AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON DECEMBER 14, 1998
                                                     REGISTRATION NO. 333-
 
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                      SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                            WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
 
                               ----------------
 
                                   FORM S-3
 
                            REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                     UNDER
                          THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                                  CHIREX INC.
            (EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)
 
                               ----------------
 


                                             
                   DELAWARE
 (STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION OF INCORPORATION                 04-3296309
               OR ORGANIZATION)                  (I.R.S. EMPLOYER IDENTIFICATION NUMBER)

                        300 ATLANTIC STREET, SUITE 402
                          STAMFORD, CONNECTICUT 06901
                                 203-351-2300
  (ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, AND TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE, OF
                   REGISTRANT'S PRINCIPAL EXECUTION OFFICES)
 
                              BETH P. HECHT, ESQ.
                 VICE PRESIDENT, SECRETARY AND GENERAL COUNSEL
                                  CHIREX INC.
                        300 ATLANTIC STREET, SUITE 402
                          STAMFORD, CONNECTICUT 06901
                                 203-351-2300
           (NAME, ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, AND TELEPHONE NUMBER,
                  INCLUDING AREA CODE, OF AGENT FOR SERVICE)
 
                                   COPY TO:
                           KRIS F. HEINZELMAN, ESQ.
                            CRAVATH, SWAINE & MOORE
                                WORLDWIDE PLAZA
                               825 EIGHTH AVENUE
                           NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10019
 
  APPROXIMATE DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF PROPOSED SALE TO THE PUBLIC: From time
to time after the effective date of this Registration Statement.
  If the only securities being registered on this Form are to be 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]
 
                        CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
 
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                                                           PROPOSED MAXIMUM
  TITLE OF EACH CLASS                    PROPOSED MAXIMUM     AGGREGATE
    OF SECURITIES TO     AMOUNT TO BE        OFFERING          OFFERING         AMOUNT OF
     BE REGISTERED        REGISTERED     PRICE PER UNIT(1)     PRICE(2)      REGISTRATION FEE
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Debt Securities(4) ....
Preferred Stock, par
 value
 $.01 per share (5)(6)
 ......................
Depositary Shares(6)...       (3)               (3)               (3)               (3)
Common Stock, par value
 $.01 per share(7).....
Warrants(8)............
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Total................... $100,000,000(9)       100%          $100,000,000(9)     $27,800

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(1) The proposed maximum offering price per unit will be determined from time
    to time by the registrant in connection with the issuance by the
    registrant of the securities registered hereunder.
(2) The proposed maximum aggregate offering price has been estimated solely
    for the purpose of calculating the registration fee pursuant to Rule
    457(o) under the Securities Act of 1933.
(3) Not applicable pursuant to General Instructions II.D. of Form S-3.
                                             (footnotes continued on next page)
                               ----------------
 
  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 OR UNTIL THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT SHALL
BECOME EFFECTIVE ON SUCH DATE AS THE COMMISSION, ACTING PURSUANT TO SAID
SECTION 8(A), MAY DETERMINE.
 
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(continued from previous page)
 
(4) Subject to note (9) below, there is being registered hereunder an
    indeterminate principal amount of Debt Securities as may be sold, from
    time to time, by the registrant. If any Debt Securities are issued at an
    original issue discount, then the offering price shall be in such greater
    principal amount as shall result in an aggregate initial offering price
    not to exceed $100,000,000 less the dollar amount of any securities
    previously issued hereunder.
(5) Subject to note (9) below, there is being registered hereunder an
    indeterminate number of shares of Preferred Stock as may be sold, from
    time to time, by the registrant. There are also being registered hereunder
    an indeterminate number of shares of Preferred Stock as shall be issuable
    upon the exercise of certain associated Rights (as defined) to purchase
    fractional interests in shares of Preferred Stock. Until the occurrence of
    certain prescribed events, none of which has occurred, the Rights are not
    exercisable.
(6) Subject to note (9) below, there is being registered hereunder an
    indeterminate number of Depositary Shares (to be evidenced by Depositary
    Receipts issued pursuant to a Deposit Agreement) as may be sold, from time
    to time, by the registrant. In the event the registrant elects to offer
    fractional interests in shares of Preferred Stock registered hereunder,
    Depositary Receipts will be distributed to those persons purchasing such
    fractional interests and the shares of Preferred Stock will be issued to
    the depositary under the Deposit Agreement.
(7) Subject to note (9) below, there is being registered hereunder an
    indeterminate number of shares of Common Stock as may be sold, from time
    to time, by the registrant. There are also being registered hereunder (i)
    an indeterminate number of shares of Common Stock as may be issuable upon
    conversion or redemption of Preferred Stock or Debt Securities registered
    hereunder and (ii) the Rights referred to in note (5) above. Until the
    occurrence of certain prescribed events, none of which has occurred, the
    Rights are evidenced by the certificates representing the Common Stock and
    will be transferred along with and only with the Common Stock. After the
    occurrence of certain prescribed events, none of which has occurred, the
    Rights will be evidenced by separate certificates.
(8) Subject to note (9) below, there is being registered hereunder an
    indeterminate amount and number of Warrants, (representing rights to
    purchase Debt Securities, Preferred Stock, or Common Stock registered
    hereunder.) as may be sold, from time to time, by the registrant.
(9) In no event will the aggregate initial offering price of all securities
    issued from time to time pursuant to this Registration Statement exceed
    $100,000,000 or the equivalent thereof in one or more foreign currencies,
    foreign currency units or composite currencies. The securities registered
    hereunder may be sold separately or as units with other securities
    registered hereunder.

 
PROSPECTUS       SUBJECT TO COMPLETION DATED DECEMBER 14, 1998
 
                                  CHIREX INC.
 
                                DEBT SECURITIES,
                                PREFERRED STOCK,
                               DEPOSITARY SHARES,
                                    WARRANTS
                                AND COMMON STOCK
 
  From time to time, we may sell any of the following securities:
 
 . DEBT SECURITIES which may be
 
  --senior or subordinated in priority of payment
 
  --convertible or exchangeable into other of our securities or the
  securities of another issuer
 
 . PREFERRED STOCK which may be convertible into our common stock or
   exchangeable for our debt securities
 
 . DEPOSITARY SHARES which represent a fractional share of our preferred stock
 
 . WARRANTS which would allow a buyer to purchase our debt securities, preferred
   stock or common stock
 
 . COMMON STOCK
 
  When we decide to sell a particular series of securities, we will prepare a
Prospectus Supplement describing such securities offering and the particular
terms of the securities. You should read this Prospectus and any Prospectus
Supplement carefully.
 
  Our common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market's National Market under
the trading symbol "CHRX".
 
  This investment involves risks. See the Risk Factors section beginning on
page 1.
 
  NEITHER THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION NOR ANY STATE SECURITIES
COMMISSION HAS APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED THE SECURITIES TO BE ISSUED UNDER THIS
PROSPECTUS OR DETERMINED IF THIS PROSPECTUS IS ACCURATE OR ADEQUATE. ANY
REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
 
                               ----------------
 
                   The date of this Prospectus is  . , 1998.

 
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
 


                                                                            PAGE
                                                                            ----
                                                                         
About This Prospectus......................................................   i
Where You Can Find More Information........................................  ii
Disclosure Regarding Forward-Looking Statements............................  ii
The Company................................................................   1
Risk Factors...............................................................   1
Use of Proceeds............................................................   7
Earnings to Fixed Charges--Coverage Deficiency.............................   7
Description of Debt Securities.............................................   8
Description of Capital Stock...............................................  20
Description of Depositary Shares...........................................  23
Description of Warrants....................................................  26
Plan of Distribution.......................................................  27
Legal Opinions.............................................................  28
Experts....................................................................  28

 
  This Prospectus is part of a Registration Statement that we filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") utilizing a "shelf" registration
process. Under this shelf process, we may, from time to time over approximately
the next two years, sell any combination of the securities described in this
Prospectus in one or more offerings up to a total dollar amount of $100,000,000
or the equivalent of this amount in foreign currencies or foreign currency
units.
 
  This Prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we
may offer. Each time we sell securities, we will provide a Prospectus
Supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of that
offering. The Prospectus Supplement may also add, update or change information
contained in this Prospectus. You should read both this Prospectus and any
Prospectus Supplement together with additional information described under the
heading "Where You Can Find More Information About the Company" beginning on
page (i) of this Prospectus.
 
  You should rely only on the information contained in this prospectus. We have
not authorized anyone to provide you with information different from that
contained in this prospectus. We are offering to sell notes and making offers
to buy notes only in jurisdictions where offers and sales are permitted. The
information contained in this prospectus is accurate only as of the date of
this prospectus, regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus or any
sale of the notes. In this prospectus, the "Company," "we," "us" and "our"
refer to CHIREX INC.
 
CERTAIN PERSONS PARTICIPATING IN THE OFFERING OF THE OFFERED SECURITIES MAY
ENGAGE IN TRANSACTIONS THAT STABILIZE, MAINTAIN OR OTHERWISE AFFECT THE PRICE
OF THE OFFERED SECURITIES OR ANY SECURITIES THE PRICES OF WHICH MAY BE USED TO
DETERMINE PAYMENTS ON THE OFFERED SECURITIES. SPECIFICALLY, THE UNDERWRITERS OR
AGENTS SPECIFIED IN THE RELEVANT PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT OR PRICING SUPPLEMENT
MAY OVERALLOT IN CONNECTION WITH THE OFFERING, AND MAY BID FOR AND PURCHASE THE
OFFERED SECURITIES OR ANY SECURITIES THE PRICES OF WHICH MAY BE USED TO
DETERMINE PAYMENTS ON THE OFFERED SECURITIES IN THE OPEN MARKET. FOR A
DESCRIPTION OF THESE ACTIVITIES, SEE "PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION" IN THIS PROSPECTUS
AND "PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION" OR "UNDERWRITING" IN THE RELEVANT PROSPECTUS
SUPPLEMENT.
 
                                       i

 
                            WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE
                         INFORMATION ABOUT THE COMPANY
 
  We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other
information with the SEC. You may read and copy any document we file at the
SEC's public reference rooms in Washington, D.C., New York, New York and
Chicago, Illinois. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further
information on the public reference rooms. Our SEC filings are also available
to the public at the SEC's web site at http://www.sec.gov.
 
  The SEC allows us to "incorporate by reference" into this prospectus the
information we file with it, which means that we can disclose important
information to you by referring you to those documents. The information
incorporated by reference is considered to be a part of this prospectus, and
later information filed with the SEC will update and supersede this
information. We incorporate by reference the documents listed below and any
future filings made with the SEC under Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of
the Exchange Act until our offering is completed:
 
  (1) Annual Reports on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1997 and
  Form 10K/A for the year ended December 31, 1997;
 
  (2) Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 1998,
  June 30, 1998 and September 30, 1998; and
 
  (3) Current Reports on Form 8-K filed on July 7, 1998 and September 1,
  1998.
 
  You may request a copy of these filings, at no cost, by writing to or
telephoning us at the following address:
 
                       Beth P. Hecht
                       Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel
                       ChiRex Inc.
                       300 Atlantic Street, Suite 402
                       Stamford, Connecticut 06901
                       (203) 351-2300
 
                DISCLOSURE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
 
  This Prospectus contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of
Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 (the "Securities Act") and Section
21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, (the "Exchange Act").
These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and
uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company's control. Forward-looking
statements are typically identified by the words "believe," "expect,"
"anticipate," "intent," "estimate" and similar expressions.
 
  Actual results could differ materially from those contemplated by these
forward-looking statements as a result of factors ("Cautionary Statements")
such as product development and market acceptance risks, product manufacturing
risks, the impact of competitive products and pricing, the results of current
and future licensing and other collaborative relationships, the results of
financing efforts, developments regarding intellectual property rights and
litigation, risks of product non-approval or delays or post-approval reviews
by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration ("FDA") or foreign regulatory
authorities and those described under "Risk Factors."
 
  In light of these risks and uncertainties, there can be no assurance that
the results and events contemplated by the forward-looking information
contained in this Prospectus will in fact transpire. Potential investors are
cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. The
Company does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-
looking statements. All subsequent written or oral forward-looking statements
attributable to the Company or persons acting on behalf of the Company are
expressly qualified in their entirety by the Cautionary Statements.
 
                                      ii

 
                                  THE COMPANY
 
  ChiRex Inc. serves the outsourcing needs of some of the largest
pharmaceutical and life science companies in the world by providing
pharmaceutical fine chemical manufacturing and process development services
and offering its customers access to the Company's extensive portfolio of
proprietary technologies (the "ChiRex Technologies"). The Company's contract
manufacturing services developed over the past thirty years, include process
research and development, hazard evaluation, clinical quantity production and
pilot-scale and commercial-scale manufacturing at its world-class, current
Good Manufacturing Practices facilities in Dudley, England (the "Dudley
Facility") and Annan, Scotland (the "Annan Facility"). The Company's customers
include Glaxo Wellcome plc, Sanofi S.A., Pfizer Inc., Pharmacia & Upjohn Inc.,
Bristol Myers-Squibb, Eli Lilly and Company, Astra, Rohm and Haas Company and
SmithKline Beecham plc.
 
  As drug companies have focused their resources on the discovery and
development of new drugs that often require complex syntheses, they have
increasingly sought to outsource their process development and manufacturing
requirements to contract manufacturing organizations, such as ChiRex. The
Company believes that the recent trend of pharmaceutical and life science
companies to increase outsourcing of drug development and manufacturing
activities will continue as a result of: (i) cost containment pressures; (ii)
the need to reduce drug development time; (iii) the use of increasingly
complex chemical syntheses; and (iv) the growth of the biotechnology segment
of the industry.
 
  One of the Company's most important and long-standing relationships is with
Glaxo Wellcome. In the fall of 1997, the Company enhanced this relationship by
purchasing the Annan Facility from Glaxo Wellcome and entering into a five-
year supply agreement (the "Glaxo Supply Agreement"). Pursuant to the Glaxo
Supply Agreement, the Company, through both of its manufacturing facilities,
will supply Glaxo Wellcome with certain pharmaceutical intermediates and
active ingredients for some of its important new drugs. Since the acquisition
of the Annan Facility, the Company has been redesigning, reconfiguring and
upgrading the Annan Facility (the "Annan Renovation") to manufacture certain
of the products to be supplied under the Glaxo Supply Agreement and to
increase the general flexibility of the Annan Facility for other products.
 
  The Company's principal executive offices are located at 300 Atlantic
Street, Suite 402, Stamford, Connecticut 06901, and its telephone number at
those offices is 203-351-2300.
 
                                 RISK FACTORS
 
HOLDING COMPANY STRUCTURE; STRUCTURAL SUBORDINATION
 
  We are a holding company whose only asset, excluding certain trademarks, is
our investment in our subsidiaries. We conduct no business or operations and
we are completely dependent on the earnings of our subsidiaries to pay debt
obligations. Our subsidiaries do not have to make funds available to us,
whether in the form of loans, dividends or otherwise.
 
  None of our English subsidiaries may pay us dividends unless such payments
are made out of profits available for distribution. Such profits consist of
accumulated, realized profits not previously written off in a reduction or
reorganization of capital.
 
PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT RISKS; DEPENDENCE ON OTHERS
 
  Part of our business strategy involves collaborating with our customers in
the early stage of product development. This enables us to establish long-term
relationships for the manufacture of these products upon their
commercialization. We currently collaborate with customers on a substantial
number of development products, the majority of which are currently in
clinical trials. Our success depends in large part on the following factors:
 
  . the commercial viability of new pharmaceutical and life science products
    being developed by our customers
 
                                       1

 
  . our customers' willingness to attempt to commercialize such products
 
  . the ability of our pharmaceutical and life science customers to conduct
    clinical trials, obtain required regulatory approvals and successfully
    market such products
 
  In particular, the marketing and sale of pharmaceutical products in the
United States will require FDA approvals and will require similar approvals in
foreign countries. To obtain such approvals, the safety and efficacy of these
products must be demonstrated through human clinical trials which, if
permitted, can take several years. We cannot assure you that any of these
products will be safe or efficacious. Each stage in the development of these
products can require substantial investment and take a long time without any
assurance as to the commercial viability of these products, the absence of
competing drugs or alternative therapies. We cannot assure you that our
product development efforts will be successful, that required regulatory
approvals can be obtained on a timely basis, if at all, that products can be
manufactured at an acceptable cost and with appropriate quality, that any
products, if approved, can be successfully marketed or that our customers will
commercialize such products.
 
DEPENDENCE ON KEY CUSTOMERS AND PRODUCTS
 
  Our largest customers account for a significant percentage of our revenues.
In 1997, our largest customers accounted for approximately 76% of total
revenues. Sanofi, Glaxo Wellcome, Rohm and Haas and SmithKline Beecham
accounted for approximately 36%, 17%, 13% and 10% of our revenues,
respectively. In addition, our top ten revenue generating products accounted
for 74% of 1997 revenues. We will continue to rely on a limited number of
customers, particularly Glaxo Wellcome, as well as a limited number of
products for a great deal of our revenues. The loss of any customer, or a
material amount of sales to any customer, could have a material adverse effect
on our business and results of operations. Our customers may also be
susceptible to adverse effects on their own businesses due to changes in
government regulation, including those regarding health care reform.
 
RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH THE ANNAN RENOVATION
 
  We acquired the Annan Facility in the fall of 1997. Since then, we have been
redesigning, reconfiguring and upgrading the facility to:
 
  . manufacture the products we will supply under the Glaxo Supply Agreement
 
  . increase the general flexibility of the Annan Facility to manufacture
    other products.
 
  We will be subject to all of the risks inherent in renovating a complex, FDA
and European Community-approved production facility. The commercial success of
the Annan Facility depends upon, among other things, its successful renovation
and operation at projected capacity. We cannot assure you that we will be able
to complete the Annan Renovation on time or on budget or to operate the
facility at its anticipated capacity.
 
  We believe that any difficulties we experience will be typical of those
encountered when renovating such a facility. However, we cannot assure you
that we will not experience operational difficulties upon completion of the
Annan Renovation, or that we will ultimately achieve or be able to sustain
optimal production at the facility. Moreover, even after the facility is fully
operational, we may experience difficulties in validating the products we
intend to manufacture at the Annan Facility. Any significant delay in
completing the Annan Renovation, starting up full-scale production of
scheduled intermediates or validating the products scheduled to be
manufactured there could have a material adverse affect on us and our
relationship with Glaxo Wellcome.
 
RELATIONSHIP WITH GLAXO WELLCOME
 
  In the fall of 1997, we entered into the Glaxo Supply Agreement. While sales
to Glaxo Wellcome already accounted for approximately 17% of our revenues
during 1997, we expect that over the next five years, an even higher
percentage of our total revenues will come from our sales to Glaxo Wellcome
under the Glaxo Supply
 
                                       2

 
Agreement. In addition, the Glaxo Supply Agreement contains certain profit
sharing provisions in the event that we supply greater volumes of products
than anticipated in the Glaxo Supply Agreement. Moreover, while the Glaxo
Supply Agreement contains certain provisions for renewal, we cannot assure you
that the contract will be renewed.
 
  To meet expected demand under the Glaxo Supply Agreement, we are investing
approximately $39 million in capital expenditures for significant plant
modifications and expansion at our Dudley and Annan facilities. We anticipate
that the Annan Renovation will be completed in stages during the fourth
quarter of 1998 and the first quarter of 1999. The Annan Facility will be
fully operational during the first quarter of 1999.
 
  During the second quarter of 1998, we experienced production difficulties at
our Dudley Facility in connection with one of the products being supplied to
Glaxo Wellcome. We had to significantly reduce production of this product
until we identified the cause of the problem and satisfactorily resolved these
difficulties. We resumed full-scale production in July 1998.
 
RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH OPERATING FACILITIES
 
  Many factors, such as production disruptions, industrial accidents,
environmental hazards, technical difficulties or equipment failures, labor
disputes, late delivery of supplies, and periodic or extended interruptions
due to inclement or hazardous weather conditions, fires, explosions or other
accidents or acts of force majeure, could cause serious operational problems
at the Annan and Dudley Facilities. These events could damage or destroy the
Annan and/or Dudley Facilities, cause personal injury, environmental damage,
delays in productions, or result in financial losses and legal liability. Any
prolonged downtime or shutdowns of the Annan and/or Dudley Facilities could
have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations,
financial conditions or prospects.
 
COMPETITION; RAPID TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGE
 
  We operate in an extremely competitive environment. Many of our competitors
are major chemical and pharmaceutical companies, including a number of our own
customers, that have much greater financial resources, technical skills and
marketing experience than we do. Our competitive market is characterized by
extensive research efforts and rapid technological progress. We expect new
developments to continue, and we cannot assure you that discoveries by our
competitors will not render our research and development, our technologies or
our potential products obsolete or noncompetitive. Competition may grow more
intense as industry-wide technological progress accelerates and more money is
invested in these fields.
 
  Competition in our market is based upon reputation, service, manufacturing
capability and expertise, price and reliability of supply. We cannot assure
you that we will be successful in obtaining customer contracts on commercially
favorable terms, if at all. Furthermore, our success depends to a significant
extent on our ability to provide manufacturing services to potential customers
at an early stage of product development. We cannot assure you that we will be
successful in such efforts. In addition, we may not be able to attract and
retain experienced management and technical personnel.
 
ENVIRONMENTAL RISKS; HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
 
  Our manufacturing and research and development processes involve the
controlled use of hazardous materials. We are subject to laws and regulations
in the United Kingdom governing the use, manufacture, storage, handling and
disposal of such materials and certain waste products. In the event of
contamination or injury from hazardous materials, we could be held liable for
any damages that result. Our liability for these damages could exceed our
resources. In addition, we may have to incur significant costs to comply with
environmental laws and regulations in the future. Any environmental regulatory
action taken by U.K. environmental authorities causing the temporary cessation
of production operations at the Dudley or Annan facilities could have a
material adverse effect on our results of operations. Maintaining our
permitted effluent
 
                                       3

 
discharge limits and implementing air emission improvement programs acceptable
to the regulatory authorities may also prove costly. These programs may
require significant ongoing capital expenditures in an amount greater than we
currently anticipate, which could have a material adverse effect on our
results of operations.
 
COMPREHENSIVE GOVERNMENTAL REGULATION
 
  Our operations, as well as those of our customers, are subject to extensive
regulation by numerous governmental authorities in the United States, the
United Kingdom and other countries. In particular, we are required to adhere
to applicable FDA regulations for cGMP, including extensive record keeping and
reporting and periodic inspections of our manufacturing facilities. Similar
requirements are imposed by governmental agencies in other countries. The
concept of cGMP encompasses all aspects of the production process and involves
changing and evolving standards. Consequently, continuing compliance with cGMP
is a particularly difficult part of regulatory compliance. Failure to comply
with the applicable regulatory requirements can, among other things, result in
fines, suspensions of regulatory approvals, product recalls, operating
restrictions and criminal prosecution. We are also subject to numerous
environmental, health and workplace safety laws and regulations, including
those governing emissions control, laboratory procedures and the handling of
hazardous materials. Any violation of, and cost of compliance with, these laws
and regulations could adversely affect our operations.
 
  Governmental laws and regulations, including environmental laws and
regulations, require us to obtain permits from appropriate regulatory agencies
to continue to operate our manufacturing facilities. These permits generally
require periodic renewal or review of their conditions, and public comment may
be solicited in the permitting process. We cannot assure you that we will be
able to obtain all necessary permits or renew all existing permits, or that
material changes in permit conditions will not be imposed or that material
public opposition will not surface. Failure to obtain or renew certain permits
could result in the shutdown of our facilities or the imposition of
significant fines, each of which would have a material adverse effect on our
business and results of operations.
 
PATENT AND LICENSE UNCERTAINTIES
 
  Our proprietary rights with respect to our products and processes are
generally protected only to the extent that they are covered by valid and
enforceable patents or are maintained in confidence as trade secrets. We
currently have the perpetual, exclusive and royalty-free right and license to
use and practice the ChiRex Technologies on a worldwide basis in a defined
field. Our principal patents expire at various times beginning in 2005. Some
of our technology remains uncovered by any patent or patent application. In
addition, we have ongoing research efforts and expect to seek additional
patents in the future covering patentable results of such research. We cannot
assure you that any pending patent applications we file will result in patents
being issued, or that any patents or licenses:
 
  . will protect us against competitors with similar technologies
 
  . will not be infringed upon or designed around by others
 
  . will not be challenged by others and held to be invalid or unenforceable
 
  In the absence of patent protection, our business may be adversely affected
by competitors who independently develop substantially equivalent technology.
 
  There may be third-party patents relating to technology we use. We may need
to acquire licenses to, or to contest the validity of, any such patents.
Defending any claim that we are infringing a third-party patent would most
likely prove costly, and any such claim could adversely affect us until the
claim is resolved. Furthermore, any such dispute could result in a rejection
of our patent applications or the invalidation of our patents. We cannot
assure you that we could obtain any licenses required under such patents on
acceptable terms or that we would prevail in any litigation involving such
patents. Any of the foregoing negative results could have a material adverse
effect on us and our results of operations.
 
                                       4

 
  We use our own proprietary technology, including technology that may not be
patented or patentable. We seek to protect our proprietary technology through,
among other things, confidentiality agreements and, if applicable, inventors'
rights agreements with our collaborators, advisors, employees and consultants.
We cannot assure you that these agreements will not be breached, that we will
have adequate remedies for any breach or that our trade secrets will not
otherwise be disclosed to, or discovered by, our competitors. In addition, we
cannot assure you that these collaborators, advisors, employees and
consultants will not claim rights to intellectual property arising out of
their research.
 
PRODUCT LIABILITY RISKS; LACK OF INSURANCE
 
  Our business exposes us to product liability risks inherent in the testing,
manufacturing and marketing of pharmaceuticals and life science products. We
have limited product liability insurance coverage, and we cannot assure you
that we will be able to obtain further product liability insurance on
acceptable terms or that our current or future insurance will provide adequate
coverage against any or all potential claims. In addition, we have no clinical
trial liability insurance.
 
SIGNIFICANT RISKS RELATING TO INTERNATIONAL OPERATIONS; CURRENCY FLUCTUATIONS;
INTRODUCTION OF THE EURO
 
  Substantially all of our operations are conducted outside the United States.
Upon completion of the Annan Renovation, we will operate two manufacturing
facilities in the United Kingdom, where substantially all of our employees are
located. For 1995, 1996, 1997 and the six months ended June 30, 1998, net
sales of our products outside the United States totaled approximately $85
million (on a pro forma basis), $82 million (on a pro forma basis), $89
million and $49 million, representing 96% (on a pro forma basis), 92% (on a
pro forma basis), 94% and 94%, respectively, of our net sales for those
periods. As a result of our international operations, we are subject to risks
associated with operating in foreign countries, including devaluations and
fluctuations in currency exchange rates, imposition or increase of withholding
and other taxes on remittances and other payments by foreign subsidiaries,
trade barriers, political risks and imposition or increase of investment and
other restrictions by foreign governments. Because substantially all of our
revenues and expenses are denominated in Pounds Sterling, our revenues, cash
flows and earnings are directly and materially affected by fluctuations in the
exchange rate between the Pound Sterling and the U.S. Dollar. We cannot assure
you that these risks will not have a material adverse effect on our business
and operating results.
 
  The treaty on the European Union (the "Treaty") provides, among other
things, that on or before January 1, 1999, and subject to the fulfilment of
certain conditions, the "Euro" will replace some of the currencies of the
member states of the European Union (the "EU"), including countries in which
we market our products. We cannot assure you that the introduction of the Euro
will not increase the volatility of Pounds Sterling exchange rates or result
in the future appreciation of Pounds Sterling, which could, in either case,
adversely affect our results of operations. The United Kingdom government has
stated that it will not participate in the European monetary union at its
commencement, although it is possible that under certain circumstances it may
participate at a later date. If the United Kingdom were to participate in the
European monetary union, the Pound Sterling will be replaced by the Euro.
 
FLUCTUATIONS IN QUARTERLY RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
 
  Our quarterly operating results may vary significantly, depending on factors
such as the timing of substantial orders and new product introductions by us
or our competitors. Accordingly, results of operations for any quarter are not
necessarily indicative of the results of operations for a full year or
otherwise. We cannot assure you that we will be able to achieve or maintain
profitability on an annual or quarterly basis.
 
MANAGEMENT CHANGES
 
  Since our initial public offering on March 5, 1996, we have had significant
changes in our senior management. On July 7, 1998, Mr. Alan R. Clark, Chairman
of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, retired from the Company and
resigned from the Board of Directors, and a number of other senior management
changes
 
                                       5

 
were made. On September 1, 1998, the Board of Directors appointed Mr. Michael
A. Griffith, formerly the Chief Financial Officer of the Company, as Chairman
of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, and Mr. Frank J. Wright, formerly
Vice President, Annan Operations, as Executive Vice President. In addition, on
September 1, 1998, the Company hired a new Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Ian
Shott. The new senior management team has only recently been established. We
cannot assure you that further changes will not be implemented or that the
recent changes in personnel will not have an adverse effect on our operations.
 
YEAR 2000 ISSUE
 
  We have worked internally to identify and resolve any "year 2000" compliance
issues. We have also engaged external resources, including hiring an
independent consulting firm. We intend to purchase necessary computer software
and upgrades to become year 2000 compliant. We are implementing a year 2000
compliant management information system at our Annan Facility.
 
  To ensure year 2000 compliance, we will develop comprehensive testing
procedures once necessary software and equipment have been installed. We are
implementing a year 2000 compliant management information system at our Annan
facility in connection with our business plans for this location. We plan to
implement these systems at our other locations, including the Dudley Facility,
in 1999. We expect to spend approximately $3.0 million on year 2000 compliant
systems and equipment, and will expense these costs in accordance with current
accounting guidance.
 
  We believe that the systems at two of the three production facilities at
Annan are year 2000 compliant. At present, we do not utilize the third
production facility at Annan. If we do begin operations at this third
facility, we expect to spend approximately $1.0 million upgrading the
facility's computer systems and applications. We will expense these costs in
accordance with current accounting guidance.
 
  We have contingency plans in place for all our major computer systems and
applications. These plans include manual capability of certain business areas,
if necessary, and the controlled shutdown and start-up of the manufacturing
plant for a minimum period of days during the date change. The approach,
methodology, plan and contingencies for our internal processes have been
reviewed by our independent computer consultant and are subject to further
development and testing. Our contingency plans for external factors, such as
supply of raw materials, access to funds and potential utility disruption, are
at a preliminary stage and require further development.
 
  However, we cannot assure you that all year 2000 compliance issues will be
resolved without any future disruption or that we will not incur significant
additional expense. In addition, if some of our major suppliers and customers
fail to address their own year 2000 compliance issues, their non-compliance
could have a material adverse effect on us and our operations.
 
RISKS RELATED TO ENFORCEABILITY OF CIVIL LIABILITIES
 
  We are a Delaware corporation. Although investors will be able to effect
service of process in the United States upon the Company, we are a holding
company and our principal assets are the stock of our subsidiaries. In
addition, virtually all of our tangible assets are owned by our subsidiaries
incorporated in, and physically located in, the United Kingdom. As a result,
it may not be possible for investors to enforce judgments of United States
courts upon the civil liability provisions of United States laws against our
subsidiaries and substantially all of our assets. Moreover, we have been
advised by our legal counsel in the United Kingdom, Dibb Lupton Alsop, that
there is doubt as to the enforceability in the United Kingdom of original
actions or, in actions for enforcement of judgments of the United States
courts, of civil liabilities based upon United States federal securities laws.
 
                                       6

 
                                USE OF PROCEEDS
 
  Unless otherwise set forth in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, the net
proceeds from the sale of the Offered Securities will be used for general
corporate purposes, which may include repayment of indebtedness, acquisitions,
additions to working capital, capital expenditures and repurchases and
redemption of securities.
 
                EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES--COVERAGE DEFICIENCY
 
  The following table sets forth the Company's consolidated earnings to fixed
charges--coverage deficiency for each of the years ended December 31, 1993,
1994, 1995, 1996, 1997 and the nine months ended September 30, 1998.
 


                                  YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,       NINE MONTHS
                                ----------------------------       ENDED
                                1993 1994 1995  1996   1997  SEPTEMBER 30, 1998
                                ---- ---- ---- ------ ------ ------------------
                                           
Earnings to fixed charges--
 coverage deficiency........... N/A  N/A  N/A  $6,442 $1,135       $2,731

 
  For purposes of calculating the amount of the earnings to fixed charges--
coverage deficiency (the difference between earnings and the amount of the
fixed charges), earnings represent losses before income taxes and fixed
charges, excluding capitalized interest. Fixed charges consist of the total of
(i) interest, whether capitalized or expensed and (ii) amortization of
deferred debt costs.
 
                                       7

 
                        DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES
 
  The following description of the terms of the Debt Securities sets forth
certain general terms and provisions of the Debt Securities to which any
Prospectus Supplement may relate. The particular terms of the Debt Securities
offered by any Prospectus Supplement and the extent, if any, to which such
general provisions may apply to the Debt Securities so offered will be
described in the Prospectus Supplement relating to such Debt Securities.
Accordingly, for a description of the terms of a particular issue of Debt
Securities, reference must be made to both the Prospectus Supplement relating
thereto and to the following description.
 
  The Debt Securities will be general obligations of the Company and may be
subordinated to "Senior Indebtedness" (as defined below) of the Company to the
extent set forth in the Prospectus Supplement relating thereto. See
"Description of Debt Securities--Subordination" below. Debt Securities will be
issued under an indenture (the "Indenture") between the Company and one or
more commercial banks to be selected as trustees (collectively, the
"Trustee"). A copy of the form of Indenture has been filed as an exhibit to
the Registration Statement filed with the SEC. The following discussion of
certain provisions of the Indenture is a summary only and does not purport to
be a complete description of the terms and provisions of the Indenture.
Accordingly, the following discussion is qualified in its entirety by
reference to the provisions of the Indenture, including the definition therein
of terms used below.
 
GENERAL
 
  The Indenture does not limit the aggregate principal amount of Debt
Securities that can be issued thereunder. The Debt Securities may be issued in
one or more series as may be authorized from time to time by the Company.
Reference is made to the applicable Prospectus Supplement for the following
terms of the Debt Securities of the series with respect to which such
Prospectus Supplement is being delivered:
 
    (a) the title of the Debt Securities of the series;
 
    (b) any limit on the aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities of
  the series that may be authenticated and delivered under the Indenture;
 
    (c) the date or dates on which the principal and premium with respect to
  the Debt Securities of the series are payable;
 
    (d) the rate or rates (which may be fixed or variable) at which the Debt
  Securities of the series shall bear interest (if any) or the method of
  determining such rate or rates, the date or dates from which such interest
  shall accrue, the interest payment dates on which such interest shall be
  payable or the method by which such dates will be determined, the record
  dates for the determination of holders thereof to whom such interest is
  payable (in the case of Registered Securities (as defined below)), and the
  basis upon which interest will be calculated if other than that of a 360-
  day year of twelve 30-day months;
 
    (e) the place or places, if any, in addition to or instead of the
  corporate trust office of the Trustee (in the case of Registered
  Securities) or the principal London office of the Trustee (in the case of
  Bearer Securities), where the principal, premium, and interest with respect
  to Debt Securities of the series shall be payable;
 
    (f) the price or prices at which, the period or periods within which, and
  the terms and conditions upon which Debt Securities of the series may be
  redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of the Company or otherwise;
 
    (g) whether Debt Securities of the series are to be issued as Registered
  Securities or Bearer Securities (as defined below) or both and, if Bearer
  Securities are to be issued, whether coupons will be attached thereto,
  whether Bearer Securities of the series may be exchanged for Registered
  Securities of the series, and the circumstances under which and the places
  at which any such exchanges, if permitted, may be made;
 
                                       8

 
    (h) if any Debt Securities of the series are to be issued as Bearer
  Securities or as one or more Global Securities (as defined below)
  representing individual Bearer Securities of the series, whether certain
  provisions for the payment of additional interest or tax redemptions shall
  apply; whether interest with respect to any portion of a temporary Bearer
  Security of the series payable with respect to any interest payment date
  prior to the exchange of such temporary Bearer Security for definitive
  Bearer Securities of the series shall be paid to any clearing organization
  with respect to the portion of such temporary Bearer Security held for its
  account and, in such event, the terms and conditions (including any
  certification requirements) upon which any such interest payment received
  by a clearing organization will be credited to the persons entitled to
  interest payable on such interest payment date; and the terms upon which a
  temporary Bearer Security may be exchanged for one or more definitive
  Bearer Securities of the series;
 
    (i) the obligation, if any, of the Company to redeem, purchase, or repay
  Debt Securities of the series pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous
  provisions or at the option of a holder thereof and the price or prices at
  which, the period or periods within which, and the terms and conditions
  upon which Debt Securities of the series shall be redeemed, purchased, or
  repaid, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligations;
 
    (j) the terms, if any, upon which the Debt Securities of the series may
  be convertible into or exchanged for Common Stock, Preferred Stock (which
  may be represented by Depositary Shares), other Debt Securities or warrants
  for Common Stock, Preferred Stock, indebtedness or other securities of any
  kind of the Company or any other issuer or obligor and the terms and
  conditions upon which such conversion or exchange shall be effected,
  including the initial conversion or exchange price or rate, the conversion
  or exchange period and any other additional provisions;
 
    (k) if other than denominations of $1,000 or any integral multiple
  thereof, the denominations in which Debt Securities of the series shall be
  issuable;
 
    (l) if the amount of principal, premium or interest with respect to the
  Debt Securities of the series may be determined with reference to an index
  or pursuant to a formula, the manner in which such amounts will be
  determined;
 
    (m) if the principal amount payable at the stated maturity of Debt
  Securities of the series will not be determinable as of any one or more
  dates prior to such stated maturity, the amount that will be deemed to be
  such principal amount as of any such date for any purpose, including the
  principal amount thereof which will be due and payable upon any maturity
  other than the stated maturity or which will be deemed to be outstanding as
  of any such date (or, in any such case, the manner in which such deemed
  principal amount is to be determined), and if necessary, the manner of
  determining the equivalent thereof in United States currency;
 
    (n) any changes or additions to the provisions of the Indenture dealing
  with defeasance;
 
    (o) any provision for the Offered Securities to be denominated, and
  payments thereon to be made, in currencies other than the U.S. dollar
  (including the Euro) or in units based on or relating to such other
  currencies (including ECUs);
 
    (p) if other than such coin or currency of the United States as at the
  time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts,
  the coin or currency or currencies or units of two or more currencies in
  which payment of the principal, premium, and interest with respect to Debt
  Securities of the series shall be payable;
 
    (q) if other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of the
  principal amount of Debt Securities of the series that shall be payable
  upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof or provable in
  bankruptcy;
 
    (r) the terms, if any, of the transfer, mortgage, pledge or assignment as
  security for the Debt Securities of the series of any properties, assets,
  moneys, proceeds, securities or other collateral, including whether
 
                                       9

 
  certain provisions of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the
  "Trust Indenture Act") are applicable and any corresponding changes to
  provisions of the Indenture as then in effect;
 
    (s) any addition to or change in the Events of Default (as defined below)
  with respect to the Debt Securities of the series and any change in the
  right of the Trustee or the holders to declare the principal, premium and
  interest with respect to such Debt Securities due and payable;
 
    (t) if the Debt Securities of the series shall be issued in whole or in
  part in the form of a Global Security, the terms and conditions, if any,
  upon which such Global Security may be exchanged in whole or in part for
  other individual Debt Securities in definitive registered form, the
  Depositary (as defined in the applicable Prospectus Supplement) for such
  Global Security and the form of any legend or legends to be borne by any
  such Global Security in addition to or in lieu of the legend referred to in
  the Indenture;
 
    (u) any Trustee, authenticating or paying agents, transfer agents or
  registrars;
 
    (v) the applicability of, and any addition to or change in, the covenants
  and definitions then set forth in the Indenture or in the terms then set
  forth in the Indenture relating to permitted consolidations, mergers, or
  sales of assets;
 
    (w) the terms, if any, of any guarantee of the payment of principal,
  premium, and interest with respect to Debt Securities of the series and any
  corresponding changes to the provisions of the Indenture as then in effect;
 
    (x) the subordination, if any, of the Debt Securities of the series
  pursuant to the Indenture and any changes or additions to the provisions of
  the Indenture relating to subordination;
 
    (y) with regard to Debt Securities of the series that do not bear
  interest, the dates for certain required reports to the Trustee; and
 
    (z) any other terms of the Debt Securities of the series (which terms
  shall not be prohibited by the provisions of the Indenture).
 
  The Prospectus Supplement will also describe any material United States
federal income tax consequences or other special considerations applicable to
the series of Debt Securities to which such Prospectus Supplement relates,
including those applicable to (a) Bearer Securities, (b) Debt Securities with
respect to which payments of principal, premium or interest are determined
with reference to an index or formula (including changes in prices of
particular securities, currencies or commodities), (c) Debt Securities with
respect to which principal, premium or interest is payable in a foreign or
composite currency, (d) Debt Securities that are issued at a discount below
their stated principal amount, bearing no interest or interest at a rate that
at the time of issuance is below market rates ("Original Issue Discount Debt
Securities") and (e) variable rate Debt Securities that are exchangeable for
fixed rate Debt Securities.
 
  Unless otherwise provided in the applicable Prospectus Supplement,
Registered Securities may be transferred or exchanged at the office of the
Trustee at which its corporate trust business is principally administered in
the United States or at the office of the Trustee or the Trustee's agent in
the Borough of Manhattan, the City and State of New York, at which its
corporate agency business is conducted, subject to the limitations provided in
the Indenture, without the payment of any service charge, other than any tax
or governmental charge payable in connection therewith. Bearer Securities will
be transferable only by delivery. Provisions with respect to the exchange of
Bearer Securities will be described in the Prospectus Supplement relating to
such Bearer Securities.
 
  All funds paid by the Company to a paying agent for the payment of
principal, premium or interest with respect to any Debt Securities that remain
unclaimed at the end of two years after such principal, premium or interest
shall have become due and payable will be repaid to the Company, and the
holders of such Debt Securities or any coupons appertaining thereto will
thereafter look only to the Company for payment thereof.
 
                                      10

 
GLOBAL SECURITIES
 
  The Debt Securities of a series may be issued in whole or in part in the
form of one or more Global Securities. A Global Security is a Debt Security
that represents, and is denominated in an amount equal to the aggregate
principal amount of, all outstanding Debt Securities of a series, or any
portion thereof, in either case having the same terms, including the same
original issue date, date or dates on which principal and interest are due,
and interest rate or method of determining interest. A Global Security will be
deposited with, or on behalf of, a Depositary, which will be identified in the
Prospectus Supplement relating to such Debt Securities. Global Securities may
be issued in either registered or bearer form and in either temporary or
definitive form. Unless and until it is exchanged in whole or in part for the
individual Debt Securities represented thereby, a Global Security may not be
transferred except as a whole by the Depositary to a nominee of the
Depositary, by a nominee of the Depositary to the Depositary or another
nominee of the Depositary, or by the Depositary or any nominee of the
Depositary to a successor Depositary or any nominee of such successor.
 
  The specific terms of the depositary arrangement with respect to a series of
Debt Securities will be described in the Prospectus Supplement relating to
such Debt Securities. The Company anticipates that the following provisions
will generally apply to depositary arrangements.
 
  Upon the issuance of a Global Security, the Depositary for such Global
Security will credit, on its book-entry registration and transfer system, the
respective principal amounts of the individual Debt Securities represented by
such Global Security to the accounts of persons that have accounts with the
Depositary ("participants"). Such accounts shall be designated by the dealers
or underwriters with respect to such Debt Securities or, if such Debt
Securities are offered and sold directly by the Company or through one or more
agents, by the Company or such agents. Ownership of beneficial interests in a
Global Security will be limited to participants or persons that hold
beneficial interests through participants. Ownership of beneficial interests
in such Global Security will be shown on, and the transfer of that ownership
will be effected only through, records maintained by the Depositary (with
respect to interests of participants) or records maintained by participants
(with respect to interests of persons other than participants). The laws of
some states require that certain purchasers of securities take physical
delivery of such securities in definitive form. Such limitations and laws may
impair the ability to transfer beneficial interests in a Global Security.
 
  So long as the Depositary for a Global Security, or its nominee, is the
registered owner or holder of such Global Security, such Depositary or
nominee, as the case may be, will be considered the sole owner or holder of
the individual Debt Securities represented by such Global Security for all
purposes under the Indenture. Except as provided below, owners of beneficial
interests in a Global Security will not be entitled to have any of the
individual Debt Securities represented by such Global Security registered in
their names, will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of
any of such Debt Securities in definitive form, and will not be considered the
owners or holders thereof under the Indenture.
 
  Subject to the restrictions applicable to Bearer Securities described in an
applicable Prospectus Supplement (see Limitations on Issuance of Bearer
Securities" below), payments of principal, premium, and interest with respect
to individual Debt Securities represented by a Global Security will be made to
the Depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, as the registered owner or
holder of such Global Security. Neither the Company, the Trustee, any paying
agent or registrar for such Debt Securities or any agent of the Company or the
Trustee will have any responsibility or liability for (a) any aspect of the
records relating to or payments made by the Depositary, its nominee or any
participants on account of beneficial interests in the Global Security or for
maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial
interests, (b) the payment to the owners of beneficial interests in the Global
Security of amounts paid to the Depositary or its nominee or (c) any other
matter relating to the actions and practices of the Depositary, its nominee or
its participants. Neither the Company, the Trustee, any paying agent or
registrar for such Debt Securities or any agent of the Company or the Trustee
will be liable for any delay by the Depositary, its nominee or any of its
participants in identifying the owners of beneficial interests in the Global
Security, and the Company and the Trustee may conclusively rely on, and will
be protected in relying on, instructions from the Depositary or its nominee
for all purposes.
 
                                      11

 
  The Company expects that the Depositary for a series of Debt Securities or
its nominee, upon receipt of any payment of principal, premium or interest
with respect to a definitive Global Security representing any of such Debt
Securities, will immediately credit participants' accounts with payments in
amounts proportionate to their respective beneficial interests in the
principal amount of such Global Security, as shown on the records of the
Depositary or its nominee. The Company also expects that payments by
participants to owners of beneficial interests in such Global Security held
through such participants will be governed by standing instructions and
customary practices, as is now the case with securities held for the accounts
of customers and registered in "street name." Such payments will be the
responsibility of such participants. Receipt by owners of beneficial interests
in a temporary Global Security of payments of principal, premium or interest
with respect thereto will be subject to the restrictions described in an
applicable Prospectus Supplement (see "Limitation on Issuance of Bearer
Securities" below).
 
  If the Depositary for a series of Debt Securities is at any time unwilling,
unable or ineligible to continue as depositary, the Company shall appoint a
successor depositary. If a successor depositary is not appointed by the
Company within 90 days, the Company will issue individual Debt Securities of
such series in exchange for the Global Security representing such series of
Debt Securities. In addition, the Company may at any time and in its sole
discretion, subject to any limitations described in the Prospectus Supplement
relating to such Debt Securities, determine to no longer have Debt Securities
of a series represented by a Global Security and, in such event, will issue
individual Debt Securities of such series in exchange for the Global Security
representing such series of Debt Securities. Furthermore, if the Company so
specifies with respect to the Debt Securities of a series, an owner of a
beneficial interest in a Global Security representing Debt Securities of such
series may, on terms acceptable to the Company, the Trustee, and the
Depositary for such Global Security, receive individual Debt Securities of
such series in exchange for such beneficial interests, subject to any
limitations described in the Prospectus Supplement relating to such Debt
Securities. In any such instance, an owner of a beneficial interest in a
Global Security will be entitled to physical delivery of individual Debt
Securities of the series represented by such Global Security equal in
principal amount to such beneficial interest and to have such Debt Securities
registered in its name (if the Debt Securities are issuable as Registered
Securities). Individual Debt Securities of such series so issued will be
issued (a) as Registered Securities in denominations, unless otherwise
specified by the Company, of $1,000 and integral multiples thereof if the Debt
Securities are issuable as Registered Securities, (b) as Bearer Securities in
the denomination or denominations specified by the Company if the Debt
Securities are issuable as Bearer Securities or (c) as either Registered
Securities or Bearer Securities as described above if the Debt Securities are
issuable in either form.
 
LIMITATIONS ON ISSUANCE OF BEARER SECURITIES
 
  The Debt Securities of a series may be issued as Registered Securities
(which will be registered as to principal and interest in the register
maintained by the registrar for such Debt Securities) or Bearer Securities
(which will be transferable only be delivery). If such Debt Securities are
issuable as Bearer Securities, the applicable Prospectus Supplement will
describe certain special limitations and considerations that will apply to
such Debt Securities.
 
CERTAIN COVENANTS
 
  Limitation on Secured Debt. The Indenture provides that the Company will
not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, become liable for any
indebtedness for borrowed money secured by a mortgage or lien on a Principal
Property or on any shares of stock or indebtedness of any Restricted
Subsidiary ("Secured Debt") or secure the same without making effective
provision for securing the payment of the principal of and interest on the
Debt Securities (and, if the company so elects, any indebtedness ranking
equally with the Debt Securities) equally and ratably with or prior to such
secured indebtedness. This covenant will not apply to debt secured by (a)
mortgages or liens on property, capital stock or indebtedness of any
corporation existing at the time it becomes a subsidiary, (b) mortgages
existing on property at the time of acquisition, purchase money mortgages and
mortgages to secure indebtedness incurred within 180 days after the time of
acquisition thereof to finance
 
                                      12

 
the purchase price, (c) mortgages or liens on unimproved property to finance
the cost of improvements to such property, (d) mortgages or liens securing
indebtedness owed by a Subsidiary (as defined in the Indenture) to the Company
or a wholly owned Restricted Subsidiary, (e) certain mortgages in favor of
governmental entities including mortgages in connection with industrial
revenue financing or (f) extensions, renewals or replacements of any of the
foregoing. Notwithstanding this covenant, the Company and its Restricted
Subsidiaries may incur or guarantee any Secured Debt, provided that after
giving effect thereto the aggregate amount of such debt then outstanding (not
including Secured Debt permitted under the foregoing exceptions) and the
aggregate "value" of Sale and Leaseback Transactions (as defined below) other
than Sale and Leaseback Transactions permitted under clauses (a) through (d)
and (f) in the following paragraph, at such time does not exceed 10% of
Consolidated Net Tangible Assets (as defined below).
 
  Limitation on Sales and Leasebacks. The Indenture provides that sales and
leasebacks of a Principal Property (as defined below) by the Company or a
Restricted Subsidiary (except those for a temporary period of not more than
three years and those from the Company or a wholly owned Restricted
Subsidiary) will be prohibited unless (a) the transaction is entered into to
finance the cost of acquiring such property or within 180 days after such
acquisition, (b) the transaction is entered into finance the cost of
improvements to such unimproved property, (c) the transaction is one of
certain types in which the lessor is a governmental entity, (d) the
transaction involves the extension, renewal or replacement of the transactions
referred to in clauses (a) through (c) above, (e) the property involved is
property that could be mortgaged without equally and ratably securing the Debt
Securities under the last sentence of the preceding paragraph or (f) an amount
equal to the proceeds of sale or the fair value of the property sold
(whichever is higher) is applied to the retirement of funded debt of the
Company.
 
  A Prospectus Supplement may provide that additional covenants will be
applicable to the Company with respect to the Debt Securities of a series. In
addition, a Prospectus Supplement may provide that a series of Debt Securities
will not have the benefit of the covenants described above.
 
  DEFINITIONS. For purposes of the events described above under Certain
Covenants" the following definitions and conventions will apply.
 
  The term "Restricted Subsidiary" means (a) any Subsidiary other than (1) a
Subsidiary the primary business of which consists of one or more of the
following: (i) purchasing amounts receivable, (ii) making loans secured by
accounts receivable or inventories or otherwise providing credit, (iii) making
investment in real estate or providing services directly related thereto or
otherwise engaging in the business of a finance or real estate investment
company, or (iv) leasing equipment, machinery, vehicles, rolling stock and
other articles of use of the business of the Company, or (2) certain named
Subsidiaries; and (b) any Subsidiary described in Clauses (1) or (2) of
paragraph (a) above which at the time of determination shall be a Restricted
Subsidiary pursuant to designation by the Board of Directors hereinafter
provided for.
 
  The Company may by board resolution designate any Unrestricted Subsidiary
(defined as a Subsidiary that is not a Restricted Subsidiary) to be a
Restricted Subsidiary. The Company may by board resolution designate a newly
acquired or formed Subsidiary to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary, provided such
designation takes place not later than 90 days after such acquisition or
formation.
 
  The term "Principal Property" will mean any manufacturing or research
property, plant or facility of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary except
any property that the Board of Directors by resolution declares is not of
material importance to the total business conducted by the Company and its
Restricted Subsidiaries as an entirety. The term "Consolidated Net Tangible
Assets" will mean at any date the total amount of assets that under generally
accepted accounting principles would be included on a consolidated balance
sheet of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries as of such date, less the
sum of the following items, which would then also be so included in accordance
with generally accepted accounting principles: (a) related depreciation,
amortization and other valuation reserves, (b) certain investments, less
applicable reserves in Unrestricted Subsidiaries, (c) all treasury stock,
goodwill, trade names, trademarks, patents, unamortized debt discount and
 
                                      13

 
expense and other like intangibles and (d) all liabilities and liability in
terms of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries (including minority
interests in Restricted Subsidiaries held by persons other than the Company or
wholly owned Restricted Subsidiaries) except (i) the reserves deducted as
described in clauses (a) and (b) above, (ii) funded debt, (iii) provisions for
deferred income taxes and (iv) capital stock, surplus and surplus reserves.
 
  A Prospectus Supplement may modify or add to the foregoing covenants. In
addition, a Prospectus Supplement may omit some or all of the foregoing
covenants and/or definitions (thereby evidencing the decision by the Company
to not be bound by such covenants and/or definitions).
 
SUBORDINATION
 
  Debt Securities of a series may be subordinated ("Subordinated Debt
Securities") to Senior Indebtedness (as defined in the applicable Prospectus
Supplement) to the extent set forth in the Prospectus Supplement relating
thereto. The Company conducts substantially all its operations through
subsidiaries, and the holders of Debt Securities (whether or not Subordinated
Debt Securities) will be structurally subordinated to the creditors of the
Company's subsidiaries.
 
  Upon any payment or distribution of assets of the Company to creditors or
upon a total or partial liquidation or dissolution of the Company or in a
bankruptcy, receivership, or similar proceeding relating to the Company or its
property, holders of Senior Indebtedness shall be entitled to receive payment
in full in cash of the Senior Indebtedness before holders of Subordinated Debt
Securities shall be entitled to receive any payment of principal, premium, or
interest with respect to the Subordinated Debt Securities, and until the
Senior Indebtedness is paid in full, any distribution to which holders of
Subordinated Debt Securities would otherwise be entitled shall be made to the
holders of Senior Indebtedness (except that such holders may receive shares of
stock and any debt securities that are subordinated to Senior Indebtedness to
at least the same extent as the Subordinated Debt Securities).
 
  The Company may not make any payments of principal, premium, or interest
with respect to Subordinated Debt Securities, make any deposit for the purpose
of defeasance of such Subordinated Debt Securities, or repurchase, redeem, or
otherwise retire (except, in the case of Subordinated Debt Securities that
provide for a mandatory sinking fund, by the delivery of Subordinated Debt
Securities by the Company to the Trustee in satisfaction of the Company's
sinking fund obligation) any Subordinated Debt Securities if (a) any
principal, premium or interest with respect to Senior Indebtedness is not paid
in full in cash within any applicable grace period (including at maturity) or
(b) any other default on Senior Indebtedness occurs and the maturity of such
Senior Indebtedness is accelerated in accordance with its terms, unless, in
either case, the default has been cured or waived and such acceleration has
been rescinded, such Senior Indebtedness has been paid in full in cash or the
Company and the Trustee receive written notice approving such payment from the
representatives of such Senior Indebtedness. During the continuance of any
default (other than a default described in clause (a) or (b) above) with
respect to any Designated Senior Indebtedness (as defined in the applicable
Prospectus Supplement) pursuant to which the maturity thereof may be
accelerated immediately without further notice (except such notice as may be
required to effect such acceleration) or the expiration of any applicable
grace periods, the Company may not pay the Subordinated Debt Securities for a
period (the "Payment Blockage Period") commencing on the receipt by the
Company and the Trustee of written notice of such default from the
representative of any Designated Senior Indebtedness specifying an election to
effect a Payment Blockage Period (a "Blockage Notice"). The Payment Blockage
Period may be terminated before its expiration by written notice to the
Trustee and the Company from the person who gave the Blockage Notice, by
repayment in full in cash of the Senior Indebtedness with respect to which the
Blockage Notice was given or because the default giving rise to the Payment
Blockage Period is no longer continuing. Unless the holders of such Designated
Senior Indebtedness shall have accelerated the maturity thereof, the Company
may resume payments on the Subordinated Debt Securities after the expiration
of the Payment Blockage Period. Not more than one Blockage Notice may be given
in any period of 360 consecutive days. In no event, however, may the total
number of days during which any Payment Blockage Period or Periods is in
effect exceed 179 days in the aggregate during any period of 360 consecutive
days. After all Senior Indebtedness is paid in full and until the Subordinated
Debt Securities are paid in full, holders of the Subordinated Debt Securities
shall be subrogated to the rights of holders of Senior Indebtedness to receive
distributions applicable to Senior Indebtedness.
 
                                      14

 
  By reason of such subordination, in the event of insolvency, creditors of
the Company who are holders of Senior Indebtedness, as well as certain general
creditors of the Company, may recover more, ratably, than the holders of the
Subordinated Debt Securities.
 
EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES
 
  The following events are defined in the Indenture as "Events of Default"
with respect to a series of Debt Securities:
 
    (a) default in the payment of any installment of interest on any Debt
  Securities of that series or any payment with respect to the related
  coupons, if any, as and when the same shall become due and payable (whether
  or not, in the case of Subordinated Debt Securities, such payment shall be
  prohibited by reason of the subordination provisions described above) and
  continuance of such default for a period of 30 days;
 
    (b) default in the payment of principal or premium with respect to any
  Debt Securities of that series as and when the same shall become due and
  payable, whether at maturity, upon redemption, by declaration, upon
  required repurchase, or otherwise (whether or not, in the case of
  Subordinated Debt Securities, such payment shall be prohibited by reason of
  the subordination provisions described above);
 
    (c) default in the payment of any sinking fund payment with respect to
  any Debt Securities of that series as and when the same shall become due
  and payable;
 
    (d) failure on the part of the Company to comply with the provisions of
  the Indenture relating to consolidations, mergers, and sales of assets;
 
    (e) failure on the part of the Company duly to observe or perform any
  other of the covenants or agreements on the part of the Company in the Debt
  Securities of that series, in any resolution of the Board of Directors of
  the Company authorizing the issuance of that series of Debt Securities, in
  the Indenture with respect to such series, or in any supplemental Indenture
  with respect to such series (other than a covenant a default in the
  performance of which is otherwise specifically dealt with) continuing for a
  period of 60 days after the date on which written notice specifying such
  failure and requiring the Company to remedy the same shall have been given
  to the Company by the Trustee or to the Company and the Trustee by the
  holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Debt
  Securities of that series at the time outstanding;
 
    (f) indebtedness of the Company or any subsidiary of the Company is not
  paid within any applicable grace period after final maturity or is
  accelerated by the holders thereof because of a default, the total amount
  of such Indebtedness unpaid or accelerated exceeds $20 million or the
  United States dollar equivalent thereof at the time, and such default
  remains uncured or such acceleration is not rescinded for 10 days after the
  date on which written notice specifying such failure and requiring the
  Company to remedy the same shall have been given to the Company by the
  Trustee or to the Company and the Trustee by the holders of at least 25% in
  aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities of that series at the
  time outstanding;
 
    (g) the Company or any of its "Significant Subsidiaries" (defined as any
  subsidiary of the Company that would be a "significant subsidiary" as
  defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act as in effect on the date of
  the Indenture) shall (1) voluntarily commence any proceeding or file any
  petition seeking relief under the United States Bankruptcy Code or other
  federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency or similar law, (2)
  consent to the institution of, or fail to controvert within the time and in
  the manner prescribed by law, any such proceeding or the filing of any such
  petition, (3) apply for or consent to the appointment of a receiver,
  trustee, custodian, sequestrator or similar official for the Company or any
  such Significant Subsidiary or for a substantial part of its property, (4)
  file an answer admitting the material allegations of a petition filed
  against it in any such proceeding, (5) make a general assignment for the
  benefit of creditors, (6) admit in writing its inability or fail generally
  to pay its debts as they become due, (7) take corporate action for the
  purpose of effecting any of the foregoing or (8) take any comparable action
  under any foreign laws relating to insolvency;
 
                                      15

 
    (h) the entry of an order or decree by a court having competent
  jurisdiction for (1) relief with respect to the Company or any of its
  Significant Subsidiaries or a substantial part of any of their property
  under the United States Bankruptcy Code or any other federal, state or
  foreign bankruptcy, insolvency or similar law, (2) the appointment of a
  receiver, trustee, custodian, sequestrator or similar official for the
  Company or any such Significant Subsidiary or for a substantial part of any
  of their property (except any decree or order appointing such official of
  any Significant Subsidiary pursuant to a plan under which the assets and
  operations of such Significant Subsidiary are transferred to or combined
  with another Significant Subsidiary or Subsidiaries of the Company or to
  the Company) or (3) the winding-up or liquidation of the Company or any
  such Significant Subsidiary (except any decree or order approving or
  ordering the winding-up or liquidation of the affairs of a Significant
  Subsidiary pursuant to a plan under which the assets and operations of such
  Significant Subsidiary are transferred to or combined with another
  Significant Subsidiary or Subsidiaries of the Company or to the Company),
  and such order or decree shall continue unstayed and in effect for 60
  consecutive days, or any similar relief is granted under any foreign laws
  and the order or decree stays in effect for 60 consecutive days;
 
    (i) any judgment or decree for the payment of money in excess of $20
  million or the United States dollar equivalent thereof at the time is
  entered against the Company or any Significant Subsidiary of the Company by
  a court of competent jurisdiction, which judgment is not covered by
  insurance, and is not discharged and either (1) an enforcement proceeding
  has been commenced by any creditor upon such judgment or decree or (2)
  there is a period of 60 days following the entry of such judgment or decree
  during which such judgment or decree is not discharged or waived or the
  execution thereof stayed and, in either case, such default continues for 10
  days after the date on which written notice specifying such failure and
  requiring the Company to remedy the same shall have been given to the
  Company by the Trustee or to the Company and the Trustee by the holders of
  at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities of that
  series at the time outstanding; and
 
    (j) any other Event of Default provided with respect to Debt Securities
  of that series.
 
  An Event of Default with respect to one series of Debt Securities is not
necessarily an Event of Default for another series.
 
  A Prospectus Supplement may omit, modify or add to the foregoing Events of
Default.
 
  If an Event of Default described in clause (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f), (i)
or (j) above occurs and is continuing with respect to any series of Debt
Securities, unless the principal and interest with respect to all the Debt
Securities of such series shall have already become due and payable, either
the Trustee or the holders not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of
the Debt Securities of such series then outstanding may declare the principal
amount (or, if Original Issue Discount Debt Securities, such portion of the
principal amount as may be specified in such series) of and interest on all
the Debt Securities of such series due and payable immediately. If an Event of
Default described in clause (g) or (h) above occurs, unless the principal and
interest with respect to all the Debt Securities of all series shall have
become due and payable, the principal amount (or, if any series are Original
Issue Discount Debt Securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be
specified in such series) of and interest on all Debt Securities of all series
then outstanding shall become and be immediately due and payable without any
declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any holder of Debt
Securities.
 
  If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee shall be
entitled and empowered to institute any action or proceeding for the
collection of the sums so due and unpaid or to enforce the performance of any
provision of the Debt Securities of the affected series or the Indenture, to
prosecute any such action or proceeding to judgment or final decree, and to
enforce any such judgment or final decree against the Company or any other
obligor on the Debt Securities of such series. In addition, if there shall be
pending proceedings for the bankruptcy or reorganization of the Company or any
other obligor on the Debt Securities, or if a receiver, trustee, or similar
official shall have been appointed for its property, the Trustee shall be
entitled and empowered to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of
principal, premium, and interest (or, in the case of Original Issue Discount
Debt
 
                                      16

 
Securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the
terms of such series) owing and unpaid with respect to the Debt Securities. No
holder of any Debt Security or coupon of any series shall have any right to
institute any action or proceeding upon or under or with respect to the
Indenture, for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any other
remedy, unless (a) such holder previously shall have given to the Trustee
written notice of an Event of Default with respect to Debt Securities of that
series and of the continuance thereof, (b) the holders of not less than 25% in
aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Debt Securities of that series
shall have made written request to the Trustee to institute such action or
proceeding with respect to such Event of Default and shall have offered to the
Trustee such reasonable indemnity as it may require against the costs,
expenses, and liabilities to be incurred therein or thereby, and (c) the
Trustee, for 60 days after its receipt of such notice, request, and offer of
indemnity shall have failed to institute such action or proceeding and no
direction inconsistent with such written request shall have been given to the
Trustee pursuant to the provisions of the Indenture.
 
  Prior to the acceleration of the maturity of the Debt Securities of any
series, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Debt
Securities of that series at the time outstanding may, on behalf of the
holders of all Debt Securities and any related coupons of that series, waive
any past default or Event of Default and its consequences for that series,
except (a) a default in the payment of the principal, premium, or interest
with respect to such Debt Securities or (b) a default with respect to a
provision of the Indenture that cannot be amended without the consent of each
holder affected thereby. In case of any such waiver, such default shall cease
to exist, any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been
cured for all purposes, and the Company, the Trustee and the holders of the
Debt Securities of that series shall be restored to their former positions and
rights under the Indenture.
 
  The Trustee shall, within 90 days after the occurrence of a default known to
it with respect to a series of Debt Securities, give to the holders of the
Debt Securities of such series notice of all uncured defaults with respect to
such series known to it, unless such defaults shall have been cured or waived
before the giving of such notice; provided, however, that except in the case
of default in the payment of principal, premium, or interest with respect to
the Debt Securities of such series or in the making of any sinking fund
payment with respect to the Debt Securities of such series, the Trustee shall
be protected in withholding such notice if it in good faith determines that
the withholding of such notice is in the interest of the holders of such Debt
Securities.
 
MODIFICATION OF THE INDENTURE
 
  The Company and the Trustee may enter into supplemental Indentures without
the consent of the Holders of Debt Securities for one or more of the following
purposes:
 
    (a) to evidence the succession of another person to the Company pursuant
  to the provisions of the Indenture relating to consolidations, mergers and
  sales of assets and the assumption by such successor of the covenants,
  agreements and obligations of the Company in the Indenture and in the Debt
  Securities;
 
    (b) to surrender any right or power conferred upon the Company by the
  Indenture, to add to the covenants of the Company such further covenants,
  restrictions, conditions or provisions for the protection of the holders of
  all or any series of Debt Securities as the Board of Directors of the
  Company shall consider to be for the protection of the holders of such Debt
  Securities, and to make the occurrence, or the occurrence and continuance,
  of a default in any of such additional covenants, restrictions, conditions
  or provisions a default or an Event of Default under the Indenture
  (provided, however, that with respect to any such additional covenant,
  restriction, condition or provision, such supplemental Indenture may
  provide for a period of grace after default, which may be shorter or longer
  than that allowed in the case of other defaults, may provide for an
  immediate enforcement upon such default, may limit the remedies available
  to the Trustee upon such default or may limit the right of holders of a
  majority in aggregate principal amount of any or all series of Debt
  Securities to waive such default);
 
                                      17

 
    (c) to cure any ambiguity or to correct or supplement any provision
  contained in the Indenture, in any supplemental Indenture or in any Debt
  Securities that may be defective or inconsistent with any other provision
  contained therein, to convey, transfer, assign, mortgage or pledge any
  property to or with the Trustee, or to make such other provisions in regard
  to matters or questions arising under the Indenture as shall not adversely
  affect the interests of any holders of Debt Securities of any series;
 
    (d) to modify or amend the Indenture in such a manner as to permit the
  qualification of the Indenture or any supplemental Indenture under the
  Trust Indenture Act as then in effect;
 
    (e) to add to or change any of the provisions of the Indenture to provide
  that Bearer Securities may be registerable as to principal, to change or
  eliminate any restrictions on the payment of principal or premium with
  respect to Registered Securities or of principal, premium or interest with
  respect to Bearer Securities, or to permit Registered Securities to be
  exchanged for Bearer Securities, so long as any such action does not
  adversely affect the interests of the holders of Debt Securities or any
  coupons of any series in any material respect or permit or facilitate the
  issuance of Debt Securities of any series in uncertificated form;
 
    (f) to comply with the provisions of the Indenture relating to
  consolidations, mergers and sales of assets;
 
    (g) in the case of Subordinated Debt Securities, to make any change in
  the provisions of the Indenture relating to subordination that would limit
  or terminate the benefits available to any holder of Senior Indebtedness
  under such provisions (but only if each such holder of Senior Indebtedness
  consents to such change);
 
    (h) to add guarantees with respect to the Debt Securities or to secure
  the Debt Securities;
 
    (i) to make any change that does not adversely affect the rights of any
  holder;
 
    (j) to add to change, or eliminate any of the provisions of the Indenture
  with respect to one or more series of Debt Securities, so long as any such
  addition, change or elimination not otherwise permitted under the Indenture
  shall (1) neither apply to any Debt Security of any series created prior to
  the execution of such supplemental Indenture and entitled to the benefit of
  such provision nor modify the rights of the holders of any such Debt
  Security with respect to such provision or (2) become effective only when
  there is no such Debt Security outstanding;
 
    (k) to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment by a
  successor or separate Trustee with respect to the Debt Securities of one or
  more series and to add to or change any of the provisions of the Indenture
  as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of
  the Indenture by more than one Trustee; and
 
    (l) to establish the form or terms of Debt Securities and coupons of any
  series, as described under "Description of Debt Securities--General" above.
 
  With the consent of the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount
of the outstanding Debt Securities of each series affected thereby, the
Company and the Trustee may from time to time and at any time enter into a
supplemental Indenture for the purpose of adding any provisions to, changing
in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of the Indenture or of any
supplemental Indenture or modifying in any manner the rights of the holder of
the Debt Securities of such series; provided, however, that without the
consent of the holders of each Debt Security so affected, no such supplemental
Indenture shall (a) reduce the percentage in principal amount of Debt
Securities of any series whose holders must consent to an amendment, (b)
reduce the rate of or extend the time for payment of interest on any Debt
Security or coupon or reduce the amount of any payment to be made with respect
to any coupon, (c) reduce the principal of or extend the stated maturity of
any Debt Security, (d) reduce the premium payable upon the redemption of any
Debt Security or change the time at which any Debt Security may or shall be
redeemed, (e) make any Debt Security payable in a currency other than that
stated in the Debt Security, (f) in the case of any Subordinated Debt Security
or coupons appertaining thereto, make any change in the provisions of the
Indenture relating to subordination that adversely affects the
 
                                      18

 
rights of any holder under such provisions, (g) release any security that may
have been granted with respect to the Debt Securities, (h) make any change in
the provisions of the Indenture relating to waivers of defaults or amendments
that require unanimous consent, (i) change any obligation of the Company
provided for in the Indenture to pay additional interest with respect to
Bearer Securities or (j) limit the obligation of the Company to maintain a
paying agency outside the United States for payment on Bearer Securities or
limit the obligation of the Company to redeem certain Bearer Securities.
 
CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, AND SALE OF ASSETS
 
  The Company may not consolidate with or merge with or into any person, or
convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all of its assets, unless the
following conditions have been satisfied:
 
    (a) either (1) the Company shall be the continuing person in the case of
  a merger or (2) the resulting, surviving, or transferee person, if other
  than the Company (the "Successor Company"), shall be a corporation
  organized and existing under the laws of the United States, any State
  thereof, or the District of Columbia and shall expressly assume all of the
  obligations of the Company under the Debt Securities and coupons and the
  Indenture;
 
    (b) immediately after giving effect to such transaction (and treating any
  indebtedness that becomes an obligation of the Successor Company or any
  subsidiary of the Company as a result of such transaction as having been
  incurred by the Successor Company or such subsidiary at the time of such
  transaction), no Default or Event of Default would occur or be continuing;
 
    (c) the Successor Company waives any right to redeem any Bearer Security
  under circumstances in which the Successor Company would be entitled to
  redeem such Bearer Security but the Company would not have been so entitled
  to redeem if the consolidation, merger, conveyance, transfer or lease had
  not occurred; and
 
    (d) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an officers'
  certificate and an opinion of counsel, each stating that such
  consolidation, merger or transfer complies with the Indenture.
 
SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE OF THE INDENTURE; DEFEASANCE
 
  The Indenture shall generally cease to be of any further effect with respect
to a series of Debt Securities if (a) the Company has delivered to the Trustee
for cancelation all Debt Securities of such series (with certain limited
exceptions) or (b) all Debt Securities and coupons of such series not
theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancelation shall have become due and
payable, or are by their terms to become due and payable within one year or
are to be called for redemption within one year, and the Company shall have
deposited with the Trustee as trust funds the entire amount sufficient to pay
at maturity or upon redemption all such Debt Securities and coupons (and if,
in either case, the Company shall also pay or cause to be paid all other sums
payable under the Indenture by the Company).
 
  In addition, the Company shall have a "legal defeasance option" (pursuant to
which it may terminate, with respect to the Debt Securities of a particular
series, all of its obligations under such Debt Securities and the Indenture
with respect to such Debt Securities) and a "covenant defeasance option"
(pursuant to which it may terminate, with respect to the Debt Securities of a
particular series, its obligations with respect to such Debt Securities under
certain specified covenants contained in the Indenture). If the Company
exercises its legal defeasance option with respect to a series of Debt
Securities, payment of such Debt Securities may not be accelerated because of
an Event of Default. If the Company exercises its covenant defeasance option
with respect to a series of Debt Securities, payment of such Debt Securities
may not be accelerated because of an Event of Default related to the specified
covenants.
 
  The applicable Prospectus Supplement will describe the procedures the
Company must follow in order to exercise its defeasance options.
 
                                      19

 
THE TRUSTEE
 
  The Company may appoint a separate Trustee for any series of Debt
Securities. As used herein in the description of a series of Debt Securities,
the term "Trustee" refers to the Trustee appointed with respect to such series
of Debt Securities.
 
  The Company may maintain banking and other commercial relationships with the
Trustee and its affiliates in the ordinary course of business, and the Trustee
may own Debt Securities.
 
                         DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK
 
GENERAL
 
  The following summary of certain provisions of the Company's capital stock
does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and qualified in its
entirety by, the provisions of the Company's Certificate of Incorporation (the
"Certificate of Incorporation"), which is included as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement of which this Prospectus is a part, and by the
provisions of applicable law.
 
COMMON STOCK
 
  The Company's Certificate of Incorporation authorizes the issuance of up to
30,000,000 shares of Common Stock, $.01 par value per share. Holders of Common
Stock are entitled to one vote for each share held on all matters submitted to
a vote of stockholders and do not have cumulative voting rights. Accordingly,
holders of a majority of the shares of Common Stock entitled to vote in any
election of directors may elect all of the directors standing for election.
Holders of Common Stock are entitled to receive ratably such dividends, if
any, as may be declared by the Board of Directors out of funds legally
available therefor, subject to any preferential dividend rights of outstanding
Preferred Stock. Upon the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the
Company, the holders of Common Stock are entitled to receive ratably the net
assets of the Company available after the payment of all debts and other
liabilities and subject to the prior rights of any outstanding Preferred
Stock. Holders of Common Stock have no preemption, subscription, redemption or
conversion rights. The outstanding shares of Common Stock are fully paid and
nonassessable. The rights, preferences and privileges of holders of Common
Stock are subject to, and may be adversely affected by, the rights of the
holders of shares of any series of Preferred Stock which the Company may
designate and issue in the future.
 
  The outstanding shares of Common Stock are listed on the NASDAQ and trade
under the symbol "CHRX."
 
  The transfer agent and registrar for the Common Stock is Boston EquiServe
L.P., an affiliate of The First National Bank of Boston.
 
PREFERRED STOCK
 
  The following description of the terms of the Preferred Stock sets forth
certain general terms and provisions of the Preferred Stock to which a
Prospectus Supplement may relate. Specific terms of any series of Preferred
Stock offered by a Prospectus Supplement will be described in the Prospectus
Supplement relating to such series. The description set forth below is subject
to and qualified in its entirety by reference to the certificate of
designations establishing a particular series of Preferred Stock, which will
be filed with the SEC in connection with the offering of such series.
 
  The Certificate of Incorporation authorizes the issuance of up to 4,000,000
shares of Preferred Stock, $.01 par value per share. Under the terms of the
Certificate of Incorporation, the Board of Directors is authorized, subject to
any limitations prescribed by law, without stockholder approval, to issue such
shares of Preferred Stock in one or more series. Each such series of Preferred
Stock shall have such rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions,
including voting rights, dividend rights, conversion rights, redemption
privileges and liquidation
 
                                      20

 
preferences, as shall be determined by the Board of Directors. Accordingly,
the Board of Directors, without stockholder approval, may issue undesignated
stock with terms that could adversely affect the voting power and other rights
of holders of Common Stock.
 
  The existence of undesignated preferred stock may have the effect of
discouraging attempts to acquire control of the Company with a view to
effecting a merger, sale or exchange of assets or a similar transaction. The
anti-takeover effects of the undesignated shares may deny stockholders the
opportunity to receive a premium on their stock and may also have a depressive
effect on the market price of the Common Stock.
 
  The transfer agent, registrar, and dividend disbursement agent for a series
of Preferred Stock will be selected by the Company and will be described in
the applicable Prospectus Supplement. The registrar for shares of Preferred
Stock will send notices to stockholders of any meetings at which holders of
the Preferred Stock have the right to elect directors of the Company or to
vote on any other matter.
 
RIGHTS PLAN
 
 Rights
 
  The Board of Directors of the Company, pursuant to a stockholders rights
plan (the "Rights Plan") has declared a dividend of one right (the "Rights")
for each outstanding share of Common Stock. The Rights were issued to the
holders of record of Common Stock outstanding on the Rights issuance date, and
with respect to Common Stock issued thereafter until the Distribution Date (as
defined below), and, in certain circumstances, with respect to Common Stock
issued after the Distribution Date. Each Right, when it becomes exercisable as
described below, will entitle the registered holder to purchase from the
Company one one-thousandth (1/1000th) of a share of Preferred Stock (the
"Preferred Shares") at a price of $50 per (1/1000th) of a share, subject to
adjustment in certain circumstances (the "Purchase Price"). The description
and terms of the Rights are set forth in a Rights Agreement (the "Rights
Agreement") between the Company and the Rights Agent named therein. The Rights
will not be exercisable until the Distribution Date and will expire on the
tenth annual anniversary of the Rights Agreement (the "Expiration Date"),
unless earlier redeemed by the Company. Until a Right is exercised, the holder
thereof, as such, will have no rights as a stockholder of the Company,
including, without limitation, the right to vote or to receive dividends with
respect to the Rights of the Preferred Shares relating thereto.
 
 Distribution Date
 
  Under the Rights Agreement, the Distribution Date is the earlier of (i) such
time as the Company learns that a person or group (including any affiliate or
associate of such person or group) has acquired, or has obtained the right to
acquire, beneficial ownership of more than 15% of the outstanding shares of
Common Stock (such person or group being an "Acquiring Person"), unless
provisions preventing accidental triggering of the distribution of the Rights
apply, and (ii) the close of business on such date, if any, as may be
designated by the Board of Directors following the commencement of, or first
public disclosure of an intent to commence, a tender or exchange offer for
more than 15% or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock.
 
 Triggering Event and Effect of Triggering Event
 
  At such time as there is an Acquiring Person, the Rights will entitle each
holder (other than such Acquiring Person) of a Right to purchase, for the
Purchase Price, that number of one one-thousandths (1/1000ths) of a Preferred
Share equivalent to the number of shares of Common Stock which at the time of
such event would have a market value of twice the Purchase Price.
 
  In the event the Company is acquired in a merger or other business
combination by an Acquiring Person or an affiliate or associate of an
Acquiring Person that is a publicly traded corporation or 50% or more of the
Company's assets or assets representing 50% or more of the Company's revenues
or cash flow are sold, leased, exchanged or otherwise transferred (in one or
more transactions) to an Acquiring Person or an affiliate or
 
                                      21

 
associate of an Acquiring Person, each Right will entitle its holder (other
than Rights beneficially owned by such Acquiring Person or its affiliates or
associates) to purchase, for the Purchase Price, that number of common shares
of such corporation (or, if such corporation is not a publicly traded
corporation, that number of common shares of an affiliate of such corporation
that has publicly traded shares) which at the time of the transaction would
have a market value or, in certain circumstances, book value of twice the
Purchase Price.
 
 Redemption
 
  At any time prior to the earlier of (i) such time as a person or group
becomes an Acquiring Person and (ii) the Expiration Date, the Board of
Directors may redeem the Rights in whole, but not in part, at a price (in cash
or Common Stock or other securities of the Company deemed by the Board of
Directors to be at least equivalent in value) of $.10 per Right (which amount
shall be subject to adjustment as provided in the Rights Agreement) (the
"Redemption Price"). Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors
ordering the redemption of the Rights, and without any further action and
without any notice, the right to exercise the Rights will terminate and the
only right of the holders of Rights will be to receive the Redemption Price.
 
  In addition, at any time after there is an Acquiring Person, the Board of
Directors may elect to exchange each Right for consideration per Right
consisting of one-half of the securities that would be issuable at such time
upon exercise of one Right pursuant to the terms of the Rights Agreement.
 
 Amendment
 
  At any time prior to the Distribution Date, the Company may, without the
approval of any holder of any Rights, supplement or amend any provision of the
Rights Agreement (including, without limitation, the date on which the
Distribution Date shall occur, the definition of Acquiring Person, the time
during which the Rights may be redeemed or the terms of the Preferred Shares),
except that no supplement or amendment shall be made which reduces the
Redemption Price (other than pursuant to certain adjustments therein) or
provides for an earlier Expiration Date.
 
 Certain Effects of the Rights Plan
 
  The Rights Plan is designed to protect stockholders of the Company in the
event of unsolicited offers to acquire the Company and other coercive takeover
tactics which, in the opinion of the Board of Directors, could impair its
ability to represent stockholder interests. The provisions of the Rights Plan
may render an unsolicited takeover of the Company more difficult or less
likely to occur or might prevent such a takeover, even though such takeover
may offer the Company's stockholders the opportunity to sell their stock at a
price above the prevailing market rate and may be favored by a majority of the
stockholders of the Company.
 
DELAWARE LAW AND CERTAIN CHARTER AND BY-LAW PROVISIONS
 
  The Company is subject to the provisions of Section 203 of the General
Corporation Law of Delaware. Section 203 prohibits a publicly held Delaware
corporation from engaging in a "business combination" with an "interested
stockholder" for a period of three years after the date of the transaction in
which the person became an interested stockholder, unless the business
combination is approved in a prescribed manner. A "business combination"
includes mergers, asset sales and other transactions resulting in a financial
benefit to the interested stockholder. Subject to certain exceptions, an
"interested stockholder" is a person who, together with affiliates and
associates, owns, or within three years did own, 15% or more of the
corporation's voting stock.
 
  The Company's Amended and Restated By-Laws (the "Amended and Restated By-
Laws") provide for the division of the Board of Directors into three classes
as nearly equal in size as possible with staggered three-year terms. In
addition, the Amended and Restated By-Laws provide that directors may be
removed only for cause by the affirmative vote of the holders of two-thirds of
the shares of capital stock of the corporation entitled to vote. Under the
Company's Amended and Restated By-Laws, any vacancy on the Board of Directors,
however
 
                                      22

 
occurring, including a vacancy resulting from an enlargement of the Board, may
be filled only by vote of a majority of the directors then in office. The
classification of the Board of Directors and the limitations on the removal of
directors and filling of vacancies could have the effect of making it more
difficult for a third party to acquire, or of discouraging a third party from
acquiring, control of the Company.
 
  The Company's Amended and Restated By-Laws also provide that any action
required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders of the Company at an
annual meeting or special meeting of stockholders may be taken only if it is
properly brought before such meeting and may not be taken by written action in
lieu of a meeting. For business to be properly brought before an annual
meeting by a stockholder, the stockholder must give written notice thereof to
the Secretary of the Company, subject to certain exceptions, not less than 70
days nor more than 90 days prior to the anniversary date of the previous
annual meeting. In addition, the Amended and Restated By-Laws provide that the
Company need not present a stockholder proposal which was otherwise submitted
properly, if such stockholder or its representative does not appear to present
such proposal at the annual meeting. The Amended and Restated By-Laws further
provide that special meetings of the stockholders may only be called by the
Chairman of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer or the
President of the Company or by the Board of Directors. Under the Company's
Amended and Restated By-Laws, in order for any matter to be considered
"properly brought" before a meeting, a stockholder must comply with certain
other requirements regarding notice to the Company. The foregoing provisions
could have the effect of delaying until the next stockholders meeting
stockholder actions which are favored by the holders of a majority of the
outstanding voting securities of the Company. These provisions may also
discourage another person or entity from making a tender offer for the Common
Stock, because such person or entity, even if acquired a majority of the
outstanding voting securities of the Company, would be able to take action as
a stockholder (such as electing new directors or approving a merger) only at a
duly called stockholders meeting, and not by written consent.
 
  The General Corporation Law of Delaware provides generally that the
affirmative vote of a majority of the shares entitled to vote on any matter is
required to amend a corporation's Certificate of Incorporation or By-Laws,
unless a corporation's Certificate of Incorporation or By-Laws, as the case
may be, requires a greater percentage. The Company's Amended and Restated By-
Laws require the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 75% of the shares
of capital stock of the Company issued and outstanding and entitled to vote to
amend or repeal any of the provisions described in the prior two paragraphs.
 
  The Company's Certificate of Incorporation contains certain provisions
permitted under the General Corporation Law of Delaware relating to the
liability of directors. These provisions eliminate a director's liability for
monetary damages for a breach of fiduciary duty, except in certain
circumstances involving wrongful acts, such as the breach of a director's duty
of loyalty or acts or omissions which involve intentional misconduct or a
knowing violation of law. Further, the Company's Certificate of Incorporation
contains provisions to indemnify the Company's directors and officers to the
fullest extent permitted by the General Corporation Law of Delaware. The
Company believes that these provisions will assist the Company in attracting
and retaining qualified individuals to serve as directors.
 
                       DESCRIPTION OF DEPOSITARY SHARES
 
  The description set forth below and in any Prospectus Supplement of certain
provisions of the Deposit Agreement (as defined below) and of the Depositary
Shares (as defined below) and Depositary Receipts (as defined below) does not
purport to be complete and is subject to and qualified in its entirety by
reference to the forms of Deposit Agreement and Depositary Receipts relating
to each series of Preferred Stock that will be filed with the SEC in
connection with the offering of such series of Preferred Stock.
 
GENERAL
 
  The Company may, at its option, elect to offer fractional interests in
shares of Preferred Stock, rather than shares of Preferred Stock. In the event
such option is exercised, the Company will provide for the issuance by a
depositary to the public of receipts for depositary shares ("Depositary
Shares"), each of which will represent
 
                                      23

 
fractional interests of a particular series of Preferred Stock (which will be
set forth in the Prospectus Supplement relating to a particular series of
Preferred Stock).
 
  The shares of any series of Preferred Stock underlying the Depositary Shares
will be deposited under a separate Deposit Agreement (the "Deposit Agreement")
between the Company and a bank or trust company selected by the Company having
its principal office in the United States and having a combined capital and
surplus of at least $50 million. The Prospectus Supplement relating to a
series of Depositary Shares will set forth the name and address of the
depositary with respect to such Depositary Shares. Subject to the terms of the
Deposit Agreement, each owner of Depositary Shares will be entitled, in
proportion to the applicable fractional interests in shares of Preferred Stock
underlying such Depositary Shares, to all the rights and preferences of the
Preferred Stock underlying such Depositary Shares (including dividend, voting,
redemption, conversion, and liquidation rights).
 
  The Depositary Shares will be evidenced by depositary receipts issued
pursuant to the Deposit Agreement (the "Depositary Receipts"). Depositary
Receipts will be distributed to those persons purchasing the fractional
interests in shares of the related series of Preferred Stock in accordance
with the terms of the offering described in the related Prospectus Supplement.
 
DIVIDENDS AND OTHER DISTRIBUTIONS
 
  The depositary will distribute all cash dividends or other cash
distributions received with respect to Preferred Stock to the record holders
of Depositary Shares relating to such Preferred Stock in proportion to the
numbers of such Depositary Shares owned by such holders on the relevant record
date. The depositary shall distribute only such amount, however, as can be
distributed without attributing to any holder of Depositary Shares a fraction
of one cent, and the balance not so distributed shall be added to and treated
as part of the next sum received by the depositary for distribution to record
holders of Depositary Shares.
 
  In the event of a distribution other than in cash, the depositary will
distribute property received by it to the record holders of Depositary Shares
entitled thereto, unless the depositary determines that it is not feasible to
make such distribution, in which case the depositary may, with the approval of
the Company, sell such property and distribute the net proceeds from such sale
to such holders.
 
  The Deposit Agreement will also contain provisions relating to the manner in
which any subscription or similar rights offered by the Company to holders of
the Preferred Stock shall be made available to the holders of Depositary
Shares.
 
REDEMPTION OF DEPOSITARY SHARES
 
  If a series of the Preferred Stock underlying the Depositary Shares is
subject to redemption, the Depositary Shares will be redeemed from the
proceeds received by the depositary resulting from the redemption, in whole or
in part, of such series of the Preferred Stock held by the depositary. The
depositary shall mail notice of redemption not less than 30 and not more than
60 days prior to the date fixed for redemption to the record holders of the
Depositary Shares to be so redeemed at their respective addresses appearing in
the depositary's books. The redemption price per Depositary Share will be
equal to the applicable fraction of the redemption price per share payable
with respect to such series of the Preferred Stock. Whenever the Company
redeems shares of Preferred Stock held by the depositary, the depositary will
redeem as of the same redemption date the number of Depositary Shares relating
to shares of Preferred Stock so redeemed. If less than all the Depositary
Shares are to be redeemed, the Depositary Shares to be redeemed will be
selected by lot or pro rata as may be determined by the depositary.
 
  After the date fixed for redemption, the Depositary Shares so called for
redemption will no longer be outstanding and all rights of the holders of the
Depositary Shares will cease, except the right to receive the money,
securities, or other property payable upon such redemption and any money,
securities, or other property to which the holders of such Depositary Shares
were entitled upon such redemption upon surrender to the depositary of the
Depositary Receipts evidencing such Depositary Shares.
 
                                      24

 
VOTING THE PREFERRED STOCK
 
  Upon receipt of notice of any meeting at which the holders of the Preferred
Stock are entitled to vote, the depositary will mail the information contained
in such notice of meeting to the record holders of the Depositary Shares
relating to such Preferred Stock. Each record holder of such Depositary Shares
on the record date (which will be the same date as the record date for the
Preferred Stock) will be entitled to instruct the depositary as to the
exercise of the voting rights pertaining to the number of shares of Preferred
Stock underlying such holder's Depositary Shares. The depositary will
endeavor, insofar as practicable, to vote the number of shares of Preferred
Stock underlying such Depositary Shares in accordance with such instructions,
and the Company will agree to take all action that may be deemed necessary by
the depositary in order to enable the depositary to do so.
 
AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION OF DEPOSITARY AGREEMENT
 
  The form of Depositary Receipt evidencing the Depositary Shares and any
provision of the Deposit Agreement may at any time be amended by agreement
between the Company and the depositary. However, any amendment that materially
and adversely alters the rights of the existing holders of Depositary Shares
will not be effective unless such amendment has been approved by the record
holders of at least a majority of the Depositary Shares then outstanding. A
Deposit Agreement may be terminated by the Company or the depositary only if
(a) all outstanding Depositary Shares relating thereto have been redeemed or
(b) there has been a final distribution with respect to the Preferred Stock of
the relevant series in connection with any liquidation, dissolution, or
winding up of the Company and such distribution has been distributed to the
holders of the related Depositary Shares.
 
CHARGES OF DEPOSITARY
 
  The Company will pay all transfer and other taxes and governmental charges
arising solely from the existence of the depositary arrangements. The Company
will pay charges of the depositary in connection with the initial deposit of
the Preferred Stock and any redemption of the Preferred Stock. Holders of
Depositary Shares will pay transfer and other taxes and governmental charges
and such other charges as are expressly provided in the Deposit Agreement to
be for their accounts.
 
RESIGNATION AND REMOVAL OF DEPOSITARY
 
  The depositary may resign at any time by delivering to the Company notice of
its election to do so, and the Company may at any time remove the depositary,
any such designation or removal to take effect upon the appointment of a
successor depositary and its acceptance of such appointment. Such successor
depositary must be appointed within 60 days after delivery of the notice of
resignation or removal and must be a bank or trust company having its
principal office in the United States and having a combined capital and
surplus of at least $50 million.
 
MISCELLANEOUS
 
  The depositary will forward to the holders of Depositary Shares all reports
and communications from the Company that are delivered to the depositary and
that the Company is required to furnish to the holders of the Preferred Stock.
 
  Neither the depositary nor the Company will be liable if it is prevented or
delayed by law or any circumstance beyond its control in performing its
obligations under the Deposit Agreement. The obligations of the Company and
the depositary under the Deposit Agreement will be limited to performance in
good faith of their duties thereunder and they will not be obligated to
prosecute or defend any legal proceeding with respect to any Depositary Shares
or Preferred Stock unless satisfactory indemnity is furnished. They may rely
upon written advice of counsel or accountants, or information provided by
persons presenting Preferred Stock for deposit, holders of Depositary Shares
or other persons believed to be competent and on documents believed to be
genuine.
 
                                      25

 
                            DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS
 
  The Company may issue Warrants for the purchase of Debt Securities,
Preferred Stock or Common Stock. Warrants may be issued independently or
together with Debt Securities, Preferred Stock or Common Stock offered by any
Prospectus Supplement and may be attached to or separate from any such Offered
Securities. Each series of Warrants will be issued under a separate warrant
agreement (a "Warrant Agreement") to be entered into between the Company and a
bank or trust company, as warrant agent (the "Warrant Agent"). The Warrant
Agent will act solely as an agent of the Company in connection with the
Warrants and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust
for or with any holders or beneficial owners of Warrants. The following
summary of certain provisions of the Warrants does not purport to be complete
and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by reference to, the
provisions of the Warrant Agreement that will be filed with the SEC in
connection with the offering of such Warrants.
 
DEBT WARRANTS
 
  The Prospectus Supplement relating to a particular issue of Debt Warrants
will describe the terms of such Debt Warrants, including the following: (a)
the title of such Debt Warrants; (b) the offering price for such Debt
Warrants, if any; (c) the aggregate number of such Debt Warrants; (d) the
designation and terms of the Debt Securities purchasable upon exercise of such
Debt Warrants; (e) if applicable, the designation and terms of the Debt
Securities with which such Debt Warrants are issued and the number of such
Debt Warrants issued with each such Debt Security; (f) if applicable, the date
from and after which such Debt Warrants and any Debt Securities issued
therewith will be separately transferable; (g) the principal amount of Debt
Securities purchasable upon exercise of a Debt Warrant and the price at which
such principal amount of Debt Securities may be purchased upon exercise (which
price may be payable in cash, securities, or other property); (h) the date on
which the right to exercise such Debt Warrants shall commence and the date on
which such right shall expire; (i) if applicable, the minimum or maximum
amount of such Debt Warrants that may be exercised at any one time; (j)
whether the Debt Warrants represented by the Debt Warrant certificates or Debt
Securities that may be issued upon exercise of the Debt Warrants will be
issued in registered or bearer form; (k) information with respect to book-
entry procedures, if any; (1) the currency (including the Euro) or currency
units (including ECUs) in which the offering price, if any, and the exercise
price are payable; (m) if applicable, a discussion of material United States
federal income tax considerations; (n) the antidilution provisions of such
Debt Warrants, if any; (o) the redemption or call provisions, if any,
applicable to such Debt Warrants; and (p) any additional terms of such Debt
Warrants, including terms, procedures, and limitations relating to the
exchange and exercise of such Debt Warrants.
 
STOCK WARRANTS
 
  The Prospectus Supplement relating to any particular issue of Preferred
Stock Warrants or Common Stock Warrants will describe the terms of such
Warrants, including the following: (a) the title of such Warrants; (b) the
offering price for such Warrants, if any; (c) the aggregate number of such
Warrants; (d) the designation and terms of the Common Stock or Preferred Stock
purchasable upon exercise of such Warrants; (e) if applicable, the designation
and terms of the Offered Securities with which such Warrants are issued and
the number of such Warrants issued with each such Offered Security; (f) if
applicable, the date from and after which such Warrants and any Offered
Securities issued therewith will be separately transferable; (g) the number of
shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock purchasable upon exercise of a
Warrant and the price at which such shares may be purchased upon exercise; (h)
the date on which the right to exercise such Warrants shall commence and the
date on which such right shall expire; (i) if applicable, the minimum or
maximum amount of such Warrants that may be exercised at any one time; (j) the
currency (including the Euro) or currency units (including ECUs) in which the
offering price, if any, and the exercise price are payable; (k) if applicable,
a discussion of material United States federal income tax considerations; (l)
the antidilution provisions of such Warrants, if any; (m) the redemption or
call provisions, if any, applicable to such Warrants; and (n) any additional
terms of such Warrants, including terms, procedures and limitations relating
to the exchange and exercise of such Warrants.
 
                                      26

 
                             PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
 
  The Company may sell the Offered Securities in or outside the United States
through underwriters or dealers, directly to one or more purchasers, or
through agents. The Prospectus Supplement with respect to the Offered
Securities will set forth the terms of the offering of the Offered Securities,
including the name or names of any underwriters, dealers, or agents, the
purchase price of the Offered Securities and the proceeds, to the Company from
such sale, any delayed delivery arrangements, any underwriting discounts and
other items constituting underwriters' compensation, the initial public
offering price, any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to
dealers, and any securities exchanges on which the Offered Securities may be
listed.
 
  If underwriters are used in the sale, the Offered Securities will be
acquired by the underwriters for their own account and may be resold from time
to time in one or more transactions, including negotiated transactions, at a
fixed public offering price or at varying prices determined at the time of
sale. The Offered Securities may be offered to the public either through
underwriting syndicates represented by one or more managing underwriters or
directly by one or more firms acting as underwriters. The underwriter or
underwriters with respect to a particular underwritten offering of Offered
Securities will be named in the Prospectus Supplement relating to such
offering, and if an underwriting syndicate is used, the managing underwriter
or underwriters will be set forth on the cover of such Prospectus Supplement.
Unless otherwise set forth in the Prospectus Supplement relating thereto, the
obligations of the underwriters or agents to purchase the Offered Securities
will be subject to conditions precedent and the underwriters will be obligated
to purchase all the Offered Securities if any are purchased. The initial
public offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or
paid to dealers may be changed from time to time.
 
  If dealers are utilized in the sale of Offered Securities with respect to
which this Prospectus is delivered, the Company will sell such Offered
Securities to the dealers as principals. The dealers may then resell such
Offered Securities to the public at varying prices to be determined by such
dealers at the time of resale. The names of the dealers and the terms of the
transaction will be set forth in the Prospectus Supplement relating thereto.
 
  Offered Securities may be sold directly by the Company or through agents
designated by the Company from time to time at fixed prices, which may be
changed, or at varying prices determined at the time of sale. Any agent
involved in the offer or sale of the Offered Securities with respect to which
this Prospectus is delivered will be named, and any commissions payable by the
Company to such agent will be set forth, in the Prospectus Supplement relating
thereto. Unless otherwise indicated in the Prospectus Supplement, any such
agent will be acting on a best efforts basis for the period of its
appointment.
 
  In connection with the sale of the Offered Securities, underwriters or
agents may receive compensation from the Company or from purchasers of Offered
Securities for whom they may act as agents in the form of discounts,
concessions, or commissions. Underwriters, agents, and dealers participating
in the distribution of the Offered Securities may be deemed to be
underwriters, and any discounts or commissions received by them from the
Company and any profit on the resale of the Offered Securities by them may be
deemed to be underwriting discounts or commissions under the Securities Act.
 
  Offered Securities may be sold directly by the Company to institutional
investors or others, who may be deemed to be underwriters within the meaning
of the Securities Act with respect to any resale thereof. The terms of any
such sales will be described in the Prospectus Supplement relating thereto.
 
  If so indicated in the Prospectus Supplement, the Company will authorize
agents, underwriters, or dealers to solicit offers from certain types of
institutions to purchase Offered Securities from the Company at the public
offering price set forth in the Prospectus Supplement pursuant to delayed
delivery contracts providing for payment and delivery on a specified date in
the future. Such contracts will be subject only to those conditions set forth
in the Prospectus Supplement, and the Prospectus Supplement will set forth the
commission payable for solicitation of such contracts.
 
                                      27

 
  Agents, dealers, and underwriters may be entitled under agreements entered
into with the Company to indemnification by the Company against certain civil
liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to
contribution with respect to payments that such agents, dealers, or
underwriters may be required to make with respect thereto. Agents, dealers,
and underwriters may be customers of, engage in transactions with, or perform
services for the Company in the ordinary course of business.
 
  Some or all of the Offered Securities may be new issues of securities with
no established trading market. Any underwriters to whom Offered Securities are
sold by the Company for public offering and sale may make a market in such
Offered Securities, but such underwriters will not be obligated to do so and
may discontinue any market making at any time without notice. No assurance can
be given as to the liquidity of or the trading markets for any Offered
Securities.
 
  In order to facilitate the offering of the Offered Securities, any
underwriters or agents, as the case may be, involved in the offering of such
Offered Securities may engaged in transactions that stabilize, maintain or
otherwise affect the price of the Offered Securities or any other securities
the prices of which may be used to determine payments on such Offered
Securities. Specifically, the underwriters or agents, as the case may be, may
overallot in connection with the offering, creating a short position in such
Offered Securities for their own account. In addition, to cover overallotments
or to stabilize the price of such Offered Securities or any such other
securities, the underwriters or agents, as the case may be, may bid for, and
purchase, such Offered Securities or any such other securities in the open
market. Finally, in any offering of such Offered Securities through a
syndicate of underwriters, the underwriting syndicate may reclaim selling
concessions allowed to an underwriter or a dealer for distributing such
Offered Securities in the offering if the syndicate repurchases previously
distributed Offered Securities in transactions to cover syndicate short
positions, in stabilization transactions or otherwise. Any of these activities
may stabilize or maintain the market price of the Offered Securities above
independent market levels. The underwriters or agents, as the case may be, are
not required to engage in these activities, and may end any of these
activities at any time.
 
  Agents, dealers and underwriters may be entitled under agreements entered
into with the Company to indemnification by the Company against certain civil
liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to
contribution with respect to payments that such agents, dealers, or
underwriters may be required to make with respect thereto.
 
  Certain of the underwriters, dealers or agents and their affiliates may be
customers of, engage in transactions with or perform services for the Company
in the ordinary course of business.
 
                                LEGAL OPINIONS
 
  The validity of the Offered Securities will be passed upon for the Company
by Cravath, Swaine & Moore, New York, New York and for any underwriters by
[               ].
 
                                    EXPERTS
 
 
  The consolidated statements of operations, shareholders' equity and cash
flows of ChiRex Inc. for the year ended December 31, 1995 have been
incorporated by reference in this Prospectus in reliance upon the report of
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, independent accountants, and upon the authority of
said firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
 
  The consolidated balance sheets of ChiRex Inc. as of December 31, 1996 and
1997 and the related consolidated statements of operations, stockholders'
equity and cash flows for each of the two years in the period ended December
31, 1997 incorporated by reference in this Prospectus have been audited by
Arthur Andersen LLP, independent public accountants, to the extent and for the
periods indicated in their report with respect
 
                                      28

 
thereto and have been included herein in reliance upon the authority of such
firm as experts in accounting and auditing in giving such reports.
 
  On September 5, 1996, the Company engaged Arthur Andersen LLP as its
independent accountant and dismissed PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP from such
position. The decision to change accountants was made by the Board of
Directors of the Company. During the fiscal year ended December 31, 1995 and
the subsequent interim period immediately preceding the date of this change in
accountants, the Company and each of its subsidiaries (the "Subsidiaries") had
no disagreements with PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP on any matter of accounting
principles or practices, financial statements disclosure or auditing scope or
procedure, which disagreement(s), if not resolved to the satisfaction of
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, would have caused PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP to
make a reference to the subject matter of the disagreement in connection with
its reports on the financial statements of the Company or any of the
Subsidiaries.
 
                                      29

 
                                    PART II
 
                    INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
 
ITEM 14. OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION
 
  The following table sets forth the various expenses in connection with the
sale and distribution of the securities being registered, other than the
underwriting discounts and commissions. All amounts shown are estimates except
for the Securities and Exchange Commission registration fee.
 

                                                                    
      SEC Registration Fee............................................ $ 27,800
      Accounting Fees and Expenses....................................  100,000
      Legal Fees and Expenses.........................................  200,000
      Printing, Engraving and Mailing Expenses........................   25,000
                                                                       --------
      Total........................................................... $352,800
                                                                       ========

 
ITEM 15. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
 
  Article EIGHTH of the Registrant's Certificate of Incorporation (the
"Certificate of Incorporation") provides that no director of the Registrant
shall be personally liable for any monetary damages for any breach of
fiduciary duty as a director, except to the extent that the Delaware General
Corporation Law prohibits the elimination or limitation of liability of
directors for breach of fiduciary duty.
 
  Article NINTH of the Certificate of Incorporation provides that a director
or officer of the Registrant (a) shall be indemnified by the Registrant
against all expenses (including attorneys' fees), judgments, fines and amounts
paid in settlement incurred in connection with any litigation or other legal
proceeding (other than an action by or in the right of the Registrant) brought
against him by virtue of his position as a director or officer of the
Registrant 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 Registrant, and, with
respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to
believe his conduct was unlawful and (b) shall be indemnified by the
Registrant against all expenses (including attorneys' fees) and amounts paid
in settlement incurred in connection with any action by or in the right of the
Registrant brought against him by virtue of his position as a director or
officer of the Registrant 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
Registrant, except that no indemnification shall be made with respect to any
matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the
Registrant, unless the Court of Chancery of Delaware determines that, despite
such adjudication but in view of all of the circumstances, he is entitled to
indemnification of such expenses. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent
that a director or officer has been successful, on the merits or otherwise,
including, without limitation, the dismissal of an action without prejudice,
he is required to be indemnified by the Registrant against all expenses
(including attorneys' fees) actually and reasonably incurred in connection
therewith. In the event the Registrant does not assume the defense of an
action in accordance with the Certificate of Incorporation, expenses shall be
advanced to a director or officer at his request prior to the final
disposition of the matter, provided that he undertakes to repay the amount
advanced if it is ultimately determined that he is not entitled to
indemnification for such expenses.
 
  Indemnification is required to be made unless the Registrant determines that
the applicable standard of conduct required for indemnification has not been
met. In the event of a determination by the Registrant that the director or
officer did not meet the applicable standard of conduct required for
indemnification, or if the Registrant fails to make an indemnification payment
within 60 days after such payment is claimed by such person, such person is
permitted to petition the court to make an independent determination as to
whether such person is entitled to indemnification. As a condition precedent
to the right of indemnification, the director, or officer must give the
Registrant notice of the action for which indemnity is sought and the
Registrant has the right to participate in such action or assume the defense
thereof.
 
                                     II-1

 
  Article NINTH of the Certificate of Incorporation further provides that the
indemnification provided therein is not exclusive, and provides that in the
event that the Delaware General Corporation Law is amended to expand the
indemnification permitted to directors or officers the Registrant must
indemnify those persons to the fullest extent permitted by such law as so
amended.
 
  Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law provides that a
corporation has the power to indemnify a director, officer, employee or agent
of the corporation and certain other persons serving at the request of the
corporation in related capacities against amounts paid and expenses incurred
in connection with an action or proceeding to which he is or is threatened to
be made a party by reason of such position, if such person shall have 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, in any criminal proceeding, if
such person had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful;
provided, that, in the case of actions brought by or in the right of the
corporation, no indemnification shall be made with respect to any matter as to
which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the corporation
unless and only to the extent that the adjudicating court determines that such
indemnification is proper under the circumstances.
 
  Pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement, the Underwriters are obligated,
under certain circumstances, to indemnify directors and officers of the
Registrant against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the
Securities Act. Reference is made to the form of Underwriting Agreement filed
as Exhibits 1 hereto.
 
  The Company has purchased a general liability insurance policy which covers
certain liabilities of directors and officers of the Company arising out of
claims based on acts or omissions in their capacities as directors and
officers.
 
ITEM 16. EXHIBITS
 


 EXHIBIT
  NO.                                   DESCRIPTION
 -------                                -----------
         
  1###      Form of Underwriting Agreement.
  2.1*      Agreement for the Sale and Purchase of the Entire Issued Share
            Capital of Sterling Organics Limited by and among Sanofi Winthrop
            Limited, Crossco (157) Limited and Sanofi, dated August 10, 1995.
  2.2*      Contribution Agreement by and among the Registrant, SepraChem Inc.
            and the shareholders of Crossco (157) Limited listed on Schedule I
            attached thereto, dated February 7, 1996.
  2.3*      Agreement and Plan of Merger by and among the Registrant, SepraChem
            Inc., Sepracor Inc., SepraChem Merger Corporation, Roger B. Pettman
            and Certain Trusts Affiliated with Victor H. Wooley, dated as of
            February 6, 1996, as amended.
  2.4+****  Asset Purchase Agreement between ChiRex Limited, ChiRex Inc. and
            Rhone-Poulenc Chimie S.A.
  2.5+***** Asset Purchase Agreement between ChiRex Inc. and Glaxo Wellcome
            plc.
  3.1*      Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant.
  3.2***    Amended and Restated By-Laws of the Registrant.
  4.1*      Specimen Certificate for Shares of Common Stock, $.01 par value, of
            the Registrant.
  4.2*****  Facilities Agreement between ChiRex (Holdings) Limited and Bankers
            Trust Company.
  4.3*****  Pledge Agreement between ChiRex Inc. and Bankers Trust Company.
  4.4###    Form of Indenture.
  4.5###    Form of Depositary Agreement.
  4.6###    Form of Warrant Agreement.
  5####     Opinion of Cravath, Swaine & Moore with respect to the validity of
            the securities being offered.
 10.1*      1995 Employee Stock Purchase Plan.

 
 
                                     II-2

 


 EXHIBIT
  NO.                                   DESCRIPTION
 -------                                -----------
        
 10.2***   1997 Stock Incentive Plan.
 10.3***   Amended and Restated 1995 Director Stock Option Plan.
 10.4*     Employment Agreement with Alan R. Clark.
 10.5*     Employment Agreement with David F. Raynor.
 10.6***   Employment Agreement with John Graham Thorpe.
 10.7***   Employment Agreement with John Edward Weir.
 10.8***   Settlement Agreement with Robert L. Bratzler.
 10.9***   Consulting Agreement with Robert L. Bratzler.
 10.10***  ChiRex Pension Scheme.
 10.11+*** Supply Agreement dated as of January 21, 1997 between ChiRex Inc.
           and Cell Therapeutics, Inc.
 10.12+*** License Agreement dated as of January 28, 1997 between ChiRex Inc.
           and President and Fellows of Harvard College.
 10.13*    Contract Research Agreement by and between the Registrant and
           Sepracor Inc. dated December 21, 1995.
 10.14*    Contract Manufacturing Agreement by and between the Registrant and
           Sepracor Inc.
 10.15*    Technology Transfer and License Agreement by and between the
           Registrant and Sepracor Inc., dated as of January 1, 1995, as
           amended.
 10.16*    Corporate Services Agreement by and between the Registrant and
           Sepracor Inc. dated December 21, 1995.
 10.17*    Supply Agreement by and between the Registrant and Sepracor Inc.
           dated December 21, 1995.
 10.18*    Technology Development Agreement by and between SepraChem Inc. and
           Sandoz Pharma Ltd., dated October 1, 1995.
 10.19*    License Agreement by and between Sepracor Inc. and Massachusetts
           Institute of Technology, dated May 5, 1989.
 10.20*    License Agreement by and between Sepracor Inc. and Massachusetts
           Institute of Technology, dated June 21, 1991.
 10.21*    License Agreement by and between Sepracor Inc. and Research
           Corporation Technologies, Inc., dated March 13, 1991.
 10.22*    License Agreement by and between Sepracor Inc. and Research
           Corporation Technologies, Inc., dated September 10, 1992.
 10.23*    License Agreement by and between Sepracor Inc. and Tanabe Seiyaku
           Co., Ltd., dated October 30, 1990.
 10.24*    Toll Manufacturing Agreement by and between Sterling Organics
           Limited and Rohm and Haas (UK) Limited, dated July 4, 1991.
 10.25*    Toll Manufacturing Agreement by and between Sterling Organics
           Limited and Rohm and Haas (UK) Limited, dated August 27, 1987.
 10.26*    Supply Agreement by and between Sterling Organics Limited and Sanofi
           S.A., dated August 10, 1995.
 10.27*    Supply Agreement by and between Sterling Organics Limited and Sanofi
           S.A. dated August 10, 1995.
 10.28*    Supply Agreement by and between Sterling Organics and Sanofi S.A.,
           dated August 10, 1995.

 
 
                                      II-3

 


 EXHIBIT
  NO.                                    DESCRIPTION
 -------                                 -----------
          
 10.29*      Sterling/Currency LIBOR Revolving Credit Facility between Midland
             Bank plc and ChiRex (Holdings) Limited, dated as of August 2,
             1996.
 10.30*      Procedural Joint Union Agreement by and between Sterling Organics
             and AEEU, dated July 7, 1975.
 10.31*      House Agreement by and between Sterling Organics Limited and AEEU,
             dated February 1976.
 10.32*      Procedural Agreement by and between Sterling Organics Limited and
             EESA, dated November 3, 1979.
 10.33*      Agreement by and between Sterling Organics Limited and ACTS, dated
             July 19, 1978.
 10.34*      Escrow Agreement by and between the Registrant, Roger B. Pettman
             and Broomes Secretarial Services Limited.
 10.35*      Escrow Agreement by and between Alan R. Clark, David F. Raynor,
             John E. Weir, J. Graham Thorpe, Hugh F. Ford, William Riddle,
             Geoff B. Loxham, C. Lyn Chapple, David A. Routledge and Broomes
             Secretarial Services Limited.
 10.36+***** Supply Agreement between ChiRex Inc. and Glaxo Wellcome plc.
 10.37##     Employment Agreement with Michael A. Griffith dated December 22,
             1997.
 10.38##     Employment Agreement with Jon E. Tropsa dated January 1, 1998.
 10.39##     Employment Agreement with Beth P. Hecht dated December 22, 1997.
 10.40##     Scientific Advisory Board Consulting Board Agreement with Eric
             Jacobsen, Ph.D. dated July 19, 1996.
 12###       Computation of Earnings to Fixed Charges--Deficiency Amount for
             the Registrant.
 13##        ChiRex Inc. 1997 Annual Report.
 16**        Letter re Change in Certifying Accountant.
 21###       Subsidiaries of the Registrant.
 23.1###     Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP.
 23.2###     Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
 23.3####    Consent of Cravath, Swaine & Moore (included in Exhibit 5).
 25###       Statement of Eligibility and Qualification under the Trust
             Indenture Act of 1939 of United States Trust Company of New York,
             as trustee, on Form T-1.

 
- --------
    * Incorporated by reference to the corresponding exhibits in the
    Registration Statement on Form S-1 previously filed by the Registrant
    (File no. 33-80831)
   ** Incorporated by reference to the Form 8-K previously filed by the
    Registrant on September 11, 1996.
  *** Incorporated by reference to the corresponding exhibits in the
    Registration Statement on Form S-1 previously filed by the Registrant on
    February 26, 1997 (File no. 333-22401).
 **** Incorporated by reference to the Form 8-K previously filed by the
    Registrant on April 11, 1997.
***** Previously filed by the Registrant on the Company's 1996 Annual Report
    on Form 10-K and is incorporated by reference.
    # Previously filed by the Registrant on the Company's 1996 Annual Report
    on Form 10-K and is incorporated by reference.
   ## Previously filed by the Registrant on the Company's 1997 Annual Report
    on Form 10-K and is incorporated by reference.
  ### Filed herewith.
 #### To be filed by amendment.
    + Confidential treatment received as to certain portions.
 
                                     II-4

 
ITEM 17. UNDERTAKINGS.
 
  (A) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:
 
    (1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a
  post-effective amendment to this registration statement:
 
      (i) To include any prospectus required by section 10(a)(3) of the
    Securities Act of 1933;
 
      (ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after
    the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent
    post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the
    aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth
    in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any
    increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total
    dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was
    registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated
    maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed
    with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the
    changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20% change in the
    maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the "Calculation of
    Registration Fee" table in the effective registration statement;
 
      (iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of
    distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or
    any material change to such information in this registration statement;
 
    Provided, however, that paragraphs (i) and (ii) above 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 of 1933, as amended, 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.
 
    (4) As to documents subsequently filed that are incorporated by
  reference: The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes
  of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing
  of the registrant's annual report pursuant to section 13(a) or section
  15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and each filing of an
  employee benefit plan's annual report pursuant to section 15(d) of the
  Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as applicable) that is incorporated by
  reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new
  registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
  offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial
  bona fide offering thereof.
 
  (B) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities
Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the
Registrant pursuant to the provisions contained in the Certificate of
Incorporation and Amended and Restated By-Laws of the Registrant and the laws
of the State of Delaware, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that
in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification
is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore,
unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such
liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or
paid by a director, officer, or controlling person of the Registrant in the
successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such
director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities
being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel
the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of
appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is
against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed
by the final adjudication of such issue.
 
                                     II-5

 
  (C) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes to provide to the
Underwriters at the closing specified in the Underwriting Agreement
certificates in such denominations and registered in such names as required by
the Underwriters to permit prompt delivery to each purchaser.
 
  (D) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that:
 
    (1) For the purposes of determining any liability under the Securities
  Act, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of
  this Registration Statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a
  form of prospectus filed by the Registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) or
  (4) or 497(h) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of this
  Registration Statement as of the time it was declared effective.
 
    (2) For the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities
  Act, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus shall
  be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities
  offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be
  deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
 
                                     II-6

 
                                   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 STAMFORD, CONNECTICUT ON DECEMBER 9, 1998.
 
                                          CHIREX INC.
 
                                                  /s/ Michael A. Griffith
                                          By: _________________________________
                                             MICHAEL A. GRIFFITH, CHAIRMAN AND
                                                  CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
 
  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
DATE INDICATED. EACH PERSON WHOSE SIGNATURE APPEARS BELOW HEREBY AUTHORIZES AND
APPOINTS MICHAEL A. GRIFFITH AND BETH P. HECHT, AND EACH OF THEM, EACH OF WHOM
MAY ACT WITHOUT JOINDER OF THE OTHER, AS HIS ATTORNEY-IN-FACT TO SIGN ON HIS
BEHALF INDIVIDUALLY AND IN THE CAPACITY STATED BELOW ALL AMENDMENTS AND POST-
EFFECTIVE AMENDMENTS TO THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT AS THAT ATTORNEY-IN-FACT
MAY DEEM NECESSARY OR APPROPRIATE.
 
              SIGNATURE                          TITLE               DATE
 
       /s/ Michael A. Griffith          Chairman of the Board,   December 9,
- -------------------------------------    Chief Executive             1998
         MICHAEL A. GRIFFITH             Officer, and Director
                                         (principal executive
                                         and financial
                                         officer)
 
           /s/ Dirk Detert              Director                 December 9,
- -------------------------------------                                1998
             DIRK DETERT
 
        /s/ Eric N. Jacobsen            Director                 December 9,
- -------------------------------------                                1998
          ERIC N. JACOBSEN
 
        /s/ W. Dieter Zander            Director                 December 9,
- -------------------------------------                                1998
          W. DIETER ZANDER
 
          /s/ Jon E. Tropsa             Vice President,          December 9,
- -------------------------------------    Finance (principal          1998
            JON E. TROPSA                accounting officer)
 
                                      II-7

 
                                 EXHIBIT INDEX
 


 EXHIBIT
  NO.                                   DESCRIPTION
 -------                                -----------
         
  1###      Form of Underwriting Agreement.
  2.1*      Agreement for the Sale and Purchase of the Entire Issued Share
            Capital of Sterling Organics Limited by and among Sanofi Winthrop
            Limited, Crossco (157) Limited and Sanofi, dated August 10, 1995.
  2.2*      Contribution Agreement by and among the Registrant, SepraChem Inc.
            and the shareholders of Crossco (157) Limited listed on Schedule I
            attached thereto, dated February 7, 1996.
  2.3*      Agreement and Plan of Merger by and among the Registrant, SepraChem
            Inc., Sepracor Inc., SepraChem Merger Corporation, Roger B. Pettman
            and Certain Trusts Affiliated with Victor H. Wooley, dated as of
            February 6, 1996, as amended.
  2.4+****  Asset Purchase Agreement between ChiRex Limited, ChiRex Inc. and
            Rhone-Poulenc Chimie S.A.
  2.5+***** Asset Purchase Agreement between ChiRex Inc. and Glaxo Wellcome
            plc.
  3.1*      Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant.
  3.2***    Amended and Restated By-Laws of the Registrant.
  4.1*      Specimen Certificate for Shares of Common Stock, $.01 par value, of
            the Registrant.
  4.2*****  Facilities Agreement between ChiRex (Holdings) Limited and Bankers
            Trust Company.
  4.3*****  Pledge Agreement between ChiRex Inc. and Bankers Trust Company.
  4.4###    Form of Indenture.
  4.5###    Form of Depositary Agreement.
  4.6###    Form of Warrant Agreement.
  5####     Opinion of Cravath, Swaine & Moore with respect to the validity of
            the securities being offered.
 10.1*      1995 Employee Stock Purchase Plan.
 10.2***    1997 Stock Incentive Plan.
 10.3***    Amended and Restated 1995 Director Stock Option Plan.
 10.4*      Employment Agreement with Alan R. Clark.
 10.5*      Employment Agreement with David F. Raynor.
 10.6***    Employment Agreement with John Graham Thorpe.
 10.7***    Employment Agreement with John Edward Weir.
 10.8***    Settlement Agreement with Robert L. Bratzler.
 10.9***    Consulting Agreement with Robert L. Bratzler.
 10.10***   ChiRex Pension Scheme.
 10.11+***  Supply Agreement dated as of January 21, 1997 between ChiRex Inc.
            and Cell Therapeutics, Inc.
 10.12+***  License Agreement dated as of January 28, 1997 between ChiRex Inc.
            and President and Fellows of Harvard College.
 10.13*     Contract Research Agreement by and between the Registrant and
            Sepracor Inc. dated December 21, 1995.
 10.14*     Contract Manufacturing Agreement by and between the Registrant and
            Sepracor Inc.
 10.15*     Technology Transfer and License Agreement by and between the
            Registrant and Sepracor Inc., dated as of January 1, 1995, as
            amended.
 10.16*     Corporate Services Agreement by and between the Registrant and
            Sepracor Inc. dated December 21, 1995.

 

 


 EXHIBIT
  NO.                                    DESCRIPTION
 -------                                 -----------
          
 10.17*      Supply Agreement by and between the Registrant and Sepracor Inc.
             dated December 21, 1995.
 10.18*      Technology Development Agreement by and between SepraChem Inc. and
             Sandoz Pharma Ltd., dated October 1, 1995.
 10.19*      License Agreement by and between Sepracor Inc. and Massachusetts
             Institute of Technology, dated May 5, 1989.
 10.20*      License Agreement by and between Sepracor Inc. and Massachusetts
             Institute of Technology, dated June 21, 1991.
 10.21*      License Agreement by and between Sepracor Inc. and Research
             Corporation Technologies, Inc., dated March 13, 1991.
 10.22*      License Agreement by and between Sepracor Inc. and Research
             Corporation Technologies, Inc., dated September 10, 1992.
 10.23*      License Agreement by and between Sepracor Inc. and Tanabe Seiyaku
             Co., Ltd., dated October 30, 1990.
 10.24*      Toll Manufacturing Agreement by and between Sterling Organics
             Limited and Rohm and Haas (UK) Limited, dated July 4, 1991.
 10.25*      Toll Manufacturing Agreement by and between Sterling Organics
             Limited and Rohm and Haas (UK) Limited, dated August 27, 1987.
 10.26*      Supply Agreement by and between Sterling Organics Limited and
             Sanofi S.A., dated August 10, 1995.
 10.27*      Supply Agreement by and between Sterling Organics Limited and
             Sanofi S.A. dated August 10, 1995.
 10.28*      Supply Agreement by and between Sterling Organics and Sanofi S.A.,
             dated August 10, 1995.
 10.29*      Sterling/Currency LIBOR Revolving Credit Facility between Midland
             Bank plc and ChiRex (Holdings) Limited, dated as of August 2,
             1996.
 10.30*      Procedural Joint Union Agreement by and between Sterling Organics
             and AEEU, dated July 7, 1975.
 10.31*      House Agreement by and between Sterling Organics Limited and AEEU,
             dated February 1976.
 10.32*      Procedural Agreement by and between Sterling Organics Limited and
             EESA, dated November 3, 1979.
 10.33*      Agreement by and between Sterling Organics Limited and ACTS, dated
             July 19, 1978.
 10.34*      Escrow Agreement by and between the Registrant, Roger B. Pettman
             and Broomes Secretarial Services Limited.
 10.35*      Escrow Agreement by and between Alan R. Clark, David F. Raynor,
             John E. Weir, J. Graham Thorpe, Hugh F. Ford, William Riddle,
             Geoff B. Loxham, C. Lyn Chapple, David A. Routledge and Broomes
             Secretarial Services Limited.
 10.36+***** Supply Agreement between ChiRex Inc. and Glaxo Wellcome plc.
 10.37##     Employment Agreement with Michael A. Griffith dated December 22,
             1997.
 10.38##     Employment Agreement with Jon E. Tropsa dated January 1, 1998.
 10.39##     Employment Agreement with Beth P. Hecht dated December 22, 1997.
 10.40##     Scientific Advisory Board Consulting Board Agreement with Eric
             Jacobsen, Ph.D. dated July 19, 1996.
 12###       Computation of Earnings to Fixed Charges--Deficient Amount for the
             Registrant.

 

 


 EXHIBIT
  NO.                                  DESCRIPTION
 -------                               -----------
       
 13##     ChiRex Inc. 1997 Annual Report.
 16**     Letter re Change in Certifying Accountant.
 21###    Subsidiaries of the Registrant.
 23.1###  Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP.
 23.2###  Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.
 23.3#### Consent of Cravath, Swaine & Moore (included in Exhibit 5).
 25###    Statement of Eligibility and Qualification under the Trust Indenture
          Act of 1939 of United States Trust Company of New York, as trustee,
          on Form T-1.

- --------
 
    * Incorporated by reference to the corresponding exhibits in the
    Registration Statement on Form S-1 previously filed by the Registrant
    (File no. 33-80831)
   ** Incorporated by reference to the Form 8-K previously filed by the
    Registrant on September 11, 1996.
  *** Incorporated by reference to the corresponding exhibits in the
    Registration Statement on Form S-1 previously filed by the Registrant on
    February 26, 1997 (File no. 333-22401).
 **** Incorporated by reference to the Form 8-K previously filed by the
   Registrant on April 11, 1997.
***** Previously filed by the Registrant on the Company's 1996 Annual Report
    on Form 10-K and is incorporated by reference.
    # Previously filed by the Registrant on the Company's 1996 Annual Report
    on Form 10-K and is incorporated by reference.
   ## Previously filed by the Registrant on the Company's 1997 Annual Report
    on Form 10-K and is incorporated by reference.
  ### Filed herewith.
 #### To be filed by amendment.
    + Confidential treatment received as to certain portions.