Document:

exv10w27

 

Exhibit 10.27

KNOWLES ELECTRONICS HOLDINGS, INC.

SEVENTH AMENDMENT TO CREDIT AGREEMENT AND

SECOND AMENDMENT TO SECURITY AGREEMENT

     This SEVENTH AMENDMENT TO CREDIT AGREEMENT AND SECOND AMENDMENT TO
SECURITY AGREEMENT (this “Amendment”) is dated as of April 8, 2004 and entered
into by and among KNOWLES ELECTRONICS HOLDINGS, INC. (f/k/a Knowles
Electronics, Inc.), a Delaware corporation (“Parent Borrower”), THE FINANCIAL
INSTITUTIONS LISTED ON THE SIGNATURE PAGES HEREOF (“Lenders”), JPMORGAN CHASE
BANK (successor to The Chase Manhattan Bank), as agent for Lenders
(“Administrative Agent”), and, for purposes of Sections 2, 5 and 6 hereof, the
Loan Parties (as defined in Section 5 hereof) listed on the signature pages
hereof, and is made with reference to that certain Credit Agreement dated as of
June 28, 1999, as amended and restated as of July 21, 1999 (as amended,
restated, supplemented or otherwise modified as of the date hereof, the “Credit
Agreement”), by and among Parent Borrower, Lenders, Administrative Agent, and
Morgan Stanley Senior Funding, Inc., as Syndication Agent. Capitalized terms
used herein without definition shall have the same meanings herein as set forth
in the Credit Agreement.

RECITALS

     WHEREAS, Parent Borrower and Lenders desire to amend the Credit Agreement
to (i) provide for Tranche D Term Loans in an aggregate principal amount of
$48,000,000 and refinance Tranche C Term Loans with Tranche D Term Loans, and
(ii) amend the Credit Agreement in certain other respects, all as more
specifically set forth below.

     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the agreements,
provisions and covenants herein contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:

Section 1. AMENDMENTS TO THE CREDIT AGREEMENT

1.1 Amendments to Article I: Definitions

     A. Section 1.01 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by adding
thereto the following definitions, which shall be inserted in proper
alphabetical order:

“Financing Fee Write-Offs” means non-cash charges relating to the
write-off of deferred financing fees in connection with the repayment of
the Tranche C Term Loans.

“Net Worth” means, as at any date of determination, the sum of the
capital stock and additional paid-in capital plus retained earnings (or
minus accumulated deficits) of any Foreign Subsidiary and its
subsidiaries on a consolidated basis determined in conformity with GAAP.

 

 

“Seventh Amendment” means the Seventh Amendment to Credit Agreement and
Second Amendment to Security Agreement, dated as of April 8, 2004, among
Parent Borrower, the Lenders, Administrative Agent and the other Loan
Parties party thereto.

“Seventh Amendment Effective Date” has the meaning set forth in the
Seventh Amendment.

“Tranche D Commitment” means, with respect to each Lender, the
commitment, if any, of such Lender to make a Tranche D Term Loan on the
Seventh Amendment Effective Date, expressed as an amount representing the
maximum principal amount of the Tranche D Term Loan to be held by such
Lender hereunder immediately after funding such amounts, as such
commitment may be (a) reduced from time to time pursuant to Section 2.08
and (b) reduced or increased from time to time pursuant to assignments by
or to such Lender pursuant to Section 9.04. The initial amount of each
Lender’s Tranche D Commitment is set forth on Schedule 2.01. The initial
aggregate amount of the Lenders’ Tranche D Commitments is $48,000,000.

“Tranche D Lender” means a Lender with a Tranche D Commitment or an
outstanding Tranche D Term Loan.

“Tranche D Maturity Date” means June 29, 2007, or if such day is not a
Business Day, the next preceding Business Day.

“Tranche D Term Loan” means a Loan made pursuant to clause (e) of Section
2.01.

     B. Section 1.01 of the Credit Agreement is hereby further amended by
deleting each of the definitions of “Class”, “Commitment”, “Consolidated
EBITDA”, “Intercreditor Agreement”, “Lenders”, “Term Borrowing”, and “Term
Loans” in their entirety and substituting therefor the following:

“Class”, when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to
whether such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, are Domestic
Revolving Loans, Multicurrency Revolving Loans, Tranche A Term Loans,
Tranche B Term Loans, Tranche C Term Loans, Tranche D Term Loans or
Swingline Loans and, when used in reference to any Commitment, refers to
whether such Commitment is a Domestic Revolving Commitment, Multicurrency
Revolving Commitment, Tranche A Commitment, Tranche B Commitment, Tranche
C Commitment or Tranche D Commitment.

“Commitment” means a Domestic Revolving Commitment, Multicurrency
Revolving Commitment, Tranche A Commitment, Tranche B Commitment, Tranche
C Commitment or Tranche D Commitment or any combination thereof (as the
context requires).

“Consolidated EBITDA” means, for any period, Consolidated Net Income for
such period plus (a) without duplication and to the extent deducted in
determining such Consolidated Net Income, the sum of (i) consolidated
interest expense for such

2

 

period, (ii) consolidated tax expenses for income taxes and taxes in the
nature of income taxes for such period, (iii) all amounts attributable to
depreciation and amortization for such period and, (iv) any extraordinary
non-cash charges for such period, (v) for all purposes other than the
calculation of the Leverage Ratio for purposes of determining the
Applicable Rate, cash restructuring charges taken in 2003, 2004 and 2005
in an aggregate amount not to exceed $7,500,000 in connection with
nonrecurring restructuring of overhead costs, (vii) non-cash charges
relating to the sale of Ruf Electronics Gmbh, SSPI Sale and the Ruwido
Sale (including any loss relating to the Ruwido Sale), (vi) all
reasonable costs, fees and expenses in connection with the Seventh
Amendment (including without limitation, fees of counsel and any amounts
in the nature of a commitment fee or financing fee due and owing in
connection with the Seventh Amendment) and any prepayment penalties or
fees resulting from a repayment of the Tranche C Term Loans prior to the
Tranche C Maturity Date pursuant to Section 2.11(h) of the Credit
Agreement as in effect immediately prior to the Seventh Amendment
Effective Date, and (vii) any Financing Fee Write-Offs, minus (b) without
duplication and to the extent included in determining such Consolidated
Net Income, any extraordinary gains for such period including gains (net
of any and all fees and expenses) relating to the SSPI Sale, all
determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.

“Intercreditor Agreement” means the Intercreditor Agreement, dated as of
April 8, 2004, among the Parent Borrower, the Subsidiaries of the Parent
Borrower listed on the signature pages thereto, JPMorgan Chase Bank, as
Administrative Agent and collateral agent, and the Tranche D Lenders.

“Lenders” means the Persons listed on Schedule 2.01 and any other Person
that shall have become a party hereto pursuant to an Assignment and
Acceptance, other than any such Person that ceases to be a party hereto
pursuant to an Assignment and Acceptance; provided, that on and after the
Seventh Amendment Effective Date, Tranche C Lenders shall cease to be a
“Lender” and a party hereto but shall continue to be entitled to the
benefits of Sections 2.15, 2.16, 2.17 and 9.03. Unless the context
otherwise requires, the term “Lenders” includes the Swingline Lender.

“Term Borrowing” means a Tranche A Term Loan Borrowing, a Tranche B Term
Loan Borrowing, a Tranche C Term Loan Borrowing or a Tranche D Term Loan
Borrowing.

“Term Loans” means (i) Tranche A Term Loans, (ii) Tranche B Term Loans,
(iii) after the Fifth Amendment Effective Date, Tranche C Term Loans and
(iv) after the Seventh Amendment Effective Date, Tranche D Term Loans.

     C. The definition of “Applicable Rate” is hereby amended by (i)
deleting the reference to “for any day with respect to any ABR Loan or
Eurodollar Loan” in the first sentence thereof; and (ii) substituting
therefor the following:

3

 

“for any ABR Tranche D Term Loan, 6.25%, for any Eurodollar Tranche
D Term Loan, 7.25%, and for any day with respect to any other ABR
Loan or Eurodollar Loan”

     D. The definition of “Excess Cash Flow” is hereby amended by adding after
the word “charges” in clause (b) thereof:

“(excluding Financing Fee Write-Offs)”

1.2 Amendments to Article II: The Credits

     A. Section 2.01 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by (i)
deleting the “and” at the end of clause (c) thereof and substituting therefor
“,” and (ii) adding at the end of clause (d) thereof the following:

“and (e) to make a Tranche D Term Loans to the Parent
Borrower on the Seventh Amendment Effective Date in a
principal amount equal to its Tranche D Commitment.”

     B. Section 2.02(d) of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by (i)
deleting the word “or” before the reference to “Tranche B Maturity Date” and
substituting therefor “,” and (ii) adding the following after the reference
to “Tranche B Maturity Date”:

“or the Tranche D Maturity Date”

     C. Section 2.03 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by (i)
deleting the word “or” before the reference to “(b)” thereof, and (ii) adding
the following new clause (c) immediately after the end of clause (b) thereof:

“or (c) in the case of Tranche D Term Loan Borrowing,
not later than noon, New York City time, the date of
the proposed Borrowing”

     D. Section 2.03 of the Credit Agreement is hereby further amended by
deleting clause (i) and substituting therefor the following:

“(i) whether the requested Borrowing is to be a
Domestic Revolving Borrowing, a Tranche A Term Loan
Borrowing, Tranche B Term Loan Borrowing, Tranche C
Term Loan Borrowing or Tranche D Term Loan Borrowing;”

     E. Section 2.06(b) of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by (i)
uncapitalizing the word “Unless”, and (ii) adding the following prior to the
word “Unless”:

“Other than in the case of a Tranche D Term Loan
Borrowing,”

4

 

     F. Section 2.08(a) of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by (i)
deleting the word “and” at the end of clause (ii) thereof and substituting
therefor “,“and (ii) adding at the end of clause (iii) thereof the following:

“and (iv) the Tranche D Commitments shall terminate at
5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the Seventh
Amendment Effective Date”

     G. Section 2.10(c) of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by (i)
deleting the word “and” at the end of clause (ii) thereof and substituting
therefor “,” and (ii) adding at the end of clause (iii) thereof the
following:

“and (iv) all Tranche D Term Loans shall be due and
payable on the Tranche D Maturity Date”

     H. Section 2.10(d) of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by adding
the following at the end thereof:

“For the avoidance of doubt, immediately upon the
application of the proceeds of the Tranche D Term
Loans to prepay Tranche C Term Loans pursuant to
Section 2.11(e) and Section 5.11, the sole Term Loans
remaining outstanding shall be Tranche B Term Loans
and Tranche D Term Loans.”

     I. Section 2.11(e) of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by deleting
it in its entirety and substituting therefor the following:

“(e) Prior to any optional or mandatory prepayment of
Borrowings hereunder, the applicable Borrower shall
select the Borrowing or Borrowings to be prepaid and
shall specify such selection in the notice of such
prepayment pursuant to paragraph (f) of this Section.
In the event of any optional or mandatory prepayment
of Term Borrowings made after the Seventh Amendment
Effective Date pursuant to Section 2.11 at a time when
Tranche B Term Loans and Tranche D Term Loans remain
outstanding, the aggregate amount of such prepayment
shall be applied first to the prepayment of Tranche B
Term Loans to the full extent thereof and second to
the prepayment of Tranche D Term Loans to the full
extent thereof, provided that any Tranche B Lender may
elect, by notice to the Administrative Agent by
telephone (confirmed by telecopy) at least one
Business Day prior to the prepayment date, to decline
all or any portion of any prepayment of its Tranche B
Term Loans pursuant to this Section (other than an
optional prepayment pursuant to paragraph (a) of this
Section, which may not be declined), in which case the
aggregate amount of the prepayment that would have
been applied to

5

 

prepay Tranche B Term Loans but was so declined shall,
subject to Section 2.11(h), be applied to the
prepayment of Tranche B Term Loans of those Tranche B
Lenders that have not declined their portion of such
prepayment pro rata based on the aggregate principal
amount of outstanding Tranche B Term Loans of each
such Tranche B Lender. To the extent that all Tranche
B Lenders elect to decline prepayment of the Tranche B
Term Loans, the aggregate amount of the prepayment
that would have been applied to prepay Tranche B Term
Loans but was so declined shall, subject to Section
2.11(h), be applied to the prepayment of Tranche D
Term Loans. Any optional or mandatory prepayment of
Tranche B Term Loans made pursuant to Section 2.11
shall be applied first to the prepayment of the
outstanding portion of the Success Fee Principal
Amount and second to the prepayment of the remaining
outstanding portion of Tranche B Term Loans (it being
understood by the parties that as of the effective
date of the SSPI Sale, the Success Fee Principal
Amount has been paid in full). Notwithstanding the
foregoing, (i) nothing in this provision shall be
construed to apply to the allocation of payments if
the Loans are accelerated pursuant to the terms of
this Agreement and (ii) the proceeds of Tranche D Term
Loans shall be applied by the Parent Borrower to
prepayment of all Tranche C Term Loans to the full
extent of such Tranche C Term Loans.”

     J. Section 2.11(h) of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by deleting
it in its entirety and substituting therefor the following:

“(h) Notwithstanding the foregoing, Parent Borrower
shall not have the right or obligation to prepay any
Tranche D Term Loan from the Seventh Amendment
Effective Date through and including June 29, 2005.
The aggregate amount of any prepayment pursuant to
Section 2.11(a), (c) or (d) that, but for this Section
2.11(h), would be applied by Parent Borrower to prepay
Tranche D Term Loans, shall be applied instead to
prepay Tranche B Term Loans. If any Tranche B Lender
elects to decline all or any portion of any such
prepayment of its Tranche B Terms Loans in accordance
with Section 2.11(e), the aggregate amount of the
prepayment that would have been applied to prepay
Tranche B Term Loans but was so declined may be
applied by Parent Borrower to any other purpose
otherwise permitted under this Agreement. If any
portion of the Tranche D Term Loans is prepaid
pursuant to Section 2.11(a) or pursuant to Section
2.11(c) as a result of a Prepayment Event occurring
upon either of the events described in clause (c) of
the definition of “Prepayment Event”

6

 

or any issuance of Equity Securities described in
clause (d) of the definition of “Prepayment Event” (i)
after June 29, 2005 but on or prior to June 29, 2006,
then Parent Borrower shall pay to Administrative
Agent, for ratable distribution to the Tranche D
Lenders, a fee equal to 2% of the Tranche D Term Loans
so prepaid, and (ii) after June 29, 2006 but prior to
June 29, 2007, then Parent Borrower shall pay to
Administrative Agent, for ratable distribution to the
Tranche D Lenders, a fee equal to 1% of the Tranche D
Term Loans so prepaid.”

     K. Clause (y) of the first sentence of Section 2.12(e) of the Credit
Agreement is hereby amended by inserting the following at the end of such
clause:

“(it being understood by the parties that as of the
effective date of the SSPI Sale, the Success Fee
Principal Amount has been paid in full)”

     L. Section 2.12(a) of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by adding
the following at the end of the first sentence thereof:

“or any Tranche D Commitment”.

     M. Section 2.13(c) of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by adding
at the end thereof the following new sentence:

“Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an
Event of Default, (x) the provisions of the first
sentence of this Section 2.13(c) shall not apply with
respect to any overdue amounts in respect of the
Tranche D Term Loans, and (y) the per annum interest
rate otherwise applicable to the Tranche D Term Loans
shall increase by 3%”

     N. Section 2.13(d) of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by (i)
deleting clause (iv) contained therein, and (ii) substituting therefor the
following:

“(iv) all interest payable pursuant to this Agreement on the
Revolving Loan Borrowings, Tranche B Term Loan Borrowings, Tranche
D Term Loan Borrowings shall be payable in cash, including interest
due pursuant to Section 2.13(c).”

1.3 Amendments to Article III: Representations and Warranties

     A. Section 3.04(d) of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by deleting
the date “December 31, 2002” contained therein and substituting therefor the
date “December 31, 2003”.

7

 

     B. Section 3.10 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by the
deleting each reference to “$12,000,000” contained therein and substituting
the figure “$15,000,000” therefor.

1.4 Amendment to Article IV: Conditions

     A. Section 4.01 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by adding in
the second parenthetical at the end of the first sentence thereof the
following:

“or the obligation of the Tranche D Lenders to make
Tranche D Term Loans”.

     B. Section 4.02 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by adding in
the parenthetical at the end of the first sentence thereof the following:

“or the obligation of the Tranche D Lenders to make
Tranche D Term Loans”.

1.5 Amendment to Article V: Affirmative Covenants

     A. Section 5.09 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by (i)
deleting the second proviso contained therein, and (ii) substituting it with
the following:

“; provided further, however, that with respect to the
initial Tranche D Lenders as of the Seventh Amendment
Effective Date, the foregoing limitation on the number
of visits or inspections in any fiscal year shall be
increased to an aggregate of twelve visits or
inspections for such initial Tranche D Lenders as a
whole”.

     B. Section 5.11 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by adding in
the parenthetical in the first sentence therefore the following:

“and Tranche D Term Loans”

     C. Section 5.11 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by adding
after the second sentence therefor the following:

“The proceeds of the Tranche D Term Loans will be used
to prepay the Tranche C Term Loans on the Seventh
Amendment Effective Date as set forth in Section
2.11(e) and the payment of fees and expenses payable
in connection therewith; provided, that in the event
the total proceeds of the Tranche D Term Loans exceed
those required for such prepayment and payment of such
fees and expenses, Parent Borrower may use such excess
proceeds for general corporate purposes.”

8

 

     D. Section 5.12 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by adding
before the “.” at the end thereof the following:

“provided, that, in the event that either: (i) the Net
Worth of any Foreign Subsidiary formed or acquired
after the Effective Date exceeds $3,000,000 at any
time (the “Net Worth Threshold”), or (ii) any Loan
Party makes, after the Seventh Amendment Effective
Date, any loan or advance to or investment in Equity
Interests of any such Foreign Subsidiary or subsidiary
thereof which, together with all other such loans,
advances and investments made after the Seventh
Amendment Effective Date to such Foreign Subsidiary
and any subsidiary thereof exceeds $2,000,000 in the
aggregate (the “Investment Limit”), then (x) no later
than 5 Business Days after the date the Net Worth
Threshold or Investment Limit is exceeded, as
applicable, the Parent Borrower shall provide written
notice to Administrative Agent of the amount of such
excess and the names of the applicable subsidiaries,
and (y) unless waived by Administrative Agent in
writing in its sole discretion, no later than 90 days
(which date may be extended by the Administrative
Agent in writing in its sole and reasonable
discretion) after the date the Net Worth Threshold or
Investment is exceeded, as applicable, the Parent
Borrower shall, or shall cause such Loan Party to,
subject to Section 5.13, take all actions and execute
such documents and instruments (including pursuant to
the laws of the jurisdiction of formation of such
Foreign Subsidiary) to grant to the Administrative
Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders, subject to any
limitations under applicable law, a first priority
perfected security interest in the capital stock of
such Foreign Subsidiary held by such Loan Party and
Indebtedness owing to any Loan Party by such Foreign
Subsidiary and to obtain a legal opinion addressed to
Administrative Agent and Lenders as to the creation
and perfection of such security interest in the
jurisdiction of formation of such Foreign Subsidiary
and any other applicable jurisdiction in form and
substance reasonably satisfactory to Administrative
Agent (except that Parent Borrower and the Subsidiary
Loan Parties shall not be required to pledge more than
65% of the outstanding stock of any Foreign Subsidiary
that is not a Loan Party to the extent that the pledge
of any greater percentage could result in adverse tax
consequences to any Loan Party)”

9

 

1.6 Amendment to Article VI: Negative Covenants

     A. Section 6.04(d)(ii) of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by
adding (i) before the words “in the reasonable judgment of senior management”
a reference to “(A)”, and (ii) adding the following at the end thereof:

“, and (B) the Administrative Agent gives its prior
written consent if the amount of the proposed
investment in any Subsidiary that is not a Subsidiary
Loan Party, together with the aggregate amount of cash
invested by Parent Borrower and the other Loan Parties
in such Subsidiary after the Seventh Amendment
Effective Date, exceeds $500,000.”

     B. Section 6.12 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by deleting
the table contained therein in its entirety and substituting therefor the
following:

	 	 	 
	December 31, 2003 – September 30, 2004

	 	1.15:1.00
	December 31, 2004 — September 30, 2005

	 	1.25:1.00
	December 31, 2005 – September 30, 2006

	 	1.35:1.00
	December 31, 2006 and thereafter

	 	1.45:1.00

     C. Section 6.13 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by deleting
the table contained therein in its entirety and substituting therefor the
following:

	 	 	 
	December 31, 2003 – September 30, 2004

	 	6.75:1.00
	December 31, 2004 – September 30, 2005

	 	6.50:1.00
	December 31, 2005-September 30, 2006

	 	6.00:1.00
	December 31, 2006 and thereafter

	 	5.50:1.00

1.7 Modification and Substitution of Schedule

     A. Schedule 2.01 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by adding
thereto the column labeled “Tranche D Loan Commitment” from Annex A to this
Amendment.

Section 2. AMENDMENTS TO BORROWER SECURITY AGREEMENT

	2.1	 	Section 1.02 of the Security Agreement is hereby amended by adding
thereto the following definition, which shall be inserted in proper
alphabetical order:

10

 

“Revised UCC” shall mean the revised Uniform
Commercial Code in effect in the State of New York as
of the Seventh Amendment Effective Date.

	2.2	 	Section 1.02 of the Security Agreement is herby further amended by (i)
deleting the word “and” at the end of clause (g) of the definition of
“Collateral” and substituting therefor “,”, and (ii) adding the following
after the end of clause (h) thereof:

“(i) all Records (as defined in the Revised UCC),

(j) all Documents (as defined in the Revised UCC),

(k) all Commercial Tort Claims, including those set
forth on Schedule VI (as defined in the Revised UCC),
and

(l) all Chattel Paper and Letter-of-Credit Rights and
other Supporting Obligations (as defined in the
Revised UCC).”

	2.3	 	Article III of the Security Agreement is hereby amended by inserting the
following new Section 3.05 at the end thereof:

“SECTION 3.05 Commercial Tort Claims. Grantor has no Commercial Tort
Claims (as defined in the Revised UCC) as of the Seventh Amendment
Effective Date, except as set forth on Schedule VI annexed hereto. In
the event that a Grantor shall at any time after the date hereof have any
Commercial Tort Claims, such Grantor shall promptly notify Administrative
Agent thereof in writing, which notice shall (i) set forth in reasonable
detail the basis for and nature of such Commercial Tort Claim (as defined
in the Revised UCC) and (ii) constitute an amendment to this Agreement by
which such Commercial Tort Claim (as defined in the Revised UCC) shall
constitute part of the Collateral.”

	2.4	 	The Security Agreement is hereby further amended by inserting a new
Schedule VI (Commercial Tort Claims) thereto in the form of Annex B
attached hereto.

Section 3. CONDITIONS TO EFFECTIVENESS

     Sections 1 and 2 of this Amendment shall become effective only upon the
prior or concurrent satisfaction of all of the following conditions precedent
(the date of satisfaction of such conditions being referred to herein as the
“Seventh Amendment Effective Date”); provided that the Seventh Amendment
Effective Date shall occur on or prior to April 15, 2004:

     A. On or before the Seventh Amendment Effective Date, each Loan Party
(as defined below) shall deliver to Tranche D Lenders and to the
Administrative Agent the following, each, unless otherwise noted, dated the
Seventh Amendment Effective Date:

	 	1.	 	Certified copies of its organizational documents, together
with a good standing certificate from the appropriate official of
its jurisdiction of

11

 

	 	 	 	organization, each dated a recent date prior to the Seventh
Amendment Effective Date;
	 
	 	2.	 	Copies of its Bylaws, certified as of the Seventh Amendment
Effective Date by its corporate secretary or an assistant secretary;
	 
	 	3.	 	Resolutions of its Board of Directors or other governing
body, as applicable, approving and authorizing the execution,
delivery, and performance of this Amendment, certified as of the
Seventh Amendment Effective Date by its corporate secretary or an
assistant secretary as being in full force and effect without
modification or amendment;
	 
	 	4.	 	Signature and incumbency certificates of its officers
executing this Amendment; and
	 
	 	5.	 	Counterparts of this Amendment executed by the parties
referred to in Section 5 hereof.

     B. All fees and expenses due and owing to the Tranche D Lenders, as
agreed to by Parent Borrower in writing, and all other amounts due and owing
to the Administrative Agent or the Lenders under the Credit Agreement shall
have been paid in full to the extent invoiced to the Parent Borrower prior to
the Seventh Amendment Effective Date.

     C. Administrative Agent shall have received for the benefit of each
Lender under the Credit Agreement as in effect immediately prior to the
Seventh Amendment Effective Date that executes and delivers to Administrative
Agent a counterpart to this Amendment on or prior to 12:00 Noon (EST) April
8, 2004 an amendment fee equal to 0.25% of the sum of (a) the aggregate
principal amount of such approving Lender’s Tranche B Loans and (b) such
approving Lender’s aggregate Revolving Commitments.

     D. Administrative Agent, the Lenders party to the Amended Credit
Agreement (as hereinafter defined) and their respective counsel shall have
received one or more favorable written opinions of one or more, counsel for
Parent Borrower and the other Loan Parties signatory hereto, in form and
substance reasonably satisfactory to Administrative Agent, the Tranche D
Lenders and their respective counsel, dated as of the Seventh Amendment
Effective Date.

     E. The Tranche D Lenders shall have received a fully executed or
conformed copy of each of the Loan Documents and all amendments thereto, and
each Loan Document shall be in full force and effect and no provision thereof
shall have been modified or waived in any respect (except by this Amendment
and by such other amendments delivered by Parent Borrower hereunder or under
the Loan Documents), and the Tranche D Lenders shall have received a
certificate of a duly authorized officer of Parent Borrower to such effect.

     F. All governmental and third party consents, approvals or withholding
of objections, necessary to implement the transactions contemplated by this
Amendment and to establish the Tranche D Term Loan facility, shall have been
obtained and be in full

12

 

force and effect, and the Tranche D Lenders shall have received any
available evidence thereof reasonably satisfactory to them.

     G. As of the Seventh Amendment Effective Date, since December 31, 2003,
there shall have been: (i) no material adverse change in the business,
operations, financial condition or prospects of the Loan Parties; (ii) no
litigation shall have been commenced which, if successful, would reasonably
be expected to have any such material adverse effect or would challenge any
of the transactions contemplated by this Amendment, (iii) no dividends or
other distributions to stockholders of the Parent Borrower, and (iv) no
material increase in liabilities, liquidated or contingent, and no material
decrease in assets, of the Loan Parties.

     H. Before and after giving effect to this Amendment, no Default or Event
of Default shall have occurred and be continuing and the Tranche D Lenders
shall have received a certificate of a duly authorized officer of Parent
Borrower to such effect;

     I. On or before the Seventh Amendment Effective Date, the Parent
Borrower shall provide to the Administrative Agent and the Tranche D Lenders
the results of a recent search by a person reasonably satisfactory to the
Tranche D Lenders, of all effective personal property financing statements,
fixture filings or other similar filings and all judgment and tax lien
filings which may have been made with respect to any personal or mixed
property of any Loan Party, together with copies of all such filings
disclosed by such search. The Parent Borrower will, and will cause each
Subsidiary to, execute any and all further documents, financing statements,
agreements and instruments, and take all such further actions (including
amendments to the Security Documents and the filing and recording of
financing statements, fixture filings, mortgages, deeds of trust and other
documents), which the Tranche D Lenders or their counsel may reasonably
request in writing in order to cause the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement
to be and remain satisfied, all at the expense of the Loan Parties.

     J. On or before the Seventh Amendment Effective Date, the Intercreditor
Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, substantially in the form attached
hereto as Annex C, shall have been executed by the parties thereto.

     K. On or before the Seventh Amendment Effective Date, all corporate and
other proceedings taken or to be taken in connection with the transactions
contemplated hereby and all documents incidental thereto not previously found
reasonably acceptable by Administrative Agent, acting on behalf of Lenders,
and its counsel shall be reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to
Administrative Agent, Tranche D Lenders and their respective counsel, and
Administrative Agent, Tranche D Lenders and such counsel shall have received
all such counterpart originals or certified copies of such documents as
Administrative Agent or Tranche D Lenders may reasonably request.

     L. Tranche D Lenders and the Administrative Agent shall have received a
copy of a fully-executed pay-off letter substantially in the form attached
hereto as Annex D (the “Payoff Letter”) among Administrative Agent, Parent
Borrower and Tranche C Lenders evidencing that the Tranche C Term Loans have
been paid in full and the Intercreditor

13

 

Agreement (as defined in the Credit Agreement in effect immediately
prior to the Seventh Amendment Effective Date) shall have been terminated,
which letter shall become effective concurrently with the Seventh Amendment
Effective Date.

     M. On or before the Seventh Amendment Effective Date, the Parent
Borrower shall have obtained a rating from Moody’s for the Tranche D Term
Loans.

     N. No later than five Business Days prior to the Seventh Amendment
Effective Date, the Tranche D Lenders shall have received, and as of the
Seventh Amendment Effective Date, the Tranche D Lenders shall have been
satisfied with (i) the audited financial statements of the Parent Borrower
and its Subsidiaries for the fiscal years 2002 and 2003, including balance
sheets, income and cash flow statements, audited by independent public
accountants of recognized national standing and prepared in conformity with
GAAP, together with such accountants’ report thereon (collectively,
“Financial Statements”), (ii) a pro forma balance sheet of the Loan Parties
as of the Closing Date after giving effect to the Seventh Amendment (“Pro
Forma Financial Statement”), and (iii) projected financial statements
(including balance sheets, income and cash flow statements) of the Loan
Parties for the period ending on December 31, 2006, with quarterly projected
financial statements through the period ending December 31, 2005 (the
“Projected Financial Statements”).

The parties hereto acknowledge and agree that, subject to the terms and
conditions of the Payoff Letter, on the Seventh Amendment Effective Date the
Intercreditor Agreement dated as of March 28, 2003 by and among the Parent
Borrower, the Subsidiaries of the Parent Borrower listed on the signature pages
thereto, the Tranche C Lenders and the Administrative Agent shall be terminated
and of no further force and effect.

Section 4. PARENT BORROWER’S REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

     In order to induce Lenders to enter into this Amendment and to amend the
Credit Agreement in the manner provided herein, Parent Borrower represents and
warrants to each Lender that the following statements are true, correct and
complete as of the Seventh Amendment Effective Date:

     A. Corporate Power and Authority. Parent Borrower and each other Loan
Party has all requisite corporate power and authority to carry on its
business as now conducted, to enter into this Amendment and to carry out the
transactions contemplated by, and perform its obligations under, the Credit
Agreement as amended by this Amendment (the “Amended Credit Agreement”) and
the Security Agreement, as amended by this Amendment (collectively, with the
Amended Credit Agreement, the “Amended Agreements”).

     B. Authorization of Agreements. The execution and delivery of this
Amendment, and the performance of the Amended Agreements have been duly
authorized by all necessary corporate and, if required, stockholder action on
the part of Parent Borrower and each other Loan Party signatory hereto.

14

 

     C. No Conflict. The execution and delivery by Parent Borrower and each
other Loan Party signatory hereto of this Amendment, the performance by
Parent Borrower and each other Loan Party signatory hereto of the Amended
Agreements and the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby do
not and will not (i) violate any applicable law or regulation or the charter,
by-laws or other organizational documents of the Parent Borrower or any of
the Subsidiaries or any order of any Governmental Authority, (ii) conflict
with, result in a default under any material indenture, agreement or other
instrument binding upon the Parent Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries or any
of their assets, or give rise to a right thereunder to require any material
payment to be made by the Parent Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries, (iii)
result in or require the creation or imposition of any Lien upon any of the
properties or assets of Parent Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries (other
than Liens created under any of the Loan Documents), or (iv) require any
approval or consent of any Person under any contractual obligation of Parent
Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries, except for such approvals or consents
which have been obtained on or before the Seventh Amendment Effective Date
and disclosed in writing to Lenders.

     D. Governmental Consents. The execution and delivery by Parent Borrower
and each other Loan Party of this Amendment and the performance by Parent
Borrower and each other Loan Party of the Amended Agreements do not require
any consent or approval of, registration or filing with, or any other action
by or before, any Governmental Authority, except such as have been obtained
or made and are in full force and effect prior to the Seventh Amendment
Effective Date and disclosed in writing to the Lenders.

     E. Binding Obligation. This Amendment and the Amended Agreements have
been duly executed and delivered by Parent Borrower and each other Loan Party
signatory hereto and are the legally valid and binding obligations of Parent
Borrower and each other Loan Party signatory hereto, enforceable against
Parent Borrower and each other Loan Party signatory hereto in accordance with
their respective terms, except as may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, moratorium or similar laws relating to or limiting creditors’
rights generally or by equitable principles relating to enforceability,
regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law.

     F. Solvency. Immediately after the consummation of the transactions to
occur on the Seventh Amendment Effective Date and immediately following the
making of the Tranche D Term Loan on the Seventh Amendment Effective Date and
after giving effect to the application of the proceeds of such Loans, (a) the
fair value of the assets of each Loan Party, at a fair valuation, will exceed
its debts and liabilities, subordinated, contingent or otherwise; (b) the
present fair saleable value of the property of each Loan Party will be
greater than the amount that will be required to pay the probable liability
of its debts and other liabilities, subordinated, contingent or otherwise, as
such debts and other liabilities become absolute and matured; (c) each Loan
Party will be able to pay its debts and liabilities, subordinated, contingent
or otherwise, as such debts and liabilities become absolute and matured; and
(d) no Loan Party will have unreasonably small capital with which to conduct
the business in which it is engaged as such business is now conducted and is
proposed to be conducted following the Seventh Amendment Effective Date.

15

 

     G. Incorporation of Representations and Warranties From Credit
Agreement. The representations and warranties contained in Article III of
the Credit Agreement (considered as if already amended by this Amendment) are
and will be true, correct and complete in all material respects on and as of
the Seventh Amendment Effective Date to the same extent as though made on and
as of that date, except to the extent such representations and warranties
specifically relate to an earlier date, in which case they were true, correct
and complete in all material respects on and as of such earlier date.

     H. Annual Report and Financial Statements. The Financial Statements
and Pro Forma Financial Statements were prepared in accordance with GAAP
applied on a consistent basis, and on that basis, present fairly, in all
material respects, the financial position and results of operations and cash
flows of the Parent Borrower and its consolidated subsidiaries and other Loan
Parties as of such date and for such period. The Projected Financial
Statements have been prepared in good faith based upon assumptions believed
to be reasonable at the time (it being understood that such projections are
subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are
beyond the Loan Parties’ control and that no assurance can be given that the
projections will be realized).

     I. No Material Adverse Change. Since December 31, 2003, nothing has
occurred which would have a Material Adverse Effect.

     J. Absence of Default. No event has occurred and is continuing or will
result from the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this
Amendment that would constitute a Default or an Event of Default.

     K. Release and Affirmation. Parent Borrower on and as of the Seventh
Amendment Effective Date has no (and it permanently and irrevocably waives
and releases Administrative Agent and Lenders from any, to the extent arising
on or prior to the Seventh Amendment Effective Date) defense, set off, claim
or counterclaim against Administrative Agent or any Lender in regard to its
obligations in respect of the Tranche C Term Loans being repaid on such date.

Section 5. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND CONSENT

     Parent Borrower is a party to the Parent Guarantee Agreement, the Security
Agreement, the Pledge Agreement and certain Mortgages, each as amended through
the Seventh Amendment Effective Date, pursuant to which, and in accordance with
the terms of which, Parent Borrower has (i) guaranteed the Foreign Borrower
Obligations (as defined in the Parent Guarantee Agreement), (ii) granted Liens
in favor of Administrative Agent on certain Collateral to secure the
Obligations and (iii) mortgaged to the Administrative Agent certain real and
personal property to secure the Obligations. Each of Knowles Electronics, LLC
(“KE”), Knowles Intermediate Holding, Inc. (“KIH”), Emkay Innovative Products,
Inc. (“Emkay”) and Knowles Manufacturing Ltd. (“KML”) is a party to the
Subsidiary Guarantee Agreement, the Security Agreement and the Pledge
Agreement, each as amended through the Seventh Amendment Effective Date,
pursuant to which KE, KIH, Emkay and KML have (i) guaranteed the Obligations
and (ii) granted Liens in favor of Administrative

16

 

Agent on certain Collateral to secure the Obligations. Parent Borrower,
KE, KIH, Emkay, and KML are collectively referred to herein as the “Loan
Parties”, and the Parent Guarantee Agreement, the Subsidiary Guarantee
Agreement, the Security Agreement, the Pledge Agreement and the Mortgages are
collectively referred to herein as the “Credit Support Documents”.

     Each Loan Party hereby acknowledges that it has reviewed the terms and
provisions of the Credit Agreement, the Security Agreement and this Amendment
and consents to the amendment of the Credit Agreement and Security Agreement
effected pursuant to this Amendment. Each Loan Party hereby confirms that each
Credit Support Document to which it is a party or otherwise bound and all
Collateral encumbered thereby will continue to guaranty or secure, as the case
may be, to the fullest extent provided in the Credit Support Documents the
payment and performance of all Obligations and Foreign Borrower Obligations, as
applicable, including without limitation the payment and performance of all
such Obligations and Foreign Borrower Obligations in respect of the Obligations
of Parent Borrower and Foreign Borrower Obligations, as applicable, now or
hereafter existing under or in respect of the Amended Agreements.

     Each Loan Party acknowledges and agrees that any of the Credit Support
Documents to which it is a party or otherwise bound shall continue in full
force and effect and that all of its obligations thereunder shall be valid and
enforceable and shall not be impaired or limited by the execution or
effectiveness of this Amendment. Each Loan Party represents and warrants that
all representations and warranties contained in the Amended Agreements and the
Credit Support Documents (considered as if already amended by this Amendment)
to which it is a party or otherwise bound are true, correct and complete in all
material respects on and as of the Seventh Amendment Effective Date to the same
extent as though made on and as of that date, except to the extent such
representations and warranties specifically relate to an earlier date, in which
case they were true, correct and complete in all material respects on and as of
such earlier date.

     Each Loan Party acknowledges and agrees that (i) notwithstanding the
conditions to effectiveness set forth in this Amendment, such Loan Party
(excluding the Parent Borrower) is not required by the terms of the Credit
Agreement or any other Loan Document to consent to the amendments to the Credit
Agreement effected pursuant to Section 1 of this Amendment and (ii) nothing in
the Credit Agreement, this Amendment or any other Loan Document shall be deemed
to require the consent of such Loan Party (excluding the Parent Borrower) to
any future amendments to the Credit Agreement, as amended by this Amendment.
Pursuant to Section 7.08 of the Security Agreement, the Loan Parties hereby
consent to amend the Security Agreement as set forth in Sections 2 and 6
hereof.

Section 6. MISCELLANEOUS

     A. Reference to and Effect on the Credit Agreement and the Other Loan
Documents.

(i) On and after the Seventh Amendment Effective Date, each reference in
the Credit Agreement to “this Agreement”, “hereunder”, “hereof”, “herein”
or words of

17

 

like import referring to the Credit Agreement, and each reference in the
other Loan Documents to the “Credit Agreement”, “thereunder”, “thereof”
or words of like import referring to the Credit Agreement shall mean and
be a reference to the Amended Credit Agreement. On and after the Seventh
Amendment Effective Date, each reference in the Security Agreement to
“this Agreement”, “hereunder”, “hereof”, “herein” or words of like import
referring to the Security Agreement, and each reference in the other Loan
Documents to the “Security Agreement”, “thereunder”, “thereof” or words
of like import referring to the Security Agreement shall mean and be a
reference to the Security Agreement as amended by this Amendment.

(ii) Except as specifically amended by this Amendment, the Credit
Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall remain in full force and
effect and are hereby ratified and confirmed.

(iii) The execution, delivery and performance of this Amendment shall
not, except as expressly provided herein, constitute a waiver of any
provision of, or operate as a waiver of any right, power or remedy of
Administrative Agent or any Lender under, the Credit Agreement or any of
the other Loan Documents.

     B. Fees and Expenses. Parent Borrower acknowledges that all costs, fees
and expenses as described in subsection 9.03 of the Credit Agreement incurred
by Administrative Agent and its counsel with respect to this Amendment and
the documents and transactions contemplated hereby shall be for the account
of Parent Borrower.

     C. Headings. Section and subsection headings in this Amendment are
included herein for convenience of reference only and shall not constitute a
part of this Amendment for any other purpose or be given any substantive
effect.

     D. Applicable Law. THIS AMENDMENT AND THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE
PARTIES HEREUNDER SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND SHALL BE CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED
IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK (INCLUDING
WITHOUT LIMITATION SECTION 5-1401 OF THE GENERAL OBLIGATIONS LAW OF THE STATE
OF NEW YORK), WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICTS OF LAWS PRINCIPLES.

     E. Counterparts; Effectiveness. This Amendment 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 such counterparts together shall constitute but one and the
same instrument; signature pages may be detached from multiple separate
counterparts and attached to a single counterpart so that all signature pages
are physically attached to the same document. This Amendment (other than the
provisions of Sections 1 and 2 hereof, the effectiveness of which are
governed by Section 3 hereof) shall become effective upon the execution of a
counterpart hereof by Parent Borrower, Required Lenders, Tranche B Lenders
holding a majority of the outstanding Tranche B Loans, all Tranche D Lenders
and each of the Loan

18

 

Parties and receipt by Parent Borrower and Administrative Agent of
written notification of such execution and authorization of delivery thereof.

     F. Pursuant to Section 2.09(e) of the Credit Agreement, Company shall
execute and deliver to each Tranche D Lender, on the Seventh Amendment
Effective Date, a Note substantially in the form of Annex E annexed hereto to
evidence each Tranche D Lender’s Tranche D Term Loan, in the principal amount
of that Tranche D Lender’s Tranche D Term Loan and with other appropriate
insertions.

[Remainder of page intentionally left blank]

19

 

          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Amendment to be
duly executed and delivered by their respective officers thereunto duly
authorized as of the date first written above.

          BORROWER:

	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	KNOWLES ELECTRONICS HOLDINGS, INC.
	 
	 	 	 	 
	

	 	By:	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	

	

	 	Name:	 	 
	

	 	Title:	 	 

S-1

 

	 	 	 	 	 
	LOAN

PARTIES:
	 	 	 	 
	 	 	KNOWLES ELECTRONICS, LLC, (for purposes of Sections 2, 5 and 6 only) as a Loan Party
	 
	 	 	 	 
	

	 	By:	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	

	

	 	Name:	 	 
	

	 	Title:	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	 	 	KNOWLES INTERMEDIATE
	 	 	HOLDINGS, INC., (for purposes of Sections 2, 5 and 6 only) as a Loan Party
	 
	 	 	 	 
	

	 	By:	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	

	

	 	Name:	 	 
	

	 	Title:	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	 	 	EMKAY INNOVATIVE PRODUCTS, INC., (for
purposes of Sections 2, 5 and 6) as a
Loan Party
	 
	 	 	 	 
	

	 	By:	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	

	

	 	Name:	 	 
	

	 	Title:	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	 	 	KNOWLES MANUFACTURING LTD., (for purposes
of Sections 2, 5 and 6) as a Loan Party
	 
	 	 	 	 
	

	 	By:	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	

	

	 	Name:	 	 
	

	 	Title:	 	 

S-2

 

	 	 	 	 	 
	ADMINISTRATIVE

AGENT:
	 	 	 	 
	 	 	JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, Individually and as
Administrative Agent
	 
	 	 	 	 
	

	 	By:	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	

	

	 	Name:	 	 
	

	 	Title:	 	 

S-3

 

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	LENDERS:
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	SIGNATURE PAGE TO THE SEVENTH AMENDMENT

TO CREDIT AGREEMENT AND SECOND AMENDMENT

TO SECURITY AGREEMENT
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	Name of Institution:	 	 
	 	 	 	 	 	

	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	

	 	By:	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 	

	

	 	Name:	 	 	 	 
	

	 	Title:	 	 	 	 

S-4<PAGE>

                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.6

                                                                  EXECUTION COPY

                            STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT

                                  BY AND AMONG

                            EAGLE TEST SYSTEMS, INC.,

                          THE STOCKHOLDERS NAMED HEREIN

                                       AND

                           THE INVESTORS NAMED HEREIN

                         DATED AS OF SEPTEMBER 30, 2003

<PAGE>

                                      INDEX

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                                      Page
                                                                                                                      ----
<S>                                                                                                                   <C>
SECTION 1.        PURCHASE AND SALE OF SHARES; REDEMPTION........................................................       2
           1.1    Description of Securities......................................................................       2
           1.2    Sale and Purchase..............................................................................       2
           1.3    Redemption of Stockholders' Stock..............................................................       2
           1.4    Charter; Bylaws; Subordinated Debt.............................................................       2
           1.5    Use of Proceeds................................................................................       3
           1.6    Closing........................................................................................       3
           1.7    Transfer Taxes.................................................................................       3
           1.8    Further Assurances.............................................................................       3
           1.9    Extraordinary Dividend.........................................................................       3

SECTION 2.        REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY AND THE STOCKHOLDERS.............................       4
           2.1    Organization and Corporate Power...............................................................       5
           2.2    Authorization and Non-Contravention............................................................       5
           2.3    Corporate Records..............................................................................       6
           2.4    Capitalization.................................................................................       6
           2.5    Subsidiaries; Investments......................................................................       8
           2.6    Financial Statements; Projections..............................................................       8
           2.7    Absence of Undisclosed Liabilities.............................................................       9
           2.8    Absence of Certain Developments................................................................       9
           2.9    Accounts Receivable; Accounts Payable; Inventories.............................................      10
           2.10   Transactions with Affiliates...................................................................      11
           2.11   Properties.....................................................................................      11
           2.12   Tax Matters....................................................................................      12
           2.13   Certain Contracts and Arrangements.............................................................      13
           2.14   Intellectual Property..........................................................................      14
           2.15   Litigation.....................................................................................      16
           2.16   Labor Matters..................................................................................      17
           2.17   Permits; Compliance with Laws..................................................................      17
           2.18   Employee Benefit Programs......................................................................      18
           2.19   Insurance Coverage.............................................................................      19
           2.20   Investment Banking; Brokerage..................................................................      19
           2.21   Environmental Matters..........................................................................      19
           2.22   Customers, Distributors and Partners...........................................................      19
           2.23   Suppliers......................................................................................      20
           2.24   Warranty and Related Matters...................................................................      20
           2.25   Illegal Payments...............................................................................      20
           2.26   Solvency.......................................................................................      20
           2.27   Privacy of Customer Information................................................................      20
           2.28   Backlog........................................................................................      21
</TABLE>

                                        i
<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<S>                                                                                                                    <C>
           2.29   Health Matters.................................................................................      21
           2.30   Disclosure.....................................................................................      21

SECTION 3.        REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE INVESTORS................................................      21
           3.1    Investment Status..............................................................................      21
           3.2    Authority and Non-Contravention................................................................      22

SECTION 4.        CLOSING CONDITIONS AND DELIVERIES..............................................................      22
           4.1    Transactions to Occur Prior to Closing.........................................................      22
           4.2    Authorization..................................................................................      23
           4.3    Approvals, Consents and Waivers................................................................      23
           4.4    Deliveries by the Company and the Stockholders to the Investors................................      23
           4.5    Closing Deliveries by the Investors to the Company.............................................      25
           4.6    Closing Deliveries by the Stockholders to the Company..........................................      25
           4.7    All Proceedings Satisfactory...................................................................      25
           4.8    No Litigation..................................................................................      25
           4.9    No Violation or Injunction.....................................................................      25

SECTION 5.        SURVIVAL OF REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES; TRANSACTION RELATED INDEMNIFICATION................      26
           5.1    Survival of Representations, Warranties and Covenants..........................................      26
           5.2    Transaction Related Indemnification............................................................      26
           5.3    Limitations on Transaction Related Indemnification.............................................      27
           5.4    Notice; Payment of Losses; Defense of Third-Party Claims.......................................      28
           5.5    Limitation on Contribution and Certain Other Rights............................................      29

SECTION 6.        GENERAL........................................................................................      30
           6.1    Waivers and Consents; Amendments...............................................................      30
           6.2    Legend on Securities...........................................................................      30
           6.3    Governing Law..................................................................................      30
           6.4    Section Headings; Construction.................................................................      30
           6.5    Counterparts...................................................................................      31
           6.6    Notices and Demands............................................................................      31
           6.7    Dispute Resolution.............................................................................      31
           6.8    Consent to Jurisdiction........................................................................      32
           6.9    Remedies; Severability.........................................................................      32
           6.10   Integration....................................................................................      33
           6.11   Assignability; Binding Agreement...............................................................      33
           6.12   Release........................................................................................      33
           6.13   Confidentiality................................................................................      34
           6.14   Expenses.......................................................................................      34
           6.15   Certain Definitions............................................................................      34
</TABLE>

                                       ii
<PAGE>

EXHIBITS

         Exhibit A-1 - Schedule of Foxman Stockholders
         Exhibit A-2 - Schedule of Other Stockholders
         Exhibit B - Schedule of Investors
         Exhibit C - Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation
         Exhibit D - Form of Bylaws
         Exhibit E - Form of Stock Option Plan
         Exhibit F - Form of Stockholders' Agreement
         Exhibit G - Form of Registration Rights Agreement
         Exhibit H - Redemption of Common Stock
         Exhibit I - Management Rights Letter
         Exhibit J - Form of Non-Competition Agreement
         Exhibit K - Form of Employee Agreement
         Exhibit L - Form of Opinion of Counsel
         Exhibit M - Form of Director Indemnification Agreement

DISCLOSURE SCHEDULE

         Section 2.1 - Foreign Qualifications
         Section 2.4 - Capitalization
         Section 2.5 - Subsidiaries and Investments
         Section 2.6 - Financial Statements; Projections
         Section 2.7 - Undisclosed Liabilities
         Section 2.8 - Certain Developments
         Section 2.9 - Inventories
         Section 2.12 - Tax Matters
         Section 2.13 - Material Contracts
         Section 2.14 - Intellectual Property
         Section 2.15 - Litigation
         Section 2.16 - Labor Matters
         Section 2.18 - Employee Benefit Programs
         Section 2.19 - Insurance Coverage
         Section 2.20 - Investment Banking; Brokerage
         Section 2.22 - Customers; Distributors and Partners
         Section 2.24 - Warranty and Related Matters

                                      iii
<PAGE>

                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.6

                            STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT

      THIS STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT (the "AGREEMENT") is made and entered into
as of September 30, 2003, by and among Eagle Test Systems, Inc., an Illinois
corporation (the "COMPANY"), the shareholders of the Company named in Exhibit
A-1 attached hereto (the "FOXMAN STOCKHOLDERS," and each individually, a "FOXMAN
STOCKHOLDER"), the shareholders of the Company named in Exhibit A-2 attached
hereto (the "OTHER STOCKHOLDERS," and collectively with the Foxman Stockholders,
the "STOCKHOLDERS") and the investment partnerships and other investors named in
Exhibit B attached hereto (each, an "INVESTOR," and, collectively, the
"INVESTORS").

      WHEREAS, the Investors desire to purchase from the Company, and the
Company desires to issue and sell to the Investors, 3,436.099 shares of the
Company's Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $.01 per share (the
"CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK"), for an aggregate purchase price of $65,000,000;

      WHEREAS, contemporaneously with the Closing (as defined below), TA
Subordinated Debt Fund, L.P. and TA Investors, LLC (the "Lenders") will lend to
the Company $30,000,000 (the "SUBORDINATED DEBT") pursuant to the terms of a
Note Purchase Agreement (the "NOTE PURCHASE AGREEMENT") in return for
convertible subordinated debentures (collectively, the "CONVERTIBLE SUBORDINATED
NOTES") which are convertible into subordinated notes (collectively, the
"SUBORDINATED NOTES") and warrants (the "WARRANTS") to acquire shares of Common
Stock, no par value, of the Company (the "COMMON STOCK");

      WHEREAS, the Company shall use the proceeds from the purchase and sale of
the Convertible Preferred Stock and the Subordinated Debt for the Redemption (as
defined below) and for payment of certain expenses at or immediately subsequent
to the Closing; and

      WHEREAS, in connection with and as a condition precedent to the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, among other things (i) the
Company has amended and restated its articles of incorporation in the form
attached hereto as Exhibit C (the "ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION"), and has amended
and restated its bylaws in the form attached hereto as Exhibit D (the "BYLAWS"),
(ii) the Company has adopted the 2003 Stock Option and Grant Plan in the form
attached hereto as Exhibit E (the "STOCK OPTION PLAN") pursuant to which the
Company has reserved for issuance thereunder 273.516 shares of Common Stock,
(iii) the Company, the Stockholders and the Investors will enter into a
Stockholders Agreement in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit F
(the "STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT") and (iv) the Company and the Investors will enter
into a Registration Rights Agreement in substantially the form attached hereto
as Exhibit G (the "REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT").

      NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual covenants
and agreements hereinafter set forth, the parties hereto agree as follows:

<PAGE>

SECTION 1. PURCHASE AND SALE OF SHARES; REDEMPTION

      1.1 DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES. The Company's authorized capital stock
consists of Common Stock and, upon consummation of transactions contemplated by
this Agreement, Convertible Preferred Stock and Redeemable Preferred Stock, par
value $.01 per share ("REDEEMABLE PREFERRED STOCK"). The Common Stock,
Convertible Preferred Stock and Redeemable Preferred Stock will, upon
consummation of transactions contemplated by this Agreement, have the rights,
preferences and other terms set forth in Exhibit C attached hereto. Immediately
prior to the Closing, all of the issued and outstanding equity securities of the
Company are owned beneficially and of record by the shareholders as set forth on
Exhibit A-1 and A-2 attached hereto. For purposes of this Agreement, the shares
of Convertible Preferred Stock to be acquired by the Investors from the Company
hereunder are sometimes referred to as the "CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED SHARES," the
shares of Redeemable Preferred Stock issuable upon conversion of the Convertible
Preferred Stock are referred to as the "PREFERRED CONVERSION SHARES," the shares
of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Convertible Preferred Shares are
referred to as the "COMMON CONVERSION SHARES," the Preferred Conversion Shares
and Common Conversion Shares are referred to as the "CONVERSION SHARES," and the
Convertible Preferred Shares, the Preferred Conversion Shares and the Common
Conversion Shares are sometimes referred to herein as the "SECURITIES." The
Company will, upon consummation of transactions contemplated by this Agreement,
have authorized and reserved, and covenants to continue to reserve, a sufficient
number of shares of Common Stock and Redeemable Preferred Stock necessary to
satisfy the rights of conversion of the holders of Convertible Preferred Stock
as set forth in Exhibit C hereto.

      1.2 SALE AND PURCHASE. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions
herein, and in reliance on the representations and warranties made by the
Company and the Stockholders herein, each of the Investors, severally but not
jointly, hereby agrees to purchase from the Company, and the Company hereby
agrees to issue and sell to each of the Investors, the number of Convertible
Preferred Shares set forth opposite the name of each such Investor on Exhibit B
hereto, free and clear of any and all Claims (as defined herein), for a total
aggregate purchase price of $65,000,000 (the "PURCHASE PRICE"), and the Company
hereby grants the Investors the rights set forth herein and in the agreements
referred to herein.

      1.3 REDEMPTION OF STOCKHOLDERS' STOCK. At and concurrently with the
Closing, and following the purchase and sale of the Convertible Preferred Shares
as provided herein, and upon the terms and subject to the conditions herein, and
in reliance on the representations and warranties made by the Company and the
Stockholders to the Investors herein, the Company shall redeem, and the
Stockholders, severally but not jointly, hereby agree to sell, transfer and
convey to the Company, the number of shares of Common Stock (the "REDEMPTION")
set forth opposite the name of such Stockholder on Exhibit H attached hereto, in
each case for the redemption price set forth opposite such Stockholder's name on
Exhibit H attached hereto, for an aggregate redemption price of $95,000,000 (the
"REDEMPTION PRICE") payable by wire transfer of immediately available funds.

      1.4 CHARTER; BYLAWS; SUBORDINATED DEBT. Immediately prior to or
contemporaneously with the Closing, the Company shall have (a) filed with the
Secretary of

                                      -2-
<PAGE>

State of Illinois the Articles of Incorporation, and the same shall have become
effective in accordance with Illinois law, (b) adopted the Bylaws and Stock
Option Plan, (c) executed and delivered the Note Purchase Agreement and the
Subordinated Notes to the Lenders for which it shall receive proceeds of
$30,000,000.

      1.5 USE OF PROCEEDS. The Company shall apply the proceeds from the sale of
the Convertible Preferred Shares and the Subordinated Debt to the Redemption.

      1.6 CLOSING. The closing of the purchase and sale of the Convertible
Preferred Shares (the "CLOSING") shall take place at a mutually agreeable
location on the date hereof (the "CLOSING DATE"), and promptly following the
Closing and on the same day, the closing of the Redemption shall occur. At the
Closing, the Company shall deliver or cause to be delivered to each of the
Investors stock certificates representing all of the Convertible Preferred
Shares issued hereunder, free and clear of any and all liens, claims, options,
charges, pledges, security interests, deeds of trust, voting agreements (except
as provided herein), voting trusts, encumbrances, rights or restrictions of any
nature ("CLAIMS"), and the Company shall apply the proceeds of the purchase and
sale of the Convertible Preferred Stock and the Subordinated Debt to the
Redemption. At the closing of the Redemption, the Stockholders agree with the
Company and the Investors that they shall transfer to the Company the shares of
Common Stock to be redeemed hereunder free and clear of all Claims and the
Company shall pay to the Stockholders the redemption price for such shares. All
cash payments hereunder shall be made by wire transfer of same day available
funds.

      1.7 TRANSFER TAXES. All transfer taxes, fees and duties under applicable
law incurred in connection with the sale and transfer of the Convertible
Preferred Shares under this Agreement will be borne and paid by the Company and
it shall promptly reimburse the Investors for any such tax, fee or duty which
any of them is required to pay under applicable law.

      1.8 FURTHER ASSURANCES. The Stockholders, the Company, and the Investors
from time to time after the Closing at the request of any other party hereto and
without further consideration shall execute and deliver further instruments of
transfer and assignment and take such other action as a party may reasonably
require to more effectively transfer and assign to, and vest in, the Investors,
the Securities and all rights thereto, and to fully implement the provisions of
this Agreement.

      1.9 EXTRAORDINARY DIVIDEND.

            (a) The Company shall prepare in good faith and deliver to the
Investors at Closing a statement setting forth the Company's determination of
its cash and cash equivalents as of the Closing (the "Estimated Cash Amount").
Immediately prior to the Closing, the Company made an extraordinary cash
dividend in the aggregate amount of $13,500,000 to the Stockholders (on a
pro-rata basis based on their relative holdings of Common Stock as of
immediately prior to the Closing), which amount is equal to ninety percent (90%)
of the positive difference between the Estimated Cash Amount and $20,000,000
(the "Extraordinary Dividend"). For purposes of Section 1.9(c) below, the term
"Dividend Holdback Amount" shall mean an amount equal to $1,500,000, which
amount equals ten percent (10%) of the positive difference between the Estimated
Cash Amount and $20,000,000.

                                      -3-
<PAGE>

            (b) As soon as practicable after the Closing, the Company shall
deliver to the Investors a balance sheet for the Company as of the Closing Date
which shall be prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles of the United States (except as set forth in Section 2.6 of the
Disclosure Schedule) applied on a consistent basis (the "Final Closing Date
Balance Sheet") and a statement based on such Final Closing Date Balance Sheet
setting forth the Company's determination of its cash and cash equivalents as of
the Closing Date (the "Final Cash Amount"),

            (c) Subject to subsection (d) below, on the later of (i) the date
which is thirty (30) days after the Closing Date and (ii) the date which is
seven (7) days after the delivery of the Final Closing Date Balance Sheet by the
Company to the Investors, the Company and the Investors shall reconcile the
extraordinary dividend amount as set forth below in this subsection (c). In the
event that the Final Cash Amount is greater than the Estimated Cash Amount (the
positive difference being the "Excess Cash Amount"), then the Company shall
within five (5) business days of such determination make a cash payment to the
Stockholders (on a pro-rata basis based on their relative holdings of Common
Stock as of immediately prior to the Closing) equal to the sum of the Dividend
Holdback Amount and the Excess Cash Amount. In the event that the Final Cash
Amount is equal to the Estimated Cash Amount, then the Company shall within five
(5) business days of such determination make a cash payment to the Stockholders
(on a pro-rata basis based on their relative holdings of Common Stock as of
immediately prior to the Closing) equal to the Dividend Holdback Amount. In the
event that the Final Cash Amount is less than the Estimated Cash Amount (the
negative difference being the "Cash Shortfall Amount"), then the Company shall
within five (5) business days of such determination make a cash payment to the
Stockholders (on a pro-rata basis based on their relative holdings of Common
Stock as of immediately prior to the Closing) equal to the positive difference
between the Dividend Holdback Amount and the Cash Shortfall Amount; provided,
however, in the event that the Cash Shortfall Amount exceeds the Dividend
Holdback Amount, each of the Stockholders (on a pro-rata basis based on their
relative holdings of Common Stock as of immediately prior to the Closing) hereby
agrees to promptly pay the Company an amount equal to the difference between the
Cash Shortfall Amount and the Dividend Holdback Amount.

            (d) Notwithstanding the above, in the event that the Investors do
not agree on the Final Closing Date Balance Sheet or the Final Cash Amount
prepared by the Company, any disputes shall be resolved by an independent Big 4
accounting firm (the "Accountant"). The final determination by the Accountant of
the Final Closing Date Balance Sheet and Final Cash Amount shall (i) be made no
later than thirty (30) days following retention of such firm by the parties,
(ii) be set forth in writing, (iii) be conclusive and binding upon the parties,
(iv) not be subject to dispute or review and (v) be the final determination of
such matters. The Company shall pay the fees and expenses of such accounting
firm.

SECTION 2. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY AND THE STOCKHOLDERS

      In order to induce the Investors to enter into this Agreement and
consummate the transactions contemplated hereby, the Company and the Foxman
Stockholders, on a joint and

                                      -4-
<PAGE>

several basis, hereby make to the Investors the representations and warranties
contained in this Section 2; provided that the representations and warranties
set forth in Sections 2.2(b) and 2.4(b) are made solely by each Stockholder
severally and not jointly. Such representations and warranties are subject to
the qualifications and exceptions set forth in the disclosure schedule delivered
to the Investors pursuant to this Agreement (the "DISCLOSURE SCHEDULE"). For
purposes hereof unless otherwise indicated, all references to the Company shall
include all Subsidiaries (as defined herein) of the Company and predecessors, if
any. References to the knowledge or awareness of the Company are deemed to mean
the actual knowledge of the officers of the Company and the Foxman Stockholders
after due inquiry.

      2.1 ORGANIZATION AND CORPORATE POWER. The Company is a corporation duly
organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of Illinois, and
is duly qualified or registered to do business as a foreign corporation (a) in
each jurisdiction listed in Section 2.1 of the Disclosure Schedule and (b) in
each jurisdiction in which the failure to be so duly qualified or registered has
had, or could have, a material adverse effect on the assets, liabilities,
condition (financial or other), business or results of operations of the Company
(a "MATERIAL ADVERSE EFFECT"). The Company has all required corporate power and
authority to carry on its business as presently conducted, to enter into and
perform this Agreement and the agreements contemplated hereby to which it is a
party and to carry out the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby,
including the issuance of the Securities. The copies of the Articles of
Incorporation, as amended as of the Closing Date and certified by the Secretary
of State of Illinois, and the Bylaws, as amended as of the Closing Date and
certified by the Secretary of the Company, have been furnished to the Investors
by the Company, are correct and complete as of the date hereof, and the Company
is not in violation of any term of its Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws.

      2.2 AUTHORIZATION AND NON-CONTRAVENTION.

            (a) This Agreement and all agreements, documents and instruments
executed and delivered by the Company pursuant hereto are valid and binding
obligations of the Company, enforceable in accordance with their respective
terms, except: (x) as limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, moratorium and other laws of general application affecting
enforcement of creditors' rights generally and (y) as limited by laws relating
to the availability of specific performance, injunctive relief or other
equitable remedies. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement
and all agreements, documents and instruments executed and delivered by the
Company pursuant hereto, the issuance and delivery of the Convertible Preferred
Shares, and, upon conversion of the Convertible Preferred Shares, the issuance
and delivery of the Conversion Shares, have been duly authorized by all
necessary corporate or other action of the Company. The execution and delivery
of this Agreement and all agreements, documents and instruments executed and
delivered by the Company pursuant hereto, the issuance and delivery of the
Convertible Preferred Shares, and, upon conversion of the Convertible Preferred
Shares, the issuance and delivery of the Conversion Shares and the performance
of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and such other agreements,
documents and instruments, do not and will not: (i) violate or result in a
violation of, conflict with or constitute or result in a violation of or default
(whether after the giving of notice, lapse of time or both) under any contract
or obligation to which the Company is a party or by which its assets are bound,
or any provision of the Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws, or cause the

                                      -5-
<PAGE>

creation of any Claim upon any of the assets of the Company; (ii) violate,
conflict with or result in a violation of, or constitute a default (whether
after the giving of notice, lapse of time or both) under, any provision of any
law, regulation or rule, or any order of, or any restriction imposed by, any
court or governmental agency applicable to the Company; (iii) based, and in
reliance, upon the accuracy of the Investors' representations and warranties set
forth in Section 3.3, require from the Company any notice to, declaration or
filing with, or consent or approval of any governmental authority or other third
party; or (iv) violate or result in a violation of, or constitute a default
(whether after the giving of notice, lapse of time or both) under, accelerate
any obligation under, or give rise to a right of termination of, any agreement,
permit, license or authorization to which the Company is a party or by which the
Company is bound.

            (b) This Agreement and all agreements, documents and instruments
executed and delivered by any Stockholder pursuant hereto are valid and binding
obligations of such Stockholder enforceable in accordance with their respective
terms, except: (x) as limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, moratorium and other laws of general application affecting
enforcement of creditors' rights generally and (y) as limited by laws relating
to the availability of specific performance, injunctive relief or other
equitable remedies. Each Stockholder has full right, authority, power and
capacity to enter into this Agreement and all agreements, documents and
instruments executed and delivered by such Stockholder pursuant hereto and to
carry out the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. The execution,
delivery and performance by each Stockholder of this Agreement and all
agreements, documents and instruments executed and delivered by such Stockholder
pursuant hereto and the performance of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement and such other agreements, documents and instruments do not and will
not: (i) violate or result in a violation of, conflict with or constitute or
result in a violation of or default (whether after the giving of notice, lapse
of time or both) under, accelerate any obligation under, or give rise to a right
of termination of, any contract, agreement, obligation, permit, license or
authorization to which the Company or such Stockholder is a party or by which
any of them or their respective assets are bound, or any provision of such
Stockholder's organizational documents, if applicable; (ii) violate or result in
a violation of, or constitute a default (whether after the giving of notice,
lapse of time or both) under, any provision of any law, regulation or rule, or
any order of, or any restriction imposed by, any court or governmental agency
applicable to the Company or such Stockholder; (iii) require from the Company or
such Stockholder any notice to, declaration or filing with, or consent or
approval of, any governmental authority or other third party, or (iv) violate or
result in a violation of, or constitute a default (whether after the giving of
notice, lapse of time or both) under, accelerate any obligation under, or give
rise to a right of termination of, any agreement, permit, license or
authorization to which the Company or such Stockholder is a party or by which
the Company or such Stockholder is bound.

      2.3 CORPORATE RECORDS. The corporate record books of the Company
accurately reflect all corporate action taken by its shareholders and board of
directors and committees. The copies of the corporate records of the Company, as
delivered to the Investors, are true and complete copies of the originals of
such documents.

      2.4 CAPITALIZATION.

                                      -6-
<PAGE>

            (a) Immediately prior to giving effect to the transactions
contemplated hereby, the authorized capital stock of the Company consisted of
(i) 8,000 shares of Common Stock of which 5,756 shares were issued and
outstanding, (ii) 3,437 shares of Convertible Preferred Stock, of which no
shares were issued and outstanding and (iii) 3,437 shares of Redeemable
Preferred Stock, of which no shares were issued and outstanding. As of the
Closing and after giving effect to the transactions contemplated hereby, the
authorized capital stock of the Company consists of (i) 8,000 shares of Common
Stock, of which 2,158.500 shares are issued and outstanding, (ii) 3,437 shares
of Convertible Preferred Stock, of which 3,436.099 shares are issued and
outstanding and (iii) 3,437 shares of Redeemable Preferred Stock, of which no
shares are issued and outstanding. The relative rights, preferences and other
provisions relating to the Convertible Preferred Stock, the Redeemable Preferred
Stock and the Common Stock are as set forth in the Articles of Incorporation,
and such rights and preferences are valid and enforceable in accordance with
their terms under the laws of the State of Illinois. Except as contemplated by
the Transaction Documents, there are no outstanding subscriptions, options,
warrants, commitments, preemptive rights, agreements, arrangements or
commitments of any kind relating to the issuance or sale of, or outstanding
securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for, any shares of
capital stock of any class or other equity interests of the Company. Except as
provided herein, the Company has no obligation to purchase, redeem, or otherwise
acquire any of its capital stock or any interests therein, and has not redeemed
any shares of its capital stock in the past three (3) years. As of the Closing,
and after giving effect to the transactions contemplated hereby, all of the
outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company will have been duly and
validly authorized and issued, fully paid and non-assessable, and will have been
offered, issued, sold and delivered in compliance with applicable federal and
state securities laws without giving rise to preemptive rights of any kind. The
Company has duly and validly authorized and reserved (A) 273.516 shares of
Common Stock (subject to adjustment) for issuance in connection with awards
granted or exercised under the Stock Option Plan, (B) 3,436.099 shares of Common
Stock and 3,436.099 shares of Redeemable Preferred Stock (subject to
adjustment), all for issuance upon conversion of the Convertible Preferred
Stock, and (C) 210.016 shares of Common Stock (subject to adjustment) for
issuance upon exercise of the Warrants, and the shares of Common Stock so issued
will, upon such grant, exercise or conversion, be validly issued, fully paid and
non-assessable. As of the Closing, and after giving effect to the transactions
contemplated hereby, other than rights set forth herein or in the Articles of
Incorporation, the Registration Rights Agreement or the Stockholders' Agreement,
there are (1) no preemptive rights, rights of first refusal, put or call rights
or obligations or anti-dilution rights with respect to the issuance, sale or
redemption of the Company's capital stock or any interests therein, (2) no
rights to have the Company's capital stock registered for sale to the public in
connection with the laws of any jurisdiction and (3) no documents, instruments
or agreements relating to the voting of the Company's voting securities or
restrictions on the transfer of the Company's capital stock.

            (b) Immediately prior to the Closing, the Stockholders are the sole
record and beneficial owners of the shares of Common Stock set forth opposite
their names on Exhibit A attached hereto, free and clear of any Claims including
Claims of spouses, former spouses and other family members. After giving effect
to the transactions contemplated hereby, the Common Stock and the Convertible
Preferred Stock will be held as set forth on Section 2.4(b) of the

                                      -7-
<PAGE>

Disclosure Schedule free and clear of any Claims (other than restrictions
imposed by securities laws applicable to unregistered securities generally).

      2.5 SUBSIDIARIES; INVESTMENTS. The Company does not own or control,
directly or indirectly, any interest in any other corporation, partnership,
limited liability company, association or other business entity, except as set
forth in Section 2.5 of the Disclosure Schedule. The Company has not made any
investment and does not hold any interest in or have any outstanding loan or
advance to or from, any person, including, without limitation, any officer,
director or stockholder of the Company.

      2.6 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS; PROJECTIONS.

            (a) The Company has previously furnished to the Investors and
attached hereto on Section 2.6(a) of the Disclosure Schedule copies of the
following financial statements: (i) the Company's balance sheets for the fiscal
years ended September 30, 2002 (the "BASE BALANCE SHEET") , September 30, 2001
and September 30, 2000 and the related statements of income, for the fiscal
years then ended, and (ii) the Company's unaudited balance sheet as of August
31, 2003 and the related unaudited statements of income, for the eleven-month
period then ended. Subject to Section 2.6(a) of the Disclosure Schedule such
financial statements were prepared in conformity with generally accepted
accounting principles of the United States applied on a consistent basis, are
consistent in all material respects with the books and records of the Company
and fairly present the financial position of the Company as of the dates thereof
and the results of operations and cash flows of the Company for the periods
shown therein. The Company has not entered into any transactions involving the
factoring of receivables, synthetic leases, off balance sheet research and
development arrangements or the use of special purpose entities for any off
balance sheet activity. Except as set forth in Section 2.6 of the Disclosure
Schedule, the Company's revenue recognition policies and the application of
those policies are in compliance with applicable standards under generally
accepted accounting principles of the United States applied on a consistent
basis. Nothing has come to the attention of the Company or the Foxman
Stockholders since such respective dates that would indicate that such financial
statements are not true and correct in all material respects as of the date
thereof.

            (b) The projections delivered to the Investors at Closing represent
good faith estimates of the performance of the Company for the periods stated
therein based upon assumptions that were believed in good faith to be reasonable
when made and continue to be reasonable as of the date hereof; provided however,
that the foregoing is not a guarantee that such projections will be achieved.

            (c) As of immediately prior to the Closing and prior to giving
effect to the transactions contemplated hereby, the Company has at least $20
million in cash and cash equivalents.

            (d) The Company's net working capital as of the Closing and prior to
giving effect to the transactions contemplated hereby is not materially
different from the net working capital of the Company as of July 31, 2003
(except as reduced by the Extraordinary Dividend (including any post closing
adjustments thereto)). Since the date of the Base Balance Sheet, the Company has
paid its accounts payable in the ordinary course of its business and in a manner

                                      -8-
<PAGE>

that is consistent with its past practices. Since the date of the Base Balance
Sheet, the Company has collected its accounts receivable in the ordinary course
of its business and in a manner that is consistent with past practices and has
not accelerated any such collections.

      2.7 ABSENCE OF UNDISCLOSED LIABILITIES. The Company does not have any
material liabilities or obligations of any nature, whether accrued, absolute,
contingent, asserted, unasserted or otherwise, except liabilities or obligations
(i) stated or adequately reserved against in the Base Balance Sheet, (ii)
incurred as a result of or arising out of the transactions contemplated under
this Agreement, or (iii) incurred in the ordinary course of business since the
date of the Base Balance Sheet.

      2.8 ABSENCE OF CERTAIN DEVELOPMENTS. Since the date of the Base Balance
Sheet, the Company has conducted its business only in the ordinary course
consistent with past practice and, except with respect to the Extraordinary
Dividend or as set forth in Section 2.8 of the Disclosure Schedule, there has
not been:

            (a) any change in the assets, liabilities, condition (financial or
other), properties, business or operations of the Company, which change by
itself or in conjunction with all other such changes, whether or not arising in
the ordinary course of business, has had or could be reasonably likely to have a
Material Adverse Effect;

            (b) any mortgage, lien or other encumbrance placed on any of the
properties of the Company, other than purchase money liens and liens for taxes
not yet due and payable;

            (c) any purchase, sale or other disposition, or any agreement or
other arrangement for the purchase, sale or other disposition, of any properties
or assets by the Company, including any of its Intellectual Property Assets (as
defined below), involving the payment or receipt of more than $100,000 other
than sales of goods and services by the Company in the ordinary course of
business;

            (d) any damage, destruction or loss, whether or not covered by
insurance, that has had or could be reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse
Effect;

            (e) except for the Redemption, any declaration, setting aside or
payment of any dividend by the Company, or the making of any other distribution
in respect of the capital stock of the Company, or any direct or indirect
redemption, purchase or other acquisition by the Company of its own capital
stock;

            (f) any labor trouble or claim of unfair labor practices involving
the Company, any change in the compensation payable or to become payable by the
Company to any of its officers or employees other than normal merit increases to
such employees in accordance with its usual practices, or any bonus payment or
arrangement made to or with any of such officers or employees or any
establishment or creation of any employment, deferred compensation or severance
arrangement or employee benefit plan other than the Stock Option Plan with
respect to such persons or the amendment of any of the foregoing;

                                      -9-
<PAGE>

            (g) any resignation, termination or removal of any officer of the
Company or material loss of personnel of the Company or material change in the
terms and conditions of the employment of the Company's officers or key
personnel;

            (h) any payment or discharge of a material lien or liability of the
Company that was not shown on the audited balance sheet of the Company as of the
date of the Base Balance Sheet or incurred in the ordinary course of business
thereafter;

            (i) any contingent liability incurred by the Company as guarantor or
otherwise with respect to the obligations of others or any cancellation of any
material debt or claim owing to, or waiver of any material right of, the
Company, including any write-off or compromise of any accounts receivable other
than write-offs or compromises of accounts receivable that are in the ordinary
course of business in amounts consistent with past practice;

            (j) any obligation or liability incurred by the Company to any of
its officers, directors, shareholders or employees, or any loans or advances
made by the Company to any of its officers, directors, shareholders or
employees, except normal compensation and expense allowances payable to officers
or employees in the ordinary course of business;

            (k) any change in accounting methods or practices, collection
policies, pricing policies or payment policies of the Company;

            (l) any loss, or any known development that could reasonably be
expected to result in a loss, of any significant supplier, customer, distributor
or account of the Company;

            (m) any amendment or termination of any material contract or
agreement to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound;

            (n) any arrangements relating to any royalty or similar payment
based on the revenues, profits or sales volume of the Company, whether as part
of the terms of the Company's capital stock or by any separate agreement;

            (o) any transaction or agreement involving fixed price terms or
fixed volume arrangements;

            (p) any other transaction entered into by the Company other than
transactions in the ordinary course of business;

            (q) except as provided in this Agreement, any amendment to the
Company's articles of incorporation or by-laws;

            (r) any agreement or understanding whether in writing or otherwise,
for the Company to take any of the actions specified in paragraphs (a) through
(q) above.

      2.9 ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE; ACCOUNTS PAYABLE; INVENTORIES.

            (a) All of the accounts receivable of the Company are valid claims,
subject to no set-off or counterclaim, and, to its knowledge, fully collectible
in the normal course of

                                      -10-
<PAGE>

business; provided, however, that the foregoing is not a guarantee that such
accounts receivable will be fully collected. The reserve for doubtful accounts
stated in the Base Balance Sheet is in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles of the United States and is believed in good faith to be
reasonable and appropriate. The Company does not have any accounts receivable or
loans receivable from any person with whom it is affiliated or any of its
directors, officers, employees or shareholders.

            (b) All accounts payable and notes payable of the Company arose in
bona fide arm's length transactions in the ordinary course of business and no
such account payable or note payable is delinquent in its payment, except for
such account payable or note payable that is subject to a bona fide dispute or
payment arrangement. The Company has no account payable to any person with whom
it is affiliated or any of its directors, officers, employees or shareholders.

            (c) The values of the inventories stated in the Base Balance Sheet
reflect the normal inventory valuation policies of the Company and were
determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles of the
United States, consistently applied. Any inventory writedowns have been done in
the ordinary course of business consistent with the Company's historical
inventory practices. Purchase commitments for raw materials and parts are not in
excess of normal requirements and none are at prices materially in excess of
current market prices. All of the Company's inventory items are of a quality and
quantity salable in the ordinary course of its business at profit margins
consistent with the Company's experience in prior years, taking into account
fluctuations and trends in the market in which its goods and services are sold.
Since the date of the Base Balance Sheet, no inventory items have been sold or
disposed of except through sales in the ordinary course of business at profit
margins consistent with the Company's experience in prior years taking into
account fluctuations and trends in the market in which its goods and services
are sold, and all sales commitments made for the Company's products are at
prices not less than inventory values plus selling expenses and said profit
margins.

      2.10 TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES. There are no loans, leases or other
agreements or transactions between the Company or any present or former
shareholder, director, officer or employee of the Company, or to the knowledge
of the Company, any member of such officer's, director's, employee's or
stockholder's immediate family, or any person controlled by such officer,
director, employee or stockholder or his or her immediate family. No
shareholder, director, officer or employee of the Company, or to the knowledge
of the Company any of their respective spouses or family members, owns directly
or indirectly, on an individual or joint basis, any interest in, or serves as an
officer or director or in another similar capacity of, any competitor, customer
or supplier of the Company, or any organization which has a material contract or
arrangement with the Company.

      2.11 PROPERTIES. The Company has good, valid and (if applicable)
marketable title to all assets material to its business and to those assets
reflected on the Base Balance Sheet or acquired by it after the date thereof
(except for properties disposed of since that date in the ordinary course of
business), free and clear of Claims, except for liens for Taxes (as hereinafter
defined) not yet due and payable, and minor liens and encumbrances that do not
materially detract from the value of the property subject thereto or impair the
operations of the Company. All equipment included in such properties that is
necessary to the business of the Company is in

                                      -11-
<PAGE>

good condition and repair (ordinary wear and tear excepted) and all leases of
real or personal property to which the Company is a party are fully effective
and afford the Company peaceful and undisturbed possession of the subject matter
to the lease. The property and assets of the Company are sufficient for the
conduct of its business as presently conducted.

      2.12 TAX MATTERS.

            (a) The Company has timely and properly filed all federal, state,
local and foreign tax returns required to be filed by it through the date
hereof, and all such tax returns filed by the Company are true, correct and
complete in all material respects. The Company has paid or caused to be paid all
material federal, state, local, foreign and other taxes, including without
limitation, income taxes, estimated taxes, alternative minimum taxes, excise
taxes, sales taxes, franchise taxes, employment and payroll related taxes,
withholding taxes, transfer taxes, and all deficiencies, or other additions to
tax, interest, fines and penalties owed by it (collectively, "TAXES"), required
to be paid by it through the date hereof whether disputed or not, except Taxes
that have not yet accrued or the payment for which has not otherwise become due.
The provisions for payment of any accrued and unpaid Taxes of the Company in the
Base Balance Sheet are sufficient as of its date for the payment of any accrued
and unpaid Taxes of any nature of the Company, and since the date of the Base
Balance Sheet the Company has incurred no Taxes other than in the ordinary
course of its business. All Taxes and other assessments and levies that the
Company was or is required to withhold or collect have been withheld and
collected and have been paid over to the proper governmental authorities. The
Company has delivered to the Investors correct and complete copies of all annual
tax returns, examination reports, and statements of deficiencies filed by,
assessed against, or agreed to by the Company since December 31, 1995. The
Company has not waived any statute of limitations in respect of Taxes or agreed
to any extension of time with respect to any Tax payment, assessment, deficiency
or collection. Except as set forth in Section 2.12 of the Disclosure Schedule:
(i) the Company has never received notice of any audit or of any proposed
deficiencies from the Internal Revenue Service (the "IRS") or any other taxing
authority (other than routine audits undertaken in the ordinary course and which
have been resolved on or prior to the date hereof); (ii) there are in effect no
waivers of applicable statutes of limitations or agreements as to any extension
of time with respect to any Tax payment, assessment, deficiency or collection.
with respect to any Taxes owed by the Company for any year; (iii) neither the
IRS nor any other taxing authority is now asserting or, to the knowledge of the
Company, threatening to assert against the Company any deficiency or claim for
additional Taxes or interest thereon or penalties in connection therewith; (iv)
the Company has never been a member of an affiliated group of corporations
filing a combined federal income Tax return nor does the Company have any
liability for Taxes of any other Person under Treasury Regulations Section
1.1502-6 (or any similar provision of foreign, state or local law) or otherwise;
and (v) the Company has not filed a consent under Section 341(f) of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "CODE"), concerning collapsible
corporations. The Company has never been a United States real property holding
corporation within the meaning of Section 897(c)(2) of the Code during the
applicable period specified in Section 897(c)(1)(A)(ii) of the Code. The Company
is not a party to any Tax allocation or sharing arrangement. The Company is not
a party to any contract, agreement, plan or arrangement covering any employee or
former employee thereof, that, individually or collectively, could give rise to
the payment of any amount that would not be deductible pursuant

                                      -12-
<PAGE>

to Section 280G or Section 162 of the Code. The Company is not a "FOREIGN
PERSON" within the meaning of Section 1445 of the Code and Treasury Regulations
Section 1.1445-2.

            (b) The taxable year of the Company for federal and state income tax
purposes is the fiscal year ended December 31st.

            (c) The Company has never been (i) a passive foreign investment
company, (ii) a foreign personal holding company, (iii) a foreign sales
corporation, (iv) a foreign investment company or (v) a person other than a
United States person, each within the meaning of the Code.

      2.13 CERTAIN CONTRACTS AND ARRANGEMENTS. Except as set forth in Section
2.13 of the Disclosure Schedule (with true and correct copies of each agreement
referred to therein provided to the Investors) or as contemplated by this
Agreement, the Company is not a party or subject to or bound by:

            (a) any contract or agreement involving a potential commitment or
payment by the Company in excess of $100,000;

            (b) any contract, lease or agreement that is not cancelable by the
Company without penalty on not less than ninety (90) days notice;

            (c) any contract containing covenants directly or explicitly
limiting in any respect the freedom of the Company to compete in any line of
business or with any person or entity;

            (d) any contract or agreement relating to the licensing,
distribution, development, purchase, sale or servicing of its software or
hardware products except in the ordinary course of business consistent with past
practices or any of its Intellectual Property Assets;

            (e) any indenture, mortgage, promissory note, loan agreement,
guaranty or other agreement or commitment for borrowing or any pledge or
security arrangement;

            (f) any stock redemption or purchase agreements or other agreements
affecting or relating to the capital stock of the Company, including, without
limitation, any agreement with any shareholder of the Company which includes
anti-dilution rights, registration rights, voting arrangements, operating
covenants or similar provisions;

            (g) any pension, profit sharing, retirement or stock option plans;

            (h) any royalty, dividend or similar arrangement based on the
revenues or profits of the Company or any contract or agreement involving fixed
price or fixed volume arrangements;

            (i) any joint venture, partnership, manufacturer, development or
supply agreement or other agreement that involves a sharing of revenues,
profits, losses, costs or liabilities by the Company with any other Person;

                                      -13-
<PAGE>

            (j) any acquisition, merger or similar agreement;

            (k) any collective bargaining agreement or other agreement with any
labor union or other employee representative of a group of employees;

            (l) any contract with any governmental or quasi governmental entity;

            (m) any contract not executed in the ordinary course of business; or

            (n) any other material contract.

      All such contracts, agreements, leases and instruments are valid and are
in full force and effect and constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of
the Company and, to the knowledge of the Company, of the other parties thereto,
and are enforceable in accordance with their respective terms, except: (x) as
limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and
other laws of general application affecting enforcement of creditors' rights
generally and (y) as limited by laws relating to the availability of specific
performance, injunctive relief or other equitable remedies. The Company has no
knowledge of any notice or threat to terminate any such contracts, agreements,
leases or instruments, which termination could reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect. Neither the Company nor, to the knowledge of the
Company, any other party is in default in complying with any provisions of any
such contract, agreement, lease or instrument, or any other contract, agreement,
lease or instrument, the breach of which could reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect, and no condition or event or fact exists which, with
notice, lapse of time or both, could constitute a default thereunder on the part
of the Company, except for any such default, condition, event or fact that,
individually or in the aggregate, that could not reasonably be expected to have
a Material Adverse Effect.

      2.14 INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY.

      (a) Section 2.14 of the Disclosure Schedule contains a complete and
accurate list of all Patents owned by the Company or otherwise used in the
Business ("Company Patents"), Marks owned by the Company or otherwise used in
the Business ("Company Marks") and Copyrights owned by the Company or otherwise
used in and, in either case, material to the Business ("Company Copyrights").
Except as set forth on Section 2.14 of the Disclosure Schedule:

                  (i) the Company exclusively owns or possesses adequate and
      enforceable rights to use, without payment to a third party, all of the
      Intellectual Property Assets necessary for the operation of the Business,
      free and clear of all mortgages, pledges, charges, liens, equities,
      security interests, or other encumbrances or similar agreements;

                  (ii) all Company Patents, Company Marks and Company Copyrights
      that are issued by or registered with, as applicable, the United States
      Patent and Trademark Office, the United States Copyright Office or in any
      similar office or agency anywhere in the world are currently in compliance
      with formal legal requirements

                                      -14-
<PAGE>

      (including without limitation, as applicable, payment of filing,
      examination and maintenance fees, proofs of working or use, timely
      post-registration filing of affidavits of use and incontestability and
      renewal applications) and are valid and enforceable;

                  (iii) there are no pending, or, to the Company's knowledge
      threatened claims against the Company or any of its employees alleging
      that any of the Company Intellectual Property Assets or the Business,
      infringes or conflicts with the rights of others under any Intellectual
      Property Assets ("THIRD PARTY RIGHTS");

                  (iv) to the Company's knowledge, neither the Business nor any
      Company Intellectual Property Asset infringes or conflicts with any Third
      Party Right;

                  (v) the Company has not received any communications alleging
      that the Company has violated or, by conducting the Business, would
      violate any Third Party Rights or that any of the Company Intellectual
      Property Assets is invalid or unenforceable;

                  (vi) no current or former employee or consultant of the
      Company owns any rights in or to any of the Company Intellectual Property
      Assets;

                  (vii) the Company is not aware of any violation or
      infringement by a third party of any of the Company Intellectual Property
      Assets;

                  (viii) the Company has taken reasonable security measures to
      protect the secrecy, confidentiality and value of all Trade Secrets used
      in the Business (the "Company Trade Secrets"), including, without
      limitation, requiring all Company employees and consultants and all other
      persons with access to Company Trade Secrets to execute a binding
      confidentiality agreement, copies or forms of which have been provided to
      the Investors and, to the Company's knowledge, there has not been any
      breach by any party to such confidentiality agreements;

                  (ix) (A) the Company has not directly or indirectly granted
      any rights, licenses or interests in the source code of the Products, and
      (B) since the Company developed the source code of the Products, the
      Company has not provided or disclosed the source code of the Products to
      any person or entity;

                  (x) in the ordinary course of business, the Products perform
      in accordance with their documented specifications and as Company has
      warranted to its customers;

                  (xi) in the ordinary course of business, the Products do not
      contain any "viruses", "time-bombs", "key-locks", or any other devices
      created that could disrupt or interfere with the operation of the Products
      or the integrity of the data, information or signals they produce in a
      manner adverse to the Company or any licensee or recipient; and

                                      -15-
<PAGE>

                  (xii) the Company has (A) not unlawfully collected any
      personally identifiable information from any third parties and (B)
      complied with all applicable regulations relating to the collection,
      storage and onward transfer of all personally identifiable information
      collected by the Company or by third parties having authorized access to
      Company's databases or other records.

            (b) For purposes of this Agreement,

                  (i) "Business" means the business of the Company as currently
      conducted and proposed to be conducted.

                  (ii) "Company Intellectual Property Assets" means all
      Intellectual Property Assets owned by the Company or used in the Business.
      "Company Intellectual Property Assets" includes, without limitation, the
      Products, Company Patents, Company Marks, Company Copyrights and Company
      Trade Secrets.

                  (iii) "Intellectual Property Assets" means:

                        (A) patents, patent applications, patent rights, and
            inventions and discoveries and invention disclosures (whether or not
            patented) (collectively, "Patents");

                        (B) trade names, trade dress, logos, packaging design,
            slogans, Internet domain names, registered and unregistered
            trademarks and service marks and related registrations and
            applications for registration (collectively, "Marks");

                        (C) copyrights in both published and unpublished works,
            including without limitation all compilations, databases and
            computer programs, manuals and other documentation and all copyright
            registrations and applications, and all derivatives, translations,
            adaptations and combinations of the above (collectively,
            "Copyrights");

                        (D) know-how, trade secrets, confidential or proprietary
            information, research in progress, algorithms, data, designs,
            processes, formulae, drawings, schematics, blueprints, flow charts,
            models, strategies, prototypes, techniques, Beta testing procedures
            and Beta testing results (collectively, "Trade Secrets"); and

                        (E) goodwill, franchises, licenses, permits, consents,
            approvals, and claims of infringement against third parties.

                  (iv) "Products" means those computer programs and/or services
      and related documentation designed, manufactured, marketed, sold and/or
      distributed by the Company. A complete list of the Products owned by
      Seller is provided on Schedule 2.16(b)(iv) attached hereto.

      2.15 LITIGATION. There is no litigation or governmental or administrative
proceeding or investigation pending or, to the knowledge of the Company,
threatened against the Company or

                                      -16-
<PAGE>

affecting the properties or assets of the Company, or, as to matters related to
the Company, against any officer, director, shareholder or key employee of the
Company in their respective capacities in such positions, nor, to the knowledge
of the Company, has there occurred any event nor does there exist any condition
on the basis of which any such claim may be asserted. Section 2.15 of the
Disclosure Schedule includes a description of all litigation, claims,
proceedings or, to the Company's knowledge, investigations involving the Company
or any of its officers, directors, shareholders or key employees in connection
with the business of the Company occurring, arising or existing during the past
three (3) years.

      2.16 LABOR MATTERS. The Company employs approximately one hundred seventy
six (176) full-time and five (5) part-time employees and generally enjoys good
employer-employee relationships. The Company is not delinquent in payments to
any of its employees for any wages, salaries, commissions, bonuses or other
direct compensation for any services performed for the Company as of the date
hereof or amounts required to be reimbursed to such employees. The Company is
and heretofore has been in compliance in all material respects with all
applicable laws and regulations respecting labor, employment, fair employment
practices, terms and conditions of employment, occupational safety and health,
and wages and hours. There are no charges of employment discrimination or unfair
labor practices or strikes, slowdowns, stoppages of work, or any other concerted
interference with normal operations existing, pending or, to the knowledge of
the Company, threatened against or involving the Company. The Company is, and at
all times the Company has been, in compliance in all material respects with the
requirements of the Immigration Reform Control Act of 1986. There are no changes
pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened with respect to
(including, without limitation, the resignation of) the senior management or key
supervisory personnel or key independent contractors of the Company nor has the
Company received any notice or information concerning any prospective change
with respect to such senior management or key supervisory personnel. The Company
has never implemented any plant closing or mass layoff of employees as those
terms are defined in the Worker Adjustment Retraining and Notification Act of
1988, amended, or any similar state or local law or regulation, and no layoffs
that could implicate such laws or regulations are currently contemplated.

      2.17 PERMITS; COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS. The Company has all franchises,
authorizations, approvals, orders, consents, licenses, certificates, permits,
registrations, qualifications or other rights and privileges (collectively
"PERMITS") necessary to permit it to own its property and to conduct its
business as it is presently conducted or proposed to be conducted and all such
Permits are valid and in full force and effect. No Permit is subject to
termination as a result of the execution of this Agreement or consummation of
the transactions contemplated hereby. The Company is now and has heretofore been
in compliance in all material respects with all applicable statutes, ordinances,
orders, rules and regulations promulgated by any U.S. federal, state, municipal,
non-U.S. or other governmental authority, which apply to the conduct of its
business. The Company has never entered into or been subject to any judgment,
consent decree, compliance order or administrative order with respect to any
aspect of the business, affairs, properties or assets of the Company or received
any request for information, notice, demand letter, administrative inquiry or
formal or informal complaint or claim from any regulatory agency with respect to
any aspect of the business, affairs, properties or assets of the Company.

                                      -17-
<PAGE>

      2.18 EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PROGRAMS.

            (a) The Company does not maintain or contribute to and for the past
five (5) years has not maintained or contributed to, any employee benefit plan
within the meaning of Section 3(3) of the Employee Retirement Income Security
Act of 1974, as amended ("ERISA"), any material fringe benefit, stock option,
equity-based compensation, phantom stock, bonus or incentive plan, severance pay
policy or agreement, retirement, pension, profit sharing or deferred
compensation plan or agreement, or any similar plan or agreement or any plan or
arrangement providing compensation to employees or non-employee directors (an
"EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PROGRAM") other than the Employee Benefit Programs identified
and described in Section 2.18(a) of the Disclosure Schedule attached hereto. A
brief description of each Employee Benefit Program has been provided to the
Investors. The terms and operation of each such Employee Benefit Program comply
and have heretofore complied in all material respects with all applicable laws
and regulations relating to each such Employee Benefit Program. There are no
unfunded obligations of the Company under any Employee Benefit Program that have
not been accrued unless such accrual is not necessary under generally accepted
accounting principles of the United States. The Company is not required to make
any payments or contributions to any Employee Benefit Program pursuant to any
collective bargaining agreement or, to the knowledge of the Company, any
applicable labor relations law, and all Employee Benefit Programs are terminable
at the discretion of the Company without liability to the Company upon or
following such termination, except for benefits accrued under the terms of such
Employee Benefit Programs. Except as described in Section 2.18(a) of the
Disclosure Schedule, the Company has never maintained or contributed to any
Employee Benefit Program providing or promising any health or other nonpension
benefits to employees after their employment terminates other than as required
by part 6 of subtitle B of Title I of ERISA. With respect to any Employee
Benefit Program, to the knowledge of the Company, there has occurred no
"prohibited transaction," as defined in Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of
the Code, or breach of any duty under ERISA or other applicable law that could
result, directly or indirectly, in any Taxes, penalties or other liability to
the Company. No litigation, arbitration or governmental administrative
proceeding (or investigation) or other proceeding (other than those relating to
routine claims for benefits) is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company,
threatened with respect to any such Employee Benefit Program.

            (b) Each Employee Benefit Program that has been intended to qualify
under Section 401(a) or 501(c)(9) of the Code has received a favorable
determination or approval letter from the IRS regarding its qualification under
such section or the time period for submitting a determination letter request
and adopting retroactive amendments under Code Section 401(b) and the
corresponding regulations is open as of the Closing Date and, to the Company's
Knowledge, each such Employee Benefit Plan has, in fact been qualified under the
applicable section of the Code from the effective date of such Employee Benefit
Program through and including the Closing Date (or, if earlier, the date that
all of such Employee Benefit Program's assets were distributed). Except as set
forth in Section 2.18(b) of the Disclosure Schedule, the Company has never
maintained any Employee Benefit Program which has been subject to Title IV of
ERISA or Code Section 412, including, but not limited to, any "multiemployer
plan" (as defined in Section 3(37) or Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA). Each
reference to "Company" in this Section 2.18 also refers to any other entity that
is considered a single employer with the

                                      -18-
<PAGE>

Company under ERISA Section 4001(b) or part of the same "Controlled Group" as
the Company for purposes of ERISA Section 302(d)(8)(C). The Company's Employee
Stock Ownership Plan is not leveraged and is an "employee stock ownership plan"
within the meaning of Section 407(d)(6) of ERISA.

      2.19 INSURANCE COVERAGE. The Company has in full force and effect general
commercial, general liability, product liability, professional liability,
specified director's and officer's liability, workers compensation and
employee's liability, fire and casualty and such other appropriate insurance
policies with coverages customary for similarly situated companies in the same
or similar industries and as required by applicable law. Section 2.19 of the
Disclosure Schedule contains an accurate listing of the insurance policies
currently maintained by the Company. There are currently no claims pending
against the Company under any insurance policies currently in effect and
covering the property, business or employees of the Company, and all premiums
due and payable with respect to the policies maintained by the Company have been
paid to date. To the Company's knowledge, there is no threatened termination of
any such policies or arrangements.

      2.20 INVESTMENT BANKING; BROKERAGE. Except as set forth on Section 2.20 of
the Disclosure Schedule, there are no claims for investment banking fees,
brokerage commissions, broker's or finder's fees or similar compensation in
connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement payable by the
Company or based on any arrangement or agreement made by or on behalf of the
Company.

      2.21 ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS. Except as set forth on Section 2.21 of the
Disclosure Schedule, no hazardous waste, substance or material, and no oil,
petroleum, petroleum product, asbestos, toxic substance, pollutant or
contaminant (collectively, "HAZARDOUS MATERIAL"), has been generated,
transported, used, handled, processed, disposed, stored or treated on any real
property owned, leased or operated by the Company. Except as set forth on
Section 2.21 of the Disclosure Schedule, no Hazardous Material has been spilled,
released, discharged, disposed, or transported from any real property owned,
leased or operated by the Company, and no Hazardous Material is present in, on,
or under any such property. The Company is, and at all times has been, in
compliance in all material respects with all applicable environmental, health
and safety laws, rules, ordinances, by-laws and regulations, and with all
permits, registrations and approvals required under such laws, rules,
ordinances, by-laws and regulations (collectively, "ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS"). Except
as set forth on Section 2.21 of the Disclosure Schedule, the Company is not
aware of any fact or circumstance that could involve the Company in any
litigation, or impose upon the Company any liability, arising under any
Environmental Laws.

      2.22 CUSTOMERS, DISTRIBUTORS AND PARTNERS. Section 2.22 of the Disclosure
Schedule sets forth the name of each customer and distributor of the Company who
accounted for more than five percent (5%) of the revenues of the Company for
each of the fiscal years ended September 30, 2001 and September 30, 2002 and/or
for the eleven months ended August 31, 2003 (the "CUSTOMERS" and "DISTRIBUTORS,"
respectively) together with the names of any persons or entities with which the
Company has a material strategic partnership or similar relationship
("PARTNERS"). Since the date of the Base Balance Sheet, no Customer, Distributor
or Partner of the Company has canceled or otherwise terminated its relationship
with the Company or has materially decreased its usage or purchase of the
services or products of the Company. No

                                      -19-
<PAGE>

Customer, Distributor or Partner has, to the knowledge of the Company, any plan
or intention to terminate, cancel or otherwise materially and adversely modify
its relationship with the Company or to decrease materially or limit its usage,
purchase or distribution of the services or products of the Company.

      2.23 SUPPLIERS. The Company's relationships with its major suppliers are
good commercial working relationships, and, within the last twelve months, no
supplier that the Company has paid or is under contract to pay $100,000 or more
has canceled, materially modified, or otherwise terminated its relationship with
the Company, or materially decreased its services, supplies or materials to the
Company, nor to the knowledge of the Company, does any supplier have any plan or
intention to do any of the foregoing.

      2.24 WARRANTY AND RELATED MATTERS. Section 2.24 of the Disclosure Schedule
sets forth a complete list of all outstanding product and service warranties and
guarantees on any of the products or services that the Company distributes,
services, markets, sells or produces for itself, a customer or a third party
(each such product or service shall be referred to herein as a "COMPANY
PRODUCT"). There are no existing or, to the knowledge of the Company,
threatened, claims against the Company relating to any work performed by the
Company, product liability, warranty or other similar claims against the Company
alleging that any Company Product is defective or fails to meet any product or
service warranties. There are (a) no inherent design defects or systemic or
chronic problems in any Company Product other than in connection with Company
Products that are in testing or development stages and (b) no liabilities for
warranty or other claims or returns with respect to any Company Product relating
to any such defects or problems that could reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect.

      2.25 ILLEGAL PAYMENTS. Neither the Company nor, to the Company's
knowledge, any Person affiliated with the Company has ever offered, made or
received on behalf of the Company any illegal payment or contribution of any
kind, directly or indirectly, including, without limitation, payments, gifts or
gratuities, to any person, entity, or United States or foreign national, state
or local government officials, employees or agents or candidates therefor or
other persons.

      2.26 SOLVENCY. The Company has not: (a) made a general assignment for the
benefit of creditors; (b) filed any voluntary petition in bankruptcy or suffered
the filing of any involuntary petition by its creditors; (c) suffered the
appointment of a receiver to take possession of all, or substantially all, of
its assets; (d) suffered the attachment or other judicial seizure of all, or
substantially all, of its assets; (e) admitted in writing its inability to pay
its debts as they come due; or (f) made an offer of settlement, extension or
composition to its creditors generally.

      2.27 PRIVACY OF CUSTOMER INFORMATION. The Company has not used and does
not currently use any of the consumer or customer information that it has
received or currently receives through its website or otherwise in an unlawful
manner. The Company has not collected any customer information through its
website or otherwise in an unlawful manner. The Company has commercially
reasonable security measures in place to protect the consumer or customer
information it receives through its website or otherwise and, which it stores in
its computer systems, from illegal use by third parties or use by third parties
in a manner violative of the rights of privacy of its customers.

                                      -20-
<PAGE>

      2.28 BACKLOG. The Company has a backlog of purchase orders for the sale of
its products and services as set forth in Section 2.28 of the Disclosure
Schedule. None of such orders has been cancelled or materially reduced, and each
of such orders on backlog is at a price and on terms (including margin)
consistent with the Company's past practices and the ordinary course of
business.

      2.29 HEALTH MATTERS. To the Company's knowledge, each of Leonard Foxman
and Ted Foxman is in good health as of the Closing.

      2.30 DISCLOSURE. The representations and warranties made or contained in
this Agreement, the Disclosure Schedule and exhibits hereto and the certificates
and statements executed or delivered in connection herewith, when taken
together, do not and shall not contain any untrue statement of a material fact
and do not and shall not omit to state a material fact required to be stated
herein or therein or necessary in order to make such representations, warranties
or other material not misleading in the light of the circumstances in which they
were made or delivered. To the knowledge of the Company, there is no material
fact directly relating to the assets, liabilities, business, operations or
condition (financial or other) of the Company (including any competitive
developments other than facts that relate to general economic or industry trends
or conditions) that materially adversely affects the same. No officer or
director of the Company has been: (a) subject to voluntary or involuntary
petition under the federal bankruptcy laws or any state insolvency law or the
appointment of a receiver, fiscal agent or similar officer by a court for his or
her business or property or that of any partnership of which he or she was a
general partner or any corporation or business association of which he or she
was an executive officer; (b) convicted in a criminal proceeding or named as a
subject of a pending criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations and other
minor offenses) or been otherwise accused of any act of moral turpitude; (c) the
subject of any order, judgment, or decree (not subsequently reversed, suspended
or vacated) of any court of competent jurisdiction permanently or temporarily
enjoining him or her from, or otherwise imposing limits or conditions on his or
her ability to engage in any securities, investment advisory, banking, insurance
or other type of business or acting as an officer or director of a public
company; (d) found by a court of competent jurisdiction in a civil action or by
the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") or the Commodity Futures Trading
Commission to have violated any federal or state commodities, securities or
unfair trade practices law, which judgment or finding has not been subsequently
reversed, suspended, or vacated; or (e) has engaged in other conduct that would
be required to be disclosed in a prospectus under Item 401(f) of SEC Regulation
S-K.

SECTION 3. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE INVESTORS

      In order to induce the Company to enter into this Agreement, each Investor
severally but not jointly represents and warrants to the Company the following:

      3.1 INVESTMENT STATUS. Each Investor is an "accredited investor," as such
term is defined in Rule 501 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"Securities Act"). Each Investor is purchasing the Securities for its own
account, for investment only and not with a view to, or any present intention
of, effecting a distribution of such securities or any part thereof except
pursuant to a registration or an available exemption under applicable law. Each
Investor

                                      -21-
<PAGE>

acknowledges that its respective Securities have not been registered under the
Securities Act or the securities laws of any state or other jurisdiction and
cannot be disposed of unless they are subsequently registered under the
Securities Act and any applicable state laws or an exemption from such
registration is available.

      3.2 AUTHORITY AND NON-CONTRAVENTION. Each Investor has full right,
authority and power under its charter, by-laws or governing partnership
agreement, as applicable, to enter into this Agreement and all agreements,
documents and instruments executed by such Investor pursuant hereto and to carry
out the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. This Agreement and all
agreements, documents and instruments executed by each Investor pursuant hereto
are valid and binding obligations of each of the Investors enforceable in
accordance with their respective terms, except: (x) as limited by applicable
bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other laws of general
application affecting enforcement of creditors' rights generally and (y) as
limited by laws relating to the availability of specific performance, injunctive
relief or other equitable remedies. The execution, delivery and performance of
this Agreement and all agreements, documents and instruments executed by each
such Investor pursuant hereto have been duly authorized by all necessary action
under each such Investor's charter, by-laws or governing partnership agreement,
as applicable. The execution, delivery and performance by each Investor of this
Agreement and all agreements, documents and instruments to be executed and
delivered by each such Investor pursuant hereto do not and will not: (a) violate
or result in a violation of, conflict with or constitute or result in a default
(whether after the giving of notice, lapse of time or both) under, accelerate
any obligation under, or give rise to a right of termination of, any material
contract, agreement, obligation, permit, license or authorization to which each
such Investor is a party or by which such Investor or its assets is bound, or
any provision of each such Investor's organizational documents; (b) violate or
result in a violation of, or constitute a default (whether after the giving of
notice, lapse of time or both) under, any provision of any law, regulation or
rule, or any order of, or any restriction imposed by, any court or governmental
agency applicable to each such Investor; or (c) require from each such Investor
any notice to, declaration or filing with, or consent or approval of, any
governmental authority or other third party (that has not already been
obtained).

SECTION 4. CLOSING CONDITIONS AND DELIVERIES

      The obligations of each Investor to purchase and pay for its pro rata
portion of the Convertible Preferred Shares shall be subject to the fulfillment
by the Company and the Stockholders to the Investors' reasonable satisfaction or
waiver on or before the Closing of the following conditions:

      4.1 TRANSACTIONS TO OCCUR PRIOR TO CLOSING. Immediately prior to Closing
the Company shall have completed the following transactions on terms
satisfactory to the Investors:

            (a) the Company shall have adopted the Articles of Incorporation and
the Bylaws, respectively, and such Articles of Incorporation shall have been
filed and become effective under the laws of the State of Illinois; and,

            (b) the Company shall have adopted the Stock Option and Grant Plan;
and

                                      -22-
<PAGE>

            (c) the Company shall have executed and delivered the Note Purchase
Agreement, issued the Subordinated Notes to the Lenders and received $30,000,000
in proceeds.

      4.2 AUTHORIZATION. The Board of Directors and shareholders of the Company
shall have duly adopted resolutions in the form reasonably satisfactory to the
Investors and shall have taken all action necessary for the purpose of
authorizing the Company to consummate all of the transactions contemplated
hereby (including, without limitation, (a) the issuance of the Convertible
Preferred Shares and, upon conversion thereof the Conversion Shares, (b) the
issuance of the Convertible Subordinated Notes and the Warrants and the Common
Stock issuable upon exercise thereon, and (c) approving such purchases by the
Investors for purposes of Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended (the "EXCHANGE ACT"), and Rule 16b-3 thereunder).

      4.3 APPROVALS, CONSENTS AND WAIVERS. The Company and the Stockholders
shall have made all filings with and notifications of governmental authorities,
regulatory agencies and other entities required to be made by such parties in
connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the performance of
the transactions contemplated hereby and the continued operation of the business
of the Company subsequent to the Closing and the Investors shall have received
copies of all authorizations, waivers, consents and permits, in form and
substance reasonably satisfactory to the Investors, including any and all
notices, consents and waivers required from all third parties, including,
without limitation, applicable governmental authorities, regulatory agencies,
lessors, lenders and contract parties, required to permit the continuation of
the business of the Company and the consummation of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement and to avoid a breach, default, termination,
acceleration or modification of any indenture, loan or credit agreement or any
other material agreement, contract, instrument, mortgage, lien, lease, permit,
authorization, order, writ, judgment, injunction, decree, determination or
arbitration award as a result of, or in connection with, the execution and
performance of this Agreement.

      4.4 DELIVERIES BY THE COMPANY AND THE STOCKHOLDERS TO THE INVESTORS. At
the Closing, the Company and the Stockholders, as the case may be, shall have
delivered, or shall have caused to be delivered, to the Investors, all in form
and substance satisfactory to the Investors, the following:

            (a) the Stockholders' Agreement executed by the Company and the
shareholders of the Company named therein;

            (b) the Registration Rights Agreement executed by the Company;

            (c) a Management Rights Letter in the form attached as Exhibit I;

            (d) a Non-competition Agreement in the form attached as Exhibit J
executed by the Company, the Investors, and each of Leonard Foxman and the
Foxman Family LLC;

            (e) an Employment Agreement in the form attached as Exhibit K (an
"EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT") executed by the Company and each of Theodore Foxman,
Leonard Foxman, Jack Weimer, Steve Dollens and Derek Abramovitch;

                                      -23-
<PAGE>

            (f) Certificates issued by (i) the Secretary of State of the State
of Illinois certifying that the Company has legal existence and is in good
standing; and (ii) the Secretary of State (or similar authority) of each
jurisdiction in which the Company has qualified to do business as a foreign
corporation (or is required to be so qualified) as to such foreign
qualification;

            (g) A certificate issued by the Secretary of State of the State of
Illinois certifying that the Articles of Incorporation have been filed and are
effective;

            (h) A certificate executed by the Secretary of the Company
certifying (i) the names of the officers of the Company authorized to sign this
Agreement and the other agreements, documents and instruments executed by the
Company pursuant hereto, together with the true signatures of such officers;
(ii) copies of consent actions taken by the Board of Directors and shareholders
of the Company authorizing the appropriate officers of the Company to execute
and deliver this Agreement and all agreements, documents and instruments
executed by the Company pursuant hereto, and to consummate the transactions
contemplated hereby and thereby, including, without limitation: (A) the adoption
of the Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws; (B) the issuance of the Convertible
Preferred Shares; (C) upon conversion of the Convertible Preferred Shares, the
issuance of the Common Conversion Shares; and (iii) the effectiveness, and
setting forth a copy of, the Articles of Incorporation;

            (i) An opinion of Katten Muchin Zavis Rosenman, dated as of the
Closing Date, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit L;

            (j) Stock certificates evidencing the Convertible Preferred Shares
acquired from the Company hereunder;

            (k) the Note Purchase Agreement and the Convertible Subordinated
Notes each executed by the Company in favor of the Lenders, respectively;

            (l) Director Indemnification Agreements executed by the Company in
favor of Michael C. Child, Jameson J. McJunkin, Leonard Foxman, and Theodore
Foxman, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit M; and

            (m) Such other supporting documents and certificates as the
Investors may reasonably request or as may be required pursuant to this
Agreement including, but not limited to:

                  (i) evidence of the full release of that certain lien on all
      of the assets of the Company held by American National Bank and Trust
      Company of Chicago ("ANB");

                  (ii) evidence of the termination of those certain Incentive
      Bonus/Stock Option/Restriction/Non-Compete Agreements by and among the
      Company, Leonard Foxman and Jack Weimer or Steve Dollens, as applicable;

                                      -24-
<PAGE>

                  (iii) evidence of the amendment of that certain assignment
      agreement between the Company and Eagle Test Systems, YH;

                  (iv) evidence of the consent to the transactions contemplated
      hereby of ANB, the landlord with respect to the property located at 5020
      South Ash Avenue, Tempe, AZ and the landlord with respect to the property
      located at 620 Butterfield Road, Mundelein, Illinois; and

                  (v) evidence of the termination of that certain Service
      Agreement between the Company and Pacific Support Group Partners.

      4.5 CLOSING DELIVERIES BY THE INVESTORS TO THE COMPANY. At the Closing,
the Investors shall deliver, or shall have caused to be delivered, to the
Company, the following:

            (a) A wire transfer of immediately available funds by the Investors
to the Company in respect of the purchase price for the Convertible Preferred
Shares in the aggregate amount of $65,000,000;

            (b) The Stockholders' Agreement executed by each of the Investors;

            (c) The Registration Rights Agreement executed by each of the
Investors; and

            (d) Such other supporting documents and certificates as the Company
may reasonably request and as may be required pursuant to this Agreement.

      4.6 CLOSING DELIVERIES BY THE STOCKHOLDERS TO THE COMPANY. At the
Closing, the Stockholders shall deliver, or shall have caused to be delivered,
to the Company, the stock certificates evidencing the shares of Common Stock
being redeemed by the Company in the Redemption duly endorsed in blank or
accompanied by stock powers duly executed in blank.

      4.7 ALL PROCEEDINGS SATISFACTORY. All corporate and other proceedings of
the Company taken prior to or at the Closing in connection with the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement, and all documents and evidences incident
thereto, shall be reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the
Investors.

      4.8 NO LITIGATION. No action or proceeding by or before any court,
administrative body or governmental agency shall have been instituted or
threatened which seeks to enjoin, restrain or prohibit, or might result in
damages in respect of, this Agreement or consummation of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement. No law or regulation shall be in effect and no
court order shall have been entered in any action or proceeding instituted by
any party that enjoins, restrains or prohibits this Agreement or the complete
consummation of the transactions contemplated in this Agreement.

      4.9 NO VIOLATION OR INJUNCTION. The consummation of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement shall not be in violation of any law or
regulation, and shall not be subject to any injunction, stay or restraining
order.

                                      -25-
<PAGE>

SECTION 5. SURVIVAL OF REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES; TRANSACTION RELATED
INDEMNIFICATION

      5.1 SURVIVAL OF REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES AND COVENANTS.

            (a) All representations, warranties, covenants, and agreements of
the Company, the Stockholders and the Investors made in this Agreement, in the
Disclosure Schedule delivered to the Investors and all agreements, documents and
instruments executed and delivered in connection herewith (i) are material,
shall be deemed to have been relied upon by the party or parties to whom they
are made, and shall survive the Closing regardless of any investigation on the
part of such party or its representatives, with all parties hereto reserving
their respective rights hereunder and (ii) shall bind the parties' successors
and assigns (including, without limitation, any successor to the Company by way
of acquisition, merger or otherwise), whether so expressed or not, and, except
as otherwise provided in this Agreement, all such representations, warranties,
covenants and agreements shall inure to the benefit of the parties (subject to
Section 6.11 below) and their respective successors and assigns and to their
transferees of Securities, whether so expressed or not.

            (b) The representations and warranties contained in Section 2 hereof
shall expire and terminate and be of no further force and effect after the date
which is sixty (60) days following the Investors' receipt of the Company's
audited financial statements as of and for the fiscal year ending September 30,
2004, except that any written claim for breach thereof made prior to such
expiration date and delivered to the party against whom such indemnification is
sought shall survive thereafter and, as to any such claim, such applicable
expiration will not effect the rights to indemnification of the party making
such claim; provided, however, that any such written claim by the Investors with
respect to a breach of the representations and warranties of the Stockholders or
the Company may (i) with respect to a breach of the representations or
warranties contained in Section 2.1, Section 2.2, Section 2.4 or with respect to
fraud or intentional misrepresentation by the Company or the Stockholders, be
given at any time and (ii) with respect to a breach of the representations or
warranties contained in Section 2.12 and Section 2.20 and the items set forth in
Sections 5.2(a)(ii)-(iv) be given at any time prior to the expiration of the
applicable statute of limitations.

      5.2 TRANSACTION RELATED INDEMNIFICATION.

            (a) Each of the Stockholders acknowledges and agrees that the
Investors have relied on the representations, warranties, covenants and other
agreements of the Stockholders and the Company contained herein in connection
with their acquisition of the Convertible Preferred Stock and willingness to
provide the Company with the proceeds required to consummate the Redemption.
Accordingly, the Stockholders severally and not jointly, on his, her or its own
behalf and on behalf of his, her or its successors, executors, administrators,
estate, heirs and assigns (collectively, for the purposes of this Section 5.2,
the "STOCKHOLDER PARTIES", and each individually, a "STOCKHOLDER PARTY") (or, at
the sole option of the Investors with respect to any matter subject to
indemnification under this Section 5.2, the Company) agree (on a pro-rata basis
based on the relative proceeds received by each such Stockholder in the
Redemption), to defend, indemnify and hold the Investors, their respective
affiliates and direct and indirect partners

                                      -26-
<PAGE>

(including partners of partners and stockholders and members of partners),
members, stockholders, directors, officers, employees and agents and each person
who controls any of them within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act
or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, (collectively, the "INVESTOR PARTIES" and,
individually, an "INVESTOR PARTY") harmless from and against any and all
damages, liabilities, losses, claims, diminution in value, obligations, liens,
assessments, judgments, Taxes, fines, penalties, reasonable costs and expenses
(including, without limitation, reasonable fees of a single counsel representing
the Investor Parties), as the same are incurred, of any kind or nature
whatsoever (whether or not arising out of third-party claims and including all
amounts paid in investigation, defense or settlement of the foregoing and
consequential damages) ("LOSSES") that may be sustained or suffered by any such
Investor Party based upon, arising out of, or by reason of (i) any breach of any
representation or warranty made by the Company or such Stockholders, as
applicable, in Section 2 of this Agreement; (ii) the generation, transport, use,
handling, processing, disposal, storage, release or treatment of the substance
1, 1, 1 trichloroethylene (TCE) ("TCE") at the property located at 1353 Armour
Boulevard, Mundelein, Illinois; (iii) any settlement, judgment or other payment
by the Company or any of its subsidiaries in excess of $250,000 with respect to
the Company's dispute with Schmidt Scientific Pte Ltd. ("Schmidt") in connection
with services performed by Schmidt for the Company, or (iv) any trademark
infringement claims by White Eagle Systems Technology, Inc. (or its successors
or assigns) with respect to the use by the Company of the name "Eagle Test
Systems" or a derivative thereof.

            (b) The Investor Parties jointly and severally agree to defend,
indemnify and hold the Stockholder Parties harmless from and against any and all
Losses that may be sustained or suffered by any such Stockholder Party based
upon, arising out of, or by reason of any breach of any representation or
warranty made by the Investors in Section 3 of this Agreement.

      5.3 LIMITATIONS ON TRANSACTION RELATED INDEMNIFICATION. Notwithstanding
anything in Section 5.2 to the contrary, (a) the Stockholder Indemnifying
Parties shall not be obligated to provide indemnification for Losses in respect
of claims made by any Investor Party for indemnification under Section 5.2 above
unless the total of all Losses in respect of claims made by the Investor Parties
for indemnification shall exceed $750,000 (the "DEDUCTIBLE") in the aggregate,
whereupon the total amount of such Losses in excess of the Deductible shall be
recoverable by the Investor Parties in accordance with the terms hereof, and (b)
the maximum amount payable by the Stockholder Parties to all Investor Parties
for Losses in respect of claims made by the Investor Parties for indemnification
under Section 5.2 shall not exceed $35,000,000; provided, however, that the
Investor Parties shall not be subject to any limitation pursuant to this Section
5.3 or otherwise, and shall be entitled to recovery from a Stockholder Party
(or, at the sole option of the Investors with respect to any matter subject to
indemnification under Section 5.2, from the Company for all Losses) for Losses
in connection with (i) fraud or intentional misrepresentation by the
Stockholders or the Company, (ii) the breach by the Company or the Stockholders
of any of the representations or warranties contained in Section 2.1, Section
2.2, Section 2.4, Section 2.6(c) and (d), Section 2.8, Section 2.12, or Section
2.20; (iii) the generation, transport, use, handling, processing, disposal,
storage, release or treatment of TCE at the property located at 1353 Armour
Boulevard, Mundelein, Illinois; (iii) any settlement, judgment or other payment
by the Company or any of its subsidiaries in excess of $250,000 with respect to
the Company's dispute with Schmidt in connection with services performed by

                                      -27-
<PAGE>

Schmidt for the Company, or (iv) any trademark infringement claims by White
Eagle Systems Technology, Inc. (or its successors or assigns) with respect to
the use by the Company of the name "Eagle Test Systems" or a derivative thereof.

      5.4 NOTICE; PAYMENT OF LOSSES; DEFENSE OF THIRD-PARTY CLAIMS.

            (a) An Indemnified Party (as defined below) shall give written
notice of a claim for indemnification under Section 5.2 to an Indemnifying Party
(as defined below) promptly after receipt of any written claim by any third
party and in any event not later than twenty (20) business days after receipt of
any such written claim (or not later than ten (10) business days after the
receipt of any such written claim in the event such written claim is in the form
of a formal complaint filed with a court of competent jurisdiction and served on
the Indemnified Party), specifying in reasonable detail the amount, nature and
source of the claim, and including therewith copies of any notices or other
documents received from third parties with respect to such claim; provided,
however, that failure to give such notice shall not limit the right of an
Indemnified Party to recover indemnity or reimbursement except to the extent
that the Indemnifying Party suffers any material prejudice or material harm with
respect to such claim as a result of such failure. The Indemnified Party shall
also provide the Indemnifying Party with such further information concerning any
such claims as the Indemnifying Party may reasonably request by written notice.

            (b) Within five (5) business days after receiving notice of a claim
for indemnification or reimbursement, the Indemnifying Party shall, by written
notice to the Indemnified Party, either (i) concede or deny liability for the
claim in whole or in part, or (ii) in the case of a claim asserted by a third
party, advise that the matters set forth in the notice are, or will be, subject
to contest or legal proceedings not yet finally resolved. If the Indemnifying
Party concedes liability in whole or in part, it shall, within twenty (20)
business days of such concession, pay the amount of the claim to the Indemnified
Party to the extent of the liability conceded. Any such payment shall be made in
immediately available funds equal to the amount of such claim so payable. If the
Indemnifying Party denies liability in whole or in part or advises that the
matters set forth in the notice are, or will be, subject to contest or legal
proceedings not yet finally resolved, then the Indemnifying Party shall make no
payment (except for the amount of any conceded liability payable as set forth
above) until the matter is resolved in accordance with this Agreement.

            (c) In the case of any third party claim, if within five (5)
business days after receiving the notice described in the preceding paragraph
(a), the Indemnifying Party gives written notice to the Indemnified Party
stating that the Indemnifying Party would be liable under the provisions hereof
for indemnity in the amount of such claim if such claim were valid and that the
Indemnifying Party disputes and intends to defend against such claim, liability
or expense at the Indemnifying Party's own cost and expense, then counsel for
the defense shall be selected by the Indemnifying Party (subject to the consent
of such Indemnified Party which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld) and
such Indemnifying Party shall not be required to make any payment to the
Indemnified Party with respect to such claim, liability or expense as long as
the Indemnifying Party is conducting a good faith and diligent defense at its
own expense; provided, however, that the assumption of defense of any such
matters by the Indemnifying Party shall relate solely to the claim, liability or
expense that is subject or potentially subject to

                                      -28-
<PAGE>

indemnification. If the Indemnifying Party assumes such defense in accordance
with the preceding sentence, it shall have the right, with the consent of such
Indemnified Party, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, to settle
all indemnifiable matters related to claims by third parties which are
susceptible to being settled provided the Indemnifying Party's obligation to
indemnify such Indemnified Party therefor will be fully satisfied only by
payment of money by the Indemnifying Party pursuant to a settlement which
includes a complete release of such Indemnified Party. The Indemnifying Party
shall keep such Indemnified Party apprised of the status of the claim, liability
or expense and any resulting suit, proceeding or enforcement action, shall
furnish such Indemnified Party with all documents and information that such
Indemnified Party shall reasonably request and shall consult with such
Indemnified Party prior to acting on major matters, including settlement
discussions. Notwithstanding anything herein stated, such Indemnified Party
shall at all times have the right to fully participate in such defense at its
own expense directly or through counsel; provided, however, if the named parties
to the action or proceeding include both the Indemnifying Party and the
Indemnified Party and representation of both parties by the same counsel would
be inappropriate under applicable standards of professional conduct, the
reasonable expense of separate counsel for such Indemnified Party shall be paid
by the Indemnifying Party provided that such Indemnifying Party shall be
obligated to pay for only one counsel for the Indemnified Party in any
jurisdiction. If no such notice of intent to dispute and defend is given by the
Indemnifying Party, or if such diligent good faith defense is not being or
ceases to be conducted, such Indemnified Party may undertake the defense of
(with counsel selected by such Indemnified Party), and shall have the right to
compromise or settle, such claim, liability or expense (exercising reasonable
business judgment) with the consent of the Indemnifying Party, which consent
shall not be unreasonably withheld. If such claim, liability or expense is one
that by its nature cannot be defended solely by the Indemnifying Party, then
such Indemnified Party shall make available all information and assistance that
the Indemnifying Party may reasonably request and shall cooperate with the
Indemnifying Party in such defense.

            For purposes of this Section 5.4 "Indemnifying Party" shall refer to
the Stockholder Party for indemnification under Section 5.1(a) and the Investor
Party for indemnification under Section 5.2(b). "Indemnified Party" shall refer
to the Investor Party for indemnification under Section 5.2(a) and the
Stockholder Party for indemnification under Section 5.2(b).

      5.5 LIMITATION ON CONTRIBUTION AND CERTAIN OTHER RIGHTS. The Company and
the Stockholders hereby agree that if, following the Closing, any claim is made
by any Stockholder, or otherwise becomes due from any Stockholder, pursuant to
Section 5.2 in respect of any Losses (a "LOSS PAYMENT"), such Stockholders shall
have no rights against the Company, or any director, officer or employee thereof
(in their capacity as such), whether by reason of contribution, indemnification,
subrogation or otherwise, in respect of any such Loss Payment, and shall not
take any action against the Company or any such person with respect thereto;
provided, however, that the foregoing limitation shall not apply to any claim
against the Company's directors, officers or employees for fraud.

                                      -29-
<PAGE>

SECTION 6. GENERAL

      6.1 WAIVERS AND CONSENTS; AMENDMENTS.

            (a) For the purposes of this Agreement and all agreements, documents
and instruments executed pursuant hereto, no course of dealing between or among
any of the parties hereto and no delay on the part of any party hereto in
exercising any rights hereunder or thereunder shall operate as a waiver of the
rights hereof and thereof. No covenant or provision hereof may be waived
otherwise than by a written instrument signed by the party or parties so waiving
such covenant or other provision as contemplated herein.

            (b) No amendment to this Agreement may be made without the written
consent of the Company and holders of a majority in interest of the outstanding
Securities (a "MAJORITY INTEREST"); provided that no amendment may be made to
Sections 1.3, 2, 4.6, or 5 hereof or this Section 6.1(b) without the written
consent of the holders of a majority in interest of the outstanding Common Stock
held by the Stockholders; and provided further that no amendment that by its
terms disproportionately and adversely affects any party hereto to may be made
without the written consent of that party.

            (c) Any actions required to be taken with respect to consents,
approvals or waivers required or contemplated to be given by the Investors
hereunder shall require a vote of Investors holding a Majority Interest, and any
such action by such Majority Interest shall bind all of the Investors.

      6.2 LEGEND ON SECURITIES. The Company and the Investors acknowledge and
agree that the following legend shall be typed on each certificate evidencing
any of the securities issued hereunder held at any time by the Investors:

      THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED HEREBY HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE
SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 (THE "ACT"), OR ANY STATE SECURITIES OR BLUE SKY LAWS AND
MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD, TRANSFERRED, HYPOTHECATED OR OTHERWISE ASSIGNED EXCEPT
(1) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT WITH RESPECT TO SUCH SECURITIES WHICH
IS EFFECTIVE UNDER THE ACT OR (2) PURSUANT TO AN AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM
REGISTRATION UNDER THE ACT RELATING TO THE DISPOSITION OF SECURITIES AND (3) IN
ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES AND BLUE SKY LAWS.

      6.3 GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement shall be deemed to be a contract made
under, and shall be construed in accordance with, the laws of Illinois, without
giving effect to conflict of laws principles thereof.

      6.4 SECTION HEADINGS; CONSTRUCTION. The descriptive headings in this
Agreement have been inserted for convenience only and shall not be deemed to
limit or otherwise affect the construction of any provision thereof or hereof.
The use in this Agreement of the masculine pronoun in reference to a party
hereto shall be deemed to include the feminine or neuter, and vice versa, as the
context may require. The parties have participated jointly in the negotiation
and

                                      -30-
<PAGE>

drafting of this Agreement and the other agreements, documents and instruments
executed and delivered in connection herewith with counsel sophisticated in
investment transactions. In the event an ambiguity or question of intent or
interpretation arises, this Agreement and the agreements, documents and
instruments executed and delivered in connection herewith shall be construed as
if drafted jointly by the parties and no presumption or burden of proof shall
arise favoring or disfavoring any party by virtue of the authorship of any
provisions of this Agreement and the agreements, documents and instruments
executed and delivered in connection herewith.

      6.5 COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed simultaneously in any
number of counterparts, each of which when so executed and delivered shall be
taken to be an original; but such counterparts shall together constitute but one
and the same document.

      6.6 NOTICES AND DEMANDS. Any notice or demand which is required or
provided to be given under this Agreement shall be deemed to have been
sufficiently given and received for all purposes when delivered in writing by
hand, telecopy, telex or other method of facsimile, or five (5) days after being
sent by certified or registered mail, postage and charges prepaid, return
receipt requested, or two (2) days after being sent by overnight delivery
providing receipt of delivery, to the following addresses: if to the Company or
the Stockholders, Eagle Test Systems, 620 S. Butterfield Road, Mundelein, IL
60060-4483, Attention: Len Foxman and Ted Foxman, Facsimile: (847) 367-8640, or
at any other address designated by the Company, to the Investors and the other
parties hereto in writing; if to the Investors, TA Associates, Inc., 125 High
Street, Suite 2500, Boston, MA 02110, Attention Michael C. Child and Jameson J.
McJunkin, Facsimile: (617) 574-6728, or at any other address designated by the
Investors to the Company in writing.

      6.7 DISPUTE RESOLUTION

            (a) All disputes, claims, or controversies arising out of or
relating to (i) this Agreement, the Stockholders' Agreement, the Registration
Rights Agreement, or any other agreement executed and delivered pursuant to this
Agreement or the negotiation, breach, validity or performance hereof and thereof
or the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, (ii) the rights of the
Investors and their successors and the obligations of the Company set forth in
the Articles of Incorporation or (iii) the Investors' ongoing investment in the
Company, that are not resolved by mutual agreement shall be resolved solely and
exclusively by binding arbitration to be conducted before J.A.M.S./Endispute,
Inc. in Chicago, Illinois before a single arbitrator (the "ARBITRATOR"). The
parties understand and agree that this arbitration shall apply equally to claims
of fraud or fraud in the inducement.

            (b) The parties covenant and agree that the arbitration shall
commence within one hundred and eighty (180) days of the date on which a written
demand for arbitration is filed by any party hereto (the "FILING DATE"). In
connection with the arbitration proceeding, the Arbitrator shall have the power
to order the production of documents by each party and any third-party
witnesses. In addition, each party may take up to three depositions as of right,
and the Arbitrator may in his or her discretion allow additional depositions
upon good cause shown by the moving party. However, the Arbitrator shall not
have the power to order the answering of interrogatories or the response to
requests for admission. In connection with any arbitration, each party shall
provide to the other, no later than seven (7) business days before the date of
the

                                      -31-
<PAGE>

arbitration, the identity of all persons that may testify at the arbitration and
a copy of all documents that may be introduced at the arbitration or considered
or used by a party's witnesses or experts. The Arbitrator's decision and award
shall be made and delivered within two hundred and forty (240) days of the
Filing Date. The Arbitrator's decision shall set forth a reasoned basis for any
award of damages or finding of liability. The Arbitrator shall not have power to
award damages in excess of actual compensatory damages and shall not multiply
actual damages or award punitive damages or any other damages that are
specifically excluded under this Agreement, and each party hereby irrevocably
waives any claim to such damages.

            (c) The parties covenant and agree that they will participate in the
arbitration in good faith and that they will, except as provided in Section 5.2
of this Agreement, (i) bear their own attorneys' fees, costs and expenses in
connection with the arbitration, and (ii) share equally in the fees and expenses
charged by the Arbitrator. Any party unsuccessfully refusing to comply with an
order of the Arbitrators shall be liable for costs and expenses, including
attorneys' fees, incurred by the other party in enforcing the award. This
Section 6.7 applies equally to requests for temporary, preliminary or permanent
injunctive relief, except that in the case of temporary or preliminary
injunctive relief any party may proceed in court without prior arbitration for
the purpose of avoiding immediate and irreparable harm or to enforce its rights
under any non-competition covenants.

      6.8 CONSENT TO JURISDICTION. Except as provided in Section 6.7(c) and 6.9,
each of the parties hereto irrevocably and unconditionally consents to the
jurisdiction of J.A.M.S./Endispute, Inc. to resolve all disputes, claims or
controversies arising out of or relating to (i) this Agreement, the
Stockholders' Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement or any other
agreement executed and delivered pursuant to this Agreement or the negotiation,
breach, validity or performance hereof and thereof or the transactions
contemplated hereby and thereby, (ii) the rights of the Investors and their
successors and the obligations of the Company set forth in the Articles of
Incorporation or (iii) the Investors' ongoing investment in the Company, and
further consents to the sole and exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of
Illinois and California for the purposes of enforcing the arbitration provisions
of Section 6.7 of this Agreement. Each party further irrevocably waives any
objection to proceeding before the Arbitrator based upon lack of personal
jurisdiction or to the laying of venue and further irrevocably and
unconditionally waives and agrees not to make a claim in any court that
arbitration before the Arbitrator has been brought in an inconvenient forum.
Each of the parties hereto hereby consents to service of process by registered
mail at the address to which notices are to be given. Each of the parties hereto
agrees that its or his submission to jurisdiction and its or his consent to
service of process by mail is made for the express benefit of the other parties
hereto.

      6.9 REMEDIES; SEVERABILITY. Notwithstanding Sections 6.7 and 6.8 above, it
is specifically understood and agreed that any breach of the provisions of this
Agreement, the Stockholders' Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement, or
any other agreement executed and delivered pursuant to this Agreement, or of the
provisions of the Articles of Incorporation, by any person subject hereto will
result in irreparable injury to the other parties hereto, that the remedy at law
alone will be an inadequate remedy for such breach, and that, in addition to any
other remedies which they may have, such other parties may enforce their
respective rights by actions for specific performance (to the extent permitted
by law). Whenever possible, each

                                      -32-
<PAGE>

provision of this Agreement shall be interpreted in such a manner as to be
effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision of this Agreement
shall be deemed prohibited or invalid under such applicable law, such provision
shall be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or invalidity, and such
prohibition or invalidity shall not invalidate the remainder of such provision
or the other provisions of this Agreement.

      6.10 INTEGRATION. This Agreement, including the exhibits, documents and
instruments referred to herein or therein constitute the entire agreement, and
supersede all other prior agreements and understandings, both written and oral,
among the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof,
including, without limitation, the provisions of the letter of intent between
the parties hereto in respect of the transactions contemplated herein, which
provisions of the letter of intent shall be completely superseded by the
representations, warranties, covenants and agreements of the Company contained
herein.

      6.11 ASSIGNABILITY; BINDING AGREEMENT. Each Investor may assign any or all
of its rights hereunder to any transferee of its shares. This Agreement may not
otherwise be assigned by any party hereto without the prior written consent of
each other party hereto. This Agreement (including, without limitation, the
provisions of Section 5) shall be binding upon and enforceable by, and shall
inure to the benefit of, the parties hereto and their respective successors,
heirs, executors, administrators and permitted assigns, and no others.
Notwithstanding the foregoing and except as provided in Section 5.3 hereof,
nothing in this Agreement is intended to give any Person not named herein the
benefit of any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Agreement,
except as expressly provided herein.

      6.12 RELEASE.

            (a) For and in consideration of the amount to be paid to each
Stockholder under this Agreement, and the additional covenants and promises set
forth in this Agreement, each Stockholder, on behalf of itself and its assigns,
heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, representatives, agents and affiliates (the
"Releasing Parties"), hereby fully, finally and irrevocably releases, acquits
and forever discharges the Company, and each of the Investors, and the officers,
directors, partners, general partners, limited partners, managing directors,
members, stockholders, trustees, shareholders, representatives, employees,
principals, agents, Affiliates, parents, subsidiaries, joint ventures,
predecessors, successors, assigns, beneficiaries, heirs, executors, personal or
legal representatives, insurers and attorneys of any of them, including without
limitation Michael C. Child and Jameson J. McJunkin (collectively, the "Released
Parties") from any and all commitments, actions, debts, claims, counterclaims,
suits, causes of action, damages, demands, liabilities, obligations, costs,
expenses, and compensation of every kind and nature whatsoever, at law or in
equity, whether known or unknown, contingent or otherwise, that such Releasing
Parties, or any of them, had, has, or may have had at any time in the past until
and including the date of this Agreement based on events or occurrences through
the date of this Agreement against the Released Parties, or any of them,
including but not limited to any claims that relate to or arise out of such
Releasing Party's prior relationship with the Company or its rights or status as
a shareholder, officer or director of the Company (collectively, for the
purposes of this Section 6.12, "Causes of Action"). In executing this Agreement,
each Stockholder acknowledges that it has been informed that the Company and/or
its Subsidiaries may from time to time enter into agreements for additional
types of financing, including without

                                      -33-
<PAGE>

limitation recapitalizations, mergers and initial public offerings of capital
stock of the Company and/or its Subsidiaries, and also may pursue acquisitions
or enter into agreements for the sale of the Company and/or its Subsidiaries or
all or a portion of the Company's or its Subsidiaries' assets, which may result
in or reflect an increase in equity value or enterprise value.

            (b) Each Stockholder hereby represents to the Released Parties that
such Stockholder (i) has not assigned any Causes of Action or possible Causes of
Action against any Released Party, (ii) fully intends to release all Causes of
Action against the Released Parties including, without limitation, unknown and
contingent Causes of Action (other than those specifically reserved above), and
(iii) has consulted with counsel with respect to the execution and delivery of
this general release and has been fully apprised of the consequences hereof.
Furthermore, each Stockholder further agrees not to institute any litigation,
lawsuit, claim or action against any Released Party with respect to the released
Causes of Action.

            (c) Each Stockholder hereby represents and warrants that it has
access to adequate information regarding the terms of this Agreement, the scope
and effect of the releases set forth herein, and all other matters encompassed
by this Agreement to make an informed and knowledgeable decision with regard to
entering into this Agreement. The Stockholder further represents and warrants
that it has not relied upon the Company, the Investors or the Released Parties
in deciding to enter into this Agreement and has instead made its own
independent analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement.

      6.13 CONFIDENTIALITY. Notwithstanding anything herein or any other express
or implied agreement, arrangement or understanding to the contrary, the parties
acknowledge and agree that (i) any obligations of confidentiality contained
herein and therein do not apply and have not applied from the commencement of
discussions between the parties to the tax treatment and tax structure of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement (and any related transactions or
agreements) and (ii) each party to this Agreement (and each of its employees,
representatives or other agents) may disclose to any and all persons, without
limitation of any kind, the tax treatment and tax structure of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement and all materials of any kind (including opinions
or other tax analyses) that are provided to it relating to such tax treatment
and tax structure. This authorization to disclose the tax treatment and tax
structure is limited to the extent that confidentiality is required to comply
with any applicable securities laws.

      6.14 EXPENSES. The Company and the Stockholders shall each be responsible
for fifty percent (50%) of all (i) broker and banker fees incurred by the
Stockholders and the Company in connection with transactions contemplated by
this Agreement and (ii) the reasonable costs and expenses (including, but not
limited to, accounting and legal fees and disbursements and other out of pocket
expenses) incurred by the Investors, the Stockholders and the Company in
connection with the preparation, negotiation, execution and delivery of this
Agreement, all other transaction documents contemplated hereby, and the
transactions contemplated hereby and thereby.

      6.15 CERTAIN DEFINITIONS. For purposes of this Agreement, the term:

                                      -34-
<PAGE>

            (a) "AFFILIATE" of a Person shall mean (i) with respect to a Person,
any member of such Person's family (including any child, step-child, parent,
step-parent, spouse, sibling, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law,
daughter-in-law, brother-in-law or sister-in-law); (ii) with respect to an
entity, any officer, director, stockholder, partner or investor in such entity
or of or in any affiliate of such entity; and (iii) with respect to a Person or
entity, any Person or entity which directly or indirectly controls, is
controlled by, or is under common control with such Person or entity;

            (b) "CONTROL" (including the terms "controlled by" and "under common
control with") means the possession, directly or indirectly, or as trustee or
executor, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management
policies of a Person, whether through the ownership of stock, as trustee or
executor, by contract or credit arrangement or otherwise;

            (c) "PERSON" means an individual, corporation, partnership,
association, trust, any unincorporated organization or any other entity; and

            (d) "SUBSIDIARY" of a Person means any corporation more than fifty
(50%) percent of whose outstanding voting securities, or any partnership,
limited liability company joint venture or other entity more than fifty percent
(50%) of whose total equity interest, is directly or indirectly owned by such
Person.

                  [REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]

                                      -35-
<PAGE>

      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement or have
caused this Agreement to be duly executed and delivered by their proper and duly
authorized officers as of the day and year first above written.

                                               THE COMPANY:

                                               EAGLE TEST SYSTEMS, INC.

                                               By: /s/ Leonard Foxman
                                                  ------------------------------
                                               Name: Leonard Foxman
                                               Title: President

                                               LEONARD FOXMAN

                                               By: /s/ Leonard Foxman
                                                  ------------------------------
                                               Leonard Foxman

                                               FOXMAN FAMILY, LLC

                                               By: /s/ Leonard Foxman
                                                  ------------------------------
                                                  Leonard Foxman

                                               Its: Manager

                                               EAGLE TEST SYSTEMS, INC.
                                               EMPLOYEE STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN

                                               By: /s/ Leonard Foxman
                                                  ------------------------------
                                                  Leonard Foxman, not in his
                                                  individual capacity or in his
                                                  capacity as shareholder,
                                                  director or officer of the
                                                  Corporation, but solely as
                                                  trustee of the Eagle Test
                                                  Systems Employee Stock
                                                  Ownership Plan

                                               JACK WEIMER

                                               By: /s/ Jack Weimer
                                                  ------------------------------
                                                   Jack Weimer
<PAGE>

                                               STEVE DOLLENS

                                               By: /s/ Steve Dollens
                                                  ------------------------------
                                                   Steve Dollens

<PAGE>

                                       INVESTORS:

                                       TA IX L.P.
                                       By: TA Associates IX LLC, its General
                                           Partner
                                       By: TA Associates, Inc., its Manager

                                       By: /s/ Michael C. Child
                                          --------------------------------------
                                       Name: Michael C. Child
                                       Its: Managing Director

                                       TA/ATLANTIC AND PACIFIC IV L.P.
                                       By: TA Associates AP IV L.P., its General
                                           Partner
                                       By: TA Associates, Inc., its General
                                           Partner

                                       By: /s/ Michael C. Child
                                          --------------------------------------
                                       Name: Michael C. Child
                                       Its:  Managing Director

                                       TA STRATEGIC PARTNERS FUND A L.P.
                                       By: TA Associates SPF L.P., its General
                                           Partner
                                       By: TA Associates, Inc., its General
                                           Partner

                                       By: /s/ Michael C. Child
                                          --------------------------------------
                                       Name: Michael C. Child
                                       Its:  Managing Director

                  [Signature Page to Stock Purchase Agreement]
<PAGE>

                                       TA STRATEGIC PARTNERS FUND B L.P.
                                       By: TA Associates SPF L.P., its General
                                           Partner
                                       By: TA Associates, Inc., its General
                                           Partner

                                       By: /s/ Michael C. Child
                                          --------------------------------------
                                       Name: Michael C. Child
                                       Its:  Managing Director

                                       TA INVESTORS LLC
                                       By: TA Associates, Inc., its Manager

                                       By: /s/ Michael C. Child
                                          --------------------------------------
                                       Name: Michael C. Child
                                       Its:  Managing Director

                  [Signature Page to Stock Purchase Agreement]
<PAGE>
                 EXHIBIT A-1 -- SCHEDULE OF FOXMAN STOCKHOLDERS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

<S>  <C>                                              <C>

                                                      SHARES OF COMMON
     NAME                                                  STOCK

Leonard Foxman                                           2,928.864

Foxman Family, LLC                                       1,847.000

</TABLE>

<PAGE>

                  EXHIBIT A-2 -- SCHEDULE OF OTHER STOCKHOLDERS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

<S>  <C>                                              <C>

                                                      SHARES OF COMMON
                                                            STOCK
     NAME

Eagle Test Systems, Inc.                                   890.204
Employee Stock Ownership
Plan

Jack Weimer                                                 81.758

Steve Dollens                                                8.174

</TABLE>

<PAGE>

                       EXHIBIT B -- SCHEDULE OF INVESTORS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

<S>               <C>                                <C>                              <C>
                                                                                      SHARES OF SERIES A CONVERTIBLE
                  NAME                               INVESTMENT AMOUNT                          PREFERRED STOCK

TA IX L.P.                                             $48,999,999.71                            2,590.290

TA/Atlantic and Pacific IV L.P.                        $13,836,996.54                             731.466

TA Strategic Partners Fund A L.P.                      $1,003,006.61                               53.022

TA Strategic Partners Fund B L.P.                       $179,993.36                                9.515

TA Investors LLC                                        $980,003.78                                51.806

</TABLE>

<PAGE>

           EXHIBIT C -- AMENDED AND RESTATED ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION

                              AMENDED AND RESTATED
                            ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION
                                       OF
                            EAGLE TEST SYSTEMS, INC.

                 Originally incorporated on September 16, 1976.

         Eagle Test Systems, Inc. (the "Corporation"), a corporation originally
incorporated on September 16, 1976 under the name of Systems Sales, Inc. (the
Corporation filed Articles of Amendment on September 19, 1980 changing the name
to Eagle Test Systems, Inc.) and organized and existing under, and by virtue of,
the Business Corporation Act of 1983 of the State of Illinois, as amended (the
"IBCA"), does hereby certify that these Amended and Restated Articles of
Incorporation of the Corporation (the "Articles of Incorporation") set forth
below have been duly adopted in accordance with Section 10.20 of the IBCA.

                                   ARTICLE I

                                   (RESTATED)

         The name of the Corporation is Eagle Test Systems, Inc.

                                   ARTICLE II

                                   (RESTATED)

         The address of the Corporation's registered office is 620 South
Butterfield Road, Mundelein, Illinois 60060. The name of the Corporation's
registered agent is Leonard Foxman.

                                  ARTICLE III

                                    (AMENDED)

         The nature of the business to be conducted or promoted by the
Corporation is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which, corporations
may be organized under the IBCA.

                                   ARTICLE IV

                                    (AMENDED)

         The Corporation shall have authority to issue 14,874 shares of capital
stock, consisting of (i) 8,000 shares of Common Stock, no par value ("Common
Stock"), and (ii) 6,874 shares of

<PAGE>

Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share ("Preferred Stock"). The Preferred
Stock may be issued in series from time to time. As of the date of filing this
Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, the Corporation has 6,000 shares
of Common Stock with a paid in capital of $6,000.

         The designations and the powers, preferences and relative,
participating, optional or other rights of the capital stock and the
qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof are as follows:

                    A. SERIES A CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK

         1. Designation. A total of 3,437 shares of the Corporation's Preferred
Stock shall be designated as a series known as Series A Convertible Preferred
Stock (the "Series A Preferred Stock").

         2. Voting.

            (a) Election of Directors. The holders of outstanding shares of
Series A Preferred Stock shall, voting together as a separate class, be entitled
to elect three (3) Directors of the Corporation (the "Series A Directors"). Such
Directors shall be elected by a plurality vote with the elected candidates
receiving the greatest number of affirmative votes (with each holder of Series A
Preferred Stock entitled to cast one vote for a candidate for the directorships
reserved for the holders of Series A Preferred Stock with respect to each share
of Series A Preferred Stock held by such holder) of the outstanding shares of
Series A Preferred Stock, with votes withheld having no legal effect. The
holders of outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall, voting together
as a separate class, be entitled to remove any of the Series A Directors, with
or without cause. The election and removal of such Directors shall occur (i) at
the annual meeting of holders of capital stock, (ii) at any special meeting of
holders of capital stock, (iii) at any special meeting of holders of Series A
Preferred Stock called by holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of
Series A Preferred Stock or (iv) by the written consent of holders of the
outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock entitled to vote for such
Directors in the manner and on the basis specified above. If at any time when
any share of Series A Preferred Stock is outstanding any such Director ceases to
be a Director for any reason, the vacancy shall only be filled by the vote or
written consent of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Series
A Preferred Stock, voting together as a separate class, in the manner and on the
basis specified above or as otherwise provided by law. The holders of
outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall also be entitled to vote in
the election of all other Directors of the Corporation together with holders of
all other shares of the Corporation's outstanding capital stock entitled to vote
thereon, voting as a single class, with each outstanding share of Series A
Preferred Stock entitled to the number of votes specified in Section A.2(b). The
holders of outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock may, in their
discretion, determine not to elect one or more Directors as provided herein from
time to time, and during any such period the Board of Directors nonetheless
shall be deemed duly constituted.

            (b) Voting Generally. Each outstanding share of Series A Preferred
Stock shall be entitled to a number of votes equal to the number of shares of
Common Stock into which such share of Series A Preferred Stock is then
convertible pursuant to Section A.6 hereof as of the record date for the vote or
written consent of shareholders, as applicable. Each holder of

                                       2

<PAGE>

outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall be entitled to notice of
any shareholders meeting in accordance with the by-laws of the Corporation and
shall vote with holders of the Common Stock, voting together as single class,
upon all matters submitted to a vote of shareholders, except those matters
required to be submitted to a class or series vote pursuant to the terms hereof
(including Sections A.2(a) and A.8) or by law. In all matters requiring the vote
of the holders of Series A Preferred Stock, including the elections for
directors, every holder of Series A Preferred Stock shall have the right to vote
the number of shares owned by such shareholder (calculated pursuant to the first
sentence of this paragraph) for as many persons as there are directors to be
elected and shall not have the right to cumulate such votes.

         3. Dividends. The holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall
be entitled to receive out of funds legally available therefor, dividends at
such times and in such amounts as to be received by holders of outstanding
shares of Common Stock, pro rata based on the number of shares of Common Stock
held by each, determined on an as-if-converted basis (assuming full conversion
of all such Series A Preferred Stock). Such dividends shall not be cumulative.

         4. Liquidation Events.

            (a) Series A Liquidation Preference. Upon any liquidation,
dissolution or winding up of the Corporation and its subsidiaries, whether
voluntary or involuntary (a "Liquidation Event"), each holder of outstanding
shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall be entitled to be paid in cash, before
any amount is paid or distributed to the holders of the Common Stock or any
other capital stock ranking on liquidation junior to the Series A Preferred
Stock (the Common Stock and such other capital stock being referred to,
collectively as "Junior Stock"), an amount per share of Series A Preferred Stock
equal to $18,916.802 (the "Original Issue Price") (such amount to be adjusted
appropriately for stock splits, stock dividends, recapitalizations and the like)
plus any accrued or declared but unpaid dividends on such shares of Series A
Preferred Stock (the Original Issue Price plus such accrued or declared
dividends are referred to herein as the "Series A Preference Amount"). If the
amounts available for distribution by the Corporation to holders of Series A
Preferred Stock upon a Liquidation Event are not sufficient to pay the aggregate
Series A Preference Amount due to such holders, such holders shall share ratably
in any distribution in connection with such Liquidation Event in proportion to
the full respective preferential amounts to which they are entitled.

         Notwithstanding the preceding paragraph, if upon such Liquidation Event
the holders of outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock would receive more
than the aggregate amount to be received under the preceding paragraph above in
the event all of their shares of Series A Preferred Stock were converted into
shares of Common Stock and Redeemable Preferred Stock (as defined below)
pursuant to the provisions of Section A.6(a) hereof immediately prior to such
Liquidation Event and such shares of Common Stock and Redeemable Preferred Stock
received a liquidating distribution or distributions from the Corporation, then
each holder of outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock in connection with
such Liquidation Event shall be entitled to be paid in cash, in lieu of the
payments described in the preceding paragraph, an amount per share of Series A
Preferred Stock equal to such amount as would have been payable in respect of
each share of Common Stock and Redeemable Preferred Stock (including any
fractions thereof) issuable upon conversion of such share of Series A Preferred
Stock had such share of Series A

                                       3

<PAGE>

Preferred Stock been converted to Common Stock and Redeemable Preferred Stock
immediately prior to such Liquidation Event pursuant to the provisions of
Section A.6 hereof.

         The provisions of this Section A.4 shall not in any way limit the right
of the holders of Series A Preferred Stock to elect to convert their shares of
Series A Preferred Stock into shares of Common Stock and Redeemable Preferred
Stock pursuant to Section A.6 prior to or in connection with any Liquidation
Event.

            (b) Remaining Assets. After the payment of all preferential amounts
required to be paid to the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock and any other
class or series of stock of the Corporation ranking on liquidation on a parity
with the Series A Preferred Stock, the remaining assets and funds of the
Corporation available for distribution to its shareholders shall be distributed
among the holders of shares of Junior Stock then outstanding.

         5. Redemption.

            (a) Redemption Events.

               (i)  Optional Redemption; Redemption Date.

                    (A)  At any time on or after the sixth (6th) anniversary of
         the Filing Date (as defined below), the holders of not less than a
         majority of the voting power of the outstanding shares of Series A
         Preferred Stock (a "Majority Interest") may elect to have redeemed up
         to fifty percent (50%) of the originally issued and outstanding shares
         of Series A Preferred Stock held by each holder of Series A Preferred
         Stock at such time.

                    (B)  At any time on or after the seventh (7th) anniversary
         of the Filing Date, the holders of a Majority Interest may elect to
         have redeemed up to that percentage of outstanding shares of Series A
         Preferred Stock that would, when combined with any prior redemptions
         pursuant to Section A.5(a)(i) above, result in the redemption by the
         Corporation of up to one hundred percent (100%) of the outstanding
         shares of Series A Preferred Stock held by each holder of Series A
         Preferred Stock at such time.

               (ii) Extraordinary Transactions. Upon the election of a Majority
Interest to have the Series A Preferred Stock redeemed or otherwise to
participate in connection with an Extraordinary Transaction (as defined below),
then, as a part of and as a condition to the effectiveness of such Extraordinary
Transaction, unless a particular holder of Series A Preferred Stock elects to
convert its shares of Series A Preferred Stock into Common Stock and Redeemable
Preferred Stock in accordance with the voluntary conversion provisions of
Section A.6 prior to the effective date of such Extraordinary Transaction, the
Corporation shall either (1) if redemption is elected by such holders, on the
effective date of such Extraordinary Transaction, redeem all (but not less than
all) of the then outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock for an amount
equal to the aggregate Series A Preference Amount, such amount to be payable in
cash (subject to the provisions of the immediately following paragraph) or, at
the election of such holder or holders, in the same form of consideration as is
paid to the holders of Common Stock in such Extraordinary Transaction (valued
pursuant to Section A.5(b)), and no payment shall be made to the holders of the
Common Stock or any other Junior Stock unless such amount is paid

                                       4

<PAGE>

in full or (2) if such holder or holders elect to participate in such
Extraordinary Transaction (such as a merger) on terms acceptable to them, take
such actions as shall be sufficient to facilitate such participation by all (but
not less than all) of the then outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock
(including in the case of a merger executing a merger agreement with an exchange
ratio reflecting the provisions hereof) on terms giving effect to such holders'
right to receive the aggregate Series A Preference Amount as a preferential
amount, in which event such amount shall be paid in cash or, at the election of
such Majority Interest, in the same form of consideration as is paid to the
holders of Common Stock in such Extraordinary Transaction, in preference to and
before any amount is paid or otherwise distributed to the holders of the Common
Stock or any other Junior Stock, in which event such preferential amount shall
be deemed to have been distributed to the holders of the Series A Preferred
Stock as if in a Liquidation Event.

         Notwithstanding the foregoing, if, upon any Extraordinary Transaction
in which the holder or holders of not less than a Majority Interest elect to be
redeemed or to participate, the holders of the outstanding shares of Series A
Preferred Stock would receive more than the aggregate Series A Preference Amount
in the event their shares were converted into Common Stock and Redeemable
Preferred Stock immediately prior to such Extraordinary Transaction and all of
such shares of Common Stock and Redeemable Preferred Stock were purchased or
otherwise participated in such Extraordinary Transaction, then each holder of
Series A Preferred Stock shall receive from the Corporation or the relevant
purchaser, as applicable, upon the election of the holder or holders of not less
than a Majority Interest of the outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock
to redeem or otherwise participate in such Extraordinary Transaction, an amount
equal to the per share Redeemable Preference Amount under Section B.4 plus any
accumulated but unpaid dividends pursuant to Section B.3 in respect of such
share as of the date of such Extraordinary Transaction before any amount is paid
or distributed to the holders of the Common Stock or any other Junior Stock,
payable in cash, and thereafter (1) shall share with the holders of the Common
Stock and any other stock ranking with regard to dividend rights, rights upon a
Liquidation Event or an Extraordinary Transaction, or redemption rights junior
to the Series A Preferred Stock in the proceeds of such Extraordinary
Transaction or (2) if such holder or holders so elect, shall receive an amount
equal to the amount per share that would be paid if the shares of Common Stock
receivable upon conversion of the Series A Preferred Stock were being acquired
in the Extraordinary Transaction at the same price per share as is paid for
Common Stock, which excess amount shall be paid in the same form of
consideration as is paid to holders of Common Stock, as if each share of Series
A Preferred Stock had been converted into the number of shares of Redeemable
Preferred Stock and Common Stock issuable upon the conversion of such share of
Series A Preferred Stock in accordance with Section A.6 hereof immediately prior
to such Extraordinary Transaction.

         The Corporation shall not participate in any Extraordinary Transaction
or make or agree to have made any payments to the holders of shares of Common
Stock or any other stock ranking junior to the Series A Preferred Stock or any
other class or series of capital stock of the Corporation ranking in an
Extraordinary Transaction on a parity with the Series A Preferred Stock unless
the holders of Series A Preferred shall have received the full preferential
amount to which they are entitled hereunder in an Extraordinary Transaction.

                                       5

<PAGE>

         The foregoing election shall be made by such holders giving the
Corporation and each other holder of Series A Preferred not less than five (5)
days' prior written notice, which notice shall set forth the date for such
redemption or participation in an Extraordinary Transaction, as applicable. The
provisions of this Section A.5 shall not in any way limit the right of the
holders of Series A Preferred Stock to elect to convert their shares into shares
of Common Stock and Redeemable Preferred Stock pursuant to Section A.6 prior to
or in connection with any Extraordinary Transaction.

         For purposes of these Articles, each transaction described in the
following clauses (A) through (E) constitutes an "Extraordinary Transaction":
(A) a merger or consolidation of the Corporation with or into another
corporation (with respect to which less than a majority of the outstanding
voting power of the surviving or consolidated corporation immediately following
such event is held by persons or entities who were shareholders of the
Corporation immediately prior to such event); (B) the sale, license or transfer
of all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Corporation or
its subsidiaries; (C) any acquisition by any person (or group of affiliated or
associated persons) of beneficial ownership of a majority of the equity of the
Corporation or any material subsidiary (whether or not newly-issued shares) in a
single transaction or a series of related transactions; (D) other than the
Redemption (as defined in Section 1.3 of the Stock Purchase Agreement by and
among the Corporation, the Stockholders (as defined therein) and the Investors
(as defined therein) dated as of September 30, 2003 (the "Stock Purchase
Agreement"), the redemption or repurchase of shares representing a majority of
the voting power of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation;
or (E) any other change of control of 50% or more of the outstanding voting
power of the Corporation.

            (b) Valuation of Distribution Securities. Any securities or other
consideration to be delivered to the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock if
so elected in connection with a redemption or upon any Extraordinary Transaction
in accordance with the terms hereof shall be valued as follows:

                (i) If traded on a nationally recognized securities exchange or
inter-dealer quotation system, the value shall be deemed to be the average of
the closing prices of the securities on such exchange or system over the 30-day
period ending three (3) business days prior to the closing;

                (ii) If traded over-the-counter, the value shall be deemed to be
the average of the closing bid prices over the 30-day period ending three (3)
business days prior to the closing; and

                (iii) If there is no active public market, the value shall be
the fair market value thereof as mutually determined by the Corporation and the
holders of not less than a Majority Interest, provided that if the Corporation
and the holders of a Majority Interest are unable to reach agreement, then by
independent appraisal by a mutually agreed to investment banker, the fees of
which shall be paid by the Corporation.

            (c) Notice by Corporation. Not less than fifteen (15) days prior to
the occurrence of any Extraordinary Transaction, the Corporation shall furnish
each holder of Series A Preferred Stock notice in accordance with Section A.9
hereof, together with a certificate

                                       6

<PAGE>

prepared by the chief financial officer of the Corporation describing in detail
all material terms of such Extraordinary Transaction, including, without
limitation the consideration to be delivered in connection with such
Extraordinary Transaction, the valuation of the Corporation at the time of such
Extraordinary Transaction and the identities of the parties to the Extraordinary
Transaction.

         (d) Redemption Price and Date. Upon the election of the holders of not
less than a Majority Interest to cause the Corporation to redeem the Series A
Preferred Stock or otherwise to participate in an Extraordinary Transaction
pursuant to Section A.5(a)(i) or (ii), all holders of Series A Preferred Stock
shall be deemed to have elected to cause the Series A Preferred Stock to be so
redeemed or to so participate. The date upon which a redemption or participation
in a transaction shall actually occur in accordance with Section A.5(a) shall be
referred to as a "Series A Redemption Date." The redemption price for each share
of Series A Preferred Stock redeemed or acquired pursuant to this Section A.5
shall be the per share Series A Preference Amount or such greater per share
amount as may be payable pursuant to the second paragraph to Section A.5(a)(ii),
if applicable (in either case, the "Series A Redemption Price"); provided,
however, that if at the Series A Redemption Date shares of Series A Preferred
Stock are unable to be redeemed (as contemplated by Section A.5(e)), then
holders of Series A Preferred Stock shall also be entitled to interest and
dividends pursuant to Sections A.5(f) and (h). The aggregate Series A Redemption
Price shall be payable in immediately available funds by certified check or wire
transfer to the respective holders of the Series A Preferred Stock on the Series
A Redemption Date (subject to Section A.5(e)) except to the extent contemplated
by Section A.5(a)(ii). Upon any redemption or purchase of the Series A Preferred
Stock as provided herein, holders of fractional shares shall receive
proportionate amounts in respect thereof. Until the aggregate Series A
Redemption Price has been paid for all shares of Series A Preferred Stock being
redeemed or purchased: (A) no dividend whatsoever shall be paid or declared, and
no distribution shall be made, on any capital stock of the Corporation; and (B)
except as permitted by Section A.8(a), no shares of capital stock of the
Corporation (other than the Series A Preferred Stock in accordance with this
Section A.5) shall be purchased, redeemed or acquired by the Corporation and no
monies shall be paid into or set aside or made available for a sinking fund for
the purchase, redemption or acquisition thereof. Notwithstanding anything herein
to the contrary, in no event shall the Corporation be required to pay more than
$32,500,000 in any single twelve month period pursuant to an optional redemption
by the holders of Series A Preferred Stock pursuant to Section A.5(a)(i) above.

         (e) Insufficient Funds. If the funds of the Corporation legally
available to redeem shares of Series A Preferred Stock on the Series A
Redemption Date are insufficient to redeem the total number of such shares
required to be redeemed on such date, the Corporation shall (i) take any action
necessary or appropriate, to the extent reasonably within its control, to remove
promptly any impediments to its ability to redeem the total number of shares of
Series A Preferred Stock required to be so redeemed, including (A) to the extent
permissible under applicable law, reducing the paid in capital of the
Corporation and (B) incurring any indebtedness necessary to make such
redemption, and (ii) in any event, use any funds legally available to redeem the
maximum possible number of such shares from the holders of such shares to be
redeemed in proportion to the respective number of such shares that otherwise
would have been redeemed if all such shares had been redeemed in full. At any
time thereafter when additional funds of the Corporation are legally available
to redeem such shares of Series A

                                       7

<PAGE>

Preferred Stock, the Corporation shall immediately use such funds to redeem the
balance of the shares that the Corporation becomes obligated to redeem on the
Series A Redemption Date (but that it has not yet redeemed) at the Series A
Redemption Price.

            (f) Interest. If any shares of Series A Preferred Stock are not
redeemed on the Series A Redemption Date for any reason, all such unredeemed
shares shall remain outstanding and entitled to all the rights and preferences
provided herein, and the Corporation shall pay interest on the Series A
Redemption Price and any dividend accruing after the Series A Redemption
applicable to such unredeemed shares at an aggregate per annum rate equal to
twelve percent (12%) (increased by 1% at the end of each three (3) month period
thereafter until the Series A Redemption Price, and any interest thereon, is
paid in full), with such interest to accrue daily in arrears and to be
compounded quarterly; provided that in no event shall such interest exceed the
maximum permitted rate of interest under applicable law, provided that the
Corporation shall make all filings necessary to raise such rate to the maximum
permitted rate of interest under applicable law (the "Maximum Permitted Rate").
In the event that fulfillment of any provision hereof results in such rate of
interest being in excess of the Maximum Permitted Rate, the amount of interest
required to be paid hereunder shall automatically be reduced to eliminate such
excess.

            (g) Dividend After Redemption Date. In the event that shares of
Series A Preferred Stock required to be redeemed are not redeemed and continue
to be outstanding, such shares shall continue to be entitled to dividends
thereon as provided in Section A.3 until the date on which the Corporation
actually redeems such shares.

            (h) Surrender of Certificates. Each holder of shares of Series A
Preferred Stock to be redeemed shall surrender the certificate or certificates
representing such shares to the Corporation, duly assigned or endorsed for
transfer to the Corporation (or accompanied by duly executed stock powers
relating thereto), or, in the event the certificate or certificates are lost,
stolen or missing, shall deliver an affidavit of loss, at the principal
executive office of the Corporation or such other place as the Corporation may
from time to time designate by notice to the holders of Series A Preferred
Stock, and each surrendered certificate shall be canceled and retired and the
Corporation shall thereafter make payment of the applicable Series A Redemption
Price in immediately available funds by certified check or wire transfer,
provided that if the Corporation has insufficient funds legally available to
redeem all shares of Series A Preferred Stock required to be redeemed, each such
holder shall, in addition to receiving the payment of the portion of the
aggregate Series A Redemption Price that the Corporation is not legally
prohibited from paying to such holder by certified check or wire transfer,
receive a new stock certificate for those shares of Series A Preferred Stock not
so redeemed.

         6. Conversion. The holders of Series A Preferred Stock shall have the
following conversion rights:

            (a) Voluntary Conversion. Upon the written election of a Majority
Interest and without payment of any additional consideration, each outstanding
share of Series A Preferred Stock shall be converted into (i) such number of
fully paid and nonassessable shares of Common Stock as is determined by dividing
the Original Issue Price for each such share plus any accrued or declared but
unpaid dividends on each such share by the Conversion Price at the

                                       8

<PAGE>

time in effect for such Series A Preferred Stock (the "Common Conversion Rate"),
and (ii) one fully paid and nonassessable share of Redeemable Preferred Stock
(the "Redeemable Conversion Rate"). Upon such election, all holders of the
Series A Preferred Stock shall be deemed to have elected to voluntarily convert
all outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock into shares of Common Stock
and Redeemable Preferred Stock pursuant to this Section A.6(a) and such election
shall bind all holders of Series A Preferred Stock. The initial "Conversion
Price" per share for shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall be the Original
Issue Price, subject to adjustment as set forth in Section A.7. Such conversion
may occur at any time after the date of issuance of such shares of Series A
Preferred Stock.

            (b) Automatic Conversion. Each share of Series A Preferred Stock
shall automatically be converted, without the payment of any additional
consideration, into fully paid and nonassessable shares of Common Stock (at the
Common Conversion Rate) and Redeemable Preferred Stock (at the Redeemable
Conversion Rate) as of, and in all cases subject to, the closing of the
Corporation's first underwritten public offering pursuant to an effective
registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"Securities Act"), provided that (i) such registration statement covers the
offer and sale of Common Stock of which the aggregate gross proceeds
attributable to sales for the account of the Corporation exceed $60,000,000, at
a price per share equal to at least two (2) times the then in effect Conversion
Price, (ii) such Common Stock is listed for trading on either the New York Stock
Exchange or the NASDAQ National Market, and (iii) either (A) (i) all shares of
Redeemable Preferred Stock that are outstanding or issuable upon the automatic
conversion of shares of Series A Preferred Stock pursuant to this Section A.6(b)
are redeemed for cash (the "IPO Redemption Cash") immediately upon and as of the
closing of such offering, or (ii) at the election of a Majority Interest in its
sole discretion, in lieu of receiving the IPO Redemption Cash, all shares of
Redeemable Preferred Stock that are outstanding or issuable upon the automatic
conversion of shares of Series A Preferred Stock pursuant to this Section A.6(b)
are redeemed for a promissory note of the Corporation that shall have a one year
term, bear interest at the rate of 12% annually (compounded and payable
quarterly in arrears), and receive the benefit of negative covenants that are
consistent with the covenants for the benefit of the holders of Series A
Preferred Stock set forth in Section 8 below, or (B) contemporaneously with such
offering cash in an amount sufficient to redeem all shares of Redeemable
Preferred Stock that are outstanding or issuable upon the automatic conversion
of shares of Series A Preferred Stock pursuant to this Section A.6(b) is
segregated and irrevocably held by the Corporation for payment to holders of
Redeemable Preferred Stock (a "QPO"). If a closing of a QPO occurs, all
outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall be deemed to have been
converted into shares of Common Stock and Redeemable Preferred Stock immediately
prior to such closing.

            (c) Procedure for Conversion.

                (i) Voluntary Conversion. Upon election to convert pursuant to
Section A.6(a), the relevant holder or holders of Series A Preferred Stock shall
surrender the certificate or certificates representing the Series A Preferred
Stock being converted to the Corporation, duly assigned or endorsed for transfer
to the Corporation (or accompanied by duly executed stock powers relating
thereto) or if lost shall deliver an affidavit of loss to the Corporation, at
its principal executive office or such other place as the Corporation may from
time to time designate by notice to the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock.
Upon surrender

                                       9

<PAGE>

of such certificate(s) or delivery of an affidavit of loss, the Corporation
shall issue and send by hand delivery, by courier or by first class mail
(postage prepaid) to the holder thereof or to such holder's designee, at the
address designated by such holder, certificates for the number of shares of
Common Stock and Redeemable Preferred Stock to which such holder shall be
entitled upon conversion. The issuance of certificates for Common Stock and
Redeemable Preferred Stock upon conversion of Series A Preferred Stock shall be
deemed effective as of 9:00 a.m. EST on the earlier of the date of written
notice delivered pursuant to Section A.6(a) or the date of surrender of such
Series A Preferred Stock certificates or delivery of such affidavit of loss and
shall be made without charge to the holders of such shares for any issuance tax
in respect thereof or other costs incurred by the Corporation in connection with
such conversion and the related issuance of such stock.

               (ii) Automatic Conversion. As of the closing of a QPO (the
"Automatic Conversion Date"), all outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock
shall be converted into shares of Common Stock and Redeemable Preferred Stock
without any further action by the holders of such shares and whether or not the
certificates representing such shares of Series A Preferred Stock are
surrendered to the Corporation. On the Automatic Conversion Date, all rights
with respect to the Series A Preferred Stock so converted shall terminate,
except any of the rights of the holders thereof upon surrender of their
certificate or certificates therefor or delivery of an affidavit of loss thereof
to receive certificates for the number of shares of Common Stock and Redeemable
Preferred Stock into which such shares of Series A Preferred Stock have been
converted. If so required by the Corporation, certificates surrendered for
conversion shall be endorsed or accompanied by a written instrument or
instruments of transfer, in form satisfactory to the Corporation, duly executed
by the registered holder or by an attorney-in-fact duly authorized in writing.
Upon surrender of such certificates or affidavit of loss, the Corporation shall
issue and deliver to such holder, promptly (and in any event in such time as is
sufficient to enable such holder to participate in such QPO) at such office and
in its name as shown on such surrendered certificate or certificates, a
certificate or certificates for the number of shares of Common Stock and
Redeemable Preferred Stock into which the shares of the Series A Preferred Stock
surrendered are convertible on the Automatic Conversion Date.

         (d) Reservation of Stock Issuable Upon Conversion. The Corporation
shall at all times reserve and keep available out of its authorized but unissued
shares of Common Stock and Redeemable Preferred Stock, solely for the purpose of
effecting the conversion of the shares of Series A Preferred Stock, such number
of its shares of Common Stock and Redeemable Preferred Stock as shall from time
to time be sufficient to effect the conversion of all outstanding shares of
Series A Preferred Stock. If at any time the number of authorized but unissued
shares of Common Stock or Redeemable Preferred Stock is not sufficient to effect
the conversion of all outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock, the
Corporation shall take such corporate action as may be necessary to increase the
number of its authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock or Redeemable
Preferred Stock, as the case may be, to such number of shares as are sufficient
for such purpose, and to reserve the appropriate number of shares of Common
Stock or Redeemable Preferred Stock, as the case may be, for issuance upon such
conversion.

         (e) No Closing of Transfer Books. The Corporation shall not close its
books against the transfer of shares of Series A Preferred Stock in any manner
that would interfere with the timely conversion of any shares of Series A
Preferred Stock.

                                       10

<PAGE>

         7. Adjustments.

            (a) Adjustments to the Conversion Price. Except as provided in
Section A.7(b) and except in the case of an event described in Section A.7(c),
if and whenever after the date these Amended and Restated Articles of
Incorporation is first filed with the Secretary of State of Illinois (the
"Filing Date") the Corporation issues or sells, or is, in accordance with this
Section A.7(a), deemed to have issued or sold, any shares of Common Stock for a
consideration per share less than the Conversion Price in effect immediately
prior to such issuance or sale, then, upon such issuance or sale (or deemed
issuance or sale), the Conversion Price shall be reduced to the price determined
by dividing (x) the sum of (A) the Common Stock Deemed Outstanding (as defined
below) immediately prior to such issuance or sale (or deemed issuance or sale)
multiplied by the Conversion Price then in effect and (B) the consideration, if
any, received by the Corporation upon such issuance or sale (or deemed issuance
or sale) by (y) the Common Stock Deemed Outstanding immediately after such
issuance or sale (or deemed issuance or sale).

         For purposes of this Section A.7(a), the following shall also be
applicable:

                (i) Issuance of Rights or Options. If the Corporation, at any
time after the Filing Date, in any manner grants (whether directly or by
assumption in a merger or otherwise) any warrants or other rights to subscribe
for or to purchase, or any options for the purchase of, Common Stock or any
stock or security convertible into or exchangeable for Common Stock (such
warrants, rights or options being called "Options" and such convertible or
exchangeable stock or securities being called "Convertible Securities"), in each
case for consideration per share (determined as provided in this paragraph and
in Section A.7(a)(vi)) less than the Conversion Price then in effect, whether or
not such Options or the right to convert or exchange any such Convertible
Securities are immediately exercisable, then the total maximum number of shares
of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of such Options, or upon conversion
or exchange of the total maximum amount of such Convertible Securities issuable
upon exercise of such Options, shall be deemed to have been issued as of the
date of granting of such Options, at a price per share equal to the amount
determined by, dividing (A) the total amount, if any, received or receivable by
the Corporation as consideration for the granting of such Options, plus the
minimum aggregate amount of additional consideration payable to the Corporation
upon the exercise of all such Options, plus, in the case of such Options which
relate to Convertible Securities, the minimum aggregate amount of additional
consideration, if any, payable upon the issuance or sale of such Convertible
Securities and upon the conversion or exchange thereof, by (B) the total maximum
number of shares of Common Stock deemed to have been so issued. Except as
otherwise provided in Section A.7(a)(iii), no adjustment of the Conversion Price
shall be made upon the actual issuance of such Common Stock or of such
Convertible Securities upon exercise of such Options or upon the actual issuance
of such Common Stock upon conversion or exchange of such Convertible Securities.

                (ii) Issuance of Convertible Securities. If the Corporation, at
any time after the Filing Date, in any manner issues or sells any Convertible
Securities for consideration per share (determined as provided in this paragraph
and in Section A.7(a)(vi)) less than the Conversion Price then in effect,
whether or not the rights to exchange or convert any such Convertible Securities
are immediately exercisable, then the total maximum number of shares of

                                       11

<PAGE>

Common Stock issuable upon conversion or exchange of all such Convertible
Securities shall be deemed to have been issued as of the date of the issuance or
sale of such Convertible Securities, at a price per share equal to the amount
determined by dividing (A) the total amount, if any, received or receivable by
the Corporation as consideration for the issuance or sale of such Convertible
Securities, plus the minimum aggregate amount of additional consideration, if
any, payable to the Corporation upon the conversion or exchange thereof, by (B)
the total maximum number of shares of Common Stock deemed to have been so
issued; provided, that (1) except as otherwise provided in Section A.7(a)(iii),
no adjustment of the Conversion Price shall be made upon the actual issuance of
such Common Stock upon conversion or exchange of such Convertible Securities and
(2) if any such issuance or sale of such Convertible Securities is made upon
exercise of any Options to purchase any such Convertible Securities, no further
adjustment of the Conversion Price shall be made by reason of such issuance or
sale.

                (iii) Change in Option Price or Conversion Rate; Termination of
Options or Convertible Securities. If a change occurs in (A) the maximum number
of shares of Common Stock issuable in connection with any Option referred to in
Section A.7(a)(i) or any Convertible Securities referred to in Section A.7(a)(i)
or (ii), (B) the purchase price provided for in any Option referred to in
Section A.7(a)(i), (C) the additional consideration, if any, payable upon the
conversion or exchange of any Convertible Securities referred to in Section
A.7(a)(i) or (ii) or (D) the rate at which Convertible Securities referred to in
Section A.7(a)(i) or (ii) are convertible into or exchangeable for Common Stock
(in each case, other than in connection with an event described in Section
A.7(b)), then the Conversion Price in effect at the time of such event shall be
adjusted to the Conversion Price that would have been in effect at such time had
such Options or Convertible Securities that remain outstanding provided for such
changed maximum number of shares, purchase price, additional consideration or
conversion rate, as the case may be, at the time initially granted, issued or
sold, but only if as a result of such adjustment the Conversion Price then in
effect is thereby reduced. Upon the termination of any such Option or any such
right to convert or exchange such Convertible Securities, the Conversion Price
then in effect hereunder shall be increased to the Conversion Price that would
have been in effect at the time of such termination had such Option or
Convertible Securities, to the extent outstanding immediately prior to such
termination (i.e., to the extent that fewer than the number of shares of Common
Stock deemed to have been issued in connection with such Option or Convertible
Securities were actually issued), never been issued or been issued at such
higher price, as the case may be.

                (iv) Stock Dividends. If the Corporation declares a dividend or
makes any other distribution upon any stock of the Corporation payable in Common
Stock, Options or Convertible Securities, any Common Stock, Options or
Convertible Securities, as the case may be, issuable in payment of such dividend
or distribution shall be deemed to have been issued or sold without
consideration, and the Conversion Price shall be adjusted pursuant to this
Section A.7(a); provided, that no adjustment shall be made to the Conversion
Price as a result of such dividend or distribution if the holders of the shares
of Series A Preferred Stock are entitled to, and do, receive such dividend or
distribution in accordance with Section A.3; and, provided, further, that if any
adjustment is made to the Conversion Price as a result of the declaration of a
dividend and such dividend is not effected, the Conversion Price shall be
appropriately readjusted.

                                       12

<PAGE>

                (v) Other Dividends and Distributions. If the Corporation at any
time or from time to time after the Filing Date makes or issues, or fixes a
record date for the determination of holders of Common Stock entitled to
receive, a dividend or other distribution payable in securities or other
property of the Corporation other than shares of Common Stock, then and in each
such event provision shall be made so that the holders of the outstanding shares
of Series A Preferred Stock shall receive upon conversion thereof, in addition
to the number of shares of Common Stock receivable thereupon, the amount of such
other securities of the Corporation or the value of such other property that
they would have received had the Series A Preferred Stock been converted into
Common Stock on the date of such event and had such holders thereafter, during
the period from the date of such event to and including the conversion date,
retained such securities or other property receivable by them during such period
giving application to all adjustments called for during such period under
Section A.7 with respect to the rights of the holders of the outstanding shares
of Series A Preferred Stock; provided that no such adjustment shall be made if
the holders of Series A Preferred Stock simultaneously receive a dividend or
other distribution of such securities or other property in an amount equal to
the amount of such securities or other property as they would have received if
all outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock had been converted into
Common Stock and Redeemable Preferred Stock on the date of such event.

                (vi) Consideration for Stock. In case any shares of Common Stock
are issued or sold, or deemed issued or sold, for cash, the consideration
received therefor shall be deemed to be the amount received or to be received by
the Corporation therefor (determined with respect to deemed issuances and sales
in connection with Options and Convertible Securities in accordance with clause
(A) of Section A.7(a)(i) or Section A.7(a)(ii), as appropriate) determined in
the manner set forth below in this Section A.7(a)(vi). In case any shares of
Common Stock are issued or sold, or deemed issued or sold, for a consideration
other than cash, the amount of the consideration other than cash received by the
Corporation shall be deemed to be the fair value of such consideration received
or to be received by the Corporation (determined with respect to deemed
issuances and sales in connection with Options and Convertible Securities in
accordance with clause (A) of Section A.7(a)(i) or Section A.7(a)(ii), as
appropriate) as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the
Corporation and a Majority Interest. If any Options are issued in connection
with the issuance and sale of other securities of the Corporation, together
comprising one integral transaction in which no specific consideration is
allocated to such Options by the parties thereto, such Options shall be deemed
to have been issued for such consideration as determined in good faith by the
Board of Directors of the Corporation and a Majority Interest provided that if
the Corporation and the holders of a Majority Interest are unable to reach
agreement as to the value of such consideration, then the value thereof shall be
determined by an independent appraisal by a mutually agreed to investment
banker, the fees of which shall be paid by the Corporation.

                (vii) Record Date. If the Corporation takes a record of the
holders of its Common Stock for the purpose of entitling them (A) to receive a
dividend or other distribution payable in Common Stock, Options or Convertible
Securities or (B) to subscribe for or purchase Common Stock, Options or
Convertible Securities, then such record date shall be deemed to be the date of
the issuance or sale of the shares of Common Stock deemed to have been issued or
sold upon the declaration of such dividend or the making of such other
distribution or the date of the granting of such right of subscription or
purchase, as the case may be.

                                       13

<PAGE>

                (viii) Treasury Shares. The number of shares of Common Stock
outstanding at any given time shall not include shares owned or held by or for
the account of the Corporation; provided, that the disposition of any such
shares shall be considered an issuance or sale of Common Stock for the purpose
of this Section A.7.

                (ix) Indeterminable Amounts. In calculating any adjustment to
the Conversion Price pursuant to this Section A.7(a), any Options or Convertible
Securities that provide, as of the effective date of such adjustment, for the
issuance upon exercise or conversion thereof of an indeterminable number of
shares of Common Stock shall (together with the shares of Common Stock issuable
upon exercise or conversion thereof) be disregarded for purposes of the
calculation and what shares are deemed to be outstanding; provided, that at such
time as time as a number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise or
conversion of such Options or Convertible Securities becomes determinable, then
the Conversion Price shall be adjusted as provided in Section A.7(a)(iii) above.

                (x) Common Stock Deemed Outstanding. For purposes of this
Section A.7, the term "Common Stock Deemed Outstanding" shall mean, at anytime,
the sum of (A) the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately
prior to the Filing Date reduced by the number of shares of Common Stock to be
redeemed by the Corporation upon consummation of the Redemption (as such term
is defined in that certain Stock Purchase Agreement dated as of the Filing Date
by and among the Corporation, the Stockholders (as defined therein) and the
Investors (as defined therein)) (including for this purpose all shares of Common
Stock issuable upon exercise or conversion of any Options or Convertible
Securities outstanding immediately prior to the Filing Date), plus (B) the
number of shares of Common Stock issued or sold (or deemed issued or sold) after
the Filing Date, the issuance or sale of which resulted in an adjustment to the
Conversion Price pursuant to Section A.7(a), plus (C) the number of shares of
Common Stock deemed issued or sold pursuant to Section A.7(a)(ix)(A) above;
provided, that Common Stock Deemed Outstanding shall not include the Series A
Preferred Stock or any shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the
Series A Preferred Stock.

         (b) Certain Issues of Common Stock Excepted. Anything herein to the
contrary notwithstanding, the Corporation shall not be required to make any
adjustment of the Conversion Price in the case of the issuance from and after
the Filing Date of (i) shares of Common Stock upon conversion of shares of
Series A Preferred Stock; (ii) shares of Common Stock or options therefor
(appropriately adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, recapitalizations and
the like) to directors, officers, employees or consultants of the Corporation in
connection with their service as directors of the Corporation, their employment
by the Corporation or their retention as consultants by the Corporation, in each
case authorized by the Board of Directors and issued pursuant to any of the
Corporation's equity incentive plans; (iii) securities issued as consideration
for the purchase of stock or assets in any acquisition, merger, joint venture,
partnership or other strategic alliance; (iv) securities issued in connection
with any debt financing or refinancing of the Corporation or (v) securities
issued that are deemed in writing by a Majority Interest to constitute Excluded
Shares (collectively, the "Excluded Shares").

         (c) Subdivision or Combination of Common Stock. If the Corporation
shall at any time after the Closing Date subdivide its outstanding shares of
Common Stock into a greater

                                       14
<PAGE>
number of shares (by any stock split, stock dividend or otherwise), then the
Conversion Price in effect immediately prior to such subdivision shall be
proportionately reduced, and, conversely, if the Corporation shall at any time
after the Closing Date combine its outstanding shares of Common Stock into a
smaller number of shares (by any reverse stock split or otherwise), then the
Conversion Price in effect immediately prior to such combination shall be
proportionately increased.

            (d) Reorganization or Reclassification. If any capital
reorganization or reclassification of the capital stock of the Corporation other
than as a result of, or pursuant to, an Extraordinary Transaction in which all
of the holders of Series A Preferred Stock elect to participate shall be
effected in such a way that holders of Common Stock shall be entitled to receive
stock, securities or assets with respect to or in exchange for Common Stock,
then, as a condition of such reorganization or reclassification, lawful and
adequate provisions shall be made whereby each holder of a share or shares of
Series A Preferred Stock shall thereupon have the right to receive, upon the
basis and upon the terms and conditions specified herein and in lieu of the
shares of Common Stock immediately theretofore receivable upon the conversion of
such share or shares of Series A Preferred Stock, as the case may be, such
shares of stock, securities or assets as may be issued or payable with respect
to or in exchange for a number of outstanding shares of such Common Stock equal
to the number of shares of such Common Stock immediately theretofore receivable
upon such conversion had such reorganization or reclassification not taken
place, and in any such case appropriate provisions shall be made with respect to
the rights and interests of such holder to the end that the provisions hereof
(including, without limitation, provisions for adjustments of the Conversion
Price) shall thereafter be applicable, as nearly as may be, in relation to any
shares of stock, securities or assets thereafter deliverable upon the exercise
of such conversion rights.

            (e) Adjustment for Merger or Reorganization, Etc. Unless the
holders of Series A Preferred Stock elect redemption in connection with an
Extraordinary Transaction pursuant to Section A.5 hereof (in which case Section
A.5 shall apply), (A) upon any merger or consolidation of the Corporation with
or into another corporation, any sale of all or substantially all of the assets
of the Corporation to another corporation or any Change of Control Transaction
each share of Series A Preferred Stock shall thereafter be convertible (or shall
be converted into a security that shall be convertible) into Redeemable
Preferred Stock and the kind and amount of shares of stock or other securities
or property to which a holder of the number of shares of Common Stock of the
Corporation deliverable upon conversion of such Series A Preferred Stock would
have been entitled upon such merger, consolidation, or asset sale or Change of
Control Transaction; and, in such case, appropriate adjustment (as determined in
good faith by the Board of Directors) shall be, made in the application of the
provisions in Section A.7 set forth with respect to the rights and interests
thereafter of the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock, to the end that the
provisions set forth in Section A.7 (including provisions with respect to
changes in and other adjustments of the Conversion Price) shall thereafter be
applicable, as nearly as possible, in relation to any shares of stock or other
property thereafter deliverable upon the conversion of the Series A Preferred
Stock and (B) all holders of Series A Preferred Stock shall be deemed to have
elected to so participate in such merger, consolidation, asset sale or Change of
Control Transaction as provided in this Section A.7(e) and such election shall
bind all holders of the Series A Preferred Stock. Notwithstanding anything to
the contrary contained herein, the holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock
shall have the right to elect by vote of a Majority

                                       15

<PAGE>

Interest to give effect to the conversion and other rights contained in Section
A.6 (or the rights contained in Section A.4, if applicable) instead of giving
effect to the provisions contained in this Section A.7(e) with respect to the
shares of Series A Preferred Stock owned by them.

        8.  Covenants. The Corporation shall not, and shall not permit any
affiliate or subsidiary of the Corporation (each, a "Subsidiary") to (in any
case, by merger, consolidation, operation of law or otherwise), without first
having provided written notice of such proposed action to each holder of
outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock and having obtained the
affirmative vote or written consent of the holders of a Majority Interest:

            (a) declare or pay any dividends other than dividends on the Series
A Preferred Stock as provided in Section A.3 or make any distributions of cash,
property or securities of the Corporation or any Subsidiary in respect of its
capital stock, or apply any of its assets to the redemption, retirement,
purchase or other acquisition of its capital stock, directly or indirectly,
through subsidiaries or otherwise, except for (i) the redemption of Series A
Preferred Stock pursuant to and as provided in these Amended and Restated
Articles of Incorporation, (ii) the repurchase of Excluded Shares described in
Section A.7(b)(ii) above, (iii) dividends or distributions payable solely in
shares of Common Stock, (iv) the Redemption or (v) the Extraordinary Dividend
(as defined in the Stock Purchase Agreement);

            (b) reclassify any capital stock in a manner that alters the
designations, preferences, powers and/or the relative, participating, optional
or other special rights, or the restrictions provided for the benefit of, the
Series A Preferred Stock;

            (c) authorize or issue, or obligate itself to issue, any
convertible debt or other debt with any equity participation, any securities
convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for any equity securities, or
any other equity security, in any case ranking senior to or on parity with the
Series A Preferred Stock as to liquidation, sale or merger preferences,
redemption, or dividend rights, or with any class or special voting rights, or
permit any Subsidiary of the Corporation to issue any capital stock, or
securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for capital stock or
other securities of such Subsidiary, to any person or entity other than the
Corporation;

            (d) amend, alter or repeal (whether by merger, consolidation,
operation of law, or otherwise) any provision of, or add any provision to, these
Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation (including, without limitation,
increasing the total number of shares of Preferred Stock that the Corporation
shall have the authority to issue), the bylaws of the Corporation as in effect
on the Closing Date or the governing documents of any Subsidiary;

            (e) effect any Liquidation Event or Extraordinary Transaction or
any other event that would constitute a Liquidation Event or Extraordinary
Transaction of any Subsidiary if the references to "Corporation" in such
definitions were instead references to "Subsidiary";

            (f) effect the sale, transfer or license of any assets of the
Corporation or any Subsidiary to any person or entity other than the Corporation
or a wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Corporation, other than in the ordinary
course of business;

            (g) incur any indebtedness in excess of $500,000;

                                       16

<PAGE>

            (h) make any material investments or acquire any other corporation
or business concern, whether by acquisition of assets, capital stock or
otherwise, and whether in consideration of the payment of cash, the issuance of
capital stock or otherwise;

            (i) take any other action not described in Section A.8(a)-(h) if
such action could adversely alter or change the preferences, rights, privileges
or powers of, or the restrictions provided for the benefit of, the Series A
Preferred Stock; or

            (j) enter into any agreement to do any of the foregoing that is not
expressly made conditional on obtaining the affirmative vote or written consent
of a Majority Interest.

        Further, the Corporation shall not, by amendment of these Amended and
Restated Articles of Incorporation (by way of merger, operation of law, or
otherwise) or through any Liquidation Event or other reorganization, transfer of
assets, consolidation, merger, dissolution, issuance or sale of securities,
agreement or any other voluntary action, avoid or seek to avoid the observance
or performance of any of the terms to be observed or performed hereunder by the
Corporation and shall at all times in good faith assist in the carrying out of
all the provisions of this Article and in the taking of all such action as may
be necessary or appropriate in order to protect the rights of the holders of the
Series A Preferred Stock or Redeemable Preferred Stock against impairment. Any
successor to the Corporation shall agree in writing, as a condition to such
succession, to carry out and observe the obligations of the Corporation
hereunder with respect to the Series A Preferred Stock and Redeemable Preferred
Stock.

    9.       Notices; Adjustments.

            (a) Liquidation Events, Extraordinary Transactions, Etc. In the
event (i) the Corporation establishes a record date to determine the holders of
any class of securities who are entitled to receive any dividend or other
distribution or who are entitled to vote at a meeting (or by written consent) in
connection with any of the transactions identified in clause (ii) hereof, or
(ii) any Liquidation Event, Extraordinary Transaction, QPO or any other public
offering of the Corporation's securities becomes reasonably likely to occur, the
Corporation shall mail or cause to be mailed by first class mail (postage
prepaid) to each holder of Series A Preferred Stock (or each holder of
Redeemable Preferred Stock, as applicable) at least thirty (30) days prior to
such record date specified therein or the expected effective date of any such
transaction, whichever is earlier, a notice specifying (A) the date of such
record date for the purpose of such dividend or distribution or meeting or
consent and a description of such dividend or distribution or the action to be
taken at such meeting or by such consent, (B) the date on which any such
Liquidation Event, Extraordinary Transaction, QPO or other public offering is
expected to become effective, and (C) the date on which the books of the
Corporation shall close or a record shall be taken with respect to any such
event. Such notice shall be accompanied by a certificate prepared by the chief
financial officer or other executive officer of the Corporation describing in
detail (1) the facts of such transaction, (2) the amount(s) per share of Series
A Preferred Stock, Redeemable Preferred Stock or Common Stock each holder of
Series A Preferred Stock or Redeemable Preferred Stock would receive under all
possible elections, options etc. available to holders of Series A Preferred
Stock and/or Redeemable Preferred Stock pursuant to the applicable provisions of
these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, and (3) the facts upon
which such amounts were determined.

                                       17

<PAGE>

            (b) Adjustments; Calculations. Upon the occurrence of each
adjustment or readjustment of the Conversion Price pursuant to Section A.7, the
Corporation at its expense shall promptly compute such adjustment or
readjustment in accordance with the terms hereof and prepare and furnish to each
holder of Series A Preferred Stock (or each holder of Redeemable Preferred
Stock, as applicable) a certificate setting forth in detail (i) such adjustment
or readjustment, (ii) the Conversion Price before and after such adjustment or
readjustment, and (iii) the number of shares of Common Stock and Redeemable
Preferred Stock and the amount, if any, of other property which at the time
would be received upon the conversion of such holder's shares of Series A
Preferred Stock. All such calculations shall be made to the nearest cent or to
the nearest one hundredth (1/100) of a share as the case may be.

            (c) Waiver of Notice. The holder or holders of a Majority Interest
may, at any time upon written notice to the Corporation, waive any notice or
certificate delivery provisions specified herein for the benefit of such
holders, and any such waiver shall be binding upon all holders of such
securities.

        10. No Reissuance of Series A Preferred Stock. No share or shares of
Series A Preferred Stock acquired by the Corporation by reason of redemption,
purchase, conversion or otherwise shall be reissued, and all such shares shall
be canceled, retired and eliminated from the shares that the Corporation is
authorized to issue.

        11. Contractual Rights of Holders.  The various provisions set forth
herein for the benefit of the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock shall be
deemed contract rights enforceable by them, including, without limitation, one,
or more actions for specific performance.

                         B. REDEEMABLE PREFERRED STOCK

        1.       Designation.  A total of 3,437 shares of the Corporation's
Preferred Stock shall be designated as a series known as Redeemable Preferred
Stock, par value $.01 per share (the "Redeemable Preferred Stock").

        2.       Election of Directors; Voting.

                (a) Election of Directors. The holders of outstanding shares of
Redeemable Preferred Stock shall, voting together as a separate class, be
entitled to elect one (1) Director. Such Director shall be the candidate
receiving the greatest number of affirmative votes (with each holder of
Redeemable Preferred Stock entitled to cast one vote for or against each
candidate with respect to each share of Redeemable Preferred Stock held by such
holder) of the outstanding shares of Redeemable Preferred Stock, with votes cast
against such candidate and votes withheld having no legal effect. The holders of
outstanding shares of Redeemable Preferred Stock shall, voting together as a
separate class, be entitled to remove such Director, with or without cause. The
election and removal of such Director shall be effected by the votes of a
majority in interest of the outstanding shares of Redeemable Preferred Stock and
shall occur (i) at the annual meeting of holders of capital stock, (ii) at any
special meeting of holders of capital stock, (iii) at any special meeting of
holders of Redeemable Preferred Stock, which may be called by holders of a
majority of the outstanding shares of Redeemable Preferred Stock or

                                       18

<PAGE>

(iv) by the written consent of holders of not less than a majority of the
outstanding shares of Redeemable Preferred Stock. Upon conversion of the Series
A Preferred Stock, the holder or holders of not less than a majority in voting
power of the outstanding Redeemable Preferred Stock may designate one (1) of the
Directors elected by the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock then serving on
the Corporation's board of directors to continue in such capacity as the
Director elected by the holders of the Redeemable Preferred Stock. If at any
time when any share of Redeemable Preferred Stock is outstanding such Director
ceases to be a Director for any reason, the vacancy shall only be filled by the
vote or written consent of holders of the outstanding shares of Redeemable
Preferred Stock, voting together as a separate class, in the manner and on the
basis specified above or as otherwise provided by law. The holders of
outstanding shares of Redeemable Preferred Stock may, in their sole discretion,
determine not to elect a Director as provided herein from time to time, and
during any such period the Board of Directors nonetheless shall be deemed duly
constituted.

            (b) No Voting Generally. Except as set forth above with respect to
the election of a Director by the holders of Redeemable Preferred Stock, the
holders of Redeemable Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to vote on any
matters except to the extent otherwise required under the MCA. In all matters
requiring the vote of the holders of Redeemable Preferred Stock, including the
elections for directors, every holder of Redeemable Preferred Stock shall have
the right to vote the number of shares of Redeemable Preferred Stock owned by
such shareholder for as many persons as there are directors to be elected and
shall not have the right to cumulate such votes.

        3.  Dividends. The holders of outstanding shares of Redeemable
Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive, out of any funds legally available
therefor, cumulative dividends at the rate of $472.920 per annum per share of
Redeemable Preferred Stock (as adjusted for subsequent stock splits, stock
dividends, recapitalizations or like with respect to each share) from the date
of original issuance of such share, which dividends shall accrue daily in
arrears and be compounded quarterly, whether or not such dividends are declared
by the Board of Directors and paid.

        4.  Liquidation Events.

            (a) Redeemable Liquidation Preference. Upon any Liquidation Event,
each holder of outstanding shares of Redeemable Preferred Stock shall be
entitled to be paid in cash, before any amount shall be paid or distributed to
the holders of Junior Stock, an amount per share of Redeemable Preferred Stock
equal to $9,458.401, plus any accrued but unpaid dividends on such shares of
Redeemable Preferred Stock (such amount to be adjusted appropriately for stock
splits, stock dividends, recapitalizations and the like) (the "Redeemable
Preference Amount"). If the amounts available for distribution by the
Corporation to holders of Redeemable Preferred Stock upon a Liquidation Event
are not sufficient to pay the aggregate Redeemable Preference Amount due to such
holders, such holders shall share ratably in any distribution in proportion to
the full respective preferential amounts to which they are entitled.

            (b) Remaining Assets. After the payment of all preferential amounts
required to be paid to the holders of the Redeemable Preferred Stock and any
other class or series of stock of the Corporation ranking on liquidation on a
parity with the Redeemable Preferred Stock, the

                                       19

<PAGE>

remaining assets and funds of the Corporation available for distribution to its
shareholders shall be distributed among the holders of shares of Junior Stock
then outstanding.

        5.  Redemption.

            (a) Redemption Events: Extraordinary Transactions.

                (i)  Automatic. Immediately upon and as of, and in all cases
subject to, the closing of a QPO, the Corporation shall redeem all (and not less
than all) of the outstanding shares of Redeemable Preferred Stock at the
Redeemable Redemption Price specified in Section B.5(b).

                (ii) Optional Redemption.

                    (A)     At any time on or after the sixth (6th) anniversary
        of the Filing Date, the holders of not less than a majority of the
        outstanding shares of Redeemable Preferred Stock (a "Redeemable Majority
        Interest) may elect to have redeemed up to fifty percent (50%) of the
        originally issued and outstanding shares of Redeemable Preferred Stock
        held by each holder of Redeemable Preferred Stock at such time.

                    (B)     At any time on or after the seventh (7th)
        anniversary of the Filing Date, the holders of a Redeemable Majority
        Interest may elect, to have redeemed up to that percentage of
        outstanding shares of Redeemable Preferred Stock that would, when
        combined with any prior redemptions pursuant to Section B.5(a)(ii)(A)
        above, result in the redemption by the Corporation of up to one hundred
        percent (100%) of the outstanding shares of Redeemable Preferred Stock
        held by each holder of Redeemable Preferred Stock at such time.

                (iii) Upon Occurrence of Extraordinary Transactions. Upon the
election of the holder or holders of not less than a Redeemable Majority
Interest (or a Majority Interest of the Series A Preferred Stock, as applicable,
proposing to convert in order to effect a redemption of the Redeemable Preferred
Stock upon such conversion hereunder) to have the Redeemable Preferred Stock
redeemed or otherwise to participate in accordance with Section A.5(a)(ii) in
connection with an Extraordinary Transaction, then, as part of and as a
condition to the effectiveness of such Extraordinary Transaction, the
Corporation shall, on the effective date of such Extraordinary Transaction,
either (x) redeem all (and not less, than all, other than pursuant to Section
B.5(c) below) of the outstanding shares of Redeemable Preferred Stock for an
amount equal to the Redeemable Preference Amount, such amount to be payable in
cash, and no payment shall be made to the holders of the Common Stock or any
stock ranking with regard to dividend rights, rights upon a Liquidation Event or
an Extraordinary Transaction or redemption rights junior to the Redeemable
Preferred Stock unless such amount is paid in full or (y) have such Redeemable
Preferred Stock acquired in such Extraordinary Transaction on terms giving
effect to the preferential amount to which the Redeemable Preferred Stock would
be entitled in connection with a Liquidation Event hereunder or otherwise as
agreed to by the holders of a Redeemable Majority Interest. The foregoing
election shall be made by such holders giving the Corporation and each other
holder of Redeemable Preferred Stock (or

                                       20

<PAGE>

Series A Preferred Stock, as applicable) not less than five (5) days' prior
written notice, which notice shall set forth the date for such redemption.

        (b) Redemption Date and Price. Upon the election of the holders of not
less than a Redeemable Majority Interest to cause the Corporation to redeem the
Redeemable Preferred Stock or otherwise to participate in an Extraordinary
Transaction pursuant to Section B.5(a)(ii) or (iii), all holders of Redeemable
Preferred Stock shall be deemed to have elected to cause the Redeemable
Preferred Stock subject to such election to be so redeemed or to so participate.
Any date which a redemption or other acquisition actually occurs in accordance
with Section B.5(a) shall be referred to as a "Redeemable Redemption Date." The
redemption/purchase price for each share of Redeemable Preferred Stock redeemed
pursuant to this Section B.5 shall be the per share Redeemable Preference Amount
(the "Redeemable Redemption Price"); provided, however, that if at a Redeemable
Redemption Date shares of Redeemable Preferred Stock are unable to be redeemed
(as contemplated by Section B.5(c) below), then holders of Redeemable Preferred
Stock shall also be entitled to interest and dividends pursuant to Sections
B.5(d) and (f) below. The aggregate Redeemable Redemption Price shall be payable
in cash in immediately available funds on the Redeemable Redemption Date. Until
the aggregate Redeemable Redemption Price, including any interest thereon, has
been paid in cash for all shares of Redeemable Preferred Stock redeemed or
purchased as of the applicable Redeemable Redemption Date: (A) no dividend
whatsoever shall be paid or declared, and no distribution shall be made, on any
capital stock of the Corporation; and (B) except as provided in Section A.8(a),
no shares of capital stock of the Corporation (other than the Redeemable
Preferred Stock in accordance with this Section B.5) shall be purchased,
redeemed or acquired by the Corporation and no payment shall be made or set
aside or made available for a sinking fund for the purchase, redemption or
acquisition thereof.

        (c) Insufficient Funds. If the funds of the Corporation legally
available to redeem shares of Redeemable Preferred Stock on the Redeemable
Redemption Date are insufficient to redeem the total number of such shares
required to be redeemed on such date, the Corporation shall (i) take any action
necessary or appropriate, to the extent reasonably within its control, to remove
promptly any impediments to its ability to redeem the total number of shares of
Redeemable Preferred Stock required to be so redeemed, including, without
limitation, (A) to the extent permissible under applicable law, reducing the
paid in capital of the Corporation and (B) incurring any indebtedness necessary
to make such redemption, and (ii) in any event, use any funds that are legally
available to redeem the maximum possible number of such shares from the holders
of such shares to be redeemed in proportion to the respective number of such
shares that otherwise would have been redeemed if all such shares had been
redeemed in full. At any time thereafter when additional funds of the
Corporation are legally available to redeem such shares of Redeemable Preferred
Stock, the Corporation shall immediately use such funds to redeem the balance of
the shares that the Corporation has become obligated to redeem on the Redeemable
Redemption Date (but which it has not redeemed) at the Redeemable Redemption
Price.

        (d) Interest. If any shares of Redeemable Preferred Stock are not
redeemed on the Redeemable Redemption Date for any reason, all such unredeemed
shares shall remain outstanding and entitled to all the rights and preferences
provided herein, and the Corporation shall pay interest on the Redeemable
Liquidation Preference applicable to such unredeemed shares at an aggregate per
annum rate equal to twelve percent (12%) (increased by 1% at the end

                                       21

<PAGE>

of each three (3) month period thereafter until the Redeemable Redemption Price,
and any interest thereon, is paid in full), with such interest to accrue daily
in arrears and to be compounded quarterly; provided, however, that in no event
shall such interest exceed the Maximum Permitted Rate. In the event that
fulfillment of any provision hereof results in such rate of interest being in
excess of the Maximum Permitted Rate, the amount of interest required to be paid
hereunder shall automatically be reduced to eliminate such excess.

        (e) Dividend After Redemption Date. In the event that shares of
Redeemable Preferred Stock required to be redeemed are not redeemed and continue
to be outstanding, such shares shall continue to be entitled to dividends and
interest thereon as provided in Sections B.3 and B.5(d) until the date on which
the Corporation actually redeems such shares.

        (f) Surrender of Certificates. Each holder of shares of Redeemable
Preferred Stock to be redeemed shall surrender the certificate or certificates
representing such shares to the Corporation, duly assigned or endorsed for
transfer (or accompanied by duly executed stock powers relating thereto), or
shall deliver an affidavit of loss with respect to such certificates at the
principal executive office of the Corporation or such other place as the
Corporation may from time to time designate by notice to the holders of
Redeemable Preferred Stock (or the holders of Series A Convertible Preferred
Stock, as applicable), and each surrendered certificate shall be canceled and
retired and the Corporation shall thereafter make payment of the applicable
Redeemable Redemption Price by certified check or wire transfer; provided,
however, that if the Corporation has insufficient funds legally available to
redeem all shares of Redeemable Preferred Stock required to be redeemed, each
holder shall, in addition to receiving the payment of the portion of the
aggregate Redeemable Redemption Price that the Corporation is not legally
prohibited from paying to such holder by certified check or wire transfer,
receive a new stock certificate for those shares of Redeemable Preferred Stock
not so redeemed.

    6.  Notice. In the event that the Corporation provides or is required to
provide notice to any holder of Common Stock in accordance with the provisions
of these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation and/or the Corporation's
by-laws, the Corporation shall at the same time provide a copy of any such
notice to each holder of outstanding shares of Redeemable Preferred Stock.

    7.  No Reissuance of Redeemable Preferred Stock. No share or shares of
Redeemable Preferred Stock acquired by the Corporation by reason of redemption,
purchase, conversion, exchange or otherwise shall be reissued, and all such
shares shall be canceled, retired and eliminated from the shares which the
Corporation is authorized to issue.

    8.  Covenants. So long as any shares of Redeemable Preferred Stock are
outstanding the provisions of Section A.8 of this Article IV shall apply to all
shares of Redeemable Preferred Stock as if such shares were shares of Series A
Preferred Stock, with each share of Redeemable Preferred Stock entitled to one
vote per share.

                                       22

<PAGE>

                                C. COMMON STOCK

    1.  Voting.

        (a) Election of Directors. The holders of Common Stock voting
together with the holders of outstanding Series A Preferred Stock as a single
class shall be entitled to elect all of the Directors of the Corporation (other
than the Directors to be elected by the holders of Series A Preferred Stock or
Redeemable Preferred Stock as a separate class). Such Directors shall be the
candidates receiving the greatest number of affirmative votes entitled to be
cast (with each holder entitled to cast one vote for or against each candidate
with respect to each share held by such holder), with votes cast against such.
candidates and votes withheld having no legal effect. The election of such
Directors shall occur at the annual meeting of holders of capital stock or at
any special meeting called and held in accordance with the by-laws of the
Corporation, or by consent in lieu thereof in accordance with these Amended and
Restated Articles of Incorporation.

        (b) Other Voting. The holder of each share of Common Stock shall be
entitled to one vote for each such share as determined on the record date for
the vote or consent of shareholders and, for so long as any shares of Series A
Preferred stock remain outstanding, shall vote together with the holders of the
Series A Preferred Stock as a single class upon any items submitted to a vote of
shareholders, except as otherwise provided herein. The number of authorized
shares of Common Stock may be increased or decreased (but not below the number
of shares thereof then outstanding) by the affirmative vote of a majority of the
outstanding shares of Common Stock and Series A Preferred Stock voting together
as a single class. In all matters requiring the vote of the holders of Common
Stock, including the elections for directors, every holder of Common Stock shall
have the right to vote the number of shares of Common Stock owned by such
shareholder for as many persons as there are directors to be elected and shall
not have the right to cumulate such votes.

                                       23

<PAGE>

    2.  Dividends. Subject to the payment in full of all preferential dividends
to which the holders of the Redeemable Preferred Stock are entitled hereunder,
the holders of Common Stock shall be entitled to receive dividends out of funds
legally available therefor at such times and in such amounts as the Board of
Directors may determine in its sole discretion, with holders of Series A
Preferred Stock on an as-converted basis and Common Stock sharing pari passu in
such dividends, as contemplated by Section A.3.

    3. Liquidation. Upon any Liquidation Event, after the payment or provision
for payment of all debts and liabilities of the Corporation and all preferential
amounts to which the holders of Series A Preferred Stock and Redeemable
Preferred Stock are entitled with respect to the distribution of assets in
liquidation, the holders of Common Stock shall be entitled to share ratably in
the remaining assets of the Corporation available for distribution, as
contemplated by Section A.4 and Section B.4.

                                   ARTICLE V

                                    (AMENDED)

    In furtherance and not in limitation of the power conferred by statute,
the Board of Directors is expressly authorized to make, alter, amend or repeal
the By-laws of the Corporation (the "By-laws"). The By-laws may be altered,
amended or repealed, or new By-laws may be adopted, by the vote of a majority of
the members of the Board of Directors in accordance with the preceding sentence.

                                   ARTICLE VI

                                    (AMENDED)

    A director of the Corporation shall not, in the absence of fraud, be
disqualified by his office from dealing or contracting with the Corporation
either as a vendor, purchaser or otherwise, nor, in the absence of fraud, shall
a director of the Corporation be liable to account to the Corporation for any
profit realized by him or her from or through any transaction or contract of the
Corporation by reason of the fact that such director, or any firm of which such
director is a member, or any corporation of which such director is an officer,
director or shareholder, was interested in such transaction or contract if such
transaction or contract has been authorized, approved or ratified in a manner
provided in the IBCA for authorization, approval or ratification of transactions
or contracts between the Corporation and one or more of its directors or
officers or between the Corporation and any other corporation, partnership,
association or other organization in which one or more of its directors or
officers are directors or officers or have a financial interest.

                                       24

<PAGE>
                                  ARTICLE VII

                                    (AMENDED)

         Meetings of shareholders may be held within or without the State of
Illinois as the Bylaws may provide. The books of the Corporation maybe kept
outside the State of Illinois at such place or places as may be designated from
time to time by the Board of Directors or in the Bylaws.

                                  ARTICLE VIII

                                    (AMENDED)

         The Board of Directors may adopt a resolution proposing to amend,
alter, change or repeal any provision contained in these Articles of
Incorporation, in the manner now or hereafter prescribed by statute.

                                   ARTICLE IX

                                    (AMENDED)

         A. Indemnification of Directors, Officers Employees and Agents.

         The Corporation shall:

         1. indemnify, to the fullest extent permitted by the IBCA, any present
or former director of the Corporation, and may indemnify any present or former
officer, employee or agent of the Corporation selected by, and to the extent
determined by, the Board of Directors for indemnification, who was or is a party
or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed
action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or
investigative (other than an action by, or in the right of, the Corporation), by
reason of the fact that such person is or was a director, officer, employee or
agent of the Corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation
as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership,
joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys'
fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably
incurred by such person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if
such person acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed
to be in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the Corporation and, with
respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe
such person's conduct was unlawful. The termination of any action, suit or
proceeding by judgment, order, settlement or conviction, or upon a plea of nolo
contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a presumption that
the person did not act in good faith and in a manner which such person
reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the
Corporation and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had
reasonable cause to believe that such person's conduct was unlawful; and

                                       25
<PAGE>
         2. indemnify any present or former director of the Corporation, and may
indemnify any present or former officer, employee or agent of the Corporation
selected by, and to the extent determined by, the Board of Directors for
indemnification, who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to
any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by, or in the right of, the
Corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that such
person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation, or,
is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer,
employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or
other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys' fees) actually and
reasonably incurred by such person in connection with the defense or settlement
of such action or suit if such person acted in good faith and in a manner such
person reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best interests of
the Corporation and except that no indemnification shall be made in respect of
any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to
be liable to the Corporation, unless, and only to the extent that the court in
which such action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that,
despite the adjudication of liability, but in view of all the circumstances of
the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such
expenses as the court shall deem proper; and

         3. indemnify any present or former director or officer, and may
indemnify any present or former employee or agent of the Corporation selected
by, and to the extent determined by, the Board of Directors for indemnification,
against expenses (including attorneys' fees) actually and reasonably incurred by
such person in connection therewith, to the extent that such person has been
successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or
proceeding referred to in Article IX.A.I. and 2., or in defense of any claim,
issue or matter therein; and

         4. pay expenses incurred by a director, or an officer who is entitled
to indemnification hereunder, in defending a civil or criminal action, suit or
proceeding in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or
proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such director or
officer to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that such
director or officer is not entitled to be indemnified by the Corporation as
authorized in this Article IX; and

         5. notwithstanding the foregoing provisions and except as required by
the MCA, the Corporation shall not be obligated to indemnify or pay expenses
incurred by any person with respect to any threatened, pending, or completed
claims, suits or actions, whether civil, criminal, administrative, investigative
or otherwise ("Proceedings"), initiated or brought voluntarily by such person
and not by way of defense (other than Proceedings brought to establish or
enforce a right to indemnification under the provisions of this Article IX,
unless a court of competent jurisdiction determines that each of the material
assertions made by such person in such Proceedings were not made in good faith
or were frivolous). The Corporation shall not be obligated to indemnify such
person for any amount paid in settlement of a Proceeding covered hereby without
the prior written consent of the Corporation to such settlement; and

         6. not deem the indemnification and advancement of expenses provided
by, or granted pursuant to, the other subsections of this Article IX as
exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification or
advancement of expenses may be entitled under any By-law, agreement, vote of
shareholders or disinterested directors, or otherwise, both as to action in

                                       26
<PAGE>

such director's or officer's official capacity and as to action in another
capacity while holding such office; and

         7. have the right, authority and power to purchase and maintain
insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee
or agent of the Corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the
Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation,
partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any liability
asserted against such person and incurred by such person in any such capacity,
or arising out of such person's status as such, whether or not the Corporation
would have the power to indemnify such person against such liability under the
provisions of this Article IX; and

         8. deem the provisions of this Article IX to be a contract between the
Corporation and each director, or appropriately designated officer, employee or
agent, who serves in such capacity at any time while this Article IX is in
effect, and any repeal or modification of this Article IX shall not affect any
rights or obligations then existing with respect to any state of facts then or
theretofore existing or any action, suit or proceeding theretofore or thereafter
brought or threatened based in whole or in part upon such state of facts;
provided, however, that the provisions of this Article IX shall not be deemed to
be a contract between the Corporation and any directors, officers, employees. or
agents of any other corporation (the "Second Corporation") which shall merge
into or consolidate with the Corporation where the Corporation shall be the
surviving or resulting corporation, and any such directors, officers, employees
or agents of the Second Corporation shall be indemnified to the extent required
under the IBCA only at the discretion of the Board of Directors; and

         9. continue the indemnification and advancement of expenses provided
by, or granted pursuant to, this Article IX, unless otherwise provided when
authorized or ratified, as to a person who has ceased to be a director, officer,
employee or agent of the Corporation, and the indemnification and advancement of
expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, this Article IX shall inure to the
benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such a person.

                  B. Elimination of Certain Liability of Directors.

         No director of the Corporation shall be personally liable to the
Corporation or its shareholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary
duty as a director, except for liability (i) for any breach of the director's
duty of loyalty to the Corporation or its shareholders, (ii) for acts or
omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing
violation of law, or (iii) for any transaction from which the director derived
an improper personal benefit. If the MCA is amended to authorize the further
elimination or limitation of liability of directors, then the liability of a
director of the Corporation, in addition to the limitation on personal liability
provided herein, shall be limited to the fullest extent permitted by the amended
IBCA. Any repeal or modification of this Article IX by the shareholders of the
Corporation shall be prospective only and shall not adversely affect any
limitation on the personal liability of a director of the Corporation existing
at the time of such repeal or modification.

                                       27
<PAGE>

                  C. Amendment.

         Notwithstanding anything contained in these Articles of Incorporation
to the contrary, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least fifty percent
(50%) of the voting power of the shares entitled to vote generally in the
election of directors shall be required to amend, alter or repeal, or to adopt
any provision inconsistent with, this Article IX.

                                       28
<PAGE>

                           EXHIBIT D -- FORM OF BYLAWS

                              AMENDED AND RESTATED

                                     BY-LAWS

                                       OF

                            EAGLE TEST SYSTEMS, INC.

                                    ARTICLE I

                                     OFFICES

         SECTION 1.1 Registered Office. The corporation shall continuously
maintain in the State of Illinois a registered office and a registered agent
whose office is identical with such registered office.

         SECTION 1.2 Other Offices. The corporation may also have other offices
and places of business within or without the State of Illinois.

                                   ARTICLE II

                                  SHAREHOLDERS

         SECTION 2.1 Annual Meeting. An annual meeting of the shareholders for
the purpose of electing directors and for the transaction of such other business
as may come before the meeting shall be held on the second Tuesday in November
of each year, unless the board of directors, not less than ten (10) days prior
to any such fixed annual meeting date, designates another date for such annual
meeting, in which event the annual meeting of shareholders for that year shall
be held on the date so designated. If the day fixed for the annual meeting shall
be a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday, such meeting shall be held on the next
succeeding business day.

         SECTION 2.2 Special Meetings. Special meetings of the shareholders may
be called either by the president of the corporation, by the board of directors
or by the holders of nor less than one-fifth of all the outstanding shares
entitled to vote on the matter for which the meeting is called. Special meetings
of the shareholders shall be called by the president of the corporation at the
request in writing of any one or more shareholders owning at least one-fifth of
all the outstanding shares entitled to vote on the matter for which the meeting
is called. Any such request shall state the purpose or purposes of the proposed
meeting.

         SECTION 2.3 Place of Meetings. The board of directors may designate any
place as the place of meeting for any annual meeting or for any special meeting
called by the board of directors.

<PAGE>

If no designation is made, or if a special meeting is otherwise called, the
place of meeting shall be 620 South Butterfield Road, Mundelein, Illinois.

         SECTION 2.4 Notice of Meetings. Written notice stating the place, date
and hour of the meeting, and, in the case of a special meeting, the purpose or
purposes for which the meeting is called, shall be delivered not less than ten
(10) nor more than sixty (60) days before the date of the meeting, or in the
case of a merger, consolidation, share exchange, or dissolution, or a sale,
lease or exchange of assets, not less than twenty (20) nor more than sixty (60)
days before the date of the meeting, either personally or by mail, by or at the
direction of the president, the secretary, or the officer or persons calling the
meeting, to each shareholder of record entitled to vote at such meeting. If
mailed, such notice shall be deemed to be delivered when deposited in the United
States mail, addressed to the shareholder at his address as it appears on the
records of the corporation, with postage thereon prepaid. When a meeting is
adjourned to another time or place, notice need not be given of the adjourned
meeting if the time and place thereof are announced at the meeting at which the
adjournment is taken.

         SECTION 2.5 Fixing of Record Date. For the purpose of determining
shareholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of shareholders, or
shareholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend, or in order to make a
determination of shareholders for any other proper purpose, the board of
directors of the corporation may fix in advance a date as the record date for
any such determination of shareholders, such date in any case to be not more
than sixty (60) days and, for a meeting of shareholders, not less than ten (10)
days, or in the case of a merger, consolidation, share exchange, dissolution or
sale, lease or exchange of assets, not less than twenty (20) days, immediately
preceding the date of such meeting. If no record date is fixed for the
determination of shareholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of
shareholders, or shareholders entitled to receive payment of a dividend, the
record date for such determination of shareholders shall be the date on which
notice of the meeting is mailed or the date on which the resolution of the board
of directors declaring such dividend is adopted, as the case may be. When a
determination of shareholders entitled to vote at any meeting of shareholders
has been made as provided in this Section, such determination shall apply to any
adjournment thereof.

         SECTION 2.6 Voting Lists. Within twenty (20) days after the record date
for a meeting of shareholders or ten (10) days before such meeting, whichever is
earlier, the officer or agent having charge of the transfer books for shares of
the corporation shall make a complete list of the shareholders entitled to vote
at such meeting, arranged in alphabetical order, showing the address of and the
number of shares registered in the name of the shareholder. For a period of ten
(10) days prior to such meeting, such list shall be kept on file at the
registered office of the corporation and shall be open to inspection by any
shareholder, and to copying at the shareholder's expense, at any time during
usual business hours. Such list shall also be produced and kept open at the time
and place of the meeting and may be inspected by any shareholder during the
whole time of the meeting. The original share ledger or transfer book, or a
duplicate thereof kept in the State of Illinois, shall be prima facie evidence
as to the shareholders who are entitled to examine such list, share ledger or
transfer book or to vote at any meeting of shareholders.

         SECTION 2.7 Quorum. Vote Required. A majority of the outstanding shares
of the corporation entitled to vote on a matter, represented in person or by
proxy, shall constitute a quorum for consideration of such matter at a meeting
of shareholders; provided that if less than a majority of

                                       2
<PAGE>

the outstanding shares are represented at said meeting, a majority of the shares
so represented may adjourn the meeting at any time without further notice. If a
quorum is present, all elections shall be determined by plurality vote, and,
with respect to all other matters, the affirmative vote of the majority of the
shares represented at the meeting and entitled to vote on a matter shall be the
act of the shareholders, unless the vote of a greater number or voting by
classes is required by the Business Corporation Act of 1983 or the Articles of
Incorporation. At any adjourned meeting at which a quorum is present, any
business may be transacted which might have been transacted at the original
meeting. A quorum which is present to organize a meeting shall not be broken by
the subsequent withdrawal of one or more shareholders.

         SECTION 2.8 Manner of Acting and Electronic Participation. Unless
specifically prohibited by the articles of incorporation or by-laws, the
shareholders may participate in and act at any meeting of the shareholders
through the use of a conference telephone or interactive technology, including,
but not limited to electronic transmission, internet usage, or remote
communication, by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can
communicate with each other. Participation in such meeting shall constitute
attendance and presence in person at the meeting of the person or persons so
participating.

         SECTION 2.9 Proxies. Each shareholder entitled to vote at a meeting of
shareholders or to express consent to corporate action in writing without a
meeting may authorize another person or persons to act for him or her by proxy,
but no such proxy shall be valid after the expiration of 11 months from the date
thereof unless otherwise provided in the proxy. Each proxy shall be in writing
executed by the shareholder giving the proxy or by his or her duly authorized
attorney. Unless and until voted, every proxy shall be revocable at the pleasure
of the person who executed it or of that person's legal representatives or
assigns, except in those cases where an irrevocable proxy permitted by statute
has been given.

         SECTION 2.10 Voting of Shares. Except as otherwise provided in the
Articles of Incorporation, each outstanding share entitled to vote on a matter
submitted to vote at a meeting of shareholders shall be entitled to one vote
upon each such matter. In all elections for directors, every shareholder shall
have the right to vote the number of shares owned by such shareholder for as
many persons as there are directors to be elected and shall not have the right
to cumulate such votes.

         SECTION 2.11 Voting of Shares By Certain Holders. Shares of the
corporation held by the corporation in a fiduciary capacity may be voted and
shall be counted in determining the total number of outstanding shares entitled
to vote at any given time. However, shares of its own stock belonging to this
corporation shall not be voted, directly or indirectly, at any meeting and shall
not be counted in determining the total number of outstanding shares at any
given time.

         Shares registered in the name of another corporation, domestic or
foreign, may be voted by any officer, agent, proxy or other legal representative
authorized to vote such shares under the law of incorporation of such
corporation. The corporation may treat the president or other person holding the
position of president of such other corporation as authorized to vote such
shares, together with any other person indicated and any other holder of an
office indicated by the corporate shareholder to the corporation as a person or
an officer authorized to vote such shares. Such persons and officers indicated
shall be registered by the corporation on the transfer

                                       3
<PAGE>

books for shares and included in any voting list prepared in accordance with
Section 2.6 of these by-laws.

         Shares registered in the name of a deceased person, a minor ward or a
person under legal disability, may be voted by his or her administrator,
executor, or court appointed guardian, either in person or by proxy, without a
transfer of such shares into the name of such administrator, executor, or court
appointed guardian. Shares registered in the name of a trustee may be voted by
him or her, either in person or by proxy.

         Shares registered in the name of a receiver may be voted by such
receiver, and shares held by or under the control of a receiver may be voted by
such receiver, without the transfer thereof into his or her name if authority so
to do is contained in an appropriate order of the court by which such receiver
was appointed.

         A shareholder whose shares are pledged shall be entitled to vote such
shares until the shares have been transferred into the name of the pledgee, and
thereafter the pledgee shall be entitled to vote the shares so transferred.

         SECTION 2.12 Inspectors. At any meeting of shareholders, the presiding
officer may, or upon the request of any shareholder shall, appoint one or more
persons as inspectors for such meeting.

         Such inspectors shall ascertain and report the number of shares
represented at the meeting, based upon their determination of the validity and
effect of proxies, shall count all votes and report the results and shall do
such other acts as are proper to conduct the election and voting with
impartiality and fairness to all the shareholders.

         Each report of an inspector shall be in writing and signed by him or by
a majority of them if there be more than one inspector acting at such meeting.
If there is more than one inspector, the report of a majority shall be the
report of the inspectors. The report of the inspector or inspectors on the
number of shares represented at the meeting and the results of the voting shall
be prima facie evidence thereof.

         SECTION 2.13 Informal Action by Shareholders. Any action required to be
taken at any annual or special meeting of the shareholders, or any other action
which may be taken at a meeting of the shareholders, may be taken without a
meeting and without a vote, if a consent in writing, setting forth the action so
taken, shall be signed (a) by the holders of outstanding shares having not less
than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take
such action at a meeting at which all shares entitled to vote thereon were
present and voting, or (b) by all of the shareholders entitled to vote with
respect to the subject matter thereof. If such consent is signed by less than
all of the shareholders entitled to vote, then such consent shall become
effective only if at least five (5) days prior to the execution of the consent
notice in writing is delivered to all shareholders entitled to vote with respect
to the matter thereof, and after the effective date of the consent, prompt
notice of the taking of the corporation action without a meeting by less than
unanimous written consent shall be given in writing to those shareholders who
have not consented in writing.

                                       4
<PAGE>

         SECTION 2.14 Voting by Ballot. Voting on any question or in any
election may be by voice unless the presiding officer shall order, or any
shareholder shall demand, that voting be by ballot.

                                  ARTICLE III

                                    DIRECTORS

         SECTION 3.1 General Powers. The business and affairs of the corporation
shall be managed by or under the direction of the board of directors.

         SECTION 3.2 Number. Election, Tenure and Qualifications. The number of
directors which shall constitute the whole board shall be determined from time
to time by resolution of the Board of Directors provided that the board shall
consist of a minimum of five (5) members and a maximum of nine (9) members. The
number of directors may be increased or decreased from time to time by amendment
of this Section, but no decrease shall have the effect of shortening the term of
any incumbent director. The terms of all directors shall expire at the next
annual shareholders' meeting following their election. The term of a director
elected to fill a vacancy shall expire at the next annual shareholders' meeting
at which his or her predecessor's term would have expired. The term of a
director elected as a result of an increase in the number of directors shall
expire at the next annual shareholders' meeting. Despite the expiration of a
director's term, he or she shall continue to serve until the next meeting of
shareholders at which he or she is reelected or a successor or replacement
director is elected. Directors need not be residents of the State of Illinois or
shareholders of the corporation.

         SECTION 3.3 Regular Meetings. A regular meeting of the board of
directors shall be held without notice other than this by-law, immediately after
the annual meeting of shareholders. The board of directors may provide, by
resolution, the time and place for the holding of additional regular meetings
without notice other than such resolution.

         SECTION 3.4 Special Meetings. Special meetings of the board of
directors may be called by or at the request of the president of the corporation
upon such notice as he or she deems appropriate or by or at the request of any
two directors upon giving at least two (2) days notice to each director, either
personally or by mail or facsimile or reputable overnight mail service. The
person or persons authorized to call special meetings of the board of directors
may fix any place as the place for holding any such special meeting called by
them.

         SECTION 3.5 Notice. If notice of any special meeting is mailed, such
notice shall be deemed to be delivered when deposited in the United States mail
so addressed, with postage thereon prepaid. If notice be given by facsimile,
such notice shall be deemed to be delivered on the date such facsimile is
transmitted. The attendance of a director at any meeting shall constitute a
waiver of notice of such meeting, except where a director attends a meeting for
the express purpose of objecting to the transaction of any business because the
meeting is not lawfully called or convened. Neither the business to be
transacted at, nor the purpose of, any special meeting of the board of directors
need be specified in the notice or waiver of notice of such meeting.

         SECTION 3.6 Quorum. A majority of the number of directors then in
office shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting
of the board of directors,

                                       5
<PAGE>

provided that if less than a majority of such number of directors is present at
a meeting, a majority of the directors present may adjourn the meeting at any
time without further notice.

         SECTION 3.7 Manner of Acting. Unless the act of a greater number is
required by statute, the Articles of Incorporation, or other provisions of these
by-laws, the act of majority of the directors present at a meeting of the board
of directors at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the board of
directors.

         Unless specifically prohibited by the Articles of Incorporation,
members of the board of directors or of any committee of the board of directors
may participate in and act at any meeting of such board or committee through the
use of a conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of
which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other.
Participation in such meeting shall constitute attendance and presence in person
at the meeting of the person or persons so participating.

         SECTION 3.8 Vacancies. Any vacancy occurring in the board of directors
and any directorship to be filled by reason of an increase in the number of
directors, arising between meetings of shareholders, may be filled by election
at an annual meeting or at a special meeting of shareholders called for that
purpose. A director appointed to fill a vacancy shall serve until the next
meeting of shareholders at which directors are to be elected.

         SECTION 3.9 Informal Action by Directors. Unless specifically
prohibited by the Articles of Incorporation or by other provisions of these
by-laws, any action required to be taken at a meeting of the board of directors,
or any other action which may be taken at a meeting of the board of directors,
or of any committee thereof, may be taken without a meeting if a consent in
writing, setting forth the action so taken, shall be signed by all the directors
entitled to vote with respect to the subject matter thereof, or by all the
members of such committee, as the case may be. Any such consent signed by all
the directors or all the members of the committee shall have the same effect as
a unanimous vote at a meeting of directors at which a quorum was present, and
may be stated as such in any document filed with the Secretary of State of the
State of Illinois or with anyone else.

         SECTION 3.10 Compensation. The board of directors, by the affirmative
vote of a majority of the directors then in office, and irrespective of any
personal interest of any of its members, shall have authority to establish
reasonable compensation of all directors for services to the corporation as
directors, officers, or otherwise. By resolution of the board of directors, the
directors may be paid their expenses, if any, of attendance at each meeting of
the board. No such payment previously mentioned in this Section shall preclude
any director from serving the corporation in any other capacity and receiving
compensation therefor.

         SECTION 3.11 Committees. A majority of the directors then in office
may, by resolution, create one or more committees and appoint members of the
board to serve on any one or more of such committees. Each committee shall have
two or more members who shall serve at the pleasure of the board. A majority of
any committee shall constitute a quorum and a majority of a quorum is necessary
for committee action. To the extent provided by the board of directors in such
resolution, each committee shall have and exercise all of the authority of the
board of directors in the management of the corporation, except that a committee
may not: authorize distributions; approve or recommend to shareholders any act
required by statute to be approved by shareholders; fill

                                       6
<PAGE>

vacancies on the board or on any of its committees; elect or remove officers or
fix the compensation of any member of the committee; adopt, amend or repeal the
by-laws; approve a plan of merger not requiring shareholder approval; authorize
or approve the reacquisition of shares, except according to a general formula or
method prescribed by the board; authorize or approve the issuance or sale, or
contract for sale, of shares or determine the designation and relative rights,
preferences, and limitations of a series of shares, except that the board may
direct a committee to fix the specific terms of issuance, sale or contract for
sale of shares, or the number of shares to be allocated to particular employees
under an employee benefit plan; or amend, alter, repeal, or take action
inconsistent with any resolution or action of the board of directors when the
resolution or action of the board of directors provides by its terms that it
shall not be amended, altered or repealed by action of a committee. Vacancies in
the membership of any committee shall be filled by the board of directors. Each
committee shall keep regular minutes of its proceedings and report the same to
the board when required. A committee may act by unanimous consent in writing
without a meeting and, subject to action by the board of directors, each
committee, by a majority vote of its members, shall determine the time and place
of meetings and the notice therefor.

         SECTION 3.12 Resignation of Directors. A director may resign at any
time by giving written notice to the board of directors, its chairman, if any,
or to the president or secretary of the corporation. A resignation shall be
effective when the notice is given unless the notice specifies a future date.
The pending vacancy may be filled before the effective date, but the successor
shall not take office until the effective date.

                                   ARTICLE IV

                                    OFFICERS

         SECTION 4.1 Executive Officers. The executive officers of the
corporation shall be a president, a chief financial officer and a secretary. The
corporation may also have one or more vice presidents, in which case each vice
president shall also be an executive officer. Two or more offices may be held by
the same person except the offices of president and secretary. The executive
officers of the corporation shall be elected annually by the board of directors
at its first meeting following the meeting of shareholders at which the board
was elected. If the election of officers shall not be held at such meeting, such
election shall be held as soon thereafter as conveniently may be. Vacancies may
be filled or new offices created and filled at any meeting of the board of
directors.

         SECTION 4.2 Other Officers and Agents. The board of directors may also
elect a chairman of the board from among the directors and may elect one or more
assistant vice presidents and assistant secretaries, and such other officers and
agents as the board may at any time or from time to time determine to be
advisable.

         SECTION 4.3 Tenure; Representation; Removal; Vacancies. Each officer of
the corporation shall hold office until his successor is elected or appointed or
until his earlier displacement from office by resignation, removal or otherwise;
provided, that if the term of office of any officer elected or appointed
pursuant to Section 4.2 of these by-laws shall have been fixed by the board of
directors, he shall cease to hold such office no later than the date of
expiration of such term, regardless of whether any other person shall have been
elected or appointed to succeed him. Any officer may resign by written notice to
the corporation and may be removed

                                       7
<PAGE>

for cause or without cause by the board of directors whenever in its judgment
the best interests of the corporation will be served thereby; provided, that any
such removal shall be without prejudice to the contract rights, if any, of the
officer so removed. Election or appointment of an officer or agent shall not of
itself create contract rights. If the office of any officer becomes vacant for
any reason, the vacancy may be filled by the board of directors.

         SECTION 4.4 Compensation. The compensation of all officers of the
corporation shall be fixed by the board of directors. No officer shall be
prevented from receiving compensation by reason that he is also a director of
the corporation.

         SECTION 4.5 Authority and Duties. All officers and agents of the
corporation, as between themselves and the corporation, shall have such express
authority and perform such duties in the management of the property and affairs
of the corporation as is provided in these by-laws, or, to the extent not
provided, as may be determined by resolution of the board of directors not
inconsistent with these by-laws. All officers and agents of the corporation
shall also have such implied authority as recognized by the common law from time
to time.

         SECTION 4.6 The President. The president shall be the president of the
corporation. He shall have general and active management of the business of the
corporation, shall see to it that all resolutions and orders of the board of
directors are carried into effect, and in connection therewith, shall be
authorized to delegate to the other executive officers of the corporation such
of his powers and duties as president at such times and in such manner as he may
deem to be advisable. In the absence or disability of the chairman of the board,
or if there be no chairman, he shall preside at all meetings of the shareholders
and the directors.

         SECTION 4.7 The Vice Presidents. The vice president, if any, or, if
there be more than one, the vice presidents, shall assist the president in the
management of the business of the corporation and the implementation of
resolutions and orders of the board of directors at such times and in such
manner as the president may deem to be advisable. If there be more than one vice
president, the board of directors may designate one of them as executive vice
president, in which case he shall be first in order of seniority after the
president, and may also grant to others such titles as shall be descriptive of
their respective functions or indicative of their relative seniority. The vice
president, or, if there be more than one, the vice presidents in the order of
their seniority as indicated by their titles or as otherwise determined by the
board of directors, shall, in the absence or disability of the president,
exercise the powers and perform the duties of president; and he or they shall
have such other powers and duties as the board of directors or the president may
from time to time prescribe.

         SECTION 4.8 The Chief Financial Officer. The chief financial officer
shall have the care and custody of the corporate funds, and other valuable
effects, including securities, and shall keep full and accurate accounts of
receipts and disbursements in books belonging to the corporation and shall
deposit all moneys and other valuable effects in the name and to the credit of
the corporation in such depositories as may be designated by the board of
directors. The chief financial officer shall disburse the funds of the
corporation as may be ordered by the board of directors, taking proper vouchers
for such disbursements, and shall render to the president and the board of
directors, at meetings or whenever they may require it, an account of all his
transactions as chief financial officer and of the financial condition of the
corporation. If required by the board of directors, the chief financial officer
shall give the corporation a bond for such term, in such sum and with such

                                       8

<PAGE>

surety or sureties as shall be satisfactory to the board for the faithful
performance of the duties of his office and for the restoration to the
corporation, in case of his death, resignation, retirement or removal from
office, of all books, papers, vouchers, money and other property of whatever
kind in his possession or under his control belonging to the corporation.

         SECTION 4.9 The Secretary. The secretary shall attend all meetings of
the shareholders and of the board of directors and shall record the minutes of
all proceedings taken at such meetings, or maintain all documents evidencing
corporate actions taken by written consent of the shareholders or of the board
of directors, in a book to be kept for that purpose; and he shall perform like
duties for any committee of the board of directors when required. He shall have
the authority to certify the by-laws, resolutions of the shareholders and board
of directors and committees thereof, and other documents of the corporation as
true and correct copies thereof. He shall see to it that all notices of meetings
of the shareholders and of special meetings of the board of directors are duly
given in accordance with these by-laws or as required by statute. He shall be
the custodian of the seal, if any, of the corporation, and, when authorized by
the board of directors, he shall cause the corporate seal, if any, to be affixed
to any document requiring it, and, when so affixed, attested by his signature as
secretary or by the signature of an assistant secretary; and he shall perform
such other duties as the board of directors or the president may from time to
time prescribe.

         SECTION 4.10 The Assistant Secretaries. The assistant secretary, if
any, or, if there be more than one, the assistant secretaries, in the order
determined by the board of directors or by the president, shall, in the absence
or disability of the secretary, exercise the powers and perform the duties of
the secretary; and he or they shall perform such other duties as the board of
directors or the president may from time to time prescribe.

                                   ARTICLE V

                   CERTIFICATES FOR SHARES AND THEIR TRANSFER

         SECTION 5.1 Certificates. The issued shares of the corporation shall be
represented by certificates. The certificates shall be in such form as shall be
determined by the board of directors, and shall be numbered and entered in the
books of the corporation as they are issued. Each certificate shall exhibit the
registered holder's name and the number and class of shares, the date of issue,
and the designation of any series, that it evidences, shall set forth such other
statements as may be required by statute, and shall be signed by the president
or a vice president and by the chief financial officer or by the secretary or an
assistant secretary, any or all of whose signatures may be facsimile if such
certificate is countersigned by a transfer agent or registered by a registrar.
In case any one or more of the officers who have signed or whose facsimile
signatures appear on any such certificate shall cease to be such officer or
officers of the corporation; or an officer of the transfer agent or registrar,
before such certificate is issued and delivered, it may nonetheless be issued
and delivered with the same effect as if such officer or officers had continued
in office.

         SECTION 5.2 Lost Certificates. The board of directors may direct that a
new share certificate or certificates be issued in place of any certificate or
certificates theretofore issued by the corporation which have been mutilated or,
which are alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed, upon presentation of
each such mutilated certificate or the making by the person claiming any such
certificate to have been lost, stolen or destroyed of an affidavit as to the
facts and circumstances of the loss, theft or destruction thereof. The board of
directors, in its discretion and as a condition

                                        9

<PAGE>

precedent to the issuance of any new certificate, may require, or by resolution
may delegate to the president the power in his discretion to require from time
to time, the owner of any certificate alleged to have been last, stolen or
destroyed, or his legal representative, to furnish the corporation with a bond,
in such sum and with such surety or sureties as the board or the president, as
the case may be, may direct, as indemnity against any claim that may be made
against the corporation in respect of such lost, stolen or destroyed
certificate.

         SECTION 5.3 Registration of Transfer. Upon surrender to the corporation
or any transfer agent of the corporation of a certificate for shares duly
endorsed or accompanied by proper evidence of succession, assignment or
authority to transfer, the corporation shall issue or cause its transfer agent
to issue a new certificate to the person entitled thereto, cancel the old
certificate and record the transaction upon its books.

                                   ARTICLE VI

                                WAIVER OF NOTICE

         Whenever any notice is required to be given under the provisions of
these by-laws, the Articles of Incorporation, or under the provisions of the
Business Corporation Act of 1983, a waiver thereof in writing, signed by the
person or persons entitled to such notice, whether before or after the time
stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to the giving of such notice.
Attendance by a person at any meeting shall constitute waiver of notice thereof
unless at the meeting such person objects to the holding of the meeting because
proper notice was not given.

                                  ARTICLE VII

                                 INDEMNIFICATION

         The corporation shall indemnify (a) any person who was or is a party or
is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action
or suit by or in the right of the corporation to procure a judgment in its favor
by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director, officer, employee
or agent of the corporation or is or was serving at the request of the
corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation,
partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses
(including attorneys' fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person in
connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit, and (b) any
person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any
threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil,
criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the
right of the corporation) by reason of the fact that he is or was a director,
officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or who is or was serving at the
request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another
corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against
expenses (including attorneys' fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in
settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with any such
action, suit or proceeding, in each case to the fullest extent permissible under
subsections (a) through (f) and (h) through (k) of Section 8.75 of the Business
Corporation Act of 1983, as amended from time to time, or the indemnification
provisions of any successor statute. If the corporation pays indemnity or makes
an advance of expenses to a director, officer,

                                       10
<PAGE>

employee or agent, the corporation shall report the indemnification or advance
in writing to the shareholders with or before the notice of the next
shareholders meeting.

                                  ARTICLE VIII

                               GENERAL PROVISIONS

         SECTION 8.1 Contracts. The board of directors may authorize any officer
or officers, agent or agents, to enter into any contract or execute and deliver
any instrument in the name of and on behalf of the corporation, and such
authority may be general or confined to specific instances.

         SECTION 8.2 Checks, Drafts, Etc. All checks, drafts or other orders for
the payment of money, notes or other evidences of indebtedness issued in the
name of the corporation, shall be signed by such officer or officers, agent or
agents of the corporation and in such manner as shall from time to time be
determined by resolution of the board of directors.

         SECTION 8.3 Deposits. All funds of the corporation not otherwise
employed shall be deposited from time to time to the credit of the corporation
in such banks, trust companies or other depositories as the board of directors
may select.

         SECTION 8.4 Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the corporation shall be
fixed by resolution of the board of directors.

         SECTION 8.5 Dividends. The board of directors may from time to time
declare, and the corporation may pay, dividends on its outstanding shares in the
manner and upon the terms and conditions provided by law or the Articles of
Incorporation.

         SECTION 8.6 Seal. The corporation may have, but shall not be required
to have, a corporate seal as shall be determined by the secretary of the
corporation in his discretion. If a corporate seal is obtained, the seal shall
contain the name of the corporation and the words "Corporate Seal, Illinois",
and the use thereof shall be determined from time to time by the officer or
officers executing and delivering instruments on behalf of the corporation,
provided that the affixing of a corporate seal to an instrument shall not give
the instrument additional force or effect or change the construction thereof.
The seal, if any, may be used by causing it or a facsimile thereof to be
impressed or affixed or in any other manner reproduced.

         SECTION 8.7 Registered Shareholders. Except as otherwise required by
law, the corporation shall be entitled to recognize a person registered on its
books as the holder of shares as the sole owner of such shares for all purposes,
and shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or legal claim to or interest
in such shares on the part of any person other than such registered holder,
regardless of whether it shall have knowledge or notice of any such claim or
interest. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the corporation
shall be entitled to recognize the exclusive right of a person whose holding of
shares is so registered on its books as of any record date fixed or determined
pursuant to Section 2.5 of these by-laws to be treated as the sole owner of such
shares for the purpose for which such record date was so fixed or determined.

         SECTION 8.8 Voting of Securities of Other Corporations. In the event
that the corporation shall at any time or from time to time own and have power
to vote any securities

                                       11

<PAGE>

(including but not limited to shares of stock) of any other issuer, they shall
be voted by such person or persons, to such extent and in such manner, as may be
determined by the board of directors.

         SECTION 8.9 Construction. The headings in these by-laws are for
purposes of reference only and shall not be considered in construing these
by-laws. As used herein, the neuter gender shall also denote the masculine and
feminine, and the masculine gender shall also denote the feminine and neuter.

                                   ARTICLE IX

                                   AMENDMENTS

         The power to make, alter, amend, or repeal the by-laws of the
corporation shall be vested in the board of directors, unless reserved to the
shareholders by the articles of incorporation. The by-laws may contain any
provisions for the regulation and management of the affairs of the corporation
not inconsistent with law or the articles of incorporation.

                                       12
<PAGE>

                      EXHIBIT E - FORM OF STOCK OPTION PLAN

                               [See Exhibit 10.1]

<PAGE>

                   EXHIBIT F - FORM OF STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT

                               [See Exhibit 10.7]

                                       2
<PAGE>

                EXHIBIT G - FORM OF REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

                                [See Exhibit 4.2]

                                       3
<PAGE>

                   EXHIBIT H - SCHEDULE OF REDEMPTION PARTIES

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                    REDEEMED SHARES                       REDEMPTION PRICE
                                                    ---------------                       ----------------
                 NAME
                 ----
<S>                                                 <C>                                    <C>
Leonard Foxman                                         1,830.540                           $48,339,484.10

Foxman Family, LLC                                     1,154.375                           $30,483,842.95

Eagle Test Systems, Inc. Employee                       556.377                            $14,692,385.42
Stock Ownership Plan

Jack Weimer                                             51.099                              $1,349,373.00

Steve Dollens                                            5.109                               $134,914.52
</TABLE>

                                       4
<PAGE>

                  EXHIBIT I - FORM OF MANAGEMENT RIGHTS LETTER

                      [Eagle Test Systems, Inc. Letterhead]

                               September 30, 2003

[Name of TA Fund]
c/o TA Associates, Inc.
High Street Tower
Suite 2500
Boston, MA  02110

Attention: Michael C.  Child and Jameson J.  McJunkin

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         This letter is being issued in connection with the acquisition by [name
of TA Fund] (the "Fund") of shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, par
value $.01 per share, of Eagle Test Systems, Inc. (the "Company") and Senior
Subordinated Secured Convertible Notes of the Company. The Fund desires actively
to assist the Company in developing, reviewing and considering certain proposals
and suggestions relating to the management of the Company's business and the
Company desires such assistance. In order to facilitate the Fund's input with
respect to the management of the business of the Company, the Company agrees to
grant to the Fund the management rights described below and further agrees that
it will give due consideration to such input as may be provided by the Fund in
exercise of such rights:

                  (a) the right to discuss, and provide advice with respect to,
         the business operations, properties and financial and other conditions
         of the Company with the Company's officers, employees and directors and
         the right to consult with and advise the Company's senior management on
         matters materially affecting the business and affairs of the Company;

                  (b) the right to submit business proposals or suggestions to
         the Company's senior management from time to time with the requirement
         that one or more members of the Company's senior management discuss
         such proposals or suggestions with the Fund within a reasonable period
         after such submission and the right to call a meeting with the
         Company's senior management in order to discuss such proposals or
         suggestions; and

                  (c) the right (i) to visit the Company's business premises and
         other properties during normal business hours, (ii) to receive
         financial statements, operating reports, budgets or other financial
         reports of the Company on a regular basis describing the Company's
         financial performance, significant proposals and other material aspects
         of the Company's business and operations, (iii) to examine the books
         and records of the Company and (iv) to request such other information
         at reasonable times and intervals in light of the Company's normal
         business operations concerning the general status of the Company's
         business,

                                       5
<PAGE>

         financial condition and operations but only to the extent such
         information is reasonably available to the Company and in a format
         consistent with how the Company maintains such information.

         The Fund agrees that except as may be required by law, rule,
regulation, legal process or regulatory authority, any non-public information
received from the Company hereunder (the "Information") will be treated as
confidential and will not be disclosed by the Fund or made available to any
third party (other than any of the Fund's partners, employees, advisers,
attorneys, accountants or agents that the Fund reasonably believes has a need to
know such information and that agrees to be bound by the confidentiality
provisions set forth herein) without the Company's prior written approval and
without safeguards for protecting such information. The Fund agrees that it
shall use its reasonable efforts to maintain the confidence of all Information
disclosed to it pursuant to this letter agreement, except that the Fund may
disclose any Information (i) to any person with whom the Fund is discussing a
potential sale of any securities, provided that such person executes a
confidentiality agreement substantially similar to this paragraph in favor of
the Company and (ii) to the extent that the Fund is requested or required (by
deposition, interrogatories, subpoena or otherwise) as part of an action, suit,
proceeding or investigation by or before any court or governmental authority;
provided, that the Fund shall use its best efforts to limit such disclosure to
information it is advised by counsel that it is legally required to disclose in
connection with any such action, suit, proceeding, or investigation.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, "Information" excludes any of the foregoing that
has entered the public domain through no fault of the Fund, that an authorized
executive officer of the Company has authorized for public dissemination, that
was known to or possessed by the Fund prior to its discussion with the Company
of the acquisition described in the first paragraph of this letter agreement and
other than through disclosure or delivery by the Company, or that was learned or
obtained by the Fund from sources having no duty of confidentiality to the
Company. The Fund may decline to receive Information by providing written notice
to the Company.

         Please acknowledge your agreement by signing below and returning the
executed letter via facsimile and regular mail to the address listed above.

         Thank you for your consideration.

                                               Very truly yours,

                                               Eagle Test Systems, Inc.

                                               By:_____________________________
                                                     Name:
                                                      Title:

                                       6
<PAGE>

Acknowledged and Agreed:

[Name of TA Fund]
By:  TA Associates, Inc., its Manager

                                      By:____________________________________
                                            Name:  Michael C.  Child
                                            Its:  Managing Director

Source: [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00070-of-00352.parquet"}, [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00070-of-00352.parquet"}]]