Document:

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              AMENDED AND RESTATED SEVERANCE COMPENSATION AGREEMENT

         AMENDED AND RESTATED SEVERANCE COMPENSATION AGREEMENT (the
"Agreement"), dated December 9, 1999, between ECOGEN INC., a Delaware
corporation (the "Company") and JAMES P. REILLY, JR. (the "Executive").

         The Company's Board of Directors has determined that it is important to
reinforce and encourage the continued attention and dedication of members of the
Company's management, including the Executive, to their assigned duties.
Therefore, the Company is providing the Executive the benefits set forth in this
Agreement in the event the Executive's employment with the Company is terminated
in certain circumstances.

         1. Termination. (a) If the Executive's employment with the Company is
terminated by the Company or by the Executive at any time, the Company shall pay
the Executive the compensation set forth in Section 2, unless such termination
is a result of (i) the Executive's death, (ii) the Executive's Disability (as
defined below), (iii) the Executive's Retirement (as defined below), (iv) Cause
(as defined below) or (v) the Executive's termination of the Executive's
employment other than for Good Reason (as defined below) within six months of
the event constituting Good Reason.

         (b) "Disability" means the Executive's incapacity due to physical or
mental illness, as evidenced by the Executive being absent from the Executive's
duties with the Company for a period of six months within any 12-month period
and, within 30 days after written notice of termination is thereafter given by
the Company, not returning immediately to the performance of the Executive's
duties. For the purposes of this Agreement, the Executive's "absence" shall
include the inability of the Executive to perform the Executive's duties
substantially on a full-time basis.

         (c) "Retirement" means termination by the Company or the Executive of
the Executive's employment on account of the Executive's having reached age 65
or such other age as shall have been fixed in any retirement arrangement
established with the Executive's consent with respect to the Executive.

         (d) "Cause" means (i) any felony conviction or admission of guilt of a
felony, (ii) any breach or nonobservance by Employee of the Company's employee
policies, (iii) any willful, intentional or deliberate disobedience or neglect
by Employee of the lawful and reasonable orders or directions of the Board of
Directors; provided that the Board of Directors has given Employee written
notice of such disobedience or neglect and Employee has failed to cure such
disobedience or neglect within a period reasonable under the circumstances, or
(iv) any willful neglect or deliberate misconduct by Employee that is materially
injurious to the Company.
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         (e) "Good Reason" means (without the Executive's prior express written
consent):

                  (i) responsibilities or status with the Company or any removal
         of the Executive from, or any failure to reelect the Executive to, any
         position consistent with the Executive's duties, responsibilities and
         status except in connection with the termination of the Executive's
         employment (x) for Disability, Retirement or Cause, (y) as a result of
         the Executive's death or (z) by the Executive other than for Good
         Reason; or

                  (ii) a reduction by the Company in the Executive's salary; or

                  (iii) any failure by the Company to permit the Executive to
         participate in any benefit plan or arrangement which is generally
         available to employees of the Company (hereinafter, "Benefit Plans");
         or

                  (iv) any change in any incentive, bonus or compensation plan
         or other arrangement which is likely to materially reduce, in the
         aggregate, the total compensation payable to the Executive; or

                  (v) a relocation of the Company's principal executive offices
         to a location which is greater than twenty-five miles from the
         Company's current place of business or the Company's relocation of the
         Executive to a place other than the Company's principal executive
         offices; or

                  (vi) any material breach by the Company of this Agreement or
         violation of law in respect of the executive's employment; or

                  (vii) any failure by the Company to obtain the assumption of
         this Agreement by any successor or assign of the Company; or

                  (viii) any purported termination of the Executive's employment
         which is not effected pursuant to a Notice of Termination satisfying
         the requirements of Section 1(f); or

                  (ix) any Change in Control (as defined below).

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         (f) "Change in Control" means:

                  (i) any consolidation or merger involving the Company if the
         shareholders of the Company immediately before such merger or
         consolidation do not own, directly or indirectly, immediately following
         such merger or consolidation, more than fifty percent (50%) of the
         combined voting power of the outstanding voting securities of the
         corporation resulting from such merger or consolidation in
         substantially the same proportion as their ownership of the shares of
         common stock immediately before such merger or consolidation;

                  (ii) any sale, lease, license, exchange or other transfer (in
         one transaction or a series of related transactions) of all, or
         substantially all, of the business and/or assets of the Company or
         assets representing over 50% of the operating revenue of the Company;
         or

                  (iii) any person (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and
         14(d) of the Exchange Act) who was not, on December 2, 1998, a
         "controlling person" (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act
         of 1933, as amended) (a "Controlling Person") of the Company shall
         become (x) the beneficial owner (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under
         the Exchange Act) of over 50% of the combined voting power of the
         Company's then outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally
         or (y) a Controlling Person of the Company.

         (g) Any termination by the Company pursuant to Section 1(b), 1(c) or,
1(d) shall be communicated by a Notice of Termination. A "Notice of Termination"
means a written notice indicating the specific provisions in this Agreement
relied upon and, in reasonable detail, the facts and circumstances claimed to
provide a basis for termination of the Executive's employment under the
provision so indicated.

         (h) "Date of Termination" means (i) if this Agreement is terminated by
the Company for Disability, 30 days after Notice of Termination is given to the
Executive, provided that the Executive shall not have returned to the
performance of the Executive's duties on a full-time basis during such 30-day
period, (ii) if the Executive's employment is terminated by the Company for any
other reason, the date on which a Notice of Termination is given or (iii) if the
Executive gives notice of such termination, immediately upon the giving of such
notice.

         2. Compensation. If the requirements of Section 1 are fulfilled, the
Company shall continue to pay to the Executive, as severance pay, the
Executive's base salary for a period of two years following the Termination Date
and shall, for such period, continue to (a) cover the Executive and the
Executive's family on all life insurance, health insurance, hospitalization,
dental, drug prescription, disability and accidental death and dismemberment
plans and policies of the Company that the Executive and the Executive's family
are participating in at the time of termination on the same basis of
participation as applied prior to termination, to the extent such plans and

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policies permit non-employees to participate therein and subject to any other
terms and conditions of such plans and policies and (b) provide the Executive
with other standard benefits available at the time to the Company's executive
officers, such as automobile privileges; provided, however, if any of the plans
described in clause (a) above do not permit the participation therein of persons
who are not employees of the Company, the Company shall endeavor, in lieu
thereof, to replace such benefit for the Executive with a substantially
equivalent benefit to the extent such benefit may be obtained on commercially
reasonable terms.

         3. Mitigation; Other Contractual Rights. (a) The Executive shall not be
required to mitigate damages or the amount of any payment provided for under
this Agreement by seeking other employment or otherwise, nor shall the amount of
any payment provided for under this Agreement be reduced by any compensation
earned by the Executive as the result of employment by another employer after
the Date of Termination or otherwise.

         (b) This Agreement, and any payment provided for hereunder, shall not
reduce any amounts otherwise payable, or in any way diminish the Executive's
existing rights or rights that would accrue solely as a result of the passage of
time, under any Benefit Plan, Incentive Plan or Securities Plan, employment
agreement or other contract, plan or arrangement.

         4. Successors. (a) The Company shall require any successor or assign
(whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to
all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company, by
agreement in form and substance satisfactory to the Executive, expressly,
absolutely and unconditionally to assume and agree to perform this Agreement in
the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to
perform it if no such succession or assignment had taken place. Any failure of
the Company to obtain such agreement prior to the effectiveness of any such
succession or assignment shall be a material breach of this Agreement and shall
entitle the Executive to terminate the Executive's employment for Good Reason.
"Company" means, as used throughout this Agreement, the Company as hereinbefore
defined and any successor or assign to its business and/or assets as aforesaid
that executes and delivers the agreement provided for in this Section or that
otherwise becomes bound by this Agreement by operation of law.

         (b) This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by
the Executive's personal and legal representatives, executors, administrators,
successors, heirs, distributees, devisees and legatees. If the Executive should
die while any amounts are still payable to the Executive hereunder, all such
amounts, unless otherwise provided herein, shall be paid in accordance with the
terms of this Agreement to the Executive's devisee, legatee or other designee,
or, if there be no such designee, to the Executive's estate.

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         5. Golden Parachute Excise Tax. To the extent that, as a result of a
Change in Control, the Executive receives the compensation set forth in Section
2, the Company shall pay to Executive an amount equal to (i) any excise tax
imposed by Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the
"Code"), on any portion of the increased value accruing to Executive in
connection with such compensation set forth in Section 2 plus (ii) any other
excise taxes imposed by the Code or under federal, state or local law on the
payments provided for in this Agreement. It being understood that in connection
with the payment by the Company to Executive of the amounts set forth in the
immediately preceding sentence the Company will reimburse Executive's tax cost
relating to such payments, including by providing for an appropriate gross-up to
ensure that Executive bears no federal (including, without limitation, Medicare
taxes), state and local income taxes (the foregoing taxes are hereinafter
collectively referred to as "Income Taxes") with respect to such payments. The
amount of the taxes provided for in the first sentence of this Section shall be
determined by KPMG LLP or another national accounting firm selected by the
Company. Any amounts payable by the Company to Executive pursuant to this
Section shall be paid to Executive no later than five (5) business days before
Executive is obligated to pay any taxes to the Internal Revenue Service or the
appropriate state and local revenue authorities. The amounts payable to
Executive by the Company pursuant to this Section shall be in addition to, and
not in limitation of, the amounts payable to, or on behalf of Executive by the
Company pursuant to Section 2 hereof.

         6. Term. This Agreement shall terminate, except to the extent that any
obligation of the Company hereunder remains unpaid, upon the termination of the
Executive's employment with the Company on account of death, Disability,
Retirement or Cause or by the Executive other than for Good Reason.

         7. Notice. Notices and all other communications provided for in this
Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given when
delivered by hand or mailed by United States registered mail, return receipt
requested, postage prepaid, as follows:

                  If to the Company:

                  Ecogen Inc.
                  2005 Cabot Boulevard West
                  Langhorne, Pennsylvania  19047
                  Attention:  James P. Reilly, Jr.
                                 Chief Executive Officer

                  If to the Executive:

                  James P. Reilly, Jr.
                  16 Inlet Terrace
                  Belmar, New Jersey  07719

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or such other address as either party may have furnished to the other in writing
in accordance herewith, except that notices of change of address shall be
effective only upon receipt.

         8. Validity. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of
this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other
provision of this Agreement, which shall remain in full force and effect.

         9. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original but all of which
together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

         10. Legal Fees and Expenses. The Company shall pay all legal fees and
expenses that the Executive may incur as a result of the Company's contesting
the validity, enforceability or the Executive's interpretation of, or
determinations under, this Agreement.

         11. General. No provision of this Agreement may be modified, waived or
discharged unless such waiver, modification or discharge is agreed to in writing
signed by the Executive and the Company. No waiver by either party hereto at any
time of any breach by the other party hereto of, or compliance with, any
condition or provision of this Agreement to be performed by such other party
shall be deemed a waiver of similar or dissimilar provisions or conditions at
the same or at any prior or subsequent time. No agreements or representations,
oral or otherwise, express or implied, with respect to the subject matter hereof
have been made by either party that are not set forth expressly in this
Agreement. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with
the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

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

                                               ECOGEN INC.

                                               By
                                                   -----------------------------
                                                    Name:
                                                    Title:

                                               ------------------------------
                                               Name:  James P. Reilly, Jr.
                                               Title: Chairman and Chief
                                                       Executive Officer

                                       7<PAGE>   1

                        TERM LOAN AND SECURITY AGREEMENT

                                     BETWEEN

                                   ECOGEN INC.

                                       AND

                               THE BERKSHIRE BANK

                          DATED AS OF DECEMBER 23, 1999
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                                TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                                                            PAGE

ARTICLE 1. DEFINITIONS.......................................................1
         1.01. Defined Terms.................................................1
         1.02. Accounting Terms..............................................7
         1.03. UCC Terms.....................................................7

ARTICLE 2. THE LOAN..........................................................8
         2.01. General Terms.................................................8
         2.02. The Note......................................................8
         2.03. Repayment of the Loan.........................................8
         2.04. Payment of Interest...........................................8
         2.05. Lawful Interest...............................................8
         2.06. Facility Fee..................................................8
         2.07. Closing Expenses..............................................8
         2.08. Optional Prepayment of the Loan...............................9
         2.09. Payments to the Bank..........................................9
         2.10. Interest on Overdue Obligations...............................9

ARTICLE 3. CONDITIONS PRECEDENT..............................................9
         3.01. Conditions Precedent to the Closing...........................9
         3.02. Additional Conditions Precedent to the Loan..................12
         3.03. Closing Fees.................................................13
         3.04. Post Closing Conditions......................................13

ARTICLE 4. COLLATERAL SECURITY..............................................13
         4.01. Composition of the Collateral................................13
         4.02. Security Agreement...........................................13
         4.03. Perfection and Maintenance of Security Interest..............14
         4.04. Provisions Relating to Receivables...........................15
         4.05. Provisions Relating to Inventory.............................15
         4.06. Provisions Relating to Machinery and Equipment...............16
         4.07. Provisions Relating to Intellectual Property.................16
         4.08. Provisions Relating to the Monsanto Royalty..................16
         4.09. Priority of Security Interests...............................17

ARTICLE 5. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES...................................17
         5.01. Inducing Representations and Warranties......................17
         5.02. Survival.....................................................21

ARTICLE 6. RESERVED.........................................................21

ARTICLE 7. FINANCIAL REPORTING..............................................21
         7.01. Financial Statements.........................................21
         7.02. GAAP Reporting...............................................22
         7.03. Communications with Accountants..............................22

ARTICLE 8. COVENANTS........................................................22
         8.01. Affirmative Covenants........................................22
         8.02. Negative Covenants...........................................26

ARTICLE 9. DEFAULT..........................................................28
         9.01. Events of Default............................................28
         9.02. Remedies.....................................................30
         9.03. UCC Remedies.................................................30
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         9.04. Right of Set-off.............................................31
         9.05. Discretion to Apply the Collateral...........................32
         9.06. Rights and Remedies Cumulative; Waivers......................32
         9.07. Injunctive Relief............................................32
         9.08. Loan by Bank for Borrower Expenses...........................32
         9.09. Power of Attorney............................................33
         9.10. Actions......................................................33

ARTICLE 10. MISCELLANEOUS...................................................33
         10.01.   Construction..............................................33
         10.02.   Further Assurances........................................34
         10.03.   Preferences...............................................34
         10.04.   Indemnification...........................................34
         10.05.   Reimbursement for Bank Expenses...........................34
         10.06.   Strict Enforcement by the Bank............................35
         10.07.   Notices...................................................35
         10.08.   Bank Participations.......................................35
         10.09.   Assignments by the Borrower...............................36
         10.10.   Continuing Obligation.....................................36
         10.11.   Superseding Agreement.....................................36
         10.12.   Amendments and Waivers in Writing.........................36
         10.13.   Severability..............................................36
         10.14.   Governing Law.............................................36
         10.15.   Consent to Jurisdiction; Waiver of Trial by Jury..........36
         10.16.   Headings..................................................37
         10.17.   Counterparts..............................................37

         Exhibit A    Form of Note
         Exhibit B    Form of Guarantee
         Exhibit C    Form of Intercreditor Agreement
         Exhibit D    Locations of Inventory
         Exhibit E    Locations of Machinery and Equipment
         Exhibit F    Places of Business
         Exhibit G    Consents and Approvals
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                        TERM LOAN AND SECURITY AGREEMENT

THIS TERM LOAN AND SECURITY AGREEMENT, dated as of December 23, 1999, between
ECOGEN INC., a Delaware corporation (the "BORROWER"), and THE BERKSHIRE BANK, a
New York banking corporation (the "BANK"),

                                   WITNESSETH:

         In consideration of the mutual covenants made herein and other good and
valuable consideration, receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, and intending
to be legally bound hereby, the parties hereto agree as follows:

                                   ARTICLE 1.
                                  DEFINITIONS.

         1.01. DEFINED TERMS. As used herein:

         "ADJUSTED BASE RATE" shall mean a fluctuating rate of interest equal to
the Base Rate plus two percent (2%) per annum; provided, however, that upon the
occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default, such rate shall
be equal to the Base Rate plus six percent (6%) per annum.

         "AFFILIATE" shall mean, with respect to any Person, any other Person
which directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries controls, or is
controlled by, or is under common control with, said Person. For the purposes of
this Agreement, the term "CONTROL" shall mean the possession, directly or
indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of management and
policies of a Person, whether through ownership of common stock, by contract or
otherwise.

         "AGREEMENT" shall mean this Term Loan and Security Agreement, as the
same may, from time to time, be amended or supplemented.

         "BANK" shall mean The Berkshire Bank, a bank organized under the laws
of the State of New York, and its successors and assigns.

         "BASE RATE" shall mean a fluctuating interest rate per annum which for
each day shall equal the rate of interest announced publicly by the Bank, from
time to time, as the Bank's base rate (it being understood and agreed that such
rate shall not necessarily be the lowest rate of interest available to the most
preferred customers of the Bank), with each change in such rate to be effective
for purposes hereof on the day on which such change is so reported, and if not
so reported, as determined by the Bank in good faith by the best means available
to it.
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         "BANKING DAY" shall mean any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or any
other day in which commercial banks in New York City and Pennsylvania are
required or authorized to be closed.

         "BORROWER" shall mean Ecogen Inc., a Delaware corporation, and its
successors and assigns.

         "BUSINESS DAY" shall mean any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a
day in which commercial banks in New York City and Pennsylvania are required or
authorized to be closed.

         "CLOSING" has the meaning given to such term in Section 3.01 hereof.

         "CLOSING DATE" shall mean the date of the Closing.

         "COLLATERAL" has the meaning given to such term in Section 4.01 hereof.

         "COMMITMENT" shall mean $1,500,000.

         "DEFAULT" shall mean the occurrence of any of the events set forth in
Section 9.01 hereof which after the giving of notice, the passage of time, or
both, would become an Event of Default.

         "EVENT OF DEFAULT" has the meaning provided in Section 9.01 hereof.

         "LOAN" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.01 hereof.

         "GAAP" shall mean United States generally accepted accounting
principles consistently applied and maintained throughout the period indicated
and consistent with the prior financial practice of the Borrower and any
predecessor, as reflected on the historical and pro-forma financial statements
referred to in Article 7 hereof, except for changes mandated by the Financial
Accounting Standards Board or any similar accounting authority of comparable
standing and except for changes concurred with by a firm of independent
certified public accountants reasonably acceptable to the Bank.

         "GENERAL INTANGIBLES" shall mean and include all of the general
intangibles of the Borrower, whether now existing or hereafter acquired or
arising or in which the Borrower now has or hereafter acquires any rights,
including, without limitation, all choses in action, causes of action, corporate
or other business records, inventions, designs, patents, patent applications,
trademarks, trademark applications, trade names, trade secrets, goodwill,
registrations, copyrights, licenses, franchises, customer lists, tax refunds,
tax refund claims, rights and claims against carriers and shippers, leases,
rights to indemnification and all other intangible personal property of every
kind and nature (other than Receivables).

                                      -2-
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         "GOVERNMENTAL AUTHORITY" shall mean the United States, the States of
Delaware and Pennsylvania, or any other political subdivision in which the
Borrower owns any property or conducts any business, or any other political
subdivision, agency, authority, board, bureau, commission, court, arbitrator or
arbitration board, department, or instrumentality properly exercising
jurisdiction over the Borrower.

         "GUARANTEE" means the Guarantee, dated as of the date hereof, executed
by the Guarantor , in substantially the form of Exhibit B hereto.

         "GUARANTOR" means Momar Corporation, a Maryland corporation.

         "INDEBTEDNESS" shall mean without duplication:

                  (a) all indebtedness of such Person for borrowed money, but
         excluding obligations to trade creditors incurred in the ordinary
         course of business that are not overdue by more than six (6) months
         unless being contested in good faith;

                  (b) all reimbursement and other obligations with respect to
         letters of credit, bankers' acceptances and surety bonds, whether or
         not matured;

                  (c) all obligations evidenced by notes, bonds, debentures or
         similar instruments;

                  (d) all indebtedness created or arising under any conditional
         sale or other title retention agreement with respect to property
         acquired by such Person (even though the rights and remedies of the
         seller or lender under such agreement in the event of default is
         limited to repossession or sale of such property);

                  (e) all Indebtedness referred to above secured by (or for
         which the holder of such Indebtedness has an existing right, contingent
         or otherwise, to be secured by) any Lien upon or in property or other
         assets (including accounts and contract rights) owned by such Person
         even though such Person has not assumed or become liable for the
         payment of such Indebtedness;

                  (f) intercompany loans with Subsidiaries (other than the
         Principal Subsidiaries) made in the normal course of business;

                  (g) All indebtedness guaranteed, directly or indirectly, in
         any manner, or endorsed (other than for collection or deposit in the
         ordinary course of business) or discounted with recourse by the
         Borrower;

                  (h) All indebtedness guaranteed by the Borrower, directly or
         indirectly, through agreements, contingent or otherwise: (1) to
         purchase such indebtedness; or (2) to purchase, sell, or lease (as
         lessee or lessor) property, products, materials, or supplies or to
         purchase or sell services, primarily for the

                                      -3-
<PAGE>   7
         purpose of enabling the debtor to make payment of such indebtedness or
         to insure the owner of the indebtedness against loss; or (3) to supply
         funds to, or in any other manner invest in, the debtor;

                  (i) All indebtedness secured by (or for which the holder of
         such indebtedness has a right, contingent or otherwise, to be secured
         by) any mortgage, deed of trust, pledge, lien, security interest, or
         other charge or encumbrance upon property owned or acquired subject
         thereto whether or not the liabilities secured thereby have been
         assumed; and

                  (j) the Obligations.

         "INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT" shall mean the Intercreditor Agreement, dated
as of the date hereof, among the Borrower, the Bank and Congress Financial
Corporation, in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit C.

         "INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY" means (i) all patents, patent applications,
patent rights, inventions and improvements, shop rights, processes and formulae,
trade secrets, proprietary technical information, technology and know-how, (ii)
all trademarks, service marks, trade names, label designs and other trade dress
(including the goodwill of the business associated therewith) and copyrights and
(iii) all transferable rights under license agreements with respect to any of
the foregoing.

         "INTERNAL REVENUE CODE" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986,
as amended from time to time, and all rules and regulations from time to time
promulgated thereunder.

         "INVENTORY" shall mean and include all of the inventory of the
Borrower, whether now existing or hereafter acquired or arising or in which the
Borrower now has or hereafter acquires any rights, (i) including, without
limitation, goods held by the Borrower for sale or lease or to be furnished
under any contract of service, or so furnished by the Borrower, and all raw
materials, work in process, finished goods and materials and supplies of any
kind, nature or description which are or might be used or consumed in the
business of the Borrower or are or might be used in connection with the
manufacture, packing, shipping, advertising, selling or finishing of such goods,
all returned or repossessed goods now, or at any time or times hereafter, in the
possession or under the control of the Borrower or the Bank, and all documents
of title or documents representing the same, and (ii) excluding any of such
items as set forth in (i) herein to the extent the Borrower does not have an
ownership interest in such items.

         "LAWS" shall mean all ordinances, statutes, rules, regulations, orders,
injunctions, writs, or decrees of any government or political subdivision or
agency thereof, or any court or similar entity established by any thereof.

         "LOAN" shall mean the loan under the Loan by the Bank to or for the
account of the Borrower pursuant to Article 2 hereof.

                                      -4-
<PAGE>   8
         "MACHINERY AND EQUIPMENT" shall mean and include all of the equipment
and fixtures of the Borrower, whether now existing or hereafter acquired or
arising or in which the Borrower now has or hereafter acquires any rights,
including, without limitation, furniture, machinery, vehicles (but excluding
titled vehicles) and trade fixtures, together with any and all accessories,
accessions, parts and appurtenances thereto, substitutions therefor and
replacements thereof.

         "MATERIAL ADVERSE EFFECT" has the meaning set forth in Section 5.01(d)
hereof.

         "MATURITY DATE" shall mean June 23, 2001.

         "MONSANTO ACCOUNT" has the meaning set forth in Section 4.08 hereof.

         "MONSANTO INSTRUCTIONS" has the meaning set forth in Section 4.08
hereof.

         "MONSANTO ROYALTY" shall mean all Gene Success Fees and
Commercialization Success Fees payable at any time to Borrower or any of its
subsidiaries by Monsanto Company pursuant to the Technology Assignment Agreement
dated as of January 24, 1996, as amended, by and among Monsanto Company,
Borrower, and Ecogen-Bio, Inc.

         "NOTE" shall mean the promissory note referred to in Section 2.02
hereof.

         "OBLIGATIONS" shall mean:

                  (a) the obligations of the Borrower to pay the principal of,
         and interest on, the Note in accordance with the terms thereof and to
         satisfy all of its other liabilities to the Bank hereunder, under the
         Note, and under any of the other Related Documents, whether now
         existing or hereafter incurred, matured or unmatured, direct or
         contingent, joint or several, including any extensions, modifications,
         renewals thereof, and substitutions therefor;

                  (b) the obligations of the Borrower to repay to the Bank
         hereunder, under the Note and under any of the other Related Documents,
         all amounts advanced by the Bank on behalf of the Borrower, including,
         but without limitation, advances for principal or interest payments to
         prior secured parties, mortgagees, or lienors, or for taxes, levies,
         insurance, rent, or repairs to, or maintenance of the Collateral;

                  (c) all advances, liabilities, obligations, covenants and
         duties, of any kind or nature, present or future, whether or not
         evidenced by any note, guaranty or other instrument, which are owing by
         the Borrower to the Bank and arise under this Agreement or any Related
         Document, whether or not for the payment of money, whether direct or
         indirect, absolute or contingent, or due or to become due; and

                                      -5-
<PAGE>   9
                  (d) the obligations of the Borrower to reimburse the Bank on
         demand, for all of the Bank's out-of-pocket expenses and costs,
         including the reasonable fees and expenses of its counsel, in
         connection with the preparation, amendment, modification, or
         enforcement of this Agreement and the documents required hereunder, and
         in connection with any proceeding brought, or threatened, to enforce
         payment of any of the obligations referred to in the foregoing
         paragraphs (a), (b) and (c).

         "OBLIGOR" shall mean any Person that is an obligor on a Receivable.

         "OUTSTANDING AMOUNT" shall mean, from time to time, the principal
amount outstanding under the Loan.

         "PARTICIPATING BANK" shall mean any participating or co-lending bank
with which, pursuant to Section 10.08 hereof, the Bank may enter into a
participation or co-lending agreement.

         "PERMITTED ENCUMBRANCES" shall mean (A) the security interest of
Congress Financial Corporation granted pursuant to the Loan and Security
Agreement, dated August 20, 1998, as amended, between Congress Financial
Corporation and the Borrower, (B) liens for taxes not yet subject to penalties
or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and with
respect to which adequate reserves or other appropriate provision (in the
opinion of an authorized financial officer of the Bank) shall have been
established on the books of the Borrower, (C) pledges or deposits made under
workmen's compensation, unemployment insurance, social security and similar
legislation, or in connection with appeal or surety bonds incident to
litigation, or to secure statutory obligations, (D) mechanics', repairmen's,
materialmen's, warehousemen's, and other like liens with respect to liabilities
which are not yet due or which are being contested in good faith, (E)
encumbrances on assets that are not Collateral and are not used to secure any
Indebtedness of the Borrower, (F) purchase money security interests in Machinery
and Equipment (including capital leases) not to exceed $925,000 in the aggregate
at any time outstanding so long as such security interests do not apply to any
property of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries other than the Machinery and
Equipment so acquired and the Indebtedness secured thereby does not exceed the
cost of the Machinery and Equipment so acquired and the Indebtedness secured,
(G) liens and security interests of the Bank and (H) such other minor defects of
title which in the opinion of counsel acceptable to the Bank will not materially
impair the value of, or the Bank's security interest in, the Collateral for any
reasonable use or the ability of the Bank to realize the value of, or its
security interest in, the Collateral.

         "PERSON" shall mean any individual, corporation, partnership,
association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization, joint
venture, court, or government or political subdivision or agency thereof.

                                      -6-
<PAGE>   10
         "PREFERRED DIVIDENDS" shall mean the dividends provided under the
Series 1999A Convertible Preferred Stock and the Series 1998C Convertible
Preferred Shares.

         "PRINCIPAL SUBSIDIARIES" shall mean Ecogen-Bio Inc., Ecogen Investments
Inc., Ecogen Technologies I Incorporated, Ecosearch Mildew I Inc., Ecoresearch
Harvest Rot II Inc., Ecoresearch Corn Borer III Inc., Ecoresearch Nematodes IV
Inc., Ecoresearch Rootworm V Inc. and Ecoresearch Turf VI Inc.

         "RECEIVABLES" shall mean and include, with respect to the Borrower, all
of the accounts, contract rights, chattel paper and instruments of the Borrower,
whether now existing or hereafter acquired or arising or in which the Borrower
now has or hereafter acquires any rights, including, without limitation, all
present and future rights to payments for goods, merchandise or Inventory sold
or leased or for services rendered, whether or not represented by instruments or
chattel paper, and whether or not earned by performance; proceeds of any letter
of credit on which the Borrower is beneficiary; and all forms of obligations
whatsoever owing to the Borrower, together with all instruments and documents of
title representing any of the foregoing, all rights in any goods, merchandise or
Inventory which any of the foregoing may represent, all rights in any returned
or repossessed goods, merchandise or Inventory, and all rights, security and
guaranties with respect to each of the foregoing, including, without limitation,
any right of stoppage in transit.

         "RECORDS" shall mean correspondence, memoranda, tapes, discs, papers,
books, and other documents, or transcribed information of any type, whether
expressed in ordinary or machine language, wheresoever the same may be located,
and whether or not the same are in the possession of the Borrower or another
Person.

         "RELATED DOCUMENTS" shall mean the documents, whether deliverable at or
after the Closing, required under Section 3.01 hereof.

         "SUBSIDIARY" shall mean, with respect to the Borrower, any corporation
of which more than 50% of the outstanding stock having ordinary voting power to
elect a majority of the board of directors of such corporation is at the time
directly or indirectly owned or controlled by the Borrower or by one or more
Subsidiaries.

         "TRANSACTION DOCUMENTS" has the meaning set forth in Section 5.01(b)
hereof.

         1.02. ACCOUNTING TERMS. Accounting terms used and not otherwise defined
in this Agreement have the meanings determined by GAAP, and all calculations
with respect to accounting or financial matters unless otherwise provided herein
shall be computed in accordance with GAAP.

         1.03. UCC TERMS. All terms used herein that are defined in the Uniform
Commercial Code of the applicable jurisdiction (the "UCC") and are not otherwise
defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the UCC.

                                      -7-
<PAGE>   11
                                   ARTICLE 2.
                                    THE LOAN.

         2.01. GENERAL TERMS. Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, the
Bank hereby establishes a term loan facility for the account of the Borrower,
under which the Bank agrees to make a term loan to the Borrower (the "LOAN") on
the Closing Date in a principal amount equal to the Commitment.

         2.02. THE NOTE. On the Closing Date, the Borrower shall execute and
deliver a promissory note to the Bank (the "NOTE"), which Note shall be in the
form of Exhibit A hereto. The Note shall be in the principal amount of the
Commitment.

         2.03. REPAYMENT OF THE LOAN. An amount of principal on the Loan equal
to $500,000 shall be due and payable on June 23, 2000 and the Outstanding Amount
shall be due and payable on the Maturity Date.

         2.04. PAYMENT OF INTEREST. Interest for the Loan shall be payable by
the Borrower at the Adjusted Base Rate monthly in arrears on the first day of
each month, calculated on the basis of a 360-day year for actual days elapsed.

         2.05. LAWFUL INTEREST. Nothing contained in this Agreement or in the
Note or in any other agreement or instrument evidencing or relating to the
Obligations shall be construed to permit the Bank to receive at any time
interest, fees or other charges in excess of the amounts which the Bank is
legally entitled to charge and receive under any law to which such interest,
fees or charges are subject. In no contingency or event whatsoever shall the
compensation payable to the Bank by the Borrower, howsoever characterized or
computed, hereunder or under the Note or under any other agreement or instrument
evidencing or relating to the Obligations exceed the highest rate permissible
under any law to which such compensation is subject. There is no intention that
the Bank shall contract for, charge or receive compensation in excess of the
highest lawful rate, and, in the event it should be determined that the Bank has
contracted for any rate of interest in excess of the highest lawful rate, then
ipso facto such rate shall be reduced to the highest lawful rate so that no
amounts shall be charged which are in excess thereof, and, in the event it
should be determined that any excess over such highest lawful rate has been
charged or received, the Bank shall promptly refund such excess to the Borrower;
provided, however, that, if lawful, any such excess shall be paid by the
Borrower to the Bank as additional interest (accruing at a rate equal to the
maximum legal rate minus the rate provided for hereunder) during any subsequent
period when regular interest is accruing hereunder at less than the maximum
legal rate.

         2.06. FACILITY FEE. On the Closing Date, the Borrower shall pay to the
Bank a facility fee in the amount of $7,500.

         2.07. CLOSING EXPENSES. On the Closing Date, the Borrower shall
reimburse the Bank for the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel to the
Bank, and all other

                                      -8-
<PAGE>   12
out-of-pocket fees and expenses incurred by the Bank referred to in Section
10.05 hereof relating to the Loan.

         2.08. OPTIONAL PREPAYMENT OF THE LOAN. Upon one (1) Business Day's
notice to the Bank, or upon same day notice received by the Bank prior to 12:00
noon (New York time), the Borrower may prepay the Outstanding Amount of the Loan
in whole or, from time to time, in part, without premium or penalty, any partial
payment to be made in integral multiples of $100,000; provided, however, that
any such prepayment shall be applied solely to principal due under the Loan.

         2.09. PAYMENTS TO THE BANK. (a) All payments of interest on, and
principal of, the Loan, all fees, and all other sums payable to the Bank shall
be paid directly to the Bank, at its address set forth in Section 10.07 hereof,
or such other place as the Bank shall by written notice to the Borrower
designate, in immediately available funds on the dates specified hereunder, or
if any such date is not a Business Day, then on the next succeeding Business
Day, in such currency of the United States of America as is, at the time of
payment, legal tender for the payment of public and private debts. Except as
otherwise provided in this Agreement, the Bank shall send the Borrower
statements of all amounts due hereunder for interest, principal, and fees, which
statements shall be considered correct and presumptively binding on the Borrower
unless the Borrower notifies the Bank to the contrary within thirty (30) days of
its receipt of any statement which it deems to be incorrect.

         (b) All payments made by the Borrower under this Agreement shall be
made free and clear of, and without reduction for or on account of, any present
or future stamp or other taxes, levies, imposts, duties, charges, fees,
deductions, withholdings, restrictions or conditions of any nature whatsoever
now or hereafter imposed, levied, collected, withheld or assessed by any country
(or by any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein)
excluding income and franchise taxes now or hereafter imposed on the Bank.

         2.10. INTEREST ON OVERDUE OBLIGATIONS. Except as otherwise expressly
provided herein, the Borrower agrees to pay to the Bank interest at the Adjusted
Base Rate on all Obligations which are due hereunder and unpaid from the due
date to the date of payment by the Borrower.

                                   ARTICLE 3.
                              CONDITIONS PRECEDENT.

         The obligation of the Bank to make the Loan is subject to the
following:

         3.01. CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO THE CLOSING. The Borrower shall have
delivered to the Bank, prior to December 23, 1999 (the date upon which all of
the following have been delivered to the Bank to be defined as the "CLOSING
DATE"), the following:

                  (a) the Note, duly executed by the Borrower;

                                      -9-
<PAGE>   13
                  (b) the Guarantee, duly executed by the Guarantor;

                  (c) the Intercreditor Agreement, duly executed by the Borrower
         and Congress Financial Corporation;

                  (d) a list of insurance policies complying with Section
         8.01(k) hereof and a copy of the certificate of insurance with respect
         to each such policy, and, with respect to casualty insurance policies,
         loss payable endorsements naming the Bank as loss payee, together with
         evidence that all premiums that are due have been paid on each such
         policy;

                  (e) the written consent of Congress Financial Corporation to
         this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby;

                  (f) such Uniform Commercial Code filings as are necessary in
         the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to perfect the security interests of
         the Bank in the Collateral;

                  (g) a copy of the certificate of incorporation of the
         Borrower, certified as of a current date by the Secretary of State of
         Delaware;

                  (h) a good standing certificate for the Borrower, issued as of
         a current date by the Secretary of State of Delaware;

                  (i) a certificate or certificates issued as of a current date
         by the Secretary of Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, or other evidence
         acceptable to the Bank in its sole discretion, stating that the
         Borrower is qualified to do business in, and is in good standing as a
         foreign corporation doing business in, the Commonwealth of
         Pennsylvania;

                  (j) a certificate of the secretary of the Borrower certifying
         (i) that attached thereto is a true and complete copy of the bylaws of
         the Borrower as in effect on the date of such certification, (ii) that
         attached thereto is a true and complete copy of resolutions adopted by
         the board of directors of the Borrower authorizing the execution,
         delivery and performance of this Agreement and each of the other
         Related Documents to which it is a party, and (iii) as to the
         incumbency and genuineness of the signature of each officer of the
         Borrower executing this Agreement;

                  (k) a certificate signed by the president of the Borrower
         attesting to such factual matters as shall be requested by the Bank,
         including that (i) the representations and warranties set forth in
         Article 5 hereof (as they relate solely to the transactions
         contemplated by the Closing) are true and correct in all material
         respects on and as of such date with the same effect as though made on
         and as of such date, (ii) the Borrower is on such date in compliance
         with all the terms and

                                      -10-
<PAGE>   14
         provisions set forth in this Agreement and the other Related Documents
         (each, as they relate solely to the transactions contemplated by the
         Closing) on its part to be observed or performed, and (iii) on such
         date, and after giving effect to the consummation of the transactions
         contemplated by this Agreement, no Default or Event of Default nor any
         event or condition which with the making of the Loan, the consummation
         of such transactions or any combination thereof would constitute such a
         Default or Event of Default, has occurred and is continuing;

                  (l) a written opinion of Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker
         LLP, counsel to the Borrower, dated the Closing Date and addressed to
         the Bank, in form satisfactory to the Bank, to the effect that:

                           (1) the Borrower is a corporation duly organized,
                  validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the
                  State of Delaware, and has the power to own its assets and to
                  transact the business in which it is engaged,

                           (2) the Borrower has the power to execute, deliver
                  and perform the Borrower's obligations under the Transaction
                  Documents and the shareholders and the board of directors of
                  the Borrower have taken all necessary action required under
                  the certificate of incorporation and bylaws of the Borrower to
                  authorize the execution and delivery by the Borrower of, and
                  performance of the Borrower's obligations under, the
                  Transaction Documents,

                           (3) the execution and delivery by the Borrower of,
                  and performance by the Borrower of the Borrower's obligations
                  under, the Transaction Documents (i) will not violate any
                  provision of any applicable law (including laws relating to
                  usury) or regulation or of any order, writ, judgment,
                  injunction or decree of any governmental authority, (ii) will
                  not violate any provision of the certificate of incorporation
                  or bylaws of the Borrower and (iii) will not violate any
                  provision of, or constitute a default under, or result in the
                  creation or imposition of any prohibited lien on any asset of
                  the Borrower pursuant to the provisions of, any mortgage,
                  indenture, contract, agreement or other undertaking known to
                  such counsel to which the Borrower is a party or which is
                  binding upon the Borrower or upon any of its assets,

                           (4) the Transaction Documents have been duly executed
                  and delivered by the Borrower, and constitute the legal, valid
                  and binding obligations of the Borrower, subject to
                  bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium, or other similar laws
                  affecting creditors' rights generally and to principles of
                  equity,

                           (5) with respect to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,
                  all financing statements necessary or desirable to be filed in
                  connection with

                                      -11-
<PAGE>   15
                  the perfection of the security interests in the Collateral
                  granted hereunder and under the Related Documents have been
                  duly filed and no other filing or recording is required (other
                  than that, prior to the expiration of five years from the date
                  of the initial filing, the filing of continuation statements
                  shall be required) and the foregoing are effective to create a
                  valid and perfected security interest in the Collateral in
                  favor of the Bank securing the Obligations, and

                           (6) to the knowledge of such counsel, there is no
                  action, suit, proceeding, inquiry or investigation, at law or
                  in equity, before or by any court, public board or body
                  pending or threatened in writing against or affecting the
                  Borrower wherein an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding
                  would materially, adversely affect the transactions
                  contemplated by this Agreement or any of the obligations of
                  the Borrower;

                  (m) a copy of the Monsanto Instructions with evidence of the
         mailing thereof to Monsanto Company by certified mail; and

                  (n) such other documents, instruments, agreements and opinions
         as the Bank may reasonably request.

         In addition, the Borrower shall have delivered or caused the Guarantor
to deliver to the Bank, prior to the Closing Date:

                  (i) a copy of the certificate of incorporation of the
         Guarantor, certified as of a current date by the Secretary of State of
         Maryland;

                  (ii) a good standing certificate for the Guarantor, issued as
         of a current date by the Secretary of State of Maryland; and

                  (iii) a certificate of the president of the Guarantor
         certifying (i) that attached thereto is a true and complete copy of the
         bylaws of the Guarantor as in effect on the date of such certification,
         (ii) that attached thereto is a true and complete copy of resolutions
         adopted by the board of directors of the Guarantor authorizing the
         execution, delivery and performance of the Guarantee, and (iii) as to
         the incumbency and genuineness of the signature of each officer of the
         Guarantor executing the Guarantee.

         3.02. ADDITIONAL CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO THE LOAN. Notwithstanding any
other provision of this Agreement, the Bank shall have no obligation to make the
Loan unless and until the following conditions have been met with respect to the
Borrower:

                  (a) Immediately before and after the Loan, no Event of Default
         (other than as set forth in Section 5.01(o) hereof) shall have occurred
         and be continuing; and

                                      -12-
<PAGE>   16
                  (b) The representations and warranties of the Borrower
         contained in this Agreement shall be true as if made on and as of the
         date of the Loan.

         3.03. CLOSING FEES. In addition to the conditions set forth in Sections
3.01 and 3.02 hereof, it shall be a condition precedent to the Closing that the
Borrower shall have paid to the Bank the facility fee provided for in Section
2.06 hereof plus the fees and expenses of the Bank related to the Closing which
are provided for in Section 2.07 hereof.

         3.04. POST CLOSING CONDITIONS. The Borrower shall deliver to the Bank,
prior to January 17, 1999, the following:

                  (a) a UCC search report reflecting that such personal property
         security interests constitute valid and perfected first priority
         security interests (except for Permitted Encumbrances), duly recorded
         in the appropriate recording or filing offices with all recording or
         filing fees and taxes, if any, paid thereof; and

                  (b) termination statements executed by any creditors holding
         security interests, if any, which are not Permitted Encumbrances in any
         of the Collateral.

                                   ARTICLE 4.
                              COLLATERAL SECURITY.

         4.01. COMPOSITION OF THE COLLATERAL. The property in which a security
interest is granted pursuant to the provisions of Section 4.02 is herein
collectively called the "COLLATERAL." The Collateral, together with all other
property of the Borrower of any kind held by the Bank shall stand as one
general, continuing collateral security for all Obligations and may be retained
by the Bank as collateral security until all Obligations have been satisfied in
full.

         4.02. SECURITY AGREEMENT. As security for all Obligations, the Borrower
grants to the Bank (in addition to any collateral security in which a security
interest is granted pursuant to any of the other Related Documents) a security
interest (subject to Permitted Encumbrances) in and assignment of:

                  (a) all of the Borrower's Receivables;

                  (b) all of the Borrower's Machinery and Equipment;

                  (c) all of the right, title and interest of the Borrower in
         and to any agreements or contracts for the sale of goods and services,
         and other miscellaneous agreements and contracts as such agreements may
         be amended or otherwise modified from time to time herein including
         without limitation: (i) all rights of the Borrower to receive moneys
         due and to become due under or pursuant to such agreements or
         contracts, (ii) all rights of the Borrower to receive proceeds of any
         insurance, indemnity, warranty or guaranty with respect to the

                                      -13-
<PAGE>   17
         agreements or contracts, (iii) claims of the Borrower for damages
         arising out of or for breach of or default under the agreements or
         contracts and (iv) the right of the Borrower to terminate the
         agreements or contracts, to perform thereunder and to compel
         performance and otherwise exercise all remedies thereunder.

                  (d) all of the Borrower's General Intangibles;

                  (e) all of the Borrower's Inventory;

                  (f) all of the Borrower's goods, chattels, business Records,
         contracts, documents of title, fixtures, insurance policies and
         proceeds, licenses, licensing fees, permits, approvals, consents,
         certificates, stock, surveys, engineering reports, tools, landscaping,
         all other equipment and machinery, furniture, furnishings, business
         machines, appliances, deposits, security deposits, money, securities,
         claims, demands, causes of action, refunds, rebates, income and all
         other tangible and intangible real, personal or mixed property whether
         now owned or hereafter acquired; and

                  (g) all proceeds, products, additions to, replacements of,
         substitutions for and accessions of any and all Collateral described in
         subparagraphs (a), (b), (c), (d), (e) and (f) above.

         4.03. PERFECTION AND MAINTENANCE OF SECURITY INTEREST. Until all
Obligations have been fully satisfied, the Bank's security interest in the
Collateral, and all products and proceeds thereof, whether such goods and rights
are now owned or hereafter acquired, shall continue in full force and effect.
The Borrower shall perform or cause to be performed any and all steps requested
by the Bank to perfect, maintain and protect the Bank's security interest in the
Collateral, including, without limitation, executing and filing financing or
continuation statements, or amendments thereof, in form and substance
satisfactory to the Bank, maintaining a perpetual inventory and complete and
accurate stock records, delivering to the Bank any warehouse receipts not
pledged to a secured party under any Permitted Encumbrance covering that portion
of the Collateral, if any, located in warehouses or storage facilities and for
which negotiable warehouse receipts are issued, or taking such other steps as
are deemed necessary by the Bank to maintain the Bank's control of the
Inventory. The Bank may file one or more financing statements disclosing the
Bank's security interest under this Agreement without the Borrower's signature
appearing thereon or may execute any such financing statement on behalf of the
Borrower and the Borrower shall pay the reasonable costs of, or incidental to,
any recording or filing of any financing statements concerning the Collateral;
provided, however, that the Bank shall give prompt notice in writing to the
Borrower of any such action. Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of
an Event of Default, the Borrower shall, upon the Bank's Request, perform or
cause to be performed the transferring of Inventory to warehouses or storage
facilities designated by the Bank. If any Inventory is in the possession or
control of any warehouseman or of the agents or bailees of the Borrower, the
Borrower shall notify such agents or bailees of the Bank's security interest in
such Inventory and, upon the occurrence and during the continuance

                                      -14-
<PAGE>   18
of an Event of Default, instruct them to hold all such Inventory for the Bank's
account and subject to the Bank's instructions. From time to time, the Borrower
shall, upon the Bank's request, execute and deliver or cause to be executed and
delivered confirmatory written instruments pledging to the Bank the Inventory
described in any such written instruments or otherwise; provided, however, that
no failure of the Borrower to execute and deliver such confirmatory instruments
shall affect or limit the Bank's security interest or other rights in and to the
Inventory.

         4.04. PROVISIONS RELATING TO RECEIVABLES. The following provisions
relating to Receivables shall be applicable to the Borrower during the term
hereof:

                  (a) Without the prior written consent of the Bank, which will
         not be unreasonably withheld, in each case, the Borrower will not
         redate any invoice or sale or make sales on extended dating beyond that
         customary in its industry or materially change the terms of sale
         customarily offered to its customers.

                  (b) If the Borrower becomes aware of anything materially
         detrimental to the credit of any Obligor that owes the Borrower more
         than $100,000, it will promptly advise the Bank thereof.

                  (c) During the term of this Agreement, the Borrower shall not
         sell or assign or grant any security interest in any Receivables to
         anyone other than the Bank or to holders of Permitted Encumbrances.

                  (d) The Bank may, at all times after the occurrence and during
         the continuance of an Event of Default, settle or adjust disputes and
         claims directly with the Obligors for amounts and upon terms which the
         Bank considers advisable, subject to the consent of holders of
         Permitted Encumbrances.

                  (e) The Borrower agrees, represents and warrants that each
         Receivable will be owned by the Borrower free and clear of any liens,
         claims or encumbrances except in favor of the Bank and the holders of
         Permitted Encumbrances and will cover a bona fide sale and delivery of
         Inventory usually dealt in by the Borrower, or the provision by the
         Borrower of services to the Obligors in the ordinary course of
         business.

                  (f) Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event
         of Default, the Bank or its designee may notify the Obligors at any
         time that Receivables have been assigned to the Bank or of the Bank's
         security interest therein, collect them directly and charge the
         collection costs and expenses to the Borrower's loan account.

         4.05. PROVISIONS RELATING TO INVENTORY. The Borrower represents,
warrants and covenants that all the Inventory is and will be owned by the
Borrower free of all liens and encumbrances other than the Bank's security
interest hereunder and except for Permitted Encumbrances, and shall be kept by
the Borrower at the locations set forth on Exhibit D

                                      -15-
<PAGE>   19
hereto, and that the Borrower shall not (without the Bank's prior written
approval) remove the Inventory therefrom except for the purposes of sale in the
regular course of its business and except as required by the holders of
Permitted Encumbrances. Except for sales of Inventory made in the ordinary
course of business, the Borrower shall not sell, encumber or dispose of or
permit the sale, encumbrance or disposal of any Inventory without the Bank's
prior written consent.

         4.06. PROVISIONS RELATING TO MACHINERY AND EQUIPMENT. The Borrower
shall keep and maintain its Machinery and Equipment in good operating condition
and repair and shall make all necessary replacements thereof so that the value
and operating efficiency thereof shall at all times be maintained and preserved,
and shall not permit any such items to become a fixture to real estate or
accession to other personal property unless the Bank has a security interest in
such real estate or other personal property subject only to Permitted
Encumbrances. The Borrower shall, immediately on demand therefor by the Bank,
deliver to the Bank any and all evidence of ownership of any of the Machinery
and Equipment. The Machinery and Equipment shall be maintained at locations
specified in Exhibit E hereto. The Borrower shall not sell, lease, grant a
security interest in or otherwise dispose of or encumber the Machinery and
Equipment, or any part thereof (except that the Borrower may sell and replace
obsolete Machinery and Equipment in the ordinary course of business), other than
with Permitted Encumbrances.

         4.07. PROVISIONS RELATING TO INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY. The Borrower and
each Subsidiary has good and valid title to, or has all necessary rights to use,
all patents, patent applications, trademarks, trademark applications, service
marks, trade names, copyrights, licenses and other intellectual property rights
(collectively, the "Intellectual Property Rights") which the Borrower reasonably
believes are necessary for use in connection with its business and the business
of each Subsidiary, and which the failure to so have would have a Material
Adverse Effect. To the best knowledge of the Borrower, all such Intellectual
Property Rights are enforceable and there is no existing infringement by another
Person of any of the Intellectual Property Rights that is reasonably likely to
have a Material Adverse Effect.

         4.08. PROVISIONS RELATING TO THE MONSANTO ROYALTY. The Borrower shall
establish an account with the Bank (the "MONSANTO ACCOUNT") which shall be used
for the sole purpose of receiving payments on the Monsanto Royalty. The Borrower
shall instruct Monsanto Company in writing (the "MONSANTO INSTRUCTIONS") to make
all payments on the Monsanto Royalty to the Bank for deposit into the Monsanto
Account, which instructions shall provide that the Monsanto Instructions may not
be modified or rescinded without the written consent of the Bank. Amounts on
deposit in the Monsanto Account may be applied, during the continuance of an
Event of Default, to the payment of regularly scheduled payments of principal
and interest on the Loan. Any amounts on deposit in the Monsanto Account not
currently required to make payments on the Loan as aforesaid shall be paid to
the Borrower, but only with the consent of the Bank, which consent shall not be
unreasonably withheld; provided, however, that the Bank shall not withhold its
consent with respect to any amounts in excess of the unpaid principal balance of
the Loan.

                                      -16-
<PAGE>   20
         4.09. PRIORITY OF SECURITY INTERESTS. The Borrower warrants that the
security interests of the Bank in the Collateral shall be perfected security
interests, subject only to Permitted Encumbrances.

                                   ARTICLE 5.
                         REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.

         5.01. INDUCING REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES. In order to induce the
Bank to enter into this Agreement and to make the Loan, the Borrower represents
and warrants to the Bank that (where appropriate, giving effect to the
consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement) as of the
Closing Date:

                  (a) Organization and Qualification. The Borrower and each
         Subsidiary (as defined below) is a corporation, duly incorporated,
         validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of
         Delaware, with the requisite corporate power and authority to own and
         use its properties and assets and to carry on its business as currently
         conducted. Ecogen Investments Inc., a Delaware corporation
         ("E-Investments"), Ecogen-Bio Inc., a Delaware corporation ("E-Bio")
         and Ecogen Technologies I Incorporated, a Delaware corporation
         ("Etech"), comprise all of the entities which would be deemed
         "significant subsidiaries" of the Borrower, as such term is defined in
         Rule 1-02(w) of Regulation S-X promulgated under the Securities
         Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"). The Borrower is
         the owner of all of the issued and outstanding capital stock of
         E-Investments and E-Bio, and is the owner of no less than 70% of the
         issued and outstanding common stock of Etech, free and clear of any and
         all liens, charges or encumbrances or rights of first refusal of any
         nature whatsoever.

                  (b) Authority. The Borrower has the requisite corporate power
         and authority to enter into and to consummate the transactions
         contemplated by each of this Agreement and the other agreements and
         instruments executed and delivered by it pursuant hereto (collectively,
         the "Transaction Documents") and otherwise to carry out its obligations
         hereunder and thereunder. The execution and delivery of each of the
         Transaction Documents by the Borrower and the consummation by it of the
         transactions contemplated thereby have been duly authorized by all
         necessary action on the part of the Borrower and no further action is
         required by the Borrower. Each of the Transaction Documents has been
         duly executed by the Borrower and, when delivered (or filed, as the
         case may be) in accordance with the terms hereof, will constitute the
         valid and binding obligation of the Borrower enforceable against the
         Borrower in accordance with its terms. Neither the Borrower nor any
         Subsidiary is in violation of any of the provisions of its respective
         certificate of incorporation, by-laws or other charter documents.

                                      -17-
<PAGE>   21
                  (c) Due Authorization. The execution, delivery and performance
         of this Agreement and each of the other Related Documents to which the
         Borrower is a party and the creation of the security interests and
         liens provided for under this Agreement have been duly authorized by
         all necessary or proper action on the part of the Borrower, including
         the consent of its shareholders where required.

                  (d) Noncontravention. The execution, delivery and performance
         of the Transaction Documents by the Borrower and the consummation by
         the Borrower of the transactions contemplated thereby do not and will
         not (i) conflict with or violate any provision of its certificate of
         incorporation, bylaws or other charter documents (each as amended
         through the date hereof), or (ii) conflict with, or constitute a
         default (or an event which with notice or lapse of time or both would
         become a default) under, or give to others any rights of termination,
         amendment, acceleration or cancellation of, or result in a loss of
         contractual benefits under any agreement, credit facility, indenture or
         instrument (evidencing a Borrower debt or otherwise) to which the
         Borrower or any Subsidiary is party or by which any property or asset
         of the Borrower or any Subsidiary is bound or affected, or (iii) result
         in a violation of any law, rule, regulation, order, judgment,
         injunction, decree or other restriction of any court or Governmental
         Authority to which the Borrower or any Subsidiary is subject or by
         which any property or asset of the Borrower or any Subsidiary is bound
         or affected, except in the case of each of clauses (ii) and (iii), as
         is not reasonably likely to, individually or in the aggregate, (x) have
         or result in a material adverse effect on the business, operations,
         property, assets, liabilities (financial or otherwise) or prospects of
         the Borrower and the Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or (y) adversely
         impair the Borrower's ability to perform fully on a timely basis its
         obligations under any of the Transaction Documents (any of (x) or (y),
         being a "Material Adverse Effect").

                  (e) Valid and Binding Obligations. This Agreement, the Note
         and each of the other Related Documents to which the Borrower is a
         party are, or upon delivery thereof to the Borrower will be, the legal,
         valid and binding obligations of the Borrower, enforceable against the
         Borrower in accordance with their respective terms, except as such
         enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency and other
         similar laws affecting creditors' rights generally and to principles of
         equity affecting the enforcement of contractual obligations generally.

                  (f) Corporate and Fictitious Names. During the five (5) years
         preceding the date of this Agreement, neither the Borrower nor any
         predecessor of the Borrower has been known as or used any corporate or
         fictitious name other than its current corporate name.

                  (g) Places of Business. The Borrower's chief executive offices
         and principal place of business, and the place where the Borrower
         maintains all records relating to the Collateral, is at the address set
         forth in Section 10.07

                                      -18-
<PAGE>   22
         hereof. The Borrower has no other place of business, except as
         specified in Exhibit F hereto and the Borrower maintains Collateral at
         no other locations, except as specified in Exhibits D, E and F hereto.

                  (h) Title to Assets. The Borrower has good, indefeasible, and
         merchantable title to and ownership of the Collateral, free and clear
         of all liens, claims, security interests and encumbrances other than
         Permitted Encumbrances.

                  (i) Governmental Authorizations to Conduct Business. Each of
         the Borrower and its Subsidiaries possesses all permits and other
         governmental authorizations that are material to the conduct of its
         business. Such licenses, permits and other governmental authorizations
         are valid and sufficient for the business presently carried on by the
         Borrower and its Subsidiaries, and neither the execution, delivery or
         performance of this Agreement or the Related Documents nor the
         consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby will affect the
         validity thereof or require consent with respect thereto, and, to the
         best of the knowledge of the Borrower, there is no threat of suspension
         or cancellation of any such license, permit or governmental
         authorization. Neither the business of the Borrower or any of its
         Subsidiaries is being conducted in violation of any law, ordinance or
         regulation of any Governmental Authority, including any filing
         requirement in respect thereof, except for violations which,
         individually or in the aggregate, do not and will not have Material
         Adverse Effect.

                  (j) Consents and Approvals. Except as specifically set forth
         in Exhibit G neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary is required to
         obtain any consent, waiver, authorization or order of, give any notice
         to, or make any filing or registration with, any court or other
         Federal, state, local or governmental authority or other Person in
         connection with the execution, delivery and performance by the Borrower
         of the Transaction Documents.

                  (k) Legal Proceedings. There is no action, suit, proceeding,
         inquiry or investigation, at law or in equity, before or by any
         governmental authority pending or, to the best of the Borrower's
         knowledge, threatened against or affecting the Borrower or any
         Subsidiary (and to the best of the Borrower's knowledge, there is no
         basis therefor) (i) wherein an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding
         would have a Material Adverse Effect.

                  (l) Taxes. Each of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries has filed
         all federal, state and local tax returns which are required to be
         filed, and has paid, or made provision for the payment of, all taxes
         which have become due pursuant to said returns or pursuant to any
         statement, it any, received by the Borrower or any Subsidiary. The
         income tax returns filed by each of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries
         properly reflect the income and taxes of the Borrower and its
         Subsidiaries and for the periods covered thereby, subject only to
         reasonable adjustments required by the Internal Revenue Service or
         other applicable tax authority upon audit, and having no Material
         Adverse Effect.

                                      -19-
<PAGE>   23
                  (m) SEC Documents; Financial Statements. The Borrower has
         previously furnished the Purchaser with true and correct copies of all
         documents which have been filed by the Borrower with the Commission
         pursuant to the Exchange Act since October 31, 1998 (collectively, the
         "SEC Documents"). The SEC Documents constitute all reports and other
         documents the Borrower was required to file under the Exchange Act
         since October 31, 1998. At the time of filing with the Commission, the
         SEC Documents were prepared in all material respects in accordance with
         the applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and
         regulations thereunder, did not contain any untrue statement of a
         material fact, and did not omit to state a material fact required to be
         stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of
         the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The
         audited and unaudited consolidated financial statements contained in
         the SEC Documents present fairly the consolidated financial condition
         and results of operations and changes in stockholders' equity and cash
         flows of the Borrower and its consolidated subsidiaries as of the dates
         and for the periods indicated, in each case in accordance with GAAP
         consistently applied during the periods presented, except as may
         otherwise be stated in such financial statements. For purposes of this
         Agreement, all financial statements of the Borrower shall be deemed to
         include the notes to such financial statements. Neither the Borrower
         nor any Subsidiary has any liabilities or obligations of any nature
         (whether accrued, absolute, contingent or otherwise) that would be
         required to be reflected on, or reserved against in, a consolidated
         balance sheet of the Borrower or in the notes thereto, prepared in
         accordance with GAAP consistently applied except for (A) liabilities or
         obligations that were reserved on or reflected in the consolidated
         balance sheet of the Borrower at October 31, 1998 (and notes thereto)
         included in the SEC Documents, (B) liabilities or obligations arising
         in the ordinary course of business since October 31, 1998, (C)
         liabilities or obligations which are not, individually or in the
         aggregate, material to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a
         whole, or (D) liabilities and obligations described in the SEC
         Documents. Except as described in the SEC Documents, since October 31,
         1998, there has not been any material adverse change in the condition
         (financial or otherwise) results of operations, business, assets,
         liabilities or prospects of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries, taken as
         a whole.

                  (n) Violations of Law. The Borrower is not in violation of any
         applicable statute, regulation or ordinance of any Governmental
         Authority, in any respect materially and adversely affecting the
         Collateral or the business, property, assets, operations or condition
         of the Borrower, financial or otherwise.

                  (o) No Default or Violation. Neither the Borrower nor any
         Subsidiary (i) is in default under or in violation of (and no event has
         occurred which has not been waived which, with notice or lapse of time
         or both, would result in a default by the Borrower or any Subsidiary
         under), nor has the Borrower or any Subsidiary received notice of a
         claim that it is in default under or that it is in violation of, any

                                      -20-
<PAGE>   24
         indenture, loan or credit agreement or any other material agreement or
         instrument to which it is a party or by which it or any of its
         properties is bound, except that the Borrower is in default of the
         provisions contained in Sections 9.14 and 9.15 of the Loan and Security
         Agreement, dated August 20, 1998, between the Borrower and Congress
         Financial Corporation (ii) is in violation of any order of any court,
         arbitrator or governmental body, or (iii) is in violation of any
         statute, rule or regulation of any governmental authority, except as is
         not reasonably likely, individually or in the aggregate, to have or
         result in a Material Adverse Effect.

                  (p) Certain Fees. No fees or commissions will be payable by
         the Borrower to any broker, financial advisor or consultant, finder,
         placement agent, investment banker, or bank with respect to the
         transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

                  (q) Delivery of Information. Neither any Related Document nor
         any document, report, notice, lease, operating agreement, schedule,
         certificate, statement or other writing (collectively, the "DOCUMENTS")
         furnished or caused to be furnished by the Borrower to the Bank
         contains, to the best of the Borrower's knowledge, any untrue statement
         of a material fact or omits to state a material fact necessary to make
         the statements made therein not misleading in light of the
         circumstances under which they were made. To the best of the Borrower's
         knowledge, there is no fact which could materially adversely affect the
         Borrower or its ability to meet its obligations under this Agreement or
         any Related Document. To the best of the Borrower's knowledge, since
         the furnishing of the Documents, there has been no change or any
         development or event involving a prospective change with respect to the
         Borrower which would render any of the Documents untrue or misleading
         in any material respect.

                  (r) Investment Company. The Borrower is not, and is not an
         Affiliate (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) of, an
         "investment company" within the meaning of the investment Company Act
         of 1940, as amended.

         5.02. SURVIVAL. All of the representations and warranties set forth in
Section 5.01 shall survive until all Obligations are satisfied in full, and
there remain no outstanding commitments hereunder.

                                   ARTICLE 6.
                                    RESERVED.

                                   ARTICLE 7.
                              FINANCIAL REPORTING.

         7.01. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. During the term of this Agreement, the
Borrower shall deliver to the Bank:

                                      -21-
<PAGE>   25
                  (a) Quarterly Statements. Within fifty (50) days after the end
         of each of the first three fiscal quarters, a copy of the unaudited
         consolidated quarterly financial statements of the Borrower, consisting
         of a balance sheet and statements of income for the quarter and
         year-to-date period then ended, prepared by the Borrower (subject to
         normal year-end audit adjustments); and

                  (b) Annual Audit Report. Within one-hundred five (105) days
         after the close of each fiscal year of the Borrower, (i) a copy of the
         consolidated annual financial statements of the Borrower, consisting of
         a balance sheet and statements of income and cash flows for the fiscal
         year then ended, accompanied by the unqualified report of the
         independent certified public accountants regularly retained by the
         Borrower and acceptable to the Bank (the "Annual Audit Report").

         7.02. GAAP REPORTING. All financial information required to be
furnished to the Bank under this Article 7 shall be prepared in accordance with
GAAP.

         7.03. COMMUNICATIONS WITH ACCOUNTANTS. In the event that the Bank
determines that it has not received the Annual Audit Report from the Borrower,
the Borrower authorizes the Bank to communicate directly with its independent
public accountants, and authorizes those accountants to disclose to the Bank any
and all financial statements and other information of any kind that they may
have with respect to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and their respective
businesses and financial affairs. The Borrower shall upon the request of the
Bank deliver a letter addressed to such accountants instructing them to comply
with the provisions of this paragraph upon request therefor by the Bank.

                                   ARTICLE 8.
                                   COVENANTS.

         8.01. AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS. The Borrower hereby covenants and agrees
with the Bank that, so long as any of the Obligations remain unsatisfied or any
commitments hereunder remain outstanding, it will comply at all times with the
following affirmative covenants unless the Bank shall have otherwise agreed in
writing:

                  (a) Use of Proceeds. The proceeds of the Loan will be used by
         the Borrower only for working capital;

                  (b) Reports and Notices. The Borrower shall furnish to the
         Bank:

                           (1) Place of Business. Promptly, notice of any change
                  in the location of the Borrower's principal place of business
                  or chief executive office or of any change in the location or
                  the Borrower's books and Records;

                                      -22-
<PAGE>   26
                           (2) Events of Default. As soon as possible and in any
                  event within ten (10) days after the Borrower obtains actual
                  knowledge of the occurrence and continuance of any Default,
                  Event of Default or any event of default under the Loan and
                  Security Agreement, dated August 20, 1998, between the
                  Borrower and Congress Financial Corporation, as amended,
                  modified, supplemented, extended, renewed, restated or
                  replaced, a statement setting forth details of such default
                  and the action which the Borrower proposes to take with
                  respect thereto, other than those defaults disclosed in
                  Section 5.01(o) hereof;

                           (3) Litigation and Labor Disputes. Immediately,
                  notice of (1) any litigation or proceeding in which the
                  Borrower is a party if an adverse decision therein would
                  require it to pay more than $50,000 or deliver assets the
                  value of which could have a Material Adverse Effect (whether
                  or not the claim is considered to be covered by insurance);
                  (2) the institution of any other suit or proceeding involving
                  the Borrower that might materially and adversely affect its
                  operations, financial condition, property or business
                  prospects; and (3) any labor dispute to which the Borrower may
                  become a party which may, if unfavorably resolved, have a
                  material financial impact on it, any strikes, walkouts or work
                  stoppages having a duration of more than one week, and the
                  expiration of any labor contract to which it is a party or by
                  which it is bound;

                           (4) Material Adverse Changes. Immediately, notice of
                  any material adverse change in the business prospects,
                  financial condition or results of operations of the Borrower
                  of which it becomes aware;

                           (5) Bankruptcy Proceedings. Immediately, notice of
                  the commencement of any proceedings by or against the Borrower
                  under any applicable bankruptcy, reorganization, liquidation,
                  insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect or
                  of any proceeding in which a receiver, liquidator, trustee or
                  other similar official is sought to be appointed for the
                  Borrower;

                           (6) Regulatory Supervision or Penalty. Immediately,
                  notice of the receipt of notice from any agency or
                  governmental body having authority over the conduct of the
                  Borrower's business that (A) the Borrower is being placed
                  under regulatory supervision if such regulatory supervision is
                  likely to, in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on
                  the business, operations, property, assets, condition
                  (financial or otherwise) or prospects of the Borrower taken as
                  a whole, (B) any license, permit, charter, membership or
                  registration material to the conduct of the Borrower's
                  business is to be suspended or revoked, or (C) the Borrower is
                  to cease and desist any practice, procedure or policy employed
                  by the Borrower in the conduct of its business, and such
                  cessation would have a material adverse effect upon the value
                  of the Collateral or upon the

                                      -23-
<PAGE>   27
                  Borrower's ability to perform its obligations under this
                  Agreement or any Related Document; and

                           (7) Other Information. Promptly upon the request of
                  the Bank, such other documents and information with respect to
                  the Collateral, to the Borrower and the compliance by the
                  Borrower with the requirements of the Transaction Documents as
                  the Bank may from time to time reasonably request.

         Each notice given pursuant to this subsection (B) shall be accompanied
         by a statement of the Borrower setting forth details of the occurrence
         referred to therein and stating what action, if any, the Borrower
         proposes to take with respect thereto;

                  (c) Financial Records. The Borrower shall keep adequate
         Records and books of account with respect to its business activities in
         which proper entries are made and all Annual Audit Reports required to
         be furnished to the Bank shall be prepared in accordance with GAAP
         reflecting all its financial transactions;

                  (d) Asset Records. The Borrower shall keep accurate and
         complete Records of its Receivables, Inventory, Machinery and
         Equipment, and General Intangibles consistent with sound business
         practices;

                  (e) Access to Premises and Records. The Bank may at all times
         have access to, inspect, audit and make extracts from all of the books
         and Records of the Borrower. Such inspections shall be conducted upon
         reasonable notice during normal business hours and shall not
         unreasonably disrupt the business of the Borrower;

                  (f) Taxes. The Borrower shall file all federal, state and
         local tax returns and other reports as the Borrower is required by law
         to file, maintain adequate reserves for the payment of all taxes,
         assessments, governmental charges, and levies imposed upon it, its
         income, or its profits, or upon any property belonging to it, and pay
         and discharge all such taxes, assessments, governmental charges and
         levies prior to the date on which penalties attach thereto, except
         where the same may be contested in good faith by appropriate
         proceedings and appropriate reserves have been established with respect
         thereto; provided, however, that the Borrower shall pay or cause to be
         paid all such taxes, assessments, charges, or levies forthwith whenever
         foreclosure on any lien that may have attached (or security therefor)
         appears imminent;

                  (g) Observance of Laws. The Borrower shall duly observe and
         conform to all laws, rules and regulations made by any Governmental
         Authority, and all valid requirements of any regulatory body which may
         acquire jurisdiction, which apply to the Borrower, including, without
         limitation, any environmental, pollution or toxic or hazardous waste
         law, except where the failure to duly

                                      -24-
<PAGE>   28
         observe and conform is not reasonably likely to, in the aggregate, have
         a material adverse effect on the business, operations, property,
         assets, condition (financial or otherwise) or prospects of the Borrower
         taken as a whole;

                  (h) Maintain Corporate Existence, Etc. The Borrower shall
         preserve and maintain its separate corporate existence and all rights,
         privileges, and franchises in connection therewith, and maintain its
         qualification and good standing in all states in which such
         qualification is necessary in order for the Borrower to conduct its
         business in such states;

                  (i) Maintain Licenses. The Borrower shall maintain in full
         force and effect all licenses, permits, charters and registrations
         which are material to the conduct of its business;

                  (j) Maintenance. The Borrower shall keep and maintain or cause
         to be kept and maintained its inventory, equipment, fixtures and all
         buildings, structures and improvements in good repair, working order
         and condition;

                  (k) Insurance. The Borrower shall keep all of its property
         insured by insurance companies licensed to do business in the State of
         New York and the states in which such property is located against loss
         or damage by fire, flood or other risk usually insured against under
         extended coverage endorsement and theft, burglary and pilferage, and
         such other hazards, each as shall be customary in the Borrower's
         industry and location, in amounts reasonably satisfactory to the Bank.
         The Borrower shall deliver to the Bank, on or before the Closing Date,
         and annually thereafter on the anniversary thereof, a list of all such
         insurance policies in effect and certificates of insurance with respect
         to all such policies. All insurance shall contain endorsements, in form
         reasonably satisfactory to the Bank, providing that the insurance shall
         not be cancelable, except upon thirty (30) days prior written notice to
         the Bank (unless such insurance policies are cancelled for nonpayment
         of premium, in which case the Bank shall receive ten (10) days prior
         written notice) and showing the Bank as a loss payee, subordinate to
         any holders of any Permitted Encumbrances. The Borrower agrees to make
         all such policies of insurance available for inspection by the Bank at
         any time during regular business hours;

                  (l) Payment of Indebtedness. The Borrower shall pay when due
         (or within applicable grace periods) all of its other Indebtedness due
         third Persons, except when the amount thereof is being contested in
         good faith by appropriate proceedings and with adequate reserves
         therefor being set aside on its books; and

                  (m) Further Assurances. The Borrower, at the request of the
         Bank, shall provide and, if necessary, execute, deliver and file such
         further instruments, and shall take such further actions as may be
         reasonably necessary in the Bank's reasonable judgment to effectuate
         the provisions of the Transaction Documents.

                                      -25-
<PAGE>   29
         8.02. NEGATIVE COVENANTS. The Borrower hereby covenants and agrees with
the Bank that, so long as any of the Obligations remain unsatisfied or any
commitments hereunder remain outstanding, it will comply at all times with the
following negative covenants, unless the Bank shall have otherwise agreed in
writing:

                  (a) Disposal of Assets. The Borrower shall not, and shall not
         permit any Subsidiary to, sell, lease, transfer, assign, or otherwise
         dispose of any of its assets, including the Collateral, other than in
         the ordinary course of business; provided, however, that the Borrower
         may sell Machinery and Equipment in an aggregate market value not
         greater than $75,000 for all such sales in one calendar year;

                  (b) Liens and Encumbrances.(1) The Borrower shall not, and
         shall not permit any Subsidiary to, mortgage, pledge, grant, or permit
         to exist a security interest in, or a lien or encumbrance upon, any of
         its assets of any kind, including the Collateral, now owned or
         hereafter acquired, except for Permitted Encumbrances; (2) the Borrower
         shall not enter into any other Agreement with any other Person which
         shall contain a covenant substantially similar to that set forth in
         clause (1) of this Section 8.02(b), except under Permitted
         Encumbrances;

                  (d) Corporate and Fictitious Names. The Borrower shall not use
         any corporate name (other than its own) or any fictitious name, except
         for names disclosed in writing to the Bank prior to the use thereof;

                  (e) New Places of Business. The Borrower shall not transfer
         its executive offices, or open new facilities, or transfer existing
         facilities, or maintain Records with respect to accounts, at any
         locations other than those at which the same are presently kept or
         maintained except with the Bank's prior written consent (which shall
         not be unreasonably withheld or delayed) and after the delivery to the
         Bank of financing statements, if required by the Bank, in form
         satisfactory to the Bank;

                  (f) Guaranties. Except for guaranties in effect on the date
         hereof, the Borrower shall not, and shall not permit any Subsidiary to,
         become liable directly or indirectly, as guarantor or otherwise for any
         obligation of any other Person, except for endorsement for deposit or
         collection in the ordinary course of the Borrower's business;

                  (g) Indebtedness. The Borrower shall not, and shall not permit
         any Subsidiary to, incur, create, assume, or permit to exist any
         Indebtedness except for (i) the Loan, (ii) Indebtedness secured by
         Permitted Encumbrances, (iii) trade payables or other obligations
         incurred in the ordinary course of business and (iv) intercompany debt
         incurred among the Company and its Principal Subsidiaries in the
         ordinary course of business consistent with past practices and pursuant
         to the reasonable requirements of its business;

                                      -26-
<PAGE>   30
                  (h) Mergers. The Borrower shall not merge with or into or
         consolidate with any other Person unless (i) the Borrower is the
         corporation surviving such consolidation or merger, or the corporation
         surviving such consolidation or merger, if not the Borrower, assumes
         the obligations of the Borrower hereunder in a writing acceptable to
         the Bank and (ii) in each case, after giving effect thereto, no Default
         shall have occurred and be continuing;

                  (i) Subsidiaries. The Borrower shall not create any direct or
         indirect Subsidiary not currently in existence or divest itself of any
         material assets by transferring them to any Subsidiary or enter into
         any partnership, joint venture or similar arrangement, or make any
         material change in its capital structure;

                  (j) Loans to Shareholders and Employees. The Borrower shall
         not, and shall not permit any Subsidiary to, make any loan or advance
         to any shareholder or employee of the Borrower, except (i) for business
         travel and similar temporary advances in the ordinary course of
         business; (ii) other loans or advances in the ordinary course of
         business, not to exceed $50,000 individually or $100,000 in the
         aggregate principal amount at any one time outstanding; and (iii) loans
         provided for in any existing employment agreement disclosed to the
         Bank;

                  (k) Dividends. The Borrower shall not pay any dividends,
         except for Preferred Dividends, make any capital distribution, or
         redeem or retire any capital stock or take any action which would have
         an effect equivalent to any of the foregoing, other than (A) cash
         dividends in an amount not to exceed (i) ten percent (10%) of the
         Borrower's net income plus (ii) all sums required to pay in full the
         federal, state and local income taxes of shareholders of the Borrower
         attributable to the taxable net income of the Borrower and (B)
         repurchases or redemptions of minority stock interests which would
         require an expenditure by the Borrower in excess of $100,000 in the
         aggregate;

                  (l) Transactions with Affiliates. The Borrower shall not, and
         shall not permit any Subsidiary to, enter into, or be a party to, any
         transaction with any of its Affiliates or enter into any partnership,
         joint venture or operating management agreement with any of its
         Affiliates, except for transactions that are (1) in the ordinary course
         of business consistent with past practices and pursuant to the
         reasonable requirements of its business or (2) upon fair and reasonable
         terms which are, upon a request by the Bank to disclose all such
         transactions, fully disclosed to the Bank and are no less favorable to
         it than it would obtain in a comparable arm's length transaction with a
         Person not its Affiliate;

                  (m) Loans to Affiliates. The Borrower shall not, and shall not
         permit any Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly make any loan or
         advance monies to any Affiliate (other than intercompany debt incurred
         among the Company and its Principal Subsidiaries in the ordinary course
         of business consistent with past practices and pursuant to the
         reasonable requirements of its business) in a sum or sums greater than
         $100,000 in the aggregate outstanding at any one time without

                                      -27-
<PAGE>   31
         the prior written consent of the Bank and any such loan or advance
         consented to by the Bank shall be evidenced by a promissory note and
         shall be pledged to the Bank;

                  (n) Investments. The Borrower shall not, and shall not permit
         any Subsidiary to, make any loans to, or purchase any debt or equity
         securities of, or otherwise make any investment in, any Person, and
         will not purchase or otherwise invest in, directly or indirectly, any
         nonoperating real estate or nonoperating assets, except (1) direct
         obligations of the United States of America, or of the Bank, negotiable
         certificates of deposit and overnight repurchase transactions with the
         Bank or any bank satisfactory to the Bank, commercial paper rated A-1
         or P-1, or other investments approved in advance in writing by the
         Bank, and (2) operating assets that hereafter become nonoperating
         assets;

                  (o) Amendments to or Waivers of Related Documents. The
         Borrower shall not, and shall not permit any Subsidiary to, enter into
         any contract or agreement the substance of which shall act as an
         amendment to, or a waiver of any of the provisions of, any of the
         Related Documents;

                  (p) Untrue Statements or Omissions. The Borrower shall not,
         and shall not permit any Subsidiary to, willfully furnish or cause to
         be furnished to the Bank any certificate or other document that will
         contain any untrue statement of material fact or that will omit to
         state a material fact necessary to make it not misleading in light of
         the circumstances under which it was furnished; and

                  (q) Margin Stock. The Borrower shall not directly or
         indirectly apply any part of the proceeds of the Loan to the purchasing
         or carrying of any "margin stock" within the meaning of Regulation U of
         the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, or any
         regulations, interpretations, or rulings thereunder.

                                   ARTICLE 9.
                                    DEFAULT.

         9.01. EVENTS OF DEFAULT. The occurrence of any one or more of the
following events with respect to the Borrower shall constitute an Event of
Default hereunder:

                  (a) The Borrower shall fail to pay to the Bank when due any
         principal payment on the Note or, within ten (10) days from receipt of
         written notice from the Bank, any other Obligation owing from the
         Borrower to the Bank, or shall fail to remit or deposit funds as
         required under this Agreement within 10 days after written notice;

                  (b) The Borrower shall fail to observe or perform any other
         obligation to be observed or performed by it hereunder or under any of
         the Related Documents, and such failure shall be willful or shall
         continue for twenty (20) days after (1) notice of such failure from the
         Bank; or (2) the Bank is notified of

                                      -28-
<PAGE>   32
         such failure or should have been so notified pursuant to the provisions
         of Section 8.01(b)(3) hereof, whichever is earlier;

                  (c) Any financial statement, representation, warranty, or
         certificate made or furnished to the Bank by, or with respect to, the
         Borrower in connection with this Agreement, or as inducement to the
         Bank to enter into this Agreement, or in any separate statement or
         document to be delivered to the Bank hereunder, shall be materially
         false, incorrect, or incomplete when made;

                  (d) The Borrower or any Subsidiary shall (1) fail to make any
         payment or payments, equal to or exceeding $100,000 in the aggregate,
         of any Indebtedness (including any interest or premium thereon) when
         due (whether by scheduled maturity, required prepayment, acceleration,
         demand or otherwise) and such failure shall continue after the
         applicable grace period, if any, specified in the agreement or
         instrument relating to such indebtedness, or (2) fail to perform or
         observe any term, covenant or condition on its part to be performed or
         observed under any agreement or instrument (other than, prior to
         February 14, 2000, a default of the provisions contained in Sections
         9.14 and 9.15 of the Loan and Security Agreement, dated August 20,
         1998, between the Borrower and Congress Financial Corporation), if the
         effect of such failure to perform or observe is to accelerate, or to
         permit the acceleration of, the maturity of any indebtedness, the
         unpaid principal amount or amounts of which then equals or exceeds
         $100,000 in the aggregate; provided, however, that the foregoing shall
         not apply to any such failure where the Borrower is contesting the
         existence of the obligation involved by appropriate proceedings, and
         any reserves required in accordance with GAAP have been established;

                  (e) The Borrower or any Subsidiary shall (1) apply for or
         consent to the appointment of, or the taking of possession by, a
         receiver, custodian, trustee or liquidator of the Borrower or any
         Subsidiary or of all or a substantial part of its property, (2) admit
         in writing its inability, or be generally unable, to pay its debts as
         such debts become due, (3) make a general assignment for the benefit of
         its creditors, (4) commence a voluntary case under the Federal
         Bankruptcy Code (as now or hereafter in effect), (5) file a petition
         seeking to take advantage of any other law relating to bankruptcy,
         insolvency, reorganization, winding-up or composition or adjustment of
         debts or (6) take any corrective action for the purposes of effecting
         any of the foregoing;

                  (f) A proceeding or case shall be commenced, without the
         application or consent of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, in any court
         of competent jurisdiction, seeking (1) the liquidation, reorganization,
         dissolution, winding-up or composition or readjustment of debts of the
         Borrower or any Subsidiary, (2) the appointment of a trustee, receiver,
         custodian, liquidator or the like of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, or
         of all or any substantial part of its assets, or (3) similar relief in
         respect of the Borrower or any Subsidiary under any law relating to
         bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, winding-up or composition or

                                      -29-
<PAGE>   33
         adjustment of debts, and such proceeding or case shall continue
         undismissed, or an order, judgment or decree approving or ordering any
         of the foregoing shall be entered and continue unstayed and in effect,
         for a period of sixty (60) days from commencement of such proceeding or
         case, or an order for relief against the Borrower shall be entered in
         an involuntary case under the Federal Bankruptcy Code;

                  (g) The Borrower or any Subsidiary shall suffer final
         judgments for payment of money in excess of its insurance coverage and
         shall not discharge the same within a period of thirty (30) days;

                  (h) A judgment creditor of the Borrower shall obtain
         possession of any of the Collateral by any means, including (without
         implied limitation) levy, distraint, replevin, or self-help;

                  (i) The loss of any license, patent, trademark or franchise
         which has a Material Adverse Effect, unless such franchise was
         terminated, surrendered or cancelled by the Borrower with the Bank's
         consent; or

                  (j) The cancellation of any license, permit or other
         governmental authorization required to be possessed by the Borrower
         which has a Material Adverse Effect.

         9.02. REMEDIES. If an Event of Default shall have occurred then, and in
any such event at any time thereafter if such Event of Default is continuing,
the Bank may, in its discretion, do any one or more of the following:

                  (a) by notice to the Borrower declare the Note (together with
         accrued interest thereon and accrued fees) to be, and the Note shall
         thereupon become, immediately due and payable without presentment,
         demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby
         waived by the Borrower; provided, that in the case of any of the Events
         of Default specified in Sections 9.01(e) or (f), without any notice to
         the Borrower or any other act by the Bank, the Note (together with
         accrued interest thereon) shall become immediately due and payable
         without presentment, demand, protest, or other notice of any kind, all
         of which are hereby waived by the Borrower; and

                  (b) exercise any and all other rights and remedies existing at
         law or in equity or by statute (including, without limitation, the
         right to proceed by appropriate court action, either in law or in
         equity, to enforce performance by the Borrower of the applicable
         representations and warranties and covenants of this Agreement or to
         recover damages for the breach thereof.

         9.03. UCC REMEDIES. Further, upon the occurrence and during the
continuance of an Event of Default the Bank shall have, in addition to all other
rights provided herein and in each of the Related Documents, the rights and
remedies of a secured party under

                                      -30-
<PAGE>   34
the Uniform Commercial Code of each state in which any of the Collateral is
located, and further, the Bank may, without demand and without advertisement,
notice or legal process of any kind (except as may be required by law), all of
which the Borrower waives, at any time or times, take physical possession of the
Collateral, and maintain such possession on the Borrower's premises, without
cost to the Bank, or remove the Collateral, or any part thereof, to such other
place or places as the Bank may desire, and the Bank may sell and deliver any or
all of the Collateral held by or for the Bank at public or private sale, for
cash, upon credit or otherwise, at such prices and upon such terms as the Bank
deems advisable, at its sole discretion. The Bank or any Affiliate of the Bank
may be the purchaser at any such sale, if it is public, free from any right of
redemption after such sale, which the Borrower also waives. The Bank may, if it
deems it reasonable, postpone or adjourn any sale of the Collateral from time to
time by an announcement at the time and place of such postponed or adjourned
sale, without being required to give a new notice of sale. The Borrower agrees
that the Bank has no obligation to preserve rights to the Collateral against
prior parties or to marshall any Collateral for the benefit of any Person. The
Bank is hereby granted a license or other right to use, without charge, the
Borrower's labels, patents, copyrights, rights of use of any name, trade
secrets, trade names, trademarks and advertising matter, or any property of a
similar nature as it pertains to the Collateral, and all of the Borrower's
licenses and franchise agreements shall inure to the Bank's benefit, for the
purposes of completing production or processing of, advertising for sale, and
selling any Collateral in the exercise of the Bank's rights and remedies
hereunder. In addition thereto, the Borrower further agrees that (a) in the
event that notice is necessary under applicable law, written notice mailed to
the Borrower in the manner specified in Section 10.07 hereof ten (10) Business
Days prior to the date of public sale of any of the Collateral subject to the
security interest created herein or prior to the date after which private sale
or any other disposition of said Collateral will be made shall constitute
reasonable notice, but notice given in any other reasonable manner or at any
other time shall be sufficient if actually received; (b) without precluding any
other method of sale, the sale of the Collateral shall have been made in a
commercially reasonable manner if conducted in conformity with reasonable
commercial practices of asset-based lenders disposing of similar property, but
in any event the Bank may sell on such terms as the Bank may choose without
assuming any credit risk and without any obligation to advertise or give notice
of any kind; and (c) the Bank may require the Borrower to assemble the
Collateral, taking all necessary or appropriate action to preserve and keep it
in good condition, and make such available to the Bank at a place and time
convenient to the Borrower and the Bank, all at the Borrower's expense. The
proceeds of any such sale or disposition shall be applied first to the
satisfaction of the Bank's reasonable attorneys' fees, legal expenses, and other
costs and expenses incurred in connection with the taking, re-taking, holding,
preparing for sale and selling of the Collateral and second to the payment (in
whatever order the Bank elects) of all Obligations. After the application of all
such proceeds as aforesaid, the Bank will return any excess to the Borrower. The
Borrower shall remain liable to the Bank for any deficiency.

         9.04. RIGHT OF SET-OFF. Upon the occurrence and during the continuance
of any Event of Default, the Bank may, and is hereby authorized by the Borrower,
at any time

                                      -31-
<PAGE>   35
and from time to time, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Laws,
without advance notice to the Borrower (any such notice being expressly waived
by the Borrower), set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special,
time or demand, provisional or final) at any time held and any other
indebtedness at any time owing by the Bank to or for the credit or the account
of, the Borrower against any or all of the Obligations of the Borrower now or
hereafter existing, whether or not such Obligations have matured and
irrespective of whether the Bank has exercised any other rights which it has or
may have with respect to such Obligations, including, without limitation, any
acceleration rights. The Bank agrees promptly to notify the Borrower after any
such set-off and application, provided that the failure to give such notice
shall not affect the validity of such set-off and application. The rights of the
Bank under this Section 9.04 are in addition to the other rights and remedies
(including, without limitation, other rights of set-off) that the Bank may have.

         9.05. DISCRETION TO APPLY THE COLLATERAL. The Bank may, in its sole
discretion, (i) exchange, enforce, waive or release any security or portion of
the Collateral, (ii) apply such security or any proceeds thereof and direct the
order or manner of sale thereof as the Bank may, from time to time, determine,
and (iii) settle, compromise, collect or otherwise liquidate any such security
for the Obligations in any manner following the occurrence and during the
continuance of an Event of Default without affecting or impairing the Bank's
right to take any other further action with respect to any security for the
Obligations or any part thereof.

         9.06. RIGHTS AND REMEDIES CUMULATIVE; WAIVERS. The Bank's rights and
remedies under this Agreement shall be cumulative and not exclusive of any other
right or remedy which the Bank may have. No delay or omission to exercise any
remedy, right or power accruing upon an Event of Default shall impair any such
remedy, right or power or shall be construed as a waiver thereof, but any such
remedy, right or power may be exercised from time to time and as often as may be
deemed expedient. A waiver of one default or Event of Default shall not be
construed to be a waiver of any subsequent default or Event of Default or impair
any remedy, right or power consequent thereon.

         9.07. INJUNCTIVE RELIEF. The Borrower recognizes that, in the event the
Borrower fails to perform, observe or discharge any of its obligations or
liabilities under this Agreement, any remedy of law may prove to be inadequate
relief to the Bank; therefore, the Borrower agrees that the Bank, if the Bank so
requests, shall be entitled to temporary and permanent injunctive relief in any
such case without the necessity of proving actual damages.

         9.08. LOAN BY BANK FOR BORROWER EXPENSES. If the Borrower or any
co-tenant of the Borrower fails to pay any taxes, assessments or governmental
charges levied or assessed or imposed upon or with respect to it or upon its
income or profits, or upon any of its property, or otherwise incurs any lien or
encumbrance (other than a Permitted Encumbrance) with respect to any of its
property or fails to discharge when due and payable any Indebtedness secured by
any encumbrance (whether or not a Permitted Lien) or fails to pay any insurance
premium when due, or otherwise fails to pay any amount

                                      -32-
<PAGE>   36
necessary for the protection and preservation of the Collateral and such event
is an Event of Default, the Bank may pay the same, at the Bank's option,
together with interest and penalty, and the Borrower agrees to immediately
reimburse the Bank for amounts so paid. Additionally, in order to protect any
security interest which the Bank is granted hereunder, upon the occurrence and
continuation of an Event of Default, the Bank may, in its sole discretion,
maintain guards, pay any service bureau or warehouseman, obtain bonds, obtain
any record and take any other action which shall be necessary or appropriate, in
the Bank's sole discretion, for the protection and preservation of the
Collateral and the Borrower agrees to immediately reimburse the Bank upon demand
for amounts so paid.

         9.09. POWER OF ATTORNEY. The Borrower on behalf of the Borrower hereby
appoints the Bank or any other Person whom the Bank may designate as its
attorney, with power, following the occurrence and during the continuance of an
Event of Default: (a) to endorse the Borrower's name on any checks, notes,
acceptances, money orders, drafts or other forms of payment or security that may
come into the Bank's possession; (b) to sign the Borrower's name on any invoice
or bill of lading relating to any accounts, on drafts against customers, on
schedules and assignments of accounts, on notices of assignment, financing
statements and other public records, on verifications of accounts and on notices
to customers; (c) to notify the post office authorities to change the address
for delivery of the Borrower's mail to an address designated by the Bank; and to
receive, open and remove documents relating to the Collateral from all mail
addressed to the Borrower (with all other mail to be returned promptly to the
Borrower); (d) to send requests for verification of accounts to customers or
account debtors; and (e) to do all things necessary to carry out this Agreement.
The Borrower ratifies and approves all acts of such attorney. Neither the Bank
nor the attorney will be liable for any acts or omissions or for any error of
judgment or mistake of fact or law. This power, being coupled with an interest,
is irrevocable until the Obligations have been fully satisfied.

         9.10. ACTIONS. Following the occurrence and during the continuance of
an Event of Default, the Bank may (but shall not be obligated to) commence,
appear in, or defend any action or proceeding purporting to affect the Borrower,
the Collateral or the respective rights and obligations of the Bank and the
Borrower pursuant hereto or to any Related Document. The Bank may (but shall not
be obligated to) pay all necessary expenses, including reasonable attorneys'
fees and expenses incurred in connection with such proceedings or actions, which
the Borrower agrees to repay to the Bank upon demand.

                                   ARTICLE 10.
                                 MISCELLANEOUS.

         10.01. CONSTRUCTION. The provisions of this Agreement shall be in
addition to those of the Related Documents, all of which shall be construed as
complementary to each other. Nothing herein contained shall prevent the Bank
from enforcing any or all the Related Documents in accordance with their
respective terms. In the event of any conflict

                                      -33-
<PAGE>   37
between the terms and provisions of this Agreement and the terms and provisions
of any of the Related Documents, the terms and provisions of this Agreement
shall prevail.

         10.02. FURTHER ASSURANCES. From time to time, the Borrower shall
promptly execute and deliver to the Bank such additional documents and will
provide such additional information as the Bank may reasonably require to carry
out the terms of this Agreement and be informed of the status and affairs of the
Borrower.

         10.03. PREFERENCES. The Bank shall have the continuing and exclusive
right to apply or reverse and re-apply any and all payments to any portion of
the Obligations. To the extent that the Borrower makes a payment or payments to
the Bank or the Bank receives any payment or proceeds of the Collateral for the
Borrower's benefit, which payment or proceeds or any part thereof are
subsequently invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside
or required to be repaid to a trustee, receiver or any other party under any
bankruptcy law, state or federal law, common law or equitable cause, then, to
the extent of such payment or proceeds received, the Obligations or part thereof
intended to be satisfied shall be revived and continue in full force and effect,
as if such payment or proceeds had not been received by the Bank.

         10.04. INDEMNIFICATION. The Borrower hereby agrees to indemnify and
hold harmless the Bank from and against any and all claims, damages, losses,
liabilities, reasonable out-of-pocket costs or expenses whatsoever which the
Bank may incur (or which may be claimed against the Bank by any person or entity
whatsoever) by reason of or in connection with the occurrence of an Event of
Default or the pursuit by the Bank of any remedy in connection with an Event of
Default; provided, however, that the Borrower shall not be required to indemnify
the Bank for claims, damages, losses, liabilities, costs or expenses, to the
extent, but only to the extent caused by the willful misconduct or the gross
negligence of the Bank.

         10.05. REIMBURSEMENT FOR BANK EXPENSES. The Borrower shall reimburse
the Bank on demand for all of the reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by
the Bank in connection with the negotiation, preparation, execution, delivery,
modification and administration of this Agreement, and the Related Documents,
including, without limitation, searches, search fees, title insurance premiums,
fees for title abstracts, filings, filing fees and taxes, consulting fees,
printing expenses, closing costs, recording charges, brokerage fees,
compensation and commissions, and the fees and disbursements of counsel to the
Bank, Kirkpatrick & Lockhart LLP, and any other counsel retained by the Bank,
all printing expenses, communication, closing and publicity expenses, and all
reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Bank (including, without
limitation, reasonable attorney's fees and disbursements) to: (i) commence,
defend or intervene in any court proceeding relating to the Collateral or the
Related Documents; (ii) file a petition, complaint, answer, motion or other
pleadings, or to take any other action in or with respect to any suit or
proceeding (bankruptcy or otherwise) relating to the Collateral or the Related
Documents; (iii) protect, collect, lease, sell, take possession of, or liquidate
any of the Collateral; (iv) attempt to enforce any lien or security interest in
any of the Collateral; (v) cure defaults of the Borrower, perform any covenants
of the Borrower, and

                                      -34-
<PAGE>   38
protect the rights of the Bank under the Related Documents; and (vi) enforce or
seek legal advice with respect to the Bank's rights under this Agreement, or any
of the Related Documents or any other remedies with respect to collecting the
Obligations. The Borrower also agrees to pay, and to save harmless the Bank from
any delay in paying, any intangibles, documentary stamp and other taxes, if any,
which may be payable in connection with the execution and delivery of any of the
Related Documents, or the recording of filing of any thereof, or any
modification thereof, except that the Borrower shall not be required to pay any
such tax which the Borrower is prohibited from paying under applicable law.

         10.06. STRICT ENFORCEMENT BY THE BANK. The Bank shall have the right at
all times to enforce the provisions of the Transaction Documents in strict
accordance with the terms hereof and thereof, notwithstanding any conduct or
custom on the part of the Bank in refraining from so doing at any time or times.
The failure of the Bank at any time or times to enforce its rights under such
provisions, strictly in accordance with the same, shall not be construed as
having created a custom in any way or manner contrary to specific provisions of
this Agreement or as having in any way or manner modified or waived the same.

         10.07. NOTICES. Any notices or consents required or permitted by this
Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed delivered (i) if delivered in
person, when so delivered, (ii) if sent by telecopy, when so sent and confirmed
as received by the receiving telecopier, and (iii) if sent by registered mail,
postage prepaid, return receipt requested, three (3) Business Days after being
sent, as follows, unless such address is changed by written notice hereunder:

         (A) If to the Borrower:

                           Ecogen Inc.
                           2000 Cabot Boulevard West
                           Langhorne, Pennsylvania 19047
                           Attention: President
                           Telecopy: 215-757-3339

         (B) If to the Bank:

                           The Berkshire Bank
                           600 Madison Avenue
                           New York, New York 10022
                           Attention: President
                           Telecopy: 212-935-7480

         10.08. BANK PARTICIPATIONS. Notwithstanding any other provision of this
Agreement, the Borrower understands that the Bank may, at its own cost and
expense, at any time enter into participation or co-lending agreements with one
or more banks or other institutions (each a "PARTICIPATING BANK") whereby the
Bank may allocate certain

                                      -35-
<PAGE>   39
percentages of its commitment to them or allow such Banks to fund a portion of
the Loan, but only so long as the Bank remains the servicing agent for the Loan.
For purposes of servicing the Loan, the Borrower shall only be required to
respond to and communicate with the Bank. The Borrower hereby agrees to execute
such other documents as the Bank reasonably may require to facilitate the
execution and delivery of, and performance under any participation or co-lending
agreements. The Borrower acknowledges that, for the convenience of all parties,
this Agreement is being entered into with the Bank only and that the Obligations
are undertaken for the benefit of, and as an inducement to, any such
Participating Bank as well as the Bank, and the Borrower hereby grants to each
such Participating Bank, to the extent of its participation in or funding of the
Loan and, to the extent permitted by applicable law, the right to set off
deposit accounts maintained by the Borrower with such bank.

         10.09. ASSIGNMENTS BY THE BORROWER. The Borrower shall not have the
right to assign this Agreement or any interest therein, and hereby agree that no
Person other than the Borrower shall have any interest in this Agreement or the
proceeds of the Loan.

         10.10. CONTINUING OBLIGATION. This Agreement is a continuing obligation
and shall be binding upon the Borrower, its successors and assigns and inure to
the benefit of and be enforceable by the Bank and its successors, transferees
and assigns until all the Obligations shall have been paid in full, whereupon
this Agreement shall terminate; provided, however, that the indemnification
obligations of the Borrower pursuant to Sections 2.09(b), 10.04 and 10.05 hereof
shall survive the termination of this Agreement.

         10.11. SUPERSEDING AGREEMENT. This Agreement supersedes any commitment
letters or other agreements between the Bank and the Borrower prior to the date
hereof relating to the subject matter hereof.

         10.12. AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS IN WRITING. No amendment of this
Agreement or waiver of any of the provisions hereof shall be effective unless it
is in writing and signed by the party against whom enforcement of such amendment
or waiver is sought, and then only to the extent specifically stated.

         10.13. SEVERABILITY. Wherever possible, each provision of this
Agreement shall be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under
applicable law, but if any provision of this Agreement shall be prohibited by or
invalid under applicable law, such provision shall be ineffective to the extent
of such prohibition or invalidity, without invalidating the remainder of such
provision or the remaining provisions of this Agreement.

         10.14. GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement shall be governed by, and
construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York, except to the
extent that personal property security interests in the Collateral are governed
by the law of other jurisdictions.

         10.15. CONSENT TO JURISDICTION; WAIVER OF TRIAL BY JURY. THE BORROWER
IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY (I) AGREES THAT ANY SUIT, ACTION OR OTHER

                                      -36-
<PAGE>   40
LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT MAY BE BROUGHT IN THE COURTS OF
RECORD OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK OR THE COURTS OF THE UNITED STATES LOCATED IN
THE STATE OF NEW YORK; (II) CONSENTS TO THE NON-EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF EACH
SUCH COURT IN ANY SUCH SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING; AND (III) WAIVES ANY
OBJECTION WHICH IT MAY HAVE TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OF ANY SUCH SUIT, ACTION OR
PROCEEDING IN ANY OF SUCH COURTS; AND IN ANY ACTION HEREUNDER THE BORROWER AND
THE BANK WAIVE THE RIGHT TO DEMAND A TRIAL BY JURY.

         10.16. HEADINGS. Article and Section headings in this Agreement are
included herein for convenience of reference only and shall not constitute a
part of this Agreement for any other purpose.

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

                                      -37-
<PAGE>   41
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly
executed and delivered by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized as
of the date first above written.

                                                 ECOGEN INC.

                                                 By:__________________________
                                                 Name:
                                                 Title: President

                                                 THE BERKSHIRE BANK

                                                 By:__________________________
                                                 Name: Moses Krausz
                                                 Title: President

                                      -38-
<PAGE>   42
                                 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

STATE OF NEW YORK               |
                                | SS:
COUNTY OF NEW YORK              |

          On December __, 1999, before me, the undersigned, a Notary Public in
and for said State, personally appeared ______________________________________,
personally known to me or proved to me on the basis of satisfactory evidence to
be the individual whose name is subscribed to the within instrument and
acknowledged to me that he executed the same in his capacity, and that by his
signature on the instrument, the individual, or the person upon behalf of which
the individual acted, executed the instrument.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I hereunto set my hand and official seal.

                                        ______________________________________
                                                    Notary Public

                                         My commission expires: ______________
<PAGE>   43
                                                                       EXHIBIT A

This instrument and the obligations evidenced hereby are subordinated, in the
manner and to the extent set forth in an Intercreditor and Subordination
Agreement (the "Subordination Agreement") dated as of December 23, 1999 by and
between Congress Financial Corporation and the Payee of this instrument, and the
holder of this instrument, by such holder's acceptance hereof, agrees (i) to be
bound by the terms of the Subordination Agreement, and (ii) in the event that
any conflict exists between the terms of this instrument or any document
executed in connection with the delivery of this instrument and the terms of the
Subordination Agreement, the terms of such Subordination Agreement shall govern
and be controlling.

                            TERM LOAN PROMISSORY NOTE

$1,500,000                                                     December 23, 1999

         FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned, ECOGEN INC., a Delaware
corporation, with an office at 2000 Cabot Boulevard West, Langhorne,
Pennsylvania 19047 (the "Borrower"), promises to pay to the order of THE
BERKSHIRE BANK, a New York banking corporation, with an office at 600 Madison
Avenue, New York, New York 10022 (hereinafter referred to as the "Bank"; the
Bank, and any subsequent holder(s) hereof, being hereinafter referred to
collectively as the "Holder"), as set forth below, at the above office of the
Bank, or at such other place as the Holder may designate to the Borrower in
writing from time to time, such sums as the Holder may advance to the Borrower
hereunder, up to the principal sum of ONE MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS
($1,500,000) in lawful money of the United States of America which shall at the
time of payment be legal tender in payment of all debts and dues, public and
private, and to pay interest on the unpaid balance of said principal sums from
time to time outstanding from the date hereof until payment in full, whether
before or after maturity, in like funds and money at said office, payable and
computed as provided in the Term Loan and Security Agreement (hereinafter
defined), such interest to be payable monthly in arrears on the last day of each
month, commencing on January 31, 2000, and on the date the principal of this
Note shall be due (at stated maturity, on acceleration, or otherwise).

         An amount of principal on this Note equal to $500,000 shall be due and
payable on June 23, 2000 and the outstanding principal balance of this Note
shall be due and payable on June 23, 2001.

         The unpaid balance of this Note at any time shall be the total amounts
loaned or advanced by the Holder hereof, less the amount of payments or
prepayments of principal made hereon by or for the account of the Borrower. All
payments or prepayments made hereunder on account of principal or interest may
be endorsed by the Holder hereof on the Schedule attached hereto and made a part
hereof for all purposes. Additional Schedule pages may be attached hereto from
time to time by the Holder hereof if more space is necessary.

                                       B-1
<PAGE>   44
         This Note may be prepaid in whole or in part at any time as provided in
the Term Loan and Security Agreement.

         All payments hereon shall be credited first to accrued interest, next
to any other sums due hereunder and the remainder to the unpaid principal
balance, until all funds due hereunder have been paid in full.

         Without limiting the right of the Holder to bring any action or
proceeding against property of the Borrower arising out of or relating to this
Note (an "Action") in the courts of other jurisdictions, the Borrower hereby
irrevocably submits to the jurisdiction of any court of New York State or any
court of the United States of America sitting in New York City, and the Borrower
hereby irrevocably agrees that any Action may be heard and determined in such
New York State court or in such United States court. The Borrower hereby
irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent it may effectively do so, the defense
of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of any Action in any jurisdiction.
The Borrower hereby irrevocably agrees that the summons and complaint or any
other process in any Action in any jurisdiction may be served by mailing to the
address of the Borrower set forth in the Term Loan and Security Agreement or by
hand delivery to a person of suitable age and discretion at such address. Such
service will be complete on the date such process is so mailed or delivered, and
the Borrower will have thirty days from such completion of service in which to
respond in the manner provided by law. The Borrower may also be served in any
other manner permitted by law, in which event the Borrower's time to respond
shall be the time provided by law.

         Both the Borrower and the Holder hereby irrevocably waive all right to
trial by jury in any action, proceeding or counterclaim arising out of or
relating to any obligation under this Note.

         In the event this Note or any part thereof is collected by or through
an attorney at law, the Borrower agrees to pay all costs of collection,
including but not limited to, reasonable attorney's fees and court costs
actually incurred.

         Time is of the essence of this Note. Presentment for payment, demand,
notice of dishonor, protest and all other notices other than as set forth herein
or in the Term Loan and Security Agreement and Related Documents are hereby
waived by the Borrower. No failure to accelerate the debt evidenced hereby by
reason of default hereunder, acceptance of a past due installment, or
indulgences granted from time to time shall be construed (i) as a novation of
this Note or as a reinstatement of the indebtedness evidenced hereby or as a
waiver of such right of acceleration or of the right of the Holder thereafter to
insist upon strict compliance with the terms of this Note, or (ii) to prevent
the exercise of such right of acceleration or any other right granted hereunder
or by the laws of the State of New York; and the Borrower hereby expressly
waives the benefit of any statute or rule of law or equity now provided, or
which may hereafter be provided, which would produce a result contrary to or in
conflict with the foregoing. No extension of time for the payment of this Note
or any installment due hereunder, made by agreement with any person now

                                      B-2
<PAGE>   45
or hereafter liable for the payment of this Note shall operate to release,
discharge, modify, change or affect the original liability of the Borrower under
this Note, either in whole or in part unless the Holder agrees otherwise in
writing. This Note may not be changed orally, but only in writing signed by the
party against whom enforcement of any waiver, change, modification or discharge
is sought.

         The Borrower hereby waives and renounces for itself, its successors and
assigns, all rights to the benefits of any statute of limitations and any
moratorium, reinstatement, marshalling, forbearance, valuation, stay, extension,
redemption, appraisement, exemption and homestead now provided, or which may
hereafter be provided by the Constitution and laws of the United States of
America and of any state thereof, both as to itself and in and to all of its
property, real and personal, against the enforcement and collection of the
obligations evidenced by this Note.

         This Note is issued pursuant to that certain Term Loan and Security
Agreement, dated as of December 23, 1999 (the "Term Loan and Security
Agreement"), between the Borrower and the Bank, and is one of the Note as
defined in the Term Loan and Security Agreement.

         It is the intention of the parties hereto to conform strictly to
applicable usury laws as in effect from time to time. Accordingly, if any
transactions contemplated hereby would be usurious under applicable law
(including the laws of the United States of America, or of any other
jurisdiction whose laws may be mandatorily applicable), then, in that event,
notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Note, or any other agreement
entered into in connection with this Note, it is agreed that the aggregate of
all consideration that constitutes interest under applicable law that is
contracted for, charged, or received under this Note, or under any of the other
aforesaid agreements or otherwise in connection with this Note shall under no
circumstances exceed the maximum amount of interest allowed by applicable law,
and any excess shall be credited to the Borrower by the Holder that has
contracted for, charged, or received such excess interest (or, if such
consideration shall have been paid in full, such excess refunded to the Borrower
by the Holder). All sums paid, or agreed to be paid, to the Holder for the use,
forbearance, and detention of the indebtedness of the Borrower by the Holder
shall, to the extent permitted by applicable law, be amortized, pro rated,
allocated, and spread throughout the full term of such indebtedness until
payment in full so that the actual rate of interest is uniform, but does not
exceed the highest lawful rate, throughout the full term thereof. In the event
it should be determined that the Bank has contracted for any rate of interest in
excess of the highest lawful rate, then ipso facto such rate shall be reduced to
the highest lawful rate so that no amounts shall be charged which are in excess
thereof, and, in the event it should be determined that any excess over such
highest lawful rate has been charged or received, the Bank shall promptly refund
such excess to the Borrower; provided, however, that, if lawful, any such excess
shall be paid by the Borrower to the Bank as additional interest (accruing at a
rate equal to the maximum legal rate minus the rate provided for hereunder)
during any subsequent period when regular interest is accruing hereunder at less
than the maximum legal rate.

                                      B-3
<PAGE>   46
         Wherever possible, each provision of this instrument shall be
interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law,
but if any provision of this instrument shall be prohibited by or invalid under
such law, such provision shall be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition
or invalidity, without invalidating the remainder of such provision or the
remaining provisions of this instrument.

         As used herein the terms "Borrower", "Bank" and "Holder" shall be
deemed to include their respective heirs, successors, legal representatives and
assigns, whether by voluntary action of the parties or by operation of law.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Borrower has executed this Note on the date
first above written.

                                                 ECOGEN INC.

                                                 By:__________________________
                                                 Name:
                                                 Title:

                                      B-4
<PAGE>   47
                   SCHEDULE OF TERM LOAN PAYMENTS OF PRINCIPAL

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PRINCIPAL REPAID     PRINCIPAL BALANCE      REPAYMENT DATE         NOTATION BY
<S>                  <C>                   <C>                  <C>

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</TABLE>

                                      B-5
<PAGE>   48
                                 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

STATE OF NEW YORK               |
                                | SS:
COUNTY OF NEW YORK              |

         On December __, 1999, before me, the undersigned, a Notary Public in
and for said State, personally appeared ______________________________________,
personally known to me or proved to me on the basis of satisfactory evidence to
be the individual whose name is subscribed to the within instrument and
acknowledged to me that he executed the same in his capacity, and that by his
signature on the instrument, the individual, or the person upon behalf of which
the individual acted, executed the instrument.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I hereunto set my hand and official seal.

                                        ______________________________________
                                                    Notary Public

                                         My commission expires: ______________

                                      B-6

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