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                                                                   Exhibit 4.1.1


                           LOAN AND SECURITY AGREEMENT

                          DATED AS OF NOVEMBER 28, 2001

                                     BETWEEN

                          LASALLE BUSINESS CREDIT, INC.

                        THE LENDER AND COLLATERAL AGENT,

                             NUMATICS, INCORPORATED,

                             MICRO-FILTRATION, INC.,

                                 NUMATION, INC.,

                                 NUMATECH, INC.,

                            ULTRA AIR PRODUCTS, INC.,

                                MICROSMITH, INC.

                                       AND

                            EMPIRE AIR SYSTEMS, INC.

                                  THE BORROWERS

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                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

                                                                            Page
                                                                            ----

1.       DEFINITIONS...........................................................2

2.       LOANS................................................................11
         (a)      Revolving Loans.............................................11
         (b)      Repayments..................................................12
         (c)      Notes.......................................................13

3.       LETTERS OF CREDIT....................................................13
         (a)      General Terms...............................................13
         (b)      Requests for Letters of Credit..............................13
         (c)      Obligations Absolute........................................13
         (d)      Expiration Dates of Letters of Credit.......................14

4.       INTEREST, FEES AND CHARGES...........................................14
         (a)      Interest Rate...............................................14
         (b)      Other LIBOR Provisions......................................15
         (c)      Fees And Charges............................................17
         (d)      Maximum Interest............................................18

5.       COLLATERAL...........................................................18
         (a)      Grant of Security Interest to Collateral Agent..............18
         (b)      Other Security..............................................19
         (c)      Possessory Collateral.......................................19
         (d)      Electronic Chattel Paper....................................20
         (e)      Intercreditor Agreement.....................................20

6.       PRESERVATION OF COLLATERAL AND PERFECTION OF SECURITY
         INTERESTS THEREIN....................................................20

7.       POSSESSION OF COLLATERAL AND RELATED MATTERS.........................21

8.       COLLECTIONS..........................................................21

9.       COLLATERAL, AVAILABILITY AND FINANCIAL REPORTS AND SCHEDULES.........23
         (a)      Daily Reports...............................................23
         (b)      Monthly Reports.............................................23
         (c)      Financial Statements........................................24
         (d)      Annual Projections..........................................24
         (e)      Explanation of Budgets and Projections......................24


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         (f)      Public Reporting............................................24
         (g)      Other Information...........................................25

10.      TERMINATION; AUTOMATIC RENEWAL.......................................25

11.      REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.......................................26
         (a)      Financial Statements and Other Information..................26
         (b)      Locations...................................................26
         (c)      Loans by Borrower...........................................26
         (d)      Accounts and Inventory......................................27
         (e)      Liens.......................................................27
         (f)      Organization, Authority and No Conflict.....................27
         (g)      Litigation..................................................27
         (h)      Compliance with Laws and Maintenance of Permits.............28
         (i)      Affiliate Transactions......................................28
         (j)      Names and Trade Names.......................................28
         (k)      Equipment...................................................28
         (l)      Enforceability..............................................28
         (m)      Solvency....................................................28
         (n)      Indebtedness................................................29
         (o)      Margin Security and Use of Proceeds.........................29
         (p)      Parent, Subsidiaries and Affiliates.........................29
         (q)      No Defaults.................................................29
         (r)      Employee Matters............................................29
         (s)      Intellectual Property.......................................29
         (t)      Environmental Matters.......................................30
         (u)      ERISA Matters...............................................30

12.      AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS................................................30
         (a)      Maintenance of Records......................................30
         (b)      Notices.....................................................31
         (c)      Compliance with Laws and Maintenance of Permits.............32
         (d)      Inspection and Audits.......................................32
         (e)      Insurance...................................................33
         (f)      Collateral..................................................34
         (g)      Use of Proceeds.............................................34
         (h)      Taxes.......................................................34
         (i)      Intellectual Property.......................................35
         (j)      Checking Accounts...........................................35

13.      NEGATIVE COVENANTS...................................................35
         (a)      Guaranties..................................................35
         (b)      Indebtedness................................................35
         (c)      Liens.......................................................36
         (d)      Mergers, Sales, Acquisitions, Subsidiaries and Other
                  Transactions Outside the Ordinary Course of Business........36


                                       -ii-

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         (e)      Dividends and Distributions.................................37
         (f)      Investments; Loans..........................................37
         (g)      Fundamental Changes, Line of Business.......................37
         (h)      Equipment...................................................37
         (i)      Use of Proceeds.............................................37
         (j)      Affiliate Transactions......................................38
         (k)      Settling of Accounts........................................38
         (l)      Remuneration................................................38

14.      FINANCIAL COVENANTS..................................................38
         (a)      Tangible Net Worth..........................................38
         (b)      Debt Service Coverage.......................................39
         (c)      Interest Coverage...........................................39
         (d)      Capital Expenditure Limitations.............................40
         (e)      Senior Debt to Adjusted Net Income..........................40

15.      DEFAULT..............................................................41
         (a)      Payment.....................................................41
         (b)      Breach of this Agreement and the Other Agreements...........41
         (c)      Breaches of Other Obligations...............................41
         (d)      Breach of Representations and Warranties....................41
         (e)      Loss of Collateral..........................................41
         (f)      Levy, Seizure or Attachment.................................41
         (g)      Bankruptcy or Similar Proceedings...........................42
         (h)      Appointment of Receiver.....................................42
         (i)      Judgment....................................................42
         (j)      Death or Dissolution of Obligor.............................42
         (k)      Default or Revocation of Guaranty...........................42
         (l)      Criminal Proceedings........................................43
         (m)      Change of Control...........................................43
         (n)      Change of Management........................................43
         (o)      Material Adverse Change.....................................43

16.      REMEDIES UPON AN EVENT OF DEFAULT....................................43

17.      CONDITIONS PRECEDENT.................................................44

18.      JOINT AND SEVERAL LIABILITY..........................................45

19.      INDEMNIFICATION......................................................47

20.      NOTICE...............................................................48

21.      CHOICE OF GOVERNING LAW; CONSTRUCTION; FORUM SELECTION...............48

22.      MODIFICATION AND BENEFIT OF AGREEMENT................................49


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23.      HEADINGS OF SUBDIVISIONS.............................................49

24.      POWER OF ATTORNEY....................................................50

25.      CONFIDENTIALITY......................................................50

26.      COUNTERPARTS.........................................................50

27.      ELECTRONIC SUBMISSIONS...............................................50

28.      WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL; OTHER WAIVERS..................................51

EXHIBIT A - BUSINESS AND COLLATERAL LOCATIONS

EXHIBIT B - COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE

EXHIBIT C - COMMERCIAL TORT CLAIMS

EXHIBIT D - FORM OF SUBORDINATION AGREEMENT

SCHEDULE 11(i) - AFFILIATE TRANSACTIONS

SCHEDULE 11(j) - NAMES & TRADE NAMES

SCHEDULE 11(n) - INDEBTEDNESS

SCHEDULE 11(p) - PARENT, SUBSIDIARIES AND AFFILIATES

SCHEDULE 17(a) - CLOSING DOCUMENT CHECKLIST



                                      -iv-

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                           LOAN AND SECURITY AGREEMENT

     THIS LOAN AND SECURITY AGREEMENT (as amended, modified or supplemented from
time to time, this "Agreement") made this 28th day of November, 2001 by and
among LASALLE BUSINESS CREDIT, INC., a Delaware corporation, (individually,
"Lender" and as Collateral Agent), 135 South LaSalle Street, Chicago, Illinois
60603-4105, NUMATICS, INCORPORATED, a Michigan corporation, having its principal
place of business at 1450 North Milford Road, Highland, Michigan 48357
("Numatics"), MICRO-FILTRATION, INC., a Michigan corporation, having its
principal place of business at 3309 John Connelly Drive, Lapeer, Michigan 48446
("Micro-Filtration"), NUMATION, INC., a Michigan corporation, having its
principal place of business at 1424 Chester Industrial Parkway, Avon, Ohio 44011
("Numation"), NUMATECH, INC., a Michigan corporation, having its principal place
of business at 28900 Beck Road, Wixom, Michigan 48393 ("Numatech"), ULTRA AIR
PRODUCTS, INC., a Michigan corporation, having its principal place of business
at 3309 John Connelly Drive, Lapeer, Michigan 48446 ("Ultra"), MICROSMITH, INC.,
an Arizona corporation, having its principal place of business at 301 West Deer
Valley Road, Suite 3, Phoenix, Arizona 85027 ("Microsmith"), and EMPIRE AIR
SYSTEMS, INC., a New York corporation, having its principal place of business at
20 Vantage Point Drive, Suite 4, Rochester, New York 14624 ("Empire") (Numatics,
Micro-Filtration, Numation, Numatech, Ultra, Microsmith and Empire are
collectively referred to as "Borrowers").

                                   WITNESSETH:

     WHEREAS, Borrowers may, from time to time, request Loans from Lender, and
the parties wish to provide for the terms and conditions upon which such Loans
or other financial accommodations, if made by Lender, shall be made;

     WHEREAS, contemporaneously with entering into this Agreement, Numatics
Canada and LaSalle Canada will enter into the Canadian Credit Agreement;

     WHEREAS Borrowers will guarantee the obligations of Numatics Canada;

     WHEREAS, each Borrower will grant a security interest to Collateral Agent
in the Collateral of such Borrower to secure, among other things, such
Borrower's obligations to Lender hereunder and such Borrower's obligations to
LaSalle Canada under its guaranty of the Canadian Obligations; and

     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of any Loan (including any Loan by renewal
or extension) hereafter made to a Borrower by Lender, and for other good and
valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby
acknowledged by Borrowers, the parties agree as follows:


<PAGE>

     1. DEFINITIONS.

     "Account", "Account Debtor", "Chattel Paper", "Commercial Tort Claims",
"Deposit Accounts", "Documents", "Electronic Chattel Paper", "Equipment",
"Fixtures", "General Intangibles", "Goods", "Instruments", "Inventory",
"Investment Property", "Letter-of-Credit", "Proceeds" and "Tangible Chattel
Paper" shall have the respective meanings assigned to such terms, as of the date
of this Agreement, in the Illinois Uniform Commercial Code, as the same may be
in effect from time to time. For the purpose of all calculations under this
Agreement, including without limitation, compliance with covenants, the Dollar
Equivalent of all items denominated in currencies other than Dollars shall be
used for such calculations.

     "ACS Debt" shall mean the Indebtedness in the maximum principal amount of
$31,354,000 issued pursuant to the ACS Note Purchase Agreement and/or any other
Indebtedness specifically consented to in writing by Lender (which consent shall
not unreasonably be withheld) the proceeds of which are used to refinance such
Indebtedness in whole or part.

     "ACS Lien" shall mean the security interests granted that secure the ACS
Debt and that are subject to the Intercreditor Agreement dated November __, 2001
between ACS and Lender.

     "ACS Purchase Agreement" shall mean the Note Purchase Agreement dated
November __, 2001 among Numatics, Numatics Ltd., Numatics GmbH, American Capital
Strategies, Ltd. and the purchasers party thereto, as amended, modified or
supplement from time to time.

     "Adjusted Net Income" shall mean, with respect to any period, the
consolidated net income of Numatics and its Subsidiaries after taxes for such
period (excluding any after-tax gains or losses on the sale of assets (other
than the sale of Inventory in the ordinary course of business) and excluding
other after-tax extraordinary gains or losses), plus depreciation and
amortization deducted in determining net income for such period, plus interest
deducted in determining net income for such period, minus Capital Expenditures
for such period not financed, minus any cash dividends paid or accrued and cash
withdrawals paid or accrued to shareholders or other Affiliates for such period
which were not calculated in determining net income after taxes, plus unrealized
foreign exchange losses deducted in determining net income for such period, and
minus, unrealized foreign exchange gains included in determining net income for
such period.

     "Affiliate" shall mean any Person (i) which directly or indirectly through
one or more intermediaries controls, is controlled by, or is under common
control with, a Borrower, (ii) which beneficially owns or holds five percent
(5%) or more of the voting control or equity interests of a Borrower, or (iii)
five percent (5%) or more of the voting control or equity interests of which is
beneficially owned or held by a Borrower.


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     "Business Day" shall mean any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or (i)
with respect to all matters, determinations, fundings and payments in connection
with LIBOR Rate Loans, any day on which banks in London, England or Chicago,
Illinois are required or permitted to close, and (ii) with respect to all other
matters, any day that banks in Chicago, Illinois are required or permitted to
close.

     "Canadian Liabilities" shall mean the "Liabilities" as defined in the
Canadian Loan Agreement.

     "Canadian Loan Agreement" shall mean the Credit Agreement of even date
herewith between Numatics Canada and LaSalle Canada, as amended, modified or
supplemented from time to time.

     "Capital Expenditures" shall mean with respect to any period, the aggregate
of all expenditures (whether paid in cash or accrued as liabilities and
including expenditures for capitalized lease obligations) by Borrowers and their
Subsidiaries during such period that are required by generally accepted
accounting principles, consistently applied, to be included in or reflected by
the property, plant and equipment or similar fixed asset accounts (or intangible
accounts subject to amortization) on the balance sheet of Borrower.

     "Collateral" shall mean all of the property of each Borrower described in
Section 5 hereof, together with all other real or personal property of any
Obligor or any other Person now or hereafter pledged to Lender to secure, either
directly or indirectly, repayment of any of the Liabilities.

     "Collateral Agent" shall mean Lender in its capacity as collateral agent
for itself and LaSalle Canada, and any successors and assigns in such capacity.

     "Currency Exchange Rate" shall mean, with respect to a currency, the rate
determined by Lender (based on the rate set forth in the Wall Street Journal on
the Friday on or before the date of determination or, if such rate is not
available, based on such other method and time of determination as Lender shall
select in its reasonable discretion) to be the exchange rate for the purchase of
Dollars with such currency.

     "Debt Service Coverage" shall mean, with respect to any period, the ratio
of (i) the consolidated net income of Numatics and its Subsidiaries after taxes
for such period (excluding any after-tax gains or losses on the sale of assets
(other than the sale of Inventory in the ordinary course of business) and
excluding other after-tax extraordinary gains or losses), plus depreciation and
amortization deducted in determining net income for such period, plus interest
deducted in determining net income for such period, minus Capital Expenditures
for such period not financed, minus any cash dividends paid or accrued and cash
withdrawals paid or accrued to shareholders or other Affiliates for such period
which were not calculated in determining net income after taxes, plus the
after-tax increase in LIFO reserves, or minus the after tax decrease in LIFO
reserves, plus unrealized foreign exchange losses deducted in determining net
income for such period, and minus unrealized foreign exchange gains included in
determining net income for such period, all determined on a


                                       -3-

<PAGE>

consolidated basis, to (ii) Numatics' and its Subsidiaries' current principal
maturities of long term debt and capitalized leases paid or scheduled to be paid
during such period, plus any prepayments on indebtedness owed to any Person
(except trade payables and revolving loans) and paid during such period, plus
scheduled payments of interest and fees, to the extent carried as interest
expense on Numatics' and its Subsidiaries' consolidated financial statements,
with respect to indebtedness for borrowed money (including the interest
component payments with respect to capitalized leases) all determined on a
consolidated basis.

     "Dilution" shall mean, with respect to any period, the percentage obtained
by dividing (A) the sum of non-cash credits against Accounts of Borrowers for
such period, plus pending or probable, but not yet applied, non-cash credits
against Accounts of Borrowers for such period, by (B) gross invoiced sales of
Borrowers for such period.

     "Dollar Equivalent" shall mean (i) as to any amount denominated in Dollars,
the amount thereof at such time, and (ii) as to any amount denominated in a
currency other than Dollars, the equivalent amount in Dollars as determined by
Lender at such time on the basis of the Currency Exchange Rate for the purchase
of Dollars with such currency.

     "Dollars" and "$" shall mean lawful money of the United States.

     "Eligible Account" shall mean an Account owing to a Borrower which is
acceptable to Lender in its sole discretion for lending purposes. Without
limiting Lender's discretion, Lender shall, in general, consider an Account to
be an Eligible Account if it meets, and so long as it continues to meet, the
following requirements:

          (i) it is genuine and in all respects what it purports to be;

          (ii) it is owned by such Borrower, such Borrower has the right to
     subject it to a security interest in favor of Lender or assign it to Lender
     and it is subject to a first priority perfected security interest in favor
     of Lender and to no other claim, lien, security interest or encumbrance
     whatsoever, other than Permitted Liens;

          (iii) it arises from (A) the performance of services by such Borrower
     in the ordinary course of such Borrower's business, and such services have
     been fully performed and acknowledged and accepted by the Account Debtor
     thereunder; or (B) the sale or lease of Goods by such Borrower in the
     ordinary course of such Borrower's or business, and (x) such Goods have
     been completed in accordance with the Account Debtor's specifications (if
     any) and delivered to the Account Debtor, (y) such Account Debtor has not
     refused to accept, returned or offered to return, any of the Goods which
     are the subject of such Account, and (z) such Borrower has possession of,
     or such Borrower has delivered to Lender (at Lender's request) shipping and
     delivery receipts evidencing delivery of such Goods;

          (iv) it is evidenced by an invoice rendered to the Account Debtor
     thereunder, is due and payable within sixty (60) days after the date of the
     invoice and


                                       -4-

<PAGE>

     does not remain unpaid ninety (90) days past the invoice date thereof;
     provided, however, that if more than twenty-five percent (25%) of the
     aggregate dollar amount of invoices owing by a particular Account Debtor
     remain unpaid ninety (90) days after the respective invoice dates thereof,
     then all Accounts owing by that Account Debtor shall be deemed ineligible;

          (v) it is a valid, legally enforceable and unconditional obligation of
     the Account Debtor thereunder, and is not subject to setoff, counterclaim,
     credit, allowance or adjustment by such Account Debtor, or to any claim by
     such Account Debtor denying liability thereunder in whole or in part;

          (vi) it does not arise out of a contract or order which fails in any
     material respect to comply with the requirements of applicable law;

          (vii) the Account Debtor thereunder is not a director, officer,
     employee or agent of a Borrower, or a Subsidiary, Parent or Affiliate;

          (viii) it is not an Account with respect to which the Account Debtor
     is the United States of America or any state or local government, or any
     department, agency or instrumentality thereof, unless such Borrower assigns
     its right to payment of such Account to Lender pursuant to, and in full
     compliance with, the Assignment of Claims Act of 1940, as amended, or any
     comparable state or local law, as applicable;

          (ix) it is not an Account with respect to which the Account Debtor is
     located in a state which requires such Borrower, as a precondition to
     commencing or maintaining an action in the courts of that state, either to
     (A) receive a certificate of authority to do business and be in good
     standing in such state; or (B) file a notice of business activities report
     or similar report with such state's taxing authority, unless (x) such
     Borrower has taken one of the actions described in clauses (A) or (B); (y)
     the failure to take one of the actions described in either clause (A) or
     (B) may be cured retroactively by such Borrower at its election; or (z)
     such Borrower has proven, to Lender's satisfaction, that it is exempt from
     any such requirements under any such state's laws;

          (x) the Account Debtor is located within the United States of America
     or Canada;

          (xi) it is not an Account with respect to which the Account Debtor's
     obligation to pay is subject to any repurchase obligation or return right,
     as with sales made on a bill-and-hold, guaranteed sale, sale on approval,
     sale or return or consignment basis;

          (xii) it is not an Account (A) with respect to which any
     representation or warranty contained in this Agreement is untrue; or (B)
     which violates any of the covenants of such Borrower contained in this
     Agreement or any Other Agreement;


                                       -5-

<PAGE>

          (xiii) it is not an Account which, when added to a particular Account
     Debtor's other indebtedness to such Borrower, exceeds ten percent (10%) of
     all Accounts of such Borrower or a credit limit determined by Lender in its
     sole discretion for that Account Debtor (except that Accounts excluded from
     Eligible Accounts solely by reason of this clause (xiii) shall be Eligible
     Accounts to the extent of such credit limit); and

          (xiv) it is not an Account with respect to which the prospect of
     payment or performance by the Account Debtor is or will be impaired, as
     determined by Lender in its sole discretion.

     "Eligible Inventory" shall mean Inventory of a Borrower which is acceptable
to Lender in its sole discretion for lending purposes. Without limiting Lender's
discretion, Lender shall, in general, consider Inventory to be Eligible
Inventory if it meets, and so long as it continues to meet, the following
requirements:

          (i) it is owned by such Borrower, such Borrower has the right to
     subject it to a security interest in favor of Lender and it is subject to a
     first priority perfected security interest in favor of Lender and to no
     other claim, lien, security interest or encumbrance whatsoever, other than
     Permitted Liens;

          (ii) it is located on one of the premises listed on Exhibit A (or
     other locations of which Lender has been advised in writing pursuant to
     subsection 12(b)(i) hereof) and is not in transit;

          (iii) if held for sale or lease or furnishing under contracts of
     service, it is (except as Lender may otherwise consent in writing) new and
     unused and free from defects which would, in Lender's sole determination,
     affect its market value;

          (iv) it is not stored with a bailee, consignee, warehouseman,
     processor or similar party unless Lender has given its prior written
     approval and such Borrower has caused any such bailee, consignee,
     warehouseman, processor or similar party to issue and deliver to Lender, in
     form and substance acceptable to Lender, such Uniform Commercial Code
     financing statements, warehouse receipts, waivers and other documents as
     Lender shall require;

          (v) Lender has determined, in accordance with Lender's customary
     business practices, that it is not unacceptable due to age, type, category
     or quantity; and

          (vi) it is not Inventory (A) with respect to which any of the
     representations and warranties contained in this Agreement are untrue; or
     (B) which violates any of the covenants of such Borrower contained in this
     Agreement or any Other Agreement.

     "Environmental Laws" shall mean all federal, state, district, local and
foreign laws, rules, regulations, ordinances, and consent decrees relating to
health, safety, hazardous


                                       -6-

<PAGE>

substances, pollution and environmental matters, as now or at any time hereafter
in effect, applicable to a Borrower's or any Subsidiary's business or facilities
owned or operated by a Borrower or any Subsidiary, including laws relating to
emissions, discharges, releases or threatened releases of pollutants,
contamination, chemicals, or hazardous, toxic or dangerous substances, materials
or wastes into the environment (including, without limitation, ambient air,
surface water, ground water, land surface or subsurface strata) or otherwise
relating to the generation, manufacture, processing, distribution, use,
treatment, storage, disposal, transport or handling of Hazardous Materials.

     "ERISA" shall mean the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as
amended, modified or restated from time to time.

     "Event of Default" shall have the meaning specified in Section 15 hereof.

     "Fiscal Year" shall mean each twelve (12) month accounting period of
Borrowers, which ends on December 31 of each year.

     "Harvard Capital" shall mean Harvard Private Capital Holdings, Inc.

     "Harvard Put" shall Harvard Capital's right to put to Numatics its shares
of capital stock of Numatics pursuant to that certain Securities Purchase
Agreement dated as of January 3, 1996, as amended by that certain Agreement
dated March 23, 1998 between Numatics and Harvard Capital.

     "Hazardous Materials" shall mean any hazardous, toxic or dangerous
substance, materials and wastes, including, without limitation, hydrocarbons
(including naturally occurring or man-made petroleum and hydrocarbons),
flammable explosives, asbestos, urea formaldehyde insulation, radioactive
materials, biological substances, polychlorinated biphenyls, pesticides,
herbicides and any other kind and/or type of pollutants or contaminants
(including, without limitation, materials which include hazardous constituents),
sewage, sludge, industrial slag, solvents and/or any other similar substances,
materials, or wastes and including any other substances, materials or wastes
that are or become regulated under any Environmental Law (including, without
limitation any that are or become classified as hazardous or toxic under any
Environmental Law).

     "Indemnified Party" shall have the meaning specified in Section 19 hereof.

     "Interest Period" shall have the meaning specified in subsection 4(a)(ii)
hereof.

     "LaSalle Bank" shall mean each and either of LaSalle Bank National
Association, Chicago, Illinois, and Standard Federal Bank, Troy, Michigan.

     "LaSalle Canada" shall mean ABN AMRO Bank Canada.

     "Letter of Credit" shall mean any Letter of Credit issued on behalf of a
Borrower in accordance with this Agreement.


                                       -7-

<PAGE>

     "Letter of Credit Obligations" shall mean, as of any date of determination,
the sum of (i) aggregate undrawn face amount of all Letters of Credit, and (ii)
the aggregate unreimbursed amount of all drawn Letters of Credit not already
converted to Loans hereunder.

     "Liabilities" shall mean any and all obligations, liabilities and
indebtedness of Borrowers and/or Subsidiaries to Lender or to any parent,
affiliate or subsidiary of Lender (including without limitation LaSalle Canada)
of any and every kind and nature, howsoever created, arising or evidenced and
howsoever owned, held or acquired, whether now or hereafter existing, whether
now due or to become due, whether primary, secondary, direct, indirect,
absolute, contingent or otherwise (including, without limitation, obligations of
performance), whether several, joint or joint and several, and whether arising
or existing under written or oral agreement or by operation of law.

     "LIBOR Rate" shall mean, with respect to any LIBOR Rate Loan for any
Interest Period, a rate per annum equal to (a) the offered rate for deposits in
United States dollars for a period equal to such Interest Period as it appears
on Telerate page 3750 as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) two (2) Business Days prior
to the first day of such Interest Period. "Telerate page 3750" means the display
designated as "Page 3750" on the Telerate Service (or such other page as may
replace page 3750 of that service or such other service as may be nominated by
the British Bankers' Association as the vendor for the purpose of displaying
British Bankers' Association interest settlement rates for United States dollar
deposits) divided by (b) a number equal to 1.0 minus the maximum reserve
percentages (expressed as a decimal fraction) including, without limitation,
basic supplemental, marginal and emergency reserves under any regulations of the
Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System or other governmental authority
having jurisdiction with respect thereto, as now and from time to time in
effect, for Eurocurrency funding (currently referred to as "Eurocurrency
Liabilities" in Regulation D of such Board) which are required to be maintained
by Lender by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. The LIBOR
Rate shall be adjusted automatically on and as of the effective date of any
change in such reserve percentage.

     "LIBOR Rate Loans" shall mean the Loans bearing interest with reference to
the LIBOR Rate.

     "Loans" shall mean all loans and advances made by Lender to or on behalf of
Borrowers hereunder.

     "Lock Box" and "Lock Box Account" shall have the meanings specified in
subsection 8(a) hereof.

     "Material Adverse Effect" shall mean a material adverse effect on the
business, property, assets, prospects, operations or condition, financial or
otherwise, of Borrowers, taken as a whole.


                                       -8-

<PAGE>

     "Maximum Loan Limit" shall mean Twenty-Six Million and No/100 Dollars
($26,000,000.00).

     "Numatics Canada" shall mean Numatics Ltd., a Canadian corporation.

     "Obligor" shall mean Borrowers and each other Person who is or shall become
primarily or secondarily liable for any of the Liabilities.

     "Original Term" shall have the meaning specified in Section 10 hereof.

     "Other Agreements" shall mean all agreements, instruments and documents,
other than this Agreement, including, without limitation, guaranties, mortgages,
trust deeds, pledges, powers of attorney, consents, assignments, contracts,
notices, security agreements, leases, financing statements and all other
writings heretofore, now or from time to time hereafter executed by or on behalf
of a Borrower, any Subsidiary or any other Person and delivered to Lender or to
any parent, affiliate or subsidiary of Lender in connection with the Liabilities
or the transactions contemplated hereby, as each of the same may be amended,
modified or supplemented from time to time.

     "Parent" shall mean any Person now or at any time or times hereafter owning
or controlling (alone or with any other Person) at least a majority of the
issued and outstanding equity of a Borrower and, if a Borrower is a partnership,
the general partner of such Borrower.

     "PBGC" shall have the meaning specified in subsection 12(b)(v) hereof.

     "Permitted Liens" shall mean (i) statutory liens of landlords, carriers,
warehousemen, processors, mechanics, materialmen or suppliers incurred in the
ordinary course of business and securing amounts not yet due or declared to be
due by the claimant thereunder; (ii) liens or security interests in favor of
Lender; (iii) zoning restrictions and easements, licenses, covenants and other
restrictions affecting the use of real property that do not individually or in
the aggregate have a material adverse effect on a Borrower's or a Subsidiary's
ability to use such real property for its intended purpose in connection with
such Borrower's or a Subsidiary's business; (iv) liens in connection with
purchase money indebtedness and capitalized leases otherwise permitted pursuant
to this Agreement, provided, that such liens attach only to the assets the
purchase of which was financed by such purchase money indebtedness or which is
the subject of such capitalized leases; (v) the ACS Lien; and (vi) liens
specifically permitted by Lender in writing.

     "Person" shall mean any individual, sole proprietorship, partnership, joint
venture, trust, unincorporated organization, association, corporation, limited
liability company, institution, entity, party or foreign or United States
government (whether federal, state, county, city, municipal or otherwise),
including, without limitation, any instrumentality, division, agency, body or
department thereof.

     "Plan" shall have the meaning specified in subsection 12(b)(v) hereof.


                                       -9-

<PAGE>

     "Prime Rate" shall mean LaSalle Bank's publicly announced prime rate (which
is not intended to be LaSalle Bank's lowest or most favorable rate in effect at
any time) in effect from time to time.

     "Prime Rate Loans" shall means the Loans bearing interest with reference to
the Prime Rate.

     "Renewal Term" shall have the meaning specified in Section 10 hereof.

     "Revolving Loan Limit" shall have the meaning specified in subsection 2(a)
hereof.

     "Revolving Loans" shall have the meaning specified in subsection 2(a)
hereof.

     "Senior Debt" shall mean all Indebtedness of Borrowers, Numatics Canada and
Numatics GmbH under or with respect to this Agreement, the Canadian Loan
Agreement and the ACS Debt.

     "Subsidiary" shall mean any corporation of which more than fifty percent
(50%) of the outstanding capital stock having ordinary voting power to elect a
majority of the board of directors of such corporation (irrespective of whether
at the time stock of any other class of such corporation shall have or might
have voting power by reason of the happening of any contingency) is at the time,
directly or indirectly, owned by a Borrower, or any partnership, joint venture
or limited liability company of which more than fifty percent (50%) of the
outstanding equity interests are at the time, directly or indirectly, owned by a
Borrower or any partnership of which a Borrower is a general partner.

     "Subordinated Notes" shall mean the 9 5/8% Senior Subordinated Notes due
2008 issued by Numatics pursuant to that certain Indenture dated as of March 23,
1998 with First Trust National Association as Trustee.

     "Tangible Net Worth" shall have the meaning specified in subsection 14(a)
hereof.

     "Tax" shall mean, in relation to any LIBOR Rate Loans and the applicable
LIBOR Rate, any tax, levy, impost, duty, deduction, withholding or charges of
whatever nature required to be paid by Lender and/or (ii) to be withheld or
deducted from any payment otherwise required hereby to be made by a Borrower to
Lender; provided, that the term "Tax" shall not include any taxes imposed upon
the net income of Lender.

     "Tennessee IRB" shall mean the $2,500,000 Variable Rate Demand Industrial
Development Revenue Bonds (Numatics, Incorporated Project), Series 1996.


                                       -10-

<PAGE>

     2. LOANS.

     (a) Revolving Loans.

     Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the Other
Agreements, during the Original Term and any Renewal Term, Lender will make
revolving loans and advances to Borrowers (the "Revolving Loans") in an amount
up to the sum of the following sublimits (the "Revolving Loan Limit"):

          (i) Up to eighty-five percent (85%), less such reserves as Lender
     elects, in its sole discretion, to establish from time to time, including,
     without limitation, a reserve in an amount determined by Lender if Dilution
     exceeds five percent (5%) of Eligible Accounts; plus

          (ii) Up to (A) sixty percent (60%) of the lower of cost or market
     value of Eligible Inventory at locations that use a perpetual inventory
     accounting system or that perform monthly physical counts (less such
     reserves as Lender elects, in its sole discretion, to establish from time
     to time) and up to forty percent (40%) of the lower of cost or market value
     of other Eligible Inventory (less such reserves as Lender elects, in its
     sole discretion, to establish from time to time), or (B) Fourteen Million
     and No/100 Dollars ($14,000,000.00), whichever is less; plus

          (iii) Up to sixty percent (60%) against the face amount of commercial
     Letters of Credit issued or guaranteed by Lender on behalf of such Borrower
     for the purpose of purchasing Eligible Inventory (less such reserves as
     Lender elects, in its sole discretion, to establish from time to time);
     provided, that such commercial Letters of Credit are in form and substance
     satisfactory to Lender; minus

          (iv) A reserve equal to the amount of the accrued and unpaid interest
     from time to time on the Subordinated Notes (whether or not such interest
     is due) and such other reserves as Lender elects, in its sole discretion,
     to establish from time to time;

provided, that the sum of the advances to all Borrowers with respect to clauses
(ii) and (iii) above shall at no time exceed Fourteen Million and No/100 Dollars
($14,000,000.00).

     The aggregate unpaid principal balance of the Revolving Loans shall not at
any time exceed the lesser of the (i) Revolving Loan Limit minus the Letter of
Credit Obligations and (ii) the Maximum Loan Limit minus the Letter of Credit
Obligations. If at any time the outstanding Revolving Loans exceeds either the
Revolving Loan Limit or the Maximum Loan Limit, in each case minus the Letter of
Credit Obligations, or any portion of the Revolving Loans and Letter of Credit
Obligations exceeds any applicable sublimit within the Revolving Loan Limit,
Borrowers shall immediately, and without the necessity of demand by Lender, pay
to Lender such amount as may be necessary to eliminate such excess


                                       -11-

<PAGE>

and Lender shall apply such payment to the Revolving Loans in such order as
Lender shall determine in its sole discretion.

     Each Borrower hereby authorizes Lender, in its sole discretion, to charge
Borrowers' account or advance Revolving Loans to make any payments of principal,
interest, fees, costs or expenses required to be made under this Agreement or
the Other Agreements.

     A request for a Revolving Loan shall be made or shall be deemed to be made,
each in the following manner: the Borrower requesting such Revolving Loan shall
give Lender same day notice, no later than 10:30 A.M. (Chicago time) for such
day, of its request for a Revolving Loan as a Prime Rate Loan, and at least
three (3) Business Days prior notice of its request for a Revolving Loan as a
LIBOR Rate Loan, in which notice such Borrower shall specify the amount of the
proposed borrowing and the proposed borrowing date; provided, however, that no
such request may be made at a time when there exists an Event of Default or an
event which, with the passage of time or giving of notice, will become an Event
of Default. In the event that a Borrower maintains a controlled disbursement
account at LaSalle Bank, each check presented for payment against such
controlled disbursement account and any other charge or request for payment
against such control disbursement account shall constitute a request for a
Revolving Loan as a Prime Rate Loan. As an accommodation to Borrowers, Lender
may permit telephone requests for Revolving Loans and electronic transmittal of
instructions, authorizations, agreements or reports to Lender by Borrowers.
Unless a Borrower specifically directs Lender in writing not to accept or act
upon telephonic or electronic communications from such Borrower, Lender shall
have no liability to Borrowers for any loss or damage suffered by a Borrower as
a result of Lender's honoring of any requests, execution of any instructions,
authorizations or agreements or reliance on any reports communicated to it
telephonically or electronically and purporting to have been sent to Lender by a
Borrower and Lender shall have no duty to verify the origin of any such
communication or the authority of the Person sending it.

     Each Borrower hereby irrevocably authorizes Lender to disburse the proceeds
of each Revolving Loan requested by a Borrower, or deemed to be requested by a
Borrower, as follows: the proceeds of each Revolving Loan requested under
Section 2(a) shall be disbursed by Lender in lawful money of the United States
of America in immediately available funds, in the case of the initial borrowing,
in accordance with the terms of the written disbursement letter from the
requesting Borrower, and in the case of each subsequent borrowing, by wire
transfer or Automated Clearing House (ACH) transfer to such bank account as may
be agreed upon by the requesting Borrower and Lender from time to time, or
elsewhere if pursuant to a written direction from such Borrower.

     (b) Repayments.

     Unless due earlier pursuant to the other provisions of this Agreement
(including Section 16(a)), the Revolving Loans and all other Liabilities shall
be repaid on the last day of the Original Term or any Renewal Term if this
Agreement is renewed pursuant to Section 10 hereof.


                                       -12-

<PAGE>

     (c) Notes.

     The Loans shall, in Lender's sole discretion, be evidenced by one or more
promissory notes in form and substance satisfactory to Lender. However, if such
Loans are not so evidenced, such Loans may be evidenced solely by entries upon
the books and records maintained by Lender.

     3. LETTERS OF CREDIT.

     (a) General Terms.

     Subject to the terms and conditions of the Agreement and the Other
Agreements, during the Original Term or any Renewal Term, Lender may, in its
sole discretion, from time to time cause to be issued and co-sign for or
otherwise guarantee, upon a Borrower's request, commercial and/or standby
Letters of Credit; provided, that the aggregate undrawn face amount of all such
Letters of Credit shall at no time exceed Three Million and No/100 Dollars
($3,000,000.00). Payments made by Lender to any Person on account of any Letter
of Credit shall constitute Loans hereunder and each Borrower agrees that each
payment made by the issuer of a Letter of Credit in respect of a Letter of
Credit issued on behalf of such Borrower shall constitute a request by such
Borrower for a Loan to reimburse such issuer. Borrowers shall remit to Lender
each month a Letter of Credit fee equal to three percent (3.0%) per annum on the
aggregate undrawn face amount of all Letters of Credit outstanding, which fee
shall be payable monthly in arrears on the last Business Day of each month.
Borrowers shall also pay on demand the normal and customary issuance fees and
administrative charges of the issuer of the Letter of Credit for issuance,
amendment, negotiation, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit, which
shall not be less than Two Hundred Fifty and No/100 Dollars ($250.00) for any
transaction.

     (b) Requests for Letters of Credit.

     Each Borrower shall make requests for Letters of Credit in writing at least
two (2) Business Days prior to the date such Letter of Credit is to be issued.
Each such request shall specify the date such Letter of Credit is to be issued,
the amount thereof, the name and address of the beneficiary thereof and a
description of the transaction to be supported thereby. Any such notice shall be
accompanied by the form of Letter of Credit requested and any application or
reimbursement agreement required by the issuer of such Letter of Credit. If any
term of such application or reimbursement agreement is inconsistent with this
Agreement, then the provisions of this Agreement shall control to the extent of
such inconsistency.

     (c) Obligations Absolute.

     Each Borrower shall be obligated to reimburse the issuer of any Letter of
Credit, or Lender if Lender has reimbursed such issuer on a Borrower's behalf,
for any payments made in respect of any Letter of Credit, which obligation shall
be unconditional and irrevocable and shall be paid regardless of: (i) any lack
of validity or enforceability of


                                       -13-

<PAGE>

any Letter of Credit, (ii) any amendment or waiver of or consent or departure
from all or any provisions of any Letter of Credit, this Agreement or any Other
Agreement, (iii) the existence of any claim, set off, defense or other right
which a Borrower or any other Person may have against any beneficiary of any
Letter of Credit, Lender or the issuer of the Letter of Credit, (iv) any draft
or other document presented under any Letter of Credit proving to be forged,
fraudulent, invalid, or insufficient in any respect or any statement therein
being untrue or inaccurate in any respect, (v) any payment under any Letter of
Credit against presentation of a draft or other document that does not comply
with the terms of such Letter of Credit, and (vi) any other act or omission to
act or delay of any kind of the issuer of such Letter of Credit, the Lender or
any other Person or any other event or circumstance that might otherwise
constitute a legal or equitable discharge of a Borrower's obligations hereunder.
It is understood and agreed by each Borrower that the issuer of any Letter of
Credit may accept documents that appear on their face to be in order without
further investigation or inquiry, regardless of any notice or information to the
contrary.

     (d) Expiration Dates of Letters of Credit.

     The expiration date of each Letter of Credit shall be no later than the
earlier of (i) one (1) year from the date of issuance (provided, that the
initial Letter of Credit issued to support the Tennessee IRB may expire on
December 15, 2003) and (ii) the thirtieth (30th) day prior to the end of the
Original Term or any Renewal Term. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Letter of
Credit may provide for automatic extensions of its expiration date for one or
more one (1) year periods, so long as the issuer thereof has the right to
terminate the Letter of Credit at the end of each one (1) year period and no
extension period extends past the thirtieth (30th) day prior to the end of the
Original Term or any Renewal Term.

     4. INTEREST, FEES AND CHARGES.

     (a) Interest Rate.

     Subject to the terms and conditions set forth below, the Loans shall bear
interest at the per annum rate of interest set forth in subsection (i), (ii) or
(iii) below:

          (i) The Prime Rate in effect from time to time, payable on the last
     Business Day of each month in arrears. Said rate of interest shall increase
     or decrease by an amount equal to each increase or decrease in the Prime
     Rate effective on the effective date of each such change in the Prime Rate.

          (ii) Two hundred seventy-five (275) basis points in excess of the
     LIBOR Rate for the applicable Interest Period, such rate to remain fixed
     for such Interest Period. "Interest Period" shall mean any continuous
     period of thirty (30), sixty (60) or ninety (90) days, as selected from
     time to time by the Borrower requesting such LIBOR Rate Loan by irrevocable
     notice (in writing, by telex, telegram or cable) given to Lender not less
     than three (3) Business Days prior to the first day of each respective
     Interest Period; provided, that: (A) each such period occurring after such
     initial period shall commence on the day on which the


                                       -14-

<PAGE>

     immediately preceding period expires; (B) the final Interest Period shall
     be such that its expiration occurs on or before the end of the Original
     Term or any Renewal Term; and (C) if for any reason a Borrower shall fail
     to timely select a period, then such Loans shall continue as, or revert to,
     Prime Rate Loans. Interest shall be payable on the last Business Day of
     each month in arrears and on the last Business Day of such Interest Period.

          (iii) Upon the occurrence of an Event of Default and during the
     continuance thereof, the Loans shall bear interest at the rate of two
     percent (2.0%) per annum in excess of the interest rate otherwise payable
     thereon, which interest shall be payable on demand. All interest shall be
     calculated on the basis of a 360-day year.

     (b) Other LIBOR Provisions.

          (i) Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, each Borrower shall
     have the option (A) as of any date, to convert all or any part of the Prime
     Rate Loans to, or request that new Loans be made as, LIBOR Rate Loans of
     various Interest Periods, (B) as of the last day of any Interest Period, to
     continue all or any portion of the relevant LIBOR Rate Loans as LIBOR Rate
     Loans; (C) as of the last day of any Interest Period, to convert all or any
     portion of the LIBOR Rate Loans to Prime Rate Loans; and (D) at any time,
     to request new Loans as Prime Rate Loans; provided, that Loans may not be
     continued as or converted to LIBOR Rate Loans, if the continuation or
     conversion thereof would violate the provisions of subsections 4(b)(ii) or
     4(b)(iii) of this Agreement or if an Event of Default has occurred.

          (ii) Lender's determination of the LIBOR Rate as provided above shall
     be conclusive, absent manifest error. Furthermore, if Lender determines, in
     good faith (which determination shall be conclusive, absent manifest
     error), prior to the commencement of any Interest Period that (A) U.S.
     Dollar deposits of sufficient amount and maturity for funding the Loans are
     not available to Lender in the London Interbank Eurodollar market in the
     ordinary course of business, or (B) by reason of circumstances affecting
     the London Interbank Eurodollar market, adequate and fair means do not
     exist for ascertaining the rate of interest to be applicable to the Loans
     requested by a Borrower to be LIBOR Rate Loans or the Loans bearing
     interest at the rates set forth in subsection 4(a)(ii) of this Agreement
     shall not represent the effective pricing to Lender for U.S. Dollar
     deposits of a comparable amount for the relevant period (such as for
     example, but not limited to, official reserve requirements required by
     Regulation D to the extent not given effect in determining the rate),
     Lender shall promptly notify such Borrower and (1) all existing LIBOR Rate
     Loans shall convert to Prime Rate Loans upon the end of the applicable
     Interest Period, and (2) no additional LIBOR Rate Loans shall be made until
     such circumstances are cured.

          (iii) If, after the date hereof, the introduction of, or any change in
     any applicable law, treaty, rule, regulation or guideline or in the
     interpretation or administration thereof by any governmental authority or
     any central bank or other fiscal, monetary or other authority having
     jurisdiction over Lender or its lending


                                       -15-

<PAGE>

     offices (a "Regulatory Change"), shall, in the opinion of counsel to
     Lender, make it unlawful for Lender to make or maintain LIBOR Rate Loans,
     then Lender shall promptly notify the requesting Borrower and (A) the LIBOR
     Rate Loans shall immediately convert to Prime Rate Loans on the last
     Business Day of the then existing Interest Period or on such earlier date
     as required by law and (B) no additional LIBOR Rate Loans shall be made
     until such circumstance is cured.

          (iv) If, for any reason, a LIBOR Rate Loan is paid prior to the last
     Business Day of any Interest Period or if a LIBOR Rate Loan does not occur
     on a date specified by the requesting Borrower in its request (other than
     as a result of a default by Lender), each Borrower agrees to indemnify
     Lender against any loss (including any loss on redeployment of the deposits
     or other funds acquired by Lender to fund or maintain such LIBOR Rate Loan)
     cost or expense incurred by Lender as a result of such prepayment.

          (v) If any Regulatory Change (whether or not having the force of law)
     shall (A) impose, modify or deem applicable any assessment, reserve,
     special deposit or similar requirement against assets held by, or deposits
     in or for the account of or loans by, or any other acquisition of funds or
     disbursements by, Lender; (B) subject Lender or the LIBOR Rate Loans to any
     Tax or change the basis of taxation of payments to Lender of principal or
     interest due from a Borrower to Lender hereunder (other than a change in
     the taxation of the overall net income of Lender); or (C) impose on Lender
     any other condition regarding the LIBOR Rate Loans or Lender's funding
     thereof, and Lender shall determine (which determination shall be
     conclusive, absent any manifest error) that the result of the foregoing is
     to increase the cost to Lender of making or maintaining the LIBOR Rate
     Loans or to reduce the amount of principal or interest received by Lender
     hereunder, then Borrowers shall pay to Lender, on demand, such additional
     amounts as Lender shall, from time to time, determine are sufficient to
     compensate and indemnify Lender from such increased cost or reduced amount.

          (vi) Lender shall receive payments of amounts of principal of and
     interest with respect to the LIBOR Rate Loans free and clear of, and
     without deduction for, any Taxes. If (A) Lender shall be subject to any Tax
     in respect of any LIBOR Rate Loans or any part thereof or, (B) Borrowers
     shall be required to withhold or deduct any Tax from any such amount, the
     LIBOR Rate applicable to such LIBOR Rate Loans shall be adjusted by Lender
     to reflect all additional costs incurred by Lender in connection with the
     payment by Lender or the withholding by a Borrower of such Tax and
     Borrowers shall provide Lender with a statement detailing the amount of any
     such Tax actually paid by Borrowers. Determination by Lender of the amount
     of such costs shall be conclusive, absent manifest error. If after any such
     adjustment any part of any Tax paid by Lender is subsequently recovered by
     Lender, Lender shall reimburse Borrowers to the extent of the amount so
     recovered. A certificate of an officer of Lender setting forth the amount
     of such recovery and the basis therefor shall be conclusive, absent
     manifest error.


                                       -16-

<PAGE>

          (vii) Each request for LIBOR Rate Loans shall be in an amount not less
     than One Million and No/100 Dollars ($1,000,000.00), and in integral
     multiples of, One Hundred Thousand and No/100 Dollars ($100,000.00).

          (viii) Unless otherwise specified by a Borrower, all Loans shall be
     Prime Rate Loans.

          (ix) No more than five (5) Interest Periods may be in effect with
     respect to outstanding LIBOR Rate Loans at any one time.

     (c) Fees And Charges.

          (i) Facilities Fee: Borrowers shall jointly and severally pay to
     Lender a facilities fee equal to one-tenth of one percent (0.10%) per annum
     of the Maximum Loan Limit payable quarterly, which fee shall be fully
     earned by Lender and payable on the date that Lender makes its initial
     disbursement under this Agreement and on each quarterly anniversary of the
     date hereof during the Original Term and any Renewal Term.

          (ii) Closing Fee: Borrowers shall jointly and severally pay to Lender
     a closing fee of Two Hundred Sixty Thousand and No/100 Dollars
     ($260,000.00), which fee shall be fully earned and payable on the date of
     disbursement of the initial Loans hereunder.

          (iii) Unused Line Fee: Borrowers shall jointly and severally pay to
     Lender an unused line fee of three hundred seventy-five hundredths of one
     percent (0.375%) per annum of the difference between the Maximum Loan Limit
     and the average daily balance of the Revolving Loans plus the Letter of
     Credit Obligations for each month, which fee shall be fully earned by
     Lender and payable monthly in arrears on the last Business Day of each
     month. Said fee shall be calculated on the basis of a 360 day year.

          (iv) Costs and Expenses: Borrowers shall reimburse Lender for all
     costs and expenses, including, without limitation, legal expenses
     (including reasonable attorneys' fees), incurred by Lender in connection
     with the (i) documentation and consummation of this transaction and any
     other transactions between Borrowers and Lender, including, without
     limitation, Uniform Commercial Code and other public record searches and
     filings, overnight courier or other express or messenger delivery,
     appraisal costs, surveys, title insurance and environmental audit or review
     costs; (ii) collection, protection or enforcement of any rights in or to
     the Collateral; (iii) collection of any Liabilities; and (iv)
     administration and enforcement of any of Lender's rights under this
     Agreement; provided, prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default,
     Borrowers shall not be required to reimburse Lender for costs and expenses,
     other than legal expenses, costs and expenses in connection with Lenders'
     field audits, and those referenced to in the next sentence, in excess of
     Twenty-Five Thousand and No/100 Dollars ($25,000.00) in any year.


                                       -17-

<PAGE>

     Borrowers shall also pay all normal service charges, costs and expenses
     with respect to all accounts maintained by each Borrower with Lender and
     LaSalle Bank and any additional services requested by a Borrower from
     Lender and LaSalle Bank. All such costs, expenses and charges shall, if
     owed to LaSalle Bank, be reimbursed by Lender and in such event or in the
     event such costs and expenses are owed to Lender, constitute Liabilities
     hereunder, shall be payable by Borrowers to Lender on demand, and, until
     paid, shall bear interest at the highest rate then applicable to Loans
     hereunder.

          (v) Capital Adequacy Charge. If Lender shall have determined that the
     adoption of any law, rule or regulation regarding capital adequacy, or any
     change therein or in the interpretation or application thereof, or
     compliance by Lender with any request or directive regarding capital
     adequacy (whether or not having the force of law) from any central bank or
     governmental authority enacted after the date hereof, does or shall have
     the effect of reducing the rate of return on such party's capital as a
     consequence of its obligations hereunder to a level below that which Lender
     could have achieved but for such adoption, change or compliance (taking
     into consideration Lender's policies with respect to capital adequacy) by a
     material amount, then from time to time, after submission by Lender to
     Borrowers of a written demand therefor ("Capital Adequacy Demand") together
     with the certificate described below, Borrowers shall pay to Lender such
     additional amount or amounts ("Capital Adequacy Charge") as will compensate
     Lender for such reduction, such Capital Adequacy Demand to be made with
     reasonable promptness following such determination. A certificate of Lender
     claiming entitlement to payment as set forth above shall be conclusive in
     the absence of manifest error. Such certificate shall set forth the nature
     of the occurrence giving rise to such reduction, the amount of the Capital
     Adequacy Charge to be paid to Lender, and the method by which such amount
     was determined. In determining such amount, Lender may use any reasonable
     averaging and attribution method, applied on a non-discriminatory basis.

     (d) Maximum Interest.

     It is the intent of the parties that the rate of interest and other charges
to Borrowers under this Agreement shall be lawful; therefore, if for any reason
the interest or other charges payable under this Agreement are found by a court
of competent jurisdiction, in a final determination, to exceed the limit which
Lender may lawfully charge Borrowers, then the obligation to pay interest and
other charges shall automatically be reduced to such limit and, if any amount in
excess of such limit shall have been paid, then such amount shall be refunded to
Borrowers.

     5. COLLATERAL.

     (a) Grant of Security Interest to Collateral Agent.

     As security for the payment of all Loans now or in the future made by
Lender to Borrowers hereunder and for the payment or other satisfaction of all
other Liabilities, each


                                       -18-

<PAGE>

Borrower hereby assigns to Collateral Agent and grants to Collateral Agent a
continuing security interest in the following property of such Borrower, whether
now or hereafter owned, existing, acquired or arising and wherever now or
hereafter located: (a) all Accounts (whether or not Eligible Accounts) and all
Goods whose sale, lease or other disposition by such Borrower has given rise to
Accounts and have been returned to, or repossessed or stopped in transit by,
such Borrower; (b) all Chattel Paper, Instruments, Documents and General
Intangibles (including, without limitation, all patents, patent applications,
trademarks, trademark applications, trade names, trade secrets, goodwill,
copyrights, copyright applications, registrations, licenses, software,
franchises, customer lists, tax refund claims, claims against carriers and
shippers, guarantee claims, contracts rights, payment intangibles, security
interests, security deposits and rights to indemnification); (c) all Inventory
(whether or not Eligible Inventory); (d) all Goods (other than Inventory),
including, without limitation, Equipment, vehicles and Fixtures; (e) all
Investment Property; (f) all Deposit Accounts, bank accounts, deposits and cash;
(g) all Letter-of-Credit Rights; (h) Commercial Tort Claims listed on Exhibit C
hereto, (j) any other property of such Borrower now or hereafter in the
possession, custody or control of Collateral Agent, Lender or any agent or any
parent, affiliate or subsidiary of Collateral Agent or Lender or any participant
with Lender in the Loans, for any purpose (whether for safekeeping, deposit,
collection, custody, pledge, transmission or otherwise) and (k) all additions
and accessions to, substitutions for, and replacements, products and Proceeds of
the foregoing property, including, without limitation, proceeds of all insurance
policies insuring the foregoing property, and all of such Borrower's books and
records relating to any of the foregoing and to such Borrower's business.

     (b) Other Security.

     Collateral Agent, in its sole discretion, without waiving or releasing any
obligation, liability or duty of a Borrower under this Agreement or the Other
Agreements or any Event of Default, may at any time or times hereafter, but
shall not be obligated to, pay, acquire or accept an assignment of any security
interest, lien, encumbrance or claim asserted by any Person in, upon or against
the Collateral. All sums paid by Collateral Agent in respect thereof and all
costs, fees and expenses including, without limitation, reasonable attorney
fees, all court costs and all other charges relating thereto incurred by
Collateral Agent shall constitute Liabilities, payable by Borrowers to
Collateral Agent on demand and, until paid, shall bear interest at the highest
rate then applicable to Loans hereunder.

     (c) Possessory Collateral.

     Immediately upon a Borrower's receipt of any portion of the Collateral
evidenced by an agreement, Instrument or Document, including, without
limitation, any Tangible Chattel Paper and any Investment Property consisting of
certificated securities, such Borrower shall deliver the original thereof to
Lender together with an appropriate endorsement or other specific evidence of
assignment thereof to Collateral Agent (in form and substance acceptable to
Collateral Agent). If an endorsement or assignment of any such items shall not
be made for any reason, Collateral Agent is hereby irrevocably authorized, as


                                       -19-

<PAGE>

each Borrower's attorney and agent-in-fact, to endorse or assign the same on
such Borrower's behalf.

     (d) Electronic Chattel Paper.

     To the extent that a Borrower obtains or maintains any Electronic Chattel
Paper, such Borrower shall create, store and assign the record or records
comprising the Electronic Chattel Paper in such a manner that (i) a single
authoritative copy of the record or records exists which is unique, identifiable
and except as otherwise provided in clauses (iv), (v) and (vi) below,
unalterable, (ii) the authoritative copy identifies Collateral Agent as the
assignee of the record or records, (iii) the authoritative copy is communicated
to and maintained by the Collateral Agent or its designated custodian, (iv)
copies or revisions that add or change an identified assignee of the
authoritative copy can only be made with the participation of Collateral Agent,
(v) each copy of the authoritative copy and any copy of a copy is readily
identifiable as a copy that is not the authoritative copy and (vi) any revision
of the authoritative copy is readily identifiable as an authorized or
unauthorized revision.

     (e) Intercreditor Agreement.

     The security interest granted herein is subject to the terms of the
Intercreditor Agreement dated November __, 2001 between ACS, Canadian Lender and
Lender, and Collateral Agent.

     6. PRESERVATION OF COLLATERAL AND PERFECTION OF SECURITY INTERESTS THEREIN.

     Each Borrower shall, at Collateral Agent's request, at any time and from
time to time, authenticate, execute and deliver to Collateral Agent such
financing statements, documents and other agreements and instruments (and pay
the cost of filing or recording the same in all public offices deemed necessary
or desirable by Collateral Agent) and do such other acts and things or cause
third parties to do such other acts and things as Collateral Agent may deem
necessary or desirable in its sole discretion in order to establish and maintain
a valid, attached and perfected security interest in the Collateral in favor of
Lender (free and clear of all other liens, claims, encumbrances and rights of
third parties whatsoever, whether voluntarily or involuntarily created, except
Permitted Liens) to secure payment of the Liabilities, and in order to
facilitate the collection of the Collateral. Each Borrower irrevocably hereby
makes, constitutes and appoints Collateral Agent (and all Persons designated by
Collateral Agent for that purpose) as such Borrower's true and lawful attorney
and agent-in-fact to execute and file such financing statements, documents and
other agreements and instruments and do such other acts and things as may be
necessary to preserve and perfect Collateral Agent's security interest in the
Collateral. Each Borrower further agrees that a carbon, photographic,
photostatic or other reproduction of this Agreement or of a financing statement
shall be sufficient as a financing statement, each Borrower further ratifies and
confirms the prior filing by Collateral Agent of any and all financing
statements which identify such Borrower as debtor, Collateral Agent as secured
party and any or all Collateral as collateral.


                                       -20-

<PAGE>

     7. POSSESSION OF COLLATERAL AND RELATED MATTERS.

     Until an Event of Default has occurred, each Borrower shall have the right,
except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, in the ordinary course of such
Borrower's business, to (a) sell, lease or furnish under contracts of service
any of such Borrower's Inventory normally held by such Borrower for any such
purpose; and (b) use and consume any raw materials, work in process or other
materials normally held by such Borrower for such purpose; provided, however,
that a sale in the ordinary course of business shall not include any transfer or
sale in satisfaction, partial or complete, of a debt owed by such Borrower.

     8. COLLECTIONS.

     (a) Each Borrower shall direct all of its Account Debtors to make all
payments on the Accounts directly to a post office box (the "Lock Box")
designated by, and under the exclusive control of, Collateral Agent, at LaSalle
Bank, National Association or another financial institution acceptable to
Collateral Agent. Each Borrower shall establish an account (the "Lock Box
Account") in Collateral Agent's name with LaSalle Bank, National Association or
another financial institution acceptable to Collateral Agent, into which all
payments received in the Lock Box shall be deposited, and into which such
Borrower will immediately deposit all payments received by such Borrower on
Accounts in the identical form in which such payments were received, whether by
cash or check. If a Borrower, any Affiliate or Subsidiary, any shareholder,
officer, director, employee or agent of a Borrower or any Affiliate or
Subsidiary, or any other Person acting for or in concert with a Borrower shall
receive any monies, checks, notes, drafts or other payments relating to or as
Proceeds of Accounts or other Collateral, such Borrower and each such Person
shall receive all such items in trust for, and as the sole and exclusive
property of, Collateral Agent and, immediately upon receipt thereof, shall remit
the same (or cause the same to be remitted) in kind to the Lock Box Account. The
financial institution with which the Lock Box Account is established shall
acknowledge and agree, in a manner satisfactory to Collateral Agent, that the
amounts on deposit in such Lock Box Account are the sole and exclusive property
of Collateral Agent, that such financial institution will follow the
instructions of Collateral Agent with respect to disposition of funds in the
Lock Box and Lock Box Account without further consent from Borrowers, that such
financial institution has no right to setoff against the Lock Box Account or
against any other account maintained by such financial institution into which
the contents of the Lock Box Account are transferred, and that such financial
institution shall wire, or otherwise transfer in immediately available funds to
Collateral Agent in a manner satisfactory to Collateral Agent, funds deposited
in the Lock Box Account on a daily basis as such funds are collected. Each
Borrower agrees that all payments made to such Lock Box Account or otherwise
received by Collateral Agent, whether in respect of the Accounts or as Proceeds
of other Collateral or otherwise, will be applied on account of the Liabilities
in accordance with the terms of this Agreement; provided, that so long as no
Event of Default has occurred, payments received by Collateral Agent shall not
be applied to the unmatured portion of the LIBOR Rate Loans, but shall be held
in a cash collateral account maintained by Collateral Agent, until the earlier
of (i) the last Business Day of the Interest Period applicable to such LIBOR
Rate Loan and (ii) the occurrence of an Event of Default;


                                       -21-

<PAGE>

provided, further, that so long as no Event of Default has occurred, the
immediately available funds in such cash collateral account may be disbursed, at
such Borrower's discretion, to such Borrower so long as after giving effect to
such disbursement, such Borrower's availability under subsection 2(a) hereof at
such time, equals or exceeds the outstanding Revolving Loans at such time. Each
Borrower agrees to pay all fees, costs and expenses in connection with opening
and maintaining the Lock Box Account. All of such fees, costs and expenses if
not paid by a Borrower, may be paid by Collateral Agent and in such event all
amounts paid by Collateral Agent shall constitute Liabilities hereunder, shall
be payable to Collateral Agent by Borrowers upon demand, and, until paid, shall
bear interest at the highest rate then applicable to Loans hereunder. All
checks, drafts, instruments and other items of payment or Proceeds of Collateral
shall be endorsed by the applicable Borrower to Collateral Agent, and, if that
endorsement of any such item shall not be made for any reason, Collateral Agent
is hereby irrevocably authorized to endorse the same on such Borrower's behalf.
For the purpose of this section, each Borrower irrevocably hereby makes,
constitutes and appoints Collateral Agent (and all Persons designated by
Collateral Agent for that purpose) as such Borrower's true and lawful attorney
and agent-in-fact (i) to endorse such Borrower's name upon said items of payment
and/or Proceeds of Collateral and upon any Chattel Paper, Document, Instrument,
invoice or similar document or agreement relating to any Account of such
Borrower or Goods pertaining thereto; (ii) to take control in any manner of any
item of payment or Proceeds thereof and (iii) to have access to any lock box or
postal box into which any of such Borrower's mail is deposited, and open and
process all mail addressed to such Borrower and deposited therein.

     (b) Collateral Agent may, at any time and from time to time after the
occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, whether before or
after notification to any Account Debtor and whether before or after the
maturity of any of the Liabilities, (i) enforce collection of any of Borrowers'
Accounts or other amounts owed to a Borrower by suit or otherwise; (ii) exercise
all of such Borrower's rights and remedies with respect to proceedings brought
to collect any Accounts or other amounts owed to such Borrower; (iii) surrender,
release or exchange all or any part of any Accounts or other amounts owed to
such Borrower, or compromise or extend or renew for any period (whether or not
longer than the original period) any indebtedness thereunder; (iv) sell or
assign any Account of such Borrower or other amount owed to such Borrower upon
such terms, for such amount and at such time or times as Collateral Agent deems
advisable; (v) prepare, file and sign such Borrower's name on any proof of claim
in bankruptcy or other similar document against any Account Debtor or other
Person obligated to such Borrower; and (vi) do all other acts and things which
are necessary, in Collateral Agent's sole discretion, to fulfill such Borrower's
obligations under this Agreement and to allow Collateral Agent to collect the
Accounts or other amounts owed to such Borrower. In addition to any other
provision hereof, Collateral Agent may at any time, whether before or after the
occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, at Borrowers'
expense, notify any parties obligated on any of the Accounts to make payment
directly to Collateral Agent of any amounts due or to become due thereunder.


                                       -22-

<PAGE>

     (c) For purposes of calculating interest and fees, Collateral Agent shall,
within one (1) Business Day after receipt by Collateral Agent at its office in
Chicago, Illinois of cash or other immediately available funds from collections
of items of payment and Proceeds of any Collateral, apply the whole or any part
of such collections or Proceeds against the Liabilities in such order as
Collateral Agent shall determine in its sole discretion. For purposes of
determining the amount of Loans available for borrowing purposes, checks and
cash or other immediately available funds from collections of items of payment
and Proceeds of any Collateral shall be applied in whole or in part against the
Liabilities, in such order as Collateral Agent shall determine in its sole
discretion, on the day of receipt, subject to actual collection.

     (d) On a monthly basis, Lender shall deliver to Borrowers an account
statement showing all Loans, charges and payments, which shall be deemed final,
binding and conclusive upon Borrowers unless a Borrower notifies Lender in
writing, specifying any error therein, within thirty (30) days of the date such
account statement is sent to Borrowers and any such notice shall only constitute
an objection to the items specifically identified.

     9. COLLATERAL, AVAILABILITY AND FINANCIAL REPORTS AND SCHEDULES.

     (a) Daily Reports.

     Borrowers shall deliver to Lender an executed daily loan report and
certificate in Lender's then current form on each day on which a Borrower
requests a Revolving Loan, and in any event at least once each week, which shall
be accompanied by copies of Borrowers' sales journal, cash receipts journal and
credit memo journal for the relevant period. Such report shall reflect the
activity of Borrowers with respect to Accounts for the immediately preceding
week, and shall be in a form and with such specificity as is satisfactory to
Lender and shall contain such additional information concerning Accounts and
Inventory as may be requested by Lender including, without limitation, but only
if specifically requested by Lender, copies of all invoices prepared in
connection with such Accounts.

     (b) Monthly Reports.

     Borrowers shall deliver to Lender, in addition to any other reports, as
soon as practicable and in any event: (i) within fifteen (15) days after the end
of each month, (A) a detailed trial balance of each Borrower's Accounts aged per
invoice date, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Lender including,
without limitation, the names and addresses of all Account Debtors of each
Borrower, and (B) a summary and detail of accounts payable (such Accounts and
accounts payable divided into such time intervals as Lender may require in its
sole discretion), including a listing of any held checks; and (ii) within
fifteen (15) days after the end of each month, the general ledger inventory
account balance, a perpetual inventory report and Lender's standard form of
Inventory report then in effect or the form most recently requested from
Borrowers by Lender, for each Borrower by


                                       -23-

<PAGE>

each category of Inventory, together with a description of the monthly change in
each category of Inventory.

     (c) Financial Statements.

     Borrowers shall deliver to Lender the following financial information, all
of which shall be prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles consistently applied, and shall be accompanied by a compliance
certificate in the form of Exhibit B hereto, which compliance certificate shall
include a calculation of all financial covenants contained in this Agreement:
(i) no later than thirty (30) days after each calendar month, copies of
internally prepared financial statements, including, without limitation, balance
sheets and statements of income, retained earnings and cash flow of Borrowers
and their Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, certified by the Chief Financial
Officer or Secretary of each Borrower; and (ii) no later than ninety (90) days
after the end of each of Borrowers' Fiscal Years, audited annual financial
statements of Borrowers and their Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis with an
unqualified opinion by independent certified public accountants selected by
Borrowers and reasonably satisfactory to Lender, which financial statements
shall be accompanied by (A) copies of any management letters sent to a Borrower
or a Subsidiary by such accountants and (B) internally prepared annual financial
statements of Borrowers and their Subsidiaries on a consolidating basis,
certified by the Chief Financial Officer of Numatics;

     (d) Annual Projections.

     As soon as practicable and in any event prior to the beginning of each
Fiscal Year, Borrowers shall deliver to Lender projected balance sheets,
statements of income and cash flow for Borrowers and their Subsidiaries on a
consolidated and consolidating basis, for each of the twelve (12) months during
such Fiscal Year, which shall include the assumptions used therein, together
with appropriate supporting details as reasonably requested by Lender.

     (e) Explanation of Budgets and Projections.

     In conjunction with the delivery of the annual presentation of projections
or budgets referred to in subsection 9(d) above, Borrowers shall deliver a
letter signed by the President, a Vice President or the Secretary of each
Borrower and by the Treasurer or Chief Financial Officer of each Borrower,
describing, comparing and analyzing, in detail, all changes and developments
between the anticipated financial results included in such projections or
budgets and the historical financial statements of Borrowers and their
Subsidiaries.

     (f) Public Reporting.

     Promptly upon the filing thereof, each Borrower shall deliver to Lender
copies of all registration statements and annual, quarterly, monthly or other
regular reports which such Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries files with the
Securities and Exchange Commission,


                                       -24-

<PAGE>

as well as promptly providing to Lender copies of any reports and proxy
statements delivered to its shareholders.

     (g) Other Information.

     Promptly following request therefor by Lender, such other business or
financial data, reports, appraisals and projections as Lender may reasonably
request.

     10. TERMINATION; AUTOMATIC RENEWAL.

     THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE IN EFFECT FROM THE DATE HEREOF UNTIL NOVEMBER 30,
2004 (THE "ORIGINAL TERM") AND SHALL AUTOMATICALLY RENEW ITSELF FROM YEAR TO
YEAR THEREAFTER (EACH SUCH ONE-YEAR RENEWAL BEING REFERRED TO HEREIN AS A
"RENEWAL TERM") UNLESS (A) THE DUE DATE OF THE LIABILITIES IS ACCELERATED
PURSUANT TO SECTION 16 HEREOF; OR (B) A BORROWER ELECTS TO TERMINATE THIS
AGREEMENT, CONCURRENTLY WITH THE TERMINATION OF THE CANADIAN LOAN AGREEMENT, AT
THE END OF THE ORIGINAL TERM OR AT THE END OF ANY RENEWAL TERM BY GIVING LENDER
WRITTEN NOTICE OF SUCH ELECTION AT LEAST NINETY (90) DAYS PRIOR TO THE END OF
THE ORIGINAL TERM OR THE THEN CURRENT RENEWAL TERM AND ALL OF THE LIABILITIES,
INCLUDING THE CANADIAN LIABILITIES, ARE PAID IN FULL ON THE LAST DAY OF SUCH
TERM; (C) LENDER ELECTS TO TERMINATE THIS AGREEMENT AT THE END OF THE ORIGINAL
TERM OR AT THE END OF ANY RENEWAL TERM BY GIVING BORROWERS WRITTEN NOTICE OF
SUCH ELECTION AT LEAST NINETY (90) DAYS PRIOR TO THE END OF THE ORIGINAL TERM OR
THE THEN CURRENT RENEWAL TERM; AND (D) BORROWERS ELECT TO TERMINATE THIS
AGREEMENT, CONCURRENTLY WITH THE TERMINATION OF THE CANADIAN LOAN AGREEMENT,
UPON WRITTEN NOTICE TO LENDER AND ALL LIABILITIES, INCLUDING THE PREPAYMENT FEE
REFERRED TO BELOW AND THE CANADIAN LIABILITIES ARE PAID IN FULL. If one or more
of the events specified in clauses (a), (b), (c) and (d) occurs, then (i) Lender
shall not make any additional Loans on or after the date identified as the date
on which the Liabilities are to be repaid; and (ii) this Agreement shall
terminate on the date thereafter that the Liabilities are paid in full. At such
time as Borrowers have repaid all of the Liabilities and this Agreement has
terminated, each Borrower shall deliver to Lender a release, in form and
substance satisfactory to Lender, of all obligations and liabilities of Lender
and its officers, directors, employees, agents, parents, subsidiaries and
affiliates to such Borrower, and if such Borrower is obtaining new financing
from another lender, such Borrower shall deliver such lender's indemnification
of Lender, in form and substance satisfactory to Lender, for checks which Lender
has credited to such Borrower's account, but which subsequently are dishonored
for any reason or for automatic clearinghouse or wire transfers not yet posted
to such Borrower's account. If, during the term of this Agreement, Borrowers
prepay all of the Liabilities from any source other than income from the
ordinary course operations of Borrowers' business and this Agreement is
terminated, Borrowers


                                       -25-

<PAGE>

jointly and severally agree to pay to Lender as a prepayment fee, in addition to
the payment of all other Liabilities, an amount equal to (i) two percent (2%) of
the Maximum Loan Limit if such prepayment occurs two (2) years or more prior to
the end of the Original Term, (ii) one percent (1%) of the Maximum Loan Limit if
such prepayment occurs less than two (2) years, but at least one (1) year prior
to the end of the Original Term, or (iii) one-half of one percent (0.50%) of the
Maximum Loan Limit if such prepayment occurs less than one (1) year prior to the
end of the Original Term or any then current Renewal Term.

     11. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.

     Each Borrower hereby represents and warrants to Lender, which
representations and warranties (whether appearing in this Section 11 or
elsewhere) shall be true at the time of Borrowers' execution hereof and the
closing of the transactions described herein or related hereto, shall remain
true until the repayment in full and satisfaction of all the Liabilities and
termination of this Agreement, and shall be remade by each Borrower at the time
each Loan is made pursuant to this Agreement.

     (a) Financial Statements and Other Information.

     The financial statements and other information delivered or to be delivered
by Borrowers to Lender at or prior to the date of this Agreement accurately
reflect in all material respects the financial condition of Borrowers and their
Subsidiaries, and there has been no material adverse change in the financial
condition, the operations or any other status of a Borrower or a Subsidiary
since the date of the financial statements delivered to Lender most recently
prior to the date of this Agreement. All written information now or heretofore
furnished by each Borrower to Lender is true and correct in all material
respects as of the date with respect to which such information was furnished.

     (b) Locations.

     The office where each Borrower keeps its books, records and accounts (or
copies thereof) concerning the Collateral, each Borrower's principal place of
business and all of each Borrower's other places of business, locations of
Collateral and post office boxes and locations of bank accounts are as set forth
in Exhibit A and at other locations within the continental United States of
which Lender has been advised by a Borrower in accordance with subsection
12(b)(i). The Collateral, including, without limitation, the Equipment (except
any part thereof which a Borrower shall have advised Lender in writing consists
of Collateral normally used in more than one state) is kept, or, in the case of
vehicles, based, only at the addresses set forth on Exhibit A, and at other
locations within the continental United States of which Lender has been advised
by a Borrower in writing in accordance with subsection 12(b)(i) hereof.

     (c) Loans by Borrower.

     No Borrower has made any loans or advances to any Affiliate or other Person
except for advances authorized hereunder to employees, officers and directors of
such


                                       -26-

<PAGE>

Borrower for travel and other expenses arising in the ordinary course of such
Borrower's business and loans permitted pursuant to subsection 13(f) hereof.

     (d) Accounts and Inventory.

     Each Account or item of Inventory which a Borrower shall, expressly or by
implication, request Lender to classify as an Eligible Account or as Eligible
Inventory, respectively, shall, as of the time when such request is made,
conform in all respects to the requirements of such classification as set forth
in the respective definitions of "Eligible Account" and "Eligible Inventory" as
set forth herein and as otherwise established by Lender from time to time.

     (e) Liens.

     Each Borrower is the lawful owner of all Collateral now purportedly owned
or hereafter purportedly acquired by such Borrower, free from all liens, claims,
security interests and encumbrances whatsoever, whether voluntarily or
involuntarily created and whether or not perfected, other than the Permitted
Liens.

     (f) Organization, Authority and No Conflict.

     If a Borrower is a corporation, limited liability company or partnership,
such Borrower is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing in its
state of organization as set forth on Exhibit A and its state organizational
identification number is set forth on Exhibit A and such Borrower is duly
qualified and in good standing in all states where the nature and extent of the
business transacted by it or the ownership of its assets makes such
qualification necessary. Each Borrower has the right and power and is duly
authorized and empowered to enter into, execute and deliver this Agreement and
the Other Agreements and perform its obligations hereunder and thereunder. Each
Borrower's execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the Other
Agreements does not conflict with the provisions of the organizational documents
of such Borrower, any statute, regulation, ordinance or rule of law, or any
agreement, contract or other document which may now or hereafter be binding on
such Borrower, and each Borrower's execution, delivery and performance of this
Agreement and the Other Agreements shall not result in the imposition of any
lien or other encumbrance upon any of such Borrower's property under any
existing indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan or credit agreement or other
agreement or instrument by which such Borrower or any of its property may be
bound or affected.

     (g) Litigation.

     There are no actions or proceedings which are pending or threatened against
a Borrower or a Subsidiary which might have a Material Adverse Effect, and each
Borrower shall, promptly upon becoming aware of any such pending or threatened
action or proceeding, give written notice thereof to Lender. No Borrower has any
Commercial Tort Claims pending other than those set forth on Exhibit C hereto as
Exhibit C may be amended from time to time.


                                       -27-

<PAGE>

     (h) Compliance with Laws and Maintenance of Permits.

     Each Borrower and Subsidiary has obtained all governmental consents,
franchises, certificates, licenses, authorizations, approvals and permits, the
lack of which would have a Material Adverse Effect. Each Borrower and Subsidiary
is in compliance in all material respects with all applicable federal, state,
local and foreign statutes, orders, regulations, rules and ordinances
(including, without limitation, Environmental Laws and statutes, orders,
regulations, rules and ordinances relating to taxes, employer and employee
contributions and similar items, securities, ERISA or employee health and
safety) the failure to comply with which would have a Material Adverse Effect.

     (i) Affiliate Transactions.

     Except as set forth on Schedule 11(i) hereto or as permitted pursuant to
subsection 11(c) hereof, no Borrower or Subsidiary is conducting, permitting or
suffering to be conducted, transaction with any Affiliate other than
transactions with Affiliates for the purchase or sale of Inventory or services
in the ordinary course of business pursuant to terms that are no less favorable
to such Borrower or Subsidiary than the terms upon which such transfers or
transactions would have been made had they been made to or with a Person that is
not an Affiliate.

     (j) Names and Trade Names.

     Each Borrower's name has always been as set forth on the first page of this
Agreement and no Borrower uses trade names, assumed names, fictitious names or
division names in the operation of its business, except as set forth on Schedule
11(j) hereto.

     (k) Equipment.

     Each Borrower has good and indefeasible and merchantable title to and
ownership of all Equipment. No Equipment is a Fixture to real estate unless such
real estate is owned by such Borrower and is subject to a mortgage in favor of
Lender or an accession to other personal property unless such personal property
is subject to a second priority lien in favor of Lender junior only to the ACS
Lien.

     (l) Enforceability.

     This Agreement and the Other Agreements to which a Borrower is a party are
the legal, valid and binding obligations of such Borrower and are enforceable
against such Borrower in accordance with their respective terms.

     (m) Solvency.

     Each Borrower is, after giving effect to the transactions contemplated
hereby, solvent, able to pay its debts as they become due, has capital
sufficient to carry on its business, now owns property having a value both at
fair valuation and at present fair saleable value greater than the amount
required to pay its debts, and will not be rendered insolvent by


                                       -28-

<PAGE>

the execution and delivery of this Agreement or any of the Other Agreements or
by completion of the transactions contemplated hereunder or thereunder.

     (n) Indebtedness.

     Except as set forth on Schedule 11(n) hereto, no Borrower or Subsidiary is
obligated (directly or indirectly), for any loans or other indebtedness for
borrowed money other than the Loans.

     (o) Margin Security and Use of Proceeds.

     No Borrower owns any margin securities, and none of the proceeds of the
Loans hereunder shall be used for the purpose of purchasing or carrying any
margin securities or for the purpose of reducing or retiring any indebtedness
which was originally incurred to purchase any margin securities or for any other
purpose not permitted by Regulation U of the Board of Governors of the Federal
Reserve System as in effect from time to time.

     (p) Parent, Subsidiaries and Affiliates.

     Except as set forth on Schedule 11(p) hereto, no Borrower has any Parents,
Subsidiaries or other Affiliates or divisions, nor is any Borrower engaged in
any joint venture or partnership with any other Person.

     (q) No Defaults.

     No Borrower nor any Subsidiary is in default under any contract, lease or
commitment to which it is a party or by which it is bound, nor does any Borrower
know of any dispute regarding any contract, lease or commitment, which, in any
such case, would have a Material Adverse Effect.

     (r) Employee Matters.

     There are no controversies pending or threatened between a Borrower or any
Subsidiary and any of its employees, agents or independent contractors other
than employee grievances arising in the ordinary course of business which would
not, in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect, and each Borrower and
Subsidiary is in compliance with all federal and state laws respecting
employment and employment terms, conditions and practices except for such
non-compliance which would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

     (s) Intellectual Property.

     Each Borrower and Subsidiary possesses adequate licenses, patents, patent
applications, copyrights, service marks, trademarks, trademark applications,
trade styles and trade names to continue to conduct its business as heretofore
conducted by it.


                                       -29-

<PAGE>

     (t) Environmental Matters.

     No Borrower nor any Subsidiary has generated, used, stored, treated,
transported, manufactured, handled, produced or disposed of any Hazardous
Materials, on or off its premises (whether or not owned by it) in any manner
which at any time violates any Environmental Law or any license, permit,
certificate, approval or similar authorization thereunder and the operations of
each Borrower and Subsidiary comply in all material respects with all
Environmental Laws and all licenses, permits, certificates, approvals and
similar authorizations thereunder. There has been no investigation, proceeding,
complaint, order, directive, claim, citation or notice by any governmental
authority or any other Person, nor is any pending or to the best of each
Borrower's knowledge threatened with respect to any non-compliance with or
violation of the requirements of any Environmental Law by a Borrower or a
Subsidiary or the release, spill or discharge, threatened or actual, of any
Hazardous Materials or the generation, use, storage, treatment, transportation,
manufacture, handling, production or disposal of any Hazardous Materials or any
other environmental, health or safety matter, which affects a Borrower, a
Subsidiary or its business, operations or assets or any properties at which a
Borrower or a Subsidiary has transported, stored or disposed of any Hazardous
Materials. No Borrower nor any Subsidiary has any material liability (contingent
or otherwise) in connection with a release, spill or discharge, threatened or
actual, of any Hazardous Materials or the generation, use, storage, treatment,
transportation, manufacture, handling, production or disposal of any Hazardous
Materials.

     (u) ERISA Matters.

     Each Borrower and Subsidiary has paid and discharged all obligations and
liabilities arising under ERISA of a character which, if unpaid or unperformed,
might result in the imposition of a lien against any of its properties or
assets.

     12. AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS.

     Until payment and satisfaction in full of all Liabilities and termination
of this Agreement, unless Borrowers obtain Lender's prior written consent
waiving or modifying any of Borrowers' covenants hereunder in any specific
instance, each Borrower covenants and agrees as follows:

     (a) Maintenance of Records.

     Each Borrower shall at all times keep accurate and complete books, records
and accounts with respect to all of such Borrower's business activities, in
accordance with sound accounting practices and generally accepted accounting
principles consistently applied, and shall keep such books, records and
accounts, and any copies thereof, only at the addresses indicated for such
purpose on Exhibit A;


                                       -30-

<PAGE>

     (b) Notices.

     Each Borrower shall:

          (i) Locations. Promptly (but in no event less than ten (10) days prior
     to the occurrence thereof) notify Lender of the proposed opening of any new
     place of business or new location of Collateral, the closing of any
     existing place of business or location of Collateral, any change of in the
     location of such Borrower's books, records and accounts (or copies
     thereof), the opening or closing of any post office box, the opening or
     closing of any bank account or, if any of the Collateral consists of Goods
     of a type normally used in more than one state, the use of any such Goods
     in any state other than a state in which such Borrower has previously
     advised Lender that such Goods will be used.

          (ii) Eligible Accounts and Inventory. Promptly upon becoming aware
     thereof, notify Lender if any Account or Inventory identified by such
     Borrower to Lender as an Eligible Account or Eligible Inventory becomes
     ineligible for any reason.

          (iii) Litigation and Proceedings. Promptly upon becoming aware
     thereof, notify Lender of any actions or proceedings which are pending or
     threatened against such Borrower which might have a Material Adverse Effect
     and of any Commercial Tort Claims of Borrower which may arise, which notice
     shall constitute such Borrower's authorization to amend Exhibit C to add
     such Commercial Tort Claim.

          (iv) Names and Trade Names. Notify Lender within ten (10) days of the
     change of its name or the use of any trade name, assumed name, fictitious
     name or division name not previously disclosed to Lender in writing.

          (v) ERISA Matters. Promptly notify Lender of (x) the occurrence of any
     "reportable event" (as defined in ERISA) which might result in the
     termination by the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (the "PBGC") of any
     employee benefit plan ("Plan") covering any officers or employees of such
     Borrower, any benefits of which are, or are required to be, guaranteed by
     the PBGC, (y) receipt of any notice from the PBGC of its intention to seek
     termination of any Plan or appointment of a trustee therefor or (z) its
     intention to terminate or withdraw from any Plan.

          (vi) Environmental Matters. Immediately notify Lender upon becoming
     aware of any investigation, proceeding, complaint, order, directive, claim,
     citation or notice with respect to any non-compliance with or violation of
     the requirements of any Environmental Law, in any material respect, by such
     Borrower or Subsidiary or the generation, use, storage, treatment,
     transportation, manufacture handling, production or disposal of any
     Hazardous Materials or any other environmental, health or safety matter
     which affects such Borrower, in any material respect, any Subsidiary or its
     business operations or assets or any properties at which


                                       -31-

<PAGE>

     such Borrower or any Subsidiary has transported, stored or disposed of any
     Hazardous Materials.

          (vii) Default; Material Adverse Change. Promptly advise Lender of any
     material adverse change in the business, property, assets, prospects,
     operations or condition, financial or otherwise, of such Borrower or any
     Subsidiary, the occurrence of any Event of Default hereunder or the
     occurrence of any event which, if uncured, will become an Event of Default
     after notice or lapse of time (or both).

All of the foregoing notices shall be provided by Borrowers to Lender in
writing.

     (c) Compliance with Laws and Maintenance of Permits.

     Each Borrower shall maintain, and shall cause each Subsidiary to maintain,
all governmental consents, franchises, certificates, licenses, authorizations,
approvals and permits, the lack of which would have a Material Adverse Effect
and each Borrower shall remain in compliance with, and shall cause each
Subsidiary to remain in compliance with, all applicable federal, state, local
and foreign statutes, orders, regulations, rules and ordinances (including,
without limitation, Environmental Laws and statutes, orders, regulations, rules
and ordinances relating to taxes, employer and employee contributions and
similar items, securities, ERISA or employee health and safety) the failure with
which to comply would have a Material Adverse Effect. Following any
determination by Lender that there is non-compliance, or any condition which
requires any action by or on behalf of a Borrower or Subsidiary in order to
avoid non-compliance, with any Environmental Law, at Borrowers' expense cause an
independent environmental engineer acceptable to Lender to conduct such tests of
the relevant site(s) as are appropriate and prepare and deliver a report setting
forth the results of such tests, a proposed plan for remediation and an estimate
of the costs thereof.

     (d) Inspection and Audits.

     Each Borrower shall permit Lender, or any Persons designated by it, to call
at such Borrower's places of business at any reasonable times, and, without
hindrance or delay, to inspect the Collateral and to inspect, audit, check and
make extracts from such Borrower's books, records, journals, orders, receipts
and any correspondence and other data relating to such Borrower's business, the
Collateral or any transactions between the parties hereto, and shall have the
right to make such verification concerning such Borrower's business as Lender
may consider reasonable under the circumstances. Each Borrower shall furnish to
Lender such information relevant to Lender's rights under this Agreement as
Lender shall at any time and from time to time request. Lender, through its
officers, employees or agents shall have the right, at any time and from time to
time, in Lender's name, to verify the validity, amount or any other matter
relating to any of such Borrower's Accounts, by mail, telephone, telegraph or
otherwise. Each Borrower authorizes Lender to discuss the affairs, finances and
business of such Borrower with any officers, employees or directors of such
Borrower or with its Parent or any Affiliate or the officers, employees or
directors of its Parent or any Affiliate, and to discuss the financial condition
of such Borrower with such Borrower's independent public accountants. Any such
discussions shall be without liability to Lender or


                                       -32-

<PAGE>

to Borrowers' independent public accountants. Borrowers shall pay to Lender all
customary fees and all costs and out-of-pocket expenses incurred by Lender in
the exercise of its rights under this Section 12(d), and all of such fees, costs
and expenses shall constitute Liabilities hereunder, shall be payable on demand
and, until paid, shall bear interest at the highest rate then applicable to
Loans hereunder (provided, so long as no Event of Default has occurred,
following the first anniversary of this Agreement, Borrowers' shall not be
required to reimburse Lender for more than two field audits in any subsequent
year);

     (e) Insurance.

     Each Borrower shall:

          (i) Keep the Collateral properly housed and insured for the full
     insurable value thereof against loss or damage by fire, theft, explosion,
     sprinklers, collision (in the case of motor vehicles) and such other risks
     as are customarily insured against by Persons engaged in businesses similar
     to that of such Borrower, with such companies, in such amounts, with such
     deductibles, and under policies in such form, as shall be satisfactory to
     Lender. Original (or certified) copies of such policies of insurance have
     been or shall be, within ninety (90) days of the date hereof, delivered to
     Collateral Agent, together with evidence of payment of all premiums
     therefor, and shall contain an endorsement, in form and substance
     acceptable to Collateral Agent, showing loss under such insurance policies
     payable to Collateral Agent. Such endorsement, or an independent instrument
     furnished to Collateral Agent, shall provide that the insurance company
     shall give Collateral Agent at least thirty (30) days written notice before
     any such policy of insurance is altered or canceled and that no act,
     whether willful or negligent, or default of such Borrower or any other
     Person shall affect the right of Collateral Agent to recover under such
     policy of insurance in case of loss or damage. In addition, each Borrower
     shall cause to be executed and delivered to Collateral Agent an assignment
     of proceeds of its business interruption insurance policies. Each Borrower
     hereby directs all insurers under all policies insuring Collateral against
     damage, loss or hazard to pay all proceeds payable thereunder directly to
     Collateral Agent. Each Borrower irrevocably makes, constitutes and appoints
     Collateral Agent (and all officers, employees or agents designated by
     Collateral Agent) as such Borrower's true and lawful attorney (and
     agent-in-fact) for the purpose of making, settling and adjusting claims
     under such policies of insurance, endorsing the name of such Borrower on
     any check, draft, instrument or other item of payment for the proceeds of
     such policies of insurance and making all determinations and decisions with
     respect to such policies of insurance.

          (ii) Maintain, at its expense, such public liability and third party
     property damage insurance as is customary for Persons engaged in businesses
     similar to that of such Borrower with such companies and in such amounts,
     with such deductibles and under policies in such form as shall be
     satisfactory to Collateral Agent and original (or certified) copies of such
     policies have been or shall be, within ninety (90) days after the date
     hereof, delivered to Collateral Agent, together with evidence of payment of
     all premiums therefor; each such policy shall contain an


                                       -33-

<PAGE>

     endorsement showing Collateral Agent as additional insured thereunder and
     providing that the insurance company shall give Collateral Agent at least
     thirty (30) days written notice before any such policy shall be altered or
     canceled.

If a Borrower at any time or times hereafter shall fail to obtain or maintain
any of the policies of insurance required above or to pay any premium relating
thereto, then Collateral Agent, without waiving or releasing any obligation or
default by Borrowers hereunder, may (but shall be under no obligation to) obtain
and maintain such policies of insurance and pay such premiums and take such
other actions with respect thereto as Collateral Agent deems advisable. Such
insurance, if obtained by Collateral Agent, may, but need not, protect such
Borrower's interests or pay any claim made by or against such Borrower with
respect to the Collateral. Such insurance may be more expensive than the cost of
insurance such Borrower may be able to obtain on its own and may be cancelled
only upon such Borrower providing evidence that it has obtained the insurance as
required above. All sums disbursed by Collateral Agent in connection with any
such actions, including, without limitation, court costs, expenses, other
charges relating thereto and reasonable attorneys' fees, shall constitute Loans
hereunder, shall be payable on demand by Borrowers to Collateral Agent and,
until paid, shall bear interest at the highest rate then applicable to Loans
hereunder;

     (f) Collateral.

     Each Borrower shall keep the Collateral in good condition, repair and order
and shall make all necessary repairs to the Equipment and replacements thereof
so that the operating efficiency and the value thereof shall at all times be
preserved and maintained. Each Borrower shall permit Lender to examine any of
the Collateral at any time and wherever the Collateral may be located and, each
Borrower shall, immediately upon request therefor by Lender, deliver to Lender
any and all evidence of ownership of any of the Equipment including, without
limitation, certificates of title and applications of title. Each Borrower
shall, at the request of Lender, indicate on its records concerning the
Collateral a notation, in form satisfactory to Lender, of the security interest
of Lender hereunder.

     (g) Use of Proceeds.

     All monies and other property obtained by a Borrower from Lender pursuant
to this Agreement shall be used solely for business purposes of such Borrower.

     (h) Taxes.

     Each Borrower shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to, file all
required tax returns and pay all of its taxes when due, including, without
limitation, taxes imposed by federal, state or municipal agencies, and shall
cause any liens for taxes to be promptly released; provided, that such Borrower
or Subsidiary shall have the right to contest the payment of such taxes in good
faith by appropriate proceedings so long as (i) the amount so contested is shown
on such Borrower's or Subsidiary's financial statements; (ii) the contesting of
any such payment does not give rise to a lien for taxes; (iii) such Borrower or
Subsidiary keeps on deposit with Collateral Agent (such deposit to be held
without interest)


                                       -34-

<PAGE>

an amount of money which, in the sole judgment of Collateral Agent, is
sufficient to pay such taxes and any interest or penalties that may accrue
thereon; and (iv) if such Borrower or Subsidiary fails to prosecute such contest
with reasonable diligence, Collateral Agent may apply the money so deposited in
payment of such taxes. If a Borrower or Subsidiary fails to pay any such taxes
and in the absence of any such contest by such Borrower or Subsidiary, Lender
may (but shall be under no obligation to) advance and pay any sums required to
pay any such taxes and/or to secure the release of any lien therefor, and any
sums so advanced by Lender shall constitute Loans hereunder, shall be payable by
such Borrower or Subsidiary to Lender on demand, and, until paid, shall bear
interest at the highest rate then applicable to Loans hereunder;

     (i) Intellectual Property.

     Each Borrower shall, and shall cause each Subsidiary to, maintain adequate
licenses, patents, patent applications, copyrights, service marks, trademarks,
trademark applications, trade styles and trade names to continue its business as
heretofore conducted by it or as hereafter conducted by it.

     (j) Checking Accounts.

     Each Borrower shall maintain its general checking/controlled disbursement
account with LaSalle Bank. Normal charges shall be assessed thereon. Although no
compensating balance is required, each Borrower must keep monthly balances in
order to merit earnings credits which will cover LaSalle Bank's service charge
for demand deposit account activities.

     13. NEGATIVE COVENANTS.

     Until payment and satisfaction in full of all Liabilities and termination
of this Agreement, unless Borrowers obtain Lender's prior written consent
waiving or modifying any of Borrowers' covenants hereunder in any specific
instance, each Borrower agrees as follows:

     (a) Guaranties.

     No Borrower shall, and no Borrower shall permit any Subsidiary to, assume,
guarantee or endorse, or otherwise become liable in connection with, the
obligations of any Person, except by endorsement of instruments for deposit or
collection or similar transactions in the ordinary course of business and except
for guaranties of the Liabilities and the ACS Debt.

     (b) Indebtedness.

     No Borrower shall, and no Borrower shall permit any Subsidiary to, create,
incur, assume or become obligated (directly or indirectly), for any loans or
other indebtedness of borrowed money other than the Loans and the Canadian
Liabilities, except that (i) Borrowers and Subsidiaries may borrow money from a
person other than Lender on


                                       -35-

<PAGE>

an unsecured and subordinated basis if a subordination agreement in favor of
Lender and in form and substance satisfactory to Lender is executed and
delivered to Lender relative thereto; (ii) Borrowers and Subsidiaries may
maintain its present indebtedness listed on Schedule 11(n) hereto; (iii)
Numatics, Numatics Canada and Numatics GmbH may maintain the ACS Debt, (iv)
Borrowers and Subsidiaries may incur unsecured indebtedness to trade creditors
in the ordinary course of business; (v) Borrowers and Subsidiaries may incur
purchase money indebtedness or capitalized lease obligations in connection with
Capital Expenditures permitted pursuant to subsection 14(d) hereof; (vi)
Borrowers and Subsidiaries may incur operating lease obligations requiring
payments not to exceed Two Million Seven Hundred Fifty Thousand and No/100
Dollars ($2,750,000.00) in the aggregate during any Fiscal Year of Borrowers;
(vii) Borrowers may borrow money from other Borrowers or Subsidiaries; and
(viii) Subsidiaries may borrow the loans and advances permitted by subsections
13(f)(iii) and 13(f)(iv)).

     (c) Liens.

     No Borrower shall, and no Borrower shall permit any Subsidiary to, grant or
permit to exist (voluntarily or involuntarily) any lien, claim, security
interest or other encumbrance whatsoever on any of its assets, other than
Permitted Liens.

     (d) Mergers, Sales, Acquisitions, Subsidiaries and Other Transactions
Outside the Ordinary Course of Business.

     No Borrower shall, and no Borrower shall permit any Subsidiary to, (i)
enter into any merger or consolidation; (ii) change its jurisdiction of
organization or enter into any transaction which has the effect of changing its
jurisdiction of organization (iii) sell, lease or otherwise dispose of any of
its assets other than in the ordinary course of business, except for sales
(including sale-and-lease back transactions) specifically consented to in
writing by Lender (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld), the net
proceeds of which are used to repay the ACS Debt; (iv) purchase the stock, other
equity interests or all or a material portion of the assets of any Person or
division of such Person; or (v) enter into any other transaction outside the
ordinary course of such Borrower's business, including, without limitation, any
purchase, redemption or retirement of any shares of any class of its stock or
any other equity interest, and any issuance of any shares of, or warrants or
other rights to receive or purchase any shares of, any class of its stock or any
other equity interest (provided any Borrower may repurchase its shares pursuant
to shareholder agreements (including the Harvard Put) and stock option programs
existing on the date of this Agreement (i) for cash in an amount not to exceed
One Hundred Thousand and No/100 Dollars ($100,000.00) in the aggregate in any
fiscal year of Borrowers and (ii) for promissory notes which are subordinated to
the Liabilities pursuant to the terms set forth in the subordination agreement
attached as Exhibit D (or in the case of the Harvard Put, on the terms set forth
in the documents evidencing the Harvard Put as in effect on the date of this
Agreement), in each case, so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is
continuing). No Borrower shall, and no borrower shall permit any Subsidiary to,
form any Subsidiaries or enter into any joint ventures or partnerships with any
other Person.


                                       -36-

<PAGE>

     (e) Dividends and Distributions.

     No Borrower shall, and no Borrower shall permit any Subsidiary to, declare
or pay any dividend or other distribution (whether in cash or in kind) on any
class of its stock (if such Borrower is a corporation) or on account of any
equity interest in such Borrower (if such Borrower is a partnership, limited
liability company or other type of entity); provided, (i) a Borrower may pay
distributions expressly permitted by the proviso to Section 13(d) above; (ii)
any Borrower or Subsidiary may pay dividends that are paid solely to a Borrower
and (iii) Numatics may pay dividends that are payable solely in the common stock
of Numatics.

     (f) Investments; Loans.

     No Borrower shall, and no Borrower shall permit any Subsidiary to, purchase
or otherwise acquire, or contract to purchase or otherwise acquire, the
obligations or stock of any Person, other than direct obligations of the United
States; nor shall a Borrower lend or otherwise advance funds to any Person
except for (i) advances made to employees, officers and directors for travel and
other expenses arising in the ordinary course of business, (ii) loans from one
Borrower to another Borrower, (iii) loans or advances by Borrowers to other
Subsidiaries not to exceed Twelve Million Five Hundred Thousand and No/100
Dollars ($12,500,000.00) at any time outstanding, (iv) loans or advances by a
Subsidiary that is not a Borrower to another Subsidiary that is not a Borrower,
and (iv) loans to employees not exceeding One Million and No/100 Dollars
($1,000,000.00) in the aggregate outstanding for all Persons at any one time.

     (g) Fundamental Changes, Line of Business.

     No Borrower shall, and no Borrower shall permit any Subsidiary to, amend
its organizational documents or change its Fiscal Year or enter into a new line
of business materially different from such Borrower's or Subsidiary's current
business.

     (h) Equipment.

     No Borrower shall (i) permit any Equipment to become a fixture to real
property unless such real property is owned by such Borrower and is subject to a
mortgage in favor of Lender, or (ii) permit any Equipment to become an accession
to any other personal property unless such personal property is subject to a
second priority lien in favor of Lender junior only to the ACS Lien.

     (i) Use of Proceeds.

     No Borrower nor any Affiliate shall use any portion of the proceeds of the
Loans, either directly or indirectly, for the purpose of (i) purchasing any
securities underwritten or privately placed by ABN AMRO Securities (USA) Inc.
("AASI"), an affiliate of Lender, (ii) purchasing from AASI any securities in
which AASI makes a market, or (iii) refinancing or making payments of principal,
interest or dividends on any securities


                                       -37-

<PAGE>

issued by such Borrower or any Affiliate, and underwritten, privately placed or
dealt in by AASI.

     (j) Affiliate Transactions.

     Except as set forth on Schedule 11(i) hereto or as permitted pursuant to
subsection 11(c) hereof, no Borrower shall, and no Borrower shall permit any
Subsidiary to, conduct, permit or suffer to be conducted, transactions with
Affiliates for the purchase or sale of Inventory or services in the ordinary
course of business pursuant to terms that are less favorable to such Borrower or
Subsidiary than the terms upon which such transfers or transactions would have
been made had they been made to or with a Person that is not an Affiliate.

     (k) Settling of Accounts.

     Each Borrower shall not settle or adjust any Account identified by such
Borrower as an Eligible Account or with respect to which the Account Debtor is
an Affiliate without the consent of Lender, provided, that following the
occurrence of an Event of Default, such Borrower shall not settle or adjust any
Account without the consent of Lender.

     (l) Remuneration.

     Borrowers shall not permit the aggregate amount of salary and other direct
and indirect remuneration (including, but not limited to, employee benefits and
professional, consulting and management fees and expenses and bonuses) paid or
accrued by any of Borrowers or their Subsidiaries during any fiscal year to or
for the benefit of (i) John H. Welker directly or indirectly to exceed the
amounts provided for under his employment agreement in effect on the date of
this Agreement, or (ii) any other officer, director or member of management
(including any members of John Welker's immediate family) of any of Borrowers or
their Subsidiaries to exceed (A) with respect to base compensation, amounts
which are reasonable and customary for employees with similar responsibility and
experience of other companies in the same industry as Borrowers and their
Subsidiaries, and (B) with respect to bonuses and other indirect remuneration,
amounts which are determined in accordance with Borrowers' and their
Subsidiaries' written objective compensation plan for such year, a copy of which
has been furnished to Lender prior to the date of this Agreement.

     14. FINANCIAL COVENANTS.

     Each Borrower shall maintain and keep in full force and effect each of the
financial covenants set forth below:

     (a) Tangible Net Worth.

     Borrowers shall not permit Tangible Net Worth at any time to be less than
the Minimum Tangible Net Worth; "Minimum Tangible Net Worth" being defined for
purposes of this subsection as (i) Seventeen Million and No/100 Dollars
($17,000,000.00) at


                                       -38-

<PAGE>

all times from the date hereof through December 30, 2002, (ii) Nineteen Million
Five Hundred Thousand and No/100 Dollars ($19,500,000.00) at all times from and
including December 31, 2002 through December 30, 2003, and (iii) Twenty-Two
Million Dollars ($22,000,000.00) at all times from and including December 31,
2003 and thereafter; and "Tangible Net Worth" being defined for purposes of this
subsection as Numatics' shareholders' equity (including retained earnings) on a
consolidated basis less the book value of all intangible assets and all
"Investments", "Other Current Assets", "Deferred Tax Assets" and "Other Assets"
all as classified on Numatics' consolidated balance sheet, including, but not
limited to, transaction costs not amortized, debt issuance costs not amortized
and product drawings, as determined solely by Lender on a consistent basis less
prepaid expenses and obligations due from officers, affiliates and employees
plus the amount of any LIFO reserve plus the amount of any debt subordinated to
the Liabilities in a manner satisfactory to Lender (but excluding the
indebtedness evidenced by the Subordinated Redemption Note dated January 3, 2001
in the principal amount of One Million Eighty-Nine Thousand Nine Hundred
Ninety-Six and No/100 Dollars ($1,089,996.00) issued by Numatics to Bruce W.
Hoppe and, to the extent in excess of Five Hundred Thousand and No/100 Dollars
($500,000.00), indebtedness consisting of deferred compensation owing to John
Welker) plus deferred tax liabilities, all as determined for Numatics and its
Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis under generally accepted accounting
principles applied on a basis consistent with the financial statement dated
September 30, 2001 except as set forth herein;

     (b) Debt Service Coverage.

     Borrowers shall not permit Debt Service Coverage for any period of twelve
(12) consecutive months ending on the last day of a fiscal quarter to be less
than the ratio set forth below for such fiscal quarter:

                       Period                                           Ratio
                       ------                                           -----

        Each fiscal quarter, comprising Borrowers' 2001              1.00 to 1.0
        Fiscal Year

        Each fiscal quarter, comprising Borrowers' 2002              1.05 to 1.0
        Fiscal Year

        Each fiscal quarter, comprising Borrowers' 2003              1.10 to 1.0
        Fiscal Year and each fiscal quarter comprising
        any subsequent Fiscal Year of Borrowers

     (c) Interest Coverage.

     Borrowers shall not permit the ratio of (i) Adjusted Net Income to (ii)
scheduled payments of interest and fees, to the extent carried as interest
expense on Numatics' and its Subsidiaries' consolidated financial statements,
with respect to indebtedness for borrowed money (including the interest
component payments with respect


                                       -39-

<PAGE>

to capitalized leases) for any period of twelve (12) consecutive months ending
on the last day of a fiscal quarter, to be less than the ratio set forth below
for such fiscal quarter:

                          Period                                        Ratio
                          ------                                        -----

        Each fiscal quarter, comprising Borrowers' 2001              1.20 to 1.0
        Fiscal Year

        Borrowers' fiscal quarter ending March 31, 2002              1.20 to 1.0
        and Borrowers' fiscal quarter ending June 30,
        2002

        Borrowers' fiscal quarter ending September 30,               1.25 to 1.0
        2002

        Borrowers' fiscal quarter ending December 31,                1.30 to 1.0
        2002

        Each fiscal quarter, comprising Borrowers' 2003              1.35 to 1.0
        Fiscal Year and each fiscal quarter comprising
        any subsequent Fiscal Year of Borrowers

     (d) Capital Expenditure Limitations.

     Borrowers and their Subsidiaries shall not make any Capital Expenditures
if, after giving effect to such Capital Expenditure, the aggregate cost of all
such fixed assets purchased or otherwise acquired would exceed (i) Two Million
Five Hundred Thousand and No/100 Dollars ($2,500,000.00) during the 2001 Fiscal
Year and (ii) Four Million and No/100 Dollars ($4,000,000) during any subsequent
Fiscal Year.

     (e) Senior Debt to Adjusted Net Income.

     Borrowers shall not permit the ratio of (i) Senior Debt as of the end of
any fiscal quarter to (ii) Adjusted Net Income for the twelve (12) months then
ended, to be more than the ratio set forth below for such fiscal quarter:

                              Period                                    Ratio
                              ------                                    -----

        Each fiscal quarter ending from the date of this             3.00 to 1.0
        Agreement through December 31, 2002

        Each fiscal quarter ending from January 1, 2003              2.50 to 1.0
        and thereafter


                                       -40-

<PAGE>

     15. DEFAULT.

     The occurrence of any one or more of the following events shall constitute
an "Event of Default" by Borrowers hereunder:

     (a) Payment.

     The failure of any Obligor to pay when due any of the Liabilities.

     (b) Breach of this Agreement and the Other Agreements.

     The failure of any Obligor to perform, keep or observe any of the
covenants, conditions, promises, agreements or obligations of such Obligor under
this Agreement or any of the Other Agreements; provided, any such failure by a
Borrower under subparagraphs 12(b)(i), (iii), (iv), (v), (vi), 12(c), 12(h) and
12(i) of this Agreement shall not constitute an Event of Default hereunder until
the fifteenth (15th) day following the occurrence thereof.

     (c) Breaches of Other Obligations.

     The failure of any Obligor or any Subsidiary to perform, keep or observe
any of the covenants, conditions, promises, agreements or obligations of such
Obligor or such Subsidiary under the Canadian Loan Agreement and any other
agreement with any Person if (i) in the case of agreements relating to
Indebtedness in excess of Two Hundred Thousand and No/100 Dollars ($200,000.00)
either individually or in the aggregate, such failure gives the holder of such
Indebtedness the right to accelerate the maturity of such Indebtedness, or (ii)
in the case of any agreement, such failure could reasonably be expected to have
a Material Adverse Effect.

     (d) Breach of Representations and Warranties.

     The making or furnishing by any Obligor to Collateral Agent or Lender of
any representation, warranty, certificate, schedule, report or other
communication within or in connection with this Agreement or the Other
Agreements or in connection with any other agreement between such Obligor and
Collateral Agent or Lender, which is untrue or misleading in any material
respect.

     (e) Loss of Collateral.

     The loss, theft, damage or destruction of, or (except as permitted hereby)
sale, lease or furnishing under a contract of service of, any of the Collateral
(other than (i) loss, theft, damage or destruction that is fully insured, and
(ii) uninsured loss, theft, damage or destruction not exceeding One Hundred
Thousand and No/100 Dollars ($100,000.00) in the aggregate).

     (f) Levy, Seizure or Attachment.

     The making of any levy, seizure or attachment upon any of the Collateral.


                                       -41-

<PAGE>

     (g) Bankruptcy or Similar Proceedings.

     The commencement of any proceedings in bankruptcy by or against any Obligor
or Subsidiary or for the liquidation or reorganization of any Obligor or
Subsidiary, or alleging that such Obligor or Subsidiary is insolvent or unable
to pay its debts as they mature, or for the readjustment or arrangement of any
Obligor's or Subsidiary's debts, whether under the United States Bankruptcy Code
or under any other law, whether state or federal, now or hereafter existing, for
the relief of debtors, or the commencement of any analogous statutory or
non-statutory proceedings involving any Obligor or Subsidiary; provided,
however, that if such commencement of proceedings against such Obligor or
Subsidiary is involuntary, such action shall not constitute an Event of Default
unless such proceedings are not dismissed within sixty (60) days after the
commencement of such proceedings.

     (h) Appointment of Receiver.

     The appointment of a receiver or trustee for any Obligor or Subsidiary, for
any of the Collateral or for any substantial part of any Obligor's or
Subsidiary's assets or the institution of any proceedings for the dissolution,
or the full or partial liquidation, or the merger or consolidation, of any
Obligor or Subsidiary which is a corporation, limited liability company or a
partnership; provided, however, that if such appointment or commencement of
proceedings against such Obligor or Subsidiary is involuntary, such action shall
not constitute an Event of Default unless such appointment is not revoked or
such proceedings are not dismissed within sixty (60) days after the commencement
of such proceedings.

     (i) Judgment.

     The entry of one or more judgments or orders individually or in the
aggregate in excess of Two Hundred Fifty Thousand and No/100 Dollars
($250,000.00) against any Obligor or Subsidiary which remains unsatisfied or
undischarged and in effect for sixty (60) days after such entry without a stay
of enforcement or execution.

     (j) Death or Dissolution of Obligor.

     The death of any Obligor who is a natural Person, or of any general partner
who is a natural Person of any Obligor which is a partnership, or any member who
is a natural Person of any Obligor which is a limited liability company or the
dissolution of any Obligor which is a partnership, limited liability company,
corporation or other entity.

     (k) Default or Revocation of Guaranty.

     The occurrence of an event of default under, or the revocation or
termination of, any agreement, instrument or document executed and delivered by
any Person to Lender pursuant to which such Person has guaranteed to Lender the
payment of all or any of the Liabilities or has granted Lender a security
interest in or lien upon some or all of such Person's real and/or personal
property to secure the payment of all or any of the Liabilities.


                                       -42-

<PAGE>

     (l) Criminal Proceedings.

     The institution in any court of a criminal proceeding against any Obligor
or Subsidiary, or the indictment of any Obligor or Subsidiary for any crime.

     (m) Change of Control.

     Any Change of Control under and as defined in the ACS Purchase Agreement or
the failure of (i) John Welker to own and have voting control of at least
fifty-one percent (51%) of the issued and outstanding voting equity interest of
Numatics (provided that any such failure resulting from the death or disability
of John Welker shall not be an Event of Default if such stock continues to be
owned and subject to the voting control of Persons acceptable to Lender), (ii)
Numatics to directly own and have voting control of no less than the percentage
of the equity interests of any Subsidiary that it owns on the date of this
Agreement, or (iii) NAC Beteilingungs GmbH to own and have voting control of all
of the equity interests of Numatics GmbH and Numatics K.F.T.

     (n) Change of Management.

     If John Welker shall cease to be the president and chief executive officer
of Numatics at any time and Numatics shall not have appointed a new president
and chief executive officer who is acceptable to Lender (provided, that any such
failure resulting from the death or disability of John Welker shall not be an
Event of Default if within one hundred twenty (120) days from such cessation,
Numatics shall have appointed a new president and chief executive officers who
is acceptable to Lender).

     (o) Material Adverse Change.

     Any material adverse change in the Collateral, business, property, assets,
prospects, operations or condition, financial or otherwise of any Obligor or
Subsidiary, as determined by Lender in its reasonable judgment or the occurrence
of any event which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect.

     16. REMEDIES UPON AN EVENT OF DEFAULT.

     (a) Upon the occurrence of an Event of Default described in subsection
15(g) hereof, all of the Liabilities shall immediately and automatically become
due and payable, without notice of any kind. Upon the occurrence of any other
Event of Default, all Liabilities may, at the option of Lender, and without
demand, notice or legal process of any kind, be declared, and immediately shall
become, due and payable.

     (b) Upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, Collateral Agent and Lender
may exercise from time to time any rights and remedies available to it under the
Uniform Commercial Code and any other applicable law in addition to, and not in
lieu of, any rights and remedies expressly granted in this Agreement or in any
of the Other Agreements and all of Collateral Agent's and Lender's rights and
remedies shall be cumulative and non-exclusive to the extent permitted by law.
In particular, but not by way of


                                       -43-

<PAGE>

limitation of the foregoing, Collateral Agent may, without notice, demand or
legal process of any kind, take possession of any or all of the Collateral (in
addition to Collateral of which it already has possession), wherever it may be
found, and for that purpose may pursue the same wherever it may be found, and
may enter onto any of Borrowers' premises where any of the Collateral may be,
and search for, take possession of, remove, keep and store any of the Collateral
until the same shall be sold or otherwise disposed of, and Collateral Agent
shall have the right to store the same at any of Borrowers' premises without
cost to Collateral Agent. At Collateral Agent's request, each Borrower shall, at
Borrowers' expense, assemble the Collateral and make it available to Collateral
Agent at one or more places to be designated by Collateral Agent and reasonably
convenient to Collateral Agent and such Borrower. Each Borrower recognizes that
if a Borrower fails to perform, observe or discharge any of its Liabilities
under this Agreement or the Other Agreements, no remedy at law will provide
adequate relief to Collateral Agent, and agrees that Collateral Agent shall be
entitled to temporary and permanent injunctive relief in any such case without
the necessity of proving actual damages. Any notification of intended
disposition of any of the Collateral required by law will be deemed to be a
reasonable authenticated notification of disposition if given at least ten (10)
days prior to such disposition and such notice shall (i) describe Collateral
Agent and the applicable Borrower(s), (ii) describe the Collateral that is the
subject to the intended disposition, (iii) state the method of the intended
disposition, (iv) state that the applicable Borrower(s) is entitled to an
accounting of the Liabilities and state the charge, if any, for an accounting
and (v) state the time and place of any public disposition or the time after
which any private sale is to be made. Collateral Agent may disclaim any
warranties that might arise in connection with the sale, lease or other
disposition of the Collateral and has no obligation to provide any warranties at
such time. Any Proceeds of any disposition by Collateral Agent of any of the
Collateral may be applied by Collateral Agent to the payment of expenses in
connection with the Collateral, including, without limitation, legal expenses
and reasonable attorneys' fees, and any balance of such Proceeds may be applied
by Collateral Agent toward the payment of such of the Liabilities, and in such
order of application, as Collateral Agent may from time to time elect.

     17. CONDITIONS PRECEDENT.

     (a) The obligation of Lender to fund the initial Revolving Loan, and to
issue or cause to be issued the initial Letter of Credit, is subject to the
satisfaction or waiver on or before the date hereof of the following conditions
precedent:

          (i) Lender and Collateral Agent shall have received each of the
     agreements, opinions, reports, approvals, consents, certificates and other
     documents set forth on the closing document list attached hereto as
     Schedule 17(a) (the "Closing Document List");

          (ii) Since December 31, 2000 (except as disclosed in the September 30,
     2001 financial statements delivered to Lender), no event shall have
     occurred which has had or could reasonably be expected to have a Material
     Adverse Effect, as determined by Lender in its reasonable discretion;


                                       -44-

<PAGE>

          (iii) Lender shall have received payment in full of all fees and
     expenses payable to it by Borrowers or any other Person in connection
     herewith, on or before disbursement of the initial Loans hereunder;

          (iv) Lender shall have determined that immediately after giving effect
     to (A) the making of the initial Loans, (B) the issuance of the initial
     Letters of Credit, if any, requested to be made on such date, (C) the
     payment of all fees due upon such date and (D) the payment or reimbursement
     by Borrowers of Lender for all closing costs and expenses incurred in
     connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, and assuming all of
     Borrowers' trade payables and outstanding debt which remain unpaid more
     than sixty (60) days after the due dates thereof on the date of
     determination, are paid by drawing additional Revolving Loans, on a pro
     forma basis, availability of Borrowers to borrow additional Revolving Loans
     shall not be less than Four Million Five Hundred Thousand and No/100
     Dollars ($4,500,000.00); and

          (v) The Obligors shall have executed and delivered to Lender all such
     other documents, instruments and agreements which Lender determines are
     reasonably necessary to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby.

     (b) After the initial extensions of credit hereunder, the obligation of
Lender to make any requested Revolving Loan or to issue or cause to issued any
Letter of Credit, is subject to the satisfaction of the conditions precedent set
forth below. Each such request shall constitute a representation and warranty
that such conditions are satisfied:

          (i) All representations and warranties contained in this Agreement and
     the Other Agreements shall be true and correct in all material respects on
     and as of the date of such request, as if then made, other than
     representations and warranties that relate solely to an earlier date;

          (ii) No Event of Default (or any event which with the passage of time
     or giving of notice, or both, would become an Event of Default) shall have
     occurred, or would result from the making of the requested Revolving Loan
     or the issuance of the requested Letter of Credit; and

          (iii) Since December 31, 2000 (except as disclosed in the September
     30, 2001 financial statements delivered to Lender), no event has occurred
     which has had or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
     Effect.

     18. JOINT AND SEVERAL LIABILITY.

     (a) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, all
Liabilities of each Borrower hereunder shall be joint and several obligations of
Borrowers.

     (b) Notwithstanding any provisions of this Agreement to the contrary, it is
intended that the joint and several nature of the Liabilities of Borrowers and
the liens and security interests granted by Borrowers to secure the Liabilities,
not constitute a "Fraudulent Conveyance" (as defined below). Consequently,
Collateral Agent, Lender and Borrowers




                                       -45-

<PAGE>

agree that if the Liabilities of a Borrower, or any liens or security interests
granted by such Borrower securing the Liabilities would, but for the application
of this sentence, constitute a Fraudulent Conveyance, the Liabilities of such
Borrower and the liens and security interests securing such Liabilities shall be
valid and enforceable only to the maximum extent that would not cause such
Liabilities or such lien or security interest to constitute a Fraudulent
Conveyance, and the Liabilities of such Borrower and this Agreement shall
automatically be deemed to have been amended accordingly. For purposes hereof,
"Fraudulent Conveyance" means a fraudulent conveyance under Section 548 of
Chapter 11 of Title 11 of the United States Code (11 U.S.C. ss. 101, et seq.),
as amended (the "Bankruptcy Code") or a fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent
transfer under the applicable provisions of any fraudulent conveyance or
fraudulent transfer law or similar law of any state, nation or other
governmental unit, as in effect from time to time.

     (c) Each Borrower assumes responsibility for keeping itself informed of the
financial condition of the each other Borrower, and any and all endorsers and/or
guarantors of any instrument or document evidencing all or any part of such
other Borrower's Liabilities and of all other circumstances bearing upon the
risk of nonpayment by such other Borrowers of their Liabilities and each
Borrower agrees that neither Collateral Agent nor Lender shall have any duty to
advise such Borrower of information known to Collateral Agent or Lender
regarding such condition or any such circumstances or to undertake any
investigation not a part of its regular business routine. If either Collateral
Agent or Lender, in its sole discretion, undertakes at any time or from time to
time to provide any such information to a Borrower, neither Collateral Agent nor
Lender shall be under any obligation to update any such information or to
provide any such information to such Borrower on any subsequent occasion.

     (d) Each of Collateral Agent and Lender is hereby authorized, without
notice or demand and without affecting the liability of a Borrower hereunder,
to, at any time and from time to time, (i) renew, extend, accelerate or
otherwise change the time for payment of, or other terms relating to a
Borrower's Liabilities or otherwise modify, amend or change the terms of any
promissory note or other agreement, document or instrument now or hereafter
executed by a Borrower and delivered to Collateral Agent or Lender; (ii) accept
partial payments on a Borrower's Liabilities; (iii) take and hold security or
collateral for the payment of a Borrower's Liabilities hereunder or for the
payment of any guaranties of a Borrower's Liabilities or other liabilities of a
Borrower and exchange, enforce, waive and release any such security or
collateral; (iv) apply such security or collateral and direct the order or
manner of sale thereof as either Collateral Agent or Lender, in its sole
discretion, may determine; and (v) settle, release, compromise, collect or
otherwise liquidate a Borrower's Liabilities and any security or collateral
therefor in any manner, without affecting or impairing the obligations of the
other Borrowers. Each of Collateral Agent and Lender shall have the exclusive
right to determine the time and manner of application of any payments or
credits, whether received from a Borrower or any other source, and such
determination shall be binding on such Borrower. All such payments and credits
may be applied, reversed and reapplied, in whole or in part, to any of a
Borrower's Liabilities as


                                       -46-

<PAGE>

either Collateral Agent or Lender shall determine in its sole discretion without
affecting the validity or enforceability of the Liabilities of the other
Borrowers.

     (e) Each Borrower hereby agrees that, except as hereinafter provided, its
obligations hereunder shall be unconditional, irrespective of (i) the absence of
any attempt to collect a Borrower's Liabilities from any Borrower or any
guarantor or other action to enforce the same; (ii) the waiver or consent by
either Collateral Agent or Lender with respect to any provision of any
instrument evidencing Borrowers' Liabilities, or any part thereof, or any other
agreement heretofore, now or hereafter executed by a Borrower and delivered to
either Collateral Agent or Lender; (iii) failure by either Collateral Agent or
Lender to take any steps to perfect and maintain its security interest in, or to
preserve its rights to, any security or collateral for Borrowers' Liabilities;
(iv) the institution of any proceeding under the Bankruptcy Code, or any similar
proceeding, by or against a Borrower or either Collateral Agent's or Lender's
election in any such proceeding of the application of Section 1111(b)(2) of the
Bankruptcy Code; (v) any borrowing or grant of a security interest by any
Borrower as debtor-in-possession, under Section 364 of the Bankruptcy Code; (vi)
the disallowance, under Section 502 of the Bankruptcy Code, of all or any
portion of Collateral Agent's or Lender's claim(s) for repayment of any of
Borrowers' Liabilities; or (vii) any other circumstance which might otherwise
constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a guarantor.

     (f) No payment made by or for the account of a Borrower including, without
limitations, (i) a payment made by such Borrower on behalf of another Borrower's
Liabilities or (ii) a payment made by any other person under any guaranty, shall
entitle such Borrower, by subrogation or otherwise, to any payment from such
other Borrower or from or out of such other Borrower's property and such
Borrower shall not exercise any right or remedy against such other Borrower or
any property of such other Borrower by reason of any performance of such
Borrower of its joint and several obligations hereunder.

     19. INDEMNIFICATION.

     Each Borrower agrees to defend (with counsel satisfactory to Collateral
Agent and Lender), protect, indemnify and hold harmless Collateral Agent and
Lender, each affiliate or subsidiary of Collateral Agent and/or Lender, and each
of their respective officers, directors, employees, attorneys and agents (each
an "Indemnified Party") from and against any and all liabilities, obligations,
losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, claims, costs, expenses
and disbursements of any kind or nature (including, without limitation, the
disbursements and the reasonable fees of counsel for each Indemnified Party in
connection with any investigative, administrative or judicial proceeding,
whether or not the Indemnified Party shall be designated a party thereto), which
may be imposed on, incurred by, or asserted against, any Indemnified Party
(whether direct, indirect or consequential and whether based on any federal,
state or local laws or regulations, including, without limitation, securities
laws and regulations, Environmental Laws and commercial laws and regulations,
under common law or in equity, or based on contract or otherwise) in any manner
relating to or arising out of this Agreement or any Other Agreement, or any act,
event or transaction related or attendant thereto, the making or issuance and
the management


                                       -47-

<PAGE>

of the Loans or any Letters of Credit or the use or intended use of the proceeds
of the Loans or any Letters of Credit; provided, however, that no Borrower shall
have any obligation hereunder to any Indemnified Party with respect to matters
caused by or resulting from the willful misconduct or gross negligence of such
Indemnified Party. To the extent that the undertaking to indemnify set forth in
the preceding sentence may be unenforceable because it is violative of any law
or public policy, each Borrower shall satisfy such undertaking to the maximum
extent permitted by applicable law. Any liability, obligation, loss, damage,
penalty, cost or expense covered by this indemnity shall be paid to each
Indemnified Party on demand, and, failing prompt payment, shall, together with
interest thereon at the highest rate then applicable to Loans hereunder from the
date incurred by each Indemnified Party until paid by Borrowers, be added to the
Liabilities of Borrowers and be secured by the Collateral. The provisions of
this Section 18 shall survive the satisfaction and payment of the other
Liabilities and the termination of this Agreement.

     20. NOTICE.

     All written notices and other written communications with respect to this
Agreement shall be sent by ordinary, certified or overnight mail, by telecopy or
delivered in person, and in the case of Collateral Agent or Lender shall be sent
to it at Two Honey Creek Corporate Center, 115 South 84th Street, Suite 220,
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53214, attention: Dale Grzenia, facsimile number: (414)
256-5099, and in the case of Borrowers shall be sent to it at its principal
place of business set forth on Exhibit A hereto or as otherwise directed by
Borrowers in writing. All notices shall be deemed received upon actual receipt
thereof or refusal of delivery.

     21. CHOICE OF GOVERNING LAW; CONSTRUCTION; FORUM SELECTION.

     This Agreement and the Other Agreements are submitted by Borrowers to
Collateral Agent and Lender for Collateral Agent's and Lender's acceptance or
rejection at Lender's principal place of business in Chicago, Illinois as an
offer by Borrowers to borrow monies from Lender now and from time to time
hereafter, and shall not be binding upon Collateral Agent and Lender or become
effective until accepted by Collateral Agent and Lender, in writing, at said
place of business. If so accepted by Collateral Agent and Lender, this Agreement
and the Other Agreements shall be deemed to have been made at said place of
business. THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER AGREEMENTS SHALL BE GOVERNED AND
CONTROLLED BY THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS AS TO INTERPRETATION,
ENFORCEMENT, VALIDITY, CONSTRUCTION, EFFECT, AND IN ALL OTHER RESPECTS,
INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, THE LEGALITY OF THE INTEREST RATE AND OTHER
CHARGES, BUT EXCLUDING PERFECTION OF THE SECURITY INTERESTS IN COLLATERAL
LOCATED OUTSIDE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, WHICH SHALL BE GOVERNED AND CONTROLLED
BY THE LAWS OF THE RELEVANT JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH COLLATERAL IS LOCATED. If
any provision of this Agreement shall be held to be prohibited by or invalid
under applicable law, such provision shall be ineffective only to the extent of
such


                                       -48-

<PAGE>

prohibition or invalidity, without invalidating the remainder of such provision
or remaining provisions of this Agreement.

     To induce Collateral Agent and Lender to accept this Agreement, each
Borrower irrevocably agrees that, subject to Collateral Agent's and Lender's
sole and absolute election, ALL ACTIONS OR PROCEEDINGS IN ANY WAY, MANNER OR
RESPECT, ARISING OUT OF OR FROM OR RELATED TO THIS AGREEMENT, THE OTHER
AGREEMENTS OR THE COLLATERAL SHALL BE LITIGATED IN COURTS HAVING SITUS WITHIN
THE CITY OF CHICAGO, STATE OF ILLINOIS. EACH BORROWER HEREBY CONSENTS AND
SUBMITS TO THE JURISDICTION OF ANY LOCAL, STATE OR FEDERAL COURTS LOCATED WITHIN
SAID CITY AND STATE. Each Borrower hereby irrevocably appoints and designates
the Secretary of State of Illinois, whose address is Springfield, Illinois (or
any other person having and maintaining a place of business in such state whom
such Borrower may from time to time hereafter designate upon ten (10) days
written notice to Collateral Agent and Lender and whom Collateral Agent and
Lender have agreed in their sole discretion in writing is satisfactory and who
has executed an agreement in form and substance satisfactory to Collateral Agent
and Lender agreeing to act as such attorney and agent), as such Borrower's true
and lawful attorney and duly authorized agent for acceptance of service of legal
process; provided that Collateral Agent and/or Lender first diligently attempt
to serve such Borrower. Each Borrower agrees that service of such process upon
such person shall constitute personal service of such process upon such
Borrower. EACH BORROWER HEREBY WAIVES ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO TRANSFER OR
CHANGE THE VENUE OF ANY LITIGATION BROUGHT AGAINST SUCH BORROWER BY LENDER IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THIS SECTION.

     22. MODIFICATION AND BENEFIT OF AGREEMENT.

     This Agreement and the Other Agreements may not be modified, altered or
amended except by an agreement in writing signed by each Borrower or such other
person who is a party to such Other Agreement and Lender. No Borrower may sell,
assign or transfer this Agreement, or the Other Agreements or any portion
thereof, including, without limitation, such Borrower's rights, titles,
interest, remedies, powers or duties hereunder and thereunder. Each Borrower
hereby consents to Collateral Agent's and Lender's sale, assignment, transfer or
other disposition, at any time and from time to time hereafter, of this
Agreement, or the Other Agreements, or of any portion thereof, or participations
therein, including, without limitation, Collateral Agent's and Lender's rights,
titles, interest, remedies, powers and/or duties and agrees that it shall
execute and deliver such documents as Collateral Agent and Lender may request in
connection with any such sale, assignment, transfer or other disposition.

     23. HEADINGS OF SUBDIVISIONS.

     The headings of subdivisions in this Agreement are for convenience of
reference only, and shall not govern the interpretation of any of the provisions
of this Agreement.


                                       -49-

<PAGE>

     24. POWER OF ATTORNEY.

     Each Borrower acknowledges and agrees that its appointment of each of
Collateral Agent and Lender as its attorney and agent-in-fact for the purposes
specified in this Agreement is an appointment coupled with an interest and shall
be irrevocable until all of the Liabilities are satisfied and paid in full and
this Agreement is terminated.

     25. CONFIDENTIALITY.

     Each Borrower, Collateral Agent and Lender hereby agree and acknowledge
that any and all information relating to such Borrower which is (i) furnished by
such Borrower to Collateral Agent or Lender (or to any affiliate of Collateral
Agent or Lender); and (ii) non-public, confidential or proprietary in nature,
shall be kept confidential by Collateral Agent and Lender or such affiliate in
accordance with applicable law; provided, however, that such information and
other credit information relating to such Borrower may be distributed by
Collateral Agent or Lender or such affiliate to Collateral Agent's or Lender's
or such affiliate's directors, officers, employees, attorneys, affiliates,
assignees, participants (provided such assignees and/or participants have agreed
to keep such information confidential to the extent provided in this Section
25), auditors, agents and regulators, and upon the order of a court or other
governmental agency having jurisdiction over Collateral Agent or Lender or such
affiliate, to any other party. Each Borrower, Collateral Agent and Lender
further agree that this provision shall survive the termination of this
Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, each Borrower hereby consents to
Lender publishing a tombstone or similar advertising material relating to the
financing transaction contemplated by this Agreement.

     26. COUNTERPARTS.

     This Agreement and any amendments, waivers, consents or supplements may be
executed in any number of counterparts and by different parties hereto in
separate counterparts, each of which, when so executed and delivered, shall be
deemed an original, but all of which counterparts together shall constitute but
one agreement.

     27. ELECTRONIC SUBMISSIONS.

     Upon not less than thirty (30) days' prior written notice (the "Approved
Electronic Form Notice"), Lender may permit or require that any of the
documents, certificates, forms, deliveries or other communications, authorized,
required or contemplated by this Agreement or the Other Agreements, be submitted
to Lender in "Approved Electronic Form" (as hereafter defined), subject to any
reasonable terms, conditions and requirements in the applicable Approved
Electronic Forms Notice; provided, that if Borrowers' computer systems are
unable to produce such documents in Approved Electronic Form, Borrowers shall
not be required to do so; provided, further, Borrowers shall cooperate with
Lender in attempting to enable Borrowers' computer systems to produce such
documents in Approved Electronic Form. For purposes hereof "Electronic Form"
means e-mail, e-mail attachments, data submitted on web-based forms or any other
communication


                                       -50-

<PAGE>

method that delivers machine readable data or information to Lender, and
"Approved Electronic Form" means an Electronic Form that has been approved in
writing by Lender (which approval has not been revoked or modified by Lender)
and sent to Borrowers in an Approved Electronic Form Notice. Except as otherwise
specifically provided in the applicable Approved Electronic Form Notice, any
submissions made in an applicable Approved Electronic Form shall have the same
force and effect that the same submissions would have had if they had been
submitted in any other applicable form authorized, required or contemplated by
this Agreement or the Other Agreements.

     28. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL; OTHER WAIVERS.

     (a) EACH BORROWER, COLLATERAL AGENT AND LENDER EACH HEREBY WAIVES ALL
RIGHTS TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING WHICH PERTAINS DIRECTLY OR
INDIRECTLY TO THIS AGREEMENT, ANY OF THE OTHER AGREEMENTS, THE LIABILITIES, THE
COLLATERAL, ANY ALLEGED TORTIOUS CONDUCT BY A BORROWER OR LENDER OR WHICH, IN
ANY WAY, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, ARISES OUT OF OR RELATES TO THE RELATIONSHIP
BETWEEN A BORROWER AND COLLATERAL AGENT AND/OR LENDER. IN NO EVENT SHALL
COLLATERAL AGENT OR LENDER BE LIABLE FOR LOST PROFITS OR OTHER SPECIAL OR
CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES.

     (b) Each Borrower hereby waives demand, presentment, protest and notice of
nonpayment, and further waives the benefit of all valuation, appraisal and
exemption laws.

     (c) Each Borrower hereby waives the benefit of any law that would otherwise
restrict or limit Collateral Agent or Lender or any affiliate of Collateral
Agent or Lender in the exercise of its right, which is hereby acknowledged and
agreed to, to set-off against the Liabilities, without notice at any time
hereafter, any indebtedness, matured or unmatured, owing by Collateral Agent or
Lender or such affiliate of Collateral Agent or Lender to Borrower, including,
without limitation any deposit account at Collateral Agent or Lender or such
affiliate.

     (d) EACH BORROWER HEREBY WAIVES ALL RIGHTS TO NOTICE AND HEARING OF ANY
KIND PRIOR TO THE EXERCISE BY COLLATERAL AGENT OF ITS RIGHTS TO REPOSSESS THE
COLLATERAL OF SUCH BORROWER WITHOUT JUDICIAL PROCESS OR TO REPLEVY, ATTACH OR
LEVY UPON SUCH COLLATERAL.

     (e) Collateral Agent's or Lender's failure, at any time or times hereafter,
to require strict performance by a Borrower of any provision of this Agreement
or any of the Other Agreements shall not waive, affect or diminish any right of
Collateral Agent or Lender thereafter to demand strict compliance and
performance therewith. Any suspension or waiver by Collateral Agent or Lender of
an Event of Default under this Agreement or any default under any of the Other
Agreements shall not suspend, waive or affect any other Event of Default under
this Agreement or any other default under any of the Other Agreements,


                                       -51-

<PAGE>

whether the same is prior or subsequent thereto and whether of the same or of a
different kind or character. No delay on the part of Collateral Agent or Lender
in the exercise of any right or remedy under this Agreement or any Other
Agreement shall preclude other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of
any right or remedy. None of the undertakings, agreements, warranties, covenants
and representations of Borrowers contained in this Agreement or any of the Other
Agreements and no Event of Default under this Agreement or default under any of
the Other Agreements shall be deemed to have been suspended or waived by
Collateral Agent or Lender unless such suspension or waiver is in writing,
signed by a duly authorized officer of Collateral Agent or Lender and directed
to Borrowers specifying such suspension or waiver.


                                       -52-

<PAGE>

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have duly executed this Agreement as
of the date first written above.

NUMATICS, INCORPORATED                      LASALLE BUSINESS CREDIT, INC.,
                                            individually and as Collateral Agent

By /s/ John H. Welker
  ------------------------------------

Title Chairman, President, and              By /s/ Dale P. Grzenia
      Chief Executive Officer                 ----------------------------------
     ---------------------------------      Title  Vice President
                                                 -------------------------------
MICRO-FILTRATION, INC.


By /s/ John H. Welker
  ----------------------------------------

Title Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
     -------------------------------------

NUMATION, INC.


By /s/ John. H. Welker
  ----------------------------------------

Title Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
     -------------------------------------


NUMATECH, INC.


By /s/ John. H. Welker
  ----------------------------------------

Title Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
     -------------------------------------


ULTRA AIR PRODCUTS, INC.


By /s/ John. H. Welker
  ----------------------------------------

Title Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
     -------------------------------------


MICROSMITH, INC.


By /s/ John. H. Welker
  ----------------------------------------

Title Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
     -------------------------------------


EMPIRE AIR SYSTEMS, INC.


By /s/ John. H. Welker
  ----------------------------------------

Title Authorized Signatory
     -------------------------------------



                                       -53-