Document:

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                                                                    Exhibit 10-i

                        AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
                                       OF
                        ADVANTA GROWTH CAPITAL FUND L.P.

                  AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP (the "Agreement") made as of
July 28, 2000 by and among Advanta GCF GP Corp., a Delaware corporation
("Advanta GP"), as General Partner, Advanta Investment Corp., a Delaware
corporation ("Advanta"), as a Class A Limited Partner, and Bryan Finkel
("Finkel") and Jonathan Kane ("Kane") as the initial Class B Limited Partners.

                               W I T N E S S E T H

                  The parties hereto wish to become partners of a limited
partnership for the purposes herein stated and wish to set forth herein their
agreement relating to such partnership.

                  NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and of the
covenants and agreements herein contained, and intending to be legally bound
hereby, the parties hereto agree as follows:

                                    ARTICLE I

                                   DEFINITIONS

                  1.01     Defined Terms. Unless the context otherwise requires,
each capitalized term used in this Agreement shall have the meaning given to
that term either in this Section or elsewhere in this Agreement where that term
is defined. A definition shall be equally applicable to both the single and
plural form.

                           "Accounting Period" means the period during which
Profits or Losses are to be calculated under this Agreement, which will normally
be a period of one year commencing January 1, but may be of shorter duration
should the context require a shorter period.

                           "Act" means the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited
Partnership Act, as amended.

                           "Acting Member" shall have the meaning given to such
term within Section 8.06.

                           "Advanta" means Advanta Investment Corp., the Class A
Limited Partner.

                           "Advances" shall have the meaning given to such term
within Section 3.01(d).
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                           "Affiliate" means, when used with respect to any
specified Person, any other Person that, either directly or indirectly through
one or more intermediaries, Controls, is Controlled By or is Under Common
Control With such specified Person.

                           "Agreement" means this Agreement of Limited
Partnership, as it may be amended from time to time.

                           "Allocation and Vesting Agreement" shall mean the
Allocation and Vesting Agreement among the parties hereto dated as of even date
herewith, including any amendments thereof.

                           "Appraised Value" shall have the meaning given to
such term within Section 11.01. The appraisers selected to provide the Appraised
Value shall not have any ongoing economic relationships with Advanta or its
Affiliates.

                           "Asset Value"  means, with respect to any Partnership
Asset, the asset's Adjusted Basis for federal income tax purposes, except that
the Asset Values of all Partnership Assets shall be adjusted to equal their
respective fair market values (as determined by the General Partner in the
manner provided in Section 5.01), in accordance with this Agreement and the
rules set forth in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(f), except as
otherwise provided herein, as of: (a) the date of the acquisition of any
additional Partnership Interest by any new or existing Partner in exchange for
more than a de minimis Capital Contribution; (b) the date of the distribution of
more than a de minimis amount of Partnership Assets (other than money) to a
Partner; or (c) the date of the termination of the Partnership under Section
708(b)(i)(B) of the Code. Subsequent to any such adjustment of the Asset Value
of any Partnership Asset, the Asset Value shall thereafter be adjusted for the
Depreciation taken into account with respect to such Partnership Asset for
purposes of computing Profit and Loss, and the Capital Accounts shall be
adjusted in accordance with Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(g).

                           "Bankruptcy" means with respect to any Person, such
Person has become insolvent or that a petition shall have been filed by or
against such Person as a "debtor" and the adjudication of such Person as
bankrupt under the provisions of the bankruptcy laws of the United States of
America shall have commenced, or that such Person shall have made an assignment
for the benefit of its creditors generally or a receiver shall have been
appointed for substantially all of the property and assets of such Person.

                           "Board of Directors" means the board of directors of
the General Partner, as provided for in Section 7.01 hereof.

                           "Capital Account" of a Partner means the individual
Capital Account established and maintained in accordance with Section 4.01
hereof.

                           "Carried Interest" shall have the meaning given to
such term in Section 6.01(a) hereof.

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                           "Class A Limited Partner" means Advanta Investment
Corp.

                           "Class A Limited Partner's Investment" means the sum
of the Class A Limited Partner's Contribution and Advances made with respect to,
allocated to, or directly or indirectly used in connection with, a particular
Portfolio Investment.

                           "Class B Limited Partners" means Finkel, Kane and any
other person admitted to the Partnership as a Class B Partner under the terms of
this Agreement.

                           "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended.

                           "Commitment" shall have the meaning given to such
term in Section 3.01(c) hereof.

                           "Contributed Capital" means capital contributions
made by a Partner to the Partnership and not repaid to such Partner, including
such Partner's Initial Capital, but excluding any Advances.

                           "Contribution" means Contributed Capital of the Class
A Limited Partner.

                           "Control" (including "Controlled By" and "Under
Common Control With") means the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to
direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person,
whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.

                           "Defended Person" shall have the meaning given to
such term within Section 7.05.

                           "Depreciation" means, for each fiscal year, an amount
equal to the depreciation, amortization and other cost recovery deductions
allowable with respect to an asset for such period, except that if the Asset
Value of an asset differs from its Adjusted Basis at the beginning of such year,
Depreciation shall be an amount which bears the same ratio to such beginning
Asset Value as the federal income tax depreciation, amortization or other cost
recovery deduction for such year or other period bears to such beginning
adjusted tax basis. If the amount of any depreciation, amortization or cost
recovery deduction for such year is zero, Depreciation shall be determined by
reference to beginning Asset Value, using any reasonable method selected by the
General Partner.

                           "Dissolution" of a Partner which is not a natural
Person means that such Partner has terminated its existence, whether partnership
or corporate, wound up its affairs and dissolved.

                           "Effective Date" means July 28, 2000.

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                           "General Partner" means a Person who is a general
partner of the Partnership and shall include Advanta GP and any other Person who
may hereafter be admitted to the Partnership as a General Partner pursuant to
the provisions of the Agreement.

                           "Hurdle Rate" means an 8% cumulative return,
compounded annually, on the Class A Limited Partner's Investment calculated with
respect to a Portfolio Investment.

                           "Incompetency" of an individual means that such
individual shall have been judged incompetent or insane by decree of a court of
appropriate jurisdiction.

                           "Initial Capital" shall have the meaning given to
such term in Section 3.01(a) hereof.

                           "Initial Partners" means the parties hereto on the
Effective Date.

                           "Initial Term" means the initial term of the
Partnership commencing on the Effective Date and ending on the ten-year
anniversary of the Effective Date, or such shorter term as provided for in the
Agreement.

                           "Interest in the Partnership" or "Partnership
Interest" means the interest in the Partnership which each Partner receives in
return for such Partner's Contributed Capital, and in the case of the Class A
Limited Partner, also for making Advances.

                           "Investment" means, (i) with respect to the
Partnership, the total amount paid or contributed by the Partnership to, or with
respect to the securities of, any entity in which a Portfolio Investment has
been or is hereafter made; and (ii) with respect to the Class A Limited Partner,
the Class A Limited Partner's Investment.

                           "Limited Partner" shall mean a Person who is a
limited partner of the Partnership and shall include the Class A Limited
Partner, the Class B Limited Partners, and any other Person who may hereafter be
admitted to the Partnership as a limited partner pursuant to the provisions of
the Agreement.

                           "Non-Portfolio Income" means income from temporary
investments such as short-term government securities, certificates of deposit,
bank deposits and commercial paper in which Partnership funds are invested until
invested in a manner intended to achieve the purposes of the Partnership,
reduced by any related expenses of maintaining such short-term investments.

                           "Partner" means a Person who is a General Partner
and/or Limited Partner in the Partnership.

                           "Partnership Assets" means all assets and property,
whether tangible or intangible and whether real, personal or mixed, at any time
owned by the Partnership.

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                           "Person" means any individual, corporation,
partnership, joint venture, association, trust or other organization or any
government, or any agency or political subdivision of any government.

                           "Portfolio Investments" means investments of the
Partnership other than temporary investments of the type referred to in the
definition of Non-Portfolio Income.

                           "Profits or Losses" means, for each Accounting
Period, an amount equal to the Partnership's taxable income or loss for such
Accounting Period, determined by the Accounting Firm at the close of the
relevant Accounting Period, including, without limitation, each item of
Partnership income, gain, loss or deduction, taking into account the following
adjustments and any other adjustments necessary in order to comply with Treasury
Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv) including the rules for revaluations of
Partnership Assets:

                           (a)      all income of the Partnership that is exempt
from federal income tax and not otherwise taken into account in computing Profit
or Loss shall be added to such taxable income or loss;

                           (b)      any expenditure of the Partnership described
in Section 705(a)(2)(B) of the Code or treated as an expenditure described in
such Code Section and not otherwise taken into account in computing Profit or
Loss shall be subtracted from such taxable income or loss;

                           (c)      gain or loss resulting from any disposition
of Partnership Assets with respect to which gain or loss is recognized for
federal income tax purposes shall be computed by reference to the Asset Value of
the Partnership Assets disposed of, notwithstanding that the adjusted income tax
basis of such Partnership Assets differs from its Asset Value;

                           (d)      in lieu of the depreciation, amortization or
other cost recovery deductions taken into account in computing taxable income or
loss, there shall be taken into account the deduction for such items computed in
accordance with the definition of Depreciation;

                           (e)      in the event the Asset Value of any
Partnership Asset is adjusted pursuant to the definition of Asset Value set
forth in this Section 1.01 or any other provision of this Agreement, the amount
of such adjustment shall be taken into account as income or loss from the
disposition of such asset for purposes of computing Profits or Losses; and

                           (f)      any items of income specially allocated
under Paragraph 4.02(b) shall be excluded from Profits or Losses.

                           "Restricted Investments" means Portfolio Investments
of the Partnership subject to a restriction impairing the free marketability
thereof or transferability under any applicable securities laws.

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                           "Securities" has the meaning given to such term in
Section 2.03.

                           "Shortfall" means any unpaid Hurdle Rate and/or loss
of the Class A Limited Partner's Investment experienced by the Class A Limited
Partner with respect to the liquidation of any Portfolio Investment.

                           "Specified Amount" has the meaning given to such
term in Section 6.01(a)(iv).

                           "Term" means the term of the Partnership.

                           "Unrealized Loss" means, as of any date, for each
Portfolio Investment where the Class A Limited Partner's unreturned Contribution
in a Portfolio Investment exceeds the Value of the Partnership's unliquidated
investment in such Portfolio Investment, the amount of such excess of unreturned
Contribution over such Value.

                           "Value" means the value of a Portfolio Investment
determined in accordance with Section 5.01 hereof.

                           "Withholding Tax Act" shall have the meaning given to
such term within Section 6.02.

                                   ARTICLE II

                          FORMATION OF THE PARTNERSHIP

                  2.01     Formation of the Partnership.  The parties hereto
hereby form the Partnership as a limited partnership under the Act.

                  This Agreement shall continue until the tenth anniversary of
the Effective Date unless extended or earlier terminated in accordance with the
terms hereof. The General Partner shall cause to be filed on behalf of the
Partnership such partnership, and such assumed or fictitious name, certificate
or certificates as may be required by law. At least three (3) months prior to
the fifth anniversary of the Effective Date, the end of the Initial Term and any
extended Term, the board of directors of the Class A Limited Partner will make
decisions concerning the continuation of the Class A Limited Partner's financial
commitment to the Partnership and shall promptly provide the General Partner
with a written notification of such decision. Based upon such decisions and
subject to the acceptance of such decisions by the General Partner, the General
Partner and the Class A Limited Partner will amend the Agreement (if the
decisions of the board of directors of the Class A Limited Partner call for an
amendment to the Agreement) to extend the Term and to expand, contract or leave
unchanged the size and terms of the Commitment, as applicable. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, the Class A Limited Partner can elect to dissolve the Partnership
at any time, upon providing the General Partner with at least thirty (30) days
prior written notification of such election.

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                  2.02 Name of the Partnership. The name of the Partnership
shall be Advanta Growth Capital Fund LP or such other name as may hereafter be
selected by the General Partner.

                  2.03     Activity of the Partnership.

                           (a)      The Partnership is formed for the purpose of
making investments with the objective of seeking capital appreciation. Nothing
contained in the Agreement and nothing in Advanta Corp.'s relationship with the
Partnership shall restrict Advanta Corp. or any Affiliate thereof from doing
whatever transactions, and making whatever investments, it chooses. The
Partnership will concentrate on opportunities primarily in early stage
investments in e-commerce companies. The Partnership may invest in both
marketable and non-marketable securities, including without limitation, common
and preferred stock, debentures, bonds, royalties, promissory notes, evidences
of indebtedness, warrants, options, subscription rights of and other
participating interests in corporations, partnerships, joint ventures, trusts,
proprietorships, other business entities, governments and governmental agencies,
and puts, calls, options and other rights or obligations to purchase, sell or
subscribe for any of the foregoing and any other similar instruments and
documents whether now known or hereafter devised which are or may hereafter be
known or referred to as securities (all such items being hereinafter
collectively referred to as "Securities"), and may deal in such ways as is
customary and in the ordinary course of business of an investment partnership,
and in connection therewith, with the prior approval of a majority to borrow
funds. The Partnership may arrange for managerial and other support for Persons
in which it invests. Subject to the restrictions and provisions contained in
Section 7.01, the Partnership shall engage in the activities set forth in this
Section 2.03 and no others, except as shall be incidental or related thereto or
which may be necessary or desirable in connection therewith.

                           (b)      It is acknowledged that from time to time
co-investors may invest with the Partnership on a side-by-side basis in various
Securities, some of which may be co-investing as a result of their relationship
with Finkel. Finkel agrees that any fees which may be paid to Finkel or any of
his Affiliates by any of such co-investors or Affiliates thereof, directly or
indirectly in connection with such co-investments, shall instead be paid
directly to the Partnership, if and to the extent that such fees are related to
services performed by Finkel while he was an employee of the Partnership, even
if such fees were paid to Finkel after the termination of his employment.

                  2.04 Offices of the Partnership. The principal office of the
Partnership shall be located at such place as the General Partner shall
determine. A secondary office satisfactory to the Class A Limited Partner, will
be established in New York City. The Board of Directors may establish such other
offices of the Partnership in one or more places as it may from time to time
determine.

                  2.05     Title to Partnership Property.  All property owned by
the Partnership, whether real or personal, tangible or intangible, shall be and
shall be deemed to be owned by the Partnership as an entity, and no Partner,
individually, shall have any ownership of any such

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property. The Partnership may hold any of its assets in its own name or in the
name of one or more nominees, which nominee may be such individuals,
corporations, partnerships, trusts or other Persons as the General Partner shall
determine.

                  2.06     Representation and Warranties.

                           (a)      Each Limited Partner represents and warrants
to the other parties hereto as follows:

                                            (1)        The Limited Partner has
acquired or will acquire such Limited Partner's Interest in the Partnership for
such Limited Partner's own account as principal for investment and not with a
view to the resale or other disposition of all or any part thereof or any
interest therein.

                                            (2)        The Limited Partner
understands that the Interests in the Partnership have not been registered under
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act") or the securities laws of any
state, and are being offered and sold in reliance upon an exemption to such
registration and are subject to substantial restrictions on transfer.

                                            (3)        The Limited Partner
understands that no public or private market for the Interests in the
Partnership is likely to develop and that since the Interests in the Partnership
have not been registered under the Act, the Limited Partner cannot and the
Limited Partner agrees and understands that the Limited Partner will not sell or
otherwise transfer and dispose of any of the Interest in the Partnership unless
a registration statement with respect to such transfer or disposition is in
effect under the Act and any other applicable state or federal securities laws
or such transfer or disposition is exempt from registration under the Act or is
otherwise in compliance with other relevant state or federal securities laws or
unless the General Partner or the Partnership approve such a sale or transfer
(which approval may be withheld). The Limited Partner further understands that:
(A) the Partnership has no obligation or intention to register the Interest in
the Partnership for resale under any federal or state securities laws or to take
any action (including the filing of reports or the publication of information
required by Rule 144 under the Act) that would make available any exemption from
the registration requirements of such laws; and (B) the Limited Partner
therefore may have to be precluded from selling or otherwise transferring or
disposing of any of the Interest in the Partnership for an indefinite period of
time or at any particular time and may therefore have to bear the economic risk
of an investment in the Interest in the Partnership for an indefinite period of
time. The Limited Partner further acknowledges that the Interest in the
Partnership may not be sold without the express written consent of the General
Partner and compliance with all relevant provisions of the Partnership
Agreement, plus all applicable filing fees. The Limited Partner also
acknowledges that the Limited Partner will be responsible for compliance with
all conditions on transfer imposed by any blue sky or state securities law
administrator and will hold the Partnership and the General Partner harmless
from any breach thereof.

                                            (4)        The Limited Partner
understands that no federal or state agency has approved or disapproved of the
Interest in the Partnership, passed upon or

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endorsed the merits of the offering thereof, or made any finding or
determination as to the fairness of the Interest in the Partnership for
investment.

                                   ARTICLE III

                     INITIAL CAPITAL AND CONTRIBUTED CAPITAL

                  3.01     Initial Capital; Contributed Capital; Initial
Contribution

                           (a)      Each Partner has contributed to the
Partnership the amount set forth opposite such Partner's name under the caption
"Initial Capital" on Schedule A to this Agreement. Such amount is such Partner's
"Initial Capital".

                           (b)      Prior to the date of this Agreement, each
Initial Partner has paid to the Partnership in cash such Partner's Initial
Capital.

                           (c)      In addition to the Class A Limited Partner's
Initial Capital, the Class A Limited Partner agrees to make available to the
Partnership during the Initial Term such amount as is requested by the Board of
Directors (the "Commitment") for Portfolio Investments. Following authorization
by the Board of Directors of a Portfolio Investment, the Class A Limited Partner
will provide the funds it has been called upon by the Board of Directors to
provide as the Limited Partner's Contribution for such Portfolio Investment, in
accordance with the timetable established by the Board of Directors.

                           (d)      In addition to the Class A Limited Partner's
Commitment, upon request made from time to time by the General Partner, the
Class A Limited Partner agrees to periodically advance the cash necessary
("Advances") to fund the operating budget of the Partnership during the Initial
Term. The Class A Limited Partner's Initial Capital constitutes an Advance.
Operating budgets thereafter will be established by the Board of Directors after
receiving recommendations with respect thereto from the General Partner. The
Class A Limited Partner's Advances will be allocated among Portfolio Investments
as follows:

                                    (i)     Following the end of each fiscal
year in which one or more Portfolio Investments are consummated, the amount of
accumulated (i.e., not yet allocated because no Portfolio Investments were made
in such fiscal year or not yet allocated as hereinafter provided) Advances as of
the close of such fiscal year, plus the Hurdle Rate with respect thereto, will
be allocated in full to such Portfolio Investments pro rata in accordance with
the dollar amount of the Class A Limited Partner's Contributions to such
consummated Portfolio Investments. For purposes of applying the Hurdle Rate to
Advances, all Advances made in a calendar year will be deemed to have been made
on July 1 of such year.

                                    (ii)    If the amount of Advances and
associated Hurdle Rate allocated to a particular Portfolio Investment under
Section 3.01(d)(i) above would be greater than 20% of the amount of the Class A
Limited Partner's Contributions (minus the associated

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Hurdle Rate) to such Portfolio Investment, such excess will not be allocated to
such Portfolio Investment but will be carried forward, increased by the Hurdle
Rate, to be allocated, pursuant to Section 3.01(d)(i), at the end of the
succeeding year or years.

                           (e)      Other than the Hurdle Rate payable to the
Class A Limited Partner, no interest shall accrue on any Contributed Capital and
no Partner shall have the right to withdraw or to be repaid any Contributed
Capital except as and to the extent specifically provided elsewhere in this
Agreement.

                           (f)      Each time the Class A Limited Partner makes
a Contribution or an Advance, 1.01% of each such Contribution and Advance shall
be credited to Advanta GP. Such amounts credited to Advanta GP shall carry a
Hurdle Rate, shall, if Contributions, be credited against the Class A Limited
Partner's Commitment, and shall, if Advances, be allocated to Portfolio
Investments in the same proportions as the Class A Limited Partner's Advances.
Such amounts shall also be deemed to be included in the Class A Limited
Partner's Investment, and shall be combined with all other components of the
Class A Limited Partner's Investment for purposes of distributions pursuant to
Subsections 6.01(a)(i)(A) through (D) and for purposes of computing the Class A
Limited Partner's Shared Portfolio Investment Percentage.

                  3.02     Failure of the Class A Limited Partner to Make
Additional Contributions or Advances or to Maintain its Commitment. At any time
upon thirty (30) days' prior written notice to the General Partner, the Class A
Limited Partner may reduce its Commitment to any level, including zero. If the
Board of Directors calls upon the Class A Limited Partner to make Contributions
and/or Advances as contemplated by the Agreement and the Class A Limited Partner
refuses or fails to do so (even if prior notice of a reduction of the Commitment
had not been given), or if the Class A Limited Partner reduces its Commitment to
any extent, such failure or reduction shall not constitute a breach by the Class
A Limited Partner of its obligation hereunder, but the Board of Directors shall
independently have the right to dissolve the Partnership under Article X, at any
time, upon providing the Partners with at least thirty (30) days prior written
notification of such election.

                  3.03     Contributions by the General Partner. On any date on
which, pursuant to this Article III, Limited Partners each make payments of
Contributed Capital, the General Partner shall have contributed cash, in the
aggregate, equal to 1.01% of the aggregate cash Contributed Capital paid by the
Limited Partners as of each such date. Amounts credited under Section 3.01(f)
shall be deemed to meet, in part, the requirements of this Section 3.03.

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                                   ARTICLE IV

                     CAPITAL ACCOUNTS AND PROFITS OR LOSSES

                  4.01     Capital Accounts.

                           (a)      A separate capital account (the "Capital
Account") shall be established and maintained for each Partner. The Capital
Account of each Partner shall be credited with the amount of such Partner's
Contributed Capital, all Profits allocated to such Partner pursuant to Article
IV, and any items of income or gain which are specially allocated pursuant to
Section 4.02(b); and shall be debited with the sum of (i) all Losses and
deductions of the Partnership allocated to such Partner pursuant to Article IV
and (ii) all cash and the Asset Value of any property (net of liabilities
assumed by such Partner and the liabilities to which such property is subject)
distributed by the Partnership to such Partner. To the extent not provided for
in the preceding sentence, the Capital Accounts of the Partners shall be
adjusted in accordance with the rules of Treasury Regulation Section
1.704-1(b)(2)(iv), as the same may be amended or revised. Any references in any
Section of this Agreement to the Capital Account of a Partner shall be deemed to
refer to such Capital Account as the same may be credited or debited from time
to time as set forth above. In the event of any transfer of any Interest in the
Partnership in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, the transferee shall
succeed to the Capital Account of the transferor to the extent it relates to the
transferred interest.

                           (b)      No Partner shall be required to pay to the
Partnership or to any other Partner the amount of any negative balance which may
exist from time to time in such Partner's Capital Account.

                  4.02     Allocation of Partners' Profits or Losses.

                           (a)      Except as provided in Sections 4.03 and
4.04, the Profits or Losses of the Partnership for any applicable Accounting
Period shall be allocated among the Partners in the following order and
priority:

                                    (i)     first, an amount of the gross income
of the Partnership shall be allocated to Partners receiving distributions on
account of the Hurdle Rate pursuant to Section 6.01(a)(i)(B); and

                                    (ii)    second, Profits and all Losses shall
be allocated among the Partners so as to produce, as nearly as possible, Capital
Account balances for the Partners (taking into account all prior allocations and
distributions, including any allocations under clause (i)) which would equal the
amount to which the Partners would be entitled as a liquidating distribution
from the Partnership pursuant to Section 11.02(b) and as if the net proceeds
available for distribution were an amount equal to the aggregate positive
balance in the Partners' Capital Accounts computed after taking into account all
allocations of Profit and Loss (or items thereof) for the fiscal period,
including those pursuant to this Section 4.02; provided, however, that if the
allocation of all or any portion of the Partnership Losses (or items thereof)
causes the Capital

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Account(s) of a Partner or Partners to exceed the amount that they are obligated
to restore, or are deemed obligated to restore pursuant to Treasury Regulation
Section 1.704-2(g) or (i), the excess, if any, shall be allocated to those
Partners, if any, having positive remaining Capital Account balances, in
proportion to their relative percentage interests, to the extent of any such
positive balances, and thereafter in accordance with the Partners' respective
economic risk of loss with respect to any indebtedness to which the remaining
Loss or deductions are attributable.

                           (b)      Allocations of Partnership Profit or Loss
(or items thereof) shall be made consistent with the requirements of Treasury
Regulation Section 1.704-2(e), including, without limitation, those provisions
relating to allocations of income and deductions attributable to non-recourse
debt and partner non-recourse debt. Allocations that would conform to those
required by a "minimum gain chargeback" (as defined in Treasury Regulation
Section 1.704-2(f)) in addition to the requirements of Treasury Regulation
Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d), relating to a "qualified income offset," and
Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(i)(4), relating to the chargeback on account
of a decrease in minimum gain attributable to partner non-recourse debt, shall
be made in a manner, at a time, and in the amounts consistent with those
provisions.

                           (c)      Except as provided otherwise in this
Agreement, for income tax purposes, all items of Partnership income, gain, loss
or deduction, and any other allocations not otherwise provided for shall be
allocated among the General Partner and the Limited Partners, as a class, in the
same proportions they share Profits or Losses, as the case may be, for the
relevant Accounting Period.

                           (d)      In accordance with Code Section 704(c) and
the Treasury Regulations thereunder, items of income, gain, loss and deduction
with respect to any property contributed to the capital of the Partnership,
shall, solely for federal income tax purposes, be allocated among the Partners
so as to take into account any variation between the adjusted basis of such
property to the Partnership for federal income tax purposes and its Asset Value.
In the event the Asset Value of any Partnership asset is adjusted pursuant to
this Agreement, subsequent allocations of income, gain, loss and deduction with
respect to such asset shall take into account any variation between the Adjusted
Basis of such asset and its Asset Value in the same manner as under Section
704(c) of the Code and applicable Treasury Regulations, including under Section
704(b) of the Code. Allocations pursuant to this Section 4.02(d) are solely for
purposes of federal, state and local taxes and shall not affect or be taken into
account in computing Capital Accounts, Profits, Losses and other items or
distributions pursuant to this Agreement.

                  4.03     Allocations With Respect to Transferred Interests.

                           If Partnership Interests are transferred in
accordance with this Agreement, there shall be allocated to the transferor
Partner and the transferee Partner during the fiscal year of transfer the
product of: (i) the Partnership's Profits or Losses allocable to such
Partnership Interest for such fiscal year; and (ii) a fraction, the numerator of
which is the number of days such Partner held such Partnership Interest during
such fiscal year and the denominator of which is the total number of days in
such fiscal year; provided, however, that the Board of Directors

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may, in its sole discretion (subject to the provisions of Sections 706(d) of the
Code), allocate such Profits or Losses by closing the books of the Partnership
immediately after the transfer of such Partnership Interest, and provided
further, in the case of the sale or other disposition of a Portfolio Investment,
Profits or Losses from such sale or other disposition shall be allocated as of
the date of such sale or other disposition and distributions of the net proceeds
from such sale or other disposition shall be made to the parties who were
Partners on the date of such sale or other disposition as if no transfer had
been made and all Partners' Capital Accounts shall be adjusted accordingly.

                  4.04     Minimum Allocations to the General Partner. Except as
provided in Section 4.02(d), any of the provisions of this Agreement to the
contrary notwithstanding, the General Partner shall be allocated, pro rata in
accordance with their respective Contributed Capital, at least 1% of each
material item of Partnership income, gain, loss, deduction and credit.

                  4.05     Allocations with Respect to Certain Interests.
Allocations of Profits or Losses of the Partnership (or items thereof) with
respect to vested percentages in the Carried Interest (as determined under
Section 6.01(a)(i)(E) hereof) in a Portfolio Investment or the vested
Percentages of a Shared Portfolio Investment shall be made as though the
Partnership assets consisted only of the Portfolio Investments acquired by the
Partnership during the period of time of the particular Class B Limited
Partner's employment by the Partnership, or the Shared Portfolio Investments
with respect to which the particular Special Limited Partner has an interest. In
making the determinations required by this Section 4.05, the Board of Directors
shall apply the principles set forth in Section 6.01(a)(i)(E).

                                    ARTICLE V

                                   VALUATIONS

                  5.01     Valuation of Portfolio Investments Owned by the
Partnership.

                           A value determined pursuant to this Section shall be
referred to as a "Value". The Value of Portfolio Investments owned by the
Partnership and other determinations of Value required under this Agreement
shall be determined by the General Partner in accordance with the principles set
forth below, based on the consistent application of said principles and such
other guidelines as the General Partner and the Board of Directors may approve
from time to time:

                           (a)      Subject to the specific standards set forth
below, the Value of Portfolio Investments shall be their estimated fair value
and shall be determined from time to time as required by Article VI hereof or at
such other time and for such other purposes as may be deemed necessary or
appropriate in the reasonably exercised sole discretion of the Board of
Directors. In determining the value of the Interest of any Partner in the
Partnership or in any accounting among the Partners or any of them, no value
shall be placed on the goodwill or name of the Partnership, and no tax reserves
shall be set up for unrealized gains or profits.

                                      -13-
<PAGE>   14
                           (b)      If traded on one or more securities
exchanges, the Value of a share or other unit of such Security shall be deemed
to be the average of the closing prices for such Security for the last ten days
in which the Security traded (or if there shall have been no sale, the average
of the closing bid and ask prices) on the principal exchange on which such
Security is traded).

                           (c)      If actively traded over-the-counter, the
Value of a share or other unit of such Security shall be deemed to be the
average of the closing sale prices for such Security for the last ten days for
which such sale prices are available as reported by Nasdaq, if the Securities
are included in the Nasdaq National Market, otherwise as reported by the
National Quotation Bureau.

                           (d)      If there is no active public market, the
Value of Securities shall be the estimated fair value thereof, as determined in
good faith by the Board of Directors, taking into consideration the cost of such
Securities, developments concerning the issuer of such Securities subsequent to
the acquisition of such Securities, the financial data and projections of such
issuer provided to the Partnership and such other factor or factors as the Board
of Directors may deem relevant; provided, however, that the Value of such
Securities shall, in any event, be based upon the price at which the issuer
thereof has issued securities of the same class as the Securities being valued
(or securities convertible into or exchangeable for such Securities) in a
substantial placement in which at least 50% of the securities sold were
purchased by investors unaffiliated with the Partners, unless (i) the issuer of
the Securities has been self-financing for the preceding two fiscal years or
(ii) there is strong and convincing evidence to support a different value.

                           (e)      The Value of publicly traded Securities
shall reflect, where appropriate, a discount to reflect a lack of depth or
liquidity in the relevant market.

                           (f)      With respect to Securities which are
Restricted Investments, the Value of such Securities shall be discounted by an
amount which, in the good faith judgment of the Board of Directors, reflects the
effect of the restrictions on transfer on the Value of such Securities,
including, without limitation, the remaining period of time, under applicable
federal and state securities laws, that such restrictions on transfer will
continue and the nature and extent of any available registration rights.

                           (g)      The Value of Portfolio Investments other
than cash and Securities shall be the estimated fair value thereof as determined
in good faith by the Board of Directors.

                           (h)      For purposes of this Agreement, Securities
or other properties distributed to the Partners shall be valued in accordance
with this Article V, as of the date of distribution.

                           (i)      Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Board
of Directors believes there is strong and convincing evidence to fix the Value
of a Security at an amount other than the

                                      -14-
<PAGE>   15
amount called for by the foregoing provisions, the Board of Directors may fix
the Value at such other amount.

                           (j)      Notwithstanding the foregoing, in
calculating Value for purposes of calculating and determining the existence and
extent of an Unrealized Loss, such Value shall not reflect, with respect to any
Securities, any discounts of the types described in Subparagraphs 5.01(e) and
(f) above.

                                   ARTICLE VI

                                  DISTRIBUTIONS

                  6.01     Distributions.

                           (a)      The General Partner shall be obligated to
distribute to the Partners all dividends, interest, principal repayments or
other distributions received from a Portfolio Investment, and all proceeds
realized by the Partnership from the sale or disposition (whether for cash or
for securities, including any exercise of Advanta's purchase option under
Section 14.01) of any Portfolio Investment, subject to Sections 6.01(a)(vii) and
6.01(f) hereof. Distributions may be in cash or in kind; provided, however, that
all Partners shall receive proceeds of any particular distribution in the same
form, whether in cash or in kind. Except as otherwise provided in this
Agreement, all distributions in accordance with this Section 6.01(a) shall be
made in the following order and priority:

                                    (i)     All distributions, including
liquidating distributions, shall be made to the Partners as follows:

                                            (A)      first, to the Class A
Limited Partner to return the Class A Limited Partner's Investment in such
Portfolio Investment, subject to Section 6.01(a)(iii) below;

                                            (B)      second, to the Class A
Limited Partner to pay the Hurdle Rate attributable to such Portfolio
Investment;

                                            (C)      third, to the Class A
Limited Partner to pay the amount of any of the Class A Limited Partner's
Shortfalls;

                                            (D)      fourth, to the Class A
Limited Partner to pay the amount of any Unrealized Loss not previously
distributed to the Class A Limited Partner;

                                            (E)      With the remainder divided
83% to the Class A Limited Partner, 5% to Advanta GP, 6% to Finkel and 6% to
Kane (the interests allocable to Messrs. Finkel and Kane being referred to
herein collectively as the "Carried Interest"). The Carried Interest shall vest
in the Class B Limited Partners, in accordance with an Allocation and

                                      -15-
<PAGE>   16
Vesting Agreement dated as of even date herewith, as such Agreement may be
amended from time to time (the "Allocation and Vesting Agreement").

                                    (ii)    If the Class A Limited Partner has
an Unrealized Loss with respect to more than one Class A Limited Partner's
Investment, payments of Unrealized Loss shall be allocated between or among such
Class A Limited Partner's Investments pro rata in accordance with the respective
dollar amounts of such Class A Limited Partner's Investments.

                                    (iii)   Distribution to the Class A Limited
Partner of Unrealized Loss shall be deemed to be a return of the Class A Limited
Partner's Investment in the Portfolio Investment to which such distribution
relates and accordingly, the amount of the Class A Limited Partner's Investment
upon which the Hurdle Rate is paid will be correspondingly adjusted downward.

                                    (iv)    If at the time of a distribution
with respect to a Portfolio Investment pursuant to Section 6.01(a)(i), some or
all of the amount that would otherwise have been distributed on account of the
Carried Interest is not so distributed because of the distribution to the Class
A Limited Partner of Unrealized Loss, the reduction in the amount of such
distributions on account of Carried Interest by reason of distribution of
Unrealized Loss (such reduction is referred to herein as the "Specified Amount")
shall be maintained in the Partnership's records for each Class B Limited
Partner, and shall be paid to such Class B Limited Partner, together with
interest thereon at the Hurdle Rate, from the subsequent disposition by the
Partnership of each Portfolio Investment with respect to which an Unrealized
Loss was distributed to the Class A Limited Partner; provided, however, that no
such payment shall be made until and unless the amount of the Class A Limited
Partner's Investment and associated Hurdle Rate has been paid and provided,
further, that payment of such Specified Amount and the Hurdle Rate thereon shall
be made only from amounts representing the distribution on account of the
Carried Interest to be made pursuant to Section 6.01(a)(i)(E) above. The
Specified Amount to be distributed shall be up to the amount, if any, by which
the Unrealized Loss distributed to the Class A Limited Partner with respect to
such Portfolio Investment exceeds the actual realized loss for such Portfolio
Investment, multiplied by the then percentage of distributions which the Carried
Interest represents.

                                    (v)     In the event of a partial
liquidation or partial sale of a Portfolio Investment, the Portfolio Investment
which is liquidated or sold, or in respect of which a distribution of
liquidation or sale proceeds is made, shall be treated as having been comprised
from inception as two Portfolio Investments: one being the Portfolio Investment
then being liquidated or sold and the other being a Portfolio Investment in
respect of which no liquidation, sale or distribution is then being made. The
Class A Limited Partner's Investment, and related Hurdle Rate will be
appropriately allocated between the two Portfolio Investments.

                                    (vi)    A leveraged recapitalization of a
Portfolio Investment shall be deemed to be, to the extent of a distribution of
the leverage proceeds, a dividend distribution from the applicable Portfolio
Investment.

                                      -16-
<PAGE>   17
                                    (vii)   All cash proceeds received by the
Partnership in respect of a Portfolio Investment shall be distributed in
accordance with this Section 6.01, unless retention thereof by the Partnership
is determined by the General Partner, in the exercise of its reasonable
discretion, to be necessary or reasonable to provide for expenses, whether or
not accrued, obligations or contingencies in respect of such Portfolio
Investment.

                           (b)      The amount of Investments returned to the
Class A Limited Partner pursuant to Section 6.01(a), less the portion of such
Investments attributable to advances and Hurdle Rates, will, to such extent,
restore the Class A Limited Partner's Commitment; provided, however, that the
Class A Limited Partner's Commitment will become zero at the end of the Initial
Term unless such Commitment is extended pursuant to the terms of the Agreement.

                  6.02     Taxes Withheld.

                           (a)      Unless treated as a "Tax Payment Loan" (as
hereinafter defined), any amount paid by the Partnership for or with respect to
any Partner on account of any withholding tax or other tax payable with respect
to the income, profits or distributions of the Partnership pursuant to the Code,
Treasury regulations, or any state or local statute, regulation or ordinance
requiring such payment (a "Withholding Tax Act") shall be treated as a
distribution to such Partner for all purposes of this Agreement, consistent with
the character or source of the income, profits or cash which gave rise to the
payment or withholding obligation. To the extent that the amount required to be
remitted by the Partnership under the Withholding Tax Act exceeds the amount
then otherwise distributable to such Partner, the excess shall constitute a loan
from the Partnership to such Partner (a "Tax Payment Loan") which shall be
payable upon demand and shall bear interest, from the date that the Partnership
makes the payment to the relevant taxing authority, at the highest "Prime Rate"
as published as such from time to time in The Wall Street Journal, or its
successor as a nationally recognized daily financial newspaper, plus 2
percentage points, compounded monthly. So long as any Tax Payment Loan or the
interest thereon remains unpaid, the Partnership shall offset future
distributions due to such Partner under this Agreement by applying the amount of
any such distribution first to the payment of any unpaid interest on all Tax
Payment Loans of such Partner and then to the repayment of the principal of all
Tax Payment Loans of such Partner.

                           (b)      The General Partner shall have the authority
to take all actions necessary to enable the Partnership to comply with the
provisions of any Withholding Tax Act applicable to the Partnership and to carry
out the provisions of this Section. Nothing in this Section shall create any
obligation of the General Partner to advance funds to the Partnership or to
borrow funds from third parties in order to make any payments on account of any
liability of the Partnership under a Withholding Tax Act.

                                      -17-
<PAGE>   18
                                   ARTICLE VII
                                   MANAGEMENT

                  7.01     Authority of the Board of Directors.

                           (a)      The Partnership shall be governed by the
board of directors of the General Partner, acting in their capacity as the
Partnership's Board of Directors. Such board of directors is referred to in this
Agreement as the Partnership's "Board of Directors." So long as Finkel and Kane
are employees of the Partnership, each of them shall be a member of the Board of
Directors; the other directors shall be appointed by the General Partner or its
shareholders. The members of the Board of Directors shall be free to consult
with Advanta GP and with Advanta, and may act in accordance with directions
received from Advanta GP and/or Advanta. The day to day management and operation
of the Partnership will be managed by the General Partner.

                           (b)      A majority of the members of the Board of
Directors then in office shall be necessary to constitute a quorum for the
transaction of business, and the acts of a majority of the members of the Board
of Directors in office shall be the acts of the Board of Directors. The Board of
Directors may also act by majority consent in writing.

                           (c)      The Board of Directors may elect a Chairman
of the Board to preside at meetings of the Board (initially to be Dennis Alter).

                           (d)      Meetings of the Board of Directors shall be
held whenever ordered by the Chairman of the Board, if any, or by a majority of
the directors in office. Written notice stating the place and time of any
meeting of the Board shall be sufficient if given at least one day in advance of
the time fixed for the meeting, and notice may be given to the recipient either
personally or by sending a copy thereof by first class or express mail, postage
prepaid, or by telegram (with messenger service specified), telex or TWX (with
answerback received), or next day courier service, charges prepaid, or by
telecopier, to such recipient's address (or to such recipient's telex, TWX,
telecopier or telephone number) appearing on the books of the Partnership or
supplied by such recipient to the Partnership for the purpose of notice. If the
notice is sent by mail, telegraph or courier service, it shall be deemed to have
been given to the person entitled thereto when deposited in the United States
mail or with a telegraph office or courier service for delivery to that person,
or in the case of telex or TWX, when dispatched; provided, that in any case
where only one day's notice is being given, notice must be given at least 24
hours in advance by delivery in person, telephone, telex, TWX, telecopier or
similar means of communication.

                           (e)      Any member of the Board of Directors may
participate in any meeting of the Board of Directors or of any committee
(provided such director is otherwise entitled to participate), be counted for
the purpose of determining a quorum thereof and exercise all rights and
privileges to which such member of the Board of Directors might be entitled were
he or she personally in attendance, including the right to vote, or any other
rights attendant to presence in person at such meeting, by means of conference
telephone or similar

                                      -18-
<PAGE>   19
communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the
meeting can hear each other.

                           (f)      The Partnership policy with respect to
compensation and expense reimbursement for directors shall be determined by the
General Partner.

                           (g)      Except as otherwise expressly provided in
this Agreement, all policy matters and material decisions with respect to any
matter set forth herein or otherwise affecting or arising out of the conduct of
the business of the Partnership shall be made by the Board of Directors.
Specifically, but not by way of limitation, the Board of Directors:

                                            (1)        shall determine the
Portfolio Investment acquisitions and dispositions to be made by the Partnership
after receiving recommendations by the General Partner. A Portfolio Investment
will not be made without the affirmative recommendation of the General Partner;

                                            (2)        has authority to direct
the General Partner to execute and deliver, in the name and on behalf of the
Partnership, such documents and instruments and to take such other action as the
Board of Directors may deem appropriate for the conduct of the Partnership's
business;

                                            (3)        has authority to direct
the General Partner to cause the Partnership to lend money to one or more
Portfolio Investment companies for any purpose related to the Partnership's
Portfolio Investments in such portfolio companies;

                                            (4)        has authority to direct
the General Partner to cause the Partnership to acquire property, real or
personal, as the Board of Directors may in its sole discretion deem necessary or
appropriate for the conduct of the Partnership's business and to sell, exchange,
or otherwise dispose of all or any part of the Partnership's property;

                                            (5)        has authority to direct
the General Partner to cause the Partnership to employ such agents, employees,
managers, accountants, attorneys, investment advisors, consultants and other
Persons necessary or appropriate to carry out the business and affairs of the
Partnership and to cause the Partnership to pay such reasonable fees, expenses,
salaries, wages and other compensation to such Persons as the Board of Directors
shall in its sole discretion determine; and

                                            (6)        has authority to direct
the General Partner to cause the Partnership to make elections under the Code,
as amended, (including, without limitation, elections under Section 754 or any
similar provisions enacted in lieu thereof, or any corresponding provisions of
state tax laws), and in connection therewith, each of the Partners agrees, upon
request of the Board of Directors or a General Partner, to supply the
information necessary to properly give effect to such elections, and the
Partners hereby designate Advanta GP as the Partnership's "Tax Matters Partner",
as such term is used in the Code.

                                      -19-
<PAGE>   20
                  7.02     Certain Compensation Matters. Except as otherwise
specifically provided in any Employment Agreement between the Partnership and a
Class B Limited Partner, in the event any director's fees or other fees or
remuneration are paid to any of the Class B Limited Partners, or any of their
Affiliates (excluding the Partnership), by any Person in which the Partnership
has a Portfolio Investment, the amount of compensation payable to the Class B
Limited Partners by the Partnership shall be reduced by an amount equal to the
amount of such fees or compensation. In the event the aggregate credits under
this Section 7.02 against compensation payable by the Partnership to any Class B
Limited Partner exceed the aggregate projected amount of compensation payable by
the Partnership to such Class B Limited Partner for the twelve month period
after such credits are determined, such excess shall be promptly paid to the
Partnership by such Class B Limited Partner. Non-cash remuneration consisting of
goods or services paid to a Class B Limited Partner by any Person in which the
Partnership has a Portfolio Investment shall be taken into account when
received, at fair value as determined by the Board of Directors.

                  7.03     Services of the General Partner and Board of
Directors. Subject to any express exceptions set forth in any employment
agreement with the Partnership, during the existence of the Partnership, the
General Partner shall devote its full time and effort to the Partnership
business to promote the interests of the Partnership consistent with the General
Partner's fiduciary duty to the Partnership. Nothing in this Agreement shall be
deemed to preclude any of the General Partner's officers (other than the Class B
Limited Partners to the extent provided by any employment agreement between such
parties and the Partnership), directors or equity owners or any member of the
Board of Directors from engaging in other businesses or transactions, whether or
not competitive with the Partnership's business, and in no event shall any of
the Partners be entitled to any interest in or profits from any such other
business by reason of their being a Partner in the Partnership.

                  7.04     Compensation and Dealings with Partnership. Except
for the interests granted to the Partners under this Agreement in the Profits or
Losses of and distributions from the Partnership, neither the General Partner
nor the Class A Limited Partner shall receive any compensation for services
rendered in connection with the management or operation of the Partnership or
its business. The Class A Limited Partner may deal with the Partnership in
connection with the management and operation of the Partnership as an
independent contractor or as an agent for others, and may receive from such
others or the Partnership normal profits, compensation, commissions, or other
income incident to such dealings, but only with the prior written consent of the
Board of Directors to such dealings and to the terms and conditions of, and the
profits, compensation, commissions or income to be derived from such dealings.

                  7.05     No Loans to Partners, Etc. The Partnership shall be
permitted to lend funds, securities or other property of the Partnership only
with the prior approval of the Board of Directors. Except for any Tax Payment
Loan authorized under Section 6.02, any Loan to any Partner, any Affiliate of a
Partner, or any director, officer, partner or equity owner of a Partner or
Affiliate of a Partner, other than to a Person in which the Partnership has a
Portfolio Investment must be approved by the Board of Directors and the Class A
Limited Partner.

                                      -20-
<PAGE>   21
                  7.06     Liability of the General Partner, Board of Director
Members and Others.

                           (a)      The General Partner, the officers, directors
and shareholders of the General Partner, the members of the Board of Directors
the employees of the Partnership and any person serving at the request of the
Board of Directors or the General Partner on the board of directors of a Person
in which the Partnership has a Portfolio Investment (individually, an "Acting
Member") shall not be liable, responsible or accountable in damages or otherwise
to the Partnership or to any of the Partners for any act or omission performed
or omitted in good faith on behalf of the Partnership and in a manner reasonably
believed to be within the scope of the authority granted to such Person by this
Agreement or by the Board of Directors or the General Partner and to be in the
best interests of the Partnership, except for such person's own bad faith, gross
negligence, recklessness, willful misconduct, fraud or a material and
intentional breach of this Agreement in bad faith.

                           (b)      No Acting Member shall be liable to the
Partnership or to any of the Partners for any tax, or penalty or interest
related thereto, imposed upon the Partnership or any Partner.

                           (c)      (i)     The Partnership shall indemnify,
hold harmless and defend each past and present Acting Member and their requisite
successors, heirs and personal representatives, (individually, a "Defended
Person"), from and against any and all loss, claims, damages, liabilities joint
and several, expenses, judgments, fines, settlements and other amounts,
including, without limitation, reasonable attorney's and accountant's fees and
disbursements, arising from any and all claims, demands, actions, suits or
proceedings (civil, criminal, administrative or investigative) in which such
Defended Person shall be involved as a party or otherwise, or be threatened to
be made a party, by reason of any action taken or alleged to have been taken or
omitted to have been taken in connection with or in any way related to the
activities or affairs of the Partnership, if such action or omission:

                                            (A)      Was taken or omitted in a
manner reasonably believed by such Defended Person to be within the scope of
authority conferred by law or this Agreement; and

                                            (B)      Was authorized or consented
to by the General Partner or was an action taken on behalf of the General
Partner; and

                                            (C)      Was taken or omitted in
good faith either on behalf of the Partnership or in furtherance of the
interests of the Partnership, provided that the action or omission of such
Defended Person did not constitute bad faith, gross negligence, recklessness,
willful misconduct, fraud or a material and intentional breach of this Agreement
in bad faith.

                                    (ii)    To the extent that such Defended
Person has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any
proceedings referred to herein, or in defense of any claim, issue or matter
therein, or even if the Defended Person has been unsuccessful in such, but would
otherwise be entitled to indemnity pursuant to the standards set

                                      -21-
<PAGE>   22
forth in clauses A, B and C above, the Partnership shall assume liability for
all expenses actually and reasonably incurred by such Defended Person in
connection therewith. The Partnership may, at its option, choose to assume the
defense of a Defended Person by counsel selected by the Partnership with the
consent of such Person, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. The
termination of a proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction or upon a
plea of nolo contendere, or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a
presumption that such Defended Person did not act in accordance with the
standards set forth above. No settlement of any matter referred to herein shall
be entered into by a Defended Person without the consent of the Partnership,
which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. If the Partnership shall
reject a settlement proposed by a Defended Person, then, in addition to any
other indemnification for which the Partnership may be liable hereunder, the
Partnership shall be liable, without limitation or restriction hereunder, to
indemnify such Defended Person for the excess of any of the amount for which
such Defended Person is ultimately liable, by judgment, settlement or otherwise,
over the amount of the settlement rejected by the Partnership. The Partnership
shall indemnify a Defended Person from liability with respect to a claim, issue
or matter for which such Defended Person shall have been adjudged to be liable
for misconduct in the performance of such Defended Person's duty to the
Partnership only to the extent that the court in which such action was brought,
or another court of appropriate jurisdiction, determines upon application that,
despite the liability, but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such
Defended Person is fairly and reasonably entitled to be spared from liability
for such expenses which such court shall deem proper.

                                    (iii)   It is the intent of this Section
that the Partnership will indemnify the Defended Persons from and against
liability to the maximum extent permitted by law, subject to the provisions
hereof. The General Partner, however, shall at no time or for any reason attempt
to require the Limited Partners to directly satisfy all or any portion of the
indemnification obligations of the Partnership to the Defended Persons pursuant
to this Section. Accordingly, the Class A Limited Partner shall have no
obligation to provide indemnification under this Agreement to the extent of its
remaining Commitment or otherwise.

                                    (iv)    Costs and expenses incurred in
defending or responding to any pending or threatened action, proceeding or
investigation shall be advanced by the Partnership on behalf of the Defended
Person who is the subject thereof in advance of the final disposition of such
action, proceeding or investigation. However, any such Defended Person must
agree in writing to repay such advance if it shall ultimately be determined that
the Partnership shall not indemnify such Defended Person from liability pursuant
to this Section.

                                    (v)     The indemnification obligation of
the Partnership set forth in this Section shall terminate as of the date the
Partnership's Certificate of Limited Partnership shall have been cancelled and
the assets of the Partnership shall have been distributed as provided herein.

                           (d)      The provisions of this Section shall not be
deemed to be exclusive of any other rights to which the Defended Person may be
entitled under any agreement, or as a matter of law, or otherwise.

                                      -22-
<PAGE>   23
                           (e)      The Board of Directors shall have the power
to purchase and maintain insurance, at the expense of the Partnership, on behalf
of the Acting Members against any liability asserted against or incurred by them
in any capacity covered by the indemnification provisions of this Section,
whether or not the Partnership would have the power to indemnify and defend the
Defended Persons against such liability under the provisions of this Agreement.
No such insurance, however, shall apply to suits by any Limited Partner directly
or derivatively.

                           (f)      The Board of Directors or the General
Partner may cause the execution of any of its powers hereunder or perform any
duties hereunder either directly or by or through agents or attorneys, and the
Board of Directors or the General Partner, as the case may be, shall not be
responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any agent or
attorney appointed with due care by it hereunder.

                  7.07     Limitations on the Limited Partners. Nothing
contained herein shall be deemed to confer on a Limited Partner a right, in its
capacity as a Limited Partner, to (a) take part in the control of the business
or affairs of the Partnership; (b) have any voice in the management or operation
of any Partnership property; (c) have the authority or power to act as agent for
or on behalf of the Partnership or any other Partner; (d) do any act which would
be binding on the Partnership or any other Partner; or (e) incur any
expenditures on behalf of or with respect to the Partnership.

                                  ARTICLE VIII

                        BOOKS, RECORDS AND BANK ACCOUNTS

                  8.01     Books and Records. The General Partner shall keep
accurate books of account and records with respect to the operation of the
Partnership and this Agreement. Such books and records shall be maintained at
the principal place of business of the Partnership, or at such other place as
the General Partner, with notice to the Class A Limited Partner, shall
determine. The General Partner hereby agrees to preserve all financial and
accounting records pertaining to the operation of the Partnership and this
Agreement during the term of the Agreement and for six years thereafter, and
during such period the Class A Limited Partner, shall, at its own cost and
expense, have the right to audit such books and records for the purpose of
verifying all records in regard thereto to the fullest extent authorized and
permitted by law, but not more than one audit may be conducted in any twelve
month period. The General Partner shall have the right to preserve all records
and accounts in original form or on microfilm, magnetic tape, or any similar
process.

                  8.02     Accounting Basis and Fiscal Year. The Partnership
shall prepare its financial statements in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles as from time to time are in effect on a calendar year
basis, taking account of the allocations in Article IV, and shall prepare its
income tax information returns using the accrual method of accounting on a
calendar year basis.

                  8.03     Financial Reports.  Within 60 days after the end of
each quarter, the General Partner shall cause to be prepared and sent to the
Class A Limited Partner an unaudited

                                      -23-
<PAGE>   24
balance sheet and statement of profit and loss of the Partnership. Within 90
days after the end of each fiscal year, or as promptly thereafter as
practicable, the General Partner shall cause to be prepared and sent to (i) each
Limited Partner an audited financial report of the Partnership which may, in the
discretion of the General Partner, be audited or unaudited (and if such person
files reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 a copy of any reports so filed), in each case which have
been received by the Partnership within the prior twelve months, a report of the
distributions, profits and losses of the Partnership attributable to the
Portfolio Investments in which such Special Limited Partner elected to make a
capital contribution pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, and such
other information relating to such Portfolio Investments as the General Partner
shall determine. Such audited financial report shall be audited by the
Accounting Firm. The cost of all such reporting shall be paid by the Partnership
as a Partnership expense.

                  8.04     Bank Accounts. The assets of the Partnership shall be
held by one or more custodian banks appointed by the Board of Directors. All
funds of the Partnership shall be deposited in one or more accounts maintained
at the custodian bank(s). All such funds and assets shall be and remain the
property of the Partnership and shall be received, held and disbursed by the
General Partner or its designee for the purposes specified in this Agreement.
There shall not be deposited in any of said accounts any funds other than funds
belonging to the Partnership, and no other funds shall in any way be commingled
with such funds. The General Partner may, subject to any policies adopted by the
Board of Directors, invest such funds in such temporary investments as they may
deem appropriate, including but not limited to banking and savings accounts,
U.S. government obligations, prime grade commercial paper, certificates of
deposit, money market instruments, or similar low risk, high quality income
securities. The General Partner shall not be liable or responsible for any loss
resulting from the failure of any custodian bank so designated.

                                   ARTICLE IX

                     ASSIGNABILITY AND PURCHASE OF INTERESTS

                  9.01     Substitution and Assignment of a Partner's Interest.

                           (a)      A Partner may not sell, transfer, assign,
pledge or otherwise dispose of (collectively, "disposition") all or any part of
its Partnership Interest (except by operation of law) except pursuant to an
amendment to the Agreement, signed by the General Partner and the Class A
Limited Partner, setting forth the terms and conditions of any such disposition;
no transferee of a Partnership Interest pursuant to this provision or any other
provision of this Agreement shall become a General Partner or a substituted
Limited Partner under the Act unless approved by the General Partner and the
Board of Directors, which approval may be withheld arbitrarily. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, no transfer of a Limited Partner's interest will be permitted if
it affects the continuity of the Partnership under Section 708 of the Code.

                           (b)      If any transfer of all or any portion of a
Partnership Interest is made pursuant to any provision of this Agreement, the
assignor and assignee shall be jointly and

                                      -24-
<PAGE>   25
severally liable to the Partnership to pay any fees and expenses incurred by the
Partnership as a result of such transfer, promptly after demand therefor is
made.

                  9.02     Admission of Additional Partners. Additional Partners
may be admitted to the Partnership only pursuant to, and upon the terms set
forth in, an amendment to the Agreement executed by the General Partner and the
Class A Limited Partner upon authorization to do so by the respective boards of
directors of such Partners.

                  9.03     Withdrawal of Partners. A Limited Partner may
withdraw from the Partnership at any time. A General Partner may withdraw from
the Partnership at any time; provided, that such withdrawal will not be
permitted if it affects the continuity of the Partnership under Section 708 of
the Code.

                                    ARTICLE X

                           DISSOLUTION AND TERMINATION

                  10.01    Event of Dissolution.  The Partnership shall be
dissolved upon the earliest of:

                           (a)      a date designated by written agreement of
the General Partner and the Class A Limited Partner or in a notice to dissolve,
provided pursuant to Section 2.01, from the Class A Limited Partner to the
General Partner;

                           (b)      the withdrawal, Bankruptcy or dissolution of
a General Partner unless (i) the remaining General Partner, if any, agrees to
continue the Partnership or (ii) if there is no remaining General Partner,
within thirty (30) days a majority in interest of the remaining Partners agree
in writing to continue the Partnership and admit a new General Partner;

                           (c)      at 12:00 midnight, on the date provided for
in Section 2.01, unless extended by agreement of the Partners; and

                           (d)      a date designated in a notice to dissolve by
the Board of Directors provided pursuant to the terms of Section 3.02.

                  10.02    Liquidation.

                           (a)      Dissolution of the Partnership shall be
effective on the day on which the event occurs giving rise to the dissolution,
but the Partnership shall not terminate until the Partnership's Certificate of
Limited Partnership shall have been canceled and the assets of the Partnership
shall have been distributed as provided herein. Notwithstanding any possible
implication to the contrary, which implication is not intended, and in
accordance with applicable law, dissolution of the Partnership shall not require
the liquidation of any Portfolio Investment to occur at any faster rate than
ordinary prudent business judgment would have required absent the dissolution,
within the limit of the Initial Term.

                                      -25-
<PAGE>   26
                           (b)      Upon the dissolution of the Partnership, a
full account of the assets and liabilities of the Partnership shall be taken and
the assets and liabilities of the Partnership shall be liquidated by the General
Partner, subject to Section 10.02(e), in the manner determined by the Board of
Directors, and the proceeds thereof, as and when available, shall be applied as
follows and in the following order of priority:

                                    (i)     to the payment of all debts, taxes,
obligations and liabilities of the Partnership, and the necessary expenses of
liquidation (including, without limitation, any liabilities to Partners); and
where a contingent debt, obligation or liability exists, a reserve shall be set
up to meet it, and, if and when said contingency shall cease to exist, the
assets, if any, remaining in said reserve shall be distributed as provided in
this Article X; and

                                    (ii)    then to the Partners in accordance
with Section 6.01(a)(i).

                           (c)      Upon any termination of the Partnership, the
name of the Partnership and its good will shall not be appraised, sold or
otherwise liquidated but shall be and remain the exclusive property of the
Advanta GP.

                           (d)      Within 60 days after the termination of the
Partnership, and at such time as the liquidation of the Partnership shall have
been completed, the General Partner shall cause to be prepared and forwarded to
each Partner financial statements of the Partnership, prepared in accordance
with Section 8.02 hereof.

                           (e)      The liquidation of the Partnership shall be
administered by the General Partner, unless the event causing the dissolution of
the Partnership is an event set forth in Section 10.01(b), and has occurred with
respect to the General Partner, in which case the liquidation of the Partnership
shall be managed by a liquidator appointed by the Class A Limited Partner.

                           (f)      Except as otherwise provided herein, during
the period of liquidation of the Partnership following its dissolution, the
Partners shall continue to be entitled to their respective interests in the
Profits or Losses of the Partnership as set forth in Article IV.

                           (g)      During the period of its liquidation, the
Partnership will continue to pay and bear those expenses chargeable to the
Partnership during its term.

                           (h)      Notwithstanding any other provision of this
Agreement, on liquidation the General Partner shall contribute to the capital of
the Partnership an amount equal to the lesser of the aggregate deficit balance
in their Capital Accounts, if any, or 1.01% of the capital contributed by the
Limited Partners to the Partnership in excess of the capital contributed
previously by the General Partner.

                           (i)      Upon and after the dissolution of the
Partnership, Advanta GP and the Class A Limited Partner and any of their
affiliates shall be entitled to form another partnership, which may have the
same purposes and the same name as the Partnership, without any other General
Partner or any Limited Partner having any right in or restriction against such

                                      -26-
<PAGE>   27
new partnership of any kind, unless Advanta GP, the Class A Limited Partner and
any such affiliates shall agree to admit such parties as partners in such new
partnership.

                                    No later than the completion of the
liquidation of the Partnership as contemplated herein, the General Partner or
the liquidator appointed by the Limited Partners shall cause the cancellation of
the Partnership's Certificate of Limited Partnership.

                                   ARTICLE XI

                            PURCHASE RIGHT OF ADVANTA

                  11.01    Advanta's Purchase Right.

                           (a)      At any time, with respect to any Portfolio
Investment held by the Partnership, Advanta shall have the right to require the
Board of Directors to engage, within thirty days after notice from Advanta, two
appraisers, each to provide an opinion of the fair market value of such
Portfolio Investment (defined as an amount in U. S. Dollars that a ready,
willing and able buyer would pay to a ready, willing and able seller, both
assumed to be of equal competence and experience and acting without coercion or
duress in a fair market). The expense of engaging such appraisers shall be borne
by Advanta and shall not be Advances under this Agreement. The average of such
determinations of fair market value shall be the "Appraised Value" under this
Agreement. Upon written notice within thirty (30) days after receipt of the
Appraised Value, Advanta shall have the right to buy any Portfolio Investment of
the Partnership at such Portfolio Investment's Appraised Value, subject to the
following restrictions:

                                            (1)        Advanta must purchase not
less than 100% of the Partnership's interest in the Portfolio Investment; and

                                            (2)        where the Partnership's
Portfolio Investment represents less than a majority of the voting control and
value of the investee entity, Advanta must (coincident with the purchase of the
Partnership's Portfolio Investment) purchase from other sources a sufficient
additional interest in the investee entity so that, when combined with the
Portfolio Interest, Advanta will have acquired a majority of the voting control
and value of the investee entity.

                           (b)      The closing of a purchase made pursuant to
Section 11.01(a) shall occur within thirty (30) days after the Partnership's
receipt of such notice that Advanta desires to make such purchase, pursuant to
such other precise details as may be determined by the Board of Directors.

                                      -27-
<PAGE>   28
                                   ARTICLE XII

                               GENERAL PROVISIONS

                  12.01    Power of Attorney. Each Limited Partner, by the
execution of this Agreement, does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint the
General Partner its true and lawful agent and attorney in fact, with full power
and authority in its name, to make, execute, acknowledge, deliver, file and
record such documents and instruments as may be necessary or appropriate to
establish, maintain or terminate the legal existence of the Partnership,
including, but not limited to, (a) the Partnership's Certificate of Limited
Partnership, (b) such amendments to the Partnership's Certificate of Limited
Partnership, as amended from time to time, as are required under the Act, (c)
all certificates and other instruments which may be required to effect the
dissolution and termination of the Partnership pursuant to the provisions
hereof, (d) such documents and instruments as are necessary to cancel the
Partnership's Certificate of Limited Partnership and any amendment thereto
pursuant to Article VII hereof, and (e) all other instruments, documents,
certificates and amendments that may from time to time be required by any
federal, state or local law to effectuate, implement, continue and defend the
valid and subsisting existence of the Partnership or which may otherwise be
required by law.

                  12.02    Indulgences, Etc. Neither the failure nor any delay
on the part of any party to exercise any right under this Agreement shall
operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any
right preclude any other or further exercise of the same or of any other right
nor shall any waiver of any right with respect to any occurrence be construed as
a waiver of such right with respect to any other occurrence. No waiver shall be
effective unless it is in writing and is signed by the party asserted to have
granted such waiver.

                  12.03    Controlling Law. This Agreement and all questions
relating to its validity, interpretation, performance and enforcement
(including, without limitation, provisions concerning limitations of actions),
shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of
Delaware (notwithstanding any conflict-of-law doctrines of any state or other
jurisdiction to the contrary), and without the aid of any canon, custom or rule
of law requiring construction against the draftsman.

                  12.04    Notices.

                           (a)      All notices, requests, demands and other
communications required or permitted under this Agreement shall be in writing
and shall be deemed to have been duly given, made and received only when
personally delivered, or on the day specified for delivery when deposited with a
courier service such as Federal Express for delivery to the intended addressee,
or two days following the day when deposited in the United States mails, by
registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested,
addressed as set forth below:

                                      -28-
<PAGE>   29
                                    (i)     If to Advanta GP:

                                            Delaware Corporate Center
                                            One Righter Parkway
                                            Wilmington, Delaware 19803
                                            Attention: General Counsel

                                            with a copy to:

                                            Advanta GCF GP Corp.
                                            c/o Advanta Corp.
                                            Welsh and McKean Rds.
                                            P.O. Box 844
                                            Spring House, Pennsylvania
                                            19477-0844
                                            Attention:  Chief Executive Officer;

                                    with a copy, given in the manner prescribed
                                    above, to:

                                            Elizabeth H. Mai, Esquire,
                                              Vice President and
                                              General Counsel
                                            c/o Advanta Corp.
                                            Welsh and McKean Rds.
                                            P.O. Box 844
                                            Spring House, Pennsylvania
                                            19477-0844

                                    (ii)    If to Class A Limited Partner:

                                            Advanta Investment Corp.
                                            c/o Advanta Corp.
                                            Welsh and McKean Rds.
                                            P.O. Box 844
                                            Spring House, Pennsylvania
                                            19477-0844
                                            Attention:  Chief Executive Officer;

                                    with a copy, given in the manner prescribed
                                    above, to:

                                            Elizabeth H. Mai, Esquire
                                              Vice President and
                                              General Counsel
                                            c/o Advanta Corp.
                                            Welsh and McKean Rds.
                                            P.O. Box 844
                                            Spring House, Pennsylvania
                                            19477-0844

                                      -29-
<PAGE>   30
                                    (iii)   If to any Limited Partner:
                                            To the address shown for such
                                            Partner on the Partnership's books
                                            and records

                           (b)      In addition, notice by mail shall be by air
mail if posted outside of the continental United States.

                           (c)      Any party may alter the address to which
communications or copies are to be sent by giving notice of such change of
address in conformity with the provisions of this paragraph for the giving of
notice.

                  12.05    Schedules.  Schedules attached hereto are hereby
incorporated by reference into, and made a part of, this Agreement.

                  12.06    Binding Nature of Agreement. This Agreement shall be
binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective
legal successors and permitted assigns, except that none of the parties hereto
may assign or transfer their rights or obligations under this Agreement without
the prior written consent of the General Partner, and any such purported
assignment shall be void.

                  12.07    Execution in Counterparts. This Agreement may be
executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an
original as against any party whose signature appears thereon, and all of which
shall together constitute one and the same instrument. This Agreement shall
become binding when one or more counterparts hereof, individually or taken
together, shall bear the signatures of all of the parties reflected hereon as
the signatories.

                  12.08    Provisions Separable. The provisions of this
Agreement are independent of and separable from each other, and no provision
shall be affected or rendered invalid or unenforceable by virtue of the fact
that for any reason any other or others of them may be invalid or unenforceable
in whole or in part.

                  12.09    Entire Agreement; Amendment. This Agreement together
with the Allocation and Vesting Agreement and the employment agreements of the
various Class B Limited Partners, contains the entire understanding among the
parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof, and supersedes all
prior and contemporaneous agreements and understandings, inducements or
conditions, express or implied, oral or written, except as herein contained. The
express terms hereof control and supersede any course of performance and/or
usage of the trade inconsistent with any of the terms hereof. This Agreement may
not be modified or amended other than by an agreement in writing, which
agreement in writing need be executed only by the General Partner and the Class
A Limited Partner. In the event of any inconsistency among this Agreement, the
Allocation and Vesting Agreement and the aforementioned several employment
agreements, the provisions of this Agreement shall prevail over the provisions
of the other agreements and the provisions of the several employment agreements
shall prevail over the Allocation and Vesting Agreement.

                                      -30-
<PAGE>   31
                  12.10    Section Headings.  The article, section and
subsection headings in this Agreement are for convenience only; they form no
part of this Agreement and shall not affect its interpretation.

                  12.11    Gender, Etc. Words used herein, regardless of the
number and gender specifically used, shall be deemed and construed to include
any other number, singular or plural, and any other gender, masculine, feminine
or neuter, as the context indicates is appropriate.

                  12.12    Number of Days. In computing the number of days for
purposes of this Agreement, all days shall be counted, including Saturdays,
Sundays and holidays; provided, however, that if the final day of any time
period falls on a Saturday, Sunday or holiday on which federal banks are or may
elect to be closed, then the final day shall be deemed to be the next day which
is not a Saturday, Sunday or such holiday.

                  12.13    Interpretation. As used herein, (i) "include",
"includes" and "including" are deemed to be followed by "without limitation"
whether or not they are in fact followed by such words or words of like import,
(ii) references to any agreement or other document are to it as amended and
supplemented from time to time, (iii) references to any act, statute or law are
to it as amended and supplemented from time to time, include any successor
provision or any comparable act, statute or law that may be enacted as its
replacement, and include all rules and regulations promulgated under such act,
statute or law, (iv) references to Article, Section or another subdivision or to
an attachment, Exhibit or Schedule are to an Article, Section or subdivision
hereof or an attachment, Exhibit or Schedule hereto, and (v) "hereof", "herein",
"hereunder" and comparable terms refer to the entirety hereof and not to any
particular Article, Section or other subdivision hereof or attachment hereto.

                                      -31-
<PAGE>   32
                  IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed the Agreement of
Limited Partnership as of the date first above written.

Attest:                             ADVANTA GCF GP CORP.

/s/                                         By: /s/
______________________________                 _________________________________
Secretary or Assistant                              Authorized Officer
  Secretary

Attest:                                     ADVANTA INVESTMENT CORP.

/s/                                 By: /s/
______________________________         _________________________________________
Secretary or Assistant                      Authorized Officer
  Secretary

                                    /s/ BRYAN FINKEL
                                    ______________________________________(SEAL)
                                    Bryan Finkel

                                    /s/ JONATHAN KANE
                                    ______________________________________(SEAL)
                                    Jonathan Kane

                                      -32-
<PAGE>   33
                                   SCHEDULE A

                                               Initial
                                               Capital
                                               -------

Advanta GP                                     $100.00

Class A Limited Partner                        $100.00

Bryan Finkel                                   $100.00

Jonathan Kane                                  $100.00<PAGE>   1

                                                                  EXHIBIT - 10.1

                         EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

        AN EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT ("Agreement"), dated this 1st day of
January 2001, by and between Chesapeake Utilities Corporation, a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), and Ralph J. Adkins ("Executive").

                                   WITNESSETH:

        WHEREAS, the Company is currently obtaining the benefit of Executive's
services as a part-time executive employee in the capacity of Chairman of the
Company's Board of Directors ("Chairman") under an Executive Employment
Agreement, dated January 1, 1999;

        WHEREAS, the Company's Board of Directors (the "Board") has authorized
the Company to agree to provide for Executive's continued employment on the
terms set forth in this Agreement; and

        WHEREAS, Executive is willing, in consideration of the covenants
hereinafter provided, to continue to be employed by the Company in the capacity
of Chairman and to render services incident to such position during the term of
this Agreement.

        NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises and covenants
contained herein, the Company and Executive hereby agree as follows:

        1.      Employment. The Company agrees to employ Executive, and
Executive agrees to accept employment, as an executive officer of the Company in
the capacity of Chairman, with such reasonable duties and responsibilities as
are consistent with the By-laws of the Company, as of the date hereof, and the
Position Description dated January 1, 2001, appended to this Agreement.

        2.      Term of Agreement. The term of Executive's employment under this
Agreement (the "Term") shall extend until December 31, 2002, unless such
employment is earlier terminated (i) by either the Company or Executive upon 90
days prior written notice to the other or (ii) otherwise accordance with the
provisions of Section 8.

        3.      Time. Executive agrees to devote one-half of a full-time work
schedule and, during that time, his full best efforts for the benefit of the
Company and its subsidiaries, and not to serve any other business enterprise or
organization in any capacity during the Term, without the prior written consent
of the Company, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.

        4.      Office. During the Term, Executive shall serve as the Company's
Chairman.

<PAGE>   2
                                     - 2 -

        5.      Compensation. During the Term, the Company shall compensate
Executive for his services hereunder at a rate of $XXXXX per annum, payable in
equal semimonthly installments, or such greater or lesser amount as the Board
may determine ("Base Compensation"). The Base Compensation rate shall be
reviewed annually and may be increased or decreased from time to time.

        6.      Expenses. During the Term, the Company shall pay all necessary
and reasonable business expenses incurred by Executive on behalf of the Company
in the course of his employment under this Agreement, including, without
limitation, expenses incurred in the conduct of the Company's business while
away from his domicile and expenses for travel, meals, lodging, entertainment
and related expenses that are for the benefit of the Company.

        7.      Other Benefits.

                (a)     During the Term, Executive shall be entitled to
participate in all profit-sharing, insurance, medical and retirement benefit
plans, together with vacation and other employee benefits of the Company, now in
effect or as hereafter amended or established, in which Company executive
employees are permitted to participate. The Executive's participation shall be
in accordance with the terms and provisions of such plans.

                (b)     During the Term, the Company shall furnish Executive
with a suitable office, necessary administrative support and customary furniture
and furnishings for such office. The Company further agrees that Executive shall
have the use of a Company-owned or Company-leased and maintained automobile, new
every three years, of a kind and model appropriate to his position with the
Company.

        8.      Termination.

                (a)     Termination for Cause. This Executive's employment under
this Agreement may be terminated by the Company at any time for "cause". In the
event of termination for "cause," Executive (i) shall only be entitled to the
payment of the compensation and benefits contemplated by Section 5, 6, and 7
through the date termination (except for any benefits that the Company may be
required to continue to provide by law) and (ii) and shall not be entitled to
any severance benefits under this Agreement. Unless a Change in Control has
occurred, "cause" shall be as the Board may reasonably determine. Following a
Change in Control, the Company may terminate the Executive's employment for
"cause" only if Executive engages in:

<PAGE>   3

                                     - 3 -

                        (i)     conduct that constitutes a felony under the laws
                        of the United States or a state in which Executive works
                        or resides;

                        (ii)    an act or acts of dishonesty resulting, or
                        intended to result, directly or indirectly in material
                        gain to or personal enrichment of Executive at the
                        Company's expense;

                        (iii)   a deliberate and intentional refusal (except by
                        reason of incapacity due to illness or accident) to
                        comply with the provisions of Section 1, provided that
                        such breach shall have resulted in demonstrably material
                        injury to the Company, and Executive shall have failed
                        to remedy such breach within thirty days after notice
                        received from the Secretary of the Company demanding
                        that Executive remedy such breach; or

                        (iv)    conduct by Executive that is materially
                        injurious to the Company, if such conduct was undertaken
                        without good faith and the reasonable belief that such
                        conduct was in the best interest of the Company.

                (b)     Termination Following a Change in Control. After a
                        Change in Control:

                        (i)     the Company may terminate the Executive's
                        employment under this Agreement at any time and for any
                        reason; and

                        (ii)    Executive may terminate his employment at any
                        time following the occurrence of any of the following
                        events:

                                (A)     failure to elect or reelect Executive
                                to, or removal of Executive from, the position
                                described in Section 1;

                                (B)     Executive's good-faith determination
                                that there has been a significant change in the
                                nature or scope of his authorities, powers,
                                functions, duties or responsibilities attached
                                to the position described in Section 1 or a
                                reduction in his compensation as provided in
                                Section 5 or his benefits as provided in Section
                                7, which change or reduction is not remedied
                                within thirty days after notice to the Company
                                by Executive;

                                (C)     any other breach by the Company of any
                                provision of this Agreement that is not remedied
                                within 30 days after notice to the Company by
                                Executive; or

<PAGE>   4
                                     - 4 -

                                (D)     the liquidation, dissolution,
                                consolidation or merger of the Company or
                                transfer of all or a significant portion of its
                                assets, unless a successor or successors (by
                                merger, consolidation or otherwise) to which all
                                or a significant portion of its assets has been
                                transferred shall have assumed all duties and
                                obligations of the Company under this Agreement;
                                provided that in any event set forth in this
                                Section 8(b)(ii), Executive shall have elected
                                to terminate his employment under this Agreement
                                upon not less than 40 and not more than 90 days'
                                notice to the Board, attention of the Secretary
                                of the Company, given within three calendar
                                months after (1) failure to be so elected or
                                reelected, or such removal, (2) expiration of
                                the 30-day cure period with respect to such
                                event, or (3) the closing date of such
                                liquidation, dissolution, consolidation, merger
                                or transfer of assets.

        An election by Executive to terminate his employment under the
provisions of this Section 8(b)(ii) shall not be deemed a voluntary termination
of employment by Executive for the purposes of this Agreement or any plan or
practice of the Company.

                (c)     Payment Upon Termination. In the event that (i) the
Company terminates Executive's employment under this Agreement for any reason
other than Cause or Executive's death or (ii) Executive terminates his
employment under this Agreement pursuant to Section 8(B)(ii), the Company shall
continue to pay to Executive (or in the event of his death following such
termination, his legal representative) his Base Compensation under Section 5, at
the semi-monthly rate in effect immediately prior to the date of such
termination, until December 31, 2002.

                (d)     Change In Control. For the purposes of this Agreement,
Change in Control shall mean a change in the control of the Company during the
Term, which shall be deemed to have occurred if:

                        (i)     The registration of the Company's voting
                        securities under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
                        amended (the "1934 Act"), terminates or the Company
                        shall have fewer than 300 stockholders of record; or

<PAGE>   5
                                     - 5 -

                        (ii)    any person or group (within the meaning of
                        sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the 1934 Act), other than
                        the Company or any of its majority-controlled
                        subsidiaries, becomes the beneficial owner (within the
                        meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the 1934 Act) of 30 percent
                        or more of the combined voting power of the Company's
                        then outstanding voting securities; or

                        (iii)   a tender offer or exchange offer (other than an
                        offer by the Company or a majority-controlled
                        subsidiary), pursuant to which 30 percent or more of the
                        combined voting power of the Company's then outstanding
                        voting securities is purchased, expires; or

                        (iv)    the stockholders of the Company approve an
                        agreement to merge or consolidate with another
                        corporation (other than a majority-controlled subsidiary
                        of the Company) unless the stockholders of the Company
                        immediately before the merger or consolidation are to
                        own more than 70 percent of the combined voting power of
                        the resulting entity's voting securities; or

                        (v)     the Company's stockholders approve an agreement
                        (including, without limitation, a plan of liquidation)
                        to sell or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all
                        of the business or assets of the Company; or

                        (vi)    during any period of two consecutive years,
                        individuals who, at the beginning of such period,
                        constituted the Board cease for any reason to constitute
                        at least a majority thereof, unless the election or the
                        nomination for election by the Company's stockholders of
                        each new director was approved by a vote of at least
                        two-thirds of the directors then still in office who
                        were directors at the beginning of the period; or

                        (vii)   the acquisition of direct or indirect beneficial
                        ownership of more than 15 percent of the Company's then
                        outstanding voting securities by any person or group is
                        approved over the formal objection of the Company by the
                        Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to section 9
                        of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, as
                        amended.

        However, no Change in Control shall be deemed to have occurred by reason
of any event involving a transaction in which Executive, or a group of persons
or entities with which

<PAGE>   6
                                     - 6 -

Executive acts in concert, acquires, directly or indirectly, more than 30
percent of the common stock or the business or assets of the Company; any event
involving or arising out of a proceeding under Title 11 of the United States
Code (or the provisions of any future United States bankruptcy law), an
assignment for the benefit of creditors or an insolvency proceeding under state
or local law; or any event constituting approval by the Company's stockholders
of a merger or consolidation if a majority of the group consisting of the
President and Vice Presidents of the Company who are parties to agreements
conferring rights upon a Change in Control shall have agreed in writing prior to
such approval that approval shall be deemed not to constitute a Change in
Control.

        9.      Mitigation. Executive shall not be required to mitigate the
amount of any payment provided for in this Agreement either by seeking other
employment or otherwise. The amount of any payment provided for herein shall not
be reduced by any remuneration that Executive may earn from employment with
another employer or otherwise following the termination of his employment under
this Agreement.

        10.     Noncompetition Covenant. For a period of one year following the
termination of Executive's employment under this Agreement or, if Executive has
given a notice pursuant to Section 8(b)(ii), for a period of 15 months following
the giving of such notice, Executive shall assist no individual or entity other
than the Company to acquire any entity with respect to which a proposal to
acquire the entity was presented to the Board prior to the beginning of the
period.

        11.     Indemnification. The Company shall indemnify Executive to the
fullest extent permitted by applicable Delaware law (as it may be amended from
time to time), including the advance of expenses permitted herein.

        12.     Performance. The failure of either party to this Agreement to
insist upon strict performance of any provision hereof shall not constitute a
waiver of its rights subsequently to insist upon strict performance of such
provision or any other provision of this Agreement.

        13.     Non-Assignability. Neither party shall have the right to assign
this Agreement or any rights or obligations hereunder without the consent of the
other party.

        14.     Invalidity. If any provisions of this Agreement shall be found
to be invalid by any court of competent jurisdiction, such finding shall not
affect the remaining provisions of this Agreement, all of which shall remain in
full force and effect.

<PAGE>   7
                                     - 7 -

        15.     Arbitration and Legal Fees. In the event of any dispute
regarding a refusal or failure by the Company to make payments or provide
benefits hereunder for any reason, Executive shall have the right, in addition
to all other rights and remedies provided by law, to arbitration of such dispute
under the rules of the American Arbitration Association, which right shall be
invoked by serving upon the Company a notice to arbitrate, stating the place of
arbitration, within 90 days of receipt of notice in any form (including, without
limitation, failure by the Company to respond to a notice from Executive within
30 days) that the Company is withholding or proposes to withhold payments or
provisions of benefits. In the event of any such dispute, whether or not
Executive exercises his right to arbitration, if it shall ultimately be
determined that the Company's refusal or failure to make payments or provide
benefits hereunder was wrongful or otherwise inconsistent with the terms of this
Agreement, the Company shall indemnify and hold harmless Executive from and
against any and all expenses incurred in connection with such determination,
including legal and other fees and expenses.

        16.     Successors. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to
the benefit of Executive (and his personal representative), the Company and any
successor organization or organizations that shall succeed to substantially all
of the business and property of the Company, whether by means of merger,
consolidation, acquisition of substantially all of the assets of the Company or
otherwise, including by operation of law.

        17.     Set-off. The Company shall have no right of set-off or
counterclaim in respect of any claim, debt or obligation against any payments or
benefits provided for in this Agreement.

        18.     Amendments. No amendment to this Agreement shall be effective
unless in writing and signed by both the Company and Executive.

        19.     Governing Law. This Agreement shall be interpreted and enforced
in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware.

        20.     Notices. Unless otherwise stated herein, all notices hereunder
shall be in writing and shall be deemed to be given when personally delivered or
mailed by United States registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, to, if to
the Company, 909 Silver Lake Boulevard, Dover, Delaware 19901, and, if to
Executive, the last address therefor shown on the records of the Company. Either
the Company or Executive may, by notice to the other, designate an address other
than the foregoing for the receipt of subsequent notices.

<PAGE>   8
                                     - 8 -

        21.     Withholding. The Company may withhold from any amounts payable
to Executive hereunder all federal, state, city or other taxes that the Company
may reasonably determine are required to be withheld pursuant to any applicable
law or regulation.

        22.     Nature of Payments Upon Termination. All payments to Executive
pursuant to Section 8 be considered as liquidated damages or as severance
payments in consideration of Executive's past services to the Company, and no
such payment shall be regarded as a penalty to the Company.

        23.     Acknowledgment. The parties hereto each acknowledge that each
has read this Agreement and understands the same and that each enters into this
Agreement freely and voluntarily.

                IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this
Agreement as of the date first above written.

                                    CHESAPEAKE UTILITIES CORPORATION

[CORPORATE SEAL]                    By:
                                       ----------------------------------
                                          Name:
                                          Title:

ATTEST:

---------------------------
Secretary
                                    EXECUTIVE

                                    ---------------------------------
                                    Ralph J. Adkins

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