Document:

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                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.29

                                 PROMISSORY NOTE

[SEE ITEM 1 IN ANNEX A]                                         November 1, 1997

        FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned, [SEE ITEM 2 IN ANNEX A] (the
"Investor"), HEREBY PROMISES TO PAY to the order of WGL Holdings, Inc., a
Delaware corporation (the "Company"), at 10,000 Wehrle Drive, Clarence, New York
14031 or at such other place as the Company shall from time to time designate,
in lawful money of the United States of America in immediately available funds,
the principal sum of [SEE ITEM 3 IN ANNEX A], or if less, the unpaid principal
amount thereof, and interest on the balance of such principal remaining unpaid
from time to time from the date hereof to maturity hereof at a rate per annum
equal to 6.42%, all computed on the basis of a 360-day year, as follows:

        (a) annual interest payments, in arrears, commencing on May 1, 1998 and
on each May 1 thereafter until the Maturity Date (as hereinafter defined), and

        (b) on November 1, 2007 (the "Maturity Date"), with a payment of the
principal sum of [SEE ITEM 3 IN ANNEX A] (or the unpaid balance thereof) and all
interest on such principal and on any accrued interest remaining unpaid on the
Maturity Date.

        Prepayment of this Promissory Note without penalty may be made at any
time and from time to time in whole or in part and interest shall immediately
cease on any amount so prepaid. Any prepayment shall be applied first to accrued
interest and then to principal. To the extent permitted by law, the unpaid
principal hereof and accrued interest hereon shall bear interest after the
principal amount hereof has become due and payable (including, without
limitation, pursuant to the next succeeding paragraph) (including, without
limitation, as a result of acceleration) at a rate per annum equal to eighteen
percent (18.00%).

        Should (i) the Investor fail to pay any principal or other amount (other
than interest) when due hereunder or pursuant to the Pledge Agreement or, except
as expressly provided in the immediately succeeding paragraph of this Promissory
Note, fail to pay any interest due hereunder or pursuant to the Pledge Agreement
within ten (10) days after written notice to the Investor of nonpayment by the
Company (which notice shall be provided pursuant to Section 15 of the Pledge
Agreement); or (ii) the Investor be in breach or default under any agreement
between the Investor and the Company or under any other agreement involving the
borrowing of money or the extension of credit between the Investor and any other
party; or (iii) the Investor submit any financial statement or information which
proves incorrect in any material respect; or (iv) a receiver, trustee or other
similar official be appointed over the Investor or any of its property or
assets; or (v) the Investor become insolvent or be unable to pay its debts as
they mature or the transaction of the usual business of the Investor be
suspended; or (vi) the Investor make a general assignment for the benefit of
creditors; or (vii) the Investor file a petition or enter into any voluntary
case under any bankruptcy or similar

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law, or seek a liquidation, winding up, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment,
protection, relief, or composition of it or its debts under any such law; or
(viii) the Investor have an involuntary petition under any bankruptcy or any
similar law filed against it, or a liquidation, winding up, reorganization,
arrangement, adjustment, protection, relief, or composition of it or its debts
under any such law be sought against the Investor; or (ix) the Investor suffer a
material adverse change in its financial condition or operations; or (x) any
levies of attachment, execution, tax assessments or similar processes be issued
against the Investor or any of its properties or assets (each of the foregoing
being hereinafter referred to as an "Event of Default"), then and in any such
event the principal amount hereof, together with accrued interest thereon and
all other amounts due hereunder shall, unless the holder hereof shall otherwise
elect, become immediately due and payable, notwithstanding any other provisions
hereof, without notice, demand, presentment, protest, notice of protest,
dishonor, notice of dishonor, or notice of any other kind, all of which are
hereby expressly waived by the Investor. The Investor further waives its rights
to interpose any set-off or counterclaim of any nature or type in, or to plead
any statute of limitations as a defense to, any action hereunder.

        If this Promissory Note is not paid at maturity and is placed in the
hands of an attorney for collection, or suit is filed hereon, or proceedings are
had in probate, bankruptcy, receivership, arrangement or otherwise for
collection hereof, the Investor and each endorser, guarantor, surety or
accommodation party liable upon or for payment of this Promissory Note agree to
pay all expenses and costs incurred by the holder of this Promissory Note,
including without limitation, reasonable attorneys' fees.

        As security for this Promissory Note the Investor gives to the Company a
security interest in and to all Pledged Collateral under, and as defined in,
that certain Pledge Agreement made by the Investor to the Company, and dated
November 1, 1997 (the "Pledge Agreement").

        For purposes of this Promissory Note, the following terms shall have the
following meanings:

        "Default" shall mean any event which, with the passage of time or notice
or both, would, unless cured or waived, become an Event of Default.

        "Obligations" shall mean all loans, advances, debts, liabilities, and
obligations, for monetary amounts (whether or not such amounts are liquidated or
determinable) owing by the Investor to the Company or any Subsidiary of the
Company, and all covenants and duties regarding such amounts, of any kind or
nature, present or future, whether or not evidenced by any note, agreement or
other instrument, arising under any of the Subscription Agreement, the Pledge
Agreement and/or this Promissory Note (collectively, the "Transaction
Documents"). This term includes, without limitation, all interest, fees,
charges, expenses, attorneys' fees and any other sum chargeable to the Investor
under any of the Transaction Documents.

        "Subscription Agreement" shall mean that certain Management Subscription
Agreement, dated November 1, 1997, between the Investor and the Company.

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        The Investor and each surety, endorser, guarantor and accommodation
party, except as expressly provided in this Promissory Note, waives grace,
demand, presentment for payment, notice of dishonor, diligence, bringing of
suit, protest and notice of any kind in taking any action to collect any sums
owing hereon and in the handling of any security and agrees to all renewals,
extensions, and rearrangements hereof and to any release or substitution of
security hereof in whole or in part, with or without notice, before or after
maturity.

        This Promissory Note shall be governed by, and construed and interpreted
in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.

                                    INVESTOR:

                                     /S/ [SEE ITEM 2 IN ANNEX A]
                                     -------------------------------------------
                                     [SEE ITEM 2 IN ANNEX A]

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                                     ANNEX A

         The foregoing form of Promissory Note was entered into by six
Investors. The information omitted from the foregoing form of Promissory Note
with respect to such Investors, which are designated below as parties A through
F, respectively, is set forth below:

         ITEM 1

         Party A: $570.000.00
         Party B: $142,000.00
         Party C: $256,000.00
         Party D: $268,000.00
         Party E: $180,000.00
         Party F: $268,000.00

         ITEM 2

         Party A: Edward F. Voboril
         Party B: Susan M. Bratton
         Party C: Larry T. DeAngelo
         Party D: Curtis F. Holmes
         Party E: Arthur J. Lalonde
         Party F: Richard W. Mott

         ITEM 3

         Party A: FIVE HUNDRED SEVENTY THOUSAND DOLLARS ($570,000)
         Party B: ONE HUNDRED FORTY-TWO THOUSAND DOLLARS ($142,000)
         Party C: TWO HUNDRED FIFTY-SIX THOUSAND DOLLARS ($256,000)
         Party D: TWO HUNDRED SIXTY-EIGHT THOUSAND DOLLARS ($268,000)
         Party E: ONE HUNDRED EIGHTY THOUSAND DOLLARS ($180,000)
         Party F: TWO HUNDRED SIXTY-EIGHT THOUSAND DOLLARS ($268,000)

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                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.30

                                PLEDGE AGREEMENT

        This Pledge Agreement, dated November 1, 1997 ("Agreement"), is made by
[SEE ITEM 1 IN ANNEX A] (the "Investor"), to WGL Holdings, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the "Company").

                              W I T N E S S E T H:

        WHEREAS, the Investor has entered into that certain Management
Subscription Agreement, dated as of November 1, 1997 (the "Subscription
Agreement"), pursuant to which the Investor has subscribed for [SEE ITEM 2 IN
ANNEX A] shares (the "Subscription Agreement Shares") of the common stock, par
value $.001 per share, of the Company ("Common Shares"), and capitalized terms
not defined herein but defined therein are used herein as therein defined; and

        WHEREAS, the Investor has executed that certain Promissory Note, dated
as of November 1, 1997, payable to the Company (the "Note"), in consideration
for the Subscription Agreement Shares; and

        WHEREAS, the Investor is the legal and beneficial owner of the Pledged
Shares (as hereinafter defined); and

        WHEREAS, it is a condition precedent under the Subscription Agreement to
the issuance of the Subscription Agreement Shares that the Investor shall have
made the pledge contemplated by this Agreement;

        NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and to induce the
Company to issue the Subscription Agreement Shares pursuant to the Subscription
Agreement, the Investor hereby agrees with the Company, for the benefit of the
Company, as follows:

        SECTION 1. PLEDGE. The Investor hereby pledges to the Company, for the
benefit of the Company, and grants to the Company, for the benefit of the
Company, a security interest in, the following (the "Pledged Collateral"):

                           (i) all of (x) the Subscription Agreement Shares and
                  (y) all other Common Shares or other securities of the Company
                  owned by the Investor, all of which are listed on Schedule I
                  hereto (collectively, the "Pledged Shares");

                         (ii) all additional Common Shares or other securities
                  of the Company from time to time acquired by the Investor
                  pursuant to any Company stock option, stock grant or
                  employment related program (any such securities being
                  "Additional Shares");

                       (iii) the certificates representing the shares referred
                  to in clauses (i) and (ii) above; and

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                         (iv) all dividends, cash, instruments and other
                  property or proceeds, from time to time received, receivable
                  or otherwise distributed in respect of or in exchange for any
                  or all of the foregoing (collectively, "Proceeds").

        SECTION 2. SECURITY FOR OBLIGATIONS. This Agreement secures and the
Pledged Collateral is security for the full and prompt payment when due (whether
at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise) of, and the performance of,
the Obligations (as such term is defined in the Note) of the Investor pursuant
to the Note, whether now or hereafter existing and whether for principal,
interest, fees, expenses or otherwise.

        SECTION 3. DELIVERY OF PLEDGED COLLATERAL. All certificates or
instruments representing or evidencing the Pledged Collateral shall be delivered
to and held by or on behalf of the Company pursuant hereto and shall be in
suitable form for transfer by delivery, or shall be accompanied by duly executed
instruments of transfer or assignment in blank, all in form and substance
satisfactory to the Company. The Company shall have the right, at any time in
its discretion and without notice to the Investor, to transfer to or to register
in its name or in the name of any of its nominees any or all of the Pledged
Collateral. In addition, the Company shall have the right at any time to
exchange certificates or instruments representing or evidencing any of the
Pledged Collateral for certificates or instruments of smaller or larger
denominations.

        SECTION 4. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES. The Investor makes the
following representations:

        (a) The Investor is the legal and beneficial owner of the Pledged
Collateral free and clear of any lien, except for the lien created by this
Agreement.

        (b) The pledge of the Pledged Shares pursuant to this Agreement creates
a valid and perfected first priority security interest in the Pledged
Collateral, in favor of, and for the benefit of, the Company securing the
payment of all of the Obligations.

        (c) No consent, authorization, approval, or other action by, and no
notice to or filing with, any governmental authority is required either (i) for
the pledge by the Investor of the Pledged Collateral pursuant to this Agreement
or for the due execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement or the Note
by the Investor, or (ii) for the exercise by the Company of the voting or other
rights provided for in this Agreement or of the remedies in respect of the
Pledged Collateral pursuant to this Agreement, except as may be required in
connection with the disposition of the Pledged Collateral by laws affecting the
offering and sale of securities generally.

        SECTION 5. FURTHER ASSURANCES, ETC. (a) The Investor agrees that at any
time and from time to time, at the cost and expense of the Investor, the
Investor will promptly execute and deliver all further instruments and
documents, and take all further action, that may be necessary or desirable, or
that the Company may request, in order to perfect and protect the lien granted
or purported to be granted hereby or to enable the Company to exercise and
enforce its rights and remedies hereunder with respect to any Pledged
Collateral.

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        (b) The Investor agrees to defend the title to the Pledged Collateral
and the lien thereon of the Company against the claim of any other Person and to
maintain and preserve such lien until indefeasible payment in full of all of the
Obligations secured hereby (the "Secured Obligations").

                  SECTION 6.  VOTING RIGHTS; DIVIDENDS; ETC.

        (a) As long as no Default or Event of Default (as each such term is
defined in the Note) shall have occurred and be continuing (or, in the case of
subsection (a)(i) of this Section 6, as long as no notice thereof shall have
been given by the Company to the Investor):

                           (i) The Investor shall be entitled to exercise any
                  and all voting and other consensual rights pertaining to the
                  Pledged Collateral or any part thereof for any purpose not
                  inconsistent with the terms of this Agreement; PROVIDED,
                  HOWEVER, that the Investor shall not exercise or shall refrain
                  from exercising any such right if, in the Company's judgment,
                  such action would have a material adverse effect on the value
                  of the Pledged Collateral or any part thereof.

                       (ii) The Company shall execute and deliver (or cause to
                  be executed and delivered) to the Investor all such proxies
                  and other instruments as the Investor may reasonably request
                  for the purpose of enabling the Investor to exercise the
                  voting and other rights which it is entitled to exercise
                  pursuant to paragraph (i) above.

        (b) The Company shall at all times be entitled to receive and retain all
Proceeds, which amounts shall be applied toward payment of the Secured
Obligations; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that as long as no Default or Event of Default
shall have occurred and be continuing, the Investor shall be entitled to receive
and retain the portion of the Proceeds equal to the amount due and payable by
the Investor in respect of such Proceeds for local, state and federal income
taxes. Any Proceeds received by the Investor shall be received in trust for the
benefit of the Company, be segregated from the other property or funds of the
Investor, and be forthwith delivered to the Company to be applied toward payment
of the Secured Obligations or, at the sole discretion of the Company, to be held
as Pledged Collateral in the same form as so received (with any necessary
indorsement).

        (c) The Company shall at all times be entitled to receive and retain all

                           (i) dividends and other distributions paid or payable
                  in cash in respect of any Pledged Shares or Additional Shares
                  in connection with a partial or total liquidation or
                  dissolution or in connection with a reduction of capital,
                  capital surplus or paid-in-surplus, and

                           (ii) cash paid, payable or otherwise distributed in
                  redemption of, or in exchange for, any Pledged Collateral,

         all of which shall be forthwith delivered to the Company to be applied
         toward payment of the Secured Obligations and shall, if received by the
         Investor, be received in trust for the benefit of the Company, be
         segregated from the other property or funds of the Investor, and be
         forthwith delivered to the Company to be applied toward payment of the
         Secured

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          Obligations; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that as long as no Default or Event of
          Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the Investor shall be
          entitled to receive and retain the portion of such amounts equal to
          the amount due and payable by the Investor in respect thereof for
          local, state and federal income taxes.

        (d) The Company shall at all times be entitled to receive and retain all
dividends paid or payable other than in cash in respect of, and instruments and
other property received, receivable or otherwise distributed in respect of, or
in exchange for, any Pledged Collateral, all of which shall be forthwith
delivered to the Company to hold as Pledged Collateral and shall, if received by
the Investor, be received in trust for the benefit of the Company, be segregated
from the other property or funds of the Investor, and be forthwith delivered to
the Company to be held as Pledged Collateral in the same form as so received
(with any necessary indorsement).

        (e) The Investor shall execute and deliver (or cause to be executed and
delivered) to the Company all such proxies and other instruments as the Company
may request for the purpose of enabling the Company to exercise the rights which
it is entitled to exercise pursuant to subsections (b), (c) and (d) above.

        (f) Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of a Default or an
Event of Default:

                           (i) Upon notice by the Company to the Investor, all
                  rights of the Investor to exercise the voting and other
                  consensual rights which it would otherwise be entitled to
                  exercise pursuant to Section 6(a)(i) above shall cease, and
                  all such rights shall thereupon become vested in the Company
                  which shall thereupon have the sole right to exercise such
                  voting and other consensual rights.

        (g) The Investor shall, if necessary to permit the Company to exercise
the voting and other rights which it may be entitled to exercise pursuant to
Section 6(f)(i) above and to receive all dividends and distributions which it
may be entitled to receive under this Section 6, execute and deliver to the
Company, from time to time and upon written notice of the Company, appropriate
proxies, dividend payment orders and other instruments as the Company may
reasonably request. The foregoing shall not in any way limit the Company's power
and authority granted pursuant to Section 8 hereof.

        SECTION 7. TRANSFERS AND OTHER LIENS; ADDITIONAL SHARES. (a) Except as
expressly provided in Section 7(c) below, the Investor agrees that it will not
(i) sell or otherwise dispose of, or grant any option or warrant with respect
to, any of the Pledged Collateral, or (ii) create or permit to exist any lien
upon or with respect to any of the Pledged Collateral, except for the lien
created pursuant to this Agreement.

        (b) The Investor agrees that it will (i) pledge hereunder, immediately
upon its acquisition (directly or indirectly) thereof, any and all Additional
Shares, and (ii) promptly (and in any event within three business days) deliver
to the Company a Pledge Amendment, duly executed by the Investor, in
substantially the form of Schedule II hereto (a "Pledge Amendment"), in respect
of the Additional Shares, together with all certificates or other instruments
representing or evidencing the same. The Investor hereby (i) authorizes the
Company to attach each Pledge Amendment to this Pledge Agreement, (ii) agrees
that all Additional Shares listed on any Pledge

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Amendment delivered to the Company shall for all purposes hereunder constitute
Pledged Shares and (iii) is deemed to have made, upon such delivery, the
representations and warranties contained in Section 4 hereof with respect to
such Pledged Collateral.

        (c) If the Investor desires to sell Pledged Shares (including any
Additional Shares) to an unaffiliated third party for cash (including any such
Additional Shares, the "Sale Shares"), the Company shall, subject to the
reasonable discretion of the Company and applicable law, use reasonable efforts
to release the Sale Shares from the lien created by this Agreement and take such
further actions that the Company may deem to be necessary or desirable in order
to allow consummation of such a sale for such purpose; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that
(i) all such cash paid, payable or otherwise distributed in exchange for the
Sale Shares shall be applied in accordance with Section 11(e) of this Agreement,
(ii) the Investor shall comply with all laws applicable to any such transaction
and (iii) the Sale Shares shall not be sold hereunder for an amount less than
the fair market value of the Sale Shares, as may be determined in good faith by
the Board of Directors of the Company, provided that any sale of Sale Shares
listed on a national securities exchange or quoted on NASDAQ shall be deemed to
be made for the fair market value thereof.

        SECTION 8. COMPANY APPOINTED ATTORNEY-IN-FACT AND PROXY. The Investor
hereby irrevocably constitutes and appoints the Company and any officer or agent
thereof, with full power of substitution, as its true and lawful
attorney-in-fact and proxy with full irrevocable power and authority in the
place and stead of the Investor and in the name of the Investor or in its own
name, from time to time in the Company's discretion, for the purpose of carrying
out the terms of this Agreement, to take any and all appropriate action and to
execute and deliver any and all documents and instruments which the Company may
deem necessary or advisable to accomplish the purposes of this Agreement,
including, without limitation, to receive, indorse and collect all instruments
made payable to the Investor representing any dividend or other distribution or
payment in respect of the Pledged Collateral or any part thereof, to give full
discharge for the same, and to vote or grant any consent in respect of the
Pledged Shares authorized by Section 6(f) hereof. The Investor hereby ratifies,
to the extent permitted by law, all that any said attorney shall lawfully do or
cause to be done by virtue hereof. This power, being coupled with an interest,
is irrevocable until the Secured Obligations are paid in full.

        SECTION 9. COMPANY MAY PERFORM. If the Investor fails to perform any
agreement contained herein, the Company may itself perform, or cause performance
of, such agreement, and the expenses of the Company incurred in connection
therewith shall be payable by the Investor under Section 12 hereof and
constitute Secured Obligations secured hereby.

        SECTION 10. REASONABLE CARE. The Company shall be deemed to have
exercised reasonable care in the custody and preservation of the Pledged
Collateral in its possession if the Pledged Collateral is accorded treatment
substantially equal to that which the Company accords its own property, it being
understood that the Company shall not have responsibility for (i) ascertaining
or taking action with respect to calls, conversions, exchanges, maturities,
tenders or other matters relative to any Pledged Collateral, whether or not the
Company has or is deemed to have knowledge of any such matter, or (ii) taking
any necessary steps to preserve rights against any Person with respect to any
Pledged Collateral.

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        SECTION 11. REMEDIES UPON DEFAULT. If any Event of Default shall have
occurred and be continuing:

        (a) The Company may exercise in respect of the Pledged Collateral, in
addition to other rights and remedies provided for herein or otherwise available
to it, all the rights and remedies of a secured party after default under the
Uniform Commercial Code (the "Code") in effect in the State of New York at that
time, and the Company may also, without notice except as specified below, sell
the Pledged Collateral or any part thereof in one or more parcels at public or
private sale, at any exchange, broker's board or at any office of the Company or
elsewhere, for cash, on credit or for future delivery, and upon such other terms
as the Company may deem commercially reasonable. The Investor agrees that, to
the extent notice of sale shall be required by law, at least ten days' notice to
the Investor thereof and, in the case of a sale, of the time and place of any
public sale or the time after which any private sale is to be made shall
constitute reasonable notification. The Company shall not be obligated to make
any sale of Pledged Collateral regardless of notice of sale having been given.
The Company may adjourn any public or private sale from time to time by
announcement at the time and place fixed therefor, and such sale may, without
further notice, be made at the time and place to which it was so adjourned. The
Investor hereby waives any claims against the Company arising by reason of the
fact that the price at which any Pledged Collateral may have been sold at such a
private sale was less than the price which might have been obtained at a public
sale, even if the Company accepts the first offer received and does not offer
such Pledged Collateral to more than one offeree.

        (b) If the Company shall determine to exercise its right to sell all or
any of the Pledged Collateral pursuant to this Section 11, the Investor agrees
that, upon request of the Company, the Investor will, at its own cost and
expense execute and deliver all such instruments and documents as may be
necessary or, in the opinion of the Company, necessary or advisable to register
such Pledged Shares under the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as from
time to time amended (the "Securities Act").

        (c) The Investor recognizes that, by reason of certain prohibitions
contained in the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws, the
Company may, at its option, elect not to register all or any part of the Pledged
Collateral and may therefore be compelled, with respect to any sale of all or
any part of the Pledged Collateral, to limit purchasers to those who will agree,
among other things, to acquire such securities for their own account, for
investment, and not with a view to the distribution or resale thereof. The
Investor acknowledges and agrees that any such sale may result in prices and
other terms less favorable to the seller than if such sale were a public sale
without such restrictions and, notwithstanding such circumstances, agrees that
any such sale shall be deemed to have been made in a commercially reasonable
manner. The Company shall be under no obligation to delay the sale of any of the
Pledged Collateral for the period of time necessary to permit the registration
of such securities for public sale under the Securities Act, or under applicable
state securities laws, even if the Investor would agree to do so.

        (d) If the Company determines to exercise its right to sell any or all
of the Pledged Collateral, upon written request, the Investor shall, from time
to time, furnish to the Company all such information as the Company may request
in order to determine the number of shares and other instruments included in the
Pledged Collateral which may be sold by the Company.

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        (e) Any cash held by the Company as Pledged Collateral and all cash
proceeds received by the Company in respect of any sale of, collection from, or
other realization upon all or any part of the Pledged Collateral shall be
applied by the Company:

        First, to the payment of the costs and expenses of such sale, including,
without limitation, reasonable expenses of the Company and its agents including
the fees and expenses of its counsel, and all expenses, liabilities and advances
made or incurred by the Company in connection therewith or pursuant to Section 9
hereof;

        Next, to the Company for the payment in full of the Secured Obligations;
and

        Finally, after payment in full of all of the Secured Obligations, to the
Investor, or its successors or assigns, or to whomsoever may be lawfully
entitled to receive the same as a court of competent jurisdiction may direct.

        The Investor further acknowledges the impossibility of ascertaining the
amount of damages which would be suffered by the Company by reason of the
failure by the Investor to perform any of the covenants contained in this
Section 11 and, consequently, agrees that, if the Investor shall fail to perform
any of such covenants, it shall pay, as liquidated damages and not as a penalty,
an amount equal to the value of the Pledged Collateral on the date the Company
shall demand compliance with this Section 11, subject to the foregoing
provisions of this Section 11(e) regarding application of proceeds.

        SECTION 12. EXPENSES. The Investor will upon demand pay to the Company
the amount of any and all reasonable expenses, including, without limitation,
the reasonable fees and expenses of the Company's counsel and of any experts and
agents, which the Company may incur after an Event of Default in connection with
(i) realization upon any of the Pledged Collateral, (ii) the exercise or
enforcement of any of the rights and remedies hereunder of the Company or (iii)
the failure by the Investor to perform or observe any of the provisions hereof.

        SECTION 13. SECURITY INTEREST ABSOLUTE. All rights of the Company and
security interests hereunder, and all obligations of the Investor hereunder,
shall be absolute and unconditional irrespective of:

                           (i) any lack of validity or enforceability of any
                  provision of the Subscription Agreement, the Note or any other
                  document, agreement or instrument relating thereto;

                         (ii) any change in the time, manner or place of payment
                  of, or in any other term of, or any increase in the amount of,
                  all or any of the Secured Obligations, or any other amendment
                  or waiver of any term of, or any consent to any departure from
                  any requirement of, the Subscription Agreement, the Note or
                  any other document, agreement or instrument relating thereto;
                  or

                         (iii) any other circumstance which might otherwise
                  constitute a defense available to, or a discharge of, a
                  borrower or a pledgor.

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        SECTION 14. AMENDMENTS, ETC. No amendment or waiver of any provision of
this Agreement nor consent to any departure by the Investor herefrom shall in
any event be effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the
Company, and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific
instance and for the specific purpose for which given.

        SECTION 15. ADDRESSES FOR NOTICES. All notices and other communications
provided for hereunder shall be in writing (including telegraphic, telex,
telecopy or cable communication) and mailed, telegraphed, telexed, telecopied,
cabled or delivered by hand, addressed as follows:

         IF TO THE INVESTOR:

         [SEE ITEM 3 IN ANNEX A]

         IF TO THE COMPANY:

         WGL Holdings, Inc.
         10,000 Wehrle Drive
         Clarence, New York 14031
         Attention: President
         Telecopy No.: (716) 759-5527

         with a copy to:

         Steven D. Rubin, Esq.
         Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP
         700 Louisiana, Suite 1600
         Houston, Texas 77002
         Telecopy No.:     (713) 224-9511

or at such other address as shall be designated by such party in a written
notice to each other party complying as to delivery with the terms of this
Section 15. All such notices and other communications shall, when mailed,
telegraphed, telexed, telecopied, cabled or delivered, be effective when
deposited in the mails, delivered to the telegraph company, confirmed by telex
answerback, telecopied with confirmation of receipt, delivered to the cable
company or delivered by hand to the addressee or its agent, respectively.

        SECTION 16. CONTINUING SECURITY INTEREST; TRANSFER OF NOTES OR
OBLIGATIONS. This Agreement shall create a continuing security interest in the
Pledged Collateral and shall (i) remain in full force and effect until
indefeasible payment in full of the Obligations, (ii) be binding upon the
Investor, his heirs and assigns, and (iii) inure, together with the rights and
remedies of the Company hereunder, to the benefit of and be enforceable by the
Company and its successors, transferees and assigns. Without limiting the
generality of the foregoing clause (iii), the Company may assign or otherwise
transfer the Note or Obligation owing to it to any other person or entity, and
such other person or entity shall thereupon become vested with all the rights in
respect thereof granted to the Company herein or otherwise with respect to such
Note or such of the Obligations so transferred or assigned. Upon the payment in
full of the Obligations, the Investor shall be entitled to the return, upon its
request and at its expense, of such of the Pledged Collateral as shall not have
been sold or otherwise applied pursuant to the terms hereof.

                                       8
<PAGE>

        SECTION 17. GOVERNING LAW; SEVERABILITY; TERMS. This Agreement shall be
governed by, and be construed and interpreted in accordance with, the laws of
the State of New York, other than the conflict of laws rules or principles
thereof. 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 only to the extent of such
prohibition or invalidity and without invalidating the remaining provisions of
this Agreement. Unless otherwise defined herein or in the Subscription
Agreement, terms defined in Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code as in
effect in the State of New York are used herein as therein defined.

        SECTION 18. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. THE INVESTOR WAIVES ANY RIGHT IT MAY
HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY LITIGATION BASED ON, OR ARISING OUT
OF, UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH, THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER DOCUMENT, AGREEMENT
OR INSTRUMENT ENTERED INTO IN CONNECTION THEREWITH, OR ANY COURSE OF CONDUCT,
COURSE OF DEALING, VERBAL OR WRITTEN STATEMENT OR OTHER ACTION OF THE COMPANY.

        SECTION 19. SECTION TITLES. The Section titles contained in this
Agreement are and shall be without substantive meaning or content of any kind
whatsoever and are not part of this Agreement.

        SECTION 20. CONSENT TO JURISDICTION. (a) Any legal action or proceeding
with respect to this Agreement, the Pledged Collateral (including, without
limitation, the Pledged Shares) or any document related thereto may be brought
in the courts of the State of New York or of the United States of America for
the Southern District of New York, and, by execution and delivery of this
Agreement, each of the Company and the Investor hereby accepts for itself and in
respect of its property, generally and unconditionally, the jurisdiction of the
aforesaid courts. The parties hereto hereby irrevocably waive any objection,
including, without limitation, any objection to the laying of venue or based on
the grounds of FORUM NON CONVENIENS, which any of them may now or hereafter have
to the bringing of any such action or proceeding in such respective
jurisdictions.

        (b) The Company and the Investor irrevocably consent to the service of
process of any of the aforesaid courts in any such action or proceeding by the
mailing of copies thereof by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, to
the Company or the Investor, respectively, at its address provided herein.

        (c) Nothing contained in this Section 20 shall affect the right of any
party hereto to serve process in any other manner permitted by law.

                                       9
<PAGE>

        IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Investor has caused this Pledge Agreement to be
duly executed and delivered by its duly authorized officer on the date first
above written.

                                    INVESTOR:

                                          /S/ [SEE ITEM 1 IN ANNEX A
                                     -------------------------------------
                                          [SEE ITEM 1 IN ANNEX A]

Accepted and Acknowledged:

WGL HOLDINGS, INC.

By:   [SEE ITEM 4 IN ANNEX A]

                                       10
<PAGE>

                         SCHEDULE I TO PLEDGE AGREEMENT

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                  STOCK
                                CERTIFICATE
        CLASS OF STOCK             NO(S)                 PAR VALUE           NUMBER OF SHARES
        --------------          -----------              ---------           -----------------
<S>                        <C>                            <C>             <C>
Common Stock               [SEE ITEM 5 IN ANNEX A]        $.001           [SEE ITEM 6 IN ANNEX A]

</TABLE>

                                       11
<PAGE>

                               SCHEDULE II TO PLEDGE AGREEMENT

                                      PLEDGE AMENDMENT

                           This Pledge Amendment, dated [SEE ITEM 7 IN ANNEX A]
                  is delivered pursuant to Section 7 of the Pledge Agreement
                  referred to below. The undersigned hereby agrees that this
                  Pledge Amendment may be attached to the Pledge Agreement,
                  dated November 1, 1997, between the undersigned and WGL
                  Holdings, Inc. and that the Additional Shares listed on this
                  Pledge Amendment shall be and become part of the Pledged
                  Collateral referred to in the Pledge Agreement and shall
                  secure all Secured Obligations of the undersigned. The terms
                  defined in the Pledge Agreement are being used herein as
                  therein defined.

                                           /S/ [SEE ITEM 1 IN ANNEX A]
                                     -------------------------------------------
                                           [SEE ITEM 1 IN ANNEX A]

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                            STOCK
                                                         CERTIFICATE
           ISSUER                  CLASS OF STOCK           NO(S)           PAR VALUE        NUMBER OF SHARES
           ------                  --------------        -----------        ---------        ----------------
<S>                                 <C>                 <C>                   <C>          <C>
     WGL Holdings, Inc.             Common Stock        [SEE ITEM 8 IN        $.001        [SEE ITEM 9 IN ANNEX A]
                                                           ANNEX A]

</TABLE>

                                       12
<PAGE>

                                     ANNEX A

                  The foregoing form of Pledge Agreement was entered into by six
         Investors. The information omitted from the foregoing form of Pledge
         Agreement with respect to such Investors, which are designated below as
         parties A through F, respectively, is set forth below:

                  ITEM 1

                  Party A: Edward F. Voboril
                  Party B: Susan M. Bratton
                  Party C: Larry T. DeAngelo
                  Party D: Curtis F. Holmes
                  Party E: Arthur J. Lalonde
                  Party F: Richard W. Mott

                  ITEM 2

                  Party A: 570,000
                  Party B: 142,000
                  Party C: 256,000
                  Party D: 268,000
                  Party E: 180,000
                  Party F: 268,000

                  ITEM 3

                  Party A: Edward F. Voboril
                           33 Four Winds Way
                           Amherst, N.Y. 14226
                           Telecopy No.: (716) 759-8579

                  Party B: Susan M. Bratton
                           1621 North Forest Rd.
                           Williamsville, NY 14221
                           Telecopy No.: (716) 759-8579

                  Party C: Larry T. DeAngelo
                           6060 Whitegate Crossing
                           East Amherst, N.Y. 14051
                           Telecopy No.: (716) 759-8579

                  Party D: Curtis F. Holmes
                           8125 Centrelanc
                           E. Amherst, NY 14051
                           Telecopy No.:  (716) 759-5480

                  Party E: Arthur J. Lalonde
                           208 Summit Avenue
                           Buffalo, NY 14214
                           Telecopy No.:  (716) 759-5508

<PAGE>

                  Party F: Richard W. Mott
                           8546 Quincy Ct.
                           E. Amherst, NY 14051
                           Telephone No.:  (716) 759-8579

                  ITEM 4

                  Party A: /S/ LARRY T. DEANGELO
                           ---------------------------------------
                           Larry T. DeAngelo
                           Vice President and Secretary

                  Party B: /S/ EDWARD F. VOBORIL
                           ---------------------------------------
                           Edward F. Voboril
                           President and Chief Executive Officer

                  Party C: /S/ EDWARD F. VOBORIL
                           ---------------------------------------
                           Edward F. Voboril
                           President and Chief Executive Officer

                  Party D: /S/ EDWARD F. VOBORIL
                           ---------------------------------------
                           Edward F. Voboril
                           President and Chief Executive Officer

                  Party E: /S/ EDWARD F. VOBORIL
                           ---------------------------------------
                           Edward F. Voboril
                           President and Chief Executive Officer

                  Party F: /S/ EDWARD F. VOBORIL
                           ---------------------------------------
                           Edward F. Voboril
                           President and Chief Executive Officer

                  ITEM 5

                  Party A: 16
                  Party B: 27
                  Party C: 28
                  Party D: 29
                  Party E: 30
                  Party F: 31

                  ITEM 6

                  Party A: 285,000
                  Party B: 71,000
                  Party C: 128,000
                  Party D: 134,000
                  Party E: 90,000
                  Party F: 134,000

                                       2
<PAGE>

                  ITEM 7

                  Party A: November 3, 1997
                  Party B: November 3, 1997
                  Party C: November 3, 1997
                  Party D: November 3, 1997
                  Party E: November 3, 1997
                  Party F: November 6, 1997

                  ITEM 8

                  Party A: 36
                  Party B: 38
                  Party C: 39
                  Party D: 40
                  Party E: 41
                  Party F: 42

                  ITEM 9

                  Party A: 570,000
                  Party B: 142,000
                  Party C: 256,000
                  Party D: 268,000
                  Party E: 180,000
                  Party F: 268,000

                                       3

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