Document:

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                                                                    Exhibit 4.28

                                CREDIT AGREEMENT

                                      among

                       PHILADELPHIA SUBURBAN WATER COMPANY

                                       and

                             THE BANKS PARTY HERETO

                                       and

                         PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
                                    as Agent

                          Dated as of December 22, 1999

                                   $50,000,000

================================================================================

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                                TABLE OF CONTENTS
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BACKGROUND......................................................................................................1

SECTION 1.  DEFINITIONS.........................................................................................1
         1.1      Defined Terms.................................................................................1
         1.2      Other Definitional Provisions................................................................15
         1.3      Construction.................................................................................15

SECTION 2.  THE CREDITS........................................................................................16
         2.1      Revolving Credit Loans.......................................................................16
         2.2      Swing Line Loans.............................................................................17
         2.3      General Provisions Regarding Loans...........................................................20
         2.4      Fees.........................................................................................21
         2.5      Revolving Credit Notes; Repayment of Revolving Credit Loans..................................22
         2.6      Interest on Revolving Credit Loans...........................................................22
         2.7      Default Rate; Additional Interest; Alternate Rate of Interest................................23
         2.8      Termination, Reduction, Extension of Commitments; Additional Banks...........................23
         2.9      Optional and Mandatory Prepayments of Loans..................................................25
         2.10     Illegality...................................................................................25
         2.11     Requirements of Law..........................................................................26
         2.12     Taxes........................................................................................27
         2.13     Indemnity....................................................................................28
         2.14     Pro Rata Treatment, etc......................................................................29
         2.15     Payments.....................................................................................29
         2.16     Conversion and Continuation Options..........................................................29

SECTION 3.  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.....................................................................30
         3.1      Financial Condition..........................................................................30
         3.2      No Adverse Change............................................................................31
         3.3      Existence; Compliance with Law...............................................................31
         3.4      Corporate Power; Authorization; Enforceable Obligations......................................31
         3.5      No Legal Bar.................................................................................32
         3.6      No Material Litigation.......................................................................32
         3.7      No Default...................................................................................32
         3.8      Taxes........................................................................................32
         3.9      Federal Regulations..........................................................................32
         3.10     ERISA........................................................................................33
         3.11     Investment Company Act; Public Utility Holding Company Act...................................33
         3.12     Purpose of Loans.............................................................................34
         3.13     Environmental Matters........................................................................34
         3.14     Ownership of the Borrower....................................................................35
         3.15     Patents, Trademarks, etc.....................................................................35
         3.16     Ownership of Property........................................................................35
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         3.17     Licenses, etc................................................................................35
         3.18     No Burdensome Restrictions...................................................................35
         3.19     Labor Matters................................................................................35
         3.20     Partnerships.................................................................................35
         3.21     No Material Misstatements....................................................................36
         3.22     Year 2000 Compliance.........................................................................36

SECTION 4.  CONDITIONS PRECEDENT; CLOSING......................................................................36
         4.1      Conditions to Closing........................................................................36
         4.2      Conditions to Each Loan......................................................................38
         4.3      Closing......................................................................................39

SECTION 5.  AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS..............................................................................39
         5.1      Financial Statements.........................................................................39
         5.2      Certificates; Other Information..............................................................39
         5.3      Payment of Obligations.......................................................................40
         5.4      Conduct of Business and Maintenance of Existence.............................................40
         5.5      Maintenance of Property; Insurance...........................................................40
         5.6      Inspection of Property; Books and Records; Discussions.......................................40
         5.7      Notices......................................................................................41
         5.8      Environmental Laws...........................................................................41
         5.9      Taxes........................................................................................42
         5.10     Covenants of the Indenture...................................................................42
         5.11     Guarantees of Obligations....................................................................42

SECTION 6.  NEGATIVE COVENANTS.................................................................................43
         6.1      Financial Covenants..........................................................................43
         6.2      Limitation on Debt...........................................................................43
         6.3      Limitation on Liens..........................................................................43
         6.4      Limitations on Fundamental Changes...........................................................45
         6.5      Limitation on Sale of Assets.................................................................45
         6.6      Limitations on Acquisitions..................................................................46
         6.7      Limitation on Distributions and Investments..................................................46
         6.8      Transactions with Affiliates.................................................................46
         6.9      Sale and Leaseback...........................................................................46
         6.10     Fiscal Year..................................................................................46
         6.11     Continuation of or Change in Business........................................................46

SECTION 7.  EVENTS OF DEFAULT..................................................................................47
         7.1      Events of Default............................................................................47
         7.2      Remedies.....................................................................................49

SECTION 8.  THE AGENT..........................................................................................51
         8.1      Appointment..................................................................................51
         8.2      Delegation of Duties.........................................................................52
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         8.3      Exculpatory Provisions.......................................................................52
         8.4      Reliance by Agent............................................................................52
         8.5      Notice of Default............................................................................52
         8.6      Non-Reliance on Agent and Other Banks........................................................53
         8.7      Indemnification..............................................................................53
         8.8      Agent in its Individual Capacity.............................................................54
         8.9      Successor Agent..............................................................................54
         8.10     Beneficiaries................................................................................54

SECTION 9.  MISCELLANEOUS......................................................................................54
         9.1      Amendments and Waivers.......................................................................54
         9.2      Notices......................................................................................55
         9.3      No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies...............................................................56
         9.4      Survival of Representations and Warranties...................................................56
         9.5      Payment of Expenses and Taxes................................................................56
         9.6      Successors and Assigns.......................................................................57
         9.7      Confidentiality..............................................................................61
         9.8      Adjustments; Set-off.........................................................................61
         9.9      Counterparts.................................................................................62
         9.10     Severability.................................................................................62
         9.11     Integration..................................................................................62
         9.12     GOVERNING LAW................................................................................62
         9.13     Submission To Jurisdiction; Waivers..........................................................62
         9.14     Acknowledgments..............................................................................63
         9.15     WAIVERS OF JURY TRIAL........................................................................63
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SCHEDULES

SCHEDULE I        Bank and Commitment Information
SCHEDULE 3.6      Existing Litigation
SCHEDULE 3.10              ERISA Matters
SCHEDULE 3.11              Regulatory Approvals
SCHEDULE 3.13              Environmental Matters
SCHEDULE 3.20              Interests in Partnerships
SCHEDULE 6.2      Permitted Debt
SCHEDULE 6.3      Existing Liens

EXHIBITS

EXHIBIT A                  Form of Borrowing Request
EXHIBIT B-1       Form of Note
EXHIBIT B-2       Form of Swing Line Note
EXHIBIT C                  Form of Assignment and Acceptance

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                                CREDIT AGREEMENT

                  THIS CREDIT AGREEMENT (this "Agreement") dated as of December
22, 1999, by and among PHILADELPHIA SUBURBAN WATER COMPANY, a Pennsylvania
corporation (the "Borrower"), the several banks and other financial institutions
from time to time parties to this Agreement (the "Banks"), and PNC BANK,
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, a national banking association, as administrative agent
(in such capacity, the "Agent").

                                   BACKGROUND

                  The Borrower has requested that the Banks make Loans (that
term and certain other terms are defined in Section 1.1 hereof) to the Borrower,
and the Banks severally have agreed to make Loans on the terms and conditions
herein contained. Proceeds of the Loans will be used for refinancing existing
indebtedness and general working capital purposes including financing
acquisitions.

                  NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereto, in consideration of their
mutual covenants and agreements herein set forth and for other consideration,
the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged and intending to be
legally bound hereby, covenant and agree as follows:

                              SECTION 1 DEFINITIONS

                  1.1 Defined Terms As used in this Agreement, the following
terms shall have the following meanings:

                  "Administrative Fees":  as defined in subsection 2.4(c).

                  "Affiliate": any Person (other than a Subsidiary, or an
         officer, director or employee of the Borrower who would not be an
         Affiliate but for such Person's status as an officer, director and/or
         employee) which, directly or indirectly, through one or more
         intermediaries, controls, or is controlled by, or is under common
         control with, the Borrower, and any member, director, officer or
         employee of any such Person or any Subsidiary of the Borrower. For
         purposes of this definition, "control" shall mean the power, directly
         or indirectly, either to (i) vote 5% or more of the securities having
         ordinary voting power for the election of directors of such Person or
         (ii) direct or in effect cause the direction of the management and
         policies of such Person whether by contract or otherwise.

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                  "Assignment and Acceptance": an assignment and acceptance
         entered into by a Bank and an assignee, and acknowledged by the Agent,
         in the form of Exhibit C or such other form as shall be approved by the
         Agent.

                  "Base Rate": for any day, a rate per annum (rounded upwards,
         if necessary, to the next 1/100th of 1%) equal to the Prime Rate in
         effect on such day. Any change in the Base Rate due to a change in the
         Prime Rate shall be effective on the effective date of such change in
         the Prime Rate.

                  "Base Rate Borrowing": a Borrowing comprised of Base Rate
         Loans.

                  "Base Rate Loan": any Revolving Credit Loan bearing interest
         at a rate determined by reference to the Base Rate.

                  "Borrower": as defined in the heading of this Agreement.

                  "Borrowing": a Swing Line Loan made by the Swing Line Bank or
         each group of Revolving Credit Loans of a single Type made by the Banks
         on a single date and, in the case of Eurodollar Loans, as to which a
         single Interest Period is in effect.

                  "Borrowing Request": a request made pursuant to Section 2.1(c)
         in the form of Exhibit A.

                  "Business Day": a day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other
         day on which commercial banks in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania are
         authorized or required by law to close; provided, however, that, when
         used in connection with a Eurodollar Loan, the term "Business Day"
         shall also exclude any day on which banks are not open for dealings in
         dollar deposits in the London Interbank Market.

                  "Capital Lease": at any time, a lease with respect to which
         the lessee is required to recognize the acquisition of an asset and the
         incurrence of a liability in accordance with GAAP.

                  "Capital Stock": any and all shares, interests, participations
         or other equivalents (however designated) of capital stock of a
         corporation, any and all equivalent ownership interests in a Person
         (other than a corporation) and any and all warrants or options to
         purchase any of the foregoing.

                  "Closing":  as defined in Section 4.3.

                  "Closing Date":  as defined in Section 4.3.

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                  "Closing Fee": as defined in Section 2.4(a)

                  "Code": the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from
         time to time.

                  "Commitment": as to any Bank, the obligation of such Bank to
         make Loans to the Borrower hereunder in an aggregate principal amount
         at any one time outstanding not to exceed the amount set forth opposite
         such Bank's name on Schedule I or in the Assignment and Acceptance
         pursuant to which such Bank becomes a party to this Agreement, as the
         same may be permanently terminated, reduced and extended from time to
         time pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.9 or changed by subsequent
         assignments pursuant to subsection 9.6(b).

                  "Commitment Percentage": as to any Bank at any time, the
         proportion (expressed as a percentage) that such Bank's Commitment
         bears to the Total Commitment (or, at any time after the Commitments
         shall have expired or been terminated, the percentage which the amount
         of such Bank's Loans constitutes of the aggregate amount of the Loans
         of the Banks then outstanding).

                  "Commonly Controlled Entity": an entity, whether or not
         incorporated, which is under common control with the Borrower within
         the meaning of Section 4001 of ERISA or is part of a group which
         includes the Borrower and which is treated as a single employer under
         Section 414 of the Code.

                  "Consolidated Assets": at any time, the amount at which all
         assets (including, without duplication, the capitalized value of any
         leasehold interest under any Capital Lease) of the Borrower would be
         reflected on a consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower at such time.

                  "Consolidated EBIT": for any period, Consolidated Net Income
         for such period, plus the amount of income taxes and interest expense
         deducted from earnings in determining such Consolidated Net Income.

                  "Consolidated EBITDA": for any period, Consolidated Net Income
         for such period, plus the amount of income taxes, interest expense,
         depreciation and amortization deducted from earnings in determining
         such Consolidated Net Income.

                  "Consolidated Funded Debt": at any time, all Debt of the
         Borrower determined on a consolidated basis consisting of, without
         duplication (a) borrowed money Debt, including without limitation
         capitalized lease obligations;(b) reimbursement obligations in respect
         of letters of credit, bank guarantees and the like; and (c) Debt in the
         nature of a Contingent Obligation, whether or not required to be
         reflected on a balance sheet of the Borrower in accordance with GAAP.

                  "Consolidated Interest Expense": for any period, the amount of
         cash interest expense deducted from earnings of the Borrower in
         determining Consolidated Net Income for such period in accordance with
         GAAP.

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                  "Consolidated Net Income": for any fiscal period, net earnings
         (or loss) after income and other taxes computed on the basis of income
         of the Borrower for such period determined on a consolidated basis in
         accordance with GAAP, but excluding:

                           (a) the amount of any extraordinary items included in
                  such calculation of net earnings (or loss);

                           (b) any gain or loss resulting from the write-up or
                  write-off of fixed assets;

                           (c) earnings of any Subsidiary accrued prior to the
                  date it became a Subsidiary;

                           (d) earnings of any Person, substantially all assets
                  of which have been acquired in any manner, realized by such
                  Person prior to the date of such acquisition; and

                           (e) any gain arising from the acquisition of any
                  Securities of the Borrower or any Subsidiary thereof.

                  "Consolidated Shareholders' Equity": at a particular date, the
         net book value of the shareholders' equity of the Borrower as would be
         shown on a consolidated balance sheet at such time determined in
         accordance with GAAP.

                  "Contingent Obligation": with respect to any Person (for the
         purpose of this definition, the "Obligor") any obligation (except the
         endorsement in the ordinary course of business of instruments for
         deposit or collection) of the Obligor guaranteeing or in effect
         guaranteeing any indebtedness of any other Person (for the purpose of
         this definition, the "Primary Obligor") in any manner, whether directly
         or indirectly, including (without limitation) indebtedness incurred
         through an agreement, contingent or otherwise, by the Obligor:

                           (a) to purchase such indebtedness of the Primary
                  Obligor or any Property or assets constituting security
                  therefor;

                           (b) to advance or supply funds

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                                    (i) for the purpose of payment of such
                           indebtedness (except to the extent such indebtedness
                           otherwise appears on Borrower's balance sheet as
                           indebtedness), or

                                    (ii) to maintain working capital or other
                           balance sheet condition or any income statement
                           condition of the Primary Obligor or otherwise to
                           advance or make available funds for the purchase or
                           payment of such indebtedness or obligation; or

                           (c) to lease Property or to purchase Securities or
                  other Property or services primarily for the purpose of
                  assuring the owner of such indebtedness or obligation of the
                  ability of the Primary Obligor to make payment of the
                  indebtedness or obligation.

         For purposes of computing the amount of any Contingent Obligation, in
         connection with any computation of indebtedness or other liability, it
         shall be assumed that, without duplication, the indebtedness or other
         liabilities of the Primary Obligor that are the subject of such
         Contingent Obligation are direct obligations of the issuer of such
         Obligation.

                  "Contractual Obligation": as to any Person, any provision of
         any Security issued by such Person or of any agreement, instrument or
         other undertaking to which such Person is a party or by which it or any
         of its property is bound.

                  "Debt": with respect to any Person, at any time, without
         duplication, all of (i) its liabilities for borrowed money, (ii)
         liabilities secured by any Lien existing on property owned by such
         Person (whether or not such liabilities have been assumed), (iii) its
         liabilities in respect to Capital Leases; (iv) its liabilities under
         Contingent Obligations; and (v) all other obligations which are
         required by GAAP to be shown as liabilities on its balance sheet but
         excluding (x) deferred taxes and other deferred or long-term
         liabilities and other amounts not in respect of borrowed money and (y)
         the aggregate amount of accounts receivable sold, factored or otherwise
         transferred for value without recourse (other than for breach of
         representations).

                  "Default": any of the events specified in Section 7, whether
         or not any requirement for the giving of notice, the lapse of time, or
         both, or any other condition precedent therein set forth, has been
         satisfied.

                  "Distribution": in respect of any corporation, (a) dividends,
         distributions or other payments on account of any capital stock of the
         corporation (except distributions in common stock of such corporation);
         (b) the redemption or acquisition of such stock or of warrants, rights
         or other options to purchase such stock (except when solely in exchange
         for common stock of such corporation); and (c) any payment on account
         of,

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         or the setting apart of any assets for a sinking or other analogous
         fund for, the purchase, redemption, defeasance, retirement or other
         acquisition of any share of any class of capital stock of such
         corporation or any warrants or options to purchase any such stock.

                  "Dollars" and "$": dollars in lawful currency of the United
         States of America.

                  "Environmental Laws": any and all applicable foreign, Federal,
         state, local or municipal laws, rules, orders, regulations, statutes,
         ordinances, codes, decrees or binding requirements of any Governmental
         Authority, or binding Requirement of Law (including common law)
         regulating, relating to or imposing liability or standards of conduct
         concerning protection of the environment, as now or may at any time
         hereafter be in effect.

                  "Equity to Capital Ratio": at the date of determination, the
         ratio of Consolidated Shareholders' Equity to the sum of (i)
         Consolidated Funded Debt and (ii) Consolidated Shareholders' Equity.

                  "ERISA": the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974,
         as amended from time to time.

                  "Eurocurrency Reserve Requirements": for any day as applied to
         a Eurodollar Loan, the aggregate (without duplication) of the rates
         (expressed as a decimal fraction) of reserve requirements in effect on
         such day (including, without limitation, basic, supplemental, marginal
         and emergency reserves under any regulations of the Board of Governors
         of the Federal Reserve System or other Governmental Authority having
         jurisdiction with respect thereto) dealing with reserve requirements
         prescribed for eurocurrency funding (currently referred to as
         "Eurocurrency Liabilities" in Regulation D of such Board) maintained by
         a member bank of such System.

                  "Eurodollar Base Rate": with respect to any Eurodollar Loan
         for any Interest Period, an interest rate per annum (rounded upwards,
         if necessary, to the next 1/100 of 1%) equal to the rate determined by
         the Agent in accordance with its usual procedures (which determination
         shall be conclusive absent manifest error) to be the average of the
         London interbank offered rates of interest per annum for Dollars set
         forth on Telerate display page 3750 or such other display page on the
         Telerate System as may replace such page to evidence the average of
         rates quoted by banks designated by the British Bankers' Association
         (or appropriate successor, or if the British Bankers' Association or
         its successor ceases to provide such quotes, a comparable replacement
         determined by the Agent), for an amount approximately equal in
         principal amount to the Agent's portion of such Eurodollar Loan.

                  "Eurodollar Borrowing": a Borrowing comprised of Eurodollar
         Loans.

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                  "Eurodollar Loan": any Revolving Credit Loan bearing interest
         at a rate determined by reference to the Eurodollar Rate in accordance
         with the provisions of Section 2.

                  "Eurodollar Rate": with respect to each Interest Period
         pertaining to a Eurodollar Loan, a rate per annum determined in
         accordance with the following formula (rounded upward to the nearest
         1/100th of 1%):

                           Eurodollar Base Rate
                  -----------------------------------------
                  1.00  - Eurocurrency Reserve Requirements

                  "Event of Default": any of the events specified in Section 7,
         provided that any requirement for the giving of notice, the lapse of
         time, or both, or any other condition, has been satisfied.

                  "Exposure": as to any Bank at any date, an amount equal to the
         sum of (a) the aggregate principal amount of all Loans made by such
         Bank then outstanding and (b) the principal amount of such Bank's pro
         rata share of Swing Line Loans then outstanding based on its Commitment
         Percentage.

                  "Facility Fee": as defined in subsection 2.4(b).

                  "Federal Funds Effective Rate": for any day, the weighted
         average of the rates on overnight Federal funds transactions with
         members of the Federal Reserve System arranged by Federal funds
         brokers, as published on the next succeeding Business Day by the
         Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or, if such rate is not so published
         for any day which is a Business Day, the average of the quotations for
         the day of such transactions received by the Agent from three Federal
         funds brokers of recognized standing selected by it.

                  "Fee Letter": that certain letter from the Agent to the
         Borrower dated December 22, 1999 regarding certain administrative fees.

                  "Fees": the Closing Fees, the Facility Fees and the
         Administrative Fees.

                  "GAAP": at any time with respect to the determination of the
         character or amount of any asset or liability or item of income or
         expense, or any consolidation or other accounting computation,
         generally accepted accounting principles as applied to the public
         utility industry, as such principles shall be in effect on the date of,
         or at the end of the period covered by, the financial statements from
         which such asset, liability, item of income, or item of expense, is
         derived, or, in the case of any such computation, as in effect on the
         date when such computation is required to be determined, subject to
         Section 1.3(b).

                  "Governmental Authority": any nation or government, any state
         or other political subdivision thereof and any entity exercising
         executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative
         functions of or pertaining to government.

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<PAGE>

                  "Guarantor": any Material Subsidiary which becomes a
         "Guarantor" after the date hereof pursuant to Section 5.11.

                  "Guaranty": any Guaranty Agreement entered into by a Guarantor
         pursuant to Section 5.11.

                  "Indenture": means the Indenture of Mortgage dated as of
         January 1, 1941 between the Borrower and Chase Manhattan Trust Company,
         National Association, as successor Trustee, as amended and
         supplemented.

                  "Insolvency": with respect to any Multiemployer Plan, the
         condition that such Plan is insolvent within the meaning of Section
         4245 of ERISA.

                  "Insolvent":  pertaining to a condition of Insolvency.

                  "Interest Coverage Ratio": at the date of determination, the
         ratio of Consolidated EBIT to Consolidated Interest Expense, in each
         case for the prior four (4) consecutive fiscal quarters.

                  "Interest Payment Date": (a) as to any Base Rate Loan or Swing
         Line Loan, the last day of each month, (b) as to any Eurodollar Loan
         having an Interest Period of three months or less, the last day of such
         Interest Period, and (c) as to any Eurodollar Loan having an Interest
         Period longer than three months, each day which is three months, or a
         whole multiple thereof, after the first day of such Interest Period and
         the last day of such Interest Period.

                  "Interest Period": with respect to any Eurodollar Loan:

                  (i) initially the period commencing on the borrowing or
         conversion date, as the case may be, with respect to such Eurodollar
         Loan and ending one, two, three or six months thereafter, as selected
         by the Borrower in their notice of borrowing or notice of conversion,
         given with respect thereto; and

                  (ii) thereafter, each period commencing on the last day of the
         next preceding Interest Period applicable to such Eurodollar Loan and
         ending one, two, three or six months thereafter, as selected by the
         Borrower by irrevocable notice to the Agent not less than three
         Business Days prior to the last day of the then current Interest Period
         with respect thereto;

                                       8
<PAGE>

         provided that, the foregoing provisions relating to Interest Periods
         are subject to the following:

                  (i) if any Interest Period would end on a day other than a
         Business Day, such Interest Period shall be extended to the next
         succeeding Business Day unless such next succeeding Business Day would
         fall in the next calendar month, in which case such Interest Period
         shall end on the next preceding Business Day;

                  (ii) any Interest Period that begins on the last Business Day
         of a calendar month (or on a day for which there is no numerically
         corresponding day in the calendar month at the end of such Interest
         Period) shall end on the last Business Day of a calendar month;

                  (iii) an Interest Period that otherwise would extend beyond
         the Termination Date shall end on the Termination Date; and

                  (iv) the Borrower shall select Interest Periods so as not to
         require a payment or prepayment of any Eurodollar Loan during an
         Interest Period for such Loan.

                  "Investments": investments (by loan or extension of credit,
         purchase, advance, guaranty, capital contribution or otherwise) made in
         cash or by delivery of Property, by the Borrower (i) in any Person,
         whether by acquisition of stock or other ownership interest,
         indebtedness or other obligation or Security, or by loan, advance or
         capital contribution, or (ii) in any Property or (iii) any agreement to
         do any of the foregoing.

                  "Lien": any mortgage, pledge, hypothecation, assignment,
         deposit arrangement, encumbrance, lien (statutory or other), charge, or
         other security interest or any preference, priority or other security
         agreement or preferential arrangement of any kind or nature whatsoever
         (including, without limitation, any conditional sale or other title
         retention agreement and any Capital Lease having substantially the same
         economic effect as any of the foregoing).

                  "Loan Documents":  this Agreement, the Notes and any Guaranty.

                  "Loans": the collective reference to the Revolving Credit
         Loans and the Swing Line Loans.

                  "Material Adverse Effect": a material adverse effect on (a)
         the validity or enforceability of this Agreement or any other Loan
         Document, (b) the business, prospects, Property, assets, financial
         condition, results of operations or prospects of the Borrower, (c) the
         ability of the Borrower duly and punctually to pay its Debts and
         perform its obligations hereunder, or (d) the ability of the Agent or
         any of the Banks,

                                       9
<PAGE>

         to the extent permitted, to enforce their legal remedies pursuant to
         this Agreement or any other Loan Document.

                  "Material Subsidiary": a Subsidiary of the Borrower the assets
         or net earnings of which, determined in accordance with GAAP,
         constitute more than 5% of the Borrower's Consolidated Assets or
         Consolidated Net Income, as the case may be.

                  "Materials of Environmental Concern": any gasoline or
         petroleum (including crude oil or any fraction thereof) or petroleum
         products or any hazardous or toxic substances, materials or wastes,
         defined or regulated as such in or under any Environmental Law,
         including, without limitation, asbestos, polychlorinated biphenyls, and
         ureaformaldehyde insulation.

                  "Moody's": Moody's Investors Service, Inc.

                  "Multiemployer Plan": a Plan which is a multiemployer plan as
         defined in Section 4001(a) (3) of ERISA.

                  "Notes": the Revolving Credit Notes and the Swing Line Notes.

                  "Parent Company": Philadelphia Suburban Corp., a Pennsylvania
         corporation.

                  "Participant": as defined in Section 9.6(f).

                  "PBGC": the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation established
         pursuant to Subtitle A of Title IV of ERISA.

                  "Permitted Acquisition": an acquisition by the Borrower of the
         stock or assets of a Person engaged in businesses similar or incidental
         or ancillary to Borrower's existing business, provided that at least 30
         days prior to the consummation of any such acquisition for which cash
         consideration paid by the Borrower (including the assumption of Debt in
         connection therewith) exceeds $50,000,000, no Default or Event of
         Default shall exist or would exist if such acquisition were consummated
         on such date (assuming for purposes of the covenants contained in
         Section 6.1 that pro forma adjustments are made to the financial
         statements of the Borrower reflecting such acquisition; provided, that
         historical EBIT of the Person to be acquired (or the assets of which
         are to be acquired) shall be included for purposes of calculating such
         covenant compliance only if historical financial statements of such
         Person are received by the Agent at least 30 days prior to the
         consummation of such acquisition), and the Borrower shall have
         delivered to the Agent a certificate of a Responsible Officer showing
         calculations in reasonable detail demonstrating such pro forma
         compliance with the covenants contained in Section 6.1, and provided
         further, that any such acquisition for which cash consideration paid by
         the Borrower (including the assumption of Debt in connection therewith)
         exceeds $75,000,000, shall also have been consented to by the Required
         Banks.

                                       10
<PAGE>

                  "Permitted Investments":  Investments in:

                           (a) one or more Material or Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries
                  thereof;

                           (b) Property to be used in the ordinary course of
                  business of the Borrower;

                           (c) current assets arising from the sale or purchase
                  of goods and services in the ordinary course of business of
                  the Borrower;

                           (d) direct obligations of the United States of
                  America, or any agency or instrumentality thereof or
                  obligations guaranteed by the United States of America,
                  provided that such obligations mature within one (1) year from
                  the date of acquisition thereof;

                           (e) certificates of deposit, time deposits or
                  banker's acceptances, maturing within one (1) year from the
                  date of acquisition, with banks or trust companies organized
                  under the laws of the United States, the unsecured long-term
                  debt obligations of which are rated "A3" or higher by Moody's
                  or "A-" or higher by S&P, and issued, or in the case of
                  banker's acceptance, accepted, by a bank or trust company
                  having capital, surplus and undivided profits aggregating at
                  least $250,000,000;

                           (f) commercial paper given the highest rating by
                  either S&P or Moody's maturing not more than 270 days from the
                  date of creation thereof;

                           (g) mutual funds registered with the Securities and
                  Exchange Commission under the Investment Company Act of 1940
                  that hold themselves out as "money market funds;"

                           (h) trade credit extended on usual and customary
                  terms in the ordinary course of business;

                           (i) advances to employees to meet expenses incurred
                  by such employees in the ordinary course of business;

                           (j) Permitted Acquisitions; and

                           (k) other loans, advances and investments not
                  exceeding in the aggregate $2,000,000 at any one time
                  outstanding.

                                       11
<PAGE>

                  "Person": an individual, partnership, corporation, business
         trust, joint stock company, limited liability company, trust,
         unincorporated association, joint venture, Governmental Authority or
         other entity of whatever nature.

                  "Plan": at a particular time, any employee benefit plan which
         is covered by ERISA and in respect of which the Borrower or a Commonly
         Controlled Entity is (or, if such plan were terminated at such time,
         would under Section 4069 of ERISA be deemed to be) an "employer" as
         defined in Section 3(5) of ERISA.

                  "PNC": PNC Bank, National Association, a national banking
         association.

                  "Prime Rate": the rate of interest per annum announced from
         time to time by PNC as its prime rate in effect at its principal office
         in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; each change in the Prime Rate shall be
         effective on the date such change is announced as effective.

                  "Property": any interest in any kind of property or asset,
         whether real, personal or mixed, and whether tangible or intangible.

                  "Regulation U": Regulation U of the Board of Governors of the
         Federal Reserve System as from time to time in effect, and all official
         rulings and interpretations thereunder or thereof.

                  "Regulation X": Regulation X of the Board of Governors of the
         Federal Reserve System as from time to time in effect, and all official
         rulings and interpretations thereunder or thereof.

                  "Reorganization": with respect to any Multiemployer Plan, the
         condition that such plan is in reorganization within the meaning of
         Section 4241 of ERISA.

                  "Reportable Event": any of the events set forth in Section
         4043(b) of ERISA, except to the extent that notice thereof has been
         waived by the PBGC.

                  "Required Banks": at any time, (a) Banks the Exposures of
         which aggregate at least 51% of the Total Exposure at such time of the
         Banks, or (b) if there are no Loans outstanding, Banks whose
         Commitments aggregate at least 51% of the Total Commitment at such
         time.

                  "Requirement of Law": as to any Person, the Certificate of
         Incorporation, By-Laws, Operating Agreement or other organizational or
         governing documents of such Person, and any law, treaty, rule or
         regulation or determination of an arbitrator or a court or other
         Governmental Authority, in each case binding upon such Person or any of
         its property or to which such Person or any of its property is subject.

                  "Responsible Officer": as to any Borrower, any officer of such
         Borrower or of the manager of such Borrower.

                                       12
<PAGE>

                  "Revolving Credit Loans": the revolving loans made by the
         Banks to the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.1(a). Each Loan shall be a
         Eurodollar Loan or a Base Rate Loan.

                  "Revolving Credit Note": a promissory note of the Borrower in
         the form of Exhibit B-1, as the same may be amended, supplemented or
         otherwise modified from time to time.

                  "S&P": Standard & Poor's Ratings Services, a division of The
         McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

                  "Security": "security" as defined in Section 2(1) of the
         Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

                  "Single Employer Plan": any Plan which is covered by Title IV
         of ERISA, but which is not a Multiemployer Plan.

                  "Solvent": as to any Person, as of the time of determination,
         the financial condition under which the following conditions are
         satisfied:

                           (a) the fair market value of the assets of such
                  Person will exceed the debts and liabilities, subordinated,
                  contingent or otherwise, of such Person; and

                           (b) the present fair saleable value of the Property
                  of such Person will be greater than the amount that will be
                  required to pay the probable liability of such Person on its
                  debts and other liabilities, subordinated, contingent or
                  otherwise, as such debts and other liabilities become absolute
                  and matured; and

                           (c) such Person will be able to pay its debts and
                  liabilities, subordinated, contingent or otherwise, as such
                  debts and liabilities become absolute and matured; and

                           (d) such Person will not have unreasonably small
                  capital with which to conduct the businesses in which it is
                  engaged as such businesses are then conducted and are proposed
                  to be conducted after the date thereof.

                  "Subordinated Debt": at any time, all Debt of the Borrower
         subordinated to all of the obligations of the Borrower to the Banks on
         terms satisfactory to the Banks.

                                       13
<PAGE>

                  "Subsidiary": as to any Person, (i) any corporation, limited
         liability company, company or trust of which 50% or more (by number of
         shares or number of votes) of the outstanding capital stock, interests,
         shares or similar items of beneficial interest normally entitled to
         vote for the election of one or more directors, managers or trustees
         (regardless of any contingency which does or may suspend or dilute the
         voting rights) is at such time owned directly or indirectly by such
         person or one or more of such Person's Subsidiaries, or any partnership
         of which such Person is a general partner or of which 50% or more of
         the partnership interests is at the time directly or indirectly owned
         by such Person or one or more of such Person's Subsidiaries, and (ii)
         any corporation, company, trust, partnership or other entity which is
         controlled or capable of being controlled by such Person or one or more
         of such Person's subsidiaries. Unless otherwise indicated, all
         references to a "Subsidiary" or to "Subsidiaries" in this Agreement
         shall refer to a Subsidiary of the Borrower.

                  "Supplemental Indenture": means the 33rd Supplemental
         Indenture to the Indenture dated as of November 15, 1999.

                  "Swing Line Bank": PNC Bank, National Association, or any
         other Bank to which the Swing Line Commitment is assigned pursuant to
         the terms of Section 9.6.

                  "Swing Line Commitment": the amount set forth opposite the
         Swing Line Bank's name under the heading "Swing Line Commitment" on
         Schedule I hereto, as such amount may be reduced pursuant to Section
         2.2(f).

                  "Swing Line Loans": has the meaning given to such term in
         Section 2.2(a).

                  "Swing Line Note": has the meaning given to such term in
         Section 2.2(c), as the same may be amended, supplemented or otherwise
         modified from time to time.

                  "Swing Line Repayment Date": has the meaning given to such
         term in Section 2.2(b).

                  "Termination Date": December 20, 2000, or any later date to
         which the Termination Date shall have been extended pursuant to
         subsection 2.8(d).

                  "Total Commitment": at any time, the aggregate amount of the
         Banks' Commitments, as in effect at such time.

                  "Total Commitment Percentage": as to any Bank at any time, the
         proportion (expressed as a percentage) that such Bank's Commitment
         bears to the Total Commitment.

                                       14
<PAGE>

                  "Total Exposure": at any time, the aggregate amount of the
         Banks' Exposures at such time.

                  "Tranche": the collective reference to Eurodollar Loans whose
         Interest Periods begin on the same date and end on the same later date
         (whether or not such Loans originally were made on the same date).

                  "Type": when used in respect of any Revolving Credit Loan or
         Borrowing of Revolving Credit Loans, shall refer to the Rate by
         reference to which interest on such Revolving Credit Loan or on the
         Revolving Credit Loans comprising such Borrowing is determined. For
         purposes hereof, "Rate" shall include the Eurodollar Rate and the Base
         Rate.

                  "Voting Stock": capital stock of any class or classes of a
         corporation the holders of which are ordinarily, in the absence of
         contingencies, entitled to elect a majority of the directors (or
         Persons performing similar functions) and, as applicable, any equity,
         participation or ownership interests in any partnership, business
         trust, joint stock company, limited liability company, trust,
         unincorporated association, joint venture or any other Person which
         interests are similar by analogy to capital stock or ownership rights
         giving rise to voting or governance rights.

                  "Wholly-Owned Subsidiary": at any time, any Subsidiary one
         hundred percent (100%) of all of the equity Securities (except
         directors' qualifying shares) and voting Securities of which are owned
         by any one or more of the Borrower at such time.

                  1.2 Other Definitional Provisions. (a) Unless otherwise
specified therein, all terms defined in this Agreement shall have the defined
meanings when used in the Notes or any certificate or other document made or
delivered pursuant hereto.

                      (b) The words "hereof", "herein" and "hereunder" and words
of similar import when used in this Agreement shall refer to this Agreement as a
whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement, and Section,
subsection, Schedule and Exhibit references are to this Agreement unless
otherwise specified.

                  1.3 Construction. (a) Unless the context of this Agreement
otherwise clearly requires, references to the plural include the singular, the
singular the plural and the part the whole, "or" has the inclusive meaning
represented by the phrase "and/or," and "including" has the meaning represented
by the phrase "including without limitation." References in this Agreement to
"determination" of or by the Agent or the Banks shall be deemed to include good
faith estimates by the Agent or the Banks (in the case of quantitative
determinations) and good faith beliefs by the Agent or the Banks (in the case of
qualitative determinations). Whenever the Agent or the Banks are granted the
right herein to act in their sole discretion or to grant or withhold consent
such right shall be exercised in good faith, except as otherwise

                                       15
<PAGE>

provided herein. Except as otherwise expressly provided, all references herein
to the "knowledge of" or "best knowledge of" the Borrower shall be deemed to
refer to the knowledge of a Responsible Officer thereof. The words "hereof,"
"herein," "hereunder", "hereby" and similar terms in this Agreement refer to
this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement.
The section and other headings contained in this Agreement and the Table of
Contents preceding this Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall not
control or affect the construction of this Agreement or the interpretation
thereof in any respect. Section, subsection, schedule and exhibit references are
to this Agreement unless otherwise specified.

                      (b) Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, all
computations and determinations as to accounting or financial matters and all
financial statements to be delivered pursuant to this Agreement shall be made
and prepared in accordance with GAAP (including principles of consolidation
where appropriate). As used herein and in the Notes, and any certificate or
other document made or delivered pursuant hereto, accounting terms relating to
the Borrower and any Subsidiary thereof not defined in subsection 1.1 and
accounting terms partly defined in subsection 1.1, to the extent not defined,
shall have the respective meanings given to them under GAAP. In the event that
any future change in GAAP, without more, materially affects the Borrower's
compliance with any financial covenant herein, the Borrower, the Banks and the
Agent shall use their best efforts to modify such covenant in order to account
for such change and to secure for the Banks the intended benefits of such
covenant.

                             SECTION 2. THE CREDITS

                  2.1 Revolving Credit Loans. (a) Subject to the terms and
conditions and relying upon the representations and warranties herein set forth,
each Bank, severally and not jointly, agrees to make Revolving Credit Loans to
the Borrower, at any time or from time to time on or after the date hereof and
until the Termination Date or until the Commitment of such Bank shall have been
terminated in accordance with the terms hereof, in an aggregate principal amount
at any time outstanding which, when added to such Bank's Commitment Percentage
of the principal amount of Swing Line Loans then outstanding does not exceed
such Bank's Commitment subject, however, to the conditions that (i) at no time
shall (x) the sum of the outstanding aggregate principal amount of all Loans
made by all Banks exceed (y) the Total Commitment and (ii) at all times the
outstanding aggregate principal amount of all Revolving Credit Loans required to
be made by each Bank shall equal the product of (x) its Commitment Percentage
times (y) the outstanding aggregate principal amount of all Revolving Credit
Loans required to be made pursuant to subsection 2.1 at such time. Such
Commitments may be terminated or reduced from time to time pursuant to Section
2.8. Within the foregoing limits, the Borrower may borrow, repay and reborrow
under the Commitment on or after the date hereof and prior to the Termination
Date, subject to the terms, provisions and limitations set forth herein.

                                       16
<PAGE>

                      (b) Each Revolving Credit Loan shall be made as part of a
Borrowing consisting of Revolving Credit Loans made by the Banks ratably in
accordance with their Commitment Percentages; provided, however, that the
failure of any Bank to make any Revolving Credit Loan shall not in itself
relieve any other Bank of its obligation to lend hereunder (it being understood,
however, that no Bank shall be responsible for the failure of any other Bank to
make any Revolving Credit Loan required to be made by such other Bank). The
Revolving Credit Loans comprising any Eurodollar Borrowing shall be in a minimum
aggregate principal amount of $500,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess
thereof (or an aggregate principal amount equal to the remaining balance of the
available Commitments) and the Revolving Credit Loans comprising any Base Rate
Borrowing shall be in a minimum aggregate principal amount of $250,000 or a
whole multiple of $50,000 in excess thereof (or an aggregate principal amount
equal to the remaining balance of the available Commitments). Each Borrowing of
Revolving Credit Loans shall be comprised entirely of Eurodollar Loans or Base
Rate Loans, as the Borrower may request pursuant to Section 2.1.

                      (c) In order to request a Borrowing, the Borrower shall
hand deliver or telecopy (or notify by telephone and promptly confirm by hand
delivery or telecopy) to the Agent the information requested by the form of
Borrowing Request attached as Exhibit A hereto (i) in the case of a Eurodollar
Borrowing, not later than 11:00 a.m., Philadelphia time, three Business Days
before a proposed Borrowing and (ii) in the case of a Base Rate Borrowing, not
later than 11:00 a.m., Philadelphia time, on the day of a proposed Borrowing.
Such notice shall be irrevocable and shall in each case specify (x) whether the
Borrowing then being requested is to be a Eurodollar Borrowing or a Base Rate
Borrowing; (y) the date of such Borrowing (which shall be a Business Day) and
the amount thereof; and (z) if such Borrowing is to be a Eurodollar Borrowing,
the Interest Period with respect thereto. If no election as to the Type of
Borrowing is specified in any such notice, then the requested Borrowing shall be
a Base Rate Borrowing. If no Interest Period with respect to any Eurodollar
Borrowing is specified in any such notice, then the Borrower shall be deemed to
have selected an Interest Period of one month's duration. The Agent shall
promptly advise the Banks of any notice given pursuant to this Section 2.1 and
of each Bank's portion of the requested Borrowing.

                  2.2 Swing Line Loans. (a) Subject to the terms and conditions
hereof, the Swing Line Bank may in its discretion make swing line loans (the
"Swing Line Loans") to the Borrower from time to time until the Termination Date
or until the Swing Line Commitment is terminated in accordance with the terms
hereof in the aggregate up to the amount of the Swing Line Commitment for
periods requested by the Borrower and agreed to by the Swing Line Bank;
provided, that, no Swing Line Loan shall be made if, after giving effect to the
making of such Loan and the simultaneous application of the proceeds thereof,
the Total Exposure would exceed the Total Commitment. Within the foregoing
limits, the Borrower may borrow, repay and reborrow under the Swing Line
Commitment, subject to and in accordance with the terms and limitations hereof.

                                       17
<PAGE>

                      (b) The Borrower may request a Swing Line Loan to be made
on any Business Day. Each request for a Swing Line Loan shall be in writing (or
by telephone promptly confirmed in writing) and delivered to the Swing Line Bank
not later than 12:00 noon, Philadelphia time, on the Business Day such Swing
Line Loan is to be made, specifying in each case (i) the amount to be borrowed,
(ii) the requested borrowing date, (iii) whether the interest rate applicable to
such Swing Line Loan is to be: (A) the Federal Funds Effective Rate plus seventy
five basis points (.75%) or (B) an interest rate mutually agreed upon by the
Borrower and the Swing Line Bank and (iv) the date such Swing Line Loan is to be
repaid (the "Swing Line Repayment Date"). The request for such Swing Line Loan
shall be irrevocable. Provided that all applicable conditions precedent
contained in Section 4.2 hereof have been satisfied, the Swing Line Bank shall,
not later than 4:00 p.m., Philadelphia time, on the date specified in the
Borrower's request for such Swing Line Loan, make such Swing Line Loan by
crediting the Borrower's deposit account with the Swing Line Bank.

                      (c) The obligation of the Borrower to repay the Swing Line
Loans shall be evidenced by a promissory note of the Borrower dated the date
hereof, payable to the order of the Swing Line Bank in the principal amount of
the Swing Line Commitment and substantially in the form of Exhibit B-2 (as
amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the "Swing Line
Note").

                      (d) Interest shall accrue on the outstanding principal
balance of a Swing Line Loan at the interest rate chosen by the Borrower in
accordance with Section 2.2(b) with respect to such Swing Line Loan and shall be
payable on each applicable Interest Payment Date and upon the repayment of such
Swing Line Loan.

                      (e) A Swing Line Loan shall be repaid on the earlier of
(i) the Termination Date and (ii) the Swing Line Repayment Date for such Swing
Line Loan. Unless the Borrower shall have notified the Agent prior to 11:00
a.m., Philadelphia time, on such Swing Line Repayment Date that the Borrower
intends to repay such Swing Line Loan with funds other than the proceeds of a
Revolving Credit Loan, the Borrower shall be deemed to have given notice to the
Agent requesting the Banks to make a Revolving Credit Loan which shall be a Base
Rate Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.1 on the Swing Line Repayment Date
in an aggregate amount equal to the amount of such Swing Line Loan plus interest
thereon, and (A) subject to satisfaction or waiver of the conditions specified
in Section 4.2, the Banks shall, on the Swing Line Repayment Date, make a
Revolving Credit Loan which shall be a Base Rate Borrowing, in an aggregate
amount equal to the amount of such Swing Line Loan plus interest thereon, the
proceeds of which shall be applied directly by the Agent to repay the Swing Line
Bank for such Swing Line Loan plus accrued interest thereon; and provided,
further, that if for any reason the proceeds of such Base Rate Borrowing are not
received by the Swing Line Bank on the Swing Line Repayment Date in an aggregate
amount equal to the amount of such Swing Line Loan plus accrued interest, the
Borrower shall reimburse the Swing Line Bank on the day immediately following
the Swing Line Repayment Date, in same day funds, in an amount equal to the
excess of the amount of such Swing Line Loan over the aggregate amount of such
Base Rate Borrowing, if any, received plus accrued interest thereon.

                                       18
<PAGE>

                      (f) In the event that the Borrower shall fail to repay the
Swing Line Bank as provided in Section 2.2(e) in an amount equal to the amount
required under Section 2.2(e), the Agent shall promptly notify each Bank of the
unpaid amount of such Swing Line Loan and of such Bank's respective
participation therein in an amount equal to such Bank's Commitment Percentage of
such Swing Line Loan. Each Bank shall make available to the Agent for payment to
the Swing Line Bank an amount equal to its respective participation therein
(including without limitation its pro rata share of accrued but unpaid interest
thereon), in same day funds, at the office of the Agent specified in such
notice, not later than 11:00 a.m., Philadelphia time, on the Business Day after
the date the Agent notifies each Bank. In the event that any Bank fails to make
available to the Agent the amount of such Bank's participation in such unpaid
amount as provided herein, the Swing Line Bank shall be entitled to recover such
amount on demand from such Bank together with interest thereon at a rate per
annum equal to the Base Rate for each day during the period between the Swing
Line Repayment Date and the date on which such Bank makes available its
participation in such unpaid amount. The failure of any Bank to make available
to the Agent its pro rata share of any such unpaid amount shall not relieve any
other Bank of its obligations hereunder to make available to the Agent its pro
rata share of such unpaid amount on the Swing Line Repayment Date. The Agent
shall distribute to each Bank which has paid all amounts payable by it under
this Section 2.2(f) with respect to the unpaid amount of any Swing Line Loan,
such Bank's Commitment Percentage of all payments received by the Agent from the
Borrower in repayment of such Swing Line Loan when such payments are received.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, each Bank which has paid all
amounts payable by it under this Section 2.2(f) shall have a direct right to
repayment of such amounts from the Borrower subject to the procedures for
repaying Banks set forth in this Section 2.2.

                      (g) In the event the Commitments are terminated in
accordance with Section 2.8 hereof, the Swing Line Commitment shall also be
terminated automatically. In the event the Borrower reduces the Total Commitment
to less than the Swing Line Commitment, the Swing Line Commitment shall
immediately be reduced to an amount equal to the Total Commitment. In the event
the Borrower reduces the Total Commitment to less than the outstanding principal
amount of the Swing Line Loans, the Borrower shall immediately repay the amount
by which the outstanding Swing Line Loans exceed the Swing Line Commitment as so
reduced plus accrued interest thereon.

                      (h) At no time shall there be more than two outstanding
Swing Line Loans.

                      (i) Each Swing Line Loan shall be in an original principal
amount of $100,000 or multiples of $50,000 in excess thereof.

                                       19
<PAGE>

                      (j) The Borrower shall have the right at any time and from
time to time to prepay any Swing Line Loan, in whole or in part, without premium
or penalty, upon prior written, telecopy or telephonic notice to the Swing Line
Bank given no later than 1:00 p.m., Philadelphia time, on the date of any
proposed prepayment. Each notice of prepayment shall specify the Swing Line Loan
to be prepaid and the amount to be prepaid, shall be irrevocable and shall
commit the Borrower to prepay such amount on such date, with accrued interest
thereon.

                  2.3 General Provisions Regarding Loans. Subject to Section
2.3(b), each Bank shall make each Revolving Credit Loan to be made by it
hereunder on the proposed date thereof by wire transfer of immediately available
funds to the Agent in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, not later than 1:00 p.m.,
Philadelphia time, and the Agent shall by 3:00 p.m., Philadelphia time, credit
the amounts so received to the general deposit account of the Borrower with the
Agent or, if a Borrowing shall not occur on such date because any condition
precedent herein specified shall not have been met, return the amounts so
received to the respective Banks. Loans shall be made by the Banks pro rata in
accordance with Section 2.14. Unless the Agent shall have received notice from a
Bank prior to the date of any Borrowing that such Bank will not make available
to the Agent such Bank's portion of such Borrowing, the Agent may assume that
such Bank has made such portion available to the Agent on the date of such
Borrowing in accordance with this paragraph (c) and the Agent may, in reliance
upon such assumption, make available to the Borrower on such date a
corresponding amount. If and to the extent that such Bank shall not have made
such portion available to the Agent, such Bank and the Borrower severally agree
to repay to the Agent forthwith on demand such corresponding amount together
with interest thereon, for each day from the date such amount is made available
to the Borrower until the date such amount is repaid to the Agent at (i) in the
case of the Borrower, the interest rate applicable at the time to the Revolving
Credit Loans comprising such Borrowing and (ii) in the case of such Bank, the
Federal Funds Effective Rate. If such Bank shall repay to the Agent such
corresponding amount, such amount shall constitute such Bank's Revolving Credit
Loan as part of such Borrowing for purposes of this Agreement.

                      (b) The Borrower may refinance all or any part of any
Borrowing with any other Borrowing, subject to the conditions and limitations
set forth herein and elsewhere in this Agreement. Any Borrowing or part thereof
so refinanced shall be deemed to be repaid in accordance with Section 2.5 with
the proceeds of a new Borrowing hereunder and the proceeds of the new Borrowing,
to the extent they do not exceed the principal amount of the Borrowing being
refinanced, shall not be paid by the Banks to the Agent or by the Agent to the
Borrower; provided, however, that (i) if the principal amount extended by a Bank
in a refinancing is greater than the principal amount extended by such Bank in
the Borrowing being refinanced, then such Bank shall pay such difference to the
Agent for distribution to the Banks described in (ii) below, (ii) if the
principal amount extended by a Bank in the Borrowing being refinanced is greater
than the principal amount agreed to be extended by such Bank in the refinancing,
the Agent shall return the difference to such Bank out of amounts received
pursuant to (i) above, and (iii) to the extent any Bank fails to pay the Agent
amounts due from it pursuant to (i) above, any Revolving Credit Loan or portion
thereof being refinanced with such amounts shall not be deemed repaid in
accordance with Section 2.5 and shall be payable by the Borrower without
prejudice to the Borrower's rights against any such Bank.

                                       20
<PAGE>

                      (c) Each Bank may at its option fulfill its commitment
hereunder with respect to any Eurodollar Loan by causing any domestic or foreign
branch or Affiliate of such Bank to make such Revolving Credit Loan; provided,
however, that (A) any exercise of such option shall not affect the obligation of
the Borrower to repay such Revolving Credit Loan in accordance with the terms of
the Agreement and the applicable Note and (B) the Borrower shall not be liable
for increased costs under Sections 2.11 or 2.12 to the extent that (x) such
costs could be avoided by the use of a different branch or Affiliate to make
Eurodollar Loans and (y) such use would not, in the judgment of such Bank,
entail any significant additional expense for which such Bank shall not be
indemnified hereunder or otherwise be disadvantageous to it; and

                      (d) All Borrowings, conversions and continuations of
Revolving Credit Loans hereunder and all selections of Interest Periods
hereunder shall be in such amounts and be made pursuant to such elections that,
after giving effect thereto, (A) the aggregate principal amount of the Revolving
Credit Loans comprising each Tranche of Eurodollar Loans shall be equal to
$500,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof and (B) the Borrower
shall not have outstanding at any one time more than in the aggregate five (5)
separate Tranches of Eurodollar Loans.

                      (e) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement,
the Borrower shall not be entitled to request any Borrowing if the Interest
Period requested with respect thereto would end after the Termination Date.

                  2.4 Fees. (a) The Borrower shall pay to each Bank, through the
Agent, on the Closing Date a closing fee (the "Closing Fee") equal to eight
basis points (.08%) on the amount of such Bank's initial Commitment.

                      (b) The Borrower agrees to pay to each Bank, through the
Agent, on each April 30, July 31, October 31 and January 31 and on the date on
which the Commitment of such Bank shall be terminated as provided herein, a
Facility Fee (a "Facility Fee") at a rate per annum equal to ten basis points
(.10%) on the average daily amount of the Commitment of such Bank during the
preceding quarter (or shorter period commencing with the date hereof or ending
with the Termination Date or any date on which the Commitment of such Bank shall
be terminated). All Facility Fees shall be computed on the basis of the actual
number of days elapsed over a year of 360 days. The Facility Fee due to each
Bank shall commence to accrue on the date hereof, and shall cease to accrue on
the earlier of the Termination Date and the termination of the Commitment of
such Bank as provided herein.

                                       21
<PAGE>

                      (c) The Borrower agrees to pay to the Agent for its own
account administrative and other fees at the times and in the amounts as are set
forth in the Fee Letter (collectively, the "Administrative Fees").

                      (d) All Fees shall be paid on the dates due, in
immediately available funds, to the Agent for distribution, if and as
appropriate, among the Banks. Once paid, none of the Fees shall be refundable
under any circumstances.

                  2.5 Revolving Credit Notes; Repayment of Revolving Credit
Loans. The Revolving Credit Loans made by each Bank shall be evidenced by a
single Revolving Credit Note duly executed on behalf of the Borrower, dated the
Closing Date, in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit B-1 with the
blanks appropriately filled, payable to such Bank in a principal amount equal to
the Commitment of such Bank. Each Revolving Credit Note shall bear interest from
the date thereof on the outstanding principal balance thereof as set forth in
Section 2.6. Each Bank shall, and is hereby authorized by the Borrower to,
endorse on the schedule attached to the relevant Revolving Credit Note held by
such Bank (or on a continuation of such schedule attached to each such Revolving
Credit Note and made a part thereof), or otherwise to record in such Bank's
internal records, an appropriate notation evidencing the date and amount of each
Revolving Credit Loan of such Bank, each payment or prepayment of principal of
any Revolving Credit Loan, and the other information provided for on such
schedule; provided, however, that the failure of any Bank to make such a
notation or any error therein shall not in any manner affect the obligation of
the Borrower to repay the Revolving Credit Loans made by such Bank in accordance
with the terms of the relevant Revolving Credit Note. The outstanding principal
balance of each Revolving Credit Loan, as evidenced by the relevant Revolving
Credit Note, shall be payable on the Termination Date.

                  2.6 Interest on Revolving Credit Loans. (a) Subject to the
provisions of Section 2.7, each Base Rate Loan shall bear interest (computed on
the basis of the actual number of days elapsed over a year of 365 or 366 days,
as the case may be) at a rate per annum equal to the Base Rate.

                      (b) Subject to the provisions of Section 2.7, each
Eurodollar Loan shall bear interest (computed on the basis of the actual number
of days elapsed over a year of 360 days) at a rate per annum equal to the
Eurodollar Rate for the Interest Period in effect for such Loan plus twenty two
and one-half basis points (.225%).

                      (c) Interest on each Revolving Credit Loan shall be
payable on each Interest Payment Date applicable to such Revolving Credit Loan;
provided that, interest accruing on overdue amounts pursuant to Section 2.7
shall be payable on demand as provided in the Revolving Credit Notes. The
Eurodollar Rate and the Base Rate shall be determined by the Agent, and such
determination shall be conclusive absent error.

                                       22
<PAGE>

                  2.7 Default Rate; Additional Interest; Alternate Rate of
Interest. (a) To the extent not contrary to any Requirement of Law, upon the
occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default, any principal,
past due interest, fee or other amount outstanding hereunder shall, at the
option of the Required Banks, bear interest for each day thereafter until paid
in full (after as well as before judgment) at a rate per annum which shall be
equal to two percent (2%) above the Base Rate (but in no event shall any such
rate exceed the maximum rate permitted by any Requirement of Law). The Borrower
acknowledges that such increased interest rate reflects, among other things, the
fact that such loans or other amounts have become a substantially greater risk
given their default status and that the Banks are entitled to additional
compensation for such risk.

                      (b) In the event, and on each occasion, that on the day
two Business Days prior to the commencement of any Interest Period for a
Eurodollar Loan, the Agent shall have determined (which determination absent
manifest error shall be conclusive and binding upon the Borrower) that dollar
deposits in the principal amount of such Eurodollar Loan are not generally
available in the London Interbank Market, or that the rate at which such dollar
deposits are being offered will not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to
the Banks of making or maintaining the principal amount of such Eurodollar Loan
during such Interest Period, or that reasonable means do not exist for
ascertaining the Eurodollar Rate, the Agent shall, as soon as practicable
thereafter, give written, telegraphic or telephonic notice of such determination
to the Borrower and the Banks, and any request by the Borrower for a Eurodollar
Loan or for conversion to or maintenance of a Eurodollar Loan pursuant to the
terms of this Agreement shall be deemed a request for a Base Rate Loan. After
such notice shall have been given and until the circumstances giving rise to
such notice no longer exist, each request for a Eurodollar Loan shall be deemed
to be a request for a Base Rate Loan. Each determination by the Agent hereunder
shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

                  2.8 Termination, Reduction, Extension of Commitments;
Additional Banks. (a) The Commitments shall be automatically terminated on the
Termination Date.

                      (b) Subject to the last sentence of this paragraph, upon
at least three Business Days' prior irrevocable written or telecopy notice to
the Agent, the Borrower may at any time in whole permanently terminate, or from
time to time permanently reduce, the Total Commitment. Each partial reduction of
the Total Commitment shall be in a minimum principal amount of $1,000,000 or in
whole multiples of $500,000 in excess thereof, and no such termination or
reduction shall be made which would reduce the Total Commitment to an amount
less than the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Loans.

                      (c) Each reduction in the Total Commitment hereunder shall
be made ratably among the Banks in accordance with their respective Commitment
Percentages. In connection with any reduction of the Total Commitment, the
Borrower shall make any prepayment required under subsection 2.9(b).

                                       23
<PAGE>

                      (d) During the period beginning ninety days prior to the
Termination Date then in effect and ending sixty days prior to such Termination
Date, the Borrower may deliver to the Agent (which shall promptly transmit to
each Bank) a notice requesting that the Commitments be extended for a 364 day
period beyond the Termination Date then in effect. Within thirty days after its
receipt of any such notice, each Bank shall notify the Agent of its willingness
or unwillingness so to extend its Commitment. Any Bank that shall fail so to
notify the Agent within such period shall be deemed to have declined to extend
its Commitment. If each (but only if each) Bank agrees to extend its Commitment,
the Agent shall so notify the Company and each Bank, whereupon (i) the
respective Commitments of the Banks shall without further act by any party
hereto, be extended for a 364 day period beyond the Termination Date then in
effect and (ii) the term "Termination Date" shall thereafter mean the last day
of such period. Any such extension shall be evidenced by a written agreement
among the Agent, the Banks and the Borrower, such agreement to be in form and
substance acceptable to the Agent, the Banks and the Borrower. In the event that
one or more Banks (each a "Non-Electing Bank") shall have declined or been
deemed to have declined to extend its or their Commitment and Banks holding a
majority in amount of the Commitments shall have notified the Agent of their
desire to extend their Commitments, the Borrower shall have the right, but not
the obligation, at its own expense, upon notice to each such Non-Electing Bank
and the Agent, to replace all (but not less than all) such Non-Electing Banks
(in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in Section 9.6) at
any time before the twentieth (20th) day prior to the Termination Date with one
or more assignees (each a "Replacement Bank") willing to purchase the
Non-Electing Banks' interests hereunder and to agree to extend its or their
Commitment in accordance with the notice referred to in the first sentence of
this clause (d). In such event, each Non-Electing Bank shall promptly upon
request transfer and assign without recourse (in accordance with and subject to
the restrictions contained in Section 9.6) all its interests, rights and
obligations under this Agreement to the applicable Replacement Bank; provided,
however, that (i) no such assignment shall conflict with any law or any rule,
regulation or order of any Governmental Authority, (ii) the applicable
Replacement Bank shall pay to the applicable Non-Electing Bank in immediately
available funds on the date of such assignment the principal of and interest
accrued to the date of payment on the Loans made by such Non-Electing Bank
hereunder and all other amounts accrued for such Non-Electing Bank's account or
owed to it hereunder (including any unpaid costs or expenses), and (iii) a
Non-Electing Bank shall not be required to sell its interests hereunder unless
the Borrower has arranged for one or more Replacement Banks to acquire the
interests of all other Non-Electing Banks. If, as a result of the foregoing,
each Bank (including Replacement Banks, but excluding Non-Electing Banks whose
interests have been purchased as provided above) has agreed to extend its
Commitment, the Commitments shall be extended as provided in clause (i) of the
fourth sentence of this paragraph and the term Termination Date shall have the
meaning set forth in clause (ii) in such fourth sentence of this clause (d).

                      (e) Any bank or financial institution becoming a party to
this Agreement in compliance with the provisions of subsection 2.8(d) hereof
shall execute and deliver to the Agent and the Banks and the Borrower a joinder
and assumption agreement in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent. Upon
execution and delivery of such joinder such additional bank or financial
institution shall be a party hereto and one of the Banks hereunder for all
purposes, all as of the date of such joinder. Simultaneously therewith the
Borrower shall execute and deliver to such additional Bank an additional Note to
the order of such additional Bank in an amount equal to the Commitment assumed
by such additional Bank.

                                       24
<PAGE>

                  2.9 Optional and Mandatory Prepayments of Loans. (a) The
Borrower shall have the right at any time and from time to time to prepay any
Borrowing, in whole or in part, without premium or penalty (but in any event
subject to Section 2.13), upon prior written, telecopy or telephonic notice to
the Agent given no later than 11:00 a.m., Philadelphia time, one Business Day
before any proposed prepayment; provided, however, that each such partial
prepayment of a Eurodollar Borrowing shall be in the principal amount of at
least $500,000 or in whole multiples of $100,000 in excess thereof and each such
partial prepayment of a Base Rate Borrowing shall be in the principal amount of
at least $250,000 or in whole multiples of $50,000 in excess thereof.

                      (b) On the date of any termination or reduction of the
Total Commitment pursuant to Section 2.8, the Borrower shall pay or prepay so
much of the Borrowings as shall be necessary in order that the aggregate
principal amount of the Loans then outstanding will not exceed the Total
Commitment after giving effect to such termination or reduction.

                      (c) Each notice of prepayment shall specify the prepayment
date and the principal amount of each Borrowing to be prepaid, shall be
irrevocable and shall commit the Borrower to prepay such Borrowing (or portion
thereof) by the amount stated therein. All prepayments under this Section on
other than Base Rate Borrowings shall be accompanied by accrued interest on the
principal amount being prepaid to the date of prepayment.

                  2.10 Illegality. Notwithstanding any other provision herein,
if any change in any Requirement of Law or in the interpretation or application
thereof shall make it unlawful for any Bank to make or maintain Eurodollar Loans
as contemplated by this Agreement, (a) the commitment of such Bank hereunder to
make Eurodollar Loans, continue Eurodollar Loans as such and convert or
refinance Base Rate Loans to Eurodollar Loans shall forthwith be cancelled and
(b) such Bank's Revolving Credit Loans then outstanding as Eurodollar Loans, if
any, shall be converted automatically to Base Rate Loans on the respective last
days of the then current Interest Periods with respect to such Revolving Credit
Loans or within such earlier period as required by law. If any such conversion
of a Eurodollar Loan occurs on a day which is not the last day of the then
current Interest Period with respect thereto, the Borrower shall pay to such
Bank such amounts, if any, as may be required pursuant to Section 2.13.

                                       25
<PAGE>

                  2.11 Requirements of Law. (a) In the event that any change in
any Requirement of Law or in the interpretation, or application thereof or
compliance by any Bank with any request or directive (whether or not having the
force of law) from any central bank or other Governmental Authority made
subsequent to the date hereof:

                                    (i) shall subject any Bank to any tax of any
         kind whatsoever with respect to this Agreement, any Note or any
         Eurodollar Loan made by it, or change the basis of taxation of payments
         to such Bank in respect thereof (except for taxes covered by Section
         2.12 and changes in the rate of tax on the overall net income, gross
         receipts or revenue of such Bank);

                                    (ii) shall impose, modify or hold applicable
         any reserve, special deposit or similar requirement against assets held
         by, deposits or other liabilities in or for the account of, advances,
         loans or other extensions of credit by, or any other acquisition of
         funds by, any office of such Bank which is not otherwise included in
         the determination of the interest rate on such Eurodollar Loan
         hereunder; or

                                    (iii) shall impose on such Bank any other
         condition;

and the result of any of the foregoing is to increase the cost to such Bank, by
an amount which such Bank reasonably deems to be material, of making, converting
into, continuing or maintaining Eurodollar Loans or to reduce any amount
receivable hereunder in respect thereof then, in any such case, the Borrower
shall as promptly as practicable pay such Bank, upon its demand, any additional
amounts necessary to compensate such Bank for such increased cost or reduced
amount receivable; provided, that the Borrower shall not be liable for any such
amounts incurred by such Bank more than 180 days prior to the date of such
Bank's notification to the Borrower. If any Bank becomes entitled to claim any
additional amounts pursuant to this subsection, it shall as promptly as
practicable notify the Borrower, through the Agent, of the event by reason of
which it has become so entitled. A certificate describing in reasonable detail
the determination of any additional amounts payable pursuant to this subsection
submitted by such Bank, through the Agent, to the Borrower shall be conclusive
in the absence of manifest error. This covenant shall survive the termination of
this Agreement and the payment of the Notes and all other amounts payable
hereunder. If any amount is refunded to such Bank, such Bank will reimburse
Borrower for amounts paid in respect of the refunded amount.

                      (b) In the event that any Bank shall have determined that
any change in any Requirement of Law regarding capital adequacy or in the
interpretation or application thereof or compliance by such Bank or any
corporation controlling such Bank with any request or directive regarding
capital adequacy (whether or not having the force of law) from any Governmental
Authority made subsequent to the date hereof does or shall have the effect of
reducing the rate of return on such Bank's or such corporation's capital as a
consequence of its obligations hereunder to a level below that which such Bank
or such corporation could have

                                       26
<PAGE>

achieved but for such change or compliance (taking into consideration such
Bank's or such corporation's policies with respect to capital adequacy) by an
amount reasonably deemed by such Bank to be material, then from time to time,
after submission as promptly as practicable by such Bank to the Borrower (with a
copy to the Agent) of a written request therefor, the Borrower shall pay to such
Bank such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Bank for such
reduction.

                      (c) Each Bank agrees that it will use reasonable efforts
in order to avoid or to minimize, as the case may be, the payment by the
Borrower of any additional amount under subsections 2.11(a) and (b); provided,
however, that no Bank shall be obligated to incur any expense, cost or other
amount in connection with utilizing such reasonable efforts. Notwithstanding any
other provision of this Section 2.11, no Bank shall apply the provisions of
subsections 2.11(a) or (b) hereof with respect to the Borrower if it shall not
at the time be the general policy or practice of the Bank exercising its rights
hereunder to apply the provisions similar to those of this Section 2.11 to other
Borrower in substantially similar circumstances under substantially comparable
provisions of other credit agreements.

                  2.12 Taxes. (a) All payments made by the Borrower under this
Agreement and the Notes shall be made free and clear of, and without deduction
or withholding for or on account of, any present or future income, stamp or
other taxes, levies, imposts, duties, charges, fees, deductions or withholdings,
now or hereafter imposed, levied, collected, withheld or assessed by any
Governmental Authority, excluding, in the case of the Agent and each Bank, net
income taxes and franchise or gross receipts taxes (imposed in lieu of net
income taxes) imposed on the Agent or such Bank, as the case may be, as a result
of a present or former connection between the jurisdiction of the government or
taxing authority imposing such tax and the Agent or such Bank or any political
subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein (all such non-excluded taxes,
levies, imposts, duties, charges, fees, deductions and withholdings being
hereinafter called "Taxes"). Except as provided in Section 2.12(c) and the
penultimate sentence of this Section 2.12(a), if any Taxes are required to be
withheld from any amounts payable to the Agent or any Bank hereunder or under
the Notes, the amounts so payable to the Agent or such Bank shall be increased
to the extent necessary to yield to the Agent or such Bank (after payment of all
Taxes) interest or any such other amounts payable hereunder at the rates or in
the amounts specified in this Agreement and the Notes. Whenever any Taxes are
payable by the Borrower, as promptly as possible thereafter the Borrower shall
send to the Agent for its own account or for the account of such Bank, as the
case may be, a certified copy of an original official receipt received by the
Borrower showing payment thereof. If the Borrower fails to pay any Taxes when
due to the appropriate taxing authority or fail to remit to the Agent the
required receipts or other required documentary evidence, the Borrower shall
indemnify the Agent and the Banks for any incremental taxes, interest or
penalties that may become payable by the Agent or any Bank as a result of any
such failure. If as a result of a payment by the Borrower of Taxes pursuant to
this subsection a Bank receives a tax benefit or tax savings such as by
receiving a credit against, refund of, or reduction in Taxes which such Bank
would not have received but for the payment by the Borrower of Taxes pursuant to
this subsection, then such Bank shall promptly pay to the Borrower the amount of
such credit, refund, reduction or any other similar item. The agreements in this
subsection shall survive the termination of this Agreement and the payment of
the Notes and all other amounts payable hereunder.

                                       27
<PAGE>

                      (b) Each Bank that is not incorporated under the laws of
the United States of America or a state thereof agrees that it will deliver to
the Borrower and the Agent (i) two duly completed copies of United States
Internal Revenue Service Form 1001 or 4224 or successor applicable form, as the
case may be, and (ii) an Internal Revenue Service Form W-8 or W-9 or successor
applicable form. Each such Bank also agrees to deliver to the Borrower and the
Agent two further copies of the said Form 1001 or 4224 and Form W-8 or W-9, or
successor applicable forms or other manner of certification, as the case may be,
on or before the date that any such form expires or becomes obsolete or after
the occurrence of any event requiring a change in the most recent form
previously delivered by it to the Borrower, and such extensions or renewals
thereof as may reasonably be requested by the Borrower or the Agent, unless in
any such case an event (including, without limitation, any change in treaty, law
or regulation) has occurred prior to the date on which any such delivery would
otherwise be required which renders all such forms inapplicable or which would
prevent such Bank from duly completing and delivering any such form with respect
to it and such Bank so advises the Borrower and the Agent. Such Bank shall
certify (i) in the case of a Form 1001 or 4224, that it is entitled to receive
payments under this Agreement without deduction or withholding of any United
States federal income taxes and (ii) in the case of a Form W-8 or W-9, that it
is entitled to an exemption from United States backup withholding tax. Each Bank
shall deliver to the Borrower and the Agent, with respect to Taxes imposed by
any Governmental Authority other than the United States of America, similar
forms, if available (or the information that would be contained in similar forms
if such forms were available), to the forms which are required to be provided
under this subsection with respect to Taxes of the United States of America.

                      (c) The Borrower shall not be required to pay any
additional amounts to the Agent or any Bank in respect of payments of United
States withholding tax or other Taxes made by the Borrower which are consistent
with the forms and information delivered to the Borrower and the Agent or if the
payment of such amounts would not have arisen but for a failure by the Agent or
such Bank to comply with the requirements of subsection 2.12(b) or the Agent or
such Bank did not timely deliver to the Borrower the forms listed or described
in subsection 2.12(b) or did not take such other steps as reasonably may be
available to it under applicable tax laws and any applicable tax treaty or
convention to obtain an exemption from, or reduction (to the lowest applicable
rate) of, such United States withholding tax and other Taxes or, if such steps
were taken, the information was not timely and duly delivered to Borrower.

                                       28
<PAGE>

                  2.13 Indemnity. The Borrower agrees to indemnify each Bank and
to hold each Bank harmless from any loss or expense which such Bank may sustain
or incur as a consequence of (a) default by the Borrower in payment when due of
the principal amount of or interest on any Eurodollar Loan, (b) default by the
Borrower in making a borrowing of, conversion into or continuation of Eurodollar
Loans after the Borrower has given a notice requesting the same in accordance
with the provisions of this Agreement, (c) default by the Borrower in making any
prepayment after the Borrower has given a notice thereof in accordance with the
provisions of this Agreement or (d) the making of a prepayment of Eurodollar
Loans on a day which is not the last day of an Interest Period with respect
thereto, including, without limitation, in each case, any such loss or expense
arising from the reemployment of funds obtained by it or from fees payable to
terminate the deposits from which such funds were obtained. This covenant shall
survive the termination of this Agreement and the payment of the Notes and all
other amounts payable hereunder.

                  2.14 Pro Rata Treatment, etc. Except as required under
Sections 2.2 and 2.10, each Borrowing, each payment or prepayment of principal
of any Borrowing, each payment of interest on the Loans, each reduction of the
Commitments, each refinancing of any Borrowing with a Borrowing of any Type and
each conversion of Loans, shall be made pro rata among the Banks in accordance
with their respective Commitment Percentages. Each Bank agrees that in computing
such Bank's portion of any Borrowing to be made hereunder, the Agent may, in its
discretion, round each Bank's percentage of such Borrowing to the next higher or
lower whole dollar amount.

                  2.15 Payments. (a) The Borrower shall make each payment
(including principal of or interest on any Loan or any Fees or other amounts)
hereunder not later than 12:00 (noon), Philadelphia time, on the date when due
in Dollars to the Agent at its offices at 1600 Market Street, Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania, or at such other place as may be designated by the Agent, in
immediately available funds.

                      (b) Whenever any payment (including principal of or
interest on any Loan or any Fees or other amounts) hereunder shall become due,
or otherwise would occur, on a day that is not a Business Day, such payment may
be made on the next succeeding Business Day, and such extension of time shall in
such case be included in the computation of interest or Fees, if applicable.

                  2.16 Conversion and Continuation Options. The Borrower shall
have the right at any time upon prior irrevocable notice to the Agent (i) not
later than 11:00 a.m., Philadelphia time, on the Business Day of conversion, to
convert any Eurodollar Loan to a Base Rate Loan, (ii) not later than 11:00 a.m.,
Philadelphia time, three Business Days prior to conversion or continuation, (y)
to convert any Base Rate Loan into a Eurodollar Loan, or (z) to continue any
Eurodollar Loan as a Eurodollar Loan for any additional Interest Period, and
(iii) not later than 11:00 a.m., Philadelphia time, three Business Days prior to
conversion, to convert the Interest Period with respect to any Eurodollar Loan
to another permissible Interest Period, subject in each case to the following:

                                       29
<PAGE>

                           (a) a Eurodollar Loan may not be converted at a time
other than the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto;

                           (b) any portion of a Revolving Credit Loan maturing
or required to be repaid in less than one month may not be converted into or
continued as a Eurodollar Loan;

                           (c) no Eurodollar Loan may be continued as such and
no Base Rate Loan may be converted to a Eurodollar Loan when any Default or
Event of Default has occurred and is continuing;

                           (d) any portion of a Eurodollar Loan that cannot be
converted into or continued as a Eurodollar Loan by reason of paragraph 2.16(b)
or 2.16(c) automatically shall be converted at the end of the Interest Period in
effect for such Revolving Credit Loan to a Base Rate Loan;

                           (e) if by the third Business Day prior to the last
day of any Interest Period for Eurodollar Loans, the Borrower has failed to give
notice of conversion or continuation as described in this subsection, the Agent
shall give notice thereof to the Banks and such Revolving Credit Loans shall be
automatically converted to Base Rate Loans on the last day of such then expiring
Interest Period; and

                           (f) each request by the Borrower to convert or
continue a Revolving Credit Loan shall constitute a representation and warranty
that each of the representations and warranties made by the Borrower herein is
true and correct in all material respects on and as of such date as if made on
and as of such date.

Accrued interest on a Revolving Credit Loan (or portion thereof) being converted
shall be paid by the Borrower at the time of conversion.

                    SECTION 3. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

                  To induce the Banks to enter into this Agreement, and to make
the Loans, the Borrower hereby represents and warrants to the Agent and each
Bank that:

                  3.1 Financial Condition. (a) The audited consolidated balance
sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as at December 31, 1998 and the
related consolidated statements of income and of cash flows for the fiscal year
ended on such date, and the consolidated balance sheet as at September 30, 1999
and the statements of income and cash flow of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries
for the nine month period ended September 30, 1999, copies of all of which have
heretofore been furnished to each Bank, present fairly the consolidated
financial condition of the Borrower as at such dates, and the consolidated
results of its operations and its consolidated cash flows for the periods
covered thereby.

                                       30
<PAGE>

All such financial statements, including the related schedules and notes
thereto, have been prepared in accordance with GAAP applied consistently
throughout the periods involved. Neither the Borrower nor any of its
Subsidiaries had, at the date of the most recent balance sheet referred to
above, any material Contingent Obligation, liability for taxes, or any long-term
lease or unusual forward or long-term commitment, including, without limitation,
any interest rate or foreign currency swap or exchange transaction, which is
required by GAAP to be but is not reflected in the foregoing statements or in
the notes thereto.

                           (b) (i) As of the Closing Date and after giving
effect to this Agreement and any Loans to be made on the Closing Date, the
Borrower is Solvent.

                               (ii) The Borrower does not intend to incur debts
beyond its ability to pay such debts as they mature, taking into account the
timing of and amounts of cash to be received by it and the timing of the amounts
of cash to be payable on or in respect of its Debt.

                  3.2 No Adverse Change. Since December 31, 1998, there has been
no development or event which has had a Material Adverse Effect.

                  3.3 Existence; Compliance with Law. The Borrower (a) is duly
organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the
jurisdiction of its organization, (b) has the corporate power and authority, and
the legal right, to own and operate its property, to lease the property it
operates as lessee and to conduct the business in which it is currently engaged,
(c) is duly qualified as a foreign entity and in good standing under the laws of
each jurisdiction where its ownership, lease or operation of property or the
conduct of its business requires such qualification, except to the extent that
the failure to be so qualified would not, in the aggregate, have a Material
Adverse Effect and (d) is in compliance with all Requirements of Law the
non-compliance with which would have a Material Adverse Effect.

                  3.4 Corporate Power; Authorization; Enforceable Obligations.
The Borrower has the corporate power, authority, and legal right, to make,
deliver and perform this Agreement, the Notes and the other Loan Documents to
which it is a party and to borrow hereunder and has taken all necessary
corporate action to authorize the borrowings on the terms and conditions of this
Agreement and the Notes and to authorize the execution, delivery and performance
of this Agreement, the Notes and the other Loan Documents to which it is a
party. No consent or authorization of, filing with or other act by or in respect
of, any Governmental Authority or any other Person (including stockholders and
creditors of the Borrower) is required in connection with the borrowings
hereunder or with the execution, delivery, performance, validity or
enforceability of this Agreement, the Notes or the other Loan Documents. This
Agreement has been, and each Note and other Loan Document will be, duly executed
and delivered on behalf of the Borrower. This Agreement constitutes, and each
Note and other Loan Document when executed and delivered will constitute, a
legal, valid and binding obligation of the Borrower enforceable against the
Borrower in accordance with its terms, except as enforceability may be limited
by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization,
moratorium or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors' rights
generally and by general equitable principles (whether enforcement is sought by
proceedings in equity or at law).

                                       31
<PAGE>

                  3.5 No Legal Bar. The execution, delivery and performance of
this Agreement, the Notes and the other Loan Documents by the Borrower, the
borrowings hereunder and the use of the proceeds thereof will not violate any
Requirement of Law or Contractual Obligation of the Borrower or of any of the
Subsidiaries and will not result in, or require, the creation or imposition of
any Lien on any of its or their respective properties or revenues pursuant to
any such Requirement of Law or Contractual Obligation.

                  3.6 No Material Litigation Except as set forth on Schedule
3.6, no litigation, investigation or proceeding of or before any arbitrator or
Governmental Authority is pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower,
threatened against the Borrower or against any of the properties or revenues of
the Borrower or against any Plan (a) with respect to this Agreement, the Notes
or the other Loan Documents or any of the transactions contemplated hereby, or
(b) as to which there is a reasonable likelihood of an adverse determination and
which, if adversely determined, would have a Material Adverse Effect.

                  3.7 No Default. The Borrower is not in default under or with
respect to any of its Contractual Obligations, including without limitation,
those under the Indenture in any respect which would have a Material Adverse
Effect. No Event of Default has occurred and is continuing.

                  3.8 Taxes. The Borrower has filed or caused to be filed all
tax returns which are required to be filed (or has obtained authorized
extensions for such filings) and has paid all taxes shown to be due and payable
on said returns or on any assessments made against it or any of its property and
all other taxes, fees or other charges imposed on it or any of its property by
any Governmental Authority (other than any the amount or validity of which are
currently being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and with
respect to which reserves in conformity with GAAP have been provided on the
books of the Borrower, as the case may be); no material tax Lien has been filed
against the Borrower, and, to the knowledge of the Borrower, no claim is being
asserted, with respect to any such tax, fee or other charges.

                  3.9 Federal Regulations No part of the proceeds of any Loans
will be used for "purchasing" or "carrying" any "margin stock" within the
respective meanings of each of the quoted terms under Regulation U or for any
purpose which violates the provisions of Regulation U. If requested by any Bank
or the Agent, the Borrower will furnish to the Agent and each Bank a statement
to the foregoing effect in conformity with the requirements of FR Form U-l
referred to in said Regulation U. No part of the proceeds of the Loans hereunder
will be used for any purpose which violates, or which is inconsistent with, the
provisions of Regulation X.

                                       32
<PAGE>

                  3.10 ERISA (a) Each Plan has complied in all respects with the
applicable provisions of ERISA and the Code, except to the extent that failure
to so comply would not have a Material Adverse Effect. No prohibited transaction
or accumulated funding deficiency (each as defined in subsection 7(h)) or
Reportable Event has occurred with respect to any Single Employer Plan which
would have a Material Adverse Effect, except as disclosed on Schedule 3.10.

                       (b) The present value of all accrued benefits under each
Single Employer Plan maintained by the Borrower or a Commonly Controlled Entity
(based on those assumptions used to fund the Plans), as calculated on a
termination basis, did not, as of the last annual valuation date, exceed the
value of the assets of the Plans allocable to such benefits by an amount which
exceeds $1,000,000 or which would have a Material Adverse Effect.

                       (c) Neither the Borrower nor any Commonly Controlled
Entity has had a complete or partial withdrawal from any Multiemployer Plan for
which any liability remains unsatisfied which would exceed $500,000 or which,
together with liabilities referred in subsections (b) and (d) hereof, would
exceed $1,000,000 or which in either event would have a Material Adverse Effect,
and neither the Borrower nor any Commonly Controlled Entity would become subject
under ERISA to any liability which would exceed $250,000 or which, together with
other liabilities referred in subsections (b) and (d) hereof or this subsection
(c), would exceed $500,000 or which in either event would have a Material
Adverse Effect if the Borrower or such Commonly Controlled Entity were to
withdraw completely from any Multiemployer Plan as of the valuation date most
closely preceding the date this representation is made or deemed made. To the
best of the Borrower's knowledge, such Multiemployer Plans are neither in
Reorganization as defined in Section 4241 of ERISA nor Insolvent.

                       (d) The present value (determined using actuarial and
other assumptions which are reasonable in respect of the benefits provided and
the employees participating) of the liability of the Borrower and each Commonly
Controlled Entity for post-retirement benefits to be provided to their current
and former employees under Plans which are welfare benefit plans (as defined in
Section 3(1) of ERISA) does not, in the aggregate, exceed the assets under all
such Plans allocable to such benefits by an amount (i) which exceeds the amount
being recovered by the Borrower to cover such deficiency amortized over a twenty
year period as part of its revenue requirement as most recently approved by the
Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission or (ii) which together with liabilities
referred to in subsections (b) and (c) hereof would have a Material Adverse
Effect.

                  3.11 Investment Company Act; Public Utility Holding Company
Act Except as set forth on Schedule 3.11, the Borrower is not (a) an "investment
company", or a company "controlled" by an "investment company", within the
meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended; (b) a "holding
company" or a "subsidiary company" of a "holding company" or an "affiliate" of
either a "holding company" or a "subsidiary company" within the meaning of

                                       33
<PAGE>

the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, as amended, or (c) subject to
any other federal or state law or regulation which purports to restrict or
regulate its ability to borrow money.

                  3.12 Purpose of Loans The proceeds of the Loans shall be used
by the Borrower for refinancing existing indebtedness of the Borrower and the
Borrower's general working capital purposes including the financing of Permitted
Acquisitions.

                  3.13 Environmental Matters To the best knowledge of the
Borrower, except as may be disclosed on Schedule 3.13 and except to the extent
that the aggregate cost of any remediation or other expense to the Borrower as a
consequence of the failure of any of the following representations to be true
and correct does not exceed $1,000,000, each of the representations and
warranties set forth in paragraphs (a) through (e) of this subsection is true
and correct with respect to each parcel of real property owned or operated by
the Borrower (the "Properties"):

                       (a) the Properties do not contain, and have not
previously contained, in, on, or under, including, without limitation, the soil
and groundwater thereunder, any Materials of Environmental Concern in
concentrations which violate Environmental Laws;

                       (b) the Properties and all operations and facilities at
the Properties are in compliance with Environmental Laws in all material
respects, and there is no Materials of Environmental Concern contamination or
violation of any Environmental Law which would materially interfere with the
continued operation of any of the Properties or materially impair the fair
saleable value of any thereof;

                       (c) the Borrower has not received any written complaint,
notice of violation, alleged violation, investigation or advisory action or of
potential liability or of potential responsibility regarding a violation of
Environmental Law or permit compliance with regard to the Properties, nor is the
Borrower aware that any Governmental Authority is contemplating delivering to
the Borrower any such notice;

                       (d) Materials of Environmental Concern have not been
generated, treated, stored, disposed of, at, on or under any of the Properties,
nor have any Materials of Environmental Concern been transferred from the
Properties to any other location except in either case in the ordinary course of
business of the Borrower and in material compliance with all Environmental Laws;
and

                       (e) there are no governmental, administrative actions or
judicial proceedings pending or contemplated under any Environmental Laws to
which the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries is or will be named as a party
with respect to the Properties, nor are there any consent decrees or other
decrees, consent orders, administrative orders or other orders, or other
administrative or judicial requirements outstanding under any Environmental Law
with respect to any of the Properties.

                                       34
<PAGE>

                  3.14 Ownership of the Borrower  As of the Closing Date the
Borrower is a wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Parent Company.

                  3.15 Patents, Trademarks, etc The Borrower has obtained and
holds in full force and effects all patents, trademarks, servicemarks, trade
names, copyrights or licenses therefor and other such rights, free from
burdensome restrictions, which are necessary for the operation of its business
as presently conducted. To the Borrower's best knowledge, no material product,
process, method, substance, part or other material presently sold by or employed
by the Borrower in connection with such business infringes any patent,
trademark, service mark, trade name, copyright, license or other right owned by
any other Person so as to have a Material Adverse Effect. There is not pending
or, to the Borrower's knowledge, threatened any claim or litigation against or
affecting the Borrower contesting its right to sell or use any such product,
process, method, substance, part or other material.

                  3.16 Ownership of Property The Borrower has good and
marketable fee simple title to or valid leasehold interests in all real property
owned or leased by the Borrower (except in the case of certain properties not
material to its business as to which its title was obtained by quit-claim or
special warranty deed), and good title to all of its personal property subject
to no Lien of any kind except Liens permitted hereby. The Borrower enjoys
peaceful and undisturbed possession under all of its respective material leases.

                  3.17 Licenses, etc. The Borrower has obtained and holds in
full force and effect, all franchises, licenses, permits, certificates,
authorizations, qualifications, easements, rights of way and other rights,
consents and approvals which are necessary for the operation of its business as
presently conducted.

                  3.18 No Burdensome Restrictions. The Borrower is not a party
to any agreement or instrument or subject to any other Contractual Obligation or
any charter or corporate restriction or any provision of any applicable law,
rule or regulation which, to the best of the Borrower's knowledge, individually
or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect.

                  3.19 Labor Matters. The Borrower has not suffered any strikes,
walkouts, work stoppages or other material labor difficulty within the last five
years and to the best of the Borrower's knowledge, there are none now
threatened.

                  3.20 Partnerships.  Except as disclosed on Schedule 3.20, as
of the Closing Date, the Borrower is not a partner in any partnership or in
any joint venture.

                                       35
<PAGE>

                  3.21 No Material Misstatements. To the best of the Borrower's
knowledge, no information, report, financial statement, exhibit or schedule
furnished by or on behalf of the Borrower to the Agent or any Bank in connection
with the negotiation of this Agreement or any Note or other Loan Document or
included therein contains any misstatement of fact, or omitted or omits to state
any fact necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, where such
misstatement or omission would in the Borrower's judgment be material to the
interests of the Banks with respect to the Borrower's performance of its
obligations hereunder.

                  3.22 Year 2000 Compliance. The Borrower has reviewed the areas
within its business and operations which could be adversely affected by, and has
developed or is developing a program to address on a timely basis, the risk that
certain computer applications used by the Borrower may be unable to recognize
and perform properly date-sensitive functions involving dates prior to and after
December 31, 1999 (the "Year 2000 Problem"). The Year 2000 Problem will not
result in any Material Adverse Effect.

                  All of the foregoing representations and warranties shall
survive the execution and delivery of the Notes and the making by the Banks of
the Loans hereunder.

                     SECTION 4 CONDITIONS PRECEDENT; CLOSING

                  4.1 Conditions to Closing. The agreement of each Bank to enter
into this Agreement and make its initial Loan hereunder is subject to the
satisfaction, immediately prior to or concurrently with such Loans, of the
following conditions precedent:

                      (a) Loan Documents. The Agent shall have received (i) this
Agreement, executed and delivered by a duly authorized officer of the Borrower,
with a counterpart for each Bank, (ii) for the account of each Bank, a Revolving
Credit Note conforming to the requirements hereof and executed by a duly
authorized officer of the Borrower and (iii) for the account of the Swing Line
Bank, the Swing Line Note conforming to the requirements hereof and executed by
a duly authorized officer of the Borrower.

                      (b) Corporate Proceedings of the Borrower. The Agent shall
have received a copy of the resolutions or other corporate proceedings or
action, in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent, taken on behalf of the
Borrower authorizing (i) the execution, delivery and performance of this
Agreement, the Notes and the other Loan Documents to which it is a party, and
(ii) the borrowings contemplated hereunder, certified by a Responsible Officer
of the Borrower as of the Closing Date, which certificate shall state that such
resolutions, or other proceedings or action thereby certified have not been
amended, modified, revoked or rescinded and shall be in form and substance
satisfactory to the Agent.

                                       36
<PAGE>

                      (c) Representations and Warranties True; No Default. The
representations and warranties of the Borrower contained in Section 3 hereof
shall be true and accurate on and as of the Closing Date in all material
respects with the same effect as though such representations and warranties had
been made on and as of such date (except representations and warranties which
relate solely to an earlier date or time, which representations and warranties
shall be true and correct on and as of the specific dates or times referred to
therein), and the Borrower shall have performed and complied with all covenants
and conditions hereof; and no Event of Default or Default under this Agreement
shall have occurred and be continuing or shall exist.

                      (d) Corporate Documents. The Agent shall have received,
with a counterpart for each Bank, true and complete copies of (i) the articles
of incorporation and bylaws of the Borrower, certified as of the Closing Date as
complete and correct copies thereof by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower;
and (ii) good standing certificates issued by the Secretaries of State (or the
equivalent thereof) of each state in which the Borrower has been formed or is
required to be qualified to transact business no earlier than thirty days prior
to the Closing Date.

                      (e) Incumbency. The Agent shall have received a written
certificate dated the Closing Date by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower as
to the names and signatures of the officers of the Borrower authorized to sign
this Agreement and the other Loan Documents. The Agent may conclusively rely on
such certificate until it shall receive a further certificate by a Responsible
Officer of the Borrower amending such prior certificate.

                      (f) Indenture. The Agent shall have received, with a
counterpart for each Bank, true and complete copies of the Indenture and the
Supplemental Indenture.

                      (g) Fees. The Borrower shall have paid or caused to be
paid to the Agent (i) all Fees then due hereunder and (ii) all other fees and
expenses due and payable hereunder on or before the Closing Date (if then
invoiced), including without limitation the reasonable fees and expenses of
counsel to the Agent.

                      (h) Legal Opinion. The Agent shall have received, with a
counterpart for each Bank, the executed legal opinion of the Senior Vice
President - Law and Administration of the Borrower, addressed to the Banks and
satisfactory in form and substance to the Agent and its counsel covering such
matters incident to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement as the Agent
may reasonably require. The Borrower hereby directs such counsel to deliver such
opinion, upon which the Banks and the Agent may rely.

                      (i) No Material Adverse Change. There shall be no material
adverse change in the business, operations, Property, prospects or financial or
other condition of the Borrower nor any material change in the management of the
Borrower or an event which would cause or constitute a Material Adverse Effect;
and there shall be delivered to the Agent for the benefit of each Bank a
certificate dated the Closing Date and signed on behalf of the Borrower by a
Responsible Officer to each such effect.

                                       37
<PAGE>

                      (j) No Litigation. No action, proceeding, investigation,
regulation or legislation shall have been instituted, threatened or proposed
before any court, governmental agency or legislative body to enjoin, restrain or
prohibit, or to obtain damages in respect of this Agreement or the consummation
of the transactions contemplated hereby or which, in the Agent's sole
discretion, would make it inadvisable to consummate the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement.

                      (k) Evidence of Insurance. The Borrower shall have
provided to each of the Banks copies of the evidence of insurance required by
subsection 5.5(b).

                      (l) Existing Indebtedness. The existing loans owed the
Borrower pursuant to a Revolving Credit Agreement by and among the Borrower, the
banks party thereto and Mellon Bank, N.A., as Agent, dated as of March 17, 1994,
shall have been repaid in full or arrangements satisfactory to the Agent shall
exist for the repayment thereof from the proceeds of the initial Loans
hereunder, and the commitments thereunder terminated.

                      (m) Evidence of Regulatory Approval. The Borrower shall
have provided to the Agent a copy of each and every authorization, permit,
consent, and approval of and other actions by, and notice to and filing with,
every Governmental Authority which is required to be obtained or made by the
Borrower for the due execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and
the other Loan Documents, if any.

                      (n) Additional Documents. The Agent shall have received
such additional documents, certificates and information as the Agent may require
pursuant to the hereof or as the Agent may otherwise reasonably request.

                  4.2 Conditions to Each Loan. The agreement of each Bank to
make any Loan requested to be made by it on any date (including, without
limitation, the first such Loan hereunder) is subject to the satisfaction of the
following conditions precedent:

                      (a) Representations and Warranties. Each of the
representations and warranties made by the Borrower herein or which are
contained in any certificate, document or financial or other statement furnished
at any time under or in connection herewith or therewith shall be true and
correct in all material respects on and as of such date as if made on and as of
such date.

                      (b) No Default. No Default or Event of Default shall have
occurred and be continuing on such date or after giving effect to the Loans
requested to be made or the Letter of Credit is to be issued on such date.

                      (c) No Contravention of Law. The making of the Loans or
the issuance of the Letter of Credit shall not contravene any Requirement of Law
applicable to the Borrower or any of the Banks.

                                       38
<PAGE>

Each borrowing by the Borrower hereunder shall constitute a representation and
warranty by the Borrower as of the date of such Loan that the conditions
contained in this Section 4.2 have been satisfied.

                  4.3 Closing. The closing (the "Closing") of the transactions
contemplated hereby shall take place at the offices of Ballard Spahr Andrews &
Ingersoll, LLP, commencing at 10:00 a.m., Philadelphia time, on December 22,
1999 or such other place or date as to which the Agent, the Banks and the
Borrower shall agree. The date on which the Closing shall be completed is
referred to herein as the "Closing Date".

                        SECTION 5. AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

                  The Borrower hereby agrees that, so long as the Commitments
remain in effect, any Note remains outstanding and unpaid, any Letter of Credit
remains outstanding or any other amount is owing to any Bank or the Agent
hereunder, the Borrower shall:

                  5.1 Financial Statements. Furnish to each Bank (i) within 45
days after the end of each of the first three fiscal quarters of each fiscal
year a consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the
end of each such fiscal quarter and statements of income for the period from the
beginning of such fiscal year to the end of such fiscal quarter, and (ii) within
90 days after the end of each fiscal year a consolidated balance sheet of the
Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the end of each fiscal year and statements
of income, statements of retained earnings and cash flow for such fiscal year.
All financial statements will be prepared in accordance with GAAP applied on a
basis consistently maintained throughout the period involved and with the prior
periods, such annual financial statements to be certified by independent
certified public accountants selected by the Borrower and reasonably acceptable
to the Agent, without any exception or qualification arising out of the
restricted or limited nature of the examination made by such accountants.

                  5.2 Certificates; Other Information.  Furnish to each Bank:

                      (a) concurrently with the delivery of the financial
statements referred to in subsection 5.1, a certificate on behalf of the
Borrower executed by a Responsible Officer, (i) showing in detail the
calculations supporting such statements in respect of Section 6.1; and (ii)
stating that, to the best of his or her knowledge, the Borrower during such
period has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled each and every covenant and
condition contained in this Agreement and in the Notes and the other Loan
Documents applicable to it and that he or she obtained no knowledge of any
Default or Event of Default except as specifically indicated;

                      (b) on or prior to February 15 of each fiscal year, a
budgeted balance sheet, income statement and statement of cash flow for the
current fiscal year; and

                                       39
<PAGE>

                      (c) promptly, such additional financial and other
information as any Bank or the Agent may from time to time reasonably request.

                  5.3 Payment of Obligations. Pay, discharge or otherwise
satisfy at or before maturity or before they become delinquent, as the case may
be, all its obligations of whatever nature, except (x) in the case of
indebtedness other than that described in subsection 7.1(f), when the amount or
validity thereof is currently being contested in good faith by appropriate
proceedings and reserves in conformity with GAAP with respect thereto have been
provided on the books of the Borrower or (y) where the failure so to pay such
indebtedness is in the normal course of the Borrower's business as now conducted
and would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

                  5.4 Conduct of Business and Maintenance of Existence. Subject
to Section 6.4 hereof, continue to engage in business of the same general type
as now conducted by it and, except to the extent that failure to do so would not
have a Material Adverse Effect, preserve, renew and keep in full force and
effect its corporate existence and take all reasonable action to maintain all
rights, privileges, trademarks, trade names, licenses, franchises and other
authorizations necessary or desirable in the normal conduct of its business;
comply with all Contractual Obligations and Requirements of Law except to the
extent that failure to comply therewith would not reasonably be expected to
have, in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

                  5.5 Maintenance of Property; Insurance. (a) Maintain in good
repair, working order and condition (ordinary wear and tear excepted) in
accordance with the general practice of other businesses of similar character
and size, all of those properties material or necessary to its business, and
from time to time make or cause to be made all appropriate repairs, renewals or
replacements thereof.

                      (b) Insure its properties and assets against loss or
damage by fire and such other insurable hazards as such assets are commonly
insured (including fire, extended coverage, property damage, worker's
compensation, public liability and business interruption insurance) and against
other risks (including errors and omissions) in such amounts as similar
properties and assets are insured by prudent companies in similar circumstances
carrying on similar businesses, and with reputable and financially sound
insurers, including self-insurance to the extent customary. The Borrower shall
deliver at the request of the Agent from time to time a summary schedule
indicating all insurance then in force with respect to the Borrower.

                  5.6 Inspection of Property; Books and Records; Discussions (a)
Permit any of the officers or authorized employees or representatives of the
Agent or any of the Banks to visit and inspect during normal business hours any
of its properties and to examine and make excerpts from its books and records
and discuss its business affairs, finances and accounts (including those of its
Affiliates) with its officers, all in such detail and at such times and as often
as any of the Banks may reasonably request, provided that each Bank shall
provide the Borrower and the Agent with reasonable notice prior to any visit or
inspection. In the event Required Banks desire to conduct an audit of the
Borrower (to which the Borrower hereby consents), such Banks shall make a
reasonable effort to conduct such audit contemporaneously with any audit to be
performed by the Agent.

                                       40
<PAGE>

                      (b) Maintain and keep proper books of record and account
which enable the Borrower and the Parent Company to issue financial statements
in accordance with GAAP and as otherwise required by applicable Requirements of
Law, and in which full, true and correct entries shall be made in all material
respects of all its dealings and business and financial affairs.

                  5.7 Notices. Promptly, upon the Borrower becoming aware, give
notice to the Agent and each Bank of:

                      (a) the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default;

                      (b) any (i) default or event of default under any
Contractual Obligation of the Borrower, including, without limitation, the
Indenture, or (ii) litigation, investigation or proceeding which may exist at
any time between the Borrower and any Governmental Authority, which in either
case, if not cured or if adversely determined, as the case may be, would have a
Material Adverse Effect;

                      (c) any litigation or proceeding which, if adversely
determined, would have a Material Adverse Effect;

                      (d) the following events, as soon as possible and in any
event within 30 days after the Borrower knows or has reason to know thereof: (i)
the occurrence of any Reportable Event with respect to any Single Employer Plan,
or any withdrawal from, or the termination, Reorganization or Insolvency of any
Multiemployer Plan which may, individually or in the aggregate, result in a
liability which would have a Material Adverse Effect or (ii) the institution of
proceedings or the taking of any other action by the PBGC or the Borrower or any
Commonly Controlled Entity or any Multiemployer Plan with respect to the
withdrawal from, or the terminating, Reorganization or Insolvency of, any Single
Employer Plan in a distress termination under Section 4041(c) of ERISA or
Multiemployer Plan; and

                      (e) an event which has had a Material Adverse Effect.

Each notice pursuant to this subsection shall be accompanied by a statement of
the Borrower, executed on its behalf by a Responsible Officer, setting forth
details of the occurrence referred to therein and stating what action the
Borrower propose to take with respect thereto.

                                       41
<PAGE>

                  5.8 Environmental Laws (a) Comply with, and require compliance
by all tenants and to the extent possible, all subtenants, if any, with, all
Environmental Laws and obtain and comply with and maintain, and require that all
tenants and to the extent possible, all subtenants obtain and comply with and
maintain, any and all licenses, approvals, registrations or permits required by
Environmental Laws except to the extent that failure to so comply or obtain or
maintain such documents would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

                      (b) Except as set forth in Schedule 3.13, comply with all
lawful and binding orders and directives of all Governmental Authorities
respecting Environmental Laws except to the extent that failure to so comply
would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

                      (c) Defend, indemnify and hold harmless the Agent and the
Banks, and their respective employees, agents, officers and directors, from and
against any claims, demands, penalties, fines, liabilities, settlements,
damages, costs and expenses of whatever kind or nature known or unknown,
contingent or otherwise, arising out of, or in any way relating to the violation
of or noncompliance with any Environmental Laws applicable to the real property
owned or operated by the Borrower, or any orders, requirements or demands of
Governmental Authorities related thereto, including, without limitation,
attorneys' and consultants' fees, investigation and laboratory fees, court costs
and litigation expenses, except to the extent that any of the foregoing arise
out of the negligence or willful misconduct of any of the foregoing enumerated
parties.

                  5.9 Taxes. Pay when due all taxes, assessments and
governmental charges imposed upon it or any of its properties or that it is
required to withhold and pay over, except where contested in good faith and
where adequate reserves have been set aside to the extent required under GAAP.

                  5.10 Covenants of the Indenture. Comply at all times with the
covenants contained in the Supplemental Indenture, as such Supplemental
Indenture supplements the Indenture, without regard to any amendment of or
supplement to the Indenture occurring after November 15, 1999.

                  5.11 Guarantees of Obligations. It is the intent of the
parties hereto that all of the obligations of the Borrower hereunder shall be
unconditionally guaranteed by all of its Material Subsidiaries to the maximum
extent permitted under the laws of the jurisdiction of organization of any such
Material Subsidiary. Accordingly, in the event that any Material Subsidiary
shall be formed, acquired or come into existence after the date hereof then the
Borrower will cause such Material Subsidiary to (i) execute and deliver a
Guaranty Agreement in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent pursuant to
which such Material Subsidiary will become a "Guarantor" hereunder, and
guarantee the obligations of the Borrower hereunder and under the Notes and
other Loan Documents and (ii) deliver such proof of corporate or other action,
incumbency of officers, opinions of counsel and other documents as is consistent
with those delivered by the Borrower pursuant to Section 4.1 on the Closing Date
or as the Agent shall have reasonably requested.

                                       42
<PAGE>

                          SECTION 6. NEGATIVE COVENANTS

                  The Borrower hereby agrees that, so long as the Commitments
remain in effect, any Note remains outstanding and unpaid or any other amount is
owing to any Bank or the Agent hereunder, the Borrower shall not directly or
indirectly:

                  6.1 Financial Covenants.

                      (a) Equity to Capital Ratio. Permit as of the end of any
fiscal quarter the Equity to Capital Ratio to be less than thirty eight percent
(38%).

                      (b) Interest Coverage Ratio. Permit as of the end of any
fiscal quarter the Interest Coverage Ratio to be less than 1.8 to 1.

                  6.2 Limitation on Debt. At any time incur, create, assume, or
suffer to exist any Debt except:

                          (i) amounts outstanding hereunder as Loans;

                          (ii) Debt existing as of the date hereof described on
         Schedule 6.2 (including any extensions or renewals or refinancings
         thereof provided there is no increase in the amount thereof or other
         significant change in the terms thereof);

                          (iii) Debt issued under and secured by the Indenture;

                          (iv) Subordinated Debt;

                          (v) Debt to commercial banks under additional lines of
         credit in an aggregate outstanding amount of up to $10,000,000;

                          (vi) unsecured indebtedness to the Parent Company in
         each case having a maturity not in excess of 180 days and in an
         aggregate amount outstanding at any one time not exceeding $24,000,000;
         and

                          (vi) other indebtedness incurred in the ordinary
         course of business for the purchase of capital assets.

                  6.3 Limitation on Liens. Create, incur, assume or suffer to
exist any Lien upon any of its property, assets or revenues, including, without
limitation, the stock of its Subsidiaries, whether now owned or hereafter
acquired, except for:

                                       43
<PAGE>

                      (a) The following, (i) if the validity or amount thereof
is being contested in good faith by appropriate and lawful proceedings
diligently conducted so long as levy and execution thereon have been stayed and
continue to be stayed or (ii) if a final judgment is entered and such judgment
is discharged within thirty (30) days of entry, and in either case they do not
materially impair the ability of the Borrower to perform its obligations
hereunder or under the other Loan Documents:

                          (A) Claims or Liens for taxes, assessments or charges
         due and payable and subject to interest or penalty, provided that the
         Borrower maintains such reserves or other appropriate provisions as
         shall be required by GAAP and pays all such taxes, assessments or
         charges forthwith upon the commencement of proceedings to foreclose any
         such Lien;

                          (B) Claims, Liens or encumbrances upon, and defects of
         title to, real or personal property including any attachment of
         personal or real property or other legal process prior to adjudication
         of a dispute on the merits; and

                          (C) Claims or Liens of mechanics, materialmen,
         warehousemen, carriers, or other statutory nonconsensual Liens;

                      (b) pledges or deposits in connection with workers'
compensation, unemployment insurance and other social security legislation;

                      (c) deposits to secure the performance of bids, trade
contracts (other than for borrowed money), leases, statutory obligations, surety
and appeal bonds, performance bonds and other obligations of a like nature
incurred in the ordinary course of business of the Borrower;

                      (d) easements, rights-of-way, restrictions and other
similar encumbrances incurred in the ordinary course of business which, in the
aggregate, are not substantial in amount and which do not interfere with the
ordinary conduct of the business of the Borrower;

                      (e) Liens which were in existence on the date hereof and
shown on Schedule 6.3 and replacements, extensions or replacements thereof;

                      (f) Liens on assets acquired by the Borrower in
acquisitions permitted by Section 6.6 (which liens were in existence at the time
of such acquisitions);

                      (g) Liens upon real property, which property was acquired
after the Closing Date by the Borrower, each of which Liens existed on such
property before the time of its acquisition or was created to finance, refinance
or refund the cost (including the cost of construction) of the respective
property; provided, however, that no such Lien shall extend to or cover any
accounts receivable or inventory under any circumstances or any property of the
Borrower other than the respective property so acquired and improvements
thereon, and the principal amount of indebtedness secured by any such Lien shall
not exceed the fair market value of the respective property at the time it was
acquired;

                                       44
<PAGE>

                      (h) Capital Leases as and to the extent permitted under
this Agreement;

                      (i) purchase money security interests on capital equipment
purchased in the ordinary course of business; and

                      (j) the Lien of the Indenture and other Liens in
connection with the issuance of industrial revenue bonds or pollution control
bonds, to the extent such Liens are permitted under the Indenture.

                  6.4 Limitations on Fundamental Changes. Enter into any merger,
consolidation or amalgamation, or liquidate, wind up or dissolve itself (or
suffer any liquidation or dissolution), or convey, sell, lease, assign, transfer
or otherwise dispose of, all or substantially all of its property, business or
assets except:

                      (a) the Borrower may merge into the Parent Company, so
long as the Parent Company is the surviving entity;

                      (b) any corporation or limited liability company (other
than the Parent Company) may be merged or consolidated with or into the Borrower
(provided that the Borrower shall be the continuing or surviving corporation);
and

                      (c) a merger in connection with a Permitted Acquisition in
accordance with Section 6.6 in which the surviving entity is the Borrower;

provided that, immediately after each such transaction and after giving effect
thereto, the Borrower is in compliance with this Agreement and no Default or
Event of Default shall be in existence or result from such transaction.

                  6.5 Limitation on Sale of Assets. Convey, sell, lease, assign,
transfer or otherwise dispose of any of its property, business or assets
(including, without limitation, accounts receivable and leasehold interests),
whether now owned or hereafter acquired, except:

                          (i) obsolete or worn out property disposed of in the
ordinary course of business;

                          (ii) the sale of inventory or other assets, or the
licensing of intellectual property, in each case in the ordinary course of
business;

                                       45
<PAGE>

                          (iii) any sale, transfer or lease of assets (i) which
are replaced by like-kind assets or (ii) the proceeds of the sale of which are
used within one-hundred and twenty (120) days of such sale to purchase like-kind
assets;

                          (iv) any sale, transfer or lease of assets the
proceeds of the sale of which are used to permanently reduce the Commitments;
and

                          (v) in addition to the above subsections 6.5(a)(i)
through 6.5(a)(iv), inclusive, any such conveyances, sales, leases, assignments,
transfers or other disposals, the aggregate amount of which for any fiscal year
does not exceed 5% of the Borrower's Consolidated Shareholders' Equity as at the
end of the immediately preceding fiscal year.

                  6.6 Limitations on Acquisitions. Purchase, hold or acquire
beneficially any stock, other securities or evidences of indebtedness of, or
make or permit any investment or acquire any interest whatsoever in, any other
Person, except for Permitted Acquisitions.

                  6.7 Limitation on Distributions and Investments. (a) At any
time make (or incur any liability to make) or pay any Distribution in respect of
the Borrower (other than a Distribution payable to the Parent Company);
provided, however, that as of the declaration date of any such Distribution and
after giving effect to the declaration or payment of any such Distribution no
Default or Event of Default would exist; or

                      (b) Make any Investments other than Permitted Investments.

                  6.8 Transactions with Affiliates. Except as expressly
permitted in this Agreement, directly or indirectly enter into any transaction
or arrangement whatsoever or make any payment to or otherwise deal with any
Affiliate, except, as to all of the foregoing in the ordinary course of and
pursuant to the reasonable requirements of the Borrower's business and upon fair
and reasonable terms no less favorable to the Borrower than would be obtained in
a comparable arm's length transaction with a Person not an Affiliate of the
Borrower.

                  6.9 Sale and Leaseback. Except if reasonably contemporaneous
with the Borrower's purchase, enter into any arrangement with any Person
providing for the leasing by the Borrower of real or personal property which has
been or is to be sold or transferred by such Borrower to such Person or to any
other Person to whom funds have been or are to be advanced by such Person on the
security of such property or rental obligations of such Borrower.

                  6.10 Fiscal Year. Permit its Fiscal Year to end on a day other
than December 31.

                  6.11 Continuation of or Change in Business. Discontinue any
substantial part, or change the nature of, the existing business activities of
the Borrower, or engage in any business either directly or through any
Subsidiary except for businesses in which the Borrower is engaged on the date of
this Agreement and any business activities directly related, similar or
incidental or ancillary to such existing businesses.

                                       46
<PAGE>

                           SECTION 7 EVENTS OF DEFAULT

                  7.1 Events of Default If any of the following events shall
occur and be continuing:

                      (a) The Borrower shall fail to pay when due any principal
of any Note, or shall fail to pay within five (5) days after the date when due
any interest, Fees or other amount payable hereunder; or

                      (b) Any representation or warranty made or deemed made by
the Borrower or any Guarantor herein or in any other Loan Document or which is
contained in any certificate, document or financial or other statement furnished
at any time under or in connection with this Agreement shall prove to have been
incorrect in any material respect on or as of the date made or deemed made; or

                      (c) The Borrower shall default in the observance or
performance of any agreement contained in Section 6; or

                      (d) The Borrower or any Guarantor shall default in the
observance or performance of any other agreement contained in this Agreement
(other than as provided in paragraphs (a), (b) or (c) of this Section 7.1) or
any other Loan Document, and such default shall continue unremedied for a period
of thirty (30) days after notice of such default is given by the Agent; or

                      (e) One or more judgments or decrees shall be entered
against the Borrower or any Guarantor involving in the aggregate a liability
(not paid or fully covered by insurance) of $1,000,000 or more and all such
judgments or decrees shall not have been vacated, discharged, settled, satisfied
or paid, or stayed or bonded pending appeal, within thirty (30) days from the
entry thereof; or

                      (f) The Borrower shall (i) default in the payment of any
amount due under any Debt of the Borrower in excess of $1,000,000 in the
aggregate (other than the Notes), beyond the period of grace, if any, provided
in the instrument or agreement under which such Debt was created; or (ii)
default in the observance or performance of any other agreement contained in any
such Debt or in any instrument or agreement evidencing, securing or relating
thereto beyond any applicable notice and grace period, or any other event shall
occur the effect of which default or other event is to cause, or to permit the
holder or holders or beneficiary or beneficiaries of such Debt (or a trustee or
agent on behalf of such holder or holders or beneficiary or beneficiaries) to
cause such Debt to become due and payable prior to its stated maturity or any
such Debt is declared to be due and payable prior to its stated maturity unless
such default, event or declaration referred to in this subparagraph (ii) is
waived or cured to the satisfaction of such other party as demonstrated to the
satisfaction of the Agent by the Borrower prior to the Agent taking any action
under Section 7.2 in respect of such occurrence; or

                                       47
<PAGE>

                      (g) (i) The Borrower or any Guarantor shall commence any
case, proceeding or other action (A) under any existing or future law of any
jurisdiction, domestic or foreign, relating to bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization or relief of debtors, seeking to have an order for relief entered
with respect to it, or seeking to adjudicate it a bankrupt or insolvent, or
seeking reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, winding-up, liquidation,
dissolution, composition or other relief with respect to it or its debts, or (B)
seeking appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian or other similar official
for it or for all or any substantial part of its assets, or the Borrower or any
Guarantor shall make a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors; or
(ii) there shall be commenced against the Borrower or any Guarantor any case,
proceeding or other action of a nature referred to in clause (i) above which (A)
results in the entry of an order for relief or any such adjudication or
appointment or (B) remains undismissed, undischarged or unbonded for a period of
sixty (60) days; or (iii) there shall be commenced against the Borrower or any
Guarantor any case, proceeding or other action seeking issuance of a warrant of
attachment, execution, distraint or similar process on a claim in excess of
$1,000,000 against all or any substantial part of its assets which results in
the entry of an order for any such relief which shall not have been vacated,
discharged, or stayed or bonded pending appeal within sixty (60) days from the
entry thereof; or (iv) the Borrower or any Guarantor shall take any action in
furtherance of, or indicating its consent to, approval of, or acquiescence in,
any of the acts set forth in clause (i), (ii), or (iii) above; or (v) the
Borrower or any Guarantor shall generally not, or shall be unable to, or shall
admit in writing its inability to, pay its debts as they become due; or

                      (h) (i) Any Person shall engage in any "prohibited
transaction" (as defined in Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code)
involving any Plan, (ii) any "accumulated funding deficiency" (as defined in
Section 302 of ERISA), whether or not waived, shall exist with respect to any
Plan, (iii) a Reportable Event shall occur with respect to, or proceedings shall
commence to have a trustee appointed, or a trustee shall be appointed, to
administer or to terminate, any Single Employer Plan, which Reportable Event or
institution of proceedings is, in the reasonable opinion of the Required Banks,
likely to result in the termination by action of the PBGC or any court of such
Plan for purposes of Title IV of ERISA, or (iv) any Single Employer Plan shall
terminate for purposes of Title IV of ERISA; and in each case in clauses (i)
through (iv) above, such event or condition, together with all other such events
or conditions, if any would have a Material Adverse Effect; or

                                       48
<PAGE>

                      (i) Any change in control of the Borrower shall occur (as
used herein, the term "change in control" means either (A) any change in
ownership of any class of stock or capital stock generally of the Borrower which
would result in a change or transfer in the power to control the election of a
majority of the board of directors or in other indicia of majority voting
control to persons or entities other than those persons who have such majority
voting control on the Closing Date or (B) a decrease in such persons' right to
vote at shareholders' meetings to an aggregate level less than 51%); or

                      (j) Any of the Loan Documents shall cease to be legal,
valid and binding agreements enforceable against the party executing the same or
such party's successors and assigns (as permitted under the Loan Documents) in
accordance with the respective terms thereof or shall in any way be terminated
(except in accordance with its terms) or become or be declared ineffective or
inoperative or shall in any way be challenged and thereby deprive or deny the
Banks and the Agent the intended benefits thereof or they shall thereby cease
substantially to have the rights, titles, interests, remedies, powers or
privileges intended to be created thereby; or

                      (k) A notice of lien or assessment in excess of $1,000,000
is filed of record with respect to all or any part of the Borrower's or any
Guarantor's assets having a value of at least that amount by the United States,
or any department, agency or instrumentality thereof, or by any state, county,
municipal, or other governmental agency, including, without limitation, the
PBGC, becomes payable and the same is not paid, vacated, bonded or stayed
pending appeal within thirty (30) days after the same becomes payable; or

                      (l) The Borrower ceases to be Solvent; or

                      (m) Except as otherwise permitted in this Agreement, the
Borrower ceases to conduct its business as contemplated or the Borrower is
enjoined, restrained or in any way prevented by court order from conducting all
or any material part of its business so as to cause or result in a Material
Adverse Effect, and such injunction, restraint or other preventive order is not
dismissed within thirty (30) days after the entry thereof.

                  7.2 Remedies (a) If an Event of Default specified under
subsections 7.1 (a) through (f) or (h) through (m) shall occur and be
continuing, the Banks shall be under no further obligation to make Loans
hereunder, and the Agent upon the request of the Required Banks shall by written
notice to the Borrower, terminate the Commitments and the Swing Line Commitment
and/or declare the unpaid principal amount of the Notes then outstanding and all
interest accrued thereon, any unpaid fees and all other obligations of the
Borrower to the Banks hereunder and thereunder to be forthwith due and payable,
and the same shall thereupon become and be immediately due and payable to the
Agent for the benefit of each Bank without presentment, demand, protest or any
other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived.

                                       49
<PAGE>

                      (b) If an Event of Default specified under subsections
7.1(g) hereof shall occur, the Commitments and the Swing Line Commitment shall
immediately terminate and the Banks shall be under no further obligations to
make Loans hereunder, and the unpaid principal amount of the Notes then
outstanding and all interest accrued thereon, any unpaid fees and all other
obligations of the Borrower to the Banks hereunder and thereunder shall be
immediately due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or notice of
any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived.

                      (c) If an Event of Default shall occur and be continuing,
any Bank to whom any obligation is owed by the Borrower hereunder or under any
other Loan Document or any participant of such Bank which has agreed in writing
to be bound by the provisions of Section 9.6 hereof and any branch, subsidiary
or Affiliate of such Bank or Participant shall have the right, in addition to
all other rights and remedies available to it, without notice to the Borrower,
to set-off against and apply to the then unpaid balance of all the Loans and all
other obligations of the Borrower hereunder or under any other Loan Document any
debt owing to, and any other funds held in any manner for the account of, the
Borrower by such Bank or participant or by such branch, Subsidiary or Affiliate,
including, without limitation, all funds in all deposit accounts (whether time
or demand, general or special, provisionally credited or finally credited, or
otherwise) now or hereafter maintained by the Borrower for its own account (but
not including funds held in custodian or trust accounts or other accounts
established solely for the benefit of parties other than the Borrower) with such
Bank or Participant or such branch, Subsidiary or Affiliate. Such right shall
exist whether or not any Bank or the Agent shall have made any demand under this
Agreement or any other Loan Document, whether or not such debt owing to or funds
held for the account of the Borrower is or are matured or unmatured and
regardless of the existence or adequacy of any collateral, guaranty or any other
security, right or remedy available to any Bank or the Agent.

                      (d) Notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary
or in the other Loan Documents, any proceeds received by the Agent from any
payment made by the Borrower under this Agreement or the other Loan Documents
after the Commitments and the Swing Line Commitment have been terminated, or
received by the Agent from the foreclosure, sale, lease, collection upon,
realization of or other disposition of any collateral which may have been
provided to the Agent for the obligations of the Borrower hereunder after the
Commitments and the Swing Line Commitment have been terminated (including
without limitation insurance proceeds), shall be applied by the Agent as
follows, unless otherwise agreed by all the Banks:

                          (i) first, to reimburse the Agent for out-of-pocket
costs, expenses and disbursements, including without limitation reasonable
attorneys' fees and legal expenses, incurred by the Agent in connection with
collection of any obligations of the Borrower under any of the Loan Documents;

                          (ii) second, to accrued and unpaid interest on the
Loans;

                          (iii) third, to the principal amount of the Loans then
outstanding;

                                       50
<PAGE>

                          (iv) fourth, to fees payable under this Agreement or
any of the other Loan Documents (ratably according to the respective amounts
then outstanding);

                          (v) fifth, to the repayment of all other indebtedness
then due and unpaid of the Borrower to the Banks incurred under this Agreement
or any of the other Loan Documents, whether of principal, interest, fees,
expenses or otherwise (ratably according to the respective amounts then
outstanding); and

                          (vi) the balance, if any, as required by law.

                      (e) Each Bank agrees that (i) if at any time it shall
receive the proceeds of any collateral or any proceeds thereof or (ii) if after
the Commitments and the Swing Line Commitment have been terminated it shall
receive any payment on account of the Loans or any other amounts owing hereunder
or under the other Loan Documents, under an Interest Rate Protection Agreement
(in either case other than through application by the Agent in accordance with
subsection 7.2(d)), it shall promptly turn the same over to the Agent for
application in accordance with the terms of subsection 7.2(d).

                      (f) In addition to the other rights and remedies contained
in this Agreement or in the other Loan Documents, the Loans shall, at the
Required Banks' option, bear the interest rates provided in Section 2.7 hereof.

                      (g) In addition to all of the rights and remedies
contained in this Agreement or in any of the other Loan Documents, the Agent
shall have all of the rights and remedies under applicable Law, all of which
rights and remedies shall be cumulative and non-exclusive, to the extent
permitted by Law. The Agent may, and upon the request of the Required Banks
shall, exercise all post-default rights granted to it and the Banks under the
Loan Documents or applicable Law.

                              SECTION 8. THE AGENT

                  8.1 Appointment Each Bank hereby irrevocably designates and
appoints PNC as the Agent of such Bank under this Agreement. Each such Bank
irrevocably authorizes the Agent, as the agent for such Bank to take such action
on its behalf under the provisions of this Agreement and to exercise such powers
and perform such duties as are expressly delegated to the Agent by the terms of
this Agreement, together with such other powers as are reasonably incidental
thereto. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary elsewhere in this
Agreement, the Agent shall not have any duties or responsibilities, except those
expressly set forth herein, or any fiduciary relationship with any Bank, and no
implied covenants, functions, responsibilities, duties, obligations or
liabilities shall be read into this Agreement or otherwise exist against the
Agent. The Agent agrees to act as the Agent on behalf of the Banks to the extent
provided in this Agreement.

                                       51
<PAGE>

                  8.2 Delegation of Duties The Agent may execute any of its
duties under this Agreement by or through agents or attorneys-in-fact and shall
be entitled to engage and pay for the advice and services of counsel concerning
all matters pertaining to such duties. The Agent shall not be responsible to the
Banks for the negligence or misconduct of any agents or attorneys in-fact
selected by it with reasonable care.

                  8.3 Exculpatory Provisions Neither the Agent nor any of its
officers, directors, employees, agents, attorneys-in-fact or Affiliates shall be
(i) liable for any action lawfully taken or omitted to be taken by them or such
Person under or in connection with this Agreement (except for their or such
Person's own gross negligence or willful misconduct) or (ii) responsible in any
manner to any of the Banks for any recitals, statements, representations or
warranties made by the Borrower or any officer thereof contained in this
Agreement or in any certificate, report, statement or other document referred to
or provided for in, or received by the Agent under or in connection with, this
Agreement or for the value, validity, effectiveness, genuineness, enforceability
or sufficiency of this Agreement, the Notes or the other Loan Documents or for
any failure of the Borrower to perform its obligations hereunder or thereunder.
The Agent shall not be under any obligation to any Bank to ascertain or to
inquire as to the observance or performance of any of the agreements contained
in, or conditions of, this Agreement or the other Loan Documents, or to inspect
the properties, books or records of the Borrower.

                  8.4 Reliance by Agent The Agent shall be entitled to rely, and
shall be fully protected in relying, upon any Note, writing, resolution, notice,
consent, certificate, affidavit, letter, cablegram, telegram, telecopy, telex or
teletype message, statement, order or other document or conversation believed by
it to be genuine and correct and to have been signed, sent or made by the proper
Person or Persons and upon advice and statements of legal counsel (including,
without limitation, counsel to the Borrower), independent accountants and other
experts selected by the Agent. The Agent may deem and treat the payee of any
Note as the owner thereof for all purposes unless a written notice of
assignment, negotiation or transfer thereof shall have been filed with the
Agent. The Agent shall be fully justified in failing or refusing to take any
action under this Agreement unless it shall first receive such advice or
concurrence of the Required Banks as they deem appropriate or they shall first
be indemnified to its satisfaction by the Banks against any and all liability
and expense which may be incurred by it by reason of taking or continuing to
take any such action. The Agent shall in all cases be fully protected in acting,
or in refraining from acting, under this Agreement, the Notes and the other Loan
Documents in accordance with a request of the Required Banks, and such request
and any action taken or failure to act pursuant thereto shall be binding upon
all the Banks and all future holders of the Notes.

                                       52
<PAGE>

                  8.5 Notice of Default The Agent shall not be deemed to have
knowledge or notice of the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default
hereunder unless they have received notice from a Bank or the Borrower referring
to this Agreement, describing such Default or Event of Default and stating that
such notice is a "notice of default". In the event that the Agent receives such
a notice, the Agent shall give notice thereof to the Banks. The Agent shall take
such action with respect to such Default or Event of Default as shall be
reasonably directed by the Required Banks; provided that unless and until the
Agent shall have received such directions, the Agent may (but shall not be
obligated to) take such action, or refrain from taking such action, with respect
to such Default or Event of Default as it shall deem advisable in the best
interests of the Banks.

                  8.6 Non-Reliance on Agent and Other Banks Each Bank expressly
acknowledges that neither the Agent nor any of its officers, directors,
employees, agents, attorneys-in-fact or Affiliates has made any representations
or warranties to it and that no act by the Agent hereinafter taken, including
any review of the affairs of the Borrower, shall be deemed to constitute any
representation or warranty by the Agent to any Bank. Each Bank represents to the
Agent that it has, independently and without reliance upon the Agent or any
other Bank, and based on such documents and information as it has deemed
appropriate, made its own appraisal of and investigation into the business,
operations, property, financial and other condition and creditworthiness of the
Borrower and made its own decision to make its Loans hereunder and enter into
this Agreement. Each Bank also represents that it will, independently and
without reliance upon the Agent or any other Bank, and based on such documents
and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its
own credit analysis, appraisals and decisions in taking or not taking action
under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, and to make such
investigation as it deems necessary to inform itself as to the business,
operations, property, financial and other condition and creditworthiness of the
Borrower. Except for notices, reports and other documents expressly required to
be furnished to the Banks by the Agent hereunder, the Agent shall not have any
duty or responsibility to provide any Bank with any credit or other information
concerning the business, operations, property, condition (financial or
otherwise), prospects or creditworthiness of the Borrower which may come into
the possession of the Agent or any of its officers, directors, employees,
agents, attorneys-in-fact or Affiliates.

                  8.7 Indemnification The Banks agree to indemnify the Agent in
its capacity as such (to the extent not reimbursed by the Borrower and without
limiting the obligation of the Borrower to do so), ratably according to their
respective Commitment Percentages, from and against any and all liabilities,
obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs,
expenses or disbursements of any kind whatsoever which may at any time
(including, without limitation, at any time following the payment of the Notes)
be imposed on, incurred by or asserted against the Agent in any way relating to
or arising out of this Agreement, the other Loan Documents, or any documents
contemplated by or referred to herein or therein or the transactions
contemplated hereby or thereby or any action taken or omitted by the Agent under
or in connection with any of the foregoing; provided that no Bank shall be
liable for the payment of any portion of such liabilities, obligations, losses,
damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements
resulting solely from the Agent's gross negligence or willful misconduct. The
agreements in this Section 8.7 shall survive the payment of the Notes and all
other amounts payable hereunder.

                                       53
<PAGE>

                  8.8 Agent in its Individual Capacity. The Agent and its
Affiliates may make loans to, accept deposits from and generally engage in any
kind of business with the Borrower as though it was not the Agent hereunder.
With respect to its Loans made or renewed by it and any Note issued to it, the
Agent shall have the same rights and powers under this Agreement as any Bank and
may exercise the same as though it were not the Agent, and the terms "Bank" and
"Banks" shall include the Agent in its individual capacity.

                  8.9 Successor Agent The Agent may resign as Agent upon sixty
(60) days' notice to the Banks and the Borrower. If such Agent shall resign as
Agent under this Agreement, then the Required Banks shall appoint from among the
Banks a successor agent for the Banks, which appointment shall be subject to the
approval of the Borrower (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld),
whereupon such successor agent shall succeed to the rights, powers and duties of
an Agent, and the term "Agent" shall mean such successor agent effective upon
its appointment, and the former Agent's rights, powers and duties as Agent shall
be terminated, without any other or further act or deed on the part of such
former Agent or any of the parties to this Agreement or any holders of the
Notes. After any retiring Agent's resignation as Agent, the provisions of this
Section 8.9 shall inure to its benefit as to any actions taken or omitted to be
taken by it while it was Agent under this Agreement.

                  8.10 Beneficiaries Except as expressly provided herein, the
provisions of this Section 8 are solely for the benefit of the Agent and the
Banks, and the Borrower shall not have any rights to rely on or enforce any of
the provisions hereof. In performing their functions and duties under this
Agreement the Agent shall act solely as agent of the Banks and does not assume
and shall not be deemed to have assumed any obligation toward or relationship of
agency or trust with or for the Borrower.

                            SECTION 9. MISCELLANEOUS

                  9.1 Amendments and Waivers. Neither this Agreement, any Note
or any other Loan Document, nor any terms hereof of thereof may be amended,
supplemented or modified except in accordance with the provisions of this
subsection. With the written consent of the Required Banks, the Agent and the
Borrower may, from time to time, enter into written amendments, supplements or
modifications hereto and to the Notes and the other Loan Documents for the
purpose of adding any provisions to this Agreement or the Notes or the other
Loan Documents or changing in any manner the rights of the Banks or of the
Borrower hereunder or thereunder or waiving, on such terms and conditions as the
Agent may specify in such instrument, any of the requirements of this Agreement
or the Notes or the other Loan Documents or any Default or Event of Default and
its consequences; provided, however, that no such waiver and no such amendment,
supplement or modification shall directly or indirectly (a) reduce the amount or
extend the maturity of any Note or any installment thereof, or reduce the rate
or extend the time of payment of interest thereon, or reduce any Fees payable to
any Bank hereunder, or change the duration or amount of any Bank's Commitment,
in each case

                                       54
<PAGE>

without the consent of the Bank affected thereby or (b) amend, modify or waive
any provision of this Section 9.1 or reduce the percentages specified in the
definition of Required Banks or consent to the assignment or transfer by the
Borrower of any of its rights and obligations under this Agreement, the Notes
and the other Loan Documents, in each case without the written consent of all
the Banks, (c) amend, modify or waive any provision of Section 2.2 without the
written consent of the then Swing Line Bank or (d) amend, modify or waive any
provision of Section 8 without the written consent of the then Agent. Any such
waiver and any such amendment, supplement or modification shall apply equally to
each of the Banks and shall be binding upon the Borrower, the Banks, the Agent
and all future holders of the Notes. In the case of any waiver, the Borrower,
the Banks and the Agent shall be restored to their former position and rights
hereunder and under the outstanding Notes, and any Default or Event of Default
waived shall be deemed to be cured and not continuing; but no such waiver shall
extend to any subsequent or other Default or Event of Default, or impair any
right consequent thereon.

                  9.2 Notices. All notices, requests and demands to or upon the
respective parties hereto to be effective shall be in writing (including
electronic transmission, facsimile transmission or posting on a secured web
site), and, unless otherwise expressly provided herein, shall be deemed to have
been duly given or made when delivered by hand, or three days after being
deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, or, in the case of facsimile
transmission notice, when sent during normal business hours with electronic
confirmation or otherwise when received, or in the case of electronic
transmission, when received and in the case of posting on a secured web site,
upon receipt of (i) notice of such posting and (ii) rights to access such web
site, addressed as follows in the case of the Borrower and the Agent, and as set
forth in Schedule I in the case of the other parties hereto, or to such other
address as may be hereafter notified by the respective parties hereto and any
future holders of the Notes:

         the Borrower:      Philadelphia Suburban Water Company
                            762 W. Lancaster Avenue
                            Bryn Mawr, PA 19010-3489
                            Attention: Kathy L. Pape,
                                       Vice President and Treasurer

                            Facsimile: (610) 645-1141

         with a copy to:    Philadelphia Suburban Water Company
                            762 West Lancaster Avenue
                            Bryn Mawr, PA 19010
                            Attention: Roy H. Stahl
                                       Senior Vice President - Law and
                                       Administration
                                       (provided that failure to send a copy of
                                       any notice to said counsel shall in no
                                       way affect, limit or invalidate any
                                       notice sent to the Borrower or the
                                       exercise of any of the Banks' or the
                                       Agent's rights or remedies pursuant to a
                                       notice sent to the Borrower.)

                                       55
<PAGE>

         The Agent or the   PNC Bank, National Association
         Swing Line Bank:   1000 Westlakes Drive, Suite 200
                            Berwyn, PA 19312
                            Attention: Frank A. Pugliese

                            Facsimile: (610) 725-5799

                                       and

                            PNC Agency Services
                            One PNC Plaza
                            249 Fifth Avenue
                            22nd Floor
                            Pittsburgh, PA 15222
                            Attention: Arlene Ohler

                            Facsimile: (412) 762-8672

provided that any notice, request or demand to or upon the Agent, the Swing Line
Bank or the Banks pursuant to Sections 2.1, 2.2, 2.8 or 2.9 shall not be
effective until received.

                  9.3 No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies No failure to exercise and
no delay in exercising, on the part of the Agent or any Bank, any right, remedy,
power or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any
single or partial exercise of any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder
preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other
right, remedy, power or privilege. The rights, remedies, powers and privileges
herein provided are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights, remedies, powers
and privileges provided by law.

                  9.4 Survival of Representations and Warranties All
representations and warranties made hereunder and in any document, certificate
or statement delivered pursuant hereto or in connection herewith shall survive
the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Notes and the other Loan
Documents.

                                       56
<PAGE>

                  9.5 Payment of Expenses and Taxes. The Borrower agrees (a) to
pay or reimburse the Agent for all of its reasonable out-of-pocket costs and
expenses incurred in connection with any amendment, supplement or modification
to this Agreement, the Notes, the other Loan Documents and any other documents
prepared in connection therewith, including, without limitation, the reasonable
fees and disbursements of counsel to the Agent (which counsel may or may not
include employees of the Agent), (b) to pay or reimburse each Bank and the Agent
for all of their costs and expenses incurred in connection with the enforcement
or preservation of any rights under this Agreement, the other Loan Documents and
any such other documents, including, without limitation, reasonable fees and
disbursements of counsel to the Agent (which counsel may or may not include
employees of the Agent) and to the several Banks, and (c) to pay, indemnify, and
hold each Bank and the Agent harmless from, any and all recording and filing
fees and any and all liabilities with respect to, or resulting from any delay in
paying, stamp, excise and other similar taxes, if any (other than Taxes
expressly excluded from the definition of Taxes in Section 2.12 and Taxes for
which the Borrower has no liability under subsection 2.12(c)) which may be
payable or determined to be payable in connection with the execution and
delivery of, or consummation of any of the transactions contemplated by, or any
amendment, supplement or modification of, or any waiver or consent under or in
respect of, this Agreement, the Notes, the other Loan Documents, and any such
other documents, and (d) to pay, indemnify, and hold each Bank and the Agent
harmless from and against any and all other liabilities, obligations, losses,
damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements
of any kind or nature whatsoever with respect to the execution, delivery,
enforcement, and, incident to a Default or Event of Default, the performance and
administration, of this Agreement, the Notes, the other Loan Documents and any
such other documents or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby or any
action taken or omitted under or in connection with any of the foregoing (all
the foregoing, collectively, the "indemnified liabilities"), provided, that the
Borrower shall have no obligation hereunder to the Agent or any Bank with
respect to indemnified liabilities arising from the gross negligence or willful
misconduct of the Agent or any such Bank. The Borrower shall be given notice of
any claim for indemnified liabilities and shall be afforded a reasonable
opportunity to participate in the defense, compromise or settlement thereof. The
agreements in this subsection shall survive repayment of the Notes and all other
amounts payable hereunder.

                  9.6 Successors and Assigns (a) Whenever in this Agreement any
of the parties hereto is referred to, such reference shall be deemed to include
the successors and assigns of such party, and all covenants, promises and
agreements by or on behalf of the Borrower, the Agent or the Banks that are
contained in this Agreement shall bind and inure to the benefit of their
respective successors and assigns. The Borrower may not assign or transfer any
of its rights or obligations under this Agreement or the other Loan Documents
without the prior written consent of each Bank.

                                       57
<PAGE>

                      (b) Each Bank may, in accordance with applicable law,
assign to all or a portion of its interests, rights and obligations under this
Agreement and the other Loan Documents (including all or a portion of its
Commitment or the Swing Line Commitment, and the Loans at the time owing to it
and the Notes held by it); provided, however, that (i) each such assignment
shall be to a Bank or Affiliate thereof, or, with the consent of the Agent and,
prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default, of the Borrower (which consent
shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed) to one or more banks or other
financial institutions, (ii) so long as the Commitments are in effect, the
amount of each such assignment (determined as of the date the Assignment and
Acceptance with respect to such assignment is delivered to the Agent) shall not
be less than $5,000,000, (iii) the parties to each such assignment shall execute
and deliver to the Agent an Assignment and Acceptance, together with the Note or
Notes subject to such assignment and a processing and recordation fee of $3,500
(except in the case of an assignment by any Bank to one of its Affiliates), (iv)
any assignment of the Swing Line Commitment may be made only to a Bank which
holds a Commitment hereunder and must be of the entire Swing Line Commitment and
(v) each such assignment of Revolving Credit Loans and all or any portion of a
Bank's Commitment shall be of a constant, and not a varying, percentage of the
assigning Bank's Commitment and Revolving Credit Loans then outstanding. Upon
acceptance and recording pursuant to paragraph (d) of this Section 9.6, from and
after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Acceptance, which
effective date shall be at least five Business Days after the execution thereof,
(A) the assignee thereunder shall be a party hereto and, to the extent of the
interest assigned by such Assignment and Acceptance, have the rights and
obligations of a Bank under this Agreement and (B) the assigning Bank thereunder
shall, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Acceptance,
be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an
Assignment and Acceptance covering all or the remaining portion of an assigning
Bank's rights and obligations under this Agreement, such Bank shall cease to be
a party hereto but shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of Sections
2.11, 2.12, 2.13 and 9.5 (to the extent that such Bank's entitlement to such
benefits arose out of such Bank's position as a Bank prior to the applicable
assignment)). Notwithstanding any provision of this subsection 9.6, after the
Commitments and the Swing Line Commitments have been terminated, any Bank may
assign all or any portion of its interests, rights and obligations under this
Agreement and the other Loan Documents to any Person (whether or not an entity
described in clause (i) above).

                      (c) By executing and delivering an Assignment and
Acceptance, the assigning Bank thereunder and the assignee thereunder shall be
deemed to confirm to and agree with each other and the other parties hereto as
follows: (i) such assigning Bank warrants that it is the legal and beneficial
owner of the interest being assigned thereby, free and clear of any adverse
claim, and that its Commitment and/or the Swing Line Commitment, as the case may
be, and the outstanding balances of its Loans, in each case without giving
effect to assignments thereof which have not become effective, are as set forth
in such Assignment and Acceptance, (ii) except as set forth in (i) above, such
assigning Bank makes no representation or warranty and assumes no responsibility
with respect to any statements, warranties or representations made in or in
connection with this Agreement or the other Loan Documents, or the execution,
legality, validity, enforceability, genuineness, sufficiency or value of this
Agreement or the other Loan Documents, or any other instrument or document
furnished pursuant hereto or thereto, or the financial condition of the Borrower
or the performance or observance by the Borrower of any of its obligations under
this Agreement or any other instrument or document furnished pursuant hereto;
(iii) such assignee represents and warrants that it is legally authorized to
enter into such

                                       58
<PAGE>

Assignment and Acceptance; (iv) such assignee confirms that it has received a
copy of this Agreement, together with copies of the most recent financial
statements delivered pursuant to Section 5.1 and such other documents and
information as it has deemed appropriate to make its own credit analysis and
decision to enter into such Assignment and Acceptance; (v) such assignee will
independently and without reliance upon the Agent, such assigning Bank or any
other Bank and based on such documents and information as it shall deem
appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit decisions in taking or
not taking action under this Agreement; (vi) such assignee appoints and
authorizes the Agent to take such action as agent on its behalf and to exercise
such powers under this Agreement as are delegated to the Agent by the terms
hereof, together with such powers as are reasonably incidental thereto; and
(vii) such assignee agrees that it will perform in accordance with their terms
all the obligations which by the terms of this Agreement are required to be
performed by it as a Bank.

                      (d) The Agent shall maintain at its offices in
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania a copy of each Assignment and Acceptance and the
names and addresses of the Banks, and the Commitment and/or the Swing Line
Commitment of, and principal amount of the Loans owing to, each Bank pursuant to
the terms hereof from time to time (the "Register"). The entries in the Register
shall be conclusive in the absence of error and the Borrower, the Agent and the
Banks may treat each person whose name is recorded in the Register pursuant to
the terms hereof as a Bank hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement. The
Register shall be available for inspection by the Borrower and any Bank, at any
reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice.

                      (e) Upon its receipt of a duly completed Assignment and
Acceptance executed by an assigning Bank and an assignee together with the Note
or Notes subject to such assignment, the processing and recordation fee referred
to in paragraph (b) above, the Agent shall (i) accept such Assignment and
Acceptance, (ii) record the information contained therein in the Register and
(iii) give prompt notice thereof to the Banks. Within five Business Days after
receipt of notice, the Borrower, at its own expense, shall execute and deliver
to the Agent, in exchange for the surrendered original Note(s), (x) a new
Revolving Credit Note to the order of such assignee in an amount equal to the
portion of the Commitment assumed by it pursuant to such Assignment and
Acceptance and, if applicable, a new Swing Line Note to the order of such
assignee in an amount equal to the Swing Line Commitment and, (y) if the
assigning Bank has retained a Commitment, a new Revolving Credit Note to the
order of such assigning Bank in a principal amount equal to the applicable
Commitment retained by it. Such new Notes shall be in an aggregate principal
amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of such surrendered Notes; such
new Notes shall be dated the date of the surrendered Notes which they replace
and shall otherwise be in substantially the form of Exhibit B-1 or Exhibit B-2
hereto, as appropriate. Canceled Notes shall be returned to the Borrower.

                                       59
<PAGE>

                      (f) Each Bank may without the consent of the Borrower or
the Agent sell participations to one or more banks or other entities (each a
"Participant") in all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this
Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment or Swing Line Commitment
and the Loans owing to it and the Notes held by it); provided, however, that (i)
such Bank's obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged, (ii) such
Bank shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the
performance of such obligations, (iii) such Bank shall remain the holder of any
such Note for all purposes under this Agreement, (iv) the Borrower, the Agent
and the other Banks shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Bank in
connection with such Bank's rights and obligations under this Agreement, (v) in
any proceeding under the Bankruptcy Code such Bank shall be, to the extent
permitted by law, the sole representative with respect to the obligations held
in the name of such Bank whether for its own account or for the account of any
Participant and (vi) such Bank shall retain the sole right to enforce the
obligations of the Borrower relating to the Loans and to approve any amendment,
modification or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or the Note or Notes
held by such Bank other than any such amendment, modification or waiver with
respect to any Loan or Commitment in which such Participant has an interest and
which is described in subsection 9.1(a) hereof.

                      (g) If amounts outstanding under this Agreement and the
Notes are due or unpaid, or shall have been declared or shall have become due
and payable upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, each Participant shall
be deemed to have the right of set-off in respect of its participating interest
in amounts owing under this Agreement and any Note to the same extent as if the
amount of its participating interest were owing directly to it as a Bank under
this Agreement or any Note, provided that in purchasing such participation such
Participant shall be deemed to have agreed to share with the Banks the proceeds
thereof as provided in Section 9.8. The Borrower also agree that each
Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 2.11, 2.12, 2.13 and
9.5 with respect to its participation in the Commitments and the Loans
outstanding from time to time; provided, that no Participant shall be entitled
to receive any greater amount pursuant to such Sections than the Bank selling
the participation would have been entitled to receive in respect of the amount
of the participation transferred by such Bank to such Participant had no such
transfer occurred.

                      (h) If any Participant is organized under the laws of any
jurisdiction other than the United States or any state thereof, the Bank selling
the participation, concurrently with the sale of a participating interest to
such Participant, shall cause such Participant (i) to represent to the Bank
selling the participation (for the benefit of such Bank, the other Banks, the
Agent and the Borrower) that under applicable law and treaties no taxes will be
required to be withheld by the Agent, the Borrower or the Bank selling the
participation with respect to any payments to be made to such Participant in
respect of its participation in the Loans and (ii) to agree (for the benefit of
such Bank, the other Banks, the Agent and Borrower) that it will deliver the tax
forms and other documents required to be delivered pursuant to Section 2.12 and
comply from time to time with all applicable U.S. laws and regulations with
respect to withholding tax exemptions.

                                       60
<PAGE>

                      (i) Any Bank may at any time assign all or any portion of
its rights under this Agreement and the Notes issued to it to a Federal Reserve
Bank; provided that no such assignment shall release a Bank from any of its
obligations hereunder.

                  9.7 Confidentiality The Banks agree that they will maintain
all information and financial statements provided to them or otherwise obtained
by them with respect to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries confidential and that
they will not disclose the same or use it for any purposes; provided that
nothing herein shall prevent any Bank from disclosing any such information (a)
to the Agent or any other Bank, (b) to any prospective assignee or participant
in connection with any assignment or participation of Loans permitted by this
Agreement, (c) to its employees, directors, agents, attorneys, accountants and
other professional advisers, provided that any such person is advised by such
Bank that such information is subject to the confidentiality limitations of this
Section, (d) upon the request or demand of any Governmental Authority having
jurisdiction over such Bank, (e) in response to any order of any court or other
Governmental Authority or as may otherwise be required pursuant to any
Requirement of Law, provided that the Borrower has (unless prohibited by the
terms of any such order or requirement) been advised at least ten (10) days (or
if such is not possible or practicable, such lesser number of days as is
possible or practicable under the circumstances) prior to such disclosure of the
existence of such order or requirement, (f) which has been publicly disclosed
other than in breach of this Agreement, or (g) in connection with the exercise
of any remedy hereunder or under the Notes.

                  9.8 Adjustments; Set-off (a) If any Bank (a "benefitted Bank")
shall at any time receive any payment of all or part of its Loans, or interest
thereon, or receive any collateral in respect thereof (whether voluntarily or
involuntarily, by set-off, pursuant to events or proceedings of the nature
referred to in subsection 7(g), or otherwise), in a greater proportion than any
such payment to or collateral received by any other Bank, if any, in respect of
such other Bank's Loans, or interest thereon, being paid in respect of Loans
being repaid simultaneously therewith or Loans required hereby to be paid
proportionately such benefitted Bank shall purchase for cash from the other
Banks such portion of each such other Bank's Loan, or shall provide such other
Banks with the benefits of any such collateral, or the proceeds thereof, as
shall be necessary to cause such benefitted Bank to share the excess payment or
benefits of such collateral or proceeds ratably with each of the Banks;
provided, however, that if all or any portion of such excess payment or benefits
is thereafter recovered from such benefitted Bank, such purchase shall be
rescinded, and the purchase price and benefits returned, to the extent of such
recovery, but without interest. The Borrower agrees that each Bank so purchasing
a portion of another Bank's Loan may exercise all rights of payment (including,
without limitation, rights of set-off) with respect to such portion as fully as
if such Bank were the direct holder of such portion.

                                       61
<PAGE>

                      (b) In addition to any rights and remedies of the Banks
provided by law, upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, each Bank shall
have the right, without prior notice to the Borrower, any such notice being
expressly waived by the Borrower to the extent permitted by applicable law, upon
any amount becoming due and payable by the Borrower hereunder or under the Notes
(whether at the stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise) to set-off and
appropriate and apply against such amount any and all deposits (general or
special, time or demand, provisional or final), in any currency, and any other
credits, indebtedness or claims, in any currency, in each case whether direct or
indirect, absolute or contingent, matured or unmatured, at any time held or
owing by such Bank to or for the credit or the account of the Borrower. Each
Bank agrees promptly to notify the Borrower and the Agent after any such set-off
and application made by such Bank, that the failure to give such notice shall
not affect the validity of such set-off and application.

                  9.9 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed by one or
more of the parties to this Agreement on any number of separate counterparts,
and all of said counterparts taken together shall be deemed to constitute one
and the same instrument. A set of the copies of this Agreement signed by all the
parties shall be lodged with the Borrower and each of the Banks.

                  9.10 Severability. Any provision of this Agreement which is
prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction,
be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without
invalidating the remaining provisions hereof, and any such prohibition or
unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render
unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.

                  9.11 Integration This Agreement represents the agreement of
the Borrower, the Agent and the Banks with respect to the subject matter hereof,
and there are no promises, undertakings, representations or warranties by the
Agent or any Bank relative to subject matter hereof not expressly set forth or
referred to herein or in the Notes or the other Loan Documents.

                  9.12 GOVERNING LAW THIS AGREEMENT, THE NOTES AND THE OTHER
LOAN DOCUMENTS HAVE BEEN EXECUTED IN THE COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA AND SAID
DOCUMENT AND THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES UNDER THIS AGREEMENT, THE
NOTES AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED AND
INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA.

                  9.13 Submission To Jurisdiction; Waivers. The Borrower hereby
irrevocably and unconditionally:

                      (a) submits for itself and its property in any legal
action or proceeding relating to this Agreement, the Notes or the other Loan
Documents, or for recognition and enforcement of any judgement in respect
thereof, to the non-exclusive general jurisdiction of the Courts of the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania located in Montgomery and Philadelphia Counties,
the courts of the United States of America for the Eastern District of
Pennsylvania, and appellate courts from any thereof;

                                       62
<PAGE>

                      (b) consents that any such action or proceeding may be
brought in such courts and waives any objection that it may now or hereafter
have to the venue of any such action or proceeding in any such court or that
such action or proceeding was brought in an inconvenient court and agrees not to
plead or claim the same;

                      (c) agrees that service of process in any such action or
proceeding may be effected by mailing a copy thereof by registered or certified
mail (or any substantially similar form of mail), postage prepaid, to the
Borrower at the address set forth in Section 9.2 for the Borrower or at such
other address of which the Agent shall have been notified pursuant thereto; and

                      (d) agrees that nothing herein shall affect the right to
effect service of process in any other manner permitted by law or shall limit
the right to sue in any other jurisdiction.

                  9.14 Acknowledgments  The Borrower hereby acknowledges that:

                      (a) it has been advised by counsel in the negotiation,
execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Notes and the other Loan
Documents;

                      (b) neither the Agent nor any Bank has any fiduciary
relationship to the Borrower, and the relationship between the Agent and the
Banks, on one hand, and the Borrower, on the other hand, is solely that of
debtor and creditor; and

                      (c) no joint venture exists among the Banks or between the
Borrower and the Banks.

                  9.15 WAIVERS OF JURY TRIAL EACH OF THE BORROWER, THE AGENT AND
THE BANKS HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY
LEGAL ACTION OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT, THE NOTES OR THE OTHER
LOAN DOCUMENTS AND FOR ANY COUNTERCLAIM THEREIN.

                                       63
<PAGE>

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

                                     PHILADELPHIA SUBURBAN WATER COMPANY

                                     By: /s/  Kathy L. Pape
                                         -------------------------------
                                     Title: Vice President & Treasurer
                                            ----------------------------

                                     PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
                                     as Agent and as a Bank

                                     By: /s/  Frank A. Pugliese
                                         -------------------------------
                                     Title: Assistant Vice President
                                            ----------------------------

                                     FIRST UNION NATIONAL BANK

                                     By: /s/ Joey K. Dancy
                                         -------------------------------
                                     Title: Vice President
                                            ----------------------------

                                     MELLON BANK, N.A.

                                     By  /s/  Mark W.Torie
                                         -------------------------------
                                     Title: Vice President
                                            ----------------------------

                                       64
<PAGE>

                                   Schedule I

                         Bank and Commitment Information

                                                                   Swing Line
         Bank                                  Commitment          Commitment
         ----                                  ----------          ----------
PNC Bank, National Association                 $22,500,000         $2,000,000
1000 Westlakes Drive, Suite 200
Berwyn, PA 19312
Attention:   Frank A. Pugliese

First Union National Bank                      $15,000,000             N/A
One First Union Center
301 South College Street, TW-5
Charlotte, NC 28288-0735
Attention:   Michael Kolosowsky, Director

Mellon Bank, N.A.                              $12,500,000             N/A
610 W. Germantown Avenue
Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462
Attention:   Mark W. Torie

<PAGE>

                                  Schedule 3.6

                               Existing Litigation

None.

<PAGE>
                                  Schedule 3.10

                                  ERISA Matters

None.

<PAGE>
                                  Schedule 3.11

                              Regulatory Approvals

The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission regulates Borrower's issuance of
debt, the maturity date of which is one year or more from the date of execution.
(66 Pa. C.S.ss. 1901)

<PAGE>
                                  Schedule 3.13

                              Environmental Matters

A.       In its water treatment process, the Borrower uses chemicals, including
         chlorine, caustic soda and sodium chlorite, which are listed as
         hazardous substances. These chemicals are, in all materials respects,
         stored and used at the Borrower's plants and facilities in accordance
         with the Environmental Laws.

B.       The Borrower operates a central laboratory at its Bryn Mawr facility
         for analysis of drinking water samples. To perform required analyses,
         the Borrower maintains small quantities of solvents, reagents and
         chemical standards, some of which are listed as hazardous substances.
         These materials, in all material respects, are stored and used in
         compliance with the Environmental Laws.

<PAGE>

                                  Schedule 3.20

                            Interests in Partnerships

None.

<PAGE>
                                  Schedule 6.2

                                 Permitted Debt

A.       Credit facility with Mellon Bank, N.A. for up to $3,000,000 in Letters
         of Credit.

B.       $1,000,000 discretionary line of credit facility between Mellon Bank,
         N.A. and the Borrower.

C.       Deferred taxes as are deducted from the Borrower?s Rate Base in
         calculating its Revenue Requirement in setting rates before the
         Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission.

D.       Suretyship agreements which arise from the bonding requirements under
         the Pennsylvania Residual Waste Regulations relating to the future
         closure of landfills used to dispose of water treatment plant sludge.
         Additional surety bonds support various licenses, permits and
         condemnations.

E.       Agreements for the purchase of water are maintained with Chester Water
         Authority and Bucks County Water and Sewer Authority.

F.       In the normal course of business, after the Borrower performs
         excavation work in various highways in order to access water mains and
         other underground facilities, the Borrower is required by township and
         state permits to restore the excavated area.

G.       The Borrower leases motor vehicles and other equipment under operating
         leases that are noncancellable and expire on various dates through
         2003. The Borrower leases parcels of land on which its Media treatment
         plant and other facilities are situated and adjacent parcels that are
         used for watershed protection. The operating lease is noncancellable,
         expires in 2045, and contains certain renewal provisions. The lease is
         subject to an adjustment every five years based on changes in the
         Consumer Price Index.

                                  Schedule 6.3

                                 Existing Liens

A.       Indenture of Mortgage dated as of January 1, 1941 from the Borrower to
         Chase Manhattan Trust Company, National Association (successor to the
         Pennsylvania Company for Insurance on Lives and Granting Annuities), as
         amended and supplemented.

<PAGE>
                                    EXHIBIT A

                                     FORM OF
                                BORROWING REQUEST

PNC Bank, National Association
     as Agent for the
     Banks referred to below
PNC Agency Services
One PNC Plaza
249 Fifth Avenue
22nd Floor
Pittsburgh, PA 15222
Attention:  Arlene Ohler

                                           [Date]

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         The undersigned, Philadelphia Suburban Water Company (the "Borrower"),
refers to the Credit Agreement dated as of December __, 1999 (as amended,
modified, extended or restated from time to time, the "Agreement"), among the
Borrower, the Banks party thereto and PNC Bank, National Association as Agent.
Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the
meanings assigned to such terms in the Agreement. The Borrower hereby gives you
notice pursuant to Section 2.1 of the Agreement that it requests a Borrowing
under the Agreement, and in that connection sets forth below the terms on which
such Borrowing is requested to be made:

(A)  Date of Borrowing                      _____________________
         (which is a Business Day)

(B)  Principal Amount of
         Borrowing (1)                                  $____________________

----------------
   (1) Not less than $500,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof
for a Eurodollar Borrowing nor less than $250,000 or a whole multiple of $50,000
in excess thereof for a Base Rate Borrowing.

                                      A-72

<PAGE>

(C)  Interest rate basis (2)                  _____________________

(D)  Interest Period and the
         last day thereof (3)                 _____________________

         Upon acceptance of any or all of the Revolving Credit Loans made by the
Banks in response to this request, the Borrower shall be deemed to have
represented and warranted that the conditions to lending specified in Section
4.2 of the Agreement have been satisfied.

                                         Very truly yours,

                                         PHILADELPHIA SUBURBAN WATER COMPANY

                                         By:__________________________________
                                         Title:

-------------
     (2) Eurodollar Loan or Base Rate Loan.

     (3) Which shall be subject to the definition of "Interest Period" and end
not later than the Termination Date.

                                      A-73

<PAGE>
                                   EXHIBIT B-1

                                      NOTE

$________________                                   Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
                                                             December __, 1999

         FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned, PHILADELPHIA SUBURBAN WATER
COMPANY (the "Borrower"), hereby promises to pay to the order of
___________________ (the "Bank"), at the office of PNC Bank, National
Association (the "Agent"), at 1600 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103, on the
Termination Date, the lesser of the principal sum of ___________ ___________
Dollars ($__________) and the aggregate unpaid principal amount of all Loans
made by the Bank to the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.1 of the Credit Agreement
dated as of December __, 1999, among the Borrower, the Banks party thereto and
the Agent (as amended, modified, extended or restated from time to time, the
"Agreement"), in lawful money of the United States of America in same day funds,
and to pay interest from the date hereof on such principal amount from time to
time outstanding, in like funds, at said office, at a rate or rates per annum
and payable on the dates determined pursuant to the Agreement.

         The Borrower promises to pay interest, on demand, on any overdue
principal and, to the extent permitted by law, overdue interest from their due
dates at the rate or rates determined as set forth in the Agreement.

         The Borrower hereby waives diligence, presentment, demand, protest and
notice of any kind whatsoever. The nonexercise by the holder of any of its
rights hereunder in any particular instance shall not constitute a waiver
thereof in that or any subsequent instance.

         All borrowings evidenced by this Note and all payments and prepayments
of the principal hereof and interest hereon and the respective dates thereof
shall be endorsed by the holder hereof on the schedule attached hereto and made
a part hereof, or on a continuation thereof which shall be attached hereto and
made a part hereof, or otherwise recorded by such holder in its internal
records; provided, however, that the failure of the holder hereof to make such a
notation or any error in such a notation shall not in any manner affect the
obligations of the Borrower to make payments of principal and interest in
accordance with the terms of this Note and the Agreement.

                                     B-1-1

<PAGE>

         This Note is one of the Notes referred to in, evidences indebtedness
incurred under, and is entitled to the benefits of the Agreement. The Agreement,
among other things, contains provisions for the acceleration of the maturity
hereof upon the happening of certain events, for optional and mandatory
prepayments of the principal hereof prior to the maturity hereof, for a higher
rate of interest hereunder after an Event of Default and for the amendment or
waiver of certain provisions of the Agreement, all upon the terms and conditions
therein specified. This Note shall be construed in accordance with and governed
by the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and any applicable laws of the
United States of America. Capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall
have the meanings set forth in the Agreement.

                                            PHILADELPHIA SUBURBAN WATER COMPANY

                                            By:________________________________
                                            Name:
                                            Title:

                                     B-1-2
<PAGE>

                               Loans and Payments
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                Payments                  Unpaid         Name of
                                                                --------                 Principal       Person
           Amount         Interest       Interest                                       Balance of       Making
Date       of Loan          Rate          Period        Principal        Interest          Note         Notation
----       -------        --------       --------       ---------        --------        ---------      --------
<S>       <C>             <C>            <C>            <C>              <C>            <C>             <C>

</TABLE>
                                     B-1-3
<PAGE>

                                   EXHIBIT B-2

                                 SWING LINE NOTE

$2,000,000                                           Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
                                                              December __, 1999

              FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned, PHILADELPHIA SUBURBAN WATER
COMPANY (the "Borrower"), hereby promises to pay to the order of PNC BANK,
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION (the "Bank"), at the office of the Agent (as hereinafter
defined), at 1600 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103, in accordance with the
terms of the Agreement (as hereinafter defined), the lesser of the principal sum
of Two Million Dollars ($2,000,000) and the aggregate unpaid principal amount of
all Swing Line Loans made by the Bank to the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.2 of
the Credit Agreement dated as of December __, 1999, among the Borrower, the
Banks party thereto and PNC Bank, National Association, as agent for the Banks
(the "Agent") (as amended, modified, extended or restated from time to time, the
"Agreement"), in lawful money of the United States of America in same day funds,
and to pay interest from the date hereof on such principal amount from time to
time outstanding, in like funds, at said office, at a rate or rates per annum
and payable on the dates determined pursuant to the Agreement.

              The Borrower promises to pay interest, on demand, on any overdue
principal and, to the extent permitted by law, overdue interest from their due
dates at the rate or rates determined as set forth in the Agreement.

              The Borrower hereby waives diligence, presentment, demand, protest
and notice of any kind whatsoever. The nonexercise by the holder of any of its
rights hereunder in any particular instance shall not constitute a waiver
thereof in that or any subsequent instance.

              All borrowings evidenced by this Swing Line Note and all payments
and prepayments of the principal hereof and interest hereon and the respective
dates thereof shall be endorsed by the holder hereof on the schedule attached
hereto and made a part hereof, or on a continuation thereof which shall be
attached hereto and made a part hereof, or otherwise recorded by such holder in
its internal records; provided, however, that the failure of the holder hereof
to make such a notation or any error in such a notation shall not in any manner
affect the obligations of the Borrower to make payments of principal and
interest in accordance with the terms of this Swing Line Note and the Agreement.

                                     B-2-1

<PAGE>

              This Swing Line Note is the Swing Line Note referred to in,
evidences indebtedness incurred under, and is entitled to the benefits of the
Agreement. The Agreement, among other things, contains provisions for the
acceleration of the maturity hereof upon the happening of certain events, for
optional and mandatory prepayments of the principal hereof prior to the maturity
hereof, for a higher rate of interest hereunder after an Event of Default and
for the amendment or waiver of certain provisions of the Agreement, all upon the
terms and conditions therein specified. This Swing Line Note shall be construed
in accordance with and governed by the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
and any applicable laws of the United States of America. Capitalized terms not
otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Agreement.

                                       PHILADELPHIA SUBURBAN WATER COMPANY

                                       By:___________________________________
                                            Name:
                                            Title:

                                     B-2-2
<PAGE>

                               Loans and Payments
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                 Payments                 Unpaid         Name of
                                        Swing Line               --------               Principal        Person
           Amount         Interest       Repayment                                      Balance of       Making
Date       of Loan          Rate           Date         Principal        Interest          Note         Notation
----       -------        --------        ------        ---------        --------          ----         --------
<S>       <C>            <C>            <C>            <C>               <C>            <C>             <C>

</TABLE>
                                     B-2-3

<PAGE>

                                    EXHIBIT C

                                     FORM OF
                            ASSIGNMENT AND ACCEPTANCE

              Reference is made to the Credit Agreement dated as of December __,
1999 (as amended, modified, extended or restated from time to time, the
"Agreement"), among Philadelphia Suburban Water Company (the "Borrower"), the
banks party thereto (the "Banks") and PNC Bank, National Association, as Agent.
Terms defined in the Agreement are used herein with the same meanings.

              ________________ (the "Assignor") and ________________ (the
"Assignee") hereby agree as follows:

              The Assignor hereby sells and assigns, without recourse, to the
Assignee, and the Assignee hereby purchases and assumes, without recourse, from
the Assignor, effective as of the Effective Date set forth on Schedule A
attached hereto, the interests set forth on Schedule A (the "Assigned Interest")
in the Assignor's rights and obligations under the Agreement, including, without
limitation, the interests set forth on Schedule A in the Commitment of the
Assignor on the Effective Date and the Loans owing to the Assignor which are
outstanding on the Effective Date, together with unpaid interest accrued on the
assigned Loans to the Effective Date and the amount, if any, set forth on
Schedule A of the Fees accrued to the Effective Date for the account of the
Assignor. Each of the Assignor and the Assignee hereby makes and agrees to be
bound by all the representations, warranties and agreements set forth in Section
9.6(c) of the Agreement, a copy of which has been received by each such party.
From and after the Effective Date (i) the Assignee shall be a party to and be
bound by the provisions of the Agreement and, to the extent of the interests
assigned by this Assignment and Acceptance, have the rights and obligations of a
Bank thereunder and under the Agreement or any other document issued in
connection therewith and (ii) the Assignor shall, to the extent of the interests
assigned by this Assignment and Acceptance, relinquish its rights and be
released from its obligations under this Agreement.

              This Assignment and Acceptance is being delivered to the Agent
together with (i) the Notes evidencing the Loans included in the Assigned
Interest, (ii) if the Assignee is organized under the laws of a jurisdiction
outside the United States, the forms prescribed by the Internal Revenue Service
of the United States certifying as to the Assignee's exemption from withholding
taxes with respect to all payments to be made to the Assignee under the
Agreement or such other documents as are necessary to indicate that all such
payments are subject to such tax at a rate reduced by an applicable tax treaty,
all duly completed and executed by such Assignee, and (iii) a processing and
recordation fee of $3,500, if required.

              This Assignment and Acceptance shall be governed by and construed
in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

                                      C-1
<PAGE>

              The terms set forth above and on Schedule A attached hereto are
hereby agreed to as of the date hereof.

                                          ______________________, as Assignor

                                          By:________________________________
                               Name:
                               Title:

                                          _____________________, as Assignee

                                          By:________________________________
                               Name:
                               Title:

Acknowledged:

PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
              as Agent

By:________________________________
              Name:
              Title:

Consented to:

PHILADELPHIA SUBURBAN WATER COMPANY

By:________________________________
              Name:
              Title:

                                      C-2
<PAGE>

                                   SCHEDULE A

Date of Assignment:

Legal Name of Assignor:

Legal Name of Assignee:

Assignee's Address for Notices:

                                            ___________________________________
                                            ___________________________________
                                            Attention: ________________________
                                            Telecopy: _________________________

Effective Date of Assignment
(may not be fewer than 5 Business
Days after the Date of Assignment):____________________
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                              Percentage of Loans and
      Revolving Credit Facility         Principal Amount Assigned             Commitment Assigned
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                     <C>                                   <C>
Commitment Assigned:                    $                                               %
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Loans:                                  $                                               %
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                              Percentage of Loans and
         Swing Loan Facility            Principal Amount Assigned             Commitment Assigned
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commitment Assigned:                    $                                              100%
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Swing Line Loans:                       $                                              100%
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

                                      C-3<PAGE>

                                                                   Exhibit 10.39

                        PHILADELPHIA SUBURBAN CORPORATION
                       PHILADELPHIA SUBURBAN WATER COMPANY
                  2000 ANNUAL CASH INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN

BACKGROUND

o        During the first quarter of 1989, the Company and its compensation
         consultant conducted a feasibility study to determine whether the
         Company should implement an incentive compensation plan. The study was
         prompted by the positive experience of other investor-owned water
         companies and PSC's experience with incentive compensation.

o        The study included interviews with PSWC and PSC executives and an
         analysis of competitive compensation levels. Based on the results, the
         compensation consultant recommended that the Company's objectives and
         competitive practice supported the adoption of an annual incentive plan
         (the "Plan). The Company has had a cash incentive compensation plan in
         place since 1990 and management and the Board of Directors feel it has
         had a positive effect on the Company's operations, aiding employees,
         shareholders (higher earnings) and customers (better service and
         controlling expenses).

o        The Plan has two components - a Management Incentive Program and an
         Employee Recognition ("Chairman's Award") Program.

o        The Plan is designed to provide an appropriate incentive to the
         officers and managers of the Company. The 2000 Management Incentive
         Program will cover all officers and managers of Philadelphia Suburban
         Corporation, and its subsidiaries, other than those employees covered
         under the Consumers Water Company Incentive Compensation Plan.

o        The plan is periodically reviewed by the Company's outside compensation
         consultant and the target bonus percentages are reviewed and approved
         each year as part of the compensation consultant's annual review of the
         Company's total compensation plan.

                                                                              1
<PAGE>

MANAGEMENT INCENTIVE PROGRAM

o        Performance Measures

         --       Annual incentive bonus awards are calculated by multiplying an
                  individual's Target Bonus by a Company Rating Factor based on
                  the Company's performance and an Individual Rating Factor
                  based on the individual employee's performance.

                  The approach of having a plan tied to the Company's income
                  performance is appropriate as the participants' assume some of
                  the same risks and rewards as the shareholders who are
                  investing in the Company and making its capital construction
                  and acquisition programs possible. Customers also benefit from
                  the Company's employees' objectives being met as improvements
                  in performance are accomplished by controlling costs,
                  improving efficiencies and enhancing customer service. For
                  these reasons, future rate relief should be lessened and less
                  frequent, which directly benefits all customers.

         --       The Company's actual after-tax net income from continuing
                  operations relative to the annual budget will be the primary
                  measure for the Company's performance. Each year a "Target Net
                  Income" level will be established. Starting in 2000, portions
                  of the Company Rating Factor may be allocated to the net
                  income targets of various operating units for each
                  participant. For purposes of the Plan, the Target Net Income
                  may differ from the budgeted net income level. For 2000, the
                  Target Net Income will exclude the impact of any unbudgeted
                  extraordinary gains or losses as a result of changes in
                  accounting principles.

         --       Based on a review of historic performance, the minimum or
                  threshold level of performance is set at 90 percent of the
                  Target Net Income. That is, no bonus awards will be made if
                  actual net income is less than 90 percent of the Target Net
                  Income for the year. No additional bonus will be earned for
                  results exceeding 110 percent of the Target Net Income.

         --       Each individual's performance and achievement of his or her
                  objectives will also be evaluated and factored into the bonus
                  calculation (the "Individual Factor"). Performance objectives
                  for each participant are established at the beginning of the
                  year and are primarily directed toward controlling costs,
                  improving efficiencies and productivity and enhancing customer
                  service. Each objective has specific performance measures that
                  are used to determine the level of achievement for each
                  objective.

                                                                              2
<PAGE>

o        Participation

         --       Participation in the Management Incentive Program will be
                  determined each year. Each participant will be assigned a
                  "Target Bonus Percentage" ranging from 5 to 50 percent of
                  salary depending on duties and responsibilities.

         --       Actual bonuses may range from 0, if the Company's financial
                  results fall below the minimum threshold or the participant
                  does not make sufficient progress toward achieving his or her
                  objectives (i.e. performance measure points totaling less than
                  70 points), to 187.5 percent if performance -- both Company
                  and individual -- is rated at the maximum.

o        Company Performance

         --       Company performance will be measured on the following
                  schedule:

                                              Percent of          Company
                                              2000 Plan            Rating
                                              ----------          -------
                  Threshold..............         90%                 0%
                                                  90                 50
                                                  92                 65
                                                  95                 80
                                                  96                 85
                                                  97                 90
                                                  98                 94
                                                  99                 97
                  Plan...................        100                100
                                                 105                110
                                                 110                125

         --       The actual Company Factor should be calculated by
                  interpolation between the points shown in the table above.

         --       Regardless of the Company rating resulting from this Schedule,
                  the Executive Compensation and Employee Benefits Committee
                  retains the authority to determine the final Company Rating
                  for purposes of this Plan.

                                                                              3
<PAGE>

o        Individual Performance

         --       Individual performance will be measured on the following
                  scale:

                  Performance Measure                   Individual
                        Points                         Rating Factor
                  -------------------                  -------------
                        0 - 69                               0%
                            70                              70%
                            80                              80%
                            90                              90%
                           100                             100%
                           110                             110%

         --       In addition, up to 40 additional points and additional
                  percentage points may be awarded to a participant at the
                  discretion of the Chief Executive Officer for exemplary
                  performance. Individual performance points for the Chief
                  Executive Officer are determined by the Executive Compensation
                  and Employee Benefits Committee.

Sample Calculations

o        Example 1

                  Salary                    $70,000
                  Target Bonus               10 percent ($7,000)
                  Company Rating            100 percent
                  Individual Rating          90 percent

                  Calculation:

                          Company      Individual
         Target Bonus  x  Rating   x   Rating        =   Bonus Earned
         ------------     -------      ----------        ------------
           $7,000      x   100%    x       90%       =      $6,300
                                                            ======

o        Example 2

         --       Using the same salary and target bonus, but assuming Company
                  performance was less than 90 percent of Target Net Income,
                  there would be no bonus earned.

                  Calculation:

           $7,000      x     0     x       90%       =         0

                                                                              4
<PAGE>

o        Example 3

         --       Similarly, if the Individual Factor is rated below 70 points,
                  no bonus would be earned regardless of the Company Factor.

                  Calculation:

           $7,000      x   100%    x        0        =         0

                                                                              5
<PAGE>

EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION ("CHAIRMAN'S AWARD") PROGRAM

o        In addition to the Management Incentive Program, the Company maintains
         an Employee Recognition Program known as the Chairman's Award program
         to reward employees not eligible for the management bonus plan for
         general superior performance that contains costs, improves efficiency
         and productivity of the workforce and better serves our customers.
         Awards may also be made for a special action, or heroic deed, or for a
         project that positively impacts the performance or image of the
         Company.

o        Awards will be made from an annual pool, not to exceed $175,000 (which
         represents approximately 2% of the base payroll for the non-union
         employees who do not participate in the Management Incentive Program),
         established at the beginning of the year. Unused funds will not be
         carried over to the next year. If financial performance warrants,
         management may request permission from the Executive Compensation and
         Employee Benefits Committee for special awards under the program.

o        Awards will be made throughout the year and through the first quarter
         of the following year with payment as close to the timing of the event
         being rewarded as possible.

o        Department Heads may nominate individuals in their unit to the
         applicable Vice President and document the reasons for the
         recommendations. The applicable Vice President will review the
         nominations and forward their recommendations to the Chief Executive
         Officer.

o        The Chief Executive Officer will determine the individuals to actually
         receive a bonus and the amount.

                                                                              6

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