CONVERSION TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL INC
SB-2/A, 1996-05-10
ABRASIVE, ASBESTOS & MISC NONMETALLIC MINERAL PRODS
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<PAGE>
   
      AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON MAY 10, 1996
    
   
                                                      REGISTRATION NO. 333-00756
    
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
                            ------------------------
   
                                AMENDMENT NO. 3
    
                                       TO
                                   FORM SB-2
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                     UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                            ------------------------
                  CONVERSION TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL, INC.
                 (Name of Small Business Issuer in its charter)
                            ------------------------
 
<TABLE>
<S>                          <C>                         <C>
         DELAWARE                       3291                  13-3754366
      (State or other            (Primary standard         (I.R.S. employer
       jurisdiction                  industrial             identification
     of incorporation)          classification code             number)
                                      number)
</TABLE>
 
                         BETHANY CROSSING OFFICE CENTER
                   82 Bethany Road, Hazlet, New Jersey 07730
                                 (908) 888-3828
(Address and telephone number of principal executive offices and principal place
                                  of business)
                            ------------------------
                                 HARVEY GOLDMAN
                Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President
                  Conversion Technologies International, Inc.
                Bethany Crossing Office Center, 82 Bethany Road
                            Hazlet, New Jersey 07730
                                 (908) 888-3828
           (Name, address and telephone number of agent for service)
 
                                   COPIES TO:
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                 <C>
       JULIE M. ALLEN, ESQ.                SHELDON MISHER, ESQ.
 O'Sullivan Graev & Karabell, LLP         ALISON S. NEWMAN, ESQ.
       30 Rockefeller Plaza          Bachner, Tally, Polevoy & Misher
                                                   LLP
     New York, New York 10112               380 Madison Avenue
          (212) 408-2400                 New York, New York 10017
                                              (212) 687-7000
</TABLE>
 
                            ------------------------
 
                APPROXIMATE DATE OF PROPOSED SALE TO THE PUBLIC:
  AS SOON AS PRACTICABLE AFTER THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT BECOMES EFFECTIVE.
 
    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, please 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 registration statement for the same
offering. / / ____________
 
   
    If  the delivery of the  prospectus is expected to  be made pursuant to Rule
434, please check the following box. / /
    
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
   
                                                  (CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE)
    
 
   
                        CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
    
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                           PROPOSED
                                                                            MAXIMUM
                                                    PROPOSED MAXIMUM       AGGREGATE
    TITLE OF EACH CLASS OF          AMOUNT TO        OFFERING PRICE        OFFERING          AMOUNT OF
  SECURITIES TO BE REGISTERED     BE REGISTERED       PER UNIT (1)         PRICE (1)     REGISTRATION FEE
<S>                              <C>               <C>                  <C>              <C>
Common Stock, $.00025 par
 value.........................    3,527,050(2)         $    4.40         $15,519,020       $   5,352
Class A Warrants...............    3,527,050(2)               .05             176,353             100
Class B Warrants...............    3,527,050(2)               .05             176,353             100
units, each consisting of one
 share of Common Stock, $.00025
 par value, and one Class B
 Warrant (3)...................    3,527,050(2)              5.85          20,633,243           7,115
Common Stock, $.00025 par value
 (4)...........................    7,054,100                 7.80          55,021,980          18,974
Underwriter's Option (5).......      306,700                0.001                 307             100
Common Stock, $.00025 par value
 (6)...........................      306,700                 6.16           1,889,272             652
Class A Warrants (6)...........      306,700                  .07              21,469             100
Class B Warrants (6)...........      306,700                  .07              21,469             100
units, each consisting of one
 share of Common Stock, $.00025
 par value, and one Class B
 Warrant (6)...................      306,700                 5.85           1,794,195             619
Common Stock, $.00025 par value
 (6)...........................      613,400                 7.80           4,784,520           1,650
Class A Warrants (7)...........    1,112,500               --                 --                --
units, each consisting of one
 share of Common Stock, $.00025
 par value, and one Class B
 Warrant (8)...................    1,112,500                 5.85           6,508,125           2,245
Common Stock, $.00025 par value
 (9)...........................    1,112,500                 7.80           8,677,500           2,993
Total..........................                                           $115,223,806      $  40,100(10)
</TABLE>
    
 
   
(1)  Estimated solely for purposes of calculating the registration fee.
    
 
   
(2)  Includes  460,050  shares   or  Warrants  subject   to  the   Underwriter's
     over-allotment option.
    
 
   
(3)  Issuable upon exercise of the Class A Warrants.
    
 
   
(4)  Issuable upon exercise of the Class B Warrants.
    
 
   
(5)  To be issued to the Underwriter.
    
 
   
(6)  Issuable  upon  exercise of  the Underwriter's  Option and/or  the Warrants
     issuable thereunder.
    
 
   
(7)  Registered for resale by selling securityholders.
    
 
   
(8)  Issuable upon exercise of the Class A Warrants registered for resale by the
     selling securityholders.
    
 
   
(9)  Issuable upon  exercise of  the Class  B Warrants  underlying the  Class  A
     Warrants registered for resale by the selling securityholders.
    
 
   
(10) $37,208  of  the  registration  fee  was  paid  upon  the  filing  of  this
     Registration Statement on January 30, 1996. The balance of the registration
     fee has been paid in connection with the filing of Amendment No. 3.
    
 
   
    Pursuant to Rule 416 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, there are
also being registered such additional shares and warrants as may become issuable
pursuant to  anti-dilution provisions  upon  exercise of  the Warrants  and  the
Underwriter's Option.
    
 
                            ------------------------
 
    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>
                                EXPLANATORY NOTE
 
   
    This  Registration Statement covers the registration  of (i) up to 3,527,050
shares ("Shares")  of  Common Stock,  $.00025  par value  ("Common  Stock"),  of
Conversion   Technologies  International,  Inc.,  a  Delaware  corporation  (the
"Company"), 3,527,050  redeemable  Class A  Warrants  ("Class A  Warrants")  and
3,527,050  redeemable Class  B Warrants  ("Class B  Warrants"), for  sale by the
Company in an underwritten public  offering, including Shares, Class A  Warrants
and  Class B Warrants to be issued to cover over-allotments, if any, and (ii) an
additional 1,112,500 Class A  Warrants (the "Selling Securityholder  Warrants"),
for sale by the holders thereof (the "Selling Securityholders"), 1,112,500 Class
B  Warrants  (the  "Selling  Securityholder Class  B  Warrants")  underlying the
Selling Securityholder  Warrants  and  2,225,000 shares  of  Common  Stock  (the
"Selling  Securityholder Stock") underlying  the Selling Securityholder Warrants
and the Selling  Securityholder Class B  Warrants, all for  resale from time  to
time  by the Selling Securityholders subject to the contractual restriction that
the Selling Securityholders may not sell the Selling Securityholder Warrants for
specified periods after the  closing of the  underwritten offering. The  Selling
Securityholder  Warrants, the  Selling Securityholder  Class B  Warrants and the
Selling Securityholder Stock  are sometimes collectively  referred to herein  as
the "Selling Securityholder Securities."
    
 
    The  complete  Prospectus  relating  to  the  underwritten  offering follows
immediately after  this  Explanatory  Note. Following  the  Prospectus  for  the
underwritten offering are pages of the Prospectus relating solely to the Selling
Securityholder  Securities, including alternative front and back cover pages and
sections entitled  "Concurrent  Public  Offering," "Plan  of  Distribution"  and
"Selling   Securityholders"  to  be  used  in  lieu  of  the  sections  entitled
"Concurrent Offering"  and  "Underwriting" in  the  Prospectus relating  to  the
underwritten  offering. Certain sections of  the Prospectus for the underwritten
offering  will  not  be  used  in   the  Prospectus  relating  to  the   Selling
Securityholder Securities, such as "Use of Proceeds" and "Dilution."
<PAGE>
INFORMATION   CONTAINED  HEREIN  IS  SUBJECT   TO  COMPLETION  OR  AMENDMENT.  A
REGISTRATION STATEMENT  RELATING TO  THESE SECURITIES  HAS BEEN  FILED WITH  THE
SECURITIES  AND EXCHANGE  COMMISSION. THESE SECURITIES  MAY NOT BE  SOLD NOR MAY
OFFERS TO BUY BE ACCEPTED PRIOR  TO THE TIME THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT  BECOMES
EFFECTIVE.  THIS  PROSPECTUS  SHALL  NOT  CONSTITUTE AN  OFFER  TO  SELL  OR THE
SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY NOR SHALL THERE BE ANY SALE OF THESE  SECURITIES
IN  ANY STATE IN WHICH SUCH OFFER,  SOLICITATION OR SALE WOULD BE UNLAWFUL PRIOR
TO REGISTRATION OR QUALIFICATION UNDER THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY SUCH STATE.
<PAGE>
   
                    SUBJECT TO COMPLETION DATED MAY 10, 1996
    
PROSPECTUS
                  CONVERSION TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL, INC.
 
   
                       3,067,000 SHARES OF COMMON STOCK,
3,067,000 REDEEMABLE CLASS A WARRANTS AND 3,067,000 REDEEMABLE CLASS B WARRANTS
    
 
   
    Conversion Technologies International,  Inc. (the  "Company") hereby  offers
3,067,000  shares (the  "Shares") of  Common Stock,  $.00025 par  value ("Common
Stock"),  3,067,000  Redeemable  Class   A  Warrants  (collectively,  "Class   A
Warrants")  and 3,067,000  Redeemable Class  B Warrants  (collectively, "Class B
Warrants"). The Shares, the Class A Warrants  and the Class B Warrants may  only
be purchased as a group, consisting of an equal number of each security, but are
transferable separately immediately upon issuance. Each Class A Warrant entitles
the  holder to purchase one share of Common  Stock and one Class B Warrant at an
exercise price of  $5.85, subject  to adjustment, at  any time  until the  fifth
anniversary  of the date of  this Prospectus. Each Class  B Warrant entitles the
holder to purchase  one share of  Common Stock  at an exercise  price of  $7.80,
subject  to adjustment, at any  time until the fifth  anniversary of the date of
this Prospectus. Commencing one year from the date hereof, the Class A  Warrants
and Class B Warrants (collectively, the "Warrants") are subject to redemption by
the  Company  at a  redemption price  of $.05  per Warrant  on 30  days' written
notice, provided that  the closing  bid price of  the Common  Stock averages  in
excess  of  $8.20 and  $10.95 per  share, respectively,  for any  30 consecutive
trading days ending within 15 days of the notice of redemption. See "Description
of Securities."
    
 
    The registration statement of  which this Prospectus is  a part also  covers
the   offering   for   resale   by   certain   securityholders   (the   "Selling
Securityholders") of  1,112,500 Class  A Warrants  (the "Selling  Securityholder
Warrants"),  the  Common  Stock  and Class  B  Warrants  underlying  the Selling
Securityholder Warrants, and  the Common  Stock issuable upon  exercise of  such
Class B Warrants. See "Concurrent Offering." The Selling Securityholder Warrants
and  the securities underlying such Warrants are sometimes collectively referred
to as  the  "Selling  Securityholder  Securities."  The  Selling  Securityholder
Warrants   are  issuable  on  the  closing   of  the  Offering  to  the  Selling
Securityholders  upon  the  automatic   conversion  of  warrants  (the   "Bridge
Warrants")  acquired by them in the Company's private placement in December 1995
(the "Bridge  Financing").  The Selling  Securityholders  have agreed  with  the
Company  not to sell any of the  Selling Securityholder Warrants for at least 90
days after the closing  of the Offering  and, for the  period expiring 270  days
after  such closing, have agreed to certain resale restrictions. See "Concurrent
Offering." Sales  of  the  Selling Securityholder  Warrants  or  the  underlying
securities,  or the potential of  such sales, may have  an adverse effect on the
market price  of the  securities offered  hereby. Unless  the context  otherwise
requires,  all  references  herein to  the  Warrants shall  include  the Selling
Securityholder Warrants.
 
    Prior to this offering (the "Offering"), there has been no public market for
the Common Stock or Warrants, and there  can be no assurance that such a  market
will  develop. The Company  has applied for  quotation of the  Common Stock, the
Class A  Warrants  and  the Class  B  Warrants  on the  Nasdaq  SmallCap  Market
("Nasdaq")  under the symbols  CTIX, CTIXW and  CTIXZ, respectively. The initial
public offering price of the Shares and the Warrants and the exercise prices and
other terms of  the Warrants  have been  determined by  negotiation between  the
Company  and  D.  H. Blair  Investment  Banking Corp.  (the  "Underwriter"). See
"Underwriting" for a discussion of factors considered in determining the initial
public offering price. It is anticipated that the initial public offering  price
will be $4.40 per Share, $0.05 per Class A Warrant and $.05 per Class B Warrant.
Pursuant  to Schedule E of the By-Laws of the National Association of Securities
Dealers, Inc. (the "NASD"), the Shares and  the Warrants are being offered at  a
price  no  greater  than the  maximum  recommended  by RAS  Securities  Corp., a
qualified independent underwriter, for the  reason set forth in  "Underwriting."
FOR  INFORMATION CONCERNING  A SECURITIES AND  EXCHANGE COMMISSION INVESTIGATION
RELATING TO THE UNDERWRITER, SEE "RISK FACTORS" AND "UNDERWRITING."
 
THE SECURITIES OFFERED HEREBY INVOLVE A  HIGH DEGREE OF RISK, WHICH MAY  RESULT
 IN  THE LOSS OF AN INVESTOR'S  ENTIRE INVESTMENT, AND IMMEDIATE DILUTION. SEE
               "RISK FACTORS" BEGINNING ON PAGE 7 AND "DILUTION."
 
THESE SECURITIES HAVE  NOT BEEN APPROVED  OR DISAPPROVED BY  THE SECURITIES  AND
EXCHANGE  COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES  COMMISSION NOR HAS THE SECURITIES
 AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR  ANY STATE SECURITIES  COMMISSION PASSED UPON  THE
  ACCURACY  OR ADEQUACY      OF THIS  PROSPECTUS. ANY  REPRESENTATION TO THE
                        CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                             UNDERWRITING
                                                            PRICE TO         DISCOUNTS AND       PROCEEDS TO
                                                             PUBLIC         COMMISSIONS (1)      COMPANY (2)
<S>                                                     <C>                <C>                <C>
Per Share.............................................        $4.40              $.297             $4.103
Per Class A Warrant...................................        $0.05             $.0033             $.0467
Per Class B Warrant...................................        $0.05             $.0033             $.0467
Total (3).............................................     $13,801,500         $931,141          $12,870,359
</TABLE>
    
 
   
(1) Does not include additional compensation  to be received by the  Underwriter
    in the form of (i) a non-accountable expense allowance of $414,045 ($476,152
    if  the over-allotment  option is  exercised in  full); and  (ii) an option,
    exercisable over a period of three years commencing two years from the  date
    of  this Prospectus, to purchase up to 306,700 shares of Common Stock and/or
    306,700 Class A Warrants and/or 306,700 Class B Warrants (the "Underwriter's
    Option"). The Company has also  agreed to indemnify the Underwriter  against
    certain  liabilities  under  the Securities  Act  of 1933,  as  amended (the
    "Securities Act"). See "Underwriting."
    
   
(2) Before  deducting  estimated  expenses  of  $1,067,045  ($1,129,152  if  the
    over-allotment  option  is  exercised  in  full)  payable  by  the  Company,
    including the Underwriter's non-accountable expense allowance.
    
   
(3) The Company has granted to the Underwriter a 30-day option to purchase up to
    an additional 460,050 Shares and/or 460,050 Class A Warrants and/or  460,050
    Class B Warrants on the same terms and conditions as set forth above, solely
    to  cover over-allotments, if any. If the over-allotment option is exercised
    in full, the total Price  to Public, Underwriting Discounts and  Commissions
    and  Proceeds to  Company will  be $15,871,725,  $1,070,812 and $14,800,913,
    respectively. See "Underwriting."
    
                           --------------------------
    The Shares, the Class A Warrants and the Class B Warrants are being  offered
on a "firm commitment" basis by the Underwriter when, as and if delivered to and
accepted  by the Underwriter, subject to its  right to reject orders in whole or
in part  and  subject to  certain  other conditions.  It  is expected  that  the
delivery  of the certificates representing the  Shares, the Class A Warrants and
the Class B Warrants will be made  against payment at the offices of D.H.  Blair
Investment  Banking  Corp., 44  Wall  Street, New  York,  New York  on  or about
           , 1996.
                           --------------------------
<PAGE>
                      D.H. BLAIR INVESTMENT BANKING CORP.
                                ---------------
 
                The date of this Prospectus is            , 1996
<PAGE>
Photograph of molten  ALUMAGLASS brand  manufactured abrasive  pouring from  the
Company's melter at its Dunkirk facility.
 
    THE COMPANY INTENDS TO FURNISH ITS STOCKHOLDERS AND HOLDERS OF WARRANTS WITH
ANNUAL  REPORTS  CONTAINING  FINANCIAL  STATEMENTS  AUDITED  BY  ITS INDEPENDENT
AUDITORS.
 
    IN CONNECTION WITH THIS OFFERING,  THE UNDERWRITER MAY OVER-ALLOT OR  EFFECT
TRANSACTIONS  WHICH STABILIZE OR  MAINTAIN THE MARKET PRICE  OF THE COMMON STOCK
AND/OR WARRANTS AT A LEVEL ABOVE THAT WHICH MIGHT OTHERWISE PREVAIL IN THE  OPEN
MARKET. SUCH STABILIZING, IF COMMENCED, MAY BE DISCONTINUED AT ANY TIME.
<PAGE>

                          DESCRIPTION OF PHOTOGRAPHS

Inside gatefold:

Photographs depicting the ALUMAGLASS manufacturing process, including a 
photograph of each of the following: (i) raw materials, including industrial 
waste, virgin materials and recycled CRT glass; (ii) the raw materials 
qualifying, processing and storage area of the Dunkirk facility; (iii) the 
batching area of the Dunkirk facility; (iv) the melter at the Dunkirk 
facility; (v) molten glass pouring from the melter; (vi) the drying area at 
the Dunkirk facility; (vii) the abrasives finishing area at the Dunkirk 
facility; and (viii) finished ALUMAGLASS.

<PAGE>
                               PROSPECTUS SUMMARY
 
    THE  FOLLOWING SUMMARY  IS QUALIFIED  IN ITS  ENTIRETY BY  REFERENCE TO, AND
SHOULD BE  READ IN  CONJUNCTION  WITH, THE  MORE  DETAILED INFORMATION  AND  THE
COMPANY'S  CONSOLIDATED  FINANCIAL  STATEMENTS  (INCLUDING  THE  NOTES  THERETO)
APPEARING  ELSEWHERE  IN  THIS  PROSPECTUS.  EXCEPT  AS  OTHERWISE  NOTED,   ALL
INFORMATION  IN THIS PROSPECTUS (I)  REFLECTS A 0.12179999-FOR-ONE REVERSE STOCK
SPLIT  EFFECTED  IN  DECEMBER  1995;  (II)  ASSUMES  NO  EXERCISE  OF  (A)   THE
UNDERWRITER'S   OVER-ALLOTMENT  OPTION,  (B)  THE   WARRANTS,  (C)  THE  SELLING
SECURITYHOLDER WARRANTS, (D)  THE UNDERWRITER'S OPTION,  (E) OPTIONS GRANTED  OR
AVAILABLE  FOR  GRANT  UNDER  THE  COMPANY'S STOCK  OPTION  PLANS  OR  (F) OTHER
OUTSTANDING WARRANTS ISSUED  TO CERTAIN  STOCKHOLDERS OF OR  CONSULTANTS TO  THE
COMPANY;  (III) GIVES EFFECT TO THE CONVERSION,  ON THE CLOSING OF THE OFFERING,
OF (X) THE BRIDGE WARRANTS INTO THE SELLING SECURITYHOLDER WARRANTS AND (Y)  ALL
OUTSTANDING  SHARES OF THE COMPANY'S SERIES A CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK, $.001
PAR VALUE ("SERIES A PREFERRED STOCK"), INTO COMMON STOCK; AND (IV) GIVES EFFECT
TO THE AMENDMENT AND RESTATEMENT OF ALL  OUTSTANDING WARRANTS AS OF THE DATE  OF
THIS  PROSPECTUS.  SEE  "CAPITALIZATION," "MANAGEMENT  --  STOCK  OPTION PLANS,"
"CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS" AND "DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES."
 
                                  THE COMPANY
 
    The Company is an early-stage specialty materials company currently  engaged
in  (i) developing, manufacturing and marketing industrial abrasives produced in
a patented process utilizing industrial  wastes as raw materials, together  with
certain virgin materials, and (ii) recycling cathode ray tube ("CRT") glass used
in  televisions for sale to the original manufacturers of such glass and others.
Substantially all of the Company's revenues  to date have been derived from  its
CRT  glass recycling operations and, although  the Company plans to continue its
CRT  glass  recycling  operations,  the  Company's  primary  focus  is  on   the
development,  manufacture  and  marketing  of its  abrasives.  The  Company also
utilizes its manufacturing equipment to convert  certain types of CRT glass  and
certain other manufacturing by-products and industrial wastes into manufacturing
raw materials for use by the Company in its production of abrasives and for sale
to other manufacturers.
 
    The   Company's  initial  abrasives  product  is  its  ALUMAGLASS  brand  of
manufactured abrasives. ALUMAGLASS can be used as a loose grain abrasive applied
with blasting equipment or as an ingredient in products such as polishing agents
and non-skid flooring.  Blasting of loose  grain abrasives is  used in  numerous
industries  throughout  the  world  for various  cleaning,  stripping  and other
surface treatment or surface preparations applications such as industrial  metal
finishing, coating removal, structural steel and commercial vehicle cleaning and
preparations   of  surface  substrates.  The  Company  believes,  based  on  its
applications testing,  that ALUMAGLASS  may provide  performance advantages  and
cost savings in comparison to competitive products such as aluminum oxide, steel
grit,  glass  beads, plastic  media and  other  abrasives in  many applications.
Potential purchasers  of  ALUMAGLASS  include  military  and  defense  agencies,
entities  engaged in the electronics,  aerospace, automotive, glass products and
construction industries  and  entities  engaged in  surface  finishing,  coating
removal  and maintenance  of manufacturing and  processing equipment, buildings,
highways, bridges  and  commercial  vehicles and  vessels.  ALUMAGLASS  is  also
marketed as an aggregate for direct incorporation into products such as non-skid
flooring  and  as an  additive for  direct incorporation  into products  such as
plasters, tiles and other construction materials.
 
    ALUMAGLASS is manufactured from an alumino-silicate glass which the  Company
produces  in  a  glass melting  furnace  customized for  the  Company's patented
process. The Company's technology enables it to produce such glass utilizing  as
raw  materials primarily waste products from  the aluminum and other industries,
including the  electronics industry  with which  the Company  has established  a
relationship  through its  CRT glass  recycling. In  many cases,  the Company is
either paid to take these waste materials or receives them at little or no cost.
The Company  believes  that  its  ability to  procure  raw  materials  utilizing
recycling and recovery techniques will enable it to offer its products at a cost
savings to comparable products for many applications.
 
    The  Company's strategy is to focus its efforts on the sale and marketing of
its ALUMAGLASS product line and, if warranted by market demand for its abrasives
products, the  Company may  use a  substantial portion  of the  proceeds of  the
Offering  to increase its manufacturing capacity  by building a second melter at
 
                                       3
<PAGE>
its facility  in Dunkirk,  New York.  The Company  may also  seek  opportunities
within  the  United  States  and  abroad  to  construct  and  operate additional
abrasives manufacturing  facilities,  which  may  include  CRT  glass  recycling
operations,   either   independently  or   through   joint  ventures   or  other
collaborative arrangements  with  strategic  partners. At  the  same  time,  the
Company plans to continue its CRT glass recycling business, which it believes is
important  to its strategic positioning as a waste conversion company as well as
its ability to continue to obtain  raw materials for its manufactured  products.
The  Company also intends  to utilize certain of  its manufacturing equipment to
convert manufacturing by-products and other industrial wastes into raw materials
for use by the Company in the production of its abrasives or for sale to others.
The Company also  intends to continue  its research and  development efforts  to
identify  and  test additional  applications  for its  ALUMAGLASS  abrasives, to
pursue the  development of  processes  to manufacture  other products,  such  as
specialty  glass and glass ceramics, utilizing industrial waste as raw materials
and to identify  synergistic products,  services or technologies  that could  be
available  to  the  Company  through  acquisition,  corporate  teaming  or other
opportunities.
 
    The  Company  has  experienced   significant  operating  losses  since   its
inception.  At  March  31,  1996,  the Company  had  an  accumulated  deficit of
approximately  $(15,164,000),  a  working   capital  deficit  of   approximately
$(7,366,000) and a negative net worth of approximately $(4,771,000). The Company
incurred  an operating loss  of approximately $(11,909,000)  for the fiscal year
ended June  30,  1995, and  has  incurred  an operating  loss  of  approximately
$(1,938,000)  for the nine months ended March 31, 1996. The Company expects that
it will continue  to incur  losses until  such time,  if ever,  as revenues  are
sufficient to fund its continuing operations. There can be no assurance that the
Company  will ever  generate sufficient  revenues to  achieve profitability. The
Company has received  a report from  its independent auditors  that includes  an
explanatory  paragraph  indicating that  there is  substantial  doubt as  to the
ability of the Company to continue as a going concern. For a discussion of these
and other risks associated  with an investment in  the Shares and Warrants,  see
"Risk  Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition
and Results of Operations."
 
    The Company's operations are conducted through its wholly-owned  subsidiary,
Dunkirk  International Glass  and Ceramics Corporation  ("Dunkirk"). The Company
acquired Dunkirk in  August 1994 pursuant  to a merger  (the "Merger") in  which
holders  of Dunkirk's common stock received shares of the Company's Common Stock
in exchange for their shares of  Dunkirk common stock. Dunkirk was  incorporated
in  Delaware in July  1990 and was in  the development stage at  the time of the
Merger. The Company was incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware  in
June  1993  for  the purpose  of  acquiring  Dunkirk and  conducted  no business
activities prior to the Merger. All references to the Company in this Prospectus
include the Company and Dunkirk, unless the context otherwise requires.
 
    The Company owns and operates  a 230,000 square foot manufacturing  facility
in  Dunkirk, New  York. Its  executive offices  are located  at Bethany Crossing
Office Center, 82  Bethany Road,  Hazlet, New  Jersey 07730,  and its  telephone
number is (908) 888-3828.
 
    ALUMAGLASS-TM- is a trademark of the Company.
 
                                       4
<PAGE>
                                  THE OFFERING
 
   
<TABLE>
<S>                                               <C>
Securities Offered..............................  3,067,000 shares of Common Stock, 3,067,000 Class A
                                                  Warrants and 3,067,000 Class B Warrants. Each Class
                                                  A Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one share
                                                  of  Common  Stock and  one  Class B  Warrant  at an
                                                  exercise price of $5.85, subject to adjustment,  at
                                                  any time until the fifth anniversary of the date of
                                                  this  Prospectus. Each Class B Warrant entitles the
                                                  holder to purchase one share of Common Stock at  an
                                                  exercise  price of $7.80, subject to adjustment, at
                                                  any time until the fifth anniversary of the date of
                                                  this  Prospectus.  The  Warrants  are  subject   to
                                                  redemption    in    certain    circumstances.   See
                                                  "Description of Securities."
Securities Offered Concurrently by Selling
 Securityholders................................  1,112,500  Class  A  Warrants;  1,112,500  Class  B
                                                  Warrants  issuable  upon exercise  of such  Class A
                                                  Warrants; and  2,225,000  shares  of  Common  Stock
                                                  issuable upon exercise of such Class A Warrants and
                                                  such Class B Warrants. See "Concurrent Offering."
Common Stock Outstanding Before Offering........  1,925,150 shares (1)(3)
Common Stock Outstanding After Offering.........  4,992,150 shares (2)(3)
Use of Proceeds.................................  To   repay  $2,225,000  principal   amount  of  10%
                                                  promissory notes (the "Bridge Notes") issued in the
                                                  Bridge Financing, plus accrued interest thereon  of
                                                  approximately   $93,000;  to   repay  approximately
                                                  $1,236,500 of other indebtedness; to repay accounts
                                                  payable more than 30 days past due of approximately
                                                  $1,650,000; for capital expenditures; for marketing
                                                  and   promotional   efforts;   for   research   and
                                                  development;   for  project  development;  and  for
                                                  working capital. See "Use of Proceeds."
Proposed Nasdaq Symbols:
  Common Stock..................................  CTIX
  Class A Warrants..............................  CTIXW
  Class B Warrants..............................  CTIXZ
Risk Factors....................................  The Offering  involves a  high degree  of risk  and
                                                  immediate   dilution.   See   "Risk   Factors"  and
                                                  "Dilution."
</TABLE>
    
 
- --------------------------
   
(1) Includes 1,023,054 shares of  Common Stock issuable  upon the conversion  of
    the  Series A Preferred Stock  on the closing of  the Offering. Excludes (i)
    2,225,000 shares  of  Common Stock  issuable  upon exercise  of  the  Bridge
    Warrants  and the Class B Warrants underlying such Warrants and (ii) 449,697
    shares of Common  Stock issuable  upon exercise of  outstanding options  and
    warrants  at  exercise prices  ranging from  $4.40 to  $5.28 per  share. See
    "Capitalization -- Bridge Financing" and "Management."
    
 
   
(2) Excludes (i) 1,840,200 shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of  the
    Underwriter's  over-allotment option and the Warrants issuable upon exercise
    of such option; (ii) 1,226,800 shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise
    of the Underwriter's Option and  the Warrants underlying such option;  (iii)
    9,201,000  shares of  Common Stock  issuable upon  exercise of  the Warrants
    offered hereby; (iv) 2,225,000 shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise
    of the Selling Securityholder Warrants  and the Class B Warrants  underlying
    such warrants; and (v) 449,697 shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise
    of outstanding options and warrants at exercise prices ranging from $4.40 to
    $5.28 per share. See "Capitalization," "Management" and "Underwriting."
    
 
   
(3) Includes  740,559 shares  (the "Escrow Shares")  of Common  Stock which have
    been deposited  into  escrow  by  the  holders  thereof.  Does  not  include
    outstanding  options to purchase 71,923 shares  of Common Stock (the "Escrow
    Options"), which have been deposited into escrow by the holders thereof. The
    Escrow Shares and the Escrow Options (collectively, the "Escrow Securities")
    are subject to cancellation  and will be contributed  to the capital of  the
    Company if the Company does not attain certain earnings levels or the market
    price  of the  Company's Common Stock  does not achieve  certain levels. The
    Company will record a  noncash charge to  earnings, for financial  reporting
    purposes,  as  compensation  expense relating  to  the value  of  any Escrow
    Securities released  to  the  Company's officers,  directors,  employees  or
    consultants.  See "Risk Factors -- Charge to  Income in the Event of Release
    of Escrow  Securities,"  "Capitalization"  and  "Principal  Stockholders  --
    Escrow Securities."
    
 
                                       5
<PAGE>
                         SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                         COMPANY
                                   PREDECESSOR COMPANY       ----------------------------------------------------------------
                                --------------------------     PERIOD FROM
                                                TWO MONTHS    MARCH 1, 1994                             NINE MONTHS ENDED
                                                  ENDED      (DATE OPERATIONS                               MARCH 31,
                                 YEAR ENDED     AUGUST 31,      COMMENCED)         YEAR ENDED       -------------------------
                                JUNE 30, 1994      1994      TO JUNE 30, 1994   JUNE 30, 1995 (1)       1995         1996
                                -------------   ----------   ----------------   -----------------   ------------  -----------
<S>                             <C>             <C>          <C>                <C>                 <C>           <C>
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS DATA:
  Revenue.....................   $   --         $  62,452       $ --              $  1,173,264      $    724,536  $ 2,076,894
  Cost of goods sold..........       --          (379,661)        --                (2,788,599)       (2,397,917)  (2,025,851)
                                -------------   ----------   ----------------   -----------------   ------------  -----------
  Gross profit (loss).........       --          (317,209)        --                (1,615,335)       (1,673,381)      51,043
  Selling, general and
   administrative.............       721,441      297,792         358,336            2,529,263         1,822,913    1,213,315
  Process development costs
   (2)........................       765,981       82,427         --                 1,531,955           899,670      776,113
  Write-off of in-process
   technologies (3)...........       --            --             --                 6,232,459         6,232,459      --
                                -------------   ----------   ----------------   -----------------   ------------  -----------
  Loss from operations........    (1,487,422)    (697,428)       (358,336)         (11,909,012)      (10,628,423)  (1,938,385)
  Interest expense, net.......       (26,084)     (40,999)        (13,079)            (345,690)         (182,589)    (681,123)
  Other income................       --            --             --                  --                 --            81,811
                                -------------   ----------   ----------------   -----------------   ------------  -----------
  Net loss....................   $(1,513,506)   $(738,427)      $(371,415)        $(12,254,702)     $(10,811,012) $(2,537,697)
                                -------------   ----------   ----------------   -----------------   ------------  -----------
                                -------------   ----------   ----------------   -----------------   ------------  -----------
  Pro forma net loss per
   common share (4)...........                                  $  (19.88)        $     (16.68)                   $     (2.14)
  Pro forma weighted average
   number of common shares
   outstanding (4)............                                     18,679              734,754                      1,185,387
</TABLE>
    
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                AT MARCH 31, 1996
                                          -----------------------------
                                             ACTUAL     AS ADJUSTED (5)
                                          ------------  ---------------
<S>                                       <C>           <C>
BALANCE SHEET DATA:
  Working capital (deficit).............  $ (7,366,111)  $  3,930,866
  Total assets..........................    15,321,099     23,486,446
  Total liabilities.....................    20,091,997     16,920,691
  Accumulated deficit...................   (15,163,814)   (15,630,015)
  Stockholders' equity (deficiency).....    (4,770,898)     6,565,755
</TABLE>
    
 
- ------------------------------
   
(1)  Includes  the historical results  of operations of  Dunkirk from August 31,
     1994 (the effective date of the Merger for accounting purposes). If Dunkirk
     had been acquired  July 1,  1994, the Company's  consolidated revenue,  net
     loss  and pro forma net  loss per common share  would have been $1,235,716,
     $(12,974,814)  and  $(17.24),  respectively.   See  "Unaudited  Pro   Forma
     Consolidated Financial Data."
    
 
(2)  Represents research and development costs associated with the Company's CRT
     glass  processing and ALUMAGLASS product line since the date of the Merger.
     See "Management's  Discussion  and  Analysis  of  Financial  Condition  and
     Results of Operations."
 
(3)  Represents  a  one-time,  non-cash  charge  to  operations  relating  to  a
     write-off of purchased research and development technologies in conjunction
     with the Merger that had not reached technological feasibility and, in  the
     opinion of management, had no alternative use. See "Management's Discussion
     and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations."
 
   
(4)  Excludes  740,559  Escrow  Shares. See  "Principal  Stockholders  -- Escrow
     Securities." See Note 3 of  Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements  for
     an  explanation  of the  determination of  the  pro forma  weighted average
     number of common shares used in computing the pro forma net loss per common
     share.
    
 
   
(5)  Adjusted to give  effect to (i)  the sale  of the Shares  and the  Warrants
     offered  hereby at an initial  offering price of $4.40  per Share and $0.05
     per Warrant, (ii) the receipt of the net proceeds therefrom and the use  of
     a  portion  of  the  net  proceeds to  repay  the  Bridge  Notes (including
     interest), (iii) the corresponding charge relating to the Bridge  Financing
     and  debt discount through the date  of repayment of approximately $466,000
     (excluding an  aggregate  of  approximately  $69,000  of  interest  expense
     related  to the  Bridge Notes,  which was  recorded in  the fiscal quarters
     ended December  31, 1995  and March  31, 1996)  and (iv)  the repayment  of
     approximately  $1,036,500 of  other indebtedness  outstanding prior  to the
     Offering. See "Use of Proceeds."
    
 
                                       6
<PAGE>
                                  RISK FACTORS
 
    The securities offered hereby are speculative in nature and an investment in
the  Shares and the Warrants  offered hereby involves a  high degree of risk. In
addition to  the other  information contained  in this  Prospectus,  prospective
investors  should carefully  consider the  following risk  factors in evaluating
whether to purchase the Shares and the Warrants offered hereby.
 
    ACCUMULATED DEFICIT; WORKING CAPITAL DEFICIT; NEGATIVE NET WORTH; HISTORY OF
OPERATING LOSSES; EXPECTATION  OF FUTURE  LOSSES.  The  Company has  experienced
significant operating losses since its inception. At March 31, 1996, the Company
had  an accumulated  deficit of  approximately $(15,164,000),  a working capital
deficit of approximately $(7,366,000) and a negative net worth of  approximately
$(4,771,000).   The  Company   incurred  an  operating   loss  of  approximately
$(11,909,000) for  the fiscal  year ended  June 30,  1995, and  has incurred  an
operating loss of approximately $(1,938,000) for the nine months ended March 31,
1996.   Such  losses  have  resulted  principally  from  limited  revenues  from
operations  and  costs  associated  with   the  development  of  the   Company's
technologies,  general  and  administrative expenses  and  a  one-time, non-cash
charge to  operations  relating  to  the write-off  of  purchased  research  and
development  technologies in  conjunction with the  Merger that  had not reached
technological feasibility and, in the opinion of management, had no  alternative
use.  The  Company has  experienced  decreased revenues  and  incurred increased
losses to date  and expects that  it will  continue to incur  losses until  such
time,  if  ever, as  revenues  from product  sales  are sufficient  to  fund its
continuing operations. The Company's profitability will depend on its ability to
commercialize its abrasives products. There can be no assurance that the Company
will  ever   generate  sufficient   revenues  to   achieve  profitability.   See
"Management's  Discussion and  Analysis of  Financial Conditions  and Results of
Operations."
 
    GOING CONCERN EXPLANATORY  PARAGRAPH IN INDEPENDENT  AUDITORS' REPORT.   The
Company  has received  a report from  its independent auditors  that includes an
explanatory paragraph  indicating that  there  is substantial  doubt as  to  the
ability  of the Company to continue as  a going concern. Among the factors cited
by the auditors  as raising  substantial doubt as  to the  Company's ability  to
continue  as a  going concern  is that  the Company  has generated  only minimal
revenues, has incurred significant losses since inception, has a working capital
and stockholders' deficiency  and is  dependent upon  additional financing.  See
Report of Independent Auditors.
 
    CAPITAL  INTENSIVE BUSINESS; NEED  FOR ADDITIONAL FINANCING.   The Company's
business is capital intensive. The Company  believes that the net proceeds  from
the  Offering, together with  cash generated from operations,  will enable it to
fund its operations for at least 12 months following completion of the Offering.
If the Company is not  profitable prior to such  time, the Company will  require
additional  financing. The Company  has no commitments  for any future financing
and there can be no assurance that the Company will be able to obtain additional
financing in the  future from either  debt or equity  financings, bank loans  or
other sources on acceptable terms or at all. If available, any additional equity
financings may be dilutive to the Company's stockholders and any debt financings
may  contain  restrictive covenants  and  additional debt  service requirements,
which could adversely affect the Company's operating results. If the Company  is
unable  to  obtain necessary  financing, it  will  be required  to significantly
curtail  its  activities  or  cease  operations.  See  "Use  of  Proceeds"   and
"Management's  Discussion  and Analysis  of Financial  Condition and  Results of
Operations."
 
    SUBSTANTIAL INDEBTEDNESS; DEBT SERVICE REQUIREMENTS; USE OF PROCEEDS TO  PAY
OUTSTANDING   INDEBTEDNESS  AND  PAST  DUE  ACCOUNTS  PAYABLE;  CONSEQUENCES  OF
DEFAULT.    At  March  31,  1996,  Dunkirk  had  outstanding  an  aggregate   of
approximately $12,300,000 of indebtedness (excluding capital lease obligations),
substantially all of which is secured by the assets of Dunkirk and guaranteed by
the  Company. Accordingly, the Company is subject to all of the risks associated
with substantial indebtedness,  including the  risk that  cash flow  may not  be
sufficient  to make required payments of principal and interest on indebtedness.
The Company  will  require  substantial  cash flow  to  meet  its  debt  service
requirements   relating  to   its  outstanding   indebtedness,  which  aggregate
approximately $1,647,000 (excluding capital  lease obligations and  indebtedness
to  be repaid  from the net  proceeds of  the Offering) for  the 12-month period
following the closing of the Offering. The  Company expects to use a portion  of
the proceeds of the Offering to meet its debt service requirements if funds from
operations are insufficient to do so. To the extent that all of Dunkirk's assets
continue  to be pledged, such assets will  not be available to secure additional
indebtedness, which may adversely affect the
 
                                       7
<PAGE>
   
Company's ability to borrow in the future. A substantial portion of the proceeds
of the  Offering will  be used  to repay  indebtedness, including  approximately
$2,318,000  of Bridge Notes and $1,348,500 of other indebtedness (which includes
approximately $112,000  of deferred  principal and  interest which  the  Company
intends to pay out of working capital proceeds). Further, at March 31, 1996, the
Company   had  approximately  $2,600,000   of  accounts  payable,  approximately
$1,650,000 of which are more than 30 days  past due and which will be paid  with
the  proceeds of the Offering and the remainder of which are expected to be paid
with funds  from  operations.  However,  in  the  event  that  the  Company  has
insufficient cash to fund its operations and meet its debt service requirements,
the  Company may use  the $2,200,000 of  proceeds allocated to  build its second
melter at the Dunkirk facility for  working capital. In such event, the  Company
may  be required to  obtain additional financing  in order to  build such second
melter. The Company currently has no  commitments or arrangements to obtain  any
such  financing and there can  be no assurance that  the Company can obtain such
financing on  acceptable  terms or  at  all. See  "Management's  Discussion  and
Analysis  of Financial Condition and Results of  Operations" and Note 4 and Note
10 of  Notes  to Consolidated  Financial  Statements  for a  discussion  of  the
payments due under the Company's indebtedness.
    
 
    In  addition, a portion of the  Company's indebtedness is subject to various
covenants. In the event of a default in payment of outstanding indebtedness,  or
in  the event  of a  default arising out  of a  violation of  any covenants, the
Company and/or Dunkirk may lose all or  a portion of its assets and the  Company
and/or  Dunkirk may  be forced to  materially reduce its  business activities or
cease its  operations.  Certain  of  the  instruments  governing  the  Company's
indebtedness  also  contain default  provisions relating  to insolvency  and the
inability to pay debts as  they become due. Although  the Company may be  deemed
insolvent,  the Company has not received any notice that a creditor has enforced
or intends to enforce any  rights relating to any  possible default or that  any
action will be taken against the Company.
 
    LIMITED OPERATING HISTORY; NEW BUSINESS; LIMITED PRODUCT SALES.  The Company
has  a limited operating history and substantially all of its revenues have been
derived from  recycling  CRT  glass.  The Company  has  only  generated  minimal
revenues  from ALUMAGLASS sales. The construction  of the Company's first melter
to produce its ALUMAGLASS abrasives was completed in February 1995, and  limited
production of its ALUMAGLASS abrasives commenced in the spring of 1995. Although
the  Company  recently  commenced  limited commercial  sales  of  its ALUMAGLASS
abrasives, there  can  be  no  assurance  that  the  Company  will  be  able  to
manufacture  and  market  successfully  its  ALUMAGLASS  abrasives.  The Company
intends to use a substantial portion of  the proceeds of the Offering to  expand
its  abrasives  business. While  attempting to  commercialize its  products, the
Company will be subject to risks inherent in a new business. Such risks  include
unanticipated   problems  relating   to  environmental   regulatory  compliance,
manufacturing, the competitive  environment in  which the  Company operates  and
marketing  problems,  and  additional  costs  and  expenses  may  exceed current
estimates. There  can  be no  assurance  that,  even after  the  expenditure  of
substantial  funds  and efforts,  the Company  will ever  achieve or  maintain a
substantial level  of  sales  of  its  products.  The  failure  to  successfully
manufacture  or market  ALUMAGLASS will  have a  material adverse  effect on the
Company's financial  condition  and results  of  operations. See  "--  Uncertain
Market  Acceptance of Abrasives" and "-- Equipment Failure, Limited Engineering,
Design and Construction Experience; Limited Manufacturing Experience."
 
    UNCERTAIN MARKET ACCEPTANCE OF ABRASIVES.  To date, the Company has had only
minimal sales  of its  ALUMAGLASS  abrasives. There  can  be no  assurance  that
significant  sales will occur or that  the Company's abrasives will obtain broad
market acceptance. The decision by a potential customer to utilize the Company's
abrasives is, among other things, technical in nature, requiring the customer to
make an evaluation as to whether  changes in its capital equipment or  operating
procedures  will be required in order to realize the performance benefits of the
Company's products. See "Business -- Market Overview -- Abrasives." There can be
no assurance that potential customers will  choose to change their equipment  or
established  procedures or be willing to incur  any necessary costs to make such
changes or that the benefits derived from utilizing ALUMAGLASS will outweigh the
costs incurred to make such changes. Further, there can be no assurance that all
customers will experience  the performance and  cost advantages demonstrated  in
the  Company's ALUMAGLASS applications  testing. For example,  ALUMAGLASS may be
too hard for  certain applications,  such as  removal of  coatings from  certain
plastic or vinyl substrates, in relation to plastic
 
                                       8
<PAGE>
abrasives  or  too soft  for other  applications, such  as etching  titanium, in
comparison to  aluminum  oxide.  In  addition, in  order  to  receive  the  full
performance  and cost benefits of ALUMAGLASS, users must use effective abrasives
reclamation systems and appropriate  blasting pressures. If  the Company is  not
successful  in marketing its abrasives, its ability to generate revenues will be
limited to its  CRT glass  recycling operations, waste  conversion services  and
other  future products and services that  may be developed or otherwise obtained
by the  Company.  The  Company believes  that  there  are a  limited  number  of
potential  CRT  glass  recycling  customers and  that  its  CRT  glass recycling
operations have limited growth potential. In addition, there can be no assurance
that the Company's waste  conversion services will  be successfully marketed  or
that future products and services will be developed or obtained. See "-- Limited
Number of CRT Customers" and "Business."
 
    EQUIPMENT  FAILURE; LIMITED ENGINEERING, DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION EXPERIENCE;
LIMITED MANUFACTURING EXPERIENCE.  The Company has completed construction of and
operated since spring  1995 one 25-ton-per-day  melter. From time  to time,  the
Company  has experienced mechanical or  technical difficulties with such melter,
which has required repairs and  maintenance that have interrupted the  Company's
ability   to  manufacture  its  abrasives.  Any  such  mechanical  or  technical
difficulties with such melter in the  future could result in an interruption  in
the   Company's  ability  to   manufacture  its  abrasives.   See  "Business  --
Manufacturing, Recycling  and  Conversion  Processes --  Melting  Process."  The
failure  of the Company to  effect prompt repairs and  otherwise keep its melter
operating at targeted  capacities could have  a material adverse  effect on  the
business,  financial  condition and  results of  operations  of the  Company. If
warranted by  sufficient  demand  for  its  ALUMAGLASS  abrasives,  the  Company
anticipates  that  it  will  construct  a  second  melter  and  has  allocated a
substantial portion of the proceeds  of the Offering to  do so. The Company  may
experience  problems associated with the engineering, construction, scale-up and
operation  of  such  melter  and  any  additional  melters,  including,  without
limitation, cost overruns, start-up delays and technical or mechanical problems.
To  date, the Company has engaged in only limited manufacturing and there can be
no assurance that the Company's efforts to expand its manufacturing capabilities
will not exceed  estimated costs  or take longer  than expected,  or that  other
unanticipated problems will not arise that would materially adversely affect the
Company's  business and prospects. See  "Management's Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and "Business."
 
    LIMITED SALES  AND  MARKETING  EXPERIENCE.   The  Company  has  had  limited
experience  in  selling  and  marketing  its  abrasives  and  its  recycling and
conversion services. Furthermore, the Company  has assembled only a small  sales
and  marketing organization. There can be no  assurance that the Company will be
able to recruit,  train or  retain qualified personnel  to sell  and market  its
products  and services or that it will  develop a successful sales and marketing
strategy. In addition, for  certain applications of  its abrasives, the  Company
will  be dependent on its distributors for primary marketing efforts or may seek
to enter into joint  venture, licensing or  other collaborative arrangements  to
sell  and  market its  products. Such  arrangements  may result  in the  lack of
control by the Company over the sales and marketing of its products or result in
lower revenues to the Company than  if it marketed its products directly.  There
can  be no assurance that any sales and marketing or other efforts undertaken by
the Company  or on  behalf of  the Company  by others  will be  successful.  See
"Business -- Sales and Marketing."
 
    LIMITED  NUMBER  OF  CRT  CUSTOMERS.   To  date,  substantially  all  of the
Company's revenues have  been derived  from recycling  CRT glass  for a  limited
number  of customers. Certain of the  Company's contracts with its CRT customers
contain minimum Company  purchase requirements  and, in  certain cases,  minimum
customer  purchase obligations. For the fiscal year  ended June 30, 1995 and the
nine months ended  March 31, 1996,  three of the  Company's CRT glass  recycling
customers,  Techneglas,  Inc., Thomson  Consumer  Electronics, Inc.  and Toshiba
Display Devices,  Inc.,  each accounted  for  more  than 10%  of  the  Company's
revenues and, in the aggregate, accounted for approximately 90% of the Company's
revenues.  The loss of any one of  these customers could have a material adverse
effect on  the  Company's financial  condition  and results  of  operations.  In
addition,  even  assuming  that  the Company's  existing  customers  continue to
utilize the Company's CRT  glass recycling services,  the Company believes  that
there  are a limited number  of potential customers for  the Company's CRT glass
recycling operations and that  its CRT glass  recycling operations have  limited
growth  potential. The Company currently obtains  only waste CRT glass generated
from manufacturers of televisions located in the United States, and there are  a
limited number of such
 
                                       9
<PAGE>
manufacturers.  In  addition, such  manufacturers typically  seek more  than one
outlet for their CRT glass, in order  to avoid dependence on any one source.  In
some  cases, manufacturers ship their waste  CRT glass to smelters or landfills.
Further, transportation  costs limit  the  sources from  which the  Company  can
obtain  CRT glass on  a cost-effective basis.  Accordingly, the Company believes
that its ability to  generate revenues from CRT  glass recycling is limited  and
that  the Company will  be dependent on revenues  from its ALUMAGLASS abrasives,
waste conversion  services and  other future  products and  services for  future
growth. See "-- Uncertain Market Acceptance of Abrasives."
 
    UNCERTAIN  INDUSTRIAL  WASTE  SUPPLY.   The  Company  utilizes manufacturing
by-products and industrial  wastes as raw  materials for the  production of  its
ALUMAGLASS  abrasives. In addition, the Company will seek to generate revenue in
the future from converting manufacturing by-products and industrial wastes  into
other finished products or into raw materials to be sold to other manufacturers.
However, there can be no assurance that producers of such by-products and wastes
will  view  the  Company's  processes  as  a  commercially  and  environmentally
acceptable means of disposing of such by-products and wastes or will not find  a
less  expensive means of disposing of such  by-products and wastes. As a result,
the Company may be forced to incur higher costs to procure raw materials for its
manufacturing processes and  may experience difficulty  in obtaining wastes  for
its conversion services. See "Business -- Products and Services."
 
    RISKS  INHERENT IN INTERNATIONAL OPERATIONS.   The Company intends to market
its products  and  services  internationally and  plans  to  seek  opportunities
overseas to construct and operate additional abrasives manufacturing facilities,
which  may  include  CRT  glass recycling  operations,  either  independently or
through joint  ventures  or  other  collaborative  arrangements  with  strategic
partners.  To the extent that the  Company operates its business overseas and/or
sells its products in foreign  markets, it will be subject  to all of the  risks
inherent  in international operations and transactions, including the burdens of
complying with  a wide  variety of  foreign laws  and regulations,  exposure  to
fluctuations  in  currency  exchange  rates  and  tariff  regulations, potential
economic instability and export license requirements. In addition, international
environmental regulations and  enforcement of such  regulations vary by  country
and  are subject to changes which may adversely affect the Company's operations.
See "Business."
 
    COMPETITION.  The Company's manufactured abrasives will compete with product
offerings of other companies, principally  aluminum oxide, glass beads,  plastic
abrasives,  garnet and  steel grit  and, with  respect to  certain applications,
sand, slags, crushed glass or water  blasting techniques. Many of the  companies
offering  such  products  are  large  corporations  with  substantially  greater
technical and financial resources  and sales and  marketing experience than  the
Company.  The Company's ability to effectively compete may be adversely affected
by the ability of these competitors to offer their products at lower prices than
the prices of  the Company's  products and to  devote greater  resources to  the
development  and sales and marketing of their products than are available to the
Company. With  respect to  its industrial  CRT glass  recycling operations,  the
Company  competes with  several other companies  who accept waste  CRT glass for
recycling or  other purposes,  each of  which  may deal  with customers  of  the
Company  and satisfy their  recycling, beneficial use or  disposal needs. In the
market for the  conversion of  manufacturing by-products  and industrial  wastes
into  glass  and  ceramic  manufacturing  raw  materials,  the  Company  will be
competing in the  hazardous and non-hazardous  waste and industrial  by-products
treatment  and disposal markets, which are served by several large companies and
numerous small  companies.  Any  of  such competitors  or  any  other  potential
competitor  may develop technologies superior to those of the Company. There are
several established corporations which offer proprietary high temperature  waste
vitrification  services which may compete with the services and products offered
or proposed to be  offered by the  Company. No assurance can  be given that  the
Company will be able to compete effectively. See "Business -- Competition."
 
   
    CHARGES  ARISING FROM DEBT ISSUANCE COSTS.   Upon completion of the Offering
and repayment  of the  Bridge  Notes, a  non-recurring charge  representing  the
unamortized  debt discount and  debt issuance costs  incurred in connection with
the Bridge Financing will be recorded as an extraordinary loss in the quarter in
which the  Offering is  completed. The  aggregate debt  discount, debt  issuance
costs  and interest associated with the  Bridge Notes are approximately $535,000
(an aggregate of approximately  $69,000 of interest was  recorded in the  fiscal
quarters  ended  December  31,  1995  and  March  31,  1996).  See "Management's
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations."
    
 
                                       10
<PAGE>
    DEPENDENCE ON PATENTS  AND PROPRIETARY  TECHNOLOGY.   The Company's  success
will depend, in part, on its ability to maintain protection for its products and
manufacturing processes under United States and foreign patent laws, to preserve
its  trade secrets and  to operate without infringing  the proprietary rights of
third parties. The Company has two patents and two patent applications  pending.
There  can be no  assurance that any  patent applications will  result in issued
patents, that any issued patents will afford adequate protection to the  Company
or  not be challenged, invalidated, infringed or circumvented or that any rights
thereunder will afford competitive advantages to the Company. Furthermore, there
can be no assurance  that others have not  independently developed, or will  not
independently  develop, similar products and technologies or otherwise duplicate
any of the Company's products and technologies.
 
    There can be  no assurance that  the validity  of any patent  issued to  the
Company  would  be upheld  if challenged  by  others in  litigation or  that the
Company's activities would  not infringe  patents owned by  others. The  Company
could  incur substantial costs in defending  itself in suits brought against it,
or in suits  in which the  Company seeks  to enforce its  patent rights  against
others.  Should  the Company's  products or  technologies  be found  to infringe
patents issued to  third parties,  the Company would  be required  to cease  the
manufacture,  use and sale  of the Company's  products and the  Company could be
required to pay substantial damages. In addition, the Company may be required to
obtain licenses  to patents  or other  proprietary rights  of third  parties  in
connection  with the  development and use  of its products  and technologies. No
assurance can be given that any  such licenses required would be made  available
on terms acceptable to the Company, or at all.
 
    The  Company also relies on trade secrets and proprietary know-how, which it
seeks to protect,  in part,  by confidentiality agreements  with its  university
research  partners, employees, consultants, advisors and others. There can be no
assurance that  such parties  will maintain  the confidentiality  of such  trade
secrets  or proprietary  information, or  that the  trade secret  or proprietary
information of the Company will not  otherwise become known or be  independently
developed  by competitors in a manner that  would have a material adverse effect
on the Company's business,  financial condition and  results of operations.  See
"Business -- Intellectual Property."
 
    DEPENDENCE   ON  ENVIRONMENTAL   REGULATION.    Federal,   state  and  local
environmental legislation and regulations mandate stringent waste management and
operations practices, which require  substantial capital expenditures and  often
impose strict liabilities for non-compliance. Environmental laws and regulations
are,  and  will continue  to be,  a  principal factor  affecting demand  for the
technology and services being developed or offered by the Company. The level  of
enforcement  activities by federal, state and local environmental protection and
related agencies,  and changes  in regulations  and waste  generator  compliance
activities, will also affect demand. To the extent that the burdens of complying
with  such laws and regulations may be eased as a result of, among other things,
political factors,  or that  suppliers of  manufacturing by-products  and  other
industrial  wastes find alternative  means to comply  with applicable regulatory
requirements, the Company's ability to  procure such by-products and wastes  and
the  demand for the Company's services  could be adversely affected, which could
have a material adverse  effect on the  Company's business, financial  condition
and  results  of operations.  Any changes  in  these regulations  which increase
compliance  standards  may  require  the  Company  to  change  or  improve   its
manufacturing process. To the extent the Company conducts its business overseas,
international  environmental  regulations will  be applicable.  Such regulations
vary by  country and  are subject  to  changes which  may adversely  affect  the
Company's operations. See "Business -- Environmental Matters."
 
    REGULATORY STATUS OF OPERATIONS.  The Company and its customers operate in a
highly  regulated  environment,  and  the Dunkirk  facility  is  and  any future
facilities may  be  required  to  have various  federal,  state  and/  or  local
government  permits and authorizations, registrations  and/or exemptions. Any of
these permits or approvals may be subject to denial, revocation or  modification
under  various  circumstances. Failure  to comply  with  the conditions  of such
permits, approvals, registrations,  authorizations or  exemptions may  adversely
affect  the installation or operation  of the Company's manufacturing facilities
and may subject the Company to federal, state or locally-imposed penalties.  The
Company's  ability  to  satisfy  the permitting  requirements  for  a particular
facility does not assure that permitting requirements for other facilities  will
be  satisfied.  In  addition, if  new  environmental legislation  is  enacted or
current regulations are amended or are
 
                                       11
<PAGE>
interpreted or  enforced  differently,  the  Company or  its  customers  may  be
required  to obtain additional operating permits, registrations, certifications,
exemptions or  approvals. There  can be  no assurance  that the  Company or  its
customers will meet all of the applicable regulatory requirements.
 
    POTENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL LIABILITY.  The Company's business exposes it to the
risk that harmful substances may be released or escape into the environment from
its facilities, processes or equipment, resulting in potential liability for the
clean-up  or  remediation  of  the  release  and/or  potential  personal  injury
associated with the  release. Liability  for investigation  and/or clean-up  and
corrective  action costs exists under  the Comprehensive Environmental Response,
Compensation and  Liability Act  of 1980,  as amended  ("CERCLA"), the  Resource
Conservation  and Recovery Act  of 1976, as  amended ("RCRA"), and  the New York
State Environmental Conservation Law.  Additionally, the Company is  potentially
subject  to regulatory liability for  the generation, transportation, treatment,
storage or disposal of hazardous waste if it does not act in accordance with the
requirements of  federal  or  state  hazardous  waste  regulations  or  facility
specific regulatory determinations, authorizations or exemptions. The Company is
also  potentially subject to  regulatory liability for releases  into the air or
water under  the Clean  Air  Act of  1970, as  amended,  and the  Federal  Water
Pollution  Control Act of 1972, as  amended (hereinafter the "Clean Water Act"),
and analogous state laws and regulations and various other applicable federal or
state laws and regulations if it does not comply with those requirements.
 
    The Company may  also be  exposed to certain  environmental risks  resulting
from  the actions of its  CRT glass suppliers and  other suppliers of industrial
wastes.  Although  the  Company  maintains  general  liability  insurance,  this
insurance  is subject  to coverage  limits and  generally excludes  coverage for
losses or liabilities related to environmental damage or pollution. Although the
Company conducts and plans to conduct  its operations prudently with respect  to
environmental   regulations  and  plans  to  structure  its  relationships  with
customers and  contractors  in  a manner  so  as  to minimize  its  exposure  to
environmental  liabilities,  the  Company's  business,  financial  condition and
results of operations could be materially adversely affected by an environmental
claim that  is not  covered or  only  partially covered  by insurance  or  other
available remedy.
 
    In  addition, although the Company does  not utilize any underground storage
tanks, there are several empty tanks at  the Dunkirk facility that were used  by
the former owner of the property to store various materials. An investigation by
an  environmental  engineering  firm  has  disclosed  modest  soil contamination
confined to the immediate vicinity of two tank locations and remediation may  be
required.   Based  on  estimates  from   qualified  environmental  services  and
engineering firms,  total remediation  and tank  closure costs  are expected  to
range   from  approximately   $28,000,  if   no  remediation   is  required,  to
approximately $64,000  if  soil and  groundwater  remediation is  required.  See
"Business -- Environmental Matters."
 
    DEPENDENCE ON KEY MANAGEMENT AND PERSONNEL.  The Company is highly dependent
upon  the efforts of its senior management  and scientific staff. The Company is
also  dependent  upon  its  other  management  personnel,  as  well  as  certain
scientific  advisors and consultants  from Alfred University  and other academic
institutions and organizations. The loss of the services of one or more of these
individuals could have a material adverse effect upon the Company. The Company's
future success will depend in large part upon its ability to attract and  retain
additional  highly skilled  scientific, managerial,  manufacturing and marketing
personnel. The Company faces  competition for hiring  such personnel from  other
companies,  research and  academic institutions,  government agencies  and other
organizations. There can be  no assurance that the  Company will continue to  be
successful in attracting and retaining such personnel. See "Management."
 
   
    POSSIBLE ADVERSE EFFECTS OF ELECTION OF UNION.  In February 1996, a majority
of  the employees  of Dunkirk  elected the  United Steelworkers  of America (the
"Union") to  act as  their bargaining  representative pursuant  to the  National
Labor Relations Act (the "NLRA"). Dunkirk is obligated under the NLRA to bargain
with  the  Union  in  good  faith. The  outcome  of  such  bargaining  cannot be
determined. There can  be no assurance  that the  election of the  Union or  the
outcome  of the bargaining process  will not result in  higher labor costs, work
stoppages or  strikes  or  otherwise  have a  material  adverse  effect  on  the
Company's   business,  financial   condition  or  results   of  operations.  See
"Management's Discussion  and Analysis  of Financial  Condition and  Results  of
Operations -- Overview."
    
 
    POTENTIAL   CONFLICTS  OF   INTEREST  ARISING   FROM  CERTAIN  RELATED-PARTY
TRANSACTIONS.  The Company has  entered into consulting agreements with  certain
directors, principal stockholders and affiliates of certain
 
                                       12
<PAGE>
directors  and principal stockholders  of the Company,  pursuant to which, among
other things, certain of  such persons received warrants  and pursuant to  which
certain  of  such persons  will be  entitled  to receive  success fees  upon the
completion of certain project development activities. Such agreements may result
in conflicts of interest for the  directors and principal stockholders who  are,
or  whose affiliates  are, parties to  such consulting  agreements. The Company,
however, does not believe that the  existence of such agreements will  interfere
with  the ability of the Company's directors to discharge their fiduciary duties
to  the  Company's  stockholders.   See  "Certain  Transactions  --   Consulting
Agreements."
 
   
    IMMEDIATE  DILUTION.  Assuming  a public offering price  of $4.40 per Share,
$.05 per Class A Warrant and $.05 per Class B Warrant, and the Company's receipt
of the estimated  net proceeds therefrom  and the use  of a portion  of the  net
proceeds  to repay  the Bridge Notes  and other indebtedness,  the purchasers of
Shares and  Warrants  in the  Offering  will experience  immediate  dilution  of
approximately  $3.29 or 73.1% in the per  share net tangible book value of their
Common Stock  ($3.05 or  67.8%  if the  Underwriter's over-allotment  option  is
exercised  in full). Additional dilution to public investors, if any, may result
to the extent  that the  Warrants, the Underwriter's  Option and/or  outstanding
options  and warrants are exercised  at a time when  the net tangible book value
per share of Common Stock exceeds the exercise price of any such securities. See
"Dilution."
    
 
   
    CHARGE TO EARNINGS IN THE EVENT OF RELEASE OF ESCROW SECURITIES.  The Escrow
Securities will be released from escrow if the Company attains certain  earnings
levels  over the next two to four years or if the Common Stock trades at certain
levels over the next  three years. The position  of the Securities and  Exchange
Commission  (the "Commission") with respect to such escrow arrangements provides
that in  the  event any  shares  or options  are  released from  escrow  to  the
stockholders   of  the  Company  who   are  officers,  directors,  employees  or
consultants of  the  Company,  a  compensation  expense  will  be  recorded  for
financial reporting purposes. Accordingly, the Company will, in the event of the
release of any Escrow Securities to the Company's officers, directors, employees
or consultants, recognize during the period in which the earnings thresholds are
met  or such stock  levels achieved, a  noncash charge to  earnings equal to the
fair value of such  shares on the  date of their release,  which would have  the
effect  of increasing the Company's loss or reducing or eliminating earnings, if
any, at  such time.  The recognition  of such  compensation expense  may have  a
depressive  effect  on  the  market  price  of  the  Company's  securities.  See
"Principal Stockholders  -- Escrow  Securities." Notwithstanding  the  foregoing
discussion,  there  can  be no  assurance  that  the Escrow  Securities  will be
released from escrow.
    
 
    POTENTIAL ADVERSE  EFFECTS  OF  PREFERRED STOCK.    The  Company's  Restated
Certificate  of Incorporation authorizes the issuance of shares of "blank check"
preferred stock, which will  have 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  stockholder  approval,  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
the  Common Stock. The preferred stock could be utilized to discourage, delay or
prevent a change in control of the Company. Although the Company has no  present
intention to issue any shares of preferred stock, there can be no assurance that
the  Company will  not do so  in the  future. See "Description  of Securities --
Preferred Stock."
 
    NO DIVIDENDS.  The  Company has not  paid any cash  dividends on its  Common
Stock  and does not expect to declare or  pay any cash or other dividends in the
foreseeable future.  As a  holding  company, the  Company holds  no  significant
tangible assets other than its investments in and advances and loans to Dunkirk.
The  Company's ability to make  cash dividend payments to  holders of the Common
Stock is  dependent  upon the  receipt  of  sufficient funds  from  Dunkirk.  In
addition,  the terms of Dunkirk's $8 million Solid Waste Disposal Facility Bonds
("IDA Bonds") issued through the Chautauqua County Industrial Development Agency
prohibit  Dunkirk  from   paying  dividends   to  the   Company  under   certain
circumstances  during any fiscal year  in excess of 50%  of Dunkirk's net income
for such fiscal  year. See  "Dividend Policy" and  "Management's Discussion  and
Analysis  of  Financial Condition  and Results  of  Operations --  Liquidity and
Capital Resources."
 
    NO PUBLIC  MARKET  FOR  SECURITIES; POSSIBLE  VOLATILITY  OF  MARKET  PRICE;
ARBITRARY DETERMINATION OF OFFERING PRICE.  Prior to the Offering, there has not
been  any  market for  any  of the  Company's securities,  and  there can  be no
assurance that an active trading market  will develop or be sustained after  the
Offering. The initial
 
                                       13
<PAGE>
public offering price of the Shares and the Warrants and the exercise prices and
other  terms of  the Warrants  have been  determined by  negotiation between the
Company and the Underwriter pursuant  to Schedule E of  the By-laws of the  NASD
and are not necessarily related to the Company's asset value, net worth, results
of  operations or any other  criteria of value and may  not be indicative of the
prices that may prevail in  the public market. The  market prices of the  Common
Stock  and the  Warrants could  also be  subject to  significant fluctuations in
response to  variations  in government  regulations  relating to  the  Company's
operations,  general trends in the industry and other factors, including extreme
price and  volume fluctuations  which have  been experienced  by the  securities
markets from time to time. See "Underwriting."
 
   
    OUTSTANDING  WARRANTS AND  OPTIONS; EXERCISE  OF REGISTRATION  RIGHTS.  Upon
completion of  the Offering,  the Company  will have  outstanding (i)  3,067,000
Class  A Warrants to purchase  an aggregate of 3,067,000  shares of Common Stock
and 3,067,000 Class  B Warrants;  (ii) 3,067,000  Class B  Warrants to  purchase
3,067,000  shares of Common Stock; (iii)  the Selling Securityholder Warrants to
purchase 1,112,500 shares of Common Stock  and 1,112,500 Class B Warrants;  (iv)
the  Underwriter's Option to purchase an aggregate of 1,226,800 shares of Common
Stock, assuming exercise of the underlying Warrants; (v) options to purchase  an
aggregate  of  80,493  shares  of  Common  Stock  granted  under  the Conversion
Technologies International,  Inc.  1994  Employee  Stock  Option  Plan  and  the
Conversion   Technologies  International,  Inc.  1994   Stock  Option  Plan  for
Non-Employee Directors; (vi) non-qualified options to purchase 50,000 shares  of
Common Stock issued to the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company;
and  (vii) warrants to purchase  an aggregate of 319,204  shares of Common Stock
issued prior to the Offering. Holders of outstanding options to purchase  71,923
shares  of Common  Stock have  placed such  options into  escrow. See "Principal
Stockholders -- Escrow  Securities." The  Company has reserved  an aggregate  of
510,400  shares of Common Stock for issuance  under its stock option plans as of
the date of this Prospectus. Holders of such warrants and options are likely  to
exercise  them  when, in  all likelihood,  the  Company could  obtain additional
capital on  terms  more favorable  than  those  provided by  such  warrants  and
options.  Further,  while  these  warrants  and  options  are  outstanding,  the
Company's ability  to obtain  additional  financing on  favorable terms  may  be
adversely  affected. The  holders of  the Underwriter's  Option, the  holders of
1,326,166 shares of Common Stock  outstanding upon consummation of the  Offering
and  the holders  of warrants  to purchase 293,365  shares of  Common Stock have
certain demand  and  "piggy-back"  registration rights  with  respect  to  their
securities. The exercise of such rights could involve substantial expense to the
Company.  See  "Management  -- Stock  Option  Plans,"  "Principal Stockholders,"
"Description of Securities" and "Underwriting."
    
 
    POTENTIAL ADVERSE EFFECT  OF REDEMPTION  OF WARRANTS.   Commencing one  year
from the date of this Prospectus, the Warrants may be redeemed by the Company at
a redemption price of $.05 per Warrant upon not less than 30 days' prior written
notice  if, with respect to  the Class A Warrants, the  closing bid price of the
Common Stock shall have averaged in excess of $8.20 per share and, with  respect
to  the Class B Warrants, $10.95 per  share, in each instance for 30 consecutive
trading days ending  within 15 days  of the notice.  Redemption of the  Warrants
could  force the holders (i) to exercise the Warrants and pay the exercise price
therefor at a time when it may be disadvantageous for the holders to do so, (ii)
to sell the Warrants at the then current market price when they might  otherwise
wish to hold the Warrants or (iii) to accept the nominal redemption price which,
at   the  time  the  Warrants  are  called  for  redemption,  is  likely  to  be
substantially less than the  market value of the  Warrants. See "Description  of
Securities -- Redeemable Warrants."
 
    CURRENT  PROSPECTUS REQUIRED TO EXERCISE WARRANTS.  Holders of Warrants will
be able to  exercise the Warrants  only if  (i) a current  prospectus under  the
Securities  Act relating  to the securities  underlying the Warrants  is then in
effect  and  (ii)  such  securities  are  qualified  for  sale  or  exempt  from
qualification  under the applicable  securities laws of the  states in which the
various holders  of Warrants  reside. Although  the Company  has undertaken  and
intends  to use its best  efforts to maintain a  current prospectus covering the
securities underlying the Warrants following  completion of the Offering to  the
extent  required by federal securities laws, there  can be no assurance that the
Company will be able to do so. The value of the Warrants may be greatly  reduced
if  a  prospectus covering  the  securities issuable  upon  the exercise  of the
Warrants is not kept current or if  the securities are not qualified, or  exempt
from  qualification,  in the  state  in which  the  holders of  Warrants reside.
Persons holding Warrants who  reside in jurisdictions  in which such  securities
are  not qualified and in which there is no exemption will be unable to exercise
their Warrants and would either have to  sell their Warrants in the open  market
or  allow them to expire unexercised. If and when the Warrants become redeemable
by the terms thereof, the Company may  exercise its redemption right even if  it
is  unable to  qualify the underlying  securities for sale  under all applicable
state securities laws. See "Description of Securities -- Redeemable Warrants."
 
                                       14
<PAGE>
    POSSIBLE ADVERSE EFFECT ON LIQUIDITY OF THE COMPANY'S SECURITIES DUE TO  THE
INVESTIGATION  OF D.H. BLAIR INVESTMENT BANKING CORP. AND D.H. BLAIR & CO., INC.
BY THE SECURITIES  AND EXCHANGE  COMMISSION.   The Commission  is conducting  an
investigation concerning various business activities of the Underwriter and D.H.
Blair  & Co., Inc. ("Blair & Co."), a selling group member which will distribute
substantially all of the securities offered hereby. The investigation appears to
be broad in scope, involving numerous  aspects of the Underwriter's and Blair  &
Co.'s  compliance  with  the federal  securities  laws and  compliance  with the
federal securities laws  by issuers  whose securities were  underwritten by  the
Underwriter  or Blair  & Co., or  in which the  Underwriter or Blair  & Co. made
over-the-counter markets, persons  associated with  the Underwriter  or Blair  &
Co.,  such  issuers and  other  persons. The  Company  has been  advised  by the
Underwriter that the investigation has been ongoing since at least 1989 and that
it is cooperating with the investigation. The Underwriter cannot predict whether
this investigation will  ever result in  any type of  formal enforcement  action
against the Underwriter or Blair & Co., or, if so, whether any such action might
have  an adverse effect on the Underwriter or the securities offered hereby. The
Company has  been advised  that Blair  & Co.  intends to  make a  market in  the
securities following the Offering. An unfavorable resolution of the Commission's
investigation  could have the effect  of limiting such firm's  ability to make a
market in the Company's securities,  which could adversely affect the  liquidity
or price of such securities. See "Underwriting."
 
    POSSIBLE   RESTRICTIONS  ON   MARKET-MAKING  ACTIVITIES   IN  THE  COMPANY'S
SECURITIES.  The Underwriter has advised the Company that Blair & Co. intends to
make a market in the Company's  securities. Rule 10b-6 under the Securities  Act
of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), may prohibit Blair & Co. from engaging
in  any market-making activities with regard to the Company's securities for the
period from nine business  days (or such other  applicable period as Rule  10b-6
may  provide) prior to  any solicitation by  the Underwriter of  the exercise of
Warrants until the later of the termination of such solicitation activity or the
termination (by waiver or otherwise) of any right that the Underwriter may  have
to  receive a fee for the exercise of Warrants following such solicitation. As a
result, Blair  &  Co. may  be  unable to  provide  a market  for  the  Company's
securities  during  certain  periods  while  the  Warrants  are  exercisable. In
addition, under applicable  rules and  regulations under the  Exchange Act,  any
person  engaged in the  distribution of the  Selling Securityholder Warrants may
not simultaneously  engage  in  market-making activities  with  respect  to  any
securities  of the Company for the applicable "cooling off" period (at least two
and possibly nine business days) prior to the commencement of such distribution.
Accordingly, in  the event  the  Underwriter or  Blair &  Co.  is engaged  in  a
distribution  of the Selling Securityholder Warrants, neither of such firms will
be able  to make  a market  in the  Company's securities  during the  applicable
restrictive  period. Any  temporary cessation  of such  market-making activities
could have an adverse  effect on the market  price of the Company's  securities.
See "Underwriting."
 
    POSSIBLE  DELISTING OF SECURITIES  FROM NASDAQ.   While the Company's Common
Stock, Class A  Warrants and Class  B Warrants meet  the current Nasdaq  listing
requirements  and are expected to be initially  included on Nasdaq, there can be
no assurance that  the Company  will meet  the criteria  for continued  listing.
Continued  inclusion on Nasdaq generally requires  that (i) the Company maintain
at least $2,000,000 in total assets and $1,000,000 in capital and surplus,  (ii)
the  minimum bid price of the Common Stock be $1.00 per share, (iii) there be at
least 100,000 shares in the  public float valued at  $200,000 or more, (iv)  the
Common  Stock have at least two active market makers and (v) the Common Stock be
held by at  least 300  holders. If  the Company  is unable  to satisfy  Nasdaq's
maintenance  requirements, its securities  may be delisted  from Nasdaq. In such
event, trading, if  any, in the  Common Stock and  Warrants would thereafter  be
conducted  in the over-the-counter market in  the so-called "pink sheets" or the
NASD's "Electronic Bulletin  Board" and  it could  be more  difficult to  obtain
quotations  of the market  price of the  Company's securities. Consequently, the
liquidity of the Company's securities could be impaired, not only in the  number
of  securities which could  be bought and  sold, but also  through delays in the
timing of transactions,  reduction in  security analysts' and  the news  media's
coverage of the Company and lower prices for the Company's securities than might
otherwise be attained.
 
    RISKS  OF PENNY STOCK.  If the Company's securities were deleted from Nasdaq
(see "Risk Factors -- Possible Delisting of Securities from Nasdaq"), they could
become subject to Rule  15g-9 under the Exchange  Act, which imposes  additional
sales  practice  requirements on  broker-dealers  that sell  such  securities to
persons other than established customers and "accredited investors"  (generally,
individuals  with net worths in excess of $1,000,000 or annual incomes exceeding
$200,000 or $300,000 together with  their spouses). For transactions covered  by
such rule, a broker-dealer must make a special suitability determination for the
purchaser  and have received the purchaser's  written consent to the transaction
prior to sale. Consequently,
 
                                       15
<PAGE>
such rule  may  adversely affect  the  ability  of broker-dealers  to  sell  the
Company's  securities and may adversely affect  the ability of purchasers in the
Offering to sell in the secondary market any of the securities acquired.
 
    Commission regulations define a  "penny stock" to  be any non-Nasdaq  equity
security  that has a  market price (as  therein defined) of  less than $5.00 per
share or with an exercise price of less than $5.00 per share, subject to certain
exceptions. For  any transaction  involving a  penny stock,  unless exempt,  the
rules  require  delivery,  prior to  any  transaction  in a  penny  stock,  of a
disclosure schedule  prepared by  the  Commission relating  to the  penny  stock
market. Disclosure is also required to be made about commissions payable to both
the  broker-dealer and the registered  representative and current quotations for
the securities. Finally, monthly statements  are required to be sent  disclosing
recent price information for the penny stock held in the account and information
on the limited market in penny stocks.
 
    The  foregoing  required  penny stock  restrictions  will not  apply  to the
Company's securities if such  securities are listed on  Nasdaq and have  certain
price  and volume information provided on a current and continuing basis or meet
certain minimum net tangible assets or average revenue criteria. There can be no
assurance that the Company's  securities will qualify  for exemption from  these
restrictions.  In any event,  even if the Company's  securities were exempt from
such restrictions, it would remain subject  to Section 15(b)(6) of the  Exchange
Act,  which gives the  Commission the authority  to prohibit any  person that is
engaged in unlawful  conduct while participating  in a distribution  of a  penny
stock  from associating with a broker-dealer  or participating in a distribution
of a penny stock, if  the Commission finds that such  a restriction would be  in
the  public interest. If the  Company's securities were subject  to the rules on
penny stocks,  the  market  liquidity  for the  Company's  securities  could  be
severely adversely affected.
 
   
    SHARES  ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE SALE.  Future  sales of Common Stock by existing
stockholders pursuant to  Rule 144  under the  Securities Act,  pursuant to  the
Concurrent  Offering or otherwise, could have an  adverse effect on the price of
the Company's securities. Pursuant to the Concurrent Offering, 1,112,500 Selling
Securityholder Warrants and the underlying  securities have been registered  for
resale concurrently with the Offering, subject to a contractual restriction that
the  Selling Securityholders not sell any of the Selling Securityholder Warrants
for at least 90  days from the  closing of the Offering  and, during the  period
from  91 to  270 days  after the  closing of  the Offering,  only sell specified
percentages of such Selling Securityholder Warrants. Upon the sale of the Shares
and the Warrants  offered hereby,  the Company will  have outstanding  4,992,150
shares  of  Common  Stock, 3,067,000  Class  A  Warrants and  3,067,000  Class B
Warrants (5,452,200  shares of  Common  Stock, 3,527,050  Class A  Warrants  and
3,527,050  Class  B  Warrants  if  the  Underwriter's  over-allotment  option is
exercised in full). The  shares of Common  Stock, the Class  A Warrants and  the
Class  B  Warrants  sold  in  the  Offering  will  be  freely  tradeable without
restriction under the  Securities Act,  unless acquired by  "affiliates" of  the
Company  as that term is defined in  the Securities Act. The remaining 1,925,150
outstanding shares  of  Common  Stock are  "restricted  securities"  within  the
meaning  of Rule 144 under the Securities  Act and will become eligible for sale
under Rule 144 commencing in August 1996. The holders of approximately 1,891,440
shares (or approximately 98% of the shares of Common Stock outstanding prior  to
the  Offering (after giving effect  to the conversion of  the Series A Preferred
Stock into  Common Stock)),  and the  holders  of all  options and  warrants  to
purchase  shares of Common Stock have agreed not to sell or otherwise dispose of
any securities of the Company  for a period of 13  months from the date of  this
Prospectus without the prior written consent of the Underwriter. The Underwriter
and   the  holders  of  1,326,166  shares   of  Common  Stock  outstanding  upon
consummation of the Offering have registration rights covering their securities.
Sales of Common Stock, or  the possibility of such  sales, in the public  market
may  adversely affect  the market  price of  the securities  offered hereby. See
"Concurrent Offering,"  "Description of  Securities"  and "Shares  Eligible  for
Future Sale."
    
 
   
    BROAD  DISCRETION  AS  TO USE  OF  PROCEEDS.   Of  the net  proceeds  of the
Offering, approximately $3,498,500  or approximately 30%  has been allocated  to
working  capital  and  other  general  corporate  purposes  (and  not  otherwise
allocated for  a  specific  purpose) and  will  be  used for  such  purposes  as
management may determine in its sole discretion without the need for stockholder
approval  with respect to any such allocation.  In addition, if the Company does
not build a second melter for the production of ALUMAGLASS, an additional amount
of approximately $2,200,000 currently allocated to capital expenditures for such
melter would become available  for working capital  and other general  corporate
purposes. See "Use of Proceeds."
    
 
                                       16
<PAGE>
                                DIVIDEND POLICY
 
    The Company has not paid any cash dividends on its Common Stock and does not
expect  to declare or pay any cash or other dividends in the foreseeable future.
As a holding  company, the Company  holds no significant  tangible assets  other
than its investments in and advances and loans to Dunkirk. The Company's ability
to  make cash dividend payments to holders of the Common Stock is dependent upon
the receipt of sufficient funds from Dunkirk. In addition, the terms of the  IDA
Bonds  prohibit  Dunkirk  from paying  dividends  to the  Company  under certain
circumstances during any fiscal  year in excess of  50% of Dunkirk's net  income
for  such fiscal  year. See "Management's  Discussion and  Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations -- Liquidity and Capital Resources."
 
                                USE OF PROCEEDS
 
   
    The net proceeds to the Company from the sale of the Shares and the Warrants
offered hereby, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and other
estimated  expenses  of  the  Offering,   are  estimated  to  be   approximately
$11,803,000  (approximately  $13,672,000  if  the  Underwriter's  over-allotment
option is  exercised  in full).  The  Company expects  the  net proceeds  to  be
utilized approximately as follows:
    
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                           APPROXIMATE
                                                                              AMOUNT       PERCENTAGE
                                                                              OF NET         OF NET
APPLICATION                                                                  PROCEEDS       PROCEEDS
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------  --------------  ------------
<S>                                                                       <C>             <C>
Repayment of Bridge Notes (1)...........................................   $  2,318,000        19.64%
Repayment of Other Indebtedness (2).....................................      1,236,500        10.48
Repayment of Past Due Accounts Payable (3)..............................      1,650,000        13.98
Capital Expenditures (4)................................................      2,550,000        21.61
Marketing and Promotional Efforts (5)...................................        150,000         1.27
Research and Development (6)............................................        200,000         1.69
Project Development (7).................................................        200,000         1.69
Working Capital (8).....................................................      3,498,500        29.64
                                                                          --------------      ------
    Total...............................................................   $ 11,803,000       100.00%
                                                                          --------------      ------
                                                                          --------------      ------
</TABLE>
    
 
- ------------------------
   
(l) Represents  $2,225,000 principal amount plus accrued interest at the rate of
    10% per annum (estimated at approximately  $93,000 through May 10, 1996)  of
    Bridge  Notes  issued  in the  Bridge  Financing in  December  1995. Certain
    stockholders of the  Company purchased  an aggregate  of $650,000  principal
    amount  of Bridge Notes and two  investment funds in which Lindsay Rosenwald
    is the sole stockholder and President of the general partner and  investment
    manager,  respectively, purchased an aggregate  of $200,000 principal amount
    of Bridge Notes. See "Certain Transactions." The Bridge Notes will mature on
    the completion of the  Offering. The proceeds of  the Bridge Financing  were
    and   are   being  used   primarily  for   working  capital   purposes.  See
    "Capitalization" and "Certain Transactions."
    
 
   
(2) Includes (i) $252,500 principal amount borrowed under a working capital bank
    line of credit with Key Bank of New York ("Key Bank"), which bears  interest
    at  the prime  rate plus 2.5%  per annum (10.75%  as of March  31, 1996) and
    which the Company has agreed to repay in 12 monthly installments  commencing
    March  15, 1996 or in full upon the closing of the Offering, (ii) a $124,000
    demand note issued to Key Bank  in February 1995, which note bears  interest
    at  the prime  rate plus 1%  (9.25% as of  March 31, 1996),  the proceeds of
    which were used for working capital purposes, (iii) $460,000 of interest due
    following the closing  of the Offering  on the IDA  Bonds, which amount  has
    been  paid from the Company's debt service reserve funds under the IDA Bonds
    and which  must be  replenished  in accordance  with  the terms  of  waivers
    obtained  from  the  holder of  the  IDA  Bonds and  the  trustee  under the
    applicable indenture, and (iv) $400,000 aggregate principal amount of  notes
    due  on  the  closing of  the  Offering  issued by  the  Company  to certain
    directors, officers  and securityholders  in  March and  May, 1996  to  fund
    working  capital, which  bear interest at  10% per  annum. See "Management's
    Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation" and
    "Certain Transactions."
    
 
   
(3) Includes, at March 31,  1996, approximately $420,000 past  due more than  30
    but less than 60 days, approximately $190,000 past due more than 60 but less
    than  90 days and approximately  $1,040,000 past due more  than 90 days. The
    Company  has  approximately  an  additional  $950,000  of  accounts  payable
    
 
                                       17
<PAGE>
    which are less than 30 days past due which the Company intends to pay out of
    funds from operations. In the event such funds are insufficient, the Company
    will  be required  to use  a portion  of the  proceeds allocated  to working
    capital to pay such accounts payable.
 
(4) Includes $2,200,000  for construction  of  a second  melter at  the  Dunkirk
    facility,  which  will  have  the  capacity to  produce  up  to  75  tons of
    ALUMAGLASS per day, and $350,000 for a capital expansion program relating to
    the post-melting abrasives finishing (crushing, sorting and packaging)  area
    at  such facility. The  Company does not  intend to build  the second melter
    until such time  as the  Company's current melter  is running  at near  full
    capacity.  In  the  event  that  prior  thereto  the  Company's  funds  from
    operations are insufficient  to meet its  cash requirements, including  debt
    service obligations, the Company may use the proceeds allocated to build the
    second  melter to fund  its working capital  requirements. See "Management's
    Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations."
(5) Includes estimated costs for product applications testing program,  customer
    product  sampling  program,  technical  assistance  program,  telemarketing,
    direct mail and trade journal advertising, sales training, other  activities
    related to the Company's distribution network and other marketing support.
 
(6) Includes   estimated  costs  associated  with  the  Company's  research  and
    development efforts related to  identifying additional applications for  its
    ALUMAGLASS  product line,  identifying synergistic  products or technologies
    that may be available to the  Company through corporate partnering or  other
    opportunities,  research  and  development in  connection  with  its planned
    specialty glass  and glass  ceramic products  and improvements  to  existing
    manufacturing  processes. Pursuant to its  agreement with Alfred University,
    the Company will pay  Alfred University approximately  $164,000 in 1996  for
    certain  research and  development services.  See "Business  -- Research and
    Development."
 
   
(7) Includes $125,000 that the  Company has the option  to invest to purchase  a
    50% interest in a new company to be jointly owned by the Company and VANGKOE
    Industries,  Ltd. ("VANGKOE"), which is intended  to apply color coatings to
    materials purchased from the Company and  sold by VANGKOE. See "Business  --
    Sales and Marketing." Also includes estimated costs associated with locating
    potential sites for new abrasive manufacturing facilities, negotiations with
    potential  strategic partners, researching local regulatory requirements and
    locating and negotiating with local  vendors of raw materials and  potential
    customers.
    
 
   
(8) Includes  (i)  accrued  legal and  accounting  expenses not  related  to the
    Offering, estimated  to  be approximately  $356,000,  (ii) $55,000  for  the
    repurchase  by the  Company of  2,455 shares of  Common Stock  from a former
    consultant pursuant  to a  settlement  agreement, which  amount is  due  and
    payable  on the earlier of May 24, 1996 and the closing of the Offering, and
    (iii) approximately $112,000 of principal and  interest due as of April  30,
    1996 to Key Bank and Sullivan Graphics, Inc., which will be repaid following
    the closing of the Offering in accordance with the terms of waivers obtained
    from  such  parties.  The Company  may  also utilize  proceeds  allocated to
    working capital to pay  its approximately $950,000  of accounts payable,  at
    March  31, 1996, that are less than 30 days past due, to the extent not paid
    from funds  from  operations.  Further,  an  additional  $2,200,000  may  be
    available  for working  capital if prior  to the construction  of the second
    melter at the  Dunkirk facility,  the Company  is required  to utilize  such
    funds  to meet  its working capital  requirements. In  addition, the Company
    expects to  use  a substantial  portion  of  the proceeds  of  the  Offering
    allocated  to working capital to fund the debt service obligations described
    below. See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition  and
    Results of Operations -- Liquidity and Capital Resources."
    
 
    The foregoing represents the Company's current estimate of its allocation of
the net proceeds of the Offering. This estimate is based on certain assumptions,
including  that competitive, regulatory and  market conditions remain stable and
that  demand  for  the  Company's   abrasives  is  sufficient  to  warrant   the
construction of a second melter at the Dunkirk facility.
 
    The  Company  anticipates  that  the  net  proceeds  from  the  Offering and
anticipated  revenues  from  CRT  glass  recycling,  sales  of  ALUMAGLASS   and
mechanical  conversion  services should  be  sufficient to  bring  the Company's
payables current, to construct a second melter at the Company's Dunkirk facility
and to  fund the  Company's operations  for  at least  12 months  following  the
closing  of the Offering.  The Company's fixed expenses  for such period include
approximately $484,000 in  aggregate annual  base compensation  for the  current
executive  officers of the Company and  debt service obligations relating to the
Company's  outstanding   indebtedness,   which  are   estimated   to   aggregate
approximately  $1,647,000 (excluding capital  lease obligations and indebtedness
to be repaid  from the net  proceeds of  the Offering) for  the 12-month  period
 
                                       18
<PAGE>
following  the  closing  of the  Offering.  In  the event  that  in management's
estimation there are not adequate revenues to justify construction of the second
melter at the Dunkirk facility within the 12-month period following the  closing
of  the  Offering,  an  additional  $2,200,000  of  the  net  proceeds currently
allocated for construction of such melter will be available for working  capital
and  other general  corporate purposes. See  "Risk Factors  -- Capital Intensive
Business; Need  for  Additional  Financing"  and  "Management's  Discussion  and
Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations."
 
    The  amounts  actually  expended  for  each purpose  set  forth  in  "Use of
Proceeds" may vary  significantly in the  event any of  these assumptions  prove
inaccurate.  The Company  reserves the  right to change  its use  of proceeds as
unanticipated events  may  cause the  Company  to redirect  its  priorities  and
reallocate  the proceeds accordingly. A portion of the proceeds may also be used
to acquire or invest  in complementary businesses or  products or to obtain  the
right   to  use  complementary  technologies.  Although  the  Company  evaluates
potential acquisitions of  businesses, products  and technologies  from time  to
time,  there  are  no  present understandings,  commitments  or  agreements with
respect to any such acquisitions.
 
    Pending utilization, the net  proceeds of the Offering  will be invested  in
short-term, interest-bearing investments.
 
    Any   additional  proceeds  received  upon  exercise  of  the  Underwriter's
over-allotment option, the Warrants, the Selling Securityholder Warrants or  the
Underwriter's Option will be added to working capital.
 
                                       19
<PAGE>
                                 CAPITALIZATION
 
   
    The  following table sets forth the capitalization  of the Company (i) as of
March 31,  1996; (ii)  the pro  forma capitalization  as of  March 31,  1996  to
reflect  the conversion of the  Series A Preferred Stock  into Common Stock upon
the closing of  the Offering and  the issuance  of an aggregate  of $200,000  of
promissory notes in May 1996; and (iii) the pro forma capitalization as adjusted
to  reflect  the sale  of the  Shares and  the Warrants  offered hereby  and the
application of the net proceeds therefrom to repay the Bridge Notes and  related
interest  and certain other indebtedness outstanding  prior to the Offering. See
"Use  of  Proceeds."  This  table  should  be  read  in  conjunction  with   the
consolidated  financial  statements  (including  the  notes  thereto)  appearing
elsewhere in this Prospectus.
    
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                   MARCH 31, 1996
                                                                   ----------------------------------------------
                                                                       ACTUAL        PRO FORMA      AS ADJUSTED
                                                                   --------------  --------------  --------------
<S>                                                                <C>             <C>             <C>
Notes payable....................................................  $      576,500  $      776,500  $     --
Bridge Notes, net of discount (1)................................       2,158,250       2,158,250        --
Current portion of long-term debt................................         488,282         488,282         488,282
Long-term debt, less current portion.............................      11,396,116      11,396,116      11,396,116
Stockholders' Equity (2):
  Preferred Stock, $.001 par value:
    15,000,000 shares authorized; 2,958,000 shares of Series A
     Preferred Stock outstanding actual; no shares issued and
     outstanding pro forma and as adjusted.......................           2,958        --              --
  Common Stock, $.00025 par value:
    25,000,000 shares authorized; 902,096 shares issued and
     outstanding actual; 1,925,150 shares issued and outstanding
     pro forma; 4,992,150 shares issued and outstanding as
     adjusted (3)................................................             226             481           1,248
Additional paid-in capital.......................................      10,389,732      10,392,435      22,194,522
Accumulated deficit (4)..........................................     (15,163,814)    (15,163,814)    (15,630,015)
                                                                   --------------  --------------  --------------
      Total stockholders' equity (deficiency)....................      (4,770,898)     (4,770,898)      6,565,755
                                                                   --------------  --------------  --------------
        Total capitalization.....................................  $    9,848,250  $   10,048,250  $   18,450,153
                                                                   --------------  --------------  --------------
                                                                   --------------  --------------  --------------
</TABLE>
    
 
- ------------------------
(1) The Bridge Notes are  payable on the  closing of the  Offering. See "Use  of
    Proceeds."  The  Bridge  Notes  are  recorded  net  of  a  $66,750  discount
    attributable to the fair value of the Bridge Warrants.
 
(2) Authorized amounts  give effect  to  the filing  of the  Company's  Restated
    Certificate of Incorporation in December 1995.
 
   
(3) Includes  740,559  Escrow  Shares.  See  "Principal  Stockholders  -- Escrow
    Securities." Excludes (i)  1,840,200 shares  of Common  Stock issuable  upon
    exercise  of  the  Underwriter's  over-allotment  option  and  the  Warrants
    underlying such option; (ii) 1,226,800 shares of Common Stock issuable  upon
    exercise  of  the  Underwriter's  Option and  the  Warrants  underlying such
    option; (iii) 9,201,000 shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the
    Warrants offered hereby; (iv) 2,225,000 shares of Common Stock issuable upon
    exercise of the  Selling Securityholder  Warrants and the  Class B  Warrants
    underlying  such  warrants;  and  (v) outstanding  options  and  warrants to
    purchase 449,697  shares of  Common Stock  at exercise  prices ranging  from
    $4.40 to $5.28 per share. See "Management" and "Underwriting."
    
 
   
(4) As  adjusted gives  effect to the  recognition of  approximately $466,000 of
    expense upon the  repayment of the  Bridge Notes (includes  $66,750 of  debt
    discount).  This amount  excludes an  aggregate of  approximately $69,000 of
    interest expense related  to the  Bridge Notes,  which was  recorded in  the
    fiscal  quarters ended  December 31,  1995 and March  31, 1996.  See "Use of
    Proceeds" and "Management's Discussion  and Analysis of Financial  Condition
    and Results of Operations."
    
 
    See  Note 7 of Notes to  Consolidated Financial Statements for a description
of the Company's capital lease obligations as of June 30, 1995.
 
                                       20
<PAGE>
                                    DILUTION
 
   
    Dilution represents the difference between the initial public offering price
paid by the purchasers in the Offering and the net tangible book value per share
immediately after completion of the Offering. Net tangible book value per  share
represents the amount of the Company's total tangible assets minus the amount of
its  liabilities, divided by  the number of shares  of Common Stock outstanding,
including the 1,023,054 shares of Common  Stock issuable upon the conversion  of
the  Series A  Preferred Stock upon  the closing  of the Offering.  At March 31,
1996, the Company  had a  negative net tangible  book value  of $(6,071,444)  or
$(3.15)  per common share.  After giving retroactive  effect to the  sale of the
Shares and  the  Warrants  offered  hereby and  the  Company's  receipt  of  the
estimated net proceeds therefrom and the use of a portion of the net proceeds to
repay the Bridge Notes (including related interest) and approximately $1,236,500
of  other indebtedness, the net tangible book value of the Company, as adjusted,
at March 31, 1996  would have been  $6,060,783 or $1.21  per common share.  This
would result in an immediate dilution to the public investors of $3.29 per share
(or  73.1%) and the aggregate increase in the net tangible book value to present
stockholders would be $4.36 per share.
    
 
    The following table illustrates the information with respect to dilution  to
new investors on a per share basis:
 
   
<TABLE>
<S>                                                          <C>        <C>
Public offering price per Share, including Warrants........             $    4.50
  Negative net tangible book value per share before
   Offering................................................  $   (3.15)
  Increase per share attributable to new investors.........       4.36
                                                             ---------
Net tangible book value per share after Offering...........                  1.21
                                                                        ---------
Dilution to new investors (1)..............................             $    3.29
                                                                        ---------
                                                                        ---------
</TABLE>
    
 
- ------------------------
   
(1) If  the over-allotment  option is exercised  in full, the  net tangible book
    value after the Offering would  be approximately $1.45 per share,  resulting
    in dilution to new investors in the Offering of $3.05 per share (or 67.8%).
    
 
    The  following table summarizes, as of March  31, 1996, the number of shares
of Common Stock purchased from the Company, the total consideration paid to  the
Company and the average price per share paid by existing stockholders and by new
investors purchasing Shares and Warrants in the Offering:
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                         SHARES PURCHASED       TOTAL CONSIDERATION PAID     AVERAGE
                                                      -----------------------  --------------------------   PRICE PER
                                                        NUMBER      PERCENT     AMOUNT (1)      PERCENT       SHARE
                                                      ----------  -----------  -------------  -----------  -----------
<S>                                                   <C>         <C>          <C>            <C>          <C>
Existing Stockholders (2)...........................   1,925,150       38.6%   $  11,817,169       46.1%    $    6.14
New Investors.......................................   3,067,000       61.4       13,801,500       53.9     $    4.50
                                                      ----------      -----    -------------      -----
    Total...........................................   4,992,150      100.0%   $  25,618,669      100.0%
                                                      ----------      -----    -------------      -----
                                                      ----------      -----    -------------      -----
</TABLE>
    
 
- ------------------------
(1) Prior to deduction of costs of issuance.
 
   
(2) Includes  Common Stock issued upon conversion of Series A Preferred Stock at
    the closing  of  the Offering  and  740,559 Escrow  Shares.  See  "Principal
    Stockholders -- Escrow Securities."
    
 
   
    The  foregoing tables do not give effect  to the exercise of any outstanding
options or warrants. To the extent such options or warrants are exercised  there
will  be further dilution to  new investors. As of  the closing of the Offering,
excluding the Warrants offered hereby  and the Selling Securityholder  Warrants,
the  Company will have outstanding options and warrants to purchase an aggregate
of 449,697 shares of Common Stock at exercise prices ranging from $4.40 to $5.28
per  share.  See  "Capitalization,"  "Management,"  "Certain  Transactions"  and
"Description of Securities."
    
 
                                       21
<PAGE>
                UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA
 
    The  following unaudited pro forma consolidated statement of operations data
reflect the following transactions as if they  had occurred as of July 1,  1994:
(i)  the acquisition of Dunkirk  pursuant to the Merger,  (ii) the conversion of
$269,928 of indebtedness of  Dunkirk issued to certain  officers of Dunkirk  and
third  parties prior  to the Merger  into 13,281  shares of Common  Stock of the
Company and  (iii) the  conversion of  $600,000 principal  amount of  promissory
notes,  plus interest, of the Company issued in April 1994 into 45,304 shares of
Common Stock of the Company upon  consummation of the Merger. The unaudited  pro
forma  consolidated  financial  data  should be  read  in  conjunction  with the
Company's  consolidated  financial  statements  (including  the  notes  thereto)
appearing  elsewhere  in  this  Prospectus. The  pro  forma  information  is not
necessarily indicative of  the results that  would have been  reported had  such
events  actually occurred on  the dates specified,  nor is it  indicative of the
Company's  future  results.  In  the  opinion  of  management,  all  adjustments
necessary to present fairly this pro forma information have been made.
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                       YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 1995
                                                      -----------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                     UNAUDITED       UNAUDITED
                                                                                     PRO FORMA       PRO FORMA
                                                         COMPANY      DUNKIRK (1)   ADJUSTMENTS     AS ADJUSTED
                                                      --------------  -----------  --------------  --------------
<S>                                                   <C>             <C>          <C>             <C>
Revenue.............................................  $    1,173,264   $  62,452   $     --        $    1,235,716
Cost of goods sold..................................      (2,788,599)   (379,661)        --            (3,168,260)
                                                      --------------  -----------  --------------  --------------
Gross loss..........................................      (1,615,335)   (317,209)        --            (1,932,544)
Selling, general and administrative.................       2,529,263     297,792      (12,598)(2)       2,814,457
Process development costs (4).......................       1,531,955      82,427         --             1,614,382
Write-off of in-process technologies (5)............       6,232,459      --             --             6,232,459
                                                      --------------  -----------  --------------  --------------
Loss from operations................................     (11,909,012)   (697,428)     (12,598)        (12,593,842)
Interest expense, net...............................         345,690      40,999       (5,717)(3)         380,972
                                                      --------------  -----------  --------------  --------------
Net loss............................................  $  (12,254,702)  $(738,427)  $  (18,315)     $  (12,974,814)
                                                      --------------  -----------  --------------  --------------
                                                      --------------  -----------  --------------  --------------
Pro forma net loss per common share.................  $       (16.68)                              $       (17.24)
                                                      --------------                               --------------
                                                      --------------                               --------------
Pro forma weighted average number of common shares
 outstanding (6)....................................         734,754                                      752,762
                                                      --------------                               --------------
                                                      --------------                               --------------
</TABLE>
    
 
- ------------------------
(1) Includes the historical results of operations of Dunkirk for the period from
    July  1,  1994 to  August 31,  1994, the  effective date  of the  Merger for
    accounting  purposes.  The   Company's  historical  consolidated   financial
    information includes the results of operations of Dunkirk since September 1,
    1994.
 
(2) Represents  the July  and August 1994  amortization of  the deferred finance
    charges related to  the Company's  $600,000 principal  amount of  promissory
    notes issued in April 1994 which were converted into Common Stock as part of
    the Merger.
 
(3) Represents  the reduction  in interest  expense related  to the  debt of the
    Company and Dunkirk  which was converted  into Common Stock  as part of  the
    acquisition of Dunkirk.
 
(4) Represents  research and development costs associated with the Company's CRT
    glass processing and ALUMAGLASS  product line. See "Management's  Discussion
    and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations."
 
(5) Represents  a  one-time,  non-cash  charge  to  operations  relating  to the
    write-off of purchased research and development technologies in  conjunction
    with  the Merger that had not  reached technological feasibility and, in the
    opinion of management, had no alternative use. See "Management's  Discussion
    and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations."
 
   
(6) Excludes  740,559  Escrow  Shares.  See  "Principal  Stockholders  -- Escrow
    Securities." See Note 3  of Notes to  Consolidated Financial Statements  for
    the  explanation  of the  determination of  the  pro forma  weighted average
    number of common shares used in computing the pro forma net loss per  common
    share.
    
 
                                       22
<PAGE>
                            SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
 
    The  following selected  financial data  for the  period from  March 1, 1994
(date operations commenced) to June  30, 1994 and the  year ended June 30,  1995
are  derived from the  audited consolidated financial  statements of the Company
appearing elsewhere in this Prospectus. The selected financial data for the year
ended June 30, 1994 and  the two months ended August  31, 1994 are derived  from
the  audited financial  statements of Dunkirk  ("Predecessor Company") appearing
elsewhere in  this Prospectus.  The financial  data for  the nine-month  periods
ended  March  31,  1995  and  1996  are  derived  from  the  Company's unaudited
consolidated  financial   statements.  The   unaudited  consolidated   financial
statements  include all  adjustments, consisting  of normal  recurring accruals,
which the Company considers necessary for  a fair presentation of its  financial
position  and the results of operations for these periods. Operating results for
the nine  months ended  March 31,  1996 are  not necessarily  indicative of  the
results  that may be expected  for the entire fiscal  year ending June 30, 1996.
The selected financial  data should be  read in conjunction  with the  financial
statements  of the Company and Dunkirk (including the related notes thereto) and
the other financial information appearing elsewhere in this Prospectus and  with
"Management's  Discussion  and Analysis  of Financial  Condition and  Results of
Operations."
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                              COMPANY
                                                                  ----------------------------------------------------------------
                                      PREDECESSOR COMPANY           PERIOD FROM
                                -------------------------------    MARCH 1, 1994                          NINE MONTHS ENDED MARCH
                                                  TWO MONTHS      (DATE OPERATIONS                                  31,
                                 YEAR ENDED      ENDED AUGUST      COMMENCED) TO      YEAR ENDED JUNE    -------------------------
                                JUNE 30, 1994      31, 1994        JUNE 30, 1994       30, 1995 (1)          1995         1996
                                -------------   ---------------   ----------------   -----------------   ------------  -----------
<S>                             <C>             <C>               <C>                <C>                 <C>           <C>
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS DATA:
Revenue.......................   $   --            $  62,452         $ --              $  1,173,264      $    724,536  $ 2,076,894
Cost of goods sold............       --             (379,661)          --                (2,788,599)       (2,397,917)  (2,025,851)
                                -------------   ---------------   ----------------   -----------------   ------------  -----------
Gross profit (loss)...........       --             (317,209)          --                (1,615,335)       (1,673,381)      51,043
Selling, general and
 administrative...............       721,441         297,792           358,336            2,529,263         1,822,913    1,213,315
Process development costs
 (2)..........................       765,981          82,427           --                 1,531,955           899,670      776,113
Write-off of in-process
 technologies (3).............       --              --                --                 6,232,459         6,232,459      --
                                -------------   ---------------   ----------------   -----------------   ------------  -----------
Loss from operations..........    (1,487,422)       (697,428)         (358,336)         (11,909,012)      (10,628,423)  (1,938,385)
Interest expense, net.........       (26,084)        (40,999)          (13,079)            (345,690)         (182,589)    (681,123)
Other income                         --              --                --                  --                 --            81,811
                                -------------   ---------------   ----------------   -----------------   ------------  -----------
Net loss......................   $(1,513,506)      $(738,427)        $(371,415)        $(12,254,702)     $(10,811,012) $(2,537,697)
                                -------------   ---------------   ----------------   -----------------   ------------  -----------
                                -------------   ---------------   ----------------   -----------------   ------------  -----------
Pro forma net loss per common
 share (4)....................                                       $  (19.88)        $     (16.68)                   $     (2.14)
Pro forma weighted average
 number of common shares
 outstanding (4)..............                                          18,679              734,754                      1,185,387
</TABLE>
    
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                     AT MARCH 31,
                                                         1996
                                                    ---------------
<S>                                                 <C>
BALANCE SHEET DATA:
Working capital deficit...........................   $ (7,366,111)
Total assets......................................     15,321,099
Total liabilities.................................     20,091,997
Accumulated deficit...............................    (15,163,814)
Stockholders' deficiency..........................     (4,770,898)
</TABLE>
 
- ------------------------------
   
(1)  Includes the historical results  of operations of  Dunkirk from August  31,
     1994 (the effective date of the Merger for accounting purposes). If Dunkirk
     had  been acquired  July 1, 1994,  the Company's  consolidated revenue, net
     loss and pro forma  net loss per common  share would have been  $1,235,716,
     $(12,974,814) and $(17.24), respectively.
    
 
(2)  Represents research and development costs associated with the Company's CRT
     glass  processing and ALUMAGLASS product line. See "Management's Discussion
     and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations."
 
(3)  Represents a  charge  to  operations relating  to  the  one-time,  non-cash
     write-off  in  conjunction  with  the  Merger  of  purchased  research  and
     development technologies  that had  not reached  technological  feasibility
     and,   in  the  opinion   of  management,  had   no  alternative  use.  See
     "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
     Operations."
 
   
(4)  Excludes 740,559  Escrow  Shares.  See "Principal  Stockholders  --  Escrow
     Securities."  See Note 3 of Notes  to Consolidated Financial Statements for
     an explanation  of the  determination  of the  pro forma  weighted  average
     number of common shares used in computing the pro forma net loss per common
     share.
    
 
                                       23
<PAGE>
               MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL
                      CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
 
OVERVIEW
 
    The  Company is an early-stage specialty materials company currently engaged
in developing, manufacturing  and marketing industrial  abrasives and  recycling
CRT  glass. The Company's initial efforts included developing and seeking patent
protection for its ALUMAGLASS abrasives and establishing its CRT glass recycling
operations. The CRT glass recycling operations commenced prior to the  Company's
abrasives  operations in order  to provide an  initial source of  revenue and to
provide the Company with materials, such as panel glass and sludges, which could
be used as raw materials in the manufacture of the Company's abrasives products.
Dunkirk began receiving CRT glass for recycling in March 1994 and began shipping
recycled CRT glass  to customers  in August 1994  and substantially  all of  the
Company's  revenues  to date  have been  derived from  CRT glass  recycling. The
Company has also derived  minimal revenues to date  from fees charged to  accept
waste  materials and  from the sale  of ALUMAGLASS. Revenue  recognition of fees
charged to accept waste materials is deferred until the materials are resold  or
used by the Company as a raw material.
 
    Although the Company intends to continue its CRT glass recycling operations,
the Company's primary focus has been and will continue to be on the development,
manufacture  and  marketing of  its abrasives.  The  Company's melter  went into
service in February 1995 and went through a shake-down, stress-test and a  final
modification  program. Limited  production of ALUMAGLASS  abrasives commenced in
the spring  of 1995.  Since March  1995  through the  present, the  Company  has
conducted  extensive applications testing for ALUMAGLASS, initiated arrangements
with distributors  for product  marketing, initiated  direct sales  efforts  for
potential  large  volume  customers  and  developed  marketing  and  promotional
strategies for the ALUMAGLASS product  line. Based on its applications  testing,
the  Company believes  that ALUMAGLASS  will provide  performance advantages and
cost savings in comparison to aluminum  oxide, steel grit, glass beads,  plastic
media  and other abrasives. Sales  of ALUMAGLASS to date  have been limited. The
Company has allocated a substantial portion  of the proceeds of the Offering  to
expand its abrasives business.
 
    Since inception through March 31, 1996, the Company has sustained cumulative
losses  of  approximately  $15,164,000.  Such amount  includes  (i)  a one-time,
non-cash charge to operations relating to the write-off in conjunction with  the
Merger  of approximately $6,232,000 for  purchased research and development (in-
process) technologies that had not reached technological feasibility and, in the
opinion of management,  had no  alternative use,  (ii) approximately  $2,308,000
expensed as process development costs related to research and development of the
Company's  CRT glass processing and ALUMAGLASS  abrasives product line and (iii)
other expenses, net of revenue, of approximately $6,624,000. The Company expects
that it will continue to incur losses until such time, if ever, as revenues  are
sufficient to fund its continuing operations. See
"-- Results of Operations."
 
    The  Company has a limited operating history. There can be no assurance that
the Company will ever  achieve or maintain  profitability. The Company  believes
that  the  key variables  and  other factors  which  could affect  the Company's
financial condition  and results  of  operations are  market acceptance  of  its
abrasives  and its ability to continue to  obtain CRT glass and waste streams as
raw materials for the manufacture of its abrasives on cost-effective terms.  The
development  of new technologies to  limit, recycle or dispose  of CRT glass and
waste materials could adversely affect the Company's ability to obtain CRT glass
and other wastes on  cost-effective terms or at  all. The Company only  recently
commenced  sales of ALUMAGLASS and  there can be no  assurance that broad market
acceptance will be achieved. The  Company believes, however, that recent  trends
toward  reusable products  and non-hazardous  products will  increase demand for
ALUMAGLASS because it  is reusable  and, depending  on the  application, can  be
returned  to  the  Company's  melter  for use  in  new  abrasives.  In addition,
ALUMAGLASS has been  formulated to be  safe in use  and handling. Other  factors
important to the success of the Company will be the Company's ability to operate
its   melter  and  other  equipment  with   minimum  downtime  for  repairs  and
maintenance. See "Risk Factors."
 
    Following the Offering, the Company estimates that it will need to  generate
monthly  revenue of approximately $550,000 to  achieve break even cash flow from
operations, based on an estimated cash outlay
 
                                       24
<PAGE>
   
of approximately $273,000 for cost of goods, approximately $140,000 for selling,
general and administrative expenses and approximately $137,000 for debt  service
at that level of revenue. The Company will attempt to achieve this revenue level
principally  by increasing  sales of  ALUMAGLASS both as  an abrasive  and as an
aggregate and  additive  for  direct incorporation  into  other  materials.  The
Company believes that it can achieve $550,000 of monthly revenue at a production
level  of approximately  16 tons  of ALUMAGLASS per  day assuming  only a modest
increase in  CRT  glass recycling  revenue  from historical  levels  and  modest
revenue  from mechanical conversion. The  Company has recently commenced limited
sales to distributors of ALUMAGLASS and is in discussions with several potential
large volume customers for ALUMAGLASS. Based on the foregoing, the Company hopes
to achieve positive cash flow within six to nine months following the closing of
the Offering, although there can be  no assurance that sales of ALUMAGLASS  will
increase,  that any large volume customers  will purchase ALUMAGLASS or that the
Company will ever generate sufficient revenues to achieve break even cash  flow.
In  addition, the  Company has recently  entered into an  agreement with VANGKOE
which includes a  guaranteed minimum  purchase provision  commencing in  October
1996  (see "Business --  Marketing and Sales").  There can be  no assurance that
VANGKOE will meet  its minimum  purchase obligation  or that  the Company  could
enforce  its rights against VANGKOE, a  newly-formed entity with nominal assets,
in the event of a breach of  such obligation. The Company also believes that  it
can  realize economies of scale that will  reduce costs as a percentage of sales
as its melter is run at consistently  higher output levels and as its  abrasives
finishing area becomes fully operational. These economies are expected to relate
to energy costs, the elimination of duplicative processes and continued focus on
the  Company's batch formulas to  produce the lowest possible  cost of goods. To
the extent that  the Company  experiences economies  of scale  from running  its
facilities at or near full capacity and/or to the extent it can reduce operating
costs, required revenue levels may be reduced.
    
 
    Until  such time, if ever,  as the Company achieves  positive cash flow from
operations, it will utilize the proceeds of the Offering to fund working capital
needs, including its debt service requirements. The Company anticipates that its
negative cash flow from  operations will be  approximately $150,000 to  $250,000
during  each of the first  two months following the  closing of the Offering and
may decrease over the succeeding months as revenues grow and economies of  scale
are  realized. However,  there can be  no assurance that  the Company's revenues
will ever increase, that economies of scale  will ever be realized, or that  the
Company will ever achieve break even status. However, in the event that revenues
fail  to meet the expected levels required  to achieve break even cash flow, the
Company may  refrain  from  constructing  a second  melter,  and  an  additional
$2,200,000  of  the proceeds  of  this Offering  will  be available  for working
capital. The Company  has not  identified additional  sources of  funds at  this
time,  but  it may  seek a  new  working capital  credit facility  following the
Offering, although it has no commitments to do so at this time. The Company  may
also consider other equity or debt financing strategies in the future to satisfy
its  working  capital  requirements,  although  the  Company  has  no  plans  or
commitments with respect to such strategies at this time.
 
   
    The foregoing discussion contains  certain forward-looking statements  which
involve  risks  and uncertainties.  The  Company's actual  results  could differ
materially from the results anticipated in such forward-looking statements as  a
result  of the  factors described  herein under  the caption  "Risk Factors" and
elsewhere in this Prospectus.
    
 
    The Company's workforce recently elected the United Steelworkers of  America
to  act  as  its  bargaining  representative  with  respect  to  their  terms of
employment with  the Company.  The  Company believes  that it  currently  offers
competitive  wages and benefits  and does not  anticipate that negotiations will
have a  material  adverse  effect on  the  Company.  However, there  can  be  no
assurance  that the election of the Union will not result in higher labor costs,
work stoppages or strikes.
 
   
    The Company has outstanding 740,559 Escrow Shares and 71,923 Escrow  Options
which  will  be released  from escrow  if the  Company attains  certain earnings
levels over the next two to four years or if the Common Stock trades at  certain
levels  over the next three years. The Company will, in the event of the release
of any  Escrow Securities  to the  Company's officers,  directors, employees  or
consultants,  recognize during the  period in which  the earnings thresholds are
met or such stock  levels achieved, a  noncash charge to  earnings equal to  the
fair  value of such  shares on the date  of their release,  which would have the
effect of increasing the Company's loss or reducing or eliminating earnings,  if
any, at such time. The recognition of
    
 
                                       25
<PAGE>
   
such  compensation expense may have  a depressive effect on  the market price of
the Company's  securities. See  "Principal Stockholders  -- Escrow  Securities."
Notwithstanding  the foregoing  discussion, there can  be no  assurance that the
Escrow Securities will be released from escrow.
    
 
    The Company acquired Dunkirk in August 1994 pursuant to the Merger in  which
holders  of Dunkirk common stock received 257,808 shares of the Company's Common
Stock in complete exchange  for their shares of  Dunkirk common stock. Also,  an
aggregate of $269,928 of indebtedness of Dunkirk was exchanged for 13,281 shares
of  the Company's Common Stock in the Merger.  The Merger was accounted for as a
purchase. Prior  to  the  Merger,  Dunkirk  was  a  development  stage  company,
principally  engaged in developing its technologies and building its facility in
Dunkirk, New  York. The  Company was  formed in  June 1993  for the  purpose  of
acquiring  Dunkirk and  conducted no  business prior  to the  Merger, other than
activities  related  to  its  formation  and  initial  capitalization  and   the
consummation of the Merger.
 
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
 
   NINE-MONTH PERIOD ENDED MARCH 31, 1996 COMPARED TO NINE-MONTH PERIOD ENDED
   MARCH 31, 1995
 
    The  Company's consolidated results of  operations for the nine-month period
ended March 31,  1995 include  only seven months  of the  operations of  Dunkirk
since  the Merger occurred  effective August 31, 1994.  However, for purposes of
the following presentation, the  Company's results of  operations for the  nine-
month period ended March 31, 1995 include the operations of Dunkirk for both the
seven-month  period following the effective date of the Merger and the two-month
period preceding the effective date of the Merger.
 
   
    The Company had  consolidated revenue  of approximately  $2,077,000 for  the
nine-month  period  ended  March 31,  1996,  consisting primarily  of  CRT glass
recycling  fees  and  approximately  $134,000  of  ALUMAGLASS  sales.  For   the
nine-month  period ended March 31, 1995, the Company had consolidated revenue of
approximately $787,000,  of  which  approximately  $32,000  was  from  sales  of
ALUMAGLASS  and the  remainder was  CRT glass  recycling fees.  This increase in
revenue during the  nine-month period  ended March 31,  1996 primarily  reflects
completion  of the Company's CRT glass recycling operation and the corresponding
increase in the Company's CRT glass  recycling capacity and the commencement  of
the  Company's sales  of ALUMAGLASS. The  Company's revenues from  its CRT glass
recycling operations for the three-month period ended March 31, 1996 were  lower
than  for the prior quarter, primarily  due to adverse weather conditions, which
affected  both  incoming  and  outgoing  shipments,  and  the  effects  of   the
curtailment of certain capital expenditures and wage expenses by the Company. In
order  to conserve cash until  the closing of the  Offering, the Company delayed
replacing certain worn equipment and laid off approximately 10 employees.
    
 
    Cost of goods sold decreased  to approximately $2,026,000 in the  nine-month
period  ended  March  31,  1996  from  approximately  $2,778,000  for  the  same
nine-month period of the prior year. This decrease reflects a $539,000 reduction
in the Company's  reserve for  potential disposal costs  of raw  materials as  a
result of a decrease in the Company's raw materials inventory as compared with a
$985,000  increase in the  reserve for the  same prior year  period during which
inventories were being built up  in anticipation of production needs.  Excluding
the  effect  of the  change in  the  Company's reserve  for disposal  during the
nine-month periods ended March 31, 1995  and 1996, cost of goods sold  increased
approximately  $722,00 in  the nine-month period  ended March 31,  1996 over the
same prior year period. This  adjusted cost increase reflects higher  personnel,
energy,  freight and other  manufacturing costs associated  with the increase in
revenue for the nine-month period ended March 31, 1996.
 
    Selling, general and administrative expenses for the nine-month period ended
March  31,  1996  decreased  to  approximately  $1,213,000  from   approximately
$2,121,000   in  the  same  prior  year  period.  This  decrease  resulted  from
substantially lower  legal, travel,  consulting and  other costs  and a  $99,000
settlement  received from a former officer of Dunkirk during the 1996 nine-month
period.
 
    The Company incurred process development costs of approximately $776,000 for
the nine-month period ended March 31, 1996 as compared with process  development
costs of approximately $982,000 for the
 
                                       26
<PAGE>
same  prior year  period. A decrease  in developmental activity  directed at the
Company's ALUMAGLASS abrasives product during the three-month period ended March
31, 1996  and the  completion of  the Company's  CRT glass  recycling  operation
accounted for this entire cost reduction.
 
    During  the nine-month period  ended March 31, 1995,  the Company incurred a
one-time, non-cash charge to operations relating to a write-off of approximately
$6,232,000, which represented purchased research and development technologies in
conjunction with the Merger that had not reached technological feasibility  and,
in the opinion of management, had no alternative use.
 
    Net  interest expense increased to  approximately $681,000 in the nine-month
period ended March 31, 1996 from approximately $224,000 for the same prior  year
period, reflecting increased indebtedness of the Company.
 
    FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 1995 COMPARED TO FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 1994
 
    For  the fiscal year  ended June 30,  1994 ("fiscal 1994"),  the Company and
Dunkirk were separate (unconsolidated) companies. Dunkirk was in the development
stage and the Company was a holding company, with no investments in  operational
entities.  Neither the  Company nor Dunkirk  realized any  revenue during fiscal
1994. During the fiscal  year ended June 30,  1995 ("fiscal 1995"), the  Company
began  generating revenue and, accordingly, a comparison of operating results of
fiscal 1995 to fiscal 1994 is not meaningful. Fiscal 1995 includes 10 months  of
operations of Dunkirk since the merger transaction occurred effective August 31,
1994.
 
    In  fiscal 1994, the principal expenses  incurred by the Company and Dunkirk
were selling,  general  and  administrative  ("SG&A") costs  in  the  amount  of
approximately $358,000 and $721,000, respectively, and approximately $766,000 of
process  development costs  incurred by  Dunkirk which  represented research and
development costs associated  with the  CRT glass recycling  operations and  the
development  of  ALUMAGLASS  abrasives. The  Company's  SG&A  expenses primarily
consisted of  financing costs  and administrative  compensation. Dunkirk's  SG&A
expenses  primarily consisted of  personnel, consulting, audit  and legal costs.
The Company and  Dunkirk also  incurred net interest  expense on  their debt  of
approximately $13,000 and $26,000, respectively, for fiscal 1994.
 
    The  Company's  consolidated  revenue  for  fiscal  1995  was  approximately
$1,173,000, which  consisted  primarily  of revenue  generated  from  CRT  glass
recycling,  with ALUMAGLASS  sales totaling only  approximately $78,000. Limited
production of ALUMAGLASS did not commence until the spring of 1995.
 
   
    Consolidated cost of goods  sold for fiscal  1995 amounted to  approximately
$2,789,000,   the  major  components  of   which  were  plant  personnel  costs,
approximately $935,000 in additions to a reserve for potential disposal costs of
raw materials, plus  energy costs  and depreciation  expense. Consolidated  SG&A
costs   for  fiscal  1995  totaled   approximately  $2,529,000,  which  included
consulting, legal  and audit  services,  administrative personnel  costs,  costs
associated  with  initial  abrasives  testing and  marketing  efforts  and other
general  administrative  expenses.  The  Company  also  incurred   approximately
$1,532,000 of process development costs in fiscal 1995, which included costs for
energy  and  utilities,  personnel  and  depreciation  as  they  related  to the
development of the Company's CRT glass recycling services and ALUMAGLASS product
line. The  Company  also incurred  a  one-time, non-cash  charge  to  operations
relating  to  the write-off  of approximately  $6,232,000 relating  to purchased
research and development technologies in  conjunction with the Merger.  Finally,
the Company incurred net interest expense of approximately $346,000 on its debt.
If  Dunkirk had been acquired July  1, 1994, the Company's consolidated revenue,
net loss and pro  forma net loss  per common share  would have been  $1,235,716,
$(12,974,814) and $(17.24), respectively.
    
 
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
 
   
    The  Company's business  is capital  intensive. The  Company has  funded its
operations principally  from  debt  financing  and the  sale  of  its  Series  A
Preferred Stock. At March 31, 1996, the Company had approximately $11,900,000 in
principal amount of long-term indebtedness (excluding capital lease obligations)
and  a working  capital deficit of  approximately $(7,366,000).  The Company had
approximately $2,600,000 of accounts  payable as of March  31, 1996. As of  such
date, approximately $420,000 were past due more than 30
but  less than 60  days, approximately $190,000  were past due  more than 60 but
less than 90 days and
    
 
                                       27
<PAGE>
   
approximately $1,040,000 were past due more than 90 days. The Company  currently
has  negative  cash flow  from operations  averaging approximately  $250,000 per
month and has been dependent on equity financings and stockholder loans to  fund
its   operations.  The   Company's  debt  service   requirements  are  currently
approximately $412,000  per quarter  (excluding  capital lease  obligations  and
indebtedness  to be repaid from the net proceeds of the Offering). The Company's
long-term indebtedness is  secured by liens  on substantially all  of its  fixed
assets.
    
 
    Dunkirk was initially capitalized by the issuance to its CRT glass recycling
customers  of  $535,000 principal  amount  of subordinated  unsecured promissory
notes during  the  period from  January  1994 to  March  1994. An  aggregate  of
$535,000 principal amount of such notes, bearing interest at the prime rate plus
2%,  were  outstanding as  of March  31,  1996. In  addition, another  CRT glass
recycling customer  has  committed  to purchase  subordinated  debt  based  upon
shipments  to  Dunkirk and,  at  March 31,  1996,  has an  outstanding principal
balance of $104,543. Principal on the  subordinated notes is payable in  varying
quarterly installments beginning in April 1998 through January 2004.
 
    During  the  period  from  June  1994 to  October  1994,  Dunkirk  issued an
additional $636,000 principal amount  of promissory notes to  quasi-governmental
agencies,  of which $535,754 principal amount was outstanding at March 31, 1996.
Of this amount, $344,258 is a  mortgage note secured by Dunkirk's real  property
and  the balance are subordinated promissory notes secured by liens on equipment
of Dunkirk. Such  notes bear interest  at rates ranging  from 5% to  8% and  are
payable in monthly installments through October 2004.
 
   
    In  December  1994  and  January  1995,  Dunkirk  borrowed  an  aggregate of
$2,585,400 from Key Bank, of  which $2,334,313 principal amount was  outstanding
at March 31, 1996, bearing interest at the prime rate. Approximately $398,000 of
the  proceeds of the loan  were placed in a segregated  reserve fund to secure a
portion of the Company's obligations under the loan. The collateral for the loan
is a first purchase money lien on certain machinery and equipment and  repayment
is guaranteed by the New York State Job Development Authority. This debt is also
guaranteed  by the Company and Gerald Balcar,  a founder of Dunkirk and a former
officer and director of Dunkirk and the Company. The debt is payable in  monthly
installments  through January 2002. Key Bank has waived principal payments in an
aggregate amount of approximately $97,000 due under the loans for the months  of
January,  February,  March and  April, however,  such amount  is required  to be
repaid together with the regularly scheduled principal payments for May, out  of
the proceeds of the Offering.
    
 
    The  proceeds  of such  financings  were used  for  working capital  and the
purchase of fixed assets.  The promissory notes  and agreements related  thereto
contain a limited number of customary covenants and default provisions.
 
    Dunkirk  borrowed $386,500 in short-term borrowings from Key Bank during the
period from April 1994 to April 1995,  which has been used for working  capital,
including  $252,500 principal amount outstanding at  March 31, 1996 at the prime
rate plus 2.5% under a $300,000 line  of credit arrangement. The line of  credit
is  collateralized by accounts receivable and inventory and is guaranteed by Mr.
Balcar. The borrowings  also include a  $124,000 demand note  at the prime  rate
plus  1% secured by  a certificate of deposit  owned by Mr.  Balcar. The line of
credit is repayable over a 12-month period commencing March 15, 1996, or in full
upon the closing of the Offering. The agreements with Key Bank contain a limited
number of  covenants  and  default  provisions. The  Company  intends  to  repay
borrowings  under the line  of credit and  the demand note  with proceeds of the
Offering. See "Use of Proceeds."
 
   
    In  addition  to  the  foregoing  indebtedness,  in  January  1994,  Dunkirk
purchased  its facility from  Sullivan Graphics, Inc.  for $750,000, $475,000 of
which was paid in subordinated mortgage  notes issued by Dunkirk. The  principal
balance  of  the  notes  at  March 31,  1996  is  $330,998,  payable  in monthly
installments  through  February  2004  with  interest  at  10%.  The  notes  are
collateralized  by  Dunkirk's  real  property and  contain  normal  covenant and
default provisions of a mortgage  agreement. Sullivan Graphics, Inc. has  waived
approximately  $15,000 of  interest and principal  payments due  under the notes
which must be repaid on the closing of the Offering.
    
 
                                       28
<PAGE>
    In March and July 1995, Dunkirk issued an aggregate of $8,000,000  principal
amount  of IDA Bonds.  Approximately $800,000 of  the proceeds of  the IDA Bonds
were placed in a segregated  reserve fund to secure  a portion of the  Company's
obligations  under the IDA Bonds.  The balance of the  proceeds of the IDA Bonds
have been used for  capital expenditures including  components of the  Company's
current  abrasives finishing area capital expenditure program. The IDA Bonds are
secured by the fixed assets purchased  with the proceeds thereof. The IDA  Bonds
have  an interest rate of 11.5%, subject  to downward adjustment if certain debt
service coverage ratios are achieved. The current quarterly interest payment due
under the IDA  Bonds is $230,000.  The holder of  the IDA Bonds  has waived  the
interest  payments due December  1995 and March  1996 (and any  event of default
which  would  otherwise  have  occurred  under  the  applicable  indenture)  and
permitted  those payments  to be  made from  the Company's  debt service reserve
funds. Such amounts must be replenished within 10 days following the closing  of
the  Offering.  Principal  repayments commence  in  1998 and  continue  over the
following 12-year period. The terms of the IDA Bonds restrict Dunkirk's ability,
under certain  circumstances, to  pay dividends  to the  Company. See  "Dividend
Policy."
 
    In  April 1994,  the Company  sold $600,000  of convertible  bridge notes to
certain stockholders of the Company (the "1994 Financing"). The proceeds of such
notes were used primarily  for working capital. All  of such bridge notes  (with
interest)  were converted into 45,304  shares of Common Stock  at the closing of
the Merger.
 
    During the period commencing  August 1994 and ending  May 1995, the  Company
sold  an aggregate  of 2,958,000  shares of  its Series  A Preferred  Stock at a
purchase price of  $2.50 per share,  all of  which shares will  convert into  an
aggregate  of 1,023,054 shares of  Common Stock at the  closing of the Offering.
The Company received approximately $6,000,000  in net proceeds from the  private
placement,  which was used principally for working capital and general corporate
purposes.
 
    In September, October and November 1995, the Company issued an aggregate  of
$650,000 principal amount of bridge notes to certain of its stockholders to fund
working  capital  requirements.  Pursuant  to  the  terms  of  those  notes, the
principal amount  of  such notes  was  exchanged  for Bridge  Notes  and  Bridge
Warrants  in  December 1995.  Accrued interest  on  the notes  was paid  in cash
following the exchange. See "Certain Transactions."
 
   
    In December 1995, the Company consummated the Bridge Financing, pursuant  to
which it issued $2,225,000 aggregate principal amount of Bridge Notes (including
the  $650,000 referred  to in  the preceding  paragraph) and  Bridge Warrants to
purchase  an  aggregate   1,112,500  shares  of   Common  Stock.  See   "Certain
Transactions."  The proceeds of  the Bridge Financing,  which were approximately
$1,849,750, have  been  and are  being  used for  certain  capital  expenditures
related  to  the Company's  abrasives finishing  area  and working  capital. The
principal of  and accrued  interest on  the Bridge  Notes will  be paid  with  a
portion of the proceeds of the Offering. A charge in the amount of approximately
$466,000  will occur in  the quarter in which  the Bridge Notes  are repaid as a
result of  the  unamortized debt  discount,  debt issuance  costs  and  interest
incurred in connection with the Bridge Financing.
    
 
   
    In  March 1996, the  Company borrowed an aggregate  of $200,000 from certain
directors, officers  and securityholders  pursuant to  promissory notes  bearing
interest  at the rate of 10% per annum, payable on the earlier of the closing of
the Offering and September 27, 1996. The  proceeds of such notes are being  used
primarily  for working capital. In May  1996, the Company borrowed an additional
$200,000 from one of such  securityholders pursuant to promissory notes  bearing
interest  at the rate of 10% per annum and payable on the earlier of the closing
of the Offering and November 1996. See "Certain Transactions."
    
 
    The Company's capital lease payments were approximately $82,000 for the year
ended June 30, 1995 and are estimated to be approximately $115,000, $84,000  and
$40,000  for the fiscal years ending June 30, 1996, 1997 and 1998, respectively,
under current commitments. The Company's utility expenses average  approximately
$65,000  per month. Such amount is expected to increase as the Company's current
capital expansion program is completed.
 
                                       29
<PAGE>
    From January 1994 through March 31,  1996, the Company made an aggregate  of
approximately $12,866,000 in capital expenditures. Of such amount, approximately
$1,870,000  was  used in  the  construction of  its  CRT glass  recycling lines,
approximately  $9,200,000  was  used  in  the  construction  of  its   abrasives
manufacturing  operations, including  the pre-melting,  preparation and batching
area, the  Company's  melter  and  the  post-melting  abrasives  finishing  area
(crushing,  sorting and packaging) and approximately $1,796,000 was used for the
Company's laboratory and other miscellaneous capital expenditures.
 
    The Company  intends  to  complete  a  capital  expansion  program  to  make
improvements  and additions  to its  post-melting abrasives  finishing area. The
Company expects to use approximately $350,000  of the proceeds of this  Offering
for  completion of  such program. These  improvements and  additions, which will
become operational in phases in 1996,  are anticipated to result in an  increase
in  the Company's abrasives finishing capacity and will provide further capacity
for its manufacturing and  waste conversion operations. At  March 31, 1996,  the
Company had capital commitments of approximately $46,000.
 
    Subject   to  achieving  sufficient  demand  for  the  Company's  ALUMAGLASS
abrasives,  the  Company  anticipates  using  approximately  $2,200,000  of  the
proceeds  of the Offering for  the construction of a  second melter, which would
bring abrasives production capacity at the Dunkirk facility to approximately 100
tons per day. The Company anticipates that construction of such melter could  be
completed  approximately six months following the  date of order. If the Company
does not build  such melter,  an additional $2,200,000  of the  proceeds of  the
Offering will be available for working capital and general corporate purposes.
 
    The  Company may also seek opportunities within the United States and abroad
to construct and  operate additional abrasives  manufacturing facilities,  which
may  include  CRT glass  recycling operations,  either independently  or through
joint ventures or other collaborative arrangements with strategic partners.  The
Company  expects that future abrasives manufacturing facilities, if any, will be
financed through debt issuances  such as the  capital equipment loans  described
above  and,  in the  case of  on-site  facilities, capital  provided in  part by
strategic partners. There can be no assurance that such debt financing or  other
collaborative  arrangements will be available on  terms favorable to the Company
or at all.
 
    Certain of the Company's  contracts with its  CRT customers contain  minimum
Company  purchase requirements and, in  certain cases, minimum customer purchase
obligations. See "Business."
 
    The Company  anticipates  that  the  net  proceeds  from  the  Offering  and
anticipated   revenues  from  CRT  glass  recycling,  sales  of  ALUMAGLASS  and
mechanical conversion  services  should be  sufficient  to bring  the  Company's
payables current, to construct a second melter at the Company's Dunkirk facility
and  to  fund the  Company's operations  for  at least  12 months  following the
closing of the Offering.  The Company's fixed expenses  for such period  include
approximately  $484,000 in  aggregate annual  base compensation  for the current
executive officers of the Company and  debt service obligations relating to  the
Company's   outstanding   indebtedness,   which  are   estimated   to  aggregate
approximately $1,647,000 (excluding capital  lease obligations and  indebtedness
to  be repaid  from the net  proceeds of  the Offering) for  the 12-month period
following the  closing  of the  Offering.  In  the event  that  in  management's
estimation there are not adequate revenues to justify construction of the second
melter  at the Dunkirk facility, the proceeds of the Offering will be sufficient
for the  Company to  remain  in operation,  with  certain modifications  to  its
business  plan, for at least 12 months following completion of the Offering. See
"Risk Factors -- Capital Intensive Business; Need for Additional Financing"  and
"Use of Proceeds."
 
    The  Company has federal  net operating loss  carryforwards that amounted to
approximately $5.8  million  at  June 30,  1995,  including  approximately  $1.5
million of net operating loss carryforwards generated by Dunkirk prior to August
31,  1994. Pursuant  to Section  382 of  the Internal  Revenue Code  of 1986, as
amended (the "Code"), utilization of net operating loss carryforwards is limited
if there has  been a  change in  control (ownership)  of the  Company. Upon  the
merger  transaction with  Dunkirk, effective August  31, 1994, such  a change in
control (ownership) occurred. As a result  of the change, the Company's  ability
to  utilize its net  operating loss carryforwards generated  by Dunkirk prior to
August 31, 1994  (approximately $1.5  million) will be  limited. See  Note 9  of
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
 
    The  Report  of  Independent  Auditors  includes  an  explanatory  paragraph
indicating that  there is  substantial  doubt as  to  the Company's  ability  to
continue as a going concern. See Report of Independent Auditors.
 
                                       30
<PAGE>
                                    BUSINESS
 
OVERVIEW
 
    The  Company is an early-stage specialty materials company currently engaged
in (i) developing, manufacturing and marketing industrial abrasives produced  in
a  patented process utilizing industrial wastes  as raw materials, together with
certain virgin materials, and (ii) recycling  CRT glass used in televisions  for
sale  to the original manufacturers of  such glass and others. Substantially all
of the Company's revenues to date have been derived from its CRT glass recycling
operations and, although the Company plans  to continue its CRT glass  recycling
operations,  the Company's primary focus is  on the development, manufacture and
marketing  of  its  abrasives.  The  Company  also  utilizes  its  manufacturing
equipment  to convert certain types of CRT glass and certain other manufacturing
by-products and industrial wastes  into manufacturing raw  materials for use  by
the Company in its production of abrasives and for sale to other manufacturers.
 
    The   Company's  initial  abrasives  product  is  its  ALUMAGLASS  brand  of
manufactured abrasives. ALUMAGLASS can be used as a loose grain abrasive applied
with blasting equipment or as an ingredient in products such as polishing agents
and non-skid flooring.  Blasting of loose  grain abrasives is  used in  numerous
industries  throughout  the  world  for various  cleaning,  stripping  and other
surface treatment or surface preparations applications such as industrial  metal
finishing, coating removal, structural steel and commercial vehicle cleaning and
preparations   of  surface  substrates.  The  Company  believes,  based  on  its
applications testing,  that ALUMAGLASS  may provide  performance advantages  and
cost savings in comparison to competitive products such as aluminum oxide, steel
grit,  glass  beads, plastic  media and  other  abrasives in  many applications.
Potential purchasers  of  ALUMAGLASS  include  military  and  defense  agencies,
entities  engaged in the electronics,  aerospace, automotive, glass products and
construction industries  and  entities  engaged in  surface  finishing,  coating
removal  and maintenance  of manufacturing and  processing equipment, buildings,
highways, bridges  and  commercial  vehicles and  vessels.  ALUMAGLASS  is  also
marketed as an aggregate for direct incorporation into products such as non-skid
flooring  and  as an  additive for  direct incorporation  into products  such as
plasters, tiles and other construction materials.
 
    ALUMAGLASS is manufactured from an alumino-silicate glass which the  Company
produces  in  a  glass melting  furnace  customized for  the  Company's patented
process. The Company's technology enables it to produce such glass utilizing  as
raw  materials primarily waste products from  the aluminum and other industries,
including the  electronics industry  with which  the Company  has established  a
relationship  through its  CRT glass  recycling. In  many cases,  the Company is
either paid to take these waste materials or receives them at little or no cost.
The Company  believes  that  its  ability to  procure  raw  materials  utilizing
recycling and recovery techniques will enable it to offer its products at a cost
savings to comparable products for many applications.
 
STRATEGY
 
    The  Company's strategy is to focus its efforts on the sale and marketing of
its ALUMAGLASS product line and, if warranted by market demand for its abrasives
products, the  Company may  use a  substantial portion  of the  proceeds of  the
Offering  to increase its manufacturing capacity  by building a second melter at
its facility  in Dunkirk,  New York.  The Company  may also  seek  opportunities
within  the  United  States  and  abroad  to  construct  and  operate additional
abrasives manufacturing  facilities,  which  may  include  CRT  glass  recycling
operations,   either   independently  or   through   joint  ventures   or  other
collaborative arrangements  with  strategic  partners. At  the  same  time,  the
Company plans to continue its CRT glass recycling business, which it believes is
important  to its strategic positioning as a waste conversion company as well as
its ability to continue to obtain  raw materials for its manufactured  products.
The  Company also intends  to utilize certain of  its manufacturing equipment to
convert manufacturing by-products and other industrial wastes into raw materials
for use  by the  Company or  for sale  to others.  The Company  also intends  to
continue  its research and  development efforts to  identify and test additional
applications  for  its  ALUMAGLASS  abrasives,  to  pursue  the  development  of
processes  to  manufacture other  products, such  as  specialty glass  and glass
ceramics,  utilizing  industrial  waste  as   raw  materials  and  to   identify
synergistic  products, services or  technologies that could  be available to the
Company through acquisition, corporate teaming or other opportunities.
 
                                       31
<PAGE>
PRODUCTS AND SERVICES
 
    ALUMAGLASS ABRASIVES
 
    The Company's initial product line  is its ALUMAGLASS brand of  manufactured
abrasives.  ALUMAGLASS is manufactured from  an alumino-silicate glass, produced
in a  patented process  utilizing  commercially available  melting  technologies
customized  for the Company's manufacturing processes. ALUMAGLASS can be used as
a loose grain abrasive applied  with blasting equipment for industrial  cleaning
and  maintenance and  manufacturing operations or  as an  ingredient in products
such as polishing agents and  non-skid flooring. Other product applications  are
under  development and the  Company believes that  such applications may include
utilizing ALUMAGLASS  as a  coated abrasive  in industrial  sanding or  grinding
operations. See "-- Market Overview."
 
    The  Company's  manufacturing  process allows  it  to  utilize post-consumer
bottle  glass,  sludges   generated  by  CRT   glass  manufacturers  and   other
manufacturing  by-products  and  industrial  wastes  as  raw  materials  for the
manufacture of its abrasives. In many cases,  the Company is paid to take  these
wastes  or receives  them at  little or  no cost.  The Company  has entered into
supply agreements to  procure certain of  the waste materials  it receives  from
industrial  entities. These  agreements set  forth requirements  relating to the
nature, composition,  quantity, transportation  and  packaging of  the  material
supplied  to  the  Company.  These agreements  also  contain  mutual indemnities
pursuant to which each party agrees to indemnify and hold the other harmless for
breaches by such indemnifying party of its representations and covenants and for
environmental  liabilities  caused  by  such  indemnifying  party.  The  Company
performs  batch tests on each delivery to ensure that such requirements are met.
Material not meeting specifications is rejected and returned at the  generator's
cost.
 
    The  Company believes that  the provision of  wastes to the  Company is less
costly to its customers  than other regulated  waste disposal alternatives.  The
Company  also  believes  that  providing  wastes  to  the  Company  reduces  the
generator's  liability  and  offers   a  pollution  prevention  alternative   to
traditional   waste  treatment  and  disposal   practices.  In  addition,  these
generators may be eligible to  receive beneficial re-use certification that  the
waste  material is  used for product  manufacture. In many  situations, this may
allow such generators to  claim pollution prevention  credits, by eliminating  a
former  waste  stream and  providing  it to  the  Company as  raw  material. See
"Business -- Environmental Matters." In  certain cases, the Company's  abrasives
may  also be capable of being reclaimed by the Company after the product is used
by customers.
 
    The Company's manufacturing  process gives it  the flexibility to  customize
its  abrasives to  provide the  various characteristics  required for particular
applications.  For  example,  by  altering   the  batch  mix  of  raw   material
ingredients,  the Company can alter the chemical composition of its abrasives to
alter  performance  characteristics.  In  addition,  the  Company's   mechanized
finishing  area  allows ALUMAGLASS  to  be produced  in  coarse, medium  or fine
particle or "grit"  sizes and, with  further processing, into  micro grits.  The
Company  expects  fine to  medium  grit ALUMAGLASS  to  be suitable  for  use in
equipment  maintenance  operations,  industrial   process  cleaning  and   other
applications  where  the  integrity  of  substrates  is  critical,  such  as the
maintenance of turbine blades in  power generation equipment and equipment  used
in  the aerospace industry. The Company expects medium to coarse grit ALUMAGLASS
to be suitable for use in a  variety of cabinet and blast room applications  and
as  an  ingredient  for  direct incorporation  into  products  such  as non-skid
flooring. The Company expects coarse grit ALUMAGLASS to be suitable for cleaning
structures or items having steel substrates  such as bridges, ships, rail  cars,
car carriers and cargo containers.
 
    The Company's applications testing efforts to date have focused on utilizing
ALUMAGLASS  for industrial  metal finishing,  structural and  commercial vehicle
cleaning, paint removal and the cleaning and preparation of other surfaces  with
steel or other metal or plastic substrates. Such tests have been conducted by or
at the direction of the Company. Based on the results of such tests, the Company
believes  that ALUMAGLASS  provides performance  advantages and  cost savings in
comparison to competitive products,  such as aluminum  oxide, steel grit,  glass
beads and plastic abrasives, in many applications. For example:
 
    - ALUMAGLASS, unlike many other abrasives, is angular, with sharp edges. The
      product fractures when blasted, continually yielding sharp edges for reuse
      until consumed. As a result, the product offers superior speed of cleaning
      and less of it is required.
 
                                       32
<PAGE>
    - ALUMAGLASS  is a relatively hard  abrasive, suitable for many applications
      where metallic abrasives, such as steel grit and aluminum oxide, are used;
      however, ALUMAGLASS  has  a  relatively  low  specific  gravity  requiring
      significantly less energy to compress air for blasting the product.
 
    - ALUMAGLASS  requires no special  health and safety  equipment for blasting
      personnel. Because it is lighter in weight and blasted at lower  pressures
      than  heavy abrasives,  it is  safer for  operators to  use when deploying
      blast hoses  and creates  less wear  and tear  in blasting  equipment.  In
      addition,  compared  to metallic  abrasives  blasted at  higher pressures,
      there is less  risk of sparking,  which may cause  fires or explosions  in
      sensitive applications such as petrochemical or refining operations.
 
    - As  an ingredient in non-slip,  non-skid flooring applications, the higher
      particle density of ALUMAGLASS compared  to metallic abrasives results  in
      approximately  30%  less ALUMAGLASS  being  required for  comparable jobs.
      ALUMAGLASS is also typically less  expensive than products typically  used
      such as aluminum oxide.
 
    - While  results  may  vary  depending upon  the  blast  conditions  and the
      substrate being blasted, ALUMAGLASS  typically yields a comparable  number
      of reuse cycles compared to aluminum oxide and glass beads, although steel
      grit  and  plastic  abrasives  typically  yield  more  reuse  cycles  than
      ALUMAGLASS. However, because ALUMAGLASS will not rust, it may exceed these
      reuse  cycles  and  be   more  effective  than   steel  grit  in   certain
      applications,  such  as  outdoor  steel blasting  operations  in  humid or
      coastal areas.
 
    - Unlike metallic abrasives, ALUMAGLASS  typically will not become  embedded
      in  metal substrates where  a hard abrasive is  required. This negates the
      need for subsequent surface preparation treatment.
 
    - ALUMAGLASS is an alumino-silicate glass, rather than a metallic  abrasive.
      Therefore,  ALUMAGLASS can be used in applications where softer abrasives,
      such as glass beads and plastics,  are used. When used at the  recommended
      blasting  pressures, ALUMAGLASS creates the fine surface finishes of these
      competing softer abrasives and works faster. ALUMAGLASS is less  expensive
      than  plastic  abrasives,  although typically  more  expensive  than glass
      beads. In many  glass bead  applications, however,  customers blend  glass
      beads  with  aluminum  oxide  to  achieve  desired  cleaning  and  surface
      preparation results and ALUMAGLASS is  typically less expensive than  such
      composites.
 
    RECYCLING OF CRT GLASS
 
    The  Company  is engaged  in recycling  CRT glass  used in  televisions. The
Company's CRT glass recycling  customers include electronics manufacturers  such
as  Techneglas,  Inc.,  Thomson  Consumer  Electronics,  Inc.,  Toshiba  Display
Devices, Inc. and Hitachi Electronic Devices, U.S.A., Inc. In the Company's  CRT
recycling  operations, waste  CRT glass,  or "dirty  cullet," is  shipped to the
Company by  its  customers  pursuant  to  agreements  with  the  Company.  These
agreements  provide that the Company  is to be paid a  fee for receiving the CRT
glass. Certain of the Company's contracts with its CRT customers contain minimum
Company purchase requirements and, in  certain cases, minimum customer  purchase
obligations.  The Company receives  both funnel glass (the  back of a television
screen, which is  relatively thin  and tubular in  shape) and  panel glass  (the
front  of a television screen, which is relatively thick and flat in shape). The
funnel glass is cleaned, separated and  sold back to the original  manufacturers
and  others. The panel glass is cleaned, separated and sold as a raw material to
the original manufacturers and others or used  as a raw material by the  Company
in the production of its ALUMAGLASS abrasives.
 
    The  Company  employs  a  CRT glass  recycling  system  utilizing  a sorting
technology for which the Company has filed a joint patent application with Asoma
Instruments, Inc. of Austin, Texas ("ASOMA"). The sorting technology uses  X-ray
fluorescence to identify and sort CRT glass by chemical composition. The Company
and ASOMA are joint owners of the patent application and any patent that issues,
and  neither the Company nor ASOMA can grant licenses of such patent without the
consent of the other party.  In the event that  either party grants any  license
with  respect to such patent to a third  party, 66-2/3% of the royalties will be
paid to ASOMA and 33-1/3% of such royalties will be paid to the Company.
 
                                       33
<PAGE>
    CRT glass fragments  received by the  Company of approximately  one inch  or
less in diameter are not currently recycled by the Company due to limitations of
its  X-ray fluorescence technology. The Company is currently in discussions with
potential customers  to  purchase such  glass  and,  although there  can  be  no
assurance,  believes that  it can  sell such glass  at prices  acceptable to the
Company. In the event the Company is  unable to sell such glass, it believes  it
can  dispose of such glass at  little or no cost by  delivering it to others who
use various glass materials in the manufacture of their products or the products
of others.  The Company  also believes  that it  can dispose  of such  glass  in
landfills at prevailing rates. The Company maintains a reserve for the potential
cost  of  disposing  of  CRT  glass  it is  unable  to  recycle  or  use  in its
manufacturing process. Such reserve is  adjusted periodically for the amount  of
such  material on-hand, landfill rate  changes and management's determination of
the need for any such reserves based upon the proven saleability or  disposition
options for such materials.
 
    Through  March 31, 1996, CRT glass recycling has accounted for substantially
all of the Company's  revenues. The Company's initial  sources of CRT glass  for
recycling  have  been  television  manufacturers,  who  provided  financial  and
technical support to the Company.  The Company also approached certain  computer
manufacturers early in its operations, but such manufacturers indicated a desire
for  the Company's CRT glass recycling  operations to be fully operational prior
to considering sending  their glass  to the  Company. The  Company has  recently
contacted  these  and  other manufacturers  as  well as  disassemblers  of post-
consumer televisions and computers to seek to enter into arrangements to  obtain
CRT  glass from them. There can be no assurance that the Company will enter into
arrangements with such manufacturers  on terms acceptable to  the Company or  at
all.
 
    The  Company believes that  the recycling of  CRT glass is  important to its
strategic positioning and to  its overall relationship  with its customers.  The
Company  believes that the recycling of CRT  glass provides its customers with a
less costly and more environmentally responsible means of disposing of waste CRT
glass compared to currently available alternative methods of CRT glass disposal.
Further, customers  can repurchase  recycled CRT  glass from  the Company  at  a
savings  compared  to  virgin  ingredients.  Based  upon  discussions  with  its
customers, the  Company  believes that  the  purchase price  for  the  Company's
recycled  glass may  be up  to 30% less  than the  cost of  virgin materials. In
addition, the Company is able  to utilize certain types  of CRT glass which  are
not  recycled as raw materials for ALUMAGLASS and  may be able to use such glass
for its specialty  glass products  under development. In  addition, the  Company
believes that the electronics industry may be a source of other waste streams as
raw  materials  in the  Company's abrasives  and planned  glass-ceramics product
lines. The Company believes that relationships with its CRT glass customers  may
serve  as a catalyst for the  development of new facilities, including potential
facilities to serve CRT  glass recycling needs where  landfill laws restrict  or
ban  landfill disposal of  televisions and computers.  The Company believes that
its CRT glass recycling and materials reuse capability positions the Company  to
process  large  volume end-of-life  television and  computer  waste if  and when
regulation excludes them from U.S. landfills.
 
    MECHANICAL CONVERSION
 
    The Company  utilizes its  post-melting  abrasives finishing  equipment  and
know-how  to convert manufacturing by-products and waste glass and ceramics into
raw materials for use by the Company in its manufacture of abrasives or for sale
to others. Examples include the cleaning,  sorting and grinding of waste  bisque
otherwise  used for china as a source  of alumina for the Company's abrasives or
for sale to others as a raw material, and the cleaning, sorting and grinding  of
soda  lime glass  as a  raw material  for the  Company's abrasives  or as  a raw
material for  glass producers.  The Company  intends  to use  a portion  of  the
proceeds  of this Offering to expand  its post-melting abrasives finishing area,
thereby  increasing  the  Company's  capacity  to  mechanically  convert   waste
materials  into raw material for the Company  or others. The planned increase in
the Company's abrasives finishing capacity will provide additional capacity  for
the  crushing, grinding and packaging of materials which other manufacturers can
utilize as raw materials for their manufacturing processes.
 
    The Company believes that  there may be demand  for these services and  will
devote   additional  resources  to  identifying  these  materials  and  locating
customers for these  services after  the Offering.  The Company  has engaged  in
discussions  with several manufacturers of glass and glass-ceramic products that
may be interested
 
                                       34
<PAGE>
in purchasing crushed, screened and packaged  china bisque, soda lime glass  and
CRT panel glass from the Company. The Company has made initial test shipments of
such  products to  several customers  and has itself  developed a  number of end
product applications for these  materials, such as  the Company's planned  glass
bead product.
 
    POTENTIAL FUTURE PRODUCTS
 
    SPECIALTY  GLASS.    The Company's  first  potential future  product  in the
specialty glass  area is  a glass  bead  to be  made in  part from  panel  glass
received by the Company from its CRT glass recycling customers. Such panel glass
would be crushed in the Company's post-melting abrasives finishing area and then
used  as a raw material, together with  other materials, in the manufacturing of
the glass  bead.  The  Company  believes  that  such  beads  will  have  a  high
retroreflective  index  and greater  durability and  elasticity, expected  to be
useful in applications which include  surface finishing and highway signage  and
possibly  pavement  marking. The  Company has  filed  a patent  application with
respect to the formulation  and production of such  glass beads, although  there
can  be no assurance  that such patent  will issue. The  Company is currently in
discussions with several established  companies in the  glass bead business  and
may  determine to enter into a  joint venture or other collaborative arrangement
with a corporate partner in order  to pursue the commercial development of  this
product.  The  Company may  attempt to  develop  other specialty  glass products
including frit  for  electrical  resistance glass,  decorative  glass  and  high
density glass.
 
    GLASS-CERAMICS.  The Company plans to evaluate the production of a series of
high-strength,  low-weight glass-ceramic  products using  waste materials  to be
provided through  its relationships  with the  specialty steel  and  electronics
industries and other industries generating silica and metals-enriched industrial
wastes.  The  Company  believes  that,  combined  with  virgin  materials, these
products have potential uses as substitutes for structural materials,  including
steel,  in the aircraft, automotive,  construction and machinery industries. The
Company also believes that ALUMAGLASS particles  may be sold as ingredients  for
direct  incorporation into products such  as floor tiles, glass-ceramic powders,
plastic fillers and other ceramic  product applications. These applications  may
be  pursued independently or  through joint venture  or cooperative efforts with
others.
 
    OTHER ABRASIVE PRODUCTS.  The Company expects to develop future products  in
its  core  abrasives business.  Such products  may  include (i)  higher strength
abrasives which  may  be  produced  utilizing  new  formulations,  (ii)  blended
composites  of ALUMAGLASS and other abrasive materials, (iii) products utilizing
ALUMAGLASS as a coated abrasive on sandpaper, grinding wheels or other items and
(iv) abrasives such as crushed  glass produced through the Company's  mechanical
conversion processes.
 
    No  assurance can be given that the Company will be successful in developing
any future  products  or that  it  will be  able  to market  any  such  products
successfully.
 
MANUFACTURING, RECYCLING AND CONVERSION PROCESSES
 
    ABRASIVES MANUFACTURING PROCESS
 
    The  Company's abrasives  are manufactured  in a  three-step process  -- the
pre-melting,  batching  process,  the  melting  process  and  the   post-melting
finishing process.
 
    PRE-MELTING,  BATCHING PROCESS.  The  pre-melting, batching process includes
the collection  and intake  of  materials such  as post-consumer  bottle  glass,
sludges  produced  in  the  manufacture of  CRT  glass  and  other manufacturing
by-products and industrial wastes,  as well as certain  virgin materials, to  be
used  as raw materials for the  Company's abrasives. Various alumina, silica and
certain other metal or calcia-enriched  manufacturing by-products and wastes  of
the electronics, aluminum, specialty steel, automotive and other industries have
been  identified  and utilized  by the  Company as  product ingredients  for its
manufacturing processes.  The Company  has entered  into supply  agreements  for
certain  of the  materials with  industrial entities,  and secured authorization
from applicable environmental  regulatory authorities to  utilize various  waste
materials as product ingredients. Other virgin and waste materials are available
on  a  purchase  order basis.  The  Company's  procedures to  secure  wastes for
beneficially utilized production ingredients in its
 
                                       35
<PAGE>
manufacturing process has  been determined  to be exempt  from RCRA  regulation,
enabling the Company to utilize these materials without subjecting itself to the
financial  and  operational constraints  typically  imposed on  waste management
facilities. See "Business -- Environmental Matters."
 
    Once collected, raw materials are loaded into bins or otherwise separated so
that specified  quantities of  each  material can  be  assembled pursuant  to  a
computerized  batching system  for which the  Company has been  issued a patent.
Once a batch of raw materials having the desired chemical components, consisting
principally of soda, silica, alumina and calcia, has been assembled, it is taken
to the Company's melter for the next phase of manufacture.
 
    MELTING PROCESS.   Each  mixed batch  of  raw material  is loaded  into  the
Company's  melter  in order  to  produce the  alumino-silicate  glass comprising
ALUMAGLASS. The  Company's melter  is a  customized glass  melting furnace.  The
melter  employs a customized air emissions scrubber and heat exchange technology
that reduces harmful  solid or  liquid residual waste  or air  emissions in  the
production  process. Certain emissions captured in  the scrubber are returned to
the melter for use as raw materials. The alumino-silicate glass produced in  the
melter  is cooled, where it  forms hard particles or "frit"  and is taken to the
abrasives finishing area.
 
    The melter went into service in February 1995 and went through a shake-down,
stress-test and a final modification program to bring its production capacity to
25 tons of ALUMAGLASS per day, although  there can be no assurance that it  will
maintain  such  capacity  consistently.  From  time  to  time,  the  Company has
experienced mechanical or  technical difficulties  with such  melter which  have
required  repairs and maintenance that have interrupted the Company's ability to
manufacture its  abrasives.  In early  1995,  the melter  did  not  successfully
oxidize  a sludge being tested, which resulted in the formation of a thick glass
that clogged the pouring area. The melter had to be flushed with soft glass  for
five  days  before  returning  to  normal  production.  In  November  1995,  the
repositioning of air bubblers used to speed the flow of glass resulted in a leak
because of increased wear on a  relatively soft area of the melter's  refractory
brick  floor. The  Company took  the melter  out of  service for  three weeks to
replace and fortify  the area, to  make additional planned  improvements and  to
conduct  a full examination of the  melter. Such examination showed minimal wear
in other parts of the melter. The Company estimates that the melter will have to
be taken out of service approximately once every four years for approximately  a
three-week   period  to  replace  worn  refractory  bricks,  which  is  required
maintenance  for   glass  melters   generally.  Any   mechanical  or   technical
difficulties  with the melter in  the future could result  in an interruption in
the Company's ability to manufacture its  abrasives. The failure of the  Company
to  effect prompt  repairs and otherwise  keep its melter  operating at targeted
capacities could  have a  material  adverse effect  on the  business,  financial
condition and results of operations of the Company.
 
    If  warranted  by  demand  for the  Company's  abrasives,  the  Company will
construct a second melter expected to have the capacity to produce approximately
75 tons of ALUMAGLASS per day. The Company has allocated a substantial amount of
the proceeds of the  Offering for the construction  of such melter. The  Company
believes  that there are  a number of  potential suppliers of  glass melters and
other furnaces. The Company believes that a 75-ton-per-day unit can provide  the
Company with economies of scale in both capital and operating costs. See "Use of
Proceeds"  and "Management's Discussion and  Analysis of Financial Condition and
Results of Operations." In addition, if sufficient levels of demand are achieved
in certain areas of the United States  or abroad, the Company may seek to  build
additional  facilities to manufacture its abrasives, which may include CRT glass
recycling lines. These facilities may be developed independently by the  Company
or  pursuant to arrangements with corporate  partners such as large volume users
of loose grain abrasives such as shipyards or large heavy-industry corporations.
These entities may have many of the desired waste items on hand and may  require
volumes  of the  abrasives that justify  on-site construction  to avoid shipping
costs. Any excess  capacity of  such facilities could  be used  for third  party
sales.  It is  anticipated that  the construction  of these  facilities would be
financed with debt, with an equity component to be provided by the Company  and,
if applicable, its corporate partner.
 
                                       36
<PAGE>
    POST-MELTING  FINISHING PROCESS.  The  post melting abrasives finishing area
consists of various items of equipment  which perform the functions of  crushing
ALUMAGLASS  frit  to desired  sizes, sieving  the crushed  frit to  separate the
particles and, once  the ALUMAGLASS  has been tested  to assure  "grit" size  is
consistent with industry standards, packaging ALUMAGLASS for sale to customers.
 
    The  abrasives  finishing  area  currently  has  a  production  capacity  of
approximately 15 tons per day for coarse grit sizes and lower volumes for medium
and fine  grit  sizes.  However,  the Company  intends  to  complete  a  capital
expansion program to make improvements and additions to its finishing area which
is  expected to result  in a three-to four-fold  increase in finishing capacity.
See "Management Discussion  of Analysis  of Financial Condition  and Results  of
Operations."  The Company also utilizes the  abrasives finishing area to convert
certain manufacturing  by-products  and other  materials  it receives  into  raw
materials for its abrasives and for sale to others.
 
    The  Company believes that the cost-effectiveness of the Company's abrasives
manufacturing processes resulting from its ability to utilize waste materials or
raw materials  will  provide  significant competitive  advantages.  The  Company
enjoys further operating cost advantages compared to competitors in that certain
of  the waste materials used  in the production of  ALUMAGLASS provide a British
Thermal Unit  or "BTU"  value which  lowers the  Company's energy  costs,  which
typically  are a major cost component of glass and glass-ceramics production. In
addition, the Company expects its products to be classified as "recycled"  under
applicable  guidelines of the United States Environmental Protection Agency, and
accordingly to  achieve preferential  procurement status.  The Company  believes
that such classification may be significant to users who express a preference or
provide   special   procurement   consideration  for   recycled   products.  See
"Environmental Matters."
 
    CRT GLASS RECYCLING PROCESS
 
    The first step in the recycling of CRT glass is the inspection of the  glass
received  by the Company to assure that  it complies with requirements set forth
in purchase and  supply agreements  between the  Company and  its CRT  customers
relating  to the nature of  the glass, amounts of  extraneous materials mixed in
with the glass and  other requirements. Such  inspection is generally  conducted
manually,  but may involve the use of  hand held devices which identify chemical
constituents of CRT glass. Nonconforming shipments are rejected and returned  to
the supplier at the supplier's expense.
 
    Once accepted, CRT glass is processed through the Company's "primary" cullet
line.  The  process involves  extracting  pieces of  CRT  glass of  less  than a
specified size, separating the panel glass  from the funnel glass, cleaning  and
removing  coatings on  the glass,  identifying the  chemical composition  of the
panel glass by use of X-ray fluorescence and batching the funnel glass and panel
glass for  resale back  to customers.  This process  is repeated  for CRT  glass
fragments  too  small  for  the  Company's  primary  cullet  line  by  identical
processing through the  Company's "secondary" cullet  line. CRT glass  fragments
received  by the Company of  approximately one inch or  less in diameter are not
currently recycled by the Company due  to limitations of its X-ray  fluorescence
technology.
 
    MECHANICAL CONVERSION PROCESS
 
    The  Company  has  identified  several  waste  streams  which  it  receives,
including post-consumer bottle glass,  bisque used to make  china and CRT  panel
glass, as materials which, if converted from the form in which they are received
by  the Company into a form suitable to be used as a manufacturing raw material,
become valuable materials  independent of the  Company's recycling or  abrasives
manufacturing  operations. The Company identifies the chemical or other valuable
properties of these materials and identifies third parties that can utilize  the
materials  in their  manufacturing or other  operations. Then,  depending on the
customer's needs, the Company utilizes its equipment, principally its  recycling
lines  and post-melting,  abrasives finishing  equipment, to  sort, clean and/or
grind and  crush  the material  into  the desired  form.  The material  is  then
packaged and shipped to customers.
 
    The  Company also has the ability to make composite materials, if requested,
by mixing  the  waste  material  being converted  with  other  waste  or  virgin
materials.  The Company  also uses its  equipment to  mechanically convert these
materials into  a form  suitable for  use as  a raw  material in  its  abrasives
production.
 
                                       37
<PAGE>
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
 
    The  Company's research  and development  efforts are  conducted principally
through (i) the Company's internal staff,  (ii) the Center for Advanced  Ceramic
Technology  at Alfred  University pursuant  to agreements  with the  Company and
(iii) the Company's Scientific Advisory Board.
 
    The Company  currently  employs  five  individuals  principally  devoted  to
research   and  development,  including,  among  others,  Robert  Dejaiffe,  the
Company's Vice President-Technology, Dr. Ashvin Srivastava, Director of Research
at Dunkirk, and Dr. Kimberly Lotter, Laboratory Director at Dunkirk, all of whom
have extensive experience in glass  and ceramic technologies. See  "Management."
The  Company  maintains  an on-site  laboratory  at its  Dunkirk  facility where
various analyses,  tests  and  other research  and  development  activities  are
conducted on a regular basis.
 
    The Company has entered into a research agreement (the "Research Agreement")
with  The Center for Advanced Ceramic  Technology at Alfred University ("CACT"),
pursuant to  which CACT  performs various  tests and  studies on  behalf of  the
Company,  as directed by the Company. CACT is the Company's primary research and
development partner.  CACT  is  currently  engaged  in  a  study  of  the  basic
characterization of ALUMAGLASS. The Research Agreement expires in December 1996.
Under the Research Agreement, the Company is obligated to pay CACT an amount not
to  exceed $163,728 for the  term of the Agreement.  Payments are made quarterly
based on a  budget approved in  advance by the  Company. The Agreement  provides
that  royalties or other consideration received from a third party from the sale
or licensing  of any  patents developed  pursuant  to the  Agreement are  to  be
divided  equally  between  CACT and  the  Company,  except that  the  Company is
entitled to all royalties received from  third parties in which the Company  has
an equity interest of 20% or more. Individuals at CACT were also involved in the
development  of the  Company's abrasives  manufacturing process  and the related
patent, but assigned their  rights thereto to the  Company. Richard M.  Spriggs,
Ph.D.,  the Chairman of the Company's Scientific Advisory Board, is the Director
of CACT.  The  Company  also  engages other  academic  institutions  to  provide
specific research and development services from time to time.
 
    The  Company also  utilizes its Scientific  Advisory Board  for research and
development activities such  as advising as  to potential product  applications,
the   feasibility  of  new  product  formulations  and  the  impact  of  process
modifications on product characteristics. See "Management -- Scientific Advisory
Board."
 
    The Company co-developed the X-ray fluorescence technology for its CRT glass
recycling operation with ASOMA, with respect to which the Company and ASOMA have
filed a joint patent  application. The Company  may pursue other  co-development
opportunities with third parties in the future or look to others for licenses of
technology  or  other  arrangements,  although  the  Company  has  no  plans  or
commitments to do so as of the date of this Prospectus.
 
    The Company will continue its  research and development efforts to  identify
additional  applications for its ALUMAGLASS abrasives, to pursue the development
of processes to manufacture other products and to identify synergistic products,
services or  technologies  that  could  be  available  to  the  Company  through
acquisitions,  corporate teaming  or other  opportunities. The  Company believes
that there  are  many  environmentally  oriented  manufacturing  and  processing
technologies  that are in early stages of commercialization and development that
could provide synergies with the Company's technologies through licensing, joint
ventures, acquisitions or otherwise.
 
MARKET OVERVIEW
 
    ABRASIVES
 
    Traditionally, a variety of  media and methodologies have  been used in  the
broad market of industrial equipment and facilities cleaning and maintenance. In
particular, sand used in blasting applications and chemical solvents have held a
significant share of the market. In recent years, however, increased regulations
relating  to the environment  and worker health  and safety, have  resulted in a
dramatic decline in the use  of sand, which is known  to contribute to the  lung
disease  silicosis.  In  addition,  given  the  greater  demand  for reclaimable
abrasives, which  reduce  the  amount  of spent  abrasive  material  subject  to
landfill  and  potential  environmental  liability,  the  Company  believes that
non-reclaimable abrasives, such as sand and metal slags,
 
                                       38
<PAGE>
are competitively disadvantaged.  Chemical solvents have  also decreased in  use
with  respect to many applications due  to such regulatory changes, particularly
regulations which have resulted  in increased disposal  costs. Products such  as
ALUMAGLASS,  glass  beads  and  mineral,  metallic  and  plastic  abrasives, are
affected to a  lesser extent  by such  regulations due  to the  nature of  their
composition  and the fact that they are reclaimable for multiple uses and have a
lower quantity for disposal. ALUMAGLASS,  for example, contains no free  silica,
which  causes silicosis, and,  depending on the application,  can be recycled by
the Company at  its Dunkirk facility  rather than disposed  of after use.  Other
approaches  such  as water  blasting are  also  gaining acceptance.  The Company
believes that  this  regulatory framework,  as  well as  the  other  performance
advantages   offered  by  its   abrasives,  will  result   in  increased  market
opportunities for ALUMAGLASS.
 
    Loose grain abrasives, typically applied  with blasting equipment, are  used
in  numerous  industries  throughout  the  world  for  equipment  and facilities
maintenance.  Applications  include  cleaning,   stripping  and  other   surface
treatment   or  surface  preparation  applications,  such  as  industrial  metal
finishing, coating removal,  structural steel and  commercial vehicle  cleaning,
paint  removal and the cleaning and preparation of service substrates. Potential
purchasers of the  Company's abrasives  include military  and defense  agencies,
entities  engaged in the electronics,  aerospace, automotive, glass products and
construction industries  and  entities  engaged in  surface  finishing,  coating
removal  and the maintenance  of manufacturing and  process industries equipment
and  facilities,  buildings,  highways,  bridges  and  commercial  vehicles  and
vessels.
 
    Industrial  abrasives can also be  directly incorporated into other products
such as non-skid flooring, sand paper, grinding wheels and polishing  compounds.
Abrasives  are  mixed  with  cement and  paints  to  provide  non-skid surfaces.
Abrasives are applied as a coating on plastic wood. Abrasives are also used  for
applications  such as softening leather, stonewashing  denim and shot peening to
remove metal fatigue found in aircraft.
 
    The Company  believes that  ALUMAGLASS provides  performance advantages  and
cost savings compared to competing abrasive products and that ALUMAGLASS will be
able to obtain significant market acceptance through the Company's marketing and
sales  efforts. See "-- Products and Services," "-- Sales and Marketing" and "--
Competition." To some degree, the cost advantages associated with ALUMAGLASS are
derived from  the  Company's ability  to  obtain  industrial wastes  to  use  as
manufacturing  raw  materials at  little  or no  cost.  To the  extent  that the
suppliers of  such wastes  utilize alternative  means of  disposal, the  Company
would  be required  to purchase  virgin materials  for use  as manufacturing raw
materials.  However,  the  Company  believes  that  adequate  supplies  of  such
materials   would  be  available  to  the  Company  on  satisfactory  terms  and
conditions, including cost.
 
    There can be no  assurance that ALUMAGLASS  will achieve market  acceptance.
The  decision by  a potential  customer to  utilize the  Company's abrasives is,
among other  things, technical  in nature,  requiring the  customer to  make  an
evaluation  as  to  whether  changes  in  its  capital  equipment  or  operating
procedures will be required in order to realize the performance benefits of  the
Company's  products. The primary capital equipment change that could be required
relates to equipment used to reclaim abrasives. ALUMAGLASS has been designed  as
a  reclaimable abrasive that can  be reused between five  and ten times during a
single  application.  Current  techniques  to  reclaim  abrasives  and  separate
contaminants  from the  abrasive include gravity  separation, cyclone separators
and  air  classifier  systems.  Of   these,  gravity  separation  is   typically
inappropriate  for ALUMAGLASS due  to the relatively  light weight of ALUMAGLASS
compared to the  contaminants to  be removed.  Thus, a  potential customer  with
gravity  separation equipment may have to  replace such equipment with a cyclone
separator or air classifier at a cost that the Company believes would range from
$20,000 to $50,000,  depending on the  size of the  unit. The primary  operating
procedure  change  that potential  customers  must employ  is  reducing blasting
pressure for ALUMAGLASS by  20% to 30% compared  to pressures used for  heavier,
metallic  abrasives. There  can be  no assurance  that potential  customers will
choose to change  their equipment  or established  procedures or  be willing  to
incur any necessary costs to make such changes or that the benefits derived from
utilizing ALUMAGLASS will outweigh the costs incurred to make such changes.
 
                                       39
<PAGE>
    CRT GLASS RECYCLING
 
    The  Company currently recycles only waste CRT glass generated by television
manufacturers located in the United States. There are several manufacturers from
which the Company  does not receive  glass and it  does not receive  all of  the
waste glass produced by its current customers. Such manufacturers typically seek
more  than one outlet for  their CRT glass, in order  to avoid dependence on any
one source. In some cases, manufacturers ship their waste CRT glass to  smelters
or  landfills.  Therefore,  the  Company  believes  that  there  is  some growth
potential for its CRT  recycling operations. However,  such market, as  narrowly
defined,  is limited by  the relatively few manufacturers  located in the United
States, the relatively low percentage of CRT glass which becomes waste prior  to
being  incorporated into  televisions and  shipping costs  associated with doing
business with manufacturers located at significant distances from the Company.
 
    The Company  also  plans to  expand  its  CRT glass  recycling  business  by
recycling  waste CRT glass  generated by manufacturers  of computer monitors and
post-consumer CRT glass obtained from entities engaged in television or computer
disassembly as discussed below. However, the Company does not currently have any
commitments to take such glass  and there can be  no assurance that the  Company
will enter into any arrangements to do so.
 
    Additional  large markets for  CRT recycling are  presented by post-consumer
television  and  computer  monitor   glass.  However,  such  business   involves
disassembly  which is  currently a manually  intensive operation and  may not be
commercially viable for  the Company.  The Company  may enter  this business  by
obtaining  CRT glass  directly from entities  engaged in  television or computer
disassembly. In  addition,  the  Company  has  from  time  to  time  engaged  in
discussions  with potential strategic  partners with respect  to a co-venture to
enter this business  but has  no commitments to  do so  as of the  date of  this
Prospectus.  The Company believes that this may  be a large market in the future
as environmental regulations move toward  banning or significantly limiting  the
amount  of such  glass which can  be disposed of  in landfills. There  can be no
assurance that the  Company will be  able to enter  this market on  commercially
acceptable terms or at all.
 
    MECHANICAL CONVERSION
 
    The Company believes that the U.S. demand for the Company's waste conversion
services  as part  of its  manufacturing process  will be  driven by industries'
needs to remove and  manage manufacturing by-products  and industrial wastes  in
compliance  with  various federal,  state and  local environmental  statutes and
regulations. See  "--  Environmental Matters."  Other  industrialized  countries
around  the world are  also proposing or  enforcing similar, and  in some cases,
more stringent  environmental legislation.  Consequently, the  Company  believes
that  demand for the Company's waste conversion services may increase because of
anticipated, increasingly stringent environmental  regulations and the  concerns
of waste generators over accompanying waste disposal liabilities in the U.S. and
abroad.  The Company's  competitive advantage and  successful market penetration
will depend on its ability to  provide low-cost waste conversion services  while
also minimizing the waste generators' liabilities. See "-- Competition."
 
SALES AND MARKETING
 
    The  Company  only recently  began to  implement  its marketing  program for
ALUMAGLASS and  will increase  its  marketing and  sales efforts  following  the
Offering  by  increasing  its  sales  and  marketing  force  and  increasing its
distribution support efforts through additional telemarketing and trade  journal
and  direct mail advertising. Particular attention will be given to direct sales
efforts with respect  to potential  large volume customers,  such as  utilities,
shipyards and large corporations with various manufacturing, maintenance and/ or
processing   operations.  In  addition,   the  Company  will   continue  to  add
distributors to increase market penetration of ALUMAGLASS. The Company will also
increase its  efforts  to market  ALUMAGLASS  for other  applications,  such  as
non-skid flooring and polishing compounds.
 
    ALUMAGLASS brand abrasives are marketed and distributed in the United States
through  the  Company's  direct  sales efforts  and  through  distributors. N.T.
Ruddock & Company, Fusco Abrasive Systems, Inc. and Omni Finishing Systems, Inc.
are initial  lead  regional distributors  of  the Company's  abrasives  and  are
large-volume  distributors of loose grain abrasives in the United States. Recent
additions to the Company's domestic distribution network include, among  others,
Porter Warner Industries Inc., Standard
 
                                       40
<PAGE>
Sand  & Silica Co., Corrosion Specialties Incorporated, Carpenter Brothers Inc.,
Grand Northern Products, Inc., MJD  Enterprises Inc., Dawson MacDonald  Company,
Metal  Preparations Co., Inc. and W.  H. Shurtleff Company. In addition, Midvale
Industries, Air Power Equipment Corp. and Ryan Equipment Co., Inc. are among the
regional sub-distributors  served  by  N.T. Ruddock  &  Company,  although  such
distributors  may also order  directly from the  Company. Other distributors are
currently testing the product. The Company has also established distributors  in
the   United  Kingdom,  Canada,  Mexico  and   Israel.  Many  of  the  Company's
distributors sell  and have  blasting equipment  in place  at numerous  customer
locations.  The  Company is  working with  these  distributors and  suppliers of
blasting equipment to have equipment users test and convert to ALUMAGLASS.
 
   
    The Company is  also pursuing  the introduction of  highly focused  abrasive
product  offerings  in certain  market segments,  such  as auto  refinishing and
non-skid flooring  additives.  Marketing  of  such  potential  products  may  be
conducted  directly by the Company or  through retail channels and could include
private branded products. The Company may also seek to sell ALUMAGLASS to  micro
abrasives  manufacturers who  would grind ALUMAGLASS  into micro  grit sizes for
sale  as  a  micro  abrasive   for  specialty  manufacturing  applications   and
applications  such  as  cleaning  intricate  medical  or  dental  equipment  and
polishing compounds.
    
 
   
    The Company is a party to  a Purchase, Supply and Distributorship  Agreement
(the  "VANGKOE Agreement"), entered into in March  1996 and amended in May 1996,
with VANGKOE, as assignee of Cytech Laboratories, Inc., relating to the sale  of
ALUMAGLASS  and  certain waste  materials processed  in the  Company's abrasives
finishing area for use as aggregates and additives for products such as swimming
pool plasters, tiles  and other  construction materials.  The VANGKOE  Agreement
contains  a guaranteed minimum purchase commitment  of approximately 350 tons of
ALUMAGLASS per  month over  a twelve-month  period commencing  October 1996.  At
VANKGKOE's  option,  VANGKOE  may  satisfy its  minimum  purchase  commitment by
substituting one-third of such commitment  with crushed CRT glass (resulting  in
the  sale of approximately 234 tons of  ALUMAGLASS per month). If the guaranteed
minimum purchase commitment is purchased, the Company will receive approximately
$1,560,000 in  revenue  (or  approximately  $1,240,000  if  VANGKOE  substitutes
crushed  CRT glass for one-third of  such commitment). In consideration for such
minimum purchase  commitment,  the Company  has  agreed not  to  knowingly  sell
ALUMAGLASS  to other customers for use as  an ingredient in pool plasters during
the term of the VANGKOE Agreement. VANGKOE is a newly-formed entity with nominal
assets and  no experience  in marketing  and distributing  materials similar  to
those  required  to  be  purchased  by  VANGKOE  under  the  VANKGKOE Agreement.
Accordingly, there  can be  no  assurance that  VANGKOE  will meet  its  minimum
purchase  commitments under  the VANKGKOE Agreement  or that  VANKGKOE will ever
satisfy any of its obligations under  the VANGKOE Agreement. In such event,  the
Company's  ability to  enforce its  rights under  the VANGKOE  Agreement will be
limited.
    
 
   
    The VANGKOE Agreement  also provides  the Company  with a  60-day option  to
enter  into a joint venture  with VANGKOE relating to  technology to apply color
coating to materials to be purchased by VANGKOE under the VANGKOE Agreement.  If
the  Company  determines to  proceed with  the joint  venture, the  parties will
create a new company ("NEWCO")  to apply at cost  certain color coatings to  the
material  purchased from  the Company.  VANGKOE will  grant NEWCO  an exclusive,
perpetual, royalty-free license of its technology related to such color  coating
process.  The Company  has agreed  to invest  one-half of  the cost  to fund the
purchase of coating equipment (not to exceed $125,000) and VANGKOE will obtain a
loan to finance the remaining 50% of the funds required for the purchase of such
equipment and  the Company  will  guarantee such  VANGKOE  loan (not  to  exceed
$125,000).  The VANGKOE  Agreement provides that  the Company will  share 50% of
VANGKOE's profit from its sales of the finished material color coated by  NEWCO.
VANGKOE  has agreed to obtain a primary lease  for a facility to be subleased at
cost to NEWCO and to provide a  minimum of $30,000 of working capital to  NEWCO.
If  VANGKOE defaults  on its loan  and the  Company's guarantee of  such loan is
drawn upon and not repaid immediately by VANGKOE or if VANGKOE does not  perform
certain  of  its  other obligations  under  the VANGKOE  Agreement,  the coating
technology will be  assigned to NEWCO  and VANGKOE's interest  in NEWCO will  be
assigned  to the Company, which will become the sole owner of NEWCO. The VANGKOE
Agreement further commits
    
 
                                       41
<PAGE>
   
VANGKOE to license its coating technology to  the Company for use at any  future
facility  the Company may establish for a  royalty of $0.01 per pound. The color
coating technology has  been recently  developed and  products coated  utilizing
such  technology have not  been commercially sold. Accordingly,  there can be no
assurance that NEWCO will be successful in commercializing such technology, that
the Company will ever receive revenues as a result of products sold coated  with
such  technology or  that the  Company will  not lose  its entire  investment in
NEWCO.
    
 
    The Company's  marketing strategies  include, among  others,  telemarketing,
direct  mail  and  trade  journal  advertising,  product  sampling  programs and
customer support  programs such  as technical  assistance programs  and  testing
support.
 
    Certain  members of the Company sales and marketing force also provide sales
support for the Company's CRT glass recycling business and are actively  engaged
in  identifying additional sources of CRT  glass and sales outlets for processed
glass.
 
    The Company currently has six individuals dedicated principally to sales and
marketing and several  others who support  the sales and  marketing effort on  a
regular  basis.  The Company  has allocated  a  portion of  the proceeds  of the
Offering to expand  its sales  and marketing  staff in  the near  future and  as
market acceptance of ALUMAGLASS grows.
 
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
 
    The Company has been awarded two United States patents. The first patent was
issued  in December 1993 and relates  to the Company's process for manufacturing
abrasive particles  from  inorganic  waste  materials,  including  sludges  from
various  industrial processes and waste  water treatment, emission control dusts
from  high-temperature  industrial  processes,  fly  ash  from  incineration  of
industrial  and residential wastes and certain other process-specific effluents.
Examples of  such  inorganic  wastes  are spent  pot  liner  from  the  aluminum
industry, refractory wastes from smelting, melting or refining furnaces, various
types  of slags and  precipitants related to  metal recovery operations, foundry
sands, glass wastes, including  television and computer  moniter CRT glass,  and
certain  wastes from the manufacture of  ceramic products. The second patent was
issued in October 1995 and relates to the pre-melting batching process  involved
in  the manufacture  of the  Company's abrasives.  In addition,  the Company and
ASOMA have  jointly  filed  an  application  for a  U.S.  patent  on  the  X-ray
fluorescence  technology used in  the Company's CRT  glass recycling operations.
See "-- Products and Services -- CRT Glass Recycling." The Company also has  two
additional  patent applications on file. One  relates to the Company's abrasives
and one relates to the Company's planned glass bead product.
 
    The Company's  success will  depend, in  part, on  its ability  to  maintain
protection  for its products and manufacturing processes under United States and
foreign patent  laws, to  preserve  its trade  secrets  and to  operate  without
infringing  the proprietary rights  of third parties. There  can be no assurance
that any of  the Company's patent  applications will result  in issued  patents,
that any issued patents will afford adequate protection to the Company or not be
challenged, invalidated, infringed or circumvented or that any rights thereunder
will  afford competitive advantages to the Company. Furthermore, there can be no
assurance  that  others   have  not   independently  developed,   or  will   not
independently  develop, similar products and technologies or otherwise duplicate
any of the Company's products and  technologies. There can be no assurance  that
the  validity of any patent issued to  the Company would be upheld if challenged
by others in  litigation or  that the  Company's activities  would not  infringe
patents  owned by others. The Company could incur substantial costs in defending
itself in suits brought against  it, or in suits in  which the Company seeks  to
enforce  its  patent rights  against others.  Should  the Company's  products or
technologies be found to infringe patents  issued to third parties, the  Company
would  be  required to  cease the  manufacture,  use and  sale of  the Company's
products and  the Company  could  be required  to  pay substantial  damages.  In
addition,  the Company may  be required to  obtain licenses to  patents or other
proprietary rights of third parties in  connection with the development and  use
of  its  products and  technologies. No  assurance  can be  given that  any such
licenses required would be made available on terms acceptable to the Company, or
at all.
 
                                       42
<PAGE>
    The Company also relies on trade secrets and proprietary know-how, which  it
seeks  to protect,  in part, by  confidentiality agreements  with its university
research partners, employees, consultants, advisors and others. There can be  no
assurance  that such  parties will  maintain the  confidentiality of  such trade
secrets or  proprietary information,  or that  the trade  secret or  proprietary
information  of the Company will not  otherwise become known or be independently
developed by competitors in a manner  that would have a material adverse  effect
on the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations.
 
    The  Company's logo is a registered  trademark. In addition, the Company has
filed a  trademark application  for  ALUMAGLASS with  the Patent  and  Trademark
Office.  A request to  extend the time for  filing an objection  to the mark was
requested by a  third party  and granted.  Such extension  expired December  31,
1995. The Company has not been notified of the filing of a request for a further
extension of such time period.
 
COMPETITION
 
    The  Company's manufactured abrasives will compete with product offerings of
other companies,  principally aluminum  oxide, glass  beads, plastic  abrasives,
garnet, steel grit, coal slag and, with respect to certain applications, sand or
water  blasting techniques.  Many of  the companies  offering such  products are
large corporations  with  substantially  greater financial  resources  than  the
Company.  Large  international  competitors of  manufactured  metallic abrasives
include:  Exolon-ESK,  General  Abrasives  Triebacher,  Inc.,  Washington  Mills
Electro  Minerals  Corp.,  Irvin  Industries,  Inc.  and  others.  Various other
manufacturers produce mined, plastic, glass bead and mineral abrasives, as  well
as  high  speed  water jet  spray  abrasive  systems. The  Company's  ability to
effectively compete against these companies  could be adversely affected by  the
ability  of these competitors to  offer their products at  lower prices than the
Company's products  and  to  devote  greater  resources  to  the  marketing  and
promotion of their products than are available to the Company.
 
    The principal competitive factors in the abrasives market are cost of usage,
performance,  reliability of supply and  health and safety issues. Sophisticated
users tend to  evaluate the total  cost of  usage of an  abrasives product,  and
consider  factors such as (i) the per pound cost of the abrasive; (ii) the speed
of cleaning (as it relates  to labor and overhead  cost to accomplish the  job);
(iii)  energy consumption  cost to  apply the  abrasive; (iv)  special equipment
costs and equipment maintenance costs; (v) disposal costs of the spent abrasive;
and (vi) post-abrasive application costs, such as removal of embedded  abrasive.
The  Company believes that  ALUMAGLASS provides users  with superior performance
and lower total cost  of usage in many  applications. See "Business --  Products
and Services."
 
    The  Company competes for certain of its raw materials for its abrasives and
waste  conversion  services  in  the  hazardous  and  non-hazardous  waste   and
industrial  by-products treatment and disposal  markets, which are characterized
by several  large  companies and  numerous  small companies  and  publicly-owned
landfills  who charge  for the disposal  of waste.  International waste disposal
competitors include, among others, WMX Technologies, Inc. Laidlaw Waste Systems,
Inc., Browning-Ferris Industries, Inc., Mid-American Waste Systems, Inc., Allied
Waste Industries,  Inc. and  Strategic Materials,  Inc. and  a number  of  large
European-based companies. Although the Company beneficially reuses the wastes it
receives  and  may accept  qualified  wastes for  reduced  fees compared  to its
disposal competitors, any  such companies  or any other  competitor may  develop
technologies  superior to those of the  Company or offer waste disposal services
at competitive prices. In addition, to the extent that the burdens of  complying
with  environmental laws and regulations  are eased as a  result of, among other
things, political factors,  competitors may  offer the  Company's customers  and
potential  customers  alternative  and less  costly  means to  dispose  of their
wastes. The Company's  competitive advantage and  successful market  penetration
will  depend on its ability to  provide low-cost waste conversion services while
also minimizing the waste generators' liabilities.
 
    With respect to its industrial  CRT glass recycling operations, the  Company
competes  with several other companies who  accept waste CRT glass for recycling
or other purposes,  each of which  may deal  with customers of  the Company  and
satisfy  their recycling, beneficial reuse or disposal needs. In addition, under
certain conditions,  CRT  glass might  also  be disposed  of  by melting  it  to
recapture the residuals. See "-- Market Overview" and "-- Strategy."
 
                                       43
<PAGE>
ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS
 
    The federal environmental legislation and policies that the Company believes
are  applicable to  its manufacturing  operations in  the United  States include
RCRA, the Clean Water Act, the  Clean Air Act, CERCLA, the Superfund  Amendments
and  Reauthorization Act ("SARA") and the  Pollution Prevention Act of 1990. The
Company is also subject to state air,  water and solid and hazardous waste  laws
and  regulations  that  affect  its  manufacturing  operations.  State  laws and
regulations normally must be at least  as stringent, and may be more  stringent,
than  their  federal counterparts.  These federal  and  state laws  regulate the
management and  disposal  of hazardous  and  non-hazardous wastes,  control  the
discharge  of pollutants into  the air and water,  provide for the investigation
and remediation of  contaminated land  and groundwater  resources and  encourage
pollution   prevention  programs.   Many  of   these  laws   have  international
counterparts, particularly in Europe and elsewhere in North America.
 
    RCRA provides  a  comprehensive  regulatory framework  for  the  generation,
transportation,  treatment, storage and  disposal of solid  and hazardous waste.
RCRA regulations  require  that  hazardous waste  generators,  transporters  and
operators  of hazardous  waste treatment,  storage and  disposal facilities meet
strict standards  set by  government agencies.  In certain  circumstances,  RCRA
requires  owners/operators  of  treatment, storage  and  disposal  facilities to
obtain RCRA Part B  permits from the  EPA or from  state agencies authorized  to
implement  the RCRA program. Obtaining such permits  may be a lengthy and costly
process that requires regulatory inspection and approval of, among other things,
the facility design, equipment and operating plans and procedures. In  addition,
applicants  for a RCRA permit for a treatment, storage or disposal facility must
submit detailed information regarding all past waste management practices at the
facility,  and  may  be  required  to  undertake  corrective  action  for   past
contamination.
 
    Additionally,   RCRA  regulations  establish  "land  disposal  restrictions"
("LDRs") that prohibit disposal  of specified hazardous  wastes on land  unless,
subject  to certain exemptions,  these wastes meet  or are treated  to meet Best
Demonstrated Available  Technology  ("BDAT") treatment  standards.  The  statute
imposes  civil and, under certain  circumstances, criminal liability for failure
to comply with the regulatory requirements.
 
    Under RCRA, wastes are classified as hazardous either by specific listing or
because  they   display  certain   hazardous  characteristics.   Under   current
regulations,  waste residues derived from  listed hazardous wastes are generally
considered to  be hazardous  wastes until  they are  delisted through  a  formal
rulemaking  process that  may require  a few months  to several  years. For this
reason, waste residue  generated by  the processing of  listed hazardous  wastes
will  be considered a hazardous waste,  regardless of whether this waste residue
may be environmentally benign. Subsequent management of such waste residue would
be subject  to full  RCRA  regulation, including  the prohibition  against  land
disposal without treatment in compliance with BDAT.
 
    To maximize the market acceptance of the Company's manufacturing technology,
the  Company has chosen to focus its  initial project efforts on the development
of recycling processes, materials and products which are most likely to  qualify
for  exemptions or favorable regulatory treatment. For example, the Company will
use materials that are not solid wastes  and are not subject to RCRA  permitting
requirements (for example, reclaimed characteristically hazardous by-products or
sludges).  The Company will handle secondary materials  in a way to qualify such
materials for exclusions under state  or federal RCRA regulations (for  example,
use  of materials as effective substitutes for other products in a manufacturing
process), and  the Company  will  store materials  in an  environmentally  sound
manner  (for example, within the manufacturing  building or on a concrete slab).
The  permitting  burden  on  a  facility  utilizing  its  current  manufacturing
technology  will depend  on the nature  of the waste  streams (including whether
they are classified as solid wastes  or hazardous wastes), the configuration  of
the  process  at  the particular  facility,  the  manner in  which  products are
recovered from the waste and the type of waste residuals created by the process.
 
    The New York State Department  of Environmental Conservation ("NYSDEC")  has
been  delegated authority to  administer the RCRA  program in New  York, and has
adopted regulations governing the treatment,  storage and disposal of solid  and
hazardous  wastes. NYSDEC regulations  require the Company  to obtain regulatory
exemptions  and/or  beneficial  use  determinations  for  each  hazardous  waste
material it
 
                                       44
<PAGE>
accepts  for  recycling  purposes. Without  these  regulatory  exemptions and/or
beneficial use determinations, the Company would  be required to obtain a  State
RCRA  permit to operate its  facility, and would become  subject to onerous RCRA
regulatory requirements.
 
    The Company  presently  has  obtained  both  regulatory  determinations  and
beneficial  use  determinations from  NYSDEC concluding  that the  materials and
processes that it will use and the products that it will produce at its  Dunkirk
Facility are not subject to permits under the New York State solid and hazardous
waste  laws. However, in  view of the fact-specific,  case-by-case nature of the
approval process and the varying policies of different jurisdictions, there  can
be  no guarantee  that any  or all  of the  Company's projects  will qualify for
favorable regulatory treatment in other jurisdictions. In addition, there can be
no assurance that new  materials accepted at the  Dunkirk facility will  qualify
for favorable regulatory treatment.
 
    Pursuant to RCRA and New York State law, federal and state regulations exist
governing  aboveground and  underground storage tanks.  Under these regulations,
tanks used to store various types of petroleum must be registered with the State
until they are  permanently closed. These  regulations also establish  standards
for  permanent  closure, and  impose penalties  for failure  to comply  with the
registration or closure requirements. Although the Company does not utilize  any
underground storage tanks, there are several empty tanks at the Dunkirk facility
that  were used by the former owner  of the property to store various materials,
including fuel oil for consumptive heating use on the premises, mineral oil  for
use  in formulating printing ink and  a non-hazardous wash solution for cleaning
printing presses. The  estimated cost to  clean and  close the tanks  is in  the
range  of  $28,000  to  $34,000,  based  upon  bid  proposals  from  a qualified
environmental services firm.  An investigation by  an environmental  engineering
firm  has disclosed modest soil contamination confined to the immediate vicinity
of two  tank locations.  Because of  the  amount and  confined location  of  the
contamination,  it is  not certain  that any  remediation will  be required. The
environmental engineering firm has  estimated that, if  remediation of soil  and
groundwater  is  required,  the  cost of  excavation,  removal  and  disposal of
contaminated material would not exceed $30,000. Thus, total remediation and tank
closure  costs  are  expected  to  range  from  approximately  $28,000,  if   no
remediation  is  required,  to  approximately $64,000  if  soil  and groundwater
remediation is required.
 
    The Clean Air Act empowers EPA to establish and enforce ambient air  quality
standards  and limits on  emissions of pollutants  from specific facilities. The
Clean Air Act Amendments  of 1990 impose specific  requirements upon "major"  or
"area" sources of regulated air pollutants. In certain cases, depending upon the
area   the  source   is  located,   such  sources   may  be   required  to  meet
technology-based emissions limits based  upon Best Available Control  Technology
("BACT")  for  sources  subject  to new  source  performance  standards; Maximum
Achievable Control Technology ("MACT") for  hazardous air pollutant sources  and
Reasonably  Available Control Technology ("RACT")  or Lowest Achievable Emission
Rates ("LAER") for criteria pollutant sources in non-attainment areas. New  York
State  has  also enacted  the  Air Pollution  Control  Act, and  has promulgated
regulations pursuant to that Act that regulate air contaminant sources.
 
    Under the Clean Air Act and its Amendments, and state laws and  regulations,
the  Company may be  required to obtain a  Title V operating  permit, as well as
various other  air permits  to  construct or  operate  emission sources  at  its
facility.  The Dunkirk facility has obtained, or is in the process of obtaining,
all necessary air permits.
 
    CERCLA and subsequent amendments under SARA impose continuing liability upon
generators of hazardous substances and owners and operators of facilities  where
hazardous  waste  is released  or threatened  to  be released,  as well  as upon
parties who  arrange for  the  transportation of  hazardous substances  to  such
facilities.  CERCLA effectively imposes strict, joint and several liability upon
these parties. Accordingly,  the Company could  incur liability as  an owner  or
operator  for  releases  of hazardous  substances  at its  Dunkirk  Facility, or
possibly as a hazardous waste generator.  In addition, the Company plans to  own
and  operate other  production units  and installations,  and may  be exposed to
potential liability under CERCLA for  releases of hazardous substances into  the
environment at those sites.
 
    The  NYSDEC has reviewed extensive environmental sampling data regarding the
Company's Dunkirk facility and concluded that it is unnecessary to consider  the
site  for inclusion on the list of facilities that warrant further investigation
for potential remediation.
 
                                       45
<PAGE>
    The Community  Right-to-Know  mandate  established  by  SARA  requires  full
disclosure  of certain environmental  releases to the  public and contributes to
public awareness  and  activity  regarding  corporate  environmental  management
issues.  The Company is required pursuant  to this mandate to immediately report
any release  that meets  an  established reportable  quantity threshold  and  to
report  annually the release of certain listed chemicals in excess of applicable
thresholds. The  Company could  be found  liable and  subject to  penalties  for
failure to immediately report a reportable spill or release.
 
    The  Clean  Water  Act  establishes effluent  guidelines  and  water quality
criteria to protect the nation's  waterways. Facilities that discharge  effluent
containing  regulated pollutants directly  to "waters of  the United States" are
required to obtain a National  Pollution Discharge Elimination System  ("NPDES")
permit  that regulates the amount  of pollutant that may  be discharged into the
water. Facilities that discharge into  publicly operated sewer systems, such  as
the  Dunkirk  facility, are  required to  obtain sewer  use permits.  Dunkirk is
presently discharging its effluent to a local sewer system in compliance with  a
sewer use permit.
 
    The  Pollution Prevention Act of 1990  establishes pollution prevention as a
national objective, naming it a primary  goal wherever feasible. The Act  states
that  if  pollution cannot  be  prevented, materials  should  be recycled  in an
environmentally safe manner  in lieu of  treatment or disposal.  Under the  Act,
companies  would be  encouraged to  use recycling  facilities, such  as Dunkirk,
rather than to dispose of  their sludges or byproducts  as wastes. The Act  also
requires facilities like Dunkirk to report annually the volume of certain listed
chemicals  that  are  recycled  on  site. The  Dunkirk  facility  has  filed the
requisite appropriate reports.
 
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
 
    The Company is a party to litigation commenced by the Company in the Supreme
Court of New York, County of  Chautauqua, against a general contractor hired  to
construct  the improved abrasives finishing area, which is part of the Company's
current capital expansion program. The contractor commenced work in April  1995,
but was asked to stop work in November 1995 following significant cost overruns,
problems and delays in construction and disputes with the Company over the scope
of  the work  to be  performed by the  contractor. Each  of the  Company and the
contractor have filed and  served a summons with  notice. The contractor  claims
damages  of approximately $425,000.  The Company has  served the contractor with
its complaint,  alleging, among  other  things, breach  of contract,  fraud  and
defamation,  and seeks damages in  excess of $1,000,000. Until  such time as the
contractor serves the Company with its answer, the precise counterclaims of  the
contractor cannot be ascertained. The Company has engaged an engineering firm to
review  the contractor's work  and oversee completion  of the improved abrasives
finishing area. Approximately $350,000 of the proceeds of the Offering have been
designated for completion of the abrasives finishing area.
 
    The Company  does not  believe  that an  adverse  outcome in  the  foregoing
dispute  would have a material adverse effect on the Company. The Company is not
involved in any other material legal proceedings.
 
EMPLOYEES
 
    At March  1, 1996,  the Company  had approximately  67 full-time  employees,
including   approximately  49  in  manufacturing,  5  in  research  and  product
applications  development,   approximately  6   in  sales   and  marketing   and
approximately  7 in finance  and administration. The  Company also currently has
one part-time  employee.  From time  to  time, the  Company  utilizes  temporary
employees.  The  Company has  used  up to  20  temporary employees  to  meet its
requirements. The  Company  believes  that additional  permanent  and  temporary
employees can be hired on satisfactory terms.
 
   
    In  February 1996, a majority of the employees of Dunkirk elected the United
Steelworkers of America to  act as their  bargaining representative pursuant  to
the  NLRA. Dunkirk is obligated under the NLRA to bargain with the Union in good
faith. The outcome  of such  bargaining cannot be  determined. There  can be  no
assurance  that  the election  of the  Union  or the  outcome of  the bargaining
process will  not result  in  higher labor  costs,  work stoppages,  strikes  or
otherwise  have a material  adverse effect on  the Company's business, financial
condition or results of operations.
    
 
    The Company has not experienced any work stoppages and the Company considers
its relations with its employees to be satisfactory.
 
                                       46
<PAGE>
PROPERTIES
 
    The Company owns its 230,000 square foot manufacturing facility in  Dunkirk,
New  York. Such facility is subject to a first mortgage held by the New York Job
Development Authority securing a promissory note issued to the Chautauqua Region
Industrial Development Corporation, with respect to which approximately $344,000
principal amount was outstanding at March  31, 1996. In addition, such  facility
is  subject to a second mortgage securing a promissory note issued to the former
owner of the property as  part of the purchase  price therefor, with respect  to
which approximately $331,000 principal amount was outstanding on March 31, 1996.
See  "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations -- Liquidity and Capital Resources."
 
    The Company leases approximately 3,000 square feet of executive office space
in Hazlet, New Jersey, pursuant to a lease expiring December 31, 1997.
 
    The Company believes that its existing  facilities are adequate to meet  its
current and currently foreseeable requirements.
 
                                       47
<PAGE>
                                   MANAGEMENT
 
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS
 
    The  following  table  sets  forth  the names,  ages  and  positions  of the
executive officers and directors of the Company:
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                 NAME                       AGE                          POSITION
- ---------------------------------------  ---------  --------------------------------------------------
<S>                                      <C>        <C>
Harvey Goldman (1).....................         49  Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, President and
                                                     Director
Robert Dejaiffe........................         58  Vice President -- Technology
Perry A. Pappas........................         35  Vice President and General Counsel
Catherine Susan Kirby..................         36  Vice President and Secretary
David L. Sanders.......................         61  Chief Accounting Officer
Eckardt C. Beck........................         52  Director
Norman L. Christensen, Jr., Ph.D.......         49  Director
Scott A. Katzmann (1)(2)(3)............         40  Director
Peter H. Gardner (2)(3)................         29  Director
Alexander P. Haig......................         44  Director
Donald R. Kendall, Jr..................         43  Director
Irwin M. Rosenthal.....................         67  Director
</TABLE>
    
 
- ------------------------
(1) Member of Executive Committee.
 
(2) Member of Audit Committee.
 
(3) Member of Compensation Committee.
 
    HARVEY GOLDMAN  joined the  Company in  March 1994  as President  and  Chief
Executive  Officer and was elected  Chairman of the Board  in October 1994. From
June 1991 through March 1994, Mr. Goldman served as Executive Vice President and
as a  director  of  Air  &  Water  Technologies  Corporation,  a  publicly  held
environmental  technologies company (and  successor to Research-Cottrell, Inc.),
and as its Chief Financial  Officer from June 1987  through June 1991. Prior  to
joining  Research Cottrell, Inc.  in 1985, Mr.  Goldman was a  partner at Arthur
Young & Co. (now Ernst  & Young LLP), where he  served as Director of  Financial
Consulting  in New York City and  National Director of Environmental Consulting.
Mr. Goldman received his B.A. from  Duke University and his M.B.A. from  Harvard
Business School.
 
    ROBERT  DEJAIFFE is the Company's Vice  President -- Technology and has been
Vice President and Technical Director of  Dunkirk since joining Dunkirk in  July
1992.  His career started as an engineer  with Corning Incorporated where he was
responsible for the design and construction of several specialty glass furnaces.
Mr. Dejaiffe  then  became  Manager  of Research  and  Development  for  the  48
Insulations  Division of  Foster Wheeler Corporation,  where he  developed a new
electric furnace design and worked with high temperature industrial  insulations
using  reduced glass. From 1981 to 1989, he was at Potters Industries as Manager
of Advanced Technology and Manager of Process Development Engineering, and  from
October  1989  until joining  the  Company, he  managed  a research  and testing
facility at Penn State University. He holds several patents on glass composites,
furnace accessories and refractory treatments. Mr. Dejaiffe received his B.S. in
Ceramics Engineering  from  Penn  State  University  and  M.B.A.  from  Syracuse
University.
 
    PERRY  A. PAPPAS is Vice  President and General Counsel  of the Company. Mr.
Pappas joined the Company in September  1995. Prior to joining the Company,  Mr.
Pappas  was an attorney  with O'Sullivan Graev  & Karabell, LLP,  a New York law
firm, where  he specialized  in venture  capital and  mergers and  acquisitions.
Prior  to joining O'Sullivan Graev  & Karabell, LLP in  October 1989, Mr. Pappas
was an attorney with the firm of Weil Gotshal & Manges. Mr. Pappas received  his
B.S.  in Psychology and  Master's degree in Labor  and Industrial Relations from
Michigan State University and his J.D. from the University of Michigan.
 
                                       48
<PAGE>
    CATHERINE SUSAN KIRBY is  Vice President and Secretary  of the Company.  Ms.
Kirby  has over  10 years  of marketing  experience, including  the positions of
Creative Services Manager and Account  Executive with the public relations  firm
of  Stern &  Associates, where she  worked from  October 1987 to  April 1990 and
focused on new  product introductions  and product innovations.  Ms. Kirby  then
worked  on a consulting  basis for various clients  including divisions of AT&T,
until joining  the  Company  in March  1994.  Ms.  Kirby received  her  B.A.  in
Communications  and Advertising and M.A.  in Communications and Public Relations
from Rowan College of New Jersey.
 
    DAVID L.  SANDERS is  the Company's  Chief Accounting  Officer. Mr.  Sanders
began  working  for  the  Company  in October  1994  and  held  the  position of
Controller from April 1995  through October 1995. Mr.  Sanders has held  various
financial  positions, including Controller for the Roy Jacobs Company, a Dallas,
Texas distribution subsidiary  of Grow Group,  Inc. of New  York, NY,  Corporate
Controller  for Oxirane Corporation, a petrochemical manufacturing subsidiary of
ARCO Chemical Company,  Group Controller  for BASF Chemicals  U.S. and  Division
Controller for the textile manufacturing division of Johnson & Johnson. From the
period  January  1990  until  joining  the  Company,  Mr.  Sanders  worked  as a
consultant on  various accounting  and computer  related projects.  Mr.  Sanders
holds a B.A. from Columbia University.
 
    ECKARDT  C. BECK has been a director of the Company since February 1995. Mr.
Beck served  as  the  Chairman  and  Chief Executive  Officer  of  Air  &  Water
Technologies  Corporation from October 1987 through  June 1994 and as a director
from June 1990 through November 1994. Mr. Beck has served as Chairman and  Chief
Executive  Officer of other environmental  technologies companies prior to 1987.
Mr. Beck  also  served as  the  Assistant  Administrator of  the  United  States
Environmental  Protection  Agency  in charge  of  the national  water  and waste
programs and as the Regional Administrator of EPA Region 2.
 
    NORMAN L. CHRISTENSEN, JR., PH.D. has  been a director of the Company  since
June  1994 and  is the  Board of Directors'  liaison to  the Scientific Advisory
Board. Dr. Christensen is the Dean of the Nicholas School of the Environment  at
Duke  University, a position he  has held since its  founding in July 1991. From
January 1990 to July 1991, Dr. Christensen was Professor and Chair of Botany  at
Duke  University.  Dr. Christensen  has held  other  academic positions  and has
served as an advisor to the USDA Forest Service, the National Science Foundation
and NASA, and he is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement  of
Science and the National Association of Environmental Professionals.
 
   
    SCOTT A. KATZMANN has been a director of the Company since October 1994. Mr.
Katzmann  is a Managing  Director and the  Head of Capital  Markets at Paramount
Capital, Inc., the placement agent for  the Company's Series A Preferred  Stock.
See  "Certain Transactions." Prior  to joining Paramount  Capital, Inc. in March
1993, Mr. Katzmann spent over 10 years with The First Boston Corporation,  where
he  specialized in early stage venture capital financings, leveraged acquisition
financings, investment partnerships, oil and gas transactions, expansion capital
financings and project financings. Prior to  that, he was an Investment  Officer
in  the Investment Department of Aetna Life  & Casualty, where he specialized in
private placements.
    
 
    PETER H. GARDNER was elected as a  director of the Company in October  1995.
Mr.  Gardner is an  Investment Officer at Technology  Funding Inc., the Managing
General  Partner  of  two  investment  funds  which  are  stockholders  of   and
consultants  to  the Company.  See  "Certain Transactions."  Mr.  Gardner joined
Technology Funding Inc. in July 1994.  Mr. Gardner held the position of  Project
Leader   and  Project  Scientist  at  Roy  F.  Weston,  Inc.,  an  environmental
engineering firm,  from  June  1990  through  August  1993.  During  the  period
September 1993 through June 1995, Mr. Gardner earned an M.B.A. from the Anderson
School at UCLA.
 
   
    ALEXANDER  P. HAIG was appointed  as a director of  the Company in May 1996.
Since February 1996, Mr. Haig has been President and Chief Operating Officer  of
Sky  Station  International, Inc.,  a  telecommunications company.  He  has also
served since 1988  as a  principal and  legal counsel  to Worldwide  Associates,
Inc.,  a business adviser to  both U.S. and foreign  countries for marketing and
sales activities. Prior to 1988, Mr.  Haig was an attorney in private  practice.
Mr. Haig received his B.A. and J.D. from Georgetown University.
    
 
                                       49
<PAGE>
   
    DONALD  R. KENDALL, JR. has been a  director of the Company since June 1994.
From May 1993 through the  present, Mr. Kendall has  served as the President  of
Cogen  Technologies  Capital Company,  L.P., a  power cogeneration  company, the
general partner of which is owned by an affiliate of Cogen Technologies, Inc., a
privately-held corporation engaged in the  business of, among other things,  the
development  of  cogeneration  power  plants. Also  from  May  1993  through the
present, Mr. Kendall has served as  the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer  of
Palmetto Partners, Ltd., a privately-held partnership engaged in the business of
making  investments, the general partner of which  is also an affiliate of Cogen
Technologies, Inc.  From  May 1992  to  May 1993,  Mr.  Kendall was  a  Managing
Director  at CS First  Boston Corporation. From  February 1990 to  May 1992, Mr.
Kendall served as President of Kendall  Capital Partners, L.P. Mr. Kendall is  a
director of Cogen Technologies, Inc.
    
 
   
    IRWIN  M. ROSENTHAL was appointed as a  director of the Company in May 1996.
Mr. Rosenthal is an attorney and  since 1960 has specialized in securities  law.
He  is currently a senior partner at  Rubin Baum Levin Constant & Friedman. From
January 1990 to November 1991, Mr. Rosenthal was a senior partner at Baer, Marks
and Upham and prior thereto he was  an attorney at various other law firms.  Mr.
Rosenthal  serves  as  Secretary and  as  a  director of  Magar  Inc.  a private
investment firm, of which he is a  principal stockholder. He is also a  director
of  Magna-Lab, Inc., a publicly-traded medical technology company, and Symbollon
Corporation, a publicly-traded chemical and medical technology company, and is a
general partner of Alliance  which is a partnership  which invests in  companies
and may take on a management role in such companies.
    
 
BOARD COMMITTEES AND DESIGNATED DIRECTORS
 
    The  Board of Directors has a Compensation Committee, an Audit Committee and
an Executive Committee. The Compensation Committee makes recommendations to  the
Board  concerning salaries and incentive compensation for officers and employees
of the Company  and administers the  Company's Employee Stock  Option Plan.  See
"Management  --  Stock  Option Plans."  The  Audit Committee  which  reviews the
results and  scope  of the  audit  and  other accounting  related  matters.  The
Executive Committee has the full authority of the Board of Directors, subject to
the Delaware General Corporation Law.
 
    The  Company  has agreed,  if requested  by the  Underwriter, to  nominate a
designee of the Underwriter to the Company's Board of Directors for a period  of
five years from the date of this Prospectus. See "Underwriting."
 
    Mr.  Gardner serves as the designee of Technology Funding Inc., the Managing
General Partner of two  investment funds that are  stockholders of the  Company.
See "Certain Transactions" and "Principal Stockholders."
 
DIRECTORS' COMPENSATION
 
    Directors  receive  no  cash  compensation  for  serving  on  the  Board  of
Directors. Pursuant  to the  Conversion  Technologies International,  Inc.  1994
Stock  Option Plan for  Non-Employee Directors, directors  who are not employees
receive a grant of non-qualified stock  options as described below under  "Stock
Option Plan for Non-Employee Directors."
 
    In  March 1995, the Company entered into a Consulting Agreement with Eckardt
C. Beck, a director of the Company,  pursuant to which Mr. Beck receives  $1,000
per month for his services and is eligible to receive additional compensation on
a  project basis if approved by the Company. The Consulting Agreement expires in
March 1997. See "Certain Transactions."
 
    In May 1995, the Company issued warrants to purchase 54,250 shares of Series
A Preferred  Stock to  Scott  A. Katzmann,  a director  of  the Company,  at  an
exercise  price of $2.75  per share. Such  warrants have been  amended to become
warrants to purchase 18,764 shares of Common Stock at an exercise price of $4.40
per  share  effective   upon  the   date  of  this   Prospectus.  See   "Certain
Transactions."
 
OTHER KEY PERSONNEL
 
    MICHAEL  S. M. O'DONOUGHUE  is Vice President and  Plant Manager at Dunkirk.
Mr. O'Donoughue joined Dunkirk  in October 1994. Prior  to joining Dunkirk,  Mr.
O'Donoughue spent six years as General
 
                                       50
<PAGE>
Manager  and  Plant Manager  with Ferranti-Packard  Transformers, Inc.  Prior to
that, Mr. O'Donoughue held various manufacturing positions with General Electric
Company, Canadian General Electric Company and Philip Morris Companies Inc.  Mr.
O'Donoughue  received  his  Bachelor's  degree  in  Mechanical  Engineering from
Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario.
 
    MARK  R.  GEISE  has  been  the  Coordinator  of  Marketing  and   Materials
Acquisition  at Dunkirk since joining Dunkirk in  February 1993, and serves as a
member of the  product marketing team,  specializing in technical  applications.
From  February  1992 until  joining  Dunkirk, Mr.  Geise  served as  Director of
Development for the City of  Dunkirk, New York. Prior  to that, Mr. Geise  spent
over  four years with a housing and development agency in Buffalo, New York. Mr.
Geise received his B.S. in Environmental  Design and his M.S. in Urban  Planning
from the State University of New York at Buffalo.
 
    ASHVIN  SRIVASTAVA, PH.D. is Director of Research at Dunkirk. Dr. Srivastava
joined Dunkirk in  August 1994.  From February  1992 until  September 1992,  Dr.
Srivastava  worked in different  capacities, including Vice President-Electronic
Ceramics, with Crest Ultrasonics Corporation,  a publicly held company based  in
Trenton,  New Jersey. Dr. Srivastava held  the position of Research Assistant at
Penn State University  from September  1987 until December  1992. From  December
1992  until  joining  the Company,  Dr.  Srivastava  was in  India  attending to
personal affairs. Dr.  Srivastava has also  served as a  member of the  Advanced
Technology  Department for  General Electric  Company and  Teaching Assistant at
Alfred University.  Dr.  Srivastava  received  his  Bachelors  degree  from  the
Institute  of Technology,  B.H.U., India,  an M.S.  in Ceramic  Engineering from
Alfred University and a Ph.D. in Solid State Science from Penn State University.
 
    KIMBERLY K.  LOTTER,  PH.D.  joined  Dunkirk  in  July  1995  as  Laboratory
Director.  Dr. Lotter was an Assistant Professor  at the State University of New
York at Fredonia from August 1994  until joining Dunkirk. Prior to August  1994,
Dr. Lotter was pursuing her graduate studies at the State University of New York
at Buffalo and held various teaching and research positions. Dr. Lotter received
her  B.S. in  Chemistry from the  State University  of New York  at Fredonia and
Ph.D. in Inorganic Chemistry from the State University of New York at Buffalo.
 
    ANDREW C.  CANNON  joined the  Company  in  May 1995  as  Product  Marketing
Specialist,  focusing on  telemarketing, generation  of leads  and direct sales.
From February 1988 through June 1994, Mr.  Cannon was employed with Air &  Water
Technologies  Corporation, working  in various  sales and  marketing capacities,
including managing  telemarketing  efforts, developing  lead  tracking  database
systems  and key account  management. Mr. Cannon received  his B.A. in Economics
from St. Frances College in Loretto, Pennsylvania.
 
SCIENTIFIC ADVISORY BOARD
 
    Since the Company's inception, the Company has sought the advisory  services
of  a number of scientists, researchers and clinicians with extensive experience
in the Company's fields of interest (the "Scientific Advisors"). The Company has
established a  Scientific Advisory  Board whose  members assist  the Company  in
identifying  product development opportunities, in reviewing and evaluating with
management the progress of research  programs, and in recruiting and  evaluating
scientists and other employees.
 
    Most  of  the Scientific  Advisors are  employed  by and/or  have consulting
agreements with entities other than the  Company, some of which may conflict  or
compete  with the Company, and they are  expected to devote only a small portion
of their time to the Company. They  are not expected to actively participate  in
the  Company's activities. Certain of the institutions with which the Scientific
Advisors are affiliated may have regulations or policies which limit the ability
of such personnel to act as part-time  consultants or in other capacities for  a
commercial  enterprise or may adopt such  regulations or policies in the future.
Furthermore, it is probable that any  inventions or processes discovered by  the
Scientific  Advisors will not become the property of the Company but will remain
the property of such persons or of such persons' full-time employers.
 
                                       51
<PAGE>
    The  Company's Scientific Advisory Board presently consists of the following
individuals:
 
    RICHARD M. SPRIGGS, PH.D. is Chairman  of the Scientific Advisory Board  and
is  the Executive Director of the NYS  Center for Advanced Ceramic Technology at
Alfred University, the John F. McMahon Professor of Ceramic Engineering and  the
Director  of Sponsored Research Activities at CACT. Dr. Spriggs has held several
national and international  positions of leadership  in scientific research  and
higher  education administration. Dr. Spriggs  is recognized internationally for
his  pioneering  work  in  advanced  ceramic  materials  and  their  processing,
structure, and behavior. He is the author and co-author of over 100 articles and
publications in the field of ceramic engineering. He jointly holds three patents
for  his  work with  structural adhesives  and  sintering procedures  of ceramic
materials. As Project Director of the National Research Council at the  National
Academy  of Sciences, he was involved with the 1984 landmark study of the status
of high technology ceramics in Japan and other assessments of advanced areas  of
technology.
 
    JOEL CLARK, PH.D. is Professor of Materials Engineering in the Department of
Materials  Science and Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Dr. Clark has been with  MIT since 1968, except  from 1972 through 1975,  during
which  period Dr. Clark was Project Manager for the Development of Intermetallic
Alloys at  Texas Instruments.  Dr. Clark  received his  S.M. degree  from  Sloan
School  of Management at MIT in 1975,  his Sc.D. degree in Materials Science and
Engineering from MIT in 1972 and his  M.S. and B.S. in Engineering Science  from
Florida State University in 1970 and 1966, respectively. Dr. Clark has published
numerous articles on advanced materials.
 
    DOTSEVI  Y. SOGAH, PH.D. is a  professor of Chemistry at Cornell University.
Previously, Dr. Sogah spent ten years  in a number of senior research  positions
at  DuPont Central  Research, Wilmington,  Delaware and  served on  various U.S.
government Advisory  Boards including  the  NRC Board  on Chemical  Science  and
Technology  from 1989 to 1992 and as Vice  Chairman of the NRC Polymer Science &
Engineering Committee.  Dr. Sogah  has served  since 1989  on several  editorial
advisory  boards  including the  International  Advisory Board  for  Science and
Engineering of Composite Materials. Dr. Sogah holds a dozen U.S. patents and has
published numerous articles in the area of composite materials.
 
    WILLIAM R.  PRINDLE, SC.D.  was the  Division Vice  President and  Associate
Director-Technology  Group at Corning Incorporated from  1980 to 1991. From 1976
to 1980, Dr.  Prindle served in  Washington, D.C. as  Executive Director of  The
National  Materials Advisory Board,  a unit of the  National Research Council of
the National Academy of Sciences. He  has particular interest and experience  in
the  management  of glass  and  ceramics research  and  development, and  in the
structure and properties of materials. Dr. Prindle received his B.S. and M.S. in
Physical Metallurgy from the  University of California at  Berkeley in 1948  and
1950, respectively, and his Sc.D. in Ceramics from MIT in 1955.
 
    SYLVIA  M.  JOHNSON, PH.D.  is Program  Manager,  Ceramics, in  the Physical
Sciences Division of SRI International. In addition to over 13 years' experience
with SRI  International, Dr.  Johnson has  served as  Research Officer  at  Clay
Minerals  Research  at CSR  Building Materials  Inc.  in Sydney,  Australia. Dr.
Johnson has published numerous articles, edited two books and is an inventor  on
four  patents in  the ceramics  area. Dr.  Johnson received  a B.Sc.  in Ceramic
Engineering from the University of New  South Wales, Australia, and an M.S.  and
Ph.D.  in Materials Science  from the University of  California at Berkeley. Dr.
Johnson is also a Fellow of the American Ceramics Society.
 
LIMITATION OF LIABILITY
 
    The General Corporation Law  of Delaware permits  a corporation through  its
Certificate  of  Incorporation  to  eliminate  the  personal  liability  of  its
directors to the corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach
of fiduciary duty with  certain exceptions. The exceptions  include a breach  of
fiduciary  duty of loyalty, acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve
intentional misconduct or a knowing  violation of law, improper declarations  of
dividends,  and  transactions  from  which  the  directors  derived  an improper
personal benefit.  The Company's  Certificate  of Incorporation  exonerates  its
directors  from  monetary  liability to  the  fullest extent  permitted  by this
statutory provision but does not  restrict the availability of non-monetary  and
other equitable relief.
 
                                       52
<PAGE>
    The  Company believes that it is the position of the Commission that insofar
as the foregoing provision may be invoked to disclaim liabilities arising  under
the  Securities Act, the provision is against  public policy as expressed in the
Securities Act and is therefore unenforceable. Such limitation of liability also
does not affect the availability of injunctive relief or recission.
 
    The Company intends to  enter into Indemnification  Agreements with each  of
its  directors and executive officers prior to the date of this Prospectus. Each
such Indemnification Agreement will provide that the Company will indemnify  the
indemnitee  against expenses,  including reasonable  attorney's fees, judgments,
penalties, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred
by him  in  connection with  any  civil  or criminal  action  or  administrative
proceeding arising out of the performance of his duties as an officer, director,
employee  or agent of the  Company. Indemnification is available  if the acts of
the indemnitee  were in  good faith,  if the  indemnitee acted  in a  manner  he
reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company
and,  with respect to any criminal  proceeding, the indemnitee had no reasonable
cause to believe his conduct was unlawful.
 
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
 
    The following Summary Compensation Table sets forth the compensation  earned
by  Harvey  Goldman,  the  Company's  Chairman,  President  and  Chief Executive
Officer, and  Gerald P.  Balcar, a  founder of  Dunkirk and  former officer  and
director  of Dunkirk and the Company, for services rendered in all capacities to
the Company  during the  fiscal year  ended June  30, 1995.  No other  executive
officer  of  the Company  received salary  and bonus  compensation in  excess of
$100,000 during such fiscal year.
 
                           SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                               ANNUAL
NAMED AND PRINCIPAL POSITION                                        YEAR       SALARY
- ----------------------------------------------------------------  ---------  ----------
<S>                                                               <C>        <C>
Harvey Goldman .................................................       1995  $  180,000
 Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer
Gerald P. Balcar (1)............................................       1995  $  151,440
</TABLE>
 
- ------------------------
(1) Gerald P. Balcar is a founder of  Dunkirk and a former officer and  director
    of  Dunkirk  and the  Company.  Mr. Balcar  is no  longer  employed by  or a
    director of, or otherwise engaged to represent in any capacity, the  Company
    or Dunkirk.
 
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENTS
 
   
    Harvey  Goldman is  employed with the  Company under  a four-year employment
agreement, which contains a  one-year renewal option, effective  as of March  1,
1994.   Under   the  terms   of   the  employment   agreement,   which  includes
confidentiality and non-competition provisions,  Mr. Goldman receives an  annual
salary  of  $180,000, subject  to increase  at  the discretion  of the  Board of
Directors. Pursuant to the employment  agreement, Mr. Goldman was issued  27,194
shares of Common Stock at a price of $.002 per share as additional compensation.
Under  the employment  agreement, Mr. Goldman  is eligible to  receive an annual
bonus at the discretion of the Compensation Committee. Both the Company and  Mr.
Goldman  may terminate the employment agreement at any time by providing written
notice to  the other  party. If  the  termination is  initiated by  the  Company
without  cause, Mr. Goldman is entitled  to receive a one-time severance payment
equal to  three  times  his then  effective  base  salary. In  the  event  of  a
termination for cause or a termination initiated by Mr. Goldman, the Company has
a  repurchase right with respect to 15,500 shares at a price of $.002 per share.
Such number decreases to approximately 5,500 after March 1996 and, in  September
1996,  such shares  shall no longer  be subject  to any repurchase  right by the
Company. In addition to the foregoing shares, Mr. Goldman purchased an aggregate
of 71,643 shares  of Common Stock  for nominal consideration  during the  period
from  February 1994  to June  1994. In connection  with the  1994 Financing, Mr.
Goldman was  also  issued 1,888  shares  of  Common Stock  and  warrants  which,
effective as of the date of this Prospectus, will represent the right to acquire
5,239  shares of Common Stock.  See "-- Stock Option  Plans." In April 1996, Mr.
Goldman was granted  options, effective as  of the date  of this Prospectus,  to
purchase 50,000 shares of Common Stock at an exercise price of $4.40 per share.
    
 
                                       53
<PAGE>
    Perry  A. Pappas is employed with  the Company under a three-year employment
agreement which contains a one-year renewal option, effective as of September 1,
1995.  Under   the   terms  of   the   employment  agreement,   which   includes
confidentiality  and non-competition  provisions, Mr. Pappas  receives an annual
salary of  $125,000, subject  to increase  at  the discretion  of the  Board  of
Directors.  In addition, the  agreement provides for the  issuance of options to
purchase 7,307 shares of Common Stock at an exercise price of $20.53 per  share,
which  options have been repriced to $4.40  per share effective upon the date of
this Prospectus. See  "-- Stock Option  Plans." Mr. Pappas  is also entitled  to
receive performance bonuses upon recommendation of the President and approval by
the Board of Directors. The employment agreement permits both Mr. Pappas and the
Company to terminate the employment agreement by providing written notice to the
other  party. If the termination is initiated  by the Company without cause, Mr.
Pappas is entitled  to receive a  one-time severance payment  equal to his  base
salary and continuation of benefits for a period of one year. In addition to the
foregoing  options, Mr. Pappas received options to purchase an additional 14,616
shares of Common Stock in September 1995, which have been repriced at $4.40  per
share effective as of the date of this Prospectus. See "-- Stock Option Plans."
 
STOCK OPTION PLANS
 
    EMPLOYEE STOCK OPTION PLAN
 
    In  June  1994,  the Board  of  Directors  adopted, and  in  April  1995 the
Stockholders approved  the  Conversion  Technologies  International,  Inc.  1994
Employee  Stock Option  Plan (the  "Employee Stock  Option Plan").  The Employee
Stock Option Plan provides for the grant to consultants, officers and  employees
of both "incentive stock options" within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code,
and  stock  options  that are  non-qualified  for federal  income  tax purposes.
Effective upon the closing of the Offering, the total number of shares which may
be issued upon exercise of options granted pursuant to the Employee Stock Option
Plan will increase from 79,170 shares to 440,000 shares pursuant to an amendment
to the Employee  Stock Option  Plan adopted  by the  Board and  approved by  the
holders  of a majority of the outstanding voting capital stock of the Company in
November 1995.
 
    As of the date of  this Prospectus, the Company  has options to purchase  an
aggregate  of 73,010 shares of Common Stock outstanding under the Employee Stock
Option  Plan.  Effective  as  of  the  date  of  this  Prospectus,  pursuant  to
resolutions adopted by the Board in December 1995, all options outstanding under
the  Employee Stock Option Plan have been  repriced to have an exercise price of
$4.40 per share, representing the Board's good faith estimate of the fair  value
of  one share  of Common Stock  as of the  date of this  Prospectus after giving
effect to the Offering.
 
    The  Employee  Stock  Option  Plan  will  terminate  in  June  2004,  unless
terminated  earlier  by  the  Board  of  Directors.  The  Compensation Committee
administers the Employee Stock Option Plan and determines which of the Company's
consultants, officers and employees will receive options, the time when  options
are  granted, whether the  options are incentive  stock options or non-qualified
stock options, the terms of such options,  the exercise date of any options  and
the  number of shares subject to  options. Members of the Compensation Committee
are not  eligible to  receive  options under  the  Employee Stock  Option  Plan.
Directors  who  are also  employees are  eligible to  receive options  under the
Employee Stock Option Plan. Non-employee  directors are not eligible to  receive
options under the Employee Stock Option Plan.
 
    The  exercise price  of incentive stock  options granted  under the Employee
Stock Option Plan  may not be  less than 100%  of the fair  market value of  the
Common  Stock at the time of grant, and the term of any option may not exceed 10
years. With respect to any employee who owns stock representing more than 10% of
the voting power of the outstanding  capital stock of the Company, the  exercise
price of any incentive stock option may not be less than 110% of the fair market
value  of such shares at the time of grant,  and the term of such option may not
exceed five  years.  The exercise  price  of  a non-qualified  stock  option  is
determined  by the  Compensation Committee  on the  date the  option is granted.
However, in the case of options granted  after the date of this Prospectus,  the
exercise  price of a non-qualified stock option may not be less than 100% of the
fair market value of the  Common Stock at the time  of grant. Subsequent to  the
date  of the grant  of a non-qualified stock  option, the Compensation Committee
may, at its discretion  and with the  consent of the  optionee, establish a  new
price for such non-qualified stock option.
 
                                       54
<PAGE>
    Options  granted under  the Employee  Stock Option  Plan are nontransferable
and, with certain  exceptions in  the event  of the  death or  disability of  an
optionee,  may be exercised by  the optionee only during the  term of his or her
employment. Options granted under the Employee Stock Option Plan typically  vest
over a three-year period and expire after seven years.
 
    STOCK OPTION PLAN FOR NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTORS
 
    In  June  1994,  the Board  of  Directors  adopted, and  in  April  1995 the
Stockholders approved the Conversion Technologies International, Inc. 1994 Stock
Option Plan for Non-Employee Directors (the "Stock Option Plan for  Non-Employee
Directors").  The purpose of the Stock Option Plan for Non-Employee Directors is
to attract and retain the services of experienced and knowledgeable  independent
directors of the Company for the benefit of the Company and its stockholders and
to  provide additional incentive for such directors  to continue to work for the
best interests of the Company and its stockholders through continuing  ownership
of Common Stock. Effective upon the closing of the Offering, the total number of
shares  which may  be issued  upon exercise of  options granted  pursuant to the
Stock Option Plan for Non-Employee Directors will increase from 24,360 shares to
70,400 shares pursuant to an amendment to the Stock Option Plan for Non-Employee
Directors adopted by the Board and approved by the holders of a majority of  the
outstanding voting capital stock of the Company in November 1995.
 
    As  of the date of  this Prospectus, the Company  has options to purchase an
aggregate of 7,483  shares of Common  Stock outstanding under  the Stock  Option
Plan  for Non-Employee Directors.  Effective as of the  date of this Prospectus,
pursuant to  resolution adopted  by  the Board  in  December 1995,  all  options
outstanding  under the  Stock Option Plan  for Non-Employee  Directors have been
repriced to have an exercise price of $4.40, representing the Board's good faith
estimate of the fair value of one share  of Common Stock as of the date of  this
Prospectus after giving effect to the Offering.
 
    The  Stock Option  Plan for  Non-Employee Directors  is administered  by the
Board of  Directors.  Subject  to  the  terms  of  the  Stock  Option  Plan  for
Non-Employee  Directors,  the  Board  of Directors  has  the  sole  authority to
determine questions arising under, and to adopt rules for the administration of,
the Stock Option Plan for  Non-Employee Directors. The Directors will  determine
which  of the  Company's non-employee directors  will receive  options, the time
when options are granted, the terms of such options and the exercise date of any
options. The Stock Option Plan for  Non-Employee Directors may be terminated  at
any  time by  the Board of  Directors, but  such action will  not affect options
previously granted pursuant thereto.
 
    Directors of the  Company who  are not,  and who  have not  been during  the
immediately   preceding  12-month  period,  employees  of  the  Company  or  any
subsidiary  of  the  Company  (a  "Non-Employee  Director")  are   automatically
participants in the Stock Option Plan for Non-Employee Directors.
 
    Prior  to  the Effective  Date  of the  Stock  Option Plan  for Non-Employee
Directors (as defined below), the Board of Directors shall determine the  number
of  shares subject to  each option. After the  Effective Date, each Non-Employee
Director who is in office on July 1 of any year (commencing with the first  July
1  occurring after the Effective Date of  the Stock Option Plan for Non-Employee
Directors) shall, as of  July 1, automatically be  granted an option to  acquire
121  shares of Common  Stock. The Effective Date  will be the  date on which the
Offering is consummated. The price of shares that may be purchased upon exercise
of an option is the fair market value of the Common Stock on the date of  grant,
as  evidenced by the average of the high and low sales prices of Common Stock on
such date  as reported  on the  Nasdaq Stock  Market or  the closing  price,  if
applicable,  or the average of the last bid  and asked prices on the date of the
grant as reported  on the Nasdaq  Stock Market.  If there is  no public  trading
market  for such shares,  the fair value  of such shares  shall be determined in
good faith by the Board  of Directors of the Company.  The term of each  option,
except as discussed below, is for a period not exceeding ten years from the date
of  grant.  Options may  not be  assigned or  transferred except  by will  or by
operation of the laws of descent and distribution.
 
    In the event of a  Change in Control of the  Company (as defined below),  an
option  granted to  a Non-Employee  Director will  become fully  exercisable if,
within one year of such Change in Control, such Non-Employee Director ceases for
any reason to be a member of the Board of Directors. A Change in Control will be
deemed to have occurred if (a) there is consummated any consolidation or  merger
of  the  Company  in  which  the Company  is  not  the  continuing  or surviving
corporation   or   any   sale   of   all,   or   substantially   all,   of   the
 
                                       55
<PAGE>
assets of the Company; (b) the stockholders approve any plan or proposal for the
liquidation  or dissolution of the Company; (c) any person or entity becomes the
beneficial owner of 50% or more of  the outstanding Common Stock; or (d)  during
any  period of two consecutive  years, individuals who at  the beginning of such
period constitute  the  entire  Board  of Directors  cease  for  any  reason  to
constitute  a  majority  thereof  unless the  election,  or  the  nomination for
election by the Company's stockholders, of  each new director was approved by  a
vote  of at  least two-thirds  of the  directors then  still in  office who were
directors at the beginning of the period. Any exercise of an option permitted in
the event of a Change  of Control must be made  within 180 days of the  relevant
Non-Employee Director's termination as a director of the Company.
 
                                       56
<PAGE>
                              CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS
 
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENTS
 
    The  Company has entered into employment agreements with Harvey Goldman, the
Chairman, President and  Chief Executive Officer  of the Company,  and Perry  A.
Pappas,  Vice President and  General Counsel of the  Company. See "Management --
Employment Agreements."
 
SERIES A PRIVATE PLACEMENT
 
    Between August  1994 and  May 1995,  Paramount Capital,  Inc.  ("Paramount")
acted  as  placement  agent in  connection  with  the private  placement  of the
Company's Series  A  Preferred  Stock  (the  "Series  A  Placement").  Paramount
received  $632,250  in commissions  and a  non-accountable expense  allowance of
$281,000 in  consideration of  its  services as  placement agent.  In  addition,
designees  of  Paramount  received,  as  additional  compensation,  warrants  to
purchase an  aggregate of  281,000 shares  of Series  A Preferred  Stock, at  an
exercise  price of $2.75 per  share, exercisable at any time  for a period of 10
years following the closing of the Offering. Such warrants have been amended and
restated as of the  date of this  Prospectus to be  warrants to purchase  97,185
shares  of Common Stock at an exercise  price of $4.84 per share. Until November
1997, Paramount will  be entitled to  receive a  fee of 13%  on any  investments
received  by the Company from investors or corporate partners (excluding project
finance investors) that were introduced to the Company by Paramount. Such  right
has  been waived with respect to the securities sold in the Bridge Financing and
in the Offering.
 
    Lindsay Rosenwald, M.D., is the President and Chairman, and Peter Kash is  a
Managing  Director of Paramount. In connection  with the Series A Placement, Dr.
Rosenwald and  Mr.  Kash  received  warrants to  purchase  shares  of  Series  A
Preferred  Stock, which  will represent  warrants to  purchase 34,353  and 4,788
shares of Common  Stock, respectively,  as of the  date of  this Prospectus.  In
addition,  Mr. Kash is the trustee of The Long Term Equity Holdings Trust (1994)
(the "Trust"), a principal stockholder of the Company. The beneficiaries of  the
Trust  are  the  minor  children  of  Dr.  Rosenwald.  The  limited  partners of
VentureTek L.P. ("VentureTek"),  also a  principal stockholder  of the  Company,
include  Dr. Rosenwald's wife  and their minor children.  Certain of the limited
partners of VentureTek, including Dr. Rosenwald's wife, are stockholders of D.H.
Blair & Co., Inc., and are the  daughters of the sole stockholder of the  parent
company  of the Underwriter. See  "Underwriting." The remaining limited partners
are their children. The Company issued 138,218 shares of Common Stock to each of
the Trust and VentureTek in April 1994 for a purchase price of $.002 per  share.
See "Principal Stockholders." Scott Katzmann, a director of the Company, is also
employed by Paramount.
 
CONSULTING AGREEMENTS
 
    In  April 1995,  the Company entered  into a  Project Development Assistance
Agreement (the "Paramount Assistance  Agreement") with Paramount, the  placement
agent for the Company's Series A Placement. Pursuant to the Paramount Assistance
Agreement,   principals  of  Paramount  having  experience  in  foreign  project
development will,  among  other  things,  introduce  the  Company  to  potential
strategic  partners,  assist  in obtaining  requisite  regulatory  approvals and
otherwise facilitate project development activities.  The Company agreed to  pay
to  Paramount or its designees  a success fee of  $75,000 for completed projects
and a fee  of 7%  on any  funds invested  in the  Company by  a foreign  partner
introduced  by  Paramount (together  with warrants  to  purchase that  number of
shares of Common Stock of the Company as  is equal to 5% of the amount  invested
divided  by the Common Stock share purchase price, at an exercise price equal to
110% of such Common Stock purchase price). The term of the Paramount  Assistance
Agreement  is one year, cancellable by  either party upon 30-days' prior written
notice. See "-- Series A Private Placement."
 
    In May  1995, the  Company entered  into a  Consulting Agreement  (the  "TFI
Consulting  Agreement") with Technology  Funding Partners III,  L.P. ("TFP III")
and Technology  Funding Venture  Partners  V, An  Aggressive Growth  Fund,  L.P.
("TFVP  V"), which  will collectively hold  276,727 shares of  Common Stock upon
conversion of  the Series  A Preferred  Stock at  the closing  of the  Offering.
Pursuant  to the  TFI Consulting  Agreement, the  consultants will,  among other
things, introduce the  Company to  strategic partners  and potential  customers,
provide   strategic  marketing   advice,  identify   complementary  technologies
 
                                       57
<PAGE>
with strategic synergies, and identify and assist in procuring appropriate media
channels for the  Company's products.  As compensation for  their services,  the
consultants  received warrants to purchase up  to an aggregate of 200,000 shares
of Series A Preferred Stock at an exercise price of $3.00 per share, subject  to
vesting.  The Company has amended such warrants effective as of the date of this
Prospectus to make such warrants exercisable for 69,177 shares of Common  Stock,
at  an exercise price  of $5.28 per share.  Peter H. Gardner,  a director of the
Company, is  an  Investment Officer  at  Technology Funding  Inc.  ("TFI"),  the
Managing  General Partner of TFP III and TFVP V, and serves as TFI's designee on
the Board of Directors of the Company.
 
    In July  1995, the  Company entered  into a  Project Development  Assistance
Agreement  (the  "TFI  Assistance  Agreement") with  TFI.  Pursuant  to  the TFI
Assistance Agreement, certain  designated principals  of TFI  will, among  other
things,  assist the  Company in project  development efforts both  in the United
States and  abroad by  identifying potential  strategic partners,  assisting  in
obtaining  regulatory approvals and providing  regulatory guidance and otherwise
facilitating project development activities. The Company will pay to TFI or  its
designees a success fee of $75,000 for completed projects and a fee of 7% on any
funds invested in the Company by a strategic partner introduced by TFI (together
with  warrants to purchase that number of  shares of Common Stock of the Company
as is equal  to 5%  of the  amount invested divided  by the  Common Stock  share
purchase  price, at an exercise price equal to 110% of such purchase price). The
term of the TFI Assistance Agreement is one year, subject to renewal, cancelable
by either party upon 30-days' prior written notice.
 
    In July 1995, the Company entered into a Consulting Agreement with  Palmetto
Partners,  Ltd. ("Palmetto"), a  stockholder of the Company  and an affiliate of
Donald Kendall,  a director  and stockholder  of the  Company. Pursuant  to  the
Consulting  Agreement, Palmetto, among other  things, will provide assistance in
identifying and developing project finance opportunities for the new  facilities
in  the  United States  and abroad,  present the  Company's products  to certain
affiliates  and  provide  product  testimonials.  Pursuant  to  the   Consulting
Agreement,  Palmetto received warrants to purchase  an aggregate of 1,217 shares
of Common Stock at  an exercise price  of $24.63 per  share, subject to  vesting
over a three-year period. The price of such warrants has been amended, effective
as of the date of this Prospectus, to $5.28 per share.
 
    In  March 1995, the Company entered into a Consulting Agreement with Eckardt
C. Beck, a director and stockholder of  the Company, pursuant to which Mr.  Beck
receives $1,000 per month for his services and is eligible to receive additional
compensation  on  a project  basis if  approved by  the Company.  The Consulting
Agreement expires in March 1997.
 
BRIDGE LOANS
 
    In April 1994,  the Company  consummated the 1994  Financing whereby  Harvey
Goldman,  the Chairman,  President and Chief  Executive Officer  of the Company,
Jeffrey Wolf, a  former Chairman,  director and  a stockholder  of the  Company,
Donald  R. Kendall, Jr., a director and stockholder of the Company, and Palmetto
Partners, Ltd., a stockholder of the  Company of which Mr. Kendall is  President
and Chief Executive Officer, purchased $600,000 in an aggregate principal amount
of  7% Convertible  Bridge Notes,  due October  31, 1995.  These notes converted
(together with  interest) into  45,304 shares  of Common  Stock of  the  Company
simultaneously  with  the closing  of the  Merger.  In addition,  each purchaser
received a warrant to purchase shares  of Common Stock at an aggregate  exercise
price equal to the principal amount of the note purchased by such purchaser. The
warrants  had an initial per share exercise price equal to $13.55. Such warrants
have been amended and restated, effective as of the date of this Prospectus,  to
become  exercisable for 125,786 shares  of Common Stock at  an exercise price of
$4.77 per share. In connection with the 1994 Financing, Palmetto has a right  of
first refusal to provide project financing to the Company.
 
    In connection with the 1994 Financing, designees of Paramount, the placement
agent  for the  1994 Financing,  received warrants  to purchase  an aggregate of
7,307 shares of Common Stock with an  initial per share exercise price equal  to
$13.55.  Such warrants have been amended and  restated, effective as of the date
of this Prospectus, to become exercisable  for 20,750 shares of Common Stock  at
an exercise price of $4.77
 
                                       58
<PAGE>
per  share. Effective as of  the date of this  Prospectus, such warrants include
warrants to purchase 10,374 shares of  Common Stock issued to Dr. Rosenwald  and
warrants to purchase 4,671 shares of Common Stock issued to Mr. Kash.
 
    In  September, October and November 1995,  the Company borrowed an aggregate
of $650,000 from  stockholders of the  Company or their  affiliates for  working
capital.  Of such amount, an  aggregate of $250,000 was  provided by TFP III and
TFVP V,  $200,000 was  provided by  Palmetto and  an aggregate  of $200,000  was
provided by the Aries Domestic Fund L.P. and the Aries Trust, two funds in which
Lindsay  Rosenwald is the sole stockholder  and President of the general partner
and investment manager,  respectively. The  principal amount of  such loans  was
exchanged  at the closing of the  Bridge Financing for $650,000 principal amount
of Bridge Notes and Bridge Warrants  to purchase 325,000 shares of Common  Stock
(which  Bridge Warrants  will be exchanged  automatically on the  closing of the
Offering for the Selling Securityholder Warrants).
 
    In December 1995, the Company completed the Bridge Financing of an aggregate
of $2,225,000 principal amount of Bridge Notes and 1,112,500 Bridge Warrants  in
which  it received net  proceeds of approximately  $1,849,750 (after expenses of
such offering). The Bridge Notes are payable, together with interest at the rate
of 10%  per annum,  on the  earlier  of December  1996 and  the closing  of  the
Offering.  See  "Use  of Proceeds."  The  Bridge Warrants  entitled  the holders
thereof to purchase one  share of Common Stock  commencing in December 1996  but
will  be exchanged automatically on the closing  of the Offering for the Selling
Securityholder Warrants, each of which will be identical to the Class A Warrants
included in the Units offered  hereby. The Selling Securityholder Warrants  have
been  registered  for  resale  in  the  Registration  Statement  of  which  this
Prospectus forms a part, subject to the contractual restriction that the Selling
Securityholders have agreed not to exercise the Selling Securityholder  Warrants
for  a period of one year  from the closing of the  Offering and not to sell the
Securityholder Warrants except after specified periods commencing 90 days  after
the  closing date of the Offering. Certain stockholders of the Company purchased
an aggregate of  $650,000 principal amount  of Bridge Notes  and 325,000  Bridge
Warrants by cancellation of promissory notes previously issued by the Company to
them in an equivalent principal amount. See "Concurrent Offering."
 
   
    In  March 1996,  the Company borrowed  an aggregate of  $200,000 pursuant to
primissory notes bearing interest at the rate  of 10% per annum, payable on  the
earlier  of the closing of the Offering  and September 1996. Of such amount, Dr.
Rosenwald provided $150,000, Scott Katzmann and Peter Kash each provided $18,750
and Harvey Goldman provided $12,500.
    
 
   
    In May 1996, the  Company borrowed $200,000 from  Dr. Rosenwald pursuant  to
promissory  notes bearing interest at the rate  of 10% per annum, payable on the
earlier of the closing of the Offering and November 1996.
    
 
INDEMNIFICATION OF FORMER OFFICER; NON-COMPETE
 
    In December 1995, the Company agreed  to indemnify and hold harmless  Gerald
Balcar,  a founder of Dunkirk, a former officer of Dunkirk and the Company and a
principal stockholder of  the Company  with respect  to guarantees  made by  Mr.
Balcar  and his wife of obligations of  Dunkirk. In addition, the Company agreed
to use  reasonable  efforts  to  cause  Mr. Balcar  to  be  released  from  such
guaranties  as soon  as practicable following  the closing of  the Offering. Mr.
Balcar has agreed not to compete with  the Company for a two-year period  ending
August 31, 1997.
 
ISSUANCES OF SECURITIES TO EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS
 
    In February, April and June 1994, the Company issued 98,837 shares of Common
Stock  to Harvey Goldman, the Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President of
the Company, at a price of $.002 per share.
 
    In April 1994, in connection with the 1994 Financing, the Company issued  to
Mr.  Goldman warrants to  purchase 1,845 shares  of Common Stock  at an exercise
price of  $13.55  per  share.  Such warrants  have  been  amended  and  restated
effective as of the date of this Prospectus to become warrants to purchase 5,239
shares  of Common Stock at an exercise price  of $4.77 per share. See "-- Bridge
Loans."
 
    In April 1994,  in connection with  the 1994 Financing,  the Company  issued
warrants  to purchase 3,691 shares of Common  Stock to Donald R. Kendall, Jr., a
director   of    the    Company,    at   an    exercise    price    of    $13.55
 
                                       59
<PAGE>
per share. Such warrants have been amended and restated effective as of the date
of  this Prospectus to become warrants to purchase 10,482 shares of Common Stock
at an exercise price of $4.77 per share. See "-- Bridge Loans."
 
    In April 1994, for services rendered in connection with the 1994  Financing,
the Company issued warrants to purchase 1,644 shares of Common Stock to Scott A.
Katzmann,  a director of the Company, at  an exercise price of $13.55 per share.
Such warrants have been amended  and restated effective as  of the date of  this
Prospectus  to become warrants  to purchase 4,669  shares of Common  Stock at an
exercise price of $4.77 per share. See "-- Bridge Loans."
 
    In August 1994, the  Company issued 2,455 shares  of Common Stock to  Robert
Dejaiffe,  Vice President-Technology of the Company,  in exchange for his shares
of Common Stock of Dunkirk.
 
    In August  1994, the  Company issued  1,888 shares  of Common  Stock to  Mr.
Goldman  upon  conversion of  $25,000 principal  amount of  notes issued  to Mr.
Goldman in April 1994.
 
    In August  1994, the  Company issued  3,775 shares  of Common  Stock to  Mr.
Kendall  upon  conversion of  $50,000 principal  amount of  notes issued  to Mr.
Kendall in April 1994.
 
    In February 1995,  the Company issued  40,000 shares of  Series A  Preferred
Stock  to Mr.  Eckardt C. Beck,  a director  of the Company,  for $100,000. Such
shares will automatically convert upon the  closing of the Offering into  13,833
shares of Common Stock.
 
    In  March 1995, the Company issued 10,000 shares of Series A Preferred Stock
to Mr. Kendall  for $25,000.  Such shares  will automatically  convert upon  the
closing of the Offering into 3,456 shares of Common Stock.
 
    In May 1995, the Company issued warrants to purchase 54,250 shares of Series
A  Preferred  Stock to  Scott  A. Katzmann,  a director  of  the Company,  at an
exercise price of $2.75 per share. Such warrants have been amended and  restated
effective  as of  the date  of this  Prospectus to  become warrants  to purchase
18,764 shares of Common Stock at an exercise price of $4.84 per share.
 
   
    From the period from inception (June 23, 1993) to December 1995, the Company
granted options to  purchase an aggregate  of 48,891 shares  of Common Stock  to
executive  officers and  directors of the  Company with  exercise prices ranging
from $13.55 to $20.53 per share. Such options have been repriced effective as of
the date of this Prospectus at $4.40 per share.
    
 
   
    In April 1996, the  Company issued options to  Mr. Goldman, effective as  of
the  date of this Prospectus,  to purchase 50,000 shares  of Common Stock, at an
exercise price of $4.40 per share. Such options vest ratably over three years on
an annual basis.
    
 
BOARD DESIGNEE AND OTHER TFI COVENANTS
 
    The Company, TFP  III and TFVP  V entered  into a Series  A Preferred  Stock
Purchase  Agreement in  May 1995.  The agreement,  as amended  in December 1995,
provides that following the  closing of the Offering,  the Company will (i)  use
its  best efforts to  nominate a designee of  TFI to the  Board of Directors and
(ii) sell shares of  stock and grant options  to employees, officers,  directors
and  consultants only pursuant to Board approved plans and agreements containing
three-year vesting provisions (except in the case of sales of stock or grants of
options to new employees where the Board determines otherwise for valid business
reasons). Such covenants  will terminate  upon the  earlier of  (a) three  years
following  the closing of the Offering  and (b) such time as  TFP III and TFVP V
cease to hold approximately 18,270 shares of Common Stock in the aggregate.
 
    The terms of the transactions described above were negotiated by the parties
thereto, and the Company believes that  such transactions were on terms no  less
favorable  to the Company than could  have been obtained from unaffiliated third
parties. All future transactions  between the Company and  any of its  officers,
directors,  principal  stockholders  and affiliates  will  be on  terms  no less
favorable than could  be obtained from  unaffiliated third parties  and will  be
approved  by  a  majority of  the  disinterested  members of  the  Board  of the
Directors.
 
                                       60
<PAGE>
                             PRINCIPAL STOCKHOLDERS
 
    The following table sets forth certain information regarding the  beneficial
ownership of the Company's Common Stock, (i) by each person known to the Company
to  own beneficially more than 5% of the  outstanding shares of any class of the
Company's securities, (ii) by each of the Company's executive officers, (iii) by
each of the Company's directors  and (iv) by all  of the executive officers  and
directors  as a group, (a) prior to the  Offering giving pro forma effect to the
conversion of the Series A Preferred Stock upon the closing of the Offering  and
the amendment and restatement of all outstanding warrants as of the date of this
Prospectus  and (b) as adjusted to give effect to the sale of the Shares offered
hereby.
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                     PERCENTAGE OF
                                                                                               SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED
                                                                                SHARES         --------------------------
                                                                          BENEFICIALLY OWNED      BEFORE        AFTER
NAME OF BENEFICIAL OWNER (1)                                                     (2)             OFFERING      OFFERING
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------  --------------------  ------------  ------------
<S>                                                                      <C>                   <C>           <C>
Harvey Goldman (2)(3)..................................................          105,964              5.5%          2.1%
Norman L. Christensen, Jr. (4).........................................            2,615            *             *
Eckardt C. Beck (5)....................................................           15,050            *             *
Scott A. Katzmann (2)(6)...............................................           36,829              1.9         *
Donald R. Kendall, Jr. (7).............................................          175,953              8.6           3.4
Peter H. Gardner (8)...................................................          319,206             16.2           6.3
Alexander P. Haig......................................................            4,871            *             *
Irwin M. Rosenthal.....................................................           --                --            --
Robert Dejaiffe (9)....................................................            4,485            *             *
Catherine Susan Kirby (10).............................................            1,826            *             *
Perry A. Pappas (11)...................................................            2,435            *             *
David L. Sanders (12)..................................................              405            *             *
The Long Term Equity Holdings Trust (2)(13)............................          138,218              7.2           2.8
VentureTek L.P. (2)(14)................................................          138,218              7.2           2.8
TFVP V (15)............................................................          319,206             16.2           6.3
Palmetto Partners, Ltd. (16)...........................................          157,023              7.7           3.1
Gerald P. Balcar (17)..................................................          165,557              8.6           3.3
AXA Banque (18)........................................................          242,139             12.6           4.9
All officers and directors as a group (10 persons).....................          669,639             31.5          12.9
</TABLE>
    
 
- ------------------------
  *  Less than one percent.
 
 (1) Unless otherwise  indicated and  subject to  applicable community  property
     laws, each stockholder has sole voting and investment power with respect to
     all  shares of Common Stock beneficially  owned by such stockholder. Unless
     otherwise indicated, the address of  each principal stockholder is c/o  the
     Company,  Bethany  Crossing Office  Center,  82 Bethany  Road,  Hazlet, New
     Jersey 07730.
 
   
 (2) Includes 100,725 Escrow Shares beneficially owned by Harvey Goldman, 12,179
     Escrow Shares  beneficially  owned by  Scott  A. Katzmann,  138,218  Escrow
     Shares  beneficially  owned  by The  Long  Term Equity  Holdings  Trust and
     138,218 Escrow Shares beneficially  owned by VentureTek  L.P., as the  case
     may be. See " -- Escrow Securities."
    
 
   
 (3) Includes  currently exercisable warrants to purchase 5,239 shares of Common
     Stock. Excludes options to purchase 50,000 shares of Common Stock which are
     not exercisable within 60 days. All of such options are Escrow Options. See
     " -- Escrow Securities."
    
 
 (4) Includes currently exercisable options to  purchase 2,615 shares of  Common
     Stock.   The  address  of  such  stockholder  is  Nicholas  School  of  the
     Environment, Duke University, Box 90328, Durham, North Carolina 27708-0328.
 
 (5) The address  of such  stockholder  is 6345  N.W.  26th Terr.,  Boca  Raton,
     Florida 33496.
 
                                       61
<PAGE>
 (6) Includes  currently  exercisable options  and  warrants to  purchase 24,650
     shares of Common Stock.  The address of such  stockholder is c/o  Paramount
     Capital, Inc., 375 Park Avenue, Suite 1501, New York, New York 10152.
 
 (7) Includes  currently  exercisable options  and  warrants to  purchase 11,699
     shares of Common  Stock. Also includes  51,588 shares of  Common Stock  and
     warrants,  exercisable within 60  days to purchase  an aggregate of 105,130
     shares of  Common Stock  owned  by Palmetto  Partners  Ltd., of  which  Mr.
     Kendall  is  Chairman and  Chief Executive  Officer. Mr.  Kendall disclaims
     beneficial ownership of  all securities  of the Company  owned by  Palmetto
     Partners,  Ltd., other  than 30,000  shares of  Common Stock  issuable upon
     exercise of warrants held by Palmetto  Partners, Ltd. in which Mr.  Kendall
     has  a pecuniary interest. The address  of such stockholder is c/o Palmetto
     Partners, Ltd., 1600 Smith Street, 50th Floor, Houston, Texas 77002.
 
   
 (8) Includes shares beneficially owned by TFP III and TFVP V. Mr. Gardner is an
     Investment Officer at Technology Funding Inc., the Managing General Partner
     of TFP III and  TFVP V. Mr. Gardner  disclaims beneficial ownership of  all
     securities  of the Company owned by TFP III and TFVP V. Excludes options to
     purchase 1,217 shares of Common Stock  which are not exercisable within  60
     days.  The address of such stockholder is c/o Technology Funding Inc., 2000
     Alameda de las Pulgas, San Mateo, California 94403.
    
 
 (9) Includes options exercisable  within 60  days to purchase  2,030 shares  of
     Common  Stock. Excludes  options to purchase  5,886 shares  of Common Stock
     which are not exercisable within 60 days.
 
 (10) Includes currently exercisable options to purchase 1,826 shares of  Common
      Stock. Excludes options to purchase 5,481 shares of Common Stock which are
      not exercisable within 60 days.
 
   
 (11) Includes  currently exercisable options to purchase 2,435 shares of Common
      Stock. Excludes options to purchase an additional 19,488 shares of  Common
      Stock  which are not exercisable  within 60 days. All  of such options are
      Escrow Options. See " -- Escrow Securities."
    
 
 (12) Includes currently exercisable  options to purchase  405 shares of  Common
      Stock. Excludes options to purchase 3,857 shares of Common Stock which are
      not exercisable within 60 days.
 
 (13) The  trustee of  The Long  Term Equity Holdings  Trust (1994)  is Peter M.
      Kash. Mr. Kash is a Senior Managing Director of Paramount. Mr. Kash may be
      considered a beneficial owner of the  shares owned by the Trust by  virtue
      of his authority to vote and/or dispose of such shares. Mr. Kash disclaims
      beneficial  ownership of such  shares. The beneficiaries  of the Trust are
      the minor  children  of  Lindsay  A. Rosenwald,  M.D.,  the  Chairman  and
      President  of Paramount.  Dr. Rosenwald disclaims  beneficial ownership of
      any of the  Company's securities  other than warrants  to purchase  44,727
      shares  of Common Stock issued to him.  The address of such stockholder is
      c/o Paramount Capital, Inc.,  375 Park Avenue, Suite  1501, New York,  New
      York 10152.
 
 (14) The  general partner of VentureTek is  C. David Selingut. Mr. Selingut may
      be considered a  beneficial owner  of the  shares owned  by VentureTek  by
      virtue  of his authority as general partner to vote and/or dispose of such
      shares. VentureTek is a limited partnership, the limited partners of which
      include the wife of Lindsay D. Rosenwald, M.D., the Chairman and President
      of Paramount, and their children.  The limited partners of VentureTek  are
      the  children and grandchildren of J. Morton  Davis. Mr. Davis is the sole
      stockholder of the parent company of the Underwriter. The address of  such
      stockholder is 39 Broadway, New York, New York 10006.
 
   
 (15) Includes  (i) 207,547 shares  of Common Stock,  (ii) warrants, exercisable
      within 60 days  to purchase 32,913  shares of Common  Stock, (iii)  69,180
      shares  of Common  Stock held  by TFP  III and  (iv) warrants, exercisable
      within 60 days to purchase 10,971 shares of Common Stock. Excludes options
      issued to Peter Gardner to purchase 1,217 shares of Common Stock which are
      not exercisable within 60 days.  Excludes (i) warrants to purchase  18,971
      shares  of Common  Stock held by  TFVP V  and (ii) 6,322  shares of Common
      Stock held by TFP III, in each  case, which are not exercisable within  60
      days.
    
 
                                       62
<PAGE>
 (16) Includes  currently  exercisable warrants  to  purchase 105,435  shares of
      Common Stock.  The  address of  such  stockholder is  1600  Smith  Street,
      Houston, Texas 77002.
 
 (17) The  address of such stockholder is  5338 Lakeside Boulevard, Dunkirk, New
      York 14048.
 
 (18) The address of such stockholder is 5-7 Rue De Milan, 75439 Paris, CEDEX 09
      France.
 
   
ESCROW SECURITIES
    
   
    740,559 shares  of Common  Stock  have been  deposited  into escrow  by  the
holders  thereof, including Harvey Goldman  (100,725), Scott A. Katzmann (12,179
shares), The Long  Term Equity  Holdings Trust (138,218  shares) and  VentureTek
L.P.  (138,218 shares). Mr.  Goldman and Perry A.  Pappas, executive officers of
the Company, have deposited  into escrow options to  purchase 50,000 and  21,923
shares  of Common  Stock, respectively,  held by  them on  the date  hereof. The
Escrow Securities are not assignable  or transferable. The holders thereof  have
the  power  to vote  the Escrow  Shares while  such Shares  are held  in escrow.
Holders of  any options  in escrow  may exercise  their options  prior to  their
release  from escrow; however,  the shares issuable upon  any such exercise will
continue to be held in  escrow as Escrow Shares.  The Escrow Securities will  be
released  from escrow, on a pro rata basis, if,  and only if, one or more of the
following conditions is/are met:
    
 
   
        (a) the  Company's net  income  before provision  for income  taxes  and
    exclusive  of any extraordinary earnings or  charges which would result from
    the release  of the  Escrow  Securities (all  as  audited by  the  Company's
    independent  public accountants) (the "Minimum Pretax Income") amounts to at
    least $4.7 million for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1998;
    
 
        (b) the Minimum Pretax Income amounts  to at least $7.0 million for  the
    fiscal year ending June 30, 1999;
 
        (c)  the Minimum Pretax Income amounts to  at least $9.3 million for the
    fiscal year ending June 30, 2000;
 
        (d) the  Closing  Price  (as  defined) of  the  Company's  Common  Stock
    averages  in excess  of $11.25  per share  for 60  consecutive business days
    during the 18-month period commencing on the date of this Prospectus;
 
        (e) the Closing Price of the  Company's Common Stock averages in  excess
    of  $15.00 per  share for 60  consecutive business days  during the 18-month
    period commencing 18 months from the date of this Prospectus; or
 
   
        (f) during the  periods specified in  (d) or (e)  above, the Company  is
    acquired  by or  merged into  another entity in  a transaction  in which the
    value of the  per share consideration  received by the  stockholders of  the
    Company on the date of such transaction or at any time during the applicable
    period  set  forth  in  (d)  or (e),  respectively,  equals  or  exceeds the
    applicable levels set forth in (d) or (e), respectively.
    
 
   
    The Minimum Pretax Income  amounts set forth above  shall (i) be  calculated
exclusive  of any extraordinary earnings or any charges to income resulting from
release of the Escrow  Securities, and (ii)  be increased proportionately,  with
certain  limitations,  in  the  event  additional  shares  of  Common  Stock  or
securities convertible into, exchangeable for  or exercisable into Common  Stock
are issued after completion of the Offering. The Closing Price amounts set forth
above  are subject to adjustment in the event of any stock splits, reverse stock
splits or other similar events.
    
 
   
    Any money,  securities, rights  or property  distributed in  respect of  the
Escrow  Securities, including any property  distributed as dividends or pursuant
to any stock split, merger,  recapitalization, dissolution, or total or  partial
liquidation  of the Company, shall be held in escrow until release of the Escrow
Securities. If none  of the applicable  Minimum Pretax Income  or Closing  Price
levels set forth above have been met by October 15, 2000, the Escrow Securities,
as  well as any dividends or other distributions made with respect thereto, will
be cancelled and contributed to the capital of the Company. The Company  expects
that  the release of any Escrow Securities to officers, directors, employees and
consultants of the Company  will be deemed  compensatory and, accordingly,  will
result  in a charge  to reportable earnings,  which would equal  the fair market
value of such shares on the date of release. Such charge could increase the loss
or reduce or eliminate the Company's net income for financial reporting purposes
for the period(s)  during which such  shares are, or  become probable of  being,
released  from escrow. Although the amount of compensation expense recognized by
the Company will  not affect the  Company's total stockholders'  equity, it  may
have a negative effect on the market price of the Company's securities.
    
 
    The  Minimum Pretax  Income and  Closing Price  levels set  forth above were
determined by negotiation between the Company and the Underwriter and should not
be construed to  imply or  predict any  future earnings  by the  Company or  any
increase in the market price of its securites.
 
                                       63
<PAGE>
                              CONCURRENT OFFERING
 
    The  registration  statement  of which  this  Prospectus forms  a  part also
includes  a   prospectus  with   respect   to  an   offering  by   the   Selling
Securityholders.  The Selling Securityholders' Warrants  are being issued to the
Selling Securityholders as  of the closing  of the Offering  upon the  automatic
conversion  of all of  the Company's outstanding Bridge  Warrants. These Class A
Warrants are identical to the Class A Warrants being offered hereby. All of  the
Selling  Securityholder Warrants issued upon  conversion of the Bridge Warrants,
the Common Stock and  Class B Warrants  issuable upon exercise  of such Class  A
Warrants  and the Common  Stock issuable upon  exercise of the  Class B Warrants
will be registered, at the Company's  expense, under the Securities Act and  are
expected  to become  tradable on  or about the  effective date  of the Offering,
subject to a contractual restriction that  such Class A Warrants and  underlying
securities  may not be  sold for a period  of between 90 and  270 days after the
closing of the  Offering. The Selling  Securityholders have also  agreed not  to
exercise  the Selling Securityholder Warrants for a period of one year following
the closing of the Offering; provided, however, that purchasers of such  Selling
Securityholder  Warrants are not subject to such restrictions on exercise. After
the one  year  period  following  the  closing  of  the  Offering,  the  Selling
Securityholders may exercise and sell the Common Stock issuable upon exercise of
the  Selling Securityholder Warrants without restriction if a current prospectus
relating to such Common Stock is in effect and the securities are qualified  for
sale.  The Company will  not receive any  proceeds from the  sale of the Selling
Securityholder Warrants. Sales  of Selling Securityholder  Warrants issued  upon
conversion  of the  Bridge Warrants  or the  securities underlying  such Class A
Warrants or even the potential of such sales could have an adverse effect on the
market prices of the Common Stock and the Warrants.
 
    The sale of the  securities by the Selling  Securityholders may be  effected
from  time to time in  transactions (which may include  block transactions by or
for the account of the  Selling Securityholders) in the over-the-counter  market
or  in  negotiated  transactions,  a  combination of  such  methods  of  sale or
otherwise. Sales may be  made at fixed  prices which may  be changed, at  market
prices  or in negotiated transactions, a combination  of such methods of sale or
otherwise.
 
    There are no material relationships  between any Selling Securityholder  and
the  Company,  except  that  TFP  III,  TFVP  V  and  Palmetto  Partners,  Ltd.,
stockholders of the Company, are Selling Securityholders. In addition, the Aries
Domestic Fund L.P. and  the Aries Trust, two  investment funds in which  Lindsay
Rosenwald,  the  President and  Chairman of  Paramount, the  Company's placement
agent for the Series A Placement, is  the sole stockholder and President of  the
general    partner   and   investment   manager,   respectively,   are   Selling
Securityholders. See "Certain  Transactions." The Company  has been informed  by
the  Underwriter that  there are no  agreements between the  Underwriter and any
Selling Securityholder regarding the distribution of the Selling  Securityholder
Warrants or the underlying securities.
 
    Selling  Securityholders  may  effect  such  transactions  by  selling their
securities directly to purchasers, through  broker-dealers acting as agents  for
the  Selling Securityholders  or to  broker-dealers who  may purchase  shares as
principals and  thereafter  sell  the  securities  from  time  to  time  in  the
over-the-counter   market,  in   negotiated  transactions   or  otherwise.  Such
broker-dealers, if  any, may  receive  compensation in  the form  of  discounts,
concessions   or  commissions  from  the   Selling  Securityholders  and/or  the
purchasers from whom such broker-dealer  may act as agents  or to whom they  may
sell  as  principals  or  otherwise  (which  compensation  as  to  a  particular
broker-dealer may exceed customary commissions).
 
    Under applicable rules and  regulations under the  Exchange Act, any  person
engaged  in the  distribution of the  Selling Securityholder's  Warrants may not
simultaneously engage in market-making activities with respect to any securities
of the Company  during the  applicable "cooling-off"  period (at  least two  and
possibly  nine business  days) prior to  the commencement  of such distribution.
Accordingly, in  the event  the  Underwriter or  Blair &  Co.  is engaged  in  a
distribution  of the Selling Securityholder Warrants, neither of such firms will
be able  to make  a market  in the  Company's securities  during the  applicable
restrictive period.
 
                                       64
<PAGE>
However,  neither the Underwriter nor Blair & Co. has agreed to nor is either of
them obligated to act as broker-dealer in the sale of the Selling Securityholder
Warrants and the Selling Securityholders may be required, and in the event Blair
& Co.  is a  market-maker, will  likely  be required,  to sell  such  securities
through another broker-dealer. In addition, each Selling Securityholder desiring
to  sell Warrants will be  subject to the applicable  provisions of the Exchange
Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, including without limitation Rules
10b-6 and 10b-7,  which provisions  may limit the  timing of  the purchases  and
sales of shares of the Company's securities by such Selling Securityholder.
 
    The Selling Securityholders and broker-dealers, if any, acting in connection
with  such sales  might be  deemed to  be "underwriters"  within the  meaning of
Section 2(11) of the Securities Act and any commission received by them and  any
profit  on  the resale  of the  securities  might be  deemed to  be underwriting
discount and commissions under the Securities Act.
 
                           DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES
 
    The following description of the Company's securities does not purport to be
complete and is subject in  all respects to applicable  Delaware law and to  the
provisions  of the Company's Amended  and Restated Certificate of Incorporation,
as  amended,  and  By-laws,  the  Warrant  Agreement  among  the  Company,   the
Underwriter  and  American Stock  Transfer &  Trust  Company, as  warrant agent,
pursuant to which  the Warrants will  be issued and  the Underwriting  Agreement
between  the Company and the Underwriter, copies of all of which have been filed
with the Commission  as Exhibits  to the  Registration Statement  of which  this
Prospectus is a part.
 
GENERAL
 
    The  Company's  authorized capital  stock consists  of 25,000,000  shares of
Common Stock, $.00025 par value, and 15,000,000 shares of preferred stock, $.001
par value  ("Preferred Stock"),  of  which 2,958,000  shares are  designated  as
Series  A  Preferred  Stock  and  12,042,000 are  "blank  check"  or  subject to
designation by the  Board. All  of the Company's  2,958,000 shares  of Series  A
Preferred  Stock outstanding will convert into  1,023,054 shares of Common Stock
at the closing of the Offering and will not be subject to reissuance.
 
COMMON STOCK
 
    The Company currently has outstanding  902,096 shares of Common Stock,  held
of  record by approximately 60 holders. An additional 1,023,054 shares of Common
Stock will be  issued upon conversion  of the  Series A Preferred  Stock at  the
closing of the Offering. Holders of Common Stock have the right to cast one vote
for  each share held of record on all  matters submitted to a vote of holders of
Common Stock, including the election of directors. There is no right to cumulate
votes for the  election of  directors. Stockholders  holding a  majority of  the
voting  power of the capital stock issued  and outstanding and entitled to vote,
represented in person or by proxy, are  necessary to constitute a quorum at  any
meeting of the Company's stockholders, and the vote by the holders of a majority
of  such outstanding shares is required  to effect certain fundamental corporate
changes such  as liquidation,  merger  or amendment  of the  Company's  Restated
Certificate of Incorporation.
 
    Holders  of Common Stock are entitled to receive dividends pro rata based on
the number of shares held, when, as  and if declared by the Board of  Directors,
from  funds legally available therefor, subject to  the rights of holders of any
outstanding Preferred Stock.  In the  event of the  liquidation, dissolution  or
winding  up of the affairs  of the Company, all assets  and funds of the Company
remaining after the payment of all  debts and other liabilities, subject to  the
rights  of the holders of any outstanding Preferred Stock, shall be distributed,
pro rata, among the holders of the Common Stock. Holders of Common Stock are not
entitled to preemptive or  subscription or conversion rights,  and there are  no
redemption  or  sinking  fund provisions  applicable  to the  Common  Stock. All
outstanding shares of Common Stock are,  and the shares of Common Stock  offered
hereby will be when issued, fully paid and non-assessable.
 
REDEEMABLE WARRANTS
 
    CLASS  A WARRANTS.  Each  Class A Warrant entitles  the registered holder to
purchase one share of Common Stock and one Class B Warrant at an exercise  price
of $5.85 at any time until 5:00 P.M., New York
 
                                       65
<PAGE>
City  time, on               , 2001.  Commencing one year from  the date of this
Prospectus, the  Class A  Warrants are  redeemable by  the Company  on 30  days'
written notice at a redemption price of $.05 per Class A Warrant if the "closing
price"  of the Company's Common Stock for any 30 consecutive trading days ending
within 15 days  of the  notice of  redemption averages  in excess  of $8.20  per
share.  "Closing  price" shall  mean  the closing  bid  price if  listed  in the
over-the-counter market on  Nasdaq or  otherwise or  the closing  sale price  if
listed  on the  Nasdaq National  Market or  a national  securities exchange. All
Class A Warrants must be redeemed if any are redeemed.
 
    CLASS B WARRANTS.   Each Class B Warrant  entitles the registered holder  to
purchase  one share of  Common Stock at an  exercise price of  $7.80 at any time
after issuance until 5:00 P.M. New York City time, on        , 2001.  Commencing
one  year from the date of this  Prospectus, the Class B Warrants are redeemable
by the Company  on 30 days'  written notice at  a redemption price  of $.05  per
Class B Warrant, if the closing price (as defined above) of the Company's Common
Stock for any 30 consecutive trading days ending within 15 days of the notice of
redemption  averages in excess of $10.95 per share. All Class B Warrants must be
redeemed if any are redeemed.
 
    GENERAL.  The Class A Warrants and Class B Warrants will be issued  pursuant
to  a  warrant  agreement  (the  "Warrant  Agreement")  among  the  Company, the
Underwriter and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, New York, New York,  as
warrant   agent  (the  "Warrant  Agent"),  and  will  be  evidenced  by  warrant
certificates in  registered form.  The Warrants  provide for  adjustment of  the
exercise  price and for a change in  the number of shares issuable upon exercise
to protect holders  against dilution  in the event  of a  stock dividend,  stock
split,  combination or reclassification of the  Common Stock or upon issuance of
shares of Common  Stock at  prices lower  than the  market price  of the  Common
Stock, with certain exceptions.
 
    The  exercise prices of the Warrants  were determined by negotiation between
the Company and the Underwriter and should not be construed to be predictive  of
or to imply that any price increases in the Company's securities will occur.
 
    The  Company  has  reserved  from  its  authorized  but  unissued  shares  a
sufficient number of shares  of Common Stock for  issuance upon the exercise  of
the  Class A Warrants and the Class B  Warrants. A Warrant may be exercised upon
surrender of the  Warrant certificate  on or prior  to its  expiration date  (or
earlier  redemption date) at the offices of  the Warrant Agent, with the form of
"Election to Purchase" on the reverse side of the Warrant certificate  completed
and executed as indicated, accompanied by payment of the full exercise price (by
certified  or bank check payable to the order  of the Company) for the number of
shares with respect to which the  Warrant is being exercised. See "Risk  Factors
- --  Current  Prospectus  Required  to  Exercise  Warrants."  Shares  issued upon
exercise of Warrants and  payment in accordance with  the terms of the  Warrants
will  be validly  issued, fully  paid and  non-assessable. For  the life  of the
Warrants, the holders thereof have the opportunity to profit from a rise in  the
market  value of the Common Stock, with  a resulting dilution in the interest of
all other stockholders. So  long as the Warrants  are outstanding, the terms  on
which the Company could obtain additional capital may be adversely affected. The
holders  of the Warrants might  be expected to exercise them  at a time when the
Company would, in all likelihood, be able to obtain any needed capital by a  new
offering  of securities on terms  more favorable than those  provided for by the
Warrants.
 
    The Warrants do not confer upon the Warrantholder any voting or other rights
of a stockholder of the Company. Upon notice to the Warrantholders, the  Company
has  the right to reduce the exercise price or extend the expiration date of the
Warrants.
 
UNDERWRITER'S OPTIONS
 
   
    The Company has agreed  to grant to the  Underwriter or its designees,  upon
the closing of the Offering, the Underwriter's Options to purchase up to 306,700
shares  of Common Stock and/or  306,700 Class A Warrants  and/or 306,700 Class B
Warrants. These securities will  be identical to  the securities offered  hereby
except that the Class A Warrants and the Class B Warrants issuable upon exercise
of  the Underwriter's Options will  not be subject to  redemption by the Company
until the Underwriter's Options have been exercised and the underlying  warrants
are    outstanding.   The   Underwriter's   Options   cannot   be   transferred,
    
 
                                       66
<PAGE>
sold, assigned  or hypothecated  for two  years, except  to any  officer of  the
Underwriter or members of the selling group or their officers. The Underwriter's
Options  are exercisable during the three-year  period commencing two years from
the date of this Prospectus  at an exercise price of  $6.16 per share of  Common
Stock,  $.07 per  Class A  Warrant and  $.07 per  Class B  Warrant (140%  of the
initial public  offering price  of  such securities)  subject to  adjustment  in
certain  events to  protect against dilution.  The holders  of the Underwriter's
Options  have   certain   demand   and  piggyback   registration   rights.   See
"Underwriting."
 
OTHER WARRANTS
 
    As  of the closing of the Offering, exclusive of the Warrants offered hereby
and  the  Selling  Securityholder  Warrants  and  after  giving  effect  to  the
conversion  of the Series A Preferred Stock  into Common Stock, the Company will
have outstanding warrants to purchase an  aggregate of 319,204 shares of  Common
Stock,  issued to stockholders of and consultants to the Company having exercise
prices ranging from $4.40 to $5.28 per share. See "Certain Transactions."
 
PREFERRED STOCK
 
    After completion of the Offering, the Company will be authorized to issue up
to 12,042,000 shares of  "blank-check" Preferred Stock.  The Board of  Directors
will  have the authority to issue this Preferred Stock in one or more series and
to fix the number of shares  and the relative rights, conversion rights,  voting
rights   and  terms  of  redemption  (including  sinking  fund  provisions)  and
liquidation preferences, without further vote or action by the stockholders.  If
shares  of Preferred  Stock with voting  rights are issued,  such issuance could
affect the  voting  rights of  the  holders of  the  Company's Common  Stock  by
increasing  the number  of outstanding shares  having voting rights,  and by the
creation of class or series voting rights. If the Board of Directors  authorizes
the  issuance of shares of Preferred Stock with conversion rights, the number of
shares of Common Stock outstanding could  potentially be increased by up to  the
authorized   amount.   Issuance  of   Preferred   Stock  could,   under  certain
circumstances, have the effect of delaying or preventing a change in control  of
the  Company and  may adversely  affect the rights  of holders  of Common Stock.
Also, Preferred Stock could  have preferences over the  Common Stock (and  other
series  of preferred stock) with respect to dividend and liquidation rights. The
Company currently has no plans to issue any Preferred Stock.
 
TRANSFER AGENT
 
    American Stock  Transfer &  Trust Company,  New York,  New York,  serves  as
Transfer  Agent  for  the shares  of  Common  Stock and  Warrant  Agent  for the
Warrants.
 
BUSINESS COMBINATION PROVISIONS
 
    The  Company  is  subject  to   a  Delaware  statute  regulating   "business
combinations,"  defined  to  include  a  broad  range  of  transactions, between
Delaware corporations and "interested stockholders," defined as persons who have
acquired at least 15% of a corporation's stock. Under the law, a corporation may
not engage in  any business combination  with any interested  stockholder for  a
period of three years from the date such person became an interested stockholder
unless  certain conditions are  satisfied. The Company has  not sought to "elect
out" of  the  statute and,  therefore,  upon closing  of  the Offering  and  the
registration  of  its  shares  of  Common  Stock  under  the  Exchange  Act, the
restrictions imposed by such statute will apply to the Company.
 
REGISTRATION RIGHTS
 
    The Company has granted certain demand and piggy-back registration rights to
holders of 1,023,054  shares of  Common Stock  issuable upon  conversion of  the
Series A Preferred Stock purchased in the Series A Placement.
 
    The Company has granted certain demand and piggy-back registration rights to
holders  of 45,304  shares of  Common Stock issued  in connection  with the 1994
Financing.
 
    The Company has granted certain piggy-back registration rights to holders of
257,808 shares of Common Stock issued in connection with the Merger.
 
                                       67
<PAGE>
    The Company has granted certain demand and piggy-back registration rights to
the holders  of warrants  to purchase  293,365 shares  of Common  Stock and  the
holders of the Common Stock issued or issuable upon exercise thereof.
 
    All of the above described registration rights have been waived for a period
of 13 months following completion of the Offering.
 
    The  holders of  the Underwriter's Options  will have  demand and piggy-back
registration rights relating to such options and the underlying securities.  See
"Underwriting."
 
                        SHARES ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE SALE
 
   
    Upon completion of the Offering, the Company will have outstanding 4,992,150
shares  of Common Stock. Of  these shares, the 3,067,000  shares of Common Stock
offered hereby  will  be  freely transferable  without  restriction  or  further
registration  under the  Securities Act, unless  purchased by  affiliates of the
Company as that  term is defined  in Rule  144 under the  Securities Act  ("Rule
144")   described  below.  The  1,925,150   shares  of  Common  Stock  currently
outstanding (after giving effect to conversion of the Series A Preferred  Stock)
are  "restricted securities" or  within the meaning  of Rule 144  and may not be
sold publicly unless they  are registered under the  Securities Act or are  sold
pursuant to Rule 144 or another exemption from registration. Such shares will be
eligible for sale in the public market pursuant to Rule 144 commencing in August
1996.  However, the holders of  approximately 1,891,440 shares (or approximately
98% of the Common Stock outstanding  prior to the Offering (after giving  effect
to  the conversion of the Series A  Preferred Stock into Common Stock)), and the
holders of all of  the Company's options and  warrants outstanding prior to  the
Offering, have agreed not to publicly sell or otherwise dispose of any shares of
Common  Stock without the Underwriter's prior written consent for a period of 13
months after the date of this Prospectus. See "Underwriting."
    
 
    In  general,  under  Rule  144  a  person  (or  persons  whose  shares   are
aggregated),  including  persons who  may be  deemed to  be "affiliates"  of the
Company as that term is  defined under the Securities  Act, is entitled to  sell
within  any three-month period a number  of restricted shares beneficially owned
for at least two years that  does not exceed the greater  of (i) 1% of the  then
outstanding shares of Common Stock or (ii) an amount equal to the average weekly
trading volume in the Common Stock during the four calendar weeks preceding such
sale.  Sales under Rule 144  are also subject to  certain requirements as to the
manner of sale, notice and the availability of current public information  about
the  Company.  However,  a  person  who  is  not  deemed  an  affiliate  and has
beneficially owned such shares for at least three years is entitled to sell such
shares without regard to the volume or other resale requirements.
 
    Under Rule  701 of  the Securities  Act, persons  who purchase  shares  upon
exercise of options granted prior to the date of this Prospectus are entitled to
sell  such shares after  the 90th day  following the date  of this Prospectus in
reliance on  Rule  144,  without  having  to  comply  with  the  holding  period
requirements  of Rule 144 and, in the  case of non-affiliates, without having to
comply with the public  information, volume limitation  or notice provisions  of
Rule  144. Affiliates are subject to all Rule 144 restrictions after this 90-day
period, but without a holding  period. If all the  requirements of Rule 701  are
met,  an aggregate of 24,046 shares  subject to outstanding vested stock options
may be sold pursuant to such rule at  the end of this 90-day period, subject  to
an  agreement by  all option  holders not  to sell  or otherwise  dispose of any
shares of  Common Stock  for  a period  of  13 months  after  the date  of  this
Prospectus without the Underwriter's prior written consent.
 
    Pursuant  to  registration  rights  acquired in  the  Bridge  Financing, the
Company has, concurrently with the Offering, registered for resale on behalf  of
the Selling Securityholders, the Selling Securityholder
 
                                       68
<PAGE>
Securities   subject   to   the  contractual   restriction   that   the  Selling
Securityholders agreed  with  the  Company  (i)  not  to  exercise  the  Selling
Securityholder Warrants for a period of one year for the closing of the Offering
and  (ii) not to sell the Selling Securityholder Warrants except pursuant to the
restrictions set forth below:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                              PERCENTAGE ELIGIBLE
LOCK-UP PERIOD                                                                    FOR RESALE
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------  ---------------------
<S>                                                                          <C>
Before 90 days after closing...............................................               0%
Between 91 and 150 days after closing......................................              25%
Between 151 and 210 days after closing.....................................              50%
Between 211 and 270 days after closing.....................................              75%
After 270 days after closing...............................................             100%
</TABLE>
 
    The Underwriter also  has demand and  "piggy-back" registration rights  with
respect   to   the   securities  underlying   the   Underwriter's   Option.  See
"Underwriting." In addition,  the Company  has granted  demand and  "piggy-back"
registration  rights to  the holders  of 1,326,166  shares of  Common Stock. See
"Description of Securities -- Registration Rights."
 
    Prior to the Offering, there  has been no market  for any securities of  the
Company,  and no predictions  can be made of  the effect, if  any, that sales of
Common Stock or  the availability  of Common  Stock for  sale will  have on  the
market  price of  such securities  prevailing from  time to  time. Nevertheless,
sales of  substantial  amounts  of  Common Stock  in  the  public  market  could
adversely affect prevailing market prices.
 
                                  UNDERWRITING
 
   
    D.H. Blair Investment Banking Corp., the Underwriter, has agreed, subject to
the  terms and  conditions of the  Underwriting Agreement, to  purchase from the
Company the 3,067,000  shares of Common  Stock, 3,067,000 Class  A Warrants  and
3,067,000  Class B Warrants offered hereby on  a "firm commitment" basis, if any
are purchased. It  is expected that  Blair &  Co. will distribute  as a  selling
group  member substantially all of the Common Stock and Warrants offered hereby.
It is  also expected  that Blair  &  Co. will  make a  market in  the  Company's
securities  following the Offering. Blair & Co. is substantially owned by family
members  of  J.  Morton  Davis,  including  limited  partners  of  a   principal
stockholder  of the Company.  See "Certain Transactions." Mr.  Davis is the sole
stockholder of  an  entity which  is  the parent  and  sole stockholder  of  the
Underwriter.
    
 
    The Underwriter has advised the Company that it proposes to offer the Shares
and  Warrants to the public at the public offering prices set forth on the cover
page of this Prospectus and to certain  dealers who are members of the NASD,  at
such  prices less concessions of not in excess of $    per Share, $    per Class
A Warrant and $    per Class B Warrant, of which a sum not in excess of $    per
Share,      per Class  A Warrant and $      per Class B Warrant  may in turn  be
reallowed  to other dealers who are members  of the NASD. After the commencement
of the offering, the public offering prices, the concession and the  reallowance
may be changed by the Underwriter.
 
    The  Company  has  agreed  to  indemnify  the  Underwriter  against  certain
liabilities, including liabilities  under the  Securities Act.  The Company  has
also  agreed to pay to the Underwriter a non-accountable expense allowance equal
to 3% of the gross proceeds derived from the sale of Shares and Warrants offered
hereby,  including  any   Shares  and   Warrants  purchased   pursuant  to   the
Underwriter's overallotment option, $20,000 of which has been paid to date.
 
   
    The  Company has granted to the Underwriter an option exercisable during the
30-day period commencing on  the date of this  Prospectus, to purchase from  the
Company at the public offering price, less underwriting discounts, up to 460,050
additional shares of Common Stock and/or 460,050 Class A Warrants and/or 460,050
Class B Warrants for the purpose of covering over-allotments, if any.
    
 
    The  holders of approximately 98% of  the shares of Common Stock outstanding
prior to the Offering  (after giving effect  to the conversion  of the Series  A
Preferred  Stock), and the holders of all  of the Company's options and warrants
outstanding prior to the Offering, have agreed not to sell, assign, transfer  or
otherwise  dispose publicly of any of their  shares of Common Stock for a period
of 13 months from the
 
                                       69
<PAGE>
   
date of this Prospectus  without the prior written  consent of the  Underwriter.
The  holders of 740,559  shares of Common  Stock and options  to purchase 71,923
shares of Common  Stock have deposited  such shares and  options into escrow  as
described under "Principal Stockholders -- Escrow Securities."
    
 
    The   Company  has  agreed  to  nominate  one  director  designated  by  the
Underwriter to the Company's Board of Directors for a period of five years  from
the  completion  of the  Offering, although  it  has not  yet selected  any such
designee. Such  designee  may  be  a director,  officer,  partner,  employee  or
affiliate of the Underwriter.
 
    During  the five-year period from the date  of this Prospectus, in the event
the Underwriter originates a financing  or a merger, acquisition or  transaction
to  which the Company is a party, the  Underwriter will be entitled to receive a
finder's fee in consideration  for origination of such  transaction. The fee  is
based  on a percentage of the consideration paid in the transaction ranging from
7% of  the  first  $1,000,000 to  2  1/2%  of any  consideration  in  excess  of
$9,000,000.
 
    The  Company has agreed not to  solicit Warrant exercises other than through
the Underwriter, unless the Underwriter declines to make such solicitation. Upon
any exercise of the  Warrants after the  first anniversary of  the date of  this
Prospectus,  the Company will pay  the Underwriter a fee  of 5% of the aggregate
exercise price of the Warrants, if (i) the market price of the Company's  Common
Stock,  on the date the Warrants are exercised is greater than the then exercise
price of  the Warrants;  (ii) the  exercise  of the  Warrants was  solicited  in
writing  by  a  member  of the  NASD;  (iii)  the  Warrants are  not  held  in a
discretionary account;  (iv) disclosure  of compensation  arrangements was  made
both  at the time of the  Offering and at the time  of exercise of the Warrants;
and (v) the solicitation of exercise of the Warrant was not in violation of Rule
10b-6 promulgated under the Exchange Act.
 
    Rule 10b-6  may prohibit  Blair &  Co. from  engaging in  any market  making
activities  with regard  to the  Company's securities  for the  period from nine
business days (or such other applicable period as Rule 10b-6 may provide)  prior
to  any solicitation by  the Underwriter of  the exercise of  Warrants until the
later of the termination  of such solicitation activity  or the termination  (by
waiver or otherwise) of any right that the Underwriter may have to receive a fee
for  the exercise of Warrants following such  solicitation. As a result, Blair &
Co. may  be unable  to provide  a  market for  the Company's  securities  during
certain periods while the Warrants are exercisable.
 
   
    The  Company has agreed  to sell to  the Underwriter and  its designees, for
nominal consideration, the Underwriter's Option to purchase up to 306,700 shares
of Common Stock and/or 306,700 Class A Warrants and/or 306,700 Class B Warrants,
substantially identical to the Shares and Warrants being offered hereby,  except
that  the Class A Warrants and Class  B Warrants included therein are subject to
redemption by the Company  at any time after  the Underwriter's Option has  been
exercised  and the underlying warrants are outstanding. The Underwriter's Option
will be exercisable during the three-year  period commencing two years from  the
date of this Prospectus at an exercise price of $6.16 per share of Common Stock,
$.07  per Class A Warrant and $.07 per Class B Warrant, subject to adjustment in
certain events  to protect  against dilution,  and are  not transferable  for  a
period  of two years from the date of  this Prospectus except to officers of the
Underwriter or  to members  of the  selling  group. The  Company has  agreed  to
register  during the four-year period commencing one  year from the date of this
Prospectus, on two  separate occasions,  the securities  issuable upon  exercise
thereof  under the Securities  Act, the initial  such registration to  be at the
Company's  expense  and  the  second  at   the  expense  of  the  holders.   The
Underwriter's  Option  includes a  provision permitting  the  holder to  elect a
cashless  exercise.   The  Company   has  also   granted  certain   "piggy-back"
registration rights to holders of the Underwriter's Option.
    
 
    The  Underwriter has informed the  Company that it does  not expect sales to
discretionary accounts.
 
    The Underwriter  acted  as  Placement  Agent for  the  Bridge  Financing  in
December  1995 for  which it received  a Placement  Agent fee of  $222,500 and a
non-accountable expense allowance of $66,750.
 
    The Commission is  conducting an investigation  concerning various  business
activities of the Underwriter and Blair & Co., a selling group member which will
distribute  substantially all  of the  Shares and  Warrants offered  hereby. The
investigation appears to be  broad in scope, involving  numerous aspects of  the
 
                                       70
<PAGE>
Underwriter's  and Blair & Co.'s compliance with the federal securities laws and
compliance with the  federal securities  laws by issuers  whose securities  were
underwritten  by the Underwriter or Blair &  Co., or in which the Underwriter or
Blair  &  Co.  made  over-the-counter  markets,  persons  associated  with   the
Underwriter or Blair & Co., such issuers and other persons. The Company has been
advised  by the  Underwriter that  the investigation  has been  ongoing since at
least 1989 and that  it is cooperating with  the investigation. The  Underwriter
cannot predict whether this investigation will ever result in any type of formal
enforcement  action against the Underwriter  or Blair & Co.,  or, if so, whether
any such  action  might  have  an  adverse effect  on  the  Underwriter  or  the
securities  offered hereby. The Company  has been advised that  Blair & Co. will
make  a  market  in  the  securities  following  the  Offering.  An  unfavorable
resolution  of the Commission's investigation could  have the effect of limiting
such firm's ability to  make a market in  the Company's securities, which  could
affect the liquidity or price of such securities.
 
    Prior  to  the Offering,  there has  been no  public market  for any  of the
securities offered hereby. Accordingly, the public offering prices of the Shares
and Warrants offered hereby and the  terms of the Warrants have been  determined
by  negotiation between the Company and  the Underwriter and are not necessarily
related to the Company's asset value, net worth or other established criteria of
value. Factors considered in determining such  prices and terms, in addition  to
prevailing  market conditions, include the history  of and the prospects for the
industry in  which the  Company competes,  the present  state of  the  Company's
development and its future prospects, an assessment of the Company's management,
the Company's capital structure and such other factors as were deemed relevant.
 
    VentureTek L.P., a limited partnership whose limited partners consist of the
children  and  grandchildren of  J. Morton  Davis, the  sole stockholder  of the
parent company of the  Underwriter, and The Long  Term Equity Holdings Trust,  a
trust   whose  beneficiaries  consist   of  the  grandchildren   of  Mr.  Davis,
beneficially own in the aggregate approximately 14.4% of the outstanding  Common
Stock  of the  Company prior to  the Offering. See  "Principal Stockholders" and
"Certain Transactions." As a result  of such stockholdings, the Underwriter  may
be  deemed an affiliate of the Company by the NASD. Accordingly, the Offering is
being made pursuant to Schedule E to the By-Laws of the NASD. In accordance with
Schedule E to the By-Laws of  the NASD, the independent investment banking  firm
of  RAS  Securities  Corp.  ("RAS") has  recommended  a  maximum  initial public
offering price of $4.40 per Share, $.05 per Class A Warrant and $.05 per Class B
Warrant. Pursuant to Schedule E to the NASD By-Laws, the Shares and the Warrants
are being offered at  a price no  greater than the  maximum recommended by  RAS,
which  firm has informed the Company that  it has performed "due diligence" with
respect to information  contained in  the Registration Statement  of which  this
Prospectus is a part and has participated in the preparation of the Registration
Statement.  The NASD and  the Commission have  indicated that, in  their view, a
qualified independent  underwriter,  such  as  RAS,  may  be  deemed  to  be  an
underwriter,  as the term is defined in the Securities Act. The Underwriter will
pay a fee of $50,000 to RAS for its services in connection with recommending the
maximum initial  public  offering price  of  the  Shares and  Warrants  in  this
offering.  The Company has agreed to  indemnify RAS against certain liabilities,
including liabilities under the Securities Act.
 
                                 LEGAL MATTERS
 
    The validity of the  securities offered hereby will  be passed upon for  the
Company  by O'Sullivan Graev & Karabell, LLP, New York, New York. The statements
relating to United  States patent  rights and  federal government  environmental
regulations have been passed upon by Collier, Shannon, Rill & Scott, Washington,
D.C.  Certain legal matters will be passed  upon for the Underwriter by Bachner,
Tally, Polevoy & Misher LLP, New York, New York.
 
                                    EXPERTS
 
    The consolidated financial statements  of the Company at  June 30, 1994  and
1995  and for the period from March 1, 1994 (commencement of operations) to June
30, 1994  and the  year ended  June 30,  1995 and  the financial  statements  of
Dunkirk  at June 30,  1994 and August 31,  1994 and for the  year ended June 30,
1994 and two  months ended  August 31, 1994,  appearing in  this Prospectus  and
Registration  Statement  have been  audited by  Ernst  & Young  LLP, independent
auditors, as set forth in their report thereon (which
 
                                       71
<PAGE>
contains an  explanatory paragraph  with  respect to  the Company's  ability  to
continue  as a  going concern as  mentioned in  Note 3 of  Notes to Consolidated
Financial  Statements)  appearing  elsewhere  herein  and  in  the  Registration
Statement,  and  are  included  in  reliance upon  such  report  given  upon the
authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
 
                             ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
 
    The Company is not a reporting  company under the Exchange Act. The  Company
has  filed a Registration Statement  on Form SB-2 under  the Securities Act with
the Commission in  Washington, D.C. with  respect to the  Units offered  hereby.
This  Prospectus, which is part of  the Registration Statement, does not contain
all of the information set forth in the Registration Statement and the  exhibits
thereto.  For  further information  with respect  to the  Company and  the Units
offered hereby, reference is hereby made to the Registration Statement and  such
exhibits,  which may be inspected without charge at the office of the Commission
at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549 and at the regional offices of
the Commission located at  Seven World Trade Center,  13th Floor, New York,  New
York 10048 and at 500 West Madison (Suite 1400), Chicago, Illinois 60661. Copies
of  such  material may  also be  obtained  at prescribed  rates from  the Public
Reference Section of the Commission at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington,  D.C.
20549.  Statements  contained  in this  Prospectus  as  to the  contents  of any
contract or other document referred to are not necessarily complete and in  each
instance  reference is made to the copy of such contract or document filed as an
exhibit to the Registration  Statement, each such  statement being qualified  in
all respects by such reference.
 
    Following  the Offering,  the Company will  be subject to  the reporting and
other  requirements  of  the  Exchange  Act  and  intends  to  furnish  to   its
stockholders  annual  reports containing  audited  financial statements  and may
furnish interim reports as it deems appropriate.
 
                                       72
<PAGE>
                         INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                                                                    <C>
Report of Independent Auditors.......................................................  F-2
Consolidated Balance Sheet of Conversion Technologies International, Inc. and
 Subsidiary as of June 30, 1995 and March 31, 1996 (unaudited).......................  F-3
Statements of Operations of Dunkirk International Glass and Ceramics Corporation
 (Predecessor) for the year ended June 30, 1994 and the two months ended August 31,
 1994 and Consolidated Statements of Operations of Conversion Technologies
 International, Inc. and Subsidiary for the period from March 1, 1994 (date
 operations commenced) to June 30, 1994, the year ended June 30, 1995 and the nine
 months ended
 March 31, 1995 and 1996 (unaudited).................................................  F-4
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Deficiency of Conversion Technologies
 International, Inc. and Subsidiary for the period from March 1, 1994 (date
 operations commenced) to June 30, 1994, the year ended June 30, 1995 and the nine
 months ended March 31, 1996 (unaudited).............................................  F-5
Statements of Stockholders' Deficiency of Dunkirk International Glass and Ceramics
 Corporation (Predecessor) for the year ended June 30, 1994 and the two months ended
 August 31, 1994.....................................................................  F-6
Statements of Cash Flows of Dunkirk International Glass and Ceramics Corporation
 (Predecessor) for the year ended June 30, 1994 and the two months ended August 31,
 1994 and Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows of Conversion Technologies
 International, Inc. and Subsidiary for the period from March 1, 1994 (date
 operations commenced) to June 30, 1994, the year ended June 30, 1995 and the nine
 months ended
 March 31, 1995 and 1996 (unaudited).................................................  F-7
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements...........................................  F-9
</TABLE>
 
                                      F-1
<PAGE>
                         REPORT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
 
The Board of Directors and Stockholders
Conversion Technologies International, Inc.
 
    We  have audited the  accompanying consolidated balance  sheet of Conversion
Technologies International, Inc. and Subsidiary (Company) at June 30, 1995,  and
the  related consolidated statements of operations, stockholders' deficiency and
cash flows for the period from March 1, 1994 (date operations commenced) to June
30, 1994 and the year ended June 30, 1995. We have also audited the accompanying
statements of operations,  stockholders' deficiency  and cash  flows of  Dunkirk
International  Glass and Ceramics  Corporation (Predecessor) for  the year ended
June 30,  1994  and  the two  months  ended  August 31,  1994.  These  financial
statements   are  the   responsibility  of   the  Companies'   managements.  Our
responsibility is to express an opinion  on these financial statements based  on
our audits.
 
    We  conducted  our audits  in  accordance with  generally  accepted auditing
standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to  obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement.  An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also  includes
assessing  the  accounting principles  used  and significant  estimates  made by
management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement  presentation.
We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
 
    In  our opinion, the financial statements  referred to above present fairly,
in all  material respects,  the consolidated  financial position  of  Conversion
Technologies  International,  Inc.  and Subsidiary  at  June 30,  1995,  and the
consolidated results of  their operations  and cash  flows for  the period  from
March  1, 1994 (date operations  commenced) to June 30,  1994 and the year ended
June 30, 1995 and Dunkirk International Glass and Ceramics Corporation's results
of operations and cash flows for the year ended June 30, 1994 and the two months
ended  August  31,  1994  in  conformity  with  generally  accepted   accounting
principles.
 
    The  accompanying financial statements have  been prepared assuming that the
Company will continue as a going concern. As more fully described in Note 3, the
Company has  generated only  minimal revenue,  has incurred  significant  losses
since  inception,  has a  working capital  and  stockholders' deficiency  and is
dependent upon  additional funding.  These  conditions raise  substantial  doubt
about  the  Company's ability  to  continue as  a  going concern.  The financial
statements do not include any adjustments to reflect the possible future effects
on  the  recoverability  and  classification  of  assets  or  the  amounts   and
classification of liabilities that may result from the possible inability of the
Company to continue as a going concern.
 
                                               ERNST & YOUNG LLP
 
   
MetroPark, New Jersey
July 28, 1995, except for Note 10, as to
 which the date is May 9, 1996
    
 
                                      F-2
<PAGE>
                  CONVERSION TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL, INC.
                                 AND SUBSIDIARY
                          CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                    JUNE 30,
                                                                                      1995
                                                                                  -------------    MARCH 31,
                                                                                                     1996
                                                                                                 -------------
                                                                                                  (UNAUDITED)
<S>                                                                               <C>            <C>
                                                    ASSETS
Current Assets:
  Cash and cash equivalents.....................................................  $     733,843  $     214,513
  Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $0 and $25,000 at
   June 30, 1995 and March 31, 1996, respectively...............................        283,571        236,621
  Inventories...................................................................        227,724        317,287
  Deferred bridge financing charges.............................................                       375,250
  Prepaid expenses and other current assets.....................................        133,032         98,945
                                                                                  -------------  -------------
Total current assets............................................................      1,378,170      1,242,616
Property, plant and equipment:
  Land..........................................................................         75,000         75,000
  Building and improvements.....................................................      1,184,344      1,224,852
  Machinery and equipment.......................................................      6,298,912      7,013,130
  Construction in progress......................................................      2,393,829      5,390,696
                                                                                  -------------  -------------
                                                                                      9,952,085     13,703,678
  Less accumulated depreciation and amortization................................       (824,632)    (1,385,906)
                                                                                  -------------  -------------
                                                                                      9,127,453     12,317,772
Deferred finance charges, less accumulated amortization of $26,970 and $67,643
 at June 30, 1995 and March 31, 1996, respectively..............................        508,718        504,972
Deferred registration costs.....................................................                       420,324
Other noncurrent assets.........................................................         31,266         38,304
Restricted assets:
  Project Fund..................................................................         78,772            585
  Debt Service Reserve Funds....................................................        915,136        796,526
                                                                                  -------------  -------------
                                                                                  $  12,039,515  $  15,321,099
                                                                                  -------------  -------------
                                                                                  -------------  -------------
                                   LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' DEFICIENCY
Current Liabilities:
  Notes payable.................................................................  $     386,500  $   2,734,750
  Accounts payable..............................................................      1,077,714      2,604,877
  Deferred revenue..............................................................        944,230        583,416
  Reserve for disposal..........................................................      1,360,000        821,200
  Accrued expenses..............................................................      1,168,696      1,294,381
  Current portion of capital lease obligations..................................         94,130         81,821
  Current portion of long-term debt.............................................        404,387        488,282
                                                                                  -------------  -------------
Total current liabilities.......................................................      5,435,657      8,608,727
Capital lease obligations, less current portion.................................        147,227         87,154
Long-term debt, less current portion............................................      8,657,582     11,396,116
Stockholders' deficiency:
  Preferred stock, $.001 par value, authorized 15,000,000 shares, issued and
   outstanding 2,958,000 shares at June 30, 1995 and March 31, 1996.............          2,958          2,958
  Common stock, $.00025 par value, authorized 25,000,000 shares, issued and
   outstanding 909,404 shares at June 30, 1995 and 902,096 shares at March 31,
   1996.........................................................................            227            226
  Additional paid-in capital....................................................     10,421,981     10,389,732
  Accumulated deficit...........................................................    (12,626,117)   (15,163,814)
                                                                                  -------------  -------------
Total stockholders' deficiency..................................................     (2,200,951)    (4,770,898)
                                                                                  -------------  -------------
                                                                                  $  12,039,515  $  15,321,099
                                                                                  -------------  -------------
                                                                                  -------------  -------------
</TABLE>
 
                            See accompanying notes.
 
                                      F-3
<PAGE>
                  CONVERSION TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL, INC.
                                 AND SUBSIDIARY
                     CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                        COMPANY
                                                             --------------------------------------------------------------
                                                               PERIOD FROM
                                    PREDECESSOR COMPANY       MARCH 1, 1994
                                ---------------------------       (DATE                             NINE MONTHS ENDED
                                                TWO MONTHS     OPERATIONS                               MARCH 31,
                                 YEAR ENDED    ENDED AUGUST   COMMENCED) TO     YEAR ENDED    -----------------------------
                                JUNE 30, 1994    31, 1994     JUNE 30, 1994   JUNE 30, 1995        1995           1996
                                -------------  ------------  ---------------  --------------  --------------  -------------
                                                                                                       (UNAUDITED)
<S>                             <C>            <C>           <C>              <C>             <C>             <C>
Revenue.......................  $    --         $   62,452    $    --         $    1,173,264  $      724,536  $   2,076,894
Cost of goods sold............                    (379,661)                       (2,788,599)     (2,397,917)    (2,025,851)
                                -------------  ------------  ---------------  --------------  --------------  -------------
Gross (loss) profit...........       --           (317,209)        --             (1,615,335)     (1,673,381)        51,043
Selling, general and
 administrative...............        721,441      297,792          358,336        2,529,263       1,822,913      1,213,315
Process development costs.....        765,981       82,427         --              1,531,955         899,670        776,113
Write-off of in-process
 technologies.................       --             --             --              6,232,459       6,232,459       --
                                -------------  ------------  ---------------  --------------  --------------  -------------
Loss from operations..........     (1,487,422)    (697,428)        (358,336)     (11,909,012)    (10,628,423)    (1,938,385)
Interest expense, net.........        (26,084)     (40,999)         (13,079)       ( 345,690)       (182,589)      (681,123)
Other Income..................       --             --             --               --              --               81,811
                                -------------  ------------  ---------------  --------------  --------------  -------------
Net loss......................  $  (1,513,506)  $ (738,427)   $    (371,415)  $  (12,254,702) $  (10,811,012) $  (2,537,697)
                                -------------  ------------  ---------------  --------------  --------------  -------------
                                -------------  ------------  ---------------  --------------  --------------  -------------
Pro forma net loss per common
 share........................                                $      (19.88)  $       (16.68)                 $       (2.14)
                                                             ---------------  --------------                  -------------
                                                             ---------------  --------------                  -------------
</TABLE>
    
 
                            See accompanying notes.
 
                                      F-4
<PAGE>
                  CONVERSION TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL, INC.
                                 AND SUBSIDIARY
              CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' DEFICIENCY
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                             PREFERRED STOCK                          COMMON STOCK
                      -----------------------------  -----------------------------------------------
                                         ADDITIONAL                                       ADDITIONAL                    TOTAL
                       NUMBER             PAID-IN     NUMBER                               PAID-IN    ACCUMULATED   STOCKHOLDERS'
                      OF SHARES  AMOUNT   CAPITAL    OF SHARES   AMOUNT   SUBSCRIPTIONS    CAPITAL      DEFICIT      DEFICIENCY
                      ---------  ------  ----------  ---------   ------   -------------   ----------  ------------  -------------
<S>                   <C>        <C>     <C>         <C>         <C>      <C>             <C>         <C>           <C>
Balance at March 1,
 1994 (date
 operations
 commenced).........                                  558,808     $140                    $   1,007                  $     1,147
    Issuance of
     common stock...                                   27,438        7       $ (131)          5,048                        4,924
    Net loss........                                                                                  $  (371,415 )     (371,415)
                                                     ---------   ------      ------       ----------  ------------  -------------
Balance at June 30,
 1994...............                                  586,246      147         (131)          6,055      (371,415 )     (365,344)
    Issuance of
     common stock...                                  323,158       80                    4,421,655                    4,421,735
    Issuance of
     preferred
     stock..........  2,958,000  $2,958  $5,994,271                                                                    5,997,229
    Payment received
     for common
     stock
    subscriptions...                                                            131                                          131
    Net loss........                                                                                  (12,254,702 )  (12,254,702)
                      ---------  ------  ----------  ---------   ------      ------       ----------  ------------  -------------
Balance at June 30,
 1995                 2,958,000  2,958   5,994,271    909,404      227       --           4,427,710   (12,626,117 )   (2,200,951)
    Common Stock
     surrendered and
     cancelled......                                   (7,308)      (1)                     (98,999 )                    (99,000)
    Issuance of
     warrants in
     connection with
     Bridge Notes...                                                                         66,750                       66,750
    Net Loss........                                                                                   (2,537,697 )   (2,537,697)
                      ---------  ------  ----------  ---------   ------      ------       ----------  ------------  -------------
Balance at March 31,
 1996...............  2,958,000  $2,958  $5,994,271   902,096     $226       --           $4,395,461  $(15,163,814)  $(4,770,898)
                      ---------  ------  ----------  ---------   ------      ------       ----------  ------------  -------------
                      ---------  ------  ----------  ---------   ------      ------       ----------  ------------  -------------
</TABLE>
 
                            See accompanying notes.
 
                                      F-5
<PAGE>
              DUNKIRK INTERNATIONAL GLASS AND CERAMICS CORPORATION
                             (PREDECESSOR COMPANY)
                     STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' DEFICIENCY
     FOR THE YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 1994 AND TWO MONTHS ENDED AUGUST 31, 1994
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                           PREFERRED STOCK        COMMON STOCK
                                          ------------------   -------------------  ADDITIONAL                   TOTAL
                                          NUMBER OF            NUMBER OF             PAID-IN    ACCUMULATED  STOCKHOLDERS'
                                           SHARES     AMOUNT    SHARES     AMOUNT    CAPITAL      DEFICIT     DEFICIENCY
                                          ---------   ------   ---------   -------  ----------  -----------  -------------
<S>                                       <C>         <C>      <C>         <C>      <C>         <C>          <C>
Balance at June 30, 1993................               $--       5,200     $ 5,200  $   94,800  $ (593,040 )  $  (493,040)
  Issuance of common stock at $1 per
   share on January 28, 1994............                            20          20                                     20
  Issuance of preferred stock at $144
   per share on February 24, 1994.......      35                                         5,040                      5,040
  Reduction in par value of common stock
   from $1 to $.001 on February 24,
   1994.................................                                    (5,215)      5,215                    --
  Issuance of common stock at $.001 per
   share on May 17, 1994................                            30                                            --
  Net loss..............................                                                        (1,513,506 )   (1,513,506)
                                              --
                                                      ------   ---------   -------  ----------  -----------  -------------
Balance at June 30, 1994................      35       --        5,250           5     105,055  (2,106,546 )   (2,001,486)
  Capital contribution of parent company
   upon merger at August 31, 1994.......                                             1,500,000                  1,500,000
  Cancellation of preferred stock upon
   merger...............................     (35)                                                                 --
  Net loss..............................                                                          (738,427 )     (738,427)
                                              --
                                                      ------   ---------   -------  ----------  -----------  -------------
Balance at August 31, 1994..............    --         $--       5,250     $     5  $1,605,055  $(2,844,973)  $(1,239,913)
                                              --
                                              --
                                                      ------   ---------   -------  ----------  -----------  -------------
                                                      ------   ---------   -------  ----------  -----------  -------------
</TABLE>
 
                            See accompanying notes.
 
                                      F-6
<PAGE>
                  CONVERSION TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL, INC.
                                 AND SUBSIDIARY
 
                     CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                         COMPANY
                                                               ------------------------------------------------------------
                                    PREDECESSOR COMPANY          PERIOD FROM
                                ----------------------------    MARCH 1, 1994                         NINE MONTHS ENDED
                                                 TWO MONTHS    (DATE OPERATIONS                           MARCH 31,
                                 YEAR ENDED     ENDED AUGUST    COMMENCED) TO      YEAR ENDED     -------------------------
                                JUNE 30, 1994     31, 1994      JUNE 30, 1994     JUNE 30, 1995       1995         1996
                                -------------   ------------   ----------------   -------------   ------------  -----------
                                                                                                         (UNAUDITED)
<S>                             <C>             <C>            <C>                <C>             <C>           <C>
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net loss......................   $(1,513,506)    $ (738,427)      $(371,415)      $(12,254,702)   $(10,811,012) $(2,537,697)
Adjustments to reconcile net
 loss to net cash (used in)
 provided by operating
 activities:
    Depreciation and
     amortization expense.....        48,622         33,607             312            742,090         487,886      639,711
    Amortization of deferred
     financing................                                       12,599             39,568          30,363       40,673
    Non cash payment for
     services provided to the
     Company..................                                        4,999
    Interest expense converted
     to equity................                                                          13,767          13,767
    Write-off of in-process
     technologies.............                                                       6,232,459       6,232,459
    Settlement from former
     Officer..................                                                                                      (99,000)
    Changes in operating
     assets and liabilities:
        Decrease (increase) in
         accounts
         receivable...........      (106,819)       (48,299)                          (115,478)       (177,521)      46,950
        Increase in
         inventories..........                                                        (227,724)       (183,963)     (89,563)
        Decrease (increase) in
         other current
         assets...............       (86,397)            44        (233,276)           173,623         174,704       34,087
        Increase in other
         noncurrent assets....                                       (2,101)           (29,165)           (451)      (7,038)
        Increase (decrease) in
         deferred revenue.....       303,467        136,754                            504,010         457,610     (360,814)
        Increase (decrease) in
         accounts payable,
         reserve for disposal
         and other accrued
         expenses.............     1,627,931       (314,051)        368,466          1,418,150       1,921,897      746,291
                                -------------   ------------   ----------------   -------------   ------------  -----------
Net cash (used in) provided by
 operating activities.........       273,298       (930,372)       (220,416)        (3,503,402)     (1,854,261)  (1,586,400)
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Capital expenditures..........    (1,488,062)      (559,149)         (1,870)        (6,986,377)     (4,019,918)   3,830,030
Notes receivable and due from
 Dunkirk International Glass
 and Ceramics Corporation.....                                     (221,980)
Investment in Dunkirk
 International Glass and
 Ceramics Corporation.........                                       (5,040)
Net cash impact from
 acquisition of Dunkirk
 International Glass and
 Ceramics Corporation.........                                                      (1,328,338)     (1,328,338)
                                -------------   ------------   ----------------   -------------   ------------  -----------
Net cash used in investing
 activities...................    (1,488,062)      (559,149)       (228,890)        (8,314,715)     (5,348,256)  (3,830,030)
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Due to Conversion Technologies
 International, Inc...........       221,980          9,670
Increase in deferred finance
 and registration
 costs........................       (60,231)       (30,425)       (113,389)          (424,228)       (445,011)    (464,744)
Issuance of notes payable.....        66,500                        205,000            320,000         156,000    2,425,000
Payment of notes payable......                                                        (195,430)       (195,430)     (10,000)
Issuance of long-term debt....     1,025,690        191,193         600,000          7,938,455       8,361,109    3,044,302
Decrease (increase) in
 restricted assets............                                                        (993,908)     (3,243,446)     196,797
Principal payments on
 long-term debt...............        (7,415)        (6,397)                          (259,476)       (437,677)    (221,873)
Principal payments under
 capital lease obligations....       (20,610)       (23,794)                           (81,690)        (54,778)     (72,382)
Issuance of common stock......            20                          1,072              7,631             131
Issuance of preferred stock...         5,040                                         5,997,229       4,268,029
Capital contribution..........                    1,500,000
                                -------------   ------------   ----------------   -------------   ------------  -----------
Net cash provided by financing
 activities...................     1,230,974      1,640,247         692,683         12,308,583       8,408,927    4,897,100
                                -------------   ------------   ----------------   -------------   ------------  -----------
Increase (decrease) in cash
 and cash equivalents.........        16,210        150,726         243,377            490,466       1,206,410     (519,330)
Cash and cash equivalents at
 beginning of period..........         4,725         20,935         --                 243,377         243,377      733,843
                                -------------   ------------   ----------------   -------------   ------------  -----------
Cash and cash equivalents at
 end of period................   $    20,935     $  171,661       $ 243,377       $    733,843    $  1,449,787  $   214,513
                                -------------   ------------   ----------------   -------------   ------------  -----------
                                -------------   ------------   ----------------   -------------   ------------  -----------
</TABLE>
 
                            See accompanying notes.
 
                                      F-7
<PAGE>
                  CONVERSION TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL, INC.
                                 AND SUBSIDIARY
 
               CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (CONTINUED)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                         COMPANY
                                    PREDECESSOR COMPANY        ------------------------------------------------------------
                                ----------------------------       PERIOD FROM
                                                 TWO MONTHS       MARCH 1, 1994                        NINE MONTHS ENDED
                                                   ENDED        (DATE OPERATIONS                           MARCH 31,
                                 YEAR ENDED      AUGUST 31,       COMMENCED) TO       YEAR ENDED     ----------------------
                                JUNE 30, 1994       1994          JUNE 30, 1994      JUNE 30, 1995      1995        1996
                                -------------   ------------   -------------------   -------------   ----------  ----------
                                                                                                          (UNAUDITED)
<S>                             <C>             <C>            <C>                   <C>             <C>         <C>
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF
 CASH FLOW INFORMATION
Interest paid, net of amount
 capitalized..................    $ 19,584        $12,040              $67            $  470,765     $  194,238  $  549,933
                                -------------   ------------           ---           -------------   ----------  ----------
                                -------------   ------------           ---           -------------   ----------  ----------
 
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF NON
 CASH TRANSACTIONS
Purchase of equipment through
 capital lease agreements.....    $221,433        $16,220                             $  129,791     $  126,613
Accrued deferred finance and
 registration costs...........                                                                                   $  367,757
Purchase of land and building
 by incurring mortgage to
 seller.......................     475,000
Debt assumed by Conversion
 Technologies International,
 Inc..........................                    270,028
Common stock/paid-in capital:
    Debt converted to common
     stock:
        Long-term debt........                                                           969,928        969,928
        Interest expense on
         long-term debt.......                                                            13,767         13,767
        Accounts payable......                                                            31,225         31,225
    Write-off of investment in
     Dunkirk International
     Glass and Ceramics
     Corporation..............                                                            (5,040)        (5,040)
    Issuance of shares to
     stockholders of Dunkirk
     International Glass and
     Ceramics Corporation.....                                                         3,492,547      3,492,547
    Write-off of deferred
     finance charges..........                                                           (88,192)       (88,192)
    Surrender and cancellation
     of common stock..........                                                                                      (99,000)
    Issuance of warrants in
     connection with Bridge
     Notes....................                                                                                       66,750
</TABLE>
 
                            See accompanying notes.
 
                                      F-8
<PAGE>
                  CONVERSION TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL, INC.
                                 AND SUBSIDIARY
                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                                 JUNE 30, 1995
  (AMOUNTS AND DISCLOSURES INCLUDED FOR MARCH 31, 1995 AND 1996 ARE UNAUDITED)
 
1.  ORGANIZATION
    Conversion  Technologies International, Inc. (the  "Company") is a specialty
materials company (i) manufacturing industrial abrasives marketed under the name
ALUMAGLASS-TM-, (ii) processing  certain glass  and ceramic  materials, such  as
cathode  ray tube (CRT) glass, for resale to original manufacturers or others or
converting such materials into manufacturing  raw materials for the Company  and
others  and  (iii)  developing  certain  other  technologies.  The  Company  has
developed products and services to meet the  needs of a number of its  strategic
industrial  partners and to  potentially serve large  international markets. The
Company's revenue  streams  are  a  combination of  waste  conversion  fees  and
manufactured product sales.
 
    On  June 10,  1994, the Company  authorized a  four for one  stock split and
reduced the  common stock  par value  to $.00025  per share.  Additionally,  the
Company  increased its common and preferred  shares authorized to 25,000,000 and
15,000,000, respectively.
 
2.  ACQUISITION OF DUNKIRK INTERNATIONAL GLASS AND CERAMICS CORPORATION
    Effective August 31, 1994,  Conversion Technologies International, Inc.  and
Dunkirk  International Glass and Ceramics Corporation ("Dunkirk" or "Predecessor
Company")  completed  a  merger  whereby  the  common  shareholders  of  Dunkirk
exchanged  their common shares for 257,808  shares of the Company's common stock
valued at $13.55 per share (each common share of Dunkirk was converted to 49.107
common  shares  of   the  Company).  Prior   to  this  transaction,   Conversion
Technologies  International, Inc. had  owned 35 shares  of Dunkirk's Convertible
Series A Preferred Stock, which were cancelled upon the merger transaction.  The
Company  contributed $1.5 million to Dunkirk as a condition of the closing. This
transaction has  been accounted  for as  a purchase.  In conjunction  with  this
merger transaction, the Company recorded a charge against earnings of $6,232,459
relating  to the  write-off of purchased  research and  development (in process)
technology that had not reached  technological feasibility and, in  management's
opinion,  had  no alternative  future  use at  the  merger date.  The in-process
technology was  expensed on  the date  of acquisition.  As part  of this  merger
transaction, a portion of Dunkirk's debt was converted into 13,281 shares of the
Company's common stock at a conversion price of $20.36 per share.
 
   
    If  this  merger transaction  had occurred  on July  1, 1994,  the Company's
consolidated revenue, net loss and pro forma  net loss per common share for  the
year ended June 30, 1995 would have been $1,235,716, ($12,974,814) and ($17.24),
respectively.
    
 
    As  of the date  of the merger  transaction, Dunkirk was  in the development
stage. Dunkirk was incorporated  on July 3, 1990,  for the purpose of  recycling
and  beneficially  reusing  industrial  waste  CRT  glass  and  converting other
industrial waste  materials  into  high  value  specialty  abrasives  and  other
glass-ceramic  materials. Dunkirk  started developing its  patented processes in
1991. CRT glass processing commenced in the summer of 1994 and Dunkirk commenced
production of its ALUMAGLASS-TM- family of  abrasives in the spring of 1995  and
accordingly,  the Company has exited  the development stage. Product application
testing and initial marketing of  ALUMAGLASS-TM- is currently underway.  Dunkirk
incurred  cumulative net losses of  approximately $2,845,000 from its inception,
July 3, 1990 to August 31, 1994. In addition, as of August 31, 1994, Dunkirk had
a working capital  deficiency of  approximately $2,728,000  and a  shareholders'
deficiency  of approximately $1,240,000 which  includes the above mentioned $1.5
million capital contribution from the Company.
 
                                      F-9
<PAGE>
                  CONVERSION TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL, INC.
                                 AND SUBSIDIARY
             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
 
                                 JUNE 30, 1995
  (AMOUNTS AND DISCLOSURES INCLUDED FOR MARCH 31, 1995 AND 1996 ARE UNAUDITED)
 
3.  SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
 
BASIS OF PRESENTATION
 
    The accompanying consolidated financial statements  have been prepared on  a
going  concern  basis  which  contemplates the  realization  of  assets  and the
liquidation of liabilities in the ordinary  course of business. The Company  has
had  limited revenue, has incurred significant  losses since inception which has
resulted in a working capital and stockholders' deficiency and has only  limited
available  borrowing facilities for  working capital. In  view of the foregoing,
continuation of the Company as a going concern depends on its ability to achieve
profitability through  an  adequate  revenue  stream  and/or  obtain  additional
funding.  The accompanying consolidated financial  statements do not include any
adjustments relating to the realization of assets and liquidation of liabilities
that might be  necessary should the  Company be  unable to continue  as a  going
concern.
 
    Management  is  in active  discussions  with several  additional  sources of
capital and is also in discussions with several potential strategic partners  to
assist in the Company's commercialization plans.
 
    The  consolidated financial statements and related notes thereto as of March
31, 1996 and for the nine months ended March 31, 1995 and 1996 are unaudited and
have been prepared in  a manner consistent with  the preparation of the  audited
consolidated financial statements of the Company included herein. In the opinion
of  management,  such unaudited  consolidated  financial statements  reflect all
adjustments (consisting  of  normal recurring  accruals)  necessary for  a  fair
presentation of the financial position, results of operations and cash flows for
the interim periods presented.
 
PRINCIPLES OF CONSOLIDATION
 
    The  consolidated financial  statements include  the accounts  of Conversion
Technologies  International,  Inc.  and  its  wholly-owned  subsidiary,  Dunkirk
International  Glass  and Ceramics  Corporation.  The consolidated  statement of
operations and cash flows for the nine months ended March 31, 1995 and the  year
ended June 30, 1995 include the results of Dunkirk from August 31, 1994 (date of
merger).   Intercompany  accounts  and  transactions  have  been  eliminated  in
consolidation.
 
REVENUE RECOGNITION
 
    The Company derives most of its  revenue from a combination of fees  charged
to accept waste materials and from the sale of its products. Revenue recognition
of  the fees charged to accept the waste material is deferred until the material
is placed through the conversion process.
 
    For the year ended June 30, 1995, 90.8% of the Company's revenue was derived
from three  major customers.  Revenue  generated from  each of  these  customers
amounted  to $436,246, $387,752  and $241,838 which  represents 37.2%, 33.0% and
20.6% of total revenue, respectively.
 
RESERVE FOR DISPOSAL
 
    Dunkirk began accepting waste materials (primarily CRT glass) in early 1994.
Upon accepting  the  waste materials,  Dunkirk  established a  reserve  for  the
potential disposal costs for the waste materials accepted, in the event that the
conversion  processes being  developed were not  successful. For  the year ended
June 30, 1994 and two months  ended August 31, 1994, Dunkirk recorded  additions
of  $290,000 and $135,000,  respectively, to this reserve.  From August 31, 1994
(date of merger) to June 30, 1995, the Company recorded an addition of  $935,000
to  this reserve. From July  1, 1995 to March 31,  1996, the Company reduced the
reserve by approximately $539,000. The increases/decreases in the reserve, which
substantially resulted  from  changes in  the  volume of  inventory,  have  been
charged/credited  against operations. The Company  intends to adjust the reserve
when the conversion processes prove commercially successful.
 
                                      F-10
<PAGE>
                  CONVERSION TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL, INC.
                                 AND SUBSIDIARY
             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
 
                                 JUNE 30, 1995
  (AMOUNTS AND DISCLOSURES INCLUDED FOR MARCH 31, 1995 AND 1996 ARE UNAUDITED)
 
3.  SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)
INVENTORIES
 
    Inventories are valued at the lower of cost or market, with cost  determined
by the first-in, first-out (FIFO) method.
 
    Inventories consisted of the following:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                             JUNE 30,  MARCH 31,
                                                                               1995      1996
                                                                             --------  ---------
<S>                                                                          <C>       <C>
Raw materials..............................................................  $ 48,015  $  93,984
Work-in-process............................................................   109,168    132,929
Finished goods.............................................................    70,541     90,374
                                                                             --------  ---------
                                                                             $227,724  $ 317,287
                                                                             --------  ---------
                                                                             --------  ---------
</TABLE>
 
PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
 
    Property,  plant and  equipment is stated  at cost.  The Company capitalized
interest costs of $63,499 and $361,512 for the year ended June 30, 1995 and nine
months ended March 31,  1996, respectively, with regard  to the construction  of
certain  long-term  assets. Depreciation  and  amortization is  computed  on the
straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets. Amortization
of assets under  capital leases is  provided on a  straight-line basis over  the
lesser of the useful lives of the related assets or the terms of the leases.
 
CASH EQUIVALENTS
 
    The  Company  considers  all  highly-liquid  investments  with  an  original
maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents.
 
INCOME TAXES
 
    Deferred income  tax assets  and liabilities  are recorded  for  differences
between  the financial  statement and tax  bases of assets  and liabilities that
will result in taxable or deductible amounts in the future based on enacted  tax
laws  and rates applicable to the periods  in which the differences are expected
to affect taxable income. Valuation allowances are established when necessary to
reduce deferred tax  assets to the  amount expected to  be realized. Income  tax
expense is the tax payable or refundable for the period plus or minus the change
during the period in deferred tax assets and liabilities.
 
PROCESS DEVELOPMENT COSTS
 
    Process development costs represent research and development associated with
the   Company's   CRT   glass  processing   and   ALUMGLASS-TM-   product  lines
(technologies) since the date of the merger transaction.
 
PRO FORMA NET LOSS PER COMMON SHARE
 
    The pro forma net  loss per common share  is based on the  net loss for  the
relevant period or year, divided by the weighted average number of common shares
outstanding  during the period or year (excluding the common shares that will be
deposited into escrow in connection  with the Company's initial public  offering
- -- see Note 10). Common Stock equivalents such as stock options and warrants are
not included as their effect is anti-dilutive. However, immediately prior to the
closing  of the Company's  initial public offering (see  Note 10), the Company's
Series A  Preferred Stock  will be  converted into  1,023,054 shares  of  common
shares  (see Note 10). The weighted average number of these converted shares, at
June 30,  1994  and 1995  and  March 31,  1996  were 0,  587,742  and  1,023,054
respectively, and they have been included in the
 
                                      F-11
<PAGE>
                  CONVERSION TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL, INC.
                                 AND SUBSIDIARY
             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
 
                                 JUNE 30, 1995
  (AMOUNTS AND DISCLOSURES INCLUDED FOR MARCH 31, 1995 AND 1996 ARE UNAUDITED)
 
3.  SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)
   
related  pro forma  net loss  per common  share calculation.  Therefore, the pro
forma weighted average number of common shares outstanding at June 30, 1994  and
1995 and March 31, 1996 were 18,679, 734,754 and 1,185,387, respectively.
    
 
DEFERRED FINANCING COSTS
 
    Costs  related to  obtaining debt  financing are  being amortized  under the
interest method of accounting. During the nine months ended March 31, 1996,  the
Company incurred $375,250 and $420,324 of costs related to a Bridge Financing in
December  1995 and a  proposed initial public offering  ("IPO") of the Company's
securities, respectively (see  Note 10). The  deferred finance costs  associated
with  the Bridge Financing will be treated as an extraordinary loss upon payment
of such financing which will  be made upon the completion  of the IPO (see  Note
10).  The deferred finance costs associated with  the IPO will be netted against
equity when the proceeds are received.
 
RECLASSIFICATION
 
    Certain June 30, 1994 balances for Dunkirk have been reclassified to conform
to the current presentation.
 
PENDING ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENT
 
    SFAS No. 121  "Accounting for the  Impairment of Long-Lived  Assets and  for
Long-Lived  Assets  to  be Disposed  of"  proscribes new  rules  for recognizing
impairments to property, plant and equipment. The standard is effective for  the
Company  no later than fiscal 1997. Assuming the Company can generate sufficient
revenue to achieve profitability and/or obtain additional financing,  management
believes this standard would have no impact on the Company.
 
4.  DEBT
 
    Long-term debt consists of the following obligations as of June 30, 1995:
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                                                     <C>
Dunkirk -- Chautauqua Region Industrial Development Corporation
 (CRIDA) mortgage note (collateralized by a mortgage on real property
 having a carrying value of approximately $1,135,000 at June 30, 1995)
 payable in monthly installments of $4,285 including interest at a
 variable rate (6% at June 30, 1995) through October 1, 2004..........  $   366,762
Dunkirk -- Term loans with a bank payable in 84 monthly installments
 of $40,944 including principal and interest at the prime rate (9% at
 June 30, 1995) through December 27, 2001. Collateral for this loan is
 a first purchase money lien on the Company's machinery and equipment,
 and repayment is guaranteed by the former Dunkirk president and the
 New York State Job Development Authority (JDA) (See Note 10).........    2,492,767
Dunkirk -- Subordinated mortgage note (collateralized by a mortgage on
 real property having a carrying value of approximately $1,135,000 at
 June 30, 1995) payable in monthly installments of $4,956 including
 interest at 10% through January 21, 2004.............................      343,806
</TABLE>
 
                                      F-12
<PAGE>
                  CONVERSION TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL, INC.
                                 AND SUBSIDIARY
             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
 
                                 JUNE 30, 1995
  (AMOUNTS AND DISCLOSURES INCLUDED FOR MARCH 31, 1995 AND 1996 ARE UNAUDITED)
 
4.  DEBT (CONTINUED)
<TABLE>
<S>                                                                     <C>
Dunkirk -- Chautauqua County Industrial Development Agency (CCIDA)
 subordinated note payable in monthly payments of $1,485 including
 interest at 7% through June 1, 1999. The note contains various
 restrictive covenants, is guaranteed by the former Dunkirk president
 and is collateralized by a subordinated security interest in certain
 machinery and equipment having a carrying value of approximately
 $6,722,000 (See Note 10).............................................       64,245
Dunkirk -- Southern Tier Enterprise Development Organization (STEDO)
 subordinated note payable in monthly payments of $1,169 including
 interest at 8% through July 1, 2002. The note contains various
 restrictive covenants, is guaranteed by the former Dunkirk president
 and is collateralized by a subordinated security interest in certain
 equipment having a carrying value of approximately $6,722,000 (See
 Note 10).............................................................       68,816
Dunkirk -- New York Job Development Authority (Al Tech) subordinated
 note payable in monthly payments of $1,887 including interest at 5%
 through September 1, 1999. The note contains various restrictive
 covenants, is guaranteed by the former Dunkirk president and is
 collateralized by a subordinated security interest in certain
 equipment having a carrying value of approximately $6,722,000 (See
 Note 10).............................................................       86,543
Dunkirk -- Chautauqua County Industrial Development Agency solid waste
 disposal facility bonds payable in quarterly payments of interest
 only through September 1, 1998 at a rate of 11.5% subject to
 adjustment upon the achievement of stated debt service coverage
 ratio. Beginning December 1, 1998 and annually through December 1,
 2010 principal payments which increase from $203,125 to $640,625 are
 payable with interest continuing to be paid quarterly. The bond
 security agreement contains various restrictive covenants and the
 bonds are collateralized by a security interest in the equipment
 acquired with the proceeds (see Note 6, Restricted Assets and Note
 10, Subsequent Events)...............................................    5,000,000
Dunkirk -- Subordinated unsecured debt from various electronic
 companies; OI-NEG TV Products, Inc. (Techneglas), Thomson Consumer
 Electronics, Sanyo Manufacturing Corp., Toshiba Display Devices and
 Hitachi Electronic Devices (USA), begin with quarterly payments of
 interest only at prime plus 2% (11% at June 30, 1995) through a range
 of dates ending January 1, 1999. Beginning between March 31, 1998 and
 April 1, 1999 and going through a range of dates ending January 1,
 2004 quarterly installments of principal plus interest at prime plus
 2% are payable. The first five quarterly interest payments for a
 portion of the debt has been converted by the Company into
 subordinated notes ($43,789 converted at June 30, 1995) payable in
 quarterly payments of interest only at 8% for nineteen quarters and
 the principal amount plus interest being due between April 1, 1999
 through April 1, 2000................................................      639,030
                                                                        -----------
Total debt............................................................    9,061,969
Less current maturities...............................................      404,387
                                                                        -----------
                                                                        $ 8,657,582
                                                                        -----------
                                                                        -----------
</TABLE>
 
                                      F-13
<PAGE>
                  CONVERSION TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL, INC.
                                 AND SUBSIDIARY
             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
 
                                 JUNE 30, 1995
  (AMOUNTS AND DISCLOSURES INCLUDED FOR MARCH 31, 1995 AND 1996 ARE UNAUDITED)
 
4.  DEBT (CONTINUED)
    Maturities on long-term debt for the next five years are as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
June 30:
<S>                                                               <C>
1996............................................................  $ 404,387
1997............................................................    412,110
1998............................................................    482,598
1999............................................................    880,596
2000............................................................    948,333
Thereafter......................................................  5,933,945
                                                                  ---------
                                                                  $9,061,969
                                                                  ---------
                                                                  ---------
</TABLE>
 
5.  NOTES PAYABLE
    In  August 1994, Conversion Technologies International, Inc. repaid $205,000
of promissory notes from a related party, which bore interest at 10% per annum.
 
    Dunkirk has a  $300,000 line of  credit with a  bank. At June  30, 1995  and
March 31, 1996, Dunkirk had borrowed $262,500 and 252,500, respectively, against
this  line. The line of credit is limited to a percentage of acceptable accounts
receivable. Interest is payable monthly at a bank-determined variable base  rate
plus  2.5%  (11.5% at  June 30,  1995).  The note  payable is  collateralized by
accounts receivable, a first priority lien on all finished manufactured products
and is guaranteed by the former Dunkirk president (see Note 10).
 
    Dunkirk has a $124,000 demand note payable to a bank (collateralized by  the
former  Dunkirk president's  certificate of deposit  having a  carrying value of
$130,000 at June 30, 1995 and March  31, 1996 -- see Note 10). Interest  accrues
and  is due monthly at a variable base  rate determined by the bank plus 1% (10%
at June 30, 1995).
 
6.  RESTRICTED ASSETS
    Dunkirk has $78,772 and $585 of project funds available at June 30, 1995 and
March 31, 1996,  respectively, for  the acquisition of  qualified machinery  and
equipment  from the unexpended balance  on the sale of  the solid waste disposal
facility bonds. In addition,  a debt service reserve  fund equivalent to 10%  of
the  bonds plus interest is required to be deposited in escrow ($508,291 at June
30, 1995 and  $833,671 at March  31, 1996) (see  Note 10), and  may be  released
under  certain conditions.  In anticipation  of the  Company's IPO,  $230,000 of
interest due at  December 1,  1995 and  again at March  1, 1996  on the  Dunkirk
Chautaqua  County Industrial  Development Agency  solid waste  disposal facility
bonds, a total of $460,000, was paid from the debt service reserve fund and must
be restored from the  proceeds of the  offering. As a  result of these  interest
payments,  the actual debt  service reserve fund  balance at March  31, 1996 was
reduced to $373,671.
 
    Dunkirk also  has  a  debt  service reserve  fund,  including  interest,  of
$406,845 at June 30, 1995 and $422,855 at March 31, 1996, deposited in escrow as
required  by the JDA  for payment of  the final installments  due on the related
debt.
 
                                      F-14
<PAGE>
                  CONVERSION TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL, INC.
                                 AND SUBSIDIARY
             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
 
                                 JUNE 30, 1995
  (AMOUNTS AND DISCLOSURES INCLUDED FOR MARCH 31, 1995 AND 1996 ARE UNAUDITED)
 
7.  LEASES
    The Company has entered into capital leases for machinery and equipment that
may be purchased on expiration of the leases on various dates through 2000.  The
net  asset value of property under capitalized leases at June 30, 1995, included
in property, plant and equipment, is as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                                         <C>
Machinery and equipment...................................  $ 351,224
Less accumulated amortization.............................    116,844
                                                            ---------
                                                            $ 234,380
                                                            ---------
                                                            ---------
</TABLE>
 
    Lease amortization of  the Company of  $80,424 for the  year ended June  30,
1995,  and lease amortization of Dunkirk of  $24,006 for the year ended June 30,
1994 and $12,414 for the two months ended August 31, 1994 is included in cost of
goods sold.
 
    Future minimum lease  payments under  capitalized leases  together with  the
present  value of  the net  minimum lease  payments as  of June  30, 1995  is as
follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
June 30:
<S>                                                         <C>
  1996....................................................  $ 114,979
  1997....................................................     84,051
  1998....................................................     40,533
  1999....................................................     27,179
  2000....................................................     15,878
                                                            ---------
Total minimum lease payments..............................    282,620
Less amount representing interest.........................     41,263
                                                            ---------
Present value of net minimum lease payments...............  $ 241,357
                                                            ---------
                                                            ---------
</TABLE>
 
    Total rent expense of the  Company for the periods  ended June 30, 1994  and
1995  was $4,285 and $28,396,  respectively. All non-cancellable operating lease
agreements expire during fiscal 1996.
 
8.  CAPITAL STOCK
    During fiscal  1995,  the  Company  issued  2,958,000  shares  of  Series  A
Preferred  Stock, par  value $.001,  at $2.50  per share  through private equity
placements. The  Series A  Preferred Stock  was convertible  into the  Company's
common stock on a one for one basis subject to certain anti-dilution provisions.
These   shares  are  now  convertible  on  an  approximate  0.1218-to-one  basis
concurrent with the Company's reverse common  stock split (see Note 10). In  the
event of involuntary or voluntary liquidation, the holders of Series A Preferred
Stock  are entitled to receive a liquidation preference out of the assets of the
Company legally available for distribution. The liquidation preference is  equal
to  the original issuance price per share plus any declared and unpaid dividends
thereon. Dividends are payable at the annual rate of 5% of the original issuance
price per share of Series A Preferred Stock, on a non-cumulative basis as, when,
and if  declared by  the Board  of Directors.  The Company  does not  intend  to
declare  dividends in the  foreseeable future. At  any time after  June 1, 1998,
upon not less  than thirty days  nor more  than sixty days  written notice,  the
Company may, at its option, redeem the Series A Preferred Stock, in whole, at an
amount  per share equal  to $2.50 plus  any declared and  unpaid dividends. Each
share of Series  A Preferred Stock  entitles the  holder to votes  equal to  the
number  of shares of common  stock into which such  shares are then convertible.
However, the affirmative votes of  the holders of at least  60% of the Series  A
Preferred Stock is required for certain transactions as outlined in the Restated
Certificate of Incorporation. (See Note 10.)
 
                                      F-15
<PAGE>
                  CONVERSION TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL, INC.
                                 AND SUBSIDIARY
             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
 
                                 JUNE 30, 1995
  (AMOUNTS AND DISCLOSURES INCLUDED FOR MARCH 31, 1995 AND 1996 ARE UNAUDITED)
 
8.  CAPITAL STOCK (CONTINUED)
    As  part of the  merger transaction described  in Note 2,  the Company's 7%,
$600,000 convertible bridge  notes, issued  in fiscal 1994  to related  parties,
were  converted  into the  Company's  common stock  (at  $13.55 per  share). All
related deferred finance charges were charged to equity upon the conversion.
 
    In conjunction with the issuance  of the Company's 7%, $600,000  convertible
bridge  notes in fiscal 1994, the private equity placement, as well as for other
business reasons, the Company has issued the following common stock and Series A
Preferred Stock purchase  warrants, all of  which expire between  the fifth  and
seventh anniversary of the date of grant:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                           NUMBER OF SHARES
                                                                       ------------------------
                                                                         COMMON      PREFERRED
                                                                       -----------  -----------
<S>                                                                    <C>          <C>
Outstanding at March 1, 1994
  Granted April 21, 1994 at $13.55 per share.........................      51,598
                                                                       -----------
Outstanding at June 30, 1994.........................................      51,598
  Granted October 19, 1994 through June 30, 1995 at $20.53 to $24.63
   per common share and $2.75 to $3.00 per preferred share...........       6,796      481,000
Exercised at $20.53 per share........................................        (608)
  Cancelled..........................................................      (2,315)
                                                                       -----------  -----------
Outstanding at June 30, 1995.........................................      55,471      481,000
                                                                       -----------  -----------
                                                                       -----------  -----------
</TABLE>
 
    The  amounts above  do not  consider the  potential impact  of anti-dilution
provisions to which  the Series A  Preferred Stock warrants  and certain  common
stock warrants are subject to (see Note 10).
 
    In  June  1994,  the Company  adopted  an  Employee Stock  Option  Plan (the
"Employee  Plan")  and   a  Non-Employee   Director  Stock   Option  Plan   (the
"Non-Employee  Plan"). Stock  options may  be granted  at the  discretion of the
Board of Directors.  The Company has  reserved 79,170 and  24,360 shares of  its
common  stock  for  issuance upon  the  exercise  of options  granted  under the
Employee and Non-Employee  Plans, respectively (see  Note 10). The  Non-Employee
Plan options are exercisable in full one year after the date of grant and expire
ten  years from  the date  of grant.  The Employee  Plan options  primarily vest
one-third on each  of the first  three anniversaries  of the date  of grant  and
expire on the seventh anniversary of the date of grant. The Company grants stock
options at exercise prices equal to or greater than the fair market value of the
Company's Common Stock on the date of grant.
 
                                      F-16
<PAGE>
                  CONVERSION TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL, INC.
                                 AND SUBSIDIARY
             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
 
                                 JUNE 30, 1995
  (AMOUNTS AND DISCLOSURES INCLUDED FOR MARCH 31, 1995 AND 1996 ARE UNAUDITED)
 
8.  CAPITAL STOCK (CONTINUED)
    The  following table summarizes  the activity in  options under the Employee
and Non-Employee Plans:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                    NUMBER        EXERCISE
                                                                   OF SHARES       PRICE
                                                                  -----------  --------------
<S>                                                               <C>          <C>
EMPLOYEE PLAN OPTIONS
Outstanding at March 1, 1994....................................      --
  Granted.......................................................       3,896   $        13.55
                                                                  -----------  --------------
Outstanding at June 30, 1994....................................       3,896            13.55
  Granted.......................................................      39,630      13.55-20.53
  Cancelled.....................................................      (5,443)           20.53
                                                                  -----------  --------------
Outstanding at June 30, 1995....................................      38,083   $  13.55-20.53
                                                                  -----------  --------------
                                                                  -----------  --------------
NON-EMPLOYEE PLAN OPTIONS
Outstanding at March 1, 1994....................................      --
  Granted.......................................................       1,397   $        13.55
                                                                  -----------  --------------
Outstanding at June 30, 1994....................................       1,397            13.55
  Granted.......................................................       4,869            20.53
                                                                  -----------  --------------
Outstanding at June 30, 1995....................................       6,266   $  13.55-20.53
                                                                  -----------  --------------
                                                                  -----------  --------------
</TABLE>
 
9.  INCOME TAXES
    There was no income tax expense/benefit for the Company for the period  from
March  1, 1994 (date operations  commenced) to June 30,  1994 and the year ended
June 30, 1995, nor was there any  tax expense/ benefit for Dunkirk for the  year
ended June 30, 1994 and the two months ended August 31, 1994.
 
    Following  is a reconciliation of income  tax expense (credit) to the amount
based on the U.S. statutory rate of 34%:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                               COMPANY
                                                                                    ------------------------------
                                                           PREDECESSOR COMPANY        PERIOD FROM
                                                        --------------------------   MARCH 1, 1994
                                                                       TWO MONTHS        (DATE
                                                                          ENDED       OPERATIONS
                                                         YEAR ENDED    AUGUST 31,    COMMENCED) TO    YEAR ENDED
                                                        JUNE 30, 1994     1994       JUNE 30, 1994   JUNE 30, 1995
                                                        -------------  -----------  ---------------  -------------
<S>                                                     <C>            <C>          <C>              <C>
Income tax benefit based on U.S. statutory
 rate.................................................   $  (514,592)  $  (251,065)  $    (126,281)  $  (4,166,599)
Write-off of in-process technologies with no tax
 deduction............................................                                                   2,119,036
Losses which provide no current tax benefit...........       514,592       251,065         126,281       2,047,563
                                                        -------------  -----------  ---------------  -------------
                                                         $   --        $   --        $    --         $    --
                                                        -------------  -----------  ---------------  -------------
                                                        -------------  -----------  ---------------  -------------
</TABLE>
 
                                      F-17
<PAGE>
                  CONVERSION TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL, INC.
                                 AND SUBSIDIARY
             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
 
                                 JUNE 30, 1995
  (AMOUNTS AND DISCLOSURES INCLUDED FOR MARCH 31, 1995 AND 1996 ARE UNAUDITED)
 
9.  INCOME TAXES (CONTINUED)
    Significant components of the Company's  deferred tax assets are as  follows
at June 30, 1995:
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                                       <C>
Deferred tax assets:
  Deferred revenue......................................  $  377,692
  Reserve for disposal..................................     544,000
  Start-up costs........................................     114,667
  Tax loss carryforward.................................   2,351,232
                                                          ----------
Total deferred tax assets                                  3,387,591
Valuation allowance.....................................  (3,387,591)
                                                          ----------
Net deferred tax assets                                   $   --
                                                          ----------
                                                          ----------
</TABLE>
 
    The  above net deferred tax  asset has been reserved  because it is not more
likely than not that it would be recognized.
 
    At June 30,  1995, the Company  has approximately $5.8  million of tax  loss
carryforwards  (including approximately $1.5 million  generated by Dunkirk prior
to August 31,  1994) available  to offset  future taxable  income, which  expire
between 2006 and 2010. The Tax Reform Act of 1986 enacted a complex set of rules
limiting the potential utilization of net operating loss carryfowards in periods
following  a corporate  "ownership change." In  general, for  federal income tax
purposes, an ownership change is deemed to occur if the percentage of stock of a
loss corporation owned (actually, constructively and, in some cases, deemed)  by
one  or more "5% shareholders"  has increased by more  than 50 percentage points
over the  lowest percentage  of such  stock owned  during a  three year  testing
period.  Subsequent to August 31, 1994, such a change in ownership has occurred.
As a result of the  change, the Company's ability  to utilize its net  operating
loss  carryforwards generated by Dunkirk prior to August 31, 1994 (approximately
$1.5 million) will be limited.
 
10. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
    On July 26, 1995, the Company issued an additional $3,000,000 (resulting  in
total  borrowings  of $8,000,000)  of  Chautauqua County  Industrial Development
Agency solid  waste disposal  facility bonds  with terms  similar to  the  bonds
included  in  Note  4. The  annual  principal  payments (on  the  total  debt of
$8,000,000) which begin on December 1, 1998 and end on December 1, 2010 increase
from $325,000 in 1998  to $1,025,000 in  2010. The proceeds  will and have  been
used  for the  purchase and installation  of equipment at  the Company's Dunkirk
facility.
 
    From the  period commencing  September 1995  and ending  November 1995,  the
Company  issued $700,000 of 6% convertible  promissory notes, in anticipation of
additional equity financing, of which $50,000 has been paid to date (see below).
 
    From the period commencing  December 7, 1995 and  ending December 15,  1995,
the  Company  obtained  additional  bridge  financing  ("bridge  loan")  in  the
principal amount of  $2,225,000, (recorded,  net of  the value  assigned to  the
attached  warrants, at $2,158,250) which includes  the conversion of $650,000 of
the $700,000 convertible promissory notes  discussed above. The bridge loan  was
issued  through a private placement arranged by the underwriter of the Company's
proposed initial  public  offering ("IPO")  (see  below). This  bridge  loan  is
comprised  of bridge units,  each consisting of  a bridge note  in the principal
amount of $50,000 bearing interest at the rate of 10% per annum, and warrants to
purchase 25,000 shares  of the Company's  common stock at  an exercise price  of
$4.00 per share commencing one year from the date of issuance and expiring three
years  after the initial closing date of the bridge loan offering. However, upon
the completion  of  the Company's  IPO,  the  related bridge  warrants  will  be
converted  into  the  equivalent  amount  of Class  A  warrants,  which  will be
registered in the Company's IPO.
 
                                      F-18
<PAGE>
                  CONVERSION TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL, INC.
                                 AND SUBSIDIARY
             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
 
                                 JUNE 30, 1995
  (AMOUNTS AND DISCLOSURES INCLUDED FOR MARCH 31, 1995 AND 1996 ARE UNAUDITED)
 
10. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS (CONTINUED)
   
    In March 1996, the Company issued $200,000 of promissory notes, due upon the
earlier of  the closing  of the  IPO and  six months  from the  date issued,  to
certain  directors, officers and securityholders which  bear interest at 10% per
annum. In May  1996, the  Company issued  an additional  $200,000 of  promissory
notes  to a  securityholder with  identical terms to  the notes  issued in March
1996.
    
 
   
    On October  2, 1995,  the Board  of Directors  approved a  letter of  intent
relating  to an initial public  offering of the Company's  common stock, Class A
warrants and Class B warrants.  Upon the closing of  the offering, the Series  A
Preferred  Stock will be  converted into 1,023,054  shares of common  stock as a
result of the restatement  of the Company's  Certificate of Incorporation  which
will  adjust the Series A Preferred  Stock conversion ratio due to anti-dilution
provisions and the reverse split of  the Company's common stock (see below).  In
addition,  preferred  stock warrants  will become  exercisable for  common stock
(adjusted for a 0.1218-for-one reverse common stock split -- see below) and  the
number  of  common  shares into  which  certain  common stock  warrants  and all
preferred  stock  warrants  are  convertible,  will  increase  by  a  factor  of
approximately 2.84 upon the effective date of the IPO due to the fact that those
warrants  have protection against the dilutive effect of the valuation placed on
the Company upon  the IPO. In  connection with  the IPO, 740,559  shares of  the
Company's  common stock  and options to  purchase 71,923 shares  of Common Stock
(the "Escrow Securities") will be deposited into escrow by the holders  thereof.
The Escrow Securities will only be released from escrow when the Company attains
certain  earnings  levels or  the  market price  of  the Company's  common stock
achieves certain levels. These Escrow Securities are subject to cancellation  if
such conditions are not achieved.
    
 
    On  November  9,  1995,  the  Board  of  Directors  approved  an approximate
0.1218-for-one reverse split of its common stock. The accompanying  consolidated
financial  statements have been  retroactively restated to  reflect this reverse
stock split.
 
    On November 9,  1995, the Board  of Directors approved  an amendment to  the
1994  Employee Stock  Option Plan and  Non-Employee Director  Stock Option Plan,
effective upon the closing of the IPO, so as to increase the number of shares of
common stock available  thereunder to 440,000  and 70,400 shares,  respectively.
The  Company will also, upon the effective  date of the IPO, adjust the exercise
price of all the options and warrants outstanding prior to the IPO to $4.40 with
certain warrants  having an  exercise price  equal to  $4.40 plus  a premium  in
certain circumstances.
 
    In  December 1995,  the Company  agreed to  indemnify and  hold harmless the
former Dunkirk president with respect to guarantees made by him for  obligations
of  Dunkirk. In addition,  the Company agreed  to use its  reasonable efforts to
cause the release of such guarantees following the IPO.
 
    The Company is a party to litigation commenced by the Company in the Supreme
Court of New York, County of  Chautauqua, against a general contractor hired  to
construct  the improved abrasives finishing area, which is part of the Company's
current capital expansion program. The contractor commenced work in April  1995,
but was asked to stop work in November 1995 following significant cost overruns,
problems and delays in construction and disputes with the Company over the scope
of  the work  to be  performed by the  contractor. Each  of the  Company and the
contractor have filed and  served a summons with  notice. The contractor  claims
damages  of approximately $425,000.  The Company has  served the contractor with
its complaint,  alleging, among  other  things, breach  of contract,  fraud  and
defamation,  and seeks damages in  excess of $1,000,000. Until  such time as the
contractor serves the Company with its answer, the precise counterclaims of  the
contractor cannot be ascertained. The Company has engaged an engineering firm to
review  the contractor's work and oversee  completion of the abrasives finishing
area.
 
    The Company  does not  believe  that an  adverse  outcome in  the  foregoing
dispute would have a material adverse effect on the Company.
 
                                      F-19
<PAGE>

                          DESCRIPTION OF PHOTOGRAPHS

Inside back cover:

Photographs depicting CRT glass recycling process, including a photograph of 
each of the following: (i) the primary cullet sorting line at the Dunkirk 
facility; (ii) the CRT glass cullet sorting line; and (iii) sorted "clean" 
cullet.
<PAGE>
- -------------------------------------------
                                     -------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------
                                     -------------------------------------------
 
    NO  DEALER,  SALESMAN  OR  OTHER  PERSON HAS  BEEN  AUTHORIZED  TO  GIVE ANY
INFORMATION OR TO MAKE ANY REPRESENTATIONS,  OTHER THAN THOSE CONTAINED IN  THIS
PROSPECTUS,  AND, IF GIVEN OR MADE, SUCH INFORMATION OR REPRESENTATIONS MUST NOT
BE RELIED UPON AS HAVING BEEN AUTHORIZED  BY THE COMPANY OR BY THE  UNDERWRITER.
THIS  PROSPECTUS DOES NOT CONSTITUTE  AN OFFER TO SELL,  OR A SOLICITATION OF AN
OFFER TO BUY,  ANY SECURITIES OFFERED  HEREBY BY ANYONE  IN ANY JURISDICTION  IN
WHICH SUCH OFFER OR SOLICITATION IS NOT AUTHORIZED OR IN WHICH THE PERSON MAKING
SUCH  OFFER OR SOLICITATION IS NOT QUALIFIED TO DO SO OR TO ANYONE TO WHOM IT IS
UNLAWFUL TO  MAKE SUCH  OFFER, OR  SOLICITATION. NEITHER  THE DELIVERY  OF  THIS
PROSPECTUS  NOR ANY SALE  MADE HEREUNDER SHALL,  UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, CREATE
ANY IMPLICATION THAT THE INFORMATION HEREIN CONTAINED IS CORRECT AS OF ANY  TIME
SUBSEQUENT TO THE DATE OF THIS PROSPECTUS.
 
                            ------------------------
 
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                    PAGE
                                                    -----
<S>                                              <C>
Prospectus Summary.............................           3
Risk Factors...................................           7
Dividend Policy................................          17
Use of Proceeds................................          17
Capitalization.................................          20
Dilution.......................................          21
Unaudited Pro Forma Consolidated Financial
 Data..........................................          22
Selected Financial Data........................          23
Management's Discussion and Analysis of
 Financial Condition and Results of
 Operations....................................          24
Business.......................................          31
Management.....................................          48
Certain Transactions...........................          57
Principal Stockholders.........................          61
Concurrent Offering............................          64
Description of Securities......................          65
Shares Eligible for Future Sale................          68
Underwriting...................................          69
Legal Matters..................................          71
Experts........................................          71
Additional Information.........................          72
Index to Financial Statements..................         F-1
</TABLE>
    
 
                            ------------------------
 
    UNTIL                   , 1996,  ALL DEALERS  EFFECTING TRANSACTIONS  IN THE
REGISTERED SECURITIES, WHETHER OR NOT PARTICIPATING IN THIS DISTRIBUTION, MAY BE
REQUIRED TO  DELIVER A  PROSPECTUS. THIS  IS IN  ADDITION TO  THE OBLIGATION  OF
DEALERS  TO DELIVER A PROSPECTUS WHEN ACTING AS UNDERWRITERS AND WITH RESPECT TO
THEIR UNSOLD ALLOTMENTS OR SUBSCRIPTIONS.
 
                                   CONVERSION
                                  TECHNOLOGIES
                              INTERNATIONAL, INC.
 
   
                       3,067,000 SHARES OF COMMON STOCK,
    
 
   
                          3,067,000 REDEEMABLE CLASS A
    
 
   
                                  WARRANTS AND
                          3,067,000 REDEEMABLE CLASS B
                                    WARRANTS
    
 
                             ---------------------
 
                                   PROSPECTUS
 
                             ---------------------
 
                             D. H. BLAIR INVESTMENT
                                 BANKING CORP.
 
                                          , 1996
 
- -------------------------------------------
                                     -------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------
                                     -------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
INFORMATION   CONTAINED  HEREIN  IS  SUBJECT   TO  COMPLETION  OR  AMENDMENT.  A
REGISTRATION STATEMENT  RELATING TO  THESE SECURITIES  HAS BEEN  FILED WITH  THE
SECURITIES  AND EXCHANGE  COMMISSION. THESE SECURITIES  MAY NOT BE  SOLD NOR MAY
OFFERS TO BUY BE ACCEPTED PRIOR  TO THE TIME THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT  BECOMES
EFFECTIVE.  THIS  PROSPECTUS  SHALL  NOT  CONSTITUTE AN  OFFER  TO  SELL  OR THE
SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY NOR SHALL THERE BE ANY SALE OF THESE  SECURITIES
IN  ANY STATE IN WHICH SUCH OFFER,  SOLICITATION OR SALE WOULD BE UNLAWFUL PRIOR
TO REGISTRATION OR QUALIFICATION UNDER THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY SUCH STATE.
<PAGE>
Alternate Prospectus Page
 
   
                   SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED MAY 10, 1996
    
 
PROSPECTUS
                     1,112,500 REDEEMABLE CLASS A WARRANTS,
                      1,112,500 SHARES OF COMMON STOCK AND
      1,112,500 REDEEMABLE CLASS B WARRANTS ISSUABLE UPON EXERCISE OF THE
              REDEEMABLE CLASS A WARRANTS AND 1,112,500 SHARES OF
          COMMON STOCK ISSUABLE UPON EXERCISE OF THE CLASS B WARRANTS
 
                            CONVERSION TECHNOLOGIES
                              INTERNATIONAL, INC.
 
    This Prospectus  relates  to  1,112,500 Redeemable  Class  A  Warrants  (the
"Selling  Securityholder  Warrants" or  the  "Class A  Warrants")  of Conversion
Technologies International, Inc., a  Delaware corporation (the "Company"),  held
by  certain  holders (the  "Selling Securityholders"),  the 1,112,500  shares of
Common Stock, $.00025 par value ("Common Stock"), and 1,112,500 Redeemable Class
B Warrants  ("Class B  Warrants")  issuable upon  the  exercise of  the  Selling
Securityholder  Warrants. The  Selling Securityholder  Warrants and  the Class B
Warrants  are  referred  to  herein  collectively  as  the  "Warrants"  and  the
securities  issuable  upon  exercise  of  the  Selling  Securityholder Warrants,
together with the  Selling Securityholder Warrants,  are sometimes  collectively
referred  to  herein as  the  "Selling Securityholder  Securities."  The Selling
Securityholder Warrants were issued to  the Selling Securityholders in  exchange
for  warrants they received  in a private  placement by the  Company in December
1995 (the  "Bridge  Financing").  See "Selling  Securityholders"  and  "Plan  of
Distribution."  Each  Selling  Securityholder  Warrant  entitles  the  holder to
purchase, at an  exercise price of  $5.85, subject to  adjustment, one share  of
Common  Stock and  one Class B  Warrant, and  each Class B  Warrant entitles the
holder to purchase, at  an exercise price of  $7.80, subject to adjustment,  one
share  of Common Stock. The Warrants are  exercisable at any time after issuance
through the fifth anniversary of the date of this Prospectus, provided that  the
Selling  Securityholders have agreed not  to exercise the Selling Securityholder
Warrants for a period of  one year from the closing  of the Offering and not  to
sell  the Selling Securityholder Warrants for at least 90 days after the closing
of the Offering and, for the period  expiring 270 days after such closing,  have
agreed  to certain resale restrictions. Commencing one year from the date hereof
the Warrants are subject to redemption by  the Company at a redemption price  of
$.05  per  Warrant, upon  30  days' written  notice,  provided that  the average
closing bid price of the Common Stock averages in excess of $8.20 per share with
respect to the Class A Warrants and $10.95 per share with respect to the Class B
Warrants (subject to adjustment in each  case) for 30 consecutive business  days
ending  within 15 days of the date of the notice of redemption. See "Description
of Securities."
 
    The securities offered by the Selling Securityholders by this Prospectus may
be  sold  from  time  to  time  by  the  Selling  Securityholders  or  by  their
transferees.  The distribution  of the  Class A  Warrants, Common  Stock and the
Class B Warrants offered hereby by  the Selling Securityholders may be  effected
in  one or more transactions that may take place on the over-the-counter market,
including ordinary brokers' transactions,  privately negotiated transactions  or
through  sales  to  one  or  more  dealers  for  resale  of  such  securities as
principals, at market prices prevailing at  the time of sale, at prices  related
to such prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices. Usual and customary or
specifically negotiated brokerage fees or commissions may be paid by the Selling
Securityholders.
 
    The Selling Securityholders, and intermediaries through whom such securities
are sold, may be deemed underwriters within the meaning of the Securities Act of
1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), with respect to the securities offered,
and  any profits  realized or  commissions received  may be  deemed underwriting
compensation. The Company  has agreed to  indemnify the Selling  Securityholders
against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.
 
    The Company will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale of securities
by the Selling Securityholders. In the event the Selling Securityholder Warrants
are exercised, the Company will receive gross proceeds of $       . See "Selling
Securityholders" and "Plan of Distribution."
 
   
    On  the  date  of  this  Prospectus,  a  registration  statement  under  the
Securities Act with respect  to an underwritten public  offering by the  Company
(the "Offering") of 3,067,000 shares of Common Stock, 3,067,000 Class A Warrants
and  3,067,000 Class  B Warrants, was  declared effective by  the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the "Commission").  The Company will receive  approximately
$            in net  proceeds from  the  Offering (assuming  no exercise  of the
Underwriter's over-allotment option) after payment of underwriting discounts and
commissions and estimated expenses of the Offering.
    
 
  AN INVESTMENT IN THESE SECURITIES INVOLVES A HIGH DEGREE OF RISK, WHICH MAY
             RESULT IN THE LOSS OF AN INVESTOR'S ENTIRE INVESTMENT.
 
                                 -------------
 
       THESE SECURITIES  HAVE NOT  BEEN APPROVED  OR DISAPPROVED  BY  THE
       SECURITIES  AND  EXCHANGE  COMMISSION OR  ANY  STATE SECURITIES
          COMMISSION,  NOR   HAS  THE   SECURITIES  AND   EXCHANGE
              COMMISSION  OR  ANY  STATE  SECURITIES COMMISSION
                 PASSED UPON  THE ACCURACY  OR ADEQUACY  OF
                     THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION
                        TO   THE   CONTRARY   IS   A
                                    CRIMINAL
                                    OFFENSE.
 
                                 -------------
 
           The date of this Prospectus is                      , 1996
 
                                      A-1
<PAGE>
                            SELLING SECURITYHOLDERS
 
    An aggregate of up to 1,112,500 Class A Warrants, 1,112,500 shares of Common
Stock  and 1,112,500  Class B  Warrants issuable upon  exercise of  such Class A
Warrants and 1,112,500  shares of Common  Stock issuable upon  exercise of  such
Class B Warrants may be offered for resale by investors who received their Class
A Warrants in exchange for warrants received in the Bridge Financing.
 
    The  following table  sets forth  certain information  with respect  to each
Selling  Securityholder  for  whom  the  Company  is  registering  the   Selling
Securityholder Securities for resale to the public. The Company will not receive
any  of the  proceeds from the  sale of  such securities. There  are no material
relationships between any Selling Securityholder and the Company except that TFP
III, TFVP  V and  Palmetto  Partners, Ltd.,  stockholders  of the  Company,  are
Selling Securityholders. In addition, the Aries Domestic Fund L.P. and the Aries
Trust,  two  investment  funds in  which  Lindsay Rosenwald,  the  President and
Chairman of Paramount, the Company's placement agent for the Series A Placement,
is the sole  stockholder and  President of  the general  partner and  investment
manager,  respectively, are  Selling Securityholders.  Dr. Rosenwald's  wife and
children are limited partners of VentureTek L.P., a principal stockholder of the
Company, and his children are the beneficiaries of the Long Term Equity Holdings
Trust, also  a  principal  stockholder.  Further,  Dr.  Rosenwald's  wife  is  a
stockholder  of Blair & Co. and is the daughter of the indirect sole stockholder
of the Underwriter of the Offering. See "Certain Transactions."
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                              NUMBER OF CLASS A WARRANTS BENEFICIALLY
SELLING SECURITYHOLDERS                                        OWNED AND MAXIMUM NUMBER TO BE SOLD(1)
- ------------------------------------------------------------  ----------------------------------------
<S>                                                           <C>
Palmetto Partners, Ltd......................................                    100,000
Technology Funding Venture Partners V.......................                     93,750
Aries Domestic Fund, LP.....................................                     62,500
David James Brown...........................................                     50,000
Daniel and Pherron Mulhaney.................................                     50,000
Aries Trust.................................................                     37,500
Michael Cantor..............................................                     37,500
Technology Funding Partners III, L.P........................                     31,250
Nathan and Rose Eisen.......................................                     25,000
Herbert M. Gardner..........................................                     25,000
Robert Klein and Myriam Gluck...............................                     25,000
William G. and Patricia B. Hylind...........................                     25,000
Roger N. Keesee.............................................                     25,000
Raymond Chattwell King......................................                     25,000
Gary L. Prior...............................................                     25,000
Matthew C. Schilowitz.......................................                     25,000
Gershon Stern...............................................                     25,000
W. Ed and Vickie S. Tyler...................................                     25,000
Louis Wolcowitz.............................................                     25,000
Aaron Wolfson...............................................                     25,000
Abraham Wolfson.............................................                     25,000
Mark H. Brafman.............................................                     12,500
Leonard J. Adams............................................                     12,500
Jacob and Channah Borenstein................................                     12,500
Kenneth and Sherry Cohen....................................                     12,500
Future Vision Wireless Cable, Inc...........................                     12,500
Josef Geldwert..............................................                     12,500
Stuart Gruber...............................................                     12,500
The Holding Company.........................................                     12,500
Louis and Irene Katz........................................                     12,500
Jay Kestenbaum..............................................                     12,500
</TABLE>
 
                                      A-2
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                              NUMBER OF CLASS A WARRANTS BENEFICIALLY
SELLING SECURITYHOLDERS                                        OWNED AND MAXIMUM NUMBER TO BE SOLD(1)
- ------------------------------------------------------------  ----------------------------------------
Solomon Kurz................................................                     12,500
<S>                                                           <C>
Benjamin Lehrer.............................................                     12,500
Albert Milstein.............................................                     12,500
George Y. and Irene M. Montonaga............................                     12,500
Michael Pizitz..............................................                     12,500
Richard Pizitz..............................................                     12,500
RL Capital Partners.........................................                     12,500
Wayne Saker.................................................                     12,500
E. Donald Shapiro...........................................                     12,500
Sheldon Silver..............................................                     12,500
Gary J. Strauss.............................................                     12,500
Paul N. Temple..............................................                     12,500
Vetchfield Company Limited..................................                     12,500
J. Michael Wolfe............................................                     12,500
Marc Roberts and Ron Cantor.................................                      6,250
Eugene Silverman............................................                      6,250
</TABLE>
 
- ------------------------
 
(1) Does not include shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the  Class
    A  Warrants and issuable upon exercise of the Class B Warrants issuable upon
    exercise of the Class  A Warrants. The  Selling Securityholders have  agreed
    not  to exercise the Class  A Warrants being offered  hereby for a period of
    one  year  from  the   closing  of  the  Offering.   None  of  the   Selling
    Securityholders  beneficially own in excess of  1% of the outstanding shares
    of Common Stock after the Offering.
 
                              PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
 
    The sale of the  securities by the Selling  Securityholders may be  effected
from  time to time in  transactions (which may include  block transactions by or
for the account of the  Selling Securityholders) in the over-the-counter  market
or in negotiated transactions, through the writing of options on the securities,
a  combination of such methods of sale or  otherwise. Sales may be made at fixed
prices which may be changed, at market prices prevailing at the time of sale  or
at negotiated prices.
 
    The  Selling Securityholders may  effect such transactions  by selling their
securities directly to purchasers, through  broker-dealers acting as agents  for
the  Selling Securityholders  or to  broker-dealers who  may purchase  shares as
principals and  thereafter  sell  the  securities  from  time  to  time  in  the
over-the-counter   market   in  negotiated   transactions  or   otherwise.  Such
broker-dealers, if  any, may  receive  compensation in  the form  of  discounts,
concessions  or commissions from  the Selling Securityholders  or the purchasers
for whom such  broker-dealers may  act as  agents or to  whom they  may sell  as
principals or otherwise (which compensation as to a particular broker-dealer may
exceed customary commissions).
 
    Each  Selling Securityholder  has agreed with  the Company (i)  not to sell,
transfer or  otherwise  dispose  publicly the  Selling  Securityholder  Warrants
except  after the time periods and in the percentage amounts set forth below, on
a cumulative basis, and (ii) not to exercise the Selling Securityholder Warrants
for a period of one year after  the closing of this offering. Purchasers of  the
Selling Securityholder Warrants will not be subject to such restrictions.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                    PERCENTAGE ELIGIBLE
LOCK UP PERIOD                                                          FOR RESALE
- -----------------------------------------------------------------  ---------------------
<S>                                                                <C>
Before 90 days after Closing.....................................                0%
Between 91 and 150 days..........................................               25%
Between 151 and 210 days.........................................               50%
Between 211 and 270 days.........................................               75%
After 270 days...................................................              100%
</TABLE>
 
                                      A-3
<PAGE>
    Under  applicable rules and regulations under the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended ("Exchange Act"), any person engaged in the distribution of the
Selling Securityholder Warrants may not  simultaneously engage in market  making
activities  with respect to any securities  of the Company during the applicable
"cooling off" period (at least two,  and possibly nine, business days) prior  to
the  commencement  of  such distribution.  Accordingly,  in the  event  that the
Underwriter of the Company's  initial public offering or  D.H. Blair & Co.  Inc.
("Blair")  is engaged in a distribution  of the Selling Securityholder Warrants,
neither of such firms will be able to make a market in the Company's  securities
during  the applicable restrictive period.  However, neither the Underwriter nor
Blair has agreed to nor are either of  them obliged to act as broker/ dealer  in
the  sale of the Selling Securityholder Warrants and the Selling Securityholders
may be  required, and  in the  event Blair  is a  market maker,  will likely  be
required,  to sell such  securities through another  broker/dealer. In addition,
each Selling Securityholder  desiring to sell  Warrants will be  subject to  the
applicable  provisions  of  the  Exchange  Act  and  the  rules  and regulations
thereunder,  including  without  limitation,   Rules  10b-6  and  10b-7,   which
provisions  may limit  the timing of  the purchases  and sales of  shares of the
Company's securities by such Selling Securityholders.
 
    The Selling Securityholders and broker/dealers, if any, acting in connection
with such sale might be deemed to be underwriters within the meaning of  Section
2(11)  of the Securities Act and any commissions received by them and any profit
on the resale of the securities might be deemed to be underwriting discounts and
commissions under the Securities Act.
 
                           CONCURRENT PUBLIC OFFERING
 
   
    On the  date  of this  Prospectus,  a Registration  Statement  was  declared
effective  under the Securities Act with  respect to an underwritten offering by
the Company of 3,067,000 shares of Common Stock, 3,067,000 Class A Warrants  and
3,067,000 Class B Warrants by the Company and up to 460,050 additional shares of
Common  Stock and/or 460,050 Class A Warrants and/or 460,050 Class B Warrants to
cover over-allotments, if any.
    
 
                                      A-4
<PAGE>
- -------------------------------------------
                                     -------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------
                                     -------------------------------------------
 
    NO  DEALER,  SALESMAN  OR  OTHER  PERSON HAS  BEEN  AUTHORIZED  TO  GIVE ANY
INFORMATION OR TO MAKE ANY REPRESENTATIONS,  OTHER THAN THOSE CONTAINED IN  THIS
PROSPECTUS,  AND, IF GIVEN OR MADE, SUCH INFORMATION OR REPRESENTATIONS MUST NOT
BE RELIED UPON AS HAVING BEEN AUTHORIZED  BY THE COMPANY OR BY THE  UNDERWRITER.
THIS  PROSPECTUS DOES NOT CONSTITUTE  AN OFFER TO SELL,  OR A SOLICITATION OF AN
OFFER TO BUY,  ANY SECURITIES OFFERED  HEREBY BY ANYONE  IN ANY JURISDICTION  IN
WHICH SUCH OFFER OR SOLICITATION IS NOT AUTHORIZED OR IN WHICH THE PERSON MAKING
SUCH  OFFER OR SOLICITATION IS NOT QUALIFIED TO DO SO OR TO ANYONE TO WHOM IT IS
UNLAWFUL TO  MAKE SUCH  OFFER, OR  SOLICITATION. NEITHER  THE DELIVERY  OF  THIS
PROSPECTUS  NOR ANY SALE  MADE HEREUNDER SHALL,  UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, CREATE
ANY IMPLICATION THAT THE INFORMATION HEREIN CONTAINED IS CORRECT AS OF ANY  TIME
SUBSEQUENT TO THE DATE OF THIS PROSPECTUS.
 
                            ------------------------
 
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                   PAGE
                                                 ---------
<S>                                              <C>
Prospectus Summary.............................
Risk Factors...................................
Dividend Policy................................
Capitalization.................................
Dilution.......................................
Selected Financial Data........................
Management's Discussion and Analysis of
 Financial Condition and Results of
 Operations....................................
Business.......................................
Management.....................................
Certain Transactions...........................
Principal Stockholders.........................
Selling Securityholders........................        A-2
Plan of Distribution...........................        A-3
Concurrent Public Offering.....................        A-4
Description of Securities......................
Shares Eligible for Future Sale................
Legal Matters..................................
Experts........................................
Additional Information.........................
Index to Financial Statements..................        F-1
</TABLE>
 
                            ------------------------
 
                                   CONVERSION
                                  TECHNOLOGIES
                              INTERNATIONAL, INC.
 
                          1,112,500 REDEEMABLE CLASS A
                                   WARRANTS,
                          1,112,500 REDEEMABLE CLASS B
                                    WARRANTS
                           2,225,000 SHARES OF COMMON
          STOCK
 
                             ---------------------
 
                                   PROSPECTUS
 
                             ---------------------
 
                                          , 1996
 
- -------------------------------------------
                                     -------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------
                                     -------------------------------------------
 
                                      A-5
<PAGE>
                                    PART II
                     INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
 
ITEM 24.  INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
 
    The  Restated  Certificate of  Incorporation and  By-Laws of  the Registrant
filed as  Exhibits  3.1  and  3.2 hereto,  provide  that  the  Registrant  shall
indemnify  any person  to the fullest  extent permitted by  the Delaware General
Corporation Law (the "GCL").
 
    In accordance with Section 102(a)(7) of the GCL, the Restated Certificate of
Incorporation of the Registrant eliminates  the personal liability of  directors
to  the  Registrant  or its  stockholders  for  monetary damages  for  breach of
fiduciary duty  as a  director  with certain  limited  exceptions set  forth  in
Section 102(a)(7).
 
    The  Registrant also intends  to enter into  indemnification agreements with
each of its officers and directors, the  form of which is filed as Exhibit  10.5
and reference is hereby made to such form.
 
    Reference  is  made to  Section 6  of the  Underwriting Agreement  (filed as
Exhibit 1.1)  which  provides for  indemnification  by the  Underwriter  of  the
Registrant, its officers and directors.
 
ITEM 25.  OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION
 
    The  estimated expenses  payable by  the Registrant  in connection  with the
issuance and  distribution  of  the  securities  being  registered  (other  than
underwriting discounts and commissions) are as follows:
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                     AMOUNT
                                                                                  ------------
<S>                                                                               <C>
SEC Registration Fee............................................................  $     40,100
NASD Filing Fee.................................................................        12,022
Nasdaq Listing Fee..............................................................        10,000
Printing and Engraving Expenses.................................................        85,000
Accounting Fees and Expenses....................................................       155,000
Legal Fees and Expenses.........................................................       255,000
Blue Sky Fees and Expenses......................................................        50,000
Transfer and Warrant Agent's Fees and Expenses..................................        10,000
Underwriter's Non-Accountable Expense Allowance.................................       414,045
Miscellaneous Expenses..........................................................        35,878
                                                                                  ------------
    Total.......................................................................  $  1,067,045
                                                                                  ------------
                                                                                  ------------
</TABLE>
    
 
ITEM 26.  RECENT SALES OF UNREGISTERED SECURITIES
 
    The  Registrant has sold and issued the following securities during the past
three years:
 
    On January 31, 1994, the Registrant issued 24,360 shares of Common Stock  at
a price of $.002 per share to one director.
 
    On  February 15, 1994, the Registrant issued 5,413 shares of Common Stock to
one director and executive officer at a price of $.002 per share.
 
    On April 1, 1994, the Registrant issued 462,813 shares of Common Stock at  a
price of $.002 per share to 36 accredited investors.
 
    On  April 11, 1994, the Registrant issued 66,230 shares of Common Stock at a
price of $.002 per share to one director.
 
    On April 21, 1994, the Registrant granted warrants to purchase 7,307  shares
of  Common Stock at a  conversion price of $13.55 per  share to one director and
three consultants.  Such  warrants  have  been amended  to  become  warrants  to
purchase  20,750 shares of Common Stock upon  the effective date of the Offering
at an exercise price of $4.77 per share.
 
                                      II-1
<PAGE>
    On April 21, 1994, the Registrant granted warrants to purchase 44,291 shares
of Common Stock at  a conversion price  of $13.55 per  share to four  accredited
investors.  Such  warrants  have been  amended  to become  warrants  to purchase
125,786 shares of Common  Stock upon the  effective date of  the Offering at  an
exercise price of $4.77 per share.
 
    On  June 8, 1994, the Registrant granted options to purchase 8,945 shares of
Common Stock at an  exercise price of  $13.55 per share  to two employees,  four
consultants  and  one director.  Such options  have been  repriced to  $4.40 per
share, effective upon the effective date of the Offering.
 
    On June 8, 1994, the Registrant  granted a warrant to purchase 2,656  shares
of  Common  Stock at  an aggregate  exercise price  of $60,000  to a  company as
payment for services  rendered. Such warrants  have been repriced  to $4.84  per
share, effective upon the effective date of the Offering.
 
    On  June 9, 1994, the  Registrant issued 27,194 shares  of Common Stock at a
purchase price of $.002 per share to one director and executive officer.
 
    On August 19, 1994, the Registrant issued 257,808 shares of Common Stock  to
stockholders of its subsidiary pursuant to the acquisition of such subsidiary.
 
    On August 19, 1994, the Registrant issued 13,281 shares of Common Stock upon
conversion  of certain notes executed by its subsidiary in favor of one employee
and three accredited investors at a conversion price of $20.32 per share.
 
    On August 19, 1994, the Registrant issued 45,304 shares of Common Stock upon
conversion of debt in the principal amount of $600,000 to two directors and  two
accredited investors.
 
    On  August  19, 1994,  the Registrant  issued 1,600,000  shares of  Series A
Convertible Preferred Stock to  23 accredited investors at  a purchase price  of
$2.50  per share. Such shares will automatically convert upon the effective date
of the Offering into 553,376 shares of Common Stock.
 
    On October 14, 1994, the Registrant issued 4,872 shares of Common Stock upon
conversion of a note held  by one accredited investor  at a conversion price  of
$20.53 per share.
 
    On  October 19, 1994, the Registrant  granted options to purchase 730 shares
of Common Stock at an exercise price of $20.53 per share to one consultant. Such
options have been repriced to $4.40 per share, effective upon the effective date
of the Offering.
 
    On October 19, 1994, the Registrant granted options to purchase 3,651 shares
of Common Stock at  an exercise price  of $20.53 per  share to three  directors.
Such options have been repriced to $4.40 per share, effective upon the effective
date of the Offering.
 
    On  October 19, 1994, the Registrant issued  1,521 shares of Common Stock to
one individual in settlement of a claim.
 
    On December  27, 1994,  the Registrant  issued 120,000  shares of  Series  A
Convertible  Preferred Stock to  three accredited investors at  a price of $2.50
per share. Such shares will automatically convert upon the effective date of the
Offering into 41,503 shares of Common Stock.
 
    From January 1, 1995  through April 7, 1995,  the Registrant issued  418,000
shares  of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock  to 21 accredited investors at a
price of  $2.50 per  share.  Such shares  will  automatically convert  upon  the
effective date of the Offering into 144,570 shares of Common Stock.
 
    On  January  23, 1995,  the Registrant  granted  options to  purchase 29,506
shares of Common Stock at an exercise price of $20.53 per share to 57  employees
and  two executive officers. Such options have been repriced to $4.40 per share,
effective upon the effective date of the Offering.
 
    On January 23, 1995, the Registrant granted options to purchase 1,217 shares
of Common  Stock at  an  exercise price  of $20.53  per  share and  warrants  to
purchase 2,923 shares of Common Stock at a purchase price of $20.53 per share to
one  consultant. Such options  have been repriced to  $4.40 per share, effective
upon the effective date of the Offering.
 
                                      II-2
<PAGE>
    On February  13, 1995,  the  Registrant granted  options to  purchase  1,217
shares of Common Stock at an exercise price of $20.53 per share to one director.
Such  options and warrants have been repriced to $4.40 per share, effective upon
the effective date of the Offering.
 
    On March 7, 1995, the Registrant granted options to purchase 1,217 shares of
Common Stock at an exercise price of  $20.53 per share to two employees and  one
executive officer. Such options have been repriced to $4.40 per share, effective
upon the effective date of the Offering.
 
    On  April 20, 1995, the Registrant issued a warrant to purchase 1,217 shares
of Common Stock at an exercise price of $24.63 per share to one consultant. Such
warrant has been repriced to $5.28 per share, effective upon the effective  date
of the Offering.
 
    On  May 1, 1995, the Registrant granted  options to purchase 1,521 shares of
Common Stock at an exercise  price of $20.53 per share  to one employee and  one
executive officer. Such options have been repriced to $4.40 per share, effective
upon the effective date of the Offering.
 
    On May 5, 1995, the Registrant issued 820,000 shares of Series A Convertible
Preferred  Stock to three  accredited investors at  a price of  $2.50 per share.
Such shares will automatically convert upon  the effective date of the  Offering
into 283,605 shares of Common Stock.
 
   
    On May 5, 1995, the Registrant issued warrants to purchase 200,000 shares of
Series  A Convertible Preferred Stock at an exercise price of $3.00 per share to
one consultant. Such warrants have been amended and restated to become  warrants
to  purchase 69,177  shares of Common  Stock at  an exercise price  of $5.28 per
share, effective upon the effective date of the Offering.
    
 
   
    On May 5, 1995, the Registrant  granted warrants to purchase 281,000  shares
of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock at a conversion price of $2.75 per share
to  an  accredited investor  for services  rendered as  a placement  agent. Such
warrants have been amended  and restated to become  warrants to purchase  97,185
shares  of Common Stock at an exercise  price of $4.84 per share, effective upon
the effective date of the Offering.
    
 
    On May 8, 1995, the Registrant  granted options to purchase 1,826 shares  of
Common  Stock at  an exercise price  of $20.53  per share to  one employee. Such
options have been repriced to $4.40 per share, effective upon the effective date
of the Offering.
 
    On August 1, 1995, the Registrant  granted options to purchase 4,019  shares
of  Common Stock  at an exercise  price of  $20.53 per share  to five employees,
executive officers and consultants. Such options have been repriced to $4.40 per
share, effective upon the effective date of the Offering.
 
    On September  1, 1995,  the  Registrant granted  options to  purchase  7,308
shares of Common Stock at an exercise price of $20.53 per share to one executive
officer.  Such options have been repriced to $4.40 per share, effective upon the
effective date of the Offering.
 
    On September  19, 1995,  the Registrant  granted options  to purchase  1,217
shares of Common Stock at an exercise price of $20.53 per share to one director.
Such options have been repriced to $4.40 per share, effective upon the effective
date of the Offering.
 
    On  September 19,  1995, the Registrant  granted options  to purchase 25,882
shares of  Common Stock  at  an exercise  price of  $20.53  per share  to  three
employees  and four executive officers. Such options have been repriced to $4.40
per share, effective upon the effective date of the Offering.
 
    On October 12, 1995, the Registrant issued warrants to purchase 2,433 shares
of Common Stock at an exercise price  of $20.53 per share to three  distributors
of  the Company's products. Such warrants have been repriced to $4.40 per share,
effective upon the effective date of the Offering.
 
    On October 16, 1995, the Registrant granted options to purchase 1,217 shares
of Common Stock at  an exercise price  of $20.53 to  one employee. Such  options
have  been repriced to $4.40 per share, effective upon the effective date of the
Offering.
 
                                      II-3
<PAGE>
   
    On April 21, 1996,  the Registrant granted, efffective  as of the  effective
date  of the Offering, options  to purchase 50,000 shares  of Common Stock at an
exercise price of $4.40 per share to an executive officer and director.
    
 
    The above securities  were offered and  sold by the  Registrant in  reliance
upon  an  exemption  from registration  under  either  (i) Section  4(2)  of the
Securities Act as transactions not involving any public offering or (ii) only in
the case of options granted  to employees, officers, directors and  consultants,
Rule  701 under  the Securities  Act. In the  case of  private placements exempt
pursuant to  Section  4(2),  offers  and sales  were  made  only  to  accredited
investors;  neither the Registrant nor any  placement agent acting on its behalf
engaged in any form of general  solicitation or advertising; and the  Registrant
exercised  reasonable care  to assure  that the  purchasers of  the Registrant's
securities were not  underwriters within  the meaning  of Section  2(11) of  the
Securities Act.
 
ITEM 27.  EXHIBITS
 
   
<TABLE>
<C>          <S>
      1.1*   Form of Underwriting Agreement
      2.1    Agreement  and  Plan of  Reorganization dated  August  16, 1994,  among the
             Registrant, CTI Acquisition  Corporation, Dunkirk  International Glass  and
             Ceramics Corporation ("Dunkirk") and certain shareholders of Dunkirk listed
             on the signature pages thereto
      3.1    Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant
      3.2    By-laws of the Registrant
      4.1*   Form  of Warrant Agreement, including  Form of Class A  and Class B Warrant
             Certificates
      4.2    Form of Underwriter's Option
      4.3    Term Note No. 2 dated  as of January 27, 1995,  in the principal amount  of
             $1,973,905 between Key Bank of New York and Dunkirk
      4.4    Security  Agreement dated as of  January 27, 1995, between  Key Bank of New
             York and Dunkirk
      4.5    Debt Service Reserve Agreement  dated as of January  27, 1995, between  Key
             Bank of New York and Dunkirk
      4.6    Form of Escrow Agreement with respect to Escrow Shares
      4.7*   Form of Escrow Agreement with respect to Escrow Securities
      5.1    Opinion of O'Sullivan Graev & Karabell, LLP
     10.1    Conversion  Technologies  International,  Inc. 1994  Employee  Stock Option
             Plan, As Amended
     10.2    Conversion Technologies  International, Inc.  1994  Stock Option  Plan  for
             Non-Employee Directors, As Amended
     10.3    Amended and Restated Employment Agreement dated as of June 9, 1994, between
             the Registrant and Harvey Goldman
     10.4    Employment  Agreement dated as of September 1, 1995, between the Registrant
             and Perry A. Pappas
     10.5    Form of Indemnification Agreement
     10.6    Lease dated as  of March 1,  1995 between County  of Chautauqua  Industrial
             Development Agency and Dunkirk
     10.7**  Sludge  and  Mixed Cullet  Purchase Agreement  dated January  1994, between
             Toshiba Display Devices, Inc. and Dunkirk
     10.8**  Clean Cullet Sale Agreement dated as of August 27, 1993, between OI-Neg  TV
             Products, Inc. and Dunkirk
</TABLE>
    
 
                                      II-4
<PAGE>
   
<TABLE>
<C>          <S>
     10.9**  Raw  Materials Purchase and  Clean Cullet Sale  Agreement dated November 4,
             1993, between Thomson Consumer Electronics Inc. and Dunkirk
    10.10    Project Development  Assistance  Agreement  dated as  of  April  20,  1995,
             between the Registrant and Paramount Capital, Inc.
    10.11    Consulting  Agreement  dated  as  of May  5,  1995,  among  the Registrant,
             Technology Funding  Partners  III,  L.P.  and  Technology  Funding  Venture
             Partners V, An Aggressive Growth Fund, L.P.
    10.12    Project  Development Assistance  Agreement dated  July 13,  1995, among the
             Registrant, Technology Funding  Partners III, L.P.  and Technology  Funding
             Venture Partners V, An Aggressive Growth Fund, L.P.
    10.13    Consulting  Agreement  dated  March  1, 1995,  between  the  Registrant and
             Eckardt C. Beck
    10.14    Consulting Agreement  dated  July  5,  1995,  between  the  Registrant  and
             Palmetto Partners, Ltd.
    10.15    Registration   Rights  Agreement  dated  as  of  May  5,  1995,  among  the
             Registrant, Technology Funding  Partners III, L.P.  and Technology  Funding
             Venture Partners V, An Aggressive Growth Fund, L.P.
    10.16    Registration  Rights  Agreement  dated  as of  April  21,  1994,  among the
             Registrant, Palmetto Partners, Ltd., Harvey Goldman and Donald R.  Kendall,
             Jr.
    10.17    Registration  Rights  Agreement  dated as  of  August 19,  1994,  among the
             Registrant and  certain former  Dunkirk stockholders,  including Gerald  P.
             Balcar and Robert Dejaiffe
    10.18    Warrant  for the Purchase of shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock
             issued to Paramount Capital, Inc. by the Registrant
    10.19    Research  Agreement  dated  December  1994,  between  Dunkirk  and   Alfred
             University
    10.20    Note  and Warrant Purchase Agreement  dated as of April  21, 1994 among the
             Registrant and each of the investors listed on Schedule I thereto
    10.21    Series A Preferred Stock Purchase Agreement dated as of May 5, 1995,  among
             the  Registrant,  Technology  Funding  Partners  III,  L.P.  and Technology
             Funding Venture Partners V, An Aggressive Growth Fund, L.P.
    10.22    Business Lease dated as  of December 31, 1995,  between the Registrant  and
             Bethany Road Associates
    10.23    Purchase,  Supply and Distributorship Agreement dated as of March 28, 1996,
             among the Registrant, Dunkirk and Cytech Laboratories, Inc. ("Cytech")
    10.24*   Amendment to Purchase  and Supply Agreement  dated May 9,  1996, among  the
             Registrant, Dunkirk and VANGKOE Industries, Inc., assignee of Cytech
     11.1*   Statement of Computation of Net Loss Per Share
     23.1    Consent  of  O'Sullivan Graev  &  Karabell, LLP  (included  as part  of its
             opinion filed as Exhibit 5.1 hereto)
     23.2    Consent of Collier, Shannon, Rill & Scott
     23.3*   Consent of Ernst & Young LLP (included on page II-8)
     24.1    Power of Attorney
</TABLE>
    
 
- ------------------------
 *Filed herewith.
 
**Portions of the exhibit were omitted  and have been filed separately with  the
  Secretary  of  the Commission  pursuant  to the  Registrant's  Application for
  Confidential Treatment under Rule 406 under the Securities Act.
 
                                      II-5
<PAGE>
ITEM 28.  UNDERTAKINGS
 
    (1)The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that it will:
 
       (a) File, during any period  in which offers or  sales are being made,  a
           post-effective amendment to this registration statement to:
 
              (i)
               Include  any  prospectus  required  by  Section  10(a)(3)  of the
               Securities Act.
 
             (ii)
               Reflect in the prospectus any facts or events which, individually
               or together, represent a fundamental change in the information in
       the registration statement, and
 
            (iii)
               Include any  additional or  changed material  information on  the
               plan of distribution.
 
       (b) For  determining  liability  under  the  Securities  Act,  treat each
           post-effective amendment  as  a  new registration  statement  of  the
    securities  offered, and the offering  of the securities at  that time to be
    the initial BONA FIDE offering.
 
       (c) File a post-effective  amendment to remove  from registration any  of
           the securities that remain unsold at the end of this offering.
 
    (2)The   undersigned  Registrant   hereby  undertakes  to   provide  to  the
       Underwriter at  the  closing  specified  in  the  Underwriting  Agreement
certificates  in such denominations and registered  in such names as required by
the Underwriter to permit prompt delivery to each purchaser.
 
    (3)Insofar as indemnification for  liabilities arising under the  Securities
       Act  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  Commission such
indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and,
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 questions whether such indemnification by it is against  public
policy  as expressed  in the Securities  Act and  will be governed  by the final
adjudication of such issue.
 
    (4)The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that it will:
 
       (a) For determining any  liability under  the Securities  Act, treat  the
           information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this
    Registration Statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a form of
    prospectus  filed by  the Registrant pursuant  to Rule 424(b)(1)  or (4), or
    497(h) under the Securities Act as part of this registration statement as of
    the time it was declared effective.
 
       (b) For determining any  liability under the  Securities Act, treat  each
           post-effective  amendment that contains a form of prospectus as a new
    registration statement  for  the  securities  offered  in  the  registration
    statement,  and the offering of such securities  at that time as the initial
    bona fide offering of those securities.
 
                                      II-6
<PAGE>
                                   SIGNATURES
 
   
    In  accordance  with the  requirements of  the Securities  Act of  1933, the
Registrant has authorized this Amendment No.  3 to Registration Statement to  be
signed  on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City
of Hazlet, State of New Jersey, on the 9th day of May, 1996.
    
 
                                          CONVERSION TECHNOLOGIES
                                           INTERNATIONAL, INC.
 
   
                                          By:         /s/ HARVEY GOLDMAN
    
 
                                             -----------------------------------
                                                       Harvey Goldman
                                              CHAIRMAN, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
                                                        AND PRESIDENT
 
   
    In accordance with  the requirements  of the  Securities Act  of 1933,  this
Amendment No. 3 to Registration Statement has been signed by or on behalf of the
following persons in the capacities stated on the 9th day of May, 1996.
    
 
   
<TABLE>
<C>                                                     <S>
                      SIGNATURE                                                   TITLE
- ------------------------------------------------------  ---------------------------------------------------------
 
                  /s/ HARVEY GOLDMAN
     -------------------------------------------        Chairman of the Board, President, Chief Executive Officer
                    Harvey Goldman                       and Director (principal executive officer)
 
                /s/ DAVID L. SANDERS*
     -------------------------------------------        Chief Accounting Officer (principal financial and
                   David L. Sanders                      accounting officer)
 
                 /s/ ECKARDT C. BECK*
     -------------------------------------------        Director
                   Eckardt C. Beck
 
           /s/ NORMAN L. CHRISTENSEN, JR.*
     -------------------------------------------        Director
              Norman L. Christensen, Jr.
 
                /s/ PETER H. GARDNER*
     -------------------------------------------        Director
                   Peter H. Gardner
 
                /s/ SCOTT A. KATZMANN*
     -------------------------------------------        Director
                  Scott A. Katzmann
 
     -------------------------------------------        Director
                  Alexander P. Haig
 
             /s/ DONALD R. KENDALL, JR.*
     -------------------------------------------        Director
                Donald R. Kendall, Jr.
 
     -------------------------------------------        Director
                  Irwin M. Rosenthal
 
                               *By: /s/ HARVEY GOLDMAN
               ---------------------------------------
                    Harvey Goldman
                   ATTORNEY-IN-FACT
</TABLE>
    
 
                                      II-7
<PAGE>
                        CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
 
   
    We  consent to the reference to our  firm under the caption "Experts" and to
the use of our report dated July 28,  1995, except for Note 10, as to which  the
date is May 9, 1996, in Amendment No. 3 to the Registration Statement (Form SB-2
No.  33-80973) and related Prospectus  of Conversion Technologies International,
Inc. for the  registration of 3,067,000  shares of the  Company's Common  Stock,
3,067,000 Redeemable Class A Warrants and 3,067,000 Redeemable Class B Warrants.
    
 
                                          ERNST & YOUNG LLP
 
MetroPark, New Jersey
   
May 9, 1996
    
 
                                      II-8
<PAGE>
                                 EXHIBIT INDEX
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 EXHIBIT                                                                                                      PAGE
 NUMBER                                        DESCRIPTION OF EXHIBIT                                          NO.
- ---------  -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  ---------
<C>        <S>                                                                                              <C>
   1.1*    Form of Underwriting Agreement.................................................................
   2.1     Agreement and Plan of Reorganization dated August 16, 1994, among the Registrant, CTI
            Acquisition Corporation, Dunkirk International Glass and Ceramics Corporation ("Dunkirk") and
            certain shareholders of Dunkirk listed on the signature pages thereto.........................
   3.1     Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant............................
   3.2     By-laws of the Registrant......................................................................
   4.1*    Form of Warrant Agreement, including Form of Class A and Class B Warrant Certificates..........
   4.2     Form of Underwriter's Option...................................................................
   4.3     Term Note No. 2 dated as of January 27, 1995, in the principal amount of $1,973,905 between Key
            Bank of New York and Dunkirk..................................................................
   4.4     Security Agreement dated as of January 27, 1995, between Key Bank of New York and Dunkirk......
   4.5     Debt Service Reserve Agreement dated as of January 27, 1995, between Key Bank of New York and
            Dunkirk.......................................................................................
   4.6     Form of Escrow Agreement with respect to Escrow Shares.........................................
   4.7*    Form of Escrow Agreement with respect to Escrow Securities.....................................
   5.1     Opinion of O'Sullivan Graev & Karabell, LLP....................................................
  10.1     Conversion Technologies International, Inc. 1994 Employee Stock Option Plan, As Amended........
  10.2     Conversion Technologies International, Inc. 1994 Stock Option Plan for Non-Employee Directors,
            As Amended....................................................................................
  10.3     Amended and Restated Employment Agreement dated as of June 9, 1994, between the Registrant and
            Harvey Goldman................................................................................
  10.4     Employment Agreement dated as of September 1, 1995, between the Registrant and Perry A.
            Pappas........................................................................................
  10.5     Form of Indemnification Agreement..............................................................
  10.6     Lease dated as of March 1, 1995 between County of Chautauqua Industrial Development Agency and
            Dunkirk.......................................................................................
  10.7**   Sludge and Mixed Cullet Purchase Agreement dated January 1994, between Toshiba Display Devices,
            Inc. and Dunkirk..............................................................................
  10.8**   Clean Cullet Sale Agreement dated as of August 27, 1993, between OI-Neg TV Products, Inc. and
            Dunkirk.......................................................................................
  10.9**   Raw Materials Purchase and Clean Cullet Sale Agreement dated November 4, 1993, between Thomson
            Consumer Electronics Inc. and Dunkirk.........................................................
  10.10    Project Development Assistance Agreement dated as of April 20, 1995, between the Registrant and
            Paramount Capital, Inc........................................................................
  10.11    Consulting Agreement dated as of May 5, 1995, among the Registrant, Technology Funding Partners
            III, L.P. and Technology Funding Venture Partners V, An Aggressive Growth Fund, L.P...........
  10.12    Project Development Assistance Agreement dated July 13, 1995, among the Registrant, Technology
            Funding Partners III, L.P. and Technology Funding Venture Partners V, An Aggressive Growth
            Fund, L.P.....................................................................................
</TABLE>
    
<PAGE>
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 EXHIBIT                                                                                                      PAGE
 NUMBER                                        DESCRIPTION OF EXHIBIT                                          NO.
- ---------  -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  ---------
  10.13    Consulting Agreement dated March 1, 1995, between the Registrant and Eckardt C. Beck...........
<C>        <S>                                                                                              <C>
  10.14    Consulting Agreement dated July 5, 1995, between the Registrant and Palmetto Partners, Ltd.....
  10.15    Registration Rights Agreement dated as of May 5, 1995, among the Registrant, Technology Funding
            Partners III, L.P. and Technology Funding Venture Partners V, An Aggressive Growth Fund,
            L.P...........................................................................................
  10.16    Registration Rights Agreement dated as of April 21, 1994, among the Registrant, Palmetto
            Partners, Ltd., Harvey Goldman and Donald R. Kendall, Jr......................................
  10.17    Registration Rights Agreement dated as of August 19, 1994, among the Registrant and certain
            former Dunkirk stockholders, including Gerald P. Balcar and Robert Dejaiffe...................
  10.18    Warrant for the Purchase of shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock issued to Paramount
            Capital, Inc. by the Registrant...............................................................
  10.19    Research Agreement dated December 1994, between Dunkirk and Alfred University..................
  10.20    Note and Warrant Purchase Agreement dated as of April 21, 1994 among the Registrant and each of
            the investors listed on Schedule I thereto....................................................
  10.21    Series A Preferred Stock Purchase Agreement dated as of May 5, 1995, among the Registrant,
            Technology Funding Partners III, L.P. and Technology Funding Venture Partners V, An Aggressive
            Growth Fund, L.P..............................................................................
  10.22    Business Lease dated as of December 31, 1995, between the Registrant and Bethany Road
            Associates....................................................................................
  10.23    Purchase, Supply and Distributorship Agreement dated as of March 28, 1996, among Registrant,
            Dunkirk and Cytech Laboratories, Inc. ("Cytech")..............................................
  10.24*   Amendment to Purchase and Supply Agreement dated May 9, 1996, among the Registrant, Dunkirk and
            VANGKOE Industries, Inc., assignee of Cytech..................................................
  11.1*    Statement of Computation of Net Loss Per Share.................................................
  23.1     Consent of O'Sullivan Graev & Karabell, LLP (included as part of its opinion filed as Exhibit
            5.1 hereto)...................................................................................
  23.2     Consent of Collier, Shannon, Rill & Scott......................................................
  23.3*    Consent of Ernst & Young LLP (included on page II-8)...........................................
  24.1     Power of Attorney..............................................................................
</TABLE>
    
 
- ------------------------
 *Filed herewith.
 
**Portions  of the exhibit were omitted and  have been filed separately with the
  Secretary of  the  Commission pursuant  to  the Registrant's  Application  for
  Confidential Treatment under Rule 406 under the Securities Act.

<PAGE>

                                                                     EXHIBIT 1.1

                                3,067,000 Shares
                           3,067,000 Class A Warrants
                           3,067,000 Class B Warrants

                             CONVERSION TECHNOLOGIES
                               INTERNATIONAL, INC.


                             UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

D.H. Blair Investment Banking Corp.
44 Wall Street
New York, New York 10005

          Conversion Technologies International, Inc., a Delaware corporation
(the "Company"), proposes to issue and sell to D.H. Blair Investment Banking
Corp. (the "Underwriter"), an aggregate of 3,067,000 shares of Common Stock of
the Company, par value $.00025 per share, ("Shares"), 3,067,000 redeemable Class
A warrants ("Class A Warrants") and 3,067,000 redeemable Class B warrants
("Class B Warrants").  Each Class A Warrant is exercisable to purchase one share
of Common Stock and one Class B Warrant at a price of $5.85 from May __, 1996 to
May __, 2001.  Each Class B Warrant is exercisable to purchase one share of
Common Stock at a price of $7.80 from May __, 1996 to May __, 2001.  The Class A
Warrants and Class B Warrants are collectively referred to as the "Warrants".
The Warrants are subject to redemption in certain instances commencing one year
from the date of this Agreement.  In addition, the Company proposes to grant to
the Underwriter the option referred to in Section 2(b) to purchase all or any
part of an aggregate of 460,050 additional Shares, 460,050 additional Class A
Warrants and 460,050 additional Class B Warrants.  Unless the context otherwise
indicates, the term "Shares" and "Warrants" shall include the 460,050 additional
Shares, the 460,050 additional Class A Warrants and the 460,050 additional Class
B Warrants referred to above.

          The Common Stock of the Company is herein called the "Common Stock."
The Shares and Warrants and the shares of Common Stock and Warrants underlying
the Warrants (including the Shares and Warrants which the Underwriter has the
option to purchase) are herein collectively called the "Securities."

          You have advised the Company that you desire to purchase the Shares
and Warrants.  The Company confirms the agreements made by it with respect to
the purchase of the Shares and Warrants by you as follows:

          1.   REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY.  The Company
represents and warrants to, and agrees with, the Underwriter that:
<PAGE>

               (a)  A registration statement (File No. 33-80973) on Form SB-2
relating to the public offering of the Shares and Warrants, including a form of
prospectus subject to completion, copies of which have heretofore been delivered
to you, has been prepared by the Company in conformity with the requirements of
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), and the rules and
regulations (the "Rules and Regulations") of the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "Commission") thereunder, and has been filed with the Commission
under the Act and one or more amendments to such registration statement may have
been so filed.  After the execution of this Agreement, the Company will file
with the Commission either (i) if such registration statement, as it may have
been amended, has been declared by the Commission to be effective under the Act,
either (A) if the Company relies on Rule 434 under the Act, a Term Sheet (as
hereinafter defined) relating to the Shares and Warrants that shall identify the
Preliminary Prospectus (as hereinafter defined) that it supplements containing
such information as is required or permitted by Rules 434, 430A and 424(b) under
the Act or (B) if the Company does not rely on Rule 434 under the Act a
prospectus in the form most recently included in an amendment to such
registration statement (or, if no such amendment shall have been filed, in such
registration statement), with such changes or insertions as are required by
Rule 430A under the Act or permitted by Rule 424(b) under the Act and in the
case of either clause (i)(A) or (i)(B) of this sentence, as shall be provided to
and approved by you, or (ii) if such registration statement, as it may have been
amended, has not been declared by the Commission to be effective under the Act,
an amendment to such registration statement, including a form of prospectus, a
copy of which amendment shall be furnished to and approved by you.

          As used in this Agreement, the term "Registration Statement" means
such registration statement, as amended at the time when it was or is declared
effective, including all financial schedules and exhibits thereto and including
any information omitted therefrom pursuant to Rule 430A under the Act and
included in the Prospectus (as hereinafter defined); the term "Preliminary
Prospectus" means each prospectus subject to completion filed with such
registration statement or any amendment thereto (including the prospectus
subject to completion, if any, included in the Registration Statement or any
amendment thereto at the time it was or is declared effective); the term
"Prospectus" means (A) if the Company relies on Rule 434 under the Act, the Term
Sheet relating to the Shares and Warrants that is first filed pursuant to Rule
424(b)(7) under the Act, together with the Preliminary Prospectus identified
therein that such Term Sheet supplements; (B) if the Company does not rely on
Rule 434 under the Act, the prospectus first filed with the Commission pursuant
to Rule 424(b) under the Act or (C) if the Company does not rely on Rule 434
under the Act and if no prospectus is required to be filed pursuant to said
Rule 424(b), such term means the prospectus included in the Registration
Statement; except that if such registration statement or prospectus is amended
or such prospectus is supplemented after the effective date of such registration
statement and prior to the Option Closing Date (as hereinafter defined), the
terms "Registration Statement" and "Prospectus" shall include such registration
statement and prospectus as so amended, and the term "Prospectus" shall include
the prospectus as so supplemented, or both, as the case may be; and the term
"Term Sheet" means any term sheet that satisfies the requirements of Rule 434
under the Act.  Any reference to the "date" of a Prospectus that includes a Term
Sheet shall mean the date of such Term Sheet.


                                       -2-
<PAGE>

               (b)  The Commission has not issued any order preventing or
suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus.  At the time the Registration
Statement becomes effective and at all times subsequent thereto up to and on the
Closing Date (as hereinafter defined) or the Option Closing Date, as the case
may be, (i) the Registration Statement and Prospectus will in all respects
conform to the requirements of the Act and the Rules and Regulations; and
(ii) neither the Registration Statement nor the Prospectus will include any
untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required
to be stated therein or necessary to make statements therein not misleading;
provided, however, that the Company makes no representations, warranties or
agreements as to information contained in or omitted from the Registration
Statement or Prospectus in reliance upon, and in conformity with, written
information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of the Underwriter
specifically for use in the preparation thereof.  It is understood that the
statements set forth in the Prospectus on page 2 with respect to stabilization,
under the heading "Underwriting" and the identity of counsel to the Underwriter
under the heading "Legal Matters" constitute the only information furnished in
writing by or on behalf of the Underwriter for inclusion in the Registration
Statement and Prospectus, as the case may be.

               (c)  Each of the Company and Dunkirk International Glass and
Ceramics Corporation (the "Subsidiary") has been duly incorporated and is
validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the
jurisdiction of its incorporation, with full power and authority (corporate and
other) to own its properties and conduct its business as described in the
Prospectus and is duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation and is
in good standing in all other jurisdictions in which the nature of its business
or the character or location of its properties requires such qualification,
except where failure to so qualify will not materially adversely affect the
Company's or the Subsidiary's business, properties or financial condition.

               (d)  The authorized, issued and outstanding capital stock of the
Company as of March 31, 1996 is as set forth in the Prospectus under
"Capitalization"; the shares of issued and outstanding capital stock of the
Company set forth thereunder have been duly authorized, validly issued and are
fully paid and non-assessable; except as set forth in the Prospectus, no
options, warrants, or other rights to purchase, agreements or other obligations
to issue, or agreements or other rights to convert any obligation into, any
shares of capital stock of the Company have been granted or entered into by the
Company; and the capital stock conforms to all statements relating thereto
contained in the Registration Statement and Prospectus.

               (e)  The Shares and Warrants, when issued and delivered pursuant
to this Agreement, will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and
nonassessable and free of preemptive rights of any security holder of the
Company.  Neither the filing of the Registration Statement nor the offering or
sale of the Shares and Warrants as contemplated in this Agreement gives rise to
any rights, other than those which have been waived or satisfied, for or
relating to the registration of any shares of Common Stock, except as described
in the Registration Statement.


                                       -3-
<PAGE>

          The Warrants have been duly authorized and, when issued and delivered
pursuant to this Agreement, will have been duly executed, issued and delivered
and will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company
enforceable in accordance with their terms and entitled to the benefits provided
by the warrant agreement pursuant to which such Warrants are to be issued (the
"Warrant Agreement").  The shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the
Warrants have been reserved for issuance upon the exercise of the Warrants and,
when issued in accordance with the terms of the Warrants and Warrant Agreement,
will be duly and validly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and
non-assessable and free of preemptive rights and no personal liability will
attach to the ownership thereof.  The Warrant Agreement has been duly authorized
and, when executed and delivered pursuant to this Agreement, will have been duly
executed and delivered and will constitute the valid and legally binding
obligation of the Company enforceable in accordance with its terms.  The
Warrants and the Warrant Agreement conform to the respective descriptions
thereof in the Registration Statement and Prospectus.

          The Warrants contained in the Underwriter's Option (defined herein)
have been duly authorized and, when duly issued and delivered, such Warrants
will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company enforceable
in accordance with their terms and entitled to the benefits provided by the
Underwriter's Option.  The Shares included in the Underwriter's Option (and the
shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of such Warrants) when issued and
sold, will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and
free of preemptive rights and no personal liability will attach to the ownership
thereof.

               (f)  This Agreement, the Underwriter's Option, the M/A Agreement
(defined herein) and the Escrow Agreement (defined herein) have been duly and
validly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company.  The Company has full
power and lawful authority to authorize, issue and sell the Shares and Warrants
to be sold by it hereunder on the terms and conditions set forth herein, and no
consent, approval, authorization or other order of any governmental authority is
required in connection with such authorization, execution and delivery or with
the authorization, issue and sale of the Shares and Warrants or the
Underwriter's Option, except such as may be required under the Act or state
securities laws.

               (g)  Except as described in the Prospectus, neither the Company
or the Subsidiary is in violation, breach or default of or under, and
consummation of the transactions herein contemplated and the fulfillment of the
terms of this Agreement will not conflict with, or result in a breach or
violation of, any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under,
or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon
any of the property or assets of the Company or the Subsidiary pursuant to the
terms of any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other
agreement or instrument to which the Company or the Subsidiary is a party or by
which the Company or the Subsidiary may be bound or to which any of the property
or assets of the Company or the Subsidiary is subject, nor will such action
result in any violation of the provisions of the articles of incorporation or
the by-laws of the Company or the Subsidiary, as amended, or any statute or any
order, rule or regulation applicable


                                       -4-
<PAGE>

to the Company or the Subsidiary of any court or of any regulatory authority or
other governmental body having jurisdiction over the Company or the Subsidiary.

               (h)  Subject to the qualifications stated in the Prospectus, each
of the Company and the Subsidiary has good and marketable title to all
properties and assets described in the Prospectus as owned by it, free and clear
of all liens, charges, encumbrances or restrictions, except such as are not
materially significant or important in relation to its business; all of the
material leases and subleases under which the Company or the Subsidiary is the
lessor or sublessor of properties or assets or under which the Company or the
Subsidiary holds properties or assets as lessee or sublessee as described in the
Prospectus are in full force and effect, and, except as described in the
Prospectus, neither the Company nor the Subsidiary is in default in any material
respect with respect to any of the terms or provisions of any of such leases or
subleases, and no claim has been asserted by anyone adverse to rights of the
Company or the Subsidiary as lessor, sublessor, lessee or sublessee under any of
the leases or subleases mentioned above, or affecting or questioning the right
of the Company or the Subsidiary to continued possession of the leased or
subleased premises or assets under any such lease or sublease except as
described or referred to in the Prospectus; and each of the Company and the
Subsidiary owns or leases all such properties described in the Prospectus as are
necessary to its operations as now conducted and, except as otherwise stated in
the Prospectus, as proposed to be conducted as set forth in the Prospectus.

               (i)  Ernst & Young LLP, who have given their reports on certain
financial statements filed with the Commission as a part of the Registration
Statement which are incorporated in the Prospectus, are with respect to the
Company independent public accountants as required by the Act and the Rules and
Regulations.

               (j)  The financial statements, together with related notes, set
forth in the Prospectus (or if the Prospectus is not in existence, the most
recent Preliminary Prospectus) or the Registration Statement present fairly the
financial position and results of operations and changes in cash flow position
of the Company and the Subsidiary on the basis stated in the Registration
Statement, at the respective dates and for the respective periods to which they
apply.  Said statements and Schedules and related notes have been prepared in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles applied on a basis
which is consistent during the periods involved.  The information set forth
under the captions "Dilution", "Capitalization", and "Selected Financial Data"
in the Prospectus fairly present, on the basis stated in the Prospectus, the
information included therein.  The pro forma financial information filed as part
of the Registration Statement or included in the Prospectus (or such Preliminary
Prospectus) has been prepared in accordance with the Commission's rules and
guidelines with respect to pro forma financial statements, and includes all
adjustments necessary to present fairly the pro forma financial condition and
results of operations at the respective dates and for the respective periods
indicated and all assumptions used in preparing such pro forma financial
statements are reasonable.


                                       -5-
<PAGE>

               (k)  Subsequent to the respective dates as of which information
is given in the Registration Statement and Prospectus (or, if the Prospectus is
not in existence, the most recent Preliminary Prospectus), neither the Company
nor the Subsidiary has incurred any liabilities or obligations, direct or
contingent, not in the ordinary course of business, or entered into any
transaction not in the ordinary course of business, which is material to the
business of the Company or the Subsidiary, and there has not been any change in
the capital stock of, or any incurrence of short-term or long-term debt by, the
Company or the Subsidiary or any issuance of options, warrants or other rights
to purchase the capital stock of the Company or the Subsidiary or any material
adverse change or any development involving, so far as the Company can now
reasonably foresee a prospective material adverse change in the condition
(financial or other), net worth, results of operations, business, key personnel
or properties of it which would be material to the business or financial
condition of the Company or the Subsidiary and neither the Company nor the
Subsidiary has become a party to, and neither the business nor the property of
the Company or the Subsidiary has become the subject of, any material litigation
whether or not in the ordinary course of business.

               (l)  Except as set forth in the Prospectus, there is not now
pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened, any action, suit or
proceeding to which the Company or the Subsidiary is a party before or by any
court or governmental agency or body, which might result in any material adverse
change in the condition (financial or other), business prospects, net worth or
properties of the Company or the Subsidiary, nor are there any actions, suits or
proceedings against the Company or the Subsidiary related to environmental
matters or related to discrimination on the basis of age, sex, religion or race;
and except as set forth in the Prospectus, no labor disputes involving the
employees of the Company or the Subsidiary exist or are imminent which might be
expected to materially adversely affect the conduct of the business, property or
operations or the financial condition or results of operations of the Company or
the Subsidiary.

               (m)  Except as disclosed in the Prospectus, each of the Company
and the Subsidiary has filed all necessary federal, state and foreign income and
franchise tax returns and has paid all taxes shown as due thereon; and there is
no tax deficiency which has been asserted or, to the knowledge of the Company,
threatened against the Company or the Subsidiary.

               (n)  Each of the Company and the Subsidiary has sufficient
licenses, permits and other governmental authorizations currently required for
the conduct of its business or the ownership of its properties as described in
the Prospectus and is in all material respects complying therewith and owns or
possesses adequate rights to use all material patents, patent applications,
trademarks, service marks, trade-names, trademark registrations, service mark
registrations, copyrights and licenses necessary for the conduct of such
business and had not received any notice of conflict with the asserted rights of
others in respect thereof.  To the best knowledge of the Company, none of the
activities or business of the Company or the Subsidiary are in violation of, or
cause the Company or the Subsidiary to violate, any law, rule, regulation or
order of the United


                                       -6-
<PAGE>

States, any state, county or locality, or of any agency or body of the United
States or of any state, county or locality, the violation of which would have a
material adverse impact upon the condition (financial or otherwise), business,
property, results of operations or net worth of the Company or the Subsidiary.

               (o)  Neither the Company nor the Subsidiary has, directly or
indirectly, at any time (i) made any contributions to any candidate for
political office, or failed to disclose fully any such contribution, in
violation of law or (ii) made any payment to any state, federal or foreign
governmental officer or official, or other person charged with similar public or
quasi-public duties, other than payments or contributions required or allowed by
applicable law.  The Company's and the Subsidiary's internal accounting controls
and procedures are sufficient to cause the Company and the Subsidiary to comply
in all material respects with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as
amended.

               (p)  On the Closing Dates (hereinafter defined), all transfer or
other taxes (including franchise, capital stock or other tax, other than income
taxes, imposed by any jurisdiction), if any, which are required to be paid in
connection with the sale and transfer of the Shares and Warrants to the
Underwriter hereunder will have been fully paid or provided for by the Company
and all laws imposing such taxes will have been fully complied with.

               (q)  All contracts and other documents of the Company which are,
under the Rules and Regulations, required to be filed as exhibits to the
Registration Statement have been so filed.

               (r)  The Company has not taken and will not take, directly or
indirectly, any action designed to cause or result in, or which has constituted
or which might reasonably be expected to constitute, the stabilization or
manipulation of the price of the shares of Common Stock to facilitate the sale
or resale of the Shares and Warrants hereby.

               (s)  Except for the Subsidiary, the Company has no other
subsidiaries.

               (t)  The Company has not entered into any agreement pursuant to
which any person is entitled either directly or indirectly to compensation from
the Company for services as a finder in connection with the proposed public
offering.

               (u)  To the Company's knowledge, except as previously disclosed
in writing by the Company to you, no officer, director or stockholder of the
Company has any affiliation or association with any member of the National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. ("NASD").

               (v)  The Company is not, and upon receipt of the proceeds from
the sale of the Shares and Warrants will not be, an "investment company" within
the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules and
regulations thereunder.


                                       -7-
<PAGE>

               (w)  The Company has not distributed and will not distribute
prior to the First Closing Date any offering material in connection with the
offering and sale of the Shares and Warrants other than the Preliminary
Prospectus, the Prospectus, the Registration Statement or the other materials
permitted by the Act, if any.

               (x)  The conditions for use of Form SB-2, as set forth in the
General Instructions thereto, have been satisfied.

               (y)  There are no business relationships or related-party
transactions of the nature described in Item 404 of Regulation S-KB involving
the Company, the Subsidiary and any person described in such Item that are
required to be disclosed in the Prospectus (or, if the Prospectus is not in
existence, the most recent Preliminary Prospectus) and that have not been so
disclosed.

          2.   PURCHASE, DELIVERY AND SALE OF THE SHARES AND WARRANTS.

               (a)  Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, and
upon the basis of the representations, warranties and agreements herein
contained, the Company agrees to issue and sell to the Underwriter, and the
Underwriter agrees to buy from the Company, 3,067,000 Shares, 3,067,000 Class A
Warrants and 3,067,000 Class B Warrants, at a purchase price of $4.103 per
share, $.0467 per Class A Warrant and $.0467 per Class B Warrant, at the place
and time hereinafter specified ("First Shares and Warrants").

               Delivery of the First Shares and Warrants against payment
therefor shall take place at the offices of D.H. Blair Investment Banking Corp.,
44 Wall Street, New York, N.Y.  (or at such other place as may be designated by
agreement between you and the Company) at 10:00 a.m., New York time, on        ,
1996, such time and date of payment and delivery for the First Shares and
Warrants being herein called the "First Closing Date."

               (b)  In addition, subject to the terms and conditions of this
Agreement, and upon the basis of the representations, warranties and agreements
herein contained, the Company hereby grants an option to the Underwriter to
purchase all or any part of an aggregate of an additional 460,050 Shares, and/or
460,050 Class A Warrants and/or 460,050 Class B Warrants at the same price per
Share, Class A Warrant and Class B Warrant as the Underwriter shall pay for the
First Shares and Warrants being sold pursuant to the provisions of
subsection (a) of this Section 2 (such additional Shares and Warrants being
referred to herein as the "Option Shares and Warrants").  This option may be
exercised within 30 days after the effective date of the Registration Statement
upon notice by you to the Company advising as to the amount of Option Shares and
Warrants as to which the option is being exercised, the names and denominations
in which the certificates for such Option Shares and Warrants are to be
registered and the time and date when such certificates are to be delivered.
Such time and date shall be determined by you but shall not be earlier than four
nor later than ten full business days after the exercise of said option, nor in
any event prior to the First Closing Date, and such time and date is


                                       -8-
<PAGE>

referred to herein as the "Option Closing Date." Delivery of the Option Shares
and Warrants against payment therefor shall take place at the offices of D.H.
Blair Investment Banking Corp., 44 Wall Street, New York, N.Y.  The Option
granted hereunder may be exercised only to cover overallotments in the sale by
the Underwriter of the First Shares and Warrants referred to in subsection (a)
above.  In the event the Company declares or pays a dividend or distribution on
its Common Stock, whether in the form of cash, shares of Common Stock or any
other consideration, prior to the Option Closing Date, such dividend or
distribution shall also be paid on the Option Shares and Warrants on the Option
Closing Date.

               (c)  The Company will make the certificates for the Securities to
be purchased by the Underwriter hereunder available to you for checking at least
two full business days prior to the First Closing Date or the Option Closing
Date (which are collectively referred to herein as the "Closing Dates").  The
certificates shall be in such names and denominations as you may request at
least two full business days prior to the Closing Dates.  Time shall be of the
essence and delivery at the time and place specified in this Agreement is a
further condition to the obligations of the Underwriter.

               Definitive certificates in negotiable form for the Shares and
Warrants to be purchased by the Underwriter hereunder will be delivered by the
Company to you against payment of the purchase price by certified or bank
cashier's checks in New York Clearing House funds, payable to the order of the
Company.

               In addition, in the event the Underwriter exercises the option to
purchase from the Company all or any portion of the Option Shares and Warrants
pursuant to the provisions of subsection (b) above, payment for such Shares and
Warrants shall be made to or upon the order of the Company by certified or bank
cashier's checks payable in New York Clearing House funds at the offices of D.H.
Blair Investment Banking Corp., at the time and date of delivery of such Shares
and Warrants as required by the provisions of subsection (b) above, against
receipt of the certificates for such Shares and Warrants by the Underwriter for
the account of the Underwriter registered in such names and in such
denominations as the Underwriter may request.

               It is understood that the Underwriter proposes to offer the
Shares and Warrants to be purchased hereunder to the public upon the terms and
conditions set forth in the Registration Statement, after the Registration
Statement becomes effective.

          3.   COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY.  The Company covenants and agrees with
the Underwriter that:

               (a)  The Company will use its best efforts to cause the
Registration Statement to become effective as promptly as possible.  If
required, the Company will file the Prospectus or any Term Sheet that
constitutes a part thereof and any amendment or supplement thereto with the
Commission in the manner and within the time period required by Rules 434 and


                                       -9-
<PAGE>

424(b) under the Act.  Upon notification from the Commission that the
Registration Statement has become effective, the Company will so advise you and
will not at any time, whether before or after the effective date, file the
Prospectus, Term Sheet or any amendment to the Registration Statement or
supplement to the Prospectus of which you shall not previously have been advised
and furnished with a copy or to which you or your counsel shall have reasonably
objected in writing or which is not in compliance with the Act and the Rules and
Regulations.  At any time prior to the later of (A) the completion by the
Underwriter of the distribution of the Shares and Warrants contemplated hereby
(but in no event more than nine months after the date on which the Registration
Statement shall have become or been declared effective) and (B) 25 days after
the date on which the Registration Statement shall have become or been declared
effective, the Company will prepare and file with the Commission, promptly upon
your request, any amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement or
Prospectus which, in your reasonable opinion, may be necessary or advisable in
connection with the distribution of the Shares and Warrants.

               As soon as the Company is advised thereof, the Company will
advise you, and confirm the advice in writing, of the receipt of any comments of
the Commission, of the effectiveness of any post-effective amendment to the
Registration Statement, of the filing of any supplement to the Prospectus or any
amended Prospectus, of any request made by the Commission for amendment of the
Registration Statement or for supplementing of the Prospectus or for additional
information with respect thereto, of the issuance by the Commission or any state
or regulatory body of any stop order or other order or threat thereof suspending
the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any order preventing or
suspending the use of the Prospectus, or of the suspension of the qualification
of the Shares and Warrants for offering in any jurisdiction, or of the
institution of any proceedings for any of such purposes, and will use its best
efforts to prevent the issuance of any such order, and, if issued, to obtain as
soon as possible the lifting thereof.

               The Company has caused to be delivered to you copies of each
Preliminary Prospectus, and the Company has consented and hereby consents to the
use of such copies for the purposes permitted by the Act.  The Company
authorizes the Underwriter and dealers to use the Prospectus in connection with
the sale of the Shares and Warrants for such period as in the opinion of counsel
to the Underwriter the use thereof is required to comply with the applicable
provisions of the Act and the Rules and Regulations.  In case of the happening,
at any time within such period as a Prospectus is required under the Act to be
delivered in connection with sales by an underwriter or dealer, of any event of
which the Company has knowledge and which materially affects the Company or the
securities of the Company, or which in the opinion of counsel for the Company or
counsel for the Underwriter should be set forth in an amendment of the
Registration Statement or a supplement to the Prospectus in order to make the
statements therein not then misleading, in light of the circumstances existing
at the time the Prospectus is required to be delivered to a purchaser of the
Shares and Warrants or in case it shall be necessary to amend or supplement the
Prospectus to comply with law or with the Rules and Regulations, the Company
will notify you promptly and forthwith prepare and furnish to you copies of such
amended


                                      -10-
<PAGE>

Prospectus or of such supplement to be attached to the Prospectus, in such
quantities as you may reasonably request, in order that the Prospectus, as so
amended or supplemented, will not contain any untrue statement of a material
fact or omit to state any material facts necessary in order to make the
statements in the Prospectus, in the light of the circumstances under which they
are made, not misleading.  The preparation and furnishing of any such amendment
or supplement to the Registration Statement or amended Prospectus or supplement
to be attached to the Prospectus shall be without expense to the Underwriter,
except that in case any Underwriter is required, in connection with the sale of
the Shares and Warrants to deliver a Prospectus nine months or more after the
effective date of the Registration Statement, the Company will upon request of
and at the expense of the Underwriter, amend or supplement the Registration
Statement and Prospectus and furnish the Underwriter with reasonable quantities
of prospectuses complying with Section 10(a)(3) of the Act.

               The Company will comply with the Act, the Rules and Regulations
and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules and regulations thereunder
in connection with the offering and issuance of the Shares and Warrants.

               (b)  The Company will use its best efforts to qualify to register
the Shares and Warrants for sale under the securities or "blue sky" laws of such
jurisdictions as the Underwriter may designate and will make such applications
and furnish such information as may be required for that purpose and to comply
with such laws, provided the Company shall not be required to qualify as a
foreign corporation or a dealer in securities or to execute a general consent of
service of process in any jurisdiction in any action other than one arising out
of the offering or sale of the Shares and Warrants.  The Company will, from time
to time, prepare and file such statements and reports as are or may be required
to continue such qualification in effect for so long a period as the Underwriter
may reasonably request.

               (c)  If the sale of the Shares and Warrants provided for herein
is not consummated for any reason caused by the Company, the Company shall pay
all costs and expenses incident to the performance of the Company's obligations
hereunder, including but not limited to, all of the expenses itemized in
Section 8, including the accountable expenses of the Underwriter.

               (d)  The Company will use its best efforts to (i) cause a
registration statement under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to be declared
effective concurrently with the completion of this offering and will notify the
Underwriter in writing immediately upon the effectiveness of such registration
statement, and (ii) if requested by the Underwriter, to obtain a listing on the
Pacific Stock Exchange and to obtain and keep current a listing in the Standard
& Poors or Moody's Industrial OTC Manual.

               (e)  For so long as the Company is a reporting company under
either Section 12(g) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
Company, at its expense will furnish to its stockholders an annual report
(including financial statements audited by independent


                                      -11-
<PAGE>

public accountants) in reasonable detail and at its expense, will furnish to you
during the period ending five (5) years from the date hereof, (i) as soon as
practicable after the end of each fiscal year, a balance sheet of the Company
and any of its subsidiaries as at the end of such fiscal year, together with
statements of income, surplus and cash flow of the Company and any subsidiaries
for such fiscal year, all in reasonable detail and accompanied by a copy of the
certificate or report thereon of independent accountants; (ii) as soon as
practicable after the end of each of the first three fiscal quarters of each
fiscal year, consolidated summary financial information of the Company for such
quarter in reasonable detail; (iii) as soon as they are available, a copy of all
reports (financial or other) mailed to security holders; (iv) as soon as they
are available, a copy of all non-confidential reports and financial statements
furnished to or filed with the Commission or any securities exchange or
automated quotation system on which any class of securities of the Company is
listed; and (v) such other information as you may from time to time reasonably
request.

               (f)  In the event the Company has an active subsidiary or
subsidiaries, such financial statements referred to in subsection (e) above will
be on a consolidated basis to the extent the accounts of the Company and its
subsidiary or subsidiaries are consolidated in reports furnished to its
stockholders generally.

               (g)  The Company will deliver to you at or before the First
Closing Date two signed copies of the Registration Statement including all
financial statements and exhibits filed therewith, and of all amendments
thereto, and will deliver to the Underwriter such number of conformed copies of
the Registration Statement, including such financial statements but without
exhibits, and of all amendments thereto, as the Underwriter may reasonably
request.  The Company will deliver to or upon the order of the Underwriter, from
time to time until the effective date of the Registration Statement, as many
copies of any Preliminary Prospectus filed with the Commission prior to the
effective date of the Registration Statement as the Underwriter may reasonably
request.  The Company will deliver to the Underwriter on the effective date of
the Registration Statement (as set forth in the next sentence) and thereafter
for so long as a Prospectus is required to be delivered under the Act, from time
to time, as many copies of the Prospectus, in final form, or as thereafter
amended or supplemented, as the Underwriter may from time to time reasonably
request.  The Company, not later than (i) 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the
date of determination of the public offering price, if such determination
occurred at or prior to 12:00 noon, New York City time, on such date or
(ii) 6:00 p.m., New York City time, on the business day following the date of
determination of the public offering price, if such determination occurred after
12:00 noon, New York City time, on such date, will deliver to the Underwriter,
without charge, as many copies of the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement
thereto as the Underwriter may reasonably request for purposes of confirming
orders that are expected to settle on the First Closing Date.

               (h)  The Company will make generally available to its security
holders and to the registered holders of its Warrants and deliver to you as soon
as it is practicable to do so but in no event later than 90 days after the end
of twelve months after its current fiscal quarter, an


                                      -12-
<PAGE>

earnings statement (which need not be audited) covering a period of at least
twelve consecutive months beginning after the effective date of the Registration
Statement, which shall satisfy the requirements of Section 11(a) of the Act.

               (i)  The Company will apply the net proceeds from the sale of the
Shares and Warrants for the purposes set forth under "Use of Proceeds" in the
Prospectus, and will file such reports with the Commission with respect to the
sale of the Shares and Warrants and the application of the proceeds therefrom as
may be required pursuant to Rule 463 under the Act.

               (j)  The Company will, promptly upon your request, prepare and
file with the Commission any amendments or supplements to the Registration
Statement, Preliminary Prospectus or Prospectus and take any other action, which
in the reasonable opinion of Bachner, Tally, Polevoy & Misher LLP, counsel to
the Underwriter, may be reasonably necessary or advisable in connection with the
distribution of the Shares and Warrants, and will use its best efforts to cause
the same to become effective as promptly as possible.

               (k)  The Company will reserve and keep available that maximum
number of its authorized but unissued securities which are issuable upon
exercise of the Underwriter's Option outstanding from time to time.

               (l)  The Company has previously delivered to you agreements
(collectively, the "Lock-up Agreements") pursuant to which each officer and
director of the Company and stockholders owning at least an aggregate of 98% of
the Company's outstanding capital stock have agreed for a period of thirteen
months from the First Closing Date, not to directly or indirectly, offer, sell
(including any short sale), grant any option for the sale of, acquire any option
to dispose of, or otherwise dispose of any shares of Common Stock without the
prior written consent of the Underwriter.  In order to enforce the Lock-up
Agreements, the Company shall impose stop-transfer instructions with respect to
the shares owned by the Principal Stockholders until the end of such period.

               (m)  Prior to completion of this offering, the Company will make
all filings required, including registration under the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, to obtain the listing of the Common Stock, the Class A Warrants and
Class B Warrants on the Nasdaq Small Cap Market (or a listing on such other
market or exchange as the Underwriter consents to), and will effect and maintain
such listing for at least five years from the date of this Agreement.

               (n)  The Company represents that it has not taken and agrees that
it will not take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or which has
constituted or which might reasonably be expected to cause or result in the
stabilization or manipulation of the price of the Shares or the Warrants or to
facilitate the sale or resale of the Securities.

               (o)  On the Closing Date and simultaneously with the delivery of
the Shares and Warrants, the Company shall execute and deliver to you, the
Underwriter's  Option.


                                      -13-
<PAGE>

The Underwriter's Option will be substantially in the form of the Underwriter's
Option filed as an Exhibit to the Registration Statement.

               (p)  During the 18 month period commencing on the date of this
Agreement, the Company will not, without the prior written consent of the
Underwriter, grant options to purchase shares of Common Stock to employees at an
exercise price less than the greater of (i) the initial public offering price of
the Shares or (ii) the fair market value of the Common Stock on the date of
grant.  During the three year period from the First Closing Date, the Company
will not, without the prior written consent of the Underwriter, offer or sell
any of its securities pursuant to Regulation S under the Act.

               (q)  Harvey Goldman shall be President and Chief Executive
Officer of the Company on the Closing Dates.  The Company has obtained key
person life insurance on the life of Mr. Goldman in an amount of not less than
$2 million and will use its best efforts to maintain such insurance during the
three year period commencing on the First Closing Date or the term of his
employment, whichever period is longer.  In the event Mr. Goldman's employment
is terminated prior to the three year period commencing on the First Closing
Date, the Company will obtain a comparable policy on the life of his successor
for the balance of the three year period.  For a period of thirteen months from
the First Closing Date, the compensation of the executive officers of the
Company shall not be increased from the compensation levels disclosed in the
Prospectus.

               (r)  On the Closing Date and simultaneously with the delivery of
the Shares and Warrants the Company shall execute and deliver to you, an
agreement with you regarding mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures and certain
other forms of transactions, in the form previously delivered to the Company by
you (the "M/A Agreement").

               (s)  Prior to the Effective Date, the Company, the escrow agent
and certain stockholders of the Company shall execute an agreement regarding the
escrow of an aggregate of 639,834 shares of Common Stock outstanding, in the
form previously delivered to you by the Company (the "Escrow Agreement").

               (t)  So long as any Warrants are outstanding, the Company shall
use its best efforts to cause post-effective amendments to the Registration
Statement to become effective in compliance with the Act and without any lapse
of time between the effectiveness of any such post-effective amendments and
cause a copy of each Prospectus, as then amended, to be delivered to each holder
of record of a Warrant and to furnish to each Underwriter and dealer as many
copies of each such Prospectus as such Underwriter or dealer may reasonably
request.  The Company shall not call for redemption any of the Warrants unless a
registration statement covering the securities underlying the Warrants has been
declared effective by the Commission and remains current at least until the date
fixed for redemption.  In addition, for so long as any Warrant is outstanding,
the Company will promptly notify the Underwriter of any material change in the
business, financial condition or prospects of the Company.


                                      -14-
<PAGE>

               (u)  Upon the exercise of any Warrant or Warrants after May __,
1997, the Company will pay D.H. Blair Investment Banking Corp., a fee of 5% of
the aggregate exercise price of the Warrants, of which 1% may be reallowed to
the dealer who solicited the exercise (which may also be D.H. Blair Investment
Banking Corp.) if (i) the market price of the Company's Common Stock is greater
than the exercise price of the Warrants on the date of exercise; (ii) the
exercise of the Warrant was solicited in writing by a member of the National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., (iii) the Warrant is not held in a
discretionary account; (iv) the disclosure of compensation arrangements has been
made in documents provided to customers, both as part of the original offering
and at the time of exercise, and (v) the solicitation of the Warrant was not in
violation of Rule 10b-6 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended.  The Company agrees not to solicit the exercise of any Warrants
other than through D.H. Blair Investment Banking Corp. and will not authorize
any other dealer to engage in such solicitation without the prior written
consent of D.H. Blair Investment Banking Corp.  D.H. Blair Investment Banking
Corp. shall solicit the exercise of Warrants following notice of redemption of
the Warrants, subject to applicable federal and state securities law.

               (v)  For a period of five (5) years from the Effective Date the
Company (i) at its expense, shall cause its regularly engaged independent
certified public accountants to review (but not audit) the Company's financial
statements for each of the first three (3) fiscal quarters prior to the
announcement of quarterly financial information, the filing of the Company's
10-Q quarterly report and the mailing of quarterly financial information to
stockholders and (ii) shall not change its accounting firm to other than a "Big
Six" firm without the prior written consent of the Chairman or the President of
the Underwriter.

               (w)  As promptly as practicable after the Closing Date, the
Company will prepare, at its own expense, hard cover "bound volumes" relating to
the offering, and will distribute at least four of such volumes to the
individuals designated by the Underwriter or counsel to the Underwriter.

               (x)  For a period of five years from the First Closing Date (i)
the Underwriter shall have the right, but not the obligation, to designate one
director of the Board of Directors of the Company and (ii) the Company shall
engage a public relations firm reasonably acceptable to the Underwriter.

               (y)  The Company shall, for a period of six years after date of
this Agreement, submit which reports to the Secretary of the Treasury and to
stockholders, as the Secretary may require, pursuant to Section 1202 of the
Internal Revenue Code, as amended, or regulations promulgated thereunder, in
order for the Company to qualify as a "small business" so that stockholders may
realize special tax treatment with respect to their investment in the Company.

               (z)  With respect to the Selling Stockholders, the Company will
send all post-effective amendments or prospectus supplements disclosing actual
price and selling terms to


                                      -15-
<PAGE>

the NASD concurrently with the filing thereof with the Commission.  The Company
will notify the Underwriter and the NASD if the Company becomes aware that any
5% or greater stockholder of the Company becomes an affiliated or associated
person of an NASD member participating in the distribution of this offering.

          4.   CONDITIONS OF UNDERWRITER'S OBLIGATION.  The obligations of the
Underwriter to purchase and pay for the Shares and Warrants which it has agreed
to purchase hereunder, are subject to the accuracy (as of the date hereof, and
as of the Closing Dates) of and compliance with the representations and
warranties of the Company herein, to the performance by the Company of its
obligations hereunder, and to the following conditions:

               (a)  The Registration Statement shall have become effective and
          you shall have received notice thereof not later than 10:00 A.M., New
          York time, on the date on which the amendment to the registration
          statement originally filed with respect to the Shares and Warrants  or
          to the Registration Statement, as the case may be, containing
          information regarding the initial public offering price of the Shares
          and Warrants has been filed with the Commission, or such later time
          and date as shall have been agreed to by the Representative; if
          required, the Prospectus or any Term Sheet that constitutes a part
          thereof and any amendment or supplement thereto shall have been filed
          with the Commission in the manner and within the time period required
          by Rule 434 and 424(b) under the Act; on or prior to the Closing Dates
          no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration
          Statement shall have been issued and no proceedings for that or a
          similar purpose shall have been instituted or shall be pending or, to
          your knowledge or to the knowledge of the Company, shall be
          contemplated by the Commission; any request on the part of the
          Commission for additional information shall have been complied with to
          the reasonable satisfaction of Bachner, Tally, Polevoy & Misher LLP,
          counsel to the Underwriter;

               (b)  At the First Closing Date, you shall have received the
          opinion,  dated as of the First Closing Date, of O'Sullivan Graev &
          Karabell, LLP, counsel for the Company, in form and substance
          satisfactory to counsel for the Underwriter, to the effect that:

                    (i)  each of the Company and the Subsidiary has been duly
               incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation in good
               standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, with full
               corporate power and authority to own its properties and conduct
               its business as described in the Registration Statement and
               Prospectus and is duly qualified or licensed to do business as a
               foreign corporation and is in good standing in each jurisdiction
               in which the Company or the Subsidiary, as the case may be, owns
               or leases real property or maintains an office;


                                      -16-
<PAGE>

                   (ii)  the authorized capitalization of the Company as of
               March 31, 1996 is as set forth under "Capitalization" in the
               Prospectus; all shares of the Company's outstanding stock
               requiring authorization for issuance by the Company's board of
               directors have been duly authorized, validly issued, are fully
               paid and non-assessable and conform to the description thereof
               contained in the Prospectus; to such counsel's knowledge, the
               outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company have not been
               issued in violation of the preemptive rights of any shareholder
               and the shareholders of the Company do not have any preemptive
               rights or other rights to subscribe for or to purchase, nor are
               there any restrictions upon the voting or transfer of any of the
               Common Stock (except for transfer restrictions under applicable
               law and those imposed by the Lock-up Agreements); the Common
               Stock, the Warrants, the Underwriter's Option and the Warrant
               Agreement conform to the respective descriptions thereof
               contained in the Prospectus; the Shares have been, and the shares
               of Common Stock to be issued upon exercise of the Warrants and
               the Underwriter's Option, upon issuance in accordance with the
               terms of such Warrants, the Warrant Agreement and Underwriter's
               Option have been, duly authorized and, when issued and delivered,
               will be duly and validly issued, fully paid, non-assessable, and,
               to such counsel's knowledge, free of preemptive rights and no
               personal liability will attach to the ownership thereof; all
               prior sales by the Company of the Company's securities have been
               made in compliance with or under an exemption from registration
               under the Act and no shareholders of the Company have any
               rescission rights under federal law with respect to Company
               securities, assuming that any placement agent on behalf of the
               Company complied with the provisions of Section 4(2) of the
               Securities Act and the provisions of Regulation D promulgated
               under the Securities Act and assuming the accuracy of information
               provided by the purchasers of such securities; a sufficient
               number of shares of Common Stock has been reserved for issuance
               upon exercise of the Warrants and Underwriter's Option and to the
               best of such counsel's knowledge, neither the filing of the
               Registration Statement nor the offering or sale of the Shares and
               Warrants as contemplated by this Agreement gives rise to any
               registration rights or other rights, other than those which have
               been waived or satisfied for or relating to the registration of
               any shares of Common Stock;

                  (iii)  this Agreement, the Underwriter's Option, the Warrant
               Agreement, the Escrow Agreement and the M/A Agreement have been
               duly and validly authorized, executed and delivered by the
               Company and, assuming due execution by each other party hereto or
               thereto, each constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation
               of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with
               its respective terms


                                      -17-
<PAGE>

               (except as such enforceability may be limited by applicable
               bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other laws
               of general application relating to or affecting enforcement of
               creditors' rights and the application of equitable principles in
               any action, legal or equitable, and except as rights to indemnity
               or contribution may be limited by applicable law;

                   (iv)  the certificates evidencing the shares of Common Stock
               are in valid and proper legal form; the Warrants will be
               exercisable for shares of Common Stock of the Company in
               accordance with the terms of the Warrants and at the prices
               therein provided for; the shares of Common Stock of the Company
               issuable upon exercise of the Warrants have been duly authorized
               and reserved for issuance upon exercise of such Warrants and such
               shares, when issued upon such exercise in accordance with the
               terms of the Warrants and at the price provided for, will be duly
               and validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable;

                    (v)  such counsel knows of no pending or threatened legal or
               governmental proceedings to which the Company or the Subsidiary
               is a party which could materially adversely affect the business,
               property, financial condition or operations of the Company or the
               Subsidiary or which question the validity of the Securities, this
               Agreement, the Warrant Agreement, the Underwriter's Option, the
               Escrow Agreement or the M/A Agreement,  or of any action taken or
               to be taken by the Company pursuant to this Agreement, the
               Warrant Agreement, the Underwriter's Option, the Escrow Agreement
               or the M/A Agreement; and no such proceedings are known to such
               counsel to be contemplated against the Company or the Subsidiary;
               to such counsel's knowledge, there are no governmental
               proceedings or regulations required to be described or referred
               to in the Registration Statement which are not so described or
               referred to;

                   (vi)  Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement, 
               the Underwriter's Option, the Warrant Agreement, the Escrow 
               Agreement or the M/A Agreement, and the incurrence of the
               obligations herein and therein set forth and the consummation of
               the transactions herein or therein contemplated, will result in
               a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under the 
               certificate or articles of incorporation or by-laws, or, to such
               counsel's knowledge, any bond, debenture, note or other evidence
               of indebtedness or in any material contract, indenture, mortgage,
               loan agreement, lease, joint venture or other material agreement
               or instrument to which the Company or the Subsidiary is a party
               or by which it or any of its properties may be bound or, to such


                                      -18-
<PAGE>

               counsel's knowledge, any material order, rule, regulation, writ,
               injunction, or decree of any government, governmental
               instrumentality or court, domestic or foreign having jurisdiction
               over the Company or any of its property or business;

                  (vii)  the Registration Statement has become effective under
               the Act, and to the best of such counsel's knowledge, no stop
               order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement
               is in effect, and no proceedings for that purpose have been
               instituted or are pending before, or threatened by, the
               Commission; the Registration Statement and the Prospectus (except
               for the financial statements and other financial data contained
               therein, or omitted therefrom, as to which such counsel need
               express no opinion) comply as to form in all material respects
               with the applicable requirements of the Act and the Rules and
               Regulations;

                 (viii)  such counsel has participated in the preparation of the
               Registration Statement and the Prospectus and nothing has come to
               the attention of such counsel to cause such counsel to have
               reason to believe that the Registration Statement or any
               amendment thereto at the time it became effective or as of the
               Closing Dates contained any untrue statement of a material fact
               required to be stated therein or omitted to state any material
               fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
               statements therein not misleading or that the Prospectus or any
               supplement thereto contains any untrue statement of a material
               fact or omits to state a material fact necessary in order to make
               statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which
               they were made, not misleading (except, in the case of both the
               Registration Statement and any amendment thereto and the
               Prospectus and any supplement thereto, for the financial
               statements, notes thereto and other financial information and
               schedules contained therein, as to which such counsel need
               express no opinion);

                   (ix)  all descriptions in the Registration Statement and the
               Prospectus, and any amendment or supplement thereto, of contracts
               are accurate and fairly present the information required to be
               shown, and such counsel is familiar with all contracts and other
               documents referred to in the Registration Statement and the
               Prospectus and any such amendment or supplement or filed as
               exhibits to the Registration Statement, and such counsel does not
               know of any contracts or documents of a character required to be
               summarized or described therein or to be filed as exhibits
               thereto which are not so summarized, described or filed;

                    (x)  no authorization, approval, consent, or license of any
               governmental or regulatory authority or agency is necessary in
               connection


                                      -19-
<PAGE>

               with the authorization, issuance, transfer, sale or delivery of
               the Shares and Warrants by the Company, in connection with the
               execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the
               Company or in connection with the taking of any action
               contemplated herein, or the issuance of the Underwriter's Option
               or the Securities underlying the Underwriter's Option, other than
               registrations or qualifications of the Shares and Warrants under
               applicable state or foreign securities or Blue Sky laws and
               registration under the Act;

                   (xi)  the statements in the Registration Statement under the
               captions "Business," "Use of Proceeds," "Management," and
               "Description of Securities" have been reviewed by such counsel
               and insofar as they refer to descriptions of agreements,
               statements of law, descriptions of statutes, licenses, rules or
               regulations or legal conclusions, are correct in all material
               respects; and

                  (xii)  the Shares and the Warrants have been duly authorized
               for quotation on the Nasdaq SmallCap Market.

               (c)  At the First Closing Date, you shall have received the
          opinion, addressed to the Underwriter, dated as of the First Closing
          Date, of Collier, Shannon, Rill & Scott, patent counsel to the
          Company, in form and substance satisfactory to counsel for the
          Underwriter, to the effect that:

                    (i)  We have carefully read and analyzed the material set
               forth in the Prospectus under "Risk Factors - Dependence on
               Patents and Proprietary Technology" and "Business - Intellectual
               Property."  Based upon the information supplied to us by the
               Company and the facts of which we are aware, it is our opinion
               that this material accurately and adequately discloses the
               Company's patent position and does not contain an untrue
               statement of material fact or omit a material fact required to be
               stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements
               therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were
               made, not misleading.

                   (ii)  The patent applications referred to in the attached
               status report are currently on file in the Patent and Trademark
               Office ("PTO").  Based upon the information available to us at
               this time, the PTO has taken the actions indicated in the
               attached status report.  We have reviewed the file wrappers for
               each one and based on the facts of which we are aware, and the
               information supplied to us by the Company, we are aware of no
               public use or sale by the Company or its subsidiaries prior to
               the filing of any of the patents or patent applications that
               would affect their validity.  The two U.S. patent applications
               currently on file on behalf of the


                                      -20-
<PAGE>

               Company which are identified in the attached status report
               (Attachment 1) were filed by another law firm.  We have reviewed
               the filing documents, what we believe to be the relevant prior
               art, and the statutes that control their allowability, namely,
               the United States Code, Title 35, Section 101 (defining eligible
               subject matter), 112 (defining claims formalities), and 102
               (defining conditions for patentability).  We believe there to be
               patentable subject matter in those applications, however, as is
               common during prosecution of a patent application, such claims
               may have been or may be subsequently amended or modified in view
               of factors such as any newly discovered prior art or additional
               facts, or to overcome a difference of opinion with the Patent
               Office Examiner regarding the permissible scope of protection,
               the form of the claims, or the subject matter claimed.

                  (iii)  Based upon the facts of which we are aware and the
               information that has been provided to us by the Company, we are
               aware of no facts that would preclude the Company from having
               clear title to the United States patents and United States patent
               applications owned by the Company.

                   (iv)  Based upon the facts of which we are aware and the
               information that has been provided to us by the Company, we are
               not aware of either the Company or its subsidiaries having
               received any notice challenging the validity or enforceability of
               any of the United States patents owned by or licensed to the
               Company.

                    (v)  We have reviewed the Intellectual Property Assignment
               Agreements between Dunkirk International and the Company and
               based on those agreements and based upon facts of which were are
               aware and information provided us by the Company, it is our
               opinion that the Company has obtained all rights previously owned
               by Dunkirk International in the patents and patent applications
               on file with the PTO.

                   (vi)  Based upon the facts of which we are aware and the
               information that has been provided to us by the Company and with
               the exception of the proceeding identified in the second
               paragraph of this section (referring to the prosecution of the
               patent applications), we are not aware of any material legal or
               governmental proceedings pending or threatened with respect to
               any patents or patent applications of the Company.

                  (vii)  Based upon the facts of which we are aware and the
               information that has been provided to us by the Company, we are
               aware of no claims asserted against the Company relating to the
               potential


                                      -21-
<PAGE>

               infringement of or conflict with any patents, copyrights, trade
               secrets, or trademarks of others (except for the item identified
               in the paragraph immediately following this one).

                 (viii)  A company named Miller Edge has filed an Extension of
               Time in which to oppose one of the Company's trademarks.  That
               company's intentions are unknown at this time, and we are not
               aware that they have opposed registration of the trademark.  They
               have only asked for an extension of the 30 day period within
               which to file an opposition.

                   (ix)  Based on our review of the prior art, it is our opinion
               that none of the references identified in our search of the
               records of the PTO is sufficient to invalidate the Company's
               patents and we are aware of no other existing United States
               patents with claims that might cover the Company's technology or
               of any United States patent which the Company's technology
               infringes.

               (d)  At the First Closing Date, you shall have received an
          opinion of Collier, Shannon, Rill & Scott, regulatory counsel for the
          Company, addressed to the Underwriter and dated the First Closing
          Date, in form and substance satisfactory to counsel to the Underwriter
          to the effect that:

                    (i)  The statements in the Prospectus under caption "Risk
               Factors - Reliance on Environmental Regulation - Regulatory
               Status of Operations and Potential Environmental Liability" and
               "Business Environmental Matters," insofar as such statements
               relate to the Company's and the Subsidiary's operations and
               constitute a description of the environmental legal matters,
               environmental documents or proceeding referred to therein, are
               accurate and fairly present the information purported to be shown
               and, in our opinion, such material fairly discloses the regulated
               operations of the Company's and the Subsidiary's facility at
               Dunkirk and does not fail to state a material fact or omit to
               state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements
               therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were
               made, not misleading:

                   (ii)  There currently are no environmental statutes or
               regulations of the United States or the State of New York which
               we consider to be material to the operations or proposed
               operations of the Company or the Subsidiary at the Dunkirk
               facility, other than as described in the Prospectus.

                  (iii)  The Company and the Subsidiary are in substantial
               compliance with all environmental statutes or regulations of the
               United


                                      -22-
<PAGE>

               States and the State of New York applicable to the Company and
               its Subsidiary at the Dunkirk facility, except, in the case of
               any noncompliance that would not have a material adverse effect
               on the business, financial condition or prospects of the Company
               and the Subsidiary, taken as a whole.

                   (iv)  Each of the Company and the Subsidiary has obtained all
               environmental permits, regulatory determinations and beneficial
               use determinations necessary to the conduct of its business.

          Such opinion[s] shall also cover such matters incident to the
transactions contemplated hereby as the Underwriter shall reasonably request.
In rendering such opinion, such counsel may rely upon certificates of any
officer of the Company or public officials as to matters of fact; and may rely
as to all matters of law other than the law of the United States or of the State
of New York upon opinions of counsel satisfactory to you, in which case the
opinion shall state that they have no reason to believe that you and they are
not entitled to so rely.

               (e)  All corporate proceedings and other legal matters relating
to this Agreement, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and other related
matters shall be satisfactory to or approved by Bachner, Tally, Polevoy &
Misher LLP, counsel to the Underwriter, and you shall have received from such
counsel a signed opinion, dated as of the First Closing Date, with respect to
the validity of the issuance of the Shares and Warrants, the form of the
Registration Statement and Prospectus (other than the financial statements and
other financial data contained therein), the execution of this Agreement and
other related matters as you may reasonably require.  The Company shall have
furnished to counsel for the Underwriter such documents as they may reasonably
request for the purpose of enabling them to render such opinion.

               (f)  You shall have received a letter prior to the effective date
of the Registration Statement and again on and as of the First Closing Date from
Ernst & Young LLP, independent public accountants for the Company, substantially
in the form approved by you, and including estimates of the Company's revenues
and results of operations for the period ending at the end of the month
immediately preceding the effective date and results of the comparable period
during the prior fiscal year.

               (g)  At the Closing Dates, (i) the representations and warranties
of the Company contained in this Agreement shall be true and correct with the
same effect as if made on and as of the Closing Dates and the Company shall have
performed all of its obligations hereunder and satisfied all the conditions on
its part to be satisfied at or prior to such Closing Date; (ii) the Registration
Statement and the Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto shall
contain all statements which are required to be stated therein in accordance
with the Act and the Rules and Regulations, and shall in all material respects
conform to the requirements thereof, and neither the Registration Statement nor
the Prospectus nor any amendment or supplement thereto


                                      -23-
<PAGE>

shall contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading; (iii) there shall have been, since the respective dates
as of which information is given, no material adverse change, or any development
involving a prospective material adverse change, in the business, properties,
condition (financial or otherwise), results of operations, capital stock,
long-term or short-term debt or general affairs of the Company or the Subsidiary
from that set forth in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, except
changes which the Registration Statement and Prospectus indicate might occur
after the effective date of the Registration Statement, and neither the Company
nor the Subsidiary shall have incurred any material liabilities or entered into
any agreement not in the ordinary course of business other than as referred to
in the Registration Statement and Prospectus; and (iv) except as set forth in
the Prospectus, no action, suit or proceeding at law or in equity shall be
pending or threatened against the Company or the Subsidiary which would be
required to be set forth in the Registration Statement, and no proceedings shall
be pending or threatened against the Company or the Subsidiary before or by any
commission, board or administrative agency in the United States or elsewhere,
wherein an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding would materially and
adversely affect the business, property, condition (financial or otherwise),
results of operations or general affairs of the Company or the Subsidiary, and
(v) you shall have received, at the First Closing Date, a certificate signed by
each of the Chairman of the Board or the President and the principal financial
or accounting officer of the Company, dated as of the First Closing Date,
evidencing compliance with the provisions of this subsection (g).

               (h)  Upon exercise of the option provided for in Section 2(b)
hereof, the obligations of the Underwriter to purchase and pay for the Option
Shares and Warrants referred to therein will be subject (as of the date hereof
and as of the Option Closing Date) to the following additional conditions:

                    (i)  The Registration Statement shall remain effective at
               the Option Closing Date, and no stop order suspending the
               effectiveness thereof shall have been issued and no proceedings
               for that purpose shall have been instituted or shall be pending,
               or, to your knowledge or the knowledge of the Company, shall be
               contemplated by the Commission, and any reasonable request on the
               part of the Commission for additional information shall have been
               complied with to the satisfaction of Bachner, Tally, Polevoy &
               Misher LLP, counsel to the Underwriter.

                   (ii)  At the Option Closing Date there shall have been
               delivered to you the signed opinions of O'Sullivan Graev &
               Karabell, LLP and Collier, Shannon, Rill & Scott, counsel for the
               Company, dated as of the Option Closing Date, in form and
               substance satisfactory to Bachner, Tally, Polevoy & Misher LLP,
               counsel to the Underwriter, which opinions shall be substantially
               the same in scope and substance as the opinions furnished to you
               at the First Closing Date pursuant to Section 4(b), (c) and (d)


                                      -24-
<PAGE>

               hereof, except that such opinion, where appropriate, shall cover
               the Option Shares and Warrants.

                  (iii)  At the Option Closing Date there shall have been
               delivered to you a certificate of the Chairman of the Board or
               the President and the principal financial or accounting officer
               of the Company, dated the Option Closing Date, in form and
               substance satisfactory to Bachner, Tally, Polevoy & Misher LLP,
               counsel to the Underwriter, substantially the same in scope and
               substance as the certificate furnished to you at the First
               Closing Date pursuant to Section 4(g) hereof.

                   (iv)  At the Option Closing Date there shall have been
               delivered to you a letter in form and substance satisfactory to
               you from Ernst & Young, LLP, dated the Option Closing Date and
               addressed to the Underwriter confirming the information in their
               letter referred to in Section 4(f) hereof and stating that
               nothing has come to their attention during the period from the
               ending date of their review referred to in said letter to a date
               not more than five business days prior to the Option Closing
               Date, which would require any change in said letter if it were
               required to be dated the Option Closing Date.

                    (v)  All proceedings taken at or prior to the Option Closing
               Date in connection with the sale and issuance of the Option
               Shares and Warrants shall be satisfactory in form and substance
               to you, and you and Bachner, Tally, Polevoy & Misher LLP, counsel
               to the Underwriter, shall have been furnished with all such
               documents, certificates, and opinions as you may request in
               connection with this transaction in order to evidence the
               accuracy and completeness of any of the representations,
               warranties or statements of the Company or its compliance with
               any of the covenants or conditions contained herein.

               (i)  No action shall have been taken by the Commission or the
NASD the effect of which would make it improper, at any time prior to the
Closing Date, for members of the NASD to execute transactions (as principal or
agent) in the Common Stock or the Warrants and no proceedings for the taking of
such action shall have been instituted or shall be pending, or, to the knowledge
of the Underwriter or the Company, shall be contemplated by the Commission or
the NASD.  The Company represents that at the date hereof it has no knowledge
that any such action is in fact contemplated by the Commission or the NASD.  The
Company shall have advised the Underwriter of any NASD affiliation of any of its
officers, directors, stockholders or their affiliates.

               (j)  If any of the conditions herein provided for in this Section
shall not have been fulfilled as of the date indicated, this Agreement and all
obligations of the Underwriter


                                      -25-
<PAGE>

under this Agreement may be cancelled at, or at any time prior to, each Closing
Date by the Underwriter.  Any such cancellation shall be without liability of
the Underwriter to the Company.

          5.   CONDITIONS OF THE OBLIGATIONS OF THE COMPANY.  The obligation of
the Company to sell and deliver the Shares and Warrants is subject to the
condition that at the Closing Dates, no stop orders suspending the effectiveness
of the Registration Statement shall have been issued under the Act or any
proceedings therefor initiated or threatened by the Commission.

          If the condition to the obligations of the Company provided for in
this Section have been fulfilled on the First Closing Date but are not fulfilled
after the First Closing Date and prior to the Option Closing Date, then only the
obligation of the Company to sell and deliver the Shares and Warrants on
exercise of the option provided for in Section 2(b) hereof shall be affected.

          6.   INDEMNIFICATION.

               (a)  The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each
Underwriter and each person, if any, who controls the Underwriter within the
meaning of the Act against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or
several (which shall, for all purposes of this Agreement, include, but not be
limited to, all reasonable costs of defense and investigation and all attorneys'
fees), to which the Underwriter or such controlling person may become subject,
under the Act or otherwise, and will reimburse, as incurred, such Underwriter
and such controlling persons for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred
in connection with investigating, defending against or appearing as a third
party witness in connection with any losses, claims, damages or liabilities,
insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect
thereof) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of any material fact contained in (A) the Registration Statement, any
Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto,
(B) any blue sky application or other document executed by the Company
specifically for that purpose or based upon written information furnished by the
Company filed in any state or other jurisdiction in order to qualify any or all
of the Shares and Warrants under the securities laws thereof (any such
application, document or information being hereinafter called a "Blue Sky
Application"), or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged
omission to state in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus,
Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or in any Blue Sky
Application, a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make
the statements therein not misleading; provided, however, that the Company will
not be liable in any such case to the extent, but only to the extent, that any
such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon an untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in
reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the
Company by or on behalf of the Underwriter specifically for use in the
preparation of the Registration Statement or any such amendment or supplement
thereof or any such Blue Sky Application or any such


                                      -26-
<PAGE>

preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus or any such amendment or supplement
thereto.  This indemnity will be in addition to any liability which the Company
may otherwise have.

               (b)  The Underwriter will indemnify and hold harmless the
Company, each of its directors, each nominee (if any) for director named in the
Prospectus, each of its officers who have signed the Registration Statement, and
each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of the Act,
against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities (which shall, for all
purposes of this Agreement, include, but not be limited to, all costs of defense
and investigation and all attorneys' fees) to which the Company or any such
director, nominee, officer or controlling person may become subject under the
Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or
actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement
or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in the Registration
Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus, or any amendment or
supplement thereto, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or the
alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein
or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, in each case to the
extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement or omission or alleged omission was made in the Registration
Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus, or any amendment or
supplement thereto (i) in reliance upon and in conformity with written
information furnished to the Company by you specifically for use in the
preparation thereof and (ii) relates to the transactions effected by the
Underwriter in connection with the offer and sale of the Shares and Warrants
contemplated hereby.  This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any
liability which the Underwriter may otherwise have.

               (c)  Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this
Section of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party
will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party
under this Section, notify in writing the indemnifying party of the commencement
thereof; but the omission so to notify the indemnifying party will not relieve
it from any liability which it may have to any indemnified party otherwise than
under this Section.  In case any such action is brought against any indemnified
party, and it notifies the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, the
indemnifying party will be entitled to participate in, and, to the extent that
it may wish, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, to
assume the defense thereof, subject to the provisions herein stated, with
counsel reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party, and after notice from
the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of its election so to assume
the defense thereof, the indemnifying party will not be liable to such
indemnified party under this Section for any legal or other expenses
subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in connection with the defense
thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation.  The indemnified party
shall have the right to employ separate counsel in any such action and to
participate in the defense thereof, but the fees and expenses of such counsel
shall not be at the


                                      -27-
<PAGE>

expense of the indemnifying party if the indemnifying party has assumed the
defense of the action with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified
party; provided that if the indemnified party is an Underwriter or a person who
controls such Underwriter within the meaning of the Act, the fees and expenses
of such counsel shall be at the expense of the indemnifying party if (i) the
employment of such counsel has been specifically authorized in writing by the
indemnifying party or (ii) the named parties to any such action (including any
impleaded parties) include both such Underwriter or such controlling person and
the indemnifying party and in the judgment of the Underwriter, it is advisable
for the Underwriter or controlling persons to be represented by separate counsel
(in which case the indemnifying party shall not have the right to assume the
defense of such action on behalf of such Underwriter or such controlling person,
it being understood, however, that the indemnifying party shall not, in
connection with any one such action or separate but substantially similar or
related actions in the same jurisdiction arising out of the same general
allegations or circumstances, be liable for the reasonable fees and expenses of
more than one separate firm of attorneys for the Underwriter and controlling
persons, which firm shall be designated in writing by you).  No settlement of
any action against an indemnified party shall be made without the consent of the
indemnifying party, which shall not be unreasonably withheld in light of all
factors of importance to such indemnifying party.

          7.   CONTRIBUTION.

          In order to provide for just and equitable contribution under the Act
in any case in which the Underwriter makes claim for indemnification pursuant to
Section 6 hereof but it is judicially determined (by the entry of a final
judgment or decree by a court of competent jurisdiction and the expiration of
time to appeal or the denial of the last right of appeal) that such
indemnification may not be enforced in such case, notwithstanding the fact that
the express provisions of Section 6 provide for indemnification in such case, or
(ii) contribution under the Act may be required on the part of the Underwriter,
then the Company and each person who controls the Company, in the aggregate, and
the Underwriter shall contribute to the aggregate losses, claims, damages or
liabilities to which they may be subject (which shall, for all purposes of this
Agreement, include, but not be limited to, all reasonable costs of defense and
investigation and all reasonable attorneys' fees) in either such case (after
contribution from others) in such proportions that the Underwriter is
responsible in the aggregate for that portion of such losses, claims, damages or
liabilities represented by the percentage that the underwriting discount per
Unit appearing on the cover page of the Prospectus bears to the public offering
price appearing thereon, and the Company shall be responsible for the remaining
portion, provided, however, that (a) if such allocation is not permitted by
applicable law then the relative fault of the Company and the Underwriter and
controlling persons, in the aggregate, in connection with the statements or
omissions which resulted in such damages and other relevant equitable
considerations shall also be considered.  The relative fault shall be determined
by reference to, among other things, whether in the case of an untrue statement
of a material fact or the omission to state a material fact, such statement or
omission relates to information supplied by the Company, or the Underwriter and
the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity
to correct or prevent such untrue statement or omission.  The Company and the
Underwriter agree that it would not be just and equitable if the respective
obligations of the Company and the Underwriter to contribute pursuant to this
Section 7 were to be determined by pro rata or per capita allocation of the
aggregate damages (even if the Underwriter in the aggregate were treated as one
entity for such


                                      -28-
<PAGE>

purpose) or by any other method of allocation that does not take account of the
equitable considerations referred to in the first sentence of this Section 7.
No person guilty of a fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of
Section 11(f) of the Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who
is not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.  As used in this paragraph,
the word "Company" includes any officer, director, or person who controls the
Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act.  If the full amount of the
contribution specified in this paragraph is not permitted by law, then the
Underwriter and each person who controls the Underwriter shall be entitled to
contribution from the Company, its officers, directors and controlling persons
to the full extent permitted by law.  The foregoing contribution agreement shall
in no way affect the contribution liabilities of any persons having liability
under Section 11 of the Act other than the Company and the Underwriter.  No
contribution shall be requested with regard to the settlement of any matter from
any party who did not consent to the settlement; provided, however, that such
consent shall not be unreasonably withheld in light of all factors of importance
to such party.

          8.   COSTS AND EXPENSES.

               (a)  Whether or not this Agreement becomes effective or the sale
of the Shares and Warrants to the Underwriter is consummated, the Company will
pay all costs and expenses incident to the performance of this Agreement by the
Company including, but not limited to, the fees and expenses of counsel to the
Company and of the Company's accountants; the costs and expenses incident to the
preparation, printing, filing and distribution under the Act of the Registration
Statement (including the financial statements therein and all amendments and
exhibits thereto), Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, as amended or
supplemented, or the Term Sheet, the fee of the NASD in connection with the
filing required by the NASD relating to the offering of the Shares and Warrants
contemplated hereby; all expenses, including reasonable fees and disbursements
of counsel to the Underwriter, in connection with the qualification of the
Shares and Warrants under the state securities or blue sky laws which the
Underwriter shall designate; the cost of printing and furnishing to the
Underwriter copies of the Registration Statement, each Preliminary Prospectus,
the Prospectus, this Agreement, Selling Agreement and the Blue Sky Memorandum,
any fees relating to the listing of the  Common Stock and Warrants on the Nasdaq
SmallCap Market or any other securities exchange, the cost of printing the
certificates representing the Shares and Warrants, the fees of the transfer
agent and warrant agent the cost of publication of at least three "tombstones"
of the offering (at least one of which shall be in national business newspaper
and one of which shall be in a major New York newspaper) and the cost of
preparing at least four hard cover "bound volumes" relating to the offering, in
accordance with the Underwriter's request.  The Company shall pay any and all
taxes (including any transfer, franchise, capital stock or other tax imposed by
any jurisdiction) on sales to the Underwriter hereunder.  The Company will also
pay all costs and expenses incident to the furnishing of any amended Prospectus
or of any supplement to be attached to the Prospectus as called for in
Section 3(a) of this Agreement except as otherwise set forth in said Section.


                                      -29-
<PAGE>

               (b)  In addition to the foregoing expenses, the Company shall at
the First Closing Date pay to D.H. Blair Investment Banking Corp., a
non-accountable expense allowance of $414,045 of which $_______ has been paid.
In the event the overallotment option is exercised, the Company shall pay to
D.H. Blair Investment Banking Corp. at the Option Closing Date an additional
amount equal to 3% of the gross proceeds received upon exercise of the
overallotment option.  In the event the transactions contemplated hereby are not
consummated by reason of any action by the Underwriter (except if such
prevention is based upon a breach by the Company of any covenant, representation
or warranty contained herein or because any other condition to the Underwriter's
obligations hereunder required to be fulfilled by the Company is not fulfilled)
the Company shall be liable for the accountable expenses of the Underwriter,
including legal fees up to a maximum of $40,000.  In the event the transactions
contemplated hereby are not consummated by reason of any action of the Company
or because of a breach by the Company of any covenant, representation or
warranty herein, the Company shall be liable for the out-of-pocket accountable
expenses of the Underwriter, including legal fees, up to a maximum of $360,000.
In the event the offering is not consummated for any reason, any portion of the
non-accountable expense allowance previously paid to the Underwriter which is
not accounted for shall be returned to the Company.

               (c)  No person is entitled either directly or indirectly to
compensation from the Company, from the Underwriter or from any other person for
services as a finder in connection with the proposed offering, and the Company
agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Underwriter, against any losses,
claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several (which shall, for all purposes
of this Agreement, include, but not be limited to, all costs of defense and
investigation and all attorneys' fees), to which the Underwriter or person may
become subject insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or
actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon the claim of any
person (other than an employee of the party claiming indemnity) or entity that
he or it is entitled to a finder's fee in connection with the proposed offering
by reason of such person's or entity's influence or prior contact with the
indemnifying party.

          9.   EFFECTIVE DATE.

          The Agreement shall become effective upon its execution except that
you may, at your option, delay its effectiveness until 11:00 A.M., New York time
on the first full business day following the effective date of the Registration
Statement, or at such earlier time after the effective date of the Registration
Statement as you in your discretion shall first commence the initial public
offering by the Underwriter of any of the Shares and Warrants.  The time of the
initial public offering shall mean the time of release by you of the first
newspaper advertisement with respect to the Shares and Warrants, or the time
when the Shares and Warrants are first generally offered by you to dealers by
letter or telegram, whichever shall first occur.  This Agreement may be
terminated by you at any time before it becomes effective as provided above,
except that Sections 3(c), 6, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14 and 15 shall remain in effect
notwithstanding such termination.


                                      -30-
<PAGE>

          10.  TERMINATION.

               (a)  This Agreement, except for Sections 3(c), 6, 7, 8, 12, 13,
14 and 15 hereof, may be terminated at any time prior to the First Closing Date,
and the option referred to in Section 2(b) hereof, if exercised, may be
cancelled at any time prior to the Option Closing Date, by you if in your
judgment it is impracticable to offer for sale or to enforce contracts made by
the Underwriter for the resale of the Shares and Warrants agreed to be purchased
hereunder by reason of (i) the Company having sustained a material loss, whether
or not insured, by reason of fire, earthquake, flood, accident or other
calamity, or from any labor dispute or court or government action, order or
decree; (ii) trading in securities on the New York Stock Exchange, the American
Stock Exchange, the Nasdaq SmallCap Market or the Nasdaq National Market having
been suspended or limited; (iii) material governmental restrictions having been
imposed on trading in securities generally (not in force and effect on the date
hereof); (iv) a banking moratorium having been declared by federal or New York
state authorities; (v) an outbreak of international hostilities or other
national or international calamity or crisis or change in economic or political
conditions having occurred; (vi) a pending or threatened legal or governmental
proceeding or action relating generally to the Company's business, or a
notification having been received by the Company of the threat of any such
proceeding or action, which could materially adversely affect the Company;
(vii) except as contemplated by the Prospectus, the Company is merged or
consolidated into or acquired by another company or group or there exists a
binding legal commitment for the foregoing or any other material change of
ownership or control occurs; (viii) the passage by the Congress of the United
States or by any state legislative body or federal or state agency or other
authority of any act, rule or regulation, measure, or the adoption of any
orders, rules or regulations by any governmental body or any authoritative
accounting institute or board, or any governmental executive, which is
reasonably believed likely by the Representative to have a material impact on
the business, financial condition or financial statements of the Company or the
market for the securities offered pursuant to the Prospectus; (ix) any adverse
change in the financial or securities markets beyond normal market fluctuations
having occurred since the date of this Agreement, or (x) any material adverse
change having occurred, since the respective dates of which information is given
in the Registration Statement and Prospectus, in the earnings, business
prospects or general condition of the Company, financial or otherwise, whether
or not arising in the ordinary course of business.

               (b)  If you elect to prevent this Agreement from becoming
effective or to terminate this Agreement as provided in this Section 10 or in
Section 9, the Company shall be promptly notified by you, by telephone or
telegram, confirmed by letter.



          11.  UNDERWRITER'S OPTION.

          At or before the First Closing Date, the Company will sell to D.H.
Blair Investment Banking Corp. (for its own account), or its designees for a
consideration of $6.16 per share, $.07 per Class A Warrant and $.07 per Class B
Warrant, and upon the terms and conditions set forth in the form of
Underwriter's Option annexed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement,


                                       31-
<PAGE>

an option to purchase an aggregate of 306,700 shares of Common Stock, and/or
306,700 Class A Warrants and/or 306,700 Class B Warrants.  In the event of
conflict in the terms of this Agreement and the Underwriter's Option, the
language of the Underwriter's Option will control.

          12.  REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES AND AGREEMENTS TO SURVIVE DELIVERY.

          The respective indemnities, agreements, representations, warranties
and other statements of the Company or its Principal Stockholders, where
appropriate, and the undertakings set forth in or made pursuant to this
Agreement will remain in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation
made by or on behalf of the Underwriter, the Company or any of its officers or
directors or any controlling person and will survive delivery of and payment of
the Shares and Warrants and the termination of this Agreement.

          13.  NOTICE.

          Any communications specifically required hereunder to be in writing,
if sent to the Underwriter, will be mailed, delivered and confirmed to them at
D.H. Blair Investment Banking Corp., 44 Wall Street,, New York, New York 10005,
with a copy sent to Bachner, Tally, Polevoy & Misher LLP, 380 Madison Avenue,
New York, New York 10017, or if sent to the Company, will be mailed, delivered
and confirmed to it at Conversion Technologies International, Inc., 82 Bethany
Road, Suite 6, Hazlet, New Jersey 07730, Attention: Harvey Goldman, with a copy
sent to O'Sullivan Graev & Karabell, LLP, 30 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, New
York 10112, Attention: Julie M. Allen, Esq.

          14.  PARTIES IN INTEREST.

          The Agreement herein set forth is made solely for the benefit of the
Underwriter, the Company and, to the extent expressed, the Principal
Stockholders, any person controlling the Company or the Underwriter, and
directors of the Company, nominees for directors (if any) named in the
Prospectus, its officers who have signed the Registration Statement, and their
respective executors, administrators, successors, assigns and no other person
shall acquire or have any right under or by virtue of this Agreement.  The term
"successors and assigns" shall not include any purchaser, as such purchaser,
from the Underwriter of the Shares and Warrants.

          15.  APPLICABLE LAW.

          This Agreement will be governed by, and construed in accordance with,
the laws of the State of New York applicable to agreements made and to be
entirely performed within New York.


                                      -32-
<PAGE>

          If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our
agreement, kindly sign and return this agreement, whereupon it will become a
binding agreement between the Company and the Underwriter in accordance with its
terms.

                              Very truly yours,

                              CONVERSION TECHNOLOGIES
                              INTERNATIONAL, INC.


                              By:  ____________________________________


          The foregoing Underwriting Agreement is hereby confirmed and accepted
as of the date first above written.


                              D.H. BLAIR INVESTMENT BANKING CORP.


                              By:  ____________________________________
                                   Martin A. Bell, Vice Chairman and
                                        General Counsel



<PAGE>

                                                                     EXHIBIT 4.1

                                WARRANT AGREEMENT

          AGREEMENT, dated as of this ____th day of ___________, 1996, by and
among CONVERSION TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL, INC., a Delaware corporation
("Company"), AMERICAN STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY, as Warrant Agent (the
"Warrant Agent"), and D.H.  BLAIR INVESTMENT BANKING CORP., a New York
corporation ("Blair").

                               W I T N E S S E T H

          WHEREAS, in connection with (i) a public offering of up to 3,527,050
shares ("Shares") of the Company's Common Stock, $.00025 par value ("Common
Stock"), 3,527,050 redeemable Class A Warrants ("Class A Warrants") and
3,527,050 redeemable Class B Warrants ("Class B Warrants") pursuant to an
underwriting agreement (the "Underwriting Agreement") dated _______________,
1996 between the Company and Blair (ii) the issuance to Blair or its designees
of an Option to purchase an aggregate of 306,700 additional shares of Common
Stock, and/or 306,700 Class A Warrants and/or 306,700 Class B Warrants to be
dated as of __________, 1996 (the "Underwriter's  Option"), and (iii) the
issuance of 1,112,500 Class A Warrants to certain security holders of the
Company upon the conversion of warrants acquired by them in a private placement
in December 1995, the Company may issue up to 4,946,250 Class A Warrants and
3,833,750 Class B Warrants (the Class A Warrants and Class B Warrants may be
collectively referred to as "Warrants"); and

          WHEREAS, each Class A Warrant initially entitles the Registered Holder
thereof to purchase one (1) share of Common Stock and one (1) Class B Warrant,
and accordingly, the Company may issue up to an additional 4,946,250 Class B
Warrants; and

          WHEREAS, each Class B Warrant initially entitles the Registered Holder
thereof to purchase one (1) share of Common Stock; and

          WHEREAS, the Company desires the Warrant Agent to act on behalf of the
Company, and the Warrant Agent is willing to so act, in connection with the
issuance, registration, transfer, exchange and redemption of the Warrants, the
issuance of certificates representing the Warrants, the exercise of the Warrants
and the rights of the registered holders thereof;

          NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual
agreements hereinafter set forth and for the purpose of defining the terms and
provisions of the Warrants and the certificates representing the Warrants and
the respective rights and obligations thereunder of the Company, the holders of
certificates representing the Warrants and the Warrant Agent, the parties hereto
agree as follows:
<PAGE>

          SECTION 1.  DEFINITIONS.  As used herein, the following terms shall
have the following meanings, unless the context shall otherwise require:

          (a)  "Common Stock" shall mean stock of the Company of any class,
whether now or hereafter authorized, which has the right to participate in the
distribution of earnings and assets of the Company without limit as to amount or
percentage, which at the date hereof consists of 25,000,000 shares of Common
Stock, $.00025 par value.

          (b)  "Corporate Office" shall mean the office of the Warrant Agent (or
its successor) at which at any particular time its principal business shall be
administered, which office is located at the date hereof at 40 Wall Street, New
York, New York 10005.

          (c)  "Exercise Date" shall mean, as to any Warrant, the date on which
the Warrant Agent shall have received both (a) the Warrant Certificate
representing such Warrant, with the exercise form thereon duly executed by the
Registered Holder thereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing, and
(b) payment in cash, or by official bank or certified check made payable to the
Company, of an amount in lawful money of the United States of America equal to
the applicable Purchase Price.

          (d)  "Initial Warrant Exercise Date" shall mean as to each Class A
Warrant and Class B Warrant the date of issuance.

          (e)  "Purchase Price" shall mean the purchase price per share to be
paid upon exercise of each Class A Warrant or Class B Warrant in accordance with
the terms hereof, which price shall be $5.85 as to the Class A Warrants and
$7.80 as to the Class B Warrants, subject to adjustment from time to time
pursuant to the provisions of Section 9 hereof, and subject to the Company's
right to reduce the Purchase Price upon notice to all Registered Holders of
Warrants.

          (f)  "Redemption Price" shall mean the price at which the Company may,
at its option in accordance with the terms hereof, redeem the Class A Warrants
and/or Class B Warrants, which price shall be $0.05 per Warrant.

          (g)  "Registered Holder" shall mean as to any Warrant and as of any
particular date, the person in whose name the certificate representing the
Warrant shall be registered on that date on the books maintained by the Warrant
Agent pursuant to Section 6.

          (h)  "Transfer Agent" shall mean American Stock Transfer & Trust
Company, as the Company's transfer agent, or its authorized successor, as such.

          (i)  "Warrant Expiration Date" shall mean 5:00 P.M.  (New York time)
on May ___, 2001 or, with respect to Warrants which are outstanding as of the
applicable Redemption Date (as defined in Section 8) and specifically excluding
Warrants issuable upon exercise of Underwriter's Options if the Underwriter's
Options have not been exercised, the Redemption


                                       -2-
<PAGE>

Date, whichever is earlier; provided that if such date shall in the State of New
York be a holiday or a day on which banks are authorized or required to close,
then 5:00 P.M.  (New York time) on the next following day which in the State of
New York is not a holiday or a day on which banks are authorized or required to
close.  Upon notice to all Registered Holders, the Company shall have the right
to extend the Warrant Expiration Date.

          SECTION 2.  WARRANTS AND ISSUANCE OF WARRANT CERTIFICATES.

          (a)  A Class A Warrant initially shall entitle the Registered Holder
of the Warrant Certificate representing such Warrant to purchase one share of
Common Stock and one Class B Warrant upon the exercise thereof, in accordance
with the terms hereof, subject to modification and adjustment as provided in
Section 9.

          (b)  A Class B Warrant initially shall entitle the Registered Holder
of the Warrant Certificate representing such Warrant to purchase one share of
Common Stock upon the exercise thereof, in accordance with the terms hereof,
subject to modification and adjustment as provided in Section 9.

          (c)  The Class B Warrants will be detachable and separately
transferable immediately from the shares of Common Stock issued upon exercise of
the Class A Warrants.

          (d)  Upon execution of this Agreement, Warrant Certificates
representing the number of Class A Warrants and Class B Warrants sold pursuant
to the Underwriting Agreement shall be executed by the Company and delivered to
the Warrant Agent.  Upon written order of the Company signed by its President or
Chairman or a Vice President and by its Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, the
Warrant Certificates shall be countersigned, issued and delivered by the Warrant
Agent as part of the Shares and Warrants.

          (e)  From time to time, up to the Warrant Expiration Date, the
Transfer Agent shall countersign and deliver stock certificates in required
whole number denominations representing up to an aggregate of 13,726,250 shares
of Common Stock, subject to adjustment as described herein, upon the exercise of
Warrants in accordance with this Agreement.

          (f)  From time to time, up to the Warrant Expiration Date, the Warrant
Agent shall countersign and deliver Warrant Certificates in required whole
number denominations to the persons entitled thereto in connection with any
transfer or exchange permitted under this Agreement; provided that no Warrant
Certificates shall be issued except (i) those initially issued hereunder,
(ii) those issued on or after the Initial Warrant Exercise Date, upon the
exercise of fewer than all Warrants represented by any Warrant Certificate, to
evidence any unexercised Warrants held by the exercising Registered Holder,
(iii) those issued upon any transfer or exchange pursuant to Section 6;
(iv) those issued in replacement of lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated Warrant
Certificates pursuant to Section 7; (v) those issued pursuant to the Unit
Purchase Option; (vi) at the option of the Company, in such form as may be
approved by the its


                                       -3-
<PAGE>

Board of Directors, to reflect any adjustment or change in the Purchase Price,
the number of shares of Common Stock purchasable upon exercise of the Warrants
or the Target Price(s) therefor made pursuant to Section 8 hereof; and
(vii) those Class B Warrants issued upon exercise of Class A Warrants.

          (g)  Pursuant to the terms of the Underwriter's Option, Blair may
purchase up to 306,700 shares of Common Stock, and/or 306,700 Class A Warrants
and/or 613,400 Class B Warrants.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary
contained herein, the Warrants underlying the Underwriter's Option shall not be
subject to redemption by the Company except under the terms and conditions set
forth in the Underwriter's Option.

          SECTION 3.  FORM AND EXECUTION OF WARRANT CERTIFICATES.

          (a)  The Warrant Certificates shall be substantially in the form
annexed hereto as Exhibit A as to the Class A Warrants and Exhibit B as to the
Class B Warrants (the provisions of which are hereby incorporated herein) and
may have such letters, numbers or other marks of identification or designation
and such legends, summaries or endorsements printed, lithographed or engraved
thereon as the Company may deem appropriate and as are not inconsistent with the
provisions of this Agreement, or as may be required to comply with any law or
with any rule or regulation made pursuant thereto or with any rule or regulation
of any stock exchange on which the Class A Warrants or Class B Warrants may be
listed, or to conform to usage or to the requirements of Section 2(d).  The
Warrant Certificates shall be dated the date of issuance thereof (whether upon
initial issuance, transfer, exchange or in lieu of mutilated, lost, stolen or
destroyed Warrant Certificates) and issued in registered form.  Warrant
Certificates shall be numbered serially with the letters AW on Class A Warrants
of all denominations and the letters BW on Class B Warrants of all
denominations.

          (b)  Warrant Certificates shall be executed on behalf of the Company
by its Chairman of the Board, President or any Vice President and by its
Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, by manual signatures or by facsimile
signatures printed thereon, and shall have imprinted thereon a facsimile of the
Company's seal.  Warrant Certificates shall be manually countersigned by the
Warrant Agent and shall not be valid for any purpose unless so countersigned.
In case any officer of the Company who shall have signed any of the Warrant
Certificates shall cease to be an officer of the Company or to hold the
particular office referenced in the Warrant Certificate before the date of
issuance of the Warrant Certificates or before countersignature by the Warrant
Agent and issue and delivery thereof, such Warrant Certificates may nevertheless
be countersigned by the Warrant Agent, issued and delivered with the same force
and effect as though the person who signed such Warrant Certificates had not
ceased to be an officer of the Company or to hold such office.  After
countersignature by the Warrant Agent, Warrant Certificates shall be delivered
by the Warrant Agent to the Registered Holder without further action by the
Company, except as otherwise provided by Section 4(a) hereof.


                                       -4-
<PAGE>

          SECTION 4.  EXERCISE.

          (a)  Each Warrant may be exercised by the Registered Holder thereof at
any time on or after the Initial Exercise Date, but not after the Warrant
Expiration Date, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein
and in the applicable Warrant Certificate.  A Warrant shall be deemed to have
been exercised immediately prior to the close of business on the Exercise Date
and the person entitled to receive the securities deliverable upon such exercise
shall be treated for all purposes as the holder of those securities upon the
exercise of the Warrant as of the close of business on the Exercise Date.  As
soon as practicable on or after the Exercise Date, the Warrant Agent shall
deposit the proceeds received from the exercise of a Warrant and shall notify
the Company in writing of the exercise of the Warrants.  Promptly following, and
in any event within five days after the date of such notice from the Warrant
Agent, the Warrant Agent, on behalf of the Company, shall cause to be issued and
delivered by the Transfer Agent, to the person or persons entitled to receive
the same, a certificate or certificates for the securities deliverable upon such
exercise (plus a Warrant Certificate for any remaining unexercised Warrants of
the Registered Holder) unless prior to the date of issuance of such certificates
the Company shall instruct the Warrant Agent to refrain from causing such
issuance of certificates pending clearance of checks received in payment of the
Purchase Price pursuant to such Warrants.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the
case of payment made in the form of a check drawn on an account of Blair or such
other investment banks and brokerage houses as the Company shall approve in
writing to the Warrant Agent, certificates shall immediately be issued without
prior notice to the Company or any delay.  Upon the exercise of any Warrant and
clearance of the funds received, the Warrant Agent shall promptly remit the
payment received for the Warrant (the "Warrant Proceeds") to the Company or as
the Company may direct in writing, subject to the provisions of Sections 4(b)
and 4(c) hereof.

          (b)  If, at the Exercise Date in respect of the exercise of any
Warrant after May _____, 1997, (i) the market price (determined in the manner
set forth in Section 10) of the Company's Common Stock is greater than the then
Purchase Price of the Warrant, (ii) the exercise of the Warrant was solicited by
a member of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.  ("NASD") as
designated in writing on the Warrant Certificate Subscription Form, (iii) the
Warrant was not held in a discretionary account, (iv) disclosure of compensation
arrangements was made both at the time of the original offering and at the time
of exercise and (v) the solicitation of the exercise of the Warrant was not in
violation of Rule 10b-6 (as such rule or any successor rule may be in effect as
of such time of exercise) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
then the Warrant Agent, simultaneously with the distribution of the Warrant
Proceeds to the Company shall, on behalf of the Company, pay from the Warrant
Proceeds a fee (the "Blair Fee") of 5% of the Purchase Price to Blair (of which
a portion may be reallowed by Blair to the dealer who solicited the exercise,
which may also be Blair or D.H.  Blair & Co., Inc.).  In the event the Blair Fee
is not received within five days of the date on which the Company receives
Warrant Proceeds, then the Blair Fee shall begin accruing interest at an annual
rate of prime plus four (4)%, payable by the Company to Blair at the time Blair
receives the Blair Fee.  Within five days after exercise the Warrant Agent shall
send to Blair a copy of the reverse


                                       -5-
<PAGE>

side of each Warrant exercised.  Blair shall reimburse the Warrant Agent, upon
request, for its reasonable expenses relating to compliance with this
Section 4(b).  In addition, Blair and the Company may at any time during
business hours, examine the records of the Warrant Agent, including its ledger
of original Warrant Certificates returned to the Warrant Agent upon exercise of
Warrants.  The provisions of this paragraph may not be modified, amended or
deleted without the prior written consent of Blair.

          (c)  In order to enforce the provisions of Section 4(b) above, in the
event there is any dispute or question as to the amount or payment of the Blair
Fee, the Warrant Agent is hereby expressly authorized to withhold payment to the
Company of the Warrant Proceeds unless and until the Company establishes an
escrow account for the purpose of depositing the entire amount of the Blair Fee,
which amount will be deducted from the net Warrant Proceeds to be paid to the
Company.  The funds placed in the escrow account may not be released to the
Company without a written agreement from Blair that the required Blair Fee has
been received by Blair.

          SECTION 5.  RESERVATION OF SHARES; LISTING; PAYMENT OF TAXES; ETC.

          (a)  The Company covenants that it will at all times reserve and keep
available out of its authorized Common Stock, solely for the purpose of issue
upon exercise of Warrants, such number of shares of Common Stock as shall then
be issuable upon the exercise of all outstanding Warrants.  The Company
covenants that all shares of Common Stock which shall be issuable upon exercise
of the Warrants shall, at the time of delivery, be duly and validly issued,
fully paid, nonassessable and free from all taxes, liens and charges with
respect to the issue thereof, (other than those which the Company shall promptly
pay or discharge) and that upon issuance such shares shall be listed on each
national securities exchange, on which the other shares of outstanding Common
Stock of the Company are then listed or shall be eligible for inclusion in the
Nasdaq National Market or the Nasdaq SmallCap Market if the other shares of
outstanding Common Stock of the Company are so included.

          (b)  The Company covenants that if any securities to be reserved for
the purpose of exercise of Warrants hereunder require registration with, or
approval of, any governmental authority under any federal securities law before
such securities may be validly issued or delivered upon such exercise, then the
Company will in good faith and as expeditiously as reasonably possible, endeavor
to secure such registration or approval.  The Company will use reasonable
efforts to obtain appropriate approvals or registrations under state "blue sky"
securities laws.  With respect to any such securities, however, Warrants may not
be exercised by, or shares of Common Stock issued to, any Registered Holder in
any state in which such exercise would be unlawful.

          (c)  The Company shall pay all documentary, stamp or similar taxes and
other governmental charges that may be imposed with respect to the issuance of
Warrants, or the issuance or delivery of any shares or Class B Warrants upon
exercise of the Class A Warrants, or the issuance or delivery of any shares upon
exercise of the Class B Warrants; provided, however,


                                       -6-
<PAGE>

that if the shares of Common Stock or Class B Warrants, as the case may be, are
to be delivered in a name other than the name of the Registered Holder of the
Warrant Certificate representing any Warrant being exercised, then no such
delivery shall be made unless the person requesting the same has paid to the
Warrant Agent the amount of transfer taxes or charges incident thereto, if any.

          (d)  The Warrant Agent is hereby irrevocably authorized to requisition
the Company's Transfer Agent from time to time for certificates representing
shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants, and the Company
will authorize the Transfer Agent to comply with all such proper requisitions.
The Company will file with the Warrant Agent a statement setting forth the name
and address of the Transfer Agent of the Company for shares of Common Stock
issuable upon exercise of the Warrants.

          SECTION 6.  EXCHANGE AND REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER.

          (a)  Warrant Certificates may be exchanged for other Warrant
Certificates representing an equal aggregate number of Warrants of the same
class or may be transferred in whole or in part.  Warrant Certificates to be
exchanged shall be surrendered to the Warrant Agent at its Corporate Office, and
upon satisfaction of the terms and provisions hereof, the Company shall execute
and the Warrant Agent shall countersign, issue and deliver in exchange therefor
the Warrant Certificate or Certificates which the Registered Holder making the
exchange shall be entitled to receive.

          (b)  The Warrant Agent shall keep at its office books in which,
subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, it shall register
Warrant Certificates and the transfer thereof in accordance with its regular
practice.  Upon due presentment for registration of transfer of any Warrant
Certificate at such office, the Company shall execute and the Warrant Agent
shall issue and deliver to the transferee or transferees a new Warrant
Certificate or Certificates representing an equal aggregate number of Warrants.

          (c)  With respect to all Warrant Certificates presented for
registration or transfer, or for exchange or exercise, the subscription form on
the reverse thereof shall be duly endorsed, or be accompanied by a written
instrument or instruments of transfer and subscription, in form satisfactory to
the Company and the Warrant Agent, duly executed by the Registered Holder or his
attorney-in-fact duly authorized in writing.

          (d)  A service charge may be imposed by the Warrant Agent for any
exchange or registration of transfer of Warrant Certificates.  In addition, the
Company may require payment by such holder of a sum sufficient to cover any tax
or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection therewith.

          (e)  All Warrant Certificates surrendered for exercise or for exchange
in case of mutilated Warrant Certificates shall be promptly cancelled by the
Warrant Agent and thereafter


                                       -7-
<PAGE>

retained by the Warrant Agent until termination of this Agreement or resignation
as Warrant Agent, or, with the prior written consent of Blair, disposed of or
destroyed, at the direction of the Company.

          (f)  Prior to due presentment for registration of transfer thereof,
the Company and the Warrant Agent may deem and treat the Registered Holder of
any Warrant Certificate as the absolute owner thereof and of each Warrant
represented thereby (notwithstanding any notations of ownership or writing
thereon made by anyone other than a duly authorized officer of the Company or
the Warrant Agent) for all purposes and shall not be affected by any notice to
the contrary.

          SECTION 7.  LOSS OR MUTILATION.  Upon receipt by the Company and the
Warrant Agent of evidence satisfactory to them of the ownership of and loss,
theft, destruction or mutilation of any Warrant Certificate and (in case of
loss, theft or destruction) of indemnity satisfactory to them, and (in the case
of mutilation) upon surrender and cancellation thereof, the Company shall
execute and the Warrant Agent shall (in the absence of notice to the Company
and/or Warrant Agent that the Warrant Certificate has been acquired by a bona
fide purchaser) countersign and deliver to the Registered Holder in lieu thereof
a new Warrant Certificate of like tenor representing an equal aggregate number
of Class A Warrants or Class B Warrants.  Applicants for a substitute Warrant
Certificate shall comply with such other reasonable regulations and pay such
other reasonable charges as the Warrant Agent may prescribe.

          SECTION 8.  REDEMPTION.

          (a)  Subject to the provisions of paragraph 2(g) hereof, on not less
than thirty (30) days notice given at any time after May ______, 1997, (the
"Redemption Notice"), to Registered Holders of the Warrants being redeemed, the
Warrants may be redeemed, at the option of the Company, at a redemption price of
$0.05 per Warrant, provided the Market Price of the Common Stock receivable upon
exercise of such Warrants shall exceed $8.20 with respect to the Class A
Warrants and $10.95 with respect to the Class B Warrants (the "Target Prices"),
subject to adjustment as set forth in Section 8(f) below.  "Market Price" shall
mean (i) the average closing bid price of the Common Stock for thirty (30)
consecutive business days (or such other period as Blair may consent to) ending
on the Calculation Date as reported by Nasdaq, if the Common Stock is traded on
the Nasdaq SmallCap Market, or (ii) the average last reported sale price of the
Common Stock for thirty (30) consecutive business days ending on the Calculation
Date as reported by the primary exchange on which the Common Stock is traded, if
the Common Stock is traded on a national securities exchange, or by Nasdaq, if
the Common Stock is traded on the Nasdaq National Market.  All Warrants of a
class must be redeemed if any of that class are redeemed, provided that the
Warrants underlying the Underwriter's Option may only be redeemed in compliance
with and subject to the terms and conditions of the Underwriter's Option.  For
purposes of this Section 8, the Calculation Date shall mean a date within 15
days of the mailing of the Redemption Notice.  The date fixed for redemption of
the Warrants is referred to herein as the


                                       -8-
<PAGE>

"Redemption Date."  The Class B Warrant Redemption Date may not be earlier than
thirty-one (31) days after the Class A Warrant Redemption Date.

          (b)  If the conditions set forth in Section 8(a) are met, and the
Company desires to exercise its right to redeem the Warrants, it shall request
Blair to mail a Redemption Notice to each of the Registered Holders of the
Warrants to be redeemed, first class, postage prepaid, not later than the
thirtieth day before the date fixed for redemption, at their last address as
shall appear on the records maintained pursuant to Section 6(b).  Any notice
mailed in the manner provided herein shall be conclusively presumed to have been
duly given whether or not the Registered Holder receives such notice.

          (c)  The Redemption Notice shall specify (i) the redemption price,
(ii) the Redemption Date, (iii) the place where the Warrant Certificates shall
be delivered and the redemption price paid, (iv) that Blair will assist each
Registered Holder of a Warrant in connection with the exercise thereof and
(v) that the right to exercise the Warrant shall terminate at 5:00 P.M.  (New
York time) on the business day immediately preceding the Redemption Date.  No
failure to mail such notice nor any defect therein or in the mailing thereof
shall affect the validity of the proceedings for such redemption except as to a
Registered Holder (a) to whom notice was not mailed or (b) whose notice was
defective.  An affidavit of the Warrant Agent or of the Secretary or an
Assistant Secretary of Blair or the Company that notice of redemption has been
mailed shall, in the absence of fraud, be prima facie evidence of the facts
stated therein.

          (d)  Any right to exercise a Warrant shall terminate at 5:00 P.M.
(New York time) on the business day immediately preceding the Redemption Date.
On and after the Redemption Date, Registered Holders of the Warrants shall have
no further rights except to receive, upon surrender of the Warrant, the
Redemption Price.

          (e)  From and after the Redemption Date, the Company shall, at the
place specified in the Redemption Notice, upon presentation and surrender to the
Company by or on behalf of the Registered Holder thereof of one or more Warrant
Certificates evidencing Warrants to be redeemed, deliver or cause to be
delivered to or upon the written order of such Registered Holder a sum in cash
equal to the Redemption Price of each such Warrant.  From and after the
Redemption Date and upon the deposit or setting aside by the Company of a sum
sufficient to redeem all the Warrants called for redemption, such Warrants shall
expire and become void and all rights hereunder and under the Warrant
Certificates, except the right to receive payment of the Redemption Price, shall
cease.

          (f)  If the shares of the Company's Common Stock are subdivided or
combined into a greater or smaller number of shares of Common Stock, the Target
Prices shall be proportionally adjusted by the ratio which the total number of
shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to such event bears to the
total number of shares of Common Stock to be outstanding immediately after such
event.


                                       -9-
<PAGE>

          SECTION 9.  ADJUSTMENT OF EXERCISE PRICE AND NUMBER OF SHARES OF
                      COMMON STOCK OR WARRANTS.

          (a)  (1)  Subject to the exceptions referred to in Section 9(g) below,
in the event the Company shall, at any time or from time to time after the date
hereof, sell any shares of Common Stock for a consideration per share less than
the Market Price of the Common Stock (as defined in Section 8, except that for
purposes of Section 9, the Calculation Date shall mean the date of the sale or
other transaction referred to in this Section 9) on the date of the sale (any
such sale being herein called a "Change of Shares"), then, and thereafter upon
each further Change of Shares, the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to
such Change of Shares shall be changed to a price (including any applicable
fraction of a cent) determined by multiplying the Purchase Price in effect
immediately prior thereto by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the sum
of the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to the
issuance of such additional shares and the number of shares of Common Stock
which the aggregate consideration received (determined as provided in
subsection 9(f)(F) below) for the issuance of such additional shares would
purchase at the 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.

                    Upon each adjustment of the Purchase Price pursuant to this
Section 9, the total number of shares of Common Stock purchasable upon the
exercise of each Class A Warrant or Class B Warrant, as applicable, shall
(subject to the provisions contained in Section 9(a)(2) hereof) be such number
of shares (calculated to the nearest tenth) purchasable at the Purchase Price in
effect immediately prior to such adjustment multiplied by a fraction, the
numerator of which shall be the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to
such adjustment and the denominator of which shall be the Purchase Price in
effect immediately after such adjustment.

               (2)  The Company may elect, upon any adjustment of the Purchase
Price hereunder, to adjust the number of Class A Warrants or Class B Warrants
outstanding, in lieu of the adjustment in the number of shares of Common Stock
purchasable upon the exercise of each Warrant as hereinabove provided, so that
each Class A Warrant outstanding after such adjustment shall represent the right
to purchase one share of Common Stock and one Class B Warrant, and each Class B
Warrant outstanding after such adjustment shall represent the right to purchase
one share of Common Stock.  Each Warrant held of record prior to such adjustment
of the number of Warrants shall become that number of Warrants (calculated to
the nearest tenth) determined by multiplying the number one by a fraction, the
numerator of which shall be the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to
such adjustment and the denominator of which shall be the Purchase Price in
effect immediately after such adjustment.

          (b)  In case the Company shall (i) declare and pay a dividend or make
a distribution on its outstanding shares of Common Stock in shares of Common
Stock, (ii) subdivide or reclassify its outstanding shares of Common Stock into
a greater number of shares, or (iii) combine or reclassify its outstanding
shares of Common Stock into a smaller


                                      -10-
<PAGE>

number of shares, the Purchase Price in effect at the time of the record date
for such dividend or distribution or of the effective date of such subdivision,
combination or reclassification shall be adjusted so that it shall equal the
price determined by multiplying the Purchase Price by a fraction, the numerator
of which shall be the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately
prior to such action, and the denominator of which shall be the number of shares
of Common Stock outstanding after giving effect to such action.  Such adjustment
shall be made successively whenever any event listed above shall occur.
Whenever the Purchase Price is adjusted pursuant to this Subsection (b), the
number of Class A Warrants or Class B Warrants outstanding shall be adjusted so
that each Class A Warrant outstanding after such adjustment shall represent the
right to purchase one share of Common Stock and one Class B Warrant, and each
Class B Warrant outstanding after such adjustment shall represent the right to
purchase one share of Common Stock.  Each Warrant held of record prior to such
adjustment of the number of Warrants shall become that number of Warrants
(calculated to the nearest tenth) determined by multiplying the number one by a
fraction, the numerator of which shall be the Purchase Price in effect
immediately prior to such adjustment and the denominator of which shall be the
Purchase Price in effect immediately after such adjustment.

          (c)  In case of any reclassification, capital reorganization or other
change of outstanding shares of Common Stock, or in case of any consolidation or
merger of the Company with or into another corporation (other than a
consolidation or merger in which the Company is the continuing corporation and
which does not result in any reclassification, capital reorganization or other
change of outstanding shares of Common Stock), or in case of any sale or
conveyance to another corporation of the property of the Company as, or
substantially as, an entirety (other than a sale/leaseback, mortgage or other
financing transaction), the Company shall cause effective provision to be made
so that each holder of a Warrant then outstanding shall have the right
thereafter, by exercising such Warrant, to purchase the kind and number of
shares of stock or other securities or property (including cash) receivable upon
such reclassification, capital reorganization or other change, consolidation,
merger, sale or conveyance by a holder of the number of shares of Common Stock
that might have been purchased upon exercise of such Warrant immediately prior
to such reclassification, capital reorganization or other change, consolidation,
merger, sale or conveyance.  Any such provision shall include provision for
adjustments that shall be as nearly equivalent as may be practicable to the
adjustments provided for in this Section 9.  The Company shall not effect any
such consolidation, merger or sale unless prior to or simultaneously with the
consummation thereof the successor (if other than the Company) resulting from
such consolidation or merger or the corporation purchasing assets or other
appropriate corporation or entity shall assume, by written instrument executed
and delivered to the Warrant Agent, the obligation to deliver to the holder of
each Warrant such shares of stock, securities or assets as, in accordance with
the foregoing provisions, such holders may be entitled to purchase and the other
obligations of the Company under this Agreement.  The foregoing provisions shall
similarly apply to successive reclassifications, capital reorganizations and
other changes of outstanding shares of Common Stock and to successive
consolidations, mergers, sales or conveyances.


                                      -11-
<PAGE>

          (d)  (1)  Irrespective of any adjustments or changes in the Purchase
Price or the number of shares of Common Stock purchasable upon exercise of the
Warrants, the Warrant Certificates theretofore and thereafter issued shall,
unless the Company shall exercise its option to issue new Warrant Certificates
pursuant to Section 2(f) hereof, continue to express the Purchase Price per
share, the number of shares purchasable thereunder and the Redemption Price
therefor as the Purchase Price per share, and the number of shares purchasable
and the Redemption Price therefor were expressed in the Warrant Certificates
when the same were originally issued.

               (2)  Upon each adjustment of the number of Warrants pursuant to
this Section 9, the Company shall, as promptly as practicable, cause to be
distributed to each Registered Holder of Warrant Certificates on the date of
such adjustment Warrant Certificates evidencing, subject to Section 10 hereof,
the number of additional Warrants to which such Holder shall be entitled as a
result of such adjustment or, at the option of the Company, cause to be
distributed to such Holder in substitution and replacement for the Warrant
Certificates held by him prior to the date of adjustment (and upon surrender
thereof, if required by the Company) new Warrant Certificates evidencing the
number of Warrants to which such Holder shall be entitled after such adjustment.

          (e)  After each adjustment of the Purchase Price pursuant to this
Section 9, the Company will promptly prepare a certificate signed by the
Chairman or President, and by the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer or the
Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, of the Company setting forth:  (i) the
Purchase Price as so adjusted, (ii) the number of shares of Common Stock
purchasable upon exercise of each Warrant after such adjustment and, if the
Company shall have elected to adjust the number of Warrants, the number of
Warrants to which the Registered Holder of each Warrant shall then be entitled,
and the adjustment in Redemption Price resulting therefrom, and (iii) a brief
statement of the facts accounting for such adjustment.  The Company will
promptly file such certificate with the Warrant Agent and cause a brief summary
thereof to be sent by ordinary first class mail to Blair and to each Registered
Holder of Warrants at his last address as it shall appear on the registry books
of the Warrant Agent.  No failure to mail such notice nor any defect therein or
in the mailing thereof shall affect the validity thereof except as to the holder
to whom the Company failed to mail such notice, or except as to the holder whose
notice was defective.  The affidavit of an officer of the Warrant Agent or the
Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company that such notice has been
mailed shall, in the absence of fraud, be prima facie evidence of the facts
stated therein.

          (f)  For purposes of Section 9(a) and 9(b) hereof, the following
provisions (A) to (F) shall also be applicable:

               (A)  The number of shares of Common Stock outstanding at any
          given time shall include shares of Common Stock owned or held by or
          for the account of the Company and the sale or issuance of such
          treasury shares or the distribution of


                                      -12-
<PAGE>

          any such treasury shares shall not be considered a Change of Shares
          for purposes of said sections.

               (B)  No adjustment of the Purchase Price shall be made unless
          such adjustment would require an increase or decrease of at least $.10
          in the Purchase Price; provided that any adjustments which by reason
          of this clause (B) are not required to be made shall be carried
          forward and shall be made at the time of and together with the next
          subsequent adjustment which, together with any adjustment(s) so
          carried forward, shall require an increase or decrease of at least
          $.10 in the Purchase Price then in effect hereunder.

               (C)  In case of (1) the sale by the Company for cash (or as a
          component of a unit being sold for cash) of any rights or warrants to
          subscribe for or purchase, or any options for the purchase of, Common
          Stock or any securities convertible into or exchangeable for Common
          Stock without the payment of any further consideration other than
          cash, if any (such securities convertible, exercisable or exchangeable
          into Common Stock being herein called "Convertible Securities"), or
          (2) the issuance by the Company, without the receipt by the Company of
          any consideration therefor, of any rights or warrants to subscribe for
          or purchase, or any options for the purchase of, Common Stock or
          Convertible Securities, in each case, if (and only if) the
          consideration payable to the Company upon the exercise of such rights,
          warrants or options shall consist of cash, whether or not such rights,
          warrants or options, or the right to convert or exchange such
          Convertible Securities, are immediately exercisable, and the price per
          share for which Common Stock is issuable upon the exercise of such
          rights, warrants or options or upon the conversion or exchange of such
          Convertible Securities (determined by dividing (x) the minimum
          aggregate consideration payable to the Company upon the exercise of
          such rights, warrants or options, plus the consideration, if any,
          received by the Company for the issuance or sale of such rights,
          warrants or options, plus, in the case of such Convertible Securities,
          the minimum aggregate amount of additional consideration, other than
          such Convertible Securities, payable upon the conversion or exchange
          thereof, by (y) the total maximum number of shares of Common Stock
          issuable upon the exercise of such rights, warrants or options or upon
          the conversion or exchange of such Convertible Securities issuable
          upon the exercise of such rights, warrants or options) is less than
          the Market Price of the Common Stock on the date of the issuance or
          sale of such rights, warrants or options, then the total maximum
          number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of such
          rights, warrants or options or upon the conversion or exchange of such
          Convertible Securities (as of the date of the issuance or sale of such
          rights, warrants or options) shall be deemed to be outstanding shares
          of Common Stock for purposes of Sections 9(a) and 9(b) hereof and
          shall be deemed to have been sold for cash in an amount equal to such
          price per share.


                                      -13-
<PAGE>

               (D)  In case of the sale by the Company for cash of any
          Convertible Securities, whether or not the right of conversion or
          exchange thereunder is immediately exercisable, and the price per
          share for which Common Stock is issuable upon the conversion or
          exchange of such Convertible Securities (determined by dividing
          (x) the total amount of consideration received by the Company for the
          sale of such Convertible Securities, plus the minimum aggregate amount
          of additional consideration, if any, other than such Convertible
          Securities, payable upon the conversion or exchange thereof, by
          (y) the total maximum number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon
          the conversion or exchange of such Convertible Securities) is less
          than the Market Price of the Common Stock on the date of the sale of
          such Convertible Securities, then the total maximum number of shares
          of Common Stock issuable upon the conversion or exchange of such
          Convertible Securities (as of the date of the sale of such Convertible
          Securities) shall be deemed to be outstanding shares of Common Stock
          for purposes of Sections 9(a) and 9(b) hereof and shall be deemed to
          have been sold for cash in an amount equal to such price per share.

               (E)  In case the Company shall modify the rights of conversion,
          exchange or exercise of any of the securities referred to in (C) or
          (D) above or any other securities of the Company convertible,
          exchangeable or exercisable for shares of Common Stock, for any reason
          other than an event that would require adjustment to prevent dilution,
          so that the consideration per share received by the Company after such
          modification is less than the Market Price on the date prior to such
          modification, the Purchase Price to be in effect after such
          modification shall be determined by multiplying the Purchase Price in
          effect immediately prior to such event by a fraction, of which the
          numerator shall be the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding on
          the date prior to the modification plus the number of shares of Common
          Stock which the aggregate consideration receivable by the Company for
          the securities affected by the modification would purchase at the
          Market Price and of which the denominator shall be the number of
          shares of Common Stock outstanding on such date plus the number of
          shares of Common Stock to be issued upon conversion, exchange or
          exercise of the modified securities at the modified rate.  Such
          adjustment shall become effective as of the date upon which such
          modification shall take effect.  On the expiration of any such right,
          warrant or option or the termination of any such right to convert or
          exchange any such Convertible Securities referred to in Paragraph (C)
          or (D) above, the Purchase Price then in effect hereunder shall
          forthwith be readjusted to such Purchase Price as would have obtained
          (a) had the adjustments made upon the issuance or sale of such rights,
          warrants, options or Convertible Securities been made upon the basis
          of the issuance of only the number of shares of Common Stock
          theretofore actually delivered (and the total consideration received
          therefor) upon the exercise of such rights, warrants or options or
          upon the conversion or exchange of such Convertible Securities and
          (b) had adjustments been made on the


                                      -14-
<PAGE>

          basis of the Purchase Price as adjusted under clause (a) for all
          transactions (which would have affected such adjusted Purchase Price)
          made after the issuance or sale of such rights, warrants, options or
          Convertible Securities.

               (F)  In case of the sale for cash of any shares of Common Stock,
          any Convertible Securities, any rights or warrants to subscribe for or
          purchase, or any options for the purchase of, Common Stock or
          Convertible Securities, the consideration received by the Company
          therefore shall be deemed to be the gross sales price therefor without
          deducting therefrom any expense paid or incurred by the Company or any
          underwriting discounts or commissions or concessions paid or allowed
          by the Company in connection therewith.

          (g)  No adjustment to the Purchase Price of the Warrants or to the
number of shares of Common Stock purchasable upon the exercise of each Warrant
will be made, however,

               (i)  upon the exercise of any of the options presently
          outstanding under the Company's Stock Option Plans (the "Plans") for
          officers, directors and certain other key personnel of the Company; or

              (ii)  upon the issuance or exercise of any other securities which
          may hereafter be granted or exercised under the Plans or under any
          other employee benefit plan of the Company; or

             (iii)  upon the sale or exercise of the Warrants, including without
          limitation the sale or exercise of any of the Warrants comprising the
          Underwriter's Option or upon the sale or exercise of the Underwriter's
          Option; or

              (iv)  upon the sale of any shares of Common Stock or Convertible
          Securities in a firm commitment underwritten public offering,
          including, without limitation, shares sold upon the exercise of any
          overallotment option granted to the underwriters in connection with
          such offering; or

               (v)  upon the issuance or sale of Common Stock or Convertible
          Securities upon the exercise of any rights or warrants to subscribe
          for or purchase, or any options for the purchase of, Common Stock or
          Convertible Securities, whether or not such rights, warrants or
          options were outstanding on the date of the original sale of the
          Warrants or were thereafter issued or sold; or

              (vi)  upon the issuance or sale of Common Stock upon conversion or
          exchange of any Convertible Securities, whether or not any adjustment
          in the Purchase Price was made or required to be made upon the
          issuance or sale of such Convertible Securities and whether or not
          such Convertible Securities were


                                      -15-
<PAGE>

          outstanding on the date of the original sale of the Warrants or were
          thereafter issued or sold.

          (h)  As used in this Section 9, the term "Common Stock" shall mean and
include the Company's Common Stock authorized on the date of the original issue
of the Shares and Warrants and shall also include any capital stock of any class
of the Company thereafter authorized which shall not be limited to a fixed sum
or percentage in respect of the rights of the holders thereof to participate in
dividends and in the distribution of assets upon the voluntary liquidation,
dissolution or winding up of the Company; provided, however, that the shares
issuable upon exercise of the Warrants shall include only shares of such class
designated in the Company's Certificate of Incorporation as Common Stock on the
date of the original issue of the Shares and Warrants or (i) in the case of any
reclassification, change, consolidation, merger, sale or conveyance of the
character referred to in Section 9(c) hereof, the stock, securities or property
provided for in such section or (ii) in the case of any reclassification or
change in the outstanding shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the
Warrants as a result of a subdivision or combination or consisting of a change
in par value, or from par value to no par value, or from no par value to par
value, such shares of Common Stock as so reclassified or changed.

          (i)  Any determination as to whether an adjustment in the Purchase
Price in effect hereunder is required pursuant to Section 9, or as to the amount
of any such adjustment, if required, shall be binding upon the holders of the
Warrants and the Company if made in good faith by the Board of Directors of the
Company.

          (j)  If and whenever the Company shall grant to the holders of Common
Stock, as such, rights or warrants to subscribe for or to purchase, or any
options for the purchase of, Common Stock or securities convertible into or
exchangeable for or carrying a right, warrant or option to purchase Common
Stock, the Company shall concurrently therewith grant to each Registered Holder
as of the record date for such transaction of the Warrants then outstanding, the
rights, warrants or options to which each Registered Holder would have been
entitled if, on the record date used to determine the stockholders entitled to
the rights, warrants or options being granted by the Company, the Registered
Holder were the holder of record of the number of whole shares of Common Stock
then issuable upon exercise (assuming, for purposes of this Section 9(j), that
exercise of Warrants is permissible during periods prior to the Initial Warrant
Exercise Date) of his Warrants.  Such grant by the Company to the holders of the
Warrants shall be in lieu of any adjustment which otherwise might be called for
pursuant to this Section 9.

          SECTION 10.  FRACTIONAL WARRANTS AND FRACTIONAL SHARES.

          (a)  If the number of shares of Common Stock purchasable upon the
exercise of each Warrant is adjusted pursuant to Section 9 hereof, the Company
nevertheless shall not be required to issue fractions of shares, upon exercise
of the Warrants or otherwise, or to distribute certificates that evidence
fractional shares.  With respect to any fraction of a share called for upon


                                      -16-
<PAGE>

the exercise of any Warrant, the Company shall pay to the Holder an amount in
cash equal to such fraction multiplied by the current market value of such
fractional share, determined as follows:

               (1)  if the Common Stock is listed on a national securities
          exchange or admitted to unlisted trading privileges on such exchange
          or is traded on the Nasdaq National Market, the current market value
          shall be the last reported sale price of the Common Stock on such
          exchange or market on the last business day prior to the date of
          exercise of this Warrant or if no such sale is made on such day, the
          average of the closing bid and asked prices for such day on such
          exchange or market; or

               (2)  if the Common Stock is not listed or admitted to unlisted
          trading privileges on a national securities exchange or is not traded
          on the Nasdaq National Market, the current market value shall be the
          mean of the last reported bid and asked prices reported by the Nasdaq
          SmallCap Market or, if not traded thereon, by the National Quotation
          Bureau, Inc. on the last business day prior to the date of the
          exercise of this Warrant; or

               (3)  if the Common Stock is not so listed or admitted to unlisted
          trading privileges and bid and asked prices are not so reported, the
          current market value shall be an amount determined in such reasonable
          manner as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors of the Company.

          SECTION 11.  WARRANT HOLDERS NOT DEEMED STOCKHOLDERS.  No holder of
Warrants shall, as such, be entitled to vote or to receive dividends or be
deemed the holder of Common Stock that may at any time be issuable upon exercise
of such Warrants for any purpose whatsoever, nor shall anything contained herein
be construed to confer upon the holder of Warrants, as such, any of the rights
of a stockholder of the Company or any right to vote for the election of
directors or upon any matter submitted to stockholders at any meeting thereof,
or to give or withhold consent to any corporate action (whether upon any
recapitalization, issue or reclassification of stock, change of par value or
change of stock to no par value, consolidation, merger or conveyance or
otherwise), or to receive notice of meetings, or to receive dividends or
subscription rights, until such holder shall have exercised such Warrants and
been issued shares of Common Stock in accordance with the provisions hereof.

          SECTION 12.  RIGHTS OF ACTION.  All rights of action with respect to
this Agreement are vested in the respective Registered Holders of the Warrants,
and any Registered Holder of a Warrant, without consent of the Warrant Agent or
of the holder of any other Warrant, may, in his own behalf and for his own
benefit, enforce against the Company his right to exercise his Warrants for the
purchase of shares of Common Stock in the manner provided in the Warrant
Certificate and this Agreement.


                                      -17-
<PAGE>

          SECTION 13.  AGREEMENT OF WARRANT HOLDERS.  Every holder of a Warrant,
by his acceptance thereof, consents and agrees with the Company, the Warrant
Agent and every other holder of a Warrant that:

          (a)  The Warrants are transferable only on the registry books of the
Warrant Agent by the Registered Holder thereof in person or by his attorney duly
authorized in writing and only if the Warrant Certificates representing such
Warrants are surrendered at the office of the Warrant Agent, duly endorsed or
accompanied by a proper instrument of transfer satisfactory to the Warrant Agent
and the Company in their sole discretion, together with payment of any
applicable transfer taxes; and

          (b)  The Company and the Warrant Agent may deem and treat the person
in whose name the Warrant Certificate is registered as the holder and as the
absolute, true and lawful owner of the Warrants represented thereby for all
purposes, and neither the Company nor the Warrant Agent shall be affected by any
notice or knowledge to the contrary, except as otherwise expressly provided in
Section 7 hereof.

          SECTION 14.  CANCELLATION OF WARRANT CERTIFICATES.  If the Company
shall purchase or acquire any Warrant or Warrants, the Warrant Certificate or
Warrant Certificates evidencing the same shall thereupon be delivered to the
Warrant Agent and cancelled by it and retired.  The Warrant Agent shall also
cancel the Warrant Certificate or Warrant Certificates following exercise of any
or all of the Warrants represented thereby or delivered to it for transfer or
exchange.

          SECTION 15.  CONCERNING THE WARRANT AGENT.  The Warrant Agent acts
hereunder as agent and in a ministerial capacity for the Company, and its duties
shall be determined solely by the provisions hereof.  The Warrant Agent shall
not, by issuing and delivering Warrant Certificates or by any other act
hereunder be deemed to make any representations as to the validity, value or
authorization of the Warrant Certificates or the Warrants represented thereby or
of any securities or other property delivered upon exercise of any Warrant or
whether any stock issued upon exercise of any Warrant is fully paid and
nonassessable.

               The Warrant Agent shall not at any time be under any duty or
responsibility to any holder of Warrant Certificates to make or cause to be made
any adjustment of the Purchase Price or the Redemption Price provided in this
Agreement, or to determine whether any fact exists which may require any such
adjustments, or with respect to the nature or extent of any such adjustment,
when made, or with respect to the method employed in making the same.  It shall
not (i) be liable for any recital or statement of facts contained herein or for
any action taken, suffered or omitted by it in reliance on any Warrant
Certificate or other document or instrument believed by it in good faith to be
genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties,
(ii) be responsible for any failure on the part of the Company to comply with
any of its covenants and obligations contained in this Agreement or in any
Warrant Certificate or (iii) be


                                      -18-
<PAGE>

liable for any act or omission in connection with this Agreement except for its
own negligence or wilful misconduct.

               The Warrant Agent may at any time consult with counsel
satisfactory to it (who may be counsel for the Company) and shall incur no
liability or responsibility for any action taken, suffered or omitted by it in
good faith in accordance with the opinion or advice of such counsel.

               Any notice, statement, instruction, request, direction, order or
demand of the Company shall be sufficiently evidenced by an instrument signed by
the Chairman of the Board, President, any Vice President, its Secretary or
Assistant Secretary (unless other evidence in respect thereof is herein
specifically prescribed).  The Warrant Agent shall not be liable for any action
taken, suffered or omitted by it in accordance with such notice, statement,
instruction, request, direction, order or demand believed by it to be genuine.

               The Company agrees to pay the Warrant Agent reasonable
compensation for its services hereunder and to reimburse it for its reasonable
expenses hereunder; it further agrees to indemnify the Warrant Agent and save it
harmless against any and all losses, expenses and liabilities, including
judgments, costs and counsel fees, for anything done or omitted by the Warrant
Agent in the execution of its duties and powers hereunder except losses,
expenses and liabilities arising as a result of the Warrant Agent's negligence
or wilful misconduct.

               The Warrant Agent may resign its duties and be discharged from
all further duties and liabilities hereunder (except liabilities arising as a
result of the Warrant Agent's own negligence or wilful misconduct), after giving
30 days' prior written notice to the Company.  At least 15 days prior to the
date such resignation is to become effective, the Warrant Agent shall cause a
copy of such notice of resignation to be mailed to the Registered Holder of each
Warrant Certificate at the Company's expense.  Upon such resignation, or any
inability of the Warrant Agent to act as such hereunder, the Company shall
appoint a new warrant agent in writing.  If the Company shall fail to make such
appointment within a period of 15 days after it has been notified in writing of
such resignation by the resigning Warrant Agent, then the Registered Holder of
any Warrant Certificate may apply to any court of competent jurisdiction for the
appointment of a new warrant agent.  Any new warrant agent, whether appointed by
the Company or by such a court, shall be a bank or trust company having a
capital and surplus, as shown by its last published report to its stockholders,
of not less than $10,000,000 or a stock transfer company that is a registered
transfer agent under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.  After acceptance in
writing of such appointment by the new warrant agent is received by the Company,
such new warrant agent shall be vested with the same powers, rights, duties and
responsibilities as if it had been originally named herein as the Warrant Agent,
without any further assurance, conveyance, act or deed; but if for any reason it
shall be necessary or expedient to execute and deliver any further assurance,
conveyance, act or deed, the same shall be done at the expense of the Company
and shall be legally and validly executed and delivered by the resigning Warrant
Agent.  Not later than the effective date of any such appointment the Company
shall file notice thereof with the resigning


                                      -19-
<PAGE>

Warrant Agent and shall forthwith cause a copy of such notice to be mailed to
the Registered Holder of each Warrant Certificate.

               Any corporation into which the Warrant Agent or any new warrant
agent may be converted or merged or any corporation resulting from any
consolidation to which the Warrant Agent or any new warrant agent shall be a
party or any corporation succeeding to the trust business of the Warrant Agent
shall be a successor warrant agent under this Agreement without any further act,
provided that such corporation is eligible for appointment as successor to the
Warrant Agent under the provisions of the preceding paragraph.  Any such
successor warrant agent shall promptly cause notice of its succession as warrant
agent to be mailed to the Company and to the Registered Holder of each Warrant
Certificate.

               The Warrant Agent, its subsidiaries and affiliates, and any of
its or their officers or directors, may buy and hold or sell Warrants or other
securities of the Company and otherwise deal with the Company in the same manner
and to the same extent and with like effects as though it were not the Warrant
Agent.  Nothing herein shall preclude the Warrant Agent from acting in any other
capacity for the Company or for any other legal entity.

          SECTION 16.  MODIFICATION OF AGREEMENT.  Subject to the provisions of
Section 4(b), the parties hereto and the Company may by supplemental agreement
make any changes or corrections in this Agreement (i) that they shall deem
appropriate to cure any ambiguity or to correct any defective or inconsistent
provision or manifest mistake or error herein contained; (ii) to reflect an
increase in the number of Class A or Class B Warrants which are to be governed
by this Agreement resulting from a subsequent public offering of Company
securities which includes Class A or Class B Warrants having the same terms and
conditions as the Class A or Class B Warrants, respectively, originally covered
by or subsequently added to this Agreement under this Section 16; or (iii) that
they may deem necessary or desirable and which shall not adversely affect the
interests of the holders of Warrant Certificates; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that this
Agreement shall not otherwise be modified, supplemented or altered in any
respect except with the consent in writing of the Registered Holders of Warrant
Certificates representing not less than 50% of the Warrants then outstanding;
and PROVIDED, FURTHER, that no change in the number or nature of the securities
purchasable upon the exercise of any Warrant, or the Purchase Price therefor, or
the acceleration of the Warrant Expiration Date, shall be made without the
consent in writing of the Registered Holder of the Warrant Certificate
representing such Warrant, other than such changes as are specifically
prescribed by this Agreement as originally executed or are made in compliance
with applicable law.

          SECTION 17.  NOTICES.  All notices, requests, consents and other
communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been
made when delivered or mailed first class registered or certified mail, postage
prepaid as follows:  if to the Registered Holder of a Warrant Certificate, at
the address of such holder as shown on the registry books maintained by the
Warrant Agent; if to the Company, at Conversion Technologies International,
Inc., 82 Bethany Road, Hazlet, New Jersey 07730, Attention: Harvey Goldman, or


                                      -20-
<PAGE>

at such other address as may have been furnished to the Warrant Agent in writing
by the Company; if to the Warrant Agent, at its Corporate Office; and if to
Blair, at D.H. Blair Investment Banking Corp., 44 Wall Street, New York, New
York 10005.

          SECTION 18.  GOVERNING LAW.  This Agreement shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without
reference to principles of conflict of laws.

          SECTION 19.  BINDING EFFECT.  This Agreement shall be binding upon and
inure to the benefit of the Company and the Warrant Agent and their respective
successors and assigns, and the holders from time to time of Warrant
Certificates .  Nothing in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed to
confer upon any other person any right, remedy or claim, in equity or at law, or
to impose upon any other person any duty, liability or obligation.

          SECTION 20.  TERMINATION.  This Agreement shall terminate at the close
of business on the earlier of the Warrant Expiration Date or the date upon which
all Warrants (including the warrants issuable upon exercise of the Underwriter's
Option) have been exercised, except that the Warrant Agent shall account to the
Company for cash held by it and the provisions of Section 15 hereof shall
survive such termination.


                                      -21-
<PAGE>

          SECTION 21.  COUNTERPARTS.  This Agreement may be executed in several
counterparts, which taken together shall constitute a single document.

          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to
be duly executed as of the date first above written.

                              CONVERSION TECHNOLOGIES
                              INTERNATIONAL, INC.


                              By:  ______________________________


                              AMERICAN STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY


                              By:  ______________________________
                                        Authorized Officer


                              D.H.  BLAIR INVESTMENT BANKING CORP.


                              By:  ______________________________
                                        Authorized Officer


                                      -22-
<PAGE>

                                    EXHIBIT A

                  [FORM OF FACE OF CLASS A WARRANT CERTIFICATE]


No.  AW                                                    ____ Class A Warrants


                         VOID AFTER _____________, 2001

                    CLASS A WARRANT CERTIFICATE FOR PURCHASE
                 OF COMMON STOCK AND REDEEMABLE CLASS B WARRANTS

                   Conversion Technologies International, Inc.


          This certifies that FOR VALUE RECEIVED __________________ or
registered assigns (the "Registered Holder") is the owner of the number of
Class A Warrants ("Class A Warrants") specified above.  Each Class A Warrant
represented hereby initially entitles the Registered Holder to purchase, subject
to the terms and conditions set forth in this Warrant Certificate and the
Warrant Agreement (as hereinafter defined), one fully paid and nonassessable
share of Common Stock, $.00025 value ("Common Stock"), of  Conversion
Technologies International, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and
one Class B Warrant of the Company at any time between ____________ and the
Expiration Date (as hereinafter defined), upon the presentation and surrender of
this Warrant Certificate with the Subscription Form on the reverse hereof duly
executed, at the corporate office of American Stock Transfer & Trust Company as
Warrant Agent, or its successor (the "Warrant Agent"), accompanied by payment of
$5.85 (the "Purchase Price") in lawful money of the United States of America in
cash or by official bank or certified check made payable to the Company.

          This Warrant Certificate and each Class A Warrant represented hereby
are issued pursuant to and are subject in all respects to the terms and
conditions set forth in the Warrant Agreement (the "Warrant Agreement"), dated
___________, 1996, by and among the Company, the Warrant Agent and D.H.  Blair
Investment Banking Corp.

          In the event of certain contingencies provided for in the Warrant
Agreement, the Purchase Price or the number of shares of Common Stock and
Class B Warrants subject to purchase upon the exercise of each Class A Warrant
represented hereby are subject to modification or adjustment.

          Each Class A Warrant represented hereby is exercisable at the option
of the Registered Holder, but no fractional shares of Common Stock will be
issued.  In the case of the


                                       A-1
<PAGE>

exercise of less than all the Class A Warrants represented hereby, the Company
shall cancel this Warrant Certificate upon the surrender hereof and shall
execute and deliver a new Warrant Certificate or Warrant Certificates of like
tenor, which the Warrant Agent shall countersign, for the balance of such
Class A Warrants.

          The term "Expiration Date" shall mean 5:00 P.M.  (New York time) on
_____________, 2001, or such earlier date as the Class A Warrants shall be
redeemed.  If such date shall in the State of New York be a holiday or a day on
which banks are authorized to close, then the Expiration Date shall mean 5:00
P.M.  (New York time) on the next following day which in the State of New York
is not a holiday or a day on which banks are authorized to close.

          The Company shall not be obligated to deliver any securities pursuant
to the exercise of the Class A Warrants represented hereby unless a registration
statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, with respect to such
securities is effective.  The Company has covenanted and agreed that it will
file a registration statement and will use its best efforts to cause the same to
become effective and to keep such registration statement current while any of
the Class A Warrants are outstanding.  The Class A Warrants represented hereby
shall not be exercisable by a Registered Holder in any state where such exercise
would be unlawful.

          This Warrant Certificate is exchangeable, upon the surrender hereof by
the Registered Holder at the corporate office of the Warrant Agent, for a new
Warrant Certificate or Warrant Certificates of like tenor representing an equal
aggregate number of Class A Warrants, each of such new Warrant Certificates to
represent such number of Class A Warrants as shall be designated by such
Registered Holder at the time of such surrender.  Upon due presentment with any
applicable transfer fee in addition to any tax or other governmental charge
imposed in connection therewith, for registration of transfer of this Class A
Warrant Certificate at such office, a new Warrant Certificate or Warrant
Certificates representing an equal aggregate number of Class A Warrants will be
issued to the transferee in exchange therefor, subject to the limitations
provided in the Warrant Agreement.

          Prior to the exercise of any Class A Warrant represented hereby, the
Registered Holder shall not be entitled to any rights of a stockholder of the
Company, including, without limitation, the right to vote or to receive
dividends or other distributions, and shall not be entitled to receive any
notice of any proceedings of the Company, except as provided in the Warrant
Agreement.

          The Class A Warrants represented hereby may be redeemed at the option
of the Company, at a redemption price of $.05 per Class A Warrant at any time
after               , 1997, provided the Market Price (as defined in the Warrant
Agreement) for the Common Stock shall exceed $8.20 per share.  Notice of
redemption shall be given not later than the thirtieth day before the date fixed
for redemption, all as provided in the Warrant Agreement.  On and after the date
fixed for redemption, the Registered Holder shall have no rights with respect to
the Class A


                                       A-2
<PAGE>

Warrants represented hereby except to receive the $.05 per Class A Warrant upon
surrender of this Warrant Certificate.

          Prior to due presentment for registration of transfer hereof, the
Company and the Warrant Agent may deem and treat the Registered Holder as the
absolute owner hereof and of each Class A Warrant represented hereby
(notwithstanding any notations of ownership or writing hereon made by anyone
other than a duly authorized officer of the Company or the Warrant Agent) for
all purposes and shall not be affected by any notice to the contrary.

          The Company has agreed to pay a fee of 5% of the Purchase Price upon
certain conditions as specified in the Warrant Agreement upon the exercise of
the Class A Warrants represented hereby.

          This Warrant Certificate shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without reference to
principles of conflict of laws.

          This Warrant Certificate is not valid unless countersigned by the
Warrant Agent.

          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Warrant Certificate to
be duly executed, manually or in facsimile, by two of its officers thereunto
duly authorized and a facsimile of its corporate seal to be imprinted hereon.

                                   CONVERSION TECHNOLOGIES
                                   INTERNATIONAL, INC.


Dated:  _____________________      By:  ______________________________


                                   By:  ______________________________

[seal]

Countersigned:

AMERICAN STOCK TRANSFER &
TRUST COMPANY, as Warrant Agent


By:  ___________________________
          Authorized Officer


                                       A-3
<PAGE>


                    [FORM OF REVERSE OF WARRANT CERTIFICATE]


                                SUBSCRIPTION FORM

                     To Be Executed by the Registered Holder
                          in Order to Exercise Warrants


          The undersigned Registered Holder hereby irrevocably elects to
exercise _______ Class A Warrants represented by this Warrant Certificate, and
to purchase the securities issuable upon the exercise of such Class A Warrants,
and requests that certificates for such securities shall be issued in the name
of

                 PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR OTHER TAXPAYER
                              IDENTIFICATION NUMBER

                  ____________________________________________
                  ____________________________________________
                  ____________________________________________
                  ____________________________________________
                     [please print or type name and address]


and be delivered to

                  ____________________________________________
                  ____________________________________________
                  ____________________________________________
                  ____________________________________________
                     [please print or type name and address]


and if such number of Class A Warrants shall not be all the Class A Warrants
evidenced by this Warrant Certificate, that a new Class A Warrant Certificate
for the balance of such Class A Warrants be registered in the name of, and
delivered to, the Registered Holder at the address stated below.

          The undersigned represents that the exercise of the Class A Warrants
evidenced hereby was solicited by a member of the National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc.  If not


                                       A-4
<PAGE>

solicited by an NASD member, please write "unsolicited" in the space below.
Unless otherwise indicated by listing the name of another NASD member firm, it
will be assumed that the exercise was solicited by D.H.  Blair Investment
Banking Corp.  or D.H.  Blair & Co., Inc.


                              ____________________________________
                                   (Name of NASD Member)


Dated:  _______________       X    _______________________________

                              ____________________________________

                              ____________________________________
                                        Address


                              ____________________________________
                                   Taxpayer Identification Number


                              ____________________________________
                                   Signature Guaranteed


                              ____________________________________






THE SIGNATURE TO THE ASSIGNMENT OR THE SUBSCRIPTION FORM MUST CORRESPOND TO THE
NAME AS WRITTEN UPON THE FACE OF THIS WARRANT CERTIFICATE IN EVERY PARTICULAR,
WITHOUT ALTERATION OR ENLARGEMENT OR ANY CHANGE WHATSOEVER, AND MUST BE
GUARANTEED BY A MEMBER OF THE MEDALLION STAMP PROGRAM.


                                       A-5
<PAGE>

                                   ASSIGNMENT


                     To Be Executed by the Registered Holder
                           in Order to Assign Warrants


FOR VALUE RECEIVED, __________________  hereby sells, assigns and transfers unto


                 PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR OTHER TAXPAYER
IDENTIFICATION NUMBER OF TRANSFEREE

                  ____________________________________________
                  ____________________________________________
                  ____________________________________________
                  ____________________________________________
                     [please print or type name and address]


_________________ of the Class A Warrants represented by this Warrant
Certificate, and hereby irrevocably constitutes and appoints
____________________________________ Attorney to transfer this Warrant
Certificate on the books of the Company, with full power of substitution in the
premises.


Dated:________________             X    ______________________________
                                        Signature Guaranteed


                                   ____________________________________


THE SIGNATURE TO THE ASSIGNMENT OR THE SUBSCRIPTION FORM MUST CORRESPOND TO THE
NAME AS WRITTEN UPON THE FACE OF THIS WARRANT CERTIFICATE IN EVERY PARTICULAR,
WITHOUT ALTERATION OR ENLARGEMENT OR ANY CHANGE WHATSOEVER, AND MUST BE
GUARANTEED BY A MEMBER OF THE MEDALLION STAMP PROGRAM.


                                       A-6
<PAGE>

                                    EXHIBIT B

                  [FORM OF FACE OF CLASS B WARRANT CERTIFICATE]


No.  BW                                                      __ Class B Warrants


                       VOID AFTER _____________ ____, 2001

                         CLASS B WARRANT CERTIFICATE FOR
                            PURCHASE OF COMMON STOCK

                   CONVERSION TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL, INC.

          This certifies that FOR VALUE RECEIVED ___________________________ or
registered assigns (the "Registered Holder") is the owner of the number of
Class B Warrants specified above.  Each Class B Warrant represented hereby
initially entitles the Registered Holder to purchase, subject to the terms and
conditions set forth in this Warrant Certificate and the Warrant Agreement (as
hereinafter defined), one fully paid and nonassessable share of Common Stock,
$.00025 par value ("Common Stock"), of Conversion Technologies International,
Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), at any time between
and the Expiration Date (as hereinafter defined), upon the presentation and
surrender of this Warrant Certificate with the Subscription Form on the reverse
hereof duly executed, at the corporate office of American Stock Transfer & Trust
Company as Warrant Agent, or its successor (the "Warrant Agent"), accompanied by
payment of $7.80 (the "Purchase Price") in lawful money of the United States of
America in cash or by official bank or certified check made payable to the
Company.

          This Warrant Certificate and each Class B Warrant represented hereby
are issued pursuant to and are subject in all respects to the terms and
conditions set forth in the Warrant Agreement (the "Warrant Agreement"), dated
___________, 1996 by and among the Company, the Warrant Agent and D.H.  Blair
Investment Banking Corp.

          In the event of certain contingencies provided for in the Warrant
Agreement, the Purchase Price or the number of shares of Common Stock subject to
purchase upon the exercise of each Class B Warrant represented hereby are
subject to modification or adjustment.

          Each Class B Warrant represented hereby is exercisable at the option
of the Registered Holder, but no fractional shares of Common Stock will be
issued.  In the case of the exercise of less than all the Class B Warrants
represented hereby, the Company shall cancel this Warrant Certificate upon the
surrender hereof and shall execute and deliver a new Warrant Certificate or
Warrant Certificates of like tenor, which the Warrant Agent shall countersign,
for the balance of such Class B Warrants.


                                       B-1
<PAGE>

          The term "Expiration Date" shall mean 5:00 P.M.  (New York time) on
__________, 2001, or such earlier date as the Class B Warrants shall be
redeemed.  If such date shall in the State of New York be a holiday or a day on
which banks are authorized to close, then the Expiration Date shall mean 5:00
P.M.  (New York time) on the next following day which in the State of New York
is not a holiday or a day on which banks are authorized to close.

          The Company shall not be obligated to deliver any securities pursuant
to the exercise of the Class B Warrants represented hereby unless a registration
statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, with respect to such
securities is effective.  The Company has covenanted and agreed that it will
file a registration statement and will use its best efforts to cause the same to
become effective and to keep such registration statement current while any of
the Class B Warrants are outstanding.  The Class B Warrants represented hereby
shall not be exercisable by a Registered Holder in any state where such exercise
would be unlawful.

          This Warrant Certificate is exchangeable, upon the surrender hereof by
the Registered Holder at the corporate office of the Warrant Agent, for a new
Warrant Certificate or Warrant Certificates of like tenor representing an equal
aggregate number of Class B Warrants, each of such new Warrant Certificates to
represent such number of Class B Warrants as shall be designated by such
Registered Holder at the time of such surrender.  Upon due presentment with any
applicable transfer fee in addition to any tax or other governmental charge
imposed in connection therewith, for registration of transfer of this Warrant
Certificate at such office, a new Warrant Certificate or Warrant Certificates
representing an equal aggregate number of Class B Warrants will be issued to the
transferee in exchange therefor, subject to the limitations provided in the
Warrant Agreement.

          Prior to the exercise of any Class B Warrant represented hereby, the
Registered Holder shall not be entitled to any rights of a stockholder of the
Company, including, without limitation, the right to vote or to receive
dividends or other distributions, and shall not be entitled to receive any
notice of any proceedings of the Company, except as provided in the Warrant
Agreement.

          The Class B Warrants represented hereby may be redeemed at the option
of the Company, at a redemption price of $.05 per Class B Warrant at any time
after ________, 1997, provided the Market Price (as defined in the Warrant
Agreement) for the Common Stock shall exceed $10.95 per share.  Notice of
redemption shall be given not later than the thirtieth day before the date fixed
for redemption, all as provided in the Warrant Agreement.  On and after the date
fixed for redemption, the Registered Holder shall have no rights with respect to
the Class B Warrants represented hereby except to receive the $.05 per Class B
Warrant upon surrender of this Warrant Certificate.

          Prior to due presentment for registration of transfer hereof, the
Company and the Warrant Agent may deem and treat the Registered Holder as the
absolute owner hereof and of each Class B Warrant represented hereby
(notwithstanding any notations of ownership or writing


                                       B-2
<PAGE>

hereon made by anyone other than a duly authorized officer of the Company or the
Warrant Agent) for all purposes and shall not be affected by any notice to the
contrary.

          The Company has agreed to pay a fee of 5% of the Purchase Price upon
certain conditions as specified in the Warrant Agreement upon the exercise of
the Class B Warrants represented hereby.

          This Warrant Certificate shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without reference to
principles of conflict of laws.

          This Warrant Certificate is not valid unless countersigned by the
Warrant Agent.

          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Warrant Certificate to
be duly executed, manually or in facsimile, by two of its officers thereunto
duly authorized and a facsimile of its corporate seal to be imprinted hereon.

                                   CONVERSION TECHNOLOGIES
                                   INTERNATIONAL, INC.


Dated:  _________________          By:  _______________________________


                                   By:  _______________________________

[seal]


Countersigned:

AMERICAN STOCK TRANSFER &
TRUST COMPANY, as Warrant Agent


By:  ______________________________
          Authorized Officer


                                       B-3
<PAGE>

                    [FORM OF REVERSE OF WARRANT CERTIFICATE]

                                SUBSCRIPTION FORM

                     To Be Executed by the Registered Holder
                          in Order to Exercise Warrants


          The undersigned Registered Holder hereby irrevocably elects to
exercise ___________ Class B Warrants represented by this Warrant Certificate,
and to purchase the securities issuable upon the exercise of such Class B
Warrants, and requests that certificates for such securities shall be issued in
the name of

                 PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR OTHER TAXPAYER
                              IDENTIFICATION NUMBER

                  ____________________________________________
                  ____________________________________________
                  ____________________________________________
                  ____________________________________________
                     [please print or type name and address]


and be delivered to

                  ____________________________________________
                  ____________________________________________
                  ____________________________________________
                  ____________________________________________
                     [please print or type name and address]


and if such number of Class B Warrants shall not be all the Class B Warrants
evidenced by this Warrant Certificate, that a new Warrant Certificate for the
balance of such Class B Warrants be registered in the name of, and delivered to,
the Registered Holder at the address stated below.

          The undersigned represents that the exercise of the Class B Warrants
evidenced hereby was solicited by a member of the National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc.  If not


                                       B-4
<PAGE>

solicited by an NASD member, please write "unsolicited" in the space below.
Unless otherwise indicated by listing the name of another NASD member firm, it
will be assumed that the exercise was solicited by D.H.  Blair Investment
Banking Corp.


                                   ____________________________________
                                   (Name of NASD Member)


Dated:  ________________           X    ______________________________

                                   ____________________________________

                                   ____________________________________
                                             Address


                                   ____________________________________
                                        Taxpayer Identification Number


                                   ____________________________________
                                        Signature Guaranteed


                                   ____________________________________



THE SIGNATURE TO THE ASSIGNMENT OR THE SUBSCRIPTION FORM MUST CORRESPOND TO THE
NAME AS WRITTEN UPON THE FACE OF THIS WARRANT CERTIFICATE IN EVERY PARTICULAR,
WITHOUT ALTERATION OR ENLARGEMENT OR ANY CHANGE WHATSOEVER, AND MUST BE
GUARANTEED BY A MEMBER OF THE MEDALLION STAMP PROGRAM.


                                       B-5
<PAGE>

                                   ASSIGNMENT


                     To Be Executed by the Registered Holder
                           in Order to Assign Warrants


FOR VALUE RECEIVED, ______________________________ hereby sells, assigns and
transfers unto


                 PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR OTHER TAXPAYER
IDENTIFICATION NUMBER OF TRANSFEREE

                  ____________________________________________
                  ____________________________________________
                  ____________________________________________
                  ____________________________________________
                     [please print or type name and address]


________________ of the Class B Warrants represented by this Warrant
Certificate, and hereby irrevocably constitutes and appoints
____________________________________ Attorney to transfer this Warrant
Certificate on the books of the Company, with full power of substitution in the
premises.


Dated:_________                    X    ______________________________

                                             Signature Guaranteed


                                        ______________________________


THE SIGNATURE TO THE ASSIGNMENT OR THE SUBSCRIPTION FORM MUST CORRESPOND TO THE
NAME AS WRITTEN UPON THE FACE OF THIS WARRANT CERTIFICATE IN EVERY PARTICULAR,
WITHOUT ALTERATION OR ENLARGEMENT OR ANY CHANGE WHATSOEVER, AND MUST BE
GUARANTEED BY A MEMBER OF THE MEDALLION STAMP PROGRAM.


                                       B-6


<PAGE>


                                ESCROW AGREEMENT

          AGREEMENT, dated as of the 9th day of May, 1996, by and among American
Stock Transfer & Trust Company, a New York corporation (hereinafter referred to
as the "Escrow Agent"), Conversion Technologies International, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), and Harvey Goldman and Perry Pappas (hereinafter
collectively called the "Stockholders").

          WHEREAS, the Company contemplates a public offering ("Public
Offering") of shares of Common Stock, par value $.00025 per share (the "Common
Stock"), redeemable Class A Warrants (the "Class A Warrants") and redeemable
Class B Warrants ("Class B Warrants") through D.H.  Blair Investment Banking
Corp.  as underwriter ("Blair") pursuant to the Registration Statement on Form
SB-2 (No. 33-80973) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"Registration Statement"); and

          WHEREAS, in connection with the Public Offering, the Stockholders have
agreed to deposit in escrow an aggregate of 100,725 shares of Common Stock and
options to purchase an aggregate of  71,923 shares of Common Stock, upon the
terms and conditions set forth herein.

          In consideration of the mutual covenants and promises herein
contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:

          1.   The Stockholders and the Company hereby appoint American Stock
Transfer & Trust Company as Escrow Agent and agree that the Stockholders will,
prior to the Effective Date (as hereinafter defined) of the Public Offering
deliver to the Escrow Agent to hold in accordance with the provisions hereof,
certificates representing an aggregate of 100,725 shares of Common Stock owned
of record by the Stockholders in the respective amounts set


<PAGE>

forth on Exhibit A hereto (the "Escrow Shares"), together with stock powers
executed in blank and copies of the agreements representing outstanding options
to purchase an aggregate of 71,923 shares of Common Stock held by the
Stockholders in the respective amounts set forth on Exhibit A hereto ("Escrow
Options").  The Escrow Agent, by its execution and delivery of this Agreement
hereby acknowledges receipt of the Escrow Shares  and Escrow Options
(collectively, the Escrow Securities) and accepts its appointment as Escrow
Agent to hold the Escrow Securities in escrow, upon the terms, provisions and
conditions hereof.

          2.   This Agreement shall become effective upon the date on which the
Securities and Exchange Commission declares effective the Registration Statement
("Effective Date") and shall continue in effect until the earlier of (i) the
date specified in paragraph 4(e) hereof or (ii) the distribution by the Escrow
Agent of all of the Escrow Securities in accordance with the terms hereof (the
"Termination Date").  The period of time from the Effective Date until the
Termination Date is referred to herein as the "Escrow Period."

          3.   During the Escrow Period, the Escrow Agent shall receive all of
the money, securities, rights or property distributed in respect of the Escrow
Securities then held in escrow, including any such property distributed as
dividends or pursuant to any stock split, merger, recapitalization, dissolution,
or total or partial liquidation of the Company, such property to be held and
distributed as herein provided and hereinafter referred to collectively as the
"Escrow Property."

          4.   (a)  The Escrow Securities are subject to release to the
Stockholders only in the event the conditions set forth herein are met.  The
Escrow Agent, upon notice to such effect from the Company as provided in
paragraph 5 hereof, shall deliver the Escrow Securities,


                                       -2-
<PAGE>

together with stock powers executed in blank, and the Escrow Property deposited
in escrow with respect to such Escrow Securities, to the respective
Stockholders, if, and only if, one of the following conditions is met:

          (i)  the Company's net income before provision for income taxes and
               exclusive of any extraordinary earnings or charges which would
               result from the release of Escrow Securities (all as audited by 
               the Company's independent public accountants) (the "Minimum 
               Pretax Income") equals or exceeds $4,700,000 for the fiscal year 
               ending June 30, 1998; or

         (ii)  the Minimum Pretax Income equals or exceeds $7,000,000 for the
               fiscal year ending June 30, 1999; or

        (iii)  the Minimum Pretax Income equals or exceeds $9,300,000 for the
               fiscal year ending June 30, 2000; or

         (iv)  The Closing Price (as defined herein) of the Company's Common
               Stock shall average in excess of $11.25 per share for any 60
               consecutive business days during the period commencing on the
               Effective Date and ending 18 months from the Effective Date; or

          (v)  The Closing Price (as defined herein) of the Company's Common
               Stock shall average in excess of $15 per share for any 60
               consecutive business days during the period commencing on the
               18th month after the Effective Date and ending 36 months from the
               Effective Date; or

         (vi)  the Company is acquired by or merged into another entity in a
               transaction in which stockholders of the Company receive per
               share consideration at least equal to the levels set forth in
               (iv) and (v) above during the applicable periods set forth in
               (iv) and (v) above.

               (b)  As used in this Section 4, the term "Closing Price" shall be
subject to adjustments in the event of any stock dividend, stock distribution,
stock split or other similar event and shall mean:

          (1)  If the principal market for the Common Stock is a national
               securities exchange or the Nasdaq National Market, the closing
               sales price of the Common Stock as reported by such exchange or
               market, or on a consolidated tape reflecting transactions on such
               exchange or market; or


                                       -3-
<PAGE>

          (2)  if the principal market for the Common Stock is not a national
               securities exchange or the Nasdaq National Market and the Common
               Stock is quoted on the Nasdaq SmallCap Market, the closing bid
               price of the Common Stock as quoted on the Nasdaq SmallCap
               Market; or

          (3)  if the principal market for the Common Stock is not a national
               securities exchange or the Nasdaq National Market and the Common
               Stock is not quoted on the Nasdaq SmallCap Market, the closing
               bid for the Common Stock as reported by the National Quotation
               Bureau, Inc.  ("NQB") or at least two market makers in the Common
               Stock if quotations are not available from NQB but are available
               from market makers.

               (c)  The determination of Minimum Pretax Income shall be
calculated exclusive of (i) any charges to income incurred by the Company in
connection with the release from escrow of the Escrow Securities and any Escrow
Property in respect thereof pursuant to the provisions of this paragraph 4 and
(ii) any shares of Common Stock issued upon securities outstanding immediately
prior to the Effective Date which are convertible into Common Stock without the
payment of additional consideration.

               (d)  The Minimum Pretax Income amounts set forth in subparagraph
(a) above shall be increased during each fiscal year during the Escrow Period to
reflect the issuance of any additional securities after the Effective Date,
including any shares of Common Stock that may be issued upon the exercise of the
Class A Warrants, the Class B Warrants or any other options or warrants
presently outstanding or hereafter granted by the Company (excluding options
granted under the Company's 1994 Employee Stock Option Plan and the 1994 Stock
Option Plan for Non-Employee Directors (the "Plans") which, in the aggregate, do
not exceed 10% of the then outstanding shares of Common Stock, including Escrow
Shares) in accordance with the following formula:  The Minimum Pretax Income
shall be increased during each fiscal year to an Adjusted Minimum Pretax Income
calculated by multiplying the applicable Minimum


                                       -4-
<PAGE>

Pretax Income amount by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the weighted
average number of shares of Common Stock outstanding during the fiscal year for
which the determination is being made (including the Escrow Shares and any
shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of any outstanding securities
but excluding shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of (i) outstanding
Class A and Class B Warrants sold pursuant to the Prospectus included in the
Registration Statement; (ii) outstanding Underwriter's Options [and the Class A
and Class B Warrants included therein] issued to Blair and (iii) options
outstanding under the Plans, and the denominator of which shall be the sum of
(x) the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding on the Effective Date
(including the Escrow Shares and any shares of Common Stock issuable upon
conversion of securities outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Date
which are convertible into Common Stock without the payment of additional
consideration), plus (y) the number of shares of Common Stock sold pursuant to
the Prospectus included in the Registration Statement.

               (e)  If the Escrow Agent has not received the notice provided for
in Paragraph 5 hereof and delivered all of the Escrow Securities and related
Escrow Property in accordance with the provisions of this Paragraph 4 on or
prior to October 15, 2000, the Escrow Agent shall deliver the certificates
representing the Escrow Shares, together with stock powers executed in blank,
and the agreements representing all of the remaining Escrow Options, and any
related Escrow Property to the Company to be placed in the Company's treasury
for cancellation thereof as a contribution to capital.  After such date, the
Stockholders shall have no further rights as a stockholder of the Company with
respect to any of the cancelled Escrow Shares and no further rights with respect
to any of the cancelled Escrow Options.


                                       -5-
<PAGE>

          5.   Upon the occurrence or satisfaction of any of the events or
conditions specified in Paragraph 4 hereof, the Company shall promptly give
appropriate notice to the Escrow Agent, Blair (and if the transfer agent of the
Company's Common Stock is different from the Escrow Agent, such transfer agent)
and present such documentation as is reasonably required by the Escrow Agent to
evidence the satisfaction of such conditions.

          6.   It is understood and agreed by the parties to this Agreement as
follows:

               (a)  The Escrow Agent is not and shall not be deemed to be a
trustee for any party for any purpose and is merely acting as a depository and
in a ministerial capacity hereunder with the limited duties herein prescribed.

               (b)  The Escrow Agent does not have and shall not be deemed to
have any responsibility in respect of any instruction, certificate or notice
delivered to it or of the Escrow Securities or any related Escrow Property other
than faithfully to carry out the obligations undertaken in this Agreement and to
follow the directions in such instruction or notice provided in accordance with
the terms hereof.

               (c)  The Escrow Agent is not and shall not be deemed to be liable
for any action taken or omitted by it in good faith and may rely upon, and act
in accordance with, the advice of its counsel without liability on its part for
any action taken or omitted in accordance with such advice.  In any event, its
liability hereunder shall be limited to liability for gross negligence, willful
misconduct or bad faith on its part.

               (d)  The Escrow Agent may conclusively rely upon and act in
accordance with any certificate, instruction, notice, letter, telegram,
cablegram or other written instrument believed by it to be genuine and to have
been signed by the proper party or parties.


                                       -6-
<PAGE>

               (e)  The Company agrees (i) to pay the Escrow Agent's reasonable
fees and to reimburse it for its reasonable expenses including attorney's fees
incurred in connection with duties hereunder and (ii) to save harmless,
indemnify and defend the Escrow Agent for, from and against any loss, damage,
liability, judgment, cost and expense whatsoever, including counsel fees,
suffered or incurred by it by reason of, or on account of, any misrepresentation
made to it or its status or activities as Escrow Agent under this Agreement
except for any loss, damage, liability, judgment, cost or expense resulting from
gross negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith on the part of the Escrow
Agent.  The obligation of the Escrow Agent to deliver the Escrow Securities to
either the Stockholders or the Company shall be subject to the prior
satisfaction upon demand from the Escrow Agent, of the Company's obligations to
so save harmless, indemnify and defend the Escrow Agent and to reimburse the
Escrow Agent or otherwise pay its fees and expenses hereunder.

               (f)  The Escrow Agent shall not be required to defend any legal
proceeding which may be instituted against it in respect of the subject matter
of this Agreement unless requested to do so by the Stockholders and indemnified
to the Escrow Agent's satisfaction against the cost and expense of such defense
by the party requesting such defense.  If any such legal proceeding is
instituted against it, the Escrow Agent agrees promptly to given notice of such
proceeding to the Stockholders and the Company.  The Escrow Agent shall not be
required to institute legal proceedings of any kind.

               (g)  The Escrow Agent shall not, by act, delay, omission or
otherwise, be deemed to have waived any right or remedy it may have either under
this Agreement or generally, unless such waiver be in writing, and no waiver
shall be valid unless it is in writing,


                                      -7-
<PAGE>

signed by the Escrow Agent, and only to the extent expressly therein set forth.
A waiver by the Escrow Agent under the term of this Agreement shall not be
construed as a bar to, or waiver of, the same or any other such right or remedy
which it would otherwise have on any other occasion.

               (h)  The Escrow Agent may resign as such hereunder by giving 30
days written notice thereof to the Stockholders and the Company.  Within 20 days
after receipt of such notice, the Stockholders and the Company shall furnish to
the Escrow Agent written instructions for the release of the Escrow Securities
and any related Escrow Property (if such shares and property, if any, have not
yet been released pursuant to Paragraph 4 hereof) to a substitute Escrow Agent
which (whether designated by written instructions from the Stockholders and the
Company jointly or in the absence thereof by instructions from a court of
competent jurisdiction to the Escrow Agent) shall be a bank or trust company
organized and doing business under the laws of the United States or any state
thereof.  Such substitute Escrow Agent shall thereafter hold any Escrow
Securities and any related Escrow Property received by it pursuant to the terms
of this Agreement and otherwise act hereunder as if it were the Escrow Agent
originally named herein.  The Escrow Agent's duties and responsibilities
hereunder shall terminate upon the release of all shares then held in escrow
according to such written instruction or upon such delivery as herein provided.
This Agreement shall not otherwise be assignable by the Escrow Agent without the
prior written consent of the Company.

          7.   The Stockholders shall have the sole power to vote the Escrow
Shares and any exercised Escrow Options and any securities deposited in escrow
under this Agreement while they are being held pursuant to this Agreement.


                                       -8-
<PAGE>

          8.   (a)  Each of the Stockholders agrees that during the term of this
Agreement he will not sell, transfer, hypothecate, negotiate, pledge, assign,
encumber or otherwise dispose of any or all of the Escrow Shares or Escrow
Options, as the case may be, set forth opposite his name on Exhibit A hereto,
unless and until the Company shall have given the notice as provided in
Paragraph 5.  This restriction shall not be applicable to transfers upon death,
by operation of law, to family members of the Stockholders or to any trust for
the benefit of the Stockholders, provided that such transferees agree to be
bound by the provisions of this Agreement.

               (b)  The Stockholders will take any action necessary or
appropriate, including the execution of any further documents or agreements, in
order to effectuate the transfer of the Escrow Securities to the Company if
required pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement.

          9.   (a)  Each of the certificates representing the Escrow Shares will
bear legends to the following effect, as well as any other legends required by
applicable law:

               (i)  "The sale, transfer, hypothecation, negotiation,
                    pledge, assignment, encumbrance or other disposition of
                    the shares evidenced by this certificate are restricted
                    by and are subject to all of the terms, conditions and
                    provisions of a certain Escrow Agreement entered into
                    among D.H.  Blair Investment Banking Corp., Conversion
                    Technologies International, Inc. and its Stockholders,
                    dated as of May 9, 1996, a copy of which may be
                    obtained from the Secretary of Conversion Technologies
                    International, Inc.  No transfer, sale or other
                    disposition of these shares may be made unless specific
                    conditions of such agreement are satisfied."

              (ii)  "The shares evidenced by this certificate have not been
                    registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as
                    amended.  No transfer, sale or other disposition


                                       -9-
<PAGE>

                    of these shares may be made unless a registration statement
                    with respect to these shares has become effective under said
                    act, or the Company is furnished with an opinion of counsel
                    satisfactory in form and substance to it that such
                    registration is not required."

          Upon execution of this Agreement, the Company shall direct the
transfer agent for the Company to place stop transfer orders with respect to the
Escrow Shares and to maintain such orders in effect until the transfer agent and
Blair shall have received written notice from the Company as provided in
Paragraph 5.

               (b)  Each of the agreements representing the Escrow Options shall
contain provisions restricting their sale, transfer, hypothecation, negotiation,
pledge, assignment or other disposition in accordance with the terms of this
Agreement.

          10.  At any time during the Escrow Period, a Stockholder may exercise
all or a portion of his Escrow Options by delivering to the Company written
notice specifying the number of shares to be purchased pursuant to the Escrow
Options to be exercised, executed stock powers with respect to such shares and
the purchase price therefor, with a copy of such notice being sent to the Escrow
Agent.  Upon receipt of such notice, stock power and the purchase price of said
shares, the Company shall promptly deliver a certificate or certificates for the
purchased shares with stock powers, executed in blank attached, to the Escrow
Agent against delivery of the Escrow Options which had been exercised, and the
Escrow Agent shall hold such shares as Escrow Shares in accordance with the
provisions hereof.


                                      -10-
<PAGE>

          11.  Each notice, instruction or other certificate required or
permitted by the terms hereof shall be in writing and shall be communicated by
personal delivery, fax or registered or certified mail, return receipt
requested, to the parties hereto at the addresses set forth below, or at such
other address as any of them may designate by notice to each of the others:

               (i)  If to the Company, to:

                         Conversion Technologies International, Inc.
                         82 Bethany Road
                         Hazlet, New Jersey  07730

              (ii)  If to the Stockholders to their respective addresses as set
                    forth on Exhibit A hereto.

             (iii)  If to the Escrow Agent, to:

                         American Stock Transfer & Trust Company
                         40 Wall Street
                         New York, New York  10005

              (iv)  If to Blair, to:

                         D.H.  Blair Investment Banking Corp.
                         44 Wall Street
                         New York, New York  10005
                         Attn:  Martin A.  Bell, Esq.
                         Fax:  212-514-7837

All notices, instructions or certificates given hereunder to the Escrow Agent
shall be effective upon receipt by the Escrow Agent.  All notices given
hereunder by the Escrow Agent shall be effective and deemed received upon
personal delivery or transmission by fax or, if mailed, five (5) calendar days
after mailing by the Escrow Agent.

          A copy of all communications sent to the Company, the Stockholders or
the Escrow Agent shall be sent by ordinary mail to O'Sullivan Graev & Karabell,
LLP,


                                      -11-
<PAGE>

30 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, New York  10112, Attention:  Julie M. Allen,
Esq.  A copy of all communications sent to Blair shall be sent by ordinary mail
to Bachner, Tally, Polevoy & Misher LLP, 380 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10017,
Attention:  Alison S. Newman, Esq.




          12.  This Agreement may not be modified, altered or amended in any
material respect or cancelled or terminated except with the prior consent of the
holders of all of the outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company.

          13.  In the event that the Public Offering is not consummated within
twenty-five (25) days of the Effective Date of the Registration Statement, this
Agreement shall terminate and be of no further force and effect and the Escrow
Agent, upon written notice from both the Company and Blair in accordance with
paragraph 10 hereof of such termination, will return the Escrow Securities and
any Escrow Property in respect thereof to the Stockholders.

          14.  This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance
with the laws of New York and shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of
all parties hereto and their respective successors in interest and assigns.

          15.  This Agreement may be executed in several counterparts, which
taken together shall constitute a single instrument.


                                      -12-
<PAGE>

          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to
be executed by their duly authorized officers on the day and year first above
written.



CONVERSION TECHNOLOGIES
INTERNATIONAL, INC.


By:  ______________________





AMERICAN STOCK TRANSFER
& TRUST COMPANY


By:  ______________________


____________________________
Harvey Goldman


____________________________
Perry Pappas



                                      -13-
<PAGE>

                                    EXHIBIT A


                               STOCKHOLDERS' LIST


                                                                    Number
                                                                      of
Name and Address           Stock                                    Escrow
 of Stockholder       Certificate No.   Number of Escrow Shares     Options
- ----------------      ---------------   -----------------------     -------

Harvey Goldman

Perry Pappas



                                      -14-


<PAGE>

                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.24


                                  VIA FACSIMILE

May 9, 1996

VANGKOE Industries, Inc.
1093 A1A Beach Blvd.
Suite 371
St. Augustine, Florida 32084

                   AMENDMENT TO PURCHASE AND SUPPLY AGREEMENT

Gentlemen:

Reference is made to the Purchase, Supply and Distributorship Agreement dated as
of March 28, 1996 (the "Agreement"), among Conversion Technologies
International, Inc. ("CTI"), Dunkirk International Glass and Ceramics
Corporation ("Dunkirk"; and collectively with CTI, the "Company") and VANGKOE
Industries, Inc. ("VANGKOE"), as assignee of Cytech Laboratories, Inc.

VANGKOE and the Company deem it to be in their mutual best interest to amend 
the Agreement to expand the materials which the Company may supply to 
VANGKOE, to provide for the potential establishment of a facility to apply 
the color coatings contemplated for the material being purchased under the 
Agreement and to address certain other matters.  Accordingly, in 
consideration of $1.00 and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt 
and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties hereby amend the 
Agreement as follows:

     1.   The parties agree that the purchase commitments set forth in the
          Agreement shall be adjusted to commence in October 1996, rather than
          June 1996, provided that if the coating facility described in
          paragraph 4 below becomes operational prior to October, such
          commitments shall commence in the month (not before August) that such
          process comes on line.  The parties agree to make appropriate
          adjustment to such start date if the parties proceed to establish 
          such facility and events beyond the control of VANGKOE relating to the
          construction of such facility delay its start-up.  In addition, 
          VANGKOE shall have the option to substitute one-third (1/3) of the 
          monthly ALUMAGLASS-TM- purchase commitments set forth in the Agreement
          with crushed cathode ray tube ("CRT") panel glass (approximately 24,
          36 and 60 grit) to be provided by the Company at a purchase price of 
          $0.07 per pound.

<PAGE>

VANGKOE Industries, Inc.                2

     2.   VANGKOE anticipates that it will be able to sell ALUMAGLASS directly
          (without further coating or processing) for use as ingredients by
          third party manufacturers.  The Company hereby gives VANGKOE the
          option to purchase up to an additional 4,000 tons of ALUMAGLASS at
          $0.185 per pound so that VANGKOE can resell ALUMAGLASS for any 
          purpose (other than loose grain blasting where the Company has 
          exclusive arrangements), subject to availability and the other terms
          set forth in the Agreement relating to the distribution of ALUMAGLASS.
          VANGKOE agrees that if it sells ALUMAGLASS for such application it 
          will pay to the Company, in addition to the $0.185 per pound purchase
          price, 50% of its net receipts to the extent such net receipts exceed
          $0.185 per pound (less a reasonable allowance for marketing expense).

     3.   VANGKOE further desires the option, and the Company hereby grants
          VANGKOE such option, during the initial term of the Agreement, to
          purchase from the Company (i) up to 2,000 tons of crushed china bisque
          (approximately 16, 24, 36, 60 and 100 grit) at a purchase price of
          $0.08 per pound and/or (ii) up to 2,000 tons of crushed CRT panel
          glass (approximately 24, 36 and 60 grit) at a purchase price of $0.07 
          per pound, in each case for use as substrates to be color coated by 
          the facility described in paragraph 4 or sold uncoated for sale as
          ingredients in various markets; provided, however, that each of such
          amounts may be increased, and grit sizes may be modified, upon the
          mutual agreement of the parties.  VANGKOE will provide projections 
          and reasonable advance notice with respect to all quantities and grit
          sizes of ALUMAGLASS, CRT glass and china bisque required.

     4.   VANGKOE has represented to the Company that it is the owner of a 
          proprietary color coating technology (the "Technology") that can be 
          used to apply the color coatings to the material contemplated by 
          the Agreement, which Technology presents certain performance and 
          cost advantages to competitive processes.  VANGKOE has offered the 
          Company the opportunity to enter into a joint venture and co-invest 
          in the establishment of a facility which will apply such coatings, 
          with the parties to share equally in VANGKOE's profit from sales of 
          the material coated through such facility.  The parties estimate 
          that the total start up cost of establishing such facility 
          (equipment, permitting, testing, etc.) will not exceed $250,000.  
          The Company, however, desires the opportunity to conduct a review 
          of the technical and commercial viability of the Technology and 
          prospects for sale of the coated material prior to entering into 
          such joint venture and making such investment, and VANGKOE is 
          willing to afford the Company such opportunity.  Accordingly, the 
          parties agree as follows:

          A.  During the 45-day period following the date hereof, VANGKOE will
              do the following at its sole expense:
              
              (i)  VANGKOE will purchase from the Company sufficient 
                   quantities of ALUMAGLASS(TM), china bisque and CRT glass 
                   to produce prototypes of


<PAGE>

VANGKOE Industries, Inc.                3

                   the color coated particles and make admixtures of the end
                   products;

              (ii) VANGKOE will test the key performance characteristics of 
                   these products against competitive products produced by 3M,
                   Estes, Duraflex, etc., and provide written results of such
                   tests to the Company.  The Company will be invited to observe
                   and participate in such testing.  In addition, VANGKOE will
                   arrange for independent lab testing of certain key product
                   attributes if requested by the Company;

              (iii)VANGKOE will conduct test marketing/customer presentations 
                   to prove market interest.  The Company will be invited to 
                   participate in these activities and will have direct access
                   to all such prospective customers to confirm their interest;
                   and

              (iv) VANGKOE will develop a marketing plan for the Company's 
                   ALUMAGLASS, china bisque and CRT glass substrates.

          B.  Within 60 days following the date hereof, the Company will 
              determine whether or not to proceed with the joint venture and
              make the contemplated investment and shall notify VANGKOE of such 
              decision in writing.  Such decision shall be made in good faith 
              based upon the results of the activities described in paragraph 4A
              by a committee of independent directors of the Company's Board of
              Directors.  During such 60-day period, VANGKOE will not negotiate
              or enter into an agreement with any party other than the Company
              regarding the proposed joint venture and co-investment or other 
              means of financing the Company's proposed contribution to the 
              coating operation.

          C.  If the Company determines to proceed with the joint venture, 
              the following provisions shall apply:

              (i)  The parties will promptly organize a new company ("NEWCO") 
                   in the State of Delaware and issue 50% of its stock to the 
                   Company and 50% to VANGKOE.  The Board of Directors of NEWCO
                   will consist of four individuals (Jeff Koebrick and Bo 
                   Gimvang of VANGKOE and two individuals designated by the 
                   Company).  VANGKOE will grant to NEWCO a perpetual, 
                   royalty-free, exclusive (except as contemplated by 
                   paragraph(ix) below) license of the Technology.  The Board of
                   Directors of NEWCO will approve all budgets and expenditures.

              (ii) The parties will identify the equipment required to apply 
                   the color coatings which, at the Company's option, may be 
                   used or leased.  The Company will make a capital contribution
                   to NEWCO in the amount of 50% of the funds needed for the
                   coating equipment (not to exceed $125,000) and VANGKOE will
                   obtain a loan in an amount equal to the remaining 50% of the
                   required funding and contribute such funds to


<PAGE>

VANGKOE Industries, Inc.                4

                   NEWCO.  The Company will provide a guarantee of such loan 
                   on behalf of VANGKOE. 

              (iii)In consideration of the Company's investment, any excess 
                   capacity at NEWCO will be available to the Company to coat
                   ALUMAGLASS, china bisque, crushed CRT glass or other 
                   substrates.  If the Company uses any such excess capacity,
                   the Company will pay to NEWCO a pro rata share of the 
                   production costs incurred by NEWCO in connection therewith;
                   PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that, unless VANGKOE is in breach of its
                   guaranteed minimum purchase commitment under the Agreement,
                   if the Company uses such capacity to color coat material that
                   is sold to any customer located in Louisiana, Mississippi, 
                   North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Virginia or Florida,
                   the Company will share its profit on the sale of such 
                   material with VANGKOE on a 50/50 basis.  The Company will
                   also share VANGKOE's profit on the sale of ALUMAGLASS and 
                   other substrates, and any profit NEWCO may realize on its
                   operations on a 50/50 basis.  VANGKOE further agrees to 
                   negotiate in good faith with respect to licensing to the
                   Company or a new entity to be jointly owned by the Company
                   and VANGKOE the manufacturing technology or technologies 
                   related to the products set forth on EXHIBIT A in connection
                   with any new facility established by the Company.

<PAGE>

VANGKOE Industries, Inc.                5

              (iv) VANGKOE will have the obligation to reimburse the Company   
                   immediately if the Company's guarantee of VANGKOE's loan is 
                   drawn upon.  If VANGKOE does not satisfy such obligation, or
                   if VANGKOE does not perform its obligations under paragraph  
                   (v) or (ix) below,  VANGKOE's equity interest in NEWCO shall
                   transfer to the Company and VANGKOE will assign the         
                   Technology to NEWCO.  In the event that either party at any 
                   time fails to renew the Agreement for an additional one-year
                   term, the other party shall have the option to purchase the 
                   non-renewing party's equity interest in NEWCO for a purchase
                   price equal to 50% of the book value of NEWCO (determined in
                   accordance with generally accepted accounting principles).  
                   Each party shall have a right of first refusal with respect 
                   to the other party's equity interest in NEWCO.

              (v)  VANGKOE will (i) obtain a lease for a facility at or adjacent
                   to 7 San Bartola, St. Augustine, Florida, and will provide at
                   least 5,000 square feet to NEWCO for its operations pursuant 
                   to a sublease at a cost equal to NEWCO's pro rata share of 
                   the rent (which pro rata share will not to exceed $2,500 per
                   month) and (ii) provide a minimum of $30,000 of working 
                   capital to fund the preparation of marketing materials and 
                   product specifications, preparation and distribution of test
                   amounts of coated material to prospective customers, 
                   research and development and recruiting and training sales 
                   representatives and technical employees.  VANGKOE shall 
                   utilize NEWCO as its exclusive source for applying color
                   coatings on all substrates purchased from the Company and,
                   unless otherwise agreed to by the Company, shall purchase
                   ALUMAGLASS, CRT glass and china bisque exclusively from the
                   Company.


<PAGE>

VANGKOE Industries, Inc.                6

              (vi)  In the event that VANGKOE shall at any time fail to meet its
                    minimum guaranteed purchase commitment under the Agreement,
                    (i) the exclusivity provision set forth in Section 1.2 of 
                    the Agreement shall cease to apply and (ii) the Company 
                    shall have the right to designate an additional director to
                    the Board of Directors of NEWCO (bringing the total to five
                    directors, three designated by the Company and two 
                    designated by VANGKOE).

              (vii) The Company shall have the right to assist VANGKOE in its 
                    marketing efforts.  VANGKOE agrees to provide the Company 
                    within 5 days following the end of each month a report of
                    its sales (including type of product, volume and selling 
                    price) from products utilizing the Company's substrates and
                    a good faith projection of sales for the current month, 
                    which report shall be certified by an officer of VANGKOE.
                    In the event of any dispute relating to the amounts owed to
                    the Company under the Agreement, such dispute shall be 
                    resolved by a big six accounting firm selected by the 
                    parties by lot.  VANGKOE's selling prices of products using
                    the Company's substrates will provide no preferential 
                    discounts or other savings to those customers who are in any
                    way affiliated with the principals of VANGKOE or who might 
                    be purchasing other products or services of any entity with
                    which the VANGKOE principals have an affiliation or 
                    financial interest.

             (viii) VANGKOE hereby commits during the term of the Agreement to 
                    seek to develop additional color coated products for the 
                    Company's ALUMAGLASS product, its CRT panel glass, its china
                    bisque and other applicable substrates that the Company may
                    provide, and shall license any applicable technologies for 
                    such products to NEWCO on an exclusive, royalty-free basis.
                    VANGKOE will provide the Company with a report, within 5 
                    days following the end of each month, of its production 
                    costs and development activities, certified by an officer of
                    VANGKOE.

                (x) VANGKOE will provide the Company with a license of its color
                    coating technology for future manufacturing facilities 
                    established by the Company, which will provide for a royalty
                    not to exceed $0.01 per pound (or any lesser price given to
                    any third party).

     5.   To the extent any provision of the Agreement is inconsistent with the
          amendments made hereby, such provision shall be deemed amended to be
          consistent with the terms hereof.

     6.   Except as specifically set forth herein, the Agreement shall remain in
          full force and effect.

     7.   The parties agree to work together in good faith and use best efforts
          to carry out the intent of this amendment, including, without
          limitation, executing such other documents and agreements as shall be
          necessary to effectuate the terms hereof.

<PAGE>

VANGKOE Industries, Inc.                7

     8.   This amendment shall be governed by and construed in accordance with
          the laws of the State of New York, applicable to contracts made and to
          be performed wholly therein.

Please indicate your agreement by signing below where indicated.


Sincerely,


                                        AGREED TO BY:

CONVERSION TECHNOLOGIES                 VANGKOE INDUSTRIES, INC.
INTERNATIONAL, INC.

By:                                     By:
   --------------------------------        -------------------------------------
   Harvey Goldman                          Name:
   President and Chief Executive           Title:
    Officer

DUNKIRK INTERNATIONAL GLASS
AND CERAMICS CORPORATION

By:
   --------------------------------
   Perry A. Pappas
   Vice President


<PAGE>
                                                                    EXHIBIT 11.1
 
           CONVERSION TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY
 
           STATEMENT OF COMPUTATION OF PRO FORMA NET (LOSS) PER SHARE
 
 PERIOD FROM MARCH 1, 1994 (DATE OPERATIONS COMMENCED) TO JUNE 30, 1994 AND THE
                                   YEAR ENDED
             JUNE 30, 1995 AND THE NINE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 1996
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                               PERIOD FROM
                                                              MARCH 1, 1994
                                                             (DATE OPERATIONS
                                                              COMMENCED) TO      YEAR ENDED    NINE MONTHS ENDED
                                                              JUNE 30, 1994    JUNE 30, 1995     MARCH 31, 1996
                                                             ----------------  --------------  ------------------
<S>                                                          <C>               <C>             <C>
Net (loss) as reported.....................................    $   (371,415)   $  (12,254,702)   $   (2,537,697)
                                                             ----------------  --------------  ------------------
                                                             ----------------  --------------  ------------------
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding.......          18,679           147,012           162,333
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding
 considering the conversion of the Company's Series A
 Preferred Stock into common stock upon the offering.......         --                587,742         1,023,054
                                                             ----------------  --------------  ------------------
Shares used in the computation.............................          18,679           734,754         1,185,387
                                                             ----------------  --------------  ------------------
                                                             ----------------  --------------  ------------------
Pro forma net (loss) per common share (1)..................    $     (19.88)   $       (16.68)   $        (2.14)
                                                             ----------------  --------------  ------------------
                                                             ----------------  --------------  ------------------
</TABLE>
    
 
- ------------------------
(1) Calculations of fully diluted and primary earnings per share are identical.


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