JOULE INC
10-K, 1998-12-30
FACILITIES SUPPORT MANAGEMENT SERVICES
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                                    FORM 10-K
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549
(Mark One)
(X)             ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF
                       THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
                  For The Fiscal Year Ended September 30, 1998
                                       OR
( )             TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
                     OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
          For the transition period from ......... to ................

                         Commission File Number - 1-9477

                                   JOULE INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

           Delaware                                             22-2735672      
(State or other jurisdiction of                              (I.R.S. Employer   
incorporation or organization)                              Identification No.) 

1245 U.S. Route 1 South, Edison, New Jersey                        08837  
 (Address of principal executive offices)                       (Zip Code)
                                   
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: 732-548-5444

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: Common Stock, par
value $.01 per share

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required
to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during
the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was
required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing
requirements for the past 90 days. Yes _X_ No ___.

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405
of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the
best of registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements
incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this
Form 10-K. [ ]

The aggregate market value of the Common Stock held by non-affiliates of the
registrant, based upon the closing price of the Common Stock on the American
Stock Exchange on December 2, 1998, was approximately $ 2,730,000.

As of December 2, 1998, there were 3,670,000 shares of Common Stock outstanding.

                       DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

Certain portions of the Company's Annual Report to Stockholders for the fiscal
year ended September 30, 1998 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
(The "Commission") pursuant to Rule 14a-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 (the "1998 Annual Report"), are incorporated by reference in Part II, Items
5-8, and Part IV of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Certain portions of the Company's Proxy Statement to be filed with the
Commission pursuant to Rule 14a-6 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 in
connection with the Company's 1999 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the "Proxy
Statement") are incorporated by reference in Part III, Items 10-13, of this
Annual Report on Form 10-K.


<PAGE>


                                     PART I
                                     ------

ITEM 1. BUSINESS

General

     Joule Inc. and its subsidiaries are engaged in the business of personnel
outsourcing, as a supplier to industry of staffing service personnel. These
services focus on supplying commercial (skilled office and light industrial)
workers, technical professionals, and skilled craft industrial plant and
facility maintenance personnel to business and industry on a temporary basis.
The Company derived 70%, 71% and 68% of its revenue from services provided to
customers in New Jersey in 1998, 1997 and 1996, respectively.

     All employees on assignment to the Company's clients are on the Company's
payroll only during the periods of their assignments. By prior understanding,
their employment is continued after completion of an assignment only if another
suitable assignment is available. Historically, over 90% of revenue is billed
based on direct cost plus a mark-up to cover the Company's overhead and profit.
During the fiscal year ended September 30, 1998, the Company furnished
approximately 9,000 employees to more than 1,200 clients. At September 30, 1998,
approximately 2,000 employees were on assignment to approximately 400 clients
for periods ranging in duration from one day to several years.

     The Company was incorporated in New Jersey in 1967 as the successor to a
business organized in 1965 and was reincorporated in Delaware on July 28, 1986.

Description of Services

     The Company supplies commercial (skilled office and light industrial
workers) to business and industry. The office workers are comprised of word
processing, data entry, consumer service and other office service personnel.
Light industrial workers may work in warehouse, packaging or light assembly
environments. Recruitment and assignment of such personnel is conducted through
ten offices in New Jersey and one in Florida. The assignments last from one day
to several months or longer. Assignments are sometimes made to fill vacancies in
a client's work force caused by vacations, illnesses, terminations or
reassignments of the client's full-time employees and, in other cases to
supplement the client's normal work force to meet peak work loads, handle
special projects or provide special expertise. Often clients elect to staff a
portion of their service requirements on a longer term basis with personnel
employed and provided by the Company. The client is charged an hourly rate that
comprises the direct labor rate of the personnel provided, associated costs
(such as fringe benefits and payroll taxes) and a mark-up to cover the Company's
overhead and profit. In 1998, the Company initiated a van transportation program
to transport some of its commercial staffing workers to job sites. Employees who
use this service, which is voluntary, pay a daily fee which currently partially
offsets the cost of the program. During 1998, the number of office and light
industrial workers on assignment per week averaged 1,100, and such services
contributed approximately 37%, 38% and 31% of revenues in 1998, 1997 and 1996,
respectively.

The Company's technical employees include engineers, designers, draftsmen,
information technology personnel, scientists and lab technicians, who are often
furnished on a project basis. Recruitment and

                                        2

<PAGE>



assignment of these personnel are conducted from Edison, New Jersey. A client
that has an in-house engineering or other technical department, such as a
laboratory, is able to supplement its permanent staff in a particular skill or
for a specific project by utilizing personnel provided by the Company to
implement the client's designs or program. Generally, several candidates are
interviewed by the client before an assignment is made. The work is performed at
the client's facility under the client's supervision. The Company is neither an
independent consultant nor professionally liable. The client is charged at an
hourly rate that comprises the direct labor rate of the personnel provided,
associated costs (such as fringe benefits and payroll taxes) and a mark-up to
cover the Company's overhead and profit. There are many technical personnel who
choose to work on temporary assignments rather than hold permanent positions
because of the opportunity to work on diverse projects and to choose times of
employment. While they are not guaranteed steady employment, are not eligible
for promotion and receive lesser fringe benefits than their full-time
counterparts, such persons frequently are compensated at higher rates than
full-time personnel with similar backgrounds and experience and have a greater
opportunity for overtime compensation. During 1998, the number of technical
workers on assignment per week averaged over 300, and such services contributed
approximately 30%, 27% and 24% of revenues in 1998, 1997 and 1996, respectively.

     The Company also provides skilled craft industrial plant and facility
maintenance labor services at oil refineries, utilities, chemical,
pharmaceutical and industrial plants, and office buildings. These assignments
often encompass responsibility for performance of discrete functions for
customers on an ongoing basis. The Company provides the services of welders,
electricians, millwrights, insulators, pipefitters and other tradesmen as well
as the necessary supervisory personnel and certain materials and equipment. The
Company may furnish a base crew of tradesmen that is assigned to the client's
facility on a full-time basis that can be supplemented as needed to provide
additional services requested by the client. The Company also undertakes
specific projects, such as oil and chemical plant repairs, shutdowns,
dismantling, and relocation and reassembly of plant equipment. It also sends
crews throughout the United States to install original equipment for
manufacturers. The Company generally charges clients at hourly rates, which
include a mark up for overhead and profit, for the different classifications of
tradesmen and supervisory personnel and on a cost-plus basis for materials and
equipment. Travel expenses are also billed to customers when appropriate. During
1998, the average number of such skilled industrial service personnel on
assignment per week to clients was approximately 300. Historically, a
substantial percentage of industrial services contracts are renewed. Skilled
industrial services contributed approximately 33%, 35% and 45% of revenues in
fiscal 1998, 1997 and 1996, respectively.

     The use by clients of staffing services personnel provided by the Company
allows them to hire only such permanent employees as are required for their
regular core work loads. Clients are thus able to shift to the Company the cost
and inconvenience associated with the employment of non-core personnel,
including advertising, interviewing, screening, testing, training, fringe
benefits, record keeping, payroll taxes and insurance. The Company is able to
absorb such costs more effectively than its clients because its employees, once
recruited, are generally assigned to a succession of positions with different
clients.

                                        3

<PAGE>



Customers and Marketing

     A significant portion of the Company's business represents repeat orders.
For fiscal 1998 over 70% of the Company's revenues were derived from assignments
to clients with which the Company had done business for more than two years.

     The Company markets its services primarily through sales calls by its own
sales personnel and through direct mail solicitation, participation in trade
exhibitions and advertising. No customer accounted for more than 10% of revenues
in 1998, 1997 or 1996.

Personnel Assignment and Recruitment

     The Company maintains a computerized data base of information on potential
employees. It uses optical scanning equipment, where appropriate, to enhance its
resume' data base retrieval system. The data base contains information on office
services and light industrial personnel, engineering and other technical and
scientific personnel, and skilled industrial personnel, classified by skill,
residence, experience and current availability for assignment. When called upon
to fill an assignment, the Company's recruiting specialists match the client's
specifications with the information in the data base on these potential
employees. The ability to update, expand and rapidly access the data base is
important to the Company's success. The Company's branch offices have direct,
on-line access to the data base. Direct access is especially important in the
office services and technical areas where immediate response to client orders is
required. In addition, it is important in the technical services operation
because of the diversity of skills involved.

     The Company recruits personnel through advertisements in local media and
trade journals, at job fairs, and through referrals by current and past
employees. Personnel listed in the Company's data base generally do not work
exclusively for the Company. Compensation and location of the assignment are the
principal factors considered by such personnel when choosing from competing
assignments. The Company considers its pay scale to be competitive.

Competition

     The Company faces intense competition from a large number of local and
regional firms as well as national firms. The Company competes with these firms
for potential employees as well as for clients. Many of the regional firms and
all of the national firms with which it competes are substantially larger and
possess substantially greater operating, financial and personnel resources than
the Company. The Company competes primarily on the basis of price, quality and
reliability of service. Its primary geographic market is New Jersey and, to a
lesser extent, the nearby states.

                                        4

<PAGE>



Employees

     At September 30, 1998, the Company employed approximately 130 full and
part-time permanent employees in its headquarters and branch offices other than
those on assignment to clients and had approximately 2,000 persons on assignment
to approximately 400 clients. The Company is a party to collective bargaining
agreements covering approximately 200 employees engaged in skilled craft
industrial and facility maintenance work. The Company considers its
relationships with its employees to be satisfactory.

ITEM 2. PROPERTIES

     The Company leases most of its facilities. The Company's corporate
headquarters are located in Edison, New Jersey and comprise approximately 8,000
square feet. The Company owns that building and also owns a building adjacent to
its corporate headquarters which serves as operational headquarters for some of
the Company's divisions and is linked to other offices by computer network and
communications equipment. Three facilities are leased from Emanuel N.
Logothetis, the Chairman of the Board of the Company, at an aggregate annual
rent of approximately $50,000, plus applicable real estate taxes, under terms
and conditions that, in the opinion of management, are not less favorable than
would have been available from unaffiliated parties. The Company entered into a
three year lease with the purchaser of property formerly owned by an affiliate,
in 1997. Annual rentals under this lease approximate $133,000. The Company
subleases most of this space to the affiliate which reimburses the Company
approximately $118,000 annually. Eleven additional facilities, comprising
approximately 35,000 square feet of space, are leased from unaffiliated parties
at rentals and under terms and conditions prevailing in the various locations.
The Company's facilities are appropriate and adequate for its current needs.

ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

     In the opinion of management, there are no material pending legal
proceedings to which the Company is a party or of which any of its property is
the subject. In October 1998, the Company decided to settle a lawsuit. While the
Company felt that the case was without merit, it settled to contain legal
expenses, which began to escalate during the fourth quarter; legal settlement
and related costs provided for and incurred amounted to $285,000 in the fourth
quarter and $323,000 for all of fiscal 1998.

ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS

     Not Applicable.

                                        5

<PAGE>



Executive Officers of the Company

     The names, ages and positions of all of the executive officers of the
Company as of December 2, 1998 are listed below along with their business
experience during the past five years. Officers are elected annually by the
Board of Directors and serve at the pleasure of the Board. There are no
arrangements or understandings between any officer and any other person pursuant
to which the officer was selected. Emanuel N. Logothetis and John Logothetis are
second cousins.

     Emanuel N. Logothetis, age 68, founded the Company in 1965 and was
President and Chief Executive Officer until August 10, 1987, when he was elected
Chairman of the Board. He was reelected President on August 3, 1988.

     John G. Wellman, Jr., age 50, was elected Executive Vice President and
Chief Operating Officer on May 6, 1998. He was appointed to the same positions
when he joined the Company in March, 1998. Prior to that he was Executive Vice
President of Oxford and Associates, Inc., a technical staffing firm, from 1986
through March, 1998.

     Bernard G. Clarkin, age 49, was elected Vice President in February 1994 and
Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer, and Secretary in February 1990. He was
Controller, Treasurer and Secretary of the Company from February 1989 until
February 1990.

     John Logothetis, age 45, was elected a Vice President on July 1, 1986. He
had been General Manager of the Facilities Maintenance Operation since June 1984
and prior thereto had been Manager of Supplemental Services since joining the
Company in December 1976.

     Stephen Demanovich, age 44, was elected a Vice President in May, 1997. He
had been General Manager of Joule Technical Staffing since March, 1995 and prior
thereto had been Recruiting Manager since joining the Company in February, 1989.

     Anthony Trotter, age 41, was elected a Vice President on February 4, 1998.
He was appointed Vice President in August, 1997 when he joined the Company.
Prior to that he was employed as Vice President of Staff Management Services
from October, 1995 through July, 1997. He was Vice President of Best Temporaries
from December, 1994 through September, 1995. Prior to that he was an Area
Manager for Novell Services, Inc. from March, 1992 through August, 1994.

                                     PART II
                                     -------

ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

     The information required by this Item is incorporated by reference to the
information under the caption "Stock Market Information" on page 12 of the 1998
Annual Report.

                                       6

<PAGE>



ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

     The information required by this Item is incorporated by reference to the
"Selected Financial Information", included on the inside cover of the 1998
Annual Report.


ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS
OF OPERATIONS

     The information required by this Item is incorporated by reference to the
information under the same caption on page 6 of the 1998 Annual Report.


ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

     None

ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

     The information required by this Item is incorporated by reference to the
Consolidated Financial Statements appearing on pages 7 to 11 of the 1998 Annual
Report.

ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND
FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE

     Not applicable.


                                    PART III
                                    --------

ITEM 10. DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT

     The information with respect to the directors of the Company required to be
included pursuant to this Item 10 will be included under the caption "Election
of Directors - Director Compensation" in the Company's Proxy Statement, and is
incorporated in this Item 10 by reference. The information with respect to the
executive officers of the Company required to be included pursuant to this Item
10 is included under the caption "Executive Officers of the Company" in Part I
of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

                                        7

<PAGE>



ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

     The information with respect to executive compensation required to be
included pursuant to this Item 11 will be included under the caption
"Compensation of Executive Officers-Certain Transactions" in the Proxy Statement
and is incorporated in this Item 11 by reference.

ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

     The information regarding security ownership of certain beneficial owners
and management that is required to be included pursuant to this Item 12 will be
included under the captions "Beneficial Ownership of More than 5% of the
Outstanding Common Stock" and "Beneficial Ownership of Management" in the Proxy
Statement and is incorporated in this Item 12 by reference.

ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS

     The information with respect to any reportable transaction, business
relationship or indebtedness between the Company and the beneficial owners of
more than 5% of the Common Stock, the directors or nominees for director of the
Company, the executive officers of the Company or the members of the immediate
families of such individuals that is required to be included pursuant to this
Item 13 will be included under the caption "Compensation of Executive
Officers-Certain Transactions" in the Proxy Statement and is incorporated in
this Item 13 by reference.


                                     PART IV
                                     -------

ITEM 14. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K

(a)  Financial Statements
     --------------------

     The following Financial Statements of JOULE Inc. and subsidiaries and
     Report of Independent Public Accountants are incorporated in Part IV by
     reference to the 1998 Annual Report.

          Report of Independent Public Accountants with respect to the financial
          statements for the fiscal years, 1998, 1997 and 1996, respectively.

          Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 1998 and 1997,
          respectively.

          Consolidated Statements of Income for the Years Ended September 30,
          1998, 1997 and 1996, respectively.

                                        8

<PAGE>



          Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders Equity for the
          Years Ended September 30, 1998, 1997 and 1996, respectively.

          Consolidated Statements of Changes in Cash Flows for the Years Ended
          September 30, 1998, 1997 and 1996, respectively.

          Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

     The following financial statement schedules are included at the indicated
     page in this Annual Report on Form 10-K and incorporated in this Item 14(a)
     by reference:

               Report of Independent Public Accountants as to Schedules......F-1

               Financial Statement Schedules:

                    VIII - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts.................F-2

                    IX - Short-term Borrowings...............................F-3

     All other schedules are omitted since they are not required or are not
     applicable or since the information is furnished elsewhere in the financial
     statements or notes thereto.

(b)  Reports on Form 8-K

     No reports on Form 8-K were filed during the last quarter of the period
     covered by this report.


                                        9
<PAGE>



(c)  Exhibits

     3.1  --   Certificate of Incorporation, filed as Exhibit 3.1 to the
               Company's Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 33-7617)
               under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Form S-1"),
               and incorporated herein by reference.

     3.2  --   By-laws, as amended, filed as Exhibit 3.2 to the Form S-1 and
               incorporated herein by reference.

     4.1  --   Loan and Security Agreement, dated as of February 20, 1991,
               between Registrant and United Jersey Bank Central, N.A., filed as
               Exhibit 4.1 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
               year ended September 30, 1991 and incorporated herein by
               reference.

     4.1a --   Third Modification and Extension Agreement, dated August 23,
               1995, between Registrant and United Jersey Bank, filed as Exhibit
               4.1a to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year
               ended September 30, 1995 and incorporated herein by reference.

     4.1b --   Fourth Modification and Extension Agreement dated February 6,
               1996 between Registrant and United Jersey Bank, filed as Exhibit
               4.1b to the Company's Annual Report on form 10-K for the year
               ended September 30, 1996 and incorporated herein by reference.

     4.1c --   Fifth Modification and Extension Agreement dated May 31, 1996
               between Registrant and United Jersey Bank, filed as Exhibit 4.1c
               to the Company's Annual Report on form 10-K for the year ended
               September 30, 1996 and incorporated herein by reference.

     4.1d --   Sixth Modification and Extension Agreement dated May 31, 1997
               between Registrant and Summit Bank, filed as Exhibit 4.1d to the
               Company's Annual Report on form 10-K for the year ended September
               30, 1997 and incorporated herein by reference.

     4.1e --   Seventh Modification and Extension Agreement dated May 31, 1998
               between registrant and Summit bank.

               The Company hereby agrees to furnish to the Commission upon its
               request any instrument defining the rights of holders of
               long-term debt of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries
               and for any of its unconsolidated subsidiaries for which
               financial statements are required to be filed with respect to
               long-term debt which does not exceed 10 percent of the total
               assets of the registrant and its subsidiaries on a consolidated
               basis.

     10.1 --   Lease Agreement, dated April 1, 1986, between Registrant and
               Emanuel N. Logothetis for premises at 362 Parsippany Road,
               Parsippany, New Jersey, filed as Exhibit 10.5 to the Form S-1 and
               incorporated herein by reference. 

                                       10

<PAGE>



     10.2 --   Lease Agreement, dated January 1, 1987, between Registrant and
               E.N. Logothetis for Unit G, Mercerville Professional Park
               Condominiums, 2333 Whitehorse - Mercerville Road, Hamilton
               Township, New Jersey, filed as Exhibit 10.12 to the Company's
               Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 25, 1987
               and incorporated herein by reference.

     10.3*--   1988 Non-qualified Stock Option Plan, filed as Exhibit 10.13 to
               the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
               September 30, 1991 and incorporated herein by reference.

     10.4*--   1991 Stock Option Plan, filed as Exhibit 10.11 to the Company's
               Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 1991
               and incorporated herein by reference.

     13   --   Annual Report to Stockholders for the year ended September 30,
               1998.

     21   --   List of Subsidiaries.

     23   --   Consent of Independent Public Accountants

     27   --   Financial Data Schedule (in EDGAR filing only)



- ----------
     *    Compensatory Plan


                                       11
<PAGE>



SIGNATURES
- ----------

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its
behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

                                   JOULE INC.

Dated:  December 24, 1998               Emanuel N. Logothetis 
                                        -----------------------------------
                                        Emanuel N. Logothetis,
                                        Chairman of the Board and President


Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report
has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and
in the capacities indicated on December 24, 1998.



Emanuel N. Logothetis                        Bernard G. Clarkin 
- ------------------------------------         -----------------------------------
Emanuel N. Logothetis                        Bernard G. Clarkin
Chairman of the Board, President and         Vice President and Chief Financial
Director (Principal Executive                Officer (Principal Financial
Officer)                                     Officer and Accounting Officer)



Nick M. Logothetis                                                              
- ------------------------------------         -----------------------------------
Nick M. Logothetis - Director                Steven Logothetis - Director



Richard Barnitt                              Paul De Bacco                
- ------------------------------------         -----------------------------------
Richard Barnitt - Director                   Paul DeBacco - Director



- ------------------------------------         
Robert W. Howard - Director


                                       12



<PAGE>



                    REPORT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
                    ----------------------------------------



To Joule Inc.:

We have audited in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards, the
financial statements included in Joule Inc. and subsidiaries annual report to
shareholders incorporated by reference in this Form 10-K, and have issued our
report thereon dated November 19, 1998. Our audit was made for the purpose of
forming an opinion on those statements taken as a whole. The schedules listed in
the index above are presented for purposes of complying with the Securities and
Exchange Commission's rules and are not part of the basic financial statements.
These schedules have been subjected to the auditing procedures applied in the
audit of the basic financial statements and, in our opinion, fairly state in all
material respects the financial data required to be set forth therein in
relation to the basic financial statements taken as a whole.


                                             ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP



Roseland, New Jersey
November 19, 1998


                                       F-1


<PAGE>



                                                                   SCHEDULE VIII
                                                                   -------------

                           JOULE INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

                VALUATION AND QUALIFICATION ACCOUNTS AND RESERVES


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                              BALANCE        CHARGED TO     CHARGED                       BALANCE
                              BEGINNING      COSTS AND      TO OTHER                      END OF
DESCRIPTION                   OF PERIOD      EXPENSES       ACCOUNTS       DEDUCTIONS     PERIOD
- -----------                   ---------      ----------     --------       ----------     -------
<S>                           <C>            <C>            <C>            <C>            <C>     
Allowance for
  doubtful accounts:

Years Ended:

  September 30, 1996          $140,000       $109,000       --             $ 32,000       $217,000
                                                                                         
  September 30, 1997          $217,000       $ 87,000       --             $104,000       $200,000
                                                                                         
  September 30, 1998          $200,000       $ 93,000       --             $ 26,000       $267,000
</TABLE>



                                       F-2


<PAGE>


                                                                     SCHEDULE IX
                                                                     -----------

                           JOULE INC AND SUBSIDIARIES

                              SHORT-TERM BORROWINGS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                            WEIGHTED         MAXIMUM       AVERAGE        WEIGHTED
                              CATEGORY OF                   AVERAGE          AMOUNT OF     AMOUNT         AVERAGE
                              AGGREGATE                     INTEREST RATE    BORROWINGS    OUTSTANDING    INTEREST RATE 
                              SHORT-TERM     BALANCE AT     AT END OF        DURING THE    DURING THE     DURING THE
                              BORROWINGS     END OF YEAR    YEAR             YEAR          YEAR*          YEAR* 
                              -----------    -----------    -------------    ----------    -----------    -------------
<S>                           <C>            <C>            <C>              <C>           <C>            <C>  
YEARS ENDED                                                                  
                                                                             
  SEPTEMBER 30, 1996          BANKS          $2,343,000     7.70%            $4,305,000    $3,027,000     8.75%
                                                                           
  SEPTEMBER 30, 1997          BANKS          $1,295,000     7.75%            $2,743,000    $2,070,000     7.83%
                                                                           
  SEPTEMBER 30, 1998          BANKS          $3,100,000     7.16%            $3,271,000    $2,538,000     7.80%
</TABLE>

*    Average amount outstanding is based on daily averages. Weighted average
     interest rate during each year is calculated by dividing interest expense
     on short term borrowings by the average amount outstanding.

                                       F-3

<PAGE>



                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit
Number   Description of Exhibit                                            Page
- ------   ----------------------                                            ----

3.1       Certificate of Incorporation, filed as Exhibit 3.1 to            *
          the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File
          No. 33-7617) under the Securities Act of 1933, as
          amended (the AForm S-1"), and incorporated herein by
          reference.

3.2       By-laws, as amended, filed as Exhibit 3.2 to the Form            *
          S-1 and incorporated herein by reference.

4.1       Loan and Security Agreement, dated as of February 20,            *
          1991, between Registrant and United Jersey Bank
          Central, N.A., filed as Exhibit 4.1 to the Company's
          Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September
          30, 1991 and incorporated herein by reference.

4.1a      Third Modification and Extension Agreement, dated                *
          August 23, 1995, between Registrant and United Jersey
          Bank, filed as Exhibit 4.1a to the Company's Annual
          Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30,
          1995 and incorporated herein by reference.

4.1b      Fourth Modification and Extension Agreement dated                *
          February 6, 1996 between Registrant and United Jersey
          Bank, filed as Exhibit 4.1b to the Company's Annual
          Report on form 10-K for the year ended September 30,
          1996 an incorporated herein by reference.

4.1c      Fifth Modification and Extension Agreement dated May             *
          31, 1996 between Registrant and United Jersey Bank,
          filed as Exhibit 4.1c to the Company's Annual Report on
          form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 1996 and
          incorporated herein by reference.

4.1d      Sixth Modification and Extension Agreement dated May             *
          31, 1997 between Registrant and Summit Bank, filed as
          Exhibit 4.1d to the Company's Annual Report on form
          10-K for the year ended September 30, 1997 and
          incorporated herein by reference.

4.1e      Seventh Modification and Extension Agreement dated May           18
          31, 1998, between registrant and Summit bank.


<PAGE>



                                                                           Page
                                                                           ----

          The Company hereby agrees to furnish to the Commission
          upon its request any instrument defining the rights of
          holders of long-term debt of the Company and its
          consolidated subsidiaries and for any of its
          unconsolidated subsidiaries for which financial
          statements are required to be filed with respect to
          long-term debt which does not exceed 10 percent of the
          total assets of the registrant and its subsidiaries on
          a consolidated basis.

10.1      Lease Agreement, dated April 1, 1986, between                    *
          Registrant and Emanuel N. Logothetis for premises at
          362 Parsippany Road, Parsippany, New Jersey, filed as
          Exhibit 10.5 to the Form S-1 and incorporated herein by
          reference.

10.2      Lease Agreement, dated January 1, 1987, between                  *
          Registrant and E.N. Logothetis for Unit G, Mercerville
          Professional Park Condominiums, 2333 Whitehorse -
          Mercerville Road, Hamilton Township, New Jersey, filed
          as Exhibit 10.12 to the Company's Annual Report on Form
          10-K for the year ended September 25, 1987 and
          incorporated herein by reference.

10.3**    1988 Non-qualified Stock Option Plan, filed as Exhibit           *
          10.13 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for
          the year ended September 30, 1991 and incorporated
          herein by reference.

10.4**    1991 Stock Option Plan, filed as Exhibit 10.11 to the            *
          Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
          September 30, 1991 and incorporated herein by
          reference.

13        Annual Report to Stockholders for the year ended                 35
          September 30, 1998.

21        List of Subsidiaries                                             52

23        Consent of Independent Public Accountants                        54

27        Financial Data Schedule (in EDGAR Filing only)


          *    Incorporated by Reference
          **   Compensatory Plan

Page







                                                                  EXHIBIT 4.1(e)



<PAGE>

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                  SEVENTH AMENDMENT AND MODIFICATION AGREEMENT

                                  by and among

                                  JOULE, INC.,
                                 as the Borrower

                                       and

                         JOULE MAINTENANCE CORPORATION,
                       JOULE TECHNICAL SERVICES, INC. and
                         JOULE TECHNICAL STAFFING, INC.,
                    collectively as the Corporate Guarantors

                                       and

                                  SUMMIT BANK,
                                  as the Lender

                            Dated: As of May 31, 1998

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------


<PAGE>


                  SEVENTH AMENDMENT AND MODIFICATION AGREEMENT


     THIS SEVENTH  AMENDMENT  AND  MODIFICATION  AND  AGREEMENT  (including  all
amendments,  modifications  and  supplements is  hereinafter  referred to as the
"Seventh  Modification  Agreement"),  is made  this as of this  31st day of May,
1998, by and among

     JOULE,  INC., a corporation  duly organized,  validly  existing and in good
standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, having its principal executive
office  located at 1245 Route 1 South,  Edison,  New Jersey  08837  (hereinafter
referred to as the "Borrower"),

     AND

     JOULE  MAINTENANCE  CORPORATION,  a  corporation  duly  organized,  validly
existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of New Jersey,  having
its principal executive office located at 1245 Route 1 South, Edison, New Jersey
08837 (hereinafter referred to as "Joule Maintenance Corporation"),

     AND

     JOULE TECHNICAL SERVICES,  INC., as  successor-in-interest  pursuant to the
merger  of  JOULE  ENGINEERING  CORP.,  JOULE  TEMPORARIES  CORPORATION,   JOULE
MAINTENANCE OF MARYLAND, INC., JOULE TECHNICAL CORPORATION, JOULE MAINTENANCE OF
GIBBSTOWN,  INC., JOULE MAINTENANCE OF NEW YORK, INC. AND TIGER  MAINTENANCE,  a
corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws
of the State of New Jersey,  having its principal  executive  office  located at
1245 Route 1 South, Edison, New Jersey 08837 (hereinafter  referred to as "Joule
Technical Services, Inc."),

     AND

     JOULE  TECHNICAL  STAFFING,  INC., a corporation  duly  organized,  validly
existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of New Jersey,  having
its principal executive office located at 1245 Route 1 South, Edison, New Jersey
08837  (hereinafter  referred  to  as  "Joule  Technical  Staffing,   Inc."  and
hereinafter Joule Maintenance  Corporation,  Joule Technical Services,  Inc. and
Joule  Technical  Staffing,  Inc.  shall be  collectively  be referred to as the
"Corporate Guarantors"),

     AND

     SUMMIT BANK,  as  successor-in-interest  to UNITED  JERSEY BANK,  having an
office located at 210 Main Street, Hackensack, New Jersey 07601, being a banking
institution  duly organized and validly  existing under the laws of the State of
New Jersey (hereinafter referred to as the "Lender").


                                       1
<PAGE>


                              W I T N E S S E T H:

     WHEREAS,  on or about  February 20, 1991,  the Borrower  requested  and the
Lender agreed to make a revolving credit loan in the aggregate  principal amount
of up to Four Million and 00/100 ($4,000,000.00) Dollars for the purposes of (i)
refinancing  certain  of the  Borrower's  then  existing  indebtedness  to First
Fidelity  Bank,  National  Association  and (ii)  financing the general  working
capital requirements of the Borrower  (hereinafter referred to as the "Revolving
Credit Loan"),  all as more fully provided for in that certain Loan and Security
Agreement dated February 20, 1991,  executed by and between the Borrower and the
Lender (hereinafter referred to as the "Loan Agreement"); and

     WHEREAS, the Revolving Credit Loan is evidenced by a certain Revolving Note
dated February 20, 1991,  executed by the Borrower,  as the maker, and delivered
to the Lender, as the payee, in the original  aggregate  principal amount of the
Revolving Credit Loan (hereinafter referred to as the "Revolving Note"); and

     WHEREAS,  pursuant to the Loan Agreement,  the Borrower,  Joule Maintenance
Corporation,  Joule Maintenance of Gibbstown,  Inc.  (hereinafter referred to as
"Joule Maintenance of Gibbstown,  Inc."),  Joule Engineering Corp.  (hereinafter
referred to as "Joule Engineering Corp."), Joule Engineering of California, Inc.
(hereinafter  referred to as "Joule  Engineering  of California,  Inc."),  Joule
Technical   Corporation   (hereinafter   referred   to   as   "Joule   Technical
Corporation"),  Joule Temporaries Corporation (hereinafter referred to as "Joule
Temporaries  Corporation"),  Joule  Maintenance of New York,  Inc.  (hereinafter
referred to as "Joule  Maintenance  of New York,  Inc."),  Joule  Maintenance of
Maryland,  Inc.  (hereinafter  referred to as "Joule  Maintenance  of  Maryland,
Inc."),  Joule  Engineering of Pennsylvania,  Inc.  (hereinafter  referred to as
"Joule   Engineering  of  Pennsylvania,   Inc."),   Joule   Constructors,   Inc.
(hereinafter  referred to as "Joule  Constructors,  Inc."), Joule Temporaries of
Edison, Inc. (hereinafter  referred to as "Joule Temporaries of Edison,  Inc."),
Joule  Temporaries  of  Parsippany,  Inc.  (hereinafter  referred  to as  "Joule
Temporaries of Parsippany,  Inc."), Joule Operating Services,  Inc. (hereinafter
referred  to as "Joule  Operating  Services,  Inc."),  Tiger  Maintenance,  Inc.
(hereinafter referred to as "Tiger Maintenance,  Inc.") and Joule Maintenance of
Bayonne, Inc.  (hereinafter referred to as "Joule Maintenance of Bayonne,  Inc."
and hereinafter Joule Maintenance  Corporation,  Joule Maintenance of Gibbstown,
Inc., Joule  Engineering  Corp.,  Joule  Engineering of California,  Inc., Joule
Technical Corporation,  Joule Temporaries Corporation,  Joule Maintenance of New
York,  Inc.,  Joule   Maintenance  of  Maryland,   Inc.,  Joule  Engineering  of
Pennsylvania, Inc., Joule Constructors, Inc., Joule Temporaries of Edison, Inc.,
Joule  Temporaries of Parsippany,  Inc., Joule Operating  Services,  Inc., Tiger
Maintenance,  Inc., and Joule Maintenance of Bayonne, Inc. shall be collectively
referred to as the "Original Corporate  Guarantors") and granted to the Lender a
valid first lien security interest in and to certain  Collateral,  as more fully
and accurately described in the Loan Agreement; and

     WHEREAS,  as of February 20, 1991, Emanuel N. Logothetis,  as the guarantor
(hereinafter referred to as the "Individual Guarantor"),  executed and delivered
to the Lender, as the lender, a certain Individual  Guaranty,  pursuant to which
the Individual  Guarantor agreed to guaranty the full,  prompt and unconditional
payment of when due of any and all present and


                                       2
<PAGE>


future  obligations  or  liabilities  of any kind of the  Borrower  owing to the
Lender, including, without limitation, repayment in full of the Revolving Credit
Loan (hereinafter referred to as the "Individual Guaranty"); and

     WHEREAS,  as of February  20,  1991,  each  Original  Corporate  Guarantor,
collectively  as the  guarantor,  executed and  delivered to the Lender,  as the
lender, a separate Corporate Guaranty, pursuant to which each Original Corporate
Guarantor agreed to guaranty the full, prompt and unconditional  payment of when
due of any and all present and future  obligations or liabilities of any kind of
the Borrower owing to the Lender,  including,  without limitation,  repayment in
full of the Revolving  Credit Loan  (hereinafter  referred to as the  "Corporate
Guaranty"); and

     WHEREAS, on January 17, 1991, the Borrower,  as the assignor,  delivered to
the Lender,  as the assignee,  a certain  Assignment of Life Insurance Policy as
Collateral  with  respect to that certain life  insurance  policy no.  U01426631
issued  by the  Hartford  Insurance  Company  upon  the  life of the  Individual
Guarantor  (hereinafter  referred  to as the  "Assignment  #1"),  as  collateral
security for the Borrower's obligations under the Loan Agreement; and

     WHEREAS,   on  February  20,  1991,  Joule  Maintenance   Corporation,   as
successor-in-interest to Joule Maintenance Corp., as the assignor,  executed and
delivered to the Lender,  as the assignee,  a certain  Collateral  Assignment of
Contract   Proceeds  with  respect  to  that  certain   contract  between  Joule
Maintenance  Corporation and the United States Government identified as Contract
No.  DAHC21-85-C-0021  (hereinafter  referred  to as the  "Assignment  #2"),  as
collateral  security for the repayment of the  liabilities  and  obligations  of
Joule  Maintenance  Corporation  to the Lender under the Loan  Agreement and the
Corporate Guaranty; and

     WHEREAS,  on September 1, 1991,  the Borrower,  as the maker,  executed and
delivered to the Lender, as the payee, a certain Promissory Note for the purpose
of  extending  the term of the  Revolving  Credit  Loan  from  the then  current
maturity  date of  "September  1, 1991",  to a new maturity date of "January 15,
1992" (hereinafter referred to as the "Extension Agreement #1"); and

     WHEREAS,  on January 15, 1992,  the  Borrower,  as the maker,  executed and
delivered to the Lender,  as the payee,  a certain  Master  Advance Note for the
purpose of extending the term of the Revolving Credit Loan from the then current
maturity date of "January 15, 1992" to a new maturity date of "January 31, 1993"
(hereinafter referred to as the "Extension Agreement #2"); and

     WHEREAS,  on January 31, 1993,  the  Borrower,  as the maker,  executed and
delivered to the Lender,  as the payee,  a certain  Master  Advance Note for the
purpose of extending the term of the Revolving Credit Loan from the then current
maturity date of "January 31, 1993" to a new maturity date of "January 31, 1994"
(hereinafter referred to as the "Extension Agreement #3"); and

     WHEREAS,  on January 31, 1994,  the  Borrower,  as the maker,  executed and
delivered to the Lender,  as the payee,  a certain  Master  Advance Note for the
purpose of extending the term of


                                       3
<PAGE>


the  Revolving  Credit Loan from the then current  maturity date of "January 31,
1994" to a new maturity date of "March 31, 1994" (hereinafter referred to as the
"Extension Agreement #4"); and

     WHEREAS,   on  March  31,  1994,  the  Borrower,   the  Original  Corporate
Guarantors, the Individual Guarantor and the Lender entered into a certain First
Modification  and  Extension  Agreement  for the  purposes  of (i) in Article I,
Section  1.1 of the  Loan  Agreement,  extending  the  Termination  Date  of the
Revolving Note from the then current  Termination  Date of "March 31, 1994" to a
new  Termination  Date of "January 31,  1995";  (ii)  amending and modifying the
Lender's address from the old address of "630 Franklin Boulevard,  Somerset, New
Jersey  08875" to "4365  Route 1 South,  Princeton,  New  Jersey  08540";  (iii)
providing for a mutual waiver of jury trial;  and (iv) providing for semi-annual
audits  of  Collateral  (hereinafter  referred  to as  the  "First  Modification
Agreement"); and

     WHEREAS,  on March 31,  1994,  the  Borrower,  as the maker,  executed  and
delivered to the Lender,  as the payee, a certain First Allonge to $4,000,000.00
Revolving  Note for the  purposes  of (i)  extending  the  maturity  date of the
Revolving Note from the then current  maturity date of "March 31, 1994" to a new
maturity date of "January 31, 1995" and (ii) amending and modifying the Lender's
address from the old address of "630 Franklin  Boulevard,  Somerset,  New Jersey
08875"  to "4365  Route 1  South,  Princeton,  New  Jersey  08540"  (hereinafter
referred to as the "First Allonge"); and

     WHEREAS,  Joule  Engineering  of  California,  Inc.,  Joule  Engineering of
Pennsylvania, Inc., Joule Constructors, Inc., Joule Temporaries of Edison, Inc.,
Joule Temporaries of Parsippany,  Inc. and Joule Operating  Services,  Inc. each
had their respective charters revoked and are no longer doing business; and

     WHEREAS,  as of January 31, 1995,  the  Borrower,  the  Original  Corporate
Guarantors,  the  Individual  Guarantor  and the Lender  entered  into a certain
Second  Modification  and Extension  Agreement  (hereinafter  referred to as the
"Second  Modification  Agreement") for the purposes of (i) in Article I, Section
1.1 of the Loan Agreement,  extending the Termination Date of the Revolving Note
from  the  then  current  Termination  Date  of  "January  31,  1995"  to a  new
Termination  Date of "January 31, 1996";  (ii) in Article II, Section 2.4 of the
Loan Agreement,  decreasing the interest rate from the existing interest rate of
"Base Rate plus one and  one-half  percent  (1.5%) per annum" to a new  interest
rate of "Base  Rate plus one  percent  (1.0%) per  annum";  (iii)  amending  and
modifying  the  Lender's  audits  of  Collateral  from  semi-annual   audits  of
Collateral to annual audits of  Collateral;  and (iv) amending and modifying the
Lender's name from the existing name of "United  Jersey  Bank/Central,  N.A." to
the new name of "United Jersey Bank"; and

     WHEREAS, as of January 31, 1995, the Borrower,  as the maker,  executed and
delivered to the Lender, as the payee, a certain Second Allonge to $4,000,000.00
Revolving  Note for the  purposes  of (i)  extending  the  maturity  date of the
Revolving  Note from the then current  maturity date "January 31, 1995" to a new
maturity date of "January 31, 1996";  (ii) decreasing the interest rate from the
existing  interest rate of "Base Rate plus one and one-half  percent  (1.5%) per

                                       4
<PAGE>


annum" to the new  interest  rate of "Base  Rate  plus one  percent  (1.0%)  per
annum";  and  (iii)  amending  and  modifying  the name of the  Lender  from the
Lender's existing name of "United Jersey Bank/Central, N.A." to the Lender's new
name of "United Jersey Bank" (hereinafter  referred to as the "Second Allonge");
and

     WHEREAS,  on  August  23,  1995,  the  Borrower,   the  Original  Corporate
Guarantors  and  the  Lender  entered  into a  certain  Third  Modification  and
Extension  Agreement   (hereinafter  referred  to  as  the  "Third  Modification
Agreement")  for the  purposes  of (i) in  Article  I,  Section  1.1 of the Loan
Agreement,  increasing the original aggregate  principal amount of the Revolving
Credit Loan from the existing  aggregate  principal amount of "$4,000,000.00" to
the new increased aggregate principal amount of "$4,500,000.00"; (ii) in Article
I, Section 1.1 of the Loan  Agreement,  extending  the  Termination  Date of the
Revolving Note from the then current Termination Date of "January 31, 1996" to a
new Termination Date of "May 31, 1996";  (iii) in Article II, Section 2.2 of the
Loan Agreement,  providing for the issuance of Letters of Credit; (iv) providing
for a new section of the Loan  Agreement,  Section 5.23,  which provides for the
Borrower's  Maximum  Debt to Tangible  Net Worth  Ratio of 2.0 -to- 1.0;  (v) in
Article V of the Loan  Agreement,  providing  for a new section,  Section  5.24,
which  provides for the  Borrower's  Maximum Debt Service  Coverage Ratio of 1.5
- -to- 1.0; (vi)  providing  for a release of the  Individual  Guarantor  from the
Individual Guaranty;  and (vii) amending and modifying the Lender's address from
the existing address of "4365 Route 1 South,  Princeton,  New Jersey 08540" to a
new address of "Raritan Plaza II, Fieldcrest Avenue,  Edison, New Jersey 08837";
and

     WHEREAS,  on August 23,  1995,  the  Borrower,  as the maker,  executed and
delivered to the Lender,  as the payee, a certain Third Allonge to $4,000,000.00
Revolving  Note  for the  purposes  of (i)  increasing  the  original  aggregate
principal  amount  of the  Revolving  Credit  Loan from the  existing  aggregate
principal  amount of  "$4,000,000.00"  to a new  increased  aggregate  principal
amount of "4,500,000.00"; (ii) extending the maturity date of the Revolving Note
from the then current maturity date of "January 31, 1996" to a new maturity date
of "May 31, 1996";  and (iii)  amending and modifying the Lender's  address from
the existing address of "4365 Route 1 South,  Princeton,  New Jersey 08540" to a
new address of "Raritan Plaza II, Fieldcrest  Avenue,  Edison, New Jersey 08837"
(hereinafter referred to as the "Third Allonge"); and

     WHEREAS,  Joule Maintenance  Corp. and Joule  Maintenance of Bayonne,  Inc.
were  merged  and  consolidated  and  Joule   Maintenance   Corporation  is  the
successor-in-interest to both companies; and

     WHEREAS,  on  February  6,  1996,  the  Borrower,  the  Original  Corporate
Guarantors  and the  Lender  entered  into a  certain  Fourth  Modification  and
Extension  Agreement  (hereinafter  referred  to  as  the  "Fourth  Modification
Agreement")  for the  purposes  of (i) in  Article  I,  Section  1.1 of the Loan
Agreement,  providing  for the  definition  of  "Borrowing";  (ii) in Article I,
Section 1.1 of the Loan  Agreement,  providing for the definition of "Eurodollar
Affiliate"; (iii) in Article I, Section 1.1 of the Loan Agreement, providing for
the definition of "Eurodollar  Interest Period";  (iv) in Article I, Section 1.1
of the Loan  Agreement,  providing for the  definition of  "Eurodollar  Interest
Payment Date";  (v) in Article I, Section 1.1 of the Loan  Agreement,  providing
for the definition of "Eurodollar  Interest Rate  Determination  Date";  (vi) in
Article I, Section 1.1 of the Loan  Agreement,  providing for the  definition of
"Eurodollar  Portion";  (vii) in Article I,  Section 1.1 of the Loan  Agreement,
providing for the definition of "Eurodollar Rate";  (viii) in Article I, Section
1.1 of the Loan  Agreement,  providing of the  definition  of  "Eurodollar  Rate
Loans"; (ix) in Article I, Section 1.1 of the Loan Agreement,


                                       5
<PAGE>


providing  for the  definition  of  "Eurodollar  Rate Taxes";  (x) in Article I,
Section 1.1 of the Loan  Agreement,  providing for the definition of "Eurodollar
Reserve  Percentage";  (xi) in Article  I,  Section  1.1 of the Loan  Agreement,
providing for the definition of "Funding Segment";  (xii) in Article II, Section
2.4 of the Loan Agreement, deleting the existing Section 2.4 and inserting a new
Section 2.4 which  provides  that the Borrower may select an interest  rate from
the  interest  rate options  between  either (1) the Base Rate option or (2) the
Eurodollar  Rate  Option;  (xiii) in a new  section  of  Article  II of the Loan
Agreement,  Section  2.11,  providing  for the  Borrower's  payment of an unused
commitment  fee; and (xiv) in a new section of Article II of the Loan Agreement,
Section 2.12,  providing for the special  provisions  governing  Eurodollar Rate
Loans; and

     WHEREAS,  on February 6, 1996,  the  Borrower,  as the maker,  executed and
delivered to the Lender, as the payee, a certain Fourth Allonge to $4,000,000.00
Revolving  Note for the  purpose of  deleting  the  existing  Paragraph 2 of the
Revolving  Note and inserting a new Paragraph 2 which provides that the interest
rate to be charged on the  outstanding  aggregate  principal  amount of the Loan
shall be set forth in Article II, Section 2.4 of the Loan Agreement (hereinafter
referred to as the "Fourth Allonge"); and

     WHEREAS,  as of May 31,  1996,  the  Borrower,  as the maker,  executed and
delivered to the Lender,  as the payee, a certain Fifth Allonge to $4,000,000.00
Revolving  Note for the purpose of extending  the maturity date of the Revolving
Note from the then  existing  maturity  date of "May 31, 1996" to a new maturity
date of "May 31, 1997" (hereinafter referred to as the "Fifth Allonge"); and

     WHEREAS,  as  of  May  31,  1996,  the  Borrower,  the  Original  Corporate
Guarantors  and  the  Lender  entered  into a  certain  Fifth  Modification  and
Extension  Agreement   (hereinafter  referred  to  as  the  "Fifth  Modification
Agreement")  for the purpose of in Article I, Section 1.1 of the Loan Agreement,
extending  the  Termination  Date of the  Revolving  Note from the then existing
Termination  Date of "May 31,1996" to a new Termination  Date of "May 31, 1997";
and

     WHEREAS, pursuant to a certain Certificate of Merger from the Office of the
Secretary  of State of the State of New Jersey  dated  February  3, 1997,  Joule
Engineering Corp. was merged with Joule Technical Services, Inc.; and

     WHEREAS, pursuant to a certain Certificate of Merger from the Office of the
Secretary  of State of the State of New Jersey  dated  February  3, 1997,  Joule
Temporaries Corporation was merged with Joule Technical Services, Inc.; and

     WHEREAS, pursuant to a certain Certificate of Merger from the Office of the
Secretary  of State of the State of New Jersey  dated  February  3, 1997,  Joule
Maintenance of Maryland,  Inc. was merged with Joule Technical  Services,  Inc.;
and


                                       6
<PAGE>


     WHEREAS, pursuant to a certain Certificate of Merger from the Office of the
Secretary  of State of the State of New Jersey  dated  February  3, 1997,  Joule
Technical Corporation was merged with Joule Technical Services, Inc.; and

     WHEREAS, pursuant to a certain Certificate of Merger from the Office of the
Secretary  of State of the State of New Jersey  dated  February  3, 1997,  Joule
Maintenance of Gibbstown,  Inc. was merged with Joule Technical Services,  Inc.;
and

     WHEREAS, pursuant to a certain Certificate of Merger from the Office of the
Secretary  of State of the State of New Jersey  dated  February  3, 1997,  Joule
Maintenance of New York,  Inc. was merged with Joule Technical  Services,  Inc.;
and

     WHEREAS,  Tiger Maintenance is no longer doing business and its charter has
been revoked; and

     WHEREAS, as of May 31, 1997, the Borrower, the Corporate Guarantors and the
Lender  entered  into a  certain  Sixth  Modification  and  Extension  Agreement
(hereinafter  referred  to as  the  "Sixth  Modification  Agreement"),  for  the
purposes of (i) in Article I,  Section 1.1 of the Loan  Agreement,  deleting the
existing definition of "Corporate  Guarantors" and inserting a new definition of
"Corporate Guarantors" in its place and stead; (ii) in Article I, Section 1.1 of
the Loan Agreement,  extending the  Termination  Date of the Revolving Note from
the existing  Termination  Date of "May 31, 1997" to a new  Termination  Date of
"May  31,1998";  (iii) in  Article  V,  Section  5.8(d)  of the  Loan  Agreement
providing for the consolidated  balance sheet of the Obligors;  (iv) in the Loan
Agreement, amending and modifying the Lender's address from the existing address
of "Raritan  Plaza II,  Fieldcrest  Avenue,  Edison,  New Jersey 08837" to a new
address of "210 Main Street,  Hackensack,  New Jersey  07601";  (v) in the "Loan
Documents"  (as such term is  hereinafter  defined),  providing that any and all
references  to the  "Corporate  Guarantors"  shall  be  deemed  to  refer to the
Corporate  Guarantors;  (vi)  in  the  Loan  Documents,  deleting  any  and  all
references  to the existing  maturity date of "May 31, 1997" and inserting a new
maturity  date of "May 31,  1998" in its  place  and stead and (vii) in the Loan
Documents, amending and modifying the Lender's address from the existing address
of "Raritan  Plaza II,  Fieldcrest  Avenue,  Edison,  New Jersey 08837" to a new
address of "210 Main Street, Hackensack, New Jersey 07601"; and

     WHEREAS,  as of May 31,  1997,  the  Borrower  as the maker,  executed  and
delivered to the Lender,  as the payee, a certain Sixth Allonge to $4,000,000.00
Revolving  Note for the  purposes  of (i)  extending  the  maturity  date of the
Revolving  Note  from the  existing  maturity  date of "May  31,  1997" to a new
maturity  date of "May 31, 1998" and (ii)  amending and  modifying  the Lender's
address  from the  existing  address of "Raritan  Plaza II,  Fieldcrest  Avenue,
Edison, New Jersey 08837" to a new address of "210 Main Street,  Hackensack, New
Jersey 07601" (hereinafter referred to as the "Sixth Allonge"); and

     WHEREAS, as of even date herewith, the Borrower, as the maker, has executed
and  delivered  to the  Lender,  as the  payee,  a certain  Seventh  Allonge  to
$4,000,000.00 Revolving


                                       7
<PAGE>


Note for the purposes of (i) extending  the maturity date of the Revolving  Note
from the existing maturity date of "May 31, 1998" to a new maturity date of "May
31, 1999" (hereinafter referred to as the "Seventh Allonge"); and

     WHEREAS, as of even date herewith,  the Borrower,  the Corporate Guarantors
and the Lender have agreed to enter into this Seventh Modification Agreement for
the  purposes of (i) in Article I, Section 1.1 of the Loan  Agreement,  amending
and  modifying the  definition of "Loan  Documents" to provide for the Extension
Agreement  #1, the  Extension  Agreement  #2, the  Extension  Agreement  #3, the
Extension Agreement #4, the First Modification Agreement, the First Allonge, the
Second Modification,  the Second Allonge, the Third Modification Agreement,  the
Third Allonge,  the Fourth  Modification  Agreement,  the Fourth Allonge,  Fifth
Modification Agreement, the Fifth Allonge, the Sixth Modification Agreement, the
Sixth Allonge, the Seventh Allonge and this Seventh Modification Agreement; (ii)
in Article I, Section 1.1 of the Loan Agreement,  extending the Termination Date
of the Revolving Note from the existing  Termination Date of "May 31, 1998" to a
new Termination  Date of "May 31, 1999";  (iii) in Article I, Section 1.1 of the
Loan  Agreement,  providing  for the new  definitions  of  "Sixth  Allonge"  and
"Seventh  Modification  Agreement";  (iv) in Article II, Section 2.4 of the Loan
Agreement,  amending and  modifying  the interest rate options from the existing
interest  rate  options  of (a)  Base  Rate or (b) two and  one-quarter  percent
(2.25%) over the  Eurodollar  Rate to the new interest  rate options of (1) Base
Rate minus one quarter  percent  (0.25%) or (2) one and one-half  percent (1.5%)
over the Eurodollar Rate; (v) in Article II, Section 2.11 of the Loan Agreement,
deleting the unused commitment fee; (vi) in the Loan Documents, deleting any and
all  references to the existing  maturity date of "May 31, 1998" and inserting a
new maturity  date of "May 31, 1999" in its place and stead;  (vii) in Article V
of the Loan  Agreement,  providing  for a new Section  5.23;  (viii) in the Loan
Documents,  providing that any and all references to the "Revolving  Note" shall
be deemed to refer to the Revolving  Note as amended and modified up through and
including the Seventh  Allonge;  and (ix) in the Loan Documents,  providing that
any and all references to the "Loan  Agreement"  shall be deemed to refer to the
Loan  Agreement  as amended and modified up through and  including  this Seventh
Modification Agreement; and

     WHEREAS,  all words and terms not  defined  here shall have the  meaning as
contained  in the Loan  Agreement,  as  amended  and  modified  up  through  and
including the Seventh Modification Agreement; and

     WHEREAS,  the aforesaid  Revolving Note, the Loan Agreement,  the Corporate
Guaranty,  the Assignment #1, the Assignment #2, the Extension Agreement #1, the
Extension  Agreement #2, the Extension Agreement #3, the Extension Agreement #4,
the First Allonge,  the First Modification  Agreement,  the Second Allonge,  the
Second  Modification  Agreement,  the  Third  Allonge,  the  Third  Modification
Agreement,  the Fourth Allonge,  the Fourth  Modification  Agreement,  the Fifth
Allonge, the Fifth Modification Agreement,  the Sixth Modification Agreement and
this  Seventh  Modification   Agreement  and  any  and  all  of  the  documents,
agreements,  certificates and instruments  executed in connection herewith shall
be hereinafter collectively referred to as the "Loan Documents"; and


                                       8
<PAGE>


     NOW,  THEREFORE,   in  consideration  of  these  premises  and  the  mutual
representations,  covenants  and  agreements  of  the  Borrower,  the  Corporate
Guarantors  and the Lender,  each party binding  itself and its  successors  and
assigns, does hereby promise, covenant and agree as follows:

     1. There is, as of May 31, 1998,  presently  due and owing on the Revolving
Note the principal sum $3,150,000.00,  without defense,  offset or counterclaim,
all of which are  hereby  expressly  waived by the  Borrower  and the  Corporate
Guarantors as of the date hereof.  The foregoing  principal balance is allocated
as follows: (a) $3,150,000.00 for outstanding Advances of direct loans under the
Note and (b) $-0- for Letters of Credit.

     2.  By  execution  hereof,  the  Borrower  and  the  Corporate   Guarantors
acknowledge  and agree that the  Lender's  consent  to enter  into this  Seventh
Modification Agreement is contingent upon the following:

          (a) the payment by the Borrower of all costs, expenses and fees of the
     transaction contemplated by this Seventh Modification Agreement, including,
     but not  limited to (i) all search  costs and  expenses,  (ii) all fees and
     expenses  of the  Lender's  attorneys  and (iii)  all  accrued  and  unpaid
     interest up to and including the date hereof; and

          (b) the continued  delivery by the Borrower to the Lender of copies of
     all valid  insurance  certificates  with respect to worker's  compensation,
     general liability, umbrella liability and other insurance required pursuant
     to the Loan  Agreement,  as previously  amended and modified,  all of which
     name the  Lender as lender  and/or  loss payee  with  respect  to  Accounts
     Receivable, Inventory, Equipment and other corporate assets.

     3. To the best of the Borrower's and each Corporate Guarantor's  knowledge,
the  Borrower  and each  Corporate  Guarantor  represent  that the  liens on the
Collateral  granted  to the Lender  under the Loan  Agreement,  as  amended  and
modified up through and including this Seventh Modification Agreement,  continue
to be valid and enforceable first lien on the Collateral.

     4. The Loan  Agreement,  as  previously  amended  and  modified,  is hereby
further amended and modified, as follows:

          (a) Article I, Section 1.1 shall be amended and modified as follows:

               (i) Subsection  (cc) shall be amended and modified by inserting a
          reference to "Seventh Allonge" and "Seventh Modification Agreement".

               (ii)  Subsection  (ll) shall be amended and  modified by deleting
          the existing  Termination  Date of "May  31,1998" and  inserting a new
          Termination Date of "May 31, 1999" in its place and stead.


                                       9
<PAGE>


               (iii)  The  following  new  definitions  shall  have the  meaning
          assigned  to each  respective  document  in the  Seventh  Modification
          Agreement: the Extension Agreement #1, the Extension Agreement #2, the
          Extension   Agreement  #3,  the  Extension  Agreement  #4,  the  First
          Modification  Agreement,  the First Allonge,  the Second Modification,
          the  Second  Allonge,  the  Third  Modification  Agreement,  the Third
          Allonge, the Fourth Modification Agreement,  the Fourth Allonge, Fifth
          Modification  Agreement,  the Fifth  Allonge,  the Sixth  Modification
          Agreement,  the Sixth  Allonge,  the  Seventh  Allonge and the Seventh
          Modification Agreement.

          (b) Article II,  Section 2.4 shall be amended and modified by deleting
     the existing interest rate options and inserting the following new interest
     rate options:

               "Interest Rate Options for Advances.

               (1)  Base Rate: A  fluctuating  interest  rate per annum equal to
                    the Base Rate of the  Lender  for such day,  in effect  from
                    time to time (such interest rate to change  immediately upon
                    any  change  in the Base  Rate)  minus one  quarter  percent
                    (0.25%).

               (2)  Eurodollar  Rate: A fixed rate per annum for the  applicable
                    Eurodollar Interest Period equal to one and one-half percent
                    (1.5%)  over the  Eurodollar  Rate for such day.  The Lender
                    shall give prompt  notice to the Borrower of the  Eurodollar
                    Rate   determined  or  adjusted  in   accordance   with  the
                    provisions hereof,  which  determination or adjustment shall
                    be conclusive if made in good faith."

          (c) Article II, Section 2.11 shall be deleted in its entirety.

          (d) Article V shall be amended and modified by inserting the following
     new section:

               "5.23  Computer  Systems.  The  advent of the year 2000 shall not
               adversely affect the Borrower's  operations or the performance of
               its information  technology.  Without  limiting the generality of
               the foregoing, (i) the hardware and software utilized by Borrower
               are designed to be used prior to, during, and after calendar year
               2000 A.D. and such hardware and software will operate during each
               such  time   period   without   error   relating  to  date  data,
               specifically  including any error relating to, or the conduct of,
               date data which represents or references  different  centuries or
               more than one century, (ii) the hardware and software utilized by
               Borrower will not abnormally end or provide  invalid or incorrect
               results  as a result of date  data,  and (iii) the  hardware  and
               software  utilized by Borrower  have been designed to ensure year
               2000   A.D.   compatibility,   including   date   data,   century
               recognition,  leap  year,  calculations  which  accommodate  same

                                       10
<PAGE>


               century and multicentury  formulas and date values, and date data
               interface values that reflect the century."

     5. The Loan  Documents,  as  previously  amended and  modified,  are hereby
further amended and modified as follows:

          (a) Any and all  references to the existing  maturity date of "May 31,
     1998" shall be deleted and a new  maturity  date of "May 31, 1999" shall be
     inserted in its place and stead.

          (b) Any and all references to the "Revolving  Note" shall be deemed to
     refer  to the  Revolving  Note as  amended  and  modified  up  through  and
     including the Seventh Allonge.

          (c) Any and all references to the "Loan  Agreement" shall be deemed to
     refer  to the Loan  Agreement  as  amended  and  modified  up  through  and
     including the Seventh Modification Agreement.

     6. To the  best of the  Borrower's  and each of the  Corporate  Guarantors'
knowledge,  all representations and warranties  contained in the Loan Documents,
as amended and modified  through this Seventh  Modification  Agreement are true,
accurate  and  complete  as of the date  hereof  and shall be deemed  continuing
representations and warranties so long as the Revolving Credit Loan shall remain
outstanding.

     7. The Borrower and the Corporate  Guarantors  expressly confirm and affirm
that the  Corporate  Guaranty  remains in full force and effect as a  continuing
guaranty of the full, prompt and unconditional payment of all present and future
obligations  and/or liabilities of any kind of the Borrower due and owing to the
Lender,  including,  without limitation,  the repayment in full of the Revolving
Credit Loan

     8. All other terms and  conditions  of the Loan  Documents,  as amended and
modified  through this Seventh  Modification  Agreement remain in full force and
effect,  except as amended and modified  herein,  and the parties  hereto hereby
expressly confirm and reaffirm all of their respective liabilities, obligations,
duties  and  responsibilities   under  and  pursuant  to  said  Loan  Documents,
including, without limitation, the obligations of the Corporate Guarantors under
the  Corporate  Guaranty,  as amended and modified by this Seventh  Modification
Agreement.

     9. It is the intention of the parties hereto that this Seventh Modification
Agreement  shall not constitute a novation and shall in no way adversely  affect
or impair the lien  priority of the Loan  Documents.  In the event this  Seventh
Modification  Agreement,  or any portion to affect the lien priority of the Loan
Documents,  then to the extent  such  instrument  creates a charge upon the Loan
Documents  in excess of that  contemplated  and  permitted  thereby,  and to the
extent third  parties  acquiring an interest in the Loan  Documents  between the
time of  recording  of the Loan  Documents  and the  recording  of this  Seventh
Modification  Agreement are prejudiced hereby, if any, this Seventh Modification
Agreement  shall be void and of no force and  effect;  provided,  however,  that
notwithstanding the foregoing, the parties hereto, as between themselves,  shall
be


                                       11
<PAGE>


bound by all terms and conditions hereof until all indebtedness evidenced by the
Revolving  Note  shall  have been  paid in full and the  Revolving  Credit  Loan
terminated.

     10. The Borrower and the Corporate Guarantors do hereby:

          (a) ratify,  confirm and  acknowledge  that,  as amended and  modified
     hereby, the Loan Documents continue to be valid,  binding and in full force
     and effect;

          (b) covenant and agree to perform all of their respective  obligations
     contained in the Loan Documents, as amended and modified hereby;

          (c)  represent   and  warrant   that,   after  giving  effect  to  the
     transactions contemplated by this Seventh Modification Agreement, no "Event
     of Default" (as such term is defined in the Loan Agreement), exists or will
     exist upon the delivery of notice, passage of time, or both;

          (d) acknowledge and agree that nothing contained herein and no actions
     taken pursuant to the terms hereof are intended to constitute a novation of
     the  Revolving  Note and the  Revolving  Credit Loan,  or any waiver of the
     other Loan  Documents,  and do not  constitute  a release,  termination  or
     waiver of any of the  liens,  security  interests  or  rights  or  remedies
     granted  to the  Lender  under  the Loan  Documents,  all of  which  liens,
     security interests,  rights or remedies are hereby ratified,  confirmed and
     continued  as  security  for the  Revolving  Credit  Loan,  as amended  and
     modified hereby; and

          (e)  acknowledge and agree that the failure by the Borrower and/or the
     Corporate  Guarantors  to comply  with or perform  any of their  respective
     covenants,  agreements or obligations  contained herein shall constitute an
     Event of Default under the Loan Agreement.



                                       12
<PAGE>


         IN WITNESS WHEREOF,  the parties have caused this Seventh  Modification
     Agreement to be duly executed, sealed and attested and/or witnessed, as
appropriated, and delivered, all as of the day and year first above written.

[SEAL]                                          JOULE, INC.
ATTEST:


___________________________                     By: ____________________________
Bernard G. Clarkin                                   Emanuel N. Logothetis
Secretary                                            President

[SEAL]                                          JOULE MAINTENANCE ATTEST: 
                                                CORPORATION


___________________________                     By: ____________________________
Bernard G. Clarkin                                   Emanuel N. Logothetis
Secretary                                            President

[SEAL]                                          JOULE TECHNICAL
ATTEST:                                         SERVICES, INC.


___________________________                     By: ____________________________
Bernard G. Clarkin                                   Emanuel N. Logothetis
Secretary                                            President

[SEAL]                                          JOULE TECHNICAL
ATTEST:                                         STAFFING, INC.


___________________________                     By: ____________________________
Bernard G. Clarkin                                   Emanuel N. Logothetis
Secretary                                            President

                                                SUMMIT BANK


                                                By: ____________________________
                                                     Bonnie Gershon
                                                     Vice President




                                       13
<PAGE>




STATE OF NEW JERSEY        :
                           :  ss.
COUNTY OF MIDDLESEX        :


     BE IT  REMEMBERED,  that on this ____ day of June,  1998,  before  me,  the
subscriber,  an officer  duly  authorized  pursuant to N.J.S.A.  46:14-6 to take
acknowledgments  for use in the State of New Jersey,  personally appeared Bonnie
Gershon,  who, I am satisfied is the person who executed the within  Instrument,
as the Vice  President of Summit Bank,  the  corporation  named  therein,  and I
having first made know to him the contents thereof, he did thereupon acknowledge
that the  said  Instrument  made by the said  corporation  and  sealed  with its
corporate  seal and delivered by him as such  officer,  is the voluntary act and
deed of said  corporation,  made by  virtue  of  authority  from  its  Board  of
Directors, for the uses and purposes therein expressed.


                                        ________________________________________
                                        Notary Public of the State of New Jersey


STATE OF NEW JERSEY        :
                           :        ss.
COUNTY OF MORRIS           :


     BE IT  REMEMBERED,  that on this ____ day of June,  1998,  before  me,  the
subscriber,  an officer  duly  authorized  pursuant to N.J.S.A.  46:14-6 to take
acknowledgments for use in the State of New Jersey,  personally appeared Emanuel
N.  Logothetis,  who,  I am  satisfied  is the person  who  executed  the within
Instrument,  as the President of Joule,  Inc.,  Joule  Maintenance  Corporation,
Joule  Technical  Services,  Inc.  and  Joule  Technical  Staffing,   Inc.,  the
corporations  named  therein,  and I having  first made know to him the contents
thereof,  he did thereupon  acknowledge  that the said  Instrument  made by said
corporations  and sealed with their corporate seals and delivered by him as such
officer,  is the voluntary act and deed of said corporations,  made by virtue of
authority from their respective  Boards of Directors,  for the uses and purposes
therein expressed.


                                        ________________________________________
                                        Notary Public of the State of New Jersey



                                       14


                                                                     -----------
                                                                        Joule
                                                                     -----------


                                                              1998 Annual Report

<PAGE>


Selected Financial Information                       Joule Inc. and Subsidiaries


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                     Year Ended September 30,
                                        ------------------------------------------------
                                           1998      1997      1996      1995      1994
                                        ================================================
                                              (In thousands, except per share data)
<S>                                      <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>    
Revenues .............................   $55,301   $48,590   $48,449   $43,641   $36,216
Net Income ...........................       706     1,066     1,026       938       710
Net Income Per Share Basic and Diluted      0.19      0.29      0.28      0.26      0.20
Total Assets .........................    12,913    10,843    10,809    10,802     8,576
Long Term Debt .......................       381       406       431       456       424
Total Liabilities ....................     6,021     4,657     5,710     6,883     5,609
                                        ================================================
</TABLE>

 [THE FOLLOWING TABLE WAS REPRESENTED AS A BAR CHART IN THE PRINTED MATERIAL.]

                                    Revenues
                                  (In millions)

                              Year
                              ----
                              '94          $ 36.2
                              '95          $ 43.6
                              '96          $ 48.4
                              '97          $ 48.6
                              '98          $ 55.3
        

<PAGE>


To Our Stockholders:


     Fiscal 1998 was once again a year of increasing  revenues for Joule Inc. We
achieved sales growth for the seventh consecutive year,  increasing sales by 14%
and passing the $50 million milestone.  In an industry where much of the revenue
growth being reported is a result of consolidations  and  acquisitions,  100% of
Joule's growth comes from internal,  organic growth--real growth of Joule in its
marketplace.  Our  organization is healthy and  expanding--based  on our service
performance and our strong, positive reputation in an expanding marketplace.

     Revenues for fiscal 1998 reached $55.3 million, an increase of $6.7 million
over fiscal 1997.  All segments of our Company  contributed  positively  to this
growth.  Technical Staffing  generated the greatest increase in revenue,  up 26%
from $13.1  million  in 1997 to $16.5  million  in 1998.  Commercial  Staffing's
revenues  grew by almost $2  million  and  Industrial  Services  increased  $1.4
million in revenue over 1997.  This trend in sales growth  continues into fiscal
1999.

     These  increases in revenue are the direct result of our Company's  program
to aggressively grow in each of our product areas through a combination of staff
expansion, service additions, and expansion of our geographic markets and market
penetration.

     o    Staff  Expansion:  To capitalize on the positive  economic  climate in
          1998, all three segments of our Company  increased  their  recruiting,
          sales  and  operations  staff in  order to  capture  and  service  our
          expanding  customer  requirements.  As  a  result  of  the  increasing
          productivity of new team members over time,  Joule's financial results
          should continue to improve.

     o    Additional Services:  During 1998 significant steps were taken in each
          Product Group to expand and diversify  service  offerings.  Industrial
          Services installed  equipment for Original Equipment  Manufacturers in
          28 states in 1998 and plans to expand  into more states  during  1999.
          Technical Staffing added additional  technical/scientific  disciplines
          and  client  services  during  1998.  Most  significantly,  Commercial
          Staffing's new Shuttle Transportation  Services were a major component
          of  1998's  investment  that  will  give  Joule  a  major  competitive
          advantage in providing  increased temporary personnel resources to our
          clients.  We anticipate this will  accelerate  this segment's  revenue
          growth in 1999 and beyond.

     o    Geographic  Expansion:  Joule  continued to maintain its leadership in
          its    traditional    geographic    market    by    opening    4   new
          Sales/Recruiting/Operations   locations  in  fiscal   1998.   Enhanced
          telemarketing   programs  expanded  our  client  base  regionally  and
          nationally.  Successes in new service  programs,  such as Industrial's
          installation  support programs for Original  Equipment  Manufacturers,
          point the way toward our anticipated growth in other segments.

     These programs represent significant  investments for the future success of
our  Company  and  were  the  major  reason  for  the  lower  operating  margins
experienced  in  1998.  We are  pleased  to  report  that  the  impact  of these
investments  on earnings has come to an end as we close fiscal 1998. As a result
our  Company  will be in a  stronger  earnings  position  once again in 1999 and
beyond.  We also incurred the financial costs relating to a legal matter that we
decided to bring to closure during the last quarter of fiscal 1998,  even though
we believe it was without merit.  1998's final net income of $0.19 per share was
disappointing compared to $0.29 per share in 1997, but we are confident that the
decisions and  investments  made in 1998 will prove to be the  foundation  for a
stronger Joule in 1999.

     Perhaps the most important investment made by Joule this year was the March
1998 announcement of Jack Wellman as our new Chief Operating  Officer.  Jack and
his Senior Management Team have brought a new level of enthusiasm and aggressive
optimism to Joule. There is a new spirit and vitality in our Company,  and as we
enter  fiscal  1999,  you will hear more about the "New  Joule." I have  enjoyed
working with Jack and his team these past eight months,  and I am convinced that
they will guide and direct Joule to new levels in the years ahead.

     Very truly yours,


     /s/ Emanuel N. Logothetis
     -------------------------
     Emanuel N. Logothetis
     Chairman and President

                                                                       page
                                                                       ---------
                                                                       one

<PAGE>


                         Joule solutions
                                   staffing services
               on-site coordination
                                             project management

- ----------------------------------------
            Commercial

       Services ranging from
     clerical, administrative,
    customer service and light
   industrial staffing to work
         force management.


Administrative--

Office automation support, customer
service personnel, general clerical
and incoming call support.


Light Industrial--

Assembly line/production personnel,
freight forwarding handlers, and
production supervision.
- ----------------------------------------


- ----------------------------------------
              Technical

   Offers traditional staffing as
        well as single source
       management programs in
      three core disciplines:
     Engineering, Scientific and
      Information Technology.


Engineering--

Engineers, architects, designers, CAD
operators, inspectors, planners.


Scientific--

Chemists, biologists, clinical
researchers, lab technicians, food
scientists, chemical operators,
statistical programmers, clinical data
coordinators.


Information Technology--

Programmers, system analysts,
network engineers, PC techs, computer
operators, database administrators,
database analysts.
- ----------------------------------------


- ----------------------------------------
           Industrial

   On demand, project and work
   force management solutions
  of craft skilled personnel.

Industrial--

Electrician, welder, millwright,
mechanical machinist, mason,
rigger, fitter specialist and other
trade specialists.


Project Solutions--

Nationwide refurbishing and refitting
support of industrial facilities.


Outsourcing--

Term technical maintenance
support of heavy industrial or
manufacturing clients.
- ----------------------------------------


Company Vision

 . . . JOULE is a publicly  owned  American  Stock  Exchange  technical  staffing
services  company,  founded over 30 years ago, that  specializes in changing the
"fixed  overhead" of Fortune 500  companies  into  "variable  overhead"  through
outsourcing of non-core staffing needs.

     Outsourcing  allows a company to turn over  various  support  positions  to
specialized  outside vendors so that it can concentrate on building and managing
its core  business.  At the same time it enjoys the  benefit of a more  variable
cost structure along with improved quality since the outsourcing  vendor must be
competitive as well as specialized in its field.  Today's global economy demands
that companies  constantly strive to become more efficient and flexible in order
to survive and prosper.

     JOULE  accomplishes  this by supplying  thousands of employees each year to
its customers who are billed on an hourly basis. The staffing  services business
markets through its branches,  using the trademarks  "JOULE Staffing  Services,"
"JOULE Technical Staffing Services," and "JOULE Industrial Services."

     JOULE's  specialized  approach  in  providing  staffing  solutions  greatly
enhances its value and effectiveness in the present competitive environment.

     As companies have re-engineered their operations, market opportunities have
continued to develop for JOULE.  More and more companies in an increasing number
of  industries  are seeking  the  advantages  of  outsourced  staffing,  thereby
improving the quality of their support  services  while also better  controlling
their costs. JOULE believes this trend toward outsourcing will continue to offer
excellent growth opportunities for it in the future.


     page
- ---------
      two


<PAGE>

 [THE FOLLOWING TABLE WAS REPRESENTED AS A BAR CHART IN THE PRINTED MATERIAL.]

                                 Revenue Growth
                                  (In millions)

                               Year
                               ----
                               '94        $ 10.9
                               '95        $ 13.6
                               '96        $ 15.0
                               '97        $ 18.5
                               '98        $ 20.4
                                              
                                              
[3 PHOTOS]                                    
                                   

[PHOTO]
"Market expansion has played an integral role in Commercial  Staffing's  growth.
But as we grow, we remain  mindful of the importance of  personalized  solutions
for  our  business   partners.   Real  growth  begins  with   building   genuine
relationships of shared values, teamwork, integrity and commitment."

                                                               --Anthony Trotter
                                                                  Vice President


Commercial Staffing

     JOULE's growing network of Commercial Staffing branch offices work together
to satisfy our clients' staffing needs with a wide range of skilled personnel in
administrative, customer service and light industrial positions. By aligning the
branch offices, each with its own recruiting strengths,  JOULE is maximizing the
company-wide   recruitment   results.   This  alignment  strategy  serves  as  a
competitive advantage in bringing qualified personnel to our clients. To further
enhance our recruiting efforts, as well as our client services, JOULE now offers
transportation  services to and from job sites. The division's  growth continues
to be based upon  providing  highly  qualified  associates  and  delivering  the
highest level of service possible to our personnel and clients.


                                                                       page
                                                                       ---------
                                                                       three


<PAGE>

 [THE FOLLOWING TABLE WAS REPRESENTED AS A BAR CHART IN THE PRINTED MATERIAL.]

                                 Revenue Growth
                                 (In millions)

                                Year
                                ----
                                '94       $  6.5
                                '95       $  8.8
                                '96       $ 11.6
                                '97       $ 13.1
                                '98       $ 16.5
                          

[4 PHOTOS]


[PHOTO]
"Technical  Staffing  continued  to achieve  record  sales and  earnings for the
fourth  consecutive  year. This achievement is a testament to the entire staff's
dedication and commitment to quality and customer  service.  Our management team
continues to direct  significant  resources to the ongoing hiring,  training and
development  of our  recruiting  and sales  personnel in order to guarantee  our
clients a prompt  staffing  solution  with a quality  product  at a  competitive
price."
                                                            --Stephen Demanovich
                                                                  Vice President


Joule's

               success is driven by proactive 
- ----------------------                        


Technical Staffing

     JOULE Technical Staffing's  reputation for high-quality  staffing solutions
in Engineering,  Science and Information  Technology continues to facilitate our
expansion. This year, our key account development and niche marketing strategies
led to the  division's 26 percent sales growth over fiscal 1997 and sales growth
over the past four years of over 150 percent.  In an effort to offer our clients
a total technical staffing solution, we have expanded upon our core competencies
into permanent placement for scientific  professionals and nationwide  placement
of engineering  services.  These two new business  units are natural  extensions
that  capitalize  on the  growing  demand for  technical  professionals  and are
supported by our established  database of qualified technical  professionals and
our state-of-the-art  recruiting  technology.  Through these initiatives and our
continued  focus on  customer  service,  we  expect  continued  growth in client
acceptance and revenue in the future.

     page
- ---------
     four

<PAGE>


[PHOTO]


"Collectively we offer our clients more than 50 years of industrial contracting,
staffing, and maintenance  experience.  We have worked together to build a solid
reputation for fulfilling  customers'  requirements  with skilled craftsmen in a
timely, safe manner and at a competitive price.  Whether the project is moving a
plant to a new location, installing new equipment or maintaining a petrochemical
plant, we strive for total customer satisfaction."


                              [PHOTO]                                    [PHOTO]
                    --Joseph Vendetti                               --John Porch
Director of Operations, Hudson Valley    Director of Operations, Delaware Valley


 [THE FOLLOWING TABLE WAS REPRESENTED AS A BAR CHART IN THE PRINTED MATERIAL.]

                                   Revenues
                                 (In millions)
                            
                                Year
                                ----
                                '94       $ 18.8
                                '95       $ 21.2
                                '96       $ 21.9
                                '97       $ 17.0
                                '98       $ 18.4
         
recruiting programs
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          including state-of-the-art resume scanning and applicant screening and
                                                                  qualification.


Industrial Staffing

     JOULE Industrial  Staffing is a leading regional  provider of skilled craft
workers  and  project  support  services   necessary  for  the  installation  or
retrofitting of equipment and facilities.  Our services,  clients and geographic
reach  has  grown  with  the  continued  trend  toward  outsourcing.  To  ensure
high-quality  industrial  staffing  solutions  for our  clients,  JOULE  invests
heavily in every facet of our business, including recruiting,  training, safety,
and project  management.  This year,  we began  applying our expertise to assist
Original  Equipment  Manufacturers  install their  machinery in new and upgraded
industrial facilities around the country.  Acting as the Field Service Agent for
these clients,  JOULE's personnel install and maintain specialized  equipment at
facilities  nationwide.  These are just a few of the ways JOULE strives to offer
our clients a breadth of solutions and the highest level of service.

                                                                       page
                                                                       ---------
                                                                       five


<PAGE>

                                                     Joule Inc. and Subsidiaries
Management's Discussion and Analysis
of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Results of Operations

     The following table sets forth the percentage relationship of certain items
in the Company's consolidated statements of income:

                                                   Year Ended September 30,
                                             -----------------------------------
                                                1998        1997        1996
                                             ===================================

Revenues ................................      100.0%      100.0%      100.0%
Costs, expenses and other
  Cost of services ......................       81.9        81.3        83.2
  Selling, general &
    administrative expenses .............       15.0        14.6        12.9
  Provision for legal settlement
    and related costs ...................        0.6        --          --
  Interest expense ......................        0.4         0.4         0.6
Income before income tax provision ......        2.1         3.7         3.3
Income tax provision ....................        0.8         1.5         1.2
Net income ..............................        1.3         2.2         2.1
                                            ===================================

     The Company's revenues are derived from providing staffing services to its
customers. Such services include providing commercial (office and light
industrial) workers, technical (engineering, scientific and information
technology) personnel, and industrial (skilled craft industrial plant and
facility maintenance) labor. Over 90% of revenue each year is billed on a direct
cost plus markup basis. Revenue increased 14% to $55.3 million in fiscal 1998
from $48.6 million in 1997. Revenue for 1996 amounted to $48.4 million.
Commercial staffing revenue increased 10% to $20.4 million in 1998 from $18.5
million in 1997, following a 23% increase in 1997 over 1996 revenue of $15.0
million. Technical staffing revenue increased 26% to $16.5 million in 1998,
compared to 1997 revenue of $13.1 million following a 13% increase over 1996
revenue of $11.6 million. Industrial staffing revenue in 1998 amounted to $18.4
million, an 8% increase over 1997 revenues of $17.0 million; 1997 revenue
declined 22% from $21.9 million in 1996, reflecting the adverse impact of the
wind down and completion of certain long term contracts.

     Cost of services were 81.9% and 81.3% of revenue in fiscal 1998 and 1997,
respectively, compared to 83.2% in 1996. These expenses consist primarily of
compensation to employees on assignment to clients and related costs, including
social security, unemployment taxes, general liability and workers' compensation
insurance, and other costs of services, including a van transportation service
initiated in 1998 to transport some commercial staffing workers to job sites.
Selling, general and administrative expenses amounted to $8.3 million in 1998,
compared to $7.1 million in 1997 and $6.2 million in 1996. Such expenses were
15.0%, 14.6% and 12.9% of revenues in 1998, 1997 and 1996, respectively. The
1998 and 1997 increases in selling, general and administrative expenses
principally reflect higher staff employee payroll related expenses reflecting
the Company's investment in additional staff in order to grow the business, as
well as current labor market conditions. Selling, general and administrative
expenses also include advertising, professional fees, depreciation, provision
for the allowance for doubtful accounts, rent, and other costs related to
maintaining the Company's branch offices. The provision for legal settlement and
related costs of $323,000 in 1998 relate to the Company's decision in October
1998 to settle a lawsuit. While the Company felt that the lawsuit was without
merit, it settled to contain legal expenses, which began to escalate during the
fourth quarter; total legal settlement and related costs provided for and
incurred in the fourth quarter amounted to $285,000.

     Interest expense increased to $250,000 in 1998 after decreasing to $214,000
in 1997 from $311,000 in 1996. Effective tax rates for fiscal 1998, 1997 and
1996 were 40%, 40% and 37%. As a result of the above, net income was $706,000 or
$0.19 per share basic and diluted in 1998 compared with $1,066,000 or $0.29 per
share basic and diluted in 1997 and $1,026,000 or $0.28 per share basic and
diluted in 1996.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

     Current assets at September 30, 1998 were $9,125,000 as compared to
$7,105,000 at September 30, 1997 and current liabilities were $5,640,000
compared to $4,251,000 as of September 30, 1997. Employees typically are paid on
a weekly basis. Clients generally are billed on a weekly basis. The Company has
generally utilized bank borrowings to meet its working capital needs. The
Company has a $4,500,000 bank line of credit; loans thereunder are secured
principally by receivables with interest at LIBOR plus one and one-half percent
with a prime rate, less one quarter percent option; $3,100,000 was outstanding
under this line as of September 30, 1998.

     The Company believes that internally generated funds and available
borrowings will provide sufficient cash flow to meet its requirements for the
next 12 months.

Year 2000 Compliance

     The Company is a staffing company that provides employees to its customers.
The Company utilizes computer systems to track employee availability, to
generate and track sales, and for accounting purposes, including payroll and
billing. All of the Company's systems and hardware were purchased in recent
years. The Company has been assured by its providers that they are all Year 2000
compliant. The Company will continue to review its existing and new hardware and
software for Year 2000 compliance in the coming year. The financial impact of
ensuring Year 2000 compliance is not expected to be material to the Company's
financial condition. However, the failure of major customers or government
entities to remediate their systems on a timely basis could have a material
adverse effect on the Company.

Forward-Looking Information

     Certain parts of this document include forward-looking statements within
the meaning of the federal securities laws that are subject to risks and
uncertainties. Factors that could cause the Company's actual results and
financial condition to differ from the Company's expectations include, but are
not limited to, a change in economic conditions that adversely affects the level
of demand for the Company's services, competitive market and pricing pressures,
the availability of qualified temporary workers, the ability of the Company to
manage growth through improved information systems and the training and
retention of new staff, and government regulation.


     page
- ---------
      six


<PAGE>


Consolidated Balance Sheets                          Joule Inc. and Subsidiaries


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                      September 30,
                                                                                ---------------------------
                                                                                    1998          1997
                                                                                ===========================
<S>                                                                              <C>           <C>        
ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS:
  Cash .......................................................................   $   233,000   $   139,000
  Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts of
    $267,000 and $200,000 in 1998 and 1997, respectively .....................     8,549,000     6,820,000
  Prepaid expenses and other current assets ..................................       343,000       146,000
                                                                                ---------------------------
      Total Current Assets ...................................................     9,125,000     7,105,000
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, NET ..................................................     3,707,000     3,633,000
GOODWILL AND OTHER ASSETS ....................................................        81,000       105,000
                                                                                ---------------------------
                                                                                 $12,913,000   $10,843,000
                                                                                ===========================

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
  Loans payable to bank ......................................................   $ 3,100,000   $ 1,295,000
  Accounts payable and accrued expenses ......................................       682,000     1,472,000
  Accrued payroll and related taxes ..........................................     1,833,000     1,291,000
  Income taxes ...............................................................            --       168,000
  Current portion of long term debt ..........................................        25,000        25,000
                                                                                ---------------------------
      Total Current Liabilities ..............................................     5,640,000     4,251,000
                                                                                ---------------------------
LONG TERM DEBT ...............................................................       381,000       406,000
                                                                                ---------------------------
      Total Liabilities ......................................................     6,021,000     4,657,000
                                                                                ---------------------------
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY:
  Preferred stock, $.01 par value:
    Authorized 500,000 shares, none outstanding ..............................            --            --
  Common stock, $.01 par value:
    Authorized 10,000,000 shares--issued 3,816,000 shares in 1998 and 1997 ...        38,000        38,000
  Additional paid-in capital .................................................     3,658,000     3,658,000
  Retained earnings ..........................................................     3,585,000     2,879,000
                                                                                ---------------------------
                                                                                   7,281,000     6,575,000
LESS: Cost of 146,000 shares of common stock held in treasury in 1998 and 1997       389,000       389,000
                                                                                ---------------------------
      Total Stockholders' Equity .............................................     6,892,000     6,186,000
                                                                                ---------------------------
                                                                                 $12,913,000   $10,843,000
                                                                                ===========================
</TABLE>

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

                                                                      page
                                                                      ----------
                                                                      seven


<PAGE>


Consolidated Statements of Income                    Joule Inc. and Subsidiaries

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                            Years Ended September 30,
                                                                   --------------------------------------------
                                                                        1998           1997           1996
                                                                   ============================================
<S>                                                                 <C>            <C>            <C>         
REVENUES ........................................................   $ 55,301,000   $ 48,590,000   $ 48,449,000
                                                                   --------------------------------------------
COSTS, EXPENSES, AND OTHER:
  Cost of services ..............................................     45,273,000     39,485,000     40,293,000
  Selling, general and administrative expenses ..................      8,262,000      7,113,000      6,231,000
  Provision for legal settlement and related costs ..............        323,000             --             --
  Interest expense ..............................................        250,000        214,000        311,000
  Other .........................................................         17,000          2,000        (13,000)
                                                                   --------------------------------------------
Income before income tax provision ..............................      1,176,000      1,776,000      1,627,000
Income tax provision ............................................        470,000        710,000        601,000
                                                                   --------------------------------------------
Net income ......................................................   $    706,000   $  1,066,000   $  1,026,000
                                                                   ============================================
Basic and diluted earnings per share ............................   $       0.19   $       0.29   $       0.28
                                                                   ============================================
Average common shares outstanding--basic ........................      3,670,000      3,664,000      3,648,000
Average common shares and common equivalents outstanding--diluted      3,672,000      3,666,000      3,651,000
                                                                   ============================================
</TABLE>


See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

Consolidated Statements of
Changes in Stockholders' Equity

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                           Shares of                Additional
                                                            Common        Common      Paid-in       Retained       Treasury
                                                             Stock        Stock       Capital       Earnings         Stock
                                                        ======================================================================
<S>                                                        <C>           <C>         <C>           <C>            <C>       
Balances, September 30, 1995.........................      3,760,000     $38,000     $3,502,000    $  787,000     $(408,000)
  Net Income.........................................             --          --             --     1,026,000            --
  Issuance of 4,000 Treasury Shares..................          4,000          --             --            --        19,000
  Exercise of Stock Options..........................         47,000          --        135,000            --            --
                                                        ----------------------------------------------------------------------
Balances, September 30, 1996.........................      3,811,000      38,000      3,637,000     1,813,000      (389,000)
  Net Income.........................................             --          --             --     1,066,000            --
  Exercise of Stock Options..........................          5,000          --         21,000            --            --
                                                        ----------------------------------------------------------------------
Balances, September 30, 1997.........................      3,816,000      38,000      3,658,000     2,879,000      (389,000)
  Net Income.........................................             --          --             --       706,000            --
                                                        ----------------------------------------------------------------------
Balances, September 30, 1998.........................      3,816,000     $38,000     $3,658,000    $3,585,000     $(389,000)
                                                        ======================================================================
</TABLE>


See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

     page
- ---------
    eight


<PAGE>


Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows                Joule Inc. and Subsidiaries

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                              Years Ended September 30,
                                                                     --------------------------------------------
                                                                          1998           1997          1996
                                                                     ============================================
<S>                                                                   <C>            <C>            <C>        
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
  Net income ......................................................   $   706,000    $ 1,066,000    $ 1,026,000
  Adjustments to reconcile net income to net
    cash flows provided by (used in) operating activities:
      Depreciation and amortization ...............................       558,000        453,000        400,000
      Provision for losses on accounts receivable .................        93,000         87,000        109,000
      Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
        Accounts receivable .......................................    (1,822,000)      (231,000)       277,000
        Prepaid expenses and other assets .........................      (203,000)       206,000          7,000
        Accounts payable and accrued expenses .....................      (790,000)      (642,000)       680,000
        Accrued payroll and related taxes .........................       542,000        197,000         11,000
        Income taxes ..............................................      (168,000)       168,000        (77,000)
                                                                     --------------------------------------------
          Net cash flows provided by (used in) operating activities    (1,084,000)     1,304,000      2,433,000
                                                                     --------------------------------------------
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
  Acquisitions of property and equipment ..........................      (602,000)      (288,000)      (695,000)
                                                                     --------------------------------------------
          Net cash flows used in investing activities .............      (602,000)      (288,000)      (695,000)
                                                                     --------------------------------------------
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
  Increase (decrease) in loans payable to bank ....................     1,805,000     (1,048,000)    (1,762,000)
  Payment of long term debt .......................................       (25,000)       (25,000)       (25,000)
  Proceeds from exercise of stock options .........................            --         21,000        154,000
                                                                     --------------------------------------------
          Net cash flows provided by (used in) financing activities     1,780,000     (1,052,000)    (1,633,000)
                                                                     --------------------------------------------
NET CHANGE IN CASH ................................................        94,000        (36,000)       105,000
CASH, BEGINNING OF PERIOD .........................................       139,000        175,000         70,000
                                                                     --------------------------------------------
CASH, END OF PERIOD ...............................................   $   233,000    $   139,000    $   175,000
                                                                     ============================================
SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION:
  Interest paid ...................................................   $   244,000    $   223,000    $   318,000
                                                                     ============================================
  Income taxes paid ...............................................   $   714,000    $   374,000    $   763,000
                                                                     ============================================

NON-CASH TRANSACTIONS:
  During fiscal 1997, the Company acquired land and buildings
    in settlement of a $1,750,000 receivable.
</TABLE>


See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.


                                                                       page
                                                                       ---------
                                                                       nine


<PAGE>


Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements           Joule Inc. and Subsidiaries


Note 1--Summary of Significant Accounting Policies:

     Basis of Presentation--The consolidated financial statements include the
accounts of JOULE INC. and its wholly owned subsidiaries. All significant
intercompany transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

     Use of Estimates--The preparation of accrual basis financial statements
requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported
amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and
liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of
revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ
from those estimates.

     Property and Equipment--Property and equipment are stated at cost.
Depreciation has been provided primarily by the straight-line method, at rates
based upon estimated useful lives of 3 to 5 years for automotive equipment and 5
to 10 years for machinery, equipment, furniture and fixtures. Improvements to
leasehold property are amortized utilizing the straight-line method over the
remaining lease term or the useful lives of related property, whichever is
shorter. Buildings are depreciated over 30 years.

     Revenue Recognition--Revenue is recorded as services are rendered.

     Income Taxes--The Company accounts for income taxes pursuant to the
provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 109, "Accounting
for Income Taxes" which utilizes the liability method and results in the
determination of deferred taxes based on the estimated future tax effects of
differences between the financial statement and tax bases of assets and
liabilities using enacted tax rates currently in effect.

     Earnings Per Share--Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 128,
"Earnings per Share," which became effective for fiscal 1998, establishes new
standards for computing and presenting earnings per share (EPS). The new
standard requires the presentation of basic EPS and diluted EPS and the
restatement of previously reported EPS amounts. Basic EPS is calculated by
dividing income available to common shareholders by the weighted average number
of shares of common stock outstanding during the period. Income available to
common shareholders used in determining basic and diluted EPS was $706,000 in
1998, $1,066,000 in 1997 and $1,026,000 in 1996. The weighted average number of
shares of common stock used in determining basic EPS was 3,670,000 in 1998,
3,664,000 in 1997 and 3,648,000 in 1996. Diluted EPS is calculated by dividing
income available to common shareholders by the weighted average number of shares
of common stock outstanding plus additional common shares that could be issued
in connection with potentially dilutive securities. Income available to common
shareholders used in determining diluted EPS was $706,000 in 1998, $1,066,000 in
1997 and $1,026,000 in 1996. The weighted average number of shares of common
stock used in determining diluted EPS was 3,672,000 in 1998, 3,666,000 in 1997
and 3,651,000 in 1996 and reflects additional shares in connection with stock
option plans (2,000 shares in 1998, 2,000 shares in 1997 and 3,000 shares in
1996). During 1998, 1997 and 1996, 152,000, 27,000, and 9,000 shares have been
excluded from the above calculations because they were antidilutive.

     Goodwill--Goodwill is being amortized over a period of approximately ten
years. Amortization of goodwill amounted to $24,000 in 1998, 1997 and 1996,
respectively.

     Long-Lived Assets--The provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting
Standards No. 121, "Accounting for the Impairment of Long-Lived Assets" (SFAS
121) require, among other things, that an entity review its long-lived assets
and certain related intangibles for impairment whenever changes in circumstances
indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be fully recoverable. The
Company does not believe that any such changes have occurred.


Note 2--Property and Equipment:

     Property and equipment consists of:

                                                            September 30,
                                                    ----------------------------
                                                       1998             1997
                                                    ============================

Machinery and equipment ......................       $2,740,000       $2,494,000
Furniture and fixtures .......................          565,000          550,000
Automotive equipment .........................        1,316,000        1,062,000
Building and leasehold improvements ..........          361,000          292,000
Buildings ....................................        1,834,000        1,834,000
Land .........................................          671,000          671,000
                                                    ----------------------------
                                                      7,487,000        6,903,000
Less: Accumulated depreciation
  and amortization ...........................        3,780,000        3,270,000
                                                    ----------------------------
                                                     $3,707,000       $3,633,000
                                                    ============================


Note 3--Loans Payable to Bank and Long Term Debt:

     The Company has an annual renewable line of credit of $4,500,000 that bears
interest at LIBOR plus one and one-half percent, with a prime rate less
one-quarter percent option. The average interest rate at September 30, 1998 was
7.16%. At September 30, 1998, $1,400,000 of the line of credit was unused, all
of which was available for use. Related borrowings are collateralized
principally by accounts receivable.

     There is a mortgage loan for $406,000 on the Company's staffing operations
building. At September 30, 1998, $25,000 was due within one year and classified
as a current liability. Principal payments approximating $25,000 per year will
be made until December 1999, when there will be a balloon payment due for the
balance. The interest rate is the bank's prime rate plus 1 1/2%.


Note 4--Stock Option Plans:

     The Company's 1991 Stock Option Plan provides for the grant of
non-qualified or incentive stock options covering up to an aggregate of 500,000
shares of common stock to directors, officers, and other employees of the
Company. The option price cannot be less than the fair market value of the stock
at the time the options are granted. At September 30, 1998, there were 215,000
stock options outstanding at prices ranging from $3.50 to $5.38 of which 15,000
options are exercisable. There were also 4,000 stock options outstanding at
September 30, 1998 from a previous stock option plan at a price of $2.63. In
1997 and 1996, 5,000 and 47,000 options were exercised, respectively and, in
1998, 15,000 options were cancelled. In 1998 and 1997, 110,000 options were
granted in each year at prices ranging from $4.00 to $5.38.


     page
- ---------
      ten


<PAGE>


     Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123, "Accounting for
Stock-Based Compensation," became effective for the fiscal year beginning
October 1, 1996, and permits an entity to continue to account for employee
stock-based compensation under APB Opinion No. 25, "Accounting for Stock Issued
to Employees," or adopt a fair value based method of accounting for such
compensation. The Company has elected to continue to account for stock-based
compensation under Opinion No. 25. Accordingly, no compensation expense has been
recognized in connection with options granted. Had compensation expense for
options granted subsequent to October 1, 1995 under the Company's stock option
plans been determined based on the fair value at the date of grant in accordance
with Statement No. 123, the Company's net income and net income per share would
have been as follows:

                                    1998             1997             1996
                                 =============================================
Net income
    As reported................   $706,000        $1,066,000       $1,026,000
    Pro forma..................    671,000         1,062,000        1,023,000
Net income per share,                                              
  basic and diluted                                                
    As reported................       0.19              0.29             0.28
    Pro forma..................       0.18              0.29             0.28
                                 =============================================

     The fair value of options granted is estimated on the date of grant using
the Black-Scholes option pricing model. The weighted average fair values of
options granted in fiscal 1998, 1997 and 1996 were $5.25, $4.23 and $4.00,
respectively, based upon the following weighted average assumptions: expected
volatility (50% in 1998, and 25% in 1997 and 1996), risk-free interest rate
(7.5% in 1998, and 6.5% in 1997 and 1996), expected life (3 years in 1998, 1997
and 1996), and expected dividend yield (0% in 1998, 1997 and 1996).


Note 5--Income Taxes:

     Comparative analyses of the provision for income taxes follows:

                                                 September 30,
                                 ---------------------------------------------
                                    1998              1997             1996
                                 =============================================
Current:
  Federal......................   $364,000          $551,000         $454,000
  State and Local..............    106,000           159,000          147,000
                                 ---------------------------------------------
                                  $470,000          $710,000         $601,000
                                 =============================================

     The provision for income taxes varied from the tax computed at the U.S.
Federal statutory rates of 34% in fiscal 1998, 1997 and 1996 for the following
reasons:

                                                 September 30,
                                 ---------------------------------------------
                                    1998              1997             1996
                                 =============================================
U.S. Federal Tax at
  statutory rates.......          $400,000          $604,000         $553,000
State income taxes, net of
  Federal tax benefit...            70,000           106,000           98,000
Utilization of operating loss
  carryforward..........                --                --          (52,000)
Other...................                --                --            2,000
                                 ---------------------------------------------
                                  $470,000          $710,000         $601,000
                                 =============================================


Note 6--Commitments and Contingencies:

     The Company's facilities are leased under noncancellable terms expiring
through 2001. Rent expense was $181,000, $286,000, and $273,000 for the years
ended September 30, 1998, 1997 and 1996, respectively.

     Aggregate rentals for the remaining lease terms at September 30, 1998 are
as follows:

Year Ending September 30,
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1999 ................................................................    130,000
2000 ................................................................    104,000
2001 ................................................................     57,000
                                                                       ---------
                                                                        $291,000
                                                                       =========

     The provision for legal settlement and related costs of $323,000 in 1998
relate to the Company's decision in October 1998 to settle a lawsuit. While the
Company felt that the case was without merit, it settled to contain legal
expenses, which began to escalate during the fourth quarter; total related
litigation costs provided for and incurred in the fourth quarter amounted to
$285,000,


Note 7--Transactions with Major Stockholders and Affiliates:

     The Company rented facilities from certain of its stockholders and their
affiliates for approximately $50,000, $199,000 and $199,000 for each of the
years ended September 30, 1998, 1997 and 1996. At September 30, 1998 the Company
had related lease commitments of $16,000 and $1,000 for the years ending
September 30, 1999 and 2000. Further, in 1997 the Company entered into a three
year lease with the purchaser of property formerly owned by an affiliate. Annual
rentals under this lease approximate $133,000. The Company subleases most of
this space to the affiliate which reimbursed the Company approximately $118,000.

     The Company paid certain major stockholders Board of Director's fees of
$15,000, $16,000 and $21,000 for the years 1998, 1997 and 1996; accounts
receivable include amounts due from a major stockholder of $33,000, $22,000 and
$67,000 at September 30, 1998, 1997 and 1996, respectively.

     During the year ended September 30, 1997 the Company acquired land and
building from Kahle Engineering Corp. (Kahle), an affiliate, which the Company
had previously leased for use in its operations, in settlement of a receivable
of $1,750,000 due from Kahle. The appraised value of the property approximated
the receivable.


Note 8--Geographic Information:

     The Company is engaged in the staffing services business, providing
personnel to business and industry. The Company derived 70%, 71% and 68%, of its
revenues from services provided to customers in New Jersey in 1998, 1997 and
1996, respectively.


                                                                       page
                                                                       ---------
                                                                       eleven


<PAGE>


Report of Independent Accountants


To the Stockholders and
Board of Directors of Joule Inc.

     We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Joule Inc.
(a Delaware corporation) and subsidiaries as of September 30, 1998 and 1997 and
the related consolidated statements of income, changes in stockholders' equity
and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended September 30,
1998. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's
management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial
statements based on our audits.

     We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes
assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by
management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.
We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

     In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly,
in all material respects, the financial position of Joule Inc. and subsidiaries
as of September 30, 1998 and 1997, and the results of their operations and their
cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended September 30, 1998 in
conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.



/s/ Arthur Andersen LLP
Roseland, New Jersey
November 19, 1998



Stock Market Information                             Joule Inc. and Subsidiaries

Market for Registrant's Common Equity
and Related Stockholder Matters

     The Company's Common Stock is traded on the American Stock Exchange under
the symbol JOL. The high and low sales prices for the Common Stock as reported
by the American Stock Exchange were as follows:

                                                         High             Low
                                                      ==========================
Calendar 1996
  Fourth Quarter.................................       5 1/4            3 5/8
                                                      --------------------------
Calendar 1997
  First Quarter..................................       4 3/4            3 5/8
  Second Quarter.................................       3 15/16          3 1/8
  Third Quarter..................................       5 1/4            3 7/16
  Fourth Quarter.................................       6 1/4            4 1/2
                                                      --------------------------
Calendar 1998
  First Quarter..................................       5 3/4            4 1/2
  Second Quarter.................................       5 1/2            3 1/2
  Third Quarter..................................       4 1/8            2 7/8
  Fourth Quarter (through December 2)............       3 3/8            2 5/8
                                                      ==========================

     As of December 7, 1998, there were approximately 600 holders of the
Company's Common Stock. No cash dividends have been declared on the Common
Stock.


     page
- ---------
   twelve


<PAGE>


Corporate Data                                       Joule Inc. and Subsidiaries


Board of Directors

Richard P. Barnitt
Financial Consultant

Paul L. DeBacco
President
Michael Christopher Group, Inc.

Robert W. Howard
Chairman of the Board
Reisen Lumber Industries, Inc.

Emanuel N. Logothetis
Chairman of the Board, President and
Chief Executive Officer

Nick M. Logothetis
President
Chartwell Consulting Group

Steven Logothetis
Attorney


Officers

Emanuel N. Logothetis
Chairman of the Board, President and
Chief Executive Officer

John G. Wellman, Jr.
Executive Vice President and
Chief Operating Officer

Bernard G. Clarkin
Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
and Secretary

John F. Logothetis
Vice President

Stephen Demanovich
Vice President

Anthony W. Trotter
Vice President

Corporate Information

For a copy of Form 10-K or other information
about the Corporation, contact:

Investor Relations
Secretary
JOULE INC.
1245 Route 1 South
Edison, New Jersey 08837
(732) 548-5444

E-Mail Address: [email protected]
              or
Visit our web site at www.Jouleinc.com.


Auditors

Arthur Andersen LLP
101 Eisenhower Parkway
Roseland, New Jersey 07068

Transfer Agent & Registrar

Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Co.
2 Broadway
New York, New York 10275-0491

JOULE Common Stock is traded on the
American Stock Exchange under the
symbol JOL.


Annual Meeting

The annual meeting of JOULE Inc. will
be held on Wednesday, February 3, 1999
at 10:30 a.m., at the Pines Manor,
Edison, New Jersey.


Joule Inc. Offices

Headquarters
1245 Route 1 South
Edison, New Jersey 08837
(732) 548-5444
Fax (732) 494-6346

1235 Route 1 South
Edison, New Jersey 08837
(732) 906-0906

362 Parsippany Road
Parsippany, New Jersey 07054
(973) 428-8100

The Atrium
80 Route 4 East
1st Floor, Suite 105
Paramus, New Jersey 07652
(201) 845-0900

429 East Broad Street
Gibbstown, New Jersey 08027
(609) 423-7500
(215) 342-3300

1333 New Road
Northfield, New Jersey 08225
(609) 383-1433

2333 Whitehorse-Mercerville Road
Trenton, New Jersey 08619
(609) 588-5900

77 Main Street
P.O. Box 7
Fishkill, New York 12524
(914) 897-3900

2400 West Cypress Creek Road
Suite 100
Ft. Lauderdale, Florida 33309
(954) 492-1110

4300-A Ridge Road
Baltimore, Maryland 21236
(410) 284-3400

1722 Route 70 East
Cherry Hill, New Jersey 08003
(609) 489-3002

411 38th Street
Union City, New Jersey 07087
(201) 330-0333

359 Passaic Street
Passaic, New Jersey 07055
(973) 458-1771

47 Commercial Avenue--Unit #3
New Brunswick, New Jersey 08901
(732) 846-4810

3214 River Road
Camden, New Jersey 08105
(609) 614-0199

Box 216, Route 1
2205 15th Street
Lawrenceville, Illinois 62439
(618) 943-7344


Designed by Curran & Connors, Inc.


<PAGE>


- -----------
   Joule
- -----------




1245 Route 1 South
Edison, New Jersey 08837
732-548-5444



                                                                      EXHIBIT 21





<PAGE>


                                                                      EXHIBIT 21




                                 SUBSIDIARIES OF
                                   JOULE INC.



Subsidiary                                                State of Incorporation
- ----------                                                ----------------------

JOULE Maintenance Corporation                                         New Jersey

JOULE Technical Staffing, Inc.                                        New Jersey

JOULE Technical Services, Inc.                                        New Jersey
                                                                      
20 Orchard St., Inc.                                                  New Jersey
                                                                      
JOULE Transportation, Inc.                                            New Jersey
                                                                      
                                                          




                                                                      EXHIBIT 23




<PAGE>



                                                                      EXHIBIT 23



                    CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS


As independent public accountants, we hereby consent to the incorporation of our
report incorporated by reference to this Form 10-K, into the Company's
previously filed Registration Statement File No. 33-57996.



                                                            ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP





Roseland, New Jersey
December 28, 1998




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