8-K

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    Form 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT
     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934


         Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): July 29, 2003



                          Inveresk Research Group, Inc.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)


     Delaware                     000-49765                  43-1955097
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(State or Other Jurisdiction     (Commission                (IRS Employer
       of Formation)             File Number)            Identification Number)

                 11000 Weston Parkway, Suite 100, Cary, NC 27513
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          (Address of Principal Executive Offices, Including Zip Code)


        Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code (919) 460-9005
                                                           --------------

                                       N/A
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          (Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)





ITEM 2.  ACQUISITION OR DISPOSITION OF ASSETS

On July 29, 2003, Inveresk Research Group, Inc. ("Inveresk") issued a press
release announcing the acquisition of PharmaResearch Corporation, a Delaware
corporation ("PharmaResearch"), pursuant to an Agreement and Plan of Merger,
dated as of July 29, 2003, by an among Inveresk, Tango Acquisition Corporation
("Tango"), a Delaware corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Inveresk,
PharmaResearch and William Blair Capital Partners V, L.P. as stockholders'
representative (the "Merger Agreement"). Pursuant to the terms of the Merger
Agreement, Tango was merged with and into PharmaResearch, with PharmaResearch
surviving as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Inveresk Research Group, Inc.

Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, a copy of which is attached as Exhibit 2.1,
Inveresk acquired all of the outstanding capital stock of PharmaResearch and its
two wholly-owned subsidiaries Pharma Clinical Research Limited and
PharmaResearch Corporation PTY. LTD. in an all cash transaction for an aggregate
purchase price of $37.1 million net of cash acquired of approximately $10.0
million. The acquisition price was based on the parties' determination of the
fair value of PharmaResearch and the terms of the Merger Agreement were derived
from arms-length negotiations among the parties.

Other than employment letters and employment agreements with certain
PharmaResearch personnel offering post-acquisition employment on terms similar
to those of other Inveresk employees providing equivalent services, at the time
of the acquisition there were no material relationships between PharmaResearch
or any of its stockholders and Inveresk or any of its affiliates, any director
or officer of Inveresk, or any associate of such director or officer.

The acquisition is being financed through a new $150 million syndicated bank
credit facility arranged by Wachovia Bank N.A. Funds drawn down under this new
facility will also be used to repay all borrowings under Inveresk's prior bank
credit facility arranged at the time of Inveresk's initial public offering in
July 2002.

The foregoing description of the terms of the Merger Agreement do not purport to
be a complete statement of the parties' rights and obligations thereunder, and
are qualified in their entirety by reference to the definitive Merger Agreement,
a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 2.1 and incorporated herein by
reference. Certain additional matters relating to the merger are described in
Inveresk's press release dated July 29, 2003 which is attached hereto as Exhibit
99.1 and incorporated herein by reference.

ITEM 7.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION
         AND EXHIBITS

      (a)  Financial Statements of Business Acquired.

           The financial statements required to be filed pursuant to Item 7(a)
           are not included with this report. In accordance with Item 7(a)(4),
           the Registrant will file such statements by amendment to this Form
           8-K no later than October 12, 2003.

      (b)  Pro Forma Financial Information.

           The pro forma financial information required to be filed pursuant to
           Item 7(b) is not included with this report. In accordance with Item
           7(b)(2), the Registrant will file such financial information by
           amendment to this Form 8-K no later than October 12, 2003.

      (c)  Exhibits

           2.1  - Merger Agreement dated as of July 29, 2003, by and among
                  Inveresk Research Group, Inc., Tango Acquisitions Corporation,
                  PharmaResearch Corporation and William Blair Capital Partners
                  V, L.P. as stockholders' representative.

           99.1 - Press Release dated July 29, 2003 regarding the acquisition
                  of PharmaResearch Corporation.






           99.2 - Press Release dated July 29, 2003 announcing results for the
                  second quarter ended June 30, 2003.

           99.3 - Transcript of Conference Call held July 30, 2003 discussing
                  results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2003.

           99.4 - Slide Presentation given on July 30, 2003 with respect to
                  results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2003.



ITEM  12.  RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND FINANCIAL CONDITION.

On July 29, 2003, Inveresk issued a press release announcing its financial
results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2003. A copy of this press release
is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.2. On July 30, 2003, Inveresk held its earnings
conference call regarding those financial results during which executive
officers of Inveresk made a slide presentation. A copy of the transcript of the
conference call is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.3 and a copy of the slide
presentation is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.4. The conference call was
pre-announced and was available to the public through live teleconference and
webcast which will continue to be available until 5:00 pm EST on Wednesday,
August 6, 2003 by replay at www.inveresk.com.






SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.



      Date:  July 30, 2002                 INVERESK RESEARCH GROUP, INC.


                                           By:   /s/ D. J. Paul E. Cowan
                                                 ----------------------------
                                                 D.J. Paul E. Cowan
                                                 Chief Financial Officer









                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

      Exhibit No.
      ----------

           2.1  - Merger Agreement dated as of July 29, 2003, by and among
                  Inveresk Research Group, Inc., Tango Acquisitions Corporation,
                  PharmaResearch Corporation and William Blair Capital Partners
                  V, L.P. as stockholders' representative.

           99.1 - Press Release dated July 29, 2003 regarding the acquisition
                  of PharmaResearch Corporation.

           99.2 - Press Release dated July 29, 2003 announcing results for the
                  second quarter ended June 30, 2003.

           99.3 - Transcript of Conference Call held July 30, 2003 discussing
                  results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2003.

           99.4 - Slide Presentation given on July 30, 2003 with respect to
                  results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2003.

EX-2.1

                                                                     Exhibit 2.1



                                  AGREEMENT AND

                                 PLAN OF MERGER

                                  BY AND AMONG

                          INVERESK RESEARCH GROUP, INC.

                          TANGO ACQUISITION CORPORATION

                           PHARMARESEARCH CORPORATION

                                       AND

                     WILLIAM BLAIR CAPITAL PARTNERS V, L.P.

                         as Stockholders' Representative

                            Dated as of July 29, 2003



                                TABLE OF CONTENTS



                                                                                                       Page
                                                                                                    
1.       The Merger..............................................................................       1

         1.1.     The Merger.....................................................................       1

         1.2.     Effective Time.................................................................       2

         1.3.     Closing........................................................................       2

         1.4.     Effects of the Merger..........................................................       2

         1.5.     Certificate of Incorporation, By-Laws and Officers and Directors of the
                  Surviving Corporation..........................................................       2

         1.6.     Further Assurances.............................................................       2

2.       Conversion of Shares....................................................................       2

         2.1.     Conversion of Capital Stock....................................................       2

         2.2.     Closing Statement Procedures...................................................       5

         2.3.     Closing Transactions...........................................................       7

         2.4.     Payment for Certificates.......................................................       8

3.       Representations and Warranties of the Company...........................................       9

         3.1.     Organization...................................................................       9

         3.2.     Capitalization.................................................................      10

         3.3.     Authority......................................................................      11

         3.4.     No Conflicts; Governmental Requirements........................................      11

         3.5.     Subsidiaries...................................................................      11

         3.6.     Books and Records..............................................................      12

         3.7.     Financial Statements...........................................................      12

         3.8.     Absence of Undisclosed Liabilities; Off-Balance Sheet Financing; Funded
                  Indebtedness...................................................................      13

         3.9.     Operations and Obligations.....................................................      13

         3.10.    Properties.....................................................................      13

         3.11.    Accounts Receivable............................................................      14

         3.12.    Contracts......................................................................      14

         3.13.    Significant Customers; Backlog.................................................      16

         3.14.    Litigation.....................................................................      17

         3.15.    Compliance with Law; Authorizations............................................      17

         3.16.    Intellectual Property; Software................................................      17

         3.17.    Tax Matters....................................................................      18

         3.18.    Employee Benefit Plans; ERISA..................................................      20


                                      (i)

                                                                                                    
         3.19.    Employee Compensation..........................................................      22

         3.20.    Employees and Labor Controversies..............................................      22

         3.21.    Environmental Laws.............................................................      23

         3.22.    Insurance......................................................................      24

         3.23.    Bank Accounts, Letters of Credit and Powers of Attorney........................      24

         3.24.    Transactions with Affiliates...................................................      24

         3.25.    Vote Required..................................................................      24

         3.26.    Consent Solicitation; Merger Materials.........................................      24

         3.27.    No Adverse Development.........................................................      24

         3.28.    Brokers........................................................................      25

4.       Representations and Warranties of Inveresk and Acquisition..............................      25

         4.1.     Organization...................................................................      25

         4.2.     Corporate Authority............................................................      25

         4.3.     No Conflicts; Governmental Requirements........................................      25

         4.4.     Litigation.....................................................................      26

         4.5.     Brokers........................................................................      26

5.       Covenants and Additional Agreements.....................................................      26

         5.1.     Access to Books and Records....................................................      26

         5.2.     Certain Accruals...............................................................      26

6.       Survival; Indemnification; Tax Matters..................................................      26

         6.1.     Survival.......................................................................      26

         6.2.     Indemnification of Inveresk and Related Parties................................      26

         6.3.     Indemnification of Selling Parties.............................................      28

         6.4.     Notice of Claims...............................................................      29

         6.5.     Defense of Third Party Claims..................................................      29

         6.6.     Dispute Resolution: Negotiation and Arbitration................................      30

         6.7.     Exclusivity of Remedy..........................................................      30

         6.8.     Post Closing Tax Matters.......................................................      30

7.       Fees and Expenses.......................................................................      33

         7.1.     Expenses.......................................................................      33

         7.2.     Stockholders of the Company....................................................      33

8.       Definitions.............................................................................      33

9.       Miscellaneous...........................................................................      38

         9.1.     Press Releases.................................................................      38



                                      (ii)

                                                                                                    
         9.2.     Integration....................................................................      38

         9.3.     Assignment and Binding Effect..................................................      38

         9.4.     Waiver.........................................................................      38

         9.5.     Acknowledgment by Inveresk.....................................................      38

         9.6.     Notices........................................................................      38

         9.7.     Amendment......................................................................      40

         9.8.     Governing Law..................................................................      40

         9.9.     Third Party Beneficiaries......................................................      40

         9.10.    Performance....................................................................      40

         9.11.    Severability...................................................................      40

         9.12.    Construction...................................................................      40

         9.13.    Extensions.....................................................................      40

         9.14.    Section Headings...............................................................      41

         9.15.    Exhibits; Company Disclosure Schedule..........................................      41

         9.16.    Counterparts...................................................................      41



                                     (iii)

                          AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

         AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER (this "Agreement"), dated as of July 29,
2003, by and among INVERESK RESEARCH GROUP, INC. a Delaware corporation
("Inveresk"), TANGO ACQUISITION CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation and a wholly
owned subsidiary of Inveresk ("Acquisition"), PHARMARESEARCH CORPORATION, a
Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and WILLIAM BLAIR CAPITAL PARTNERS V,
L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, as representative for the Company's
stockholders and optionholders (the "Stockholders' Representative"). Capitalized
terms used in this Agreement and not otherwise defined have the meanings
ascribed to them in Section 8 of this Agreement.

                                    RECITALS

         A. The Company is a Delaware corporation, with its principal executive
office located at 1011 Ashes Drive, Wilmington, North Carolina 28405.

         B. Inveresk is a Delaware corporation with its principal offices
located at 11000 Weston Parkway, Suite 100, Cary, North Carolina 27513.
Acquisition is a wholly owned subsidiary of Inveresk and was formed to merge
with and into the Company so that, as a result of the merger, the Company will
survive and become a wholly owned subsidiary of Inveresk.

         C. The respective Boards of Directors of each of Inveresk, Acquisition
and the Company have determined that the merger of Acquisition with and into the
Company (hereinafter referred to as the "Merger") in accordance with the laws of
the State of Delaware and subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement,
is advisable and in the best interests of Inveresk, Acquisition and the Company
and their respective stockholders and have approved this Agreement and the
Merger.

         D. All of the stockholders of the Company voted their shares in favor
of the Merger and adoption of this Agreement.

         E. Inveresk, Acquisition and the Company desire to make certain
representations and warranties, covenants and agreements in connection with the
Merger and also to set forth the terms and conditions of the Merger, all as set
forth in this Agreement.

         NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual
representations, warranties, covenants and agreements contained herein and other
good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby
acknowledged, the parties hereto intending to be legally bound do hereby agree
as follows:

1. The Merger.

         1.1. The Merger. At the Effective Time (as defined in Section 1.2),
upon the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement, Acquisition
shall be merged with and into the Company in accordance with the provisions of
the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the "DGCL"). The Company
shall be the surviving corporation in the Merger (the "Surviving Corporation").
As a result of the Merger, all of the respective outstanding shares of capital
stock of the Company and Acquisition shall be converted or cancelled in the
manner provided in Section 2.

         1.2. Effective Time. At the Closing, a certificate of merger (the
"Certificate of Merger") shall be duly prepared and executed by the Surviving
Corporation and thereafter delivered to the Secretary of State of the State of
Delaware (the "Secretary of State") for filing, as provided in Section 251 of
the DGCL, on, or as soon as practicable after, the Closing Date. The Merger
shall become effective at the time (but not prior to the Closing Date) of the
filing of the Certificate of Merger with the Secretary of State, or at such
later time as may be agreed by Inveresk and the Company and stated in the
Certificate of Merger (the date and time of such filing (or stated later time,
if any) being referred to herein as the "Effective Time").

         1.3. Closing. The closing of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement (the "Closing") shall take place at the offices of Clifford Chance US
LLP, 200 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10166, at 10:00 a.m., local time, on
the date hereof (the "Closing Date"). At the Closing there shall be delivered to
Inveresk, Acquisition, the Company and the Stockholders' Representative the
certificates and other documents and instruments required to be delivered under
Section 2.3.

         1.4. Effects of the Merger. At the Effective Time, the effects of the
Merger shall be as provided in the applicable provisions of the DGCL.

         1.5. Certificate of Incorporation, By-Laws and Officers and Directors
of the Surviving Corporation. The Certificate of Incorporation of the Company,
as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time, shall be the Certificate
of Incorporation of the Surviving Corporation until thereafter amended as
provided by law and such Certificate of Incorporation. The By-Laws of
Acquisition as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be the
By-Laws of the Surviving Corporation until thereafter amended as provided by
law, the Certificate of Incorporation of the Surviving Corporation and such
By-Laws. From and after the Effective Time, the directors and officers of the
Surviving Corporation shall be as set forth on Exhibit A to this Agreement,
until their respective successors are duly elected or appointed and qualified or
until their earlier death, resignation or removal in accordance with the
Surviving Corporation's Certificate of Incorporation and By-Laws.

         1.6. Further Assurances. Each party hereto shall execute such further
documents and instruments and take such further actions as may reasonably be
requested by one or more of the others to consummate the Merger, to vest the
Surviving Corporation with full title to all assets, properties, rights,
approvals, immunities and franchises of Acquisition and the Company or to
otherwise effect the purposes of this Agreement.

2. Conversion of Shares.

         2.1. Conversion of Capital Stock. At the Effective Time, by virtue of
the Merger and without any further action on the part of any holder of capital
stock of the Company:

            (a) Capital Stock of Acquisition. Each issued and outstanding share
of the common stock, par value $.01 per share, of Acquisition ("Acquisition
Common Stock") shall be converted into and become one fully paid and
nonassessable share of common stock, par value $.01 per share, of the Surviving
Corporation ("Surviving Corporation Common Stock"). Each certificate
representing outstanding shares of Acquisition Common Stock shall at the
Effective Time represent an equal number of shares of Surviving Corporation
Common Stock.

            (b) Cancellation of Treasury Stock and Stock Owned by Inveresk and
Acquisition. All shares of capital stock that are owned by the Company as
treasury stock and any shares of Company Common Stock (as defined in Section
2.1(c)(ii)) owned by Inveresk or Acquisition automatically shall be cancelled
and retired and shall cease to exist and no consideration shall be delivered in
exchange therefor.

                                       2

            (c) Conversion of Company Capital Stock.

               (i) Except as otherwise provided in Section 2.1(b) or Section
2.1(d), each share of the Company's Class A Preferred Stock, par value $.01 per
share (the "Class A Preferred Stock"), issued and outstanding immediately prior
to the Effective Time shall be converted into the right to receive in cash (w)
the Unreturned Original Cost (as such term is defined in the Company's
Certificate of Incorporation as in effect on the date of this Agreement) of such
share of Class A Preferred Stock, together with the unpaid Accrued Yield thereon
(as such term is defined in the Company's Certificate of Incorporation as in
effect on the date of this Agreement) through the Closing Date, payable to the
holder thereof in accordance with Section 2.1(e) or Section 2.4 (the aggregate
amount described in this clause (w) is hereinafter referred to as the "Class A
Preferred Amount"); (x) the Per Share Portion of the Closing Residual Cash
Consideration, payable to the holder thereof in accordance with Section 2.1(e)
or Section 2.4; (y) the Per Share Portion of any Closing Liquid Net Worth
Adjustment Payments (as defined in Section 2.2(d)(iv)) arising under Section
2.2; and (z) the Per Share Portion of any Escrow Release Amount and any
Remaining Escrow Balance, payable to the holder thereof in accordance with the
Escrow Agreement following the termination of the Escrow Period. The aggregate
consideration to which holders of Class A Preferred Stock become entitled
pursuant to this Section 2.1(c)(i) is collectively referred to herein as the
"Class A Preferred Stock Merger Consideration."

               (ii) Except as otherwise provided in Section 2.1(b) or Section
2.1(d), each share of the Company's common stock, par value $.01 per share (the
"Company Common Stock"), issued and outstanding immediately prior to the
Effective Time shall be converted into the right to receive in cash (x) the Per
Share Portion of the Closing Residual Cash Consideration, payable to the holder
thereof in accordance with Section 2.1(e) or Section 2.4; (y) the Per Share
Portion of any Closing Liquid Net Worth Adjustment Payments arising under
Section 2.2; and (z) the Per Share Portion of any Escrow Release Amount and any
Remaining Escrow Balance, payable to the holder thereof in accordance with the
Escrow Agreement following the termination of the Escrow Period. The aggregate
consideration to which holders of Company Common Stock become entitled pursuant
to this Section 2.1(c)(ii) is collectively referred to herein as the "Common
Merger Consideration" and, together with the Class A Preferred Stock Merger
Consideration and the Option Merger Consideration (as defined in Section
2.1(f)), the "Merger Consideration."

         For purposes of this Agreement, the term "Closing Residual Cash
Consideration" means, without duplication, (i) $37,100,000.00 (the "Transaction
Price"), minus (ii) the Class A Preferred Amount, plus (iii) the aggregate
exercise price of all Options, minus (iv) $3,500,000.00, which amount shall be
deposited in an escrow account pursuant to Section 2.3(a) below (the "Indemnity
Amount"), minus (v) $500,000.00, which amount will be deposited in an escrow
account pursuant to Section 2.3(a) below (the "Adjustment Amount") and plus (or
minus) (vi) the amount (if any) by which the Closing Liquid Net Worth is greater
than (or less than) the Target Liquid Net Worth. The Closing Residual Cash
Consideration is subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 2.2 below. For
purposes of determining the amounts to be paid on the Closing Date, the parties
hereto have estimated the amount of Closing Liquid Net Worth to be $9,234,659
(the "Estimated Closing Liquid Net Worth").

         All such shares of Class A Preferred Stock and Company Common Stock
shall no longer be outstanding and shall be cancelled and retired automatically
and shall cease to exist, and each holder of a certificate representing any such
shares of Company Capital Stock (as defined in Section 3.2(a)) shall cease to
have any rights with respect thereto, except the right to receive the applicable
Merger Consideration set forth in this Section 2.1(c), upon the surrender of
such certificate in accordance with Section 2.1(e) or Section 2.4.

                                       3

            (d) Dissenting Shares.

               (i) Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the
contrary, each outstanding share of Company Capital Stock the holder of which
has not voted in favor of the Merger, has perfected such holder's right to an
appraisal of such holder's shares in accordance with the applicable provisions
of the DGCL and has not effectively withdrawn or lost such right to appraisal
(in each case a "Dissenting Share"), shall not be converted into or represent a
right to receive the applicable Merger Consideration pursuant to Section 2.1(c),
but rather the holder thereof shall be entitled only to such rights as are
granted by the applicable provisions of the DGCL; provided, however, that any
Dissenting Share held by a Person at the Effective Time who shall, after the
Effective Time, withdraw the demand for appraisal or lose the right of
appraisal, in either case pursuant to the DGCL, shall be deemed to be converted
into, as of the Effective Time, the right to receive the applicable Merger
Consideration pursuant to Section 2.1(c).

               (ii) The Company shall give Inveresk (x) prompt notice of any
written demands for appraisal, withdrawals of demands for appraisal and any
other instruments served pursuant to the applicable provisions of the DGCL
relating to the appraisal process received by the Company and (y) the
opportunity to control all negotiations and proceedings with respect to demands
for appraisal under the DGCL. The Company will not, except with the prior
written consent of Inveresk, voluntarily make any payment with respect to any
demands for appraisal or settle or offer to settle any such demands.

            (e) Exchange of Certificates; Lost Certificates. The Stockholders'
Representative shall act as paying agent in effecting the exchange of cash for
certificates which, immediately prior to the Effective Time, represented shares
of Company Capital Stock entitled to payment pursuant to Section 2.1(c). On the
Closing Date, each holder of certificates representing Company Capital Stock
(each, a "Stockholder") (other than holders of Dissenting Shares) shall
surrender to Inveresk certificates, duly endorsed in blank or accompanied by
duly executed stock powers, together with a letter of transmittal, representing
the number of shares of each class of Company Capital Stock held by such holder.
On the Closing Date, upon receipt of the amounts set forth in Section 2.3(c),
the Stockholders' Representative shall pay each Stockholder who has surrendered
his or its certificates, stock powers and letter of transmittal to Inveresk the
amount of cash to which he or it is entitled under this Section 2.1 pursuant to
Section 2.3. Surrendered certificates shall forthwith be canceled and delivered
by Inveresk to the Surviving Corporation. Until so surrendered and exchanged,
each such certificate shall represent solely the right to receive the Merger
Consideration into which the shares it theretofore represented shall have been
converted pursuant to this Section 2.1 (except with respect to rights applicable
to Dissenting Shares) and none of the Stockholders' Representative, Inveresk or
the Surviving Corporation shall be required to pay the holder thereof the cash
to which he or it would otherwise have been entitled. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, if any such certificate shall have been lost, stolen or destroyed,
then, upon the making of an affidavit of such fact by the Person claiming such
certificate to be lost, stolen or destroyed and, if required by the
Stockholders' Representative, Inveresk or the Surviving Corporation, upon the
posting by such Person of a bond in such reasonable amount as the Stockholders'
Representative, Inveresk or the Surviving Corporation may direct as indemnity
against any claim that may be made against it with respect to such certificate
(provided that, if such Person is a financial institution or other institutional
investor, its own agreement shall be satisfactory), the Stockholders'
Representative shall issue, following its receipt of the amounts set forth in
Section 2.3(c), in exchange for such lost, stolen or destroyed certificate, the
Merger Consideration to be paid in respect of the shares of Company Capital
Stock represented by such certificate, as contemplated by this Section 2.1.

            (f) Stock Options. Upon the Effective Time each Option that remains
outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time and that was issued pursuant
to any stock option plan, compensation plan or other arrangement of the Company
(the "Company Stock Plans"), whether or not

                                       4

then vested or exercisable, shall automatically be cancelled. In the case of
each Option which is vested and exercisable (or will become vested and
exercisable as a result of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement), the
holder thereof (each an "Optionholder") at the time of cancellation shall, in
settlement thereof, be entitled to receive for each share of Company Common
Stock then issuable upon exercise of such Option: (a) an amount in cash equal to
the product of (x) the excess of the Per Share Portion of the Closing Residual
Cash Consideration over the applicable exercise price per share of such Option,
to the extent such difference is a positive number, multiplied by (y) the number
of shares of Company Common Stock such holder could have purchased if such
holder had exercised such Option in full immediately prior to the Effective
Time; (b) an amount in cash equal to the product of (x) the Per Share Portion of
any Closing Liquid Net Worth Adjustment Payments arising under Section 2.2,
multiplied by (y) the number of shares of Company Common Stock such holder could
have purchased if such holder had exercised such Option in full immediately
prior to the Effective Time; and (c) the right to receive the Per Share Portion
of any Escrow Release Amount and any Remaining Escrow Balance payable to the
holders of Class A Preferred Stock, Company Common Stock and the Optionholders
under the Escrow Agreement, multiplied by the number of shares of Company Common
Stock such holder could have purchased if such holder had exercised such Option
in full immediately prior to the Effective Time, which amounts shall be payable
to the holder thereof as provided in the Escrow Agreement following the
termination of the Escrow Period. Prior to the execution and delivery of this
Agreement, the Company has obtained all consents and made all amendments, if
any, to the terms of Options and the Company Stock Plans, if any, pursuant to
which the Options were issued that are necessary to give effect to the
provisions of this Section 2.1(f). Without limiting the generality of the
foregoing, the Company has taken all actions necessary to ensure that no Option
shall be deemed to be outstanding and no Optionholder shall have any rights with
respect to any Option after the Effective Time other than the right to receive
the consideration set forth in this Section 2.1(f). The aggregate consideration
to which Optionholders become entitled pursuant to this Section 2.1(f) is
collectively referred to herein as the "Option Merger Consideration." Any
payment to be made to an Optionholder pursuant to this Section 2.1(f) shall be
subject to reduction as required by applicable federal and state Tax withholding
laws, rules and regulations, as determined by the Company prior to the Closing.
The initial portion of the Option Merger Consideration computed pursuant to
subclauses (a) and (b) of this Section 2.1(f) (the "Closing Options Amount")
shall be paid pursuant to Section 2.3(i) below via the Company's normal payroll
arrangements to facilitate such Tax withholding, it being understood that the
Company's payroll processor may require up to five business days to process and
make payments to the Optionholders.

         2.2. Closing Statement Procedures.

            (a) As promptly as practicable, but in any event not later than 30
days after the Closing Date, Inveresk shall cause to be prepared and delivered
to the Stockholders' Representative, a draft closing statement (the "Closing
Statement") prepared in good faith substantially in the form of Exhibit B to
this Agreement setting forth (x) the balance sheet of the Company and its
Subsidiaries at the close of business on the Closing Date, which shall be
prepared using the procedures and methodologies set forth in Exhibit B, and (y)
Inveresk's calculation (based on the amounts set forth on the balance sheet) of
the Closing Liquid Net Worth.

            (b) Subject to the provisions of paragraph (c) below, the
Stockholders' Representative shall have 30 days from the date of delivery of the
Closing Statement to review and approve the Closing Statement. If the
Stockholders' Representative agrees with Inveresk's calculation of the Closing
Liquid Net Worth contained in the Closing Statement, the Stockholders'
Representative shall promptly so advise Inveresk in writing, in which event the
Closing Liquid Net Worth (and the Closing Liquid Net Worth Adjustment) shall be
deemed final and binding upon the parties.

                                       5

            (c) The Company and Inveresk shall permit the Stockholders'
Representative and its representatives to have full access to the books, records
and other documents (including work papers) pertaining to or used in connection
with preparation of the Closing Statement and Inveresk's calculation of the
Closing Liquid Net Worth and provide the Stockholders' Representative with
copies thereof (as reasonably requested by the Stockholders' Representative). If
the Stockholders' Representative in good faith disagrees with the calculation of
the Closing Liquid Net Worth set forth in the Closing Statement, the
Stockholders' Representative shall notify Inveresk in writing (the "Notice of
Disagreement") of such disagreement within 30 days after delivery of the Closing
Statement. The Notice of Disagreement shall set forth in reasonable detail the
basis for the disagreement. Thereafter, Inveresk and the Stockholders'
Representative shall attempt in good faith to resolve and finally determine the
Closing Liquid Net Worth. If Inveresk and the Stockholders' Representative are
unable to resolve the disagreement within 10 days after the delivery of the
Notice of Disagreement, Inveresk and the Stockholders' Representative shall
appoint KPMG (the "Independent Accountant") to resolve the disputed items and
make a determination with respect thereto. Such determination will be made, and
written notice thereof given to Inveresk and the Stockholders' Representative,
within 30 days after such selection. The determination by the Independent
Accountant shall be final, binding and conclusive upon the parties hereto. The
scope of the Independent Accountant's engagement (which shall not be an audit)
shall be limited to the resolution of the items contained in the Notice of
Disagreement, and the recalculation, if any, of the Closing Liquid Net Worth in
light of such resolution and such firm shall be deemed to be acting as experts
and not as arbitrators. In its review of the Closing Statement and recalculation
of the Closing Liquid Net Worth, the Independent Accountant will be limited to
using the procedures and methodologies set forth in Exhibit B. The fees, costs
and expenses of the Independent Accountant, if any, will be borne by Inveresk
and the Stockholders' Representative (on behalf of the Stockholders and
Optionholders) in the proportion determined by the Independent Accountant and
the Stockholders' Representative's portion of such fees shall be paid by the
Company and dealt with in the manner provided in the calculation of Closing
Liquid Net Worth.

            (d) Within five (5) business days after the Closing Liquid Net Worth
is finally determined pursuant to Section 2.2(b) or (c):

               (i) If the Closing Liquid Net Worth is less than the Estimated
Closing Liquid Net Worth, the Stockholders' Representative and Inveresk shall
submit a joint written instruction to the Escrow Agent in accordance with the
Escrow Agreement directing the Escrow Agent to pay to Inveresk from the escrow
account established under the Escrow Agreement an amount equal to such
deficiency plus interest on the amount of such deficiency from the Closing Date
to the date of payment at an interest rate equal to the Prime Rate. Such payment
shall be made from the Adjustment Amount by wire transfer of immediately
available funds to an account designated by Inveresk. The remainder of the
Adjustment Amount, if any, shall be delivered to the Stockholders'
Representative (on behalf of the Stockholders and Optionholders) by wire
transfer of immediately available funds to the account(s) designated by the
Stockholders' Representative.

               (ii) If the Closing Liquid Net Worth is greater than the
Estimated Closing Liquid Net Worth, (x) the Stockholders' Representative and
Inveresk shall submit a joint written instruction to the Escrow Agent in
accordance with the Escrow Agreement directing the Escrow Agent to pay to the
Stockholders' Representative (on behalf of the Stockholders and Optionholders)
the Adjustment Amount and (y) Inveresk shall pay to the Stockholders'
Representative (on behalf of the Stockholders and Optionholders) an amount equal
to such excess plus interest on the amount of such excess from the Closing Date
to the date of payment at an interest rate equal to the Prime Rate. Such
payments shall be made by Inveresk and the Escrow Agent by wire transfer of
immediately available funds to the account(s) designated by the Stockholders'
Representative.

                                       6

               (iii) If the Closing Liquid Net Worth is equal to the Estimated
Closing Liquid Net Worth, (x) the Stockholders' Representative and Inveresk
shall submit a joint written instruction to the Escrow Agent in accordance with
the Escrow Agreement directing the Escrow Agent to pay to the Stockholders'
Representative (on behalf of the Stockholders and Optionholders) the Adjustment
Amount and (y) no other payments shall be made pursuant to this Section 2.2(d).

               (iv) All payments made to the Stockholders' Representative (on
behalf of the Stockholders and Optionholders) pursuant to this Section 2.2(d)
(the "Closing Liquid Net Worth Adjustment Payments") and to Inveresk, in each
case, other than payments of stated interest, shall be treated by all parties
for Tax purposes as adjustments to the Transaction Price.

         2.3. Closing Transactions. Subject to the terms and conditions set
forth in this Agreement, the parties hereto shall consummate the following
transactions on the Closing Date (except with respect to the deliveries required
to made by Inveresk pursuant to Section 2.3(c), which shall occur no later than
the first business day following the Closing Date):

            (a) the Company, the Stockholders' Representative, Inveresk and the
Escrow Agent shall duly execute and enter into the Escrow Agreement and Inveresk
shall deposit the Indemnity Amount and the Adjustment Amount in immediately
available funds with the Escrow Agent pursuant to the Escrow Agreement;

            (b) the Company and Acquisition shall cause the Certificate of
Merger to be executed, acknowledged and filed with the Secretary of State of the
State of Delaware;

            (c) Inveresk shall deliver to the Stockholders' Representative, in
its capacity as paying agent hereunder, by wire transfer to the account or
accounts specified by the Stockholders' Representative, an amount equal to (i)
the Transaction Price, (ii) plus (or minus) the amount (if any) by which the
Estimated Closing Liquid Net Worth is greater than (or less than) the Target
Liquid Net Worth, (iii) plus the sum of the amounts referred to in Sections
2.3(g) and 2.3(h) below, (iv) minus the Closing Options Amount, and (v) minus
the Indemnity Amount and the Adjustment Amount;

            (d) each Stockholder shall deliver to the Stockholders'
Representative, in its capacity, one or more certificates, duly endorsed in
blank or accompanied by duly executed stock powers, together with a letter of
transmittal, representing the number of shares of Company Common Stock and Class
A Preferred Stock held by such holder as of immediately prior to the Effective
Time;

            (e) following its receipt of the amounts specified in Section
2.3(c), the Stockholders' Representative, in its capacity as paying agent, shall
deliver to each holder of Class A Preferred Stock such holder's portion of the
Class A Preferred Amount and such holder's Per Share Portion of the Closing
Residual Cash Consideration (in each case as determined in accordance with
Section 2.1(c)(i)), by wire transfer of immediately available funds;

            (f) following its receipt of the amounts specified in Section
2.3(c), the Stockholders' Representative, in its capacity as paying agent, shall
deliver to each holder of Company Common Stock such holder's Per Share Portion
of the Closing Residual Cash Consideration (as determined in accordance with
Section 2.1(c)(ii)), by wire transfer of immediately available funds;

            (g) following its receipt of the amounts specified in Section
2.3(c), the Stockholders' Representative, in its capacity as paying agent, shall
repay, or cause to be repaid, on behalf of the Company and its Subsidiaries, all
amounts necessary to discharge fully the then outstanding balance of all Funded
Indebtedness (other than capital lease obligations), by wire transfer of
immediately available

                                       7

funds to the account(s) designated by the holders of such Funded Indebtedness;
and the Company shall deliver to Inveresk prior to the Closing Date appropriate
payoff letters from the holders of such Funded Indebtedness and shall make
arrangements reasonably satisfactory to Inveresk for such holders of Funded
Indebtedness to deliver all related Lien releases to Inveresk at or as soon as
practicable after the Closing;

            (h) following its receipt of the amounts specified in Section
2.3(c), the Stockholders' Representative, in its capacity as paying agent, shall
pay, on behalf of the Stockholders and Optionholders, the Transaction Expenses
(as defined in Section 7.1) reflected on the Invoices (as defined in Section
7.1) and the Brokerage Expenses (as defined in Section 3.28);

            (i) in accordance with Section 2.1(f), the Company shall pay at the
Effective Time (A) to the respective holders of Options an aggregate amount
equal to the Closing Option Amount, it being understood that such payment shall
be made via the Company's normal payroll arrangements to facilitate Tax
withholding and that the Company's payroll processor may require up to five
business days to process and make payments to the Optionholders and (B) the
sales bonuses and related amounts set forth on Schedule 2.3(i) hereto (the
"Bonus Amounts") to the persons set forth on such Schedule;

            (j) the individuals set forth on Exhibit C to this Agreement shall
deliver to Inveresk a written resignation in the capacities set forth thereon,
effective at the Effective Time, and all trustees of all the Benefit Plans of
the Company and its Subsidiaries set forth on Exhibit D shall deliver to
Inveresk a written resignation in the capacities set forth thereon, effective at
the Effective Time;

            (k) the Company shall deliver to Inveresk the Invoices;

            (l) the Company shall deliver to Inveresk written evidence,
reasonably satisfactory to Inveresk and the Company, of the termination of the
agreements listed on Schedule 2.3(l) to this Agreement; and

            (m) following the Effective Time, the Stockholders' Representative,
in its capacity as paying agent, shall return to the Surviving Corporation any
amounts specified in Section 2.3(c) which represent Class A Preferred Amount and
Closing Residual Cash Consideration in respect of shares of Company Capital
Stock and which were not surrendered at the Closing in accordance with Section
2.1(e), and the Surviving Corporation shall hold such amounts for payment to the
holders of such Company Capital Stock following the Closing Date subject to
Section 2.4.

For purposes of clarification, none of the amounts described in Sections 2.3(e),
(f), (g) or (h) above shall be paid by the Company prior to or following the
Closing Date.

         2.4. Payment for Certificates.

            (a) Payment Procedures. As soon as reasonably practicable after the
Effective Time, the Surviving Corporation shall cause to be mailed to each
holder of record of a certificate or certificates which immediately prior to the
Effective Time represented outstanding shares of Company Capital Stock and which
was not or were not surrendered at the Closing (the "Certificates") whose shares
are converted pursuant to Sections 2.1(c) into the right to receive the
applicable Merger Consideration described in Section 2.1(c), (i) a letter of
transmittal (which shall specify that delivery shall be effected, and risk of
loss and title to the Certificates shall pass, only upon delivery of the
Certificates to the Surviving Corporation and shall be in such form and have
such other provisions as the Surviving Corporation may reasonably specify) and
(ii) instructions for use in effecting the surrender of the Certificates in
exchange for the applicable Merger Consideration. Upon surrender of a
Certificate to the Surviving Corporation, together with such letter of
transmittal, duly executed and completed in accordance with its terms, the

                                       8

holder of such Certificate shall be entitled to receive in exchange therefor a
check representing the applicable Merger Consideration per share of Company
Capital Stock represented thereby which such holder has the right to receive
pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.1(c), and the Certificate so surrendered
shall forthwith be cancelled. In no event shall the holder of any Certificate be
entitled to receive interest on any funds to be received in the Merger, except
as expressly set forth herein. Until surrendered as contemplated by this Section
2.4(a), each Certificate shall be deemed at all times after the Effective Time
to represent only the right to receive the applicable Merger Consideration
provided for in this Agreement.

            (b) Remaining Escrow Balance. As soon as reasonably practicable
following the end of the Escrow Period, Inveresk shall furnish or cause to be
furnished to each Person entitled to a portion of the Remaining Escrow Balance
pursuant to Section 2.1(c) and Section 2.1(f) a notice setting forth (i) the
amount of the Remaining Escrow Balance and (ii) instructions for obtaining the
amount thereof to which each such Person is entitled pursuant to Sections 2.1(c)
and Section 2.1(f). Upon compliance by such Person with those instructions, such
Person shall be entitled to be paid the applicable amount due under Section
2.1(c) and Section 2.1(f). Except as expressly provided in the Escrow Agreement,
in no event shall interest be paid on any such amount.

            (c) No Further Ownership Rights in Company Capital Stock. From and
after the Effective Time, the stock transfer books of the Company shall be
closed and there shall be no further registration of transfers on the stock
transfer books of the Surviving Corporation of the shares of Company Capital
Stock which were outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time. If, after
the Effective Time, Certificates are presented to the Surviving Corporation for
any reason, they shall be cancelled and exchanged as provided in this Section
2.4.

            (d) Termination of Exchange Fund. Any stockholders of the Company
who have not complied with this Section 2 within six months after the Effective
Time shall, to the extent the Stockholders' Representative has complied with
Section 2.3(l), thereafter look only to the Surviving Corporation (subject to
abandoned property, escheat and other similar laws) as general creditors for
payment of their claim for the applicable Merger Consideration. To the extent
the Stockholders' Representative has not complied with Section 2.3(l), such
stockholders shall thereafter look only to the Stockholders' Representative for
payment of the claim for the applicable Merger Consideration. Neither the
Stockholders' Representative, Inveresk nor the Surviving Corporation shall be
liable to any holder of shares of capital stock of the Company or any holder of
Options for cash representing the applicable Merger Consideration delivered to a
public official pursuant to any applicable abandoned property, escheat or other
similar law.

3. Representations and Warranties of the Company. Except as set forth in the
relevant Section (determined in accordance with Section 9.15 of this Agreement)
of the Company Disclosure Schedule (the "Company Disclosure Schedule") delivered
by the Company to Inveresk concurrently with the execution of this Agreement,
the Company represents and warrants to Acquisition and to Inveresk as follows:

         3.1. Organization.

            (a) The Company is a corporation duly organized, validly existing
and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware and has all
requisite power and authority to carry on its business as it has been and is now
being conducted and to own, use and lease its assets and properties. The Company
is duly qualified or licensed as a foreign corporation to do business and is in
good standing (to the extent such concepts are recognized) in each jurisdiction
listed on Section 3.1 of the Company Disclosure Schedule which are the only
jurisdictions in which the nature of its business or the ownership,

                                       9

leasing or operation of its assets and properties makes such qualification or
licensing necessary, except where the failure to be so qualified or licensed
would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

            (b) Except for the Subsidiaries of the Company set forth on Section
3.5 of the Company Disclosure Schedule, the Company does not, directly or
indirectly, own any equity or similar interest in or have any other ownership
right in any other Person, nor does it have any obligation to purchase any
shares of stock, other securities or other form of investment in any other
Person.

         3.2. Capitalization.

            (a) As of the date of this Agreement, the total authorized shares of
capital stock of the Company consisted solely of (i) 20,000,000 shares of
Company Common Stock, of which 7,511,291 shares were issued and outstanding;
(ii) 5,010,512 shares of Class A Preferred Stock, of which 5,010,512 shares were
issued and outstanding; and (iii) 900,000 shares of Class B Preferred Stock, par
value $.00001 per share (the "Class B Preferred Stock"), of which no shares were
issued and outstanding. The Company Common Stock, the Class A Preferred Stock
and the Class B Preferred Stock are sometimes collectively referred to in this
Agreement as the "Company Capital Stock". As of the date of this Agreement,
5,600,000 shares of Company Common Stock were reserved for issuance under the
Company Stock Plans of which 4,872,641 shares of Company Common Stock were
subject to outstanding Options. All the shares of Company Capital Stock have
been duly and validly authorized and issued and are fully paid and
nonassessable. No shares of capital stock have been issued by the Company at any
time in violation of the preemptive rights of any stockholder of the Company.
All shares of capital stock previously issued by the Company were offered,
issued and sold in compliance with all applicable U.S. Federal and state
securities laws and regulations.

            (b) Section 3.2 of the Company Disclosure Schedule sets forth a
true, correct and complete (i) listing of the record and beneficial owners of
all shares of Company Capital Stock issued and outstanding as of the date of
this Agreement and the number of shares so owned by each Person named; and (ii)
listing of all Options outstanding as of the date of this Agreement, including a
description of the applicable vesting schedule or terms. Except for the Options
listed on Section 3.2 of the Company Disclosure Schedule there are no existing
agreements, subscriptions, options, warrants, calls, commitments, trusts (voting
or otherwise), or rights of any kind whatsoever between the Company and any
Person, and none of the foregoing exist granting any interest in or the right to
purchase or otherwise acquire from the Company or granting to the Company any
interest in or the right to purchase or otherwise acquire from any Person, at
any time, or upon the occurrence of any stated event, any Company Capital Stock
or other equity or debt securities of the Company, whether or not presently
issued or outstanding. There are no other outstanding securities of the Company
or any other entity which are convertible into or exchangeable for other
securities of the Company, nor are there any proxies, agreements or
understandings with respect to the voting of the shares of Company Capital Stock
or any agreements, subscriptions, options, warrants, calls, commitments or
rights of any kind granting to any Person the right to purchase or otherwise
acquire from the Company any securities so convertible or exchangeable.

            (c) Since January 1, 2002, the Company has not:

               (i) declared, set aside, made or paid any dividend or other
distribution, payable in cash, stock, property or otherwise with respect to any
of its capital stock;

               (ii) reclassified, combined, split, subdivided or redeemed,
purchased (other than pursuant to the terms of any restricted stock award) or
otherwise acquired, directly or indirectly, any of its capital stock;

                                       10

               (iii) incurred any indebtedness for borrowed money or issued any
debt securities or assumed, guaranteed or endorsed, or otherwise as an
accommodation become responsible for, the obligations of any Person, or made any
loans or advances to any Person; or

               (iv) entered into or amended any contract, agreement, commitment
or arrangement with respect to any matter set forth in this Section 3.2(c).

         3.3. Authority. The Company has full corporate power and authority to
enter into this Agreement and to perform its obligations hereunder and to
consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. The execution, delivery and
performance of this Agreement by the Company and the consummation by the Company
of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly authorized and approved
by the Company's Board of Directors and, except for the filing of the
Certificate of Merger pursuant to the DGCL, no other corporate proceedings on
the part of the Company or its stockholders are necessary to authorize the
execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement or the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby. This Agreement has been duly authorized,
executed and delivered by the Company and is the legal, valid and binding
obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with
its terms, except as enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting the enforcement
of creditors rights generally and by the effect of general principles of equity
(regardless of whether enforcement is considered in a proceeding in equity or at
law).

         3.4. No Conflicts; Governmental Requirements.

            (a) The execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this
Agreement and the consummation of the Merger do not, and will not (i) violate or
conflict with any provision of the Certificate of Incorporation or By-Laws of
the Company; (ii) violate any law, rule, regulation, order, writ, injunction,
judgement or decree of any court, governmental or regulatory authority; or (iii)
result in a violation or breach of, or constitute (with or without due notice or
lapse of time or both) a default (or give rise to any right of termination,
cancellation or acceleration), or require any consent, approval or notice under,
any note, bond, indenture, license, lien, franchise, mortgage, contract, lease,
permit, guaranty or other agreement, instrument or obligation to which the
Company is a party or by which any of its assets or properties may be bound.

            (b) Except for (i) the filing of the Certificate of Merger with the
Secretary of State pursuant to the DGCL and (ii) any other consents, approvals,
authorizations, permissions, notices or filings which if not obtained or made
would not have a Material Adverse Effect or a material adverse effect on the
Surviving Corporation or materially delay or hinder or render unlawful the
consummation of the Merger or the other transactions contemplated by this
Agreement, the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Company do not
and the performance by the Company of this Agreement will not, require any
consent, approval, authorization or permission of, or filing with or
notification to, any governmental or regulatory authority, domestic or foreign,
or any other Person.

            (c) The Company has furnished to Inveresk and Acquisition copies of
all notices, documents, requests, court papers, or other materials given to or
received from any governmental or regulatory authority, in each case, with
respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

         3.5. Subsidiaries. Section 3.5 of the Company Disclosure Schedule lists
the name of each Subsidiary and all lines of business in which each Subsidiary
is participating or engaged. Each Subsidiary is a corporation duly organized,
validly existing and in good standing (to the extent such concept is recognized)
under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation identified in Section 3.5 of
the Company Disclosure Schedule, and has all requisite power and authority to
carry on its business as it has

                                       11

been and is now being conducted and to own, use and lease its assets and
properties. Each Subsidiary is duly qualified or licensed as a foreign
corporation to do business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction
specified in Section 3.5 of the Company Disclosure Schedule, which are the only
jurisdictions in which the nature of its business or the ownership, leasing or
operation of such Subsidiary's assets and properties makes such qualification or
licensing necessary, except where the failure to be so qualified or licensed
would not have a Material Adverse Effect. Section 3.5 of the Company Disclosure
Schedule lists for each Subsidiary the amount of its authorized capital stock,
the amount of its outstanding capital stock and the record owners of such
outstanding capital stock. All of the outstanding shares of capital stock of
each Subsidiary have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and
nonassessable, and are owned, beneficially and of record, by the Company or
Subsidiaries wholly owned by the Company free and clear of all Liens. There are
no existing agreements, subscriptions, options, warrants, calls, commitments,
trusts (voting or otherwise), or rights of any kind whatsoever between the
Company or any Subsidiary on the one hand and any Person on the other hand with
respect to the capital stock of any Subsidiary. The name of each director and
officer of the Company and each Subsidiary on the date hereof, and the position
with the Company and such Subsidiary held by each, are listed in Section 3.5 of
the Company Disclosure Schedule.

         3.6. Books and Records. The minute books and other similar records of
the Company and its Subsidiaries as made available to Inveresk prior to the
execution of this Agreement contain a true, correct and complete record of all
actions taken at all meetings and by all written consents in lieu of meetings of
the stockholders, the boards of directors and committees of the boards of
directors of the Company and its Subsidiaries. The stock transfer ledgers and
other similar records of the Company and its Subsidiaries as made available to
Inveresk prior to the execution of this Agreement contain true and complete
records of all stock transfers related to the Company's or any Subsidiary's
capital stock. The Company has previously furnished to Inveresk true, complete
and correct copies of the Certificate of Incorporation and the By-Laws of the
Company and each Subsidiary as in effect on the date of this Agreement.

         3.7. Financial Statements.

            (a) The Company has previously furnished to Inveresk true and
complete copies of the following financial statements of the Company (the
"Financial Statements"):

               (i) audited consolidated financial statements of the Company and
its Subsidiaries as of and for the year ended December 31, 2002 (the "2002
Audited Financial Statements");

               (ii) audited consolidated financial statements of the Company and
its Subsidiaries as of and for the year ended December 31, 2001 (the "2001
Audited Financial Statements" and, together with the 2002 Audited Financial
statements, the "Audited Financial Statements"); and

               (iii) unaudited consolidated financial statements of the Company
and its Subsidiaries as of and for the six month period ended June 30, 2003 (the
"Unaudited Financial Statements").

            (b) The Financial Statements were prepared in accordance with GAAP
applied on a basis consistent with that of preceding accounting periods except
that the Unaudited Financial Statements do not include notes and are subject to
normal year-end adjustments. All of the Financial Statements, without giving
effect to the exception set forth in the preceding sentence, (i) were prepared
on the basis of the books and records of the Company and its consolidated
subsidiaries and (ii) fairly represent in all material respects the financial
condition of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries in conformity with
GAAP as of the respective dates thereof.

                                       12

         3.8. Absence of Undisclosed Liabilities; Off-Balance Sheet Financing;
Funded Indebtedness.

            (a) Except as reflected or reserved against in the 2002 Audited
Financial Statements, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries had or has
incurred any Liability or obligation of any nature (whether absolute, accrued or
contingent or otherwise) other than (i) Liabilities or obligations not required
to be reported on the 2002 Audited Financial Statements under GAAP on a basis
consistent with that of preceding accounting periods and (ii) Liabilities or
obligations incurred after the date of the 2002 Audited Financial Statements
incurred in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice and
which, in any event in the case of each of the preceding clauses (i) and (ii),
would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

            (b) Except for transactions, arrangements and other relationships
otherwise specifically identified on the Company's 2002 Audited Financial
Statements, including but not limited to identification of the information set
forth below, Section 3.8(b) of the Company Disclosure Schedule sets forth a
true, correct and complete list of all transactions, arrangements and other
relationships between and/or among the Company, any of its Affiliates (other
than any wholly owned Subsidiary) and any unconsolidated entity or other Person,
including but not limited to any structured finance, special purpose or limited
purpose entity or Person (each, an "Off-Balance Sheet Transaction"). Section
3.8(b) of the Company Disclosure Schedule also sets forth (i) the business
purpose and activities of each Off-Balance Sheet Transaction; (ii) the economic
substance of each Off-Balance Sheet Transaction; (iii) the key terms and
conditions of each Off-Balance Sheet Transaction; (iv) the Company's and/or its
Affiliates' potential risk associated with each such Off-Balance Sheet
Transaction; (v) the amounts of any guarantees, lines of credit, standby letters
of credit or commitments or take or pay contracts, throughput contracts or other
similar types of arrangements, including tolling, capacity or leasing
arrangements, that could require the Company or any of its Affiliates to provide
funding of any obligations under any such Off-Balance Sheet Transaction,
including but not limited to guarantees of repayments, make whole agreements or
value guarantees; and (vi) any other information with respect to each such
Off-Balance Sheet Transaction that could have a Material Adverse Effect.

            (c) Section 3.8(c) of the Company Disclosure Schedule sets forth a
true, complete and correct calculation of the Funded Indebtedness of the
Company, including the name of the obligor, the holder of or payee or obligee
under such Funded Indebtedness and a schedule of payments due on such Funded
Indebtedness, in each case, as of July 31, 2003.

            (d) As of July 25, 2003 the Company and its Subsidiaries had an
amount of Cash equal to $10,938,000. Subject to Section 2.3(i) above, following
such date such Cash will have only been used to fund ordinary course trade
payables incurred by the Company and its Subsidiaries and will not be used to
pay and Transaction Expenses, Brokerage Expenses or Funded Indebtedness.

         3.9. Operations and Obligations. Since December 31, 2002,

            (a) there has been no Material Adverse Effect;

            (b) there has been no material impairment, damage, destruction, loss
or claim, whether or not covered by insurance, or condemnation or other taking
adversely affecting in any respect any of the Company's or any Subsidiary's
material tangible assets; and

            (c) the Company and each of its Subsidiaries have conducted its
business only in the ordinary course consistent with past practice.

         3.10. Properties.

                                       13

            (a) Section 3.10 of the Company Disclosure Schedule contains a true,
correct and complete list of (i) all Leased Real Property designating the
relevant lessors and lessees and, in the case of Leased Real Property, the
material terms of such Lease, including the annual rental payment and expiration
date and (ii) all equipment, fixtures and other personal property owned, leased,
subleased or managed by the Company or any Subsidiary which, in the case of
clause (ii) only, had an original cost or commitment in excess of $50,000. True,
correct and complete copies of all Leases and all material personal property
leases and deeds of the Company and each Subsidiary have been delivered or made
available to Inveresk by the Company. Neither the Company nor any of its
Subsidiaries owns any real property or any other interest in real property.

            (b) Each Lease is legal, valid, binding, enforceable and in full
force and effect, subject to proper authorization and execution of such Lease by
the other party thereto and the application of any bankruptcy or other
creditor's rights laws. The Company or the applicable Subsidiary is in
compliance in all material respects with all terms of each such Lease and, to
the Company's knowledge, the other party or parties thereto are not in default
of its or their obligations thereunder.

            (c) Neither the whole nor any part of any Leased Real Property used
or occupied by the Company or any Subsidiary is subject to any pending suit for
condemnation or other taking by any public authority, and, to the knowledge of
the Company, no such condemnation or other taking is currently threatened or
contemplated. The Leased Real Property is sufficient real property to conduct
the operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries as currently conducted, and
the personal property set forth on Section 3.10 of the Company Disclosure
Schedule is in sound operating condition and repair, normal wear and tear
excepted. There has not been any interruption of the operations of the Company
or its Subsidiaries since December 31, 2002 due to inadequate maintenance of any
such properties.

            (d) Except as disclosed in the 2002 Audited Financial Statements,
the Company or a Subsidiary owns outright and has good and marketable fee or
leasehold title to all of its respective assets and properties, in each case
free and clear of any Lien. The Company, together with its Subsidiaries, has all
necessary assets, equipment, contractual rights and properties to engage in the
business currently conducted by the Company and its Subsidiaries.

         3.11. Accounts Receivable. All accounts receivable reflected on the
balance sheet included in the Unaudited Financial Statements, and all accounts
receivable arising subsequent to March 31, 2003, in each case net of applicable
reserves, (a) have arisen from bona fide sales transactions in the ordinary
course of business of the Company and its Subsidiaries on ordinary trade terms
and (b) represent valid and binding obligations due to the Company and its
Subsidiaries, enforceable in accordance with their terms without valid set-off
or counterclaim.

         3.12. Contracts.

            (a) Section 3.12 of the Company Disclosure Schedule lists, under the
relevant heading, all oral or written contracts, agreements, guarantees,
licenses, leases and executory commitments (each, a "Contract"), that exist as
of the date of this Agreement to which the Company or any Subsidiary is a party
or by which the Company or such Subsidiary is bound and which fall within any of
the following categories:

               (i) Contracts not entered into in the ordinary course of the
Company's or such Subsidiary's business;

               (ii) any alliance, cooperation, joint venture, stockholders',
partnership or similar Contracts;

                                       14

               (iii) subject to Section 3.12(d) below, Contracts which have a
remaining obligation on the part of the Company or any Subsidiary in excess of
$100,000;

               (iv) Contracts relating to any outstanding commitment for capital
expenditures in excess of $100,000;

               (v) indentures, mortgages, hypothecs, promissory notes, loan
agreements or guarantees of borrowed money, letters of credit or other
agreements or instruments of the Company or any Subsidiary or commitments for
the borrowing, guaranteeing or lending by the Company or any Subsidiary of
amounts in excess of $100,000 in the aggregate or providing for the creation of
any Lien upon any of the assets or properties of the Company or any Subsidiary
with an aggregate value in excess of $100,000;

               (vi) Contracts providing for "earn-outs" or other contingent
payments by the Company or any Subsidiary involving more than $100,000 per
contract over the terms of all such Contracts;

               (vii) Contracts involving sale-lease back transactions or other
similar arrangements;

               (viii) supply or distribution Contracts requiring a payment or a
commitment by the Company or any Subsidiary to make a payment in excess of
$100,000;

               (ix) subject to Section 3.12(d) below, Contracts with customers
of the Company or any Subsidiary involving payments being made by or to the
Company or any Subsidiary in excess of $100,000 in the aggregate;

               (x) stock purchase agreements, asset purchase agreements or other
acquisition or divestiture agreements where the consideration in any individual
transaction exceeds $100,000;

               (xi) Contracts containing any waiver or release of the Company's
or any Subsidiary's rights against any Person in the context of litigation or
other proceedings, or threatened litigation or other proceedings, in each case
involving the Company or any of its Subsidiaries;

               (xii) any Contract restricting the Company, any Subsidiary or any
of their respective employees from engaging in any activity or line of business
or competing with any Person or limiting the ability of any Person to compete
with the Company or any Subsidiary;

               (xiii) any research, development, distributorship, sales agency
or sales representative, Contract, or any service, support or maintenance
Contract related to the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries involving
remaining payments to be made by or to the Company or any Subsidiary in any one
or series of payments in excess of $100,000 in the aggregate;

               (xiv) any Contract with any Person, irrespective of amount,
granting any Person the right to acquire, use or have access to any assets or
properties, or any interest therein, of the Company or any Subsidiary, other
than any rights of employees to use or have access to the assets or properties
of the Company and its Subsidiaries in the normal course of their duties;

               (xv) any employment Contract (other than standard offer letters
issued by the Company in the ordinary course of business pursuant to which the
applicable employee may be

                                       15

terminated at any time by the Company without any payment or other continuing
obligation other than applicable notice periods in France and Spain), all
Contracts providing for severance payments in any amount, all consulting
Contracts (in which the Company or any Subsidiary has contracted to receive
consulting services) involving payments in excess of $50,000 during 2002, and
all consulting Contracts (in which the Company or any Subsidiary has contracted
to receive consulting services) involving continuing payment obligations in
excess of $50,000 and which are not terminable by the Company upon two to four
weeks prior notice without additional cost or expense;

               (xvi) any Contract which provides rights to parties other than
the Company or any Subsidiary which are contingent upon a merger, consolidation
or other "change-in-control" of the Company;

               (xvii) master service and master Contracts with customers; and

               (xviii) any other Contract that (A) involves the payment or
potential payment, pursuant to the terms of any such agreement, by or to the
Company or any Subsidiary of more than $100,000 and (B) cannot be terminated
within 60 calendar days after giving notice of termination without resulting in
any material cost or penalty to the Company or any Subsidiary.

            (b) The Contracts listed in Section 3.12 of the Company Disclosure
Schedule are all the material Contracts relating to the ownership or operation
of the currently conducted and contemplated business of the Company and its
Subsidiaries or to the property presently held or used by the Company or any
Subsidiary or to which the Company or any Subsidiary is a party or to which the
Company or any Subsidiary or any of their respective properties and assets is
subject or bound. The Company has previously delivered (or made available) true,
complete and correct copies of all Contracts listed on Section 3.12 of the
Company Disclosure Schedule (including all amendments) to Inveresk (or, in the
case of oral agreements only, true, complete and correct descriptions thereof
have been set forth in Section 3.12 of the Company Disclosure Schedule). Neither
the Company nor any Subsidiary is, and, to the knowledge of the Company and its
Subsidiaries, no other party to any such Contract is, in default in any material
respect under any such Contract and immediately following the Merger all of such
Contracts shall be in full force and effect. No additional consideration shall
be due under such Contracts as a result of the Merger and neither the Company
nor any Subsidiary is currently renegotiating any such agreement except in the
ordinary course of business or paying liquidated damages in lieu thereof.

            (c) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries provides any
discounts or rebates to any of its customers or suppliers under any Contracts.

            (d) The Company is party to investigator agreements and other vendor
and subcontractor Contracts related to specific client studies which may involve
payments in excess of $100,000 (collectively, the "Investigator Agreements"). As
noted in Sections 3.12(iii) and 3.12 (ix) of the Company Disclosure Schedules,
the Investigator Agreements are not routinely tracked by the Company and are not
specifically referenced in the Company Disclosure Schedules but all Investigator
Agreements are entered into by the Company and its Subsidiaries in the ordinary
course of business and all of the current payment obligations of the Company and
its Subsidiaries pursuant to any Investigator Agreement that are in excess of
$50,000 are either reflected or accrued for on the Financial Statements.

         3.13. Significant Customers; Backlog.

            (a) None of the customers of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries
listed on Section 3.13 of the Company Disclosure Schedule has delivered any
notice to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, nor does the Company have any
reason to believe, that any such customer (i) has terminated,

                                       16

or will terminate any contract or agreement with the Company or any of the
Company Subsidiaries or (ii) has ceased, or will cease, to use the services of
the Company or the Company Subsidiaries, as the case may be.

            (b) Section 3.13(b) of the Company Disclosure Schedules sets forth a
true and correct computation of the Backlog of the Company as of June 30, 2003
(unless otherwise specified to be as of a later date), as prepared by the
Company in the ordinary course of business.

            (c) The information and data provided to Inveresk by the Company
relating to ongoing projects and services for customers under Contracts included
in the Backlog of the Company as of the date of this Agreement, including with
respect to pricing, budgeted hours and completion targets, is true, correct and
complete in all material respects. There are no ongoing projects for or services
being provided to customers for which the amounts required to complete the
project or services exceed the amounts budgeted for such project or services by
more than 10%.

         3.14. Litigation.

            (a) As of the date of this Agreement: (i) there are no actions,
suits, arbitrations, legal or administrative proceedings pending or, to the
knowledge of the Company, threatened against the Company or any Subsidiary; (ii)
neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is the subject of any pending or, to the
knowledge of the Company, threatened investigation; and (iii) neither the
Company nor any Subsidiary nor the assets, properties or business of the Company
or any Subsidiary is subject to any judgment, order, writ, injunction or decree
of any court, governmental agency or arbitration tribunal. Neither the Company
nor any Subsidiary is the plaintiff in any such proceeding and neither the
Company nor any Subsidiary is contemplating commencing legal action against any
other Person.

            (b) There are no actions, suits, arbitrations, legal or
administrative proceedings pending or, to the knowledge of the Company,
threatened against any of the officers or directors of the Company or any
Subsidiary for which the Company or any Subsidiary may have an obligation to
provide indemnification.

         3.15. Compliance with Law; Authorizations.

            (a) The Company and each Subsidiary has complied in all material
respects with, and is not in violation of, in any respect, any law, ordinance or
governmental or regulatory rule or regulation (collectively, "Laws") to which it
or its business is subject.

            (b) The Company and each Subsidiary has obtained and currently holds
all licenses, permits, certificates or other governmental or regulatory
authorizations and approvals (collectively "Authorizations") necessary for the
ownership or use of its assets and properties and the conduct of its business.

            (c) The Company and each Subsidiary has complied in all material
respects with, and is not in violation of, any Authorization necessary for the
ownership or use of its assets and properties or the conduct of its business.

         3.16. Intellectual Property; Software.

            (a) (i) Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries owns, or possesses
adequate licenses or other valid rights to use, all existing United States and
foreign patents, trademarks, trade names, service marks, domain names,
copyrights and software and all applications therefor that are material to its

                                       17

business as currently conducted (the "Company Intellectual Property Rights") and
a true and complete list of all Company Intellectual Property Rights is set
forth on Section 3.16 of the Company Disclosure Schedule other than unregistered
copyrights and trademarks, service marks and trade names; (ii) all Company
Intellectual Property Rights are either owned by the Company or its Subsidiaries
free and clear of all Liens or are used pursuant to a license agreement or are
otherwise being validly used; (iii) each such license agreement is valid and
enforceable and in full force and effect; (iv) neither the Company nor any of
its Subsidiaries is in default under any such license agreement in any material
respect and, to the knowledge of the Company, no corresponding licensor is in
default thereunder in any material respect; (v) no Company Intellectual Property
Right that is owned by the Company or any Subsidiary infringes or otherwise
conflicts with any material right of any Person; (vi) there is no pending or, to
the knowledge of the Company, threatened litigation, adversarial proceeding,
administrative action or other challenge or claim relating to any Company
Intellectual Property Right that is owned by the Company or any Subsidiary;
(vii) there is no outstanding order of a governmental or regulatory authority
relating to any Company Intellectual Property Right; (viii) to the knowledge of
Company, there is currently no infringement by any person of any Company
Intellectual Property Right; and (ix) the Company Intellectual Property Rights
owned, used or possessed by the Company and its Subsidiaries are sufficient and
adequate to conduct the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries in all
material respects as such business is currently conducted.

            (b) The Company and its Subsidiaries have taken reasonable steps in
their reasonable business discretion to protect, maintain and safeguard the
Company Intellectual Property Rights, including any Company Intellectual
Property Rights for which improper or unauthorized disclosure would impair its
value or validity, and have executed and required nondisclosure agreements and
made any required filings and registrations in connection with the foregoing.

            (c) The Conduct of the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries
as now conducted does not, infringe any valid patents, trademarks, trade names,
service marks or copyrights of any third party. The consummation of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement will not result in the loss or
impairment of any Company Intellectual Property Rights.

            (d) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has licensed (or
otherwise entered into any agreement permitting) any Person to use or market any
of the Company Intellectual Property Rights.

            (e) The representations and warranties in this Section 3.16 are the
sole and exclusive representations and warranties made by the Company with
respect to the Company Intellectual Property Rights and intellectual property
matters.

         3.17. Tax Matters.

            (a) Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries has filed all Tax
Returns that it was required to file. All such Tax Returns were correct and
complete in all respects. All Taxes due and payable by any of the Company and
its Subsidiaries (whether or not shown on any Tax Return) have been paid. None
of the Company and its Subsidiaries currently is the beneficiary of any
extension of time within which to file any Tax Return. No written claim has been
made within the three year period preceding the date of this Agreement by an
authority in a jurisdiction where any of the Company and its Subsidiaries does
not file Tax Returns that it is or may be subject to taxation by that
jurisdiction. There are no liens or security interests on any of the assets of
any of the Company and its Subsidiaries that arose in connection with any
failure (or alleged failure) to pay any Tax.

                                       18

            (b) Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries has withheld and paid
all Taxes required to have been withheld and paid in connection with amounts
paid or owing to any employee, independent contractor, creditor, stockholder, or
other third party.

            (c) There is no dispute or claim concerning any Tax Liability of any
of the Company and its Subsidiaries either (i) claimed or raised by any
authority in writing or (ii) as to which the Company has knowledge based upon
personal contact with any agent of such authority. Section 3.17 of the Company
Disclosure Schedule lists all jurisdictions in which federal, state, local, and
foreign income Tax Returns are filed with respect to any of the Company and its
Subsidiaries and indicates those income Tax Returns that have been audited or
that are currently the subject of audit.

            (d) No power of attorney currently in force has been granted by the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries with respect to any Tax matter.

            (e) None of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has waived any
statute of limitations in respect of Taxes or agreed to any extension of time
with respect to a Tax assessment or deficiency.

            (f) None of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is required to
include in income any adjustment pursuant to Code Section 481(a) by reason of a
change in accounting method or has an application pending with the Internal
Revenue Service or any other tax authority requesting permission for any change
in accounting method. None of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has made
any payments, is obligated to make any payments, or is a party to any agreement
that under certain circumstances could obligate it to make any payments that
will not be deductible under Code Section 280G. No acceleration of the vesting
schedule for any property that is substantially nonvested within the meaning of
the regulations under Code Section 83 will occur in connection with the
transactions contemplated under this Agreement. None of the Company or any of
its Subsidiaries has been a United States real property holding corporation
within the meaning of Code Section 897(c)(2) during the applicable period
specified in Code Section 897(c)(1)(A)(ii). None of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries is subject to any accumulated earnings tax under Code Section 531
or personal holding company tax under Code Section 541. Each of the Company and
its Subsidiaries has disclosed on its federal income Tax Returns all positions
taken therein that could give rise to a substantial understatement of federal
income Tax within the meaning of Code Section 6662. None of the Company or any
of its Subsidiaries is currently a party to any Tax allocation or Tax sharing
agreement or has an obligation to make a payment under such an agreement. None
of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (i) has been a member of an Affiliated
Group filing a consolidated federal income Tax Return (other than an Affiliated
Group the common parent of which was the Company) or (ii) has any liability for
the Taxes of any person (other than any of the Company and its Subsidiaries)
under Treasury Regulation Section 1.1502-6 (or any similar provision of state,
local, or foreign law), as a transferee or successor, by contract, or otherwise.

            (g) Section 3.17 of the Company Disclosure Schedule sets forth the
following information with respect to each of the Company and its Subsidiaries:
(i) the amount of any deferred gain or loss allocable to the Company or
Subsidiary arising out of any deferred intercompany transaction under
regulations promulgated under Code Section 1502; (ii) any partnership, trust or
other entity (other than the Company and its Subsidiaries) in which the Company
and its Subsidiaries are owners whether or not such entity is disregarded for
tax purposes; and (iii) all closing agreements and Tax rulings requested or
received from any taxing authority.

            (h) The unpaid Taxes of the Company and its Subsidiaries (i) did
not, as of March 31, 2003, exceed the reserve for Tax liability (rather than any
reserve for deferred Taxes established to reflect timing differences between
book and Tax income) set forth on the face of the most recent balance sheet
(rather than in any notes thereto) included in the Unaudited Financial
Statements and (ii) do not exceed

                                       19

that reserve as adjusted for the passage of time through the Closing Date in
accordance with the past custom and practice of the Company and its Subsidiaries
in filing their Tax Returns.

            (i) None of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (i) has
participated in an international boycott as defined in Code Section 999; (ii)
has been the distributing corporation or controlled corporation with respect to
a transaction described in Code Section 355 within the two-year period ending on
the date of this Agreement or as part of a plan or series of distributions in
connection with this Agreement or transaction; (iii) except for those
Subsidiaries that are organized outside the United States, has a permanent
establishment or office or fixed place of business outside the United States;
(iv) has a material item of income or gain reported for financial accounting
purposes in a pre-Closing period or otherwise attributable to pre-Closing period
which is required to be included in taxable income for a post-Closing period; or
(v) has an overall foreign loss described in Code Section 904(f).

            (j) None of the assets of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is
(i) Tax-exempt use property under Code Section 168(h); (ii) tax-exempt bond
financed property under Code Section 168(g); (iii) limited use property under
Revenue Procedure 76-30; or (iv) treated as owned by any other person under Code
Section 168. None of the Company or any of it Subsidiaries is a party (other
than as an investor) to any industrial development bond.

            (k) None of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries which are
organized outside the United States (i) have material loss carryovers; (ii) own
any investments in U.S. property as described in Code Section 956; or (iii) own
any United States real property interests as described in Code Section 897.

            (l) None of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries which are
organized outside the United States has made an election under U.S. law with
respect to its status or classification for U.S. tax purposes.

            (m) None of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries which are
organized outside the United States is engaged in the conduct of a trade or
business in the United States or have a branch, office or fixed place of
business or permanent establishment in the United States.

            (n) The representations and warranties in this Section 3.17 are the
sole and exclusive representations and warranties made by the Company with
respect to Tax matters.

         3.18. Employee Benefit Plans; ERISA. There are no Company Plans except
as set forth on Section 3.18 of the Company Disclosure Schedule. With respect to
each Company Plan, to the extent applicable:

            (a) each of the Company Plans is, and its administration is and has
been in material compliance with, and neither the Company nor any of its
Subsidiaries has received any claim or notice that any such Company Plan is not
in material compliance with, its terms and all applicable laws, regulations,
rulings and other authority issued thereunder and all other applicable
governmental laws, regulations and orders, and prohibited transaction
exemptions, including, without limitation, the requirements of ERISA and all tax
rules for which favorable tax treatment is intended, bonding requirements and
requirements for the filing of applicable reports, documents, and notices with
the Secretary of Labor or the Secretary of the Treasury and the furnishing of
documents to the participants and beneficiaries (and other individuals entitled
to such documents) of each such Plan;

            (b) neither the Company nor any ERISA Affiliate sponsors,
contributes to, maintains or has any liability (whether contingent or otherwise)
under or with respect to (i) a "multiemployer plan" (as

                                       20

defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA) or (ii) an employee benefit plan subject
to Part 3 of Title I of ERISA, or Section 412 of the Code, or Title IV of ERISA,
or Section 4043(c) of ERISA;

            (c) all contributions, premiums and other payments required by law
or any Plan or applicable collective bargaining agreement to have been made
under any such Plan to any fund, trust or account established thereunder or in
connection therewith have been made by the due date thereof, and any and all
contributions, premiums and other payments with respect to compensation or
service before and through the Closing, or otherwise with respect to periods
before and through the Closing, due from any of the Company or any of its
Affiliates to, under or on account of each Company Plan shall have been paid
prior to Closing or accrued in accordance with GAAP applied on a basis
consistent with that of preceding accounting periods;

            (d) each of the Company Plans which is intended to be tax-qualified
under Section 401(a) of the Code has been determined by the Internal Revenue
Service to be so qualified and such determination has not been modified, revoked
or limited, and no circumstances have occurred that would reasonably be expected
to adversely affect the tax-qualified status of any such Company Plan;

            (e) there is no suit, action, dispute, claim, arbitration or legal,
administrative or other proceeding or governmental investigation pending, or, to
the Company's knowledge, threatened, alleging any breach of the terms of any
such Company Plan or of any fiduciary duties thereunder or violation of any
applicable law with respect to any such Company Plan;

            (f) neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is in default in
performing any of its contractual or legal obligations under or with respect to
any of the Company Plans or any related trust agreement or insurance contract;

            (g) neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries nor has any
"party in interest" (as defined in Section 3(14) of ERISA) or any "disqualified
person" (as defined in Section 4975 of the Code) with respect to any such
Company Plan, has engaged in a non-exempt "prohibited transaction" within the
meaning of Section 4975 of the Code or Section 406 of ERISA;

            (h) (i) no Company Plan that is a "welfare benefit plan" as defined
in Section 3(1) of ERISA provides for continuing benefits or coverage for any
participant or beneficiary or covered dependent of a participant after such
participant's termination of employment, except to the extent required by law;
(ii) there has been no violation of Section 4980B of the Code or Sections 601
through 608 of ERISA with respect to any such Plan that could result in any
material liability; (iii) no such Company Plans are "multiple employer welfare
arrangements" within the meaning of Section 3(40) of ERISA; and (iv) all Company
Plans which provide medical, dental health or long-term disability benefits are
fully insured and claims with respect to any participant or covered dependent
under such Company Plan could not result in any uninsured liability to the
Company (or the Surviving Corporation following the Merger), any of its
Subsidiaries or Inveresk or any of its subsidiaries or Affiliates (including
Acquisition);

            (i) with respect to each such Company Plan, true, correct, and
complete copies of the applicable following documents have been delivered or
made available to Inveresk: (i) all current Company Plan documents and related
trust documents, and any amendment thereto; (ii) Forms 5500, to the extent
applicable, financial statements and actuarial reports for the last three Plan
years; (iii) the most recently issued Internal Revenue Service determination
letter; and (iv) summary plan descriptions and all summaries of material
modifications thereto;

                                       21





            (j) Without limiting any other provision of this Section 3.18, no
event has occurred and no condition exists, with respect to any Plan, that has
subjected or could subject Inveresk, Acquisition, the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries, or any of their respective Affiliates or any Company Plan or any
successor thereto, to any tax, fine, penalty or other liability (other than, in
the case of the Company, any Subsidiary and the Company Plans, a liability
arising in the normal course to make contributions or payments, as applicable,
when ordinarily due under a Company Plan with respect to employees of the
Company and its Subsidiaries). No Plan other than a Company Plan is or will be
directly or indirectly binding on Inveresk or any of its Affiliates by virtue of
the transactions contemplated hereby. Inveresk, and its Affiliates, including on
and after the Closing, the Company and its Subsidiaries, shall have no liability
for, under, with respect to or otherwise in connection with any Plan other than
a Company Plan, which liability arises under ERISA or the Code, by virtue of the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries being aggregated in a controlled group or
affiliated service group with any ERISA Affiliate for purposes of ERISA or the
Code at any relevant time prior to the Closing. No Plan exists which could
result in the payment of money or any other property or rights, or accelerate or
provide any other rights or benefits, to any current or former employee of the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries (or other current or former service provider
thereto) that would not have been required but for the transactions provided for
herein, and none of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, nor any of their
respective Affiliates, is a party to any Plan, program, arrangement or
understanding that would result, separately or in the aggregate, in the payment
(whether in connection with any termination of employment or otherwise) of any
"excess parachute payment" within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code with
respect to a current or former employee of, or current or former independent
contractor to, any of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. Each Company Plan
may be amended and terminated in accordance with its terms, and, each such Plan
provides for the unrestricted right of the Company or a Subsidiary (as
applicable) to amend or terminate such Plan. Neither the Company, any of its
Subsidiaries, Inveresk or any of their respective Affiliates will have any
liability under the Workers Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, as
amended, with respect to any events occurring or conditions existing on or prior
to Closing.

            (k) The representations and warranties in this Section 3.18 and
Section 3.19 are the sole and exclusive representations and warranties made by
the Company with respect to the Company Plans and ERISA matters.

      3.19. Employee Compensation.


            (a) Section 3.19 of the Company Disclosure Schedule contains a true,
correct and complete list of (i) the titles and current annual salary rates of
all present officers, employees and other individuals who perform services for
the Company or any Subsidiary ("Employees") and (ii) the bonuses paid or payable
with respect to 2002 or any portion of 2003 to all employees who received annual
compensation in 2002 in excess of $100,000.

            (b) Except as set forth on Section 3.12(xv) and Section 3.18 of the
Company Disclosure Schedule, neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has any
employment Contract (other than standard offer letters issued by the Company in
the ordinary course of business pursuant to which the applicable employee may be
terminated at any time by the Company without any payment or other continuing
obligation other than applicable notice periods in France and Spain) with, or
maintains any employee benefit plan (within the meaning of Section 3(3) of
ERISA) with respect to, any of its Employees.

      3.20. Employees and Labor Controversies.

            (a) (i) The Company and each of its Subsidiaries has complied in all
material respects with all applicable laws, rules and regulations respecting
employment and employment practices, terms and conditions of employment, wages
and hours, and neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is liable


                                       22

for any arrears of wages or any taxes or penalties for failure to comply with
any such laws, rules or regulations; (ii) the Company believes that its
relations with each of its employees is satisfactory; (iii) there are no
material controversies pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened
between the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and any of their respective
employees; (iv) neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is a party to any
collective bargaining agreement or other labor union contract applicable to
persons employed by the Company or such Subsidiary, nor are there any activities
or proceedings of any labor union to organize any such employees; (v) there are
no unfair labor practice complaints pending or, to the knowledge of the Company,
threatened against the Company or any Subsidiary before the National Labor
Relations Board or any current union representation questions involving
employees of the Company or any Subsidiary; (vi) there is no strike, slowdown,
work stoppage or lockout existing, or, to the knowledge of the Company,
threatened, by or with respect to any employees of the Company or any
Subsidiary; (vii) no charges are pending or, to the knowledge of the Company,
threatened before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission or any state,
local or foreign agency responsible for the prevention of unlawful employment
practices with respect to the Company or any Subsidiary; (viii) there are no
claims pending against the Company or any Subsidiary before any workers'
compensation board; and (ix) neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has received
notice that any federal, state, local or foreign agency responsible for the
enforcement of labor or employment laws intends to conduct an investigation of
or relating to the Company or any Subsidiary and no such investigation is in
progress.

            (b) Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary have any obligation to
provide those Persons listed as consultants, contractors or individuals other
than employees who have performed services for the Company or any Subsidiary on
Section 3.19 of the Company Disclosure Schedule with benefits under any Plan,
nor does the Company or any Subsidiary have any obligation to provide such
Persons with any life insurance or medical benefits except as required under
applicable law, or any additional compensation, whether pursuant to a Plan or
otherwise.

            (c) The Company and each Subsidiary have properly classified for all
purposes (including, without limitation, for all Tax purposes and for purposes
of determining eligibility to participate in any employee benefit plan) all
employees, leased employees, consultants and independent contractors, and has
withheld and paid all applicable Taxes and made all appropriate filings in
connection with services provided by such persons to the Company and each
Subsidiary.

      3.21. Environmental Laws. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is in
violation of, or is delinquent with respect to, any decree, order or arbitration
award or law, statute or regulation of or agreement with, or any license or
permit from, any governmental, regulatory or administrative authority to which
it or its assets, properties, personnel or business are subject and which
relates to the environment including, without limitation, Environmental Laws.
Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has knowledge of any circumstances or
conditions existing that may prevent or interfere with such compliance in the
future. The Company and each Subsidiary has obtained all material permits,
licenses and other authorizations required under Environmental Laws and warrants
that such permits, licenses and authorizations are current. There is no
Environmental Claim pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened
against the Company or any Subsidiary. To the knowledge of the Company, there
are no past or present actions, activities, circumstances, conditions, events or
incidents, including, without limitation, the release, emission, discharge,
storage, transportation, generation, presence or disposal by the Company of any
pollutant, contaminant, waste, asbestos, toxic substance, hazardous substance or
petroleum product that could form the basis of any Environmental Claim against
the Company or any Subsidiary. There exist no surveys, reports, assessments,
audits, evaluations or other documents relating to the presence, migration or
disposal of any pollutant, contaminant, waste, asbestos, toxic substance,
hazardous substance or petroleum product, prepared for or at the request of the
Company.


                                       23

      The representations and warranties in this Section 3.21 are the sole and
exclusive representations and warranties made by the Company with respect to
environmental matters, Environmental Laws and Environmental Claims.

      3.22. Insurance. The Company previously has delivered to Inveresk a
complete and accurate list of all liability, property, workers' compensation,
directors' and officers' liability, "key man" life and other insurance policies
in effect that are owned by the Company or any Subsidiary, or under which the
Company or any Subsidiary is a named insured. Those policies and the coverage
thereunder are in full force and effect.

      3.23. Bank Accounts, Letters of Credit and Powers of Attorney. Section
3.23 of the Company Disclosure Schedule contains a complete and accurate list of
(a) all bank accounts, lock boxes and safe deposit boxes relating to the
business and operations of each of the Company and its Subsidiaries (including
the name of the bank or other institution where such account or box is located
and the name of each authorized signatory thereto), (b) all outstanding letters
of credit issued by financial institutions for the account of the Company and
each Subsidiary (setting forth, in each case, the financial institution issuing
such letter of credit, the maximum amount available under such letter of credit,
the terms (including the expiration date) of such letter of credit and the party
or parties in whose favor such letter of credit was issued), and (c) the name
and address of each Person who has a power of attorney to act on behalf of the
Company or any Subsidiary. The Company has heretofore delivered or made
available to Inveresk true, correct and complete copies of each letter of credit
and each power of attorney described on Section 3.23 of the Company Disclosure
Schedule.

      3.24. Transactions with Affiliates. Except for transactions for
compensation of employees, no officer, director, stockholder or Affiliate of the
Company or, to the Company's knowledge, any individual in such officer's,
director's or stockholder's immediate family is a party to any agreement,
contract, commitment or transaction with the Company or any Subsidiary which
involved the payment, or receipt, in the aggregate, of more than $50,000 or has
any material interest in any material property used by the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries.

      3.25. Vote Required The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of
the outstanding shares of Class A Preferred Stock and Common Stock, voting
together as a single class, is the only vote of any class or series of Company
Capital Stock or any debt instrument issued by the Company necessary to adopt
this Agreement and approve the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by
this Agreement.

      3.26. Consent Solicitation; Merger Materials. The information contained in
the stockholders disclosure materials to be delivered to the Company's
stockholders in connection with the solicitation of proxies or consents for the
adoption of this Agreement and the approval of the transactions contemplated
hereby, and the form of proxy included therein, true and complete copies of
which have been or will be furnished to Inveresk prior to their delivery to
stockholders, at the date they are delivered to stockholders and at the date of
the meeting of stockholders in connection therewith (or, if the action is taken
by written consent, on the date the action first becomes effective) will not
contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements
therein not misleading.

      3.27. No Adverse Development. There is no fact, circumstance or
development known to the Company which the Company has not disclosed to Inveresk
in writing which has had or could have a Material Adverse Effect (other than
those pertaining to the economy as a whole or the Company's industry generally
and not specifically to the Company).


                                       24

      3.28. Brokers. Except for the fees and expenses of William Blair & Company
LLC (the "Brokerage Expenses") (which shall be paid at the Closing on behalf of
the Stockholders and Optionholders pursuant to Section 2.3(h) and taken into
account as a deduction in determining the Closing Residual Cash Consideration),
all negotiations relative to this Agreement and the transactions contemplated
hereby have been carried out by the Company directly with Inveresk and
Acquisition without the intervention of any Person on behalf of the Company in
such manner as to give rise to any valid claim by any Person against Inveresk,
Acquisition, the Company or any Subsidiary for a finder's fee, brokerage
commission or similar payment.

4. Representations and Warranties of Inveresk and Acquisition. Inveresk and
Acquisition each represents and warrants, jointly and severally, to the Company
as follows:

      4.1. Organization. Each of Inveresk and Acquisition is a corporation duly
organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of
Delaware, and has all requisite corporate power and authority to enter into and
perform this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby to be performed
by it.

      4.2. Corporate Authority. Each of Inveresk and Acquisition has full
corporate power and authority to execute, deliver and perform this Agreement.
The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by Inveresk and
Acquisition have been duly authorized and approved by all necessary corporate
action and, except for the filing of the Certificate of Merger pursuant to the
DGCL, no other corporate proceedings on the part of either Inveresk or
Acquisition is necessary to authorize this Agreement and the transactions
contemplated hereby. This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and
delivered by each of Inveresk and Acquisition and is the legal, valid and
binding obligation of each of Inveresk and Acquisition enforceable in accordance
with its terms, except as enforceability may be limited by applicable
bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting the
enforcement of creditors rights generally and by the effect of general
principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is considered in a
proceeding in equity or at law).

      4.3. No Conflicts; Governmental Requirements.

            (a) The execution, delivery and performance by each of Inveresk and
Acquisition of this Agreement and the consummation of the Merger do not, and
will not, (i) violate or conflict with any provision of the Certificate of
Incorporation or By-Laws of either Inveresk or Acquisition; (ii) violate any
law, rule, regulation, order, writ, injunction, judgement or decree of any
court, governmental authority or regulatory authority; or (iii) result in a
violation or breach of, or constitute (with or without due notice or lapse of
time or both) a default (or give rise to any right of termination, cancellation
or acceleration), or require any consent, approval or notice under, any note,
bond, indenture, license, lien, franchise, mortgage, contract, lease permit,
guaranty or other agreement, instrument or obligation to which Inveresk or
Acquisition is a party or by which any of their respective assets or properties
may be bound, except for such violations, breaches or defaults which will not
materially impair Inveresk's or Acquisition's ability to consummate the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

            (b) Except for (i) the filing of the Certificate of Merger pursuant
to the DGCL and (ii) any other consents, approvals, authorizations, permissions,
notices or filings which if not obtained or made would not (individually or in
the aggregate) materially impair Inveresk's ability to consummate the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, the execution and delivery of this
Agreement by each of Inveresk and Acquisition does not and the performance by
each of them of this Agreement will not, require any consent, approval,
authorization or permission of, or filing with or notification to, any
governmental or regulatory authority, domestic or foreign, or any other Person.


                                       25

      4.4. Litigation.

            (a) Neither Inveresk nor Acquisition is a party to any suit, action,
arbitration or legal, administrative, governmental or other proceeding or
investigation pending or to the knowledge of Inveresk and Acquisition
threatened, which could materially impair its ability to consummate the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement or to perform its obligations
hereunder.

            (b) There is no judgment, order, writ, injunction or decree of any
court, governmental agency or arbitration tribunal to which Inveresk or
Acquisition is subject which could materially impair its ability to consummate
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or to perform its obligations
hereunder.

      4.5. Brokers. All negotiations relative to this Agreement and the
transactions contemplated hereby have been carried out by Inveresk directly with
the Company without the intervention of any Person on behalf of Inveresk in such
manner as to give rise to any valid claim by any Person against Inveresk,
Acquisition, the Company or any Subsidiary for a finder's fee, brokerage
commission or similar payment.

5. Covenants and Additional Agreements.

      5.1. Access to Books and Records. From and after the Closing, Inveresk
shall, and shall cause the Company to, provide the Stockholders' Representative
(on behalf of the Stockholders and the Optionholders) and its agents with
reasonable access (for the purpose of examining and copying), during normal
business hours, to the books and records of the Company and its Subsidiaries
with respect to periods or occurrences prior to the Closing Date. Unless
otherwise consented to in writing by the Stockholders' Representative, neither
Inveresk nor the Company shall, for a period of seven years following the
Closing Date, destroy, alter or otherwise dispose of any of the material books
and records of the Company for any period prior to the Closing Date without
first offering to surrender to the Stockholders' Representative (on behalf of
the Stockholders and the Optionholders) such books and records or any portion
thereof which Inveresk or the Company may intend to destroy, alter or dispose
of.

      5.2. Certain Accruals. Following the Closing, Inveresk agrees that it
shall, or shall cause the Surviving Corporation to, pay to or on behalf of the
employees of the Company and its Subsidiaries prior to December 31, 2003 any
amounts which were accrued as of the Closing and reflected in the calculation of
Closing Liquid Net Worth and which relate to employee bonuses, 401(k) matching
contributions, and similar items. A trues, correct and complete list of all such
amounts is set forth on Schedule 5.2 of this Agreement.

6. Survival; Indemnification; Tax Matters.

      6.1. Survival. All the representations and warranties of the Company
contained in Section 3 of this Agreement shall survive the Closing and shall
remain operative and in full force and effect until April 30, 2005 (such period
being referred to as the "Escrow Indemnity Period"), regardless of any
investigation or statement as to the results thereof made by or on behalf of any
Person before or after the Closing. No claim for indemnification may be asserted
after the expiration of the Escrow Indemnity Period. Notwithstanding anything
herein to the contrary, any representation or warranty which is the subject of a
claim which is asserted in writing prior to the expiration of the Escrow
Indemnity Period shall survive with respect to such claim or any dispute with
respect thereto until the final resolution thereof.

      6.2. Indemnification of Inveresk and Related Parties.


                                       26

            (a) Subject to the limitations set forth herein, Inveresk, its
employees, agents, directors, officers, subsidiaries and its affiliates and the
employees, agents, directors, officers and subsidiaries of its Affiliates
(including the Surviving Corporation following the Effective Time) (the
"Indemnified Parties") shall be indemnified and held harmless from and against
any and all damages (excluding consequential, punitive, special and incidental
damages, other than any consequential, punitive, special or incidental damages
owing to unrelated third parties by an Indemnified Party), claims, losses
(including loss of value), expenses, costs, obligations and liabilities,
including, without limitation, liabilities for all reasonable attorneys',
accountants', and experts' fees and expenses including those incurred to enforce
the terms of this Agreement or any Collateral Document (collectively, "Losses"),
asserted against, or paid, suffered or incurred by any Indemnified Party which
directly or indirectly, arise out of, result from, are based upon or relate to:
(i) the inaccuracy, as of the date of this Agreement or the Effective Time, of
any representation or warranty made by the Company in this Agreement (other than
Section 3.17 which shall be dealt with exclusively in Section 6.8 below) or any
failure by the Company to perform or fulfill any of its covenants or agreements
required to be performed prior to the Closing under this Agreement; provided,
however, that if any such representation or warranty (other than those
representations and warranties contained in Section 3.7(b), Section 3.9(a) and
the first sentence of Section 3.12(b)) is qualified in any respect by
materiality or Material Adverse Effect, for purposes of this paragraph such
materiality or Material Adverse Effect qualification will in all respects be
ignored; (ii) the items set forth on Schedule 6.2(a)(ii) to this Agreement; and
(iii) without duplication of any amounts paid to Inveresk pursuant to Section
2.2(d)(i), the amount by which the Closing Liquid Net Worth Adjustment to be
delivered to Inveresk, if any, is greater than the Adjustment Amount.

            (b) Subject to the other limitations herein, after the Closing, the
Indemnified Parties' rights to indemnification under this Section 6.2 shall be
subject to the following limitations: (i) in no event shall the aggregate amount
to be paid to the Indemnified Parties under Section 6.2 and Section 6.8 exceed
the amount held from time to time in the Escrow Fund and (ii) the Indemnified
Parties shall be entitled to recover any Loss otherwise recoverable pursuant to
Section 6.2(a)(i) and Section 6.2(a)(ii) only if the aggregate of Losses
otherwise recoverable pursuant to such Section exceeds $100,000 in the aggregate
and then only for Losses in excess of such amount; provided that where the
aggregate amount of Losses arising out of a claim or series of related claims of
a breach of a representation or warranty does not exceed $5,000, such claim or
series of related claims shall not count as Losses for purposes of the
indemnification provisions hereunder. For purposes of clarification, the
limitations set forth in subclause (ii) of this Section 6.2(b) shall not apply
to any claim for indemnification made pursuant to Section 6.2(a)(iii) or Section
6.8(b).

            (c) Subject to the other limitations herein, the funds on deposit
with the Escrow Agent from time to time pursuant to the Escrow Agreement shall
be the sole source for payment of any indemnification obligation contained in
this Section 6.2, Section 6.8 and, if applicable, any payment obligation arising
under Section 2.2(d)(i); none of the Stockholders or Optionholders shall have
any personal liability with respect thereto; and none of the Indemnified Parties
shall have any recourse against any of the Stockholders or Optionholders with
respect thereto. Notwithstanding any implication to the contrary contained in
this Agreement, the limits on indemnification set forth in this Agreement shall
not apply to claims arising from common law fraud. The foregoing sentence is
merely a recognition of the law of State of Delaware and shall not be deemed to
expand in any way the rights the parties have under Delaware law.

            (d) The Indemnified Parties shall take all reasonable steps required
by applicable law to mitigate all indemnifiable liabilities and damages, upon
and after becoming aware of any event which could reasonably be expected to give
rise to any liabilities or damages that are indemnifiable hereunder. The
foregoing sentence is merely a recognition of the law of State of Delaware and
shall not be deemed to expand in any way the rights the parties have under
Delaware law.


                                       27

            (e) If an indemnification obligation under this Section 6.2 arises
in respect of any indemnifiable event (i) for which an Indemnified Party
receives indemnification hereunder and (ii) which results in any Tax benefit to
such Indemnified Party for any taxable period (or portion thereof) beginning and
ending after the Closing Date which would not, but for such indemnifiable event,
be available, such Indemnified Party shall pay, or shall cause to be paid, to
the Stockholders' Representative (on behalf of the Stockholders and
Optionholders) an amount equal to the actual Tax saving produced by such Tax
benefit. Tax benefits shall be taken into account as and when actually received.
The amount of any such Tax benefits for any taxable period shall be the amount
of the reduction in Taxes payable to a Tax authority by such Indemnified Party
with respect to such Tax period as compared to the Taxes that would have been
payable to a Tax authority by such Indemnified Party with respect to such Tax
period in the absence of such Tax benefit. If any adjustments are made to any
Tax Return relating to an Indemnified Party for any taxable period as a result
of or in settlement of any audit, other administrative proceeding or judicial
proceeding or as the result of the filing of an amended return to reflect the
consequences of any determination made in connection with any such audit or
proceeding and if such adjustment results in any change in the amount of any Tax
benefit to an Indemnified Party, appropriate payments, notwithstanding Section
6.1 but consistent with this Section and subject to Section 6.7, will be made to
the Indemnified Parties or Stockholder's Representative (on behalf of the
Stockholders and Optionholders) to properly reflect such adjustment amount.

            (f) Any payment made to a Indemnified Party pursuant to Section
6.2(a) in respect of any indemnifiable event shall be net of any insurance
proceeds realized by and paid to such Indemnified Party in respect of such
claim. Such Indemnified Party shall use its reasonable efforts to make insurance
claims relating to any indemnifiable event for which it is seeking
indemnification pursuant to Section 6.2(a); provided that such Indemnified Party
shall not be obligated to make such an insurance claim if the cost of pursuing
such an insurance claim together with any corresponding increase in insurance
premiums or other chargebacks to such Indemnified Party, as the case may be,
would exceed the value of the claim for which such Indemnified Party is seeking
indemnification.

      6.3. Indemnification of Selling Parties.

            (a) The Stockholders and Optionholders and each of their employees,
agents, directors, officers, subsidiaries and its affiliates and the employees,
agents, directors, officers and subsidiaries of their Affiliates (the "Selling
Indemnified Parties") shall be indemnified by Inveresk and held harmless from
and against any and all Losses asserted against, or paid, suffered or incurred
by any Selling Indemnified Party which arise out of, result from, are based upon
or relate to: (i) the inaccuracy, as of the date of this Agreement or the
Effective Time, of any representation or warranty made by Inveresk or
Acquisition in this Agreement or any failure by Inveresk or Acquisition to
perform or fulfill any of its covenants or agreements required to be performed
prior to the Closing under this Agreement; provided, however, that if any such
representation or warranty is qualified in any respect by materiality or
Material Adverse Effect, for purposes of this paragraph such materiality or
Material Adverse Effect qualification will in all respects be ignored and (ii)
without duplication of any amounts paid to the Stockholders' Representative (on
behalf of the Stockholders and Optionholders) pursuant to Section 2.2(d)(ii)(y),
the amount by which the Closing Liquid Net Worth Adjustment to be delivered to
the Stockholders' Representative (on behalf of the Stockholders and
Optionholders), if any, is greater than the Adjustment Amount.

            (b) Subject to the other limitations herein, after the Closing, the
Selling Indemnified Parties' rights to indemnification under this Section 6.3
shall be subject to the following limitations: (i) in no event shall the
aggregate amount to be paid to the Selling Indemnified Parties under Section 6.3
exceed the amount held from time to time in the Escrow Fund and (ii) the Selling
Indemnified Parties shall be entitled to recover any Loss otherwise recoverable
pursuant to this Section 6.3(a)(i) only if the


                                       28

aggregate of Losses otherwise recoverable pursuant to such Section exceeds
$100,000 in the aggregate and then only for Losses in excess of such amount;
provided that where the aggregate amount of Losses arising out of a claim or
series of related claims of a breach of a representation or warranty does not
exceed $5,000, such claim or series of related claims shall not count as Losses
for purposes of the indemnification provisions hereunder. For purposes of
clarification, the limitations set forth in subclause (ii) of this Section
6.3(b) shall not apply to any claim for indemnification made pursuant to Section
6.3(a)(ii). Notwithstanding any implication to the contrary contained in this
Agreement, the limits on indemnification set forth in this Agreement shall not
apply to claims arising from common law fraud. The foregoing sentence is merely
a recognition of the law of State of Delaware and shall not be deemed to expand
in any way the rights the parties have under Delaware law.

            (c) The Selling Indemnified Parties shall take all reasonable steps
required by applicable law to mitigate all indemnifiable liabilities and damages
upon and after becoming aware of any event which could reasonably be expected to
give rise to any liabilities or damages that are indemnifiable hereunder. The
foregoing sentence is merely a recognition of the law of State of Delaware and
shall not be deemed to expand in any way the rights the parties have under
Delaware law.

      6.4. Notice of Claims. If any of the Indemnified Parties believes that it
has suffered or incurred any Loss, it shall notify the Escrow Agent and the
Stockholders' Representative promptly in writing (at the addresses set forth
herein), and in any event within the applicable time period specified in Section
6.1, describing such Loss, all with reasonable particularity and containing a
reference to the provisions of this Agreement in respect of which such Loss
shall have occurred. If any legal action is instituted by a third party with
respect to which any of the Indemnified Parties intend to claim indemnity under
this Section, such Indemnified Party shall promptly give written notice thereof
(a "Claim Notice") to notify the Escrow Agent and the Stockholders'
Representative of such legal action. In any event, a failure or delay in
notifying the Escrow Agent and the Stockholders' Representative shall not affect
the Indemnified Party's right to indemnity, except only to the extent such
failure or delay materially and adversely prejudices the ability to defend
against any legal action.

      6.5. Defense of Third Party Claims.

            (a) Because the right to indemnity is limited as provided herein,
the Indemnified Parties shall have the right to conduct and control, through
counsel of their own choosing, reasonably acceptable to the Stockholders'
Representative, any third party legal action or other claim, but the
Stockholders' Representative may, at its election participate in the defense
thereof at its sole cost and expense; provided, however, that if the Indemnified
Parties shall fail to defend any such legal action or other claim, then the
Stockholders' Representative may defend, through counsel of its own choosing,
such legal action or other claim, and so long as it gives Inveresk at least 15
days' notice of the terms of the proposed settlement thereof and permits
Inveresk to then undertake the defense thereof, except as set forth below,
settle such legal action or other claim and recover out of the Indemnity Amount
the amount of such settlement or of any judgment and the costs and expenses of
such defense. Neither Inveresk nor the Stockholders' Representative shall
compromise or settle any such legal action or other claim without the prior
written consent of the other, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld,
except that under no circumstances shall Inveresk be required to consent to the
entry of an order for injunctive or other non-monetary relief. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, the Stockholders' Representative may, at its option, continue to
conduct and control the litigation disclosed on Schedule 6.2(a)(ii) of this
Agreement; provided, that Inveresk may, at its election participate in the
defense thereof at its sole cost and expense; and, provided further that if the
Stockholders' Representative shall fail to defend any such legal action or other
claim, then Inveresk may defend, through counsel of its own choosing, such legal
action or other claim, and so long as it gives the Stockholders' Representative
at least 15 days' notice of the terms of the proposed settlement thereof and
permits the Stockholders' Representative to then undertake the defense


                                       29

thereof, except as set forth above, settle such legal action or other claim and
recover out of the Indemnity Amount the amount of such settlement or of any
judgment and the costs and expenses of such defense.

            (b) All costs and expenses reasonably incurred in defending any
third party legal action or other claim that is the subject of a right to
indemnity under Section 6.2, including the amount of any settlement or of any
judgment, shall be paid out of the Indemnity Amount.

      6.6. Dispute Resolution: Negotiation and Arbitration.

            (a) The Parties shall attempt to resolve any dispute arising out of
or relating to this Agreement promptly by negotiation in good faith between the
Parties. Any Party shall give any other Party written notice of any dispute not
resolved in the ordinary course of business. Within seven calendar days after
delivery of such notice, the Party receiving notice shall submit to the other a
written response thereto. The notice and the response shall include: (i) a
statement of each Party's position(s) regarding the matter(s) in dispute and a
summary of arguments in support thereof, and (ii) the name of the Person who
will represent that Party and any other Person who will accompany that Person.

            (b) Within 14 calendar days after delivery of the notice, the
designated individuals shall meet at a mutually acceptable time and place, and
thereafter, as often as they reasonably deem necessary, to attempt to resolve
the dispute. All reasonable requests for information made by one Party to any
other shall be honored in a timely fashion. All negotiations conducted pursuant
to this Section 6.6 (and any of the Parties' submissions in contemplation
hereof) shall be kept confidential by the Parties and shall be treated by the
Parties and their representatives as compromise and settlement negotiations
under the Federal Rules of Evidence and any similar state rules.

            (c) If the matter in dispute has not been resolved within 30
calendar days after delivery of the notice, either Party (the "claimant") may
submit the dispute to binding arbitration to any New York office of the American
Arbitration Association ("AAA") in accordance with the procedures set forth in
the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the AAA then in effect.

            (d) The Commercial Arbitration Rules of the AAA then in effect shall
govern any arbitration proceeding hereunder. The arbitration shall be conducted
by three arbitrators selected pursuant to Rule 13 of the Commercial Arbitration
Rules, and prehearing discovery shall be permitted if and only to the extent
determined by the arbitrator to be necessary in order to effectuate resolution
of the matter in dispute. The arbitrator's decision shall be rendered within 30
calendar days of the conclusion of any hearing hereunder and the arbitrator's
judgment and award may be entered and enforced in any court of competent
jurisdiction.

            (e) Resolution of disputes under the procedures of this Section 6.6
shall be the sole and exclusive means of resolving disputes arising out of or
relating to this Agreement other than for common law fraud; provided, however,
that nothing herein shall preclude the Parties from seeking in any court of
competent jurisdiction temporary or interim injunctive relief to the extent
necessary to preserve the subject matter of the dispute pending resolution under
this Section 6.6.

      6.7. Exclusivity of Remedy. The indemnification provided in this Section 6
shall be the sole and exclusive remedy available following the Closing to the
Indemnified Parties and Selling Indemnified Parties for any claim arising under
this Agreement or otherwise relating to the Merger, absent common law fraud. The
foregoing qualification is merely a recognition of the law of State of Delaware
and shall not be deemed to expand in any way the rights the parties have under
Delaware law.

      6.8. Post Closing Tax Matters.


                                       30

            (a) Inveresk shall prepare and timely file all Tax Returns of the
Company and its Subsidiaries for the Straddle Period and all pre-Closing periods
which Tax Returns have not been filed as of the Closing Date. Inveresk shall pay
and discharge all Taxes shown to be due on such Tax Returns. For purposes of
this Agreement, the amount of Taxes of the Company and its Subsidiaries
attributable to the pre-Closing portion of any taxable period beginning before
and ending after the Closing Date (the "Straddle Period") shall be determined
based upon a hypothetical closing of the taxable year on such Closing Date with
the Closing Date being included in the pre-Closing portion of such Straddle
Period (except to the extent of any extraordinary actions taken by Inveresk
after the Closing on the Closing Date); provided, however, real and personal
property Taxes (which are not based on income) shall be determined by reference
to the relative number of days in the pre-Closing and post-Closing portions of
such Straddle Period. All Tax Returns for the Straddle Period and all
pre-Closing periods which Tax Returns have not been filed as of the Closing Date
shall be prepared in a manner consistent with prior practice, except as required
by changes in applicable law. Inveresk shall deliver each such Tax Return it
prepares or causes to be prepared pursuant to this Section 6.8 to the
Stockholder's Representative at least 15 days prior to filing, and shall permit
the Stockholder's Representative to review and comment on each such Tax Return
prior to its filing by Inveresk, and Inveresk shall make such revisions to such
Tax Returns as are reasonably requested by Stockholder's Representative.

            (b) Subject to the limitations set forth in Sections 6.1 and
6.2(b)(i), the Indemnified Parties shall be indemnified and held harmless from
and against any and all Losses asserted against, or paid, suffered or incurred
by any Indemnified Party which, directly or indirectly, arise out of, result
from, are based upon or relate to (i) the inaccuracy, as of the date of this
Agreement or the Effective Time of any representation or warranty made in
Section 3.17 or any failure by the Company or the Stockholders' Representative
to perform or fulfill any of their respective covenants or agreements in this
Section 6.8; provided, however, that for purposes of this paragraph all
materiality and Material Adverse Effect qualifiers contained in Section 3.17
will in all respects be ignored; (ii) all Taxes imposed on the Company and any
of its Subsidiaries or asserted against the properties, income or operations of
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries for any taxable period of the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries or portion thereof ending on or prior to the Closing
Date including the pre-Closing portion of any Straddle Period (except to the
extent otherwise paid by the Company before Closing or taken into account in
calculating the Closing Liquid Net Worth); and (iii) Taxes of another Person
claimed from the Company or any of its Subsidiaries as a result of any of the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries being included prior to the Closing Date in a
combined, consolidated or unitary tax group under Treasury Regulations Section
1.1502-6 (or any similar provision of state, local or foreign law) or, as a
transferee or successor, by contract or otherwise.

            (c) Inveresk shall notify the Stockholders' Representative in
writing within 30 calendar days of receipt of written notice by it or the
Company or any Subsidiary of any pending or threatened Tax examination, audit or
other administrative or judicial proceeding (a "Tax Contest") that could
reasonably be expected to result in an indemnification obligation under this
Section 6.8 relating to Taxes. If the recipient of such notice of a Tax Contest
fails to provide such notice to the other party, it shall not affect the
Indemnified Party's right to indemnification except to the extent, if any, that
such failure or delay shall have adversely affected the indemnifying party's
ability to defend against, settle, or satisfy any action, suit or proceeding
against it, or any damage, loss, claim or demand for which the indemnified party
is entitled to indemnification hereunder. If a Tax Contest relates to any
pre-Closing period (or to any Taxes) for which the Stockholders and
Optionholders are liable hereunder, the Stockholders' Representative shall at
its own expense control the defense and settlement of such Tax Contest. If the
Stockholders' Representative does not assume the defense of any such proceeding,
the Indemnified Party may defend the matter in a manner it considers appropriate
including settling such contest. If such Tax Contest relates to any Taxes for
which Inveresk is liable in full hereunder, Inveresk shall at its own expense
control the defense and settlement of such Tax Contest. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, the


                                       31

Stockholders' Representative shall not agree (unless required by law) to any
settlement concerning Taxes for a pre-Closing period which may adversely impact
Inveresk, the Surviving Corporation (following the Effective Time) or any of its
Subsidiaries for a post-Closing period or the Tax attributes of the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries without the prior written consent of Inveresk, which
consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. Inveresk shall have the right to be
kept fully informed of any material developments and receive copies of all
correspondence and shall have the right to observe the conduct of any Tax
Contest (through attendance at meetings) at its own expense, including through
its own counsel and other professional experts. Inveresk and the Stockholders
and Optionholders (through the Stockholders' Representative) shall jointly
represent and control the Company and its Subsidiaries in any Tax Contest
relating to a Straddle Period, and fees and expenses related to such
representation shall be paid proportionately by Inveresk and the Stockholders'
Representative on behalf of the Stockholders and Optionholders of the Company.

            (d) The Stockholders' Representative, the Company and its
Subsidiaries, and Inveresk agree to furnish or cause to be furnished to the
other parties, upon request and as promptly as practicable, such information and
assistance (including access to books and records) as is reasonably necessary
for preparation of any return, claim for refund or audit, and the prosecution or
defense of any claim, suit or proceeding relating to the Company's and its
Subsidiaries' Tax liability. The requesting party shall bear all reasonable
out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred by the other party hereto in providing
such assistance. The Stockholders' Representative shall retain copies of all Tax
Returns, schedules, workpapers, records and other documents in its possession
relating to Tax matters with respect to the Company and its Subsidiaries for
periods or portions thereof before the Closing Date until 60 days after the
expiration of the applicable statute of limitations with respect to such Tax
matters.

            (e) Any refunds of Tax or credits against Tax or similar benefit
(including any interest or similar benefit) received or actually utilized by
Inveresk or the Company and its Subsidiaries before the end of the Escrow
Indemnity Period (a "Tax Benefit") with respect to any pre-Closing Period or the
portion of any Straddle Period that ends on and includes the Closing Date, shall
be for the account of the Stockholders, and Inveresk shall, or shall cause the
Surviving Corporation to, pay to the Stockholder's Representative (for the
benefit of the Stockholders) within five business days after Inveresk, the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries receives or becomes entitled to any such Tax
Benefit. The foregoing shall not apply to the extent the Tax has been paid by
Inveresk, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries after Closing and such Tax has
not otherwise been indemnified by the Stockholders.

            (f) Unless required by law, Inveresk shall not, and shall not cause
the Company and each of its Subsidiaries to, amend any Tax Return or make or
revoke any Tax election with respect to a pre-Closing period without the consent
of the Stockholders' Representative, which consent shall not be unreasonably
withheld.

            (g) For the portion of the day of the Closing after the time of
Closing, other than the transactions expressly contemplated hereby, Inveresk
shall cause the Company and each of its Subsidiaries to carry on its business
only in the ordinary course in the same manner as heretofore conducted.

            (h) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement,
absent common law fraud, the Company and Inveresk hereby acknowledge and agree
that the sole and exclusive remedy with respect to any and all claims relating
to Taxes shall be pursuant to the provisions set forth in this Section 6.8
including any claim resulting from a breach or inaccuracy of representations and
warranties of the Company relating to Taxes, and to the extent there is any
conflict between provisions of Section 6.8 and provisions of other Sections of
the Agreement with respect to issues or claims relating to Taxes, the provisions
of this Section 6.8 shall control.


                                       32

            (i) The Surviving Corporation shall be responsible for the filing of
Tax Returns and the payment of all Taxes (including any documentation) with
respect to all transfer, documentation, sales, use, stamp, registration, and
similar Taxes in connection with this Agreement and any transaction or document
contemplated hereby.

            (j) To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Parties agree
that any indemnification payments (and/or payments or adjustments) made with
respect to this Agreement shall be treated for all Tax purposes as adjustments
to the Transaction Price.

7. Fees and Expenses.

      7.1. Expenses. Each party to this Agreement shall pay its own expenses
incidental to the preparation of this Agreement, the carrying out of the
provisions of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby (collectively, the "Transaction Expenses"). In addition, the
unpaid fees and expenses of all brokers, investment bankers, financial advisors,
attorneys and accountants engaged in connection with the preparation and
negotiation of this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby and whose
compensation is payable by or on behalf of the Company or by Stockholders and
Optionholders shall be reflected on invoices (the "Invoices") submitted to
Inveresk on or prior to the Closing Date, which Invoices shall include
confirmation that no further compensation beyond the amount reflected in the
Invoice is or will be payable by or on behalf of the Stockholders and
Optionholders, by the Company, or by the Surviving Corporation, as successor to
the Company. Pursuant to Section 2.3, the Transaction Expenses reflected on the
Invoices for which the Company or the Stockholders and the Optionholders are
liable pursuant to this Section 7.1 shall be paid at the Closing and taken into
account as a deduction in determining the Closing Residual Cash Consideration
or, if applicable, the Closing Liquid Net Worth.

      7.2. Stockholders of the Company. In no event shall Inveresk, Acquisition
or, following the Effective Time, the Surviving Corporation be liable (before or
after the Closing) for any fees and expenses of the Stockholders and
Optionholders relating to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement,
including, without limitation, legal, accounting and financial advisory fees.

8. Definitions. As used in this Agreement the terms set forth below shall have
the following meanings:

      "Affiliate" of a Person means any other Person who directly or indirectly
through one or more intermediaries controls, is controlled by or is under common
control with, such first Person.

      "Affiliated Group" shall mean any affiliated group within the meaning of
Code Section 1504 (or any similar group defined under a similar provision of
state, local or foreign law).

      "Backlog" shall mean the aggregate future net service revenue, not yet
recognized by the Company for financial accounting purposes, that the Company
will be entitled to receive under fully executed, definitive Contracts with
customers provided only that the Company fully performs its obligations under
those Contracts.

      "Benefit Plan" shall mean any bonus, pension, profit sharing, deferred
compensation, incentive compensation, stock ownership, stock purchase, stock
option, phantom stock, retirement, vacation, severance, disability, death
benefit, hospitalization, medical or other material plan, arrangement or
understanding (whether or not written or legally binding and whether or not
subject to ERISA) providing material benefits to any current or former employee,
officer, consultant or director of the Company or any Subsidiary.


                                       33

      "Cash" means, as of a given time, the book value of all cash and cash
equivalents held by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries at such time.

      "Closing Liquid Net Worth" shall mean the amount, computed as of the
Closing Date and in a manner consistent with the methods used in the preparation
of the financial statements of the Company and its Subsidiaries at or for the
period ended December 31, 2002 and as specified in Exhibit B, equal to (a) the
Company's and its Subsidiaries' current assets (net of reserves) (including Cash
for all purposes), minus, (b) without duplication or limitation, all of
liabilities of the Company and its Subsidiaries (i) which are required to be
accrued under the methods used in the preparation of the Financial Statements or
(ii) which are within any of the following categories whether or not required to
be accrued by GAAP or under the methods used in the preparation of the Financial
Statements: (u) the Bonus Amounts set forth on Schedule 2.3(i) hereto; (v)
Funded Indebtedness; (w) Brokerage Expenses and Transaction Expenses; (x) the
full amount of all amounts due or to become due on the part of the Company or
any Subsidiary of the Company in connection with or by reason of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including without limitation or
duplication all obligations in respect of bonuses, severance or additional
compensation payable to officers, directors, employees and consultants; (y) the
full amount of vacation pay earned by employees or others but not taken on or
prior to the Closing Date and (z) the pro rata portion of any liability of the
kind that is incurred ratably during the course of an annual period but expensed
by the Company for financial reporting purposes only at the end of such period,
including without limitation audit fees and employee bonuses.

      "Closing Liquid Net Worth Adjustment" shall mean the amount by which the
Company's Closing Liquid Net Worth is greater than or less than the Target
Closing Liquid Net Worth. If the Closing Liquid Net Worth is greater than the
Target Closing Liquid Net Worth, the difference shall be added to the
Transaction Price and if the Closing Liquid Net Worth is less than the Target
Closing Liquid Net Worth, the difference shall be subtracted from the
Transaction Price, in each case, in accordance with Section 2.2 of this
Agreement.

      "Code" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

      "Collateral Document" shall mean any agreement, instrument, certificate,
memorandum, schedule or other document delivered by a Person or any of its
respective directors, officers, employees or trustee pursuant to this Agreement
or in connection with the Merger.

      "commercially reasonable efforts" means the efforts that a commercially
reasonable Person desirous of achieving a result would use in similar
circumstances to achieve that result as expeditiously as reasonably practicable,
provided, however, that a Person required to use commercially reasonable efforts
under this Agreement will not be thereby required to take any action that would
result in a material adverse change in the benefits to such Person of this
Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby, to make any change to its
business, to incur any fees or expenses (other than normal and usual filing
fees, processing fees and incidental expenses), to commence any litigation or to
incur any other material burden.

      "Company Plan" shall mean a Plan which the Company, any Subsidiary, or any
ERISA Affiliate sponsors, maintains, has any obligation to contribute to, has
liability under or is otherwise a party to, or which otherwise provides benefits
for employees, former employees, independent contractors or former independent
contractors (or their dependents and beneficiaries) of the Company or any
Subsidiary existing on the date of this Agreement or at any time subsequent
thereto and on or prior to the Closing Date.


                                       34

      "Environmental Claim" shall mean any claim, action, investigation or
notice by any Person alleging potential liability arising out of, based on, or
resulting from (a) the presence or release into the environment, including,
without limitation, the indoor environment, of any pollutant, contaminant,
waste, toxic substance, hazardous substance or petroleum at any location,
whether or not owned by the Company or any Subsidiary or (b) circumstances
forming the basis of any violation, or alleged violation, of any Environmental
Law.

      "Environmental Laws" shall mean all applicable federal, state, local or
foreign laws, rules and regulations, orders, decrees, judgments, permits and
leases relating to protection and clean-up of the environment and activities or
conditions related thereto, including those relating to the generation,
handling, disposal, transportation or release of Hazardous Substances.

      "ERISA Affiliate" shall mean an entity required to be aggregated with any
of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries under Sections 414(b), (c), (m) or (o)
of the Code or Section 4001 of ERISA.

      "Escrow Agent" shall mean a bank or trust company designated by Inveresk.

      "Escrow Agreement" shall mean an agreement substantially in the form of
Exhibit E, executed and delivered at the Closing,

      "Escrow Fund" shall mean the fund created by the Escrow Agent to hold the
Indemnity Amount, which amount may be reduced during the Escrow Indemnity Period
pursuant to the terms of the Escrow Agreement.

      "Escrow Period" shall mean the period beginning on the Closing Date and
ending on the first date on which all remaining funds held in the escrow created
pursuant to the Escrow Agreement are permitted to be released under the terms of
the Escrow Agreement.

      "Escrow Release Amount" shall mean any funds released to the Stockholders'
Representative (on behalf of the Stockholders and Optionholders) pursuant to the
terms of the Escrow Agreement prior to the expiration of the Escrow Period.

      "Funded Indebtedness" means, as of any particular time: (i) all
obligations of the Company and its Subsidiaries for borrowed money or in respect
of loans or advances, (ii) all obligations of the Company and its Subsidiaries
evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or other similar instruments or debt
securities, (iii) all obligations of the Company and its Subsidiaries secured by
a Lien, (iv) all Guarantees of the Company and its Subsidiaries in connection
with any of the foregoing, (v) all accrued interest, prepayment premiums or
penalties related to any of the foregoing, and (vi) all capital lease
obligations, but excluding in each case all intercompany indebtedness among the
Company and its Subsidiaries.

      "GAAP" shall mean generally accepted accounting principles in the United
States.

      "Guarantee" means any agreement, undertaking or arrangement by which the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries guarantees, endorses or otherwise becomes or
is contingently liable upon the debt, obligation or other liability of any other
Person (other than by endorsements of instruments in the ordinary course of
collection).

      "Hazardous Substances" shall mean any and all hazardous and toxic
substances, wastes or materials, any pollutants, contaminants, or dangerous
materials (including, but not limited to, polychlorinated biphenyls, PCBs,
friable asbestos, volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds, oil, petroleum
products and fractions, and any materials which include hazardous constituents
or become


                                       35

hazardous, toxic, or dangerous when their composition or state is changed), or
any other similar substances or materials.

      "Leased Real Property" means all leasehold or subleasehold estates and
other rights to use or occupy any land, buildings, structures, improvements,
fixtures or other interest in real property which is used or intended to be used
in the business of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

      "Leases" means all leases, subleases, licenses, concessions and other
agreements (written or oral) pursuant to which the Company or any Subsidiary
hold any Leased Real Property.

      "Liabilities" shall mean, with respect to any Person at any specified
time, without duplication, the principal of and premium (if any) in respect of
(i) all indebtedness of such Person and each subsidiary of such Person for
borrowed money, (ii) all other indebtedness in respect of which such Person or
any subsidiary of such Person is or may be responsible or liable, directly or
indirectly, as obligor, guarantor or otherwise; (iii) all obligations of such
Person incurred or to be incurred in connection with the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement, whether or not required by GAAP to be recorded
at that time as liabilities, including, without limitation, all amounts that are
payable at that time or are to become payable in the future to financial
advisors, lawyers, accountants and other professionals; and (iv) all obligations
of that Person of a type that would be required by GAAP to appear on a balance
sheet of that Person prepared as at that date.

      "Liens" shall mean any mortgage, pledge, lien, security interest,
conditional or installment sale agreement, encumbrance, charge or other claims
of third parties of any kind, except for (a) liens for Taxes or governmental
charges or claims (i) not yet due and payable or (ii) being contested in good
faith, if a reserve or other appropriate provision, if any, as shall be required
by GAAP shall have been made therefor on the Financial Statements; (b) statutory
liens of landlords, lien of carriers, warehousemen's, mechanics and
materialmen's and other liens imposed by law incurred in the ordinary course of
business for sums (i) not yet due and payable or (ii) being contested in good
faith, if a reserve or other appropriate provision, if any, as shall be required
by GAAP shall have been made therefor on the Financial Statements; (c) liens
incurred or deposits made in connection with workers' compensation, unemployment
insurance and other similar types of social security programs in each case in
the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice; (d) purchase
money security interest incurred in the ordinary course of business, consistent
with past practice; (e) easements, rights-of-way, restrictions and other similar
charges or encumbrances; and (f) zoning, building codes and other land use laws
regulating the use or occupancy of the Leased Real Property and other similar
matters of record which do not materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of
the Company's or any of its Subsidiaries' operations and do not or would not
materially detract from the value of the property to which such encumbrance
relates.

      "Material Adverse Effect" shall mean any circumstance, change in or effect
on the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that, individually or in the aggregate
with any other circumstances, changes in or effects on, the Company or any of
its Subsidiaries, is, or would reasonably be expected to be materially adverse
to the assets, business, condition (financial or otherwise) or results of
operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, but shall
exclude any prospects and shall also exclude any effect resulting or arising
from: (a) any change in interest rates or general economic conditions in the
industries or markets in which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries operates
or (b) the entry into or announcement of this Agreement and/or the consummation
of the transactions contemplated hereby.

      "Options" means all options, warrants and other rights to acquire shares
of Company Capital Stock.


                                       36

      "Party" shall mean Inveresk, Acquisition, the Company and its Subsidiaries
and the Stockholders' Representative (on behalf of the Stockholders and
Optionholders).

      "Per Share Portion" means a fraction, the numerator of which is one, and
the denominator of which is the sum of (i) the number of shares of Company
Common Stock and of Class A Preferred Stock issued and outstanding immediately
prior to the Effective Time (other than Company Common Stock or Class A
Preferred Stock held by the Company as treasury stock), plus (ii) the number of
shares of Company Common Stock issuable upon exercise of all Options that are
vested and exercisable (or will become vested and exercisable as a result of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement) immediately prior to the Effective
Time.

      "Person" shall mean any individual, corporation, partnership, limited
partnership, limited liability company, other business organization, trust,
association or entity or government agency or authority.

      "Plan" shall mean any employment, bonus, incentive compensation, deferred
compensation, pension, profit sharing, retirement, stock purchase, stock option,
stock ownership, stock appreciation rights, phantom stock, equity (or
equity-based) leave of absence, layoff, vacation, day or dependent care, legal
services, cafeteria, life, health, medical, accident, disability, workmen's
compensation or other insurance, severance, separation, termination, change of
control or other benefit plan, agreement (including any collective bargaining
agreement), practice, policy or arrangement of any kind, whether written or
oral, and whether or not subject to ERISA, including, but not limited to any
"employee benefit plan" within the meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA.

      "Prime Rate" means the interest rate per annum listed from time to time as
the "Prime Rate" in the Wall Street Journal in its "Money Rates" section.

      "Remaining Escrow Balance" shall mean the amount of funds available
pursuant to the Escrow Agreement to be released after payment of all sums due
Inveresk, the Stockholders' Representatives and the Escrow Agent, at the end of
the Escrow Period.

      "Subsidiary" shall mean any corporation, partnership, joint venture,
limited liability company or other entity in which the Company (a) owns,
directly or indirectly, 50% or more of the outstanding voting securities or
equity interests or (b) is a general partner.

      "Target Liquid Net Worth" shall mean $1,878,843.

      "Tax" (and, with correlative meaning, "Taxes" and "Taxable") shall mean
any and all taxes, fees, levies, duties, tariffs, imposts, and other charges in
the nature thereof (together with any and all interest, penalties, additions to
tax and additional amounts imposed with respect thereto) imposed by any
government or taxing authority whether disputed or not, including, without
limitation: taxes or other charges on or with respect to income, franchises,
windfall or other profits, gross receipts, property, sales, use, capital stock,
payroll, employment, social security, workers' compensation, unemployment
compensation, or net worth; taxes or other charges in the nature of excise,
withholding, ad valorem, stamp, transfer, value added, or gains taxes; license,
registration and documentation fees; and customs duties, tariffs, and similar
charges.

      "Tax Return" shall mean any return, report or similar statement required
to be filed with respect to any Tax (including any attached schedules),
including, without limitation, any information return, claim for refund, amended
return or declaration of estimated Tax and all federal, state, local and foreign
returns, reports and similar statements.


                                       37

9. Miscellaneous.

      9.1. Press Releases. Except as required by law, none of Inveresk,
Acquisition, the Company or the Stockholders' Representative shall issue any
press release or otherwise make public any information with respect to the
subject matter of this Agreement nor the transactions contemplated hereby,
without the prior written consent of each of the other parties to this
Agreement, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed.

      9.2. Integration. This Agreement and the agreements expressly referred to
or contemplated herein set forth the entire understanding of the parties hereto
with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby, and, except as set forth
in this Agreement, such other agreements, and the Exhibits hereto, there are no
representations or warranties, express or implied, made by any party to this
Agreement (or any of their Affiliates) with respect to the subject matter of
this Agreement. Any and all previous agreements and understandings between or
among the parties regarding the subject matter hereof, whether written or oral,
are superseded by this Agreement and the agreements referred to or contemplated
herein.

      9.3. Assignment and Binding Effect. This Agreement may not be assigned by
either party hereto without the prior written consent of the other party;
provided, however, that (i) Inveresk or Acquisition may assign its rights under
this Agreement to any directly or indirectly wholly owned subsidiary of Inveresk
upon written notice to the Company and (ii) Inveresk may assign its rights under
this Agreement to its lenders as collateral for a loan at any time. All the
terms and provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the
benefit of and be enforceable by the respective successors and assigns of the
parties hereto.

      9.4. Waiver. Any term or provision of this Agreement may be waived at any
time by the party entitled to the benefit thereof only by a written instrument
duly executed by such party.

      9.5. Acknowledgment by Inveresk. Each of Inveresk and Acquisition
acknowledges that the representations and warranties of the Company expressly
and specifically set forth in Section 3, as qualified by the Company Disclosure
Schedule attached hereto constitute the sole and exclusive representations and
warranties of the Company to Inveresk and Acquisition in connection with the
transactions contemplated hereby, and Inveresk and Acquisition understand,
acknowledge and agree that all other representations and warranties of any kind
or nature, expressed or implied (including, but not limited to, any relating to
the future or historical financial condition, results of operations, assets or
liabilities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or the quality, quantity
or condition of the Company's or its Subsidiaries' assets), are specifically
disclaimed by the Company, the Stockholders' Representative, and the
Stockholders and the Optionholders. The Company, the Stockholders'
Representative, the Stockholders and the Optionholders do not make or provide
any warranty or representation, express or implied, as to the quality,
merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, conformity to samples, or
condition of the Company's or its Subsidiaries' assets or any part thereto.

      9.6. Notices. Any notice, request, demand, waiver, consent, approval, or
other communication which is required or permitted to be given to any party
hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed given only if delivered to the
party personally or sent to the party by facsimile transmission (promptly
followed by a hard-copy delivered in accordance with this Section 9.6), by
reputable overnight courier service or by registered or certified mail (return
receipt requested), with postage and registration or certification fees thereon
prepaid, addressed to the party at its address set forth below:


                                       38

       If to Inveresk or Acquisition:

                Inveresk Research Group, Inc.
                1000 Weston Parkway
                Suite 100
                Cary, North Carolina 27513
                Facsimile No.:   (919) 462-2336
                Attention:       General Counsel

                with a copy to:

                Clifford Chance US LLP
                200 Park Avenue
                New York, New York 10166
                Facsimile No.:   (212) 878-8375
                Attention:       John A. Healy

       If to the Company:

                PharmaResearch Corporation
                1011 Ashes Drive
                Wilmington, North Carolina 28405
                Facsimile No.:    (910) 509-4701
                Attention:       Chief Executive Officer

                with a copy to:

                Kirkland & Ellis LLP
                200 East Randolph Drive
                Chicago, Illinois 60601
                Facsimile No.:   (312) 861-2200
                Attention:       Sanford E. Perl

       If to the Stockholders' Representatives:

                William Blair Capital Partners V, L.P.
                222 West Adams Street
                Chicago, IL 60606
                Facsimile No.:   (312) 236-5728
                Attention:       David G. Chandler

                with a copy to:

                Kirkland & Ellis LLP
                200 East Randolph Drive
                Chicago, Illinois 60601
                Facsimile No.:   (312) 861-2200
                Attention:        Sanford E. Perl


                                       39

or to such other address or Person as any party may have specified in a notice
duly given to the other party as provided herein. Such notice, request, demand,
waiver, consent, approval or other communication will be deemed to have been
given as of the date so delivered.

      9.7. Amendment. This Agreement shall not be amended, modified, revised,
supplemented or terminated orally and no waiver of compliance with any provision
hereof and no consent provided for herein shall be effective other than by a
written instrument executed by all of the parties hereto. This Agreement may be
amended only upon the taking of requisite corporate action by all of the Parties
hereto.

      9.8. Governing Law. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND INTERPRETED
AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE WITHOUT GIVING
EFFECT TO ANY DELAWARE CHOICE OF LAW PRINCIPLES.

      9.9. Third Party Beneficiaries. The representations, warranties, covenants
and agreements contained in this Agreement are for the sole benefit of the
parties hereto, and their respective successors and assigns, and they shall not
be construed as conferring, and are not intended to confer, any rights on any
other Person. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the parties hereto acknowledge that
(a) for purposes of Section 6.2 and Section 6.8, all representations,
warranties, covenants and agreements of the Company set forth in this Agreement
are expressly intended for the benefit of Inveresk and its employees, agents,
directors, officers, stockholders and affiliates and (b) that for purposes of
Section 6.3, all representations, warranties, covenants and agreements of
Inveresk and Acquisition set forth in this Agreement are expressly intended for
the benefit of the Stockholders' Representative (on behalf of the Stockholders
and Optionholders) and their respective employees, agents, directors, officers,
stockholders and affiliates.

      9.10. Performance. In the event that any Party hereto shall fail or refuse
to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any default
under, or breach of, any representation, warranty or covenant of this Agreement
on the part of such Party shall have occurred that results in the failure to
consummate the transactions contemplated hereby, then in addition to the other
remedies provided in this Agreement, the defaulting Party may seek to obtain an
order of specific performance thereof against such defaulting Party from a court
of competent jurisdiction. In addition, in such case, each Party hereto shall be
entitled to obtain from such defaulting Party court costs and reasonable
attorneys' fees incurred by it in enforcing its rights hereunder. As a condition
to Inveresk's or Acquisition's seeking specific performance hereunder, neither
Inveresk nor Acquisition shall be required to have tendered the Merger
Consideration, but shall be ready, willing and able to do so.

      9.11. Severability. If any term or other provision of this Agreement is
determined to be invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced by any rule of
law or public policy, all other terms and provisions of the Agreement shall
remain in full force and effect. Upon such determination, the parties hereto
shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to give effect to
the original intent of the parties to the fullest extent permitted by applicable
law.

      9.12. Construction. The language used in this Agreement shall be deemed to
be the language chosen by the parties hereto to express their mutual intent, and
no rule of strict construction shall be applied against any Person. The
information contained in this Agreement and in the Company Disclosure Schedule
and Exhibits hereto is disclosed solely for purposes of this Agreement, and no
information contained herein or therein shall be deemed to be an admission by
any party hereto to any third party of any matter whatsoever (including, without
limitation, any violation of law or breach of contract).

      9.13. Extensions. At any time prior to the Effective Time, either the
Company, on the one hand, or Inveresk and Acquisition, on the other hand, may by
appropriate action, extend the time for


                                       40

compliance by or waive performance of any representation, warranty, agreement,
condition or obligation of the other parties or party, respectively.

      9.14. Section Headings. All section headings are for convenience only and
shall in no way modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.

      9.15. Exhibits; Company Disclosure Schedule. All Exhibits referred to
herein and in the Company Disclosure Schedule are intended to be and hereby are
specifically made a part of this Agreement. Each exception to a representation
or warranty of the Company that is set forth in the Company Disclosure Schedule
is identified by reference to, or has been grouped under a heading referring to,
a specific individual Section of this Agreement and, except as otherwise
specifically stated or cross-referenced in the Company Disclosure Schedule
relates only to such Section unless the applicability of such disclosure to
another Section is reasonably apparent from the face of such disclosure.

      9.16. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, and the Company,
Inveresk, and Acquisition may become a party hereto by executing a counterpart
thereof. This Agreement and any counterpart so executed shall be deemed to be
one and the same instrument.


                                       41

      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound
hereby, have duly executed this Agreement on the date first above written.

                               INVERESK RESEARCH GROUP, INC.

                               By:  /s/ Walter S. Nimmo
                                    --------------------------------------------
                                    Name:  Walter S. Nimmo
                                    Title: President and Chief Executive Officer

                               TANGO ACQUISITION CORPORATION

                               By:  /s/ Walter S. Nimmo
                                    --------------------------------------------
                                    Name:  Walter S. Nimmo
                                    Title: President

                               PHARMARESEARCH CORPORATION

                               By:  /s/ Phyllis M. Lee
                                    --------------------------------------------
                                    Name:  Phyllis M. Lee
                                    Title: Chief Executive Officer

                               WILLIAM BLAIR CAPITAL PARTNERS V, L.P.,
                               as Stockholders' Representative

                               By: William Blair Capital Partners, L.L.C.
                               Its: General Partner

                               By:  /s/ David G. Chandler
                                    --------------------------------------------
                                    Name:  David G. Chandler
                                    Title: Managing Director

EX-99.1

                                                                    EXHIBIT 99.1


                                                        [INVERESK RESEARCH LOGO]


    INVERESK RESEARCH ANNOUNCES THE ACQUISITION OF PHARMARESEARCH CORPORATION


CARY, NC, JULY 29, 2003 - Inveresk Research Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: IRGI) today
announced that it had acquired PharmaResearch Corporation in an all cash
transaction valued at $37.1 million, net of cash acquired of approximately $10.0
million. PharmaResearch is a US-based drug development services group focused on
the provision of Phase II-IV clinical trials support services, principally in
the areas of respiratory and infectious diseases. The Company is based in
Morrisville and Wilmington, North Carolina, with foreign operations based in the
United Kingdom, France, Spain and China.

"The acquisition of PharmaResearch allows us to increase significantly the scale
and service of our North American clinical development operations. Its strong
presence in the field of respiratory and infectious diseases enables Inveresk
Research to build higher value-added clinical support services for the benefit
of the enlarged client base," said Walter Nimmo, President and Chief Executive
Officer of Inveresk Research Group, Inc.

In 2002 PharmaResearch recorded net service revenue of $40.6 million and income
from operations of $4.8 million. At December 31, 2002 it had net assets of $13.4
million.

The acquisition is being financed through a new $150 million syndicated bank
credit facility arranged by Wachovia Bank N.A. This facility will replace our
existing bank credit facility arranged at the time of our initial public
offering.

                                   -- ends --


Contacts:

                                        
Paul Cowan, Chief Financial Officer        Deborah Ardern-Jones
Inveresk Research Group, Inc.              FD Morgen-Walke
1 (919) 462 2354                           1 (212) 850 5626
paul.cowan@inveresk.com                    deborah.ardern-jones@fdmw.com




Information on Inveresk Research

Inveresk Research is a leading provider of drug development services to
companies in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. Through its
Pre-clinical and Clinical business segments, the Company offers a broad range of
drug development services, including pre-clinical safety and pharmacology
evaluation services, laboratory sciences services and clinical development
services. Inveresk Research is one of a small number of drug development
services companies currently providing a comprehensive range of pre-clinical and
clinical development services on a world-wide basis. The Company's client base
includes major pharmaceutical companies in North America, Europe and Japan, as
well as many biotechnology and speciality


                                                                     Page 1 of 2

pharmaceutical companies. For more information on Inveresk Research, visit our
Web site at http://www.inveresk.com.

Statements contained in this press release that are forward-looking are based on
current expectations that are subject to a number of uncertainties and risks,
and actual results may differ materially. Factors that might cause such a
difference include, but are not limited to, risks associated with: the reduction
in research and development activities by pharmaceutical and biotechnology
clients, changes in government regulations, the effects of interest and foreign
exchange rate fluctuations, our ability to attract and retain employees, the
loss or delay of contracts due to economic uncertainty or other factors, our
ability to efficiently manage backlog, our ability to expand our business
through strategic acquisitions, competition within the industry and the
potential adverse impact of health care reform. Further information about these
risks and uncertainties can be found in the information included in the
company's recent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including
the company's Registration Statement on Form S-1 and Form 10-K.


                                                                     Page 2 of 2

EX-99.2

                                                                    EXHIBIT 99.2


                                                        [INVERESK RESEARCH LOGO]


                            INVERESK RESEARCH REPORTS
                      SECOND QUARTER 2003 EARNINGS RESULTS


                       SECOND QUARTER DILUTED EPS OF $0.27

         FORECAST 2003 DILUTED EPS GUIDANCE MAINTAINED AT $1.07 - $1.09
     (BEFORE EXPENSES ASSOCIATED WITH THE INTEGRATION OF PHARMARESEARCH AND
                          OUR WITHDRAWN SHARE OFFERING)

     NEW BUSINESS SIGNINGS TOTAL $145.3 MILLION IN FIRST HALF OF 2003,
                           $68.7 MILLION IN Q2, 2003

- -     CONTINUED STRENGTH IN 2ND QUARTER:

      -     Net service revenue increased by 20.7% to $67.0 million

      -     Net service revenue increased by 16.2% compared with the first
            quarter of 2003

      -     Q2 new business signings total $68.7 million

- -     2ND QUARTER REPORTED RESULTS:

      -     Income from operations $12.9 million (2002 - $37.9 million loss from
            operations reported, pro forma $12.1 million)

      -     Operating margin 19.3% (2002 - 21.8%)

      -     Net income $10.2 million (2002 - loss of $44.3 million)

      -     Diluted earnings per share $0.27 (2002 - loss per share $1.87, pro
            forma $0.23)

- -     FULL-YEAR 2003 GUIDANCE:

      -     2003 pro forma diluted EPS between $1.07 and $1.09, before costs
            associated with the PharmaResearch acquisition and the costs of our
            withdrawn share offering in Q1

      -     PharmaResearch acquisition forecast to be accretive to EPS in 2003


CARY, NC, JULY 29, 2003 - Inveresk Research Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: IRGI) today
announced results for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2003. Net service
revenue for the second quarter was $67.0 million, an increase of 20.7% compared
with the same period in 2002 and 16.2% compared with the first quarter of 2003.
Income from operations in the quarter was $12.9 million, compared with a loss
from operations of $37.9 million the same period in 2002 (2002 pro forma income
from operations totaled $12.1 million) and income from operations of $8.6
million in the first quarter of 2003 (pro forma $9.2 million). Net income in the
second quarter of 2003 was $10.2 million, or $0.27 per share on a diluted basis.
The Company recorded an operating margin of 19.3% in the second quarter of 2003.

"The anticipated rebound in activity during the second quarter at CTBR, our
North American pre-clinical operations, and continued strength in pre-clinical
Europe and our clinical activities combined to allow Inveresk to record a 16.2%
increase in revenues compared with the first quarter of 2003" said Walter Nimmo,
President and Chief Executive Officer of Inveresk Research Group, Inc.
"Underlying growth met expectations in the second quarter, whilst also
benefiting from exchange rate movements."


                                                                     Page 1 of 9

Net cash provided by operating activities totaled $17.0 million in the six
months ended June 30, 2003 ($18.6 million in 2002). Including the Company's
expenditures on the expansion of our pre-clinical facility in Edinburgh,
Scotland and Montreal, Canada, capital expenditure totaled $8.5 million during
the same period.

New business signings totaled $68.7 million for the second quarter, and $145.3
million for the first half of 2003. At June 30, 2003 backlog amounted to
approximately $224 million. Net day's sales outstanding were 31 days.

Specific factors influencing second quarter 2003 results included: (i) the
rebound in CTBR's revenues compared to Q1, 2003 and continued strength in the
European pre-clinical business, (ii) accelerated growth in our clinical
business, albeit with a change in business mix in terms of growth in recoverable
costs, (iii) beneficial exchange rate movements positively impacting US dollar
equivalent revenues and profits of our European and Canadian operations, (iv)
reduced foreign exchange translation losses of $0.4 million reflecting steps
taken to hedge this exposure in 2003, (v) a charge of $0.1 million relating to
social security taxes paid on exercise of share options issued prior to our IPO,
and (vi) a charge of $0.3 million to reflect the mark-to-market valuation at
June 30, 2003 of swaps entered into to limit our exposure to interest rate
fluctuations.

Walter Nimmo said: "The acquisition of PharmaResearch allows us to increase
significantly the scale and service of our North American clinical development
operations and is forecast to be accretive to earnings per share in the third
and fourth quarter of 2003, supporting further our profit objective for the
clinical business segment for this year and beyond." Nimmo added: "We forecast
continued strong demand for the services of our European pre-clinical operations
throughout the rest of 2003. At CTBR new business enquiries are at record levels
and we continue to experience strong new business signings. Slow or delayed
decisions by our clients to commit to studies at CTBR, however, are expected to
impact revenue growth in the second half of 2003. These delays have no bearing,
we believe, on the strong fundamentals for the pre-clinical business
longer-term." Nimmo concluded: "In consideration of these factors we continue to
maintain our full-year EPS guidance at $1.07 and $1.09 on a diluted basis,
before taking account of costs associated with the integration of PharmaResearch
Corporation and our withdrawn share offering in the first quarter."

                                   -- ends --

Conference Call and Webcast Information

Inveresk Research will host a live conference call and webcast tomorrow, July
30, 2003 at 10.00 a.m. EST to discuss its second quarter performance. To access
the webcast, please visit http://www.inveresk.com. A replay of the webcast will
be available shortly after the call until 5.00 p.m. EST on Wednesday, August 6,
2003.

Contacts:

                                            
Paul Cowan, Chief Financial Officer            Deborah Ardern-Jones
Inveresk Research Group, Inc.                  FD Morgen-Walke
1 (919) 462 2354                               1 (212) 850 5626
paul.cowan@inveresk.com                        deborah.ardern-jones@fdmw.com




                                                                     Page 2 of 9

Information on Inveresk Research

Inveresk Research is a leading provider of drug development services to
companies in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. Through its
Pre-clinical and Clinical business segments, the Company offers a broad range of
drug development services, including pre-clinical safety and pharmacology
evaluation services, laboratory sciences services and clinical development
services. Inveresk Research is one of a small number of drug development
services companies currently providing a comprehensive range of pre-clinical and
clinical development services on a world-wide basis. The Company's client base
includes major pharmaceutical companies in North America, Europe and Japan, as
well as many biotechnology and speciality pharmaceutical companies. For more
information on Inveresk Research, visit our Web site at http://www.inveresk.com.

Statements contained in this press release that are forward-looking are based on
current expectations that are subject to a number of uncertainties and risks,
and actual results may differ materially. Factors that might cause such a
difference include, but are not limited to, risks associated with: the reduction
in research and development activities by pharmaceutical and biotechnology
clients, changes in government regulations, the effects of interest and foreign
exchange rate fluctuations, our ability to attract and retain employees, the
loss or delay of contracts due to economic uncertainty or other factors, our
ability to efficiently manage backlog, our ability to expand our business
through strategic acquisitions, competition within the industry and the
potential adverse impact of health care reform. Further information about these
risks and uncertainties can be found in the information included in the
company's recent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including
the company's Registration Statement on Form S-1 and Form 10-K.

This press release includes supplemental financial information which may contain
references to non-GAAP financial measures as defined in Regulation G of SEC
rules. Consistent with Regulation G, a reconciliation of this supplemental
financial information to our generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP)
information follows. We present this non-GAAP supplemental financial information
because we believe it is of interest to the investment community and provides
additional meaningful methods of evaluating certain aspects of the Company's
operating performance from period to period on a basis that may not be otherwise
apparent on a GAAP basis. This supplemental financial information should be
viewed in addition to, not in lieu of, the Company's consolidated statements of
operations for the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2003 and 2002.


                                                                     Page 3 of 9

                          INVERESK RESEARCH GROUP, INC.

                 CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
                ($ IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AND SHARE DATA)
                                   (UNAUDITED)



                                                           QUARTER           QUARTER          SIX MONTHS         SIX MONTHS
                                                            ENDED             ENDED             ENDED              ENDED
                                                           JUNE 30,          JUNE 30,          JUNE 30,           JUNE 30,
                                                             2003              2002              2003              2002
                                                         ------------      ------------      ------------      ------------
                                                                                                   
Net service revenue ................................     $     67,035      $     55,549      $    124,719      $    108,712
Direct costs excluding depreciation ................          (34,079)          (26,571)          (63,357)          (54,197)
                                                         ------------      ------------      ------------      ------------
                                                               32,956            28,978            61,362            54,515
Selling, general and administrative expenses:
  Compensation expense in respect of stock options
     and management equity incentives ..............               --           (48,475)               --           (53,020)
  Stamp duty arising on change of ultimate parent ..               --            (1,545)               --            (1,545)
     company
  Share offering expenses ..........................               --                --              (658)               --
  Other selling, general and administrative expenses          (16,926)          (14,360)          (33,154)          (27,774)
Depreciation .......................................           (3,089)           (2,475)           (6,038)           (4,821)
                                                         ------------      ------------      ------------      ------------
Income (loss) from operations ......................           12,941           (37,877)           21,512           (32,645)
Interest income ....................................               94               119               166               200
Interest expense ...................................           (1,010)           (5,120)           (1,981)           (9,217)
                                                         ------------      ------------      ------------      ------------
Profit (loss) before income taxes ..................           12,025           (42,878)           19,697           (41,662)
Provision for income taxes .........................           (1,866)           (1,459)           (2,161)           (3,089)
                                                         ------------      ------------      ------------      ------------
Net income (loss) ..................................     $     10,159      $    (44,337)     $     17,536      $    (44,751)
                                                         ============      ============      ============      ============


Earnings (loss) per share:
    Basic ..........................................     $       0.28      $      (1.87)     $       0.48      $      (1.89)
    Diluted ........................................     $       0.27      $      (1.87)     $       0.47      $      (1.89)
Number of shares and common stock equivalents used
    in computing loss per share:
    Basic ..........................................       36,352,511        23,770,595        36,217,809        23,628,125
    Diluted ........................................       37,624,192        23,770,595        37,489,490        23,628,125



                                                                     Page 4 of 9

                          INVERESK RESEARCH GROUP, INC.

             PRO FORMA CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (NOTE)
                ($ IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AND SHARE DATA)
                                   (UNAUDITED)

                                    PRO FORMA



                                                    QUARTER           QUARTER          SIX MONTHS        SIX MONTHS
                                                     ENDED             ENDED             ENDED             ENDED
                                                    JUNE 30,          JUNE 30,          JUNE 30,          JUNE 30,
                                                      2003              2002              2003              2002
                                                  ------------      ------------      ------------      ------------
                                                                                            
Net service revenue .........................     $     67,035      $     55,549      $    124,719      $    108,712
Direct costs excluding depreciation .........          (34,079)          (26,571)          (63,357)          (54,197)
                                                  ------------      ------------      ------------      ------------
                                                        32,956            28,978            61,362            54,515
Selling, general and administrative expenses           (16,926)          (14,360)          (33,154)          (27,774)
Depreciation ................................           (3,089)           (2,475)           (6,038)           (4,821)
                                                  ------------      ------------      ------------      ------------
Income from operations ......................           12,941            12,143            22,170            21,920
Interest expense, net .......................             (916)             (894)           (1,815)           (1,788)
                                                  ------------      ------------      ------------      ------------
Profit before income taxes ..................           12,025            11,249            20,355            20,132
Provision for income taxes ..................           (1,866)           (2,691)           (2,161)           (5,258)
                                                  ------------      ------------      ------------      ------------
Net income ..................................           10,159             8,558            18,194            14,874
                                                  ============      ============      ============      ============



Earnings per share:
    Basic ...................................     $       0.28      $       0.24      $       0.50      $       0.42
    Diluted .................................     $       0.27      $       0.23      $       0.49      $       0.40
Number of shares and common stock equivalents
    used in computing loss per share:
    Basic ...................................       36,352,511        35,770,595        36,217,809        35,628,125
    Diluted .................................       37,624,192        37,261,465        37,489,490        37,118,995


NOTE:

Inveresk Research Group, Inc. believes this non-GAAP pro forma financial data
more clearly reflects its underlying financial and operational performance and
provides a more appropriate basis for comparison (i) to historical and future
performance, and (ii) to the reported results of comparable businesses. Our
method of calculating these measures may differ from those used by other
companies and therefore comparability may be limited.

In the current year, no adjustments have been made to reported net income for
the quarter ended June 30, 2003. For the six month ended June 30, 2003, the pro
forma measures exclude the effect of expenses relating to our withdrawn share
offering in March 2003.

For the quarter ended June 30, 2002, the pro forma measures exclude the effect
of compensation expense in respect of stock options and management equity
incentives recognized in connection with our initial public offering. In
addition to this, for the six months ended June 30, 2002, the pro form measures
exclude the effect of compensation expense in respect of the amendment and
exercise of stock options in the first quarter of 2002.

A reconciliation of actual and pro forma income financial measures is set out on
page 8 and 9.


                                                                     Page 5 of 9

                          INVERESK RESEARCH GROUP, INC.

                           PRO FORMA SEGMENT ANALYSIS
                                ($ IN THOUSANDS)
                                   (UNAUDITED)



                                                       QUARTER        QUARTER         SIX MONTHS     SIX MONTHS
                                                        ENDED          ENDED            ENDED          ENDED
                                                       JUNE 30,       JUNE 30,         JUNE 30,       JUNE 30,
                                                        2003            2002            2003            2003
                                                     ---------       ---------       ---------       ---------
                                                                                         
NET SERVICE REVENUE:
       Pre-clinical ............................     $  42,231       $  36,367       $  78,560       $  70,846
      Clinical .................................        24,804          19,182          46,159          37,866
      TOTAL ....................................        67,035          55,549         124,719         108,712

NET SERVICE REVENUE LESS DIRECT COSTS EXCLUDING
DEPRECIATION:
       Pre-clinical ............................        22,955          20,744          42,460          39,425
       Clinical ................................        10,001           8,234          18,902          15,090
       TOTAL ...................................        32,956          28,978          61,362          54,515

NET SERVICE REVENUE LESS DIRECT COSTS,
EXCLUDING DEPRECIATION, AS A PERCENTAGE
OF NET SERVICE REVENUE:
       Pre-clinical ............................          54.4%           57.0%           54.0%           55.6%
       Clinical ................................          40.3%           42.9%           40.9%           39.9%
       TOTAL ...................................          49.2%           52.2%           49.2%           50.1%

PRO FORMA INCOME FROM OPERATIONS (NOTE):
       Pre-clinical ............................        12,206          11,356          20,988          21,738
       Clinical ................................         2,797           2,381           5,060           3,151
       Pro forma corporate overhead ............        (2,062)         (1,594)         (3,878)         (2,969)
       TOTAL ...................................        12,941          12,143          22,170          21,920

PRO FORMA INCOME FROM OPERATIONS AS A PERCENTAGE
OF NET SERVICE REVENUE (NOTE):
       Pre-clinical ............................          28.9%           31.2%           26.7%           30.7%
       Clinical ................................          11.3%           12.4%           11.0%            8.3%
       TOTAL ...................................          19.3%           21.9%           17.8%           20.2%


NOTE:

Inveresk Research Group, Inc. believes this non-GAAP pro forma financial data
more clearly reflects its underlying financial and operational performance and
provides a more appropriate basis for comparison (i) to historical and future
performance, and (ii) to the reported results of comparable businesses. Our
method of calculating these measures may differ from those used by other
companies and therefore comparability may be limited.

In the current year, no adjustments have been made to reported net income for
the quarter ended June 30, 2003. For the six month ended June 30, 2003, the pro
forma measures exclude the effect of expenses relating to our withdrawn share
offering in March 2003.

For the quarter ended June 30, 2002, the pro forma measures exclude the effect
of compensation expense in respect of stock options and management equity
incentives recognized in connection with our initial public offering. In
addition to this, for the six months ended June 30, 2002, the pro form measures
exclude the effect of compensation expense in respect of the amendment and
exercise of stock options in the first quarter of 2002.

A reconciliation of actual and pro forma income financial measures is set out on
page 8 and 9.


                                                                     Page 6 of 9

                          INVERESK RESEARCH GROUP, INC.

                         CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET DATA
                                ($ IN THOUSANDS)




                                JUNE 30,
                                  2003        DECEMBER 31,
                               (UNAUDITED)        2002

                                        
Total current assets .....     $  99,534      $  88,327
Total other assets .......       261,249        244,140
Total current liabilities        (86,046)       (76,898)
Total other liabilities ..       (88,932)      (103,166)
                               ---------      ---------
TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY     $ 185,805      $ 152,403
                               =========      =========



                                CAPITAL EMPLOYED



                                  JUNE 30,
                                    2003        DECEMBER 31,
                                 (UNAUDITED)       2002

                                          
Total shareholders' equity .     $ 185,805      $ 152,403
Current portion of long-term
   debt ....................         7,402            217
Long-term debt .............        50,560         67,768
Cash and cash equivalents ..       (21,829)       (19,909)
                                 ---------      ---------
TOTAL CAPITAL EMPLOYED .....     $ 221,938      $ 200,479
                                 =========      =========



                                                                     Page 7 of 9

                          INVERESK RESEARCH GROUP, INC.

                 RECONCILIATION OF ACTUAL AND PRO FORMA RESULTS
                                ($ IN THOUSANDS)
                                   (UNAUDITED)


(I)    INCOME (LOSS) FROM OPERATIONS



                                                                                   SIX MONTHS     SIX MONTHS
                                                        QUARTER       QUARTER         ENDED         ENDED
                                                     ENDED JUNE 30, ENDED JUNE 30,   JUNE 30,     JUNE 30,
                                                         2003          2002           2003          2003
                                                       -------       -------        -------       -------
                                                                                      
Income (loss) from operations - actual .........        12,941       (37,877)        21,512       (32,645)
Pro forma adjustments (Note):
Compensation expense in respect of amendment and
exercise of stock options ......................            --            --             --         4,545
Compensation expense in respect of stock options
and management equity incentive ................            --        48,475             --        48,475
Stamp duty arising on change of ultimate parent
company ........................................            --         1,545             --         1,545
Share offering expenses ........................            --            --            658            --
                                                       -------       -------        -------       -------
PRO FORMA INCOME FROM OPERATIONS ...............        12,941        12,143         22,170        21,920
                                                       =======       =======        =======       =======


(II)   INTEREST EXPENSE, NET



                                                                    SIX MONTHS     SIX MONTHS
                                        QUARTER        QUARTER        ENDED          ENDED
                                     ENDED JUNE 30, ENDED JUNE 30,   JUNE 30,       JUNE 30,
                                        2003           2002           2003           2003
                                       ------         ------         ------         ------
                                                                       
Interest expense, net - actual           (916)        (5,001)        (1,815)        (9,017)
Pro forma adjustments (Note):
Interest saving on IPO proceeds            --          4,107             --          7,229
                                       ------         ------         ------         ------
PRO FORMA INTEREST EXPENSE, NET          (916)          (894)        (1,815)        (1,788)
                                       ======         ======         ======         ======


(III)  INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE INCOME TAXES





                                                                                      SIX MONTHS     SIX MONTHS
                                                         QUARTER        QUARTER         ENDED          ENDED
                                                      ENDED JUNE 30, ENDED JUNE 30,    JUNE 30,       JUNE 30,
                                                          2003           2002            2003           2003
                                                        -------        -------         -------        -------
                                                                                        
Profit (loss) before income taxes - actual .....         12,025        (42,878)         19,697        (41,662)
Pro forma adjustments (Note):
Compensation expense in respect of amendment and
exercise of stock options ......................             --             --              --          4,545
Compensation expense in respect of stock options
and management equity incentive ................             --         48,475              --         48,475
Stamp duty arising on change of ultimate parent
company ........................................             --          1,545              --          1,545
Interest saving on IPO proceeds ................             --          4,107              --          7,229
Share offering expenses ........................             --             --             658             --
                                                        -------        -------         -------        -------
PRO FORMA INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES ...........         12,025         11,249          20,355         20,132
                                                        =======        =======         =======        =======



                                                                     Page 8 of 9

                          INVERESK RESEARCH GROUP, INC.

              RECONCILIATION OF ACTUAL AND PRO FORMA RESULTS (CONT)
                                ($ IN THOUSANDS)
                                   (UNAUDITED)



(IV)   NET INCOME (LOSS)



                                                                                      SIX MONTHS    SIX MONTHS
                                                         QUARTER        QUARTER         ENDED          ENDED
                                                     ENDED JUNE 30,   ENDED JUNE 30,   JUNE 30,      JUNE 30,
                                                          2003           2002            2003           2003
                                                        -------        -------         -------        -------
                                                                                        
Net income (loss) - actual .....................         10,159        (44,337)         17,536        (44,751)
Pro forma adjustments (Note):
Compensation expense in respect of amendment and
exercise of stock options ......................             --             --              --          4,545
Compensation expense in respect of stock options
and management equity incentive ................             --         48,475              --         48,475
Stamp duty arising on change of ultimate parent
company ........................................             --          1,545              --          1,545
Interest saving on IPO proceeds, after tax .....             --          2,875              --          5,060
Share offering expenses ........................             --             --             658             --
                                                        -------        -------         -------        -------
PRO FORMA NET INCOME ...........................         10,159          8,558          18,194         14,874
                                                        =======        =======         =======        =======


(V)    FORECAST EARNINGS PER SHARE

Forecast pro forma diluted EPS of $1.07-$1.09 for the year to December 31, 2003
is before deducting expenses associated with the PharmaResearch acquisition and
the expenses of our withdrawn share offering of $0.7 million which is equivalent
to approximately $0.02 per share.

NOTE:

Inveresk Research Group, Inc. believes this non-GAAP pro forma financial data
more clearly reflects its underlying financial and operational performance and
provides a more appropriate basis for comparison (i) to historical and future
performance, and (ii) to the reported results of comparable businesses. Our
method of calculating these measures may differ from those used by other
companies and therefore comparability may be limited.

In the current year, no adjustments have been made to reported net income for
the quarter ended June 30, 2003. For the six month ended June 30, 2003, the pro
forma measures exclude the effect of expenses relating to our withdrawn share
offering in March 2003.

For the quarter ended June 30, 2002, the pro forma measures exclude the effect
of compensation expense in respect of stock options and management equity
incentives recognized in connection with our initial public offering. In
addition to this, for the six months ended June 30, 2002, the pro form measures
exclude the effect of compensation expense in respect of the amendment and
exercise of stock options in the first quarter of 2002.

The adjustments to interest expense in the quarter and six months ended June 30,
2002 remove the interest cost arising on our 10% unsecured subordinated loan
stock due 2008 and on our pre-IPO bank debt (both of which were fully repaid
following our IPO in June 2002), as well as amortization of deferred issue costs
on this debt. It replaces these costs with interest on the $70 million drawn
down after our IPO on the facilities put in place at the time, calculated at
5.0% per annum


                                                                     Page 9 of 9

EX-99.3

                                                                    Exhibit 99.3

                          INVERESK RESEARCH GROUP, INC.
                SCRIPT FOR THE SECOND QUARTER, 2003 EARNINGS CALL
                                  JULY 30, 2003

SLIDE 1 - COVER PAGE (MATT DALLAS, FD MORGEN-WALKE)

Good morning ladies and gentlemen and welcome to the web cast of Inveresk
Research Group's results for the second quarter of 2003. Presenting from the
Company will be Dr Walter Nimmo, President and Chief Executive Officer and Mr
Paul Cowan, Chief Financial Officer.

The presentation will be presented simultaneously over the internet with access
via the Company's website at www.inveresk.com. An opportunity will be given for
questions to be asked following the presentation.

SLIDE 2 - SAFE HARBOR DISCLAIMER (MATT DALLAS, FD MORGEN-WALKE)

We would remind you of the safe harbor disclaimer included with the Company's
results presentation -

Statements contained in this presentation that are forward-looking are based on
current expectations that are subject to a number of uncertainties and risks,
and actual results may differ materially. Factors that might cause such a
difference include, but are not limited to, risks associated with: the reduction
in research and development activities by pharmaceutical and biotechnology
clients, changes in government regulations, the effects of interest rate and
foreign exchange fluctuations, our ability to attract and retain employees, the
loss or delay of contracts due to economic uncertainty and other factors, our
ability to efficiently manage backlog, our ability to expand our business
through strategic acquisitions, competition within the industry and the
potential adverse impact of health care reform. Further information about these
risks and uncertainties can be found in the information included in the
company's recent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including
the company's S-1 Registration Statement and Form 10-K filed on February 18,
2002. Further information for data reconciling reported and pro-forma financial
data can be found in the Company's press release filed July 29, 2003.

SLIDE 3 - TITLE SLIDE (MATT DALLAS, FD MORGEN-WALKE)

Today's presentation will take place in two parts. Dr Walter Nimmo will provide
an operational overview for the Company and Mr Paul Cowan will provide a
financial overview. With that I would now like to introduce Dr Walter Nimmo.


                                                                     Page 1 of 9

SLIDE 4 - OPERATIONAL OVERVIEW (WALTER NIMMO, INVERESK RESEARCH GROUP, INC.)

Good morning everyone and welcome to this presentation of the financial results
of the Inveresk Research Group for the second quarter 2003.

We are pleased to say that we have exceeded consensus forecasts for the company
in terms of earnings per share for the second quarter of 2003.

- -     We recorded net service revenue of $67.0 million in the second quarter, a
      21% increase over net service revenues for the same period in 2002. The
      year-on-year comparison has benefited from exchange rate movements,
      although underlying growth was reasonable given the strength of the second
      quarter results in 2002. Revenues increased 16.2% from the first quarter
      of 2003 as a result of the anticipated rebound in activity levels during
      the second quarter at CTBR, our North American pre-clinical operations, as
      well as continued strength in Pre-clinical Europe and our clinical
      activities.

- -     Income from operations totaled $12.9 million, compared with a $37.9
      million loss in second quarter of 2002. On a pro forma basis, income from
      operations in the second quarter of 2002 was $12.1 million

- -     Pre-clinical revenues were $42.2 million, compared with $36.4 million in
      the first quarter of 2003, demonstrating the rebound at CTBR and continued
      strength of the European pre-clinical business.

- -     Meanwhile clinical development revenues grew 29% year-on-year and its
      operating margin increased to 11.3% in the second quarter, from 10.6% in
      the second quarter of 2002.

- -     Reported earnings per share were $0.27 in the second quarter of 2003,
      compared with a loss per share of $1.87 in the corresponding period of
      2002. On a pro forma basis, earnings per share for the second quarter of
      2002 were $0.23.

- -     On a pro forma basis therefore, earnings per share increased by 17.4%
      compared with the second quarter of 2002.

- -     Cash flow from operations totaled $17.0 million year-to-date, before
      capital expenditure of $8.5 million.

- -     Continuing the positive momentum from the first quarter, new business
      signings totaled $68.7 million in the second quarter of 2003. Year to
      date, new business signings totalled $145.3 million, and confirmed backlog
      stood at $224 million at June 30, 2003

All of our businesses met or exceeded their new business signings budgets in the
first half of 2003. Additionally, strong operating results and year-on-year
growth were recorded during the quarter by all of our operations.


                                                                     Page 2 of 9

SLIDE 5 - NET SERVICE REVENUE - Q2, 2003 (WALTER NIMMO, INVERESK RESEARCH GROUP,
INC.)

Moving on to discuss in more detail the breakdown of our net service revenue,
you can see that during the second quarter of 2003, Pre-clinical accounted for
63% of net service revenue and Clinical accounted for 37%.

Looking at revenues by client type in the second quarter, pharmaceutical
companies accounted for 54% of net service revenue, biotechnology companies
accounted for 33% of net service revenues and other companies, predominantly
agro-chemical, veterinary and chemical related work, accounted for the remaining
13% of revenues.

58% of our revenues were derived from clients based in the USA, 32% from Europe,
7% from Japan and 3% from the rest of the world.

SLIDE 6 - REVENUE BY CLIENT - Q2, 2003 (WALTER NIMMO, INVERESK RESEARCH GROUP,
INC.)

You will see from the next slide that we have maintained our core strategy to
have a highly diverse client base.

In the second quarter our biggest client accounted for 10.4% of net service
revenues. Our five largest clients accounted for 24.2% of net service revenues
and our top 20 clients accounted for only 44.3% of net service revenue.

Also, we should continue to emphasise that revenues earned from our biggest
clients are spread over multiple service offerings and also over multiple
research programs.


                                                                     Page 3 of 9

SLIDE 7 - MOVING ANNUAL TOTAL OF SIGNED CONTRACTS (WALTER NIMMO, INVERESK
RESEARCH GROUP, INC.)

As many of you will already know, we assess internally the strength of our
underlying businesses using a measure referred to as the Moving Annual Total of
Signed Contracts. This statistic measures the cumulative new business signings
in each of our individual businesses over the previous twelve months. We use
this measure to assess potential revenues over the coming twelve months.

Moving Annual Total of Signed Contracts at June 30, 2003 amounted to $281
million, benefiting from the continued strength in new business signings across
all our businesses. Our internal aim for this statistic is for it to be 10% over
our target revenue for the current year, in which case we have historically met
our revenue targets.

SLIDE 8 - CONFIRMED BACKLOG (WALTER NIMMO, INVERESK RESEARCH GROUP, INC.)

Confirmed backlog at June 30, 2003 was $224 million, compared with $202 million
at June 30, 2002. Because of the short-term nature of large parts of our
pre-clinical and Phase I businesses, we prefer to use the Moving Annual Total of
Signed Contracts as the leading indicator of the underlying health of our
businesses.

SLIDE 9 - PHARMARESEARCH ACQUISITION (WALTER NIMMO, INVERESK RESEARCH GROUP,
INC.)

This slide summarises the key points of our acquisition of PharmaResearch:

- -     PharmaResearch is a US-based drug development services group focused on
      the provision of Phase II to Phase IV clinical trials support services,
      principally in the areas of respiratory and infectious diseases.

- -     The Company is based in Morrisville and Wilmington, North Carolina, with
      foreign operations based in the United Kingdom, France, Spain and China.

- -     This acquisition allows us to increase significantly the scale and service
      of our North American clinical development operations.

- -     PharmaResearch's strong presence in the field of respiratory and
      infectious diseases offers the opportunity to build further on Inveresk's
      high value-added clinical support services.

- -     In 2002, PharmaResearch recorded net service revenue of $40.6 million and
      income from operations of $4.8 million.


                                                                     Page 4 of 9

- -     The acquisition is forecast to be accretive to earnings per share for the
      remainder of 2003, supporting further our profit objective for the
      clinical business segment.

- -     The transaction valued PharmaResearch at $37.1 million, net of cash
      acquired of approximately $10.0 million.

- -     And, the acquisition is effective from July 30, 2003.

- -     The PharmaResearch acquisition has been financed through a new $150
      million syndicated bank credit facility arranged by Wachovia Bank. This
      new facility will also replace our existing bank credit facilities put in
      place at the time of our IPO.


SLIDE 10 - TITLE SLIDE: PAUL COWAN, CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER (WALTER NIMMO,
INVERESK RESEARCH GROUP, INC.)

I would now like to turn the call over to Paul Cowan, our Chief Financial
Officer, for a financial overview of the second quarter.


                                                                     Page 5 of 9

SLIDE 11 - GAAP/PRO FORMA OPERATING INCOME - Q2, 2003 (PAUL COWAN, INVERESK
RESEARCH GROUP, INC.)

Good morning ladies and gentlemen.

This next slide reconciles our reported and pro forma results for the second
quarter of 2003.

Reported income from operations for the second quarter of 2003 totaled $12.9
million, compared with a $37.8 million loss in the second quarter of 2002. On a
pro forma basis, however, income from operations was the same as reported in
2003 and $12.1 million in the second quarter 2002.

SLIDE 12 - Q2, 2003 FINANCIAL RESULTS BY SEGMENT (PAUL COWAN, INVERESK RESEARCH
GROUP, INC.)

- -     Compared with 2002, Pre-clinical and Clinical increased net service
      revenue by 16% and 29% respectively. Overall, the Company recorded net
      service revenue in the quarter $67.0 million, an increase of 21% compared
      to 2002.

- -     We continue to benefit from positive exchange rate movements, particularly
      with regard the Canadian dollar and pounds sterling. On a constant dollar
      basis, net service revenue in pre-clinical and clinical increased by 3%
      and 22% respectively in the second quarter of 2003. Growth in the
      pre-clinical business was satisfactory given results in North America
      during the first quarter and also given the very strong second quarter
      result in 2002 which, as reported, benefited from a number of one-off
      items.

- -     Income from operations increased by 7% and 17% for the pre-clinical and
      clinical segments respectively. Overall, on a pro forma basis income from
      operations increased by 7% compared to the corresponding period in 2002.
      Compared to the first quarter of 2003, income from operations increased by
      more than 50% reflecting the recovery at CTBR and the continued strength
      of our remaining businesses.

- -     We will discuss later the key factors influencing the second quarter's
      revenues and operating income.


                                                                     Page 6 of 9

SLIDE 13 - SEGMENT PROFITABILITY - Q2, 2003 (PAUL COWAN, INVERESK RESEARCH
GROUP, INC.)

Pre-clinical recorded a return to strong operating profit margins during the
quarter. As a percentage of revenue, the operating margin of pre-clinical was
28.9% in Q2, compared to 31.2% during the same period in 2002 and 24.2% in the
first quarter of this year. We are pleased with this outcome given our first
quarter results, the impact on margins of exchange rate movements and the fact
that the 2002 operating margin benefited from a number of one-off items
previously reported.

The continuing solid performance of our clinical business segment contributed
strongly to our second quarter operating performance. Clinical reported an
operating margin of 11.3% in the second quarter, compared to 12.4% in 2002. The
slight decline in margin reflects largely a shift in the business mix, with a
higher proportion of revenues this quarter being accounted for by the recovery
of out-of-pocket expenses. We were nevertheless pleased by the 17% increase in
the operating profit of this segment.

SLIDE 14 - PRO FORMA EPS - Q2, 2003 (PAUL COWAN)

Inveresk Research reported diluted earnings per share of $0.27 in the second
quarter of 2003, compared to a loss per share in 2002. On a pro forma basis,
earnings per share in Q2, 2002 amounted to $0.23.

SLIDE 15 - KEY FACTORS INFLUENCING Q2, 2003 RESULTS (PAUL COWAN, INVERESK
RESEARCH GROUP, INC.)

In this next slide we highlight the key factors, which influenced the Company's
financial results the second quarter of 2002. These included:

- -     A rebound in activity levels at CTBR, where revenues increased 24.2%
      compared with the first quarter of 2003.

- -     Our strong European Pre-clinical performance has been maintained.

- -     Acceleration in Clinical revenue growth, although mix of revenues has
      impacted operating margins slightly.

- -     Beneficial exchange rate movements positively impacting translation of
      non-US financial results.

- -     Transaction exchange losses recorded, amounting to $0.4 million -
      demonstrating benefit of hedging program implemented in March.


                                                                     Page 7 of 9

- -     Social security costs totaling $0.1 million in respect of the exercise of
      employee stock options.

- -     And, a Negative mark-to-market adjustment on interest rate swaps of $0.3
      million.


SLIDE 16 - REVIEW OF CASH FLOWS - Q2, 2003 (PAUL COWAN, INVERESK RESEARCH GROUP,
INC.)

In terms of cash flow and balance sheet performance, in 2002:

- -     The Company generated cash flow from operations of $17.0 million in the
      first half of 2003

- -     We invested $8.5 million in capital expenditure, principally on the
      expansion of our pre-clinical facility in Tranent, Scotland.

- -     The Company had net days sales outstanding of 31 at Quarter end, compared
      to 30 days at December 31, 2002,

- -     At June 30, 2003 the Company had cash and equivalents of $21.8 million and
      gross financial debt of $57.5 million.

As we mentioned earlier, the acquisition of PharmaResearch has been funded
primarily through a new $150 million credit facility arranged by Wachovia Bank.
This facility will also replace our existing bank credit facilities.

I will now hand you back to Walter Nimmo to finalise the presentation.

SLIDE 17 - OUTLOOK AND STRATEGY (WALTER NIMMO, INVERESK RESEARCH GROUP, INC.)

We experienced continued strength in new business signings, which were
experienced across all operations - toxicology, laboratory sciences and
clinical.

Pre-clinical expansion remains on plan, both in the Montreal and Edinburgh
facilities.

The acquisition of PharmaResearch supports further our Clinical profit objective
- - and the acquisition will be accretive from the outset.

Our European pre-clinical operations are experiencing continued strong demand.

Record new business enquiries at CTBR and strong new business signings, although
delayed decision making by clients may impact revenue growth in the second half.


                                                                     Page 8 of 9

Based on these factors, our 2003 guidance is maintained at pro forma EPS of
$1.07 to $1.09 for the full year, on a diluted basis, before taking account of
costs associated with the integration of PharmaResearch Corporation and our
withdrawn share offering in the first quarter.

As we have said in the past, we will continue to service our clients with
quality, high value services. The pre-clinical expansion is on plan and the
acquisition of PharmaResearch supports our clinical profit objective. Inveresk
is benefiting from its diverse revenue and client base, as well as our diverse
service offering, which positions the Company well for the future.

Ladies and gentlemen, that is the end of our presentation. I would now like to
invite questions from the participants in our conference call.


                                                                     Page 9 of 9

EX-99.4

Exhibit 99.4

Second Quarter 2003 Earnings July 30, 2003

Statements contained in this presentation that are forward-looking are based on current expectations that are subject to a number of uncertainties and risks, and actual results may differ materially. Factors that might cause such a difference include, but are not limited to, risks associated with: the reduction in research and development activities by pharmaceutical and biotechnology clients, changes in government regulations, the effects of interest rate and foreign exchange fluctuations, our ability to attract and retain employees, the loss or delay of contracts due to economic uncertainty or other factors, our ability to efficiently manage backlog, our ability to expand our business through strategic acquisitions, competition within the industry and the potential adverse impact of health care reform. Further information about these risks and uncertainties can be found in the information included in the company's recent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the company's Registration Statement on Form S-1, and Form 10-K filed on February 18, 2003. Further information for data reconciling reported and pro-forma financial data can be found in the Company's press release filed July 29, 2003. Safe Harbour Disclaimer

Financial Overview Paul Cowan, CFO Operational Overview Walter Nimmo, President & CEO

Q2, 2003 Financial Highlights Net service revenue up 21% to $67.0 million ($55.5 million in Q2, 2002) Income from operations $12.9 million (reported loss from operations $37.9 million in Q2, 2002, pro forma $12.1 million) Pre-clinical revenues $42.2 million, compared with $36.4 million in Q1, demonstrates rebound at CTBR and continued strength of European Pre- clinical Clinical revenues grew 29% year-on-year. Operating margin increased to 11.3% from 10.6% in Q1, 2003 (12.4% in Q2, 2002) Reported diluted EPS of $0.27 (loss per share of $1.87 in Q2,2002) Pro forma diluted EPS of $0.27, a 17.4% increase over Q2, 2002 Year-to-date cash flow from operations $17.0 million, capex of $8.5 million Year-to-date new business signings $145.3 million (Q2, 2003 - $68.7 million) Confirmed backlog - $224 million at June 30, 2003

Clinical Pre-clinical 0.37 0.63 Net Service Revenue - YTD By Segment Pre-clinical 63% Clinical 37% Pharma Biotech Other 0.54 0.33 0.13 By Client Type Pharma 54% Biotech 33% Other 13% ROW Europe Japan USA 0.03 0.32 0.07 0.58 By Origin of Client Japan 7% ROW 3% Europe 32% USA 58%

Major Pharma Major Pharma Major Pharma Biotech Major Pharma Major Pharma Biotech Biotech Biotech Biotech Major Pharma Biotech Biotech Pharma Major Pharma Pharma Biotech Biotech Biotech Major Pharma % of Net Service Revenue 0.104 0.043 0.041 0.032 0.029 0.022 0.022 0.019 0.018 0.016 0.016 0.013 0.012 0.011 0.01 0.009 0.009 0.009 0.008 0.008 Revenue by Client - YTD Top client - 10.4% Top 5 clients - 24.2% Top 20 clients - 44.3% Percentage of Net Service Revenue

Moving Annual Total of Signed Contracts Moving Annual Total of Signed Contracts - cumulative previous twelve months new signed contracts, net of cancellations Dec 01 Mar 02 Jun 02 Sep 02 Dec 02 Mar 03 6/1/2003 East 242.9 265.1 266.3 258.919 266.964 270.868 281.2

Confirmed Backlog Jun-01 Sep-01 Dec-01 Mar-02 Jun-02 Sep-02 Dec-02 Mar-03 6/1/2003 East 148.5 165 171.8 193.2 202 206.1 209.8 222 224

PharmaResearch Acquisition US-based drug development services group focused on Phase II-IV Strong therapeutic focus on respiratory and infectious diseases Based in North Carolina, with offices in the UK, France, Spain and China Increases the scale and service of our North American clinical business Opportunity to build further Inveresk's clinical support services Audited revenues and income from operations of $40.6 million and $4.8 million respectively in 2002 Acquisition accretive in 2003 - supporting further our Clinical profit objective Transaction values PharmaResearch at $37.1 million, net of cash acquired Acquisition effective from July 30, 2003

Operational Overview Walter Nimmo, President & CEO Financial Overview Paul Cowan, Chief Financial Officer

GAAP/Pro Forma Operating Income - Q2, 2003 (Dollars in thousands) Q2, 2003 Q2, 2002 Income (loss) from operations - reported 12,941 (37,877) Compensation expense in respect of share options and management equity incentives - 48,475 Stamp duty taxes on change of ultimate parent company - 1,545 Pro forma income from operations 12,941 12,143

Q2, 2003 Financial Results by Segment 2002 11.4 2.4 -37.9 12.1 2003 12.2 2.8 12.9 12.9 2002 36.4 19.2 55.5 2003 42.3 24.8 67 Net Service Revenue ($ millions) Income from Operations ($ millions) +16% +29% +21% +7% +7% 2002 Total Reported Total Pro Forma Clinical Pre- clinical Pre- clinical Clinical Total Reported +17%

Segment Profitability - Q2, 2003 (Dollars in thousands) Pre-clinical Pre-clinical Pre-clinical Clinical Clinical Clinical (Dollars in thousands) Q2, 03 Q2, 02 Q2, 03 Q2, 02 Net service revenue 42,231 36,367 +16% 24,804 19,182 +29% Income from operations 12,206 11,356 +7% 2,797 2,381 +17% Operating margin 28.9% 31.2% 11.3% 12.4%

Pro Forma EPS - Q2, 2003 (Dollars in thousands) Q2, 2003 Q2, 2002 Net income (loss) - reported 10,159 (44,337) Compensation expense in respect of share options and management equity incentives - 48,475 Stamp duty taxes on change of ultimate parent company - 1,545 Interest saving on IPO proceeds - 2,875 Pro forma net income 10,159 8,558 Diluted shares in issue - reported 37,624,192 23,770,595 Diluted shares in issue - pro forma 37,624,192 37,261,465 Diluted EPS - reported $0.27 ($1.87) Pro forma diluted EPS $0.27 $0.23

Key Factors Influencing Q2, 2003 Results Rebound in activity levels at CTBR, revenues up 24.2% compared with Q1, 2003 Strong European pre-clinical performance maintained Acceleration in Clinical revenue growth, although mix of revenues has impacted operating margins Beneficial exchange rate movements positively impacting translation of non-US financial results Transaction exchange losses recorded amounting to $0.4 million - demonstrating benefit of hedging program Social security costs totaling $0.1 million in respect of the exercise of employee stock options Negative mark-to-market adjustment on interest rate swaps of $0.3 million

Review of Cash Flows - YTD Net cash provided by operations: $17.0 million Capital expenditure: $8.5 million Net DSO at June 30, 2003: 31 (30 at December 31, 2002) Cash and equivalents at June 30, 2003 : $21.8 million Gross financial debt at June 30, 2003 : $58.0 million

Outlook and Strategy Continued strength in new business signings experienced across all operations - toxicology, laboratory sciences and clinical Pre-clinical expansion remains on plan, both in Montreal and Edinburgh PharmaResearch acquisition supports further our Clinical profit objective - acquisition accretive from the outset European pre-clinical operations experiencing continued strong demand Record new business enquiries at CTBR and strong new business signings, although delayed decision making by clients is expected to adversely impact revenue growth in the second half 2003 guidance maintained at $1.07 and $1.09 IRGI benefitting from its diverse revenue and client base, positions it well for the future