SIGMA ALDRICH CORP
S-3, 1999-03-10
CHEMICALS & ALLIED PRODUCTS
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     AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON MARCH 9, 1999
                                            Registration Statement No. 333-_____
                                                                              
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549
               ---------------------------------------------------
                                    FORM S-3
             REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
               --------------------------------------------------
                           SIGMA-ALDRICH CORPORATION
             (Exact Name Of Registrant As Specified In Its Charter)

                                    DELAWARE
                        (State or other jurisdiction of
                         incorporation or organization)

                                   43-1050617
                      (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

                               3050 Spruce Street
                            St. Louis, Missouri 63103
                                 (314) 771-5765
               (Address, including zip code, and telephone number,
        including area code of, registrant's principal executive office)

                ------------------------------------------------
                                 Kirk A. Richter
                                    Treasurer
                            Sigma-Aldrich Corporation
                               3050 Spruce Street
                            St. Louis, Missouri 63103
                                 (314) 771-5765
            (Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number,
                   including area code, of agent for service)

                        Copies of all correspondence to:
                              R. Randall Wang, Esq.
                                 Bryan Cave LLP
                           211 N. Broadway, Suite 3600
                               St. Louis, MO 63102
                                 (314) 259-2000

       Approximate  date of  commencement  of proposed  sale to public:  At such
times  after  this  Registration  Statement  becomes  effective  as the  selling
stockholders shall determine.

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

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

       If this Form is filed to register  additional  securities for an offering
pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, 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. |_|

                             -----------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
     
                                        CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

============================  ==============  ===========================  =============================  ===============
<S>                           <C>             <C>                          <C>                            <C> 
   Title of each class of      Amount to be    Proposed maximum offering    Proposed maximum aggregate      Amount of
 securities to be registered    registered         price per unit(1)             offering price(1)          registration
                                                                                                                  fee
- ----------------------------  --------------  ---------------------------  -----------------------------  ---------------

   Common stock, $1.00 par    62,039 shares             $27.06                      $1,678,775                    $467
       value per share
============================  ==============  ===========================  =============================  ===============

</TABLE>

(1) Estimated  solely for purposes of determining the  registration fee pursuant
to Rule 457(c),  based upon the average of the high and low sales prices for the
common stock as reported on The Nasdaq National Market on March 8, 1999.

         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 the  Registration  Statement  shall become
effective on such date as the Commission,  acting pursuant to said Section 8(a),
may determine.


<PAGE>



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


PROSPECTUS (NOT COMPLETE)
Issued March 9, 1999

                        A MAXIMUM OF 62,039 SHARES OF
                            SIGMA-ALDRICH CORPORATION
                                  COMMON STOCK

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

         The selling stockholders of Sigma-Aldrich  Corporation listed on page 3
of this  prospectus  are offering  and selling  62,039  shares of  Sigma-Aldrich
common stock under this prospectus. We will not receive any of the proceeds from
the  sale  of  the  common  stock.  We  will  bear  the  costs  relating  to the
registration of the common stock, which we estimate to be $10,000.

         The selling  stockholders  may offer their  Sigma-Aldrich  common stock
through public or private transactions, on or off The Nasdaq National Market, at
prevailing market prices, or at privately negotiated prices.

         The common  stock is traded on The  Nasdaq  National  Market  under the
symbol  "SIAL."  The  closing  sales  price of the  common  stock on The  Nasdaq
National Market on March 9, 1999 was $26 7/8 per share.

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

         The shares of  Sigma-Aldrich  common  stock  offered or sold under this
prospectus  have not been approved by the Securities and Exchange  Commission or
any state securities  commission,  nor have these organizations  determined that
this prospectus is accurate or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a
criminal offense.


                The date of this Prospectus is March    , 1999
                                                    ----


<PAGE>

                                             
                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

Sigma-Aldrich's Business.......................................................1
Recent Developments............................................................1
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking
 Statements....................................................................4
Use of Proceeds................................................................4
Selling Stockholders...........................................................4
Plan of Distribution...........................................................5
Description of Capital Stock...................................................6
Legal Matters..................................................................7
Experts........................................................................7
Where You Can Find More Information............................................7




                            SIGMA-ALDRICH'S BUSINESS

         Sigma-Aldrich Corporation has two lines of business:

         (i)      the  production  and sale of a broad  range  of  biochemicals,
                  organic  and  inorganic  chemicals,   radiolabeled  chemicals,
                  diagnostic  reagents,   chromatography  products  and  related
                  products; and

         (ii)     the manufacture and sale of metal components for strut,  cable
                  tray, pipe support,  telecommunication  systems and electrical
                  enclosures.

         Our  principal  executive  offices are located at 3050  Spruce  Street,
St. Louis, Missouri 63103. Our telephone number is (314) 771-5765.


                               RECENT DEVELOPMENTS

         On February 16, 1999,  we issued a press  release  reporting  increased
sales for both the fourth  quarter and the year of 1998.  For the quarter  ended
December 31, sales increased 3.4% to $293.1 million from $283.4 million in 1997.
Net income for the quarter was $39.7  million  compared to $42.2 million in 1997
with diluted net income per share of $0.39 compared to $0.41 in 1997. Net income
in the quarter was affected by a $2.9 million charge for in-process research and
development related to the acquisition of Genosys  Biotechnologies and benefited
from a tax credit of $7.0  million from our  enhanced  research and  development
activities  over the last several  years.  Excluding  these  items,  diluted net
income per share would have been $0.35 for the quarter.

         Sales for the year  increased  6.0% to $1,194.3  million from  $1,127.1
million in 1997. For the full year,  net income was $166.3  million  compared to
$166.1 million with diluted net income per share of $1.64, up 1.2% from $1.62 in
1997.

         Chemical  sales  increased 4.9% to $239.8 million in the fourth quarter
and 7.1% to $965.9 million for 1998.  Excluding the changes in currency exchange
rates,  the growth  rates were 4.0% and 8.9% for the  quarter and the full year,
respectively.  Research  sales  continued to grow faster than  overall  chemical
sales as  service  levels  improved  from  earlier  in the year when  there were
disruptions during the installation of new customer and warehouse systems. These
systems  will in the  future  greatly  improve  service  and  lower  transaction
expenses  for our  customers  while  reducing  our costs.  We  strengthened  our
position in Life Science  research with the  acquisition  of Genosys in December
1998.  Genosys  is a leading  supplier  of  synthetic  DNA  products,  which are
essential in genome  research.  Both Fine Chemicals and  Diagnostics  had a flat
final quarter  reflecting the timing of large orders and  competitive  pressures
respectively. Excluding the charge for acquired research and development, pretax
margins  declined  to 19.7% in the  fourth  quarter  because  sales  were  below
expectations  and  operating  expenses  increased  relative  to sales.  Start-up
expenses  were  incurred  for  opening  new sales and  distribution  in Denmark,
improving  our  service in Japan with  additional  inventory  and  consolidating
warehouses in Germany.  There were also additional expenses for the new systems,
Year 2000 remediation and investments in our Internet site, which is becoming an
important  sales and marketing  outlet.  The pretax margin of 21.6% for 1998 was
2.7% below the prior year level due to an increase in lower margin  business and


                                       1
<PAGE>

the incremental  expense of all the new systems and  facilities.  Currency rates
reduced  net  income by $0.01 per share in the final  quarter  and  reduced  net
income by $0.06 per share for the year.

         Metal sales  declined 2.8% to $53.3  million in the fourth  quarter and
increased 1.3% to $228.4 million for 1998,  reflecting a continuing  weakness in
the industrial  construction  market which was only partially offset by the fast
growing  demand  for our  expanding  line  of  enclosure  and  telecommunication
products.  In the fourth quarter,  lower sales and a decline in the gross profit
margin rate reduced the pretax profit margin to 12.4% even though  expenses were
aggressively  reduced.  The pretax  margin for 1998 was 14.9%,  the same as last
year, as benefits from process improvements offset a decline in the gross profit
margin.

         Also on February 16, 1999, the Board of Directors  declared a quarterly
cash  dividend of $0.0725 per share payable  March 15, 1999 to  stockholders  of
record on March 1, 1999.

         In addition,  on February 16, 1999, we issued the following  summary of
our 1998 unaudited financial information.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                          Sigma-Aldrich Corporation
                                 Consolidated Statements of Income (Unaudited)
                                    (in thousands except per share amounts)

                                                               Twelve Months Ended              Three Months Ended
                                                                   December 31,                     December 31,
                                                             1998              1997            1998           1997
                                                             ----              ----            ----           ----
<S>                                                       <C>               <C>              <C>            <C>    

Net sales                                                 $1,194,290        $1,127,084       $293,093       $283,403
      Cost of products sold                                  557,864           518,711        135,604        128,587
                                                           ---------        ----------       --------       --------
Gross profit                                                 636,426           608,373        157,489        154,816
      Selling, general and administrative expenses           393,836           355,619        106,564         90,635
                                                           ---------        ----------       --------       --------
Income before income taxes                                   242,590           252,754         50,925         64,181
      Provision for income taxes                              76,243            86,695         11,244         22,014
                                                           ---------        ----------       --------       --------
Net income                                                 $ 166,347        $  166,059       $ 39,681       $ 42,167
                                                           =========        ==========       ========       ========
Weighted average shares outstanding - Basic                  100,540           100,210        100,614        100,345
                                                           =========        ==========       ========       ========
Weighted average shares outstanding - Diluted                101,188           102,805        101,059        101,939
                                                           =========        ==========       ========       ========
Net income per share - Basic                                  $ 1.65            $ 1.66          $ .39          $ .42
                                                           =========        ==========       ========       ========
Net income per share - Diluted                                $ 1.64            $ 1.62          $ .39          $ .41
                                                           =========        ==========       ========       ========
</TABLE>


<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                      Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
                                 (in thousands)

                                                                December 31, 1998        December 31, 1997
        ASSETS                                                     (Unaudited)
<S>                                                               <C>                     <C>     
        Cash and temporary cash investments                         $ 24,345                $ 46,228
        Accounts receivable, net                                     229,486                 186,847
        Inventories                                                  464,035                 420,809
        Other current assets                                          54,815                  52,790
                                                                    --------               ---------
        Total current assets                                         772,681                 706,674
        Property, plant and equipment, net                           518,739                 438,878
        Other assets                                                 141,415                  98,270
                                                                    --------                --------
        Total assets                                              $1,432,835              $1,243,822
                                                                  ==========              ==========
        LIABILITIES AND 
        STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

        Notes payable                                               $ 30,643                $  7,400
        Accounts payable                                              63,520                  53,257
        Accrued expenses                                              47,337                  42,269
        Accrued income taxes                                             872                  16,553
                                                                  ----------              ----------
        Total current liabilities                                    142,372                 119,479
        Long-term debt                                                   415                     552
        Deferred liabilities                                          73,668                  63,457
        Stockholders' equity                                       1,216,380               1,060,334
                                                                  ----------              ----------
        Total liabilities and equity                              $1,432,835              $1,243,822
                                                                  ==========              ==========
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                      Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Floows(Unaudited)
                                             (in thousands)

                                                                            Twelve Months Ended
                                                                               December 31,
                                                                          1998               1997
                                                                          ----               ----
<S>                                                                    <C>                 <C>
         Cash flows from operating activities:
              Net income                                               $166,347            $166,059
              Adjustments:
                   Depreciation and amortization                         61,827              48,053
                   Net increase in current assets an
                     liabilities                                       (76,420)             (93,630)
                   Other                                                 10,316              11,595
                                                                       --------            --------
              Net cash provided by operating activities                 162,070             132,077
                                                                       --------            --------
         Cash flows from investing activities:
              Net property additions                                   (127,995)           (106,777)
              Acquisition of businesses                                 (39,500)            (51,083)
              Other                                                      (7,700)                ---
                                                                       --------            --------
                   Net cash used in investing activities               (175,195)           (157,860)
                                                                       --------            --------
         Cash flows from financing activities:
              Net borrowings (repayment) of debt                         23,268              (7,740)
              Payment of dividends                                      (28,411)            (25,809)
              Other                                                       3,798               6,794
                                                                       --------            --------
                   Net cash used in financing activities                 (1,345)            (26,755)
                                                                       --------            --------
         Effect of exchange rate changes on cash                         (7,413)             (4,919)
                                                                       --------            --------
         Net change in cash and cash equivalents                        (21,883)            (57,457)
         Cash and cash equivalents at January 1                          46,228             103,685
                                                                       --------            --------
         Cash and cash equivalents at December 31                      $ 24,345            $ 46,228
                                                                       ========            ========
</TABLE>

                                       3
<PAGE>

            CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

         This prospectus contains, or incorporates by reference, forward looking
statements  within the meaning of federal  securities laws that involve risk and
uncertainty,   including,   without   limitation,   under  the  caption  "Recent
Developments."  These forward looking statements  include  statements  regarding
future  results,  performance,  expectations,  or  intentions,  as  well  as any
statements  preceded  by,  followed  by, or that  include the words  "believes,"
"expects," "anticipates" or similar  expressions,   and   statements   regarding
matters that are not historical facts.  Although we believe our expectations are
based on reasonable  assumptions,  we cannot give any  assurance  that our goals
will be achieved.  The  important  factors  that could cause  actual  results to
differ materially from those in the forward looking statements include,  without
limitation:

         (1)      reduced growth in research funding,

         (2)      uncertainties  surrounding   possible government  health  care
                  reform,

         (3)      government regulation applicable to our business,

         (4)      the status and effectiveness of our Year 2000 efforts,

         (5)      the highly competitive environment in which we operate and

         (6) the impact of fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates.

All  subsequent  written and oral  forward-looking  statements  attributable  to
Sigma-Aldrich  or persons acting on our behalf are expressly  qualified in their
entirety by such  cautionary  statements.  We do not undertake any obligation to
release  publicly any  revisions to such  forward-looking  statements to reflect
events or  uncertainties  after the date hereof or to reflect the  occurrence of
unanticipated events.

                                 USE OF PROCEEDS

         All net  proceeds  from the sale of the  common  stock  covered by this
prospectus will go to the selling  stockholders who offer and sell their shares.
We will not  receive  any  proceeds  from the  sale of the  common  stock by the
selling stockholders.


                              SELLING STOCKHOLDERS

         The  following  table sets forth  certain  information,  as of March 9,
1999,  with respect to the number of shares of common stock owned by the selling
stockholders  named  below  and as  adjusted  to give  effect to the sale of the
common stock offered hereby.  The  common  stock  is  being registered to permit
public  secondary  trading of the shares.

         The common stock being offered by the selling stockholders was acquired
from Sigma-Aldrich  pursuant to an agreement and plan of reorganization  between
Sigma-Aldrich Co., White Cross  Manufacturing Co., Inc., and the stockholders of
White Cross  Manufacturing Co., Inc., dated September 29, 1998, as amended.  The
shares  of  common  stock  were  issued   pursuant  to  an  exemption  from  the
registration  requirements  of the  Securities  Act.  The  selling  stockholders
represented  to  Sigma-Aldrich  Co. that they were  acquiring the  Sigma-Aldrich
common stock for investment and with no present  intention of  distributing  the
common stock.  Under the terms of the  reorganization,  Sigma-Aldrich  agreed to
file a registration  statement covering the common stock received by the selling
stockholders in connection with the reorganization. The common stock held by the
selling   stockholders  does  not  exceed  1%  of  Sigma-Aldrich's   outstanding
capitalization.  In the past three years,  none of the selling  stockholders has
had a material relationship with Sigma-Aldrich.

         Sigma-Aldrich  has filed with the Securities  and Exchange  Commission,
under the  Securities  Act of 1933, a  registration  statement on Form S-3. with
respect  to the  resale of the  common  stock  from  time to time on The  Nasdaq
National Market or in privately-negotiated transactions. This prospectus forms a
part of the registration statement on Form S-3.

                                       4
<PAGE>

         The common stock covered by this prospectus may be offered from time to
time by the selling stockholders named below:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                   Amount of           Amount of
                                                 Common Stock         Common Stock
                                             Owned Prior to the    Owned After the
                Selling Stockholders               Offering            Offering
<S>                                                <C>                <C>

Bernice K. Rubinelli                                15,697                 0

Barbara A. Rubinelli                                15,697                 0

Peter R. Rubinelli, Jr.                             15,158                 0

Peter R. Rubinelli, Jr. and Mary L. Rubinelli
  as tenants by the entireties                         539                 0

Peter R. Rubinelli, Jr., Bernice K. Rubinelli 
  and Barbara A. Rubinelli as Trustees for 
  Michael Joseph Rubinelli U/I/T 7/3/76              4,982                 0

Peter R. Rubinelli, Jr., Bernice K. Rubinelli 
  and Barbara A. Rubinelli as Trustees for Mary 
  Patricia Rubinelli U/I/T 7/3/76                    4,983                 0

Peter R. Rubinelli, Jr., Bernice K. Rubinelli 
  and Barbara A. Rubinelli as Trustees for 
  Liza Marie Rubinelli U/I/T 7/3/76                  4,983                 0

(1) Assuming  the  selling   stockholders  sell  all   of  the shares registered
    hereby.
</TABLE>

                              PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

         Sigma-Aldrich   is  registering  the  common  stock   covered  by  this
prospectus for the selling  stockholders.  As used in this prospectus,  "selling
stockholders" includes the pledgees, donees, transferees or others who may later
hold the selling stockholders'  interests.  Sigma-Aldrich will pay the costs and
fees of registering the common stock,  but the selling stockholders will pay any
brokerage  commissions,  discounts or other expenses relating to the sale of the
common stock.


         The   selling   stockholders   may  sell  the   common   stock  in  the
over-the-counter market or otherwise, at market prices prevailing at the time of
sale,  at prices  related to the  prevailing  market  prices,  or at  negotiated
prices.  In  addition,  the selling  stockholders  may sell some or all of their
common stock through:


         -        a block trade in which a broker-dealer may resell a portion of
                  the  block,  as principal, in order to facilitate the 
                  transaction;

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

         -        ordinary  brokerage  transactions and transactions in  which a
                  broker solicits purchasers.


         When selling the common stock, the selling  stockholders may enter into
hedging transactions. For example, the selling stockholders may:


         -        enter into transactions involving short  sales  of the  common
                  stock by broker- dealers;

         -        sell common stock short  themselves and redeliver such  shares
                  to close out their short positions;

         -        enter into option or other types of transactions  that require
                  the  selling   stockholder   to  deliver  common  stock  to  a
                  broker-dealer,  who will then  resell or  transfer  the common
                  stock under this prospectus; or


                                       5
<PAGE>

         -        loan or pledge the common  stock to a  broker-dealer,  who may
                  sell the loaned  shares or, in the event of default,  sell the
                  pledged shares.


         The  selling   stockholders   may  negotiate  and  pay   broker-dealers
commissions, discounts or concessions for their services. Broker-dealers engaged
by the selling  stockholders  may allow other  broker-dealers  to participate in
resales.  However, the selling  stockholders and any broker-dealers  involved in
the sale or resale of the common stock may qualify as "underwriters"  within the
meaning of the Section 2(a)(11) of the Securities Act of 1933. In addition,  the
broker-dealers'   commissions,   discounts   or   concession   may   qualify  as
underwriters'  compensation  under the  Securities  Act of 1933.  If the selling
stockholders  qualify as "underwriters,"  they will be subject to the prospectus
delivery requirements of Section 5(b)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933.


         In addition to selling  their common stock under this  prospectus,  the
selling stockholders may:


         -        agree to indemnify any  broker-dealer or agent against certain
                  liabilities  related  to  the  selling  of the  common  stock,
                  including  liabilities  arising  under the  Securities  Act of
                  1933;


         -        transfer their common stock in other ways not involving market
                  makers or established  trading markets,  including directly by
                  gift, distribution, or other transfer; or


         -        sell their common stock under Rule 144 of the  Securities  Act
                  of 1933 rather than under this prospectus,  if the transaction
                  meets the requirements of Rule 144.


                          DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

         The authorized  capital stock of Sigma-Aldrich  consists of 200,000,000
shares of common stock, $1.00 par value per share. The outstanding common stock,
including the common stock offered hereby, is fully-paid and nonassessable.  The
following is a summary of certain terms and rights of the common stock.


         -        Dividends  may  be  paid  on the  common  stock,  as and  when
                  declared  by the  Board  of  Directors  out of  funds  legally
                  available for distribution as a dividend.

         -        The holders of common stock are entitled to one vote per share
                  in the election of directors  and in respect of other  matters
                  submitted to stockholders for a vote.

         -        Upon liquidation, the holders of the common stock are entitled
                  to  receive  all  assets  of   Sigma-Aldrich   available   for
                  distribution to stockholders.  Distribution on liquidation are
                  required  to  be  made  pro  rata  in  accordance  with  their
                  holdings.

         -        Sigma-Aldrich's  Certificate  of  Incorporation,  as  amended,
                  requires  that  certain  transactions  must be approved by the
                  affirmative  vote of two-thirds of the shares of voting stock.
                  The types of transactions requiring a two-thirds vote include:

                           -       a  merger or consolidation  of  Sigma-Aldrich
                                   with another corporation;


                           -       a    merger   or  consolidation  involving  a
                                   subsidiary of  Sigma-Aldrich when shares  of
                                   Sigma-Aldrich   in   excess   of  35% of the
                                   outstanding shares are issued;

                           -       a sale of assets  having an   aggregate  book
                                   value of 20% of Sigma-Aldrich's total assets;


                           -       the adoption of  a  plan  of   liquidation or
                                   dissolution; and

                           -       certain related transactions.


                                       6
<PAGE>


         -        The  common  stock  has no  preemptive  or conversion  rights,
                  redemption  provisions or sinking fund provisions.


         -        Our By-laws  contain  provisions  requiring  advance notice of
                  nominations  of directors or of the proposal of other business
                  to be conducted at meetings of stockholders.


         -        Special meetings of stockholders,  unless otherwise prescribed
                  by  statute,  may be  called by the  Chairman  of the Board of
                  Directors,  the President or the Board of Directors, or by the
                  person  designated  in the  written  request of holders of not
                  less than a majority  in amount of all  shares of the  Company
                  entitled to vote at the meeting  (subject to any  requirements
                  or limitations imposed by the Certificate of Incorporation, as
                  amended, by the amended By-laws, or by law) which request must
                  describe  the purpose or purposes  for which the meeting is to
                  be held.


                                 LEGAL MATTERS

         For purposes of this offering,  the law  firm of  Blumenfeld,  Kaplan &
Sandweiss,  P.C.  is giving its  opinion on the  validity  of the  Sigma-Aldrich
common stock  registered  pursuant to this  prospectus.  Jerome W. Sandweiss,  a
Director of the Company, is of counsel with the law firm of Blumenfeld, Kaplan &
Sandweiss,  P.C. Mr.  Sandweiss owns,  directly and indirectly,  an aggregate of
fourteen  thousand  (14,000)  shares of our common stock plus options to acquire
twelve  thousand  (12,000)  shares of our common  stock.  As of the date of this
prospectus,  attorneys at  Blumenfeld, Kaplan & Sandweiss, P.C., other than  Mr.
Sandweiss,  who have worked on substantive  matters for  Sigma-Aldrich own fewer
than fifteen thousand (15,000) shares of our common stock.


                                     EXPERTS

         The  consolidated  financial  statements of  Sigma-Aldrich  Corporation
incorporated by reference in this  prospectus and elsewhere in the  registration
statement  have  been  audited  by  Arthur  Andersen  LLP,   independent  public
accountants,  as  indicated  in  their  report  with  respect  thereto,  and are
incorporated by reference  herein in reliance upon the authority of said firm as
experts in giving said report.


                       WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

         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 Securities and Exchange  Commission's  public reference rooms in Washington,
D.C., New York, New York and Chicago,  Illinois.  Please call the Securities and
Exchange  Commission at  1-800-SEC-0330  for further  information  on the public
reference  rooms.  Our  Securities  and  Exchange  Commission  filings  are also
available to the public from the Securities and Exchange Commission's website at
"http://www.sec.gov."

         The common  stock is  traded  as "National  Market  Securities"  on The
Nasdaq National Market.  Material filed by Sigma-Aldrich can be inspected at the
offices  of the  National  Association  of  Securities  Dealers,  Inc.,  Reports
Section, 1735 K Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20006.

         The Securities and Exchange  Commission  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  part  of  this
prospectus,  and information that we file later with the Securities and Exchange
Commission  will  automatically  update  and  supersede  this  information.   We
incorporate  by reference the documents  listed below and any future  filings we
will make with the Securities  and Exchange  Commission  under  Sections  13(a),
13(c),  14 or 15(d) of the  Securities  Exchange Act of 1934 until this offering
has been completed:

         1.       Annual   Report   on   Form  10-K  for the fiscal  year  ended
                  December  31,  1997 (File No. 0-8135);

 
                                      7
<PAGE>

         2.       Quarterly    Report   on   Form   10-Q for the quarters  ended
                  March 31, 1998, June 30, 1998 and September 30, 1998;

         3.       Current Report on Form 8-K  dated   February  16,  1999 (filed
                  February 17, 1999); and


         4.       The description of Sigma-Aldrich's  common stock  contained in
                  Sigma-Aldrich's  registration  statement    on Form S-14 under
                  the  Securities  Act of 1933,  dated May 16,  1975   (File No.
                  2-53698),   as  amended  by  the   description  contained   in
                  Sigma-Aldrich's  proxy  statements  dated May 29, 1984   under
                  the   caption     "Proposal   to    Amend    Certificate    of
                  Incorporation,"  dated  March 29,  1991  under    the  caption
                  "Proposal to Amend  Certificate of Incorporation   to Increase
                  authorized  Common Stock" and dated   March 29, 1996 under the
                  caption  "Proposal to Amend  Certificate   of Incorporation to
                  Increase Number of Shares of Authorized Common Stock."

         You may request a copy of these  filings,  at no cost, by writing to us
at the following address:

                      Attention: Kirk A. Richter, Treasurer
                            Sigma-Aldrich Corporation
                               3050 Spruce Street
                            St. Louis, Missouri 63103

         This  prospectus is part of a registration  statement we filed with the
Securities and Exchange  Commission.  You should rely only on the information or
representations  provided  in  this  prospectus.  We have  authorized  no one to
provide  you with  different  information.  We are not  making an offer of these
securities in any state where the offer is not permitted.  You should not assume
that the  information  in this  prospectus is accurate as of any date other than
the date on the front of the document.


                                       8

<PAGE>



                                     PART II


ITEM 14.  OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION


         The following  table sets forth the expenses  (other than  underwriting
discounts  and  commissions),  which  other  than the  Securities  and  Exchange
Commission   registration  fee  are  estimates,   payable  by  Sigma-Aldrich  in
connection with the sale and distribution of the shares registered hereby*:


          SEC registration fee                          $   467
          Accounting fees and expenses                  $ 2,500
          Legal Fees and expenses                       $ 6,000
          Miscellaneous expenses                        $ 1,033
          Total                                         $10,000


* The  selling  stockholders  will pay any  sales  commissions  or  underwriting
discount and fees and expenses of their counsel  incurred in connection with the
sale of shares registered hereunder.


ITEM 15.  INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS


         Section 145(a) of the Delaware General  Corporation Law provides that a
corporation  may  indemnify  any  director,  officer,  employee  or agent of the
corporation  in any  action,  other  than an  action  by or in the  right of the
corporation,  if such person  acted in good faith and in a manner he  reasonably
believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the  corporation  and,
with  respect to any criminal  action,  had no  reasonable  cause to believe his
conduct was unlawful. Section 145(b) provides that the corporation may indemnify
any such person in an action by or in the right of the  corporation  if he acted
in good faith and in a manner he reasonably  believed to be in or not opposed to
the best  interests  of the  corporation,  except  that such  person  may not be
indemnified  in respect of any matter in which he has been judged  liable to the
corporation,  unless  authorized by the court.  Section 145(c) provides that the
corporation  shall  indemnify  any such person  against  expenses  actually  and
reasonably  incurred  in  defense  of any  action if he has been  successful  in
defense of such action and if such action is one for which the  corporation  may
indemnify such person under Section 145(a) or (b).

         Sigma-Aldrich's  By-Laws  provide  that  it  shall  indemnify,  and  in
Sigma-Aldrich's  discretion may obtain insurance for the benefit of its officers
and directors, to the extent permitted by applicable Delaware law.

         Pursuant  to  amendments  of  the  Delaware  General   Corporation  Law
effective July 1, 1986, Sigma-Aldrich's  Certificate of Incorporation eliminates
the personal  liability of directors to  Sigma-Aldrich  or its  stockholders for
monetary  damages for breach of  fiduciary  duty as a  director,  except (i) for
breaches of the duty of loyalty to Sigma-Aldrich or its  stockholders,  (ii) for
acts or  omissions  not in good faith or  involving  intentional  misconduct  or
knowing  violation  of law,  (iii) for the  payment  of  unlawful  dividends  or
unlawful stock repurchases or redemptions, or (iv) for transactions in which the
director received an improper personal benefit.

ITEM 16.  EXHIBITS

         See Exhibit Index.


<PAGE>

ITEM 17.  UNDERTAKINGS


         (a)   The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:


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


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


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


         provided,  however,  that  paragraphs  (a)(1)(i) and  (a)(1)(ii) do not
         apply if the  information  required to be included in a  post-effective
         amendment by those  paragraphs  is contained in periodic  reports filed
         with or  furnished  to the  Commission  by the  registrant  pursuant to
         Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that
         are incorporated by reference 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.


         (b) The undersigned  registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining  any liability  under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the
registrant's  annual  report  pursuant to Section  13(a) or 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 this
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.


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


                                       2

<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 St.  Louis and State of  Missouri  on the  9th day of
March, 1999.

                                               SIGMA-ALDRICH CORPORATION


                                               By: /s/ Kirk A Richter
                                                  ------------------------------
                                                    Kirk A. Richter, Treasurer

         Each person whose  signature  appears  below  constitutes  and appoints
Thomas M. Tallarico and Kirk A. Richter, and either of them, his true and lawful
attorneys-in-fact   and   agents,   with   full   power  of   substitution   and
resubstitution,  for  him  and in his  name,  place  and  stead,  in any and all
capacities,  to sign any or all amendments to this registration statement and to
file the same,  with all exhibits  thereto and all other documents in connection
therewith  with the  Securities  and  Exchange  Commission,  granting  unto said
attorneys-in-fact and agents 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 as he might or  could do in  person,  hereby  ratifying  and
confirming all that said  attorneys-in-fact  and agents may lawfully do or cause
to be done by virtue hereof.

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

          Signature                      Title

    /s/ Carl T. Cori        Director, Chairman of the Board    March 1, 1999
- -------------------------
      Carl T. Cori          and Chief Executive Officer

   /s/ David R. Harvey      Director, President and            February 26, 1999
- -------------------------
     David R. Harvey        Chief Operating Officer

   /s/ Karen J. Miller      Controller                         February 26, 1999
- -------------------------
     Karen J. Miller

   /s/ Kirk A. Richter      Treasurer                          March 2, 1999
- -------------------------
     Kirk A. Richter

 /s/ Thomas M. Tallarico    Vice President and Secretary       February 26, 1999
- -------------------------
   Thomas M. Tallarico

   /s/ David M. Kipnis      Director                           March 4, 1999
- -------------------------
     David M. Kipnis

  /s/ Andrew E. Newman      Director                           March 4, 1999
- -------------------------
    Andrew E. Newman

 /s/ Jerome W. Sandweiss    Director                           March 4, 1999
- -------------------------
   Jerome W. Sandweiss



<PAGE>


                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit
Number                              Description

    3.1         Certificate   of   Incorporation,   as  amended (incorporated by
                reference to Exhibit 3(a) of Form  10-Q for  the  quarter  ended
                September 30, 1996, File No. 0-8135)

    3.2         By-Laws, as amended (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit
                3.1 of Sigma-Aldrich's Current Report on Form 8-K dated February
                16, 1999 (filed February 17, 1999) (File No.
                0-8135).

    5.1         Opinion of Counsel

    23.1        Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP

    23.2        Consent of Counsel (included in Exhibit 5.1).

    24.1        Power of Attorney (included in Signature Page).

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




  

                                                                     EXHIBIT 5.1

Blumenfeld, Kaplan & Sandweiss, P.C.
168 North Meramec Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63105-3763
Telephone: (314) 863-0800
Facsimile:  (314) 863-9388

                                  March 9, 1999

Sigma-Aldrich Corporation
3050 Spruce Street
St. Louis, MO 63103

Gentlemen:

         We are  acting as counsel  for  Sigma-Aldrich  Corporation,  a Delaware
corporation  (the  "Company"),  in connection  with the filing of a Registration
Statement on Form S-3 (the  "Registration  Statement")  with the  Securities and
Exchange  Commission  under  the  Securities  Act  of  1933,  as  amended.   The
Registration  Statement  relates to 62,039 shares of the Company's common stock,
$1.00 par value per share.

         In connection herewith, we have examined and relied without independent
investigation as to matters of fact upon such  certificates of public officials,
such  statements  and  certificates  of officers of the Company and originals or
copies certified to our satisfaction of (i) the Registration Statement, (ii) the
Company's  Certificate of  Incorporation  and By-laws,  both as amended to date,
(iii)  copies  of  certain  resolutions  of the  Company's  Board of  Directors,
represented to us as having been duly approved, and (iv) such other proceedings,
documents  and records as we have deemed  necessary  to enable us to render this
opinion..  In rendering  this opinion,  we have assumed the  genuineness  of all
signatures  on all  documents  examined by us, the due  authority of the parties
signing such documents,  the  authenticity  of all documents  submitted to us as
originals and the  conformity to the originals of all documents  submitted to us
as copies.

         Based upon and subject to the  foregoing,  it is our  opinion  that the
62,039   shares of  common  stock of the  Company  covered  by the  Registration
Statement are legally  issued,  fully paid and  non-assessable  shares of common
stock of the Company.

         We hereby  consent  to the  reference  to our name in the  Registration
Statement under the caption "Legal Matters" and further consent to the filing of
this  opinion as  Exhibit  5.1 to the  Registration  Statement.  In giving  this
consent we hereby  disclaim that we are experts within the meaning of Section 11
of the  Securities  Act of 1933,  as amended,  or within the category of persons
whose consent is required by Section 7 of the Securities Act.

                                      Very truly yours,

                                      BLUMENFELD, KAPLAN & SANDWEISS, P.C.

       
                                      By: /s/ JEROME I. KASKOWITZ
                                         ---------------------------------------
                                              Jerome I. Kaskowitz




  
                                                                    EXHIBIT 23.1



                    CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS


As independent  public  accountants,  we hereby consent to the  incorporation by
reference in this  registration  statement of our report dated February 17, 1998
incorporated by reference in Sigma-Aldrich  Corporation's Form 10-K for the year
ended  December 31, 1997,  and to all  references  to our Firm  included in this
registration statement.

/s/ ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP
- ---------------------------------------
ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP


St. Louis, Missouri,
   March 8, 1999

                                                      


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