Exhibit 4.4


                  ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS PRODUCTS HOLDINGS INC.

                                       and

                               ENVIROSYSTEMS CORP.

                                  $100,000,000
                          Aggregate Principal Amount of
                     13% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2008
                             and 2,291.268 Shares of
                              Series A Common Stock

                               PLACEMENT AGREEMENT

                                                                October 15, 1998

Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation
    Eleven Madison Avenue
    New York, N.Y. 10010-3629

Dear Sirs:

      1. Introductory. Environmental Systems Products Holdings Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), proposes to issue and sell $100,000,000 aggregate
principal amount of the Company's 13% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2008 (the
"Notes") and EnviroSystems Corp., a Delaware corporation and the sole
shareholder of the Company (the "Parent"), proposes to issue and sell 2,291.268
shares (the "Series A Shares") of Series A common stock, par value $0.0001 per
share (the "Series A Common Stock"), of the Parent. The Notes are to be issued
under an indenture, dated as of October 16, 1998 (the "Indenture"), among the
Company, the Parent, the Guarantors (as defined) and United States Trust Company
of New York, as Trustee (the "Trustee"), which Notes will be unconditionally
guaranteed by the guarantors listed on Schedule A hereto (collectively, the
"Guarantors," and together with the Company and the Parent, the "Issuers"). For
purposes of this agreement, (i) the term "Securities" means the Notes, together
with 



the guarantees (the "Guarantees") thereof by the Guarantors, and the Series A
Shares and (ii) references to "Subsidiaries" or "subsidiaries" of the Company
shall mean all subsidiaries of the Company, including Envirotest Systems Corp.,
a Delaware corporation ("Envirotest"), and the direct and indirect subsidiaries
of Envirotest, and Environmental Systems Products, Inc., a Delaware corporation
("ESP"), and the direct and indirect subsidiaries of ESP. The United States
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, is herein referred to as the "Securities
Act."

      Pursuant to the terms of an Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of
August 12, 1998 (the "Merger Agreement"), among ESP, Stone Rivet, Inc., a
Delaware corporation ("Stone Rivet") and a wholly-owned subsidiary of ESP, and
Envirotest, Stone Rivet made a cash tender offer (the "Equity Offer") to acquire
all of the issued and outstanding shares of Envirotest's Class A Common Stock,
par value $.01 per share, under an Offer to Purchase, dated August 19, 1998 (the
"Equity Offer to Purchase"). Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, (i) upon
completion of the Equity Offer, Stone Rivet will be merged with and into
Envirotest, (ii) the separate corporate existence of Stone Rivet will cease and
(iii) Envirotest will continue as the surviving corporation (the above
transactions are herein referred to as the "Merger"). The net proceeds of the
sale of the Notes and the Series A Shares, together with the net proceeds from
the sale by the Parent of 15% Senior Discount Notes due 2009 and shares of
Series A Common Stock in connection therewith (the "Senior Discount
Transaction"), a portion of the initial borrowings under the New Credit Facility
(as defined below), available cash and the proceeds of the Equity Investment (as
defined below), will be used to finance the Merger and to complete the
Refinancing Plan (as defined below). Concurrently with the consummation of the
issuance and sale of the Notes and the Series A Shares hereunder, Alchemy
Partners (Guernsey) Limited, a U.K. partnership, shall cause to be made by
certain shareholders of Newmall Ltd., a company incorporated under the laws of
England and Wales, an indirect equity contribution of approximately $80 million
to ESP (the "Equity Contribution"). Immediately prior to the issuance and sale
of the Notes and the Series A Shares, the shareholders of Newmall shall exchange
their Newmall shares for shares of stock in the Company (the "Newmall Share
Exchange"). In addition, the shareholders of the Company shall exchange their
shares of the Company for shares of the Parent (the "Company Share Exchange"
and, collectively with the Newmall Share Exchange, the "Share Exchange"). In
addition, the Parent and the purchasers party thereto shall enter into a share
price adjustment agreement, dated October 16, 1998 (the "Share Price Adjustment
Agreement"), regarding the shares of Series A Common Stock to be issued in
connection with this Agreement and the Senior Discount Transaction (the "Share
Price Adjustment"). At or prior to the issuance and sale of the Notes and the
Series A Shares, the Parent, the Company and certain of its subsidiaries intend
to 


                                       2



complete a refinancing plan (the "Refinancing Plan"). The principal elements of
the Refinancing Plan are: (i) the issuance and sale of the Notes and the Series
A Shares; (ii) the Senior Discount Transaction; (iii) the offers by the Company
to purchase, and the solicitation of consents (together, the "Debt Offers") from
the holders of, all of the outstanding 9 1/8% Senior Notes due 2001 (the "2001
Notes") and 9 5/8% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2003 (the "2003 Notes" and,
together with the 2001 Notes, the "Existing Notes") of Envirotest pursuant to
Offers to Purchase and Consent Solicitations, each dated September 1, 1998 (the
"Debt Offers to Purchase"); (iv) the entering by the Company into a new senior
secured credit facility consisting of up to approximately an aggregate of $385
million of term loan facilities and up to approximately an aggregate of $50
million of revolving credit facilities (the "New Credit Facility") with Credit
Suisse First Boston Corporation ("CSFB"), as administrative and collateral
agent, DLJ Capital Funding, Inc. ("DLJCF"), as syndication agent, and certain
lenders named therein; (v) the repayment in full of indebtedness under ESP's
existing credit facility (the "ESP Credit Facility") and the termination of such
facility; (vi) the repayment in full of approximately $___ million of other
outstanding indebtedness of Envirotest; (vii) the Equity Contribution; and
(viii) certain other refinancing transactions (together with the transaction
described in (vi) above, the "Other Refinancings"). After the Closing Date, upon
consummation of the Merger, pursuant to a Stock Purchase Agreement, dated
______, 1998 (the "Envirotest Agreement"), between ESP and the Company, all of
the outstanding capital stock of Envirotest will be sold to the Company by ESP
(the "Envirotest Sale") in exchange for a subordinated note of the Company in
the amount of $[80.0] million to be issued to ESP. Upon consummation of the
Envirotest Sale, Envirotest will become a wholly-owned direct subsidiary of the
Company. In addition, the Company expect that after the Closing Date (as
hereinafter defined), it and/or one of its subsidiaries will enter into a
written agreement, (the "Transervice Agreement"), with Wellman Overseas Ltd., an
affiliate of the Company ("Wellman"), to acquire the Transervice division of
Wellman (the "Transervice Acquisition") for aggregate consideration of
approximately $13.5 million.

      This Agreement, the Indenture, the Securities, the Subscription Agreement,
dated October 15, 1998 (the "Subscription Agreement"), among the Issuers and the
purchasers named therein substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto, the
Registration Rights Agreement, dated October 16, 1998 (the "Registration Rights
Agreement"), among the Parent, the Company, DLJ Investment Partners, L.P., DLJ
ESC II, L.P., DLJ Investment Funding, Inc., Chase Equity Associates L.P. and
Credit Suisse First Boston (Europe) Limited, the Investors Agreement, dated
October 16, 1998 (the "Investors Agreement"), among the Parent, Alchemy Partners
(Guernsey) Limited, DLJ Merchant Banking Partners II, L.P., DLJ Merchant Banking
Partners 


                                       3



II-A, L.P., DLJ Offshore Partners II, C.V., DLJ Diversified Partners, L.P., DLJ
Diversified Partners-A, L.P., DLJMB Funding II, Inc., DLJ Millennium Partners,
L.P., DLJ Millennium Partners-A, L.P., DLJ EAB Partners, L.P., UK Investment
Plan 1997 Partners, DLJ First ESC, L.P., DLJ ESC II, L.P., DLJ Investment
Partners, L.P., DLJ Investment Funding, Inc., Credit Suisse First Boston
(Europe) Limited, Chase Equity Associates L.P. and the other securityholders
named therein, the Merger Agreement, the Equity Offer to Purchase, the Debt
Offers to Purchase, the agreements evidencing the Equity Contribution, the
agreements evidencing the Senior Discount Transaction, the Share Price
Adjustment Agreement, the agreements evidencing the Share Exchange, the New
Credit Facility and the agreements creating security interests in the assets of
the Company for the benefit of the holders of indebtedness arising under the New
Credit Facility (together with the New Credit Facility, the "Bank Agreements"),
the Envirotest Agreement and the Transervice Agreement are sometimes referred to
in this Agreement, individually, as a "Transaction Document" and, collectively,
as the "Transaction Documents," and the Merger, the Equity Offer, the Debt
Offers, the Equity Contribution, the Senior Discount Transaction, the Share
Exchange, the Share Price Adjustment, the execution and delivery of the Bank
Agreements, the repayment and termination of the ESP Credit Facility, the Other
Refinancings, the Envirotest Sale, the Transervice Acquisition, the execution
and delivery of the Indenture, and the issuance and sale of the Notes and the
Series A Shares are sometimes referred to herein, individually, as a
"Transaction" and collectively, as the "Transactions."

      Holders (including subsequent transferees) of the Securities will have the
rights (including the registration rights obligations) set forth in the
Registration Rights Agreement and the Investors Agreement. Pursuant to the
Registration Rights Agreement and the Investors Agreement, the Issuers will
agree to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission")
under the circumstances set forth therein, a registration statement under the
Securities Act (the "Registration Statement") registering the Securities. The
Investors Agreement also contains various restrictions on the transfer of Series
A Shares, various provisions requiring and in certain cases permitting Series A
stockholders to participate in sales of Series A Common Stock by the other
Series A Common stockholders that are party to that agreement and certain rights
to subscribe for newly issued Series A Common Stock of the Company.

      Subject to the terms and conditions stated herein, the Issuers hereby
appoint Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation (the "Placement Agent") as the
exclusive agent of the Company for the purpose of soliciting offers to purchase
the Notes and the Series A Shares from the Company in transactions that are
intended to be exempt 


                                       4



from the Securities Act.

      2.  Representations and Warranties of the Issuers. Each of the Issuers,
jointly and severally, represents and warrants to, and agrees with, the
Placement Agent that, as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date:

           (a)  An offering memorandum (the "Offering Memorandum") relating to
      the Securities to be sold to the purchasers thereof has been prepared by
      the Company and the Parent. Such Offering Memorandum shall be referred to
      herein as the "Offering Document." On the date of this Agreement and as of
      the Closing Date, the Offering Document does not and will not include any
      untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact
      necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the
      circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

           (b)  Each of the Parent and the Company was duly incorporated and is
      in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation,
      with the power and authority (corporate and other) to own its properties
      and conduct its business as described in the Offering Document; and each
      of the Parent and the Company is duly qualified to do business as a
      foreign corporation in good standing in all other jurisdictions in which
      its ownership or lease of property or the conduct of its business requires
      such qualification, except where the failure to be so qualified would not
      have a material adverse effect upon the business, condition (financial or
      otherwise), properties or results of operations of the Parent, the Company
      and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole (a "Material Adverse Effect").

           (c)  Each subsidiary of the Company was duly incorporated and is in
      good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation,
      with the power and authority (corporate and other) to own its properties
      and conduct its business as described in the Offering Document; and each
      subsidiary of the Company is duly qualified to do business as a foreign
      corporation in good standing in all other jurisdictions in which its
      ownership or lease of property or the conduct of its business requires
      such qualification, except where the failure to be so qualified would not
      have a Material Adverse Effect; except as disclosed in the Offering
      Document, all of the issued and outstanding capital stock of each
      subsidiary of the Company has been duly authorized and validly issued and
      is fully paid and nonassessable; and the capital stock of each subsidiary
      owned by the Company, directly or through 


                                       5



      subsidiaries, is owned free from liens, encumbrances and defects.

           (d)  All of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of
      each of the Parent and the Company were duly authorized and validly
      issued, are fully paid and non-assessable and were not issued in violation
      of any preemptive or similar rights. Except as disclosed in the Offering
      Document, there are no outstanding subscriptions, rights, warrants, calls,
      commitments of sale or options to acquire, or instruments convertible into
      or exchangeable for, any capital stock of the Parent or the Company.

           (e)  The Indenture has been duly authorized by each Issuer; and when
      the Notes, the Guarantees and the Series A Shares are delivered and paid
      for pursuant to this Agreement and the Subscription Agreement on the
      Closing Date (as defined below), the Indenture will have been duly
      executed and delivered by each of the Issuers which is a party thereto,
      and the Indenture will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of
      each of the Issuers which is a party thereto, enforceable in accordance
      with their terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer,
      reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general applicability
      relating to or affecting creditors' rights and to general equity
      principles and, as to rights of indemnification and contribution, to
      principles of public policy and federal and state securities laws relating
      thereto.

           (f)  The Notes and the Guarantees have been duly authorized by the
      Company and the Guarantors, respectively, and, when issued and delivered
      to and paid for by the purchasers thereof in accordance with the terms of
      the Subscription Agreement, the Notes and the Guarantees will conform in
      all material respects to the description thereof in the Offering Document.

           (g)  At the Closing Date, the Notes and the Guarantees will have been
      duly executed by the Company and the Guarantors, respectively, and, when
      the Notes are authenticated in the manner provided for in the Indenture
      and delivered against payment of the purchase price therefor, the Notes
      and the Guarantees will constitute valid and legally binding obligations
      of the Company and the Guarantors, respectively, enforceable against the
      Company and the Guarantors, respectively, in accordance with their terms,
      subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization,
      moratorium and similar laws of general applicability relating to or
      affecting creditors' rights and to general equity principles and, as to
      rights of indemnification and 


                                       6



      contribution, to principles of public policy and federal and state
      securities laws relating thereto.

           (h)  The Subscription Agreement has been duly authorized, executed
      and delivered by each Issuer.

           (i)  The Series A Shares have been duly authorized and, when issued
      and delivered to and paid for by the purchasers thereof in accordance with
      the terms of the Subscription Agreement, will have been validly issued and
      will be fully paid and non-assessable.

           (j)  The Securities, the Indenture, the Registration Rights Agreement
      and the Investors Agreement will conform in all material respects to the
      respective statements relating thereto contained in the Offering Document.

           (k)  There are no preemptive rights or similar rights that have not
      been waived to subscribe for or purchase the Notes by the Company or the
      Series A Shares by the Parent upon their issuance and sale pursuant to
      this Agreement and the Subscription Agreement. No securityholder of any
      Issuer has any right that has not been waived to require such Issuer to
      register the sale of any securities owned by such securityholder under the
      Securities Act in the offering and sale contemplated by this Agreement and
      the Subscription Agreement.

           (l)  Except as disclosed in the Offering Document or other documents
      or agreements to which CSFB, DLJCF or one or more of their respective
      affiliates is a party, there are no contracts, agreements or
      understandings between any Issuer and any person that would give rise to a
      valid claim against any of the Issuers or any or their affiliates or the
      Placement Agent for a brokerage commission, finder's fee or other like
      payment in connection with the Transactions.

           (m)  Except as disclosed in the Offering Document, there are no
      contracts, agreements or understandings between any of the Issuers and any
      person granting such person the right to require any of the Issuers to
      file a registration statement under the Securities Act with respect to any
      securities of any of the Issuers owned or to be owned by such person or to
      require any of the Issuers to include such securities in any registration
      statement filed by any of the Issuers under the Securities Act.


                                       7



           (n)  No consent, approval, authorization, or order of, or filing
      with, any governmental agency or body or any court is required for the
      consummation of the Transactions as contemplated by (i) this Agreement and
      the Subscription Agreement in connection with the issuance and sale of the
      Securities by the Issuers or (ii) any other Transaction Documents in
      connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated therein,
      other than those consents, approvals, authorizations, orders or filings
      that have been made or obtained and such as may be required by the
      Securities Act (including Regulation D thereunder) and securities or blue
      sky laws of any state of the United States or of any foreign jurisdiction
      in connection with the offer and sale of the Securities and as may be
      required under the Securities Act in connection with the Registration
      Rights Agreement and the Investors Agreement.

           (o)  The issuance and sale of the Securities, and the execution,
      delivery and performance of each of the Transaction Documents and
      compliance with the terms and provisions thereof will not result in a
      breach or violation of any of the terms and provisions of, or constitute a
      default under, any statute, any rule, regulation or order of any
      governmental agency or body or any court, domestic or foreign, having
      jurisdiction over the Parent, the Company or any subsidiary of the Parent
      or the Company or any of their respective properties, or any agreement or
      instrument to which the Parent, the Company or any such subsidiary is a
      party or by which the Parent, the Company or any such subsidiary is bound
      or to which any of the properties of the Parent or the Company or any such
      subsidiary is subject, or the charter or by-laws of the Company, the
      Parent or any such subsidiary, and each of the Issuers has full power and
      authority to authorize, issue and sell the Securities as contemplated by
      this Agreement.

           (p)  Each of this Agreement and the Subscription Agreement has been
      duly authorized, executed and delivered by each of the Issuers. Each of
      the other Transaction Documents has been, or as of the Closing Date will
      have been, duly authorized, executed and delivered by each of the Parent,
      the Company and their subsidiaries (to the extent each is a party thereto)
      and each conforms or will conform in all material respects to the
      descriptions thereof contained in the Offering Document and each will
      constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Parent, the
      Company and their subsidiaries (to the extent each is a party thereto),
      enforceable in accordance with its respective terms, subject to
      bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, 


                                       8



      moratorium and similar laws of general applicability relating to or
      affecting creditors' rights and to general equity principles and, as to
      rights of indemnification and contribution, to principles of public policy
      and federal and state securities laws relating thereto.

           (q)  Except as disclosed in the Offering Document, the Parent, the
      Company and their subsidiaries have good and marketable title to all real
      properties and all other properties and assets owned by them, in each case
      free from liens, encumbrances and defects that would materially affect the
      value thereof or materially interfere with the use made or to be made
      thereof by them; and except as disclosed in the Offering Document, the
      Parent, the Company and their subsidiaries hold any leased real or
      personal property under valid and enforceable leases with no exceptions
      that would materially interfere with the use made or to be made thereof by
      them.

           (r)  The Parent, the Company and their subsidiaries possess all
      certificates, authorities or permits issued by appropriate governmental
      agencies or bodies necessary to conduct the business now operated by them
      and have not received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation
      or modification of any such certificate, authority or permit that, if
      determined adversely to the Parent, the Company or any of its
      subsidiaries, would individually or in the aggregate, have a Material
      Adverse Effect.

           (s)  Neither the Parent, the Company nor any of their subsidiaries is
      in violation of its charter or by-laws or in default in the performance or
      observance of any obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained
      in any contract, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan or credit
      agreement, note, lease or other agreement or instrument to which the
      Parent, the Company or any of their subsidiaries is a party or by which or
      any of them may be bound, or to which any of the property or assets of the
      Parent, the Company or any of their subsidiaries is subject, except for
      such defaults that would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a
      Material Adverse Effect.

           (t)  Except as disclosed in the Offering Document, no labor strike,
      slowdown, stoppage or dispute (except for routine disciplinary and
      grievance matters) with the employees of the Parent, the Company or any of
      their subsidiaries exists or, to the knowledge of the Parent or the
      Company, is imminent, that could reasonably be expected, individually or
      in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect.


                                       9



           (u)  The Parent, the Company and their subsidiaries own, possess,
      have the legal rights to use or can acquire on reasonable terms, adequate
      trademarks, trade names and other rights to inventions, know-how, patents,
      copyrights, confidential information and other intellectual property
      (collectively, "intellectual property rights") used in the business now
      operated by them, or presently employed by them and have not received any
      notice of infringement of or conflict with asserted rights of others with
      respect to any intellectual property rights that, if determined adversely
      to the Parent, the Company or any of their subsidiaries, would
      individually or in the aggregate have a Material Adverse Effect.

           (v)  Except as disclosed in the Offering Document, none of the
      Parent, the Company or any of their subsidiaries (i) is in violation of
      any statute, any rule, regulation, decision or order of any governmental
      agency or body or any court, domestic or foreign, relating to the use,
      disposal or release of hazardous or toxic substances or relating to the
      protection or restoration of the environment or human exposure to
      hazardous or toxic substances (collectively, "environmental laws"), (ii)
      to its knowledge owns or operates any real property contaminated with any
      substance that is subject to any environmental laws, (iii) is liable for
      any off-site disposal or contamination pursuant to any environmental laws,
      or (iv) is subject to any claim relating to any environmental laws, which
      violation, contamination, liability or claim would individually or in the
      aggregate have a Material Adverse Effect; and the Parent, the Company and
      their subsidiaries are not aware of any pending investigation which might
      lead to such a claim.

           (w)  Except as disclosed in the Offering Document, there are no
      pending actions, suits or proceedings against or affecting the Parent, the
      Company, any of their subsidiaries or any of their respective properties
      that, if determined adversely to the Parent, the Company or any of its
      subsidiaries, would individually or in the aggregate have a Material
      Adverse Effect or would materially and adversely affect the ability of the
      Parent, the Company and their subsidiaries to perform their respective
      obligations under the Transaction Documents, or which are otherwise
      material in the context of the sale of the Securities and the consummation
      of the other Transactions; and, to the Parent's, the Company's and their
      subsidiaries' knowledge, no such actions, suits or proceedings are
      threatened or contemplated.

           (x)  The historical financial statements of each of ESP and
      Envirotest and their respective consolidated subsidiaries included in the


                                       10



      Offering Document present fairly the financial position of each of ESP and
      Envirotest and their respective consolidated subsidiaries as of the dates
      shown and their results of operations and cash flows for the periods
      shown, and such financial statements have been prepared in conformity with
      the generally accepted accounting principles in the United States applied
      on a consistent basis. The assumptions used in preparing the pro forma
      financial statements included in the Offering Document provide a
      reasonable basis for presenting the significant effects directly
      attributable to the transactions or events described therein, the related
      pro forma adjustments give appropriate effect to those assumptions, and
      the pro forma columns therein reflect the proper application of those
      adjustments to the corresponding historical financial statement amounts.
      The pro forma financial statements of the Company and the Parent, together
      with related schedules and notes, set forth in the Offering Document
      comply in all material respects with the requirements applicable to pro
      forma financial statements to be included in a registration statement on
      Form S-1 under the Securities Act.

           (y)  Except as disclosed in the Offering Document, since the date of
      the latest financial statements included in the Offering Document, there
      has been no material adverse change in the business, condition (financial
      or other), properties or results of operations of the Company and its
      subsidiaries taken as a whole (a "Material Adverse Change"), nor any
      development or event involving a prospective Material Adverse Change and,
      except as disclosed in or contemplated by the Offering Document, there has
      been no dividend or distribution of any kind declared, paid or made by the
      Parent or the Company on any class of its capital stock.

           (z)  The proceeds to the Issuers from the issuance and sale of the
      Securities will not be used to purchase or carry any security except any
      securities evidencing indebtedness being purchased in connection with the
      Refinancing Plan. None of the Issuers is an open-end investment company,
      unit investment trust or face-amount certificate company that is or is
      required to be registered under Section 8 of the United States Investment
      Company Act of 1940 (the "Investment Company Act"); and each of the
      Issuers is not and, after giving effect to the offering and sale of the
      Securities and the application of the proceeds thereof as described in the
      Offering Document and the consummation of the other Transactions, will not
      be, an "investment company" as defined in the Investment Company Act.

           (aa)  Each of the Parent, the Company and their subsidiaries is, and


                                       11



      immediately after the Closing Date will be, Solvent. As used herein, the
      term "Solvent" means, with respect to each of the Parent, the Company and
      its subsidiaries on a particular date, that on such date (A) the fair
      market value of the assets of the Company or such subsidiary is greater
      than the total amount of liabilities (including contingent liabilities) of
      the Parent, the Company or such subsidiary, (B) the present fair salable
      value of the assets of the Parent, the Company or such subsidiary is
      greater than the amount that will be required to pay the probable
      liabilities of the Parent, the Company or such subsidiary on its debts as
      they become absolute and matured, (C) the Parent, the Company or such
      subsidiary is able to realize upon its assets and pay its debts and other
      liabilities, including contingent obligations, as they mature, and (D) the
      Parent, the Company or such subsidiary does not have unreasonably small
      capital.

           (bb)  No securities of the Parent, the Company or any of its
      subsidiaries of the same class (within the meaning of Rule 144A(d)(3)
      under the Securities Act) as the Securities are listed on any national
      securities exchange registered under Section 6 of Exchange Act or quoted
      in a U.S. automated inter-dealer quotation system.

           (cc)  The issuance and sale of the Securities in the manner
      contemplated by this Agreement and the Subscription Agreement will be
      exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act by reason
      of Section 4(2) thereof and Regulation S thereunder; and it is not
      necessary to qualify an indenture in respect of the Notes under the United
      States Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the "Trust Indenture
      Act").

           (dd)  None of the Parent, the Company, or any of their affiliates,
      nor any person acting on its or their behalf (i) has, within the six-month
      period prior to the date hereof, offered or sold in the United States or
      to any U.S. person (as such terms are defined in Regulation S under the
      Securities Act) the Securities or any security of the same class or series
      as the Securities or (ii) has offered or will offer or sell the Securities
      (A) in the United States by means of any form of general solicitation or
      general advertising within the meaning of Rule 502(c) under the Securities
      Act or (B) with respect to any such securities sold in reliance on Rule
      903 of Regulation S under the Securities Act, by means of any directed
      selling efforts within the meaning of Rule 902(b) of Regulation S. The
      Parent, the Company and any person acting on their behalf have complied
      and will comply with the offering restrictions requirement of Regulation
      S. Neither the Parent nor the Company has entered 


                                       12



      and they will not enter into any contractual arrangement with respect to
      the issuance and sale of the Securities except for this Agreement, the
      Registration Rights Agreement, the Investors Agreement and the
      Subscription Agreement.

           (ee)  Neither the Parent nor the Company has, directly or indirectly,
      solicited any offer to buy or offered to sell, and they will not, directly
      or indirectly, solicit any offer to buy or offer to sell, in the United
      States or to any United States citizen or resident, any security that is
      or would be integrated with the sale of the Securities in a manner that
      would require the Securities to be registered under the 1933 Act.

           (ff)  The issuance and sale of the Securities hereunder will not
      involve any transaction that is subject to the prohibitions of Section
      406(a)(1) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as
      amended ("ERISA") or in connection with which a tax could be imposed
      pursuant to Section 4975(c)(1)(A)-(D) of the Internal Revenue Code of
      1986, as amended (the "Code"). The representation of the Issuers in the
      first sentence of this Article 2(ff) is made in reliance upon, and subject
      to the accuracy of, the representations of the Purchasers in Article 4.2
      of the Subscription Agreement, and with respect to any transferee, the
      accuracy of the representation made by such transferee pursuant to Article
      4.3(b) of the Subscription Agreement.

            No condition exists or event or transaction has occurred in
      connection with any Benefit Plan maintained or contributed to by the
      Company and its subsidiaries, or any Affiliate of any such entity, which
      is likely to result in any of them incurring any liability, fine or
      penalty which singly or in the aggregate would have a material adverse
      effect on the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, resulting
      from the failure of the Company or its subsidiaries or any Affiliate of
      any such entity to comply with ERISA insofar as such Act applies to them.

           (gg)  The Company is an "operating company" as such term is defined
      in Department of Labor Regulation 2510.3-101(c), as may be amended.

     3.  Purchase, Sale and Delivery of Notes and the Series A Shares. On the
basis of the representations, warranties and agreements herein contained, but
subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Placement Agent agrees
to solicit offers to purchase the Notes from the Company and the Series A Shares
from 


                                       13



the Parent upon the terms and conditions set forth in the Subscription
Agreement. The Placement Agent shall have the right, in its sole discretion, to
reject any offer received by it to purchase Notes and Series A Shares, as a
whole or in part, and any such rejection by the Placement Agent shall not be
deemed a breach of its agreements contained herein. The Placement Agent shall
communicate to the Parent and the Company, orally or in writing, each offer to
purchase Notes and Series A Shares and may reject any proposed purchase of Notes
and Series A Shares as a whole or in part. Neither the Parent nor the Company
shall have any obligation to any prospective purchaser in respect of any
Securities proposed to be sold to such prospective purchaser until such
prospective purchaser has entered into the Subscription Agreement pursuant to
which purchasers will subscribe for the Notes and the Series A Shares. The
Parent and the Company agrees to pay or cause to be paid to the Placement Agent
placement fees with respect to its services as set forth in this Agreement in an
amount equal to the product of 2% and the principal amount of Notes sold. The
placement fees will be paid by the Parent and the Company to the Placement Agent
at the Closing Date by wire transfer of immediately available funds.

      The Parent and Company will deliver against payment of the purchase price
the Notes, in the form of one or more permanent global securities in definitive
form (the "Global Securities") deposited with the Trustee as custodian for The
Depository Trust Company ("DTC") and registered in the name of Cede & Co., as
nominee for DTC. Interests in any permanent Global Securities will be held only
in book-entry form through DTC, except in the limited circumstances described in
the Indenture. The Parent will deliver the Series A Shares, in the form of
certificated securities in definitive form. Payment for the Notes and the Series
A Shares shall be made by the purchasers thereof in Federal (same day) funds by
official check or checks drawn to the order of the Parent or the Company or wire
transfer to an account at a bank acceptable to the Placement Agent, at the
office of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP at 9:00 A.M. (New York time),
on October 16, 1998, or at such other time not later than seven full business
days thereafter as the Placement Agent, the purchasers of such Notes and Series
A Shares, the Parent and the Company determine, such time being herein referred
to as the "Closing Date." Payment for the Notes shall be made against delivery
to the Trustee for the Notes as custodian for DTC of the Global Securities
representing all of the Notes. The Global Securities and the certificates
representing the Series A Shares to be purchased by each purchaser thereof shall
be made available for examination and packaging by the Placement Agent in The
City of New York not later than 10:00 A.M. on the last business day prior to the
Closing Date.

     4.  Agreement of Placement Agent Regarding No Advertising. The 


                                       14



Placement Agent agrees that it and each of its affiliates will not offer or sell
the Notes or the Series A Shares in the United States by means of any form of
general solicitation or general advertising within the meaning of Rule 502(c)
under the Securities Act, including, but not limited to (i) any advertisement,
article, notice or other communication published in any newspaper, magazine or
similar media or broadcast over television or radio, or (ii) any seminar or
meeting whose attendees have been invited by any general solicitation or general
advertising.

     5.  Certain Agreements of the Issuers. Each of the Issuers, jointly and
severally, agrees with the Placement Agent that:

           (a)  The Parent and the Company will advise the Placement Agent
      promptly of any proposal to amend or supplement the Offering Document and
      will not effect such amendment or supplementation without the Placement
      Agent's consent. If, at any time prior to the completion of the placement
      of the Notes and the Series A Shares by the Placement Agent, any event
      occurs as a result of which the Offering Document as then amended or
      supplemented would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit
      to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements
      therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
      misleading, or if it is necessary at any such time to amend or supplement
      the Offering Document to comply with any applicable law, the Parent and
      the Company promptly will notify the Placement Agent of such event and
      promptly will prepare, at its own expense, an amendment or supplement
      which will correct such statement or omission or effect such compliance.
      Neither the Placement Agent's consent to, nor the Placement Agent's
      delivery to offerees or investors of, any such amendment or supplement
      shall constitute a waiver of any of the conditions set forth in Section 6.

           (b)  The Company will deliver to each purchaser of the Notes and
      Parent will deliver to each purchaser of the Series A Shares, in
      connection with the sale of the Notes and the Series A Shares, a copy of
      the Offering Document, as amended and supplemented at the date of such
      delivery.

           (c)  The Parent and the Company will furnish to the Placement Agent
      copies of the Offering Document and all amendments and supplements
      thereto, in each case as soon as available and in such quantities as the
      Placement Agent reasonably requests, and the Parent and the Company will
      furnish to the Placement Agent on the date hereof three copies of the
      Offering Document signed by a duly authorized officer of each of the
      Parent and the 


                                       15



      Company, one of which will include the independent accountants' reports
      therein manually signed by such independent accountants. At any time when
      the either of the Parent or the Company is not subject to Section 13 or
      15(d) of the Exchange Act, such entity will promptly furnish or cause to
      be furnished to the Placement Agent and, upon request of holders and
      prospective purchasers of the Securities, to such holders and purchasers,
      copies of the information required to be delivered to holders and
      prospective purchasers of the Securities pursuant to Rule 144A(d)(4) under
      the Securities Act in order to permit compliance with Rule 144A in
      connection with resales by such holders of the Securities. The Parent and
      the Company will pay the expenses of printing and distributing to the
      Placement Agent and the holders and the prospective purchasers of the
      Securities all such documents.

           (d)  The Parent and the Company will arrange for the qualification of
      the Securities for sale and will use their reasonable best efforts to
      arrange for the determination of their eligibility for investment under
      the laws of such jurisdictions as the Placement Agent designates and will
      continue such qualifications in effect so long as required for the resale
      of the Securities by the purchasers thereof provided that the Parent and
      the Company will not be required to qualify as a foreign corporation or to
      file a general consent to service of process in any such jurisdiction.

           (e)  During the period of five years hereafter, the Parent and the
      Company will furnish to the Placement Agent and, upon request, to each
      purchaser of the Securities, as soon as practicable after the end of each
      fiscal year, a copy of its annual report to stockholders for such year, if
      any; and the Parent and the Company will furnish to the Placement Agent
      and, upon request, to each purchaser of the Securities as soon as
      available, (i) a copy of each description of reports, notices or
      communications sent to securityholders or, if applicable, filed with
      foreign regulators or securities exchanges, and (ii) from time to time,
      such other information concerning the Parent or the Company as the
      Placement Agent may reasonably request.

           (f)  During the period of two years after the Closing Date, the
      Parent and the Company will, upon request, furnish to the Placement Agent
      and any holder of Securities a copy of the restrictions on transfer
      applicable to the Securities.

           (g)  [Intentionally omitted.]


                                       16



           (h)  During the period of two years after the Closing Date, none of
      the Issuers will be or become, an open-end investment company, unit
      investment trust or face-amount certificate company that is or is required
      to be registered under Section 8 of the Investment Company Act.

           (i)  The Issuers will pay all expenses incidental to the performance
      of their obligations under this Agreement, the Subscription Agreement and
      the Indenture, including (i) the fees and expenses of the Trustee and its
      professional advisers in connection with the Indenture and the Securities;
      (ii) all expenses in connection with the execution, issue, authentication,
      packaging and initial delivery of the Securities, the preparation and
      printing of this Agreement, the Indenture, the Notes, the Series A Shares,
      the Offering Document and amendments and supplements thereto, and any
      other document relating to the issuance, offer, sale and delivery of the
      Securities; (iii) the cost of listing the Offered Securities and
      qualifying the Offered Securities for trading in The Portal(SM) Market
      ("PORTAL"), the cost of obtaining CUSIP numbers and any expenses
      incidental thereto; (iv) any expenses (including fees and disbursements of
      counsel) incurred in connection with qualification of the Securities for
      sale under the laws of such jurisdiction as the Placement Agent designates
      and the printing of memoranda relating thereto; (v) any fees charged by
      investment rating agencies for the rating of the Securities; (vi) all
      costs and expenses of any Registration Statement, as set forth in the
      Registration Rights Agreement and the Investors Agreement and (vii)
      expenses incurred in distributing the Offering Document (including any
      amendments and supplements thereto) to the Placement Agent and the
      purchasers of the Notes and the Series A Shares. The Issuers will also pay
      or reimburse the Placement Agent (to the extent incurred by them and, upon
      the Company's request, only upon presentation to the Company of
      documentation reasonably evidencing the same) for all travel expenses of
      the Placement Agent and the Parent's and the Company's officers and
      employees and any other expenses of the Placement Agent, the Parent and
      the Company in connection with attending or hosting meetings with
      prospective purchasers of the Notes and the Series A Shares.

           (j)  In connection with the offering, until the Placement Agent shall
      have notified the Parent and the Company of the completion of the
      placement of the Notes and the Series A Shares, none of the Parent, the
      Company or any of their affiliates has or will, either alone or with one
      or more other persons, bid for or purchase, for any account in which it or
      any of its affiliates has a beneficial interest, any Securities or attempt
      to induce any person to purchase 


                                       17



      any Securities, and they shall not make bids or purchases for the purpose
      of creating actual, or apparent, active trading in, or of raising the
      price of, the Securities.

           (k)  For a period of 180 days after the date of the sale of the Notes
      and the Series A Shares to the purchasers thereof, none of the Issuers
      will offer, sell, contract to sell, announce their intention to sell,
      pledge or otherwise dispose of, directly or indirectly, any United States
      dollar-denominated debt securities issued or guaranteed by any of the
      Issuers and having a maturity of more than one year from the date of issue
      without the prior written consent of the Placement Agent. None of the
      Issuers will at any time offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge or
      otherwise dispose of, directly or indirectly, any securities under
      circumstances where such offer, sale, pledge, contract or disposition
      would cause the exemption afforded by Section 4(2) of the Securities Act
      or the safe harbor of Regulation S thereunder to cease to be applicable to
      the offer and sale of the Securities.

           (l)  The Parent and the Company agree that they will use the net
      proceeds to them from the sale of the Securities in the manner described
      in the Offering Document under the caption "Use of Proceeds". The Company
      further agrees that on the Closing Date it will, in accordance with
      respective terms of the Indenture, dated as of March 15, 1994, as
      supplemented, between Envirotest, the guarantors named therein and First
      Trust National Association, as trustee (the "2001 Trustee"), pursuant to
      which the 2001 Notes were issued (the "2001 Indenture") and the Indenture,
      dated as of April 1, 1993, as supplemented, between Envirotest, the
      guarantors named therein and First Trust National Association, as trustee
      (the "2003 Trustee"), pursuant to which the 2003 Notes were issued (the
      "2003 Indenture"), (i) defease any and all of the 2001 Notes and the 2003
      Notes remaining outstanding on such Closing Date after consummation of the
      Debt Offers, in accordance with Section 8.1 of the 2001 Indenture and
      Section 8.01 of the 2003 Indenture, respectively, or (ii) give such
      notices to the 2001 Trustee and the 2003 Trustee, as applicable, and take
      such other actions as may be required to exercise, at the earliest
      practicable date, its optional redemption right under Section 3.1 of the
      2001 Indenture and Section 3.01 of the 2003 Indenture, with respect to any
      2001 Notes or 2003 Notes remaining outstanding after consummation of the
      Debt Offers.

           (m)  In connection with the original distribution of the Notes and
      the Series A Shares, the Issuers agree that, prior to any offer or sale of
      the 


                                       18



      Notes by the Company or the Series A Shares by the Parent, the Placement
      Agent and counsel for the Placement Agent shall have the right to make
      reasonable inquiries into the business of the Parent, the Company and
      their subsidiaries. The Issuers will provide each prospective purchaser
      the opportunity to ask questions of, and receive answers from, the
      officers, employees and representatives of the Issuers concerning the
      terms and conditions of the offering and to obtain any other additional
      information about the Parent, the Company and their subsidiaries and the
      Securities, to the extent the officers and employees of the Issuers
      possess the same or can acquire it without unreasonable effort or expense.

           (n)  The Issuers will furnish or cause to be furnished to the
      Placement Agent such information as the Placement Agent reasonably
      believes appropriate to its appointment as Placement Agent, including
      without limitation such information as the Placement Agent reasonably
      believes is necessary in connection with its assistance in the preparation
      of, or for inclusion in the Offering Document (all such information so
      furnished being hereinafter referred to as the "Information"). It is also
      understood that the Parent and the Company may make available to
      prospective purchasers of the Notes and the Series A Shares additional
      material, data or other information (whether oral or written) relating to
      the Parent or the Company (the "Company Data"). The Issuers recognize and
      confirm that: (i) in performing the services contemplated by this
      Agreement, the Placement Agent will use and rely primarily on the
      Information and on other information available from generally recognized
      public sources without having independently verified the same; (ii) the
      Placement Agent does not assume responsibility for the accuracy or
      completeness of the Offering Document, the Information, the Company Data
      and such other information; and (iii) the Placement Agent will not make an
      appraisal of any of the assets owned or managed by the Issuers as part of
      the services to be performed by it hereunder except in connection with its
      valuation of the Series A Common Stock.

           (o)  Offers and sales of the Notes and the Series A Shares will be
      made only by the Issuers to persons whom the Issuers reasonably believe to
      be institutional "accredited investors" within the meaning of Rule
      501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) under the Securities Act ("Institutional
      Accredited Investors") and in a manner not involving a public offering
      with the meaning of Section 4 of the Securities Act.

           (p)  No general solicitation or general advertising (within the


                                       19



      meaning of Rule 502(c) under the Securities Act) will be used in
      connection with the offering of the Notes and the Series A Shares. If
      required, the Issuers will file in a timely manner with the Commission any
      notices with respect to the Securities required by Regulation D and will
      furnish to the Placement Agent promptly thereafter a signed copy of each
      such notice.

           (q)  The transfer restrictions and the other provisions set forth in
      (i) the Indenture and the Registration Rights Agreement with respect to
      the Notes and (ii) the Investors Agreement, the Share Price Adjustment
      Agreement and the certificates representing the Series A Shares with
      respect to such Shares, including the legends required thereby or
      appearing thereon, shall apply to the Securities except as otherwise
      agreed by the Issuers and the Placement Agent. Following the sale of the
      Notes by the Company and the Series A Shares by the Parent to purchasers
      thereof pursuant to the terms of the Subscription Agreement, the Placement
      Agent (solely in its capacity as Placement Agent) shall not be liable or
      responsible to any of the Issuers for any losses, damages or liabilities
      suffered or incurred by any of the Issuers, including any losses, damages
      or liabilities under the Securities Act, arising from or relating to any
      sale, resale or transfer of any Security except for any such loss, damage
      or liability incurred by the Company as a result of gross negligence or
      willful misconduct on the part of the Placement Agent or any of its
      affiliates.

           (r)  Each of the Issuers agrees that it will not and will cause its
      affiliates not to make any offer or sale of securities of any of the
      Issuers of any class if, as a result of the doctrine of "integration"
      referred to in Rule 502 under the Securities Act, such offer or sale would
      render invalid (for the purpose of the sale of the Notes and the Series A
      Shares by the Company and the Parent to the purchasers thereof) the
      exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act
      provided by Section 4(2) thereof or otherwise.

     6.  Conditions of the Obligations of the Placement Agent. The obligations
of the Placement Agent hereunder will be subject to the accuracy of the
representations and warranties on the part of the Issuers herein, to the
accuracy of the statements of officers of the Issuers made pursuant to the
provisions hereof, to the performance by the Issuers of their respective
obligations hereunder and to the following additional conditions precedent and
conditions subsequent:

           (a)  The Placement Agent shall have received a letter, dated the


                                       20



      Closing Date and satisfactory to the Placement Agent and the purchasers of
      Securities, of PriceWaterhouseCoopers LLP addressed to the Placement
      Agent, the Parent, the Company and the purchasers of the Securities
      pursuant to this Agreement confirming that they are independent public
      accountants within the meaning of the Securities Act and the applicable
      published rules and regulations thereunder ("Rules and Regulations") and
      to the effect that:

                 (i)  in their opinion the financial statements and schedules
            examined by them and included in the Offering Document comply as to
            form in all material respects with the applicable accounting
            requirements of the Securities Act and the related published Rules
            and Regulations;

                 (ii)  they have performed the procedures specified by the
            American Institute of Certified Public Accountants for a review of
            interim financial information as described in Statement of Auditing
            Standards No. 71, Interim Financial Information, on the unaudited
            financial statements included in the Offering Document;

                 (iii)  on the basis of the review referred to in clause (ii)
            above, a reading of the latest available interim financial
            statements of the Parent and the Company, and of all subsidiaries of
            the Company for which such interim financial statements are
            provided, inquiries of officials of the Parent, the Company, and of
            such subsidiaries, who have responsibility for financial and
            accounting matters and other specified procedures, nothing came to
            their attention that caused them to believe that:

                       (A)  the unaudited financial statements included in the
                  Offering Document do not comply as to form in all material
                  respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the
                  Securities Act and the related published Rules and Regulations
                  or any material modifications should be made to such unaudited
                  financial statements for them to be in conformity with
                  generally accepted accounting principles;

                       (B)  at the date of the latest available balance sheet
                  read by such accountants, or at a subsequent specified date
                  not more than three business days prior to the Closing Date,
                  there was any change in the capital stock or any material
                  increase in 


                                       21



                  long-term debt of the Parent or the Company and its
                  consolidated subsidiaries or, at the date of the latest
                  available balance sheet read by such accountants, there was
                  any decrease in consolidated net current assets, as compared
                  with amounts shown on the latest balance sheet included in the
                  Offering Document, or

                       (C)  for the period from the closing date of the latest
                  income statement included in the Offering Document to the
                  closing date of the latest available income statement read by
                  such accountants there were any decreases, as compared with
                  the corresponding period of the previous year and with the
                  period of corresponding length ended the date of the latest
                  income statement included in the Offering Document, in
                  consolidated net sales, net operating income or in the total
                  or per share amounts of consolidated income before
                  extraordinary items or net income; except in all cases set
                  forth in clauses (B) and (C) above for changes, increases or
                  decreases which the Offering Document disclose have occurred
                  or may occur or which are described in such letter;

                 (iv)  they have performed the procedures specified by the
            American Institute of Certified Public Accountants for a review on
            pro forma financial information as described in Statement on
            Standards for Attestation Engagement No. 1, Reporting on Pro Forma
            Financial Statements, on the pro forma financial statements included
            in the Offering Document;

                 (v)  on the basis of the review referred to in clause (iv)
            above, nothing came to their attention that caused them to believe
            that the pro forma financial statements included in the Offering
            Document do not comply as to form in all material respects with the
            applicable accounting requirements of the Securities Act and the
            related published Rules and Regulations or that the pro forma
            adjustments have not been properly applied to the historical amounts
            in the compilation of those statements; and

                 (vi)  they have compared specified dollar amounts (or
            percentages derived from such dollar amounts) and other financial
            information contained in the Offering Document (in each case to the


                                       22



            extent that such dollar amounts, percentages and other financial
            information are derived from the general accounting records of the
            Parent or the Company and its subsidiaries subject to the internal
            controls of the Company's accounting system or are derived directly
            from such records by analysis or computation) with the results
            obtained from inquiries, a reading of such general accounting
            records and other procedures specified in such letter and have found
            such dollar amounts, percentages and other financial information to
            be in agreement with such results, except as otherwise specified in
            such letter.

                 (vii)  the presentation of Management's Discussion and Analysis
            of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in the Offering
            Document includes, in all material respects, the required elements
            of the rules and regulations adopted by the Commission; the
            historical financial amounts included therein have been accurately
            derived, in all material respects, from the Company's financial
            statements; and the underlying information, determination, estimates
            and assumptions of the Company provide a reasonable basis for the
            disclosures contained therein.

           (b)  Subsequent to the execution and delivery of this Agreement,
      there shall not have occurred (i) a change in U.S. or international
      financial, political or economic conditions or currency exchange rates or
      exchange controls as would, in the reasonable judgment of the Placement
      Agent, be likely to prejudice materially the success of the proposed issue
      and sale of the Notes and the Series A Shares, whether in the primary
      market or in respect of dealings in the secondary market, or (ii) (A) any
      change, or any development or event involving a prospective change, in the
      condition (financial or other), business prospects, properties or results
      of operations of the Parent and its subsidiaries taken as a whole, which,
      in the reasonable judgment of the Placement Agent, is material and adverse
      to the Parent and its subsidiaries taken as a whole and makes it
      impractical or inadvisable to proceed with completion of the issuance or
      the sale of and payment for the Securities; (B) any downgrading in the
      rating of any debt securities of the Parent, the Company or any of their
      subsidiaries by any "nationally recognized statistical rating
      organization" (as defined for purposes of Rule 436(g) under the Securities
      Act), or any public announcement that any such organization has under
      surveillance or review its rating of any debt securities of the Parent,
      the Company or any of their subsidiaries (other than an announcement with


                                       23



      positive implications of a possible upgrading, and no implication of a
      possible downgrading, of such rating); (C) any suspension or limitation of
      trading in securities generally on the New York Stock Exchange or the
      Nasdaq National Market, or any setting of minimum prices for trading on
      such exchange, or any suspension of trading of any securities of the
      Parent, the Company or any of their subsidiaries on any exchange or in the
      over-the-counter market; (D) any banking moratorium declared by U.S.
      Federal or New York authorities; or (E) any outbreak or escalation of
      major hostilities in which the United States is involved, any declaration
      of war by Congress or any other substantial national or international
      calamity or emergency if, in the reasonable judgment of the Placement
      Agent, the effect of any such outbreak, escalation, declaration, calamity
      or emergency makes it impractical or inadvisable to proceed with
      completion of the issuance or sale of and payment for the Notes and the
      Series A Shares.

           (c)  The Placement Agent shall have received an opinion or opinions,
      dated such Closing Date, of counsel for the Issuers, substantially to the
      effect that:

                 (i)  Each of the Parent, the Company and each subsidiary of the
            Company was duly incorporated and is in good standing under the laws
            of its jurisdiction of incorporation, with corporate power and
            authority to own its properties and conduct its businesses as
            described in the Offering Document.

                 (ii)  Each of the Transaction Documents (except for the
            Envirotest Agreement and the Transervice Agreement) has been duly
            authorized, executed and delivered by each of the Parent, the
            Company and their subsidiaries (to the extent each is a party
            thereto); each of the Transaction Documents conforms to the
            description thereof contained in the Offering Document (to the
            extent described therein); and each of the Transaction Documents
            (other than this Agreement and the Subscription Agreement)
            constitutes valid and legally binding obligations of each of the
            Parent, the Company and their subsidiaries (to the extent each is a
            party thereto) enforceable in accordance with its respective terms,
            subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer,
            reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general applicability
            relating to or affecting creditors' rights and to general equity
            principles and, as to rights of indemnification and contribution, to
            principles of public policy and federal and state 


                                       24



            securities laws relating thereto.

                 (iii)  The Notes, the Guarantees and the Series A Shares
            conform in all material respects to the description thereof in the
            Offering Document.

                 (iv)  The Notes and the Guarantees have been duly authorized
            and executed by the Company and the Guarantors, respectively, and,
            when the Notes are authenticated in the manner provided for in the
            Indenture and delivered against payment of the purchase price
            therefor, the Notes and the Guarantees will constitute valid and
            binding obligations of the Company and the Guarantors, respectively,
            enforceable against the Company and the Guarantors, respectively, in
            accordance with their terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency,
            fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of
            general applicability relating to or affecting creditors' rights and
            to general equity principles and, as to rights of indemnification
            and contribution, to principles of public policy and federal and
            state securities laws relating thereto.

                 (v)  The Series A Shares have been duly authorized and, when
            issued and delivered to and paid for by the purchasers thereof in
            accordance with the terms of the Subscription Agreement, will have
            been validly issued and fully paid and nonassessable.

                 (vi)  [Intentionally omitted.]

                 (vii)  To our knowledge, there are no preemptive rights or
            similar rights that have not been waived to subscribe for or
            purchase the Securities upon their issuance and sale by the Issuers
            pursuant to this Agreement and the Subscription Agreement. To our
            knowledge, no securityholder of any Issuer has any right that has
            not been waived to require such Issuer to register the sale of any
            securities owned by such securityholder under the Securities Act in
            the offering and sale contemplated by this Agreement and the
            Subscription Agreement.

                 (viii)  The execution, delivery of, and performance by each of
            the Parent, the Company and their subsidiaries (to the extent each
            is a party thereto) of its obligations under each of the Transaction
            Documents (including the issuance and sale of the Securities) and


                                       25



            compliance with the terms and provisions thereof will not result in
            a breach or violation of any of the terms and provisions of, or
            constitute a default under, any statute, any rule, regulation or
            order of any governmental agency or body or any court, domestic or
            foreign, having jurisdiction over the Parent, the Company or any
            subsidiary of the Company or any of their respective properties, or
            the charter or by-laws of the Parent, the Company or any such
            subsidiary, any agreement or instrument set forth on Schedule B
            attached hereto or the Transaction Documents, and each of the
            Issuers has full power and authority to authorize, issue and sell
            the Securities as contemplated by this Agreement and the
            Subscription Agreement.

                 (ix)  Each of the Issuers is not and, after giving effect to
            the offering and sale of the Securities and the application of the
            proceeds thereof as described in the Offering Document and the
            consummation of the other Transactions, will not, be an "investment
            company" as defined in the Investment Company Act.

                 (x)  No consent, approval, authorization or order of, or filing
            with, any governmental agency or body or any court is required to be
            obtained or made by the Parent, the Company or any subsidiary of the
            Parent or the Company for the consummation of the Transactions or
            otherwise in connection with the issuance and sale of the
            Securities, other than those consents, approvals, authorizations,
            orders or filings that have been made or obtained and such as may be
            required by the Securities Act (including Regulation D thereunder)
            and securities or blue sky laws of any state of the United States or
            of any foreign jurisdiction in connection with the offer and sale of
            the Securities and as may be required under the Securities Act in
            connection with the Registration Rights Agreement and the Investors
            Agreement.

                 (xi)  It is not necessary in connection with the offer, sale
            and delivery of the Securities by the Parent and the Company to the
            purchasers thereof pursuant to this Agreement and the Subscription
            Agreement to register the Securities under the Securities Act or to
            qualify the Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act.

                 (xii)  Except as set forth in the Offering Document, all
            outstanding shares of the capital stock of the Parent, the Company
            and 


                                       26



            each of their subsidiaries have been duly authorized and validly
            issued, are fully paid and nonassessable and conform in all material
            respects to the description thereof contained in the Offering
            Document; the Parent is the record owner of all of the issued and
            outstanding capital stock of the Company. The Company, directly or
            through subsidiaries, is the record owner of all of the issued and
            outstanding capital stock of each subsidiary of the Company, and the
            securityholders of the Parent, the Company and their subsidiaries
            have no preemptive rights with respect to the Securities.

                 (xiii)  Except as set forth in the Offering Document or any
            Transaction Document, there are no contracts, agreements or
            understandings known to such counsel between the Parent, the Company
            or any of their subsidiaries and any person granting such person the
            right to require the Parent, the Company or any of their
            subsidiaries to file a registration statement under the Securities
            Act with respect to any securities of the Parent, the Company or any
            of their subsidiaries owned or to be owned by such person or to
            require the Parent, the Company or any of their subsidiaries to
            include such securities in any registration statement filed by the
            Parent, the Company or any of their subsidiaries under the
            Securities Act.

                 (xiv)  The statements under the captions "Business--Legal
            Proceedings," "Description of Other Indebtedness," "Description of
            the Notes," "Description of Capital Stock" and "Certain United
            States Federal Income Tax Considerations" in the Offering Document,
            insofar as such statements constitute a summary of the legal
            matters, documents or proceedings referred to therein, fairly
            present in all material respects the information called for with
            respect to such legal matters, documents and proceedings as if such
            Offering Document were a prospectus included in a registration
            statement on Form S-1.

                 (xv)  None of the Parent, the Company or any of their
            subsidiaries is in violation of its respective charter or by-laws
            and none of the Parent, the Company or any of their subsidiaries is
            in default in the performance of any obligation, agreement, covenant
            or condition contained in any indenture, loan agreement, mortgage,
            lease or other agreement or instrument as set forth on Schedule B
            attached hereto.

                 (xvi)  Based solely on discussions with the Parent, the 


                                       27



            Company or any of their subsidiaries but without independent
            investigation or verification thereof, such counsel does not know of
            any legal or governmental proceedings pending or threatened to which
            the Parent, the Company or any of their subsidiaries is or could be
            a party or to which any of their respective property is or could be
            subject, which might result, singly or in the aggregate, in a
            Material Adverse Effect.

                 (xvii)  Based upon our participation in the preparation of the
            Offering Document, but without independent check and verification,
            nothing has come to our attention which causes us to believe that as
            of its date or as of the Closing Date the Offering Document as
            amended or supplemented (other than the financial statements and
            other financial data included therein or omitted therefrom, as to
            which we express no belief) contained or contains an untrue
            statement of a material fact or omitted or omits to state a material
            fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the
            circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

           (d)  The Placement Agent shall have received from Skadden, Arps,
      Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, counsel for the Placement Agent, such opinion
      or opinions, dated such Closing Date, with respect to such matters as the
      Placement Agent may reasonably require, and the Issuers shall have
      furnished to such counsel such documents as they request for the purpose
      of enabling them to pass upon such matters.

           (e)  The Placement Agent shall have received a certificate, dated the
      Closing Date, of the President or any Vice President and a principal
      financial or accounting officer of each of the Issuers in which such
      officers after reasonable investigation shall state that the
      representations and warranties of such company in this Agreement are true
      and correct as of such date, that such company has complied with all
      agreements and satisfied all conditions on its part to be performed or
      satisfied hereunder at or prior to the Closing Date, and that, subsequent
      to the date of the most recent financial statements in the Offering
      Document, there has been no Material Adverse Change, nor any development
      or event involving a prospective Material Adverse Change, and there has
      been no dividend or distribution of any kind declared, paid or made by the
      Company on any class of its capital stock, except as disclosed in or
      contemplated by the Offering Document or as described in such certificate.


                                       28



           (f)  The Company and the Parent shall have caused the ENR Transfer to
      be effected and consummated pursuant to the documentation described in the
      definition of Transaction Documents and the Company shall have pledged and
      delivered the capital stock of Envirotest to the Collateral Agent (as
      defined in the Bank Agreements) pursuant to the Collateral Documents (as
      defined in the Bank Agreements) and all conditions and requirements under
      the Collateral Documents with respect to the pledging of capital stock
      shall have been fulfilled to the satisfaction of the Collateral Agent, in
      each case, on or prior to November 20, 1998. For purposes of this
      paragraph, "ENR Transfer" means the purchase, following the Merger, by the
      Company of all of the outstanding capital stock of Envirotest from ESP for
      a purchase price (which may be paid in the form of a note) in an amount,
      and pursuant to documentation, satisfactory to the Administrative Agent
      (including, without limitation, provisions of any such note relating to
      subordination, payments of principal and interest and the exercise of
      remedies) under the Credit Agreement.

           (g)  The Issuers and the Trustee shall have entered into the
      Indenture and you shall have received executed counterparts thereof.

           (h)  The Issuers shall have entered into the Registration Rights
      Agreement and the Investors Agreement and you shall have received executed
      counterparts thereof.

           (i)  On or prior to the Closing Date, (i)(a) the Company and the
      other parties thereto shall have entered into the Bank Agreements and all
      conditions precedent to the effectiveness thereof shall have been
      satisfied or waived to the satisfaction of the Placement Agent and (b)
      each of the Transactions (other than the Transervice Acquisition and the
      Envirotest Sale) shall have been consummated in accordance with the terms
      set forth in each Transaction Document and all conditions precedent to the
      effectiveness thereof shall have been satisfied or waived to the
      satisfaction of the Placement Agent; (ii) such transactions described in
      the foregoing clause (i) shall continue to be in full force and effect in
      accordance with the terms thereof; and (iii) the Company shall have
      provided to the Placement Agent and counsel to the Placement Agent copies
      of all Transaction Documents delivered to the parties relating to the
      Transactions (including but not limited to legal opinions relating
      thereto). To the extent the conditions in any of the agreements and
      documents referred to in clause (i) above permit any person or persons to


                                       29



      waive compliance with such condition, or require that a document, opinion
      or other instrument or any event or condition be acceptable or
      satisfactory to any person or persons, for purposes of this Agreement,
      such condition shall be complied with only if waived by the Placement
      Agent and such document, opinion or other instrument and such events or
      conditions shall be acceptable or satisfactory only if acceptable or
      satisfactory to the Placement Agent. No amendment to or waiver of such
      condition made pursuant to the Bank Agreements or any of the Transaction
      Documents shall be effective to amend or waive such condition for the
      purposes of this Agreement without the consent of the Placement Agent.

           (j)  The Placement Agent shall have been furnished with a copy of the
      opinions delivered on behalf of the Company in connection with the
      Transactions, which opinions shall expressly state that the Placement
      Agent is justified in relying upon the opinions therein.

           (k)  The Placement Agent shall have received an opinion addressed to
      them from Murray, Devine & Co. in form and substance reasonably
      satisfactory to the purchasers of the Notes and the Series A Shares that
      the Transactions and the application of the net proceeds therefrom will
      not render the Parent, the Company or any of their subsidiaries insolvent,
      leave the Parent, the Company or any of their subsidiaries with inadequate
      or unreasonably small capital with which to conduct business or result in
      the Parent, the Company or any of their subsidiaries incurring
      indebtedness beyond its ability to repay as such indebtedness matures.

           (l)  The Placement Agent shall have received a certificate, dated the
      Closing Date, of the President or any Vice President of the Company in
      which such officer after reasonable investigation shall state that (i)
      each of the Company and its subsidiaries has such permits, licenses,
      consents, exemptions, franchises, authorizations and other approvals
      ("permits") of, and has made all filings with and notice to, all
      governmental or regulatory authorities and self-regulatory organizations
      and all courts and other tribunals, including, without limitation, under
      any applicable environmental laws, as are necessary to own, lease, license
      and operate its respective properties and to conduct its business, except
      where the failure to have any such permit or to make any such filing or
      notice would not, singly or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse
      Effect, (ii) each such permit is valid and in full force and effect and
      each of the Company and its subsidiaries is in compliance with all the
      terms and conditions thereof and with the rules and regulations of the
      authorities and 


                                       30



      governing bodies having jurisdiction with respect thereto, (iii) no event
      has occurred (including the receipt of any notice from any authority or
      governing body) which allows or, after notice or elapse of time or both,
      would allow for revocation, suspension or termination of any such permit
      or has resulted or, after notice or lapse of time or both, would result,
      in any other impairment of the rights of the holder of any such permit,
      and (iv) such permits contain no restrictions that are burdensome to the
      Company or any of its subsidiaries except where such failure to be valid
      and in full force and effect or to be in compliance, the occurrence of any
      such event or the presence of any such restriction would not, singly or in
      the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.

           (m)  Upon consummation of the Envirotest Sale, the Company shall
      provide notice to the Placement Agent of such sale and shall provide the
      Placement Agent with an executed copy of the Envirotest Agreement.

           (n)  The Placement Agent shall have received a certificate, dated the
      Closing Date, of the President or any Vice President of the Company in
      which such officer shall state that (i) each of the Transactions (other
      than the Transervice Acquisition and the Envirotest Sale) shall have been
      consummated in accordance with the terms set forth in each Transaction
      Document, (ii) each of the Transactions shall be in full force and effect
      in accordance with the terms thereof and (iii) each Transaction Document
      shall have been executed and delivered.

           (o)  The Securities shall have been designated PORTAL securities in
      accordance with the rules and regulations adopted by the NASD relating to
      trading in the PORTAL market.

           (p)  The Placement Agent shall have received evidence satisfactory to
      it that all conditions set forth herein shall have been met and such
      further certificates and documents as the Placement Agent shall reasonably
      request.

           (q)  The Company will furnish the Placement Agent with such conformed
      copies of such opinions, certificates, letters and documents as the
      Placement Agent reasonably requests. The Placement Agent may in its sole
      discretion waive compliance with any conditions to the obligations of the
      Placement Agent hereunder.

           (r)  As of the Closing Date, the Parent and the Company shall have


                                       31



      received CUSIP numbers for the Notes and the Series A Shares and will
      provide the Placement Agent with such CUSIP numbers.

           (s)  On the Closing Date, the Placement Agent shall have received the
      final Offering Document, in a form satisfactory to the Placement Agent,
      the purchasers of Securities and their respective counsel.

     7.  Indemnification and Contribution. (a) Each of the Issuers, jointly and
severally, will indemnify and hold harmless the Placement Agent against any
losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which the Placement
Agent may become subject, under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act or
otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in
respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon (i) any untrue statement or
alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in the Offering
Document, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or in the Information or
Company Data furnished or made available by the Parent or the Company directly,
through the Placement Agent or otherwise, to any prospective purchaser of the
Notes and the Series A Shares or its representatives, or arise out of or are
based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact
necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, and will reimburse the
Placement Agent for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by the
Placement Agent in connection with investigating or defending any such loss,
claim, damage, liability or action as such expenses are incurred upon
presentation of documentation reasonably evidencing the same or (ii) the
engagement of the Placement Agent pursuant to, and the performance by the
Placement Agent of the services contemplated by, this Agreement;

           (b)  [Intentionally omitted.]

           (c)  Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this
      Section of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified
      party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the
      indemnifying party under subsection (a) above, notify the indemnifying
      party of the commencement thereof; but the omission so to notify the
      indemnifying party will not relieve it from any liability which it may
      have to any indemnified party otherwise than under subsection (a) above.
      In case any such action is brought against any indemnified party and it
      notifies the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, the
      indemnifying party will be entitled to participate therein and, to the
      extent that it may wish, jointly with any other indemnifying party
      similarly notified, to assume the defense thereof, with counsel reasonably
      satisfactory to such indemnified party (who shall not, except with the
      consent 


                                       32



      of the indemnified party (which consent shall not be unreasonably
      withheld), be counsel to the indemnifying party), and after notice from
      the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of its election so to
      assume the defense thereof, the indemnifying party will not be liable to
      such indemnified party under this Section for any legal or other expenses
      subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in connection with the
      defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation. No
      indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the
      indemnified party, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened
      action in respect of which any indemnified party is or could have been a
      party and indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such indemnified
      party unless such settlement includes an unconditional release of such
      indemnified party from all liability on any claims that are the subject
      matter of such action.

           (d)  If the indemnification provided for in this Section is
      unavailable or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under
      subsection (a) above, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the
      amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of the
      losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to in subsection (a) above
      (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits
      received by the Issuers on the one hand and the Placement Agent on the
      other from the issuance and sale of the Notes and the Series A Shares or
      (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) above is not permitted by
      applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only
      the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the
      relative fault of the Issuers on the one hand and the Placement Agent on
      the other in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in
      such losses, claims, damages or liabilities as well as any other relevant
      equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Issuers on
      the one hand and the Placement Agent on the other shall be deemed to be in
      the same proportion as the total net proceeds from the issuance and sale
      of the Notes and the Series A Shares (before deducting expenses) received
      by the Parent and the Company bear to the total placement fees received by
      the Placement Agent from the Parent and the Company. The relative fault
      shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the
      untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or
      alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied
      by any of the Issuers or the Placement Agent and the parties' relative
      intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or
      prevent such untrue statement or omission. The amount paid by an
      indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or
      liabilities referred to in the first sentence of this subsection 


                                       33



      (d) shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably
      incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or
      defending any action or claim which is the subject of this subsection (d).
      Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection (d), the Placement Agent
      shall not be required to contribute any amount in excess of the actual
      fees paid to the Placement Agent.

           (e)  The obligations of the Issuers under this Section shall be in
      addition to any liability which the Issuers may otherwise have and shall
      extend, upon the same terms and conditions, to the Placement Agent, its
      representatives, officers and directors and each person, if any, who
      controls the Placement Agent within the meaning of the Securities Act or
      the Exchange Act; and the obligations of the Placement Agent under this
      Section shall be in addition to any liability which the Placement Agent
      may otherwise have and shall extend, upon the same terms and conditions to
      each Company, its representatives, officers and directors and person, if
      any, who controls the Issuers within the meaning of the Securities Act or
      the Exchange Act.

     8.  Services; Default. In connection with the services to be rendered
hereunder, the Placement Agent shall act as an independent contractor, and any
duties of the Placement Agent arising out of its engagement pursuant to this
Agreement shall be owed solely to the Parent and the Company. In soliciting
orders from others to purchase Notes and Series A Shares, the Placement Agent is
acting solely as an agent for the Parent and the Company, and not as a
principal. The Placement Agent will not have any liability to the Parent and the
Company in the event any purchaser whose offer to purchase Notes and Series A
Shares has been accepted by the Parent or the Company does not perform its
obligations to the Parents or the Company. If the Parent or the Company shall
default on their obligation to deliver Notes and Series A Shares to a purchaser
thereof whose offer they have accepted, the Parents or the Company shall
indemnify the Placement Agent against any loss, claim, or damage arising from or
as a result of such default by the Parent or the Company.

     9.  Survival of Certain Representations and Obligations. The respective
indemnities, agreements, representations, warranties and other statements of
each of the Issuers or its officers and of the Placement Agent set forth in or
made pursuant to this Agreement will remain in full force and effect, regardless
of any investigation, or statement as to the results thereof, made by or on
behalf of the Placement Agent, the Issuers or any of their respective
representatives, officers or directors or any controlling person, and will
survive delivery of and payment for the Notes and the Series A Shares. If for
any reason the purchase of the Notes and the Series A Shares 


                                       34



by the purchasers thereof is not consummated, the Issuer shall remain
responsible for the expenses (including fees and disbursements of counsel) to be
paid or reimbursed by them pursuant to Section 5(i) and the obligations of each
of the Issuers and the Placement Agent pursuant to Section 7 shall remain in
effect; provided, however, that the Companies shall have no obligations under
either Section 5(i) or Section 7 if this Agreement is terminated pursuant to
Section 8 or as a result of the occurrence of any event specified in clause (C),
(D) or (E) of Section 6(b)(ii) or if the purchase of the Securities is not
consummated due to a material breach of, or default under, this Agreement by the
Placement Agent; if any Notes and Series A Shares have been purchased hereunder
and under the Subscription Agreement, the Issuers shall remain responsible for
the expenses to be paid or reimbursed by them pursuant to Section 5 and the
obligations of the Issuers pursuant to Section 7 shall remain in effect, and the
representations and warranties in Section 2 and all other obligations under
Section 5 shall also remain in effect.

     10.  Notices. All communications hereunder will be in writing and, if sent
to the Placement Agent will be mailed, delivered or telegraphed and confirmed to
the Placement Agent at Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation, Eleven Madison
Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10010-3629, Attention: Investment Banking Department B
Transactions Advisory Group, or, if sent to the Company, will be mailed,
delivered or telegraphed and confirmed to it at EnviroSystems Corp., c/o
Environmental Systems Products, Inc., 7 Kripes Road, East Granby, Connecticut
06026, Attention: David J. Langevin.

     11.  Successors. This Agreement will inure to the benefit of and be binding
upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and the representatives,
officers and directors controlling persons referred to in Section 7, and no
other person will have any right or obligation hereunder, except that holders of
Securities shall be entitled to enforce the agreements for their benefit
contained in the second and third sentences of Section 5(c) hereof against the
Parent and the Company as if such holders were parties thereto.

     12.  Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all such
counterparts shall together constitute one and the same Agreement.

     13.  Applicable Law. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in
accordance with, the laws of the State of New York without regard to principles
of conflicts of laws.


                                       35



      EACH OF THE ISSUERS HEREBY SUBMITS TO THE NON-EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF
THE FEDERAL AND STATE COURTS IN THE BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK
IN ANY SUIT OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE
TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.


                                       36


      If the foregoing is in accordance with the Placement Agent's understanding
of our agreement, kindly sign and return to us one of the counterparts hereof,
whereupon it will become a binding agreement among the Companies and the
Placement Agent in accordance with its terms.

                                            Very truly yours,

                                            ENVIROSYSTEMS CORP.


                                            By: /s/ David J. Langevin
                                               ---------------------------------
                                               Name: David Langevin
                                               Title: EVP CFO

                                            ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS
                                                PRODUCTS HOLDINGS INC.


                                            By: /s/ David J. Langevin
                                               ---------------------------------
                                               Name: David Langevin
                                               Title: EVP CFO

                                            ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS
                                                PRODUCTS, INC.


                                            By: /s/ David J. Langevin
                                               ---------------------------------
                                               Name: David Langevin
                                               Title: EVP CFO

                                            ENVIROTEST SYSTEMS CORP. (Delaware)


                                            By: /s/ David J. Langevin
                                               ---------------------------------
                                               Name: David Langevin
                                               Title: EVP CFO


                                       37



                                            ENVIROTEST HOLDINGS, INC.


                                            By: /s/ David J. Langevin
                                               ---------------------------------
                                               Name: David Langevin
                                               Title: EVP CFO

                                            ENVIROTEST TECHNOLOGIES,
                                                INC.


                                            By: /s/ David J. Langevin
                                               ---------------------------------
                                               Name: David Langevin
                                               Title: EVP CFO

                                            ENVIROTEST PARTNERS


                                            By: /s/ David J. Langevin
                                               ---------------------------------
                                               Name: David Langevin
                                               Title: EVP CFO

                                            REMOTE SENSING
                                                TECHNOLOGIES, INC.


                                            By: /s/ David J. Langevin
                                               ---------------------------------
                                               Name: David Langevin
                                               Title: EVP CFO

                                            ENVIROTEST WISCONSIN, INC.


                                            By: /s/ David J. Langevin
                                               ---------------------------------
                                               Name: David Langevin
                                               Title: EVP CFO


                                       38



                                            ES FUNDING CORPORATION


                                            By: /s/ David J. Langevin
                                               ---------------------------------
                                               Name: David Langevin
                                               Title: EVP CFO

                                            ENVIROTEST ACQUISITIONS  CO.


                                            By: /s/ David J. Langevin
                                               ---------------------------------
                                               Name: David Langevin
                                               Title: EVP CFO

                                            ENVIROTEST SYSTEMS CORP. 
                                                (Washington)


                                            By: /s/ David J. Langevin
                                               ---------------------------------
                                               Name: David Langevin
                                               Title: EVP CFO

                                            ENVIROTEST ILLINOIS, INC.


                                            By: /s/ David J. Langevin
                                               ---------------------------------
                                               Name: David Langevin
                                               Title: EVP CFO

                                            WELLMAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.


                                            By: /s/ David J. Langevin
                                               ---------------------------------
                                               Name: David Langevin
                                               Title: EVP CFO

                                       39




                                            WELLMAN OVERSEAS LIMITED


                                            By: /s/ T. Smith [Illegible]
                                               ---------------------------------
                                               Name: T. Smith [Illegible]
                                               Title: Director Company Secretary

                                            NEWMALL LIMITED


                                            By: /s/ T. Smith [Illegible]
                                               ---------------------------------
                                               Name: T. Smith [Illegible]
                                               Title: Director Company Secretary

The foregoing Placement Agreement is hereby confirmed and accepted as of the
date first above written.

CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON
    CORPORATION


By: /s/ Richard Gallant
   ---------------------------------
   Name: Richard Gallant
   Title: Director


                                       40



                                   SCHEDULE A

                               List of Guarantors

Environmental Systems Products. Inc.
Envirotest Systems Corp. (Delaware)
Envirotest Holdings, Inc.
Envirotest Technologies, Inc.
Envirotest Partners (Pennsylvania)
Remote Sensing Technologies, Inc.
Envirotest Wisconsin, Inc.
ES Funding Corporation
Envirotest Acquisitions Co.
Envirotest Systems Corp. (Washington)
Envirotest Illinois, Inc.
Wellman North America, Inc.
Wellman Overseas Ltd.
Newmall Ltd.


                                       41



                                   SCHEDULE B

                        [LIST OF "NO-CONFLICT" CONTRACTS]

[Envirotest State Contracts]

[Ohio Notes]


                                       42