Document:

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                                                                   Exhibit 10.21

                               SERVICE AGREEMENT

                                    between

                    INVERESK RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL LIMITED

                                      and

                                   W.S. NIMMO

                           [DICKSON MINTO W.S. LOGO]

                               DICKSON MINTO W.S.
                                11 Walker Street
                                   Edinburgh
                                    EH3 7NE
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AGREEMENT between

1.       INVERESK RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL LIMITED, a Company incorporated in
         Scotland under the Companies Acts (Registered No. 91725) and having its
         registered office at Tranent EH33 2NE (hereinafter called "the
         Company"); and

2.       WALTER S. NIMMO of 26 Stafford Street, Edinburgh (hereinafter called
         the "Executive").

WHEREAS the Executive is a director of and is employed by the Company and it is
desired to regulate the terms of the Executive's employment with the Company.

NOW IT IS HEREBY AGREED as follows:-

1.       APPOINTMENT

         The Company agrees to employ the Executive and the Executive agrees to
         act as Chief Executive of the Company ("the Appointment") and the
         Executive agrees to serve the Company upon the terms set out in this
         Agreement.

2.       PERIOD

         The Appointment on the basis set out in this Agreement shall commence
         on 20th September 1999 and is continuous with the employment of the
         Executive since 1st November 1988 and shall continue until terminated
         by either party giving to the other not less than twelve months
         previous notice in writing to that effect.

3.       DUTIES OF EXECUTIVE

         During the continuance of the Appointment the Executive:

         (a)      shall devote the whole of his working time, attention and
                  skill to the duties of his office and shall faithfully,
                  efficiently, competently and diligently perform such
                  appropriate duties and exercise such powers as may from time
                  to time be assigned to or vested in him and shall obey all
                  reasonable and lawful
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                                       2.

                  directions given to him by or under the authority of the Board
                  and use his best endeavours to promote and extend the
                  Company's business and to protect and further the interests
                  and reputation of the Company;

         (b)      may be required in pursuance of his duties hereunder to
                  perform services not only for the Company but also for any
                  Group Company for so long as the Company reasonably requires
                  and to accept such offices in any subsidiary company as the
                  Company may from time to time reasonably require and the
                  Executive shall carry out such duties as if they were duties
                  to be performed by him on behalf of the Company and the
                  obligations contained herein shall apply mutatis mutandis as
                  if all references to "the Company" are references to the
                  relevant subsidiary company;

         (c)      hereby warrants to the Company that he shall not, as a
                  consequence of carrying out his duties hereunder, or entering
                  into this Agreement or other agreements or arrangements made
                  or to be made between the Company or any Group Company and him
                  commit any breach of any terms express or implied (whether
                  concerning confidentiality, non-competition or otherwise) of
                  any contract with or of any other obligation to any third
                  party binding upon him;

         (d)      shall not during the term of this Agreement (except with the
                  prior consent in writing of the Board such consent not to be
                  unreasonably withheld) be directly or indirectly engaged or
                  concerned in the conduct of any other business which is wholly
                  or partly in competition with any business carried on by the
                  Company or any Group Company whether by himself or in
                  partnership with or as agent, employee or representative of
                  any
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                                       3.

                           third party nor shall he be directly or indirectly
                           interested in any such business save through his
                           holding or being interested in investments (quoted or
                           unquoted) not representing more than three percent of
                           the issued securities of any class of any one
                           company;

                  (e)      shall at all times keep the Board promptly and fully
                           informed (in writing if so requested) of his conduct
                           of the business or affairs of the Company or any
                           Group Company and provide such further information,
                           written records and/or explanation as the Board may
                           require;

                  (f)      may be required in pursuance of his duties hereunder
                           to travel and stay on a temporary basis outside the
                           United Kingdom (not exceeding 8 weeks in any calendar
                           year unless otherwise agreed), but shall not, without
                           his consent, be required to reside outside the United
                           Kingdom; and

                  (g)      shall conform to such hours of work as may from time
                           to time reasonably be required of him and shall not
                           be entitled to receive any additional remuneration
                           for work outside the normal hours.

4. SALARY AND BENEFITS

                  During the continuance of the Appointment:-

                  (a)      the Company shall pay to the Executive a salary at
                           the rate of ONE HUNDRED AND FOUR THOUSAND FIVE
                           HUNDRED POUNDS (L104,500) per annum or such higher
                           rate as may from time to time be agreed, such salary
                           shall be subject to review on 1st January in each
                           year (such review not to be downward) and shall be
                           inclusive of any other remuneration from the Company
                           or any Group Company including, without prejudice to
                           the above generality, any fees receivable by the
                           Executive as a
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                                       4.

                           director of the Company or any Group Company. The
                           said salary (less tax and statutory deductions) shall
                           be payable to the Executive by equal monthly payments
                           in arrears on the last Thursday of each month and
                           shall be deemed to accrue on a daily basis;

                  (b)      the Company shall refund to the Executive, subject
                           where appropriate to the production of vouchers, all
                           out-of-pocket or other expenses properly incurred by
                           him in the performance of his duties including (but
                           not limited to) expenses of entertainment,
                           subsistence and travelling and where the Company
                           issues a company sponsored credit or charge card the
                           Executive shall use such card only for those expenses
                           reimbursable in terms of this sub-Clause 4(b), and
                           the Company reserves the right in its absolute
                           discretion to withdraw the use of such card(s) from
                           the Executive at any time without assigning any
                           reason therefor;

                  (c)      the Executive shall be entitled without loss of
                           remuneration to 33 working days holiday in each year
                           (in addition to Bank and other public holidays
                           notified from time to time by the Company) to be
                           taken at such time or times as the Company may
                           approve. Neither Saturday nor Sunday shall be
                           regarded as a working day;

                  (d)      without prejudice to the Company's rights under
                           Clause 8 below during any period of absence from work
                           due to sickness or accident the Executive shall
                           (after giving the Company when required evidence
                           satisfactory to it of incapacity and continuing
                           incapacity to work) be paid in full for the first
                           twenty-eight weeks of such absence. In each case
                           there shall be deducted from the Executive's
                           remuneration the amount of income benefit
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                                       5.

                           which he is entitled to claim in consequence of such
                           sickness or accident under the National Insurance
                           scheme for the time being in force (whether such
                           income benefit is received or not) and/or any scheme
                           for the time being in force of which by virtue of his
                           employment with the Company he is a non-contributory
                           member provided that after the period of
                           twenty-eight weeks the payment of salary shall be at
                           the discretion of the Company;

                  (e)      (i)      Subject to the rules for the time being
                                    applicable, the Executive shall be entitled
                                    to continue membership or become a member
                                    (as the case may be), and during the
                                    continuance of the Appointment remain a
                                    member of, the Company's pension scheme,
                                    known as the Inveresk Research International
                                    Pension and Life Assurance Plan, or any
                                    other executive, senior or other pension
                                    scheme for the time being in force which
                                    might be applicable to him, particulars of
                                    which are available from the Company
                                    Secretary ("the Scheme");

                           (ii)     the Company shall contribute to the Scheme
                                    at such rate as required to accrue for the
                                    Executive a pension entitlement of not less
                                    than 1/30th of final salary for each year of
                                    employment with the Company;

                           (iii)    the Company shall be entitled at any time to
                                    amend or terminate the Scheme referred to in
                                    Clause 4(e)(i) or the Executive's membership
                                    of it subject to (i) providing him with the
                                    benefit of an equivalent pension scheme
                                    ("the New Scheme") which shall be no less
                                    favourable overall to the Executive and (ii)
                                    ensuring that the Executive is in a
                                    position, if he so elects, to transfer his
                                    accrued benefits in the Scheme
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                  6.

                  into the New Scheme, as if such pensionable service had been
                  under the New Scheme;

         (iv)     changes in the rules of any pension scheme from time to
                  time in force will be notified in writing to the Executive
                  within one month of such change becoming effective and copies
                  of the rules of any such pension scheme will be made available
                  to him on application to the Company Secretary;

      (f)   the Company shall pay the premiums and other cost associated with
            the provision of permanent health insurance for the Executive at a
            level which is calculated to provide the Executive with not less
            than 65% of the annual salary payable to the Executive in terms
            of sub-Clause 4(a) hereof provided that there shall be deducted from
            the Executive's remuneration the amount of income benefit which he
            is entitled to claim in consequence of such sickness or accident
            under the National Insurance Scheme for the time being in force;

      (g)   the Company shall pay the premiums and other costs associated with
            the provision of private medical insurance for the Executive and
            his immediate family at a level which is in accordance with Company
            policy from time to time; and

      (h)   the Company shall pay the premiums and other costs associated with
            the provision of death-in-service insurance for the Executive at a
            level calculated to provide not less than four times the annual
            salary payable to the Executive in terms of sub-Clause 4(a) hereof.

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                                               7.

5. OTHER BENEFITS

      (a)   Motor Car

            For the purpose of enabling the Executive properly to
            perform his duties hereunder the Company, at the sole discretion of
            the Executive, shall either (i) provide him with the use of a motor
            car for a leasing cost of up to L465 per month excluding Value Added
            Tax or (ii) provide him with a car allowance of L8,000 per annum
            (each such sum to be subject to annual review), and in either event
            with a fuel card in respect of both business and private fuel.

      (b)   Clothing Allowance

            The Company shall provide the Executive with an annual clothing
            allowance of L205 per annum plus Value Added Tax, such sum
            to be subject to annual review.

      (c)   Telephone Allowance

            The Company shall provide the Executive with a telephone allowance
            of L38 per month (inclusive of Value Added Tax), such sum to be
            subject to annual review.

      (d)   Bonus

            (i)   The Executive shall be entitled to a corporate performance
                  bonus ("CPB"). The CPB shall be payable quarterly at a rate of
                  such percentage of the Executive's Salary in terms of Clause
                  4(a) hereof as may be determined by the Board of the Company;
                  and

            (ii)  the Executive shall be entitled to a personal bonus on the
                  terms set out in a letter dated 16th February 1999 from I.P.
                  Sword to the Executive and shall further be entitled to
                  participate in an annual successor arrangement to such
                  personal bonus on terms similar

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                                       8.

                  to the terms of the personal bonus to be agreed between the
                  Executive and the Board prior to 31st December in each year;
                  and

            (iii) the Executive shall be entitled to a loyalty bonus on the
                  terms set out in a letter dated 23rd March 1999 from I.P.
                  Sword to the Executive.

6. NON-DISCLOSURE OF CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION

      (a)   The Executive shall not directly or indirectly divulge or
            communicate to any person (other than those within the employment of
            the Company whose province it is to know the same or with the prior
            written authority of the Company or as otherwise required by
            law) nor shall he make use of (otherwise than for the purposes of
            performing his duties hereunder) any of the trade secrets, designs,
            techniques, design improvements, know-how, business information,
            methods, lists or other confidential information of the Company or
            of any Group Company or of their respective customers which he may
            (whether heretofore or hereafter) have received or obtained while in
            the service of the Company or of any Group Company or of any
            information in respect of which the Company or any Group Company is
            bound by an obligation of confidentiality to a third party
            ("Confidential Information"). This restriction shall continue to
            apply after the termination of the Appointment.

      (b)   The Executive shall use his best endeavours to prevent the
            publication or disclosure of any Confidential Information whether
            relating to trade dealings, financial affairs or otherwise.

      (c)   The restrictions contained in this Clause 6 shall cease to apply to
            any Confidential Information which may (otherwise than by
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                                                  9.

                  reason of the default of the Executive) become available to
                  the public generally.

          (d)     The Executive shall not during the continuation of the
                  Appointment make (otherwise than for the benefit of the
                  Company or any Group Company) any notes, memoranda, tape
                  recordings, films, photographs, plans, drawings or any form of
                  record relating to any matter within the scope of the business
                  of the Company or any Group Company or concerning any of the
                  dealings or affairs of the Company or any Group Company ("the
                  Company Records").

7.        INVENTIONS

          In view of the fact that the business of the Company and of the Group
          Companies consists in part in the development and exploitation of
          inventions, techniques, designs and methods and that it is the
          Executive's responsibility to further the interests of the Company and
          the Group Companies in respect thereof he agrees that each and every
          discovery, invention, improvement, design and secret process made or
          discovered by him (whether alone or with any other person or persons)
          at any time whether before or after the date hereof but after he
          became an employee of the Company whether capable of being patented or
          registered or not (and whether or not made or discovered in the course
          of his employment hereunder) in connection with or in any way
          affecting or relating to the business of the Company or of any Group
          Company or capable of being used or adapted for use therein or in
          connection therewith shall forthwith be disclosed to the Company and
          shall belong to and be the absolute property of the Company or such
          Group Company as the Company may nominate for the purpose. If and
          whenever required so to do (whether during or after the termination of
          the Appointment) the Executive shall at the expense of
<PAGE>

                                       10.

          the Company apply or join in or appoint the Company as his agent with
          full powers for the purposes of applying for letters patent or other
          equivalent protection in the United Kingdom or any other part of the
          world for any such discovery, invention, improvement, design and
          secret process as aforesaid and execute all instruments and do all
          things necessary for vesting the said letters patent or other
          equivalent protection when obtained and all right, title and interest
          to and in the same in the Company (or its nominees) absolutely and as
          sole beneficial owner or in such other person as the Company may
          require; provided always that nothing herein shall prejudice the
          rights of the Executive as contained in Sections 40 to 43 of the
          Patents Act 1977 as amended by the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act
          1988.

8.       TERMINATION

          (a)     Without in any way limiting any rights of the Company this
                  Agreement shall be subject to termination by the Company by
                  summary notice in writing given at any time if the Executive:-

                  (i)         if the Executive shall have committed any serious
                              or material breach (whether by one or several acts
                              or omissions) of his obligations hereunder; or

                  (ii)        shall have been guilty of conduct to bring him or
                              the Company or any Group Company into disrepute;
                              or

                  (iii)       shall have been found guilty of any criminal
                              offence (other than an offence under the Road
                              Traffic Acts from time to time in force); or

                  (iv)        shall have become of unsound mind or lunatic; or

                  (v)         shall have committed any act of bankruptcy or
                              shall have taken advantage of any statute for the
                              time being in force offering relief for insolvent
                              debtors.

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                                      11.

          (b)       If the Company has any grounds to believe it may have a
                    right to terminate the Appointment of the Executive pursuant
                    to sub-Clause (a) above, it shall be entitled (but without
                    prejudice to its right subsequently to terminate the
                    Appointment on the same or any other ground) to suspend the
                    Executive on full payment of salary and other benefits
                    during the period of any enquiry or investigation into the
                    circumstances giving rise to such belief.

          (c)       Without prejudice to the rights of the Executive to
                    remuneration and other benefits hereunder and to the rights
                    of the Company hereunder including, without prejudice to the
                    foregoing generality, sub-Clause 8(b) and Clause 6, the
                    Company shall have the right at any time after either party
                    has given notice to the other of termination of this
                    Agreement in terms of Clause 2 hereof until such termination
                    to require the Executive not to attend at any place of work
                    and to exclude him from any premises of the Company (or any
                    Group Company in relation to which the Executive held a
                    position of responsibility at any time during the twelve
                    months immediately prior to the date on which notice is
                    served pursuant to Clause 2) and the Company shall be under
                    no obligation to vest in or assign to the Executive any
                    powers or duties or to provide any work for the Executive
                    and shall have the right to suspend him from the performance
                    of any duties or obligations hereunder (provided that the
                    rights of the Company pursuant to this sub-Clause 8(c) shall
                    not be exercised for a period exceeding twelve months in
                    aggregate) and the Executive shall at the request of the
                    Company resign without claim for compensation from any
                    office of director or otherwise held by him in the Company
                    or in any Group Company.

<PAGE>
                                      12.

         (d)      Following the service of notice by either party in accordance
                  with Clause 2 the Company may terminate the Appointment
                  forthwith by paying salary and the value of all other
                  contractual benefits in lieu of the required period of notice
                  (but without prejudice to the Company's rights under Clause 10
                  of this Agreement) and it is expressly agreed and declared
                  that such payment in lieu of notice shall not constitute a
                  repudiation of this Agreement.

         (e)      Termination of the Executive's appointment hereunder howsoever
                  and for whatever reason and whether lawfully or otherwise
                  shall be without prejudice to any rights which have accrued to
                  the Company at the time of termination or to the provisions of
                  Clauses 6,9 and 10 which shall remain in full force and
                  effect.

9.       PROVISIONS ON TERMINATION

         (a)      On the termination of the Appointment (which term, for the
                  purposes of the Agreement as a whole, shall mean termination
                  of the Appointment irrespective of the cause or manner,
                  including, for the avoidance of doubt, by reason of a
                  repudiatory breach of the Agreement by the Company) or any
                  time thereafter the Executive shall at the request of the
                  Company resign without claim for compensation from any office
                  of director or otherwise held by him in the Company or in any
                  Group Company and transfer without payment to the Company any
                  shares held by the Executive as a nominee on behalf of the
                  Company or any Group Company.

         (b)      All property of, or relating to, the Company or any Group
                  Companies as shall have been in the possession of the
                  Executive shall be surrendered by him to someone duly
                  authorised by the
<PAGE>
                                      13.

                  Company upon the termination of the Appointment or the
                  suspension of the Appointment in accordance with sub-clause
                  8(b) or sub-Clause 8(c) or at the request of the Board at any
                  time during the course of his employment hereunder.

10.      NON-COMPETITON.

         10.1     As the Executive, in the course of his employment and
                  directorship, is likely from time to time to obtain knowledge
                  of trade secrets and other confidential information of Group
                  Companies and to have dealings with the customers and
                  suppliers of Group Companies and in order to protect such
                  trade secrets and other confidential information and the
                  goodwill of Group Companies, the Executive undertakes to the
                  Company in the terms of Clause 10.2.

         10.2     The Executive undertakes to the Company that, without
                  prejudice to any other duty implied by law or equity, he will
                  not, for a period of 12 months (the "Restricted Period") after
                  he ceases to be either an employee of, or a consultant to, any
                  Group Company and does not continue in any such capacity (the
                  "Termination Date");

                  10.2.1   be concerned in any business which competes with any
                           business of any Group Company as carried on at the
                           Termination Date (and in which the Executive was
                           actively involved during the 12 months ending on the
                           Termination Date) in any territory in which such
                           business was carried on at such date;

                  10.2.2   directly or indirectly on his own account or on
                           behalf of or in conjunction with any person (except
                           on behalf of a Group Company) canvass or solicit
                           business or custom for goods of a similar type to
                           those being manufactured or dealt in or services
                           similar to those being provided by any Group Company
                           at the Termination Date and with which the Executive
                           was actively involved in the course of his employment
                           during the 12 months
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                                      14.

                           ending on the Termination Date from any person who
                           has been at any time during the 12 months ending on
                           the Termination Date a customer or client of any
                           Group Company and with whom the Executive was
                           actively involved in the course of his employment
                           during the 12 months ending on the Termination Date;

                  10.2.3   directly or indirectly on his own account or on
                           behalf of or in conjunction with any person induce or
                           attempt to induce any supplier of any Group Company,
                           with whom the Executive was actively involved in the
                           course of his employment during the 12 months ending
                           on the Termination Date, to cease to supply, or to
                           restrict or vary the terms of supply to, any Group
                           Company or otherwise interfere with the relationship
                           between such a supplier and any Group Company;

                  10.2.4   directly or indirectly on his own account or on
                           behalf of or in conjunction with any person induce or
                           attempt to induce any employee of any Group Company
                           who is engaged in any business or activity carried on
                           by a Group Company at the Termination Date, and with
                           whom the Executive during the 12 months ending on the
                           Termination Date had material dealings in the course
                           of his employment, to leave the employment of that
                           Group Company (whether or not this would be a breach
                           of contract by the employee); or

                  10.2.5   use or (insofar as he can reasonably do so) allow to
                           be used (except by a Group Company) any trade name
                           used by any Group Company at the Termination Date, or
                           any other name calculated or likely to be confused
                           with such a trade name.

         10.3     The Company and the Executive agree that the foregoing
                  restrictions shall apply even in circumstances where the
                  relevant Executive was

<PAGE>
                                       15.

      made redundant or was constructively or unfairly or wrongfully dismissed
      as determined in accordance with the provisions of Clause 10.4 below
      provided that in such circumstances the Company shall pay to the Executive
      each month during the Restricted Period a sum equal to the monthly
      remuneration to which he was entitled immediately prior to the
      termination.

10.4  Without prejudice to the Executive's rights to claim constructive and/or
      wrongful and/or unfair dismissal, for the purposes of determining whether
      the Executive has been constructively and/or unfairly and/or wrongfully
      dismissed solely for the purposes of Clause 10.3 of this Agreement the
      Executive or the Company may request the appointment of an independent
      solicitor to determine whether the Executive has been constructively
      and/or unfairly and/or wrongfully dismissed. Such appointment shall be
      made by the Executive and the Company either jointly or, in default of an
      agreement within seven days of one party notifying the other of its wish
      to appoint an independent solicitor, by the President for the time being
      of the Law Society of England and Wales on the application of either
      party. The certification prepared by such independent solicitor shall be
      final and binding on the Executive and the Company for the purposes of
      this Clause 10. Such independent solicitor shall act as an expert and not
      as an arbiter. The Company shall pay the charges of any independent
      solicitor appointed in accordance with this Clause 10.4 unless the
      independent solicitor determines that the Executive was not
      constructively, unfairly or wrongfully dismissed in which case the costs
      shall be borne by the Executive.

10.5  The restrictions set out in Clause 10.2 above shall apply to any action
      taken by the Executive whether as agent, representative, principal,
<PAGE>
                                       16.

      employee or consultant or as a director of any company and/or by any
      company controlled by him.

10.6  The Executive acknowledges and agrees that each of paragraphs 10.2.1 to
      10.2.5 of this Clause 10 constitutes an entirely separate and independent
      restriction on him and that the duration, extent and application of each
      of the restrictions are no greater than is necessary for the protection of
      the interests of the Company and the Group Companies.

10.7  While the restrictions aforesaid are considered by both parties to be
      reasonable in all the circumstances it is recognised that restrictions of
      the nature in question may fail for technical reasons unforeseen and
      accordingly it is hereby declared and agreed that if any of such
      restrictions shall be adjudged to be void as going beyond what is
      reasonable in all the circumstances for the protection of the interests of
      the Company and the Group Companies but would be valid if part of the
      wording thereof were deleted the said restrictions shall apply with such
      deletion as may be necessary to make them valid and effective.

10.8  In the event that the Executive is suspended under Clause 8(d) from the
      performance of his duties, for the purposes of this Clause 10 the
      "Termination Date" shall be the date on which the Executive is first so
      suspended.

11.   AUTHORITY OF THE COMPANY

      The Executive hereby irrevocably appoints the Company to be his authorised
      attorney to do all such things and to execute all such documents in his
      name and on his behalf as may be necessary to secure that the full benefit
      and advantage of the rights arising under Clause 7 and sub-clauses 9(a)
      and (b) hereof are obtained by the Company (or where appropriate its
      nominee) and a letter signed by any Director or
<PAGE>
                                       17.

      Secretary of the Company certifying that anything or any document has been
      done or executed within the authority hereby conferred shall be conclusive
      evidence of the same.

12.   DEFINITIONS

      In this Agreement words and phrases defined in Section 736 of the
      Companies Act 1985 (as amended) shall bear the same meaning and the
      expression "Board" means the directors of the Company present at a meeting
      of the directors or of a committee of the directors duly convened and
      held, the expression "Parent" means Inveresk Research Group Limited a
      company incorporated in Scotland with registered number 198026 and the
      expression "Group Companies" means the Parent and its subsidiary companies
      from time to time and Group Company means any one of them.

13.   NOTICES

      Notices may be given by either party by first class prepaid recorded
      delivery letter or by facsimile transmission addressed to the other, or by
      delivery at (in the case of a notice to the Company) its registered office
      for the time being and (in the case of a notice to the Executive) his last
      known address and in the case of a letter shall be deemed to have been
      given 48 hours after posting and in the case of facsimile transmission or
      delivery shall be deemed to have been given at 9.00 a.m. on the business
      day following transmission or delivery as the case may be.

14.   EMPLOYMENT RIGHTS ACT

      The information contained herein and in the Schedule hereto constitutes a
      written statement of the terms of the Executive's employment in compliance
      with the provisions of the Employment Rights Act 1996.
<PAGE>
                                      18.

15.      SURVIVAL OF AGREEMENTS

         The expiration or determination of this Agreement howsoever arising
         (including, for the avoidance of doubt, by reason of a repudiatory
         breach by the Company) shall not operate to affect such of the
         provisions hereof as in accordance with their terms are expressed to
         operate or have effect thereafter.

16.      ENTIRE AGREEMENT

         This Agreement is in substitution for all previous contracts of service
         between the Company or any Group Company and the Executive which shall
         be deemed to have been terminated be mutual consent as from the date
         on which this Agreement is deemed to have commenced. The Executive
         acknowledges that he has no claim against the Company or any Group
         Company (or against any of their respective assets) arising under or
         out of any such contract or arrangement other than for accrued salary
         and bonus entitlements. The Executive and the Company each acknowledge
         that this Agreement constitutes the whole and only agreement between
         the parties in relation to the employment of the Executive with the
         Company and in entering into this Agreement neither party is relying on
         any undertaking, representation, warranty, promise or other assurance
         of any other person made on or prior to the date of this Agreement
         which is not set out herein.

17.      NON-WAIVER

         No failure of the Company to exercise, nor any delay in exercising, any
         right hereunder shall operate as a waiver of that or any other right or
         remedy of the Company, nor shall any partial exercise preclude any
         further or other exercise.
<PAGE>
                                      19.

18.      PROPER LAW

         This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with
         the Law of Scotland.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF these presents consisting of this and the eighteen preceding
pages and the Schedule hereto are executed as follows:-

SIGNED on behalf of INVERESK                    /s/ Ian P. Sword
RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL                          -----------------------------
LIMITED by I. Sword                             Director
and S. Leslie, both directors
at Edinburgh on the 20th                        /s/ Stewart Leslie
day of September Nineteen                       -----------------------------
hundred and Ninety Nine.                        Director

SIGNED by the said WALTER S. NIMMO
at Edinburgh on the 20th                        /s/ Walter S. Nimmo
day of September Nineteen                       -----------------------------
hundred and Ninety Nine before                  W.S. Nimmo
this witness:-

/s/ Ewan C. Gilchrist
-------------------------
Ewan C. Gilchrist        Full Name
-------------------------
11 Walker St.            Address
-------------------------
Edinburgh
-------------------------
Solicitor
-------------------------
Occupation
<PAGE>
                                      20.

                                  THE SCHEDULE
                           EMPLOYMENT RIGHTS ACT 1996

THE EMPLOYER            Inveresk Research International Limited

THE EMPLOYER/           Walter S. Nimmo
EXECUTIVE

APPOINTMENT             Chief Executive

PERIOD OF               From 1st November 1988 and ending on 12 months notice
APPOINTMENT             from either party. Previous employment with any Group
                        Company does count as part of continuous employment for
                        statutory purposes.

SALARY                  L104,500 per annum subject to agreement and review on
                        1st January in each year and payable monthly in arrear
                        on the last Thursday of each calendar month.

HOURS OF WORK           The normal hours of work are currently from 9:00 a.m. to
                        5:00 p.m. (Monday to Friday) inclusive of 45 minutes for
                        lunch daily. The Executive is expected to work
                        reasonable overtime when necessary for the performance
                        of his/her duties without additional remuneration.

HOLIDAYS                33 working days in any calendar year and such Bank or
                        public holidays as the Company may approve.

PENSION                 There is a contracting-out certificate in relation to
                        the employment.

REDRESS OF              The grievance procedure currently in force and any
GRIEVANCE &             disciplinary rules applicable to the Executive will be
DISCIPLINARY            set out from time to time in notices displayed at
PROCEDURE               his/her place of work or will otherwise be obtainable
                        from the Company.

/s/ Ian P. Sword                                   /s/ W.S. Nimmo
-----------------------------                      -----------------------------
Dir                                                WSN

/s/ Stewart Leslie
-----------------------------

Dir<PAGE>
                                                                   Exhibit 10.23

                         EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

     THIS AGREEMENT made as of the 24 day of July, 1996,

BY AND BETWEEN:                MICHAEL F. ANKCORN

                               (hereinafter referred to as the "Employee")

AND:                           CLINTRIALS BIORESEARCH LTD.

                               (hereinafter referred to as the "Employer")

     WHEREAS the Employee is a key executive of the Employer and has made
valuable contributions to the productivity and profitability of the Employer;

     AND WHEREAS the Employer considers it essential and in the best interests
of the Employer that the Employee be encouraged to remain with the Employer and
to continue to devote his full attention to the Employer's business;

     AND WHEREAS the Employer and the Employee desire to enter into this
Agreement setting forth the terms and conditions of employment of the Employee
with the Employer and the benefits attaching thereto.

     NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereto agree as follows:

                                   ARTICLE 1.
                                 INTERPRETATION

1.1  DEFINITIONS.  Where used herein or in any amendments hereto or in any
communication required or permitted to be given hereunder, the following terms
shall have the following meanings, respectively, unless the context otherwise
requires:

(a)  "ACTIVITY" shall mean any act, undertaking or decision whatsoever taken,
     effectuated or made in respect of, or relating to, the Business; and
     "Activities" shall mean the aggregate thereof.

(b)  "AGREEMENT" shall mean this Employment Agreement and all instruments
     supplemental hereto or in amendment or confirmations hereof; "herein",
     "hereof", "hereto", "hereunder" and similar expressions mean and refer to
     this Agreement and not to any particular Article, Section, Subsection or
     other subdivision; "Article", "Section", "Subsection" or other subdivision
     of this Agreement means and refers to the specified Article, Section,
     Subsection or other subdivision of this Agreement.

<PAGE>
(c)  "BONUS" shall mean the amounts payable to the Employee pursuant to any
     bonus or incentive compensation plan referred to at Section 8.1.

(d)  "BUSINESS" shall mean, in relation to the Employer, the business now and
     hereafter conducted by the Employer up to the date of termination of this
     Agreement, as well as the business that the Employer is in the process of
     developing at the time of termination of this Agreement. Without limiting
     the generality of the foregoing, the business at the time of signature of
     this Agreement can generally be described as the business of designing and
     conducting research programs for pharmaceuticals, bioengineered products,
     chemical compounds, biomaterials and other similar substances.

(e)  "CAUSE" shall mean any event or circumstance which, pursuant to applicable
     law, constitutes cause for dismissal without either notice or payment in
     lieu of notice.

(f)  "CHANGE OF CONTROL" shall mean:

     the sale by ClinTrials Research, Inc. ("CTR") of shares and/or other
     securities of the Employer of which are attached votes which may be cast to
     elect directors of the Employer ("Voting Shares") such that the remaining
     Voting Shares held by CTR are, in the aggregate, equal to or fewer than
     fifty percent (50%) of all Voting Shares of the Employer, as a result of
     which a Person, or a group of Persons, or Persons acting in concert, or
     Persons associated or affiliated with any such Person or group within the
     meaning of the Canada Business Corporation Act, other than CTR would be in
     a position to exercise effective control over the Employer.

(g)  "CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION" shall mean all information (including, without
     limiting the generality of the foregoing, all information related to
     processes, formulae, research and development, finance, marketing, and all
     names of, or lists of, customers or sponsors) howsoever received by the
     Employee from, through or relating to the Employer, and in whatever form
     (whatever oral, written, machine readable or otherwise), which pertains to
     the Employer; provided, however, that the term "Confidential Information"
     shall not include information which:

     (i)  is in the public domain without any fault or responsibility on the
          Employee's part;

          or

     (ii) is properly within the legitimate possession of the Employee prior to
          its disclosure and without any obligation of confidentiality attaching
          thereto; or

                                       2

<PAGE>
     (iii) after disclosure, is lawfully received by the Employee from another
           Person who is lawfully in possession of such Confidential Information
           and such other Person was not restricted from disclosing the said
           information to the Employer; or

     (iv)  is independently developed by the Employee through Persons who have
           not had assets to, or knowledge of, the Confidential Information; or

     (v)   is approved by the Employer for disclosure prior to its actual
           disclosure.

(h) "EMBODIMENTS" shall include, without limitation, all designs, drawings,
    sketches, blueprints, photographs, films, models, charts and maps.

(i) "GOVERNMENTAL BODY" shall mean:

     (i)   any domestic or foreign national, federal, provincial, state,
           municipal or other government body;

     (ii)  any subdivision, ministry, department, secretariat, bureau, agency,
           commission, board, instrumentality or authority of any of the
           foregoing governments or bodies;

     (iii) any quasi-governmental or private body exercising any regulatory,
           expropriation or taxing authority under or for the account of any of
           the foregoing governments or bodies; or

     (iv)  any domestic or foreign judicial, quasi-judicial, arbitration or
           administrative court, grand jury, commission, board or panel.

(j) "INCAPACITY" shall mean any medical condition whatsoever which leads to the
    Employee's absence from the Employee's job function for a continuous period
    of six (6) months, without the Employee being able to resume functions on a
    full time basis at the expiration of such period, and any unsuccessful
    attempts to return to work for periods under fifteen (15) days shall not
    interrupt the calculation of the said six (6) months period; or

    a condition of total and continuing disability which renders the Employee
    incapable of performing his essential job duties and functions.

(k) "INVOLUNTARY TERMINATION" shall mean:

     (i)   any actual or express termination by the Employer of the Employee's
           employment following any Change of Control which is not due to the
           death of the Employee, the Employee's voluntary resignation or
           incapacity;

                                       3

<PAGE>
         (ii)  any requirement by the Employer that the Employee's position and
               principal office be based and located more than twenty (20) miles
               outside the boundaries of the City of Montreal;

         (iii) any change in the Employee's title, reporting relationship,
               responsibilities or authority as in effect immediately prior to
               any Change of Control which is made within twenty-four (24)
               months of such Change of Control and which adversely affects to a
               material degree his role in the management of the Employer.

         (iv)  any reduction in the Employee's salary paid to him by the
               Employer as in effect immediately prior to any Change of Control
               or, if such salary has been subsequently increased at any time or
               from time to time, any reduction in such increased salary;

         (v)   any termination or reduction in value of the Employee's employee
               benefit programs, including, but not limited to, any pension
               plan, stock option plan, investment plan, savings plan, incentive
               compensation plan or life insurance, medical plans or disability
               plans provided by the Employer to the Employee and in which the
               Employee is participating or under which the Employer is covered,
               all as in effect immediately prior to any Change of Control; and

         (vi)  any failure or refusal of the Employer to renew the Termination
               Benefits under this Agreement as outlined in Section 19.2 after
               any Change of Control shall have occurred.

(l)  "PERMITTED USES" shall mean the analysis and utilization of Confidential
     Information by the Employee in relation to any Activity for purposes of
     fulfilling and executing the Employee's duties, responsibilities and
     functions hereunder.

(m)  "PERSON" shall mean any individual or other entity possessed of judicial
     personality, including, without limitation, a corporation, company,
     cooperative, partnership, trust, unincorporated association, Affiliate or
     Governmental Body; and pronouns when they refer to a Person shall have a
     similarly extended meaning.

(n)  "TERMINATION BENEFITS" shall mean the rights and benefits in favour of the
     Employee provided for under Article 17 of this Agreement as well as the
     obligations of the Employer under the said Article.

(o)  "TERRITORY" shall mean North America, as well as any other country in which
     the Employer may carry on business at any time during the one (1) year
     period following the date of termination of this Agreement.

                                       4

<PAGE>
                                   ARTICLE 2.
                                      TERM

2.1  Term. This Agreement is hereby concluded for a term of five (5) years,
effective as of the date hereof.

                                   ARTICLE 3.
                          DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

3.1  Duties and Responsibilities. As Chairman of the Board, President and Chief
Executive Officer of the Employer, the Employee's duties and responsibilities
shall include, above and beyond those inherent to the Employee's office and
normally pertaining to it, those compatible with the Employee's position and
which the Employer or its Board of Directors or the Board of Directors of
ClinTrials Research, Inc. may delegate to the Employee from time to time.

3.2  Additional Duties. The Employee hereby agrees to execute such additional
tasks compatible with his position as may be assigned by the Employer from time
to time, the whole according to the directives of the Employer.

                                   ARTICLE 4.
                                    LOYALTY

4.1  Loyalty. The Employee shall devote the whole of his working time,
attention, skills and competence to the Employer and to the Business. The
Employee shall act with diligence, loyalty and honesty and shall make all
necessary efforts to promote the Employer's legitimate interests for the term
of this Agreement.

                                   ARTICLE 5.
                                CONFIDENTIALITY

5.1  Obligation of Confidentiality. The Employee hereby agrees not to, use,
divulge, diffuse, sell, transfer, give, circulate, or otherwise distribute to
any Person, or otherwise make public, any Confidential Information during the
term of this Agreement and for a period of thirty-six (36) months following the
termination of this Agreement.

5.2  Trade Secrets. Notwithstanding any provisions of this Agreement to the
contrary, the Employee shall not, at any time while an employee of the Employer
or at any time thereafter, use, divulge, diffuse, sell, transfer, give,
circulate or otherwise distribute to any Person Confidential Information which
constitutes a trade secret of the Employer.

                                       5
<PAGE>
5.3  Exception. Notwithstanding any provision hereof to the contrary, the
Employee shall have the right to use Confidential Information in relation to
Permitted Uses; in which event, the Employee shall, at all times, take all
necessary, useful or desirable measures in order to prevent the disclosure or
non-authorized use of such Confidential Information.

5.4  No Unauthorized Reproductions. Except when authorized in accordance with
the Permitted Uses, under no circumstances shall the Employee reproduce any
Confidential Information without the Employer's prior written consent. All
reproductions of Confidential Information shall be governed by this Agreement
and shall be treated as Confidential Information hereunder.

5.5  Return of Confidential Information. All Confidential Information and all
Embodiments thereof (including any reproductions) shall remain the sole property
of the Employer and shall be returned to the Employer immediately upon request
to this effect or immediately after the termination of this Agreement.

5.6  Exceptions. Notwithstanding any provision hereof to the contrary, nothing
in this Agreement shall prevent the disclosure of Confidential Information if
such disclosure must be made in response to the formal request of a Governmental
Body or is otherwise required under any applicable law; it being understood,
however, that to the extent possible, the Employee shall inform the Employer of
such a request for disclosure in order that the latter may, at the appropriate
time, decide whether or not the contest the said disclosure. The Employee shall
fully cooperate with the Employer in any efforts to obtain any type of
protective order or any other remedy or recourse which the Employer may seek to
obtain in this regard.

                                   ARTICLE 6.
               OBLIGATION OF NON-COMPETITION AND NON-SOLICITATION

6.1  Obligation of Non-Competition. The Employee shall not, during the term of
this Agreement and, on condition that the Employee receives payment of the
Termination Benefits as a result of an Involuntary Termination, for a period
of thirty-six (36) months after the date of termination of the Employee's
employment, on the Employee's own behalf or on behalf of any Person, whether
directly or indirectly, in any capacity whatsoever, whether alone, through or
in connection with any Person, carry on or be engaged in or have any financial
or other interest in or be otherwise commercially involved in any endeavor,
activity or business in all or part of the Territory which is in competition,
in whole or in part, with the Business.

6.2  Exception. The Employee shall not be in default under this Article by
virtue of the Employee holding, strictly for portfolio purposes and as a passive
investor, no more than five percent (5%) of the issued and outstanding shares of
any body corporate which is listed on a recognized stock exchange, the business
of which body corporate is in competition, in whole or in part, with the
Business.

                                       6
<PAGE>
6.3  Obligations of Non-Solicitation. The Employee shall not, during the term of
this Agreement and, on condition that the Employee receives payment of the
Termination Benefits as a result of an Involuntary Termination, for a period of
thirty-six (36) months after the date of termination of the Employee's
employment, solicit the employment or other services of any employee of the
Employer.

                                   ARTICLE 7.
                                     SALARY

7.1  Salary. The Employee shall receive an annual gross base salary of two
hundred and twenty thousand dollars Canadian ($220,000) (the "Base Salary"),
less the appropriate legal deductions, to be paid in twenty-six (26) bi-weekly
and equal instalments. Such salary shall be reviewed annually by the
Compensation Committee of the Employer in accordance with its internal policies
in effect from time to time but shall not, at any time, be reduced to less than
two hundred and twenty thousand dollars Canadian ($220,000).

                                    ARTICLE 8.
                           BONUS AND INCENTIVE PLANS

8.1  Bonus and Incentive Plans. The Employee shall be eligible to participate in
all of the Employer's bonus and incentive compensation plans in force and
offered to senior executives of the Employer at the time, which plans may be
modified by the Employer at its sole discretion from time to time.

                                   ARTICLE 9.
                             BENEFITS AND VACATION

9.1  Benefits and Vacation. The Employee shall have the right to participate in
all benefit programs and/or plans granted to senior executives of the Employer,
the whole in accordance with the actual programs or plans that the Employer may
institute from time to time or as otherwise required under any applicable law.
The Employee shall be granted vacation in accordance with the Employer's policy
as amended from time to time, which at the date of signing of the present
Agreement is the following: four (4) weeks of vacation after fifteen (15) years
of uninterrupted service and five (5) weeks of vacation after twenty (20) years
of uninterrupted service.

                                  ARTICLE 10.
                                    EXPENSES

10.1  Expenses. The Employer hereby agrees to reimburse to the Employee all
expenses and fees reasonably incurred by the Employee in the exercise of the
Activities upon presentation of appropriate receipts or other evidence thereof.

                                       7

<PAGE>
                                   ARTICLE 11.
                                   AUTOMOBILE

11.1 Automobile. The Employee shall be entitled during the term of the
Agreement to the use of one (1) automobile vehicle fully expensed by the
Employer and commensurate to the Employee's position.

                                   ARTICLE 12.
                                CLUB MEMBERSHIPS

12.1 Club Memberships. The Employee shall be entitled to membership in the
Forest and Stream Club, the West Island Health Club and in any other club(s) or
associations selected by the Employee and acceptable to the Employer, whereupon
all membership fees and dues shall be paid by the Employer and the ownership of
which shall be the property of the Employee.

                                   ARTICLE 13.
                                 STOCK OPTIONS

13.1 Stock Options. The Employee shall be eligible to participate in and
benefit from any stock option and/or stock purchase plan that is offered or
adopted by ClinTrials Research, Inc. for the benefit of its senior executives
and key employees, the whole in accordance with the terms and conditions of
such a plan, as approved and modified from time to time by the Board of
Directors of ClinTrials Research, Inc.

                                   ARTICLE 14.
                                PENSION BENEFITS

14.1 Pension Benefits. The Employee shall continue to participate in and
benefit from the existing Pension Plan for Designated Employees of Employer. In
accordance with the terms and conditions of the said plan, as approved and
modified from time to time by the Board of Directors of the Employers. This
Agreement does not affect Employee's pension rights under existing pension
agreements.

                                   ARTICLE 15.
                          TERMINATION OF THE AGREEMENT

15.1 Termination of the Agreement. The parties hereto acknowledge and expressly
agree that the present Agreement may only be terminated in any of the following
eventualities:

                                       8
<PAGE>
(a)  at any time, for fraud or gross misconduct, on simple notice from the
     Employer to the Employee, the whole without other notice or any pay in lieu
     of notice or any indemnity whatsoever, except as may otherwise be required
     by applicable law; or

(b)  at any time for any reason other than fraud or gross misconduct, by
     remitting to the Employee the amounts and benefits referred to in section
     17.2, applied mutatis mutandis, whether or not there is a Change of
     Control; or

(c)  at any time in accordance with Article 17; or

(d)  upon the death or the Incapacity of the Employee.

                                  ARTICLE 16.
                         OBLIGATION TO REMAIN EMPLOYED

16.1 Employee to Remain Employed. If a Person takes any steps to effect a
Change of Control, the Employee shall not voluntarily leave his employment with
the Employer, other than by way of normal retirement, and shall continue to
perform his duties related to his employment until such person has abandoned or
terminated his or its efforts to effect a Change of Control or until after a
Change of Control has been effected, except as may be permitted by other
provisions of this agreement.

                                  ARTICLE 17.
                              TERMINATION BENEFITS

17.1 Conditions of Payment. The benefits outlined in Section 17.2 shall become
due and payable if:

(a)  there has been a Change of Control of the Employer; and

(b)  the employment of the Employee with the Employer has been terminated by an
     Involuntary Termination;

but, subject to Section 17.7 hereof, no such benefits shall be payable in
relation to any particular Change of Control if within twenty-four (24) months
next following that particular Change of Control, the employment of the
Employee with the Employer has not been terminated by an Involuntary
Termination.

17.2 Termination Benefits. If the events outlined in Section 17.1 have occurred,
the Employer shall:

                                       9
<PAGE>
(a) pay to the Employee on the same basis as in effect immediately prior to such
    Involuntary Termination for a period of three (3) years following such
    Involuntary Termination an amount equivalent to the Employee's salary and
    Bonus at the rate in effect immediately prior to such Involuntary
    Termination or on the effective date of the Change of Control, whichever is
    higher;

(b) pay to the Employee within sixty (60) days following the end of the fiscal
    year of the Employer in which the Involuntary Termination occurs, a lump sum
    equivalent to the amount, if any, of such Bonus which would otherwise have
    been payable to the Employee had he remained employed to the end of such
    fiscal year, calculated on the basis that the number of months, including
    the month in which such Involuntary Termination occurs, bears to the total
    number of months for which the Bonus would otherwise have been paid during
    such fiscal year and calculated in accordance with the terms for Bonus
    payments as in effect immediately prior to such Involuntary Termination or
    on the effective date of the Change of Control, whichever would yield a
    higher Bonus payment to the Employee;

(c) pay to the Employee the amount of any unpaid salary earned by the Employee
    up to and including the date of such Involuntary Termination;

(d) pay to the Employee any unpaid vacation pay earned by him up to and
    including the date of such Involuntary Termination;

(e) continue to make the employer contributions necessary to maintain the
    Employee's coverage pursuant to all benefit plans provided to the Employee
    by the Employer immediately prior to such Involuntary Termination or on the
    effective date of the Change of Control, whichever is more beneficial to the
    Employee, for a period of three (3) years following such Involuntary
    Termination and shall deduct from any payments payable to the Employee
    pursuant to Subsection 17.2(a) hereof the amount of any employee
    contributions necessary to maintain such coverage for the above-noted period
    based on any such contributions which were in effect immediately prior to
    such Involuntary Termination or on the effective date of the Change of
    Control, whichever are lower;

(f) pay to the Employee an amount equivalent to the leasing cost of any car
    provided by the Employer to the Employee and any operating expenses of such
    car paid for by the Employer, all as in effect immediately prior to such
    Involuntary Termination or on the effective date of the Change of Control,
    whichever is more beneficial to the Employee, for a period of three (3)
    years following such Involuntary Termination;

(g) pay to the Employee for a period of three (3) years following such
    Involuntary Termination the amount of any annual club dues and club expenses
    paid for by the Employer on behalf

                                       10

<PAGE>
    of the Employee immediately prior to such Involuntary Termination or on the
    effective date of the Change of Control, whichever is more beneficial to the
    Employee;

(h) in respect of all stock options granted to Employee under any stock option
    plan in effect immediately prior to such Involuntary Termination whether or
    not such options are currently exercisable all options shall vest, and
    remain exercisable for a six (6) month period following Termination.

(i) credit the Employee with service for the purposes of any pension plan or
    pension arrangements in which the Employee participated or which pertained
    to the Employee immediately prior to such Involuntary Termination or which
    were in effect on the effective date of the Change of Control, whichever
    were more beneficial to the Employee, for the period of three (3) years
    following such Involuntary Termination and include in calculating the
    Employee's earnings for the purpose of determining any benefits payable to
    the Employee pursuant to such plan or arrangements all amounts (other than
    any Bonus) payable to the Employee pursuant to Subsection 17.2(a);

(j) until the Employee accepts a position of substantially similar character and
    compensation in the industry, his Retirement Compensation Arrangement (or
    supplementary pension plan) with the Employer will be properly funded
    annually, for past services, on the basis of the information set forth in
    the letter of Towers Perrin dated November 16, 1990, a copy of which is
    annexed hereto as Appendix "A";

(k) until the Employee accepts a position of substantially similar character and
    compensation in the industry, his pension plan will continue to be available
    and fully paid-up, on the basis of the information set forth in the letter
    of Towers Perrin dated November 16, 1990, copy attached, until the Employee
    attains the age of sixty (60), as though the Employee's employment with the
    Employer was uninterrupted until that time;

(l) proper Arrangements satisfactory to the parties will be made at the time of
    termination of the Employee's employment by an Involuntary Termination so as
    to secure the payment of all sums due to him; and

(m) should the Employee accept alternative work outside Quebec, Employee shall
    use his best efforts to cause his new employer to pay moving expenses, and
    failing that, then the Employee will also be reimbursed for unreimbursed
    moving expenses up to twenty thousand dollars ($20,000).

17.3 Successor. The Employer shall use its best efforts to require any
successor, whether direct or indirect, to all or substantially all of the
business and/or assets of the Employer to expressly agree to assume and to
perform this Agreement in the same manner that the Employer would have been

                                       11

<PAGE>
required to perform it if no such succession had occurred. If the Employer
fails to obtain such agreement prior to the effective date of such succession,
such failure shall be deemed to be an involuntary Termination of the Employee's
employment by the Employer and such termination shall be deemed to have
occurred on the said effective date.

17.4 Mitigation. Following an Involuntary Termination of the Employee's
employment with the Employer after a Change of Control the Employee shall use
all reasonable efforts to mitigate any damages resulting from such Involuntary
Termination provided, however, that the Employee shall not be required to
accept a position of substantially different character than the position held
by him with the Employer immediately prior to such Involuntary Termination or
on the effective date of the Change of Control, whichever was a more
responsible position, nor shall he be required to accept a position in a
location which is unreasonable, given the personal circumstances of the
Employee at the time any such position is offered to him.

17.5 Lump Sum Payment. Notwithstanding any other provisions in this Agreement,
if the Employee successfully mitigates any damages as outlined in Section 17.4
within the period of three (3) years following such Involuntary Termination:

(a)  the Employer's obligations pursuant to Subsections 17.2(a), (e), (f) and
     (g) shall thereupon cease;

(b)  the Employee shall immediately notify the Employer of such mitigation; and

(c)  following receipt of such notice, the Employer shall pay to the Employee a
     lump sum equivalent to the balance of the payment which it would otherwise
     have made to the Employee pursuant to Subsection 17.2(a) but for such
     mitigation.

17.6 Fair and Reasonable. The parties confirm that the provisions of this
Article 17 are reasonable and that the total benefits payable as outlined
herein are reasonable estimates of the damages which will be suffered by the
Employee in the event of an Involuntary Termination following a Change of
Control.

17.7 Other Rights Not Affected. The lapse of rights under Section 17.1 with
respect to any particular Change of Control shall not limit the entitlement of
the Employee to benefits becoming due and payable with in twenty-four (24)
months next following any subsequently Change of Control.

                                       12

<PAGE>
                                  ARTICLE 18.
                                  LIMITATION

18.1  Limitation. The Employee hereby recognizes and accepts that the Employer
shall not, under any circumstances, be responsible of any additional amount,
indemnity in lieu of notice, severance pay or other damages arising from the
termination of this Agreement, above and beyond the amounts specifically
provided for herein.

                                  ARTICLE 19.
                    TERM AND RENEWAL OF TERMINATION BENEFITS

19.1  Term of Termination Benefits. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary
contained in this Agreement, the Termination Benefits under this Agreement shall
extend for an initial period of five (5) years, commencing on the date hereof.

19.2  Offer to Renew by Employer. The Employer may offer to renew the
Termination Benefits under this Agreement for a period of Five (5) years and so
on for successive periods of five (5) years each (a "Renewal Period") by giving
notice in writing to the Employee by not later than the    day of July, 2001 or
the last day of any Renewal Period, as applicable.

19.3  Non-Renewal. If the Employer offers to renew the Termination Benefits
under this Agreement and the Employee does not accept such offer, then the
Termination Benefits under this Agreement shall terminate on the    day of
July, 2001 or on the last day of the applicable Renewal Period, as the case may
be. In the event Employer does not intend to renew this Agreement or the
Termination Benefits at the end of the initial period of five (5) years, the
Employer shall give notice to Employee of its present intention not to so renew
on or before six months from the fifth anniversary hereof. In the event that
Employer does not renew this Agreement beyond the initial term of five years,
Employer shall pay Employee upon termination of this Agreement a lump sum of
money equal to Employee's most recent annual base salary as a severance payment.

                                  ARTICLE 20.
                                    GENERAL

20.1  Number. In this Agreement, words importing the singular number only shall
include the plural and vice versa, and words importing the masculine gender
shall include the feminine and neuter genders and vice versa, and words
importing persons shall include individuals, partnerships, associations,
trusts, unincorporated organizations and corporations.

                                       13

<PAGE>
20.2   Benefits of Agreement. This Agreement shall enure to the benefit of and
be binding upon the heirs, executors, administrators and legal personal
representatives of the Employee as well as the successors and permitted assigns
of the Employers.

20.3   Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between
the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and cancels and supersedes
any prior understandings and agreements between the parties hereto with respect
thereto. There are no representations, warranties, forms, conditions,
undertakings or collateral agreements, express, implied or statutory between the
parties with respect to the subject matter dealt with herein other than as
expressly set forth in this Agreement.

20.4   Amendments and Waivers. No amendment to this Agreement shall be valid or
binding unless set forth in writing and duly executed by both of the parties
hereto. No waiver of any breach of any provision of this Agreement shall be
effective or binding unless made in writing and signed by the party purporting
to give the same and, unless otherwise provided in the written waiver, shall be
limited to the specific breach waived.

20.5   Severability. If any provision of this Agreement is determined to be
invalid or unenforceable, in whole or in part, such invalidity or
unenforceability shall attach only to such provision or part thereof and the
remaining part of such provision and all other provisions hereof shall continue
in full force and effect.

20.6   Notices. Any notice consent, authorization, direction or other
communication required or permitted to be given hereunder shall be in writing
and shall be delivered either by personal delivery or by telex, telecopier or
similar telecommunications device and addressed as follows:

(a)    in the case of the Employee, to:

       3 Kirkland Avenue
       Beaconsfield, Quebec H9W SL1 Canada

       Attention: Michael Ankcorn

       Fax:  (514) 630-8239

(b)    in the case of the Employer, to:

       ClinTrials BioResearch Ltd.

       Care of:

                                       14

<PAGE>
     ClinTrials Research, Inc.
     One Burton Hills Blvd., Suite 210
     Nashville, TN 37215
     Attention: Chief Executive Officer

     Copy:     Harwell Howard Hyne Gabbert & Manner, P.C.
               1800 First American Center
               315 Deaderick Street
               Nashville, Tennessee 37238
               Attention: Mark Manner

Any notice, consent, authorization, direction or other communication delivered
as aforesaid shall be deemed to have been effectively delivered and received,
if sent by telex, telecopier or similar telecommunications device, on the
calendar day next following receipt of such transmission or, if delivered, to
have been delivered and received on the date of such delivery, provided,
however, that if such date is not a business day, then it shall be deemed to
have been delivered and received on the business day next following such
delivery. Either Party may change its address for service by notice delivered
as aforesaid.

20.7 Governing Laws. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of the Province of Quebec.

20.8 Arbitration. Any dispute, controversy or claim arising out of, or relating
to this Agreement, or the breach, interpretation, termination or invalidity
thereof (hereinafter "Dispute"), shall be definitely settled in accordance
with the provisions on arbitration in the Code of Civil Procedure of Quebec and
the Civil Code of Quebec by a tribunal of three (3) arbitrators. Each party
shall appoint one arbitrator.

(a)  The party wishing to initiate arbitration (hereinafter "Claimant") shall
     send a notice of arbitration (hereinafter "Notice") to the other party
     (hereinafter "Respondent"), specifying the object of the Dispute and naming
     the Arbitrator of its choice.

(b)  The Respondent will then have fifteen (15) calendar days to notify the
     Claimant of its choice of arbitrator.

(c)  The two arbitrators thus appointed by the parties shall together, within
     thirty (30) days of the receipt by the Claimant of the Respondent's notice
     of its choice of arbitrator, designate the third (3rd) arbitrator who shall
     preside over the Arbitration Tribunal.

(d)  The presiding arbitrator shall be a member of the Quebec Bar with at least
     ten (10) years experience in the field of labor relations and employment
     law.

                                       15

<PAGE>
(e)    If the two arbitrators appointed by the parties are unable to agree on
       the selection of the third arbitrator within thirty (30) days of the
       receipt by the Claimant of the Respondent's Notice of its choice of
       arbitrator, the third arbitrator shall be designated by the highest
       ranking officer of the Quebec National and International Commercial
       Arbitration Centre upon a motion of either party hereto.

(f)    The seat of arbitration shall be Montreal, Canada and the language of
       arbitration shall be English. The arbitral tribunal may, without changing
       the seat of arbitration, hold hearings elsewhere for reasons of
       convenience, but only with the agreement of the parties.

20.9   COPY OF AGREEMENT. The Employee hereby acknowledges receipt of a copy of
this Agreement duly signed by the Employer.

20.10  COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in one or more
counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed an original, and
such counterparts together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

20.11  LANGUAGE. The parties hereto acknowledge that they have requested and
are satisfied that this Agreement and all related documents be drawn up in the
English language. Les parties our presentes reconnaisset avoir requis que lo
presenta enpense et les documents qui y sont retorifs soient rediges an langue
anglaise.

                                       16

<PAGE>
     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of
the date first hereinabove mentioned.

                                             /s/ Michael F. Ankcorn
                                             ---------------------------------
                                             MICHAEL F. ANKCORN

                                             CLINTRIALS BIORESEARCH LTD.

                                             Per: /s/ William C. O'Neil, Jr.
                                                  -----------------------------
                                                  Name: William C. O'Neil, Jr.

                                       17
<PAGE>
ADDENDUM TO EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT OF JULY 31, 1996 AND THE MEMORANDUM
OF AGREEMENT OF JUNE 19, 1997 AS ENTERED INTO BY CLINITRIALS BIORESEARCH LTD.
AND MICHAEL F. ANKCORN
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

BY AND BETWEEN:     MICHAEL F. ANKCORN

                    (hereinafter referred to as the "Employee")

AND:                CLINTRIALS BIORESEARCH LTD.

                    (hereinafter referred to as the "Employer")

WHEREAS the Employee and Employer have agreed to modify certain terms of the
Executive Employment Agreement of July 31, 1996, and the Memorandum of
Agreement of June 19, 1997, to which they are both party;

AND WHEREAS the parties agree that all terms and conditions of the Executive
Employment Agreement and Memorandum of Agreement not addressed by the present
Addendum shall remain unchanged;

NOW THEREFORE the parties hereto agree as follows:

1.   The preamble forms an integral part of the present Addendum;

2.   Article 1.1(f) of the Executive Employment Agreement is hereby abolished
     and all references to "Change of Control" as defined therein are hereby
     rendered without effect;

3.   Article 1.1(o) of the Executive Employment Agreement is hereby modified by
     replacing the words "three (3)" with the words "one (1)";

4.   Article 6.1 of the Executive Employment Agreement is hereby modified by
     replacing the words "thirty-six (36)" with the words "twelve (12)";

5.   Article 6.3 of the Executive Employment Agreement is hereby modified by
     replacing the words "thirty-six (36)" with the words "twelve (12)";

<PAGE>

6.   Article 17 of the Executive Employment Agreement including all of its
     sections, paragraphs, sub-paragraphs and other constituent elements, is
     hereby abolished as it pertains to termination of the Employee's employment
     following a Change of Control only, as that term was defined in the
     Executive Employment Agreement prior to the present modifications and all
     references to the said Article 17 as they appear throughout the Executive
     Employment Agreement and the Memorandum of Agreement are hereby rendered
     without effect inasmuch as they pertain to termination following a Change
     of Control only;

7.   For greater certainty, the parties to the present Addendum hereby agree
     that the provisions of Article 17 of the Executive Employment Agreement,
     and in particular section 17.2, will continue to apply to the termination
     of the Employee's employment in accordance with the provisions of paragraph
     15.1(b) of the Executive Employment Agreement save that this provision
     will not apply in the case of a Change of Control and that all references
     to the term "three (3) years" in section 17.2 shall be replaced with the
     term "one (1) year";

8.   All other terms of the Executive Employment Agreement remain in full force
     and effect.

9.   The parties hereto acknowledge that they have requested and are satisfied
     that this Addendum be drafted in the English language. / Les parties aux
     presentes reconnaissent avoir demande que le present addenda soit redige en
     anglais.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF the parties hereto have executed this Addendum on the date
first mentioned above

                                          CLINITRIALS BIORESEARCH LTD.

                                          /s/ Paul Bancroft
                                          _____________________________________
/s/ Michael F. Ankcorn                    PAUL BANCROFT
___________________________________       _____________________________________
Michael F. Ankcorn                        Per: Vice President, Finance/Admin

29 August 2001                            29/08/01
___________________________________       _____________________________________
Date:                                     Date:
<PAGE>
      ADDENDUM TO EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT OF JULY 31, 1996 AND THE
      MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT OF JUNE 19,1997 AS ENTERED INTO BY CLINTRIALS
                     BIORESEARCH LTD. AND MICHAEL F. ANKCORN

BY AND BETWEEN:          MICHAEL F. ANKCORN
                         (hereinafter referred to as the "Employee")

AND:                     CLINTRIALS BIORESEARCH LTD.
                         (hereinafter referred to as the "Employer")

DATED AS OF JUNE 3, 2002

WHEREAS, the Employee and the Employer have agreed to acknowledge and to modify
certain terms of the Executive Employment Agreement of July 31, 1996, and the
Memorandum of Agreement of June 19, 1997, to which they are both party;

AND WHEREAS, the parties agree that the terms used in this Addendum that are not
otherwise defined shall have the meanings given to such terms in the Executive
Employment Agreement;

AND WHEREAS, the parties agree that all terms and conditions of the Executive
Employment Agreement and Memorandum of Agreement not addressed or modified by
this Addendum of any prior Addendum between the parties shall remain unchanged;

NOW THEREFORE, the parties hereto agree as follows:

1. The parties acknowledge that in accordance with Article 19, Section 19.1 of
the Executive Employment Agreement, the Employer provided the appropriate notice
to the Employee on or prior to July 24, 2001 and that the first Renewal Period
and correspondingly the term of the Executive Employment Agreement set forth in
Article 2, Section 2.1 of the Executive Employment Agreement shall expire on
July 24, 2006.

2. Article 7, Section 7.1 of the Executive Employment Agreement is hereby
modified by replacing the words and numbers "two hundred and twenty thousand
dollars Canadian ($220,000)" with the words and numbers "three hundred seventy
thousand eight hundred sixty-three dollars Canadian ($370,863)" in each
instance.

3. The parties acknowledge that Mr. Ankcorn shall continue to serve Employer in
his current capacities as Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive
Officer and that he shall also be employed as a Group Executive Vice President
of Inveresk Research Group, Inc., the Employer's newly formed indirect parent
company.

4. All other terms of the Executive Employment Agreement remain in full force
and effect.

5. The parties hereto acknowledge that they have requested and are satisfied
that this Addendum be drafted in English language. / Les parties aux presentes
reconnaissent avoir demande que le present addenda soit redige en anglais.
<PAGE>
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the parties hereto have executed this Addendum on the date
first mentioned above.

                                            CLINTRIALS BIORESEARCH LTD.

/s/ Michael F. Ankcorn                       /s/ Paul Bancroft
-------------------------                   ---------------------------
Name: Michael F. Ankcorn                     Name: Paul Bancroft
                                             Title: Vice President,
                                                    Finance/Admin.

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