APPLIED CELLULAR TECHNOLOGY INC
S-3, 1998-09-29
TELEPHONE & TELEGRAPH APPARATUS
Previous: DAIMLER BENZ VEHICLE RECEIVABLES CORP, S-1, 1998-09-29
Next: LATIN AMERICA SMALLER COS FUND INC, N-30B-2, 1998-09-29




   As Filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 29, 1998
                                                   Registration No. 333-________
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549
                                    FORM S-3
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                      Under
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                        APPLIED CELLULAR TECHNOLOGY, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

              MISSOURI                               43-1641533
   (State or other jurisdiction of                (I.R.S. Employer
   incorporation or organization)                Identification No.)

                          400 Royal Palm Way, Suite 4
                            Palm Beach, Florida 33480
                                 (561) 366-4800
               (Address, including zip code, and telephone number,
        including area code, of registrant's principal executive offices)
                               Garrett A. Sullivan
                          400 Royal Palm Way, Suite 410
                            Palm Beach, Florida 33480
                                 (561) 366-4800
            (Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number,
                   including area code, of agent for service)
                        Copies of all correspondence to:
                             Denis P. McCusker, Esq.
                                 Bryan Cave LLP
                             One Metropolitan Square
                         211 North Broadway, Suite 3600
                         St. Louis, Missouri 63102-2750
                                 (314) 259-2000

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

     Approximate  date of commencement of proposed sale to public:  From time to
time after this Registration Statement becomes effective.

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

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

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

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

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

                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
<TABLE>

- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<CAPTION>
   Title of each class of         Amount to be        Proposed maximum      Proposed maximum         Amount of
 securities to be registered       registered        offering price per    aggregate offering    registration fee
                                                          unit(1)                  price
===================================================================================================================
   <S>                          <C>                      <C>                 <C>                    <C>
   Common Stock, $.001 par
       value per share          1,105,708 shares         $2.500              $2,764,270             $815
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
(1)  Pursuant to Rule 457(c),  the proposed  offering price and registration fee
     has been calculated on the basis of the average of the high and low trading
     prices for the Common Stock on September 25, 1998 as reported on the Nasdaq
     National Market.

     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>




   
                 SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED SEPTEMBER 29, 1998

                             PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS

                                1,105,708 Shares

                                [GRAPHIC OMITTED]

                          Applied Cellular Technology

                                  Common Stock
                               ------------------

     This Prospectus relates to 1,105,708 shares (the "Shares") of common stock,
par value  $0.001  per share  (the "ACT  Common  Stock"),  of  Applied  Cellular
Technology,  Inc., a Missouri  corporation ("ACT" or the "Company") to be issued
from time to time upon  exchange or redemption  of Class A  exchangeable  shares
("Class A  Exchangeable  Shares")  and  Class B  exchangeable  shares  ("Class B
Exchangeable  Shares,  and together with the Class A  Exchangeable  Shares,  the
"Exchangeable  Shares") of ACT-GFX Canada,  Inc., an Ontario  corporation  ("ACT
Sub"), which is a subsidiary of ACT. Pursuant to a reorganization agreement (the
"Reorganization  Agreement")  among ACT, ACT Sub, Drummer  Enterprises  Ltd., an
Ontario corporation  ("Drummer"),  Morstar Holdings Ltd., a Manitoba corporation
("Morstar"),  Scozul Enterprises Ltd., an Ontario corporation ("Scozul"),  James
D. Scott and Ground  Effects Ltd., an Ontario  corporation  ("Ground  Effects"),
certain of the issued and  outstanding  shares in the capital of Ground  Effects
and certain debt owed by Ground  Effects were acquired by ACT Sub for a purchase
price which was  satisfied  by the issuance of Class A  Exchangeable  Shares and
Class B Exchangeable Shares. As a result,  Ground Effects became a subsidiary of
ACT Sub (the "Reorganization").  See "Plan of Distribution--The  Reorganization"
and "--Exchangeable Shares."

     This  Prospectus also relates to the resale from time to time of the Shares
after they have been issued in exchange for the Exchangeable  Shares. After such
issuance,  the Shares may be sold in one or more transactions (which may include
"block  transactions")  on the Nasdaq National Market,  in the  over-the-counter
market, in negotiated transactions or in a combination of such methods of sales,
at fixed prices which may be changed, at market prices prevailing at the time of
sale,  at prices  related  to such  prevailing  market  prices or at  negotiated
prices.  The selling  shareholders  may effect such  transactions by selling the
Shares  directly to  purchasers,  or may sell to or through  agents,  dealers or
underwriters  designated  from  time  to  time,  and  such  agents,  dealers  or
underwriters may receive  compensation in the form of discounts,  concessions or
commissions from the selling  shareholders and/or the purchaser(s) of Shares for
whom they may act as agent or to whom they may sell as principals, or both. Such
selling  shareholders and the brokers and dealers through which the sales of the
Shares may be made may be deemed to be "underwriters"  within the meaning of the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and their commissions
and  discounts  and  other   compensation   may  be  regarded  as  underwriters'
compensation.  The Company will not receive any proceeds from any sale of Shares
and will bear all the expenses  incurred in  connection  with  registering  this
offering of the Shares.

     The ACT Common Stock of the Company is listed on the Nasdaq National Market
under the symbol  "ACTC." On September 25, 1998, the last reported sale price of
the ACT Common  Stock on the Nasdaq  National  Market was $2.500 per share.  See
"Price Range of ACT Common Stock."

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

     SEE "RISK  FACTORS"  BEGINNING ON PAGE 4 IN THE PROSPECTUS FOR A DISCUSSION
OF CERTAIN  FACTORS THAT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED BY  PROSPECTIVE  PURCHASERS OF THE
ACT COMMON STOCK OFFERED HEREBY.

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

 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 _________, 1998.

<PAGE>

                              AVAILABLE INFORMATION

     ACT is subject to the informational requirements of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended (the  "Exchange  Act"),  and, in  accordance  therewith,
files reports,  proxy  statements and other  information with the Securities and
Exchange  Commission (the  "Commission").  These reports,  proxy  statements and
other information can be inspected and copied at the public reference facilities
maintained by the Commission at Room 1024,  Judiciary  Plaza,  450 Fifth Street,
N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549 and at the Commission's regional offices located at
Northeast Regional Office,  Seven World Trade Center,  Suite 1300, New York, New
York 10048 and  Midwest  Regional  Office,  Citicorp  Center,  500 West  Madison
Street,  Suite 1400, Chicago,  Illinois 60661. Copies of such materials can also
be  obtained  from the Public  Reference  Section of the  Commission,  Judiciary
Plaza, 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington,  D.C. 20549, at prescribed rates. The
Commission  maintains a Web site that contains  reports,  proxy and  information
statements  and  other  materials  that  are  filed  through  the   Commission's
Electronic  Data Analysis and  Retrieval  (EDGAR)  System.  This Web site can be
assessed at  http://www.sec.gov.  Quotations  relating  to the ACT Common  Stock
appear on the Nasdaq National  Market,  and such reports,  proxy  statements and
other  information  concerning  ACT can also be  inspected at the offices of the
National  Association  of  Securities  Dealers,   Inc.,  1735  K  Street,  N.W.,
Washington, D.C. 20006.

     ACT has filed with the Commission a Registration Statement on Form S-3 (the
"Registration Statement") under the Securities Act with respect to the shares of
ACT Common Stock offered  hereby.  This  Prospectus  does not contain all of the
information set forth in the Registration  Statement or the exhibits thereto. As
permitted by the rules and regulations of the Commission,  this Prospectus omits
certain  information  contained or incorporated by reference in the Registration
Statement.  Statements  contained in this  Prospectus  as to the contents of any
contract or other document filed or  incorporated  by reference as an exhibit to
the Registration  Statement are not necessarily  complete,  and in each instance
reference  is made to the copy of such  contract or other  document  filed as an
exhibit to the Registration  Statement.  For further  information,  reference is
hereby made to the Registration Statement and exhibits thereto,  copies of which
may be inspected at the offices of the  Commission  at 450 Fifth  Street,  N.W.,
Washington,  D.C.  20549 or obtained from the  Commission at the same address at
prescribed rates.


                 INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

     The following documents heretofore filed by the Company with the Commission
pursuant to the Exchange Act are incorporated herein by reference:

          1. the Company's  Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
     December 31, 1997 (filed with the Commission on March 30, 1998);

         2. the  Company's  Quarterly  Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
     March 31, 1998 (filed with the Commission on May 14, 1998);

         3. the  Company's  Quarterly  Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
     June 30, 1998 (filed with the Commission on August 14, 1998);

          4. The Company's  Current Reports on Form 8-K and on 8-K/A (filed with
     the Commission on June 26, 1998, June 29, 1998 and September 23, 1998); and

         5. The  Company's  Current  Report on Form 8-K and on 8-K/A (filed with
     the Commission on July 15, 1998 and September 23, 1998).

     All documents filed by ACT with the Commission  pursuant to Sections 13(a),
13(c),  14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act  subsequent to the date hereof and prior
to the  termination of the offering shall hereby be deemed to be incorporated by
reference in this  Prospectus and to be a part hereof from the date of filing of
such documents.  Any statement contained herein or in a document incorporated or
deemed to be incorporated  herein by reference shall be deemed to be modified or
superseded  for  purposes  of this  Prospectus  to the extent  that a  statement
contained  herein or in any other  subsequently  filed document  incorporated or
deemed  to  be  incorporated  herein  by  reference,  which  statement  is  also
incorporated  herein by reference,  modifies or supersedes such  statement.  Any
such  statement  so modified  or  superseded  shall not be deemed,  except as so
modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this Prospectus.



                                       2
<PAGE>

     This Prospectus incorporates documents by reference which are not presented
herein or delivered  herewith.  Copies of these  documents  (excluding  exhibits
unless  such  exhibits  are  specifically  incorporated  by  reference  into the
information  incorporated  herein)  will be provided by first class mail without
charge to each person to whom this Prospectus is delivered, upon written or oral
request  by such  person to  Applied  Cellular  Technology,  Inc.,  James  River
Professional  Center,  Highway 160 & CC, Suite 5, P.O. Box 2067, Nixa,  Missouri
65714;  Attention:  Kay  Langsford,   Corporate  Controller  (telephone:   (417)
725-9888).

     No person has been  authorized in connection with this offering to give any
information  or to make any  representation  not  contained or  incorporated  by
reference  in this  Prospectus  and,  if  given  or made,  such  information  or
representation must not be relied upon as having been authorized by ACT, ACT Sub
or any other person.  This Prospectus does not constitute an offer to sell, or a
solicitation of an offer to purchase,  any securities  other than those to which
it relates,  nor does it  constitute  an offer to sell or a  solicitation  of an
offer to purchase by any person in any  jurisdiction in which it is unlawful for
such person to make such an offer or solicitation.  Neither the delivery of this
Prospectus nor any sale made hereunder shall,  under any  circumstances,  create
any implication that the information  contained herein is correct as of any time
subsequent to the date hereof or that there has been no change in the affairs of
ACT since such date.


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


                                TABLE OF CONTENTS



Available Information...................................................2
Incorporation Of Certain Documents By Reference.........................2
Risk Factors............................................................4
The Company.............................................................6
Use Of Proceeds.........................................................7

Description Of ACT Capital Stock........................................7
Plan Of Distribution....................................................8
Canadian Tax Considerations............................................10
United States Federal Tax Considerations...............................14
Legal Matters..........................................................18
Experts................................................................18



                                       3
<PAGE>


                                  RISK FACTORS

     In  addition  to the other  information  contained  herein,  the  following
factors  should be  considered  carefully  in  evaluating  ACT before  investors
exchange  their  Exchangeable  Shares for the shares of ACT Common Stock offered
hereby.

Taxability of the Exchange

     The  exchange  of  Exchangeable  Shares for  shares of ACT Common  Stock is
generally  a taxable  event in Canada and the  United  States.  A  holder's  tax
consequences can vary depending on a number of factors,  including the residency
of the holder,  the method of the  exchange  (redemption  or  exchange)  and the
length of time that the  Exchangeable  Shares were held prior to  exchange.  See
"Canadian Tax Considerations" and "United States Federal Tax Considerations."

Differences in Canada and U.S. Trading Markets

     The Exchangeable  Shares will not be listed on any stock exchange in Canada
or the  United  States.  ACT has  agreed  that the  shares of ACT  Common  Stock
issuable  from time to time in  exchange  for the  Exchangeable  Shares  will be
listed on the Nasdaq National Market.  There is no current intention to list the
ACT Common Stock on any other stock exchange in Canada or the United States.  As
a  result  of  the  foregoing,  ACT  believes  that  the  market  price  of  the
Exchangeable  Shares will reflect  essentially  the equivalent  value of the ACT
Common  Stock on the  Nasdaq  National  Market.  However,  if a  market  for the
Exchangeable  Shares should develop,  there can be no assurances that the market
price of the  Exchangeable  Shares  would  correspond  to that of the ACT Common
Stock.

Foreign Property

     The  Exchangeable  Shares and the ACT Common Stock will be foreign property
under the Income Tax Act  (Canada),  as amended (the  "Canadian  Tax Act"),  for
trusts  governed by registered  pension  plans,  registered  retirement  savings
plans,  registered  retirement income funds and deferred profit sharing plans or
for certain other tax-exempt persons. See "Canadian Tax Considerations."

Uncertainty of Future Financial Results

     While the  Company has been  profitable  for the last three  fiscal  years,
future  financial  results are  uncertain.  There can be no  assurance  that the
Company  will  continue  to be operated in a  profitable  manner.  Profitability
depends  upon many  factors,  including  the  success of the  Company's  various
marketing  programs,  the  maintenance  or reduction  of expense  levels and the
ability of the Company to  successfully  coordinate the efforts of the different
segments of its business.

Future Sales of and Market for the Shares

     As of September 25, 1998, there were 32,501,877  shares of ACT Common Stock
outstanding. In addition,  4,368,186 shares of ACT Common Stock are reserved for
issuance  in  exchange  for the  Exchangeable  Shares of  ACT-GFX  Canada,  Inc.
referred to herein and in exchange  for certain  exchangeable  shares  issued by
Commstar,  Ltd., a wholly owned  subsidiary of ACT.  Since January 1, 1998,  the
Company has issued an aggregate of  12,053,471  shares of ACT Common  Stock,  of
which 10,635,023 shares of ACT Common Stock were issued in acquisitions, 850,000
shares of ACT Common Stock were issued upon the  exercise of  warrants,  250,000
shares of ACT Common Stock were sold to certain  directors and an officer of the
Company,  and  318,448  shares of ACT  Common  Stock were  issued  for  services
rendered, including services under employment agreements and employee bonuses.

     Management  of the Company  anticipates  that the Company will  continue to
effect  acquisitions  and contract for certain  services  primarily  through the
issuance of ACT Common Stock or other  equity  securities  of the Company.  Such
issuances of additional  securities may be viewed as being dilutive of the value
of the ACT Common Stock in certain  circumstances and may have an adverse impact
on the market price of the ACT Common Stock.

Risks Associated with Acquisitions and Expansion

     The Company has engaged in a continuing  program of  acquisitions  of other
businesses which are considered to be complementary to the lines of business


                                       4
<PAGE>

carried on by the Company,  and it is anticipated  that such  acquisitions  will
continue to occur.  As of June 30,  1998,  the total  assets of the Company were
approximately  $113.6  million.  As of March 31,  1998,  the total assets of the
Company were  approximately  $73.1  million.  As of December 31, 1997, the total
assets  of  the  Company  were   approximately   $61.3   million,   compared  to
approximately  $33.2 million at December 31, 1996 and approximately $4.1 million
at the end of 1995. Net operating  revenues for the year ended December 31, 1997
were  approximately  $103.2 million compared to  approximately  $19.9 million in
1996 and $2.3 million in 1995.  Managing these dramatic  changes in the scope of
the business of the Company will present ongoing  challenges to management,  and
there can be no assurance that the Company's operations as currently structured,
or as  affected  by future  acquisitions,  will be  successful.  The  businesses
acquired by the Company may require substantial  additional  capital,  and there
can be no assurance as to the  availability of such capital when needed,  nor as
to the terms on which such capital might be made available to the Company. It is
the Company's policy to retain existing  management of acquired companies and to
allow the new subsidiary to continue to operate in the manner which has resulted
in its success in the past, under the overall  supervision of senior  management
of the Company. Accordingly, the success of the operations of these subsidiaries
will depend,  to a great extent,  on the continued  efforts of the management of
the acquired companies.

Competition

     Each segment of the  Company's  business is highly  competitive,  and it is
expected  that  competitive  pressures  will  continue.  Many  of the  Company's
competitors have far greater financial and other resources than the Company. The
areas which the Company has  identified  for continued  growth and expansion are
also  target  market  segments  for  some  of  the  largest  and  most  strongly
capitalized  companies in the United States.  There can be no assurance that the
Company  will have the  financial,  technical,  marketing  and  other  resources
required to compete successfully in this environment in the future.

Dependence on Key Individuals

     The future  success of the Company is highly  dependent  upon the Company's
ability to attract and retain qualified key employees.  The Company is organized
with a small senior management team, with each of its separate  operations under
the  day-to-day  control  of local  managers.  If the  Company  were to lose the
services of any members of its central  management team, the overall  operations
of the Company  could be adversely  affected,  and the  operations of any of the
individual facilities of the Company could be adversely affected if the services
of the local managers should be unavailable.

Lack of Dividends on Common Stock; Issuance of Preferred Stock

     The  Company  does not have a history  of paying  dividends  on ACT  Common
Stock,  and there can be no assurance  that such  dividends  will be paid in the
foreseeable  future.  The  Company  intends  to use any  earnings  which  may be
generated  to  finance  the  growth of the  Company's  businesses.  The Board of
Directors  has the right to authorize the issuance of preferred  stock,  without
further  stockholder  approval,  the holders of which may have preferences as to
payment of dividends.

Potential Conflicts of Interests

     Mr. Richard Sullivan,  the Chief Executive Officer of the Company,  is also
Chairman of Great Bay Technology,  Inc. and Managing  General Partner of the Bay
Group.  Both these  companies  conduct  business  with the Company,  and receive
compensation  from the Company for various  services,  including  assistance  in
identifying  potential  acquisition  candidates and in  negotiating  acquisition
transactions.  The  relationships  among such  companies,  Mr.  Sullivan and the
Company may involve conflicts of interest.

Possible Volatility of Stock Price

     ACT  Common  Stock is quoted on the Nasdaq  National  Market,  which  stock
market has  experienced  and is likely to experience  in the future  significant
price and volume  fluctuations  which could adversely affect the market price of
ACT Common Stock without regard to the operating  performance of the Company. In
addition,  the Company believes that factors such as the significant  changes to
the  business  of  the  Company   resulting  from  continued   acquisitions  and
expansions,  quarterly  fluctuations  in the  financial  results of the Company,
shortfalls  in  earnings  or sales below  analyst  expectations,  changes in the
performance of other companies in the same market sectors as the Company and the


                                       5
<PAGE>

performance  of the overall  economy and the  financial  markets could cause the
price of ACT  Common  Stock to  fluctuate  substantially.  During  the 12 months
preceding the date of this  Prospectus,  the price per share of ACT Common Stock
has ranged from a high of $9 3/4 to a low of $1 9/16.

Forward-Looking Statements and Associated Risk

     This  Prospectus,   including  the  information   incorporated   herein  by
reference, contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding,  among
other items, (a) the Company's growth strategies,  (b) anticipated trends in the
Company's   business  and  demographics   and  (c)  the  Company's   ability  to
successfully  integrate the business  operations of recently acquired companies.
These forward-looking statements are based largely on the Company's expectations
and are  subject  to a number of risks and  uncertainties,  certain of which are
beyond the Company's control.  Actual results could differ materially from these
forward-looking  statements  as a  result  of the  factors  described  in  "Risk
Factors,"  including,  among others,  regulatory,  competitive or other economic
influences. In light of these risks and uncertainties, there can be no assurance
that  the  forward-looking  information  contained  in this  Prospectus  will be
accurate.


                                   THE COMPANY

     ACT  is  a  builder  of  infrastructure  services  and  solutions  for  the
communications industry. The Company operates its business in four groups:

ACT Communications Group

     This group  consists  of  companies  that  provide  products  and  services
including  telephone  systems,  computer  telephony,  interactive voice response
systems,  flat rate  extended  area calling  services,  long  distance and local
telephone  services,  digital  satellite  services,  call  centers,   networking
services,  fiber optic cabling,  power  distribution  services and communication
towers.

ACT Software and Services Group

     This group consists of companies that develop and market software  products
and services for wireless-enabled applications, data acquisition, field support,
decision support, point of sale and multi-function peripheral devices.

ACT Computer Group

     This  group   consists  of  companies   that  provide   computer   systems,
peripherals,   components,   specialty  systems,  cabling,  consulting,   rental
services, system integration, transportation and de-installation services.

ACT Specialty Manufacturing Group

     This group consists of companies  that  manufacture  and market  electrical
components,  control  panels,  global  positioning  systems,  satellite  modems,
transceivers,  controllers,  communication devices, orbit modeling applications,
as well as provide design and manufacturing engineering services.

     The largest  part of the  Company's  current  operations  are the result of
acquisitions completed during the last two years. During 1995, the net operating
revenues of the Company were $2.3 million. For 1996, net operating revenues were
$19.9 million,  of which almost $14 million was from the Company's then services
and  solutions   segment.   In  1997,   the  Company   completed  14  additional
acquisitions,  of  companies  whose  aggregate  net revenues for 1997 were $62.4
million,  or 60.5% of the Company's  total  revenues of $103.2  million in 1997.
Since January 1, 1998, the Company has completed 14 additional  acquisitions  of
companies whose aggregate net revenues for 1997 were $109.4 million.

     The principal office of the Company is located at 400 Royal Palm Way, Suite
410, Palm Beach, Florida,  33480. Each operating business is conducted through a
separate  subsidiary  company  directed  by its own  management  team,  and each
subsidiary company has its own marketing and operations support personnel.  Each
management  team  reports  to a  Group  Vice  President  and  ultimately  to the
Company's  President,  who is  responsible  for  overall  corporate  control and
coordination, as well as financial planning. The Chairman is responsible for the
overall business and strategic planning of the Company.


                                       6
<PAGE>

                                 USE OF PROCEEDS

     Because  Shares  of ACT  Common  Stock  will be  issued  upon  exchange  or
redemption  of the  Exchangeable  Shares,  ACT will receive no net cash proceeds
upon issuance.


                        DESCRIPTION OF ACT CAPITAL STOCK

     The Company's Amended and Restated  Articles of  Incorporation,  as amended
("ACT's Articles of Incorporation")  authorizes the issuance of up to 80,000,000
shares of ACT Common  Stock and up to 5,000,000  shares of preferred  stock (the
"Preferred  Stock").  The Preferred Stock may be issued from time to time and on
such terms as are specified by the Company's Board of Directors, without further
authorization from the stockholders of the Company.

     As of September 25, 1998, there were outstanding  32,501,877  shares of ACT
Common  Stock and two  Special  Preferred  Shares,  par value $10 per share.  In
addition,  4,368,186  shares of ACT Common  Stock are  reserved  for issuance in
exchange for the Exchangeable  Shares of ACT-GFX Canada, Inc. referred to herein
and in exchange for certain  exchangeable  shares  issued by  Commstar,  Ltd., a
wholly owned subsidiary of ACT.

     As of September 25, 1998, (a) there were  outstanding  warrants to purchase
2,510,000  shares of ACT Common Stock at a weighted  average  exercise  price of
$2.71 per share,  and (b) options  held by  employees of the Company to purchase
7,307,100  shares of ACT Common Stock at a weighted  average  exercise  price of
$3.66  per  share.  All  of  the  warrants  are  currently  exercisable.  Of the
outstanding  options,  1,205,000  are  now  exercisable  at a  weighted  average
exercise  price of $4.43 per share,  and the rest become  exercisable at various
times over the next three years.

     ACT's Common Stock  trades on the Nasdaq  National  Market under the symbol
"ACTC."  The  following  table  sets  forth the high and low sale  prices of ACT
Common Stock as reported by the Nasdaq  National Market for each of the quarters
since the beginning of 1996.

                                                High           Low
                                                ----           ---
      1996
            First Quarter.........              6-7/8          2-3/4
            Second Quarter........              9-1/8          4
            Third Quarter.........              7-7/8          3-3/4
            Fourth Quarter........              7-3/8          4-1/2

      1997
            First Quarter.........              5-7/8          4
            Second Quarter........              4-3/8          2-5/8
            Third Quarter ........              8-3/4          3-1/16
            Fourth Quarter .......              9-3/4          3-15/16

      1998
            First Quarter ........              5-1/2          4-1/32
            Second Quarter .......              4-7/8          3-1/8
            Third Quarter
               (through September 25, 1998)     3-1/2          1-9/16


Rights of Holders of ACT Common Stock

     Subject to the prior rights of any shares of Preferred  Stock that may from
time to time be  outstanding,  holders of ACT Common Stock are entitled to share
ratably in such dividends as may be lawfully declared by the Board of Directors


                                       7
<PAGE>

and paid by ACT and, in the event of  liquidation,  dissolution or winding up of
ACT, are entitled to share ratably in all assets available for distribution. ACT
is prohibited from declaring or paying  dividends on the ACT Common Stock unless
ACT Sub is able  to,  and  simultaneously  does,  declare  or pay an  equivalent
dividend on the Exchangeable Shares. In the event of liquidation, dissolution or
winding up of ACT, each outstanding  Exchangeable Share (other than Exchangeable
Shares held by ACT or a single wholly-owned subsidiary of ACT) will be purchased
by ACT in  exchange  for ACT Common  Stock as  described  below  under  "Plan of
Distribution--  Procedures  for Issuance of ACT Common  Stock--  Liquidation  of
ACT."

     The ACT Common  Stock is  entitled  to one vote per share held of record on
each matter submitted to a vote of stockholders. Except as otherwise provided by
law or ACT's  Articles of  Incorporation,  the ACT Common  Stock and the Special
Preferred  Share  referred to below will vote  together as a single class in the
election of directors and on all matters  submitted to a vote of stockholders of
ACT. The holders of ACT Common Stock have no  preemptive  rights to purchase any
securities of ACT or cumulative  voting rights.  All  outstanding  shares of ACT
Common  Stock are  validly  issued,  fully  paid and  nonassessable.  ACT is not
prohibited by ACT's Articles of Incorporation  from  repurchasing  shares of the
ACT Common Stock.  Any such  repurchases  would be subject to any limitations on
the amount  available  for such  purpose  under  applicable  corporate  law, any
applicable  restrictions  under the terms of any outstanding  Preferred Stock or
indebtedness  and, in the case of market  purchases,  such  restrictions  on the
timing,  manner and amount of such purchases as might apply in the circumstances
under applicable securities laws.

     The transfer  agent,  registrar and dividend  disbursing  agent for the ACT
Common Stock is Florida Atlantic Stock Transfer, Inc.

ACT Special Voting Preferred Stock

     The Board of Directors of ACT  authorized the issuance of a single share of
ACT Special Voting Preferred Stock (the "Special Preferred Share"),  to Montreal
Trust Company of Canada (the "Voting Trustee") under a Voting and Exchange Trust
Agreement  (the "Voting and Exchange  Trust  Agreement")  which was entered into
among ACT, ACT Sub, Drummer,  Morstar,  Scozul and the Voting Trustee. Except as
otherwise  required  by law or ACT's  Articles  of  Incorporation,  the  Special
Preferred  Share will be  entitled  to a number of votes  equal to the number of
outstanding Exchangeable Shares not owned by ACT or certain subsidiaries of ACT,
and may be voted in the election of directors and on all other matters submitted
to a vote of  stockholders  of ACT.  The holders of the ACT Common Stock and the
Voting Trustee,  as holder of the Special Preferred Share, will vote together as
a single class on all matters,  except to the extent voting as a separate  class
is required by applicable  law or ACT's  Articles of  Incorporation.  The Voting
Trustee will  exercise  such voting  rights in respect of the Special  Preferred
Share on behalf of the holders of the  Exchangeable  Shares,  as provided in the
Voting and Exchange Trust Agreement.  The Voting Trustee will not be entitled to
receive any dividends or to  participate  in any  distribution  of assets to the
shareholders  of ACT.  When all  Exchangeable  Shares  have  been  exchanged  or
redeemed for shares of ACT Common  Stock,  the Special  Preferred  Share will be
cancelled.


                              PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

The Reorganization

     Pursuant to the  Reorganization  Agreement,  effective  as of June 30, 1998
(the "Effective Date"), among ACT, ACT Sub, Drummer,  Morstar,  Scozul, James D.
Scott and Ground Effects,  certain of the issued and  outstanding  shares in the
capital of Ground  Effects and certain debt owed by Ground Effects were acquired
by ACT Sub for a purchase  price which was  satisfied by the issuance of Class A
Exchangeable  Shares and Class B Exchangeable  Shares,  and as a result,  Ground
Effects became a subsidiary of ACT Sub. The Exchangeable  Shares will be further
exchangeable  into or  redeemable  for shares of ACT Common  Stock as  described
below.  Holders of the Exchangeable  Shares will have economic and voting rights
which are, as nearly as possible,  equivalent  to those of holders of ACT Common
Stock.

Exchangeable Shares

     The  Exchangeable  Shares were issued in  consideration  for certain of the
issued and outstanding  shares in the capital of Ground Effects and certain debt
owed by Ground Effects. Thereafter, the Exchangeable Shares may be exchanged for


                                       8
<PAGE>

an  equivalent  number of shares of ACT  Common  Stock as  described  below.  No
broker,  dealer or underwriter  has been engaged in connection with the offering
of the ACT Common Stock covered hereby.

     The  specific  terms under which ACT Common Stock may be issued in exchange
for  or  on  redemption  of  the  Exchangeable  Shares  are  set  forth  in  the
Exchangeable Share provisions attached to ACT Sub's Articles of Incorporation, a
certain call agreement entered into among ACT, ACT Sub, Drummer, Morstar, Scozul
and James D. Scott (the "Call  Agreement")  and in the Voting and Exchange Trust
Agreement. The Exchangeable Share provisions,  the Call Agreement and the Voting
and  Exchange  Trust  Agreement  are  included as  exhibits to the  Registration
Statement  of  which  this  Prospectus  constitutes  a part,  and the  following
description is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Exchangeable  Share
provisions, the Call Agreement and the Voting and Exchange Trust Agreement.

Procedures for Issuance of ACT Common Stock

     Upon any exchange or redemption of  Exchangeable  Shares  referred to below
(whether by ACT Sub or ACT),  the holders will receive an  equivalent  number of
shares of ACT Common Stock,  plus an amount,  if any,  equal to all declared and
unpaid dividends on the Exchangeable  Shares. If only a part of the Exchangeable
Shares  represented  by  any  certificate  is  redeemed  or  exchanged,   a  new
certificate  for the balance of such  Exchangeable  Shares will be issued to the
holder at ACT Sub's expense.

     In lieu of any redemption of Exchangeable Shares referred to below, ACT may
elect to purchase such Exchangeable Shares. The ACT Common Stock (and additional
payment, if any,  representing declared and unpaid dividends on the Exchangeable
Shares)  to be  received  by the  holders  of the  Exchangeable  Shares  will be
unaffected by such election.

     Upon any exchange or redemption  of  Exchangeable  Shares,  the holder must
surrender the Exchangeable  Share  certificates  representing such shares,  duly
endorsed in blank and accompanied by such  instruments of transfer as ACT or ACT
Sub may reasonably require.

     Election  by Holders to  Exchange  Exchangeable  Shares.  At any time on or
prior to the  Automatic  Redemption  Date (as  defined  below),  holders  of the
Exchangeable Shares may retract (i.e.,  require ACT Sub to redeem) any or all of
their  Exchangeable  Shares,  by presenting the  certificates  representing  the
shares at the office of ACT Sub together  with a duly  executed  statement  (the
"Retraction  Request")  specifying the number of Exchangeable  Shares the holder
wishes to retract and such other documents and instruments as may be required to
effect the retraction of the  Exchangeable  Shares.  The retraction  will become
effective  at the close of business on the sixth  business day after the request
is received by ACT Sub (the  "Retraction  Date").  The Retraction Price for such
Exchangeable Shares is to be satisfied by the issuance of ACT Common Stock.

     The Retraction  Request shall be substantially in the form attached to this
Prospectus as Exhibit A or in such other form as may be acceptable to ACT or ACT
Sub for the Exchangeable Shares in their sole discretion.

     Redemption  of  Exchangeable  Shares.  ACT Sub is  required  to redeem  the
Exchangeable  Shares (by  exchanging  ACT Common  Stock as  described  above) as
follows:

     (a) with respect to the Class A Exchangeable Shares:

         (i)      on the seventh anniversary of the Effective Date; or

         (ii)     on a date  specified by ACT Sub if less than 5% of the Class A
                  Exchangeable  Shares originally issued remain  outstanding (as
                  such  number  may be  adjusted  as a  result  of  subdivision,
                  consolidation, stock dividend or other events); and

     (b) with respect to the Class B Exchangeable Shares:

         (i)      on the seventh anniversary of the Effective Date; or

         (ii)     on a date  specified by ACT Sub if less than 5% of the Class B
                  Exchangeable  Shares originally issued remain  outstanding (as
                  such  number  may be  adjusted  as a  result  of  subdivision,
                  consolidation, stock dividend or other events).

                                       9
<PAGE>

     The  earlier  of  either  date to  occur  with  respect  to each  class  of
Exchangeable Shares is referred to as the "Automatic Redemption Date."

     Liquidation  of ACT Sub. In the event of the  liquidation,  dissolution  or
winding up of ACT Sub or any other  proposed  distribution  of the assets of ACT
Sub among its  shareholders  for the  purpose  of winding  up its  affairs,  (a)
holders of the Class B Exchangeable  Shares will be entitled to ACT Common Stock
in exchange for their Class B Exchangeable  Shares as described above before any
distribution  to the  holders  of the Class A  Exchangeable  Shares,  the common
shares or any other shares of ACT Sub ranking junior to the Class B Exchangeable
Shares;  and (b) holders of the Class A Exchangeable  Shares will be entitled to
ACT Common Stock in exchange for their Class A Exchangeable  Shares as described
above before any  distribution  to the holders of the common shares or any other
shares of ACT Sub ranking  junior to the Class A Exchangeable  Shares.  Upon the
bankruptcy  or  insolvency of ACT Sub, the trustee under the Voting and Exchange
Trust Agreement may require ACT to purchase the Exchangeable  Shares in exchange
for ACT Common Stock as described above.

     Liquidation of ACT. Upon the occurrence of an ACT  Liquidation  Event,  ACT
will be required to purchase the Exchangeable  Shares in exchange for ACT Common
Stock as described above. "ACT Liquidation Event" means (a) any determination by
ACT's Board of Directors  to institute  voluntary  liquidation,  dissolution  or
winding-up  proceedings with respect to ACT or to effect any other  distribution
of assets of ACT  among its  stockholders  for the  purpose  of  winding  up its
affairs or (b) receipt by ACT of notice of, or ACT otherwise  becoming aware of,
any threatened or instituted  claim,  suit,  petition or other  proceeding  with
respect to the involuntary  liquidation,  dissolution or winding up of ACT or to
effect any other  distribution of assets of ACT among its  stockholders  for the
purpose of winding up its affairs.


                           CANADIAN TAX CONSIDERATIONS

Canadian Federal Income Tax Considerations

     In the opinion of  _____________________,  who acted as counsel for ACT Sub
in  connection  with the  Reorganization,  the  following  is a  summary  of the
principal Canadian federal income tax considerations generally applicable to ACT
Sub  shareholders,  who, for the  purposes of the Income Tax Act  (Canada)  (the
"Canadian  Tax  Act"),  hold their  Exchangeable  Shares and will hold their ACT
Common Stock as capital  property and will deal at arm's length with ACT and ACT
Sub.  This  summary  does not apply to a holder  with  respect  to whom ACT is a
foreign affiliate within the meaning of the Canadian Tax Act.

     Certain  provisions  of the Canadian Tax Act (the  "mark-to-market  rules")
relating to financial  institutions  (including certain financial  institutions,
registered securities dealers and corporations  controlled by one or more of the
foregoing) will deem such financial  institutions not to hold their Exchangeable
Shares and ACT Common Stock as capital property for purposes of the Canadian Tax
Act.  Shareholders that are financial  institutions should consult their own tax
advisors to determine the tax  consequences  to them of the  application  of the
mark-to-market rules. In addition, all shareholders should consult their own tax
advisors as to whether, as a matter of fact, they hold their Exchangeable Shares
and will hold their ACT Common  Stock as capital  property  for  purposes of the
Canadian Tax Act.

     This  summary is based on the current  provisions  of the Canadian Tax Act,
the regulations  thereunder,  the current provisions of the Canada-United States
Income Tax Convention,  1980 (the "Tax Treaty") and counsel's  understanding  of
the current  administrative  practices of Revenue  Canada,  Customs,  Excise and
Taxation ("Revenue  Canada").  This summary takes into account the amendments to
the  Canadian  Tax Act and  regulations  publicly  announced  by the Minister of
Finance prior to the date hereof (the  "Proposed  Amendments")  and assumes that
all such Proposed  Amendments will be enacted in their present form. However, no
assurances can be given that the Proposed Amendments will be enacted in the form
proposed, or at all.

     Except for the Proposed Amendments, this summary does not take into account
or anticipate  any changes in law,  whether by  legislative,  administrative  or
judicial  decision  or  action,  nor  does  it  take  into  account  provincial,
territorial  or foreign  income tax  legislation  or  considerations,  which may
differ from the Canadian federal income tax considerations described herein.

                                       10
<PAGE>

     WHILE THIS SUMMARY IS INTENDED TO ADDRESS ALL  PRINCIPAL  CANADIAN  FEDERAL
INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS, IT IS OF A GENERAL NATURE ONLY AND IS NOT INTENDED TO
BE, NOR  SHOULD IT BE  CONSTRUED  TO BE,  LEGAL,  BUSINESS  OR TAX ADVICE TO ANY
PARTICULAR  SHAREHOLDER.  THEREFORE,  SUCH HOLDERS  SHOULD CONSULT THEIR OWN TAX
ADVISORS WITH RESPECT TO THEIR PARTICULAR  CIRCUMSTANCES.  NO ADVANCE INCOME TAX
RULING HAS BEEN OBTAINED FROM REVENUE CANADA TO CONFIRM  CONSEQUENCES  OF ANY OF
THE TRANSACTIONS DESCRIBED HEREIN.

     For  purposes  of  the  Canadian  Tax  Act,  all  amounts  relating  to the
acquisition,  holding or disposition of ACT Common Stock,  including  dividends,
adjusted  cost base and proceeds of  disposition  must be determined in Canadian
dollars.

     In computing a shareholder's  liability for tax under the Canadian Tax Act,
(a)  any  cash  amount  received  by the  shareholder  in U.S.  dollars  must be
converted into the product obtained by multiplying the U.S. dollar amount by the
noon spot  exchange  rate on such date for U.S.  dollars  expressed  in Canadian
dollars as  reported  by the Bank of Canada  and (b) the amount of any  non-cash
consideration received by the shareholder must be expressed in Canadian dollars,
generally determined at the time such consideration is received.

Shareholders Resident in Canada

     The following portion of the summary is applicable to the shareholders who,
for  purposes of the  Canadian Tax Act, are resident or deemed to be resident in
Canada.

Dividends

     In the case of a shareholder  who is an individual,  dividends  received or
deemed to be received on the  Exchangeable  Shares will be included in computing
the shareholder's  income,  and will be subject to the gross-up and dividend tax
credit rules  normally  applicable  to taxable  dividends  received from taxable
Canadian corporations.

     The Exchangeable Shares will be "taxable preferred shares", "term preferred
shares" and "short-term  preferred shares" for purposes of the Canadian Tax Act.
Accordingly,  ACT Sub will be  subject  to a 66 2/3% tax under  Part VI.1 of the
Canadian  Tax Act on  dividends  paid or deemed  to be paid on the  Exchangeable
Shares. In certain  circumstances,  ACT Sub will be entitled to deductions under
Part I of the  Canadian  Tax Act which will  substantially  offset the impact of
Part VI.1 tax.  Dividends  received or deemed to be received on the Exchangeable
Shares  will not be subject to the 10% tax under Part IV.1 of the  Canadian  Tax
Act applicable to certain corporations.

     If ACT or any  person  with  whom ACT does  not deal at arm's  length  is a
"specified financial  institution" under the Canadian Tax Act at a point in time
that a dividend is paid on an Exchangeable Share, then, subject to the exemption
described  below,  dividends  received or deemed to be received by a shareholder
that is a corporation  will not be deductible  in computing  taxable  income but
will be fully includable in taxable income under Part I of the Canadian Tax Act.
Such  dividend will not be subject to tax under Part IV of the Canadian Tax Act.
A corporation  will  generally be a specified  financial  institution  for these
purposes  if it is a  bank,  a trust  company,  a  credit  union,  an  insurance
corporation or a corporation whose principal business is the lending of money to
persons with whom the  corporation  is dealing at arm's length or the purchasing
of debt  obligations  issued  by such  persons  or a  combination  thereof,  and
corporations controlled by or related to such entities.

     Subject  to  the  foregoing,  in  the  case  of  a  shareholder  that  is a
corporation,  other than a "specified  financial  institution" as defined in the
Canadian  Tax  Act,   dividends  received  or  deemed  to  be  received  on  the
Exchangeable Shares will normally be deductible in computing its taxable income.

     In the case of a  shareholder  that is a specified  financial  institution,
such a dividend  will be  deductible  in  computing  its taxable  income only if
either:

     (a) the specified  financial  institution did not acquire the  Exchangeable
         Shares  in the  ordinary  course  of the  business  carried  on by such
         institution; or

     (b) at the time of the receipt of the dividend by the  specified  financial
         institution,  the Exchangeable  Shares are listed on a prescribed stock
         exchange  in Canada and the  specified  financial  institution,  either
         alone or  together  with  persons  with  whom it does not deal at arm's
         length, does not receive (or is not deemed to receive) dividends in


                                       11
<PAGE>

         respect  of more than 10% of the issued  and  outstanding  Exchangeable
         Shares.  ACT Sub does not expect to list the  Exchangeable  Shares on a
         prescribed stock exchange.

     A shareholder  that is a "private  corporation" (as defined in the Canadian
Tax Act) or any other corporation resident in Canada and controlled or deemed to
be  controlled  by or for the  benefit of an  individual  or a related  group of
individuals  shall be  liable  under  Part IV of the  Canadian  Tax Act to pay a
refundable tax of 33 1/3% on dividends  received or deemed to be received on the
Exchangeable  Shares  to the  extent  that  such  dividends  are  deductible  in
computing the shareholder's taxable income.

Redemption or Exchange of Exchangeable Shares

     On the redemption  (including a retraction) of an Exchangeable Share by ACT
Sub,  the  holder of an  Exchangeable  Share  will be deemed to have  received a
dividend equal to the amount, if any, by which the redemption proceeds (the fair
market value at the time of the  redemption of the ACT Common Stock  received by
the shareholder  from ACT Sub on the redemption plus the amount,  if any, of all
accrued but unpaid  dividends  on the  Exchangeable  Share)  exceeds the paid-up
capital, at that time, of the Exchangeable Share so redeemed.  The amount of any
such deemed dividend will be subject to the tax treatment  accorded to dividends
described  above.  On the redemption,  the holder of an Exchangeable  Share will
also be considered to have disposed of the Exchangeable Share, but the amount of
such deemed dividend will be excluded in computing the shareholder's proceeds of
disposition  for purposes of computing  any capital gain or capital loss arising
on the disposition of the Exchangeable  Share. In the case of a shareholder that
is a corporation,  in some  circumstances the amount of any such deemed dividend
may be treated as proceeds of  disposition  and not as a dividend  under certain
rules contained in the Canadian Tax Act.

     On the exchange of an Exchangeable Share by the holder thereof with ACT for
a share of ACT Common Stock,  including  pursuant to the retraction  call right,
the holder will realize a capital  gain (or a capital  loss) equal to the amount
by which the  proceeds of  disposition  of the  Exchangeable  Share,  net of any
reasonable  costs of disposition,  exceed (or are exceeded by) the adjusted cost
base to the holder of the Exchangeable  Share. For these purposes,  the proceeds
of  disposition  will be the fair market value of a share of ACT Common Stock at
the time of exchange plus the amount of all accrued but unpaid  dividends on the
Exchangeable Share received by the holder as part of the exchange consideration.

     Three-quarters  of any such capital gain (the "taxable  capital gain") will
be  included  in  the   shareholder's   income  for  the  year  of  disposition.
Three-quarters  of any capital loss so realized (the  "allowable  capital loss")
may be  deducted by the holder  against  taxable  capital  gains for the year of
disposition.  Any excess of allowable  capital losses over taxable capital gains
of the  shareholder  for the year of disposition may be carried back up to three
taxation years or forward  indefinitely and deducted against net taxable capital
gains in those other years.

     A   shareholder   that  is   throughout   the  relevant   taxation  year  a
"Canadian-controlled  private  corporation" (as defined in the Canadian Tax Act)
may be liable to pay an additional  refundable  tax of 6 2/3% on its  "aggregate
investment  income"  for the year,  which is  defined  to  include  an amount in
respect  of  taxable  capital  gains  (but not  dividends  or  deemed  dividends
deductible in computing taxable income).

     If the holder of an Exchangeable Share is a corporation,  the amount of any
capital loss arising from a disposition or deemed disposition of an Exchangeable
Share may be reduced by the amount of dividends  received or deemed to have been
received by it on such share or on the Ground  Effects  common  shares or Ground
Effects Class B preference shares previously owned by such holder, to the extent
and under  circumstances  prescribed by the Canadian Tax Act.  Similar rules may
apply where a  corporation  is a member of a partnership  or a beneficiary  of a
trust that owns  Exchangeable  Shares or where a trust or partnership of which a
corporation  is a  beneficiary  or a member  is a member of a  partnership  or a
beneficiary of a trust that owns Exchangeable Shares.

     The cost base of a share of ACT Common  Stock  received on the  retraction,
redemption or exchange of an Exchangeable Share will be equal to the fair market
value of a share of ACT Common Stock at the time of such event.

     Because of the existence of the retraction call right, a holder  exercising
the right of  retraction  in respect of an  Exchangeable  Share  cannot  control
whether such holder will receive a share of ACT Common Stock by way of


                                       12
<PAGE>

redemption  of the  Exchangeable  Share by ACT Sub or by way of  purchase of the
Exchangeable  Share by ACT. As described  above, the Canadian federal income tax
consequences of a redemption differ from those of a purchase.

     In order to ensure a holder of  Exchangeable  Shares will receive  capital
gains treatment rather than dividend treatment,  ACT has convenanted to exercise
its retraction call right under the Voting and Exchange Trust Agreement.

     ACT Common  Stock.  Dividends  on ACT Common  Stock will be included in the
recipient's  income for the  purposes of the Canadian  Tax Act.  Such  dividends
received by an  individual  shareholder  will not be subject to the gross-up and
dividend  tax credit rules in the  Canadian  Tax Act. A  corporation  which is a
shareholder  will include such  dividends in computing  its income and generally
will not be entitled to deduct the amount of such  dividends  in  computing  its
taxable  income.  United States  non-resident  withholding tax on such dividends
will be eligible for foreign tax credit or deduction  treatment where applicable
under the Canadian Tax Act.

     Disposition of ACT Common Stock.  A disposition or deemed  disposition of a
share of ACT Common  Stock by a holder will  generally  result in a capital gain
(or capital loss) equal to the amount by which the proceeds of disposition,  net
of any reasonable costs of disposition, exceed (or are exceeded by) the adjusted
cost base to the holder of the ACT Common Stock.

     A shareholder  that is a  Canadian-controlled  private  corporation  may be
liable to pay an  additional  refundable  tax of 6 2/3% on dividends and taxable
capital gains.

Eligibility for Investment

     Qualified  Investments.  Provided  the ACT  Common  Stock  is  listed  on a
prescribed stock exchange (which currently includes the Nasdaq National Market),
such  securities  will be qualified  investments  under the Canadian Tax Act for
trusts governed by registered  retirement savings plans,  registered  retirement
income funds and deferred  profit  sharing  plans  (collectively,  "Tax Deferred
Plans"). The voting rights and exchange rights will not be qualified investments
under the Canadian Tax Act. However,  as indicated above, ACT Sub is of the view
that the fair market value of these rights is nominal.  The Exchangeable  Shares
will not be qualified investments for Tax Deferred Plans.

     Where at the end of any month a Tax Deferred  Plan holds  property  that is
not a  qualified  investment,  a  penalty  tax is  imposed  by Part  XI.1 of the
Canadian Tax Act.

     Foreign Property.  The ACT Common Stock and the Exchangeable Shares will be
foreign  property  under the  Canadian  Tax Act as will the  voting  rights  and
exchange rights.

     A penalty  tax is  imposed by Part XI of the  Canadian  Tax Act if the cost
amount of a taxpayer's  investment  in foreign  property  exceeds the  statutory
limit.

     Foreign Property Information Reporting. A holder of ACT Common Stock who is
a "specified  Canadian  entity" (as defined in the Tax Proposals) and whose cost
amount for such shares at any time in a year or fiscal period  exceeds  Canadian
$100,000  will be  required  to file an  information  return in  respect of such
shares disclosing the holder's cost amount,  any dividends  received in the year
and any  gains or losses  realized  in the year in  respect  of such  shares.  A
specified Canadian entity means a taxpayer resident in Canada in the year, other
than a  corporation  or a trust exempt from tax under Part I of the Canadian Tax
Act, a non-resident-owned  investment corporation,  a mutual fund corporation, a
mutual fund trust and certain other trusts and partnerships.

Shareholders Not Resident in Canada

     The  following  portion  of the  summary  is  applicable  to holders of the
Exchangeable Shares who, for purposes of the Canadian Tax Act, have not been and
will not be  resident  or deemed to be resident in Canada at any time while they
have held the  Exchangeable  Shares or will hold the ACT Common Stock and in the
case of a non-resident of Canada who carries on an insurance  business in Canada
and  elsewhere,  the  shares are not  effectively  connected  with its  Canadian
insurance business.

     The Exchangeable  Shares will be "taxable Canadian property" (as defined in
the Canadian Tax Act) to non-resident shareholders.


                                       13
<PAGE>

     Generally,  ACT Common  Stock will not be taxable  Canadian  property  to a
non-resident holder,  provided that such shares are listed on a prescribed stock
exchange  (which  currently  includes the Nasdaq National  Market),  the holder,
persons with whom such holder does not deal at arm's  length,  or the holder and
such  persons,  has not owned (or had under  option)  25% or more of the  issued
shares of any class or series  of the  capital  stock of ACT at any time  within
five years preceding the date in question, and certain conditions set out in the
Canadian Tax Act are not met. A capital gain realized on a redemption (including
a  retraction)  of an  Exchangeable  Share  and a  capital  gain  realized  on a
disposition of ACT Common Stock which constitutes taxable Canadian property to a
shareholder will be taxable as discussed above, unless relief is available under
an  applicable  tax  convention,  such as the Tax Treaty.  Such  holders  should
consult  their own tax advisors to determine the tax  consequences  in their own
situation.

     Where a  non-resident  holder  can claim the  benefit of a  tax-treaty  and
exchanges the Exchangeable  Shares for ACT Common Stock, the non-resident holder
may be deemed to have received a dividend  subject to withholding tax (discussed
below) and  realized a capital  gain or loss  (generally  tax-free as  discussed
above).

     Unless the non-resident holder meets the requirements and complies with the
procedures contained in Division D of Part I of the Canadian Tax Act relating to
the  payment of tax,  ACT Sub or ACT,  as the case may be,  will be  required to
withhold a portion of the  Exchangeable  Shares or ACT  Common  Stock  otherwise
receivable by the holder.
     Dividends  paid on the  Exchangeable  Shares are  subject  to  non-resident
withholding  tax under the  Canadian Tax Act at the rate of 25%,  although  such
rate may be reduced under the provisions of an applicable income tax treaty. For
example,  under the Tax Treaty,  the rate is generally reduced to 15% in respect
of dividends paid to a person who is the beneficial owner and who is resident in
the United States for purposes of the Tax Treaty.

     A holder whose  Exchangeable  Shares are redeemed  (either  under ACT Sub's
redemption right or pursuant to the holder's  retraction  rights) will be deemed
to receive a dividend as described above,  which deemed dividend will be subject
to withholding tax as described in the preceding paragraph.

                    UNITED STATES FEDERAL TAX CONSIDERATIONS

     The following  summary of the principal  United States  federal  income tax
considerations generally applicable to a United States Holder (as defined below)
of Exchangeable Shares arising from and relating to the receipt and ownership of
ACT Common Stock  represents  the opinion of Bryan Cave LLP, who acted as United
States  counsel  to ACT in  connection  with the  Reorganization,  insofar as it
relates to matters of United States federal income tax law and legal conclusions
with respect thereto.

     This  summary is limited to United  States  Holders  who hold  Exchangeable
Shares as capital assets.  As used herein, a United States Holder is a holder of
Exchangeable  Shares  who  is  a  "United  States  person,"  including:  (a)  an
individual  who is a citizen or resident of the United States for federal income
tax purposes,  (b) a corporation or partnership created or organized in or under
the laws of the United States, or of any political  subdivision  thereof, (c) an
estate,  the income of which is subject to United States federal income taxation
regardless  of source,  or (d) any trust if a court within the United  States is
able to exercise primary  supervision over the  administration  of the trust and
one or more United  States  persons have  authority  to control all  substantial
decisions  of the trust.  This  summary  does not  address all aspects of United
States  federal  income  taxation that may be  applicable  to particular  United
States holders subject to special provisions of United States federal income tax
law,  such  as  tax-exempt  organizations,   financial  institutions,  insurance
companies, broker-dealers, persons having a "functional currency" other than the
United  States  dollar,  holders  who  hold  Exchangeable  Shares  as  part of a
straddle,  wash sale, hedging or conversion transaction (other than by virtue of
their  participation in an exchange of Exchangeable  Shares for ACT Common Stock
as  contemplated  herein) and holders who  acquired  their  Exchangeable  Shares
through the exercise of employee stock options or otherwise as compensation  for
services.

     This summary is based on United States  federal income tax law in effect as
of the  date  of this  Prospectus.  No  statutory,  judicial  or  administrative
authority  exists that directly  addresses  certain of the United States federal
income tax  consequences  of the  ownership  of  instruments  comparable  to the
Exchangeable  Shares.  Consequently,  some aspects of the United States  federal
income tax  treatment of the exchange of  Exchangeable  Shares for shares of ACT
Common  Stock are not certain.  No advance  income tax ruling has been sought or
obtained from the United States Internal  Revenue Service (the "IRS")  regarding
the tax consequences of the transactions described herein.

                                       14
<PAGE>

     This summary does not address  aspects of United States taxation other than
United States federal income taxation under the United States  Internal  Revenue
Code of 1986, as amended (the "U.S.  Code"),  nor does it address all aspects of
United  States  federal  income  taxation that may be applicable to a particular
United  States  Holder  in  light  of  the  United  States  Holder's  particular
circumstances.  In addition,  this  summary  does not address the United  States
state or local tax  consequences or the foreign tax  consequences of the receipt
and ownership of ACT Common Stock.

     UNITED STATES  HOLDERS ARE URGED TO CONSULT THEIR TAX ADVISORS WITH RESPECT
TO THE UNITED STATES FEDERAL,  STATE AND LOCAL TAX  CONSEQUENCES AND THE FOREIGN
TAX CONSEQUENCES OF THE RECEIPT AND OWNERSHIP OF ACT COMMON STOCK.

     Exchange of Exchangeable Shares. A United States Holder that exercises such
holder's  right to  exchange  its  Exchangeable  Shares for shares of ACT Common
Stock generally,  subject to the discussion below, should recognize gain or loss
on such exchange, assuming such exchange does not constitute a reorganization.

     Such gain or loss will be equal to the  difference  between the fair market
value of the  shares of ACT  Common  Stock at the time of the  exchange  and the
United States Holder's tax basis in the  Exchangeable  Shares  surrendered.  The
gain or loss generally will be capital gain or loss,  except that,  with respect
to any declared but unpaid dividends on the Exchangeable Shares, ordinary income
may be recognized.  Noncorporate taxpayers generally are taxed at a maximum rate
of 20 percent on net capital gains attributable to gains realized on the sale of
property held for more than eighteen  months and a maximum rate of 28 percent of
net capital gains attributable to gain realized on the sale of property held for
more than one year and eighteen months or less. Pending legislation, if enacted,
will eliminate the eighteen month holding period,  thereby applying the 20% rate
to the  taxable  sale of  property  held for more than one year,  effective  for
taxable years ending after December 31, 1997. A United States Holder  generally,
subject  to the  discussion  below,  will have a tax basis in the  shares of ACT
Common Stock  received equal to the fair market value of such shares at the time
of the exchange.  The holding period for such shares  generally,  subject to the
discussion  below,  will  begin on the day  after  the  exchange.  The IRS could
assert,  however,  that  the  Exchangeable  Shares  and  certain  of the  rights
associated  therewith  constitute  "offsetting  positions"  for  purposes of the
straddle  rules set forth in Section 1092 of the U.S.  Code.  In such case,  the
holding  period of the  Exchangeable  Shares would not increase  while held by a
United States Holder.

     It is also possible that the exchange of Exchangeable  Shares for shares of
ACT Common Stock could be treated as a  reorganization  in which no gain or loss
is recognized if the Exchangeable Shares were treated as stock of ACT for United
States federal income tax purposes. Given the lack of authority on the treatment
of shares  having  features and  attendant  rights  similar to the  Exchangeable
Shares,  it is  uncertain  whether  the  Exchangeable  Shares will be treated as
shares of ACT Common Stock for this purpose. Even if the Exchangeable Shares are
not treated as shares of ACT Common Stock,  an exchange of  Exchangeable  Shares
for ACT Common Stock that otherwise would be taxable may be  characterized  as a
tax-free exchange depending upon facts and circumstances existing at the time of
the exchange, which cannot be accurately predicted as of the date hereof.

     If the exchange of Exchangeable  Shares for ACT Common Stock did qualify as
a tax-free  exchange,  a United  States  holder's tax basis in the shares of ACT
Common  Stock  received  would  be  equal  to such  holder's  tax  basis  in the
Exchangeable Shares exchanged therefor.  The holding period of the shares of ACT
Common Stock  received by such United  States  Holder would  include the holding
period of the Exchangeable Shares exchanged therefor.

     For  United  States  federal  income tax  purposes,  gain  realized  on the
exchange of Exchangeable Shares for shares of ACT Common Stock generally will be
treated as United  States source gain,  except that,  under the terms of the Tax
Treaty,  such gain may be treated as sourced in Canada. Any Canadian tax imposed
on the  exchange  may be available as a credit  against  United  States  federal
income taxes, subject to applicable limitations.  A United States Holder that is
ineligible for a foreign tax credit with respect to any Canadian tax paid may be
entitled to a deduction therefor in computing United States taxable income.

     Passive  Foreign  Investment  Company   Considerations.   ACT  Sub  may  be
classified as a passive foreign  investment  company  ("PFIC") for United States
federal  income tax  purposes  for any taxable  year if either (a) 75 percent or
more of its gross  income was  passive  income  (as  defined  for United  States
federal income tax purposes) or (b) on average for such taxable year, 50 percent


                                       15
<PAGE>

or more of its assets (as determined in accordance  with Section  1297(f) of the
U.S.  Code)  produced or were held for the  production  of passive  income.  For
purposes of  applying  the  foregoing  tests,  the assets and gross  income with
respect to which ACT Sub owns at least 25  percent of the stock (by value)  will
be attributed to ACT Sub.

     There can be no assurance with respect to the  classification of ACT Sub as
a PFIC.  Moreover,  in connection with the transactions  contemplated herein, no
opinion will be rendered  regarding ACT Sub's status as a PFIC.  Currently,  ACT
Sub and ACT  intend to  endeavor  to cause ACT Sub to avoid  PFIC  status in the
future,  although  there can be no assurance  that they will be able to do so or
that their  intent  will not  change.  For each year,  ACT Sub will  endeavor to
notify United States Holders of Exchangeable  Shares if it believes that ACT Sub
was a PFIC for that taxable year.

     If ACT Sub were to be classified as a PFIC,  the  consequences  to a United
States Holder will depend in part on whether the United States Holder has made a
"Mark-to-Market  Election" or a "QEF  Election"  with respect to ACT Sub. If ACT
Sub is a PFIC  during a United  States  Holder's  holding  period and the United
States Holder does not make a  Mark-to-Market  Election or a QEF  Election,  the
United States Holder  generally  will be required to pay a special United States
tax, in lieu of the U.S. tax that would  otherwise  apply, if such United States
Holder (a) realizes a gain upon the sale or exchange of  Exchangeable  Shares or
(b) receives an "excess  distribution" from ACT Sub on the Exchangeable  Shares.
If a United States Holder makes a QEF Election or  Mark-to-Market  Election,  it
generally  will be required to include  amounts in income,  based upon ACT Sub's
income or the value of the  Exchangeable  Shares,  even if ACT Sub does not make
actual distributions to holders of Exchangeable Shares.

     The foregoing summary of the possible  application of the PFIC rules to ACT
Sub and the United States  Holders of  Exchangeable  Shares is only a summary of
certain  material  aspects of those  rules.  Because the United  States  federal
income tax  consequences  to United States Holders under the PFIC provisions are
significant  and  complex,  United  States  Holders  are urged to discuss  those
consequences with their tax advisors.

Shareholders Not Resident in or Citizens of the United States.

     The following  summary is applicable to holders  Exchangeable  Shares or of
ACT  Common  Stock  that  are not  United  States  Holders  ("non-United  States
Holders").  Dividends received by a non-United States Holder with respect to ACT
Common Stock that are not effectively  connected with the conduct by such holder
of a trade or business in the United States  generally will be subject to United
States withholding tax at a rate of 30 percent,  which rate may be reduced by an
applicable  income  tax  treaty in effect  between  the  United  States  and the
non-United   States  Holder's  country  of  residence   (currently  15  percent,
generally, on dividends paid to residents of Canada under the Tax Treaty).

     Under current  United States  Treasury  regulations,  dividends  paid to an
address in a country  outside  the United  States are  presumed  to be paid to a
resident of such country for purposes of the withholding discussed above (unless
the payor has knowledge to the contrary) and under the current interpretation of
United  States   Treasury   Regulations,   for  purposes  of   determining   the
applicability of a tax treaty rate (the "address rule"). Thus, non-United States
Holders who receive  dividends at addresses  outside the United States generally
are not yet  required to file tax forms to obtain the  benefit of an  applicable
treaty rate. Under recently issued Treasury regulations scheduled to take effect
January  1, 2000 (the  "Final  Regulations"),  the  address  rule will no longer
apply,  and a  non-United  States  Holder  who seeks to claim the  benefit of an
applicable  treaty rate would be required to satisfy certain  certification  and
other  requirements.  The Final Regulations also provide special rules regarding
whether,  for purposes of determining the applicability of an income tax treaty,
dividends paid to a non-United States Holder that is an entity should be treated
as being paid to the entity itself or to the persons holding an interest in that
entity.

     Subject to the discussion  below, a non-United States Holder generally will
not be subject to United States federal  income tax on gain (if any)  recognized
on the exchange of the  Exchangeable  Shares for ACT Common Stock or on the sale
or exchange of shares of ACT Common Stock,  unless (a) such gain is attributable
to an office or fixed  place of business  and is  effectively  connected  with a
trade or business of the non-United  States Holder in the United States or, if a
tax treaty applies, is attributable to a permanent  establishment  maintained by
the  non-United  States Holder in the United States,  (b) the non-United  States
Holder is an individual who holds the  Exchangeable  Shares or ACT Common Stock,
as the case may be, as capital  assets  and is present in the United  States for
183  days  or  more  in the  taxable  year of  disposition,  and  certain  other
conditions are satisfied,  or (c) the non-United States Holder is subject to tax
pursuant to the U.S. Code provisions applicable to certain United States


                                       16
<PAGE>

expatriates. If an individual non-United States Holder falls under clause (a) or
(c) above,  he or she will be taxed on his or her net gain derived from the sale
under  regular  United  States  federal  income  tax  rates.  If the  individual
non-United States Holder falls under clause (b) above, he or she will be subject
to a flat 30 percent tax on the gain derived from the sale,  which may be offset
by United States source capital losses  (notwithstanding the fact that he or she
is not considered a resident of the United States).

     United  States Real Property  Holding  Corporation.  The  discussion of the
United States  taxation of non-United  States Holders  assumes that ACT is at no
time a United States real  property  holding  corporation  within the meaning of
Section  897(c) of the U.S.  Code.  Under present law, ACT would not be a United
States real property holding corporation so long as (a) the fair market value of
its United States real property interests is less than (b) 50 percent of the sum
of the fair market  value of its United  States  real  property  interests,  its
interests in real property  located  outside the United  States,  plus its other
assets that are used or held for use in a trade or business.  ACT believes  that
it is not a United States real property holding  corporation and does not expect
to become such a corporation.

     Federal Estate Tax. ACT Common Stock (or a previously  triggered obligation
of ACT or any of its  subsidiaries to deliver ACT Common Stock along with unpaid
dividends)  held by a  non-United  States  Holder  at the time of death  will be
included in such  holder's  gross estate for United  States  federal  estate tax
purposes, unless an applicable estate tax treaty provides otherwise.

Information Reporting and Backup Withholding Tax

     Dividends paid to non-United  States Holders outside the United States that
are subject to the  withholding  described  above  generally will be exempt from
United States  backup  withholding  (which  generally is imposed at a rate of 31
percent on certain payments to persons that fail to furnish certain  information
under United States  information  reporting  requirements),  but ACT must report
annually to the United States  Internal  Revenue  Service and to each non-United
States  Holder the amount of dividends  paid to such holder and the tax withheld
from such dividend  payments,  regardless of whether  withholding  was required.
Backup withholding and information  reporting generally will apply,  however, to
dividends paid on shares of ACT Common Stock to a non-United States Holder at an
address in the United States,  if such holder fails to establish an exemption or
to provide certain other information to the payor.

     Generally,  ACT may rely on the non-United  States Holder's address outside
the United States  (absent  knowledge to the contrary) in  determining  that the
withholding  tax discussed  above  applies,  and  consequently,  that the backup
withholding provisions do not apply.

     Under the currently effective Treasury Regulations ("Current Regulations"),
the payment of the  proceeds  of the sale of ACT Common  Stock to or through the
United  States office of a broker will be subject to  information  reporting and
possible  backup  withholding at a rate of 31 percent unless the owner certifies
its non-United States status under penalties of perjury or otherwise establishes
an exemption.  The payment of the proceeds of the sale of ACT Common Stock to or
through the foreign  office of a broker  generally will not be subject to backup
withholding.  In the case of the payment of proceeds from the disposition of ACT
Common Stock through a foreign office of a broker that is a United States person
or a "United States related person," the Current Regulations require information
reporting on the payment unless the broker has documentary evidence in its files
that the  owner is a  non-United  States  person  and the  broker  has no actual
knowledge to the contrary or the holder otherwise establishes an exemption.  For
this purpose,  a "United  States  related  person" is (a) a "controlled  foreign
corporation"  for United  States  federal  income tax  purposes or (b) a foreign
person 50  percent  or more of whose  gross  income  for a  specified  period is
derived from  activities  that are  effectively  connected with the conduct of a
United States trade or business.

     Under the Treasury  Regulations  effective for payments made after December
31,  1999,  the  payment  of  dividends  or the  payment  of  proceeds  from the
disposition of ACT Common Stock to a non-United  States Holder may be subject to
information  reporting and backup  withholding  unless such recipient  satisfies
applicable certification requirements or otherwise establishes an exemption. Any
amounts  withheld  under  the  backup  withholding  rules  from a  payment  to a
non-United  States  Holder  will be allowed as a refund or credit  against  such
non-United  States Holder's United States federal income tax,  provided that the
required information is furnished to the IRS.


                                       17
<PAGE>

                                  LEGAL MATTERS

     Certain legal  matters with respect to the ACT Common Stock offered  hereby
will be passed upon for the Company by Bryan Cave LLP, St. Louis, Missouri.


                                     EXPERTS

     The  consolidated  financial  statements  of the Company as of December 31,
1997 and 1996, and for each of the years in the three-year period ended December
31, 1997, have been audited by Rubin,  Brown,  Gornstein & Co. LLP,  independent
public accountants,  as indicated in their report with respect thereto,  and are
included in the  Company's  Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
December 31, 1997, and are  incorporated  herein by reference,  in reliance upon
the authority of such firm as experts in accounting  and auditing in giving said
reports.




                                       18
<PAGE>

                                                                       Exhibit A

                              NOTICE OF RETRACTION

TO: ACT

This  notice is given  pursuant  to  Article  5 of the  provisions  (the  "Share
Provisions")  attaching to the share(s)  represented by this certificate and all
capitalized  words and  expressions  used in this notice that are defined in the
Share  Provisions  have the meanings  ascribed to such words and  expressions in
such Share Provisions.

The undersigned  hereby notifies the Corporation that, subject to the Retraction
Call Right referred to below,  the  undersigned  desires to have the Corporation
redeem in accordance with Article 5 of the Share Provisions:

           |_|      all shares(s) represented by this certificate, or

           |_|      ________________ shares only.

The  undersigned  acknowledges  the Retraction Call Right of ACT to purchase all
but not less than all the Retracted  Shares from the  undersigned  and that this
notice  shall be deemed  to be an  irrevocable  offer  (subject  as  hereinafter
provided) by the  undersigned to sell the Retracted  Shares to ACT in accordance
with the Retraction  Call Right on the Retraction  Date for the Retraction  Call
Purchase  Price  and on the  other  terms  and  conditions  set out in the  Call
Agreement.  If ACT  determines not to exercise the  Retraction  Call Right,  the
Corporation  will notify the  undersigned of such fact as soon as possible.  The
offer  contained in this notice may be revoked by the  undersigned  by a further
notice in writing addressed to the Corporation and ACT specifically  referencing
this Notice of Retraction and delivered to the  Corporation at any time prior to
the Retraction Date.

The  undersigned  acknowledges  that if, as a result of solvency  provisions  of
applicable  law or  otherwise,  the  Corporation  fails to redeem all  Retracted
Shares,  the undersigned will be deemed to have exercised the Exchange Right (as
defined in the Voting and Exchange Trust  Agreement) so as to require Applied to
purchase the unredeemed Retracted Shares.

The undersigned  hereby  represents and warrants to the Corporation and ACT that
the  undersigned  has good title to, and owns, the share(s)  represented by this
certificate  to be acquired by the  Corporation or ACT, as the case may be, free
and clear of all Liens.


- -------------------   ------------------------------   -------------------------
     (Date)             (Signature of Shareholder)     (Guarantee of Signature)


NOTE:    This panel must be completed and this  certificate,  together with such
         additional documents as the Corporation may require,  must be deposited
         with the  Corporation  at its  principal  transfer  office in  Windsor,
         Ontario.  The  securities  resulting from the retraction or purchase of
         the Retracted Shares will be issued and registered in, and made payable
         to,  respectively,  the name of the  shareholder  as it  appears on the
         register of the  Corporation  and the  securities  resulting  from such
         retraction  or  purchase  will  be  delivered  to such  shareholder  as
         indicated above,  unless the form appearing  immediately  below is duly
         completed.



- ----------------------------------------------     -----------------------------
 Name of Person in Whose Name Securities or                    Date
 Cheque(s) Are To Be Registered, Issued or
         Delivered (please print)


- ----------------------------------------------     -----------------------------
           Street Address or P.O. Box                 Signature of Shareholder



- ----------------------------------------------     -----------------------------
                 City-Province                        Signature Guaranteed by

NOTE:    If the  notice  of  retraction  is for less  than  all of the  share(s)
         represented  by  this  certificate,   a  certificate  representing  the
         remaining  shares of the  Corporation  will be issued and registered in
         the  name of the  shareholder  as it  appears  on the  register  of the
         Corporation,  unless the Share Transfer Power on the share  certificate
         is duly completed in respect of such shares.



                                       19
<PAGE>

                                     PART II

                     INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

Item 14.  Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.

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

         SEC Registration Fee ....................................    $    815
         Accounting Fees and Expenses.............................       2,500 *
         Legal Fees and Expenses..................................      10,000 *
         Miscellaneous Expenses...................................       1,685 *
                                                                       ------- 

                     Total .......................................    $ 15,000 *
                                                                       =======
- -------------
*     Estimated
**    The Selling  Shareholders  will pay any sales  commissions or underwriting
      discount  and  fees  incurred  in  connection  with  the  sale  of  shares
      registered hereunder.

Item 15.  Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

         Sections 351.355(1) and (2) of The General and Business Corporation Law
of the State of Missouri provide that a corporation may indemnify any person who
was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending
or completed action,  suit or proceeding by reason of the fact that he is or was
a director,  officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving
at the request of the corporation as a director,  officer,  employee or agent of
another  corporation,  partnership,  joint venture,  trust or other  enterprise,
against expenses,  judgments,  fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and
reasonably incurred by him in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if
he acted in good faith and in a manner he  reasonably  believed  to be in or not
opposed  to the best  interests  of the  corporation  and,  with  respect to any
criminal  action or proceeding,  had no reasonable  cause to believe his conduct
was  unlawful,  except that, in the case of an action or suit by or in the right
of the  corporation,  the  corporation  may not indemnify  such persons  against
judgments and fines and no person shall be indemnified as to any claim, issue or
matter as to which  such  person  shall  have  been  adjudged  to be liable  for
negligence  or  misconduct in the  performance  of his duty to the  corporation,
unless  and only to the  extent  that the court in which the  action or suit was
brought  determines upon  application  that such person is fairly and reasonably
entitled to indemnity for proper expenses.  Section 351.355(3) provides that, to
the extent that a director,  officer,  employee or agent of the  corporation has
been  successful  in the defense of any such action,  suit or  proceeding or any
claim,  issue or  matter  therein,  he shall be  indemnified  against  expenses,
including  attorneys' fees,  actually and reasonably incurred in connection with
such action, suit or proceeding.  Section 351.355(7) provides that a corporation
may  provide  additional  indemnification  to  any  person  indemnifiable  under
subsection (1) or (2), provided such additional indemnification is authorized by
the  corporation's  articles of  incorporation  or an amendment  thereto or by a
shareholder-approved  bylaw or  agreement,  and provided  further that no person
shall thereby be indemnified  against conduct which was finally adjudged to have
been knowingly fraudulent, deliberately dishonest or willful misconduct or which
involved an accounting  for profits  pursuant to Section 16(b) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934.

         The bylaws of the Company provide that the Company shall indemnify,  to
the full extent permitted under Missouri law, any director, officer, employee or
agent of the Company who has served as a director, officer, employee or agent of
the Company or, at the  Company's  request,  has served as a director,  officer,
employee or agent of another corporation,  partnership,  joint venture, trust or
other enterprise.

         Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities
Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors,  officers or persons  controlling the
Company pursuant to such provisions, the Company has been informed that in the

<PAGE>

opinion of the  Securities  and  Exchange  Commission  such  indemnification  is
against public policy as expressed in such Act and is therefore unenforceable.

Item 16.  Exhibits.

         See Exhibit Index.

Item 17.  Undertakings.

         (a) The undersigned small business issuer hereby undertakes:

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

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

              (ii) To  reflect  in the  prospectus  any facts or events  arising
         after the effective  date of this  registration  statement (or the most
         recent post-effective  amendment hereof) which,  individually or in the
         aggregate,  represent a fundamental change in the information set forth
         in this Registration Statement;

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

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

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

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

         (b)  Insofar  as  indemnification  for  liabilities  arising  under the
Securities  Act of 1933 (the "Act") may be permitted to directors,  officers and
controlling  persons of the small  business  issuer  pursuant  to the  foregoing
provisions, or otherwise, the small business issuer has been advised that in the
opinion of the  Securities  and  Exchange  Commission  such  indemnification  is
against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore,  unenforceable.
In the event that a claim for  indemnification  against such liabilities  (other
than the payment by the small business issuer of expenses  incurred or paid by a
director,  officer or  controlling  person of the  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
small business issuer will,  unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has
been  settled  by  controlling  precedent,  submit  to a  court  of  appropriate
jurisdiction the question whether such  indemnification  by it is against public
policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of
such issue.


<PAGE>

                                   SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the  requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant
certifies  that it has  reasonable  grounds to believe  that it meets all of the
requirements  for  filing  on Form S-3 and has  duly  caused  this  Registration
Statement  to be  signed  on its  behalf  by  the  undersigned,  thereunto  duly
authorized, in the City of Palm Beach, State of Florida, on September 28, 1998.

                             APPLIED CELLULAR TECHNOLOGY, INC.

                             By:           /S/ DAVID A. LOPPERT
                                 -----------------------------------------------
                                 David A. Loppert, Vice President, Treasurer and
                                             Chief Financial Officer


                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

     Each person whose signature  appears below hereby  constitutes and appoints
Garrett A. Sullivan and David A.  Loppert,  and each of them (with full power to
each of them to act alone),  the true and lawful  attorney in fact and agent for
the  undersigned,  to act on  behalf  of and in the name of the  undersigned  in
connection with this Registration Statement, including the authority to sign any
amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement,
and to file the same,  with exhibits and any and all other  documents filed with
respect  thereto,  with the  Securities  and Exchange  Commission  (or any other
governmental  or  regulatory  authority),  and each  such  person  ratifies  and
confirms all that said  attorneys in fact and agents may lawfully do or cause to
be done by virtue hereof.

     Pursuant  to  the   requirements  of  the  Securities  Act  of  1933,  this
Registration  Statement  has  been  signed  by  the  following  persons  in  the
capacities and on the dates indicated.


 Signature                        Title                        Date
 ---------                        -----                        ----
                         
                          Chairman of the Board of Directors,
                             Chief Executive Officer and
 /S/ RICHARD J. SULLIVAN     Secretary(Principal Executive
- -------------------------    Officer)                         September 28, 1998
 (Richard J. Sullivan)   
                         
                           President and Director (Principal
 /S/ GARRETT A. SULLIVAN   Operating Officer)                 September 28, 1998
- -------------------------
 (Garrett A. Sullivan)   
                         
                         
                           Vice President, Treasurer and Chief
                             Financial Officer (Principal
  /S/ DAVID A. LOPPERT       Accounting Officer)             September 28, 1998
- -------------------------
  ( David A. Loppert)    
                         
                         
                         
  /S/ ANGELA M. SULLIVAN   Director                          September 28, 1998
- -------------------------
  (Angela M. Sullivan)   
                         
                         
  /S/ DANIEL E. PENNI      Director                          September 28, 1998
- -------------------------
   (Daniel E. Penni.)    
                         
                         
  /S/ARTHUR F. NOTERMAN    Director                          September 28, 1998
- -------------------------
  (Arthur F. Noterman)   
                         
  /S/CONSTANCE K. WEAVER   Director
- -------------------------
  (Constance K. Weaver)                                      September 28, 1998
                         


<PAGE>



                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit
Number                      Description

     4.1  Amended  and  Restated   Articles  of  Incorporation  of  the  Company
          (incorporated  herein by  reference  to Exhibit  4.1 to the  Company's
          Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-37713) filed with the
          Commission on November 19, 1997)

     4.2  Amendment  of  Restated  Articles  of  Incorporation  of  the  Company
          (incorporated  herein by  reference  to Exhibit  4.2 to the  Company's
          Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-59523) filed with the
          Commission on July 21, 1998)

     4.3  Resolution of the Board of Directors of the Company  setting forth the
          terms of the Special Voting Preferred Stock*

     4.4  Amended  and  Restated  Bylaws of the  Company  dated  March 31,  1998
          (incorporated  herein by  reference  to Exhibit  4.1 to the  Company's
          Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-51067) filed with the
          Commission on April 27, 1998)

     5.1  Opinion of Bryan Cave LLP regarding the validity of the Common Stock*

     8.1  Opinion of counsel regarding Canadian tax matters*

     8.2  Opinion of Bryan Cave LLP regarding tax matters*

     23.1 Consent of Rubin, Brown, Gornstein & Co. LLP*

     23.2 Consent of Bryan Cave LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1)

     24.1 Power of Attorney (included in Signature Page)*

     99.1 Form of Exchangeable Share Provisions*

     99.2 Form of  Reorganization  Agreement among Applied Cellular  Technology,
          Inc., ACT-GFX Canada, Inc., Drummer Enterprises Ltd., Morstar Holdings
          Ltd., Scozul Enterprises Ltd, James D. Scott and Ground Effects Ltd.*

     99.3 Form of Voting and Exchange  Trust  Agreement  among Applied  Cellular
          Technology,  Inc.,  ACT-GFX Canada,  Inc.,  Drummer  Enterprises Ltd.,
          Morstar  Holdings  Ltd.,  Scozul  Enterprises  Ltd, and Montreal Trust
          Company of Canada.*

     99.4 Form of Support  Agreement between Applied Cellular  Technology,  Inc.
          and ACT-GFX Canada, Inc.*

     99.5 Form  of Call  Agreement  among  Applied  Cellular  Technology,  Inc.,
          ACT-GFX Canada, Inc., Drummer Enterprises Ltd., Morstar Holdings Ltd.,
          Scozul Enterprises Ltd, and James D. Scott.*

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

* To be filed by amendment


© 2022 IncJournal is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission