1
 
   
    AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON OCTOBER 5, 1995
    
 
   
                                                       REGISTRATION NO. 33-62673
    
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
                            ------------------------
 
   
                                AMENDMENT NO. 1
    
 
                                    FORM S-1
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                     UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
 
                            ------------------------
 
                              THE FIRST YEARS INC.
                        (Formerly Kiddie Products, Inc.)
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 

                                                              
          MASSACHUSETTS                          5098                           04-2149581
   (State or other jurisdiction      (Primary Standard Industrial            (I.R.S. Employer
of incorporation or organization)    Classification Code Number)          Identification Number)

 
                            ------------------------
 
           ONE KIDDIE DRIVE, AVON, MASSACHUSETTS 02322 (508) 588-1220
   (Address, including zip code and telephone number, including area code, of
                   registrant's principal executive offices)
 
                            ------------------------
 
                                RONALD J. SIDMAN
                CHAIRMAN, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND PRESIDENT
                              THE FIRST YEARS INC.
                                ONE KIDDIE DRIVE
                           AVON, MASSACHUSETTS 02322
                                 (508) 588-1220
  (Name and address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area
                          code, of agent for service)
 
                            ------------------------
 
                                   Copies to:
 

                                                              
      KEITH F. HIGGINS, ESQ.            GITTA M. KURLAT, ESQ.              PETER B. TARR, ESQ.
           ROPES & GRAY                   KURLAT ASSOCIATES                   HALE AND DORR
     ONE INTERNATIONAL PLACE               ONE BOSTON PLACE                  60 STATE STREET
   BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02110       BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02108       BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02109

 
                            ------------------------
 
        APPROXIMATE DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF PROPOSED SALE TO THE PUBLIC:
   AS SOON AS PRACTICABLE AFTER THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT BECOMES EFFECTIVE.
 
                            ------------------------
 
     If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on
a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of
1933, check the following box:  / /
 
     If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering
pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box and
list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective
registration statement for the same offering:  / /
 
     If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c)
under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act
registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement
for the same offering:  / /
 
     If delivery of the prospectus is expected to be made pursuant to Rule 434,
please check the following box:  / /
   
     THE REGISTRANT HEREBY AMENDS THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON SUCH DATE OR
DATES AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO DELAY ITS EFFECTIVE DATE UNTIL THE REGISTRANT SHALL
FILE A FURTHER AMENDMENT WHICH SPECIFICALLY STATES THAT THIS REGISTRATION
STATEMENT SHALL THEREAFTER BECOME EFFECTIVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 8(A) OF
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 OR UNTIL THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT SHALL BECOME
EFFECTIVE ON SUCH DATE AS THE COMMISSION, ACTING PURSUANT TO SAID SECTION 8(A),
MAY DETERMINE.
    
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   2
 
                              THE FIRST YEARS INC.
 
            CROSS REFERENCE SHEET SHOWING LOCATION IN PROSPECTUS OF
              INFORMATION REQUIRED BY ITEMS OF PART I OF FORM S-1
 


                REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                LOCATION IN PROSPECTUS                           ITEM AND CAPTION
      ------------------------------------------    ------------------------------------------
                                              
  1.  Forepart of the Registration Statement and
      Outside Front Cover Page of Prospectus....    Outside Front Cover Page of Prospectus
  2.  Inside Front and Outside Back Cover Pages
      of Prospectus.............................    Inside Front Cover Page and Outside Back
                                                    Cover Page of Prospectus; Additional
                                                    Information
  3.  Summary Information, Risk Factors and
      Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges........    Prospectus Summary; Risk Factors
  4.  Use of Proceeds...........................    Use of Proceeds
  5.  Determination of Offering Price...........    Not Applicable
  6.  Dilution..................................    Not Applicable
  7.  Selling Security Holders..................    Principal and Selling Stockholders
  8.  Plan of Distribution......................    Outside Front Cover Page of Prospectus;
                                                    Inside Front Cover Page of Prospectus;
                                                    Underwriting
  9.  Description of Securities to be
      Registered................................    Outside Front Cover Page of Prospectus;
                                                    Description of Capital Stock; Underwriting
 10.  Interests of Named Experts and Counsel....    Legal Matters; Experts
 11.  Information With Respect to the
      Registrant................................    Prospectus Summary; Risk Factors; Use of
                                                    Proceeds; Dividend Policy; Capitalization;
                                                    Selected Financial Data; Management's
                                                    Discussion and Analysis of Financial
                                                    Condition and Results of Operations;
                                                    Business; Management; Principal and
                                                    Selling Stockholders; Description of
                                                    Capital Stock; Underwriting; Financial
                                                    Statements
 12.  Disclosure of Commission Position on
      Indemnification for Securities Act
      Liabilities...............................    Not Applicable

   3
 
     INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS SUBJECT TO COMPLETION OR AMENDMENT. A
     REGISTRATION STATEMENT RELATING TO THESE SECURITIES HAS BEEN FILED WITH THE
     SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION. THESE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE SOLD NOR
     MAY OFFERS TO BUY BE ACCEPTED PRIOR TO THE TIME THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
     BECOMES EFFECTIVE. THIS PROSPECTUS SHALL NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR
     THE SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY NOR SHALL THERE BE ANY SALE OF THESE
     SECURITIES IN ANY STATE IN WHICH SUCH OFFER, SOLICITATION OR SALE WOULD BE
     UNLAWFUL PRIOR TO REGISTRATION OR QUALIFICATION UNDER THE SECURITIES LAWS
     OF ANY SUCH STATE.
 
   
                  SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED OCTOBER 5, 1995
    
 
                               1,200,000 SHARES
 
                              [FIRST YEARS LOGO]
 
                                 COMMON STOCK
                           ------------------------
     Of the 1,200,000 shares of Common Stock offered hereby, 600,000 shares are
being sold by The First Years Inc. (the "Company" or "The First Years") and
600,000 shares are being sold by certain stockholders of the Company (the
"Selling Stockholders"). See "Principal and Selling Stockholders." The Company
will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale of shares by the Selling
Stockholders.
 
   
     The Common Stock trades on the Nasdaq National Market under the symbol
"KIDD". On October 2, 1995, the last reported sale price of the Common Stock was
$22.75 per share. See "Price Range of Common Stock."
    
     THERE ARE CERTAIN RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS OFFERING. SEE "RISK FACTORS"
BEGINNING ON PAGE 5.
                            ------------------------
THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND
  EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION, NOR HAS THE
     SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION
       PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY
        REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 


- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                   UNDERWRITING                         PROCEEDS TO
                                   PRICE TO       DISCOUNTS AND       PROCEEDS TO         SELLING
                                    PUBLIC        COMMISSIONS(1)       COMPANY(2)     STOCKHOLDERS(2)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                 
Per Share.....................        $                 $                  $                 $
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total(3)......................        $                 $                  $                 $
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 
(1) The Company and the Selling Stockholders have agreed to indemnify the
    Underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the
    Securities Act of 1933, as amended. See "Underwriting."
 
(2) Before deducting expenses payable by the Company and the Selling
    Stockholders estimated at $187,800 and $172,200, respectively.
 
(3) The Company has granted the Underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to
    180,000 additional shares of Common Stock solely to cover over-allotments,
    if any. If such option is exercised in full, the total Price to Public,
    Underwriting Discounts and Commissions and Proceeds to Company will be
    $          , $          and $          , respectively. See "Underwriting."
                            ------------------------
     The shares of Common Stock are offered by the Underwriters, subject to
prior sale, when, as and if delivered to and accepted by them, subject to the
right of the Underwriters to reject any order in whole or in part. It is
expected that the delivery of the shares of Common Stock will be made on or
about             , 1995.
A.G. EDWARDS & SONS, INC.                           ADAMS, HARKNESS & HILL, INC.
 
               THE DATE OF THIS PROSPECTUS IS             , 1995
   4

                    THE FIRST YEARS IS MORE THAN A BRAND.

IT'S A MOTHER WHO'S GOTTEN UP AT 4 AM AND CHECKED ON HER BABY, JUST TO MAKE
SURE. IT'S A FATHER WHO'S BEEN THROUGH SPIT UP, SHOTS, AND A THOUSAND DIRTY
DIAPERS. IT'S THE NEIGHBOR WITH THREE WONDERFUL KIDS WHO SAYS, YES, YOU ARE
DOING IT RIGHT. IT'S THE PEDIATRICIAN WHO UNDERSTANDS THAT PARENTS NEED JUST AS
MUCH ATTENTION AS BABIES DO. IT'S SOMEONE WHO KNOWS THAT PARENTS ARE NOT MADE
OF MONEY. IT'S NEW IDEAS, IT'S FUN AND JOY AND GROWTH. IT'S PARENTS LEARNING
FROM PARENTS. AND THEY ARE NOT CONSUMERS, THEY ARE FRIENDS.


            [Child on parent's shoulders with text superimposed.]

 
     THE FIRST YEARS(R), Ideas Inspired by Parents(R), TumbleMates(R),
Firstronics(R) and Washables(R) are registered trademarks of The First Years
Inc. Simplicity(TM), Sure(TM), Choice(TM), Clip'n Go(TM), Neats(TM),
PackMates(TM), Nurserytronics(TM), Step-by-Step(TM) and First Gifts(TM) are
trademarks of The First Years Inc. 3M(R) and SCOTCHGARD(R) are registered
trademarks of Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company. WINNIE THE POOH(R) and
POOH(R) are registered trademarks of The Walt Disney Company.
   
                            ------------------------
    
 
     IN CONNECTION WITH THIS OFFERING, THE UNDERWRITERS MAY OVERALLOT OR EFFECT
TRANSACTIONS WHICH STABILIZE OR MAINTAIN THE MARKET PRICE OF THE COMMON STOCK OF
THE COMPANY AT A LEVEL ABOVE THAT WHICH MIGHT OTHERWISE PREVAIL IN THE OPEN
MARKET. SUCH STABILIZING, IF COMMENCED, MAY BE DISCONTINUED AT ANY TIME.
   
                            ------------------------
    
 
     IN CONNECTION WITH THIS OFFERING, CERTAIN UNDERWRITERS AND SELLING GROUP
MEMBERS AND THEIR AFFILIATES MAY ENGAGE IN PASSIVE MARKET MAKING TRANSACTIONS IN
THE COMMON STOCK OF THE COMPANY ON THE NASDAQ NATIONAL MARKET IN ACCORDANCE WITH
RULE 10B-6A UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934. SEE "UNDERWRITING."
   5




  Our products are inspired
  and pretested by parents for
 parents. They are designed in
   consultation with eminent
   pediatrician Dr. T. Berry               [Montage of eight photographs
  Brazelton, and staff members             depicting various company products,
 of the Child Development Unit,            staff members of the Child 
 Children's Hospital in Boston.            Development unit at Boston
The First Years is a benefactor            Children's Hospital and Company
 of The Child Development Unit.            employees with their children]

                                                     FIRSTGIFTS[TM]
                                              Delightful--and practical--
                                                gift items and product
                                               ensembles for celebrating
                                                  a birth, a birthday,
                                                or any special occasion.

  
   6


   FEEDING & SOOTHING                  
  Creative designs--from                [Montage of eight photographs depicting
 bottles and breast pumps                various Company products, Company 
to teethers and pacifiers--              employees with their children and a 
 that provide convenience                separate photograph of a child.]
 and quality for parents.
                                         
                                         


                                                          PLAY & DISCOVER
                                                       Toys that combine fun
                                                         with emotional and
                                                        physical development,
                                                     from the classic Soft Ducky
                                                          to our innovative
                                                          Firstronics line.


                                CARE & SAFETY
                           Excellence in childcare,
                          health, and safety--in the
                          nursery, around the house,
                               and on the road.


                            [THE FIRST YEARS LOGO]


   7
 
                               PROSPECTUS SUMMARY
 
     The following summary is qualified in its entirety by the more detailed
information and Financial Statements and Notes thereto appearing elsewhere in
this Prospectus. Except as otherwise indicated, the information in this
Prospectus assumes the Underwriters' over allotment option is not exercised. All
information reflects the two-for-one and three-for-one stock splits effected on
June 14, 1991 and December 15, 1992, respectively.
 
     The First Years Inc. is a leading developer and worldwide marketer of a
broad line of innovative, high-quality, value-priced, developmentally-sound
products for infants and toddlers. Since 1973, the Company has sold its products
under its well-known brand name and principal trademark, THE FIRST YEARS. In
1994 and 1995, the Company entered into licensing agreements with The Walt
Disney Company to feature Winnie the Pooh characters on a variety of its
products in various countries. The Company's product line now contains
approximately 300 items and is divided into five categories -- Feeding &
Soothing, Care & Safety, Play & Discover, First Gifts and Winnie the Pooh.
Retail prices for the Company's products range from approximately $0.99 to
$39.99. Major channels through which the Company sells its products include mass
merchants, supermarkets, drug stores, department stores, wholesale clubs,
convenience stores, specialty stores, mail-order catalogs and catalog showrooms.
The Company currently has over 1,000 customers in over 40 countries. Major
customers include Wal*Mart, Toys "R" Us, Target, Kmart, Sears, Kroger and Baby
Superstore.
 
   
     The Company believes that a number of recent demographic trends in the
United States have had a favorable impact on the market for juvenile products in
general and the appeal of the Company's product line in particular. In the U.S.
and many other developed countries, children are being born to dual-income
parents and parents are having children at later ages. The Company also believes
that parents in general, and especially older parents, are now more aware of the
developmental importance of a child's early years and more concerned about
safety, quality and value in juvenile products and that they are also more
willing and able to pay for products that embody these qualities. Capitalizing
on its reputation for parenting expertise and product quality, its development
of products that are based on Ideas Inspired by Parents and its longstanding
relationship with Dr. T. Berry Brazelton and the Child Development Unit at
Boston Children's Hospital, the Company believes it is well positioned to
produce new and innovative products that meet the requirements of today's
parents.
    
 
     The Company believes that its growth will result in large part from the
continued expansion of its existing product line for infants and toddlers up to
three years of age as well as the development of products for children up to six
years of age. The Company introduced 45 new products for sale in 1994 and 90 new
products for sale in 1995. Among the 1995 items are initial entries into product
segments that are new to the Company. Those entries include several
higher-priced furnishings, such as bath seats, booster seats and step stools;
higher-priced boxed toys; electronic products for the nursery, including a
nursery monitor and crib tape player/night light; travel-related products such
as diaper bags and child carriers; and 25 products featuring Winnie the Pooh
characters. During this period of rapid product development, net sales have
increased from approximately $46.1 million in 1993 to $53.2 million in 1994 and
from $27.1 million in the first six months of 1994 to $35.9 million for the
comparable period in 1995.
 
     The Company believes that its future growth will also come from the
expansion of its distribution in both domestic and international markets. The
Company's strategy in the United States is to increase its penetration in all of
its major channels of distribution. Internationally, the Company has expanded
its sales in Europe with the opening of a sales office in the United Kingdom in
1992 and has increased distribution of its products in the past few years in
Canada, Central and South America, the Middle East and, more recently, the
Pacific Rim. The Company believes that its products have been well received by
international consumers and that the number of births and rising income levels
in international markets present significant opportunities for growth.
 
     The Company was incorporated in 1952 in Massachusetts under the name Kiddie
Products, Inc. The Company changed its name to The First Years Inc. in May 1995.
The Company's headquarters are located at One Kiddie Drive, Avon, Massachusetts
02322, and its telephone number is (508) 588-1220.
 
                                        3
   8
 
                                  THE OFFERING
 

                                                            
Common Stock offered by:
     The Company.............................................    600,000 shares
     The Selling Stockholders................................    600,000 shares
          Total..............................................  1,200,000 shares
Common Stock to be outstanding after completion of this
  Offering(1)................................................  2,856,405 shares
Use of proceeds..............................................  Product development, purchase
                                                               of capital equipment (molds
                                                               and dies), debt repayment,
                                                               working capital and other
                                                               general corporate purposes,
                                                               including possible
                                                               acquisitions of product lines.
                                                               See "Use of Proceeds."
Nasdaq National Market symbol................................  KIDD
<FN>
 
- ---------------
(1) Based on shares outstanding at September 1, 1995. Does not include 207,414
    shares issuable upon the exercise of outstanding options under the Company's
    stock plans.




 
                         SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION
                     (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
 

                                                                                       SIX MONTHS
                                              YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,                ENDED JUNE 30,
                                  -----------------------------------------------   -----------------
                                   1990      1991      1992      1993      1994      1994      1995
                                  -------   -------   -------   -------   -------   -------   -------
                                                                         
STATEMENT OF INCOME DATA:
Net sales........................ $35,423   $37,993   $45,267   $46,124   $53,233   $27,069   $35,879
Cost of products sold............  18,831    20,199    23,645    26,654    29,498    15,208    20,973
Selling, general, and
  administrative expenses........  13,999    14,776    18,430    17,857    18,916     9,245    11,336
Income before income taxes.......   2,860     3,306     3,315     1,278     4,861     2,620     3,533
Net income.......................   1,694     1,916     1,930       796     2,989     1,625     2,120
Earnings per share............... $  0.75   $  0.85   $  0.86   $  0.35   $  1.33   $  0.72   $  0.91
Dividends paid per share(1)......      --   $  0.17   $  0.17   $  0.17   $  0.17   $  0.17   $  0.17
Weighted average number of shares
  outstanding....................   2,248     2,248     2,248     2,248     2,249     2,248     2,331

 


SUMMARY BALANCE SHEET AT JUNE 30, 1995:
 
   

                                         AS
                         ACTUAL      ADJUSTED(2)
                         -------     -----------
                               
Current assets........   $29,470       $38,813
Property, plant, and
  equipment - net.....     5,916         5,916
                         -------     -----------
                         $35,386       $44,729
                         =======     =========


                                         AS
                         ACTUAL      ADJUSTED(2)
                         -------     -----------
                               
Current liabilities...   $10,529       $ 7,229
Long term
  liabilities.........       752           752
Stockholders'
  equity..............    24,105        36,748
                         -------     -----------
                         $35,386       $44,729
                         =======     =========

    
<FN> 
- ---------------
(1) A cash dividend of $0.17 per share of Common Stock has been paid in June of
    each year commencing in 1991.
   
(2) Adjusted to reflect the sale of the 600,000 shares of Common Stock offered
    by the Company hereby at an assumed public offering price of $22.75 per
    share (the last reported sale price on October 2, 1995) and after deducting
    the underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses
    payable by the Company related to the Offering, and the application of the
    net proceeds therefrom. See "Use of Proceeds."
    


 
                                  RISK FACTORS
 
     There are certain risks associated with this Offering. See "Risk Factors."
 
                                        4
   9
 
                                  RISK FACTORS
 
     Prospective purchasers of the Common Stock offered hereby should consider
carefully the following risk factors in addition to the other information
contained elsewhere in this Prospectus before purchasing shares of Common Stock
offered hereby.
 
NEW PRODUCT INTRODUCTIONS
 
     The growth of the Company has been, and will continue to be, dependent upon
its ability to continue to introduce new products. There can be no assurance
that the Company will continue to maintain its present rate of growth, that it
will continue to generate new product ideas, or that new products will be
successfully introduced. See "Business -- Product Design, Development and
Marketing."
 
RELIANCE ON LICENSED PRODUCTS
 
     A substantial factor contributing to the growth in the Company's net sales
in 1995 has been its licensing agreements with The Walt Disney Company to
feature Winnie the Pooh characters on a variety of its products in various
countries. For the first six months of 1995, net sales of these licensed
products were approximately 14% of the Company's net sales. These licensing
agreements expire at the end of 1996 and there can be no assurance that they
will be renewed or that, if renewed, they will result in sales increases in
future periods. See "Business -- Agreements with The Walt Disney Company."
 
DEPENDENCE UPON MAJOR CUSTOMERS
 
     The two largest customers of the Company, Wal*Mart and Toys "R" Us,
accounted for approximately 26% and 22%, respectively, of net sales during 1994,
and approximately 25% and 23%, respectively, of net sales during the first six
months of 1995. A significant reduction of purchases by either of these
customers could have a material adverse effect on its business. See
"Business -- Sales."
 
COMPETITION
 
     The juvenile products industry is highly competitive and includes numerous
domestic and foreign competitors, some of which are substantially larger and
have greater financial and other resources than the Company. There can be no
assurance that the Company will be able to continue to compete effectively in
the juvenile products market. See "Business -- Competition."
 
RELIANCE ON FOREIGN MANUFACTURERS
 
     The Company does not own or operate its own manufacturing facilities. In
each of 1994 and the first six months of 1995, the Company derived approximately
53% and 51%, respectively, of its net sales from products manufactured by others
in the Far East, mainly in the Peoples' Republic of China ("China"). The Company
has no long-term contracts with these manufacturing sources. Foreign
manufacturing is subject to a number of risks including transportation delays
and interruptions, quotas and other import or export controls, the imposition of
tariffs, currency fluctuations, misappropriation of intellectual property,
political and economic disruptions, and changes in governmental policies. From
time to time, the United States Congress has attempted to impose additional
restrictions on trade with China. Enactment of legislation or the imposition of
restrictive regulations conditioning or revoking China's "most favored nation"
("MFN") trading status could have a material adverse effect upon the Company's
business because products originating from China could be subjected to
substantially higher rates of duty. China's MFN trading status has been extended
until July 3, 1996. The European Economic Community (the "EEC") has recently
enacted a quota and tariff system with respect to the importation into the EEC
of certain toy products originating in China. Although the Company continues to
evaluate alternative sources of supply outside of China, there can be no
assurance that the Company will be able to develop alternative sources of supply
in a timely and cost-effective manner. Also, the Company, because of its
substantial reliance on suppliers in foreign countries, is required to order
products further in advance of customer orders than would generally be the case
if such products were produced in the United States. The risk of ordering
products in this manner is greater during the initial introduction of new
 
                                        5
   10
 
products since it is difficult to determine the demand for such products. See
"Business -- Manufacturing and Sources of Supply."
 
COST AND AVAILABILITY OF CERTAIN MATERIALS
 
     Plastic and paperboard are significant cost components of the Company's
products and packaging. Because the primary resource used in manufacturing
plastic is petroleum, the cost and availability of plastic for use in the
Company's products varies to a great extent with the price of petroleum. The
inability of the Company's suppliers to acquire sufficient plastic or paperboard
at reasonable prices would adversely affect the Company's ability to maintain
its profit margins in the short term. See "Business -- Manufacturing and Sources
of Supply."
 
PRODUCT LIABILITY RISKS
 
     The Company's juvenile products are used for and by small children and
infants. The Company carries product liability insurance in amounts which
management deems adequate to cover risks associated with such use; however,
there can be no assurance that existing or future insurance coverage will be
sufficient to cover all product liability risks. See "Business -- Legal
Proceedings."
 
GOVERNMENT REGULATION
 
     The Company's products are subject to the provisions of the Federal
Consumer Product Safety Act and the Federal Hazardous Substances Act (the
"Acts") and the regulations promulgated thereunder. The Acts authorize the
Consumer Product Safety Commission (the "CPSC") to protect the public from
products which present a substantial risk of injury. The CPSC can require the
repurchase or recall by the manufacturer of articles which are found to be
defective and impose fines or penalties on the manufacturer. Similar laws exist
in some states and cities and in other countries in which the Company markets
its products. Any recall of its products could have a material adverse effect on
the Company, depending on the particular product. See "Business -- Government
Regulation."
 
                                        6
   11
 
                                USE OF PROCEEDS
 
   
     The net proceeds to be received by the Company from the sale of the 600,000
shares of Common Stock offered by the Company hereby (at an assumed public
offering price of $22.75 per share and after deducting underwriting discounts
and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by the Company) are
estimated to be approximately $12,643,200 ($16,492,500 if the Underwriters'
over-allotment option is exercised in full).
    
 
     The Company intends to use the net proceeds to expand its product
development efforts, increase product distribution, purchase capital equipment
for tooling (predominantly molds and dies), repay outstanding bank debt
($2,300,000 outstanding as of September 1, 1995 bearing interest at 8.2%), and
for general corporate purposes, including working capital to support increased
inventory and receivables levels, and possible acquisitions of product lines.
The Company has not entered into any agreements with respect to any such
acquisitions.
 
   
     Pending the application of the net proceeds as described above, the net
proceeds to the Company from this offering will be placed in interest-bearing
bank accounts or invested in United States government securities, certificates
of deposit of major banks, money market mutual funds or investment-grade
commercial paper. See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations -- Liquidity and Capital Resources."
    
 
     The Company will not receive any proceeds from the sale of the 600,000
shares of Common Stock being offered hereby by the Selling Stockholders.
 
                          PRICE RANGE OF COMMON STOCK
 
     The Common Stock has been quoted on the Nasdaq National Market under the
symbol "KIDD" since March 1, 1995. Prior to that time, the Common Stock was
traded on the Nasdaq Small-Cap Market. The following table sets forth the high
and low sales prices for the Common Stock for the periods indicated as reported
by Nasdaq.
 
   


                                                                 HIGH      LOW
                                                                ------    ------
                                                                 
1993
       First Quarter..........................................  $13 1/2   $10 3/4
       Second Quarter.........................................   12 3/4    10
       Third Quarter..........................................   12        10
       Fourth Quarter.........................................   11 1/4    9 1/2
1994
       First Quarter..........................................   10 1/2    8 1/2
       Second Quarter.........................................   15        8 1/2
       Third Quarter..........................................   16 1/8    13
       Fourth Quarter.........................................   19 1/2    15
1995
       First Quarter..........................................   24        17 1/4
       Second Quarter.........................................   20 1/4    16 3/4
       Third Quarter..........................................   23 1/2    18 3/4
       Fourth Quarter (through October 2, 1995)...............   22 3/4    22 3/4

    
 
   
     On October 2, 1995 the last reported sale price as reported on the Nasdaq
National Market was $22.75 per share. As of September 1, 1995, there were
approximately 120 record holders of the Common Stock.
    
 
                                        7
   12
 
   
                                 CAPITALIZATION
    
 
   
     The following table sets forth the short-term borrowings and capitalization
of the Company as of June 30, 1995, and as adjusted to give effect to the sale
of the 600,000 shares of Common Stock offered by the Company (at an assumed
public offering price of $22.75 per share and after deducting the underwriting
discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by the
Company) and the application of the net proceeds therefrom.
    
 
   


                                                                               JUNE 30, 1995
                                                                           ---------------------
                                                                           ACTUAL    AS ADJUSTED
                                                                           -------   -----------
                                                                              (IN THOUSANDS)
                                                                               
Short-term borrowings (including current portion of long-term debt)......  $ 3,433     $   133
                                                                           =======
Long-term debt (less current portion)....................................  $   167     $   167
                                                                           -------
Stockholders' equity:
Common stock, $0.10 par value, 15,000,000 shares authorized, 2,252,286
  shares issued and outstanding and 2,852,286 shares issued and
  outstanding as adjusted(1).............................................      225         285
Paid-in capital..........................................................      117      12,700
Retained earnings........................................................   23,763      23,763
                                                                           -------
  Total stockholders' equity.............................................   24,105      36,748
                                                                           -------
Total capitalization.....................................................  $24,272     $36,915
                                                                           =======

    
<FN> 
- ---------------
(1) Excludes options to purchase Common Stock under the Company's stock plans of
    which there were options outstanding to purchase an aggregate of 211,533
    shares at June 30, 1995.


 
   
                                   DIVIDEND POLICY
    
 
   
     The Company has paid a cash dividend on its Common Stock of $0.17 per share
in June of each year commencing in 1991. The most recent annual cash dividend
was paid on June 1, 1995. The Company currently expects that comparable cash
dividends will continue to be paid in the future. However, the declaration and
payment of any such cash dividends in the future will depend upon the Company's
earnings, financial condition, capital needs, and other factors deemed relevant
by the Board of Directors. There can be no assurance that the Company will
continue to pay dividends in the future.
    
 
                                        8
   13
 
                            SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
 
     The selected financial data presented below as of and for each of the five
years ended December 31, 1994 have been derived from the Company's financial
statements, which have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent
accountants. The selected financial data as of and for the six-month periods
ended June 30, 1994 and 1995 have been derived from the unaudited financial
statements of the Company. In the opinion of management, the unaudited financial
statements have been prepared on the same basis as the audited financial
statements and include all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring
adjustments, necessary for a fair presentation of the financial position and the
results of operations for these periods. Operating results for the six months
ended June 30, 1995 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be
expected for any future period. This data should be read in conjunction with the
Financial Statements, related notes, and other financial information included
elsewhere in this Prospectus.
 
   


                                                                                       SIX MONTHS
                                              YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,                ENDED JUNE 30,
                                  -----------------------------------------------   -----------------
                                   1990      1991      1992      1993      1994      1994      1995
                                  -------   -------   -------   -------   -------   -------   -------
                                                 (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
                                                                         
STATEMENT OF INCOME DATA:
Net sales.......................  $35,423   $37,993   $45,267   $46,124   $53,233   $27,069   $35,879
Cost of products sold...........   18,831    20,199    23,645    26,654    29,498    15,208    20,973
                                  -------   -------   -------   -------   -------   -------   -------
Gross profit....................   16,592    17,794    21,622    19,470    23,735    11,861    14,906
Selling, general, and
  administrative expenses.......   13,999    14,776    18,430    17,857    18,916     9,245    11,336
Severance-related expenses......       --        --        --       373        --        --        --
Interest income (expense),
  net...........................      267       288       123        38        42         4       (37)
                                  -------   -------   -------   -------   -------   -------   -------
Income before income taxes......    2,860     3,306     3,315     1,278     4,861     2,620     3,533
Income taxes....................    1,166     1,390     1,385       482     1,872       995     1,413
                                  -------   -------   -------   -------   -------   -------   -------
Net income......................  $ 1,694   $ 1,916   $ 1,930   $   796   $ 2,989   $ 1,625   $ 2,120
                                  =======   =======   =======   =======   =======   =======   =======
Earnings per share..............  $  0.75   $  0.85   $  0.86   $  0.35   $  1.33   $  0.72   $  0.91
Dividends paid per share(1).....       --   $  0.17   $  0.17   $  0.17   $  0.17   $  0.17   $  0.17
Weighted average number of
  shares outstanding............    2,248     2,248     2,248     2,248     2,249     2,248     2,331

    
 


                                                   DECEMBER 31,                         JUNE 30,
                                  -----------------------------------------------   -----------------
                                   1990      1991      1992      1993      1994       1994     1995
                                  -------   -------   -------   -------   -------   --------  -------
                                                            (IN THOUSANDS)
                                                                         
BALANCE SHEET DATA:
Working Capital.................  $13,811   $15,081   $14,634   $15,126   $17,245    $16,096  $18,941
Total assets....................   20,859    22,383    24,695    24,533    28,853     26,476   35,386
Short-term debt.................      133       133       133       133       133        133    3,433
Long-term debt..................      767       633       500       367       233        300      167
Stockholders' equity............   16,210    17,751    19,306    19,720    22,350     20,962   24,105

 
- ---------------
(1) A cash dividend of $0.17 per share of Common Stock has been paid in June of
    each year commencing in 1991.
 
                                        9
   14
 
          MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION
                           AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
 
GENERAL
 
     The Company's recent growth has been to a large extent the result of a
substantial increase in sales of new products and the addition in 1995 of
products featuring Winnie the Pooh characters under a licensing agreement with
the Walt Disney Company. These licensed products accounted for approximately 14%
of net sales in the first six months of 1995. The Company plans to introduce the
Winnie the Pooh characters on additional products and in additional geographic
areas in the latter part of 1995 and in 1996. The Company expects to continue
its new product development program aggressively. However, it does not believe
that sales from new product introductions are necessarily related to the number
of new products introduced.
 
     As part of its marketing strategy, the Company has recently entered new
product areas, such as furnishings and licensed character products, that it
believes have significant sales potential. These product areas offer lower gross
profit margins than the Company's historical product areas and have had the
effect of lowering the Company's overall gross margin percentage. However,
because of the resulting increases in sales, total profits have increased.
During the balance of 1995, the Company expects that these trends will continue
and that gross margins will decrease and total profits will increase versus the
comparable period in 1994.
 
   
     International sales have had an increasingly larger impact on the Company's
financial results. In 1992, international sales represented approximately 5% of
net sales; for the first six months of 1995, international sales were
approximately 10% of net sales. Start-up costs associated with the establishment
of the Company's international distribution, particularly in Europe, have
negatively affected selling, general, and administrative expenses in the periods
since 1992. The Company believes that international sales as a percentage of net
sales will continue to increase and that as these sales increase the expenses
associated with these sales will decrease as a percentage of international
sales.
    
 
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS


 
     The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, certain items in
the Company's statements of income as a percentage of net sales:
 
   


                                                                                      SIX MONTHS
                                                         YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,    ENDED JUNE 30,
                                                         -----------------------    --------------
                                                         1992     1993     1994     1994     1995
                                                         -----    -----    -----    -----    -----
                                                                              
Net sales.............................................   100.0%   100.0%   100.0%   100.0%   100.0%
Cost of products sold.................................    52.2     57.8     55.4     56.2     58.5
Gross profit..........................................    47.8     42.2     44.6     43.8     41.5
Selling, general, and administrative expenses.........    40.7     38.7     35.5     34.2     31.6
Income before income taxes............................     7.3      2.8      9.1      9.7      9.8
Net income............................................     4.3      1.7      5.6      6.0      5.9

    
 
SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 1995 COMPARED TO SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 1994
 
     Net sales for the first six months of 1995 were $35.9 million, an increase
of $8.8 million, or 32.5%, as compared to net sales of $27.1 million for the
comparable period in 1994. The increase was due to new product introductions and
expanded retail distribution in domestic and foreign markets. Net sales
particularly benefited from the introduction of newly licensed Winnie the Pooh
products and the introduction of new products that have higher average selling
prices than products previously offered by the Company.
 
   
     Cost of products sold for the first six months of 1995 was $21.0 million,
an increase of $5.8 million, or 37.9%, as compared to $15.2 million for the
comparable period in 1994. As a percentage of net sales, cost of products sold
for the first six months of 1995 increased to 58.5% from 56.2% in the comparable
period of 1994. The increase was due to increased sales of higher-priced, lower
margin items, licensing fees and air freight shipments from overseas production
facilities incurred primarily in the first three months of the period. In
    
 
                                       10
   15
 
addition, sales reflected an increased volume of licensed products sales that
carry a lower profit margin. The continued effect of these factors, along with
increased cost of products due to raw material price increases, is expected to
result in further declines in gross profit margins for the balance of 1995.
 
   
     Selling, general, and administrative expenses for the first six months of
1995 were $11.3 million, an increase of $2.1 million, or 22.6%, as compared to
$9.2 million for the comparable period in 1994. The increase resulted primarily
from costs related to increased sales volume. Selling, general, and
administrative expenses for the first six months of 1995 as a percent of sales
decreased to 31.6% from 34.2% for the similar period in 1994. This decrease
reflects the economies of scale resulting from a higher volume of business.
    
 
   
     Income tax expense as a percentage of pretax income increased to 40.0% from
38.0% in the comparable period in 1994.
    
 
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1994 COMPARED TO YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1993
 
     Net sales in 1994 were $53.2 million, an increase of $7.1 million, or
15.4%, as compared to net sales of $46.1 million in 1993. The increase was due
primarily to new product introductions and expanded retail distribution in
domestic and foreign markets.
 
     Cost of products sold in 1994 was $29.5 million, an increase of $2.8
million, or 10.7%, as compared to $26.7 million in 1993. As a percentage of net
sales, cost of products sold decreased to 55.4% in 1994 from 57.8% in 1993 due
to sales of higher margin products including new products introduced in 1994.
 
   
     Selling, general, and administrative expenses in 1994 were $18.9 million,
an increase of $1.0 million, or 5.9%, as compared to $17.9 million in 1993. The
increase is attributable to higher costs directly related to increased sales
volume. As a percentage of net sales, selling, general, and administrative
expenses decreased in 1994 to 35.5% from 38.7%. The decrease reflects the
economies of scale resulting from a higher volume of business, including
increased sales in Europe, and the effects of a program instituted in 1993 to
reduce operating expenses.
    
 
     Income tax expense as a percentage of pretax income increased slightly to
38.5% in 1994 from 37.7% in 1993.
 
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1993 COMPARED TO YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1992
 
     Net sales in 1993 were $46.1 million, an increase of $857,000, or 1.9%, as
compared to net sales of $45.3 million in 1992. The increase was due to new
product introductions and expanded retail distribution in domestic and foreign
markets offset in part by price competition in some older products, declines in
sales to wholesale clubs and an unusually large shipment in 1992 for initial
stocking of an expanded program with one of the Company's largest accounts.
 
     Cost of products sold in 1993 was $26.7 million, an increase of $3.0
million, or 12.7%, as compared to $23.7 million in 1992. As a percentage of net
sales, cost of products sold increased in 1993 to 57.8% from 52.2% in 1992
primarily because of price competition in some older lines and the inability to
effect price increases on other products.
 
   
     Selling, general, and administrative expenses in 1993 were $17.9 million, a
decrease of $573,000, or 3.1%, as compared to $18.4 million in 1992. As a
percentage of net sales, selling, general, and administrative expenses decreased
to 38.7% from 40.7% in 1992. Reductions in bad debt expense, payroll and
payroll-related costs, and packaging costs offset increased distribution costs.
    
 
     To improve operating productivity, the Company streamlined staff and
outsourced certain product assembly operations. As a result, 34 employees were
laid off during 1993. Severance-related expenses, primarily consisting of
severance pay, benefit considerations and outplacement services, amounted to a
pretax charge of $373,000 ($231,000 net of tax).
 
     Income tax expense as a percentage of pretax income decreased to 37.7% in
1993 from 41.8% in 1992 as a result of increased state tax credits.
 
                                       11
   16
 
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
 
     Net working capital increased by $1.7 million from $17.2 million at
December 31, 1994 to $18.9 million at June 30, 1995 primarily due to profitable
operations. Accounts receivable increased by $4.4 million primarily as a result
of increased sales, and inventories increased by $3.4 million to meet continued
demand for the Company's products. Cash decreased by $1.2 million primarily
resulting from increases in accounts receivable and inventories which were
partially offset by increases in accounts payable, accrued expenses and
short-term borrowings.
 
   
     Unsecured lines of credit of $15 million which are subject to annual
renewal, are available from banks. Amounts outstanding under these lines are
payable upon demand by the banks. During 1995, the Company has borrowed various
amounts from time to time up to $3.3 million, of which $2.3 million at an
interest rate of 8.2% was outstanding as of September 1, 1995.
    
 
     The Company has paid a cash dividend of $0.17 per share of Common Stock in
June of each year commencing in 1991.
 
     The Company made capital expenditures of approximately $458,000 in the
first six months of 1995 and expects to spend approximately $1 million more on
capital expenditures in the second half of 1995. The Company expects cash flow
from operations, availability under the Company's lines of credit and the net
proceeds from this Offering to be sufficient to meet its cash needs for working
capital and capital expenditures for at least the next two years.
 
INFLATION AND FOREIGN CURRENCY FLUCTUATIONS
 
     Inflation has not had a material effect on the Company's operating results
over the past three years.
 
     The Company enters into forward exchange contracts to minimize the impact
of fluctuations in currency exchange rates on future cash flows emanating from
sales denominated in foreign currencies. The Company does not purchase such
contracts for trading purposes. During 1994, the Company entered into forward
exchange contracts with a bank whereby the Company is committed to deliver
foreign currency at predetermined rates. The contracts expire within one year.
The Company's future commitment under these contracts approximated $1.6 million
as of June 30, 1995. At June 30, 1995, the exchange rates for such currencies
covered by the contracts approximated the predetermined rate included therein.
The Company routinely assesses the financial strength of the bank which is
counterparty to the forward exchange contracts. As of June 30, 1995, management
believes that the Company had no significant exposure to credit risk relative to
such contracts.
 
                                       12
   17
 
                                    BUSINESS
 
     The First Years Inc. is a leading developer and worldwide marketer of a
broad line of innovative, high-quality, value-priced, developmentally-sound
products for infants and toddlers. Since 1973, the Company has sold its products
under its well-known brand name and principal trademark, THE FIRST YEARS. In
1994 and 1995, the Company entered into licensing agreements with The Walt
Disney Company to feature Winnie the Pooh characters on a variety of its
products in various countries. The Company's product line now contains
approximately 300 items and is divided into five categories -- Feeding &
Soothing, Care & Safety, Play & Discover, First Gifts and Winnie the Pooh.
Retail prices for the Company's products range from approximately $0.99 to
$39.99. Major channels through which the Company sells its products include mass
merchants, supermarkets, drug stores, department stores, wholesale clubs,
convenience stores, specialty stores, mail-order catalogs and catalog showrooms.
The Company currently has over 1,000 customers in over 40 countries. Major
customers include Wal*Mart, Toys "R" Us, Target, Kmart, Sears, Kroger and Baby
Superstore.
 
JUVENILE PRODUCTS MARKETS
 
   
     According to the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association ("JPMA"), the
United States market for juvenile products has shown continuous growth for the
past 15 years. According to JPMA, factory shipments by member companies
increased approximately 6.6% in 1994 and are projected to grow approximately 14%
in 1995. This growth has been supported by favorable demographic trends. More
than four million babies have been born in the United States every year from
1989 to 1994, which rate has been relatively constant, and the population of
children under age five has increased from 19.6 million in 1980 to 23.6 million
in 1994. More importantly, many of these children are being born to dual-income
couples and couples who are waiting longer to have children.
    
 
   
     These trends, the Company believes, have contributed to increased awareness
by parents of the developmental importance of a child's early years; increased
concern about product quality, safety and value; and increased purchases of
juvenile products by both parents and grandparents. In turn, retailers have
become more aware of the growth potential in the market and have been more
willing to establish improved, updated, and enlarged juvenile product
departments in their stores. Additionally, the baby product "superstore"
concept, which gives exposure to a broader range of juvenile products, has been
successfully introduced and is likely to become more widespread.
    
 
     The Company distributes its products on a worldwide basis but is not aware
of any available worldwide juvenile product market statistics. The JPMA
estimates that the U.S. market alone in 1994, for products produced by member
companies, was about $1.8 billion in factory shipments. This JPMA figure
includes products for children up to three years of age and includes strollers,
car seats, non-apparel soft goods, and feeding, nursing, health, care, safety,
and play accessory items, but does not include clothing, diapers, formula and
many toys. The JPMA also estimates that the U.S. market for these products is
approximately one-third of the total world market.
 
BUSINESS STRATEGY
 
     The Company's mission is to develop and market products that help make the
process of parenting a happier, healthier and easier experience for both parents
and their young children worldwide. Major elements of the strategy to achieve
this mission are as follows:
 
     - CREATING PARENT-INSPIRED PRODUCTS.  The Company uses its knowledge of
parenting and child development to develop and sell high-quality, innovative and
value-priced products. In keeping with its corporate motto and trademark, Ideas
Inspired by Parents, the Company designs its product line with the advice of
small focus groups of expectant and new parents from its 600-member Parents
Council who meet frequently to review the Company's new products and product
ideas. The Company also develops its products in consultation with the Child
Development Unit ("CDU") at Children's Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts and its
founder and Director Emeritus, Dr. T. Berry Brazelton, considered by many
parents to be the nation's foremost authority on parenting.
 
                                       13
   18
 
     The Company has always placed great emphasis on innovative product
development. Several years ago, however, the Company recognized that consumers
were becoming more receptive to new concepts that offer greater quality, safety
and value and that retailers were vigorously seeking new and innovative juvenile
products. In response to this emerging trend, the Company decided to enhance its
product development process in order to increase both the number of new products
and the amount of innovation which it was bringing to the market. The Company
believes that this initiative has resulted in a substantial increase in the
number of, and degree of innovation in, the products it has brought to the
market in recent years. The Company intends to continue emphasizing product
innovation and development and to devote substantial resources to its product
development process. See "Use of Proceeds."
 
     - EXPANDING AND ENHANCING ITS PRODUCT LINE.  The Company believes that its
understanding of the needs of parents and children, its reputation for
high-quality and value-priced products with consumers and retailers and its
product development process, position it well to expand its current categories.
In 1995, the Company introduced products in a number of new categories including
licensed character products, electronic products for the nursery, booster seats
and child carriers. The Company has also recently introduced products for
children in the three to six age range and is currently developing additional
products for this age range. In 1994 and 1995, the Company entered into
licensing agreements with The Walt Disney Company to feature Winnie the Pooh
characters on a variety of its products in various countries. The Company
intends, where appropriate, to pursue additional licensing arrangements for
established characters with images that are consistent with the Company's
product line.
 
     - INCREASING PENETRATION IN DOMESTIC DISTRIBUTION CHANNELS.  Although the
Company has been successful in selling to virtually all major domestic
distribution channels, it is aggressively seeking to increase its penetration of
these channels. This strategy includes both adding customers in existing
channels as well as increasing its shelf space with existing customers. As part
of this strategy, the Company began in 1992 to introduce sub-categories of
products with common themes, marketed under distinct trademarks. The first such
introduction was the TumbleMates line of interchangeable cups and lids in 1992,
followed by the Firstronics electronic toys, the Washables line of watertight,
dishwasher-safe toys and the Step-by-Step line of multi-function furnishings,
among others. The Company believes that marketing a collection of products with
a common theme is a more efficient and effective means of selling its products
to both retailers and consumers.
 
     - EXPANDING ITS INTERNATIONAL CUSTOMER BASE.  The Company intends to
continue expanding its business internationally. The Company believes that the
markets in certain developing countries are growing substantially faster than
the United States market as a result of favorable demographic trends and
increases in per capita income. The Company has established a sales office in
the United Kingdom for sales in the European market. The Company has also set up
distribution centers in Belgium and Canada for distribution of its products in
Europe and Canada. Additionally, the Company has also expanded its sales efforts
in Canada, the Middle East, Central and South America, and is just beginning its
expansion in the Pacific Rim. To support these efforts, the Company has
developed multi-lingual packaging.
 
     - CAPITALIZING ON BRAND NAME RECOGNITION.  By producing since its inception
high quality products that meet parenting needs, THE FIRST YEARS brand name has
become widely recognized and valued by a loyal consumer base. Because of the
importance of word-of-mouth as an influence in the purchase of juvenile
products, the Company considers this to be a significant asset. A
consumer-oriented catalog, in-pack product guides, package copy and
point-of-purchase materials are also used to communicate the Ideas Inspired by
Parents message.
 
PRODUCTS
 
     In recent years, the Company has accelerated the general pace of product
innovation. In addition, especially in 1995, the Company has broadened its
product line to include more higher-priced products such as electronic products
for the nursery, furnishings such as odor-proof diaper pails, booster seats,
bath seats, diaper bags and child carriers. Additional higher-priced products
are currently in development. The
 
                                       14
   19
 
Company's product line, which contains approximately 300 items that range in
retail price from approximately $0.99 to $39.99, is categorized and color-coded
into five distinct product groups as follows:
 
     FEEDING & SOOTHING.  The Feeding & Soothing category is comprised of
bottles and accessories, nipples, pacifiers, teethers, bowls, drinking cups,
dishes and flatware. Since 1992, this category has included the TumbleMates line
of training cups, bowls, plates and utensils, designed for serving, storing and
transporting drinks and snacks, and which features a system of interchangeable
cups and lids. In 1995, the Company introduced several new products into its
TumbleMates line including the Stack & Pack Lunch Kit, the Flatware Travel Set
and the Snap-Apart Dish.
 
     In 1995, the Company also added to this category the Neats line of
stain-resistant bibs specially made with a 3M Scotchgard stain-release system
and the following items: the Choice bottle system that allows interchangeability
between disposable and reusable bottles; a unibody pacifier, marketed under the
Sure trademark; and the Simplicity Manual Breast Pump. In 1996, the Company
plans to introduce spill-proof cups and insulated cups into its TumbleMates
line, new products that relieve teething discomfort and an innovative, electric
breast pump.
 
     PLAY & DISCOVER.  The Play & Discover category consists of an extensive
line of entertaining, skill-developing toys for infants and toddlers including
crib toys, floor toys and hand-held toys. Since 1994 the Play & Discover
category has included the Company's Washables line of 100% watertight and
dishwasher-safe toys. In 1995, the Company introduced the High Chair Gym,
Floorgym and Playmat, and the Snap & Play People Bus to its Washables line.
 
     In 1994, the Company also added to this category its Firstronics line of
hand-held electronic toys for children under three years of age, which features
a child-proof battery compartment. In 1995, the Company introduced its Counting
Calculator and Sing-a-long Microphone into the Firstronics line. In 1996, the
Company plans to introduce numerous new Play & Discover toys including
motion-activated electronic toys, a color-change bath toy and a musical crib
mirror.
 
     CARE & SAFETY.  The Care & Safety category consists of a broad line of
fashion and grooming items; home safety products such as door and cabinet
latches; and products appropriate for the health and hygiene needs of infants,
such as digital thermometers. In 1995, the Company added to this category its
Nurserytronics line of electronic products designed especially for use in the
nursery, such as a tape player and crib light and a rechargeable infant monitor.
In 1996, the Company plans to launch several safety-related products in the
Nurserytronics line.
 
     In 1995, the Company also added to this category a new line of rugged,
machine-washable travel tote bags, child carriers and harnesses, marketed under
the PackMates name. This line includes the Clip'n Go 2-Way Front Carrier, a
detachable infant carrier; the Clip'n Go Warm & Cozy Carrier, an insulated
detachable infant carrier; and the Day Trip Diaper Bag, a nylon diaper bag with
built-in labeled organizers and adjustable shoulder strap.
 
     In 1994 and 1995, additions to this category included the Step-by-Step line
of furnishings comprised of a bath seat, booster seat, baby bather, step stool
and toilet trainer that are adjustable as a child grows. In 1996, the Company
plans to introduce a new innovative concept in booties and several new
higher-priced furnishings.
 
   
     FIRST GIFTS.  The Company markets a variety of specially-designed gift bags
and gift sets, which combine the Company's most popular items as
attractively-packaged, ready-to-give gifts, or theme-related starter sets. Gift
sets include the Washables gift pack, the TumbleMates gift pack, newborn gift
bags and bathtub gift sets. In 1996, the Company intends to introduce additional
gift sets targeted to both retailers and wholesale clubs.
    
 
     WINNIE THE POOH.  The Winnie the Pooh category consists of over 25 staple
child care products including teethers, rattles, bibs and bottles, featuring
Winnie the Pooh characters. In 1995, the Company also launched its Pooh Goody
Bags which contain an assortment of the Company's products featuring Winnie the
Pooh characters and a new line of appliqued bibs featuring various Winnie the
Pooh designs. In 1996, the Company
 
                                       15
   20
 
plans to introduce the Winnie the Pooh characters on numerous additional items
throughout its product line including cups, electronic musical toys, hooded
towels, bath puppets and furnishings.
 
     The Company believes that its knowledge of parents and parenting and its
reputation for developing "parent-friendly" products creates an opportunity to
enter additional product segments for young children (birth to six) in future
years.
 
PRODUCT DESIGN, DEVELOPMENT AND MARKETING
 
     The Company has always placed great importance on and devotes substantial
resources to product development. Product development teams are established for
each of the Company's product categories. The goal of the product development
teams is to develop new or improved, high-quality and practical products
designed to meet the needs of parents and children. In keeping with its
corporate philosophy and trademark, Ideas Inspired by Parents, the Company has
designed its products since 1973 in consultation with small groups of parents
chosen from its 600-member Parents Council. The Company conducts frequent focus
groups of these new parents to discuss parenting and child-care issues,
brainstorm new products and ideas, and review and test the Company's new
products and ideas. The Company also utilizes feedback and ideas from its
consumer 1-800 phone number.
 
     The Company employs a staff of professionals engaged in the creation of new
products and also uses, from time to time, a diverse group of outside designers
and developers. For the past 14 years the Company's product line also has been
designed in consultation with Dr. T. Berry Brazelton, the well-known
pediatrician and authority on child development, and staff members of the Child
Development Unit at Children's Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts (the "CDU"), of
which Dr. Brazelton is founder and Director Emeritus. In reviewing the Company's
new products and product ideas, Dr. Brazelton and the CDU focus on child health
and development. Dr. Brazelton and the CDU also assist the Company in developing
support information distributed with the products that instructs or educates new
parents on the proper use of the products.
 
   
     The Company spent $807,000 on new product development during the first six
months of 1995, and approximately $1.5 million in each of 1993 and 1994. The
Company expects to continue its new product development program aggressively,
although the number of new products introduced may vary from year to year.
    
 
     In developing new products, the Company looks to generate ideas and
features that are not offered by existing products and which the Company can
produce at a reasonable cost and sell at a price that reflects the product's
greater quality and value. Most of the Company's new products are shown at the
Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association Trade Show, which is held in Dallas,
Texas in the fall of each year. Certain of the Company's products are shown each
year at the following trade shows: the International Housewares Exhibition; the
Harrogate Nursery Faire in Harrogate, England; the International Mass Retail
Association; and the National Association of Chain Drug Stores.
 
     The Company also seeks to educate parents on child development issues. For
over 10 years, the Company has been the exclusive national sponsor of Dr. T.
Berry Brazelton's National Seminars, a series of seminars held in communities
throughout the country to inform parents and child care professionals about
child development and parenting issues. The Company believes that these efforts
have and will continue to promote the Company's commitment to child development
and child care.
 
     An additional factor in the success of the Company's THE FIRST YEARS brand
of products in recent years has been the Company's new, contemporary, high
visual impact packaging design which was introduced in 1993. The new packaging
was thoroughly researched and tested to maximize impulse-buying appeal and is
designed to increase brand awareness. In addition, the Company's packaging is
designed to educate the consumer as to the benefits and features of the
Company's products and serve as a point-of-purchase sales tool. The Company has
also introduced multi-lingual packaging as it has expanded its sales in
international markets.
 
SALES
 
     The Company's products are sold nationally and internationally to a broad
spectrum of customers including mass merchants, national variety and drug
stores, supermarkets, wholesale clubs, convenience stores,
 
                                       16
   21
 
toy specialty stores, wholesale distributors, department stores, mail order
catalogs and catalog stores. The Company currently has over 1,000 customers in
over 40 countries. Major customers include Wal*Mart, Toys "R" Us, Target, Kmart,
Sears, Kroger and Baby Superstore.
 
     The Company's products are sold in the United States, Canada, Central and
South America and the Pacific Rim, primarily through the Company's ten-person
internal sales staff and also in the U.S. and Canada through a network of 49
independent sales representatives. The Company's sales staff is responsible for
supervising and training the sales representatives. Such training is conducted
at the Company's headquarters and throughout the United States. Senior
management is heavily involved in every phase of the selling process with the
Company's largest customers.
 
     In Europe and the Middle East, the Company's products are sold by the
Company's internal staff at its sales office in Cirencester, England, which is
headed by the Director of European Sales. This staff manages a network of
foreign distributors and independent sales representatives who generally receive
exclusive rights to a defined geographical territory or market segment.
 
   
     The Company's international sales in the first six months of 1995 were
approximately $3.6 million. The Company's international sales in 1993 and 1994
were approximately $3.8 million and $5.3 million, respectively.
    
 
     During 1994, Wal*Mart and Toys "R" Us accounted for approximately 26% and
22% of the Company's net sales, respectively. During the first six months of
1995, Wal*Mart and Toys "R" Us accounted for approximately 25% and 23% of the
Company's net sales, respectively. A significant reduction in purchases by
either of these customers could have a material adverse effect on the Company's
business.
 
     Backlog is not a significant and material aspect of the Company's business.
Customers place orders on an as needed basis. As the Company's sales have
increased, the amount of unfilled orders at any time has not been indicative of
future results.
 
MERCHANDISING
 
     To help retailers use their shelf space efficiently in marketing the
Company's products, the Company utilizes its proprietary Modular Automated
Merchandising Assistance ("MAMA") planogram program, a computerized program
which divides the space a retailer has allocated for the Company's products to
create a mix of the five color-coded product categories that is designed to
maximize the retailer's profitability. This system is used for both large and
small shelf spaces and enables the Company's customers to present a
visually-appealing display of the Company's color-coded line of products.
 
   
     In recent years, the Company expanded its promotional programs and created
a cross-merchandising program for its customers, by which ready-to-use display
panels and floor stand display units containing THE FIRST YEARS products are
placed next to related items in a customer's store (i.e., the Company's feeding
products are placed in a customer's baby food aisle) to encourage synergistic
and impulse buying by consumers. These display units are pre-pegged,
pre-stocked, easily re-stockable, and can be customized to the customer's needs.
    
 
     The Company believes that its MAMA planogram and cross-merchandising
programs have increased the shelf space allocated to the Company's products in
major retailers and enhanced its reputation of being committed to customer
service.
 
AGREEMENTS WITH THE WALT DISNEY COMPANY
 
     The Company has recently entered into licensing agreements with The Walt
Disney Company to feature Winnie the Pooh characters on a variety of its
products in the United States, Canada and in Europe through an agreement with
The Walt Disney Company (France) S.A. The Walt Disney license agreements expire
December 31, 1996 and are cancellable upon a change in control of the Company.
The Company makes royalty payments on its net sales of licensed products and is
subject to a guaranteed minimum royalty payment of approximately $712,000 in the
aggregate.
 
                                       17
   22
 
MANUFACTURING AND SOURCES OF SUPPLY
 
     The Company does not own or operate its own manufacturing facilities. In
1994 all of the Company's products were manufactured either using the Company's
custom tools (molds and dies) or to the Company's specifications by
approximately 25 manufacturers located in the United States, Canada, China,
Taiwan, and Thailand. Approximately 53% and 51% respectively of all of its
products sold in 1994 and in the first six months of 1995 were manufactured in
Asia, primarily in China. A large percentage of the Company's furnishings and
other large products were manufactured in 1994 and in the first six months of
1995 by suppliers in the United States and Canada because of the significantly
higher shipping costs from the Far East.
 
     Generally the Company uses one manufacturer to make each product from its
supplier base in Asia, Canada, and the United States. Due to the high cost of
developing duplicate tooling (predominantly molds and dies), most of the
Company's products are made using one set of tools; however, the Company has
developed duplicate tools for several of its key and high-volume products. The
Company believes it has alternative manufacturing sources available for all of
its products. Because it owns its single and duplicate tools, it could shift its
sources of manufacturing for any product to an alternative supplier.
 
   
     Currently the Company is not dependent on any one supplier, although its
largest supplier, which is based in the United States, accounted for products
that represented approximately 22% of the Company's net sales in 1994, and
approximately 20% of its net sales in the first six months of 1995. In 1994
approximately 13% and 6% of the Company's products sold were manufactured by two
suppliers located in China, and approximately 11% and 5% of its products sold
were manufactured by these same suppliers in the first six months of 1995. The
Company has not entered into long-term contractual arrangements with any of its
suppliers.
    
 
   
     The principal raw materials used in the production and sale of the
Company's products are plastic, paperboard and cloth. Raw materials are
purchased by the manufacturers who deliver completed products to the Company.
Because the primary source used in manufactured plastic is petroleum, the cost
and availability of plastic for use in the Company's products varies to a great
extent with the price of petroleum. The inability of the Company's suppliers to
acquire sufficient plastic and paperboard at a reasonable price could have a
material adverse effect on the Company's profitability.
    
 
     The Company purchases its products from its suppliers primarily in the U.S.
dollar and the Hong Kong dollar which is currently pegged to the U.S. dollar.
Generally, the Company's suppliers ship the products on the basis of open credit
terms or upon the acceptance of products by the Company. In addition, some
suppliers require shipment against letters of credit.
 
     Foreign manufacturing is subject to a number of risks including
transportation delays and interruptions, the imposition of tariffs, quotas, and
other import or export controls, currency fluctuations, misappropriation of
intellectual property, political and economic disruptions, and changes in
governmental policies. From time to time, the United States Congress has
attempted to impose additional restrictions on trade with China. Enactment of
legislation or the imposition of restrictive regulations conditioning or
revoking China's "most favored nation" ("MFN") trading status could have a
material adverse effect upon the Company's business because products originating
from China could be subjected to substantially higher rates of duty. In May
1995, China's MFN trading status was extended through July 3, 1996. Unless
Congress takes action to override this decision, which the Company believes is
unlikely, China will continue to enjoy MFN treatment during this period. The
European Economic Community (the "EEC") has recently enacted a quota and tariff
system with respect to the importation into the EEC of certain toy products
originating in China. The Company, therefore, continues to evaluate alternative
sources of supply outside of China.
 
     The Company, because of its substantial reliance on suppliers in foreign
countries, is required to order products further in advance of customer orders
than would generally be the case if such products were produced in the United
States. As a result, the Company is required to carry significant amounts of
inventory to meet rapid delivery requirements of customers and to assure itself
of continuous allotment of goods from suppliers.
 
                                       18
   23
 
COMPETITION
 
     The juvenile products industry is highly competitive and includes numerous
domestic and foreign competitors, some of which are substantially larger and
have greater financial and other resources than the Company. The Company
competes with a number of different competitors, depending on the product
category, and it competes against no single company across all product
categories. Its competitors include large, diversified health care products
companies, specialty infant products makers, toy makers and specialty health
care products companies. The Company competes principally on the basis of brand
name recognition and price/value relationship. In addition, the Company believes
that it competes favorably with respect to product quality, customer service and
breadth of product line.
 
DISTRIBUTION
 
     Product distribution in the United States is centralized at the Company's
103,500 square foot warehouse facility in Avon, Massachusetts. The Company ships
certain of its products, primarily some of those made in Asia, to a public
warehouse in Fontana, California, thereby enabling it to reduce shipping time
and cost to its customers primarily in Western parts of the United States. The
Company distributes its products in Canada from a public warehouse in Toronto,
Ontario. In Europe, the Company distributes its products from a public warehouse
in Gent, Belgium.
 
     The Company uses independent shippers to deliver orders to its customers.
Warehouse services at the various public warehouses are performed by warehouse
operators unaffiliated with the Company.
 
     The Company also uses a computerized management information and control
system which allows the Company to determine the status of orders from customers
and enables the Company to process orders quickly, respond to customer inquiries
and adjust shipping schedules to meet customer requirements. Within this system,
the Company uses an electronic data interchange system which enables customers,
through computerized telephone communications, to place orders directly with the
Company. The Company believes that these systems have improved order processing,
expedited shipments and improved customer service.
 
     The Company also provides to its customers the service of pre-ticketing and
bar-coding its products in accordance with customer specifications.
 
TRADEMARKS, PATENTS AND COPYRIGHTS
 
     The Company's principal trademark, THE FIRST YEARS and design, is
registered in the United States and in a number of foreign countries. The
Company also uses other trademarks for certain of its products and product
categories, some of which are registered in the United States and in various
foreign countries. Applications are pending in the U.S. and various foreign
countries for registration of some of the Company's trademarks.
 
     The Company also owns patents, design patents and design registrations, as
well as pending applications in the United States and certain foreign countries.
Although the Company believes such are important to its business, it does not
believe that any single patent, design patent, or design registration, including
any which may be issued on a pending application, is material to its business.
There can be no assurance that the Company's patents, design patents or design
registrations, including those that may be issued on pending applications, will
offer any significant competitive advantage for the Company's products.
 
     The Company also owns copyrights, some of which are registered in the
United States. The Company does not believe that any single copyright is
material to its business. There can be no assurance that the Company's
copyrights will offer any significant competitive advantage for the Company's
products.
 
     The Company requires all of its employees (other than hourly warehouse
employees), including its executive officers, to enter into standard employee
agreements pursuant to which the employee agrees to keep confidential any
proprietary information of the Company and to assign to the Company all rights
which the employee may possess in any proprietary information or technology made
or contributed to by the employee during his or her employment or made
thereafter as a result of any inventions conceived or work done during
 
                                       19
   24
 
such employment. Despite these precautions, it may be possible for a third party
to obtain and use the Company's designs without authorization. In addition,
effective patent and trade secret protection may be unavailable or limited with
respect to various of the Company's products.
 
EMPLOYEES
 
     As of June 30, 1995, the Company employed 91 full-time and 5 part-time
employees, of whom 10 are executive officers, 38 are in sales, marketing and
product development, 31 are in materials, purchasing, quality control, data
processing, finance, administration and clerical and 17 are in warehousing
positions. None of the Company's employees is represented by a union, and the
Company has not experienced any work stoppages. The Company believes that
relations with employees are good.
 
GOVERNMENT REGULATION
 
   
     The Company's products are subject to the provisions of the Federal
Consumer Product Safety Act, the Federal Hazardous Substances Act, as amended,
and the Federal Flammable Fabrics Act, and the regulations promulgated
thereunder (the "Acts"). The Company's nursery monitors are subject to
regulations of the Federal Communications Commission. The Company's medical
devices and drug products are subject to the regulations of the Food and Drug
Administration. The Acts enable the Consumer Product Safety Commission (the
"CPSC") to protect children from hazardous toys and other articles. The CPSC has
the authority to exclude from the market certain consumer products which are
found to be hazardous. The CPSC's determination is subject to court review. The
CPSC can require the repurchase by the manufacturer of articles which are
banned. The Federal Flammable Fabrics Act enables the CPSC to regulate and
enforce flammability standards for fabrics used in consumer products. Similar
laws exist in some states and cities and in various international markets. The
Company designs and tests its products to ensure compliance with the various
federal, state and international requirements. Any recall of a product could
have a material adverse effect on the Company, depending on the particular
product.
    
 
PROPERTIES
 
     The Company owns its executive and administrative offices and principal
warehouse which are located in a building at One Kiddie Drive, Avon,
Massachusetts. The building contains approximately 124,000 square feet of space,
of which approximately 20,500 square feet are used for executive and
administrative offices; and the balance, approximately 103,500 square feet, is
utilized for warehousing. The Company also has sales offices in leased premises
in Mission Viejo, California; Cirencester, Gloucestershire, England; and in
Paris, France.
 
     The Company also uses public warehouses located in Fontana, California;
Toronto, Canada; and in Gent, Belgium.
 
     The Company believes that its properties (owned and leased) are in good
condition and adequate for its current needs. The Company believes that
additional warehouse space, if needed, is readily available in close proximity
to its Avon facility.
 
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
 
     The Company encounters personal injury litigation related to its products
in the ordinary course of business. The Company maintains product liability
insurance in amounts deemed adequate by management. The Company believes that
there are no claims or litigation pending, the outcome of which would have a
material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition or
operating results.
 
                                       20
   25

 
                                           MANAGEMENT
 
OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS
 
     The Company's officers and directors are as follows:
 

                                                                                     OFFICER OR
NAME                                   AGE    POSITION                             DIRECTOR SINCE
- ----                                   ---    --------                             --------------
                                                                              
Ronald J. Sidman...................    48     Chairman of the Board of Directors,      1975
                                              Chief Executive Officer and
                                              President
Jerome M. Karp.....................    67     Vice Chairman of the Board of            1969
                                              Directors
Benjamin Peltz.....................    56     Treasurer, Senior Vice President and     1975
                                              Director
Evelyn Sidman......................    81     Clerk and Director                       1979
Fred T. Page(1)(2).................    48     Director                                 1988
Merton N. Alperin(1)(2)............    73     Director                                 1988
Joseph M. Connolly.................    54     Vice President of Operations             1979
John N. Colantuone.................    57     Vice President of Materials and          1982
                                              Engineering
Mark H. Dall.......................    51     Vice President of Information            1985
                                              Services
Adrian E. Roche....................    39     Vice President of Worldwide              1992
                                              Marketing
Wayne Shea.........................    41     Vice President of Worldwide Sales &      1991
                                              Merchandising
John R. Beals......................    40     Controller and Assistant Treasurer       1990
<FN> 
- ---------------
(1) Member of the Audit Committee.
 
(2) Member of the Compensation Committee.

 
     Mr. Sidman has served as President of the Company for over five years and
was elected to the offices of Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer
on March 28, 1995.
 
     Mr. Karp first became a Director of the Company in 1969 and has been the
Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Company for over five years.
 
     Mr. Peltz has been Senior Vice President and Treasurer of the Company for
over five years.
 
     Mrs. Sidman first became a Director of the Company in 1979 and has been the
Clerk of the Company for over five years.
 
     Mr. Page was appointed President -- Network Services of Southern New
England Telecommunications Corporation ("SNET") in January 1994, and has been
with SNET for over five years.
 
     Mr. Alperin, a Certified Public Accountant, has been a financial consultant
for over five years. He was the Chairman of the Board of Public Accountancy of
Massachusetts for the years 1979, 1982 and 1984.
 
     Mr. Connolly has been Vice President of Operations of the Company for over
five years.
 
     Mr. Colantuone has been Vice President of Materials and Engineering of the
Company since March 1989. From January 1982 to February 1989, Mr. Colantuone was
Vice President of Materials of the Company.
 
     Mr. Dall has been Vice President of Information Services of the Company for
over five years.
 
     Mr. Roche has been Vice President of Worldwide Marketing of the Company
since January 1995. From January 1992 to December 1994, Mr. Roche was Vice
President of European Sales of the Company. From
 
                                       21
   26
 
1989 to 1991, Mr. Roche held several managerial positions for Fisher-Price
Kiddicraft in the United Kingdom, the last of which was Managing Director.
 
     Mr. Shea has been Vice President of Worldwide Sales & Merchandising of the
Company since January 1995. From July 1991 to December 1994, Mr. Shea was Vice
President of Service and Merchandising of the Company, and from January 1985 to
June 1991, Mr. Shea was Director of Merchandising of the Company.
 
     Mr. Beals has been the Assistant Treasurer of the Company since January
1990 and has been the Controller of the Company since July 1985.
 
     Evelyn Sidman is the mother of Ronald J. Sidman and the mother-in-law of
Benjamin Peltz.
 
ELECTION AND COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS
 
     The Company's Board of Directors is divided into three classes, with
members of each class holding office for staggered three-year terms. There are
currently two Class I directors (Jerome M. Karp and Fred T. Page), two Class II
directors (Evelyn Sidman and Merton N. Alperin) and two Class III directors
(Ronald J. Sidman and Benjamin Peltz) whose terms expire, respectively, at the
1996, 1997 and 1998 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. At each Annual Meeting of
Stockholders, directors in a class are elected for a term of three years and
until their successors are elected and qualified.
 
     The Company pays each director who is not an employee of the Company an
annual retainer of $12,500 for Board service, plus attendance fees of $750 per
meeting for each Board or committee meeting attended. The Company also
reimburses expenses incurred in connection with service on the Board.
 
     Non-employee directors are also eligible to receive an option each year to
purchase 1,500 shares of the Company's Common Stock under the Company's 1993
Stock Option Plan for Non-Employee Directors (the "Directors Plan"), which
becomes exercisable on the first anniversary of the date of grant. In addition,
each director who has served for at least three years receives a one-time award
of an option for 5,000 shares that is exercisable six months after the date of
grant. The exercise price of options is equal to the fair market value per share
of the Company's Common Stock on the date of grant. Pursuant to the Directors
Plan, on May 18, 1995, each of Messrs. Alperin and Page was granted an option to
purchase 1,500 shares of Common Stock and an option to purchase 5,000 shares of
Common Stock at an exercise price of $18.50 per share.
 
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
 
     Summary Compensation Table. The following table sets forth certain
information with respect to the annual and long-term compensation for the years
ended December 31, 1992, 1993 and 1994 paid or accrued by the Company to each of
the following: (i) the Company's Chief Executive Officer and (ii) the Company's
four most highly paid executive officers who earned more than $100,000 in 1994
(collectively the "named officers").
 
                                       22
   27


 
   
                           SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
    
 
   

                                                                              LONG-TERM
                                                                         COMPENSATION AWARDS
                                                ANNUAL COMPENSATION     ---------------------
             NAME AND                          ---------------------    SECURITIES UNDERLYING        ALL OTHER
        PRINCIPAL POSITION            YEAR      SALARY      BONUS(1)         OPTIONS(2)           COMPENSATION(3)
- ----------------------------------    -----    ---------    --------    ---------------------     ---------------
                                                                                   
Marshall B. Sidman(4).............     1994    $ 172,562    $ 57,323                 0                $51,096
Chairman of the Board,............     1993      197,830           0                 0                 61,500
Chief Executive Officer and            1992
  Director........................               190,520      74,782                 0                 56,000
Jerome M. Karp....................     1994      144,628      34,394                 0                 45,829
Vice Chairman of the..............     1993      197,830           0                 0                 60,000
Board and Director................     1992      190,520      74,782                 0                 61,000
Ronald J. Sidman(5)...............     1994      193,539     159,291             5,000                 29,319
President and.....................     1993      220,954           0            26,500                 43,770
Director..........................     1992      213,708      83,882                 0                 42,770
Benjamin Peltz....................     1994      159,645      88,646             4,000                 34,523
Sr. Vice President,...............     1993      182,803           0            19,500                 47,945
Treasurer and Director............     1992      176,393      69,242                 0                 47,945
John N. Colantuone................     1994      105,974      34,929             2,500                 11,952
Vice President of.................     1993      101,342           0             5,000                 17,544
Materials and Engineering.........     1992       97,831      19,207                 0                 18,201
    
<FN> 
- ---------------
(1) The bonus amounts were earned by these individuals in 1994 and 1992 under
    the Company's Annual Incentive Plan. The Company did not make any bonus
    payments to the named officers for services rendered during 1993.
 
(2) These numbers represent options to purchase shares of the Company's Common
    Stock granted pursuant to the Company's 1993 Equity Incentive Plan. See
    "Options/SAR Grants in Last Fiscal Year" for more information on the options
    granted in 1994.
 
(3) The amounts shown in this column reflect (i) insurance premium payments made
    on behalf of the following named officers by the Company during 1994 for
    life insurance policies: Marshall B. Sidman -- $35,500; Jerome M.
    Karp -- $30,000; Ronald J. Sidman -- $12,770; and Benjamin Peltz -- $17,945;
    and (ii) contributions made by the Company to the Company's defined
    contribution pension and 401(k) plans on behalf of the following named
    officers: Marshall B. Sidman -- $15,596; Jerome M. Karp -- $15,829; Ronald
    J. Sidman -- $16,549; Benjamin Peltz -- $16,578; and John N.
    Colantuone -- $11,952.
 
(4) Marshall B. Sidman died on March 24, 1995.
 
(5) Ronald J. Sidman became Chairman and Chief Executive Officer on March 28,
    1995.


 
     Option Grants. The following table sets forth grants of stock options
pursuant to the Company's 1993 Equity Incentive Plan during 1994 to the named
officers reflected in the Summary Compensation Table above:


 
   
                     OPTION/SAR GRANTS IN LAST FISCAL YEAR
    
 
   

                                                                                       POTENTIAL REALIZABLE
                                                                                              VALUE
                                                                                        AT ASSUMED ANNUAL
                                                                                             RATES OF
                         NUMBER OF       PERCENTAGE OF                                     STOCK PRICE
                         SECURITIES    TOTAL OPTIONS/SARS                                APPRECIATION FOR
                         UNDERLYING        GRANTED TO       EXERCISE                      OPTION TERM(2)
                        OPTIONS/SARS      EMPLOYEES IN      PRICE PER   EXPIRATION   ------------------------
         NAME            GRANTED(1)       FISCAL YEAR       SHARE(1)       DATE        5%              10%
- ----------------------- ------------   ------------------   ---------   ----------   -------         --------
                                                                                   
Marshall B. Sidman.....         0
Jerome M. Karp.........         0
Ronald J. Sidman.......     5,000             10.0%          $ 10.04      3/23/99    $ 8,043          $23,292
Benjamin Peltz.........     4,000              8.0%             9.13      3/23/99     10,084           22,284
John N. Colantuone.....     2,500              5.0%             9.13      3/23/99      6,303           13,927

    
 
- ---------------
(1) Incentive stock options were granted in 1994 pursuant to the Company's 1993
    Equity Incentive Plan. The exercise price of the options granted to Messrs.
    Peltz and Colantuone was equal to the fair market value
 
                                       23
   28
 
    (the mean between the final bid and ask price) of the Company's Common Stock
    on the date of grant, March 23, 1994. The exercise price of the options
    granted to Mr. Sidman was 110% of the fair market value of the Company's
    Common Stock on such date. The options are exercisable in three equal annual
    installments beginning on March 23, 1995.
 
(2) In accordance with the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission, the
    amounts shown on this table represent hypothetical gains that could be
    achieved for the respective options if exercised at the end of the option
    term. These gains are based on assumed rates of stock appreciation of 5% and
    10% compounded annually from the date the respective options were granted to
    their expiration date. The gains shown are net of the option exercise price,
    but do not include deductions for taxes or other expenses associated with
    the exercise. Actual gains, if any, on stock option exercises will depend on
    the future performance of the Company's Common Stock, the optionholder's
    continued employment through the option period, and the date on which the
    options are exercised.
 
     Option Exercises and Fiscal Year-End Values.  The following table sets
forth information with respect to options to purchase the Company's Common Stock
granted under the Company's 1993 Equity Incentive Plan including the number of
unexercised options outstanding on December 31, 1994 and the value of such
unexercised options on December 31, 1994. No options were exercised during 1994.


 
   
              AGGREGATED OPTION/SAR EXERCISES IN LAST FISCAL YEAR
    
   
                     AND FISCAL YEAR-END OPTIONS/SAR VALUES
    
 
   

                                                    NUMBER OF SECURITIES
                                                   UNDERLYING UNEXERCISED           VALUE OF UNEXERCISED
                                                        OPTIONS/SARS                IN-THE-MONEY OPTIONS
                                                     AT FISCAL YEAR END             AT FISCAL YEAR END(1)
                                                 ---------------------------     ---------------------------
                     NAME                        EXERCISABLE   UNEXERCISABLE     EXERCISABLE   UNEXERCISABLE
- -----------------------------------------------  -----------   -------------     -----------   -------------
                                                                                   
Marshall B. Sidman.............................         0               0                0               0
Jerome M. Karp.................................         0               0                0               0
Ronald J. Sidman...............................     8,834          22,666          $66,800       $ 179,700
Benjamin Peltz.................................     6,500          17,000           56,100         152,600
John N. Colantuone.............................     1,668           5,832           14,400          54,000

    
<FN> 
- ---------------
(1) Value is based on the difference between the option exercise price and the
    fair market value at December 31, 1994 ($19.25 per share -- the closing sale
    price of the Company's Common Stock as reported by Nasdaq) multiplied by the
    number of shares underlying the option.


 
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENTS
 
     On March 23, 1995, the Company entered into employment agreements (the
"Agreements") with Ronald J. Sidman and Benjamin Peltz (the "Executives").
Unless otherwise indicated, the provisions of the Agreements are substantially
similar. The respective Agreements provide that, initially, Mr. Sidman will
serve as President and Mr. Peltz will serve as Senior Vice President and
Treasurer of the Company, in each case for a term of five years, provided,
however, that the Agreements are automatically renewed for additional three-year
periods unless either party gives the other party notice of termination at least
90 days prior to the expiration of the initial or any renewal term (the "Term").
Base salary under the Agreements is currently $214,000 for Mr. Sidman and
$177,000 for Mr. Peltz, which amounts may be increased or decreased during the
Term in the discretion of the Compensation Committee ("Salary"). The Executives
are also entitled to participate in the Company's Annual Incentive Plan ("Annual
Bonus"), the Company's 1993 Equity Incentive Plan, and the benefits and benefit
plans provided by the Company to its other executive officers during the Term
("Benefits").
 
     If an Executive is terminated for cause, the Salary and Benefits of the
Executive cease immediately and the Executive will not be entitled to receive an
Annual Bonus for the year in which the termination for cause occurs. In the
event of an Executive's death, the Company will pay the Executive's legal
representative an amount equal to his Salary then in effect, in 12 equal monthly
installments. In the event an Executive becomes disabled, the Executive will
receive an amount equal to his Salary then in effect, in 12 equal monthly
 
                                       24
   29
 
installments. Any Annual Bonus amounts due an Executive in the year of his death
or disability will be paid on a pro rata basis. In the event the Company or an
Executive terminates the Agreement for any reason (other than death, disability
or cause), any Annual Bonus to which an Executive is entitled will be paid on a
pro rata basis.
 
     In consideration for their obligation not to disclose the Company's
confidential information and not to compete with the Company or solicit its
employees during the Term and for a two-year period following termination of
their employment by either party for any reason (other than death, disability or
cause), the Executives will receive their Salary and Benefits (then in effect)
for such two-year period less any amount earned by the Executives from other
employment during such period.
 
     In August, 1994, the Company entered into an employment agreement with
Jerome M. Karp. The agreement provides that Mr. Karp will continue to be
employed by the Company on a reduced-time basis for a period of five years until
his retirement from the Company on August 8, 1999 (the "Term") and will continue
to serve as the Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors subject to election by
the Board of Directors. The agreement provides for an annual salary of $100,000
and participation by Mr. Karp in the benefits and benefit plans provided by the
Company to its executive officers during the Term, except the Company's Annual
Incentive Plan and 1993 Equity Incentive Plan.
 
     If Mr. Karp terminates the agreement for any reason, or if Mr. Karp is
terminated for cause, his right to salary and the benefits terminates. In the
event of Mr. Karp's death, the Company will pay to Mr. Karp's legal
representative the lesser of $100,000 or the balance of salary due Mr. Karp in
the fifth year of the Term. In the event Mr. Karp becomes disabled, the Company
will pay Mr. Karp the sum of $100,000 in 12 equal monthly installments. In the
event of certain corporate transactions (merger, sale of all or substantially
all of the Company's assets, or sale of a majority of the Company's Common
Stock) the agreement terminates and the Company will pay Mr. Karp in a lump sum
payment, the lesser of $100,000 or the balance of the salary due Mr. Karp in the
fifth year of the Term.
 
     As additional consideration for entering into the agreement, Mr. Karp has
agreed not to disclose the Company's confidential information and not to compete
with the Company or solicit its employees or customers during the Term and for a
five-year period following termination of his employment.
 
                                       25
   30


 
                       PRINCIPAL AND SELLING STOCKHOLDERS
 
     The following table sets forth, to the knowledge of the Company, the
beneficial ownership of the Common Stock of the Company as of September 1, 1995
(except as otherwise indicated) by (i) each director of the Company, (ii) each
of the named officers who was serving as executive officers at the end of 1994,
(iii) persons owning more than 5% of the Company's Common Stock, (iv) each
Selling Stockholder and (v) all directors and executive officers of the Company
as a group. Unless otherwise indicated, each stockholder referred to below has
sole voting and investment power with respect to shares listed.
 

                                                    SHARES                              SHARES TO BE
                                                 BENEFICIALLY                           BENEFICIALLY
                                                     OWNED                                  OWNED
                                               PRIOR TO OFFERING      NUMBER OF        AFTER OFFERING
                                               -----------------     SHARES BEING     -----------------
   DIRECTORS AND NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS      NUMBER    PERCENT       OFFERED        NUMBER    PERCENT
- ---------------------------------------------  -------   -------     ------------     -------   -------
                                                                                 
Evelyn Sidman(1).............................  581,700     25.8%        400,000       181,700     6.4%
Ronald J. Sidman(2)..........................  271,335     11.9          40,000       231,335     8.0
Benjamin Peltz(3)............................  174,234      7.7          80,000        94,234     3.3
Jerome M. Karp(4)............................   80,260      3.6          80,000           260       *
Fred T. Page(5)..............................    4,800        *               0         4,800       *
John N. Colantuone(6)........................    4,168        *               0         4,168       *
Merton N. Alperin(7).........................    3,000        *               0         3,000       *
5% STOCKHOLDERS
Estate of Marshall B. Sidman.................  405,540     18.0         400,000         5,540       *
  One Kiddie Drive
  Avon, MA 02322
Santa Monica Partners, L.P.(8)...............  173,000      7.7               0       173,000     6.1
  Two Madison Avenue
  Larchmont, NY
Quest Advisory Corp.(9)......................  197,136      8.7               0       197,136     6.9
Quest Management Company
Charles M. Royce
  1414 Avenue of the Americas
  New York, NY
SELLING STOCKHOLDERS
Eleanor J. Karp..............................   57,000      2.5          57,000             0       *
All directors and executive officers as a
  group(10) (12 persons).................... 1,133,230     49.0         600,000       533,230    18.3

 
- ---------------
* Less than 1% of outstanding shares of Common Stock.
 
 (1) Includes 405,540 shares owned beneficially by Mrs. Sidman as the personal
     representative of the estate of her late husband, Marshall B. Sidman,
     400,000 of which are being sold in this Offering. Mrs. Sidman has sole
     voting and investment power over such shares.
 
 (2) Includes 19,335 shares issuable to Mr. Sidman pursuant to currently
     exercisable stock options. Mr. Sidman is the son of Evelyn Sidman.
 
 (3) Includes 14,334 shares issuable to Mr. Peltz pursuant to currently
     exercisable stock options. 2,400 shares are owned jointly by Mr. and Mrs.
     Peltz.
 
 (4) Includes 57,000 shares owned beneficially by Mr. Karp's wife, Eleanor J.
     Karp, who has sole voting and investment power with respect to such shares,
     which are being sold in this Offering. Mr. Karp disclaims any beneficial
     interest in such shares.
 
 (5) Includes 3,000 shares issuable to Mr. Page pursuant to currently
     exercisable options.
 
                                       26
   31
 
 (6) Includes 4,168 shares issuable to Mr. Colantuone pursuant to currently
     exercisable options.
 
 (7) Includes 3,000 shares issuable to Mr. Alperin pursuant to currently
     exercisable options.
 
 (8) As reported on Schedule 13D filed with the Securities and Exchange
     Commission in August 1994, Lawrence J. Goldstein, general partner of Santa
     Monica Partners, L.P., may be deemed to beneficially own 173,000 shares of
     the Company's outstanding Common Stock and shares voting and dispositive
     power with Santa Monica Partners, L.P. over such shares.
 
 (9) As reported on Schedule 13G filed with the Securities and Exchange
     Commission in February 1995, Quest Advisory Corp., Quest Management Company
     and Charles M. Royce are members of a "group" within the meaning of Rule
     13d-3 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; Quest Advisory Corp. has sole
     voting and dispositive power over 162,636 shares; Quest Management Company
     has sole voting and dispositive power over 34,500 shares; and Mr. Royce may
     be deemed to beneficially own the shares of Quest Advisory Corp. and Quest
     Management Company but disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares held by
     each.
 
(10) The total for all directors and executive officers as a group includes
     57,170 shares issuable to the directors and officers pursuant to currently
     exercisable stock options. The total also includes shares owned
     beneficially by spouses which have been counted only once.
 
                          DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK
 
     The description of the capital stock below is qualified in its entirety by
reference to the Company's Articles of Organization (the "Articles") and By-Laws
(the "By-Laws"), copies of which are filed as exhibits to the Registration
Statement of which this Prospectus is a part.
 
AUTHORIZED AND OUTSTANDING CAPITAL STOCK
 
     The Company is authorized to issue up to 15,000,000 shares of Common Stock,
$0.10 par value. On September 1, 1995, there were 2,256,405 shares outstanding.
 
COMMON STOCK
 
     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. Holders of a majority of the voting power 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 (based on the
number of shares of Common Stock that they hold) such dividends, if any, as may
be declared by the Board of Directors out of funds legally available therefor.
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. Holders of
Common Stock have no preemptive, subscription or redemption rights. The
outstanding shares of Common Stock are, and the shares offered by the Company in
this offering will be, when issued and paid for, fully paid and nonassessable.
 
CERTAIN CHARTER AND BY-LAW PROVISIONS
 
     The Company's Articles and By-Laws contain certain provisions that are
intended to enhance the likelihood of continuity and stability in the
composition of the Company's Board of Directors and in the policies formulated
by the Board and to delay or prevent a change in control of the Company if the
Board determines that such a change in control is not in the best interest of
the Company and its stockholders. These provisions could have the effect of
discouraging certain attempts to acquire the Company or remove incumbent
management even if some or a majority of the Company's stockholders deem such an
attempt to be in its best interest.
 
     Pursuant to the By-Laws, the Board shall consist of not less than three
Directors. The Company is subject to the provisions of Chapter 156B, Section
50A, of the Massachusetts General Laws, which automatically
 
                                       27
   32
 
divides the board of directors into three classes. Pursuant to Section 50A,
directors can be removed only for cause by the affirmative vote of the holders
of a majority of the voting power of the then outstanding shares of capital
stock of the Company generally entitled to vote in the election of directors
voting together as a single class. Although Section 50A allows a corporation to
elect not to have its provisions apply, the Company has not so elected.
 
     The By-Laws and Chapter 156B of the Massachusetts General Laws provide that
stockholders may take action without a meeting only if all shareholders entitled
to vote on the action consent to the action in writing. The written consents
must be filed with the records of the meeting of stockholders. This provision
may discourage any person or entity from making a tender offer for Common Stock,
because such person or entity, even if it 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 By-Laws also require that in order to call a special meeting of
stockholders, a single stockholder or a group of stockholders must hold more
than forty percent (40%) of the then outstanding shares of common stock of the
Company.
 
     The By-Laws establish procedures, including advance notice procedures, with
regard to the nomination, other than by or at the direction of the Board of
Directors, of candidates for election as directors and with regard to certain
matters to be brought before meetings of stockholders of the Company. In
general, notice must be received by the Company not less than 60 days nor more
than 90 days prior to the meeting and must contain certain specified information
concerning the persons to be nominated or the matters to be brought before the
meeting and concerning the stockholder submitting the proposal.
 
     The Board of Directors is permitted pursuant to Chapter 156B of the
Massachusetts General Laws to consider special factors, such as employee welfare
and the future prospects of the Company, in determining what the directors
reasonably believe to be in the best interests of the Company when evaluating
proposed tender or exchange offers or business combinations.
 
     The Articles provide that no director of the Company shall be liable to the
Company or its stockholders for monetary damages for any breach of fiduciary
duty, except to the extent such exculpation from liability is not permitted
under applicable law. This provision does not prevent stockholders from
obtaining injunctive or other equitable relief against directors nor does it
shield directors from liability under federal or state securities laws. The
By-Laws provide that the Company shall indemnify its directors and officers to
the full extent permitted by law.
 
MASSACHUSETTS ANTI-TAKEOVER LAWS
 
     The Company is covered by the provisions of Chapter 110F of the
Massachusetts General Laws, the Business Combination Statute. Under Chapter
110F, a Massachusetts corporation with more than 200 stockholders of record may
not engage in a "business combination" with an "interested stockholder" for a
period of three years after the date of the transaction in which the person
becomes an interested stockholder, unless (i) the interested stockholder obtains
the approval of the Board of Directors prior to becoming an interested
stockholder, (ii) the interested stockholder acquires 90% of the outstanding
voting stock of the corporation (excluding shares held by certain affiliates of
the corporation) at the time it becomes an interested stockholder or (iii) the
business combination is approved by both the Board of Directors and the holders
of two-thirds of the outstanding voting stock of the corporation (excluding
shares held by the interested stockholder). An "interested stockholder" is a
person who, together with affiliates and associates, owns (or at any time within
the prior three years did own) 5% or more of the outstanding voting stock of the
corporation. A "business combination" includes a merger, a stock or asset sale,
and other transactions resulting in a financial benefit to the interested
stockholder.
 
     The By-Laws provide that the provisions of Chapter 110D of the
Massachusetts General Laws, the Control Share Statute, will not apply to the
Company. The Control Share Statute, however, provides that the Company may in
the future become prospectively subject to the statute by vote of its Board of
Directors. In
 
                                       28
   33
 
general, if this statute were applicable, it would provide that any person or
entity that acquired 20% or more of the Company's outstanding voting stock could
not vote such stock unless the other stockholders of the Company were to so
authorize.
 
TRANSFER AGENT AND REGISTRAR
 
     The Transfer Agent and Registrar for the Common Stock of the Company is
State Street Bank and Trust Company.
 
                                       29
   34
 
                                  UNDERWRITING
 
     The Underwriters named below have severally agreed with the Company and the
Selling Stockholders, subject to the terms and conditions of the Underwriting
Agreement, to purchase the respective numbers of shares of Common Stock set
forth opposite their names below.
 


                                                                                NUMBER
                                   UNDERWRITER                                 OF SHARES
     ------------------------------------------------------------------------  ---------
                                                                            
     A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc. ..............................................
     Adams, Harkness & Hill, Inc. ...........................................
                                                                               ---------
       Total.................................................................  1,200,000
                                                                               =========

 
     The Underwriting Agreement provides that the Underwriters are obligated to
purchase all of the shares of Common Stock, if any are purchased.
 
     The Company has been advised by A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc. and Adams,
Harkness & Hill, Inc., the Representatives of the Underwriters (the
"Representatives"), that the Underwriters propose to offer the Common Stock to
the public at the offering price set forth on the cover page of this Prospectus
and to certain dealers at such price less a concession not in excess of
$          per share and that the Underwriters and such dealers may reallow a
discount of not in excess of $          per share to other dealers. The public
offering price and the concession and discount to dealers may be changed by the
Representatives after the public offering.
 
     The Company has granted the Underwriters an option, expiring at the close
of business on the 30th day subsequent to the date of the Underwriting
Agreement, to purchase up to 180,000 additional shares of Common Stock at the
public offering price, less the underwriting discount set forth on the cover
page of this Prospectus. The Underwriters may exercise such option solely to
cover over-allotments, if any, in the sale of the shares. To the extent the
Underwriters exercise such option, each of the Underwriters will have a firm
commitment, subject to certain conditions, to purchase approximately the same
percentage of the option shares as the number of shares set forth opposite each
Underwriter's name in the preceding table bears to 1,200,000 and the Company
will be obligated to sell such shares to the Underwriters.
 
     The Company and the Selling Stockholders have agreed to indemnify the
Underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act").
 
   
     The Company, the Selling Stockholders and all directors of the Company have
agreed that they will not, directly or indirectly, offer, sell or otherwise
dispose of any shares of Common Stock or any securities convertible into or
exercisable or exchangeable for, or any rights to purchase or acquire, Common
Stock for a period of 180 days after the date of this Prospectus (the "Lockup
Period"), except pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement, without the prior
written consent of A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc.
    
 
     The Representatives have advised the Company that they do not intend to
confirm sales to any account over which they exercise discretionary authority.
 
     The rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission")
generally prohibit the Underwriters and other members of the selling group from
making a market in the Company's Common Stock during the "cooling-off" period
immediately preceding the commencement of sales in the offering. The Commission
has, however, adopted an exemption from these rules that permits passive market
making under certain conditions. These rules permit an Underwriter or other
member of the selling group, if any, to continue to make a market in the
Company's Common Stock subject to the conditions, among others, that its bid not
exceed the highest bid by a market maker not connected with the offering and
that its net purchases on any one trading day not exceed prescribed limits.
Pursuant to these exemptions, certain Underwriters and other members of the
selling group, if any, may engage in passive market making in the Company's
Common Stock during the cooling-off period.
 
                                       30
   35
 
                                 LEGAL MATTERS
 
     The validity of the shares of Common Stock offered hereby is being passed
upon for the Company by Ropes & Gray, Boston, Massachusetts. Certain legal
matters in connection with the Offering will be passed upon for the Underwriters
by Hale and Dorr, Boston, Massachusetts.
 
                                    EXPERTS
 
     The financial statements as of December 31, 1994 and 1993 and for each of
the three years in the period ended December 31, 1994 included in this
Prospectus have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent auditors, as
stated in their report appearing herein, and have been so included in reliance
upon the report of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting
and auditing.
 
                             ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
 
     The Company is subject to the reporting requirements of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 and, in accordance therewith, files reports and other
information with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission").
Reports, proxy statements and other information may be inspected and copied at
the public reference facilities maintained by the Commission at 450 Fifth
Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549 and the Commission's regional offices
located at Seven World Trade Center, 13th Floor, New York, New York 10048 and at
Citicorp Center, 500 West Madison, Suite 1400, Chicago, Illinois 60661. Copies
of such materials also may be obtained from the Public Reference Section of the
Commission at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549 at prescribed
rates. The Common Stock of the Company is traded on the Nasdaq National Market.
Reports and other information concerning the Company may be inspected at the
National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., 1735 K Street, N.W.,
Washington, D.C. 20006.
 
     The Company has filed with the Commission a Registration Statement on Form
S-1 under the Securities Act of 1933 with respect to the Common Stock offered
hereby. This Prospectus, which constitutes a part of the Registration Statement,
does not contain all of the information set forth in the Registration Statement,
to which reference is hereby made. Statements made in this Prospectus as to the
contents of any contract, agreement or other document referred to above are not
necessarily complete. With respect to each such contract, agreement or other
document filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement reference is hereby
made to the exhibit for a more complete description of the matter involved, and
each statement shall be deemed qualified in its entirety by such reference. The
Registration Statement, including exhibits and schedules thereto, may be
inspected and copied at the public reference facilities maintained by the
Commission at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Room 1024, Washington, D.C. 20549, and at
the Commission's Regional Offices at Seven World Trade Center, Thirteenth Floor,
New York, New York 10048 and 500 West Madison Street, Suite 1400, Chicago,
Illinois 60661, and copies may be obtained at the prescribed rates from the
Public Reference Section of the Commission at its principal office in
Washington, D.C.
 
                                       31
   36
 
                         INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 


                                                                                        PAGE
                                                                                        -----
                                                                                     
Independent Auditors' Report..........................................................    F-2
Balance Sheets as of December 31, 1993 and 1994 and June 30, 1995 (unaudited).........    F-3
Statements of Income for the years ended December 31, 1992, 1993 and 1994 and for the
  six months ended June 30, 1994 and 1995 (unaudited).................................    F-4
Statements of Stockholders' Equity for the years ended December 31, 1992, 1993 and
  1994 and for the six months ended June 30, 1995 (unaudited).........................    F-5
Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 1992, 1993 and 1994 and for
  the six months ended June 30, 1994 and 1995 (unaudited).............................    F-6
Notes to Financial Statements.........................................................    F-7

 
                                       F-1
   37
 
                          INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT
 
To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of
The First Years Inc. (formerly Kiddie Products, Inc.)
Avon, Massachusetts
 
We have audited the accompanying balance sheets of The First Years Inc.
(formerly Kiddie Products, Inc.) as of December 31, 1993 and 1994, and the
related statements of income, stockholders' equity, and cash flows for each of
the three years in the period ended December 31, 1994. These financial
statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our
responsibility is to express an opinion on the financial statements based on our
audits.
 
We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes
assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by
management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.
We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
 
In our opinion, such financial statements present fairly, in all material
respects, the financial position of The First Years Inc. as of December 31, 1993
and 1994, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the
three years in the period ended December 31, 1994 in conformity with generally
accepted accounting principles.
 
DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
 
March 8, 1995
  (March 23, 1995 as to the
  third paragraph of Note 4)
 
                                       F-2
   38


 
                              THE FIRST YEARS INC.
 
                                 BALANCE SHEETS
 

                                                                                         
                                                                  DECEMBER 31,           JUNE 30
                                                            -------------------------   -----------  
                                                    NOTES      1993          1994          1995
                                                    -----   -----------   -----------   -----------
                                                                                        (UNAUDITED)
                                                                            
ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS:
  Cash and cash equivalents.......................  1,8     $ 2,712,267   $ 2,329,041   $ 1,166,032
  Accounts receivable (less allowance for doubtful
     accounts, $185,000 in 1993 and 1994).........  8         7,212,732     9,266,235    13,634,471
  Inventories.....................................  1         8,229,450    10,413,835    13,810,500
  Prepaid expenses and other assets...............  5           242,606       295,921       234,832
  Deferred tax asset..............................  1,3         661,000       624,500       624,500
                                                            -----------   -----------   -----------
     Total current assets.........................           19,058,055    22,929,532    29,470,335
                                                            -----------   -----------   -----------
PROPERTY, PLANT, AND EQUIPMENT:...................  1
  Land............................................              167,266       167,266       167,266
  Building........................................            3,737,861     3,737,861     3,737,861
  Machinery and molds.............................            4,424,509     5,413,075     5,778,628
  Furniture and equipment.........................            2,859,023     2,986,905     3,079,047
                                                            -----------   -----------   -----------
     Total........................................           11,188,659    12,305,107    12,762,802
  Less accumulated depreciation...................            5,714,000     6,381,854     6,847,009
                                                            -----------   -----------   -----------
     Property, plant, and equipment -- net........            5,474,659     5,923,253     5,915,793
                                                            -----------   -----------   -----------
          TOTAL ASSETS............................          $24,532,714   $28,852,785   $35,386,128
                                                            ===========   ===========   ===========
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
  Current portion of long-term debt...............  2       $   133,333   $   133,333   $   133,333
  Short-term borrowings...........................                                        3,300,000
  Accounts payable................................            2,484,489     4,034,263     5,399,278
  Accrued benefit plans expense...................  6           635,685       259,557       202,500
  Accrued payroll expenses........................               52,382       782,890       624,541
  Accrued selling expenses........................  1           398,638       256,161       155,539
  Federal and state income taxes payable..........  1,3         227,700       218,500       713,923
                                                            -----------   -----------   -----------
     Total current liabilities....................            3,932,227     5,684,704    10,529,114
                                                            -----------   -----------   -----------
LONG-TERM DEBT -- Less portion due currently......  2           366,667       233,334       166,667
DEFERRED INCOME TAXES.............................  1,3         514,100       584,800       584,800
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES.....................  4,5,8
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY:.............................  6
  Authorized 7,500,000 shares as of December 31,
     1993 and 1994 and 15,000,000 shares as of
     June 30, 1995 of Common Stock, $.10 par
     value........................................              224,826       225,043       225,229
  Paid-in capital.................................               75,354        98,194       116,951
  Retained earnings...............................           19,419,540    22,026,710    23,763,367
                                                            -----------   -----------   -----------
     Total stockholders' equity...................           19,719,720    22,349,947    24,105,547
                                                            -----------   -----------   -----------
          TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS'
            EQUITY................................          $24,532,714   $28,852,785   $35,386,128
                                                            ===========   ===========   ===========

 
                       See notes to financial statements.
 
                                       F-3
   39


 
                              THE FIRST YEARS INC.
 
                              STATEMENTS OF INCOME
 
   

                                                                                  SIX MONTHS ENDED
                                           YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,                   JUNE 30,
                                    ---------------------------------------   -------------------------
                            NOTES      1992          1993          1994          1994          1995
                            -----   -----------   -----------   -----------   -----------   -----------
                                                                                     (UNAUDITED)
                                                                          
INCOME:
  Net sales...............   1,7    $45,267,323   $46,124,088   $53,233,109   $27,069,361   $35,878,526
  Interest income.........              154,913        66,204        66,605        17,577        11,566
                                    -----------   -----------   -----------   -----------   -----------
     Total income.........           45,422,236    46,190,292    53,299,714    27,086,938    35,890,092
                                    -----------   -----------   -----------   -----------   -----------
COSTS AND EXPENSES:
  Cost of products sold...   1       23,645,594    26,653,704    29,498,457    15,208,444    20,973,464
  Selling, general, and
     administrative
     expenses.............   1,6     18,429,803    17,857,049    18,915,908     9,244,519    11,335,877
  Severance-related
     expenses.............   9          --            373,000       --            --            --
  Interest expense........               31,961        28,912        24,575        13,593        48,243
                                    -----------   -----------   -----------   -----------   -----------
     Total costs and
       expenses...........           42,107,358    44,912,665    48,438,940    24,466,556    32,357,584
                                    -----------   -----------   -----------   -----------   -----------
INCOME BEFORE INCOME
  TAXES...................            3,314,878     1,277,627     4,860,774     2,620,382     3,532,508
PROVISION FOR INCOME
  TAXES...................   1,3      1,385,100       481,500     1,871,400       995,800     1,413,000
                                    -----------   -----------   -----------   -----------   -----------
NET INCOME................          $ 1,929,778   $   796,127   $ 2,989,374   $ 1,624,582   $ 2,119,508
                                    -----------   -----------   -----------   -----------   -----------
                                    -----------   -----------   -----------   -----------   -----------
EARNINGS PER SHARE........   1            $0.86         $0.35         $1.33         $0.72         $0.91
                                          -----         -----         -----         -----         -----
                                          -----         -----         -----         -----         -----
AVERAGE NUMBER OF COMMON
  AND COMMON EQUIVALENT
  SHARES OUTSTANDING......   1        2,248,260     2,248,260     2,248,622     2,248,260     2,324,680
                                     ----------    ----------    ----------    ----------    ----------
                                     ----------    ----------    ----------    ----------    ----------
DIVIDENDS PAID PER
  SHARE...................                $0.17         $0.17         $0.17         $0.17         $0.17
                                          -----         -----         -----         -----         -----
                                          -----         -----         -----         -----         -----

    
 
                       See notes to financial statements.
 
                                       F-4
   40


 
                              THE FIRST YEARS INC.
 
                       STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
 
YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1992, 1993, AND 1994 AND SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 1995
 

                                                             COMMON STOCK
                                                        -----------------------
                                                                         PAR         PAID-IN       RETAINED
                                              NOTES       SHARES        VALUE        CAPITAL       EARNINGS
                                              -----     ----------     --------     ---------     -----------
                                                                                   
BALANCE, JANUARY 1, 1992....................               749,420     $ 74,942     $ 225,238     $17,450,549
  Stock split, three-for-one................    1        1,498,840      149,884      (149,884)
  Dividends paid............................                                                         (374,710)
  Net income................................                                                        1,929,778
                                                        ----------     --------      --------     -----------
BALANCE, DECEMBER 31, 1992..................             2,248,260      224,826        75,354      19,005,617
  Dividends paid............................                                                         (382,204)
  Net income................................                                                          796,127
                                                        ----------     --------      --------     -----------
BALANCE, DECEMBER 31, 1993..................             2,248,260      224,826        75,354      19,419,540
  Stock issued under stock option plans.....    6            2,170          217        22,840
  Dividends paid............................                                                         (382,204)
  Net income................................                                                        2,989,374
                                                        ----------     --------      --------     -----------
BALANCE, DECEMBER 31, 1994..................             2,250,430      225,043        98,194      22,026,710
  Stock issued under stock option plans
     (unaudited)............................                 1,860          186        18,757
  Dividends paid (unaudited)................                                                         (382,851)
  Net income (unaudited)....................                                                        2,119,508
                                                        ----------     --------      --------     -----------
BALANCE, JUNE 30, 1995 (unaudited)..........             2,252,290     $225,229     $ 116,951     $23,763,367
                                                        ==========     ========      ========     ===========

 
                       See notes to financial statements.
 
                                       F-5
   41


 
                              THE FIRST YEARS INC.
 
                            STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
 
   

                                                                                                
                                                         YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,                SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30,
                                                -------------------------------------------     ---------------------------
                                                   1992            1993            1994            1994            1995
                                                -----------     -----------     -----------     -----------     -----------
                                                                                                (UNAUDITED)
                                                                                                 
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
  Net income..................................  $ 1,929,778     $   796,127     $ 2,989,374     $ 1,624,582     $ 2,119,508
  Adjustments to reconcile net income to net
    cash provided by (used for) operating
    activities:
    Depreciation..............................      632,357         778,652         878,250         404,042         465,155
    Provision for doubtful accounts...........      273,393          17,177          23,673          61,051          73,009
    (Gain) loss on disposal of equipment......       94,098         105,170          47,877          (9,926)           (200)
    Increase (decrease) arising from working
      capital items:
      Accounts receivable.....................   (1,075,833)       (994,400)     (2,077,176)     (2,895,096)     (4,441,245)
      Inventories.............................     (445,553)       (931,295)     (2,184,385)       (274,950)     (3,396,665)
      Prepaid expenses and other assets.......      (27,703)        (42,222)        (53,315)       (155,603)         61,089
      Accounts payable........................      769,740          20,979       1,549,774         771,441       1,365,015
      Accrued benefit plans expense...........       17,471         (51,060)       (376,128)       (488,742)        (57,057)
      Accrued payroll expenses................      150,282        (366,866)        730,508         487,357        (158,349)
      Accrued selling expenses................      (45,939)        (95,394)       (142,477)       (263,638)       (100,622)
      Federal and state income taxes
        payable...............................       19,200         (72,100)         (9,200)        261,600         495,423
    Change in deferred income taxes...........      (41,700)         51,800         107,200         --              --
    Decrease in other long-term liabilities...      (60,796)        --              --              --              --
                                                -----------     -----------     -----------     -----------     -----------
        Net cash provided by (used for)
          operating activities................    2,188,795        (783,432)      1,483,975        (477,882)     (3,574,939)
                                                -----------     -----------     -----------     -----------     -----------
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES --
  Purchase of property, plant, and
    equipment.................................   (2,574,445)       (794,222)     (1,374,721)       (599,993)       (457,495)
                                                -----------     -----------     -----------     -----------     -----------
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
  Repayment of industrial revenue bonds.......     (133,334)       (133,333)       (133,333)        (66,667)        (66,667)
  Dividends paid..............................     (374,710)       (382,204)       (382,204)       (382,204)       (382,851)
  Common stock issued under stock option
    plans.....................................      --              --               23,057         --               18,943
  Net proceeds from short-term borrowings.....      --              --              --              --            3,300,000
                                                -----------     -----------     -----------     -----------     -----------
        Net cash provided by (used for)
          financing activities................     (508,044)       (515,537)       (492,480)       (448,871)      2,869,425
                                                -----------     -----------     -----------     -----------     -----------
DECREASE IN CASH AND
  CASH EQUIVALENTS............................     (893,694)     (2,093,191)       (383,226)     (1,526,746)     (1,163,009)
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, BEGINNING OF
  YEAR........................................    5,699,152       4,805,458       2,712,267       2,712,267       2,329,041
                                                -----------     -----------     -----------     -----------     -----------
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS,
  END OF YEAR.................................  $ 4,805,458     $ 2,712,267     $ 2,329,041     $ 1,185,521     $ 1,166,032
                                                 ==========      ==========      ==========      ==========      ==========
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES OF CASH FLOW
  INFORMATION --
  Cash paid during the year for:
    Interest..................................  $    31,961     $    28,912     $    24,575     $    13,593     $    48,243
                                                 ==========      ==========      ==========      ==========      ==========
    Income taxes..............................  $ 1,407,600     $   501,800     $ 1,773,400     $   734,200     $   917,577
                                                 ==========      ==========      ==========      ==========      ==========

    
 
                       See notes to financial statements.
 
                                       F-6
   42
 
                              THE FIRST YEARS INC.
 
                         NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
1.  SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
 
     Business -- The First Years Inc. (formerly Kiddie Products, Inc.) (the
Company) is a developer, marketer, and distributor of certain basic accessory
and related products for infants and toddlers. The Company was founded and
incorporated in 1952. Since its inception, the Company has engaged in this
single line of business, with one class of similar products. The following is a
summary of significant accounting policies.
 
     Interim Financial Information -- The Balance Sheet as of June 30, 1995, the
Statements of Income for the six months ended June 30, 1994 and 1995, the
Statement of Stockholders' Equity for the six months ended June 30, 1995 and the
Statements of Cash Flows for the six months ended June 30, 1994 and 1995 are
unaudited. All adjustments and accruals (consisting only of normal recurring
adjustments) have been made, which in the opinion of management are necessary
for a fair presentation. Results of operations for the six months ended June 30,
1995 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for any
future period.
 
     Revenue Recognition -- Revenue is recognized when products are shipped.
 
     Cash Equivalents -- Highly liquid investments with a maturity of three
months or less when purchased have been classified as cash equivalents in the
accompanying financial statements. Such investments are carried at cost which
approximates market value.
 
     Inventories -- Inventories are stated at the lower of cost (first-in,
first-out) or market. Inventories consist principally of finished goods,
unpackaged components, and supplies.
 
     Property, Plant, and Equipment -- Property, plant, and equipment is stated
at cost. Depreciation is provided based on the estimated useful lives of the
various classes of assets (building, 15 to 40 years; machinery and molds, 5 to
10 years; furniture and equipment, 5 to 10 years) using the straight-line
method.
 
     Income Taxes -- Deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on
the differences between the financial statement and tax bases of assets and
liabilities using enacted tax rates.
 
     Earnings Per Share -- Earnings per share are based on the weighted average
number of shares outstanding during each year (retroactively adjusted to reflect
the three-for-one stock split effected on December 15, 1992) and common
equivalent shares, consisting of the effect of stock options outstanding, if
dilutive (see Note 6).
 
     Research and Development Costs -- Research and development costs are
expensed as incurred. During 1992, 1993, and 1994, research and development
costs approximated $1,707,000, $1,493,000 and $1,466,000, respectively.
 
     Foreign Currency Translation -- The Company's functional currency is the
U.S. dollar. Accordingly, monetary assets and liabilities of the Company's
foreign operations are translated from the respective local currency to the U.S.
dollar using year-end exchange rates while nonmonetary items are translated at
historical rates. Income and expense accounts are translated at the average
rates in effect during the year. Accordingly, translation adjustments and
transaction gains and losses are recognized in income in the year of occurrence
and are recorded as a component of cost of sales.
 
     Foreign Exchange Contracts -- The Company enters into forward exchange
contracts to minimize the impact of fluctuations in currency exchange rates on
future cash flows emanating from sales denominated in foreign currencies. The
Company does not purchase such contracts for trading purposes. Gains and losses
related to foreign exchange contracts which qualify as accounting hedges of firm
commitments are deferred and recognized in income when the hedged transaction
occurs. Gains and losses related to foreign exchange contracts which do not
qualify for hedge accounting are marked to market currently and recognized as a
foreign currency transaction gain or loss.
 
                                       F-7
   43
 
                              THE FIRST YEARS INC.
 
                  NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
 
2.  DEBT
 
     Long-term debt consists of unsecured industrial revenue bonds (IRB), with
interest payable quarterly at 65% of the prime rate (3.9% and 5.5% at December
31, 1993 and 1994, respectively) and principal payable in equal quarterly
installments of $33,333 through September 30, 1997.
 
     Under the terms of the IRB agreement, the Company must comply with certain
covenants, none of which impose a significant limitation on the Company.
 
     The Company has available unsecured lines of credit totaling $9,000,000
with two banks. Both lines are subject to annual renewal and require no
compensating balances. One line bears interest at the prime rate and the other
line bears interest at the prime interest rate less 0.25%. During first six
months of 1995, the Company borrowed various amounts up to $3,300,000
(unaudited). As of June 30, 1995 a balance of $3,300,000 (unaudited) remains
outstanding which bears interest at 8.8% (unaudited).
 
3.  INCOME TAXES


 
     Components of the Company's net deferred tax asset at December 31 are as
follows:
 

                                                                       1993         1994
                                                                     --------     --------
                                                                            
      Deferred tax assets:
        Reserves not currently deductible..........................  $166,900     $ 62,900
        Capitalized packaging costs not currently deductible.......   239,700      360,200
        Capitalized inventory costs not currently deductible.......   172,900      116,900
        Other......................................................    81,500       84,500
                                                                     --------     --------
                                                                      661,000      624,500
      Valuation allowance..........................................        --           --
                                                                     --------     --------
                                                                      661,000      624,500
                                                                     --------     --------
      Deferred tax liabilities:
        Excess tax depreciation over financial reporting
           depreciation............................................   509,000      580,300
        Other......................................................     5,100        4,500
                                                                     --------     --------
                                                                      514,100      584,800
                                                                     --------     --------
      Net deferred tax asset.......................................  $146,900     $ 39,700
                                                                     ========     ========

 
     There was no change in the valuation allowance for the years ended December
31, 1993 and 1994.


 
     The provision for income taxes consists of the following:
 

                                                             1992        1993        1994
                                                          ----------   ---------  -----------
                                                                         
      Federal:
        Current.........................................  $1,096,600    $352,300   $1,432,700
        Deferred........................................     (41,700)     51,800      107,200
                                                          ----------    --------   ----------
      Total.............................................   1,054,900     404,100    1,539,900
      State.............................................     330,200      77,400      331,500
                                                          ----------    --------   ----------
      Total.............................................  $1,385,100    $481,500   $1,871,400
                                                          ==========    ========   ==========

 
                                       F-8
   44
 
                              THE FIRST YEARS INC.
 
                  NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
 
3.  INCOME TAXES (CONTINUED)


     A reconciliation of the statutory federal income tax rate and the effective
tax rate as a percentage of pretax income is as follows:
 

                                                                     1992     1993     1994
                                                                     ----     ----     ----
                                                                              
        Statutory rate...........................................    34.0%    34.0%    34.0%
        State income taxes, net of federal income tax benefit....     6.5      4.0      4.5
        Other....................................................     1.3     (0.3)
                                                                     ----     ----     ----
                                                                        -        -        -
        Effective rate...........................................    41.8%    37.7%    38.5%
                                                                     =====    =====    =====

 
4.  COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
 
     Foreign Exchange Contracts -- During 1994, the Company entered into forward
exchange contracts with a bank whereby the Company is committed to deliver
foreign currency at predetermined rates. The contracts expire within one year.
The Company's future commitment under these contracts approximated $3,100,000 as
of December 31, 1994. At December 31, 1994, the exchange rates for such
currencies covered by the contracts approximated the predetermined rates
included therein.
 
     Other Commitments -- At December 31, 1993 and 1994, letters of credit
outstanding aggregated approximately $1,232,000 and $1,275,000, respectively.
 
     During 1994, the Company entered into an employment agreement with an
executive officer which provides for an annual salary of $100,000 through August
1999. On March 23, 1995, the Company entered into employment agreements with two
key senior executive officers which provide for aggregate annual base salaries
through March 2000, of $391,000 subject to any increases or decreases
established from time to time in the discretion of the Compensation Committee of
the Board of Directors and, in the event of termination, provide for
noncompetition payments for two years equal to their annual base salaries.
 
     Contingencies -- The Company is involved in legal proceedings which have
arisen in the ordinary course of business. Management believes the outcome of
these proceedings will not have a material adverse impact on the Company's
financial condition or operating results.
 
5.  ROYALTIES
 
     During 1994, the Company entered into an agreement which provides for the
payment of royalties on sales of certain licensed products. The agreement has a
term of two years ending on December 31, 1996 and requires a minimum royalty
payment of $625,000 during the term of the agreement.
 
6.  BENEFIT PLANS
 
     Defined Contribution Plan -- The Company has a defined contribution
trusteed benefit plan covering eligible employees, requiring annual
contributions based upon certain percentages of salaries of employees. The
Company's policy is to fund pension expense accrued. Pension expense aggregated
$695,000, $661,000, and $267,000 in 1992, 1993, and 1994, respectively.
 
     Stock Option Plans -- In May 1993, the Company's stockholders approved the
adoption of the Kiddie Products, Inc. 1993 Equity Incentive Plan and the Kiddie
Products, Inc. 1993 Stock Option Plan for Non-employee Directors (the plans)
which cover key salaried employees and directors of the Company. The Board of
Directors has reserved 220,000 shares for issuance under the plans. The exercise
price for the options granted may not be less than the fair market value of the
optioned stock at the date of grant, 110% of fair market value in the case of
options granted to a 10% stockholder.
     Options granted must be exercised within the period prescribed by the
Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors; the options vest in accordance
with the vesting provisions prescribed at the time of grant.
 
                                       F-9
   45
 
                              THE FIRST YEARS INC.
 
                  NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
 
6.  BENEFIT PLANS (CONTINUED)


     A summary of activity of stock options granted under the plans is as
follows:
 

                                                                                        NUMBER
                                                                                          OF
                                                                                       OPTIONS
                                                                        NUMBER OF      AVAILABLE
                                                   EXERCISE PRICE        OPTIONS         FOR
                                                      PER SHARE        OUTSTANDING      GRANT
                                                  -----------------    -----------     --------
                                                                              
    January 1, 1993
      Authorized................................                                        220,000
      Granted...................................  $10.63 to $11.69       103,000       (103,000)
      Canceled..................................       $10.63             (1,000)         1,000
                                                                        --------       ---------
    December 31, 1993...........................                         102,000        118,000
      Granted...................................   $9.13 to $11.25        63,150        (63,150)
      Canceled..................................   $9.13 to $10.63       (10,414)        10,414
      Exercised.................................       $10.63             (2,170)
                                                                        --------       ---------
    December 31, 1994...........................                         152,566         65,264
                                                                        ========       =========

 
     At December 31, 1994, 33,192 options were exercisable at $10.63 to $11.69
per share.
 
7.  MAJOR CUSTOMERS
 
     The Company derived 10% or more of its sales from its largest customer.
Such amounts aggregated $11,526,000, $12,920,000, and $14,256,000 in 1992, 1993,
and 1994, respectively. The Company's second largest customer accounted for
sales of $9,031,000, $8,814,000, and $12,118,000 in 1992, 1993, and 1994,
respectively. No other customer accounted for 10% or more of the Company's
sales.
 
8.  CONCENTRATIONS OF CREDIT RISK
 
     Financial instruments which potentially subject the Company to
concentrations of credit risk consist principally of cash equivalents, trade
receivables and forward exchange contracts (see Note 4). The Company's cash
equivalents consist of money market funds placed with major banks and financial
institutions. The Company's trade receivables principally include amounts due
from retailers geographically dispersed. The Company's two largest customers
accounted for 54% and 61% of the trade receivables outstanding at December 31,
1993 and 1994, respectively. The Company routinely assesses the financial
strength of its customers and purchases credit insurance to limit its potential
exposure to trade receivable credit risks. The Company routinely assesses the
financial strength of the bank which is the counterparty to the forward exchange
contracts. As of December 31, 1994, management believes it had no significant
exposure to credit risks.
 
9.  SEVERANCE-RELATED EXPENSES
 
     In July 1993, to improve operating productivity, the Company streamlined
staff and outsourced certain packaging and product assembly operations. As a
result, 34 employees were laid off. Severance-related expenses relating to the
layoffs amounted to a pretax charge of $373,000 and primarily consisted of
severance pay, benefit considerations and outplacement services, which were paid
by December 31, 1994.
 
                                  * * * * * *
 
                                      F-10
   46








                             [THE FIRST YEARS LOGO]

      IBC [Child on parent's shoulders with Company logo superimposed.]









   47
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
  NO DEALER, SALESMAN, OR OTHER PERSON HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED TO GIVE ANY
INFORMATION OR TO MAKE ANY REPRESENTATIONS NOT CONTAINED IN THIS PROSPECTUS IN
CONNECTION WITH THE OFFER CONTAINED HEREIN AND, IF GIVEN OR MADE, SUCH
INFORMATION OR REPRESENTATION MUST NOT BE RELIED UPON AS HAVING BEEN AUTHORIZED
BY THE COMPANY, THE SELLING STOCKHOLDERS OR ANY UNDERWRITER. NEITHER THE
DELIVERY OF THIS PROSPECTUS NOR ANY SALE MADE HEREUNDER SHALL, UNDER ANY
CIRCUMSTANCES, CREATE ANY IMPLICATION THAT THERE HAS BEEN NO CHANGE IN THE
AFFAIRS OF THE COMPANY SINCE THE DATE HEREOF OR SINCE THE DATES AS OF WHICH
INFORMATION IS SET FORTH HEREIN. THIS PROSPECTUS DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO
SELL OR A SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY ANY OF THE SECURITIES OFFERED HEREBY
IN ANY JURISDICTION TO ANY PERSON TO WHOM IT IS UNLAWFUL TO MAKE SUCH OFFER IN
SUCH JURISDICTION.
 
                            ------------------------
 
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
   


                                         PAGE
                                         ----
                                      
Prospectus Summary....................     3
Risk Factors..........................     5
Use of Proceeds.......................     7
Price Range of Common Stock...........     7
Capitalization........................     8
Dividend Policy.......................     8
Selected Financial Data...............     9
Management's Discussion and Analysis
  of Financial Condition and Results
  of Operations.......................    10
Business..............................    13
Management............................    21
Principal and Selling Stockholders....    26
Description of Capital Stock..........    27
Underwriting..........................    30
Legal Matters.........................    31
Experts...............................    31
Additional Information................    31
Index to Financial Statements.........   F-1

    
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                1,200,000 SHARES
 
                              THE FIRST YEARS INC.
 
   
                             [THE FIRST YEARS LOGO]
    
 
                                  COMMON STOCK
 
                              --------------------
                                   PROSPECTUS
                              --------------------
   
                           A.G. EDWARDS & SONS, INC.
    
 
                          ADAMS, HARKNESS & HILL, INC.
 
                                               , 1995
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   48
 
                                    PART II
 
                     INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
 
ITEM 13.  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
the Securities and Exchange Commission registration fee, the National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. ("NASD") filing fee and the Nasdaq
National Market Listing fee.
 


                                                                                   PAYABLE BY
                                                                    PAYABLE         SELLING
                          ITEM                         AMOUNT      BY COMPANY     STOCKHOLDERS
     -----------------------------------------------  --------     ----------     ------------
                                                                         
     SEC Registration Fee...........................  $  9,577      $  4,789        $  4,788
     NASD Filing Fee................................     3,191         1,595           1,596
     Nasdaq National Market Listing Fee.............    15,600        15,600              --
     Blue Sky Fees and Expenses.....................    12,000         6,000           6,000
     Transfer Agent and Registrar Fees..............     3,500         1,750           1,750
     Accounting Fees and Expenses...................    50,000        25,000          25,000
     Legal Fees and Expenses........................   200,000       100,000         100,000
     Printing Expenses..............................    50,000        25,000          25,000
     Miscellaneous..................................    16,132         8,066           8,066
                                                       -------      --------        --------
               Total................................  $360,000      $187,800        $172,200
                                                       =======      ========        ========

 
ITEM 14.  INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
 
     The Registrant's Articles of Organization provide that the Company's
Directors shall not be liable to the Registrant or its stockholders for monetary
damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except to the extent that
the exculpation from liabilities is not permitted under the Massachusetts
Business Corporation Law as in effect at the time such liability is determined.
The By-Laws provide that the Registrant shall indemnify its directors and
officers to the full extent permitted by the laws of The Commonwealth of
Massachusetts.
 
     In addition, the Company holds a Directors and Officers Liability and
Corporate Indemnification Policy.
 
ITEM 15.  RECENT SALES OF UNREGISTERED SECURITIES
 
     Not applicable.
 
ITEM 16.  EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
 
     The following is a list of exhibits filed as a part of this registration
statement.
 
(a) Exhibits
 


EXHIBIT
NUMBER                                       DESCRIPTION
- ------   ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      
  1      Form of Underwriting Agreement.*
  3.1    Restated Articles of Organization as currently in effect.**
  3.2    By-Laws of the Company and any amendments thereto, as currently in effect (filed as
         Exhibit (3)(ii) on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1994 and incorporated
         herein by reference).
  4      Specimen Certificate for shares of Common Stock, $.10 par value of the Company.*
  5      Opinion of Ropes & Gray.*

 
                                      II-1
   49
 
   


EXHIBIT
NUMBER                                       DESCRIPTION
- ------   ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      
 10.1    Security and Trust Agreement among Town of Avon, acting by and through its
         Industrial Development Financing Authority, The First Years Inc., and State Street
         Bank and Trust Company relating to issuance of industrial revenue bonds, dated as of
         October 1, 1982 (filed as Exhibit (10)(c) on Form 10-K for the year ended December
         31, 1994 and incorporated herein by reference).
 10.2    Bond Purchase Agreement among Town of Avon, acting by and through its Industrial
         Development Financing Authority, The First Years Inc., and State Street Bank and
         Trust Company, dated as of October 1, 1982 (filed as Exhibit (10)(d) on Form 10-K
         for the year ended December 31, 1994 and incorporated herein by reference).
 10.3    Loan Agreement between Town of Avon, acting by and through its Industrial
         Development Financing Authority, and The First Years Inc., dated as of October 1,
         1982 (filed as Exhibit (10)(e) on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1994 and
         incorporated herein by reference)
 10.4    Put Agreement between State Street Bank and Trust Company and The First Years Inc.,
         dated as of October 1, 1982 (filed as Exhibit (10)(f) on Form 10-K for the year
         ended December 31, 1994 and incorporated herein by reference).
 10.5    The First Years Inc. 1993 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended through January 19, 1995
         (filed as Exhibit (10)(g) on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1994 and
         incorporated herein by reference).
 10.6    Agreement between The First Years Inc. and Jerome M. Karp dated August 8, 1994
         (filed as Exhibit 10(c) to the Form 10-Q Report for the quarter ended June 30, 1994
         and incorporated herein by reference).
 10.7    Employment Agreement between The First Years Inc. and Benjamin Peltz, dated March
         23, 1995 (filed as Exhibit (10)(j) on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1994
         and incorporated herein by reference).
 10.8    Employment Agreement between The First Years Inc. and Ronald J. Sidman, dated March
         23, 1995 (filed as Exhibit (10)(k) on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1994
         and incorporated herein by reference).
 10.9    The First Years Inc. 1993 Stock Option Plan for Non-employee Directors, as amended
         through January 19, 1995 (filed as Exhibit (10)(h) on Form 10-K for the year ended
         December 31, 1994 and incorporated herein by reference).
 10.10   The First Years Inc. 1995 Restated Annual Incentive Plan, effective as of July 1,
         1995.*
 10.11   Agreement with The Walt Disney Company dated March 28, 1994.*
 11      Statement re: Computation of Per Share Earnings.*
 23.1    Consent of Ropes & Gray (contained in its opinion filed as Exhibit 5 hereto).*
 23.2    Deloitte & Touche LLP consent and report on Schedule.**
 24      Power of Attorney (included in the signature page of this Registration Statement)*.

    
 
- ---------------
 
   
 * Previously filed.
    
 
   
** Filed herewith.
    
 
(b) Financial Statement Schedule -- Schedule II, Valuation and Qualifying
Accounts
 
     Report of Independent Accountants on Financial Schedule (see Exhibit 23.2)
 
ITEM 17.  UNDERTAKINGS
 
     (a) 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 described under "Item
14 -- Indemnification of Directors and Officers" above, or otherwise, the
Registrant has been advised
 
                                      II-2
   50
 
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.
 
     (b) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that:
 
          (1) For 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 purposes 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-3
   51
 
                                   SIGNATURES
 
   
     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant
has duly caused this Amendment No. 1 to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the Town of Avon, Commonwealth of
Massachusetts, on this 3rd day of October, 1995.
    
 
                                          THE FIRST YEARS INC.
 
   
                                          By: /s/  Benjamin Peltz
    
                                             -----------------------------------
   
                                             Benjamin Peltz
    
   
                                             Senior Vice President and Treasurer
    
 
   
     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Amendment
No. 1 has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on
the dates indicated.
    
 
   


               SIGNATURE                               TITLE                        DATE
               ---------                               -----                        ----
                                                                         
           RONALD J. SIDMAN*                Chief Executive Officer,           October 3, 1995
- ----------------------------------------    Chairman of the Board of
            Ronald Sidman                   Directors and President
                                            (Chief Executive Officer)

            JEROME M. KARP*                 Vice Chairman of the Board of      October 3, 1995
- ----------------------------------------    Directors
            Jerome M. Karp

                                            Treasurer, Senior Vice             October 3, 1995
- ----------------------------------------    President and Director (Chief
            Benjamin Peltz                  Financial and Accounting
                                            Officer)

            EVELYN SIDMAN*                  Director                           October 3, 1995
- ----------------------------------------   
            Evelyn Sidman    
             
            FRED T. PAGE*                   Director                           October 3, 1995
- ----------------------------------------                  
            Fred T. Page

         MERTON N. ALPERIN*                 Director                           October 3, 1995
- ----------------------------------------
         Merton N. Alperin

    
 
   
*By      /s/  Benjamin Peltz
    ------------------------------------
    
   
            Benjamin Peltz
           Attorney-in-fact
    
 
                                      II-4
   52
 

                                                                     SCHEDULE II



 
                              THE FIRST YEARS INC.
 
                       VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS
 
                 YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1992, 1993, AND 1994
 

                                                                 ADDITIONS
                                                                 CHARGED
                                                     BALANCE,    TO COSTS                    BALANCE,
                                                     BEGINNING     AND                         END
                    DESCRIPTION                       OF YEAR    EXPENSES   DEDUCTIONS(1)    OF YEAR
- ---------------------------------------------------  ---------   --------   --------------   --------
                                                                                 
VALUATION ACCOUNTS DEDUCTED FROM ASSETS TO WHICH
  THEY APPLY:
  Allowance for Doubtful Accounts:
     Year ended December 31:
       1992........................................  $ 270,000   $273,393      $273,393      $270,000
                                                      ========   ========      ========      ========
       1993........................................  $ 270,000   $ 17,177      $102,177      $185,000
                                                      ========   ========      ========      ========
       1994........................................  $ 185,000   $ 23,673      $ 23,673      $185,000
                                                      ========   ========      ========      ========

 
(1) Net accounts written off.
 
                                       S-1