ALLIED HEALTHCARE PRODUCTS INC
10-K, 1997-09-26
ORTHOPEDIC, PROSTHETIC & SURGICAL APPLIANCES & SUPPLIES
Previous: WISCONSIN CENTRAL TRANSPORTATION CORP, 11-K, 1997-09-26
Next: IAI INVESTMENT FUNDS VI INC, NSAR-A, 1997-09-26




 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    FORM 10-K

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
(Mark One)                   Washington, D.C. 20549

            [X] ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE
                         SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
                    For the fiscal year ended June 30, 1997
                                       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 0-19266
                                 ---------------

                        ALLIED HEALTHCARE PRODUCTS, INC.
             [EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER]
                      DELAWARE                         25-1370721
                  (STATE OR OTHER                   (I.R.S. EMPLOYER
                  JURISDICTION OF                    IDENTIFICATION
                  INCORPORATION OR                        NO.)
                   ORGANIZATION)
                1720 SUBLETTE AVENUE
                ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI                      63110
               (ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL                   (ZIP CODE)
                 EXECUTIVE OFFICES)

        REGISTRANT'S TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE (314) 771-2400
                              --------------------

           SECURITIES REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(B) OF THE ACT:
                                                Name of each exchange
                TITLE OF EACH CLASS              ON WHICH REGISTERED
                -------------------             ---------------------
                                      None
           SECURITIES REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(G) OF THE ACT:
                                  Common Stock
                                 Preferred Stock
                         Preferred Stock Purchase Rights
                                (Title of class)
                              --------------------

      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.      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.

      As of September 23, 1997,  the aggregate  market value of the voting stock
held by  non-affiliates  (5,586,605  shares) of the Registrant  was  $42,947,026
(based on the closing price, on such date, of $7.6875 per share).

      As of September  23, 1997,  there were  7,806,682  shares of common stock,
$0.01 par value (the "Common Stock"), outstanding.

                       DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

           Proxy Statement dated October 10, 1997 (portion) (Part III)

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


<PAGE>
                        ALLIED HEALTHCARE PRODUCTS, INC.


                               INDEX TO FORM 10-K

                                                                          PAGE
                                     PART I
Item 1.   Business.............................................................1
Item 2.   Properties..........................................................11
Item 3.   Legal Proceedings...................................................12
Item 4.   Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.................12

                                     PART II
Item  5.  Market for Registrant's Common Stock and Related
          Stockholder Matters.................................................12
Item  6.  Selected Financial Data.............................................13
Item  7.  Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
          Condition and Results of Operations.................................13
Item  8.  Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.........................25
Item  9.  Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on
          Accounting and Financial Disclosure.................................44

                                    PART III
Item 10.  Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant..................44
Item 11.  Executive Compensation..............................................44
Item 12.  Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and
          Management..........................................................45
Item 13.  Certain Relationships and Related Transactions......................45

                                     PART IV
Item 14.   Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules, and Reports on
           Form 8-K...........................................................45

<PAGE>

PART I

ITEM 1.  BUSINESS


GENERAL

      Allied Healthcare Products,  Inc. ("Allied" or the "Company") manufactures
a variety of  respiratory  products  used in the health care  industry in a wide
range  of  hospital  and  alternate  site  settings,  including  sub-acute  care
facilities,  home health care and emergency  medical care. The Company's product
lines include respiratory therapy equipment,  medical gas construction equipment
and  emergency  medical  products.   The  Company  believes  that  it  maintains
significant market shares in selected product lines.

      Allied offers a broad spectrum of respiratory  therapy products for use in
the trauma,  hospital,  home and sub-acute care settings. The Company's products
are marketed  under  well-recognized  and  respected  brand names to  hospitals,
hospital equipment dealers, hospital construction contractors,  home health care
dealers, emergency medical products dealers and others.
Allied's product lines include:

<TABLE>

<S>                                      <C>

Respiratory Therapy Equipment           Medical Gas Equipment
  respiratory care/anesthesia              medical gas system construction products
  home respiratory care                    medical gas system regulation products

Emergency Medical Products                 disposable oxygen and specialty gas cylinders
  respiratory/resuscitation                portable suction equipment
  trauma and patient handling products

</TABLE>


      The  Company's  principal  executive  offices are located at 1720 Sublette
Avenue, St. Louis, Missouri 63110, and its telephone number is (314) 771-2400.

                                       1
<PAGE>

MARKETS AND PRODUCTS

      In fiscal 1997,  respiratory therapy equipment,  medical gas equipment and
emergency  medical  products   represented   approximately  54%,  36%  and  10%,
respectively,  of the  Company's  net sales.  The  Company  operates in a single
industry  segment and its  principal  products are  described  in the  following
table:

<TABLE>
<S>                                <C>                     <C>             <C>

                                                          PRINCIPAL
PRODUCT                           DESCRIPTION             BRAND NAMES     PRIMARY USERS
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
RESPIRATORY THERAPY EQUIPMENT

Respiratory Care/Anesthesia       Ventilators; large      Bear;           Hospitals
Products                          volume compressors;     Timeter;        and
                                  ventilator              BiCore          sub-acute
                                  calibrators;                            care
                                  humidifiers,                            facilities
                                  spirometers and
                                  monitoring systems

Home Respiratory Care             Oxygen concentrators;   Timeter;        Patients at home
Products                          bottled oxygen          B&F;
                                  equipment; pressure     Schuco;
                                  regulators;             Bear
                                  nebulizers; portable
                                  large volume
                                  compressors; portable
                                  suction equipment and
                                  portable ventilators

MEDICAL GAS EQUIPMENT

Construction Products             In-wall medical gas     Chemetron;      Hospitals
                                  system components;      Oxequip         and
                                  central station pumps                   sub-acute
                                  and compressors and                     care
                                  headwalls                               facilities

Regulation Devices                Flowmeters; vacuum      Chemetron;      Hospitals
                                  regulators; pressure    Oxequip;
                                  regulators and related  Timeter
                                  products


Disposable                        Disposable oxygen and   Lif-O-Gen       First aid
Cylinders                         specialty gas cylinders                 providers and
                                                                          substance abuse
                                                                          compliance
                                                                          personnel

Suction Equipment                 Portable suction        Gomco           Hospitals and
                                  equipment and                           sub-acute care
                                  disposable suction                      facilities
                                  canisters

EMERGENCY MEDICAL PRODUCTS


Respiratory/Resuscitation         Demand resuscitation    LSP;            Emergency service
Products                          valves; bag mask        Omni-Tech       providers
                                  resuscitators;
                                  emergency transport
                                  ventilators and oxygen
                                  products

Trauma and Patient Handling       Spine immobilization    LSP;            Emergency service
Products                          products; pneumatic     Design          providers
                                  anti-shock garments     Principles
                                  and trauma burn kits
</TABLE>

                                       2
<PAGE>

RESPIRATORY THERAPY EQUIPMENT

      MARKET.  Respiratory therapy equipment is used in the treatment of chronic
respiratory and pulmonary disease and temporary respiratory distress. Conditions
treatable with  respiratory  therapy  products  include  asthma and  respiratory
problems associated with AIDS, lung cancer and trauma. The Company believes that
sales of respiratory  therapy  products will benefit from the aging  population,
improved  diagnosis,  technology  advancements and an increased  recognition and
treatment  of  respiratory  illnesses.  Allied  expects  that  the  global  home
respiratory  care  equipment  market  will  continue to be a growth area as cost
containment  pressures  continue to  encourage a shift in the delivery of health
care from the hospital to lower cost alternate site settings,  such as the home,
while  technology  advancements  make home  treatment  of  respiratory  patients
possible.

      Respiratory therapy equipment is used in both hospitals and alternate site
settings.  Sales of respiratory  care and  anesthesia  products are made through
distribution channels focusing on hospital and sub-acute care facilities.  Sales
of home respiratory  therapy products are made through durable medical equipment
dealers,  through  telemarketing,  independent  sales  representatives,  and  by
contract sales with national chains.

      The Company believes that it holds a significant  share of the U.S. market
and  selected  foreign  markets  for  certain   respiratory  therapy  equipment,
including large volume compressors and ventilator calibrators.  The Company also
believes that it has the leading share of the U.S.  market for portable  suction
equipment and has a significant  market  presence in other areas,  including CO2
absorbent, adult ventilation,  bottled oxygen equipment and accessories.  Allied
intends to continue to emphasize the marketing and sale of home respiratory care
products.

      RESPIRATORY CARE/ANESTHESIA PRODUCTS. The Company manufactures and sells a
broad range of products for use in respiratory care and anesthesia delivery. The
Company  markets a full  line of  critical  care  ventilators,  humidifiers  and
monitoring systems to hospitals,  sub-acute care facilities and home health care
dealers.  Ventilators ease the work of patient  breathing while monitoring other
pulmonary functions for the care provider. The Company manufactures  ventilators
designed for both infants and adults.  In August 1996, the Company received 510k
approval from the United States Food and Drug  Administration and introduced the
Bear Cub 750R, a new infant  ventilator which utilizes a unique patented "volume
limits" technology which establishes an upper boundary to minimize the potential
risk of overinflation of an infant's lungs.

      In addition, the Company manufactures large volume compressors,  which are
utilized  to power  volume  ventilators  and to  convert  certain  drugs into an
aerosol form for delivery through the upper airways, and ventilator calibrators,
which  are  used  primarily  by  hospital  biomedical  departments  for  testing
ventilators for compliance  with  manufacturers'  specifications.  The Company's
ventilator  calibrator  is  referred  to in  virtually  every  major  ventilator
manufacturer's operating and maintenance manuals.

      The  Company's  other  respiratory  care/anesthesia  products  include CO2
absorbent  which is used to absorb carbon  dioxide in  anesthesia  machines that
deliver gas through a closed system mask covering the patient's  nose and mouth,
oxygen tents,  spirometers  used to test lung capacity for purposes of detecting
and  analyzing  lung  disease,  oxygen  timers used to measure  oxygen usage and
ultrasonic nebulizers used to convert drugs into a fine mist for delivery to the
lungs.

      HOME RESPIRATORY CARE PRODUCTS.  Home respiratory care products  represent
one of Allied's potential growth areas.  Allied's broad line of home respiratory
care products includes oxygen concentrators,  bottled oxygen equipment, pressure
regulators,  portable large volume  compressors,  portable suction equipment and
portable ventilators.

      Allied's  oxygen  concentrators,  bottled  oxygen  equipment  and pressure
regulators  are  all  used  in the  delivery  of  home  oxygen  therapy.  Oxygen
concentrators  take air from a room and convert it into  approximately  95% pure
oxygen.  The  Company  believes  that the market for oxygen  concentrators  will
experience  substantial  growth,  particularly  in markets outside of the United
States.   Bottled  oxygen  equipment  includes  lightweight  aluminum  cylinders
containing pure oxygen.  This equipment is utilized by mobile patients when they
leave the

                                       3
<PAGE>

home.  Pressure  regulators  manufactured by the Company,  similar to those that
Allied sells in the hospital market, are used on these aluminum cylinders.

      Allied's  portable  large  volume  compressors  are used to provide air to
drive ventilators and to deliver aerosolized drugs in the home. Portable suction
equipment is used in the home by people who have had  tracheotomies and have had
tracheal tubes temporarily  inserted.  Suctioning is used intermittently to keep
the artificial airway clear.

      The Company  manufactures  critical care ventilators and humidifiers which
are sold to patients  for use in the home.  The Company also offers an extensive
line of plastic  disposable  medical products,  including  tubing,  humidifiers,
cannulas,  oxygen  masks,  aerosol  masks used with  nebulizers  and  ventilator
circuits. In addition,  Allied manufactures  compressor nebulizers which convert
liquid  medicine into airborne  particles for  application  deep into the lungs.
Compressor  nebulizers  are primarily  used by children  suffering  from asthma,
cystic fibrosis and other breathing disorders.


MEDICAL GAS EQUIPMENT

      MARKET. The market for medical gas equipment consists of hospitals and, to
a lesser degree,  alternate site settings,  as well as durable medical equipment
dealers and other users of portable  equipment.  Medical gas system construction
products  and  regulation  devices  are sold to  hospitals  and  sub-acute  care
facilities.  Medical gas equipment is used to deliver oxygen, air and suction to
patients for brief or extended periods in settings  ranging from  intensive-care
facilities in hospitals to restaurants and industrial facilities.  The Company's
medical  gas  equipment  product  line is  subject  to severe  cost  containment
pressures as managed care programs  increasingly  direct  patients to lower cost
alternate site settings. The Company's medical gas products are sold directly to
hospitals,  hospital  construction  contractors  and durable  medical  equipment
dealers.  Principal  customers for disposable oxygen and specialty gas cylinders
include  substance abuse compliance  personnel and customers that require oxygen
for infrequent  emergencies.  Portable suction  equipment is sold to health care
facilities and durable medical equipment dealers.

      The Company  believes that it holds a leading share of the U.S. market for
in-wall components, and that its Chemetron and Oxequip lines are well recognized
by hospital  construction  contractors.  The Company  believes  that its in-wall
components are installed in more than 3,000 hospitals in the United States.  The
Company also believes that it holds a significant  share of the U.S.  market for
flowmeters,  vacuum  regulators  and  pressure  regulators  and many medical gas
system  regulation and portable  suction  equipment  devices.  Allied tracks its
market  position  through a proprietary  database  developed by management  that
registers  and tracks  hospital  construction  projects  in the U.S.  market and
enables the Company to determine pricing trends, volume trends and market shares
for each of Allied's sales territories and for the U.S. market as a whole.

      Allied  believes that its installed  base of equipment in this market will
continue to generate follow-on sales. Since hospitals typically do not have more
than one medical gas system,  the manufacturer of the existing  installed system
has a competitive advantage in follow-on sales of such products to a hospital in
which its system is installed.  Accordingly,  the Company's  existing  installed
equipment generates continued demand from its customers for replacement products
and extensions of existing systems, which constitute a significant percentage of
the  Company's  total sales of medical gas  products.  The Company also believes
that most hospital and  sub-acute  care  facility  construction  spending is for
expansion and  renovation  of existing  facilities.  Many  hospital  systems and
individual hospitals undertake major renovations to upgrade their operations, to
improve the quality of care they provide,  reduce costs and to attract  patients
and  personnel.  The Company  expects  that its  installed  equipment  base will
continue to provide the Company with a significant  competitive advantage in the
hospital renovation market.

      MEDICAL   GAS   CONSTRUCTION   PRODUCTS.   Allied's   medical  gas  system
construction products consist of in-wall medical gas system components,  central
station  pumps and  compressors  and  headwalls.  These  products are  typically
installed  during  construction  or renovation of a health care facility and are
built in as an integral part of the facility's  physical plant.  Typically,  the
contractor for the facility's construction or renovation purchases medical

                                       4
<PAGE>


gas  system   components  from   manufacturers   and  ensures  that  the  design
specifications of the health care facility are met.

      Allied's in-wall components, including outlets, manifolds, alarms, ceiling
columns  and zone  valves,  serve a  fundamental  role in medical  gas  delivery
systems.

      Central station pumps and compressors are individually  engineered systems
consisting of compressors,  reservoirs,  valves and controls designed to drive a
hospital's medical gas and suction systems. Each system is designed specifically
for a given  hospital or  facility by the  Company,  which  purchases  pumps and
compressors  from  suppliers.  The Company's  sales of pumps and compressors are
driven, in large part, by its share of the in-wall components market.

      Headwalls are  prefabricated  wall units for installation in patient rooms
and intensive care areas which house medical gas, suction and electrical outlets
and  fixtures  for  monitoring   equipment.   These   prefabricated  walls  also
incorporate designs for lighting and nurse call systems.  Headwalls are built to
customer  design  specifications  and  eliminate  the  need  for  time-consuming
installation of fixtures and outlets and related piping and wiring directly into
the hospital wall. During fiscal 1995, the Company introduced the Trio headwall,
which  includes a detachable  face plate that permits a health care  provider to
switch  among  one of three  gases,  thus  providing  greater  flexibility  to a
hospital or sub-acute care facility.

      MEDICAL  GAS  REGULATION   DEVICES.   The  Company's  medical  gas  system
regulation   products  include   flowmeters,   vacuum  regulators  and  pressure
regulators,  as well as related  adapters,  fittings  and hoses  which  measure,
regulate,  monitor  and help  transfer  medical  gases  from  walled  piping  or
equipment to patients in hospital  rooms,  operating  theaters or intensive care
areas. The Company's  leadership position in the in-wall components market gives
the Company a competitive  advantage in marketing  medical gas system regulation
devices  that are  compatible  with those  components.  Hospitals  that  procure
medical  gas system  regulation  devices  from the  Company's  competitors  were
previously  required  to  utilize  adapters  in  order to use  Allied's  in-wall
components. However, in August 1996, the Company introduced its patented Connect
II  universal  outlet,  the first  such  outlet to allow a  hospital  to utilize
medical  gas system  regulation  devices  and  in-wall  components  produced  by
different manufacturers.

      DISPOSABLE OXYGEN AND SPECIALTY GAS CYLINDERS. Disposable oxygen cylinders
are  designed  to  provide  oxygen  supplies  for  short  periods  in  emergency
situations.  Since they are not subjected to the same pressurization as standard
containers,  they  are  much  lighter  and  less  expensive  than  standard  gas
cylinders.  The Company  markets  filled  disposable  oxygen  cylinders  through
industrial safety  distributors and similar customers,  principally to first aid
providers,  restaurants,  industrial  plants and other  customers  that  require
oxygen for infrequent emergencies. The Company also markets disposable cylinders
to specialty gas manufacturers for use by substance abuse compliance personnel.

      PORTABLE  SUCTION  EQUIPMENT  AND  SUCTION  CANISTERS.   Portable  suction
equipment  is  typically  used when  in-wall  suction is not  available  or when
medical  protocol  specifically  requires  portable  suction.  The Company  also
manufactures  disposable suction  canisters,  which are clear containers used to
collect  the fluids  suctioned  by  in-wall or  portable  suction  systems.  The
containers  have volume  calibrations  which allow the medical  practitioner  to
measure the volume of fluids suctioned.


EMERGENCY MEDICAL PRODUCTS

      MARKET.   Emergency   medical  products  are  used  in  the  treatment  of
trauma-induced  injuries.  The  Company's  emergency  medical  products  provide
patients  resuscitation or ventilation during  cardiopulmonary  resuscitation or
respiratory  distress as well as  immobilization  and treatment  for burns.  The
Company  believes  that the  trauma  care  venue for  health  care  services  is
positioned  for  growth  in light of the  continuing  trend in the  health  care
industry towards providing health care outside the traditional hospital setting.
The Company also expects that other  countries  will develop trauma care systems
in the future, although no assurance can be given that

                                       5
<PAGE>


such  systems  will  develop  or that they will have a  favorable  impact on the
Company.  Sales of  emergency  medical  products  are made  through  specialized
emergency medical products distributors.

      The Company  believes it is a market  share leader with respect to certain
of its  emergency  medical  products,  including  demand  resuscitation  valves,
portable resuscitation systems and autovents.

     RESPIRATORY/RESUSCITATION PRODUCTS. The Company's respiratory/resuscitation
products include demand resuscitation valves,  portable  resuscitation  systems,
bag masks and  related  products,  emergency  transport  ventilators,  precision
oxygen regulators, minilators and multilators and humidifiers.

      Demand  resuscitation  valves  are  designed  to  provide  100%  oxygen to
breathing or non-breathing patients. In an emergency situation, the valve can be
used with a mask or  tracheotomy  tubes and operates  from a standard  regulated
oxygen system. The Company's portable resuscitation systems provide fast, simple
and   effective   means  of   ventilating   a   non-breathing   patient   during
cardiopulmonary  resuscitation  and 100% oxygen to breathing  patients on demand
with  minimal  inspiratory  effort.  The  Company  also  markets  a full line of
disposable  and  reusable bag mask  resuscitators.  Bag mask  resuscitators  are
available  in a  variety  of adult  and  child-size  configurations.  Disposable
mouth-to-mask  resuscitation  systems  have the added  advantage of reducing the
risk of transmission of communicable diseases.

      In 1988 the  Company  introduced  the  first  domestic  line of  emergency
transport ventilators,  or autovents, which are small and compact in design. The
Company's autovent can meet a variety of needs in different applications ranging
from typical emergency medical  situations to more  sophisticated air and ground
transport.  Each autovent is  accompanied  by a patient valve which provides for
effective  ventilation  during  cardiopulmonary   resuscitation  or  respiratory
distress.  When administration of oxygen is required at the scene of a disaster,
in  military  field  hospitals  or  in  a  multiple-victim  incident,   Allied's
minilators  and  multilators  are capable of providing  oxygen to one or a large
number of patients.

      To  complement  the  family  of  respiratory/resuscitation  products,  the
Company  offers  a full  line  of  oxygen  products  accessories.  This  line of
accessory  products  includes  reusable  aspirators,  tru-fit masks,  disposable
cuffed masks and related accessories.

      TRAUMA AND PATIENT  HANDLING  PRODUCTS.  The Company's  trauma and patient
handling products include spine  immobilization  products,  pneumatic anti-shock
garments  and trauma burn kits.  Spine  immobilization  products  include a back
board which is designed for safe immobilization of injury victims and provides a
durable  and  cost  effective  means of  emergency  patient  transportation  and
extrication. The infant/pediatric immobilization board is durable and scaled for
children.  The half  back  extractor/rescue  vest is useful  for both  suspected
cervical/spinal  injuries  and for  mountain  and  air  rescues.  The  Company's
pneumatic anti-shock garments are used to treat victims experiencing hypovolemic
shock.  Allied's trauma burn kits contain a  comprehensive  line of products for
the treatment of trauma and burns.


SALES AND MARKETING

      Allied sells its products primarily to respiratory care/anesthesia product
distributors,  hospital  construction  contractors,  emergency medical equipment
dealers and directly to hospitals. The Company maintains a domestic direct sales
force of 57 sales  professionals,  all of whom are  full-time  employees  of the
Company.  The sales  force  includes 34  respiratory  products  specialists,  18
hospital  construction  specialists,  one  home  health  care  specialist,  five
emergency  medical  specialists and two national  account  representatives.  The
Company also utilizes 10 telemarketers to generate sales in the home health care
market.

      Respiratory  products specialists are responsible for sales of medical gas
system   regulation   devices,   portable  suction   equipment  and  respiratory
care/anesthesia   products.   These  products  are   principally   sold  to  the
approximately   5,700  hospitals  in  the  United  States  through   specialized
respiratory  care/anesthesia product distributors.  Many of these suppliers have
had experience with the Company's products as hospital  respiratory  therapists.
The  Company  hopes  to  capitalize  on  its  brand  name  recognition  and  the
familiarity of its products and

                                       6
<PAGE>

their  reputations  among  these  former  hospital  therapists  as  a  means  of
increasing its share of the home respiratory care products market.

      Respiratory  products  specialists  are also  responsible for sales of the
full line of infant and adult critical care ventilators and humidifiers, as well
as  related  monitoring  equipment.  These  products  are  principally  sold  to
hospitals, sub-acute care facilities and to durable medical equipment suppliers.
Recently,  Allied  completed a consolidation  of its patient care and ventilator
specialists  sales forces.  The Company believes this  consolidation  will yield
several  benefits,  which  include  optimization  of  selling  expenses  through
increased  sales  coverage,  broadening  product  offerings for each sales call,
significantly  reducing the geographic  territory for each sales  specialist and
combining the strength of complementary product lines.

      Construction  specialists  are responsible for sales of medical gas system
construction products,  including in-wall components,  central station pumps and
compressors  and  headwalls.   Construction  specialists  work  with  hospitals,
architects and project  management firms, but most frequently sell to mechanical
and electrical contractors for new construction or renovation projects.

      Home health care specialists are responsible for sales of home respiratory
care  products.  These  products  are sold  through  durable  medical  equipment
suppliers, who then rent or sell the products directly to the patient for use in
the home.

      Emergency    medical    specialists   are   responsible   for   sales   of
respiratory/resuscitation  products, trauma and patient handling products. These
products are  principally  sold to ambulance  companies,  fire  departments  and
emergency medical systems volunteer  organizations through specialized emergency
medical products distributors.

      The Company employs national account  representatives  who are responsible
for  marketing  Allied's  products to national  hospital  groups,  managed  care
organizations  and other health care providers and to national chains of durable
medical  equipment  suppliers  through  sales  efforts at the  executive  level.
Generally,  the national  account  representatives  secure a commitment from the
purchaser to buy a specified  quantity of Allied's  products over a defined time
period at a discounted price based on volume.

      INTERNATIONAL.  International  sales  represent  a growth  area  which the
Company  has  been   emphasizing,   as  reflected  by  the  11.9%   increase  in
international sales from $30.8 million in fiscal 1996 to $34.5 million in fiscal
1997.  Allied's net sales to foreign  markets totaled  approximately  29% of the
Company's total net sales in fiscal 1997. International sales are made through a
network of dealers,  agents and U.S.  exporters  who  distribute  the  Company's
products throughout the world. The Company currently maintains two international
sales offices.  Allied has market presence in Canada,  Mexico, Central and South
America,  Europe,  the Middle  East and the Far East.  Due to  acquisitions  and
distribution-related  improvements,  the Company has  increased its sales in the
Far East,  an area which is expected  to show  considerable  market  growth as a
result of  anticipated  improvements  in the  health  care  infrastructure.  For
information regarding the Company's export sales by geographic area, see Note 10
of the Notes to  Consolidated  Financial  Statements  incorporated  by reference
herein.


MANUFACTURING

      Allied's manufacturing  processes include fabrication,  electro-mechanical
assembly operations and plastics  manufacturing.  A significant part of Allied's
manufacturing  operations  involves  electro-mechanical  assembly of proprietary
products and circuit  boards and the Company is  vertically  integrated  in most
elements of metal machining and  fabrication.  Most of Allied's hourly employees
are involved in machining, metal fabrication, plastics manufacturing and product
assembly.

      Allied  manufactures  small metal  components  from bar stock in a machine
shop  which  includes  automatic  screw  machines,  horizontal  lathes and drill
presses. Additionally, five computer controlled machining centers were purchased
and installed during fiscal 1997 in the Company's St. Louis,  Missouri facility.
This $1.5 million  investment has  substantially  modernized the Company's metal
machining  capabilities  and will result in significant  opportunities to reduce
product costs from shorter set-up times,  elimination of secondary operations in
component


                                       7
<PAGE>

manufacturing, reduced inventory levels, reductions in scrap and improvements in
quality.  The  Company  makes  larger  metal  components  from sheet metal using
computerized  punch  presses,  brake  presses and shears.  The Company  utilizes
automated welding equipment and an automated paint line in the production of its
disposable  oxygen  cylinders.  In its  plastics  manufacturing  processes,  the
Company utilizes both extrusion and injection molding. The Company believes that
its production  facilities and equipment are in good condition and sufficient to
meet planned  increases in volume over the next few years and that conditions in
local labor markets should permit the  implementation  of additional  shifts and
days operated to meet any future increased production capacity requirements.

      Allied's  production of its  disposable  products has been  constrained by
outdated  molds and injection  molding  machinery  since the  acquisition of B&F
Medical  Products,  Inc. in 1994,.  During  fiscal 1996 and 1997,  manufacturing
inefficiencies and capacity  constraints  prevented the Company from shipping to
the level of demand for certain products. Accordingly, the Company invested $1.1
million  in molds and  injection  molding  machinery  to expand  the  production
capacity and gain efficiencies at its Toledo, Ohio facility.  This investment in
enhanced  injection  molding  capabilities  is expected  to increase  production
throughput,  and to provide significant cost reduction opportunities,  including
reduced  product  material  content,  labor and utility costs,  while  improving
overall quality and yields.


RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

      In order to keep pace with  technological  advancements,  the  Company has
increased the level of its research and development activities and anticipates a
continuing  commitment to research and  development in the future.  Research and
development expenditures in fiscal 1996 and 1997 were approximately $3.3 million
and $3.7 million, respectively.

      Expenditures for research and development  activities  primarily  included
updating current products and developing new respiratory  therapy products.  The
Company has  approximately 40 engineers and technicians  working on research and
development projects.

      The Company has recently  introduced  several new products  which resulted
from its research and development  efforts.  These products include the Bear Cub
750R infant ventilator,  the Connect II universal medical gas outlet, the Schuco
2000  nebulizer,  Chemetron'sTM  line of flowmeters,  the BearTM 1000 ventilator
with  Smart  TriggerR  and the  GomcoTM  Opti-Vac.  The  Bear  Cub  750R  infant
ventilator  utilizes a unique patented volume limit technology which establishes
an upper  boundary  to  minimize  the  potential  risk of over  inflation  of an
infant's  lungs.  The  Connect  II  universal  medical  gas  outlet  allows  the
interfacing of Allied's gas regulation devices into gas systems installed by its
competitors,  thus opening new market potential for the Company. The Schuco 2000
home care  nebulizer is designed  for the  treatment  of  asthmatics,  primarily
children,  and has lower production costs, an extended warranty and greater ease
of use.  The  ChemetronTM  flowmeter  has been  redesigned  to more  effectively
utilize space with the metering  knob in front and offers an extended  warranty.
The BearTM 1000 adult and pediatric ICU ventilator with Smart-TriggerR  provides
a unique mechanism for automatically adjusting pressure and flow thresholds. The
GomcoTM Opti-Vac meets  suctioning needs in all health care settings,  including
emergency, acute care, sub-acute care and the home.


GOVERNMENT REGULATION

      The Company's  products and its  manufacturing  activities  are subject to
extensive and rigorous government regulation by federal and state authorities in
the United States and other countries. In the United States, medical devices for
human use are subject to comprehensive review by the United States Food and Drug
Administration  (the  "FDA").  The Federal  Food,  Drug,  and Cosmetic Act ("FDC
Act"),  and other  federal  statutes and  regulations,  govern or influence  the
research,  testing,  manufacture,  safety,  labeling,  storage,  record keeping,
approval,  advertising,  and  promotion  of such  products.  Noncompliance  with
applicable  requirements can result in Warning Letters, fines, recall or seizure
of  products,  injunction,  refusal to permit  products to be  imported  into or
exported out of the United States, refusal of the government to clear or approve
marketing applications or to allow the

                                       8
<PAGE>

Company to enter into  government  supply  contracts,  withdrawal  of previously
approved marketing applications and criminal prosecution.

      The Company is required to file a premarket  notification in the form of a
premarket approval ("PMA") with the FDA before it begins marketing a new medical
device that  offers new  technology  that is  currently  not on the market.  The
Company also must file a premarket notification in the form of a 510(k) with the
FDA before it begins  marketing a new  medical  device  that  utilizes  existing
technology for devices that are currently on the market.  The 510(k)  submission
process is also required when the Company makes a change or modifies an existing
device in a manner  that  could  significantly  affect  the  device's  safety or
effectiveness.

      Compliance with the regulatory  approval  process in order to market a new
or  modified  medical  device can be  uncertain,  lengthy  and,  in some  cases,
expensive. There can be no assurance that necessary regulatory approvals will be
obtained on a timely basis,  or at all.  Delays in receipt or failure to receive
such approvals,  the loss of previously received approvals, or failure to comply
with existing or future  regulatory  requirements  could have a material adverse
effect on the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations.

      The Company  manufacturers and distributes a broad spectrum of respiratory
therapy  equipment,  emergency medical  equipment and medical gas equipment.  To
date, all of the Company's FDA clearances have been obtained  through the 510(k)
clearance process.  These determinations are very fact specific, and the FDA has
stated  that,  initially,  the  manufacturer  is best  qualified  to make  these
determinations,   which  should  be  based  on  adequate   supporting  data  and
documentation.   The  FDA,   however,   may  disagree   with  a   manufacturer's
determination  not to file a 510(k) and require the  submission  of a new 510(k)
notification for the changed or modified device. Where the FDA believes that the
change  or   modification   raises   significant  new  questions  of  safety  or
effectiveness,  the agency may require a manufacturer  to cease  distribution of
the  device  pending  clearance  of a new  510(k)  notification.  Certain of the
Company's  medical  devices have been changed or modified  subsequent  to 510(k)
marketing  clearance of the original device by the FDA. Certain of the Company's
medical devices, which were first marketed prior to May 28, 1976 and, therefore,
grandfathered and exempt from the 510(k)  notification  process,  also have been
subsequently  changed or modified.  The Company  believes  that these changes or
modifications do not  significantly  affect the device's safety or effectiveness
or make a major  change  or  modification  in the  device's  intended  uses and,
accordingly,  that submission of new 510(k) notification to FDA is not required.
There can be no  assurance,  however,  that FDA would  agree with the  Company's
determinations.

      In  addition,  commercial  distribution  in certain  foreign  countries is
subject to additional regulatory requirements and receipt of approvals that vary
widely from country to country.  The Company  believes it is in compliance  with
regulatory requirements of the countries in which it sells its products.

      The Company's medical device manufacturing  facilities are registered with
FDA. As such, the Company will be inspected by FDA for  compliance  with the GMP
regulations  for medical  devices.  This  regulation  requires  that the Company
manufacture  its  products and  maintain  documents in a prescribed  manner with
respect to manufacturing, testing and control activities. The GMP regulation has
been  revised by FDA to include  design  controls as well.  The Company  also is
subject to the  registration  and inspection  requirements  of state  regulatory
agencies.

      In July 1997 FDA  conducted an  inspection  at the  Riverside,  California
facility and issued a Form FDA 483. The Company has taken what it believes to be
the necessary corrective action and has verbally been notified that such actions
are appropriate and satisfactory. The Company does not anticipate any regulatory
imposed delays in  manufacturing  or shipping as a result of this FDA inspection
and Form FDA 483.

      The Medical Device Reporting  regulation requires that the Company provide
information to FDA on deaths or serious injuries alleged to have been associated
with the use of its devices,  as well as product  malfunctions that would likely
cause or contribute to death or serious injury if the malfunction were to recur.
The Medical Device Tracking regulation requires the Company to adopt a method of
device   tracking  of  certain   devices,   such  as   ventilators,   which  are
life-supporting  or  life-sustaining  devices  used  outside  of a  device  user
facility or which are permanently  implantable  devices. The regulation requires
that the method adopted by the Company

                                       9
<PAGE>

ensures that the tracked  device can be traced from the device  manufacturer  to
the person for whom the device is indicated  (i.e.,  the patient).  In addition,
FDA  prohibits  a company  from  promoting  an  approved  device for  unapproved
applications  and  reviews a  company's  labeling  for  accuracy.  Labeling  and
promotional  activities also are, in certain  instances,  subject to scrutiny by
the Federal Trade Commission.

      There can be no  assurance  that any  required  FDA or other  governmental
approval will be granted,  or, if granted,  will not be withdrawn.  Governmental
regulation  may prevent or  substantially  delay the  marketing of the Company's
proposed  products  and cause the Company to  undertake  costly  procedures.  In
addition,  the extent of potentially  adverse  government  regulation that might
arise from future administrative action or legislation cannot be predicted.  Any
failure to obtain, or delay in obtaining,  such approvals could adversely affect
the Company's ability to market its proposed products.

      Sales of medical  devices outside the United States are subject to foreign
regulatory requirements that vary widely from country to country. Whether or not
FDA approval has been obtained,  approval of a device by a comparable regulatory
authority  of a  foreign  country  generally  must  be  obtained  prior  to  the
commencement of marketing in those  countries.  The time required to obtain such
approvals  may be longer or shorter  than that  required  for FDA  approval.  In
addition,  FDA approval may be required  under certain  circumstances  to export
certain medical devices.

      The  Company  also is subject to  numerous  federal,  state and local laws
relating to such matters as safe working  conditions,  manufacturing  practices,
environmental  protections,  fire hazard  control and  disposal of  hazardous or
potentially hazardous substances.  There can be no assurance that it will not be
required to incur  significant  cost to comply with such laws and regulations in
the future or that such laws or regulations  will not have a materially  adverse
effect upon the Company's ability to do business.


THIRD PARTY REIMBURSEMENT

      The cost of a majority of medical  care in the United  States is funded by
the U.S.  Government  through the Medicare and Medicaid  programs and by private
insurance  programs,  such as corporate  health  insurance  plans.  Although the
Company does not receive payments for its products directly from these programs,
home respiratory care providers and durable medical equipment suppliers, who are
the primary customers for several of the Company's  products,  depend heavily on
payments  from  Medicare,  Medicaid  and private  insurers as a major  source of
revenues.  In addition,  sales of certain of the Company's products are affected
by the extent of hospital and health care facility  construction  and renovation
at any  given  time.  The  federal  government  indirectly  funds a  significant
percentage  of such  construction  and  renovation  costs  through  Medicare and
Medicaid  reimbursements.  In recent  years,  governmentally  imposed  limits on
reimbursement  of  hospitals  and other  health  care  providers  have  impacted
spending for services,  consumables and capital goods. In addition, Congress has
deferred  resolution  of health care policy  issues,  including the Medicare and
Medicaid  programs  and  whether  there  should be  changes  in the  eligibility
requirements  for  participation  in such  programs  or whether  they  should be
restructured.  A  material  decrease  from  current  reimbursement  levels  or a
material  change in the method or basis of  reimbursing  health care  providers,
especially with respect to capital spending, as well as uncertainty with respect
to the possibility of such changes,  are likely to adversely affect future sales
of the Company's products.


PATENTS, TRADEMARKS AND PROPRIETARY TECHNOLOGY

      The  Company  owns and  maintains  patents  on several  products  which it
believes  are useful to the  business  and provide the Company with an advantage
over its competitors.

      The Company owns and maintains U.S. trademark registrations for Chemetron,
Gomco, Oxequip,  Lif-O-Gen, Life Support Products,  Timeter,  Vacutron,  Schuco,
Bear,  BiCore,  Omnitech  and  Design  Principles,   its  principal  trademarks.
Registrations  for  these  trademarks  are  also  owned  and  maintained  in all
countries  where such products are sold and such  registrations  are  considered
necessary to preserve the Company's proprietary rights therein.

                                       10
<PAGE>

COMPETITION

      The Company has different  competitors  within each of its product  lines.
Many of the  Company's  principal  competitors  are larger  than  Allied and the
Company believes that most of these competitors have greater financial and other
resources  than the  Company.  The Company  competes  primarily  on the basis of
price, quality and service. The Company believes that it is well positioned with
respect to product cost,  brand  recognition,  product  reliability and customer
service to compete effectively in each of its markets.


EMPLOYEES

      At June 30, 1997, the Company had 854 full-time employees and 30 part-time
employees.  Approximately 266 employees in the Company's principal manufacturing
facility located in St. Louis,  Missouri, are covered by a collective bargaining
agreement.  The Company and the union have an  agreement  in principle as to the
terms and conditions of the collective  bargaining agreement and the Company has
prepared  a  draft  of  the   agreement  and  submitted  it  to  the  union  for
ratification.   Such  agreement  will  expire  in  May  2000.  An  aggregate  of
approximately 115 employees at the Company's facilities in Oakland,  California,
Toledo,  Ohio and  Stuyvesant  Falls,  New York are also  covered by  collective
bargaining  agreements which expire in 1998 for the Oakland and Stuyvesant Falls
facilities and in 2000 for the Toledo Facility.

      In June 1997,  the Company  experienced  a 19-day  strike at its principal
facility in St.  Louis  following  the  expiration  of a  collective  bargaining
agreement.  The work  stoppage had a material  adverse  effect on the  Company's
business and results of operations  for fiscal 1997.  The Company  believes that
its labor relations are satisfactory.


ENVIRONMENTAL AND SAFETY REGULATION

      The Company is subject to federal,  state and local environmental laws and
regulations  that impose  limitations  on the discharge of  pollutants  into the
environment and establish  standards for the treatment,  storage and disposal of
toxic  and  hazardous  wastes.  The  Company  is  also  subject  to the  federal
Occupational Safety and Health Act and similar state statutes. From time to time
the Company has been involved in environmental proceedings involving clean-up of
hazardous waste. There are no such material proceedings currently pending. Costs
of compliance with  environmental,  health and safety requirements have not been
material to the Company.  The Company believes it is in material compliance with
all applicable environmental laws and regulations.


ITEM 2.  PROPERTIES

      The  Company's  headquarters  are located in St.  Louis,  Missouri and the
Company maintains manufacturing facilities in Missouri, California, Ohio and New
York.  Set forth  below is certain  information  with  respect to the  Company's
manufacturing facilities.

                       SQUARE            OWNED/
                       FOOTAGE           LEASED
      LOCATION         (APPROXIMATE)               ACTIVITIES/PRODUCTS
- ---------------------  ---------         -------  -----------------------
St.  Louis, Missouri    270,000          Owned    Headquarters; medical
                                                  gas equipment;
                                                  respiratory therapy
                                                  equipment; emergency
                                                  medical products

Riverside,              164,000          Leased   Respiratory therapy
California                                        equipment

Toledo, Ohio             56,700          Owned    Home health care
                                                  products

Stuyvesant Falls,        30,000          Owned    CO2 absorbent
New York

Oakland, California      12,500          Leased   Headwalls

                                       11
<PAGE>


      In the event of the  expiration,  cancellation  or  termination of a lease
relating to any of the Company's leased properties,  the Company  anticipates no
significant  difficulty in connection with leasing alternate space at reasonable
rates.  The Company  leases a facility in Mt. Vernon,  Ohio,  which is currently
unused as its operations were  consolidated into the Toledo facility as a second
stage  of  its  plant   consolidation   strategy  for  its  disposable  products
operations. In addition, the Company also owns an additional 16.8 acre parcel of
undeveloped land in Stuyvesant Falls, New York.


ITEM 3.  LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

      Product liability lawsuits are filed against the Company from time to time
for various  injuries  alleged to have resulted from defects in the  manufacture
and/or design of the Company's products.  Several such proceedings are currently
pending,  which  are not  expected  to have a  material  adverse  effect  on the
Company.  The  Company  maintains   comprehensive  general  liability  insurance
coverage  which it believes to be adequate  for the  continued  operation of its
business, including coverage of product liability claims.

      In addition,  from time to time the  Company's  products may be subject to
product  recalls  in order to  correct  design  or  manufacturing  flaws in such
products. To date, no such recalls have been material to the Company.


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

      None.


                                     PART II


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

      Allied  Healthcare  Products,  Inc.  began trading on the NASDAQ  National
market under the symbol AHPI on January 14, 1992,  following its initial  public
offering.  As of  September  23,  1997,  there  were 261  record  owners  of the
Company's Common Stock. The following tables summarize  information with respect
to the high and low closing  prices for the Company's  Common Stock as listed on
the  NASDAQ   National  market  for  each  quarter  of  fiscal  1997  and  1996,
respectively,  and dividends  declared per share for each quarter of fiscal 1997
and 1996, respectively.

<TABLE>
<S>                                    <C>        <C>        <C>                               <C>      <C>

Common Stock Information                                     Dividends Declared Per
                                                             Share
1997                                   High       Low                                         1997     1996
- ------------------------------------------------------       -----------------------------------------------
September quarter                    $10 1/4     $6 1/4      September quarter                  --    $0.07
December quarter                       7 3/4      6 3/8      December quarter                   --     0.07
March quarter                          9 1/4      7          March quarter                      --     0.07
June quarter                           7 1/8      5 3/8      June quarter                       --     0.07
                                                                                                --    $0.28
                                                                                             ------   ------
</TABLE>

                                       12
<PAGE>

1996                                   High       Low
- ------------------------------------------------------
September quarter                    $18 3/4    $15 1/4
December quarter                      19 1/2     15 1/2
March quarter                         16 3/4     10 1/2
June quarter                          13 1/4      8 7/16


Item 6.  Selected Financial Data

<TABLE>
<S>                                                         <C>       <C>       <C>          <C>       <C>
In thousands, except per share data)
Year ended June 30,
                                                            1997      1996      1995       1994      1993
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Statement of Operations Data
Net sales                                               $118,118  $120,123  $111,639    $74,129   $61,230
Cost of sales                                             82,365    80,550    68,430     44,172    36,213
Gross profit                                              35,753    39,573    43,209     29,957    25,017
Selling, general and administrative expenses              33,910    31,449    24,849     16,824    13,879
Income from operations                                     1,843     8,124    18,360     13,133    11,138
Interest expense                                           7,606     4,474     3,704      1,338       210
Other, net                                                   186       350      (21)          1       276
Income before provision for income taxes                 (5,949)     3,300    14,677     11,794    10,652
Provision for income taxes                               (1,428)     1,473     5,854      4,539     3,967
Net income                                              $(4,521)    $1,827    $8,823     $7,255    $6,685
Earnings per share                                       $(0.58)      0.25      1.45       1.31      0.93
Weighted average common shares outstanding                 7,797     7,378     6,067      5,522     7,207

In thousands)
June 30,
                                                            1997       1996      1995      1994      1993
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance Sheet Data
Working capital                                          $18,743    $38,030    $2,810    $5,018   $10,527
Total assets                                             126,343    136,760   126,192    64,593    36,926
Short-term debt                                           12,891      3,849    34,420    13,108     4,110
Long-term debt (net of current portion)                   34,041     49,033    34,602    16,513    10,511
Shareholders' equity                                      59,365     63,886    38,374    20,034    13,498

</TABLE>

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


OVERVIEW

      The following discussion  summarizes the significant factors affecting the
consolidated  operating  results and financial  condition of the Company for the
three  fiscal  years  ended June 30,  1997.  This  discussion  should be read in
conjunction  with  the   consolidated   financial   statements,   notes  to  the
consolidated  financial  statements  and selected  consolidated  financial  data
included elsewhere herein.

                                       13
<PAGE>

      Certain statements contained herein are forward-looking statements. Actual
results could differ  materially  from those  anticipated as a result of various
factors, including cyclical and other industry downturns, the effects of federal
and state  legislation  on health care reform,  including  Medicare and Medicaid
financing,  the  inability  to  realize  the  full  benefit  of  recent  capital
expenditures or consolidation and  rationalization  activities,  difficulties or
delays  in  the   introduction  of  new  products  or  disruptions  in  selling,
manufacturing and/or shipping efforts.

      From  December  1993 through  November  1995 the Company  completed  seven
acquisitions which significantly  expanded its product lines. These acquisitions
were each  accounted  for  under the  purchase  method  of  accounting  and were
financed primarily through bank borrowings, resulting in a large increase in the
Company's debt and interest  expense.  One  acquisition  was partially  financed
through the issuance of common  stock.  Results of  operations  of each acquired
company have been included in Allied's consolidated statement of operations from
the date of acquisition. The purchase price of each acquisition was allocated to
the assets acquired and liabilities assumed, based on their estimated fair value
at the date of acquisition. The excess of purchase price over the estimated fair
value of net assets acquired was, in each instance,  recorded as goodwill and is
amortized over 20- or 40-year periods from the date of acquisition. Primarily as
a result of these  acquisitions,  the Company  incurred a total of approximately
$1.5 million in goodwill  amortization expense in the fiscal year ended June 30,
1997.

<TABLE>

      The following table summarizes the seven acquisitions:

<S>             <C>                                         <C>                                                  <C>
                                                                                                (Dollars in millions)
                                                                                                             PURCHASE
DATE            BUSINESS                                    PRODUCTS                                            PRICE
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

December 1993   Life Support Products, Inc. ("LSP")         Emergency medical equipment                         $15.7
March 1994      Hospital Systems, Inc. ("HSI")              Headwall products                                     2.2
September 1994  B&F Medical Products, Inc. ("B&F")          Home health care & respiratory therapy products      21.5
February 1995   Bear Medical Systems, Inc. ("Bear")         Critical care ventilators                            15.4
May 1995        BiCore Monitoring Systems, Inc. ("BiCore")  Monitoring systems & equipment for ventilators        4.7
June 1995       Design Principles, Inc. ("DPI")             Emergency medical equipment                           0.6
November 1995   Omni-Tech Medical, Inc. ("Omni-Tech")       Transport ventilators                                 1.6

</TABLE>

      These acquisitions expanded the breadth of products the Company offers and
has  strategically  placed the Company in the potential  high growth  markets of
home health care and extended care.  The Company  believes that the expansion of
product line offerings is particularly important in international markets as the
Company  continues  to  increase  its  worldwide  presence.  While  the  Company
continues  to believe  that these  acquisitions  will provide a source of future
growth  in sales  and  earnings,  the  integration  and  rationalization  of the
acquired  businesses  are still in progress.  The softness  experienced  in core
domestic  markets  during  fiscal  1996 and in the  early  part of  fiscal  1997
combined with internal  disruptions caused by a work stoppage in June 1997 and a
computer conversion in October 1996, both in the St. Louis facility,  as well as
ongoing negotiations with the Company's commercial bank syndicate, put pressures
on margins and adversely  affected the Company's results of operations in fiscal
1997. In addition,  higher interest expense incurred under  restructured  credit
facilities also adversely affected the Company's results of operations. Progress
made by the Company on its consolidation  activities and capital projects during
fiscal 1997 is as follows:


RESPIRATORY PRODUCTS SALESFORCE CONSOLIDATION AND TRAINING

      During  fiscal  1997,  the  Company   consolidated  its  21  patient  care
specialists with its 21 ventilator specialists to create a 34 person respiratory
products   specialists  field  sales  force.  The  training  required  for  this
consolidation  was  completed  in November  1996.  Benefits  expected  from this
consolidation  include  optimization of selling expenses through increased sales
coverage,  broadening  product  offerings  for each  sales  call,  significantly
reducing the geographic  territory for each sales  specialist and leveraging the
strengths  of  these  complementary  product  lines  while  enabling  the  sales
specialists to enhance their relationships with customers.


                                       14
<PAGE>

HOME HEALTH CARE SALES

      During the third quarter of fiscal 1997, the Company completed the refocus
of its sales  efforts for the home health care product  line to Durable  Medical
Equipment Dealers  ("DME's").  Allied increased its inside  telemarketing  sales
group by six and  reduced the field  sales  force by ten.  Expanding  the inside
telemarketing  sales efforts increases the penetration to the DME's and provides
greater coverage and improved customer response time. Allied invested in updated
catalogues,  literature,  and other mailings  during the third quarter of fiscal
1997 to augment its increased telemarketing focus. Contracts with, and sales to,
national  home health care chains of these  products  continue to be made by the
Company's national account sales force.


INFORMATION SYSTEMS ENHANCEMENTS

      The  Company  made  advances  in  upgrading  its  information   technology
capabilities  during  fiscal 1997. In October  1996,  the Company  converted its
corporate  offices  and  its  St.  Louis  manufacturing   operations  to  a  new
fully-integrated software system. This computer conversion, which should provide
strategic  long-term benefits to the Company,  caused short-term  disruptions in
manufacturing  scheduling and shipping of products which,  management  believes,
resulted in some  permanently  lost sales. The tools and capabilities of the new
system  have  enabled  the  Company  to  improve   manufacturing   planning  and
scheduling,  enhance  forecasting and inventory  control,  and enhance  customer
service  by  improving   the  quantity  and  quality  of  customer  and  product
information.  The Company also plans to convert its Toledo,  Ohio  operations to
the new system, and preliminary implementation activities have begun. When fully
implemented,  the information  technology system  enhancements should enable the
Company to realize  potential  synergies  of  acquisitions  through an efficient
integrated data base, enhanced management reporting systems and consolidation of
certain operational functions.


CAPITAL EXPENDITURE PROJECTS

      The Company made  significant  progress in modernizing  two of its primary
manufacturing  facilities  during  fiscal  1997.  Through a capital  lease,  the
Company acquired five computer  controlled  machining centers for its St. Louis,
Missouri facility and completed the programming and installation  process in the
third  quarter of fiscal  1997.  This $1.5  million  investment  modernized  the
Company's metal machining capabilities and provides significant opportunities to
reduce  product costs (from shorter  set-up times and  elimination  of secondary
operations  in  component  manufacturing),  inventory  levels,  and scrap and to
improve quality.

      In addition,  the Company  invested  $1.1  million in molds and  injection
molding machinery to expand the production capacity and gain efficiencies at its
Toledo,  Ohio facility.  Manufacturing  inefficiencies and capacity  constraints
caused by outdated  injection  molding  machinery has prevented the Company from
shipping  to the  level of demand  for  certain  products.  This  investment  in
enhanced   injection  molding   capabilities  is  expected  to  increase  annual
production,  improve  overall  quality and provide  significant  cost  reduction
opportunities, arising from reduced product material content and lower labor and
utility costs. Under this investment program, six injection molding machines and
eleven  molds have been  installed  as of June 30,  1997.  While the Company has
expended both monetary and human  resources on these projects in fiscal 1997 and
intends to continue emphasizing these and other internally-controlled  projects,
there can be no assurance  that the Company will be successful  in  implementing
these projects and realizing the anticipated synergies.


FISCAL 1997 FOURTH QUARTER RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

      The fiscal  1997 fourth  quarter  represented  a difficult  period for the
Company.  Results  of  operations  in the  fourth  quarter  of fiscal  1997 were
adversely  impacted by a variety of factors.  The nineteen day work  stoppage at
the Company's St. Louis,  Missouri facility in June 1997 resulted in a permanent
loss in sales,  margin  declines,  and plant  inefficiencies.  Interest  expense
increased to $3.4 million in the fourth  quarter of fiscal 1997 primarily due to
fees paid to the Company's commercial bank group to obtain waivers for technical
covenant  violations and for other matters  related to its borrowing  agreement.
Finally, based on management's assessment of facts related to or

                                       15
<PAGE>

culminating in the fourth quarter of fiscal 1997, the Company  increased certain
reserves and recorded  other  charges to  operations  during the fourth  quarter
which totaled approximately $2.0 million. Included in these charges were certain
adjustments  to the carrying  value of certain of the Company's  inventories  of
$1.0  million,  an  increase  to the  allowance  for  doubtful  accounts of $0.6
million,   $0.3  million  for  the   settlement  of  a  lawsuit   related  to  a
pre-acquisition matter at one of the Company's acquired  subsidiaries,  and $0.1
million for a new product licensing agreement.  As a result of these and various
other factors  described below,  fourth quarter fiscal 1997 net sales were $30.1
million while the net loss was $3.5 million compared to fourth quarter net sales
of $30.2 million and a net loss of $2.2 million in the prior year.

      Sales of respiratory  therapy  equipment for the fourth quarter were $16.3
million,  an  increase  of $0.7  million,  or 4.6%,  compared  to sales of $15.6
million in the prior  year.  Sales to the  hospital  market were up 27.5% in the
fourth  quarter of fiscal 1997  compared to the fourth  quarter of fiscal  1996.
This  increase was primarily due to the strong  worldwide  market  acceptance of
recent  technology  improvements  in both the adult critical care ventilator and
Allied's new infant ventilator.  Sales to the home health care market,  however,
were down by 19.9% in the fourth  quarter of fiscal 1997  compared to the fourth
quarter of fiscal  1996.  This  decrease  in sales was  attributable  to pricing
pressures  in the home  health  care  market,  capacity  problems  in the Toledo
facility  and, to a lesser  extent,  the impact of the St. Louis work  stoppage.
Sales of medical gas  equipment  for the fourth  quarter were $10.9  million,  a
decline of $0.4  million,  or 3.4%,  compared  to sales of $11.3  million in the
prior year. The work stoppage in St. Louis  adversely  impacted sales of medical
gas regulation devices and medical gas inwall construction products.

      Emergency  medical  products sales in the fourth quarter of fiscal 1997 of
$2.9 million  were $0.3  million,  or 11.0%,  under sales of $3.2 million in the
comparable  prior period.  This sales trend is a continuation  of the first nine
months of fiscal  1997 as a decline  in new orders  and  production  constraints
described in the  following  section have  impacted  sales of emergency  medical
products.

      Gross profit for the fourth  quarter of fiscal 1997 was $8.1  million,  or
26.8% of net  sales,  compared  to $7.6  million,  or 25.1% of net  sales in the
fourth  quarter of fiscal  1996.  Gross  profit  and gross  margin in the fourth
quarter of fiscal 1997 were  adversely  impacted by the effects of the June 1997
work stoppage at the St. Louis,  Missouri  facility and the  adjustments  to the
carrying value of the Company's  inventories  described above.  Gross profit and
gross margin for the fourth quarter of fiscal 1996 were adversely  impacted by a
decline in manufacturing volumes in certain product lines, which resulted in the
expensing of a portion of fixed plant overhead costs as period costs.

      Selling, general and administrative ("SG&A") expenses were $9.2 million in
the fourth  quarter of fiscal 1997, a decrease of $0.1 million  compared to SG&A
expenses of $9.3 million in the  comparable  prior year period.  The fiscal 1997
fourth  quarter  included the  previously  noted  increase to the  allowance for
doubtful  accounts,  lawsuit settlement charge and new product license fee which
aggregated  approximately  $1.0  million..  In addition,  the Company  completed
severance  payments  related  to the  field  salesforce  consolidation  and made
investments in  promotional  material for the home health care market during the
fourth quarter of fiscal 1997.

      The loss from  operations  for the fourth  quarter of fiscal 1997 was $1.1
million  compared  to a loss of $1.7  million in the prior year  reflecting  the
factors described above.

      Interest  expense for the fourth  quarter of fiscal 1997 was $3.4 million,
an increase of $2.3 million over interest  expense of $1.1 million in the fourth
quarter of fiscal 1996.  Sequentially,  interest expense increased in the fourth
quarter of fiscal 1997 to $3.4  million  compared  to fiscal 1997 third  quarter
interest expense of $1.7 million. This increase was directly attributable to the
fees paid to the commercial bank group to obtain waivers for technical  covenant
violations at March 31, 1997, fees paid for not obtaining a commitment to reduce
the bank group's  indebtedness  by $20.0 million by May 15, 1997,  fees paid for
professional services related to credit negotiations and related audits, and the
amortization of prepaid loan costs. On August 8, 1997 the Company refinanced its
existing  bank debt through a new $46.0  million  credit  facility with Foothill
Capital Corporation,  a division of Norwest Bank, and also obtained $5.0 million
of financing  through a private  placement debt  arrangement.  The new financing
agreements are discussed further below.

                                       16
<PAGE>

      The Company  incurred a loss before  income  taxes of $4.5  million in the
fourth quarter of fiscal 1997 compared to a net loss of $3.2 million in the same
period for the prior year. The Company recorded a tax benefit of $1.0 million in
both the fourth quarter of fiscal 1997 and fiscal 1996 for an effective tax rate
of 22.6% and 31.6% in fiscal 1997 and fiscal 1996 respectively.  The fiscal 1997
fourth quarter tax rate was impacted by the continued loss from operations,  the
non-deductibility  of certain  goodwill  amortization,  and the expected lack of
availability of the Company's foreign sales tax credit. Results of operations in
the fourth quarter of fiscal 1997 were a net loss of $3.5 million,  or $0.45 per
share, compared to a net loss of $2.2 million, or $0.30 per share, in the fourth
quarter of fiscal 1996.


RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

      Allied   manufactures   and  markets   respiratory   products,   including
respiratory  therapy  equipment,  medical gas equipment  and  emergency  medical
products.  Set forth below is certain  information  with  respect to amounts and
percentages of net sales attributable to respiratory therapy equipment,  medical
gas equipment and emergency medical products for the fiscal years ended June 30,
1997, 1996 and 1995.

          (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)                       1997
            YEAR ENDED JUNE 30,             --------------------------
                                               NET          % OF TOTAL
                                               SALES        NET SALES
                                            --------------------------
      Respiratory therapy equipment........ $ 63,935         54.1%
      Medical gas equipment................   42,566         36.1%
      Emergency medical products...........   11,617          9.8%
                                            --------        ------
      Total...............................  $118,118        100.0%
                                            --------        ------



      (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)                           1996
       YEAR ENDED JUNE 30,                     ---------------------
                                                  NET    % OF TOTAL
                                                  SALES    NET SALES
                                               ---------------------
      Respiratory therapy equipment............$ 63,889     53.2%
      Medical gas equipment....................  43,084     35.9%
      Emergency medical products...............  13,150     10.9%
                                               --------    ------
      Total....................................$120,123    100.0%
                                               --------    ------


     (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)                            1995
      YEAR ENDED JUNE 30,                      -----------------------
                                               NET          % OF TOTAL
                                               SALES        NET SALES
                                               -------      ----------  
      Respiratory therapy equipment............$ 48,421     43.4%
      Medical gas equipment....................  50,397     45.1%
      Emergency medical products...............  12,821     11.5%
                                               --------    -------
      Total....................................$111,639    100.0%
                                               --------    -------

      The following  table sets forth,  for the fiscal  periods  indicated,  the
percentage of net sales  represented by certain items reflected in the Company's
consolidated statement of operations.

<TABLE>
<S>                                                 <C>                    <C>               <C>   

YEAR ENDED JUNE 30,                                 1997                  1996              1995
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Net sales........................................   100.0%                100.0%            100.0%
Cost of sales....................................    69.7                  67.1              61.3
                                                    -----                 ------            ------
Gross profit.....................................    30.3                  32.9              38.7

Total selling, general and administrative .......    28.7                  26.2              22.3
  expenses                                          -----                 -----             ----
Income from operations...........................     1.6                   6.7              16.4
Interest expense.................................     6.4                   3.7               3.3
</TABLE>

                                       17

<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<S>                                                  <C>                    <C>               <C>   

Other expense....................................     0.2                   0.3                --
                                                      ---                   ----            -----
Income (loss) before provision for income taxes..    (5.0)                  2.7             13.1
Provision (benefit) for income taxes.............    (1.2)                  1.2              5.2
Net Income (loss)................................    (3.8%)                 1.5%             7.9%
                                                     -----                  ----            -----
</TABLE>

FISCAL 1997 COMPARED TO FISCAL 1996

      Net sales for fiscal 1997 of $118.1  million were $2.0  million,  or 1.7%,
less than net sales of $120.1  million  in fiscal  1996.  Certain  internal  and
external  factors  impacted the Company's sales during fiscal 1997.  Included in
the internal  operating  issues which impacted the Company were the nineteen day
work stoppage in the St. Louis,  Missouri facility in June 1997,  disruptions to
manufacturing,  scheduling  and shipping  created by the computer  conversion in
October  1996,  also in the St.  Louis  facility,  capacity  constraints  at the
Toledo,  Ohio  facility and changes in the field  salesforce.  The work stoppage
resulted  in  permanently  lost  sales,   margin  declines,   and  manufacturing
disruptions  during the work  stoppage as well as during the pre- and  post-work
stoppage  periods.  In  October  1996,  the  Company  converted  its  St.  Louis
manufacturing  and  corporate  office  operations  to  a  new,  fully-integrated
software  system.  The computer  conversion,  which  should  provide a strategic
long-term benefit to the Company, caused short-term disruptions in manufacturing
and shipping,  resulting in lost sales.  Management  believes that any remaining
issues regarding the computer conversion were substantially  resolved by the end
of the third  quarter of fiscal 1997  through  additional  training  and program
enhancements.  The Toledo  facility has been  capacity  constrained  by outdated
injection molding machinery and molds.  During fiscal 1997 the Company installed
six new injection mold machines and eleven molds,  and the Company is now adding
to its direct labor assembly force in Toledo.  Finally, as previously described,
the Company  consolidated  its  respiratory  field  salesforce and refocused its
sales effort for the home health care product line to inside telemarketing. Each
of these  initiatives  created short term sales  disruptions  in addition to the
Company's incurrence of recruiting, training and marketing costs in fiscal 1997.

      Certain  external  issues first  experienced  in fiscal 1996  continued to
impact  the  Company's  fiscal  1997  operations.  The  emphasis  of  healthcare
providers on cost  containment has resulted in significant  consolidation in the
healthcare  environment in recent years.  Such  consolidation  impacted sales as
customers  appeared  to  defer  capital  purchases  as they  rationalized  their
operations and delayed non-capital  purchases as they reduced their consolidated
inventory  levels.  In  addition,  the  consolidation  of  healthcare  providers
increased  the  buying  power of these  customers,  which  resulted  in  pricing
pressures.

      Finally,  the  uncertainty  over  the  federal  budget,  particularly  the
possibility  of  changes in  Medicaid  and  Medicare  reimbursement  rates,  has
impacted sales.  Congress has deferred  resolution on various health care policy
issues,  and the Company is unable to predict the ramifications of this deferral
on future sales. While the Company is unable to predict when these macroeconomic
issues will be resolved,  management  believes that,  over a long-term  horizon,
Allied is well positioned to capitalize on the need for its respiratory products
and meet the  demands  of  these  products  caused  by an aging  population,  an
increase in the  occurrence of lung disease,  and advances in treatment of other
respiratory illnesses in the home, hospital, and sub-acute care facilities.

      New orders, or the pace of incoming business, was strong throughout fiscal
1997.  Fiscal 1997 orders of $122.2  million were $5.0  million,  or 4.3%,  over
orders of $117.2 million in fiscal 1996.  While fiscal 1997 orders were impacted
by  the  work  stoppage,   computer  conversion,  and  salesforce  consolidation
activities,  as previously  discussed,  fiscal 1997 orders  exceeded same period
fiscal 1996 orders in all four quarters.  The increase in orders appears to have
been driven by an increase in market demand for the  Company's  core products in
medical  gas  construction  and  medical  gas  equipment  as well as the  strong
worldwide acceptance of the Company's new ventilation  technologies in adult and
infant ventilators.

      Medical  gas  equipment  sales of $42.6  million in fiscal  1997 were $0.5
million, or 1.2%, under prior year sales of $43.1 million. Medical gas equipment
sales in fiscal 1997 were adversely  impacted by the previously  noted June 1997
work stoppage and the effects of the computer conversion. However, market demand
for medical gas equipment sales has been strong,  as reflected in new orders for
fiscal 1997 of $45.8 million,  which was $4.4 million, or 10.6%, over new orders
in the prior fiscal year. It appears that the consolidation of health care

                                       18
<PAGE>

providers may be slowing, and the related  rationalization  process for facility
protocol  and  inventory  consolidation  may  be  nearing  completion.  However,
management   is  unable  to  predict  when  the  full   ramifications   of  such
consolidation will be felt.

      Respiratory  therapy  equipment sales in fiscal 1997 of $63.9 million were
unchanged from the prior year.  Sales to the hospital market  increased 11.1% as
sales of ventilation products increased due to the strong world-wide  acceptance
of the Smart Trigger technology for the Company's adult critical care ventilator
and technology advances incorporated in the new infant ventilator,  the Bear Cub
750(R).  In addition,  the Company  expects to achieve  further  benefits in the
future from the previously noted combination of its ventilation and patient care
sales forces, which was substantially completed in November 1996. Offsetting the
increase  in  ventilation  product  sales was an 11.8%  decline in sales of home
health  care  products.  This  decline  primarily  resulted  from  manufacturing
constraints  in the  Company's  Toledo,  Ohio  facility,  combined  with pricing
pressures  caused by the ongoing  consolidation  of home  health  care  dealers.
Concerns over potential  reductions in home oxygen therapy  reimbursement  rates
also  continued  to impact  sales of home health care  products in fiscal  1997.
While the  Company is unable to  predict  when  these  latter two  macroeconomic
factors  will be  resolved,  it  believes  that until there is a  resolution  of
reimbursement  policy issues,  current customer  purchase patterns are likely to
continue.  The previously  described  installation of new equipment and molds at
the  Toledo,   Ohio  facility  have  been  in   accordance   with   management's
expectations;  however,  the  Company's  capacity  issues  have not  fully  been
resolved due to direct labor  constraints.  Management  is currently  addressing
this  constraint  through the addition of a third shift.  To enhance home health
care  product  sales,  the  Company  has  shifted  its sales  emphasis to inside
telemarketing  sales to increase  sales coverage and  penetration  to DME's,  as
previously discussed.

      Emergency medical products sales in fiscal 1997 of $11.6 million were $1.5
million,  or 11.7%,  under sales of $13.1 million in the prior year.  This sales
decline was  attributable to  difficulties  the Company had in the relocation of
production of emergency products to the St. Louis, Missouri facility, the impact
of the June 1997 work  stoppage and the absence of a large  stocking  order that
occurred in the prior year.  The  emergency  medical  products  business has two
elements.  One is steady  replacement  sales and the other  element is driven by
events,  such as a  natural  disaster  or  change  in  emergency  protocol  in a
particular  country.  Management  expects sales for the near future to primarily
reflect demand driven by the replacement segment of the business.

      The Company  continued  to  increase  its  presence in world wide  markets
during fiscal 1997.  International sales, which are included in the product line
sales  discussed  above,  increased $3.7 million,  or 11.9%, to $34.5 million in
fiscal  1997  compared  to sales of $30.8  million in fiscal  1996.  Advances in
medical  protocol in various  countries  throughout  the world combined with the
Company's strong international dealer network has enabled the Company to respond
to the increased  worldwide demand for respiratory  products.  In addition,  the
strong  worldwide market  acceptance of the Smart Trigger(R)  technology for the
Company's adult critical care ventilator  combined with the recent  introduction
of the  new  Bear  Cub  750(R)  infant  ventilator  has  fueled  the  growth  of
international sales.

      Gross  profit in fiscal  1997 was $35.8  million,  or 30.3% of net  sales,
compared to gross profit of $39.6 million, or 32.9% of net sales in fiscal 1996.
The impact of the nineteen day work stoppage and the computer  conversion in the
St. Louis, Missouri facility during fiscal 1997 reduced manufacturing output and
margins.  In addition,  the increase in  international  sales,  which have lower
margins than domestic sales due to the large quantity, bid-based nature of these
sales,  combined  with  pricing  pressures  brought on by  consolidations  which
occurred in the Company's  customer base,  particularly in the hospital and home
health care markets,  resulted in reduced margins. In fiscal 1997, as previously
described, the Company recorded certain adjustments to the carrying value of its
inventories in the fourth quarter of approximately $1.0 million. In fiscal 1996,
the  Company  charged a portion of fixed  plant  costs as period  costs due to a
decline in manufacturing  throughput.  This fiscal 1996 charge primarily related
to the fourth quarter.  The Company  anticipates  continued pressures on margins
due to the mix of domestic vs.  international  sales and  anticipates  continued
pricing pressures from its customer base. In response to margin  pressures,  the
Company made significant  investments in capital  expenditures in its St. Louis,
Missouri and Toledo, Ohio facilities which are designed to reduce  manufacturing
costs,  improve  manufacturing cycle times, improve quality and reduce inventory
levels.  The  Company  continues  to  evaluate  its  business  with an intent to
streamline operations, improve productivity and reduce costs. Accordingly, the

                                       19
<PAGE>


Company may implement additional sales force,  manufacturing and other strategic
rationalization programs in the future.

      Selling, General and Administrative ("SG&A") expenses for fiscal 1997 were
$33.9  million,  an increase of $2.5 million over SG&A expenses of $31.4 million
in  fiscal  1996.  The  Company  made  strategic  investments  in  certain  SG&A
activities and recorded certain non-recurring SG&A expenses in fiscal 1997. SG&A
spending   included   investments  in  advertising  and  marketing   literature,
investments in information technology, and continued investments in research and
development,  all expenditures that potentially could benefit future periods. In
addition,  as  previously  described,  the  Company  completed  the  recruiting,
training and consolidation of its respiratory  products  salesforce and incurred
duplicate  costs for sales  efforts to the DME's in the home  health care market
during the  transition  period of  shifting  to  telemarketing  from field sales
representatives.  While  recruiting and training efforts of the field salesforce
will continue,  these  expenditures  are expected to be less than the relatively
high level of  expenditures  during fiscal 1997.  Fiscal 1997 SG&A expenses also
included the previously  noted increase to the allowance for doubtful  accounts,
lawsuit   settlement  charge  and  new  product  license  fee  which  aggregated
approximately $1.0 million. Finally, the fiscal 1996 SG&A expenses were affected
by a research  grant of $0.3 million  which did not repeat in fiscal 1997.  As a
percentage of net sales,  fiscal 1997 SG&A expenses were 28.7% compared to 26.2%
in fiscal 1996. This increase was attributable to higher SG&A expenses in fiscal
1997, as discussed above, combined with lower sales during the year.

      Income from operations in fiscal 1997 of $1.8 million was $6.3 million, or
77.3%, below fiscal 1996 income from operations of $8.1 million. As a percentage
of net sales, income from operations  decreased to 1.6% in fiscal 1997 from 6.7%
in fiscal 1996.  These  decreases  were  attributable  to the factors  discussed
above.

      Interest  expense  increased  $3.1 million,  or 70.0%,  to $7.6 million in
fiscal 1997 from $4.5 million in fiscal 1996.  The increase in interest  expense
in  fiscal  1997  consisted  of  approximately  $2.2  million  of fees and other
professional  costs  incurred  in  connection  with  the  debt  amendments,   as
previously described,  $0.5 million related to increased amortization of prepaid
loan costs,  $0.3 million  related to increased  interest  costs for the capital
expenditure  projects  previously  discussed,   and  $0.1  million,   reflecting
increases  in  effective  interest  rates which were  partially  offset by lower
average debt levels.  During fiscal 1997 the Company spent  significant time and
resources on various  matters  relating to its debt  agreement with a commercial
bank group,  including  negotiating  a debt  amendment on September 20, 1996 and
obtaining waivers for technical covenant  violations as of December 31, 1996 and
March 31,  1997.  The Company  was  ultimately  unable to  negotiate a long term
financing  arrangement  with its commercial bank  syndicate.  On August 8, 1997,
subsequent to fiscal year end, the Company  entered into a $46.0 million  credit
facility  with  Foothill  Capital  Corporation  and  obtained  $5.0  million  in
subordinated  debt  in  a  private  placement  arrangement.  The  new  financing
arrangement,  which is  expected  to lower the  Company's  interest  expense and
provide additional liquidity, is discussed further below.

      The Company had a loss before income taxes of $5.9 million,  a decrease of
$9.2  million  from the income  before  provision  for taxes of $3.3  million in
fiscal 1996.  The Company  recorded a tax benefit of $1.4 million in fiscal 1997
for an effective tax rate of 24.0%,  compared to a provision for income taxes of
$1.4 million in fiscal 1996 and an effective tax rate of 44.6%.  The fiscal 1997
effective   tax  rate  was   impacted   by  the  loss   from   operations,   the
non-deductibility  of certain  goodwill  amortization,  and the expected lack of
availability of the Company's foreign sales tax credit in fiscal 1997.

      Net loss in fiscal 1997 was $4.5 million,  or $0.58 per share,  a decrease
of $6.3  million  from net income of $1.8 million or earnings per share of $0.25
in fiscal 1996. The weighted average number of common shares outstanding used in
calculation  of per share loss or earnings was 7,796,682 in fiscal 1997 compared
to  7,378,478 in fiscal 1996.  The  increase in the weighted  average  number of
common shares reflected the effects of the October 1995 sale of 1,610,000 shares
of common stock in a public offering.


FISCAL 1996 COMPARED TO FISCAL 1995

      Net sales increased by $8.5 million,  or 7.6%, to $120.1 million in fiscal
1996 from $111.6  million in fiscal  1995.  The  increase in net sales  included
$19.9 million in sales as a result of acquisitions partially offset by a

                                       20
<PAGE>

decline of $11.5 million in sales of existing  products.  Numerous  external and
internal  factors  adversely  impacted the  Company's  sales during fiscal 1996.
Certain macro-economic factors first experienced in the second quarter continued
to impact sales  throughout  the  remainder of fiscal 1996,  most notably in the
fourth quarter. Political uncertainty over the federal budget,  particularly the
possibility  of changes in  Medicare  and  Medicaid  financing  and health  care
provider  reimbursement rates, adversely impacted customer purchasing decisions.
In late April 1996,  Congress resolved the federal fiscal 1996 budget issue, but
deferred resolution of health care policy issues. The on-going  consolidation of
health care  providers  also  impacted  sales as this  activity  appears to have
caused  customers  to  delay  capital  purchases  as  they  rationalized   their
operations,   and  to  delay   non-capital   purchases  as  they  reduced  their
consolidated  inventory levels.  The market softness  experienced as a result of
external factors heightened the impact of internal factors on fiscal 1996 sales,
most notably in the fourth quarter.

      Internally,  the Company experienced disruption in its ventilation product
line field  sales force due to the effects of high  turnover  rates.  Due to the
technical nature of selling the ventilation  product line,  significant  efforts
and resources  were expended to recruit and train the current field sales force.
In addition,  transitioning from distributor sales to a direct field sales force
in certain other product lines, as well as manufacturing  capacity issues,  also
adversely  impacted fiscal 1996 sales. The Company  experienced margin pressures
in a number of its product lines due to several factors.  These factors included
the  significant  consolidation  of home health care  dealers and the  resultant
pricing pressures from these customers,  the adverse impact of reduced volume on
the cost of  manufacturing  due to the fixed nature of a significant  portion of
the  Company's  production  costs,  the impact of  manufacturing  inefficiencies
experienced at one of the Company's  plants,  and the higher mix of lower margin
international sales.

      Respiratory  therapy equipment sales increased $15.5 million, or 31.9%, to
$63.9  million for fiscal  1996,  compared to sales of $48.4  million for fiscal
1995.  The increase in sales of  respiratory  therapy  products  included  $19.2
million related to  acquisitions,  partially offset by a decline of $3.7 million
in sales of existing  products.  The impact of  political  uncertainty  over the
federal  budget  reconciliation  legislation  and a  pledge  by  the  Healthcare
Financing  Administration,  the federal  agency that  administers  Medicare,  to
significantly  reduce the Medicare home oxygen rental fee rates  contributed  to
the  decline  in  sales  of  existing  products.  Market  softness  for  capital
expenditure  products such as critical care  ventilators,  the  consolidation of
home health care dealers, and increased  competitive pressure to obtain business
from national  accounts put pressure on pricing and margins  throughout the last
three quarters of 1996. In addition,  manufacturing  inefficiencies and capacity
constraints  experienced at one of the Company's  facilities  during fiscal 1996
prevented the Company from shipping to the level of demand for certain products.

      Medical gas  equipment  sales of $43.1  million for fiscal 1996  decreased
$7.3 million,  or 14.5%,  compared to sales of $50.4 million during fiscal 1995.
Consolidation  of health care providers in the acute and post-acute care markets
combined   with  customer   concerns  over  the  outcome  of  possible   capital
reimbursement  policy changes  adversely  impacted fiscal 1996 sales.  While the
consolidation of health care providers appears to be slowing, management expects
that sales of medical gas  equipment  should  continue to be adversely  impacted
until capital reimbursement policy issues are resolved.

      Emergency  medical  products  sales  of  $13.1  million  for  fiscal  1996
increased  $0.3  million,  or 2.6%,  compared to sales of $12.8  million  during
fiscal 1995. The increase in sales included $0.7 million related to acquisitions
partially offset by a decline of $0.4 million in existing products.  The Company
believes  the  decline  in  existing   emergency   medical  products  sales  was
attributable to the timing of orders and shipments. The acquisition of Omni-Tech
in November 1995 had a favorable  impact on sales to the U.S.  Government,  with
$0.4 million in incremental sales during fiscal 1996.

      The Company continued to increase its presence in worldwide markets during
fiscal 1996.  International  sales, which are included in the product line sales
discussed  above,  increased $6.6 million,  or 27.3%, to $30.8 million in fiscal
1996 compared to $24.2  million in fiscal 1995.  Acquisitions  contributed  $8.4
million of the fiscal 1996 increase in  international  sales which was partially
offset by a decline in sales by $1.8 million of existing  products.  The decline
in international  sales of existing products  primarily  resulted from fewer new
hospital construction projects in Mexico and other Latin American markets.

                                       21
<PAGE>

      Gross profit of $39.6 million in fiscal 1996  decreased  $3.6 million,  or
8.4%,  from  $43.2  million in fiscal  1995 as a result of sales  mix,  customer
pricing  pressures and manufacturing  volume issues.  The change in gross profit
resulting  from sales mix issues was due to the continued  shift in sales to the
home health care market which has lower  margins than the  construction  product
line,  which had  previously  been the  Company's  primary  product  group;  the
continued  increase  in  international  sales,  which  have lower  margins  than
domestic sales due to the large quantity,  bid-based  nature of these sales; and
due to an increase in sales of distributed versus  manufactured  products during
fiscal 1996. The consolidation of the Company's  customer base,  particularly in
the hospital and home health care markets,  resulted in larger buying groups and
national accounts which increased customers' ability to negotiate prices.

      Accordingly, these pricing pressures had an adverse impact on gross profit
margins.  In  addition,  the decline in  existing  product  sales  resulted in a
decline in  manufacturing  volume in the Company's  plants,  particularly in the
fourth  quarter of fiscal 1996. As a result,  a portion of fixed plant  overhead
costs was expensed as period  costs,  which  adversely  impacted  margins.  As a
percentage  of net sales,  gross  profit was 32.9% and 38.7% in fiscal  1996 and
fiscal 1995, respectively.

      SG&A expenses for fiscal 1996 increased $6.6 million,  or 26.6%,  to $31.4
million  in fiscal  1996  from  $24.8  million  in fiscal  1995.  SG&A  expenses
increased  $6.4  million as a result of  acquisitions,  most  notably  increased
selling expenses for the  demonstration-based,  direct sales-intensive  critical
care ventilation product line,  increased research and development costs for the
critical care ventilation  products,  which include development of the new Smart
Trigger and Bear Cub 750 infant ventilator,  and increased  amortization expense
attributable to the recent acquisitions.  As described  previously,  base period
SG&A  expenses  increased  $0.4  million as the Company  invested in  additional
training  activities  for the field  sales  force,  technology  upgrades  in its
information systems, and other strategic research and development projects. As a
percentage  of net  sales,  SG&A  expenses  increased  to 26.2% in  fiscal  1996
compared to 22.3% in fiscal 1995. This increase was attributable to the combined
factors of a decline in sales of existing products and the strategic investments
in training, technology and new products.

      Income from  operations in fiscal 1996 of $8.1 million was $10.2  million,
or 55.8%,  below  fiscal 1995  income from  operations  of $18.4  million.  As a
percentage of net sales, income from operations  decreased to 6.7% from 16.4% in
fiscal  1996.  This  decrease  was  attributable  to reduced  sales of  existing
products,  reduced gross  margins,  and the increase in SG&A expenses  discussed
above.

      Other expenses increased $1.1 million, or 31.0%, to $4.8 million in fiscal
1996 from $3.7 million in fiscal 1995.  Interest expense increased $0.8 million,
or 20.7%,  to $4.5  million in fiscal  1996 from $3.7  million  in fiscal  1995.
Interest  expense  increased  $1.4  million due to  increased  debt  required to
finance recent  acquisitions,  offset almost entirely by a reduction in interest
charges  resulting  from the reduction of existing bank debt as a consequence of
the equity  offering  completed in October 1995. The additional debt required to
finance working capital, capital expenditures and other operations accounted for
the $0.8 million net increase in interest  expense in fiscal 1996. The effective
interest rate was 7.5% and 7.7% in fiscal 1996 and fiscal 1995, respectively.

      Income  before  provision for income taxes  decreased  $11.4  million,  or
77.5%,  to $3.3 million in fiscal 1996 from $14.7 million in the prior year. The
Company's  fiscal 1996  effective tax rate was 44.6% compared to 39.9% in fiscal
1995. This increase in the effective tax rate was primarily  attributable to the
amortization of non-tax deductible acquisition goodwill, which has an increasing
impact on the effective tax rate as pre-tax income decreases.

      Net income in fiscal 1996 was $1.8 million, a decrease of $7.0 million, or
79.3% , from $8.8 million in fiscal 1995.  Earnings per share decreased to $0.25
in fiscal 1996 from $1.45 in fiscal 1995, or 82.7%.  The weighted average number
of common shares  outstanding  used in the calculation of earnings per share was
7,378,478 in fiscal 1996  compared to 6,066,588 in fiscal 1995.  The increase in
the weighted  average number of common shares was the result of the October 1995
sale of 1,610,000  shares of common  stock and the  September  1994  issuance of
640,000 shares of common stock in connection with the acquisition of B&F.

                                       22
<PAGE>

FINANCIAL CONDITION, LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

      The following table sets forth selected  information  concerning  Allied's
financial condition:

(Dollars in thousands)
June 30,                  1997       1996      1995
- ----------------------------------------------------
Cash                   $   988    $ 1,489   $   175
Working capital         18,743     38,030     2,810
Total debt              46,932     52,882    69,022
Current ratio           1.57:1     2.69:1    1.05:1

      The Company's  working capital was $18.7 million at June 30, 1997 compared
to $38.0  million  at June 30,  1996,  a  decrease  of $19.3  million.  Accounts
receivables,  inventories,  and current assets all decreased during fiscal 1997,
while accounts  payable,  other liabilities and the current portion of long-term
debt all increased during fiscal 1997.  Accounts  receivable  decreased to $23.1
million at June 30, 1997 from $26.0  million at June 30, 1996.  The $2.9 million
decrease in accounts receivable was due to the decline in days sales outstanding
("DSO") by three days to 71 DSO at June 30, 1997,  combined  with the decline in
sales late in the fourth quarter of fiscal 1997 resulting from the work stoppage
in St.  Louis.  Inventories  were $26.1  million at June 30, 1997, a decrease of
$1.9  million  from $28.0  million at June 30, 1996.  During  fiscal  1997,  the
Company focused on reducing  manufacturing cycle times through  modernization of
its plants and  improvements in its  manufacturing  processes in order to better
manage  investments  in  inventories.  Inventories,  as measured in Days on Hand
("DOH"),  declined by twelve days during fiscal 1997 to 128 DOH at June 30, 1997
compared  to 140 DOH in the prior year.  In  addition,  the Company  made modest
improvements in the mix of its inventories by increasing the safety stock levels
of high volume products,  for which customers require shortened  delivery times,
and reducing the stocking status of lower volume products.  The Company plans to
continue these inventory-related initiatives in fiscal 1998. Accounts payable of
$14.0 million and other accrued  liabilities of $6.0 million as of June 30, 1997
increased $0.9 million and $0.5 million,  respectively,  during fiscal 1997. The
Company  experienced  limited liquidity during fiscal 1997 due to a reduction in
borrowing  availability related to the principal payments made on its term loans
combined  with the high  level of fees  paid to the  Company's  commercial  bank
group,  as  previously  discussed.  Consequently,  payments to vendors and other
obligations  were extended,  causing some disruption in deliveries and services.
The Company's limited liquidity  situation was alleviated with the completion of
its new credit  arrangement in August 1997 which is discussed further below. The
current portion of long term debt was $12.9 million at June 30, 1997 compared to
$3.8  million in the prior year.  This  increase  reflects  the terms of the new
credit facility with Foothill Capital  Corporation which includes a $4.0 million
term loan and the placement of $5.0 million in subordinated  debt, both of which
mature in February 1998. The new financing  arrangements  are discussed  further
below.

      Net cash  increase/(decrease) was ($0.5) million, $1.3 million, and ($1.2)
million in fiscal 1997,  1996,  and 1995  respectively.  Net cash  provided from
(used by) operations was $8.9 million,  $2.5 million, and ($0.3) million for the
same periods.  Cash flow from  operations in fiscal 1997 consisted of a net loss
of $4.5 million offset by the non-cash charges to operations of $5.6 million for
depreciation  and  amortization,  as well as $7.8 million in cash generated from
changes in working capital  accounts other than the current portion of long term
debt.  The cash provided by operations  was offset by a net reduction in debt of
$8.1 million, debt issuance costs of $0.7 million, and dividend payments of $0.5
million, resulting in a net decrease in cash of $0.5 million in fiscal 1997. The
adverse effect on results of operations has impacted the Company's liquidity and
the  ability of the  Company to continue  historical  levels of fixed  payments.
Accordingly,  on August  21,  1996 the  Company's  Board of  Directors  voted to
suspend quarterly dividends effective  immediately  subsequent to the payment of
dividends for the fourth quarter of fiscal 1996. In addition, on August 8, 1997,
subsequent  to fiscal  year end,  the Company  refinanced  its  existing  credit
facilities  to reset its fixed debt  payments  and to provide the  Company  with
additional  liquidity.  The refinancing is further discussed below. Besides cash
flows from operations,  the Company is considering various  alternatives to meet
its debt service  requirements  in fiscal 1998.  Such debt service  requirements
include an aggregate of $9.0 million in debt which matures in February, 1998, as
described further below. These alternatives include replacement of such maturing
debt with long-term financing, if available, and an asset sale.

                                       23
<PAGE>

      At June 30, 1997, the Company had aggregate indebtedness of $46.9 million,
including  $12.9 million of short-term debt and $34.0 million of long-term debt.
Aggregate  indebtedness  at June 30,  1996 was  $52.9  million,  including  $3.9
million of short-term  debt and $49.0 million of long-term  debt. On October 13,
1995,  the  Company  entered  into  credit  facilities  with a  commercial  bank
syndicate with a final maturity in 2000. The secured credit facilities  included
a $40.0 million  revolving  credit  facility and term loans of $15.0 million and
$70.0 million,  or aggregate credit  facilities of $125.0 million.  In September
1996, the Company's  credit  facilities were amended such that the $68.4 million
unused portion of the $70.0 million acquisition term loan facility was no longer
available. Additionally, amendments were made to the Company's credit facilities
to  reset  certain  covenants,  to  temporarily  increase  advance  rates on the
revolving  credit  facility  borrowing base and to enter into an additional $5.0
million term loan, leaving credit facilities totalling $60.0 million. All credit
facilities'  maturity dates were reset to July 31, 1998. During fiscal 1997, the
Company  paid fees of  approximately  $2.2 million for the  September  1996 debt
amendment,  to obtain waivers for technical covenant  violations at December 31,
1996 and March 31, 1997 and for  related  matters.  The  Company was  ultimately
unable to negotiate a long-term  agreement with its commercial  bank  syndicate.
Accordingly,  on August 8, 1997,  subsequent  to fiscal  year end,  the  Company
refinanced  its existing debt through a new $46.0 million  credit  facility with
Foothill  Capital  Corporation,  a  division  of  Norwest  Bank.  The new credit
facility, with a blended average interest rate of 10.2%, is comprised of a $25.0
million  three-year  revolving  line of credit,  three-year  term loans of $10.0
million and $7.0  million,  respectively,  and a $4.0 million  loan  maturing in
February 1998. In conjunction with the new financing agreement, Allied placed an
additional  $5.0  million  in  subordinated  debt  financing,  which  matures in
February 1998,  with several related  parties to the Company.  In addition,  the
Company issued 112,500 warrants at an exercise price of $7.025 per share, 62,500
of which  are being  issued  to the  holders  of the  subordinated  debt and the
balance to Foothill  Capital  Corporation.  The proceeds  from the new financing
were used to repay the  Company's  outstanding  debt  with the  commercial  bank
syndicate, and to provide additional liquidity. At August 8, 1997, approximately
$4.1 million was  available  under the revolving  line of credit for  additional
borrowings. The new credit facility is expected to reduce the Company's interest
expense  in future  periods  and  provide  additional  liquidity,  and  reflects
technical  covenants which are consistent with the Company's  current  financial
projections.

      Capital  expenditures,  net of capital  leases,  were $0.1  million,  $3.6
million, and $6.3 million in fiscal 1997, 1996, and 1995,  respectively.  Assets
acquired  under  capital  leases in fiscal 1997  totaled  $1.6  million and will
modernize  the  Company's  St.  Louis  and  Toledo  operations,   as  previously
discussed.  Fiscal 1996 capital expenditures included strategic investments in a
new  machining  center for the  Company's  St.  Louis,  Missouri  facility,  the
purchase  of  machinery  and molds to  increase  capacity  at its  Toledo,  Ohio
facility and other normal  recurring  replacements  of machinery and  equipment.
Fiscal  1995  capital  expenditures   included  an  addition  to  the  Company's
manufacturing  facility in St. Louis.  The Company  completed two separate plant
consolidations in fiscal 1996. The Company's headwall construction manufacturing
operation was consolidated into its HSI operations in Oakland,  California,  and
its disposable  medical  products  operation in Mt. Vernon,  Ohio was closed and
consolidated into its Toledo, Ohio facility operations. In addition, the Company
acquired,  $2.6 million of computer  equipment and software under capital leases
to  improve  information   technology  systems.   The  Company  anticipates  the
consolidations and investment in capital  expenditures will reduce manufacturing
costs,  improve  manufacturing  cycle times and yields,  and provide  additional
capacity.  

      The Company  reduced its reserves  which were recorded in connection  with
the previously  discussed  acquisitions  by $1.2 million in fiscal 1997 and $2.0
million in fiscal 1996. These reductions are primarily  related to cash payments
for  various  costs  directly  attributable  to  these  acquisitions,  including
severance,  facility  rationalization and related matters, and legal, accounting
and consulting fees. The remaining  acquisition  reserves of approximately  $0.9
million at June 30, 1997 are expected to be liquidated  primarily  over the next
year.

      As of June 30, 1997,  the Company had a backlog of $23.9 million  compared
to a $21.0  million  backlog  as of June 30,  1996.  The  Company's  backlog,  a
significant portion of which is attributable to the Company's medical gas system
construction  products and its ventilation  products,  consists of firm customer
purchase orders which are

                                       24
<PAGE>

subject to cancellation by the customer upon notification. Allied's policy is to
recognize backlog orders only when they become shippable.  The Company's backlog
has  increased  in  medical  gas   construction   systems   products,   headwall
construction products,  emergency medical products and ventilation products from
year to year.

      Inflation  has not had a  material  effect on the  Company's  business  or
results of operations.


SEASONALITY AND QUARTERLY RESULTS

      In past fiscal years,  the Company has experienced  seasonal  increases in
net sales during its second and third fiscal  quarters  (October 1 through March
31) which, in turn,  affected net income.  Such seasonal  variations were likely
attributable to an increase in hospital equipment  purchases at the beginning of
each calendar year (which  coincides with many  hospitals'  fiscal years) and an
increase in the severity of influenza  during winter months.  As the Company has
expanded   its  sales  into  the  home  health  care,   emergency   medical  and
international markets,  these seasonal variations have diminished,  but have not
disappeared.

      The following  table sets forth selected  operating  results for the eight
quarters  ended June 30, 1997.  The  information  for each of these  quarters is
unaudited,  but  includes  all normal  recurring  adjustments  which the Company
considers  necessary for a fair presentation  thereof.  These operating results,
however,  are not  necessarily  indicative  of results  for any  future  period.
Further,  operating  results may  fluctuate as a result of the timing of orders,
the Company's  product and customer mix, the introduction of new products by the
Company and its competitors,  and overall trends in the health care industry and
the economy.  While these  patterns  have an impact on the  Company's  quarterly
operations,  the  Company is unable to predict  the extent of this impact in any
particular period.

<TABLE>
<S>                                <C>      <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>

(Dollars in thousands,
except per share data)             June     March      Dec.     Sept.     June      March     Dec.     Sept.
Three months ended                  30,      31,       31,       30,       30,       31,       31,      30,
                                   1997     1997      1996      1996      1996      1995      1995     1995
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net sales                       $30,129   $30,466   $28,389   $29,134   $30,161   $30,334   $28,439  $31,189

Gross profit                      8,063     9,725     8,725     9,240     7,574     9,772     9,889   12,338

Income (loss) from operations    (1,091)    1,582       491       862    (1,765)    2,461     2,705    4,723

Net income (loss)                (3,485)     (302)     (556)     (177)   (2,159)      978     1,012    1,996

Earnings (loss) per share         (0.45)    (0.04)    (0.07)    (0.02)    (0.30)     0.12      0.11     0.32

</TABLE>

NEW ACCOUNTING STANDARD

      In March 1997, the Financial  Accounting  Standards Board issued Statement
of Financial Accounting Standards No. 128, "Earnings per Share" (FAS 128), which
requires  public  entities to present both basic and diluted  earnings per share
amounts  on the  face  of  their  financial  statements,  replacing  the  former
calculations of primary and fully diluted  earnings per share.  The Company will
adopt FAS 128 effective  with its fiscal 1998 second  quarter,  and  anticipates
that,  when  adopted,  FAS 128 will not have a material  effect on its  reported
earnings per common share.


ITEM 8.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

                        REPORT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS


To the Board of Directors and Shareholders
of Allied Healthcare Products, Inc.

      In our  opinion,  the  accompanying  consolidated  balance  sheet  and the
related  consolidated  statements  of  operations,  of changes in  stockholders'
equity, and of cash flows present fairly, in all material respects, the

                                       25
<PAGE>

financial position of Allied Healthcare  Products,  Inc. and its subsidiaries at
June 30, 1997 and 1996, and the results of their operations and their cash flows
for each of the three years in the period  ended June 30,  1997,  in  conformity
with generally accepted accounting  principles.  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 of these  statements  in  accordance  with  generally  accepted  auditing
standards which 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,   assessing  the
accounting  principles  used and significant  estimates made by management,  and
evaluating the overall  financial  statement  presentation.  We believe that our
audits provide a reasonable basis for the opinion expressed above.

/s/ Price Waterhouse LLP

St. Louis, Missouri
August 13, 1997

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS

<TABLE>
<S>                                                                   <C>               <C>                <C>  
Year ended June 30,
                                                                     1997              1996              1995
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net Sales                                                    $118,117,518      $120,122,502      $111,638,712
Cost of sales                                                  82,364,405        80,549,685        68,430,068
                                                       ------------------ -------------------- --------------
Gross Profit                                                   35,753,113        39,572,817        43,208,644
Selling, general and administrative expenses                   33,909,510        31,449,306        24,848,486
                                                       ------------------ -------------------- --------------
Income from operations                                          1,843,603         8,123,511        18,360,158
                                                       ------------------ -------------------- --------------
Other expenses:
   Interest expense                                             7,606,129         4,474,316         3,703,954
   Other, net                                                     186,291           349,445          (20,595)
                                                       ------------------ -------------------- --------------
                                                                7,792,420         4,823,761         3,683,359
                                                       ------------------ -------------------- --------------
Income (loss) before provision (benefit) for income           (5,948,817)         3,299,750        14,676,799
taxes
Provisions (benefit) for income taxes                         (1,427,716)         1,473,156         5,853,735
                                                       ------------------ -------------------- --------------
Net income (loss)                                            ($4,521,101)        $1,826,594        $8,823,064
                                                       ================== ==================== ==============
Earnings (loss) per share                                         ($0.58)             $0.25             $1.45

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial
Statements
</TABLE>

                                       26
<PAGE>

<TABLE>


CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET
<S>                                                                         <C>                <C>   

June 30,                                                                   1997               1996
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASSETS

Current assets:
  Cash                                                                 $   988,436      $ 1,489,133
  Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts
   of $1,225,326 and $422,517, respectively
                                                                        23,093,037       25,964,658
  Inventories                                                           26,052,991       28,046,490
  Income taxes receivable                                                       --        2,285,224
  Other current assets                                                   1,544,811        2,713,497
                                                                        ----------       ----------
      Total current assets                                              51,679,275       60,499,002
                                                                        ----------       ----------
  Property, plant and equipment, net                                    20,848,870       21,968,504
  Goodwill, net                                                         50,763,511       52,821,411
  Deferred tax asset-noncurrent                                          1,665,069               --
  Other assets, net                                                      1,386,291        1,471,541
                                                                        ----------       ----------
     Total assets                                                     $126,343,016     $136,760,458
                                                                       ===========      ===========
</TABLE>
 

                                      27
<PAGE>

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
<TABLE>
<S>                                                                          <C>               <C>  
Current liabilities:
  Accounts payable                                                     $14,048,235      $13,104,299
  Current portion of long-term debt                                     12,890,772        3,848,780
  Other accrued liabilities                                              5,997,670        5,516,045
                                                                        ----------       ----------
     Total current liabilities                                          32,936,677       22,469,124
                                                                        ----------       ----------
Long-term debt                                                          34,041,300       49,033,545

Deferred tax liabilities-noncurrent                                             --        1,371,649

Commitments and contingencies (Notes 5 and 12)

Stockholders' equity:
  Preferred stock; $.01 par value; 1,500,000 shares
authorized;
    no shares issued and outstanding
  Series A preferred stock; $.01 par value; 200,000 shares
    authorized; no shares issued and outstanding
  Common stock; $.01 par value; 30,000,000 shares authorized;
     7,796,682 shares issued and outstanding at June 30, 1997
     and 1996, respectively

                                                                           101,002          101,002
  Additional paid-in capital                                            46,945,971       46,945,971
  Retained earnings                                                     33,049,494       37,570,595
  Common stock in treasury, at cost                                   (20,731,428)     (20,731,428)
                                                                      ------------     ------------
     Total stockholders' equity                                         59,365,039       63,886,140
                                                                        ----------       ----------
     Total liabilities and stockholders' equity                       $126,343,016     $136,760,458
                                                                       ===========      ===========
See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

</TABLE>

                                       28
<PAGE>

<TABLE>

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES
IN STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
<S>                                     <C>     <C>            <C>            <C>        <C>              <C>

                                                         Additional         Stock
                                   Preferred Common         paid-in subscriptions    Retained        Treasury
                                       stock  stock         capital    receivable     earnings          stock
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance, June 30, 1994                   $--   $78,275  $10,097,696     $(70,627)  $30,659,721  $(20,731,428)

Issuance of common stock                  --     6,615   10,168,570           --           --            --
Tax benefits relating to employee
  stock options
                                          --        --      939,824           --           --            --
Payments on stock subscriptions
  receivable
                                          --        --           --       70,627           --            --
Dividends declared
  ($.28 per common share)
                                          --        --           --           --  (1,668,425)            --
Net income for the year ended
  June 30, 1995
                                          --        --           --           --    8,823,064            --
                                       -----   -------  -----------    ---------   ----------  ------------
Balance, June 30, 1995                    --    84,890   21,206,090           --   37,814,360  (20,731,428)

Issuance of common stock                  --    16,112   25,739,881           --           --            --
Dividends declared
  ($.28 per common share)
                                          --        --           --           --  (2,070,359)            --
Net income for the year ended
  June 30, 1996
                                          --        --           --           --    1,826,594            --
                                       -----   -------  -----------    ---------   ----------  ------------
Balance, June 30, 1996                    --   101,002   46,945,971           --   37,570,595  (20,731,428)

Net loss for the year ended
  June 30, 1997
                                          --        --           --           --  (4,521,101)            --
                                       -----   -------  -----------    ---------   ----------  ------------
Balance, June 30, 1997                   $--  $101,002  $46,945,971          $--  $33,049,494 $(20,731,428)
                                       -----   -------  -----------    ---------   ----------  ------------
See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

</TABLE>
                                       29
<PAGE>

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

<TABLE>
<S>                                                                          <C>          <C>            <C>  

Year ended June 30,                                                         1997         1996           1995
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Cash flows from operating activities:
     Net income (loss)                                              $(4,521,101)  $ 1,826,594     $8,823,064
     Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net
        cash provided by (used in) operating activities,
        excluding the effects of acquisitions:
            Depreciation and amortization                              5,572,188    3,954,989      2,897,708
            Tax benefits relating to employee stock options                   --           --        939,824
            Decrease (increase) in accounts receivable, net            2,871,621    1,702,297    (4,230,876)
            Decrease (increase) in inventories                         1,993,499  (4,156,653)    (3,325,328)
            Decrease (increase) in income taxes receivable             2,285,224  (2,285,224)             --
            Decrease in other current assets                           1,168,686    2,276,486      1,871,659
            Increase (decrease) in accounts payable                      943,936    3,191,348      (223,020)
            Increase (decrease) in other accrued liabilities           1,027,393  (4,325,109)    (7,096,196)
            Increase (decrease) in deferred income taxes - noncurrent (2,451,982)     315,892          1,309
                                                                     -----------  -----------    -----------

     Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities               8,889,464    2,500,620      (341,856)
                                                                     -----------  -----------    -----------
Cash flows from investing activities:
     Capital expenditures, net                                          (58,610)  (3,649,284)    (6,279,387)
     Acquisition of B&F - Net of cash acquired                                --           --   (11,208,000)
     Acquisition of Bear - Net of cash acquired                               --           --   (15,191,193)
     Acquisition of BiCore - Net of cash acquired                             --           --    (4,699,102)
     Acquisition of DPI - Net of cash acquired                                --           --      (600,000)
     Acquisition of Omni-Tech - Net of cash acquired                          --  (1,557,000)             --
     Acquisition of operating rights and licenses                             --           --      (100,000)
                                                                     -----------  -----------    -----------
         Net cash used in investing activities                          (58,610)  (5,206,284)   (38,077,682)
                                                                     -----------  -----------    -----------
Cash flows from financing activities:
     Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt                          5,000,000   16,600,000     61,750,000
     Payment of long-term debt                                       (4,662,785) (63,192,220)   (26,515,878)
     Borrowings under revolving credit agreement                      27,365,170   56,100,000     26,088,000
     Payments under revolving credit agreement                      (35,810,605) (28,100,000)   (22,798,000)
     Proceeds from issuance of common stock                                   --   25,755,993        171,985
</TABLE>

                                       30
<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<S>                                                                        <C>           <C>            <C>  

     Debt issuance costs                                               (677,563)  (1,186,351)             --
     Dividends paid on common stock                                    (545,768)  (1,957,577)    (1,566,729)
     Proceeds from payments on stock subscriptions receivable                 --           --         70,627
                                                                     -----------  -----------    -----------
          Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities        (9,331,551)    4,019,845     37,200,005
                                                                     -----------  -----------    -----------
Net increase (decrease) in cash and equivalents                        (500,697)    1,314,181    (1,219,533)
Cash and equivalents at beginning of period                            1,489,133      174,952      1,394,485
                                                                     -----------  -----------    -----------
Cash and equivalents at end of period                                $   988,436  $ 1,489,133    $  174,952
                                                                     ===========  ===========    ===========
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
     Cash paid during the period for:
        Interest                                                     $ 6,614,365  $ 4,142,070    $ 3,964,112
        Income taxes                                                 $   138,339  $ 2,587,091    $ 1,082,290
Supplemental schedule of noncash investing and financing
activities:
     Equipment acquired through capital leases                       $ 2,157,967  $ 2,452,565             --
     Issuance of common stock in the acquisition of
          B&F Medical Products, Inc.
                                                                              --           --    $10,003,200

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
</TABLE>

                                       31
<PAGE>


                        ALLIED HEALTHCARE PRODUCTS, INC.

                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


1. ORGANIZATION

      Allied Healthcare Products, Inc. (the Company or Allied) is a manufacturer
of  respiratory  products  used in the health  care  industry in a wide range of
hospital and alternate site settings,  including sub-acute care facilities, home
health care and trauma care.  The Company's  product  lines include  respiratory
therapy equipment, medical gas equipment and emergency medical products.



2. ACQUISITIONS

      The following table summarizes certain information regarding the Company's
acquisitions during the previous three years:

<TABLE>
<S>                <C>                                            <C>                                                         <C> 
                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                               (Dollars in millions)
DATE              BUSINESS                                       PRODUCTS                                             Purchase Price
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

December 1993     Life Support Products, Inc. ("LSP")            Emergency medical equipment                                   $15.7
March 1994        Hospital Systems, Inc. ("HSI")                 Headwall products                                               2.2
September 1994    B&F Medical Products, Inc. ("B&F")             Home health care & respiratory therapy products                21.5
February 1995     Bear Medical Systems, Inc. ("Bear")            Critical care ventilators                                      15.4
May 1995          BiCore Monitoring Systems, Inc. ("BiCore")     Monitoring systems & equipment for ventilators                  4.7
June 1995         Design Principles,Inc. ("DPI")                 Emergency medical equipment                                     0.6
November 1995     Omni-Tech Medical, Inc. ("Omni-Tech")          Transport ventilators                                           1.6

</TABLE>

      The above  acquisitions  were each accounted for under the purchase method
of  accounting.   Such  acquisitions   were  primarily   financed  through  bank
borrowings,  except B&F which  included the issuance of 640,000 shares of Allied
common stock.  The purchase price of each  acquisition has been allocated to the
assets acquired and liabilities assumed, based on their estimated fair values at
the date of  acquisition.  The excess of purchase  price over the estimated fair
value of net assets  acquired is recorded as goodwill.  Results of operations of
each acquired Company have been included in Allied's  consolidated  statement of
operations from the date of acquisition.

      The following table sets forth pro forma information for Allied as if each
of the previously  discussed  acquisitions had taken place on July 1, 1994. This
information is unaudited and does not purport to represent  actual revenue,  net
income and earnings per share had the acquisitions  actually occurred on July 1,
1994.


                                               Pro Forma Information (unaudited)
                                                    YEAR ENDED JUNE 30 (000'S)
                                               ---------------------------------
                                                          1996            1995
                                                          ----            ----
Net sales                                         $    120,324     $   133,873
Net income                                        $      1,951     $     8,902
Earnings per share                                $        .26     $      1.44
Weighted average shares outstanding                  7,378,478       6,177,054



                                       32
<PAGE>

3.  SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

      The  significant  accounting  policies  followed  by Allied are  described
below. The policies  utilized by the Company in the preparation of the financial
statements  conform to generally  accepted  accounting  principles,  and require
management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of
assets and liabilities at the date of the financial  statements and the reported
amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period.
Actual amounts could differ from those estimates.

PRINCIPLES OF CONSOLIDATION

      The consolidated  financial statements include the accounts of the Company
and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany transactions and
balances are eliminated.


REVENUE RECOGNITION

      Revenue  from  the  sale of the  Company's  products  is  recognized  upon
shipment  to the  customer.  Costs  and  related  expenses  to  manufacture  the
Company's  products  are  recorded as cost of sales when the related  revenue is
recognized.


CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

      For purposes of the  statement of cash flows,  the Company  considers  all
highly liquid  investments with a maturity of three months or less when acquired
to be cash  equivalents.  Book cash  overdrafts  on the  Company's  disbursement
accounts  totaling  $3,867,477  and  $1,270,385  at  June  30,  1997  and  1996,
respectively, are included in accounts payable.


CONCENTRATIONS OF CREDIT RISK

      At June 30, 1997 and 1996, the Company's  trade  receivables are comprised
as follows:

                                                      1997      1996
                                                      ----      ----
Medical equipment distributors.....................    74%       75%
Construction contractors...........................    16%       15%
Health care institutions...........................    10%       10%

      The Company  performs  ongoing  credit  evaluations  of its  customers and
generally  does not require  collateral.  The  Company  maintains  reserves  for
potential  credit  losses  and   historically   such  losses  have  been  within
management's  expectations.  At June 30,  1997 the  Company  had no  significant
concentrations of credit risk.


INVENTORIES

      Inventories are stated at the lower of cost, determined using the last-in,
first-out  (LIFO) method,  or market.  If the first-in,  first-out (FIFO) method
(which  approximates  replacement  cost)  had  been  used in  determining  cost,
inventories  would have been  $511,626 and $253,996  higher at June 30, 1997 and
1996, respectively.  Inventories include the cost of materials, direct labor and
manufacturing overhead.

      Inventory  amounts are net of a reserve for obsolete and excess  inventory
of $1,689,000 and $1,812,542 at June 30, 1997 and 1996, respectively.

                                       33

<PAGE>

PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

      Property,  plant and equipment is carried at cost and is depreciated using
the  straight-line  method over the  estimated  useful lives of the assets which
range from 3 to 36 years.  Properties  held under capital leases are recorded at
the present  value of the  non-cancelable  lease  payments  over the term of the
lease and are  amortized  over the  shorter of the lease  term or the  estimated
useful lives of the assets.  Expenditures for repairs,  maintenance and renewals
are charged to income as incurred. Expenditures which improve an asset or extend
its  estimated  useful  life are  capitalized.  When  properties  are retired or
otherwise disposed of, the related cost and accumulated depreciation are removed
from the accounts and any gain or loss is included in income.


GOODWILL

      The  excess  of the  purchase  price  over  the fair  value of net  assets
acquired  in  business   combinations   is   capitalized   and  amortized  on  a
straight-line basis over the estimated period benefited, not to exceed 40 years.
The amortization  period for all acquisitions to date range from 20 to 40 years.
Amortization  expense  for the  years  ended  June 30,  1997,  1996 and 1995 was
$1,473,164, $1,446,756, and $1,065,733 respectively. Accumulated amortization at
June 30, 1997 and 1996 was $5,347,843 and $3,874,679 respectively.  The carrying
value of goodwill is  assessed  for  recoverability  by  management  based on an
analysis of future  expected  cash flows from the  underlying  operations of the
Company. Management believes that there has been no impairment at June 30, 1997.


OTHER ASSETS

      Other assets are primarily  comprised of debt issuance  costs.  Such costs
are  being  amortized  on a  straight-line  basis  over the life of the  related
obligations.


INCOME TAXES

      The Company files a consolidated  federal income tax return which includes
its  wholly-owned  subsidiaries.  The Company  accounts  for income  taxes under
Statement of Financial  Accounting  Standards  No. 109,  "Accounting  for Income
Taxes" (FAS 109).  Under FAS 109, the deferred tax provision is determined using
the liability method, whereby deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized
based upon temporary  differences between the financial statement and income tax
basis of assets and liabilities using presently enacted tax rates.


RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT COSTS

      Research and development  costs are charged to income in the year incurred
and are included in selling, general and administrative  expenses.  Research and
development  expense  for the  years  ended  June  30,  1997,  1996 and 1995 was
$3,684,702, $3,255,067 and $2,486,622, respectively.


EARNINGS PER SHARE

      Earnings per share is computed by dividing net income  available to common
stockholders  by the  weighted  average  number of shares and share  equivalents
outstanding  during the  period,  as adjusted  for stock  splits.  The  weighted
average number of shares outstanding for the years ended June 30, 1997, 1996 and
1995 was 7,796,682, 7,378,478 and 6,066,588 shares, respectively.  Options under
the Company's  employee's and director's  stock option plans are not included as
common stock equivalents for earnings per share purposes since they did not have
a material dilutive effect.


                                       34
<PAGE>


      In March 1997, the Financial  Accounting  Standards Board issued Statement
of Financial Accounting Standards No. 128, "Earnings per Share" (FAS 128), which
requires  public  entities to present both basic and diluted  earnings per share
amounts  on the  face  of  their  financial  statements,  replacing  the  former
calculations of primary and fully diluted  earnings per share.  The Company will
adopt FAS 128 effective  with its fiscal 1998 second  quarter,  and  anticipates
that,  when  adopted,  FAS 128 will not have a material  effect on its  reported
earnings per common share.


EMPLOYEE STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION

      The Company  accounts for employee stock options and variable stock awards
in accordance with  Accounting  Principles  Board No. 25,  "Accounting for Stock
Issued to Employees"  (APB 25). Under APB 25, the Company  applies the intrinsic
value method of accounting.  For employee stock options  accounted for using the
intrinsic  value  method,  no  compensation  expense is  recognized  because the
options are  granted  with an  exercise  price equal to the market  value of the
stock on the date of grant.  For variable  stock awards  accounted for using the
intrinsic value method,  compensation cost is estimated and recorded each period
from the date of grant to the measurement  date based on the market value of the
stock at the end of each period.

      During fiscal 1996,  Statement of Financial  Accounting Standards No. 123,
"Accounting for Stock-Basic  Compensation"  (FAS 123),  became effective for the
Company. FAS 123 prescribes the recognition of compensation expense based on the
fair value of options or stock awards determined on the date of grant.  However,
FAS 123 allows companies to continue to apply the valuation methods set forth in
APB 25. For companies that continue to apply the valuation  methods set forth in
APB 25, FAS 123  mandates  certain  pro forma  disclosures  as if the fair value
method had been utilized. See Note 9 for additional discussion.


4. FINANCING

      Long-term debt consisted of the following at June 30, 1997 and 1996:
<TABLE>
<S>                                                                                   <C>               <C>   

UNSUBORDINATED DEBT                                                                   1997             1996
                                                                                      ----             ----

Notes payable to bank under a term loan, revolving credit facility and an
acquisition term, secured by virtually all assets of the Company:


   Term Loan - principal due at maturity on July 31, 1998.......................$5,000,000              --

   Term Loan  -- principal due in quarterly installments of $750,000
   through June 30, 1998 with remaining balance due July 31, 1998............... 9,750,000      $12,750,000

   Revolving credit facility -- aggregate revolving commitment of
   $40,000,000; principal due at maturity on  July 31, 1998.....................26,554,565       35,000,000

   Acquisition Term Loan - principal due in quarterly installments of 
$64,000 through June 30, 1998 with remaining balance due on July 31, 1998.......1,344,000         1,600,000


Other..........................................................................    62,690            76,135
                                                                                  -------            ------
                                                                               42,711,255        49,426,135
                                                                               ----------        ----------
</TABLE>
                                       35
<PAGE>

SUBORDINATED DEBT
<TABLE>
<S>                                                                                    <C>            <C> 

Industrial Development Revenue Bonds -- principal due in annual 
installments of $200,000 through March 1, 1998; $250,000 through  
March 1, 2000; $255,000 at maturity on March 1, 2001; interest payable 
monthly at variable rates (4.6% at June 30, 1997)...............................   955,000       1,155,000
Capital lease obligations....................................................... 3,265,817       2,301,190
                                                                                 ----------      ---------
                                                                                 4,220,817       3,456,190
                                                                                ----------      ---------- 
                                                                                46,932,072      52,882,325
Less--Current portion of long-term debt, including
$676,357 and $635,336 of capital lease obligations..............................(12,890,772)    (3,848,780)
                                                                                ------------    -----------
                                                                                $34,041,300     49,033,545
                                                                                ============    ===========
</TABLE>

      On September 20, 1996, the Company amended its existing credit  facilities
with its commercial bank syndicate . The credit agreement, as amended,  provided
for  borrowings  of  $21,600,000  under  term  loans,  and  $40,000,000  under a
revolving  loan,  subject  to certain  limitations  based on  eligible  accounts
receivable,  eligible  inventory and outstanding  letters of credit.  Such loans
bear  interest at the London  Interbank  Offered  Rate (LIBOR) or at a base rate
plus a specified percentage as set forth within the loan agreement. The interest
rate  under  each  option  is  determined  by  the  Company's   ratio  of  total
indebtedness  to cash flow.  As of June 30,  1997,  interest  on the  facilities
ranged from approximately 8.75% to 11.5%.

      The revolving  agreement  requires a commitment  fee of 0.25% to 0.37% per
annum,  depending on the  Company's  ratio of total  indebtedness  to cash flow,
payable quarterly on the unused portions of the loans.

      The credit facilities  contain  restrictions and  requirements,  including
limitations  on  capital   expenditures,   new  indebtedness   (including  lease
agreements) and the  maintenance of certain minimum  operating cash flow and net
worth levels,  among others.  At June 30, 1997,  the Company was in violation of
certain of these  covenants for which waivers have been received  through August
15, 1997.

      On August 8, 1997, the Company  refinanced  amounts  outstanding under the
term loans and revolving  credit  facility with its commercial bank syndicate as
further  discussed in Note 14.  Current  maturities of long-term  obligations at
June 30, 1997 are  classified  based upon the  payment  terms of this new credit
agreement.

      The book value of long-term debt at June 30, 1997 approximates fair value.


5. LEASE COMMITMENTS

      The Company  leases certain of its electronic  data  processing  equipment
under non-cancelable  lease agreements.  These agreements extend for a period of
up to 60 months and  contain  purchase  or renewal  options on a  month-to-month
basis.  The leases are  reflected in the  consolidated  financial  statements as
capitalized leases in accordance with the requirements of Statement of Financial
Accounting Standards No. 13 (FAS 13), "Accounting for Leases". In addition,  the
Company leases certain  manufacturing  facilities under noncancelable  operating
leases.  These leases are reflected in the consolidated  financial statements as
operating leases in accordance with FAS 13.

                                       36
<PAGE>

      Minimum lease  payments under  long-term  capital leases and the operating
leases at June 30, 1997 are as follows:

                                        CAPITAL LEASES       OPERATING LEASES
                                        --------------       ----------------
1998..................................     $ 1,100,481             $  869,832
1999..................................         866,629                446,976
2000..................................         772,657                 69,120
2001..................................         762,412                 57,600
2002..................................         803,432                     --
                                            ----------             ----------
Total minimum lease payments..........     $ 4,305,611             $1,443,528
                                                                   ==========  
Less amount representing interest.....      (1,039,795)
                                            -----------
Present value of net minimum lease
payments, including current portion of
$676,357..............................     $ 3,265,816
                                            ==========

Rental expense  incurred on the operating  leases in fiscal 1997,  1996 and 1995
totaled $686,168, $881,318, and $558,190, respectively.


6. INCOME TAXES

      The provision (benefit) for income taxes consisted of the following:


                                                   1997        1996        1995
                                                   ----        ----        ----
Current Payable:
  Federal.................................  $        --   $  40,240   $3,335,097
  State...................................           --          --      488,608
Total Current.............................           --      40,240    3,823,705

Deferred:
  Federal.................................  (1,214,731)   1,217,979    1,767,979
  State...................................    (212,985)     214,937      262,051
                                              ---------     -------      -------
  Total Deferred                            (1,427,716)   1,432,916    2,030,030
                                            -----------   ---------    ---------
                                            $(1,427,716)  $1,473,156  $5,853,135
                                            ============  ==========  ==========

      Income taxes were (24.0%), 44.6% and 39.9% of pre-tax earnings (losses) in
1997, 1996 and 1995,  respectively.  A reconciliation  of income taxes, with the
amounts computed at the statutory federal rate follows:

<TABLE>
<S>                                                        <C>         <C>          <C> 

                                                           1997        1996         1995
                                                           ----        ----         ----
Computed tax at federal statutory rate..............$(2,022,597)  $1,121,915   $5,036,880
State income taxes, net of federal tax benefit......   (160,989)     169,770      498,653
Goodwill............................................    491,854     482,876       366,010
Other, net..........................................    264,016   (301,405)       (47,868)
                                                        -------   ---------      --------
Total...............................................$(1,427,716)  $1,473,156   $ 5,853,735
                                                    ============  ==========    ==========
</TABLE>

                                       37
<PAGE>

      The  deferred  tax assets and  deferred  tax  liabilities  recorded on the
balance sheet as of June 30, 1997 and 1996 are as follows:
<TABLE>
<S>                                <C>             <C>              <C>            <C>  

                                   AT JUNE 30, 1997               AT JUNE 30, 1996
                                  -----------------               ----------------
                                  Deferred      Deferred         Deferred      Deferred
                                 TAX ASSETS  TAX LIABILITIES    TAX ASSETS    TAX LIABILITIES
                                 ----------  ---------------    ----------    ---------------
Current:
Bad Debts......................... $479,175              --       $165,933                --
Accrued Liabilities...............  635,160              --        990,360                --
Inventory.........................       --         $698,390            --          $731,879
Net operating loss carryforward...       --               --       698,377                --
Other.............................       --           80,000       237,420                --
                                  ---------           ------       -------          --------
                                  1,114,335          778,390     2,092,090           731,879
                                  ---------          -------     ---------          --------

Non Current:
Depreciation......................       --          319,066            --           411,969
Other property basis..............       --          451,918            --           449,083
Intangible assets.................  438,678               --       118,250                --
Net operating loss carryforward...2,703,228               --            --                --
Other                               383,133               --            --           306,127
                                  ---------        ---------       -------           -------
                                  3,141,906        1,154,117       118,250         1,167,179
                                  ---------        ---------       -------         ---------
Valuation allowance...............(322,720)              --      (322,720)                --  
                                  ----------       ---------     ----------        ----------
Total deferred taxes..............$3,933,521       $1,932,507    $1,887,620        $1,899,058
                                  ==========       ==========     ==========       ==========
</TABLE>


       At June  30,  1997,  the  Company  had  $2,703,228  of net operating loss
carryforwards   available  to  offset  future  regular  taxable   income.   Such
carryforwards,  which may  provide  future  tax  benefits,  expire  as  follows:
$698,377 in 2011 and $2,004,851 in 2012.

      Management  believes  the  Company  will  obtain  the full  benefit of net
operating  loss  carryforwards  on the basis of its  evaluation of the Company's
anticipated profitability over the period of years that the net operating losses
can be utilized.  There can be no assurance  that the Company will  generate any
specific level of continuing earnings.


7. RETIREMENT PLAN

      The Company offered several  retirement savings plans under Section 401(k)
of the  Internal  Revenue  Code to certain  eligible  salaried  employees.  Each
employee may elect to enter a written salary  deferral  agreement  under which a
portion of such employee's pre-tax earnings may be contributed to the plan.

      During the fiscal  years  ended June 30,  1997,  1996 and 1995 the Company
made contributions of $601,338, $535,017 and $439,427, respectively.


8. RELATED PARTIES

      In 1994,  Allied entered into an agreement  with entities  controlled by a
significant  shareholder  of the  Company for such  entities to provide  certain
corporate development,  consulting and advisory services to the Company. Charges
under this agreement for direct management and administrative  services provided
to the  Company for the years  ended June 30,  1996 and 1995 were  $180,821  and
$138,693, respectively. Charges under this agreement for the year ended June 30,
1997 were not  material  to the  Company's  consolidated  financial  statements.
Payments  under  this  agreement  in fiscal  1995  also  included  $408,310  for
corporate development


                                       38
<PAGE>


services provided in connection with the B&F, Bear and BiCore acquisitions.
Such agreement was canceled in 1997.

9.  SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

      On October 4, 1995, the Company  completed the sale of 1,610,000 shares of
its common stock in a public  offering which yielded net proceeds to the Company
of $25.7 million. The proceeds were used to reduce debt and to provide financing
for future  growth.  As of June 30, 1997,  the number of  outstanding  shares is
7,796,682.

      The Company has  established  a 1991 Employee  Non-Qualified  Stock Option
Plan as well as a 1994 Employee Stock Option Plan (Employee Plans). The Employee
Plans  provide for the granting of options to the Company's  executive  officers
and key employees to purchase shares of common stock at prices equal to the fair
market  value of the  stock on the date of  grant.  Options  to  purchase  up to
800,000 shares of common stock may be granted under the Employee Plans.  Options
currently  outstanding  entitle the holders to purchase  common  stock at prices
ranging  between $6.75 and $18.25,  subject to adjustment.  Options shall become
exercisable  with respect to  one-fourth of the shares  covered  thereby on each
anniversary  of the date of grant,  commencing on the second  anniversary of the
date granted,  except  certain  options  granted  under the 1994 Employee  Stock
Option Plan which become  exercisable when the fair market value of common stock
exceeds required levels. The right to exercise the options expires in ten years,
from the date of grant,  or earlier if an option holder ceases to be employed by
the Company.

      In addition,  the Company has  established a 1991 Directors  Non-Qualified
Stock  Option  Plan  and  a  1995  Directors  Non-Qualified  Stock  Option  Plan
(Directors  Plans).  The Directors  Plans provide for the granting of options to
the Company's  Directors who are not employees of the Company to purchase shares
of common  stock at prices  equal to the fair  market  value of the stock on the
date of grant.  Options to purchase up to 250,000  shares of common stock may be
granted under the Directors Plans.  Options  currently  outstanding  entitle the
holders to purchase  common stock at prices  ranging  between  $7.13 and $18.25,
subject to adjustment.  Options shall generally become  exercisable with respect
to one-fourth of the shares covered  thereby on each  anniversary of the date of
grant,  commencing on the second  anniversary of the date granted.  The right to
exercise the options  expires in ten years from the date of grant, or earlier if
an option holder ceases to be a Director of the Company.

      A summary of stock  option  transactions  in 1997 and 1996,  respectively,
pursuant to the Employee Plans and the Directors Plans follows:

                                               SUMMARY OF STOCK OPTIONS
                                                                  Shares Subject
                                                 AVERAGE PRICE      TO OPTION
                                                 -------------    -------------
June 30, 1995                                         $13.36         388,000
Options Granted                                        17.58          63,500
Options Exercised                                          8         (1,174)
Options Canceled                                       15.96        (36,726)
                                                                    --------
June 30, 1996                                         $13.79         413,600
                                                                     -------
Exercisable at June 30, 1996                                         118,875
                                                                     =======

June 30, 1996                                         $13.79         413,600
Options Granted                                          6.9         358,000
Options Exercised                                         --              --
Options Canceled                                       11.47       (177,100)
                                                                   --------
June 30, 1997                                         $ 9.22         594,500
                                                                     -------
Exercisable at June 30, 1997                                         163,700
                                                                     =======

                                       39

<PAGE>

      Statement of  Financial  Accounting  Standards  No. 123,  "Accounting  for
Stock-Based   Compensation,"   requires  companies  to  measure  employee  stock
compensation  plans based on the fair value method of accounting.  However,  the
Statement allows the alternative of continued use of Accounting Principles Board
(APB) Opinion No. 25, "Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees," with pro forma
disclosure of net income and earnings per share  determined as if the fair value
based  method had been  applied in  measuring  compensation  cost.  The  Company
adopted the new  standard in the fiscal year ending June 30,  1997,  and elected
the  continued  use of APB  Opinion  No. 25. Pro forma  disclosure  has not been
provided,  as the  effect  on  fiscal  year  1997  and  1996  net  earnings  was
immaterial.


10. EXPORT SALES

      Export  sales  for the  years  ended  June 30,  1997,  1996 and 1995 are
comprised as follows (in thousands):


                                                1997      1996       1995
                                                ----      ----       ----
Europe                                       $ 9,300   $ 7,500    $ 5,100
Canada                                         2,600     2,300      2,900
Latin American                                 6,300     5,600      4,600
Middle East                                    3,200     2,900      2,100
Far East                                       9,400     9,000      7,200
Other                                          3,700     3,500      2,300
                                             -------   -------    -------
                                             $34,500   $30,800    $24,200
                                             =======   =======    =======


11. SUPPLEMENTAL BALANCE SHEET INFORMATION


                                                                  June 30,
                                                            1997           1996
                                                            ----           ----
INVENTORIES
   Work in Progress                                 $  2,726,585   $  2,563,773
   Component parts                                    18,679,482     18,607,893
   Finished goods                                      4,646,924      6,874,824
                                                    ------------   ------------
                                                    $ 26,052,991   $ 28,046,490
                                                    ============   ============

PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
   Machinery and equipment                          $14,880,513   $ 15,167,835
   Buildings                                         13,508,251     13,476,157
   Land and land improvements                           989,516        989,516
   Property held under capital leases                 5,382,529      3,224,563
                                                    -----------   ------------

   Total property, plant and equipment at cost      $34,760,809    $32,858,071
                                                  
                                       40
<PAGE>

   Less accumulated depreciation and
   amortization,
   including $1,610,867 and $447,306, respectively,
   related to property held under capital leases    (13,911,939)   (10,889,567)
                                                    ------------   ------------

                                                   $ 20,848,870   $ 21,968,504
                                                   ============   ============
OTHER ACCRUED LIABILITIES
   Accrued compensation expense                    $  2,215,548   $  1,777,669
   Acquisition reserves                                 948,639      2,192,758
   Accrued interest expense                           1,324,010        332,246
   Accrued income tax                                   376,910             --
   Other                                              1,132,563      1,213,372
                                                   ------------   ------------
                                                   $  5,997,670   $  5,516,045
                                                    ===========    ===========

      The  Company  reduced  its  reserves   recorded  in  connection  with  the
acquisitions  discussed in Note 2 by approximately $1.2 million,  net, in fiscal
1997 and $2.0 million,  net, in fiscal 1996. These reductions  primarily related
to cash payments of various costs directly  attributable to these  acquisitions,
including severance, facility rationalization and related matters and consulting
fees. The remaining  acquisition reserves of approximately  $950,000 at June 30,
1997 are expected to be liquidated over the next year.


12. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

      From time to time,  the Company  becomes party to various claims and legal
actions arising during the ordinary course of business. Management believes that
the Company's costs and any potential  judgments  resulting from such claims and
actions would be covered by the Company's  product liability  insurance,  except
for deductible limits and self-insured retention.  The Company intends to defend
such claims and actions in  cooperation  with its insurers.  It is  management's
opinion  that, in any event,  their outcome would not have a material  effect on
the Company's financial position or results of operations.


13. QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA (UNAUDITED)

      Summarized quarterly financial data for fiscal 1997 and 1996 appears below
(all amounts in thousands except per share data):



                                              NET SALES
                                              ---------
                                           1997        1996
                                           ----        ----
First Quarter                         $  29,134   $  31,189
Second Quarter                           28,389      28,439
Third Quarter                            30,466      30,334
Fourth Quarter                           30,129      30,161
                                       --------    --------
Total Year                             $118,118    $120,123
                                       ========    ========
  
                                       41
<PAGE>

 
                                            GROSS PROFIT
                                            ------------
                                           1997        1996
                                           ----        ----
First Quarter                         $   9,240   $  12,338
Second Quarter                            8,725       9,889
Third Quarter                             9,725       9,772
Fourth Quarter                            8,063       7,574
                                      ---------   ---------
Total Year                            $  35,753   $  39,573
                                      =========   =========


                                          NET INCOME (LOSS)
                                          -----------------
                                           1997        1996
                                           ----        ----
First Quarter                        $  (177.3)   $ 1,995.8
Second Quarter                          (556.4)     1,011.7
Third Quarter                           (302.3)       977.8
Fourth Quarter                        (3,485.1)   (2,158.7)
                                      ---------   ---------
Total Year                           $(4,521.1)   $ 1,826.6
                                     ==========   =========

                                   EARNINGS (LOSS) PER SHARE
                                   -------------------------
                                           1997        1996
                                           ----        ----
First Quarter                         $   (.02)      $  .32
Second Quarter                            (.07)         .11
Third Quarter                             (.04)         .12
Fourth Quarter                            (.45)       .(30)
                                      ---------      ------
Total Year                            $   (.58)      $  .25
                                      =========      ======


      Results of operations in the fourth  quarter of fiscal 1997 were adversely
impacted by a variety of factors.  The  macroeconomic  factors  discussed  below
relative to the fourth  quarter of 1996 continued in 1997. The nineteen day work
stoppage at the Company's St. Louis,  Missouri facility in June 1997 resulted in
a permanent loss in sales, margin declines,  and plant inefficiencies.  Interest
expense increased to $3.3 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 1997 primarily
due to fees paid to the Company's  commercial  bank group to obtain  waivers for
technical  covenant  violations  and for other matters  related to its borrowing
agreement.  Finally,  based on  management's  assessment  of facts related to or
culminating in the fourth quarter of fiscal 1997, the Company  increased certain
reserves and recorded  other  charges to  operations  during the fourth  quarter
which totaled approximately $2.0 million. Included in these charges were certain
adjustments to the carrying value of the Company's  inventories of $1.0 million,
an increase to the allowance for doubtful accounts of $0.6 million, $0.3 million
for the settlement of a lawsuit  related to a  pre-acquisition  matter at one of
the Company's acquired subsidiaries and $0.1 million for a new product licensing
agreement.  As a result, fourth quarter fiscal 1997 net sales were $30.1 million
while the net loss was $3.5  million  compared  to fourth  quarter  net sales of
$30.2 million and a net loss of $2.2 million in the prior year.

     The fiscal  1996  fourth  quarter  results  of  operations  were  adversely
impacted by numerous  factors.  Core  domestic  markets,  which had  experienced
softness  since the second  quarter of fiscal  1996,  continued  to be adversely
impacted by numerous external and internal factors. The ongoing consolidation of
the Company's  health care provider  customers and the continued  uncertainty in
their  marketplace  caused by health care reform  adversely  impacted  operating
results.  In addition,  the  integration of the Company's  recent  complementary
acquisitions has

                                       42
<PAGE>

been more difficult than anticipated and had particularly negative ramifications
on the fourth quarter of fiscal 1996.  During the fourth quarter of fiscal 1996,
the Company made  significant  investments  in financial and human  resources to
position  itself to  realize  the  potential  synergies  of these  acquisitions.
Specifically,  during the fourth quarter, the Company significantly  invested in
recruiting and training its ventilation product line field sales force which had
experienced high turnover levels.  Further, the decline in manufacturing volumes
in certain  product  lines in the fourth  quarter of fiscal 1996 resulted in the
expensing of a portion of fixed plant  overhead  costs as period costs,  further
adversely impacting margins and operating results. As a result of these factors,
fourth  quarter  fiscal 1996 net sales were $30.2 million while the net loss was
$2.2 million compared to fourth quarter sales of $33.8 million and net income of
$2.8 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 1995.

14. SUBSEQUENT EVENT


REFINANCING

      On August 8, 1997, the Company entered into a new credit  agreement with a
commercial  lender (the  Credit  Agreement)  which  provides  borrowings  of $25
million under a revolving  credit facility and $21 million under three term loan
facilities.  In  conjunction  with the new Credit  Agreement,  Allied  placed an
additional $5.0 million in subordinated debt financing with certain shareholders
of the Company. The Company used the funds provided by the new credit agreements
to extinguish  amounts  outstanding under the revolving credit facility and term
loans  with  its  existing   commercial  bank  syndicate  which  were  described
previously in Note 4.

      The revolving credit facility  provides for borrowings of up to the lesser
of  $25,000,000 or the borrowing  base,  less any  outstanding  letter of credit
obligations. The borrowing base is defined by the Credit Agreement as (a) 85% of
eligible domestic  receivables plus (b) 85% of eligible foreign  receivables not
to  exceed  $8,000,000  plus  (c)  45% of  eligible  inventories  not to  exceed
$10,000,000.  Such  amounts  are  reduced by various  reserves as defined in the
Credit  Agreement.  The revolving credit facility bears interest at the floating
Reference Rate (8.5% at August 8, 1997) plus 0.50% and is payable  monthly.  The
Reference  Rate,  as defined in the Credit  Agreement,  is the variable  rate of
interest, per annum, most recently announced by Norwest Bank Minnesota, National
Association,  or any successor thereto, as its "base rate". The Credit Agreement
requires an  underutilization  fee of 0.25% per annum,  payable monthly,  on any
unused portion of the revolving credit facility.  Amounts outstanding under this
revolving credit facility,  which expires on August 8, 2000, totaled $18,989,066
at August  8,  1997.  At August 8,  1997,  $4,138,141  was  available  under the
revolving credit facility for additional borrowings.

      The Credit  Agreement  provides  term loan  facilities  in the  amounts of
$10,000,000  (Term Loan A),  $7,000,000 (Term Loan B), and $4,000,000 (Term Loan
C), respectively.  Term Loan A is due in varying monthly maturities ranging from
$104,167 to  $1,541,667,  commencing  October 1, 1997 with final  payment due on
August 8, 2000.  Term Loan B is due in varying monthly  maturities  ranging from
$229,167  to  $354,167,  commencing  October 1, 1997 with final  payment  due on
September  1,  1999.  Term Loan C is due on  February  8,  1998,  or  earlier as
specified  in the  Credit  Agreement.  Interest  accrues  on Term  Loan A at the
floating  Reference  Rate plus 0.50% and on Term Loans B and C at 14% per annum.
Interest is payable monthly on all term loan facilities.

      The Credit  Agreement  also provides for the issuance of letters of credit
on behalf of the  Company in  amounts up to  $3,000,000  in the  aggregate.  The
Company is required to pay a fee of 1.0% per annum on the outstanding balance.

      The Company entered into a Note Purchase Agreement in conjunction with the
August 8, 1997  refinancing for the issuance of a $5,000,000  subordinated  note
payable to certain  shareholders  of the Company due February 7, 1998.  The note
payable is  subordinated  to the Credit  Agreement with a commercial  lender and
bears interest at a rate of 14% per annum, payable monthly.

      The above described  agreements  contain  restrictions  and  requirements,
including  limitations on capital expenditures,  new indebtedness,  and dividend
payments,  and the  achievement of certain earning levels and the maintenance of
minimum net worth, among others.


                                       43
<PAGE>


      Aggregate maturities of long-term debt, excluding capital leases, for each
of the fiscal years subsequent to June 30, 1997 are as follows:
<TABLE>

<S>       <C>          <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>            <C>          <C>           <C>
                                                                       Industrial
                                             Revolving                 Development
                                              Credit    Subordinated    Revenue 
        Term A       Term B       Term C     Facility      Debt          Bonds        Other          Total   
        --------   ----------   ----------   ---------  ------------   ----------   --------   -----------
1998    $937,500   $2,062,500   $4,000,000          --   $5,000,000    $200,000     $14,415    $12,214,415
1999   1,250,000    3,875,000           --          --           --     250,000      15,457      5,390,457
2000   5,187,500    1,062,500           --          --           --     250,000      16,575      6,516,575
2001   2,625,000           --           --  18,989,066           --     255,000      16,244     21,885,310
     -----------   ----------   ---------- -----------   ----------    --------      -------   ----------- 
     $10,000,000   $7,000,000   $4,000,000 $18,989,066   $5,000,000    $955,000      $62,691   $46,006,757
      ==========   ==========   ========== ===========   ==========    ========      =======   ===========

</TABLE>

      In addition to the above payments, certain additional principal reductions
may be  required  under the  Company's  Term Loan B based on annual  excess cash
flows, as defined in the Credit Agreement.

      Debt  issuance   costs   approximating   $700,000  were  incurred  in  the
refinancing  and are being  deferred and  amortized  over the term of the Credit
Agreement.  Unamortized  costs incurred in conjunction  with the original credit
facilities  with  the bank  syndicate  totaled  $980,000.  These  costs,  net of
applicable  income tax benefits of  $392,000,  were written off during the first
quarter of fiscal 1998 and accounted for as an extraordinary loss.

COMMON STOCK WARRANTS

      In conjunction  with the  refinancing,  62,500 warrants were issued to the
holders of the subordinated  note payable and 50,000 warrants were issued to the
commercial  lender providing the revolving  credit  facilities and the term loan
facilities.  Each  warrant  entitles  the holder to purchase one share of common
stock at $7.025 per share through August 7, 2002.


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

      None.


                                    PART III


ITEM 10.  DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT

      A definitive  proxy  statement is expected to be filed with the Securities
and Exchange  Commission on or about October 10, 1997. The information  required
by this item is set forth under the caption  "Election of  Directors" on pages 2
through  4,  under  the  caption  "Executive  Officers"  on page 7 and under the
caption "Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting  Compliance" on page 17 of
the definitive  proxy  statement,  which  information is incorporated  herein by
reference thereto.


ITEM 11.  EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

      The  information  required  by this  item is set forth  under the  caption
"Executive  Compensation"  on  pages  9  through  16  of  the  definitive  proxy
statement, which information is incorporated herein by reference thereto.

                                       44

<PAGE>

ITEM 12.  SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

      The  information  required  by this  item is set forth  under the  caption
"Security  Ownership of Certain  Beneficial  Owners and  Management"  on pages 5
through 7 of the definitive proxy statement,  which  information is incorporated
herein by reference thereto.


ITEM 13.  CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS

      The  information  required  by this  item is set forth  under the  caption
"Certain  Transactions"  on page 17 of the  definitive  proxy  statement,  which
information is incorporated herein by reference thereto.


                                     PART IV


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


1.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

      The  following  consolidated  financial  statements of the Company and its
subsidiaries are included in response to Item 8:

        Consolidated Statement of Operations for the years
           ended June 30, 1997, 1996 and 1995

        Consolidated Balance Sheet at June 30, 1997 and 1996

        Consolidated Statement of Changes in Stockholders' Equity
           for the years ended June 30, 1997, 1996 and 1995

        Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows for the years ended June 30, 1997,
           1996 and 1995

        Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

        Report of Independent Accountants


2.  FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES

            Report of Independent Accountants on Financial Statement Schedule

            Valuation and Qualifying Accounts and Reserves for the Years
               Ended June 30, 1997, 1996 and 1995

      All other  schedules  are omitted  because they are not  applicable or the
required information is shown in the financial statements or notes thereto.

                                       45

<PAGE>



3.  EXHIBITS

      The  exhibits  listed on the  accompanying  Index to Exhibits are filed as
part of this Report.


4.  REPORTS ON FORM 8-K

      None.


                                       46
<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.

                                    ALLIED HEALTHCARE PRODUCTS, INC.

                                    By:    /S/ BARRY F. BAKER
                                        -------------------------------------
                                            Barry F. Baker
                                            Vice President-Finance and Chief
                                            Financial Officer


Dated:  September 26, 1997

      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 September 25, 1997.

          SIGNATURES                                TITLE
          ----------                                -----


              *
        -----------------
        Dennis W. Sheehan         Chairman of the Board

              *
        -----------------
        Uma N. Aggarwal           President, Chief Executive Officer and
                                  Director (Principal Executive Officer)

        /s/ Barry F. Baker        Vice President-Finance and Chief
        -----------------         Financial Officer (Principal Financial
        Barry F. Baker            Officer and Principal Accounting Officer)
       
                *                 Director
        ------------------         
         David A. Gee
                                  
                *                 Director
        ------------------         
        Samuel A. Hamacher


                *                 Director
        ------------------        
        James C. Janning

                                 
                *                 Director
        ------------------
        Robert E. Lefton

                                  Director
                *
        -------------------
        Donald E. Nickelson


                                  
                *                 Director
        -------------------      
        William A. Peck


                                  
                *                 Director
        -------------------
         John D. Weil

                                       47
<PAGE>


      *By: /S/ BARRY F. BAKER
          -------------------
          Barry F. Baker
          Attorney-in-Fact

- ----------
*Such signature has been affixed pursuant to the following Power of Attorney.

                                       48
<PAGE>



                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

      KNOW ALL  PERSONS  BY THESE  PRESENTS,  that the  person  whose  signature
appears  below  constitutes  and appoints  each of Uma N.  Aggarwal and Barry F.
Baker as his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, each with full power of
substitution,  for  him  and in his  name,  place  and  stead,  in any  and  all
capacities,  to sign the 1997  Annual  Report on Form 10-K of Allied  Healthcare
Products,  Inc.,  and to file the same  with all  exhibits  thereto,  and  other
documents in connection therewith,  with the Securities and Exchange Commission,
granting unto each said  attorney-in-fact  and agent full power and authority to
do and perform  each and every act and thing  requisite  as fully to all intents
and purposes as he might or could do in person, and ratifying and confirming all
that  said  attorney-in-fact  and agent or his  substitute  or  substitutes  may
lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

                                       49
<PAGE>


                      REPORT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS ON
                          FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULE

To the Board of Directors of
   Allied Healthcare Products, Inc.

      Our audits of the  consolidated  financial  statements  referred to in our
report  dated  August  13,  1997,   appearing  in  the  1997  Annual  Report  to
Shareholders of Allied Healthcare Products,  Inc. on Form 10-K (which report and
consolidated financial statements are included herein) also included an audit of
the Financial  Statement Schedule listed in item 14(2) of this Form 10-K. In our
opinion,  this Financial  Statement  Schedule  presents fairly,  in all material
respects,  the information  set forth therein when read in conjunction  with the
related consolidated financial statements.





PRICE WATERHOUSE LLP

St.  Louis, Missouri
August 13, 1997

   
                                       S-1
<PAGE>



                        ALLIED HEALTHCARE PRODUCTS, INC.
          RULE 12-09 VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS AND RESERVES

  COLUMN A     COLUMN B    COLUMN C                 COLUMN D    COLUMN E
- --------------------------------------            -------------------------
              BALANCE AT              CHARGED TO
               BEGINNING                 OTHER
               OF PERIOD  CHARGED TO   ACCOUNTS-   DEDUCTIONS-  BALANCE AT
                           COSTS AND   DESCRIBE     DESCRIBE    END OF
 DESCRIPTION               EXPENSES                              PERIOD
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------


                        FOR THE YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 1997
Reserve For
Doubtful
Accounts     ($422,517) ($1,058,999)             $256,190(1)   ($1,225,326)

Inventory
Allowance
For
Obsolescence
and Excess
Quantities  ($1,812,542) ($154,357)             $277,899(2)    ($1,689,000)
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
                        FOR THE YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 1996
Reserve For
Doubtful
Accounts      ($590,459) ($107,871)             $275,813(3)      ($422,517)

Inventory
Allowance
For
Obsolescence
and Excess    
Quantities  ($4,349,467)   $83,700             $2,453,225(4)   ($1,812,542)
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

                        FOR THE YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 1995
Reserve For
Doubtful
Accounts      ($320,000)  $124,205             ($394,664)(5)     ($590,459)

Inventory
Allowance
For
Obsolescence
and Excess
Quantities    ($812,389)  $469,664             ($4,006,742)(6)   ($4,349,467)
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Decrease due to bad debt write-offs, bad debt recoveries and changes in
    estimate.

(2)  Decrease due to inventory disposed of and changes in estimate.

(3)  Decrease due to bad debt  write-offs,  bad debt  recoveries  and changes in
estimate.  Offsetting  increase of $80,000 due to the  acquisition  of Omni-Tech
Medical, Inc.

(4) Decrease due to  inventory  disposed of and changes in estimate.  Offsetting
increase of $105,470 due to the acquisition of Omni-Tech Medical, Inc.

(5) Increase of $404,993 due to the acquisition of B&F Medical  Products,  Inc.,
Bear  Medical  Systems,  Inc. and BiCore  Monitoring  Systems,  Inc.  Offsetting
decrease  due to bad  debt  write-offs,  bad  debt  recoveries  and  changes  in
estimate.

(6) Increase of $5,369,689 due to the acquisition of B&F Medical Products, Inc.,
Bear  Medical  Systems,  Inc. and BiCore  Monitoring  Systems,  Inc.  Offsetting
decrease due to inventory disposed of and changes in estimate.

                                      S-2
<PAGE>

                                INDEX TO EXHIBITS



   Exhibit

    NO.                         DESCRIPTION

    3.1   Amended and Restated  Certificate of  Incorporation  of the Registrant
          (filed as Exhibit 3(1) to the Company's Registration Statement on Form
          S-1, as amended,  Registration No. 33-40128, filed with the Commission
          on May 8, 1991 (the "Registration  Statement") and incorporated herein
          by reference)

    3.2   By-Laws  of  the  Registrant   (filed  as  Exhibit  3(2)  to  the
          Registration Statement and incorporated herein by reference)

    4.1   Certificate of  Designations,  Preferences and Rights of Series A
          Preferred Stock of Allied Healthcare  Products,  Inc. dated August 21,
          1996

   10.1   Lease Agreement,  dated June 30, 1988, between Luke D. Wenger and
          Shirley A. Wenger and Timeter Instrument Corporation (filed as Exhibit
          10(14)  to the  Registration  Statement  and  incorporated  herein  by
          reference)

   10.2   NCG Trademark License  Agreement,  dated April 16, 1982,  between
          Liquid Air Corporation and Allied Healthcare Products,  Inc. (filed as
          Exhibit 10(24) to the Registration  Statement and incorporated  herein
          by reference)

   10.3   Allied  Healthcare  Products,  Inc. 1991 Directors  Non-Qualified
          Stock  Option  Plan  (filed  as  Exhibit  10(25)  to the  Registration
          Statement and incorporated herein by reference)

   10.4   Allied  Healthcare  Products,  Inc. 1991  Employee  Non-Qualified
          Stock  Option  Plan  (filed  as  Exhibit  10(26)  to the  Registration
          Statement and incorporated herein by reference)

   10.6   Employee  Stock  Purchase  Plan (filed with the  Commission as Exhibit
          10(45) to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year
          ended June 30, 1992 (the "1992 Form 10-K") and incorporated  herein by
          reference)

   10.7   Amendment  to  Allied  Healthcare   Products,   Inc.  1991  Directors
          Non-Qualified  Stock Option  Plan  dated  September 14, 1992 (filed as
          Exhibit 10(46) to the 1992 Form 10-K and incorporated herein 
          by reference)

   10.8   First Amendment to Lease  Agreement,  dated January 24, 1992,  between
          Luke  D.  Wenger  and   Shirley  A.  Wenger  and  Timeter   Instrument
          Corporation  (filed  as  Exhibit  10(32)  to the  1993  Form  10-K and
          incorporated herein by reference)

   10.9   Allied  Healthcare  Products,  Inc. 1994  Employee  Stock  Option Plan
          (filed with the  Commission  as Exhibit   10(39)   to  the  1994  Form
          10-K  and incorporated herein by reference)

<PAGE>


  10.10   Allied Healthcare  Products,  Inc. 1995 Directors  Non-Qualified Stock
          Option  Plan  (filed with the  Commissioner  as Exhibit  10(25) to the
          Company's  Annual  Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal  year ended June
          30, 1995 (the "1995 Form 10-K") and incorporated herein by reference)

  10.11   Lease dated as of November 4, 1993 between  Essup Part and B&F Medical
          Products,  Inc.  (filed with the  Commission as Exhibit  10(43) to the
          1994 Form 10-K and incorporated herein by reference)

  10.12   Commercial  Lease  and  Deposit  Receipt  between  Hospital   Systems,
          Inc. and 5301 Adeline Associates,  a  California  Limited  Partnership
          (filed with the  Commission as Exhibit  10(47) to the 1994  Form  10-K
          and  incorporated  herein by reference)

  10.13   Lease  dated as of December  27, 1982 by and between  B.M.S./Riverside
          Limited  Partnership  and Intermed  Holdings,  Inc., as amended (filed
          with the  Commission  as  Exhibit  10(31)  to the 1995  Form  10-K and
          incorporated herein by reference)

  10.14   Assignment of Lease dated  October 3, 1988 by Intermed Holdings,  Inc.
          to Bear Medical Systems, Inc. (filed  with  the  Commission as Exhibit
          10(32)  to the 1995  Form  10-K and  incorporated herein by reference)

  10.15   Warehouse Lease dated December 7, 1990 by and between  Mineola/Hemmer,
          L.P.  and Bear  Medical Systems,  Inc.  (filed  with   the  Commission
          as Exhibit 10(33) to the  1995  Form  10-K  and incorporated herein by
          reference)

  10.16   Memorandum of Agreement dated April 19, 1995 covering April 16, 1995 -
          April 15, 1998 between Allied  Healthcare  Products,  Inc.,  Chemetron
          Medical Division and International  Chemical Workers Union,  Local No.
          626 (filed with the Commission as Exhibit 10(35) to the 1995 Form 10-K
          and incorporated herein by reference)

  10.17   Consulting  and  Severance  Agreement  dated as of  September  1, 1996
          between Allied Healthcare  Products,  Inc. and David V. LaRusso (filed
          with the Commissioner as Exhibit 10(31) to the Company's Annual Report
          on Form  10-K  (the  "1996  Form  10-K")  and  incorporated  herein by
          reference)

  10.18   Amended and Restated  Credit  Facilities  Agreement  dated October 13,
          1995  by  and  among  Allied   Healthcare   Products,   Inc.  and  its
          subsidiaries  and The  Boatman's  National  Bank of St. Louis as agent
          (filed with the  Commission  as Exhibit 1 to the  Company's  Quarterly
          Report on Form  10-Q for the  quarter  ended  September  30,  1995 and
          incorporated herein by reference)

  10.19   Underwriting  Agreement  dated September 28, 1995 by and among  Allied
          Healthcare  Products,  Inc., and Cowen  & Company,  Dillon, Read & Co.
          Inc.  and  A.G.  Edwards  &  Sons, Inc.,  as  representatives  of  the
          underwriters  (filed  as  Exhibit 2 to the Company's Quarterly  Report
          on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 1995 and incorporated
          herein by reference)
<PAGE>


  10.20   Allied  Healthcare  Products,  Inc. Amended 1994 Employee Stock Option
          Plan  (filed  with  the Commissioner  as  Exhibit  10(28) to  the 1996
          Form 10-K and incorporated herein by reference)

  10.21   Amendment  Number  One  to  Amended  and  Restated  Credit  Facilities
          Agreement  dated April 19, 1996 among The  Boatmen's  National Bank of
          St. Louis, as Agent, and The Boatmen's  National Bank of St. Louis and
          the other lenders listed on the signature  pages thereof,  as Lenders,
          and Allied Healthcare  Products,  Inc., and the other borrowers listed
          on  the  signature  pages  thereof,   as  Borrowers  (filed  with  the
          Commission  as Exhibit  10(29) to the 1996 Form 10-K and  incorporated
          herein by reference)

  10.22   Amendment  Number  Two  to  Amended  and  Restated  Credit  Facilities
          Agreement dated September 23,1996 among The Boatmen's National bank of
          St. Louis, as Agent, and The Boatmen's  National Bank of St. Louis and
          the other lenders listed on the signature  pages thereof,  as Lenders,
          and Allied Healthcare  Products,  Inc., and the other borrowers listed
          on  the  signature  pages  thereof,   as  Borrowers  (filed  with  the
          Commission  as Exhibit  10(30) to the 1996 Form 10-K and  incorporated
          herein by reference)

  10.23   Rights  Agreement,  dated  August  21,  1996  by  and  between  Allied
          Healthcare  Products,  Inc. and  Boatmen's  Trust  Company,  as Rights
          Agreement  (filed with the  Commission  as an Exhibit to the Company's
          Current  Report  on Form 8-K dated  August  7,  1995 and  incorporated
          herein by reference)

  10.24   Employment  Agreement  dated November 19, 1996 by and  between  Allied
          Healthcare Products, Inc. and Uma N. Aggarwal (filed as Exhibit  10(1)
          to the Company's  Quarterly  Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
          December 31, 1996 and  incorporated herein by reference)

  10.25   Option Agreement  dated November 19, 1996  between  Allied  Healthcare
          Products,  Inc.  and  Uma  N. Aggarwal (Filed as Exhibit 10(2) to  the
          Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December
          31, 1996 and  incorporated herein by reference)

  10.26   Option  Agreement dated  November 19, 1996 between  Allied  Healthcare
          Products,  Inc.  and  Uma  N. Aggarwal   (filed   as   Exhibit   10(3)
          to  the Company's  Quarterly  Report on Form 10-Q for the quater ended
          December 31, 1996 and  incorporated herein by reference)

  10.27   Letter  Agreement dated December 16, 1997  between  Allied  Healthcare
          Products,  Inc.  and Barry F. Baker  (filed  as  Exhibit  10(4) to the
          Company's  Quarterly  Report  on  Form  10-Q  for  the  quarter  ended
          December 31, 1996 and  incorporated  herein by reference)

  10.28   Letter Agreement  dated December 16, 1997 Allied Healthcare  Products,
          Inc.  and  Gabriel S. Kohn (filed as Exhibit 10(5) to  the   Company's
          Quarterly  Report  on Form  10-Q for the  quarter  ended  December 31,
          1996 and  incorporated  herein by reference)

<PAGE>

  10.29   Letter  Agreement  dated December  16, 1997 between Allied  Healthcare
          Products, Inc.  and David A. Grabowski (filed  as Exhibit 10(6) to the
          Company's   Quarterly   Report  for  the  quarter  ending December 31,
          1996 and incorporated  herein by reference)

  10.30   May 14,  1997  Waiver and  Agreement  dated May 14,  1997 by and among
          Allied Healthcare Products,  Inc., Life Support Products,  Inc., B & F
          Medical Products,  Inc., Hospital Systems, Inc., Bear Medical Systems,
          Inc. and BiCore Monitoring Systems, Inc., as Borrowers, The Boatmen's'
          National Bank of St. Louis,  individually  and as Agent under the Loan
          Agreement  and of the  other  lenders  listed on the  signature  pages
          thereof.

  10.31   Loan and Security  Agreement,  dated as of August 7, 1997 by and among
          Allied Healthcare Products,  Inc., B & F Medical Products,  Inc., Bear
          Medical Systems,  Inc., Hospital Systems,  Inc., Life Support Products
          Inc., and BiCore Monitoring Systems, Inc., as Borrowers,  and Foothill
          Capital Corporation

  10.32   Note  Purchase  Agreement,  dated  August  7, 1997 by and among Allied
          Healthcare Products, Inc., B & F Medical Products, Inc., Bear  Medical
          Systems,  Inc., Hospital Systems, Inc., Life  Support  Products, Inc.,
          BiCore Monitoring Systems, Inc. and the Purchasers named therein

  10.33   Promissory  Note dated  August 7, 1997  issued by   Allied  Healthcare
          Products,  Inc. and purchased by Woodbourne Partners, L.P.

  10.34   Promissory  Note dated  August 7, 1997  issued by   Allied  Healthcare
          Products,  Inc. and purchased by Donald E. Nickelson

  10.35   Promissory  Note dated  August 7, 1997  issued  by  Allied  Healthcare
          Products,  Inc. and purchased by Dennis W. Sheehan

  10.36   Warrant  dated  August 7,  1997  issued by Allied Healthcare Products,
          Inc. in favor of Woodbourne Partners, L.P.

  10.37   Warrant  dated  August 7,  1997  issued by Allied Healthcare Products,
          Inc. in favor of Donald E. Nickelson

  10.38   Warrant  dated  August 7,  1997  issued by Allied Healthcare Products,
          Inc. in favor of Dennis W. Sheehan

  10.39   Agreement  effective  as of June 1, 1997  between Allied  Healthcare
          Products,  Inc.  and District No. 9  International  Association  of  
          Machinists and Aerospace Workers

  10.40   Agreement   dated   September   4,  1997  between Hospital  Systems,
          Inc. and Local Union No. 2131 of the  International  Brotherhood  of 
          Electrical Workers  covering  the period from May 1, 1997 to
          April 30, 1998

  10.41   Full-Time  Employment Policy Agreement dated July 3, 1997  between B&F
          Medical  Products,  Inc. and B&F Employee Committee

     13   Annual Report to Stockholders
     21   Subsidiaries of the Registrant
     23   Consent of Price Waterhouse LLP
     24   Powers of Attorney

<PAGE>

     27   Financial Data Schedule


                        MAY 14, 1997 WAIVER AND AGREEMENT


         Reference  is hereby made to that certain  Amended and Restated  Credit
Facilities Agreement dated as of October 13, 1995 by and among Allied Healthcare
Products, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("Allied"),  Life Support Products, Inc.,
a  California  corporation  ("LSP"),  B&F  Medical  Products,  Inc.,  a Delaware
corporation,  ("B&F"), Hospital Systems, Inc., a California corporation ("HSI"),
Bear  Medical  Systems,  Inc.,  a  California  corporation  ("BMS")  and  BiCore
Monitoring Systems, Inc., a California corporation ("BiCore") (Allied, LSP, B&F,
HSI, BMS and BiCore are hereinafter referred to individually and collectively as
"Borrower"),   The  Boatmen's   National  Bank  of  St.  Louis,   ("Boatmen's"),
individually and as Agent under the Loan Agreement, and the other lenders listed
on the  signature  pages  thereof  ("Lender")  (as the same has been  amended or
modified prior to the date hereof, the "Loan Agreement"). Capitalized terms used
and not otherwise  defined  herein shall have the meanings  given thereto in the
Loan Agreement.

         Borrower has notified  Lenders that Borrower is not in compliance  with
certain of the  covenants  contained  in Section 17 of the Loan  Agreement  with
respect to the fiscal period ending March 31, 1997 (the "Affected Period"). Such
non-compliance  constitutes  an  Event of  Default  under  the  Loan  Agreement.
Borrower has  requested  that Lenders  waive all Events of Default in connection
with the covenants contained in Section 17 with respect to the Affected Period.

         Upon the terms and conditions contained herein,  Lenders are willing to
waive such Events of Default for a limited  period of time, as set forth herein,
and in  consideration  of  the  foregoing,  and  for  other  good  and  valuable
consideration,  the Borrower, the Agent and the undersigned Lenders hereby agree
as follows:

1. WAIVER.  Borrower  hereby  represents that it is in  non-compliance  with the
covenants  contained in 17.5,  17.7,  17.8, and 17.10 of the Loan Agreement with
respect to the Affected  Period.  Subject to  satisfaction of the conditions set
forth herein,  Lenders hereby agree to waive all Events of Default in connection
with Borrower's non-compliance with the covenants contained in 17.5, 17.7, 17.8,
and 17.10 of the Loan  Agreement  with respect to the Affected  Period.  Lenders
further agree to waive the Event of Default occurring pursuant to Section 18.1.9
(vi) of the Loan  Agreement  as a result  of  Borrower's  corporate  resolutions
authorizing the filing of a petition in bankruptcy, such resolutions having been
enacted on or about May 14, 1997.  Borrower  hereby  represents  to Lenders that
such resolutions have been rescinded.

2.    WAIVER CHARGES.  In consideration for and as a condition precedent to
this Agreement, Borrower hereby agrees that it shall pay to Agent for the
ratable benefit of Lenders, "Waiver Charges" as follows:



<PAGE>


      2.1  UPFRONT  CHARGE.  On May  14,  1997,  June  14,  1997  (if  the  Loan
Obligations  have not been repaid in full by such  date),  and July 14, 1997 (if
the Loan Obligations have not been repaid in full by such date),  Borrower shall
pay in cash on each of those days an  additional  Waiver Charge in the amount of
$50,000.00; and

      2.2. WAIVER CHARGES.  On May 14, 1997, Borrower shall accrue an additional
Waiver Charge to the Lenders in the amount of  $300,000.00,  which Waiver Charge
shall be payable in cash on the Revolver  Maturity Date.  Commencing  August 15,
1997 (if the Loan  Obligations  have not been repaid in full by such date),  and
from time to time  thereafter,  the Agent upon  written  notice to Borrower  may
require and cause Allied to issue an amount,  calculated as set forth below,  of
shares (in such name,  number of certificates  and shares per certificate as the
Agent  may  from  time to  time  specify,  including  future  substitutions  and
exchanges  as may be  requested  by the Agent to Allied) of the common  stock of
Allied in exchange for all or a portion of said Waiver Charge.  Allied agrees to
file a  registration  statement  with  respect to the transfer of such shares as
soon as  practicable  following such issuance and agrees to use its best efforts
to  cause  such  registration  statement  to be  declared  effective  as soon as
practicable, but in any event within 90 days thereof. The amount of shares to be
issued  from time to time  shall be as  follows:  the  percentage  of the Waiver
Charge  subject  to the  requested  exchange  specified  in the  Agent's  notice
multiplied by 90,000  shares.  Each Lender,  upon written  notice to Agent,  may
require the Agent to deliver the notice hereunder and to require the exchange of
said Lender's then share amount, or any portion thereof, in the Waiver Charge in
the  same  percentage  as  said  Lender's  then  percentage  share  of the  Loan
Obligations.

3.  SPECIFIC  WAIVER.  The waiver made hereby is specific in intent and is valid
only for the specific purpose for which given.  Except as specifically set forth
herein,  the execution,  delivery and  effectiveness of this Agreement shall not
operate as a waiver of any right, power or remedy of Agent and Lenders under any
of the Loan  Documents,  nor  constitute a waiver of any provision of any of the
Loan Documents.  Nothing contained herein shall obligate Agent and/or Lenders to
give  additional  waivers  of any  provisions  of any  of  the  Loan  Documents,
including but not limited to Section 17 of the Loan Agreement.

4.    AMENDMENTS TO LOAN AGREEMENT.

      4.1 Section 20.4.1 of the Loan Agreement is amended by deleting the phrase
"to one or more banks or financial  institutions."  Section 20.4.1.1 of the Loan
Agreement is amended by deleting its provisions and inserting the following:

                  "Agent shall have accepted the assignment, which acceptance
                  shall not be unreasonably withheld."

      4.2   Section 15.19 of the Loan Agreement is amended by adding the
following:

                                       2

<PAGE>


                    "In  particular,   Borrower   promptly  upon  request  shall
                    provide,   and  shall   direct   Borrower's   advisors   and
                    consultants to provide,  to the Agent for the benefit of the
                    Lenders  such  information  that the Agent may request  from
                    Borrower with respect to Borrower's  efforts to (i) sell the
                    Borrower or any of its subsidiaries,  divisions, or lines of
                    business;  or (ii) refinance all or part of the Indebtedness
                    to the Lenders. Additionally,  Borrower within ten days from
                    the date  hereof  shall  retain  and  thereafter  cause  the
                    Corporate  Finance,  Recovery  and  Dispute  Group  of Price
                    Waterhouse LLP to provide to the Agent such information that
                    the Agent may require  pursuant to Section 15.19,  including
                    but not  limited  to,  information  and  analysis  regarding
                    Borrower's proposals for a possible longer term refinancing,
                    restructuring  or other  repayment of the Loan  Obligations,
                    subject to the requirements of the Loan Agreement, including
                    any and all necessary approvals,  consents and agreements of
                    the Agent and the Lenders.  Price  Waterhouse and said Group
                    are  hereby  authorized  and  directed  by the  Borrower  to
                    provide such information to the Agent for the benefit of the
                    Lenders. Any requests by the Agent hereunder for information
                    from Price  Waterhouse  or said Group may not  thereafter be
                    withdrawn, absent the approval of the Supermajority Lenders.
                    All fees and expenses  payable to Price  Waterhouse and said
                    Group shall be the sole responsibility of the Borrower.  The
                    Agent and the Lenders  shall have no liability or obligation
                    with  respect to any of Price  Waterhouse's  or said Group's
                    fees and expenses.

      4.3 For the period  ending  August 15,  1997,  Section  16.2.1 of the Loan
Agreement is amended by deleting "90" and inserting "135."

5.  REPRESENTATIONS  AND WARRANTIES OF BORROWER.  Borrower hereby represents and
warrants  to  Lenders  that  (i) this  Agreement  has been  duly  authorized  by
Borrower's  Board of Directors,  (ii) no consents are  necessary  from any third
parties for Borrower's  execution,  delivery or  performance of this  Agreement,
(iii) this  Agreement  constitutes  the legal,  valid and binding  obligation of
Borrower enforceable against Borrower in accordance with its terms except as the
enforcement  thereof  may be limited  by  bankruptcy,  insolvency  or other laws
related  to  creditors   rights  generally  or  by  the  application  of  equity
principles,  (iv) to the best of Borrower's knowledge, after due inquiry, except
as disclosed on the disclosure  schedule  attached  hereto as Exhibit 13, all of
the  representations  and  warranties  contained  in  Section  13  of  the  Loan
Agreement, as amended by this Agreement, are true


                                       3
<PAGE>


and correct in all material  respects  with the same force and effect as if made
on and as of the effective date of this  Agreement,  except that with respect to
the  representations  and warranties  made  regarding  financial data in Section
13.15, such  representations  and warranties are hereby made with respect to the
most recent Financial  Statements and other financial data (in the form required
by the Loan  Agreement)  delivered  by Borrower  to Lenders,  (v) to the best of
Borrower's knowledge, after due inquiry, there is no Default which is continuing
and no Event of Default has occurred under the Loan Agreement as amended by this
Agreement,  and  (vi)  the  Loan  Agreement  (as  modified  by  this  Agreement)
represents  the legal,  valid and binding  obligation  of Borrower,  enforceable
against  Borrower in  accordance  with its terms,  except to the extent that the
enforceability   thereof   against   Borrower  may  be  limited  by  bankruptcy,
insolvency,  fraudulent conveyance,  reorganization,  moratorium or similar laws
affecting  the  enforceability  of creditor's  rights  generally or by equitable
principles of general application  (whether considered in an action at law or in
equity).  6.  REAFFIRMATION.  Borrower hereby acknowledges and confirms that (i)
except as expressly  amended hereby the Loan Agreement remains in full force and
effect, (ii) Borrower has no defenses to its obligation under the Loan Agreement
and the other Loan Documents,  (iii) the Security Interests of Agent and Lenders
under the  Security  Documents  secure all the Loan  Obligations  under the Loan
Agreement  as amended by this  Agreement,  continue in full force and effect and
have the same priority as before this Agreement,  and (iv) Borrower has no claim
against  Agent  or any  Lender  arising  from or in  connection  with  the  Loan
Agreement  or the other  Loan  Documents.  To the extent  Borrower  may have any
claims against Agent or any Lender  arising from or in connection  with the Loan
Agreement,  the other Loan Documents or any act or failure to act on the part of
Agent or any Lender prior to the date of this Agreement,  Borrower hereby waives
and  releases  the  Agent  and the  Lenders,  including  any of their  officers,
directors,  agents,  advisors,  attorneys or  representatives,  from any and all
claims, debts, damages, demands, liabilities, obligations and suits, of whatever
kind or nature, and any damages, liabilities, losses, costs or expenses incurred
by Borrower and any of its affiliates in connection therewith.

7.    GOVERNING LAW.  This Agreement has been executed and delivered in St.
Louis, Missouri, and shall be governed by and construed under the laws of the
State of Missouri without giving effect to choice or conflicts of law
principles thereunder.

8.    SECTION TITLES.  The section titles in this Agreement are for
convenience of reference only and shall not be construed so as to modify any
provisions of this Agreement.

9. COUNTERPARTS;  FACSIMILE TRANSMISSIONS. This Agreement may be executed in one
or more counterparts and on separate counterparts, each of which shall be deemed
an  original,  but all of  which  together  shall  constitute  one and the  same
instrument.  A  counterpart  of  this  Agreement  or a  signature  page  of this
Agreement transmitted by facsimile machine or telecopier and showing a signature
shall have the same binding effect

                                       4

<PAGE>


as an original bearing an original signature.  No party may raise the use of
a facsimile machine or telecopier or the fact that any signature was
transmitted through the use of a facsimile or telecopier machine as a defense
to the enforcement of this Agreement.

10.   INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE.  Lenders and Borrower hereby agree that all
of the terms of the Loan Documents are incorporated in and made a part of
this Agreement by this reference.

11.   STATUTORY NOTICE.  The following notice is given pursuant to Section
432.045 of the Missouri Revised Statutes; nothing contained in such notice
will be deemed to limit or modify the terms of the Loan Documents or this
Agreement:

         ORAL  AGREEMENTS  OR  COMMITMENTS  TO LOAN MONEY,  EXTEND  CREDIT OR TO
         FORBEAR FROM ENFORCING REPAYMENT OF A DEBT INCLUDING PROMISES TO EXTEND
         OR RENEW SUCH DEBT ARE NOT ENFORCEABLE. TO PROTECT YOU BORROWER(S)) AND
         US (CREDITOR) FROM  MISUNDERSTANDING OR DISAPPOINTMENT,  ANY AGREEMENTS
         WE REACH COVERING SUCH MATTERS ARE CONTAINED IN THIS WRITING,  WHICH IS
         THE  COMPLETE AND  EXCLUSIVE  STATEMENT  OF THE  AGREEMENT  BETWEEN US,
         EXCEPT AS WE MAY LATER AGREE IN WRITING TO MODIFY IT.

BORROWER AND LENDERS HEREBY AFFIRM THAT THERE IS NO UNWRITTEN ORAL CREDIT
AGREEMENT BETWEEN BORROWER AND LENDERS WITH RESPECT TO THE SUBJECT MATTER OF
THIS AGREEMENT.

                          [Next Page is Signature Page]

                                       5

<PAGE>


         IN WITNESS WHEREOF,  the parties have caused this Agreement to be dully
executed by appropriate duly authorized officers as of May 14, 1997.

ALLIED HEALTHCARE PRODUCTS, INC.        LIFE SUPPORT PRODUCTS, INC.


        /s/ Barry F. Baker                    /s/ Barry F. Baker
By:  ______________________________     By:  ______________________________
Name:  Barry F. Baker                        Name:  Barry F. Baker 
Title:  VP Finance and CFO                   Title:  VP Finance and CFO
                                        
                                        

B&F MEDICAL PRODUCTS, INC.              HOSPITAL SYSTEMS, INC.




        /s/ Barry F. Baker                      /s/ Barry F. Baker
By:  ______________________________     By:  ______________________________
Name:  Barry F. Baker                   Name:  Barry F. Baker
Title:  VP Finance and CFO              Title:  VP Finance and CFO


BEAR MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC.              BICORE MONITORING SYSTEMS, INC.


                                                
                                        
        /s/ Barry F. Baker                   /s/ Barry F. Baker
By:  ______________________________     By:  ______________________________
Name:  Barry F. Baker                   Name:  Barry F. Baker
Title:  VP Finance and CFO              Title:  VP Finance and CFO


THE BOATMEN'S NATIONAL BANK OF ST.      DRESDNER BANK A.G. NEW YORK AND
LOUIS                                   GRAND CAYMAN BRANCHES


         /s/ Robert W. Patton                  /s/ Thomas J. Nadramia
By:  ______________________________     By: ______________________________
Name:  Robert W. Patton                 Name:  Thomas J. Nadramia
Title:  Vice President                  Title:  Vice President

                                       6
<PAGE>


FIRST BANK                              LASALLE NATIONAL BANK


        /s/ Brenda J. Laux                     /s/ David Klapp
By:  ______________________________     By:  ______________________________
Name:  Brenda J. Laux                   Name:  David Klapp
Title:  Senior Vice President           Title:  Vice President


THE SUMITOMO BANK, LIMITED              CREDITANSTALT CORPORATE FINANCE, INC.


                                               /s/ Christina T. Schoen
By:  ______________________________     By:  ______________________________
Name:  ___________________________      Name:  Christina T. Schoen
Title:  ____________________________    Title:  Vice President


                                               /s/ Arthur W. Seidel
By:  ______________________________     By:  ______________________________
Name:  ___________________________      Name:  Arthur W. Seidel
Title:  ____________________________    Title:  Vice President
                                        


MERCANTILE BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION    PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION


        /s/ Louis Hermann
By:  ______________________________     By:  ______________________________
Name:  Louis Hermann                    Name:  ___________________________
Title:  Vice President                  Title:  ____________________________


SANWA BUSINESS CREDIT CORPORATION


        /s/ Frank Sierdevich
By:  ______________________________
Name:  Frank Sierdevich
Title:  Vice President

                                       7

<PAGE>

                                   EXHIBIT 13

                ADDITIONS TO EXHIBIT 13 OF THE LOAN AGREEMENT



None, if nothing listed below.

                                       8





                         LOAN AND SECURITY AGREEMENT


                                    among


                      ALLIED HEALTHCARE PRODUCTS, INC.,
                         B&F MEDICAL PRODUCTS, INC.,
                         BEAR MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC.,
                           HOSPITAL SYSTEMS, INC.,
                         LIFE SUPPORT PRODUCTS, INC.,


                                     and


                       BICORE MONITORING SYSTEMS, INC.,
                        as Borrowers, on the one hand,


                                     and


                        FOOTHILL CAPITAL CORPORATION,
                              on the other hand





                          Dated as of August 7, 1997




<PAGE>

                              TABLE OF CONTENTS

                                                                        Page(s)

1.       DEFINITIONS AND CONSTRUCTION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
         1.1   Definitions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  1
         1.2   Accounting Terms. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  16
         1.3   Code. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  16
         1.4   Construction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  16
         1.5   Schedules and Exhibits. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  17

2.       LOAN AND TERMS OF PAYMENT. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
         2.1   Revolving Advances. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17
         2.2   Letters of Credit. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
         2.3   Term Loans. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20
         2.4   Intentionally Omitted. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
         2.5   Overadvances. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21
         2.6   Interest and Letter of Credit Fees:  Rates, Payments, and
                 Calculations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  21
         2.7   Collection of Accounts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  22
         2.8   Crediting Payments; Application of Collections. . . . . . .  22
         2.9   Designated Account. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  23
         2.10  Maintenance of Loan Account; Statements of Obligations. .  . 23
         2.11  Fees. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  24

3.       CONDITIONS; TERM OF AGREEMENT. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   24
         3.1   Conditions Precedent to the Initial Advance, the
                 Initial Letter of Credit, and the Term Loans.. . . . . .   24
         3.2   Conditions Precedent to all Advances, all Letters
                 of Credit and the Term Loans. . . . . . . . . . . . .      26
         3.3   Condition Subsequent. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27
         3.4   Term. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  27
         3.5   Effect of Termination. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
         3.6   Early Termination by Borrowers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27
         3.7   Termination Upon Event of Default. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

4.       CREATION OF SECURITY INTEREST. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
         4.1   Grant of Security Interest. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28
         4.2   Negotiable Collateral. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
         4.3   Collection of Accounts, General Intangibles,
                 and Negotiable Collateral. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
         4.4   Delivery of Additional Documentation Required. . . . . . . . 29
         4.5   Power of Attorney. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
         4.6   Right to Inspect. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29

<PAGE>

5.       REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
         5.1   No Encumbrances. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30
         5.2   Eligible Accounts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30
         5.3   Eligible Inventory. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
         5.4   Equipment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30
         5.5   Location of Inventory and Equipment. . . . . . . . . . . . .30
         5.6   Inventory Records. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30
         5.7   Location of Chief Executive Office; FEIN. . . . . . . . . . 30
         5.8   Due Organization and Qualification; Subsidiaries. . . . . . 31
         5.9   Due Authorization; No Conflict. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
         5.10  Litigation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
         5.11  No Material Adverse Change. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
         5.12  Solvency. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
         5.13  Employee Benefits. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33
         5.14  Environmental Condition. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33

6.       AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33
         6.1   Accounting System. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33
         6.2   Collateral Reporting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
         6.3   Financial Statements, Reports, Certificates. . . . . . . . .34
         6.4   Tax Returns. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35
         6.5   Intentionally Deleted. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35
         6.6   Returns. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35
         6.7   Title to Equipment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
         6.8   Maintenance of Equipment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
         6.9   Taxes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36
         6.10  Insurance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36
         6.11  No Setoffs or Counterclaims. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38
         6.12  Location of Inventory and Equipment. . . . . . . . . . . . .38
         6.13  Compliance with Laws. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
         6.14  Employee Benefits. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38
         6.15  Leases. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

7.       NEGATIVE COVENANTS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
         7.1   Indebtedness. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
         7.2   Liens. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40
         7.3   Restrictions on Fundamental Changes. . . . . . . . . . . . .40
         7.4   Disposal of Assets. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
         7.5   Change Name. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40
         7.6   Guarantee. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40
<PAGE>

         7.7   Nature of Business. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
         7.8   Prepayments and Amendments. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
         7.9   Change of Control. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41
         7.10  Consignments. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
         7.11  Distributions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41
         7.12  Accounting Methods. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
         7.13  Investments. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41
         7.14  Transactions with Affiliates. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
         7.15  Suspension. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
         7.16  Intentionally Deleted. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42
         7.17  Use of Proceeds. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42
         7.18  Change in Location of Chief Executive Office;
                 Inventory and Equipment with Bailees. . . . . . . . . . . 42
         7.19  No Prohibited Transactions Under ERISA. . . . . . . . . . . 42
         7.20  Financial Covenants. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43
         7.21  Capital Expenditures. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

8.       EVENTS OF DEFAULT.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

9.       FOOTHILL'S RIGHTS AND REMEDIES.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47
         9.1   Rights and Remedies.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
         9.2   Remedies Cumulative. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49

10.      TAXES AND EXPENSES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49

11.      WAIVERS; INDEMNIFICATION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
         11.1  Demand; Protest; etc.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50
         11.2  Foothill's Liability for Collateral. . . . . . . . . . . . .50
         11.3  Indemnification. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50
         11.4  Joint Borrowers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50

12.      NOTICES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55

13.      CHOICE OF LAW AND VENUE; JURY TRIAL WAIVER. . . . . . . . . . . . 56

14.      DESTRUCTION OF BORROWERS' DOCUMENTS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57

15.      GENERAL PROVISIONS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
         15.1  Effectiveness. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57
         15.2  Successors and Assigns. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
         15.3  SECTION Headings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
         15.4  Interpretation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
         15.5  Severability of Provisions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58

<PAGE>

         15.6  Amendments in Writing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58
         15.7  Counterparts; Telefacsimile Execution. . . . . . . . . . . .58
         15.8  Revival and Reinstatement of Obligations. . . . . . . . . . 58
         15.9  Integration. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59

<PAGE>

SCHEDULES AND EXHIBITS


         Schedule E-1               Eligible Inventory Locations
         Schedule P-1               Permitted Liens
         Schedule R-1               Real Property Collateral
         Schedule 5.10              Litigation
         Schedule 5.13              ERISA Benefit Plans
         Schedule 6.12              Location of Inventory and Equipment

         Exhibit C-1                Form of Compliance Certificate




<PAGE>

                          LOAN AND SECURITY AGREEMENT

         THIS LOAN AND SECURITY AGREEMENT (this "Agreement"),  is entered into
as of August  7,  1997,  among  FOOTHILL  CAPITAL  CORPORATION,  a  California
corporation  ("Foothill"),  with a place of  business  located at 11111  Santa
Monica Boulevard,  Suite 1500, Los Angeles,  California 90025-3333, on the one
hand,  and  ALLIED   HEALTHCARE   PRODUCTS,   INC.,  a  Delaware   corporation
("Parent"),  B&F MEDICAL PRODUCTS,  INC., a Delaware corporation ("B&F"), BEAR
MEDICAL SYSTEMS,  INC., a California  corporation ("Bear"),  HOSPITAL SYSTEMS,
INC., a California  corporation  ("Hospital Systems"),  LIFE SUPPORT PRODUCTS,
INC., a California  corporation ("Life Support"),  BICORE MONITORING  SYSTEMS,
INC., a  California  corporation  ("Bicore")  each,  with its chief  executive
office located at 1720 Sublette  Avenue,  St. Louis,  Missouri  63110,  on the
other hand.


         The parties agree as follows:


         1. DEFINITIONS AND CONSTRUCTION.


            1.1   Definitions.  As  used  in  this  Agreement,  the  following
terms shall have the following definitions:

                  "Account  Debtor"  means any Person who is or who may become
obligated under, with respect to, or on account of, an Account.

                  "Accounts"  means  all  currently   existing  and  hereafter
arising  accounts,  contract rights,  and all other forms of obligations owing
to a Person  arising  out of the sale or  lease of goods or the  rendition  of
services by such Person,  irrespective of whether earned by  performance,  and
any and all credit insurance, guaranties, or security therefor.

                  "Advances" has the meaning set forth in SECTION 2.1(a).

                  "Affiliate"  means,  as  applied  to any  Person,  any other
Person who directly or indirectly controls,  is controlled by, is under common
control  with or is a director  or officer of such  Person.  For  purposes  of
this definition,  "control" means the possession,  directly or indirectly,  of
the power to vote 5% or more of the securities  having  ordinary  voting power
for the election of  directors  or the direct or indirect  power to direct the
management and policies of a Person.

                  "Agreement"  has  the  meaning  set  forth  in the  preamble
hereto.
                  "Authorized  Person" means any officer or other  employee of
Borrower.


                                       1
<PAGE>

                  "Average Unused Portion of Maximum  Revolving Amount" means,
as of any date of determination,  (a) the Maximum  Revolving Amount,  less (b)
the sum of (i) the average  Daily  Balance of Advances  that were  outstanding
during the immediately  preceding  month,  plus (ii) the average Daily Balance
of the undrawn Letters of Credit that were outstanding  during the immediately
preceding month.

                  "B&F"  has the  meaning  set forth in the  preamble  to this
Agreement.

                  "Bankruptcy  Code" means the United States  Bankruptcy  Code
(11 U.S.C. Section 101 et seq.), as amended, and any successor statute.

                  "Bear" has the  meaning  set forth in the  preamble  to this
Agreement.

                  "Benefit  Plan" means a "defined  benefit  plan" (as defined
in  SECTION  3(35) of ERISA) for which any  Borrower,  any  Subsidiary  of any
Borrower,  or any  ERISA  Affiliate  has been an  "employer"  (as  defined  in
SECTION 3(5) of ERISA) within the past six years.

                  "Bicore"  has the meaning set forth in the  preamble to this
Agreement.

                  "Borrower"  means any one of  Parent,  B&F,  Bear,  Hospital
Systems, Life Support or Bicore.

                  "Borrowers'   Books"  means  all  of  Borrowers'  books  and
records including:  ledgers;  records indicating,  summarizing,  or evidencing
Borrowers'  properties or assets  (including the  Collateral) or  liabilities;
all  information  relating to  Borrowers'  business  operations  or  financial
condition; and all computer programs, disk or tape files, printouts,  runs, or
other computer prepared information.

                  "Borrowing  Base"  has the  meaning  set  forth in  SECTION 
2.1(a).

                  "Business  Day"  means  any  day  that  is  not a  Saturday,
Sunday,  or other day on which  national  banks are  authorized or required to
close.

                  "Change  of  Control"  shall be deemed to have  occurred  at
such time as a "person" or "group"  (within the meaning of Sections  13(d) and
14(d)(2) of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of 1934)  becomes  the  "beneficial
owner" (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the  Securities  Exchange Act of 1934),
directly  or  indirectly,  of more than 20% of the total  voting  power of all
classes of stock then  outstanding  of any  Borrower  entitled  to vote in the
election of directors.

                  "Closing  Date"  means the date of the first to occur of the
making of the initial  Advance,  the issuance of the initial Letter of Credit,
or the funding of the Term Loans.


                                       2
<PAGE>


                  "Code" means the California Uniform Commercial Code.

                  "Collateral"   means  each  Borrower's  right,   title,  and
interest in each of the following:

                  (a)   Accounts,

                  (b)   Borrowers' Books,

                  (c)   Equipment,

                  (d)   General Intangibles,

                  (e)   Inventory,

                  (f)   Investment Property,

                  (g)   Negotiable Collateral,

                  (h)   Real Property Collateral,

                  (i)   any money,  or other assets of  Borrowers  that now or
hereafter come into the possession, custody, or control of Foothill, and

                  (j)   the  proceeds  and  products,   whether   tangible  or
intangible, of any of the foregoing,  including proceeds of insurance covering
any  or  all of the  Collateral  of  Borrowers,  and  any  and  all  Accounts,
Borrowers'  Books,  Equipment,  General  Intangibles,   Inventory,  Investment
Property,  Negotiable Collateral,  Real Property,  money, deposit accounts, or
other  tangible or  intangible  property  resulting  from the sale,  exchange,
collection,  or other  disposition  of any of the  foregoing,  or any  portion
thereof or interest therein, and the proceeds thereof.

                  "Collateral  Access  Agreement"  means  a  landlord  waiver,
mortgagee  waiver,   bailee  letter,  or  acknowledgement   agreement  of  any
warehouseman,  processor, lessor, consignee, or other Person in possession of,
having a Lien  upon,  or  having  rights  or  interests  in the  Equipment  or
Inventory of any Borrower,  in each case,  in form and substance  satisfactory
to Foothill.

                  "Collections"  means all cash, checks,  notes,  instruments,
and other items of payment (including,  insurance  proceeds,  proceeds of cash
sales, rental proceeds, and tax refunds).

                                       3
<PAGE>


                  "Compliance  Certificate" means a certificate  substantially
in the form of Exhibit C-1 and delivered by the chief accounting  officer of a
Borrower to Foothill.

                  "Consolidated  Current Assets" means, for any Person,  as of
any date of determination,  the aggregate amount of all current assets of such
Person that would,  in accordance  with GAAP, be classified on a balance sheet
as current assets.

                  "Consolidated  Current  Liabilities"  means, for any Person,
as of  any  date  of  determination,  the  aggregate  amount  of  all  current
liabilities of such Person that would,  in accordance with GAAP, be classified
on a balance sheet as current  liabilities.  For purposes of this  definition,
all  Obligations  outstanding  under  this  Agreement  shall be  deemed  to be
current  liabilities  without  regard to whether they would be deemed to be so
under GAAP.

                  "Daily  Balance"  means the amount of an Obligation  owed at
the end of a given day.

                  "deems itself  insecure"  means that the Person deems itself
insecure in accordance with the provisions of Section 1208 of the Code.

                  "Default" means an event,  condition,  or default that, with
the  giving of notice,  the  passage  of time,  or both,  would be an Event of
Default.

                  "Designated Account" means account number  10-0101-268682 of
Borrowers  maintained with Borrowers'  Designated  Account Bank, or such other
deposit  account of Borrowers  (located  within the United  States)  which has
been designated, in writing and from time to time, by Borrowers to Foothill.

                  "Designated  Account Bank" means  NationsBank,  N.A.,  whose
office is located at St. Louis, Missouri, and whose ABA number is 081000032.

                  "Dilution"  means, in each case based upon the experience of
the immediately  prior three months,  the result of dividing the Dollar amount
of (a) bad debt  write-downs,  discounts,  advertising,  returns,  promotions,
credits,  or other dilution with respect to the Accounts of Borrowers,  by (b)
Borrowers' Collections (excluding  extraordinary items) plus the Dollar amount
of clause (a).

            "Dilution Reserve" means, as of any date of determination, an
amount sufficient to reduce Foothill's advance rate against Eligible Accounts
by one percentage point for each percentage point by which Dilution is in
excess of 5.00%.

                                       4
<PAGE>


                  "Disbursement   Letter"   means  an   instructional   letter
executed and delivered by Borrowers to Foothill  regarding  the  extensions of
credit to be made on the Closing  Date,  the form and substance of which shall
be satisfactory to Foothill.

                  "Dollars or $" means United States dollars.

                  "Domestic  Eligible  Accounts" means Eligible  Accounts that
are payable in Dollars with respect to Account  Debtors  that  maintain  their
chief  executive  offices in the United  States;  however,  Domestic  Eligible
Accounts  shall not include:  (a) Accounts  with selling terms of more than 60
days,  (b) Accounts that the Account  Debtor has failed to pay within 120 days
of  invoice  date (but in no event  shall  more than  $1,000,000  of  domestic
Accounts  more than 90 days from  invoice  date be deemed  eligible),  and (c)
Accounts owed by an Account Debtor or its Affiliates  where 50% or more of all
Accounts  owed  by  that  Account  Debtor  (or  its   Affiliates)  are  deemed
ineligible under clause (b) above.

                  "Early  Termination  Premium"  has the  meaning set forth in
SECTION 3.6.

                  "EBITDA" means, for any Person,  the consolidated net income
of such Person and its Subsidiaries  (excluding  extraordinary  items) for the
prior 12 month  period (a) plus all  interest  expense,  income  tax  expense,
depreciation  and  amortization  (including  amortization  of any  goodwill or
other  intangibles)  for  the  period,  (b)  plus or  minus  losses  or  gains
attributable  to any fixed asset sales in the period and (c) plus or minus any
other non- cash charges  which have been  subtracted  or added in  calculating
consolidated  net income  for the  period.  The  calculation  of EBITDA  shall
exclude amortization of capitalized leases.

                  "Eligible  Accounts"  means  those  Accounts  created  by  a
Borrower  in  the  ordinary  course  of  business,  that  arise  out  of  such
Borrower's  sale of goods or rendition of services,  that strictly comply with
each and all of the  representations  and warranties  respecting Accounts made
by such  Borrower to Foothill in the Loan  Documents,  and that are and at all
times  continue  to be  acceptable  to  Foothill  in all  respects;  provided,
however,  that standards of eligibility  may be fixed and revised from time to
time by Foothill in Foothill's  reasonable credit judgment.  Eligible Accounts
shall not include the following:

                  (a)   Accounts  with respect to which the Account  Debtor is
an employee, Affiliate, or agent of a Borrower;

                  (b)   Accounts  with  respect  to which  goods are placed on
consignment,  guaranteed  sale,  sale or return,  sale on  approval,  bill and
hold, or other terms by reason of which the payment by the Account  Debtor may
be conditional;

                  (c)   Intentionally Omitted;
 
                                      5
<PAGE>


                  (d)   Accounts  with respect to which the Account  Debtor is
either (i) the United States or any department,  agency, or instrumentality of
the United States (exclusive,  however,  of Accounts with respect to which the
relevant  Borrower has complied,  to the  satisfaction  of Foothill,  with the
Assignment  of  Claims  Act, 31 U.S.C. Section 3727), or (ii) any State of the
United States (exclusive, however, of Accounts owed by any State that does not
have a statutory counterpart to the Assignment of Claims Act);

                  (e)   Accounts  with respect to which the Account  Debtor is
a  creditor  of any  Borrower,  has or has  asserted  a right of  setoff,  has
disputed its liability, or has made any claim with respect to the Account;

                  (f)   Accounts  with  respect  to an  Account  Debtor  whose
total  obligations  owing to the Borrowers exceed 10% of all Eligible Accounts
of the  Borrowers,  to the  extent of the  obligations  owing by such  Account
Debtor in excess of such percentage;

                  (g)   Accounts  with respect to which the Account  Debtor is
subject to any Insolvency  Proceeding,  or becomes  insolvent,  or goes out of
business;

                  (h)   Accounts  the  collection  of which  Foothill,  in its
reasonable  credit judgment,  believes to be doubtful by reason of the Account
Debtor's financial condition;

                  (i)   Accounts  with  respect to which the goods giving rise
to such Account have not been  shipped and billed to the Account  Debtor,  the
services  giving rise to such Account have not been  performed and accepted by
the Account Debtor, or the Account otherwise does not represent a final sale;

                  (j)   Accounts  with respect to which the Account  Debtor is
located in the  states of New  Jersey,  Minnesota,  or West  Virginia  (or any
other  state that  requires a creditor to file a Business  Activity  Report or
similar  document in order to bring suit or  otherwise  enforce  its  remedies
against such Account  Debtor in the courts or through any judicial  process of
such state),  unless the relevant Borrower has qualified to do business in New
Jersey,  Minnesota, West Virginia, or such other states, or has filed a Notice
of Business  Activities Report with the applicable  division of taxation,  the
department of revenue, or with such other state offices,  as appropriate,  for
the then-current year, or is exempt from such filing requirement; and

                  (k)   Accounts  that  represent  progress  payments or other
advance  billings  that are due prior to the  completion of  performance  by a
Borrower of the subject contract for goods or services.

                  "Eligible  Inventory"  means  Inventory  (net of cost  price
adjustments)  consisting of first quality  finished goods held for sale in the
ordinary course of a Borrower's



                                       6
<PAGE>

business and raw materials for such finished goods, including component
parts, that are located at or in-transit between such Borrower's premises
identified on Schedule E-1, that strictly comply with each and all of the
representations and warranties respecting Inventory made by such Borrower to
Foothill in the Loan Documents, and that are and at all times continue to be
acceptable to Foothill in all respects as reasonably determined by Foothill
pursuant to its standard credit policy; provided, however, that standards of
eligibility may be fixed and revised from time to time by Foothill in
Foothill's reasonable credit judgment.  In determining the amount to be so
included, Inventory shall be valued on a first in first out basis at the
lower of cost or market on a basis consistent with such Borrower's current
and historical accounting practices.  An item of Inventory shall not be
included in Eligible Inventory if:

                  (a)   it is not  owned  solely  by  such  Borrower  or  such
Borrower does not have good, valid, and marketable title thereto;

                  (b)   it is not  located at one of the  locations  set forth
on Schedule E-1;

                  (c)   it is not  located  on  property  owned or leased by a
Borrower or in a contract  warehouse,  in each case,  subject to a  Collateral
Access  Agreement  executed by the mortgagee,  lessor,  the  warehouseman,  or
other third party, as the case may be, and segregated or otherwise  separately
identifiable from goods of others, if any, stored on the premises;

                  (d)   it is not  subject  to a  valid  and  perfected  first
priority security interest in favor of Foothill;

                  (e)   it  consists  of goods  returned  or  rejected by such
Borrower's customers, goods held for return to vendor or goods in transit; and

                  (f)   it is  obsolete  or  slow  moving,  a  restrictive  or
custom item,  work-in-process,  or  constitutes  spare parts,  samples,  field
service inventory,  floor reject inventory,  packaging and shipping materials,
supplies used or consumed in such Borrower's business,  Inventory subject to a
Lien in favor of any  third  Person,  bill and hold  goods,  defective  goods,
"seconds," or Inventory acquired on consignment.

                  "Equipment"  means all of a Person's  present and  hereafter
acquired machinery, machine tools, motors, equipment, furniture,  furnishings,
fixtures,  vehicles  (including  motor vehicles and trailers),  tools,  parts,
goods (other than consumer  goods,  farm  products,  or  Inventory),  wherever
located,  including all attachments,  accessories,  accessions,  replacements,
substitutions, additions, and improvements to any of the foregoing.

                                       7
<PAGE>


                  "ERISA" means the Employee  Retirement  Income  Security Act
of  1974,  29  U.S.C.  Sections  1000 et  seq.,  amendments  thereto,  successor
statutes, and regulations or guidance promulgated thereunder.

                  "ERISA  Affiliate"  means  (a) any  corporation  subject  to
ERISA whose  employees  are  treated as  employed by the same  employer as the
employees of a Borrower  under IRC SECTION  414(b),  (b) any trade or business
subject to ERISA whose  employees are treated as employed by the same employer
as the  employees  of a  Borrower  under IRC  SECTION  414(c),  (c) solely for
purposes of SECTION 302 of ERISA and Section 412 of the IRC, any  organization
subject to ERISA that is a member of an  affiliated  service  group of which a
Borrower is a member under IRC SECTION  414(m),  or (d) solely for purposes of
Section 302 of ERISA and Section  412 of the IRC,  any party  subject to ERISA
that is a party to an  arrangement  with a Borrower  and whose  employees  are
aggregated with the employees of such Borrower under IRC Section 414(o).

                  "ERISA  Event" means (a) a Reportable  Event with respect to
any Benefit Plan or Multiemployer Plan, (b) the withdrawal of a Borrower,  any
of its  Subsidiaries  or ERISA  Affiliates  from a Benefit  Plan during a plan
year  in  which  it  was a  "substantial  employer"  (as  defined  in  Section
4001(a)(2)  of ERISA),  (c) the  providing  of notice of intent to terminate a
Benefit Plan in a distress  termination  (as  described in Section  4041(c) of
ERISA),  (d) the institution by the PBGC of proceedings to terminate a Benefit
Plan or  Multiemployer  Plan,  (e) any event or condition  (i) that provides a
basis under Section  4042(a)(1),  (2), or (3) of ERISA for the termination of,
or  the  appointment  of  a  trustee  to  administer,   any  Benefit  Plan  or
Multiemployer  Plan, or (ii) that may result in termination of a Multiemployer
Plan  pursuant  to  Section  4041A  of  ERISA,  (f) the  partial  or  complete
withdrawal  within  the  meaning  of  Sections  4203 and 4205 of  ERISA,  of a
Borrower,  any of its  Subsidiaries  or ERISA  Affiliates from a Multiemployer
Plan, or (g)  providing  any security to any Plan under Section  401(a)(29) of
the IRC by a Borrower or its Subsidiaries or any of their ERISA Affiliates.

                  "Event of Default" has the meaning set forth in Section 8.

                  "Existing  Lender"  means  NationsBank,  N.A. as agent for a
syndicated lending group, pursuant to a Loan Agreement dated October 13, 1995.

                  "FEIN" means Federal Employer Identification Number.

                  "Financing or Sale Event" means any of the  following  which
is approved by Foothill  in its  reasonable  discretion:  (a) a sale of all or
substantially  all of the issued and  outstanding  stock of any  Subsidiary of
Parent in one or a series of related  transactions or all or substantially all
of the assets of any  Subsidiary  or  division of Parent in one or a series of
related  transactions,  (b) a private  placement  of debt or equity by Parent,
(c) a public offering of debt or equity by Parent,  or (d) a capital  infusion
in Parent or any Subsidiary.

                                       8
<PAGE>

                  "Foothill"  has the  meaning  set forth in the  preamble  to
this Agreement.

                  "Foothill Account" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.7.

                  "Foothill   Expenses"   means   all:   costs   or   expenses
(including  taxes, and insurance  premiums)  required to be paid by a Borrower
under any of the Loan  Documents  that are paid or incurred by Foothill;  fees
or  charges  paid or  incurred  by  Foothill  in  connection  with  Foothill's
transactions  with  Borrowers,  including,  fees or charges for  photocopying,
notarization,  couriers  and  messengers,  telecommunication,   public  record
searches  (including  tax lien,  litigation,  and UCC searches  and  including
searches with the patent and trademark  office,  the copyright  office, or the
department  of motor  vehicles),  filing,  recording,  publication,  appraisal
(including  periodic Personal Property  Collateral or Real Property Collateral
appraisals),   real  estate   surveys,   real  estate   title   policies   and
endorsements,  and  environmental  audits;  costs  and  expenses  incurred  by
Foothill  in the  disbursement  of funds to  Borrowers  (by wire  transfer  or
otherwise);  charges paid or incurred by Foothill  resulting from the dishonor
of checks;  costs and  expenses  paid or  incurred  by Foothill to correct any
default  or  enforce  any  provision  of the  Loan  Documents,  or in  gaining
possession of, maintaining,  handling, preserving, storing, shipping, selling,
preparing for sale, or  advertising to sell the Personal  Property  Collateral
or the Real  Property  Collateral,  or any portion  thereof,  irrespective  of
whether  a sale  is  consummated;  costs  and  expenses  paid or  incurred  by
Foothill in  examining  Borrowers'  Books;  costs and  expenses of third party
claims  or any  other  suit paid or  incurred  by  Foothill  in  enforcing  or
defending  the  Loan  Documents  or  in  connection   with  the   transactions
contemplated by the Loan Documents or Foothill's  relationship  with Borrowers
or any  guarantor;  and  Foothill's  reasonable  attorneys  fees and  expenses
incurred  in  advising,  structuring,   drafting,  reviewing,   administering,
amending,   terminating,   enforcing,   defending,   or  concerning  the  Loan
Documents,  (including attorneys fees and expenses incurred in connection with
a  "workout,"  a  "restructuring,"  or  an  Insolvency  Proceeding  concerning
Borrowers or any guarantor of the  Obligations)  irrespective  of whether suit
is brought.

                  "Foreign  Eligible  Accounts"  means Eligible  Accounts with
respect to which the Account  Debtor  does not  maintain  its chief  executive
office in the United  States where the Accounts are either (i) supported by an
irrevocable letter of credit satisfactory to Foothill (as to form,  substance,
and  issuer or United  States  confirming  bank)  that has been  delivered  to
Foothill  and is directly  drawable  by  Foothill,  or (ii)  covered by credit
insurance  in form and amount,  and by an insurer,  satisfactory  to Foothill;
however,  Foreign  Eligible  Accounts  shall not include:  (a)  Accounts  with
selling terms of more than 90 days from invoice  date,  (b) Accounts more than
60 days from due date,  not to exceed  150 days  from  invoice  date,  and (c)
Accounts owed by an Account Debtor or its Affiliates  where 50% or

                                       9
<PAGE>

more of all Accounts owed by that Account Debtor (or its  Affiliates) are deemed
ineligible under clause (b) above.

                  "Free Cash Flow" for a period  means,  for any  Person,  the
total of such  Person's:  EBITDA  minus  interest  expense,  minus  cash taxes
paid,  minus scheduled  principal  payments on debt for borrowed money,  minus
actual  capital  expenditures  in each case as determined  in accordance  with
GAAP, plus or minus changes in working capital.

                  "GAAP" means generally accepted accounting  principles as in
effect from time to time in the United States, consistently applied.

                  "General  Intangibles" means all of any Person's present and
future general  intangibles and other personal  property  (including  contract
rights, rights arising under common law, statutes,  or regulations,  choses or
things in action, goodwill,  patents, trade names,  trademarks,  servicemarks,
copyrights,  blueprints, drawings, purchase orders, customer lists, monies due
or recoverable  from pension funds,  route lists,  rights to payment and other
rights  under  any  royalty  or  licensing  agreements,  infringement  claims,
computer  programs,   information   contained  on  computer  disks  or  tapes,
literature,  reports, catalogs,  deposit accounts,  insurance premium rebates,
tax  refunds,  and  tax  refund  claims),  other  than  goods,  Accounts,  and
Negotiable Collateral.

                  "Governing  Documents"  means the certificate or articles of
incorporation,  by-laws, or other organizational or governing documents of any
Person.

                  "Hazardous  Materials" means (a) substances that are defined
or listed in, or  otherwise  classified  pursuant to, any  applicable  laws or
regulations  as  "hazardous  substances,"  "hazardous  materials,"  "hazardous
wastes,"  "toxic  substances,"  or any other  formulation  intended to define,
list,  or classify  substances  by reason of  deleterious  properties  such as
ignitability,   corrosivity,   reactivity,    carcinogenicity,    reproductive
toxicity,  or  "EP  toxicity",   (b)  oil,  petroleum,  or  petroleum  derived
substances,  natural gas, natural gas liquids, synthetic gas, drilling fluids,
produced   waters,   and  other  wastes   associated  with  the   exploration,
development,   or  production  of  crude  oil,   natural  gas,  or  geothermal
resources,  (c) any flammable  substances  or  explosives  or any  radioactive
materials,  and (d) asbestos in any form or electrical equipment that contains
any oil or dielectric fluid containing levels of polychlorinated  biphenyls in
excess of 50 parts per million.

                  "Hospital   Systems"  has  the  meaning  set  forth  in  the
preamble to this Agreement.

                  "Indebtedness"  means:  (a) all  obligations of a Person for
borrowed  money,   (b)  all  obligations  of  a  Person  evidenced  by  bonds,
debentures,  notes,  or other similar  instruments  and all  reimbursement  or
other  obligations  of a Person in  respect  of  letters  of  credit,  bankers
acceptances,  interest  rate  swaps,  or  other  financial  products,  (c) all
obligations

                                       10
<PAGE>


of a Person under capital  leases,  (d) all obligations or liabilities of others
secured by a Lien on any property or asset of a Person,  irrespective of whether
such  obligation  or liability is assumed,  and (e) any  obligation  of a Person
guaranteeing or intended to guarantee (whether  guaranteed,  endorsed,  co-made,
discounted,  or sold with  recourse  to such  Person) any  indebtedness,  lease,
dividend, letter of credit, or other obligation of any other Person.

                  "Insolvency  Proceeding"  means any proceeding  commenced by
or against any Person under any provision of the Bankruptcy  Code or under any
other bankruptcy or insolvency law,  assignments for the benefit of creditors,
formal  or  informal  moratoria,   compositions,   extensions  generally  with
creditors,  or  proceedings  seeking  reorganization,  arrangement,  or  other
similar relief.

                  "Intangible  Assets" means, with respect to any Person, that
portion  of the  book  value  of all of such  Person's  assets  that  would be
treated as intangibles under GAAP.

                  "Intellectual  Property  Security  Agreements"  means  those
certain  Intellectual  Property Security  Agreements between Foothill and each
of Parent, B&F, Bear, Bicore,  Hospital Systems and Life Support,  all of even
date herewith.

                  "Inventory"  means all present and future inventory in which
a Person  has any  interest,  including  goods held for sale or lease or to be
furnished  under a contract  of service and all of such  Person's  present and
future raw  materials,  work in  process,  finished  goods,  and  packing  and
shipping materials, wherever located.

                  "Inventory  Reserve" means a reserve  established on October
1, 1997 in the amount of  $125,000,  which  shall  increase  by an  additional
$125,000  on the  first  day of  each  month  thereafter  up to a  maximum  of
$2,000,000;  provided,  however,  that upon the  repayment of Term Loans A, B,
and C in full, such Inventory  Reserve shall  immediately and automatically be
increased to $2,000,000.

                  "Investment  Property"  has the meaning set forth in Section
9115 of the Code.

                  "IRC" means the Internal  Revenue Code of 1986,  as amended,
and the regulations thereunder.

                  "Junior  Notes" means those  certain  subordinated  notes in
the aggregate  principal  amount of  $5,000,000,  in favor of Sam Fox,  Donald
Nickelson,  Dennis Sheehan, and Woodbourne Partners,  L.P., a Missouri limited
partnership.

                  "L/C" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(a).

                                       11
<PAGE>


                  "L/C Guaranty" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(a).

                  "Letter of Credit" means an L/C or an L/C  Guaranty,  as the
context requires.

                  "Lien"   means  any   interest  in   property   securing  an
obligation  owed to, or a claim by,  any  Person  other  than the owner of the
property,  whether such interest shall be based on the common law, statute, or
contract,  whether such interest  shall be recorded or perfected,  and whether
such interest shall be contingent  upon the occurrence of some future event or
events  or  the  existence  of  some  future  circumstance  or  circumstances,
including  the lien or security  interest  arising  from a  mortgage,  deed of
trust, encumbrance,  pledge, hypothecation,  assignment,  deposit arrangement,
security  agreement,  adverse  claim  or  charge,  conditional  sale or  trust
receipt, or from a lease,  consignment,  or bailment for security purposes and
also   including   reservations,    exceptions,   encroachments,    easements,
rights-of-way,  covenants, conditions,  restrictions,  leases, and other title
exceptions and encumbrances affecting Real Property.

                  "Life  Support" has the meaning set forth in the preamble to
this Agreement.

                  "Loan Account" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.10.

                  "Loan  Documents"  means this  Agreement,  the  Intellectual
Property Security Agreements,  the Disbursement Letter, the Letters of Credit,
the  Lockbox  Agreements,  the  Mortgages,  any note or notes  executed by any
Borrower and payable to Foothill,  and any other  agreement  entered into, now
or in the future, in connection with this Agreement.

                  "Lockbox   Account"   shall   mean  a   depositary   account
established pursuant to one of the Lockbox Agreements.

                  "Lockbox  Agreements"  means those certain Lockbox Operating
Procedural  Agreements and those certain  Depository  Account  Agreements,  in
form  and  substance  satisfactory  to  Foothill,  each of  which  is  among a
Borrower or Borrowers, Foothill, and one of the Lockbox Banks.

                  "Lockbox  Banks"  means  NationsBank,  N.A.,  or such  other
banks as may be agreed to by Foothill and Borrower from time to time.

                  "Lockboxes" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.7.

                  "Material  Adverse  Change"  means  (a) a  material  adverse
change in the business, prospects,  operations, results of operations, assets,
liabilities  or condition  (financial  

                                       12
<PAGE>

or otherwise) of a Borrower, (b) the material impairment of a Borrower's ability
to perform its obligations under the Loan Documents to which it is a party or of
Foothill  to enforce  the  Obligations  or realize  upon the  Collateral,  (c) a
material  adverse  effect  on the value of the  Collateral  or the  amount  that
Foothill  would be likely to receive  (after giving  consideration  to delays in
payment and costs of enforcement) in the liquidation of such Collateral,  or (d)
a material  impairment of the priority of  Foothill's  Liens with respect to the
Collateral.

                  "Maximum  Amount"  means,  as of any date of  determination,
the  sum of (a)  the  Maximum  Revolving  Amount,  (b)  the  then  outstanding
principal balance of the Term Loans.


                  "Maximum Revolving Amount" means $25,000,000.


                  "Mortgages" means one or more mortgages,  deeds of trust, or
deeds to secure debt,  executed by a Borrower in favor of  Foothill,  the form
and substance of which shall be  satisfactory  to Foothill,  that encumber the
Real Property Collateral and the related improvements thereto.


                  "Multiemployer   Plan"  means  a  "multiemployer  plan"  (as
defined  in  Section  4001(a)(3)  of  ERISA) to which a  Borrower,  any of its
Subsidiaries,  or any ERISA  Affiliate  has  contributed,  or was obligated to
contribute, within the past six years.


                  "Negotiable  Collateral" means all of a Person's present and
future letters of credit,  notes,  drafts,  instruments,  investment property,
security   entitlements,   securities   (including  the  shares  of  stock  of
Subsidiaries  of such Person),  documents,  personal  property leases (wherein
such Person is the lessor), and chattel paper.


                  "Obligations" means all loans, Advances,  debts,  principal,
interest  (including  any  interest  that,  but  for  the  provisions  of  the
Bankruptcy Code,  would have accrued),  contingent  reimbursement  obligations
under  any  outstanding   Letters  of  Credit,   premiums   (including   Early
Termination   Premiums),   liabilities   (including  all  amounts  charged  to
Borrowers' Loan Account pursuant hereto),  obligations,  fees, charges, costs,
or  Foothill  Expenses  (including  any  fees or  expenses  that,  but for the
provisions  of the  Bankruptcy  Code,  would have  accrued),  lease  payments,
guaranties,  covenants, and duties owing by a Borrower to Foothill of any kind
and  description  (whether  pursuant to or evidenced by the Loan  Documents or
pursuant  to any  other  agreement  between  Foothill  and any  Borrower,  and
irrespective  of  whether  for  the  payment  of  money),  whether  direct  or
indirect,  absolute  or  contingent,  due or to become  due,  now  existing or
hereafter  arising,  and including any debt,  liability,  or obligation  owing
from a Borrower to others that  Foothill may have  obtained by  assignment  or
otherwise,  and  further  including  all  interest  not paid  when due and all
Foothill  Expenses that a Borrower is required to pay or reimburse by the Loan
Documents, by law, or otherwise.

                                       13
<PAGE>

                  "Overadvance" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.5.


                  "Parent"  has the meaning set forth in the  preamble to this
Agreement.


                  "Pay-Off  Letter"  means a  letter,  in form  and  substance
reasonably  satisfactory  to Foothill,  from Existing  Lender  respecting  the
amount  necessary to repay in full all of the  obligations of Borrowers owing to
Existing Lender and obtain a termination or release of all of the Liens existing
in favor of Existing Lender in and to the properties or assets of Borrowers.

                  "PBGC" means the Pension  Benefit  Guaranty  Corporation  as
defined in Title IV of ERISA, or any successor thereto.


                  "Permitted  Liens"  means (a) Liens  held by  Foothill,  (b)
Liens for  unpaid  taxes that  either (i) are not yet due and  payable or (ii)
are the subject of Permitted  Protests,  (c) Liens set forth on Schedule  P-1,
(d) the interests of lessors under  operating  leases and purchase money Liens
of lessors under capital  leases to the extent that the  acquisition  or lease
of the  underlying  asset is permitted  under  Section 7.21 and so long as the
Lien only  attaches to the asset  purchased  or acquired  and only secures the
purchase  price of the asset,  (e) Liens  arising by operation of law in favor
of warehousemen,  landlords,  carriers, mechanics,  materialmen,  laborers, or
suppliers,  incurred in the ordinary  course of business of a Borrower and not
in connection with the borrowing of money,  and which Liens either (i) are for
sums not yet due and payable,  (ii) are the subject of Permitted Protests,  or
(iii) removed by payment or bonded  within 20 Business Days of any  Borrower's
obtaining  notice thereof,  (f) Liens arising from deposits made in connection
with obtaining  worker's  compensation or other  unemployment  insurance,  (g)
Liens or deposits to secure  performance of bids,  tenders,  or leases (to the
extent  permitted  under this  Agreement),  incurred in the ordinary course of
business of a Borrower and not in connection with the borrowing of money,  (h)
Liens  arising  by  reason of  security  for  surety  or  appeal  bonds in the
ordinary course of business of a Borrower,  (i) Liens of or resulting from any
judgment  or award  that would not have a  Material  Adverse  Effect and as to
which the time for the appeal or petition  for  rehearing of which has not yet
expired,  or in respect of which a Borrower  is in good faith  prosecuting  an
appeal  or  proceeding  for a  review,  and in  respect  of  which  a stay  of
execution  pending such appeal or proceeding for review has been secured,  (j)
Liens with respect to the Real Property  Collateral that are exceptions to the
commitments  for title insurance  issued in connection with the Mortgages,  as
accepted by Foothill,  and (k) with respect to any Real  Property  that is not
part of the Real Property  Collateral,  easements,  rights of way,  zoning and
similar covenants and restrictions,  and similar encumbrances that customarily
exist on properties  of Persons  engaged in similar  activities  and similarly
situated and that in any event do not materially  interfere with or impair the
use or operation of the  Collateral by any Borrower or the value of Foothill's
Lien thereon or therein, or materially  interfere with the ordinary conduct of
the business of a Borrower.

                                       14
<PAGE>


                  "Permitted  Protest"  means  the  right  of  a  Borrower  to
protest any Lien (other than any such Lien that secures the Obligations),  tax
(other than  payroll  taxes or taxes that are the  subject of a United  States
federal  tax  lien),  or rental  payment,  provided  that (a) a  reserve  with
respect to such  obligation is established on the books of such Borrower in an
amount that is reasonably  satisfactory  to Foothill,  (b) any such protest is
instituted and diligently  prosecuted by such Borrower in good faith,  and (c)
Foothill is satisfied that,  while any such protest is pending,  there will be
no  impairment  of the  enforceability,  validity,  or  priority of any of the
Liens of Foothill in and to the Collateral.

                  "Person" means and includes natural  persons,  corporations,
limited  liability  companies,  limited  partnerships,  general  partnerships,
limited liability partnerships,  joint ventures, trusts, land trusts, business
trusts,  or other  organizations,  irrespective  of  whether  they  are  legal
entities, and governments and agencies and political subdivisions thereof.


                  "Personal  Property  Collateral"  means all Collateral other
than the Real Property Collateral.


                  "Plan"  means  any  employee  benefit  plan,   program,   or
arrangement  maintained  or  contributed  to by a Borrower or with  respect to
which it may incur liability.


                  "Real  Property"  means any  estates  or  interests  in real
property now owned or hereafter acquired by a Borrower.


                  "Real  Property  Collateral"  means the parcel or parcels of
real  property and the related  improvements  thereto  identified on Schedule 
R-1, and any Real Property hereafter acquired by a Borrower.


                  "Reference  Rate" means the variable  rate of interest,  per
annum,   most  recently   announced  by  Norwest  Bank   Minnesota,   National
Association,  or any successor  thereto,  as its "base rate,"  irrespective of
whether such  announced  rate is the best rate  available  from such financial
institution.


                  "Renewal Date" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.4.


                  "Reportable  Event"  means any of the  events  described  in
Section  4043(c)  of  ERISA  or  the  regulations   thereunder  other  than  a
Reportable  Event as to which the  provision  of 30 days notice to the PBGC is
waived under applicable regulations.


                  "Retiree  Health  Plan" means an "employee  welfare  benefit
plan"  within the meaning of Section 3(1) of ERISA that  provides  benefits to
individuals after  termination of their employment,  other than as required by
Section 601 of ERISA.

                                       15
<PAGE>

                  "Senior  Debt" means the  Foothill  Obligations  (other than
L/Cs and L/C Guaranties).


                  "Solvent" means,  with respect to any Person on a particular
date,  that on such date (a) at fair  valuations,  all of the  properties  and
assets  of such  Person  are  greater  than  the sum of the  debts,  including
contingent liabilities,  of such Person, (b) the present fair salable value of
the  properties  and assets of such  Person is not less than the  amount  that
will be required to pay the  probable  liability  of such Person on its debts as
they become  absolute and  matured,  (c) such Person is able to realize upon its
properties  and  assets  and pay its  debts and  other  liabilities,  contingent
obligations  and  other  commitments  as they  mature  in the  normal  course of
business, (d) such Person does not intend to, and does not believe that it will,
incur debts beyond such Person's  ability to pay as such debts  mature,  and (e)
such Person is not engaged in  business  or a  transaction,  and is not about to
engage in business or a  transaction,  for which such  Person's  properties  and
assets  would   constitute   unreasonably   small   capital   after  giving  due
consideration  to the prevailing  practices in the industry in which such Person
is engaged. In computing the amount of contingent liabilities at any time, it is
intended that such  liabilities will be computed at the amount that, in light of
all the facts and  circumstances  existing at such time,  represents  the amount
that reasonably can be expected to become an actual or matured liability.

                  "Subsidiary"  of a Person means a corporation,  partnership,
limited  liability  company,  or other entity in which that Person directly or
indirectly owns or controls the shares of stock or other  ownership  interests
having  ordinary  voting  power to elect a majority of the board of  directors
(or appoint  other  comparable  managers)  of such  corporation,  partnership,
limited liability company, or other entity.


                  "Tangible   Net   Worth"   means,   as  of   any   date   of
determination,  the difference of (a) a Person's total  stockholder's  equity,
minus (b) the sum of: (i) all Intangible  Assets of such Person,  and (ii) all
amounts due to such Person from Affiliates.


                  "Term Loans" means Term Loan A, Term Loan B and Term Loan C.


                  "Term Loan A" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3.


                  "Term Loan B" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3.


                  "Term Loan C" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3.


                  "Voidable  Transfer"  has the  meaning set forth in Section 
15.8.


                  "Warrant"  means  that  certain  Warrant,  dated  as of  the
Closing  Date,  for the  purchase  by  Foothill  of 50,000  shares of Parent's
Common Stock.

                                       16
<PAGE>

                  "Working   Capital"   means  the   result   of   subtracting
Consolidated Current Liabilities from Consolidated Current Assets.


            1.2   Accounting  Terms.  All  accounting  terms not  specifically
defined herein shall be construed in accordance  with GAAP.  When used herein,
the  term  "financial  statements"  shall  include  the  notes  and  schedules
thereto. Whenever the term "Borrower" is used in respect of a financial covenant
or a  related  definition,  it  shall  be  understood  to  mean  Borrowers  on a
consolidated basis unless the context clearly requires otherwise.

            1.3   Code.  Any terms used in this  Agreement that are defined in
the Code  shall be  construed  and  defined  as set  forth in the Code  unless
otherwise defined herein.


            1.4   Construction.  Unless the context of this Agreement  clearly
requires otherwise,  references to the plural include the singular, references
to the singular include the plural, the term "including" is not limiting,  and
the term "or" has, except where  otherwise  indicated,  the inclusive  meaning
represented by the phrase  "and/or." The words "hereof,"  "herein,"  "hereby,"
"hereunder,"  and similar terms in this Agreement refer to this Agreement as a
whole  and not to any  particular  provision  of this  Agreement.  An Event of
Default shall  "continue" or be  "continuing"  until such Event of Default has
been waived in writing by Foothill.  Section,  subsection,  clause,  schedule,
and exhibit references are to this Agreement unless otherwise  specified.  Any
reference in this  Agreement or in the Loan Documents to this Agreement or any
of the Loan  Documents  shall include all  alterations,  amendments,  changes,
extensions,   modifications,   renewals,   replacements,   substitutions,  and
supplements, thereto and thereof, as applicable.


            1.5   Schedules  and  Exhibits.  All of the schedules and exhibits
attached to this Agreement shall be deemed incorporated herein by reference.


         2. LOAN AND TERMS OF PAYMENT.


            2.1   Revolving Advances.


                  (a)   Subject   to  the   terms  and   conditions   of  this
Agreement,  Foothill  agrees to make advances  ("Advances") to Borrowers in an
amount  outstanding  not to  exceed  at any one  time  the  lesser  of (i) the
Maximum  Revolving  Amount  less the  outstanding  balance  of all  undrawn or
unreimbursed  Letters of Credit, or (ii) the Borrowing Base less the aggregate
amount of all  undrawn or  unreimbursed  Letters of Credit.  For  purposes  of
this Agreement, "Borrowing Base," as of any date of determination,  shall mean
the result of:


                        (w)   the  lesser  of  (i)  85% of  Domestic  Eligible
Accounts,  less  the  amount,  if  any,  of the  Dilution  Reserve;  provided,
however,  that  Advances  based upon  Domestic  Eligible  Accounts and Foreign
Eligible  Accounts,  in the  aggregate,  shall not  exceed an amount  equal to
Borrower's  Collections with

                                       17
<PAGE>

respect to Accounts for the immediately preceding 75 day period through November
30, 1997 and 60 day period thereafter, plus


                        (x)   the  lesser of (i) (a) 85% of  Foreign  Eligible
Accounts  supported  by letters of  credit,  plus (b) 85% of Foreign  Eligible
Accounts  supported by credit  insurance  (net of the aggregate  amount of all
applicable deductibles), and (ii) $8,000,000, plus

                  (y)   the lesser of (i) $10,000,000, and (ii) 45% of the
value of Eligible Inventory, minus the Inventory Reserve, minus

                        (z)   the  aggregate  amount  of  reserves,   if  any,
established by Foothill under Sections 2.1(b), 6.15 and 10.


                  (b)   Anything  to the  contrary  in  Section  2.1(a)  above
notwithstanding,  Foothill may create  reserves  against or reduce its advance
rates based upon Eligible Accounts or Eligible  Inventory without declaring an
Event of  Default  if it  reasonably  determines  that  there has  occurred  a
Material Adverse Change.


                  (c)   Amounts  borrowed  pursuant to this Section 2.1 may be
repaid and, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement,  reborrowed
at any time during the term of this Agreement.


            2.2   Letters of Credit.


                  (a)   Subject   to  the   terms  and   conditions   of  this
Agreement,  Foothill  agrees to issue  letters of credit for the  account of a
Borrower  (each,  an "L/C")  or to issue  guarantees  of  payment  (each  such
guaranty,  an "L/C  Guaranty")  with respect to letters of credit issued by an
issuing  bank  for  the  account  of  a  Borrower.   Foothill  shall  have  no
obligation to issue a Letter of Credit if any of the following would result:


                        (i)   100% of the aggregate  amount of all other types
of undrawn and  unreimbursed  Letters of Credit,  would  exceed the  Borrowing
Base less the amount of  outstanding  Advances  less the reserves  established
under Section 2.1(b); or


                        (ii)  the   aggregate   amount  of  all   undrawn   or
unreimbursed  Letters of Credit (including  Inventory Letters of Credit) would
exceed  the lower of:  (x) the  Maximum  Revolving  Amount  less the amount of
outstanding  Advances less reserves  established  under Section 2.1(b); or (y)
$3,000,000.

Each Borrower  expressly  understands  and agrees that Foothill  shall have no
obligation  to arrange  for the  issuance  by issuing  banks of the letters of
credit  that  are to be the  subject  of 

                                       18
<PAGE>

L/C Guarantees. Each Borrower and Foothill acknowledge and agree that certain of
the  letters  of credit  that are to be the  subject  of L/C  Guarantees  may be
outstanding on the Closing Date. Each Letter of Credit shall have an expiry date
no later than 60 days prior to the date on which this  Agreement is scheduled to
terminate under Section 3.4 (without  regard to any potential  renewal term) and
all such Letters of Credit shall be in form and substance acceptable to Foothill
in its sole discretion. If Foothill is obligated to advance funds under a Letter
of Credit, Borrowers immediately shall reimburse such amount to Foothill and, in
the  absence of such  reimbursement,  the  amount so  advanced  immediately  and
automatically shall be deemed to be an Advance hereunder and, thereafter,  shall
bear interest at the rate then applicable to Advances under Section 2.6.


                  (b)   Each  Borrower  hereby  agrees  to  indemnify,   save,
defend,  and  hold  Foothill  harmless  from  any  loss,  cost,   expense,  or
liability,  including  payments  made by Foothill,  expenses,  and  reasonable
attorneys fees incurred by Foothill  arising out of or in connection  with any
Letter of  Credit.  Each  Borrower  agrees to be bound by the  issuing  bank's
regulations  and  interpretations  of any  Letters  of  Credit  guarantied  by
Foothill  and  opened  to or for  such  Borrower's  account  or by  Foothill's
interpretations  of any L/C  issued  by  Foothill  to or for  such  Borrower's
account,   even  though  this   interpretation  may  be  different  from  such
Borrower's own, and Borrowers  understand and agree that Foothill shall not be
liable  for  any  error,  negligence,  or  mistake,  whether  of  omission  or
commission,  in following any Borrower's  instructions  or those  contained in
the  Letter  of  Credit  or  any  modifications,  amendments,  or  supplements
thereto.  Each  Borrower  understands  that  the L/C  Guarantees  may  require
Foothill to  indemnify  the  issuing  bank for  certain  costs or  liabilities
arising out of claims by a Borrower  against such issuing bank.  Each Borrower
hereby  agrees to indemnify,  save,  defend,  and hold Foothill  harmless with
respect to any loss, cost, expense (including  reasonable  attorneys fees), or
liability  incurred  by  Foothill  under  any  L/C  Guaranty  as a  result  of
Foothill's indemnification of any such issuing bank.


                  (c)   Each Borrower  hereby  authorizes and directs any bank
that issues a letter of credit  guaranteed  by Foothill to deliver to Foothill
all instruments,  documents,  and other writings and property  received by the
issuing  bank  pursuant to such letter of credit,  and to accept and rely upon
Foothill's  instructions and agreements with respect to all matters arising in
connection  with  such  letter  of  credit  and  the  related  application.  A
Borrower may or may not be the  "applicant" or "account party" with respect to
such letter of credit.


                  (d)   Any and all  charges,  commissions,  fees,  and  costs
incurred by Foothill  relating to the letters of credit guaranteed by Foothill
shall be  considered  Foothill  Expenses  for purposes of this  Agreement  and
immediately shall be reimbursable by Borrowers to Foothill.


                  (e)   Immediately  upon the  termination of this  Agreement,
Borrowers  agree to either (i) provide cash  collateral to be held by Foothill
in an amount  equal to 102%

                                       19
<PAGE>

of the maximum amount of Foothill's  obligations  under  outstanding  Letters of
Credit,  or (ii) cause to be delivered to Foothill releases of all of Foothill's
obligations under outstanding Letters of Credit. At Foothill's  discretion,  any
proceeds of Collateral  received by Foothill after the occurrence and during the
continuation of an Event of Default may be held as the cash collateral  required
by this Section 2.2(e).


                  (f)   If by reason of (i) any change in any applicable  law,
treaty,   rule,  or  regulation  or  any  change  in  the   interpretation  or
application by any governmental  authority of any such applicable law, treaty,
rule, or regulation,  or (ii)  compliance by the issuing bank or Foothill with
any direction,  request,  or requirement  (irrespective  of whether having the
force of law) of any  governmental  authority or monetary  authority  including,
without  limitation,  Regulation  D of the  Board of  Governors  of the  Federal
Reserve System as from time to time in effect (and any successor thereto):

                        (A)   any reserve,  deposit, or similar requirement is
or shall be imposed or  modified  in respect of any  Letters of Credit  issued
hereunder, or


                        (B)   there  shall be imposed on the  issuing  bank or
Foothill  any other  condition  regarding  any letter of credit,  or Letter of
Credit, as applicable, issued pursuant hereto;

and the result of the foregoing is to increase,  directly or  indirectly,  the
cost to the issuing  bank or Foothill of  issuing,  making,  guaranteeing,  or
maintaining any letter of credit,  or Letter of Credit,  as applicable,  or to
reduce  the amount  receivable  in respect  thereof  by such  issuing  bank or
Foothill,  then,  and in any such case,  Foothill  may,  at any time  within a
reasonable  period  after  the  additional  cost  is  incurred  or the  amount
received is reduced, notify Borrowers,  and Borrowers shall pay on demand such
amounts  as the  issuing  bank or  Foothill  may  specify to be  necessary  to
compensate  the issuing bank or Foothill for such  additional  cost or reduced
receipt,  together  with  interest on such amount from the date of such demand
until  payment in full thereof at the rate set forth in Section  2.6(a)(i) or 
(c)(i), as applicable.  The determination by the issuing bank or Foothill,  as
the case may be, of any amount due  pursuant to this  Section  2.2(f),  as set
forth in a  certificate  setting forth the  calculation  thereof in reasonable
detail,  shall, in the absence of manifest or demonstrable error, be final and
conclusive and binding on all of the parties hereto.


            2.3   Term Loans.  Foothill agrees to provide  Borrowers with Term
Loans in the amounts of $10,000,000  ("Term Loan A"),  $7,000,000  ("Term Loan
B"),  and  $4,000,000  ("Term Loan C"),  respectively.  Principal  payments on
Term Loan A and B shall be made on the first  day of  October,  1997 and shall
continue on the first day of each  subsequent  month  until paid in full.  For
Term Loan A, during the first 24 months,  each  principal  payment shall be in
the amount of  $104,166.66;  for the next 11 months,  each  principal  payment
shall be in the amount of  $541,666.66,  and on the third  anniversary  of the
Closing Date,  the  outstanding  balance of Term Loan A shall be paid in full.
For Term Loan

                                       20
<PAGE>

B, for the first 12 months  each  principal  payment  shall be in the  amount of
$229,166.66,  and for the next 12 months each principal  payment shall be in the
amount of  $354,166.66.  In addition,  Borrowers  shall prepay Term Loan B in an
amount  equal to 25% of the amount of  Borrowers'  Free Cash Flow for the fiscal
years ending June 30, 1998 and June 30,  1999,  such amount to be paid within 20
days of delivery to Foothill of Borrower's audited financial statements for each
of such fiscal  years and shall be applied to  regularly  scheduled  payments of
principal in the inverse order of their maturity.  Term Loan C shall be interest
only with  principal  payable in full on the earlier of: (a) six months from the
Closing  Date,  or (b) from  proceeds  of a Financing  or Sale Event;  provided,
however,  Borrowers' shall have the option to extend the maturity of Term Loan C
for an  additional  30 days as long as no Event of Default has  occurred  and is
continuing  and  Borrowers'  pay  Foothill  an  extension  fee in the  amount of
$40,000.

         Payments  of accrued  interest  under the Term Loans shall be made on
the first day of each month  commencing on the first day of  September,  1997.
The  outstanding  principal  balance and all accrued and unpaid interest under
each of the Term Loans  shall be due and  payable  upon the  earliest to occur
of: (a) the  acceleration  of the  Obligations by Foothill  following an Event
of Default;  (b) the Maturity  Date;  and (c) the maturity  date for each such
Term  Loan.  Upon  completion  of a  Financing  or Sale  Event,  the  proceeds
therefrom  shall be used  first to repay in full Term Loan C,  second to repay
in full the Junior  Notes  (provided  that  Foothill has not  accelerated  the
Obligations),  third to repay in full Term Loan B and  fourth to repay in full
Term Loan A.  Borrower  shall have the right to prepay  Term Loans B and C, in
whole or in part,  at any time,  without  penalty or premium.  Borrower  shall
have the right to prepay Term Loan A, in whole or in part,  from the  proceeds
of asset sales,  without  penalty or premium.  All such prepaid  amounts to be
applied to the  installments  due on Term Loans in the inverse  order of their
maturity.  All  amounts  outstanding  under the Term  Loans  shall  constitute
Obligations.


            2.4   Intentionally Omitted.


            2.5   Overadvances.  If,  at any  time  or  for  any  reason,  the
amount of Obligations owed by Borrowers to Foothill  pursuant to Sections 2.1 
or 2.2 is greater than either the Dollar or percentage  limitations  set forth
in Sections 2.1 or 2.2 (an "Overadvance"),  Borrowers immediately shall pay to
Foothill,  in cash, the amount of such excess to be used by Foothill first, to
repay Advances  outstanding under Section 2.1 and,  thereafter,  to be held by
Foothill as cash collateral to secure Borrower's  obligation to repay Foothill
for all amounts paid pursuant to Letters of Credit;  provided,  however,  that
with respect to any  Overadvance  caused by Foothill's  charging fees,  costs,
expenses,  or  interest  to the Loan  Account,  the  Borrowers  shall have two
Business Days to make such payments.

                                       21
<PAGE>


            2.6   Interest and Letter of Credit  Fees:  Rates,  Payments,  and
Calculations.

                  (a)   Interest  Rate.  Except  as  provided  in  clause  (b)
below, (i) all Obligations  (except for undrawn Letters of Credit and the Term
Loans B and C) shall  bear  interest  at a per annum  rate of 0.50  percentage
point  above  the  Reference  Rate,  and (ii)  Term  Loans B and C shall  bear
interest at a per annum rate of 14%.

                  (b)   Letter of Credit Fee.  Borrowers  shall pay Foothill a
fee (in addition to the  charges,  commissions,  fees,  and costs set forth in
Section  2.2(d)) equal to 1.00% per annum times the aggregate  undrawn  amount
of all outstanding Letters of Credit.

                  (c)   Default  Rate.  Upon the  occurrence  and  during  the
continuation of an Event of Default,  (i) all Obligations  (except for undrawn
Letters of Credit and Term Loans B and C) shall bear  interest  at a per annum
rate equal to 4.50  percentage  point above the Reference  Rate, and (ii) Term
Loans B and C shall bear interest  at  a per annum rate equal to 18%,(iii) the
Letter  of  Credit  fee provided in Section 2.6(b) shall be increased to 5.00%
per  annum  times  the  aggregate undrawn amount of all outstanding Letters of
Credit.

                  (d)   Minimum  Interest.  In no  event  shall  the  rate  of
interest chargeable  hereunder for any day for Advances or Term Loan A be less
than 7.00% per annum.  To the extent that  interest  accrued  hereunder at the
rate set forth herein  would be less than the  foregoing  minimum  daily rate,
the interest rate  chargeable  hereunder for such day  automatically  shall be
deemed increased to the minimum rate.

                  (e)   Payments.  Interest  and Letter of Credit fees payable
hereunder  shall be due and  payable,  in  arrears,  on the  first day of each
month during the term hereof.  Each Borrower hereby  authorizes  Foothill,  at
its option,  without  prior notice to such  Borrower,  to charge such interest
and Letter of Credit fees, all Foothill  Expenses (as and when incurred),  the
charges,  commissions,  fees, and costs provided for in Section 2.2(d) (as and
when accrued or incurred),  the fees and charges  provided for in Section 2.11
(as and when accrued or incurred),  and all installments or other payments due
under the Term Loans, or any Loan Document to Borrowers'  Loan Account,  which
amounts  thereafter  shall  accrue  interest  at the rate then  applicable  to
Advances  hereunder.  Any interest not paid when due shall be  compounded  and
shall  thereafter  accrue  interest  at the rate then  applicable  to Advances
hereunder.

                  (f)   Computation.  The  Reference  Rate  as of the  date of
this  Agreement  is 8.50%  per  annum.  In the  event  the  Reference  Rate is
changed  from  time  to  time  hereafter,  the  applicable  rate  of  interest
hereunder  automatically and immediately shall be increased or decreased by an
amount  equal to such change in the  Reference  Rate.  All  interest  and fees
chargeable  under the Loan  Documents  shall be computed on the basis of a 360
day year for the actual number of days elapsed.


                                       22
<PAGE>

                  (g)   Intent to Limit  Charges to Maximum  Lawful  Rate.  In
no event shall the interest rate or rates payable under this  Agreement,  plus
any other  amounts  paid in  connection  herewith,  exceed  the  highest  rate
permissible under any law that a court of competent  jurisdiction  shall, in a
final  determination,  deem applicable.  Borrowers and Foothill,  in executing
and delivering this Agreement,  intend legally to agree upon the rate or rates
of interest and manner of payment stated within it; provided,  however,  that,
anything  contained  herein to the contrary  notwithstanding,  if said rate or
rates of interest or manner of payment  exceeds  the maximum  allowable  under
applicable law, then,  ipso facto as of the date of this Agreement,  Borrowers
are and shall be liable  only for the  payment  of such  maximum as allowed by
law, and payment  received  from  Borrowers  in excess of such legal  maximum,
whenever  received,  shall be applied to reduce the  principal  balance of the
Obligations to the extent of such excess.


            2.7   Collection  of  Accounts.   Borrowers  shall  at  all  times
maintain lockboxes (the "Lockboxes") and,  immediately after the Closing Date,
shall  instruct  all  Account  Debtors  with  respect to the  Accounts,  General
Intangibles,  and Negotiable Collateral of Borrowers to remit all Collections in
respect thereof to such Lockboxes.  Borrowers,  Foothill,  and the Lockbox Banks
shall enter into the Lockbox Agreements,  which among other things shall provide
for the opening of a Lockbox Account for the deposit of Collections at a Lockbox
Bank. Each Borrower  agrees that all  Collections and other amounts  received by
such  Borrower  from any Account  Debtor or any other  source  immediately  upon
receipt  shall be  deposited  into a Lockbox  Account.  No Lockbox  Agreement or
arrangement  contemplated  thereby  shall be modified by a Borrower  without the
prior written consent of Foothill.  Upon the terms and subject to the conditions
set forth in the  Lockbox  Agreements,  all  amounts  received  in each  Lockbox
Account  shall  be  wired  each  Business  Day into an  account  (the  "Foothill
Account") maintained by Foothill at a depositary selected by Foothill.

            2.8   Crediting   Payments;   Application  of   Collections.   The
receipt of any Collections by Foothill  (whether from transfers to Foothill by
the  Lockbox   Banks   pursuant  to  the  Lockbox   Agreements  or  otherwise)
immediately   shall  be  applied   provisionally  to  reduce  the  Obligations
outstanding  under  Section  2.1,  but shall not be  considered  a payment  on
account  unless  such  Collection  item  is a  wire  transfer  of  immediately
available  federal  funds and is made to the  Foothill  Account  or unless and
until such  Collection  item is honored when  presented for payment.  From and
after the Closing  Date,  Foothill  shall be entitled to charge  Borrowers for
one Business Day of  `clearance'  or `float' at the rate set forth in Section 
2.6(a)(i) or Section  2.6(c)(i),  as applicable,  on all Collections  that are
received by Foothill  (regardless of whether forwarded by the Lockbox Banks to
Foothill,  whether  provisionally  applied  to reduce  the  Obligations  under
Section 2.1, or otherwise).  This  across-the-board one Business Day clearance
or  float  charge  on  all  Collections  is  acknowledged  by the  parties  to
constitute  an  integral  aspect of the  pricing of  Foothill's  financing  of
Borrowers,  and shall apply  irrespective of the  characterization  of whether
receipts  are owned by a Borrower  or  Foothill,  and whether or not there are
any outstanding  Advances,  the effect of such clearance or float charge being
the  equivalent of charging one Business Day of interest

                                       23
<PAGE>

on such  Collections.  Should any Collection  item not be honored when presented
for payment,  then Borrowers shall be deemed not to have made such payment,  and
interest shall be recalculated  accordingly.  Anything to the contrary contained
herein notwithstanding, any Collection item shall be deemed received by Foothill
only if it is received into the Foothill  Account on a Business Day on or before
11:00 a.m. California time. If any Collection item is received into the Foothill
Account on a non-Business Day or after 11:00 a.m.  California time on a Business
Day,  it shall be deemed to have been  received by Foothill as of the opening of
business on the immediately following Business Day.


            2.9   Designated  Account.  Foothill  is  authorized  to make  the
Advances,  the Letters of Credit and the Term Loans under this Agreement based
upon telephonic or other  instructions  received from anyone  purporting to be
an Authorized  Person, or without  instructions if pursuant to Section 2.6(e).
Borrowers  agree to establish  and maintain a single  Designated  Account with
the  Designated  Account Bank for the purpose of receiving the proceeds of the
Advances  requested  by  Borrowers  and  made by  Foothill  hereunder.  Unless
otherwise  agreed  by  Foothill  and  Borrowers,   any  Advance  requested  by
Borrowers  and made by  Foothill  hereunder  shall  be made to the  Designated
Account.


            2.10  Maintenance of Loan Account;  Statements of Obligations.  At
the request of Borrowers,  to  facilitate  and expedite the  administration  and
accounting  processes and procedures of their  borrowings  under this Agreement,
Foothill has agreed, in lieu of maintaining separate loan accounts on Foothill's
books in the name of each of the  Borrowers,  that  Foothill  shall  maintain  a
single  account  on its books in the names of all of the  Borrowers  (the  "Loan
Account").  All Advances and the Term Loans made by Foothill to Borrowers or for
Borrower's account, including accrued interest, Foothill Expenses, and any other
payment  Obligations  of Borrowers  shall be made  jointly and  severally to the
Borrowers and shall be charged to the Loan Account.  In accordance  with Section
2.8, the Loan Account  will be credited  with all payments  received by Foothill
from any Borrower or for any Borrowers' account,  including all amounts received
in the  Foothill  Account  from any  Lockbox  Bank.  Foothill  shall  render one
statement regarding the Loan Account to Parent on behalf of Borrowers, including
principal,  interest,  fees,  and  including an  itemization  of all charges and
expenses  constituting  Foothill  Expenses owing,  and such statements  shall be
conclusively  presumed  to be correct and  accurate  and  constitute  an account
stated  between  Borrowers  and Foothill  unless,  within 90 days after  receipt
thereof by  Borrowers,  Borrowers  shall deliver to Foothill  written  objection
thereto  describing the error or errors contained in any such  statements.  Each
Borrower hereby expressly  agrees and  acknowledges  that Foothill shall have no
obligation to account separately to such Borrower.

            2.11  Fees.  Borrowers shall pay to Foothill the following fees:

                  (a)   Commitment  Fee.  A  commitment  fee in the  amount of
$415,000 of which  $157,500 has already been paid, and $257,500 of which shall
be payable on the Closing Date;

                                       24
<PAGE>


                  (b)   Anniversary    Fee.    On   the   first   and   second
anniversaries  of the Closing Date, an  anniversary  fee in an amount equal to
0.25% of the  Maximum  Revolving  Amount plus the  outstanding  balance of the
Term Loans, which fee is fully earned on each anniversary.


                  (c)   Term Loan C Fee.  A fee in the amount of  $120,000  of
which  $60,000  has  already  been paid and  $60,000  shall be  payable on the
Closing Date.


                  (d)   Unused  Line  Fee.  On the  first  day of  each  month
during the term of this  Agreement,  an unused line fee in an amount  equal to
0.25% per annum times the  Average  Unused  Portion of the  Maximum  Revolving
Amount;


                  (e)   Financial  Examination,  Documentation,  and Appraisal
Fees.   Foothill's   customary  fee  of  $650  per  day  per  examiner,   plus
out-of-pocket  expenses for each  financial  analysis and  examination  (i.e.,
audits) of Borrowers  performed by personnel employed by Foothill;  Foothill's
customary  appraisal fee of $1,500 per day per appraiser,  plus  out-of-pocket
expenses for each appraisal of the Collateral  performed by personnel employed
by  Foothill;  and,  the actual  charges  paid or  incurred  by Foothill if it
elects to employ the  services  of one or more third  Persons to perform  such
financial  analyses  and  examinations  (i.e.,  audits)  of  Borrowers  or  to
appraise the Collateral;  provided,  however, that prior to the occurrence and
continuation  of  an  Event  of  Default  or Foothill deeming itself insecure,
Borrowers  shall  not  be obligated to pay for more than four audits and [one]
appraisal in any 12 month period; and

                  (f)   Servicing  Fee. On the first day of each month  during
the term of this  Agreement,  and  thereafter so long as any  Obligations  are
outstanding, a servicing fee in an amount equal to $6,000.


         3. CONDITIONS; TERM OF AGREEMENT.


            3.1   Conditions  Precedent  to the Initial  Advance,  the Initial
Letter of Credit,  and the Term Loans.  The obligation of Foothill to make the
initial  Advance,  to issue the initial Letter of Credit,  or to make the Term
Loans, is subject to the fulfillment,  to the satisfaction of Foothill and its
counsel, of each of the following conditions on or before the Closing Date:


                  (a)   the Closing  Date shall occur on or before  August 14,
1997;


                  (b)   Foothill  shall  have  received   searches   regarding
Borrowers;


                  (c)   Foothill  shall have  received  each of the  following
documents,  duly  executed,  and each such document shall be in full force and
effect:

                                       25
<PAGE>

                        a.    the Lockbox Agreements;


                        b.    the Disbursement Letter;


                        c.    the   Pay-Off   Letter,    together   with   UCC
termination  statements and other documentation  evidencing the termination by
Existing Lender of its Liens in and to the properties and assets of Borrowers;


                        d.    the Mortgages;


                        e.    the Warrant; and


                        f.    a  subordination  agreement  with the holders of
the Junior Notes;


                  (d)   Foothill  shall have received a  certificate  from the
Secretary of each Borrower  attesting to the  resolutions  of each  Borrower's
Board of Directors  authorizing  its execution,  delivery,  and performance of
this  Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which such Borrower is a party
and authorizing specific officers of such Borrower to execute the same;

                  (e)   Foothill   shall   have   received   copies   of  each
Borrower's Governing Documents,  as amended,  modified, or supplemented to the
Closing Date, certified by the Secretary of such Borrower;


                  (f)   Foothill  shall have received a certificate  of status
with respect to each Borrower,  dated within 10 days of the Closing Date, such
certificate to be issued by the  appropriate  officer of the  jurisdiction  of
organization  of such  Borrower,  which  certificate  shall indicate that such
Borrower is in good standing in such jurisdiction;


                  (g)   Foothill  shall have received  certificates  of status
with respect to each Borrower,  each dated within 15 days of the Closing Date,
such   certificates   to  be  issued  by  the   appropriate   officer  of  the
jurisdictions  in which its failure to be duly  qualified  or  licensed  would
constitute a Material Adverse Change,  which  certificates shall indicate that
such Borrower is in good standing in such jurisdictions;


                  (h)   Foothill   shall  have  received  a   certificate   of
insurance, together with the endorsements thereto, as are required by Section 
6.10,  the form and substance of which shall be  satisfactory  to Foothill and
its counsel;


                  (i)   Borrower shall have received not less than  $5,000,000
in cash from an equity investment or the issuance of the Junior Notes;

                                       26
<PAGE>

                  (j)   Foothill  shall have received such  Collateral  Access
Agreements  from lessors,  warehousemen,  bailees,  and other third persons as
Foothill may require;


                  (k)   Foothill  shall have received an opinion of Borrowers'
counsel in form and substance satisfactory to Foothill in its sole discretion;


                  (l)   Foothill  shall have  received (i)  appraisals  of the
Real Property  Collateral  and  appraisals  of the Equipment of Borrowers,  in
each  case  satisfactory  to  Foothill,  and (ii)  mortgagee  title  insurance
policies  (or  marked  commitments  to issue the  same) for the Real  Property
Collateral issued by a title insurance company  satisfactory to Foothill (each
a "Mortgage  Policy" and,  collectively,  the "Mortgage  Policies") in amounts
satisfactory  to Foothill  assuring  Foothill  that the Mortgages on such Real
Property  Collateral are valid and enforceable  first priority  mortgage Liens
on  such  Real  Property   Collateral  free  and  clear  of  all  defects  and
encumbrances   except  Permitted  Liens,  and  the  Mortgage   Policies  shall
otherwise be in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Foothill;


                  (m)   Foothill  shall have received a phase-I  environmental
report and a real estate survey shall have been  completed with respect to the
Real  Property  Collateral  and copies  thereof  delivered  to  Foothill;  the
environmental  consultants and surveyors retained for such reports or surveys,
the  scope  of the  reports  or  surveys,  and the  results  thereof  shall be
acceptable to Foothill in its sole discretion;

                  (n)   Foothill  shall have  received  satisfactory  evidence
that all tax returns  required to be filed by Borrowers have been timely filed
and all taxes  upon each  Borrower  or its  properties,  assets,  income,  and
franchises  (including  real property  taxes and payroll taxes) have been paid
prior to  delinquency,  except  such taxes that are the subject of a Permitted
Protest; and


                  (o)   all other  documents  and legal  matters in connection
with  the  transactions   contemplated  by  this  Agreement  shall  have  been
delivered,   executed,  or  recorded  and  shall  be  in  form  and  substance
satisfactory to Foothill and its counsel.


            3.2   Conditions Precedent to all Advances,  all Letters of Credit
and the Term  Loans.  The  following  shall  be  conditions  precedent  to all
Advances, all Letters of Credit and the Term Loans hereunder:


                  (a)   the representations  and warranties  contained in this
Agreement  and the  other  Loan  Documents  shall be true and  correct  in all
material  respects  on and as of the  date of such  extension  of  credit,  as
though  made  on  and  as of  such  date  (except  to  the  extent  that  such
representations and warranties relate solely to an earlier date);

                                       27
<PAGE>

                  (b)   no  Default or Event of  Default  shall have  occurred
and be  continuing on the date of such  extension of credit,  nor shall either
result from the making thereof; and


                  (c)   no  injunction,  writ,  restraining  order,  or  other
order of any nature  prohibiting,  directly or  indirectly,  the  extending of
such  credit  shall have been  issued and remain in force by any  governmental
authority against any Borrower, Foothill, or any of their Affiliates.


            3.3   Condition  Subsequent.  As a condition subsequent to initial
closing  hereunder,  Borrowers  shall  perform  or cause to be  performed  the
following  (the  failure by  Borrowers  to so perform or cause to be performed
constituting an Event of Default):


                  (a)   within  30  days  of  the  Closing  Date,  deliver  to
Foothill the certified copies of the policies of insurance,  together with the
endorsements  thereto, as are required by Section 6.10, the form and substance
of which shall be satisfactory to Foothill and its counsel.


            3.4   Term.  This  Agreement  shall  become   effective  upon  the
execution and delivery  hereof by Borrowers and Foothill and shall continue in
full force and effect for a term ending on the date (the  "Maturity  Date") that
is three years from the Closing Date, unless sooner  terminated  pursuant to the
terms hereof.  The foregoing  notwithstanding,  Foothill shall have the right to
terminate its  obligations  under this Agreement  immediately and without notice
upon the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default.

            3.5   Effect of  Termination.  On the date of  termination of this
Agreement, all Obligations (including contingent reimbursement  obligations of
Borrowers  with  respect to any  outstanding  Letters  of Credit)  immediately
shall  become due and payable  without  notice or demand.  No  termination  of
this Agreement,  however,  shall relieve or discharge  Borrowers of Borrowers'
duties,   Obligations,  or  covenants  hereunder,  and  Foothill's  continuing
security  interests  in the  Collateral  shall  remain  in  effect  until  all
Obligations have been fully and finally  discharged and Foothill's  obligation
to provide additional credit hereunder is terminated.


            3.6   Early  Termination by Borrowers.  The provisions of Section 
3.4 that allow  termination  of this Agreement by Borrowers only on the Maturity
Date notwithstanding,  Borrowers have the option, at any time upon 90 days prior
written  notice to Foothill,  to terminate this Agreement by paying to Foothill,
in cash,  the  Obligations  (including  an amount  equal to 102% of the  undrawn
amount of the Letters of Credit),  in full,  together with a premium (the "Early
Termination Premium") equal to the following percentage of the Maximum Revolving
Amount plus the outstanding balance of Term Loan A (subject to the provisions of
Section 2.3):  (a) three percent if such  prepayment  occurs within the first 12
months of the Closing Date; (b) one percent if such prepayment occurs during

                                       28
<PAGE>

months 13 through 24 after the Closing  Date,  and (c) one-half  percent if such
prepayment  occurs after the 24th month after the Closing Date.  Notwithstanding
the preceding sentence,  no Early Termination Premium shall be charged if, after
18  months  from the  Closing  Date,  Borrowers  obtain  financing  to repay the
Obligations from Norwest Bank, N.A. or any of its subsidiaries.

            3.7   Termination  Upon Event of Default.  If Foothill  terminates
this  Agreement  upon the  occurrence  of an Event of Default,  in view of the
impracticability  and extreme difficulty of ascertaining actual damages and by
mutual  agreement of the parties as to a reasonable  calculation of Foothill's
lost profits as a result  thereof,  Borrowers  shall pay to Foothill  upon the
effective date of such termination,  a premium in an amount equal to the Early
Termination  Premium.  The Early  Termination  Premium shall be presumed to be
the  amount  of  damages  sustained  by  Foothill  as the  result of the early
termination and Borrowers agree that it is reasonable under the  circumstances
currently  existing.  The  Early  Termination  Premium  provided  for in  this
Section 3.7 shall be deemed included in the Obligations.

         4. CREATION OF SECURITY INTEREST.

            4.1   Grant of Security  Interest.  Each Borrower hereby grants to
Foothill a continuing  security  interest in all of such Borrower's  currently
existing and hereafter  acquired or arising  Personal  Property  Collateral in
order to secure prompt  repayment of any and all  Obligations  and in order to
secure  prompt  performance  by such  Borrower  of each of its  covenants  and
duties  under  the  Loan  Documents.  Foothill's  security  interests  in  the
Personal Property  Collateral shall attach to all Personal Property Collateral
without further act on the part of Foothill or Borrowers.  Anything  contained
in this Agreement or any other Loan Document to the contrary  notwithstanding,
except for the sale of Inventory to buyers in the ordinary course of business,
no Borrower has any authority, express or implied, to dispose of any  item  or
portion of the Personal Property Collateral or the Real Property Collateral.

            4.2   Negotiable  Collateral.  In the event  that any  Collateral,
including  proceeds,  is  evidenced by or consists of  Negotiable  Collateral,
Borrowers,  immediately  upon the  request  of  Foothill,  shall  endorse  and
deliver physical possession of such Negotiable Collateral to Foothill.

            4.3   Collection of Accounts, General Intangibles,  and Negotiable
Collateral.  At any time,  Foothill  or  Foothill's  designee  may (a)  notify
customers  or  Account  Debtors of any  Borrower  that the  Accounts,  General
Intangibles,  or Negotiable  Collateral of such Borrower have been assigned to
Foothill or that Foothill has a security  interest  therein,  and (b) after an
Event of Default,  collect the Accounts,  General Intangibles,  and Negotiable
Collateral  of such  Borrower  directly  and charge the  collection  costs and
expenses  to the Loan  Account.  Each  Borrower  agrees  that it will  hold in
trust for Foothill,  as Foothill's  trustee,

                                       29
<PAGE>

any Collections  that it receives and immediately  will deliver said Collections
to Foothill in their original form as received by Borrower.

            4.4   Delivery of Additional  Documentation  Required. At any time
upon the request of Foothill,  Borrowers shall execute and deliver to Foothill
all financing statements,  continuation financing statements, fixture filings,
security  agreements,  pledges,  assignments,  endorsements of certificates of
title,  applications for title,  affidavits,  reports,  notices,  schedules of
accounts,  letters  of  authority,  and  all  other  documents  that  Foothill
reasonably  may request,  in form  satisfactory  to  Foothill,  to perfect and
continue perfected  Foothill's  security  interests in the Collateral,  and in
order to fully  consummate  all of the  transactions  contemplated  hereby and
under the other the Loan Documents.

            4.5   Power of Attorney.  Each Borrower hereby  irrevocably makes,
constitutes,   and  appoints   Foothill  (and  any  of  Foothill's   officers,
employees,  or agents  designated  by  Foothill) as such  Borrower's  true and
lawful  attorney,  with  power to (a) if such  Borrower  refuses  to, or fails
timely to execute and deliver any of the  documents  described in Section 4.4,
sign the name of such Borrower on any of the  documents  described in Section 
4.4, (b) at any time that an Event of Default has  occurred and is  continuing
or Foothill deems itself  insecure,  sign such  Borrower's name on any invoice
or bill of lading  relating to any Account of such  Borrower,  drafts  against
Account  Debtors,  schedules  and  assignments  of Accounts of such  Borrower,
verifications  of Accounts of such Borrower,  and notices to Account  Debtors,
(c) send requests for  verification of Accounts of such Borrower,  (d) endorse
such  Borrower's  name on any  Collection  item that may come into  Foothill's
possession,  (e) at any time  that an Event of  Default  has  occurred  and is
continuing  or  Foothill  deems  itself  insecure,   notify  the  post  office
authorities to change the address for delivery of such  Borrower's  mail to an
address  designated  by  Foothill,  to receive and open all mail  addressed to
such  Borrower,  and to retain all mail  relating  to the  Collateral  of such
Borrower and forward all other mail to such Borrower,  (f) at any time that an
Event of Default has  occurred  and is  continuing  or Foothill  deems  itself
insecure,  make, settle, and adjust all claims under such Borrower's policies of
insurance  and  make all  determinations  and  decisions  with  respect  to such
policies of insurance, and (g) at any time that an Event of Default has occurred
and is continuing or Foothill deems itself insecure,  settle and adjust disputes
and claims  respecting  the  Accounts of such  Borrower  directly  with  Account
Debtors,  for amounts and upon terms that Foothill  determines to be reasonable,
and Foothill may cause to be executed and  delivered  any documents and releases
that Foothill  determines to be necessary.  The  appointment of Foothill as such
Borrower's  attorney,  and each and every one of  Foothill's  rights and powers,
being coupled with an interest, is irrevocable until all of the Obligations have
been fully and finally repaid and performed and Foothill's  obligation to extend
credit hereunder is terminated.

            4.6   Right to Inspect.  Foothill  (through  any of its  officers,
employees,  or agents)  shall have the right,  from time to time  hereafter to
inspect  Borrowers'  Books and 

                                       30
<PAGE>

to check,  test,  and  appraise  the  Collateral  in order to verify  Borrowers'
financial condition or the amount,  quality,  value,  condition of, or any other
matter relating to, the Collateral.

         5. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.

         In order to  induce  Foothill  to enter  into  this  Agreement,  each
Borrower makes the following  representations  and  warranties  which shall be
true,  correct,  and complete in all respects as of the date hereof, and shall
be true, correct,  and complete in all respects as of the Closing Date, and at
and as of the date of the  making of each  Advance,  Letter of Credit and Term
Loans as though made on and as of the date of such  Advance,  Letter of Credit
and Term Loans (except to the extent that such  representations and warranties
relate  solely to an earlier  date) and such  representations  and  warranties
shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement:

            5.1   No  Encumbrances.  Each  Borrower has good and  indefeasible
title to its Collateral, free and clear of Liens except for Permitted Liens.

            5.2   Eligible  Accounts.  The Eligible  Accounts of each Borrower
are bona  fide  existing  obligations  created  by the sale  and  delivery  of
Inventory  or the  rendition  of services to Account  Debtors in the  ordinary
course of such  Borrower's  business,  unconditionally  owed to such  Borrower
without  (to the  best  of  such  Borrower's  knowledge)  defenses,  disputes,
offsets,  counterclaims,  or rights of return or  cancellation.  The  property
giving  rise to such  Eligible  Accounts  has been  delivered  to the  Account
Debtor,  or to the  Account  Debtor's  agent  for  immediate  shipment  to and
unconditional  acceptance by the Account  Debtor.  Borrowers have not received
notice of actual or imminent  bankruptcy,  insolvency,  or material impairment
of the  financial  condition  of any Account  Debtor  regarding  any  Eligible
Account.

            5.3   Eligible  Inventory.  All Eligible Inventory of Borrowers is
of good and merchantable quality, free from known defects.

            5.4   Equipment.  All of the  Equipment  of  Borrowers  is used or
held for use in Borrowers' business and is fit for such purposes.

            5.5   Location of  Inventory  and  Equipment.  The  Inventory  and
Equipment of Borrowers are not stored with a bailee, warehouseman,  or similar
party (without  Foothill's  prior written consent) and are located only at the
locations identified on Schedule 6.12 or otherwise permitted by Section 6.12.

            5.6   Inventory   Records.   Each   Borrower   keeps  correct  and
accurate  records  itemizing  and  describing  the kind,  type,  quality,  and
quantity of its Inventory, and such Borrower's cost therefor.

                                       31
<PAGE>


            5.7   Location  of  Chief  Executive   Office;   FEIN.  The  chief
executive  office of each  Borrower is located at 1720  Sublette  Avenue,  St.
Louis, Missouri 63110, and each Borrower's FEIN is set forth below:

                  Borrower                      FEIN

                  Parent                        25-1370721
                  B&F                           34-1792342
                  Bear                          95-3583558
                  Hospital Systems              94-3218390
                  Life Support                  95-3560739
                  Bicore                        33-0364518

            5.8   Due Organization and Qualification; Subsidiaries.

                  (a)   Each  Borrower is duly  organized  and existing and in
good standing  under the laws of the  jurisdiction  of its  incorporation  and
qualified  and licensed to do business in, and in good  standing in, any state
where the failure to be so licensed or qualified  reasonably could be expected
to have a Material Adverse Change.


                  (b)   Set forth on Schedule  5.8, is a complete and accurate
list of each Borrower's  direct and indirect  Subsidiaries,  showing:  (i) the
jurisdiction of their  incorporation;  (ii) the number of shares of each class
of common and preferred stock  authorized for each of such  Subsidiaries;  and
(iii) the number and the  percentage  of the  outstanding  shares of each such
class owned  directly or indirectly by such Borrower.  All of the  outstanding
capital  stock of each such  Subsidiary  has been validly  issued and is fully
paid and non-assessable.


                  (c)   Except as set forth on Schedule  5.8, no capital stock
(or  any  securities,   instruments,   warrants,   options,  purchase  rights,
conversion or exchange rights,  calls,  commitments or claims of any character
convertible  into or exercisable  for capital stock) of any direct or indirect
Subsidiary  of any  Borrower  is  subject  to the  issuance  of any  security,
instrument, warrant, option, purchase right, conversion or exchange right, call,
commitment or claim of any right, title, or interest therein or thereto.

            5.9   Due Authorization; No Conflict.


                  (a)   The  execution,  delivery,  and  performance  by  each
Borrower of this  Agreement and the Loan Documents to which it is a party have
been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action.


                  (b)   The  execution,  delivery,  and  performance  by  each
Borrower of this  Agreement  and the Loan  Documents to which it is a party do
not and will not (i) violate

                                       32
<PAGE>

any  provision  of  federal,  state,  or  local  law  or  regulation  (including
Regulations  G, T, U, and X of the Federal  Reserve  Board)  applicable  to such
Borrower,  the Governing Documents of such Borrower, or any order,  judgment, or
decree of any court or other  Governmental  Authority  binding on such Borrower,
(ii) conflict  with,  result in a breach of, or  constitute  (with due notice or
lapse of time or both) a default  under any material  contractual  obligation or
material  lease of such  Borrower,  (iii)  result in or require the  creation or
imposition of any Lien of any nature whatsoever upon any properties or assets of
such  Borrower,  other than  Permitted  Liens,  or (iv)  require any approval of
stockholders  or any  approval  or  consent  of any  Person  under any  material
contractual obligation of such Borrower.


                  (c)   Other  than  the  filing  of   appropriate   financing
statements,  fixture  filings,  and mortgages,  the execution,  delivery,  and
performance  by each  Borrower of this  Agreement  and the Loan  Documents  to
which such  Borrower is a party do not and will not  require any  registration
with,  consent,  or approval of, or notice to, or other action with or by, any
federal, state, foreign, or other Governmental Authority or other Person.


                  (d)   This  Agreement  and the Loan  Documents  to which any
Borrower is a party, and all other documents  contemplated hereby and thereby,
when  executed and  delivered by such  Borrower  will be the legally valid and
binding  obligations  of such Borrower,  enforceable  against such Borrower in
accordance with their respective  terms,  except as enforcement may be limited
by  equitable  principles  or  by  bankruptcy,   insolvency,   reorganization,
moratorium,  or  similar  laws  relating  to  or  limiting  creditors'  rights
generally.


                  (e)   The Liens  granted by each Borrower to Foothill in and
to its  properties  and assets  pursuant to this  Agreement and the other Loan
Documents are validly created,  perfected,  and first priority Liens,  subject
only to Permitted Liens.


            5.10  Litigation.  There are no actions or proceedings  pending by
or  against  any  Borrower  before  any court or  administrative  agency  and no
Borrower has any  knowledge or belief of any  pending,  threatened,  or imminent
litigation,  governmental  investigations,  or claims,  complaints,  actions, or
prosecutions involving any Borrower or any guarantor of the Obligations,  except
for: (a) ongoing  collection  matters in which a Borrower is the plaintiff;  (b)
matters  disclosed  on Schedule  5.10;  and (c) matters  arising  after the date
hereof  that,  if decided  adversely  to a  Borrower,  would not have a Material
Adverse Change.

            5.11  No  Material  Adverse  Change.   All  financial   statements
relating to any  Borrower or any  guarantor  of the  Obligations  that have been
delivered by any Borrower to Foothill have been prepared in accordance with GAAP
(except,  in the  case  of  unaudited  financial  statements,  for  the  lack of
footnotes and being subject to year-end  audit  adjustments)  and fairly present
such Borrower's (or such guarantor's,  as applicable)  financial condition as of
the date thereof and such  Borrower's  results of operations for the period then
ended. There has not been a Material Adverse Change with respect to any Borrower
(or such

                                       33
<PAGE>

guarantor,  as  applicable)  since the date of the latest  financial  statements
submitted to Foothill on or before the Closing Date.


            5.12  Solvency.   Each   Borrower  is  Solvent.   No  transfer  of
property is being made by any Borrower and no obligation is being  incurred by
any  Borrower  in  connection  with  the  transactions  contemplated  by  this
Agreement or the other Loan  Documents  with the intent to hinder,  delay,  or
defraud either present or future creditors of any Borrower.


            5.13  Employee   Benefits.   None  of  Borrowers,   any  of  their
Subsidiaries,  or any of their ERISA  Affiliates  maintains or  contributes to
any Benefit Plan,  other than those listed on Schedule  5.13.  Each  Borrower,
each of its  Subsidiaries  and each ERISA Affiliate have satisfied the minimum
funding  standards  of ERISA and the IRC with  respect to each Benefit Plan to
which it is obligated to  contribute.  No ERISA Event has occurred nor has any
other event occurred that may result in an ERISA Event that  reasonably  could
be expected  to result in a Material  Adverse  Change.  None of  Borrowers  or
their  Subsidiaries,  any ERISA  Affiliate,  or any  fiduciary  of any Plan is
subject to any direct or  indirect  liability  with  respect to any Plan under
any  applicable  law,  treaty,  rule,  regulation,   or  agreement.   None  of
Borrowers or their  Subsidiaries or any ERISA Affiliate is required to provide
security to any Plan under Section 401(a)(29) of the IRC.


            5.14  Environmental  Condition.  None of Borrowers'  properties or
assets has ever been used by any Borrower  or, to the best of each  Borrower's
knowledge,  by previous owners or operators in the disposal of, or to produce,
store, handle,  treat,  release, or transport,  any Hazardous Materials.  None
of Borrowers'  properties or assets has ever been  designated or identified in
any manner  pursuant to any  environmental  protection  statute as a Hazardous
Materials   disposal  site,  or  a  candidate  for  closure  pursuant  to  any
environmental  protection  statute.  No Lien arising  under any  environmental
protection  statute has  attached  to any  revenues or to any real or personal
property  owned or  operated  by any  Borrower.  No  Borrower  has  received a
summons,  citation,  notice,  or directive from the  Environmental  Protection
Agency  or any other  federal  or state  governmental  agency  concerning  any
action or omission by any Borrower  resulting in the releasing or disposing of
Hazardous Materials into the environment.

         6. AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS.


         Each  Borrower  covenants  and  agrees  that,  so long as any  credit
hereunder  shall  be  available  and  until  full  and  final  payment  of the
Obligations,  and unless  Foothill shall  otherwise  consent in writing,  such
Borrower shall do all of the following:


            6.1   Accounting  System.  Maintain a standard  and modern  system
of accounting  that enables such Borrower to produce  financial  statements in
accordance with GAAP, and maintain  records  pertaining to its Collateral that
contain  information  as from time to time may be requested by Foothill.  Such
Borrower also shall keep a modern  inventory 

                                       34
<PAGE>

reporting  system  that  shows  all  additions,   sales,  claims,  returns,  and
allowances with respect to its Inventory.


            6.2   Collateral  Reporting.  Provide  Foothill with the following
documents at the  following  times in form  satisfactory  to Foothill:  (a) on
each Business Day, a sales journal,  collection  journal,  and credit register
since the last such  schedule and a calculation  of the  Borrowing  Base as of
such date using the amount of  ineligible  Accounts as  determined  based upon
the prior  month's  aging of  Accounts,  (b) on a monthly  basis  and,  in any
event,  by no later  than the 10th day of each  month  during the term of this
Agreement,  (i) a  detailed  calculation  of the  Borrowing  Base,  and (ii) a
detailed  aging,  by  total,  of such  Borrower's  Accounts,  together  with a
reconciliation  to the detailed  calculation of the Borrowing Base  previously
provided to Foothill,  (c) on a monthly  basis and, in any event,  by no later
than the 10th day of each month during the term of this  Agreement,  a summary
aging, by vendor, of such Borrower's  accounts payable and any book overdraft,
(d) on a weekly basis,  Inventory reports specifying such Borrower's cost, (e)
on each Business Day,  notice of all returns,  disputes,  or claims,  (f) upon
request,  copies  of  invoices  in  connection  with  its  Accounts,  customer
statements,  credit  memos,  remittance  advices and reports,  deposit  slips,
shipping  and  delivery  documents  in  connection  with its  Accounts and for
Inventory  and  Equipment  acquired  by such  Borrower,  purchase  orders  and
invoices,  (g) on a  quarterly  basis,  a  detailed  list of  such  Borrower's
customers,  (h) on a monthly  basis,  a  calculation  of the  Dilution for the
prior month;  and (i) such other reports as to the Collateral or the financial
condition  of such  Borrower  as  Foothill  may  request  from  time to  time.
Original  sales  invoices  evidencing  daily  sales  shall be  mailed  by such
Borrower to each Account  Debtor and, at  Foothill's  direction,  the invoices
shall  indicate on their face that such  Borrower's  Account has been assigned
to Foothill and that all payments are to be made directly to Foothill.


            6.3   Financial  Statements,  Reports,  Certificates.  Deliver  to
Foothill:  (a) as soon as  available,  but in any event within 45 days after the
end of each month  during  each of Parent's  fiscal  years,  a company  prepared
balance sheet,  income  statement,  and statement of cash flow covering Parent's
operations  during such period;  and (b) as soon as available,  but in any event
within 90 days after the end of each of such Parent's  fiscal  years,  financial
statements of Parent for each such fiscal year, audited by independent certified
public accountants reasonably acceptable to Foothill and certified,  without any
qualifications,  by such  accountants  to have been prepared in accordance  with
GAAP,  together with a  certificate  of such  accountants  addressed to Foothill
stating that such  accountants  do not have  knowledge  of the  existence of any
Default or Event of Default.  Such audited financial  statements shall include a
balance  sheet,  profit and loss  statement,  and statement of cash flow and, if
prepared, such accountants' letter to management,  and shall be accompanied by a
calculation  of the  Borrowers'  Free Cash Flow.  In addition  to the  financial
statements  referred to above,  Parent  agrees to deliver  financial  statements
prepared  on a  consolidating  basis so as to present  such Parent and each such
related entity separately, and on a consolidated basis.

                                       35
<PAGE>


         Together  with the above,  Parent also shall deliver to Foothill such
Parent's Form 10-Q Quarterly Reports,  Form 10-K Annual Reports,  and Form 8-K
Current Reports,  and any other filings made by Parent with the Securities and
Exchange  Commission,  if any,  as soon as the same are  filed,  or any  other
information  that is  provided  by Parent to its  shareholders,  and any other
report reasonably  requested by Foothill  relating to the financial  condition
of such Parent.


         Each month,  together with the financial statements provided pursuant
to Section  6.3(a),  Parent shall deliver to Foothill a certificate  signed by
its chief financial  officer to the effect that: (i) all financial  statements
delivered or caused to be delivered to Foothill  hereunder  have been prepared
in  accordance  with  GAAP  (except,   in  the  case  of  unaudited  financial
statements,  for the lack of  footnotes  and being  subject to year-end  audit
adjustments)  and fairly present the financial  condition of Parent,  (ii) the
representations  and  warranties of Borrowers  contained in this Agreement and
the other Loan Documents are true and correct in all material  respects on and
as of the date of such  certificate,  as  though  made on and as of such  date
(except to the extent that such  representations  and warranties relate solely
to an  earlier  date),  (iii) for each  month that also is the date on which a
financial  covenant in Section 7.20 is to be tested, a Compliance  Certificate
demonstrating in reasonable  detail  compliance at the end of such period with
the applicable  financial covenants contained in Section 7.20, and (iv) on the
date of delivery  of such  certificate  to  Foothill  there does not exist any
condition or event that  constitutes a Default or Event of Default (or, in the
case of clauses  (i),  (ii),  or (iii),  to the extent of any  non-compliance,
describing  such  non-compliance  as to which he or she may have knowledge and
what action  Parent has taken,  is taking,  or  proposes to take with  respect
thereto).


         Each  Borrower  shall  have  issued  written   instructions   to  its
independent certified public accountants  authorizing them to communicate with
Foothill and to release to Foothill whatever financial information  concerning
such  Borrower that Foothill may request.  Each  Borrower  hereby  irrevocably
authorizes  and directs all auditors,  accountants,  or other third parties to
deliver to Foothill,  at such  Borrower's  expense,  copies of such Borrower's
financial statements,  papers related thereto, and other accounting records of
any nature in their  possession,  and to disclose to Foothill any  information
they may  have  regarding  such  Borrower's  business  affairs  and  financial
conditions.


            6.4   Tax  Returns.  Deliver  to  Foothill  copies of each of such
Parent's  future  federal  income tax  returns,  and any  amendments  thereto,
within 45 days of the filing thereof with the Internal Revenue Service.

            6.5   Intentionally Deleted.


            6.6   Returns.  Cause returns and  allowances,  if any, as between
such  Borrower  and  its  Account  Debtors  to be on  the  same  basis  and in
accordance with the usual customary practices of such Borrower,  as they exist
at the time of the  execution  and delivery 

                                       36
<PAGE>


of this  Agreement.  If, at a time when no Event of Default has  occurred and is
continuing,  any Account  Debtor  returns any Inventory to such  Borrower,  such
Borrower  shall  determine  the  reason  for such  return as soon as  reasonably
practicable and, if such Borrower accepts such return, issue a credit memorandum
(with a copy to be sent to Foothill) in the  appropriate  amount to such Account
Debtor.  If, at a time when an Event of Default has occurred and is  continuing,
any Account  Debtor  returns  any  Inventory  to such  Borrower,  such  Borrower
promptly  shall  determine the reason for such return and, if Foothill  consents
(which consent shall not be unreasonably  withheld),  issue a credit  memorandum
(with a copy to be sent to Foothill) in the  appropriate  amount to such Account
Debtor.


            6.7   Title to Equipment.  Upon Foothill's request,  such Borrower
immediately  shall  deliver  to  Foothill,  properly  endorsed,  any  and  all
evidences of ownership of,  certificates of title,  or applications  for title
to any items of its Equipment.


            6.8   Maintenance  of  Equipment.  Maintain its  Equipment in good
operating  condition and repair  (ordinary wear and tear  excepted),  and make
all necessary  replacements thereto so that the value and operating efficiency
thereof  shall at all times be  maintained  and  preserved.  Other  than those
items  of  Equipment  that  constitute  fixtures  on the  Closing  Date,  such
Borrower  shall not  permit any item of its  Equipment  to become a fixture to
real estate or an accession to other  property,  and such  Equipment  shall at
all times remain personal property.


            6.9   Taxes.  Cause  all  assessments  and  taxes,  whether  real,
personal,  or otherwise,  due or payable by, or imposed,  levied,  or assessed
against  such  Borrower  or any of its  property  to be paid in  full,  before
delinquency  or before the expiration of any extension  period,  except to the
extent that the validity of such  assessment  or tax shall be the subject of a
Permitted  Protest.  Such  Borrower  shall  make  due and  timely  payment  or
deposit  of  all  such  federal,  state,  and  local  taxes,  assessments,  or
contributions  required  of it  by  law,  and  will  execute  and  deliver  to
Foothill,  on  demand,  appropriate  certificates  attesting  to  the  payment
thereof or deposit  with  respect  thereto.  Such  Borrower  will make  timely
payment or deposit of all tax payments and  withholding  taxes  required of it
by applicable laws, including those laws concerning F.I.C.A.,  F.U.T.A., state
disability,  and local,  state,  and  federal  income  taxes,  and will,  upon
request,  furnish Foothill with proof satisfactory to Foothill indicating that
such Borrower has made such payments or deposits.

            6.10  Insurance.


                  (a)   At its expense,  keep its Personal Property Collateral
insured against loss or damage by fire, theft, explosion,  sprinklers, and all
other  hazards  and risks,  and in such  amounts,  as are  ordinarily  insured
against  by other  owners in  similar  businesses.  Such  Borrower  also shall
maintain business  interruption,  public  liability,  product  liability,  and
property damage  insurance  relating to such  Borrower's  ownership and use of
its  Personal 

                                       37
<PAGE>

Property  Collateral,  as well as insurance against larceny,  embezzlement,  and
criminal misappropriation.


                  (b)   At its expense,  obtain and maintain (i)  insurance of
the type necessary to insure the  Improvements and Chattels (as such terms are
defined in the Mortgages),  for the full replacement cost thereof, against any
loss by fire, lightning,  windstorm, hail, explosion,  aircraft, smoke damage,
vehicle damage, earthquakes,  elevator collision, and other risks from time to
time included under "extended coverage" policies,  in such amounts as Foothill
may require,  but in any event in amounts  sufficient to prevent such Borrower
from becoming a co-insurer  under such  policies,  (ii) combined  single limit
bodily injury and property damages insurance against any loss,  liability,  or
damages on, about, or relating to each parcel of Real Property Collateral,  in
an amount of not less than  $1,000,000;  and (iii)  insurance  for such  other
risks as Foothill may require.  Replacement  costs, at Foothill's  option, may
be redetermined by an insurance appraiser,  satisfactory to Foothill, not more
frequently than once every 12 months at such Borrower's cost.


                  (c)   All such policies of insurance  shall be in such form,
with such companies,  and in such amounts as may be reasonably satisfactory to
Foothill.  All insurance  required  herein shall be written by companies which
are  authorized  to do  insurance  business  in the State of  California.  All
hazard  insurance and such other  insurance as Foothill shall  specify,  shall
contain a California Form 438BFU (NS) mortgagee endorsement,  or an equivalent
endorsement  satisfactory  to  Foothill,  showing  Foothill as sole loss payee
thereof,  and shall contain a waiver of warranties.  Every policy of insurance
referred to in this  Section  6.10 shall  contain an  agreement by the insurer
that it will not cancel such policy except after 30 days prior written  notice
to  Foothill   and  that  any  loss  payable   thereunder   shall  be  payable
notwithstanding  any act or  negligence  of such  Borrower or  Foothill  which
might, absent such agreement,  result in a forfeiture of all or a part of such
insurance  payment  and  notwithstanding  (i)  occupancy  or use  of the  Real
Property  Collateral  for purposes more  hazardous than permitted by the terms
of such policy,  (ii) any  foreclosure or other action or proceeding  taken by
Foothill  pursuant to the Mortgages upon the happening of an Event of Default,
or (iii) any change in title or  ownership  of the Real  Property  Collateral.
Such Borrower shall deliver to Foothill  certified  copies of such policies of
insurance and evidence of the payment of all premiums therefor.


                  (d)   Original    policies    or    certificates     thereof
satisfactory  to  Foothill  evidencing  such  insurance  shall be  delivered  to
Foothill  prior to the  expiration of the existing or preceding  policies.  Such
Borrower  shall  give  Foothill  prompt  notice  of any  loss  covered  by  such
insurance,  and Foothill shall have the right to adjust any loss. Foothill shall
have the exclusive  right to adjust all losses  payable under any such insurance
policies  without any liability to such  Borrower  whatsoever in respect of such
adjustments.  Any monies  received as payment  for any loss under any  insurance
policy including the insurance  policies  mentioned above, shall be paid over to
Foothill to be applied at the option of Foothill either to the prepayment of the
Obligations  without premium,  in such order or manner as Foothill may

                                       38
<PAGE>

elect,  or shall  be  disbursed  to such  Borrower  under  stage  payment  terms
satisfactory to Foothill for  application to the cost of repairs,  replacements,
or restorations.  All repairs,  replacements,  or restorations shall be effected
with  reasonable  promptness and shall be of a value at least equal to the value
of the items or property destroyed prior to such damage or destruction. Upon the
occurrence  of an Event of Default,  Foothill  shall have the right to apply all
prepaid  premiums  to the  payment of the  Obligations  in such order or form as
Foothill shall determine.

                  (e)   Such  Borrower  shall not take out separate  insurance
concurrent in form or  contributing in the event of loss with that required to
be maintained under this Section 6.10,  unless Foothill is included thereon as
named  insured with the loss payable to Foothill  under a standard  California
438BFU (NS)  Mortgagee  endorsement,  or its local  equivalent.  Such Borrower
immediately  shall notify Foothill  whenever such separate  insurance is taken
out,  specifying  the  insurer  thereunder  and  full  particulars  as to  the
policies  evidencing  the same,  and  originals of such  policies  immediately
shall be provided to Foothill.


            6.11  No Setoffs or  Counterclaims.  Make  payments  hereunder and
under the other  Loan  Documents  by or on  behalf  of such  Borrower  without
setoff or  counterclaim  and free and  clear  of,  and  without  deduction  or
withholding for or on account of, any federal, state, or local taxes.


            6.12  Location of  Inventory  and  Equipment.  Keep its  Inventory
and Equipment  only at the locations  identified on Schedule  6.12;  provided,
however,  that  Borrowers may amend  Schedule  6.12 so long as such  amendment
occurs by written  notice to Foothill  not less than 30 days prior to the date
on  which  the  Inventory  or  Equipment  of  Borrowers  is  moved to such new
location,  so long as such new  location  is  within  the  continental  United
States,  and so long as, at the time of such written  notification,  Borrowers
provide any financing  statements or fixture filings  necessary to perfect and
continue  perfected  Foothill's  security  interests  in such  assets and also
provides to Foothill a Collateral Access Agreement.


            6.13  Compliance  with Laws.  Comply with the  requirements of all
applicable  laws,   rules,   regulations,   and  orders  of  any  governmental
authority,  including  the Fair Labor  Standards  Act and the  Americans  With
Disabilities  Act,  other  than  laws,  rules,  regulations,  and  orders  the
non-compliance  with which,  individually or in the aggregate,  would not have
and could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Change.

            6.14  Employee Benefits.


                  (a)   Deliver to Foothill:  (i)  promptly,  and in any event
within 10 Business Days after such Borrower or any of its  Subsidiaries  knows
or has reason to know that an ERISA Event has occurred that  reasonably  could
be expected to result in a Material  Adverse  Change,  a written  statement of
the chief financial  officer of such Borrower 

                                       39
<PAGE>

describing  such ERISA  Event and any action  that is being  taken with  respect
thereto by such Borrower, any such Subsidiary or ERISA Affiliate, and any action
taken or threatened by the IRS,  Department of Labor,  or PBGC. Such Borrower or
such Subsidiary,  as applicable,  shall be deemed to know all facts known by the
administrator  of any  Benefit  Plan  of  which  it is the  plan  sponsor,  (ii)
promptly,  and in any event within 3 Business Days after the filing thereof with
the IRS, a copy of each funding waiver request filed with respect to any Benefit
Plan and all communications  received by such Borrower,  any of its Subsidiaries
or, to the knowledge of such Borrower,  any ERISA Affiliate with respect to such
request,  and (iii)  promptly,  and in any event  within 3  Business  Days after
receipt by such Borrower,  any of its  Subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of such
Borrower,  any ERISA  Affiliate,  of the PBGC's intention to terminate a Benefit
Plan or to have a trustee appointed to administer a Benefit Plan, copies of each
such notice.


                  (b)   Cause to be  delivered to  Foothill,  upon  Foothill's
request,  each of the  following:  (i) a copy of each Plan (or, where any such
plan is not in writing,  complete  description  thereof)  (and if  applicable,
related  trust  agreements or other funding  instruments)  and all  amendments
thereto, all written  interpretations thereof and written descriptions thereof
that have been  distributed to employees or former  employees of such Borrower
or its Subsidiaries;  (ii) the most recent  determination letter issued by the
IRS with  respect to each Benefit  Plan;  (iii) for the three most recent plan
years,  annual  reports  on Form 5500  Series  required  to be filed  with any
governmental  agency  for  each  Benefit  Plan;  (iv)  all  actuarial  reports
prepared  for the last three plan years for each Benefit  Plan;  (v) a listing
of all  Multiemployer  Plans,  with the  aggregate  amount of the most  recent
annual  contributions  required  to be  made  by such  Borrower  or any  ERISA
Affiliate  to  each  such  plan  and  copies  of  the  collective   bargaining
agreements  requiring such  contributions;  (vi) any information that has been
provided  to  such  Borrower  or  any  ERISA  Affiliate  regarding  withdrawal
liability under any Multiemployer  Plan; and (vii) the aggregate amount of the
most recent annual  payments made to former  employees of such Borrower or its
Subsidiaries under any Retiree Health Plan.


            6.15  Leases.  Pay when due all rents and  other  amounts  payable
under  any  leases  to  which  such  Borrower  is a  party  or by  which  such
Borrower's  properties  and assets are bound,  unless  such  payments  are the
subject  of a  Permitted  Protest.  To the  extent  that such  Borrower  fails
timely to make payment of such rents and other amounts  payable when due under
its leases,  Foothill  shall be  entitled,  in its  discretion,  to reserve an
amount equal to such unpaid amounts against the Borrowing Base.

         7. NEGATIVE COVENANTS.


         Each  Borrower  covenants  and  agrees  that,  so long as any  credit
hereunder  shall  be  available  and  until  full  and  final  payment  of the
Obligations,   such  Borrower  will  not,  without  Foothill's  prior  written
approval  which  may be given in  Foothill's  sole  discretion,  do any of the
following:

                                       40
<PAGE>



            7.1   Indebtedness.  Create, incur, assume, permit,  guarantee, or
otherwise  become or remain,  directly or  indirectly,  liable with respect to
any Indebtedness, except:


                  (a)   Indebtedness  evidenced  by this  Agreement,  together
with  Indebtedness to issuers of letters of credit that are the subject of L/C
Guarantees;


                  (b)   Indebtedness   set  forth  in  the  latest   financial
statements of Borrowers submitted to Foothill on or prior to the Closing Date;


                  (c)   Indebtedness secured by Permitted Liens;


                  (d)   Indebtedness evidenced by the Junior Notes;


                  (e)   The private  placement  of  subordinate  debt on terms
and  conditions  consistent  in all material  respects  with the A.G.  Edwards
draft Private  Placement  Memorandum  dated July 24, 1997, with  subordination
provisions  no  less   favorable   than  those  set  forth  in  those  certain
Subordination  Agreements  entered  into by  Foothill in  connection  with the
Junior Notes; and


                  (f)   refinancings,  renewals, or extensions of Indebtedness
permitted  under clauses (b) and (c) of this Section 7.1 (and  continuance  or
renewal  of any  Permitted  Liens  associated  therewith)  so long as: (i) the
terms and  conditions  of such  refinancings,  renewals,  or extensions do not
materially  impair the prospects of repayment of the Obligations by Borrowers,
(ii) the net cash proceeds of such  refinancings,  renewals,  or extensions do
not  result  in  an  increase  in  the  aggregate   principal  amount  of  the
Indebtedness so refinanced,  renewed,  or extended,  (iii) such  refinancings,
renewals,  refundings,  or  extensions  do not result in a  shortening  of the
average  weighted  maturity of the  Indebtedness  so refinanced,  renewed,  or
extended,  and (iv) to the extent that  Indebtedness  that is  refinanced  was
subordinated in right of payment to the  Obligations,  then the  subordination
terms  and  conditions  of the  refinancing  Indebtedness  must be at least as
favorable to Foothill as those applicable to the refinanced Indebtedness.


            7.2   Liens. Create,  incur, assume, or permit to exist,  directly
or  indirectly,  any Lien on or with respect to any of its property or assets,
of any  kind,  whether  now  owned or  hereafter  acquired,  or any  income or
profits  therefrom,  except  for  Permitted  Liens  (including  Liens that are
replacements of Permitted  Liens to the extent that the original  Indebtedness
is refinanced  under Section 7.1(d) and so long as the replacement  Liens only
encumber those assets or property that secured the original Indebtedness).


            7.3   Restrictions   on  Fundamental   Changes.   Enter  into  any
merger, consolidation,  reorganization, or recapitalization, or reclassify its
capital  stock,  or  liquidate,  wind up, or  dissolve  itself  (or suffer any
liquidation or dissolution),  or convey,  sell, assign,  

                                       41
<PAGE>

lease,  transfer,  or otherwise  dispose of, in one  transaction  or a series of
transactions, all or any substantial part of its property or assets.


            7.4   Disposal  of  Assets.  Sell,  lease,  assign,  transfer,  or
otherwise  dispose of any of such  Borrower's  properties or assets other than
sales of  Inventory  to  buyers  in the  ordinary  course  of such  Borrower's
business as currently conducted.


            7.5   Change Name.  Change such Borrower's name,  FEIN,  corporate
structure  (within the meaning of Section  9402(7) of the Code),  or identity,
or add any new fictitious name.


            7.6   Guarantee.  Guarantee or otherwise  become in any way liable
with respect to the  obligations  of any third Person except by endorsement of
instruments  or items of payment for  deposit to the account of such  Borrower
or which are transmitted or turned over to Foothill.


            7.7   Nature  of  Business.  Make  any  change  in  the  principal
nature of such Borrower's business.


            7.8   Prepayments and Amendments.


                  (a)   Except in connection  with a refinancing  permitted by
Section  7.1(d)  or,  so long as no  Event  of  Default  has  occurred  and is
continuing,  the prepayment of the Junior Notes upon completion of a Financing
or Sale  Event,  prepay,  redeem,  retire,  defease,  purchase,  or  otherwise
acquire  any  Indebtedness   owing  to  any  third  Person,   other  than  the
Obligations in accordance with this Agreement, and


                  (b)   Directly  or   indirectly,   amend,   modify,   alter,
increase,  or  change  any of  the  terms  or  conditions  of  any  agreement,
instrument,  document,  indenture,  or other writing  evidencing or concerning
Indebtedness permitted under Sections 7.1(b), (c), or (d).


            7.9   Change of Control.  Cause,  permit,  or suffer,  directly or
indirectly, any Change of Control.


            7.10  Consignments.  Consign  any  Inventory  or  sell  any of its
Inventory  on bill  and  hold,  sale or  return,  sale on  approval,  or other
conditional terms of sale.


            7.11  Distributions.  Make any  distribution or declare or pay any
dividends  (in cash or other  property,  other  than  capital  stock)  on,  or
purchase,  acquire, redeem, or retire any of such Borrower's capital stock, of
any class, whether now or hereafter outstanding.

                                       42
<PAGE>

            7.12  Accounting   Methods.   Modify  or  change   its  method  of
accounting  or enter  into,  modify,  or  terminate  any  agreement  currently
existing,  or at  any  time  hereafter  entered  into  with  any  third  party
accounting  firm or  service  bureau  for the  preparation  or storage of such
Borrower's  accounting  records without said accounting firm or service bureau
agreeing to provide  Foothill  information  regarding  the  Collateral or such
Borrower's  financial  condition.  Such Borrower  waives the right to assert a
confidential  relationship,  if any, it may have with any  accounting  firm or
service  bureau in  connection  with any  information  requested  by  Foothill
pursuant to or in  accordance  with this  Agreement,  and agrees that Foothill
may contact  directly any such  accounting  firm or service bureau in order to
obtain such information.


            7.13  Investments.   Directly  or  indirectly  make,  acquire,  or
incur any liabilities (including contingent  obligations) for or in connection
with (a) the  acquisition  of the  securities  (whether debt or equity) of, or
other interests in, a Person, (b) loans, advances,  capital contributions,  or
transfers  of  property  to a  Person,  or  (c)  the  acquisition  of  all  or
substantially all of the properties or assets of a Person.


            7.14  Transactions  with Affiliates.  Directly or indirectly enter
into or permit to exist any material  transaction  with any  Affiliate of such
Borrower  except  for  transactions  that are in the  ordinary  course of such
Borrower's business,  upon fair and reasonable terms, that are fully disclosed
to Foothill,  and that are no less  favorable to such  Borrower  than would be
obtained in an arm's length transaction with a non-Affiliate.


            7.15  Suspension.  Suspend or go out of a  substantial  portion of
its business.


            7.16  Intentionally Deleted.


            7.17  Use of  Proceeds.  Use (a) the  proceeds of the Advances and
the Term Loans made  hereunder  for any purpose  other than (i) on the Closing
Date, (y) to repay in full the outstanding  principal,  accrued interest,  and
accrued  fees  and  expenses  owing  to  Existing  Lender,   and  (z)  to  pay
transactional  costs and expenses  incurred in connection with this Agreement,
and (ii) thereafter, consistent with the terms and conditions hereof, for its
lawful and permitted corporate purposes.

            7.18  Change in Location of Chief Executive Office;  Inventory and
Equipment  with  Bailees.  Relocate  its  chief  executive  office  to  a  new
location  without  providing  30 days prior  written  notification  thereof to
Foothill  and so long  as,  at the  time of such  written  notification,  such
Borrower  provides any financing  statements or fixture  filings  necessary to
perfect  and  continue  perfected   Foothill's  security  interests  and  also
provides to Foothill a Collateral  Access  Agreement  with respect to such new
location.  The Inventory and Equipment of such Borrower  shall not at any time
now or  hereafter  be stored  with a bailee,  warehouseman,  or similar  party
without Foothill's prior written consent.

                                       43
<PAGE>

            7.19  No  Prohibited   Transactions   Under  ERISA.   Directly  or
indirectly:


                  (a)   engage,  or permit any  Subsidiary of such Borrower to
engage, in any prohibited  transaction which is reasonably likely to result in
a civil  penalty or excise tax  described  in Sections 406 of ERISA or 4975 of
the IRC for  which a  statutory  or  class  exemption  is not  available  or a
private  exemption has not been  previously  obtained  from the  Department of
Labor;


                  (b)   permit to exist with  respect to any Benefit  Plan any
accumulated  funding  deficiency  (as defined in Sections 302 of ERISA and 412
of the IRC), whether or not waived;


                  (c)   fail,  or permit any  Subsidiary  of such  Borrower to
fail, to pay timely required  contributions  or annual  installments  due with
respect to any waived funding deficiency to any Benefit Plan;


                  (d)   terminate,  or permit any  Subsidiary of such Borrower
to terminate,  any Benefit Plan where such event would result in any liability
of such Borrower,  any of its  Subsidiaries or any ERISA Affiliate under Title
IV of ERISA;


                  (e)   fail,  or permit any  Subsidiary  of such  Borrower to
fail, to make any required contribution or payment to any Multiemployer Plan;


                  (f)   fail,  or permit any  Subsidiary  of such  Borrower to
fail,  to pay any required  installment  or any other payment  required  under
Section  412 of the IRC on or  before  the due date for  such  installment  or
other payment;


                  (g)   amend,  or permit any  Subsidiary  of such Borrower to
amend, a Plan resulting in an increase in current  liability for the plan year
such that either of such  Borrower,  any  Subsidiary  of such  Borrower or any
ERISA  Affiliate  is required to provide  security to such Plan under  Section
401(a)(29) of the IRC; or


                  (h)   withdraw,  or permit any  Subsidiary  of such Borrower
to withdraw,  from any Multiemployer  Plan where such withdrawal is reasonably
likely to result in any liability of any such entity under Title IV of ERISA;
which,  individually  or in the aggregate,  results in or reasonably  would be
expected to result in a claim  against or liability of such  Borrower,  any of
its Subsidiaries or any ERISA Affiliate in excess of $500,000.

                                       44
<PAGE>

            7.20  Financial Covenants.  Have Parent fail to maintain:


                  (a)   Maximum  Senior Debt to EBITDA.  A ratio of the Senior
Debt  to  EBITDA  of  less  than  the  following  as of the end of each of the
following fiscal quarters:

                  Fiscal Quarter Ending         Maximum Ratio


                  September 30, 1997            7.3 - 1.0
                  December 31, 1997             5.9 - 1.0
                  March 31, 1998                5.4 - 1.0
                  June 30, 1998                 4.1 - 1.0
                  September 30, 1998            4.1 - 1.0
                  December, 31, 1998            4.1 - 1.0
                  March 31, 1999                4.1 - 1.0
                  June 30, 1999                 2.7 - 1.0
                  September 30, 1999            2.7 - 1.0
                  December 31, 1999             2.7 - 1.0
                  March 31, 2000                2.7 - 1.0
                  June 30, 2000                 2.2 - 1.0


                  (b)   Minimum  Tangible Net Worth.  Tangible Net Worth of at
least the following amounts as of the end of the following fiscal quarters:


                  Fiscal Quarter Ending         Minimum Amount

                  September 30, 1997            $5,950,000
                  December 31, 1997             6,450,000
                  March 31, 1998                7,000,000
                  June 30, 1998                 7,500,000
                  September 30, 1998            7,500,000
                  December, 31, 1998            7,500,000
                  March 31, 1999                7,500,000
                  June 30, 1999                 11,350,000
                  September 30, 1999            11,350,000
                  December 31, 1999             11,350,000
                  March 31, 2000                11,350,000
                  June 30, 2000                $16,900,000

                  (c)   Minimum  EBITDA.  EBITDA  of at  least  the  following
amounts as of the end of the following fiscal quarters:

                                       45
<PAGE>

                  Fiscal Quarter Ending               Maximum Ratio


                     September 30, 1997                $6,294,000
                     December 31, 1997                  7,619,000
                     March 31, 1998                     8,115,000
                     June 30, 1998                     10,498,000
                     September 30, 1998                10,498,000
                     December, 31, 1998                10,498,000
                     March 31, 1999                    10,498,000
                     June 30, 1999                     12,244,000
                     September 30, 1999                12,244,000
                     December 31, 1999                 12,244,000
                     March 31, 2000                    12,244,000
                     June 30, 2000                    $14,222,000


         After the  occurrence  of a Financing  or Sale Event,  Borrowers  and
Foothill shall negotiate  modifications to the financial  covenants to reflect
such  Financing  and Sale  Event,  which  modifications  shall  be  reasonably
satisfactory to Foothill.


               7.21  Capital    Expenditures.    Borrowers   shall,   in   the
aggregate,  make  capital  expenditures  in  any  fiscal  year  in  excess  of
$3,000,000.


         8.    EVENTS OF DEFAULT.


          Any one or more of the  following  events shall  constitute an event
of default (each, an "Event of Default") under this Agreement:


               8.1   If  Borrowers  fail to pay when due and  payable  or when
declared  due  and  payable,  any  portion  of  the  Obligations  (whether  of
principal,  interest  (including any interest which, but for the provisions of
the Bankruptcy  Code,  would have accrued on such  amounts),  fees and charges
due  Foothill,   reimbursement   of  Foothill   Expenses,   or  other  amounts
constituting Obligations);


               8.2   If any Borrower  fails to perform,  keep,  or observe any
term,  provision,   condition,   covenant,  or  agreement  contained  in  this
Agreement,  in any of the Loan  Documents,  or in any other  present or future
agreement  between  such  Borrower  and  Foothill;   provided,  however,  that
Borrowers'  failure to perform,  keep,  or observe the terms of Sections 6.2, 
6.3,  6.4,  6.7,  6.8,  6.13,  6.14 or 6.15 shall not  constitute  an Event of
Default  unless such failure  continues  for five Business Days or more in the
case of Section 6.2 and otherwise 15 days or more;


               8.3   If there is a Material Adverse Change;

                                       46
<PAGE>

               8.4   If any material  portion of any Borrower's  properties or
assets is attached,  seized,  subjected to a writ or distress  warrant,  or is
levied upon, or comes into the possession of any third Person;


               8.5   If an Insolvency Proceeding is commenced by any Borrower;


               8.6   If an  Insolvency  Proceeding  is  commenced  against any
Borrower and any of the  following  events occur:  (a) such Borrower  consents
to the institution of the Insolvency  Proceeding  against it; (b) the petition
commencing  the  Insolvency  Proceeding  is not timely  controverted;  (c) the
petition  commencing  the  Insolvency  Proceeding is not  dismissed  within 60
calendar  days of the date of the filing  thereof;  provided,  however,  that,
during  the  pendency  of such  period,  Foothill  shall  be  relieved  of its
obligation to extend credit hereunder;  (d) an interim trustee is appointed to
take  possession of all or a substantial  portion of the  properties or assets
of, or to operate  all or any  substantial  portion of the  business  of, such
Borrower;  or (e) an order  for  relief  shall  have been  issued  or  entered
therein;


               8.7   If any  Borrower is enjoined,  restrained,  or in any way
prevented by court order from  continuing  to conduct all or any material part
of its business affairs;


               8.8   If a notice  of Lien,  levy,  or  assessment  is filed of
record  with  respect  to any of any  Borrower's  properties  or assets by the
United  States  Government,  or any  department,  agency,  or  instrumentality
thereof, or by any state,  county,  municipal,  or governmental  agency, or if
any  taxes or debts  owing  at any time  hereafter  to any one or more of such
entities  becomes  a Lien,  whether  choate  or  otherwise,  upon  any of such
Borrower's  properties  or assets and the same is not paid on the payment date
thereof; provided,  however, that no such Liens or debts for aggregate amounts
of less  than  $250,000  (in the  case of the  United  States  Government)  or
$1,000,000 (for any state,  county or municipality)  shall constitute an Event
of  Default  if the same are  discharged  within 30 days of the date  thereof;
provided,  however,  that Foothill shall have the right to establish a reserve
in Borrowers' Loan Account for the amount of such Liens;


               8.9   If  judgments or other  claims,  in excess of $250,000 in
the aggregate,  become Liens or encumbrances  upon any material portion of any
Borrower's  properties  or  assets,  and such  Liens or  encumbrances  are not
discharged within 30 days of the date thereof or stayed pending appeal;


               8.10  If there is a default in any material  agreement to which
any  Borrower is a party with one or more third  Persons and such  default (a)
occurs at the final maturity of the obligations thereunder,  or (b) results in
a right  by such  third  Person(s),  irrespective  of  whether  exercised,  to
accelerate the maturity of such Borrower's obligations thereunder;


               8.11  If  any   Borrower   makes  any  payment  on  account  of
Indebtedness that has been  contractually  subordinated in right of payment to
the  payment  of  the  Obligations, 


                                       47
<PAGE>


except to the extent such payment is permitted by the terms of the subordination
provisions applicable to such Indebtedness; or


               8.12  If any material misstatement or misrepresentation  exists
now or hereafter in any warranty,  representation,  statement,  or report made
to Foothill by any Borrower or any officer,  employee,  agent,  or director of
any Borrower, or if any such warranty or representation is withdrawn.


         9.    FOOTHILL'S RIGHTS AND REMEDIES.


               9.1   Rights  and  Remedies.  Upon the  occurrence,  and during
the  continuation,  of an Event of  Default  Foothill  may,  at its  election,
without notice of its election and without  demand,  do any one or more of the
following, all of which are authorized by Borrowers:


                     (a)    Declare  all  Obligations,  whether  evidenced  by
this Agreement, by any of the other Loan Documents, or otherwise,  immediately
due and payable;


                     (b)    Cease  advancing  money or extending  credit to or
for the  benefit  of  Borrowers  under this  Agreement,  under any of the Loan
Documents, or under any other agreement between Borrowers and Foothill;


                     (c)    Terminate  this  Agreement  and  any of the  other
Loan  Documents as to any future  liability  or  obligation  of Foothill,  but
without  affecting  Foothill's  rights and security  interests in the Personal
Property  Collateral or the Real Property Collateral and without affecting the
Obligations;

                     (d)    Settle  or adjust  disputes  and  claims  directly
with  Account  Debtors for amounts  and upon terms  which  Foothill  considers
advisable,  and in such cases,  Foothill will credit  Borrowers'  Loan Account
with only the net amounts  received  by  Foothill in payment of such  disputed
Accounts  after  deducting  all  Foothill  Expenses  incurred  or  expended in
connection therewith;


                     (e)    Cause  Borrowers  to hold  all of  their  returned
Inventory in trust for Foothill,  segregate all such returned  Inventory  from
all  other  property  of any  Borrower  or in any  Borrower's  possession  and
conspicuously label said returned Inventory as the property of Foothill;


                     (f)    Without  notice to or demand upon any  Borrower or
any  guarantor,  make such  payments  and do such acts as  Foothill  considers
necessary or reasonable to protect its security  interests in the  Collateral.
Borrowers  agree to assemble the Personal  Property  Collateral if Foothill so
requires,  and to make the Personal Property Collateral  available to Foothill
as Foothill may  designate.  Each  Borrower  authorizes  Foothill to enter 

                                       48
<PAGE>

the premises  where the Personal  Property  Collateral  is located,  to take and
maintain possession of the Personal Property Collateral,  or any part of it, and
to pay, purchase,  contest, or compromise any encumbrance,  charge, or Lien that
in Foothill's  determination appears to conflict with its security interests and
to pay all expenses  incurred in  connection  therewith.  With respect to any of
Borrowers'  owned or leased  premises,  each Borrower  hereby grants  Foothill a
license  to enter  into  possession  of such  premises  and to occupy  the same,
without charge, for up to 120 days in order to exercise any of Foothill's rights
or remedies provided herein, at law, in equity, or otherwise;


                     (g)    Without  notice to any Borrower (such notice being
expressly waived),  and without  constituting a retention of any collateral in
satisfaction  of an  obligation  (within  the  meaning of Section  9505 of the
Code),  set off and  apply to the  Obligations  any and all (i)  balances  and
deposits of any Borrower held by Foothill  (including any amounts  received in
the Lockbox  Accounts),  or (ii)  indebtedness at any time owing to or for the
credit or the account of any Borrower held by Foothill;


                     (h)    Hold,  as cash  collateral,  any and all  balances
and deposits of any Borrower  held by  Foothill,  and any amounts  received in
the Lockbox  Accounts,  to secure the full and final  repayment  of all of the
Obligations;


                     (i)    Ship, reclaim,  recover, store, finish,  maintain,
repair,  prepare for sale,  advertise for sale, and sell (in the manner provided
for herein)  the  Personal  Property  Collateral.  Foothill is hereby  granted a
license or other right to use, without charge, any Borrower's  labels,  patents,
copyrights,  rights of use of any name, trade secrets, trade names,  trademarks,
service marks, and advertising  matter,  or any property of a similar nature, as
it pertains to the Personal Property  Collateral,  in completing  production of,
advertising  for sale,  and selling any Personal  Property  Collateral  and each
Borrower's rights under all licenses and all franchise agreements shall inure to
Foothill's benefit;

                     (j)    Sell the Personal Property  Collateral at either a
public  or  private  sale,  or  both,  by  way of one  or  more  contracts  or
transactions,  for  cash or on  terms,  in  such  manner  and at  such  places
(including any  Borrower's  premises) as Foothill  determines is  commercially
reasonable.  It is not  necessary  that the Personal  Property  Collateral  be
present at any such sale;


                     (k)    Foothill  shall give notice of the  disposition of
the Personal Property Collateral as follows:


                     (1)    Foothill  shall give  Borrowers and each holder of
a security  interest in the Personal  Property  Collateral  who has filed with
Foothill a written  request  for  notice,  a notice in writing of the time and
place  of  public  sale,  or,  if the  sale is a  private  sale or some  other
disposition  other than a public sale is to be made of the  Personal

                                       49
<PAGE>

Property  Collateral,  then the time on or after which the private sale or other
disposition is to be made;


                            (2)   The notice shall be personally  delivered or
mailed,  postage  prepaid,  to Borrowers as provided in Section 12, at least 5
days  before the date fixed for the sale,  or at least 5 days  before the date
on or after  which the private  sale or other  disposition  is to be made;  no
notice  needs  to be given  prior to the  disposition  of any  portion  of the
Personal  Property  Collateral  that is  perishable  or  threatens  to decline
speedily  in  value  or that  is of a type  customarily  sold on a  recognized
market.  Notice to Persons  other than  Borrowers  claiming an interest in the
Personal  Property  Collateral  shall be sent to such  addresses  as they have
furnished to Foothill;


                            (3)   If  the  sale  is  to  be  a  public   sale,
Foothill  also shall give notice of the time and place by  publishing a notice
one  time at  least 5 days  before  the  date of the  sale in a  newspaper  of
general circulation in the county in which the sale is to be held;


                     (l)    Foothill  may  credit  bid  and  purchase  at  any
public sale; and


                     (m)    Any  deficiency  that exists after  disposition of
the Personal  Property  Collateral as provided above will be paid  immediately
by  Borrowers.  Any excess will be returned,  without  interest and subject to
the rights of third Persons, by Foothill to Borrowers.


               9.2   Remedies  Cumulative.   Foothill's  rights  and  remedies
under this Agreement,  the Loan Documents,  and all other  agreements shall be
cumulative.   Foothill   shall  have  all  other   rights  and   remedies  not
inconsistent  herewith as provided  under the Code,  by law, or in equity.  No
exercise by Foothill of one right or remedy shall be deemed an  election,  and
no waiver by Foothill of any Event of Default shall be deemed a continuing
waiver.  No delay by Foothill shall constitute a waiver, election, or
acquiescence by it.

               10.   TAXES AND EXPENSES.


          If  any   Borrower   fails  to  pay  any  monies   (whether   taxes,
assessments,  insurance  premiums,  or,  in the case of leased  properties  or
assets,  rents  or other  amounts  payable  under  such  leases)  due to third
Persons,  or fails to make any  deposits  or  furnish  any  required  proof of
payment or deposit,  all as required under the terms of this Agreement,  then,
to the extent that  Foothill  determines  that such  failure by such  Borrower
could  result in a Material  Adverse  Change,  in its  discretion  and without
prior notice to Borrowers,  Foothill may do any or all of the  following:  (a)
make  payment of the same or any part  thereof;  (b) set up such  reserves  in
Borrowers' Loan Account as Foothill deems  necessary to protect  Foothill from
the exposure  created by such  failure;  or (c) obtain and maintain  insurance
policies  of the type  described  in Section  6.10,  and take any action  with
respect to such policies as Foothill deems  prudent.  Any such amounts paid by
Foothill  shall  constitute  Foothill  Expenses.  Any  such

                                       50
<PAGE>


payments made by Foothill  shall not constitute an agreement by Foothill to make
similar  payments  in the future or a waiver by Foothill of any Event of Default
under this  Agreement.  Foothill need not inquire as to, or contest the validity
of, any such expense,  tax, or Lien and the receipt of the usual official notice
for the payment  thereof shall be conclusive  evidence that the same was validly
due and owing.


          11.  WAIVERS; INDEMNIFICATION.


               11.1  Demand;   Protest;  etc.  Each  Borrower  waives  demand,
protest, notice of protest,  notice of default or dishonor,  notice of payment
and  nonpayment,  nonpayment  at maturity,  release,  compromise,  settlement,
extension, or renewal of accounts, documents,  instruments, chattel paper, and
guarantees  at any time held by Foothill on which such Borrower may in any way
be liable.


               11.2  Foothill's   Liability   for   Collateral.   So  long  as
Foothill  complies  with its  obligations,  if any,  under Section 9207 of the
Code,  Foothill shall not in any way or manner be liable or  responsible  for:
(a) the  safekeeping  of the  Collateral;  (b)  any  loss  or  damage  thereto
occurring  or  arising  in any  manner  or  fashion  from any  cause;  (c) any
diminution  in the value  thereof;  or (d) any act or default of any  carrier,
warehouseman,  bailee,  forwarding  agency, or other Person. All risk of loss,
damage, or destruction of the Collateral shall be borne by Borrowers.


               11.3  Indemnification.    Borrowers   shall   pay,   indemnify,
defend,  and hold Foothill,  each  Participant,  and each of their  respective
officers, directors,  employees, counsel, agents, and attorneys-in-fact (each,
an  "Indemnified  Person")  harmless (to the fullest extent  permitted by law)
from and against any and all claims, demands, suits, actions,  investigations,
proceedings,  and damages, and all reasonable attorneys fees and disbursements
and other costs and expenses  actually  incurred in  connection  therewith (as
and when they are incurred and irrespective of whether suit is brought),  at any
time  asserted  against,  imposed upon, or incurred by any of them in connection
with or as a result  of or  related  to the  execution,  delivery,  enforcement,
performance,  and administration  (including any of the foregoing arising out of
the  administration  of the credit  facilities  hereunder  on a joint  borrowing
basis)  of this  Agreement  and any other  Loan  Documents  or the  transactions
contemplated  herein,  and with  respect to any  investigation,  litigation,  or
proceeding related to this Agreement, any other Loan Document, or the use of the
proceeds  of  the  credit  provided  hereunder   (irrespective  of  whether  any
Indemnified  Person  is a  party  thereto),  or  any  act,  omission,  event  or
circumstance in any manner related thereto (all the foregoing, collectively, the
"Indemnified   Liabilities").   Borrowers   shall  have  no  obligation  to  any
Indemnified  Person  under this  Section  11.3 with  respect to any  Indemnified
Liability  that a court of competent  jurisdiction  finally  determines  to have
resulted  from the gross  negligence or willful  misconduct of such  Indemnified
Person.  This provision  shall survive the termination of this Agreement and the
repayment of the Obligations.

                                       51
<PAGE>


               11.4  Joint Borrowers.


                     (a)    Each  Borrower  agrees  that  it  is  jointly  and
severally,  directly and  primarily  liable to Foothill for payment in full of
all  Obligations,  whether for principal,  interest or otherwise and that such
liability is independent of the duties,  obligations,  and  liabilities of the
other  Borrowers.  Foothill  may bring a  separate  action or actions on each,
any,  or all of the  Obligations  against  any  Borrower,  whether  action  is
brought  against the other Borrowers or whether the other Borrowers are joined
in such action.  In the event that any  Borrower  fails to make any payment of
any  Obligations  on or  before  the due date  thereof,  the  other  Borrowers
immediately  shall cause such  payment to be made or each of such  Obligations
to be performed, kept, observed, or fulfilled.


                     (b)    The Loan  Documents  are a  primary  and  original
obligation of each  Borrower,  are not the creation of a surety  relationship,
and are an  absolute,  unconditional,  and  continuing  promise of payment and
performance  which shall  remain in full force and effect  without  respect to
future  changes in  conditions,  including any change of law or any invalidity
or  irregularity  with respect to the Loan  Documents.  Each  Borrower  agrees
that its liability  under the Loan Documents  shall be immediate and shall not
be  contingent  upon the  exercise  or  enforcement  by  Foothill  of whatever
remedies it may have against the other  Borrowers,  or the  enforcement of any
lien or realization upon any security  Foothill may at any time possess.  Each
Borrower  consents  and  agrees  that  Foothill  shall be under no  obligation
(under  Section 2899 or 3433 of the  California  Civil Code or  otherwise)  to
marshal any assets of any Borrower  against or in payment of any or all of the
Obligations.


                     (c)    Each  Borrower  acknowledges  that it is presently
informed as to the financial  condition of the other  Borrowers and of all other
circumstances which a diligent inquiry would reveal and which bear upon the risk
of nonpayment of the  Obligations.  Each Borrower hereby  covenants that it will
continue to keep informed as to the financial  condition of the other Borrowers,
the status of the other Borrowers and of all  circumstances  which bear upon the
risk of  nonpayment  of the  Obligations.  Absent  a  written  request  from any
Borrower to Foothill for  information,  such Borrower  hereby waives any and all
rights  it may  have to  require  Foothill  to  disclose  to such  Borrower  any
information which Foothill may now or hereafter acquire concerning the condition
or circumstances of the other Borrowers.

                     (d)    The  liability  of each  Borrower  under  the Loan
Documents   includes   Obligations   arising  under  successive   transactions
continuing,  compromising,  extending,  increasing,  modifying,  releasing, or
renewing the Obligations,  changing the interest rate, payment terms, or other
terms and conditions thereof, or creating new or additional  Obligations after
prior  Obligations  have been  satisfied  in whole or in part.  To the maximum
extent  permitted by law, each Borrower  hereby waives any right to revoke its
liability  under  the  Loan  Documents  as  to  future  indebtedness,  and  in
connection  therewith,  each  Borrower  hereby  waives  any rights it may have
under  Section 2815 of the  California  Civil Code.  If such a  revocation  is
effective  notwithstanding  the foregoing waiver,

                                       52
<PAGE>

each  Borrower  acknowledges  and agrees  that (a) no such  revocation  shall be
effective  until written  notice  thereof has been received by Foothill,  (b) no
such  revocation  shall  apply to any  Obligations  in  existence  on such  date
(including,  any subsequent  continuation,  extension,  or renewal  thereof,  or
change in the  interest  rate,  payment  terms,  or other  terms and  conditions
thereof),  (c) no such revocation shall apply to any Obligations made or created
after such date to the  extent  made or created  pursuant  to a legally  binding
commitment  of  Foothill in  existence  on the date of such  revocation,  (d) no
payment  by such  Borrower  or from any other  source  prior to the date of such
revocation shall reduce the maximum obligation of the other Borrowers hereunder,
and (e) any payment by such  Borrower or from any source  other than  Borrowers,
subsequent  to the  date of such  revocation,  shall  first be  applied  to that
portion of the Obligations as to which the revocation is effective and which are
not,  therefore,  guaranteed  hereunder,  and to the extent so applied shall not
reduce the maximum obligation of each Borrower hereunder.


                     (e)    (i)   Each Borrower  absolutely,  unconditionally,
knowingly, and expressly waives:


                            (1)   (A) notice of acceptance  hereof; (B) notice
of any loans or other  financial  accommodations  made or  extended  under the
Loan Documents or the creation or existence of any Obligations;  (C) notice of
the amount of the Obligations,  subject,  however, to each Borrower's right to
make inquiry of Foothill to  ascertain  the amount of the  Obligations  at any
reasonable  time; (D) notice of any adverse change in the financial  condition
of  the  other  Borrowers  or of any  other  fact  that  might  increase  such
Borrower's  risk  hereunder;  (E) notice of presentment  for payment,  demand,
protest,  and notice thereof as to any  instruments  among the Loan Documents;
and (F) all  notices  (except if such  notice is  specifically  required to be
given to  Borrowers  hereunder  or under the Loan  Documents)  and  demands to
which such Borrower might otherwise be entitled.

                            (2)   its right,  under  Sections  2845 or 2850 of
the  California  Civil Code,  or otherwise,  to require  Foothill to institute
suit against,  or to exhaust any rights and remedies which Foothill has or may
have  against,  the  other  Borrowers  or any  third  party,  or  against  any
Collateral  provided  by the  other  Borrowers,  or any third  party.  In this
regard,  each  Borrower  agrees  that  it is  bound  to  the  payment  of  all
Obligations,  whether now existing or hereafter accruing,  as fully as if such
Obligations  were directly owing to Foothill by such  Borrower.  Each Borrower
further  waives  any  defense  arising  by reason of any  disability  or other
defense  (other than the defense  that the  Obligations  shall have been fully
and finally  performed  and  indefeasibly  paid) of the other  Borrowers or by
reason of the  cessation  from any cause  whatsoever  of the  liability of the
other Borrowers in respect thereof.


                            (3)   (A) any  rights to assert  against  Foothill
any defense (legal or  equitable),  set-off,  counterclaim,  or claim which such
Borrower may now

                                       53
<PAGE>

or at any time  hereafter  have  against the other  Borrowers or any other party
liable to Foothill;  (B) any defense,  set-off,  counterclaim,  or claim, of any
kind or nature,  arising  directly or indirectly from the present or future lack
of perfection,  sufficiency,  validity,  or enforceability of the Obligations or
any  security  therefor;  (C)  any  defense  such  Borrower  has to  performance
hereunder,  and any  right  such  Borrower  has to be  exonerated,  provided  by
Sections 2819, 2822, or 2825 of the California Civil Code, or otherwise, arising
by reason of: the  impairment or  suspension  of  Foothill's  rights or remedies
against the other Borrowers; the alteration by Foothill of the Obligations;  any
discharge of the other Borrowers' obligations to Foothill by operation of law as
a result of Foothill's  intervention or omission;  or the acceptance by Foothill
of anything in partial  satisfaction of the Obligations;  (D) the benefit of any
statute of limitations  affecting  such  Borrower's  liability  hereunder or the
enforcement thereof, and any act which shall defer or delay the operation of any
statute of limitations  applicable to the Obligations shall similarly operate to
defer or delay the operation of such statute of  limitations  applicable to such
Borrower's liability hereunder.


                     (ii)   Each   Borrower    absolutely,    unconditionally,
knowingly,  and expressly  waives any defense arising by reason of or deriving
from (i) any claim or defense  based upon an  election of remedies by Foothill
including  any defense  based upon an  election of remedies by Foothill  under
the provisions of Sections 580a,  580b,  580d, and 726 of the California  Code
of  Civil   Procedure  or  any  similar  law  of   California   or  any  other
jurisdiction;  or (ii) any election by Foothill under  Bankruptcy Code Section
1111(b) to limit the amount of, or any collateral securing,  its claim against
the Borrowers.  Pursuant to California Civil Code Section 2856(b):


                     "Each  Borrower  waives all rights and  defenses
         arising out of an  election  of  remedies  by the  creditor,
         even  though  that   election   of   remedies,   such  as  a
         nonjudicial  foreclosure  with  respect  to  security  for a
         guaranteed obligation,  has destroyed such Borrower's rights
         of   subrogation   and   reimbursement   against  the  other
         Borrowers  by  the  operation  of  Section   580(d)  of  the
         California Code of Civil Procedure or otherwise."


If any of the  Obligations  at any time is secured  by a  mortgage  or deed of
trust upon real property,  Foothill may elect, in its sole discretion,  upon a
default with respect to the  Obligations,  to foreclose  such mortgage or deed
of trust  judicially or  nonjudicially  in any manner permitted by law, before
or after  enforcing the Loan Documents,  without  diminishing or affecting the
liability of any Borrower  hereunder  except to the extent the Obligations are
repaid with the proceeds of such foreclosure.  Each Borrower  understands that
(a) by virtue of the operation of California's  antideficiency  law applicable
to  nonjudicial  foreclosures,   an  election  by  Foothill  nonjudicially  to
foreclose  such a mortgage or deed of trust  probably would have the effect of
impairing or destroying  rights of subrogation,  reimbursement,  contribution,
or indemnity of such Borrower  against the other Borrowers or other guarantors
or  sureties,  and (b)  absent  the  waiver  given by such  Borrower,  such an
election  would prevent  

                                       54
<PAGE>

Foothill from enforcing the Loan Documents against such Borrower.  Understanding
the foregoing,  and understanding  that such Borrower is hereby  relinquishing a
defense to the enforceability of the Loan Documents, such Borrower hereby waives
any right to assert against  Foothill any defense to the enforcement of the Loan
Documents, whether denominated "estoppel" or otherwise, based on or arising from
an election by Foothill  nonjudicially to foreclose any such mortgage or deed of
trust. Each Borrower  understands that the effect of the foregoing waiver may be
that each  Borrower  may have  liability  hereunder  for amounts with respect to
which such Borrower may be left without  rights of  subrogation,  reimbursement,
contribution,  or indemnity  against the other  Borrower or other  guarantors or
sureties.  Each Borrower also agrees that the "fair market value"  provisions of
Section  580a  of  the  California   Code  of  Civil  Procedure  shall  have  no
applicability  with respect to the  determination  of such Borrower's  liability
under the Loan Documents.


                     (iii)  Until  such  time  as all  Obligations  have  been
fully,  finally,  and indefeasibly paid in full, in cash, each Borrower hereby
absolutely,  unconditionally,  knowingly,  and  expressly  postpones:  (1) any
right of  subrogation  such  Borrower  has or may have as  against  the  other
Borrowers with respect to the  Obligations;  (2) any right to proceed  against
the other Borrowers or any other Person,  now or hereafter,  for contribution,
indemnity,  reimbursement,  or any other suretyship rights and claims, whether
direct or indirect,  liquidated or contingent,  whether  arising under express
or implied  contract or by operation of law,  which such Borrower may now have
or  hereafter  have  as  against  the  other  Borrowers  with  respect  to the
Obligations;  and (3) any right to  proceed or seek  recourse  against or with
respect to any property or asset of the other Borrowers.


                     (iv)   WITHOUT  LIMITING  THE  GENERALITY  OF  ANY  OTHER
WAIVER  OR OTHER  PROVISION  SET FORTH IN THIS  SECTION  11.4,  EACH  BORROWER
HEREBY  ABSOLUTELY,  KNOWINGLY,  UNCONDITIONALLY,  AND  EXPRESSLY  WAIVES  AND
AGREES NOT TO ASSERT ANY AND ALL  BENEFITS  OR  DEFENSES  ARISING  DIRECTLY OR
INDIRECTLY  UNDER ANY ONE OR MORE OF  CALIFORNIA  CIVIL  CODE  SECTIONS  2799,
2808,  2809, 2810, 2815, 2819, 2820, 2821, 2822, 2825, 2839, 2845, 2848, 2849,
AND 2850,  CALIFORNIA CODE OF CIVIL PROCEDURE SECTIONS 580a, 580b, 580c, 580d,
AND 726, AND CHAPTER 2 OF TITLE 14 OF THE CALIFORNIA CIVIL CODE.b

                     (f)    Each  Borrower  consents and agrees that,  without
notice  to or by  such  Borrower,  and  without  affecting  or  impairing  the
liability of such Borrower hereunder, Foothill may, by action or inaction:


                            (i)   compromise,  settle,  extend the duration or
the time for the payment of, or discharge  the  performance  of, or may refuse
to or otherwise  not enforce the Loan  

                                       55
<PAGE>

Documents, or any part thereof, with respect to the other Borrowers;


                            (ii)  release the other  Borrowers  or grant other
indulgences to the other Borrowers in respect thereof; or


                            (iii) release  or  substitute  any  guarantor,  if
any, of the Obligations,  or enforce, exchange, release, or waive any security
for  the  Obligations  or any  guaranty  of the  Obligations,  or any  portion
thereof.


                     (g)    Foothill  shall  have the  right to seek  recourse
against  each  Borrower  to the fullest  extent  provided  for herein,  and no
election  by  Foothill  to  proceed  in one form of action or  proceeding,  or
against  any  party,  or on any  obligation,  shall  constitute  a  waiver  of
Foothill's  right to  proceed  in any other  form of action or  proceeding  or
against  other  parties  unless  Foothill has  expressly  waived such right in
writing.  Specifically,  but without limiting the generality of the foregoing,
no action or proceeding by Foothill  under the Loan  Documents  shall serve to
diminish the  liability of any Borrower  thereunder  except to the extent that
Foothill finally and unconditionally  shall have realized indefeasible payment
by such action or proceeding.


                     (h)    The   Obligations    shall   not   be   considered
indefeasibly  paid for  purposes  of this  Section  11.4  unless and until all
payments  to  Foothill  are no longer  subject to any right on the part of any
person,  including any Borrower,  any Borrower as a debtor in  possession,  or
any trustee  (whether  appointed  pursuant to 11 U.S.C.,  or otherwise) of any
Borrower's  assets to  invalidate  or set aside  such  payments  or to seek to
recoup the amount of such payments or any portion thereof,  or to declare same
to be fraudulent or  preferential.  Upon such full and final  performance  and
indefeasible  payment of the  Obligations,  Foothill  shall have no obligation
whatsoever  to transfer or assign its  interest in the Loan  Documents  to any
Borrower.  In the event that, for any reason,  any portion of such payments to
Foothill  is set aside or  restored,  whether  voluntarily  or  involuntarily,
after  the  making  thereof,  then the  obligation  intended  to be  satisfied
thereby  shall be revived  and  continued  in full force and effect as if said
payment or payments had not been made,  and each Borrower  shall be liable for
the full  amount  Foothill  is  required  to repay  plus any and all costs and
expenses  (including  attorneys' fees and attorneys' fees incurred pursuant to
11 U.S.C.) paid by Foothill in connection therewith.

          Borrowers  and  each of them  warrant  and  agree  that  each of the
waivers and consents set forth herein are made after  consultation  with legal
counsel and with full knowledge of their  significance and consequences,  with
the  understanding  that events giving rise to any defense or right waived may
diminish,  destroy  or  otherwise  adversely  affect  rights  which  Borrowers
otherwise may have against  other  Borrowers,  the Lender Group or others,  or
against  Collateral.  If any of the waivers or consents  herein are determined
to be  contrary

                                       56
<PAGE>


to any  applicable  law or public  policy,  such waivers and  consents  shall be
effective to the maximum extent permitted by law.


         12.   NOTICES.


         Unless otherwise  provided in this Agreement,  all notices or demands
by any party  relating to this  Agreement or any other Loan Document  shall be
in writing  and  (except  for  financial  statements  and other  informational
documents  which may be sent by first-class  mail,  postage  prepaid) shall be
personally  delivered  or  sent  by  registered  or  certified  mail  (postage
prepaid,  return receipt  requested),  overnight courier,  or telefacsimile to
Borrower or to Foothill, as the case may be, at its address set forth below:


          If to Borrowers:  c/o ALLIED HEALTHCARE PRODUCTS, INC.
                            1720 Sublette Avenue
                            St. Louis, Missouri 63110
                            Attn:  Barry F. Baker, Vice President Finance
                            Fax No. 314.771.0650


         with copies to:    DICKSTEIN SHAPIRO MORIN & OSKINSKY LLP
                            2101 L Street NW
                            Washington, D.C. 20037-0689
                            Attn:  Allan B. Goldstein, Esq.
                            Fax No. 202.887.0689


         If to Foothill:    FOOTHILL CAPITAL CORPORATION
                            11111 Santa Monica Boulevard
                            Suite 1500
                            Los Angeles, California 90025-3333
                            Attn:  Business Finance Division Manager
                            Fax No. 310.478.9788


          with copies to:   BUCHALTER, NEMER, FIELDS & YOUNGER
                            601 South Figueroa, Suite 2400
                            Los Angeles, California 90017
                            Attn:  Robert C. Colton, Esq.
                            Fax No. 213.896.0400

          The  parties  hereto  may  change  the  address at which they are to
receive notices hereunder,  by notice in writing in the foregoing manner given
to the other.  All notices or demands  sent in  accordance  with this Section 
12, other than notices by Foothill in  connection  with  Sections 9504 or 9505
of the Code,  shall be deemed  received  on the  earlier of the date of actual
receipt  or 3 days  after  the  deposit  thereof  in the mail.  Each  Borrower
acknowledges  and agrees that  notices  sent by Foothill  in  connection  with
Sections  9504 or 9505 of the Code

                                       57
<PAGE>

shall  be  deemed sent when deposited in the mail or personally delivered, or,
where  permitted  by law, transmitted by telefacsimile or other similar method
set forth above.


         13.   CHOICE OF LAW AND VENUE; JURY TRIAL WAIVER.


          THE VALIDITY OF THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS  (UNLESS
EXPRESSLY  PROVIDED  TO  THE  CONTRARY  IN  AN  ANOTHER  LOAN  DOCUMENT),  THE
CONSTRUCTION,  INTERPRETATION,  AND  ENFORCEMENT  HEREOF AND THEREOF,  AND THE
RIGHTS OF THE PARTIES  HERETO AND THERETO WITH RESPECT TO ALL MATTERS  ARISING
HEREUNDER  OR  THEREUNDER  OR RELATED  HERETO OR THERETO  SHALL BE  DETERMINED
UNDER,  GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA.  THE  PARTIES  AGREE THAT ALL  ACTIONS OR  PROCEEDINGS  ARISING IN
CONNECTION  WITH THIS  AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN  DOCUMENTS  SHALL BE TRIED
AND LITIGATED  ONLY IN THE STATE AND FEDERAL  COURTS  LOCATED IN THE COUNTY OF
LOS ANGELES,  STATE OF CALIFORNIA  OR, AT THE SOLE OPTION OF FOOTHILL,  IN ANY
OTHER COURT IN WHICH FOOTHILL  SHALL  INITIATE LEGAL OR EQUITABLE  PROCEEDINGS
AND WHICH HAS  SUBJECT  MATTER  JURISDICTION  OVER THE MATTER IN  CONTROVERSY.
EACH BORROWER AND FOOTHILL  WAIVE, TO THE EXTENT  PERMITTED  UNDER  APPLICABLE
LAW,  ANY RIGHT EACH MAY HAVE TO ASSERT THE  DOCTRINE OF FORUM NON  CONVENIENS
OR TO OBJECT TO VENUE TO THE EXTENT ANY  PROCEEDING  IS BROUGHT IN  ACCORDANCE
WITH  THIS  SECTION  13.  EACH  BORROWER  AND  FOOTHILL   HEREBY  WAIVE  THEIR
RESPECTIVE  RIGHTS TO A JURY TRIAL OF ANY CLAIM OR CAUSE OF ACTION  BASED UPON
OR  ARISING  OUT  OF  ANY OF THE  LOAN  DOCUMENTS  OR ANY OF THE  TRANSACTIONS
CONTEMPLATED  THEREIN,  INCLUDING CONTRACT CLAIMS, TORT CLAIMS, BREACH OF DUTY
CLAIMS,  AND ALL OTHER  COMMON LAW OR  STATUTORY  CLAIMS.  EACH  BORROWER  AND
FOOTHILL  REPRESENTS  THAT THEY HAVE REVIEWED  THIS WAIVER AND EACH  KNOWINGLY
AND  VOLUNTARILY  WAIVES ITS JURY TRIAL  RIGHTS  FOLLOWING  CONSULTATION  WITH
LEGAL  COUNSEL.  IN THE EVENT OF  LITIGATION,  A COPY OF THIS AGREEMENT MAY BE
FILED AS A WRITTEN CONSENT TO A TRIAL BY THE COURT.


         14.   DESTRUCTION OF BORROWERS' DOCUMENTS.


          All  documents,   schedules,   invoices,  agings,  or  other  papers
delivered to Foothill  may be  destroyed or otherwise  disposed of by Foothill
four  months  after they are  delivered  to or received  by  Foothill,  unless
Borrowers request,  in writing,  the return of said documents,  schedules,  or
other papers and makes arrangements, at Borrowers' expense, for their return.

                                       58
<PAGE>


         15.   GENERAL PROVISIONS.


               15.1  Effectiveness.   This  Agreement  shall  be  binding  and
deemed effective when executed by Borrowers and Foothill.


               15.2  Successors  and Assigns.  This  Agreement  shall bind and
inure to the benefit of the  respective  successors and assigns of each of the
parties; provided,  however, that no Borrower may assign this Agreement or any
rights or duties  hereunder  without  Foothill's prior written consent and any
prohibited  assignment  shall be absolutely  void. No consent to an assignment
by  Foothill  shall  release  the  assigning  Borrower  from its  Obligations.
Foothill may assign this Agreement and its rights and duties  hereunder and no
consent or approval by  Borrowers  is  required  in  connection  with any such
assignment.   Foothill   reserves  the  right  to  sell,   assign,   transfer,
negotiate,  or grant  participations in all or any part of, or any interest in
Foothill's  rights  and  benefits  hereunder.  In  connection  with  any  such
assignment  or   participation,   Foothill  may  disclose  all  documents  and
information  which Foothill now or hereafter may have relating to any Borrower
or any  Borrower's  business.  To the extent that Foothill  assigns its rights
and  obligations  hereunder to a third Person,  Foothill  thereafter  shall be
released  from such  assigned  obligations  to Borrowers  and such  assignment
shall effect a novation between Borrowers and such third Person.


               15.3  Section  Headings.  Headings  and  numbers  have been set
forth  herein for  convenience  only.  Unless the contrary is compelled by the
context,  everything  contained in each section applies equally to this entire
Agreement.


               15.4  Interpretation.    Neither   this   Agreement   nor   any
uncertainty  or  ambiguity  herein  shall be  construed  or  resolved  against
Foothill or Borrowers,  whether under any rule of  construction  or otherwise.
On the contrary,  this Agreement has been reviewed by all parties and shall be
construed and interpreted  according to the ordinary meaning of the words used
so as to fairly accomplish the purposes and intentions of all parties hereto.


               15.5  Severability  of  Provisions.   Each  provision  of  this
Agreement  shall be severable from every other provision of this Agreement for
the purpose of determining the legal enforceability of any specific provision.


               15.6  Amendments  in  Writing.   This  Agreement  can  only  be
amended by a writing signed by both Foothill and Borrowers.


               15.7  Counterparts;  Telefacsimile  Execution.  This  Agreement
may be  executed in any number of  counterparts  and by  different  parties on
separate  counterparts,  each of which, when executed and delivered,  shall be
deemed  to be an  original,  and all of  which,  when  taken  together,  shall
constitute  but  one  and  the  same   Agreement.   Delivery  of  an  executed
counterpart of this Agreement by  telefacsimile  shall be equally as effective
as delivery of an original executed  counterpart of this Agreement.  Any party
delivering an 

                                       59
<PAGE>

executed  counterpart of this Agreement by  telefacsimile  also shall deliver an
original  executed  counterpart  of this Agreement but the failure to deliver an
original executed counterpart shall not affect the validity, enforceability, and
binding effect of this Agreement.


               15.8  Revival  and   Reinstatement   of  Obligations.   If  the
incurrence or payment of the  Obligations  by any Borrower or any guarantor of
the  Obligations or the transfer by either or both of such parties to Foothill
of any  property  of  either or both of such  parties  should  for any  reason
subsequently  be declared  to be void or  voidable  under any state or federal
law relating to creditors'  rights,  including  provisions  of the  Bankruptcy
Code relating to fraudulent  conveyances,  preferences,  and other voidable or
recoverable  payments  of money or  transfers  of  property  (collectively,  a
"Voidable  Transfer"),  and if Foothill  is  required to repay or restore,  in
whole or in part,  any such  Voidable  Transfer,  or  elects to do so upon the
reasonable advice of its counsel,  then, as to any such Voidable Transfer,  or
the amount  thereof  that  Foothill is required or elects to repay or restore,
and as to all  reasonable  costs,  expenses,  and  attorneys  fees of Foothill
related  thereto,  the liability of Borrowers or such guarantor  automatically
shall be  revived,  reinstated,  and  restored  and shall exist as though such
Voidable Transfer had never been made.


               15.9  Integration.   This   Agreement,   certain   supplemental
letters  delivered  concurrently  herewith,   together  with  the  other  Loan
Documents,  reflects the entire  understanding  of the parties with respect to
the  transactions  contemplated  hereby  and  shall  not  be  contradicted  or
qualified by any other agreement, oral or written, before the date hereof.

          IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the parties  hereto have caused this Agreement
to be executed in Los Angeles, California.

                                  ALLIED HEALTHCARE PRODUCTS, INC.,
                                  a Delaware corporation

                                        /s/ Uma N. Aggarwal
                                  By: ________________________________________
                                  Title: President and Chief Executive Officer


                                  B&F MEDICAL PRODUCTS, INC.,
                                  a Delaware corporation

                                        /s/ Uma N. Aggarwal
                                  By: ________________________________________
                                  Title: President and Chief Executive Officer

                                       60
<PAGE>

                                  BEAR MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC.,
                                  a California corporation

                                        /s/ Uma N. Aggarwal
                                  By: ________________________________________
                                  Title: President and Chief Executive Officer

                                  HOSPITAL SYSTEMS, INC.,
                                  a California corporation

                                        /s/ Uma N. Aggarwal
                                  By: ________________________________________
                                  Title: President and Chief Executive Officer

                                  LIFE SUPPORT PRODUCTS, INC.,
                                  a California corporation

                                        /s/ Uma N. Aggarwal
                                  By: ________________________________________
                                  Title: President and Chief Executive Officer

                                  BICORE MONITORING SYSTEMS, INC.,
                                  California corporation

                                        /s/ Uma N. Aggarwal
                                  By: ________________________________________
                                  Title: President and Chief Executive Officer

                                       61
<PAGE>

                                  FOOTHILL CAPITAL CORPORATION,
                                  a California corporation

 
                                       /s/ Senior Vice President 
                                  By: __________________________________
                                  Title: Senior Vice President


                                       62
<PAGE>


FACILITY   ADDRESS   CITY   COUNTY   STATE   FOOTHILL     NAME     AMOUNT 
NAME                                 AND     LIEN         OF       OF 
                                     ZIP     POSITION     PRIOR    PRIOR 
                                     CODE                 LIENOR   LIEN




                                       63


                           NOTE PURCHASE AGREEMENT



      THIS NOTE  PURCHASE  AGREEMENT  ("Agreement")  is made and entered  into
effective as of this 7th day of August,  1997 by and among  ALLIED  HEALTHCARE
PRODUCTS, INC., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"),  B&F MEDICAL PRODUCTS,
INC.,  a  Delaware  corporation  ("B&F"),   BEAR  MEDICAL  SYSTEMS,   INC.,  a
California   corporation  ("Bear"),   HOSPITAL  SYSTEMS,  INC.,  a  California
corporation  ("Hospital Systems"),  LIFE SUPPORT PRODUCTS,  INC., a California
corporation ("Life Support"),  BICORE MONITORING  SYSTEMS,  INC., a California
corporation  ("Bicore"),  each with their chief  executive  office  located at
1720  Sublette  Avenue,  St.  Louis,  Missouri,  63110  (Company,  B&F,  Bear,
Hospital Systems,  Life Support and Bicore are collectively referred to herein
as  "Borrowers"),  and  each of the  purchasers  named on  Schedule  I to this
Agreement (individually "Purchaser" and collectively "Purchasers").

                                  RECITALS:

      WHEREAS,  the Borrowers  desire to issue and sell  $5,000,000  aggregate
principal amount of their 14.00% Promissory Notes;

      WHEREAS,  the  Purchasers  collectively  desire to  purchase  the 14.00%
Promissory Notes, subject to and on the terms and conditions set forth herein.

      NOW, THEREFORE,  in consideration of the foregoing recitals,  the mutual
promises  and  covenants  contained  herein and such  other good and  valuable
consideration,  the receipt and  sufficiency of which is hereby  acknowledged,
the Borrowers and Purchasers hereby agree as follows:

      1.      AUTHORIZATION; PREPAYMENT AND CLOSING.

            (a)   Authorization  of the Notes.  The Borrowers  shall authorize
the  issuance  and sale of  $5,000,000  aggregate  principal  amount of 14.00%
Promissory  Notes  (together  with  any  subsequent  Note or Notes  issued  in
exchange  therefor or  otherwise in respect of the  indebtedness  evidenced by
all or any portion of the  principal  balance of the Notes  issued  hereunder,
the "Notes") to be dated the date hereof,  to bear  interest from such date at
the rate of  fourteen  percent  (14%) per annum  payable  monthly on the first
Business Day of each calendar  month  (commencing on September 1, 1997) and at
maturity,  and to bear  interest  on overdue  principal  at the rate of twenty
percent  (20%) per annum after the date due (the "Default  Rate"),  whether by
acceleration or otherwise,  until paid, and expressed to mature six (6) months
after the Closing  Date (as defined in Section 1(c) below)  (unless  otherwise
extended as permitted in Section 7(p) hereof) and to be  substantially  in the
form  attached  hereto as Exhibit A.  Interest  shall be calculated on a daily
basis  (computed  on the  actual  number  of days  elapsed  over a year of 360
days),  commencing on the date hereof  (including  the first day but excluding
the last day).

            (b)   Prepayment.  The  Borrowers  shall  have the right to prepay
the Notes,  in whole or in part,  at any time,  without  penalty  or  premium;
provided,  however,  that:  (i)  upon  the  sale  of  any of  the  issued  and
outstanding  stock or any of the assets of any  Subsidiary  in one or a series
of  related  transactions;  or (ii) upon the sale of any of the  assets of any
division of the Company  (except  with  respect to sales of assets made in the
ordinary course) in one or a series of related  transactions;  and/or (iii) in
the event Company  consummates  any private  placement of debt and/or  equity,
conducts any

<PAGE>

public  offering  of debt  and/or  equity  and/or  otherwise  causes a capital
infusion to be made into Company or any  Subsidiary,  the  proceeds  generated
therefrom  shall be used first to repay Term Loan C issued  under the Foothill
Loan  Agreement,  and next to repay  the Notes  issued  pursuant  hereto.  Any
prepayment  made  hereunder  shall be paid to the  holders of each Note in the
proportion that the unpaid  principal amount of each Note  (immediately  prior
to such  prepayment)  bears to the aggregate  unpaid  principal  amount of all
Notes.

            (c)   Commitment,   Closing   Date.   Subject  to  the  terms  and
conditions  hereof  and on the  basis of the  representations  and  warranties
hereinafter  set  forth,  the  Borrowers  agree  to  issue  and  sell  to each
Purchaser, and each Purchaser agrees to purchase from the Borrowers,  Notes in
the principal  amount set forth opposite such  Purchaser's  name on Schedule I
hereto at a price of 100% of the principal  amount  thereof at the Closing (as
defined in Section 1(c) below).

            (d)   Closing,  Delivery of the Notes.  The  purchase  and sale of
the Notes (the  "Closing")  shall take place at the  offices of  Greensfelder,
Hemker & Gale,  P.C., 10 South  Broadway,  Suite 2000,  St.  Louis,  Missouri,
63102 at 10:00 a.m. on August 7, 1997 (the "Closing  Date"),  or at such other
place or on such other date as may be mutually  agreeable to the Borrowers and
the  Purchasers.  At the Closing,  the Borrowers  will execute and deliver the
Notes,  evidencing the Borrowers'  indebtedness  to each  Purchaser,  together
with the  Warrants (as defined in Section 2 hereof).  Simultaneously  with the
execution  and  delivery  of the Notes,  each  Purchaser  will  deliver to the
Borrowers  the face amount  thereof by a cashier's or certified  check,  or by
wire transfer of immediately  available funds to an account  designated by the
Borrowers  in a  written  notice,  which  notice  shall  be  received  by each
Purchaser  at least  one  Business  Day  prior to the  Closing  Date,  and the
Borrowers  shall pay the Commitment  Fee set forth  opposite each  Purchaser's
name on Schedule I hereto to each  Purchaser as  contemplated  by and pursuant
to Section 7(n) below,  together  with the costs and  expenses of  Purchaser's
counsel as contemplated by and pursuant to Section 3(f) below.

            (e)   Several  Commitments.  The  obligations  of  each  Purchaser
hereunder  shall be several and not joint and no Purchaser  shall be liable or
responsible for the acts or defaults by any other Purchaser.

      2.    WARRANTS.  In  consideration  of the purchase of Notes  hereunder,
the Company  agrees to issue  warrants  to each  Purchaser  to  purchase  that
number of shares of the Company's  Common Stock, par value $.01 per share, set
forth  opposite  each such  Purchaser's  name on  Schedule  I  hereto,  at the
exercise price and subject to the terms and conditions more  particularly  set
forth in the Warrant attached hereto as Exhibit B and  incorporated  herein by
this reference (collectively the "Warrants").

      3.    CONDITIONS  OF THE  PURCHASER'S  OBLIGATION  AT THE  CLOSING.  The
obligation of each  Purchaser to purchase and pay for the Notes at the Closing
is subject to the  satisfaction  of each of the following  conditions as of or
prior to the Closing Date:

            (a)   Transaction  Documents.  The Purchasers  shall have received
the  following  documents,  each duly  executed  and  delivered by all parties
thereto,  and  as  applicable,  sealed,  attested,  acknowledged,   certified,
authenticated   and  otherwise   satisfactory  in  form  and  content  to  the
Purchasers  and their counsel,  in their sole  discretion  (collectively,  the
"Transaction Documents"):

                                       2
<PAGE>

                  (i)   Agreement.  This Agreement;

                  (ii)  Notes.  The  Notes  in   substantially   the  form  as
Exhibit A attached hereto;

                  (iii) Warrants.  The Warrants in  substantially  the form as
Exhibit B attached hereto;
 
                  (iv)  Certificate  of  Borrowers'  Secretary.  A certificate
executed by the  Secretary of Borrowers  whereby such  Secretary  affirms that
attached  to  such  certificate  is  an  accurate  copy  of  Borrowers'  board
resolutions  authorizing  the sale of the Notes under this  Agreement  and all
other  matters set forth in or  contemplated  by this  Agreement and the other
Transaction Documents; and

                  (v)   Other  Items.  Such other  agreements,  documents  and
assurances as the  Purchasers may  reasonably  request in connection  with the
transactions described in or contemplated by the Transaction Documents.

            (b)   Foothill   Capital   Closing.   The  Borrowers   shall  have
consummated  the  transactions  contemplated by that certain Loan and Security
Agreement of even date herewith  ("Foothill Loan Agreement"),  among Borrowers
and Foothill Capital Corporation, a California corporation ("Foothill").

            (c)   Subordination  Agreement.  The  Purchasers  shall  have each
received a duly  executed and delivered  Subordination  Agreement of even date
herewith by and between Foothill and each individual Purchaser.
 
            (d)   Representations  and  Warranties.  The  representations  and
warranties of Borrowers  contained  herein and in the Foothill Loan  Agreement
shall be true and  correct in all  material  respects at and as of the Closing
Date as though then made.

            (e)   Events of  Default.  No default  or event of  default  under
the Foothill Loan Agreement  shall exist as of the Closing Date, nor shall any
default or event of default under the Foothill Loan Agreement  result from the
purchase and sale of the Notes under this Agreement.

            (f)   Payment  of  Fees.   Borrowers   shall  have  paid  to  each
Purchaser  the  Commitment  Fee set forth  opposite each  Purchaser's  name on
Schedule  I  hereto,  and all  other  fees,  costs and  expenses  incurred  by
Purchasers in connection  with the  negotiation,  preparation and execution of
the  Transaction  Documents,  including,  without  limitation,  the  fees  and
expenses of Greensfelder, Hemker & Gale, P.C., counsel to Purchasers.

      4.    REPRESENTATIONS  AND WARRANTIES.  The Borrowers hereby jointly and
severally represent, warrant and covenant to each Purchaser as follows:

            (a)   Organization   and  Existence.   (i)  Company  and  B&F  are
corporations  duly  incorporated,  validly existing and in good standing under
the laws of Delaware, (ii) Bear, Hospital

                                       3
<PAGE>

Systems,  Life Support and Bicore are corporations duly incorporated,  validly
existing  and in good  standing  under  the  laws of  California,  (iii)  each
Borrower  is in good  standing  in all  other  jurisdictions  in  which  it is
required to be  qualified  to do business as a foreign  corporation,  and (iv)
each  Borrower  has  obtained  all  licenses  and  permits  and has  filed all
registrations necessary to the operation of its business.

            (b)   Authorization;   Due   Execution.   Each  Borrower  is  duly
authorized to execute and perform every Transaction  Document to which it is a
party,  and each  Borrower  is duly  authorized  to sell the Notes  hereunder.
This Agreement and the other  Transaction  Documents have been duly authorized
by all requisite  corporate  action.  Each Transaction  Document has been duly
executed by a person duly authorized to do so.

            (c)   Approval  of  Governmental   Bodies.   No  authorization  or
approval  or  other  action  by,  and  no  notice  to  or  filing  with,   any
Governmental  Authority or regulatory  body is required for the due execution,
delivery and performance by each Borrower of the Transaction  Documents or the
exercise by the Purchasers of their respective rights thereunder.

            (d)   Enforceability  of Obligations.  The  Transaction  Documents
are the legal,  valid and  binding  obligation  of each  Borrower  enforceable
against  each  in  accordance  with  their  respective  terms,  except  as the
enforceability   thereof   may   be   limited   by   bankruptcy,   insolvency,
reorganization,  moratorium,  or similar laws affecting the  enforceability of
creditors'  rights  generally  and  subject  to the  discretion  of  courts in
applying equitable remedies.

            (e)   Legal  Restraints.  The execution,  delivery and performance
by each Borrower of the Transaction  Documents to which it is a party will not
violate  or  constitute  a default  under its  articles  of  incorporation  or
by-laws, any Material Agreement (including,  without limitation,  the Foothill
Loan Agreement), or any Material Law.

      5.    NEGATIVE  COVENANTS.  So long as any  Obligations  remain  unpaid,
unless  otherwise  consented  to in  writing  by  Purchasers  holding at least
seventy-five  percent (75%) of the aggregate principal amount the Notes issued
hereunder,  Borrowers jointly and severally  covenant and agree that,  without
the prior written consent of the Purchasers, no Borrower shall:

            (a)   Liens  and  Security  Interests.  Create  or suffer to exist
any Lien upon or with respect to any of its assets or properties,  whether now
owned or hereafter  acquired,  except for  Permitted  Liens (as defined in the
Foothill Loan Agreement); and

            (b)   Conflicting  Agreements.  Enter into any  agreement any term
or condition of which  conflicts  with any provision of this  Agreement or the
other Transaction Documents.

      6.    DEFAULT.

            (a)   Events  of  Default  . Each of the  following  events  shall
constitute an Event of Default hereunder:

                                       4
<PAGE>

                  (i)   Borrowers  (or any one of them)  shall fail to pay any
principal of or interest on any of the Notes when due; or

                  (ii)  Borrowers  (or any one of them) shall fail to make the
mandatory  prepayment required under Section 1(b) of this Agreement or fail to
observe or perform any other agreement or covenant contained herein; or

                  (iii) Borrowers  (or any one of them)  shall fail to pay any
other monetary  Obligations within five (5) days after notice thereof is given
to the Borrowers (or any of them); or

                  (iv)  Any  representation  or warranty  made or furnished by
any of the Borrowers (or their  respective  officers) in connection  with this
Agreement  or the  other  Transaction  Documents  shall  prove  to  have  been
incorrect  or  misleading  in any  material  respect  when  made,  or any such
representation  or  warranty  shall  become  incorrect  or  misleading  in any
material respect; or

                  (v)   The Borrowers (or any one of them) shall:  (i) fail to
pay any Debt (other than the Debt  described in Sections  6(a)(i) and 6(a)(ii)
above)  of the  Borrowers,  or any  interest  or  premium  thereon,  when  due
(whether by scheduled maturity, required prepayment,  acceleration,  demand or
otherwise),  and such  failure  shall  continue  after  any  applicable  grace
period,  specified in the  agreement or  instrument  relating to such Debt; or
(ii) fail to perform or observe any  covenant or  condition  on its part to be
performed or observed  under any agreement or instrument  relating to any such
Debt when  required  to be  performed  or  observed,  and such  failure  shall
continue  after  the  applicable  grace  period,  if  any,  specified  in such
agreement  or  instrument,  if the effect of such failure to pay or perform or
observe is to  accelerate  or to permit the  acceleration  of the  maturity of
such  Debt;  or any such  Debt  shall be  declared  to be due and  payable  or
required  to  be  prepaid  (other  than  by  a  regularly  scheduled  required
prepayment) prior to the stated maturity thereof; or

                  (vi)  Any  Borrower  shall  cease  to be  solvent  or  shall
suffer  the  appointment  of  a  receiver,   trustee,   custodian  or  similar
fiduciary,  or shall make an assignment  for the benefit of creditors,  or any
petition  for an order for relief  shall be filed by or against  any  Borrower
under the federal  bankruptcy code or any similar state insolvency statute (if
against any Borrower,  the continuation of such proceeding for more than sixty
(60) days),  or any Borrower shall make any offer of settlement,  extension or
composition to their respective unsecured creditors generally; or

                  (vii) There shall occur a  cessation  of a material  part of
the business of any Borrower for a period which has a Material  Adverse Effect
on such  Borrowers'  capacity to continue its business on a profitable  basis;
or any Borrower  shall suffer the loss or  revocation of any license or permit
now held or  hereafter  acquired by such  Borrower  which is  necessary to the
continued  or lawful  operation  of its  business;  or any  Borrower  shall be
enjoined,  restrained  or in any  way  prevented  by  court,  governmental  or
administrative  order from conducting all or any material part of its business
affairs;  or any material  lease or  agreement  pursuant to which any Borrower
leases,  uses or occupies any property  shall be canceled or terminated  prior
to the expiration of its stated term; or

                  (viii)      Any Borrower  shall  challenge or contest in any
action,  suit or proceeding the validity or  enforceability  of this Agreement
or any of the other  Transaction  Documents or the legality or  enforceability
of any of the Obligations thereunder; or

                                       5
<PAGE>

                  (ix)  The occurrence of any event or  circumstance  in which
Purchasers  holing  at least 75% of the  aggregate  principal  balance  of the
Notes  reasonably  believe  has or may have a Material  Adverse  Effect on any
Borrower.

            (b)    Acceleration;  Notice to Holders . Upon the  occurrence  of
an Event of Default, any Holder may declare the outstanding  principal balance
of the Notes, all interest  thereon and all other  Obligations to be forthwith
due and payable,  whereupon the  outstanding  principal  balance of each Note,
all such interest thereon and all such other  Obligations  shall become and be
forthwith due and payable,  without presentment,  protest or further notice or
demand  of  any  kind,  all  of  which  are  hereby  expressly  waived  by the
Borrowers.  When any Event of  Default  described  in  Section  6(a) above has
occurred,   or  if  any  Holder  or  the  holder  of  any  other  evidence  of
indebtedness  of any of the  Borrowers  gives  any  notice  or takes any other
action with respect to a claimed default,  the Borrowers jointly and severally
agree  to give  notice  with  three  (3)  Business  Days of such  event to all
Holders.

      7.    MISCELLANEOUS.

            (a)   Definitions.  Unless the  context  otherwise  requires,  the
terms  hereinafter  set  forth  when  used  herein  shall  have the  following
meanings and the  following  definitions  shall be equally  applicable to both
the singular and plural forms of any of the terms herein defined:

                  "Business  Day" shall mean any day, other than a Saturday or
Sunday, on which the New York Stock Exchange is not required to be closed.

                  "Debt"  shall  mean with  respect to any  Borrower,  without
duplication,  all  indebtedness,  liabilities and obligations of such Borrower
which in  accordance  with GAAP are required to be  classified  upon a balance
sheet of such  Borrower  as  liabilities  of such  Borrower,  and in any event
shall  include all: (i)  obligations  of such  Borrower for borrowed  money or
which have been incurred  connection with the purchase or other acquisition of
assets,  (ii)  obligations  secured  by any Lien  on,  or  payable  out of the
proceeds  of or  production  from,  any assets  owned by any  Borrower,  (iii)
obligations  under  capital  leases  which  shall  have been or should  be, in
accordance  with  GAAP,   recorded  as  capital  leases,   (iv)  indebtedness,
liabilities  and  obligations of third parties,  including  joint ventures and
partnerships,  of which a Borrower is a venturer or general partner,  recourse
to which may be had against such Borrower,  (v) obligations created or arising
under any conditional sale or other title retention  agreement with respect to
assets  acquired by a Borrower,  notwithstanding  the fact that the rights and
remedies of the seller,  lender or lessor under such agreement in the event of
default are limited to repossession or sale of such asset, (vi)  indebtedness,
liabilities  and  obligations of any Borrower under  guarantees,  (vii) unpaid
reimbursement  obligations  of a  Borrower  with  respect to letters of credit
issued for the account of any Borrower,  and (viii) all other  obligations  or
items which, in accordance with GAAP,  would be shown on the liability side of
a balance sheet as of the date of the incurrence thereof.

                  "Governmental  Authority" shall mean the federal  government
of  the  United  States;  the  government  of  any  foreign  country  that  is
recognized  by the  United  States or is a member of the United  Nations;  any
state of the United States;  any local  government or municipality  within the
territory or under the  jurisdiction of any of the foregoing;  any department,
agency, division or

                                       6
<PAGE>

instrumentality  of any of the  foregoing;  and  any  court  whose  orders  or
judgments are enforceable by or within the territory of any of the foregoing.

                  "Holder"  shall  mean any  Person  which  is, at the time of
reference, the registered Holder of any Note.

                  "Lien"  shall  mean any  mortgage,  deed of  trust,  pledge,
hypothecation,    assignment,   deposit   arrangement,    security   interest,
encumbrance,  lien  (statutory  or  other),  preference,   priority  or  other
security  agreement  or  preferential   arrangement  of  any  kind  or  nature
whatsoever including,  without limitation, any conditional sale or other title
retention  agreement,  any  financing  lease  having  substantially  the  same
economic  effect  as any of the  foregoing  and the  filing  of any  financing
statement  under the  Uniform  Commercial  Code as adopted and in force in the
State of Missouri or comparable laws of any jurisdiction.

                  "Material  Adverse  Effect" shall mean,  with respect to any
event or occurrence of whatever  nature  (including any adverse  determination
in any  litigation,  arbitration,  investigation  or  proceeding),  a material
adverse  effect  on  (i)  the  business,   operations,   revenues,   financial
condition,  property,  or business  prospects of any Borrower (ii) the ability
of  any  Borrower  to  timely  pay  or  perform  its  Obligations   generally,
including,  the  ability  of  any  Borrower  to  pay  or  perform  any  of its
Obligations  to the  Purchasers,  or (iii)  the  rights  and  remedies  of the
Purchasers under this Agreement or any other Transaction Document.

                  "Material Agreement" shall mean any contract,  note, deed or
other  agreement or undertaking or any security to which a Borrower is a party
or by which a Borrower is bound which,  if violated or breached,  would have a
Material Adverse Effect on such Borrower.

                  "Material  Law"  shall  mean any law  whose  violation  by a
Borrower would have a Material Adverse Effect.

                  "Obligations"  shall mean all loans and all other  advances,
debts, liabilities,  obligations,  covenants and duties owing, arising, due or
payable from the Borrowers to the  Purchasers  of any kind or nature,  present
or future,  joint and/or several whether or not evidenced by any note,  letter
of  credit,   guaranty  or  other  instrument,   whether  arising  under  this
Agreement or any of the other Transaction Documents or otherwise,  and whether
direct or  indirect  (including  those  acquired by  assignment),  absolute or
contingent,  primary or  secondary,  due or to become  due,  now  existing  or
hereafter  arising and however  acquired,  and all  replacements,  extensions,
amendments and other  modifications  in respect of any of the  foregoing.  The
term includes,  without limitation,  all interest,  charges,  expenses,  fees,
attorneys'  fees and any other sums  chargeable to the Borrowers  under any of
the Transaction Documents.

                  "Person"    shall   mean   an    individual,    partnership,
corporation,  trust, limited liability company or unincorporated organization,
and any Governmental Authority.

                  "Subsidiary"  of a Person means a corporation,  partnership,
limited  liability  company or other  entity in which that Person  directly or
indirectly owns or controls the shares of stock or other  ownership  interests
having ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the board of

                                       7
<PAGE>

directors  (or  appoint  other  comparable   managers)  of  such  corporation,
partnership, limited liability company or other entity.

            (b)   Notices.  Except as otherwise  provided herein, all notices,
requests  and demands to or upon a party  hereto to be  effective  shall be in
writing and shall be personally  delivered,  mailed by certified or registered
mail,  return receipt  requested,  sent prepaid by reliable courier or sent by
facsimile  transmission.  Unless otherwise expressly provided herein,  notices
shall be deemed to have been validly  given when  delivered  against  receipt;
or, in the case of mailing,  three (3) Business Days after deposit in the mail
in the  continental  United  States,  postage  prepaid;  or,  in the  case  of
reliable  courier,  on the Business Day after the courier accepts  delivery of
such  item  for   Business  Day   delivery;   or  in  the  case  of  facsimile
transmission,  when sent against  confirmation  of receipt  prior to 5:00 p.m.
local  time  at  the  recipient's   office,  in  each  case  addressed  and/or
telecopied  to at the  address or telecopy  number set forth on the  signature
pages hereof,  or to such other  address or telecopy  number as each party may
designate for itself by like notice in accordance with this Section 7(b).

            (c)   Indemnity.   The  Borrowers  hereby  jointly  and  severally
agree to indemnify the  Purchasers  and their agents and hold  Purchasers  and
other  indemnities  harmless from and against any  liability,  loss,  expense,
damage,   suit,  action  or  proceeding  ever  suffered  or  incurred  by  the
Purchasers or such other  indemnities as the result of any Borrowers'  failure
to observe,  perform or discharge  any of its  respective  duties under any of
the  Transaction  Documents or any  misrepresentation  made by or on behalf of
Borrowers  under any of the  Transaction  Documents.  The  joint  and  several
obligation of the Borrowers  under this Section 7(c) shall survive the payment
in full of the Obligations and the termination of this Agreement.

            (d)    Modification  of  Agreement.  This  Agreement  may  not  be
modified,  altered or amended,  except by an  agreement  in writing  signed by
each of the  Borrowers  and each of the  Purchasers.  No  Borrower  may  sell,
assign  or  transfer  any  interest  in this  Agreement  and any of the  other
Transaction Documents, or any portion thereof, including,  without limitation,
any of its rights, title,  interests,  remedies,  powers, and duties hereunder
or  thereunder.  Each  Borrower  hereby  consents  to  any  Purchaser's  sale,
assignment,  transfer or other  disposition,  at any time or times thereafter,
of  this  Agreement  and any of the  other  Transaction  Documents,  or of any
portion hereof or thereof,  including,  without  limitation,  any  Purchaser's
rights,   title,   interests,   remedies,   powers  and  duties  hereunder  or
thereunder.

            (e)   Survival   of    Representations    and   Warranties.    All
representations  and  warranties  contained  herein or made in  writing by any
party in connection  herewith shall survive the execution and delivery of this
Agreement  and  the  consummation  of the  transactions  contemplated  hereby,
regardless of any investigation made by the Purchasers or on their behalf.

            (f)   Successors  and  Assigns.   Except  as  otherwise  expressly
provided herein,  all covenants and agreements  contained in this Agreement by
or on behalf of any of the parties  hereto shall bind and inure to the benefit
of the  respective  successors  and assigns of the parties  hereto  whether so
expressed or not. In addition,  and whether or not any express  assignment has
been made,  the  provisions of this  Agreement  which are for the  Purchaser's
benefit as a purchaser or Holder are also for the benefit of, and  enforceable
by, any subsequent Holder.

                                       8
<PAGE>

            (g)   Severability.  Whenever  possible,  each  provision  of this
Agreement  shall be  interpreted  in such manner as to be effective  and valid
under  applicable  law, but if any  provision of this  Agreement is held to be
prohibited  by or  invalid  under  applicable  law,  such  provision  shall be
ineffective  only to the extent of such  prohibition  or  invalidity,  without
invalidating the remainder of this Agreement.

            (h)   Counterparts.     This    Agreement    may    be    executed
simultaneously  in  two or  more  counterparts,  any  one of  which  need  not
contain  the  signatures  of more than one  party,  but all such  counterparts
taken together shall constitute one and the same Agreement.

            (i)   Descriptive   Headings;   Interpretation.   The  descriptive
headings  of this  Agreement  are  inserted  for  convenience  only and do not
constitute a Section of this  Agreement.  The use of the word  "including"  in
this Agreement shall be by way of example rather than by limitation.

            (j)   Governing Law. All questions  concerning  the  construction,
validity and  interpretation  of this Agreement and the exhibits and schedules
hereto  shall be governed by the internal  law, and not the law of  conflicts,
of the State of Missouri.

            (k)   Complete   Agreement.   This   Agreement,   the  Transaction
Documents  and the  other  documents  delivered  or to be  delivered  pursuant
hereto or thereto embody the complete  agreement and  understanding  among the
parties and  supersede  and preempt any prior  understandings,  agreements  or
representations  by or among  the  parties,  written  or oral,  which may have
related to the subject matter hereof or thereof in any way.

            (l)   Representation.   Because  all  parties   hereto  have  been
represented by counsel in connection  with the  negotiation and preparation of
this  Agreement,  this  Agreement  shall be  construed  without  regard to any
presumption against the party drafting the same.


                                       9
<PAGE>

            (m)   Multiple Borrowers.

                  (i)   Each   Borrower   agrees   that  it  is  jointly   and
severally,  directly,  and primarily  liable to the  Purchasers for payment in
full of the  Obligations and that such liability is independent of the duties,
obligations,  and  liability  of each and all of the other  joint and  several
Borrowers.  The  Purchasers  may bring a  separate  action or  actions  on the
Obligations  against each,  any, or all of the  Borrowers,  whether  action is
brought  against any other or all of such  Borrowers or any one or more of the
Borrowers is or is not joined therein.

                  (ii)  Each  Borrower  agree  that  any  release  that may be
given by any Purchaser to any one or more of the  Borrowers  shall not release
any other Borrowers from its obligations hereunder.

                  (iii) Each  Borrower  hereby  waives  any  right  to  assert
against any  Purchaser  any right of setoff or other claim that such  Borrower
individually  may now or any time hereafter have against  another  Borrower or
in any manner or way  whatsoever,  and hereby waives any right of  subrogation
against any other Borrowers.

                  (iv)  Any  and  all  present  and  future  debts  and  other
obligations of any Borrower to any other Borrower are hereby  subordinated  to
the full payment and performance of the Obligations;  provided,  however, such
debt and other  obligations  may be incurred and repaid,  subject to the terms
of this Agreement,  as long as no Event of Default shall have occurred and not
have been waived.

                  (v)   Each   Borrower  is  presently   informed  as  to  the
financial  condition  of  each  of  the  other  Borrowers  and  of  all  other
circumstances  that a  diligent  inquiry  would  reveal and that bear upon the
risk of nonpayment  of the  Obligations.  Each Borrower  hereby waives any and
all rights it may have to require any Purchaser to disclose to such  Borrowers
any  information  that  any  such  Purchaser  may  now  or  hereafter  acquire
concerning the condition or circumstances of any of the Borrowers.

                  (vi)  Except as expressly  provided  herein,  each  Borrower
waives all rights to notices of default, existence,  creation, or incurring of
new or additional  indebtedness  and all other notices of formalities to which
such Borrower may, as a joint and several Borrower hereunder, be entitled.

            (n)   Commitment  Fee.  Simultaneously  with  consummation  of the
purchase and sale of the Notes as contemplated hereunder,  the Borrowers shall
pay to each  Purchaser a  commitment  fee equal to three  percent  (3%) of the
principal  amount  of the Note set forth  opposite  each  Purchaser's  name on
Schedule I hereto in consideration of each  Purchaser's  consummation  thereof
("Commitment   Fee").   The   Commitment   Fee  shall  be  fully   earned  and
non-refundable.   The   Commitment  Fee  shall  be  payable  by  cashier's  or
certified  check,  or by wire transfer of  immediately  available  funds to an
account  designated by each Purchaser in a written notice,  which notice shall
be received by the  Borrowers  at least one  Business Day prior to the Closing
Date.

                                       10
<PAGE>

            (o)   Reimbursement  of  Expenses . If, at any time or times prior
or  subsequent  to the date hereof,  regardless  of whether or not an Event of
Default  then exists or any of the  transactions  contemplated  hereunder  are
concluded,  the Purchasers employ counsel for advice or other  representation,
or  incur  legal  expenses  or  other  costs  or  out-of-pocket   expenses  in
connection  with: (i) the  negotiation  and  preparation of this Agreement and
any of the other  Transaction  Documents,  any amendment of or modification of
this  Agreement  or  any of the  other  Transaction  Documents;  or  (ii)  any
litigation,  contest,  dispute, suit, proceeding or action (whether instituted
by a Purchaser,  any Borrower or any other Person) in any way relating to this
Agreement  or  any of  the  other  Transaction  Documents  or  any  Borrowers'
affairs;  or (iii) any  bankruptcy or other  insolvency  proceeding,  contest,
dispute,  suit,  litigation or action (whether instituted by a Purchaser,  any
Borrower is commenced by or against any Borrower under the Federal  Bankruptcy
Code and/or any similar  state  insolvency  statute;  then, in any such event,
the  attorneys'  fees arising  from such  services  and all  expenses,  costs,
charges  and other fees of such  counsel or of each  Purchaser  or relating to
any of the events or actions  described in this  Section  shall be jointly and
severally  payable,  on demand,  by Borrowers to such Purchaser,  and shall be
additional Obligations hereunder.

            (p)   Extension  of  Note.  Upon  the  expressed  maturity  of the
Notes (i.e.,  six (6) months after the Closing Date),  the Borrowers may elect
to  extend  the  maturity  of the  Notes for an  additional  thirty  (30) days
thereafter as long as no Event of Default has occurred and is  continuing  and
provided the  Borrowers  pay to each  Purchaser an extension  fee equal to one
percent  (1%) of the  principal  amount  of the Note set forth  opposite  each
Purchaser's name on Schedule I hereto by cashier's or certified check.

            (q)   Incorporation  by  Reference.  All of the terms of the other
Transaction  Documents are  incorporated  in and made a part of this Agreement
by  reference;  provided,  however,  that to the  extent of any  inconsistency
between this Agreement and such other  Transaction  Documents,  this Agreement
shall govern.

            (r)   SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION; WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL.

                  (i)   TO THE FULL EXTENT  PERMITTED  BY LAW,  EACH  BORROWER
HEREBY  KNOWINGLY,  INTENTIONALLY  AND  VOLUNTARILY,  WITH AND UPON  ADVICE OF
COMPETENT  COUNSEL,  (A)  SUBMITS  TO  PERSONAL  JURISDICTION  IN THE STATE OF
MISSOURI OVER ANY SUIT,  ACTION OR  PROCEEDING  BY ANY PERSON  ARISING FROM OR
RELATING  TO  THIS  AGREEMENT,  (B)  AGREES  THAT  ANY  SUCH  ACTION,  SUIT OR
PROCEEDING  MAY BE  BROUGHT  IN ANY  STATE  COURT  OF  COMPETENT  JURISDICTION
SITTING IN ST.  LOUIS COUNTY OR ANY FEDERAL  COURT OF  COMPETENT  JURISDICTION
SITTING IN THE EASTERN  DISTRICT OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI,  (C) SUBMITS TO THE
JURISDICTION OF SUCH COURTS,  AND (D) TO THE FULLEST EXTENT  PERMITTED BY LAW,
AGREES  THAT IT WILL NOT BRING ANY  ACTION,  SUIT OR  PROCEEDING  IN ANY FORUM
OTHER THAN THE FOREGOING  FORUMS (BUT NOTHING HEREIN SHALL AFFECT THE RIGHT OF
ANY  PURCHASER TO BRING ANY ACTION,  SUIT OR  PROCEEDING  IN ANY OTHER FORUM).
EACH BORROWER  HEREBY  FURTHER  CONSENTS AND AGREES TO SERVICE OF ANY SUMMONS,
COMPLAINT  OR OTHER  LEGAL  PROCESS  IN ANY SUCH SUIT,  ACTION OR OTHER  LEGAL
PROCEEDING BY REGISTERED  OR CERTIFIED  U.S.  MAIL,  POSTAGE  PREPAID,  TO THE
BORROWERS AT THE ADDRESS FOR NOTICES DESCRIBED IN

                                       11
<PAGE>

SECTION 7(b) HEREOF,  AND CONSENT AND AGREE THAT SUCH SERVICE SHALL CONSTITUTE
IN EVERY RESPECT VALID AND EFFECTIVE  SERVICE (BUT NOTHING HEREIN SHALL AFFECT
THE VALIDITY OR  EFFECTIVENESS OF PROCESS SERVED IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED
BY LAW.)

                  (ii)  TO THE FULL EXTENT  PERMITTED  BY LAW,  EACH  BORROWER
HEREBY KNOWINGLY,  INTENTIONALLY AND VOLUNTARILY,  WITH AND UPON THE ADVICE OF
COMPETENT  COUNSEL,  WAIVES,  RELINQUISHES  AND FOREVER FORGOES THE RIGHT TO A
TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION OR  PROCEEDING  BASED UPON,  ARISING OUT OF, OR IN
ANY WAY  RELATING TO THIS  AGREEMENT  OR ANY  CONDUCT,  ACT OR OMISSION OF ANY
PURCHASER  OR  BORROWERS,  OR ANY OF  THEIR  RESPECTIVE  DIRECTORS,  OFFICERS,
PARTNERS,  MEMBERS,  EMPLOYEES,  AGENTS OR  ATTORNEYS,  OR ANY  OTHER  PERSONS
AFFILIATED  WITH ANY PURCHASER OR BORROWERS,  IN EACH OF THE FOREGOING  CASES,
WHETHER SOUNDING IN CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE.

            (s)   Facsimile  Signatures.  A  signature  of  a  party  to  this
Agreement sent by facsimile or other electronic  transmission  shall be deemed
to constitute an original and fully effective signature of such party.

            (t)   Statutory  Notice.  The following  notice is given  pursuant
to Section  432.045 of the Missouri  Revised  Statutes;  nothing  contained in
such  notice  shall be deemed to limit or modify  the  provisions  of the Loan
Documents.

      ORAL  AGREEMENTS  OR  COMMITMENTS  TO LEND  MONEY,  EXTEND  CREDIT OR TO
      FORBEAR FROM ENFORCING  REPAYMENT OF A DEBT INCLUDING PROMISES TO EXTEND
      OR RENEW SUCH DEBT ARE NOT  ENFORCEABLE.  TO PROTECT YOU (BORROWERS) AND
      US (PURCHASERS) FROM MISUNDERSTANDING OR DISAPPOINTMENT,  ANY AGREEMENTS
      WE REACH  COVERING SUCH MATTERS ARE CONTAINED IN THIS WRITING,  WHICH IS
      THE  COMPLETE  AND  EXCLUSIVE  STATEMENT  OF THE  AGREEMENT  BETWEEN US,
      EXCEPT AS WE MAY LATER AGREE IN WRITING TO MODIFY IT.

     [REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK; SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]

                                       12
<PAGE>


      IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the  parties  have  caused  this  Agreement  to be
executed and delivered as of the date first written above.

("BORROWERS")                            ("PURCHASERS")
ALLIED HEALTHCARE                        WOODBOURNE PARTNERS, L.P., a
     PRODUCTS, INC.                      Missouri limited partnership

       /s/ Barry F. Baker
By:    ______________________________
Name:  ______________________________    By:
Title: ______________________________    CLAYTON MANAGEMENT COMPANY, its
                                         general partner

B&F MEDICAL PRODUCTS, INC.
                                             /s/ John D. Weil
       /s/ Barry F. Baker                By: ________________________
By:    ______________________________        Name: John D. Weil
Name:  ______________________________        Title: President
Title: ______________________________    
                                         
                                         
BEAR MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC.

       /s/ Barry F. Baker                Notice Address:
By:    ______________________________    Clayton Management Company
Name:  ______________________________    200 North Broadway - Suite 825
Title: ______________________________    St. Louis, MO   63102

                                         By: /s/ Sam Fox 
HOSPITAL SYSTEMS, INC.                       ____________________________
                                             Sam Fox 
       /s/ Barry F. Baker                
By:    ______________________________
Name:  ______________________________
Title: ______________________________    By: /s/ Donald E. Nickelson
                                             ____________________________
                                             Donald E. Nickelson
LIFE SUPPORT PRODUCTS, INC.

       /s/ Barry F. Baker
By:    ______________________________    By: /s/ Dennis W. Sheehan
Name:  ______________________________        ____________________________
Title: ______________________________        Dennis W. Sheehan

                                         Notice Address for Sam Fox, Donald
                                         E. Nickelson and Dennis W. Sheehan:
                                           Sam Hammacher
                                         Harbour Group, Ltd.
                                         7701 Forsyth
                                         Clayton, Missouri 63105

                                         With a copy to:
                                         Greensfelder, Hemker & Gale, P.C.
                                         10 South Broadway, Suite 2000
                                         St. Louis, Missouri 63102
                                         Attn: Joseph D. Lehrer, Esq.

                                       13
<PAGE>

BICORE MONITORING SYSTEMS, INC.

       /s/ Barry F. Baker
By:    ______________________________
Name:  ______________________________
Title: ______________________________

 Notice Address for all Borrowers:
1720 Sublette Avenue
St. Louis, Missouri 63110

With a copy to:
Dickstein, Shapiro, Morin &
Oshinsky, LLP
2101 L. Street NW
Washington, DC 20037
Attn: Allen B. Goldstein, Esq.

                                       14
<PAGE>


                                  SCHEDULE I
                                  Purchasers

                              Principal
   Name of Purchaser       Amount of Note   Commitment Fee    Warrants
   -----------------       --------------   --------------    --------
Woodbourne Partners, L.P.  $2,000,000.00    $60,000.00         25,000
Sam Fox                    $2,750,000.00    $82,500.00(1)      34,376
Donald E. Nickelson         $ 125,000.00    $ 3,750.00          1,562
Dennis W. Sheehan           $ 125,000.00    $ 3,750.00          1,562

 
- --------
(1) The Commitment Fee was waived by the named Purchaser.
  
                                       15





      THIS NOTE IS SUBJECT TO THE TERMS AND  CONDITIONS  OF THAT CERTAIN
      SUBORDINATION  AGREEMENT  DATED  AS OF  AUGUST  7,  1997,  BY  AND
      BETWEEN THE LENDER NAMED BELOW AND FOOTHILL CAPITAL CORPORATION.

 
                               PROMISSORY NOTE


$2,000,000.00                                             St. Louis, Missouri
                                                          August 7, 1997

            FOR VALUE RECEIVED,  the undersigned,  ALLIED HEALTHCARE PRODUCTS,
INC.,  a  Delaware  corporation,   B&F  MEDICAL  PRODUCTS,  INC.,  a  Delaware
corporation,  BEAR MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC., a California  corporation,  HOSPITAL
SYSTEMS,  INC.,  a California  corporation,  LIFE  SUPPORT  PRODUCTS,  INC., a
California   corporation,   BICORE  MONITORING  SYSTEMS,  INC.,  a  California
corporation,  each with their chief executive  office located at 1720 Sublette
Avenue, St. Louis, Missouri,  63110 (collectively  "Borrowers") HEREBY JOINTLY
AND  SEVERALLY  PROMISE TO PAY to the order of  WOODBOURNE  PARTNERS,  L.P., a
Missouri  limited  partnership  (the  "Lender")  in lawful money of the United
States of  America,  the  principal  sum of TWO  MILLION  AND  NO/100  DOLLARS
($2,000,000.00),  together  with  interest  thereon  from the date hereof at a
fixed  rate  per  annum   equal  to   fourteen   percent   (14%),   compounded
semi-annually.  Principal and interest shall be due and payable as follows:

      (a)   Interest  shall be due on the  first  Business  Day of each  month
(for the immediately preceding month),  computed through the last calendar day
of  the  preceding  month,  and  on  the  Maturity  Date.  Interest  shall  be
calculated  on a daily basis  (computed  on the actual  number of days elapsed
over a year of 360 days),  commencing on the date hereof  (including the first
day but excluding the last day); and

      (b)   Principal  shall  be due  and  payable  on  the  earlier  of:  (a)
February 7, 1998 or thirty  (30) days  thereafter  if  extended in  accordance
with the Purchase  Agreement (the "Maturity  Date"),  or (b) the occurrence of
an  Event  of  Default  (as  defined  in  the  hereinafter   defined  Purchase
Agreement).
 
      This  Promissory  Note ("Note") is the  Promissory  Note referred to in,
and is issued  under the terms of, and  pursuant  to, the  provisions  of that
certain Note Purchase  Agreement between the Lender and the Borrowers dated as
of August 7, 1997 (as the same may be amended,  restated,  extended,  replaced
or otherwise  modified  from time to time,  the "Purchase  Agreement")  and is
entitled to all of the benefits and  security of the Purchase  Agreement.  All
of the terms,  covenants and  conditions of the Purchase  Agreement and of the
other  instruments  evidencing  or securing  the  indebtedness  hereunder  are
hereby  made a part of  this  Note  and  incorporated  herein  in full by this
reference.  All capitalized terms used herein,  unless otherwise  specifically
defined  in this  Note,  shall  have the same  meanings  as given  them in the
Purchase Agreement.


<PAGE>


      If any payment of  principal  or interest due on this Note is payable on
a day other than a Business  Day,  then such payment shall be made on the next
Business Day.

      If any Event of Default  shall occur and shall not have been waived in a
writing given by the Lender to the Borrowers,  then the outstanding  principal
balance of this Note  shall bear  interest  from and after the  occurrence  of
such Event of Default at the Default Rate until the principal  balance of this
Note is paid in full.

      Borrowers  shall  prepay  this  Note at the time and in the  manner  set
forth in the Purchase  Agreement.  Borrowers  may wholly  prepay this Note and
make  partial  prepayments  hereon in whole  multiples  of $1,000 from time to
time,  without  penalty or premium,  but only if (i) the Borrowers give Lender
written  notice  of their  intention  to make  such  prepayment  at least  one
Business Day prior to tendering  the  prepayment,  and (ii)  Borrowers pay any
accrued and unpaid interest on the Note to the date of such payment.

      The  earlier  of the  Maturity  Date or the  occurrence  of an  Event of
Default  under the Purchase  Agreement  shall  constitute  an event of default
under this Note and shall  entitle the Lender,  at its option,  to declare the
then  outstanding  principal  balance and accrued  interest thereon to be, and
the same shall  thereupon  become,  immediately due and payable without notice
to or demand upon the Borrowers,  all of which the Borrowers  hereby expressly
waive.

      Time is of the  essence of this Note.  To the fullest  extent  permitted
by  applicable  law,  the  Borrowers,  for  themselves  and  their  respective
successors and assigns,  expressly waive presentment,  demand, protest, notice
of dishonor,  notice of  non-payment,  notice of maturity,  notice of protest,
presentment   for  the  purpose  of   accelerating   maturity,   diligence  in
collection, and the benefit of any exemption or insolvency laws.

      Wherever  possible each  provision of this Note shall be  interpreted in
such a manner as to be effective  and valid under  applicable  law, but if any
provision of this Note shall be prohibited or invalid  under  applicable  law,
such  provision  shall be  ineffective  to the extent of such  prohibition  or
invalidity  without  invalidating the remainder of such provision or remaining
provisions  of this  Note.  No delay or  failure  on the part of the Lender in
the  exercise  of any  right or remedy  hereunder  shall  operate  as a waiver
thereof,  nor as an  acquiescence  in any  default,  nor shall  any  single or
partial  exercise  by the  Lender of any right or  remedy  preclude  any other
right or remedy.  The Lender,  at its option,  may enforce its rights  against
any  collateral  securing this Note without  enforcing its rights  against the
Borrowers,  any guarantor of the  indebtedness  evidenced  hereby or any other
property  or  indebtedness  due  or  to  become  due  to  the  Borrowers.  The
Borrowers agree that, without releasing or impairing any Borrowers'  liability
hereunder,  the  Lender  may at any time  release,  surrender,  substitute  or
exchange  any  collateral  securing  this Note and may at any time release any
party primarily or secondarily  liable for the indebtedness  evidenced by this
Note.  No  amendment,  modification  or waiver of any  provision of this Note,
nor consent to any  departure  by any  Borrower  herefrom,  shall be effective
unless  the same  shall be in  writing  signed  by an  authorized  officer  of
Lender,  and then only in the specific  instance and for the purpose for which
given.

                                       2
<PAGE>

      In  the  event  that  any  payment  of any  principal  or  interest  due
hereunder  shall  not be paid  when due,  whether  by reason of  acceleration,
termination or otherwise,  and this Note is placed in the hands of an attorney
or attorneys for collection or for  foreclosure of any agreement,  document or
instrument  securing  payment  hereof  or  for  representation  of  Lender  in
connection with bankruptcy or insolvency  proceedings  relating  hereto,  each
Borrower  jointly  and  severally  promises  to pay,  in addition to all other
amounts  otherwise  due hereon,  all costs and  expenses  of such  collection,
foreclosure and representation, including, without limitation, reasonable

attorneys' fees,  expert witness fees and all other costs and expenses paid or
incurred by Lender in connection  therewith  (whether or not litigation  shall
be commenced in aid thereof).

      All  notices  required  to be given or which may be given in  connection
with this Note shall be given in the manner  required  for  notices  under the
Purchase Agreement.

      This Note is governed by and shall be  interpreted  in  accordance  with
the internal laws of the State of Missouri,  without regard to conflict of law
rules.

     [REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK; SIGNATURE PAGES FOLLOW]

                                       3
<PAGE>

      IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  each  Borrower has caused this Note to be executed
and  delivered  by its duly  authorized  representative  as of the date  first
above written.

                                    ALLIED HEALTHCARE PRODUCTS, INC.

                                           /s/ Barry F. Baker
                                    By:    ______________________________
                                    Name:  Barry F. Baker
                                    Title: Vice President-Finance
ATTEST:

By:     ____________________________                         
Name:   ____________________________                         
Title:  ____________________________         


                                    B&F MEDICAL PRODUCTS, INC.

                                           /s/ Barry F. Baker
                                    By:    ______________________________
                                    Name:  Barry F. Baker
                                    Title: Vice President-Finance
ATTEST:

By:     ____________________________                         
Name:   ____________________________                         
Title:  ____________________________


                                    BEAR MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC.

                                           /s/ Barry F. Baker
                                    By:    ______________________________
                                    Name:  Barry F. Baker
                                    Title: Vice President-Finance
ATTEST:

By:     ____________________________                         
Name:   ____________________________                         
Title:  ____________________________          


                                    HOSPITAL SYSTEMS, INC.

                                           /s/ Barry F. Baker
                                    By:    ______________________________
                                    Name:  Barry F. Baker
                                    Title: Vice President-Finance
ATTEST:

By:     ____________________________                         
Name:   ____________________________                         
Title:  ____________________________                   
                                       4
<PAGE>


                                    LIFE SUPPORT PRODUCTS, INC.

                                           /s/ Barry F. Baker
                                    By:    ______________________________
                                    Name:  Barry F. Baker
                                    Title: Vice President-Finance
ATTEST:

By:     ____________________________                         
Name:   ____________________________                         
Title:  ____________________________         

                                    BICORE MONITORING SYSTEMS, INC.

                                           /s/ Barry F. Baker
                                    By:    ______________________________
                                    Name:  Barry F. Baker
                                    Title: Vice President-Finance
ATTEST:

By:     ____________________________                         
Name:   ____________________________                         
Title:  ____________________________                   


                                       5


      THIS NOTE IS SUBJECT TO THE TERMS AND  CONDITIONS  OF THAT CERTAIN
      SUBORDINATION  AGREEMENT  DATED  AS OF  AUGUST  7,  1997,  BY  AND
      BETWEEN THE LENDER NAMED BELOW AND FOOTHILL CAPITAL CORPORATION.


 
                               PROMISSORY NOTE


$125,000.00                                                 St. Louis, Missouri
                                                            August 7, 1997

            FOR VALUE RECEIVED,  the undersigned,  ALLIED HEALTHCARE PRODUCTS,
INC.,  a  Delaware  corporation,   B&F  MEDICAL  PRODUCTS,  INC.,  a  Delaware
corporation,  BEAR MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC., a California  corporation,  HOSPITAL
SYSTEMS,  INC.,  a California  corporation,  LIFE  SUPPORT  PRODUCTS,  INC., a
California   corporation,   BICORE  MONITORING  SYSTEMS,  INC.,  a  California
corporation,  each with their chief executive  office located at 1720 Sublette
Avenue, St. Louis, Missouri,  63110 (collectively  "Borrowers") HEREBY JOINTLY
AND  SEVERALLY  PROMISE  TO PAY to the  order  of  DONALD  E.  NICKELSON  (the
"Lender") in lawful money of the United  States of America,  the principal sum
of  ONE  HUNDRED  TWENTY-FIVE  THOUSAND  AND  NO/100  DOLLARS   ($125,000.00),
together with interest  thereon from the date hereof at a fixed rate per annum
equal to fourteen  percent  (14%),  compounded  semi-annually.  Principal  and
interest shall be due and payable as follows:

      (a)   Interest  shall be due on the  first  Business  Day of each  month
(for the immediately preceding month),  computed through the last calendar day
of  the  preceding  month,  and  on  the  Maturity  Date.  Interest  shall  be
calculated  on a daily basis  (computed  on the actual  number of days elapsed
over a year of 360 days),  commencing on the date hereof  (including the first
day but excluding the last day); and

      (b)   Principal  shall  be due  and  payable  on  the  earlier  of:  (a)
February 7, 1998 or thirty  (30) days  thereafter  if  extended in  accordance
with the Purchase  Agreement (the "Maturity  Date"),  or (b) the occurrence of
an  Event  of  Default  (as  defined  in  the  hereinafter   defined  Purchase
Agreement).
 
      This  Promissory  Note ("Note") is the  Promissory  Note referred to in,
and is issued  under the terms of, and  pursuant  to, the  provisions  of that
certain Note Purchase  Agreement between the Lender and the Borrowers dated as
of August 7, 1997 (as the same may be amended,  restated,  extended,  replaced
or otherwise  modified  from time to time,  the "Purchase  Agreement")  and is
entitled to all of the benefits and  security of the Purchase  Agreement.  All
of the terms,  covenants and  conditions of the Purchase  Agreement and of the
other  instruments  evidencing  or securing  the  indebtedness  hereunder  are
hereby  made a part of  this  Note  and  incorporated  herein  in full by this
reference.  All capitalized terms used herein,  unless otherwise  specifically
defined  in this  Note,  shall  have the same  meanings  as given  them in the
Purchase Agreement.


<PAGE>

      If any payment of  principal  or interest due on this Note is payable on
a day other than a Business  Day,  then such payment shall be made on the next
Business Day.

      If any Event of Default  shall occur and shall not have been waived in a
writing given by the Lender to the Borrowers,  then the outstanding  principal
balance of this Note  shall bear  interest  from and after the  occurrence  of
such Event of Default at the Default Rate until the principal  balance of this
Note is paid in full.

      Borrowers  shall  prepay  this  Note at the time and in the  manner  set
forth in the Purchase  Agreement.  Borrowers  may wholly  prepay this Note and
make  partial  prepayments  hereon in whole  multiples  of $1,000 from time to
time,  without  penalty or premium,  but only if (i) the Borrowers give Lender
written  notice  of their  intention  to make  such  prepayment  at least  one
Business Day prior to tendering  the  prepayment,  and (ii)  Borrowers pay any
accrued and unpaid interest on the Note to the date of such payment.

      The  earlier  of the  Maturity  Date or the  occurrence  of an  Event of
Default  under the Purchase  Agreement  shall  constitute  an event of default
under this Note and shall  entitle the Lender,  at its option,  to declare the
then  outstanding  principal  balance and accrued  interest thereon to be, and
the same shall  thereupon  become,  immediately due and payable without notice
to or demand upon the Borrowers,  all of which the Borrowers  hereby expressly
waive.

      Time is of the  essence of this Note.  To the fullest  extent  permitted
by  applicable  law,  the  Borrowers,  for  themselves  and  their  respective
successors and assigns,  expressly waive presentment,  demand, protest, notice
of dishonor,  notice of  non-payment,  notice of maturity,  notice of protest,
presentment   for  the  purpose  of   accelerating   maturity,   diligence  in
collection, and the benefit of any exemption or insolvency laws.

      Wherever  possible each  provision of this Note shall be  interpreted in
such a manner as to be effective  and valid under  applicable  law, but if any
provision of this Note shall be prohibited or invalid  under  applicable  law,
such  provision  shall be  ineffective  to the extent of such  prohibition  or
invalidity  without  invalidating the remainder of such provision or remaining
provisions  of this  Note.  No delay or  failure  on the part of the Lender in
the  exercise  of any  right or remedy  hereunder  shall  operate  as a waiver
thereof,  nor as an  acquiescence  in any  default,  nor shall  any  single or
partial  exercise  by the  Lender of any right or  remedy  preclude  any other
right or remedy.  The Lender,  at its option,  may enforce its rights  against
any  collateral  securing this Note without  enforcing its rights  against the
Borrowers,  any guarantor of the  indebtedness  evidenced  hereby or any other
property  or  indebtedness  due  or  to  become  due  to  the  Borrowers.  The
Borrowers agree that, without releasing or impairing any Borrowers'  liability
hereunder,  the  Lender  may at any time  release,  surrender,  substitute  or
exchange  any  collateral  securing  this Note and may at any time release any
party primarily or secondarily  liable for the indebtedness  evidenced by this
Note.  No  amendment,  modification  or waiver of any  provision of this Note,
nor consent to any  departure  by any  Borrower  herefrom,  shall be effective
unless  the same  shall be in  writing  signed  by an  authorized  officer  of
Lender,  and then only in the specific  instance and for the purpose for which
given.
 
                                      2
<PAGE>

In the event that any payment of any principal or interest due  hereunder  shall
not be paid  when  due,  whether  by  reason  of  acceleration,  termination  or
otherwise,  and this Note is placed in the hands of an attorney or attorneys for
collection or for foreclosure of any agreement,  document or instrument securing
payment hereof or for  representation of Lender in connection with bankruptcy or
insolvency  proceedings  relating  hereto,  each Borrower  jointly and severally
promises  to pay, in addition to all other  amounts  otherwise  due hereon,  all
costs  and  expenses  of  such  collection,   foreclosure  and   representation,
including,  without limitation,  reasonable attorneys' fees, expert witness fees
and all other  costs  and  expenses  paid or  incurred  by Lender in  connection
therewith (whether or not litigation shall be commenced in aid thereof).

      All  notices  required  to be given or which may be given in  connection
with this Note shall be given in the manner  required  for  notices  under the
Purchase Agreement.

      This Note is governed by and shall be  interpreted  in  accordance  with
the internal laws of the State of Missouri,  without regard to conflict of law
rules.

     [REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK; SIGNATURE PAGES FOLLOW]

                                       3
<PAGE>


      IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  each  Borrower has caused this Note to be executed
and  delivered  by its duly  authorized  representative  as of the date  first
above written.

                                    ALLIED HEALTHCARE PRODUCTS, INC.


                                         /s/ Barry F. Baker
                                    By:  ______________________________
                                         Name: Barry F. Baker
                                         Title: Vice President-Finance
ATTEST:

By:    ___________________________        
Name:  ___________________________        
Title: ___________________________        

                                    B&F MEDICAL PRODUCTS, INC.

                                  
                                         /s/ Barry F. Baker
                                    By:  ______________________________
                                         Name: Barry F. Baker
                                         Title: Vice President-Finance
ATTEST:

By:    ___________________________        
Name:  ___________________________
Title: ___________________________

                                    BEAR MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC.

                                  
                                         /s/ Barry F. Baker
                                    By:  ______________________________
                                         Name: Barry F. Baker
                                         Title: Vice President-Finance
ATTEST:

By:    ___________________________
Name:  ___________________________
Title: ___________________________


                                    HOSPITAL SYSTEMS, INC.

                                  
                                         /s/ Barry F. Baker
                                    By:  ______________________________
                                         Name: Barry F. Baker
                                         Title: Vice President-Finance
ATTEST:

By:    ___________________________
Name:  ___________________________
Title: ___________________________


                                       4
<PAGE>

                                    LIFE SUPPORT PRODUCTS, INC.

                                  
                                         /s/ Barry F. Baker
                                    By:  ______________________________
                                         Name: Barry F. Baker
                                         Title: Vice President-Finance
ATTEST:

By:    ___________________________
Name:  ___________________________
Title: ___________________________


                                    BICORE MONITORING SYSTEMS, INC.


                                  
                                         /s/ Barry F. Baker
                                    By:  ______________________________
                                         Name: Barry F. Baker
                                         Title: Vice President-Finance
ATTEST:

By:    ___________________________
Name:  ___________________________
Title: ___________________________


                                       5


      THIS NOTE IS SUBJECT TO THE TERMS AND  CONDITIONS  OF THAT CERTAIN
      SUBORDINATION  AGREEMENT  DATED  AS OF  AUGUST  7,  1997,  BY  AND
      BETWEEN THE LENDER NAMED BELOW AND FOOTHILL CAPITAL CORPORATION.


 
                               PROMISSORY NOTE


$125,000.00                                                 St. Louis, Missouri
                                                            August 7, 1997

            FOR VALUE RECEIVED,  the undersigned,  ALLIED HEALTHCARE PRODUCTS,
INC.,  a  Delaware  corporation,   B&F  MEDICAL  PRODUCTS,  INC.,  a  Delaware
corporation,  BEAR MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC., a California  corporation,  HOSPITAL
SYSTEMS,  INC.,  a California  corporation,  LIFE  SUPPORT  PRODUCTS,  INC., a
California   corporation,   BICORE  MONITORING  SYSTEMS,  INC.,  a  California
corporation,  each with their chief executive  office located at 1720 Sublette
Avenue, St. Louis, Missouri,  63110 (collectively  "Borrowers") HEREBY JOINTLY
AND SEVERALLY  PROMISE TO PAY to the order of DENNIS W. SHEEHAN (the "Lender")
in lawful  money of the United  States of America,  the  principal  sum of ONE
HUNDRED TWENTY-FIVE THOUSAND AND NO/100 DOLLARS  ($125,000.00),  together with
interest  thereon  from the date  hereof at a fixed  rate per  annum  equal to
fourteen  percent  (14%),  compounded  semi-annually.  Principal  and interest
shall be due and payable as follows:

      (a)   Interest  shall be due on the  first  Business  Day of each  month
(for the immediately preceding month),  computed through the last calendar day
of  the  preceding  month,  and  on  the  Maturity  Date.  Interest  shall  be
calculated  on a daily basis  (computed  on the actual  number of days elapsed
over a year of 360 days),  commencing on the date hereof  (including the first
day but excluding the last day); and

      (b)   Principal  shall  be due  and  payable  on  the  earlier  of:  (a)
February 7, 1998 or thirty  (30) days  thereafter  if  extended in  accordance
with the Purchase  Agreement (the "Maturity  Date"),  or (b) the occurrence of
an  Event  of  Default  (as  defined  in  the  hereinafter   defined  Purchase
Agreement).
 
      This  Promissory  Note ("Note") is the  Promissory  Note referred to in,
and is issued  under the terms of, and  pursuant  to, the  provisions  of that
certain Note Purchase  Agreement between the Lender and the Borrowers dated as
of August 7, 1997 (as the same may be amended,  restated,  extended,  replaced
or otherwise  modified  from time to time,  the "Purchase  Agreement")  and is
entitled to all of the benefits and  security of the Purchase  Agreement.  All
of the terms,  covenants and  conditions of the Purchase  Agreement and of the
other  instruments  evidencing  or securing  the  indebtedness  hereunder  are
hereby  made a part of  this  Note  and  incorporated  herein  in full by this
reference.  All capitalized terms used herein,  unless otherwise  specifically
defined  in this  Note,  shall  have the same  meanings  as given  them in the
Purchase Agreement.

                                       
<PAGE>

      If any payment of  principal  or interest due on this Note is payable on
a day other than a Business  Day,  then such payment shall be made on the next
Business Day.

      If any Event of Default  shall occur and shall not have been waived in a
writing given by the Lender to the Borrowers,  then the outstanding  principal
balance of this Note  shall bear  interest  from and after the  occurrence  of
such Event of Default at the Default Rate until the principal  balance of this
Note is paid in full.

      Borrowers  shall  prepay  this  Note at the time and in the  manner  set
forth in the Purchase  Agreement.  Borrowers  may wholly  prepay this Note and
make  partial  prepayments  hereon in whole  multiples  of $1,000 from time to
time,  without  penalty or premium,  but only if (i) the Borrowers give Lender
written  notice  of their  intention  to make  such  prepayment  at least  one
Business Day prior to tendering  the  prepayment,  and (ii)  Borrowers pay any
accrued and unpaid interest on the Note to the date of such payment.

      The  earlier  of the  Maturity  Date or the  occurrence  of an  Event of
Default  under the Purchase  Agreement  shall  constitute  an event of default
under this Note and shall  entitle the Lender,  at its option,  to declare the
then  outstanding  principal  balance and accrued  interest thereon to be, and
the same shall  thereupon  become,  immediately due and payable without notice
to or demand upon the Borrowers,  all of which the Borrowers  hereby expressly
waive.

      Time is of the  essence of this Note.  To the fullest  extent  permitted
by  applicable  law,  the  Borrowers,  for  themselves  and  their  respective
successors and assigns,  expressly waive presentment,  demand, protest, notice
of dishonor,  notice of  non-payment,  notice of maturity,  notice of protest,
presentment   for  the  purpose  of   accelerating   maturity,   diligence  in
collection, and the benefit of any exemption or insolvency laws.

      Wherever  possible each  provision of this Note shall be  interpreted in
such a manner as to be effective  and valid under  applicable  law, but if any
provision of this Note shall be prohibited or invalid  under  applicable  law,
such  provision  shall be  ineffective  to the extent of such  prohibition  or
invalidity  without  invalidating the remainder of such provision or remaining
provisions  of this  Note.  No delay or  failure  on the part of the Lender in
the  exercise  of any  right or remedy  hereunder  shall  operate  as a waiver
thereof,  nor as an  acquiescence  in any  default,  nor shall  any  single or
partial  exercise  by the  Lender of any right or  remedy  preclude  any other
right or remedy.  The Lender,  at its option,  may enforce its rights  against
any  collateral  securing this Note without  enforcing its rights  against the
Borrowers,  any guarantor of the  indebtedness  evidenced  hereby or any other
property  or  indebtedness  due  or  to  become  due  to  the  Borrowers.  The
Borrowers agree that, without releasing or impairing any Borrowers'  liability
hereunder,  the  Lender  may at any time  release,  surrender,  substitute  or
exchange  any  collateral  securing  this Note and may at any time release any
party primarily or secondarily  liable for the indebtedness  evidenced by this
Note.  No  amendment,  modification  or waiver of any  provision of this Note,
nor consent to any  departure  by any  Borrower  herefrom,  shall be effective
unless  the same  shall be in  writing  signed  by an  authorized  officer  of
Lender,  and then only in the specific  instance and for the purpose for which
given.

                                       2
<PAGE>

      In  the  event  that  any  payment  of any  principal  or  interest  due
hereunder  shall  not be paid  when due,  whether  by reason of  acceleration,
termination or otherwise,  and this Note is placed in the hands of an attorney
or attorneys for collection or for  foreclosure of any agreement,  document or
instrument  securing  payment  hereof  or  for  representation  of  Lender  in
connection with bankruptcy or insolvency  proceedings  relating  hereto,  each
Borrower  jointly  and  severally  promises  to pay,  in addition to all other
amounts  otherwise  due hereon,  all costs and  expenses  of such  collection,
foreclosure and representation, including, without limitation, reasonable
attorneys' fees,  expert witness fees and all other costs and expenses paid or
incurred by Lender in connection  therewith  (whether or not litigation  shall
be commenced in aid thereof).

      All  notices  required  to be given or which may be given in  connection
with this Note shall be given in the manner  required  for  notices  under the
Purchase Agreement.

      This Note is governed by and shall be  interpreted  in  accordance  with
the internal laws of the State of Missouri,  without regard to conflict of law
rules.

     [REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK; SIGNATURE PAGES FOLLOW]


                                       3
<PAGE>


      IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  each  Borrower has caused this Note to be executed
and  delivered  by its duly  authorized  representative  as of the date  first
above written.

                                    ALLIED HEALTHCARE PRODUCTS, INC.

                                           /s/ Barry F. Baker
                                    By:    ____________________________________
                                    Name:  Barry F. Baker
                                    Title: Vice President-Finance

ATTEST:


By:     __________________________  
Name:   __________________________   
Title:  __________________________   

                                    B&F MEDICAL PRODUCTS, INC.

                                           /s/ Barry F. Baker
                                    By:    ____________________________________
                                    Name:  Barry F. Baker
                                    Title: Vice President-Finance
                                 
ATTEST:

By:     __________________________     
Name:   __________________________     
Title:  __________________________     



                                    BEAR MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC.

                                           /s/ Barry F. Baker
                                    By:    ____________________________________
                                    Name:  Barry F. Baker
                                    Title: Vice President-Finance
                                 
ATTEST:

By:     __________________________    
Name:   __________________________    
Title:  __________________________    


                                    HOSPITAL SYSTEMS, INC.

                                           /s/ Barry F. Baker
                                    By:    ____________________________________
                                    Name:  Barry F. Baker
                                    Title: Vice President-Finance
                                 
ATTEST:

By:     __________________________          
Name:   __________________________          
Title:  __________________________          

                                       4
<PAGE>


                                    LIFE SUPPORT PRODUCTS, INC.

                                           /s/ Barry F. Baker
                                    By:    ____________________________________
                                    Name:  Barry F. Baker
                                    Title: Vice President-Finance
                                 
ATTEST:

By:     __________________________                   
Name:   __________________________                   
Title:  __________________________                   



                                    BICORE MONITORING SYSTEMS, INC.
                                           
                                           /s/ Barry F. Baker
                                    By:    ____________________________________
                                    Name:  Barry F. Baker
                                    Title: Vice President-Finance
                                 
ATTEST:

By:     __________________________                      
Name:   __________________________                      
Title:  __________________________                      

                                       5


      THIS  WARRANT AND THE SHARES OF COMMON  STOCK  ISSUABLE  HEREUNDER
      HAVE NOT BEEN  REGISTERED  UNDER THE  SECURITIES  ACT OF 1933,  AS
      AMENDED,  OR ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS AND MUST BE HELD
      INDEFINITELY  UNLESS  SUBSEQUENTLY  REGISTERED  UNDER SAID ACT AND
      ANY APPLICABLE  STATE  SECURITIES  LAWS OR DISPOSED OF PURSUANT TO
      AN EXEMPTION FROM SUCH REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS.


                                   WARRANT

Company:                Allied Healthcare Products, Inc., a Delaware corporation

Number of Shares:       25,000

Class of Stock:         Common Stock

Initial Exercise Price: $7.025 per share

Issued as of:           August 7, 1997

Expiration Date:        August 7, 2002

      FOR  VALUE  RECEIVED,  the  adequacy  and  receipt  of which  is  hereby
acknowledged,  ALLIED  HEALTHCARE  PRODUCTS,  INC.,  a  Delaware  corporation,
hereby   certifies  that  WOODBOURNE   PARTNERS,   L.P.,  a  Missouri  limited
partnership  ("Woodbourne"),  and its successors and assigns,  are entitled to
purchase  from the  Company  at any time  and from  time to time on and  after
August 7, 1998,  until 12:00 midnight  California local time on the Expiration
Date at an initial  exercise price of SEVEN AND 025/1000  DOLLARS ($7.025) per
share  of  Common  Stock  Twenty  Five  Thousand   (25,000)   fully  paid  and
nonassessable  shares  of  Common  Stock  of  the  Company  on the  terms  and
conditions hereinafter set forth.

      The number of such  shares of Common  Stock and the  Exercise  Price are
subject to  adjustment  as provided in this  Warrant.  Anything  contained  in
this Warrant to the contrary  notwithstanding,  the number of shares of Common
Stock  which may be issued  upon  exercise  of this  Warrant by any  Regulated
Warrantholder  shall never exceed such amount (the "Maximum Amount") as may be
permitted  under the Bank Holding  Company Act, or any successor  statute,  or
under any other  federal or state  banking laws or  regulations  to which such
Regulated  Warrantholder  may be subject at the time of such exercise.  If the
number of shares of Common  Stock  which may be issued  upon  exercise of this
Warrant exceeds the Maximum Amount,  the number of shares of Common Stock into
which this Warrant may be exercised  will be reduced to the Maximum Amount and
the Company will pay

                                       
<PAGE>

to Foothill by check or in cash such  amount  that equals the  Exercise  Price
multiplied  by the  number of shares of Common  Stock by which the  Warrant is
reduced pursuant to this paragraph.

      1.    CERTAIN  DEFINITIONS.  As  used  in this  Warrant,  the  following
terms have the following definitions:

      "Additional  Shares of Common  Stock"  means all shares of Common  Stock
issued or issuable by the Company after the date of this Warrant.

      "Common  Stock" means the  Company's  Common  Stock,  par value $.01 per
share,  and  includes  any common stock of the Company of any class or classes
resulting from any reclassification or reclassifications  thereof which is not
limited to a fixed sum or  percentage of par value in respect of the rights of
the holders  thereof to  participate in dividends and in the  distribution  of
assets upon the voluntary or involuntary  liquidation,  dissolution or winding
up of the Company.

      "Company"   means   Allied   Healthcare   Products,   Inc.,  a  Delaware
corporation.

      "Convertible  Securities"  means  evidence  of  indebtedness,  shares of
stock  or  other  securities  which  are at any time  directly  or  indirectly
convertible into or exchangeable for Additional Shares of Common Stock.

      "Current  Market  Price"  of a share of  Common  Stock  or of any  other
security  as  of a  relevant  date  means:  (i)  the  Fair  Value  thereof  as
determined  in  accordance  with clause (ii) of the  definition  of Fair Value
with  respect to Common  Stock or any other  security  that is not listed on a
national  securities  exchange  or  traded on the  over-the-counter  market or
quoted on NASDAQ,  and (ii) the  average of the daily  closing  prices for the
ten (10)  trading  days before such date  (excluding  any trades which are not
bona fide arm's  length  transactions)  with  respect  to Common  Stock or any
other security that is listed on a national  securities  exchange or traded on
the  over-the-counter  market or quoted on NASDAQ.  The closing price for each
day shall be (i) the last sale  price of shares of Common  Stock or such other
security,  regular  way,  on such date or, if no such sale takes place on such
date,  the average of the closing bid and asked  prices  thereof on such date,
in each case as  officially  reported  on the  principal  national  securities
exchange on which the same are then listed or admitted to trading,  or (ii) if
no shares of Common Stock or if no  securities of the same class as such other
security  are then listed or admitted  to trading on any  national  securities
exchange,  the average of the reported closing bid and asked prices thereof on
such date in the over-the-counter  market as shown by the National Association
of Securities  Dealers  automated  quotation system or, if no shares of Common
Stock or if no  securities  of the same class as such other  security are then
quoted  in  such  system,  as  published  by the  National  Quotation  Bureau,
Incorporated  or any  similar  successor  organization,  and in either case as
reported  by any member  firm of the New York Stock  Exchange  selected by the
Warrantholders.

      "Exchange Act" means the Securities Act of 1934.

                                       2
<PAGE>

      "Exercise  Period"  means the  period  commencing  on August 7, 1998 and
ending at 12:00 midnight California local time on the Expiration Date.

      "Exercise  Price" means  initially Seven and 025/1000  Dollars  ($7.025)
per share, subject to adjustment as provided in this Warrant.

      "Expiration Date" means August 7, 2002.

      "Fair Value"  means:  (i) with respect to a share of Common Stock or any
other  security,  the Current Market Price  thereof,  and (ii) with respect to
any other  property,  assets,  business  or entity,  an amount  determined  in
accordance  with the following  procedure:  the Company and the holders of the
Warrants and Warrant  Shares,  as applicable,  shall use their best efforts to
mutually  agree to a  determination  of Fair Value within ten (10) days of the
date  of the  event  requiring  that  such a  determination  be  made.  If the
Company and such  holders are unable to reach  agreement  within said ten (10)
day period,  the Company and such  holders  shall  within ten (10) days of the
expiration  of the ten  (10)  day  period  referred  to  above  each  retain a
separate  independent  investment  banking  firm  (which firm shall not be the
investment  banking firm  regularly  retained by the  Company).  If either the
Company  or such  holders  fails to retain  such an  investment  banking  firm
during such period,  then the independent  investment banking firm retained by
such holders or the Company,  as the case may be, acting along, shall take the
actions  outlined below.  Such firms shall determine  (within thirty (30) days
of their being  retained)  the Fair Value of the security,  property,  assets,
business or entity,  as the case may be, in question and deliver their opinion
in writing to the Company and to such  holders.  If such firms cannot  jointly
make the  determination,  then, unless otherwise  directed by agreement of the
Company and such holders,  such firms, in their sole discretion,  shall choose
another  investment  banking firm independent of the Company and such holders,
which firm shall make the  determination  and render an opinion as promptly as
practicable.  In either case,  the  determination  so made shall be conclusive
and  binding on the  Company and such  holders.  The fees and  expenses of any
such  determination  made by any and all such independent  investment  banking
firms  shall  be paid by the  Company.  If there is more  than one  holder  of
Warrants,  and/or Warrant Shares entitled to a determination  of Fair Value in
any  particular  instance,  each  action  to be taken by the  holders  of such
Warrants  and/or  Warrant  Shares  under  this  Section  shall  be  taken by a
majority  in interest of such  holders and the action  taken by such  majority
(including  as to any mutual  agreement  with the Company with respect to Fair
Value and as to any  selection of investment  banking  firms) shall be binding
upon all such holders.  In the case of a  determination  of the Fair Value per
share of  Common  Stock,  the  Company  and such  holders  shall not take into
consideration,  and shall  instruct all such  investment  banking firms not to
take into consideration,  any premium for shares  representing  control of the
Company,  any discount for any minority  interest  therein or any restrictions
on transfer under applicable federal and state securities laws or otherwise.

      "Foothill" means Foothill Capital Corporation, a California corporation.

      "Indemnified  Party" and  "Indemnifying  Party"  have the  meanings  set
forth in Section 11(e)(iii).

                                       3
<PAGE>

      "Loan Agreement" means that certain Loan and Security  Agreement of even
date herewith among the Company, its subsidiaries named therein and Foothill.

      "Registrable  Stock"  means:  (i) all Warrant  Shares which are issuable
to the  Warrantholders  pursuant to the Warrants,  whether or not the Warrants
have in fact been  exercised  and whether or not such  Warrant  Shares have in
fact been  issued,  (ii) all Warrant  Shares  acquired  by the  Warrantholders
pursuant to the  Warrants,  (iii) any shares of Common  Stock,  whether or not
such  shares of Common  Stock  have in fact  been  issued,  and stock or other
securities  of the  Company  issued  upon  conversion  of, in a stock split or
reclassification  of,  or a stock  dividend  or other  distribution  on, or in
substitution  or exchange for, or otherwise in connection  with,  such Warrant
Shares.  For  purposes  of  Section  11, a  Warrantholder  of record  shall be
treated  as the  record  holder  of  the  related  Warrant  Shares  and  other
securities issuable pursuant to the Warrants.

      "Regulated  Warrantholder" means any Warrantholder which is, or the part
of which  is,  subject  to the Bank  Holding  Company  Act,  or any  successor
statute, or any other federal or state banking laws and regulations.

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

      "Warrant(s)"  means this Warrant and any warrants  issued in exchange or
replacement of this Warrant or upon transfer hereof.

      "Warrantholder(s)" means Woodbourne and its successors and assigns.

      "Warrant Share" means shares of Common Stock issuable to  Warrantholders
pursuant to the Warrants.

      2.    EXERCISE OF WARRANT.  This Warrant may be  exercised,  in whole or
in part,  at any time and from  time to time  during  the  Exercise  Period by
written  notice to the Company and upon payment to the Company of the Exercise
Price  (subject to  adjustment  as  provided  herein) for the shares of Common
Stock in respect of which the Warrant is exercised.

      3.    FORM OF PAYMENT OF EXERCISE PRICE.  Anything  contained  herein to
the  contrary  notwithstanding,  at  the  option  of the  Warrantholders,  the
Exercise  Price  may be  paid  in any one or a  combination  of the  following
forms: (a) by wire transfer to the Company,  (b) by the Warrantholder's  check
to the  Company,  (c) by the  cancellation  of any  indebtedness  owed  by the
Company and/or any  subsidiaries of the Company to the  Warrantholder,  and/or
(d) by the surrender to the Company of Warrants,  Warrant Shares, Common Stock
and/or other  securities of the Company and/or any subsidiaries of the Company
having a Fair Value equal to the Exercise Price.


                                       4
<PAGE>

      4.    CASHLESS EXERCISE/CONVERSION; APPRECIATION RIGHTS.

            (a)   Cashless  Exercise/Conversion.  In lieu of  exercising  this
Warrant as specified in Sections 2 and 3 above,  the  Warrantholders  may from
time to time at the  Warrantholders'  option convert this Warrant, in whole or
in part, into a number of shares of Common Stock of the Company  determined by
dividing  (A) the  aggregate  Fair  Value of such  shares or other  securities
otherwise  issuable upon exercise of this Warrant minus the aggregate Exercise
Price of such shares by (B) the Fair Value of one such share.

            (b)   Appreciation  Right.  At any  time  on or  after  August  7,
2000,  in lieu of  exercising  this  Warrant as  specified in Sections 2 and 3
above, the Warrantholders may from time to time at the Warrantholders'  option
require the Company to purchase this Warrant or any portion hereof,  for cash,
at a price  equal to the then Fair Value of the  Common  Stock  issuable  upon
exercise of this  Warrant less the Exercise  Price.  Upon the  Warrantholders'
exercise of this  option,  the Company  shall  promptly  wire  transfer to the
Warrantholders  such  amount in  immediately  available  funds as is  required
under this Section  4(b),  but in no event later than five (5)  business  days
after the exercise of such option, in immediately available funds.

      5.    CERTIFICATES FOR WARRANT SHARES;  NEW WARRANT.  The Company agrees
that  the  Warrant  Shares  shall  be  deemed  to  have  been  issued  to  the
Warrantholders  as the record owner of such Warrant  Shares as of the close of
business on the date on which  payment for such  Warrant  Shares has been made
(or  deemed to be made by  conversion)  in  accordance  with the terms of this
Warrant.  Certificates  for the  Warrant  Shares  shall  be  delivered  to the
Warrantholders  within a reasonable  time, not exceeding five (5) days,  after
this Warrant has been exercised or converted.  A new Warrant  representing the
number  of  shares,  if any,  with  respect  to  which  this  Warrant  remains
exercisable  also shall be issued to the  Warrantholders  within  such time so
long as this  Warrant  has  been  surrendered  to the  Company  at the time of
exercise.

      6.    ADJUSTMENT  OF  EXERCISE  PRICE,  NUMBER OF SHARES  AND NATURE OF 
SECURITIES ISSUABLE UPON EXERCISE OF WARRANTS.

            (a)   Exercise  Price;   Adjustment  of  Number  of  Shares.   The
Exercise  Price  shall  be  subject  to  adjustment   from  time  to  time  as
hereinafter  provided.  Upon  each  adjustment  of  the  Exercise  Price,  the
Warrantholders  shall  thereafter  be entitled to  purchase,  at the  Exercise
Price  resulting  from  such  adjustment,  a number of  shares  determined  by
multiplying the Exercise Price in effect  immediately prior to such adjustment
by the number of shares  purchasable  pursuant hereto immediately prior t such
adjustment and dividing the product  thereof by the Exercise  Price  resulting
from such adjustment.

            (b)   Adjustment  of  Exercise  Price  Upon  Issuance  of  Common 
Stock.  If and whenever  after the date hereof the Company shall issue or sell
Additional   Shares  of  Common   Stock   without   consideration   or  for  a
consideration  per share less than the Current  Market  Price or the  Exercise
Price  then  in  effect  immediately  prior  to the  issuance  or sale of such
shares, then the Exercise

                                       5
<PAGE>

Price in effect  immediately  prior to such  issuance  or sale of such  shares
shall be reduced to a number  which shall be  calculated  by  dividing  (A) an
amount  equal  to the  sum  of (1)  the  number  of  shares  of  Common  Stock
outstanding  immediately  prior to such issue or sale  multiplied  by the then
existing  Exercise  Price  plus  (2)  the  aggregate  consideration,  if  any,
received by the Company  upon such issue or sale,  by (B) the total  number of
shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such issue or sale.

            No adjustment of the Exercise Price, however,  shall be made in an
amount  less than $.01 per  share,  but any such  lesser  adjustment  shall be
carried  forward  and  shall be made at the time  and  together  with the next
subsequent   adjustment  which,  together  with  any  adjustments  so  carried
forward, shall amount to $.01 per share or more.

            The  provisions  of this  Section  6(b) shall not apply to (i) any
Additional  Shares of Common Stock which are  distributed to holders of Common
Stock  pursuant to a stock split for which an adjustment is provided for under
Section 6(f), or (ii) any  additional  shares of Common Stock which are issued
upon exercise of options to purchase  Common Stock  outstanding as of the date
of issuance of this Warrant.

            (c)   Further  Provisions  for  Adjustment of Exercise Price Upon 
Issuance of  Additional  Shares of Common  Stock and  Convertible  Securities.
For  purposes  of  Section  6(b),  the  following  provisions  shall  also  be
applicable:

                  (i)   in case at any time on or after the date  hereof,  the
Company shall declare any dividend, or authorize any other distribution,  upon
any stock of the Company of any class,  payable in Additional Shares of Common
Stock or by the  issuance  of  Convertible  Securities,  such  declaration  or
distribution  shall be deemed to have  been  issued or sold (as of the  record
date)  without  consideration  and shall  thereby  cause an  adjustment in the
Exercise Price as required by Section 6(b).

                  (ii)  (A)   In  case  at  any  time  on or  after  the  date
hereof,  the  Company  shall  in any  manner  issue  or sell  any  Convertible
Securities,  whether or not the rights to exchange or convert  thereunder  are
immediately  exercisable,  there shall be  determined  the price per share for
which  Additional  Shares of Common Stock are issuable upon the  conversion or
exchange  thereof,  such  determination  to be made by dividing  (a) the total
amount  received or receivable by the Company as  consideration  for the issue
or sale of such Convertible  Securities,  plus the minimum aggregate amount of
additional  consideration,  if any, payable to the Company upon the conversion
or exchange thereof by (b) the maximum  aggregate number of Additional  Shares
of Common Stock issuable upon  conversion or exchange of all such  Convertible
Securities for such minimum aggregate amount of additional consideration;  and
such  issue or sale shall be deemed to be an issue or sale for cash (as of the
date of issue or sale of such  Convertible  Securities) of such maximum number
of  Additional  Shares of Common  Stock at the price per share so  determined,
and shall  thereby  cause an  adjustment  in the  Exercise  Price,  if such an
adjustment is required by Section 6(b) hereof.

                                       6
<PAGE>

                        (B)   If such  Convertible  Securities  shall by their
terms  provide for an increase or  increases,  withe  passage of time,  in the
amount of additional consideration,  if any, payable to the Company, or in the
rate of  exchange  upon the  conversion  or  exchange  thereof,  the  adjusted
Exercise Price shall, upon any such increase becoming effective,  be increased
to such Exercise Price as would have been in effect had the  adjustments  made
upon the issuance of such  Convertible  Securities been made upon the basis of
(and the  total  consideration  received  therefor)  (a) the  issuance  of the
number of  shares of Common  Stock  theretofore  actually  delivered  upon the
exercise  of such  Convertible  Securities,  (b) the  issuance  of all  Common
Stock,  all  Convertible  Securities  and all rights and  options to  purchase
Common Stock issued after the  issuance of such  Convertible  Securities,  and
(c) the  original  issuance  at the time of such  change  of such  Convertible
Securities then still outstanding;  provided,  however, that any such increase
or increases  shall not exceed,  in the aggregate,  the amount of the original
reduction of the Exercise Price attributable to the Convertible Securities.

                        (C)   If  any  rights  of   conversion   or   exchange
evidenced by such  Convertible  Securities  shall expire  without  having been
exercised,  the adjusted  Exercise Price shall forthwith be readjusted to such
Exercise Price as would have been in effect had an adjustment  with respect to
such  Convertible  Securities  been made on the basis that the only Additional
shares of Common Stock  issued or sold were those  issued upon the  conversion
or exchange of such Convertible Securities,  and that they were issued or sold
for the  consideration  actually  received by the Company upon such  exercise,
plus the  consideration,  if any,  actually  received  by the  Company for the
granting of such Convertible Securities.

                  (iii) (A)   In  case  at  any  time  on or  after  the  date
hereof,  the Company  shall in any manner grant or issue any rights or options
to subscribe  for purchase or otherwise  acquire  Additional  Shares of Common
Stock,  whether or not such  rights or options  are  immediately  exercisable,
there shall be determined  the price per share for such  Additional  Shares of
Common  Stock are issuable  upon the exercise of such rights or options,  such
determination  to be made by dividing (a) the total amount,  if any,  received
or receivable by the Company as consideration  for the granting of such rights
or options, plus the minimum aggregate amount of additional consideration,  if
any,  payable to the  Company  upon the  exercise of such rights or options if
the maximum  number of Additional  Shares were issued  pursuant to such rights
or options for such minimum aggregate amount of additional  consideration,  by
(b) the maximum  number of  Additional  Shares of Common  Stock of the Company
issuable  upon the  exercise of all such  rights or options  for such  minimum
aggregate amount of additional consideration;  and the granting of such rights
or options  shall be deemed to be an issue or sale for cash (as of the date of
the granting of such rights or options) of such maximum  number of  Additional
Shares  of  Common  Stock at the  price  per  share so  determined,  and shall
thereby cause an adjustment  in the Exercise  Price,  if such an adjustment is
required by Section 6(b) hereof.

                        (B)   If such  rights or options  shall by their terms
provide for an increase or  increases,  with passage of time, in the amount of
additional  consideration  payable to the Company upon the  exercise  thereof,
the adjusted Exercise Price shall, upon any such increases

                                       7
<PAGE>

becoming effective,  be increased to such Exercise Price as would have been in
effect had the  adjustments  made upon the  issuance of such rights or options
been made upon the basis of (and the total  consideration  received  therefor)
(a) the issuance of the number of shares of Common Stock theretofore  actually
delivered  upon the  exercise of such rights or options,  (b) the  issuance of
all Common  Stock,  all  rights and  options  and all  Convertible  Securities
issued  after the  issuance of such rights and  options,  and (c) the original
issuance at the time of such  change of any such rights or options  then still
outstanding;  provided,  however,  that any such  increase or increases in the
Exercise Price shall not exceed, in the aggregate,  the amount of the original
reduction of the Exercise  Price  attributable  to the grant of such rights or
options.

                        (C)   If any  such  rights  or  options  shall  expire
without having been exercised,  the adjusted Exercise Price shall forthwith be
readjusted  to  such  Exercise  Price  as wold  have  been  in  effect  had an
adjustment  with respect to such rights or options been made on the basis that
the only  Additional  Shares  of Common  Stock so  issued  or sold were  those
issued or sold upon the  exercise of such rights or options and that they were
issued or sold for the  consideration  actually  received by the Company  upon
such  exercise,  plus the  consideration,  if any,  actually  received  by the
Company for the granting of such rights or options.

                  (iv)  (A)   In  case  at  any  time  on or  after  the  date
hereof,  the  Company  shall  grant any rights or options  to  subscribe  for,
purchase  or  otherwise  acquire  Convertible   Securities,   there  shall  be
determined  the price per share for which  Additional  Shares of Common  Stock
are issuable upon the exchange or conversion  of such  Convertible  Securities
if such rights or options were  exercised,  such  determination  to be made by
dividing (a) the total amount,  if any,  received or receivable by the Company
as consideration for the issuance of such rights or options,  plus the minimum
aggregate amount of additional  consideration,  if any, payable to the Company
upon  the  exercise  of such  rights  or  options  if the  maximum  number  of
Convertible  Securities  were  issued  pursuant  to such rights or options for
such minimum  aggregate amount of additional  consideration,  plus the minimum
aggregate amount of additional  consideration,  if any, payable to the Company
upon the exchange or conversion of such Convertible  Securities if the maximum
number  of  Additional   Shares  were  issued  pursuant  to  such  Convertible
Securities for such minimum aggregate amount of additional  consideration,  by
(b) the  maximum  aggregate  number  of  Additional  Shares  of  Common  Stock
issuable  upon the exchange or conversion of the  Convertible  Securities  for
such minimum  aggregate amount of additional  consideration;  and the issue or
sale of such  rights  or  options  shall be  deemed to be an issue or sale for
cash  (as of the date of the  granting  of such  rights  or  options)  of such
minimum number of Additional  Shares of Common Stock at the price per share so
determined,  and thereby shall cause an adjustment in the Exercise  Price,  if
such an adjustment is required by Section 6(b).

                        (B)   If such  rights or options to  subscribe  for or
otherwise acquire  Convertible  Securities shall by their terms provide for an
increase or  increases,  with the passage of time, in the amount of additional
consideration   payable  to  the  Company  upon  the  exercise,   exchange  or
conversion  thereof,  the adjusted  Exercise  Price shall,  forthwith upon any
such  increase  becoming  effective,  be increased to such  Exercise  Price as
would have been in effect had the adjustments made

                                       8
<PAGE>

upon the  issuances of such rights or options been made upon the basis of (and
the total  consideration  received therefor) (a) the issuance of the number of
shares of Common  Stock  therefore  actually  delivered  upon the  exchange or
conversion  of such  Convertible  Securities,  (b) the issuances of all Common
Stock and all rights,  options and  Convertible  Securities  issued  after the
issuance  of such rights and options  and (c) the  original  issuances  at the
time of such change of any such  rights,  options and  Convertible  Securities
issued  upon  exercise  of  such  rights  or  options  which  are  then  still
outstanding;  provided, however, that any such increase or increases shall not
exceed,  in the  aggregate,  the  amount  of  the  original  reduction  of the
Exercise Price attributable to the grant of such rights or options.

                        (C)   If  any  such  rights,   options  or  rights  of
conversion or exchange of such  convertible  Securities  shall expire  without
having been  exercised,  exchanged or converted,  the adjusted  Exercise Price
shall  forthwith be readjusted  to such  Exercise  Price as would have been in
effect had an  adjustment  been made with respect to such  rights,  options or
rights of conversion or exchange of such  Convertible  Securities on the basis
that the only  Additional  Shares of Common Stock so issued or sold were those
issued or sold upon the  exercise of such  rights or options  and  exchange or
conversion of such  Convertible  Securities  and that they were issued or sold
for the  consideration  actually received by the Company upon exercise of such
rights and options and exchange or conversion of such Convertible  Securities,
plus the  consideration  if any,  actually  received  by the  Company  for the
granting of such rights, options or Convertible Securities.

                  (v)   In any case where an  adjustment  has been made in the
Exercise  Price upon the issuance of  Convertible  Securities or any rights or
options to purchase  Convertible  Securities  or  Additional  Shares of Common
Stock  pursuant to this Section 6(c), no further  adjustment  shall be made at
the time of the conversion of any such  Convertible  Securities or at the time
of the exercise of any such rights or options.

                  (vi)  In case at any time on or after the  issuance  of this
Warrant any shares of Common Stock or Convertible  Securities  shall be issued
or sold for a consideration  other than cash, the amount of the  consideration
other than cash  payable to the  company  shall be deemed to be the Fair Value
of such  consideration.  Whether or not the consideration so received is cash,
the amount thereof shall be determined after deducting  therefrom any expenses
incurred or any  underwriting  commissions or concessions or discounts paid or
allowed by the Company in connection therewith.

                  (vii) In case at any time  the  company  shall  fix a record
date of the holders of its Common Stock for the purpose of entitling  them (a)
to  receive  a  dividend  or  other  distribution  payable  in  Common  Stock,
Convertible  Securities or rights or options to purchase  either  thereof,  or
(b) to subscribe  for or purchase  Common  Stock,  Convertible  Securities  or
rights or options to purchase either  thereof,  then such record date shall be
deemed  to be the date of the  issue or sale of the  shares  of  Common  Stock
deemed,  pursuant to this Section  6(c),  to have been issued or sold upon the
declaration of such dividend or the making of such other  distribution  or the
date of the granting of such right of  subscription  or purchase,  as the case
may be.

                                       9
<PAGE>

                  (viii)      The   number   of   shares   of   Common   Stock
outstanding  at any given time shall not  include  shares  owned or held by or
for the account of the Company,  and the  disposition of any such shares shall
be  considered  an issue or sale of  Common  Stock  for the  purposes  of this
Section 6(c).

            (d)   Reorganization, Reclassification,  Consolidation, Merger or 
Sale. If any capital  reorganization or  reclassification of the capital stock
of the  Company,  or any  consolidation  or merger of the Company with another
corporation,  or the sale of all or substantially all of its assets to another
corporation  shall be  effected  in such a way that  holders  of Common  Stock
shall be entitled to receive  cash,  stock,  securities or assets with respect
to  or  in  exchange  for  Common   Stock,   then,  as  a  condition  of  such
reorganization,  reclassification,  consolidation,  merger or sale, lawful and
adequate provisions shall be made whereby the Warrantholders  shall thereafter
have the right to purchase  and receive  upon the basis and upon the terms and
conditions  specified  in this  Warrant  upon  exercise of this Warrant and in
lieu of the shares of the Common  Stock of the Company  immediately  therefore
purchasable  and  receivable  upon  the  exercise  of the  rights  represented
hereby,  such cash, shares of stock,  securities or assets as may be issued or
payable with respect to or in exchange for a number of  outstanding  shares of
Common  Stock equal to the number of shares of such Common  Stock  immediately
therefore   purchasable  and  receivable  upon  the  exercise  of  the  rights
represented  hereby, and in any such case appropriate  provision shall be made
with respect to the rights and interest of the  Warrantholders to the end that
the  provisions  hereof  (including,   without   limitation,   provisions  for
adjustments of the Exercise Price and of the number of shares  purchasable and
receivable upon the exercise of this Warrant) shall  thereafter be applicable,
as nearly as may be, in relation to any shares of stock,  securities or assets
thereafter  deliverable  upon the  exercise  hereof.  The  Company  shall  not
effect any  consolidation,  merger or sale of all or substantially  all of the
assets of the Company unless prior to or  simultaneous  with the  consummation
thereof the successor  corporation (if other than the Company)  resulting from
such  consolidation,  merger or  purchase  of such  assets  shall  assume,  by
written  instrument  executed and mailed or  delivered to the  Warrantholders,
the  obligation  to  deliver  to  such   Warrantholders  such  cash  (or  cash
equivalent),  shares of stock, securities or assets as, in accordance with the
foregoing  provisions,  the  Warrantholders  may be  entitled  to receive  and
containing  the express  assumption of such  successor  corporation of the due
and punctual  performance  and observance of each provision of this Warrant to
be  performed  and  observed  by  the  Company  and  of  all  liabilities  and
obligations of the Company hereunder;  provided,  however,  in the case of any
consolidation  or merger of the Company with another  corporation  or the sale
of all or substantially all of its assets to another  corporation  effected in
such a manner  that the  holders of Common  Stock shall be entitled to receive
stock,  securities  or assets with respect to or in exchange for Common Stock,
then, at the election of each Warrantholder,  in lieu of receiving such stock,
securities or assets,  such Warrantholder shall receive cash equal to the Fair
Value of the Common Stock  issuable  upon  exercise of the  Warrant,  less the
Exercise Price payable upon exercise thereof.

                  In  case  any   Additional   Shares  of   Common   Stock  or
Convertible  Securities  or any rights or options to purchase  any  Additional
Shares  of  Common  Stock  or  Convertible   Securities  shall  be  issued  in
connection  with any  merger of  another  corporation  into the  Company,  the
amount of consideration  therefor shall be deemed to be the Fair Value of such
portion of the assets of such

                                       10
<PAGE>

merged  corporation  as the Board of  Directors  of the Company  shall in good
faith determine to be attributable to such Additional  Shares of Common Stock,
Convertible  Securities  or rights  or  options,  as the case may be,  and the
Exercise Price shall be adjusted in accordance with this Section 6(d).

            (e)   Company  to  Prevent  Dilution.  In case at any time or from
time to time  conditions  arise by reason of action taken by the Company which
are not  adequately  covered by the  provisions  of this  Section 6, and which
might   materially   and   adversely   affect  the  exercise   rights  of  the
Warrantholders  under any  provision of this  Warrant,  unless the  adjustment
necessary  shall be agreed  upon by the Company  and the  Warrantholders,  the
Board  of  Directors  of the  Company  shall  appoint  a firm  of  independent
certified  public  accountants of recognized  national  standing (who have not
been  employed by the Company  within the last five years),  acceptable to the
Warrantholders,  what the Company's  expense shall give their opinion upon the
adjustment,  if any, on a basis  consistent with the standards  established in
the  other  provisions  of this  Section  6,  necessary  with  respect  to the
Exercise  Price and the  number of shares  purchasable  upon  exercise  of the
Warrants,  so as to preserve,  without  dilution,  the exercise  rights of the
Warrantholders.  Upon receipt of such opinion,  such Board of Directors  shall
forthwith make the adjustments described therein.

            (f)   Stock  Splits and  Reverse  Splits.  In case at any time the
Company shall subdivide its outstanding  shares of Common Stock into a greater
number of  shares,  the  Exercise  Price in effect  immediately  prior to such
subdivision  shall be  proportionately  reduced  and the  number  of shares of
Common Stock  purchasable  pursuant to this Warrant  immediately prior to such
subdivision shall be  proportionately  increased,  and conversely,  in case at
any time the Company  shall  combine its  outstanding  shares of Common  Stock
into a smaller  number of shares,  the  Exercise  Price in effect  immediately
prior to such combination  shall be  proportionately  increased and the number
of  shares of Common  Stock  purchasable  upon the  exercise  of this  Warrant
immediately prior to such combination shall be proportionately reduced.

            (g)   Dissolution,   Liquidation  and  Winding-Up.   In  case  the
Company shall, at any time prior to the expiration of this Warrant,  dissolve,
liquidate or wind up its affairs, the Warrantholders  shall be entitled,  upon
the  exercise of this  Warrant,  to  receive,  in lieu of the shares of Common
Stock of the Company  which such  Warrantholders  would have been  entitled to
receive,  the same  kind and  amount of  assets  as would  have  been  issued,
distributed  or  paid  to  such  Warrantholders  upon  any  such  dissolution,
liquidation  or winding up with  respect to such shares of Common Stock of the
Company,  had such  Warrantholders  been the  holders of record of the Warrant
Shares  receivable  upon the  exercise of this  Warrant on the record date for
the  determination  of those persons  entitled to receive any such liquidating
distribution.  After any such  dissolution,  liquidation  or  winding up which
shall  result  in any  cash  distribution  in  excess  of the  Exercise  Price
provided  for  by  this  Warrant,   the  Warrantholders   may,  at  each  such
Warrantholder's  option,  exercise  the same  without  making  payment  of the
Exercise Price,  and in such case the Company shall,  upon the distribution to
said  Warrantholders,  consider that said Exercise Price has been paid in full
to it and in making settlement to said  Warrantholders,  shall deduct from the
amount payable to such Warrantholders an amount equal to such Exercise Price.

                                       11
<PAGE>

            (h)   Noncash  Consideration.  In case any  Additional  Shares  of
Common Stock or  Convertible  Securities  or any rights or options to purchase
any  Additional  Shares of Common  Stock or  Convertible  Securities  shall be
issued for a  consideration  in a form  other  than  cash,  the amount of such
consideration shall be deemed to be the Fair Value thereof.

            (i)   Accountants'  Certificate.  In each case of an adjustment in
the number of shares of Common  Stock or other stock,  securities  or property
receivable on the exercise of the  Warrants,  the Company at its expense shall
cause independent  public  accountants of recognized  standing selected by the
Company and  acceptable to the  Warrantholders  to compute such  adjustment in
accordance  with the terms of this Warrant and prepare a  certificate  setting
forth  such  adjustment  and  showing  in detail  the facts  upon  which  such
adjustment is based,  including a statement of (a) the consideration  received
or to be received by the Company for any  Additional  Shares of Common  Stock,
rights,  options or  Convertible  Securities  issued or sold or deemed to have
been  issued or sold,  (b) the number of shares of Common  Stock of each class
outstanding or deemed to be outstanding,  (c) the adjusted  Exercise Price and
(d) the number of shares  issuable upon exercise of this Warrant.  The Company
will forthwith mail a copy of each such certificate to each Warrantholder.

      7.    SPECIAL AGREEMENTS OF THE COMPANY.

            (a)   Reservation  of Shares.  The  Company  covenants  and agrees
that all Warrant Shares will,  upon issuance,  be validly  issued,  fully paid
and  nonassessable  and free from all preemptive rights of any stockholder and
from all taxes,  liens and  charges  with  respect to the issue  thereof.  The
Company  further  covenants and agrees that during the period within which the
rights  represented by this Warrant may be exercised,  the Company will at all
times have authorized,  and reserved,  a sufficient number of shares of Common
Stock to provide for the exercise of the rights  represented  by this Warrant.
The  Company  hereby  covenants  and agrees to take all such  action as may be
necessary  to assure  that the par value per share of the  Common  Stock is at
all times equal to or less than the Exercise Price.

            (b)   Avoidance  of Certain  Actions.  The  Company  will not,  by
amendment of its Certificate of Incorporation  or through any  reorganization,
transfer of assets,  consolidation,  merger,  issue or sale of  securities  or
otherwise,  avoid or take any action  which  would have the effect of avoiding
the  observance or performance of any of the terms to be observed or performed
hereunder  by the  Company,  but will at all  times in good  faith  assist  in
carrying out all of the  provisions  of this Warrant and in taking all of such
action as may be  necessary or  appropriate  in order to protect the rights of
the  Warrantholders  against  dilution  or other  impairment  of their  rights
hereunder.

            (c)   Securing  Governmental  Approvals.  If any  shares of Common
Stock  required to be reserved  for the  purposes of exercise of this  Warrant
require registration with or approval of any governmental  authority under any
federal  law  (other  than the  Securities  Act) or under any state law before
such shares may be issued upon exercise of this Warrant,  the Company will, at
its  expense,  as  expeditiously  as  possible,  cause such  shares to be duly
registered or approved, as the case may be.

                                       12
<PAGE>

            (d)   Listing on Securities  Exchanges;  Registration.  If, and so
long as,  any  class of the  Company's  Common  Stock  shall be  listed on any
national  securities  exchange (as defined in the Exchange  Act),  the Company
will,  at its  expense,  obtain and  maintain  the  approval  for listing upon
official  notice of issuance of all Warrant Shares and maintain the listing of
Warrant  Shares  after their  issuance;  and the Company  will so list on such
national  securities  exchange,  will register  under the Exchange Act (or any
similar statute then in effect),  and will maintain such listing of, any other
securities  that at any time are issuable upon exercise of this Warrant if and
at the time any  securities of the same class shall be listed on such national
securities exchange by the Company.

            (e)   Information  Rights.  So  long  as the  Warrantholders  hold
this Warrant  and/or any of the Warrant  Shares,  the Company shall deliver to
the  Warrantholders  (i) promptly after mailing,  copies of all communications
to the  shareholders  of the Company,  (ii) within  ninety (90) days after the
end of  each  fiscal  year  of  the  Company,  the  annual  audited  financial
statements of the Company certified by the independent  public  accountants of
recognized  standing,  and (iii) within  forty-five (45) days after the end of
each  of  the  first  three  quarters  of  each  fiscal  year,  the  Company's
quarterly, unaudited financial statements.

            (f)   Restrictions  on Public  Sale by the  Company.  In the event
of an  underwritten  offering by the Company made  pursuant to a  registration
statement  filed  pursuant  to Sections  11(a) or 11(b) the  Company  will not
effect any public or private sale or distribution  of its convertible  debt or
equity securities,  including a sale under Regulation D of the Securities Act,
for such  period of time (not to  exceed 90 days) as may be  requested  by the
underwriters  subject to  customary  exceptions;  and the Company  shall cause
each holder of its  privately  placed  convertible  debt or equity  securities
issued by it at any time on or after the date of this  Warrant to agree not to
effect any public  sale or  distribution  of any such  securities  during such
period,  including  a sale  pursuant  to  Rule  144 or  Rule  144A  under  the
Securities Act.

            (g)   Preemptive  Rights.  In the event the Company  offers to the
Company's  shareholders  the right to purchase any  securities of the Company,
then all shares of Common Stock  issuable  pursuant to the  Warrants  shall be
deemed to be issued and  outstanding  and held by the  Warrantholders  and the
Warrantholders shall be entitled to participate in such rights offering.

            (h)   Compliance  with Law.  The  Company  shall  comply  with all
applicable  laws,  rules  and  regulations  of the  Untied  States  and of all
states,  municipalities and agencies and of any other jurisdiction  applicable
to the Company and shall do all things  necessary to preserve,  renew and keep
in full force and effect and in good  standing  its  corporate  existence  and
authority necessary to continue its business.

      8.    FRACTIONAL  SHARES.  No  fractional  shares or scrip  representing
fractional  shares  shall be issued upon the  exercise of this  Warrant.  With
respect to any  fraction  of a share  called  for upon  exercise  hereof,  the
Company  shall  pay to the  Warrantholder  an  amount  in cash  equal  to such
fraction multiplied by the Current Market Value of one share of Common Stock.

                                       13
<PAGE>

      9.    NOTICES OF STOCK  DIVIDENDS,  SUBSCRIPTIONS,  RECLASSIFICATIONS,  
CONSOLIDATIONS,  MERGERS,  ETC. If at any time:  (i) the Company shall declare
a cash  dividend  (or an  increase in the then  existing  dividend  rate),  or
declare a dividend on Common Stock payable  otherwise  than in cash out of its
net earnings  after taxes for the prior fiscal year; or (ii) the Company shall
authorize  the  granting to the holders of Common Stock of rights to subscribe
for or  purchase  any  shares  of  capital  stock of any class or of any other
rights;   or  (iii)   there   shall   be  any   capital   reorganization,   or
reclassification,  or  redemption  of the  capital  stock of the  Company,  or
consolidation  or merger of the Company  with or sale of all or  substantially
all of its assets to,  another  corporation  or firm; or (iv) there shall be a
voluntary  or  involuntary  dissolution,  liquidation  or  winding  up of  the
Company,  then the Company shall give to the  Warrantholders  at the addresses
of such  Warrantholders as shown on the books of the Company,  at least twenty
(20)  days  prior to the  applicable  record  date  hereinafter  specified,  a
written  notice  summarizing  such action or event and stating the record date
for any such  dividend or rights (or, if a record date is not to be  selected,
the date as of which the  holders of Common  Stock of record  entitled to such
dividend  or  rights  are to be  determined),  the  date  on  which  any  such
reorganization,  reclassification,  consolidation,  merger,  sale  of  assets,
dissolution,  liquidation or winding up is expected to become  effective,  and
the date as of which it is  expected  the  holders  of Common  Stock of record
shall be entitled to effect any  exchange of their  shares of Common Stock for
cash (or cash equivalent),  securities or other property  deliverable upon any
such reorganization, reclassification,  consolidation, merger, sale of assets,
dissolution, liquidation or winding up.

      10.   REGISTERED HOLDER; TRANSFER OF WARRANTS OR WARRANT SHARES.

            (a)   Maintenance  of  Registered   books;   Ownership  of  this  
Warrant.  The Company shall keep at its  principal  office a register in which
the Company  shall provide for the  registration,  transfer and change of this
Warrant.  The  Company  shall not at any time,  except  upon the  dissolution,
liquidation or winding-up of the Company,  close such register so as to result
in preventing or delaying the exercise or transfer of this Warrant.

            (b)   Exchange  and  Replacement.  This  Warrant  is  exchangeable
upon  surrender  hereof  by  the  registered  holder  to  the  Company  at its
principal  office for new Warrants of like tenor and date  representing in the
aggregate  the right to purchase the number of shares  purchasable  hereunder,
each of such new  Warrants to represent  the right to purchase  such number of
shares  as  shall  be  designated  by said  registered  holder  at the time of
surrender.  This Warrant and all rights  hereunder are  transferable  in whole
or in part upon the books of the Company by the  registered  holder  hereof in
person or by duly  authorized  attorney,  and new  Warrants  shall be made and
delivered  by the  Company,  of the same  tenor  and date as this  Warrant  bu
registered in the name of the  transferee(s)  upon  surrender of this Warrant,
duly endorsed,  to said office of the Company.  Upon receipt by the Company of
evidence  reasonably  satisfactory  to it of the loss,  theft,  destruction or
mutilation  of this  Warrant,  and upon  surrender  and  cancellation  of this
Warrant,  if  mutilated,  the  Company  will make and deliver a new Warrant of
like tenor,  in lieu of this  Warrant,  without  requiring  the posting of any
bond or the  giving of any other  security.  This  Warrant  shall be  promptly
canceled by the  Company  upon the  surrender  hereof in  connection  with any
exchange, transfer or replacement.

                                       14
<PAGE>

The  Company  shall  pay all  expenses,  taxes and other  charges  payable  in
connection with the preparation,  execution and delivery of Warrants  pursuant
to this Section 10.

            (c)   Warrants and Warrant  Shares Not  Registered.  The holder of
this Warrant,  by accepting  this Warrant,  represents and  acknowledges  that
this  Warrant  and the  Warrant  Shares  are not  being  registered  under the
Securities  Act on the  grounds  that the  issuance  of this  Warrant  and the
offering and sale of such Warrant  Shares are exempt from  registration  under
Section 4(2) of the Securities Act as not involving any public offering.

      11.   REGISTRATION.

            (a)   Required  Registration.  Whenever the Company  shall receive
a written  request  therefor from any holder or holders of at least 50% of the
Registrable  Stock, the Company shall promptly prepare and file a registration
statement  under the  Securities Act covering the  Registrable  Stock which is
the  subject  of such  request  and shall use its best  efforts  to cause such
registration  statement  to become  effective  as  expeditiously  as possible;
provided  that the  Company's  obligations  under this Section  11(a) shall be
limited to one required  registration  only. Upon the receipt of such request,
the Company shall  promptly give written  notice to all holders of Registrable
Stock that such  registration is to be effected.  The Company shall include in
such  registration  statement such Registrable Stock for which it has received
written  requests to register such shares by the holders thereof within thirty
(30) days after the  effectiveness  of the  Company's  written  notice to such
other holders.  Except as hereinafter expressly provided,  without the written
consent of the  holders of a majority of the shares of  Registrable  Stock for
which  registration has been requested  pursuant to this Section,  neither the
Company  nor any  other  holder  of  securities  of the  Company  may  include
securities in such registration.

            (b)   Incidental   Registration.   Each  time  the  Company  shall
determine to file a  registration  statement  under the  Securities Act (other
than on From S-8 or Form S-4) in connection  with the proposed  offer and sale
for money of any of its securities by it or by any of its securities  holders,
the company will give written  notice of its  determination  to all holders of
Registrable  Stock.  Upon  written  request  of a  holder  of any  Registrable
Stock,  the  Company  will cause all such  Registrable  Stock,  the holders of
which  have  so  requested  registration  thereof,  to  be  included  in  such
registration  statement,  all to the  extent  requisite  to permit the sale or
other  disposition  by the  prospective  seller or sellers of the  Registrable
Stock  to be so  registered  in  accordance  with the  terms  of the  proposed
offering.   If  the  registration   statement  is  to  cover  an  underwritten
distribution,  the Company shall use its best efforts to cause the Registrable
Stock  requested for  inclusion  pursuant to this Section 11(b) to be included
in the  underwriting  on the  same  terms  and  conditions  as the  securities
otherwise  being  sold  through  the  underwriters.  If,  in  the  good  faith
judgment of the managing  underwriter of such public  offering,  the inclusion
of all the Registrable  Stock requested to be registered  would materially and
adversely  affect the successful  marketing of the other shares proposed to be
offered,  then the  amount  of the  Registrable  Stock to be  included  in the
offering  shall be reduced and the  Registrable  Stock and the other shares to
be offered shall  participate  in such  offering as follows:  the shares to be
sold by the company, the Registrable Stock to be included in

                                       15
<PAGE>

such  offering  and the other  shares of Common  Stock to be  included in such
offering  shall each be reduced pr rata in  proportion to the number of shares
of Common  Stock  proposed to be  included in such  offering by each holder of
such shares and by the Company.

            (c)   Registration  Procedures.  If and  whenever  the  Company is
required  by  the   provisions  of  Section  11(a)  or  11(b)  to  effect  the
registration of Registrable  Stock under the Securities Act, the Company will,
at its expense, expeditiously as possible:

                  (i)   In accordance  with the  Securities  Act and the rules
and  regulations  of the  Commission,  prepare and file with the  Commission a
registration  statement on the form of registration statement appropriate with
respect  to  such   securities   and  use  its  best  efforts  to  cause  such
registration  statement to become and remain  effective  until the  securities
covered by such  registration  statement  have been sold, and prepare and file
with  the  Commission  such  amendments  to such  registration  statement  and
supplements  to the prospectus  contained  therein as may be necessary to keep
such  registration  statement  effective and such  registration  statement and
prospectus  accurate  and  complete  until  the  securities  covered  by  such
registration statement have been sold;

                  (ii)  If the offering is to be underwritten,  in whole or in
part,  enter into a written  underwriting  agreement  with the  holders of the
Registrable  Stock  participating in such offering and the underwriter in form
and  substance  reasonably  satisfactory  to the managing  underwriter  of the
public  offering and the holders of the  Registrable  Stock  participating  in
such offering;

                  (iii) Furnish to the holders of securities  participating in
such  registration  and to the underwriters of the securities being registered
such reasonable  number of copies of the registration  statement,  preliminary
prospectus  and such other  documents  as such  underwriters  and  holders may
reasonably  request  in  order  to  facilitate  the  public  offering  of such
securities;

                  (iv)  Use its  best  efforts  to  register  or  qualify  the
securities covered by such registration  statement under such state securities
or blue sky  laws of such  jurisdictions  as such  participating  holders  and
underwriters may reasonably request.

                  (v)   Notify    the    holders    participating    in   such
registration,  promptly after it shall receive notice thereof, of the date and
time  when  such  registration  statement  and each  post-effective  amendment
thereto has become effective or a supplement to any prospectus  forming a part
of such registration statement has been filed;

                  (vi)  Notify  such  holders  promptly  of any request by the
Commission for the amending or  supplementing of such  registration  statement
or prospectus or for additional information;

                  (vii) Prepare and file with the  Commission,  promptly  upon
the  request  of any such  holders,  any  amendments  or  supplements  to such
registration statement or prospectus

                                       16
<PAGE>

which,  in the opinion of counsel  for such  holders,  is  required  under the
Securities Act or the rules and regulations  thereunder in connection with the
distribution or the Registrable Stock by such holders;

                  (viii)      Prepare and promptly  file with the  Commission,
and  promptly  notify  such  holders  of the  filing of,  such  amendments  or
supplements to such  registration  statement or prospectus as may be necessary
to correct  any  statements  or  omissions  if, at the time when a  prospectus
relating to such  securities is required to be delivered  under the Securities
Act, any event has occurred as the result of which any such  prospectus or any
other  prospectus  is then in effect  may  include  an untrue  statement  of a
material  fact or omit to  state  any  material  fact  required  to be  stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading;

                  (ix)  In case any of such  holders  or any  underwriter  for
any such  holders  is  required  to  deliver a  prospectus  at a time when the
prospectus  then in circulation  is not in compliance  with the Securities Act
or the rules and regulations of the Commission,  prepare promptly upon request
such  amendments  or  supplements  to such  registration  statement  and  such
prospectus  as may be  necessary in order for such  prospectus  to comply with
the requirements of the Securities Act and such rules and regulations;

                  (x)   Advise such holders,  promptly  after it shall receive
notice or obtain knowledge  thereof,  of the issuance of any stop order by the
Commission suspending the effectiveness of such registration  statement or the
initiation or  threatening of any proceeding for that purpose and promptly use
its best  efforts to prevent  the  issuance of any stop order or to obtain its
withdrawal if such stop order should be issued;

                  (xi)  If   requested   by  the   managing   underwriter   or
underwriters  or a holder of Registrable  Stock being sold in connection  with
an underwritten offering,  immediately  incorporate in a prospectus supplement
or post-effective  amendment such information as the managing underwriters and
the holders of a majority of the Registrable  Stock being sold agree should be
included  therein  relating to the plan of  distribution  with respect to such
Registrable  Stock,  including  information  with  respect to the  Registrable
Stock being sold to such  underwriters,  the purchase  price being paid for by
such  underwriters and with respect to any other terms of the underwritten (or
best efforts  underwritten)  offering of the  Registrable  Stock to be sold in
such offering;  and make all required filings of such prospectus supplement or
post-effective   amendment   as  soon  as   notified  of  the  matters  to  be
incorporated in such prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment;

                  (xii) Cooperate  with the  selling  holders  of  Registrable
Stock  and  the  managing  underwriters,  if any,  to  facilitate  the  timely
preparation and delivery of certificates  representing Registrable Stock to be
sold and not  bearing any  restrictive  legends;  and enable such  Registrable
Stock  to be in  such  denominations  and  registered  in  such  names  as the
managing  underwriters  may  request at least two  business  days prior to any
sale of Registrable Securities to the underwriters;

                                       17
<PAGE>

                  (xiii)      Prepare    a    prospectus     supplement     or
post-effective   amendment  to  the  registration  statement  or  the  related
prospectus  or any  document  incorporated  therein by  reference  or file any
other  required  documents so that, as thereafter  delivered to the purchasers
of the Registrable  Stock, the prospectus will not contain an untrue statement
of material  fact or omit to state any  material  fact  necessary  to make the
statements therein not misleading;

                  (xiv) Enter into such agreements  (including an underwriting
agreement)  and take all such other actions in  connection  therewith in order
to expedite or facilitate the disposition of such  Registrable  Securities and
in such connection,  whether or not an underwriting  agreement is entered into
and whether or not the registration is an underwritten registration:

                        (A)   make such  representations and warranties to the
holders  of such  Registrable  Stock and the  underwriters,  if any,  in form,
substance  and scope as are  customarily  made by issuers to  underwriters  in
primary underwritten offerings;

                        (B)   If an  underwriting  agreement is entered  into,
the  same  shall  set  forth  in  full  the  indemnification   provisions  and
procedures  of  Section  11(e)  hereof  with  respect  to  all  parties  to be
indemnified pursuant to said Section; and

                        (C)   The Company  shall  deliver such  documents  and
certificates  as may  be  requested  by the  holders  of the  majority  of the
Registrable  Stock  being  sold  and the  managing  underwriters,  if any,  to
evidence  compliance  with  the  terms  of this  Section  11(c)  and  with any
customary  conditions  contained  in  the  underwriting   agreement  or  other
agreement entered into by the Company.

                              The above  shall be done at each  closing  under
such  underwriting  or  similar  agreement  or as and to the  extend  required
thereunder;

                  (xv)  Make available for inspection by a  representative  of
the  holders  of  a  majority  of  the  Registrable   Stock,  any  underwriter
participating  in any disposition  pursuant to a registration  statement,  and
any  attorney  or  accountant  retained  by the  sellers or  underwriter,  all
financial and other records,  pertinent  corporate documents and properties of
the Company,  and cause the  Company's  officers,  directors  and employees to
supply  all  information  reasonably  requested  by any  such  representative,
underwriter,  attorney or accountant in connection with the preparation of the
registration statement;  provided, that any records,  information or documents
that are  designated by the Company in writing as  confidential  shall be kept
confidential  by such persons unless  disclosure of such records,  information
or documents is required by court or administrative order;

                  (xvi) Otherwise  use its best  efforts  to  comply  with all
applicable  rules  and  regulations  of the  Commission,  and  make  generally
available to the Company's  security holders,  earning  statements  satisfying
the  provisions  of  Section  11(a)  of the  Securities  Act,  no  later  than
forty-five  (45) days after the end of any twelve (12) month period (or ninety
(90) days,  if such a period is a fiscal  year) (i)  commencing  at the end of
any fiscal quarter in which Registrable Stock is sold to

                                       18
<PAGE>

underwriters in an underwritten  offering,  or, if not sold to underwriters in
such an offering,  (ii) beginning with the first month of the Company's  first
fiscal  quarter  commencing  after  the  effective  date  of the  registration
statement;

                  (xvii)      Not file any  amendment  or  supplement  to such
registration  statement or  prospectus to which a majority in interest of such
holders has objected on the grounds that such  amendment  or  supplement  does
not comply in all material  respects with the  requirements  of the Securities
Act or the rules and regulations thereunder,  after having been furnished with
a copy  thereof at least five (5) business  days prior to the filing  thereof;
provided,  however,  that the  failure  of such  holders  or their  counsel to
review  or  object  to  any  amendment  or  supplement  to  such  registration
statement  or  prospectus  shall not affect the rights of such  holders or any
controlling  person or persons  thereof  or any  underwriter  or  underwriters
therefor under Section 11(e) hereof; and

                  (xviii)     At the  request of any such  holder (i)  furnish
to such holder on the  effective  date of the  registration  statement  or, if
such  registration  includes an underwritten  public offering,  at the closing
provided for in the underwriting  agreement;  an opinion,  dated such date, of
the counsel  representing  the Company for the purposes of such  registration,
addressed to the  underwriters,  if any,  and to the holder or holders  making
such  request,   covering  such  matters  with  respect  to  the  registration
statement,   the  prospectus   and  each  amendment  or  supplement   thereto,
proceedings  under state and federal  securities  laws, other matters relating
to the Company,  the  securities  being  registered  and the offer and sale of
such  securities  as are  customarily  the  subject of  opinions  of  issuer's
counsel provided to underwriters in underwritten  public  offerings,  and such
opinion of counsel  shall  additionally  cover such legal and factual  matters
with  respect to the  registration  as such  requesting  holder or holders may
reasonably  request,  and (ii) use its best  efforts to furnish to such holder
letters  dated  each  such  effective  date and such  closing  date,  from the
independent  certified  public  accountants  of the Company,  addressed to the
underwriters,  if any,  and to the  holder or  holders  making  such  request,
stating that they are  independent  certified  public  accountants  within the
meaning  of  the   Securities  Act  and  dealing  with  such  matters  as  the
underwriters  may request,  or, if the offering is not  underwritten,  that in
the opinion of such  accountants the financial  statements and other financial
data of the Company included in the  registration  statement or the prospectus
or any amendment or supplement  thereto  comply in all material  respects with
the  applicable   accounting   requirements   of  the   Securities   Act,  and
additionally  covering such other financial matters,  including information as
to the  period  ending  immediately  prior  to the  date of such  letter  with
respect to the  registration  statement  and  prospectus,  as such  requesting
holder or holders may reasonably request.

            (d)   Expenses  of  Registration.  All  expenses  incident  to the
Company's performance of or compliance with this Warrant,  including,  without
limitation,  the  following  shall  be  borne by the  Company,  regardless  of
whether the registration statement becomes effective:

                  (i)   All  registration  and filing  fees  (including  those
with respect to filings  required to be made with the National  Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc.);

                                       19
<PAGE>

                  (ii)  Fees and expenses of  compliance  with all  securities
or blue  sky  laws  (including  fees  and  disbursements  of  counsel  for the
underwriters or selling holders in connection with blue sky  qualifications of
the  Registrable   Stock  and  in  determination  of  their   eligibility  for
investment under the laws of such  jurisdictions as the managing  underwriters
or holders of a majority of the Registrable Stock being sold may designate);

                  (iii) Printing, messenger, telephone and delivery expenses;

                  (iv)  Fees and  disbursements of counsel for the Company and
for the sellers of the Registrable Stock as hereinafter provided;

                  (v)   Fees and  disbursements  of all independent  certified
public  accountants  of the  Company  (including  the  expenses of any special
audit and "comfort" letters required by or incident to such performance); and

                  (vi)  Fees and  expenses  of other  persons  retained by the
Company.

                        The  Company  will,  in any  event,  pay its  internal
expenses  (including  without  limitation,  all  salaries  and expenses of its
officers and employees  performing legal or accounting duties), the expense of
any annual  audit,  the fees and  expenses  incurred  in  connection  with the
listing of securities to be  registered on each  securities  exchange on which
similar  securities issued by the Company are then listed,  rating agency fees
and the fees and expenses of any person,  including special experts,  retained
by the Company.

                        In   connection   with  the   registration   statement
required  hereunder,  the Company will  reimburse  the holders of  Registrable
Stock  being  registered  pursuant  to  the  registration  statement  for  the
reasonable fees and  disbursements  of not more than one counsel (or more than
one counsel if conflict  exists among such selling  holders in the exercise of
the  reasonable  judgment of counsel  for the selling  holders and counsel for
the Company) chosen by the holders of a majority of such Registrable Stock.

            (e)   Indemnification.

                  (i)   The Company  hereby  agrees to  indemnify  each of the
holders  of  Registrable  Stock  against  all  claims,   losses,  damages  and
liabilities  (or  actions in respect  thereof)  arising out of or based on any
untrue  statement (or alleged  untrue  statement) of a material fact contained
in any  registration  statement,  preliminary  or final  prospectus,  or other
document  incident to any such  registration,  qualification or compliance (or
in any  related  registration  statement,  notification  or the  like)  or any
omission (or alleged  omission) to state  therein a material  fact required to
be stated therein or necessary to make the statements  therein not misleading,
or any  violation by the Company of any rule or regulation  promulgated  under
the  Securities  Act  applicable  to the  Company  and  relating  to action or
inaction  required of the Company in  connection  with any such  registration,
qualification  or  compliance,  and to  reimburse  the holders of  Registrable
Stock (including

                                       20
<PAGE>

officers and directors of the same and controlling  persons) for any legal and
any other expenses  reasonably  incurred in connection with  investigating  or
defending  any  such  claim,  loss,  damage,   liability  or  action,provided,
however,  that the  Company  will not be liable in any such case to the extent
that any such claim,  loss,  damage or liability  arises out of or is based on
any untrue statement or omission based upon written  information  furnished to
the  Company by the holders of the  Registrable  Stock in an  instrument  duly
executed by Warrantholders and stated to be specifically for use therein.

                  (ii)  The holders of the  Registrable  Stock  severally  and
not jointly  agree to indemnify the Company and its officers and directors and
each person,  if any,  who controls any thereof  within the meaning of Section
15 of the Securities Act and their respective  successors  against all claims,
losses,  damages and liabilities (or actions in respect  thereof)  arising out
of or based on any  untrue  statement  of a  material  fact  contained  in any
prospectus,  offering  circular  or  document  incident  to any  registration,
qualification or compliance  relating to securities  purchased pursuant to the
Warrants (or in any related registration statement,  notification or the like)
or any  omission  (or  alleged  omission)  to state  therein a  material  fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements  therein not
misleading  and will  reimburse the Company and each other person  indemnified
pursuant  to this  subsection  (ii)  for any  legal  and  any  other  expenses
reasonably  incurred in connection  with  investigating  or defending any such
claim,  loss,  damage,  liability  or  action;  provided,  however,  that this
subsection  (ii)  shall  apply  only if (and  only to the  extent  that)  such
statement  or  omission  was made in  reliance  upon  information  (including,
without limitation,  written negative responses to inquiries) furnished to the
Company by an  instrument  duly  executed by  Warrantholders  and stated to be
specifically  for  use in such  prospectus,  or  other  document  (or  related
registration  statement,  notification  or  the  like)  or  any  amendment  or
supplement thereto.

                  (iii) Each party entitled to indemnification  hereunder (the
"Indemnified  Party")  shall  give  notice to the party  required  to  provide
indemnification  (the  "Indemnifying  Party")  promptly after such Indemnified
Party has actual  knowledge of any claim as to which  indemnity may be sought,
and  shall  permit  the  Indemnifying  Party  (as  such  Indemnifying  Party's
expense)  to  assume  the  defense  of  any  claim  or  litigation   resulting
therefrom,  provided  that  counsel  for the  Indemnifying  Party,  who  shall
conduct the defense of such claim or litigation,  shall be satisfactory to the
Indemnified  Party, and the Indemnified  Party may participate in such defense
at such  party's  expense,  and  provided,  further,  that the omission by any
Indemnified  Party of its  obligations  under this Section 11(e) expect to the
extent  that the  omission  results  in a  failure  of  actual  notice  to the
Indemnifying  Party and such Indemnifying  Party is materially  damaged solely
as a result of the  failure to give  notice.  No  Indemnifying  Party,  in the
defense of any such claim or  litigation,  shall,  except  with the consent of
each  Indemnified  Party,  consent to the entry of any  judgment or enter into
any  settlement  which does not include as an  unconditional  term thereof the
giving by the  claimant or plaintiff  to such  Indemnified  Party of a release
from all liability in respect to such claim or litigation.

                  (iv)  If the  indemnification  provided  for in this Section
11(e) is unavailable or insufficient to hold harmless an Indemnified  Party in
respect of any losses, claims,  damages,  liabilities,  expenses or actions in
respect thereof referred to herein, then the Indemnifying Party shall

                                       21
<PAGE>

contribute  to the  amount  paid or  payable  by such  Indemnified  Party as a
result of such losses, claims,  damages,  liabilities,  expenses or actions in
such  proportion  a is  appropriate  to  reflect  the  relative  fault  of the
Indemnifying  Party on the one hand, and the  Indemnified  Party on the other,
in connection  with the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses,
claims,  damages,  liabilities,  expenses  or  actions  as well  as any  other
relevant  equitable  considerations,  including the failure to give the notice
required  hereunder.  The  relative  fault of the  Indemnifying  Party and the
Indemnified  Party shall be  determined  by reference  to, among other things,
whether the untrue or alleged  untrue  statement of a material fact relates to
information  supplied by the Indemnifying  Party or the Indemnified  Party and
the  parties'   relative   intent,   knowledge,   access  to  information  and
opportunity  to correct or prevent such  statement  or  omission.  The Company
and the  Warrantholders  agree  that it  would  not be just and  equitable  if
contributions  pursuant  to this  Section  11(e) were  determined  by pro rata
allocation or by any other method of allocation  which did not take account of
the  equitable  considerations  referred to above.  The amount paid or payable
to  an  Indemnified  Party  as  a  result  of  the  losses,  claims,  damages,
liabilities,  or actions  in  respect  thereof,  referred  to above,  shall be
deemed to include  any legal or other  expenses  reasonably  incurred  by such
Indemnified  Party in  connection  with  investigating  or defending  any such
action or claim.  Notwithstanding the contribution  provisions of this Section
11(e),  in no event shall the amount  contributed by any seller of Registrable
Stock exceed the aggregate net offering  proceeds received by such seller from
the sale of Registrable  Stock to which such  contribution or  indemnification
claim relates. No person guilty of fraudulent  misrepresentations  (within the
meaning  of  Section  11(f)  of the  Securities  Act)  shall  be  entitled  to
contribution   from  any  person   who  is  not  guilty  of  such   fraudulent
misrepresentations.

                  (v)   The  indemnification  required by this  Section  11(e)
shall be made by periodic  payments during the course of the  investigation or
defense,  as and when  bills  are  received  or  expenses  incurred.  Anything
contained  herein  to the  contrary  notwithstanding,  the  maximum  aggregate
liability of any holder of  Registrable  Stock under this Section  11(e) shall
not exceed the amount of the net  proceeds  actually  received  by such holder
from  the  sale  of  its  Registrable  Stock  pursuant  to  the  registration,
qualification,  notification  or compliance in respect of which such liability
arose.

            (f)   Reporting  Requirements  Under  Exchange  Act.  The  Company
shall  maintain the  registration  of its Common Stock under Section 12 of the
Exchange Act and shall keep effective such  registration and shall timely file
such  information,  documents  and  reports as the  Commission  may require or
prescribe  under  Section 13 of the Exchange  Act, or  otherwise.  The Company
under the  Securities  Act, the Company shall (whether or not it shall then be
required to do so) timely file such information,  documents and reports as the
Commission  may require or prescribe  under Section 13 or 15(d)  (whichever is
applicable)  of the Exchange  Act. The Company  shall  forthwith  upon request
furnish  any  holder  of  Registrable  Stock (i) a  written  statement  by the
Company that it has complied with such reporting requirements;  (ii) a copy of
the most recent  annual or  quarterly  report of the  Company;  and (iii) such
other  reports and  documents  filed by the Company that it has complied  with
the Commission as such holder may reasonably  request in availing itself of an
exemption for the sale of  Registrable  Stock without  registration  under the
Securities  Act. The Company  acknowledges  and agrees that the purpose of the
requirements contained in this Section 11(f) is to enable any such

                                       22
<PAGE>

holder to comply with the current public information  requirement contained in
Rule  144 (or  any  other  similar  exemptive  provision).  In  addition,  the
Company  shall  take such  other  measures  and file such  other  information,
documents  and reports as shall  hereafter be required by the  Commission as a
condition to the  availability  of Rule 144 and Rule 144A under the Securities
Act (or any similar exemptive provision hereafter in effect).

            (g)   Stockholder  Information.   The  Company  may  require  each
holder of  Registrable  Stock as to which any  registration  is to be effected
pursuant  to this  Section 11 to furnish  the Company  such  information  with
respect  to such  holder and the  distribution  of such  Registrable  Stock as
shall be required by law or by the Commission in connection therewith.

      12.   REPRESENTATION  AND WARRANTIES.  The Company hereby represents and
warrants to and covenants with Foothill,  each Warrantholder,  and each holder
of Warrant Shares that:

            (a)   Organization  and   Capitalization   of  the  Company.   The
Company  is a  corporation  duly  organized,  validly  existing  and  in  good
standing under the laws of the State of Delaware.  As of the date hereof,  the
authorized  capital of the  Company  consists of  30,000,000  shares of Common
Stock and 1,500,000  shares of Preferred  Stock, of which 7,801,682  shares of
Common  Stock and no shares of  Preferred  Stock are issued  and  outstanding.
The  Company  has,  and at all times  during the  Exercise  Period  will have,
reserved  for  issuance  pursuant  to the  Warrants  that  number of shares of
Common Stock that are issuable  pursuant to the Warrants.  No unissued  shares
of Common Stock are reserved for any purpose  other than for issuance upon the
exercise of the  Warrants.  As of the date hereof,  the Company has not issued
or  agreed  to  issue  any  stock  purchase   rights,   options,   convertible
securities,  warrants  (other than this  Warrant) or any other  securities  or
indebtedness  convertible  into  shares  of  Common  Stock,  and  there are no
preemptive  rights in effect  with  respect to the  issuance  of any shares of
Common Stock.  All the outstanding  shares of Common Stock and Preferred Stock
have been  validly  issued  without  violation  of any  preemptive  or similar
rights,  are fully paid and  nonassessable  and have been issued in compliance
with all federal and applicable state securities laws.

            (b)   Authority.   The  Company  has  full  corporate   power  and
authority to execute and deliver this  Warrant,  to issue the shares of Common
Stock  issuable  upon  exercise  of this  Warrant,  and to perform  all of its
obligations hereunder, and the execution,  delivery and performance hereof has
been duly  authorized  by all  necessary  corporate  action on its part.  This
Warrant has been duly executed on behalf of t he Company and  constitutes  the
legal, valid and binding  obligation of the Company  enforceable in accordance
with its terms.

            (c)   No  Legal  Bar.   Neither   the   execution,   delivery   or
performance  of this  Warrant nor the  issuance of the shares of Common  Stock
issuable  upon  exercise of this Warrant will (a) conflict with or result in a
violation of the Certificate of Incorporation  or By-Laws of the Company,  (b)
conflict with or result in a violation of any law, statue,  regulation,  order
or decree applicable to the Company or any affiliate,  (c) require any consent
or  authorization  or  filing  with,  or  other  act by or in  respect  of any
governmental  authority  or (d)  result in a breach of,  constitute  a default
under or

                                       23
<PAGE>

constitute  an  event  creating   rights  of   acceleration,   termination  or
cancellation under any mortgage,  lease,  contract,  franchise,  instrument or
other agreement to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound.

            (d)   Validity of Shares.  When  issued upon the  exercise of this
Warrant as  contemplated  herein,  the shares of Common  Stock so issued  will
have been  validly  issued  and will be fully paid and  nonassessable.  On the
date  hereof,  the par value of the  Common  Stock is less  than the  Exercise
Price per share of Common Stock.

      13.   CONTINUING  VALIDITY.   Woodbourne  and  each  holder  of  Warrant
Shares  shall  continue to be entitled to all rights to which a  Warrantholder
is entitled  pursuant to the  provisions of this Warrant except such rights as
by their terms apply solely to a Warrantholder,  notwithstanding the fact that
this Warrant has been exercised or the period of  exercisability  has expired.
The Company  will,  at any time upon the request of  Woodbourne or a holder of
the Warrant Shares,  acknowledge in writing,  in form reasonably  satisfactory
to  Woodbourne  or such holder,  the  Company's  continuing  obligation  to be
entitled  in  accordance  with  the  provisions  of  this  Warrant;  provided,
however,  that if  Woodbourne  or such  holder  shall  fail to make  any  such
request,  such  failure  shall not affect  the  continuing  obligation  of the
Company to afford to Woodbourne and such holder all such rights.

      14.   REDEMPTION.

            (a)   This Warrant may be redeemed,  at the option of the Company,
at any time after August 7, 2000 until the  Expiration  Date, for a redemption
price  equal to two times the then  current  Exercise  Price,  as  adjusted as
provided in this  Warrant.  This  Warrant must be redeemed in whole and not in
part if the  Company  exercises  such  right  of  redemption.  All  rights  to
exercise this Warrant shall terminate at 12:00 midnight  California local time
on the business day immediately preceding the date fixed for redemption.

            (b)   In the event the Company shall  exercise its right to redeem
this Warrant,  it shall give notice to the  Warrantholders by mailing a notice
of redemption in accordance with the provisions  stated herein,  not less than
30 days prior to the redemption date.

            (c)   The  notice  of  redemption  shall  specify  the  redemption
price,  the date fixed for  redemption,  the place where this Warrant shall be
delivered  and the  redemption  price  shall  be paid,  and that the  right to
exercise this Warrant shall terminate at 12:00 midnight  California local time
on the business day immediately preceding the date fixed for redemption.

            (d)   Appropriate  adjustment  shall  be  made  to the  redemption
price on the same  basis as  provided  in  Section 6 hereof  with  respect  to
adjustment of the Exercise Price.

            (e)   Effective  on the  date of the  notice  of  redemption,  the
appreciation   right  set  forth  in   Section   4(b),   and  all   rights  of
Warrantholders under such Section 4(b), shall automatically terminate.

                                       24
<PAGE>

      15.   MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS.

            (a)   Notice  of  Expiration.   The  Company  shall  give  written
notice to the  Warrantholders  specifically  advising  them of the  Expiration
Date and of their right to  exercise  the  Warrants  not more than one hundred
eighty  (180) days and not less than ninety  (90) days  before the  Expiration
Date.  If such  written  notice is not so given,  the  Expiration  Date  shall
automatically  be  extended  until  ninety  (90) days  after the date that the
Company gives the Warrantholders such written notice.

            (b)   Notices.  All  notices  hereunder  shall be in  writing  and
shall be  deemed  to have  been  given  five (5) days  after  being  mailed by
certified  mail,  addressed to the address  below stated of the party to which
notice is given,  or to such  changed  address as such party may have fixed by
notice:

      To the Company:   Allied Healthcare Products, Inc.
                        1720 Sublette Avenue
                        St. Louis, Missouri 63110
                        Attention: Mr. Barry Baker
                        Fax No.: (314) 771-0650

      With copies to:   Disckstein, Shapiro, Morin & Oskinsky, LLP
                        2101 L Street NW
                        Washington, D.C. 20037
                        Attention:  Allen B. Goldstein, Esq.
                        Fax No.:    (202) 887-0689

      To the                     Clayton Management Company
      Warrantholders             200 North Broadway; Suite 825
      or holder of               St. Louis, Missouri 63102
      Warrant Shares:            Fax No.: (314) 421-3657
 
 

      With a copy (which      Greensfelder, Hemker & Gale, P.C.
      shall not constitute    10 South Broadway; Suite 2000
      notice) to:             St. Louis, Missouri 63102
                              Attention:  Joseph D. Lehrer, Esq.
                              Fax No.:    (314) 241-8624

provided,  however,  that any notice of change of address  shall be  effective
only upon receipt.

            (c)   Successors  and Assigns.  This Warrant shall be binding upon
and inure to the benefit of the Company,  Foothill, the Warrantholders and the
holders of Warrant shares and the

                                       25
<PAGE>

successors,   assigns  and  transferees  of  the  Company,   Woodbourne,   the
Warrantholders and the holders of Warrant Shares.

            (d)   Attorneys'  Fees. The Company agrees to pay, on demand,  all
attorneys'  fees (including  attorneys' fees incurred  pursuant to proceedings
arising under the Bankruptcy  Code) and all other costs and expenses which may
be  incurred  by  Woodbourne,  the  Warrantholders  and the holders of Warrant
Shares in connection  with any amendment to this Warrant  and/or in connection
with  the  enforcement  of this  Warrant  or in any  way  arising  out of,  or
consequential to the protection,  assertion, or enforcement of the Obligations
under the Loan  Agreement (or any security  therefor),  whether or not suit is
brought.

            (e)   Entire  Agreement:  Amendments  and  Waivers.  This  Warrant
sets  forth the  entire  understanding  of the  parties  with  respect  to the
transactions  contemplated  hereby.  The failure of any party to seek  redress
for the  violation  or to insist  upon the strict  performance  of any term of
this Warrant  shall not  constitute a waiver of such term and such party shall
be entitled to enforce  such term  without  regard to such  forbearance.  This
Warrant may be amended,  the Company may take any action herein  prohibited or
omit to take action  herein  required to be performed by it, and any breach of
or compliance with any covenant,  agreement, warranty or representation may be
waived,  only if the  Company  has  obtained  the  written  consent or written
waiver  of the  majority  in  interest  of the  Warrantholders,  and then such
consent or waiver  shall be effective  only in the  specific  instance and for
the specific purpose for which given.

            (f)   Severability.  If any term of this  Warrant  as  applied  to
any  person  or  to  any   circumstance  is  prohibited,   void,   invalid  or
unenforceable in any jurisdiction,  such term shall, as to such  jurisdiction,
be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or invalidity  without in any
way  affecting  any other term of this  Warrant or  affecting  the validity or
enforceability of this Warrant or of such provision in any other jurisdiction.

            (g)   Headings.  The headings in this  Warrant are  inserted  only
for convenience of reference and shall not be used in the  construction of any
of its terms.

     [REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK; SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]

                                       26
<PAGE>

      IN WITNESS WHEREOF,  the Company has caused this Warrant to be signed by
its duly authorized officers as of the date first set forth above.


                                    ALLIED HEALTHCARE PRODUCTS, INC.,
                                    a Delaware corporation


                                          /s/ Barry F. Baker
                                    By:   __________________________________
                                          Name:  Barry F. Baker
                                          Title:  Vice President-Finance

                                       27

      THIS  WARRANT AND THE SHARES OF COMMON  STOCK  ISSUABLE  HEREUNDER
      HAVE NOT BEEN  REGISTERED  UNDER THE  SECURITIES  ACT OF 1933,  AS
      AMENDED,  OR ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS AND MUST BE HELD
      INDEFINITELY  UNLESS  SUBSEQUENTLY  REGISTERED  UNDER SAID ACT AND
      ANY APPLICABLE  STATE  SECURITIES  LAWS OR DISPOSED OF PURSUANT TO
      AN EXEMPTION FROM SUCH REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS.


                                   WARRANT

Company:                Allied Healthcare Products, Inc., a Delaware corporation

Number of Shares:       1,562

Class of Stock:         Common Stock

Initial Exercise Price: $7.025 per share

Issued as of:           August 7, 1997

Expiration Date:        August 7, 2002

      FOR  VALUE  RECEIVED,  the  adequacy  and  receipt  of which  is  hereby
acknowledged,  ALLIED  HEALTHCARE  PRODUCTS,  INC.,  a  Delaware  corporation,
hereby certifies that DONALD E. NICKELSON  ("Nickelson"),  an individual,  and
his successors  and assigns,  are entitled to purchase from the Company at any
time and from time to time on and after August 7, 1998,  until 12:00  midnight
California  local time on the Expiration Date at an initial  exercise price of
SEVEN AND  025/1000  DOLLARS  ($7.025)  per share of Common Stock One Thousand
Five Hundred Sixty-Two  (1,562) fully paid and nonassessable  shares of Common
Stock of the Company on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth.

      The number of such  shares of Common  Stock and the  Exercise  Price are
subject to  adjustment  as provided in this  Warrant.  Anything  contained  in
this Warrant to the contrary  notwithstanding,  the number of shares of Common
Stock  which may be issued  upon  exercise  of this  Warrant by any  Regulated
Warrantholder  shall never exceed such amount (the "Maximum Amount") as may be
permitted  under the Bank Holding  Company Act, or any successor  statute,  or
under any other  federal or state  banking laws or  regulations  to which such
Regulated  Warrantholder  may be subject at the time of such exercise.  If the
number of shares of Common  Stock  which may be issued  upon  exercise of this
Warrant exceeds the Maximum Amount,  the number of shares of Common Stock into
which this Warrant may be exercised  will be reduced to the Maximum Amount and
the Company will pay


<PAGE>

to Foothill by check or in cash such  amount  that equals the  Exercise  Price
multiplied  by the  number of shares of Common  Stock by which the  Warrant is
reduced pursuant to this paragraph.

      1.    CERTAIN  DEFINITIONS.  As  used  in this  Warrant,  the  following
terms have the following definitions:

      "Additional  Shares of Common  Stock"  means all shares of Common  Stock
issued or issuable by the Company after the date of this Warrant.

      "Common  Stock" means the  Company's  Common  Stock,  par value $.01 per
share,  and  includes  any common stock of the Company of any class or classes
resulting from any reclassification or reclassifications  thereof which is not
limited to a fixed sum or  percentage of par value in respect of the rights of
the holders  thereof to  participate in dividends and in the  distribution  of
assets upon the voluntary or involuntary  liquidation,  dissolution or winding
up of the Company.

      "Company"   means   Allied   Healthcare   Products,   Inc.,  a  Delaware
corporation.

      "Convertible  Securities"  means  evidence  of  indebtedness,  shares of
stock  or  other  securities  which  are at any time  directly  or  indirectly
convertible into or exchangeable for Additional Shares of Common Stock.

      "Current  Market  Price"  of a share of  Common  Stock  or of any  other
security  as  of a  relevant  date  means:  (i)  the  Fair  Value  thereof  as
determined  in  accordance  with clause (ii) of the  definition  of Fair Value
with  respect to Common  Stock or any other  security  that is not listed on a
national  securities  exchange  or  traded on the  over-the-counter  market or
quoted on NASDAQ,  and (ii) the  average of the daily  closing  prices for the
ten (10)  trading  days before such date  (excluding  any trades which are not
bona fide arm's  length  transactions)  with  respect  to Common  Stock or any
other security that is listed on a national  securities  exchange or traded on
the  over-the-counter  market or quoted on NASDAQ.  The closing price for each
day shall be (i) the last sale  price of shares of Common  Stock or such other
security,  regular  way,  on such date or, if no such sale takes place on such
date,  the average of the closing bid and asked  prices  thereof on such date,
in each case as  officially  reported  on the  principal  national  securities
exchange on which the same are then listed or admitted to trading,  or (ii) if
no shares of Common Stock or if no  securities of the same class as such other
security  are then listed or admitted  to trading on any  national  securities
exchange,  the average of the reported closing bid and asked prices thereof on
such date in the over-the-counter  market as shown by the National Association
of Securities  Dealers  automated  quotation system or, if no shares of Common
Stock or if no  securities  of the same class as such other  security are then
quoted  in  such  system,  as  published  by the  National  Quotation  Bureau,
Incorporated  or any  similar  successor  organization,  and in either case as
reported  by any member  firm of the New York Stock  Exchange  selected by the
Warrantholders.

      "Exchange Act" means the Securities Act of 1934.

                                       2
<PAGE>

      "Exercise  Period"  means the  period  commencing  on August 7, 1998 and
ending at 12:00 midnight California local time on the Expiration Date.

      "Exercise  Price" means  initially Seven and 025/1000  Dollars  ($7.025)
per share, subject to adjustment as provided in this Warrant.

      "Expiration Date" means August 7, 2002.

      "Fair Value"  means:  (i) with respect to a share of Common Stock or any
other  security,  the Current Market Price  thereof,  and (ii) with respect to
any other  property,  assets,  business  or entity,  an amount  determined  in
accordance  with the following  procedure:  the Company and the holders of the
Warrants and Warrant  Shares,  as applicable,  shall use their best efforts to
mutually  agree to a  determination  of Fair Value within ten (10) days of the
date  of the  event  requiring  that  such a  determination  be  made.  If the
Company and such  holders are unable to reach  agreement  within said ten (10)
day period,  the Company and such  holders  shall  within ten (10) days of the
expiration  of the ten  (10)  day  period  referred  to  above  each  retain a
separate  independent  investment  banking  firm  (which firm shall not be the
investment  banking firm  regularly  retained by the  Company).  If either the
Company  or such  holders  fails to retain  such an  investment  banking  firm
during such period,  then the independent  investment banking firm retained by
such holders or the Company,  as the case may be, acting along, shall take the
actions  outlined below.  Such firms shall determine  (within thirty (30) days
of their being  retained)  the Fair Value of the security,  property,  assets,
business or entity,  as the case may be, in question and deliver their opinion
in writing to the Company and to such  holders.  If such firms cannot  jointly
make the  determination,  then, unless otherwise  directed by agreement of the
Company and such holders,  such firms, in their sole discretion,  shall choose
another  investment  banking firm independent of the Company and such holders,
which firm shall make the  determination  and render an opinion as promptly as
practicable.  In either case,  the  determination  so made shall be conclusive
and  binding on the  Company and such  holders.  The fees and  expenses of any
such  determination  made by any and all such independent  investment  banking
firms  shall  be paid by the  Company.  If there is more  than one  holder  of
Warrants,  and/or Warrant Shares entitled to a determination  of Fair Value in
any  particular  instance,  each  action  to be taken by the  holders  of such
Warrants  and/or  Warrant  Shares  under  this  Section  shall  be  taken by a
majority  in interest of such  holders and the action  taken by such  majority
(including  as to any mutual  agreement  with the Company with respect to Fair
Value and as to any  selection of investment  banking  firms) shall be binding
upon all such holders.  In the case of a  determination  of the Fair Value per
share of  Common  Stock,  the  Company  and such  holders  shall not take into
consideration,  and shall  instruct all such  investment  banking firms not to
take into consideration,  any premium for shares  representing  control of the
Company,  any discount for any minority  interest  therein or any restrictions
on transfer under applicable federal and state securities laws or otherwise.

      "Foothill" means Foothill Capital Corporation, a California corporation.

      "Indemnified  Party" and  "Indemnifying  Party"  have the  meanings  set
forth in Section 11(e)(iii).

                                       3
<PAGE>

      "Loan Agreement" means that certain Loan and Security  Agreement of even
date herewith among the Company, its subsidiaries named therein and Foothill.

      "Registrable  Stock"  means:  (i) all Warrant  Shares which are issuable
to the  Warrantholders  pursuant to the Warrants,  whether or not the Warrants
have in fact been  exercised  and whether or not such  Warrant  Shares have in
fact been  issued,  (ii) all Warrant  Shares  acquired  by the  Warrantholders
pursuant to the  Warrants,  (iii) any shares of Common  Stock,  whether or not
such  shares of Common  Stock  have in fact  been  issued,  and stock or other
securities  of the  Company  issued  upon  conversion  of, in a stock split or
reclassification  of,  or a stock  dividend  or other  distribution  on, or in
substitution  or exchange for, or otherwise in connection  with,  such Warrant
Shares.  For  purposes  of  Section  11, a  Warrantholder  of record  shall be
treated  as the  record  holder  of  the  related  Warrant  Shares  and  other
securities issuable pursuant to the Warrants.

      "Regulated  Warrantholder" means any Warrantholder which is, or the part
of which  is,  subject  to the Bank  Holding  Company  Act,  or any  successor
statute, or any other federal or state banking laws and regulations.

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

      "Warrant(s)"  means this Warrant and any warrants  issued in exchange or
replacement of this Warrant or upon transfer hereof.

      "Warrantholder(s)" means Nickelson and his successors and assigns.

      "Warrant Share" means shares of Common Stock issuable to  Warrantholders
pursuant to the Warrants.

      2.    EXERCISE OF WARRANT.  This Warrant may be  exercised,  in whole or
in part,  at any time and from  time to time  during  the  Exercise  Period by
written  notice to the Company and upon payment to the Company of the Exercise
Price  (subject to  adjustment  as  provided  herein) for the shares of Common
Stock in respect of which the Warrant is exercised.

      3.    FORM OF PAYMENT OF EXERCISE PRICE.  Anything  contained  herein to
the  contrary  notwithstanding,  at  the  option  of the  Warrantholders,  the
Exercise  Price  may be  paid  in any one or a  combination  of the  following
forms: (a) by wire transfer to the Company,  (b) by the Warrantholder's  check
to the  Company,  (c) by the  cancellation  of any  indebtedness  owed  by the
Company and/or any  subsidiaries of the Company to the  Warrantholder,  and/or
(d) by the surrender to the Company of Warrants,  Warrant Shares, Common Stock
and/or other  securities of the Company and/or any subsidiaries of the Company
having a Fair Value equal to the Exercise Price.

                                       4
<PAGE>

      4.    CASHLESS EXERCISE/CONVERSION; APPRECIATION RIGHTS.

            (a)   Cashless  Exercise/Conversion.  In lieu of  exercising  this
Warrant as specified in Sections 2 and 3 above,  the  Warrantholders  may from
time to time at the  Warrantholders'  option convert this Warrant, in whole or
in part, into a number of shares of Common Stock of the Company  determined by
dividing  (A) the  aggregate  Fair  Value of such  shares or other  securities
otherwise  issuable upon exercise of this Warrant minus the aggregate Exercise
Price of such shares by (B) the Fair Value of one such share.

            (b)   Appreciation  Right.  At any  time  on or  after  August  7,
2000,  in lieu of  exercising  this  Warrant as  specified in Sections 2 and 3
above, the Warrantholders may from time to time at the Warrantholders'  option
require the Company to purchase this Warrant or any portion hereof,  for cash,
at a price  equal to the then Fair Value of the  Common  Stock  issuable  upon
exercise of this  Warrant less the Exercise  Price.  Upon the  Warrantholders'
exercise of this  option,  the Company  shall  promptly  wire  transfer to the
Warrantholders  such  amount in  immediately  available  funds as is  required
under this Section  4(b),  but in no event later than five (5)  business  days
after the exercise of such option, in immediately available funds.

      5.    CERTIFICATES FOR WARRANT SHARES;  NEW WARRANT.  The Company agrees
that  the  Warrant  Shares  shall  be  deemed  to  have  been  issued  to  the
Warrantholders  as the record owner of such Warrant  Shares as of the close of
business on the date on which  payment for such  Warrant  Shares has been made
(or  deemed to be made by  conversion)  in  accordance  with the terms of this
Warrant.  Certificates  for the  Warrant  Shares  shall  be  delivered  to the
Warrantholders  within a reasonable  time, not exceeding five (5) days,  after
this Warrant has been exercised or converted.  A new Warrant  representing the
number  of  shares,  if any,  with  respect  to  which  this  Warrant  remains
exercisable  also shall be issued to the  Warrantholders  within  such time so
long as this  Warrant  has  been  surrendered  to the  Company  at the time of
exercise.

      6.    ADJUSTMENT  OF  EXERCISE  PRICE,  NUMBER OF SHARES  AND NATURE OF 
SECURITIES ISSUABLE UPON EXERCISE OF WARRANTS.

            (a)   Exercise  Price;   Adjustment  of  Number  of  Shares.   The
Exercise  Price  shall  be  subject  to  adjustment   from  time  to  time  as
hereinafter  provided.  Upon  each  adjustment  of  the  Exercise  Price,  the
Warrantholders  shall  thereafter  be entitled to  purchase,  at the  Exercise
Price  resulting  from  such  adjustment,  a number of  shares  determined  by
multiplying the Exercise Price in effect  immediately prior to such adjustment
by the number of shares  purchasable  pursuant hereto immediately prior t such
adjustment and dividing the product  thereof by the Exercise  Price  resulting
from such adjustment.

            (b)   Adjustment  of  Exercise  Price  Upon  Issuance  of  Common 
Stock.  If and whenever  after the date hereof the Company shall issue or sell
Additional   Shares  of  Common   Stock   without   consideration   or  for  a
consideration  per share less than the Current  Market  Price or the  Exercise
Price  then  in  effect  immediately  prior  to the  issuance  or sale of such
shares, then the Exercise

                                       5
<PAGE>

Price in effect  immediately  prior to such  issuance  or sale of such  shares
shall be reduced to a number  which shall be  calculated  by  dividing  (A) an
amount  equal  to the  sum  of (1)  the  number  of  shares  of  Common  Stock
outstanding  immediately  prior to such issue or sale  multiplied  by the then
existing  Exercise  Price  plus  (2)  the  aggregate  consideration,  if  any,
received by the Company  upon such issue or sale,  by (B) the total  number of
shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such issue or sale.

            No adjustment of the Exercise Price, however,  shall be made in an
amount  less than $.01 per  share,  but any such  lesser  adjustment  shall be
carried  forward  and  shall be made at the time  and  together  with the next
subsequent   adjustment  which,  together  with  any  adjustments  so  carried
forward, shall amount to $.01 per share or more.

            The  provisions  of this  Section  6(b) shall not apply to (i) any
Additional  Shares of Common Stock which are  distributed to holders of Common
Stock  pursuant to a stock split for which an adjustment is provided for under
Section 6(f), or (ii) any  additional  shares of Common Stock which are issued
upon exercise of options to purchase  Common Stock  outstanding as of the date
of issuance of this Warrant.

            (c)   Further  Provisions  for  Adjustment of Exercise Price Upon 
Issuance of  Additional  Shares of Common  Stock and  Convertible  Securities.
For  purposes  of  Section  6(b),  the  following  provisions  shall  also  be
applicable:

                  (i)   in case at any time on or after the date  hereof,  the
Company shall declare any dividend, or authorize any other distribution,  upon
any stock of the Company of any class,  payable in Additional Shares of Common
Stock or by the  issuance  of  Convertible  Securities,  such  declaration  or
distribution  shall be deemed to have  been  issued or sold (as of the  record
date)  without  consideration  and shall  thereby  cause an  adjustment in the
Exercise Price as required by Section 6(b).

                  (ii)  (A)   In  case  at  any  time  on or  after  the  date
hereof,  the  Company  shall  in any  manner  issue  or sell  any  Convertible
Securities,  whether or not the rights to exchange or convert  thereunder  are
immediately  exercisable,  there shall be  determined  the price per share for
which  Additional  Shares of Common Stock are issuable upon the  conversion or
exchange  thereof,  such  determination  to be made by dividing  (a) the total
amount  received or receivable by the Company as  consideration  for the issue
or sale of such Convertible  Securities,  plus the minimum aggregate amount of
additional  consideration,  if any, payable to the Company upon the conversion
or exchange thereof by (b) the maximum  aggregate number of Additional  Shares
of Common Stock issuable upon  conversion or exchange of all such  Convertible
Securities for such minimum aggregate amount of additional consideration;  and
such  issue or sale shall be deemed to be an issue or sale for cash (as of the
date of issue or sale of such  Convertible  Securities) of such maximum number
of  Additional  Shares of Common  Stock at the price per share so  determined,
and shall  thereby  cause an  adjustment  in the  Exercise  Price,  if such an
adjustment is required by Section 6(b) hereof.

                                       6
<PAGE>

                        (B)   If such  Convertible  Securities  shall by their
terms  provide for an increase or  increases,  withe  passage of time,  in the
amount of additional consideration,  if any, payable to the Company, or in the
rate of  exchange  upon the  conversion  or  exchange  thereof,  the  adjusted
Exercise Price shall, upon any such increase becoming effective,  be increased
to such Exercise Price as would have been in effect had the  adjustments  made
upon the issuance of such  Convertible  Securities been made upon the basis of
(and the  total  consideration  received  therefor)  (a) the  issuance  of the
number of  shares of Common  Stock  theretofore  actually  delivered  upon the
exercise  of such  Convertible  Securities,  (b) the  issuance  of all  Common
Stock,  all  Convertible  Securities  and all rights and  options to  purchase
Common Stock issued after the  issuance of such  Convertible  Securities,  and
(c) the  original  issuance  at the time of such  change  of such  Convertible
Securities then still outstanding;  provided,  however, that any such increase
or increases  shall not exceed,  in the aggregate,  the amount of the original
reduction of the Exercise Price attributable to the Convertible Securities.

                        (C)   If  any  rights  of   conversion   or   exchange
evidenced by such  Convertible  Securities  shall expire  without  having been
exercised,  the adjusted  Exercise Price shall forthwith be readjusted to such
Exercise Price as would have been in effect had an adjustment  with respect to
such  Convertible  Securities  been made on the basis that the only Additional
shares of Common Stock  issued or sold were those  issued upon the  conversion
or exchange of such Convertible Securities,  and that they were issued or sold
for the  consideration  actually  received by the Company upon such  exercise,
plus the  consideration,  if any,  actually  received  by the  Company for the
granting of such Convertible Securities.

                  (iii) (A)   In  case  at  any  time  on or  after  the  date
hereof,  the Company  shall in any manner grant or issue any rights or options
to subscribe  for purchase or otherwise  acquire  Additional  Shares of Common
Stock,  whether or not such  rights or options  are  immediately  exercisable,
there shall be determined  the price per share for such  Additional  Shares of
Common  Stock are issuable  upon the exercise of such rights or options,  such
determination  to be made by dividing (a) the total amount,  if any,  received
or receivable by the Company as consideration  for the granting of such rights
or options, plus the minimum aggregate amount of additional consideration,  if
any,  payable to the  Company  upon the  exercise of such rights or options if
the maximum  number of Additional  Shares were issued  pursuant to such rights
or options for such minimum aggregate amount of additional  consideration,  by
(b) the maximum  number of  Additional  Shares of Common  Stock of the Company
issuable  upon the  exercise of all such  rights or options  for such  minimum
aggregate amount of additional consideration;  and the granting of such rights
or options  shall be deemed to be an issue or sale for cash (as of the date of
the granting of such rights or options) of such maximum  number of  Additional
Shares  of  Common  Stock at the  price  per  share so  determined,  and shall
thereby cause an adjustment  in the Exercise  Price,  if such an adjustment is
required by Section 6(b) hereof.

                        (B)   If such  rights or options  shall by their terms
provide for an increase or  increases,  with passage of time, in the amount of
additional  consideration  payable to the Company upon the  exercise  thereof,
the adjusted Exercise Price shall, upon any such increases

                                       7
<PAGE>

becoming effective,  be increased to such Exercise Price as would have been in
effect had the  adjustments  made upon the  issuance of such rights or options
been made upon the basis of (and the total  consideration  received  therefor)
(a) the issuance of the number of shares of Common Stock theretofore  actually
delivered  upon the  exercise of such rights or options,  (b) the  issuance of
all Common  Stock,  all  rights and  options  and all  Convertible  Securities
issued  after the  issuance of such rights and  options,  and (c) the original
issuance at the time of such  change of any such rights or options  then still
outstanding;  provided,  however,  that any such  increase or increases in the
Exercise Price shall not exceed, in the aggregate,  the amount of the original
reduction of the Exercise  Price  attributable  to the grant of such rights or
options.

                        (C)   If any  such  rights  or  options  shall  expire
without having been exercised,  the adjusted Exercise Price shall forthwith be
readjusted  to  such  Exercise  Price  as wold  have  been  in  effect  had an
adjustment  with respect to such rights or options been made on the basis that
the only  Additional  Shares  of Common  Stock so  issued  or sold were  those
issued or sold upon the  exercise of such rights or options and that they were
issued or sold for the  consideration  actually  received by the Company  upon
such  exercise,  plus the  consideration,  if any,  actually  received  by the
Company for the granting of such rights or options.

                  (iv)  (A)   In  case  at  any  time  on or  after  the  date
hereof,  the  Company  shall  grant any rights or options  to  subscribe  for,
purchase  or  otherwise  acquire  Convertible   Securities,   there  shall  be
determined  the price per share for which  Additional  Shares of Common  Stock
are issuable upon the exchange or conversion  of such  Convertible  Securities
if such rights or options were  exercised,  such  determination  to be made by
dividing (a) the total amount,  if any,  received or receivable by the Company
as consideration for the issuance of such rights or options,  plus the minimum
aggregate amount of additional  consideration,  if any, payable to the Company
upon  the  exercise  of such  rights  or  options  if the  maximum  number  of
Convertible  Securities  were  issued  pursuant  to such rights or options for
such minimum  aggregate amount of additional  consideration,  plus the minimum
aggregate amount of additional  consideration,  if any, payable to the Company
upon the exchange or conversion of such Convertible  Securities if the maximum
number  of  Additional   Shares  were  issued  pursuant  to  such  Convertible
Securities for such minimum aggregate amount of additional  consideration,  by
(b) the  maximum  aggregate  number  of  Additional  Shares  of  Common  Stock
issuable  upon the exchange or conversion of the  Convertible  Securities  for
such minimum  aggregate amount of additional  consideration;  and the issue or
sale of such  rights  or  options  shall be  deemed to be an issue or sale for
cash  (as of the date of the  granting  of such  rights  or  options)  of such
minimum number of Additional  Shares of Common Stock at the price per share so
determined,  and thereby shall cause an adjustment in the Exercise  Price,  if
such an adjustment is required by Section 6(b).

                        (B)   If such  rights or options to  subscribe  for or
otherwise acquire  Convertible  Securities shall by their terms provide for an
increase or  increases,  with the passage of time, in the amount of additional
consideration   payable  to  the  Company  upon  the  exercise,   exchange  or
conversion  thereof,  the adjusted  Exercise  Price shall,  forthwith upon any
such  increase  becoming  effective,  be increased to such  Exercise  Price as
would have been in effect had the adjustments made

                                       8
<PAGE>

upon the  issuances of such rights or options been made upon the basis of (and
the total  consideration  received therefor) (a) the issuance of the number of
shares of Common  Stock  therefore  actually  delivered  upon the  exchange or
conversion  of such  Convertible  Securities,  (b) the issuances of all Common
Stock and all rights,  options and  Convertible  Securities  issued  after the
issuance  of such rights and options  and (c) the  original  issuances  at the
time of such change of any such  rights,  options and  Convertible  Securities
issued  upon  exercise  of  such  rights  or  options  which  are  then  still
outstanding;  provided, however, that any such increase or increases shall not
exceed,  in the  aggregate,  the  amount  of  the  original  reduction  of the
Exercise Price attributable to the grant of such rights or options.

                        (C)   If  any  such  rights,   options  or  rights  of
conversion or exchange of such  convertible  Securities  shall expire  without
having been  exercised,  exchanged or converted,  the adjusted  Exercise Price
shall  forthwith be readjusted  to such  Exercise  Price as would have been in
effect had an  adjustment  been made with respect to such  rights,  options or
rights of conversion or exchange of such  Convertible  Securities on the basis
that the only  Additional  Shares of Common Stock so issued or sold were those
issued or sold upon the  exercise of such  rights or options  and  exchange or
conversion of such  Convertible  Securities  and that they were issued or sold
for the  consideration  actually received by the Company upon exercise of such
rights and options and exchange or conversion of such Convertible  Securities,
plus the  consideration  if any,  actually  received  by the  Company  for the
granting of such rights, options or Convertible Securities.

                  (v)   In any case where an  adjustment  has been made in the
Exercise  Price upon the issuance of  Convertible  Securities or any rights or
options to purchase  Convertible  Securities  or  Additional  Shares of Common
Stock  pursuant to this Section 6(c), no further  adjustment  shall be made at
the time of the conversion of any such  Convertible  Securities or at the time
of the exercise of any such rights or options.

                  (vi)  In case at any time on or after the  issuance  of this
Warrant any shares of Common Stock or Convertible  Securities  shall be issued
or sold for a consideration  other than cash, the amount of the  consideration
other than cash  payable to the  company  shall be deemed to be the Fair Value
of such  consideration.  Whether or not the consideration so received is cash,
the amount thereof shall be determined after deducting  therefrom any expenses
incurred or any  underwriting  commissions or concessions or discounts paid or
allowed by the Company in connection therewith.

                  (vii) In case at any time  the  company  shall  fix a record
date of the holders of its Common Stock for the purpose of entitling  them (a)
to  receive  a  dividend  or  other  distribution  payable  in  Common  Stock,
Convertible  Securities or rights or options to purchase  either  thereof,  or
(b) to subscribe  for or purchase  Common  Stock,  Convertible  Securities  or
rights or options to purchase either  thereof,  then such record date shall be
deemed  to be the date of the  issue or sale of the  shares  of  Common  Stock
deemed,  pursuant to this Section  6(c),  to have been issued or sold upon the
declaration of such dividend or the making of such other  distribution  or the
date of the granting of such right of  subscription  or purchase,  as the case
may be.

                                       9
<PAGE>

                  (viii)      The   number   of   shares   of   Common   Stock
outstanding  at any given time shall not  include  shares  owned or held by or
for the account of the Company,  and the  disposition of any such shares shall
be  considered  an issue or sale of  Common  Stock  for the  purposes  of this
Section 6(c).

            (d)   Reorganization, Reclassification,  Consolidation, Merger or 
Sale. If any capital  reorganization or  reclassification of the capital stock
of the  Company,  or any  consolidation  or merger of the Company with another
corporation,  or the sale of all or substantially all of its assets to another
corporation  shall be  effected  in such a way that  holders  of Common  Stock
shall be entitled to receive  cash,  stock,  securities or assets with respect
to  or  in  exchange  for  Common   Stock,   then,  as  a  condition  of  such
reorganization,  reclassification,  consolidation,  merger or sale, lawful and
adequate provisions shall be made whereby the Warrantholders  shall thereafter
have the right to purchase  and receive  upon the basis and upon the terms and
conditions  specified  in this  Warrant  upon  exercise of this Warrant and in
lieu of the shares of the Common  Stock of the Company  immediately  therefore
purchasable  and  receivable  upon  the  exercise  of the  rights  represented
hereby,  such cash, shares of stock,  securities or assets as may be issued or
payable with respect to or in exchange for a number of  outstanding  shares of
Common  Stock equal to the number of shares of such Common  Stock  immediately
therefore   purchasable  and  receivable  upon  the  exercise  of  the  rights
represented  hereby, and in any such case appropriate  provision shall be made
with respect to the rights and interest of the  Warrantholders to the end that
the  provisions  hereof  (including,   without   limitation,   provisions  for
adjustments of the Exercise Price and of the number of shares  purchasable and
receivable upon the exercise of this Warrant) shall  thereafter be applicable,
as nearly as may be, in relation to any shares of stock,  securities or assets
thereafter  deliverable  upon the  exercise  hereof.  The  Company  shall  not
effect any  consolidation,  merger or sale of all or substantially  all of the
assets of the Company unless prior to or  simultaneous  with the  consummation
thereof the successor  corporation (if other than the Company)  resulting from
such  consolidation,  merger or  purchase  of such  assets  shall  assume,  by
written  instrument  executed and mailed or  delivered to the  Warrantholders,
the  obligation  to  deliver  to  such   Warrantholders  such  cash  (or  cash
equivalent),  shares of stock, securities or assets as, in accordance with the
foregoing  provisions,  the  Warrantholders  may be  entitled  to receive  and
containing  the express  assumption of such  successor  corporation of the due
and punctual  performance  and observance of each provision of this Warrant to
be  performed  and  observed  by  the  Company  and  of  all  liabilities  and
obligations of the Company hereunder;  provided,  however,  in the case of any
consolidation  or merger of the Company with another  corporation  or the sale
of all or substantially all of its assets to another  corporation  effected in
such a manner  that the  holders of Common  Stock shall be entitled to receive
stock,  securities  or assets with respect to or in exchange for Common Stock,
then, at the election of each Warrantholder,  in lieu of receiving such stock,
securities or assets,  such Warrantholder shall receive cash equal to the Fair
Value of the Common Stock  issuable  upon  exercise of the  Warrant,  less the
Exercise Price payable upon exercise thereof.

                  In  case  any   Additional   Shares  of   Common   Stock  or
Convertible  Securities  or any rights or options to purchase  any  Additional
Shares  of  Common  Stock  or  Convertible   Securities  shall  be  issued  in
connection  with any  merger of  another  corporation  into the  Company,  the
amount of consideration  therefor shall be deemed to be the Fair Value of such
portion of the assets of such

                                       10
<PAGE>

merged  corporation  as the Board of  Directors  of the Company  shall in good
faith determine to be attributable to such Additional  Shares of Common Stock,
Convertible  Securities  or rights  or  options,  as the case may be,  and the
Exercise Price shall be adjusted in accordance with this Section 6(d).

            (e)   Company  to  Prevent  Dilution.  In case at any time or from
time to time  conditions  arise by reason of action taken by the Company which
are not  adequately  covered by the  provisions  of this  Section 6, and which
might   materially   and   adversely   affect  the  exercise   rights  of  the
Warrantholders  under any  provision of this  Warrant,  unless the  adjustment
necessary  shall be agreed  upon by the Company  and the  Warrantholders,  the
Board  of  Directors  of the  Company  shall  appoint  a firm  of  independent
certified  public  accountants of recognized  national  standing (who have not
been  employed by the Company  within the last five years),  acceptable to the
Warrantholders,  what the Company's  expense shall give their opinion upon the
adjustment,  if any, on a basis  consistent with the standards  established in
the  other  provisions  of this  Section  6,  necessary  with  respect  to the
Exercise  Price and the  number of shares  purchasable  upon  exercise  of the
Warrants,  so as to preserve,  without  dilution,  the exercise  rights of the
Warrantholders.  Upon receipt of such opinion,  such Board of Directors  shall
forthwith make the adjustments described therein.

            (f)   Stock  Splits and  Reverse  Splits.  In case at any time the
Company shall subdivide its outstanding  shares of Common Stock into a greater
number of  shares,  the  Exercise  Price in effect  immediately  prior to such
subdivision  shall be  proportionately  reduced  and the  number  of shares of
Common Stock  purchasable  pursuant to this Warrant  immediately prior to such
subdivision shall be  proportionately  increased,  and conversely,  in case at
any time the Company  shall  combine its  outstanding  shares of Common  Stock
into a smaller  number of shares,  the  Exercise  Price in effect  immediately
prior to such combination  shall be  proportionately  increased and the number
of  shares of Common  Stock  purchasable  upon the  exercise  of this  Warrant
immediately prior to such combination shall be proportionately reduced.

            (g)   Dissolution,   Liquidation  and  Winding-Up.   In  case  the
Company shall, at any time prior to the expiration of this Warrant,  dissolve,
liquidate or wind up its affairs, the Warrantholders  shall be entitled,  upon
the  exercise of this  Warrant,  to  receive,  in lieu of the shares of Common
Stock of the Company  which such  Warrantholders  would have been  entitled to
receive,  the same  kind and  amount of  assets  as would  have  been  issued,
distributed  or  paid  to  such  Warrantholders  upon  any  such  dissolution,
liquidation  or winding up with  respect to such shares of Common Stock of the
Company,  had such  Warrantholders  been the  holders of record of the Warrant
Shares  receivable  upon the  exercise of this  Warrant on the record date for
the  determination  of those persons  entitled to receive any such liquidating
distribution.  After any such  dissolution,  liquidation  or  winding up which
shall  result  in any  cash  distribution  in  excess  of the  Exercise  Price
provided  for  by  this  Warrant,   the  Warrantholders   may,  at  each  such
Warrantholder's  option,  exercise  the same  without  making  payment  of the
Exercise Price,  and in such case the Company shall,  upon the distribution to
said  Warrantholders,  consider that said Exercise Price has been paid in full
to it and in making settlement to said  Warrantholders,  shall deduct from the
amount payable to such Warrantholders an amount equal to such Exercise Price.

                                       11
<PAGE>

            (h)   Noncash  Consideration.  In case any  Additional  Shares  of
Common Stock or  Convertible  Securities  or any rights or options to purchase
any  Additional  Shares of Common  Stock or  Convertible  Securities  shall be
issued for a  consideration  in a form  other  than  cash,  the amount of such
consideration shall be deemed to be the Fair Value thereof.

            (i)   Accountants'  Certificate.  In each case of an adjustment in
the number of shares of Common  Stock or other stock,  securities  or property
receivable on the exercise of the  Warrants,  the Company at its expense shall
cause independent  public  accountants of recognized  standing selected by the
Company and  acceptable to the  Warrantholders  to compute such  adjustment in
accordance  with the terms of this Warrant and prepare a  certificate  setting
forth  such  adjustment  and  showing  in detail  the facts  upon  which  such
adjustment is based,  including a statement of (a) the consideration  received
or to be received by the Company for any  Additional  Shares of Common  Stock,
rights,  options or  Convertible  Securities  issued or sold or deemed to have
been  issued or sold,  (b) the number of shares of Common  Stock of each class
outstanding or deemed to be outstanding,  (c) the adjusted  Exercise Price and
(d) the number of shares  issuable upon exercise of this Warrant.  The Company
will forthwith mail a copy of each such certificate to each Warrantholder.

      7.    SPECIAL AGREEMENTS OF THE COMPANY.

            (a)   Reservation  of Shares.  The  Company  covenants  and agrees
that all Warrant Shares will,  upon issuance,  be validly  issued,  fully paid
and  nonassessable  and free from all preemptive rights of any stockholder and
from all taxes,  liens and  charges  with  respect to the issue  thereof.  The
Company  further  covenants and agrees that during the period within which the
rights  represented by this Warrant may be exercised,  the Company will at all
times have authorized,  and reserved,  a sufficient number of shares of Common
Stock to provide for the exercise of the rights  represented  by this Warrant.
The  Company  hereby  covenants  and agrees to take all such  action as may be
necessary  to assure  that the par value per share of the  Common  Stock is at
all times equal to or less than the Exercise Price.

            (b)   Avoidance  of Certain  Actions.  The  Company  will not,  by
amendment of its Certificate of Incorporation  or through any  reorganization,
transfer of assets,  consolidation,  merger,  issue or sale of  securities  or
otherwise,  avoid or take any action  which  would have the effect of avoiding
the  observance or performance of any of the terms to be observed or performed
hereunder  by the  Company,  but will at all  times in good  faith  assist  in
carrying out all of the  provisions  of this Warrant and in taking all of such
action as may be  necessary or  appropriate  in order to protect the rights of
the  Warrantholders  against  dilution  or other  impairment  of their  rights
hereunder.

            (c)   Securing  Governmental  Approvals.  If any  shares of Common
Stock  required to be reserved  for the  purposes of exercise of this  Warrant
require registration with or approval of any governmental  authority under any
federal  law  (other  than the  Securities  Act) or under any state law before
such shares may be issued upon exercise of this Warrant,  the Company will, at
its  expense,  as  expeditiously  as  possible,  cause such  shares to be duly
registered or approved, as the case may be.

                                       12
<PAGE>

            (d)   Listing on Securities  Exchanges;  Registration.  If, and so
long as,  any  class of the  Company's  Common  Stock  shall be  listed on any
national  securities  exchange (as defined in the Exchange  Act),  the Company
will,  at its  expense,  obtain and  maintain  the  approval  for listing upon
official  notice of issuance of all Warrant Shares and maintain the listing of
Warrant  Shares  after their  issuance;  and the Company  will so list on such
national  securities  exchange,  will register  under the Exchange Act (or any
similar statute then in effect),  and will maintain such listing of, any other
securities  that at any time are issuable upon exercise of this Warrant if and
at the time any  securities of the same class shall be listed on such national
securities exchange by the Company.

            (e)   Information  Rights.  So  long  as the  Warrantholders  hold
this Warrant  and/or any of the Warrant  Shares,  the Company shall deliver to
the  Warrantholders  (i) promptly after mailing,  copies of all communications
to the  shareholders  of the Company,  (ii) within  ninety (90) days after the
end of  each  fiscal  year  of  the  Company,  the  annual  audited  financial
statements of the Company certified by the independent  public  accountants of
recognized  standing,  and (iii) within  forty-five (45) days after the end of
each  of  the  first  three  quarters  of  each  fiscal  year,  the  Company's
quarterly, unaudited financial statements.

            (f)   Restrictions  on Public  Sale by the  Company.  In the event
of an  underwritten  offering by the Company made  pursuant to a  registration
statement  filed  pursuant  to Sections  11(a) or 11(b) the  Company  will not
effect any public or private sale or distribution  of its convertible  debt or
equity securities,  including a sale under Regulation D of the Securities Act,
for such  period of time (not to  exceed 90 days) as may be  requested  by the
underwriters  subject to  customary  exceptions;  and the Company  shall cause
each holder of its  privately  placed  convertible  debt or equity  securities
issued by it at any time on or after the date of this  Warrant to agree not to
effect any public  sale or  distribution  of any such  securities  during such
period,  including  a sale  pursuant  to  Rule  144 or  Rule  144A  under  the
Securities Act.

            (g)   Preemptive  Rights.  In the event the Company  offers to the
Company's  shareholders  the right to purchase any  securities of the Company,
then all shares of Common Stock  issuable  pursuant to the  Warrants  shall be
deemed to be issued and  outstanding  and held by the  Warrantholders  and the
Warrantholders shall be entitled to participate in such rights offering.

            (h)   Compliance  with Law.  The  Company  shall  comply  with all
applicable  laws,  rules  and  regulations  of the  Untied  States  and of all
states,  municipalities and agencies and of any other jurisdiction  applicable
to the Company and shall do all things  necessary to preserve,  renew and keep
in full force and effect and in good  standing  its  corporate  existence  and
authority necessary to continue its business.

      8.    FRACTIONAL  SHARES.  No  fractional  shares or scrip  representing
fractional  shares  shall be issued upon the  exercise of this  Warrant.  With
respect to any  fraction  of a share  called  for upon  exercise  hereof,  the
Company  shall  pay to the  Warrantholder  an  amount  in cash  equal  to such
fraction multiplied by the Current Market Value of one share of Common Stock.

                                       13
<PAGE>

      9.    NOTICES OF STOCK  DIVIDENDS,  SUBSCRIPTIONS,  RECLASSIFICATIONS,  
CONSOLIDATIONS,  MERGERS,  ETC. If at any time:  (i) the Company shall declare
a cash  dividend  (or an  increase in the then  existing  dividend  rate),  or
declare a dividend on Common Stock payable  otherwise  than in cash out of its
net earnings  after taxes for the prior fiscal year; or (ii) the Company shall
authorize  the  granting to the holders of Common Stock of rights to subscribe
for or  purchase  any  shares  of  capital  stock of any class or of any other
rights;   or  (iii)   there   shall   be  any   capital   reorganization,   or
reclassification,  or  redemption  of the  capital  stock of the  Company,  or
consolidation  or merger of the Company  with or sale of all or  substantially
all of its assets to,  another  corporation  or firm; or (iv) there shall be a
voluntary  or  involuntary  dissolution,  liquidation  or  winding  up of  the
Company,  then the Company shall give to the  Warrantholders  at the addresses
of such  Warrantholders as shown on the books of the Company,  at least twenty
(20)  days  prior to the  applicable  record  date  hereinafter  specified,  a
written  notice  summarizing  such action or event and stating the record date
for any such  dividend or rights (or, if a record date is not to be  selected,
the date as of which the  holders of Common  Stock of record  entitled to such
dividend  or  rights  are to be  determined),  the  date  on  which  any  such
reorganization,  reclassification,  consolidation,  merger,  sale  of  assets,
dissolution,  liquidation or winding up is expected to become  effective,  and
the date as of which it is  expected  the  holders  of Common  Stock of record
shall be entitled to effect any  exchange of their  shares of Common Stock for
cash (or cash equivalent),  securities or other property  deliverable upon any
such reorganization, reclassification,  consolidation, merger, sale of assets,
dissolution, liquidation or winding up.

      10.   REGISTERED HOLDER; TRANSFER OF WARRANTS OR WARRANT SHARES.

            (a)   Maintenance  of  Registered   books;   Ownership  of  this  
Warrant.  The Company shall keep at its  principal  office a register in which
the Company  shall provide for the  registration,  transfer and change of this
Warrant.  The  Company  shall not at any time,  except  upon the  dissolution,
liquidation or winding-up of the Company,  close such register so as to result
in preventing or delaying the exercise or transfer of this Warrant.

            (b)   Exchange  and  Replacement.  This  Warrant  is  exchangeable
upon  surrender  hereof  by  the  registered  holder  to  the  Company  at its
principal  office for new Warrants of like tenor and date  representing in the
aggregate  the right to purchase the number of shares  purchasable  hereunder,
each of such new  Warrants to represent  the right to purchase  such number of
shares  as  shall  be  designated  by said  registered  holder  at the time of
surrender.  This Warrant and all rights  hereunder are  transferable  in whole
or in part upon the books of the Company by the  registered  holder  hereof in
person or by duly  authorized  attorney,  and new  Warrants  shall be made and
delivered  by the  Company,  of the same  tenor  and date as this  Warrant  bu
registered in the name of the  transferee(s)  upon  surrender of this Warrant,
duly endorsed,  to said office of the Company.  Upon receipt by the Company of
evidence  reasonably  satisfactory  to it of the loss,  theft,  destruction or
mutilation  of this  Warrant,  and upon  surrender  and  cancellation  of this
Warrant,  if  mutilated,  the  Company  will make and deliver a new Warrant of
like tenor,  in lieu of this  Warrant,  without  requiring  the posting of any
bond or the  giving of any other  security.  This  Warrant  shall be  promptly
canceled by the  Company  upon the  surrender  hereof in  connection  with any
exchange, transfer or replacement.

                                       14
<PAGE>

The  Company  shall  pay all  expenses,  taxes and other  charges  payable  in
connection with the preparation,  execution and delivery of Warrants  pursuant
to this Section 10.

            (c)   Warrants and Warrant  Shares Not  Registered.  The holder of
this Warrant,  by accepting  this Warrant,  represents and  acknowledges  that
this  Warrant  and the  Warrant  Shares  are not  being  registered  under the
Securities  Act on the  grounds  that the  issuance  of this  Warrant  and the
offering and sale of such Warrant  Shares are exempt from  registration  under
Section 4(2) of the Securities Act as not involving any public offering.

      11.   REGISTRATION.

            (a)   Required  Registration.  Whenever the Company  shall receive
a written  request  therefor from any holder or holders of at least 50% of the
Registrable  Stock, the Company shall promptly prepare and file a registration
statement  under the  Securities Act covering the  Registrable  Stock which is
the  subject  of such  request  and shall use its best  efforts  to cause such
registration  statement  to become  effective  as  expeditiously  as possible;
provided  that the  Company's  obligations  under this Section  11(a) shall be
limited to one required  registration  only. Upon the receipt of such request,
the Company shall  promptly give written  notice to all holders of Registrable
Stock that such  registration is to be effected.  The Company shall include in
such  registration  statement such Registrable Stock for which it has received
written  requests to register such shares by the holders thereof within thirty
(30) days after the  effectiveness  of the  Company's  written  notice to such
other holders.  Except as hereinafter expressly provided,  without the written
consent of the  holders of a majority of the shares of  Registrable  Stock for
which  registration has been requested  pursuant to this Section,  neither the
Company  nor any  other  holder  of  securities  of the  Company  may  include
securities in such registration.

            (b)   Incidental   Registration.   Each  time  the  Company  shall
determine to file a  registration  statement  under the  Securities Act (other
than on From S-8 or Form S-4) in connection  with the proposed  offer and sale
for money of any of its securities by it or by any of its securities  holders,
the company will give written  notice of its  determination  to all holders of
Registrable  Stock.  Upon  written  request  of a  holder  of any  Registrable
Stock,  the  Company  will cause all such  Registrable  Stock,  the holders of
which  have  so  requested  registration  thereof,  to  be  included  in  such
registration  statement,  all to the  extent  requisite  to permit the sale or
other  disposition  by the  prospective  seller or sellers of the  Registrable
Stock  to be so  registered  in  accordance  with the  terms  of the  proposed
offering.   If  the  registration   statement  is  to  cover  an  underwritten
distribution,  the Company shall use its best efforts to cause the Registrable
Stock  requested for  inclusion  pursuant to this Section 11(b) to be included
in the  underwriting  on the  same  terms  and  conditions  as the  securities
otherwise  being  sold  through  the  underwriters.  If,  in  the  good  faith
judgment of the managing  underwriter of such public  offering,  the inclusion
of all the Registrable  Stock requested to be registered  would materially and
adversely  affect the successful  marketing of the other shares proposed to be
offered,  then the  amount  of the  Registrable  Stock to be  included  in the
offering  shall be reduced and the  Registrable  Stock and the other shares to
be offered shall  participate  in such  offering as follows:  the shares to be
sold by the company, the Registrable Stock to be included in

                                       15
<PAGE>

such  offering  and the other  shares of Common  Stock to be  included in such
offering  shall each be reduced pr rata in  proportion to the number of shares
of Common  Stock  proposed to be  included in such  offering by each holder of
such shares and by the Company.

            (c)   Registration  Procedures.  If and  whenever  the  Company is
required  by  the   provisions  of  Section  11(a)  or  11(b)  to  effect  the
registration of Registrable  Stock under the Securities Act, the Company will,
at its expense, expeditiously as possible:

                  (i)   In accordance  with the  Securities  Act and the rules
and  regulations  of the  Commission,  prepare and file with the  Commission a
registration  statement on the form of registration statement appropriate with
respect  to  such   securities   and  use  its  best  efforts  to  cause  such
registration  statement to become and remain  effective  until the  securities
covered by such  registration  statement  have been sold, and prepare and file
with  the  Commission  such  amendments  to such  registration  statement  and
supplements  to the prospectus  contained  therein as may be necessary to keep
such  registration  statement  effective and such  registration  statement and
prospectus  accurate  and  complete  until  the  securities  covered  by  such
registration statement have been sold;

                  (ii)  If the offering is to be underwritten,  in whole or in
part,  enter into a written  underwriting  agreement  with the  holders of the
Registrable  Stock  participating in such offering and the underwriter in form
and  substance  reasonably  satisfactory  to the managing  underwriter  of the
public  offering and the holders of the  Registrable  Stock  participating  in
such offering;

                  (iii) Furnish to the holders of securities  participating in
such  registration  and to the underwriters of the securities being registered
such reasonable  number of copies of the registration  statement,  preliminary
prospectus  and such other  documents  as such  underwriters  and  holders may
reasonably  request  in  order  to  facilitate  the  public  offering  of such
securities;

                  (iv)  Use its  best  efforts  to  register  or  qualify  the
securities covered by such registration  statement under such state securities
or blue sky  laws of such  jurisdictions  as such  participating  holders  and
underwriters may reasonably request.

                  (v)   Notify    the    holders    participating    in   such
registration,  promptly after it shall receive notice thereof, of the date and
time  when  such  registration  statement  and each  post-effective  amendment
thereto has become effective or a supplement to any prospectus  forming a part
of such registration statement has been filed;

                  (vi)  Notify  such  holders  promptly  of any request by the
Commission for the amending or  supplementing of such  registration  statement
or prospectus or for additional information;

                  (vii) Prepare and file with the  Commission,  promptly  upon
the  request  of any such  holders,  any  amendments  or  supplements  to such
registration statement or prospectus

                                       16
<PAGE>

which,  in the opinion of counsel  for such  holders,  is  required  under the
Securities Act or the rules and regulations  thereunder in connection with the
distribution or the Registrable Stock by such holders;

                  (viii)      Prepare and promptly  file with the  Commission,
and  promptly  notify  such  holders  of the  filing of,  such  amendments  or
supplements to such  registration  statement or prospectus as may be necessary
to correct  any  statements  or  omissions  if, at the time when a  prospectus
relating to such  securities is required to be delivered  under the Securities
Act, any event has occurred as the result of which any such  prospectus or any
other  prospectus  is then in effect  may  include  an untrue  statement  of a
material  fact or omit to  state  any  material  fact  required  to be  stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading;

                  (ix)  In case any of such  holders  or any  underwriter  for
any such  holders  is  required  to  deliver a  prospectus  at a time when the
prospectus  then in circulation  is not in compliance  with the Securities Act
or the rules and regulations of the Commission,  prepare promptly upon request
such  amendments  or  supplements  to such  registration  statement  and  such
prospectus  as may be  necessary in order for such  prospectus  to comply with
the requirements of the Securities Act and such rules and regulations;

                  (x)   Advise such holders,  promptly  after it shall receive
notice or obtain knowledge  thereof,  of the issuance of any stop order by the
Commission suspending the effectiveness of such registration  statement or the
initiation or  threatening of any proceeding for that purpose and promptly use
its best  efforts to prevent  the  issuance of any stop order or to obtain its
withdrawal if such stop order should be issued;

                  (xi)  If   requested   by  the   managing   underwriter   or
underwriters  or a holder of Registrable  Stock being sold in connection  with
an underwritten offering,  immediately  incorporate in a prospectus supplement
or post-effective  amendment such information as the managing underwriters and
the holders of a majority of the Registrable  Stock being sold agree should be
included  therein  relating to the plan of  distribution  with respect to such
Registrable  Stock,  including  information  with  respect to the  Registrable
Stock being sold to such  underwriters,  the purchase  price being paid for by
such  underwriters and with respect to any other terms of the underwritten (or
best efforts  underwritten)  offering of the  Registrable  Stock to be sold in
such offering;  and make all required filings of such prospectus supplement or
post-effective   amendment   as  soon  as   notified  of  the  matters  to  be
incorporated in such prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment;

                  (xii) Cooperate  with the  selling  holders  of  Registrable
Stock  and  the  managing  underwriters,  if any,  to  facilitate  the  timely
preparation and delivery of certificates  representing Registrable Stock to be
sold and not  bearing any  restrictive  legends;  and enable such  Registrable
Stock  to be in  such  denominations  and  registered  in  such  names  as the
managing  underwriters  may  request at least two  business  days prior to any
sale of Registrable Securities to the underwriters;

                                       17
<PAGE>

                  (xiii)      Prepare    a    prospectus     supplement     or
post-effective   amendment  to  the  registration  statement  or  the  related
prospectus  or any  document  incorporated  therein by  reference  or file any
other  required  documents so that, as thereafter  delivered to the purchasers
of the Registrable  Stock, the prospectus will not contain an untrue statement
of material  fact or omit to state any  material  fact  necessary  to make the
statements therein not misleading;

                  (xiv) Enter into such agreements  (including an underwriting
agreement)  and take all such other actions in  connection  therewith in order
to expedite or facilitate the disposition of such  Registrable  Securities and
in such connection,  whether or not an underwriting  agreement is entered into
and whether or not the registration is an underwritten registration:

                        (A)   make such  representations and warranties to the
holders  of such  Registrable  Stock and the  underwriters,  if any,  in form,
substance  and scope as are  customarily  made by issuers to  underwriters  in
primary underwritten offerings;

                        (B)   If an  underwriting  agreement is entered  into,
the  same  shall  set  forth  in  full  the  indemnification   provisions  and
procedures  of  Section  11(e)  hereof  with  respect  to  all  parties  to be
indemnified pursuant to said Section; and

                        (C)   The Company  shall  deliver such  documents  and
certificates  as may  be  requested  by the  holders  of the  majority  of the
Registrable  Stock  being  sold  and the  managing  underwriters,  if any,  to
evidence  compliance  with  the  terms  of this  Section  11(c)  and  with any
customary  conditions  contained  in  the  underwriting   agreement  or  other
agreement entered into by the Company.

                              The above  shall be done at each  closing  under
such  underwriting  or  similar  agreement  or as and to the  extend  required
thereunder;

                  (xv)  Make available for inspection by a  representative  of
the  holders  of  a  majority  of  the  Registrable   Stock,  any  underwriter
participating  in any disposition  pursuant to a registration  statement,  and
any  attorney  or  accountant  retained  by the  sellers or  underwriter,  all
financial and other records,  pertinent  corporate documents and properties of
the Company,  and cause the  Company's  officers,  directors  and employees to
supply  all  information  reasonably  requested  by any  such  representative,
underwriter,  attorney or accountant in connection with the preparation of the
registration statement;  provided, that any records,  information or documents
that are  designated by the Company in writing as  confidential  shall be kept
confidential  by such persons unless  disclosure of such records,  information
or documents is required by court or administrative order;

                  (xvi) Otherwise  use its best  efforts  to  comply  with all
applicable  rules  and  regulations  of the  Commission,  and  make  generally
available to the Company's  security holders,  earning  statements  satisfying
the  provisions  of  Section  11(a)  of the  Securities  Act,  no  later  than
forty-five  (45) days after the end of any twelve (12) month period (or ninety
(90) days,  if such a period is a fiscal  year) (i)  commencing  at the end of
any fiscal quarter in which Registrable Stock is sold to

                                       18
<PAGE>

underwriters in an underwritten  offering,  or, if not sold to underwriters in
such an offering,  (ii) beginning with the first month of the Company's  first
fiscal  quarter  commencing  after  the  effective  date  of the  registration
statement;

                  (xvii)      Not file any  amendment  or  supplement  to such
registration  statement or  prospectus to which a majority in interest of such
holders has objected on the grounds that such  amendment  or  supplement  does
not comply in all material  respects with the  requirements  of the Securities
Act or the rules and regulations thereunder,  after having been furnished with
a copy  thereof at least five (5) business  days prior to the filing  thereof;
provided,  however,  that the  failure  of such  holders  or their  counsel to
review  or  object  to  any  amendment  or  supplement  to  such  registration
statement  or  prospectus  shall not affect the rights of such  holders or any
controlling  person or persons  thereof  or any  underwriter  or  underwriters
therefor under Section 11(e) hereof; and

                  (xviii)     At the  request of any such  holder (i)  furnish
to such holder on the  effective  date of the  registration  statement  or, if
such  registration  includes an underwritten  public offering,  at the closing
provided for in the underwriting  agreement;  an opinion,  dated such date, of
the counsel  representing  the Company for the purposes of such  registration,
addressed to the  underwriters,  if any,  and to the holder or holders  making
such  request,   covering  such  matters  with  respect  to  the  registration
statement,   the  prospectus   and  each  amendment  or  supplement   thereto,
proceedings  under state and federal  securities  laws, other matters relating
to the Company,  the  securities  being  registered  and the offer and sale of
such  securities  as are  customarily  the  subject of  opinions  of  issuer's
counsel provided to underwriters in underwritten  public  offerings,  and such
opinion of counsel  shall  additionally  cover such legal and factual  matters
with  respect to the  registration  as such  requesting  holder or holders may
reasonably  request,  and (ii) use its best  efforts to furnish to such holder
letters  dated  each  such  effective  date and such  closing  date,  from the
independent  certified  public  accountants  of the Company,  addressed to the
underwriters,  if any,  and to the  holder or  holders  making  such  request,
stating that they are  independent  certified  public  accountants  within the
meaning  of  the   Securities  Act  and  dealing  with  such  matters  as  the
underwriters  may request,  or, if the offering is not  underwritten,  that in
the opinion of such  accountants the financial  statements and other financial
data of the Company included in the  registration  statement or the prospectus
or any amendment or supplement  thereto  comply in all material  respects with
the  applicable   accounting   requirements   of  the   Securities   Act,  and
additionally  covering such other financial matters,  including information as
to the  period  ending  immediately  prior  to the  date of such  letter  with
respect to the  registration  statement  and  prospectus,  as such  requesting
holder or holders may reasonably request.

            (d)   Expenses  of  Registration.  All  expenses  incident  to the
Company's performance of or compliance with this Warrant,  including,  without
limitation,  the  following  shall  be  borne by the  Company,  regardless  of
whether the registration statement becomes effective:

                  (i)   All  registration  and filing  fees  (including  those
with respect to filings  required to be made with the National  Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc.);

                                       19
<PAGE>

                  (ii)  Fees and expenses of  compliance  with all  securities
or blue  sky  laws  (including  fees  and  disbursements  of  counsel  for the
underwriters or selling holders in connection with blue sky  qualifications of
the  Registrable   Stock  and  in  determination  of  their   eligibility  for
investment under the laws of such  jurisdictions as the managing  underwriters
or holders of a majority of the Registrable Stock being sold may designate);

                  (iii) Printing, messenger, telephone and delivery expenses;

                  (iv)  Fees and  disbursements of counsel for the Company and
for the sellers of the Registrable Stock as hereinafter provided;

                  (v)   Fees and  disbursements  of all independent  certified
public  accountants  of the  Company  (including  the  expenses of any special
audit and "comfort" letters required by or incident to such performance); and

                  (vi)  Fees and  expenses  of other  persons  retained by the
Company.

                        The  Company  will,  in any  event,  pay its  internal
expenses  (including  without  limitation,  all  salaries  and expenses of its
officers and employees  performing legal or accounting duties), the expense of
any annual  audit,  the fees and  expenses  incurred  in  connection  with the
listing of securities to be  registered on each  securities  exchange on which
similar  securities issued by the Company are then listed,  rating agency fees
and the fees and expenses of any person,  including special experts,  retained
by the Company.

                        In   connection   with  the   registration   statement
required  hereunder,  the Company will  reimburse  the holders of  Registrable
Stock  being  registered  pursuant  to  the  registration  statement  for  the
reasonable fees and  disbursements  of not more than one counsel (or more than
one counsel if conflict  exists among such selling  holders in the exercise of
the  reasonable  judgment of counsel  for the selling  holders and counsel for
the Company) chosen by the holders of a majority of such Registrable Stock.

            (e)   Indemnification.

                  (i)   The Company  hereby  agrees to  indemnify  each of the
holders  of  Registrable  Stock  against  all  claims,   losses,  damages  and
liabilities  (or  actions in respect  thereof)  arising out of or based on any
untrue  statement (or alleged  untrue  statement) of a material fact contained
in any  registration  statement,  preliminary  or final  prospectus,  or other
document  incident to any such  registration,  qualification or compliance (or
in any  related  registration  statement,  notification  or the  like)  or any
omission (or alleged  omission) to state  therein a material  fact required to
be stated therein or necessary to make the statements  therein not misleading,
or any  violation by the Company of any rule or regulation  promulgated  under
the  Securities  Act  applicable  to the  Company  and  relating  to action or
inaction  required of the Company in  connection  with any such  registration,
qualification  or  compliance,  and to  reimburse  the holders of  Registrable
Stock (including

                                       20
<PAGE>

officers and directors of the same and controlling  persons) for any legal and
any other expenses  reasonably  incurred in connection with  investigating  or
defending  any  such  claim,  loss,  damage,   liability  or  action,provided,
however,  that the  Company  will not be liable in any such case to the extent
that any such claim,  loss,  damage or liability  arises out of or is based on
any untrue statement or omission based upon written  information  furnished to
the  Company by the holders of the  Registrable  Stock in an  instrument  duly
executed by Warrantholders and stated to be specifically for use therein.

                  (ii)  The holders of the  Registrable  Stock  severally  and
not jointly  agree to indemnify the Company and its officers and directors and
each person,  if any,  who controls any thereof  within the meaning of Section
15 of the Securities Act and their respective  successors  against all claims,
losses,  damages and liabilities (or actions in respect  thereof)  arising out
of or based on any  untrue  statement  of a  material  fact  contained  in any
prospectus,  offering  circular  or  document  incident  to any  registration,
qualification or compliance  relating to securities  purchased pursuant to the
Warrants (or in any related registration statement,  notification or the like)
or any  omission  (or  alleged  omission)  to state  therein a  material  fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements  therein not
misleading  and will  reimburse the Company and each other person  indemnified
pursuant  to this  subsection  (ii)  for any  legal  and  any  other  expenses
reasonably  incurred in connection  with  investigating  or defending any such
claim,  loss,  damage,  liability  or  action;  provided,  however,  that this
subsection  (ii)  shall  apply  only if (and  only to the  extent  that)  such
statement  or  omission  was made in  reliance  upon  information  (including,
without limitation,  written negative responses to inquiries) furnished to the
Company by an  instrument  duly  executed by  Warrantholders  and stated to be
specifically  for  use in such  prospectus,  or  other  document  (or  related
registration  statement,  notification  or  the  like)  or  any  amendment  or
supplement thereto.

                  (iii) Each party entitled to indemnification  hereunder (the
"Indemnified  Party")  shall  give  notice to the party  required  to  provide
indemnification  (the  "Indemnifying  Party")  promptly after such Indemnified
Party has actual  knowledge of any claim as to which  indemnity may be sought,
and  shall  permit  the  Indemnifying  Party  (as  such  Indemnifying  Party's
expense)  to  assume  the  defense  of  any  claim  or  litigation   resulting
therefrom,  provided  that  counsel  for the  Indemnifying  Party,  who  shall
conduct the defense of such claim or litigation,  shall be satisfactory to the
Indemnified  Party, and the Indemnified  Party may participate in such defense
at such  party's  expense,  and  provided,  further,  that the omission by any
Indemnified  Party of its  obligations  under this Section 11(e) expect to the
extent  that the  omission  results  in a  failure  of  actual  notice  to the
Indemnifying  Party and such Indemnifying  Party is materially  damaged solely
as a result of the  failure to give  notice.  No  Indemnifying  Party,  in the
defense of any such claim or  litigation,  shall,  except  with the consent of
each  Indemnified  Party,  consent to the entry of any  judgment or enter into
any  settlement  which does not include as an  unconditional  term thereof the
giving by the  claimant or plaintiff  to such  Indemnified  Party of a release
from all liability in respect to such claim or litigation.

                  (iv)  If the  indemnification  provided  for in this Section
11(e) is unavailable or insufficient to hold harmless an Indemnified  Party in
respect of any losses, claims,  damages,  liabilities,  expenses or actions in
respect thereof referred to herein, then the Indemnifying Party shall

                                       21
<PAGE>

contribute  to the  amount  paid or  payable  by such  Indemnified  Party as a
result of such losses, claims,  damages,  liabilities,  expenses or actions in
such  proportion  a is  appropriate  to  reflect  the  relative  fault  of the
Indemnifying  Party on the one hand, and the  Indemnified  Party on the other,
in connection  with the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses,
claims,  damages,  liabilities,  expenses  or  actions  as well  as any  other
relevant  equitable  considerations,  including the failure to give the notice
required  hereunder.  The  relative  fault of the  Indemnifying  Party and the
Indemnified  Party shall be  determined  by reference  to, among other things,
whether the untrue or alleged  untrue  statement of a material fact relates to
information  supplied by the Indemnifying  Party or the Indemnified  Party and
the  parties'   relative   intent,   knowledge,   access  to  information  and
opportunity  to correct or prevent such  statement  or  omission.  The Company
and the  Warrantholders  agree  that it  would  not be just and  equitable  if
contributions  pursuant  to this  Section  11(e) were  determined  by pro rata
allocation or by any other method of allocation  which did not take account of
the  equitable  considerations  referred to above.  The amount paid or payable
to  an  Indemnified  Party  as  a  result  of  the  losses,  claims,  damages,
liabilities,  or actions  in  respect  thereof,  referred  to above,  shall be
deemed to include  any legal or other  expenses  reasonably  incurred  by such
Indemnified  Party in  connection  with  investigating  or defending  any such
action or claim.  Notwithstanding the contribution  provisions of this Section
11(e),  in no event shall the amount  contributed by any seller of Registrable
Stock exceed the aggregate net offering  proceeds received by such seller from
the sale of Registrable  Stock to which such  contribution or  indemnification
claim relates. No person guilty of fraudulent  misrepresentations  (within the
meaning  of  Section  11(f)  of the  Securities  Act)  shall  be  entitled  to
contribution   from  any  person   who  is  not  guilty  of  such   fraudulent
misrepresentations.

                  (v)   The  indemnification  required by this  Section  11(e)
shall be made by periodic  payments during the course of the  investigation or
defense,  as and when  bills  are  received  or  expenses  incurred.  Anything
contained  herein  to the  contrary  notwithstanding,  the  maximum  aggregate
liability of any holder of  Registrable  Stock under this Section  11(e) shall
not exceed the amount of the net  proceeds  actually  received  by such holder
from  the  sale  of  its  Registrable  Stock  pursuant  to  the  registration,
qualification,  notification  or compliance in respect of which such liability
arose.

            (f)   Reporting  Requirements  Under  Exchange  Act.  The  Company
shall  maintain the  registration  of its Common Stock under Section 12 of the
Exchange Act and shall keep effective such  registration and shall timely file
such  information,  documents  and  reports as the  Commission  may require or
prescribe  under  Section 13 of the Exchange  Act, or  otherwise.  The Company
under the  Securities  Act, the Company shall (whether or not it shall then be
required to do so) timely file such information,  documents and reports as the
Commission  may require or prescribe  under Section 13 or 15(d)  (whichever is
applicable)  of the Exchange  Act. The Company  shall  forthwith  upon request
furnish  any  holder  of  Registrable  Stock (i) a  written  statement  by the
Company that it has complied with such reporting requirements;  (ii) a copy of
the most recent  annual or  quarterly  report of the  Company;  and (iii) such
other  reports and  documents  filed by the Company that it has complied  with
the Commission as such holder may reasonably  request in availing itself of an
exemption for the sale of  Registrable  Stock without  registration  under the
Securities  Act. The Company  acknowledges  and agrees that the purpose of the
requirements contained in this Section 11(f) is to enable any such

                                       22
<PAGE>

holder to comply with the current public information  requirement contained in
Rule  144 (or  any  other  similar  exemptive  provision).  In  addition,  the
Company  shall  take such  other  measures  and file such  other  information,
documents  and reports as shall  hereafter be required by the  Commission as a
condition to the  availability  of Rule 144 and Rule 144A under the Securities
Act (or any similar exemptive provision hereafter in effect).

            (g)   Stockholder  Information.   The  Company  may  require  each
holder of  Registrable  Stock as to which any  registration  is to be effected
pursuant  to this  Section 11 to furnish  the Company  such  information  with
respect  to such  holder and the  distribution  of such  Registrable  Stock as
shall be required by law or by the Commission in connection therewith.

      12.   REPRESENTATION  AND WARRANTIES.  The Company hereby represents and
warrants to and covenants with Foothill,  each Warrantholder,  and each holder
of Warrant Shares that:

            (a)   Organization  and   Capitalization   of  the  Company.   The
Company  is a  corporation  duly  organized,  validly  existing  and  in  good
standing under the laws of the State of Delaware.  As of the date hereof,  the
authorized  capital of the  Company  consists of  30,000,000  shares of Common
Stock and 1,500,000  shares of Preferred  Stock, of which 7,801,682  shares of
Common  Stock and no shares of  Preferred  Stock are issued  and  outstanding.
The  Company  has,  and at all times  during the  Exercise  Period  will have,
reserved  for  issuance  pursuant  to the  Warrants  that  number of shares of
Common Stock that are issuable  pursuant to the Warrants.  No unissued  shares
of Common Stock are reserved for any purpose  other than for issuance upon the
exercise of the  Warrants.  As of the date hereof,  the Company has not issued
or  agreed  to  issue  any  stock  purchase   rights,   options,   convertible
securities,  warrants  (other than this  Warrant) or any other  securities  or
indebtedness  convertible  into  shares  of  Common  Stock,  and  there are no
preemptive  rights in effect  with  respect to the  issuance  of any shares of
Common Stock.  All the outstanding  shares of Common Stock and Preferred Stock
have been  validly  issued  without  violation  of any  preemptive  or similar
rights,  are fully paid and  nonassessable  and have been issued in compliance
with all federal and applicable state securities laws.

            (b)   Authority.   The  Company  has  full  corporate   power  and
authority to execute and deliver this  Warrant,  to issue the shares of Common
Stock  issuable  upon  exercise  of this  Warrant,  and to perform  all of its
obligations hereunder, and the execution,  delivery and performance hereof has
been duly  authorized  by all  necessary  corporate  action on its part.  This
Warrant has been duly executed on behalf of t he Company and  constitutes  the
legal, valid and binding  obligation of the Company  enforceable in accordance
with its terms.

            (c)   No  Legal  Bar.   Neither   the   execution,   delivery   or
performance  of this  Warrant nor the  issuance of the shares of Common  Stock
issuable  upon  exercise of this Warrant will (a) conflict with or result in a
violation of the Certificate of Incorporation  or By-Laws of the Company,  (b)
conflict with or result in a violation of any law, statue,  regulation,  order
or decree applicable to the Company or any affiliate,  (c) require any consent
or  authorization  or  filing  with,  or  other  act by or in  respect  of any
governmental  authority  or (d)  result in a breach of,  constitute  a default
under or

                                       23
<PAGE>

constitute  an  event  creating   rights  of   acceleration,   termination  or
cancellation under any mortgage,  lease,  contract,  franchise,  instrument or
other agreement to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound.

            (d)   Validity of Shares.  When  issued upon the  exercise of this
Warrant as  contemplated  herein,  the shares of Common  Stock so issued  will
have been  validly  issued  and will be fully paid and  nonassessable.  On the
date  hereof,  the par value of the  Common  Stock is less  than the  Exercise
Price per share of Common Stock.

      13.   CONTINUING  VALIDITY.  Nickelson and each holder of Warrant Shares
shall  continue  to be  entitled  to all  rights to which a  Warrantholder  is
entitled  pursuant to the  provisions of this Warrant except such rights as by
their terms apply  solely to a  Warrantholder,  notwithstanding  the fact that
this Warrant has been exercised or the period of  exercisability  has expired.
The Company  will,  at any time upon the request of  Nickelson  or a holder of
the Warrant Shares,  acknowledge in writing,  in form reasonably  satisfactory
to  Nickelson  or such  holder,  the  Company's  continuing  obligation  to be
entitled  in  accordance  with  the  provisions  of  this  Warrant;  provided,
however,  that if  Nickelson  or such  holder  shall  fail  to make  any  such
request,  such  failure  shall not affect  the  continuing  obligation  of the
Company to afford to Nickelson and such holder all such rights.

      14.   REDEMPTION.

            (a)   This Warrant may be redeemed,  at the option of the Company,
at any time after August 7, 2000 until the  Expiration  Date, for a redemption
price  equal to two times the then  current  Exercise  Price,  as  adjusted as
provided in this  Warrant.  This  Warrant must be redeemed in whole and not in
part if the  Company  exercises  such  right  of  redemption.  All  rights  to
exercise this Warrant shall terminate at 12:00 midnight  California local time
on the business day immediately preceding the date fixed for redemption.

            (b)   In the event the Company shall  exercise its right to redeem
this Warrant,  it shall give notice to the  Warrantholders by mailing a notice
of redemption in accordance with the provisions  stated herein,  not less than
30 days prior to the redemption date.

            (c)   The  notice  of  redemption  shall  specify  the  redemption
price,  the date fixed for  redemption,  the place where this Warrant shall be
delivered  and the  redemption  price  shall  be paid,  and that the  right to
exercise this Warrant shall terminate at 12:00 midnight  California local time
on the business day immediately preceding the date fixed for redemption.

            (d)   Appropriate  adjustment  shall  be  made  to the  redemption
price on the same  basis as  provided  in  Section 6 hereof  with  respect  to
adjustment of the Exercise Price.

            (e)   Effective  on the  date of the  notice  of  redemption,  the
appreciation   right  set  forth  in   Section   4(b),   and  all   rights  of
Warrantholders under such Section 4(b), shall automatically terminate.

                                       24
<PAGE>

      15.   MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS.

            (a)   Notice  of  Expiration.   The  Company  shall  give  written
notice to the  Warrantholders  specifically  advising  them of the  Expiration
Date and of their right to  exercise  the  Warrants  not more than one hundred
eighty  (180) days and not less than ninety  (90) days  before the  Expiration
Date.  If such  written  notice is not so given,  the  Expiration  Date  shall
automatically  be  extended  until  ninety  (90) days  after the date that the
Company gives the Warrantholders such written notice.

            (b)   Notices.  All  notices  hereunder  shall be in  writing  and
shall be  deemed  to have  been  given  five (5) days  after  being  mailed by
certified  mail,  addressed to the address  below stated of the party to which
notice is given,  or to such  changed  address as such party may have fixed by
notice:

      To the Company:   Allied Healthcare Products, Inc.
                        1720 Sublette Avenue
                        St. Louis, Missouri 63110
                        Attention: Mr. Barry Baker
                        Fax No.: (314) 771-0650

      With copies to:   Disckstein, Shapiro, Morin & Oskinsky, LLP
                        2101 L Street NW
                        Washington, D.C. 20037
                        Attention:  Allen B. Goldstein, Esq.
                        Fax No.:    (202) 887-0689

      To the            Donald E. Nickelson
      Warrantholders    Sam Hammacher
      or holder of      Harbour Group, Ltd.
      Warrant Shares:   7701 Fortsyth
                        Clayton, Missouri
                        Fax No.: (314) 725-7724

      With a copy (which      Greensfelder, Hemker & Gale, P.C.
      shall not constitute    10 South Broadway; Suite 2000
      notice) to:             St. Louis, Missouri 63102
                              Attention:  Joseph D. Lehrer, Esq.
                              Fax No.:    (314) 241-8624

provided,  however,  that any notice of change of address  shall be  effective
only upon receipt.

            (c)   Successors  and Assigns.  This Warrant shall be binding upon
and inure to the benefit of the Company,  Foothill, the Warrantholders and the
holders of Warrant shares and the

                                       25
<PAGE>

successors,   assigns  and   transferees  of  the  Company,   Nickelson,   the
Warrantholders and the holders of Warrant Shares.

            (d)   Attorneys'  Fees. The Company agrees to pay, on demand,  all
attorneys'  fees (including  attorneys' fees incurred  pursuant to proceedings
arising under the Bankruptcy  Code) and all other costs and expenses which may
be  incurred  by  Nickelson,  the  Warrantholders  and the  holders of Warrant
Shares in connection  with any amendment to this Warrant  and/or in connection
with  the  enforcement  of this  Warrant  or in any  way  arising  out of,  or
consequential to the protection,  assertion, or enforcement of the Obligations
under the Loan  Agreement (or any security  therefor),  whether or not suit is
brought.

            (e)   Entire  Agreement:  Amendments  and  Waivers.  This  Warrant
sets  forth the  entire  understanding  of the  parties  with  respect  to the
transactions  contemplated  hereby.  The failure of any party to seek  redress
for the  violation  or to insist  upon the strict  performance  of any term of
this Warrant  shall not  constitute a waiver of such term and such party shall
be entitled to enforce  such term  without  regard to such  forbearance.  This
Warrant may be amended,  the Company may take any action herein  prohibited or
omit to take action  herein  required to be performed by it, and any breach of
or compliance with any covenant,  agreement, warranty or representation may be
waived,  only if the  Company  has  obtained  the  written  consent or written
waiver  of the  majority  in  interest  of the  Warrantholders,  and then such
consent or waiver  shall be effective  only in the  specific  instance and for
the specific purpose for which given.

            (f)   Severability.  If any term of this  Warrant  as  applied  to
any  person  or  to  any   circumstance  is  prohibited,   void,   invalid  or
unenforceable in any jurisdiction,  such term shall, as to such  jurisdiction,
be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or invalidity  without in any
way  affecting  any other term of this  Warrant or  affecting  the validity or
enforceability of this Warrant or of such provision in any other jurisdiction.

            (g)   Headings.  The headings in this  Warrant are  inserted  only
for convenience of reference and shall not be used in the  construction of any
of its terms.

     [REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK; SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]

                                       26
<PAGE>

      IN WITNESS WHEREOF,  the Company has caused this Warrant to be signed by
its duly authorized officers as of the date first set forth above.


                                    ALLIED HEALTHCARE PRODUCTS, INC.,
                                    a Delaware corporation


                                          /s/ Barry F. Baker
                                    By:   __________________________________
                                          Name:  Barry F. Baker
                                          Title: Vice President-Finance


                                       27



      THIS  WARRANT AND THE SHARES OF COMMON  STOCK  ISSUABLE  HEREUNDER
      HAVE NOT BEEN  REGISTERED  UNDER THE  SECURITIES  ACT OF 1933,  AS
      AMENDED,  OR ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS AND MUST BE HELD
      INDEFINITELY  UNLESS  SUBSEQUENTLY  REGISTERED  UNDER SAID ACT AND
      ANY APPLICABLE  STATE  SECURITIES  LAWS OR DISPOSED OF PURSUANT TO
      AN EXEMPTION FROM SUCH REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS.


                                   WARRANT

Company:                Allied Healthcare Products, Inc., a Delaware corporation

Number of Shares:       1,562

Class of Stock:         Common Stock

Initial Exercise Price: $7.025 per share

Issued as of:           August 7, 1997

Expiration Date:        August 7, 2002

      FOR  VALUE  RECEIVED,  the  adequacy  and  receipt  of which  is  hereby
acknowledged,  ALLIED  HEALTHCARE  PRODUCTS,  INC.,  a  Delaware  corporation,
hereby certifies that DENNIS W. SHEEHAN  ("Sheehan"),  an individual,  and his
successors and assigns,  are entitled to purchase from the Company at any time
and from  time to time on and after  August  7,  1998,  until  12:00  midnight
California  local time on the Expiration Date at an initial  exercise price of
SEVEN AND  025/1000  DOLLARS  ($7.025)  per share of Common Stock One Thousand
Five Hundred Sixty-Two  (1,562) fully paid and nonassessable  shares of Common
Stock of the Company on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth.

      The number of such  shares of Common  Stock and the  Exercise  Price are
subject to  adjustment  as provided in this  Warrant.  Anything  contained  in
this Warrant to the contrary  notwithstanding,  the number of shares of Common
Stock  which may be issued  upon  exercise  of this  Warrant by any  Regulated
Warrantholder  shall never exceed such amount (the "Maximum Amount") as may be
permitted  under the Bank Holding  Company Act, or any successor  statute,  or
under any other  federal or state  banking laws or  regulations  to which such
Regulated  Warrantholder  may be subject at the time of such exercise.  If the
number of shares of Common  Stock  which may be issued  upon  exercise of this
Warrant exceeds the Maximum Amount,  the number of shares of Common Stock into
which this Warrant may be exercised  will be reduced to the Maximum Amount and
the Company will pay

<PAGE>

to Foothill by check or in cash such  amount  that equals the  Exercise  Price
multiplied  by the  number of shares of Common  Stock by which the  Warrant is
reduced pursuant to this paragraph.

      1.    CERTAIN  DEFINITIONS.  As  used  in this  Warrant,  the  following
terms have the following definitions:

      "Additional  Shares of Common  Stock"  means all shares of Common  Stock
issued or issuable by the Company after the date of this Warrant.

      "Common  Stock" means the  Company's  Common  Stock,  par value $.01 per
share,  and  includes  any common stock of the Company of any class or classes
resulting from any reclassification or reclassifications  thereof which is not
limited to a fixed sum or  percentage of par value in respect of the rights of
the holders  thereof to  participate in dividends and in the  distribution  of
assets upon the voluntary or involuntary  liquidation,  dissolution or winding
up of the Company.

      "Company"   means   Allied   Healthcare   Products,   Inc.,  a  Delaware
corporation.

      "Convertible  Securities"  means  evidence  of  indebtedness,  shares of
stock  or  other  securities  which  are at any time  directly  or  indirectly
convertible into or exchangeable for Additional Shares of Common Stock.

      "Current  Market  Price"  of a share of  Common  Stock  or of any  other
security  as  of a  relevant  date  means:  (i)  the  Fair  Value  thereof  as
determined  in  accordance  with clause (ii) of the  definition  of Fair Value
with  respect to Common  Stock or any other  security  that is not listed on a
national  securities  exchange  or  traded on the  over-the-counter  market or
quoted on NASDAQ,  and (ii) the  average of the daily  closing  prices for the
ten (10)  trading  days before such date  (excluding  any trades which are not
bona fide arm's  length  transactions)  with  respect  to Common  Stock or any
other security that is listed on a national  securities  exchange or traded on
the  over-the-counter  market or quoted on NASDAQ.  The closing price for each
day shall be (i) the last sale  price of shares of Common  Stock or such other
security,  regular  way,  on such date or, if no such sale takes place on such
date,  the average of the closing bid and asked  prices  thereof on such date,
in each case as  officially  reported  on the  principal  national  securities
exchange on which the same are then listed or admitted to trading,  or (ii) if
no shares of Common Stock or if no  securities of the same class as such other
security  are then listed or admitted  to trading on any  national  securities
exchange,  the average of the reported closing bid and asked prices thereof on
such date in the over-the-counter  market as shown by the National Association
of Securities  Dealers  automated  quotation system or, if no shares of Common
Stock or if no  securities  of the same class as such other  security are then
quoted  in  such  system,  as  published  by the  National  Quotation  Bureau,
Incorporated  or any  similar  successor  organization,  and in either case as
reported  by any member  firm of the New York Stock  Exchange  selected by the
Warrantholders.

      "Exchange Act" means the Securities Act of 1934.

                                       2
<PAGE>

      "Exercise  Period"  means the  period  commencing  on August 7, 1998 and
ending at 12:00 midnight California local time on the Expiration Date.

      "Exercise  Price" means  initially Seven and 025/1000  Dollars  ($7.025)
per share, subject to adjustment as provided in this Warrant.

      "Expiration Date" means August 7, 2002.

      "Fair Value"  means:  (i) with respect to a share of Common Stock or any
other  security,  the Current Market Price  thereof,  and (ii) with respect to
any other  property,  assets,  business  or entity,  an amount  determined  in
accordance  with the following  procedure:  the Company and the holders of the
Warrants and Warrant  Shares,  as applicable,  shall use their best efforts to
mutually  agree to a  determination  of Fair Value within ten (10) days of the
date  of the  event  requiring  that  such a  determination  be  made.  If the
Company and such  holders are unable to reach  agreement  within said ten (10)
day period,  the Company and such  holders  shall  within ten (10) days of the
expiration  of the ten  (10)  day  period  referred  to  above  each  retain a
separate  independent  investment  banking  firm  (which firm shall not be the
investment  banking firm  regularly  retained by the  Company).  If either the
Company  or such  holders  fails to retain  such an  investment  banking  firm
during such period,  then the independent  investment banking firm retained by
such holders or the Company,  as the case may be, acting along, shall take the
actions  outlined below.  Such firms shall determine  (within thirty (30) days
of their being  retained)  the Fair Value of the security,  property,  assets,
business or entity,  as the case may be, in question and deliver their opinion
in writing to the Company and to such  holders.  If such firms cannot  jointly
make the  determination,  then, unless otherwise  directed by agreement of the
Company and such holders,  such firms, in their sole discretion,  shall choose
another  investment  banking firm independent of the Company and such holders,
which firm shall make the  determination  and render an opinion as promptly as
practicable.  In either case,  the  determination  so made shall be conclusive
and  binding on the  Company and such  holders.  The fees and  expenses of any
such  determination  made by any and all such independent  investment  banking
firms  shall  be paid by the  Company.  If there is more  than one  holder  of
Warrants,  and/or Warrant Shares entitled to a determination  of Fair Value in
any  particular  instance,  each  action  to be taken by the  holders  of such
Warrants  and/or  Warrant  Shares  under  this  Section  shall  be  taken by a
majority  in interest of such  holders and the action  taken by such  majority
(including  as to any mutual  agreement  with the Company with respect to Fair
Value and as to any  selection of investment  banking  firms) shall be binding
upon all such holders.  In the case of a  determination  of the Fair Value per
share of  Common  Stock,  the  Company  and such  holders  shall not take into
consideration,  and shall  instruct all such  investment  banking firms not to
take into consideration,  any premium for shares  representing  control of the
Company,  any discount for any minority  interest  therein or any restrictions
on transfer under applicable federal and state securities laws or otherwise.

      "Foothill" means Foothill Capital Corporation, a California corporation.

      "Indemnified  Party" and  "Indemnifying  Party"  have the  meanings  set
forth in Section 11(e)(iii).

                                       3
<PAGE>

      "Loan Agreement" means that certain Loan and Security  Agreement of even
date herewith among the Company, its subsidiaries named therein and Foothill.

      "Registrable  Stock"  means:  (i) all Warrant  Shares which are issuable
to the  Warrantholders  pursuant to the Warrants,  whether or not the Warrants
have in fact been  exercised  and whether or not such  Warrant  Shares have in
fact been  issued,  (ii) all Warrant  Shares  acquired  by the  Warrantholders
pursuant to the  Warrants,  (iii) any shares of Common  Stock,  whether or not
such  shares of Common  Stock  have in fact  been  issued,  and stock or other
securities  of the  Company  issued  upon  conversion  of, in a stock split or
reclassification  of,  or a stock  dividend  or other  distribution  on, or in
substitution  or exchange for, or otherwise in connection  with,  such Warrant
Shares.  For  purposes  of  Section  11, a  Warrantholder  of record  shall be
treated  as the  record  holder  of  the  related  Warrant  Shares  and  other
securities issuable pursuant to the Warrants.

      "Regulated  Warrantholder" means any Warrantholder which is, or the part
of which  is,  subject  to the Bank  Holding  Company  Act,  or any  successor
statute, or any other federal or state banking laws and regulations.

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

      "Warrant(s)"  means this Warrant and any warrants  issued in exchange or
replacement of this Warrant or upon transfer hereof.

      "Warrantholder(s)" means Sheehan and his successors and assigns.

      "Warrant Share" means shares of Common Stock issuable to  Warrantholders
pursuant to the Warrants.

      2.    EXERCISE OF WARRANT.  This Warrant may be  exercised,  in whole or
in part,  at any time and from  time to time  during  the  Exercise  Period by
written  notice to the Company and upon payment to the Company of the Exercise
Price  (subject to  adjustment  as  provided  herein) for the shares of Common
Stock in respect of which the Warrant is exercised.

      3.    FORM OF PAYMENT OF EXERCISE PRICE.  Anything  contained  herein to
the  contrary  notwithstanding,  at  the  option  of the  Warrantholders,  the
Exercise  Price  may be  paid  in any one or a  combination  of the  following
forms: (a) by wire transfer to the Company,  (b) by the Warrantholder's  check
to the  Company,  (c) by the  cancellation  of any  indebtedness  owed  by the
Company and/or any  subsidiaries of the Company to the  Warrantholder,  and/or
(d) by the surrender to the Company of Warrants,  Warrant Shares, Common Stock
and/or other  securities of the Company and/or any subsidiaries of the Company
having a Fair Value equal to the Exercise Price.

                                       4
<PAGE>

      4.    CASHLESS EXERCISE/CONVERSION; APPRECIATION RIGHTS.

            (a)   Cashless  Exercise/Conversion.  In lieu of  exercising  this
Warrant as specified in Sections 2 and 3 above,  the  Warrantholders  may from
time to time at the  Warrantholders'  option convert this Warrant, in whole or
in part, into a number of shares of Common Stock of the Company  determined by
dividing  (A) the  aggregate  Fair  Value of such  shares or other  securities
otherwise  issuable upon exercise of this Warrant minus the aggregate Exercise
Price of such shares by (B) the Fair Value of one such share.

            (b)   Appreciation  Right.  At any  time  on or  after  August  7,
2000,  in lieu of  exercising  this  Warrant as  specified in Sections 2 and 3
above, the Warrantholders may from time to time at the Warrantholders'  option
require the Company to purchase this Warrant or any portion hereof,  for cash,
at a price  equal to the then Fair Value of the  Common  Stock  issuable  upon
exercise of this  Warrant less the Exercise  Price.  Upon the  Warrantholders'
exercise of this  option,  the Company  shall  promptly  wire  transfer to the
Warrantholders  such  amount in  immediately  available  funds as is  required
under this Section  4(b),  but in no event later than five (5)  business  days
after the exercise of such option, in immediately available funds.

      5.    Certificates for Warrant Shares;  New Warrant.  The Company agrees
that  the  Warrant  Shares  shall  be  deemed  to  have  been  issued  to  the
Warrantholders  as the record owner of such Warrant  Shares as of the close of
business on the date on which  payment for such  Warrant  Shares has been made
(or  deemed to be made by  conversion)  in  accordance  with the terms of this
Warrant.  Certificates  for the  Warrant  Shares  shall  be  delivered  to the
Warrantholders  within a reasonable  time, not exceeding five (5) days,  after
this Warrant has been exercised or converted.  A new Warrant  representing the
number  of  shares,  if any,  with  respect  to  which  this  Warrant  remains
exercisable  also shall be issued to the  Warrantholders  within  such time so
long as this  Warrant  has  been  surrendered  to the  Company  at the time of
exercise.

      6.    ADJUSTMENT  OF  EXERCISE  PRICE,  NUMBER OF SHARES  AND NATURE OF 
SECURITIES ISSUABLE UPON EXERCISE OF WARRANTS.

            (a)   Exercise  Price;   Adjustment  of  Number  of  Shares.   The
Exercise  Price  shall  be  subject  to  adjustment   from  time  to  time  as
hereinafter  provided.  Upon  each  adjustment  of  the  Exercise  Price,  the
Warrantholders  shall  thereafter  be entitled to  purchase,  at the  Exercise
Price  resulting  from  such  adjustment,  a number of  shares  determined  by
multiplying the Exercise Price in effect  immediately prior to such adjustment
by the number of shares  purchasable  pursuant hereto immediately prior t such
adjustment and dividing the product  thereof by the Exercise  Price  resulting
from such adjustment.

            (b)   Adjustment  of  Exercise  Price  Upon  Issuance  of  Common 
Stock.  If and whenever  after the date hereof the Company shall issue or sell
Additional   Shares  of  Common   Stock   without   consideration   or  for  a
consideration  per share less than the Current  Market  Price or the  Exercise
Price  then  in  effect  immediately  prior  to the  issuance  or sale of such
shares, then the Exercise

                                       5
<PAGE>

Price in effect  immediately  prior to such  issuance  or sale of such  shares
shall be reduced to a number  which shall be  calculated  by  dividing  (A) an
amount  equal  to the  sum  of (1)  the  number  of  shares  of  Common  Stock
outstanding  immediately  prior to such issue or sale  multiplied  by the then
existing  Exercise  Price  plus  (2)  the  aggregate  consideration,  if  any,
received by the Company  upon such issue or sale,  by (B) the total  number of
shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such issue or sale.

            No adjustment of the Exercise Price, however,  shall be made in an
amount  less than $.01 per  share,  but any such  lesser  adjustment  shall be
carried  forward  and  shall be made at the time  and  together  with the next
subsequent   adjustment  which,  together  with  any  adjustments  so  carried
forward, shall amount to $.01 per share or more.

            The  provisions  of this  Section  6(b) shall not apply to (i) any
Additional  Shares of Common Stock which are  distributed to holders of Common
Stock  pursuant to a stock split for which an adjustment is provided for under
Section 6(f), or (ii) any  additional  shares of Common Stock which are issued
upon exercise of options to purchase  Common Stock  outstanding as of the date
of issuance of this Warrant.

            (c)   Further  Provisions  for  Adjustment of Exercise Price Upon 
Issuance of  Additional  Shares of Common  Stock and  Convertible  Securities.
For  purposes  of  Section  6(b),  the  following  provisions  shall  also  be
applicable:

                  (i)   in case at any time on or after the date  hereof,  the
Company shall declare any dividend, or authorize any other distribution,  upon
any stock of the Company of any class,  payable in Additional Shares of Common
Stock or by the  issuance  of  Convertible  Securities,  such  declaration  or
distribution  shall be deemed to have  been  issued or sold (as of the  record
date)  without  consideration  and shall  thereby  cause an  adjustment in the
Exercise Price as required by Section 6(b).

                  (ii)  (A)   In  case  at  any  time  on or  after  the  date
hereof,  the  Company  shall  in any  manner  issue  or sell  any  Convertible
Securities,  whether or not the rights to exchange or convert  thereunder  are
immediately  exercisable,  there shall be  determined  the price per share for
which  Additional  Shares of Common Stock are issuable upon the  conversion or
exchange  thereof,  such  determination  to be made by dividing  (a) the total
amount  received or receivable by the Company as  consideration  for the issue
or sale of such Convertible  Securities,  plus the minimum aggregate amount of
additional  consideration,  if any, payable to the Company upon the conversion
or exchange thereof by (b) the maximum  aggregate number of Additional  Shares
of Common Stock issuable upon  conversion or exchange of all such  Convertible
Securities for such minimum aggregate amount of additional consideration;  and
such  issue or sale shall be deemed to be an issue or sale for cash (as of the
date of issue or sale of such  Convertible  Securities) of such maximum number
of  Additional  Shares of Common  Stock at the price per share so  determined,
and shall  thereby  cause an  adjustment  in the  Exercise  Price,  if such an
adjustment is required by Section 6(b) hereof.

                                       6
<PAGE>

                        (B)   If such  Convertible  Securities  shall by their
terms  provide for an increase or  increases,  withe  passage of time,  in the
amount of additional consideration,  if any, payable to the Company, or in the
rate of  exchange  upon the  conversion  or  exchange  thereof,  the  adjusted
Exercise Price shall, upon any such increase becoming effective,  be increased
to such Exercise Price as would have been in effect had the  adjustments  made
upon the issuance of such  Convertible  Securities been made upon the basis of
(and the  total  consideration  received  therefor)  (a) the  issuance  of the
number of  shares of Common  Stock  theretofore  actually  delivered  upon the
exercise  of such  Convertible  Securities,  (b) the  issuance  of all  Common
Stock,  all  Convertible  Securities  and all rights and  options to  purchase
Common Stock issued after the  issuance of such  Convertible  Securities,  and
(c) the  original  issuance  at the time of such  change  of such  Convertible
Securities then still outstanding;  provided,  however, that any such increase
or increases  shall not exceed,  in the aggregate,  the amount of the original
reduction of the Exercise Price attributable to the Convertible Securities.

                        (C)   If  any  rights  of   conversion   or   exchange
evidenced by such  Convertible  Securities  shall expire  without  having been
exercised,  the adjusted  Exercise Price shall forthwith be readjusted to such
Exercise Price as would have been in effect had an adjustment  with respect to
such  Convertible  Securities  been made on the basis that the only Additional
shares of Common Stock  issued or sold were those  issued upon the  conversion
or exchange of such Convertible Securities,  and that they were issued or sold
for the  consideration  actually  received by the Company upon such  exercise,
plus the  consideration,  if any,  actually  received  by the  Company for the
granting of such Convertible Securities.

                  (iii) (A)   In  case  at  any  time  on or  after  the  date
hereof,  the Company  shall in any manner grant or issue any rights or options
to subscribe  for purchase or otherwise  acquire  Additional  Shares of Common
Stock,  whether or not such  rights or options  are  immediately  exercisable,
there shall be determined  the price per share for such  Additional  Shares of
Common  Stock are issuable  upon the exercise of such rights or options,  such
determination  to be made by dividing (a) the total amount,  if any,  received
or receivable by the Company as consideration  for the granting of such rights
or options, plus the minimum aggregate amount of additional consideration,  if
any,  payable to the  Company  upon the  exercise of such rights or options if
the maximum  number of Additional  Shares were issued  pursuant to such rights
or options for such minimum aggregate amount of additional  consideration,  by
(b) the maximum  number of  Additional  Shares of Common  Stock of the Company
issuable  upon the  exercise of all such  rights or options  for such  minimum
aggregate amount of additional consideration;  and the granting of such rights
or options  shall be deemed to be an issue or sale for cash (as of the date of
the granting of such rights or options) of such maximum  number of  Additional
Shares  of  Common  Stock at the  price  per  share so  determined,  and shall
thereby cause an adjustment  in the Exercise  Price,  if such an adjustment is
required by Section 6(b) hereof.

                        (B)   If such  rights or options  shall by their terms
provide for an increase or  increases,  with passage of time, in the amount of
additional  consideration  payable to the Company upon the  exercise  thereof,
the adjusted Exercise Price shall, upon any such increases

                                       7
<PAGE>

becoming effective, be increased to such Exercise Price as would have been in
effect had the  adjustments  made upon the  issuance of such rights or options
been made upon the basis of (and the total  consideration  received  therefor)
(a) the issuance of the number of shares of Common Stock theretofore  actually
delivered  upon the  exercise of such rights or options,  (b) the  issuance of
all Common  Stock,  all  rights and  options  and all  Convertible  Securities
issued  after the  issuance of such rights and  options,  and (c) the original
issuance at the time of such  change of any such rights or options  then still
outstanding;  provided,  however,  that any such  increase or increases in the
Exercise Price shall not exceed, in the aggregate,  the amount of the original
reduction of the Exercise  Price  attributable  to the grant of such rights or
options.

                        (C)   If any  such  rights  or  options  shall  expire
without having been exercised,  the adjusted Exercise Price shall forthwith be
readjusted  to  such  Exercise  Price  as wold  have  been  in  effect  had an
adjustment  with respect to such rights or options been made on the basis that
the only  Additional  Shares  of Common  Stock so  issued  or sold were  those
issued or sold upon the  exercise of such rights or options and that they were
issued or sold for the  consideration  actually  received by the Company  upon
such  exercise,  plus the  consideration,  if any,  actually  received  by the
Company for the granting of such rights or options.

                  (iv)  (A)   In  case  at  any  time  on or  after  the  date
hereof,  the  Company  shall  grant any rights or options  to  subscribe  for,
purchase  or  otherwise  acquire  Convertible   Securities,   there  shall  be
determined  the price per share for which  Additional  Shares of Common  Stock
are issuable upon the exchange or conversion  of such  Convertible  Securities
if such rights or options were  exercised,  such  determination  to be made by
dividing (a) the total amount,  if any,  received or receivable by the Company
as consideration for the issuance of such rights or options,  plus the minimum
aggregate amount of additional  consideration,  if any, payable to the Company
upon  the  exercise  of such  rights  or  options  if the  maximum  number  of
Convertible  Securities  were  issued  pursuant  to such rights or options for
such minimum  aggregate amount of additional  consideration,  plus the minimum
aggregate amount of additional  consideration,  if any, payable to the Company
upon the exchange or conversion of such Convertible  Securities if the maximum
number  of  Additional   Shares  were  issued  pursuant  to  such  Convertible
Securities for such minimum aggregate amount of additional  consideration,  by
(b) the  maximum  aggregate  number  of  Additional  Shares  of  Common  Stock
issuable  upon the exchange or conversion of the  Convertible  Securities  for
such minimum  aggregate amount of additional  consideration;  and the issue or
sale of such  rights  or  options  shall be  deemed to be an issue or sale for
cash  (as of the date of the  granting  of such  rights  or  options)  of such
minimum number of Additional  Shares of Common Stock at the price per share so
determined,  and thereby shall cause an adjustment in the Exercise  Price,  if
such an adjustment is required by Section 6(b).

                        (B)   If such  rights or options to  subscribe  for or
otherwise acquire  Convertible  Securities shall by their terms provide for an
increase or  increases,  with the passage of time, in the amount of additional
consideration   payable  to  the  Company  upon  the  exercise,   exchange  or
conversion  thereof,  the adjusted  Exercise  Price shall,  forthwith upon any
such  increase  becoming  effective,  be increased to such  Exercise  Price as
would have been in effect had the adjustments made
 
                                        8
<PAGE>

upon the  issuances of such rights or options been made upon the basis of (and
the total  consideration  received therefor) (a) the issuance of the number of
shares of Common  Stock  therefore  actually  delivered  upon the  exchange or
conversion  of such  Convertible  Securities,  (b) the issuances of all Common
Stock and all rights,  options and  Convertible  Securities  issued  after the
issuance  of such rights and options  and (c) the  original  issuances  at the
time of such change of any such  rights,  options and  Convertible  Securities
issued  upon  exercise  of  such  rights  or  options  which  are  then  still
outstanding;  provided, however, that any such increase or increases shall not
exceed,  in the  aggregate,  the  amount  of  the  original  reduction  of the
Exercise Price attributable to the grant of such rights or options.

                        (C)   If  any  such  rights,   options  or  rights  of
conversion or exchange of such  convertible  Securities  shall expire  without
having been  exercised,  exchanged or converted,  the adjusted  Exercise Price
shall  forthwith be readjusted  to such  Exercise  Price as would have been in
effect had an  adjustment  been made with respect to such  rights,  options or
rights of conversion or exchange of such  Convertible  Securities on the basis
that the only  Additional  Shares of Common Stock so issued or sold were those
issued or sold upon the  exercise of such  rights or options  and  exchange or
conversion of such  Convertible  Securities  and that they were issued or sold
for the  consideration  actually received by the Company upon exercise of such
rights and options and exchange or conversion of such Convertible  Securities,
plus the  consideration  if any,  actually  received  by the  Company  for the
granting of such rights, options or Convertible Securities.

                  (v)   In any case where an  adjustment  has been made in the
Exercise  Price upon the issuance of  Convertible  Securities or any rights or
options to purchase  Convertible  Securities  or  Additional  Shares of Common
Stock  pursuant to this Section 6(c), no further  adjustment  shall be made at
the time of the conversion of any such  Convertible  Securities or at the time
of the exercise of any such rights or options.

                  (vi)  In case at any time on or after the  issuance  of this
Warrant any shares of Common Stock or Convertible  Securities  shall be issued
or sold for a consideration  other than cash, the amount of the  consideration
other than cash  payable to the  company  shall be deemed to be the Fair Value
of such  consideration.  Whether or not the consideration so received is cash,
the amount thereof shall be determined after deducting  therefrom any expenses
incurred or any  underwriting  commissions or concessions or discounts paid or
allowed by the Company in connection therewith.

                  (vii) In case at any time  the  company  shall  fix a record
date of the holders of its Common Stock for the purpose of entitling  them (a)
to  receive  a  dividend  or  other  distribution  payable  in  Common  Stock,
Convertible  Securities or rights or options to purchase  either  thereof,  or
(b) to subscribe  for or purchase  Common  Stock,  Convertible  Securities  or
rights or options to purchase either  thereof,  then such record date shall be
deemed  to be the date of the  issue or sale of the  shares  of  Common  Stock
deemed,  pursuant to this Section  6(c),  to have been issued or sold upon the
declaration of such dividend or the making of such other  distribution  or the
date of the granting of such right of  subscription  or purchase,  as the case
may be.

                                       9
<PAGE>

                  (viii)      The   number   of   shares   of   Common   Stock
outstanding  at any given time shall not  include  shares  owned or held by or
for the account of the Company,  and the  disposition of any such shares shall
be  considered  an issue or sale of  Common  Stock  for the  purposes  of this
Section 6(c).

            (d)   Reorganization, Reclassification,  Consolidation, Merger or 
Sale. If any capital  reorganization or  reclassification of the capital stock
of the  Company,  or any  consolidation  or merger of the Company with another
corporation,  or the sale of all or substantially all of its assets to another
corporation  shall be  effected  in such a way that  holders  of Common  Stock
shall be entitled to receive  cash,  stock,  securities or assets with respect
to  or  in  exchange  for  Common   Stock,   then,  as  a  condition  of  such
reorganization,  reclassification,  consolidation,  merger or sale, lawful and
adequate provisions shall be made whereby the Warrantholders  shall thereafter
have the right to purchase  and receive  upon the basis and upon the terms and
conditions  specified  in this  Warrant  upon  exercise of this Warrant and in
lieu of the shares of the Common  Stock of the Company  immediately  therefore
purchasable  and  receivable  upon  the  exercise  of the  rights  represented
hereby,  such cash, shares of stock,  securities or assets as may be issued or
payable with respect to or in exchange for a number of  outstanding  shares of
Common  Stock equal to the number of shares of such Common  Stock  immediately
therefore   purchasable  and  receivable  upon  the  exercise  of  the  rights
represented  hereby, and in any such case appropriate  provision shall be made
with respect to the rights and interest of the  Warrantholders to the end that
the  provisions  hereof  (including,   without   limitation,   provisions  for
adjustments of the Exercise Price and of the number of shares  purchasable and
receivable upon the exercise of this Warrant) shall  thereafter be applicable,
as nearly as may be, in relation to any shares of stock,  securities or assets
thereafter  deliverable  upon the  exercise  hereof.  The  Company  shall  not
effect any  consolidation,  merger or sale of all or substantially  all of the
assets of the Company unless prior to or  simultaneous  with the  consummation
thereof the successor  corporation (if other than the Company)  resulting from
such  consolidation,  merger or  purchase  of such  assets  shall  assume,  by
written  instrument  executed and mailed or  delivered to the  Warrantholders,
the  obligation  to  deliver  to  such   Warrantholders  such  cash  (or  cash
equivalent),  shares of stock, securities or assets as, in accordance with the
foregoing  provisions,  the  Warrantholders  may be  entitled  to receive  and
containing  the express  assumption of such  successor  corporation of the due
and punctual  performance  and observance of each provision of this Warrant to
be  performed  and  observed  by  the  Company  and  of  all  liabilities  and
obligations of the Company hereunder;  provided,  however,  in the case of any
consolidation  or merger of the Company with another  corporation  or the sale
of all or substantially all of its assets to another  corporation  effected in
such a manner  that the  holders of Common  Stock shall be entitled to receive
stock,  securities  or assets with respect to or in exchange for Common Stock,
then, at the election of each Warrantholder,  in lieu of receiving such stock,
securities or assets,  such Warrantholder shall receive cash equal to the Fair
Value of the Common Stock  issuable  upon  exercise of the  Warrant,  less the
Exercise Price payable upon exercise thereof.

                  In  case  any   Additional   Shares  of   Common   Stock  or
Convertible  Securities  or any rights or options to purchase  any  Additional
Shares  of  Common  Stock  or  Convertible   Securities  shall  be  issued  in
connection  with any  merger of  another  corporation  into the  Company,  the
amount of consideration  therefor shall be deemed to be the Fair Value of such
portion of the assets of such

                                       10
<PAGE>

merged  corporation  as the Board of  Directors  of the Company  shall in good
faith determine to be attributable to such Additional  Shares of Common Stock,
Convertible  Securities  or rights  or  options,  as the case may be,  and the
Exercise Price shall be adjusted in accordance with this Section 6(d).

            (e)   Company  to  Prevent  Dilution.  In case at any time or from
time to time  conditions  arise by reason of action taken by the Company which
are not  adequately  covered by the  provisions  of this  Section 6, and which
might   materially   and   adversely   affect  the  exercise   rights  of  the
Warrantholders  under any  provision of this  Warrant,  unless the  adjustment
necessary  shall be agreed  upon by the Company  and the  Warrantholders,  the
Board  of  Directors  of the  Company  shall  appoint  a firm  of  independent
certified  public  accountants of recognized  national  standing (who have not
been  employed by the Company  within the last five years),  acceptable to the
Warrantholders,  what the Company's  expense shall give their opinion upon the
adjustment,  if any, on a basis  consistent with the standards  established in
the  other  provisions  of this  Section  6,  necessary  with  respect  to the
Exercise  Price and the  number of shares  purchasable  upon  exercise  of the
Warrants,  so as to preserve,  without  dilution,  the exercise  rights of the
Warrantholders.  Upon receipt of such opinion,  such Board of Directors  shall
forthwith make the adjustments described therein.

            (f)   Stock  Splits and  Reverse  Splits.  In case at any time the
Company shall subdivide its outstanding  shares of Common Stock into a greater
number of  shares,  the  Exercise  Price in effect  immediately  prior to such
subdivision  shall be  proportionately  reduced  and the  number  of shares of
Common Stock  purchasable  pursuant to this Warrant  immediately prior to such
subdivision shall be  proportionately  increased,  and conversely,  in case at
any time the Company  shall  combine its  outstanding  shares of Common  Stock
into a smaller  number of shares,  the  Exercise  Price in effect  immediately
prior to such combination  shall be  proportionately  increased and the number
of  shares of Common  Stock  purchasable  upon the  exercise  of this  Warrant
immediately prior to such combination shall be proportionately reduced.

            (g)   Dissolution,   Liquidation  and  Winding-Up.   In  case  the
Company shall, at any time prior to the expiration of this Warrant,  dissolve,
liquidate or wind up its affairs, the Warrantholders  shall be entitled,  upon
the  exercise of this  Warrant,  to  receive,  in lieu of the shares of Common
Stock of the Company  which such  Warrantholders  would have been  entitled to
receive,  the same  kind and  amount of  assets  as would  have  been  issued,
distributed  or  paid  to  such  Warrantholders  upon  any  such  dissolution,
liquidation  or winding up with  respect to such shares of Common Stock of the
Company,  had such  Warrantholders  been the  holders of record of the Warrant
Shares  receivable  upon the  exercise of this  Warrant on the record date for
the  determination  of those persons  entitled to receive any such liquidating
distribution.  After any such  dissolution,  liquidation  or  winding up which
shall  result  in any  cash  distribution  in  excess  of the  Exercise  Price
provided  for  by  this  Warrant,   the  Warrantholders   may,  at  each  such
Warrantholder's  option,  exercise  the same  without  making  payment  of the
Exercise Price,  and in such case the Company shall,  upon the distribution to
said  Warrantholders,  consider that said Exercise Price has been paid in full
to it and in making settlement to said  Warrantholders,  shall deduct from the
amount payable to such Warrantholders an amount equal to such Exercise Price.

                                       11
<PAGE>

            (h)   Noncash  Consideration.  In case any  Additional  Shares  of
Common Stock or  Convertible  Securities  or any rights or options to purchase
any  Additional  Shares of Common  Stock or  Convertible  Securities  shall be
issued for a  consideration  in a form  other  than  cash,  the amount of such
consideration shall be deemed to be the Fair Value thereof.

            (i)   Accountants'  Certificate.  In each case of an adjustment in
the number of shares of Common  Stock or other stock,  securities  or property
receivable on the exercise of the  Warrants,  the Company at its expense shall
cause independent  public  accountants of recognized  standing selected by the
Company and  acceptable to the  Warrantholders  to compute such  adjustment in
accordance  with the terms of this Warrant and prepare a  certificate  setting
forth  such  adjustment  and  showing  in detail  the facts  upon  which  such
adjustment is based,  including a statement of (a) the consideration  received
or to be received by the Company for any  Additional  Shares of Common  Stock,
rights,  options or  Convertible  Securities  issued or sold or deemed to have
been  issued or sold,  (b) the number of shares of Common  Stock of each class
outstanding or deemed to be outstanding,  (c) the adjusted  Exercise Price and
(d) the number of shares  issuable upon exercise of this Warrant.  The Company
will forthwith mail a copy of each such certificate to each Warrantholder.

      7.    SPECIAL AGREEMENTS OF THE COMPANY.

            (a)   Reservation  of Shares.  The  Company  covenants  and agrees
that all Warrant Shares will,  upon issuance,  be validly  issued,  fully paid
and  nonassessable  and free from all preemptive rights of any stockholder and
from all taxes,  liens and  charges  with  respect to the issue  thereof.  The
Company  further  covenants and agrees that during the period within which the
rights  represented by this Warrant may be exercised,  the Company will at all
times have authorized,  and reserved,  a sufficient number of shares of Common
Stock to provide for the exercise of the rights  represented  by this Warrant.
The  Company  hereby  covenants  and agrees to take all such  action as may be
necessary  to assure  that the par value per share of the  Common  Stock is at
all times equal to or less than the Exercise Price.

            (b)   Avoidance  of Certain  Actions.  The  Company  will not,  by
amendment of its Certificate of Incorporation  or through any  reorganization,
transfer of assets,  consolidation,  merger,  issue or sale of  securities  or
otherwise,  avoid or take any action  which  would have the effect of avoiding
the  observance or performance of any of the terms to be observed or performed
hereunder  by the  Company,  but will at all  times in good  faith  assist  in
carrying out all of the  provisions  of this Warrant and in taking all of such
action as may be  necessary or  appropriate  in order to protect the rights of
the  Warrantholders  against  dilution  or other  impairment  of their  rights
hereunder.

            (c)   Securing  Governmental  Approvals.  If any  shares of Common
Stock  required to be reserved  for the  purposes of exercise of this  Warrant
require registration with or approval of any governmental  authority under any
federal  law  (other  than the  Securities  Act) or under any state law before
such shares may be issued upon exercise of this Warrant,  the Company will, at
its  expense,  as  expeditiously  as  possible,  cause such  shares to be duly
registered or approved, as the case may be.

                                       12
<PAGE>

            (d)   Listing on Securities  Exchanges;  Registration.  If, and so
long as,  any  class of the  Company's  Common  Stock  shall be  listed on any
national  securities  exchange (as defined in the Exchange  Act),  the Company
will,  at its  expense,  obtain and  maintain  the  approval  for listing upon
official  notice of issuance of all Warrant Shares and maintain the listing of
Warrant  Shares  after their  issuance;  and the Company  will so list on such
national  securities  exchange,  will register  under the Exchange Act (or any
similar statute then in effect),  and will maintain such listing of, any other
securities  that at any time are issuable upon exercise of this Warrant if and
at the time any  securities of the same class shall be listed on such national
securities exchange by the Company.

            (e)   Information  Rights.  So  long  as the  Warrantholders  hold
this Warrant  and/or any of the Warrant  Shares,  the Company shall deliver to
the  Warrantholders  (i) promptly after mailing,  copies of all communications
to the  shareholders  of the Company,  (ii) within  ninety (90) days after the
end of  each  fiscal  year  of  the  Company,  the  annual  audited  financial
statements of the Company certified by the independent  public  accountants of
recognized  standing,  and (iii) within  forty-five (45) days after the end of
each  of  the  first  three  quarters  of  each  fiscal  year,  the  Company's
quarterly, unaudited financial statements.

            (f)   Restrictions  on Public  Sale by the  Company.  In the event
of an  underwritten  offering by the Company made  pursuant to a  registration
statement  filed  pursuant  to Sections  11(a) or 11(b) the  Company  will not
effect any public or private sale or distribution  of its convertible  debt or
equity securities,  including a sale under Regulation D of the Securities Act,
for such  period of time (not to  exceed 90 days) as may be  requested  by the
underwriters  subject to  customary  exceptions;  and the Company  shall cause
each holder of its  privately  placed  convertible  debt or equity  securities
issued by it at any time on or after the date of this  Warrant to agree not to
effect any public  sale or  distribution  of any such  securities  during such
period,  including  a sale  pursuant  to  Rule  144 or  Rule  144A  under  the
Securities Act.

            (g)   Preemptive  Rights.  In the event the Company  offers to the
Company's  shareholders  the right to purchase any  securities of the Company,
then all shares of Common Stock  issuable  pursuant to the  Warrants  shall be
deemed to be issued and  outstanding  and held by the  Warrantholders  and the
Warrantholders shall be entitled to participate in such rights offering.

            (h)   Compliance  with Law.  The  Company  shall  comply  with all
applicable  laws,  rules  and  regulations  of the  Untied  States  and of all
states,  municipalities and agencies and of any other jurisdiction  applicable
to the Company and shall do all things  necessary to preserve,  renew and keep
in full force and effect and in good  standing  its  corporate  existence  and
authority necessary to continue its business.

      8.    FRACTIONAL  SHARES.  No  fractional  shares or scrip  representing
fractional  shares  shall be issued upon the  exercise of this  Warrant.  With
respect to any  fraction  of a share  called  for upon  exercise  hereof,  the
Company  shall  pay to the  Warrantholder  an  amount  in cash  equal  to such
fraction multiplied by the Current Market Value of one share of Common Stock.

                                       13
<PAGE>

      9.    NOTICES OF STOCK  DIVIDENDS,  SUBSCRIPTIONS,  RECLASSIFICATIONS,  
CONSOLIDATIONS,  MERGERS,  ETC. If at any time:  (i) the Company shall declare
a cash  dividend  (or an  increase in the then  existing  dividend  rate),  or
declare a dividend on Common Stock payable  otherwise  than in cash out of its
net earnings  after taxes for the prior fiscal year; or (ii) the Company shall
authorize  the  granting to the holders of Common Stock of rights to subscribe
for or  purchase  any  shares  of  capital  stock of any class or of any other
rights;   or  (iii)   there   shall   be  any   capital   reorganization,   or
reclassification,  or  redemption  of the  capital  stock of the  Company,  or
consolidation  or merger of the Company  with or sale of all or  substantially
all of its assets to,  another  corporation  or firm; or (iv) there shall be a
voluntary  or  involuntary  dissolution,  liquidation  or  winding  up of  the
Company,  then the Company shall give to the  Warrantholders  at the addresses
of such  Warrantholders as shown on the books of the Company,  at least twenty
(20)  days  prior to the  applicable  record  date  hereinafter  specified,  a
written  notice  summarizing  such action or event and stating the record date
for any such  dividend or rights (or, if a record date is not to be  selected,
the date as of which the  holders of Common  Stock of record  entitled to such
dividend  or  rights  are to be  determined),  the  date  on  which  any  such
reorganization,  reclassification,  consolidation,  merger,  sale  of  assets,
dissolution,  liquidation or winding up is expected to become  effective,  and
the date as of which it is  expected  the  holders  of Common  Stock of record
shall be entitled to effect any  exchange of their  shares of Common Stock for
cash (or cash equivalent),  securities or other property  deliverable upon any
such reorganization, reclassification,  consolidation, merger, sale of assets,
dissolution, liquidation or winding up.

      10.   REGISTERED HOLDER; TRANSFER OF WARRANTS OR WARRANT SHARES.

            (a)   Maintenance  of  Registered   books;   Ownership  of  this  
Warrant.  The Company shall keep at its  principal  office a register in which
the Company  shall provide for the  registration,  transfer and change of this
Warrant.  The  Company  shall not at any time,  except  upon the  dissolution,
liquidation or winding-up of the Company,  close such register so as to result
in preventing or delaying the exercise or transfer of this Warrant.

            (b)   Exchange  and  Replacement.  This  Warrant  is  exchangeable
upon  surrender  hereof  by  the  registered  holder  to  the  Company  at its
principal  office for new Warrants of like tenor and date  representing in the
aggregate  the right to purchase the number of shares  purchasable  hereunder,
each of such new  Warrants to represent  the right to purchase  such number of
shares  as  shall  be  designated  by said  registered  holder  at the time of
surrender.  This Warrant and all rights  hereunder are  transferable  in whole
or in part upon the books of the Company by the  registered  holder  hereof in
person or by duly  authorized  attorney,  and new  Warrants  shall be made and
delivered  by the  Company,  of the same  tenor  and date as this  Warrant  bu
registered in the name of the  transferee(s)  upon  surrender of this Warrant,
duly endorsed,  to said office of the Company.  Upon receipt by the Company of
evidence  reasonably  satisfactory  to it of the loss,  theft,  destruction or
mutilation  of this  Warrant,  and upon  surrender  and  cancellation  of this
Warrant,  if  mutilated,  the  Company  will make and deliver a new Warrant of
like tenor,  in lieu of this  Warrant,  without  requiring  the posting of any
bond or the  giving of any other  security.  This  Warrant  shall be  promptly
canceled by the  Company  upon the  surrender  hereof in  connection  with any
exchange, transfer or replacement.

                                       14
<PAGE>

The  Company  shall  pay all  expenses,  taxes and other  charges  payable  in
connection with the preparation,  execution and delivery of Warrants  pursuant
to this Section 10.

            (c)   Warrants and Warrant  Shares Not  Registered.  The holder of
this Warrant,  by accepting  this Warrant,  represents and  acknowledges  that
this  Warrant  and the  Warrant  Shares  are not  being  registered  under the
Securities  Act on the  grounds  that the  issuance  of this  Warrant  and the
offering and sale of such Warrant  Shares are exempt from  registration  under
Section 4(2) of the Securities Act as not involving any public offering.

      11.   REGISTRATION.

            (a)   Required  Registration.  Whenever the Company  shall receive
a written  request  therefor from any holder or holders of at least 50% of the
Registrable  Stock, the Company shall promptly prepare and file a registration
statement  under the  Securities Act covering the  Registrable  Stock which is
the  subject  of such  request  and shall use its best  efforts  to cause such
registration  statement  to become  effective  as  expeditiously  as possible;
provided  that the  Company's  obligations  under this Section  11(a) shall be
limited to one required  registration  only. Upon the receipt of such request,
the Company shall  promptly give written  notice to all holders of Registrable
Stock that such  registration is to be effected.  The Company shall include in
such  registration  statement such Registrable Stock for which it has received
written  requests to register such shares by the holders thereof within thirty
(30) days after the  effectiveness  of the  Company's  written  notice to such
other holders.  Except as hereinafter expressly provided,  without the written
consent of the  holders of a majority of the shares of  Registrable  Stock for
which  registration has been requested  pursuant to this Section,  neither the
Company  nor any  other  holder  of  securities  of the  Company  may  include
securities in such registration.

            (b)   Incidental   Registration.   Each  time  the  Company  shall
determine to file a  registration  statement  under the  Securities Act (other
than on From S-8 or Form S-4) in connection  with the proposed  offer and sale
for money of any of its securities by it or by any of its securities  holders,
the company will give written  notice of its  determination  to all holders of
Registrable  Stock.  Upon  written  request  of a  holder  of any  Registrable
Stock,  the  Company  will cause all such  Registrable  Stock,  the holders of
which  have  so  requested  registration  thereof,  to  be  included  in  such
registration  statement,  all to the  extent  requisite  to permit the sale or
other  disposition  by the  prospective  seller or sellers of the  Registrable
Stock  to be so  registered  in  accordance  with the  terms  of the  proposed
offering.   If  the  registration   statement  is  to  cover  an  underwritten
distribution,  the Company shall use its best efforts to cause the Registrable
Stock  requested for  inclusion  pursuant to this Section 11(b) to be included
in the  underwriting  on the  same  terms  and  conditions  as the  securities
otherwise  being  sold  through  the  underwriters.  If,  in  the  good  faith
judgment of the managing  underwriter of such public  offering,  the inclusion
of all the Registrable  Stock requested to be registered  would materially and
adversely  affect the successful  marketing of the other shares proposed to be
offered,  then the  amount  of the  Registrable  Stock to be  included  in the
offering  shall be reduced and the  Registrable  Stock and the other shares to
be offered shall  participate  in such  offering as follows:  the shares to be
sold by the company, the Registrable Stock to be included in

                                       15
<PAGE>

such  offering  and the other  shares of Common  Stock to be  included in such
offering  shall each be reduced pr rata in  proportion to the number of shares
of Common  Stock  proposed to be  included in such  offering by each holder of
such shares and by the Company.

            (c)   Registration  Procedures.  If and  whenever  the  Company is
required  by  the   provisions  of  Section  11(a)  or  11(b)  to  effect  the
registration of Registrable  Stock under the Securities Act, the Company will,
at its expense, expeditiously as possible:

                  (i)   In accordance  with the  Securities  Act and the rules
and  regulations  of the  Commission,  prepare and file with the  Commission a
registration  statement on the form of registration statement appropriate with
respect  to  such   securities   and  use  its  best  efforts  to  cause  such
registration  statement to become and remain  effective  until the  securities
covered by such  registration  statement  have been sold, and prepare and file
with  the  Commission  such  amendments  to such  registration  statement  and
supplements  to the prospectus  contained  therein as may be necessary to keep
such  registration  statement  effective and such  registration  statement and
prospectus  accurate  and  complete  until  the  securities  covered  by  such
registration statement have been sold;

                  (ii)  If the offering is to be underwritten,  in whole or in
part,  enter into a written  underwriting  agreement  with the  holders of the
Registrable  Stock  participating in such offering and the underwriter in form
and  substance  reasonably  satisfactory  to the managing  underwriter  of the
public  offering and the holders of the  Registrable  Stock  participating  in
such offering;

                  (iii) Furnish to the holders of securities  participating in
such  registration  and to the underwriters of the securities being registered
such reasonable  number of copies of the registration  statement,  preliminary
prospectus  and such other  documents  as such  underwriters  and  holders may
reasonably  request  in  order  to  facilitate  the  public  offering  of such
securities;

                  (iv)  Use its  best  efforts  to  register  or  qualify  the
securities covered by such registration  statement under such state securities
or blue sky  laws of such  jurisdictions  as such  participating  holders  and
underwriters may reasonably request.

                  (v)   Notify    the    holders    participating    in   such
registration,  promptly after it shall receive notice thereof, of the date and
time  when  such  registration  statement  and each  post-effective  amendment
thereto has become effective or a supplement to any prospectus  forming a part
of such registration statement has been filed;

                  (vi)  Notify  such  holders  promptly  of any request by the
Commission for the amending or  supplementing of such  registration  statement
or prospectus or for additional information;

                  (vii) Prepare and file with the  Commission,  promptly  upon
the  request  of any such  holders,  any  amendments  or  supplements  to such
registration statement or prospectus

                                       16
<PAGE>

which,  in the opinion of counsel  for such  holders,  is  required  under the
Securities Act or the rules and regulations  thereunder in connection with the
distribution or the Registrable Stock by such holders;

                  (viii)      Prepare and promptly  file with the  Commission,
and  promptly  notify  such  holders  of the  filing of,  such  amendments  or
supplements to such  registration  statement or prospectus as may be necessary
to correct  any  statements  or  omissions  if, at the time when a  prospectus
relating to such  securities is required to be delivered  under the Securities
Act, any event has occurred as the result of which any such  prospectus or any
other  prospectus  is then in effect  may  include  an untrue  statement  of a
material  fact or omit to  state  any  material  fact  required  to be  stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading;

                  (ix)  In case any of such  holders  or any  underwriter  for
any such  holders  is  required  to  deliver a  prospectus  at a time when the
prospectus  then in circulation  is not in compliance  with the Securities Act
or the rules and regulations of the Commission,  prepare promptly upon request
such  amendments  or  supplements  to such  registration  statement  and  such
prospectus  as may be  necessary in order for such  prospectus  to comply with
the requirements of the Securities Act and such rules and regulations;

                  (x)   Advise such holders,  promptly  after it shall receive
notice or obtain knowledge  thereof,  of the issuance of any stop order by the
Commission suspending the effectiveness of such registration  statement or the
initiation or  threatening of any proceeding for that purpose and promptly use
its best  efforts to prevent  the  issuance of any stop order or to obtain its
withdrawal if such stop order should be issued;

                  (xi)  If   requested   by  the   managing   underwriter   or
underwriters  or a holder of Registrable  Stock being sold in connection  with
an underwritten offering,  immediately  incorporate in a prospectus supplement
or post-effective  amendment such information as the managing underwriters and
the holders of a majority of the Registrable  Stock being sold agree should be
included  therein  relating to the plan of  distribution  with respect to such
Registrable  Stock,  including  information  with  respect to the  Registrable
Stock being sold to such  underwriters,  the purchase  price being paid for by
such  underwriters and with respect to any other terms of the underwritten (or
best efforts  underwritten)  offering of the  Registrable  Stock to be sold in
such offering;  and make all required filings of such prospectus supplement or
post-effective   amendment   as  soon  as   notified  of  the  matters  to  be
incorporated in such prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment;

                  (xii) Cooperate  with the  selling  holders  of  Registrable
Stock  and  the  managing  underwriters,  if any,  to  facilitate  the  timely
preparation and delivery of certificates  representing Registrable Stock to be
sold and not  bearing any  restrictive  legends;  and enable such  Registrable
Stock  to be in  such  denominations  and  registered  in  such  names  as the
managing  underwriters  may  request at least two  business  days prior to any
sale of Registrable Securities to the underwriters;

                                       17
<PAGE>

                  (xiii)      Prepare    a    prospectus     supplement     or
post-effective   amendment  to  the  registration  statement  or  the  related
prospectus  or any  document  incorporated  therein by  reference  or file any
other  required  documents so that, as thereafter  delivered to the purchasers
of the Registrable  Stock, the prospectus will not contain an untrue statement
of material  fact or omit to state any  material  fact  necessary  to make the
statements therein not misleading;

                  (xiv) Enter into such agreements  (including an underwriting
agreement)  and take all such other actions in  connection  therewith in order
to expedite or facilitate the disposition of such  Registrable  Securities and
in such connection,  whether or not an underwriting  agreement is entered into
and whether or not the registration is an underwritten registration:

                        (A)   make such  representations and warranties to the
holders  of such  Registrable  Stock and the  underwriters,  if any,  in form,
substance  and scope as are  customarily  made by issuers to  underwriters  in
primary underwritten offerings;

                        (B)   If an  underwriting  agreement is entered  into,
the  same  shall  set  forth  in  full  the  indemnification   provisions  and
procedures  of  Section  11(e)  hereof  with  respect  to  all  parties  to be
indemnified pursuant to said Section; and

                        (C)   The Company  shall  deliver such  documents  and
certificates  as may  be  requested  by the  holders  of the  majority  of the
Registrable  Stock  being  sold  and the  managing  underwriters,  if any,  to
evidence  compliance  with  the  terms  of this  Section  11(c)  and  with any
customary  conditions  contained  in  the  underwriting   agreement  or  other
agreement entered into by the Company.

                              The above  shall be done at each  closing  under
such  underwriting  or  similar  agreement  or as and to the  extend  required
thereunder;

                  (xv)  Make available for inspection by a  representative  of
the  holders  of  a  majority  of  the  Registrable   Stock,  any  underwriter
participating  in any disposition  pursuant to a registration  statement,  and
any  attorney  or  accountant  retained  by the  sellers or  underwriter,  all
financial and other records,  pertinent  corporate documents and properties of
the Company,  and cause the  Company's  officers,  directors  and employees to
supply  all  information  reasonably  requested  by any  such  representative,
underwriter,  attorney or accountant in connection with the preparation of the
registration statement;  provided, that any records,  information or documents
that are  designated by the Company in writing as  confidential  shall be kept
confidential  by such persons unless  disclosure of such records,  information
or documents is required by court or administrative order;

                  (xvi) Otherwise  use its best  efforts  to  comply  with all
applicable  rules  and  regulations  of the  Commission,  and  make  generally
available to the Company's  security holders,  earning  statements  satisfying
the  provisions  of  Section  11(a)  of the  Securities  Act,  no  later  than
forty-five  (45) days after the end of any twelve (12) month period (or ninety
(90) days,  if such a period is a fiscal  year) (i)  commencing  at the end of
any fiscal quarter in which Registrable Stock is sold to

                                       18
<PAGE>

underwriters in an underwritten  offering,  or, if not sold to underwriters in
such an offering,  (ii) beginning with the first month of the Company's  first
fiscal  quarter  commencing  after  the  effective  date  of the  registration
statement;

                  (xvii)      Not file any  amendment  or  supplement  to such
registration  statement or  prospectus to which a majority in interest of such
holders has objected on the grounds that such  amendment  or  supplement  does
not comply in all material  respects with the  requirements  of the Securities
Act or the rules and regulations thereunder,  after having been furnished with
a copy  thereof at least five (5) business  days prior to the filing  thereof;
provided,  however,  that the  failure  of such  holders  or their  counsel to
review  or  object  to  any  amendment  or  supplement  to  such  registration
statement  or  prospectus  shall not affect the rights of such  holders or any
controlling  person or persons  thereof  or any  underwriter  or  underwriters
therefor under Section 11(e) hereof; and

                  (xviii)     At the  request of any such  holder (i)  furnish
to such holder on the  effective  date of the  registration  statement  or, if
such  registration  includes an underwritten  public offering,  at the closing
provided for in the underwriting  agreement;  an opinion,  dated such date, of
the counsel  representing  the Company for the purposes of such  registration,
addressed to the  underwriters,  if any,  and to the holder or holders  making
such  request,   covering  such  matters  with  respect  to  the  registration
statement,   the  prospectus   and  each  amendment  or  supplement   thereto,
proceedings  under state and federal  securities  laws, other matters relating
to the Company,  the  securities  being  registered  and the offer and sale of
such  securities  as are  customarily  the  subject of  opinions  of  issuer's
counsel provided to underwriters in underwritten  public  offerings,  and such
opinion of counsel  shall  additionally  cover such legal and factual  matters
with  respect to the  registration  as such  requesting  holder or holders may
reasonably  request,  and (ii) use its best  efforts to furnish to such holder
letters  dated  each  such  effective  date and such  closing  date,  from the
independent  certified  public  accountants  of the Company,  addressed to the
underwriters,  if any,  and to the  holder or  holders  making  such  request,
stating that they are  independent  certified  public  accountants  within the
meaning  of  the   Securities  Act  and  dealing  with  such  matters  as  the
underwriters  may request,  or, if the offering is not  underwritten,  that in
the opinion of such  accountants the financial  statements and other financial
data of the Company included in the  registration  statement or the prospectus
or any amendment or supplement  thereto  comply in all material  respects with
the  applicable   accounting   requirements   of  the   Securities   Act,  and
additionally  covering such other financial matters,  including information as
to the  period  ending  immediately  prior  to the  date of such  letter  with
respect to the  registration  statement  and  prospectus,  as such  requesting
holder or holders may reasonably request.

            (d)   Expenses  of  Registration.  All  expenses  incident  to the
Company's performance of or compliance with this Warrant,  including,  without
limitation,  the  following  shall  be  borne by the  Company,  regardless  of
whether the registration statement becomes effective:

                  (i)   All  registration  and filing  fees  (including  those
with respect to filings  required to be made with the National  Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc.);

                                       19
<PAGE>

                  (ii)  Fees and expenses of  compliance  with all  securities
or blue  sky  laws  (including  fees  and  disbursements  of  counsel  for the
underwriters or selling holders in connection with blue sky  qualifications of
the  Registrable   Stock  and  in  determination  of  their   eligibility  for
investment under the laws of such  jurisdictions as the managing  underwriters
or holders of a majority of the Registrable Stock being sold may designate);

                  (iii) Printing, messenger, telephone and delivery expenses;

                  (iv)  Fees and  disbursements of counsel for the Company and
for the sellers of the Registrable Stock as hereinafter provided;

                  (v)   Fees and  disbursements  of all independent  certified
public  accountants  of the  Company  (including  the  expenses of any special
audit and "comfort" letters required by or incident to such performance); and

                  (vi)  Fees and  expenses  of other  persons  retained by the
Company.

                        The  Company  will,  in any  event,  pay its  internal
expenses  (including  without  limitation,  all  salaries  and expenses of its
officers and employees  performing legal or accounting duties), the expense of
any annual  audit,  the fees and  expenses  incurred  in  connection  with the
listing of securities to be  registered on each  securities  exchange on which
similar  securities issued by the Company are then listed,  rating agency fees
and the fees and expenses of any person,  including special experts,  retained
by the Company.

                        In   connection   with  the   registration   statement
required  hereunder,  the Company will  reimburse  the holders of  Registrable
Stock  being  registered  pursuant  to  the  registration  statement  for  the
reasonable fees and  disbursements  of not more than one counsel (or more than
one counsel if conflict  exists among such selling  holders in the exercise of
the  reasonable  judgment of counsel  for the selling  holders and counsel for
the Company) chosen by the holders of a majority of such Registrable Stock.

            (e)   Indemnification.

                  (i)   The Company  hereby  agrees to  indemnify  each of the
holders  of  Registrable  Stock  against  all  claims,   losses,  damages  and
liabilities  (or  actions in respect  thereof)  arising out of or based on any
untrue  statement (or alleged  untrue  statement) of a material fact contained
in any  registration  statement,  preliminary  or final  prospectus,  or other
document  incident to any such  registration,  qualification or compliance (or
in any  related  registration  statement,  notification  or the  like)  or any
omission (or alleged  omission) to state  therein a material  fact required to
be stated therein or necessary to make the statements  therein not misleading,
or any  violation by the Company of any rule or regulation  promulgated  under
the  Securities  Act  applicable  to the  Company  and  relating  to action or
inaction  required of the Company in  connection  with any such  registration,
qualification  or  compliance,  and to  reimburse  the holders of  Registrable
Stock (including

                                       20
<PAGE>

officers and directors of the same and controlling persons) for any legal and
any other expenses  reasonably  incurred in connection with  investigating  or
defending  any such  claim,  loss,  damage,  liability  or  action,  provided,
however,  that the  Company  will not be liable in any such case to the extent
that any such claim,  loss,  damage or liability  arises out of or is based on
any untrue statement or omission based upon written  information  furnished to
the  Company by the holders of the  Registrable  Stock in an  instrument  duly
executed by Warrantholders and stated to be specifically for use therein.

                  (ii)  The holders of the  Registrable  Stock  severally  and
not jointly  agree to indemnify the Company and its officers and directors and
each person,  if any,  who controls any thereof  within the meaning of Section
15 of the Securities Act and their respective  successors  against all claims,
losses,  damages and liabilities (or actions in respect  thereof)  arising out
of or based on any  untrue  statement  of a  material  fact  contained  in any
prospectus,  offering  circular  or  document  incident  to any  registration,
qualification or compliance  relating to securities  purchased pursuant to the
Warrants (or in any related registration statement,  notification or the like)
or any  omission  (or  alleged  omission)  to state  therein a  material  fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements  therein not
misleading  and will  reimburse the Company and each other person  indemnified
pursuant  to this  subsection  (ii)  for any  legal  and  any  other  expenses
reasonably  incurred in connection  with  investigating  or defending any such
claim,  loss,  damage,  liability  or  action;  provided,  however,  that this
subsection  (ii)  shall  apply  only if (and  only to the  extent  that)  such
statement  or  omission  was made in  reliance  upon  information  (including,
without limitation,  written negative responses to inquiries) furnished to the
Company by an  instrument  duly  executed by  Warrantholders  and stated to be
specifically  for  use in such  prospectus,  or  other  document  (or  related
registration  statement,  notification  or  the  like)  or  any  amendment  or
supplement thereto.

                  (iii) Each party entitled to indemnification  hereunder (the
"Indemnified  Party")  shall  give  notice to the party  required  to  provide
indemnification  (the  "Indemnifying  Party")  promptly after such Indemnified
Party has actual  knowledge of any claim as to which  indemnity may be sought,
and  shall  permit  the  Indemnifying  Party  (as  such  Indemnifying  Party's
expense)  to  assume  the  defense  of  any  claim  or  litigation   resulting
therefrom,  provided  that  counsel  for the  Indemnifying  Party,  who  shall
conduct the defense of such claim or litigation,  shall be satisfactory to the
Indemnified  Party, and the Indemnified  Party may participate in such defense
at such  party's  expense,  and  provided,  further,  that the omission by any
Indemnified  Party of its  obligations  under this Section 11(e) expect to the
extent  that the  omission  results  in a  failure  of  actual  notice  to the
Indemnifying  Party and such Indemnifying  Party is materially  damaged solely
as a result of the  failure to give  notice.  No  Indemnifying  Party,  in the
defense of any such claim or  litigation,  shall,  except  with the consent of
each  Indemnified  Party,  consent to the entry of any  judgment or enter into
any  settlement  which does not include as an  unconditional  term thereof the
giving by the  claimant or plaintiff  to such  Indemnified  Party of a release
from all liability in respect to such claim or litigation.

                  (iv)  If the  indemnification  provided  for in this Section
11(e) is unavailable or insufficient to hold harmless an Indemnified  Party in
respect of any losses, claims,  damages,  liabilities,  expenses or actions in
respect thereof referred to herein, then the Indemnifying Party shall

                                       21
<PAGE>

contribute  to the  amount  paid or  payable  by such  Indemnified  Party as a
result of such losses, claims,  damages,  liabilities,  expenses or actions in
such  proportion  a is  appropriate  to  reflect  the  relative  fault  of the
Indemnifying  Party on the one hand, and the  Indemnified  Party on the other,
in connection  with the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses,
claims,  damages,  liabilities,  expenses  or  actions  as well  as any  other
relevant  equitable  considerations,  including the failure to give the notice
required  hereunder.  The  relative  fault of the  Indemnifying  Party and the
Indemnified  Party shall be  determined  by reference  to, among other things,
whether the untrue or alleged  untrue  statement of a material fact relates to
information  supplied by the Indemnifying  Party or the Indemnified  Party and
the  parties'   relative   intent,   knowledge,   access  to  information  and
opportunity  to correct or prevent such  statement  or  omission.  The Company
and the  Warrantholders  agree  that it  would  not be just and  equitable  if
contributions  pursuant  to this  Section  11(e) were  determined  by pro rata
allocation or by any other method of allocation  which did not take account of
the  equitable  considerations  referred to above.  The amount paid or payable
to  an  Indemnified  Party  as  a  result  of  the  losses,  claims,  damages,
liabilities,  or actions  in  respect  thereof,  referred  to above,  shall be
deemed to include  any legal or other  expenses  reasonably  incurred  by such
Indemnified  Party in  connection  with  investigating  or defending  any such
action or claim.  Notwithstanding the contribution  provisions of this Section
11(e),  in no event shall the amount  contributed by any seller of Registrable
Stock exceed the aggregate net offering  proceeds received by such seller from
the sale of Registrable  Stock to which such  contribution or  indemnification
claim relates. No person guilty of fraudulent  misrepresentations  (within the
meaning  of  Section  11(f)  of the  Securities  Act)  shall  be  entitled  to
contribution   from  any  person   who  is  not  guilty  of  such   fraudulent
misrepresentations.

                  (v)   The  indemnification  required by this  Section  11(e)
shall be made by periodic  payments during the course of the  investigation or
defense,  as and when  bills  are  received  or  expenses  incurred.  Anything
contained  herein  to the  contrary  notwithstanding,  the  maximum  aggregate
liability of any holder of  Registrable  Stock under this Section  11(e) shall
not exceed the amount of the net  proceeds  actually  received  by such holder
from  the  sale  of  its  Registrable  Stock  pursuant  to  the  registration,
qualification,  notification  or compliance in respect of which such liability
arose.

            (f)   Reporting  Requirements  Under  Exchange  Act.  The  Company
shall  maintain the  registration  of its Common Stock under Section 12 of the
Exchange Act and shall keep effective such  registration and shall timely file
such  information,  documents  and  reports as the  Commission  may require or
prescribe  under  Section 13 of the Exchange  Act, or  otherwise.  The Company
under the  Securities  Act, the Company shall (whether or not it shall then be
required to do so) timely file such information,  documents and reports as the
Commission  may require or prescribe  under Section 13 or 15(d)  (whichever is
applicable)  of the Exchange  Act. The Company  shall  forthwith  upon request
furnish  any  holder  of  Registrable  Stock (i) a  written  statement  by the
Company that it has complied with such reporting requirements;  (ii) a copy of
the most recent  annual or  quarterly  report of the  Company;  and (iii) such
other  reports and  documents  filed by the Company that it has complied  with
the Commission as such holder may reasonably  request in availing itself of an
exemption for the sale of  Registrable  Stock without  registration  under the
Securities  Act. The Company  acknowledges  and agrees that the purpose of the
requirements contained in this Section 11(f) is to enable any such

                                       22
<PAGE>

holder to comply with the current public information  requirement contained in
Rule  144 (or  any  other  similar  exemptive  provision).  In  addition,  the
Company  shall  take such  other  measures  and file such  other  information,
documents  and reports as shall  hereafter be required by the  Commission as a
condition to the  availability  of Rule 144 and Rule 144A under the Securities
Act (or any similar exemptive provision hereafter in effect).

            (g)   Stockholder  Information.   The  Company  may  require  each
holder of  Registrable  Stock as to which any  registration  is to be effected
pursuant  to this  Section 11 to furnish  the Company  such  information  with
respect  to such  holder and the  distribution  of such  Registrable  Stock as
shall be required by law or by the Commission in connection therewith.

      12.   REPRESENTATION  AND WARRANTIES.  The Company hereby represents and
warrants to and covenants with Foothill,  each Warrantholder,  and each holder
of Warrant Shares that:

            (a)   Organization  and   Capitalization   of  the  Company.   The
Company  is a  corporation  duly  organized,  validly  existing  and  in  good
standing under the laws of the State of Delaware.  As of the date hereof,  the
authorized  capital of the  Company  consists of  30,000,000  shares of Common
Stock and 1,500,000  shares of Preferred  Stock, of which 7,801,682  shares of
Common  Stock and no shares of  Preferred  Stock are issued  and  outstanding.
The  Company  has,  and at all times  during the  Exercise  Period  will have,
reserved  for  issuance  pursuant  to the  Warrants  that  number of shares of
Common Stock that are issuable  pursuant to the Warrants.  No unissued  shares
of Common Stock are reserved for any purpose  other than for issuance upon the
exercise of the  Warrants.  As of the date hereof,  the Company has not issued
or  agreed  to  issue  any  stock  purchase   rights,   options,   convertible
securities,  warrants  (other than this  Warrant) or any other  securities  or
indebtedness  convertible  into  shares  of  Common  Stock,  and  there are no
preemptive  rights in effect  with  respect to the  issuance  of any shares of
Common Stock.  All the outstanding  shares of Common Stock and Preferred Stock
have been  validly  issued  without  violation  of any  preemptive  or similar
rights,  are fully paid and  nonassessable  and have been issued in compliance
with all federal and applicable state securities laws.

            (b)   Authority.   The  Company  has  full  corporate   power  and
authority to execute and deliver this  Warrant,  to issue the shares of Common
Stock  issuable  upon  exercise  of this  Warrant,  and to perform  all of its
obligations hereunder, and the execution,  delivery and performance hereof has
been duly  authorized  by all  necessary  corporate  action on its part.  This
Warrant has been duly executed on behalf of t he Company and  constitutes  the
legal, valid and binding  obligation of the Company  enforceable in accordance
with its terms.

            (c)   No  Legal  Bar.   Neither   the   execution,   delivery   or
performance  of this  Warrant nor the  issuance of the shares of Common  Stock
issuable  upon  exercise of this Warrant will (a) conflict with or result in a
violation of the Certificate of Incorporation  or By-Laws of the Company,  (b)
conflict with or result in a violation of any law, statue,  regulation,  order
or decree applicable to the Company or any affiliate,  (c) require any consent
or  authorization  or  filing  with,  or  other  act by or in  respect  of any
governmental  authority  or (d)  result in a breach of,  constitute  a default
under or

                                       23
<PAGE>

constitute  an  event  creating   rights  of   acceleration,   termination  or
cancellation under any mortgage,  lease,  contract,  franchise,  instrument or
other agreement to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound.

            (d)   Validity of Shares.  When  issued upon the  exercise of this
Warrant as  contemplated  herein,  the shares of Common  Stock so issued  will
have been  validly  issued  and will be fully paid and  nonassessable.  On the
date  hereof,  the par value of the  Common  Stock is less  than the  Exercise
Price per share of Common Stock.

      13.   CONTINUING  VALIDITY.  Sheehan and each  holder of Warrant  Shares
shall  continue  to be  entitled  to all  rights to which a  Warrantholder  is
entitled  pursuant to the  provisions of this Warrant except such rights as by
their terms apply  solely to a  Warrantholder,  notwithstanding  the fact that
this Warrant has been exercised or the period of  exercisability  has expired.
The Company  will,  at any time upon the request of Sheehan or a holder of the
Warrant Shares,  acknowledge in writing,  in form  reasonably  satisfactory to
Sheehan or such holder, the Company's continuing  obligation to be entitled in
accordance  with the provisions of this Warrant;  provided,  however,  that if
Sheehan or such  holder  shall  fail to make any such  request,  such  failure
shall  not  affect  the  continuing  obligation  of the  Company  to afford to
Sheehan and such holder all such rights.

      14.   REDEMPTION.

            (a)   This Warrant may be redeemed,  at the option of the Company,
at any time after August 7, 2000 until the  Expiration  Date, for a redemption
price  equal to two times the then  current  Exercise  Price,  as  adjusted as
provided in this  Warrant.  This  Warrant must be redeemed in whole and not in
part if the  Company  exercises  such  right  of  redemption.  All  rights  to
exercise this Warrant shall terminate at 12:00 midnight  California local time
on the business day immediately preceding the date fixed for redemption.

            (b)   In the event the Company shall  exercise its right to redeem
this Warrant,  it shall give notice to the  Warrantholders by mailing a notice
of redemption in accordance with the provisions  stated herein,  not less than
30 days prior to the redemption date.

            (c)   The  notice  of  redemption  shall  specify  the  redemption
price,  the date fixed for  redemption,  the place where this Warrant shall be
delivered  and the  redemption  price  shall  be paid,  and that the  right to
exercise this Warrant shall terminate at 12:00 midnight  California local time
on the business day immediately preceding the date fixed for redemption.

            (d)   Appropriate  adjustment  shall  be  made  to the  redemption
price on the same  basis as  provided  in  Section 6 hereof  with  respect  to
adjustment of the Exercise Price.

            (e)   Effective  on the  date of the  notice  of  redemption,  the
appreciation   right  set  forth  in   Section   4(b),   and  all   rights  of
Warrantholders under such Section 4(b), shall automatically terminate.

                                       24
<PAGE>

      15.   MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS.

            (a)   Notice  of  Expiration.   The  Company  shall  give  written
notice to the  Warrantholders  specifically  advising  them of the  Expiration
Date and of their right to  exercise  the  Warrants  not more than one hundred
eighty  (180) days and not less than ninety  (90) days  before the  Expiration
Date.  If such  written  notice is not so given,  the  Expiration  Date  shall
automatically  be  extended  until  ninety  (90) days  after the date that the
Company gives the Warrantholders such written notice.

            (b)   Notices.  All  notices  hereunder  shall be in  writing  and
shall be  deemed  to have  been  given  five (5) days  after  being  mailed by
certified  mail,  addressed to the address  below stated of the party to which
notice is given,  or to such  changed  address as such party may have fixed by
notice:

      To the Company:   Allied Healthcare Products, Inc.
                        1720 Sublette Avenue
                        St. Louis, Missouri 63110
                        Attention: Mr. Barry Baker
                        Fax No.: (314) 771-0650

      With copies to:   Disckstein, Shapiro, Morin & Oskinsky, LLP
                        2101 L Street NW
                        Washington, D.C. 20037
                        Attention:  Allen B. Goldstein, Esq.
                        Fax No.:    (202) 887-0689

      To the            Dennis W. Sheehan
      Warrantholders    Sam Hammacher
      or holder of      Harbour Group, Ltd.
      Warrant Shares:   7701 Fortsyth
                        Clayton, Missouri
                        Fax No.: (314) 725-7724

      With a copy (which      Greensfelder, Hemker & Gale, P.C.
      shall not constitute    10 South Broadway; Suite 2000
      notice) to:             St. Louis, Missouri 63102
                              Attention:  Joseph D. Lehrer, Esq.
                              Fax No.:    (314) 241-8624

provided,  however,  that any notice of change of address  shall be  effective
only upon receipt.

            (c)   Successors  and Assigns.  This Warrant shall be binding upon
and inure to the benefit of the Company,  Foothill, the Warrantholders and the
holders of Warrant shares and the

                                       25
<PAGE>

successors,   assigns  and   transferees   of  the   Company,   Sheehan,   the
Warrantholders and the holders of Warrant Shares.

            (d)   Attorneys'  Fees. The Company agrees to pay, on demand,  all
attorneys'  fees (including  attorneys' fees incurred  pursuant to proceedings
arising under the Bankruptcy  Code) and all other costs and expenses which may
be incurred by Sheehan,  the  Warrantholders and the holders of Warrant Shares
in  connection  with any amendment to this Warrant  and/or in connection  with
the   enforcement   of  this  Warrant  or  in  any  way  arising  out  of,  or
consequential to the protection,  assertion, or enforcement of the Obligations
under the Loan  Agreement (or any security  therefor),  whether or not suit is
brought.

            (e)   Entire  Agreement:  Amendments  and  Waivers.  This  Warrant
sets  forth the  entire  understanding  of the  parties  with  respect  to the
transactions  contemplated  hereby.  The failure of any party to seek  redress
for the  violation  or to insist  upon the strict  performance  of any term of
this Warrant  shall not  constitute a waiver of such term and such party shall
be entitled to enforce  such term  without  regard to such  forbearance.  This
Warrant may be amended,  the Company may take any action herein  prohibited or
omit to take action  herein  required to be performed by it, and any breach of
or compliance with any covenant,  agreement, warranty or representation may be
waived,  only if the  Company  has  obtained  the  written  consent or written
waiver  of the  majority  in  interest  of the  Warrantholders,  and then such
consent or waiver  shall be effective  only in the  specific  instance and for
the specific purpose for which given.

            (f)   Severability.  If any term of this  Warrant  as  applied  to
any  person  or  to  any   circumstance  is  prohibited,   void,   invalid  or
unenforceable in any jurisdiction,  such term shall, as to such  jurisdiction,
be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or invalidity  without in any
way  affecting  any other term of this  Warrant or  affecting  the validity or
enforceability of this Warrant or of such provision in any other jurisdiction.

            (g)   Headings.  The headings in this  Warrant are  inserted  only
for convenience of reference and shall not be used in the  construction of any
of its terms.

     [REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK; SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]

                                       26
<PAGE>

      IN WITNESS WHEREOF,  the Company has caused this Warrant to be signed by
its duly authorized officers as of the date first set forth above.


                                    ALLIED HEALTHCARE PRODUCTS, INC.,
                                    a Delaware corporation

 
                                          /s/ Barry F. Baker
                                    By:   __________________________________
                                          Name:   Barry F. Baker
                                          Title:  Vice President-Finance




                                  AGREEMENT

                                   between

                       ALLIED HEALTHCARE PRODUCTS, INC.
                          MEDICAL PRODUCTS DIVISION

                                     and

                                DISTRICT NO. 9
                   INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF MACHINISTS
                            AND AEROSPACE WORKERS







                         JUNE 1, 1997 -- MAY 31, 2000

<PAGE>

                                  I N D E X

Subject                                   Article                    Page 
No.

Apprenticeship & Training Program         XXV                        23
Bulletin Boards                           XVIII                      20
Checkoff                                  IV                          3
Discharge Cases                           XII                        17
Equal Employment Opportunity              I                           1
Funeral Leave                             XIV                        17
Grievance Procedure                       XI                         15
Group Insurance and Pension               XXIV                       21
Health Provisions                         XV                         17
Holidays                                  VI                          5
Hours of Work                             III                         1
Job Transfers Within in the Unit          XX                         20
Jury Duty                                 XIII                       17
Lead Persons                              XVII                       19
Legality Clause                           XXIX                       26
Leaves of Absence                         XXVII                      24
Management                                XXVI                       24
No Loss of Pay                            XXIII                      21
Overtime Distribution                     V                           4
Pay Day                                   XXI                        21
Recognition                               I                           1
Reprimands                                XXII                       21
Rest Periods                              IX                         12
Seniority                                 VII                         6
Severance Allowance                       XXVIII                     25
Shift Definition                          III                         2
Temporary and Emergency Shutdown          VIII                       12
Term                                      XXX                        27
Union Security                            I                           1
Vacations                                 X                          13
Visits to Personnel                       XIX                        20
Wages                                     XVI                        19
Work Day Definitions                      III                         2

<PAGE>

                                  I N D E X

Subject                                   Article                    Page 
No.

Work Limitations                          II                          1
Work Week Definition                      III                         2
Appendix A                                                           28
Appendix B                                                           29
Attachment of Letters                                                30
Job Descriptions                                                     33

<PAGE>


                                  AGREEMENT

     THIS  AGREEMENT  entered into this 1st day of June,  1997,  between  ALLIED
HEALTHCARE,  INC. and its successors or assigns,  hereinafter referred to as the
"Company"  and  DISTRICT  NO. 9  INTERNATIONAL  ASSOCIATION  OF  MACHINISTS  AND
AEROSPACE WORKERS, hereinafter referred to as the "Union".

                                  ARTICLE I

                                 RECOGNITION

     SECTION  1. The  Company  recognizes  the  Union as the sole and  exclusive
bargaining  agent for all production and maintenance  employees  employed in the
Company's plant, but excluding office and clerical employees,  watchmen, guards,
professional  employees  and  supervisors  as  defined  in  the  National  Labor
Relations Act, as amended.

     SECTION 2. UNION  SECURITY.  As a condition of  employment,  all  employees
subject to the provisions of this Agreement  shall be members of the Union on or
after the thirty-first  (31st) day following the beginning of such employment or
the execution date of this Agreement, whichever is later.

     Employees  who are on  layoff  for any  reason  and who fail to keep  their
membership  in good standing as provided for by this Section shall be subject to
discharge.

     SECTION 3. EQUAL EMPLOYMENT  OPPORTUNITY.  The Company and the Union hereby
agree that there shall be no  discrimination  based on an employee's  race, sex,
religion, national origin, union affiliation, age, Vietnam or disabled veterans'
status,  or handicap as provided by law.  The Company  will also comply with the
American with Disabilities Act.

                                  ARTICLE II

                    WORK LIMITATIONS OF EXCLUDED EMPLOYEES

     Employees in positions  excluded from this  Agreement  shall not do work on
jobs for which rates of pay are established by the Company in the Agreement with
the Union except for the purpose of  instructing  or in  emergencies  when other
employees are not available.

                                 ARTICLE III

                                HOURS OF WORK

     SECTION 1. PURPOSE OF ARTICLE. This Article is intended to define the hours
of work and to provide a basis for  calculation  of  overtime,  but shall not be
construed as a guarantee  or a limitation  of hours of work per day or per week,
or of days of work per week.

                                   1

<PAGE>

     SECTION  2.  DEFINITION  OF A WORK  DAY.  A day  shall  be  defined  as the
twenty-four (24) hour period commencing at the start of the employee's shift.

     The basic  work day shall  consist of eight (8)  consecutive  hours in such
twenty-four (24) hour period  exclusive of a lunch period.  (The only exceptions
to the above will be those where an employee  works  straight  through the shift
being paid for a lunch period.)

     SECTION 3.  DEFINITION OF A WORK WEEK. The basic work week shall consist of
five (5) basic eight (8) hour days,  Monday through  Friday,  inclusive,  except
that the basic work week of certain  employees  may begin on other than  Mondays
and runs for five (5) consecutive basic eight (8) hour days.

     SECTION 4.  DEFINITION OF SHIFTS.  Any shift starting on or after 6:00 a.m.
but before 2:00 p.m. shall be considered a first shift. Any shift starting on or
after 2:00 p.m. but before 10:00 p.m.  shall be considered a second  shift.  Any
shift starting on or after 10:00 p.m. but before 6:00 a.m. shall be considered a
third shift.

      The following times have been established for current shifts:

            1st shift                6:00 a.m. to  2:30 p.m.
            2nd shift                2:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
            3rd shift               10:30 p.m. to  6:30 a.m.

with the exception of Shipping and Receiving and related Packer Material 
Handlers whose hours will be:

            1st shift                7:30 a.m. to  4:00 p.m.
            2nd shift                4:00 p.m. to 12:00 midnight

The Company will allow Packer  Material  Handlers  assigned to the  warehouse to
start  their  first  shift at 6:00 AM as long as a second  shift  exists  in the
shipping department.

     SECTION 5. DAY OF SHIFT. For the purpose of defining  Saturday,  Sunday and
holiday pay, a shift shall be  considered  as having been worked on the calendar
day on which the shift  begins.  Any shift  beginning at 12:00  Midnight will be
considered as the third shift of the preceding day, except on Saturday, in which
case such shift shall be considered Sunday.

     SECTION 5.1. A third shift may be added with a Sunday through Thursday work
week.  A Sunday night start would be  considered  the first day of the work week
and not be subject to the Sunday overtime premium.

     SECTION 5.2. The  starting  time for the second shift in Primary  Machining
may be modified to start at 4:30 PM. Primary  Machining only refers to three job
classifications:  Mazak,  Set-up Single Spindle,  and Set Up Specialist.  Second
Shift in Primary  Machining will receive an additional fifty (50) cents per hour
whenever their shift starts at 4:30 PM.

                                       2
<PAGE>

     SECTION 6. If it  becomes  necessary  to change  the number of shifts,  the
schedule of hours,  or both,  such  changes  shall be mutually  agreed to by the
Company  and the Union  Committee.  Any person who is required to report to work
earlier than his regular scheduled  starting time shall be permitted to work his
regular schedule of hours.

     SECTION 7. Any person reporting for work at his regular scheduled  starting
time shall be guaranteed four (4) hours' work or four (4) hours pay.

     The  provisions  of this Section  shall not apply if, due to  circumstances
beyond the  Company's  control,  such as fire,  flood,  destruction  of property
and/or working  facilities due to failure of utilities caused by nature in which
the  Company  is not  provided  with  time  to  give  employees  proper  advance
notification.

                               ARTICLE IV

                               CHECK-OFF

     SECTION 1. The Company  agrees for and on account of the employees  covered
by this Agreement who are members of District No. 9, I.A.M.A.W.  who furnish the
Company with properly signed  authorization cards, to deduct monthly dues out of
the  wages of such  employees  from the  third  pay  check of each  month,  such
deduction  to be in payment of dues for the current  month.  Such  authorization
cards shall be furnished by the Union.

     SECTION 2. If an employee  does not have  sufficient  earnings in said dues
deduction week to pay for his dues,  then such dues shall be deducted from wages
subsequently  earned during that calendar  month. If he does not have sufficient
wages in said  subsequent  month,  then the Company  shall have no obligation to
deduct dues for such month unless the Union  notifies the Company as to specific
amount due.

     SECTION 3. Dues  deductions  shall start the following  month for employees
who furnish the Company with the above required authorization.

     SECTION 4. The  Company  agrees to remit such dues,  so  collected,  to the
Financial  Secretary  of the  Union.  The Union  shall  advise the  Company,  in
writing,  as to the  amount of the dues to be  deducted,  how the check for such
dues shall be made  payable and as to the name of the  Financial  Secretary  and
address to which such funds shall be sent.

                                       3
<PAGE>

                               ARTICLE V

                                OVERTIME

     SECTION 1. The Company has the right to provide and require  overtime  work
and employees will be expected to perform such work on request.

     SECTION 2. Except in  emergency  situations,  the Company  agrees to notify
employees of Saturday  work  requirements  twenty-four  (24) hours in advance of
such Saturday work requirements.

     SECTION 3. Overtime work shall be divided as  impartially  and equitable as
is practical  among the employees  regularly  assigned to do the work within the
same shift and job classification.

     In order to provide  the above,  the  Company  agrees to maintain a maximum
regular work week overtime differential of twenty (20) hours.

     The  Company  further  agrees  to  maintain  a  maximum  Saturday  overtime
differential of twenty (20) hours.

     Errors in the equitable  distribution  of overtime shall be remedied by the
assignment  of an  overlooked  employee to the next  overtime  work that becomes
available on work which he is regularly assigned to perform within his shift and
job classification.

     SECTION 4. An employee who is required to work overtime,  but does not work
shall be  credited  on the  overtime  distribution  log as if he had  worked the
declined overtime.

     SECTION 5. Corrected  overtime  distribution logs shall be posted every two
weeks. All overtime logs shall revert to zero effective June 1st of each year.

     SECTION 6. All employees  returning  from a leave of absence for any reason
or a layoff,  shall be credited with the highest number of overtime hours worked
by  employees  regularly  assigned  to perform the work within the shift and job
classification.

     SECTION 7. Lead persons shall not be covered by the equalization principles
outlined in Section 3 of this Article.

     SECTION  8. All time  worked in any one day over  eight (8) hours  shall be
overtime  and paid for at the rate of time and  one-half  for the first four (4)
hours and  double  time  thereafter.  This does not  apply to  Saturday  work if
Saturday is an overtime day.

     SECTION 9. Time and  one-half  shall be paid for the first  eight (8) hours
worked on a Saturday and double time thereafter.

                                       4
<PAGE>

     SECTION 10. Double time shall be paid for all work performed on Sunday.

     SECTION 11. If an employee,  child,  or  dependent  spouse has a previously
scheduled  doctor or dentist  appointment  outside  the regular  work day,  when
overtime  is  required,  the  employee  will be  excused  and no points  will be
charged, provided proper documentation is furnished.

                               ARTICLE VI

                                HOLIDAYS

     SECTION 1. Double  time shall be paid for all time worked on the  following
holidays:  New Year's Day,  Martin Luther King Day,  Good Friday,  Memorial Day,
Independence Day, Labor Day,  Thanksgiving  Day, the Friday after  Thanksgiving,
Christmas Eve,  Christmas Day, New Year Eve's. If a holiday falls on a Saturday,
it shall be  observed on the  preceding  working  day.  If a holiday  falls on a
Sunday, it shall be observed on the following working day.

     SECTION 2. For all  employees who are employed for thirty (30) days or more
in the unit covered by District No. 9  International  Association  of Machinists
and  Aerospace  Workers,  eight (8) hours  straight  time  shall be paid for the
following  holidays:  New Year's  Day,  Martin  Luther  King Day,  Good  Friday,
Memorial Day,  Independence  Day, Labor Day,  Thanksgiving Day, the Friday after
Thanksgiving,  Christmas Eve,  Christmas Day, and New Year's Eve. In order to be
eligible for such holiday pay, an employee  must have  actually  worked both the
last scheduled workday before and the first scheduled workday after such holiday
unless ill or excused by the Company, or have scheduled a vacation day before or
after the holiday.  However, any employee reporting late for work the day before
or the day after a holiday  shall  have that  period of time  deducted  from his
holiday pay instead of losing an entire day's pay.

     SECTION 3. Any employee  working on the above  mentioned  holidays shall be
paid double overtime for all hours of work actually performed in addition to the
eight  (8)  hours  straight  time  holiday  pay  provided  for in the  foregoing
paragraph.

     SECTION 4. When a holiday falls within an employee's regular vacation,  the
employee shall receive an extra day off with pay.

     SECTION 5. The Company has agreed to schedule a normal eight (8) hours work
schedule the work day before the  Memorial  Day,  Fourth of July,  and Labor Day
holidays. All overtime on those days will be voluntary.

     SECTION 6. The  Company  agrees to use only  volunteers  on  holidays.  The
Company  agrees  that  no  overtime  will  be  required  on  the  day  preceding
contractually  observed  holidays.  If an employee  works 8 regularly  scheduled
hours the day after a holiday, he/she will receive full holiday pay.

                                       5
<PAGE>

                              ARTICLE VII

                               SENIORITY

     SECTION 1. Seniority shall be applied upon a plant wide basis on layoff and
re-employment  (the  Company  will not be  expected  to place any  employee in a
trainee classification in order to make the employee eligible to apply seniority
on a plant-wide basis in layoff and re-employment).

     SECTION 2. Each  employee in the  bargaining  unit as of June 1, 1962 shall
have a  plant-wide  seniority  defined as the  employee's  length of  continuous
service since the employee's last date of hire,  except those employees who were
added to the bargaining unit on transfer from the Company's Blind  Manufacturing
Department whose seniority shall date as to the date of transfer.

     Temporary  layoffs  due to lack of work,  illness or injury of  employee or
other  causes  beyond  the  control  of  the  employee   shall  not   constitute
interruption of continuous service as it is used here in this Article.

     SECTION  2.5.  Any  employee  may be  assigned  to  any  job  within  their
classification.

     SECTION 3. Employees may be permitted to bump and displace other  employees
on a plant-wide  seniority  basis only at such time as there is a contraction of
the work force and then only to an equal or lower rated job classification.

     SECTION 4. In all cases, plant-wide seniority shall be the basis of layoff,
providing  that  the  retained  employee  can  satisfactorily  perform  the work
required.

     In no case shall an employee  have any right in a  reduction  in force to a
job at the higher level than the job in which they were surplus.

      The sequence of layoffs shall be as follows:

            (a)   Probationary employees shall be the first to be laid
            off unless the skills and experience required for their
            jobs are such that senior employees are unable to qualify.

            (b)   Employees who are surplus in a particular job
            classification shall be laid off in the reverse order in
            which they were hired in accordance with their plant-wide
            seniority, provided, however, that the retained employee
            can satisfactorily perform the work required.

            (c)   During a contraction of the work force senior
            employees who are surplus in a particular job
            classification shall be permitted to displace (bump)
            employees with less plant seniority in other equal or lower
            rated job classifications; provided, however, that the
            retained employee can satisfactorily perform the work
            required.

                                       6
<PAGE>

            (d)   In lieu of bumping or transfer to an equal or lower
            rated classification, senior employees who are surplus in a
            particular classification may elect a layoff.  Employees
            who elect a layoff in lieu of bumping or transfer to an
            equal or lower rated classification, shall have recall
            rights only to the classification held at the time of
            layoff.  An exception shall be employees who bump or
            transfer to an equal or lower rated classification, and
            during a subsequent contraction of the work force elect a
            layoff rather than bumping or transferring again.  Such
            employees shall have recall rights to the classification
            held at the time of layoff and to all higher or equal
            classifications up to and including their highest original
            classification or its equivalent.

            (e)   When an employee's plant-wide seniority does not
            permit the election of a layoff or of bumping to an equal
            or lower rated classification, the employee shall be laid
            off.  These employees shall have recall rights to the
            highest classification held prior to the other equal or
            lower rated classifications in accordance with their
            plant-wide seniority.

     In application of determining "satisfactory performance"  aforementioned on
all job classifications  except highly skilled screw machine  classification and
journeyman  classifications  where long periods of extensive  apprenticeship  or
training are involved,  the Company agrees to allow a fair and reasonable  trial
subject to review for employees to apply themselves. Any exceptions to this rule
must be  determined  by mutual  agreement  between the Union  Committee  and the
Company.  After a fair and reasonable trial,  should the employee not be able to
satisfactorily  do the work required,  the employee shall be disqualified and be
allowed to bump any lower classification that his seniority will allow.

     SECTION 5. Each newly hired  employee  shall be  considered a  probationary
employee  and shall not acquire  seniority  or  employment  rights  until he has
completed a probationary period.  During such period, the Company may lay off or
discharge an employee at its own discretion  without future obligation to rehire
him and without the employee having recourse to the grievance procedure.

     The  probationary  period shall be thirty (30) calendar days. On completion
of the  probationary  period an  employee  will be credited  with an  equivalent
amount of plant seniority.

     SECTION 5.5. When it is necessary to transfer an employee  temporarily from
one classification to another, the following sequence shall be followed:

            1.    The Senior displaced employee in the plant whose
            permanent classification is to be temporarily filled.

            2.    Those employees in the plant who are available as a
            result of a breakdown or lack of work.

                                       7
<PAGE>

            3.    Any other employee in the plant except, that no
            employee will be required to temporarily transfer for more
            than 15 working days in a calendar quarter.

     Any employee who is  temporarily  transferred  shall be paid in  accordance
with Article XX, Sections 1 and 2 of this Agreement.

     SECTION 6. In all cases of  promotion or transfer,  the  following  factors
shall be considered:

            (a)   Seniority.

            (b)   Knowledge of and/or ability to do the job.

            (c)   Physical fitness.

     Where factors (b) and (c) are  approximately  equal between employees to be
considered, seniority shall govern.

     All new job classifications  and/or permanent  vacancies,  as determined by
management  shall be posted for bid  (including  trainee  classifications).  Job
bidding shall apply only to promotions. A promotion shall be defined as a higher
rated  job  classification  (final  rates of  classification  including  trainee
classification). No employee in the trainee classification shall be permitted to
bid  until  completion  of his  trainee  period on his  present  classification.
Employees will be eligible to bid lateral or down on all new classifications and
job  openings  within  the plant.  An  employee  awarded  such a bid will not be
eligible to bid lateral or down or to request a lateral or downward transfer for
a period of one (1) year.  The vacancy  resulting  from this  procedure  will be
filled under the job bidding procedure for promotions.

     Jobs shall be posted for a period of  twenty-four  (24) hours.  The posting
shall include the stated job classification, the rate of pay and the shift to be
worked. A sealed box shall be provided for this purpose. The bids will be opened
by an accredited representative of both parties to this Labor Agreement.

     Vacancies  shall be filled by promotion or transfer when possible to do so,
providing the employees considered can satisfactorily do the work required.  The
Company will advise the Union Committee, after making the change by promotion or
transfer,  to the Union Committee.  If any employee feels he has been improperly
bypassed,  he may file a grievance in accordance with the Grievance Procedure in
this Agreement.  Employees  promoted or transferred with the bargaining unit and
who  failed  to  qualify  within  thirty  (30) days may  return to their  former
classification,  or if such  classification  is not available,  then to the most
nearly equivalent classification.

                                       8
<PAGE>

     SECTION 7.  Laid-off  employees  shall be called  back in reverse  order in
which they were laid off in  accordance  with the  seniority  provisions of this
Agreement.  The Company shall notify them in writing by Certified  Mail,  Return
Receipt  Requested,  forwarded  to their  last known  address  on the  Company's
records,  and if  any  such  employee  shall  fail  to  report  to  work  within
twenty-four  (24)  hours,  the  Company  may call the next  employee in order of
seniority  to  fill  the  said  position.  Failure  to  report  to  work  within
twenty-four (24) hours after having received the aforesaid notice will result in
loss of  seniority,  and the  Company  will be  relieved  of any  obligation  to
reinstate the employee.  It is the sole  responsibility  of the employee to keep
the Company informed as to his address and/or telephone number. The Company will
give full consideration to any extenuating circumstances.

            (a)   An employee must accept recall to the highest
            original classification held prior to a contraction of the
            work force or the employee shall forfeit all seniority
            rights.

            (b)   An employee recalled to an equal or lower rated
            classification (not the highest original classification
            held prior to a contraction of the work force) shall have
            an election of accepting the recall or of continuing on
            layoff.  If the employee elects to continue on layoff, his
            recall rights shall be limited only to the highest original
            classification held prior to a contraction of the work
            force.  If the employee accepts recall to another equal or
            lower rated classification, he shall be subject to the same
            performance requirements and conditions stated in Section 4
            of this Article.

            (c)   An employee on layoff shall have no rights to a job
            classification higher than the highest original
            classification held prior to a contraction of the work
            force.  However, if such an opening should occur, the
            Company may at its own discretion offer such a higher
            classification opening to such an employee on layoff
            without regard to seniority after application of the
            bidding procedure of the Agreement to those employees
            actively employed.  Should said employee refuse the higher
            rated classification, it shall have no effect on their
            status and rights under this Agreement.  Should said
            employee accept the higher rated classification, the
            employee shall be governed by Section 6 of this Article
            provided that the Employee's seniority entitles the
            employee to such other or former classification.  Should
            the employee's seniority not entitle the employee to such
            other or former classifications the employee's status shall
            avert to layoff with full rights provided by this Agreement.

     SECTION 8.  Employees who desire to be considered for a lateral or downward
transfer,  shall register their desire with the personnel department in writing,
dating and signing their individual request.

                                       9
<PAGE>

     SECTION  8.5.   Employees  wishing  to  transfer  shifts  within  the  same
department  and class may do so if a job  opening  exists.  Once  preference  is
granted,  they will not be permitted to exercise  this right for a period of six
(6) months.  Employees shall register their desire with the personnel department
in writing, dating and signing their individual request.

     SECTION 9. In the Screw Machine  Department,  job classification  promotion
vacancies  shall be filled by automatic  consideration  to lower pay-rated screw
machine job classification employees.

     Upgrading to Set-Up Man from Operator shall be in progressive  steps within
the Company  Training  Program as established.  Employees  entering the Training
Program and  completing a six month  evaluation  period  successfully,  shall be
upgraded to the  classification of Set-Up Trainee.  Employees upgraded to Set-Up
Trainee  shall  receive  one-half  (1/2) the  difference  between  their current
existing Operator rate and that of Set-Up Man.

     The final  twelve  (12) months of the program  shall be  incremental  steps
increasing  every three (3) months or sooner as the employee  qualifies for such
increases.

     SECTION  10. An  employee  shall lose  seniority  rights for any one of the
following reasons:

            (a)   If an employee is not in the active employment of the
            Company for eighteen (18) consecutive months.

            (b)   If he quits on his own accord.

            (c)   If he is dismissed for just cause which is not
            contested by the Union within five (5) working days,
            subject to the Grievance Procedure.

            (d)   If he is absent for three (3) successive working days
            or more without just cause and without notifying the
            Company.  (All employees, however, will cooperate to the
            fullest extent to notify the Company the first day by
            telephone).

            (e)   Working for another employer during a leave of
            absence in which case the employee will be considered to
            have voluntarily quit.

            (f)   If he fails to return to work within twenty-four (24)
            hours as outlined in Section 7 above.

                                       10
<PAGE>

            (g)   No employee's seniority shall be terminated on
            account of extended illness, provided that such employee
            reports at the expiration of each thirty (30) days to the
            Company by mail, the status of his illness and supplies
            medical evidence as requested.  During this leave of
            absence the employee shall continue to accrue seniority for
            a period of twelve (12) months.  At the end of the twelve
            (12) month period, these employees shall retain the
            seniority held as of that date and shall not accrue
            additional seniority until they return to work.  The
            Company's obligation to provide benefits or payment or
            costs for benefits shall cease at the end of twelve (12)
            months and resume when the employee returns to work.  Such
            employee, upon return to work, will be assigned to his
            former position, if available (or the next comparable
            position if not available) if physically able to perform
            the duties thereof.  In the event of the inability to
            properly perform such duties, the Company will endeavor to
            assign other suitable employment.

     SECTION 11. Those employees promoted to a salaried Foreman's position prior
to June 1, 1973,  shall continue to accrue seniority until December 31, 1973. At
the end of this period,  these  employees  shall retain the seniority held as of
that date and shall not accrue additional seniority.

     Subsequent  to June 1, 1973,  employees  promoted  to  non-bargaining  unit
positions  shall continue to accrue  seniority for a period of thirty (30) days.
At the end of this period, these employees shall retain the seniority held as of
that date and shall not accrue additional seniority.

     SECTION 12. It is agreed that the Company and the Union will  cooperate  in
drawing up  seniority  lists which shall be posted on the  bulletin  board.  Any
objections  to said lists shall be made within ten (10) working days after it is
posted, otherwise it will be considered a true list. Employees absent during the
time of posting  because of illness or layoff  shall have ten (10)  working days
after  recall  or after  they  return  to object  to said  list.  An  up-to-date
seniority list will be posted each three (3) months.

     SECTION 13. The steward within the department  shall, on the date of layoff
of any employees, be given a list of the employees to be laid off.

     SECTION 14.  Unless  prevented  from doing so by  circumstances  beyond the
control of the Company, the Company agrees to notify the employees of layoffs at
least two (2) working days in advance of such layoffs.

                                       11
<PAGE>

                              ARTICLE VIII

                   TEMPORARY AND EMERGENCY SHUTDOWNS

     SECTION 1. Shutdowns through five (5) consecutive working days per year per
department  shall not be considered  as a layoff for purposes of the  Agreement,
and any  temporary  release  from  work in such  cases  shall  involve  only the
employee  or  employees  whose jobs are  affected.  After  five (5)  consecutive
working  days,  the Company shall revert to the lay-off  provision  contained in
Article VII,  Section 4. An emergency  shutdown of one (1) day or less shall not
be  counted  toward the five (5)  working  day  provision  above.  An  emergency
shutdown are those due to circumstances  beyond the Company's control as defined
in Article III, Section 7.

     SECTION 2. Partial or complete  shutdowns  for the balance of a shift shall
be governed by the provisions of Article III, Section 7.

                               ARTICLE IX

                              REST PERIODS

     The Company  agrees to provide an  adequate  rest period of a full ten (10)
minutes in each half of the shift for all employees.

                               ARTICLE X

                               VACATIONS

     SECTION 1. All employees  covered by this  agreement who have completed one
(1) year's  employment  with the Company shall  receive one (1) week's  vacation
with forty (40) hours' pay.

     SECTION 2. All employees covered by this Agreement who have completed three
(3) years of employment  with the Company shall receive two (2) weeks'  vacation
with eighty (80) hours' pay.

     SECTION 3. All employees  covered by this Agreement who have completed nine
(9) years of employment with the Company shall receive three (3) weeks' vacation
with one hundred twenty (120) hours' pay.

     SECTION 3.5. All employees  covered by this  Agreement  who have  completed
fifteen (15) years of employment  with the Company shall receive four (4) weeks'
vacation with one hundred sixty (160) hours' pay.

     SECTION 4. The  anniversary  date of employment  established  the amount of
vacation  earned in accord with Sections 1 through 3.5,  which vacation shall be
scheduled and taken in the subsequent 12 months ending with the next anniversary
date of employment.

                                       12
<PAGE>

     SECTION 5. The rate to be used in  calculating  vacation pay is hourly rate
of employee at the time the vacation is taken.

     SECTION 6.  Effective  January  1, 1986,  it is  mutually  agreed  that the
Company  may  close  its plant for one week  vacation  in  conjunction  with the
Independence  Day holiday.  The  Independence  Day holiday will be celebrated on
Monday following the shutdown period.  Employees with vacation  entitlement will
take vacation during this period.

     The Company will provide ninety (90) days' notice if the vacation  shutdown
period is to be scheduled in any given year.

     The Company reserves the right to request certain  employees to work during
this  period to perform  whatever  necessary  functions  as may be  required  to
maintain reasonable continuity in maintenance and service to its customers.

     Those  employees  entitled  to  greater  than one (1) week  vacation  shall
schedule up to two (2) additional  weeks of vacation by March 1st.  Vacation may
be scheduled in single day increments in accordance with the Company  memorandum
regarding one day at a time vacations, dated 2/16/1996.

     Employees  will be allowed to use their  vacation in single days or partial
weeks.  All employees  will be allowed to request in advance both single days or
partial weeks vacation.  In advance means a minimum of 24 hours prior to the day
requested.  For an employee to be allowed to request a single day of vacation on
that date, the employee must have attendance  points of five (5) or above.  this
request  must be made prior to but no later than one (1) hour after the start of
the employee's  shift.  Employees unable to contact their  supervisors  directly
should leave a message on the supervisors phonemail indicating their request for
a vacation day. The phonemail  system time dates all  messages.  those  messages
received  prior to the end of the first hour (after the  employee's  start time)
and who meet the  eligibility  requirements  (5 points or greater  than) will be
honored.  Employees who do not conform to this policy will not be allowed to use
a vacation day and will be charged with an absence.

     In all cases,  insofar as  possible,  vacation  will be granted at the time
most  desired by the  employee.  However,  where  there is  scheduling  conflict
seniority shall dictate the order in the scheduling of the vacation.

     The final right to designate  vacation  periods is exclusively  reserved to
the Company in order to assure the efficient operation of the plant.

     SECTION 7. Vacation pay shall be at the rate in effect at the time vacation
is taken. Employees who have been in the employ of the Company more than six (6)
months  terminating  their employment with the Company for any reason whatsoever
shall receive one-twelfth (1/12) of their regular vacation allotment due them at
the time of such  termination for each month worked after their last anniversary
date.

                                       13
<PAGE>

     SECTION  8. An  employee  who  enlists or who is  inducted  into the United
States  Armed  Forces  shall be  considered  as being on a leave of absence,  in
accordance with regulations and procedures of applicable  Federal statutes.  His
vacation pay shall be computed  accordingly.  Upon his return to work,  he shall
have such time spent in the Armed Forces counted for  determining  whether he is
eligible for one, two, three or four weeks vacation.

     SECTION 9. Employees laid off and recalled shall in the following  vacation
period  receive a pro-rated  vacation  based on Section 7, less any vacation pay
given them when laid off.

     If an  employee's  layoff was less than three (3)  consecutive  months,  he
shall receive vacation pay the same as if he had not been laid off. However,  if
said  employee was laid off longer than three  consecutive  months,  such months
beyond three (3) shall not be counted for the purpose of computing vacation pay.

     An  employee  on leave of absence  less than three (3)  consecutive  months
shall  receive  vacation  pay at the  same as if he had not  been on a leave  of
absence.  However,  if said  employee  was on a leave of absence for longer than
three (3) consecutive  months, such months beyond three (3) shall not be counted
for the purpose of computing vacation pay.

     SECTION 10. It shall be a violation  of this  Agreement  for an employee to
accept  vacation pay in lieu of  vacation.  It shall also be a violation of this
Agreement for an employer to offer an employee vacation pay in lieu of vacation.

     SECTION 11. Split vacations to be paid off at the time vacation is taken.

                               ARTICLE XI

                          GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE

     SECTION 0.5. A grievance  is defined as a complaint  or dispute  concerning
alleged violations of, non compliance with, or the interpretation or application
of specific  provisions of this Agreement.  This does not limit the right of the
Union  to  file a  grievance  in  the  behalf  of  the  employee  who  has  been
disciplined.

     SECTION 1. The Company  agrees to recognize  stewards  elected by the Union
from  among  the  Company's  employees  to the  extent  of one (1)  steward  per
department per shift. The stewards will be allowed such reasonable time off from
their  regular  duties  without  loss of pay as is  necessary in the handling of
grievances and union business.

     The Company shall also recognize a plant  grievance  committee  which shall
consist of at least three (3) employees for the purpose of collective bargaining
and the handling of grievances  after  grievances have been handled in the first
step of the Grievance Procedure by a departmental  steward on a particular shift
involved.

                                       14
<PAGE>

     SECTION  2.  When  grievances  arise,  the  following  procedure  shall  be
followed; each enumerated step to be exhausted before resorting to the next.

            (a)   An employee who has a grievance shall report it to
            his foreman in writing not later than the fifth (5th)
            working day following the incident which caused the
            grievance.  It will be discussed promptly by the foreman,
            the employee and his union steward.  If no settlement is
            reached within five (5) working days, the foreman shall
            answer the grievance, signed and in writing.

            (b)   The grievance may then be presented by the shop
            committee to the Plant Superintendent within five (5)
            working days after receipt of the answer.  If no settlement
            is reached within five (5) working days, the grievance
            shall be answered, signed and in writing.

            (c)   If the matter remains unsettled after steps (a) and
            (b), the grievance may be presented by the Business
            Representative of the Union for discussion with the Vice
            President of Operations and Vice President of Human
            Resources in a meeting with the shop committee within ten
            (10) working days.  A decision shall be given by the
            Company within five (5) working days after such meeting.
            The decision will be signed and in writing.

            (d)   The time limits prescribed above may be extended by
            mutual agreement, but neither party will refuse to grant to
            the other, upon timely request based upon reasonable cause,
            an extension of the prescribed time.  It is agreed that any
            grievance that is not referred to the next higher step
            within the periods prescribed (including an extension),
            shall be considered settled and need not receive further
            consideration.

     SECTION 3. ARBITRATION

            (a)   In the event the parties fail to settle the grievance
            in the three (3) previous steps, the dissatisfied party may
            notify the other in writing within ten (10) working days
            after the decision in the third (3rd) step of a desire to
            appeal the decision to arbitration.

            (b)   At a time mutually agreeable, but not to exceed
            thirty (30) calendar days from the date of the notice of
            appeal, the parties will meet to agree on a written
            stipulation as to the specific issue in the dispute.  At
            this time, these parties will also draw up a joint letter
            to the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service
            requesting it to submit the names of five (5) prospective
            arbitrators.  The parties shall select one (1) prospective
            arbitrator by alternately striking a name from the list
            until one (1) name remains.  The party appealing the matter
            to arbitration shall strike the first name.  A copy of the
            agreed upon stipulation, signed by both parties, will be
            submitted to the arbitrator.

                                       15
<PAGE>

            (c)   The decision of the arbitrator shall not have the
            authority to alter in any way the terms and conditions of
            this Agreement.  The arbitrators' fees and expense and any
            clerical or stenographic expense incidental to arbitration
            and mutually agreed to shall be borne equally by the
            Company and the Union.

     SECTION 4. Employees shall not cease work,  slow down,  picket or engage in
and strike or other concerted  interruption or interference with the business of
the  Company  during  the term of this  Contract.  Any other  violation  of this
provision  by  an  employee  shall  make  such  employee  subject  to  immediate
discharge.

                              ARTICLE XII

                            DISCHARGE CASES

     Management  agrees that  employees  shall not be  suspended  or  discharged
without  just  cause.  The  Union  will be  notified  of any  employees  who are
suspended or  discharged.  Any grievance  protesting a discharge  shall be filed
within five (5) working days and will be  introduced  in the third (3rd) step of
the  grievance  procedure.  Should it be determined in any step of the Grievance
Procedure that the employee has been suspended or discharged unjustly,  he shall
be reinstated to his former position in accordance with the seniority  provision
of the Agreement, and he shall be paid back pay for all time lost.

                              ARTICLE XIII

                               JURY DUTY

     The  Company  agrees  to pay all  employees  who  serve  on jury  duty  the
difference between their regular straight time eight (8) hour day and the amount
given them for jury service for each day they serve.

                              ARTICLE XIV

                             FUNERAL LEAVE

     All  employees,  when  death  occurs in their  immediate  family,  shall be
allowed  three  (3)  days off with pay in  order  to  attend  the  funeral.  The
immediate family shall be defined as including mother, father, sister,  brother,
spouse, children, step-children, grandparents, grandchildren, mother-in-law, and
father-in-law.

     The benefits contained in this paragraph are contingent upon the employee's
attendance  at the funeral.  The Company  reserves the right to request proof of
such attendance.

                                       16
<PAGE>

                               ARTICLE XV

                           HEALTH PROVISIONS

     SECTION 1. The Company  shall provide  adequate  clean lockers and a locker
room.  The Company shall also provide  adequate  washing  facilities  within the
confines  of the male and  female  washrooms  respectively.  The  Company  shall
continue to provide cold drinking  water.  The Company will maintain the current
practice as it relates to extra breaks  during the hot summer  months.  Gatorade
will be provided.

Note: We suggest  involving the safety  committee in developing the procedure to
be used.

     SECTION 2. Protective Devices The Company shall continue to make provisions
for the safety and health of its employees during the hours of their employment.
Protective devices and other equipment necessary will be provided by the Company
in accordance with general Union  conditions and in accordance with all Federal,
State and Municipal safety and sanitary regulations.

     SECTION 3. The  Company and the Union agree to provide a program for safety
and  health of the  employees  during  the hours of their  employment.  A safety
committee  shall  be  established.  The  safety  committee  and  the  bargaining
committee  shall be one and the same. Any complaint or grievance  concerning the
safety  and  health of the  employees  in the hours of the  employment  shall be
honored as a grievance and the following procedure shall be followed:

            (a)   An employee who has a grievance concerning safety and
            health during the hours of employment shall report it to
            his foreman in writing not later than the fifth (5th)
            working day following the incident which caused the
            grievance.  It will be discussed promptly by the foreman,
            the employee and the  union steward.  If no settlement is
            reached within one (1) working day from the date the
            grievance is received, the foreman shall answer the
            grievance, signed and in writing.

            (b)   The grievance may then be presented by the shop
            committee to the plant Superintendent and/or the Safety
            Manager within five (5) working days after the receipt of
            the answer.  If no settlement is reached within the
            following five (5) working days, the grievance shall be
            answered, signed and in writing.

            (c)   If the matter remains unsettled after steps (a) and
            (b), the grievance may be entered at the third step of the
            normal grievance procedure as outlined in Article XI,
            Section 2(c).

     SECTION 4. An employee  shall not be deemed as having  voluntarily  quit or
shall not be discharged or disciplined nor shall it be considered as a breach of
this  Agreement if such  employee  leaves the plant when the  temperature  drops
below 65 degrees Fahrenheit inside the plant.

                                       17
<PAGE>

     SECTION 5. Any employee  reporting  off for sickness or accident may at the
discretion  of the  Company,  be  required  to appear  for an  examination  at a
physician of the Company's choosing.

     Should it be determined by the Company  physician that the employee is able
to work, no sickness or accident benefits will be paid.

                              ARTICLE XVI

                                 WAGES

     SECTION 1.  Attached  hereto as Appendix A and made part of this  Agreement
are the Wage  Schedules  and  effective  dates for all  current  classifications
effective June 1, 1997. On June 1, 1998, each  classification  will be increased
by $.35,  and on June 1,  1999,  each  classification  will be  increased  by an
additional $.35.

     SECTION 2. A shift  premium of fifty cents  ($.50) per hour will be paid in
addition  to the  classification  rate  for all  classifications  equal or above
Machine Operator/Set-Up for all work performed on the second and third shifts.

     A shift  premium of forty cents ($.40) per hour will be paid in addition to
the classification  rate for all classifications  below Machine  Operator/Set-Up
for all work performed on the second and third shifts.

                              ARTICLE XVII

                              LEAD PERSONS

     SECTION  1.  Lead  persons  work  under  the   direction  of  a  designated
supervisor.  They assist the supervisor by instructing employees in their duties
and in the  proper  way of doing  the job,  in the  assignment  of work,  in the
coordination  of the flow of work through those job functions  assigned to them.
They report  mechanical  problems to the supervisor,  they requisition tools and
supplies;  and they assist in the promotion of plant safety,  area housekeeping,
or other  non-supervisory  duties which may be assigned by the  supervisor  from
time to time. The lead persons may perform the work of those  employees  working
under them.

     It is understood that the Lead persons have no authority to hire, transfer,
suspend,  layoff, recall, promote,  discharge,  reward,  discipline or reprimand
other  employees or to process their  grievances,  nor do they have authority to
effectively recommend any such action.

     SECTION 2. The Company and the Union agree that Lead persons  shall receive
one dollar ($1.00) per hour or ten percent (10%), whichever is higher, above the
highest  regular  job  classification  hourly  rate  regularly  assigned  to the
department and shift in which they lead.

                                       18
<PAGE>

                             ARTICLE XVIII

                            BULLETIN BOARDS

     The Union shall have the right to post notices on the Company's premises on
a locked,  glass enclosed Union bulletin board furnished by the Company for that
purpose.

                              ARTICLE XIX

                          VISITS TO PERSONNEL

     Employees  will be  allowed  to go to  Personnel  during  breaks  and lunch
without an appointment  provided that their supervisor is made aware if they are
not able to report back to the job on time.

                               ARTICLE XX

                     JOB TRANSFERS WITHIN THE UNIT

     SECTION 1. All employees temporarily  transferred to jobs with higher rates
of pay shall receive the higher rate immediately.

     SECTION  2.  Employees  temporarily  transferred  to jobs of equal or lower
rates of pay shall continue to receive the higher rate of pay.

     SECTION 3. Employees who bump or are  transferred to jobs of equal or lower
rates  of  pay  during  a  contraction  of  the  work  force  shall  have  their
classification changed and receive the equal or lower rate of pay.

     Should an opening occur in highest original  classification held prior to a
contraction  in the work force within a period of eighteen  (18) months from the
date of bump or transfer,  the employee  shall have an  opportunity to return to
this  classification  in accordance  with the employee's  plant-wide  seniority.
Should an employee elect not to return to the highest  original  classification,
this shall serve as a waiver of future rights under this Section.

     Should an opening  occur  within a period of eighteen  (18) months from the
date of bump or transferring a classification equal to or lower than the highest
original  classification  held prior to a  contraction  of the work  force,  but
higher than the  classification  currently  held by the  employee,  the employee
shall have an opportunity to accept such an opening in accordance with the

                                       19
<PAGE>

employee's plant-wide seniority.  Should an employee accept such an opening, the
employee  shall be subject to the  performance  requirements  and  conditions of
Article  VII,  Section 4. Should the  employee  not accept such an opening,  the
employee  shall waive rights to this  classification  only.  The employee  shall
continue to have rights to other equal or lower rated classifications.

                              ARTICLE XXI

                                PAY DAY

     Pay day shall be every  Friday,  and pay checks  shall be issued which will
indicate straight time hours worked and overtime hours worked and all deductions
on a deduction slip detachable from your pay check.

                              ARTICLE XXII

                               REPRIMANDS

     All reprimands  will be removed from employee files after one (1) year from
date of  occurrence,  provided  that the  employee has  demonstrated  a definite
improvement in his overall work performance and work habits.

     The Company  agrees that  disciplinary  actions shall be given  immediately
following the completion of the investigation of each incident.

                             ARTICLE XXIII

                             NO LOSS OF PAY

     It is agreed  between the Company and the Union that the  stewards  and the
negotiating  committee  will  not  lose  pay as a  result  of  negotiating  this
agreement or processing grievances.

                              ARTICLE XXIV

                      GROUP INSURANCE AND PENSION

     SECTION 1. The Company and the Union have agreed on a Program of  Insurance
Benefits and each  employee  will  receive a booklet  giving the features of the
plan. The Company will  contribute 100% of the cost of this program for employee
coverage.  During  the  first  year of this  Agreement,  the  employee  cost for
dependent  insurance  will be $60.00 per month.  Thereafter,  the  Company  will
assume  80% of any  increase  in cost and the  employee  will  assume 20% of the
increase.  In years two and three of this  Agreement,  the  maximum  increase in
employee cost for family coverage is capped at five dollars ($5.00) each year.

                                       20
<PAGE>

     SECTION 2.  Effective  June 1, 1997,  the  Employer  agrees to pay for each
employee  covered by this  Agreement  on the first  working  day of each  month,
excluding  calendar days that are not working days,  the sum of $69.00 per month
to the Trustees of District No. 9, I.A. of M. and A. W. Pension Trust. Effective
June 1,  1998,  the  Employer  agrees to pay for each  employee  covered by this
Agreement on the first working day of each month,  excluding  calendar days that
are not working days, the sum of $80.50 per month. Such monthly payment shall be
made for every  calendar month and on or before the 10th day of each such month.
Newly hired and recalled  employees  beginning  work on the first working day of
each month,  excluding  calendar days that are not working  days,  shall also be
covered by the provisions of this paragraph.

     If an  employee  is absent  because of illness  or  off-the-job  injury and
notifies the  Employer of such  absence,  the  Employer  shall make the required
contribution  of one (1)  month.  If an  employee  is  injured  on the job,  the
Employer  shall continue to pay the required  contributions  until such employee
returns to work;  however,  such contributions shall not be paid for a period of
more than six (6) months.

     The Pension  Plan,  as  amended,  has been  approved  by the U.S.  Internal
Revenue  Service as a qualified  Pension  Plan,  and  contributions  made to the
Trustees do not constitute taxable income to the employees participating therein
and do constitute a taxable deduction to the Employer.

     The Employer shall be under no obligation to see to the application of such
moneys as are paid into said  Pension  Trust,  but said  Trust  shall be audited
annually by a  reputable  Certified  Public  Accountant  without  expense to the
Employer.

     Contributions  made  pursuant to this  Article  shall be held in trust by a
Board of  Trustees  consisting  of two  Trustees  representing  the  Union,  two
Trustees  representing the contributing  Employers and one neutral Trustee.  The
Employer  agrees to be bound by the District  No. 9,  I.A.M.A.W.  Pension  Trust
Agreement as amended from time to time.

     It is hereby mutually declared and agreed that the foregoing  provisions of
this Article are of the essence of this entire  Agreement.  That this  Agreement
would not have been entered into but for the inclusion of said Article  therein,
and that any breach of this Article or any failure literally and fully to comply
therewith by the Employer shall be and  constitute a material  violation of this
entire Agreement entitling the Union at its option to engage in a strike or work
stoppage  against the  Employer,  notwithstanding  any other  provisions of this
Agreement to the contrary or to elect to rescind the entire Agreement.

     It is  further  agreed  that if the  Employer  fails  to  comply  with  the
provisions  of this  Article by not making  prompt  and timely  payments  of the
monthly  contributions  required hereby (the total amount of which  delinquency,
hereinafter  referred to as "such  delinquency",  shall be and constitute a debt
owed by such  Employer to the aforesaid  Trustees),  then and in addition to all
other remedies or courses of action on account thereof available to the Trustees
and/or the Union  (including  the right to strike),  such  delinquency  shall be
recovered as a debt owed by the Employer to the aforesaid  Trustees by a suit or
action at law brought by said Trustees and/or the Union; provided that the

                                       21
<PAGE>

Employer  further agrees in any such suit or action to be liable for (and hereby
agrees to pay),  in  addition  to the amount of such  delinquency,  all costs of
court,  interest at the maximum  lawful rate computed from the day following the
due date of each said delinquent monthly contribution,  and a reasonable fee for
the attorney or attorneys representing the Trustees and/or Union in such suit or
action, the amount thereof to be fixed by the court.

     The Union and/or the Trustees shall have the authority to conduct audits of
the Employer's  financial  records for the purpose of determining the Employer's
compliance  with its  obligations to contribute to the Pension Trust.  The Union
and/or the  Trustees  shall give  written  notice of the audit at least five (5)
days in advance  of the  commencement  of the audit.  In the event that an audit
discloses a delinquency exceeding $200.00, the Employer shall be responsible for
the costs of the audit  unless  delinquent  amounts are paid  within  sixty (60)
days.

                              ARTICLE XXV

                   APPRENTICESHIP & TRAINING PROGRAM

     SECTION  1.  Should  the  Company  decide to  establish  an  Apprenticeship
Program,  it agrees to do so in cooperation with the Machinists'  Apprenticeship
Standards  jointly  developed by  representative  employers  and District No. 9,
International  Association of Machinists and Aerospace  Workers,  registered and
approved by the Federal Committee on Apprenticeship, United States Department of
Labor.

     SECTION 2.  Management will devise a program by which employees can enhance
their skills. The purpose of this program will be to develop internal candidates
for the higher  paying  machine shop jobs.  The program  could  include  further
training  on  blueprint  reading,  shop math or actual  hands on training in the
machine shop.

     The Company will provide  in-house  courses for blue print reading and ship
math. Mazak training will be provided by the Company. Employees will utilize the
tuition reimbursement program offered by the Company for all other training. The
Company will provide  lists of courses  available.  Lead pay will be paid to the
trainer when training in primary machining.

     SECTION 3.  Machine  shop  positions  that  require test will have the test
administered by an Engineer.  The Union Steward or Committeeman will have access
to the process.

     The starting rate per hour for apprentices  shall be sixty percent (60%) of
the area rate.  Apprentices'  rates shall be increased each one thousand (1,000)
hours of employment, the equivalent of one-eighth (1/8th) the difference between
the apprentices' starting rate and the minimum rate of the Tool Room Machinists,
until the minimum rate is reached.

                                       22
<PAGE>

                              ARTICLE XXVI

                               MANAGEMENT

     Subject to the  provisions of this Labor  Agreement,  the management of the
Company's plant and works and the direction of its working forces, including the
right to hire and to relieve  employees from active duty because of lack of work
or other  legitimate  reasons and the right to suspend,  discipline or discharge
for just cause shall be vested  exclusively in the Company;  however,  the above
provisions shall be subject to the grievance provisions of this contract.

                              ARTICLE XVII

                           LEAVES OF ABSENCE

     SECTION 1. Any employee, upon written application for personal reasons, may
be allowed a leave of absence without pay not to exceed thirty (30) days when in
the judgment of the Company such leave of absence is for justifiable  cause. If,
however,  the employee accepts employment elsewhere during his leave of absence,
he shall be considered to have  terminated  his  employment.  The Union shall be
notified of all leaves of absence granted under this provision.

     SECTION  2.  Maternity  leave  as  such  no  longer  exists.  Pregnancy  is
considered to be a disability;  as such, all provisions relative to the Sickness
and Accident  Program are applicable to disability due to pregnancy,  childbirth
and related conditions.

     The  determination  of an  employee's  disability to perform a job shall be
based on the employee's attending physician's  evaluation in accordance with the
procedures established under the Company Sickness and Accident Program.

     SECTION 3.  Extension of a leave of absence for an  additional  thirty (30)
day period may be granted by the consent of the Company for a good cause  shown,
if requested by employee in writing,  before the  expiration  of the thirty (30)
days of a leave of absence.

     SECTION 4. Employees finding it necessary to absent  themselves  because of
illness  for a period  in excess of thirty  (30) days  shall be  subject  to the
procedure and limitation established in Article VII, Section 10, Paragraph (g).

     SECTION 5. In the event that an employee of the Company shall enlist or its
inducted into the United  States Armed  Forces,  the Company will return them to
their  respective  positions  when they are dismissed from such armed forces and
give them credit for seniority for the time spent in such armed forces, provided
that such employees would, under normal working  conditions then prevailing,  be
so employed by the Company,  are not physically  incapacitated  to perform their
usual work  efficiently,  report for work within  three (3) months of  discharge
from such armed forces and present a discharge which is not dishonorable.

                                       23

<PAGE>

     SECTION 6. Employees with an illness causing constant periodic absence must
take a leave of  absence  until such time as  illness  is  controlled  to permit
full-time employment.

     SECTION 7. Employees  allowed  personal  leaves will not be required to use
more than half of their remaining vacation  allotment;  however,  if an employee
only has one week or less  remaining,  the employee  will not be required to use
their last week.

                             ARTICLE XXVIII

                          SEVERANCE ALLOWANCE

     When in the sole judgment of the company it decides to close  permanently a
plant and terminate the employment of individuals,  an employee whose employment
is  terminated  directly  as a result  thereof  shall be entitled to a severance
allowance in accordance and subject to the following provisions:

            A.    Such an employee to be eligible for severance
            allowance shall have accumulated three (3) or more years of
            continuous Company service as computed in accordance with
            Article VII, Section 2, Seniority of the Agreement.

            B.    An eligible employee shall receive severance
            allowance calculated and based upon the employee's vacation
            entitlement provided for in this Agreement, except that the
            severance allowance for employees with fifteen (15) or more
            years of service as of 8/31/87 shall be calculated based
            upon the number of weeks vacation each employee received in
            1987.

            C.    Severance allowance shall not be duplicated for the
            same severance whether the obligation arises by reason, by
            contract, law or otherwise.  If an individual is or shall
            become entitled to any discharge, liquidation, severance or
            dismissal allowance or payment of similar type of reason of
            any law of the United States of America or any of the
            States, Districts, or Territories thereof subject to its
            jurisdiction, the total amount of such payment shall be
            deducted from the severance allowance of which the
            individual may be entitled under this article, or any
            payment made by the Company under this article may be
            offset against such payment.  Statutory unemployment
            compensation payment shall be excluded from the
            non-duplication provisions of this section.

            D.    Payment shall be made in a lump sum at the time of
            termination.  Acceptance of severance allowance shall
            terminate employment and continuous service for all
            purposes under this agreement and supplemental insurance
            benefits outlined in the PIB.

                                       24
<PAGE>

                              ARTICLE XXIX

                            LEGALITY CLAUSE

     If any provision or the  enforcement or performance of this Agreement is or
shall  at any  time be  contrary  to  law,  then  such  provision  shall  not be
applicable or enforced or performed,  except to the extent permitted by law. If,
at any time thereafter,  such provision or its enforcement or performance  shall
not  longer  conflict  with the law,  then it shall be deemed in full  force and
effect.

                              ARTICLE XXX

                                  TERM

     The Agreement shall become effective June 1, 1997 and shall remain in force
and effect  until May 31, 2000 (11:59  P.M.).  If written  notice shall have not
been  given by either  party to the other at least  sixty (60) days prior to the
expiration  date  of any  intention  to  request  termination,  Agreement  shall
automatically  remain in force  from time to time for a period of an  additional
year.

                                       25
<PAGE>

     IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the parties have hereto set their names by their duly
authorized  representatives  the day and year first above  written at St. Louis,
Missouri.

                                            DISTRICT NO. 9, INTERNATIONAL
                                            ASSOCIATION OF MACHINISTS AND
ALLIED HEALTHCARE PRODUCTS, INC.            AEROSPACE WORKERS

BY:  /s/ Ted Atwood
    _______________________________        BY:  ____________________________
     Ted Atwood                                   Dennis Williams
     Vice President Human Resources               Business Representative


     /s/ Gabriel S. Kohn
BY: _______________________________         BY: _____________________________
     Gabriel S. Kohn                              James A. Annable
     Vice President Engineering &                 Chief  Steward
     Operations


     /s/ Thomas O. McCarthy
BY: _______________________________         BY: _____________________________
     Thomas O. McCarthy                          Joseph Puglisi
     Attorney                                    Committeeman


                                            BY: _____________________________
                                                   Patricia I. Esparza
                                                   Committee Person
                                       26
<PAGE>

                               APPENDIX A
 
 
                                           ---------- Wage Rates---------
                                        Effective      Effective     Effective
                                         6/1/97         6/1/98         6/1/99
 
Existing Classification                 Wage Rates    Wage Rates    Wage Rates
- -----------------------                 ----------    ----------    ----------
Tool & Die Maker                         $17.17         $17.52        $17.87
Tool Room Machinist                       16.73          17.08         17.43
Precision Form Tool/Grinder               16.73          17.08         17.43
Set-Up Single Spindle                     13.42          13.77         14.12
Set-Up Specialist                         13.33          13.68         14.03
General Maintenance "A"                   13.19          13.54         13.89
Set-Up Operate Secondary/Fabrication      12.68          13.03         13.38
Floor Inspector                           12.13          12.48         12.83
Pump & Compressor Builder                 12.10          12.45         12.80
Shipping & Receiving                      11.78          12.13         12.48
General Maintenance "B"                   11.32          11.67         12.02
Machine Operator/Set-Up                   11.07          11.42         11.77
Welder Set-Up & Operate                   10.78          11.13         11.48
Machine Operator-Screw Machine/CNC        10.75          11.10         11.45
Tool Crib Attendant                       10.64          10.99         11.34
Manifold Assembler/Tester                 10.45          10.80         11.15
Silver Solder                             10.34          10.69         11.04
Electrical Assembler/Tester                8.65           9.00          9.35
Electrical Assembler                       7.65           8.00          8.35
Welder                                    10.21          10.56         10.91
Machine Operator Fab, Weld, Second        10.20          10.55         10.90
Machine Operator/Wood                     10.20          10.55         10.90
Machine Operator/Silkscreen                9.15           9.50          9.85
Truck Driver                               8.65           9.00          9.35
Packer, Material Handler, Process          7.65           8.00          8.35
Column Assembler                           8.15           8.50          8.85
Spray Painter                              8.15           8.50          8.85
Packer-Material Handler                    7.65           8.00          8.35
Washer & Degreaser                         7.65           8.00          8.35
General Laborer                            7.65           8.00          8.35
Filler Tester                              7.65           8.00          8.35
Assembler                                  7.65           8.00          8.35
Janitor                                    7.65           8.00          8.35
Laborer                                    5.85           6.20          6.55
 
                                       27
<PAGE>
 

                               APPENDIX B

     We, the parties,  Allied  Healthcare  Products,  Inc. and the International
Association  of Machinists  and Aerospace  Workers,  District No. 9, during 1985
negotiations,    agreed   to   the   following   policy   regarding    assembler
classifications.

            1.    All assembly work throughout the various departments
            of the Company is within the scope of the assembly
            classification.

            2.    The Company may permanently transfer assemblers among
            the various departments per the following:

                        a.    Any assembly person may be requested to
                  transfer.  Unless they are the least senior assembly
                  person in the department they may decline the offer
                  of transfer.

                        b.    Once an assembly person has declined the
                  Company may ask another assembly person or at its
                  option, transfer the least senior assembly person
                  within the same department.

            3.      In the event an employee is reduced in any
            department for any reason, he/she will be allowed to select
            any department within the Assembly classification in which
            an opening is available, based on seniority.

            4.    When it is necessary to transfer an assembler from
            one department to another, on a temporary basis, those
            assemblers in the plant who are available as a result of a
            breakdown or lack of work will be utilized.  In the case in
            which two or more assemblers performing the same operation
            are affected, the lowest seniority assemblers will be
            transferred.  For the purpose of this section, a temporary
            transfer will not exceed twenty working days.

                                       28
<PAGE>

                                 LETTER

May 26, 1994


Mr. Donald Coker
International Association of Machinist
District No. 9
12365 St. Charles Rock Road
Bridgeton, MO  63044

            Subject:  Side Letter Regarding "A" Rate Employees

Dear Don:

To clarify Management's position on the consolidation of classifications and the
elimination  of the "A" rate pay scale as presented in the contract,  Management
agrees to the following:

            1.    That the current "A" rate scale will be maintained by
            Allied as an accounting function;

            2.    Current "A" rate employees will continue to receive
            that rate plus any increases established during this
            negotiations;

            3.    Any "A" rate employee who is displaced from their
            current classification as a result of a reduction in force
            will receive the "A" rate of pay for their new
            classification;

            4.    Any "A" rate employee who is awarded a bid on a
            higher rated classification will receive the appropriate
            "A" rate for that classification;

            5.    Any current lead person who is paid over an "A" rate
            classification will continue to be paid at that rate.  At
            such time as there is no longer an "A" rate in that persons
            work group, the lead person's pay will be adjusted.  Lead
            persons "grandfathered" in the 1991 contract will continue
            to be protected from reduction while they hold that lead
            position.

Sincerely,

/s/ James M. Mac Nee

James M. Mac Nee
Vice President
Human Resources


                                       29
<PAGE>

May 9, 1973


Mr. Wayne McCall
International Associate of
Machinists and Aerospace Workers
12365 St. Charles Rock Road
Bridgeton, MO  63044

Dear Mr. McCall:

It is agreed that if, during the terms of this  Agreement,  the Company,  at its
discretion  establishes a new job  classification,  the Company will determine a
wage rate for the new job  classification,  so that the established rate will be
in  proper   relationship   with  comparable   requirements  of  the  previously
established classification set forth in Appendix "A" of the Contract.

The rate for the new  classification  will be  submitted  to the  Union,  or its
authorized  representatives.  The Union may challenge the appropriateness of the
job rate as being  inconsistent  with the established wage structure at any time
within (5) working days after the new classification and rate are posted.

If  agreement  as to the new rate for the new  classification  is  reached,  the
established rate shall be retroactive to the date on which the job was filled on
a full time permanent  basis.  The  established  rate shall not be applicable to
periods  during  which an employee was used on the new job for  experimental  or
developmental  purposes;  however,  any  employee  used for such  purposes  will
receive  not less than his regular  base rate of pay for time spent  during such
experimental or developmental periods.

If agreement is not reached,  the Company may apply the rate it considers proper
in accordance with the principles  outlined above and made effective as provided
above.  However,  the  Union  may  challenge  the  appropriateness  of  the  new
classification  rate,  with  full  recourse  to the  grievance  and  arbitration
procedure.

The  Company  agrees that job  openings  created by the  establishment  of a new
classification shall be subject to the bidding procedure outlined in Article VII
of the Contract.

Very truly yours,


/s/ Ronald F. Gniadek


Ronald F. Gniadek
Personnel Manager

                                       30
<PAGE>

May 9, 1979

Mr. Donald M. Coker
Business Representative
District No. 9, I.A.M.A.W.
12365 St. Charles Rock Road
Bridgeton, MO  63044

Dear Mr. Coker:

This letter is sent to explain the  Agreement  between the Company and the Union
concerning the intent of Article VII, Section 8, Seniority. The section reads as
follows:

"Employees who desired to be considered  for a promotion,  a lateral or downward
transfer,  or a change of shift, shall register their desire with the department
foreman in writing, dating and signing their individual request."

With regard to  promotion,  the intent is for the employee to notify the Company
of educational courses or skills he has acquired since joining the Company which
may have  application on a higher  classified job. At the same time, it can also
serve as  notification  to the Company of an employee's  desire to be considered
for a non-bargaining unit position.

Employees  who desire to be considered  for a lateral or downward  transfer must
make a written  request.  The Company shall  maintain a list of these  requests.
When an opening  becomes  available  in the  specific  job  classification,  the
Company will follow the normal bidding procedure.  Except as provided in Article
VII,  Section  6,  employees  will not be  permitted  to bid on lateral or down,
however their written request submitted prior to the opening of a bid will serve
as notification that they wish to be considered for the opening. These employees
will be  considered  along  with  the  employees  who bid on the  position.  All
employees  will be judged in  accordance  with the  qualifications  outlined  in
Section 6 of the Article.

The  Company  and  the  Union  agree  that  the  seniority  should  be  a  major
consideration  in shift  assignment when  practicable to do so. The Company will
take seniority  into  consideration  when shift  assignments  are made.  When an
employee  desires a change in shift,  he will  notify his  Foreman in writing of
this desire. The Company shall maintain a list of employees desiring a change of
shift. As openings become available within the employee's job classification the
company  will  attempt to transfer  the  employees  to the desired  shift.  When
openings  do not  exist,  the  Company  will make an  effort  to locate  another
employee  to the same job  classification  willing to make a mutually  agreeable
change in shift and will make the transfer.  It is  understood  that bumping for
shift  preference  will not be  permitted,  except as provided  in Article  VII,
Section 4(c).

Very truly yours,

/s/ Ronald F. Gniadek

Ronald F. Gniadek
Director, Employee Relations


                                       31
<PAGE>

                            JOB DESCRIPTIONS

      TOOL AND DIE MAKER

     Specializes in  construction,  repair and maintenance of Machine Shop tools
and, in addition,  ability to plan,  lay out and construct  from simple  sketch,
blueprints   and/or  own  ideas  which  are  finally   approved  by  supervisor,
complicated tools, dies, jigs, gauges, fixtures. Must understand working details
of all shop machine tools and be able to make necessary  repairs on them,  being
able to  construct  new parts for same if  occasion  should  arise.  Understands
blueprints  and  written  specifications,  and  uses  skillfully  all  measuring
instruments.  Operates  all  machine  tools.  Must  possess  knowledge  of  shop
mathematics;  use of charts and tables, the efficient planning of shop work; the
dimensions and uses of standard  bolts,  screws,  threads,  and tapers,  must be
familiar with working properties of such metals as aluminum, brass, bronze, cast
and wrought iron and various steels. Works to complete accuracy. Must understand
heat  treatment of various tool  steels.  Must furnish own tools except  special
instruments and tools mutually agreed to between the Company and the Union.

      TOOL ROOM MACHINIST
 
     Tool Room  Machinist  must be able to  perform  all  duties  required  of a
qualified  Tool  Room  Machinist.  Carries  through  to  completion  the  actual
construction,  complicated repair of all kinds of metal parts,  tools,  machines
and equipment with the exception of mending dies,  but including  keeping motors
and line shafts oiled; uses skillfully all machinists' tools; operates all types
of machine tools; possesses knowledge of job mathematics,  the use of charts and
tables,  the  efficient  planning of jobs,  the use of standard  bolts,  screws,
threads  and  tapers;  also  possesses  the  knowledge,  within  limits,  of the
electrical  equipment;  must be  familiar  with the working  properties  of such
metals as  aluminum,  brass,  cast and wrought  iron and  various  steels and be
capable of shaping  metal parts to precise  dimensions  within close  tolerances
described. This classification does not include such jobs as Tool and Die Maker.

      PRECISION FORM TOOL GRINDER

     Diversified  work.  Grinding  tools  includes the  grinding of  complicated
tools,  dies,  form  drills,  gauges,  etc.  Set angles,  dress wheels in shape.
Occasionally lay out profile template to insure accuracy.  Considerable judgment
in setting up to obtain relationship between inter-related dimensions.  Maintain
close tolerances  usually within .0002.  Grind tools from drawings,  sketches or
oral instructions on occasions.

                                       32
<PAGE>

      SET-UP SINGLE SPINDLE

     Set-Up and operate any job including a wide range of unusual  operations on
an assigned type of single  spindle  automatic  screw machine using proper cams,
speeds and feeds to  efficiently  operate  same.  Must  possess a  knowledge  of
blueprint  reading,  the use of precision  measuring devices in order to produce
parts to required  tolerances,  plan sequence of  operations,  sharpen all tools
(such as forming tools,  drill-bushings,  drills,  boring tools,  cut-off tools,
chasers  and  reamers).   This  must  be  done  with  minimum   instruction  and
supervision.  Will be responsible for quality of parts produced until machine is
assigned to operator.  Assists in instruction of Set-Up  Trainees and Operators.
Diagnose screw machine trouble, make mechanical adjustments.  May be assigned to
remove and/or replace worn or defective parts.  Must have the fundamental  tools
to safely and effectively perform the job.

      SET-UP SPECIALIST

     Efficiently  sets up and may operate all machines other than screw machines
and  multispindle  chuckers.  Must have  specific  job  experience  and detailed
knowledge related to C.N.C./M.C.  machines, tools and presses,  automatic turret
lathes,  vertical boring machines and special machine  centers.  Must be able to
read blueprints and precision  measuring devices.  Must be capable of sharpening
all tools, except those requiring specialized grinding.  Does not include making
form  tools  from  blanks.  Will be held  responsible  for the  quality of parts
produced  until  machine  is  assigned  to  operator.  These  functions  must be
performed with minimum  instruction and  supervision.  Assists in instruction of
Set-Up and  Operate,  Machine  Operator/Set-Up  and  Machine  Operators.  May be
assigned to remove and/or  replace worn or defective  parts.  May be required to
perform die changes other than progressive dies. Must have the fundamental tools
to safely and effectively perform the job.

      GENERAL MAINTENANCE "A"

     Must have previous specific job experiences and detailed knowledge relating
to industrial maintenance and production equipment in fields such as hydraulics,
pneumatics, electrical components and trouble shooting analysis.

     Must know how to use basic hand tools and  machines  as required to perform
duties.  Must  be  able  to  read  blueprints,  schematics  and  detailed  parts
breakdown.

     Would  direct  the  activities  of all  lesser  maintenance  classification
personnel working with him on a specific assignment.  May be required to perform
functions of lower maintenance classification.

                                       33
<PAGE>
 

SET-UP AND OPERATE - FABRICATION

     Efficiently sets up and operates  machines such as broaches,  press brakes,
shears and punch presses, but not limited to fabrication machines.

     Must be able to read blueprints and precision  measuring  devices.  Must be
capable of sharpening all tools,  except those requiring  specialized  grinding.
Does not include  making form tools from blanks.  May be required to perform die
changes other than progressive dies. Will be held responsible for the quality of
parts produced until machine is assigned to operator.  Assists in instruction of
Machine  Operator/Set-Up and Machine Operators.  All of the above functions must
be performed with minimal instruction and supervision. Must have the fundamental
tools to safely and effectively perform the job.

      SET-UP AND OPERATE - SECONDARY

     Efficiently sets up and operates  machines such as, but not limited to, the
following:  drill  presses,  tappers,  engine lathes,  turret lathes,  broaches,
milling machines,  sanders, saw and welders. Must be able to read blueprints and
precision measuring devices.  Must be capable of sharpening all tools and making
drill bushings,  except those requiring specialized  grinding.  Does not include
making form tools from blanks. Will be held responsible for the quality of parts
produced  until  machine is  assigned to  operator.  Assists in  instruction  of
Machine  Operator/Set-Up and Machine Operators.  All of the above functions must
be performed with minimal instruction and supervision. Must have the fundamental
tools to safely and effectively perform the job.

      FLOOR INSPECTOR

     Inspector checks parts to satisfy  specifications of complicated  drawings.
Must be able to use all standard measuring  instruments.  Must be experienced in
blueprint reading and inspection.  Will properly  interpret drawings and inspect
parts and/or  assemblies  for compliance  with  standards.  Is  responsible  for
quality  of parts  approved.  Must  have the  fundamental  tools to  efficiently
perform the job.

      PUMP AND COMPRESSOR BUILDER

     Diversified  work.  Ability  to plan,  layout  and form  simple  sketch and
blueprints,  construct  complicated air  compressors  and vacuum pumps.  Perform
assembly duties including the use of assembly devices such as drills,  grinders,
belt  sanders,  punches,  air  drivers,  nut  runners,  and  other  hand  tools.
Efficiently  sets up and  operates  machines  such as, but not  limited  to, the
following:  Shears, presses,  tappers,  sanders, saws, iron pipe threaders,  and
welders.  Must be able to dress wires, install and wire high voltage connections
and wire harnesses.  Efficiently operate spray paint booth. Make adjustments and
maintain  spray paint booth.  Make  adjustments  and maintain  spray  equipment.
Perform a variety of hand soldering and brazing  operations on various metals as
required. Also includes in-process inspection, testing, moving and lifting heavy
components, and packaging parts for shipment.

                                       34
<PAGE>

      SHIPPING AND RECEIVING CLERK

     Ships and  receives all  incoming  and  outgoing  material  and  equipment.
Verifies  counts and  correctness  of  shipments  received  and sent.  Completes
necessary  paperwork as required.  Directs  activities of assigned  personnel to
perform duties.

      GENERAL MAINTENANCE "B"

     Must  have  previous  job   experience   and  knowledge  that  permits  the
performance of general maintenance work on buildings and equipment.

     Experience  must indicate the ability to perform  general  duties in fields
such as carpentry, sheet metal, welding,  electrical work, and plumbing. Must be
semi-skilled in at least two crafts, with working knowledge of others.

     Must know how to use basic hand tools and  machines  as required to perform
duties.

     May be required to perform functions of lower maintenance classifications.

      MACHINE OPERATOR/SET-UP

     Efficiently  operates  various  assigned  machines,  except automatic screw
machines and assembly  machines.  In addition,  must be capable of setting up at
least three machines.  Will be responsible  for quality of parts produced.  Must
have the  fundamental  tools to safely and  effectively  perform  the job.  Must
possess the  knowledge of blueprint  reading and the use of precision  measuring
devices.

      WELDER/SET-UP AND OPERATE

     Performs a variety of hand and machine MIG and TIG  welding  operations  on
steels,  stainless  steel,  aluminum,  and other metal parts.  Responsible for a
quality check on all welds in department.  Set-up,  check and adjust all welding
equipment as needed. Must possess the knowledge of blueprint reading and the use
of precision measuring devices.

      MACHINE OPERATOR - SCREW MACHINE/CNC

     Efficiently  operates jobs on one or more assigned single spindle automatic
screw  machines,  or CNC's,  checks  work and  produces  parts  within  required
tolerances,  maintains  set-ups and  sharpens  tools.  Will be  responsible  for
quality  of parts  produced.  May  make  partial  set-ups  with  assistance  and
instruction.  Must have the fundamental tools to safely and effectively  perform
the  job.  Must  possess  the  knowledge  of  blueprint  reading  and the use of
precision measuring devices.

                                       35
<PAGE>


      TOOL CRIB ATTENDANT

     Responsible for all materials and equipment  assigned to tool crib.  Issues
tools and supplies,  orders and maintains running inventory and counts. Sharpens
tools as  instructed.  Visually  inspects  tools for damage and reports  unusual
conditions.

      MANIFOLD ASSEMBLER/TESTER

     Assemble a variety of  subassemblies  and bench erect complete units having
light and average  weight parts.  Select  assembly  methods.  Fit parts to close
tolerances  and operating  requirements,  involving use of hand and power tools.
Accurately  align  subassemblies  to the  unit.  Mount  and  connect  auxiliary,
mechanical,  electrical,  electronic,  pneumatic or hydraulic equipment, cut and
fit pipe and tubing.  Make operating  tests for high pressure gas regulation and
final adjustments.  Includes inprocess inspection,  testing, packaging parts for
shipment and movement of material.

      SILVER SOLDER

     Performs  a  variety  of  hand  or  machine  torch  soldering  and  brazing
operations  on  various  materials  as  required  by  engineering  drawings  and
specifications.

      WELDER

     Performs a variety of hand and machine MIG and TIG  welding  operations  on
steel,  stainless  steels,  aluminum  and other metal parts.  Responsible  for a
quality check on all welds in department. Check and adjust all welding equipment
as needed.  Must  possess  the  knowledge  of  blueprint  reading and the use of
precision measuring devices.

      MACHINE OPERATOR - FABRICATION

     Efficiently  operates  various  assigned  machines,  except automatic screw
machines and assembly  machines.  May make partial  set-ups with  assistance and
instruction. Will be responsible for quality of parts produced. Must possess the
knowledge of blueprint reading and the use of precision measuring devices.

      MACHINE OPERATOR - SECONDARY

     Efficiently  operates  various  assigned  machines,  except automatic screw
machines and assembly  machines.  May make partial  set-ups with  assistance and
instruction. Will be responsible for quality of parts produced. Must possess the
knowledge of blueprint reading and the use of precision measuring devices.

      MACHINE OPERATOR - WELDING MACHINES

     Efficiently   operates  various  assigned  welding  machines  and  assembly
machines.  May make partial  set-ups with  assistance and  instruction.  Will be
responsible for quality of parts produced.

                                       36
<PAGE>

      MACHINE OPERATOR - WOOD

     Bench  or  progressive  line  assemble,  a wide  variety  of  standard  and
non-standard  wood units,  subassemblies  and final assemblies having many parts
and  details,  where  difficult  adjustments  may be required to fit,  align and
ensure free action of moveable parts.  Work from detailed  assembly  drawings to
select, obtain, set up and use power and hand tools, equipment, testing devices,
gaugers, assembly jigs and fixtures, templates and material such as glue, filler
and sandpaper.  Fit, join,  saw,  attach,  glue,  sand route,  drill and install
parts. Inspect for adherence to tolerance and finish specifications.

      MACHINE OPERATOR - SILKSCREEN

     Prepare and operate screen printer on a wide variety of custom and standard
product surfaces,  circuit boards,  instrument  panels and miscellaneous  parts,
requiring  precise  registration  and ink  penetration.  Burn in and prepare new
screens as  required.  Select and clean  screen and  fixtures,  select  inks and
paint,  mixing and  thinning  as  necessary.  Make  simple,  holding or aligning
devices as required.  Check and touch up definition  on work piece,  spray paint
special  parts,  load and unload  dryer.  Use screen  making and  circuit  board
equipment as required.

      ELECTRICAL ASSEMBLER/TESTER

     Perform  wiring,  assembling  and  soldering  operations  on a  variety  of
products and parts,  sub-assemblies,  electrical or electronic  chassis and P.C.
boards.  Must understand and work from drawings,  wiring and schematic diagrams,
and follow standard  methods and procedures.  Must be able to follow color code,
dress wires,  install and wire all connections and assemble wire harnesses.  May
also  perform  duties  of  Assembler  Classification.  Must be  able to  operate
calibration equipment (such as flow, pressure,  volume and electrical equipment)
and to test,  at a  component  level,  individual  circuits  on printed  circuit
boards.

      ELECTRICAL ASSEMBLER

     Performs  wiring,  assembling  and  soldering  operations  on a variety  of
products and parts,  sub-assemblies,  electrical or electronic  chassis and P.C.
boards.  Must understand and work from drawings,  wiring and schematics diagrams
and follow standard methods and procedures.  Must be able to follow color codes,
dress wires,  install and wire all connections and assemble wire harnesses.  May
also perform duties of Assembler Classification.

      TRUCK DRIVER

     Make pick-ups and  deliveries as  instructed.  Operate and perform  routine
checking (fuel,  oil, water,  air) of Company truck.  Report any malfunctions to
supervisor.  Also performs duties of Packer-Material  Handler as directed.  Must
have appropriate chauffeur's license.

                                       37
<PAGE>

      PACKER, MATERIAL HANDLER, PROCESSOR

     Prepares and packages  parts for  shipment.  Performs all types of material
handling duties plus pulling raw materials and bar stock including  operation of
material  handling  equipment.  Also  processes  parts going to and from outside
vendors.  Accurately  completes  paperwork  necessary to perform  duties of this
classification.

      COLUMN ASSEMBLER

     Performs  assembly  duties  including  the use of assembly  devices such as
drills,  grinders,  belt sanders,  punches,  air drivers, nut runners, and other
hand tools.  Must be able to  efficiently  operate cutoff saws and drill presses
according to scale drawings using precision measuring devices.  Clean, degrease,
and paint fabricated parts as required.  Efficiently operate welders and brazing
equipment  and perform  visual and  pressure  tests as required.  Also  includes
in-process inspection,  testing, packaging parts for shipment including movement
of material.

      SPRAY PAINTER

     Efficiently operates spray paint booth and assist with Degreaser operation.
Insures a quality  paint  coating on all items  painted.  Load and unload  paint
conveyor and maintain  cleanliness of spray equipment and area. Make adjustments
and maintain spray equipment. Move materials as required within the department.

      PACKER-MATERIAL HANDLER

     Prepares and packages  parts for  shipment.  Performs all types of material
handling  duties,  plus  pulling raw  material  including  operation of material
handling  equipment  and  packaging  machines.  Accurately  completes  paperwork
necessary to perform duties of this classification.

      WASHER AND DEGREASER

     Wash and  degrease  parts from any area that  requires  cleaning,  maintain
proper  operation of all cleaning  equipment,  handle material and perform other
unskilled jobs as required.

      GENERAL LABORER

     May perform any one or more of the following duties:  removing turnings and
oil from machines, wash and degrease parts, handle material,  cleaning,  perform
other unskilled jobs as required.

                                       38
<PAGE>



      FILLER TESTER

     Turn on and check all fill and test  equipment.  Monitor test equipment for
proper operation.  Ensure that all rejects are identified and kept separate from
good production.  Perform  deburring,  purging,  valving,  visual inspection and
filling operations.  Maintain control of lot numbers.  Move materials within the
department as required.

      ASSEMBLER

     Performs  assembly  duties,  including the use of assembly  devices such as
drills,  rivets,  staplers,  air drivers,  nut runners,  ultrasonic  and solvent
bonding equipment, etc. either pneumatic, hydraulic or electric or a combination
thereof.  Also includes packaging,  complex testing,  in-process  inspection and
movement of material within the department as required.

      JANITOR

     Cleans and keeps in an orderly condition factory working areas,  washrooms,
and offices. Duties include: sweeping,  mopping,  polishing, window washing, and
other housekeeping duties.

      SCREW MACHINE SET-UP TRAINEE - SINGLE SPINDLE

     Efficiently  operates jobs on one or more assigned single spindle automatic
screw  machines,  checks work and  produces  parts within  required  tolerances,
maintains  set-ups and sharpens  tools.  Must make  set-ups on assigned  type of
single spindle automatic screw machines as required by Company Training Program.
Will be responsible for quality parts  produced.  Must be advanced to Set-Up Man
Single  Spindle  or must  return to  Operator  classification  with time  limits
established  in  Company  Training  Program.  This  classification  may  require
assistance.  Must have the fundamental  tools to safely and effectively  perform
the job.

      FLOOR INSPECTOR TRAINEE

     Floor  Inspector  Trainee  will be held  increasingly  responsible  for the
requirements  of  the  job  description  of  Floor  Inspector.  Must  have  some
prerequisite  mechanical  and  mathematical  ability.  Must be advanced to Floor
Inspector or return to classification from whence he came within prescribed time
limits.

                                       39
<PAGE>

      LABORER

     The  laborer  classification  does not  apply to the  work  currently  done
(6/1/94) in this facility and is prompted by one of our recent  acquisitions.  A
Laborer  will  perform  simple  packaging  and related  hand work on  disposable
products  only and grounds  keeping.  Neither the simple  packaging nor the hand
work will be construed to erode the  classifications  of packer Material Handler
or Assembler. These are new positions that otherwise would not have existed. The
Company  has agreed  that in the event of a  reduction  in force,  any  existing
employee that is bumped to the laborer  classification will retain the Assembler
rate of pay. In the first year of the Agreement,  Laborers will be restricted to
no more than 10% of the  bargaining  unit.  This will be increased to 15% in the
second year and 20% in the third year.


                                       40

                                  AGREEMENT

                                   Between

                            HOSPITAL SYSTEMS, INC.

                                     and

               INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD OF ELECTRICAL WORKERS
                                  LOCAL 2131




















                                 May 1, 1997

                                      to

                                April 30, 1998


<PAGE>

                                    INDEX

FUNERAL LEAVE................................................................8
GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE.........................................................10
HEALTH AND WELFARE...........................................................8
HOLIDAYS.....................................................................6
HOURS OF WORK AND OVERTIME...................................................4
JURY DUTY....................................................................8
LEAVE OF ABSENCE.............................................................9
LIFE INSURANCE...............................................................9
MANAGEMENT
NO DISCRIMINATION...........................................................12
NO STRIKE - NO LOCKOUT......................................................11
PENSION......................................................................8
SAFETY.......................................................................9
SAVINGS CLAUSE..............................................................12
SCHEDULE "B"................................................................17
SCHEDULE "A"................................................................14
SENIORITY....................................................................3
SHIFTS.......................................................................5
SIDE LETTER.................................................................19
TERM OF AGREEMENT...........................................................12
TERMINATION.................................................................10
TRAVEL......................................................................10
UNION RECOGNITION AND SECURITY...............................................1
VACATIONS....................................................................6
WAGES........................................................................5

<PAGE>

1997 - 1998 AGREEMENT


THIS AGREEMENT  between the HOSPITAL  SYSTEMS,  INC., whose names are affixed to
the final sheet of this Agreement,  hereinafter called the "Employer", and LOCAL
UNION  NO.  2131  of  the  INTERNATIONAL   BROTHERHOOD  OF  ELECTRICAL  WORKERS,
hereinafter called the "Union".

                                  WITNESSETH

WHEREAS,  a  majority  of the  employees  of  the  Employer  in  the  collective
bargaining unit to be covered by the terms of this Agreement have designated the
Union as the collective  bargaining agent, the Employer herewith  recognizes the
Union as the sole and exclusive  collective  bargaining  representative  for all
employees  in the unit in all  matters  pertaining  to wages,  hours and working
conditions, and

WHEREAS,  the parties  hereto desire to establish a standard of  conditions  and
procedure  under which  employees shall work for the Employer during the term of
this Agreement and desire to regulate the mutual  employment  relations  between
the parties for the purpose of securing  harmonious  cooperation and settling of
all  disputes  by  peaceful  means  that  may  arise  in  the  employee/Employer
relationship.

NOW,  THEREFORE,  in consideration of the mutual promises and agreements  herein
contained, the parties agree as follows:

SECTION 1.  MANAGEMENT

The  parties  hereto  have a mutual  interest  in  securing  efficient  business
operation  and desire to  cooperate to that end. It is the duty and right of the
Employer to manage the  business and direct the working  forces,  subject to the
conditions herein set forth. This includes,  but is not limited to, the right to
hire, reassign, promote, demote, layoff and discharge, but each employee covered
by this  Agreement  shall  possess  the right of appeal  through  the  grievance
procedure as provided by the terms of this Agreement.

SECTION 2.  UNION RECOGNITION AND SECURITY
 
The Employer  recognizes the Union as the sole and exclusive  bargaining  agency
for all  employees  in the unit  consisting  of  classifications  as  defined in
Schedule "A",  attached hereto and made a part of this Agreement.  All employees
shall become members of this  bargaining unit upon completion of their probation
and remain members of the Union, as a condition of their employment,  during the
life of this  Agreement,  and the Union shall  notify the  Employer  promptly in
writing of the failure of any such  employee to become or remain a member of the
Union;  provided,  however,  that the Union shall not  request  the  Employer to
discriminate  against any  employee  for  non-membership  in the Union,  if such
membership  is not  available to the  employee on the same terms and  conditions
generally  applicable to other members, or if membership is denied or terminated
for reasons  other than the failure of the employee to tender the periodic  dues
or initiation fee uniformly required by the Union as a condition of acquiring or
maintaining membership.

For the duration of this Agreement, the Employer shall deduct from the first pay
period of each month,  Union dues and remit same to the Local  Union  within ten
(10) days,  upon receipt of a Dues  Authorization  Card signed by the  employee.
Initiation  fees  shall be  deducted  within the first two (2)  paychecks  after
completion of the

                                       1
<PAGE>

probationary  period and upon  receipt of an  authorization  card  signed by the
employee. This authorization shall continue until revoked by the employee giving
written notice to the Employer, by registered mail postmarked or received by the
Employer either (a) during the period from the first June 24th to the first July
1st, both  inclusive,  after the effective  date of this  authorization,  or (b)
during the same period of each year thereafter,  or (c) after the termination of
the Agreement between the Employer and the Union.
 
Through the  representation  of the Union,  employees  shall have the right to a
hearing on any  differences  of opinion as to the  competency of any employee to
fill  a new  position  or  vacancy  of  promotion  or  demotion,  or  discipline
administered,  or layoffs,  or  discharges or of  discrimination.  Such hearings
shall follow the established grievance procedure.

In the matter of suspension,  demotion or discharge,  if after hearing witnesses
the charges are not sustained,  the employee may have his record cleared of such
charges and in case of loss of wages, may receive reimbursement of such loss. No
discipline by temporary  suspension  shall be administered to any employee which
shall  permanently  impair  his  seniority  rights.  The shop  steward  shall be
notified in writing of any of the above action.

The  Employer  agrees  that he will not sublet,  assign or transfer  any work in
connection with electrical work to any other person, firm or corporation if such
subletting,  assigning or transfer will cause the loss of work  opportunities to
employees in the individual Employer's  establishment covered by this Agreement.
Any such  subletting,  assigning or transfer  shall be allowable  after a mutual
determination  has been made by the  representatives  of the  parties  that such
action is not in conflict with the preceding sentence.

The business of the representatives of the Union,  pertaining to this Agreement,
is with the office of the  Employer but he shall be permitted to enter the plant
at any time the plant is operating  after obtaining  clearance from  management,
which shall not be unreasonably  denied. It is understood that upon entering the
plant,  the  representative  of the Union  will not  interfere  with the  normal
operations of the business.

The Employer will  recognize  shop  stewards,  selected in accord with the Union
rules and  regulations,  as  representatives  of the employees in the respective
groups or departments for which they are chosen. There shall be one shop steward
for each twenty-five  (25) members or fraction thereof in any one building.  The
Union will  notify the  Employer  as to the  identity  of  stewards  and steward
groups.  Stewards shall be free to conduct their Union duties at any time within
their  regularly  scheduled  working hours and for one (1) hour before and after
such working hours,  within the Employer's  grounds.  They shall not leave their
working  station on Union  business  without  the  expressed  permission  of the
section supervisor, which shall not be unreasonably denied.

The  Employer  and  employees  agree  that  duly  chosen  stewards  shall not be
restricted by seniority during their term of office and that they shall be given
opportunity  for  employment  at any time that three (3) or more  employees  are
working.

The  Employer  understands  that the choice  of, and  removal  from  office,  of
stewards is a function of the Union.  The Union will notify the Employer  within
forty-eight (48) hours of any change in steward status.

Union meetings  shall not be held on the  Employer's  property or the Employer's
time without the Employer's permission.

The Union shall hold the  Employer  harmless  for any and all  claims,  demands,
suits or other action that may arise out of this Section.

                                       2
<PAGE>

SECTION 3.  SENIORITY

A.   New  hires  shall  have  a  probationary  period of sixty-five  (65) worked
     days. During such probationary  period,  the employee may be discharged for
     any reason without recourse to the grievance procedure.

B.   Seniority  shall commence  upon  completion of the probationary  period and
     shall be defined as total  length of service  with the  Employer,  credited
     from the date of hire.

     With regard to layoffs and recalls, the principle of seniority shall govern
     and it is  understood  that no employee who has rendered  long and faithful
     service shall be laid off as long as any work,  which he can  reasonably be
     expected to perform  satisfactorily,  is being performed by a person junior
     in seniority.

     Additionally, shift preference will be by seniority insofar as the needs of
     the Employer will permit.

     Overtime  Monday  through Friday will be by job  continuation.  Overtime on
     Saturdays,  Sundays and Holidays will be by seniority provided the employee
     can properly perform the work required.

     Promotions  within the unit or to the first stage  beyond the unit shall be
     based   upon   seniority,   ability   and   qualifications.   Ability   and
     qualifications being sufficient, seniority shall prevail.

C.   Job  Posting  When the  Employer  elects  to  fill on a  permanent  basis a
     vacancy  in a  classification  above  Line  Assembler  then  notice of such
     vacancy shall be posted for a period of three (3) working days.

Employees  desiring a promotion who meet the  qualifications and have signed the
posting shall be given consideration in accordance with the seniority provisions
of this Agreement.

Employees who are promoted  shall  undergo an evaluation  period of up to thirty
(30) worked days. should the employee fail to perform to the satisfaction of the
Employer during this evaluation period then the employee will be returned to his
former classification.

      The foregoing shall not apply to the classification of Leadman.

D.  Seniority shall be broken for:

1.  Discharge for cause.
2.  Resignation - A three (3) day unreported absence from work shall be
    considered a resignation.
3.  Illness, accident or layoff in excess of six(6) consecutive months.
4.  Failure to return to work from a leave of  absence or vacation.
5.  Failure to return to work when recalled  within four (4) days of the
    mailing of a  registered letter of a notice to report to work to the last
    known address.

                                       3
<PAGE>

E.   Any  employee  of  the Employer  covered by this  Agreement  who is injured
     while on duty shall continue to accumulate seniority during his absence due
     to such injury and shall be reinstated upon recovery to his former position
     with  full  seniority  rights,  provided  he  is  physically  and  mentally
     qualified to do the work,  and provided that his job has not been abolished
     in the  meantime or filled by an employee  with greater  seniority.  If, by
     reason of the circumstances noted above, such employee cannot be reinstated
     to his old job,  he will be returned  to such job as is  available  and for
     which he is  qualified  by reason  of  fitness  and  ability,  giving  full
     consideration to his seniority,  and if the new job is a lower-paid job, he
     shall be paid the highest  rate of pay for that job  classification.  It is
     understood  that when such a man  returns  to work,  the  regular  rules of
     seniority will prevail for those men below him on the seniority list unless
     otherwise mutually agreed between the Union and the Employer.

SECTION 4.  HOURS OF WORK AND OVERTIME
 
A. A maximum of eight (8) hours between 6:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. shall constitute
a work  day,  and  maximum  of five (5)  such  days,  namely  Monday  to  Friday
inclusive,  shall be a work week. An employee may clock in up to six (6) minutes
late three (3) times per month without pay and without disciplinary action.

     Nothing in this  Agreement  shall  prohibit the Employer from  establishing
staggered starting times for an employee or group of employees.

B.  Overtime shall be paid as follows:

      1.  One and one-half (1 1/2) times the straight time hourly rate for all 
work in excess of eight (8) hours in a work day.

      2.  Double (2) time the straight time hourly rate for all work in excess
 of twelve (12) hours in  a work day.

      3.  One and one-half (1 1/2) times the straight time hourly rate for the
first eight (8) hours on Saturday.

      4.  Double (2) time the straight time hourly rate for all work in excess
 of eight (8) on Saturday.

      5.  Double (2) time the straight time hourly rate for all work performed
 on Sundays and Holidays.

C.  Employees  shall  not be  required  to take  time  off for  the  purpose  of
off-setting overtime worked.

D. Regular employees shall be guaranteed four (4) hours' work or four (4) hours'
pay in lieu thereof for each day they report to work. Regular employees shall be
guaranteed  four (4)  hours'  work or four (4)  hours'  pay in lieu  thereof  if
required by the Employer to report to work on Saturdays,  Sundays or Holidays or
if business conditions warrant less hours for all employees.

     The  above  guaranteed  hours  shall be  waived  in case of fire,  flood or
similar causes beyond the Employer's control.

                                       4
<PAGE>

E. The employees shall be granted a ten (10) minute break  mid-morning and a ten
(10) minute break at mid-afternoon.

F. The  Employer  will  provide  three (3)  minutes  at the end of the shift for
personnel to clean themselves up.

G. It is agreed that where an employee is required to work at a point other than
his assigned  reporting  place,  he shall proceed to the location of the job and
return from such job to the reporting place on the Employer's time.

H. Hours worked shall  include time  actually at work or on duty,  including the
time  required  by  management  to stand by prepared to go to work at a specific
place.
 
SECTION 5.  SHIFTS
 
A.   The  Employer  may  establish  additional  work shifts other than the shift
     provided for in Section 4. But no shift shall be  established  for a period
     of less  than  one (1)  week,  and not less  than  three  (3) men  shall be
     employed on each shift. Otherwise, the time so worked, outside of the hours
     scheduled in Section 4, shall be considered and paid as overtime. Employees
     shall be notified  not less than three (3) work days prior to any change in
     their work schedule.

B.   No shift  shall  be  scheduled  to work  more  then  eight (8) hours in any
     twenty-four (24) hour period or longer than forty (40) hours in any one (1)
     week.  Regular  starting and stopping  times shall be posted for each shift
     established  and all time  worked  outside of the posed hours shall be paid
     for as overtime.

     Where  three (3) shifts are worked,  each shift shall  consist of eight (8)
hours  (including an unpaid thirty (30) minute lunch  period),  the first or day
shift to start at 8:00 a.m. The second shift shall start  immediately  after the
first shift  terminates,  and the third shift shall start  immediately after the
second shift terminates.

     Fifty cents ($.50) per hour  additional over the day shift shall be paid on
the second shift and seventy-five  cents ($.75) per hour additional over the day
shift shall be paid on the third shift.

     The shift which  commences  Friday at 12 Midnight and ends Saturday at 8:00
a.m. will be considered as a normal third shift and shall  therefore be paid for
at the rate of seventy-five  cents ($.75) per hour additional over the day shift
rate, according to the classification involved.

SECTION 6.  WAGES
 
A.   The wage rate to be paid under the terms of this  Agreement to employees in
     each  occupational  classification  are those  appearing  in Schedule  "A",
     attached hereto and made a part hereof.

B.   Wages shall be paid weekly on the Employer's  time. Not more than three (3)
     days' pay shall be withheld.  Wages shall be computed from shop check-in to
     shop check-out or its  equivalent.  Employees  being laid off shall receive
     their wages at time of layoff.

C.   EFFECTIVE MAY 1, 1997,  AN ADDITIONAL  $0.30 WILL BE ADDED TO ALL RATES AND
     PROGRESSIONS.

                                       5
<PAGE>

SECTION 7.  HOLIDAYS
 
A.  Employees  covered by this  Agreement  shall receive with pay at the rate of
straight time the following holidays when not worked:

      New Year's Day           Day after Thanksgiving
      Washington's B'day       Last Scheduled Work Day
      Memorial Day             Day Before Christmas
      Fourth of July           Christmas Day
      Labor Day                Day Before New Year's Day
      Thanksgiving Day         2 Float Holidays (*) with 72 hours' advance
                                 notice to Employer

*However,  no more than ten  percent  (10%) of the  employees  will  take  their
floating  holidays off at any one time. The granting of such requests will be by
seniority.

     With regard to the above  mentioned  float  holidays,  at the option of the
Employer,  one (1) float  holiday  may be  observed  as a paid  holiday  for all
eligible  employees on a date fixed by the  Employer,  such date to be posted by
the Employer no later than May 1st of each year.

B. Holidays falling on Saturday shall be observed the preceding Friday. Holidays
falling on Sunday shall be observed on the following Monday.

C. To be  eligible  for  holiday  pay,  an  employee  must  have  completed  his
probationary  period with the Employer and must have worked the  scheduled  work
day before and the scheduled  work day after such holiday  unless absent because
of qualified  illness or otherwise  excused.  For  employees  hired after May 1,
1979,  they must have been  employed  six months in order to be eligible for the
two (2) floating holidays.

D. All work  performed on any one of the paid holidays  shall be paid for at two
(2)  times the  regular  rate of pay in  addition  to the  holiday  pay which an
employee would have received had he not worked.
 
SECTION 8.  VACATIONS
 
     A.)  Prior to  March  1st of each  calendar  year,  or as soon as  possible
     thereafter,  Departmental heads will consult with all employees entitled to
     vacation and from such  consultation,  the  employer  shall  establish  the
     working  schedule for the  vacation  period.  The  Employer in  determining
     vacation schedules will respect the seniority and wishes of the employee as
     to the time of vacation insofar as the needs of the employer will permit.

                                       6
<PAGE>

     B1.) The Employer  will grant to each  employee that was hired prior to May
     1, 1997 one (1) week's vacation with pay after one (1) year's service;  Two
     week's  vacation with pay after two (2) year's  service and three (3) weeks
     of vacation after four (4) years of service with the following progressions
     after the fourth (4th) year of service:

       SIX (6) YEARS OF SERVICE     3 WEEKS & 1 DAY
       SEVEN (7) YEARS OF SERVICE   3 WEEKS & 2 DAYS
       EIGHT (8) YEARS OF SERVICE`  3 WEEKS & 3 DAYS
       NINE (9) YEARS OF SERVICE    3 WEEKS & 4 DAYS
       TEN (10) YEARS OF SERVICE    4 WEEKS

     B2.) THE EMPLOYER  WILL GRANT TO EACH  EMPLOYEE THAT WAS HIRED AFTER MAY 1,
     1997 ONE (1) WEEK'S  VACATION  WITH PAY AFTER ONE (1) YEAR'S  SERVICE;  TWO
     WEEK'S  VACATION  WITH PAY AFTER  THREE (3) YEAR'S  SERVICE;  THREE  WEEK'S
     VACATION  WITH  PAY  AFTER  FIVE (5)  YEAR'S  SERVICE  AND FOUR (4)  WEEK'S
     VACATION WITH PAY AFTER TEN (10) YEAR'S SERVICE.
 
     C.) Pay for the  vacation  period  shall be paid in advance and at the time
     the employee starts his vacation. The vacation pay shall be computed on the
     existing hourly rate at the time of the employee's vacation.

     D.)  Thirteen  hundred  fifty  (1350)  working  hours in the  employ of the
     Employer at the conclusion of a twelve (12) month period shall constitute a
     year's service and qualify the employee for full vacation pay. If less than
     thirteen  hundred  fifty (1350)  hours are worked,  Section "H" below shall
     apply.

     E.) Vacations  must be taken within  twelve (12) months next  following the
     date upon which the employee  becomes  eligible  thereto,  but shall not be
     cumulative.

     F.) The Employer shall notify each employee by posted  announcement  ninety
     (90) days prior to a proposed plant shutdown for vacation.

     G.) Where on of the paid holidays (as provided elsewhere in this Agreement)
     occurs within an employee's  vacation  period,  the employee  shall receive
     holiday pay as provided for in addition to that employee's vacation pay.

     H.) Where an  employee,  eligible  for  vacation,  is laid off because of a
     curtailment  of work or quits,  he shall be paid pro rata for that fraction
     of thirteen  hundred  fifty  (1350)  hours,  which has  accumulated  to his
     credit.  Two hundred forty (240) hours shall be the required  minimum for a
     pro rata basis.  Such proration  shall be based on full years of service at
     the time of layoff or quit.  (paragraph  "B" above)  Proration  of vacation
     shall not apply unless the employee has completed the first year of service
     with the Employer.

     I.)  Vacation  shall  not  take  place  during  the  first  six  months  of
     employment.  Accrual shall double during the second six months of the first
     year of employment.

                                       7
<PAGE>

SECTION 9.  JURY DUTY
 
Upon completion of six (6) months continuous  service when an employee is called
for jury duty,  said employee shall be reimbursed for the difference paid to the
employee  for  serving on jury duty and the  amount  shall be equal to the basic
scheduled work hours for the period  involved times the employee's  hourly rate.
Such pay to be limited to fifteen (15) days each contract year. Days not used in
one contract  year shall be available in the next  contract year to a maximum of
forty-five (45) days.
 
SECTION 10.  FUNERAL LEAVE
 
A. Upon completion of the  probationary  period an employee shall be entitled to
three (3) days with pay for purposes of attending  the funeral for the immediate
family, with the last day being the day of the funeral.  The immediate family is
spouse, parents and/or legal guardians, sister, brother, children, grandparents,
mother-in-law, and father-in-law.

Two (2) additional days, the two (2) days after the funeral, without pay will be
granted for a funeral outside the State.

B. Should there be no funeral or the employee is unable to attend because of the
distance or the cost of travel,  then the employee  shall be entitled to one (1)
day of Bereavement Leave with pay.

C.  The Employer may require reasonable proof of death and/or relation.
 
SECTION 11.  PENSION
 
THE IRA PENSION PLAN INSTITUTED EFFECTIVE MAY 1, 1975 SHALL BE CONTINUED FOR THE
DURATION OF THIS AGREEMENT.  THE EMPLOYER  CONTRIBUTION  EFFECTIVE APRIL 30 1991
WILL BE TWENTY-FIVE ($0.25 ) PER HOUR.

IN ADDITION TO THE ABOVE AND EFFECTIVE  MAY 1, 1997,  THE EMPLOYER WILL MATCH UP
TO THIRTY CENTS ($0.30) PER HOUR CONTRIBUTION MADE BY AN INDIVIDUAL  EMPLOYEE TO
THE IRA ACCOUNT  PROVIDED THAT SUCH OTHER  CONTRIBUTION  IS MADE THROUGH PAYROLL
DEDUCTION.
 
SECTION 12.  HEALTH AND WELFARE
 
Upon  completion  of the  probationary  period or in  accordance  with the Plan,
whichever  is greater,  the  Employer  shall  provide and pay for the Kaiser "L"
Health and Welfare Program or its equivalent for the employees.

The above Kaiser "L" Health and Welfare  Program will be provided to  dependents
and spouses at the  Employer's  expense  provided the employee has been employed
for one (1) year.

Dental coverage for all employees shall be at 80/20 percent of cost.

                                       8
<PAGE>

The dental  coverage will be provided to both  dependents  and/or spouses at the
Employer's expense provided the employee has been employed for one (1) year.

Any  increase in the  premium  over the rates in effect as of April 30, 1991 for
Kaiser  "L" and the  Dental  Plan  shall  be  borne  by the  Employer.  However,
employees shall be required to contribute Twenty Dollars ($20.00) per month on a
payroll  deduction  basis  effective  May 1, 1991.  Effective  May 1, 1993,  the
employees  contribution  shall be increased to Twenty-five  Dollars ($25.00) per
month.
 
SECTION 13.  LIFE INSURANCE
 
Upon  completion of the  probationary  period the Employer  shall provide a life
insurance  policy,  including  AD&D,  in the amount of $10,000.00 on the life of
each employee, who shall designate the beneficiary.
 
SECTION 14.  LEAVE OF ABSENCE
 
A. Upon  completion of the  probationary  period  employees shall be eligible to
request leave of absence as may be provided for in this Section 14.

B. The  employee  may  request  one (1) day per  quarter of unpaid  time off for
personal  use.  During the four (4) quarters per contract  year,  one (1) of the
four  (4) days  shall be  granted  provided  the  employee  gives  the  Employer
twenty-four (24) hours advance notice prior to taking time off. No more than ten
percent  (10%) of the employees  will take their day off at any one time.  Three
(3) of the four (4) days shall be by mutual  agreement  between the Employer and
the employee. The granting of such requests will be by seniority.

C. In cases where the  employee  has a prolonged  illness or injury,  a leave of
absence of up to six (6) months will be granted. Requests for a leave of absence
for other than the foregoing may be granted by the Employer.

Employees  off work for  over  thirty  (30)  days due to a leave of  absence  or
extended illness or injury shall not suffer a loss of seniority except as may be
provided elsewhere; however, employees shall not accrue any benefits during such
period.

D. In all cases where  leaves of absence are granted by the  Employer,  he Union
shall be notified in writing of the effective date and the  termination  date of
the leave.  Any Union member who does not return or overstays  the leave will be
considered to have quit his  employment,  and if rehired,  shall be considered a
new employee. Timely extensions may be requested by the employee.
 
SECTION 15.  SAFETY
 
A. It is hereby agreed that the Employer,  the Union and the employees recognize
the  importance  of  maintaining  safety  provisions  for the  protection of the
health,  life and limb of all employees.  Adequate safety and protective devices
shall be supplied  workmen by the Employer on all  hazardous  work in accordance
with the safety rules of the Industrial  Accident  Commission,  and the Employer
shall make every  effort to improve  conditions  when  called to his  attention.
Employees  shall wear and use safety  devices  specified  by the  Employer.  The
Employer agrees that such safety equipment shall be maintained in good shape and
in accessible  positions.  The Union shop steward and the Leadman shall help the
Employer enforce safety and cleanliness about the shop at all times.

                                       9
<PAGE>

The  Employer  shall hold the Union  harmless  for any and all claims,  demands,
suits or other action that may arise out of this Section.

B. Adequate  facilities shall be provided by the Employer for hanging employees'
clothing and also adequate  washstands  and toilets,  Precautions  to secure the
health and safety of employees shall, as far as practical, be at all times taken
by the  Employer,  including  a supply of  "First-aid  Cabinets"  at  convenient
locations in the plant.

C. The Employer will furnish all such necessary tools and equipment to employees
as may be  required  or  necessary  to  perform  the  work in  accord  with  the
Employer's specifications. Suitable rain protective equipment is to be furnished
by the  Employer to the  employees  required  to work out of doors in  inclement
weather.  When tools and equipment are issued and signed for, the employees will
be held responsible for their return in good condition, reasonable wear and tear
excepted.
 
SECTION 16.  TRAVEL
 
Where  men are  sent on jobs  away  from  the  shop or  other  regular  place of
employment  where they are regularly  employed,  they shall receive  first-class
board and lodging and  traveling  time at straight time to and from such job. If
employees  travel on overtime days or are required to work overtime,  they shall
be paid travel at rates  specified  in this  Agreement.  Not more than eight (8)
hours' pay for travel time in any one (1) day of twenty-four (24) hours shall be
paid. The Employer shall provide covered  transportation to such employee or pay
the regular fare both ways for employees while traveling.
 
SECTION 17.  TERMINATION
 
The Employer shall give each employee three (3) days' notice on a layoff for any
reason, or three (3) days' pay in lieu thereof,  except in an emergency which is
beyond the control of the Employer.
 
SECTION 18.  GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE
 
A. Should differences arise between the Employer and the Union as to the meaning
and  application  or the  observance  and  performance  by  either  party of any
provisions of this Agreement, or as to whether the wage or working conditions of
any  individual  employee or group of employees in the unit is not in accordance
with the wage rate or  conditions  that should  apply to him or them as noted in
this  Agreement,  the following  shall be the procedure for the  adjustment  and
settlement thereof:
 
Step 1. The  employee  and/or the shop  steward  shall  endeavor  to adjust such
dispute  or  grievance  with  the  Employer's  representative  who  has  initial
responsibility for the matter at hand.
 
Step 2. If it is not settled, it shall be presented in writing to the management
representative  within seventy-two (72) hours of the occurrence.  The management
representative shall respond in writing within seventy-two (72) hours of receipt
of the grievance.

                                       10
<PAGE>
 
Step 3. If it is not thus  settled,  then  within  seven  (7) days the  Business
Representative  and/or the shop steward  and/or the employee shall meet with the
management  representative and/or labor relations representative and endeavor to
adjust such dispute or grievance.  An International  Representative  of the IBEW
may be present at this Step in the Grievance  Procedure only to assist the Local
Union.
 
Step 4. If such meeting is unable to resolve the issue,  then the grieving party
may request a Board of  Adjustment  provided  such request is  presented  within
seven (7) days of such meeting. The Board of Adjustment shall consist of two (2)
representatives  selected by the Union and two (2)  representatives  selected by
the  Employer.  The Board shall  proceed to hear the matter in  question  within
fourteen (14) days,  each party being  permitted to produce such evidence as may
be relevant.

The Board  shall have no power to add to,  subtract  from,  or modify any of the
terms and  conditions of this  Agreement.  A decision by a majority of the Board
shall be final and binding upon the parties.
 
Step 5. If the Board is unable to resolve the issue, then the grieving party may
request arbitration,  provided such request is presented in writing within seven
(7) days of the meeting of the Board.  If the parties are unable to agree upon a
neutral arbitrator, then the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service shall be
requested to submit a panel of seven (7)  arbitrators.  Each side shall have the
option to reject one (1) complete panel.  The parties shall  alternately  strike
from said list one (1) name after  determining  the first strike by lot, and the
remaining named arbitrator shall promptly conduct a hearing on the grievance.

B. The  neutral  arbitrator  shall have no power to add to,  subtract  from,  or
modify any of the terms and  conditions of this  Agreement.  The decision of the
neutral arbitrator shall be final and binding upon the parties.

C.  The  Union  and  the  Employer  shall  equally  share  the  expense  of  the
arbitration.  However,  each party shall bear its own expense of  representation
and witnesses. This latter provision shall also apply to Step 4 in the grievance
procedure.

D. Should the time limits above be passed by either party,  the grievance  shall
be  forfeited  to the other.  However,  the above time limits may be extended by
mutual agreement.
 
SECTION 19.  NO STRIKE - NO LOCKOUT
 
The Union  agrees not to engage in any  strikes,  slowdowns or stoppages of work
during the term of this Agreement.

Any action by the  employees  leaving jobs for their own  protection in cases of
legally declared strike by some other union directly working on the job, if such
strike  is  sanctioned  and  approved  by  the  labor  body  or  council  having
jurisdiction, shall not constitute a violation of this Agreement.

The  Employer  agrees  not to  engage  in any  lockout  during  the term of this
Agreement.

                                       11
<PAGE>
 
SECTION 20.  NO DISCRIMINATION
 
It is the continuing policy of the Union and the Employer that the provisions of
this Agreement  shall be applied to all employees  without  respect to age, sex,
race, religion, color, national origin or marital status.
 
SECTION 21.  SAVINGS CLAUSE
 
Any provision of this Agreement  adjudged to be unlawful by a court of competent
jurisdiction  shall be treated for all purposes as null and void,  but all other
provisions  of this  Agreement  shall  continue  to be in full  force and effect
except as provided herein.
 
SECTION 22.  TERM OF AGREEMENT
 
A. This Agreement shall take effect as of MAY 1, 1997 AND SHALL REMAIN IN EFFECT
UNTIL APRIL 30, 1998. It shall  continue in effect from year to year  thereafter
from May 1st to April 30th of each year, unless changed or terminated in the way
later provided herein.

Either party  desiring to change or  terminate  this  Agreement  must notify the
other in writing at least sixty (60) days prior to the  anniversary  date of the
present  contract.  When notice for changes is given,  the nature of the changes
desired must be specified in the notice and until a  satisfactory  conclusion is
reached in the matter of such changes,  the original  provisions shall remain in
full force and effect.  The  negotiation  of any proposed  amendments  by either
party shall begin within fifteen (15) days after receipt of the written proposed
amendments.

B. This Agreement shall be subject to amendment at any time by mutual consent of
the parties  hereto.  Such  amendment  shall be reduced to writing,  stating the
effective  date of the  amendment,  to be  executed  in the same  manner as this
Agreement, and be approved by the International Office of the Union.

                                       12
<PAGE>

ELECTRICAL WORKERS UNION,           HOSPITAL SYSTEMS, INC.
LOCAL 2131


   /s/ ROGER LANGLOIS                  /s/ DAVID MILLER
BY_______________________           BY______________________
ROGER LANGLOIS                      DAVID MILLER,
BUSINESS MANAGER,                   PRESIDENT
IBEW,  LOCAL 2131




    /s/ VINH PHUN
BY_______________________
VINH PHUN..
COMMITTEEMAN

   /s/ OSCAR RONQUILLO
BY______________________
OSCAR RONQUILLO
COMMITTEEMAN





                                          
                             DATE: September 4, 1997

                                       13
<PAGE>

                                 SCHEDULE "A"
 
 
 
PROGRESSIONS - CLASSIFICATIONS - WAGES
 
The  provisions  called  for in  this  Schedule  "A"  shall  become  part of the
Agreement  made May 1, 1997  between  Hospital  Systems,  Inc.  and Local  2131,
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.

Nothing  in this  Schedule  shall  serve to reduce  any  current  wage  rates of
individual employees.


     A. PROGRESSIONS
 
     1.  EMPLOYEES  HIRED AFTER MAY 1, 1997 SHALL PROGRESS FROM STARTING RATE OF
$7.50 PER HOUR [OR MARKET  RATE] AND SHALL  PROGRESS  TO THE TOP RATE IN FIVE 24
MONTH  STEPS.  TO COMPUTE  THE RAISE FROM EACH STEP THE  DIFFERENCE  BETWEEN THE
EMPLOYEE'S CURRENT RATE AND THE TOP RATE SHALL BE DIVIDED BY THE NUMBER OF STEPS
LEFT IN THE PROGRESSION.
 
     2. The following are the  progression  steps for employees hired before May
1, 1997:

             Step 1 - First 13 calendar weeks of employment
             Step 2 - Second 13 calendar weeks of employment
             Step 3 - Third 13 calendar weeks of employment
             Step 4 - Fourth 13 calendar weeks of employment
             Step 5 - Fifth 13 calendar weeks of employment
             Step 6 - Sixth 13 calendar weeks of employment
             Step 7 - Seventh 13 calendar weeks of employment
             Step 8 - Thereafter

     3. An employee with less than thirty-nine (39) weeks comparable  experience
in the last two (2) years shall start at Step 1.

     4. An employee with over thirty-nine  (39) weeks  comparable  experience in
the last two (2) years shall start at Step 4.

     5. For the purpose of this Section  only, a calendar  week starts the first
Wednesday an employee works within a given job classification.

     6. Previous Company experience may be credited in full.

                                       14
<PAGE>

     B. CLASSIFICATIONS AND WAGES

     The following are job classifications and minimum wage rates:

     1. LINE ASSEMBLERS

                6/1/97
                ------
      STEP 1    $9.10
      STEP 2    $9.28
      STEP 3    $9.74
      STEP 4    $9.91
      STEP 5    $10.46
      STEP 6    $10.76
      STEP 7    $11.38
      STEP 8    $11.72

     2. SPECIAL PRODUCTION WORKERS

                6/1/97
                ------
      STEP 1    $9.34
      STEP 2    $9.52
      STEP 3    $9.97
      STEP 4    $10.15
      STEP 5    $10.69
      STEP 6    $11.01
      STEP 7    $11.65
      STEP 8    $11.97

     3. TRUCK DRIVER/YARDMAN

                6/1/97
                ------
      STEP 1    $9.10
      STEP 2`   $9.28
      STEP 3    $9.74
      STEP 4    $9.91
      STEP 5    $10.46
      STEP 6    $10.76
      STEP 7    $11.38
      STEP 8    $11.72

                                       15
<PAGE>

     5. RECEIVING AND INVENTORY CLERK

                6/1/97
                ------
      STEP 1    $9.10
      STEP 2`   $9.28
      STEP 3    $9.74
      STEP 4    $9.91
      STEP 5    $10.46
      STEP 6    $10.76
      STEP 7    $11.38
      STEP 8    $11.72



     6. GENERAL LABORER

                6/1/97
                ------
      STEP 1    $5.91
      STEP 2`   $6.06
      STEP 3    $6.22
      STEP 4    $6.37
      STEP 5    $6.52
      STEP 6    $6.68
      STEP 7    $6.83
      STEP 8    $6.98


     6. MILLING MACHINE, PUNCH PRESS & MANIFOLD
 
     Employees assigned to operate the Milling Machine,  Punch Press or Manifold
shall receive  twenty-five cents ($.25) per hour above their regular hourly rate
for all hours  worked  while  operating  the  Milling  Machine,  Punch  Press or
Manifold.

     7. LEADMAN
 
     There  may be a  Leadman  in each  classification  and the  wages  shall be
sixty-two cents ($.62) per hour over Step 8 in the classification directed.
 
                                       16
<PAGE>

                                 SCHEDULE "B"
 
 
                               JOB DESCRIPTIONS
 
     A. LINE ASSEMBLERS
 
     Duties shall consist of the assembling of all products  manufactured by the
Company such as critical care units,  isolated power units, mobile units, nurses
stations,  etc. Typical parts to be assembled are frames, back pans, convenience
mounting straps, end caps, receptacles, outlets, switches, transformers, circuit
breakers  and  supports,  nurse  call  and  code  one  equipment,  elapsed  time
indicators,  line isolation monitors, dimmers, timers, sub-face plates, fascias,
plastic  laminated  panels and  wiring  therefore.  Sub-assemblies  shall be air
grills, panel frames, door assemblies, ground jacks, group plugs, grounding jack
assemblies,  circuit break assemblies,  mobile unit assemblies, etc. Included in
the  assembly  work will be the  measuring  and cutting of aluminum  extrusions,
plastic laminated panels, plastic trims and steel supports.  Packaging, shipping
and receiving.  The above is not all  inclusive,  but lists typical duties to be
performed and all like assignments shall be performed by Line Assemblers.

     B. SPECIAL PRODUCTION WORKERS
 
     Duties  shall  consist of  operating  punch  press,  drill  press,  welding
equipment,  brazing equipment and other heavy duty power operated equipment. The
assemblies  to be handled  are gas failure  alarms,  remote  hazard  indicators,
ground  fault  indicators,   nurses  station   sub-assemblies  and  connections,
manifolding or medical gas outlets, and welding of aluminum sub-assemblies.  The
above is not all  inclusive,  but lists  typical  duties to be performed and all
like assignments shall be performed by Special Production Workers.

     Special  Production  Workers may be assigned  duties in the Line Assemblers
category and shall  perform  these  duties  without any  reduction in pay.  Line
Assemblers may be requested to perform duties in the Special  Production Workers
category  and  shall be paid at the  Special  Production  Workers'  scale  while
performing those duties only.

     C. TRUCK DRIVER/YARDMAN
 
     Duties  shall  consist  of  driving a truck,  or any other  type of vehicle
covered by a Class 3 California Drivers License, for the purpose of delivery and
pick-up of materials,  stocking and withdrawing  such materials,  and daily yard
and shop cleanup and other related duties assigned by the Production Manager.

     D. RECEIVING & INVENTORY CLERK
 
     Duties shall consist of performing any one or more of the following duties:
receiving and checking incoming  shipments of materials,  stacking materials and
issuing  materials to the factory,  keeping of stock in order,  operating  power
and/or  hand lift trucks and  driving  the  company  truck for local  pickup and
delivery of material.

     Receiving  duties  consists of verifying  correctness of shipments  against
bills of lading, invoices or other records; checking for shortages and rejecting
damaged goods;  routing  merchandise  and materials to proper  departments;  and
maintaining necessary records and files.

     The above is not all inclusive,  but lists typical duties  performed by the
Receiving and Inventory Clerk

                                       17
<PAGE>

     E. GENERAL LABORER
 
     Duties  shall  consists  of  performing  any one or  more of the  following
duties; removing turnings and oil from machines, wash and degrease parts, handle
material,  cleaning,  keeps  in an  orderly  condition  factory  working  areas,
washrooms,  offices and yard. Duties may include sweeping,  mopping,  polishing,
window washing and other housekeeping duties that may be assigned.  The above is
not all  inclusive,  but lists  typical  duties to be  performed  by the General
Laborer.

     F. LEADMAN
 
     Duties are to supervise  and  instruct,  lead and guide;  allocate  work as
directed  by the  management's  representative:  as  well as  perform  necessary
production  work in all job  descriptions;  enforce safety rules,  check working
conditions and quality control.

     All classifications shall be full or part-time as required.
 
                                       18
<PAGE>

                                 SIDE LETTER
 
                                   Between
 
                            HOSPITAL SYSTEMS, INC.

                                     and

                     ELECTRICAL WORKERS UNION, LOCAL 2131
 
     It is agreed and  understood by the parties that the  following  shall only
apply to employees who have  completed the  probationary  period as of April 30,
1991.:
 
     After four (4) continuous  years of service,  an employee shall be entitled
to ten cents ($.10) above the rate specified in #1, #2 or #3 in Schedule "A".

     After eight (8) continuous years of service,  an employee shall be entitled
to ten cents ($.10) above his rate.

     After ten (10) continuous  years of service,  an employee shall be entitled
to an additional ten cents ($.10) above his rate.
 
IBEW, LOCAL 2131                    HOSPITAL SYSTEMS, INC.


    /s/ ROGER LANGLOIS             /s/ DAVID MILLER
BY_______________________      BY______________________
ROGER LANGLOIS,                DAVID MILLER,
BUSINESS MANAGER,              PRESIDENT
IBEW, LOCAL 2131


   /s/ VINH PHUN
BY_______________________
VINH PHUN..
COMMITTEEMAN

    /s/ OSCAR RONQUILLO
BY______________________
OSCAR RONQUILLO
COMMITTEEMAN






                             DATE: September 4, 1997

                                       19


                       FULL-TIME EMPLOYMENT POLICY AGREEMENT


     The policies for full-time  hourly  employees of the B & F Medical Division
of Allied  Healthcare,  Inc.  are based on the belief  that a body of  qualified
employees working in harmony with each other, and with the employer,  to provide
the best product possible to the customer.

     B & F realizes that its economic  strength and growth depend  directly upon
the contributions made by each person within the organization.

     It is further  recognized  that the purpose and intent of this policy is to
promote  harmony  and  cooperation  between  the parties as well as to provide a
channel through which complaints,  if any, by either party can be transmitted to
each other and settled.

     Finally,  this policy manual  describes  what the employees can expect from
the employer in benefits, and what the employer can expect from each employee in
return.

   1.)    Maintain reasonable hours of work with safe and desirable working
          conditions.
   2.)    Be an equal opportunity employer.
   3.)    Provide continuous employment consistent with business conditions.
   4.)    Place employees in the kind of work best suited for the Company
          objective.
   5.)    Encourage and help each individual to progress in the Company's
          organization.
   6.)    Accord to each employee the right to discuss freely with all levels of
          management matters concerning his or her welfare and the Company's
          interest.


ARTICLE II:  EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

     It is the  policy of the  employer  that there  shall be no  discrimination
against any employee in any terms and  conditions of employment  because of such
employee's race, creed, color, age, sex, national origin, or Vietnam or disabled
veteran  status,  or handicap as provided by law.  The company  will also comply
with the American Disabilities Act.

     Further,  should an employee  have a  complaint  and said  employee  avails
himself/herself  of the  complaint  procedure,  the  employee  will in no way be
discriminated against by the employer.


ARTICLE III:  GENERAL EMPLOYMENT POLICY - OFF TO A GOOD START

     When you get a new job,  you know what points are  important to you . . . a
good Company to work for, good people to work with, good working conditions, and
good opportunities.

     At B & F Medical Products,  Inc. we hope you will find what you look for in
a job. The Company is just as much  interested as you are in seeing that you get
off to a good start.  That's why the personnel  department talks to you when you
apply  . . . to  tell  you  what  kind  of job it is,  and to  find  out if your
interests fit in.


<PAGE>

                               GETTING YOUR BEARINGS

     As you meet your supervisor and the other people in your  department,  they
will  explain  things to you. As they do, you will begin to see the close tie-in
between the different parts of our  organization.  The department where you work
is a part of the plant;  the plant is a part of B & F Medical  Products.  All in
all, we cover a lot of territory.


ARTICLE IV:  SERVICE FACILITIES

     Parking  - The  plant  has  free  parking  space as near  the  building  as
possible.  Please do observe all the  customary  precautions  and  courtesies of
parking. The parking lots are not speedways. They are for your convenience.  The
Company cannot be responsible for your car or its contents. All of us can insure
our common  safety and  satisfaction  by the routine  observance of "Parking Lot
Etiquette".


ARTICLE V:  PROBATIONARY PERIOD

     All new  employees  are  automatically  on a thirty  (30) day  probationary
period.  During this important period the employee's ability,  work performance,
attitude,   care  of  company  equipment,   safety  practices,   attendance  and
dependability  will  be  closely  evaluated  by  your  supervisor.   Only  after
successful  completion of the thirty (30) day probationary period is an employee
recognized  as a part-time or full-time  employee.  If for any reason,  prior to
completion of the probationary  period, it is determined that an employee is not
suited or  satisfactory  for their job,  their  employment  will be  terminated.
However, prior to their termination,  every effort will be made to work with the
new  employee  to train them in their job and to  counsel  them  concerning  any
problems or deficiencies.

     At the discretion of management,  a probationary  period may be extended if
circumstances  warrant such an extension.  Such  extension  will be granted,  if
warranted by Management.


ARTICLE VI:  MANAGEMENT RIGHTS

     The  management of the business and the direction of the working  forces of
the Company,  which  includes  all rights  customarily  reserved to  management,
including  the  right  to  plan,  direct  and  control  its  operations,   hire,
discipline, or discharge for just cause, assign, transfer, promote, and maintain
efficiency of its employees are vested exclusively with the employer,  except to
the extent  specifically  limited by the terms of the Agreement  and/or provided
that  the  exercise  of  such  rights  will  not be  used  for  the  purpose  of
discrimination against any member of the Committee.


ARTICLE VII:  RULES AND REGULATIONS

     In accordance with the employer's right to discipline or discharge for just
cause and maintain the  efficiency of its  employees,  the following  guidelines
have been set up by the employer. The acts and practices listed on the following
page are not  all-inclusive,  but set forth some major reasons which may without
notice  subject  the  employee  to  disciplinary  action,  up to  and  including
dismissal  at the  discretion  of the company and in the presence of a Committee
Officer.

                                       2
<PAGE>

 1. Falsification of personnel records, time cards or other records.
 2. Habitual unexcused absenteeism or tardiness.
 3. Leaving job or work place during working hours without permission.
 4. Insubordination.  Refusal to obey orders issued by supervisor or Team Leader
    or any other member of management.
 5. Loitering on company time.
 6. Excessive and disruptive loitering on company property after hours.
 7. Use of abusive or threatening language to another employee or any employer
    personnel.
 8. Habitual failure to ring time card, ringing time card of another employee,
    defacing and/or falsifying a time card.
 9. Immoral, illegal, or indecent conduct.
10. Violation of safety rules or failure to wear required safety equipment.
11. Reporting to work, or being at work, but in no fit condition, or possession 
    or under the influence of liquor or unauthorized drugs.
12. Sleeping while on work time.
13. Engaging in horse play, running, shouting, throwing articles or any
    unauthorized demonstration.
14. Eating or smoking in unauthorized areas.  Smoking is allowed only in the
    specified smoking area of the parking lot.  Smoking is not permitted in the 
    restrooms or in the plant.  Those who desire to chew tobacco, must do so 
    only in areas where smoking is allowed.  You must however, refrain from 
    gross/objectionable expectorating of tobacco juices especially during times
    when people are eating.
15. Destroying company property, materials, tools, and equipment.
16. Stealing or damaging company or another employee's property.
17. Tampering with, or misuse of safety or fire fighting equipment or other
    utility controls, including thermostats.
18. Fighting on company premises.
19. False or malicious statements concerning any fellow employee.
20. Posting or removing written or printed matter of any description without
    permission.
21. Practicing or contributing to unsanitary or unhealthful conditions.  
    Employees are required to clean-up their own lunch/break trash.
22. Unwarranted interference with production in any manner.
23. Failure to work efficiently and/or meet quality and production standards.
24. Negligence or inefficiency resulting in scrap or inferior work, breaking or
    wasting any materials or supplies.
25. Unauthorized entry on company property.
26. Wearing of unsafe or improper clothing at work includes jewelry on Injection
    Molds.
27. Abuse of "break" time allowances.
28. Unauthorized possession of firearms or weapons of any kind on the premises.
29. Sexual Harassment.

                              SEXUAL HARASSMENT POLICY


     ACTS OF SEXUAL  HARASSMENT  BY  EMPLOYEES,  SUPERVISORS  AND  MANAGERS  ARE
PROHIBITED  EMPLOYMENT  PRACTICE  AND ARE SUBJECT TO  SANCTIONS  AND  CORRECTIVE
MEASURES.

                                       3
<PAGE>

     Sexual harassment in the workplace is defined as unwelcome sexual advances,
requests for sexual favors,  and other verbal or physical  conduct of a physical
nature, when

   1.  Submission to such conduct is made either explicitly of implicitly, a
term or condition of an individual's employment;

   2.  Submission to or rejection of such conduct by an individual is used as
 the basis for employment decisions affecting such individuals;

   3.  Such conduct has the purpose or effect of substantially interfering with
 a person's work performance or creating an intimidating, hostile or offensive 
work environment.

     Prohibited  acts of sexual  harassment  can take a variety of forms ranging
from subtle  pressure for sexual activity to physical  assault.  Examples of the
kind of conduct included in the definition of sexual harassment are:

   1.  Continued or repeated sexually-oriented verbal kidding;

   2.  Continued or repeated verbal abuse of a sexual nature including graphic
commentaries on the person's body; sexually suggestive objects or pictures
placed in the work area that may offend the person; sexually degrading words 
to describe the person; or propositions of a sexual nature;

   3.  Physical contact such as patting, pinching, or frequent brushing against
another's body;

   4.  Threats or insinuations that the person's employment, wages, promotional
opportunities or other conditions of employment may be adversely affected by not
submitting to sexual advances

     An employee who believes that he or she is the victim of sexual  harassment
is asked to report the incident  immediately to the General  Manager or V. P. of
Administration.  If the employee  feels  uncomfortable  reporting to the persons
designated,  or if the harassment  continues,  he or she is asked to contact the
committee  officers.  An impartial  investigation will be conducted to determine
whether the conduct can  appropriately be defined as sexual  harassment and what
corrective action should be taken.

     This process has been established for the employee's  benefit to assure him
or her that the issue will be dealt with promptly and to the extent possible, in
a confidential manner. No employee will be penalized for lodging a complaint for
sexual harassment no mater how that issue is resolved,  unless it is proven that
the employee has purposely and intentionally made false accusations.


ARTICLE VIII:  PART-TIME EMPLOYMENT

     Employees regularly scheduled to work thirty-five (35) hours a week or less
on a regular  scheduled basis,  are considered  part-time  employees.  Part-time
employees do not accumulate  seniority for any company  benefits,  nor will they
receive  vacation  pay.  They will be eligible for partial  holiday pay equal to
their part-time  hours.  Part-time  employees will be laid-off before  full-time
employees.  Seniority  and work  performance  will be the  basis  for  selecting
part-time employees bidding on full-time position openings.

                                       4
<PAGE>

ARTICLE IX:  TEMPORARY EMPLOYMENT

     Employees  who are  hired to work  for  stated  limited  number  of  months
(including summer help) are considered temporary employees.  Temporary help will
not accumulate seniority for Company benefits,  nor will they receive holiday or
vacation pay.


ARTICLE X:  SENIORITY SERVICE

     Seniority is defined as length of continuous  employment  with the company,
from the day the employee  begins  full-time  work.  Temporary  employees do not
accrue seniority.

     All seniority will be plant wide in each department.  These departments are
divided as follows:  Injection Molding,  Assembly I and II, Warehouse,  Quality,
Repair, and Janitorial.

     An employee begins building seniority the day he/she begins employment at B
& F  Medical  Products,  Inc.  However,  it is not  officially  credited  to the
employee until he/she has completed the thirty (30) day probationary period.

     The hiring date of each employee  shall be used for  placement  purposes on
the  seniority  list.  Said  placement on the list shall be used for lay-off and
recall on the basis of last on,  first  off.  Recall  of  employees  shall be in
inverse order;  that is last off,  first to be called back. It being  understood
that  should a lay-off  take  place,  and a  remaining  employee  is not able to
efficiently perform the available work within a three week period, said employee
will be laid-off and an employee who was  laid-off,  and is able to  efficiently
perform the available work, will be recalled by seniority.

     The Company shall post an updated seniority list upon the execution of this
Agreement and provide the  Committee  with a copy of the same.  Thereafter,  the
Company shall post an updated  seniority  list and provide the Committee  with a
copy of the same each six (6) months.  In the event an employee  disagrees  with
his/her seniority standing, the employee shall protest the same within three (3)
working days after the employer posts the updated seniority list or within three
(3) working days of the date from which the employee reasonably should have been
aware of the  posting  of the  updated  seniority  list.  Up to one (1) year the
company will hold seniority in case of L.O.A. due to accident/sickness.


ARTICLE XI:  TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT

   Termination of employment, and a loss of seniority will occur if an employee:

1. Quits, walks off job (job abandonment).
2. Is discharged for rules violations
3. Fails to report to work after being recalled from lay-off within three (3)
days after notice to
    return to work is received by certified mail
4. Retires
5. Has been on lay-off for more than one-half their accrued seniority
6. Is fully disabled as defined by Social Security Laws

                                       5
<PAGE>

7. Has three (3) successive scheduled work days of unexcused absences
8. Fails to return from leave of absence in accordance with provisions of "Leave
of Absence" Policy.

     Final pay checks will be available on the regular designated pay day. It is
not the wish of the  Company to  dismiss an  employee  without  first  trying to
assist in correcting his/her problem.


ARTICLE XII:  ABSENCE AND/OR TARDINESS

     Every  employee  is  expected  to  report to work on time.  Absence  and/or
tardiness seriously interferes with the efficient plant operations,  and creates
an added burden on fellow  employees.  All absence is to be reported to the work
supervisor,  as early as possible,  by the employee  prior to starting time. The
plant phone number is 729-0608 Ext. 215.

     The  following is the  disciplinary  procedure for 1.) absences and for 2.)
tardiness  (tardiness  is defined as 30  minutes or less)  effective  January 1,
1998:


ATTENDANCE PROGRAM (Points System)

     In an effort  to be fair and  equitable  to all  employees,  the  following
program is  implemented.  It is the  intention of the program to  eliminate  the
potential for favoritism by  supervision,  inconsistency  in the  application of
discipline  for  attendance  infractions,  and abuse by employees who attempt to
manipulate the system.

     At the beginning of the calendar  year,  all  employees  will have zero (0)
points.  The  accumulation of points is not a good thing.  All employees  should
strive to earn no points throughout the year.

Note:

   1. Sick Days are exempt from this program.
   2. Employees will not receive points for time taken under the Family Leave
      Policy.
   3. Vacation is also independent of this program.  No points will be given for
      any vacation days used by an employee.
   4. Each employee will have 4 Doctor's Slips per year exempted from being
      pointed.


Earning of Points:

Points are earned as follows:

Late,Tardy,  Leave  Early,  or any other  manner in which less than two hours of
scheduled work time is missed 1/2 point.

Note: If an employee schedules a doctor's  appointment for within 1 1/2 hours of
the start or end of his/her assigned shift, and if he/she returns to work with a
time  stamped  document  from the  doctor's  office  indicating  that he/she has
returned to work at the earliest  possible  time from that  appointment,  he/she
will not receive a point penalty.

                                       6
<PAGE>

Absent (time out of work in excess of two hours,  during  scheduled work time) 1
point per occurrence.

Absences of two (2) consecutive  days or less are considered one occurrence.  In
the event that an employee is absent in excess of two (2) consecutive work days,
the  employee  must  provide to the  company a Return to Work Slip,  signed by a
physician from a physician'  office.  The doctor's slip will be used to confirm
illness and if provided  will  document the illness as one (1)  occurrence.  See
Note #4 above for the  exception  to this rule.  Failure to do so will result in
each day off receiving 1 point.

The rules for no call in remain in effect.  However, if an employee is likely to
remain off work for an  extended  period of time due to illness,  that  employee
need not maintain  daily contact if a document from a physician is provided to a
company  official  estimating the length of the illness.  Contact with a company
official  must be made every three work days in all other cases or the  employee
may  find  that  he/she  is in  violation  of the No  Call  In  Rule  and  risks
termination for Job Abandonment.

No Call In Rule - If an employee is absent from work for three  consecutive days
and does not make contact with a company  official  unless as stipulated  above,
that employee will be considered to have abandoned his/her job and is terminated


Disciplinary Actions:

The accumulation of three (3) points requires a verbal warning to the employee.

The  accumulation  of six (6) points requires a written warning to the employee.
Employee will be advised of point accumulation by Management.

The accumulation of nine (9) points indicates termination is required.


ARTICLE XIII:  STRIKES AND LOCKOUT

     The employer agrees not to cause,  permit,  or engage in any lockout of its
employees during the term of the Agreement.  Likewise,  the employees agree that
neither  individually  or  collectively,  will  they,  during  the  term  of the
Agreement,  cause,  permit,  or take part in any  strike,  picketing,  sit-down,
stand-in,  slow-down,  or other  curtailment or restriction of  productions,  or
interference with work in or about the Company plant or premises.


ARTICLE XIV:  GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE - (OPEN DOOR POLICY)

     Section One: Should any differences, disputes, or complaints arise over the
interpretation or application of the Agreement, the grievance procedure shall be
the method described below of the parties to settle the  differences,  disputes,
or complaints promptly through the following steps.  Grievances must be taken up
promptly, and no grievances shall be considered or discussed which are presented
later  than  three  (3)  working  days  after the  cause of such  grievance  has
occurred,  or within three (3) working  days of the day the grievant  reasonably
should have been aware of the occurrence.

                                       7
<PAGE>

Step 1 - Between the aggrieved  employee and his/her immediate  supervisor,  the
immediate  supervisor  will answer the  grievance  before the  conclusion of the
second (2nd) working day after the presentation of the complaint.

Step 2 - If the answer of the immediate  supervisor is not  satisfactory  to the
grievant,  then,  the grievant  must,  before the conclusion of the second (2nd)
work day after receipt of the Step 1 answer, reduce the grievance to writing and
present it to an officer of the  Committee.  An officer of the Committee and the
grievant  shall,  before  the  conclusion  of the second  (2nd) work day,  after
receipt of the written  grievance,  discuss the  grievance  with the  designated
Company  representative with the resolution of the grievance as the contemplated
goal.  The  Company  representative  shall give an answer to the  officer of the
Committee  regarding  disposition of the grievance  before the conclusion of the
second (2) work day after the discussion.

Step 3 - If the answer of the  Company  is not  satisfactory  to the  Committee,
then,  the  Committee  must,  within  one (1) week  after  receipt of the Step 2
answer,  proceed to Step 3 of the grievance  procedure.  If the grievance is not
satisfactorily  adjusted  in  Step 2,  the  grievance  shall  be  presented  and
discussed   at  a  meeting  with  the   Committee,   the   appropriate   Company
representative,  and the  grievant.  Said  meeting  shall be held at a  mutually
agreed time but within one (1) week after  notice is given to the Company that a
meeting is desired.

Step 4 - If the grievance is not satisfactorily adjusted in Step 3, either party
may,  within thirty (30) days, in writing,  request  arbitration,  and the other
shall be  obligated  to  proceed  with  arbitration  in the  manner  hereinafter
provided. The Executive Board of the Committee shall have the exclusive right to
determine  whether  or not  the  employee's  grievance  shall  be  submitted  to
arbitration by the Committee.  The parties shall forthwith attempt to agree upon
an impartial arbitrator. If they cannot so agree within five (5) working days of
the  request for  arbitration,  they may within  thirty  (30) days,  thereafter,
request final and binding arbitration from the Toledo Labor-Management  Citizens
Committee,  which shall be requested to submit a panel of seven (7) arbitrators.
The expense of the  arbitrator  except the parties' own expenses,  shall be born
equally by the Committee and the Company.

Section Two:  The Company or  Committee  may agree to extend the time limits set
forth in this procedure by written request of the other party.

Section Three: The arbitrator shall have authority and jurisdiction to determine
the propriety of the  interpretation  and/or  application  of the Agreement with
respect to the  grievance in  question,  but shall not have the power to add to,
subtract from, or modify the terms contained herein.

Section Four: Any agreement  reached between the Committee and the Company under
the grievance procedure by their authorized representatives, and any decision of
the  arbitrator  under Step 4, shall be final and binding upon the Company,  the
Committee, and the employee or employees involved.

                                       8

<PAGE>

ARTICLE XV: EMPLOYEE LEAVE OF ABSENCE/FAMILY MEDICAL LEAVE (F.M.L.)

                       "B&F FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE POLICY"

     Beginning  August 5, 1993  employees who have worked at least one full year
with a minimum of 1250 work hours in the past twelve  months may apply for up to
twelve  (12)  weeks of unpaid  leave per  calendar  year after a  childbirth  or
adoption,  or to care for a  seriously  ill  child,  spouse or  parent  (but not
"parent-in-law"),  or for an employee's own serious health condition (if husband
and wife both work at B & F a total of 12 weeks aggregate leave time applies for
leave taken for a childbirth or adoption, or to care for a seriously ill parent.

     Thirty (30) days advance written notice is required for foreseeable  leaves
necessitated by birth, adoption, or planned medical treatment. Leave for serious
illness will require  certification  by a licensed  health care provider,  and a
second  opinion may be required (to be paid for by B & F).  Intermittent  leaves
for medical  treatment  must include  expected  dates of  treatment  and planned
duration.  Certification  by a licensed health care provider of fitness for duty
is required  whenever  returning to work after an employee's  own serious health
condition.

     B & F Medical  guarantees  reinstatement to the same or equivalent job upon
return from F.M.L.,  but requires that employees use all accrued vacation and/or
paid sick time against their annual 12-week entitlement period.

     All covered  medical/health  coverage  will be  continued  for the employee
while on F.M.L.  as if the employee were  continuously  employed  throughout the
leave period.  Written arrangements with B & F for the payment of any medical or
optional  insurance premiums that are the responsibility of the employee must be
made at the time of applying for F.M.L. (if possible).  Any premiums paid by B &
F that are properly the  responsibility of the employee must be repaid to B & F,
even if the employee never returns to work,  unless B & F is otherwise  notified
in writing that the employee will not return to work and to  discontinue  making
such payments on their behalf.

     F.M.L. applications must be signed by both the employee (or representative)
and B & F management. It is the responsibility of the EMPLOYEE to return to work
within  the  authorized  F.M.L.  time  period  and to  notify  and  update B & F
concerning the employee's physical condition or other changes of any kind.

     Upon  written  application  and for good  cause  only,  the  employer  will
consider a request for leave of absence,  without pay or benefits, not to exceed
F.M.L. limits.  Leaves may be renewed at the discretion of the employer.  If any
employee  fails to return to work at the  expiration  of the leave,  or if it is
found that an employee  was granted a leave under false  pretenses,  he/she will
automatically be terminated.

     No leave of absence request shall be honored for the purpose of enabling an
employee to seek or accept work with another employer.


                                       9

<PAGE>

ARTICLE XVI:  PERSONNEL RECORDS

     The office  maintains an accurate and  confidential  master record of every
employee. Maintaining these files with up-to-date information is very important,
as it provides the Company with addresses to reach employees in emergencies, and
send  mail  with data for  payroll  deductions,  and  information  required  for
insurance and other benefits.

   All employees must notify the office promptly of any changes regarding:

      1.  Address or telephone number
      2.  Marital status
      3.  Number of dependents for withholding tax purposes
      4.  Person to notify in case of emergency

     Personnel records are to kept intact for the entire length of employment of
each  individual  employee.  However,  it is  agreed  that  for the  purpose  of
discipline/dismissal,  records  or file  information  of the past four (4) years
only will be used.


ARTICLE XVII:  WORK BREAKS

     A  work  break  of  fifteen  (15)  minutes  will  be  given  all  employees
approximately  two (2) hours into their work day. A thirty (30)  minute  un-paid
lunch break  approximately four (4) hours into their work day, and an additional
work break of fifteen (15) minutes  approximately  two (2) hours  following  the
lunch break will be given. Following eight (8) hours of scheduled work/overtime,
a five (5) minute break will be allowed.

     These  break  times are the only times when  employees  are to be away from
their  work  areas.  Emergency  lavatory  visits are  permissible  and not to be
abused. Other than emergencies, the employee will be relieved when a Team Leader
or Supervisor arranges it.

     Clean-up time, if required by supervisory personnel,  shall be performed by
employees to protect parts,  etc.  Otherwise,  no personal clean-up time will be
permitted.  Employees are to work up to the buzzer indicating  quitting time, or
until  relieved  by next shift  employee.  If the next shift  employee  does not
relieve  shortly,  the quitting  employee is to notify the  supervisor  prior to
their leaving.


ARTICLE XVIII:  ACCIDENTS - HEALTH - SAFETY

     Accidents  can be prevented in most cases,  by use of good judgment - think
and plan for safety. The health and safety of yourself,  and your fellow workers
should be of the utmost importance to you, as it is to your employer. Therefore,
specific  Safety Rules and  Regulations  will be posted in the plant.  Employees
disregarding  said  rules,  or  found to be in  violation,  will be  subject  to
discipline, up to and including dismissal.

                                       10

<PAGE>

     Even  though  you  and  the  employer   are  covered  by  State   Workman's
Compensation  Insurance , you must report an accident to your supervisor as soon
after the accident as possible,  and an Accident  Report Form must be completed,
followed by a Claim to the state where requested and justified.


ARTICLE XIX:  DRESS CODE AND PERSONAL HYGIENE

New Dress Code Text

     We at B&F (the Disposable Products Division of Allied Healthcare  Products)
manufacture  medical  devices.  These devices are regulated by the FDA and other
agencies. We must adhere to the rules and regulations of these agencies.  One of
the main areas of review and  regulation  is  cleanliness.  This  relates to the
dress and  cleanliness of our employees as well as the  cleanliness and order of
the manufacturing areas.

The Dress Codes is as follows:

1.)   All production employees must wear a hair net or surgical cap (provided
by the company) and sturdy, flat, fully enclosed shoes.

2.)   Safety glasses AND hearing protection (EARPLUGS) are required in all plant
areas.

3.)   Shirts must be of full length (no bare midriffs). Sleeveless shirts are
permitted,  if the  shoulder  width of the shirt  body is at least 3" wide (tank
tops, undershirts, spaghetti straps or similar attire is not permitted.)

4.)   Clothing may not have holes or tears or be made of sheddable material.

5.)   Shorts or skirts  can not have an inseam of less than 6" or be shorter
than 5" above the knee unless worn with opaque tights.

6.)   Leggings or spandex shorts are acceptable if a hip covering top garment is
also worn.

7.)   Loose fitting clothing must be fastened at the wrist in order to avoid
employee injury.

If  clothing  is deemed  inappropriate  by  company  management,  the  offending
employee will be required to punch out, change and return to work.

Also, per FDA and Company  regulations,  hands must be washed following lavatory
visits and after eating,  prior to returning to the production  area.  Eating at
the work area is strictly  forbidden.  Smoking is only allowed in the designated
area.  Only water in  unbreakable,  spillproof  container is allowed at the work
station.



                                       11
<PAGE>

ARTICLE XX:  WORK HOURS AND THE TIME CLOCK

     The pay week starts on Sunday morning each week, and goes through  Saturday
night.  The work day starts at 7:00 am to 3:30 pm (first  shift),  3:30 pm to 12
midnight (second shift), and 11:00 pm to 7:30 am (third shift).

     Be sure to  punch  your  time  card in and out on the  time  clock at these
times, as it is your official work record.  There is a 3 minute grace period for
punching  in.  Remember,  it is against  regulations  to punch the time card for
anyone but yourself.

     Overtime  shall be paid on a daily  basis  for all hours in excess of eight
(8) hours worked (excluding  vacation or sick pay comp.).  Vacation and sick pay
continue to be used towards the forty (40) hours  accumulation  for overtime pay
per week, or thirty-two (32) hours during a holiday week. Overtime shall be paid
for at the rate of time and a half (1-1/2) the straight time hourly rate. At the
discretion of the Company,  employees will be required to work the first two (2)
mandatory eight (8) hour Saturdays posted per month. If the employee's  vacation
is  posted/scheduled/approved  prior  to the  mandatory  overtime  notice  being
posted, the employee is not required to work that Saturday. They would, however,
be  required to work any other  mandatory  Saturday  during  that  month.  On an
excused absence  (illness or immediate  family  wedding/or with proof of wedding
participation)  during a mandatory  Saturday,  the employee would be required to
make-up  that  Saturday on a  subsequent  Saturday (if the plant is working) per
calendar  month.  In  the  case  of  an  immediate  family  wedding  or  wedding
participation,  the employee must fill out a Vacation Request Form prior to that
Saturday  so  that  management  can  plan  its  operations.  There  shall  be no
pyramiding of overtime or premium pay.

     When the need for overtime arises,  voluntary  overtime shall be offered to
employees  in their  department  first on the  basis of their  seniority  in all
cases,  provided  the  employee is capable of  performing  the jobs,  along with
sufficient  supervisory personnel as required by Management.  Voluntary overtime
is to be treated  seriously - if you find that you cannot  make it,  notify your
supervisor as soon as possible.  If not enough production employees volunteer or
are  available,  Management  reserves the right to fill in  jobs/machines  as is
deemed sufficient with supervisory personnel on a per shift basis.


ARTICLE XXI:  PAY DAY

     Pay day is usually  Friday of each week,  unless a holiday  during the week
delays the preparation of the payroll.  Your weekly paycheck is delivered to you
at you regular work  station.  If you are not at work when a paycheck is due, it
can be picked up during work hours at the office. One week's pay is held back so
your first paycheck as a new employee will come to you about two weeks after you
begin work.  The Payroll  Department  needs this time to set up your account and
the necessary records.


ARTICLE XXII:  PAID HOLIDAYS

     Eligible employees who have completed three (3) months service,  and are on
the active payroll the day prior to the holiday,  and who have worked their last
regular scheduled work day before,  and their next scheduled work day after such
holiday shall receive holiday pay pro-rated per hours worked up

                                       12
<PAGE>

to maximum of eight (8) hours regular pay (a maximum of 30 minutes tardy allowed
without losing holiday pay).  These holidays are as follows:

      New Year's Day                Memorial Day
      Independence Day              Labor Day
      Thanksgiving Day              Day after Thanksgiving
      Christmas Eve                 Christmas Day
      *Floating Holiday

Note - Half (1/2) day for Good Friday off without pay will be allowed.

Floating Holiday

Effective July 1, 1997,  every Union employee will receive one new paid holiday.
It is a Floating  Holiday.  It may be taken when the employee  would like a paid
day off  during a  regularly  scheduled  work  day.  There is only one  floating
holiday per year.  It must be taken  during the calendar  year or employee  will
receive  eight hours  straight pay  (holiday) at the end of the calendar year if
not used. There is no carryover of this day.

RESTRICTIONS
The Floating  Holiday  cannot be taken in conjunction  with  vacation,  leave of
absence or another paid holiday. To be paid for a Floating Holiday, the employee
must work the full  scheduled  shift of the day  preceding and the day following
the Floating  Holiday.  Floating  Holidays  may not be taken  during  inventory.
Floating  Holidays may not be taken on the last work day of the month. New Years
Eve can,  however,  be a  Floating  Holiday  for up to one half each  department
employees per shift on a first reserved, first allowed basis.

NOTIFICATION
In order  to take  the  Floating  Holiday,  the  employee  must  notify  his/her
supervisor in writing 48 hours in advance of the day requested. Requests will be
automatically  honored if the request  does not violate any of the  restrictions
listed above.


ARTICLE XXIII:  BUILDING YOUR RETIREMENT

     The Company Pension Plan, which is qualified under Internal Revenue Service
guidelines,  helps you to build a lifetime  retirement income.  Each employee is
eligible to join the 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan on the  anniversary  date of the
plan,  which  follows one (1) year of  employment  (1000 hours of service).  The
employee must be at least 21 years of age. The company will  contribute a profit
sharing amount equal to 3.5% of the employee's  gross pay on an annual basis. In
addition,  the  employee  can  contribute  on a pre-tax  basis to the plan.  The
company will match the employee's contributions up to an additional 3%. A report
summarizing  the  employee's  assets  in the plan  will be made  available  on a
quarterly basis.


                                       13

<PAGE>

ARTICLE XXIV:  VACATION TIME OFF WITH PAY

     The vacation year for employees  covered  hereby shall be twelve (12) month
period, from January 1 to December 31 for the following year. Vacation pay shall
be based on the  employee's  present hourly rate of pay at the time of vacation.
Vacation  days cannot be used for penalty  days.  Any employee on the  Seniority
List of the employer as of January 1, shall be entitled to vacation  time off on
the following basis, service levels being measured as of January 1. If less than
one (1) year, vacation time will be prorated after 90 day probationary period to
be taken only after January 1 the following  year.  Each employee is required to
complete a Vacation  Request Form one (1) week prior to the requested  time off.
Vacation  time is to be taken in full hour  increments.  Only one (1)  full-time
employee is permitted off at a time per department  per shift.  No vacation will
be allowed during the week  effecting the two days prior to our fiscal  year-end
and July 1 each year (physical  inventory).  April 1st is the deadline each year
to sign up for seniority  priority for vacation time. After that date,  vacation
time is granted on first come basis. Below is a schedule of paid vacation time:

            1 year......5 days      ......      (40) hours
            2 years.....6 days      ......      (48) hours
            3 years.....10 days     ......      (80) hours
            10 years....12 1/2 days ......      (100) hours
            12 years....15 days     ......      (120) hours
            20 years....20 days     ......      (160) hours

     Qualified  part-time  employees may take time off without pay (won't effect
bonus) per the above schedule  provided a vacation request form is filled out as
required.


ARTICLE XXV:  SICK DAY PAY

     All full  time  employees  will be  allowed  three  (3) sick days per year.
Effective  January 1, 1998, the total will be five (5). This will be prorated at
two (2)  hours/month  of employment,  retroactive  following the thirty (30) day
probationary  period.  These days can be accumulated from year to year, and will
be paid off in pay based upon existing hourly rate at the time when used.  These
days cannot be used for penalty days. It is understood  that sick days cannot be
used the day prior to a holiday, nor the day after a holiday.

     This is an over-all  total of forty (40) as of January 1, 1998,  work hours
for sick days per year.  We will allow the  employee to use these in segments of
hours if so desired, for physician  appointments and such. However, each segment
or occasion must be a minimum of one (1) hour in length.


ARTICLE XXVI:  FUNERAL LEAVE POLICY

     Employees  will be entitled  to three (3) days of straight  time pay in the
case of death to any member of the immediate  family.  Immediate family includes
sons, daughters,  wife, husband, father, mother,  mother-in-law,  father-in-law,
brother or sister,  grandparent  or  grandchildren.  Two (2) days unpaid funeral
leave    for     relative     includes     step-parents,     grandmother-in-law,
grandfather-in-law,  brother-in-law,  sister-in-law,  aunt or  uncle..  Proof of
relationship and funeral attendance may be

                                       14
<PAGE>

required as condition for receiving the pay. Extra funeral days may be available
to the employee, if necessary,  without pay, not to exceed five (5) working days
total absence.
 
     Special circumstances which may warrant additional time off can be reviewed
on a per individual  basis.  Refer then to "Leave of Absence"  clause or Article
XV, page 10 of this Agreement.


ARTICLE XXVII:  JURY DUTY

     Effective July 1, 1997, Jury Duty service will be reimbursed the difference
between  the  employee'  regular  eight  (8)  hour pay (no  overtime)  and what
actually is received for service on the jury. The employee must turn the service
pay slip and  verification  in to  his/her  Supervisor,  and it will be paid the
following pay period. This applies to all shifts.


ARTICLE XXVII:  ATTENDANCE BONUS

     Any employee working without any absenteeism or tardiness during a calendar
quarter basis will receive a bonus.  This shall be issued in a separate  payroll
check with the usual taxes withheld. Only those employees who have reached their
maximum rate of pay for their shift/dept. are eligible.

     BONUS  SCHEDULE = $ .30/hour  and $ .45/hour  overtime for all hours worked
that quarter


ARTICLE XXIX:  BIDDING ON JOBS

     The company agrees to establish a bidding procedure  covering the full-time
positions for Injection Mold,  Assembly I and Assembly II,  Janitorial,  Quality
Control, Repair, and Warehouse departments.  The position of truck driver and/or
tool maker is one that does not allow  bidding or bumping  into other  full-time
departments.  If an opening  occurs in either  position,  it also will be filled
from the outside.

     This  bidding  procedure  shall be based on  seniority  (position of Set-Up
Trainee is not hired on seniority  basis, but he/she must become a member of the
committee  if a  full-time  employee)  and  employee  ability,  and  shall be as
follows:

A.   Upon  the   occurrence   of  a  vacancy   in  any  of  the   aforementioned
     classifications,  which  vacancy  may arise by reason of  discharge,  quit,
     death, retirement,  or the necessity of having additional personnel in such
     classifications,  the  company  shall  post a  notice  requesting  that the
     employees sign bids for such vacancies.  Employees signing those bids shall
     be required to fill such vacancies if notified of award bid. (Cannot change
     your mind after bid is awarded.)

B.   That  the  company  shall  fill  such  vacancies as described in (A) above,
     strictly by plant-wide seniority of full-time UNION employees (members of B
     & F Committee).


                                       15
<PAGE>

C.   That  if  the  company  receives no bids for a vacancy from bargaining unit
     employees, the company may hire a new employee to fill such vacancy or with
     a deserving part-time employee, as management decides.

D.   That  any  employee  who successfully bids into a vacancy, shall be allowed
     thirty (30) days to demonstrate his or her ability to perform the duties of
     the job in  question.  Once  accepted,  the  employee  shall be required to
     remain  there for at least one year (1) unless  successfully  bidding  into
     another position.

E.   For  existing  positions,  full-time  employees are permitted to bump (same
     department  only) onto another shift - by seniority only - one (1) time per
     twelve (12) month period.

F.   That  the  company  may  exercise an option to continue the thirty (30) day
     period in (D) above, for an additional thirty (30) day period;

G.   That  if  the  employee  cannot  perform  the duties of the job in question
     during the thirty (30) day period mentioned in (D) above, or the additional
     thirty (30)  period  mentioned  in (E) above,  then the  employee  shall be
     returned to his or her previously held position, with no loss in seniority.
     Full-time  employees who are required (will be offered by plant  seniority)
     to fill in or  relieve  other  departments  for one  hour or more at a time
     (except for  breaks),  will  receive pay based on that  department  pay (if
     higher rate).

H.   Those  employees  going  full-time  into a new department will after thirty
     (30) days (upon  management  approval as per D above)  receive top pay rate
     for that departmen


ARTICLE XXX:  MEDICAL INSURANCE

     Effective July 1, 1997, the company and the employee will share the cost of
medical and dental insurance on the basis as show below for full-time employees:


           Group                                 % Co. Covered

   Health Ins. - HMO Base
       Employee Only                         80% Employee Premium
      Employee + 1 Pty               80% Employee + 50% Dependent Premium
     Employee + Family               80% Employee + 50% Dependent Premium


      Dental Insurance
  Year 1/July 1, 1997 - 98
       Employee Only                         50% Employee Premium
           Spouse                                     0%
         Each Child                                   0%


                                       16
<PAGE>

  Year 2/July 1, 1998 - 99
       Employee Only                         50% Employee Premium
           Spouse                            50% Dependent Benefit
         Each Child                          50% Dependent Benefit

Year 3 (July 1, 1999 - 2000)
       Same as Year 2


     .  However,  this is a  voluntary  plan made  available  to the  individual
employee who desires it. (It is not compulsory).  Employee  responsibilities for
the policies are paid for on a weekly payroll  deduction plan based on insurance
carrier's rates. These contributions will be deducted prior to tax deductions so
as to reduce your taxable income under "Section 125" plan.

     In the event of a medical/surgical  disability which exceeds one week (five
consecutive  working days)  verified with a physician's  authorization  (drug or
emotional/mental  disabilities  not  included),  the  Company  will  pay up to a
maximum  of eight  (8) weeks  medical  insurance  premiums  per  calendar  year,
following a one (1) week waiting  period.  Any illness or recovery  period which
lasts beyond eight (8) weeks, the medical insurance premiums will continue to be
paid by the company,  but will be reimbursed by the employee once they return to
work through weekly payroll deductions


ARTICLE XXXI:  B & F UNION EMPLOYEE COMMITTEE

     The company  recognizes the B & F Medical  Employees  Committee as the sole
collective  bargaining  agent for the  purpose  of  collective  bargaining  with
respect to wage rates,  hours of  employment,  and other terms and conditions of
employment under this Agreement.

     All present  employees  who are members of the  Employee  Committee  of the
effective  date  of the  Agreement,  shall  remain  members  of  the  Employee's
Committee in good standing as a condition of employment. All full-time employees
who are hired  hereinafter  shall become and remain  members in good standing of
the aforesaid  Employee  Committee as a condition of employment on and after the
thirty-first  (31st) calendar day,  following the beginning of their employment,
or on and after the  thirty-first  (31st)  calendar day  following the effective
date of the  Agreement,  whichever  is the later.  The failure of any  full-time
employee to become a member of the  Employee  Committee at such  required  times
shall  obligate  the  company to  discharge  such  employee;  the failure of any
employee to maintain  his  Employee  Committee  membership  in good  standing as
required herein shall obligate the company to discharge such employee.

     All meetings and  negotiations  between the company and the Committee shall
begin one-half (1/2) hour before the regular scheduled employee's quitting time.
Any  member(s)  of  the   Committee   required  to  miss  work  to  attend  such
aforementioned meetings,  negotiations, or arbitrations shall be compensated for
all regular time lost for the purpose of attending such specifically  designated
Committee business.

                                       17
<PAGE>

ARTICLE XXXII:  PAY RAISE SCHEDULE

                            July       Jan 1     July 1    July 1
Department                  1997       1998      1998      1999
- -------------------------   ------     ------    ------    ------
Assembly I and II Dept.     $7.28      $7.33     $7.55     $7.75
Injection Mold Dept.        $7.83      $7.88     $8.10     $8.30
Warehouse Dept.             $8.63      $8.68     $8.90     $9.10
Janitorial Dept.            $7.28      $7.33     $7.55     $7.75
Quality Control Dept.       $7.83      $7.88     $8.10     $8.30
Repair Dept.                $8.63      $8.68     $8.90     $9.10

When in-house Quality training is completed by Q/C personnel,  they will receive
an additional 20 cents per hour/anticipated completion date January 1, 1998.

     Second Shift  employees  receive 20 cents/hour  shift premium to the above.
     Third Shift employees receive 25 cents/hour shift premium to the above.

     For part time  employees  being  promoted  to full  time they will  receive
     full-time  department  pay upon  completion  of thirty  (30) day  probation
     period.

     The Company agrees not to negotiate with  individual  Committee  members in
violation of the National Labor  Relations Act nor to grant any bargaining  unit
employee  any increase not called for by the  collective  bargaining  agreement,
unless the B & F Employees Committee agrees otherwise.


ARTICLE XXXIII:  BIRTHDAYS

     Employees will be allowed to take their birthdays off without pay. They are
required to complete a Vacation Request Form forty-eight (48) hours prior to the
requested  time  off to  give  Management  sufficient  time to plan so as not to
halt/hinder  production.  Birthday  time  off will not be  counted  against  the
employee  for bonus or absentee  records,  but their actual birth date only (not
falling on week-ends) will be permitted under this plan.


ARTICLE XXXIV:  CONCLUSION

     The terms of this  Agreement  shall continue in full force and effect up to
and including July 1, 2000. Sixty days prior to July 1, 2000, the Agreement will
be open for negotiations  regarding  wages,  which shall include such matters as
benefits.

     This Agreement  shall continue in full force from year to year  thereafter,
except to re-open for the purpose of  negotiations on economics,  benefits,  and
the Employee Policy Manual, for the employee.

     We have attempted to describe in this booklet,  the employee's benefits and
policies as they  affect all  employees  of B & F Medical  Products,  Inc.  This
policy manual will be reviewed by the employees. They and the employer recognize
each other's rights and responsibilities. Said agreement shall

                                       18
<PAGE>

remain in full force and it is  understood  that  should  present or future laws
become wholly or partly in conflict with terms of this  Agreement,  the validity
of the  balance  shall in no way be  affected,  but shall be deemed  modified to
conform with the existing laws.


                             B&F EMPLOYEE COMMITTEE
                                    OFFICERS
                                                                           


/s/ Belinda Slaughter                           Belinda Slaughter
_____________________________________           President


/s/ Diane Orth                                  Diane Orth
_____________________________________           Vice President


/s/ Vense Segura                                Vense Segura
_____________________________________           Secretary


/s/ Heidi Dunbar                                Heidi Dunbar
_____________________________________           Treasurer

                                                                        

                                       19
<PAGE>

                                B&F Medical Division
                          ALLIED HEALTHCARE PRODUCTS INC.



/s/ Eugenia Guseila                             Eugenia Guseila
_____________________________________           General Manager


/s/ David Kowalski                              David Kowalski
_____________________________________           Vice President 
                                                Administration/Production


___________________     Date this Agreement was signed

June 16, 1997______     Date Ratified by Membership

                                       20
<PAGE>

                                 TABLE OF CONTENTS


Article:I               Purpose.........................................1
Article: II             Equal Employment Opportunities..................1
Article: III            General Employment Policy.......................1
Article:IV              Service Facilities..............................2
Article:V               Probationary Period.............................2
Article:VI              Management Rights...............................2
Article:VII             Rules and Regulations...........................3
Article:VIII            Part-Time Employment............................5
Article:IX              Temporary Employment............................5
Article:X               Seniority Service...............................5
Article:XI              Termination of Employment.......................6
Article:XII             Absence and/or Tardiness........................6
Article:XIII            Strikes and Lockout.............................8
Article:XIV             Grievance Procedure (open door policy)..........8
Article:XV              Leave of Absence/Family Medical Leave...........10
Article:XVI             Personnel Records...............................11
Article:XVII            Work Breaks.....................................11
Article:XVIII           Accidents - Health - Safety.....................11
Article:XIX             Dress Code and Personal Hygiene.................12
Article:XX              Work Hours and the Time Clock...................13
Article:XXI             Pay Day.........................................13
Article:XXII            Paid Holidays...................................14
Article:XXIII           Building Your Retirement........................15
Article:XXIV            Vacation Time Off with Pay......................15
Article:XXV             Sick Day Pay....................................15
Article:XXVI            Funeral Leave Policy............................16
Article:XXVII           Jury Duty...................................... 16
Article:XXVIII          Attendance Bonus................................16
Article:XXIX            Bidding on Jobs.................................17
Article:XXX             Medical Insurance...............................18
Article:XXXI            Employee Committee..............................19
Article:XXXII           Pay Raise Schedule..............................19
Article:XXXIII          Birthdays.......................................20
Article:XXIV            Conclusion......................................20
Acceptance of Agreement Signature Page..................................21



Allied's
life-saving
products
are utilized
to restore
health to
individuals
from generation
to generation.

Allied
Healthcare
Products, Inc.
1997 Annual
Report to
Shareholders


Allied [Logo]


Around the globe,
our products help
bring people back
to health.



                                       1
<PAGE> 

Corporate Profile


                         Allied Healthcare Products is a leading manufacturer of
                         medical gas construction equipment, respiratory therapy
                         and emergency medical equipment and home health care
                         products. The company's products are utilized in a wide
                         range of medical settings, including pre-hospital
                         emergency medical situations, hospital and sub-acute
                         treatment and home health care.

                         Allied's medical gas construction systems include
                         in-wall components for delivering medical gases
                         throughout the hospital; central pumps and compressors
                         for supplying vacuum and medical air; and headwalls,
                         which are pre-fabricated with piping and electrical
                         components to speed renovations and provide a
                         decorative look for patient rooms and intensive care
                         units.

                         Allied also offers a broad range of products used in
                         respiratory care, including large volume compressors;
                         adult, pediatric, infant and transport ventilators and
                         calibrators; humidifiers; monitoring systems; oxygen
                         concentrators; and nebulizers.

                         The company's emergency medical products include
                         respiratory and resuscitation products, trauma and
                         patient handling equipment and related items for
                         ambulance companies, fire departments and emergency
                         medical system volunteer organizations.

                         Allied's well respected brand names include
                         Chemetron(R), Gomco(R), Timeter(R), Oxequip(R), Life
                         Support Products(R), Bear Medical Systems(R), BiCore
                         Monitoring Systems(R), B&F/Schuco(R), Hospital
                         Systems(R)  and Omni-Tech Medical(R).


<TABLE>

Financial Highlights

<CAPTION>
                                                                                                      Five Year
(Dollars in thousands,                                                                                 Compound
except per share data)                                                   % Change                   Annual Rate
For years ended June 30,                       1997           1996    (1997-1996)           1992    (1997-1992)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                        <C>            <C>             <C>            <C>              <C>
OPERATING RESULTS
Net sales                                  $118,118       $120,123          (1.7)%       $58,603          19.2%
Income (loss) before income taxes            (5,949)         3,300        (280.3)         10,645            --
Net income (loss)                            (4,521)         1,827        (347.5)          5,451            --
Net income (loss) as a % of sales              (3.8)           1.5%           --             9.3%           --

FINANCIAL POSITION
Working capital                            $ 18,743       $ 38,030            --         $16,605            --
Total assets                                126,343        136,760            --          38,167            --
Total debt                                   46,932         52,882            --           2,297            --
Shareholders' equity                         59,365         63,886            --          27,921            --
Current ratio                                1.57:1         2.69:1            --          3.11:1            --

PER SHARE DATA
Net income (loss)                          $  (0.58)      $   0.25        (332.0)        $  0.76            --
Book value                                 $   7.61       $   8.19          (7.1)        $  3.57            --

</TABLE>

                                       2

<PAGE> 
                                                      1997 Annual Report   1

Letter to Shareholders

Management is
focused on bringing
our company back
to financial health.

Dear Shareholders:

Fiscal 1997 represented a period of great disappointment for Allied
Healthcare Products. Results were adversely impacted by cost and margin
pressures, a significant increase in interest expense, as well as disruptions
caused by a computer conversion and a 19-day work stoppage at the company's
St. Louis facility. However, the worst appears to be over and Allied looks
forward to a very different fiscal 1998.

Subsequent to year end, the company refinanced its debt through a new $46.0
million credit facility with Foothill Capital Corporation, a division of
Norwest Bank, and completed the placement of $5.0 million in subordinated
debt for a total financing of $51.0 million. The proceeds from the new
financing were used to repay the company's outstanding debt with its
previous

[PHOTO]


                                       3

<PAGE> 
2   1997 Annual Report         Letter to Shareholders (continued from page one)


bank group, as well as related fees and expenses, and provide additional
liquidity.

Allied's pace of business has improved, with new orders for fiscal 1997 up
4.3 percent over a year ago. The company's backlog reflects a strong mix of
higher margin products and strength in medical gas construction, medical gas
equipment and ventilation products.

The company received FDA clearance for its Bear Cub(R) 750 ventilator,
which is now available in the U.S. market. Allied's international business
remains strong, and now accounts for 29 percent of total revenues.
Additionally, Allied's new office in Beijing will enable the company to
serve a growing customer base in an important region of the world.


[PHOTO]

The BEAR CUB(R) 750 infant ventilator offers integrated synchrony and volume
monitoring, dual flow capability, an internal battery and a graphics package.


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


1. Improving
         Costs and Margins

The health care environment is quite different today due to a variety of
factors, including limits on Medicare reimbursements, consolidation of
hospitals and changes in product mix. Within these constraints, management is
continuing to review each of its major product lines and taking
appropriate action to help improve margins. These actions include analyzing
discount schedules and overall product pricing, capital expenditure projects
to improve efficiency, and changes in plant design and layout. Management
expects to realize premium pricing as a result of its ongoing efforts to
improve products, customer service and the ability to offer same-day
shipping of key products.

Allied's outside sales force has been consolidated, with a reduction in
fiscal 1997 to 66 from 79 employees. These actions, coupled with a greater
reliance on distributors, are expected to provide Allied with better sales
coverage at lower fixed costs. The company's new financing has already had a
positive impact by lowering interest costs, with better asset turnover
generating further reductions. Management is continuing to examine all line
item expenses and looks forward to further opportunities to reduce costs and
improve margins.


                                       4

<PAGE> 
                                                      1997 Annual Report   3


Despite a difficult operating environment, Allied made investments in capital
improvements to modernize its St. Louis and Toledo facilities, converted to a
new MIS system at its St. Louis facility and consolidated the company's field
sales force. The outside sales force for ventilation products was combined
with the company's traditional hospital products sales force. The company's
home care sales efforts were strengthened by placing more emphasis on
telemarketing and the use of manufacturers' representatives.

These initiatives, combined with the completion of the new credit facility,
will enable Allied to focus more attention on improving operations and
returning the company to profitability.


[PHOTO]

Allied's sales efforts are supported by a network of dealers, agents and U.S.
exporters who distribute products throughout the world -- including the
United States, Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, Europe, the
Middle East and the Far East.



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


2.    Managing
         Assets


Improving the management of assets is essential to Allied's return to
profitability. At June 30, 1997, the company's accounts receivable and
inventory balances were $23.1 million and $26.1 million, respectively --
representing two of Allied's largest assets.

Receivables outstanding improved from the prior year. The company's focus on
improving collection of accounts receivables and days sales outstanding is
attributable to initiatives implemented during fiscal 1997. These initiatives
included:

*     Increased discipline in credit approval, enforcement of international
      letters of credit and other security documentation, and
      improvements in communications with delinquent accounts;

*     Consolidation of credit and collection efforts for the home care and
      construction market, which provides important administrative
      synergies and increases the frequency of customer contacts; and

*     Upgrading the credit and collection department through the addition of
      professional credit analysts.

Improvements in inventory management during fiscal 1997 benefited from:

*     Better coordination of operations through upgraded information
      technologies, including planning, shop floor tracking and work
      order completion;

*     Investments in plant modernization at the company's St. Louis and
      Toledo facilities, which have shortened production cycle times
      and improved quality;

*     A focus on improved forecasting of product mix, with an emphasis
      on producing and stocking those items which constitute 80 percent
      or more of total customer requirements; and

*     An inventory reduction of low volume products.



                                       5

<PAGE> 
4   1997 Annual Report       Letter to Shareholders (continued from page three)


During fiscal 1997, Allied continued efforts initiated in the prior fiscal
year to strengthen the company's management team, while developing strategic
programs to return the company to respectable levels of performance.

In November 1996, Uma Nandan Aggarwal joined Allied as president and chief
executive officer, with a commitment to improve operations, develop new
technologies and products, and strengthen the company's overall marketing
efforts. David Grabowski, previously vice president, international, was
promoted to the position of vice president, sales and marketing.


[PHOTO]

The Gomco(R) Portable Aspirator offers health care professionals
the ability to perform suctioning requirements in a variety of settings,
including emergency, acute care, sub-acute care and home care.


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

3.    Upgrading
         Service


Today's competitive health care environment involves managing a variety of
related activities, including a commitment to customer service, a focus on
sales and marketing, an emphasis on production efficiency, FDA compliance
and new product development.

Allied's commitment to quality is well recognized throughout the health care
industry, with products offering high performance standards. The company is
currently working to achieve ISO 9001 certification at its St. Louis
operation in the near future. ISO 9001 certification is a general
manufacturing quality standard established by the European Community, and EN
46001 is the specific quality standard required for medical device
manufacturers selling products in Europe. The European Community is in the
process of requiring all medical device manufacturers to comply with uniform
quality standards by 1998. Allied intends to meet or exceed these
requirements for all of the company's products.

In 1995 Bear Medical Systems(R), Inc. was granted both ISO 9001 and EN 46001
certifications from the National Standards Association of Ireland. It is
believed that Bear Medical was the first U.S. ventilator manufacturer to
receive both certifications.

Customer satisfaction requires a commitment to after-sales service support,
staffed by cross-trained representatives who are responsive and technically
knowledgeable about a variety of products. In addition, Allied employs a
network of dealers to service customers, along with field service personnel,
in-house repair and technical support capabilities.

In today's medical environment, hospitals have greatly reduced their
inventories, placing increased pressure on manufacturers to deliver products
in shorter periods of time. The company's forecasting system has been updated
to better satisfy customer orders with off-the-shelf availability of
key products.



                                       6

<PAGE> 
                                                      1997 Annual Report   5


Subsequent to year end, John Weil, president of St. Louis-based Clayton
Management Company, was appointed to the company's board of directors,
increasing the board to nine members. His financial background and experience
serving on the boards of several other publicly traded companies will be a
valuable addition as management continues to improve operations and return
Allied to profitability.

Financial Position

Net sales for fiscal year 1997 were $118.1 million compared with $120.1
million in the prior year. For the 12-month period, Allied reported a net
loss of $4.5 million, or $0.58 per share, compared with net income of $1.8
million, or $0.25 per share, in the prior year.


[PHOTO]

The Chemetron(R) and Timeter(R) flowmeters have been redesigned to more
effectively utilize space with the metering knob located in the front.


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


4.    Product
         Enhancement

Customers worldwide have come to expect high quality products from Allied,
supported by innovative and aggressive product development programs. As part
of this effort, during fiscal 1997, the company introduced a new Mini
Vacutron,(R) the first in a series of suction regulators to be offered in a
reduced size, with enhanced durability and readability.

Other product enhancements in fiscal 1997 included:

*     A Hybrid Flowmeter redesigned with front controls for better space
      utilization and an extended warranty;

*     OptiVac(TM) by Gomco(R), featuring both AC and DC operation for
      easier portability; and

*     A patented medical gas Connect II(TM) Outlet, which combines the
      outlet configurations of the market leaders -- Chemetron(R) and
      competitive gas outlets.


                                       7

<PAGE> 
6   1997 Annual Report        Letter to Shareholders (continued from page five)


Positioning for Tomorrow

Management is continuing its efforts to improve operational efficiencies,
implement plans to reduce costs and focus on enhancing results throughout the
organization.

In summary, fiscal 1997 constituted a year of transition for the company
with a focus that included:


*   Resolving the company's financial situation with its former lenders and
    establishing a new foundation with Foothill Capital Corporation;

*   Reducing manufacturing costs through plant modernization at two primary
    facilities;

*   Reducing selling costs through sales force consolidation;


[PHOTO]


The new Mini Vacutron(R) has been greatly reduced in size for better space
utilization in acute care and non-acute care facilities.

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


4.    Product   (continued from page five)
         Enhancement

Allied expects to introduce several additional new and enhanced products in
fiscal 1998, encompassing the company's entire market spectrum   including
hospital construction, respiratory therapy, emergency medicine and home
health care. Products expected to be introduced in the near future include:

*     The RespiCal(TM) calibration analyzer, a new version of the Timeter(R)
      RT-200;

[PHOTO]

Building on the RT200's time- tested ability, the RespiCal(TM) Calibration
Analyzer delivers expanded capabilities, greater flexibility and easier
operation.



*     The Life Support Product's(R) Rhino Pressure Regulator, featuring an
      innovative patent-pending protective aluminum shroud which is shock
      resistant and designed to prevent gauge damage and contamination;

*     Streamlined modular trauma packs, featuring a variety of styles to
      transport critical equipment tools to emergency care situations; and

[PHOTO]

The new LSP Rhino Pressure Regulator features a patent-pending aluminum
shroud designed to prevent gauge
damage and contamination.


                                       8

<PAGE> 
                                                      1997 Annual Report   7


*   Improving the use of working capital and reducing total debt by $6.0
      million; and

*   Enhancing domestic and international distribution.

On behalf of all the employees at Allied Healthcare Products, we appreciate
your support during this difficult period and look forward to positive
changes in fiscal 1998.

Sincerely,


/s/ Uma Nandan Aggarwal                   /s/ Dennis W. Sheehan

Uma Nandan Aggarwal                       Dennis W. Sheehan

President and Chief Executive Officer     Chairman


[PHOTO]

The Connect II(TM) medical gas outlet station incorporates a patented
design to accept both Chemetron(R) and competitive adapters -- a distinct
advantage in hospital settings, eliminating the need to stock both adapter
styles.


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

[PHOTO]

Our trauma bags are designed to allow immediate access to critical
components in the treatment of injured patients during emergency
situations.



*     Newly designed suction canisters used throughout the hospital setting
      to collect secretions and fluids during surgery and post-operative
      care -- utilizing a snap-on lid for ease of assembly, a self-sealing
      filter for overflow protection and a variety of ports to support
      special procedures.


[PHOTO]

Allied's new collection canister is scheduled for release in the second
quarter of fiscal 1998, incorporating a redesigned snap-on lid for easy
assembly and a self-sealing filter for improved flow.


                                       9
<PAGE> 
8   1997 Annual Report

Corporate Information


Directors

Dennis W. Sheehan
Chairman of the Board
      Allied Healthcare Products, Inc.
      St. Louis, Missouri
Chairman, President and
Chief Executive Officer
      AXIA Incorporated, Lombard, Illinois

Uma Nandan Aggarwal
President and Chief Executive Officer
      Allied Healthcare Products, Inc.
      St. Louis, Missouri

David A. Gee
President Emeritus
The Jewish Hospital
St. Louis, Missouri

Samuel A. Hamacher
Executive Vice President
Harbour Group Industries, Inc.
St. Louis, Missouri

James C. Janning
President
Harbour Group Ltd.
St. Louis, Missouri

Robert E. Lefton, Ph.D.
President and Chief Executive Officer
Psychological Associates
St. Louis, Missouri

Donald E. Nickelson
Vice Chairman
Harbour Group Industries, Inc.
St. Louis, Missouri

William A. Peck, M.D.
Vice Chancellor of Medical Affairs
Washington University
St. Louis, Missouri

John D. Weil
President
Clayton Management Company
St. Louis, Missouri

Officers

Uma Nandan Aggarwal
President and Chief Executive Officer

Barry F. Baker
Vice President, Finance and
Chief Financial Officer

David A. Grabowski
Vice President, Sales and Marketing

Gabriel S. Kohn
Vice President, Engineering

Annual Meeting
The Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Allied Healthcare Products, Inc. will
take place on Monday, November 17, 1997, at 10 a.m. Central Time, at The
Daniele Hotel, 216 N. Meramec, Clayton, Missouri 63105.

Transfer and Dividend Disbursing Agent
Chase Mellon Trust Company
St. Louis, Missouri

Independent Accountants
Price Waterhouse LLP
St. Louis, Missouri

Legal Counsel
Dickstein Shapiro Morin & Oshinsky LLP
Washington, D.C.

Investor Relations
Gary S. Maier, Managing Director
Pondel Parsons & Wilkinson
Los Angeles, California
(310) 207-9300

Common Stock Information
The common stock is traded on the Nasdaq National Market under the
symbol AHPI.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1997                                              High              Low
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                            <C>              <C>
September quarter                              $10 1/4          $ 6 1/4
December quarter                                 7 3/4            6 3/8
March quarter                                    9 1/4                7
June quarter                                     7 1/8            5 3/8

1996                                              High              Low
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------

September quarter                              $18 3/4          $15 1/4
December quarter                                19 1/2           15 1/2
March quarter                                   16 3/4           10 1/2
June quarter                                    13 1/4           8 7/16
</TABLE>

Allied Healthcare Products, Inc. began trading on the Nasdaq National Market
under the symbol AHPI on January 14, 1992, following its initial public
offering. As of September 18, 1997, there were 261 shareholders of record.



                                       10
<PAGE> 


Products


Medical Gas Construction Equipment
Gas Outlets
Digital Gas Alarms
Zone Valves
Medical Gas Manifolds
Ceiling Columns
Hose Assemblies
Medical Air Compressors
Vacuum Pumps
Air Dryers
Headwalls
Rail Systems
Patient Consoles
Neonatal Service Units
Light Fixtures


Respiratory Care Products
Critical Care Adult/Pediatric Ventilators
Critical Care Infant Ventilators
Transport Ventilators
Pulmonary Monitors
Humidifiers
Air Compressors
Tube Dryers
Calibration Analyzer
Flowmeters
Timers
Oxygen Regulators
Oxygen Cylinders
Spirometers
Mist Tents
Suction Regulators
Portable Suction Equipment
CO2 Absorbent
Disposable Cannulas
Disposable Masks
Disposable Tubing
Disposable Nebulizers
Disposable Circuits
Disposable Suction Canisters
Reusable Suction Canisters
Nebulizer Compressors
Breast Pumps
Adapters/Fittings


Emergency Products
Hand-Held Ventilators
Demand Valves
Portable Resuscitators
Aspirators
Immobilization Boards
Trauma Air Pants
Burn Kits
Disposable Bag Mask Resuscitators
Extrication Devices


Form 10-K
A copy of the annual report on
Form 10-K for the year ended
June 30, 1997, which was
submitted by Allied Healthcare
Products, Inc. to the Securities
and Exchange Commission,
is included within. Additional
copies can be obtained by any
shareholder of the company
at no charge upon request in
writing to:

Barry F. Baker
Vice President, Finance and
Chief Financial Officer
Allied Healthcare Products, Inc.
1720 Sublette Avenue
St. Louis, Missouri  63110
(314) 771-2400
fax (314) 771-0650






<PAGE>
                                       11
Allied [Logo]

Allied Healthcare Products, Inc.
1720 Sublette Avenue
St. Louis, Missouri  63110
(314) 771-2400
fax (314) 771-0650

                                       12
<PAGE>



                                  SUBSIDIARIES



Bear Medical Systems, Inc. (California)

1.  BiCore Monitoring Systems, Inc. (California)

2.  Bear Medical Systems AG - 50 shares outstanding of which Bear owns 47 shares

3.  Bear Medical Systems Foreign Sales Corporation (U.S. Virgin Island)

Hospital Systems, Inc. (California)

Life Support Products, Inc. (California)

B&F Medical Products, Inc. (Delaware)

Allied Healthcare Products Foreign Sales Corporation (Barbados)

Omni-Tech Medical, Inc. (Kansas)





                       Consent of Independent Accountants

     We hereby  consent to the  incorporation  by reference in the  Registration
Statements on Forms S-8 (No. 33-99960,  No. 33-86019, No. 33-45147, No. 33-45146
and No.  333-16489)  of Allied  Healthcare  Products,  Inc. of our report  dated
August 13, 1997  appearing in the 1997 Annual Report to  Shareholders  of Allied
Healthcare Products,  Inc. on Form 10-K (which report and consolidated financial
statements  are  included  herein).  We also  consent  to the  incorporation  by
reference of our report on the Financial  Statement  Schedule,  which appears on
page S-1 of this Form 10-K.



Price Waterhouse LLP


St. Louis, Missouri
September 25, 1997



                              POWER OF ATTORNEY



     KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that the person whose signature appears
below constitutes and appoints each of Uma N. Aggarwal and Barry F. Baker as his
true  and  lawful   attorney-in-fact   and  agent,   each  with  full  power  of
substitution,  for  him  and in his  name,  place  and  stead,  in any  and  all
capacities,  to sign the 1997  Annual  Report on Form 10-K of Allied  Healthcare
Products,  Inc.,  and to file the same  with all  exhibits  thereto,  and  other
documents in connection therewith,  with the Securities and Exchange Commission,
granting unto each said  attorney-in-fact  and agent full power and authority to
do and perform  each and every act and thing  requisite  as fully to all intents
and purposes as he might or could do in person, and ratifying and confirming all
that  said  attorney-in-fact  and agent or his  substitute  or  substitutes  may
lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.




                                       /s/ Donald E. Nickelson
                                       ____________________________________

                                       Donald E. Nickelson


Date:  August 15, 1997

<PAGE>

                              POWER OF ATTORNEY




     KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that the person whose signature appears
below constitutes and appoints each of Uma N. Aggarwal and Barry F. Baker as his
true  and  lawful   attorney-in-fact   and  agent,   each  with  full  power  of
substitution,  for  him  and in his  name,  place  and  stead,  in any  and  all
capacities,  to sign the 1997  Annual  Report on Form 10-K of Allied  Healthcare
Products,  Inc.,  and to file the same  with all  exhibits  thereto,  and  other
documents in connection therewith,  with the Securities and Exchange Commission,
granting unto each said  attorney-in-fact  and agent full power and authority to
do and perform  each and every act and thing  requisite  as fully to all intents
and purposes as he might or could do in person, and ratifying and confirming all
that  said  attorney-in-fact  and agent or his  substitute  or  substitutes  may
lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.




                                       /s/ David A. Gee
                                       ____________________________________
                                       David A. Gee



Date:  August 4, 1997

<PAGE>

                              POWER OF ATTORNEY



     KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that the person whose signature appears
below constitutes and appoints each of Uma N. Aggarwal and Barry F. Baker as his
true  and  lawful   attorney-in-fact   and  agent,   each  with  full  power  of
substitution,  for  him  and in his  name,  place  and  stead,  in any  and  all
capacities,  to sign the 1997  Annual  Report on Form 10-K of Allied  Healthcare
Products,  Inc.,  and to file the same  with all  exhibits  thereto,  and  other
documents in connection therewith,  with the Securities and Exchange Commission,
granting unto each said  attorney-in-fact  and agent full power and authority to
do and perform  each and every act and thing  requisite  as fully to all intents
and purposes as he might or could do in person, and ratifying and confirming all
that  said  attorney-in-fact  and agent or his  substitute  or  substitutes  may
lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.




                                       /s/ Samuel A. Hamacher
                                       ____________________________________
                                       Samuel A. Hamacher



Date: August 7, 1997


<PAGE>

                              POWER OF ATTORNEY




     KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that the person whose signature appears
below constitutes and appoints each of Uma N. Aggarwal and Barry F. Baker as his
true  and  lawful   attorney-in-fact   and  agent,   each  with  full  power  of
substitution,  for  him  and in his  name,  place  and  stead,  in any  and  all
capacities,  to sign the 1997  Annual  Report on Form 10-K of Allied  Healthcare
Products,  Inc.,  and to file the same  with all  exhibits  thereto,  and  other
documents in connection therewith,  with the Securities and Exchange Commission,
granting unto each said  attorney-in-fact  and agent full power and authority to
do and perform  each and every act and thing  requisite  as fully to all intents
and purposes as he might or could do in person, and ratifying and confirming all
that  said  attorney-in-fact  and agent or his  substitute  or  substitutes  may
lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.




                                       /s/ James C. Janning
                                       ____________________________________
                                       James C. Janning



Date:  August 7, 1997


<PAGE>

                              POWER OF ATTORNEY




     KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that the person whose signature appears
below constitutes and appoints each of Uma N. Aggarwal and Barry F. Baker as his
true  and  lawful   attorney-in-fact   and  agent,   each  with  full  power  of
substitution,  for  him  and in his  name,  place  and  stead,  in any  and  all
capacities,  to sign the 1997  Annual  Report on Form 10-K of Allied  Healthcare
Products,  Inc.,  and to file the same  with all  exhibits  thereto,  and  other
documents in connection therewith,  with the Securities and Exchange Commission,
granting unto each said  attorney-in-fact  and agent full power and authority to
do and perform  each and every act and thing  requisite  as fully to all intents
and purposes as he might or could do in person, and ratifying and confirming all
that  said  attorney-in-fact  and agent or his  substitute  or  substitutes  may
lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.




                                       /s/ Dennis W. Sheehan
                                       ____________________________________
                                       Dennis W. Sheehan



Date:  August 4, 1997


<PAGE>

                              POWER OF ATTORNEY




     KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that the person whose signature appears
below constitutes and appoints each of Uma N. Aggarwal and Barry F. Baker as his
true  and  lawful   attorney-in-fact   and  agent,   each  with  full  power  of
substitution,  for  him  and in his  name,  place  and  stead,  in any  and  all
capacities,  to sign the 1997  Annual  Report on Form 10-K of Allied  Healthcare
Products,  Inc.,  and to file the same  with all  exhibits  thereto,  and  other
documents in connection therewith,  with the Securities and Exchange Commission,
granting unto each said  attorney-in-fact  and agent full power and authority to
do and perform  each and every act and thing  requisite  as fully to all intents
and purposes as he might or could do in person, and ratifying and confirming all
that  said  attorney-in-fact  and agent or his  substitute  or  substitutes  may
lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.




                                       /s/ Robert E. Lefton
                                       ____________________________________
                                       Robert E. Lefton



Date:  August 6, 1997


<PAGE>

                              POWER OF ATTORNEY

     KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that the person whose signature appears
below constitutes and appoints each of Uma N. Aggarwal and Barry F. Baker as his
true  and  lawful   attorney-in-fact   and  agent,   each  with  full  power  of
substitution,  for  him  and in his  name,  place  and  stead,  in any  and  all
capacities,  to sign the 1997  Annual  Report on Form 10-K of Allied  Healthcare
Products,  Inc.,  and to file the same  with all  exhibits  thereto,  and  other
documents in connection therewith,  with the Securities and Exchange Commission,
granting unto each said  attorney-in-fact  and agent full power and authority to
do and perform  each and every act and thing  requisite  as fully to all intents
and purposes as he might or could do in person, and ratifying and confirming all
that  said  attorney-in-fact  and agent or his  substitute  or  substitutes  may
lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.




                                        /s/ William A. Peck
                                       ____________________________________
                                       William A. Peck


Date:  August 2, 1997


<PAGE>

                              POWER OF ATTORNEY




     KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that the person whose signature appears
below constitutes and appoints each of Uma N. Aggarwal and Barry F. Baker as his
true  and  lawful   attorney-in-fact   and  agent,   each  with  full  power  of
substitution,  for  him  and in his  name,  place  and  stead,  in any  and  all
capacities,  to sign the 1997  Annual  Report on Form 10-K of Allied  Healthcare
Products,  Inc.,  and to file the same  with all  exhibits  thereto,  and  other
documents in connection therewith,  with the Securities and Exchange Commission,
granting unto each said  attorney-in-fact  and agent full power and authority to
do and perform  each and every act and thing  requisite  as fully to all intents
and purposes as he might or could do in person, and ratifying and confirming all
that  said  attorney-in-fact  and agent or his  substitute  or  substitutes  may
lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.




                                       /s/ Uma N. Aggarwal
                                       ___________________________________
                                       Uma N. Aggarwal




Date:  August 19, 1997






<PAGE>






                              POWER OF ATTORNEY




     KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that the person whose signature appears
below constitutes and appoints each of Uma N. Aggarwal and Barry F. Baker as his
true  and  lawful   attorney-in-fact   and  agent,   each  with  full  power  of
substitution,  for  him  and in his  name,  place  and  stead,  in any  and  all
capacities,  to sign the 1997  Annual  Report on Form 10-K of Allied  Healthcare
Products,  Inc.,  and to file the same  with all  exhibits  thereto,  and  other
documents in connection therewith,  with the Securities and Exchange Commission,
granting unto each said  attorney-in-fact  and agent full power and authority to
do and perform  each and every act and thing  requisite  as fully to all intents
and purposes as he might or could do in person, and ratifying and confirming all
that  said  attorney-in-fact  and agent or his  substitute  or  substitutes  may
lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.




                                        /s/ John D. Weil
                                       ___________________________________
                                       John D. Weil





Date:  September 25, 1997




<TABLE> <S> <C>


<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
     (Replace this text with the legend)
</LEGEND>
<CIK>                         874710
<NAME>                        re#br3cs
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000
<CURRENCY>                              U.S. dollars
       
<S>                                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                  3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                        JUN-30-1997
<PERIOD-START>                           APR-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                             JUN-30-1997
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                    1
<CASH>                                           988
<SECURITIES>                                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                                 24,318
<ALLOWANCES>                                   1,225
<INVENTORY>                                   26,053
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                              51,679
<PP&E>                                        26,421
<DEPRECIATION>                                 5,572
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               126,343  
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                         32,937
<BONDS>                                       34,041
                              0
                                        0
<COMMON>                                         101
<OTHER-SE>                                    59,264
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 126,343
<SALES>                                       30,129
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                              30,129
<CGS>                                         22,066
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                 22,066
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               9,215
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                   0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             3,350
<INCOME-PRETAX>                               (4,502)
<INCOME-TAX>                                  (1,017)
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                           (3,485)
<DISCONTINUED>                                     0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                    0
<CHANGES>                                          0
<NET-INCOME>                                  (3,485)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                  (0.45)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      0
        

</TABLE>


© 2022 IncJournal is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission