COOPER LIFE SCIENCES INC
DEF 14A, 1997-02-26
INVESTORS, NEC
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           PROXY STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(a) OF THE SECURITIES
                     EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 (AMENDMENT NO.___)

Filed by the registrant [x]
Filed by a party other than the registrant[ ]
Check the appropriate box:
[ ] Preliminary proxy statement
[x] Definitive proxy statement
[ ] Definitive additional materials
[ ] Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-11(c) or Rule 14a-12


                           Cooper life Sciences, Inc.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                (Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

                Board of Directors of Cooper Life Sciences, Inc.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                   (Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement)

Payment of filing fee (Check the appropriate box):
    [x] No fee required.
    [ ] Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.

        (1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:

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

        (2)  Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:

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

        (3) Per unit price or other  underlying  value of  transaction  computed
pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (Set forth the amount on which the filing fee
is calculated and state how it was determined.)

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        (4)  Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        (5)  Total Fee Paid:
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    [ ] Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    [ ] Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided  by Exchange  Act
Rule  0-11(a)(2)  and  identify  the  filing  for which the  offsetting  fee was
previously paid. Identify the previous filing by registration  statement number,
or the form or schedule and the date of filing.

    (1) Amount previously paid:
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    (2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    (3) Filing party:
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    (4) Date filed:
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------


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                           COOPER LIFE SCIENCES, INC.
                                  160 BROADWAY
                            NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10038
                               TEL: (212) 791-5362
                             -----------------------

                    NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

                            TO BE HELD APRIL 9, 1997
                           --------------------------

To the Stockholders of
COOPER LIFE SCIENCES, INC.

        NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Cooper
Life Sciences,  Inc., a Delaware  corporation (the  "Company"),  will be held on
April 9, 1997, at 10:00 A.M.  eastern  standard  time, at 405 Lexington  Avenue,
14th Floor,  New York, New York 10174, for the purpose of considering and acting
upon the following:

        1.  The election of a Board of four directors.

        2.  The ratification of the appointment of Grant Thornton LLP as
            independent certified public accountants of the Company for the
            fiscal year ending October 31, 1997.

        3.  The transaction of such other business as may properly come before
            the meeting or any adjournments thereof.

        The Board of  Directors  has fixed the close of business on February 28,
1997 as the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to notice
of, and to vote at, the annual meeting. Only stockholders of record at the close
of  business  on that date will be  entitled  to notice  of, and to vote at, the
annual meeting or any adjournments thereof.

        Enclosed with this Notice are a Proxy Statement, a proxy card and return
envelope,  and the Company's  Annual Report to Stockholders  for the fiscal year
ended October 31, 1996 (which includes the Company's  Annual Report on Form 10-K
as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission).

        All stockholders are cordially  invited to attend the meeting in person.
WHETHER OR NOT YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE MEETING IN PERSON,  PLEASE COMPLETE,  DATE
AND SIGN THE  ENCLOSED  PROXY CARD AND MAIL IT PROMPTLY  IN THE POSTAGE  PREPAID
ENVELOPE WHICH HAS BEEN PROVIDED.


                                            By Order of the Board of Directors



                                            Harold L. Schneider
                                            Secretary

Dated: February 28, 1997


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                           COOPER LIFE SCIENCES, INC.
                                  160 BROADWAY
                            NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10038
                                -----------------
                                 PROXY STATEMENT
                                       FOR
                         ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
                                  APRIL 9, 1997
                                ----------------

INFORMATION REGARDING PROXIES

        The  accompanying  proxy is  solicited  by and on behalf of the Board of
Directors of Cooper Life  Sciences,  Inc. (the  "Company") for use at the Annual
Meeting  of  Stockholders  to be held on April 9, 1997,  at 10:00  A.M.  eastern
standard time, at 405 Lexington Avenue, 14th Floor, New York, New York 10174 and
at any adjournment or postponements  thereof (the "Annual Meeting").  This Proxy
Statement and the accompanying proxy card are first being mailed to stockholders
on or about March 4, 1997.

        The cost of  solicitation  of proxies will be borne by the  Company.  In
addition  to the  solicitation  of  proxies  by the use of the mail,  directors,
officers and other employees of the Company,  acting on its behalf,  may solicit
proxies by telephone,  telegraph,  facsimile or personal interview.  The Company
will,  at its  expense,  request  brokers  and other  custodians,  nominees  and
fiduciaries to forward proxy  soliciting  material to the  beneficial  owners of
shares held of record by such persons.  It is estimated  that said costs will be
nominal.

OUTSTANDING STOCK AND VOTING RIGHTS

        The Board of  Directors  has fixed the close of business on February 28,
1997 as the record date for the determination of stockholders of the Company who
are entitled to receive  notice of, and to vote at, the Annual  Meeting.  At the
close of  business  on that  date,  an  aggregate  of  2,157,195  shares  of the
Company's Common Stock were  outstanding,  each of which is entitled to one vote
on each matter to be voted upon at the Annual Meeting.

VOTING PROCEDURES

        When a proxy  card in the form  enclosed  with this Proxy  Statement  is
returned properly executed,  the shares represented thereby will be voted at the
Annual Meeting in accordance with the directions  indicated thereon.  If a proxy
card is properly  executed but no directions are  indicated,  the shares will be
voted FOR each of the  nominees  for director as shown on the form of proxy card
and FOR  the  ratification  of the  appointment  of  Grant  Thornton  LLP as the
Company's  independent  certified public  accountants for the fiscal year ending
October 31, 1997.  The Board of Directors does not know of any other business to
come before the Annual Meeting. If any other matters,  however,  should properly
come before the Annual Meeting or any  adjournment or  postponement  thereof for
which specific authority has not been solicited from the stockholders,  then, to
the extent  permissible  by law,  the persons  voting the proxies will use their
discretionary  authority to vote thereon in accordance with their best judgment.
A stockholder  who executes and returns the enclosed proxy card may revoke it at
any time prior to its exercise by giving  written  notice of such  revocation to
the Secretary of the Company, by executing a subsequently dated proxy card or by
voting in person at the Annual  Meeting.  Attendance at the Annual  Meeting by a
stockholder  who has  executed  and  returned a proxy card does not alone revoke
such proxy.

        The directors will be elected by the affirmative  vote of a plurality of
the  shares of Common  Stock  present in person or  represented  by proxy at the
Annual Meeting,  provided a quorum exists. A quorum is established if, as of the
record date, at least a majority of the  outstanding  shares of Common Stock are
present


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in person or represented by proxy at the Annual  Meeting.  Votes will be counted
and  certified  by one or more  Inspectors  of Election  who are  expected to be
employees of American  Stock Transfer & Trust  Company,  the Company's  transfer
agent. In accordance with Delaware law, abstentions and "broker non-votes" (i.e.
proxies from brokers or nominees  indicating that such persons have not received
instructions  from the beneficial owner or other persons entitled to vote shares
as to a matter  with  respect  to which  the  brokers  or  nominees  do not have
discretionary  power to  vote)  will be  treated  as  present  for  purposes  of
determining the presence of a quorum. For purposes of determining  approval of a
matter  presented at the Annual Meeting,  abstentions will be deemed present and
entitled  to vote and  will,  therefore,  have the same  legal  effect as a vote
"against" a matter  presented at the Annual  Meeting.  Broker  non-votes will be
deemed not  entitled to vote on the subject  matter as to which the  non-vote is
indicated  and  will,  therefore,  have  no  legal  effect  on the  vote on that
particular matter.

                        PROPOSAL I: ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

        At this years Annual Meeting,  four (4) nominees will be elected to hold
office as directors.  The four persons listed below have been nominated to serve
as directors of the Company until the next annual  meeting of  stockholders  and
until their respective  successors have been duly elected and qualified.  All of
the nominees are currently  directors of the Company.  In the  unexpected  event
that any of such nominees should become unable or decline to serve,  proxies may
be voted for the  election  of  substitute  nominees  as are  designated  by the
Company's Board of Directors.

        The names of the nominees for  election as directors  are listed  below,
together with certain  personal  information,  including  the present  principal
occupation and recent business  experience of each nominee.  Each of the persons
named below has  indicated to the Board of Directors of the Company that he will
be able to serve.

                                                                        YEAR
                                                                      COMMENCED
                                                                      SERVING AS
                                                                      A DIRECTOR
               NAME, PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION                               OF THE
               AND OTHER DIRECTORSHIPS                        AGE      COMPANY
               -----------------------                        ---      -------

William L. Cohen                                              55        1993
      Mr.  Cohen has been a  director  since July 1993.
      Mr. Cohen is President,  Chief Executive  Officer
      and Chairman of the Board of Andover Togs,  Inc.,
      an apparel  manufacturing  company,  positions he
      has held for more than the past five years.

Moses Marx                                                    61        1995
      Mr. Marx has been a director  since May 1995. Mr.
      Marx  has  been  a  general   partner  in  United
      Equities  Company (a securities  brokerage  firm)
      since  1954  and  a  general  partner  in  United
      Equities   Commodities   Company  (a  commodities
      brokerage  firm) since 1972. He is also President
      of Momar Corp. (an investment company).  Mr. Marx
      is a director of Bio Technology  General Corp. (a
      developer  and   manufacturer  of   biotechnology
      products)  and  The  Cooper  Companies,  Inc.  (a
      developer   and    manufacturer   of   healthcare
      products).



                                        2

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Steven Rosenberg                                              48        1995
      Mr. Rosenberg has been a director since May 1995.
      Mr.  Rosenberg has been Vice  President and Chief
      Financial  Officer of the Company  since 1990 and
      since  May  1995,  he has also  served  as acting
      President.  From  September  1987  through  April
      1990,  he served as  President  and  Director  of
      Scomel  Industries,  Inc.,  a company  engaged in
      international   marketing  and  consulting.   Mr.
      Rosenberg is a director of The Cooper  Companies,
      Inc.

Randolph B. Stockwell                                         49        1988
      Mr.  Stockwell  has been a  director  since  July
      1988.  He has been private  investor for over ten
      years and has served in various  capacities  with
      the  Community  Bank,  a  commercial  bank,  from
      September 1972 to January 1987.

        There  are no  family  relationships  (whether  by  blood,  marriage  or
adoption) among any of the Company's current directors or executive officers.


BOARD COMMITTEES, MEETINGS AND COMPENSATION

        The Board of Directors of the Company has established an Audit Committee
and a  Stock  Incentive  Committee.  The  Company  does  not  have a  nominating
committee  or a  compensation  committee.  The  Audit  Committee  and the  Stock
Incentive  Committee are  comprised of Messrs.  Cohen and  Stockwell.  The Audit
Committee's  functions include reviewing with the independent  auditors the plan
and result of the auditing  engagement,  reviewing the adequacy of the Company's
system of internal accounting  controls,  and considering the range of audit and
nonaudit services.  The Stock Incentive Committees's functions presently consist
of the administration of the Company's 1991 Stock Incentive Plan.

        During the fiscal year ended  October 31,  1996,  the Board met once and
acted  once by  written  consent  and the Audit  Committee  met once.  The Stock
Incentive Committee did not meet during fiscal 1996.

        For a description of  compensation  paid to Directors,  see  "Management
Compensation - Compensation of Directors."

        Directors are elected annually by the stockholders.





                                        3

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                    SECURITIES HELD BY MANAGEMENT AND OTHERS

SECURITIES HELD BY MANAGEMENT

        The following table sets forth certain  information  regarding ownership
of the  Company's  Common Stock as of February 14, 1997, by each  director,  the
only executive officer named in the Summary  Compensation  Table set forth below
(who is also a director of the  Company),  and by all  directors  and  executive
officers as a group.

                                              Number of             Percent
                                               Shares               of Class
                                               ------               --------
William Cohen                                    1,000(1)              *

Moses Marx (2)                               1,155,620              53.5%

Steven Rosenberg                                30,000(3)            1.4%

Randolph B. Stockwell                            1,500(4)              *


All executive officers and directors
  as a group (4 persons)                     1,188,120(5)           54.2%
- ----------------
 *  Less than 1%.

(1)     Issuable  upon the  exercise of options  which have been  granted to Mr.
        Cohen under  the Company's Stock Option Plan for Non-Employee Directors.
(2)     Mr. Marx's address is 160 Broadway, New York, NY 10038
(3)     Issuable  upon the  exercise  of  outstanding  options  which  have been
        granted to Mr. Rosenberg  under the Company's 1991 Stock Incentive Plan.
(4)     Issuable  upon the  exercise of options  which have been  granted to Mr.
        Stockwell  under  the  Company's  Stock  Option  Plan  for  Non-Employee
        Directors.
(5)     Includes  32,500  shares of Common  Stock  which are  issuable  upon the
        exercise of outstanding options.

PRINCIPAL SECURITYHOLDERS

        The following table sets forth certain  information  regarding ownership
of the Company's  Common Stock as of February 14, 1997, by the only party (other
than Mr. Marx - See "Securities Held by Management" above) which has advised the
Company that it owns more than five percent (5%) of the Company's Common Stock.

                                           Common Stock Beneficially Owned
                                           -------------------------------
                                           Number of               Percent
                                            Shares                 of Class
                                            ------                 --------
Estate of Mel Schnell(1)                    150,000                   6.5%
6 Maiden Lane, New York, NY 10038
- --------

(1)    Based  upon filings made by the estate of Mr. Schnell with the Securities
and Exchange  Commission.  Represents  150,000  shares of Common Stock which are
issuable upon the exercise of options granted to Mr. Schnell, while President of
the Company, under the Company's 1991 Stock Incentive Plan.


                                        4

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                             MANAGEMENT COMPENSATION

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

                           SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE

        The table below shows  compensation  paid in or with  respect to each of
the last three  fiscal  years to the person  who served as the  Company's  chief
executive officer during fiscal 1996. No other executive officer received annual
cash compensation in excess of $100,000.

                               Annual Compensation
                               -------------------
Name and
Principal Position                  Year            Salary
- ------------------                  ----            ------
Steven Rosenberg(1)                 1996           $ 90,000
 Vice President (Acting             1995           $ 90,000
 President) and Chief               1994           $ 90,000
 Financial Officer

- ------------------
(1) Mr.  Rosenberg  assumed  the  position  of  Acting  President  in  May 1995,
    following the death of Mr. Schnell.

        No stock options were granted or exercised  during the fiscal year ended
October 31, 1996. The table below shows the fiscal year-end value of unexercised
options held by the Company's only executive officer.

                 AGGREGATE OPTION EXERCISES IN FISCAL YEAR ENDED
               OCTOBER 31, 1996 AND FISCAL YEAR END OPTION VALUES

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                      NUMBER OF SECURITIES       VALUE OF UNEXERCISED
                                    UNDERLYING UNEXERCISED       IN-THE-MONEY OPTIONS
                  SHARES ACQUIRED  OPTIONS AT FISCAL YEAR END     AT FISCAL YEAR END
NAME                ON EXERCISE     EXERCISABLE/UNEXERCISABLE   EXERCISABLE/UNEXERCISABLE *
- ----                -----------     -------------------------   ---------------------------

<S>               <C>              <C>                           <C>
Steven Rosenberg        -0-            30,000 /       0           $ 93,750  / $    0
</TABLE>

* Year-end values for unexercised  in-the-money  options  represent the positive
spread between the exercise price of such options and the year-end  market value
of the Common Stock.

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

        Pursuant  to an  employment  agreement  between  the  Company and Steven
Rosenberg  dated as of November 1, 1994 (the "1994  Agreement"),  Mr.  Rosenberg
agreed to continue to serve as the Company's Vice President and Chief  Financial
Officer during the three year period ending on October 31, 1997 (previously,  he
had been serving in that  capacity on an "at will"  basis).  The 1994  Agreement
provided that during the period of employment Mr.  Rosenberg shall devote all of
his business time to the business of the Company and its subsidiaries as is from
time to time  appropriate  under the  circumstances.  As  compensation  for such
services,  Mr. Rosenberg is paid a base salary at the rate of $90,000 per annum,
plus such annual bonus  payments as the Board of Directors of the Company may in
its discretion determine to be appropriate under the circumstances.

COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION IN
COMPENSATION DECISIONS

        The  Company  does not have a  Compensation  Committee  of its  Board of
Directors.  Decisions  as to  compensation  are made by the  Company's  Board of
Directors.  During the Company's fiscal year ended October 31, 1996, none of the
executive  officers of the Company has served on the board of any other  entity,
any of whose officers has served on the Board of Directors of the Company.

                                        5

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REPORT ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

        There is no  Compensation  Committee  of the Board of Directors or other
committee  of  the  Board  performing  equivalent  functions.  As  noted  above,
compensation of the Company's  executive  officers is determined by the Board of
Directors. There is no formal policy for the Company's executive officers, other
than the existing employment agreement with Mr. Rosenberg.

        The Board of Directors has appointed a Stock Option  Committee which has
made  grants  under,  and  administered,  the 1991  Stock  Incentive  Plan.  The
Committee will continue to make grants and  administer the 1991 Stock  Incentive
Plan.

        Total  compensation for executive  officers consists of a combination of
salaries and stock option awards.  The salary of the Company's  Vice  President-
Finance is fixed  annually  by the terms of his  employment  agreement  with the
Company.  Executive officers shall be entitled to receive such annual bonuses as
the Board of Directors may in its discretion  determine to be appropriate  under
the  circumstances,  based upon, with respect to each fiscal year, the Company's
results of  operations  and  progress  with  respect to the  achievement  of its
strategic goals, the executive officers' performance,  and such other factors as
the  Board of  Directors  deems to be  relevant.  No  bonuses  were  paid to any
executive  officer in 1996.  Stock option awards under the Company's  1991 Stock
Incentive  Plan are intended to attract,  motivate and retain senior  management
personnel by affording them an opportunity  to receive  additional  compensation
based upon the performance of the Company's Common Stock.

COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS

        Each  director  who is not an employee of the Company  receives  monthly
fees of $1,000 for  serving as a director of the Company and $1,000 for each day
during  which he  participates  in a meeting of the Board and,  if on a separate
day, $500 for each day during which he  participates in a meeting of a committee
of the Board of which is a member.  In  addition,  see  "Stock  Option  Plan for
Non-Employee Directors" below.

BENEFIT PLANS

        Except as set forth  below under  "Stock  Plans",  the Company  does not
maintain any pension,  profit-sharing or other incentive  compensation plans for
the benefit of any of its current employees.

STOCK PLANS

        In 1991,  the Board of Directors  of the Company  adopted a Stock Option
Plan for  Non-Employee  Directors  (the  "Stock  Option  Plan  for  Non-Employee
Directors") and a 1991 Stock Incentive Plan (the "1991 Stock Incentive Plan"). A
brief description of each plan is as follows:

STOCK OPTION PLAN FOR NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTORS

        Up to 25,000 shares of common stock may be issued  pursuant to the Stock
Option Plan for Non-Employee Directors (subject to appropriate adjustment in the
event of changes in the corporate  structure of the  Company).  The Stock Option
Plan for Non-Employee  Directors  provides that each director of the Company who
is not an  employee of the  Company or any  subsidiary  (and who has not been an
employee  for  at  least  one  year  prior  to  the  date  of  grant)  shall  be
automatically  granted an option to purchase up to 500 shares of common stock of
the Company on the date of each annual  meeting of  stockholders  at which he or
she is elected as a director of the Company.  Only  nonqualified  options may be
granted  under the Stock  Option  Plan for  Non-Employee  Directors.  The option
exercise  price  shall be equal to the fair  market  value of a share of  common
stock of the Company on

                                        6

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the date of the grant, and the options granted become exercisable six months
after issuance.

        Pursuant to the Stock Option Plan for Non-Employee  Directors,  on April
8, 1992, the Company granted nonqualified  options to two nonemployee  directors
of the Company to each purchase 500 shares of the  Company's  common stock at an
exercise  price of $6.75 per share  (which  options  will expire in April 1997).
Pursuant to the Plan,  on October 13,  1994,  the Company  granted  nonqualified
options to its two current nonemployee  directors to each purchase 500 shares of
the Company's common stock at an exercise price of $9.75 per share which options
will  expire in October  1999.  Pursuant  to the Plan,  on April 11,  1995,  the
Company granted nonqualified options to its two current nonemployee directors to
each purchase 500 shares of the Company's  common stock at an exercise  price of
$15.00 per share which options will expire in April 2000.

1991 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN

        The 1991 Stock  Incentive  Plan  permits  the  granting of awards in the
forms of nonqualified stock options, incentive stock options,  restricted stock,
deferred stock, and other stock-based incentives. Up to 300,000 shares of common
stock of the Company may be issued  pursuant  to the 1991 Stock  Incentive  Plan
(subject  to  appropriate  adjustment  in the event of changes in the  corporate
structure of the  Company).  Officers and other key  employees of the Company or
any  subsidiary  are eligible to receive  awards under the 1991 Stock  Incentive
Plan. The option  exercise price of all options which are granted under the 1991
Stock  Incentive Plan must be at least equal to 100% of the fair market value of
a share of common stock of the Company on the date of grant.

        Pursuant  to the 1991 Stock  Incentive  Plan,  on  October 6, 1991,  the
Committee  administering  the Plan  granted  nonqualified  stock  options to the
Company's  President  to  purchase  up to  150,000  shares of common  stock at a
purchase  price of $7.00  per  share  and to the  Company's  Vice  President  to
purchase up to 15,000  shares of common  stock at a purchase  price of $7.00 per
share.  The option granted to the Company's  President  terminates on the eighth
anniversary  of its effective  date and the option granted to the Company's Vice
President terminates on the fifth anniversary of its effective date.

        On October 13, 1994, the Committee granted additional  noqualified stock
options to the  Company's  Vice  President  to purchase  up to 15,000  shares of
common  stock at a purchase  price of $9.75 per share  which  terminates  on the
fifth anniversary of its effective date.




                                        7

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                                PERFORMANCE GRAPH

        The  following  graph  compares  the  cumulative  total  return  on  the
Company's  common  stock with the  cumulative  total  return of The Nasdaq Stock
Market Total Return Index for the five-year  period ended October 31, 1996.  The
graph assumes that the value of the  investment in the Company and the index was
$100 on October 31, 1991 and assumes that all  dividends  were  reinvested.  The
Company has not paid any dividends and,  therefore,  the cumulative total return
calculation  for the Company is based solely upon stock price  appreciation  and
not upon reinvested  dividends.  The Company has not had  significant  operating
businesses  or operations  in a primary  business  segment to which a meaningful
comparison of the Company's  performance for the five-year  period ended October
31, 1996 can be made.

              RETURN TO SHAREHOLDERS OF COOPER LIFE SCIENCES, INC.


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
======================================================================================================================
                         10/31/91      10/31/92        10/31/93        10/31/94        10/31/95       10/31/96
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                      <C>           <C>             <C>             <C>             <C>            <C>
Cooper Life              $100          $ 92.59         $118.52         $148.15         $125.93        $170.37
Sciences, Inc.
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NASDAQ Market            $100          $112.76         $145.29         $146.07         $196.54        $232.22
Total Return
Index
======================================================================================================================
</TABLE>




              PROPOSAL II: RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF AUDITORS

        The Board of Directors  has  appointed  the firm of Grant  Thornton LLP,
certified public accountants, to audit and opine upon the consolidated financial
statements  of the Company for the fiscal year  ending  October 31,  1997,  such
appointment  to continue at the  pleasure  of the Board of  Directors  and to be
subject to  ratification  by the  stockholders.  Grant Thornton LLP has acted as
auditors of the Company since 1992.  The  stockholders  are asked to ratify such
appointment.

        The Board of Directors expects that one or more representatives of Grant
Thornton LLP will be present at the Annual Meeting, will have the opportunity to
make a statement  if they desire to do so, and will be  available  to respond to
appropriate questions.

                                  OTHER MATTERS

        The Board of  Directors of the Company  knows of no other  matters to be
presented at the Annual  Meeting,  but if any such matters  properly come before
the Annual  Meeting,  it is intended that the persons  holding the  accompanying
proxy will vote in accordance with their best judgement.


                                 RECOMMENDATIONS

        The Board of Directors of the Company  recommends that the  stockholders
vote FOR the election of the nominees for director named in this Proxy Statement
and FOR  ratification  of the  appointment  of Grant Thornton LLP as independent
auditors.



                                        8

<PAGE>
<PAGE>


                       SUBMISSION OF STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS

        A  stockholder  proposal  must be received by the Company on or prior to
November  6, 1997 at the  address of the  Company set forth on the first page of
this Proxy  Statement  in order to be eligible for  inclusion  in the  Company's
proxy statement for the next annual meeting of  stockholders.  Any such proposal
should be directed to the Secretary of the Company.

                                            By Order of the Board of Directors

                                            Harold L. Schneider
                                            Secretary

Dated: February 28, 1997

                                        9

<PAGE>
<PAGE>

                                  Appendix 1
                                  Proxy Card

                           COOPER LIFE SCIENCES, INC.

                    PROXY FOR ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

        The undersigned hereby appoints Harold L. Schneider and Steven Rosenberg
as Proxies, each with the power to appoint his substitute, and hereby authorizes
them, to represent and vote, as designated on the reverse,  all shares of Common
Stock of  Cooper  Life  Sciences,  Inc.  (the  "Company")  held of record by the
undersigned  on February 28, 1997, at the Annual Meeting of  Stockholders  to be
held on April 9, 1997 or any adjournment thereof.

                         (TO BE SIGNED ON REVERSE SIDE.)


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

A  [X] Please mark your
       votes as in this
       example.

                     WITHHOLD AUTHORITY
                     to vote for all nominees
                FOR  listed at right.
1. ELECTION OF [  ]    [  ]                   Nominees: William L. Cohen
   DIRECTORS                                            Moses Marx
                                                        Steven Rosenberg
FOR all nominees                                        Randolph B. Stockwell
(listed except as
marked to the
contrary below)

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

                                                           FOR   AGAINST ABSTAIN
2. Proposal to ratify the selection of Grant Thornton LLP  [  ]    [  ]     [  ]
   to serve as the Company's independent auditors
   for fiscal 1997

3. In their discretion, upon such other business as may properly come before the
   Annual Meeting or any postponement or adjournment thereof.

THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.  THIS PROXY WILL BE
VOTED AS INSTRUCTED. IN THE ABSENCE OF INSTRUCTION, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR
THE 4 NOMINEES FOR ELECTION, AND FOR PROPOSAL 2.

STOCKHOLDERS ARE URGED TO DATE, MARK, SIGN AND RETURN THIS PROXY PROMPTLY IN THE
ENVELOPE PROVIDED, WHICH REQUIRES NO POSTAGE IF MAILED IN THE UNITED STATES.






SIGNATURES:_______________________________________________ Date:________________
NOTE:  Please  sign  exactly as name or names  appear on stock  certificate  (as
indicated hereon.)



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