes               $ 5,386,714   $ 1,648,765   $ 2,349,198
                                                             ===========   ===========   ===========

</TABLE>

Non-cash investing and financing information:

The Company entered into capital leases for machinery and equipment 
aggregating $2,635,412 during fiscal 1996 and $1,416,472 in fiscal 1995. 

During fiscal 1996, 1995 and 1994, options were exercised with shares of 
common stock issued to certain officers and directors.  Accordingly, the tax 
benefit of approximately $1,274,000, $731,000 and $433,000 for the years 
ended September 30, 1996, 1995 and 1994, respectively, was recorded as an 
increase in capital in excess of par and a reduction in taxes currently 
payable.  (See Note 11.)

On October 9, 1995, the Company sold certain assets of its direct-mail 
cosmetics business for approximately $2,495,000.  The Company received 
$350,000 in cash and non-interest bearing notes aggregating approximately 
$2,145,000 for inventory, a customer list and other intangible assets.  The 
notes will be paid over a three-year period based on a predetermined formula 
with guaranteed minimum payments.  A final payment for the remaining 
outstanding balance will be made on September 30, 1998.

See notes to consolidated financial statements.


NBTY, Inc. and Subsidiaries 
Notes to Financial Statements

1.    Business Operations and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies:

      Business operations

      NBTY, Inc., formerly Nature's Bounty, Inc. (the "Company"), 
      manufactures and distributes vitamins, food supplements and health and 
      beauty aids.  The processing, formulation, packaging, labeling and 
      advertising of the Company's products are subject to regulation by one 
      or more federal agencies, including the Food and Drug Administration, 
      the Federal Trade Commission, the Consumer Product Safety Commission, 
      the United States Department of Agriculture, the United States 
      Environmental Protection Agency and the United States Postal Service.

      Principles of consolidation and basis of presentation

      The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the 
      Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries.  All material intercompany 
      accounts and transactions have been eliminated.

      Revenue recognition

      The Company recognizes revenue upon shipment or, with respect to its 
      own retail store operations, upon the sale of products.  The Company 
      has no single customer that represents more than 10% of annual net 
      sales or accounts receivable as of September 30, 1996.

      Inventories

      Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market.  Cost is 
      determined on a first-in, first-out basis.  The cost elements of 
      inventory include materials, labor and overhead.  One supplier 
      provided approximately 12% of the Company's purchases in 1996.

      Prepaid catalog costs

      Mail order production and mailing costs are capitalized as prepaid 
      catalog costs and charged to income over the catalog period, which 
      typically approximates three months.

      Property, plant and equipment

      Property, plant and equipment are carried at cost.  Depreciation is 
      provided on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of 
      the related assets.  Expenditures which significantly improve or 
      extend the life of an asset are capitalized.

      Maintenance and repairs are charged to expense in the year incurred.  
      Cost and related accumulated depreciation for property, plant and 
      equipment are removed from the accounts upon sale or disposition and 
      the resulting gain or loss is reflected in earnings.

      Intangible assets

      Goodwill represents the excess of purchase price over the fair value 
      of identifiable net assets of companies acquired.  Goodwill and other 
      intangibles are amortized on a straight-line basis over appropriate 
      periods not exceeding 40 years.

      Income taxes

      The Company recognizes deferred tax liabilities and assets for the 
      expected future tax consequences of events that have been included in 
      the financial statements or tax returns.  Deferred tax liabilities and 
      assets are determined based on the difference between the financial 
      statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities using enacted tax 
      rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to 
      reverse.

      Cash and cash equivalents

      For purposes of the statement of cash flows, the Company considers all 
      highly liquid debt instruments purchased with an original maturity of 
      three months or less to be cash equivalents.

      Short-term investments

      Short-term interest bearing investments are those with maturities of 
      less than one year but greater than three months when purchased.  
      These investments are readily convertible to cash and are stated at 
      market value, which approximates cost.  Realized gains and losses are 
      included in other income on a specific identification basis in the 
      period they are realized.

      Common shares and earnings per share

      Earnings per share are based on the weighted average number of common 
      shares outstanding during the period.  Common stock equivalents are 
      not included in income per share computations since their effect on 
      the calculation is immaterial.

      Stock-based plans

      In October 1995, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued 
      Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123, "Accounting for 
      Stock-Based Compensation," which establishes financial accounting and 
      reporting standards for stock based plans.  The Statement, which 
      becomes effective in fiscal 1997, requires the Company to choose 
      between accounting for issuances of stock and other equity instruments 
      to employees based on their fair value or to continue to use an 
      intrinsic value based method and disclosing the pro forma effects such 
      accounting would have had on the Company's net income and earnings per 
      share.  The Company will continue to use the intrinsic value based 
      method, which generally does not result in compensation cost.

      Reclassifications

      Certain reclassifications have been made to conform prior year amounts 
      to the current year presentation

2.    Sale of Direct-Mail Cosmetics Business:

      On October 9, 1995, the Company sold certain assets of its direct-mail 
      cosmetics business for approximately $2,495,000.  The Company received 
      $350,000 in cash and non interest bearing notes aggregating 
      approximately $2,145,000 for inventory, a customer list and other 
      intangible assets.  The notes will be paid over a three-year period 
      based on a predetermined formula with guaranteed minimum payments.  A 
      final payment for the remaining outstanding balance will be made on 
      September 30, 1998.  Revenues applicable to this marginally 
      unprofitable business were $136,648, $8,283,517 and $13,276,045 for 
      fiscal 1996, 1995 and 1994, respectively.

3.    Inventories:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                 September 30,
                                                           -------------------------
                                                              1996          1995

         <S>                                               <C>           <C>
         Raw materials                                     $17,131,532   $15,898,215
         Work-in-process                                     1,522,803     1,848,629
         Finished goods                                     19,415,736    19,225,748
                                                           -----------   -----------
                                                           $38,070,071   $36,972,592
                                                           ===========   ===========
</TABLE>

4.    Property, Plant and Equipment:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                 September 30,
                                                           -------------------------
                                                               1996          1995

         <S>                                               <C>           <C>
         Land                                              $ 4,764,965   $ 3,064,965
         Buildings and leasehold improvements               38,087,461    31,830,638
         Machinery and equipment                            28,560,427    22,279,226
         Furniture and fixtures                              8,484,103     6,065,382
         Transportation equipment                              640,982       200,982
         Computer equipment                                  8,544,945     7,296,395
                                                           -----------   -----------
                                                            89,082,883    70,737,588
           Less accumulated depreciation and amortization   27,351,258    22,413,012
                                                           -----------   -----------
                                                           $61,731,625   $48,324,576
                                                           ===========   ===========
</TABLE>

      Depreciation and amortization of property, plant and equipment for the 
      years ended September 30, 1996, 1995 and 1994 was approximately 
      $4,974,000, $4,064,000 and $3,190,000, respectively.

      Property, plant and equipment includes approximately $4,052,000 and 
      $1,416,000 for assets recorded under capital leases for fiscal 1996 
      and 1995, respectively.

5.    Intangible Assets:

      Intangible assets, at cost, acquired at various dates are as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                 September 30,
                                           -------------------------   Amortization
                                              1996          1995          period

         <S>                               <C>           <C>              <C>
         Goodwill                          $   469,400   $   469,400      20-40
         Customer lists                      8,783,475    10,540,017       6-15
         Trademark and licenses              1,201,205     1,134,514       2-3
         Covenants not to compete            1,304,538     1,304,538       5-7
                                           -----------   -----------
                                            11,758,618    13,448,469
           Less accumulated amortization     7,784,045     7,635,438
                                           -----------   -----------
                                           $ 3,974,573   $ 5,813,031
                                           ===========   ===========
</TABLE>

      Amortization included in the consolidated statements of income under 
      the caption "selling, general and administrative expenses" in 1996, 
      1995 and 1994 was approximately $649,000, $776,000 and $1,054,000, 
      respectively.

      Effective October 1, 1993, the Company changed its estimates of the 
      lives of certain customer lists.  Customer list amortization lives 
      that previously averaged 6 years were increased to an average of 15 
      years.  This change was made to better reflect the estimated periods 
      during which an individual will remain a customer of the Company.  The 
      change had the effect of reducing amortization expense by 
      approximately $500,000 and increasing the net income by $310,000 in 
      1994.

6.    Accrued Expenses:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                    September 30,
                                              -------------------------
                                                  1996          1995

         <S>                                  <C>           <C>
         Payroll and related payroll taxes    $ 2,730,453   $ 2,166,355
         Customer deposits                      1,862,837     2,034,175
         Accrued purchases                      1,765,420     1,734,844
         Income taxes payable                   2,670,270        39,815
         Other                                  5,675,527     4,312,800
                                              -----------   -----------
                                              $14,704,507   $10,287,989
                                              ===========   ===========
</TABLE>

7.    Long-Term Debt:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                            September 30,
                                                                    -------------------------
                                                                        1996          1995

      <S>                                                           <C>           <C>
      Mortgages:
        First mortgage, payable in monthly principal and interest
         (10.375%) installments (a)                                 $ 7,447,859   $ 7,566,144
        First mortgage payable in monthly principal and interest
         (9.73%) installments of $25,396 (b)                          2,257,729     2,338,432
        First mortgage, payable in monthly principal and interest
         (7.375%) installments of $55,196 (c)                         5,926,038
                                                                    -----------   -----------
                                                                     15,631,626     9,904,576
        Less current portion                                            453,214       199,042
                                                                    -----------   -----------
                                                                    $15,178,412   $ 9,705,534
                                                                    ===========   ===========

     <Fa>  In September 1990, the Company obtained an $8,000,000 first 
           mortgage, collateralized by the underlying building, issued 
           through the Town of Islip, New York Industrial Development 
           Agency.  The taxable bond, held by an insurance company, has 
           monthly principal and interest payments of $74,821 for ten years 
           through 2000, with a final payment of $6,891,258 in September 2000.

     <Fb>  In November 1994, the Company purchased a building which it 
           previously occupied under a long-term lease.  The purchase price 
           of approximately $3,090,000 was funded with $690,000 in cash and 
           the balance through a 15-year mortgage note payable.  This 
           agreement contains restrictive covenants identical to the 
           covenants noted under the revolving credit facility described below.

     <Fc>  In April 1996, the Company obtained a $6,000,000 first 
           mortgage with a fixed interest rate of 7.375%, collateralized by 
           the underlying real estate.  The mortgage has monthly principal 
           and interest payments of $55,196 for fifteen years through 2011.

</TABLE>

      On April 3, 1996, the Company renewed a revolving credit agreement 
      (the "Agreement") with two banks that provides for unsecured 
      borrowings up to $15,000,000 which expires March 31, 1999.  As of 
      September 30, 1996, there were no borrowings under this Agreement.  
      Under the most restrictive covenants of the Agreement, the Company is 
      required to maintain tangible net worth of at least $84,000,000, a 
      current ratio of at least 1.75 to 1.00 and has a limitation on the 
      amount of capital expenditures.

      Required principal payments of long-term debt are as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                        Years ended
                       September 30,

                           <C>                   <C>
                           1997                  $   453,214
                           1998                      494,324
                           1999                      539,266
                           2000                    7,419,600
                           2001                      443,875
                         Thereafter                6,281,347
                                                 -----------
                                                 $15,631,626
                                                 ===========
</TABLE>

8.    Capital Lease Obligations:

      The Company entered into six capital leases for machinery and 
      equipment aggregating $2,635,412 during fiscal 1996 and two capital 
      leases for machinery and equipment aggregating $1,416,472 in fiscal 
      1995.  The leases provide the Company with bargain purchase options at 
      the end of such lease terms.

      Future minimum payments under capital lease obligations as of 
      September 30, 1996 are as follows:

<TABLE>

  <C>                                                           <C>
  1997                                                          $  758,872
	 1998                                                             758,872
	 1999                                                             758,872
	 2000                                                             758,872
	 2001                                                             758,872
	 Thereafter                                                       870,186
                                                                ----------
                                                                 4,664,546
  Less, amount representing interest                               963,746
                                                                ----------
  Present value of minimum lease payments (including $481,673
   due within one year)                                         $3,700,800
                                                                ==========
</TABLE>

9.    Income Taxes:

      Provision for income taxes consists of the following:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                  Year ended September 30,
                             -----------------------------------
                                1996         1995        1994

         <S>                 <C>          <C>         <C>
         Federal
           Current           $7,551,755   $2,224,935  $  856,774
           Deferred            (501,249)     636,516   3,156,289

         State
           Current            2,111,926      336,156     515,893
           Deferred            (141,378)      47,910     237,570
                             ----------   ----------  ----------

         Total provision     $9,021,054   $3,245,517  $4,766,526
                             ==========   ==========  ==========
</TABLE>

      The following is a reconciliation of the income tax expense computed 
      using the statutory federal income tax rate to the actual income tax 
      expense and its effective income tax rate.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                 Year ended September 30,
                                         -----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                  1996                    1995                    1994
                                         -----------------------  ----------------------  ----------------------
                                                      Percent of              Percent of              Percent of
                                                        pretax                  pretax                  pretax
                                           Amount       income      Amount      income      Amount      income

      <S>                                <C>            <C>       <C>           <C>       <C>           <C>
      Income tax expense at
       statutory rate                    $7,830,527     35.0%     $2,849,668    34.0%     $4,390,037    35.0%
      State income taxes, net of
       federal income tax benefit         1,280,856      5.7%        253,483     3.0%        489,751     3.9%
      Other, individually less than 5%      (90,329)    (0.4%)       142,366     1.7%       (113,262)   (0.9%)
                                         ----------     -----     ----------    -----     ----------    -----
      Actual income tax provision        $9,021,054     40.3%     $3,245,517    38.7%     $4,766,526    38.0%
                                         ==========     =====     ==========    =====     ==========    =====
</TABLE>

The components of deferred tax assets and liabilities are as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                      1996         1995
                                                                   -----------------------

       <S>                                                         <C>          <C>
       Deferred tax assets:
         Current:
           Inventory capitalization                                $  243,000   $  178,034
           Accrued expenses and reserves not currently deductible   2,591,137    1,049,584
           Tax credits                                                321,026      555,822
           Miscellaneous                                                            63,435
                                                                   ----------   ----------
             Current deferred tax assets                            3,155,163    1,846,875
                                                                   ----------   ----------
         Noncurrent:
           Intangibles                                                334,820      231,701
           Reserves not currently deductible                          200,070      342,910
                                                                   ----------   ----------
             Total noncurrent                                         534,890      574,611
                                                                   ----------   ----------

       Deferred tax liabilities:
         Property, plant and equipment                             (3,362,088)  (2,736,148)
                                                                   ----------   ----------
           Net deferred tax asset (liability)                      $  327,965   $ (314,662)
                                                                   ==========   ==========
</TABLE>

      Available state tax credits of $321,026 and $555,822 in 1996 and 1995, 
      respectively, are scheduled to expire through fiscal 2002.
      
10.   Commitments:

      Leases

      The Company conducts retail operations under operating leases which 
      expire at various dates through 2011.  Some of the leases contain 
      renewal options and provide for additional rentals based upon sales 
      plus certain tax and maintenance costs.

      Future minimal rental payments under the retail location and 
      automotive leases that have initial or noncancelable lease terms in 
      excess of one year at September 30, 1996 are as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
        Year ending
        September 30,

        <S>                             <C>
        1997                            $ 3,319,803
	       1998                              3,010,636
	       1999                              2,807,311
	       2000                              2,375,884
	       2001                              1,660,407
	       Thereafter                          811,796
                                        -----------
                                        $13,985,837
                                        ===========
</TABLE>

      Operating lease rental expense, including real estate tax and 
      maintenance costs and leases on a month to month basis, was 
      approximately $1,979,000, $1,248,000 and $1,200,000 for the years 
      ended September 30, 1996, 1995 and 1994, respectively.

      Purchase commitments

      The Company was committed to make future purchases under various 
      purchase order arrangements with fixed price provisions aggregating 
      approximately $12,923,000 and $972,000 at September 30, 1996 and 1995, 
      respectively.

      Employment and consulting agreement agreements

      The Company has employment agreements with two of its officers.  The 
      agreements, which expire in January 2004, provide for minimum salary 
      levels, as adjusted for cost of living changes, as well as contain 
      provisions regarding severance and changes in control of the Company. 
      The commitment for salaries as of September 30, 1996 was approximately 
      $749,000 per year. 

      The Company also has a two-year consulting agreement with its former 
      chairman and current director which expires on December 31, 1996.  
      Such agreement required annual payments of approximately $300,000.  
      The parties are presently negotiating a renewal of the agreement under 
      substantially comparable terms.  In addition, an entity owned by a 
      relative of an officer received sales commissions of $417,000, 
      $510,000 and $351,000 in 1996, 1995 and 1994, respectively.

11.   Stock Option Plans:

      The Board of Directors approved the issuance of 1,608,000 non-
      qualified stock options on December 11, 1989, exercisable at $0.50 per 
      share, which options terminated on December 10, 1994.  The Board also 
      approved the issuance of 2,220,000 non-qualified options on September 
      23, 1990, exercisable at $0.63 per share, which options terminate on 
      September 23, 2000.  In addition, on March 11, 1992, the Board of 
      Directors approved the issuance of an aggregate of 1,800,000 non-
      qualified stock options to directors and officers, exercisable at 
      $0.92 per share, and expiring on March 10, 2002.  The exercise price 
      of each of the aforementioned issuances was in excess of the market 
      price at the date such options were granted.

      During fiscal 1996, options were exercised with 872,000 shares of 
      common stock issued to certain officers and directors for $10,980 and 
      interest bearing notes in the amount of $583,900.  As a result of the 
      exercise of these options, the Company is entitled to a compensation 
      deduction for tax purposes of approximately $3,145,000 which should 
      ultimately result in a tax benefit to the Company of approximately 
      $1,273,800.  Accordingly, the Company has recorded an increase in 
      capital in excess of par and has adjusted its current liability to 
      recognize the effect of this tax benefit.

      During fiscal 1995, options were exercised with 430,000 shares of 
      common stock issued to certain officers and directors for $24,000 and 
      an interest bearing note in the amount of $191,000.  The promissory 
      note, including interest, was paid by the surrender of 23,153 NBTY 
      common shares to the Company at the prevailing market price.  As a 
      result of the exercise of these options, the Company was entitled to a 
      compensation deduction of approximately $1,827,500 which resulted in a 
      tax benefit of approximately $731,000.  Such benefit was recorded as 
      an increase in capital in excess of par and a reduction to taxes 
      currently payable.  

      During fiscal 1994, options were exercised with 60,000 shares of 
      common stock issued to certain directors for $30,000.  As a result of 
      the exercise of these options, the Company was entitled to a 
      compensation deduction for tax purposes of approximately $1,140,000 
      which resulted in a tax benefit of approximately $433,200.  Such 
      benefit was recorded as an increase to capital in excess of par and a 
      reduction to taxes currently payable.

      A summary of stock option activity is as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                       Common    Exercise price
                                                                       shares      per share
                                                                      ---------  --------------

        <S>                                                           <C>          <C>
        Shares under option, September 30, 1994 (fully exercisable)   2,825,000    $.50 - $.92
          Exercised in 1995                                             430,000       $.50
                                                                      ---------  --------------
                                                                      2,395,000    $.63 - $.92

        Shares under option, September 30, 1995 (fully exercisable)
          Exercised in 1996                                             872,000    $.63 - $.92
                                                                      ---------  --------------

        Shares under option, September 30, 1996 (fully exercisable)   1,523,000    $.63 - $.92
                                                                      =========  ==============
</TABLE>

12.   Employee Benefit Plans:

      The Company maintains a defined contribution savings plan, which 
      qualifies under Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code, and an 
      employee stock ownership plan.  The accompanying financial statements 
      reflect contributions to these plans in the approximate amount of 
      $489,000, $498,000 and $103,000 for the years ended September 30, 
      1996, 1995 and 1994, respectively.

13.   Litigation:

      L-tryptophan:

      The Company and certain other companies in the industry, including 
      distributors, wholesalers and retailers (the "Indemnified Group") had 
      been named as defendants in cases arising out of the ingestion of 
      products containing L-tryptophan.  The Company had been named in more 
      than 265 lawsuits, 4 of which are still pending against the Company.  
      The Indemnified Group has entered into an agreement with the Company's 
      supplier of bulk L-tryptophan, Showa Denko America, Inc. (the 
      "Supplier"), under which the Supplier, a U.S. subsidiary of a major 
      Japanese corporation, Showa Denko K.K., has assumed the defense of all 
      claims against the Indemnified Group and has agreed to pay the legal 
      fees and expenses in that defense.  The Supplier and Showa Denko K.K. 
      has agreed to indemnify the Indemnified Group against any judgments 
      and to fund settlements arising out of those actions and claims.

      The Supplier has posted a revolving, irrevocable letter of credit of 
      $20 million to be used for the benefit of the Indemnified Group in the 
      event that the Supplier is unable or unwilling to satisfy any claims 
      or judgments.

      While not all of these suits quantify the amount demanded, it can 
      reasonably be assumed that the amount required to either settle these 
      cases or to pay judgments rendered therein will be paid by the 
      Supplier or by the Company's product liability insurance carrier.  To 
      date, no cases in which the Company is a party have reached trial.

      While the outcome of any litigation is uncertain, it is the opinion of 
      management and legal counsel of the Company that it is remote that the 
      Company will incur a material loss as a result of the L-tryptophan 
      litigation and claims.  Accordingly, no provision for liability, if 
      any, that may result therefrom has been made in the Company's 
      financial statements.

      Shareholder litigation:

      In October 1994, litigation was commenced in the U.S. District Court, 
      Eastern District of New York, against the Company and two of its 
      officers.  The complaint alleges that false and misleading statements 
      and representations were made concerning the Company's sales and 
      earnings estimates for the fourth fiscal quarter and the year ended 
      September 30, 1994.  The allegations are that:  (a) sales were 
      artificially inflated; (b) costs were improperly capitalized; (c) 
      sales and profit margins were materially declining; (d) inventory and 
      accounts receivable were overstated; and (e) that because of the 
      foregoing, the Company would incur a loss in its fourth fiscal 
      quarter.  The Plaintiffs seek Class Action certification and an 
      unspecified amount of monetary damages.  The Company and its officers 
      deny the allegations of the complaints and intend to vigorously 
      contest the litigation.  In 1994, prior to commencement of these 
      lawsuits, the Company purchased a directors and officers Indemnity 
      Policy.  Special counsel has been retained to represent the Company 
      and its officers.  Since the outcome of any litigation is uncertain, 
      the Company is unable to predict (i) whether it will ultimately 
      prevail; (ii) whether it will be fully or partially indemnified, if at 
      all; (iii) the amount of loss, if any, that may be attributable to the 
      above, and (iv) the amount of expense which may be incurred in the 
      defense of these actions.

      Other litigation:

      The Company is also involved in miscellaneous claims and litigation 
      which, taken individually or in the aggregate, would not have a 
      material adverse effect on the Company's financial position or its 
      business.

14.   Quarterly Results of Operations (Unaudited):

      The following is a summary of the unaudited quarterly results of 
      operations for fiscal 1996 and 1995 (dollars in thousands, except per 
      share data):

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                          Quarter ended
                                         ------------------------------------------------
                                         December 31,  March 31,  June 30,  September 30,
                                         ------------  ---------  --------  -------------

           <S>                             <C>          <C>       <C>         <C>
           1996:
             Net sales                     $38,589      $55,605   $47,900     $52,309
             Gross profit                   17,779       27,760    24,453      28,773
             Income (loss) before
              income taxes                    (412)       7,502     6,503       8,780(a)
             Net income (loss)                (251)       4,576     3,763       5,264
             Earnings (loss) per share      $(0.01)       $0.23     $0.19       $0.26

           1995:
             Net sales                     $37,478      $50,945   $41,650     $48,687
             Gross profit                   18,380       25,220    20,564      20,720
             Income before income taxes      1,648        4,336     2,004         394(b)
             Net income                        939        2,552     1,152         493
             Earnings per share              $0.05        $0.13     $0.06       $0.02

     <Fa>  1996 year-end adjustments resulting in an increase to pre-tax 
           income of approximately $2 million related to adjustments of 
           inventory amounts.

     <Fb>  1995 year-end adjustments resulting in a charge to operations 
           included approximately $1,475,000 for various accruals and for 
           the write-off of certain equipment associated with the Company's 
           cosmetic pencil operation, and $900,000 pertaining to the 
           identification of obsolete inventory.

</TABLE>


                                SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities 
Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be 
signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.


Dated: December 9, 1996             By:  /s/ Scott Rudolph
                                         Scott Rudolph
                                         President, Chief Executive Officer

Dated: December 9, 1996             By:  /s/ Harvey Kamil
                                         Harvey Kamil
                                         Executive Vice President and
                                         Chief Financial Officer

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this 
report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the 
registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

Dated: December 9, 1996             By:  /s/ Scott Rudolph
                                         Scott Rudolph
                                         Chairman, President and
                                         Chief Executive Officer

Dated: December 9, 1996             By:  /s/ Arthur Rudolph
                                         Arthur Rudolph, Director

Dated: December 9, 1996             By:  /s/ Aram Garabedian
                                         Aram Garabedian, Director

Dated: December 9, 1996             By:  /s/ Bernard G. Owen
                                         Bernard G. Owen, Director

Dated: December 9, 1996             By:  /s/ Alfred Sacks
                                         Alfred Sacks, Director

Dated: December 9, 1996             By:  /s/ Murray Daly
                                         Murray Daly, Director

Dated: December 9, 1996             By:  /s/ Glenn Cohen
                                         Glenn Cohen, Director

Dated: December 9, 1996             By:  /s/ Bud Solk
                                         Bud Solk, Director

Dated: December 9, 1996             By:  /s/ Nathan Rosenblatt
                                         Nathan Rosenblatt, Director




<TABLE> <S> <C>

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<PERIOD-START>                             OCT-01-1995
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1996
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                                0
                                          0
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<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.67
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.67
        


</TABLE>


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