Petrobras International Finance 6-K Current report (foreign)

Exhibit 4.1 

STANDBY PURCHASE AGREEMENT

Dated as of November 1, 2007

Between

PETRÓLEO BRASILEIRO S.A.—PETROBRAS,

as Standby Purchaser,

and

THE BANK OF NEW YORK, as

Trustee for the Noteholders

Referred to Herein

Table of Contents

Page

SECTION 1.	Definitions		2
SECTION 2.	Partial Purchase Obligation	11
SECTION 3.	Total Purchase Obligation.	12
SECTION 4.	Obligations Absolute	14
SECTION 5.	Independent Obligation	15
SECTION 6.	Waivers and Acknowledgments	15
SECTION 7.	Claims Against the Issuer	16
SECTION 8.	Payments Free and Clear of Taxes, Etc.	17
SECTION 9.	Representations and Warranties	18
SECTION 10.	Covenants	25
SECTION 11.	Amendments, Etc.	28
SECTION 12.	Notices, Etc.	28
SECTION 13.	No Waiver; Remedies	29
SECTION 14.	Indemnification	29
SECTION 15.	Subordination	30

SECTION 16. Continuing Agreement, Assignment of Rights Under the Indenture and the Notes     31

SECTION 17.	Currency Rate Indemnity	31
SECTION 18.	Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Waiver of Immunity, Etc.	32
SECTION 19.	Execution in Counterparts	33
SECTION 20.	Pledge of Interests	34
SECTION 21.	Entire Agreement	34

STANDBY PURCHASE AGREEMENT

STANDBY PURCHASE AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated as of November 1, 2007, between PETRÓLEO BRASILEIRO S.A.—PETROBRAS (the “Standby Purchaser”), a sociedade do economia mista organized and existing under the laws of the Federative Republic of Brazil (“Brazil”), and THE BANK OF NEW YORK, a New York banking corporation, as trustee for the holders of the Notes (as defined below) issued pursuant to the Indenture (as defined below) (the “Trustee”).

WITNESSETH:

WHEREAS, Petrobras International Finance Company, a Cayman Islands limited company and a wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Standby Purchaser (the “Issuer”), has entered into an Indenture dated as of December 15, 2006 (the “Original Indenture”) with the Trustee, as supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture among the Issuer, the Standby Purchaser and the Trustee dated as of the date hereof (the “First Supplemental Indenture”). The Original Indenture, as supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture, and as amended or supplemented from time to time with respect to the Notes, is hereinafter referred to as the “Indenture.”

WHEREAS, the Issuer has duly authorized the issuance of its notes in such principal amount or amounts as may from time to time be authorized in accordance with the Indenture and is, on the date hereof, issuing US$1,000,000,000 of its 5.875% Global Notes due 2018 under the Indenture (the “Notes”);

WHEREAS, the Standby Purchaser is willing to enter into this Agreement in order to provide the holders of the Notes (the “Noteholders”) with assurances that, if the Issuer shall fail to make all required payments of principal, interest or other amounts due in respect of the Notes and the Indenture, the Standby Purchaser will be obligated, without any action on the part of the Noteholders, to immediately purchase the rights of the Noteholders to receive such amounts in consideration of the payment by the Standby Purchaser of an amount of funds equal to the amounts then owed by the Issuer under the Indenture and the Notes, subject to the provisions hereof;

WHEREAS, the Standby Purchaser agrees that it will derive substantial direct and indirect benefits from the issuance of the Notes by the Issuer;

WHEREAS, although the following shall not in any way be a condition to the obligations of the Standby Purchaser hereunder, the Standby Purchaser intends (but is not obligated hereunder) to enter into and maintain at all times during the term of this Agreement arrangements for the import of oil and petroleum products with the Issuer under which payments for such products are expected to be (i) in an aggregate amount at least equal to the total amount owed by the Issuer under the Indenture and the Notes (including any accrued and unpaid interest

and any other amounts required to be paid thereunder), (ii) made through the Brazilian commercial rate exchange market regulated by Banco Central do Brasil and (iii) applied to off-set (or be used to otherwise liquidate) any amounts required to be paid by the Standby Purchaser under this Agreement in respect of any obligation owed by the Issuer under the Indenture and the Notes;

WHEREAS, it is a condition precedent to the issuance of the Notes that the Standby Purchaser shall have executed this Agreement.

NOW, THEREFORE, the Standby Purchaser and the Trustee hereby agree as follows:

SECTION 1.     Definitions.     (a) As used herein the following capitalized terms shall have the following meanings:

“Affiliate,” with respect to any Person, means any other Person that, directly or indirectly, controls, is controlled by or is under common control with such Person; it being understood that for purposes of this definition, the term “control” (including the terms “controlling,” “controlled by” and “under common control with”) of a Person shall mean the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to vote 25% or more of the equity or similar voting interests of such Person or to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.

“Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.

“Authorized Representative” of the Standby Purchaser or any other Person means the person or persons authorized to act on behalf of such entity by its chief executive officer, president, chief operating officer, chief financial officer or any vice president or its Board of Directors or any other governing body of such entity.

“Bankruptcy Law” has the meaning specified in Section 15(a).

“Base Prospectus” has the meaning set forth in the definition of Registration Statement herein.

“Board of Directors”, when used with respect to a corporation, means either the board of directors of such corporation or any committee of that board duly authorized to act for it, and when used with respect to a limited liability company, partnership or other entity other than a corporation, any Person or body authorized by the organizational documents or by the voting equity owners of such entity to act for them.

“Brazil” has the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.

“Business Day” means any day except a Saturday, a Sunday or a legal holiday or a day on which banking institutions (including, without limitation, the members of the Federal Reserve System) are authorized or required by law, regulation or executive order to close in The City of New York, the Issuer’s jurisdiction of incorporation or Brazil.

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“Closing Date” means November 1, 2007.

“Companies” means the Issuer and the Standby Purchaser.

“Default” has the meaning set forth in the Indenture.

“Default Rate” has the meaning specified in the Indenture.

“Denomination Currency” has the meaning specified in Section 17(b).

“Event of Default” has the meaning specified in the Indenture.

“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

“Final Offering Document” has the meaning specified in Section 9(c).

“First Supplemental Indenture” has the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.

“Governmental Authority” shall mean any regulatory, administrative or other legal body, any court, tribunal or authority or any public legal entity or public agency of the Cayman Islands, Brazil, the United States of America or any other jurisdictions whether created by federal, provincial or local government, or any other legal entity now existing or hereafter created, or now or hereafter controlled, directly or indirectly, by any public legal entity or public agency of any of the foregoing.

“Guarantee” means an obligation of a person to pay the Indebtedness of another Person including without limitation:

(i)          an obligation to pay or purchase such Indebtedness;

(ii)         an obligation to lend money or to purchase or subscribe for shares or other securities or to purchase assets or services in order to provide funds for the payment of such Indebtedness;

(iii)        an indemnity against the consequences of a default in the payment of such Indebtedness; or

(iv)       any other agreement to be responsible for such Indebtedness.

“Indebtedness” means any obligation (whether present or future, actual or contingent and including, without limitation, any Guarantee) for the payment or repayment of money which has been borrowed or raised (including money raised by acceptances and all leases which, under generally accepted accounting principles in the country of incorporation of the relevant obligor, would constitute a capital lease obligation).

“Indemnified Party” has the meaning specified in Section 14.

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“Indemnified Taxes” means any and all present or future taxes, levies, imposts, deductions, charges or withholdings of any nature imposed by Brazil, the jurisdiction of incorporation of the Issuer (or any successor), or any other jurisdiction in which the Issuer appoints a paying agent under the Indenture or any political subdivision of such jurisdictions.

“Indenture” has the meaning specified in the preamble to this Agreement.

“Issuer” has the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.

“Judgment Currency” has the meaning specified in Section 17(b).

“Law” means any constitutional provision, law, statute, rule, regulation, ordinance, treaty, order, decree, judgment, decision, certificate, holding, injunction, enforceable at law or in equity, along with the interpretation and administration thereof by any Governmental Authority charged with the interpretation or administration thereof.

“Lien” means any mortgage, pledge, lien, hypothecation, security interest or other charge or encumbrance on any property or asset, including, without limitation, any equivalent created or arising under applicable Law.

“Material Adverse Effect” means a material adverse effect on (a) the business, operations, assets, property, condition (financial or otherwise) or results of operation of the Standby Purchaser together with its consolidated Subsidiaries taken as a whole, (b) the validity or enforceability of this Agreement or any other Transaction Document or (c) the ability of the Standby Purchaser to perform its obligations under this Agreement or any other Transaction Document, or (d) the material rights or benefits available to the Noteholders or the Trustee, as representative of the Noteholders under the Indenture, this Agreement or any of the other Transaction Documents.

“Material Subsidiary” means, as to any Person, any Subsidiary of such Person which, on any given date of determination, accounts for more than 15% of Petrobras’ total consolidated assets, as such total assets are set forth on the most recent consolidated financial statements of Petrobras prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP (or if Petrobras does not prepare financial statements in U.S. GAAP, consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with Brazilian generally accepted accounting principles).

“Noteholders” has the meaning specified in the preamble of this Agreement.

“Notes” has the meaning specified in the preamble of this Agreement.

“Offering Documents” has the meaning specified in Section 9(a).

“Officer’s Certificate” means a certificate of an Authorized Representative of the Standby Purchaser containing, in respect of each certificate furnished with respect to a particular condition, covenant or provision of this Agreement:

(i)           a statement that an Authorized Representative of the Standby Purchaser has read such covenant, condition or provision;

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(ii)          a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such certificate or opinion are based;

(iii)         a statement that, in the opinion of each such individual, such examination or investigation has been made as is necessary to enable such individual to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant, condition or provision has been complied with; and

(iv)         a statement as to whether, in the opinion of each such individual, such condition, covenant or provision has been complied with.

“Opinion of Counsel” means a written opinion of counsel from any Person either expressly referred to herein or otherwise reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee which may include, without limitation, counsel for the Standby Purchaser, whether or not such counsel is an employee of the Standby Purchaser, which opinion contains:

(i)           a statement that each individual signing such opinion has read such covenant, condition or provision;

(ii)          a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such opinion are based;

(iii)         a statement that, in the opinion of each such individual, such examination or investigation has been made as is necessary to enable such individual to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant, condition or provision has been complied with; and

(iv)         a statement as to whether, in the opinion of each such individual, such condition, covenant or provision has been complied with.

“Original Indenture” has the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.

“Other Taxes” means any present or future stamp, documentary, excise, property or similar taxes, charges or levies imposed by Brazil, the jurisdiction of the Issuer, or any other jurisdiction in which the Issuer appoints a paying agent under the Indenture or any political subdivision of such jurisdictions that arise from any payment made hereunder, under the Notes or under the Transaction Documents or from the execution, delivery or registration of, performance under, or otherwise with respect to, this Agreement or any of the other Transaction Documents.

“Partial Non-Payment Amount” has the meaning specified in Section 2(a).

“Partial Non-Payment Amount With Interest” has the meaning specified in Section 2(a).

“Partial Non-Payment Due Date” has the meaning specified in Section 2(a).

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“Partial Non-Payment Overdue Interest” has the meaning specified in Section 2(a).

“Partial Non-Payment Notice” has the meaning specified in Section 2(a).

“Payment Account” has the meaning set forth in the Indenture.

“Payment Date” has the meaning set forth in the Indenture.

“Permitted Free Writing Prospectus” has the meaning set forth in the preamble to the Underwriting Agreement among the Issuer, the Standby Purchaser, Citigroup Global Markets Inc., UBS Securities LLC and Banco Itaú Europa, S.A., dated October 29, 2007 related to the offering of the Notes.

“Permitted Lien” means a:

(i)      Lien granted in respect of Indebtedness owed to the Brazilian government, Banco Nacional de Desenvolvimento Econômico e Social or any official government agency or department of Brazil or of any state or region thereof;

(ii)     Lien arising by operation of law, such as merchants’, maritime or other similar Liens arising in the Standby Purchaser’s ordinary course of business or that of any Subsidiary or Lien in respect of taxes, assessments or other governmental charges that are not yet delinquent or that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings;

(iii)    Lien arising from the Standby Purchaser’s obligations under performance bonds or surety bonds and appeal bonds or similar obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business and consistent with the Standby Purchaser’s past practice;

(iv)    Lien arising in the ordinary course of business in connection with Indebtedness maturing not more than one year after the date on which such Indebtedness was originally incurred and which is related to the financing of export, import or other trade transactions;

(v)     Lien granted upon or with respect to any assets hereafter acquired by the Standby Purchaser or any Subsidiary to secure the acquisition costs of such assets or to secure Indebtedness incurred solely for the purpose of financing the acquisition of such assets, including any Lien existing at the time of the acquisition of such assets as long as the maximum amount so secured shall not exceed the aggregate acquisition costs of all such assets or the aggregate Indebtedness incurred solely for the acquisition of such assets, as the case may be;

(vi)    Lien granted in connection with the Indebtedness of a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary owing to the Standby Purchaser or another Wholly-Owned Subsidiary;

(vii)   Lien existing on any asset or on any stock of any Subsidiary prior to the acquisition thereof by the Standby Purchaser or any Subsidiary as long as such Lien is not created in anticipation of such acquisition;

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(viii)  Lien over any Qualifying Asset relating to a project financed by, and securing Indebtedness incurred in connection with, the Project Financing of such project by the Standby Purchaser, any of the Standby Purchaser’s Subsidiaries or any consortium or other venture in which the Standby Purchaser or any Subsidiary has any ownership or other similar interest;

(ix)    Lien existing as of the date of the Indenture;

(x)     Lien resulting from the Transaction Documents;

(xi)    Lien incurred in connection with the issuance of debt or similar securities of a type comparable to those already issued by the Issuer, on amounts of cash or cash equivalents on deposit in any reserve or similar account to pay interest on such securities for a period of up to 24 months as required by any Rating Agency as a condition to such Rating Agency rating such securities investment grade or as is otherwise consistent with market conditions at such time, as such conditions are satisfactorily demonstrated to the Trustee;

(xii)   Lien granted or incurred to secure any extension, renewal, refinancing, refunding or exchange (or successive extensions, renewals, refinancings, refundings or exchanges), in whole or in part, of or for any Indebtedness secured by a Lien referred to in paragraphs (i) through (xi) above (but not paragraph (iv)), provided that such Lien does not extend to any other property, the principal amount of the Indebtedness secured by such Lien is not increased, and in the case of paragraphs (i), (ii), (iii) and (vi), the obligees meet the requirements of such paragraphs and in the case of paragraph (viii), the Indebtedness is incurred in connection with a Project Financing by the Standby Purchaser, any of the Standby Purchaser’s Subsidiaries or any consortium or other venture in which the Standby Purchaser or any Subsidiary have any ownership or other similar interests; and

(xiii)  Lien in respect of Indebtedness the principal amount of which in the aggregate, together with all Liens not otherwise qualifying as the Standby Purchaser’s Permitted Liens pursuant to clauses (i) through (xii) of this definition, does not exceed 15% of the Standby Purchaser’s consolidated total assets (as determined in accordance with U.S. GAAP) at any date as at which the Standby Purchaser’s balance sheet is prepared and published in accordance with applicable Law.

“Person” means any individual, partnership, corporation (including a business trust), limited liability company, joint stock company, trust, unincorporated association, joint venture or other entity, or a government or any political subdivision or agency thereof.

“Post Petition Interest” has the meaning specified in Section 15(b).

“Pre-Pricing Prospectus” means each preliminary prospectus supplement, in the form so furnished to the Underwriters, including the Base Prospectus, and the documents incorporated by reference therein.

“Process Agent” has the meaning specified in Section 18(c).

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“Project Financing” of any project means the incurrence of Indebtedness relating to the exploration, development, expansion, renovation, upgrade or other modification or construction of such project pursuant to which the providers of such Indebtedness or any trustee or other intermediary on their behalf or beneficiaries designated by any such provider, trustee or other intermediary are granted security over one or more Qualifying Assets relating to such project for repayment of principal, premium and interest or any other amount in respect of such Indebtedness.

“Purchase Obligations” has the meaning specified in Section 4.

“Prospectus Supplement” has the meaning specified in Section 9(c).

“Qualifying Asset” in relation to any Project Financing means:

(i)           any concession, authorization or other legal right granted by any Governmental Authority to the Standby Purchaser or any of the Standby Purchaser’s Subsidiaries, or any consortium or other venture in which the Standby Purchaser or any Subsidiary has any ownership or other similar interest;

(ii)          any drilling or other rig, any drilling or production platform, pipeline, marine vessel, vehicle or other equipment or any refinery, oil or gas field, processing plant, real property (whether leased or owned), right of way or plant or other fixtures or equipment;

(iii)         any revenues or claims which arise from the operation, failure to meet specifications, failure to complete, exploitation, sale, loss or damage to, such concession, authorization or other legal right or such drilling or other rig, drilling or production platform, pipeline, marine vessel, vehicle or other equipment or refinery, oil or gas field, processing plant, real property, right of way, plant or other fixtures or equipment or any contract or agreement relating to any of the foregoing or the Project Financing of any of the foregoing (including insurance policies, credit support arrangements and other similar contracts) or any rights under any performance bond, letter of credit or similar instrument issued in connection therewith;

(iv)         any oil, gas, petrochemical or other hydrocarbon-based products produced or processed by such project, including any receivables or contract rights arising therefrom or relating thereto and any such product (and such receivables or contract rights) produced or processed by other projects, fields or assets to which the lenders providing the Project Financing required, as a condition therefor, recourse as security in addition to that produced or processed by such project; and

(v)          shares or other ownership interest in, and any subordinated debt rights owing to the Standby Purchaser by, a special purpose company formed solely for the development of a project, and whose principal assets and business are constituted by such project and whose liabilities solely relate to such project.

“Rating Agency” means a Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organization as designated by the SEC Division of Market Regulation.

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“Registration Statement” means the registration statement on Form F-3 under the Securities Act, initially dated December 18, 2006, filed with the SEC (File No. 333-139459-01) covering the registration of the Notes under the Securities Act and including the related base prospectus in the form dated December 18, 2006 (the “Base Prospectus”) at the time such registration statement was declared effective by the SEC, as amended to the date hereof (including any post-effective amendment that includes a prospectus or prospectus supplement), together with any documents incorporated by reference therein.

“SEC” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

“Securities Act” means the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

“Standby Purchaser” has the meaning specified in the preamble of this Agreement.

“Stated Maturity” has the meaning specified in the Indenture.

“Subordinated Obligations” has the meaning specified in Section 15.

“Subsidiary” means, as to any Person, a corporation, company, partnership or other entity of which shares of stock or other ownership interests having ordinary voting power (other than stock or such other ownership interests having such power only by reason of the happening of a contingency) to elect a majority of the Board of Directors (or similar governing body) of such corporation, partnership or other entity are at the time owned, or the management of which is otherwise controlled, directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, or both, by such Person. Unless otherwise qualified, all references to a “Subsidiary” or to “Subsidiaries” in this Agreement shall refer to a Subsidiary or Subsidiaries of the Standby Purchaser.

“Successor Company” has the meaning specified in Section 10(m)(i).

“Taxing Jurisdiction” has the meaning specified in Section 8(c).

“Termination Date” has the meaning specified in Section 7.

“TIA” means the United States Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended.

“Total Non-Payment Notice” shall have the meaning specified in Section 3(a).

“Total Non-Payment Amount” shall have the meaning specified in Section 3(a).

“Total Non-Payment Amount With Interest” has the meaning specified in Section 3(a).

“Total Non-Payment Due Date” shall have the meaning specified in Section 3(a).

“Total Non-Payment Overdue Interest” has the meaning specified in Section 3(a).

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“Transaction Documents” means, collectively, the Indenture, the Notes and this Agreement.

“Trustee” has the meaning specified in the preamble of this Agreement.

“Underwriters” means Citigroup Global Markets Inc., UBS Securities LLC and Banco Itaú Europa, S.A., acting as such under the Underwriting Agreement.

“Underwriting Agreement” has the meaning specified in Section 9(a).

“United States” or “U.S.” means the United States of America.

“U.S. GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in effect in the United States of America applied on a basis consistent with the principles, methods, procedures and practices set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or in such other statements by such other entity as approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession.

“Wholly-Owned Subsidiary” means, with respect to any corporate entity, any person of which 100% of the outstanding capital stock (other than qualifying shares, if any) having by the terms thereof ordinary voting power (not dependent on the happening of a contingency) to elect the Board of Directors (or equivalent controlling governing body) of such person is at the time owned or controlled directly or indirectly by such corporate entity, by one or more wholly-owned Subsidiaries of such corporate entity or by such corporate entity and one or more wholly-owned Subsidiaries thereof.

(b)          Construction. For all purposes of this Agreement (and for all purposes of any other Transaction Document or any other instrument or agreement that incorporates provisions of this Agreement by reference), except as otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires:

(i)           the terms defined in this Section have the meanings assigned to them in this Section, and include the plural as well as the singular;

(ii)          except as otherwise expressly provided herein, (A) all accounting terms used herein shall be interpreted, (B) all financial statements and all certificates and reports as to financial matters required to be delivered to the Trustee hereunder shall be prepared and (C) all calculations made for the purposes of determining compliance with this Agreement shall (except as otherwise expressly provided herein) be made in accordance with, or by application of, U.S. GAAP;

(iii)         all references in this Agreement (including the Appendices and Schedules hereto) to designated “Articles,” “Sections” and other subdivisions are to the designated Articles, Sections and other subdivisions of this Agreement;

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(iv)         the words “herein,” “hereof” and “hereunder” and other words of similar import refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular Article, Section or other subdivision;

(v)          unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, pronouns having a masculine or feminine gender shall be deemed to include the other;

(vi)         unless otherwise expressly specified, any agreement, contract or document defined or referred to herein shall mean such agreement, contract or document as in effect as of the date hereof, as the same may thereafter be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents and shall include any agreement, contract, instrument or document in substitution or replacement of any of the foregoing entered into in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents;

(vii)       any reference to any Person shall include its permitted successors and assigns in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents including, in the case of any Governmental Authority, any Person succeeding to its functions and capacities; and

(viii)      unless the context clearly requires otherwise, references to “Law” or to any particular Law shall include Laws or such particular Law as in effect at each, every and any of the times in question, including any amendments, replacements, supplements, extensions, modifications, consolidations, restatements, revisions or reenactments thereto or thereof, and whether or not in effect at the date of this Agreement.

SECTION 2.     Partial Purchase Obligation. (a) In the event that, prior to the Stated Maturity of the principal of the Notes, the Issuer shall fail to make any payment on the Notes in respect of interest, principal, premium, if any, or other amounts as contemplated in the Indenture and/or the Notes (including, without limitation, any Additional Amounts) on the date any such payment is due under the terms of the Notes and the Indenture including pursuant to any redemption or repurchase obligation of the Issuer (other than in the case of an acceleration thereof in accordance with the Indenture) (such date, the “Partial Non-Payment Due Date”), then in such event (i) the Standby Purchaser shall be obligated to purchase the rights of the Noteholders to receive such payments from the Issuer by paying immediately to the Trustee, for the benefit of the Noteholders under the Indenture, the amount that the Issuer was required to pay but failed to pay on such date under the terms of the Indenture and the Notes (the “Partial Non-Payment Amount”) and (ii) the Trustee shall provide notice to the Standby Purchaser of the failure of the Issuer to make such payment; provided, however, that the failure to provide such notice shall not in any way excuse the Standby Purchaser from its obligations hereunder. The notice contemplated herein shall be provided in writing in substantially the form of Exhibit A hereto (the “Partial Non-Payment Notice”) and shall be sent by the Trustee to the Standby Purchaser at the address specified for the Standby Purchaser in Section 12 hereof no later than 5:00 p.m. (New York time) on the Partial Non-Payment Due Date. The Partial Non-Payment Notice shall (i) confirm the Partial Non-Payment Amount and the fact that such amount was not paid on the Partial Non-Payment Due Date and (ii) remind the Standby Purchaser that it is obligated to purchase the rights of the Noteholders by paying the Partial Non-Payment Amount

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immediately. To the extent that the Standby Purchaser fails to purchase the rights of the Noteholders to receive the Partial Non-Payment Amount immediately pursuant to this Section 2(a) (whether or not it has received the Partial Non-Payment Notice), the Standby Purchaser shall be obligated hereunder to pay, in addition to the Partial Non-Payment Amount, interest on such amount at the Default Rate from the Partial Non-Payment Due Date to and including the actual date of payment by the Standby Purchaser (the “Partial Non-Payment Overdue Interest” and such interest, if any, together with the Partial Non-Payment Amount, the “Partial Non-Payment Amount With Interest”), which date of payment shall be a Business Day. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the failure by the Trustee to deliver a Partial Non-Payment Notice as provided herein shall not release the Standby Purchaser of its obligations to pay the Partial Non-Payment Amount With Interest in the manner set forth in this Section 2(a).

(b)             Payment of the Partial Non-Payment Amount With Interest shall be in consideration of the purchase by the Standby Purchaser of the rights of the Noteholders to receive such amount from the Issuer. The Noteholders shall have no right to retain such rights, and, following the purchase and sale provided for in this Section 2, the Notes shall remain outstanding with all amounts due in respect thereof adjusted to reflect the purchase, sale and payment provided for herein. Upon any such payment, the Standby Purchaser shall be subrogated to the Noteholders to the extent of any payment under this Section 2.

(c)          The obligation of the Standby Purchaser to purchase the rights of the Noteholders to receive the Partial Non-Payment Amount With Interest shall be absolute and unconditional upon failure of the Issuer to make, prior to the Stated Maturity of the principal on the Notes, any payment on the Notes in respect of interest, principal or other amounts as contemplated in the Indenture and/or the Notes (including, without limitation, any Additional Amounts) on the date any such payment is due. All amounts payable by the Standby Purchaser hereunder in respect of any Partial Non-Payment Amount With Interest shall be payable in U.S. dollars and in immediately available funds to the Trustee at the account specified in Section 12 below, or to such other account as may be specified by the Trustee in the applicable Partial Non-Payment Notice. The Standby Purchaser shall not be relieved of its obligations hereunder unless and until the Trustee shall have indefeasibly received all amounts required to be paid by the Standby Purchaser hereunder (and any related Event of Default under the Indenture has been cured), including payment of the Partial Non-Payment Overdue Interest as provided for herein.

(d)          All payments actually received by the Trustee pursuant to this Section 2 after 1:00 p.m. (New York time) on any Business Day will be deemed, for purposes of this Agreement, to have been received by the Trustee on the next succeeding Business Day.

SECTION 3.     Total Purchase Obligation. (a) In the event that, at the Stated Maturity of the principal on the Notes (or earlier upon any acceleration thereof in accordance with the terms of the Indenture), the Issuer shall fail to make any payment in respect of principal, interest or other amounts due under the Indenture and the Notes on the date any such payment is so due (such date, the “Total Non-Payment Due Date”) then in such event, (i) the Standby Purchaser shall be obligated to purchase the rights of the Noteholders to receive such payments from the Issuer by paying immediately to the Trustee, for the benefit of the Noteholders under the Indenture, the amount that the Issuer was required to pay but failed to pay on such date under

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the terms of the Notes and the Indenture (the “Total Non-Payment Amount”) and (ii) the Trustee shall provide notice to the Standby Purchaser of the failure of the Issuer to make such payment, provided, however, that the failure to provide such notice shall not in any way excuse the Standby Purchaser from its obligations hereunder. The notice contemplated herein shall be provided in writing in substantially the form of Exhibit B hereto (the “Total Non-Payment Notice”) sent to the Standby Purchaser at the address specified for the Standby Purchaser in Section 12 hereof no later than 5:00 p.m. (New York time) on the Total Non-Payment Due Date. The Total Non-Payment Notice shall (i) confirm the amount of the Total Non-Payment Amount and the fact that such amount was not paid on the Total Non-Payment Due Date and (ii) remind the Standby Purchaser that it is obligated to purchase the rights of the Noteholders to receive the Total Non-Payment Amount immediately. To the extent that the Standby Purchaser fails to purchase the rights of the Noteholders to receive the Total Non-Payment Amount immediately when required pursuant to this Section 3(a) (whether or not it has received the Total Non-Payment Notice), the Standby Purchaser shall be obligated hereunder to pay, in addition to the amounts specified above, interest on such amount at the Default Rate from the Total Non-Payment Due Date to and including the actual date of payment by the Standby Purchaser (the “Total Non-Payment Overdue Interest” and such interest, if any, together with the Total Non-Payment Amount, the “Total Non-Payment Amount With Interest”), which date of payment shall be a Business Day. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the failure by the Trustee to deliver a Total Non-Payment Notice as provided herein shall not release the Standby Purchaser of its obligations to pay the Total Non-Payment Amount With Interest in the manner set forth in this Section 3(a).

(b)          Payment of the Total Non-Payment Amount With Interest by the Standby Purchaser shall be in consideration of the purchase by the Standby Purchaser of the rights of the Noteholders to receive such amount from the Issuer. The Noteholders shall have no right to retain such rights, and, following the purchase and sale provided for in this Section 3, the Standby Purchaser shall be subrogated to the Noteholders to the extent of any payment under this Section 3.

(c)          The obligation of the Standby Purchaser to purchase the rights of the Noteholders to receive the Total Non-Payment Amount With Interest shall be absolute and unconditional upon failure of the Issuer to make, at the Stated Maturity of the principal of the Notes (or earlier upon any acceleration thereof in accordance with the terms of the Indenture), any payment in respect of principal, interest or other amounts due under the Indenture and the Notes on the date any such payment is due. All amounts payable by the Standby Purchaser hereunder in respect of any Total Non-Payment Amount With Interest shall be payable in U.S. dollars and in immediately available funds to the Trustee at the account specified in Section 12 below, or to such other account as may be specified by the Trustee in the applicable Total Non-Payment Notice. The Standby Purchaser shall not be relieved of its obligations hereunder unless and until the Trustee shall have received all amounts required to be paid by it hereunder (and any related Event of Default under the Indenture has been cured), including payment of the Total Non-Payment Overdue Interest.

(d)          All payments actually received by the Trustee pursuant to this Section 3 after 1:00 p.m. (New York time) on any Business Day will be deemed, for purposes of this Agreement, to have been received by the Trustee on the next succeeding Business Day.

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SECTION 4.     Obligations Absolute. The Standby Purchaser’s obligation to purchase the rights of the Noteholders right to receive one or more Partial Non-Payment Amounts With Interest or the Total Non-Payment Amount With Interest (collectively, the “Purchase Obligations”) are absolute and unconditional regardless of any law, regulation or order now or hereafter in effect in any jurisdiction affecting any of such terms or the rights of any Noteholder under its Notes or the Indenture. The Purchase Obligations and the other obligations of the Standby Purchaser under or in respect of this Agreement are independent of any obligations of the Issuer, the Issuer’s Subsidiaries or the Standby Purchaser’s Subsidiaries under or in respect of the Indenture and the Notes or any other document or agreement, and a separate action or actions may be brought and prosecuted against the Standby Purchaser to enforce this Agreement, irrespective of whether any action is brought against the Issuer or whether the Issuer is joined in any such action or actions. The liability of the Standby Purchaser under this Agreement shall be irrevocable, absolute and unconditional irrespective of, and the Standby Purchaser hereby irrevocably waives any defenses it may now have or hereafter acquire in any way relating to, any or all of the following:

(a)          any lack of validity or enforceability of any of the Transaction Documents;

(b)          any provision of applicable Law or regulation purporting to prohibit the payment by the Standby Purchaser of any amount payable by it under this Agreement;

(c)          any change in the time, manner or place of payment of, or in any other term of, all or any of the Purchase Obligations or any other obligations of any other person or entity under or in respect of the Transaction Documents, or any other amendment or waiver of or any consent to departure from any Transaction Document, including, without limitation, any increase in the obligations of the Issuer under the Indenture and the Notes as a result of further issuances, any rescheduling of the Issuer’s obligations under the Notes or the Indenture or otherwise;

(d)          any taking, release or amendment or waiver of, or consent to departure from, any other guaranty or agreement similar in function to this Agreement, for all or any of the obligations of the Issuer under the Indenture or the Notes;

(e)          any manner of sale or other disposition of any assets of any Noteholder;

(f)           any change, restructuring or termination of the corporate structure or existence of the Issuer or the Standby Purchaser or any Subsidiary thereof or any change in the name, purposes, business, capital stock (including ownership thereof) or constitutive documents of the Issuer or the Standby Purchaser;

(g)          any failure of the Trustee to disclose to the Standby Purchaser any information relating to the business, condition (financial or otherwise), operations, performance, properties or prospects of the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries (the Standby Purchaser hereby waiving any duty on the part of the Trustee or any Noteholders to disclose such information);

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(h)          the failure of any other person or entity to execute or deliver any other Guarantee or agreement or the release or reduction of liability of any other guarantor or surety with respect to the Indenture;

(i)           any other circumstance (including, without limitation, any statute of limitations) or any existence of or reliance on any representation by the Trustee or any Noteholder that might otherwise constitute a defense available to, or a discharge of, the Issuer or the Standby Purchaser or any other party; or

(j)           any claim of set-off or other right which the Standby Purchaser may have at any time against the Issuer or the Trustee, whether in connection with this transaction or with any unrelated transaction.

This Agreement shall continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time any payment of any of the Purchase Obligations is rescinded or must otherwise be returned by any Noteholder or any other person or entity upon the insolvency, bankruptcy or reorganization of the Issuer or the Standby Purchaser or otherwise, all as though such payment had not been made.

SECTION 5.     Independent Obligation. The obligations of the Standby Purchaser hereunder are independent of the Issuer’s obligations under the Notes and the Indenture. The Trustee, on behalf of the Noteholders, may neglect or forbear to enforce payment under the Indenture and the Notes, without in any way affecting or impairing the liability of the Standby Purchaser hereunder. The Trustee shall not be obligated to exhaust recourse or remedies against the Issuer to recover payments required to be made under the Indenture nor take any other action against the Issuer or, under any agreement, purchase any security which the Trustee may hold before being entitled to payment from the Standby Purchaser of all amounts contemplated in Sections 2 and 3 hereof owed hereunder or proceed against or have resort to any balance of any deposit account or credit on the books of the Trustee in favor of the Issuer or in favor of the Standby Purchaser. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Trustee shall have the right to bring a suit directly against the Standby Purchaser, either prior or subsequent to or concurrently with any lawsuit against, or without bringing suit against, the Issuer.

SECTION 6.     Waivers and Acknowledgments. (a) The Standby Purchaser hereby unconditionally and irrevocably waives promptness, diligence, notice of acceptance, presentment, demand for performance, notice of nonperformance, default, acceleration, protest or dishonor and any other notice with respect to any of the Purchase Obligations and this Agreement and any requirement that the Trustee, on behalf of the Noteholders, protect, secure, perfect or insure any Lien or any property subject thereto or exhaust any right or take any action against the Issuer or any other Person.

(b)          The Standby Purchaser hereby unconditionally and irrevocably waives any right to revoke this Agreement and acknowledges that this Agreement is continuing in nature and applies to its Purchase Obligations, whether the same are existing now or in the future.

(c)          The Standby Purchaser hereby unconditionally and irrevocably waives (i) any defense arising by reason of any claim or defense based upon an election of remedies by any

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Noteholder or the Trustee on behalf of the Noteholders that in any manner impairs, reduces, releases or otherwise adversely affects the subrogation, reimbursement, exoneration, contribution or indemnification rights of the Standby Purchaser or other rights of the Standby Purchaser to proceed against the Issuer or any other person or entity and (ii) any defense based on any right of set-off or counterclaim against or in respect of the Purchase Obligations of the Standby Purchaser hereunder.

(d)          The Standby Purchaser hereby unconditionally and irrevocably waives any duty on the part of the Trustee or any Noteholder to disclose to the Standby Purchaser any matter, fact or thing relating to the business, condition (financial or otherwise), operations, performance, properties or prospects of the Issuer now or hereafter known by the Trustee or any Noteholder, as applicable.

(e)          The Standby Purchaser acknowledges that it will receive substantial direct and indirect benefits from the financing arrangements contemplated by the Transaction Documents and that the waivers set forth in this Section 6 are knowingly made in contemplation of such benefits.

(f)           The recitals contained in this Agreement shall be taken as the statements of the Issuer and the Standby Purchaser, as applicable, and the Trustee assumes no responsibility for the correctness of same. The Trustee makes no representation as to the validity or sufficiency of this Agreement, of any offering materials, the Indenture or of the Notes.

SECTION 7.     Claims Against the Issuer. The Standby Purchaser hereby unconditionally and irrevocably agrees not to exercise any rights that it may now have or hereafter acquire against the Issuer or any other guarantor that arise from the existence, payment, performance or enforcement of the Standby Purchaser’s Purchase Obligations under or in respect of this Agreement or any other Transaction Document, including, without limitation, any right of subrogation, reimbursement, exoneration, contribution or indemnification and any right to enforce any rights to payments in respect of the Partial Non-Payment Amount With Interest and/or the Total Non-Payment Amount With Interest purchased by the Standby Purchaser from the Noteholders as provided hereunder, or to participate in any claim or remedy of the Trustee, on behalf of the Noteholders, against the Issuer or any other person, whether or not such claim, remedy or right arises in equity or under contract, statute or common law, including, without limitation, the right to take or receive from the Issuer or any other person, directly or indirectly, in cash or other property or by set-off or in any other manner, payment or security on account of such claim, remedy or right, unless and until all of the Purchase Obligations and all other amounts payable under this Agreement shall have been paid in full in cash. If any amount shall be paid to the Standby Purchaser in violation of the immediately preceding sentence at any time prior to the later of (a) the payment in full in cash of the Purchase Obligations and all other amounts payable under this Agreement and (b) the date on which all of the obligations of the Issuer under the Indenture and the Notes have been discharged in full (the later of such dates being the “Termination Date”), such amount shall be paid over to and received and held by the Trustee in trust for the benefit of the Noteholders, shall be segregated from other property and funds of the Standby Purchaser and shall forthwith be paid or delivered to the Trustee in the same form as so received (with any necessary endorsement or assignment) to be credited and applied to the Purchase Obligations and all other amounts payable under this Agreement,

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whether matured or unmatured, in accordance with the terms of the Indenture. If (i) the Standby Purchaser shall make payment to any Noteholder or the Trustee, on behalf of the Noteholders, of all or any part of the Purchase Obligations, (ii) all of the Purchase Obligations and all other amounts payable under this Agreement shall have been paid in full in cash and (iii) the Termination Date shall have occurred, then the Trustee, on behalf of the Noteholders, will, at the Standby Purchaser’s written request and expense, execute and deliver to the Standby Purchaser appropriate documents, without recourse and without representation or warranty, necessary to evidence the transfer by subrogation to the Standby Purchaser of an interest in the Purchase Obligations resulting from such payment made by the Standby Purchaser pursuant to this Agreement.

SECTION 8.    Payments Free and Clear of Taxes, Etc.

(a)  Any and all payments by or on account of any obligation of the Standby Purchaser hereunder or under any other Transaction Document shall be made free and clear of and without deduction for any Indemnified Taxes; provided that if the Standby Purchaser shall be required to deduct any Indemnified Taxes from such payments, then (i) the sum payable shall be increased as necessary so that after making all required deductions (including deductions applicable to additional amounts payable under this Section), the Trustee, on behalf of the Noteholders, receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deductions been made, (ii) the Standby Purchaser shall make such deductions and (iii) the Standby Purchaser shall pay the full amount deducted to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable Law.

(b)          Payment of Other Taxes by the Standby Purchaser. In addition, the Standby Purchaser shall pay any Other Taxes to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable Law. The Standby Purchaser shall indemnify and make whole the Noteholders for any such Other Taxes payable by the Standby Purchaser under this paragraph paid by such Noteholders.

(c)          Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 8(a) of this Agreement, the Standby Purchaser will not be obligated to pay any Indemnified Taxes imposed with respect to the Notes due to (i) the Noteholder having a connection with the jurisdiction imposing the Indemnified Taxes (hereinafter, the “Taxing Jurisdiction”) other than from merely holding the Notes or receiving principal or interest payments on the Notes (such as citizenship, nationality, residence, domicile, or existence of a business, a permanent establishment, a dependent agent, a place of business or a place of management present or deemed present within the Taxing Jurisdiction), (ii) any tax imposed on, or measured by, net income, (iii) the Noteholder failing to comply with any certification, identification or other reporting requirements concerning its nationality, residence, identity or connection with the Taxing Jurisdiction, if (x) such compliance is required by applicable Law, regulation, administrative practice or treaty as a precondition to exemption from all or a part of the Indemnified Taxes, (y) the Noteholder is able to comply with such requirements without undue hardship and (z) at least 30 calendar days prior to the first Payment Date with respect to which such requirements under the applicable Law, regulation, administrative practice or treaty shall apply, the Standby Purchaser has notified all the Noteholders that they will be required to comply with such requirements, (iv) the Noteholder failing to present (where presentation is required) its Note

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within 30 calendar days after the Standby Purchaser has made available to the Noteholder a payment under this Agreement; provided that the Standby Purchaser will pay Indemnified Taxes which a Noteholder would have been entitled to under such Note had it been presented on any day (including the last day) within such 30 day period, (v) any estate, inheritance, gift, value added, use or sales taxes or any similar taxes, assessments or other governmental charges, (vi) such Indemnified Taxes being imposed on a payment on the Notes to an individual and are required to be made pursuant to European Union council Directive 2003/48/EC implementing the conclusions of the Economic and Financial Council of Ministers of the member states of the European Union (ECONFIN) Council meeting of November 26-27, 2000 on the taxation of savings income or any law implementing or complying with, or introduced in order to conform to, any such Directive, (vii) such Note being presented for payment by or on behalf of a Noteholder who would have been able to avoid such withholding or deduction by requesting that a payment on the Notes be made by, or presenting the relevant Notes for payment to another paying agent located in a member state of the European Union, or (viii) the payment of any obligation of the Standby Purchaser to a Noteholder who would have been able to cause the avoidance of the Indemnified Taxes by taking reasonable measures available to such Noteholder.

The Standby Purchaser shall, while European Council Directive 2003/48/EC or any other Directive implementing the conclusions of ECOFIN council meeting of November 26-27, 2000 is in force, ensure that it maintains a paying agent hereunder in a member state of the European Union that will not be obliged to withhold or deduct tax pursuant to such Directive.

(d)          Evidence of Payments. As soon as practicable after any payment of Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes by the Standby Purchaser to a Governmental Authority, the Standby Purchaser shall deliver to the Trustee the original or a certified copy of a receipt issued by such Governmental Authority evidencing such payment, a copy of the return reporting such payment or other evidence of such payment reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee.

SECTION 9.     Representations and Warranties. The Standby Purchaser makes the following representations and warranties to the Trustee, on behalf of the Noteholders, all of which shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement:

(a)          The Companies and the transactions contemplated in the Underwriting Agreement dated as of October 29, 2007 among the Standby Purchaser, the Issuer and the Underwriters (the “Underwriting Agreement”) in connection with the offer and sale of the Notes meet the requirements set forth in Form F-3 under the Securities Act for use of the Registration Statement in connection with the offering of the Notes that are the subject of this Agreement.

(b)          The Standby Purchaser and the Issuer have filed the Registration Statement with the SEC, the Registration Statement has been declared effective under the Securities Act, no stop order suspending the use of any Base Prospectus, any Pre-Pricing Prospectus, the Prospectus Supplement, the Final Offering Document or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, or the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued, and no proceedings for such purposes have been instituted or, to the best of the Companies’ knowledge, threatened by the SEC.

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(c)          The Standby Purchaser and the Issuer filed with the SEC on November 1, 2007 pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act a final form of supplement to the Base Prospectus (the “Prospectus Supplement”) dated December 18, 2006 relating to the Notes and the distribution thereof. The Base Prospectus as supplemented by the Prospectus Supplement in the form in which it was filed with the SEC pursuant to Rule 424(b), together with any documents incorporated by reference therein, is herein referred to as the “Final Offering Document”.

(d)          Each of the Companies has filed all the documents required to be filed by it with the SEC pursuant to the Exchange Act, including but not limited to the annual reports on Form 20F for the year ended December 31, 2006 and Forms 6-K in connection with their respective financial statements for the three months ended March 31, 2007 and for the six months ended June 30, 2007. Each document filed or to be filed by the Companies under the Exchange Act complied and will comply when so filed in all material respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the SEC and the documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Final Offering Document, at the time they were or hereafter are filed with the SEC, complied and will comply in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder.

(e)          The Original Indenture, First Supplemental Indenture and the Standby Purchase Agreement have been qualified under the TIA, and all filings and other actions required under the TIA to permit the use of the Indenture, the issuance of the Notes thereunder and the execution by the Standby Purchaser and the Trustee of the Standby Purchase Agreement have been made and taken prior to the date hereof.

(f)           Prior to the termination of the offering of the Notes, neither the Standby Purchaser nor the Issuer has filed any amendment to the Registration Statement or supplement to the Final Offering Document which shall not have previously been furnished to the Underwriters or of which the Underwriters shall not previously have been advised or to which the Underwriters shall have reasonably objected in writing.

(g)          Each of the Registration Statement, as amended, as of the time it became effective under the Securities Act, and the Final Offering Document as amended or supplemented as of the date hereof, contained and contains all disclosures required under applicable laws, including the Securities Act and the rules and regulations thereunder. Neither (i) the Registration Statement, as amended, as of the time it became effective under the Securities Act nor (ii) the Final Offering Document as amended or supplemented as of the date hereof (including, for this purpose, documents incorporated by reference therein) contains or will contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Standby Purchaser does not make any representation or warranty as to the information contained in or omitted from the Registration Statement or the Final Offering Document in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Standby Purchaser and the Issuer by any Underwriter, specifically for inclusion therein, which shall consist solely of the first and sixth paragraphs under the captions “Plan of Distribution” in the Prospectus Supplement.

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(h)          Neither the Issuer nor the Standby Purchaser is an “investment company” or a company “controlled by” an “investment company” as such terms are defined in the United States Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder. After giving effect to the offering and sale of the Notes and the application of the proceeds thereof as described in the Registration Statement and the Final Offering Document neither the Issuer nor the Standby Purchaser will be an “investment company” or a company “controlled by” an “investment company” as such terms are defined in the United States Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.

(i)           Neither the Standby Purchaser, nor any of its Affiliates, nor any person acting on their behalf (other than the Underwriters as to which the Standby Purchaser makes no representation or warranty), has paid or agreed to pay to any person any compensation for soliciting another to purchase (i) the Notes or (ii) any other securities of the Standby Purchaser or the Issuer within the last 90 days, except in the case of either (i) or (ii) as contemplated by the Underwriting Agreement.

(j)           Neither the Standby Purchaser, nor any of its Affiliates, nor any person acting on their behalf (other than the Underwriters as to which the Standby Purchaser makes no representation or warranty), has, directly or indirectly, taken any action designed to cause or which has constituted or which might reasonably be expected to cause or result in the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Standby Purchaser or the Issuer to facilitate the initial sale or resale of the Notes under the Exchange Act, or otherwise.

(k)          The Standby Purchaser has been duly organized and is validly existing as a sociedade de economia mista (mixed-capital company) in good standing (to the extent that good standing is applicable under applicable Law) under the Laws of Brazil. Each of the Standby Purchaser’s Significant Subsidiaries (as defined in Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act) has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing (to the extent relevant) under the Laws of the jurisdiction in which it is chartered or organized. Each of the Standby Purchaser and its Significant Subsidiaries is licensed (if and to the extent required by law) and has the full corporate power and authority to own or lease, as the case may be, and to operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement and the Final Offering Document and to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents to which it is a party, and is duly qualified or licensed as a foreign corporation in good standing in each jurisdiction which requires such qualification, except, in the case of its Significant Subsidiaries other than the Issuer, where the failure to be so qualified will not have a Material Adverse Effect. The Standby Purchaser owns, directly or indirectly, all of the outstanding equity interests of the Issuer and its other Significant Subsidiaries.

(l)           All the outstanding shares of capital stock, if any, of each Subsidiary of the Standby Purchaser have been duly and validly authorized and issued and are fully paid and non-assessable except, in the case of the Subsidiaries (other than the Issuer), as would not have a Material Adverse Effect, and all outstanding shares of capital stock of the Subsidiaries are owned by the Companies, as the case may be, either directly or through wholly owned Subsidiaries free

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and clear of any perfected security interest or any other security interests, claims, liens or encumbrances.

(m)         The Standby Purchaser’s capitalization is as set forth in the Final Offering Document.

(n)          There have been no material changes with respect to the matters disclosed in “Item 11. Qualitative and Quantitative Disclosure About Market Risk” in the Form 20-F of the Standby Purchaser for the year ended December 31, 2006, except as otherwise specified in the Final Offering Document.

(o)          This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Standby Purchaser; each of this Agreement, the First Supplemental Indenture and each other document executed and delivered in connection therewith to which the Standby Purchaser is party has been duly authorized and, assuming due authorization, execution and delivery thereof by each other party to those Transaction Documents (other than the Standby Purchaser), when executed and delivered by the Standby Purchaser, will constitute a legal, valid and binding agreement of the Standby Purchaser, enforceable against the Standby Purchaser in accordance with its terms (subject, as to the enforcement of remedies, to applicable bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency, moratorium or other similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally from time to time in effect and to general principles of equity); and the descriptions of the Transaction Documents in the Registration Statement, the Pre-Pricing Prospectus and the Final Offering Document fairly summarize the rights and obligations of the parties thereto.

(p)          The Notes have been duly authorized, and, when issued under the Indenture, authenticated by the Trustee and delivered to and paid for by the Underwriters pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement, will have been duly executed, issued and delivered and will constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of the Issuer, enforceable in accordance with their terms, subject, as to the enforcement of remedies, to applicable bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency, moratorium, or other similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally from time to time in effect and to general principles of equity and will be entitled to the benefits provided by the Indenture as described in the Registration Statement, the Pre-Pricing Prospectus and the Final Offering Document.

(q)          The Notes will constitute the general unsecured and unsubordinated obligations of the Issuer and will rank pari passu in priority of payment and in right of seniority with all other unsecured and unsubordinated obligations of the Issuer that are not, by their terms, expressly subordinated in right of payment to the Notes, except for statutory liens and preferences. The obligations of the Standby Purchaser under this Agreement will constitute the general unsecured and unsubordinated obligations of the Standby Purchaser and will rank paripassu in priority of payment and in right of seniority with all other unsecured and unsubordinated obligations of the Standby Purchaser that are not, by their terms, expressly subordinated in right of payment to the rights of the Trustee, except for statutory liens and preferences.

(r)           No consent, approval, authorization, filing with or order of any Governmental Authority is required for (i) the valid authorization, issuance, sale and delivery of

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the Notes or (ii) the execution, delivery or performance by the Issuer and the Standby Purchaser of any of their respective obligations under any of the Transaction Documents in the manner contemplated in the Registration Statement, the Pre-Pricing Prospectus and the Final Offering Document, including, without limitation, making any of the applicable payments required to be made after the date hereof under or in respect of any of the Transaction Documents, except for (i) the filing of the Prospectus Supplement pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act, which has been effected prior to the date hereof, (ii) such consents as may be required under state or foreign securities or blue sky laws and (iii) such filings or consents as may be required by the by-laws and rules of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. or NASD Regulation, Inc. in connection with the use of the Base Prospectus for issuances of securities by the Standby Purchaser and the Issuer and the purchase and distribution of the Notes by the Underwriters and the confirmation by the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. that it has no objection with respect to the fairness and reasonableness of the underwriting terms and arrangements, each of which has, to the best of the Companies’ knowledge been obtained and is in full force and effect.

(s)           Neither the Issuer nor the Standby Purchaser is currently in violation of its charter, by-laws or comparable organizational documents; neither the issuance and sale of the Notes, the execution and delivery of any of the Transaction Documents or the consummation of any of the transactions described or contemplated therein, or the fulfillment of the terms thereof will conflict with, or give rise to any right to accelerate the maturity or require the prepayment, repurchase or redemption of any indebtedness under, or result in a breach or violation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Companies or any of their Material Subsidiaries pursuant to, (i) the charter, by-laws or comparable organizational documents of either of the Issuer or the Standby Purchaser or any of their Subsidiaries, (ii) the terms of any indenture, contract, lease, mortgage, deed of trust, note agreement, loan agreement or other agreement, obligation, condition, covenant or instrument to which the Issuer or the Standby Purchaser or any of their Subsidiaries is a party or is bound or to which any of their property or assets is subject or (iii) any statute, law, rule, regulation, judgment, order or decree applicable to the Issuer or the Standby Purchaser or any of their Subsidiaries, except in the case of clauses (ii) or (iii) such as could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(t)          The consolidated historical financial statements of the Issuer and the Standby Purchaser and their consolidated Subsidiaries included in the Final Offering Document, together with the related notes, have been prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved (except as otherwise noted therein) and present fairly in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Issuer and the Standby Purchaser as of the dates and for the periods indicated. Except as disclosed in the Pre-Pricing Prospectus and the Final Offering Document, there has been no material adverse change in the condition (financial or otherwise), prospects, earnings, business or properties of either of the Issuer or the Standby Purchaser and their consolidated Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, since December 31, 2006. The segment data and other financial and statistical information incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Pre-Pricing Prospectus and the Final Offering Document present fairly the information included therein and have been prepared on a basis consistent with that of the financial statements that are incorporated by

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reference in the Registration Statement, the Pre-Pricing Prospectus and the Final Offering Document and the books and records of the respective entities presented therein.

(u)          There are no pro forma or consolidated financial statements or other financial statements or data which are required to be included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Pre-Pricing Prospectus and the Final Offering Document in accordance with Regulation S-X under the Securities Act which have not been included as so required.

(v)          The statistical, industry-related and market-related data included in the Pre-Pricing Prospectus and the Final Offering Document are based on or derived from sources which the Standby Purchaser and the Issuer reasonably and in good faith believe are reliable and accurate, and such data agree with the sources from which they are derived.

(w)         Except as set forth or contemplated in the Pre-Pricing Prospectus and the Final Offering Document, neither of the Issuer or the Standby Purchaser has entered into any transaction or agreement (whether or not in the ordinary course of business) material to either of the Issuer or the Standby Purchaser individually or the Issuer and the Standby Purchaser taken as a whole with their consolidated Subsidiaries.

(x)          No action, suit or proceeding by or before any Governmental Authority involving the Issuer or the Standby Purchaser or any of their Subsidiaries or their property or assets is pending or, to the best knowledge of the Standby Purchaser, threatened, involving or in any way relating to (i) this Agreement, any of the other Transaction Documents or the transactions contemplated herein or therein or (ii) any other matter that individually or in the aggregate could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, except as set forth in or contemplated in the Pre-Pricing Prospectus and the Final Offering Document. Neither the Issuer, the Standby Purchaser or any of their Subsidiaries is in violation of or in default with respect to any applicable statute (including, without limitation, any applicable provision of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, including any rules and regulations thereunder or related thereto), rule, writ, injunction, decree, order or regulation of any Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over such Person which is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(y)          Each of KPMG Auditores Independentes and Ernst & Young Auditores Independentes (who have certified the financial statements of the Issuer and the Standby Purchaser and supporting schedules and information of Standby Purchaser and the Issuer and their consolidated Subsidiaries and delivered their report with respect to the audited and unaudited consolidated financial statements and other financial information included in the Final Offering Document relating to the Issuer and the Standby Purchaser and their consolidated Subsidiaries) are, and in the case of Ernst & Young Auditores Independentes, were, at the time it served as auditors of the Issuer and Standby Purchaser, independent public accountants within the meaning of the Code of Professional Conduct of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the applicable requirements of the Regulation S-X under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and, in the case of KPMG Auditores Independentes, and Ernst & Young Auditores Independentes are certified public accountants with respect to the Standby Purchaser and the Issuer under the standards established by the local authorities in the Cayman Islands and Brazil.

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(z)          Each of the Issuer and the Standby Purchaser and their respective Subsidiaries has filed or caused to be filed all tax returns which to the knowledge of the Issuer and the Standby Purchaser are required to be filed, and has paid all taxes shown to be due and payable on said returns or on any assessments made against such person or any of its respective properties and all other taxes, assessments, fees or other charges imposed on such person or any of its respective properties by, and Governmental Authority (other than those the amount or validity of which is currently being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and with respect to which reserves in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles have been provided on the books of such person); and no material tax liens or material liens with respect to any assessments, fees or other charges have been filed and, to the knowledge of such person, no material claims are being asserted with respect to any such taxes, assessments, fees or other charges.

(aa)        The indemnification and contribution provisions set forth in Section 14 hereof do not contravene Brazilian or Cayman Islands or public policy.

(bb)        The submission of the Issuer and the Standby Purchaser to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the Supreme Court of the State of New York, County of New York, and the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (each, a “New York court”) in Section 18 hereof, in the case of the Standby Purchaser, and, as applicable, under each of the Transaction Documents is legal, valid and binding under the laws of Brazil and the Cayman Islands; the appointment of the Standby Purchaser’s New York Branch located at 570 Lexington Avenue, 43rd Floor, New York, New York 10022 as its authorized agent for the purpose described in Section 18 below and under each of the other Transaction Documents is legal, valid and binding under the laws of Brazil and the Cayman Islands; and the choice of law provision set forth in Section 18 below and in each Transaction Document is legal, valid and binding under the laws of Brazil and the Cayman Islands. Any final judgment of a New York court in respect of any amount payable by the Issuer and the Standby Purchaser under any Transaction Document and which conforms with Brazilian or Cayman Island, as applicable, law, rule, regulation or public policy and with the provisions for enforcement of foreign judgments set forth in the Final Memorandum be enforceable in the courts of Brazil and the Cayman Islands without reexamination of the merits.

(cc)        Both presently and immediately after giving effect to the transactions contemplated hereunder and in the Final Offering Document, each of the Issuer and the Standby Purchaser (i) is and will be able to pay its debts as they become due and (ii) is not insolvent as defined under applicable Brazilian bankruptcy, insolvency or similar law or Cayman Islands bankruptcy, insolvency or similar law.

(dd)        The Standby Purchaser has, independently and without reliance upon any Noteholder and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement and each other Transaction Document to which it is or is to be a party, and the Standby Purchaser has established adequate means of obtaining from the Issuer on a continuing basis information pertaining to, and is now and on a continuing basis will be completely familiar with, the business, condition (financial or otherwise), operations, performance, properties and prospects of the Issuer.

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SECTION 10.    Covenants

For so long as the Notes remain outstanding or any amount remains unpaid on the Notes and the Indenture, the Standby Purchaser will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, comply with the terms and covenants set forth below (except as otherwise provided in a duly authorized amendment to this Agreement as provided herein):

(a)          Performance of Obligations. The Standby Purchaser shall pay all amounts owed by it and comply with all its other obligations under the terms of this Agreement and the Indenture in accordance with the terms thereof.

(b)          Maintenance of Corporate Existence. The Standby Purchaser will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, (i) maintain in effect its corporate existence and all registrations necessary therefor except as otherwise permitted by Section 10(m) and (ii) take all actions to maintain all rights, privileges, titles to property, franchises, concessions and the like necessary or desirable in the normal conduct of its business, activities or operations; provided, however, that this Section 10(b) shall not require the Standby Purchaser to maintain or cause any Subsidiary thereof to maintain any such right, privilege, title to property or franchise or require the Standby Purchaser to preserve the corporate existence of any Subsidiary, if, in each case, the failure to do so does not, and will not, have a Material Adverse Effect.

(c)          Maintenance of Office or Agency. So long as any of the Notes are outstanding, the Standby Purchaser will maintain in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, an office or agency where notices to and demands upon the Standby Purchaser in respect of this Agreement may be served, and the Standby Purchaser will not change the designation of such office without prior written notice to the Trustee and designation of a replacement office in the same general location.

(d)          Ranking. The Standby Purchaser will ensure at all times that its obligations under this Agreement will constitute the general senior unsecured and unsubordinated obligations of the Standby Purchaser and will rank pari passu, without any preferences among themselves, with all other present and future senior unsecured and unsubordinated obligations of the Standby Purchaser (other than obligations preferred by statute or by operation of law) that are not, by their terms, expressly subordinated in right of payment to the obligations of the Standby Purchaser under this Agreement.

(e)          Notice of Defaults. The Standby Purchaser will give written notice to the Trustee, as soon as is practicable and in any event within ten calendar days after the Standby Purchaser becomes aware, or should reasonably become aware, of the occurrence of any Default or any Event of Default, accompanied by a certificate of an officer of the Standby Purchaser setting forth the details thereof and stating what action the Standby Purchaser proposes to take with respect thereto.

(f)           Limitation on Consolidation, Merger, Sale or Conveyance. (i) The Standby Purchaser will not, in one or a series of transactions, consolidate or amalgamate with or merge into any corporation or convey, lease or transfer substantially all of its properties, assets or revenues to any person or entity (other than a direct or indirect Subsidiary of the Standby

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Purchaser) or permit any person or entity (other than a direct or indirect Subsidiary of the Standby Purchaser) to merge with or into it, unless:

(A)         either the Standby Purchaser is the continuing entity or the person (the “Successor Company”) formed by such consolidation or into which the Standby Purchaser is merged or that acquired or leased such property or assets of the Standby Purchaser will assume (jointly and severally with the Standby Purchaser unless the Standby Purchaser shall have ceased to exist as a result of such merger, consolidation or amalgamation), by an amendment to this Agreement (the form and substance of which shall be previously approved by the Trustee), all of the Standby Purchaser’s obligations under this Agreement;

(B)         the Successor Company (jointly and severally with the Standby Purchaser unless the Standby Purchaser shall have ceased to exist as part of such merger, consolidation or amalgamation) agrees to indemnify each Noteholder against any tax, assessment or governmental charge thereafter imposed on such Noteholder solely as a consequence of such consolidation, merger, conveyance, transfer or lease with respect to the payment of principal of, or interest on, the Notes;

(C)         immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no Event of Default and no Default has occurred and is continuing;

(D)         the Standby Purchaser has delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel each stating that such merger consolidation, sale, transfer or other conveyance or disposition and the amendment to this Agreement comply with the terms of this Agreement and that all conditions precedent provided for herein and relating to such transaction have been complied with; and

(E)         the Standby Purchaser has delivered notice of any such transaction to Moody’s (which notice shall contain a description of such merger, consolidation or conveyance).

(ii)          Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the foregoing, so long as no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing at the time of such proposed transaction or would result therefrom and the Standby Purchaser has delivered notice of any such transaction to Moody’s and the Trustee (which notice shall contain a description of such merger, consolidation or conveyance):

(A)         the Standby Purchaser may merge, amalgamate or consolidate with or into, or convey, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its properties, assets or revenues to a direct or indirect Subsidiary of the Standby Purchaser in cases when the Standby Purchaser is the surviving entity in such transaction and such transaction would not have a Material Adverse Effect on the Standby Purchaser and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, it being understood that if the Standby Purchaser is not the surviving entity, the Standby Purchaser shall be required to comply with the requirements set forth in the previous paragraph; or

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(B)         any direct or indirect Subsidiary of the Standby Purchaser may merge or consolidate with or into, or convey, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of assets to, any person (other than the Standby Purchaser or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates) in cases when such transaction would not have a Material Adverse Effect on the Standby Purchaser and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole; or

(C)         any direct or indirect Subsidiary of the Standby Purchaser may merge or consolidate with or into, or convey, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of assets to, any direct or indirect Subsidiary of the Standby Purchaser; or

(D)         any direct or indirect Subsidiary of the Standby Purchaser may liquidate or dissolve if the Standby Purchaser determines in good faith that such liquidation or dissolution is in the best interests of the Standby Purchaser, and would not result in a Material Adverse Effect on the Standby Purchaser and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole and if such liquidation or dissolution is part of a corporate reorganization of the Standby Purchaser.

(g)          Negative Pledge. So long as any Note remains outstanding, the Standby Purchaser will not create or permit any Lien, other than a Permitted Lien, on any of the Standby Purchaser’s assets to secure (i) any of the Standby Purchaser’s Indebtedness or (ii) the Indebtedness of any other person, unless the Standby Purchaser contemporaneously creates or permits such Lien to secure equally and ratably the Standby Purchaser’s obligations under this Agreement or the Standby Purchaser provides such other security for the Notes as is duly approved by the Trustee, at the direction of the Noteholders, in accordance with the Indenture. In addition, the Standby Purchaser will not allow any of the Standby Purchaser’s Subsidiaries to create or permit any Lien, other than a Permitted Lien, on any of the Standby Purchaser’s assets to secure (i) any of the Standby Purchaser’s Indebtedness, (ii) any of the Indebtedness of the Standby Purchaser’s Subsidiaries or (iii) the Indebtedness of any other person, unless it contemporaneously creates or permits the Lien to secure equally and ratably the Standby Purchaser’s obligations under this Agreement or the Standby Purchaser or such Subsidiary provides such other security for the Notes as is duly approved by the Trustee, at the direction of the Noteholders, in accordance with the Indenture.

(h)          Provision of Financial Statements and Reports. (i) The Standby Purchaser will provide to the Trustee, in English or accompanied by a certified English translation thereof, (A) within 90 calendar days after the end of each fiscal quarter (other than the fourth quarter), its unaudited and consolidated balance sheet and statement of income calculated in accordance with U.S. GAAP, (B) within 120 calendar days after the end of each fiscal year, its audited and consolidated balance sheet and statement of income calculated in accordance with U.S. GAAP and (C) such other financial data as the Trustee may reasonably request.

(ii)          The Standby Purchaser will provide, together with each of the financial statements delivered pursuant to Sections 10(p)(i)(A) and (B), an Officers’ Certificate stating that a review of the activities of the Standby Purchaser and the Issuer has been made during the period covered by such financial statements with a view to determining whether the Standby Purchaser and the Issuer have kept, observed, performed and fulfilled their covenants and agreements under this Agreement and the Indenture, as

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applicable, and that no Default or Event of Default has occurred during such period or, if one or more have actually occurred, specifying all such events and what actions have been taken and will be taken with respect to such Default or Event of Default.

(iii)        The Standby Purchaser shall, whether or not it is required to file reports with the SEC, file with the SEC and deliver to the Trustee (for redelivery to all Noteholders) all reports and other information as it would be required to file with the SEC under the Exchange Act if it were subject to those regulations; provided, however, that if the SEC does not permit the filing described in the first sentence of this Section 10(q)(iii), the Standby Purchaser will provide annual and interim reports and other information to the Trustee within the same time periods that would be applicable if the Standby Purchaser were required and permitted to file these reports with the SEC.

(iv)         Upon written request of any Holder or The Depository Trust Company (DTC), the reports and other information provided for in this paragraph (h) shall be delivered by DTC representing the Noteholders, at 55 Water Street, 25th Floor, New York, NY, 10041, Attention: Proxy Department, or such other address as DTC may provide to the Trustee in writing.

(v)          Delivery of the above reports to the Trustee is for informational purposes only and the Trustee's receipt of such reports shall not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Standby Purchaser's compliance with any of its covenants in the Indenture (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on an Officer's Certificate).

SECTION 11.   Amendments, Etc. No amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement and no consent to any departure by the Standby Purchaser therefrom shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the Trustee and the Standby Purchaser, and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given.

SECTION 12.   Notices, Etc. (a)  All notices and other communications provided for hereunder shall be in writing (including telegraphic or telecopy) and mailed, telecopied or delivered by hand, if to the Standby Purchaser, addressed to it at Avenida República do Chile, 65, 20035-900 Rio de Janeiro - RJ, Brazil, Telephone: (55-21) 534-4477, Telecopier: (55-21) 534-4278, Attention: Wilson de Oliveira Senna, Financings, Leasing and Corporate Loans Manager, if to the Trustee, at The Bank of New York, 101 Barclay Street, 4E, New York, New York, 10286, USA, Telephone: (1-212) 815-5616, Telecopier: (1-212) 815-5603, Attention: Corporate Trust Department or, as to any party, at such other address as shall be designated by such party in a written notice to each other party. All such notices and other communications shall, when telecopied, be effective when transmitted. Delivery by telecopier of an executed counterpart of a signature page to any amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement shall be

effective as delivery of an original executed counterpart thereof.

(b)          All payments made by the Standby Purchaser to the Trustee hereunder shall be made to the Payment Account (as defined in the Indenture), except to the extent otherwise specified in a Partial Non-Payment Notice or Total Non-Payment Notice.

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SECTION 13.    No Waiver; Remedies. No failure on the part of the Trustee to exercise, and no delay in exercising, any right hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right hereunder preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right. The remedies herein provided are cumulative and not exclusive of any remedies provided by law.

SECTION 14.    Indemnification. (a) Without limitation on any other obligations of the Standby Purchaser or remedies of the Trustee under this Agreement, the Standby Purchaser shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, indemnify, defend and save and hold harmless the Trustee and its officers, directors, employees, agents and advisors (each, an “Indemnified Party”) from and against, and shall pay on demand, any and all claims, damages, losses, liabilities and expenses (including, without limitation, reasonable fees and expenses of counsel) that may be incurred by or asserted or awarded against any Indemnified Party in connection with arising out of or as a result of this Agreement or of any failure of any Purchase Obligation to be the legal, valid and binding obligations of the Standby Purchaser enforceable against it in accordance with their terms.

(b)          The Standby Purchaser hereby also agrees that none of the Indemnified Parties shall have any liability (whether direct or indirect, in contract, tort or otherwise) to the Standby Purchaser or any of its Affiliates or any of their respective officers, directors, employees, agents and advisors, and the Standby Purchaser hereby agrees not to assert any claim against any Indemnified Party on any theory of liability, for special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages arising out of or otherwise relating to the Transaction Documents or any of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents.

(c)          Without prejudice to the survival of any of the other agreements of the Standby Purchaser under this Agreement or any of the other Transaction Documents, the agreements and obligations of the Standby Purchaser contained in Sections 2 and 3 (with respect to the payment of all other amounts owed under the Indenture), Section 9, Section 17 and this Section 14 shall survive the payment in full of the Purchase Obligations and all of the other amounts payable under this Agreement, the termination of this Agreement and/or the resignation or removal of the Trustee.

(d)          The above indemnities shall constitute separate and independent obligations of the Standby Purchaser from its obligations hereunder, will give rise to separate and independent causes of action, will apply irrespective of any indulgence granted from time to time and will continue in full force and effect notwithstanding any judgment or the filing of any proof or proofs in any bankruptcy, insolvency or liquidation of the Standby Purchaser for a liquidated sum or sums in respect of amounts due under this Agreement, or under the Indenture or the Notes or under any judgment or order.

SECTION 15.   Subordination. To the extent that the Standby Purchaser is required to make any payment hereunder, the Standby Purchaser hereby subordinates any and all debts, liabilities and other obligations owed by the Issuer to the Standby Purchaser (the “Subordinated Obligations”) to the Purchase Obligations and agrees that it shall not require the Issuer to make any payments in respect thereof to the extent and in the manner hereinafter set forth in this Section 15:

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(a)          Prohibited Payments, Etc. Except during the continuance of a Default or Event of Default (including the commencement and continuation of any proceeding under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or similar law now or hereafter in effect relating to the Issuer (each such law, a “Bankruptcy Law”)), the Standby Purchaser may receive any payments from the Issuer on account of the Subordinated Obligations. After the occurrence and during the continuance of any Default or Event of Default (including the commencement and continuation of any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law relating to the Issuer), however, unless the Trustee otherwise agrees in writing, the Standby Purchaser shall not demand, accept or take any action to collect any payment on account of the Subordinated Obligations.

(b)          Prior Payment of Purchase Obligations. In any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law relating to the Issuer, the Standby Purchaser agrees that the Trustee, on behalf of the Noteholders, shall be entitled to receive payment in full in cash of all Purchase Obligations (including all interest and expenses accruing after the commencement of a proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law, whether or not constituting an allowed claim in such proceeding (“Post Petition Interest”)) before the Standby Purchaser receives payment of any Subordinated Obligations.

(c)          Turn-Over. After the occurrence and during the continuance of any Default (including the commencement and continuation of any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law relating to the Issuer), the Standby Purchaser shall, if the Trustee, on behalf of the Noteholders, so requests, collect, enforce and receive payments on account of the Subordinated Obligations as trustee for the Trustee and deliver such payments to the Trustee, on behalf of the Noteholders, on account of the Purchase Obligations (including all Post Petition Interest), together with any necessary endorsements or other instruments of transfer, but without reducing or affecting in any manner the liability of the Standby Purchaser under the other provisions of this Agreement.

(d)          Trustee Authorization. After the occurrence and during the continuance of any Default (including the commencement and continuation of any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law relating to any of the Issuer, any Material Subsidiary thereof or any Material Subsidiary of the Standby Purchaser), the Trustee, at the direction of the Noteholders or otherwise, is authorized and empowered (but without any obligation to so do), in its discretion, (i) in the name of the Standby Purchaser, to collect and enforce, and to submit claims in respect of, Subordinated Obligations and to apply any amounts received thereon to the Purchase Obligations (including any and all Post Petition Interest), and (ii) to require the Standby Purchaser (A) to collect and enforce, and to submit claims in respect of, Subordinated Obligations and (B) to pay any amounts received on such obligations to the Trustee for application to the Purchase Obligations (including any and all Post Petition Interest).

SECTION 16.   Continuing Agreement; Assignment of Rights Under the Indenture and the Notes. This Agreement is a continuing Purchase Obligation and shall (a) remain in full force and effect until the later of (i) the repayment in full by the Issuer of all amounts due and owing under the Indenture with respect to the Notes and (ii) the repayment in full of all Purchase Obligations and all other amounts payable under this Agreement, (b) be binding upon the Standby Purchaser, its successors and assigns and (c) inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Trustee, on behalf of Noteholders, and their successors, transferees and assigns. Without limiting the generality of clause (c) of the immediately preceding sentence, any Noteholder may

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assign or otherwise transfer all or any portion of its rights and obligations under the Indenture (including, without limitation, the Note or Notes held by it) to any other person or entity (subject to the rights of the Standby Purchaser hereunder in respect of any Partial Non-Payment Amount With Interest or Total Non-Payment Amount With Interest as provided herein), and such other person or entity shall thereupon become vested with all the benefits in respect thereof granted to such Noteholder herein or otherwise, in each case as and to the extent provided in the Indenture. The Standby Purchaser shall not have the right to assign its rights hereunder or any interest herein without the prior written consent of all of the Noteholders.

SECTION 17.   Currency Rate Indemnity.(a) The Standby Purchaser shall (to the extent lawful) indemnify the Trustee and the Noteholders and keep them indemnified against:

(i)         in the case of nonpayment by the Standby Purchaser of any amount due to the Trustee, on behalf of the Noteholders, under this Agreement any loss or damage incurred by any of them arising by reason of any variation between the rates of exchange used for the purposes of calculating the amount due under a judgment or order in respect thereof and those prevailing at the date of actual payment by the Standby Purchaser; and

(ii)       any deficiency arising or resulting from any variation in rates of exchange between (a) the date as of which the local currency equivalent of the amounts due or contingently due under this Agreement or in respect of the Notes is calculated for the purposes of any bankruptcy, insolvency or liquidation of the Standby Purchaser, and (b) the final date for ascertaining the amount of claims in such bankruptcy, insolvency or liquidation. The amount of such deficiency shall be deemed not to be increased or reduced by any variation in rates of exchange occurring between the said final date and the date of any bankruptcy, insolvency or liquidation or any distribution of assets in connection therewith.

(b)          The Standby Purchaser agrees that, if a judgment or order given or made by any court for the payment of any amount in respect of its Purchase Obligation hereunder is expressed in a currency (the “Judgment Currency”) other than U.S. dollars (the “Denomination Currency”), it will indemnify the relevant Holder and the Trustee against any deficiency arising or resulting from any variation in rates of exchange between the date at which the amount in the Denomination Currency is notionally converted into the amount in the Judgment Currency for the purposes of such judgment or order and the date of actual payment thereof.

(c)          The above indemnities shall constitute separate and independent obligations of the Standby Purchaser from its obligations hereunder, will give rise to separate and independent causes of action, will apply irrespective of any indulgence granted from time to time and will continue in full force and effect notwithstanding any judgment or the filing of any proof or proofs in any bankruptcy, insolvency or liquidation of the Standby Purchaser for a liquidated sum or sums in respect of amounts due under this Agreement, or under the Indenture or the Notes or under any judgment or order.

SECTION 18.   Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Waiver of Immunity, Etc. (a) This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.

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(b)          The Standby Purchaser hereby irrevocably and unconditionally submits, for itself and its property, to the nonexclusive jurisdiction of any New York State court or federal court of the United States of America sitting in New York City, and any appellate court from any thereof, in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any of the other Transaction Documents to which it is or is to be a party, or for recognition or enforcement of any judgment, and the Standby Purchaser hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that all claims in respect of any such action or proceeding may be heard and determined in any such New York State court or, to the extent permitted by law, in such federal court. The Standby Purchaser agrees that a final judgment in any such action or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law. Nothing in this Agreement or any other Transaction Document shall affect any right that any party may otherwise have to bring any action or proceeding against the Issuer or the Standby Purchaser, as the case may be, relating to this Agreement or any other Transaction Document in the courts of any jurisdiction.

(c)          The Standby Purchaser hereby irrevocably appoints and empowers the New York office of Petróleo Brasileiro S.A., located at 570 Lexington Avenue, 43rd Floor, New York, New York 10022 as its authorized agent (the “Process Agent”) to accept and acknowledge for and on its behalf and on behalf of its property service of any and all legal process, summons, notices and documents which may be served in any such suit, action or proceedings in any New York State court or United States federal court sitting in the State of New York in the Borough of Manhattan and any appellate court from any thereof, which service may be made on such designee, appointee and agent in accordance with legal procedures prescribed for such courts. The Standby Purchaser will take any and all action necessary to continue such designation in full force and effect and to advise the Trustee of any change of address of such Process Agent and should such Process Agent become unavailable for this purpose for any reason, the Standby Purchaser will promptly and irrevocably designate a new Process Agent within New York, New York, which will agree to act as such, with the powers and for the purposes specified in this subsection (c). The Standby Purchaser irrevocably consents and agrees to the service of any and all legal process, summons, notices and documents out of any of the aforesaid courts in any such action, suit or proceeding by hand delivery, to it at its address set forth in Section 12 or to any other address of which it shall have given notice pursuant to Section 12 or to its Process Agent. Service upon the Standby Purchaser or the Process Agent as provided for herein will, to the fullest extent permitted by law, constitute valid and effective personal service upon it and the failure of the Process Agent to give any notice of such service to the Standby Purchaser shall not impair or affect in any way the validity of such service or any judgment rendered in any action or proceeding based thereon.

(d)          The Standby Purchaser irrevocably and unconditionally waives, to the fullest extent it may legally and effectively do so, any objection that it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any of the other Transaction Documents to which it is or is to be a party in any New York State or federal court. The Standby Purchaser hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such suit, action or proceeding in any such court.

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(e)          THE STANDBY PURCHASER HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE) ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO ANY OF THE TRANSACTION DOCUMENTS, THE ADVANCES OR THE ACTIONS OF ANY NOTEHOLDER IN THE NEGOTIATION, ADMINISTRATION, PERFORMANCE OR ENFORCEMENT THEREOF.

(f)           This Agreement and any other documents delivered pursuant hereto, and any actions taken hereunder, constitute commercial acts by the Standby Purchaser. The Standby Purchaser irrevocably and unconditionally and to the fullest extent permitted by law, waives, and agrees not to plead or claim, any immunity from jurisdiction of any court or from any legal process (whether through service of notice, attachment prior to judgment, attachment in aid of execution, execution or otherwise) for itself, the Issuer or any of their property, assets or revenues wherever located with respect to its obligations, liabilities or any other matter under or arising out of or in connection with this Agreement, any of the Transaction Documents or any document delivered pursuant hereto, in each case for the benefit of each assigns, it being intended that the foregoing waiver and agreement will be effective, irrevocable and not subject to withdrawal in any and all jurisdictions, and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, agrees that the waivers set forth in this subsection (f) shall have the fullest scope permitted under the United States Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act of 1976 and are intended to be irrevocable for the purposes of such act.

SECTION 19.  Execution in Counterparts. This Agreement and each amendment, waiver and consent with respect hereto may be executed in any number of counterparts and by different parties thereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page to this Agreement by telecopier shall be effective as delivery of an original executed counterpart of this Agreement.

SECTION 20.   Pledge of Interests. (a) The Standby Purchaser hereby pledges to the Trustee (for the benefit of the Noteholders) and grants a continuing security interest in, all of its interest (if any) in (a) the Payment Account, (b) all funds from time to time on deposit in the Payment Account, (c) all interest, dividends, distributions, cash, instruments and other property from time to time received, receivable or on deposit in the Payment Account, and (d) all proceeds of any of the foregoing (together, the “Collateral”). The Standby Purchaser agrees to take all such action as is required by applicable Law or as the Trustee may require, including delivering Opinions of Counsel in form and substance acceptable to the Trustee, as to the grant and perfection of the foregoing security interests.

(b)          The security interest granted in the Collateral, shall secure the payment of all obligations of the Standby Purchaser now or hereafter existing under the Transaction Documents, whether direct or indirect, absolute or contingent, and whether for principal, reimbursement obligations, interest, fees, premiums, penalties, indemnifications, contract causes of action, costs, expenses or otherwise. The Standby Purchaser represents and warrants that it has not heretofore pledged, conveyed, granted a lien on, or security interest in, or otherwise encumbered any of the Collateral in favor of any Person under U.S., Cayman, Brazilian or other Law.

33

SECTION 21.  Entire Agreement. This Agreement, together with the Indenture and the Notes, sets forth the entire agreement of the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof.

34

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Standby Purchaser has caused this Agreement to be duly executed and delivered by its officer thereunto duly authorized as of the date first above written.

PETRÓLEO BRASILEIRO S.A.—PETROBRAS

By:   /s/ Theodore Helms                        

Name: Theodore Helms

Title:   Executive Manager

WITNESSES:

1.	/s/ David Flechner
	Name: David Flechner
2.	/s/ Iris Castellano
	Name: Iris Castellano

STATE OF NEW YORK	)
	)	ss:
COUNTY OF NEW YORK	)

On this 1st day of November, 2007, before me personally came Theodore M. Helms to me known, who, being by me duly sworn, did depose and say that he is the Executive Manager of Petróleo Brasileiro S.A. – Petrobras, a corporation described in and which executed the foregoing instrument and acknowledges said instrument to be the free act and deed of said entity.

On this 1st day of November, 2007, before me personally came David Flechner and Iris Castellano to me personally known, who being by me sworn, did depose and say that they signed their names to the foregoing instrument as witnesses.

[Notarial Seal]	/s/ Risa Laurie Chubinsky   Notary Public COMMISSION EXPIRES
	Risa Laurie Chubinsky Notary Public, State of New York No. 01CH6172040 Qualified in Kings County Certificate Filed in New York County Commission Expires Aug. 6, 2011

ACKNOWLEDGED:

THE BANK OF NEW YORK, as Trustee and not

in its individual capacity

By: /s/ John T. Needham, Jr.            

Name: John T. Needham, Jr.

Title:   Vice President

WITNESSES:

1.	/s/ Kevin F. Binnie
	Name: Kevin F. Binnie Title:   Vice President

2.	/s/ Lucia Jaklitsch
	Name: Lucia Jaklitsch Title:   Vice President

STATE OF NEW YORK	)
	)	ss:
COUNTY OF NEW YORK	)

STATE OF NEW YORK)

On this 1st day of November, 2007, before me a notary public with and for said county, personally appeared Kevin F. Binnie to me personally known, who, being duly sworn, did say that John H. Needham, Jr. is a Vice President of THE BANK OF NEW YORK, one of the persons described in and which executed the foregoing instrument, and acknowledge said instrument to be the free act and deed of said corporation.

On this 1st day of November, 2007, before me personally came Kevin F. Binnie and Lucia Jaklitsch to me personally known, who being by me sworn, did depose and say that they signed their names to the foregoing instrument as witnesses.

[Notarial Seal]	/s/ Emily Fayan                                                  Notary Public
	Emily Fayan Notary Public, State of New York No. 01FA4737006 Qualified in Kings County Certificate Filed in New York County Commission Expires Dec. 31, 2009

EXHIBIT A

FORM OF PARTIAL NON-PAYMENT NOTICE

[Date]

VIA FACSIMILE

Petróleo Brasileiro S.A. - Petrobras

Avenida República do Chile, 65

20035-900 Rio de Janeiro

Brazil

Attention : Sérvio Túlio Tinoco

Head of Trade Finance & Foreign Exchange

Petrobras International Finance Company

US$1,000,000,000 5.875% Global Notes due 2018

Dear Ladies and Gentlemen:

Reference is made to that certain indenture dated as of December 15, 2006 (the “Original Indenture”) between Petrobras International Finance Company (“PIFCo”) and The Bank of New York, (the “Trustee”), as supplemented by the first supplemental indenture among the PIFCo, Petróleo Brasileiro, S.A. - Petrobras (“Petrobras”) and the Trustee dated as of November 1, 2007 (the “First Supplemental Indenture”). The Original Indenture, as supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture, and as amended or supplemented from time to time, with respect to the Notes is hereinafter referred to as the “Indenture.” Reference is also made to that certain Standby Purchase Agreement (as amended or supplemented from time to time, the “Standby Purchase Agreement”) dated as of November 1, 2007 between the Trustee and Petrobras pursuant to which Petrobras has undertaken to purchase from the holders of PIFCo’s 5.875% Global Notes due 2018 (the “Notes”) such holders’ right to receive unpaid amounts due and owing on such Notes. Capitalized terms not defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Standby Purchase Agreement.

By this notice, the undersigned, acting on behalf of the holders of the Notes, hereby advises you as follows:

1. On [date], PIFCo was obligated to make a payment of [principal] [interest] [Additional Amounts] [other amounts under the Indenture] in an amount equal to US$                in respect of [principal] [interest] [Additional Amounts] [other amounts due under the Indenture] (the “Overdue Amount”). This notice constitutes a Partial Non-Payment Notice as contemplated in the Standby Purchase Agreement.

A-1

1. On [date], PIFCo was obligated to make a payment of [principal] [interest] [Additional Amounts] [other amounts under the Indenture] in an amount equal to US$                in respect of [principal] [interest] [Additional Amounts] [other amounts due under the Indenture] (the “Overdue Amount”). This notice constitutes a Partial Non-Payment Notice as contemplated in the Standby Purchase Agreement.

2. Pursuant to the Standby Purchase Agreement, you are obligated to purchase from the holders of the Notes their right to receive the Overdue Amount.

3. Pursuant to the Standby Purchase Agreement, you are hereby directed to purchase the right of the holders of the Notes to receive the Overdue Amount and to make a payment to the Trustee, on behalf of the holders of the Notes, in partial satisfaction of your obligation to purchase the right to Overdue Amount.

4. You are hereby directed to pay immediately the Overdue Amount to the Payment Account referenced in the Standby Purchase Agreement (Account No. ) together with interest on such Overdue Amount, at the rates specified in the Standby Purchase Agreement, from the date PIFCo was itself obligated to pay the Overdue Amount (the “Liability Date”), through and including the date that payment by you is actually made.

5. Petrobras is requested to acknowledge receipt of this notice by countersigning in the space provided below and returning a copy of the same to the Issuer at the address provided in the Standby Purchase Agreement with a copy by facsimile to the Trustee at fax: (1-212) 815-5603, Attention: Corporate Trust Department

THE BANK OF NEW YORK, as
Trustee
By:
	Name:
	Title:

ACKNOWLEDGED & AGREED

PETRÓLEO BRASILEIRO S.A.--PETROBRAS

By:
	Name:
	Title:
	Date:

A-2

EXHIBIT B

FORM OF TOTAL NON-PAYMENT NOTICE

[Date]

VIA FACSIMILE

Petróleo Brasileiro S.A. - Petrobras

Avenida República do Chile, 65

20035-900 Rio de Janeiro

Brazil

Attention : Sérvio Túlio Tinoco

Head of Trade Finance & Foreign Exchange

Petrobras International Finance Company

US$1,000,000,000 5.875% Global Notes due 2018

Dear Sirs:

Reference is made to that certain indenture dated as of December 15, 2006 (the “Original Indenture”) between Petrobras International Finance Company (“PIFCo”) and The Bank of New York, (the “Trustee”), as supplemented by the first supplemental indenture among the PIFCo, Petróleo Brasileiro, S.A. - Petrobras (“Petrobras”) and the Trustee dated as of November 1, 2007 (the “First Supplemental Indenture”). The Original Indenture, as supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture, and as amended or supplemented from time to time with respect to the Notes, is hereinafter referred to as the “Indenture.” Reference is also made to that certain Standby Purchase Agreement (as amended or supplemented from time to time, the “Standby Purchase Agreement”) dated as of November 1, 2007 between the Trustee and Petróleo Brasileiro, S.A. - Petrobras (“Petrobras”) pursuant to which Petrobras has undertaken to purchase from the holders of PIFCo’s 5.875% Global Notes due 2018 (the “Notes”) such holders’ right to receive unpaid amounts due and owing on such Notes. Capitalized terms not defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Standby Purchase Agreement.

By this notice, the undersigned, acting on behalf of the holders of the Notes, hereby advises you as follows:

1. On [date], PIFCo was obligated to make a payment of [principal] [interest] [Additional Amounts] [other amounts under the Indenture] in an amount equal to US$                 in respect of [principal] [interest] [Additional Amounts] [other amounts due under the Indenture] (the “Overdue

B-1

Amount”). This notice constitutes a Total Non-Payment Notice as contemplated in the Standby Purchase Agreement.

2. Pursuant to the Standby Purchase Agreement, you are obligated to purchase from the holders of the Notes their right to receive the Overdue Amount.

3. Pursuant to the Standby Purchase Agreement, you are hereby directed to purchase the right of the holders of the Notes to receive the Overdue Amount and to make a payment to the Trustee, on behalf of the holders of the Notes, in partial satisfaction of your obligation to purchase the right to Overdue Amount.

4. You are hereby directed to pay immediately the Overdue Amount to the Payment Account referenced in the Standby Purchase Agreement (Account No.            ) together with interest on such Overdue Amount, at the rates specified in the Standby Purchase Agreement, from the date PIFCo was itself obligated to pay the Overdue Amount through and including the date that payment by you is actually made.

5. Petrobras is requested to acknowledge receipt of this notice by countersigning in the space provided below and returning a copy of the same to the Issuer at the address provided in the Standby Purchase Agreement with a copy by facsimile to the Trustee at fax: (1-212) 815-5603, Attention: Corporate Trust Department

THE BANK OF NEW YORK, as
Trustee
By:
	Name:
	Title:

ACKNOWLEDGED & AGREED

PETRÓLEO BRASILEIRO S.A.--PETROBRAS

By:
	Name:
	Title:
	Date: