1
   As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 15, 1998


                                                           Registration No. 333-

          -----------------------------------------------------------
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                              Washington, DC 20549

                             ----------------------
                                    FORM S-3
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                      Under
                           The Securities Act of 1933

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

                              NCS HealthCare, Inc.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

                                    Delaware
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)

                                   34-1816187
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                      (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

           3201 Enterprise Parkway, Suite 220, Beachwood, Ohio 44122,
                            telephone (216) 514-3350
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 (Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of 
                   Registrant's Principal Executive Offices)

                                                           Copy to:
          Jon H. Outcalt                                Thomas F. McKee
       NCS HealthCare, Inc.                      Calfee, Halter & Griswold LLP
3201 Enterprise Parkway, Suite 220              1400 McDonald Investment Center
       Beachwood, Ohio 44122                          800 Superior Avenue
          (216) 514-3350                             Cleveland, Ohio 44114
                                                          (216) 622-8200
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone
number, including area code, of agent for service)

     APPROXIMATE DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF PROPOSED SALE TO THE PUBLIC: From time
to time after the effective date of the Registration Statement and after
compliance with applicable state and federal laws.

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

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

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

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

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

                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE



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

                                                                                                    
Class A Common Stock, $.01 par
value...........................     2,141,418            $17.0625              $36,537,945               $10,779
========================================================================================================================

(1)  Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(c), using the average of
     the bid and asked price of the Class A Common Stock of the Registrant as reported on the Nasdaq National Market on
     September 11, 1998.




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 SECTION 8(A), MAY
DETERMINE.
   2




PROSPECTUS
- ----------
                              NCS HEALTHCARE, INC.
                               2,141,418  Shares
                              CLASS A COMMON STOCK
                                ($.01 par value)

         This Prospectus relates to the offering for resale of 2,141,418 shares
of Class A Common Stock, par value $.01 per share (the "Class A Common Stock"),
of NCS HealthCare, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("NCS" or the "Company"), by the
persons named herein (the "Selling Stockholders") who have received and by
persons who will receive shares of Class A Common Stock in connection with the
acquisition by the Company, or certain of its wholly owned subsidiaries, of the
capital stock or assets of various institutional pharmacies or entities
providing related services in business combination transactions. Such persons
who will receive shares of Class A Common Stock will be named in supplements to
this prospectus to be filed by the Company. All of the Class A Common Stock
being registered may be offered and sold from time to time by the Selling
Stockholders of the Company named herein under the caption "Selling
Stockholders" in transactions on the Nasdaq National Market or in privately
negotiated transactions, at fixed prices that may be changed, at market prices
prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to such prevailing market
prices or at negotiated prices. See "Selling Stockholders" and "Manner of
Offering." The Company will not receive any proceeds from the sale of the Class
A Common Stock by the Selling Stockholders.

         The Company's Class A Common Stock is traded on the Nasdaq National
Market under the symbol "NCSS." On September 11, 1998, the last reported sale
price for the Class A Common Stock was $17.00 per share.



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


         THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR HAS
THE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR
ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL
OFFENSE.



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


         No person has been authorized to give any information or to make any
representations other than those contained in this Prospectus (including the
material incorporated herein by reference) and, if given or made, such
information or representations must not be relied upon as having been authorized
by the Company or by any other person deemed to be an underwriter. This
Prospectus does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to
buy the Class A Common Stock covered by this Prospectus by anyone in any state
in which such offer or solicitation is not authorized or in which the person
making such offer or solicitation is not qualified to do so to anyone to whom it
is unlawful to make such offer or solicitation. Neither the delivery of this
Prospectus nor any sale made hereunder shall under any circumstances create an
implication that there has been no change in the affairs of the Company since
the date hereof.


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

                The date of this Prospectus is September __, 1998



   3



                                   THE COMPANY

         The Company has its principal executive offices at 3201 Enterprise
Parkway, Suite 220, Beachwood, Ohio 44122, and its telephone number is (216)
514-3350. As used in this Prospectus, "NCS" and the "Company" shall refer to NCS
HealthCare, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries, unless the context indicates
otherwise.

                              AVAILABLE INFORMATION

         The Company is subject to the informational requirements of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), and, in
accordance therewith, files reports and other information with the Securities
and Exchange Commission (the "Commission"), which may be inspected and copied at
the public reference facilities maintained by the Commission at Room 1024, 450
Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20549. Such reports, proxy statements and
other information filed by the Company are also available for inspection and
copying at the Commission's Regional Offices located at: Northwest Atrium
Center, 500 West Madison Street, Suite 1400, Chicago, Illinois 60661-2511; and
at Seven World Trade Center, 13th Floor, New York, New York 10048-1102. Such
material may also be accessed electronically by means of the Commission's home
page on the Internet at http://www.sec.gov.

                 INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

         The Company will provide, without charge, to each person to whom this
Prospectus is delivered, upon the written or oral request of such person, a copy
of any and all of the information that has been incorporated by reference in
this Prospectus (not including exhibits to the information that is incorporated
by reference unless such exhibits are specifically incorporated by reference
into the information that the Prospectus incorporates). Such request should be
directed to Kristen H. Schulz, Director of Investor Relations, NCS HealthCare,
Inc., 3201 Enterprise Parkway, Suite 220, Beachwood, Ohio 44122, telephone (216)
514-3350.

         The Company hereby incorporates the following documents by reference in
this Prospectus: (a) the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal
year ended June 30, 1997; (b) the Company's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for
the periods ended September 30, 1997, December 31, 1997 and March 31, 1998; (c)
the Company's Current Reports on Form 8-K dated January 6, 1998, January 30,
1998 (as amended on April 17, 1998), April 10, 1998 and June 1, 1998; and (d)
the Company's Form 8-A Registration Statement.

         All documents subsequently filed pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14
or 15(d) of the Exchange Act prior to the termination of this offering shall be
deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Prospectus and to be a part
hereof from the date of filing of such documents.

                 DISCLOSURE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

         Certain statements contained in or incorporated by reference into this
Prospectus, including, but not limited to, those regarding the Company's
financial position, business strategy, acquisition strategy and other plans and
objectives for future operations and any other statements that are not
historical facts constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of
the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking
statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important
factors that could cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the
Company, or industry results, to differ materially from any future results,
performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking
statements. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in
these forward-looking statements are reasonable, there can be no assurance that
the actual results or developments anticipated by the Company will be realized
or, even if substantially realized, that they will have the expected effects on
its business or operations. Among the factors that could cause actual results to
differ materially from the Company's expectations include the availability and
cost of attractive acquisition candidates, continuation of various trends in the
long-term care market (including the trend toward consolidation), competition
among providers of long-term care pharmacy services, the availability of capital
for acquisitions and capital requirements, changes in regulatory requirements
and reform of the health care delivery system and other factors.


                                       1
   4

                              SELLING STOCKHOLDERS

         Of the 2,141,418 shares of Class A Common Stock covered by this
Prospectus, 141,418 shares are being offered and sold by the Selling
Stockholders named below. Unregistered shares of Class B Common Stock, par value
$.01 per share (the "Class B Common Stock"), held by any of the Selling
Stockholders will be converted on a share-for-share basis into Class A Common
Stock prior to or upon transfer and such underlying shares of Class A Common
stock are being registered for resale. The Company issued such Class A Common
Stock and Class B Common Stock to the Selling Stockholders in connection with
the acquisition by the Company, or certain of its wholly owned subsidiaries, of
the capital stock or assets of various institutional pharmacies or entities
providing related services in business combination transactions. Certain of the
Selling Stockholders have entered into employment agreements and noncompetition
agreements with the Company and/or certain of its wholly owned subsidiaries. The
additional 2,000,000 shares of Class A Common Stock covered by this Prospectus
may be issued from time to time by the Company in connection with the
acquisition by the Company, or certain of its wholly owned subsidiaries, of the
capital stock or assets of various institutional pharmacies or entities
providing related services in business combination transactions. Persons who
will receive such shares of Class A Common Stock will be named in supplements to
this prospectus to be filed by the Company.

         The following table shows, as to each Selling Stockholder, the number
of shares owned by each Selling Stockholder prior to this offering and the
number of shares of Class A Common Stock being registered hereby. The table
below has been prepared on the basis of information furnished to the Company by
or on behalf of the Selling Stockholders. Because any or all of the shares of
Class A Common Stock listed below may be offered for sale by the Selling
Stockholders from time to time, no estimate can be given as to the percentage of
Class A Common Stock that will be held by the Selling Stockholders upon
termination of sales pursuant to this Prospectus.





                                                                 Shares Owned        Number of
                                                                    Prior              Shares
                              Name                               to Offering      to be Registered
                              ----                               -----------      ----------------

                                                                                   
Jackson Family Limited Partnership............................        5,631            5,631(1)

Bonnie H. Innerst.............................................       21,112           21,112(2)

B. Kent Abbott................................................       27,054           27,054(3)

Jalee Abbott..................................................       26,946           26,946(3)

J. Nicholas Marchiando and Karen A. Marchiando, Jt. Ten.......        7,407            7,407(4)

Charles F. Daniel, Jr.........................................        2,500            2,500(5)

Mack Choplin..................................................       12,103           12,103(5)

Tony Bigler...................................................        4,130            4,130(5)

John Weeks....................................................        4,130            4,130(5)

Thomas D'Andrea...............................................        7,076            7,076(5)

Daniel Rosefelt and Michele Rosefelt, Ten. by Entirety........       23,329           23,329(6)

<FN>
- --------------------
(1)  This amount represents shares of Class A Common Stock issued by the Company in connection with
     the Asset Purchase Agreement, dated January 30, 1998, among Precision X-Ray Services, Inc.,
     Medical X-Ray Services, L.P., Katrina Meals, Krystyn Buddemeyer, the Jackson Family Limited
     Partnership, the James B. Jackson Revocable Trust, NCS Mobile Diagnostics, L.L.C. and the
     Company.



                                       2
   5

(2)  This amount represents shares of Class A Common Stock issued by the Company
     in connection with the Asset Purchase Agreement, dated August 4, 1997,
     among Pharmacy Specialized Services, LLC, Bonnie H. Innerst and NCS
     HealthCare of Pennsylvania, Inc. In connection with the acquisition of
     assets, NCS HealthCare of Pennsylvania, Inc. entered into a non-compete
     agreement, which restricts Ms. Innerst from engaging in certain business
     activity that competes with the Company in a certain 100 mile radius for a
     period of five years.

(3)  This amount represents shares of Class A Common Stock issued by the Company
     in connection with the Agreement and Plan of Reorganization, dated May 1,
     1998, among B. Kent Abbott, Jalee Abbott, NCS HealthCare, Inc. and NCS
     HealthCare of Oklahoma Acquisition Corp. In connection with the merger, JK
     Medical Services, Inc. entered into separate employment agreements, each
     for a period of three years, with Mr. Abbott and Ms. Abbott, respectively.

(4)  This amount represents shares of Class A Common Stock issued by the Company
     in connection with the Asset Purchase Agreement, dated December 2, 1997,
     among Marco & Company LLC, J. Nicholas Marchiando, Karen A. Marchiando and
     NCS HealthCare of Montana, Inc. In connection with the acquisition of
     assets, NCS HealthCare of Montana, Inc. entered into separate employment
     agreements, each for a period of three years, with Mr. Marchiando and Ms.
     Marchiando, respectively.

(5)  This amount represents shares of Class B Common Stock issued by the Company
     in connection with the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated December 30,
     1997, among MedStar Pharmacy, Inc., Charles F. Daniel, Jr., Samuel C.
     Yeager, Timothy L. Yeager, Mack Choplin, David Carver, Cynde Sharpe, Thomas
     D'Andrea, Chareles E. Trefzger, John Weeks, Tony Bigler, NCS HealthCare of
     North Carolina, Inc. and the Company. In connection with the merger,
     MedStar Pharmacy, Inc. entered an employment agreement with Mr. D'Andrea,
     pursuant to which Mr. D'Andrea will serve as executive director of MedStar
     Pharmacy, Inc. for a period of five years.

(6)  This amount represents shares of Class A Common Stock issued by the Company
     in connection with the Asset Purchase Agreement, dated November 18, 1997,
     among Progressive Rehab, Inc., Daniel Rosefelt, Michele Rosefelt and the
     Company. In connection with the merger, the Company entered into separate
     employment agreements, each for a period of three years, with Mr. Rosefelt
     and Ms. Rosefelt. The employment agreements were terminated effective June
     14, 1998. Mr. Rosefelt and Ms. Rosefelt currently provide consulting
     services to the Company on a part-time basis.



                               MANNER OF OFFERING

         Of the 2,141,418 shares of Class A Common Stock covered by this
Prospectus, 141,418 shares are being offered and sold by the Selling
Stockholders named herein. Unregistered shares of Class B Common Stock held by
any of the Selling Stockholders will be converted on a share-for-share basis
into Class A Common Stock prior to or upon transfer and such underlying shares
of Class A Common Stock are being registered for resale. The Company issued such
Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock to the Selling Stockholders in
connection with the acquisition by the Company, or certain of its wholly owned
subsidiaries, of the capital stock or assets of various institutional pharmacies
or entities providing related services in business combination transactions. The
additional 2,000,000 shares of Class A Common Stock covered by this Prospectus
may be issued from time to time by the Company in connection with the
acquisition by the Company, or certain of its wholly owned subsidiaries, of the
capital stock or assets of various institutional pharmacies or entities
providing related services in business combination transactions. Persons who
will receive such shares of Class A Common Stock will be named in supplements to
this prospectus to be filed by the Company.

         Sales of the shares of Class A Common Stock being registered hereby may
be made from time to time in privately negotiated transactions, at fixed prices
that may be changed, at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices
related to such prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices. The shares of
Class A Common Stock may also be sold in transactions on the Nasdaq National
Market pursuant to one or more of the following types of transactions: (a) a
block trade in which the broker or dealer so engaged will attempt to sell the
shares as agent, but may position and resell a portion of the block as principal
to facilitate the transaction; (b) purchases by a broker or dealer as principal
and resale by such broker or dealer for its account pursuant to this Prospectus;
and (c) ordinary 


                                       3
   6

brokerage transactions and transactions in which the broker solicits purchasers.
In effecting sales, brokers or dealers engaged by the Selling Stockholders may
arrange for other brokers or dealers to participate. Brokers or dealers will
receive commissions or discounts from Selling Stockholders in amounts to be
negotiated immediately prior to sale. Such brokers or dealers may be deemed to
be "underwriters" within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended
(the "Securities Act"), in connection with such sales. In addition, any
securities covered by this Prospectus that qualify for sale pursuant to Rule 144
under the Securities Act may be sold under Rule 144 rather than pursuant to this
Prospectus.

         The Company has advised the Selling Stockholders of their obligations
under the Exchange Act, and Regulation M promulgated thereunder, to avoid market
manipulation of the Class A Common Stock until the offering pursuant to this
Prospectus by all Selling Stockholders has been completed.

         The Company also has advised the Selling Stockholders of their
obligations under the Securities Act to deliver copies of this Prospectus to any
purchaser of their Class A Common Stock.

                          DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

         The Company's Certificate of Incorporation (the "Certificate")
authorizes capital stock consisting of 50 million shares of Class A Common
Stock, 20 million shares of Class B Common Stock and one million shares of
Preferred Stock, par value $.01 per share (the "Preferred Stock"). The Company
is incorporated under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the
"Delaware GCL").

COMMON STOCK

         At September 11, 1998, there were $13,886,071 shares of Class A Common
Stock and 6,206,631 shares of Class B Common Stock issued and outstanding and
options to purchase 707,625 shares of Class A Common Stock and options to
purchase 164,550 shares of Class B Common Stock. In addition, at such date,
there were an aggregate of 700,000 shares of Class A Common Stock reserved for
issuance under the Company's 1996 Long Term Incentive Plan.

         The Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock are identical in all
material respects except that (i) shares of the Class B Common Stock entitle the
holders thereof to ten votes per share on all matters, and shares of the Class A
Common Stock entitle the holders thereof to one vote per share on all matters
and (ii) the shares of Class B Common Stock are subject to certain restrictions
on transfer. The shares of Class B Common Stock are not transferable except in
certain very limited instances to family members, trusts, other holders of Class
B Common Stock, charitable organizations and entities controlled by such persons
(collectively, "Permitted Transferees"). These restrictions on transfer may be
removed by the Board of Directors if the Board determines that the restrictions
may have a material adverse effect on the liquidity, marketability or market
value of the outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock.

         The Class B Common Stock is fully convertible at any time into shares
of Class A Common Stock on a share-for-share basis and will automatically be
converted into shares of Class A Common Stock upon any purported transfer to
non-Permitted Transferees. Once a share of Class B Common Stock has been
converted into a share of Class A Common Stock, such share of Class A Common
Stock cannot thereafter be re-converted into Class B Common Stock. Because the
Class B Common Stock will at all times be convertible into Class A Common Stock
on a share-for-share basis, holders of Class B Common Stock will be able to sell
the equity interest represented by their Class B Common Stock to persons who are
not Permitted Transferees by converting such shares into Class A Common Stock.
As is the case with Preferred Stock and additional Class A Common Stock,
additional Class B Common Stock can be issued at the discretion of the Board of
Directors.

         Except as set forth below (and as provided by law and in the Company's
Certificate now in effect), all matters submitted to a vote of the Company's
stockholders will be voted on by holders of Class A Common Stock and Class B
Common Stock voting together as a single class. Holders of outstanding shares of
Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock, respectively, vote separately as
a class with respect to amendments to the Certificate that would increase the
authorized number of shares of Class B Common Stock, or that would make 


                                       4
   7

other amendments to the Certificate (other than increases in the number of
authorized shares of Class A Common Stock) that alter or change the designations
or powers or the preferences, qualifications, limitations, restrictions or the
relative or special rights of either the Class A Common Stock or the Class B
Common Stock so as to affect them adversely.

         No cash dividend may be declared or paid on the Class B Common Stock
unless an equal or greater dividend is simultaneously declared or paid on the
Class A Common Stock. Otherwise, subject to the rights of holders of Preferred
Stock, if any, the Class A Common Stock and the Class B Common Stock rank
equally and have equal rights per share with respect to all dividends and
distributions, including distributions upon liquidation of the Company and
consideration to be received upon a merger or consolidation of the Company or a
sale of all or substantially all of the Company's assets. In the case of stock
dividends or stock splits, however, only shares of Class A Common Stock can be
distributed in respect of outstanding Class A Common Stock and only shares of
Class B Common Stock can be distributed in respect of outstanding Class B Common
Stock.

         Neither shares of Class A Common Stock nor shares of Class B Common
Stock can be split, divided or combined unless all outstanding shares of the
other class are correspondingly split, divided or combined.

         Because of the restrictions on transfer of the Class B Common Stock,
over time shares of Class B Common Stock having ten votes will (unless the
Directors determine to remove such restrictions) be converted into shares of
Class A Common Stock having one vote, as holders convert their Class B Common
Stock into Class A Common Stock in order to sell their shares. Accordingly, the
remaining holders of Class B Common Stock who continue to hold their Class B    
Common Stock will realize over time an increase in their relative voting power
in the Company. The Directors and executive officers of the Company and their   
affiliates collectively beneficially own approximately 67% of the total voting
power of the Company. A substantial portion of this group's stock ownership
consists of Class B Common Stock. If those individuals continue to hold their
Class B Common Stock for the foreseeable future, the degree of control of the
Company by these Directors and executive officers and their affiliates, and
their percentage of the total voting power of the Company, will increase over
time.

         Holders of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock do not have
any preemptive rights or rights to subscribe for additional securities of the
Company and are not subject to any further calls or assessments by the Company.
There are no redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable to the Class A
Common Stock or the Class B Common Stock. The shares of Class A Common Stock are
not convertible into any other series or class of the Company's securities.
Subject to the preferences applicable to the Preferred Stock, if any,
outstanding at the time, holders of shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B
Common Stock are entitled to dividends, if, when and as declared by the Board of
Directors, from funds legally available therefor and are entitled, in the event
of liquidation, to share ratably in all assets remaining after payment of
liabilities and Preferred Stock preferences, if any. See "Preferred Stock."

PREFERRED STOCK

         The Company's Board of Directors is authorized, without further action
by the stockholders, to issue, from time to time, not in excess of one million
shares of Preferred Stock in one or more classes or series, and to fix or alter
the designations, powers and preferences, and relative, participating, optional
or other rights, if any, and qualifications, limitations or restrictions
thereof, including, without limitation, dividend rights (and whether dividends
are cumulative), conversion rights, if any, voting rights (including the number
of votes, if any, per share), rights and terms of redemption (including sinking
fund provisions, if any), redemption price and liquidation preferences of any
unissued shares or wholly unissued series of Preferred Stock, and the number of
shares constituting any such class or series and the designation thereof, and to
increase or decrease the number of shares of any such class or series subsequent
to the issuance of shares of such class or series, but not below the amount then
outstanding. Currently, there are no shares of Preferred Stock outstanding, and
the Company has no present intention to issue any Preferred Stock.



                                       5
   8
TWO-TIER BUSINESS COMBINATION PROVISION

         The Certificate contains a provision designed to help assure that
stockholders of the Company receive equitable treatment, beyond that presently
provided by the applicable state law, in the event of certain Business
Combinations (as defined) between the Company and another corporation or entity.
Delaware law generally requires the affirmative vote of the holders of at least
a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote to approve a merger,
consolidation or disposition of all or substantially all of the Company's
assets. The Certificate raises the affirmative vote required to approve such a
business combination to at least 66-2/3% of the total voting power of the
Company's outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock,
unless a Fair Price (as described herein) is paid to each of the stockholders of
the Company.

         The Board of Directors is concerned about the partial or "two-step"
tender offer technique of accomplishing corporate takeovers. The first step in
this technique is a tender offer made by another corporation or entity seeking
control at a price that often substantially exceeds the market value of the
target corporation's stock. After acquiring a controlling number of shares, the
entity will then effectuate the second step: a business combination with the
target corporation designed to eliminate the then remaining stockholders'
interest in the corporation. The terms of the second step business combination
may not reflect arms-length bargaining and therefore may not assure proper
treatment of the stockholders remaining after the tender offer.

         The Board of Directors intends to prevent persons who might acquire a
controlling interest in the Company from imposing a business combination on
minority stockholders unless such controlling persons are able and willing to
deal fairly with minority stockholders by paying them a fair price for their
interest in the Company. The Board recognizes that this fair price requirement
might have the effect of discouraging unilateral tender offers and other
takeover proposals to acquire control of the Company, as well as unsolicited
acquisitions of the Company's outstanding shares.

         The Certificate requires, in addition to any required vote by the then
outstanding Preferred Stock, the vote of not less than 66-2/3% of the then
outstanding shares of the Company's Class A Common Stock and Class B Common
Stock to approve any Business Combination of the Company with any Related Person
(as defined) unless certain conditions have been met. In addition, the 66-2/3%
vote must include the affirmative vote of 51% of the outstanding shares of Class
A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock held by stockholders other than the
Related Person. Accordingly, the actual vote required to approve the Business
Combination may be greater than 66-2/3%, depending upon the number of shares
controlled by the Related Person. A Related Person is defined to include any
person or entity which is, directly or indirectly, the beneficial owner of
shares of Class A Common Stock representing 5% or more of the total voting power
of the Company, including any affiliate or associate of such person or entity.
The term Business Combination is defined to include virtually any transaction
between the Company and a Related Person, including a merger, consolidation or
sale of assets.

         The 66-2/3% requirement and the 51% requirement are not applicable,
however (and, therefore, the proposed Business Combination could be approved by
a simple majority of the stockholders unless otherwise required by Delaware
law), if the Related Person pays a Fair Price (as defined) to the Company's
stockholders in the transaction or if a majority of the Board of Directors
approves the transaction. Under the terms of the Certificate, the Fair Price
must be a least equal to the greatest of (i) the highest price paid or agreed to
be paid by the Related Person to purchase any shares of the Company's common
equity securities, (ii) the highest market price of the common equity securities
during the 24-month period prior to the taking of such vote, or (iii) the per
share book value of the Class A Common Stock at the end of the calendar quarter
immediately preceding the taking of such vote. In addition, the Fair Price
consideration to be received by the Company's stockholders must be of the same
form and kind as the most favorable form and kind of consideration paid by the
Related Person in acquiring any of its shares of common equity securities of the
Company.

         The Certificate provides that the above provisions regarding two-tier
business combinations may not be amended, altered, changed or repealed except by
the affirmative vote of at least 66-2/3% of the shares of the common equity
securities entitled to vote at a meeting of the stockholders called for the
consideration of such amendment, alteration, change or repeal, and at least 51%
of the outstanding shares entitled to vote thereon held by stockholders who are
not Related Persons, unless such proposal shall have been proposed by a majority
of the Board of Directors.


                                       6
   9

THE DELAWARE BUSINESS COMBINATION ACT

         Section 203 of the Delaware GCL (the "Delaware Business Combination
Act") imposes a three-year moratorium on business combinations between a
Delaware corporation whose stock generally is publicly traded or held of record
by more than 2,000 stockholders and an "interested stockholder" (in general, a
stockholder owning 15% or more of a corporation's outstanding voting stock) or
an affiliate or associate thereof unless (a) prior to an interested stockholder
becoming such, the board of directors of the corporation approved either the
business combination or the transaction resulting in the interested stockholder
becoming such, (b) upon consummation of the transaction resulting in the
interested stockholder becoming such, the interested stockholder owns 85% of the
voting stock outstanding at the time the transaction commenced (excluding, from
the calculation of outstanding shares, shares beneficially owned by directors
who are also officers and certain employee stock plans) or (c) on or after an
interested stockholder becomes such, the business combination is approved by (i)
the board of directors and (ii) holders of at least 66-2/3% of the outstanding
shares (other than those shares beneficially owned by the interested
stockholder) at a meeting of stockholders. The term "business combination" is
defined generally to include mergers or consolidations between a Delaware
corporation and an interested stockholder involving the assets or stock of the
corporation or its majority-owned subsidiaries and transactions that increase an
interested stockholder's percentage ownership of stock.

         The Delaware Business Combination Act applies to certain corporations
incorporated in the State of Delaware unless the corporation expressly elects
not to be governed by such legislation and sets forth such election in (a) the
corporation's original certificate of incorporation, (b) an amendment to the
corporation's by-laws as adopted by the corporation's board of directors within
90 days of the effective date of such legislation or (c) an amendment to the
corporation's certificate of incorporation or by-laws is approved by (in
addition to any other vote required by law) a majority of the shares entitled to
vote (however, such amendment would not be effective until 12 months after the
date of its adoption and would not apply to any business combination between the
corporation and any person who became an interested stockholder on or prior to
such adoption of such amendment). The Company has not made such an election and,
upon completion of the offering, will be subject to the Delaware Business
Combination Act.

DIRECTOR LIABILITY PROVISIONS

         As permitted by the Delaware GCL, the Certificate contains a provision
that eliminates under certain circumstances the personal liability of Directors
(only in their capacities as Directors of the Company) to the Company or its
stockholders for monetary damages for a breach of fiduciary duty as Directors.
The provision in the Certificate does not change a Director's duty of care, but
it does authorize the Company to eliminate monetary liability for certain
violations of the duty, including violations based on grossly negligent business
decisions, which may include decisions relating to attempts to change control of
the Company. The provision does not affect the availability of equitable
remedies for a breach of duty of care, such as an action to enjoin or rescind a
transaction involving a breach of fiduciary duty; however, in certain
circumstances equitable remedies may not be available as a practical matter. The
provision in the Certificate in no way affects a Director's liability under the
federal securities laws. In addition, the Company's By-Laws and indemnity
agreements entered into with the Company's Directors and officers indemnify its
past and current Directors and officers for and provides advancements in respect
of all expense, liability and loss reasonably incurred in connection with any
threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, either civil,
criminal, administrative or investigative, by reason of the fact that he or she
is or was a Director or officer of the Company, including, in certain
circumstances under the indemnity agreements, for settlements in derivative
actions.

CLASSIFIED BOARD

         The Certificate divides the Board of Directors into three classes. The
Directors serve staggered terms of three years, with the members of one class
being elected in any year, as follows: (i) Phyllis K. Wilson and A. Malachi
Mixon III have been designated as Class I Directors and will serve until the
1999 annual meeting; (ii) Boake A. Sells and Kevin B. Shaw have been designated
as Class II Directors and will serve until the 2000 annual meeting; and (iii)
Richard L. Osborne and Jon H. Outcalt have been designated as Class III
Directors and will serve until the 1998 annual meeting; and in each case until
their respective successors are elected and qualified.


                                       7
   10

         A classified Board of Directors may have the effect of making it more
difficult to remove incumbent Directors, providing such Directors with enhanced
ability to retain their positions. A classified Board of Directors may also make
the acquisition of control of the Company by a third party by means of a proxy
contest more difficult. In addition, the classification may make it more
difficult to change the majority of Directors for business reasons unrelated to
a change of control.

         The Certificate provides that the above provisions regarding
classification of the Board of Directors may not be amended, altered, changed or
repealed except by the affirmative vote of at least 66% of the shares of Common
Stock entitled to vote at a meeting of the stockholders called for the
consideration of such amendment, alteration, change or repeal, unless such
proposal shall have been proposed by a majority of the Board of Directors.

GENERAL

         It is possible that the existence of the ten vote per share Class B
Common Stock, the Company's ability to issue Preferred Stock, the increased
voting requirements with respect to a Business Combination provided for in the
Certificate, the provisions of the Delaware Business Combination Act and the
division of the Board of Directors of the Company into classes as provided in
the Certificate, may discourage other persons from making a tender offer for or
acquisitions of substantial amounts of the Company's Class A Common Stock. This
could have the incidental effect of inhibiting changes in management and may
also prevent temporary fluctuations in the market price of the Company's Class A
Common Stock that often result from actual or rumored takeover attempts. In
addition, the limited liability provisions in the Certificate with respect to
Directors and officers may discourage stockholders from bringing a lawsuit
against Directors for breach of their fiduciary duty and may also have the
effect of reducing the likelihood of derivative litigation against Directors and
officers, even though such an action, if successful, might otherwise have
benefited the Company and its stockholders. Furthermore, a stockholder's
investment in the Company may be adversely affected to the extent that cost of
settlement and damage awards against the Company's Directors and executive
officers are paid by the Company pursuant to the indemnification provisions
contained in the Company's By-Laws and indemnity agreements described above.

TRANSFER AGENT AND REGISTRAR

         The Company's Transfer Agent and Registrar for the Class A Common Stock
and Class B Common Stock is National City Bank, Cleveland, Ohio.

                               VALIDITY OF SHARES

         The validity of the Class A Common Stock offered hereby will be passed
upon for the Company by Calfee, Halter & Griswold LLP, Cleveland, Ohio.

                                     EXPERTS

         The consolidated financial statements of NCS HealthCare, Inc. and its
subsidiaries appearing in NCS HealthCare, Inc.'s Annual Report on Form 10-K for
the year ended June 30, 1997, have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP,
independent auditors, as set forth in their report thereon included therein and
incorporated herein by reference. Such consolidated financial statements are
incorporated herein by reference in reliance upon such report given upon the
authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

         The combined statement of assets acquired and liabilities assumed of
Thrift Drug, Inc. and Fay's Incorporated as of January 30, 1998, and the
related combined statement of revenues and direct expenses for the year then
ended appearing in the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated January 30,
1998, as amended on April 17, 1998, have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP,
independent auditors, as set forth in their report thereon included therein and
incorporated herein by reference. Such financial statements are incorporated
herein by reference in reliance upon such report given upon the authority of
such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

         With respect to the unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial
information for the three-month periods ended September 30, 1997, December 31,
1997 and March 31, 1998, incorporated by reference in this Prospectus, Ernst &
Young LLP has reported that they have applied limited procedures in accordance
with professional standards for a review of such information. However, their
separate reports, included in NCS HealthCare, Inc.'s Quarterly Reports on Form
10-Q for the periods ended September 30, 1997, December 31, 1997 and March 31,
1998, and incorporated herein by reference, state that they did not audit and
they do not express an opinion on that interim financial information.
Accordingly, the degree of reliance on their reports on such information should
be restricted considering the limited nature of the review procedures applied.
The independent auditors are not subject to the liability provisions of Section
11 of the Securities Act for their reports on the 


                                       8
   11

unaudited interim financial information because the reports are not a "report"
or a "part" of the Registration Statement prepared or certified by the auditors
within the meaning of Sections 7 and 11 of the Act.



                                      9


   12
================================================================================



 No dealer, salesperson or any other person has been authorized to give any
information or to make any representations not contained in this Prospectus and,
if given or made, such information or representations must not be relied upon as
having been authorized by the Company. This Prospectus does not constitute an
offer to sell or the 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. Neither the delivery of this Prospectus nor any
sale made hereunder shall, under any circumstances, create any implication that
information contained herein is correct as of any time subsequent to the date
hereof or that there has been no change in the affairs of the Company since that
date.

                                   ----------

                                TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                                                          PAGE
                                                                          ----

PROSPECTUS                                                          
- ----------
The Company.................................................................1
Available Information ......................................................1
Incorporation Of Certain Documents By                                        
                                                                             
    Reference ..............................................................1
Disclosure Regarding Forward-Looking                                   
    Statements..............................................................1
Selling Stockholders........................................................2
Manner of Offering..........................................................3
Description Of Capital Stock ...............................................4
Validity of Shares..........................................................8
Experts ....................................................................8
                                      

================================================================================


                                2,141,418 SHARES
                              CLASS A COMMON STOCK
                                ($.01 PAR VALUE)
                                
                                
                                
                                
                                [NCS LOGO]
                                
                                
                                
                              NCS HEALTHCARE, INC.
                                
                                
                                
                                
                                
                               ------------------
                                
                                   PROSPECTUS
                                
                                
                               September ___, 1998
                               ------------------









================================================================================


   13


                PART II. INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS.

Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.

         The following table sets forth the estimated expenses payable by the
Company in connection with the sale and distribution of the Class A Common Stock
registered hereby:



                                                                 
         SEC Registration Fee...................................    $10,779
                                                                    -------

         Accounting Fees .......................................    $ 7,500
                                                                    -------

         Fees and Expenses of Counsel...........................    $ 7,500
                                                                    -------

         Nasdaq Additional Listing Fee..........................    $17,500
                                                                    -------

         Miscellaneous..........................................    $ 1,721
                                                                    -------

                  Total.........................................    $45,000
                                                                    =======


Item 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.
         ------------------------------------------

         Section 145 of the Delaware GCL sets forth the conditions and
limitations governing the indemnification of officers, directors and other
persons. Section 145 provides that a corporation shall have the power to
indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party
to any threatened, pending or contemplated action, suit or proceeding, whether
civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in
the right of the corporation) by reason of the fact that he is or was a
director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation or was serving at the
request of the corporation in a similar capacity with another corporation or
other entity, against expenses (including attorneys' fees), judgments, fines and
amounts paid in settlement incurred in connection therewith if he acted in good
faith and in a manner that he reasonably believed to be in the best interests of
the corporation. With respect to a suit by or in the right of the corporation,
indemnity may be provided to the foregoing persons under Section 145 on a basis
similar to that set forth above, except that no indemnity may be provided in
respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person has been adjudged
to be liable to the corporation unless and to the extent that the Delaware Court
of Chancery or the court in which such action, suit or proceeding was brought
determines that despite the adjudication of liability, but in view of all the
circumstances of the case, such person is entitled to indemnity for such
expenses as the court deems proper. Moreover, Section 145 provides for mandatory
indemnification of a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation to
the extent that such person has been successful in defense of any such action,
suit or proceeding and provides that a corporation may pay the expenses of an
officer or director in defending an action, suit or proceeding upon receipt of
an undertaking to repay such amounts if it is ultimately determined that such
person is not entitled to be indemnified. Section 145 establishes provisions for
determining that a given person is entitled to indemnification, and also
provides that the indemnification provided by or granted under Section 145 is
not exclusive of any rights to indemnity or advancement of expenses to which
such person may be entitled under any by-law, agreement, vote of stockholders or
disinterested directors or otherwise.

         The Company's By-laws provide that the Company shall indemnify, to the
fullest extent permitted by Delaware law, any Director or officer who was or is
a party or is threatened to be made a party to any action, suit or proceeding by
reason of the fact that he or she, or a person of which he or she is the legal
representative, is or was a Director or officer of the Company, or is or was
serving at the request of the Company as a Director, officer, partner, trustee,
employee or agent of another entity, against all expenses, liabilities and
losses (including attorneys' fees, judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes or
penalties or amounts paid in settlement) reasonably incurred by such person in
connection therewith. In addition, provisions of the Company's By-laws provide
for the advancement of expenses, including attorneys' fees, incurred by a
Director or officer of the Company in defending any proceeding for which
indemnification is provided under the By-laws upon receipt of an undertaking to
repay such amounts if it is ultimately determined that he or she is not entitled
to be indemnified by the Company as authorized in the By-laws. In addition, the
By-laws permit the Company to maintain insurance, at its expense, to protect
itself and any of 



                                      II-1
   14

its Directors or officers or individuals serving at the request of the Company
as a Director, officer, partner, trustee, employee or agent of another entity,
against any expense, liability or loss, whether or not the Company would have
the power to indemnify such person against such expense, liability or loss under
the Delaware GCL.

         Section 102 (b) of the Delaware GCL permits corporations to eliminate
or limit the personal liability of a Director to the corporation or its
stockholders for monetary damages for breach of the Director's duty of care.
Accordingly, the Company's Certificate provides that a Director of the Company
shall not be personally liable to the Company or its stockholders for monetary
damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a Director, except for liability (i) for
any breach of the Director's duty of loyalty to the corporation or its
stockholders, (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith that involve
intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii) under Section 174 of
the Delaware GCL or (iv) for any transaction from which the Director derived an
improper personal benefit. The Company's Certificate further provides that any
repeal, amendment or other modification of the foregoing provisions will not
affect the liability or alleged liability of any Director of the corporation
then existing with respect to any state of facts then or theretofore existing or
any action, suit or proceeding theretofore or thereafter brought or threatened
based in whole or in part upon any such state of facts.

         In addition to the foregoing, the Company has entered into indemnity
agreements with its executive officers and Directors. The indemnity agreements
provide that the indemnitee will be indemnified to the fullest extent permitted
by law against all expenses (including attorneys' fees), judgments, fines,
amounts paid or incurred by them for settlement in any action or proceeding on
account of their service as a Director or officer of the Company or of any
subsidiary of the Company or of any other entity in which they are serving at
the request of the Company.

         The agreements bind the Company to provide indemnification to Directors
and officers whether or not the Company maintains Directors and officers
liability insurance coverage and regardless of any future changes in the
By-laws. The protection to be afforded Directors and officers by the agreements
is broader than that provided under the indemnification provisions contained in
the By-laws, in that the agreements expressly provide for the advancement of
expenses and for indemnification with respect to amounts paid in settlements of
derivative actions.

Item 16. Exhibits.
         --------

         See the Exhibit Index at page E-1 of this Registration Statement.

Item 17. Undertakings.
         ------------

         (1)      The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

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

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

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

                      (iii)    To include any material information with respect
                               to the plan of distribution not previously
                               disclosed in the registration statement;

PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that paragraphs (a)(i) and (a)(ii) do not apply if the
registration statement is on Form S-3 or Form S-8, and the information required
to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in
periodic reports filed by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the
registration statement.


                                      II-2
   15

                  (b) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under
the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed
to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein,
and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the
initial bona fide offering thereof.

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

         (2) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that for the purpose
of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of
the Registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an
employee benefit plan's annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the
Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement
relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities
at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

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




                                      II-3
   16



                                   SIGNATURES

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the
Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all
of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this Registration
Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in the City of Cleveland and the State of Ohio, as of the 15th day
of September, 1998.

                                            NCS HEALTHCARE, INC.


                                            By: /s/ Jon H. Outcalt
                                                ------------------------------
                                                Jon H. Outcalt
                                                Chairman of the Board


                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

         KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each of the undersigned, being a
Director and/or officer of NCS HealthCare, Inc., a Delaware corporation, hereby
constitutes and appoints Jon H. Outcalt, Kevin B. Shaw, Gerald D. Stethem,
Thomas F. McKee and John J. Jenkins, and each of them, his true and lawful
attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and
resubstitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all
capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments)
to this Registration Statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto,
and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them,
full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing
requisite, necessary or advisable to be done, as fully to all intents and
purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all
that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, or their or his
substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities indicated on September 15, 1998.

        SIGNATURE                          TITLE
        ---------                          -----


  /s/ Jon H. Outcalt            Chairman of the Board of Directors
- ----------------------------
Jon H. Outcalt


  /s/ Kevin B. Shaw             President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
- ----------------------------    (Principal Executive Officer)
Kevin B. Shaw                   


  /s/ Gerald D. Stethem         Chief Financial Officer
- ----------------------------    (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
Gerald D. Stethem               


  /s/ A. Malachi Mixon III      Director
- ----------------------------
A. Malachi Mixon III


  /s/ Boake A. Sells            Director
- ----------------------------
Boake A. Sells

                                      II-4
   17


 /s/ Richard L. Osborne         Director
- ----------------------------
Richard L. Osborne


 /s/ Phyllis K. Wilson          Director
- ----------------------------
Phyllis K. Wilson




                                      II-5
   18

                              NCS HEALTHCARE, INC.

                                  EXHIBIT INDEX



 EXHIBIT                         DESCRIPTION
 -------                         -----------
   NO.
 -------

 4.1     Specimen certificate of the Company's Class A Common Stock. (A)

 4 2     Specimen certificate of the Company's Class B Common Stock. (A)

 4.3     Form of 5 3/4% Convertible Subordinated Debentures due 2004. (B)

 4.4     Indenture, dated August 13, 1997, between the Company and National City
         Bank, as Trustee. (B)

 5.1     Opinion of Calfee, Halter & Griswold LLP as to the validity of the
         shares of Class A Common Stock.

15.1     Acknowledgement Letter of Ernst & Young LLP regarding unaudited interim
         financial information. 

23.1     Consent of Calfee, Halter & Griswold LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1 of
         this Registration Statement).

23.2     Consent of Ernst & Young LLP.

24.1     Power of Attorney (included on Page II-4 of this Registration
         Statement).

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

(A)  Incorporated herein by reference to the appropriate exhibit to the
Company's Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Reg. No. 33-80455).

(B)  Incorporated herein by reference to the appropriate exhibit to the
Company's Registration Statement on Form S-3, as amended (Reg. No. 333-35551).






                                      E-1