ALLOU HEALTH & BEAUTY CARE INC
S-3, 1999-01-13
DRUGS, PROPRIETARIES & DRUGGISTS' SUNDRIES
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    As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 13, 1999
                                                  Registration No. 333-________
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------


                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

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


                                    FORM S-3

                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                      UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

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


                        ALLOU HEALTH & BEAUTY CARE, INC.
                        -------------------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

         Delaware                                     11-2953972
 ------------------------------                      ---------------     
(State or other jurisdiction of                     (I.R.S. Employer
Incorporation or organization)                     Identification No.)

                               50 Emjay Boulevard
                               Brentwood, NY 11717
                                 (516) 273-4000
        -----------------------------------------------------------------
                   (Address, including zip code, and telephone
             number, Including area code, of registrant's principal
                               executive offices)

                                  Victor Jacobs
                Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer
                               50 Emjay Boulevard
                               Brentwood, NY 11717
                                 (516) 273-4000
        -----------------------------------------------------------------
            (Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number,
                   Including area code, of agent for service)

                                    Copy to:

                             Henry I. Rothman, Esq.
                       Parker Chapin Flattau & Klimpl, LLP
                           1211 Avenue of the Americas
                            New York, New York 10036
                                 (212) 704-6000

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


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

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

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

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

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

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

<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
================================================================================

                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

                                                             Proposed Maximum          Proposed Maximum        Amount of
         Title of Each Class                 Amount to be     Offering Price          Aggregate Offering      Registration
   of Securities to be Registered          Registered (1)     per Share(2)(3)               Price                 Fee

<S>                                        <C>               <C>                     <C>                    <C> 
Class A Common Stock, $.001 par value                                                                                        
per share............................           1,533,334         11.688                 $17,921,607             $4,982.21

Total Registration Fee...........................................................................................$4,982.21
================================================================================
</TABLE>

(1)      Pursuant to Rule 416, the shares of Class A Common Stock offered hereby
         also  include  such indeterminable number  of  shares of Class A Common
         Stock as are  issuable  by the Company to the Selling Stockholders upon
         exercise of Warrants to prevent  dilution  resulting from stock splits,
         stock dividends or similar events.

(2)      Estimated  solely for the purpose of calculating the  registration  fee
         pursuant  to Rule  457(c)  and (g) of the  Securities  Act of 1933,  as
         amended (the "Securities Act"); based on the average bid and ask prices
         on the American Stock Exchange on January 12, 1999.

(3)      Estimated  solely  for the  purpose of calculating the registration fee
         pursuant to Rule 457(g) of the Securities Act.

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

<PAGE>

The  information  in this  Prospectus  is not  complete.  We may not sell  these
securities  until the  Registration  Statement  filed  with the  Securities  and
Exchange Commission is effective. This Prospectus is not an offer to sell nor is
it seeking an offer to buy these securities in any State where the offer or sale
is not permitted.

                  SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED JANUARY 13, 1999

PROSPECTUS
                                1,533,334 Shares

                        ALLOU HEALTH & BEAUTY CARE, INC.

         Certain of the  Stockholders  of Allou Health & Beauty  Care,  Inc. are
selling  1,533,334  Shares of Class A Common  Stock of the  Company  under  this
Prospectus, of which 666,667 are issued and outstanding and 866,667 are issuable
upon the exercise of Warrants to purchase  Class A Common  Stock.  We issued the
Warrants  and 666,667 of the Shares  covered by this  Prospectus  to the Selling
Stockholders  in a private  placement under a Securities  Purchase  Agreement in
December 1998.

         The  Selling  Stockholders  may offer its Shares of the  Company on any
stock exchange,  market or trading facility on which the Shares are traded or in
private transactions. These sales may be at fixed or negotiated prices.

         The Selling Stockholders will receive all net proceeds from the sale of
the Shares. Accordingly, we will not receive any proceeds from the resale of the
Shares.  We may receive proceeds from the exercise of the Warrants.  We will use
such net  proceeds  for general  corporate  purposes.  We may bear all  expenses
relating to this registration except for brokerage  commissions and expenses, if
any, which will be paid by the Selling Stockholders.


          AMEX Stock Exchange Symbol: "ALU"

         On January 12, 1999, the closing sale price of one share of our Class A
Common Stock on the AMEX Stock Exchange was $ 11 7/16.


         Our executive offices are located at 50 Emjay Boulevard, Brentwood, New
York 11717 and our telephone  number is (516) 273-4000.  

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


          THE SECURITIES OFFERED HEREBY INVOLVE A HIGH DEGREE OF RISK.
               YOU SHOULD CAREFULLY CONSIDER THE FACTORS DESCRIBED
             UNDER THE CAPTION "INVESTMENT CONSIDERATIONS" ON PAGE 5
                               OF THIS PROSPECTUS.

               NEITHER THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION NOR
                 ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION HAS APPROVED OR
                   DISAPPROVED THESE SECURITIES, OR DETERMINED
                   IF THIS PROSPECTUS IS TRUTHFUL OR COMPLETE.
                       ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY
                             IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.

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

                   The Date of this Prospectus is ______, 1999
<PAGE>

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

                  WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION ABOUT US

         We file annual,  quarterly and special  reports,  proxy  statements and
other  information  with the SEC.  You may read and copy any document we file at
the SEC's public  reference  rooms in  Washington,  D.C., New York, New York and
Chicago, Illinois. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information
on the public  reference rooms. Our SEC filings are also available to the public
from the SEC's Website at "http://www.sec.gov."

         We have  filed  with the SEC a  registration  statement  on Form S-3 to
register  shares of our Class A Common  Stock.  This  Prospectus is part of that
registration  statement  and, as permitted by the SEC's rules,  does not contain
all  the  information  included  in  the  registration  statement.  For  further
information  with respect to us and our Class A Common  Stock,  you may refer to
the  registration  statement and to the exhibits and schedules  filed as part of
that registration statement.  You can review and copy the registration statement
and its exhibits and schedules at the public reference facilities  maintained by
the SEC as described above. The registration  statement,  including its exhibits
and schedules, is also available on the SEC's web site.

         This Prospectus may contain  summaries of contracts or other documents.
Because they are summaries,  they will not contain all of the  information  that
may be important to you. If you would like complete information about a contract
or  other  document,  you  should  read  the copy  filed  as an  exhibit  to the
registration statement.

         The SEC allows us to "incorporate by reference" the information we file
with them,  which means that we can  disclose  important  information  to you by
referring you to those documents.  The information  incorporated by reference is
considered to be a part of this  prospectus,  and information that we file later
with the SEC  will  automatically  update  or  supersede  this  information.  We
incorporate  by reference  the  documents  listed below and any future filing we
will  make  with  the SEC  under  Sections  13(a),  13(c),  14 or  15(d)  of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934:

         1. Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 1998;
            and 
         2. Quarterly  Reports on Form 10-Q for the  period  ended June 30,
            1998 and September 30, 1998.

         You may request a copy of these  filings,  at no cost, by writing to us
at 50 Emjay Boulevard, Brentwood, New York 11717, Attention: David Shamilzadeh.

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

         This  Prospectus  contains  certain  forward-looking  statements  which
involve substantial risks and uncertainties.  These  forward-looking  statements
can generally be identified  because the context of the statement includes words
such as "may," "will," "except," "anticipate," "intend," "estimate," "continue,"
"believe,"  or other  similar  words.  Similarly,  statements  that describe our
future plans,  objectives  and goals are also  forward-looking  statements.  Our
factual results,  performance or achievements could differ materially from those
expressed or implied in these forward-looking  statements as a result of certain
factors,  including  those  listed  in  "Risk  Factors"  and  elsewhere  in this
Prospectus.


                                      - 2 -

<PAGE>




         We have not authorized  any dealer,  salesperson or any other person to
give any information or to represent  anything not contained in this Prospectus.
You must not rely on any  unauthorized  information.  This  Prospectus  does not
offer to sell or buy any shares in any  jurisdiction  where it is unlawful.  The
information in this Prospectus is current as of January __, 1999.

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

                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

Where You Can Find More Information About Us...............................2
Investment Considerations..................................................4
Use of Proceeds............................................................6
Dividend Policy............................................................6
Selling Stockholders ......................................................7
Description of Securities..................................................8
Plan of Distribution .....................................................10
Indemnification for Securities Act Liabilities............................11
Legal Matters.............................................................11
Experts ..................................................................11


                                      - 3 -

<PAGE>



                            INVESTMENT CONSIDERATIONS

         Before you buy shares of our Class A Common Stock,  you should be aware
that there are various risks  associated  with such  purchase,  including  those
described below. You should consider carefully these risk factors, together with
all of the other  information in this  Prospectus  before you decide to purchase
shares of our Class A Common Stock.

         Some of the information in this Prospectus may contain  forward-looking
statements.  Such  statements  can be identified  by the use of  forward-looking
words  such as "may,"  "will,"  "except,"  "anticipate,"  "intend,"  "estimate,"
"continue,"  "believe," or other similar words.  These statements discuss future
expectations,  contain  projections  of our  future  results  of  operations  or
financial  condition  or  state  other   "forward-looking"   information.   When
considering such statements,  you should keep in mind the risk factors and other
cautionary statements in this Prospectus. The risk factors noted in this section
and other factors  noted in this  Prospectus  could cause our actual  results to
differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements.

THE EXERCISE OF OUTSTANDING OPTIONS AND THE WARRANTS ISSUED IN THE DECEMBER 1998
PRIVATE PLACEMENT WILL DILUTE THE NET TANGIBLE VALUE OF YOUR SHARES

         The net tangible value of your Shares will be diluted upon the exercise
of outstanding options and the issuance of Class A Common Stock upon exercise of
the  Warrants we have issued in  connection  with the December  1998  Securities
Purchase  Agreement.  Specifically,  the Warrants  issued in connection with the
December 1998 Securities  Purchase Agreement are exercisable into Class A Common
Stock at discounts  from future market prices of the Class A Common Stock.  Such
discounts  could result in substantial  dilution to existing  holders of Class A
Common Stock. The sale of such Class A Common Stock acquired at a discount could
have a  negative  impact on the  trading  price of the Class A Common  Stock and
could increase the volatility in the trading price of the Class A Common Stock.

         At the  date of this  Prospectus,  we have  reserved  an  aggregate  of
866,667  shares  of Class A Common  Stock  for  issuance  upon  exercise  of the
Warrants  which are  exercisable  at an exercise price of $.01 per share through
December 2002.  The number of shares  issuable upon exercise of the Warrants may
be adjusted  depending  upon the average of the twenty lowest closing bid prices
of the  Class A  Common  Stock  during  the  thirty  trading  days  prior to the
applicable  vesting date of the Warrant of the Class A Common Stock.  The number
of shares  offered  hereby assumes that the average of the twenty lowest closing
bid prices in the thirty  trading  days prior to such  vesting  dates will equal
$4.50.

         During  the  terms  of the  Warrants,  we must  give  the  holders  the
opportunity  to  profit  from a rise in the  market  price of the Class A Common
Stock.  The existence of the Warrants may adversely affect the terms on which we
may obtain  additional  equity  financing.  Moreover,  the holders are likely to
exercise  their  rights to acquire  Class A Common Stock at a time when we would
otherwise  be able to obtain  capital  with more  favorable  terms than we could
obtain through the exercise of such securities.

WE HAVE SIGNIFICANT DEBT

         In  order to  finance  our  operations,  we have  incurred  significant
indebtedness. Of the Company's total indebtedness of $165,663,223 outstanding at
September 30, 1998, $142,655,100 was outstanding under a working capital line of
credit with several banks.  This line of credit is secured by substantially  all
of the assets of the Company and its subsidiaries,  which are co-borrowers under
the line of credit.  The line of credit  restricts  our ability  from  incurring
additional  indebtedness,  pledging  assets and  declaring  dividends  or making
distributions to stockholders  without the consent of the banks. In the event we
violate any loan  covenants  or we default on our  obligations,  the banks could
elect to declare our  indebtedness  immediately due and payable and foreclose on
our assets. As of the date of this Prospectus,  we are in compliance with all of
the terms of our financing agreements.



                                      - 4 -

<PAGE>


OUR BUSINESS IS SEASONAL

         Our  fragrance  business has  historically  been  seasonal,  reflecting
traditional  retail  seasonality  patterns,   with  significantly  higher  sales
representing  approximately 33% of annual sales revenue,  occurring in the third
fiscal  quarter of each year.  Significantly  higher sales result from increased
purchases  of  fragrances  as gifts  during the  holiday  season.  Additionally,
Internet usage and Internet growth may be expected to decline during the summer,
when people  spend fewer hours  inside.  As a result,  sales from our  fragrance
business may be lower during the summer months than during other seasons.


WE ARE DEPENDENT UPON KEY MEMBERS OF OUR MANAGEMENT

         Our  business  is greatly  dependent  upon the  efforts  of Mr.  Victor
Jacobs,  our  Chairman  of the Board and Chief  Executive  Officer,  Mr.  Herman
Jacobs,  our President and Chief Operating Officer,  Mr. David Shamilzadeh,  our
Senior Vice President and Chief  Financial  Officer,  Mr. Jack Jacobs,  our Vice
President of Purchasing  and Secretary and Mr. Ramon Montes,  our Executive Vice
President of Sales. The loss of services of any of such individuals or other key
personnel could adversely  affect the conduct of our business.  We have obtained
"key man" life  insurance  on the lives of such  persons  for its benefit in the
amount of  $1,000,000.  Our success will also be  dependent  upon our ability to
attract and retain  experienced  management,  marketing and industry  personnel,
particularly  those with knowledge of the Internet and online commerce.  We face
considerable  competition  from other  companies in our  industries,  as well as
other  companies that market  products via the Internet or online  commerce.  We
cannot  assure  you  that we can  attract  and  retain  such  personnel  and our
inability to do so could have a material adverse effect on our business.

OUR CLASS B COMMON  STOCK  REPRESENTS  A MAJORITY  OF OUR  VOTING  POWER AND KEY
MEMBERS OF MANAGEMENT OWN ALL OF THE CLASS B STOCK

         Messrs.  Victor Jacobs,  Herman Jacobs and Jack Jacobs collectively own
1,200,000  shares of our Class B Common  Stock,  which has five  votes per share
(compared to the Class A Common Stock,  which has one vote per share) which,  in
the  aggregate   represents   18.4%  of  our   outstanding   capital  stock  and
approximately 53% of the total voting power. Accordingly,  such persons are able
to control us and generally direct our affairs, including electing a majority of
our  directors  and causing an increase in our  authorized  capital  causing our
dissolution,   merger  or  sale  of  substantially   all  of  our  assets.   The
disproportionate  vote  afforded  the Class B Common  Stock  could also serve to
impede or  prevent a change of control  of us. As a result,  potential  acquires
will be discouraged  from seeking to acquire  control of us through the purchase
of  Common  Stock,  which  could  have a  depressive  effect on the price of our
securities. See "Principal Shareholders" and "Description of Securities."

OUR PREFERRED STOCK MAY HAVE THE EFFECT OF PREVENTING OR DELAYING A
CHANGE OF CONTROL

         Our Certificate of  Incorporation  authorizes the issuance of 1,000,000
shares of "blank  check"  preferred  stock  with such  designations,  rights and
preferences  as may be  determined  from time to time by the Board of Directors.
Accordingly,  the Board of Directors is empowered,  without shareholder approval
(but  subject  to  applicable  government  regulatory  restrictions),  to  issue
preferred stock with dividend,  liquidation,  conversion, voting or other rights
which could adversely  affect the voting power or other rights of the holders of
our Class A Common Stock. In the event of issuance, the preferred stock could be
utilized, under certain circumstances, as a method of discouraging,  delaying or
preventing a change in control of us.  Although we have no present  intention to
issue any shares of our preferred  stock,  we cannot assure you that we will not
do so in the future.  In addition,  certain  provisions of the Delaware  General
Corporation Law prevent certain  stockholders  from engaging in certain business
combinations  with us,  subject  to  certain  exceptions.  See  "Description  of
Securities."


                                      - 5 -
<PAGE>



YEAR 2000 ISSUES

         The Year 2000 Issue is the result of computer  programs  being  written
using two digits rather than four to define the applicable  year. Any of the our
computer programs that have  date-sensitive  software may recognize a date using
"00" as the year 1900 rather than the year 2000.  This could  result in a system
failure or miscalculations causing disruptions of operations,  including,  among
other things, a temporary inability to process  transactions,  send invoices, or
engage in similar normal business activities.

         Based on a recent assessment, we determined that the costs to modify or
replace  portions of our  software so that our computer  systems  will  properly
utilize dates beyond December 31, 1999 will not be material.  We believe that we
can mitigate  the Year 2000 Issue with  modifications  to existing  software and
conversions to new software.  However, if we fail to make such modifications and
conversions,  or if we do not make them on a timely  basis,  the Year 2000 Issue
could have a material impact on our operations.

         We have contacted all of our significant  suppliers and large customers
to determine the possible effect on our operations of their inability or failure
to remediate  their own Year 2000 Issue.  Our estimate of the costs to remediate
our Year 2000 issue is based on presently  available  information.  However,  we
cannot  guarantee that the systems of other  companies on which our systems rely
will be timely converted,  or that a failure to convert by another company, or a
conversion  that is  incompatible  with our  systems,  would  not have  material
adverse effect on our operations.  We have no exposure to contingencies  related
to the Year 2000 Issue for the products we have sold.


SHARES THAT ARE ELIGIBLE FOR SALE IN THE FUTURE

         Sales of a substantial  number of shares of our Class A Common Stock in
the public market  following  this offering  could  adversely  affect the market
price of the Class A Common  Stock.  Of the  6,179,714  shares of Class A Common
Stock that will be  outstanding  or registered for resale upon the completion of
this  offering,  all will be freely  tradeable  without  restriction  or further
registration under the Securities Act.

OUR STOCK PRICE MAY BE VOLATILE

         The trading  price of our Class A Common  Stock may be  volatile.  Such
trading  price  could  be  subject  to  wide  fluctuations  in  response  to our
announcements of business  developments or those by our  competitors,  quarterly
variations  in operating  results,  and other events or factors,  including  our
prospects and  expectations by investors and securities  analysts.  In addition,
stock markets have experienced  extreme price  volatility in recent years.  Such
broad market  fluctuations  may adversely affect the price of our Class A Common
Stock.



                                 USE OF PROCEEDS

         The Selling  Stockholders are selling all of the Shares covered by this
Prospectus for their own account.  Accordingly, we will not receive any proceeds
from the  resale  of the  Shares.  We will  receive  minimal  proceeds  from the
exercise of the  Warrants.  We will use such net proceeds for general  corporate
purposes.  We will bear all expenses  relating to this  registration  except for
brokerage or underwriting  commissions and expenses,  if any, which will be paid
by the Selling Stockholders.


                                 DIVIDEND POLICY

         We have never  declared  or paid cash  dividends  on our Class A Common
Stock.  We currently  anticipate that we will retain all available funds for use
in the operation of our business.  As such, we do not anticipate paying any cash
dividends on our Class A Common Stock in the foreseeable future.



                                      - 6 -

<PAGE>
                              SELLING STOCKHOLDERS

         We issued the Shares of Class A Common Stock covered by this Prospectus
to the Selling  Stockholders under the terms of a Securities  Purchase Agreement
dated as of December 14, 1998 between the Selling Shareholders and us. Under the
terms of the December 1998  Securities  Purchase  Agreement,  we issued  666,667
shares of our Class A Common Stock to the Selling Stockholders.

         The  following  table lists certain  information  regarding the Selling
Stockholders'  ownership of Shares of our Class A Common Stock as of January 11,
1999, and as adjusted to reflect the sale of the Shares.  Information concerning
the Selling Stockholders may change from time to time.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>                                                                                           Shares of Class A Common Stock
                                                                                                       Owned
                                                                                                 after Offering (1)
                                                                                       --------------------------------------
                                          Shares of Class                                                                     
                                             A Common                                                                         
                                            Stock Owned              Shares                                                   
                                             Prior to              Registered                                                 
                                           Offering (2)            Hereby (3)               Number  (4)          Percent
                                         -----------------     ------------------      ----------------     -----------------
<S>                                        <C>                   <C>                       <C>                   <C>
Strong River Investments, Inc.                166,667               383,334                  -0-                   -0-
Sovereign Partners, L.P.                      200,000               460,000                  -0-                   -0-
Dominion Capital Fund Ltd.                    150,000               345,000                  -0-                   -0-
Canadian Advantage Limited Partnership        38,889                 89,445                  -0-                   -0-
Westover Investments L.P.                     33,333                 76,666                  -0-                   -0-
Montrose Investments, Ltd.                    77,778                178,889                  -0-                   -0-
   Total                                      666,667              1,533,334                 -0-                   -0-
                                              =======              =========                 ===                   ===
</TABLE>
- -----------------

(1)      Assumes that all of the shares of Class A Common Stock offerred  hereby
         are sold.

(2)      Does not  include Shares  issuable upon exercise of the Warrant  issued
         to each Selling  Stockholder.  Because the  Warrants are not  currently
         exercisable  and the number of shares of Class A Common Stock  issuable
         upon  exercise  of the  Warrants is  dependent  in part upon the market
         price  of the  Common  Stock  prior  to each  vesting  date  under  the
         Warrants, the actual number of shares of Class A Common Stock that will
         be issued in  respect of such  exercise  cannot be  determined  at this
         time.

(3)      Includes  Shares  issuable  upon exercise of the Warrant issued to each
         Selling  Stockholder.  Because  the  number of shares of Class A Common
         Stock  issuable upon exercise of the Warrants is dependent in part upon
         the market price (i.e.,  the average of the twenty  lowest  closing bid
         prices of the Class A Common Stock during the thirty trading days prior
         to each vesting date under the  Warrants)  (the  "Market  Price"),  the
         actual  number of shares of Class A Common Stock that will be issued in
         respect of such exercise and, consequently, offered for sale under this
         Registration Statement,  cannot be determined at this time. In order to
         provide a cushion for any fluctuations in the market price of the Class
         A Common Stock, the Company has contractually  agreed to include herein
         the number of Shares owned by such Selling Stockholder plus such number
         of shares of Class A Common Stock as would be issuable upon exercise in
         full  of  the  Warrants  assuming the Market Price at each vesting date
         were $4.50.

(4)      Pursuant to the  December  1998  Securities  Purchase  Agreement,  each
         Selling  Stockholder  has agreed to sell  Shares only to the extent the
         proceeds of such sales do not exceed 33 1/3% of the aggregate  purchase
         price  paid by such  Selling  Stockholder  on the  closing  date of the
         December 1998 private  placement.  During the period  commencing on the
         first  vesting date of the  Warrants and ending on the day  immediately
         prior  to the  second  vesting  date  of  the  Warrants,  each  Selling
         Stockholder  has agreed to sell Shares only to the extent the  proceeds
         of such sales do not exceed 66 2/3% of the purchase  price paid by such
         Selling Stockholder on the December 1998 private placement closing date
         (minus any proceeds received by such Selling  Stockholder from sales of
         Shares  during the first period  described  in the previous  sentence).
         Such  limitations  do not apply to any sales of Shares made on or after
         the second  vesting  date or for Shares sold at a price per share equal
         to or exceeding $11.25.

                                      - 7 -
<PAGE>

                            DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES


General

         The Company is authorized to issue 15,000,000  shares of Class A Common
Stock,  of which  5,313,047  were issued and  outstanding on January 8, 1999 and
2,200,000  shares of Class B Common  Stock,  of which  1,200,000  are issued and
outstanding.  The  Company  is also  authorized  to issue  1,000,000  shares  of
Preferred Stock,  $.001 par value  ("Preferred  Stock").  No shares of Preferred
Stock are currently outstanding.

Common Stock

         The Holders of shares of Class A Common  Stock and Class B Common Stock
have no  preemptive  rights and the shares are not  subject to  redemption.  The
outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock and Class A Common Stock are duly and
validly issued and fully paid and non-assessable.

         Holders  of Class A Common  Stock  and  Class B  Common  Stock  are not
entitled to cumulative  voting.  Holders of Class B Common Stock are entitled to
five votes per share on every matter on which common stockholders of the Company
are  entitled to vote.  Holders of Class A Common Stock are entitled to one vote
per share on every  matter  on which  common  stockholders  of the  Company  are
entitled  to  vote.  Therefore,   the  holders  of  the  Class  B  Common  Stock
representing  a majority of voting  rights may elect all of the directors of the
Company and authorize certain corporate  transactions without the concurrence of
the public stockholders.

         Holders of Class B Common Stock may, at any time,  convert their shares
into  Class A Common  Stock on a share for share  basis.  Each  share of Class B
Common Stock shall  automatically  be converted into one share of Class A Common
Stock upon its sale or transfer  (including  its transfer  upon the death of the
holder  hereof)  unless such sale or transfer is to one or more other holders of
Class B Common Stock,  certain  family  members of the holders of Class B Common
Stock or certain trusts for their benefit.

         Except for the aforementioned voting and conversion rights, the Class A
Common Stock and Class B Common Stock are identical in all respects.

         The Company has reserved for issuance  such number of shares of Class A
Common Stock as may be issuable upon exercise of the Warrants. Such shares, when
issued, will be duly and validly issued and fully paid and non-assessable.

Preferred Stock

         The  Company  is  authorized  to  issue  1,000,000  million  shares  of
Preferred  Stock,  in one or more classes or series as  determined  from time to
time by the Board of Directors.

         In  authorizing  any class or  series of  Preferred  Stock  within  the
limitations  and  restrictions   contained  in  the  Company's   Certificate  of
Incorporation,   as  amended,  and  without  further  action  by  the  Company's
stockholders,  the  Board of  Directors  has the  authority  to issue  shares of
Preferred  Stock  and to fix the  number  of  shares  and the  relative  rights,
conversion  rights,  voting  rights  and the  terms of  redemption,  liquidation
preferences and any other preferences,  special rights and qualifications of any
such series.  Accordingly,  the Board of Directors  will be  empowered,  without
stockholder approval, to issue Preferred Stock with rights which could adversely
affect the voting power or other rights of the holders of the Common  Stock.  In
the event of issuance,  the  Preferred  Stock could be utilized,  under  certain
circumstances,  as a method of discouraging,  delaying or preventing a change in
control of the Company.




                                      - 8 -

<PAGE>



Warrants

         Each Warrant issued pursuant to the December 1998  Securities  Purchase
Agreement  entitles the holder to purchase a certain number of shares of Class A
Common Stock  depending upon the average of the lowest twenty closing bid prices
of the  Class A  Common  Stock  during  the  thirty  trading  days  prior to the
applicable  vesting date of the Warrant.  The Warrants are  exercisable for $.01
per share and are  exercisable  until  December 15,  2002.  The Warrants are not
redeemable  by the  Company at any time.  Each holder of a Warrant has agreed to
restrict its ability to exercise  such Warrant to the extent that such  exercise
would  result in such  holder  owning in excess of 4.999% of the then issued and
outstanding  shares of Class A Common  Stock  (including  Shares  issuable  upon
exercise of the Warrants), provided,  however,that the holders have the right to
waive such restriction upon not less than 75 days notice to the Company.


         The  exercise  price and  number  of shares of Class A Common  Stock or
other securities  issuable on exercise of the Warrants are subject to adjustment
in  certain  circumstances,   including  in  the  event  of  a  stock  dividend,
recapitalization,  reorganization,  merger  or  consolidation  of  the  Company.
Reference  is made to the  Warrant  (which  has been filed as an exhibit to this
Registration  Statement) for a complete  description of the terms and conditions
therein (the  description  herein  contained  being qualified in its entirety by
reference thereto).


Delaware Law Antitakeover Provision

         The Company is subject to the provisions of Section 203 of the DGCL. In
general,  this  statute  prohibits a  publicly-held  Delaware  corporation  from
engaging in a "business  combination"  with an  "interested  stockholder"  for a
period of three  years  after the date of the  transaction  in which the  person
becomes an interested  stockholder,  unless the business combination is approved
in a prescribed  manner.  An "interested  stockholder" is a person who, together
with affiliates and  associates,  owns (or within the prior three years did own)
15% or more of the corporation's  voting stock. Such provisions could render the
Company more difficult for such person to obtain control of the Company  without
the approval of the Board of Directors.

Transfer Agent and Registrar

         The  Transfer  Agent  and  Registrar  for the  Class A Common  Stock is
Continental Stock Transfer and Trust Company.


                                      - 9 -

<PAGE>

                              PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION


         The  Selling  Stockholders  and any of their  pledgees,  assignees  and
successors-in-interest  may, from time to time,  sell any or all of their shares
of Class A Common  Stock on any stock  exchange,  market or trading  facility on
which the Shares are traded or in private  transactions.  These  sales may be at
fixed or negotiated prices. The Selling  Stockholders may use any one or more of
the following methods when selling Shares:

o        ordinary brokerage  transactions and  transactions in which the broker-
         dealer solicits purchasers;

o        block trades in which the broker-dealer will attempt to sell the shares
         as  agent  but may  position  and  resell  a  portion  of the  block as
         principal to facilitate the transaction;

o        purchases  by  a  broker-dealer  as principal and resale by the broker-
         dealer for its account;

o        an exchange distribution in accordance with the rules of the applicable
         exchange;

o        privately negotiated transactions;

o        short sales;

o        broker-dealers  may agree  with  the  Selling  Stockholders  to  sell a
         specified number of such shares at a stipulated price per share;

o        a combination of any such methods of sale; and

o        any other method permitted pursuant to applicable law.


         The Selling  Stockholders may also sell Shares under Rule 144 under the
Securities Act, if available, rather than under this prospectus.

         The Selling  Stockholders  may also  engage in short sales  against the
box,  puts and calls and other  transactions  in  securities  of the  Company or
derivatives  of Company  securities and may sell or deliver Shares in connection
with these  trades.  The Selling  Stockholders  may pledge their shares to their
brokers  under  the  margin  provisions  of  customer  agreements.  If a Selling
Stockholder  defaults on a margin loan, the broker may, from time to time, offer
and sell the pledged Shares.

         Broker-dealers  engaged by the  Selling  Stockholders  may  arrange for
other  brokers-dealers  to  participate  in sales.  Broker-dealers  may  receive
commissions or discounts from the Selling Stockholders (or, if any broker-dealer
acts as agent for the purchaser of shares,  from the purchaser) in amounts to be
negotiated.  The  Selling  Stockholders  do not  expect  these  commissions  and
discounts to exceed what is customary in the types of transactions involved.

         The  Selling  Stockholders  and any  broker-dealers  or agents that are
involved  in selling  the Shares may be deemed to be  "underwriters"  within the
meaning of the Securities Act in connection with such sales. In such event,  any
commissions  received  by such  broker-dealers  or agents  and any profit on the
resale  of the  Shares  purchased  by  them  may be  deemed  to be  underwriting
commissions or discounts under the Securities Act.

         The Company is required  to pay all fees and  expenses  incident to the
registration of the Shares,  including fees and  disbursements of counsel to the
Selling   Stockholders.   The  Company  has  agreed  to  indemnify  the  Selling
Stockholders against certain losses, claims, damages and liabilities,  including
liabilities under Securities Act.

                                     - 10 -

<PAGE>



                 INDEMNIFICATION FOR SECURITIES ACT LIABILITIES

         Section  145 of the  DGCL  provides,  in  general,  that a  corporation
incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware,  such as our company,  may
indemnify  any person who was or is a party or is  threatened to be made a party
to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding (other than a
derivative  action by or in the right of the  corporation) by reason of the fact
that  such  person  is or was a  director,  officer,  employee  or  agent of the
corporation,  or is or was  serving  at the  request  of  the  corporation  as a
director,  officer,  employee or agent of another  enterprise,  against expenses
(including  attorneys'  fees),  judgments,  fines and amounts paid in settlement
actually and reasonably  incurred by such person in connection with such action,
suit or  proceeding  if such  person  acted in good  faith and in a manner  such
person reasonably  believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the
corporation,  and,  with respect to any criminal  action or  proceeding,  had no
reasonable cause to believe such person's conduct was unlawful. In the case of a
derivative action, a Delaware  corporation may indemnify any such person against
expenses  (including  attorneys' fees) actually and reasonably  incurred by such
person in  connection  with the defense or  settlement of such action or suit if
such person acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably  believed
to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, except that no
indemnification  shall be made in respect  of any  claim,  issue or matter as to
which such  person  shall  have been  adjudged  to be liable to the  corporation
unless  and only to the  extent  that  the  Court of  Chancery  of the  State of
Delaware or any other court in which such  action was  brought  determines  such
person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses.

         Our Certificate of  Incorporation  provides that directors shall not be
personally  liable for monetary  damages to us or our stockholders for breach of
fiduciary  duty as a director,  except for liability  resulting from a breach of
the director's duty of loyalty to our  stockholders,  intentional  misconduct or
wilful  violation of law,  actions or inactions  not in good faith,  an unlawful
stock purchase or payment of a dividend under Delaware law, or transactions from
which the  director  derives  improper  personal  benefit.  Such  limitation  of
liability  does not  affect  the  availability  of  equitable  remedies  such as
injunctive  relief  or  rescission.   Our  Certificate  of  Incorporation   also
authorizes us to indemnify our officers,  directors and other agents, by bylaws,
agreements or otherwise, to the fullest extent permitted under Delaware law.

         Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities
Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the small
business issuer pursuant to the foregoing  provisions,  or otherwise,  the small
business  issuer has been  advised  that in the  opinion of the  Securities  and
Exchange  Commission such  indemnification is against public policy as expressed
in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable.

                                  LEGAL MATTERS

         Parker Chapin Flattau & Klimpl,  LLP, New York, New York will pass upon
the validity of the securities offered hereby.

                                     EXPERTS

         The consolidated financial statements as of March 31, 1998 and 1997 and
for each of the two years in the period  ended  March 31, 1998  incorporated  by
reference in this Prospectus have been so incorporated in reliance on the report
of Mayer Rispler & Company,  P.C.,  independent  certified  public  accountants,
given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.

                                     - 11 -

<PAGE>
================================================================================

  We have  not  authorized  any  dealer,                                     
salesperson  or any other person to give                                     
any information or to represent anything                                     
not  contained in this  Prospectus.  You                                     
must  not   rely  on  any   unauthorized                                     
information.  This  Prospectus  does not                                     
offer to sell or buy any  shares  in any                                     
jurisdiction  where it is unlawful.  The                                     
information   in  this   Prospectus   is           1,533,334 SHARES OF       
current as of _____________, 1999.                 CLASS A COMMON STOCK      
                                                   



            TABLE OF CONTENTS

                                   Page                PROSPECTUS       
                                                                        
Where You Can Find More                                                 
         Information About Us.........2                                 
Investment Consideration .............4                                 
Use of Proceeds.......................6                                 
Dividend Policy.......................6                                 
Selling Stockholders .................7                   , 1999        
Description of Securities.............8                                 
Plan of Distribution ................10                                 
Indemnification for Securities                    
         Act Liabilities.............11
Legal Matters........................11
Experts .............................11

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

<PAGE>



                                     PART II

                     INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

ITEM 14.  OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION.

         The following table sets forth the various  expenses which will be paid
by  the  Company  in  connection  with  the  issuance  and  distribution  of the
securities  being  registered  on  this  Registration  Statement.   The  Selling
Stockholders  will not incur any of the expenses  set forth  below.  All amounts
shown are estimates.

                  Filing fee for registration statement.............$ 4,982.21
                  Legal fees and expenses...........................$10,000.00
                  Accounting expenses...............................$10,000.00
                  Miscellaneous                                     $    17.79
                                                                    ------------
                       Total........................................$25,000.00 
                                                                    ============

ITEM 15.  INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.

         Section  145 of the  General  Corporation  Law of the State of Delaware
(the "DGCL") provides,  in general,  that a corporation  incorporated  under the
laws of the State of Delaware, such as the registrant,  may indemnify any person
who was or is a party or is  threatened  to be made a party  to any  threatened,
pending or completed action,  suit or proceeding (other than a derivative action
by or in the right of the corporation) by reason of the fact that such person is
or was a director,  officer, employee or agent of the corporation,  or is or was
serving at the request of the  corporation as a director,  officer,  employee or
agent of another  enterprise,  against  expenses  (including  attorneys'  fees),
judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred
by such person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if such person
acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably  believed to be in or
not opposed to the best interests of the  corporation,  and, with respect to any
criminal action or proceeding,  had no reasonable cause to believe such person's
conduct was unlawful. In the case of a derivative action, a Delaware corporation
may indemnify  any such person  against  expenses  (including  attorneys'  fees)
actually and reasonably  incurred by such person in connection  with the defense
or settlement of such action or suit if such person acted in good faith and in a
manner  such  person  reasonably  believed  to be in or not  opposed to the best
interests of the corporation,  except that no  indemnification  shall be made in
respect of any claim,  issue or matter as to which such  person  shall have been
adjudged to be liable to the corporation  unless and only to the extent that the
Court of  Chancery  of the State of  Delaware  or any other  court in which such
action was brought  determines such person is fairly and reasonably  entitled to
indemnity for such expenses.

         The Company's  Certificate  of  Incorporation  provides that  directors
shall not be  personally  liable  for  monetary  damages  to the  Company or its
stockholders  for breach of fiduciary  duty as a director,  except for liability
resulting from a breach of the director's  duty of loyalty to the Company or its
stockholders,  intentional  misconduct  or wilful  violation of law,  actions or
inactions not in good faith, an unlawful stock purchase or payment of a dividend
under Delaware law, or  transactions  from which the director  derives  improper
personal benefit.  Such limitation of liability does not affect the availability
of equitable  remedies such as injunctive  relief or  rescission.  The Company's
Certificate  of  Incorporation  also  authorizes  the Company to  indemnify  its
officers, directors and other agents, by bylaws, agreements or otherwise, to the
fullest  extent  permitted  under  Delaware law. The Company has entered into an
Indemnification  Agreement (the  "Indemnification  Agreement")  with each of its
directors  and officers  which may, in some cases,  be broader than the specific
indemnification   provisions   contained  in  the   Company's   Certificate   of
Incorporation or as otherwise permitted under Delaware law. 

                                     II - 1

<PAGE>



ITEM 16.  EXHIBITS.

NUMBER        DESCRIPTION OF EXHIBIT

4.1           Form of  Securities  Purchase  Agreement  dated  December 14, 1998
              among Allou Health Beauty Care,  Inc.,  Strong River  Investments,
              Inc.,  Sovereign  Partners,  L.P.,  Dominion  Capital  Fund  Ltd.,
              Canadian Advantage Limited Partnership, Westover Investments, L.P.
              and Montrose Investments, Ltd.
4.2           Form of Warrant.
5.1           Opinion of Parker Chapin Flattau & Klimpl, LLP.
23.1          Consent of Mayer Rispler & Company, P.C.
23.2          Consent  of Parker Chapin Flattau & Klimpl, LLP (included in their
              opinion filed as Exhibit 5.1).
24.1          Power  of  Attorney  (included  on  page  II-4 to the Registration
              Statement).

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


ITEM 17.  UNDERTAKINGS.

         The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

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

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

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

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

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

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

         Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities
Act of 1933 (the "Act") may be permitted to directors,  officers and controlling
persons of the small business  issuer pursuant to the foregoing  provisions,  or
otherwise, the small business issuer has been advised that in the opinion of the
Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy
as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable.

                                     II - 2

<PAGE>



         In the event that a claim for indemnification  against such liabilities
(other than the  payment by the small  business  issuer of expenses  incurred or
paid by a director,  officer or controlling  person of the small business issuer
in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such
director,  officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being
registered, the small business issuer will, unless in the opinion of its counsel
the  matter  has been  settled by  controlling  precedent,  submit to a court of
appropriate  jurisdiction  the question  whether such  indemnification  by it is
against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by
the final adjudication of the issue.

         The  undersigned  small  business  issuer hereby  undertakes  that, for
purposes of determining  any liability  under the  Securities Act of 1933,  each
filing of the  registrant's  annual report  pursuant to section 13(a) or section
15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing
of an employee  benefit  plan's annual  report  pursuant to section 15(d) of the
Securities  Exchange  Act of 1934)  that is  incorporated  by  reference  in the
registration  statement  shall  be  deemed  to be a new  registration  statement
relating to the securities offered therein,  and the offering of such securities
at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

                                     II - 3

<PAGE>



                                   SIGNATURES

         Pursuant  to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Act  of  1933,  the
registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all
of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this registration
statement  to be  signed  on its  behalf  by  the  undersigned,  thereunto  duly
authorized, in the City of Brentwood, State of New York on January 7, 1999.


                                      ALLOU HEALTH & BEAUTY CARE, INC.


                                      By:   /s/ Victor Jacobs  
                                          --------------------------------------
                                                Victor Jacobs                   
                                                Chairman of the Board and
                                                Chief Executive Officer


                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

         KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS,  that each  individual  whose signature
appears below  constitutes  David  Shamilzadeh  and Victor  Jacobs,  each acting
alone,  his true and  lawful  attorney-in-fact  and  agent,  with full  power of
substitution  and  resubstitution,  for him and in his name, place and stead, in
any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective
amendments)  to this  registration  statement and to file the same with exhibits
thereto,  and all documents in connection  therewith,  with the  Securities  and
Exchange Commission,  granting unto said  attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each
of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing
requisite and  necessary to be done in and about the  premises,  as fully to all
intents and  purposes as he might or could do in person,  hereby  ratifying  and
confirming all that said  attorneys-in-fact  and agents or any of them, or their
or his substitute or substitutes,  may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue
hereof.

         Pursuant  to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Act of  1933,  this
registration  statement  on Form S-3 has  been  signed  below  by the  following
persons in the capacities and on the date indicated.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


 SIGNATURE                                     TITLE                               DATE
 ---------                                     -----                               ----
                                                                                 
<S>                                    <C>                                   <C>
/s/ Victor Jacobs                            Chairman of the Board, and           January 7, 1999
- ----------------------------------           Chief Executive Officer   
Victor Jacobs                                


/s/ Herman Jacobs                            President and Director               January 7, 1999
- ----------------------------------
Herman Jacobs

/s/ Ramon Montes                             Director                             January 7, 1999
- ----------------------------------
Ramon Montes

                                             
/s/ David Shamilzadeh                        Chief Financial Officer, Chief       January 7, 1999
- ----------------------------------           Accounting Officer and        
David Shamilzadeh                            Director

                                     II - 4

<PAGE>



 SIGNATURE                                     TITLE                               DATE
 ---------                                     -----                               ----

/s/ Jack Jacobs                              Director                              January 7, 1999
- ----------------------------------
Jack Jacobs

/s/ Sol Naimark                              Director                              January 7, 1999
- ----------------------------------
Sol Naimark


/s/ Jeffrey Berg                             Director                              January 11, 1999
- ----------------------------------
Jeffrey Berg


</TABLE>

                                     II - 5

<PAGE>



                                 SECURITIES AND
                                    EXCHANGE
                                   COMMISSION

                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549


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



                                    EXHIBITS

                                       TO

                                    FORM S-3

                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT

                                      UNDER

                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933


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







                        ALLOU HEALTH & BEAUTY CARE, INC.
                       (EXACT NAME OF ISSUER AS SPECIFIED
                                 IN ITS CHARTER)



                                January __, 1999



                                     II - 6

<PAGE>



                                  EXHIBIT INDEX


EXHIBIT NO.            DESCRIPTION OF DOCUMENT                     PAGE NO./REF.
- ----------             -----------------------                     -------------

4.1                    Form of Securities Purchase Agreement dated December 14, 
                       1998 among Allou Health Beauty Care, Inc., Strong        
                       River Investments, Inc., Sovereign Partners, L.P.,       
                       Dominion Capital Fund Ltd., Canadian Advantage           
                       Limited Partnership, Westover Investments, L.P. and      
                       Montrose Investments, Ltd.                               
4.2                    Form of Warrant.
5.1                    Opinion of Parker Chapin Flattau & Klimpl, LLP.
23.1                   Consent of Mayer Rispler & Company, P.C.
23.2                   Consent of Parker Chapin Flattau & Klimpl,  LLP (included
                       in their opinion filed as Exhibit 5.1).
24.1                   Power of Attorney (see page II-4 to the Registration
                       Statement).


                                     II - 7



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

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




                          SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT

                                      Among

                       ALLOU HEALTH AND BEAUTY CARE, INC.,

                         STRONG RIVER INVESTMENTS, INC.,

                            SOVEREIGN PARTNERS, L.P.,

                           DOMINION CAPITAL FUND LTD.,

                     CANADIAN ADVANTAGE LIMITED PARTNERSHIP,

                           WESTOVER INVESTMENTS, L.P.

                                       and

                           MONTROSE INVESTMENTS, LTD.





                                December 14, 1998





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

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


<PAGE>

         SECURITIES  PURCHASE  AGREEMENT,  dated as of  December  14, 1998 (this
"Agreement"),  among Allou Health and Beauty Care, Inc., a Delaware  corporation
(the "Company"), Strong River Investment, Inc., a British Virgin Islands company
("Strong  River"),  Sovereign  Partners,  L.P., a Delaware  limited  partnership
("Sovereign"),  Dominion Capital Fund Ltd., a corporation incorporated under the
laws of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas ("Dominion"), Canadian Advantage Limited
Partnership, an Ontario limited partnership ("Canadian"),  Westover Investments,
L.P., a Delaware limited partnership ("Westover") and Montrose Investments Ltd.,
a  Cayman  Islands  exempt  limited  partnership   ("Montrose")  (Strong  River,
Sovereign, Dominion, Canadian, Westover and Montrose are each referred to herein
as a "Purchaser" and are collectively referred to herein as the "Purchasers").

         WHEREAS,  subject  to the  terms  and  conditions  set  forth  in  this
Agreement,  the Company desires to issue and the  Purchasers,  severally and not
jointly,  desire to purchase,  an aggregate of 666,667  shares (the "Shares") of
the  Company's  Class A Common  Stock,  par value  $.001 per share (the  "Common
Stock") in the respective  amounts set forth opposite each  Purchaser's  name on
the Schedule I hereto.

         NOW THEREFORE,  the Company and each of the Purchasers  hereby agree as
follows:


                                    ARTICLE I
                        PURCHASE AND SALE OF COMMON STOCK

         1.1      Purchase of Shares.

                  (a) The  Closing.  (i) The closing of the purchase and sale of
the Shares (the "Closing") shall take place at the offices of Robinson Silverman
Pearce  Aronsohn  &  Berman,  LLP  ("Robinson  Silverman"),  1290  Avenue of the
Americas, New York, New York 10104,  immediately following the execution of this
Agreement or such other date and time as the parties  hereto  shall  agree.  The
date of the Closing is hereinafter referred to as the "Closing Date."

                           (ii)  Deliveries  at Closing.  At the Closing (A) the
Company shall deliver to or cause to be delivered to each  Purchaser (i) a stock
certificate,  registered  in the  name of  such  Purchaser  or such  Purchaser's
designee,  representing  the number of Shares to be  acquired  at the Closing by
such  Purchaser  (which number is set forth  opposite such  Purchaser's  name on
Schedule I hereto), (2) a Common Stock purchase warrant in the form of Exhibit A
attached  hereto  (each,  a  "Warrant,"  and   collectively,   the  "Warrants"),
registered in such Purchaser's  name or the name of such  Purchaser's  designee,
entitling  the holder  thereof to acquire  Common Stock upon the terms set forth
therein, (3) the legal opinion of Parker, Chapin, Flattau & Klimpl, LLP, outside
counsel to the Company,  addressed to the Purchasers,  substantially in the form
of  Exhibit B  attached  hereto  and (4) all other  documents,  instruments  and
writings  required  to have been  delivered  at or prior to the  Closing  by the
Company  pursuant to this Agreement,  including,  without  limitation,  executed
originals of each of the Registration  Rights Agreement,  dated the date hereof,
among the Company and the  Purchasers  in the form of Exhibit C attached  hereto
(the "Registration Rights Agreement")

<PAGE>



and the  Irrevocable  Transfer  Agent  Instructions,  in the form of  Exhibit  D
attached   hereto  (the  "Transfer  Agent   Instructions"),   delivered  to  and
acknowledged  by the  Company and the  Company's  transfer  agent;  and (B) each
Purchaser  shall  deliver or cause to be  delivered  to the  Company (i) by wire
transfer  of  immediately  available  funds the amount set forth  opposite  such
Purchaser's  name on  Schedule  I hereto in  accordance  with wire  instructions
delivered  by the Company  prior to the  Closing  for such  purpose and (ii) all
documents,  instruments and writings required to have been delivered at or prior
to the Closing by such Purchaser pursuant to this Agreement,  including, without
limitation, an executed Registration Rights Agreement.


                                   ARTICLE II
                         REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

         2.1  Representations,  Warranties  and  Agreements of the Company.  The
Company  hereby  makes  the  following  representations  and  warranties  to the
Purchaser:

                  (a)   Organization  and   Qualification.   The  Company  is  a
corporation, duly incorporated,  validly existing and in good standing under the
laws of the  jurisdiction  of its  incorporation,  with the requisite  corporate
power and authority to own and use its properties and assets and to carry on its
business as  currently  conducted.  The Company has no  subsidiaries  other than
those  set  forth in the most  recent  Form10-K  filed by the  Company  with the
Commission  (collectively  the  "Subsidiaries").  Each of the Subsidiaries is an
entity, duly incorporated or otherwise  organized,  validly existing and in good
standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization
(as  applicable),  with the  requisite  power and  authority  to own and use its
properties and assets and to carry on its business as currently  conducted.  The
only Subsidiaries of the Company that generate 5% or more of the aggregate gross
revenues of the Company and its  Subsidiaries on a consolidated  basis are Allou
Distributors,  Inc. and M. Sobol,  Inc. Each of the Company and the Subsidiaries
is  duly  qualified  to  do  business  and  is in  good  standing  as a  foreign
corporation in each  jurisdiction in which the nature of the business  conducted
or property  owned by it makes such  qualification  necessary,  except where the
failure to be so qualified or in good  standing,  as the case may be, could not,
individually or in the aggregate, (x) adversely affect the legality, validity or
enforceability  of the Securities  (as defined below) or any of this  Agreement,
the   Registration   Rights  Agreement  or  the  Warrants   (collectively,   the
"Transaction Documents"), (y) have or result in a material adverse effect on the
results of operations,  assets, prospects, or condition (financial or otherwise)
of the Company and the  Subsidiaries,  taken as a whole, or (z) adversely impair
the Company's  ability to perform fully on a timely basis its obligations  under
any of the  Transaction  Documents (any of (x), (y) or (z), a "Material  Adverse
Effect").

                  (b) Authorization;  Enforcement. The Company has the requisite
corporate  power and authority to enter into and to consummate the  transactions
contemplated by each of the Transaction Documents and otherwise to carry out its
obligations  thereunder.  The execution and delivery of each of the  Transaction
Documents  by  the  Company  and  the  consummation  by it of  the  transactions
contemplated  thereby have been duly  authorized by all necessary  action on the
part of the Company and no further action is required by the Company, except for
any  shareholder  approval  that may be  required  by Section 713 of the Listing
Standards, Policies and Requirements of the

                                       -2-

<PAGE>



American Stock Exchange (the "AMEX"). Each of the Transaction Documents has been
duly  executed by the Company and, when  delivered in accordance  with the terms
hereof,  will  constitute  the  valid  and  binding  obligation  of the  Company
enforceable  against  the  Company in  accordance  with its terms.  Neither  the
Company nor any  Subsidiary  is in  violation  of any of the  provisions  of its
respective certificate of incorporation, by-laws or other charter documents.

                  (c)  Capitalization.  The  number of  authorized,  issued  and
outstanding capital stock of the Company consists of: (i) 10,000,000  authorized
shares of its Common Stock, 4,644,380 shares of which are currently outstanding,
(ii) 2,200,000  authorized  shares of its Class B Common Stock,  par value $.001
per share (the "Class B Common Stock"),  1,200,000 shares of which are currently
outstanding and (iii) 1,000,000  shares of preferred  stock, par value $.001 per
share, no shares of which are currently  outstanding.  No shares of Common Stock
and no shares of the Company's  Class B Common Stock,  par value $.001 per share
(the "Class B Common Stock") are entitled to preemptive or similar  rights,  nor
is any holder of the Common Stock or Class B Common Stock entitled to preemptive
or similar rights arising out of any agreement or understanding with the Company
by virtue of any of the Transaction  Documents.  Except as disclosed in Schedule
2.1(c), there are no outstanding options,  warrants,  script rights to subscribe
to, calls or commitments of any character  whatsoever relating to, or, except as
a  result  of the  purchase  and sale of the  Warrants,  rights  or  obligations
convertible  into or  exchangeable  for,  or  giving  any  Person  any  right to
subscribe for or acquire any shares of Common Stock or Class B Common Stock,  or
contracts, commitments,  understandings, or arrangements by which the Company or
any Subsidiary is or may become bound to issue additional shares of Common Stock
or Class B Common Stock,  or securities or rights  convertible  or  exchangeable
into shares of Common  Stock or Class B Common  Stock.  To the  knowledge of the
Company,  except as specifically disclosed in the SEC Reports (as defined below)
or Schedule 2.1(c), no Person or group of related Persons  beneficially owns (as
determined  pursuant to Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934,  as  amended  (the  "Exchange  Act"))  or has the right to  acquire  by
agreement with or by obligation binding upon the Company beneficial ownership of
in  excess  of 5% of the  Common  Stock.  A  "Person"  means  an  individual  or
corporation,  partnership,  trust,  incorporated or unincorporated  association,
joint venture, limited liability company, joint stock company, government (or an
agency or subdivision thereof) or other entity of any kind.

                  (d)  Issuance of the  Securities.  The Shares and the Warrants
are duly authorized. The Company is authorized to issue the number of Underlying
Shares that are issuable upon  exercise of the  Warrants,  assuming that (i) the
Warrants are  immediately  exercisable  and (ii) the Market Price (as defined in
the  Warrant)  is  50%  of  the  Per  Share  Market  Value  (as  defined  in the
Registration  Rights  Agreement) of the Common Stock on the Closing  Date.  When
issued and paid for in accordance  with the terms hereof,  the Securities  shall
have been validly issued,  fully paid and  nonassessable,  free and clear of all
liens,  encumbrances  and  rights of first  refusal  of any kind  (collectively,
"Liens"). The Company has duly reserved the Shares for issuance. The Company has
on the date hereof and will,  at all times while the Warrants  are  outstanding,
maintain an adequate  reserve of duly  authorized  Common Stock, to enable it to
perform  its  exercise  and  other  obligations  under  this  Agreement  and the
Warrants.  Such  number of reserved  and  available  shares of Common  Stock for
issuance  upon exercise of the Warrants is not less than the number of shares of
Common Stock issuable upon exercise of Warrant, assuming the Market Price is 50%
of the Per Share Market

                                       -3-

<PAGE>



Value of the  Common  Stock at the  Closing  Date (such  number of  shares,  the
"Initial  Minimum").  All such  authorized  shares of Common Stock shall be duly
reserved  for  issuance  to the  holders of the  Warrants on a pro rata basis by
reference  to the number of Shares  acquired by each  Purchaser  hereunder.  The
shares of Common Stock  issuable  upon  exercise of the Warrants are referred to
herein as the "Underlying  Shares." The Shares,  the Warrants and the Underlying
Shares are collectively referred to as, the "Securities."

                  (e) No Conflicts.  The execution,  delivery and performance of
the Transaction  Documents by the Company and the consummation by the Company of
the transactions  contemplated  thereby do not and will not (i) conflict with or
violate any provision of its Restated  Certificate of Incorporation  (as amended
through the date hereof),  or (ii) subject to obtaining  the Required  Approvals
(as defined  below),  conflict  with, or constitute a default (or an event which
with notice or lapse of time or both would become a default)  under,  or give to
others any rights of termination,  amendment, acceleration or cancellation (with
or without notice,  lapse of time or both) of, any agreement,  credit  facility,
indenture or  instrument  (evidencing  a Company debt or otherwise) to which the
Company or any  Subsidiary  is a party or by which any  property or asset of the
Company or any  Subsidiary is bound or affected,  or (iii) result in a violation
of any law,  rule,  regulation,  order,  judgment,  injunction,  decree or other
restriction  of any court or  governmental  authority  to which the  Company  is
subject  (including  federal and state  securities  laws and regulations and the
rules and  regulations  of the principal  market or exchange on which the Common
Stock is listed or traded),  or by which any property or asset of the Company is
bound or  affected,  except in the case of each of clauses  (ii) and  (iii),  as
could  not,  individually  or in the  aggregate,  have or result  in a  Material
Adverse Effect.  The business of the Company is not being conducted in violation
of any law,  ordinance or regulation of any governmental  authority,  except for
violations which, individually or in the aggregate,  could not have or result in
a Material Adverse Effect.

                  (f)  Consents  and  Approvals.  Neither  the  Company  nor any
Subsidiary is required to obtain any consent, waiver, authorization or order of,
give any notice to, or make any filing or registration  with, any court or other
federal,  state,  local or other  governmental  authority  or  other  Person  in
connection  with the execution,  delivery and  performance by the Company of the
Transaction  Documents,  other than (i) the filings required pursuant to Section
3.13,  (ii) the filing of the  registration  statement  with the  Securities and
Exchange Commission (the "Commission") meeting the requirements set forth in the
Registration  Rights  Agreement  and  covering  the resale of the Shares and the
Underlying  Shares by the Purchasers,  (iii) the  application(s) to the AMEX for
the listing of the Shares and the Underlying  Shares with the AMEX (and with any
other national  securities  exchange or market on which the Common Stock is then
listed for  trading),  (iv)  applicable  Blue Sky filings,  and (v) in all other
cases where the failure to obtain such consent, waiver,  authorization or order,
or to give such  notice or make such  filing or  registration  could not have or
result in,  individually  or in the  aggregate,  a Material  Adverse Effect (the
consents,  waivers,  authorizations,  orders, notices and filings referred to in
(i)-(vi) of this Section are, collectively, the "Required Approvals").

                  (g) Litigation;  Proceedings. Except as specifically disclosed
in the  Disclosure  Materials (as  hereinafter  defined) or in Schedule  2.1(g),
there is no action,  suit,  notice of  violation,  proceeding  or  investigation
pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened against or

                                       -4-

<PAGE>



affecting  the  Company or any of its  Subsidiaries  or any of their  respective
properties  before or by any court,  governmental  or  administrative  agency or
regulatory  authority  (federal,  state,  county,  local or  foreign)  which (i)
adversely affects or challenges the legality,  validity or enforceability of any
of the Transaction Documents or the Securities or (ii) could, individually or in
the aggregate, have or result in a Material Adverse Effect.

                  (h) No Default  or  Violation.  Neither  the  Company  nor any
Subsidiary (i) is in default under or in violation of (and no event has occurred
which has not been waived  which,  with  notice or lapse of time or both,  would
result in a default by the Company or any Subsidiary under), nor has the Company
or any Subsidiary received notice of a claim that it is in default under or that
it is in  violation  of, any  indenture,  loan or credit  agreement or any other
agreement  or  instrument  to  which  it is a party or by which it or any of its
properties is bound, (ii) is in violation of any order of any court,  arbitrator
or  governmental  body,  or  (iii)  is in  violation  of any  statute,  rule  or
regulation of any governmental authority, except as could not individually or in
the aggregate, have or result in a Material Adverse Effect.

                  (i)   Private   Offering.   Assuming   the   accuracy  of  the
representations   and  warranties  of  the  Purchasers  set  forth  in  Sections
2.2(b)-(g),  the offer, issuance and sale of the Securities to the Purchasers as
contemplated  hereby  are  exempt  from  the  registration  requirements  of the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities  Act").  Neither the Company
nor any  Person  acting on its behalf has taken any  action  could  subject  the
offering, issuance or sale of the Securities to the registration requirements of
the Securities Act.

                  (j) SEC Reports;  Financial Statements.  The Company has filed
all  reports  required  to be filed  by it under  the  Exchange  Act,  including
pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) thereof, for the two years preceding the date
hereof (or such  shorter  period as the Company was required by law to file such
material) (the foregoing materials being collectively  referred to herein as the
"SEC Reports" and, together with the Schedules to this Agreement the "Disclosure
Materials") on a timely basis or has received a valid  extension of such time of
filing and has filed any such SEC Reports  prior to the  expiration  of any such
extension.  As of  their  respective  dates,  the SEC  Reports  complied  in all
material  respects with the  requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange
Act and the rules and  regulations  promulgated  thereunder  and none of the SEC
Reports,  when  filed,  contained  any untrue  statement  of a material  fact or
omitted to state a material fact  required to be stated  therein or necessary in
order to make the statements  therein, n light of the circumstances  under which
they were made, not misleading.  All material agreements to which the Company is
a party or to which the  property or assets of the Company are subject have been
filed as  exhibits  to the SEC  Reports to the extent  required.  The  financial
statements  of the Company  included in the SEC Reports  comply in all  material
respects with applicable  accounting  requirements and the rules and regulations
of the Commission with respect thereto as in effect at the time of filing.  Such
financial  statements have been prepared in accordance  with generally  accepted
accounting  principles ("GAAP") applied on a consistent basis during the periods
involved,  except as may be otherwise specified in such financial  statements or
the notes  thereto,  and fairly  present in all material  respects the financial
position  of the  Company and its  consolidated  subsidiaries  as of and for the
dates thereof and the results of operations  and cash flows for the periods then
ended,  subject,  in the case of unaudited  statements,  to normal,  immaterial,
year-end audit adjustments. Since September 30, 1998,

                                       -5-

<PAGE>



except as set forth in Schedule 2.1(j) and except as  specifically  disclosed in
the SEC Reports, (a) there has been no event, occurrence or development that has
had or that could have or result in a Material  Adverse Effect,  (b) the Company
has not  incurred  any  liabilities  (contingent  or  otherwise)  other than (x)
liabilities  incurred in the ordinary  course of business  consistent  with past
practice and (y)  liabilities  not  required to be  reflected  in the  Company's
financial  statements  pursuant to GAAP or required to be  disclosed  in filings
made  with the  Commission,  (c) the  Company  has not  altered  its  method  of
accounting  or the identity of its auditors and (d) the Company has not declared
or  made  any  payment  or  distribution  of  cash  or  other  property  to  its
stockholders  or officers or directors  (other than in compliance  with existing
Company  stock option  plans) with respect to its capital  stock,  or purchased,
redeemed  (or made any  agreements  to  purchase  or  redeem)  any shares of its
capital  stock.  The Company last filed audited  financial  statements  with the
Commission  on March  31,  1998,  and has not  received  any  comments  from the
Commission in respect thereof.

                  (k)  Investment  Company.  The  Company is not,  and is not an
Affiliate (as defined in Rule 405 under the  Securities  Act) of, an "investment
company" within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

                  (l)  Certain  Fees.  Except for  certain  fees  payable by the
Company to Hambro  America  Securities,  Inc.,  no fees or  commissions  will be
payable by the Company to any broker,  financial advisor or consultant,  finder,
placement  agent,  investment  banker,  or bank with respect to the transactions
contemplated  by this  Agreement.  The Purchasers  shall have no obligation with
respect to any fees or with  respect to any claims made by or on behalf of other
Persons  for  fees of a type  contemplated  in this  Section  that may be due in
connection with the  transactions  contemplated  by this Agreement.  The Company
shall indemnify and hold harmless the Purchasers,  their  respective  employees,
officers, directors, agents, and partners, and their respective Affiliates, from
and  against  all  claims,  losses,  damages,  costs  (including  the  costs  of
preparation  and attorney's  fees) and expenses  suffered in respect of any such
claimed or existing fees, as such fees and expenses are incurred.

                  (m) Form S-3 Eligibility.  The Company is eligible to register
securities for resale with the Commission  under Form S-3 promulgated  under the
Securities Act.

                  (n)  Listing  and  Maintenance  Requirements  Compliance.  The
Company has not, in the two years  preceding  the date hereof,  received  notice
(written or oral) from the AMEX or any other stock  exchange,  market or trading
facility  on which the  Common  Stock is or has been  listed (or on which it has
been  quoted)  to the effect  that the  Company  is not in  compliance  with the
listing or maintenance  requirements of such exchange or market.  The Company is
currently in compliance with all such  maintenance  requirements  and no fact or
circumstances  currently  exist which could  reasonably be expected to result in
noncompliance with such maintenance requirements in the foreseeable future.

                  (o) Patents and Trademarks.  The Company has, or has rights to
use, all  patents,  patent  applications,  trademarks,  trademark  applications,
service marks, trade names, copyrights,  licenses and rights (collectively,  the
"Intellectual  Property  Rights")  which are  necessary  or material  for use in
connection  with its  business,  and which the  failure  to so have would have a
Material

                                       -6-

<PAGE>



Adverse  Effect.  To the best  knowledge of the Company,  all such  Intellectual
Property Rights are enforceable and there is no existing infringement by another
Person of any of the Intellectual Property Rights.

                  (p) Registration  Rights;  Rights of Participation.  Except as
set forth on Schedule 6(b) to the Registration Rights Agreement, (i) the Company
has not  granted  or  agreed  to  grant  to any  Person  any  rights  (including
"piggy-back"  registration  rights)  to  have  any  securities  of  the  Company
registered with the Commission or any other governmental authority which has not
been satisfied and (ii) no Person,  has any right of first  refusal,  preemptive
right,  right of  participation,  or any  similar  right to  participate  in the
transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents.

                  (q)  Regulatory  Permits.  The  Company  and its  Subsidiaries
possess all certificates,  authorizations  and permits issued by the appropriate
Federal,  state or foreign  regulatory  authorities  necessary to conduct  their
respective businesses as described in the SEC Reports,  except where the failure
to possess such permits could not,  individually  or in the  aggregate,  have or
result in a Material  Adverse  Effect  ("Material  Permits"),  and  neither  the
Company nor any such Subsidiary has received any notice of proceedings  relating
to the revocation or modification of any Material Permit.

                  (r) Title.  The  Company  and the  Subsidiaries  have good and
marketable title in fee simple to all real property and personal  property owned
by them which is material to the  business of the Company and its  Subsidiaries,
in each  case  free  and  clear  of all  Liens,  except  for  liens,  claims  or
encumbrances  as do not materially  affect the value of such property and do not
interfere  with the use made and  proposed  to be made of such  property  by the
Company and its Subsidiaries.  Any real property and facilities held under lease
by the Company and its Subsidiaries are held by them under valid, subsisting and
enforceable leases with such exceptions as are not material and do not interfere
with the use made and proposed to be made of such  property and buildings by the
Company and its Subsidiaries.

                  (s) Disclosure.  The Company confirms that it has not provided
either  Purchaser or its respective  agents or counsel with any information that
constitutes or might constitute  material  non-public  information.  The Company
understands  and confirms that the Purchasers  shall be relying on the foregoing
representations  in effecting  transactions  in securities  of the Company.  All
disclosure  provided to the Purchasers  regarding the Company,  its business and
the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Schedules to this Agreement,
furnished by or on behalf of the Company are true and correct and do not contain
any untrue  statement  of a  material  fact or omit to state any  material  fact
necessary  in  order  to make  the  statements  made  therein,  in  light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

                  (t) Class B Holders.  Schedule 2.1(t) lists all of the holders
of the Class B Common Stock.

                  (u) Listing. The Shares are approved for listing on the AMEX.

         2.2  Representations  and Warranties of the  Purchaser.  Each Purchaser
hereby,  severally  and not jointly,  represents  and warrants to the Company as
follows:

                                       -7-

<PAGE>



                  (a) Organization; Authority. Such Purchaser is duly organized,
validly  existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its
organization with the requisite corporate power and authority, to enter into and
to consummate the  transactions  contemplated by the  Transaction  Documents and
otherwise  to  carry  out  its  obligations  thereunder.  The  purchase  by such
Purchaser of the Securities  hereunder has been duly authorized by all necessary
action  on  the  part  of  such  Purchaser.  Each  of  this  Agreement  and  the
Registration  Rights  Agreement  has been duly  executed  and  delivered by such
Purchaser  and  constitutes  the valid and legally  binding  obligation  of such
Purchaser, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms.

                  (b)  Investment  Intent.   Such  Purchaser  is  acquiring  the
Securities as principal for its own account for investment purposes only and not
with a view to or for  distributing  or reselling  such  Securities  or any part
thereof or interest therein,  without  prejudice,  however,  to such Purchaser's
right,  subject to the provisions of this Agreement and the Registration  Rights
Agreement,  at all times to sell or otherwise dispose of all or any part of such
Securities pursuant to an effective  registration statement under the Securities
Act  and in  compliance  with  applicable  state  securities  laws or  under  an
exemption from such registration.

                  (c) Purchaser  Status.  At the time such Purchaser was offered
the Securities to be acquired  hereunder by such  Purchaser,  it was, and at the
date hereof it is, and at the Closing Date, it will be, an "accredited investor"
as defined in Rule 501(a) under the Securities Act.

                  (d) Experience of the Purchaser. Such Purchaser,  either alone
or together with its  representatives,  has such knowledge,  sophistication  and
experience in business and  financial  matters so as to be capable of evaluating
the merits and risks of the prospective investment in the Securities, and has so
evaluated the merits and risks of such investment.

                  (e)  Ability of  Purchaser  to Bear Risk of  Investment.  Such
Purchaser is able to bear the economic risk of an  investment in the  Securities
and, at the present time, is able to afford a complete loss of such investment.

                  (f) Access to Information. Such Purchaser acknowledges receipt
of the Disclosure  Materials and further  acknowledges  that it has reviewed the
Disclosure  Materials  and has been  afforded  (i) the  opportunity  to ask such
questions  as  it  has  deemed  necessary  of,  and  to  receive  answers  from,
representatives  of the  Company  concerning  the  terms and  conditions  of the
offering  of the  Securities  and the  merits  and  risks  of  investing  in the
Securities;  (ii) access to  information  about the  Company  and the  Company's
financial condition,  results of operations,  business,  proper ties, management
and prospects sufficient to enable it to evaluate its investment;  and (iii) the
opportunity to obtain such additional information which the Company possesses or
can acquire without  unreasonable effort or expense that is necessary to make an
informed  investment  decision with respect to the  investment and to verify the
accuracy  and  completeness  of the  information  contained  in  the  Disclosure
Materials. Neither such inquiries nor any other investigation conducted by or on
behalf of such Purchaser or its  representatives or counsel shall modify,  amend
or affect such Purchaser's right to rely on the truth, accuracy and completeness
of the  Disclosure  Materials and the Company's  representations  and warranties
contained in the Transaction Documents.

                                       -8-

<PAGE>



                  (g) General Solicitation. Such Purchaser is not purchasing the
Securities as a result of or subsequent to any advertisement, article, notice or
other  communication  regarding  the  Securities  published  in  any  newspaper,
magazine or similar media or broadcast over  television or radio or presented at
any seminar.

                  (h) Reliance. Such Purchaser understands and acknowledges that
(i) the Securities are being offered and sold to it without  registration  under
the Securities Act in a private  placement that is exempt from the  registration
provisions of the Securities Act and (ii) the  availability  of such  exemption,
depends in part on, and the Company will rely upon the accuracy and truthfulness
of, the foregoing  representations  and such Purchaser  hereby  consents to such
reliance.

                  The Company  acknowledges and agrees that the Purchasers makes
no representations  or warranties with respect to the transactions  contemplated
hereby other than those specifically set forth in this Section 2.2.


                                   ARTICLE III
                         OTHER AGREEMENTS OF THE PARTIES

         3.1  Transfer  Restrictions.  (a)  Securities  may only be  disposed of
pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, to the
Company or pursuant  to an  available  exemption  from or in a  transaction  not
subject to the  registration  requirements  of the Securities Act. In connection
with any transfer of Securities other than pursuant to an effective registration
statement  or to the  Company  and except as  otherwise  set forth  herein,  the
Company may require the transferor  thereof to provide to the Company an opinion
of counsel  selected by the transferor,  the form and substance of which opinion
shall be  reasonably  satisfactory  to the  Company,  to the  effect  that  such
transfer does not require registration of such transferred  securities under the
Securities Act.  Notwithstanding  the foregoing,  the Company hereby consents to
and agrees to register on the books of the Company and with any  transfer  agent
for the  securities  of the  Company  any  transfer  of  Securities  (x) between
Purchasers  and (y) by a Purchaser to an Affiliate of such Purchaser or to funds
under common  management  with such  Purchaser  or any  transfer  among any such
Affiliates or funds,  provided that transferee  certifies to the Company that it
is an  "accredited  investor"  within  the  meaning  of Rule  501(a)  under  the
Securities  Act and that it is acquiring the  Securities  solely for  investment
purposes. Any such transferee shall agree in writing to be bound by the terms of
this Agreement and shall have the rights of a Purchaser under this Agreement and
the Registration Rights Agreement.

                  (b) The  Purchasers  agrees to the  imprinting,  so long as is
required by this Section 3.1(b), of the following legend on the Securities:

                  NEITHER THESE  SECURITIES [NOR THE SECURITIES INTO WHICH THESE
         SECURITIES ARE  EXERCISABLE]  HAVE BEEN  REGISTERED WITH THE SECURITIES
         AND EXCHANGE  COMMISSION OR THE  SECURITIES  COMMISSION OF ANY STATE IN
         RELIANCE UPON AN EXEMPTION FROM  REGISTRATION  UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT
         OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE "SECURITIES ACT"),

                                       -9-

<PAGE>



         AND,  ACCORDINGLY,  MAY NOT BE  OFFERED  OR SOLD IN THE  ABSENCE  OF AN
         EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR AN OPINION
         OF  COUNSEL  THAT  SUCH  SALE  MAY BE  MADE  PURSUANT  TO AN  AVAILABLE
         EXEMPTION  FROM, OR IN A TRANSACTION  NOT SUBJECT TO, THE  REGISTRATION
         REQUIREMENTS  OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND IN ACCORDANCE  WITH  APPLICABLE
         STATE SECURITIES LAWS.

                  The legend set forth  above  shall be removed  from the Shares
and the  Company  shall  cause  its  transfer  agent to issue a  certificate  or
certificates  without any legend (upon  surrender  of the legended  certificates
duly endorsed) to each holder of the Shares upon which it is stamped if (i) such
Securities  are  registered  for resale  under the  Securities  Act or (ii) such
legend is not required  pursuant to Rule 144  promulgated  under the  Securities
Act.  Underlying  Shares  shall not  contain  the legend set forth above nor any
other legend if the exercise of Warrants or other issuances of Underlying Shares
as  contemplated  by  the  Warrants  occurs  at any  time  while  an  Underlying
Securities  Registration Statement covering the resale of such Underlying Shares
is effective  under the Securities Act or in the event there is not an effective
Underlying Securities  Registration Statement at such time if such legend is not
required under applicable  requirements of the Securities Act. The Company shall
issue the Transfer  Agent  Instructions  to the Company's  transfer agent on the
Closing  Date.  The  Company  agrees  that it will cause its  transfer  agent to
provide  the  Purchasers,  upon  request,  with a  certificate  or  certificates
representing  Underlying  Shares,  free from such  legend,  at such time as such
legend  is  no  longer  required   hereunder  upon  surrender  of  the  legended
certificates duly endorsed. The Company may not make any notation on its records
or give  instructions  to any transfer  agent of the Company  which  enlarge the
restrictions  of  transfer  set  forth in this  Section.  For  purposes  of this
Agreement,   an  "Underlying  Securities   Registration   Statement"  means  any
registration  statement  filed  with the  Commission  (including  a  replacement
registration  statement  filed upon the  expiration of the initial  registration
statement filed by the Company) that meets the  requirements of the Registration
Rights  Agreement and registers the resale of all the  Underlying  Shares by the
recipient thereof, who shall be named as a "selling stockholder" thereunder.

         3.2  Acknowledgment  of  Dilution.  The Company  acknowledges  that the
issuance of the  Underlying  Shares upon  exercise of the Warrants may result in
dilution  of the  outstanding  shares of Common  Stock,  which  dilution  may be
substantial under certain market  conditions.  The Company further  acknowledges
that its obligation to issue Underlying  Shares upon exercise of the Warrants is
unconditional and absolute, regardless of the effect of any such dilution.

         3.3  Furnishing  of   Information.   As  long  as  any  Purchaser  owns
Securities,  the  Company  covenants  to timely  file (or obtain  extensions  in
respect  thereof  and file  within the  applicable  grace  period)  all  reports
required  to be filed by the Company  after the date hereof  pursuant to Section
13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act. So long as any Purchaser owns Securities, if
the Company is not  required  to file  reports  pursuant  to such laws,  it will
prepare and furnish to each Purchaser and make publicly  available in accordance
with Rule  144(c)  promulgated  under the  Securities  Act annual and  quarterly
financial statements,  together with a discussion and analysis of such financial
statements  in form and  substance  substantially  similar  to those  that would
otherwise  be required to be  included in reports  required by Section  13(a) or
15(d) of the Exchange Act, as well as any other information

                                      -10-

<PAGE>



required thereby,  in the time period that such filings would have been required
to have been made under the Exchange Act. The Company further  covenants that it
will take  such  further  action as any  holder  of  Securities  may  reasonably
request,  all to the extent  required from time to time to enable such Person to
sell  Securities  without  registration  under the  Securities  Act  within  the
limitation  of the  exemptions  provided  by  Rule  144  promulgated  under  the
Securities Act,  including the legal opinion  referenced  above in this Section.
Upon the request of any such Person,  the Company shall deliver to such Person a
written certification of a duly authorized officer as to whether it has complied
with such requirements.

         3.4  Blue  Sky  Laws.  In  accordance  with  the  Registration   Rights
Agreement,  the Company  shall  qualify or exempt the  issuance  and sale of the
Securities  under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such  jurisdictions  as the
Purchasers  may  reasonably  request and shall  continue such  qualification  or
exemption at all times until each Purchaser notifies the Company in writing that
it no longer owns Securities;  provided,  however,  that neither the Company nor
its  Subsidiaries  shall be required  in  connection  therewith  to qualify as a
foreign  corporation  where they are not now so  qualified or to take any action
that  would  subject  the  Company  to  general  service  of process in any such
jurisdiction where it is not then so subject.

         3.5 Integration.  The Company shall not, and shall use its best efforts
to ensure that no Affiliate shall, sell, offer for sale or solicit offers to buy
or  otherwise  negotiate  in respect of any security (as defined in Section 2 of
the  Securities  Act)  that  would be  integrated  with the offer or sale of the
Securities in a manner that would require the registration  under the Securities
Act of the sale of the Securities to the Purchasers.

         3.6  Stockholder  Approval Under the Rules and  Regulations of American
Stock Exchange.  If the Company would be, if all Warrants were exercised on such
date,  required  under  the  Rules and  Regulations  of the AMEX to  obtain  the
approval of the stockholders of the Company to issue the Underlying  Shares upon
such exercise (such date, the  "Stockholder  Approval  Trigger Date"),  then the
Company  shall,  (i) within 3 Business  Days,  notify the holders of Warrants of
such fact,  (ii) within 15 days of the  Stockholder  Approval  Trigger Date file
proxy materials relating to such stockholder  approval with the Commission,  and
(iii)  use its best  efforts  to obtain  as soon as  possible,  and in any event
within 90 days after the  Stockholder  Approval  Trigger Date (the  "Stockholder
Approval  Deadline"),   such  stockholder  approval  for  the  issuance  of  all
Securities described in this Agreement (including the approval of issuances at a
discount  to market as may be  required  by the  Rules  and  Regulations  of the
American Stock  Exchange).  Each holder of a Warrant may deliver a notice to the
Company  regarding such  requirement,  in which event the time periods described
herein shall commence on the date of such notice. If the Company fails to obtain
the approval of the stockholders contemplated in this Section by the Stockholder
Approval Deadline,  then, as partial relief (which remedy shall not be exclusive
of any other remedies available under this Agreement,  at law or in equity), the
Company shall pay to each  Purchaser at the election of such  Purchaser,  either
(i) an amount in cash, as liquidated damages and not as a penalty,  equal to the
Mandatory  Redemption  Amount  (defined  below) or (ii) an  amount  in cash,  as
liquidated damages and not as a penalty, equal to 2.0% of the aggregate purchase
price paid by such  Purchaser on the Closing Date for Shares (which price is set
forth opposite such  Purchaser's  name on Schedule I hereto) (the "2% Payment").
In the event a Purchaser elects to receive the Mandatory Redemption Amount, the

                                      -11-

<PAGE>



Company shall make the payment to such Purchaser within five days of the earlier
to occur of (I) the holding of the meeting of the  Company's  stockholders,  the
failure  of  which  resulted  in the  requirement  to  make  such  payment  (the
"Stockholder  Non-Approval Date") and (II) the Stockholder Approval Deadline. In
the event a Purchaser  elects to receive the 2% Payment,  the Company shall make
the 2% Payments  within five days of (I) the Stockholder  Non-Approval  Date and
(II) the last day of each 30-day period  beginning on the  Stockholder  Approval
Deadline.  In the event the Company  fails to make any such payments in a timely
manner,  such payments shall bear interest at the lesser of (i) the rate of 2.0%
per month or (ii) the highest  lawful rate (pro rated for partial  months) until
paid in full.  Notwithstanding  any other  provision of this Section 3.6, in the
event a holder of a Warrant delivers a Form of Election under such Warrant prior
to any approval of the  stockholders  contemplated  in this Section  having been
obtained,  the  Company  shall  issue  to such  holder  the  maximum  number  of
Underlying Shares that may be issued without approval of the stockholders of the
Company  under the Rules and  Regulations  of the  AMEX.  For  purposes  of this
Agreement, (a) "Business Day" means any day except Saturday,  Sunday and any day
which shall be a legal  holiday or a day on which  banking  institutions  in the
State of New York are authorized or required by law or other  government  action
to close and (b)  "Mandatory  Redemption  Amount"  means the amount  obtained by
multiplying (x) 125%, (y) the number of Underlying Shares issuable upon exercise
of the Warrant (excluding,  however,  those Underlying Shares that may be issued
without  stockholder  approval  under the Rules and  Regulations of AMEX to such
Purchaser on a pro rata basis by  reference to the number of Shares  acquired by
such Purchaser  hereunder) and (z) the Per Share Market Value on the Trading Day
(defined in Section 3.13(c) hereof)  immediately  preceding the date a Purchaser
elects to receive the Mandatory Redemption Amount.

         3.7 Increase in Authorized  Shares.  At such times as the Company would
be, if a notice of exercise  were to be delivered on such date,  precluded  from
issuing such number of  Underlying  Shares as would be issuable upon exercise in
full of the Warrants (or, if greater,  the number of Underlying  Shares issuable
upon  exercise  of the  Warrants  assuming  the Market  Price (as defined in the
Warrant)  is equal to 50% of the Per Share  Market  Value on the  Closing  Date)
(assuming in each case that the Warrants are immediately exercisable) due to the
unavailability  of a sufficient  number of shares of authorized  but unissued or
reserved  Common Stock,  the Company shall promptly (and in any case,  within 30
Business  Days from  such  date)  prepare  and mail to the  stockholders  of the
Company proxy materials requesting authorization to amend the Company's Restated
Certificate  of  Incorporation  to increase the number of shares of Common Stock
which the  Company is  authorized  to issue to at least such number of shares as
reasonably  requested by the  Purchasers  in order to provide for such number of
authorized  and unissued  shares of Common Stock to enable the Company to comply
with its exercise and  reservation  of shares  obligations  as set forth in this
Agreement  and the Warrants (the sum of (x) the number of shares of Common Stock
then authorized,  (y) the number of shares of Common Stock then outstanding plus
all shares of Common Stock  issuable  upon  conversion of all the Class B Common
Stock and upon exercise of all  outstanding  options,  warrants and  convertible
instruments,  and (z) the number of Underlying  Shares issuable upon exercise in
full of the Warrants (or, if greater,  the number of Underlying  Shares issuable
upon  exercise  of the  Warrants  assuming  the Market  Price (as defined in the
Warrant)  is equal to 50% of the Per Share  Market  Value on the  Closing  Date)
(assuming in each case that the Warrants are immediately exercisable),  shall be
a reasonable number),  shall be a reasonable  number). In connection  therewith,
the Board of Directors shall (a) adopt proper resolutions authorizing such

                                      -12-

<PAGE>



increase,  (b)  recommend to and  otherwise use its best efforts to promptly and
duly  obtain  stockholder  approval  to carry out such  resolutions  (and hold a
special meeting of the stockholders no later than the 60th day after delivery of
the proxy  materials  relating to such meeting) and (c) within five (5) Business
Days of obtaining such stockholder authorization,  file an appropriate amendment
to  the  Company's  Restated  Certificate  of  Incorporation  to  evidence  such
increase.

         3.8 Listing and  Reservation.  (a) The Company shall (i) not later than
the fifth Business Day following the Closing Date prepare and file with the AMEX
(or such other  national  securities  exchange or market or trading or quotation
facility on which the Common Stock is then listed) an additional  shares listing
application  covering  a number  of shares of  Common  Stock for  issuance  upon
exercise  of the  Warrants  which is at  least  equal to the  number  of  shares
required  to be  reserved  pursuant  to  Section  2.1(d),  (ii)  take all  steps
necessary  to cause such shares to be approved  for listing in the AMEX (as well
as on any such  other  national  securities  exchange  or market or  trading  or
quotation facility on which the Common Stock is then listed) as soon as possible
thereafter,  and (iii) provide to the Purchasers  evidence of such listing,  and
the Company  shall  maintain  the listing of its Common  Stock  thereon.  If the
number  of  Underlying  Shares  as  are  issuable  upon  exercise  of  the  then
unexercised  portion of the  Warrant,  exceeds  85% of the number of  Underlying
Shares  previously  listed in accordance  herewith on account  thereof with AMEX
(and such other  required  exchanges),  the  Company  shall  take the  necessary
actions to immediately  list a number of Underlying  Shares as equals the sum of
200% of the number of  Underlying  Shares  then  issuable  upon  exercise of the
Warrants (assuming the Warrants are immediately exercisable).

                  (b) The Company  shall  maintain a reserve of Common Stock for
issuance  upon  exercise of the Warrant in  accordance  with its terms,  in such
amount as may be required to fulfill  obligations in full under the  Transaction
Documents,  which reserve shall include a number of shares of Common Stock equal
to no less than the Initial Minimum.

         3.9 Exercise  Procedures.  The Transfer Agent  Instructions and Form of
Election to Purchase  under the Warrant set forth the totality of the procedures
with respect to the exercise of the Warrant,  including  such other  information
and  instructions  as may be  reasonably  necessary to enable the  Purchasers to
exercise the Warrants in accordance with their terms.

         3.10 Notice of  Breaches.  (a) Each of the  Company and the  Purchasers
shall  give  prompt  written  notice  to the  other of any  breach  by it of any
representation,  warranty  or  other  agreement  contained  in  any  Transaction
Document,  as well as any events or  occurrences  arising  after the date hereof
which  would  reasonably  be likely to cause any  representation  or warranty or
other  agreement  of such  party,  as the case may be,  contained  therein to be
incorrect or breached as of the Closing Date.  However,  no disclosure by either
party  pursuant  to this  Section  shall be  deemed  to cure any  breach  of any
representation,  warranty  or  other  agreement  contained  in  any  Transaction
Document.

                  (b)  Notwithstanding  the generality of Section  3.10(a),  the
Company shall promptly  notify the Purchasers of any notice or claim (written or
oral) that it  receives  from any lender of the  Company to the effect  that the
consummation  of the  transactions  contemplated  by the  Transaction  Documents
violates or would violate any written agreement or understanding between

                                      -13-

<PAGE>



such lender and the Company, and the Company shall promptly furnish by facsimile
to the holders of the  Securities a copy of any written  statement in support of
or relating to such claim or notice.

         3.11 Exercise  Obligations of the Company.  The Company shall honor the
exercise of the Warrants and shall deliver  Underlying Shares in accordance with
the terms, conditions and time periods set forth in the Warrants.

         3.12 Right of First Refusal; Subsequent Registrations.  (a) The Company
shall not,  directly or  indirectly,  without the prior  written  consent of the
Purchasers,  offer, sell, grant any option to purchase,  or otherwise dispose of
(or  announce  any  offer,  sale,  grant  or any  option  to  purchase  or other
disposition)  any of its or its  Affiliates'  (x)  equity  or  equity-equivalent
securities  the  issuance  price of which is less than the  market  price of the
Common  Stock at the time of issuance of such  security  or  instrument,  or (y)
securities or any  instrument  that permits the holder thereof to acquire equity
or  equity-equivalent  securities  at any time over the life of the  security or
instrument  at a price that is less than the  market  price of the shares of the
Common  Stock at the time of issuance  of such  security  or  instrument  or (z)
equity or  equity-equivalent  securities  pursuant to agreements or  instruments
under which the issuance price (including,  based upon any conversion,  exchange
or  reset  formula)  of such  securities  changes  at any  time  (a  "Subsequent
Placement")  for a period of 180 days  after the  Closing  Date,  except (i) the
granting of options or warrants to employees,  officers and  directors,  and the
issuance of shares upon exercise of options granted, under any stock option plan
heretofore  or  hereinafter  duly adopted by the Company,  (ii) shares of Common
Stock  issued  upon  exercise of any  currently  outstanding  warrants  and upon
conversion of any currently outstanding  convertible  securities of the Company,
in each case  disclosed  in Schedule  2.1(c),  and (iii)  shares of Common Stock
issued upon exercise of the Warrants in accordance  with the Warrants unless (A)
the  Company  delivers  to the  Purchasers  a written  notice  (the  "Subsequent
Placement Notice") of its intention to effect such Subsequent  Placement,  which
Subsequent  Placement  Notice shall  describe in reasonable  detail the proposed
terms of such Subsequent Placement, the amount of proceeds intended to be raised
thereunder,  the Person with whom such  Subsequent  Placement shall be effected,
and attached to which shall be a term sheet or similar document relating thereto
and (B) no Purchaser shall have notified the Company by 5:00 p.m. (New York City
time) on the  tenth  (10th)  Trading  Day after its  receipt  of the  Subsequent
Placement  Notice of its  willingness  to cause the Purchasers to provide (or to
cause  its  sole  designee  to  provide),  subject  to  completion  of  mutually
acceptable  documentation,  financing to the Company on substantially  the terms
set forth in the Subsequent  Placement  Notice.  If the Purchasers shall fail to
notify the Company of its intention to enter into such negotiations  within such
time period, the Company may effect the Subsequent Placement  substantially upon
the terms and to the Persons (or  Affiliates  of such  Persons) set forth in the
Subsequent  Placement  Notice;  provided,  that the  Company  shall  provide the
Purchasers with a second Subsequent  Placement Notice,  and the Purchasers shall
again have the right of first refusal set forth above in this  paragraph (a), if
the Subsequent  Placement  subject to the initial  Subsequent  Placement  Notice
shall not have been  consummated  for any  reason on the terms set forth in such
Subsequent  Placement  Notice  within thirty (30) Trading Days after the date of
the initial Subsequent Placement Notice with the Person (or an Affiliate of such
Person)  identified in the Subsequent  Placement Notice. If the Purchasers shall
indicate a willingness to provide financing in excess of the amount set forth in
the  Subsequent  Placement  Notice,  then each  Purchaser  shall be  entitled to
provide financing  pursuant to such Subsequent  Placement Notice up to an amount
equal to such
                                      -14-

<PAGE>



Purchaser's  pro rata portion of the  aggregate  purchase  price paid by all the
Purchasers  for the Shares on the Closing  Date,  but the  Company  shall not be
required to accept  financing  from the Purchasers in an amount in excess of the
amount set forth in the Subsequent Placement Notice.

                  (b) Except for (v) Underlying  Shares,  (w) other "Registrable
Securities" (as such term is defined in the Registration Rights Agreement) to be
registered, and securities of the Company permitted pursuant to Schedule 6(b) of
the  Registration's   Rights  Agreement  to  be  registered  in  the  Underlying
Securities  Registration  Statement in accordance with the  Registration  Rights
Agreement,  (x) shares of Common Stock to be registered for resale in connection
with  financings  permitted  pursuant to  paragraph  (a)(i) and (iii) of Section
3.11(a),  (y) shares of Common Stock to be registered for resale on Form S-8 (as
promulgated  under the  Securities  Act)  relating to  issuances of Common Stock
solely in connection  with shares  issuable in connection with a stock option or
other  employee  benefit  plan and (z) shares of Common Stock issued to a Person
who is not an Affiliate (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) of the
Company in connection with a strategic  acquisition by the Company of any entity
or business from such Person, where such shares are used to pay all or a portion
of the  consideration  paid for such entity or business,  the Company shall not,
without the prior written consent of the Purchasers (i) issue or sell any of its
or any of its Affiliates'  equity or  equity-equivalent  securities  pursuant to
Regulation S promulgated  under the Securities  Act, or (ii) register for resale
any  securities  of the  Company  for a period of not less than 90 Trading  Days
after the date that the registration statement covering the resale of the Shares
and the  Underlying  Shares by the  Purchasers  meeting the  requirement  of the
Registration Rights Agreement is declared effective by the Commission.  Any days
that any Purchaser is unable to sell Underlying  Shares under such  registration
statement  shall be added to such 90 Trading Day period for the  purposes of (i)
and (ii) above.

                  (c) For purposes of this  Agreement,  "Trading Day" shall mean
(a) a day on which the Common Stock is traded on the American  Stock Exchange or
on any other  stock  market or  trading  facility  on which the shares of Common
Stock are listed and quoted (each,  a  "Subsequent  Market") on which the Common
Stock is then listed or quoted,  as the case may be, or (b) if the Common  Stock
is not listed on the American Stock Exchange or on a Subsequent Market, a day on
which the Common Stock is traded in the over-the-counter  market, as reported by
the OTC  Bulletin  Board,  or (c) if the  Common  Stock is not quoted on the OTC
Bulletin   Board,   a  day  on  which  the   Common   Stock  is  quoted  in  the
over-the-counter   market  as  reported  by  the   National   Quotation   Bureau
Incorporated (or any similar  organization or agency succeeding its functions of
reporting prices); provided, however, that in the event that the Common Stock is
not listed or quoted as set forth in (a),  (b) and (c) hereof,  then Trading Day
shall mean any day except  Saturday,  Sunday and any day which  shall be a legal
holiday  or a day on which  banking  institutions  in the  State of New York are
authorized or required by law or other government action to close.

         3.13 Certain Securities Laws Disclosures; Publicity. The Company shall:
(i) issue  within  one (1)  Business  Day of the  Closing  Date a press  release
acceptable to the Purchasers  disclosing the transactions  contemplated  hereby,
(ii)  file  within  ten (10)  Business  Days  after  the  Closing  Date with the
Commission a Current Report on Form 8-K disclosing the transactions contemplated
hereby, and (iii) timely file with the Commission a Form D promulgated under the
Securities Act as required under  Regulation D promulgated  under the Securities
Act and provide a copy thereof to the

                                      -15-

<PAGE>



Purchasers  promptly after the filing  thereof.  The Company shall, no less than
two (2) Business Days prior to the filing of any disclosure document required by
clauses (ii) and (iii) above, provide a copy thereof to the Purchasers.  No such
filing or disclosure  may be made that  mentions the  Purchasers by name without
the prior written  consent of the  Purchasers,  except a registration  statement
filed with the Commission that meets the requirements of the Registration Rights
Agreement,  provided that the Company complies with all of its obligations under
the Registration Rights Agreement.

         3.14 Use of Proceeds.  The Company  shall use the net proceeds from the
sale of the Securities  hereunder for working  capital  purposes and not for the
satisfaction of any portion of Company debt (including,  without limitation, any
debt payable to  Affiliates  of the Company) or to redeem any Company  equity or
equity-equivalent  securities.  Pending  application  of the  proceeds  of  this
placement in the manner permitted hereby,  the Company will invest such proceeds
in interest  bearing  accounts  and/or  short-term,  investment  grade  interest
bearing securities.

         3.15 Reimbursement.  If (i) any Purchaser,  other than by reason of its
gross negligence or willful misconduct,  becomes involved in any capacity in any
action,  proceeding or investigation  brought by any stockholder of the Company,
in  connection  with or as a  result  of the  consummation  of the  transactions
contemplated  by Transaction  Documents,  or if such Purchaser  impleaded in any
such action,  proceeding or  investigation  by any Person or (ii) any Purchaser,
other than by reason of its gross negligence or willful  misconduct or by reason
of its trading of the Common Stock in a manner that is illegal under the federal
securities laws,  becomes involved in any capacity in any action,  proceeding or
investigation  brought by the Commission  against or involving the Company or in
connection  with  or  as a  result  of  the  consummation  of  the  transactions
contemplated by the Transaction Documents,  or if such Purchaser is impleaded in
any such action,  proceeding or  investigation  by any Person,  then in any such
case, the Company will  reimburse  such  Purchaser for its reasonable  legal and
other  expenses  (including  the  cost  of any  investigation  and  preparation)
incurred in connection  therewith,  as such expenses are incurred.  In addition,
other than with respect to any matter in which such  Purchaser is a named party,
the Company will pay such  Purchaser the charges,  as  reasonably  determined by
such  Purchaser,  for the time of any officers or  employees  of such  Purchaser
devoted  to  appearing  and  preparing  to appear  as  witnesses,  assisting  in
preparation for hearings,  trials or pretrial matters, or otherwise with respect
to inquiries,  hearings,  trials, and other proceedings  relating to the subject
matter of this  Agreement.  The  reimbursement  obligations of the Company under
this  paragraph  shall be in  addition  to any  liability  which the Company may
otherwise  have,  shall  extend  upon  the  same  terms  and  conditions  to any
Affiliates of the Purchasers  who are actually named in such action,  proceeding
or investigation,  and partners,  directors,  agents,  employees and controlling
persons (if any), as the case may be, of the Purchasers and any such  Affiliate,
and shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of any  successors,  assigns,
heirs and personal  representatives of the Company,  the Purchasers and any such
Affiliate  and any such  Person.  The  Company  also  agrees  that  neither  any
Purchaser nor any such Affiliates,  partners,  directors,  agents,  employees or
controlling  persons  shall  have any  liability  to the  Company  or any person
asserting  claims on behalf of or in right of the Company in connection  with or
as a result  of the  consummation  of the  Transaction  Documents  except to the
extent that any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses incurred by the
Company  result  from  the  gross  negligence  or  willful  misconduct  of  such
Purchaser.

                                      -16-

<PAGE>



         3.16  Restrictions on Sale.  Each Purchaser  agrees that (i) during the
period (the "First Period") commencing on the Closing Date and ending on the day
immediately  prior to the First Vesting Date (as defined in the Warrants),  such
Purchaser  may only sell  shares of Common  Stock to the extent the  proceeds of
such sales do not exceed  33-1/3% of the aggregate  purchase  price paid by such
Purchaser  on  the  Closing  Date  (which  price  is  set  forth  opposite  such
Purchaser's  name on  Schedule I  attached  hereto)  and (ii)  during the period
commencing on the First Vesting Date and ending on the day immediately  prior to
the Second  Vesting Date (as defined in the  Warrants),  such Purchaser may only
sell  shares of Common  Stock to the  extent the  proceeds  of such sales do not
exceed  66-2/3% of the aggregate  purchase  price paid by such  Purchaser on the
Closing  Date  (which  price is set  forth  opposite  such  Purchaser's  name on
Schedule I attached hereto) (minus any proceeds  received by such Purchaser from
shares of Common  Stock sold by such  Purchaser  during the First  Period).  The
limitation  of sales of Common  Stock set forth in this  Section  3.16 shall not
apply to (i) sales of Common  Stock made on or after the Second  Vesting Date or
(ii)  shares of Common  Stock  sold at a price per share  equal to or  exceeding
$11.25.

         3.17 Limitations on Short Sales. Each Purchaser agrees that it will not
enter into any Short Sales (as hereinafter  defined) from the period  commencing
on the  Closing  Date and ending on the Second  Vesting  Date (as defined in the
Warrants)  except to the extent  such  Short  Sales are in  compliance  with the
limitations  on sales of Common Stock set forth in Section 3.16. For purposes of
this Section  3.17,  a "Short  Sale" by a Purchaser  shall mean a sale of Common
Stock by such  Purchaser  that is marked  as a short  sale and that is made at a
time when there is no equivalent  offsetting  long position in Common Stock held
by the  Purchaser.  For purposes of  determining  whether there is an equivalent
offsetting  long  position in Common Stock held by a Purchaser,  Warrant  Shares
that have not yet been issued on exercise of the Warrants  shall be deemed to be
held long by the  Purchaser,  and the  number of Warrant  Shares  then held by a
Purchaser on any particular date of computation shall be equal to (i) the number
of  Warrant  Shares  then  issuable  on  exercise  of the  Warrant  held by such
Purchaser,  and (ii) to the extent the Warrant is not fully  exercisable  on the
date of  computation,  the number of Warrant  Shares  that would be  issuable on
exercise  in full of the  Warrant  if  each  Vesting  Date  (as  defined  in the
Warrants) that has not then occurred had occurred on such date of computation.


                                   ARTICLE IV
                                  MISCELLANEOUS

         4.1 Fees and Expenses.  At the Closing the Company shall pay $15,000 to
Robinson Silverman (in addition to the $15,000 previously sent by the Company to
Robinson  Silverman) in connection  with the  preparation and negotiation of the
Transaction  Documents.  Other than the amounts  contemplated in the immediately
preceding sentence,  each party shall pay the fees and expenses of its advisers,
counsel,  accountants and other experts, if any, and all other expenses incurred
by such party incident to the negotiation,  preparation, execution, delivery and
performance of this  Agreement.  The Company shall pay all stamp and other taxes
and duties levied in connection with the issuance of the Securities.

                                      -17-

<PAGE>



         4.2 Entire  Agreement;  Amendments.  This Agreement,  together with the
Exhibits and Schedules hereto, the Registration  Rights Agreement,  the Warrants
and the Transfer  Agent  Instructions  contain the entire  understanding  of the
parties  with  respect to the  subject  matter  hereof and  supersede  all prior
agreements and  understandings,  oral or written,  with respect to such matters,
which the parties acknowledge have been merged into such documents, exhibits and
schedules.

         4.3 Notices.  Any and all notices or other communications or deliveries
required or permitted to be provided  hereunder shall be in writing and shall be
deemed given and effective on the earliest of (i) the date of  transmission,  if
such  notice or  communication  is  delivered  via  facsimile  at the  facsimile
telephone  number  specified in this Section  prior to 8:00 p.m.  (New York City
time) on a Business Day,  (ii) the Business Day after the date of  transmission,
if such notice or  communication  is delivered  via  facsimile at the  facsimile
telephone number  specified in the Purchase  Agreement later than 8:00 p.m. (New
York City time) on any date and earlier than 11:59 p.m.  (New York City time) on
such date,  (iii) the Business  Day  following  the date of mailing,  if sent by
nationally  recognized overnight courier service, or (iv) upon actual receipt by
the party to whom such  notice is  required  to be given.  The  address for such
notices and communications shall be as follows:

         If to the Company:    Allou Health and Beauty Care, Inc.
                               50 Emjay Boulevard
                               Brentwood, NY 11717
                               Facsimile No.: (516) 293-5318
                               Attn: Chief Operating Officer

         If to the Purchasers:   At the addresses set forth on Schedule I
                                 attached hereto

         With copies to:         Robinson Silverman Pearce Aronsohn &
                                 Berman LLP
                                 1290 Avenue of the Americas
                                 New York, NY 10104
                                 Facsimile No.: (212) 541-4630
                                 Attn: Kenneth L. Henderson

                                              - and -

                                 Krieger & Prager
                                 319 Fifth Avenue, 3rd Floor
                                 New York, NY 10016
                                 Facsimile No.: (212) 213-2077
                                 Attn: Samuel M. Krieger

or such other  address as may be designated  in writing  hereafter,  in the same
manner, by such Person.

         4.4 Amendments;  Waivers.  No provision of this Agreement may be waived
or amended except in a written  instrument  signed, in the case of an amendment,
by both the Company and the

                                      -18-

<PAGE>



Purchasers,  or, in the case of a waiver,  by the party against whom enforcement
of any such  waiver is  sought.  No waiver of any  default  with  respect to any
provision,  condition or requirement  of this Agreement  shall be deemed to be a
continuing waiver in the future or a waiver of any other provision, condition or
requirement  hereof, nor shall any delay or omission of either party to exercise
any right hereunder in any manner impair the exercise of any such right accruing
to it thereafter.

         4.5  Headings.  The headings  herein are for  convenience  only, do not
constitute a part of this  Agreement  and shall not be deemed to limit or affect
any of the provisions hereof.

         4.6  Successors and Assigns.  This Agreement  shall be binding upon and
inure to the benefit of the parties and their successors and permitted  assigns.
The Company may not assign this Agreement or any rights or obligations hereunder
without  the prior  written  consent of the  Purchasers.  Except as set forth in
Section  3.1(a),  the  Purchasers  may not assign this  Agreement  or any of the
rights or obligations  hereunder  (other than to an Affiliate of such Purchaser)
without the consent of the Company,  except that the Purchasers may assign their
respective  rights  hereunder and under the  Transaction  Documents  without the
consent of the Company as long as such assignee  demonstrates  to the reasonable
satisfaction  of  the  Company  its  satisfaction  of  the  representations  and
warranties  set  forth  in  Section  2.2.  This  provision  shall  not  limit  a
Purchaser's  right to transfer  its  Securities  or  transfer  or assign  rights
hereunder or under the Registration Rights Agreement.

         4.7 No  Third-Party  Beneficiaries.  This Agreement is intended for the
benefit of the parties  hereto and their  respective  successors  and  permitted
assigns and is not for the benefit of, nor may any provision  hereof be enforced
by, any other Person.

         4.8 Governing  Law. This  Agreement  shall be governed by and construed
and  enforced  in  accordance  with the  internal  laws of the State of New York
without regard to the principles of conflicts of law thereof.  Each party hereby
irrevocably  submits  to the  exclusive  jurisdiction  of the state and  federal
courts  sitting  in  the  City  of New  York,  borough  of  Manhattan,  for  the
adjudication  of any dispute  hereunder  or in  connection  herewith or with any
transaction  contemplated  hereby or discussed herein (including with respect to
the enforcement of the any of the Transaction Documents), and hereby irrevocably
waives,  and agrees not to assert in any suit,  action or proceeding,  any claim
that it is not personally  subject to the  jurisdiction of any such court,  that
such suit,  action or  proceeding  is improper.  Each party  hereby  irrevocably
waives  personal  service of process and consents to process being served in any
such suit,  action or  proceeding by mailing a copy thereof to such party at the
address in effect for  notices to it under this  Agreement  and agrees that such
service  shall  constitute  good and  sufficient  service of process  and notice
thereof.  Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to limit in any way any right
to serve process in any manner permitted by law.

         4.9 Survival. The representations, warranties, agreements and covenants
contained  herein shall survive the Closing and the exercise of the Warrants and
delivery of shares of Common Stock thereunder.

         4.10  Execution.  This  Agreement  may  be  executed  in  two  or  more
counterparts,  all of which when taken  together shall be considered one and the
same agreement and shall become

                                      -19-

<PAGE>



effective when  counterparts have been signed by each party and delivered to the
other  party,  it being  understood  that  both  parties  need not sign the same
counterpart.  In  the  event  that  any  signature  is  delivered  by  facsimile
transmission,  such signature shall create a valid and binding obligation of the
party  executing  (or on whose behalf such  signature is executed) the same with
the same force and effect as if such  facsimile  signature page were an original
thereof.

         4.11 Publicity.  The Company and the Purchasers shall consult with each
other in issuing any press  releases or otherwise  making  public  statements or
filings and other communications with the Commission or any regulatory agency or
stock market or trading facility with respect to the  transactions  contemplated
hereby and neither  party shall issue any such press  release or otherwise  make
any such public  statement,  filings or other  communications  without the prior
written consent of the other,  which consent shall not be unreasonably  withheld
or delayed, except that no prior consent shall be required if such disclosure is
required by law, in which such case the disclosing party shall provide the other
party with prior notice of such public statement, filing or other communication.
Notwithstanding the foregoing,  the Company shall not publicly disclose the name
of the Purchasers,  or include the name of the Purchasers in any filing with the
Commission,  or any regulatory agency,  trading facility or stock market without
the  prior  written  consent  of  such  Purchaser,  except  to the  extent  such
disclosure  (but not any disclosure as to the  controlling  Persons  thereof) is
required by law or by applicable rules, bylaws or policies of the AMEX, in which
case the Company  shall  provide the  Purchasers  and with prior  notice of such
disclosure.

         4.12  Severability.  In case any one or more of the  provisions of this
Agreement  shall be invalid or  unenforceable  in any respect,  the validity and
enforceability of the remaining terms and provisions of this Agreement shall not
in any way be  affecting  or impaired  thereby and the parties  will  attempt to
agree  upon a valid  and  enforceable  provision  which  shall  be a  reasonable
substitute  therefor,  and upon so agreeing,  shall  incorporate such substitute
provision in this Agreement.

         4.13  Remedies.  In addition to being  entitled to exercise  all rights
provided herein or granted by law, including recovery of damages, the Purchasers
will be entitled to specific performance of the obligations of the Company under
the  Transaction  Documents.  Each of the Company and the Purchasers  agree that
monetary  damages  may not be  adequate  compensation  for any loss  incurred by
reason of any breach of its obligations  described in the foregoing sentence and
hereby  agrees  to waive in any  action  for  specific  performance  of any such
obligation the defense that a remedy at law would be adequate.

         4.14  Independent  Nature of Purchasers'  Obligations  and Rights.  The
obligations  of each  Purchaser  hereunder  is  several  and not joint  with the
obligations  of the  other  Purchasers  hereunder,  and no  Purchaser  shall  be
responsible  in any way for the  performance  of the  obligations  of any  other
Purchaser  hereunder.  Nothing  contained  herein or in any other  agreement  or
document delivered at any Closing, and no action taken by any Purchaser pursuant
hereto  or  thereto,   shall  be  deemed  to  constitute  the  Purchasers  as  a
partnership,  an  association,  a joint venture or any other kind of entity,  or
create a presumption  that the  Purchasers are in any way acting in concert with
respect to such obligations or the transactions  contemplated by this Agreement.
Each  Purchaser  shall be entitled to protect and enforce its rights,  including
without limitation the rights arising out of this Agreement

                                      -20-

<PAGE>



or out of the other Transaction Documents, and it shall not be necessary for any
other  Purchaser to be joined as an additional  party in any proceeding for such
purpose.


                   [REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK
                             SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]

                                      -21-

<PAGE>


                  IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the  parties  hereto  have  caused  this
Securities Purchase Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized
signatories as of the date first indicated above.

                           .
                                            ALLOU HEALTH AND BEAUTY CARE, INC.


                                            By:_________________________________
                                               Name:
                                               Title:


                                            STRONG RIVER INVESTMENTS, INC.



                                            By:_________________________________
                                               Name:
                                               Title:


                                            SOVEREIGN PARTNERS, L.P.



                                            By:_________________________________
                                               Name:
                                               Title:



                                            DOMINION CAPITAL FUND LTD.

                                                   By: Citco Fund Services Ltd. 
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                   By:__________________________
                                                      Name:                     
                                                      Title:                    
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                   By:__________________________
                                                      Name:                     
                                                      Title:                    
                                                  

                                      -22-

<PAGE>




                                          CANADIAN ADVANTAGE LIMITED PARTNERSHIP



                                          By:___________________________________
                                               Name:
                                               Title:



                                          WESTOVER INVESTMENTS, L.P.



                                          By:___________________________________
                                              Name:
                                              Title:



                                          MONTROSE INVESTMENTS, LTD.



                                          By:___________________________________
                                             Name:
                                             Title:


                                      -23-

<PAGE>

                                   SCHEDULE I


Purchaser                        Number of Shares      Purchase Price for Shares
- ----------                       ----------------      -------------------------

Strong River Investments, Inc.          166,667           $1,500,000
c/o Robinson Silverman Pearce
       Aronsohn & Berman LLP
1290 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10104
Facsimile No.:  (212) 541-4630
Attn: Kenneth L. Henderson

Sovereign Partners, L.P.                200,000           $1,800,000
90 Grove Street
Suite 01
Ridgefield, CT 06877
Facsimile No.: (203) 431-8301
Attn: Steven Hicks

Dominion Capital Fund Ltd.              150,000           $1,350,000
c/o CITCO Fund Services Ltd.
Bahamas Financial Center
Nassau, Bahamas
Attn: Nina Ray

Canadian Advantage Limited Partnership   38,889           $  350,000
365 Bay Street
Toronto, Ontario
Facsimile No.: (416) 860-6140
Attn: Mark Valentine

Westover Investments, L.P.               33,333           $  300,000
300 Crescent Court, Suite 700
Dallas, TX  75201
Facsimile:(214) 758-1221
Attn: Will Rose

Montrose Investments  Ltd.               77,778           $  700,000
300 Crescent Court, Suite 700
Dallas, TX  75201
Facsimile:(214) 758-1221
Attn: Will Rose






NEITHER THESE  SECURITIES  NOR THE  SECURITIES  INTO WHICH THESE  SECURITIES ARE
EXERCISABLE HAVE BEEN REGISTERED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE  COMMISSION OR
THE  SECURITIES  COMMISSION  OF ANY STATE IN  RELIANCE  UPON AN  EXEMPTION  FROM
REGISTRATION  UNDER THE  SECURITIES  ACT OF 1933,  AS AMENDED  (THE  "SECURITIES
ACT"),  AND,  ACCORDINGLY,  MAY NOT BE OFFERED  OR SOLD  EXCEPT  PURSUANT  TO AN
EFFECTIVE  REGISTRATION  STATEMENT  UNDER THE  SECURITIES  ACT OR PURSUANT TO AN
AVAILABLE  EXEMPTION  FROM  THE  REGISTRATION  REQUIREMENTS  THEREUNDER  AND  IN
COMPLIANCE WITH APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES OR BLUE SKY LAWS.


                       ALLOU HEALTH AND BEAUTY CARE, INC.

                                     WARRANT
                                     -------

Warrant No. _                                           Dated: December 15, 1998


         Allou  Health and  Beauty  Care,  Inc.,  a  Delaware  corporation  (the
"Company"),  hereby  certifies that, for value received,  [ ], or its registered
assigns  ("Holder"),  is  entitled,  subject  to the terms set forth  below,  to
purchase  from the  Company  up to the total  number of shares of Class A Common
Stock, $.001 par value per share (the "Common Stock"), of the Company (each such
share, a "Warrant Share" and all such shares,  the "Warrant Shares")  calculated
pursuant  to Section 3 of this  Warrant at an  exercise  price equal to $.01 per
share (as  adjusted  from time to time as provided  in Section 8, the  "Exercise
Price"),  at the times set forth herein through and including  December 15, 2002
(the "Expiration Date"), and subject to the following terms and conditions:

                  1.  Registration  of Warrant.  The Company shall register this
Warrant,  upon  records to be  maintained  by the Company for that  purpose (the
"Warrant Register"),  in the name of the record Holder hereof from time to time.
The  Company  may deem and treat the  registered  Holder of this  Warrant as the
absolute owner hereof for the purpose of any exercise hereof or any distribution
to the Holder, and for all other purposes, and the Company shall not be affected
by notice to the contrary.

                  2.       Registration of Transfers and Exchanges.

                           (a) The Company  shall  register  the transfer of any
portion of this Warrant in the Warrant Register, upon surrender of this Warrant,
with the Form of Assignment  attached  hereto duly completed and signed,  to the
Transfer  Agent or to the  Company at the office  specified  in or  pursuant  to
Section 3(g). Upon any such registration or transfer,  a new warrant to purchase
Common Stock, in substantially the form of this Warrant (any such new warrant, a
"New Warrant"),


<PAGE>



evidencing  the portion of this  Warrant so  transferred  shall be issued to the
transferee and a New Warrant  evidencing  the remaining  portion of this Warrant
not so  transferred,  if any, shall be issued to the  transferring  Holder.  The
acceptance  of the New  Warrant by the  transferee  thereof  shall be deemed the
acceptance of such  transferee of all of the rights and  obligations of a holder
of a Warrant.

                           (b) This Warrant is exchangeable,  upon the surrender
hereof by the Holder to the office of the  Company  specified  in or pursuant to
Section 3(g) for one or more New Warrants, evidencing in the aggregate the right
to purchase the number of Warrant Shares which may then be purchased  hereunder.
Any such New Warrant will be dated the date of such exchange.

                  3.       Duration, Exercise and Redemption of Warrants.

                           (a) The  vesting  of the  Warrant  Shares  which  the
Holder is permitted to acquire pursuant to this Warrant shall occur on the dates
set forth  below.  On each such date,  this  Warrant  shall vest on a cumulative
basis with respect to a number of Warrant Shares calculated  pursuant to Section
3(b)  below.  Only the Warrant  Shares  that have  vested may be  acquired  upon
exercise of this Warrant.

                                    (i)  The  first  Vesting  Date  (the  "First
Vesting  Date") shall be the  thirty-first  (31st)  calendar day  following  the
earlier  to  occur  of (A) the  Effectiveness  Date  and  (B) the  Effectiveness
Required  Date (the  Warrant  Shares  with  respect  to which  this  Warrant  is
exercisable  on the  First  Vesting  Date are  called  the  "Tranche  A  Warrant
Shares");

                                    (ii) The second  Vesting  Date (the  "Second
Vesting  Date") shall be the  seventy-first  (71st)  calendar day  following the
earlier  to  occur  of (A) the  Effectiveness  Date  and  (B) the  Effectiveness
Required  Date (the  Warrant  Shares  with  respect  to which  this  Warrant  is
exercisable  on the  Second  Vesting  Date are  called  the  "Tranche  B Warrant
Shares"); and

                                    (iii) The  third  Vesting  Date (the  "Third
Vesting  Date," and together with the First Vesting Date and the Second  Vesting
Date, the "Vesting  Dates") shall be the one hundred and tenth (110th)  calendar
day  following  the earlier to occur of (A) the  Effectiveness  Date and (B) the
Effectiveness  Required  Date (the  Warrant  Shares  with  respect to which this
Warrant is  exercisable  on the Third  Vesting  Date are  called the  "Tranche C
Warrant Shares").

                           (b) Except as  otherwise  set forth in this  Warrant,
this Warrant shall vest and become exercisable on each Vesting Date with respect
to the number of Warrant  Shares  calculated  in  accordance  with the following
formula:

             (Applicable Share Number) x [(9.0 x 1.15) - Market Price]
                  Market Price

If the number  calculated in accordance with the foregoing formula is a negative
number, the Holder shall not be obligated to transfer any shares to the Company.
On each Vesting Date, the Company


                                       -2-

<PAGE>

shall  send a notice  to the  Holder  setting  forth in  reasonable  detail  its
calculation  of the number of Warrant Shares which shall vest and be exercisable
on such Vesting Date.

                           For purposes of this Warrant,

                                    (i) "Applicable Share Number" means (i) with
respect to the First Vesting  Date,  34% of the number of shares of Common Stock
purchased  by the Holder  pursuant to the  Securities  Purchase  Agreement  (the
"Purchase Agreement"),  dated as of December 14, 1998, among the Company, Strong
River Investments,  Inc., Sovereign Partners,  L.P., Dominion Capital Fund Ltd.,
Canadian Advantage Limited Partnership,  Westover Investments, L.P. and Montrose
Investments,  Ltd. and (ii) with respect to each of the Second  Vesting Date and
the Third Vesting Date, 33% of the number of shares of Common Stock purchased by
the Holder pursuant to the Purchase Agreement.

                                    (ii)   "Effectiveness    Date"   means   the
effective  date of the  registration  statement (the  "Registration  Statement")
covering the Shares (as defined in the Purchase Agreement) purchased pursuant to
the Purchase  Agreement and meeting the requirements of the Registration  Rights
Agreement ("the Registration Rights Agreement"),  dated as of December 14, 1998,
among the Company,  Strong River Investments,  Inc.,  Sovereign Partners,  L.P.,
Dominion Capital Fund Ltd.,  Canadian  Advantage Limited  Partnership,  Westover
Investments, L.P. and Montrose Investments, Ltd.

                                    (iii)  "Effectiveness  Required  Date" means
the 90th day following the closing under the Purchase Agreement;

                                    (iv) "Market Price" means the average of the
lowest twenty (20) Per Share Market Values (which need not occur on  consecutive
Trading  Days)  during the thirty (30) Trading Days  immediately  preceding  the
first day of the applicable Vesting Date.

                                    (v)  "Trading  Day" means (a) a day on which
the Common Stock is traded on the American  Stock Exchange or on any other stock
market or trading  facility  on which the  shares of Common  Stock are listed or
quoted (each, a "Subsequent  Market"),  as the case may be, or (b) if the Common
Stock is not listed on the American Stock Exchange or on a Subsequent  Market, a
day on which  the  Common  Stock is traded in the  over-the-counter  market,  as
reported by the OTC Bulletin  Board, or (c) if the Common Stock is not quoted on
the OTC  Bulletin  Board,  a day on which  the  Common  Stock is  quoted  in the
over-the-counter   market  as  reported  by  the   National   Quotation   Bureau
Incorporated (or any similar  organization or agency succeeding its functions of
reporting prices); provided, however, that in the event that the Common Stock is
not listed or quoted as set forth in (a),  (b) and (c) hereof,  then Trading Day
shall mean any day except  Saturday,  Sunday and any day which  shall be a legal
holiday  or a day on which  banking  institutions  in the  State of New York are
authorized or required by law or other government action to close; and

                                       -3-

<PAGE>



                                    (vi) "Per Share  Market  Value" means on any
particular  date (a) the closing bid price per share of the Common Stock on such
date on the American Stock Exchange ("AMEX") or on any Subsequent  Market, or if
there is no such price on such date,  then the  closing bid price on the AMEX or
on such Subsequent Market on the date nearest preceding such date, or (b) if the
Common  Stock is not then listed or quoted on the AMEX or a  Subsequent  Market,
the  closing  bid  price  for a share of  Common  Stock in the  over-the-counter
market,  as reported by the National  Quotation  Bureau  Incorporated or similar
organization or agency  succeeding to its functions of reporting  prices) at the
close of business on such date,  or (c) if the Common Stock is not then reported
by the National Quotation Bureau Incorporated (or similar organization or agency
succeeding to its functions of reporting prices),  then the average of the "Pink
Sheet" quotes for the relevant conversion period, as determined in good faith by
the  Holder,  or (d) if the Common  Stock is not then  publicly  traded the fair
market value of a share of Common Stock as determined  by an appraiser  selected
in good  faith  by the  Holders  of a  majority  of the  applicable  Registrable
Securities.

                           (c) The vesting of the Warrant  Shares in  accordance
with this  Section 3 shall not be  affected  by any  failure  by the  Company to
maintain  the  effectiveness  of the  Registration  Statement  after it has been
declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission").

                           (d) Notwithstanding the foregoing  provisions of this
Section 3, at any time within ten (10) Trading Days  following the occurrence of
any of the following events (each, an "Event"), the Holder shall have the option
to elect by notice  ("Vesting  Notice") to the Company to have this Warrant vest
with respect to those Warrant Shares that have not yet already vested:

                                    (i)  upon  the  occurrence  of any of (i) an
acquisition  after the date hereof by an  individual  or legal entity or "group"
(as described in Rule 13d-5(b)(1)  promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934,  as  amended  (the  "Exchange  Act")) of in excess of 40% of the voting
securities  of the  Company,  (ii) a  replacement  of more than  one-half of the
members of the  Company's  board of  directors  which is not  approved  by those
individuals  who are members of the board of directors on the date hereof in one
or a series of related  transactions,  (iii) the merger of the  Company  with or
into another entity,  consolidation or sale of all or  substantially  all of the
assets  of the  Company  in one or a  series  of  related  transactions,  unless
following  such  transaction  or  series of  transactions,  the  holders  of the
Company's  securities  prior to the first such  transaction  continue to hold at
least 40% of the  securities of the surviving  entity or acquirer of such assets
or (iv) the  execution  by the Company of an agreement to which the Company is a
party or by which it is bound,  providing  for any of the events set forth above
in (i), (ii) or (iii);

                                    (ii)  immediately  prior to an assignment by
the Company for the benefit of creditors  or  commencement  of a voluntary  case
under the Federal Bankruptcy Code, or an entering into of an order for relief in
an  involuntary  case under the  Federal  Bankruptcy  Code,  or  adoption by the
Company of a plan of liquidation or dissolution; or

                                       -4-

<PAGE>



                                    (iii)  five   Business  Days  prior  to  the
proposed  consummation with respect to the Company of a "Rule 13e-3 transaction"
as defined in Rule 13e-3 under the Exchange Act (or, if necessary,  such earlier
date as the Company  shall  determine  in good faith to be required in order for
the Holder to be able to participate in such transaction),  it being agreed that
the Holder will  receive  actual  notice of the 13e-3  Statement  filed with the
Commission  on the date  filed and  actual  notice  of the date of  acceleration
hereunder  no  later  than  such  date,  and  that  if such  transaction  is not
consummated,  and this Warrant has been  exercised,  then the Holder (and to the
extent that this Warrant would not but for this  paragraph be  exercisable,  the
Company)  shall be entitled to declare the exercise null and void and the Holder
shall, upon return of the Warrant Shares to the Company,  be entitled to receive
a refund of the Exercise Price and warrants identical to this Warrant,  and such
acceleration  shall  become void ab initio,  and the  Warrants  shall (as to any
remaining  unexercised  portion  thereof)  remain in full  force  and  effect in
accordance with the terms hereof.

In the event the Holder delivers a Vesting Notice,  this Warrant shall vest with
respect  to the number of  Warrant  Shares  calculated  in  accordance  with the
formula set forth on Section 3(b);  provided,  however that for purposes of such
calculation,  (i) the "Applicable Share Number" shall be deemed to mean (A) 100%
of the number of shares of Common Stock  purchased by the Holder pursuant to the
Purchase  Agreement (such number, the "Holder Purchased  Shares"),  if the Event
occurred  prior to the  First  Vesting  Date,  (B) 67% of the  Holder  Purchased
Shares,  if the Event  occurred on or after the First  Vesting Date but prior to
the Second Vesting Date and (C) 33% of the Holder  Purchased Shares if the Event
occurred  on or after the  Second  Vesting  Date but prior to the Third  Vesting
Date;  and (ii) the  "Market  Price"  shall be deemed to mean the average of the
lowest (20) Per Share Market Values (which need not occur on consecutive Trading
Days)  during the thirty (30)  Trading Days  immediately  preceding  the date on
which the Event occurred.

                           (e) Subject to Sections  3(a) and (b),  this  Warrant
shall be exercisable  by the  registered  Holder on any Business Day before 5:30
P.M., New York City time, at any time and from time to time on or after the date
hereof to and including the Expiration Date. At 5:30 P.M., New York City time on
the  Expiration  Date,  the portion of this Warrant not exercised  prior thereto
shall  be and  become  void  and of no  value.  For  purposes  of this  Warrant,
"Business Day" means any day except Saturday,  Sunday and any day which shall be
a legal holiday or a day on which banking  institutions in the State of New York
are authorized or required by law or other government action to close.

                           (f)  Subject  to  Sections   2(b),  6  and  10,  upon
surrender of this Warrant, with the Form of Election to Purchase attached hereto
duly completed and signed, to the Company at its address for notice set forth in
Section 12 and upon payment of the Exercise  Price  multiplied  by the number of
Warrant  Shares  that the Holder  intends to purchase  hereunder,  in the manner
provided  hereunder,  all as  specified by the Holder in the Form of Election to
Purchase,  the Company shall promptly (but in no event later than 3 Trading Days
after the Date of Exercise (as defined  herein)) issue or cause to be issued and
cause to be  delivered  to or upon the  written  order of the Holder and in such
name or names as the Holder may designate,  a certificate for the Warrant Shares
issuable upon such exercise,  free of restrictive legends,  except (i) either in
the event that a
                                       -5-

<PAGE>



registration  statement covering the resale of the Warrant Shares and naming the
Holder as a selling stockholder  thereunder is not then effective or the Warrant
Shares are not freely transferable without volume restrictions  pursuant to Rule
144(k) promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities
Act"),  or (ii) if this  Warrant  shall have been  issued  pursuant to a written
agreement  between  the  original  Holder and the  Company,  as required by such
agreement.  Any person so  designated  by the Holder to receive  Warrant  Shares
shall be deemed to have become holder of record of such Warrant Shares as of the
Date of Exercise of this Warrant.

                           A "Date of  Exercise"  means  the  date on which  the
Company  shall  have  received  (i)  this  Warrant  (or  any  New  Warrant,   as
applicable),  with the Form of Election to Purchase attached hereto (or attached
to such New Warrant)  appropriately  completed and duly signed, and (ii) payment
of the  Exercise  Price for the number of  Warrant  Shares so  indicated  by the
holder hereof to be purchased.

                           (g) If the  Company  fails to  deliver  to the Holder
certificate or certificates  representing the Warrant Shares pursuant to Section
3(f) by the seventh  (7th)  Trading Day after the Date of Exercise,  the Company
shall pay to such Holder,  in cash, as liquidated  damages and not as a penalty,
$1,000 for each day after such seventh  (7th)Trading Day until such certificates
are  delivered.  Nothing  herein shall limit the Holder's right to pursue actual
damages for the Company's failure to deliver certificates representing shares of
Common Stock upon exercise upon conversion  within the period  specified  herein
and the Holder  shall have the right to pursue all  remedies  available to it at
law or in equity including, without limitation, a decree of specific performance
and/or injunctive relief. The exercise of any such rights shall not prohibit the
Holder from seeking to enforce  damages  pursuant to any other Section hereof or
under applicable law.

                           (h) In addition to any other rights  available to the
Holder,  if  the  Company  fails  to  deliver  to  the  Holder   certificate  or
certificates  representing  the Warrant  Shares  pursuant to Section 3(f) by the
seventh (7th) Trading Day after the Date of Exercise,  and if after such seventh
(7th)  Trading  Day the  Holder  purchases  (in an open  market  transaction  or
otherwise)  shares of Common Stock to deliver in  satisfaction  of a sale by the
Holder of the Warrant  Shares which the Holder  anticipated  receiving upon such
exercise  (a  "Buy-In"),  then the  Company  shall pay in cash to the Holder (in
addition to any  remedies  available  to or elected by the Holder) the amount by
which (x) the Holder's total purchase price (including brokerage commissions, if
any) for the shares of Common Stock so purchased exceeds (y) the amount obtained
by multiplying (A) the number of Warrant Shares that the Holder is attempting to
acquire by delivery of the Notice to Purchase by (B) the Per Share  Market Value
on the  Trading Day (or if such date is not a Trading  Day,  on the  immediately
succeeding  Trading Day) the  certificate  representing  such Warrant Shares are
delivered  to the  Holder by or on behalf of the  Company  (and if there is more
than one certificate  representing  the Warrant Shares and they are delivered on
different  Trading  Days,  clause  (y)(B) of this Section  shall be the weighted
average  of the Per  Share  Market  Values  on the  Trading  Days on which  such
certificates are delivered, based on the number of Warrant Shares represented by
each such  certificate) . For example,  if the Holder purchases 10,000 shares of
Common  Stock  having a total  purchase  price of $90,000 to cover a Buy-In with
respect to an attempted exercise of this Warrant

                                       -6-

<PAGE>



with  respect to 10,000  Warrant  Shares,  and the Per Share Market Value on the
Trading Day the Holder receives the certificate representing such Warrant Shares
is $8.00 the Company  shall be required  to pay the Holder  $10,000.  The Holder
shall provide the Company  written notice  indicating the amounts payable to the
Holder in respect of the Buy-In.  Notwithstanding  anything  contained herein to
the contrary,  if a Holder  requires the Company to make payment in respect of a
Buy-In for the failure to timely deliver certificates  hereunder and the Company
timely pays in full such payment,  the Company shall not be required to pay such
Holder  liquidated  damages  under  Section 3(h) in respect of the  certificates
resulting in such Buy-In.

                           (i) Subject to Sections  3(a) and (b),  this  Warrant
shall be  exercisable,  either in its  entirety  or,  from  time to time,  for a
portion of the number of Warrant Shares.  If less than all of the Warrant Shares
which may be purchased under this Warrant are exercised at any time, the Company
shall issue or cause to be issued, at its expense,  a New Warrant evidencing the
right to purchase the remaining  number of Warrant  Shares for which no exercise
has been evidenced by this Warrant.

                  4.  Piggyback  Registration  Rights.  During  the term of this
Warrant, the Company may not file any registration statement with the Securities
and Exchange Commission (other than registration statements of the Company filed
on Form S-8 or Form S-4, each as promulgated  under the Securities Act, pursuant
to which the Company is registering  securities  pursuant to a Company  employee
benefit  plan or  pursuant  to a  merger,  acquisition  or  similar  transaction
including   supplements   thereto,   but  not  additionally  filed  registration
statements  in  respect  of such  securities)  at any time when  there is not an
effective  registration  statement covering the resale of the Warrant Shares and
naming  the  Holder as a selling  stockholder  thereunder,  unless  the  Company
provides  the Holder with not less than 20 days notice of its  intention to file
such registration statement and provides the Holder the option to include any or
all of the applicable Warrant Shares therein. The piggyback  registration rights
granted to the Holder  pursuant to this Section shall  continue until all of the
Holder's  Warrant  Shares  have  been  sold  in  accordance  with  an  effective
registration  statement or upon the  Expiration  Date.  The Company will pay all
registration expenses in connection therewith.

                  5. Demand Registration  Rights. At any time during the term of
this Warrant when the Warrant Shares are not registered pursuant to an effective
registration  statement  (but only after the applicable  Effectiveness  Date (as
defined in the Registration  Rights  Agreement)),  the Holder may make a written
request for the registration under the Securities Act (a "Demand Registration"),
of all of the Warrant  Shares (the  "Registrable  Securities"),  and the Company
shall use its best  efforts to effect  such Demand  Registration  as promptly as
possible,  but in any case within 90 days  thereafter.  Any request for a Demand
Registration  shall  specify  the  aggregate  number of  Registrable  Securities
proposed to be sold and shall also  specify the intended  method of  disposition
thereof.  The right to cause a registration of the Registrable  Securities under
this Section 5 shall be limited to one such  registration.  In any  registration
initiated  as a Demand  Registration,  the  Company  will  pay all  registration
expenses in connection therewith.  A Demand Registration shall not be counted as
a Demand Registration  hereunder until the registration statement filed pursuant
to the

                                       -7-

<PAGE>



Demand  Registration has been declared  effective by the Securities and Exchange
Commission  and maintained  continuously  effective for a period of at least 360
days or such shorter period when all  Registrable  Securities  included  therein
have been sold in accordance with such registration statement, provided, however
that any days on which such registration  statement is not effective or on which
the Holder is not permitted by the Company or any governmental authority to sell
Warrant Shares under such  registration  statement  shall not count towards such
360 day period.

                  6.  Payment of Taxes.  The  Company  will pay all  documentary
stamp taxes  attributable to the issuance of Warrant Shares upon the exercise of
this Warrant;  provided,  however, that the Company shall not be required to pay
any tax  which  may be  payable  in  respect  of any  transfer  involved  in the
registration of any  certificates for Warrant Shares or Warrants in a name other
than that of the Holder, and the Company shall not be required to issue or cause
to be issued or deliver or cause to be delivered  the  certificates  for Warrant
Shares  unless or until the person or persons  requesting  the issuance  thereof
shall have paid to the Company the amount of such tax or shall have  established
to the satisfaction of the Company that such tax has been paid. The Holder shall
be responsible for all other tax liability that may arise as a result of holding
or transferring this Warrant or receiving Warrant Shares upon exercise hereof.

                  7. Replacement of Warrant. If this Warrant is mutilated, lost,
stolen or  destroyed,  the Company shall issue or cause to be issued in exchange
and  substitution  for  and  upon  cancellation   hereof,  or  in  lieu  of  and
substitution for this Warrant, a New Warrant,  but only upon receipt of evidence
reasonably  satisfactory  to the Company of such loss,  theft or destruction and
customary and reasonable indemnity,  if requested.  Applicants for a New Warrant
under  such   circumstances   shall  also  comply  with  such  other  reasonable
regulations and procedures and pay such other reasonable  charges as the Company
may prescribe.

                  8. Reservation of Warrant Shares.  The Company  covenants that
it will at all times  reserve and keep  available  out of the  aggregate  of its
authorized but unissued  Common Stock,  solely for the purpose of enabling it to
issue  Warrant  Shares upon  exercise of this  Warrant as herein  provided,  the
number of  Warrant  Shares  which are then  issuable  and  deliverable  upon the
exercise of this entire Warrant, free from preemptive rights or any other actual
contingent purchase rights of persons other than the Holder (taking into account
the adjustments and  restrictions of Section 9). The Company  covenants that all
Warrant Shares that shall be so issuable and  deliverable  shall,  upon issuance
and the payment of the applicable  Exercise  Price in accordance  with the terms
hereof, be duly and validly authorized, issued and fully paid and nonassessable.

                  9.  Certain  Adjustments.  The  Exercise  Price and  number of
Warrant Shares  issuable upon exercise of this Warrant are subject to adjustment
from time to time as set forth in this Section 9. Upon each such  adjustment  of
the Exercise Price pursuant to this Section 9, the Holder shall thereafter prior
to the Expiration Date be entitled to purchase,  at the Exercise Price resulting
from such  adjustment,  the number of Warrant Shares obtained by multiplying the
Exercise Price in effect  immediately  prior to such adjustment by the number of
Warrant Shares issuable upon exercise

                                       -8-

<PAGE>



of this Warrant  immediately  prior to such  adjustment and dividing the product
thereof by the Exercise Price resulting from such adjustment.

                           (a) If the Company, at any time while this Warrant is
outstanding,  (i) shall pay a stock dividend (except scheduled dividends paid on
outstanding  preferred  stock  as of the  date  hereof  which  contain  a stated
dividend rate) or otherwise make a distribution  or  distributions  on shares of
its Common  Stock (as  defined  below) or on any other  class of  capital  stock
payable in shares of Common Stock, (ii) subdivide  outstanding  shares of Common
Stock into a larger  number of shares,  or (iii) combine  outstanding  shares of
Common  Stock  into a smaller  number of shares,  the  Exercise  Price  shall be
multiplied by a fraction of which the numerator shall be the number of shares of
Common Stock (excluding  treasury shares, if any) outstanding  before such event
and of which the  denominator  shall be the  number  of  shares of Common  Stock
(excluding treasury shares, if any) outstanding after such event. Any adjustment
made  pursuant to this Section  shall  become  effective  immediately  after the
record date for the  determination  of  stockholders  entitled  to receive  such
dividend  or  distribution  and shall  become  effective  immediately  after the
effective date in the case of a subdivision or  combination,  and shall apply to
successive subdivisions and combinations.

                           (b) In case  of any  reclassification  of the  Common
Stock,  any  consolidation or merger of the Company with or into another person,
the sale or transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company or
any compulsory  share  exchange  pursuant to which the Common Stock is converted
into other  securities,  cash or property,  then the Holder shall have the right
thereafter  to  exercise  this  Warrant  only into the shares of stock and other
securities  and  property  receivable  upon or deemed to be held by  holders  of
Common Stock  following  such  reclassification,  consolidation,  merger,  sale,
transfer or share exchange,  and the Holder shall be entitled upon such event to
receive  such amount of  securities  or property  equal to the amount of Warrant
Shares such Holder would have been  entitled to had such Holder  exercised  this
Warrant immediately prior to such reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale,
transfer or share exchange.  The terms of any such consolidation,  merger, sale,
transfer or share exchange shall include such terms so as to continue to give to
the Holder the right to receive the  securities  or  property  set forth in this
Section   9(b)  upon  any   exercise   following   any  such   reclassification,
consolidation, merger, sale, transfer or share exchange.

                           (c) If the Company, at any time while this Warrant is
outstanding,  shall distribute (a "Distribution") to all holders of Common Stock
(and not to holders of this Warrant)  evidences of its indebtedness or assets or
rights or warrants to subscribe  for or purchase any security  (excluding  those
referred to in Sections 9(a),  (b) and (d))  (collectively,  "Rights"),  then in
each such case the Holder shall be entitled to receive,  for each Warrant  Share
with respect to which this Warrant is exercised  after the record date fixed for
determination of stockholders entitled to receive such Distribution,  the Rights
received  by all  holders of Common  Stock  with  respect to one share of Common
Stock.

                           (d)  If,  at  any  time   while   this   Warrant   is
outstanding, the Company shall issue or cause to be issued rights or warrants to
acquire or otherwise sell or distribute shares of

                                       -9-

<PAGE>



Common Stock for a consideration per share less than the Current Market Price on
the date of issuance of such rights or warrants, then, forthwith upon such issue
or sale,  the Exercise  Price shall be reduced to the price  (calculated  to the
nearest cent) determined by multiplying the Exercise Price in effect immediately
prior thereto by a fraction,  the numerator of which shall be the sum of (i) the
number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to such issuance,
and (ii) the number of shares of Common Stock which the aggregate  consideration
received (or to be received,  assuming  exercise or  conversion  in full of such
rights, warrants and convertible securities) for the issuance of such additional
shares of Common  Stock  would  purchase at the Current  Market  Price,  and the
denominator  of which  shall be the sum of the number of shares of Common  Stock
outstanding  immediately  after the  issuance of such  additional  shares.  Such
adjustment  shall be made  successively  whenever such an issuance is made.  For
purposes of this Section 9(d), "Current Market Price," with respect to any date,
means the average of the Per Share  Market  Values  during the ten (10)  Trading
Days immediately preceding such date.

                           (e) For the purposes of this Section 9, the following
clauses shall also be applicable:

                           (i) Record  Date.  In case the  Company  shall take a
record of the holders of its Common Stock for the purpose of entitling  them (A)
to  receive a  dividend  or other  distribution  payable  in Common  Stock or in
securities  convertible or  exchangeable  into shares of Common Stock, or (B) to
subscribe for or purchase Common Stock or securities convertible or exchangeable
into  shares of Common  Stock,  then such  record date shall be deemed to be the
date of the  issue or sale of the  shares of  Common  Stock  deemed to have been
issued or sold upon the declaration of such dividend or the making of such other
distribution  or the  date of the  granting  of such  right of  subscription  or
purchase, as the case may be.

                           (ii) Treasury Shares.  The number of shares of Common
Stock outstanding at any given time shall not include shares owned or held by or
for the account of the Company,  and the disposition of any such shares shall be
considered an issue or sale of Common Stock.

                           (f) All  calculations  under this  Section 9 shall be
made to the nearest 1/100th of a share.

                           (g) Whenever the Exercise Price is adjusted  pursuant
to Section 9(c) above,  the Holder,  after receipt of the  determination  by the
Appraiser,  shall have the right to select an additional  appraiser (which shall
be a nationally  recognized accounting firm), in which case the adjustment shall
be equal to the average of the adjustments  recommended by each of the Appraiser
and such appraiser.  The Holder shall promptly mail or cause to be mailed to the
Company,  a notice  setting forth the Exercise  Price after such  adjustment and
setting forth a brief  statement of the facts  requiring such  adjustment.  Such
adjustment  shall become effective  immediately  after the record date mentioned
above.

                                      -10-

<PAGE>



                           (h)      If:

                                          (i)     the  Company  shall  declare a
                                                  dividend    (or   any    other
                                                  distribution)  on  its  Common
                                                  Stock; or

                                         (ii)     the  Company  shall  declare a
                                                  special    nonrecurring   cash
                                                  dividend on or a redemption of
                                                  its Common Stock; or

                                        (iii)     the  Company  shall  authorize
                                                  the granting to all holders of
                                                  the  Common  Stock  rights  or
                                                  warrants to  subscribe  for or
                                                  purchase any shares of capital
                                                  stock  of any  class or of any
                                                  rights; or

                                         (iv)     the     approval     of    any
                                                  stockholders  of  the  Company
                                                  shall    be     required    in
                                                  connection       with      any
                                                  reclassification of the Common
                                                  Stock  of  the  Company,   any
                                                  consolidation   or  merger  to
                                                  which the  Company is a party,
                                                  any sale or transfer of all or
                                                  substantially   all   of   the
                                                  assets of the Company,  or any
                                                  compulsory    share   exchange
                                                  whereby  the  Common  Stock is
                                                  converted      into      other
                                                  securities,  cash or property;
                                                  or

                                          (v)     the  Company  shall  authorize
                                                  the   voluntary   dissolution,
                                                  liquidation  or  winding up of
                                                  the affairs of the Company,

then the Company shall cause to be mailed to each Holder at their last addresses
as they shall appear upon the Warrant Register,  at least 30 calendar days prior
to the  applicable  record or effective  date  hereinafter  specified,  a notice
stating  (x) the date on which a record is to be taken for the  purpose  of such
dividend, distribution, redemption, rights or warrants, or if a record is not to
be taken,  the date as of which  the  holders  of  Common  Stock of record to be
entitled to such dividend, distributions,  redemption, rights or warrants are to
be  determined  or (y) the date on which such  reclassification,  consolidation,
merger,  sale,  transfer or share  exchange is expected to become  effective  or
close,  and the date as of which it is expected  that holders of Common Stock of
record  shall  be  entitled  to  exchange  their  shares  of  Common  Stock  for
securities,  cash or other  property  deliverable  upon  such  reclassification,
consolidation,  merger, sale, transfer, share exchange, dissolution, liquidation
or winding up;  provided,  however,  that the failure to mail such notice or any
defect  therein or in the mailing  thereof  shall not affect the validity of the
corporate action required to be specified in such notice.

                  10. Payment of Exercise Price. The Holder may pay the Exercise
Price in one of the following manners:


                                      -11-

<PAGE>



                           (a)  Cash   Exercise.   The  Holder   shall   deliver
immediately available funds;
or 
                           (b) Cashless  Exercise.  The Holder  shall  surrender
this  Warrant to the Company  together  with a notice of cashless  exercise,  in
which event the Company  shall issue to the Holder the number of Warrant  Shares
determined as follows:

                                    X = Y (A-B)/A
         where:
                                    X =  the  number  of  Warrant  Shares  to be
                                    issued to the Holder.

                                    Y  =  the  number  of  Warrant  Shares  with
                                    respect  to  which  this  Warrant  is  being
                                    exercised.

                                    A = the average of the  closing  sale prices
                                    of the Common Stock for the five (5) trading
                                    days   immediately   prior   to   (but   not
                                    including) the Date of Exercise.

                                    B = the Exercise Price.

For purposes of Rule 144  promulgated  under the Securities Act, it is intended,
understood  and  acknowledged  that the  Warrant  Shares  issued  in a  cashless
exercise  transaction  shall be deemed to have been acquired by the Holder,  and
the  holding  period  for the  Warrant  Shares  shall  be  deemed  to have  been
commenced, on the issue date.

                  11.  Stockholder  Approval Under the Rules and  Regulations of
American Stock Exchange.  If the Company would be, if this Warrant and the other
Warrant  (together with any  replacements  thereto,  the "Other Warrant") issued
pursuant to the Purchase Agreement were exercised in full on such date, required
under the Rules and  Regulations  of the AMEX Exchange to obtain the approval of
the  stockholders  of the Company to issue the Warrant Shares upon such exercise
(such date, the "Stockholder  Approval  Trigger Date"),  then the Company shall,
(i) within 3 Business Days,  notify the Holder of such fact, (ii) within 15 days
of the Stockholder  Approval Trigger Date file proxy materials  relating to such
stockholder  approval  with the  Commission,  and (iii) use its best  efforts to
obtain  as  soon  as  possible,  and in any  event  within  90  days  after  the
Stockholder Approval Trigger Date (the "Stockholder  Approval  Deadline"),  such
stockholder  approval for the issuance of all the Warrant  Shares and the shares
of Common Stock  issuable  upon  exercise of the Other  Warrant  (including  the
approval  of  issuances  at a discount to market as may be required by the Rules
and Regulations of the American Stock Exchange). The Holder may deliver a notice
to the Company  regarding  such  requirement,  in which  event the time  periods
described herein shall commence on the date of such notice. If the Company fails
to obtain the approval of the  stockholders  contemplated in this Section by the
Stockholder  Approval Deadline,  then, as partial relief (which remedy shall not
be exclusive of any other remedies  available  under this Warrant,  at law or in
equity),  the  Company  shall pay to the Holder at its  election,  either (i) an
amount in cash,
                                      -12-

<PAGE>



as liquidated  damages and not as a penalty,  equal to the Mandatory  Redemption
Amount (defined below) or (ii) an amount in cash, as liquidated  damages and not
as a penalty,  equal to 2.0% of the aggregate  purchase price paid by the Holder
on the Closing Date under the Purchase  Agreement for the Common Stock purchased
by the  Holder  (which  price is set forth  opposite  such  Purchaser's  name on
Schedule  I to the  Purchase  Agreement)  (the "2%  Payment").  In the event the
Holder elects to receive the Mandatory Redemption Amount, the Company shall make
the  payment to the Holder  within  five days of the earlier to occur of (I) the
holding  of the  meeting of the  Company's  stockholders,  the  failure of which
resulted in the requirement to make such payment (the "Stockholder  Non-Approval
Date")  and (II) the  Stockholder  Approval  Deadline.  In the event the  Holder
elects to receive the 2% Payment,  the Company shall make the 2% Payments within
five days of (I) the Stockholder Non-Approval Date and (II) the last day of each
30-day period beginning on the Stockholder  Approval Deadline.  In the event the
Company fails to make any such payments in a timely manner,  such payments shall
bear  interest  at the  lesser  of (i) the  rate of 2.0%  per  month or (ii) the
highest  lawful  rate  (pro  rated  for  partial  months)  until  paid in  full.
Notwithstanding  any other provision of this Section 11, in the event the Holder
delivers a Form of  Election  under this  Warrant  prior to any  approval of the
stockholders  contemplated  in this Section  having been  obtained,  the Company
shall  issue to the Holder the  maximum  number of  Warrant  Shares  that may be
issued without  approval of the  stockholders of the Company under the Rules and
Regulations of the AMEX.  Notwithstanding  anything to the contrary contained in
this Warrant,  the Company shall not be obligated to issue Warrant Shares to the
Holder upon exercise of this Warrant if such  issuance  requires the approval of
the  stockholders  contemplated  in this Section and such  approval has not been
obtained. For purposes of this Warrant,  "Mandatory Redemption Amount" means the
amount  obtained  by  multiplying  (x) 125%,  (y) the number of  Warrant  Shares
issuable upon exercise of this Warrant (not including,  however,  Warrant Shares
that may be issued without stockholder  approval under the Rules and Regulations
of AMEX) and (z) the Per Share  Market Value on the Trading Day (each as defined
in Section 3 hereof) immediately preceding the date the Holder elects to receive
the Mandatory Redemption Amount.

                  12.      Certain Exercise Restrictions.

                           (a) The Holder agrees not to exercise this Warrant to
the extent such  exercise  would  result in the Holder  beneficially  owning (as
determined  in  accordance  with Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and the rules
thereunder)  in excess of 4.999% of the then  issued and  outstanding  shares of
Common  Stock,  including  shares  issuable  upon exercise of this Warrant after
application  of this  Section.  The  Holder  shall have the sole  authority  and
obligation  to  determine  whether the  restriction  contained  in this  Section
applies. The provisions of this Section may be waived by the Holder (but only as
to itself and not to any other holders of the other  Warrant) upon not less than
75 days prior  notice to the Company (in which case,  the Holder shall make such
filings  with the  Commission,  including  under  Regulation  13D or 13G, as are
required  by  applicable  law).  The  holders  of the  Other  Warrant  shall  be
unaffected by any such wavier.

                           (b) The  Holder  also  agrees  not to  exercise  this
Warrant to the extent  such  exercise  would  result in the Holder  beneficially
owning (as determined in accordance with Section

                                      -13-

<PAGE>



13(d) of the Exchange Act and the rules  thereunder)  in excess of 9.999% of the
then  issued and  outstanding  Common  Stock,  including  shares  issuable  upon
exercise of this Warrant after  application  of this  Section.  The Holder shall
have the sole  authority  and  obligation to determine  whether the  restriction
contained in this Section applies.  The provisions of this Section may be waived
by the Holder  (but only as to itself and not to any other  holders of the Other
Warrant) upon not less than 75 days prior notice to the Company.  The holders of
the Other Warrant shall be unaffected by any such waiver.

                  13.  Fractional  Shares.  The Company shall not be required to
issue or cause to be issued  fractional  Warrant  Shares on the exercise of this
Warrant.  The number of full  Warrant  Shares  which shall be issuable  upon the
exercise of this Warrant shall be computed on the basis of the aggregate  number
of Warrant Shares  purchasable on exercise of this Warrant so presented.  If any
fraction of a Warrant Share would, except for the provisions of this Section 13,
be issuable on the exercise of this Warrant,  the Company shall pay an amount in
cash equal to the Exercise Price multiplied by such fraction.

                  14. Notices.  Any and all notices or other  communications  or
deliveries hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed given and effective
on the earliest of (i) the date of transmission, if such notice or communication
is delivered via facsimile at the facsimile  telephone  number specified in this
Section  prior to 8:00 p.m.  (New York City  time) on a Business  Day,  (ii) the
Business Day after the date of transmission,  if such notice or communication is
delivered  via  facsimile at the facsimile  telephone  number  specified in this
Section  later than 8:00 p.m.  (New York City time) on any date and earlier than
11:59 p.m.  (New York City time) on such date,  (iii) the Business Day following
the date of mailing, if sent by nationally recognized overnight courier service,
or (iv) upon  actual  receipt by the party to whom such notice is required to be
given. The addresses for such communications shall be: (i) if to the Company, to
50 Emjay Boulevard,  Brentwood, New York 11717, facsimile number (516) 273-5318,
attention Chief Operating  Officer,  or (ii) if to the Holder,  to the Holder at
the address or facsimile  number appearing on the Warrant Register or such other
address  or  facsimile  number as the  Holder  may  provide  to the  Company  in
accordance with this Section 14.

                  15.      Warrant Agent.

                           (a) The Company  shall  serve as warrant  agent under
this  Warrant.  Upon  thirty (30) days'  notice to the  Holder,  the Company may
appoint a new warrant agent.

                           (b) Any corporation into which the Company or any new
warrant agent may be merged or any corporation  resulting from any consolidation
to  which  the  Company  or any  new  warrant  agent  shall  be a  party  or any
corporation   to  which  the  Company  or  any  new  warrant   agent   transfers
substantially all of its corporate trust or shareholders services business shall
be a successor  warrant  agent under this  Warrant  without any further act. Any
such  successor  warrant agent shall  promptly cause notice of its succession as
warrant agent to be mailed (by first class mail,  postage prepaid) to the Holder
at the Holder's last address as shown on the Warrant Register.

                                      -14-

<PAGE>



                  16.      Miscellaneous.

                           (a) This Warrant shall be binding on and inure to the
benefit of the parties  hereto and their  respective  successors  and  permitted
assigns.  This Warrant may be amended only in writing  signed by the Company and
the Holder and their successors and assigns.

                           (b) Subject to Section 16(a), above,  nothing in this
Warrant shall be construed to give to any person or  corporation  other than the
Company and the Holder any legal or equitable right,  remedy or cause under this
Warrant.  This  Warrant  shall  inure to the sole and  exclusive  benefit of the
Company and the Holder.

                           (c) This Warrant  shall be governed by and  construed
and  enforced  in  accordance  with the  internal  laws of the State of New York
without regard to the principles of conflicts of law thereof.

                           (d) The headings herein are for convenience  only, do
not constitute a part of this Warrant and shall not be deemed to limit or affect
any of the provisions hereof.

                           (e) In case any one or more of the provisions of this
Warrant  shall be invalid or  unenforceable  in any  respect,  the  validity and
enforceability  of the remaining  terms and provisions of this Warrant shall not
in any way be affected or impaired  thereby and the parties will attempt in good
faith  to  agree  upon a  valid  and  enforceable  provision  which  shall  be a
commercially  reasonable  substitute  therefor,  and  upon  so  agreeing,  shall
incorporate such substitute provision in this Warrant.


                  [REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK,
                             SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]

                                      -15-

<PAGE>



                  IN WITNESS WHEREOF,  the Company has caused this Warrant to be
duly executed by its authorized officer as of the date first indicated above.


                                            ALLOU HEALTH AND BEAUTY CARE, INC.


                                            By:                                 

                                            Name:                               

                                            Title:                              


                                      -16-

<PAGE>



                          FORM OF ELECTION TO PURCHASE

(To be executed by the Holder to exercise the right to purchase shares of Common
Stock under the foregoing Warrant)

To Allou Health and Beauty Care, Inc.:

         In accordance  with the Warrant  enclosed with this Form of Election to
Purchase,  the undersigned hereby  irrevocably elects to purchase  _____________
shares of Common  Stock  ("Common  Stock"),  $.01 par value per share,  of Allou
Health and Beauty Care,  Inc.  and, if such Holder is not utilizing the cashless
exercise  provisions set forth in this Warrant,  encloses herewith  $________ in
cash,  certified  or official  bank check or checks,  which sum  represents  the
aggregate Exercise Price (as defined in the Warrant) for the number of shares of
Common Stock to which this Form of Election to Purchase  relates,  together with
any applicable taxes payable by the undersigned pursuant to the Warrant.

         The  undersigned  requests that  certificates  for the shares of Common
Stock issuable upon this exercise be issued in the name of

                        PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR
                            TAX IDENTIFICATION NUMBER




                         (Please print name and address)




         If the number of shares of Common  Stock  issuable  upon this  exercise
shall not be all of the shares of Common Stock which the undersigned is entitled
to purchase in accordance with the enclosed  Warrant,  the undersigned  requests
that a New Warrant (as defined in the Warrant)  evidencing the right to purchase
the shares of Common  Stock not  issuable  pursuant  to the  exercise  evidenced
hereby be issued in the name of and delivered to:


                         (Please print name and address)





Dated:                     ,                 Name of Holder:


                                             (Print)                            

                                             (By:)                              
                                             (Name:)
                                             (Title:)
                                             ( Signature  must  conform  in  all
                                              respects  to  name  of  holder  as
                                              specified  on   the  face  of  the
                                              Warrant)

<PAGE>


                               FORM OF ASSIGNMENT

           [To be completed and signed only upon transfer of Warrant]

         FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned hereby sells, assigns and transfers
unto  ________________________________  the  right  represented  by  the  within
Warrant to  purchase  ____________  shares of Common  Stock of Allou  Health and
Beauty   Care,   Inc.  to  which  the  within   Warrant   relates  and  appoints
________________   attorney  to  transfer   said  right  on  the  books  of  Big
Entertainment, Inc. with full power of substitution in the premises.

Dated:

- ---------------, ----


                                    --------------------------------------------
                                     ( Signature must conform in all respects to
                                     name of holder as specified on the face of
                                     the Warrant)


                                    ---------------------------------------
                                    Address of Transferee

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

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



In the presence of:


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




                       PARKER CHAPIN FLATTAU & KLIMPL LLP.
                           1211 Avenue of the Americas
                               New York, NY 10036
                                 (212) 704-6000

                                                                     Exhibit 5.1




                                                     January  13, 1999

Allou Health & Beauty Care, Inc.
50 Emjay Boulevard
Brentwood, New York 11717

Gentlemen:

         We have  acted as  counsel  to Allou  Health &  Beauty  Care,  Inc.,  a
Delaware  corporation  (the  "Company"),  in  connection  with the  Registration
Statement  on Form S-3  (the  "Registration  Statement")  being  filed  with the
Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
relating to the  offering of 1,533,334  shares (the  "Shares") of Class A Common
Stock, par value $.001 per share (the "Common Stock") of the Company.

         Capitalized  terms used herein and not defined  shall have the meanings
given to them in the Registration Statement.

         In connection with the foregoing, we have examined originals or copies,
satisfactory  to us, of the  Company's  (i)  Certificate  of  Incorporation,  as
amended (ii) By-laws and (iii)  resolutions of the Company's board of directors.
We have also reviewed such other matters of law and examined and relied upon all
such corporate records, agreements,  certificates and other documents as we have
deemed relevant and necessary as a basis for the opinion hereinafter  expressed.
In such  examination,  we have assumed the  genuineness of all  signatures,  the
authenticity  of all documents  submitted to us as originals and the  conformity
with the  original  documents  of all  documents  submitted  to us as  copies or
facsimiles.  As to any facts  material to such  opinion,  we have, to the extent
that  relevant  facts  were  not  independently  established  by us,  relied  on
certificates  of  public   officials  and  certificates  of  officers  or  other
representatives of the Company.

<PAGE>




         Based upon and subject to the foregoing, we are of the opinion that:

                  (a) the  666,667  Shares  that were  issued in  December  1998
                  pursuant to the December 1998 Subscription Agreement have been
                  validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable; and

                  (b) the 866,667 Shares  issuable upon exercise of the Warrants
                  in accordance  with the terms thereof will be validly  issued,
                  fully paid and non-assessable.

         We hereby  consent to the  filing of this  opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration  Statement and to the reference made to us under the caption "Legal
Matters" in the prospectus constituting part of the Registration Statement.


                                    Very truly yours,

                                     /s/ Parker Chapin Flattau & Klimpl, LLP

                                    PARKER CHAPIN FLATTAU & KLIMPL, LLP



                                      -2-


                                                                    Exhibit 23.1
                                         


                       CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS


         We hereby consent to the  incorporation  by reference in the Prospectus
constituting part of this Registration Statement on Form S-3 of our report dated
June 18, 1998 appearing on page F-1 of Allou Health & Beauty Care, Inc.'s Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31,  1998.  We also  consent to the
reference to us under the heading "Experts" in such prospectus.


/s/ Mayer Rispler & Company, P.C.
- -------------------------------------
Mayer Rispler & Company, P.C.


New York, NY
January 12, 1999

                                     II - 9




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