SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                     Washington, D.C. 20549

                            Form 8-K




                         CURRENT REPORT




 Pursuant to Section 13 or 15 (d) of the Securities Exchange Act
 of 1934




                 Date of Report October 13, 1999




      (Date of earliest event reported: September 30, 1999)




                  ESCO ELECTRONICS CORPORATION

     (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)




                 Commission file number 1-10596





Missouri                                             43-1554045
(State or other jurisdiction of                (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)              Identification No.)

8888 Ladue Road, Suite 200                           63124-2090
St. Louis, Missouri                                  (Zip Code)
(Address of principal executive offices)







 Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (314) 213-7200



                  ESCO Electronics Corporation

Item 2. Acquisition or Disposition of Assets.

On August 23, 1999, ESCO Electronics Corporation (the "Company")
and Engineered Systems and Electronics, Inc. ("Buyer") signed the
Stock Purchase Agreement (the "Agreement") relating to the
purchase and sale of 100% of the outstanding common stock of
Systems & Electronics Inc. ("SEI"), an indirect, wholly-owned
subsidiary of the Company. The sale was subject to various
contingencies and regulatory approvals including, but not limited
to, Hart Scott Rodino approval.

On September 30, 1999, the Company announced that the
contingencies had been satisfied and removed and that it had
closed the sale of SEI to Buyer. The Company sold the stock of
SEI for $85 million in cash, net of working capital adjustments.
The price was arrived at through arms-length negotiations. The
Company was assisted in the transaction by an independent
financial advisor. SEI is a designer and manufacturer of defense
systems and electronics. Following this sale, the Company's
business going forward will be approximately ninety percent
commercial.



Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(b) Pro forma financial information.

The following unaudited pro forma consolidated statements of
operations for the year ended September 30, 1998 and the nine
months ended June 30, 1999 present the Company's results of
operations as adjusted to give effect to the divestiture of SEI
as if it occurred September 30, 1997. The accompanying unaudited
pro forma consolidated balance sheet as of June 30, 1999 presents
the Company's financial position as if the divestiture occurred
on June 30, 1999. The unaudited pro forma consolidated balance
sheet as of June 30, 1999 reflects the elimination of the net
assets of SEI, the elimination of all intercompany accounts, the
inclusion of the net proceeds from the sale in cash and cash
equivalents, and the estimated gain on the sale in retained
earnings. The estimated gain on the sale of SEI may change upon
final determination and settlement of post-closing adjustments.

The unaudited pro forma financial statements should be read in
conjunction with the Company's consolidated financial statements
and notes thereto previously filed as part of the Company's most
recent annual and quarterly reports on Forms 10-K and 10-Q for
periods ended September 30, 1998 and June 30, 1999, respectively.

The unaudited pro forma information below is provided for
information purposes only and is not necessarily indicative of
what the actual financial position or results of operations of
the Company would have been had the transaction actually occurred
on the dates indicated, nor does it purport to indicate the
future financial position or results of operations of the
Company. Results of operations for the nine months ended June 30,
1999 may not be indicative of results of operations to be
expected for a full year. The pro forma adjustments are based
upon available information and assumptions believed to be
reasonable in the circumstances. There can be no assurance that
such information and assumptions will not change from those
reflected in the pro forma financial statements and notes
thereto.



                  ESCO Electronics Corporation
    Unaudited Pro Forma Consolidated Statement of Operations
                  Year Ended September 30, 1998
        (Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)


                                    (a)
                                Elimination
                            ESCO     of    Pro forma     ESCO
                       Historical   SEI   Adjustments Pro forma

Net Sales                $365,083  139,882         0   $225,201

Cost and Expenses
 Cost of sales            267,332  106,188         0    161,144
 Other charges related to
  cost of sales             2,500    2,500         0          0
 Selling, general and
  administrative expenses  68,326   23,058     6,223 (b) 51,491
 Interest expense (income)  7,703      777    (6,926)(c)      0
 Other, net                 2,875      322         0      2,553
                          -------  -------   -------    -------
   Total costs and
    expenses              348,736  132,845      (703)   215,188
                          -------  -------   -------    -------
Earnings before
 income taxes              16,347    7,037       703     10,013

Income taxes                5,051    2,508       551 (d)  3,094
                          -------  -------   -------    -------

  Net earnings          $ 11,296     4,529       152   $  6,919
                         =======   =======   =======    =======
Earnings per share:
   Basic                $   0.94                       $   0.58
                         =======                        =======

   Diluted              $   0.90                       $   0.55
                         =======                        =======

Average common shares outstanding:
   Basic                  12,015                         12,015
                         =======                        =======

   Diluted                12,550                         12,550
                         =======                        =======

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial
statements.



                  ESCO Electronics Corporation
    Unaudited Pro Forma Consolidated Statement of Operations
                 Nine months ended June 30, 1999
        (Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)


                                    (a)
                                Elimination
                           ESCO      of    Pro forma     ESCO
                       Historical   SEI   Adjustments Pro forma

Net Sales                $298,385  119,555         0   $178,830

Cost and Expenses
 Cost of sales            222,504   94,690         0    127,814
 Selling, general and
  administrative expenses  54,748   16,345     3,674 (b) 42,077
 Interest expense (income)  5,151      435    (4,716)(c)      0
 Other, net                 4,179      209         0      3,970
                           ------- -------   -------    -------
   Total costs and
    expenses               286,582 111,679    (1,042)   173,861

Earnings before
 income taxes               11,803   7,876     1,042      4,969
Income taxes                 4,169   2,780       365(d)   1,754
                           ------- -------   -------    -------
Net earnings before
 accounting change        $  7,634   5,096       677   $  3,215
                           ======= =======   =======    =======
Earnings per share:
  Earnings before
   accounting change:

   Basic                  $   0.62                     $   0.26
                           =======                      =======

   Diluted                $   0.61                     $   0.26
                           =======                      =======

Average common
 shares outstanding:

   Basic                    12,318                       12,318
                           =======                      =======

   Diluted                  12,567                       12,567
                           =======                      =======

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial
statements.



                  ESCO Electronics Corporation
         Unaudited Pro Forma Consolidated Balance Sheet
                          June 30, 1999
        (Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)


                                    (a)
                                Elimination
                           ESCO      of    Pro forma     ESCO
                       Historical   SEI   Adjustments Pro forma

Cash and cash
 equivalents             $  5,493        0    2,657 (e) $  8,150
Accounts receivable, net   48,271   11,907     (527)(f)   35,837
Unbilled receivables       18,888   13,579        0        5,309
Inventories                61,399   17,413        0       43,986
Other current assets        3,650      902        0        2,748
                          -------  -------  -------      -------
   Total current assets   137,701   43,801    2,130       96,030
Property, plant and
 equipment, net            91,407   19,006        0       72,401
Goodwill                   70,277        0        0       70,277
Deferred tax assets        52,550        0        0       52,550
Other assets               23,383    1,400        0       21,983
                          -------  -------  -------      -------
                         $375,318   64,207    2,130     $313,241

Short-term
 borrowings/current
 maturities long-term
 debt                    $ 38,000        0  (38,000)(e) $      0
Accounts payable           35,081   15,607     (299)(f)   19,175
Advance payments on
 long-term contracts        7,286    5,472        0        1,814
Accrued expenses and other
 current liabilities       19,411    5,024        0       14,387
                          -------  -------  -------      -------
  Total current
   liabilities             99,778   26,103  (38,299)      35,376
Other liabilities          27,774   13,800        0       13,974
Long-term debt             43,981    2,138  (41,843)(e)        0
                          -------  -------  -------      -------
   Total liabilities      171,533   42,041  (80,142)      49,350
Commitments and
 contingencies               -        -        -            -
Shareholders' equity:
  Preferred stock, par value,
   $.01/share                -        -        -            -
  Common stock, par value,
   $.01/share                 128        1        1          128
  Additional paid-in
   capital                201,284  183,559  183,559 (g)  201,284
  Retained earnings
   (deficit)                9,902 (161,394)(101,288)(h)   70,008
  Cumulative foreign
   currency translation
   adjustment              (1,247)       0        0       (1,247)
  Minimum pension
   liability               (2,260)       0        0       (2,260)
                          -------  -------  -------      -------
   Subtotal               207,807   22,166   82,272      267,913
  Less treasury stock,
   at cost                 (4,022)       0        0       (4,022)
                          -------  -------  -------      -------
   Total shareholders'
    equity                203,785   22,166   82,272      263,891
                          -------  -------  -------      -------
                         $375,318   64,207    2,130     $313,241
                          =======  =======  =======      =======

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial
statements.



                  ESCO Electronics Corporation
 Notes To Unaudited Pro Forma Consolidated Financial Statements




Note (a):The elimination of operating results, assets sold to and
         liabilities assumed by ESSI reflect the terms of the
         Agreement.

Note (b):Represents certain ongoing corporate office cost alloc
         ations from the Company which were previously absorbed
         by SEI operations. These costs represent corporate
         office general and administrative expenses, and include
         certain domestic and international marketing expenses.

Note (c):Represents an adjustment of interest expense assuming
         the net cash proceeds were used to pay off all
         outstanding debt at the beginning of the periods
         presented.

Note (d):Represents the tax expense impact on the pro forma adj
         ustments. The effective tax rates for the periods
         presented were 30.9% for the fiscal year ended September
         30, 1998, and 35.3% for the nine months ended June 30,
         1999, consistent with ongoing operating results.

Note (e):Represents the net proceeds of the transaction after d
         educting estimated professional fees relating to the
         transaction, and after assumed repayment of all
         outstanding debt.

Note (f):Represents the elimination of SEI intercompany accounts
         with the Company.

Note (g):Represents the elimination of SEI's additional paid in
         capital.

Note (h):Represents the elimination of SEI's retained deficit (
         $158.4 million), net of the approximate gain of $60.1
         million as a result of the divestiture.The estimated gain
         may change upon final determination and settlement of
         post-closing adjustments and other divestiture related costs.



                  ESCO Electronics Corporation


(c)  Exhibits.

Exhibit No.              Exhibit Description

   2    Stock Purchase Agreement dated as of August 23, 1999, as
        amended September 23, 1999 and September 30, 1999, between
        Engineered Systems and Electronics, Inc., and ESCO Electronics
        Corporation and Defense Holding Corp. relating to the purchase
        and sale of 100% of the Common Stock of Systems & Electronics
        Inc.

        Certain schedules and attachments have been omitted
        due to immateriality. The Registrant agrees to
        furnish supplementary a copy of any omitted
        schedule or attachment to the Commission upon
        request.

                            SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements 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.

                              ESCO Electronics Corporation

                              By: Gary E. Muenster
                              Vice President and
                              Corporate Controller

Dated: October 13, 1999




                    STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT

                         by and between


            ENGINEERED SYSTEMS AND ELECTRONICS, INC.

                             Buyer,

                               and

                      DEFENSE HOLDING CORP.

                               and

                  ESCO ELECTRONICS CORPORATION,

                            Sellers,

                      Dated August 23, 1999







         Relating to the Sale of the Outstanding Shares
                               of
                   Systems & Electronics Inc.



                        TABLE OF CONTENTS

                                                             Page


ARTICLE I. DEFINITIONS                                          1
     1.1. Affiliate.                                            1
     1.2. Bid.                                                  1
     1.3. Code.                                                 1
     1.4. Comtrak Business.                                     1
     1.5. Emerson.                                              1
     1.6. Environmental Law.                                    1
     1.7. ESCO Retirement Plan.                                 2
     1.8. Estimates at Completion.                              2
     1.9. Field Offices.                                        2
     1.10. Government.                                          2
     1.11. Government Contract.                                 2
     1.12. HSR.                                                 2
     1.13. Income Taxes.                                        2
     1.14. Intellectual Property.                               2
     1.15. knowledge.                                           2
     1.16. Law.                                                 3
     1.17. Lien.                                                3
     1.18. Material Adverse Effect.                             3
     1.19. Party and Parties.                                   3
     1.20. Person.                                              3
     1.21. Spin-Off.                                            3
     1.22. Tax Returns.                                         3
     1.23. Taxes.                                               3
     1.24. Transferred Employee.                                3
     1.25. U.S. Government.                                     3
     1.26. Other Terms.                                         4

ARTICLE II. PURCHASE AND SALE                                   6
     2.1. The Shares.                                           6
     2.2. Purchase Price.                                       6
     2.3. Closing; Cooperation.                                 6
     2.4. Deliveries of Sellers at Closing.                     6
     2.5. Deliveries of Buyer at Closing.                       6
     2.6. Closing Financial Statements.                         7
     2.7. Settlement of Intercompany Transactions.              9
     2.8. 338(h)(10) Election.                                 10
     2.9. Excluded Assets; Excluded Liabilities.               10
     2.10. Additional Assets; Additional Liabilities.          12
     2.11. Employees.                                          12
     2.12. The Business.                                       13

ARTICLE III. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF SELLERS         13
     3.1. Authorization; Stock Ownership.                      13
     3.2. Capitalization and Related Matters.                  13
     3.3. Corporate Existence and Qualification.               14
     3.4. Financial Statements.                                14
     3.5. Property.                                            14
     3.6. Stock Record and Minute Books; Officers and
          Directors.                                           15
     3.7. Taxes.                                               15
     3.8. Accounts Receivable.                                 16
     3.9. Inventories.                                         16
     3.10. Absence of Certain Changes.                         16
     3.11. No Breach of Law or Governing Document.             17
     3.12. Litigation.                                         17
     3.13. Environmental Matters.                              18
     3.14. Contracts.                                          18
     3.15. Government Contracts.                               19
     3.16. Intellectual Property.                              22
     3.17. Labor Matters.                                      23
     3.18. Employee Benefit Matters.                           24
     3.19. Product Liability.                                  25
     3.20. Governmental Approvals and Filings.                 25
     3.21. Brokers, Finders.                                   25
     3.22. Certain Unlawful Practices                          25
     3.23. Bank Accounts                                       26
     3.24. Insurance                                           26
     3.25. Back Charges, Rebates, etc.                         26
     3.26. Quote Log.                                          26
     3.27. Sales Tax Refund Expenses.                          26
     3.28. Year 2000 Plan                                      26

ARTICLE IV. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF BUYER            27
     4.1. Authorization.                                       27
     4.2. Investment Representation.                           27
     4.3. Governmental Approvals and Filings.                  27
     4.4. Brokers, Finders.                                    27
     4.5. Financing.                                           27
     4.6. WARN Act.                                            28
     4.7. Investigation by Buyer.                              28

ARTICLE V. CONDITIONS TO BUYER'S OBLIGATIONS                   28
     5.1. Representations and Warranties.                      28
     5.2. Performance of Agreement.                            28
     5.3. Approvals.                                           28
     5.4. No Adverse Proceeding.                               28
     5.5. Certificate.                                         29
     5.6. Resignations.                                        29
     5.7. Opinion of Counsel for Sellers.                      29
     5.8. Good Standing Certificates.                          29
     5.9. Bank of America Financing                            29
     5.10. License.                                            29

ARTICLE VI. CONDITIONS TO SELLERS' OBLIGATIONS                 29
     6.1. Representations and Warranties.                      29
     6.2. Performance of Agreement.                            29
     6.3. Approvals.                                           30
     6.4. No Adverse Proceeding.                               30
     6.5. Certificate.                                         30
     6.6. Transition Services Agreement.                       30
     6.7. Government Contract Guarantees; LOCs/ Bonds.         30
     6.8. Emerson Guarantees.                                  31
     6.9. Opinion of Counsel for Buyer.                        31
     6.10. Good Standing Certificates.                         31

ARTICLE VII. ADDITIONAL COVENANTS OF THE PARTIES               31
     7.1. Conduct of Business Before Closing.                  31
     7.2. Access to Records.                                   31
     7.3. HSR Filing.                                          32
     7.4. Exon-Florio Amendment.                               33
     7.5. Public Announcements; Confidentiality.               33
     7.6. Further Assurances.                                  33
     7.7. Knowledge of Breach; Current Information.            34
     7.8. Tax Matters.                                         34
     7.9. Noncompetition; Nonsolicitation.                     36
     7.10. Excluded Assets and Excluded Liabilities.           37
     7.11. Intercompany Arrangements.                          38
     7.12. Other Seller Guarantees.                            39
     7.13. Plans; Employee Benefits.                           39
     7.14. Additional Emerson Guaranteed Contracts.            40
     7.15. Closing Out of Government Contracts.                40
     7.16. Audited Financial Statements of the Company.        40
     7.17. EMERLEC-30                                          41

ARTICLE VIII. INDEMNIFICATION                                  41
     8.1. Indemnification by Sellers.                          41
     8.2. Limitations on Liability of Sellers .                42
     8.3. Indemnification by Buyer.                            43
     8.4. Notice of Claim.                                     44
     8.5. Right to Contest Claims of Third Persons.            44
     8.6. Exclusive Remedy.                                    44

ARTICLE IX. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS                           45
     9.1. Termination of the Agreement.                        45
     9.2. Notice.                                              45
     9.3. Entire Agreement.                                    46
     9.4. Assignment; Binding Agreement.                       46
     9.5. Counterparts.                                        46
     9.6. Headings; Interpretation.                            46
     9.7. Expenses.                                            47
     9.8. Governing Law.                                       47
     9.9. Jurisdiction.                                        47
     9.10. Third Party Beneficiaries.                          47
     9.11. Amendments and Waivers.                             47

                    STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT

  This  Stock  Purchase  Agreement (the" Agreement")  is  entered
into as of August 23, 1999, by and between Engineered Systems and
Electronics, Inc.,
a   Missouri   corporation  ("Buyer"),   and   ESCO   Electronics
Corporation, a Missouri corporation ("ESCO"), and Defense Holding
Corp., a Delaware corporation ("DHC") (ESCO and DHC are sometimes
hereinafter collectively referred to as the "Sellers").
                            RECITALS

  A.  Buyer  desires to purchase from Sellers, on the  terms  and
conditions  set  forth  in this Agreement, one  thousand  (1,000)
shares  of  the  common  stock,  $1  par  value  per  share  (the
"Shares"),  of Systems & Electronics Inc., a Delaware corporation
("Company") which is a direct wholly-owned subsidiary of DHC  and
an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of ESCO; and
  B.  The  Shares  constitute all of the issued  and  outstanding
shares  of  common stock, $1 par value per share of the  Company;
and
  C.  Sellers desire to sell the Shares to Buyer on the terms and
conditions set forth in this Agreement; and
  D.  Certain  terms  used  herein have  the  meanings  given  in
Article I.
  NOW, THEREFORE, the Parties agree as follows:
                           ARTICLE I.
                           DEFINITIONS

  The  following  terms  used in this Agreement  shall  have  the
meanings given below:
   1.1.AFFILIATE.
  "Affiliate"  means,  with  respect to  any  Person,  any  other
Person  directly  or indirectly controlling,  controlled  by,  or
under  common  control with such Person; provided, however,  that
the Company shall not be considered to be an Affiliate of Sellers
unless expressly so provided.
   1.2.BID.
  "Bid"  means  any  written offer by the Company  in  connection
with  the  Business that, if accepted, would lead to a Government
Contract.
   1.3.CODE.
  "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
   1.4.COMTRAK BUSINESS.
  "Comtrak  Business"  means  the  business  carried  on  by  the
Comtrak  Division as of the Closing Date as described on Schedule
7.9(b).
   1.5. EMERSON.
  "Emerson"  means Emerson Electric Co., a Missouri  corporation,
which was the parent corporation of ESCO until the Spin-Off.
   1.6. ENVIRONMENTAL LAW.
  "Environmental  Law"  means  any  federal,  state,   or   local
statute,  rule, ordinance, code, license, permit,  regulation  or
order,  as  in  effect  on  the Closing  Date,  relating  to  the
protection of the environment or to the regulation of any  toxic,
radioactive,   ignitable,  corrosive,   reactive   or   otherwise
hazardous  substances,  materials,  contaminants,  pollutants  or
wastes  (including,  without  limitation,  asbestos,  PCB's   and
infectious substances).
   1.7. ESCO RETIREMENT PLAN.
  "ESCO  Retirement Plan" means ESCO's defined benefit plan which
includes  participants employed by ESCO, as well  as  several  of
ESCO's direct and indirect subsidiaries.
   1.8. ESTIMATES AT COMPLETION.
  "Estimates  at  Completion"  means  the  total  estimated  cost
incurred and to be incurred to perform the work required under  a
contract, including the cost of labor, material, related overhead
and  other  direct  costs but not including selling,  general  or
administrative expenses.
   1.9. FIELD OFFICES.
  "Field  Offices"  means the field offices  listed  on  Schedule
1.9.
   1.10. GOVERNMENT.
  "Government"  means  the United States  or  any  other  nation,
state,  or bilateral or multilateral governmental authority,  any
local  governmental unit or subdivision thereof, or  any  branch,
agency, or judicial body thereof.
   1.11. GOVERNMENT CONTRACT.
  "Government  Contract"  means any prime contract,  subcontract,
teaming  agreement or arrangement, joint venture, basic  ordering
agreement,  letter  contract,  purchase  order,  delivery  order,
change  order, or other arrangement of any kind in writing either
(a)  between Company in connection with the Business and  any  of
(i) the U.S. Government (acting on its own behalf or on behalf of
another  country or international organization), (ii)  any  prime
contractor  of  the  U.S. Government, or (iii) any  subcontractor
with  respect to any contract described in clauses  (i)  or  (ii)
above, or (b) financed by the U.S. Government in connection  with
the Business and subject to the rules and regulations of the U.S.
Government concerning procurement.
   1.12. HSR.
  "HSR"  means  the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements  Act
of 1976, as amended.
   1.13. INCOME TAXES.
  "Income  Taxes" means any foreign, federal, state or local  Tax
imposed on or measured by net income.
   1.14. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY.
  "Intellectual   Property"  means  all  of  the  following   (in
whatever  form or medium) which are owned by or licensed  to  the
Company  for use in connection with the Business, except for  the
Excluded  Assets:  (a)  patents, trademarks,  service  marks  and
copyrights, (b) applications for patents and for registration  of
trademarks,  service marks and copyrights, (c) trade secrets  and
trade  names, and (d) all other items of proprietary know-how  or
intellectual property.
   1.15. KNOWLEDGE.
    "knowledge"  means  actual  knowledge  (i.e.,  the  conscious
awareness  of  facts  or other information), or  belief,  without
undertaking  any  investigation, and not constructive  knowledge.
The  words  "know",  "knowing" and  "known"  shall  be  construed
accordingly.  In  the  case of the Sellers, knowledge  means  the
knowledge of the persons listed on Schedule 1.15.
   1.16. LAW.
  "Law"  means  any applicable statute, law, treaty,  convention,
ordinance,   decree,  order,  injunction,  rule,  directive,   or
regulation of any Government.
   1.17. LIEN.
  "Lien"  means  a  mortgage, deed of trust,  security  interest,
claim, restriction or other material encumbrance.
   1.18. MATERIAL ADVERSE EFFECT.
  "Material Adverse Effect" means any change in or effect on  the
Business  that is materially adverse to the condition  (financial
or  otherwise), business, properties, liabilities, or results  of
operations of the Business; provided that (a) changes that affect
the  defense industry generally, (b) changes in general  economic
conditions,  and  (c)  changes resulting  from  the  transactions
contemplated by this Agreement or the announcement thereof  shall
not be taken into account in determining whether there has been a
Material Adverse Effect.
   1.19. PARTY AND PARTIES.
  "Party"  means the Buyer or the Sellers, as the  case  may  be,
and "Parties" means the Buyer and the Sellers together.
   1.20. PERSON.
  "Person"  means  an individual, corporation, limited  liability
company,  partnership,  association, trust  or  other  entity  or
organization, including a Government or political subdivision  or
agency or instrumentality thereof.
   1.21. SPIN-OFF.
  "Spin-Off" means the distribution of the shares of ESCO to  the
shareholders of Emerson which occurred on October 19, 1990.
   1.22. TAX RETURNS.
  "Tax  Returns"  means any returns required  to  be  filed  with
Federal,  state or other applicable taxing authorities (including
foreign returns) in respect of any Taxes.
   1.23. TAXES.
  "Taxes"  means all taxes, charges, fees, levies, or other  like
assessments,  including without limitation, taxes on  intangibles
and  income,  capital  gain, gross receipts,  ad  valorem,  value
added, excise, real property, personal property, windfall profit,
sales,  use, transfer, license, withholding, employment,  payroll
and  franchise taxes imposed by any Government, and shall include
any  interest, fines, penalties, assessments, or additions to tax
resulting  from, attributable to, or incurred in connection  with
any such Taxes or any contest or dispute thereof.
   1.24. TRANSFERRED EMPLOYEE.
  "Transferred  Employee"  means (a)  all  active  employees  and
former  employees, including terminated employees,  employees  on
leave  or  disability,  retirees and laid-off  employees  of  the
Company  or  any  predecessor thereof, except  for  the  Excluded
Employees, and (b) the Additional Employees.
   1.25. U.S. GOVERNMENT.
  "U.S.  Government" means the United States Government  and  any
agencies, instrumentalities and departments thereof.
   1.26. OTHER TERMS.
  The  following terms shall have the meanings set forth  in  the
below-referenced sections of this Agreement:

Term                                         Defined In
"Accounting Principles"                      Section
                                             2.6(a)
"Additional Assets"                          Section
                                             2.10(a)
"Additional Employees"                       Section
                                             2.11(b)
"Agreement"                                  Paragraph 1
"Appraiser"                                  Section
                                             2.8(b)
"CAS"                                        Schedule
                                             7.13(b)
"CAS Actuarial Report"                       Schedule
                                             7.13(b)
"Arbiter"                                    Section
                                             2.6(b)
"Closing Earnings Statement"                 Section
                                             2.6(a)
"Bank Lien"                                  Section 3.1
                                             (b)
"Business"                                   Section 2.12
"Buyer"                                      Paragraph 1
"Buyer Indemnified Person"                   Section 8.1
"Buyer's Pension Plan"                       Schedule
                                             7.13(b)
"Cash Distribution Amount"                   Section
                                             2.7(a)
"Closing and Closing Date"                 Section 2.3
"Closing Financial Statements"               Section
                                             2.6(a)
"Closing Statement Period"                   Section
                                             2.6(a)
"Company"                                    Recitals
"Company's Assumption Agreement"             Section
                                             2.10(b)
"Comtrak Division"                           Section
                                             2.9(a)
"Confidentiality Agreement"                  Section
                                             7.5(b)
"Credit Agreement"                           Section
                                             3.1(b)
"days"                                       Section 9.6
"Deductible"                                 Section
                                             8.2(c)
"DHC"                                        Paragraph 1
"Effective Time"                             Section 2.3
"Emerson Guarantees"                         Section 6.8
"ESCO"                                       Paragraph 1
"ESCO Savings Plan"                          Section
                                             7.13(c)
"Excluded Assets"                            Section
                                             2.9(a)
"Excluded Employees"                         Section
                                             2.11(a)
"Excluded Liabilities"                       Section
                                             2.9(b)
"Exon-Florio Amendment"                      Section 4.3
"Field Office Assets"                        Section
                                             2.10(a)
"Field Office Liabilities"                   Section
                                             2.10(b)
"Financial Statements"                       Section
                                             3.4(a)
"Government Contract Guarantees"             Section
                                             6.7(a)
"Indemnified Party"                          Section 8.4
"Indemnifying Party"                         Section 8.4
"Intercompany Purchase Orders"               Section 7.11
"know", "knowing" and "known"                Section 1.15
"LOCs/Bonds"                                 Section
                                             6.7(b)
"Material Contracts"                         Section
                                             3.14(a)
"NID(s)"                                     Section 7.4
"Notice of Dispute"                          Section
                                             2.6(b)
"June 30, 1999 Balance Sheet"                Section
                                             3.4(a)
"June 30, 1999 Balance Sheet Date"           Section
                                             3.5(a)
"June 30, 1999 Financial Statements"         Section
                                             3.4(a)
"Offset Obligations"                         Section
                                             3.14(c)
"Other Seller Guarantees"                    Section 7.12
"Plan" and "Plans"                           Section
                                             3.18(a)
"Plan Assets"                                Section
                                             2.10(a)
"Plan Liabilities"                           Section
                                             2.10(b)
"Pre-Closing Tax Period"                     Section
                                             7.8(b)
"Purchase Price"                             Section 2.2
"Restricted Business"                        Section
                                             7.9(a)
"Section 338(h)(10) Election"                Section
                                             2.8(a)
"Sellers"                                    Paragraph 1
"Seller Group"                               Section
                                             7.8(a)
"Seller Indemnified Persons"                 Section 8.3
"Sellers' Assumption Agreement"              Section
                                             2.9(b)
"Shares"                                     Recitals
"Tax Asset"                                  Section
                                             7.8(a)
"Terminating Party"                          Section 9.1
"Third Person"                               Section 8.5
"Third-Person Claim"                         Section 8.5
"Transfer Taxes"                             Section
                                             7.8(j)
"Transferred Amount"                         Schedule
                                             7.13(b)
"Transition Services Agreement"              Section
                                             6.6(a)
"Winter Springs, Florida Property"           Schedule
                                             2.9(a)(i)

                           ARTICLE II.
                        PURCHASE AND SALE

   2.1.THE SHARES.
  On  the  terms and subject to the conditions set forth in  this
Agreement, at Closing, Sellers shall sell and deliver the  Shares
to  Buyer  and  Buyer shall purchase and accept the  Shares  from
Sellers.
   2.2.PURCHASE PRICE.
  The  purchase  price  for the Shares and the  other  rights  of
Buyer   hereunder  shall  be  Eighty-Five  Million  U.S.  Dollars
($85,000,000) ("Purchase Price").
   2.3.CLOSING; COOPERATION.
  The   consummation  of  the  transactions  contemplated  hereby
("Closing")  shall take place at the offices of Bryan  Cave  LLP,
211  North Broadway, St. Louis, Missouri 63102, or at such  other
place as the Parties may mutually agree.  The Closing shall be on
September 30, 1999, subject to postponement by either the Sellers
or  the Buyer, upon at least five business days advance notice to
the  other Party, to a date not later than October 31, 1999  (the
date  on which the Closing occurs, being hereinafter the "Closing
Date"); provided that,
  (a)unless   otherwise  agreed  by  the  Buyer,  the  conditions
specified  in  Article V shall have been satisfied by  such  date
(other than conditions intended to be fulfilled by actions  taken
at Closing),
  (b)unless  otherwise  agreed  by the  Sellers,  the  conditions
specified  in Article VI shall have been satisfied by  such  date
(other than conditions intended to be fulfilled by actions  taken
at Closing), and
  (c)this  Agreement has not been terminated pursuant to  Section
9.1.
The  Closing  shall be effective as of close of business  on  the
Closing  Date  ("Effective Time").  Subject to the provisions  of
Section 9.1, failure to effect the Closing on a scheduled Closing
Date  will  not  result in the termination of this Agreement  and
will   not  relieve  any  Party  of  any  obligation  under  this
Agreement.
   2.4.DELIVERIES OF SELLERS AT CLOSING.
  Subject   to   the   conditions  to  Sellers'  obligations   in
Article  VI, at Closing, Sellers shall deliver to Buyer or  cause
to be delivered to Buyer:
  (a)a  certificate or certificates evidencing the  Shares,  duly
endorsed  for transfer to Buyer or accompanied by a  stock  power
duly executed in blank, and
  (b)all  of the certificates, resignations, documents and  other
instruments set forth in Article V hereof.
   2.5.DELIVERIES OF BUYER AT CLOSING.
  Subject to the conditions to Buyer's obligations in Article  V,
at Closing, Buyer shall
  (a)pay  the Purchase Price to the Sellers, by wire transfer  of
immediately-available funds to an account, which account shall be
designated  by  Sellers not later than the  second  business  day
preceding the Closing Date, and
      (b)    deliver  to  the  Sellers all of  the  certificates,
   documents  and  other  instruments set  forth  in  Article  VI
   hereof,  including, without limitation, evidence, satisfactory
   to  the Sellers of the guarantees, letters of credit and bonds
   provided  by  Buyer  and  accepted  in  replacement   of   the
   Government   Contract  Guarantees,  LOCs/Bonds   and   Emerson
   Guarantees.
   2.6.CLOSING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
  (a)As  promptly as practicable following the Closing Date,  but
in  no  event later than 60 days after the Closing Date,  Sellers
shall prepare and submit to Buyer a statement of earnings of  the
Company  (the  "Closing  Earnings  Statement")  for  the   period
beginning on October 1, 1998 and ending as of the Effective  Time
(such period, hereinafter the "Closing Statement Period") and the
related  balance sheet dated the Closing Date (collectively,  the
"Closing Financial Statements") in accordance with the provisions
of  this  Section.   The Closing Financial  Statements  shall  be
prepared   in  accordance  with  generally  accepted   accounting
principles (the "Accounting Principles"), provided further,  that
the following shall apply:
         (i)   [Reserved]
         (ii)    the  Closing  Financial  Statements  shall   not
      include  the  Excluded Assets or Excluded  Liabilities  but
      shall  include the Field Office Assets and the Field Office
      Liabilities; provided, however, that the exclusion of  such
      items   shall  have  no  impact  on  the  Closing  Earnings
      Statement and instead shall be taken directly to equity  on
      the  balance  sheet  (likewise, if a  sale  of  the  Winter
      Springs,  Florida  Property  shall  occur  prior   to   the
      Effective  Time,  any gain or loss on  the  sale  will  not
      affect the Closing Earnings Statement);
         (iii)   the  Closing  Financial  Statements  shall   not
      reflect  as  a  liability or asset any Taxes arising  as  a
      result   of  the  Section  338(h)(10)  Election;  provided,
      however,  that  the exclusion of such items shall  have  no
      impact on the Closing Earnings Statement and instead  shall
      be taken directly to equity on the balance sheet;
         (iv)  the Closing Financial Statements shall reflect  as
      a  liability  or asset only 40% of amounts related  to  the
      claim  for refund of Missouri sales/use taxes described  on
      Schedule  2.9(a)(iv); provided, however, that the exclusion
      of  such items shall have no impact on the Closing Earnings
      Statement and instead shall be taken directly to equity  on
      the balance sheet;
         (v)    despite  the  fact  that  the  Closing  Financial
      Statements  shall  be  dated as of the  Closing  Date,  the
      Closing  Financial  Statements  shall  be  based   on   the
      existing  accounting calendar cutoff dates of the  Company,
      permitting  cutoff  adjustments of a  few  days  consistent
      with past practices; and
         (vi)  [reserved]
         (vii)  exceptions  shall be made to  generally  accepted
      accounting   principles  in  order   to   accommodate   the
      Company's  practices  as reflected on  the  June  30,  1999
      Financial  Statements, and other agreed accounting  methods
      and  practices  shall  be  applied,  with  respect  to  the
      subject  matter  of  the accounting  principles  listed  on
      Schedule 2.6(a).
      (b)     After  the  submission  of  the  Closing  Financial
   Statements  to  Buyer as provided in Section  2.6(a),  Sellers
   shall  use  their  best  efforts  to  provide  Buyer  and  its
   representatives   with   reasonable  access   to   worksheets,
   schedules  and other working papers utilized in preparing  the
   Closing  Financial  Statements.  In  the  event  either  Party
   disputes  the Closing Financial Statements, such  Party  shall
   provide  written notice (a "Notice of Dispute") specifying  in
   reasonable detail all points of disagreement with the  Closing
   Financial  Statements to the other Party within 30 days  after
   receipt   of  the  Closing  Financial  Statements;   provided,
   however, that neither Party shall dispute, except as necessary
   to  correct  mathematical  errors or undisputed  omissions  of
   amounts  in the books and records of the Company, either:  (i)
   any  of the Estimates at Completion reflected on the Financial
   Statements; or (ii) any amounts with respect to real  property
   or  other fixed assets reflected on the balance sheet  (or  to
   the  estimated  useful lives of such assets),  except  to  the
   extent  required to reflect, in accordance with the Accounting
   Principles,  depreciation and amortization of such  assets  or
   additions  to  or disposals of such assets.  If neither  Party
   delivers  a Notice of Dispute within such 30-day period,  then
   the Closing Financial Statements as delivered by Sellers shall
   be  final for purposes of Section 2.7 hereof.  If either Party
   delivers a Notice of Dispute within such 30-day period,  Buyer
   and  Sellers  shall  endeavor in good  faith  to  resolve  all
   specified points of disagreement within 15 days of receipt  of
   the  Notice of Dispute.  If the dispute is not resolved within
   such  15-day  period,  either or both Parties  may  refer  the
   dispute  to  a partner in Arthur Andersen LLP (the "Arbiter"),
   as  arbitrator  to finally determine, as soon as  practicable,
   and  in  any  event  within 20 days after such  referral,  all
   points  of  disagreement with respect to the Closing Financial
   Statements.  The Arbiter shall resolve the issues  in  dispute
   but shall not otherwise address issues in the Closing Earnings
   Statement nor perform any audit thereof.  For purposes of such
   arbitration,   each  Party  shall  submit   proposed   Closing
   Financial  Statements to the Arbiter and to the  other  Party,
   accompanied  by  such additional information  explaining  such
   Party's   position  with  respect  to  the  Closing   Earnings
   Statement as it desires to submit.  Each Party shall,  at  the
   time of such submission, be free to revise positions they have
   maintained in prior drafts of the Closing Financial Statements
   and related discussion, but the Parties shall not be permitted
   to  further modify their proposed Closing Financial Statements
   once these are submitted to the Arbiter.  The Party initiating
   the  arbitration  shall  submit any revised  Closing  Earnings
   Statement no later than 5 days after such referral.  The  non-
   initiating  Party  shall have 10 days after such  referral  to
   submit  its  revised Closing Earnings Statement  in  response.
   The  Arbiter  shall apply the terms of this Section  2.6,  and
   shall  otherwise conduct the arbitration under such procedures
   as the Parties may agree or, failing such agreement, under the
   Commercial  Arbitration  Rules  of  the  American  Arbitration
   Association.  The fees and expenses of the arbitration and the
   Arbiter  incurred  in connection with the arbitration  of  the
   Closing  Earnings  Statement shall be  allocated  between  the
   Parties  by  the  Arbiter in proportion to the  extent  either
   Party  did  not prevail on the points of disagreement  in  the
   Closing Earnings Statement, such allocation to be based on the
   pro  rata  division  of the aggregate amounts  in  dispute  in
   connection  with such points of disagreement;  provided,  that
   such  fees and expenses shall not include, so long as a  Party
   complies  with the procedures of this Section 2.6,  the  other
   Party's    outside   counsel   or   accounting   fees.     All
   determinations  by the Arbiter shall be final, conclusive  and
   binding with respect to the Closing Earnings Statement and the
   allocation of arbitration fees and expenses.
  (c)Buyer  agrees, at its sole but reasonable cost and  expense,
to  cause the Company to fully cooperate with and assist Sellers'
in the preparation of the Closing Financial Statements and in the
conduct  of resolving any points of disagreement referred  to  in
Section 2.6(b), including without limitation, making available to
Sellers  to the extent requested all books, records, work  papers
and personnel, subject to the provisions of Section 7.2 hereof.
   2.7.SETTLEMENT OF INTERCOMPANY TRANSACTIONS.
  (a)Buyer   guarantees  that  Sellers  shall  receive   a   cash
distribution from the Company, for the Closing Statement  Period,
in  the amount of the lesser of Six Million Five-Hundred Thousand
U.S.  Dollars  ($6,500,000) or the net income  as  shown  on  the
Closing  Earnings Statement ("Cash Distribution  Amount").   Cash
which  has  been taken from the Company, or has been provided  to
the  Company, by Affiliates of the Company through the  mechanism
of  ESCO's cash pooling system, normally does not appear as cash,
but  instead appears as long term debt intercompany. If  the  net
funds  taken  by  Sellers  from the Company  during  the  Closing
Statement Period are less than the Cash Distribution Amount, then
also  a  cash  payment is to be made as provided  below.   As  an
example,  if the net income on the Closing Earnings Statement  is
at  least equal to $6,500,000, and long term debt intercompany on
the   Closing  Financial  Statements  had  a  debit  balance   of
$5,000,000, then the post-Closing payment to be made  to  Sellers
shall  be $1,500,000.  Likewise, if the net income on the Closing
Earnings Statement is $5,000,000, and long term debt intercompany
on  the  Closing  Financial Statements has  a  debit  balance  of
$5,000,000,  then  no  post-Closing payment  will  be  made  with
respect to the Cash Distribution Amount.  Furthermore, if Sellers
have   received  a  net  distribution  greater  than   the   Cash
Distribution Amount, the Sellers must pay the difference  to  the
Company  as  provided  below.  Thus, as an example,  if  the  net
income on the Closing Earnings Statement is $5,000,000, and  long
term debt intercompany on the Closing Financial Statements has  a
debit  balance  of  $7,000,000, then Sellers must  make  a  post-
Closing  payment of $2,000,000.  As a final example, if  the  net
income on the Closing Earnings Statement is $3,000,000, and  long
term debt intercompany on the Closing Financial Statements has  a
credit balance of $500,000, then the post-Closing payment  to  be
made  to  Sellers shall be $3,500,000.  All postings to the  long
term  debt  intercompany account from June 30, 1999  through  the
Effective Time will be on a basis consistent with past practices.
This  means, among other things, that where charges to be  posted
for  the period from June 30, 1999 through the Effective Time are
based on predetermined amounts or rates (including pension), such
charges will be continued in a manner consistent with those  used
prior to June 30, 1999.  Subsequent to July 31, 1999, there  will
be  no  charges to long term debt intercompany related to  Income
Taxes.  Further, subsequent to September 30, 1999, there will  be
no charges to long term debt intercompany related to ESL Limited;
  (b)For  each successive seven-day period following the Closing,
the  total  of  all checks of the Company issued by  the  Company
prior  to  the  Effective  Time, made payable  from  accounts  of
Affiliates of the Company, which clear such accounts during  such
seven-day period, shall be submitted in an invoice by Sellers  to
the  Company  for payment by the Company no later than  five  (5)
days  after submission of such invoice.  One hundred eighty (180)
days  after  Closing, Sellers shall cancel all such checks  which
remain  outstanding, and the Company will be responsible for  any
indebtedness  related thereto.  The Company shall be  liable  for
all  obligations in connection with such checks originally issued
on  accounts  of  Sellers and their Affiliates,  including  those
under  escheat laws, and shall hold Sellers harmless with respect
thereto;
  (c)The  Parties  shall  settle all  the  intercompany  accounts
receivable and payable balances which are comprised of sales  and
purchases of inventory items and/or services provided between the
Sellers and its Affiliates, including the Company (excluding long
term  debt  intercompany, the settlement of which  occurs  solely
under  Section 2.7(a)), reflected in the balance sheet  contained
in  the  Closing  Financial Statements, and the Party  owing  the
aggregate  net balance of such outstanding intercompany  accounts
as of the Closing Date shall pay to the other Party the amount of
such net balance; and
  (d)All  final payments required under paragraphs  (a)  and  (c)
above  shall be made within ten days of such time as the  Closing
Financial  Statements  have been finally determined  pursuant  to
Section 2.6(b) hereof.  The payment will be the net amount of the
aggregate  of  the final payments under paragraphs  (a)  and  (c)
above,  and such payment shall be made by delivery of a check  in
the amount of such net payment within the above-described ten-day
time period.
   2.8.338(h)(10) ELECTION.
  (a)Sellers  and  Buyer  shall  timely  file  a  joint  election
pursuant  to Section 338(h)(10) (a "Section 338(h)(10) Election")
of  the  Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended  (the  "Code")
(and  any comparable election under state, local, or foreign law)
with  respect to the sale of the Shares of the Company and  shall
timely  file  such  forms  and take such  other  actions  as  are
necessary  to  effectuate such election in accordance  with  said
Section 338(h)(10).
  (b)Buyer  and Sellers shall use their best efforts to  allocate
the  Purchase Price among the Company's assets no later than  the
earlier of
      (i)    60  days after final determination (by agreement  or
   otherwise)  of the Closing Financial Statements in  accordance
   with Section 2.6(b), or
      (ii)   180  days  following the Closing.   Such  allocation
   shall  be made in accordance with Section 338 of the Code  and
   the regulations thereunder.
If  Buyer  and Sellers are not able to agree upon such allocation
within  such  period, the allocation shall be determined  by  the
Arbiter.  Each Party shall cooperate in providing information  to
the  Arbiter, and the costs and expenses for the services of  the
Arbiter  and  any  required appraisal shall be borne  equally  by
Buyer and Sellers.
  (c)Buyer and Sellers shall report on any applicable Tax  Return
the  allocation of the Purchase Price as determined in accordance
with  Section 2.8(b) and shall take no position inconsistent with
such allocation of the Purchase Price.
   2.9.EXCLUDED ASSETS; EXCLUDED LIABILITIES.
  (a)Prior  to  the Closing, the Sellers shall cause the  Company
to  assign and transfer to the Sellers or to another Affiliate of
the Sellers the following (the "Excluded Assets"):
      (i)    certain property located in Winter Springs,  Florida
   which  is  described on Schedule 2.9(a)(i)  and  any  proceeds
   therefrom if such property shall be sold, in whole or part, by
   the  Company  prior to Closing (the "Winter  Springs,  Florida
   Property");
      (ii)  the assets reflected on the books of the division  of
   the  Company known as its Comtrak division (which assets,  and
   the  division  of  the Company which carries  on  the  Comtrak
   Business,  being referred to herein as the "Comtrak Division")
   and  the  assets  utilized by the Comtrak Division  which  are
   listed on Schedule 2.9(a)(ii);
      (iii) the patents described on Schedule 2.9(a)(iii);
      (iv)   all right, title and interest in and to 60%  of  the
   gross  amount  of any refund or other amount  to  be  received
   after  Closing  in  connection with the claim  for  refund  of
   Missouri sales/use taxes described on Schedule 2.9(a)(iv);
      (v)    all  right, title and interest in and to  the  claim
   against  Crydom  Corporation described on  Schedule  2.9(a)(v)
   (which is estimated at approximately $300,000);
      (vi)  the shares of Comtrak International Services Inc. and
   ESCO  Electronica  de Mexico, S.A. de C.V.,  the  wholly-owned
   subsidiaries of the Company;
      (vii)  all cash on accounts not solely in the name  of  the
   Company  at  banks  and  other  financial  institutions,   and
   including cash equivalents;
      (viii)  all  current or deferred income tax assets  arising
   prior to the Closing, including without limitation any arising
   from  the Section 338(h)(10) Election and any refund described
   in Section 7.8(i); and
      (ix)   all  claims related to Third Person escrow  accounts
   relating  to  environmental liabilities arising in  connection
   with  previously owned, leased and occupied properties or off-
   site waste disposal facilities.
  (b)Prior  to  the Closing, the Sellers shall cause the  Company
to  assign and transfer to the Sellers or to another Affiliate of
the  Sellers,  and for the Sellers or such Affiliate  to  assume,
pursuant  to an Assignment and Assumption Agreement substantially
in  the  form  of  Exhibit  A hereto or in  other  form  mutually
satisfactory   to   the   Parties   (the   "Sellers'   Assumption
Agreement"),  the following liabilities of the  Company  and  all
related rights (the "Excluded Liabilities"):
      (i)     all  liabilities  of  the  Company  (including  all
   environmental  liabilities) (x) relating to the ownership  and
   occupancy  of the Winter Springs, Florida Property,  including
   all  obligations  in  connection with any  sale  thereof,  (y)
   relating to any other real property and improvements which  at
   any time prior to the Closing was owned, leased or occupied by
   the  Company or any of its predecessors, but as of the Closing
   is  not  or  will  not  be owned, leased or  occupied  by  the
   Company,   including,  without  limitation,   the   properties
   described on Schedule 2.9(b)(i), and (z) relating to any  off-
   site waste disposal facilities, including, without limitation,
   the  facilities described on Schedule 2.9(b)(i), but  only  to
   the extent of the Company's or any of its predecessors' use of
   or  involvement  with such facilities prior to  the  Effective
   Time;
      (ii)   all  liabilities of the Company in  respect  of  the
   assets of the Comtrak Division retained by Sellers;
      (iii)  all  liabilities  of the  Company  relating  to  its
   ownership and operation of Comtrak International Services Inc.
   and  ESCO  Electronica  de  Mexico, S.A.  de  C.V,  including,
   without  limitation,  any such matters as  are  set  forth  in
   Schedule 3.11 relating to either of such subsidiaries  of  the
   Company;
      (iv)   all  liabilities  of  the Company  relating  to  the
   prosecution  of  the  Crydom Corporation  claim  described  on
   Schedule 2.9(a)(v);
      (v)    all  current  or  deferred  income  tax  liabilities
   arising prior to the Closing, including without limitation any
   arising from the Section 338(h)(10) Election;
      (vi)   all liabilities and obligations relating to the ESCO
   Employee  Savings  Investment Plan (Plan 201),  the  Executive
   Severance  Plan  for  G.A.  Potthoff  described  on   Schedule
   3.18(a), the Employees Stock Purchase Plan of ESCO, Plans  for
   Performance  Shares (including accelerated vesting entitlement
   therefor)  and  Stock Options (Executive and Key  Manager)  as
   described  on Schedules 3.10 and 3.18(a), and the  Transaction
   Bonuses  and Accelerated Vesting of Stock Options as described
   on Schedules 3.14(a) and 3.18(a); and
      (vii)  all  liabilities arising under  the  consulting  and
   distributorship agreement between ESCO and ESL  Limited  dated
   October 1, 1997.
      In  the  event  any or all of the Excluded Liabilities  are
   assigned  and  transferred  to an  Affiliate  of  the  Sellers
   (rather than both of the Sellers directly), the Sellers  shall
   each  be required to guarantee any such Affiliate's assumption
   obligations  under the Sellers' Assumption Agreement  pursuant
   to  a guarantee agreement in form mutually satisfactory to the
   Parties.
   2.10.  ADDITIONAL ASSETS; ADDITIONAL LIABILITIES.
  (a)The Sellers shall assign and transfer
      (i)    to the Company, on or prior to the Closing Date, the
   lease  agreements,  consulting  contracts  and  furniture  and
   fixtures  described on Schedule 2.10(a)(i), all of  which  are
   used  in  connection with or relate to the Field Offices  (the
   "Field Office Assets"),
      (ii)  to a plan of Buyer or an Affiliate thereof as of  the
   Effective  Time, the assets of the ESCO Retirement  Plan,  but
   only to the extent set forth in Section 7.13(b)(ii) (the "Plan
   Assets"), and
      (iii)  to the Company, the computer software acquired under
   volume   purchase  agreement  number  V89452  from  Parametric
   Technology  Corporation, costing approximately  $125,000  (the
   "Software  Assets" and collectively with the Plan  Assets  and
   the Field Office Assets, the "Additional Assets").
  (b)The Sellers shall assign and transfer
      (i)    to  the  Company, and the Sellers  shall  cause  the
   Company  to assume, on or prior to the Closing Date,  pursuant
   to an Assignment and Assumption Agreement substantially in the
   form   of   Exhibit   B  hereto  (the  "Company's   Assumption
   Agreement")   all  liabilities  of  the  Sellers   and   their
   Affiliates  relating to the Field Offices (the  "Field  Office
   Liabilities"),  and  any  costs  incurred  in  arranging   for
   landlord  consents to the assignment of Sellers' interests  in
   the  Field Office leases to the Company shall be paid  by  the
   Sellers prior to the Closing,
      (ii)    to  the  Buyer  as  of  the  Effective  Time,   all
   liabilities  relating to the Plan Assets  in  accordance  with
   Section 7.13(b)(iii),
      (iii)  to the Buyer, all of Sellers' obligations under  the
   Software Assets and the obligation to pay Sellers for the cost
   of the Software Assets (the "Software Liability"), and
      (iv)   to  the  Buyer  as  of the Effective  Time,  all  of
   Sellers'  obligations to Transferred Employees  in  accordance
   with Section 7.13(e) (2.10(b)(ii) and (iv) together, the "Plan
   Liabilities"   and,  collectively  with   the   Field   Office
   Liabilities  and  the  Software Liabilities,  the  "Additional
   Liabilities").
   2.11.  EMPLOYEES.
  (a)Prior  to  the Closing, Sellers will cause  the  Company  to
transfer  to  either of the Sellers, or to an Affiliate  thereof,
and  Sellers  will accept or cause such Affiliate to accept,  the
employees (and any and all obligations in respect thereto) listed
on  Schedule  2.11(a) (the "Excluded Employees"),  each  of  whom
primarily performs services relating to the Comtrak Division.
  (b)Prior  to  the  Closing, the Sellers will  transfer  to  the
Company  and cause the Company to accept the employees listed  on
Schedule  2.11(b)  (the  "Additional Employees"),  each  of  whom
performs services relating to the Field Offices.
   2.12.  THE BUSINESS.
   The  business to be conducted by the Company as of the Closing
Date,  and  which  is  intended to be transferred  to  the  Buyer
hereunder,  shall  include  the  Additional  Assets  and  related
operations,   the  Additional  Liabilities  and  the   Additional
Employees, but shall not include the Excluded Assets and  related
operations, the Excluded Liabilities, nor the Excluded Employees.
The  "Business"  of the Company shall mean, for all  purposes  of
this  Agreement,  all  aspects  of the  business  and  operations
conducted  by the Company as of the date hereof and  all  related
assets  and  liabilities,  other than the  Excluded  Assets,  the
Excluded Liabilities and the Excluded Employees.
                          ARTICLE III.
            REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF SELLERS

  Sellers   hereby  jointly  and  severally  make  the  following
representations  and  warranties  to  Buyer,  each  of  which  is
accurate  on the date hereof and shall be accurate on and  as  of
the Closing Date:
   3.1.AUTHORIZATION; STOCK OWNERSHIP.
  (a)Each  of  the Sellers has all requisite power and  authority
to execute and deliver this Agreement, to perform its obligations
hereunder and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby.
This Agreement and all other agreements herein contemplated to be
executed  by either of the Sellers constitute (or upon  execution
will  constitute) valid and binding obligations of  the  Sellers,
enforceable  against  the  Sellers  in  accordance   with   their
respective terms.  This Agreement and all other agreements herein
contemplated  to be executed by either of the Sellers  have  been
(or will be prior to Closing) authorized by all necessary action,
corporate or otherwise, by each of the Sellers.
  (b)ESCO  is  the  record and beneficial owner  of  all  of  the
issued  and outstanding shares of common stock of DHC,  which  is
the  record  owner  of the Shares.  The Shares consist  of  1,000
shares  of  common stock of the Company.  ESCO is the  beneficial
owner  of the Shares, free and clear of all Liens except for  the
lien  (the  "Bank Lien") created pursuant to the Credit Agreement
dated September 23, 1990 (as amended) by and among ESCO, DHC, the
banks  listed  therein and Morgan Guaranty Trust Company  of  New
York,  as agent (the "Credit Agreement"), in favor of such banks.
ESCO will cause DHC to transfer to the Buyer at Closing good  and
marketable  title  to the Shares, free and  clear  of  all  Liens
(including the Bank Lien).
   3.2.CAPITALIZATION AND RELATED MATTERS.
  The authorized capital stock of the Company consists solely  of
10,000  shares of common stock, $1 par value, of which the Shares
are  the only shares issued and outstanding.  All the Shares were
duly  authorized and validly issued and are fully paid  and  non-
assessable.  Except for Buyer's rights hereunder,
  (a) there are outstanding
      (i)    no  other  securities of the Company (whether  of  a
   debt, equity or hybrid nature), and
      (ii)   no  rights, warrants or options to acquire, exchange
   or convert securities of the Company, and
   (b)    neither the Sellers nor the Company is subject  to  any
     obligation to issue, deliver, redeem, or otherwise acquire or
     retire the Shares or any other securities of the Company.
      Except for the subsidiaries described in Section 2.9(a)(vi)
   or  as  set forth on Schedule 3.2, the Company does  not  own,
   directly  or  indirectly, any shares of capital stock  or  any
   equity  investment or other financial interest in or have  any
   commitment  to  acquire  any  such  interest  in,  any   other
   corporation,    partnership,   limited   liability    company,
   association or other business organization or entity.
   3.3.CORPORATE EXISTANCE AND QUALIFICATION.
  The   Company  is  a  corporation  duly  incorporated,  validly
existing  and  in good standing under the laws of  the  State  of
Delaware.  The Company is duly qualified and in good standing  in
the  other jurisdictions listed on Schedule 3.3 hereto, which are
the  only  jurisdictions in which such qualification is required,
except  where  the failure to so qualify and be in good  standing
will  not  have  a Material Adverse Effect.  Except  for  matters
which  would not have a Material Adverse Effect, the Company  has
the corporate power and authority to own or lease and operate its
properties  and  assets  and conduct the  Business  as  currently
conducted.
   3.4.FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
  (a)Attached  hereto as Schedule 3.4(a) are the  following  (the
"Financial Statements"):
      (i)   the balance sheets of the Company as of September 30,
   1997  and  September  30, 1998, and the related  statement  of
   earnings for the fiscal years then ended, and
      (ii)   the balance sheet of the Company as of June 30, 1999
   (the "June 30, 1999 Balance Sheet"), and the related statement
   of earnings for the period then ended (collectively, the "June
   30, 1999 Financial Statements").
  (b)The Financial Statements
      (i)   were derived from the accounting books and records of
   the Company,
      (ii)  to the extent the Financial Statements relate to  the
   Business,  present  fairly,  in  all  material  respects,  the
   financial  position and results of operations of the  Business
   at  the  dates  and for the periods indicated, except  as  set
   forth  on Schedule 3.4(b) or as referred to in Section 2.6(a).
   The  information  reflected in the  Financial  Statements  was
   included in the consolidated financial statements of ESCO  for
   the  corresponding periods, which were prepared in  accordance
   with generally accepted accounting principles; and
      (iii)  except as set forth on Schedule 3.4(b),  there  have
   been no changes in accounting methods or practices during  the
   years covered by the Financial Statements.
   3.5.PROPERTY.
  Except as set forth on Schedule 3.5,
  (a)the  Company  is,  the sole owner of all  right,  title  and
interest  in and to all assets of the Business reflected  on  the
June  30,  1999 Balance Sheet or acquired thereafter and,  except
for  matters which would not have a Material Adverse Effect,  has
or will have on the Closing Date good and marketable title to all
material assets, except for assets sold in the ordinary course of
business since the date of the such balance sheet (the "June  30,
1999 Balance Sheet Date"); and
  (b)none  of  such  assets of the Business are  subject  to  any
Liens except:
     (i)   Liens reflected on the June 30, 1999 Balance Sheet or Liens
       incurred since the date of the June 30, 1999 Balance Sheet in the
       ordinary course of business consistent with past practices;
     (ii)   Liens  for  taxes not yet due or being  contested  in
  good faith;
     (iii)  Liens  not  securing  liabilities  for  (A)  borrowed
  money,  or  (B)  the  purchase price of assets,  which  do  not
  materially interfere with the current use of such assets;
     (iv)   the Bank Lien (which will be released as of Closing);
  and
     (v)Liens  arising in the ordinary course of  business  as  a
  result   of   progress  payments  received   under   Government
  Contracts.
   Except  as  set forth on Schedule 3.5, no material  assets  of
the  Business  are in the possession of others  and  the  Company
holds no property on consignment in connection with the Business.
  Schedule  3.5 lists all of the real property that is  owned  or
leased  by  the  Company as of June 30, 1999.   Except  for  such
matters  as would not, in the aggregate, have a Material  Adverse
Effect  on  the  Company, to the knowledge of Sellers:  (i)  with
respect  to  such owned real property, there are no imperfections
of  title  or  other  encumbrances which  materially  effect  the
marketability  of any such property nor impair the  use  of  such
property  in the Business as presently conducted; and  (ii)  with
respect to such leased real property, the company has good, valid
and  presently  existing leasehold interests to all  such  leased
real  estate,  and in each case, such properties are  held  under
valid  enforceable  leases,  and the Company  has  performed  all
material obligations required to be performed by it to date under
said  leases and possesses and quietly enjoys said premises under
said  leases.   True,  correct and complete  copies  of  all  the
material  terms  of  the leases pertaining to  such  leased  real
property  (including with respect to lease agreements  pertaining
to the Field Offices) have been previously delivered to Buyer.
   Except as set forth on Schedule 3.5 and except for matters  as
would  not  individually  or  in the aggregate  have  a  Material
Adverse  Effect on the Company, to the Sellers' knowledge,  there
is  no  condition  affecting any of  the  real  property  or  the
improvements located thereon which requires repair or  correction
to restore the same to reasonable operating condition.
   3.6.STOCK RECORD AND MINUTE BOOKS; OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS.
  The  stock  record books and minute books of  the  Company  are
true  and  correct  in  all  material  respects  for  the  period
subsequent  to  the Spin-Off and, to the Sellers' knowledge,  are
true and correct in all material respects for the period prior to
the  Spin-Off.  Accurate and complete copies of the  articles  of
incorporation  and  bylaws  and all  amendments  thereto  of  the
Company have been previously provided to Buyer.  The officers and
directors of the Company are set forth on Schedule 3.6.
   3.7.TAXES.
  (a)Except as set forth on Schedule 3.7(a), the Company
      (i)    has  timely  filed or caused to be  filed  with  the
   appropriate Government entity all income Tax Returns  and  all
   other  material  Tax Returns which have been  required  to  be
   filed prior to the date of this Agreement (taking into account
   any extensions of the time for filing such Tax Returns), and
      (ii)  has paid in full all material Taxes shown as due  and
   payable  on  such  Tax  Returns, except  to  the  extent  such
   liabilities  are  reflected  on the  Financial  Statements  as
   current  liabilities.  All income and other Tax Returns  filed
   or  caused to be filed by the Company are correct and complete
   in all material respects.
  (b)The  Company has complied in all material respect  with  all
Laws relating to the withholding of Taxes and the payment thereof
and has timely and properly withheld from employee wages and paid
over  to the proper Government entity all amounts required to  be
withheld and paid over under applicable Law.
  (c)Except as set forth on Schedule 3.7(c), the Company has  not
waived  any statute of limitations in respect of Taxes or  agreed
to  any  extension  of  time with respect to  Tax  assessment  or
deficiency.
  (d)Except as set forth on Schedule 3.7(d), the Company has  not
received   notice  of  any  currently  pending   and   unresolved
examination  pertaining to, or claims for, Taxes  or  assessments
against  the  Company by any taxing authority in respect  of  any
period to date.
   3.8.ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE.
  Except  as  set forth on Schedule 3.8 hereto, all the  accounts
receivable of the Business reflected in the June 30, 1999 Balance
Sheet and any accounts receivable of the Business arising between
June  30, 1999 and the Closing Date arose or will have arisen  in
the  ordinary  course of business and, to Sellers' knowledge,  at
the  time created, then represented bona fide indebtedness  owing
to the Company from the applicable account debtor.  Except as set
forth  on Schedule 3.8 hereto, such accounts receivable  are  not
and  will  not  be  on  the Closing Date  subject  to  any  valid
counterclaim,  set-off, defense or Lien,  except  the  Bank  Lien
(which  will be released as of Closing) and except to the  extent
of  any  reserves shown in respect thereof on the June  30,  1999
Balance Sheet.
   3.9.INVENTORIES.
  All  physical inventories of the Business held by  the  Company
at any location, except inventories associated with specific sale
contracts or as set forth on Schedule 3.9 or as reflected on  the
June 30, 1999 Balance Sheet,
  (a)are  valued on the June 30, 1999 Balance Sheet at  lower  of
cost or market,
  (b)   are merchantable in the ordinary course of business, and
  (c)   exist in quantities which do not materially exceed levels
     which are reasonable in the present circumstances of the Business
     and such will be the case on the Closing Date.
   3.10.  ABSENCE OF CERTAIN CHANGES.
  Since  the  June  30, 1999 Balance Sheet Date,  except  as  set
forth  on  Schedule 3.10 hereto and except as otherwise disclosed
in this Agreement, there has not been:
  (a)Any    event,   occurrence,   development   or   state    of
circumstances or facts which has had a Material Adverse Effect;
  (b)Any  increase in compensation or other remuneration  payable
to  or  for the benefit of or committed to be paid to or for  the
benefit of any shareholder, director, officer, agent, or employee
of  the Company in connection with the Business other than in the
ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, or  in
any  benefits granted under any Plan with or for the  benefit  of
any such shareholder, director, officer, agent, or employee other
than  in  the  ordinary course of business consistent  with  past
practice;
  (c)Any  sale,  transfer  or other disposition  of  any  of  the
Company's  material assets (tangible or intangible) or any  other
material  transaction entered into or carried out by the  Company
in connection with the Business other than in the ordinary course
of business;
  (d)Any   net   increase  in  the  amount  of  indebtedness   or
liabilities of the Company in connection with the Business  other
than  in  the ordinary course of business and in amounts  and  on
terms   consistent  with  past  practice;  or  any   endorsement,
assumption, or guarantee of payment or performance of any loan or
obligation of any other Person by the Company in connection  with
the Business other than in the ordinary course of business and in
amounts and on terms consistent with past practice;
  (e)Any  material change made by the Company in connection  with
the Business in its methods of doing business or of accounting or
in the manner in which the Company keeps its books and records;
  (f)Any declaration or payment of any dividend or the making  of
any distribution in respect of the Company's capital stock;
  (g)Any cure, show cause or termination notices with respect  to
any  Material Contract or any Government Contract with  a  funded
backlog in excess of $500,000; or
  (h)Any  binding  commitment  or agreement  by  Sellers  or  the
Company to do any of the foregoing items (b) through (f).
   3.11.  NO BREACH OF LAW OR GOVERNING DOCUMENT.
  To  the  knowledge  of Sellers, and except  for  matters  which
would  not  have  a  Material  Adverse  Effect,  the  Company  in
connection  with  the  Business is not in  default  under  or  in
material breach or violation of any Law or the provisions of  any
Government  permit,  franchise, or license (except  that  matters
relating to Environmental Law are covered by Section 3.13  rather
than  by  this  Section), or any provision  of  its  articles  of
incorporation  or  its bylaws.  Except as set forth  on  Schedule
3.11, the Company has not received any written notice during  the
past  two  years  alleging any such material default,  breach  or
violation  which  has  not  been  finally  resolved.  Except   as
otherwise expressly disclosed in this Agreement, or on any of the
Schedules  hereto,  to  the knowledge of  Sellers',  neither  the
execution and delivery of this Agreement nor the consummation  of
the  transactions  contemplated hereby do or will  constitute  or
result  in  any  material  (i) violation  or  conflict  with  any
provision  of  the  articles of incorporation or  bylaws  of  the
Company;  (ii)  breach of any of the terms or provisions  of,  or
violation  or default under, or conflict with any Law  applicable
to  the  Company or any judgment, decree, order or award, of  any
court, governmental body or arbitrator to which the Company is  a
party or may be bound; or (iii) violation, conflict with, default
under,  termination of, acceleration of performance required  by,
or  acceleration  of the maturity of, any material  liability  or
obligation, creation or imposition of any Lien upon the Shares or
the  assets  of  the  Company  under any  note,  bond,  mortgage,
indenture,  deed of trust, license, lease, contract,  commitment,
understanding, or other agreement to which the Company is a party
or  to which the Company may be bound or affected or to which the
Shares or the assets of the Company may be subject.
   3.12.  LITIGATION.
  Except  as  set forth on Schedule 3.12, to Sellers'  knowledge,
there  is  no suit, claim, litigation, investigation,  proceeding
(administrative,  judicial,  or  in  arbitration,  mediation   or
alternative  dispute resolution) or other action pending  or,  to
the  knowledge  of  Sellers, threatened against  the  Company  in
connection  with  the Business and which would  have  a  Material
Adverse Effect.
   3.13.  ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS.
  Except  as  set forth on Schedule 3.13 hereto, and  except  for
matters related exclusively to any real property and improvements
which  at  any  time prior to the Closing was  owned,  leased  or
occupied by the Company, but as of Closing is not or will not  be
owned,  leased or occupied by the Company, and except for matters
related  exclusively  to any off-site waste  disposal  facilities
(all  of  which  foregoing  exceptions are  Excluded  Assets  and
Excluded  Liabilities), and except for such matters as would  not
individually  or in the aggregate have a Material Adverse  Effect
on the Company, to the knowledge of Sellers:
  (a)the   Company   is   in  compliance  with   all   applicable
Environmental Laws, and the Company has not received  any  formal
notice  or  demand from a Government entity, citizens'  group  or
other  Person  which  is currently pending, alleging  a  material
violation of any Environmental Law.  The Company has not received
from  any  Government  entity  any  order  or  demand,  which  is
currently  pending, requiring that steps be taken to  remedy  any
environmental  condition  on or at the Company's  facilities  (or
elsewhere),  or  claiming  that the Company  is  responsible  for
damages,   losses,  penalties,  fines,  liabilities,  costs   and
expenses of any kind or nature (including attorney's fees)  as  a
result  of  the  existence of hazardous materials  or  substances
upon,  about or underneath any of the Company's current or former
facilities (or elsewhere) or migrating or threatening to  migrate
to or from any such facilities;
  (b)the   Company  has  all  permits  and  other  authorizations
required  under the  Environmental Laws, and the  Company  is  in
compliance with such permits and other authorizations;
  (c)no  conditions were created by the Company at  any  facility
currently  or formerly owned, leased or operated by  the  Company
during  the period of the Company's ownership, lease or operation
of such facility that require remediation under any Environmental
Law;
  (d)    the Company has not received any formal notice or demand
which  is  currently  pending under any Environmental  Law  as  a
result  of  the  off-site disposal of any hazardous  material  or
waste by the Company; and
  (e)    the Company has not placed or caused to be placed on any
facilities  currently  or  formerly owned,  leased,  occupied  or
operated by the Company any underground storage tanks nor are the
Sellers  or  the  Company aware of any such  underground  storage
tanks  having been placed on or underneath any of such facilities
by  any Person during such times as Sellers or the Company owned,
leased, occupied or operated such facilities.
  Notwithstanding  anything  else  in  this  Agreement   to   the
contrary,  all  representations and warranties  with  respect  to
environmental matters are set forth exclusively in this  Section,
and  all  other representations and warranties contained  in  any
other  Section  herein  shall  be  deemed  not  to  include   any
representations or warranty with respect to such matters.
   3.14.  CONTRACTS.
  (a)Set  forth on Schedule 3.14(a) is a list of each written  or
oral  contract,  agreement,  lease,  indenture  and  evidence  of
indebtedness  to  which  the Company is a  party  (the  "Material
Contracts") which involves outstanding, contingent, or continuing
liability  or obligation of or to the Company in connection  with
the Business and which
      (i)   involves
         (A)    a  guarantee or indemnity involving an obligation
      in excess of $500,000,
         (B)   a power of attorney,
         (C)   a sharing of payments or joint venture,
         (D)   a sales agency, representation, distributorship or
      franchise arrangement which is not terminable on  not  more
      than 60 days notice without penalty,
         (E)   material restrictions on competition,
         (F)   collective bargaining or union representation,
         (G)   a payment obligation in excess of $500,000,
         (H)    a  material  lease with an aggregate  outstanding
      obligation in excess of $300,000, or
         (I)    employment and consulting agreements to which the
      Company is a party, or
      (ii)   is  not  in  the ordinary course of business.   Such
   Schedule  also  lists  (and  included  in  the  definition  of
   Material  Contracts) all non-government prime sales  contracts
   with funded backlog over $500,000.
  (b)Each  of  the  Material Contracts is a  valid,  binding  and
enforceable  obligation of the Company and, to the  knowledge  of
Sellers,  the  other  parties thereto.  Except  as  indicated  on
Schedule 3.14(b),
      (i)   the Company is not, and
      (ii)   to  the knowledge of Sellers, no other  party  to  a
   Material Contract is, in material default under or in material
   breach or violation of any Material Contract, and no event has
   occurred  that, through the passage of time or the  giving  of
   notice, or both, would constitute a material default under any
   Material Contract, and neither the execution of this Agreement
   nor  the Closing hereunder do or will constitute or result in,
   such  a  material  default, breach  or  violation,  cause  the
   acceleration  of any obligation of any party  thereto  or  the
   creation  of  a  Lien upon any assets of the Business  or  the
   Shares, or require any party's consent or approval thereunder,
   or result in a material modification of any Material Contract.
   (c)    Except  as set forth in Schedule 3.14(c),  to  Sellers'
knowledge, the Company has no material "offset obligations."  For
purposes hereof, the term "offset obligations" means any  offset,
counter trade or barter obligations arising under or relating  to
any contract in favor of any foreign government.
   (d)    Except  for  such agreements as may  be  set  forth  on
Schedule  3.14(a), the Company is not party to any agreements  or
understandings requiring a payment to any Person upon a change of
control of the Company.
   (e)    True, correct and complete copies of all material terms
of such Material Contracts, if requested by Buyer, have been made
available to Buyer.
   3.15.  GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS.
  Set  forth  on  Schedule  3.15 is a  list  of  each  Government
Contract with funded backlog in excess of $500,000.
  (a)Schedule  3.15(a) identifies each Government  Contract  with
funded  backlog in excess of $500,000 with respect to  which,  to
Sellers' knowledge, as of the date hereof:
     (i)the Company is in material breach or with the passage  of
  time or the giving of notice, or both, the Company would be  in
  material breach;
     (ii)   the Company expects to recognize a loss at the  gross
  profit  level  (determined  on  a  basis  consistent  with  the
  Accounting Principles) in connection with such contract or  any
  option thereof;
     (iii)   full   funding  (pursuant  to  multi-year   contract
  provisions) has not been established;
     (iv)   there  has  been  a  material  amendment  since   the
  June  30,  1999 Balance Sheet Date, other than in the  ordinary
  course of business;
     (v)the  other party(ies) to the Government Contract  are  in
  material  breach or with the passage of time or the  giving  of
  notice,  or  both, such other party(ies) would be  in  material
  breach; or
     (vi)   the  consent or approval of the other  party(ies)  to
  the Government Contract is required.
  (b)Except  as  set forth on Schedule 3.15(b), with  respect  to
each  Government  Contract  with  funded  backlog  in  excess  of
$500,000  and  except for those matters which would  not  in  the
aggregate have a Material Adverse Effect:
     (i)to  the  Sellers' knowledge, there are no  audits  (other
  than  those conducted in the ordinary course of business) being
  conducted  by  the U.S. Government, a prime contractor  or  any
  other party to such Government Contract;
     (ii)   except  to  the  extent  finally  resolved  (and  any
  liability  relating thereto paid or reflected on the  June  30,
  1999  Balance  Sheet),  neither Sellers  nor  the  Company  has
  received during the past two years:
       (A)any  written  cure  notice or  show  cause  notice  (as
     defined  in  the  Federal Acquisition Regulations  Part  49)
     pursuant to applicable contract default provisions or notice
     of default;
       (B)any  written contract termination, whether for default,
     convenience,  cancellation  or  lack  of  funding  or  other
     reasons;
       (C)any  written final decision or unilateral  modification
     assessing a price reduction, penalty or claim for damages or
     other remedy;
       (D)any  written  claim  based on assertions  of  defective
     pricing   or   violations  of  government  cost   accounting
     standards or cost principles; or
       (E)any written request for an equitable adjustment of,  or
     claim  concerning, such contracts by any  of  the  Company's
     customers, subcontractors or suppliers;
     (iii)  except  to  the  extent  finally  resolved  (and  any
  liability  relating thereto paid or reflected on the  June  30,
  1999  Balance Sheet), neither Sellers nor the Company has, with
  respect  to  any  Government Contracts,  received  any  written
  notice  of  any  investigation or enforcement proceeding  of  a
  criminal,  civil or administrative nature by any  investigative
  or  enforcement agency of any Government (including any qui tam
  action  brought under the Civil False Claims Act  alleging  any
  irregularity,  misstatement  or  omission  arising   under   or
  relating to any Government Contract);
     (iv)   there exists no third party financing in the form  of
  advance payments or assignments of funds.
  (c)Except  as  set  forth  on  Schedule  3.15(c),  neither  the
Company, nor to Sellers' knowledge, any of the Company's officers
or  employees, is suspended or debarred from doing business  with
the   U.S.  Government  or  is  the  subject  of  a  finding   of
nonresponsibility   or   ineligibility   for   U.S.    Government
contracting   and,   to   Sellers'  knowledge,   there   are   no
circumstances that would warrant the institution of suspension or
debarment proceedings against the Company or any of its  officers
or employees.
  (d)Except as set forth on Schedule 3.15(d) and except as  would
not have a Material Adverse Effect:
      (i)   to Sellers' knowledge, neither the Company nor any of
   its  directors, officers, employees, consultants or agents  is
   or   during   the   past  two  years  has   been   under   any
   administrative, civil or criminal investigation or  indictment
   by   the   U.S.   Government  with  respect  to  any   alleged
   irregularity,  misstatement  or  omission  arising  under   or
   relating to any Government Contract or Bid, and
      (ii)   during  the past two years, neither the Company  nor
   any  Affiliate  of the Company has conducted or initiated  any
   internal investigation or made a voluntary disclosure  to  the
   U.S.  Government  with  respect  to  any  allegation  of   any
   irregularity,  misstatement  or  omission  arising  under   or
   relating to a Government Contract or Bid.
  (e)Except  as  set forth on Schedule 3.15(e),  and  except  for
matters which would not have a Material Adverse Effect, there are
not
      (i)  any material claims pending or, to Sellers' knowledge,
   threatened  against the Company, either by the U.S. Government
   or  by  any prime contractor, subcontractor, vendor  or  other
   Person,  arising under or relating to any material  Government
   Contract, and
      (ii)   any  pending  material disputes before  a  court  or
   administrative  agency  between  the  Company  and  the   U.S.
   Government  under  the  Contract Disputes  Act  or  any  other
   statute  or  regulation or between the Company and  any  prime
   contractor, subcontractor or vendor, arising under or relating
   to  any  Government Contract. Except as set forth on  Schedule
   3.15(e),  subsequent  to  January  1,  1998,  the  Company  in
   connection  with  the Business has not received  any  material
   draft or final post award audit report.
  (f)Except  as  set forth on Schedule 3.15(f),  and  except  for
matters  which,  in  the aggregate, would  not  have  a  Material
Adverse  Effect,  to Sellers' knowledge, all  material  test  and
material  inspection results provided by the Company to the  U.S.
Government  or  to  any  other Person pursuant  to  any  material
Government  Contract  or as a part of the delivery  to  the  U.S.
Government  or  to  any  other  Person  pursuant  to  a  material
Government  Contract  of  any  article  designed,  engineered  or
manufactured  by  the Company were complete and  correct  in  all
material respects as of the date so provided. Except as set forth
in  the  Schedule 3.15(f), the Company has provided all  material
test  and  inspection results to the U.S. Government  or  to  any
other  Person  pursuant  to  a material  Government  Contract  as
required  by  U.S.  law and the terms of the applicable  material
Government Contracts; and
  (g)To  Sellers'  knowledge,  with respect  to  each  and  every
material  Government Contract and material Bid,  and,  except  as
otherwise  set forth in any Schedule referenced in  this  Section
3.15,  (i) the Company has not received formal written notice  of
default or material breach; (ii) all material representations and
certifications  which  have  been, within  the  past  two  years,
executed,  acknowledged or set forth in  or  pertaining  to  such
material  Government  Contract or material Bid  in  all  material
respects,  are accurate and complete as of their effective  date,
and  the Company has complied in all material respects with  such
representations and certifications including, without limitation,
all  such  representations  and  certifications  required  by  or
relating  to  any  and  all Laws and the  regulations  and  rules
relating to the submission of progress payment requests;
  (h)Except  to the extent prohibited by the Industrial  Security
Manual  for Safeguarding Classified Information, Schedule 3.15(h)
sets  forth all facility security clearances held by the  Company
and  to Sellers' knowledge, all personal security clearances held
by any officer or employee of the Company;
  (i)To  Sellers'  knowledge, the Company's cost  accounting  and
procurement  systems  with respect to Government  Contracts  have
been approved and no CAS non-compliance notices have been or  are
issued, pending or threatened;
  (j)The  Company, to the knowledge of Sellers', has  no  current
advance  agreements  with its customers for  the  allocation  and
reimbursement of independent research and development expenses.
  (k)True,  correct and complete copies of all material terms  of
such  Government Contracts, if requested by Buyer, have been made
available to Buyer.
  Notwithstanding  anything  else  in  this  Agreement   to   the
contrary,  all  representations and warranties  with  respect  to
Government Contracts and Bids are set forth exclusively  in  this
Section and all other representations and warranties contained in
any  other  Section  herein shall be deemed not  to  include  any
representations or warranty with respect to such matters,  except
for such representations and warranties which expressly refer  to
Government Contracts or Bids.
   3.16.  INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY.
  (a)Schedule   3.16(a)  contains  a  list  of   all   registered
trademarks,  service  marks,  copyrights  and  patents,  and  all
applications  therefor,  included in the  Intellectual  Property,
specifying as to each, as applicable:
      (i)   the nature of such Intellectual Property;
      (ii)  the owner of such Intellectual Property; and
      (iii)  the  jurisdictions by or in which such  Intellectual
   Property  has  been  issued  or  registered  or  in  which  an
   application for such issuance or registration has been  filed,
   including the respective registration or application numbers.
  Schedule  3.16(a)  contains a list of  all  material  licenses,
sublicenses  and  other agreements as to  which  the  Company  in
connection with the Business is a party and pursuant to which any
Person  is  authorized to use the Intellectual  Property  or  any
other material rights of the Company with respect to intellectual
property.
  Any  Intellectual  Property described on  Schedule  2.9(a)(iii)
which  is  material to the operation of the Business as presently
conducted will be licensed to the Company without charge pursuant
to  the  license agreement set forth on Exhibit  F  hereto.   The
Company's  failure  to  own  any  of  the  Intellectual  Property
described on Schedule 2.9(a)(iii) after the Closing Date will not
result in the Company's loss of any current material royalties or
other  current material revenue, other than revenues  related  to
the  Comtrak  Business,  that the Company  would  otherwise  have
derived by reason of its ownership of such Intellectual Property.
  (b)To    Sellers'   knowledge,   except   as    disclosed    on
Schedule 3.16(b), and except for matters which, in the aggregate,
would not have a Material Adverse Effect,
      (i)   since June 30, 1996, there has been no material claim
   made  against the Company asserting the invalidity, misuse  or
   unenforceability of any of the Intellectual Property, nor have
   there been, since such date, any actions or other judicial  or
   adversarial  proceedings involving the Company concerning  the
   Intellectual  Property, nor is any such action  or  proceeding
   threatened,
      (ii)   there  are  no  material  current  infringements  or
   misappropriations of any of the Intellectual Property, and
      (iii) since June 30, 1996, the Company has not infringed or
   misappropriated any intellectual property or proprietary right
   of  any  other  person,  and there are no  currently  existing
   material Liens effecting the Intellectual Property (except  as
   otherwise expressly disclosed in Section 3.5) and the  Company
   has  the  right  and authority to use each  material  item  of
   Intellectual  Property in connection with the conduct  of  the
   Business in the manner presently conducted.
   3.17.  LABOR MATTERS.
  (a)Schedule   3.17(a)   is  a  listing   of   each   collective
bargaining, representation or similar agreement or arrangement to
which  the  Company  is  a  party or by  which  it  is  bound  in
connection with the Business.  True, correct and complete  copies
of  all  of  the agreements listed on Schedule 3.17(a) have  been
previously delivered to Buyer.
  (b)Except as set forth on Schedule 3.17(b):
     (i)There  is no currently pending charge before the National
  Labor  Relations Board (or any counterpart state  agency)  that
  the Company has engaged in any unfair labor practice;
     (ii)   There  is  no  labor strike,  dispute,  slowdown,  or
  stoppage  pending  or, to the knowledge of Sellers,  threatened
  against the Company;
     (iii)  No collective bargaining agreement is currently being
  negotiated  and,  to  the knowledge of Sellers,  no  organizing
  effort  is  currently being made with respect to the  Company's
  employees;
     (iv)   To  the  knowledge of Sellers, no current  or  former
  employee  of  the  Company  has any  valid  claim  against  the
  Company on account of or for
        (A)overtime pay, other than overtime pay for the  current
      payroll period,
        (B)wages  or  salary (excluding current  bonus,  accruals
      and  amounts  accruing  under  pension  and  profit-sharing
      plans)  for  any  period  other than  the  current  payroll
      period,
        (C)vacation, time off or pay in lieu of vacation or  time
      off,  other than as may be accrued on the books and records
      of the Company in accordance with the Accounting Principles
      or earned in respect of the current fiscal year, or
        (D)any violation of any Law relating to minimum wages  or
      maximum hours of work, except to the extent that any of the
      foregoing is reflected on the June 30, 1999 Balance  Sheet;
      and
     (v)To  the knowledge of Sellers, there is no basis for which
  a  material  claim  may be made against the Company  under  any
  collective  bargaining  agreement to which  the  Company  is  a
  party.
  (c)The  Company has provided Buyer with a list of all employees
of  the Company employed in the operation of the Business  as  of
the  date  indicated thereon, with their respective  job  titles,
dates  of  employment  and  rates of compensation.   To  Sellers'
knowledge, and except as otherwise disclosed herein, the  Company
has  complied and is presently complying in all material respects
with  all  applicable Laws respecting employment  and  employment
practices,  terms  and  conditions of employment  and  wages  and
hours,  and there is no charge or complaint actually pending  or,
to  the  knowledge  of  Sellers, threatened against  the  Company
before  the  Equal  Employment  Opportunity  Commission  or   the
Department  of  Labor, or any state or local  agency  of  similar
jurisdiction.
   3.18.  EMPLOYEE BENEFIT MATTERS.
  (a)Except  as  set forth on Schedule 3.18(a), the Company  does
not  have  outstanding  and  is not a  party  to  or  subject  to
liability  under  any agreement, arrangement,  plan,  or  policy,
whether or not considered legally binding, that involves
      (i)     any  pension,  retirement,  deferred  compensation,
   bonus,  stock  option,  stock purchase,  health,  welfare,  or
   incentive plan, or
      (ii)   welfare  or  "fringe"  benefits,  including  without
   limitation  vacation, severance, disability, medical,  dental,
   life  and other insurance, tuition reimbursement plan, company
   car,  club dues, sick leave or family leave, or other benefits
   (Sections  3.18(a)(i) and (ii) together the "Plans"  and  each
   item  thereunder a "Plan").  True, correct and complete copies
   of  all  documents  creating or evidencing any  material  Plan
   listed on Schedule 3.18(a) have been made available to Buyer.
  (b)Except as set forth on Schedule 3.18(b), each Plan has  been
administered in material compliance with its terms  and,  to  the
extent  applicable, with the Employee Retirement Income  Security
Act  of  1974,  as amended or other Law applicable to  any  Plan.
Each  Plan  that is intended to qualify under Section  401(a)  or
Section   501(c)(9)  of  the  Code  has  received   a   favorable
determination letter from the Internal Revenue Service (a copy of
which  has  been provided to Buyer) and related trusts have  been
determined to be exempt from taxation under Section 501(a) of the
Code.  Nothing  has occurred that would cause and  no  action  or
proceeding  is pending or threatened which, to the  knowledge  of
Sellers,   could  result  in  the  loss  of  such  exemption   or
qualification.
  (c)No  Plan  is  a  multiemployer plan (as defined  in  Section
3(37)  of ERISA) and the Company has not contributed to nor  ever
has been obligated to contribute to any multiemployer plan.
  (d)There  have  been  no  prohibited  transactions  within  the
meaning  of Sections 406 or 407 of ERISA or Section 4975  of  the
Code  for which a statutory or administrative exemption does  not
exist  with respect to any Plan.  Except as set forth on Schedule
3.18(d),  no reportable event within the meaning of Section  4043
of  ERISA  (other than those for which reporting is  waived)  has
occurred  with respect to any Plan.  With respect to  each  Plan,
all  payments due from the Company to date have been made and all
amounts properly accrued to date as liabilities of Company  which
have  not  been paid have been properly recorded on the books  of
the Company and are reflected on the June 30, 1999 Balance Sheet.
  (e)Except  as  specified on Schedule 3.18(e), no Plan  provides
benefits,   including,  without  limitation,  death  or   medical
benefits  (whether  or not insured) with respect  to  current  or
former employees of the Company beyond their retirement or  other
termination of services other than:
      (i)    continuation coverage mandated by Section  4980B  of
the Code;
      (ii)   death or pension benefits under any Plan that is  an
employee pension benefit plan;
      (iii) deferred compensation benefits accrued as liabilities
on  the  books  of  Seller (including the June 30,  1999  Balance
Sheet);
      (iv)   disability  benefits  under  any  Plan  that  is  an
employee  welfare benefit plan and which have been fully provided
for by insurance or otherwise; or
     (v)   benefits in the nature of severance pay.
  No  tax  under Section 4980B of the Code has been  incurred  in
respect  of  a  Plan that is a group health plan  as  defined  in
Section 5000(b)(1) of the Code.
  (f)There  has  been  no act or omission by Company  or  any  of
Sellers  with  regard to the Plans that has  given  rise  to  any
fines,  penalties, taxes or related charges under Section 502(c),
Section 4071 of ERISA or Chapter 43 of the Code.
  (g)Except  as  set  forth on Schedule  3.18(g),  there  are  no
negotiations, demands or proposals that are pending or have  been
made  which concern matters now covered, or that would be covered
by any Plan.
  (h)Except  as  set  forth  on  Schedule  3.18(h),  neither  the
execution and delivery of this Agreement nor the consummation  of
the  transactions contemplated hereby will (either  alone  or  in
conjunction  with any other event) (i) result in  any  severance,
termination  or  other  payment becoming due  to  any  former  or
current employee of the Company or any of its Affiliates or cause
an  increase  in  the  amount of compensation  due  to  any  such
employee  or  former  employee; or (ii) increase  or  affect  the
calculation of the amount of any benefits otherwise payable under
any Plan or result in any acceleration of the time of payment  or
vesting of any such benefits.
   3.19.  PRODUCT LIABILITY.
  Except  as described on Schedule 3.19, or as reflected  on  the
June 30, 1999 Balance Sheet, or to the extent finally resolved or
to  the extent of product warranty claims arising in the ordinary
course  of  business since June 30, 1997, no  material  claim  or
allegation  of  personal injury, death, or property  or  economic
damages,  claim  for  punitive or exemplary  damages,  claim  for
contribution  or indemnification, or claim for injunctive  relief
in  connection with any product manufactured, sold or distributed
by the Business has been asserted in writing against the Company.
   3.20.  GOVERNMENTAL APPROVALS AND FILINGS.
  None  of the Sellers nor the Company is required to obtain  any
approval,   consent,  or  authorization  of,  or  to   make   any
declaration  or  filing  with,  any  Government  for  the   valid
execution  and delivery of this Agreement or any other  agreement
to  be  delivered hereunder, the purchase and sale of the Shares,
or the performance or consummation of the respective transactions
contemplated hereby or thereby except for
  (a)compliance with the applicable provisions of HSR,
  (b)compliance with the Exon-Florio Amendment, if required,
  (c)any  necessary approvals of the U.S. Government relating  to
Government Contracts as listed on Schedule 3.15(a),
  (d)other approvals set forth on Schedule 3.20, and
  (e)any  other  requirements (excluding approvals  of  the  U.S.
Government)  as  would  not  prohibit or  materially  affect  the
completion  of  the  transactions  contemplated  hereby  or   the
operation of the Business following the Closing.
   3.21.  BROKERS, FINDERS.
  Except  as  set  forth  on Schedule 3.21,  no  finder,  broker,
agent, or other intermediary, acting on behalf of Sellers or  the
Company,  is  entitled to a commission, fee or other compensation
in  connection  with  the  negotiation or  consummation  of  this
Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated hereby.
   3.22.  CERTAIN UNLAWFUL PRACTICES
  To  the  knowledge  of Sellers, and except  for  matters  which
would  not, in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect,  in
the  three year period preceding the date hereof, the Company has
not  nor has any officer, employee or agent of the Company acting
with respect to the Business, nor has any person acting on any of
their   behalf  with  respect  to  the  Business,   directly   or
indirectly, given or agreed to give any material gift or  similar
benefit  to  any  customer, supplier, competitor or  governmental
employee  or  official  or  has engaged  in  any  other  practice
(including,  but not limited to, violation of any antitrust  law)
or  received or retained any such gift or similar benefit,  which
in any case would subject the Company to damage or penalty in any
civil, criminal or Governmental litigation or proceeding or which
would   be  grounds  for  termination  or  modification  of   any
Government Contract or any other Material Contract.
   3.23.  BANK ACCOUNTS
   Schedule 3.23 contains an accurate and complete list of (i)
the names and addresses of each bank in which the Company has an
account; (ii) the account numbers of such accounts; and (iii) the
authorized signatories on each such account.

   3.24.  INSURANCE
  Schedule  3.24  lists  each  insurance  policy,  not  otherwise
listed  on  Schedule 3.18(a), held by ESCO with  respect  to  the
Company,  each  of which will be terminated with respect  to  the
Company  on  or  after  the Closing Date.  To  the  knowledge  of
Sellers',  there  remains no outstanding written requirements  or
recommendations of any governmental authority pertaining  to  any
material  repairs or other material work to be done  on  or  with
respect to any of the Company's properties.  To the knowledge  of
Sellers',  there  remains no outstanding written requirements  of
any insurance company pertaining to any material repairs or other
material  work  to  be  done on or with respect  to  any  of  the
Company's  properties, with respect to such repairs or work  such
insurance  company has stated in writing its intention to  cancel
the  insurance coverage, or raise its premium amount with respect
thereto,  if  such  repairs  or work are  not  completed  by  the
Company.
   3.25.  BACK CHARGES, REBATES, ETC.
  To  the  knowledge  of Sellers, except for  matters  which  are
disclosed  in  the  Financial Statements,  with  respect  to  all
Material  Contracts, Schedule 3.25 lists all material outstanding
claims  by  customers for back charges, rebates, price reductions
or settlements, or for breaches of product or service warranties,
or  for product liability for products manufactured or sold as of
the date hereof.
   3.26.  QUOTE LOG.
  Included  on Schedule 3.26 is the quote log of the  Company  as
of the date indicated thereon, which quote log contains a list as
of  such  date  of  all quotes issued by the  Company  since  the
beginning of the Company's then current fiscal year.
   3.27.  SALES TAX REFUND EXPENSES.
   To Seller's knowledge, there are no material out-of-pocket
expenses that Buyer or the Company will incur in connection with
pursuing the sales/use tax refund claim described on Schedule
2.9(a)(iv).

   3.28.  YEAR 2000 PLAN
   The Company has a Year 2000 plan in place that includes (i) an
assessment of all information technology systems used by the
Company; and (ii) contingency arrangements for non-compliance
with the plan or the failure of suppliers, customers or other
third parties having business relationships with the Company to
adequately address Year 2000 requirements.  The Company has, to
the Sellers' knowledge, taken reasonable measures to assure that
the Company's information technology is (or will be by the
Closing Date) Year 2000 compliant.

                           ARTICLE IV.
             REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF BUYER

  Buyer   hereby   makes   the  following   representations   and
warranties  to  Sellers, each of which is accurate  on  the  date
hereof and will be accurate as of the Closing Date:
   4.1.AUTHORIZATION.
  Buyer  is  a corporation, duly organized, validly existing  and
in  good standing under the laws of the State of Missouri.  Buyer
has all requisite power and authority to execute and deliver this
Agreement, to perform its obligations hereunder and to consummate
the transactions contemplated hereby.  This Agreement constitutes
a  valid  and  binding  obligation of Buyer, enforceable  against
Buyer in accordance with its terms.  This Agreement and all other
agreements herein contemplated to be executed by Buyer  has  been
(or  will  be  prior to the Closing) authorized by all  necessary
action, corporate or otherwise, by the Buyer.
   4.2.INVESTMENT REPRESENTATION.
  Buyer  is  acquiring  the  Shares  for  its  own  account,  for
investment and without any view to resale or distribution of  the
Shares or any portion thereof.
   4.3.GOVERNMENTAL APPROVALS AND FILINGS.
  Except  for  compliance with the applicable provisions  of  the
HSR  and, if required, any applicable provisions of Sec.  721  of
Title  VII of the Defense Production Act of 1950, as amended  (50
U.S.C.  App. 2170) (the "Exon-Florio Amendment"), and  any  other
requirements  (excluding  approvals of the  U.S.  Government)  as
would  not  prohibit or materially affect the completion  of  the
transactions contemplated hereby, Buyer is not required to obtain
any  approval,  consent, or authorization  of,  or  to  make  any
declaration  or  filing  with,  any  Government  for  the   valid
execution  and delivery of this Agreement or any other  agreement
to  be  delivered hereunder, the purchase and sale of the Shares,
or the performance or consummation of the respective transactions
contemplated hereby or thereby.
   4.4.BROKERS, FINDERS.
  Except  as set forth on Schedule 4.4, no finder, broker, agent,
or  other intermediary, acting on behalf of Buyer, is entitled to
a  commission, fee or other compensation in connection  with  the
negotiation  or  consummation of this Agreement  or  any  of  the
transactions contemplated hereby.
   4.5.FINANCING.
  Buyer  has  delivered  to  Seller true,  correct  and  complete
copies of its Commitment Letter (excluding the Fee Letter portion
thereof)   and   Summary  of  Indicative  Terms  and   Conditions
(excluding   the   fee   portion  thereof)   (collectively,   the
"Commitment")  pertaining  to  its proposed  $145,000,000  senior
secured credit facility which will be syndicated through Bank  of
America,  N.A. and Banc of America Securities, L.L.C.  (the  "BOA
Credit  Facility").  Buyer has no knowledge that  there  are  any
factors  (other than the conditions set forth in the  Commitment)
which  would  preclude  the successful consummation  of  the  BOA
Credit  Facility.   Buyer shall cooperate with the  syndicate  of
lending  institutions and use its best efforts to obtain the  BOA
Credit  Facility upon substantially the terms set  forth  in  the
Commitment.
   4.6.WARN ACT.
  Buyer  does  not currently contemplate taking any action  after
Closing  which  would  require  notification  under  the   Worker
Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act of 1988 to  have  been
given  on or prior to the Closing Date or which would create  any
material  liability  to the Sellers or any  of  their  Affiliates
thereunder.
   4.7.INVESTIGATION BY BUYER.
  Buyer has conducted its own independent review and analysis  of
the   business,  operations,  technology,  assets,   liabilities,
results of operations, financial condition and prospects  of  the
Company  and acknowledges that Sellers have provided  Buyer  with
access to the personnel, properties, premises and records of  the
Company for this purpose.  Buyer acknowledges that neither of the
Sellers  nor the Company nor any of their Affiliates,  directors,
officers, employees,  agents or representatives makes or has made
any representation or warranty, either express or implied, as  to
the  accuracy or completeness of any of the information  provided
or  made  available to Buyer, except as and only  to  the  extent
expressly  set  forth herein with respect to such representations
and  warranties  and subject to the limitations and  restrictions
contained in this Agreement.
                           ARTICLE V.
                CONDITIONS TO BUYER'S OBLIGATIONS

  The  obligations of Buyer at Closing shall be  subject  to  the
satisfaction,  at  or  prior  to the  Closing,  of  each  of  the
following conditions (unless waived in writing by Buyer):
   5.1.REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.
  Sellers'  representations and warranties set forth  in  Article
III  shall  have  been true and correct in all material  respects
when  made and shall be true and correct in all material respects
on  the Closing Date and as of the Effective Time as though  such
representations and warranties were made at and as of  such  date
and time, without giving effect to modifications to the Schedules
to  this Agreement which are delivered by Sellers to Buyer on  or
before the Closing Date, provided that upon completion of Closing
and payment of the Purchase Price by Buyer, such modifications to
the  Schedules also shall be effective under this Section 5.1 and
fulfillment of this condition shall be deemed effected.
   5.2.PERFORMANCE OF AGREEMENT.
  Sellers  and  the  Company  shall  have  fully  performed   and
complied  with  all covenants, conditions, and other  obligations
under this Agreement to be performed or complied with by them  at
or prior to Closing.
   5.3.APPROVALS.
  All  required consents and approvals from Governments and under
Material  Contracts  shall  have been obtained  and  all  waiting
periods required by Law shall have expired.
   5.4.NO ADVERSE PROCEEDING.
  No  action  shall  have been instituted by a  third  party  and
remain  pending before a grand jury or court or other  Government
entity
  (a)for  the purpose of enjoining or preventing the consummation
of this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated hereby,
or
  (b)which  claims  that  this Agreement, such  transactions,  or
their consummation, is illegal.
   5.5.CERTIFICATE.
  Sellers  shall have delivered to Buyer at Closing a certificate
of  each  of the Sellers, dated the Closing Date, and in  a  form
reasonably acceptable to Buyer, to the effect that the conditions
set  forth in Sections 5.1 through 5.4 have been satisfied, after
giving full effect to all modifications to the Schedules to  this
Agreement  which are delivered by Sellers to Buyer on  or  before
the Closing Date.
   5.6.RESIGNATIONS.
  Sellers   shall  have  delivered  to  Buyer  at   Closing   the
resignations, effective as of the Closing Date, of  the  officers
of the Company listed on Schedule 5.6 and of all directors of the
Company from all positions held with the Company.
   5.7.OPINION OF COUNSEL FOR SELLERS.
  Buyer  shall  have  received  an opinion  of  counsel  for  the
Sellers  addressed  to  Buyer  and dated  the  Closing  Date,  in
substantially  the  form  attached  at  Exhibit  D  hereto.    In
rendering  such  opinion, counsel may rely upon  certificates  of
public officials and upon certificates of officers of the Sellers
as  to  factual matters and on opinions of other counsel of  good
standing, whom such counsel believes to be reliable.
   5.8.GOOD STANDING CERTIFICATES.
  Sellers  shall  have  delivered to Buyer certificates  of  good
standing  of  the Company from the Secretaries of  State  of  the
following jurisdictions:  Delaware, Missouri and Florida.
   5.9.BANK OF AMERICA FINANCING
   Buyer shall have closed on and received the proceeds of the
BOA Credit Facility upon substantially the terms set forth in the
Commitment.

   5.10. LICENSE.
   Sellers shall have delivered to Company an executed license
agreement in the form of Exhibit F attached hereto.

                           ARTICLE VI.
               CONDITIONS TO SELLERS' OBLIGATIONS

  The  obligations of Sellers at Closing shall be subject to  the
satisfaction,  at  or  prior  to the Closing,  of  the  following
conditions (unless waived in writing by Sellers):
   6.1.REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.
  Buyer's representations and warranties set forth in Article  IV
shall  have  been true and correct in all material respects  when
made,  and shall be true and correct in all material respects  on
the  Closing  Date and as of the Effective Time  as  though  such
representations and warranties were made at and as of  such  date
and time.
   6.2.PERFORMANCE OF AGREEMENT.
  Buyer  shall  have  fully  performed  and  complied  with   all
covenants, conditions and other obligations under this  Agreement
to  be  performed  or  complied with by it at  or  prior  to  the
Closing.
   6.3.APPROVALS.
  All  required  consents and approvals from  Governments,  under
Material  Contracts  and from Sellers' lenders  shall  have  been
obtained  and  all  waiting periods required by  Law  shall  have
expired.
   6.4.NO ADVERSE PROCEEDING.
  No  action  shall  have been instituted by a  third  party  and
remain  pending before a grand jury or court or other  Government
entity
  (a)for  the purpose of enjoining or preventing the consummation
of this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated hereby,
or
  (b)which  claims  that  this Agreement, such  transactions,  or
their consummation, is illegal.
   6.5.CERTIFICATE.
  Buyer  shall  have  delivered  to  Sellers  at  the  Closing  a
certificate of Buyer executed by an executive officer  of  Buyer,
dated the Closing Date and in a form reasonable acceptable to the
Sellers,  to the effect that the conditions set forth in Sections
6.1 through 6.4 have been satisfied.
   6.6.TRANSITION SERVICES AGREEMENT.
  (a)The  Sellers  and  the Company shall  have  entered  into  a
Transition  Services  Agreement, substantially  in  the  form  of
Exhibit  C hereto (the "Transition Services Agreement"), pursuant
to  which the parties thereto shall agree to provide the services
described therein following the Closing, on the terms and subject
to the conditions set forth therein.
  (b)The  Transition  Services Agreement is  intended  to  ensure
that the separation of the Business from the other operations  of
the  Sellers  and  their  Affiliates, and  the  transfer  of  the
Business  to  the Buyer, will be accomplished without unnecessary
disruption of the operations of any of the affected parties,  and
to confirm that the services and cooperation from each such Party
which  is  required  in  this regard  will  be  provided  without
interruption  and on commercially reasonable terms.  The  Parties
shall   cooperate  in  finalizing  the  detailed  terms  of   the
Transition  Services  Agreement  in  order  to  accomplish  these
purposes for their mutual benefit.
   6.7.GOVERNMENT CONTRACT GUARANTEES; LOCS/ BONDS.
  (a)Prior  to  Closing,  Buyer and Sellers  shall  cooperate  in
requesting  the  beneficiaries of  the  guarantees  described  on
Schedule 6.7(a), which have been issued by Sellers in respect  of
Government  Contracts  ("Government  Contract  Guarantees"),   to
accept  guarantees  of  Buyer (or, with the consent  of  Sellers,
guarantees  of  one  of  its  Affiliates  or  other  Person)   on
substantially the same terms, and to cause Sellers to be released
from all liability under the Government Contract Guarantees.  Any
costs  incurred  in arranging for such substitution  and  release
shall be paid by the Buyer.
  (b)Prior  to  Closing,  Buyer and Sellers  shall  cooperate  in
requesting the beneficiaries of the letters of credit  and  bonds
described  on Schedule 6.7(b), which have been issued  to  secure
the  performance of the Company in respect of contracts and other
obligations  of the Company ("LOCs/Bonds") to accept  letters  of
credit  and  bonds issued or secured by Buyer, at  its  cost,  on
substantially the same terms, and to cause Sellers to be released
from all liability under the LOCs/Bonds.
  (c)Sellers'  release  from the Government  Contract  Guarantees
and  all LOCs/Bonds, effected in a manner satisfactory to Sellers
in  their  sole discretion, is a condition to the obligations  of
Seller at Closing.
   6.8.EMERSON GUARANTEES.
  Prior  to  Closing,  Buyer  and  Sellers  shall  cooperate   in
requesting the U.S. Government to accept the guarantee  of  Buyer
(or,  with  the  consent of Emerson, guarantees  of  one  of  its
Affiliates  or  other Person) in replacement  of  the  guarantees
which  have  been  issued  by Emerson ("Emerson  Guarantees")  in
connection  with the Government Contracts described  on  Schedule
6.8  on substantially the same terms, and to cause Emerson to  be
released  from  all liability under the Emerson  Guarantees.  Any
costs  incurred  in arranging for such substitution  and  release
shall  be paid by the Buyer.  Emerson's release from the  Emerson
Guarantees, effected in a manner satisfactory to Sellers in their
sole discretion, is a condition to the obligations of Sellers  at
Closing.
   6.9.OPINION OF COUNSEL FOR BUYER.
  Sellers  shall  have  received an opinion of  counsel  for  the
Buyer  addressed  to  Sellers  and dated  the  Closing  Date,  in
substantially  the  form  attached  at  Exhibit  E  hereto.    In
rendering  such  opinion, counsel may rely upon  certificates  of
public  officials and upon certificates of officers of the  Buyer
as  to  factual matters and on opinions of other counsel of  good
standing, whom such counsel believes to be reliable.
   6.10.  GOOD STANDING CERTIFICATES.
  Buyer  shall  have  delivered to Sellers certificates  of  good
standing from the Secretary of State of Missouri.
                          ARTICLE VII.
               ADDITIONAL COVENANTS OF THE PARTIES

   7.1.CONDUCT OF BUSINESS BEFORE CLOSING.
  Until the Closing, Sellers shall
  (a)cause  the  Company to operate the Business in the  ordinary
course  of  business,  except for such acts which  are  otherwise
permitted  under  this  Agreement, including  without  limitation
those provided in Sections 2.7 to 2.10,
  (b)not  take  or  permit the Company to take any  action  which
would  require  a material change to the disclosures  of  Sellers
pursuant  to  subsections 3.10(b) through 3.10(f) (including,  if
material,  an  addition to or deletion from the  disclosures  set
forth in such subsections), without the prior written consent  of
Buyer, and
  (c)not   permit   the  Company  to  amend   its   Articles   of
Incorporation or Bylaws.
  Further,  until  the Closing, and except as would  not  have  a
Material  Adverse Effect, Sellers agree to cause the  Company  to
use  its  reasonable  efforts  to  preserve  intact  its  present
business  organization,  keep  available  the  services  of   its
employees,  preserve its relationships with customers,  suppliers
and  others  having business dealings with it, and  maintain  its
tangible  assets  and  properties  in  at  least  their   current
condition and repair, reasonable wear and tear excepted.
   7.2.ACCESS TO RECORDS.
  (a)Until  the  Closing,  Sellers shall  cause  the  Company  to
afford  to authorized representatives of Buyer reasonable  access
during   normal  business  hours  to  all  personnel,   premises,
properties,  books, records and data of the Company  and  Sellers
but  only  insofar  as  they  relate to  the  operations  of  the
Business.   In  particular with respect to Taxes, to  the  extent
such  documents  relate  solely to the  Business,  Sellers  shall
provide  to  representatives of Buyer access to all  federal  and
state  income  and  franchise  Tax  Returns,  and  other  written
correspondence filed or submitted by the Company with or  to  the
relative taxing authorities with respect to all periods to  which
the  applicable  statute of limitations  remain  open,  and  will
produce for Buyer's inspection all sales, use, property and other
tax and information returns filed by the Company.
  (b)From  and  after the Closing, Buyer shall cause the  Company
upon reasonable notice to afford to authorized representatives of
Sellers  reasonable access during normal business hours  to  such
books,  records and personnel of the Company as the  Sellers  may
reasonably require
      (i)    to determine any matter relating to their rights and
   obligations hereunder or to any period ending on or before the
   Closing Date, or
      (ii)    to   prosecute   or  defend   any   litigation   or
   investigation by any Government or any Third Person (including
   without limitation Tax audits).
  (c)Upon  Sellers' reasonable request from time  to  time  after
Closing, Buyer shall cause the Company upon reasonable notice  to
afford to authorized representatives of Sellers reasonable access
during normal business hours to
      (i)     any   books,  records,  documents  and  information
   relating  to  the  human resource services  performed  by  the
   Company on behalf of the Sellers and their Affiliates prior to
   the  Closing Date, including payroll records, employee  files,
   benefit  files,  workers compensation records  and  any  other
   documentation relating to the current or former  employees  of
   Sellers or any of their Affiliates, and
      (ii)    any  books,  records,  documents  and  information,
   including  any  financial records, relating to Sellers,  their
   Affiliates,  their  businesses, the  Excluded  Assets  or  the
   Excluded Liabilities.
  (d)Upon  Buyer's  reasonable request from time  to  time  after
Closing, Sellers shall, upon reasonable notice, afford authorized
representatives  of the Buyer and the Company  reasonable  access
during normal business hours to any books, records, documents and
information,   including  any  financial  records   in   Sellers'
possession  or  under  Sellers' control relating  solely  to  the
Company,  the Business, the Additional Assets and the  Additional
Liabilities   or  otherwise  relating  to  Buyer's   rights   and
obligations  hereunder or any other obligations  of  the  Company
after the date hereof.
  (e)Notwithstanding  the foregoing, such books  and  records  in
the  possession of one Party but existing solely with respect  to
the  other  Party  shall  be transferred at  such  other  Party's
request.
  (f)Notwithstanding the foregoing, such access  and  information
shall  only  be given upon reasonable prior notice to  the  other
Party, and neither Party shall, by virtue of the obligations  set
forth herein, be required to take any actions which would:
      (i)    unreasonably interfere with the operations of  their
   respective businesses;
      (ii)    grant   access   to  any  of   their   proprietary,
   confidential or classified information; or
      (iii)   violate  any  Law,  Material  Contract   or   other
   obligation  of  either  of  the Parties  or  their  respective
   Affiliates.
   7.3.HSR FILING.
   The Parties shall cooperate with one another
  (a)in  determining  whether  an  HSR  filing  is  required   in
connection  with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement,
and
  (b)in   making  any  such  filing  and  furnishing  information
required  in connection therewith.  The filing fee for  any  such
HSR filing shall be paid by Buyer.
   7.4.EXON-FLORIO AMENDMENT.
  If  required, Buyer and Sellers agree to use their best efforts
to   compile   and  provide  the  information  and  documentation
necessary  for filing a joint Exon-Florio Amendment  notification
with the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, as
promptly  as  practicable after the date hereof.  Sellers  shall,
and  shall  cause  Company  to, use  all  reasonable  efforts  to
initiate  and obtain national interest determinations  ("NID(s)")
from  each of the Company customers that hold contracts requiring
access  to "proscribed" classified information.  Buyer agrees  to
use  all  reasonable  efforts to advise and assist  in  obtaining
these NID(s).
   7.5.PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENTS; CONFIDENTIALITY.
  (a)Neither  Party  to  this Agreement  shall  issue  any  press
release  or make any public statement with respect to  the  terms
hereof or the transactions contemplated hereby without the  prior
written consent of the other Party, except as required by Law  or
by  the rules and regulations of any national securities exchange
on which the securities of a Party is listed.
  (b)Buyer's  obligations  under  the  Confidentiality  Agreement
dated   September  15,  1998  between  Buyer  and   J.P.   Morgan
Securities,   Inc.   as   agent  for  Sellers   ("Confidentiality
Agreement")  remain in full force and effect; provided,  however,
that,  effective upon the Closing, the Confidentiality  Agreement
shall  terminate  with  respect to information  relating  to  the
Business transferred hereunder.
  (c)After the Closing, Buyer shall keep confidential, and  cause
its  Affiliates  and instruct its and their officers,  directors,
employees  and  advisors  to keep confidential,  all  information
relating  to  Sellers,  their  Affiliates  and  their  respective
business   and   personnel,  except  as  required   by   Law   or
administrative  process  and  except  for  information  which  is
available  to  the  public  on the Closing  Date,  or  thereafter
becomes  available to the public other than  as  a  result  of  a
breach of this Section.
  (d)After  the  Closing,  Sellers shall keep  confidential,  and
cause  their  Affiliates  and instruct its  and  their  officers,
directors,  employees  and  advisors to  keep  confidential,  all
information  relating to the Business, the Buyer and the  Buyer's
Affiliates,  except as required by Law or administrative  process
and  except for information which is available to the  public  on
the  Closing Date, or thereafter becomes available to the  public
other than as a result of a breach of this Section.
  (e)If  either of the Sellers or Buyer shall determine  that  it
may  be  required  by Law or administrative  process  to  make  a
disclosure  otherwise  prohibited  by  this  Section,  it   shall
promptly so advise the other Party and shall cooperate with  such
other  Party  and  take  such  actions  as  shall  be  reasonably
requested  by such other Party in order to prevent or limit  such
required disclosure.
   7.6.FURTHER ASSURANCES.
  From and after the Closing, the Parties shall do such acts  and
execute  such  documents and instruments  as  may  be  reasonably
required to make effective the transactions contemplated  hereby.
In  the  event that consents, approvals, other authorizations  or
other  acts  contemplated by this Agreement have not  been  fully
effected  as  of  Closing, the Parties will  continue  after  the
Closing, without further consideration, to use their best efforts
to  carry out such transactions; provided, however, in the  event
that certain approvals, consents or other necessary documentation
cannot  be  secured, then the Party having legal  responsibility,
ownership  or  control shall act on behalf of  the  other  Party,
without  further consideration, to effect the essential intention
of  the Parties with respect to the transactions contemplated  by
this Agreement.
   7.7.KNOWLEDGE OF BREACH;CURRENT INFORMATION.
  (a)If,  at  any time prior to Closing, Buyer obtains  knowledge
of  any  facts,  circumstances or situation  which  constitute  a
breach, or if known to Sellers would constitute such a breach, or
will  with the passage of time or the giving of notice constitute
a  breach, of any representation, warranty or covenant of Sellers
hereunder  or a failure of any conditions to Buyer's  obligations
under  this Agreement or the Schedules and Exhibits hereto, Buyer
shall  give Sellers prompt notice thereof and provide  Sellers  a
reasonable  opportunity  to  cure such  breach  or  satisfy  such
condition.  If Buyer fails to provide Sellers with notice of such
breach  within  the earlier of ten business days after  discovery
thereof  or  the  Closing  Date, Buyer shall  be  precluded  from
seeking indemnification with respect to such breach under Article
VIII hereto.
  (b)Sellers shall advise Buyer in writing promptly, but  in  any
event  prior to the Closing, of the occurrence of any event known
to  the Sellers which renders any of Sellers' representations  or
warranties set forth herein inaccurate in any material respect or
the  awareness of Sellers that any representation or warranty set
forth herein was not accurate in all material respects when made.
Between  the date hereof and the Closing Date, Sellers will  also
provide  Buyer  promptly upon becoming available, copies  of  all
monthly financial reports normally prepared by the Company.   If,
to  the knowledge of Sellers, any of the information disclosed on
any  Schedules hereto is incorrect (except for matters which,  in
the aggregate, would not have a Material Adverse Effect), Sellers
shall promptly prepare and deliver to Buyer updated Schedules  at
any time after the date hereof, but prior to the Closing.
   7.8.TAX MATTERS.
  (a)For  purposes of this Section, the following terms have  the
following meanings:
     "Seller Group" means, with respect to federal income  Taxes,
   the  affiliated group of corporations (as defined  in  Section
   1504(a)  of  the  Code) of which either of the  Sellers  is  a
   member and, with respect to state or local income or franchise
   Taxes,  the consolidated, combined or unitary group  of  which
   either of the Sellers or any of their Affiliates is a member.
     "Tax  Asset" means any net operating loss, net capital loss,
   investment   tax   credit,  foreign  tax  credit,   charitable
   deduction,  claim  for  refund or  any  other  credit  or  tax
   attribute   which  could  reduce  Taxes  (including,   without
   limitation,  deductions  and credits  related  to  alternative
   minimum  Taxes), provided, however, that such term  shall  not
   include the Tax basis of the Shares of the Company.
  (b)Sellers  will prepare and file, or cause to be prepared  and
filed, all Tax Returns for the Company required to be filed  with
the   appropriate  United  States,  state,  local   and   foreign
governmental entities for any taxable period of the Company  that
ends  on  or  before  the  Closing  Date  (the  "Pre-Closing  Tax
Period").   Sellers will prepare and, if required  to  do  so  by
applicable law, deliver to Buyer for signing and filing  any  Tax
Returns of the Company with respect to any Pre-Closing Tax Period
(including  any short period) that have not been filed  prior  to
the Closing Date.  Sellers will pay all Taxes required to be paid
with  respect to any such Tax Returns to the extent not reflected
on the Closing Financial Statements.
  (c)Except  as  otherwise  provided in Section  7.8(b)  or  (d),
Buyer  will prepare and file, or caused to be prepared and filed,
all  Tax  Returns for the Company that are required to  be  filed
with  the  appropriate United States, state,  local  and  foreign
governmental  entities  for all periods  as  to  which  such  Tax
Returns are due after the Closing Date.  Buyer will pay, or cause
to  be  paid, all Taxes required to be paid with respect to  such
Tax Returns.
  (d)With  respect  to  any taxable period that  would  otherwise
include  but  not  end  on  the  Closing  Date,  to  the   extent
permissible pursuant to applicable law, Sellers will,  and  Buyer
will  cause  the  Company to, take all steps as  are  or  may  be
reasonably  necessary, including, without limitation, the  filing
of  elections  or returns with applicable taxing authorities,  to
cause  such period to end on the Closing Date. In any case  where
applicable  law does not permit the Company to close its  taxable
year on the Closing Date, then Taxes, if any, attributable to the
taxable  period  of the Company that includes  the  Closing  Date
shall  be  allocated to Sellers for that portion of  the  taxable
period up to and including the Closing Date and to the Buyer  for
the portion of the taxable period subsequent to the Closing Date.
  (e)In  order to assist Sellers in the preparation  of  all  Tax
Returns  that Sellers are required to prepare pursuant to Section
7.8(b), Buyer will prepare, or cause the Company to prepare,  and
deliver to Sellers, within 90 days following the relevant taxable
period,  standard  Federal and state tax  return  data  gathering
packages relating to the Company.  In addition to providing  such
packages,  Buyer will promptly provide, or cause to be  provided,
to  Sellers  such  other  information as Sellers  may  reasonably
request  (including access to books, records  and  personnel)  in
order  for the operations of the Company to be properly  reported
in such Tax Returns, for the preparation for any Tax audit or for
the  prosecution  or  defense of any claims, suit  or  proceeding
relating to Taxes.
  (f)With  respect to any Tax Return of the Company  required  to
be  filed  by either Buyer or the Company after the Closing  Date
for  a taxable period that ends on or before the Closing Date  or
includes  the  Closing Date (whether or not such  taxable  period
ends  on  the Closing Date as provided in Section 7.8(d)),  Buyer
shall  provide Sellers and their authorized representatives  with
copies of such completed Tax Return at least 15 days prior to the
due  date  for filing of such Tax Return, and Sellers  and  their
authorized  representatives shall have the right to  review  such
Tax  Return prior to the filing thereof.  Buyer and Sellers agree
to  consult  and resolve in good faith any issues  arising  as  a
result  of  the  review of such Tax Return by  Sellers  or  their
authorized representatives prior to the filing of such Tax Return
and do mutually consent to the filing of such Tax Return.
  (g)Other  than  to the extent required by Law, Buyer  covenants
that it will not cause or permit the Company or any Affiliate  of
Buyer to amend any Tax Return or take any Tax position on any Tax
Return,  take any action, omit to take any action or  enter  into
any  transaction  that  results in  any  material  increased  tax
liability  or material reduction of any Tax Asset of  Sellers  or
the Seller Group in respect of any Pre-Closing Tax Period.  Other
than  to  the extent required by Law, Sellers covenant that  they
will  not cause or permit the Company or any Affiliate of Sellers
to  amend  any  Tax Return or take any Tax position  on  any  Tax
Return,  take  any  action  or enter into  any  transaction  that
results  in  any  material increased tax  liability  or  material
reduction of any Tax Asset of Buyer or the Company in respect  of
any Post-Closing Tax Period.
  (h)If,  with  respect to a Tax Return required to be  filed  by
the  Company,  Sellers reasonably determine that the  Company  is
entitled to file a claim for refund or an amended Tax Return with
respect  to a Pre-Closing Tax Period, Buyer shall, upon  Sellers'
reasonable request and at Sellers' reasonable expense, cause  the
Company  to  file all such claims or amended Tax  Returns.  Buyer
shall  cooperate with Sellers at Sellers' reasonable  expense  to
secure  claims  for  refunds pending  as  of  the  Closing  Date,
excluding,  however,  actions  in  connection  with  the   refund
described   on  Schedule  2.9(a)(iv),  which  matters   will   be
diligently pursued by Buyer at Buyer's reasonable expense.
  (i)Buyer  shall promptly pay or shall cause prompt  payment  to
be  made  to Sellers of all refunds of Taxes and interest thereon
received by, or credited against the Tax liability of Buyer,  any
Affiliate of Buyer, or the Company attributable to Taxes paid  by
Sellers, the Company or any Affiliate of Sellers with respect  to
any Pre-Closing Tax Period.
  (j)Buyer  shall  be  solely  liable  for  and  shall  pay   all
applicable sales, transfer, use, stamp, conveyance, value  added,
real  property  transfer,  recording, stock  transfer  and  other
similar  Taxes,  if  any, together with all recording  or  filing
fees, notarial fees and other similar costs of Closing, that  may
be   imposed  upon,  or  payable,  collectible  or  incurred   in
connection with any deemed sale of assets pursuant to any Section
338(h)(10)  Election (including an election pursuant  to  Section
338(g)  of  the  Code or a purported Section 338(h)(10)  Election
that is determined to be invalid or ineffective) or otherwise  as
a  result  of  the  transfer  of the assets  ("Transfer  Taxes").
Notwithstanding  the foregoing, Sellers shall  include  in  their
federal  consolidated income Tax Return or separate state  income
Tax  Return the income attributable to the deemed sale of  assets
pursuant   to  any  Section  338(h)(10)  Election  or  equivalent
election  under state law and any income Tax liability  resulting
therefrom.
   7.9.NONCOMPETITION; NONSOLICITATION.
  (a)For  a  period of five years from the Closing Date,  neither
of  the  Sellers nor any of their Affiliates shall engage in  any
business  that directly competes anywhere in the world  with  the
major  product lines of the Company as of the Closing Date, which
are  described  on  Schedule 7.9(a) (the "Restricted  Business");
provided that
      (i)   nothing herein shall prohibit
         (A)     the  acquisition  by Sellers  or  any  of  their
      Affiliates  of  a Person having not more than  10%  of  its
      sales   (based  on  its  latest  published  annual  audited
      financial   statements)  attributable  to  the   Restricted
      Business, or
         (B)   Sellers or their Affiliates (including the Comtrak
      Division) from continuing to produce and sell products sold
      as  of  the Closing Date or from producing and selling  any
      extensions or modifications of such products, and
      (ii)   the provisions of this paragraph shall automatically
   and immediately terminate upon the acquisition by a Person  of
   a  controlling  interest in ESCO via  an  acquisition  of  the
   shares of ESCO, a merger of ESCO with or into such Person,  an
   acquisition  of all or substantially all of the ESCO's  assets
   or  any similar transaction, if such Person is engaged in  the
   Restricted Business immediately prior to such transaction.
  (b)For  a  period of five years from the Closing Date,  neither
Buyer  nor  any  of  its Affiliates including the  Company  shall
engage  in  any business that directly competes anywhere  in  the
world with the business carried on by the Comtrak Division as  of
the  Closing  Date,  which is described on Schedule  7.9(b)  (the
"Comtrak Business"); provided that
      (i)   nothing herein shall prohibit
         (A)     the  acquisition by Buyer or the  Company  of  a
      Person having not more than 10% of its sales (based on  its
      latest   published  annual  audited  financial  statements)
      attributable to the Comtrak Business, or
         (B)    Buyer  or  the  Company  (excluding  the  Comtrak
      Division) from continuing to produce and sell products sold
      as  of  the Closing Date or from producing and selling  any
      extensions or modifications of such products, and
      (ii)   the provisions of this paragraph shall automatically
   and immediately terminate upon the acquisition by a Person  of
   a  controlling  interest in Buyer via an  acquisition  of  the
   shares  of Buyer, a merger of Buyer with or into such  Person,
   an  acquisition  of all or substantially all  of  the  Buyer's
   assets  or any similar transaction, if such Person is  engaged
   in   the   Comtrak   Business  immediately   prior   to   such
   transaction.
  (c)Sellers  agree  that  for a period of  two  years  from  the
Closing  Date,  neither  they nor any of their  Affiliates  shall
solicit  any  employee of the Company to become  an  employee  of
Seller or such Affiliate without the prior written consent of the
Company, such consent not to be unreasonable withheld.
  (d)If  any  provision contained in this Section shall  for  any
reason  be held invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect,
such  invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect
any  other provisions of this Section, but this Section shall  be
construed  as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision
had  never  been  contained herein. It is the  intention  of  the
Parties  that  if any of the restrictions or covenants  contained
herein  is held to cover a geographic area or to be for a  length
of  time which is not permitted by applicable Law, or in any  way
construed  to  be  too  broad  or to  any  extent  invalid,  such
provision  shall  not be construed to be null,  void  and  of  no
effect,  but  to  the extent such provision  would  be  valid  or
enforceable   under   applicable  Law,  a  court   of   competent
jurisdiction shall construe and interpret or reform this  Section
to   provide  for  a  covenant  having  the  maximum  enforceable
geographic  area, time period and other provisions  (not  greater
than  those  contained herein) as shall be valid and  enforceable
under such applicable Law. Each Party acknowledges that the other
Party  would be irreparably harmed by any breach of this  Section
and  that there would be no adequate remedy at law or in  damages
to  compensate such other Party for any such breach.  Each  Party
agrees  that  the  other  Party shall be entitled  to  injunctive
relief requiring specific performance by such other Party of this
Section, and each Party consents to the entry thereof.
   7.10.  EXCLUDED ASSETS AND EXCLUDED LIABILITIES.
  (a)Buyer  and Sellers shall cooperate with each other  to  give
effect to the intended transfer by the Company to the Sellers  or
one  of  their Affiliates of the Excluded Assets and the Excluded
Liabilities in accordance with the terms of Section 2.9.  Without
limiting  the above, Buyer shall furnish or cause to be furnished
to    Sellers    (subject   to   any   reasonable   request    of
confidentiality),  upon  request,  as  promptly   as   reasonably
practicable,  such  information (including access  to  books  and
records)  and  assistance (including assistance  from  personnel)
relating  to the Excluded Assets and the Excluded Liabilities  as
is reasonably necessary for the filing of any return, preparation
for  any audit, the prosecution or defense of any claim, suit  or
proceeding,  or  otherwise  reasonably  necessary  to  allow  the
Parties to have the benefit of the assets and rights intended  to
be  retained  by  or  transferred to  them,  or  to  perform  the
obligations  they are responsible for in respect of the  Excluded
Assets  and the Excluded Liabilities. Buyer shall give notice  to
Sellers  prior to the transfer, discarding or destroying  of  any
such books and records and shall allow Sellers to take possession
of  such books and records (subject to any reasonable request  of
confidentiality).
  (b)Sellers'  rights and responsibility for  any  litigation  or
other  legal proceedings relating to the Excluded Assets  or  the
Excluded   Liabilities  shall  include  the  legal   defense   or
prosecution, as the case may be, thereof.
  (c)Buyer  shall cause the Company to use reasonable efforts  to
pursue the claim for refund of Missouri sales/use taxes described
on  Schedule  2.9(a)(iv) and shall remit to Sellers,  immediately
upon  receipt, 60% of the gross amount received by Buyer  or  the
Company in respect of such claim.  Buyer further shall deliver to
Sellers  on  a  fiscal-year quarterly basis, within a  reasonable
time  after  the end of each such quarter, an accounting  of  all
such receipts and the remissions to Sellers.
  (d)Buyer  and Sellers shall execute and deliver such  documents
or  other instruments or certificates as are reasonably necessary
to carry out the intent of this Section.
   7.11.  INTERCOMPANY ARRANGEMENTS.
  (a)Schedule  7.11 is a listing of existing purchase  orders  or
similar  documents and arrangements between the Company  and  the
Sellers  or  other  Affiliates of the Sellers (the  "Intercompany
Purchase  Orders").   Prior  to  the  Closing,  the  Intercompany
Purchase  Orders  shall be converted to contractual  arrangements
under  which  the price to be paid by the purchaser shall  be  as
follows:
     (i)with respect to Intercompany Purchase Orders between  the
  Company and Rantec Microwave & Electronics, Inc. ("Rantec")  or
  PTI  Technologies Inc., a firm fixed price equal to the current
  prices;
     (ii)   with  respect  to  the Intercompany  Purchase  Orders
  between  the Company and Distribution Control Systems, Inc.,  a
  firm fixed price equal to the currently established prices  for
  the remaining work (backlog) increased by 20%; and
     (iii)  with  respect  to  the Intercompany  Purchase  Orders
  concerning  the  Comtrak  Business,  a  price  equal  to   that
  calculated as provided in paragraph (c) below.
Such  contracts  shall, except as to such pricing terms,  reflect
the scope of work, delivery schedule and other material terms  as
in  effect  under  the  Intercompany Purchase  Orders  and  shall
otherwise reflect the standard terms and conditions used  by  the
purchaser  in  the  ordinary course of business  for  contractual
arrangements with other third parties.
  (b)In  addition  to the above and for a period of  three  years
after  Closing, Sellers agree, to the extent possible considering
available  manpower and expertise, that it shall cause Rantec  or
its  successors to offer to provide spare parts, repair  services
and  other  technical services in connection with the F5,  Combat
Talon  and AWADS product lines at prices, terms and schedules  to
be  reasonably negotiated by Rantec (or its successors)  and  the
Company.  In the event that Rantec (or its successors) is  unable
to  offer such products and services, Sellers shall require  that
Rantec  (or  its  successors) notify the Company  and  offer  the
Company  the opportunity to purchase such data, drawings, tooling
and  special  test  equipment  in its  possession  necessary  for
production of the Products.
  (c)In  addition  to the above and for a period of  three  years
after  Closing, Buyer agrees, to the extent possible  considering
available manpower and expertise, that it shall cause the Company
to  offer to Sellers engineering services in connection with  the
Sellers operation of the Comtrak Business.  The provision of such
engineering  services  shall be at a  price  to  Sellers  of  the
Company's   fully-burdened   cost  exclusive   of   general   and
administrative costs, plus an additional 20% and  on  such  other
terms as the Parties may agree from time to time.
   7.12.  OTHER SELLER GUARANTEES..
  As  promptly as practicable after Closing, Buyer shall replace,
at  its  own cost, all guarantees issued by Sellers in connection
with  the  Business other than the Government Contract Guarantees
(the  "Other  Seller Guarantees") with guarantees of  Buyer  (or,
with  the consent of Sellers, guarantees of one of its Affiliates
or  other  Person)  on substantially the same  terms,  and  cause
Sellers to be released from all liability under the Other  Seller
Guarantees.  To the knowledge of Sellers, all of the Other Seller
Guarantees  are  listed  on Schedule 7.12,  but  the  failure  to
include a guarantee on Schedule 7.12 shall not relieve Buyer from
its obligations under the foregoing sentence.
   7.13.  PLANS; EMPLOYEE BENEFITS.
  (a)As  of  the Effective Time, all of the Plans of the  Company
described on Schedule 7.13(a), including the assets of such Plans
as  described on Schedule 7.13(a), shall be transferred to Buyer,
and Buyer shall assume the Plans and all liabilities relating  to
and arising out of such Plans as described on Schedule 7.13(a).
  (b)As of the Effective Time, (i) any Transferred Employees  who
are  participants  in the ESCO Retirement Plan  shall  no  longer
participate in such plan, (ii) the assets of the ESCO  Retirement
Plan in respect of the Transferred Employees shall be transferred
in  accordance with the assumptions set forth on Schedule 7.13(b)
and  in  compliance with Section 414(1) of the Code  and  Section
4044  of  ERISA  to a retirement plan of Buyer  or  an  Affiliate
thereof which is qualified under Code 401, and (iii) Buyer shall
assume  all liabilities under the ESCO Retirement Plan in respect
of  all of the Transferred Employees except for any liability  to
the  U.S.  Government relating to assets of the  ESCO  Retirement
Plan  not  transferred  to the Buyer or an  Affiliate  under  the
Federal Acquisition Regulation, the Cost Accounting Standards  or
any  other  government  procurement law  or  regulation  and  any
liability  to  Persons  arising out of the  Sellers'  failure  to
transfer  to Buyer or an Affiliate the legally required  quantity
of assets of the ESCO Retirement Plan to be transferred upon sale
of the Company.
  (c)As of the Effective Time, (i) any Transferred Employees  who
are  participants  in the ESCO Employee Savings  Investment  Plan
(the "ESCO Savings Plan") shall no longer actively participate in
such  plan.  The  account balances of such Transferred  Employees
will  remain  in  the  ESCO Savings Plan and may  be  distributed
therefrom in accordance with the terms of the plan.
  (d)As   of   the  Effective  Time,  Buyer  shall   assume   all
obligations  of  Sellers and any of their Affiliates  to  provide
retiree  welfare  benefits to Transferred  Employees,  and  Buyer
shall assume all liabilities of Sellers and their Affiliates,  as
identified  on  Schedule 7.13(d), relating to or arising  out  of
such benefits.
  (e)Buyer  shall  assume,  as  of the  Effective  Time,  all  of
Sellers'   obligations  to  Transferred   Employees   under   the
supplemental pension or welfare plans, arrangements or agreements
with  Transferred Employees identified on Schedule 7.13(e) (i.e.,
plans  other than those identified on Schedule 3.18(a) and  which
are sponsored by Sellers), and neither of the Sellers nor any  of
their  Affiliates shall have any liability with respect  to  such
plans,  arrangements  or agreements.  As of the  Effective  Time,
Transferred   Employees   who   participate   in   the   Sellers'
Supplemental  Executive  Retirement  Plan  shall  cease  accruing
benefits thereunder.
  (f)Except as noted below, for a period not less than  120  days
following the Closing Date and not extending beyond September 30,
2000,   Seller  shall,  subject  to  approval  of  the  carriers,
insurers,  reinsurers  and providers, as  applicable,  allow  the
Buyer,  at  Buyer's  cost,  to continue  to  provide  Transferred
Employees medical and dental benefits under the same medical  and
dental plans in which they participated immediately prior to  the
Closing  Date.  To  the  extent any  such  Transferred  Employees
participated  in self-funded medical or dental plans  immediately
prior   to   the   Closing  Date,  such  Transferred   Employees'
participation  therein shall terminate as of  the  Closing  Date,
except  that  (i)  the Sellers shall continue to  reimburse  such
Transferred Employees, in accordance with the provisions  of  the
applicable plans, for claims submitted thereunder during the  90-
day  period  commencing  on  the Closing  Date  which  relate  to
expenses  incurred prior to the Closing Date and (ii)  the  Buyer
shall  reimburse  such Transferred Employees, in accordance  with
the  provisions and procedures of the applicable plans,  for  any
claims submitted after such 90-day period.
  (g)As   of   the  Effective  Time,  Buyer  shall   assume   all
obligations  of  Sellers and any of their Affiliates  to  provide
coverage  and benefits to Transferred Employees (and  any  Person
obtaining  such  coverage  and  benefits  through  a  Transferred
Employee)  under Sections 601-609 of the Employee Retiree  Income
Security Act of 1974, as amended, and Section 4980B of the  Code,
and Buyer shall assume all obligations and liabilities of Sellers
and  their Affiliates relating to or arising out of such coverage
and benefits.
  (h)Except  as  specifically set forth in  Sections  7.13(a)-(g)
above, as of the Effective Time,
      (i)    Transferred  Employees (and their beneficiaries  and
   dependents)  shall  no  longer  actively  participate  in  any
   employee benefit plan or arrangement maintained by Sellers  or
   any of their Affiliates, and
      (ii)    Buyer  and the Company shall assume or  retain  (as
   applicable) all liabilities relating to Transferred  Employees
   (and their beneficiaries and dependents).
  (i)  Buyer  will  provide  as  of the  Closing  Date,  for  all
Transferred  Employees,  compensation,  employee  benefit  plans,
programs and policies and fringe benefits that are comparable  on
an  aggregate  basis  with  the compensation,  employee  benefits
plans, programs, policies and fringe benefits
      (i)    which  the  Company  provided  to  such  Transferred
   Employees  immediately  prior to  the  Closing  Date  and  the
   Sellers  provided  to  such Transferred Employees  immediately
   prior to the Closing Date under the ESCO Retirement Plan, or
      (ii)  which are enjoyed by similarly situated employees  of
   the Buyer.
   7.14.  ADDITIONAL EMERSON GUARANTEED CONTRACTS.
  From  and after the Closing, the Buyer will not cause or permit
the  Company  to  enter into any Government  Contracts  or  other
agreements,  or  any extension, renewal or modification  thereof,
which  would  result  in any further liability  on  the  part  of
Emerson  in respect thereof, whether under the Emerson Guarantees
or  otherwise, except with the prior written consent  of  Emerson
and the Sellers.
   7.15.  CLOSING OUT OF GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS.
  From  and  after the Closing, the Buyer will cause the  Company
to  diligently  pursue  the administrative  closing  out  of  all
Government Contracts in respect of which the performance  by  the
Company has been completed.
   7.16.  AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF THE COMPANY.
  (a)At  least  five (5) days prior to the Closing  Date  in  the
case  of  the 1997 and 1998 below-described financial  statements
and  within sixty (60) days after the Closing in the case of  the
1999 below-described financial statements, Sellers shall cause to
be  provided to Buyer the following audited financial  statements
of the Company, as prepared in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles consistently applied:
     (i)balance  sheets of the Company as of September  30,  1998
  and September 30, 1999,
     (ii)   statements  of income of the Company  for  the  years
  ended September 30, 1997, September 30, 1998 and September  30,
  1999,
     (iii)  statements of cash flows of the Company for the years
  ended September 30, 1997, September 30, 1998 and September  30,
  1999,
     (iv)   statements  of shareholders equity at  September  30,
  1997, September 30, 1998 and September 30, 1999, and
     (v)    all  related  footnotes  to the  foregoing  financial
       statements.
The  foregoing financial statements shall be prepared at  Buyer's
expense;  provided, however, that Sellers shall pay the costs  of
the audit of the year-end September 30, 1999 financial statements
except  that, to the extent that the costs incurred in connection
with  the  audit  of  the  Company's  fiscal  year-end  financial
statements  as  of September 30, 1999, exceed the costs  normally
incurred  by  ESCO in the audit of its fiscal year-end  financial
statements  which  are  attributable to the  Company,  Buyer  and
Sellers shall share such excess costs equally.
  (b)Payment shall be made by Buyer to Sellers within  five  days
of  submission by Sellers to Buyer of an invoice for Third  Party
charges  which are billed to Sellers with respect  to  the  costs
associated with paragraph (a) above.
   7.17.  EMERLEC-30
   Within 60 days after Closing, the Company shall provide Seller
with a copy of the EMERLEC-30 drawing package, source-coded bill
of material and any related technical documentation which will be
utilized by ESL Limited for use on the Vosper\Saudi Minehunter
program.

                          ARTICLE VIII.
                         INDEMNIFICATION

   8.1.INDEMNIFICATION BY SELLERS.
  Subject  to  the limitations of Section 8.2 below, the  Sellers
shall  indemnify and hold harmless the Buyer and, from and  after
the  Closing, the Company and each of their respective Affiliates
and the shareholders, directors, employees, officers, successors,
permitted  assigns  and  agents  of  each  of  them  (the  "Buyer
Indemnified  Persons") against all liabilities, losses,  damages,
costs and expenses reasonably incurred by them as a result of:
  (a)Any   misrepresentation,  breach   of   warranty   or   non-
fulfillment  of  any agreement on the part of the  Sellers  under
this  Agreement, or any misrepresentation in any  certificate  or
other  instrument furnished or to be furnished by the Sellers  to
the  Buyer under this Agreement, after giving full effect to  all
modifications  to  the  Schedules to  this  Agreement  which  are
delivered by Sellers to Buyer on or before the Closing Date;
  (b)Any  failure  or  delay  on  the  part  of  the  Sellers  in
satisfying the conditions to the Closing as provided herein or in
fulfilling  its obligation to sell the Shares in accordance  with
this Agreement;
  (c)Any Taxes imposed on or asserted against the Company,  Buyer
or  any  of  Buyer's  Affiliates  (including  any  transferee  or
successor  liability  arising  pursuant  to  Treasury  Regulation
Section  1.1502-6 or any comparable provisions of  any  state  or
local  law)  (or any claim therefor) by any Government  authority
for  any taxable period (or a portion thereof) ending on or prior
to  the  Closing  Date arising out of the Business  conducted  or
transactions by the Sellers or the Company occurring prior to the
Closing Date;
  (d)   The Excluded Liabilities;
  (e)   Any liability to the U.S. Government relating to assets of
the ESCO Retirement Plan not transferred to Buyer or an Affiliate
under  the  Federal Acquisition Regulation, the  Cost  Accounting
Standards  or any other government procurement law or regulation,
and  any liability (or any claim thereof) to Persons arising  out
of  Sellers'  failure to transfer to Buyer or  an  Affiliate  the
legally  required quantity of assets of the ESCO Retirement  Plan
to be transferred upon sale of the Company; and
  (f)All   actions,  suits,  proceedings,  judgments,  settlement
payments,  costs  and  expenses (including  attorneys'  fees  and
expenses)  reasonably  incurred  by  the  Company  or  the  Buyer
incident to any of the foregoing;
provided, that any such amounts shall
      (i)    be  computed  considering the  Tax  benefit  to  the
   indemnified person arising from the indemnified matter, and
      (ii)   not include or be recoverable by any Person  to  the
   extent  covered  by  insurance available  to  the  indemnified
   person.
     Buyer,   its  employees,  agents,  directors,  officers   or
shareholders shall not actively seek the involvement of any Third
Person  to  assert a claim against Buyer, the Company or  Sellers
unless required to do so by law.
   8.2.LIMITATIONS ON LIABILITY OF SELLERS.
  Notwithstanding  the foregoing provisions of  Section  8.1  and
except as otherwise provided below:
  (a)If  the  Buyer  shall fail to disclose to  the  Sellers  its
knowledge  of an anticipated claim for indemnification  hereunder
which  is  required  to be disclosed prior to the  Closing  under
Section   7.7,   the   Buyer  shall  not  have   any   right   to
indemnification under Section 8.1 in respect of such claim.
  (b)The  Sellers shall not have any liability under Section  8.1
in  respect of any individual claim (or group of related  claims)
in  an amount less than $50,000.  For purposes of this paragraph,
claims  will be deemed to be part of a "group of related  claims"
if  all  of  the claims arise out of a single underlying  set  of
circumstances.
  (c)The  Sellers shall not have any liability under Section  8.1
except   to  the  extent  that  the  aggregate  amount   of   the
indemnification obligation of the Sellers thereunder shall exceed
$500,000 (the "Deductible").
  (d)  The  Sellers  shall have no liability  under  Section  8.1
except  in  respect of matters as to which the Buyer  shall  have
asserted  a  claim in the manner set forth in Section 8.4  hereof
prior to the first anniversary of the Closing Date, provided that
claims  in respect of environmental matters arising under Section
3.13  may  be asserted at any time prior to the fifth anniversary
of  the  Closing Date and provided further that claims in respect
of Tax matters and the Plans may be asserted at any time prior to
the expiration of the applicable statutes of limitations therefor
(or any extensions thereof in the case of Tax matters).
  (e)The  aggregate  liability of the Sellers under  Section  8.1
shall  not  exceed  $17,500,000 (Seventeen Million  Five  Hundred
Thousand).
  The  foregoing limitations of liability shall not apply to  nor
restrict  or  limit  in  any manner a Buyer Indemnified  Person's
entitlement to indemnification under Section 8.1 for  matters  in
respect of the Excluded Liabilities.
   8.3.INDEMNIFICATION BY BUYER.
  The  Buyer  shall indemnify and hold harmless the  Sellers  and
their  Affiliates  and  the  shareholders,  directors,  officers,
employees,  successors, permitted assigns and agents of  each  of
them  (the "Seller Indemnified Persons") against all liabilities,
losses,  damages, costs and expenses reasonably incurred by  them
as a result of:
 (a)Any  liabilities  or obligations of, or claims  against,  the
Company  based  on  any event occurring at  any  time  after  the
Closing Date;
 (b)Any  claim, liability or obligation which may be incurred  by
the  Sellers or asserted against the Sellers which are  based  on
any  acts, events, conditions or omissions after the Closing Date
and  which are based on the conduct of the Business by the  Buyer
or the Company;
 (c)Except   as   otherwise  provided   in   Section   7.8,   all
liabilities and claims of or asserted against the Sellers by  any
federal,  state or local taxing authorities, or relating  to  any
tax liability of the Buyer or the Company, to the extent that any
such  claim shall relate to the operations of or transactions  by
Buyer or the Company after the Closing Date;
 (d)Any   misrepresentation,   breach   of   warranty   or   non-
fulfillment of any agreement on the part of the Buyer under  this
Agreement, or any misrepresentation in any certificate  or  other
instrument  furnished or to be furnished  by  the  Buyer  to  the
Sellers under this Agreement;
 (e)Any  failure or delay on the part of the Buyer in  satisfying
the conditions to the Closing as provided herein or in fulfilling
its  obligations  to acquire the Shares in accordance  with  this
Agreement;
 (f)The   Additional  Liabilities,  except  to  the   extent   of
Sellers' indemnity obligations under Section 8.1(e) hereof;
 (g)Any  failure  or  delay  on the part  of  the  Buyer  or  the
Company in satisfying the obligations and liabilities assumed  by
the Buyer or retained by the Company pursuant to Section 7.13;
 (h)The  loss  of  any  deduction or imposition  of  any  tax  or
penalty  pursuant to Section 280G of the Code resulting from  any
payment  or other action by Buyer or the Company (other than  the
payment  by  the Company of the transaction bonuses described  on
Schedules  3.10  and  3.14(a)  on  behalf  of  the  Sellers)   in
connection with the transactions contemplated hereby;
 (i)Any  claim, liability or obligation which may be incurred  by
the Sellers or asserted against the Sellers following the Closing
under  any  Government  Contract  Guarantees,  LOCs/Bonds,  Other
Seller Guarantees or any Emerson Guarantees;
 (j)Any  liability to the U.S. Government relating to  assets  of
the ESCO Retirement Plan transferred to the Buyer or an Affiliate
under  the  Federal  Acquisition  Regulation,  the  Cost  Account
Standards  or any other government procurement law or regulation;
and
 (k)All   actions,  suits,  proceedings,  judgments,   settlement
payments,  costs  and  expenses (including reasonable  attorneys'
fees and expenses) incident to any of the foregoing;
provided, that any such amounts shall
      (i)    be  computed  considering the  Tax  benefit  to  the
   indemnified person arising from the indemnified matter, and
      (ii)   not include or be recoverable by any Person  to  the
   extent  covered  by  insurance available  to  the  indemnified
   person.
   8.4.NOTICE OF CLAIM.

  In  the event that Buyer seeks indemnification on behalf  of  a
Buyer  Indemnified  Person, or Sellers  seek  indemnification  on
behalf  of  a  Seller  Indemnified  Person,  such  Party  seeking
indemnification  (the "Indemnified Party") shall give  reasonably
prompt   written  notice  to  the  Party  from  which  it   seeks
indemnification (the "Indemnifying Party") specifying  the  facts
constituting  the  basis for such claim and the  amount,  to  the
extent  known, of the claim asserted.  The Parties shall  attempt
for  not  less  than 30 days to negotiate a mutually satisfactory
resolution of such matter.  In the event the Parties are not able
to  agree on a mutually satisfactory resolution, either Party may
seek  to  resolve  the  dispute by litigation  in  any  court  of
competent jurisdiction in accordance with Section 9.9.
   8.5.RIGHT TO CONTEST CLAIMS OF THIRD PERSONS.
  If   an   Indemnified  Party  is  entitled  to  indemnification
hereunder because of a claim asserted by any claimant other  than
an   indemnified  person  hereunder  (a  "Third   Person"),   the
Indemnified  Party shall give the Indemnifying  Party  reasonably
prompt written notice thereof.  The Indemnifying Party shall have
the  right,  upon  written notice to the Indemnified  Party,  and
using  counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified  Party,
to investigate, contest or settle the claim alleged by such Third
Person  (a  "Third-Person  Claim");  the  Indemnified  Party  may
thereafter  participate in (but not control) the defense  of  any
such  Third-Person Claim with its own counsel at its own expense.
If the Indemnifying Party shall fail to assume the defense of any
such Third-Person Claim,
  (a)  the  Indemnified Party, in good faith, may defend  against
such claim, in such manner as it may deem appropriate, including,
but not limited to, settling such claim, after giving at least 30
days  advance  written notice of any proposed settlement  to  the
Indemnifying  Party and receiving the Indemnifying Party's  prior
written consent, which may not be unreasonably withheld, on  such
terms  as  the  Indemnified  Party,  in  good  faith,  may   deem
appropriate, and
  (b)   the  Indemnifying  Party  may  participate  in  (but  not
control) the defense of such action, with its own counsel at  its
own  expense.  The Parties shall make available to each other all
relevant  information in their possession relating  to  any  such
Third-Person Claim and shall cooperate in the defense thereof.
   8.6.EXCLUSIVE REMEDY.
  The  provisions  of  this  Article VIII  shall  constitute  the
exclusive  remedy  of  the Parties with  respect  to  any  claims
resulting from or arising out of the provisions of this Agreement
or  the transactions contemplated hereby, whether based on  tort,
contract,   Law,  investigation  by  Government,   or   otherwise
resulting  from  or arising out of the transactions  contemplated
hereby  which may be asserted after the Closing.  Except for  the
time  periods  otherwise provided in Sections 7.9 or  8.2(d)  and
except  for  the  Parties' respective obligations and  agreements
concerning  the  Excluded Assets and Excluded  Liabilities  which
shall   survive   the   Closing  indefinitely,   the   covenants,
agreements, warranties and representations entered into  or  made
pursuant to this Agreement shall survive the Closing for a period
of  one year, unless a claim with respect thereto shall have been
timely  asserted, in which case the survival period for any  such
matter shall extend until the final resolution of the claim.
                           ARTICLE IX.
                    MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

   9.1.TERMINATION OF THE AGREEMENT.
  This  Agreement  may be terminated at any  time  prior  to  the
Closing Date
  (a)by mutual written agreement of the Parties,
  (b)by  either Party if the Closing shall not have  occurred  on
or before October 31, 1999,
  (c)by  either  Party  (the "Terminating Party")  if  the  other
Party  shall  violate  any of its obligations  hereunder  in  any
material  respect  and if such violation shall not  be  corrected
within  10  days following delivery of a written notice  of  such
violation from the Terminating Party to the other Party, or
  (d)by  either  Party  if  there shall be  any  Law  that  makes
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby  illegal  or
otherwise  prohibited  or  if consummation  of  the  transactions
contemplated  hereby  would  violate  any  nonappealable,   final
judgment,  injunction, order or decree of any court or Government
body having competent jurisdiction.

   9.2.NOTICE.
  All   notices,   requests,  demands  and  other  communications
required  or permitted under this Agreement shall be  in  writing
and  shall be deemed to have been duly given and made upon  being
delivered  to the recipient Party by recognized courier  service,
fax  delivery (with confirmation of receipt) or by registered  or
certified  mail (postage prepaid, return receipt requested),  and
addressed to the applicable address set forth below or such other
address  as  may  be  designated  in  writing  hereafter  by  the
recipient Party:
                    If to Buyer or to Engineered Support Systems,
                    Inc.:

                    Engineered Systems and Electronics, Inc.
                    1270 North Price Road
                    St. Louis, Missouri  63132
                    Attn:  Gary C. Gerhardt
                    Fax:  (314) 993-4615

                    With copies to:

                    David D. Mattern, Esquire
                    1270 North Price Road
                    St. Louis, Missouri  63132
                    Fax:  (314) 519-8579


                    Wittner, Poger, Spewak & Maylack, P.C.
                    7700 Bonhomme, Suite 400
                    Clayton, Missouri  63105
                    Attn:  David Spewak
                    Fax:  (314) 862-5741


                    If to Sellers:

                    ESCO Electronics Corporation
                    8888 Ladue Road, Suite 200
                    St. Louis, Missouri 63124-2090
                    Attention:  General Counsel

                    Fax:  (314) 213-7215


                    With a copy to:

                    Bryan Cave LLP
                    One Metropolitan Square
                    211 North Broadway, Suite 3600
                    St. Louis, Missouri  63102

                    Attention:  Frederick W. Bartelsmeyer

                    Fax:  (314) 259-2020

   9.3.ENTIRE AGREEMENT.
  This  Agreement,  the  joinder of Engineered  Support  Systems,
Inc.,   the  Schedules  hereto,  the  Exhibits  hereto  and   the
Confidentiality  Agreement constitute the  entire  agreement  and
understanding  between the Parties hereto  with  respect  to  the
subject matter hereof and supersede all prior and contemporaneous
agreements and understandings relative to such subject matter.
   9.4.ASSIGNMENT; BINDING AGREEMENT.
  This   Agreement   and  the  rights  and  obligations   arising
hereunder shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of
the  Parties  and  to their respective successors  and  permitted
assigns.    Neither  this  Agreement  nor  any  of  the   rights,
interests,   or  obligations  hereunder  shall  be   transferred,
delegated,  or  assigned (by operation of law  or  otherwise)  by
either  of the Parties without the prior written consent  of  the
other Party; provided, however, Buyer may, without the consent of
the  Sellers, transfer and assign its rights and interests  under
this  Agreement, subject to any right of set-off of  the  Sellers
under  Article VIII of the Agreement, to its lender(s) under  the
BOA Credit Facility.
   9.5.COUNTERPARTS.
  This  Agreement  may  be  executed simultaneously  in  multiple
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but  all
of  which  taken  together  shall constitute  one  and  the  same
instrument.
   9.6.HEADINGS; INTERPRETATION.
  The  article  and section headings contained in this  Agreement
are inserted for convenience only and shall not affect in any way
the  meaning or interpretation of the Agreement.  Each  reference
in  this  Agreement to an Article, Section, Schedule or  Exhibit,
unless otherwise indicated, shall mean an Article or a Section of
this  Agreement  or  a  Schedule  or  Exhibit  attached  to  this
Agreement,  respectively.  References herein  to  "days,"  unless
otherwise indicated, are to consecutive calendar days.   Material
contained  in  the Schedules is sometimes below  the  materiality
threshold applicable to such Schedule, and the inclusion of  such
material  shall  not affect the interpretation  of  the  intended
materiality threshold in the event a dispute arises with  respect
such    interpretation.    Both   Parties    have    participated
substantially  in the negotiation and drafting of this  Agreement
and  agree  that no ambiguity herein should be construed  against
either Party.
   9.7.EXPENSES.
  Each  of  the  Parties shall bear its own  costs  and  expenses
incurred  in  connection  with the negotiation,  preparation  and
execution  of  this  Agreement  and  the  consummation   of   the
transactions contemplated hereby, including, without  limitation,
fees and expenses of attorneys and accountants.
   9.8.GOVERNING LAW.
  This   Agreement  shall  in  all  respects  be   construed   in
accordance with and governed by the substantive laws of the State
of Missouri, without reference to its choice of law rules.
   9.9.JURISDICTION.
  Except  as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement,  any
suit,  action or proceeding seeking to enforce any provision  of,
or based on any matter arising out of or in connection with, this
Agreement  or  the  transactions  contemplated  hereby  shall  be
brought  in  the  United States District Court  for  the  Eastern
District of Missouri or any Missouri state court sitting  in  St.
Louis County, and each Party consents to the jurisdiction of such
courts (and of the appropriate appellate courts therefrom) in any
such  suit, action or proceeding and irrevocably waives,  to  the
fullest  extent permitted by law, any objection which it may  now
or  hereafter have to the laying of the venue of any  such  suit,
action  or  proceeding in any such court or that any  such  suit,
action or proceeding which is brought in any such court has  been
brought in an inconvenient forum.
   9.10.  THIRD PARTY BENEFICIARIES.
  No  provision of this Agreement is intended to confer upon  any
Person other than the Parties any rights or remedies hereunder.
   9.11.  AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS.
  Any  provision of this Agreement may be amended or  waived  if,
but  only  if,  such  amendment or waiver is in  writing  and  is
signed,  in the case of an amendment, by each Party,  or  in  the
case of a waiver, by the Party against which the waiver is to  be
effective;  provided, however, that Sellers may  make  unilateral
modifications to the Schedules referenced or to be referenced  in
Article  III  (other than with respect to material  modifications
concerning  subsections 3.10(b) through (g) as  prohibited  under
Section 7.1(b)), if such modification is delivered to Buyer on or
before the Closing Date.

IN  WITNESS  WHEREOF, each of the Parties hereto has caused  this
Agreement to be executed as of the date first above written.
                              SELLERS:
                              ESCO ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
                                Walter Stark,
                                Senior Vice President and General
                              Counsel


                              DEFENSE HOLDING CORP.
                                Walter Stark,
                                Senior Vice President and
                              Secretary


                              BUYER:

                              ENGINEERED SYSTEMS AND ELECTRONICS,
                              INC.
                                Gary C. Gerhardt,
                                Executive Vice President and Chief Financial
                                Officer




            ENGINEERED SUPPORT SYSTEMS, INC. JOINDER



      Engineered Support Systems, Inc. ("ESSI"), the parent
corporation of Buyer, hereby joins in this Agreement to guarantee
the due and punctual performance by Buyer of its obligations,
covenants and agreements under this Agreement, including the
obligation of the Buyer to indemnify the Sellers and their
Affiliates under Article VIII of this Agreement.  The foregoing
guarantee is absolute and unconditional, is not subject to any
defense or offset, lack of consideration or similar defense and,
in connection herewith, ESSI hereby waives any suretyship
defenses which it otherwise might have or assert in the event of
enforcement hereof, and the obligations of ESSI shall survive the
Closing in the same manner and to the same extent as the
obligations of Buyer hereby guaranteed.  ESSI also, inter alia,
expressly joins in this Agreement with respect to the provisions
of Sections 9.8 and 9.9, and hereby consents to such terms,
further acknowledging that Sellers have made the execution of
this joinder a pre-condition to their own execution of this
Agreement.



                              ENGINEERED SUPPORT SYSTEMS, INC.
                                Gary C. Gerhardt,
                                Executive Vice President and Chief Financial
                                Officer


                 TABLE OF SCHEDULES AND EXHIBITS


     Schedule 1.9                     Field Offices

     Schedule 1.15                    Persons with Knowledge

     Schedule 2.6(a)                  GAAP Exceptions and Agreed


     Accounting Methods or Practices

     Schedule 2.9(a)(i)               Winter Springs, Florida
     Property

     Schedule 2.9(a)(ii)              Assets of the Comtrak
     Division

     Schedule 2.9(a)(iii)             Patents

     Schedule 2.9(a)(iv)              Sales/Use Tax Asset

     Schedule 2.9(a)(v)               Claim Against Crydom
     Corporation

     Schedule 2.9(b)(i)               Former and Off-Site
     Facilities

     Schedule 2.10(a)(i)              Field Office Assets

     Schedule 2.11(a)                 Excluded Employees

     Schedule 2.11(b)                 Additional Employees

     Schedule 3.2                     Equity Investments

     Schedule 3.3                     States Qualified to do
     Business

     Schedule 3.4(a)                  Financial Statements

     Schedule 3.4 (b)                 Financial Statements -
     Exceptions

     Schedule 3.5                     Property

     Schedule 3.6                     Officers and Directors of
     the Company

     Schedule 3.7(a)                  Tax Returns

     Schedule 3.7(c)                  Waiver; Extension of Time

     Schedule 3.7(d)                  Tax Notices

     Schedule 3.8                     Accounts Receivable

     Schedule 3.9                     Inventory

     Schedule 3.10                    Certain Changes

     Schedule 3.11                    Notices of Material
     Default, Etc.

     Schedule 3.12                    Litigation

     Schedule 3.13                    Environmental Matters

     Schedule 3.14(a)                 Material Contracts; Employment
     Contracts

     Schedule 3.14(b)                 Material Contracts -
     Material Defaults

     Schedule 3.14(c)                 Offset Obligations

     Schedule 3.15                    Government Contracts - Over
     $500,000

     Schedule 3.15(a)                 Government Contracts -
     Identification

     Schedule 3.15(b)                 Government Contracts -
     Audits, Etc.

     Schedule 3.15(c)                 Government Contracts -
     Suspensions

     Schedule 3.15(d)                 Government Contracts -
     Investigations

     Schedule 3.15(e)                 Government Contracts -
     Claims, Etc.

     Schedule 3.15(f)                 Government Contracts - Test
     Results

     Schedule 3.15(h)                 Government Contracts --
     Clearances

     Schedule 3.16(a)                 List of Certain
     Intellectual Property

     Schedule 3.16(b)                 Intellectual Property -
     Infringement

     Schedule 3.17(a)                 Labor Matters - Union
     Contracts

     Schedule 3.17(b)                 Labor Matters -
     Miscellaneous Matters

     Schedule 3.18(a)                 Employee Benefit Matters -
     Plans

     Schedule 3.18(b)                 Benefit Plans

     Schedule 3.18(d)                 Reportable Events

     Schedule 3.18(e)                 Retiree Benefits

     Schedule 3.18(g)                 Pending Negotiations

     Schedule 3.18(h)                 Transaction Impacts under
     Plans

     Schedule 3.19                    Product Liability

     Schedule 3.20                    Other Approvals

     Schedule 3.21                    Brokers, Finders - Sellers

     Schedule 3.23                    Bank Accounts

     Schedule 3.24                    Insurance

     Schedule 3.25                    Back Charges, Rebates, etc.

     Schedule 3.26                    Quote Log

     Schedule 4.4                     Brokers, Finders - Buyer

     Schedule 5.6                     Resignations

     Schedule 6.7(a)                  Government Contract
     Guarantees

     Schedule 6.7(b)                  LOCs/Bonds

     Schedule 6.8                     Emerson Guarantees

     Schedule 7.9(a)                  Major Product Lines

     Schedule 7.9(b)                  Comtrak Business

     Schedule 7.11                    Intercompany Purchase Orders

     Schedule 7.12                    Other Seller Guarantees

     Schedule 7.13(a)                 Company Plans

     Schedule 7.13(b)                 ESCO Retirement Plan -
     Assumptions

     Schedule 7.13(d)                 Retiree Welfare Benefits

     Schedule 7.13(e)                 Supplemental Plans



     Exhibit A                        Sellers' Assignment and
                                      Assumption Agreement

     Exhibit B                        Company's Assignment and
                                      Assumption Agreement

     Exhibit C                        Transition Services Agreement

     Exhibit D                        Form of Sellers' Opinion

     Exhibit E                        Form of Buyer's Opinion

     Exhibit F                        License Agreement

                        SCHEDULE 7.13(a)
                          COMPANY PLANS
DEFINED BENEFIT PENSION PLANS
- -  Electronics & Space Corp. Pension Plan for Employees
  Represented by Local 1102, IUE, AFL-CIO.  The market asset value
  of the Plan as of July 31, 1999 is $19,478,938.
- -  Southwest Mobile Systems Corporation Pension Plan for District
  No. 9, International Association of Machinists and Aerospace
  Workers.  The market asset value of the Plan as of July 31, 1999
  is $2,869,745.
LIABILITIES -- DEFINED BENEFIT PLANS

- -  All liabilities under the Plans listed above shall remain the
obligations of the Company from and after the Closing Date, and
the Sellers shall have no liability in respect thereof.

                        SCHEDULE 7.13(b)

                 ESCO RETIREMENT PLAN - PENSION

(a)   As of the date immediately following the Closing Date, the
  Sellers shall take all necessary actions to cause the ESCO
  Retirement Plan to be split into two separate plans (1) a plan
  covering Transferred Employees ("Buyer's Pension Plan") and (2) a
  plan covering all participants in the ESCO Retirement Plan and
  others who are not Transferred Employees respectively and to
  provide for the direct trust-to-trust transfer of assets and
  assumption of liabilities as provided below to the Buyer's
  Pension Plan.  The Buyer or its Affiliate shall adopt the Buyer's
  Pension Plan as of the date immediately following the Closing
  Date.  The assets and liabilities associated with any Transferred
  Employee shall be transferred from the ESCO Retirement Plan to
  Buyer's Pension Plan.

(b)   The amount of the assets to be transferred ("Transferred
  Amount") shall be equal to the greater of:

     (i)   Asset Value A (as defined below) plus fifty (50) percent of
       the excess, if any, of Asset Value B over Asset Value A (as
       defined below), or

     (ii)  The amount of assets as of the Closing Date necessary to
       meet all applicable requirements of Section 414(l) of the
       Internal Revenue Code ("Code").

  Asset Value A is defined as the sum of the actuarial accrued
  liability as of the Closing Date per CAS 413.50(c)(12)(i),
  plus the government's full share of any surplus assets as of
  the Closing Date as calculated in CAS 413.50(c)(12)(vi).  The
  actuarial assumptions for calculations of the actuarial
  accrued liability per CAS 413.50(c)(12)(i), including, but not
  limited to, the interest rate, mortality, termination,
  disability, and retirement assumptions, are specified in the
  most recent CAS actuarial report covering fiscal year 1999
  ("CAS Actuarial Report").

  Asset Value B is defined as the market value of the assets as
  of the Closing Date allocated to the SEI segment, as
  referenced in Cost Accounting Standards ("CAS") 413.50(c)(12).

  The interest rate utilized for calculations described in
  Section 1(b)(ii) shall be the Pension Benefit Guaranty
  Corporation interest rate for valuing annuity benefits for
  first twenty (20) years as of the Closing Date, plus 25 basis
  points.  All other actuarial assumptions for calculations
  described in Section 1(b)(ii) are specified in the CAS
  Actuarial Report.

  The assets transferred shall be in the form of cash or other
  assets mutually acceptable to the Buyer and the Sellers.

(c)   The asset transfer will occur as soon as reasonably
  practicable after the Closing Date, and the amount so transferred
  shall equal the Transferred Amount and shall be adjusted by
  actual investment return (net of plan expenses) earned by the
  ESCO Retirement Plan trust from the Closing Date to the date of
  actual asset transfer, and decreased by any benefit payments made
  with respect to the Transferred Employees.

(d)   As soon as reasonably practicable after the Closing Date,
  the Sellers shall report, or cause their actuary to report, to
  the Buyer the Sellers' calculations of the amount described in
  Section 1(b) and Section 1(c) above, and shall provide to the
  Buyer such information and data as may be reasonably requested by
  the Buyer to permit the Buyer to review the calculations.  If the
  Sellers and the Buyer cannot agree on the calculations of such
  amounts, then the calculations shall be referred to and settled
  with final and binding effect by such independent Fellow of the
  American Society of Actuaries as the Sellers and the Buyer may
  jointly select ("Independent Actuary").  The Independent Actuary
  shall perform such calculations in accordance with the applicable
  assumptions and methods as described in Section 1(b) and Section
  1(c) of this Schedule 7.13(b).  The costs of such independent
  actuarial determination shall be borne equally by the Sellers and
  the Buyer.

(e)   All liabilities under the ESCO Retirement Plan in respect
  of the Transferred Employees shall be assumed by the Buyer as of
  the Closing Date, and the Sellers shall have no further
  obligation in respect of any such liabilities, except as provided
  in this Agreement.

(f)   Unless otherwise mutually agreed to by the Sellers and the
  Buyer, the transfer of such assets and liabilities will be
  subject to the Buyer's certification to the Sellers, and the
  Sellers' certification to the Buyer, that the ESCO Retirement
  Plan and the Buyer's Pension Plan are qualified under the
  applicable provisions of the Code.

(g)   All methodologies used in the calculations required under
  this Schedule 7.13(b) for 1999 shall be consistent with those
  applied to the comparable calculations made for 1998.

(h)   Buyer shall maintain the Buyer's Pension Plan substantially
  in the form existing at Closing for a period of at least 24
  months beginning with the first full calendar month following
  Closing.

                        SCHEDULE 7.13(d)
                    RETIREE WELFARE BENEFITS


RETIREE WELFARE PLANS

- -  SEI Retiree Welfare Plan as described in employee
communications, and pursuant to which generally the employer pays
for a retiree who satisfies the eligibility requirements, 3
percent of his or her medical premium for each year of service up
to a maximum of 85 percent of the premium.  In no event does the
employer provided premium for a pre-Medicare-eligible retiree
exceed 200 percent of the fiscal year 1992 company contribution.
Employees hired after July 1, 1992 are not eligible for the pre-
Medicare-eligible benefit.  The lifetime benefit for a retiree
eligible for Medicare is $10,000.  Optional additional and
dependent coverage may be available at the retiree's (or
beneficiary's) cost.

LIABILITIES - RETIREE WELFARE PLANS
All liabilities relating to the plan described above in respect
of the Transferred Employees shall remain obligations of the
Company after the Closing Date, and the Sellers shall have no
obligation in respect of any such liabilities, except as provided
in this Agreement.


                        SCHEDULE 7.13(e)
                       SUPPLEMENTAL PLANS

- -Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan of Sellers
- -Supplemental retirement benefits to the following Transferred
Employees:  D. Corderman, H. Duchek and S. Kaveny
- -Group Variable Universal Life Insurance with policies
administered by Paragon Life Insurance Company.  The death
benefits are offered to Transferred Employees who make $75,000 or
more in annual compensation, and the premiums with respect to
such policies are paid by the Transferred Employees on an after
tax basis.








                  FIRST MODIFICATION AGREEMENT
                   TO STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT

  This    First   Modification   Agreement   (the   "Modification
Agreement")  is entered into as of September ___,  1999,  by  and
between Engineered Systems and Electronics, Inc.,
a   Missouri   corporation  ("Buyer"),   and   ESCO   Electronics
Corporation, a Missouri corporation ("ESCO"), and Defense Holding
Corp.,  a Delaware corporation ("DHC") (Buyer, ESCO and  DHC  are
sometimes hereinafter collectively referred to as the "Parties").


                            Recitals

  WHEREAS, the Parties have entered into the Stock Purchase
Agreement dated August 23, 1999 ("Stock Purchase Agreement"),
whereby Buyer agrees to purchase from Sellers, on the terms and
conditions set forth in the Stock Purchase Agreement, one
thousand (1,000) shares of the common stock, $1 par value per
share, of Systems & Electronics Inc., a Delaware corporation
which is a direct wholly-owned subsidiary of DHC and an indirect
wholly-owned subsidiary of ESCO;

  WHEREAS, the Parties desire to amend the Stock Purchase
Agreement as provided below; and

  WHEREAS, Engineered Support Systems, Inc. has executed a
joinder to the Stock Purchase Agreement as of the same date
thereof, and it acknowledges and agrees to the modification of
the Stock Purchase Agreement as set forth below.

  NOW, THEREFORE, the parties agree as follows:
  1.   The page 50 of the Stock Purchase Agreement is hereby
     amended to read as set forth on Attachment 1 to this Modification
     Agreement, which shall replace such page 50 in its entirety.
  2.   The Exhibit 6.7(b) to the Stock Purchase Agreement is hereby
     amended as set forth on Attachment 2 to this Modification
     Agreement, which shall replace such Exhibit 6.7(b) in its
     entirety.
  3.   The Exhibit 7.13(b) to the Stock Purchase Agreement is
     hereby amended as set forth on Attachment 3 to this Modification
     Agreement, which shall replace such Exhibit 7.13(b) in its
     entirety.

  IN  WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the Parties hereto has caused this
Modification Agreement to be executed as of the date first  above
written.

ESCO:                            BUYER:
ESCO ELECTRONICS CORPORATION     ENGINEERED SYSTEMS AND
  Walter Stark,                  ELECTRONICS, INC.
  Senior Vice President and        Gary C. Gerhardt,
  General Counsel                  Executive Vice President and
                                   Chief Financial
                                   Officer
DHC:
DEFENSE HOLDING CORP.
  Walter Stark,
  Senior Vice President and
  Secretary

                              JOINDER

The foregoing Modification Agreement is approved by the undersigned
and the undersigned hereby acknowledges and agrees this September
____, 1999 to such modification to the Stock Purchase Agreement and
joins therein.

ENGINEERED SUPPORT SYSTEMS,
INC.:
  Gary C. Gerhardt,
  Executive Vice President and
  Chief
  Financial Officer

                      ATTACHMENT 1

                    If to Sellers:

                    ESCO Electronics Corporation
                    8888 Ladue Road, Suite 200
                    St. Louis, Missouri 63124-2090
                    Attention:  General Counsel
                    Fax:  (314) 213-7215

                    With a copy to:

                    Bryan Cave LLP
                    One Metropolitan Square
                    211 North Broadway, Suite 3600
                    St. Louis, Missouri  63102
                    Attention:  Frederick W. Bartelsmeyer
                    Fax:  (314) 259-2020

   9.3.Entire Agreement.
  This  Agreement,  the  joinder of Engineered  Support  Systems,
Inc.,   the  Schedules  hereto,  the  Exhibits  hereto  and   the
Confidentiality  Agreement constitute the  entire  agreement  and
understanding  between the Parties hereto  with  respect  to  the
subject matter hereof and supersede all prior and contemporaneous
agreements and understandings relative to such subject matter.

   9.4.Assignment; Binding Agreement.
  This   Agreement   and  the  rights  and  obligations   arising
hereunder shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of
the  Parties  and  to their respective successors  and  permitted
assigns.    Neither  this  Agreement  nor  any  of  the   rights,
interests,   or  obligations  hereunder  shall  be   transferred,
delegated,  or  assigned (by operation of law  or  otherwise)  by
either  of the Parties without the prior written consent  of  the
other Party; provided, however, Buyer may, without the consent of
the  Sellers, transfer and assign its rights and interests  under
this  Agreement, subject to any right of set-off of  the  Sellers
under  Article VIII of the Agreement, to its lender(s) under  the
BOA Credit Facility.

   9.5.Counterparts.
  This  Agreement  may  be  executed simultaneously  in  multiple
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but  all
of  which  taken  together  shall constitute  one  and  the  same
instrument.

   9.6.Headings; Interpretation.
     The article and section headings contained in this Agreement
are inserted for convenience only and shall not affect in any way
the  meaning or interpretation of the Agreement.  Each  reference
in  this  Agreement to an Article, Section, Schedule or  Exhibit,
unless otherwise indicated, shall mean an Article or a Section of
this Agreement or a Schedule or Exhibit attached


             ATTACHMENT 2
           Schedule 7.13(b)

      ESCO Retirement Plan - Pension

(a)  As of the date immediately following the Closing Date, the
  Sellers shall take all necessary actions to cause the ESCO
  Retirement Plan to be split into two separate plans (1) a plan
  covering Transferred Employees ("Buyer's Pension Plan") and (2) a
  plan covering all participants in the ESCO Retirement Plan and
  others who are not Transferred Employees respectively and to
  provide for the direct trust-to-trust transfer of assets and
  assumption of liabilities as provided below to the Buyer's
  Pension Plan.  The Buyer or its Affiliate shall adopt the Buyer's
  Pension Plan as of the date immediately following the Closing
  Date.  The assets and liabilities associated with any Transferred
  Employee shall be transferred from the ESCO Retirement Plan to
  Buyer's Pension Plan.

(b)  The amount of the assets to be transferred ("Transferred
  Amount") shall be equal to the greater of:

     (i)  Asset Value A (as defined below) plus fifty (50) percent of
       the excess, if any, of Asset Value B over Asset Value A (as
       defined below), or

     (ii)      The amount of assets as of the Closing Date necessary
       to meet all applicable requirements of Section 414(l) of the
       Internal Revenue Code ("Code").

  Asset Value A is defined as the sum of the actuarial accrued
  liability as of the Closing Date per CAS 413.50(c)(12)(i),
  plus the government's full share of any surplus assets as of
  the Closing Date as calculated in CAS 413.50(c)(12)(vi).  The
  actuarial assumptions for calculations of the actuarial
  accrued liability per CAS 413.50(c)(12)(i), including, but not
  limited to, the interest rate, mortality, termination,
  disability, and retirement assumptions, are specified in the
  most recent CAS actuarial report covering fiscal year 1999
  ("CAS Actuarial Report").

  Asset Value B is defined as the market value of the assets as
  of the Closing Date allocated to the SEI segment, as
  referenced in Cost Accounting Standards ("CAS") 413.50(c)(12).

  The interest rate utilized for calculations described in
  Section 1(b)(ii) shall be the Pension Benefit Guaranty
  Corporation interest rate for valuing annuity benefits for
  first twenty (20) years as of the Closing Date, plus 25 basis
  points.  All other actuarial assumptions for calculations
  described in Section 1(b)(ii) are specified in the CAS
  Actuarial Report.

  The assets transferred shall be in the form of cash or other
  assets mutually acceptable to the Buyer and the Sellers.

(c)  The asset transfer will occur as soon as reasonably
  practicable after the Closing Date, and the amount so transferred
  shall equal the Transferred Amount and shall be adjusted by
  actual investment return (net of plan expenses) earned by the
  ESCO Retirement Plan trust from the Closing Date to the date of
  actual asset transfer, and decreased by any benefit payments made
  with respect to the Transferred Employees.

(d)  As soon as reasonably practicable after the Closing Date,
  the Sellers shall report, or cause their actuary to report, to
  the Buyer the Sellers' calculations of the amount described in
  Section 1(b) and Section 1(c) above, and shall provide to the
  Buyer such information and data as may be reasonably requested by
  the Buyer to permit the Buyer to review the calculations.  If the
  Sellers and the Buyer cannot agree on the calculations of such
  amounts, then the calculations shall be referred to and settled
  with final and binding effect by such independent Fellow of the
  American Society of Actuaries as the Sellers and the Buyer may
  jointly select ("Independent Actuary").  The Independent Actuary
  shall perform such calculations in accordance with the applicable
  assumptions and methods as described in Section 1(b) and Section
  1(c) of this Schedule 7.13(b).  The costs of such independent
  actuarial determination shall be borne equally by the Sellers and
  the Buyer.

(e)  All liabilities under the ESCO Retirement Plan in respect of
  the Transferred Employees shall be assumed by the Buyer as of the
  Closing Date, and the Sellers shall have no further obligation in
  respect of any such liabilities, except as provided in this
  Agreement.

(f)  Unless otherwise mutually agreed to by the Sellers and the
  Buyer, the transfer of such assets and liabilities will be
  subject to the Buyer's certification to the Sellers, and the
  Sellers' certification to the Buyer, that the ESCO Retirement
  Plan and the Buyer's Pension Plan are qualified under the
  applicable provisions of the Code.

(g)  All methodologies used in the calculations required under
  this Schedule 7.13(b) for 1999 shall be consistent with those
  applied to the comparable calculations made for 1998.

(h)  Buyer shall maintain the Buyer's Pension Plan substantially
  in the form existing at Closing for a period of at least 24
  months beginning with the first full calendar month following
  Closing.







                  SECOND MODIFICATION AGREEMENT
                   TO STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT

  This   Second   Modification   Agreement   (the   "Modification
Agreement")  is entered into as of September ___,  1999,  by  and
between Engineered Systems and Electronics, Inc.,
a   Missouri   corporation  ("Buyer"),   and   ESCO   Electronics
Corporation, a Missouri corporation ("ESCO"), and Defense Holding
Corp.,  a Delaware corporation ("DHC") (Buyer, ESCO and  DHC  are
sometimes hereinafter collectively referred to as the "Parties").


                            Recitals
  WHEREAS, the Parties have entered into the Stock Purchase
Agreement dated August 23, 1999 ("Stock Purchase Agreement"),
whereby Buyer agrees to purchase from Sellers, on the terms and
conditions set forth in the Stock Purchase Agreement, one
thousand (1,000) shares of the common stock, $1 par value per
share, of Systems & Electronics Inc., a Delaware corporation
which is a direct wholly-owned subsidiary of DHC and an indirect
wholly-owned subsidiary of ESCO;

  WHEREAS, the Parties desire to amend the Stock Purchase
Agreement as provided below; and

  WHEREAS, Engineered Support Systems, Inc. has executed a
joinder to the Stock Purchase Agreement as of the same date
thereof, and it acknowledges and agrees to the modification of
the Stock Purchase Agreement as set forth below.

  NOW, THEREFORE, the parties agree as follows:
  Lines 5 through 7 of Section 2.3 on page 7 of the Stock
Purchase Agreement are hereby amended to read as follows:
  postponement from time to time by either the Sellers or the
  Buyer, upon advance notice to the other Party given no later
  than 10:00am on the day preceding the then scheduled Closing,
  to a date not later than October 31, 1999 (the date on which
  the Closing occurs, being hereinafter the "Closing Date");
  provided that,

  IN  WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the Parties hereto has caused this
Modification Agreement to be executed as of the date first  above
written.

ESCO:                            BUYER:
ESCO ELECTRONICS CORPORATION     ENGINEERED SYSTEMS AND
  Walter Stark,                  ELECTRONICS, INC.
  Senior Vice President and        Gary C. Gerhardt,
  General Counsel                  Executive Vice President and
                                   Chief Financial
                                   Officer
DHC:
DEFENSE HOLDING CORP.
  Walter Stark,
  Senior Vice President and
  Secretary


                              JOINDER

The foregoing Modification Agreement is approved by the undersigned
and the undersigned hereby acknowledges and agrees this September
____, 1999 to such modification to the Stock Purchase Agreement and
joins therein.

ENGINEERED SUPPORT SYSTEMS,
INC.:
  Gary C. Gerhardt,
  Executive Vice President and
  Chief
  Financial Officer


                          ATTACHMENT 1

                    If to Sellers:

                    ESCO Electronics Corporation
                    8888 Ladue Road, Suite 200
                    St. Louis, Missouri 63124-2090
                    Attention:  General Counsel
                    Fax:  (314) 213-7215

                    With a copy to:

                    Bryan Cave LLP
                    One Metropolitan Square
                    211 North Broadway, Suite 3600
                    St. Louis, Missouri  63102
                    Attention:  Frederick W. Bartelsmeyer
                    Fax:  (314) 259-2020



   9.3.Entire Agreement.
  This  Agreement,  the  joinder of Engineered  Support  Systems,
Inc.,   the  Schedules  hereto,  the  Exhibits  hereto  and   the
Confidentiality  Agreement constitute the  entire  agreement  and
understanding  between the Parties hereto  with  respect  to  the
subject matter hereof and supersede all prior and contemporaneous
agreements and understandings relative to such subject matter.


   9.4.Assignment; Binding Agreement.
  This   Agreement   and  the  rights  and  obligations   arising
hereunder shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of
the  Parties  and  to their respective successors  and  permitted
assigns.    Neither  this  Agreement  nor  any  of  the   rights,
interests,   or  obligations  hereunder  shall  be   transferred,
delegated,  or  assigned (by operation of law  or  otherwise)  by
either  of the Parties without the prior written consent  of  the
other Party; provided, however, Buyer may, without the consent of
the  Sellers, transfer and assign its rights and interests  under
this  Agreement, subject to any right of set-off of  the  Sellers
under  Article VIII of the Agreement, to its lender(s) under  the
BOA Credit Facility.


   9.5.Counterparts.
  This  Agreement  may  be  executed simultaneously  in  multiple
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but  all
of  which  taken  together  shall constitute  one  and  the  same
instrument.


   9.6.Headings; Interpretation.
     The article and section headings contained in this Agreement
are inserted for convenience only and shall not affect in any way
the  meaning or interpretation of the Agreement.  Each  reference
in  this  Agreement to an Article, Section, Schedule or  Exhibit,
unless otherwise indicated, shall mean an Article or a Section of
this Agreement or a Schedule or Exhibit attached


                          ATTACHMENT 2
                        SCHEDULE 7.13(b)

                 ESCO RETIREMENT PLAN - PENSION

(a)  As of the date immediately following the Closing Date, the
  Sellers shall take all necessary actions to cause the ESCO
  Retirement Plan to be split into two separate plans (1) a plan
  covering Transferred Employees ("Buyer's Pension Plan") and (2) a
  plan covering all participants in the ESCO Retirement Plan and
  others who are not Transferred Employees respectively and to
  provide for the direct trust-to-trust transfer of assets and
  assumption of liabilities as provided below to the Buyer's
  Pension Plan.  The Buyer or its Affiliate shall adopt the Buyer's
  Pension Plan as of the date immediately following the Closing
  Date.  The assets and liabilities associated with any Transferred
  Employee shall be transferred from the ESCO Retirement Plan to
  Buyer's Pension Plan.

(b)  The amount of the assets to be transferred ("Transferred
  Amount") shall be equal to the greater of:

     (i)  Asset Value A (as defined below) plus fifty (50) percent of
       the excess, if any, of Asset Value B over Asset Value A (as
       defined below), or

     (ii)      The amount of assets as of the Closing Date necessary
       to meet all applicable requirements of Section 414(l) of the
       Internal Revenue Code ("Code").

  Asset Value A is defined as the sum of the actuarial accrued
  liability as of the Closing Date per CAS 413.50(c)(12)(i),
  plus the government's full share of any surplus assets as of
  the Closing Date as calculated in CAS 413.50(c)(12)(vi).  The
  actuarial assumptions for calculations of the actuarial
  accrued liability per CAS 413.50(c)(12)(i), including, but not
  limited to, the interest rate, mortality, termination,
  disability, and retirement assumptions, are specified in the
  most recent CAS actuarial report covering fiscal year 1999
  ("CAS Actuarial Report").

  Asset Value B is defined as the market value of the assets as
  of the Closing Date allocated to the SEI segment, as
  referenced in Cost Accounting Standards ("CAS") 413.50(c)(12).

  The interest rate utilized for calculations described in
  Section 1(b)(ii) shall be the Pension Benefit Guaranty
  Corporation interest rate for valuing annuity benefits for
  first twenty (20) years as of the Closing Date, plus 25 basis
  points.  All other actuarial assumptions for calculations
  described in Section 1(b)(ii) are specified in the CAS
  Actuarial Report.

  The assets transferred shall be in the form of cash or other
  assets mutually acceptable to the Buyer and the Sellers.

(c)  The asset transfer will occur as soon as reasonably
  practicable after the Closing Date, and the amount so transferred
  shall equal the Transferred Amount and shall be adjusted by
  actual investment return (net of plan expenses) earned by the
  ESCO Retirement Plan trust from the Closing Date to the date of
  actual asset transfer, and decreased by any benefit payments made
  with respect to the Transferred Employees.

(d)  As soon as reasonably practicable after the Closing Date,
  the Sellers shall report, or cause their actuary to report, to
  the Buyer the Sellers' calculations of the amount described in
  Section 1(b) and Section 1(c) above, and shall provide to the
  Buyer such information and data as may be reasonably requested by
  the Buyer to permit the Buyer to review the calculations.  If the
  Sellers and the Buyer cannot agree on the calculations of such
  amounts, then the calculations shall be referred to and settled
  with final and binding effect by such independent Fellow of the
  American Society of Actuaries as the Sellers and the Buyer may
  jointly select ("Independent Actuary").  The Independent Actuary
  shall perform such calculations in accordance with the applicable
  assumptions and methods as described in Section 1(b) and Section
  1(c) of this Schedule 7.13(b).  The costs of such independent
  actuarial determination shall be borne equally by the Sellers and
  the Buyer.

(e)  All liabilities under the ESCO Retirement Plan in respect of
  the Transferred Employees shall be assumed by the Buyer as of the
  Closing Date, and the Sellers shall have no further obligation in
  respect of any such liabilities, except as provided in this
  Agreement.

(f)  Unless otherwise mutually agreed to by the Sellers and the
  Buyer, the transfer of such assets and liabilities will be
  subject to the Buyer's certification to the Sellers, and the
  Sellers' certification to the Buyer, that the ESCO Retirement
  Plan and the Buyer's Pension Plan are qualified under the
  applicable provisions of the Code.

(g)  All methodologies used in the calculations required under
  this Schedule 7.13(b) for 1999 shall be consistent with those
  applied to the comparable calculations made for 1998.

(h)  Buyer shall maintain the Buyer's Pension Plan substantially
  in the form existing at Closing for a period of at least 24
  months beginning with the first full calendar month following
  Closing.







                  THIRD MODIFICATION AGREEMENT
                   TO STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT

  This    Third   Modification   Agreement   (the   "Modification
Agreement")  is entered into as of September ___,  1999,  by  and
between Engineered Systems and Electronics, Inc.,
a   Missouri   corporation  ("Buyer"),   and   ESCO   Electronics
Corporation, a Missouri corporation ("ESCO"), and Defense Holding
Corp.,  a Delaware corporation ("DHC") (Buyer, ESCO and  DHC  are
sometimes hereinafter collectively referred to as the "Parties").


                            Recitals

  WHEREAS, the Parties have entered into the Stock Purchase
Agreement dated August 23, 1999 ("Stock Purchase Agreement"),
whereby Buyer agrees to purchase from Sellers, on the terms and
conditions set forth in the Stock Purchase Agreement, one
thousand (1,000) shares of the common stock, $1 par value per
share, of Systems & Electronics Inc., a Delaware corporation
which is a direct wholly-owned subsidiary of DHC and an indirect
wholly-owned subsidiary of ESCO;


  WHEREAS, the Parties desire to amend the Stock Purchase
Agreement as provided below; and


  WHEREAS, Engineered Support Systems, Inc. has executed a
joinder to the Stock Purchase Agreement as of the same date
thereof, and it acknowledges and agrees to the modification of
the Stock Purchase Agreement as set forth below.


  NOW, THEREFORE, the parties agree as follows:


  1.Subparagraph (b) of Section 2.7 shall be replaced by the
following:


     (b)    At Closing, Buyer may deliver to Sellers a
   description of the payroll checks and other payroll transfers
   which Buyer desires to make against Sellers' account
   immediately following Closing ("Special Payroll").  On
   October 8, 1999, Buyer will deposit the amount of the Special
   Payroll in immediately available funds with Sellers in an
   account designated by Sellers and Sellers will honor the
   Special Payroll checks and transfers.  Other payroll checks
   and transfers issued prior to Closing from payroll account
   number 3750928824 have already been charged to Company
   ("Payroll Account Checks").  With respect to all checks or
   other transfers, other than the special payroll and the
   Payroll Account Checks, which Buyer has made on Sellers' or
   its Affiliates' accounts and which are outstanding at
   Closing, for each successive seven-day period following the
   Closing, the total of all checks of the Company issued by the
   Company prior to the Effective Time, other than the Special
   Payroll, made payable from accounts of the Sellers or their
   Affiliates, which clear such accounts during such seven-day
   period, shall be submitted, together with any associated bank
   charges, in an invoice by Sellers to the Company for payment
   by the Company no later than five (5) days after submission
   of such invoice.  One hundred eighty (180) days after
   Closing, Sellers shall cancel all such checks which remain
   outstanding, and the Company will be responsible for any
   indebtedness related thereto.  The Company shall be liable
   for all obligations in connection with such checks originally
   issued on accounts of Sellers and their Affiliates, including
   those under escheat laws, and shall hold Sellers harmless
   with respect thereto;

2.   Subparagraphs (a) and (b) of Section 2.9 shall be modified
to include the following new subparagraphs:


        (a)(x)      the split-dollar life insurance policy on
   the life of G. Potthoff and all benefits and rights
   thereunder.


     (a)(xi)      any material and inventory related to the DCSI
    products.


        (b)(viii)   all liabilities and obligations in
   connection with the split-dollar life insurance policy on the
   life of G. Potthoff.


     (b)(ix)      all liabilities related to any material and
    inventory related to the DCSI products.


3.    Section 6.6 is modified to the extent that it shall include
  in Exhibit C provisions for the following additional services:

  a.  For  1  year  following Closing, the Company shall  provide
field  marketing services in connection with any of the  Sellers'
businesses, including those of their Affiliates.  These  services
shall  be provided in return for compensation payable by  Sellers
to  the  Company  of  $65  per hour of  employee  services,  plus
reimbursement  of  direct  out-of-pocket  travel  costs.    These
payments   will  be  made  within  5  days  after   delivery   of
appropriate  invoices  by  the Company to  Sellers  showing  time
expended,  by  subsidiary and subject matter, and itemization  of
travel  expenses.  Support for travel expenses will  be  provided
by the Company upon request of Sellers.


  b.  For  6 months following Closing, the Company shall  provide
to   Distribution  Control  Systems,  Inc.  ("DCSI")  shock   and
vibration   testing  in  St.  Louis,  Missouri,  and   technical,
production   and  testing  support  related  to  completing   the
production transition in Sanford, Florida.  These services  shall
be  provided  in return for compensation payable by  Sellers  (or
DCSI)  to  the  Company of the fully-burdened cost  exclusive  of
general and administrative costs, plus an additional 20%,  except
that  cost  of  travel shall be limited to the  reimbursement  of
direct out-of-pocket travel costs without further markup.   These
payments   will  be  made  within  5  days  after   delivery   of
appropriate  invoices  by  the Company  to  Sellers  showing  the
calculation  of  the charges and itemization of travel  expenses.
Support for travel expenses will be provided by the Company  upon
request of Sellers.


  c.  For 1 year following Closing, the Company shall provide  to
DCSI   storage  and  shipping  services  with  respect  to   DCSI
inventory  held  in  Sanford, Florida.  These services  shall  be
provided in return for compensation payable by Sellers (or  DCSI)
to  the  Company of the fully burdened cost exclusive of  general
and  administrative costs, except that the costs of freight shall
be  limited to the reimbursement of direct out-of-pocket  freight
costs without further markup.  These costs will be paid within  5
days  after  delivery of appropriate invoices by the  Company  to
Sellers  showing  itemization of such freight expenses.   Support
for  freight  expenses  will  be provided  by  the  Company  upon
request of Sellers.


  d.  For  3  years  following Closing,  the  Company  will  hold
inspection  and  testing records for DCSI and make  such  records
available  to DCSI employees or ship such records to  a  location
designated  by  DCSI.  These services shall  be  provided  at  no
charge  other than the direct out-of-pocket freight  and  postage
costs  incurred by DCSI.  These costs will be paid within 5  days
after  delivery of appropriate invoices by the Company to Sellers
showing   itemization  of  such  freight  and  postage  expenses.
Support for freight and postage expenses will be provided by  the
Company upon request of Sellers.


  4.Added to Section 7.11, beginning on page 41, shall be an
additional subparagraph (d) as follows:

  (d)  The Company shall continue after Closing to pay to the
  Sellers any amounts which are paid by Sellers or their
  Affiliates to Third Parties after Closing with respect to
  expenses incurred on behalf of the Company relating to events
  prior to Closing arising in the ordinary course of business
  (and unrelated to the sale of the Company hereunder),
  including without limitation amounts owing for lawyers' fees,
  accountants' fees, bank charges and insurance premiums, as
  examples, rendered on behalf of the Company.  Such requests
  for payment shall be made pursuant to a reasonably itemized
  invoice submitted by Sellers to the Company, and they shall be
  paid by the Company within five days of the Company's receipt
  of such invoice.  Support for such invoices shall be provided
  by the Sellers upon request of the Company.  The foregoing
  obligations shall continue until such time as no further
  claims remain outstanding with respect to matters occurring on
  or before the Closing Date.


5.   Subparagraph (c) of Section 6.7 shall be modified by adding
the following sentence:


     To the extent of the foregoing LOCs/Bonds issued by or
       on behalf of Sellers are permitted by Sellers to
       continue after Closing, Buyer will reimburse Sellers
       or any appropriate Affiliate for the actual costs of
       maintaining such LOCs/Bonds (pro rated to the date
       of Closing), such reimbursement to be paid within 5
       days of the delivery of a reasonably itemized
       invoice by Sellers to Buyer, and Buyer will provide
       backstop letters of credit at Closing.  Support for
       such invoices shall be provided by the Sellers upon
       request of the Company.


6.   Section 7.16, beginning on page 44, is amended to provide
that the 1997 and 1998 audited financial statements to be
delivered by the Sellers prior to Closing will be delivered on or
before 12:00 pm on Monday, September 27, 1999.  These audited
financials shall not include the Comtrak Division assets,
liabilities and results of operations and shall not include ESCO
Electronica de Mexico, S.A. de C.V.


7.   A new Section 7.18 shall be added as follows:

     7.18.     INSURANCE, WORKERS' COMPENSATION AND OTHER THIRD
               PARTY OBLIGATIONS.


          (a)  After the Closing, Buyer shall reimburse Sellers
     and their Affiliates for expenditures made by Sellers and
     their Affiliates that (1) are liabilities of the Company or
     assumed by Buyer pursuant to this Agreement, (2) continue to
     be obligations of Sellers or Affiliates to third parties
     under prior contracts which directly relate to the Company,
     and (3) are attributable to the Company by any applicable
     insurer and/or claims administrator ("Third Party
     Administrator")(such liability for expenditures, hereinafter
     "Third Party Obligations").  Third Party Obligations for
     which Buyer shall reimburse Sellers ("Reimbursable Amounts")
     include, without limitation:


               (i)  Qualified Self-Insured Workers' Compensation
     obligations required by the State of Missouri, including,
     without limitation, the surety bonding;


               (ii)  Insured losses occurring prior to closing
     but reported subsequent to closing;


               (iii)  Reimbursement of retained losses (including
     allocated and unallocated loss adjustment expense) under
     various self-insured, deductible, retrospectively rated or
     similar programs under which the Workers' Compensation,
     General and Automobile Liability policies have or may have
     been written;


               (iv)  Provision for a "cash account" to fund the
     payment by the Third Party Administrator administering the
     above losses; and


               (v)  Provision of collateral securing the unpaid
     portion of the obligations described in this Section 7.18,
     including, without limitation, letters of credit, security
     bonds, promissory notes, or similar financial guarantee
     instruments.


          (b)  In addition to Reimbursable Amounts, Buyer shall
     pay Sellers and their Affiliates for their direct out-of-
     pocket costs for providing required collateral for Third
     Party Obligations ("Collateral Costs").


          (c)  Sellers shall notify Buyer in writing and in
     reasonable detail on the first of each month of the
     Reimbursable Amounts and Collateral Costs owed by Buyer
     under this Section.  Buyer shall pay Sellers the
     Reimbursable Amounts and Collateral Costs owed within 5 days
     of Seller's notice under this Section.  Support for such
     charges will be provided by the Sellers upon the request of
     the Company.


          (d)  In the event that policies of insurance covering
     the period prior to the Closing are triggered subsequent to
     the Closing by a report of an earlier event, Buyer shall
     notify such insurer, with copies to Sellers, in accordance
     with the reporting provisions of the policy(ies).  Buyer
     also specifically acknowledges that any breach of such
     reporting condition of any insurance policy(ies) shall be
     its sole responsibility, and further agrees to indemnify and
     hold harmless Seller from any liabilities arising therefrom.


          (e)  This Section shall supersede any other provision
     of this Agreement to the extent that such other provision is
     inconsistent with this Section.


8.   Capitalized terms used herein, but not defined herein, shall
     have the meanings set forth in the Stock Purchase Agreement.



  IN  WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the Parties hereto has caused this
Modification Agreement to be executed as of the date first  above
written.


ESCO:                            BUYER:
ESCO ELECTRONICS CORPORATION     ENGINEERED SYSTEMS AND
  Walter Stark,                  ELECTRONICS, INC.
  Senior Vice President and        Gary C. Gerhardt,
  General Counsel                  Executive Vice President and
                                   Chief Financial
                                   Officer

DHC:
DEFENSE HOLDING CORP.
  Walter Stark,
  Senior Vice President and
  Secretary



                              JOINDER

The foregoing Modification Agreement is approved by the undersigned
and the undersigned hereby acknowledges and agrees this September
____, 1999 to such modification to the Stock Purchase Agreement and
joins therein.

ENGINEERED SUPPORT SYSTEMS,
INC.:

  Gary C. Gerhardt,
  Executive Vice President and
  Chief
  Financial Officer





                  FOURTH MODIFICATION AGREEMENT
                   TO STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT

  This   Fourth   Modification   Agreement   (the   "Modification
Agreement")  is  entered into as of September 30,  1999,  by  and
between Engineered Systems and Electronics, Inc.,
a   Missouri   corporation  ("Buyer"),   and   ESCO   Electronics
Corporation, a Missouri corporation ("ESCO"), and Defense Holding
Corp.,  a Delaware corporation ("DHC") (Buyer, ESCO and  DHC  are
sometimes hereinafter collectively referred to as the "Parties").

                            Recitals

  WHEREAS, the Parties have entered into the Stock Purchase
Agreement dated August 23, 1999 ("Stock Purchase Agreement"),
whereby Buyer agrees to purchase from Sellers, on the terms and
conditions set forth in the Stock Purchase Agreement, one
thousand (1,000) shares of the common stock, $1 par value per
share, of Systems & Electronics Inc., a Delaware corporation
which is a direct wholly-owned subsidiary of DHC and an indirect
wholly-owned subsidiary of ESCO;

  WHEREAS, the Parties desire to amend the Stock Purchase
Agreement as provided below; and

  WHEREAS, Engineered Support Systems, Inc. has executed a
joinder to the Stock Purchase Agreement as of the same date
thereof, and it acknowledges and agrees to the modification of
the Stock Purchase Agreement as set forth below.

  NOW, THEREFORE, the parties agree as follows:
     Attached hereto are certain revised Schedules and/or
     Exhibits to the Stock Purchase Agreement.  Each such revised
     Schedule and/or Exhibit attached hereto shall amend or
     replace, as specified in such revised Schedule and/or
     Exhibit, the corresponding numbered Schedule and/or Exhibit
     attached to the Stock Purchase Agreement.

  IN  WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the Parties hereto has caused this
Modification Agreement to be executed as of the date first  above
written.

ESCO:                            BUYER:
ESCO ELECTRONICS CORPORATION     ENGINEERED SYSTEMS AND
  Walter Stark,                  ELECTRONICS, INC.
  Senior Vice President and        Gary C. Gerhardt,
  General Counsel                  Executive Vice President and
                                   Chief Financial
                                   Officer
DHC:
DEFENSE HOLDING CORP.
  Walter Stark,
  Senior Vice President and
  Secretary


                              JOINDER


The foregoing Modification Agreement is approved by the undersigned
and the undersigned hereby acknowledges and agrees this September
30, 1999 to such modification to the Stock Purchase Agreement and
joins therein.

ENGINEERED SUPPORT SYSTEMS,
INC.:
  Gary C. Gerhardt,
  Executive Vice President and
  Chief
  Financial Officer