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                                                                    EXHIBIT 4.12

                                                                  EXECUTION COPY

                      FISHER SCIENTIFIC INTERNATIONAL INC.

                     2.50% CONVERTIBLE SENIOR NOTES DUE 2023

                          REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

                                                                    July 7, 2003

Goldman, Sachs & Co.
85 Broad Street
New York, New York 10004

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         Fisher Scientific International Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
"Company"), proposes to issue and sell to the Purchaser (as defined herein) upon
the terms set forth in the Purchase Agreement (as defined herein) its 2.50%
Convertible Senior Notes due 2023 (the "Securities"). As an inducement to the
Purchaser to enter into the Purchase Agreement and in satisfaction of a
condition to the obligations of the Purchaser thereunder, the Company agrees
with the Purchaser for the benefit of Holders (as defined herein) from time to
time of the Registrable Securities (as defined herein) as follows:

         1.       Definitions.

         (a)      Capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have
the meanings ascribed to them in the Purchase Agreement. As used in this
Agreement, the following defined terms shall have the following meanings:

         "Affiliate" of any specified person means any other person which,
directly or indirectly, is in control of, is controlled by, or is under common
control with such specified person. For purposes of this definition, control of
a person means the power, direct or indirect, to direct or cause the direction
of the management and policies of such person whether by contract or otherwise;
and the terms "controlling" and "controlled" have meanings correlative to the
foregoing.

         "Closing Date" means the Time of Delivery as defined in the Purchase
Agreement.

         "Commission" means the United States Securities and Exchange
Commission, or any other federal agency at the time administering the Exchange
Act or the Securities Act, whichever is the relevant statute for the particular
purpose.

         "Common Stock" means the Company's common stock, par value $0.01 per
share.

         "DTC" means The Depository Trust Company, or any other depository
appointed by the Company, provided, however, that such depositary shall have an
address in the Borough of Manhattan in the City of New York.

         "Effective Date" has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 2(b)(i)
hereof..

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         "Effective Failure" has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 7(b)
hereof.

         "Effectiveness Period" has the meaning assigned thereto in Section
2(b)(i) hereof.

         "Effective Time" means the time at which the Commission declares the
Shelf Registration Statement effective or at which the Shelf Registration
Statement otherwise becomes effective.

         "Electing Holder" has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 3(a)(iii)
hereof.

         "Exchange Act" means the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended.

         "Holder" means any person that is the record owner of Registrable
Securities (and includes any person that has a beneficial interest in any
Registrable Security in book-entry form).

         "Indenture" means the Indenture, dated as of July 7 2003, between the
Company and J.P. Morgan Trust Company, N.A., as amended and supplemented from
time to time in accordance with its terms.

         "Liquidated Damages" has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 7(a)
hereof.

         "Managing Underwriters" means the investment banker or investment
bankers and manager or managers that shall administer an underwritten offering,
if any, conducted pursuant to Section 6 hereof.

         "NASD Rules" means the Rules of the National Association of Securities
Dealers, Inc., as amended from time to time.

         "Notice and Questionnaire" means a Notice of Registration Statement and
Selling Securityholder Questionnaire substantially in the form of Appendix A
hereto.

         The term "person" means an individual, partnership, corporation, trust
or unincorporated organization, or a government or agency or political
subdivision thereof.

         "Prospectus" means the prospectus (including, without limitation, any
preliminary prospectus, any final prospectus and any prospectus that discloses
information previously omitted from a prospectus filed as part of an effective
registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A under the Securities Act)
included in the Shelf Registration Statement, as amended or supplemented by any
prospectus supplement with respect to the terms of the offering of any portion
of the Registrable Securities covered by the Shelf Registration Statement and by
all other amendments and supplements to such prospectus, including all material
incorporated by reference in such prospectus and all documents filed after the
date of such prospectus by the Company under the Exchange Act and incorporated
by reference therein.

         "Purchase Agreement" means the purchase agreement, dated as of July 1,
2003, between the Purchaser and the Company relating to the Securities.

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         "Purchaser" means Goldman, Sachs & Co.

         "Registrable Securities" means all or any portion of the Securities
issued from time to time under the Indenture in registered form and the shares
of Common Stock issuable upon conversion, repurchase or redemption of such
Securities; provided, however, that a security ceases to be a Registrable
Security when it is no longer a Restricted Security.

         "Registration Default" has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 7(a)
hereof.

         "Restricted Security" means any Security or share of Common Stock
issuable upon conversion thereof except any such Security or share of Common
Stock that (i) has been effectively registered under the Securities Act and sold
in a manner contemplated by the Shelf Registration Statement, (ii) has been
transferred in compliance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act (or any
successor provision thereto) or is transferable pursuant to paragraph (k) of
such Rule 144 (or any successor provision thereto) or (iii) has otherwise been
transferred and a new Security or share of Common Stock not subject to transfer
restrictions under the Securities Act has been delivered by or on behalf of the
Company in accordance with Section 2.6 of the Indenture.

         "Rules and Regulations" means the published rules and regulations of
the Commission promulgated under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, as in
effect at any relevant time.

         "Securities Act" means the United States Securities Act of 1933, as
amended.

         "Shelf Registration" means a registration effected pursuant to Section
2 hereof.

         "Shelf Registration Statement" means a "shelf" registration statement
filed under the Securities Act providing for the registration of, and the sale
on a continuous or delayed basis by the Holders of, all of the Registrable
Securities pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act and/or any similar rule
that may be adopted by the Commission, filed by the Company pursuant to the
provisions of Section 2 of this Agreement, including the Prospectus contained
therein, any amendments and supplements to such registration statement,
including post-effective amendments, and all exhibits and all material
incorporated by reference in such registration statement.

         "Trust Indenture Act" means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, or any
successor thereto, and the rules, regulations and forms promulgated thereunder,
as the same shall be amended from time to time.

         The term "underwriter" means any underwriter of Registrable Securities
in connection with an offering thereof under a Shelf Registration Statement.

         (b)      Wherever there is a reference in this Agreement to a
percentage of the "principal amount" of Registrable Securities or to a
percentage of Registrable Securities, Common Stock shall be treated as
representing the principal amount of Securities that was surrendered for
conversion or exchange in order to receive such number of shares of Common
Stock.

         2.       Shelf Registration.

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         (a)      The Company shall, no later than 120 calendar days following
the Closing Date, file with the Commission a Shelf Registration Statement
relating to the offer and sale of the Registrable Securities by the Holders from
time to time in accordance with the methods of distribution elected by such
Holders and set forth in such Shelf Registration Statement and, thereafter,
shall use its reasonable efforts to cause such Shelf Registration Statement to
be declared effective under the Securities Act no later than 210 calendar days
following the Closing Date; provided, however, that the Company may, upon
written notice to all Holders, postpone having the Shelf Registration Statement
declared effective for a reasonable period not to exceed 90 days if the Company
possesses material non-public information, the disclosure of which would have a
material adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole;
provided, further, however, that no Holder shall be entitled to be named as a
selling securityholder in the Shelf Registration Statement or to use the
Prospectus forming a part thereof for resales of Registrable Securities unless
such Holder is an Electing Holder.

         (b)      The Company shall use its reasonable efforts:

                  (i)      to keep the Shelf Registration Statement continuously
         effective under the Securities Act in order to permit the Prospectus
         forming a part thereof to be usable by Holders until the earliest of
         (1) the sale of all Registrable Securities registered under the Shelf
         Registration Statement; (2) the expiration of the period referred to in
         Rule 144(k) of the Securities with respect to all Registrable
         Securities held by Persons that are not Affiliates of the Company; and
         (3) two years from the date (the "Effective Date") such Shelf
         Registration Statement is declared effective (such period being
         referred to herein as the "Effectiveness Period");

                  (ii)     after the Effective Time of the Shelf Registration
         Statement, promptly upon the request of any Holder of Registrable
         Securities that is not then an Electing Holder, to take any action
         reasonably necessary to enable such Holder to use the Prospectus
         forming a part thereof for resales of Registrable Securities,
         including, without limitation, any action necessary to identify such
         Holder as a selling securityholder in the Shelf Registration Statement;
         provided, however, that nothing in this subparagraph shall relieve such
         Holder of the obligation to return a completed and signed Notice and
         Questionnaire to the Company in accordance with Section 3(a)(ii)
         hereof; and

                  (iii)    if at any time the Securities, pursuant to Article IX
         of the Indenture, are convertible into securities other than Common
         Stock, to cause, or to cause any successor under the Indenture to
         cause, such securities to be included in the Shelf Registration
         Statement no later than the date on which the Securities may then be
         convertible into such securities.

The Company shall be deemed not to have used its reasonable efforts to keep the
Shelf Registration Statement effective during the requisite period if the
Company voluntarily takes any action that would result in Holders of Registrable
Securities covered thereby not being able to offer and sell any of such
Registrable Securities during that period, unless such action is (A) required by
applicable law and the Company thereafter promptly complies with the
requirements of paragraph 3(j) below or (B) permitted pursuant to Section 2(c)
below.

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         (c)      The Company may suspend the use of the Prospectus for a period
not to exceed 30 days in any 45-day period or an aggregate of 90 days in any
12-month period if the Board of Directors of the Company shall have determined
in good faith that because of valid business reasons (not including avoidance of
the Company's obligations hereunder), including the acquisition or divestiture
of assets, pending corporate developments and similar events, it is in the best
interests of the Company to suspend such use, and prior to suspending such use
the Company provides the Holders with written notice of such suspension, which
notice need not specify the nature of the event giving rise to such suspension.

         3.       Registration Procedures. In connection with the Shelf
Registration Statement, the following provisions shall apply:

         (a)      (i) Not less than 30 calendar days prior to the Effective Time
of the Shelf Registration Statement, the Company shall mail the Notice and
Questionnaire to the Holders of Registrable Securities. No Holder shall be
entitled to be named as a selling securityholder in the Shelf Registration
Statement as of the Effective Time, and no Holder shall be entitled to use the
Prospectus forming a part thereof for resales of Registrable Securities at any
time, unless such Holder has returned a completed and signed Notice and
Questionnaire to the Company by the deadline for response set forth therein;
provided, however, Holders of Registrable Securities shall have at least 28
calendar days from the date on which the Notice and Questionnaire is first
mailed to such Holders to return a completed and signed Notice and Questionnaire
to the Company.

                  (ii)     After the Effective Time of the Shelf Registration
         Statement, the Company shall, upon the request of any Holder of
         Registrable Securities that is not then an Electing Holder, promptly
         send a Notice and Questionnaire to such Holder. The Company shall not
         be required to take any action to name such Holder as a selling
         securityholder in the Shelf Registration Statement or to enable such
         Holder to use the Prospectus forming a part thereof for resales of
         Registrable Securities until such Holder has returned a completed and
         signed Notice and Questionnaire to the Company.

                  (iii)    The term "Electing Holder" shall mean any Holder of
         Registrable Securities that has returned a completed and signed Notice
         and Questionnaire to the Company in accordance with Section 3(a)(i) or
         3(a)(ii) hereof.

         (b)      The Company shall furnish to each Electing Holder, prior to
the Effective Time, a copy of the Shelf Registration Statement initially filed
with the Commission, and shall furnish to such Holders, prior to the filing
thereof with the Commission, copies of each amendment thereto and each amendment
or supplement, if any, to the Prospectus included therein, and shall use its
best efforts to reflect in each such document, at the Effective Time or when so
filed with the Commission, as the case may be, such comments as such Holders and
their respective counsel reasonably may propose.

         (c)      The Company shall promptly take such action as may be
necessary so that (i) each of the Shelf Registration Statement and any amendment
thereto and the Prospectus forming a part thereof and any amendment or
supplement thereto (and each report or other document in-

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corporated therein by reference in each case) complies in all material respects
with the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and the respective rules and
regulations thereunder, (ii) each of the Shelf Registration Statement and any
amendment thereto does not, when it becomes effective, contain an untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading and
(iii) each of the Prospectus forming a part of the Shelf Registration Statement,
and any amendment or supplement to such Prospectus, does not at any time during
the Effectiveness Period include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit
to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in
the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

         (d)      The Company shall promptly advise each Electing Holder, and
shall confirm such advice in writing if so requested by any such Electing
Holder:

                  (i)      when a Shelf Registration Statement and any amendment
         thereto has been filed with the Commission and when a Shelf
         Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto has
         become effective, in each case making a public announcement thereof by
         release made to Reuters Economic Services and Bloomberg Business News;

                  (ii)     of any request by the Commission for amendments or
         supplements to the Shelf Registration Statement or the Prospectus
         included therein or for additional information;

                  (iii)    of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order
         suspending the effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement or the
         initiation of any proceedings for such purpose;

                  (iv)     of the receipt by the Company of any notification
         with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the securities
         included in the Shelf Registration Statement for sale in any
         jurisdiction or the initiation of any proceeding for such purpose; and

                  (v)      of the occurrence of any event or the existence of
         any state of facts that requires the making of any changes in the Shelf
         Registration Statement or the Prospectus included therein so that, as
         of such date, such Shelf Registration Statement and Prospectus do not
         contain an untrue statement of a material fact and do not omit to state
         a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
         statements therein (in the case of the Prospectus, in light of the
         circumstances under which they were made) not misleading (which advice
         shall be accompanied by an instruction to such Holders to suspend the
         use of the Prospectus until the requisite changes have been made).

         (e)      The Company shall use its best efforts to prevent the
issuance, and if issued to obtain the withdrawal at the earliest possible time,
of any order suspending the effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement.

         (f)      The Company shall furnish to each Electing Holder, without
charge, at least one copy of the Shelf Registration Statement and all
post-effective amendments thereto, including

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financial statements and schedules, and, if such Electing Holder so requests in
writing, all reports, other documents and exhibits that are filed with or
incorporated by reference in the Shelf Registration Statement.

         (g)      The Company shall, during the Effectiveness Period, deliver to
each Electing Holder, without charge, as many copies of the Prospectus
(including each preliminary Prospectus) included in the Shelf Registration
Statement and any amendment or supplement thereto as such Electing Holder may
reasonably request; and the Company consents (except during the periods
specified in Section 2(c) above or during the continuance of any event or the
existence of any state of facts described in Section 3(d)(v) above) to the use
of the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto by each of the
Electing Holders in connection with the offering and sale of the Registrable
Securities covered by the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto
during the Effectiveness Period.

         (h)      Prior to any offering of Registrable Securities pursuant to
the Shelf Registration Statement, the Company shall (i) register or qualify or
cooperate with the Electing Holders and their respective counsel in connection
with the registration or qualification of such Registrable Securities for offer
and sale under the securities or "blue sky" laws of such jurisdictions within
the United States as any Electing Holder may reasonably request, (ii) keep such
registrations or qualifications in effect and comply with such laws so as to
permit the continuance of offers and sales in such jurisdictions for so long as
may be necessary to enable any Electing Holder or underwriter, if any, to
complete its distribution of Registrable Securities pursuant to the Shelf
Registration Statement, and (iii) take any and all other actions necessary or
advisable to enable the disposition in such jurisdictions of such Registrable
Securities; provided, however, that in no event shall the Company be obligated
to (A) qualify as a foreign corporation or as a dealer in securities in any
jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to so qualify but for this
Section 3(h) or (B) file any general consent to service of process in any
jurisdiction where it is not as of the date hereof so subject.

         (i)      Unless any Registrable Securities shall be in book-entry only
form, the Company shall cooperate with the Electing Holders to facilitate the
timely preparation and delivery of certificates representing Registrable
Securities to be sold pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement, which
certificates, if so required by any securities exchange upon which any
Registrable Securities are listed, shall be penned, lithographed or engraved, or
produced by any combination of such methods, on steel engraved borders, and
which certificates shall be free of any restrictive legends and in such
permitted denominations and registered in such names as Electing Holders may
request in connection with the sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to the
Shelf Registration Statement.

         (j)      Upon the occurrence of any event or the existence of any state
of facts contemplated by paragraph 3(d)(v) above, the Company shall promptly
prepare a post-effective amendment to any Shelf Registration Statement or an
amendment or supplement to the related Prospectus or file any other required
document so that, as thereafter delivered to purchasers of the Registrable
Securities included therein, the Prospectus will not include an untrue statement
of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the
statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading. If the Company notifies the

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Electing Holders of the occurrence of any event or the existence of any state of
facts contemplated by paragraph 3(d)(v) above, the Electing Holder shall suspend
the use of the Prospectus until the requisite changes to the Prospectus have
been made.

         (k)      Not later than the Effective Time of the Shelf Registration
Statement, the Company shall provide a CUSIP number for the Registrable
Securities that are debt securities.

         (l)      The Company shall use its best efforts to comply with all
applicable Rules and Regulations, and to make generally available to its
securityholders as soon as practicable, but in any event not later than eighteen
months after (i) the effective date (as defined in Rule 158(c) under the
Securities Act) of the Shelf Registration Statement, (ii) the effective date of
each post-effective amendment to the Shelf Registration Statement, and (iii) the
date of each filing by the Company with the Commission of an Annual Report on
Form 10-K that is incorporated by reference in the Shelf Registration Statement,
an earning statement of the Company and its subsidiaries complying with Section
11(a) of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission
thereunder (including, at the option of the Company, Rule 158).

         (m)      Not later than the Effective Time of the Shelf Registration
Statement, the Company shall cause the Indenture to be qualified under the Trust
Indenture Act; in connection with such qualification, the Company shall
cooperate with the Trustee under the Indenture and the Holders (as defined in
the Indenture) to effect such changes to the Indenture as may be required for
such Indenture to be so qualified in accordance with the terms of the Trust
Indenture Act; and the Company shall execute, and shall use all reasonable
efforts to cause the Trustee to execute, all documents that may be required to
effect such changes and all other forms and documents required to be filed with
the Commission to enable such Indenture to be so qualified in a timely manner.
In the event that any such amendment or modification referred to in this Section
3(m) involves the appointment of a new trustee under the Indenture, the Company
shall appoint a new trustee thereunder pursuant to the applicable provisions of
the Indenture.

         (n)      In the event of an underwritten offering conducted pursuant to
Section 6 hereof, the Company shall, if requested, promptly include or
incorporate in a Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment to the Shelf
Registration Statement such information as the Managing Underwriters reasonably
agree should be included therein and to which the Company does not reasonably
object and shall make all required filings of such Prospectus supplement or
post-effective amendment as soon as practicable after it is notified of the
matters to be included or incorporated in such Prospectus supplement or
post-effective amendment.

         (o)      The Company shall enter into such customary agreements
(including an underwriting agreement in customary form in the event of an
underwritten offering conducted pursuant to Section 6 hereof) and take all other
appropriate action in order to expedite and facilitate the registration and
disposition of the Registrable Securities, and in connection therewith, if an
underwriting agreement is entered into, cause the same to contain
indemnification provisions and procedures substantially identical to those set
forth in Section 5 hereof with respect to all parties to be indemnified pursuant
to Section 5 hereof.

         (p)      The Company shall:

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                  (i)      (A) make reasonably available for inspection by the
         Electing Holders, any underwriter participating in any disposition
         pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement, and any attorney,
         accountant or other agent retained by such Electing Holders or any such
         underwriter all relevant financial and other records, pertinent
         corporate documents and properties of the Company and its subsidiaries,
         and (B) cause the Company's officers, directors and employees to supply
         all information reasonably requested by such Electing Holders or any
         such underwriter, attorney, accountant or agent in connection with the
         Shelf Registration Statement, in each case, as is customary for similar
         due diligence examinations; provided, however, that all records,
         information and documents that are designated in writing by the
         Company, in good faith, as confidential shall be kept confidential by
         such Electing Holders and any such underwriter, attorney, accountant or
         agent, unless such disclosure is made in connection with a court
         proceeding or required by law, or such records, information or
         documents become available to the public generally or through a third
         party without an accompanying obligation of confidentiality; and
         provided further that, if the foregoing inspection and information
         gathering would otherwise disrupt the Company's conduct of its
         business, such inspection and information gathering shall, to the
         greatest extent possible, be coordinated on behalf of the Electing
         Holders and the other parties entitled thereto by one counsel
         designated by and on behalf of the Electing Holders and other parties;

                  (ii)     in connection with any underwritten offering
         conducted pursuant to Section 6 hereof, make such representations and
         warranties to the Electing Holders participating in such underwritten
         offering and to the Managing Underwriters, in form, substance and scope
         as are customarily made by the Company to underwriters in primary
         underwritten offerings of equity and convertible debt securities and
         covering matters including, but not limited to, those set forth in the
         Purchase Agreement;

                  (iii)    in connection with any underwritten offering
         conducted pursuant to Section 6 hereof, obtain opinions of counsel to
         the Company (which counsel and opinions (in form, scope and substance)
         shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Managing Underwriters)
         addressed to each Electing Holder participating in such underwritten
         offering and the underwriters, covering such matters as are customarily
         covered in opinions requested in primary underwritten offerings of
         equity and convertible debt securities and such other matters as may be
         reasonably requested by such Electing Holders and underwriters (it
         being agreed that the matters to be covered by such opinions shall
         include, without limitation, as of the date of the opinion and as of
         the Effective Time of the Shelf Registration Statement or most recent
         post-effective amendment thereto, as the case may be, the absence from
         the Shelf Registration Statement and the Prospectus, including the
         documents incorporated by reference therein, of an untrue statement of
         a material fact or the omission of a material fact required to be
         stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
         misleading;

                  (iv)     in connection with any underwritten offering
         conducted pursuant to Section 6 hereof, obtain "cold comfort" letters
         and updates thereof from the independent public accountants of the
         Company (and, if necessary, from the independent public ac-

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         countants of any subsidiary of the Company or of any business acquired
         by the Company for which financial statements and financial data are,
         or are required to be, included in the Shelf Registration Statement),
         addressed to each Electing Holder participating in such underwritten
         offering (if such Electing Holder has provided such letter,
         representations or documentation, if any, required for such cold
         comfort letter to be so addressed) and the underwriters, in customary
         form and covering matters of the type customarily covered in "cold
         comfort" letters in connection with primary underwritten offerings;

                  (v)      in connection with any underwritten offering
         conducted pursuant to Section 6 hereof, deliver such documents and
         certificates as may be reasonably requested by any Electing Holders
         participating in such underwritten offering and the Managing
         Underwriters, if any, including, without limitation, certificates to
         evidence compliance with Section 3(j) hereof and with any conditions
         contained in the underwriting agreement or other agreements entered
         into by the Company.

         (q)      The Company will use its best efforts to cause the Common
Stock issuable upon conversion of the Securities to be listed on the New York
Stock Exchange or other stock exchange or trading system on which the Common
Stock primarily trades on or prior to the Effective Time of the Shelf
Registration Statement hereunder.

         (r)      In the event that any broker-dealer registered under the
Exchange Act shall be an "affiliate" (as defined in Rule 2720(b)(1) of the NASD
Rules (or any successor provision thereto)) of the Company or has a "conflict of
interest" (as defined in Rule 2720(b)(7) of the NASD Rules (or any successor
provision thereto)) and such broker-dealer shall underwrite, participate as a
member of an underwriting syndicate or selling group or assist in the
distribution of any Registrable Securities covered by the Shelf Registration
Statement, whether as a Holder of such Registrable Securities or as an
underwriter, a placement or sales agent or a broker or dealer in respect
thereof, or otherwise, the Company shall assist such broker-dealer in complying
with the requirements of the NASD Rules, including, without limitation, by (A)
engaging a "qualified independent underwriter" (as defined in Rule 2720(b)(15)
of the NASD Rules (or any successor provision thereto)) to participate in the
preparation of the registration statement relating to such Registrable
Securities, to exercise usual standards of due diligence in respect thereto and
to recommend the public offering price of such Registrable Securities, (B)
indemnifying such qualified independent underwriter to the extent of the
indemnification of underwriters provided in Section 5 hereof, and (C) providing
such information to such broker-dealer as may be required in order for such
broker-dealer to comply with the requirements of the NASD Rules.

         (s)      The Company shall use its best efforts to take all other steps
necessary to effect the registration, offering and sale of the Registrable
Securities covered by the Shelf Registration Statement contemplated hereby.

         4.       Registration Expenses. Except as otherwise provided in Section
3, the Company shall bear all fees and expenses incurred in connection with the
performance of its obligations under Sections 2, 3 and 6 hereof and shall bear
or reimburse the Electing Holders for the reasonable fees and disbursements of a
single counsel selected by a plurality of all Electing Holders who own an
aggregate of not less than 25% of the Registrable Securities covered by the
Shelf

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Registration Statement to act as counsel therefore in connection therewith. Each
Electing Holder shall pay all underwriting discounts and commissions and
transfer taxes, if any, relating to the sale or disposition of such Electing
Holder's Registrable Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement.

         5.       Indemnification and Contribution.

         (a)      Indemnification by the Company. Upon the registration of the
Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 2 hereof, the Company shall indemnify
and hold harmless each Electing Holder and each underwriter, selling agent or
other securities professional, if any, which facilitates the disposition of
Registrable Securities, and each of their respective officers and directors and
each person who controls such Electing Holder, underwriter, selling agent or
other securities professional within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities
Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act (each such person being sometimes referred
to as an "Indemnified Person") against any losses, claims, damages or
liabilities, joint or several, to which such Indemnified Person may become
subject under the Securities Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims,
damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based
upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact
contained in any Shelf Registration Statement under which such Registrable
Securities are to be registered under the Securities Act, or any Prospectus
contained therein or furnished by the Company to any Indemnified Person, or any
amendment or supplement thereto, or arise out of or are based upon the omission
or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein in light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, and the Company hereby
agrees to reimburse such Indemnified Person for any legal or other expenses
reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating or defending any
such action or claim as such expenses are incurred; provided, however, that the
Company shall not be liable to any such Indemnified Person in any such case to
the extent that any such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is
based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or
alleged omission made in such Shelf Registration Statement or Prospectus, or
amendment or supplement, in reliance upon and in conformity with written
information furnished to the Company by such Indemnified Person expressly for
use therein (or any amendment thereto) or any Prospectus (or any amendment or
supplement thereto); provided further, that the Company shall not be liable to
any Indemnified Person to the extent that such loss, claim, damage or liability
results from the fact that such Indemnified Person sold Securities to a person
to whom there was not sent or given, at or prior to the written confirmation of
such sale, a copy of the final Prospectus as then amended or supplemented if the
Company had previously furnished copies thereof to such Indemnified Person and
the loss, claim, damage or liability of such indemnified Person results from an
untrue statement or omission of a material fact contained in the preliminary
Prospectus which was corrected in the final Prospectus. Any amounts advanced by
the Company to an Indemnified Person (other than expenses) pursuant to this
Section 5 as a result of such losses shall be returned to the Company if it
shall be finally determined by a court in a judgment not subject to appeal or
final review that such Indemnified Person was not entitled to indemnification by
the Company.

                                       11

<PAGE>

         (b)      Indemnification by the Electing Holders and any Agents and
Underwriters. Each Electing Holder agrees, as a consequence of the inclusion of
any of such Electing Holder's Registrable Securities in such Shelf Registration
Statement, and each underwriter, selling agent or other securities professional,
if any, which facilitates the disposition of Registrable Securities shall agree,
as a consequence of facilitating such disposition of Registrable Securities,
severally and not jointly, to (i) indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its
directors, officers who sign any Shelf Registration Statement and each person,
if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of either Section 15 of the
Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, against any losses, claims,
damages or liabilities to which the Company or such other persons may become
subject, under the Securities Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims,
damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based
upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact
contained in such Shelf Registration Statement or Prospectus, or any amendment
or supplement, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged
omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, in each case to the
extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement or omission or alleged omission was made in reliance upon and in
conformity with written information furnished to the Company by such Electing
Holder, underwriter, selling agent or other securities professional expressly
for use therein, and (ii) reimburse the Company for any legal or other expenses
reasonably incurred by the Company in connection with investigating or defending
any such action or claim as such expenses are incurred.

         (c)      Notices of Claims, Etc. Promptly after receipt by an
indemnified party under subsection (a) or (b) above of notice of the
commencement of any action, such indemnified party shall, if a claim in respect
thereof is to be made against an indemnifying party under this Section 5, notify
such indemnifying party in writing of the commencement thereof; but the omission
so to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability
which it may have to any indemnified party otherwise than under the
indemnification provisions of or contemplated by subsection (a) or (b) above. In
case any such action shall be brought against any indemnified party and it shall
notify an indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, such indemnifying
party shall be entitled to participate therein and, to the extent that it shall
wish, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume
the defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to such indemnified party (who
shall not, except with the consent of the indemnified party, be counsel to the
indemnifying party), and, after notice from the indemnifying party to such
indemnified party of its election so to assume the defense thereof, such
indemnifying party shall not be liable to such indemnified party under this
Section 5 for any legal expenses of other counsel or any other expenses, in each
case subsequently incurred by such indemnified party, in connection with the
defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation. No indemnifying
party shall, without the written consent of the indemnified party, effect the
settlement or compromise of, or consent to the entry of any judgment with
respect to, any pending or threatened action or claim in respect of which
indemnification or contribution may be sought hereunder (whether or not the
indemnified party is an actual or potential party to such action or claim)
unless such settlement, compromise or judgment (i) includes an unconditional
release of the indemnified party from all liability arising out of such action
or claim and (ii) does not include a

                                       12

<PAGE>

statement as to, or an admission of, fault, culpability or a failure to act, by
or on behalf of any indemnified party.

         (d)      Contribution. If the indemnification provided for in this
Section 5 is unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified
party under subsection (a) or (b) above in respect of any losses, claims,
damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) referred to therein, then
each indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such
indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or
actions in respect thereof) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the
relative fault of the indemnifying party and the indemnified party in connection
with the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, claims, damages
or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof), as well as any other relevant
equitable considerations. The relative fault of such indemnifying party and
indemnified party shall be determined by reference to, among other things,
whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or
alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by
such indemnifying party or by such indemnified party, and the parties' relative
intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent
such statement or omission. The parties hereto agree that it would not be just
and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 5(d) were determined by
pro rata allocation (even if the Electing Holders or any underwriters, selling
agents or other securities professionals or all of them were treated as one
entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not
take account of the equitable considerations referred to in this Section 5(d).
The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses,
claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) referred to above
shall be deemed to include any legal or other fees or expenses reasonably
incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending
any such action or claim. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation
(within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to
contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent
misrepresentation. The obligations of the Electing Holders and any underwriters,
selling agents or other securities professionals in this Section 5(d) to
contribute shall be several in proportion to the percentage of principal amount
of Registrable Securities registered or underwritten, as the case may be, by
them and not joint.

         (e)      Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 5, in no
event will any (Electing Holder be required to undertake liability to any person
under this Section 5 for any amounts in excess of the dollar amount of the
proceeds to be received by such Holder from the sale of such Holder's
Registrable Securities (after deducting any fees, discounts and commissions
applicable thereto) pursuant to any Shelf Registration Statement under which
such Registrable Securities are to be registered under the Securities Act.

         (f)      The obligations of the Company under this Section 5 shall be
in addition to any liability which the Company may otherwise have to any
Indemnified Person and the obligations of any Indemnified Person under this
Section 5 shall be in addition to any liability which such Indemnified Person
may otherwise have to the Company. The remedies provided in this Section 5 are
not exclusive and shall not limit any rights or remedies which may otherwise be
available to an indemnified party at law or in equity.

                                       13

<PAGE>

         6.       Underwritten Offering. Any Holder of Registrable Securities
who desires to do so may sell Registrable Securities (in whole or in part) in an
underwritten offering; provided that (i) the Electing Holders of at least
33-1/3% in aggregate principal amount of the Registrable Securities then covered
by the Shelf Registration Statement shall request such an offering and (ii) at
least such aggregate principal amount of such Registrable Securities shall be
included in such offering; and provided further that the Company shall not be
obligated to cooperate with more than one underwritten offering during the
Effectiveness Period. Upon receipt of such a request, the Company shall provide
all Holders of Registrable Securities written notice of the request, which
notice shall inform such Holders that they have the opportunity to participate
in the offering. In any such underwritten offering, the investment banker or
bankers and manager or managers that will administer the offering will be
selected by, and the underwriting arrangements with respect thereto (including
the size of the offering) will be approved by, the holders of a majority of the
Registrable Securities to be included in such offering; provided, however, that
such investment bankers and managers and underwriting arrangements must be
reasonably satisfactory to the Company. No Holder may participate in any
underwritten offering contemplated hereby unless (a) such Holder agrees to sell
such Holder's Registrable Securities to be included in the underwritten offering
in accordance with any approved underwriting arrangements, (b) such Holder
completes and executes all reasonable questionnaires, powers of attorney,
indemnities, underwriting agreements, lock-up letters and other documents
required under the terms of such approved underwriting arrangements, and (c) if
such Holder is not then an Electing Holder, such Holder returns a completed and
signed Notice and Questionnaire to the Company in accordance with Section
3(a)(ii) hereof within a reasonable amount of time before such underwritten
offering. The Holders participating in any underwritten offering shall be
responsible for any underwriting discounts and commissions and fees and, subject
to Section 4 hereof, expenses of their own counsel. The Company shall pay all
expenses customarily borne by issuers in an underwritten offering, including but
not limited to filing fees, the fees and disbursements of its counsel and
independent public accountants and any printing expenses incurred in connection
with such underwritten offering. Notwithstanding the foregoing or the provisions
of Section 3(n) hereof, upon receipt of a request from the Managing Underwriter
or a representative of holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities to be
included in an underwritten offering to prepare and file an amendment or
supplement to the Shelf Registration Statement and Prospectus in connection with
an underwritten offering, the Company may delay the filing of any such amendment
or supplement for up to 90 days if the Board of Directors of the Company shall
have determined in good faith that the Company has a bona fide business reason
for such delay.

         7.       Liquidated Damages.

         (a)      Notwithstanding any postponement of effectiveness permitted by
Section 2(a) hereof, if (i) on or prior to the 120th day following the Closing
Date, a Shelf Registration Statement has not been filed with the Commission or
(ii) on or prior to the 210th day following the Closing Date, such Shelf
Registration Statement is not declared effective by the Commission (each, a
"Registration Default"), the Company shall be required to pay liquidated damages
("Liquidated Damages"), from and including the day following such Registration
Default until such Shelf Registration Statement is either so filed or so filed
and subsequently declared effective, as applicable, at a rate per annum equal to
an additional one-quarter of one percent (0.25%)

                                       14

<PAGE>

of the principal amount of Registrable Securities, to and including the 90th day
following such Registration Default and one-half of one percent (0.50%) thereof
from and after the 91st day following such Registration Default.

         (b)      In the event that (i) the Shelf Registration Statement ceases
to be effective, (ii) the Company suspends the use of the Prospectus pursuant to
Section 2(c) or 3(j) hereof, (iii) the Holders are not authorized to use the
Prospectus pursuant to Section 3(g) hereto or (iv) the Holders are otherwise
prevented or restricted by the Company from effecting sales pursuant to the
Shelf Registration Statement (an "Effective Failure") for more than 45 days,
whether or not consecutive, in any 90-day period, or for more than 90 days,
whether or not consecutive, during any 12-month period, then the Company shall
pay Liquidated Damages at a rate per annum equal to an additional one-half of
one percent (0.50%) of the principal amount of Registrable Securities from the
46th day of the applicable 90-day period or the 91st day of the applicable
12-month period, as the case may be, that any such Effective Failure has existed
until the earlier of (1) the time the Holders of Registrable Securities are
again able to make sales under the Shelf Registration Statement or (2) the
expiration of the Effectiveness Period.

         (c)      Any amounts to be paid as Liquidated Damages pursuant to
paragraphs (a) or (b) of this Section 7 shall be paid in cash semi-annually in
arrears, with the first semi-annual payment due on the first Interest Payment
Date (as defined in the Indenture), as applicable, following the date of such
Registration Default or Effective Failure, as applicable. Such Liquidated
Damages will accrue (1) in respect of the Securities at the rates set forth in
paragraphs (a) or (b) of this Section 7, as applicable, on the principal amount
of the Securities and (2) in respect of the Common Stock issued upon conversion
of the Securities, at the rates set forth in paragraphs (a) or (b) of this
Section 7, as applicable, applied to the Conversion Price (as defined in the
Indenture) at that time.

         (d)      Except as provided in Section 8(b) hereof, the Liquidated
Damages as set forth in this Section 7 shall be the exclusive monetary remedy
available to the Holders of Registrable Securities for such Registration Default
or Effective Failure. In no event shall the Company be required to pay
Liquidated Damages in excess of the applicable maximum amount of one-half of one
percent (0.50%) set forth above, regardless of whether one or multiple
Registration Defaults or Effective Failures exist.

         8.       Miscellaneous.

         (a)      Other Registration Rights. The Company may grant registration
rights that would permit any person that is a third party the right to
piggy-back on any Shelf Registration Statement, provided that if the Managing
Underwriter of any underwritten offering conducted pursuant to Section 6 hereof
notifies the Company and the Electing Holders that the total amount of
securities which the Electing Holders and the holders of such piggy-back rights
intend to include in any Shelf Registration Statement is so large as to
materially threaten the success of such offering (including the price at which
such securities can be sold), then the amount, number or kind of securities to
be offered for the account of holders of such piggy-back rights will be reduced
to the extent necessary to reduce the total amount of securities to be included
in such offering to the

                                       15

<PAGE>

amount, number and kind recommended by the Managing Underwriter prior to any
reduction in the amount of Registrable Securities to be included in such Shelf
Registration Statement.

         (b)      Specific Performance. The parties hereto acknowledge that
there would be no adequate remedy at law if the Company fails to perform any of
its obligations hereunder and that the Purchaser and the Holders from time to
time may be irreparably harmed by any such failure, and accordingly agree that
the Purchaser and such Holders, in addition to any other remedy to which they
may be entitled at law or in equity and without limiting the remedies available
to the Electing Holders under Section 7 hereof, shall be entitled to compel
specific performance of the obligations of the Company under this Registration
Rights Agreement in accordance with the terms and conditions of this
Registration Rights Agreement, in any court of the United States or any State
thereof having jurisdiction.

         (c)      Amendments and Waivers. This Agreement, including this Section
8(c), may be amended, and waivers or consents to departures from the provisions
hereof may be given, only by a written instrument duly executed by the Company
and the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of Registrable
Securities then outstanding. Each Holder of Registrable Securities outstanding
at the time of any such amendment, waiver or consent or thereafter shall be
bound by any amendment, waiver or consent effected pursuant to this Section
8(c), whether or not any notice, writing or marking indicating such amendment,
waiver or consent appears on the Registrable Securities or is delivered to such
Holder.

         (d)      Notices. All notices and other communications provided for or
permitted hereunder shall be given as provided in the Indenture.

         (e)      Parties in Interest. The parties to this Agreement intend that
all Holders of Registrable Securities shall be entitled to receive the benefits
of this Agreement and that any Electing Holder shall be bound by the terms and
provisions of this Agreement by reason of such election with respect to the
Registrable Securities which are included in a Shelf Registration Statement. All
the terms and provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon, shall inure to
the benefit of and shall be enforceable by the respective successors and assigns
of the parties hereto and any Holder from time to time of the Registrable
Securities to the aforesaid extent. In the event that any transferee of any
Holder of Registrable Securities shall acquire Registrable Securities, in any
manner, whether by gift, bequest, purchase, operation of law or otherwise, such
transferee shall, without any further writing or action of any kind, be entitled
to receive the benefits of and, if an Electing Holder, be conclusively deemed to
have agreed to be bound by and to perform all of the terms and provisions of
this Agreement to the aforesaid extent.

         (f)      Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
counterparts and by the parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which
when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken
together shall constitute one and the same agreement.

         (g)      Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience
of reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.

                                       16

<PAGE>

         (h)      GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND
CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

         (i)      Severability. In the event that any one or more of the
provisions contained herein, or the application thereof in any circumstances, is
held invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect for any reason, the
validity, legality and enforceability of any such provision in every other
respect and of the remaining provisions hereof shall not be in any way impaired
or affected thereby, it being intended that all of the rights and privileges of
the parties hereto shall be enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law.

         (j)      Survival. The respective indemnities, agreements,
representations, warranties and other provisions set forth in this Agreement or
made pursuant hereto shall remain in full force and effect, regardless of any
investigation (or any statement as to the results thereof) made by or on behalf
of any Electing Holder, any director, officer or partner of such Holder, any
agent or underwriter, any director, officer or partner of such agent or
underwriter, or any controlling person of any of the foregoing, and shall
survive the transfer and registration of the Registrable Securities of such
Holder.

                                       17

<PAGE>

         Please confirm that the foregoing correctly sets forth the agreement
between the Company and you.

                                    Very truly yours,

                                    Fisher Scientific International Inc.

                                    By: ________________________________________
                                        Name:
                                        Title:

                                       18

<PAGE>

Accepted as of the date hereof:

GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO.

By: ________________________________
         (Goldman, Sachs & Co)

                                       19

<PAGE>

                                                                      Appendix A

                      FISHER SCIENTIFIC INTERNATIONAL INC.

                         INSTRUCTION TO DTC PARTICIPANTS

                                (Date of Mailing)

                     URGENT - IMMEDIATE ATTENTION REQUESTED

                          DEADLINE FOR RESPONSE: [DATE]

         The Depository Trust Company ("DTC") has identified you as a DTC
Participant through which beneficial interests in Fisher Scientific
International Inc. (the "Company") 2.50% Convertible Senior Notes due 2023 (the
"Securities") are held.

         The Company is in the process of registering the Securities under the
Securities Act of 1933 for resale by the beneficial owners thereof. In order to
have their Securities included in the registration statement, beneficial owners
must complete and return the enclosed Notice of Registration Statement and
Selling Securityholder Questionnaire.

         It is important that beneficial owners of the Securities receive a copy
of the enclosed materials as soon as possible as their rights to have the
Securities included in the registration statement depend upon their returning
the Notice and Questionnaire by [Deadline for response]. Please forward a copy
of the enclosed documents to each beneficial owner that holds interests in the
Securities through you. If you require more copies of the enclosed materials or
have any questions pertaining to this matter, please contact:

         Fisher Scientific International Inc.
         One Liberty Lane
         Hampton, New Hampshire 03842
         Attention: Secretary
         Phone: (603)926-5911

                                       20

<PAGE>

                      FISHER SCIENTIFIC INTERNATIONAL INC.

                        Notice of Registration Statement
                                       and
                      Selling Securityholder Questionnaire

                                     [DATE]

         Fisher Scientific International Inc. (the "Company") has filed with the
United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") a
registration statement on Form [__] (the "Shelf Registration Statement") for the
registration and resale under Rule 415 of the United States Securities Act of
1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), of the Company's 2.50% Convertible
Senior Notes due 2023 (the "Securities") and the shares of common stock, par
value $0.01 per share (the "Common Stock"), issuable upon conversion thereof, in
accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of July 7, 2003 (the
"Registration Rights Agreement"), between the Company and the purchasers named
therein. A copy of the Registration Rights Agreement is attached hereto. All
capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed
thereto in the Registration Rights Agreement.

         In order to have Registrable Securities included in the Shelf
Registration Statement (or a supplement or amendment thereto), this Notice of
Registration Statement and Selling Securityholder Questionnaire ("Notice and
Questionnaire") must be completed, executed and delivered to the Company at the
address set forth herein for receipt ON OR BEFORE [DEADLINE FOR RESPONSE].
Beneficial owners of Registrable Securities who do not complete, execute and
return this Notice and Questionnaire by such date (i) will not be named as
selling securityholders in the Shelf Registration Statement and (ii) may not use
the Prospectus forming a part thereof for resales of Registrable Securities.

         Certain legal consequences arise from being named as a selling
securityholder in the Shelf Registration Statement and related Prospectus.
Accordingly, holders and beneficial owners of Registrable Securities are advised
to consult their own securities law counsel regarding the consequences of being
named or not being named as a selling securityholder in the Shelf Registration
Statement and related Prospectus.

         The term "Registrable Securities" is defined in the Registration Rights
Agreement to mean all or any portion of the Securities issued from time to time
under the Indenture in registered form and the shares of Common Stock issuable
upon conversion of such Securities; provided, however, that a security ceases to
be a Registrable Security when it is no longer a Restricted Security.

         The term "Restricted Security" is defined in the Registration Rights
Agreement to mean any Security or share of Common Stock issuable upon conversion
thereof except any such Secu-

                                       21

<PAGE>

rity or share of Common Stock which (i) has been effectively registered under
the Securities Act and sold in a manner contemplated by the Shelf Registration
Statement, (ii) has been transferred in compliance with Rule 144 under the
Securities Act (or any successor provision thereto) or is transferable pursuant
to paragraph (k) of such Rule 144 (or any successor provision thereto), or (iii)
has otherwise been transferred and a new Security or share of Common Stock not
subject to transfer restrictions under the Securities Act has been delivered by
or on behalf of the Company in accordance with Section 2.6 of the Indenture.

                                    ELECTION

         The undersigned holder (the "Selling Securityholder") of Registrable
Securities hereby elects to include in the Shelf Registration Statement the
Registrable Securities beneficially owned by it and listed below in Item (3).
The undersigned, by signing and returning this Notice and Questionnaire, agrees
to be bound with respect to such Registrable Securities by the terms and
conditions of this Notice and Questionnaire and the Registration Rights
Agreement, including, without limitation, Section 5 of the Registration Rights
Agreement, as if the undersigned Selling Securityholder were an original party
thereto.

         Upon any sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to the Shelf
Registration Statement, the Selling Securityholder will be required to deliver
to the Company and the Trustee the Notice of Transfer (completed and signed) set
forth in Exhibit 1 to this Notice and Questionnaire.

         The Selling Securityholder hereby provides the following information to
the Company and represents and warrants that such information is accurate and
complete:

                                       22

<PAGE>

                                  QUESTIONNAIRE

(1)      (a)      Full Legal Name of Selling Securityholder:

                  ______________________________________________________________

         (b)      Full Legal Name of Registered Holder (if not the same as in
                  (a) above) of Registrable Securities Listed in Item (3) Below:

                  ______________________________________________________________

         (c)      Full Legal Name of DTC Participant (if applicable and if not
                  the same as (b) above) Through Which Registrable Securities
                  Listed in Item (3) Below are Held:

                  ______________________________________________________________

(2)               Address for Notices to Selling Securityholder:
________________________________________________________________________________
                           _____________________________________________________

                           _____________________________________________________
Telephone:                 _____________________________________
Fax:                       _____________________________________
Contact Person:            _____________________________________
Telephone:

(3)               Beneficial Ownership of Securities:

                  Except as set forth below in this Item (3), the undersigned
                  Selling Securityholder does not beneficially own any
                  Securities or shares of Common Stock issued upon conversion,
                  repurchase or redemption of any Securities.

         (a)      Principal amount of Registrable Securities (as defined in the
                  Registration Rights Agreement) beneficially owned: ___________
                  CUSIP No(s). of such Registrable Securities: _________________

                  Number of shares of Common Stock (if any) issued upon
                  conversion, repurchase or redemption of Registrable
                  Securities: __________________________________________________

         (b)      Principal amount of Securities other than Registrable
                  Securities beneficially owned: _______________________________
                  CUSIP No(s). of such other Securities: _______________________

                  Number of shares of Common Stock (if any) issued upon
                  conversion of such other Securities: _________________________

         (c)      Principal amount of Registrable Securities which the
                  undersigned wishes to be included in the Shelf Registration
                  Statement: ___________________________________________________
                  CUSIP No(s). of such Registrable Securities to be included in
                  the Shelf Registration Statement: ____________________________

                                       23

<PAGE>

                  Number of shares of Common Stock (if any) issued upon
                  conversion of Registrable Securities which are to be included
                  in the Shelf Registration Statement: _________________________

(4)               Beneficial Ownership of Other Securities of the Company:

                  Except as set forth below in this Item (4), the undersigned
                  Selling Securityholder is not the beneficial or registered
                  owner of any shares of Common Stock or any other securities of
                  the Company, other than the Securities and shares of Common
                  Stock listed above in Item (3).

                  State any exceptions here:

(5)               Relationships with the Company:

                  Except as set forth below, neither the Selling Securityholder
                  nor any of its affiliates, officers, directors or principal
                  equity holders (5% or more) has held any position or office or
                  has had any other material relationship with the Company (or
                  its predecessors or affiliates) during the past three years.

                  State any exceptions here:

(6)               Plan of Distribution:

                  Except as set forth below, the undersigned Selling
                  Securityholder intends to distribute the Registrable
                  Securities listed above in Item (3) only as follows (if at
                  all): Such Registrable Securities may be sold from time to
                  time directly by the undersigned Selling Securityholder or,
                  alternatively, through underwriters, broker-dealers or agents.
                  Such Registrable Securities may be sold in one or more
                  transactions at fixed prices, at prevailing market prices at
                  the time of sale, at varying prices determined at the time of
                  sale, or at negotiated prices. Such sales may be effected in
                  transactions (which may involve crosses or block transactions)
                  (i) on any national securities exchange or quotation service
                  on which the Registrable Securities may be listed or quoted at
                  the time of sale, (ii) in the over-the-counter market, (iii)
                  in transactions otherwise than on such exchanges or services
                  or in the over-the-counter market, or (iv) through the writing
                  of options. In connection with sales of the Registrable
                  Securities or otherwise, the Selling Securityholder may enter
                  into hedging transactions with broker-dealers, which may in
                  turn engage in short sales of the Registrable Securities in
                  the course of hedging the positions they assume. The Selling
                  Securityholder may also sell Registrable Securities short and
                  deliver Registrable Securities to close out such short
                  positions, or loan or pledge Registrable Securities to
                  broker-dealers that in turn may sell such securities.

                                       24

<PAGE>

                  State any exceptions here:

                  Note: In no event may such method(s) of distribution take the
form of an underwritten offering of the Registrable Securities without the prior
agreement of the Company.

         By signing below, the Selling Securityholder acknowledges that it
understands its obligation to comply, and agrees that it will comply, with the
prospectus delivery and other provisions of the Securities Act and the Exchange
Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, particularly Regulation M.

         In the event that the Selling Securityholder transfers all or any
portion of the Registrable Securities listed in Item (3) above after the date on
which such information is provided to the Company, the Selling Securityholder
agrees to notify the transferee(s) at the time of the transfer of its rights and
obligations under this Notice and Questionnaire and the Registration Rights
Agreement.

         By signing below, the Selling Securityholder consents to the disclosure
of the information contained herein in its answers to Items (1) through (6)
above and the inclusion of such information in the Shelf Registration Statement
and related Prospectus. The Selling Securityholder understands that such
information will be relied upon by the Company in connection with the
preparation of the Shelf Registration Statement and related Prospectus.

         In accordance with the Selling Securityholder's obligation under
Section 3(a) of the Registration Rights Agreement to provide such information as
may be required by law for inclusion in the Shelf Registration Statement, the
Selling Securityholder agrees to promptly notify the Company of any inaccuracies
or changes in the information provided herein which may occur subsequent to the
date hereof at any time while the Shelf Registration Statement remains in
effect. All notices hereunder and pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement
shall be made in writing, by hand-delivery, first-class mail, or air courier
guaranteeing overnight delivery as follows:

         (i)      To the Company:
         _______________________________________________________________________
                                             ___________________________________

                                             ___________________________________

         _______________________________________________________________________
         (ii)     With a copy to:
         _______________________________________________________________________
                                             ___________________________________

                                             ___________________________________

                                       25

<PAGE>

         Once this Notice and Questionnaire is executed by the Selling
Securityholder and received by the Company, the terms of this Notice and
Questionnaire, and the representations and warranties contained herein, shall be
binding on, shall inure to the benefit of and shall be enforceable by the
respective successors, heirs, personal representatives, and assigns of the
Company and the Selling Securityholder (with respect to the Registrable
Securities beneficially owned by such Selling Securityholder and listed in Item
(3) above). This Agreement shall be governed in all respects by the laws of the
State of New York.

                                       26

<PAGE>

                  IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, by authority duly given,
has caused this Notice and Questionnaire to be executed and delivered either in
person or by its duly authorized agent.

Dated: _____________________

                  Selling Securityholder
                  (Print/type full legal name of beneficial owner of Registrable
                  Securities)

                  By: __________________________________________________________
                      Name:
                      Title:

PLEASE RETURN THE COMPLETED AND EXECUTED NOTICE AND QUESTIONNAIRE FOR RECEIPT ON
OR BEFORE [DEADLINE FOR RESPONSE] TO THE COMPANY AT:

Fisher Scientific International Inc.
One Liberty Lane
Hampton, New Hampshire 03842
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________

                                       27

<PAGE>

                                                                       EXHIBIT 1
                                                                   TO APPENDIX A

              NOTICE OF TRANSFER PURSUANT TO REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Fisher Scientific International Inc.
One Liberty Lane
Hampton, New Hampshire 03842

Attention: General Counsel

J.P. Morgan Trust Company, National Association
One Oxford Centre, Suite 1100
301 Grant Street
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15219

Attention: Corporate Trust Services

                  Re: Fisher Scientific International Inc. (the "Company")
                      2.50% Convertible Senior Notes due 2023 (the "Notes")

Dear Sirs:

         Please be advised that _____________________ has transferred
$___________ aggregate principal amount of the above-referenced Notes or shares
of the Company's common stock, issued upon conversion, repurchase or redemption
of Notes, pursuant to an effective Registration Statement on Form [___] (File
No. 333-____) filed by the Company.

         We hereby certify that the prospectus delivery requirements, if any, of
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, have been satisfied with respect to the
transfer described above and that the above-named beneficial owner of the Notes
or common stock is named as a selling securityholder in the Prospectus dated
[date], or in amendments or supplements thereto, and that the aggregate
principal amount of the Notes or number of shares of common stock transferred
are [a portion of] the Notes or shares of common stock listed in such Prospectus
as amended or supplemented opposite such owner's name.

Dated:

                                    Very truly yours,

                                    _______________________________
                                    (Name)

                           By:      _______________________________
                                    (Authorized Signature)

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