Document:

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                                                                   Exhibit 10.17

                               PLEDGE AGREEMENT
                               ----------------

          This Pledge Agreement ("Agreement") is dated as of June 30, 1999,
between Pantelis Georgiadis (the "Pledgor") and Lante Corporation, an Illinois
corporation (the "Secured Party").

                                    RECITALS
                                    --------

     WHEREAS, Pledgor, has exercised options to purchase 500,000 shares of
Common Stock of the Secured Party and, in connection  with the payment of
aggregate exercise price therefor and expected income taxes resulting therefrom,
has obtained a $276,000 loan from Secured Party (the "Loan"); and

     WHEREAS, the Loan is evidenced by a Secured Promissory Note of even date
herewith in the aggregate principal amount of $276,000 (the "Note");and

     WHEREAS, as a condition for making the Loan, Secured Party requires that
the Note be secured by a pledge of the shares of stock received by Pledgor.

     NOW, THEREFORE, for and in consideration of the foregoing and for other
good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby
acknowledged, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

1.   Grant of Security Interest.

     (a)  The Pledgor hereby pledges to the Secured Party and grants to the
          Secured Party, as security for the prompt and complete payment,
          observance and performance of all of  Pledgor's obligations under the
          Note (the "Liabilities"), including the payment of principal, interest
          and fees thereunder, a security interest in (i) 500,000 shares of
          Common Stock of the Secured Party (such shares of stock are referred
          to herein as the "Pledged Shares"), registered on the books and
          records of said Secured Party in the name of Pledgor, (ii) the
          "Powers" (as defined below), (iii) the property and interests in
          property described in paragraphs 7 and 8 below, (iv) dividends and
          distributions payable with respect to the Pledged Shares pursuant to
          paragraph 4 below, and (v) any and all proceeds of the foregoing (the
          items described in (i) through (v) above being hereinafter
          collectively referred to as the "Collateral").

     (b)  The Pledgor agrees to execute and deliver to the Secured Party (i)
          stock powers in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto and made a part
          hereof, appropriately endorsed in blank, with respect to the Pledged
          Shares constituting certificated securities and (ii) such other
          documents of transfer as the Secured Party may from time to time
          request to enable the Secured Party to transfer the Collateral into
          its name (all of the foregoing are hereinafter collectively referred
          to as the "Powers").

2.   Perfection of Security Interest.  The Pledgor agrees (a) immediately to
     deliver to the Secured Party all certificates evidencing any of the
     Collateral which may at any time come into the possession of the Pledgor,
     (b) to execute and deliver to the Secured Party such financing statements
     as the Secured Party may request from time to time hereafter with respect
     to the Collateral, and (c) to take such other steps as the Secured Party
     may from time to time reasonably request to perfect the Secured Party's
     security interest in the Collateral under applicable law.  The Pledgor
     agrees that this Agreement or a photocopy of this Agreement shall be
     sufficient as a financing statement.

3.   Voting Rights.  During the term of this Agreement, and so long as Pledgor
     has not committed an "Event of Default" under the Note (such Event of
     Default by Pledgor shall constitute an "Event of Default" herein), the
     Pledgor shall have the right to vote the Pledged Shares and exercise any
     voting
<PAGE>

     rights pertaining to the Collateral and to give consents, ratifications and
     waivers with respect thereto. After the occurrence and during the
     continuance of an Event of Default, the Secured Party shall be entitled, at
     the Secured Party's option and following written notice from the Secured
     Party to the Pledgor, to exercise all voting powers pertaining to the
     Collateral and to give, exclusively, consents, ratifications and waivers
     with respect thereto for all purposes.

4.   Dividends and Other Distributions.  During the term of this Agreement, and
     so long as no Event of Default shall have occurred and is continuing, the
     Pledgor shall have all rights with respect to dividends and other
     distributions with respect to the Collateral.  Upon the occurrence and
     during the continuance of an Event of Default, and upon the giving of
     written notice to the Pledgor by the Secured Party of its intention to
     exercise its rights hereunder, all rights with respect to dividends and
     distributions with respect to the Collateral shall become vested in the
     Secured Party and the Secured Party shall be entitled to receive any and
     all distributions paid in respect of the Collateral, including, without
     limitation, any and all cash distributions paid in connection with a
     partial or total liquidation or dissolution of the Company and cash paid,
     payable or otherwise distributed in redemption of, in exchange for, or as a
     return of the Pledgor's capital investment in the Company, and any such
     amounts, if received by Pledgor, shall be held in trust for the benefit of
     the Secured Party segregated from other property or funds of the Pledgor
     and forthwith delivered to the Secured Party in the same form as so
     received (with any necessary endorsements).  All such amounts collected by
     the Secured Party shall be applied to the Liabilities.

5.   Representations.  The Pledgor warrants and represents as follows:

     (a)  The Pledgor is the sole, legal and beneficial owner of the Collateral;

     (b)  The Pledgor has full power and authority to enter into this Agreement;

     (c)  The Pledgor has the right (i) to vote the Pledge Shares and (ii) to
          pledge and grant a security interest in all or any part of the
          Collateral, free of any lien or other charge, encumbrance or
          restriction;

     (d)  The Powers are duly executed and give the Secured Party the authority
          they purport to confer.

6.   Transfers and Other Liens.  The Pledgor agrees that he will not (i) sell or
     otherwise dispose of, or grant any option with respect to, any of the
     Collateral without the prior written consent of the Secured Party, or (ii)
     create or permit to exist any lien, security interest, or other charge or
     encumbrance upon or with respect to any of the Collateral, except for the
     security interest granted under this Agreement.

7.   Pledged Shares Adjustments.  In the event that, during the term of this
     Agreement, any stock dividend, reclassification, readjustment or other
     change is declared or made in the capital structure of the Company
     (including, without limitation, the issuance of additional shares of
     capital stock of the Company), then the Secured Party shall have a security
     interest in (i) the number of additional shares of the capital stock of the
     Company issued in respect of the Pledged Shares and/or all of the issued
     and outstanding shares of each class of the capital stock of the Company
     into which the Pledged Shares have been converted and (ii) all non-equity
     securities issued to or acquired by the Pledgor by reason of any such
     change or exercise; and all such shares or other securities shall become
     part of the Collateral.

8.   Options and Other Rights.  In the event that, during the term of this
     Agreement, rights or options shall be issued by the Company in connection
     with the Collateral, then the Secured Party shall have a security interest
     in such rights and options; and all such rights and options shall become
     part of the Collateral.

                                      -2-
<PAGE>

9.   No Discharge.  The Pledgor shall remain bound and his liabilities hereunder
     shall be unconditional, irrespective of (i) the validity or enforceability,
     avoidance or subordination of the Liabilities, (ii) the election of any
     remedy by the Secured Party, (iii) the waiver, consent, extension,
     forbearance or granting of any indulgence by the Secured Party with respect
     to any provision of the Note, (iv) failure by the Secured Party to take any
     steps to perfect and maintain its security interest in, or to preserve its
     rights to, any of the Collateral, (v) any failure, neglect or omission on
     the part of Secured Party to realize upon any other collateral or security
     for performance of the Liabilities, (vi) the election by the Secured Party
     in any proceeding instituted under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code of the
     application of Section 1111(b)(2) of the Bankruptcy Code, (vii) the
     disallowance under Section 502 of the Bankruptcy Code of all or any portion
     of the claims of the Secured Party for repayment of the Liabilities, or
     (viii) any other circumstance which might otherwise constitute a legal or
     equitable discharge or defense of the Pledgor; all of the foregoing being
     expressly waived by the Pledgor.

10.  Waivers.  The Pledgor hereby waives any requirement of diligence,
     presentment, demand of payment, filing of claims with a court in the event
     of receivership or bankruptcy of the Pledgor, protest or notice with
     respect to the Liabilities, the benefit of any statutes of limitation, and
     all demands whatsoever (and shall not require that the same be made on the
     Pledgor as a condition precedent to the Pledgor's liabilities hereunder),
     and covenants that this Agreement will not be discharged, except as
     provided in paragraph 12 hereof.

11.  Remedies Following an Event of Default.  The Secured Party may, upon or at
     any time after the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of
     Default, at its option, transfer or register the Collateral or any part
     thereof into its name with or without any indication that such Collateral
     is subject to the security interest hereunder.  The Pledgor hereby appoints
     the Secured Party as its attorney-in-fact to arrange at the Secured Party's
     option for such transfer.  The Secured Party shall have, in addition to the
     foregoing and any other rights given under this Agreement or by law, all of
     the rights and remedies with respect to the Collateral of a secured party
     under the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in the State of Illinois or
     other applicable law.  In addition, following the occurrence and during the
     continuance of an Event of Default, the Secured Party shall have such
     powers of sale and other powers as may be conferred by applicable law.
     With respect to the Collateral or any part thereof which shall then be in
     or shall thereafter come into the possession or custody of the Secured
     Party or which the Secured Party shall otherwise have the ability to
     transfer under applicable law, the Secured Party may, in its sole
     discretion, without notice except as specified below, following the
     occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, sell or cause
     the same to be sold at any broker's board or at public or private sale, in
     one or more sales or lots, at such price as the Secured Party may deem
     best, for cash or on credit or for future delivery, without assumption of
     any credit risk on the part of the Secured Party and the purchaser of any
     or all of the Collateral so sold shall thereafter own the same, absolutely
     free from any claim, encumbrance or right of any kind whatsoever.  Unless
     any of the Collateral threatens to decline speedily in value or is or
     becomes of a type sold on a recognized market, the Secured Party will give
     the Pledgor reasonable notice of the time and place of any public sale
     thereof, or of the time after which any private sale or other intended
     disposition is to be made.  Any sale of the Collateral conducted in
     conformity with reasonable commercial practices shall be deemed to be
     commercially reasonable.  Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary
     contained herein, any requirements of reasonable notice shall be met if ten
     (10) Business Days' notice of such sale or disposition is provided to the
     Pledgor.  Any other requirement of notice, demand or advertisement for sale
     is, to the extent permitted by law, waived.  The Secured Party may, in its
     own name or in the name of a designee or nominee, buy all or any part of
     the Collateral at any public sale and, if permitted by applicable law, buy
     all or any part of the Collateral at any private sale.  The Pledgor will
     pay to the Secured Party all expenses (including, without limitation, court
     costs and attorneys' and paralegals' fees and expenses) of, or incident to,
     (i) the administration of this Agreement, (ii) the custody or preservation
     of, or the sale or collection of or

                                      -3-
<PAGE>

     other realization upon, any of the Collateral, (iii) the exercise or
     enforcement of any of the rights of the Secured Party hereunder, or (iv)
     the failure by the Pledgor to perform or observe any provision hereof. In
     view of the fact that federal and state securities laws and securities laws
     in foreign jurisdictions may impose certain restrictions on the method by
     which a sale of the Collateral may be effected after the occurrence and
     during the continuance of an Event of Default, the Pledgor agrees the
     Secured Party may, from time to time, attempt to sell all or any part of
     the Collateral by means of a private placement restricting the bidders and
     prospective purchasers to those who are qualified and will represent and
     agree that they are purchasing for investment only and not for
     distribution. In so doing, the Secured Party may solicit offers to buy the
     Collateral, or any part of it, from a limited number of investors deemed by
     the Secured Party, in its reasonable judgment, to be financially
     responsible parties who might be interested in purchasing the Collateral.
     If the Secured Party solicits such offers, then the acceptance by the
     Secured Party of the highest offer obtained therefrom shall be deemed to be
     a commercially reasonable method of disposing of such Collateral.

12.  Term.  This Agreement shall remain in full force and effect until all of
     the Liabilities shall have been completely paid and satisfied in full.

13.  The Secured Party's Exercise of Rights and Remedies Upon the Occurrence and
     During the Continuance of an Event of Default.  Notwithstanding anything
     set forth herein to the contrary, it is hereby expressly agreed that, upon
     occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, the Secured
     Party may exercise any of the rights and remedies provided in this
     Agreement or otherwise available to it by law or in equity.

14.  Successors and Assigns.  This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to
     the benefit of the Pledgor, the Secured Party and their respective
     successors and assigns.  The Pledgor's successors and assigns shall
     include, without limitation, a receiver, trustee or estate of or for the
     Pledgor.

15.  Applicable Law.  This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in
     accordance with the laws of the State of Illinois, without regard to
     conflicts of law principles.  Whenever 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 held
     to be prohibited or invalid under applicable law, such provision shall be
     ineffective only to the extent of such prohibition or invalidity, without
     invalidating the remainder of such provision or the remaining provisions of
     this Agreement.

16.  Further Assurances.  The Pledgor agrees that he will cooperate with the
     Secured Party and will execute and deliver, or cause to be executed and
     delivered, all such other stock powers, proxies, instruments and documents,
     and will take all such other action, including, without limitation, the
     filing of financing statements, as the Secured Party may reasonably request
     from time to time in order to carry out the provisions and purposes hereof.

17.  The Secured Party Appointed Attorney-in-Fact.  The Pledgor hereby appoints
     the Secured Party as the Pledgor's attorney-in-fact, with full authority in
     the place and stead of the Pledgor and in the name of the Pledgor or
     otherwise, from time to time in the Secured Party's discretion to take any
     action and to execute any instrument which the Secured Party may deem
     necessary or advisable to accomplish the purposes of this Agreement,
     including, without limitation, to receive, endorse and collect all
     instruments made payable to the Pledgor representing any distribution,
     interest payment or other dividend distribution in respect of the
     Collateral or any part thereof and to give full discharge for the same.
     This power of attorney created under this paragraph 17, being coupled with
     an interest, shall be irrevocable for the term of this Agreement and
     thereafter as long as this Agreement remains in effect, but shall not be
     deemed to authorize the Secured Party to take any action which the Pledgor
     could not be required to take hereunder.

                                      -4-
<PAGE>

18.  Secured Party's Duty.  The Secured Party shall not be liable for any acts,
     omissions, errors of judgment or mistakes of fact or law including, without
     limitation, acts, omissions, errors or mistakes with respect to the
     Collateral, except for those arising out of or in connection with the
     Secured Party's (a) gross negligence or willful misconduct, or (b) failure
     to use reasonable care with respect to the safe custody of any certificate
     evidencing any of the Collateral which is in the physical possession of the
     Secured Party.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the
     Secured Party shall be under no obligation to take any steps necessary to
     preserve rights in the Collateral against any other parties but may do so
     at its option, and all expenses incurred in connection therewith shall be
     for the sole account of the Pledgor, and shall be added to the Liabilities
     secured hereby.

19.  Notices.  Any notice required or desired to be served, given or delivered
     hereunder shall be in writing, and shall be deemed given: (a) upon personal
     delivery (b) three business days after deposit in the U.S. Mail, return
     receipt requested or (c) one business day after deposit with an overnight
     air courier service; if to the Secured Party, addressed to its principal
     place of business, attention: President; and if to Pledgor, to his address
     as it appears on the books and records of the Company.

20.  Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in separate counterparts,
     each of which shall be an original and all of which taken together shall
     constitute one and the same instrument.

21.  Section Headings.  The section headings herein are for convenience of
     reference only, and shall not affect in any way the interpretation of any
     of the provisions hereof.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Pledgor and the Secured Party have executed this
Agreement as of the day and year first above written.

                                          LANTE CORPORATION

/s/ Pantelis A. Georgiadis                   /s/ Scott Smaller
_______________________________           By:_________________________________
Pantelis A. Georgiadis

                                      -5-
<PAGE>

                                   EXHIBIT A
                                   ---------

                                       to

                                PLEDGE AGREEMENT

                                     Powers
                                 (See attached)

                                      A-1
<PAGE>

                                  STOCK POWER

          FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned does hereby sell, assign and
transfer to __________________, 500,000 shares of the common stock of Lante
Corporation, Inc., an Illinois corporation, represented by certificate No. ___,
standing in the name of the undersigned on the books of said corporation.  The
undersigned does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint Lante Corporation
attorney to transfer the shares of said corporation, with full power of
substitution in the premises.

                                    /s/ Pantelis A. Georgiadis
Dated: July 30, 1999                ________________________________
                                    Pantelis A. Georgiadis

This assignment is made for collateral purposes pursuant to, and subject to the
terms and conditions of, that certain Pledge Agreement dated July 30, 1999,
between Pantelis A. Georgiadis and Lante Corporation.

                                      A-2<PAGE>

                                                                   Exhibit 10.18

                                PROMISSORY NOTE
                                ---------------

                                          $3,007,500.00 Date: September 30, 1999

     FOR VALUE RECEIVED, Lante Corporation, an Illinois corporation ("Maker")
promises to pay to the order of Pantelis Georgiadis ("Payee"), at such place or
places and to such entity as Payee may designate in writing, the principal sum
of Three Million Seven Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($3,007,500.00) together
with interest at an interest rate per annum equal to the prime rate announced
from time to time by Old Kent Bank, N.A. (the "Interest Rate"), on any and all
principal amounts remaining unpaid hereunder and from time to time outstanding
from the date hereof until maturity, payable as set forth in this Promissory
Note (the "Note").

1.   Payment of Principal and Interest. The payments of interest hereunder shall
     be made in arrears quarterly commencing on December 31, 1999 and upon the
     passage of each full three month period thereafter. Maker shall pay the
     principal amount in three (3) equal annual installments, each installment
     to be payable on the yearly anniversary of the date of this Note.

2.   Prepayment. Maker may prepay this Note, in whole or in part, at any time
     and from time to time without premium or penalty.

3.   Default. The occurrence of any one of the following events shall constitute
     a default by Maker under this Note (referred to herein as an "Event of
     Default"):

     (a)  if Maker fails to make any payment set forth in Section 1 hereof;

     (b)  if Maker breaches any term of this Note; or

     (c)  if bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or liquidation proceedings
          or other proceedings or relief (voluntary or involuntary) under any
          bankruptcy law or any law shall be instituted by or against Maker.

     Upon the occurrence of any Event of Default:

     (a)  at the option of Payee the entire unpaid amount of the principal sum
          of this Note shall become immediately due and payable upon demand;

     (b)  Payee may, at its option, without demand, notice or legal process of
          any kind, exercise any and all rights and remedies granted to it by
          any agreement now or hereafter existing between Maker and Payee; and
<PAGE>

     (c)  Payee may, at its option, exercise from time to time any other rights
          and remedies available to it under the Uniform Commercial Code or any
          other law.

4.   Subordination.

     (a)  Subordination of Note to Senior Debt. Payee covenants, acknowledges
          and agrees that any and all payments under this Note shall be
          subordinate and subject in right of payment to prior payment in full
          in cash of any Senior Debt, and that each holder of Senior Debt,
          whether now outstanding or hereafter created, incurred, assumed or
          guaranteed, shall be deemed to have acquired Senior Debt in reliance
          upon the provisions contained in this Section 4. Payee agrees to
          execute, at any time upon request, any other documents requested by
          holders of Senior Debt to evidence the subordination of this Note to
          such Senior Debt.

     (b)  Payments Under Senior Default.

          (i)  the Company may not make, and Payee may not receive, any payment
               of principal, interest or any other amount due with respect to
               this Note if:

               (A) at the time of such payment, a default or event of default in
               the payment of any Senior Debt under any document, instrument or
               agreement underlying or relating to Senior Debt (such default or
               event of default referred to as a "Senior Payment Default," and
               such documents, instruments or agreements collectively referred
               to as "Senior Debt Documents") exists and such Senior Payment
               Default shall not have been cured or waived in accordance with
               the terms of the applicable Senior Debt Documents; or

               (B) at the time of such payment, (x) Company shall have received
               a written notice (a "Senior Default Notice") of the occurrence of
               a default or event of default under any agreement underlying or
               relating to Senior Debt other than a Senior Payment Default (such
               a default or event of default, a "Senior Covenant Default"),
               which Senior Default Notice provides a description of such Senior
               Covenant Default, and (y) each such Senior Covenant Default shall
               not have been cured or waived in accordance with the terms of the
               applicable Senior Debt Documents; or
<PAGE>

               (C) such payment would result in a Senior Payment Default and/or
               Senior Covenant Default under the Senior Debt Documents.

          (ii) the Company may resume payments (and may make any payments missed
               due to the application of Section 4(b)(i) in respect of this
               Note) upon a cure or waiver of such Senior Payment Default or
               Senior Covenant Default in accordance with the terms of the
               Senior Debt Documents.

     (c)  Modifications to Senior Debt. The holders of Senior Debt may at any
          time and from time to time without the consent of or notice to Payee,
          without incurring liability to Payee and without impairing or
          releasing the obligations of Payee under this Section 4, change the
          manner or place of payment or extend the time of payment of or renew
          or alter any Senior Debt, or amend in any manner any agreement, note,
          guaranty or other instrument evidencing or securing or otherwise
          relating to any Senior Debt.

     (d)  Definition of Senior Debt. "Senior Debt" shall mean (i) indebtedness
          for borrowed money (including principal, premium, interest and fees,
          including, but not limited to, any amounts borrowed from time to time
          from Old Kent Bank, N.A. pursuant to that certain Amended and Restated
          Loan and Security Agreement, dated December 29, 1998, as amended June
          15, 1999, by and between the Company and Old Kent Bank, N.A.), whether
          short-term or long-term and whether secured or unsecured, (ii) the
          deferred purchase price of property in respect of which Company is
          liable, (iii) leases which have been or should be, in accordance with
          generally accepted accounting principles, recorded as capitalized
          leases, (iv) guarantees by the Company of items described in (i), (ii)
          and (iii) above, and (v) renewals, extensions, refundings, deferrals,
          restructurings, amendments and modifications of items described in
          (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv) above, in each case whether existing on the
          date hereof or arising after the date hereof.

5.   Remedies. The remedies of Payee as provided herein shall be cumulative and
     concurrent, and may be pursued singularly, successively, or together, at
     the sole discretion of Payee. Except as expressly provided herein, Maker
     waives presentment, demand and protest, notice of protest, notice of
     presentment and all other notices and demands in connection with the
     enforcement of Payee's rights hereunder.

6.   Successor of Maker. This Note shall be enforceable against any successor of
     Maker as if executed by such successor itself.
<PAGE>

7.   Governing Law. This Note has been executed in, and shall be governed by the
     laws of, the State of Illinois.

     In Witness Whereof, the undersigned has executed this Note as of the day
and year first above written.

                                       LANTE CORPORATION

                                       By:        C.R. Puryear
                                          ----------------------------
                                       Print Name: C.R. PURYEAR
                                       Title:      President & CEO

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